can find upon such thread-bare Coats Spinosa Then March all out but not in heaps at once But three or four together to the Town Put on a chearful look as unconcern'd The last that stay are Pedro and my self Who with a Train will blow the Windmill up Then try our utmost valour in the Siege 1. Souldier We go my Lord we go but if we should meet with a Party of French in our way we cannot forbear boxing 'em for our Lives poor rotten Rogues for t'other Day I twang'd one of them by the Nose and with a slight pull it came off into my hand I believe all his Carcass was of the same Brittle Ware Spinosa Be cautious tho' in all your undertakings Pedro have you affixt the Train Pedro. I have my Lord. Now for the Town where Fortune seems to vary But Heaven forbid our Arms should still Miscarry ACT II. Scene 5. Scene A street in Mons. Enter several Burghers in Arms with Pioneers and Souldiers 1 Burg. HAve you quencht the Fire in Domingo's street Pioneer Yes Sir but there is another broke out near the Palace 2. Burg. These Bombs are like Plaisters of Cantâ—arides they raise Blisters where e're they are apply'd 3. Burg. I think o' my Conscience the whole Town is troubled with a Saint Antony's Fire for 't is burning almost in every place A great noise heard 2. Burg. Ha! what noise is that Heaven guard our Sences Enter a Souldier running Souldier Good news good news the Windmill is blown up 1. Burg. Is that such good news say you Sould. Yes Sir for Major Pedro blew it up to prevent the French making use of it to annoy the Town I have but one little Cottage of my own and I 'de make a Bon-fire on 't before the French should have it 1. Sould. Nay never fret your self about that Fellow Souldier for if they go on as they began the whole Town will be but one continued Bon-fire in a little time 2. Souldier But we have pretty well warm'd their fingers for 'em already they have lost if Report be not a damn'd confounded lying Son of a Whore above three thousand Men and we not too hundred and sifty since the Siege Enter a Switzer Deserter 2. Burg. How now in the name of Wonder who art thou Switz Why Sir I am a Man and no Man a Souldier and no Souldier 1 Burg. Or any thing or rather nothing speak quickly what are you who are you and who d' yee belong to Switz Sir I was a Souldier in the French Camp and for divers and sundry reasons have deserted it Souldier To come to be a Spy upon us knock out his brains knock out his brains for a Son of an overgrown Mustachio Switzer You wrong me Gentlemen I am no Villain But one whom just resentment has compell'd To leave the French my once Tyrannick Masters To serve Oh I am very faint 1. Burg. Give him some Brandy give him some Brandy a very honest fellow this o' my Conscience rubb his temples rubb his Temples so no now he comes to himself Well Friend how stands the French Camp Switz It moves along in a continued Motion First on one side then by and by on t'other And whispers hourly buz about the Camp That a great Army hastens to relieve Your almost ruin'd Town or give 'em Battle 2. Burg. Courage Courage my Boys chear up my little Sons of Fire and Gun-Powder here poor Fellow there 's some Money for you I am mightily in love with this Switzer 1. Burg. Will you affirm all this before the Prince Switz Yes and much more for I have some Reports Are only fitting for his private Ear Which if suspected let me lye in Prison Until the certainty of all 's confirm'd 1. Burg. Odd I love the Rogue from my heart come I 'le goe along with you to the Governour and I 'le warrant thee a Gold Chain and Medal Switz Or if I 'm false a halter Exeunt the Burgers with the Switz Enter a great Rabble Crying out Fire Sould. Where where Rabble Every where every where in the Palace in the Market place The whole Town is but one great Oven and I think they design to bake us in 't come away come away ACT III. Scene I. Scene the Palace present the Prince Fagel Harcourt Spinosa Pedro. c. Prince SO great an Army 'fore so small a Town Seems that by numbers they design to Conquer As yet through all the sad Calamities Of Fire and Blood Mons resolutely stands The Object of their hate but Fagel Tell What succours from abroad must we expect Fagel Enough if timely they assistance lend For th' English Monarch our once blest Deliverer With fifty thousand Men of the Confederates Lye now encampt near Brussels thence to Hall They march where they expect some other Troops To joyn them which with Regiments of Scotch and Spanish Expected likewise will increase the Army To seventy thousand choice selected Souldiers I mention not their Mortars nor their Cannon Which all together make a glorious Army Prince May Heaven succeed their Arms but all this while How stand Affairs within our selves I fear The Souldiers harass'd with continual Watchings And Burghers with their Losses half distracted May have some inclinations to surrender To rid themselves of this uneasiness Fagel My Lord I only for the