to me Is twenty deaths I will haue liberty Now as you are a father be more kind You did not find me in so sterne a mind And you forgetfull of the life I sav'd Shall a Dukes Sonne by treason thus be slau'd If you suspect my loue grant me the fight I dare in single combate any knight Any adventurer any pandorus hinde To proue my faith of an unfained mind Duke Away with him Fred. I see my death 's set downe And some adulterous heire must weare that Crowne To intreate a Rodophe I had rather dye Then haue my life lodg'd in such infamy If all my fortunes on her words depend Let her say kill me and so make an end Duke Why stay you Vander. Good my Lord. Fred. Peace untaught Groome My heart 's so great that I de forerun my doome There 's no release meant you haue vowed I see To dam your soules by wilfull periury Yet that I am my selfe let these words shew To die is naturall 't is a death I owe And I will pay it with a minde as free As I enioyed in my best libertie But this assure your selfe when all is done They 'l kill the father that will kill the sonne Exit Duke What 's to be done now Mon. Seale unto his death Your warrant nere the sooner takes effect 'T will be a meanes to make him penitent And pardon 's meet for such as doe repent Seeing his fault hee 'l taste your mercie best When now he proudly thinkes he is opprest Duke A Warrant shall be sign'd and unto thee I doe commend it deale not partially If he be sorry and in true remorse Cancell the Writ else let it haue full force Had I ten sonnes as I haue onely this They should all die ere thou depriv'd of blisse So great is my affection my faire wife That to saue thine Ide frankly giue my life Come wee le about it strait all time seemes long Where thou hast found flight cause to feare my wrong Valen. That writ I le take and a conclusion trie If he can loue he liues if hate me die For howsoere I seeme to scorne the man Hee 's somewhat deare in my affection Here comes your brothers Enter Alfred and Hatto Alfred May it please your grace By chance entring into Saint Maries Church This morne by breake of day I espied That that I know will vexe your Excellence Your daughter Euphrata is married To the ambitious beggar Constantine Duk. My daughter married my Chamber-squire Mon. Your Excellence did banish me the land Because I did suspect her with that fellow Duke He shall be tortur'd with th' extreamest plague For his presumption Haue you brought them That I may kill them with a killing looke Hat Without direction we haue ventured to lay upon them Your strict command and they attend Duke Bring the presumptuous Enter Constantine and Euphrata Otho following in disguise Euphr. Forward Constantine our Rites are done Thou art my husband doe not feare his eye The worst it can import is but to die Duke Base and degenerate Euphr. He is a Gentleman 'T was base in you to wed a Curtizan Mon. Her brothers spirit right bold and audacious Euph. Then I am no bastard wherefore should I feare The knot is sacred and I hold it deare I am wedded unto vertue not to will Such blessed unions never bring forth ill If I offend in disobedience Iudge of the power of loue by your offence Father you haue no reason for this ire Frowne whilst you kill us desire is desire Duke A Curtezan hath that ambitious boy Taught you such Rethoricke you shall taste like joy I will not reason with you words are vaine The fault is best discerned in the paine Your hastie marriage hath writ downe his death And thy proud words shall seale it with thy breath By what is dearest to mee here I sweare Both of your heads shall grace a fatall beere Take them to prison I le not heare a word This is the mercie that we will afford Since they are growne so proud next morne begun Let them be both beheaded with my sonne Con. Short and sweet Euphrata the doome is faire We shall be soone in heaven there ends my care I scorne entreatie and my deare I know All such slavery thou hatest so 'T will be a famous deed for this good man To kill all 's children for a Curtezan Euph. Wilt thou die with me Const Would I liue in heaven Thou art now too high for me death makes us even Eup. Looke to your dukedome those that hast our fall Haue by their avarice almost hurried all There 's a whole Register of the poores crie Whilst they are reading them imbrace and die Flings downe her lap full of Petitions Exeunt Euph. and Constant