to save Prince Edwards life Sax. Then like a Warrior spill it in the Field My griefull anger cannot be appeaz'd By sacrifice of any but himself Thou hast dishonour'd me and thou shalt dye Therefore alarum alarum to the fight That thousands more may bear thee company Rich. Nephew and Sister now farewell for ever Ed. Heaven and the Right prevail and let me die Uncle farewell Emp. Brother farewell untill wee meet in Heaven Exeunt Manent Alphon. Edw. Emp. Alex. Alphon. Here 's farewell Brother Nephew Vncle Aunt As if in thousand years you should not meet Good Nephew and good Aunt content your selves The Sword of Saxon and these Daggers-points Before the Evening-Star doth shew it self Will take sufficient order for your meeting But Alexander my trustie Alexander Run to the Watch-Tow'r as I pointed thee And by thy life I charge thee look unto it Thou be the first to bring me certain word I we be Conquerors or Conquered Alex. With carefull speed I will perform this charge Exit Alphon Now have I leasure yet to talk with you Fair Isabell the Palsgrave's Paramour Wherein was he a better man than I Or wherfore should thy love to him effect Such deadly hate unto thy Emperour Yet welfare wenches that can love Good fellows And not mix Murder with Adulterie Emp. Great Emperor I dare not call you Husband Your Conscience knows my hearts unguiltiness Alpho. Didst thou not poison or consent to poison us Emp. Should any but your Highness tell me so I should forget my patience at my death And call him Villain Liar Murderer Alphon. She that doth so miscall me at her end Edward I prethee speak thy Conscience Thinkst thou not that in her prosperitie Sh' hath vext my Soul with bitter Words and Deeds O Prince of England I do count thee wise That thou wilt not be cumber'd with a wife When thou hadst stoln her daintie rose Corance And pluck'd the flow'r of her virginitie Edw. Tyrant of Spain thou liest in thy threat Alpho. Good words thou seest thy life is in our hands Edw. I see thou art become a common Hangman An Office farre more fitting to thy mind Than princelie to the Imperiall dignitie Alphon. I do not exercise on common persons Your Highness is a Prince and she an Empress I therefore count not of a dignitie Hark Edward how they labour all in vain With loss of many a valiant Soldiers life To rescue them whom Heaven and we have doom'd Dost thou not tremble when thou think'st upon 't Edw. Let guiltie minds tremble at sight of Death My heart is of the nature of the Palm Not to be broken till the highest Bud Be bent and ti'd unto the lowest Root I rather wonder that thy Tyrants heart Can give consent that those thy Butcherous hands Should offer violence to thy Flesh and Blood See how her guiltless innocence doth plead In silent Oratorie of her chastest tears Alphon. Those tears proceed from Fury and curst heart I know the stomach of your English Dames Emp. No Emperour these tears proceed from grief Alphon. Grief that thou canst not be reveng'd of Vs Emp. Grief that your Highness is so ill advis'd To offer violence to my Nephew Edward Since then there must be sacrifice of Blood Let my heart-blood save both your bloods unspilt For of his death thy Heart must pay the guilt Edw. No Auut I will not buy my life so dear Therefore Alphonso if thou beest a man Shed manly blood and let me end this strife Alphon. Here 's straining curtesie at a bitter Feast Content thee Empress for thou art my Wife Thou shalt obtain thy Boon and die the death And for it were unprinceby to deny So slight request unto so great a Lord Edward shall bear thee company in Death A Retreat But hark the heat of battail hath an end One side or other hath the victory Enter Alexander And see where Alexander sweating comes Speak man what newes speak shall I die or live Shall I stab sure or els prolong their lives To grievous Torments speak am I Conquerour What hath thy hast bereft thee of thy speech Hast thou not breath to speak one siliable O speak thy dalliance kills me wonn or lost Amaz'd lets fall the Daggers Alex. Lost Alphon. Ah me my Senses fail my sight is gon Alex. Will not your Grace dispatch the Strumpet Queen Shall she then live and we be doom'd to death Is your Heart faint or is your Hand too weak Shall servill fear break your so sacred Oaths Me thinks an Emperour should hold his word Give me the Weapons I will soon dispatch them My Fathers yelling Ghost cries for revenge His Blood within my Veins boyls for revenge O give me leave Cesar to take revenge Alphon. Vpon condition that thou wilt protest To take revenge upon the Murtherers Without respect of dignity or State Afflicted speedy pittiless Revenge I will commit this Dagger to thy trust And give thee leave to execute thy Will Alex. What need I here reiterate the Deeds Which deadly sorrow made me perpetrate How neer did I entrap Prince Richard's life How sure set I the Knife to Mentz his heart How cunninglie was Palsgrave doom'd to death How subtilly was Bohem poisoned How slily did I satisfie my lust Commixing dulcet Love with deadly Hate When Princesse Hedwick lost her Maidenhead Sweetly embracing me for Englands Heir Edw. O execrable deeds Emp. O salvage mind Alex. Edward I give thee leave to hear of this But will forbid the blabbing of your tongue Now gratious Lord and sacred Emperour Your highness knowing these and many more Which fearles pregnancie hath wrought in me You do me wrong to doubt that I will dive Into their hearts that have not spar'd their betters Be therefore suddain lest we die our selves I know the Conquerour hasts to rescue them Alphon. Thy Reasons are effectuall take this Dagger Yet pawse a while Emp. Sweet Nephew now farewell Alphon. They are most dear to me whom thou must kill Edward Hark Aunt he now begins to pittie you Alex. But they consented to my Fathers death Alphon. More then consented they did execute Emp. I will not make his Majestie a Lyar I kill'd thy Father therefore let me die But save the life of this unguilty Prince Edward I kill'd thy Father therefore let me die But save the life of this unguiltie Empress Alphon Hark thou to me and think their words as wind I kill'd thy Father therfore let me die And save the lives of these two guiltless Princes Art thou amaz'd to hear what I have said There take the weapon now revenge at full Thy Fathers death and those my dire deceits That made thee murtherer of so many Souls Alex. O Emperour how cunningly wouldst thou entrap My simple youth to credit Fictions Thou kill my Father no no Emperour Caesar did love Lorentzo all to dearly Seeing thy Forces now are vanquished Frustrate thy hopes thy Highness like to fall Into the cruel and