Souldiers speak They are unanimous and every Man Will to the last defend the Cities Glory Against the bold Encroachments of the French Harcourt The Burghers too my Lord to all Appearance Are resolutely brave and bold in Action I know not how their Wives Endearments may Soften their Minds and lead their Wills astray A Great Shout heard Enter a Messenger Prince The News Messeng. My Lord ill Tidings must salute your Ears The Half-Moon of the Horn-work next the Gate Of Barlemont being widen'd with their Cannon Was just now with about Seven thousand Men Storm'd with that fury that in little time The French became the Masters of the Fort But in the three Attaques they gave the Place They lost at sev'ral times Three thousand Men. Prince This sad Relation checks me not at all Fagel Nor me Harcourt Nor me Pedro. Nor any whose great mind Is plac'd above the rude Assaults of Fortune Prince Fagel and you Spinosa to the City Hasten with speed and animate the Burghers Their Drooping Spirits may perhaps need Cordials Harcourt and Pedro to your Posts advance And let the Souldiers want no due Encouragement Whilst I about the Town in different Quarters Comfort advise and order Necessaries But stop our Ears to all Capitulation Fagel Forbid it Heaven No first let glorious Mons Be made the Seat of one continued Fire And ev'ry Souldier perish in the Flame Rather than tamely yield our Lives so and Fortunes To French discretion If I hear one whisper Whereever I resort of tame Surrender By Heav'n I 'le split the Skull of such a Man Were he my Brother or what 's more my Friend
'em Heaven be Deaf to my Prayers Aside Rabble Come come along with us along with us Exeunt ACT I. SCENE 4. SCENE The Palace Enter Prince de Bergue Discoursing with Fagel and Spinosa with other Officers Prince I 'm glad to find that gen'rous Resolution Appears in both the Soldiers and the Burghers To keep the Town even to the last extremity Fagel Never did men appear with greater Brav'ry In all the Sieges History makes mention Then this of Mons. Prince Have the French form'd their Camp Fagel They 'r very busy in pursuit of Ruin Their Horse consist of two and forty Squadrons And in fit posts they now their Foot are placing Great numbers of the Boors they have compell'd To work upon the Lines and drain the Marshes As yet their Bombs and Cannon are behind Nor have they given us one kind Salute From mouth of Gun but hourly we expect it Prince Since in Civility they are so backward Let us then first begin And you Spinosa Go quickly then and order Colonel Harcourt With a pickt number of bold daring Youths Assisted by some few Dragoons and Horsâ— That instantly they make a furious Sally Upon the Foe and Heaven succeed their Arms. Spinosa I know my Lord the Message will be welcome Their youthful Blood is ready to boil or'e With Rage against the French with half that Eagerness They would not fly to the desired embraces Of the most charming of their Mistresses As now they will to Arms. Prince No Speeches Marshal Their Truth I doubt not execute your Orders Spinosa I go my Lord. Exit Spinosa Prince If my presaging hopes are true propheticks Our Enemies will soon repent this Visit. Enter one from the French Camp Officer My Lord A Messenger from the Enemy Prince Your Business Sir Mess. 'T is from the noble Marquess de Bouffleers Who to your Highness bid me give this Summons Prince Read it Captain To an Officer Officer Reads To you the Prince and Governour of Mons My Royal Master his kind Greeting sends And in his Name commands you to surrender The Town and Citadel without delay Which just Demand if proudly you refuse Himself attended with his Son the Dauphine And all the Flower of France will force you to 't Bouffleers Prince Go tell the Marquess from the Prince Bergue The King of France affords me too much Honour â—o come himself in Person to behold â—he brave Defence we are resolv'd to make Exit Messenger â—urrender Mons my dear lov'd Native Town â—s soon I 'd sell my valued Right of Birth â—ith Arms and plenty of Provisions stor'd â—e doubt not but to tire the Force of France â—carce thirteen years are past since they attempted â—o gain the Town but then they were repulsed â—t height of Noon and beaten from their Trenches â—y the brave Valour of the great Nassau â—ow Britains Monarch at the Hague Consulting â—he fittest Methods Christendom to free â—om servile Chains and Arbitrary Sway â—hich gladly France would on all Europe lay ACT II. SCENE I. â—ene the Duke of Luxemburghs Tent in the French Camp present himself the Marquess de Boufflers the Marshal de Duras Fevillade c. â—M Bouffl A trifling Loss and scarcely worth the naming 〈◊〉 the whole Action but five hundred slain â—d we must do our Eemies that Justice â—ey sallied out like Men inur'd to Arms. Luxemb Relieve the Centrys that have watcht so long To the Officers â—ture must have repose this stubborn Town â—l vexes me yet were our num'rous Army 〈◊〉 great as