Mary Stuart: A Tragedy

SCENE XIII.

      Enter SHREWSBURY.

   ELIZABETH.
   Welcome, my noble lord. What tidings; say
   It cannot be a trifle which hath led
   Your footsteps hither at so late an hour.

   SHREWSBURY.
   My liege, the doubts that hung upon my heart,
   And dutiful concern for your fair fame,
   Directed me this morning to the Tower,
   Where Mary's secretaries, Nau and Curl,
   Are now confined as prisoners, for I wished
   Once more to put their evidence to proof.
   On my arrival the lieutenant seemed
   Embarrassed and perplexed; refused to show me
   His prisoners; but my threats obtained admittance.
   God! what a sight was there! With frantic looks,
   With hair dishevelled, on his pallet lay
   The Scot like one tormented by a fury.
   The miserable man no sooner saw me
   Than at my feet he fell, and there, with screams,
   Clasping my knees, and writhing like a worm,
   Implored, conjured me to acquaint him with
   His sovereign's destiny, for vague reports
   Had somehow reached the dungeons of the Tower
   That she had been condemned to suffer death.
   When I confirmed these tidings, adding, too,
   That on his evidence she had been doomed,—
   He started wildly up,—caught by the throat
   His fellow-prisoner; with the giant strength
   Of madness tore him to the ground and tried
   To strangle him. No sooner had we saved
   The wretch from his fierce grapple than at once
   He turned his rage against himself and beat
   His breast with savage fists; then cursed himself
   And his companions to the depths of hell!
   His evidence was false; the fatal letters
   To Babington, which he had sworn were true,
   He now denounced as forgeries; for he
   Had set down words the queen had never spoken;
   The traitor Nau had led him to this treason.
   Then ran he to the casement, threw it wide
   With frantic force, and cried into the street
   So loud that all the people gathered round:
   I am the man, Queen Mary's secretary,
   The traitor who accused his mistress falsely;
   I bore false witness and am cursed forever!

   ELIZABETH.
   You said yourself that he had lost his wits;
   A madman's words prove nothing.

   SHREWSBURY.
                    Yet this madness
   Serves in itself to swell the proof. My liege,
   Let me conjure thee; be not over-hasty;
   Prithee, give order for a new inquiry!

   ELIZABETH.
   I will, my lord, because it is your wish,
   Not that I can believe my noble peers
   Have in this case pronounced a hasty judgment.
   To set your mind at rest the inquiry shall
   Be straight renewed. Well that 'tis not too late!
   Upon the honor of our royal name,
   No, not the shadow of a doubt shall rest.