the face Collen Your Holiness shall pardon me in this Had I the profit I would take the pains With shame enough your Grace may bring the message Mentz Thus am I wrong'd God knows unguiltily Brand. Then arm your countenance with innocency And boldly do the message to the Prince For no man else will be the messenger Mentz Why then I must since ther 's no remedy Exit Mentz Brand. If Heav'n that guides the hearts of mighty men Do calm the Winds of these great Potentates And make them like of this Arbitrament Sweet Peace will tryumph thorough Christendom And Germany shall bless this happy day Enter Alexander de Toledo the Page Alexand. O me most miserable O my dear Father Bohem. What means this passionate accent what art thou That sounds these acclamations in our ears Alex. Pardon me Princes I have lost a Father O me the name of Father kils my heart O! I shall never see my Father more H 'as tane his leave of me for age and age Collen What was thy Father Alex. Ah me I what was a not Noble Rich valiant well-belov'd of all The glory and the wisdom of his age Chief Secretary to the Emperour Collen Lorenzo de Toledo is he dead Alex. Dead ay me dead ay me my life is dead Strangely this night bereft of breath and sense And I poor I am comforted in nothing But that the Emperour laments with me As I exclame so he he rings his hands And makes me mad to see his Majesty Excruciate himself with endless sorrow Collen The happiest news that ever I did hear Thy Father was a villain murderer Witty not wise lov'd like a Scorpion Grown rich by the impoverishing of others The chiefest cause of all these mutinies And Caesar's tutor to all villanie Alex. None but an open lyar terms him so Col. What Boy so malepert Bohem. Good Collen bear with him it was his Father Dutch-land is blessed in Lorenzo's Death Brand. Did never live a viler minded man Exeunt Manet Alex. Alex. Nor King nor Churfurst should be privileg'd To call me Boy and rayl upon my Father Were I wehrsafflig but in Germany A man must be a Boy at 40. years And dares not draw his weapon at a Dog Till being soundly box'd about the ears His Lord and Master gird him with a sword The time will come I shall be made a man Till then I 'l pine with thought of dire revenge And live in Hell untill I take revenge ACT. II. Enter Alphonsus Richard Earl of Cornwall Mentz Trier Prince Edward Bohemia Collen Brandenburge Attendants and Pages with a sword Bohem. Behold here come the Princes hand in hand Pleas'd highly with the sentence as it seems Alphon. Princes and Pillars of the Monarchy We do admire your wisdoms in this cause And do accept the King of Bohemia As worthy partner in the Government Alas my Lords I flatly now confess I was alone too weak to underprop So great a burden as the Roman Empire And hope to make you all admire the course That we intend in this conjunction Richard That I was call'd from England with consent Of all the seven Electors to this place Your selves best know who wrote for me to come 'T was no ambition mov'd me to the journey But pitty of your half declining State Which being likely now to be repayr'd By the united force of these two Kings I rest content to see you satisfied Mentz Brave Earl wonder of Princely patience I hope your grace will not mis-think of me Who for your good and for the Empires best Bethought this means to set the world at Peace Edward No doubt this means might have been thought upon Although your Holiness had dy'd in Prison Mentz Peace peace young Prince you want experience Your Unckle knows what cares accompany And wait upon the Crowns of mightiest Kings And glad he is that he hath shak'd it off Edward Heark in your ear my Lord hear me one word Although it were more than a million Which these two Kings bestow'd upon your grace Mine Unckle Richards million sav'd your life Mentz Your were best to say your Vnckle brib'd me then Edward I do but say mine Vnckle sav'd your life You know Count Mansfield your fellow Prisoner Was by the Duke of Brunschwig put to death Mentz You are a Child my Lord your words are wind Edward You are a Fox my Lord and past a Child Bohem. My Lord of Cornwall your great forwardness Crossing the Seas with aid of Englishmen Is more than we can any way requite But this your admirable patience In being pleas'd with our election Deserves far more than thanks can satisfie In any thing command the Emperours Who live to honour Richard Earl of Cornwall Alpho. Our deeds shall make our Protestations good Mean while brave Princes let us leave this place And solace us with joy of this accord Enter Isabella the Empress Hedewick the Duke of Saxon's Daughter apparelled like Fortune drawn on a Globe with a Cup in her hand wherein are Bay leaves whereupon are written the lots A train of Ladies following with Musick Empress To gratulate this unexpected Peace This glorious league confirm'd against all hope Joyful Isabella doth present this shew Of Fortunes triumph as the custom is At Coronation of our Emperours If therefore every party be well pleas'd And stand content with this arbitriment Then daign to do as your Progenitors And draw in sequence Lots for Offices Alphon. This is an order here in Germany For Princes to disport themselves with all In sign their hearts so firmly are conjoyn'd That they will bear all fortunes equally And that the world may know I scorn no state Or course of life to do the Empire good I take my chance My Fortune is to be the Forrester Emp. If we want Venson either red or fallow Wild bore or bear you must be fin'd my Lord Bohem. The Emperour's Taster I Emp. Your Majesty hath been tasted to so oft That you have need of small instructions Richard I am the bowr Sister what is my charge Emp. Tyr'd like a Carter and a Clownish Bowr To bring a load of Wood into the Kitchin Now for my self Faith I am Chamber Maid I know my charge proceed unto the next Alphon. Prince Edward standeth melancholy still Please it your Grace my Lord to draw your lot Emp. Nephew you must be solemn with the sad And given to myrth in sportful Company The German Princes when they will be lusty Shake of all cares and Clowns and they are Fellows Edward Sweet Aunt I do not know the Country guise Yet would be glad to learn all fashions Since I am next good Fortune be my guide Brand. A most ingenuous countenance hath this Prince Worthy to be the King of England's Heir Edward Be it no disparagement to you my Lords I am your Emperour Alphon. Sound trumpets God save the Emperour Collen The world could never worse have fitted me I am not old enough to be the Cook