Duke Beare them away And now let 's reade these Writes What 's here complaints against my worthy brothers For corne transported Copper money stampt Our subjects goods ceaz'd and I know not what A plague upon this busie-headed rabble We will haue tortures made to awe the slaues Peace makes them ever proud and malapert They 'l be an Overseer of the State Valen. And plead reformation to depose you Duk. True my faire Dutchesse but I le cut them short Rule still deare brothers take these to the fire Let me reade somewhat that augments desire Authors and golden Poems full of loue Such the Petitions are that I approue So I may liue in quiet with my wife Let fathers mothers children all lose life If thou haue issue in despight of fate They shall succeed in our Imperiall state Come sweet to dauncing then to sport and play Till we haue ruled all our life away Exeunt Manet Otho Otho O pittifull condition of a Realme Where the chiefe ruler is ore-rul'd by pleasure Seeing my friend surpriz'd in this disguise I followed him to meete the consequence And to my griefe I see his marriage rites Will cut him short of all this earths delights What 's that to mee when Constantine is dead I have some hope to attaine her Nuptiall bed But shee is doom'd as well as hee to die Can the Duke act his daughters Tragedie It is impossible he will relent And I le perswade her freely to repent Yet 't is most likelie that he will agree He is so farre spent in vild tyrannie The commons hate him for the wrong he hath done By his brothers meanes the Nobles for his sonne Famine spreads through the land the people die Yet he lives senselesse of their miserie Never were subiects more mislead by any Nor ever Soveraigne hated by so many But Constantine to thee I cast an eye Shall all our friendship end in enmitie Shall I that ever held thee as my life Hasten thy death that I may get thy wife Or love or friendship whether shall exceed I le explaine your vertue in this following deed Exit Enter Valentia Montano and Vandermas Va. Have you the instruments I gave in charge
Vand Wee have Val. And resolution fitting for the purpose Mon. All things are ready with our faithfull hearts Val. And she that undertakes so great an act As I intend had need of faithfull hearts This is the prison and the jaylor comes In happy time where 's trayterous Frederick Enter Iaylor Jaylor What is your highnesse pleasure with the Prince Val. Looke there if you can reade Iai O heavenly God what doe I read a warrant for his death Valen. Resigne your keyes goe weepe a diâ—ge or twaine But make no clamour with your lamentation Iay. I dare not prophesie what my souse feares Yet I le lament his tragedie in teares Exit Valen Oft have I seene a Nobleman arraign'd By mighty Lords the pillars of the land Some of which number his inclined friends Have wept yet past the verdict of his death So fares it with the Prince were I his jaylor And so affected unto Fredericks life The fearefull'st tyrant nor the cruelst plagues That ever lighted on tormented soules Should make me yeeld my prisoner to their hands Mon. Madam he knowes his dutie and performes it Valen Setting aside all dutie I would die Ere like a woman weepe a tragedie T is basenesse cowardize dutie ô slave Had I a friend I 'de dye in my friends grave But it sorts well for us Hindes will be Hindes And the Ambitious tread upon such mindes Waite whilest I call you in the jaylors house Mon. We will Exeunt Van and Mon. Valen. My Lord Prince Fredericke Enter Fred. Fred. Wofull Fredericke Were a beseeming Epitaph for me The other tastes of too much soveraigntie What is it you the glory of the stewes Valen. Thy mother Fredericke Fred. I detest that name My mother was a Dutches of true fame And now I think upon her when she died I was ordain'd to be indignified She never did incense my Princely Father To the destruction of his loving sonne Oh she was vertuous trulie naturall But this step-divell doth promise our fall Val. Why doest thou raile on me I am come To set thee free from all imprisonment Fred. By what true supersedeas but by death If it be so come strike me to the earth Thou needest no other weapon but thine eye T is full of poyson fixe it and I le die Val. Vncharitable youth I am no serpent venom'd No basiliske to kill thee with my sight Fre. Then thou speakst death I am sorry I mistooke They both are fatall