e're was chronicled in Story 〈◊〉 should be slain ev'n to a single Man â—re the Kings Pretentions should be lost Enter a Messenger Messeng. My Lord another Sally has been made 〈◊〉 Enemy attempting to demolish â—ind-mill to the Counterscarp adjoyning 〈◊〉 in the Action kill two hundred Men. â—uxemb Let them go on and surfeit with their Glory Fortune with these Successes does but flatter 'em Like Gamesters they at first have Lucky throws This tempts them on to venture deeper still Till they at last by one unlucky Chance Loose all their flatt'ring hopes and store of gain Boufflers Never was better tim'd this City's Siege Secure they liv'd not Dream'd of such Attacques The Governour of all the Spanish Netherlands Is at the Hague consulting how to form The Model of this present Summers War His presence wanting to inform their Actions Like men just rows'd from sleep they talk and act But 't is with such Confusion that they hardly Know whether that they act or speak at all Enter a Second Messenger Messenger My Lords his Majesty is with his Highness The Dauphin Conde and the Duke de Chartres Together with the chiefest of the Nobles Just now arrived in Person in the Camp And your immediate Conference commands Luxemb We go This Boufflers is the Soul of Courage When our great Monarch does himself appear At head of all his Numerous Troops in person This no small Comforts to our hopes does bring Cowards will Fight when headed by a King ACT II. SCENE II. A great Noise of Shooting is heard for some time after which the Scene changes to the City of Mons. Enter Fagel with several Officers Fagel Secure the Horn-VVorks mount the Canon higher And Fire so fast upon 'em that the Enemy May loose themselves in Clouds of Fire and Smoak I hate to Fight in Jest How fare the Troops to the Officers That you command are they all brave and lusty 1 Officer Like Soldiers in the most exalted sence They Fight and if of any fault they 'r guilty 'T is they expose themselves too near to Danger Fagel A Messenger is 〈◊〉 arrived in Town From our Chief Head thâ— Marquess Castanaga T' inform the Burghers if they still persist To keep the Town till timely Succours come They shall be free from Taxes Twenty years Had you but seen with what Excess of Joy The Message they receiv'd you would have smil'd Fighting tho not agreeing with their Temper Yet to be freed from Tribute are Valiant For they hate Taxes worser than the French Enter Collonel Brannacio embracing him Welcome thou Soul of VVar what sort of News From Brussels does the Lov'd Brannacio bring Col. Brannacio News is a Drug for all Discourse and Talk Is laid aside excepting Mons Beleaguer'd Of this the very Children learn to prattle And it is taken and reliev'd each hour 'T was by Disguise my self and some few more Got into the Town Fagel And how appears the Army Branac Dreadful enough in sight and apprehension â—o those who want true Courage to defy â—he Force of such a Formidable Foe â—met a Gentleman upon the Road Going in hast to the Marquess Castanaga â—inform him of the Present State of Mons â—nd press for speedy Succours for our Aid Fagel Tho Plenty never was esteem'd a Burthen â—t present we no Helps nor Aids require â—ovisions we have got so great a Stock â—o last four Months without the least Recruits â—ur Men are hearty and
unanimous â—ch striving who his Fellow shall out-do â—acts of Valour nay the very Burghers â—e Soâ—diers too and hourly on the Walls 〈◊〉 Random Bullets do their Breasts expose Brannacio The Prince just now receiv'd a haughty Message From Monsieur Lovis That for ev'ry day They stubbornly held out since their great Monarch Was in the Camp they should for such offence Pay numerous Crowns for each delaying Morning Bravado's Let them first defend the Claim They make before they seize upon our Purses A Trumpet heard But hark some Signal Each Man to his Post Bravely we must defend or Mons is lost Exeunt Enter several Burghers and Souldiers running cross the Stage with Buckets in their hands crying out Quench the Fire quench the Fire The Scene closes ACT II. Scene 3. The Scene The French Kings Tent in the â—â—ench Camp in which appears Lewis the XIV The Dauphin The Prince of Conde Monsieur Lovis The Duke d'Chartres Monsieur Vauban and other Officers K. of France When will my thirst of Glory find a Period Since I have aim'd at Universal Monarchy A restless thought still raging in my Breast Makes my Days irksom and my Nights unquiet Whole Provinces already I 've laid desolate And where so e're I stretcht my Conquering Arms In Blood and Ruins I make good my Title Lovis By this great Sir your Empire you enlarge K. F. 