have rob'd him of his senses Like accident to this was never heard Rich. Break heart and dye flie hence my troubled spirit I am not able for to underbear The weight of sorrow which doth bruze my soul O Edward O sweet Edward O my life O noble Collen last of all my hopes The only friend in my extremities If thou doest love me as I know thou doest Unsheath thy sword and rid me of this sorrow Collen Away with abject thoughts fie Princely Richard Rowze up thy self and call thy senses home Shake of this base pusillanimitie And cast about to remedie these wrongs Richard Alas I see no means of remedie Collen The hearken to my Counsel and advice We will Intrench our selves not far from hence With those small pow'rs we have and send for more If they do make assault we will defend If violence be offer'd to the Prince We 'l rescue him with venture of our lives Let us with patience attend advantage Time may reveal the author of these treasons For why undoubtedly the sweet young Princess Fowly beguild by night with cunning shew Hath to some villain lost her Maiden-head Rich. O that I knew the foul incestuous wretch Thus would I tear him with my teeth and nails Had Saxon sense he would conceave so much And not revenge on guiltless Edwards life Collen Perswade your self he will be twice advis'd Before he offer wrong unto the Prince Rich. In that good hope I will have patience Come gentle Prince whose pitty to a stranger Is rare and admirable not to be spoken England cannot requite this gentleness Collen Tush talk not of requital let us go To fortifie our selves within our trench Exeunt Enter Alphonso carried in the Couch Saxony Mentz Tryer Brandenburg Alexander Alphon. O most excessive pain O raging Fire Is burning Cancer or the Scorpion Descended from the Heavenly Zodiack To parch mine Entrals with a quenchless flame Drink drink I say give drink or I shall dye Fill a thousand bowls of Wine Water I say Water from forth the cold Tartarian hils I feel th' ascending flame lick up my blood Mine Entrals shrink together like a scrowl Of burning parchment and my Marrow fries Bring hugie Cakes of Ice and Flakes of Snow That I may drink of them being dissolved Saxon. We do beseech your Majestie have patience Alphon. Had I but drunk an ordinary poyson The sight of thee great Duke of Saxony My friend in death in life my greatest foe Might both allay the venom and the torment But that adulterous Palsgrave and my Wife Upon whose life and soul I vengeance cry Gave me a mineral not to be digested Which burning eats and eating burns my heart My Lord of Tryer run to the King of Bohem Commend me to him ask him how he fares None but my self can rightly pitty him For none but we have sympathie of pains Tell him when he is dead my time 's not long And when I dye bid him prepare to follow Exit Tryer Now now it works a fresh are you my friends Then throw me on the cold swift running Rhyn And let me bath there for an hour or two I cannot bear this pain Mentz O would th' unpartial fates afflict on me These deadly pains and ease my Emperour How willing would I bear them for his sake Alphon. O Mentz I would not wish unto a Dog The least of thousand torments that afflict me Much less unto your Princely holiness See see my Lord of Mentz he points at you Mentz It is your fantasie and nothing else But were death here I would dispute with him And tell him to his teeth he doth unjustice To take your Majesty in the prime of youth Such wither'd rotten branches as my self Should first be lopt had he not partial hands And here I do protest upon my Knee I would as willingly now leave my life To save my King and Emperour alive As erst my Mother brought me to the world Brand. My Lord of Mentz this flattery is too gross A Prince of your experience and calling Should not so fondly call the Heavens to witness Mentz Think you my Lord I would not hold my word Brand. You know my Lord death is a bitter guest Mentz To ease his pain and save my Emperour I sweetly would embrace that bitterness Alex. If I were death I knew what I would do Mentz But see his Majesty is faln a sleep Ah me I fear it is a dying slumber Alphon. My Lord of Saxonie do you hear this jest Saxon. What should I hear my Lord Alphon. Do you not hear How loudly death proclames it in mine ears Swearing by trophies Tombs and deadmens Graves If I have any friend so dear to me That to excuse my life will lose his own I shall be presently restor'd to health Enter Tryer Mentz I would he durst make good his promises Alphon. My Lord of Tryer how fares my fellow Emperour Tryer. His Majesty is eas'd of all his pains Alphon. O happy news now have I hope of health Mentz My joyful heart doth spring within my bodie To hear those words Comfort your Majestie I will excuse you Or at the least will bear you Company Alphon. My hope is vain now now my heart will break My Lord of Tryer you did but flatter me Tell me the truth how fares his Majestie Tryer. I told your Highness eas'd of all his pain Alphon. I understand thee now he 's eas'd by death And now I feel an alteration Farewel sweet Lords farewel my Lord of Mentz The truest friend that ever earth did bear Live long in happiness to revenge my death Upon my Wife and all the English brood My Lord of Saxonie your Grace hath cause Mentz I dare thee death to take away my life Some charitable hand that loves his Prince And hath the heart draw forth his Sword and rid me of my life Alex. I love my Prince and have the heart to do it Mentz O stay a while Alex. Nay now it is to late Bran. Villain what hast thou done th' ast slain a Prince Alex. I did no more than he intreated me Alphon. How now what make I in my Couch so late Princes why stand you so gazing about me Or who is that lies slain before my face O I have wrong my soul was half in Heaven His holiness did know the joys above And therefore is ascended in my stead Come Princes let us bear the body hence I 'le spend a Million to embalm the same Let all the Bels within the Empire Ring Let Mass be said in every Church and Chappel And that I may perform my latest vow I will procure so much by Gold or friends That my sweet Mentz shall be Canonized And numbred in the Bed-role of the Saints I hope the Pope will not deny it me I 'le build a Church in honour of thy name Within the antient famous Citie Mentz Fairer than any one in Germany There shalt thou be interrd with Kingly Pomp Over thy Tomb