there 's but little choice The first inthral'd my father the last me No deadlier swords ever vs'd enemie My lot's the best that I dye with the sound But he lives dying in a death profound I grow too bitter being so neere my end Speake quickly boldly what your thoughts intend Valen Behold this warrant you can reade it well Fred. But you the interpretation best can tell Speake beauteous ruine t were great iniurie That he should read the sentence that must dye Val. Then know in briefe 't is your fathers pleasure Fred. His pleasure what Val. That you must loose your life Fred. Fatall is his pleasure 't is to please his wife I prethee tell me didst thou ever know A Father pleas'd his sonne to murder so For what is' t else but murder at the best The guilt whereof will gnawe him in his brest Torment him living and when I am dead Curse thee by whose plot I was murdered I have seene the like example but ô base Why doe I talke with one of thy disgrace Where are the officers I have liv'd too long When he that gave me life does me this wrong Val. That is thy fathers hand thou dost not doubt And if thou shouldst I have witnesse to approve it Yet tho it be his hand grant to my request Love me and live Fred. To live so I detest love thee Valen. I love me gentle Fredericke love me Fred. Incestuous strumpet cease Val Oh thou dealest ill To render so much spleene for my good will Fred. Torment farre worse then death Valen I le follow thee Deare Fredericke like thy face be thy words faire Fre. This monstrous dealing doubles my deaths care Valen. What shall I call thee to allay this ire Fred. Why call me son and blush at thy desire Valen. I never brought thee foorth Fred. Art thou not wife unto my father Val. Thinke upon thy life It lyes like mine onely in gentle breath Or that thy father's dead and after death 'T is in my choice to marry whom I will Fred. Any but me Valen O doe not thinke so ill Rather thinke thou art a stranger not his sonne Then 't is no incest tho the Act be done Nature unto her selfe is too unkind To buzze such scruples into Fredericks minde T was a device of man to avoid selfe love Else every pleasure in one stocke should move Beautie in grace part never from the kinne Fred. If thou persever as thou hast begun I shall forget I am my fathers sonne I shall forget thou art my fathers wife And where 't is I must die abridge thy life Valen. Why did'st not kill me being thy prisoner then But friendly didst deliver me a jemme Vnto thy father wert not thou didst love me Fred. Be yond all sufferance monster thou dost move me 'T was for my fathers sake not for thine owne That to thy lifes losse thou hadst throughly knowne But that relenting nature playde her part To save thy blood whose losse had slaine his heart And it repents me not hee doth survine But that his fortune was so ill to wive Come kill for for that you came shun delayes Lest living I le tell this to thy dispraise Make him to hate thee as he hath iust cause And like a strumpet turne thee to the lawes Valen. Good Fredericke Fred. T is resolu'd on I have said Valen. Then fatall Ministers I crave your ayde Enter Van and Mont. Come Vandermas Montano where 's your corde Quicklie dispatch strangle this hatefull Lord Or stay because I loue him he shall chuse The easiest of three deaths that we may vse The halter poyson or bloodshedding blade Fred. Any of them Valen This Aconite's well made a cup of poyson Stuft with dispatching simples give him this And he shall quickly leave all earthly blisse There take it Fredericke our last gift of grace Since thou must die I le have thee die apace Fred. O happie meanes given by a trecherous hand To be my true guide to the heavenly land Death steales upon me like a silken sleepe Through every vaine doe leaden rivers flowe The gentlest poyson that I ever knewe To worke so coldly yet to be so true Like to an infant patiently I goe Out of this vaine world from all worldly woe Thankes to the meanes tho they deserve no thankes My soule beginnes t'ore-flow these fleshly bankes My death I pardon unto her and you My sinnes God pardon so vaine world adiew Valen Ha ha ha he falls asleepe Mon. Hee 's dead why does