'T is my Ambition Lovis to be great Men of my rank do seldom think of dying But 't is methinks a kind of satisfaction When after Ages seeing Towns destroy'd Shall say that Lewis made that Desolation Does Mons yet still persist in Obstinacy Dauphin 'T is the old stubborn Town it ever was They nothing want to make a brisk Defence K. F. Vauban you nicely have survey'd the place Where lyes it's chiefest strength and where it 's weakness M. Vauban Great Sir I must confess their Forts are built By the strict rules of modern Architecture Their Bastions strong their Horn-works regular Their Ramparts good and the deep Moats and Ditches Add no small strength to the distressed Town Four Days your Royal Troops have Mons beleagur'd And if my skill in War does not deceive me Before the Sun six times goes round the Globe The place will yield to your victorious Arms. K. F. It shall the mighty Lewis says it shall If force compel not then I use my Gold No triffling Sum I 've brought to give the Souldiers Who shall be taken notice of in Battel To give the best assurance of their Valour Besides some greater Sum for private Service I have my Friends in Mons as well as Philip. Lovis here take thâ—â— Gold gives a Purse and send it quickly By some bold lusty Officer of yours In a Deserters habit to the Town And to the Abbotts Grimchi and Vaneufe Commend my Love and tell 'em I'm their Friend Let this old Gold express my secret meaning The best the Language of my Presents know Lovis I fly dread Sir to execute your Pleasure Exit Lovis Enter Luxemburgh Bouffleers c. F. K. How goes the Siege my Lords You seem concern'd I read some strange confusion in your Faces Luxem Think not great Sir that fear or Cowardize Makes us thus wear this sadness on our looks To both we 're strangers 'T is the great concern We bear to your Majestick Reputation Which we suspect will find some Diminution In the Attempts upon the stubborn Mons. F. K. Have I selected out from all my Troops The choicest Men and brought my houshold Guards Gens d'Arms Light-horse and such a Train of Cannon T' oppose one stubborn Town and am I baffl'd By all the Saints our holy Church adores I swear that no expence of Men or Mony Shall e're be wanting to reduce the Place Bouffl Great Sir the Souldiers in your Royal Army Behave themselves with an uncommon Brav'ry But there is no defence against our Fate F. K. Talk not of Fate to me my Lord I tell you I over-rule her closest laid Designs And have her at my beck nay more command her And notwithstanding these cross Accidents Am certain that before few days are ended This Town of Mons will own me for her Master To you Rubenton speaking to him our old trusty Servant We give the Government of this Conquer'd City When e're it falls into Our Royal Hands Mean while you Luxemburgh Bouffleers and all My Officers relating to the Siege Open the Trenches use your utmost force To make the Town comply but if it still Resists my Arms by all the Gods I swear Within their streets I 'le lay a Scene of Blood Shall make their Dwellings horrible to Nature I will my Lords St. Guislan is my Quarters Where I with ease refresh my self still waiting When the glad News arrives that Mons is taken Then with a Grandeur like my self I enter As did my Predecessor Julius Caesar Along the streets of Rome for 't is resolv'd Mons shall submit and own my Regal Power Or sudden ruine shall the Globe devour Exit with his Train Manent Luxemburgh and Bouffleers Luxemb It shall submit for so our Sovereign swears I wish it may but when I make Reflections With what true Courage they defend the Town I know not what to think Bouffl Besides my Lord The Prince of Orange at the Hague is raising A numerous Army of pickt chosen Souldiers To raise the Siege or else to give us Battel Luxemb All actions when t'extremity reduc'd Require our nicest prudence we no time For long set-Speeches and Debates can spare It must be Action terminates the War Exeunt Ambo ACT. II. Scene 4. The Scene changes to the Fort upon Windmill-hill Engineer Pedro Spinosa and other Officers and Souldiers appear Pedro. To see the various effects of Fortune Thrice has this place been in the Enemies hands And thrice they have been beaten out again With more then Roman Bravery by the Souldiers Spinosa Major If any thing of War I know I think it is not safe to keep the place In our own Power indeed 't must be confest To take it they have now already lost In their Attaques about Two thousand Men. A pretty Sum for such a trifling Post. Pedro. Your Advice What must be done My orders from the Prince are independent He giving me a large and full Commission To act as I should judge most proper for the safety Of Mons distrest now Sir with low submission To your grave Judgment I esteem it fittest That instantly we blow the Wind-mill up Spinosa No flattery Pedro I resign my self And thoughts entirely to your wise directions Souldier speaking to one how stands the Enemy abroad 1. Souldier My Lord they 're very busie in working upon the Trenches little thinking poor Curs they are digging their own Graves Pedro. Is the Coast free from any straggling Troops 2. Souldier Yes my Lord only half a Dozen or so together a louzing themselves in the Sun I wonder what quarters the poor Vermin