shall hang a sacred Lamp Which till the day of doom shall ever burn Yea after ages shall speak of thy renown And go a Pilgrimage to thy sacred Tomb Grief stops my voice who loves his Emperour Lay to his helping hand and bear him hence Sweet Father and redeemer of my life Exeunt Manet Alexander Alex. Now is my Lord sole Emperour of Rome And three Conspirators of my Fathers death Are cunningly sent unto Heaven or Hell Like subtilty to this was never seen Alas poor Mentz I pittying thy prayers Could do no less than lend a helping hand Thou wert a famous flatterer in thy life And now hast reapt the fruits thereof in death But thou shalt be rewarded like a Saint With Masses Bels dirges and burning Lamps 'T is good I envie not thy happiness But ah the sweet remembrance of that night That night I mean of sweetness and of stealth When for a Prince a Princess did imbrace me Paying the first fruits of her Marriage Bed Makes me forget all other accidents O Saxon I would willingly forgive The deadly trespass of my Fathers death So I might have thy Daughter to my Wife And to be plain I have best right unto her And love her best and have deserv'd her best But thou art fond to think on such a match Thou must imagin nothing but revenge And if my computation fail me not Ere long I shall be thorowly reveng'd Exit Enter the Duke of Saxon and Hedewick with the Child Saxon. Come forth thou perfect map of miserie Desolate Daughter and distressed Mother In whom the Father and the Son are curst Thus once again we will assay the Prince 'T may be the sight of his own flesh and blood Will now at last pierce his obdurate heart Jailor how fares it with thy prisoner Let him appear upon the battlements Hede. O mein deere vatter ich habe in dis lang lang 30. weeken welche mich duncket sein 40. iahr gewesen ein litte Englisch gelernet vnd ich hope he will me verstohn vnd shew me a little pittie Enter Edward on the Walls and Iailor Saxon. Good morrow to your grace Edward of Wales Son and immediate Heir to Henry the third King of England and Lord of Ireland Thy Fathers comfort and the peoples hope 'T is not in mockage nor at unawares That I am ceremonious to repeat Thy high descent ioynd with thy Kingly might But therewithall to intimate unto thee What God expecteth from the higher powers Justice and mercie truth sobrietie Relenting hearts hands innocent of blood Princes are Gods chief substitutes on earth And should be Lamps unto the common sort But you will say I am become a Preacher No Prince I am an humble suppliant And to prepare thine ears make this exordium To pierce thine eyes and heart behold this spectacle Three Generations of the Saxon blood Descended lineallie from forth my Loyns Kneeling and crying to thy mightiness First look on me and think what I have been For now I think my self of no account Next Caesar greatest man in Germanie Neerly a lyed and ever friend to England But Womens sighs move more in manly hearts O see the hands she elevates to Heaven Behold those eyes that whilome were thy joyes Uttering domb eloquence in Christal tears If these exclames and sights be ordinarie Then look with pittie on thy other self This is thy flesh and blood bone of thy bone A goodly Boy the Image of his sire Turn'st thou away O were thy Father here He would as I do take him in his arms And sweetly kiss his Grand-child in the face O Edward too young in experience That canst not look into the grievous wrack Ensuing this thy obstinate deniall O Edward too young in experience That canst not see into the future good Ensuing thy most just acknowledgement Hear me thy truest friend I will repeat them For good thou hast an Heir indubitate Whose eyes already sparckle Majesty Born in true Wedlock of a Princely Mother And all the German Princes to thy friends Where on the contrary thine eyes shall see The speedy Tragedie of thee and thine Like Athamas first will I ceize upon Thy young unchristened and despised Son And with his guiltless brains bepaint the Stones Then like Virginius will I kill my Child Unto thine eyes a pleasing spectacle Yet shall it be a momentarie pleasure Henry of England shall mourn with me For thou thy self Edward shall make the third And be an actor in this bloody Scean Hede. Ah myne seete Edouart mein herzkin myne scherzkin mein herziges einiges herz mein allerleivest husband I preedee mein leefe see me friendlich one good feete harte tell de trut and at lest to me and dyne allerleefest schild shew pitty dan ich bin dyne vnd dow bist myne dow hast me geven ein kindelein O Edouart feete Edouart erbarmet sein Edw. O Hedewick peace thy speeches pierce my soul Hede. Hedewick doe yow excellencie hight me Hedewick seete Edouart yow weete ich bin yowr allerlieueste wife Edward The Priest I must confess made thee my Wife Curst be the damned villanous adulterer That with so fowl a blot divorc'd our love Hede. O mein allerleevester hieborne Furst vnd Herr dinck dat unser Herr Gott sitts in himmells trone and sees dat hart vnd will my cause woll recken Saxon. Edward hold me not up with long delays But quickly say wilt thou confess the truth Edward As true as I am born of Kingly Linage And am the best Plantagenet next my Father I never carnallie did touch her body Saxon. Edward this answer had we long ago Seest thou this brat speak quickly or he dyes Edward His death will be more piercing to thine eyes Than unto mine he is not of my kin Hede. O Father O myne Uatter spare myne kindt O Edouart O Prince Edouart spreak now oder nimmermehr die kindt ist mein it soll nicht sterben Saxon. Have I dishonoured my self so much To bow my Knee to thee which never bow'd But to my God and am I thus rewarded Is he not thine speak murderous-minded Prince Edward O Saxon Saxon mitigate thy rage First thy exceeding great humilitie When to thy captive prisoner thou didst kneel Had almost made my lying tongue confess The deed which I protest I never did But thy not causeless furious madding humour Together with thy Daughters pitious cryes Whom as my life and soul I dearly love Had thorowly almost perswaded me To save her honour and belie my self And were I not a Prince of so high blood And Bastards have no scepter-bearing hands I would in silence smother up this blot And in compassion of thy Daughters wrong Be counted Father to an others Child For why my soul knows her unguiltiness Saxon. Smooth words in bitter sense is thine answer Hede. Ey vatter geue mir mein kindt die kind i st mein Saxon. Das weis ich