your highnesse laugh Valen. Why Lord Montane that I love to see He that hath sav'd my life to die for me But there 's a riddle in this Princes death And I le explaine it on this floore of earth Come to his sisters execution goe We have varietie of ioyes in woe I am sure you have heard his Excellence did sweare Both of their heads should grace a Kingly beare Vpon a mourning hearse let him be layd He shal be intombed with a wived maid Exeunt Actus Quintus Enter Duke Hatto and Alfred Duke Bring forth the prisoners wher 's my beauteous Dutches That she may see the ruine of her foes She that upbraided her with slanderous wordes She that in scorne of due obedience Hath matcht the honour of the Saxons blood Vnto a beggar let them be brought foorth I will not rise from this cribunall seate Till I have seene their bodies from their heads Alfred Here comes the Dutches with proud Fredericks hearse Enter Valentia Montano Vandermas with others bearing the hearse with Fredericke on couered with a blacke robe Duke So set it downe why have you honored it With such a sable coverture a traytor Deserves no cloth of sorrow set it downe And let our other off-spring be brought foorth My beauteous lovely and admired love Come sit by us in an imperiall chayre And grace this state throne with a state more fayre Valen. My gracious Lord I hope your excellence Will not be so forgetfull of your honour Prove so unnaturall to your loving daughter As to bereave her of her life Because she hath wedded basely gainst your will Though Fredericke dyed deservedly yet she May by her loves death cleare her indignitie Duke She and her love we have sentenced to die Not for her marriage onely tho that deede Crownes the contempt with a deserved death But chiefly for she raild against thy worth Vpbraided thee with tearmes so monstrous base That nought but death can cleare the great disgrace How often shall I charge they be brought foorth Were my heart guiltie of a crime so vilde I 'de rend it forth then much more kill my childe Val O that this love may last 't is sprung so hie Like flowers at full growth that grow to die Enter Iulia with a vaile over her head Otho with another with Officers Duk. What means these sable vailes upon their faces Val. In signe they sorrow for your high displeasure For since the houre they were imprisoned They have liv'd like strangers hood-winkt together You may atchieve great fame victorious Lord To save the liues of two such innocents Duke T is pretty in thee my soule lov'd Dutchesse To make this Princely motion for thy foes Let it suffice the' are traitors to the state Confederators with those that sought my life A kinne to Fredericke that presumptuous boy That durst beare armes against his naturall father Are they more deare then he off with their vailes Mon. O yet be mercifull unto your daughter Duke You make me mad headsman dispatch I say They are doom'd to die and this the latest day Otho Then let him strike who ever traitors be Otho pult of his vaile I am sure no treason lives in her or me Duke How now what 's here Otho and Iulia. Am I deluded where is Euphrata And that audacious traitor Constantine Otho Why fled Duke To whom Otho To safetie here was none I can resolve you of the circumstance Betwixt the noble Constantine and I Noble I call him for his vertuous minde There was a league of love so strongly made That time wants houres and occasion cause To violate the contract of our hearts Yet on my part the breach did first appeare He brought me to behold his beauteous love The faire Euphrata her Angel sight Begate in me the fire of private love I that before did like her for my friend Now to deceive him sought her for my selfe But my deuice was knowne unto my friend And worthilie he banisht me his sight Duke What 's this to their destruction seeke them forth Otho They are far enough for suffering such a death I well considering my unfriendly part Bethought me how to reconcile my selfe Vnto my hearts endeared Constantine And seeing him carried to the prison we Followed and found meanes for their libertie Duk. Are they escapt then Otho Both in our disguise And we stand here to act their tragedies It they have done amisse on us Impose the Law Iulia. O let our suites prevaile I aske to dye for my deare Ladies sake Otho I for my friend Duke This friendly part doth make My heart to bleede within me and my mind Much perplext that I haue beene so unkind What second funerall march is that I heare Enter Rainaldo and Alberto like schollers grieving before the Beare others following them with the