[ACT II, Scene 2]

 

Enter DIEGO LOPES, Governor of Lisbon, the Iresh Beshop, STUKELEY,JONAS,HERCULES and others.

 

DIEGO

   Welcom to Lisbon, valiant Catholics,

   Welcome,brave Englishmen, to Portugal:

   Most reverent primate of Iresh church,

   And, noble Stukeley, famousby thy name,

   Welcome, thrice-welcome to Sebastian’s town:

   And welcome, English capitain, to you all,

   It joyeth us see his Holiness’ fleet

   Cast anchor happily upon our coast.

BISHOP

   These welcomes, worthy governor of Lisbon,

   Argue an honorable mind in thee,

   But treat of our misfortune therwithal,

   To Irland by Pope gregory’s comand

   Were we all bound, and therefore thus embark’d,

   To land our forces there at unawares,

   Conquering the land for his Holiness,

   And so restore it to the Roman faith:

   This was the cause of our expedition,

   And Irland long ere this had been subdued,

   Had not foul weather brought us to this bay.

DIEGO

   Under correction, are ye not all Englishman,

   And ‘longs not Ireland to that kingdom, lords?

   Then, may I speak my conscience in the cause

   Sans scandal to the holy see of Rome,

   Unhonourable is this expedition,

   And misbeseeming you to meddle in.

STUKELEY

   Lord governor of lisbon, understand,

   As we are Englishmen, so are we men,

   And I am Stukeley so resolved in all

   To follow rule, honour,and empery,

   Not to be bent so strictly make choice

   Of all the continents that bound the world;

   For why I make it not so great desert

   To be begot or born in any place,

   Sith that’s a thing of pleasure and of ease

   That  might have been perform’d elsewhere as well.

DIEGO

   Follow what your good pleasure will,

   Good captain stukeley: be it far from me

   To take exeptions beyond my privilege.

BISHOP

   Yet, capitain, give me leave to speak;

   We mustaffect our country as our parents,

   And if at any time we alienate

   Our love or industry from doing it honour,

   It must respect effecsand touch the soul,

   Matter of conscienceand religion,

   And not desire of rule or benefit.

STUKELEY

   Well said, bishop! Spoken like yourself,

   The reverent, lordly Bishop of Saint Asses.

HERCULES

   The bishop talks according to his coat,

   And takes not measure of it by his mind:

   You see he hath it thus large and wide,

   Because he may convert it, as he list,

   To any form may fit the fashion best.

BISHOP

   Captain, you do me wrong to descant thus

   Upon my coat or double conscience,

   And cannot answer it in another place.

DIEGO

   ‘Tis but in jest, lord bishop; put it up:

   And all as friends deign to be entertain’d

   As my ability her can make provision.

   Shortly sall I conduct you to the king,

   Whose welcomes evermore to strangers are

   Princely and honourable, as his state becomes.

STUKELEY

   Thanks, worthy governor.-Come, bishop, come,

   Will you show fruits of quarrel and of wrath?

   Come put all conscience into one carouse,

   Letting it out again as we may live.

  

                                          [Exeunt all except STUKELEY.]

 

   There shall no action pass my hand or sword,

   That cannot make a step to gain a crown;

   No word shall pass the office of my tongue,

   That sounds not of affection to a crown;

   No thought have being in my lordly brest,

   That works not every way to win a crown:

   Deeds, words, and thoughts shall all be as a king’s;

   My chiefest company shall be with kings;

   And my deserts shall counterpoise a king’s:

   Why should not I, then, look to be a king?

   I am the Marquis now of Irlandmade,

   And will be shortly King of Irland:

   King of a mole-hill had I rather be,

   Then the richest subjectof a monarchy.

   Huff it, brave mind, and never cease t’aspire,

   Before thou reignsole king of thy desire.

                                                            Exit.