bridle nature I must weep Or heart will break with burden of my thoughts Nor am I yet so young or fond withall Causless to spend my gall and fret my heart 'T is not that he is dead for all must dye But that I live to hear his lives reproach O sacred Emperour these ears have heard What no Sons ears can unrevenged hear The Princes all of them but specially The Prince Elector Archbishop of Collen Revil'd him by the names of murderer Arch villain robber of the Empires fame And Caesars tutor in all wickedness And with a general voice applaus'd his death As for a special good to Christendome Alphon. Have they not reason to applaud the deed Which they themselves have plotted ah my Boy Thou art too young to dive into their drifts Alex. Yet old enough I hope to be reveng'd Alphon. What wilt thou do or whither wilt thou run Alex. Headlong to bring them death then dye my self Alphon. First hear the reason why I do mistrust them Alex. They had no reason for my Father's death And I scorn reason till they all be dead Alphon. Thou wilt not scorn my Counsel in revenge Alex. My rage admits no Counsel but revenge Alphon. First let me tell thee whom I do mistrust Alex. Your Highness said you did mistrust them all Alpho. Yea Alexander all of them and more than all My most especiall neerest dearest friends Alex. All 's one to me for know thou Emperour Were it thy Father Brother or thine Empress Yea were 't thy self that did'st conspire his death This fatal hand should take away thy life Alphon. Spoke like a Son worthy so dear a Father Be still and hearken I will tell thee all The Duke of Saxon Alex. O I thought no less Alphon. Suppress thy choler hearken to the rest Saxon I say so wrought with flattering Mentz Mentz with Bohemia Trier and Brandenburg For Collen and the Palsgrave of the Rhein Were principals with Saxon in the Plot That in a general meeting to that purpose The seven selected Emperours electors Most hainously concluded of the murder The reason why they doom'd him unto death Was his deep wisdom and sound policy Knowing while he did live my state was firm He being dead my hope must dye with him Now Alexander will we be reveng'd Upon this wicked whore of Babylon This hideous monster with the seven-fold head We must with cunning level at the heart With pierc'd and perisht all the body dyes Or strike we off her heads by one and one Behooveth us to use dexterity Lest she do trample us under her feet And tryumph in our honours overthrow Alex. Mad and amazd to hear this tragicke doom I do subscribe unto your sound advice Alphon. Then hear the rest these seven gave but she sentence A neerer hand put it in execution And but I lov'd Lorenzo as my life I never would betray my dearest Wife Alex. What what the Empress accessary to Alphon. What cannot kindred do her Brother Richard Hoping thereby to be an Emperour Gave her a dram that sent him to his grave Alex. O my poor Father wert thou such an eye-sore That 9. the greatest Princes of the earth Must be confederate in thy tragedy But why do I respect their mightiness Who did not once respect my Fathers life Your Majesty may take it as you please I 'l be reveng'd upon your Emperess On English Richard Saxon and the Palsgrave On Bohem Collen Mentz Trier and Brandenburg If that the Pope of Rome himself were one In this confederacy undaunted I Amidst the College of his Cardinals Would press and stab him in St. Peters chair Though clad in all his Pontificalibus Alphon. Why Alexander do'st thou speak to me As if thou didst mistrust my forwardness No thou shalt know my love to him was such And in my heart I have proscrib'd them all That had to do in this conspiracy The bands of Wedlock shall not serve her turn Her fatal lot is cast among the rest And to conclude my soul doth live in Hell Till I have set my foot upon their necks That gave this spur of sorrow to my heart But with advice it must be managed Not with a head-long rage as thou intend'st Nor in a moment can it be perform'd This work requires long time dissembling looks Commixt with undermining actions Watching advantages to execute Our foes are mighty and their number great It therefore follows that our Strangems Must branch forth into manifold deceits Endless devices bottomless conclusions Alexan. What by your Majesty is prescrib'd to me That will I execute or dye the death I am content to suck my sorrows up And with dull patience will attend the time Gaping for every opportunity That may present the least occasion Although each minute multiply mine anguish And to my view present a thousand forms Of senseless bodies in my Fathers shape Yelling with open throat for just revenge Alphon. Content thy self he shall not cry in vain I have already plotted Richards death Alex. That hath my Fathers sacred Ghost inspir'd O tell me shall I stab him suddainly The time seems long till I be set a work Alphon. Thou knowest in griping at our lots to day It was Prince Richard's hap to be the bowr So that his Office is to drive the Cart And bring a load of Wood into the Kitchin Alex. O excellent your Grace being Forester As in the thicket he doth load the Cart May shoot him dead as if he were a Deer Alphon. No Alexander that device were shallow Thus it must be there are two very howrs Appointed for to help him in the Wood These must be brib'd or cunningly seduc'd Instead of helping him to murder him Ale Verbum satis sapienti it is enough Fortune hath made me Marshal of the sports I hope to Marshal them to th' Devils Feast Plot you the rest this will I execute Dutch bowrs as towsandt schelms and gold to tempt them Alphon. 'T is right about it then but cunningly Alex. Else let me lose that good opinion Which by your Highness I desire to hold By Letters which I 'l strew within the Wood I 'l undermine the bowrs to murder him Nor shall they know who set them so a work Like a familiar will I fly about And nimbly haunt their Ghosts in every nook Exit Manet Alphonsus Alphon. This one nayl helps to drive the other out I slew the Father and bewitch the Son With power of words to be the instrument To rid my foes with danger of his life How easily can subtil age intice Such credulous young novices to their death Huge wonders will Alphonsus bring to pass By the mad mind of this enraged Boy Even they which think themselves my greatest friends Shall fall by this deceit yea my Arch-enemies Shall turn to be my chief confederates My sollitary walks may breed suspect I 'le therefore give my self to Companie As I intended nothing out these sports Yet hope to send most actors in this