bodies of Euphrata and Constantine covered with blacke Alberto Health to this presence though the newes Impairing health I bring unto this presence The bodies of the drowned Constantine And the faire Euphrata behold them both Duke Of drowned Constantine and Euphrata Declare the manner and with killing words Temper thy words that it may wound my life Albert. Passing the Rhine bordering upon the tower From whence it seemes they lately had escapt By an unskilfull Guide their gundelet Encountred with an other and the shocke Drown'd both the vessayles and their haplesseliues Their bodies hardly were recover'd But knowne we brought them to your excellence As to a father that should mourne for them Duke Vnto a tyrant doe not call me father For I haue beene no father to their liues The barbarous Canniball that never knew The naturall touch of humane beauty Would haue beene farre more mercifull then I Oh tyrannie the overthrow of Crownes Kingdomes subversion and the deaths of Kings Loe here a piteous object so compleate With thy intestine and destroying fruite That it will strike thee dead oh Euphrata Oh princely Fredericke never deare to me Till now in you I see my misery My sonne my daughter vertuous Constantine Hat What meanes this griefe my Lord these are the traytors That you in iustice sentenced to dye Alfred A trecherous sonne and a rebellious daughter Valen. Those that did seeke to take away your life Mon. Bereaue you of your Crownes prerogatiue Duke Hence from my sight blood thirsty Counsellors They never sought my life but you haue sought it Vertuous Alberto and Rinaldo Had I given eare to them and to my sonne My ioyes had flourished that now are done Valen. Yet for my sake allay this discontent Duke T is for thy sake thou vilde notorious woman That I haue past the limits of a man The bonds of nature 'T was thy bewitching eye thy Syrens voice That throwes me upon millions of disgrace I le haue thee tortur'd on the Racke Plucke out those basiliske enchaunting eyes Teare thee to death with Pincers burning hot Except thou giue me the departed liues Of my deare children Valen. What am I
eaten with rats too he looks like a piece of cheese alreadie Hat You Rogues Alf. Good brother stay your selfe from wrath Thinke on the Bishop and his odious death Hat What odious death I pray Al. Eaten with Rats Whilest he was liuing for the wrong he did Vnto the poore the branches of our God Hat T is true and therefore call the poore againe Come hither friends I did forget my selfe Pray for me ther 's some silver for thy wants 2. Now the Lord blesse you and keep your good fate From being Mouse-eaten wee came thinking Wee should have some dole at the Bishops funerall But now this shall serve our turne wee will Pray for you night and day Hat Goe to the backe gate and you shall have dole Om. O the Lord save thee Exeunt Beggers Hat These Beggers pray and curse both in a breath Oh wherefore should we fawne upon such curres The mice of mankind and the scorne of earth Alf. So said our brother Hat And he was a Bishop Had read the Scripture and knew what he said Alf. But he hath brought that saying with his death With such a loathsome and notorious death As while the World 's a World 't will speake of Meath Hat The Lord Archbishop of Meath and die by Rats Alf. He did proclaime reliefe unto the poore Assembled them unto a private Barne And having lockt the doore set it on fire Saying hee 'de rid the countrie of such Mice And Mice and Rats have rid him from the World Hat Well I le not hurt the poore so publikely But privately I 'le grinde their very hearts Torture them living and yet have their prayers And by such meanes that few or none shall know it Al. In such a course Alfred would wind with you For though I counsail'd you to be more calme T was not in pittie of their povertie But to auoide their clamour to give nothing Will make them curse you but to threaten them Flie in your face and spit upon your beard No devill so fierce as a bread-wanting heart Especially being baited with ill tearmes But what course can you take to plague these dogges Hat Why buy up all the corne and make a dearth So thousands of them will die under stalles Alf. And send it unto forraine nations To bring in toies to make the wealthy poore Hat Or make our land beare wood instead of wheate Al. Inclose the commons and make white meates deare