untrust my points uncas'd my self And in a moment slipt between the Sheets There lying in deep contemplation The Princess of her self drew neer to me Gave me her hand spake prettily in Dutch I know not what and kist me lovingly And as I shrank out of my luke warm place To make her room she clapt thrice with her feet And through a trap-door sunck out of my sight Knew I but her Confederates in the deed I say no more Empress Tush Cosin be content So many Lands so many fashions It is the German use be not impatient She will be so much welcomer to morrow Rich. Come Nephew we 'l be Bed-fellows to night Edward Nay if I find her not I 'le lye alone I have good hope to ferret out her Bed And so good night sweet Princess all at once Alphon. Godnight to all Marshal discharge the train Alex. To Bed to Bed the Marshal crys 't is time Exeunt Flourish Cornets Manent Saxon Richard Palsgrave Collen Empress Saxon. Now Princes it is time that we advise Now we are all fast in the Fowlers gin Not to escape his subtle snares alive Unless by force we break the Nets asunder When he begins to cavil and pick quarrels I will not trust him in the least degree Empress It may beseem me evill to mistrust My Lord and Emperour of so foul a fact But love unto his honour and your lives Makes me with tears intreat your Excellencies To fly with speed out of his dangerous reach His cloudy brow foretells a suddain storm Of blood not natural but prodigious Rich. The Castle gates are shut how should we fly But were they open I would lose my life E're I would leave my Nephew to the slaughter He and his Bride were sure to bear the brunt Saxon. Could I get out of doors I 'ld venture that And yet I hold their persons dear enough I would not doubt but e're the morning Sun Should half way run his course into the South To compass and begirt him in his Fort With Saxon lansknights and brunt-bearing Switzers Who lye in Ambuscado not far hence That he should come to Composition And with safe conduct bring into our tents Both Bride and Bridegroom and all other friends Empress My Chamber Window stands upon the Wall And thence with ease you may escape away Saxon. Prince Richard you will bear me Company Richard I will my Lord Saxon. And you Prince Pallatine Pals. The Spanish Tyrant hath me in suspect Of poysoning him I 'l therefore stay it out To fly upon 't were to accuse my self Empress If need require I 'le hide the Pallatine Untill to morrow if you stay no longer Saxon. If God be with us e're to morrow noon We 'll be with Ensigns spread before the Walls We leave dear pledges of our quick return Emp. May the Heavens prosper your just intents Exeunt Enter Alphonsus Alphon. This dangerous plot was happily overheard Here didst thou listen in a blessed howr Alexander where do'st thou hide thy self I 've sought thee in each Corner of the Court And now or never must thou play the man Alex. And now or never must your Highness stir Treason hath round encompassed your life Alphon. I have no leasure now to hear thy talk Seest thou this Key Alex. Intends your Majesty that I should steal into the Princes Chambers And sleeping stab them in their Beds to night That cannot be Alphon. Wilt thou not hear me speak Alex. The Prince of England Saxon and of Collen Are in the Empress Chamber privily Alphon. All this is nothing they would murder me I come not there to night seest thou this Key Alex. They mean to fly out at the Chamber Window And raise an Army to beseege your Grace Now may your Highness take them with the deed Alphon. The Prince of Wales I hope is none of them Alex. Him and his Bride by force they will recover Alphon. What makes the cursed Palsgrave of the Rhein Alex. Him hath the Empress taken to her charge And in her Closet means to hide him safe Alphon. To hide him in her Closet of bold deeds The dearest charge that e're she undertook Well let them bring their Complots to an end I 'le undermine to meet them in their works Alex. Will not your Grace surprize them e're they fly Alphon. No let them bring their purpose to effect I 'le fall upon them at my best advantage Seest thou this Key there take it Alexander Yet take it not unless thou be resolv'd Tush I am fond to make a doubt of thee Take it I say it doth command all Doors And will make open way to dire revenge Alex. I know not what your Majesty doth mean Alphon. Hie thee with speed into the inner Chamber Next to the Chappe and there shalt thou find The danty trembling Bride coutcht in her Bed Having beguil'd her Bridegroom of his hopes Taking her farewel of Virginity Which she to morrow night expects to lose By night all Cats are gray and in the dark She will imbrace thee for the Prince of Wales Thinking that he hath found her Chamber out Fall to thy business and make few words And having pleas'd thy senses with delight And fild thy beating vains with stealing joy Make thence agen before the break of day What strange events will follow this device We need not study on our foes shall find How now how standst thou hast thou not the heart Alex. Should I not have the heart to do this deed I were a Bastard villain and no man Her sweetness and the sweetness of revenge Tickles my senses in a double sense And so I wish your Majesty good night Alphon. God night sweet Venus prosper thy attempt Alex. Sweet Venus and grim Ate I implore Stand both of you to me auspicious Exit Alexander Alphon. It had been pitty of his Fathers life Whose death hath made him such a perfect villain What murder wrack and causeless enmity 'Twixt dearest friends that are my strongest foes Will follow suddainly upon this rape I hope to live to see and laugh thereat And yet this peece of practice is not all The King of Bohem though he little feel it Because in twenty hours it will not work Hath from my Knives point suck'd his deadly bane Whereof I will be least of all suspected For I will feign my self as sick as he And blind mine enemies eyes with deadly groans Upon the Palsgrave and mine Emperess Heavy suspect shall light to bruze their bones Though Saxon would not suffer him to taste The deadly potion provided for him He cannot save him from the Sword of Iustice When all the world shall think that like a villain He hath poyson'd two great Emperours with one draught That deed is done and by this time I hope The other is a doing Alexander I doubt it not will do it thorowly While these things are a brewing I 'l not sleep But sudainly break ope the Chamber doors And rush upon my Empress and the Palsgrave Holla
of bloud and death are hapned Saxon. My mind misgave a massacre this night Rich. How do's Prince Edward then Sax. How do's my Daughter Collen How goes it with the Palsgrave of the Rhein Brand. Prince Edward and his Bridle do live in health And shall be brought unto you when you please Saxon. Let them be presently deliver'd Coll. Lives not the Palsgrave too Mentz In Heaven or Hell he lives and reaps the merrit of his deeds Coll. What damned hand hath butchered the Prince Saxon. O that demand is needless who but he That seeks to be the Butcher of us all But vengeance and revenge shall light on him Bran. Be patient noble Princes hear the rest The two great Kings of Bohem and Castile God comfort them lie now at point of death Both poyson'd by the Palsgrave yesterday Rich. How is that possible so must my Sister The Pallatine himself and Alexander Who drunk out of the bowl be poysoned too Mentz Nor is that hainous deed alone the cause Though cause enough to ruin Monarchies He hath defil'd with lust th' Imperial Bed And by the Emperour in the fact was slain Collen O worthy guiltless Prince O had he fled Rich. But say where is the Empress where 's my Sister Mentz Not burnt to ashes yet but shall be shortly Rich. I hope her Majesty will live to see A hundred thousand flattering turncoat slaves Such as your Holiness dye a shameful death Brand. She is in prison and attends her tryal Saxon. O strange heart-breaking mischievous intents Give me my children if you love your lives No safety is in this enchanted Fort O see in happy hour there comes my Daughter And loving son scapt from the Massacre Enter Edward and Hedewick Edward My body lives although my heart be slain O Princes this hath been the dismall'st night That ever eye of sorrow did behold Here lay the Palsgrave weltring in his bloud Dying Alphonsus standing over him Upon the other hand the King of Bohem Still looking when his poyson'd bulk would break But that which pierc'd my soul with natures touch Was my tormented Aunt with blubberd cheeks Torn bloody Garments and disheveld hair Waiting for death deservedly or no That knows the searcher of all humane thoughts For these devices are beyond my reach Saxon. Sast dorh liches doister who wart dow dicselbirmafl Hede. Ais who who solt ich sem ich war in bette Saxon. Wert dow allrin so wart dow gar vorschrocken Hede. Ich ha mist audes gememt dam das ich wolt allrin geschlaffne haben abur vmb mitternaist kam meiner bridegroom bundt si flaffet bey mir bis wir mit dem getunnuel erwacht waren Edward What says she came her Bridegroom to her at midnight Rich. Nephew I see you were not over-reach'd Although she slipt out of your arms at first You ceiz'd her surely e're you left the chace Saxon. But left your Grace your Bride alone in Bed Or did she run together in the Larum Edward Alas my Lords this is no time to jest I lay full sadly in my Bed alone Not able for my life to sleep a wink Till that the Larum Bell began to Ring And then I starred from my weary couch Saxon. How now this rimes not with my daughters speech She says you found her Bed and lay with her Edward Not I your Highness did mistake her words Collen Deny it not Prince Edward 't is an honour Edward My Lords I know no reason to deny it T' have found her Bed I would have given a million Saxon. Hedswick der Furst sagt er satt mist be dir schlafin Hede. Es gefelt ihm also zum sagun aber ich habes woll gerfralet Rich. She say's you are dispos'd to jest with her But yesternight she felt it in good earnest Edward Unckle these jests are too unsavorie Ill suited to these times and please me not Lab ich bin you geshlapen yesternight Hede. I leff warum snlt ihrs fragen Saxon. Edward I tell thee 't is no jesting matter Say plainly wa'st thou by her I or no Edward As I am Prince true heir to Englands Crown I never toucht her body in a Bed Hede. Das haste gethan order holle mich der divell Richard Nephew take heed you hear the Princess words Edward It is not she nor you nor all the world Shall make me say I did anothers deed Saxon. Anothers deed what think'st thou her a whore Saxon strikes Edward Edward She may be Whore and thou a villain too Strook me the Emperour I will strike again Collen Content you Princes buffet not like boys Richard Hold you the one and I will hold the other Hede. O her got help help oich arms kindt Saxon. Souldiers lay hands upon the Prince of Wales Convey him speedily unto a prison And load his Legs with grievous bolts of Iron Some bring the Whore my Daughter from my fight And thou smooth Englishman to thee I speak My hate extends to all thy Nation Pack thee out of my sight and that with speed Your English practises have all to long Muffled our German eyes pack pack I say Richard Although your Grace have reason for your rage Yet be not like a madman to your friends Saxon. My friends I scorn the friendship of such mates That seek my Daughters spoil and my dishonour But I will teach the Boy another lesson His head shall pay the ransom of his fault Richard His head Saxon. And thy head too O how my heart doth swell Was there no other Prince to mock but me First woo then marry her then lye with her And having had the pleasure of her Bed Call her a Whore in open audience None but a villain and a slave would do it My Lords of Mentz of Tryer and Brandenburg Make ope the Gates receive me as a friend I 'le be a scourge unto the English Nation Mentz Your Grace shall be the welcom'st guest alive Collen None but a madman would do such a deed Saxon. Then Collen count me mad for I will do it I 'le set my life and Land upon the hazard But I will thoroughly found this deceit What will your Grace leave me or follow me Collen No Saxon know I will not follow thee And leave Prince Richard in so great extreams Saxon. Then I defy you both and so farwell Rich. Yet Saxon hear me speak before thou go Look to the Princes life as to thine own Each perisht hair that falleth from his head By thy default shall cost a Saxon City Henry of England will not lose his heir And so farwel and think upon my words Saxon. Away I do disdain to answer thee Pack thee with shame again into thy Countrie I 'le have a Cock-boat at my proper charge And send th' Imperial Crown which thou hast won To England by Prince Edward after thee Exeunt Man Rich and Coll. Collen Answer him not Prince Richard he is mad Choler and grief
reason why because he only knew All Plotts and complots of his villanie His death was made the Basis and the Ground Of every mischief that hath troubled you Saxon. If thou thy Father and thy Progenie Were hang'd and burnt and broken on the Wheel How could their deaths heap mischief on our heads Alex. And if you will not hear the Reason chuse I tell thee I have slain an Emperour And thereby think my self as good a man As thou or any man in Christendom Thou shalt entreat me ere I tell thee more Brand. Proceed Alex. Not I Saxon. I prethe now proceed Alex. Since you intreat me then I will proceed This murtherous Devill having slain my Father Buz'd cunningly into my credulous ears That by a General Councell of the States And as it were by Act of Parlement The seven Electors had set down his death And made the Empress Executioner Transferring all the guilt from him to you This I believ'd and first did set upon The life of Princely Richard by the Boors But how my purpose faild in that his Grace best knows Next by a double intricate deceit Midst all his Mirth was Bohem poysoned And good old Mentz to save Alphonso's life Who at that instant was in perfect health Twixt jest and earnest was made a Sacrifice As for the Palatine your Graces knew His Highness and the Queens unguiltines But now my Lord of Saxon hark to me Father of Saxon should I rather call you T was I that made your Grace a Grandfather Prince Edward plow'd the ground I sow'd the Seed Poor Hedewick bore the most unhappy fruit Created in a most unluckie hour To a most violent and untimely death Sax. O loathsome Villain O detested deeds O guiltless Prince O me most miserable Brand. But tell us who reveal'd to thee at last This shamefull guilt and our unguiltiness Alex. Why that 's the wonder Lords and thus it was When like a tyrant he had tane his seat And that the furie of the Fight began Upon the highest Watch-Tow'r of the Fort It was my office to behold alofft The Warres event and having seen the end I saw how Victory with equal wings Hang hovering 'twixt the Battails here and there Till at the last the English Lyons fled And Saxon's side obtain'd the Victory Which seen I posted from the turrets top More furiously than ere Laocoon ran When Trojan hands drew in Troy's overthrow But yet as fatally as he or any The tyrant seeing me star'd in my face And suddainly demanded what 's the newes I as the Fates would have it hoping that he Even in a twinkling would have slain 'em both For so he swore before the Fight began Cri'd bitterly that he had lost the day The sound whereof did kill his dastard heart And made the Villain desperatly confess The murther of my Father praying me With dire revenge to ridd him of his life Short tale to make I bound him cunningly Told him of the deceit triumphing over him And lastly with my Rapier slew him dead Sax. O Heavens justly have you tane revenge But thou thou murtherous adulterous slave What Bull of Phalaris what strange device Shall we invent to take away thy life Alex. If Edward and the Empress whom I sav'd Will not requite it now and save my life Then let me die contentedly I die Having at last reveng'd my Fathers death Sax. Villain not all the world shall save thy life Edw. Hadst thou not been Author of my Hedewicks death I would have certainly sav'd thee from death But if my Sentence now may take effect I would adjudge the Villain to be hang'd As here the Jewes are hang'd in Germany Sax. Young Prince it shall be so go dragg the Slave Unto the place of execution There let the Iudas on a Jewish Gallowes Hang by the heels between two English Mastives There feed on Doggs let Doggs there feed on thee And by all means prolong his miserie Alex. O might thy self and all these English Currs Instead of Mastive-Doggs hang by my side How sweetly would I tugg upon your Flesh Exit Alex. Sax. Away with him suffer him not to speak And now my lords Collen Tryer and Barndenburg Whose Hearts are bruz'd to think upon these woes Though no man hast such reason as my self We of the seven Electors that remain After so many bloody Massacres Kneeling upon our Knees humbly intreat Your Excellence to be our Emperour The Royalties of the Coronation Shall be at Aix shortly solemnized Cullen Brave Princely Richard now refuse it not Though the Election be made in Tears Joy shall attend thy Coronation Richard It stands not with mine Honour to deny it Yet by mine Honour fain I would refuse it Edward Uncle the weight of all these Miseries Maketh my heart as heavy as your own But an Imperial Crown would lighten it Let this one reason make you take the Crown Richard What 's that sweet nephew Edward Sweet Uncle this it is Was never Englishman yet Emperour Therefore to honour England and your self Let private sorrow yield to publike Fame That once an Englishman bare Caesar's name Richard Nephew thou hast prevail'd Princes stand up We humbly do accept your sacred offer Cullen Then sound the Trumpets and cry Vivat Caesar All Vivat Caesar Cullen Richardus Dei gratia Romanorum Imperator semper Augustus Comes Cornubiae Richard Sweet Sister now let Caesar comfort you And all the rest that yet are comfortless Let them expect from English Caesar's hands Peace and abundance of all earthly Joy FINIS