Hat Turne pasture into Parke grounds and starve cattle Or twentie other honest thriving courses The meanest of these will beggar halfe a Kingdome Al. I have a commission drawne for making glasse Now if the Duke come as I thinke he will T will be an excellent meanes to lavish wood And then the cold will kill them had they bread Hat The yron Mills are excellent for that I have a pattent drawne to that effect If they goe up downe goes the goodly trees I le make them search the earth to find new fire Alf. We two are brothers and the Duke 's our brother Shall we be brothers in Commission And I le perswade him to authorize thee His substitute in Meath when he enioyes it Hat Death I le get thee Regent under him In Saxonie to oppresse as well as I And we will share the profits live like Kings And yet seeme liberall in common things Al. Content what though the Rats devour'd our brother Was not a Prophet murdered by a Lyon King Herod died of Lice wormes doe eate us all The Rats are wormes then let the Rats eate me Is the dead course prepar'd Hat Embalm'd and coffin'd The Citie keyes delivered to my hands We stay but onely for his Excellence Enter Constantine Con. The Duke is comming if it please your honors Al. And he is welcome let the trumpets found second FLorish Enter Duke of Saxon Euphrata and Iulia. Hat Welcome thrice welcome our renowned brother Loe at thy feete the Citizens of Meath By us their Agents do lay downe the keyes And by this crownet and sword resign'd The state Maiestique to your Princely hands Discended to you by our brothers death Duke Then with your loves and persons we receive it Is then our brother the Archbishop dead Hat Too true my Lord. Euph. I am sorry for my Vncle. Hat And of a death so publike by reporte Al. Devour'd by Rats in strange and wonderous sort Duke Could not this palace seated in the Rheine In midst of the great River to the which No bridge nor convay other then by boats Was to be had ree him from vermine Rats Alf. Against their kind the land Rats took the water And swomme in little armies to the house And though we drownd and kild innumerable Their numbers were like Hydra's heads increasing Ruine bred more untill our brother died Duke The house is execrable I le not enter Hat You need not feare my Lord the house is free From all resort of Rats for at his death As if a trumpet founded a retreat They made a kind of murmure and departed Du. Sure 't was the hand of heaven for his contempt Of his poore creatures but what writs are those Hat Commissions if it please your grace for glasse For yron Mines and other needfull things Duke Our selfe invested in the government The Cities care shall lie upon your care Hat Alfred our brother may awaite your grace seven in Saxony so please you to command Duke We are now but three that lately have bin We have cause to love each other for my part Betweene you both we give a brothers heart Here or at Saxonis command at pleasure I weare the corronet be yours the treasure Al. We thanke our brother Duke Where 's my sonne Fredericks Enter Fredericke with a gloue Fre. Father the state of Meath desire your grace To take the paines to passe unto the Senate Duke What glove is that son Fred. in your hand Fre. I found it if it please your Excellence Neere to the state-house the imbroiderie Is very excellent and the fashion rare Duke I have not seene a prettier forme of hand Daughter let 's see is' t not too bigge for you Eup. Sure 't is some admirable worke of nature If it fit any hand that owes this glove If all the rest doe parallel the hand Duke Will it not on Euph. Not for a diadem I le trie no longer lest I shame my selfe Duke Try Iulia. Iu. My hand 's bigger then my Ladies Duke I cannot tell but in my minde I feele A wondrous passion of I know not what Fre. The imbroidered glove may be some childs no womans Duke I should mistrust as much but that this place Beares greater compasse then a childish hand I must command it Fre. Willingly my Lord. Du. Then to the state-house brothers lead the way First our instalement then a funerall day Exeunt Duke and brothers and Fred. Enter Otho Otho Yonder she goes the mirrour of her sexe Stay beauteous Euphrata Euph. Otho what Iulia Ju.
Here Madam what 's your will Euph. Call Constantine Tell him his deare friend Otho is return'd Iu. I will Otho Stay Iulia. Euph. Doe as I bid you goe Exit Iulia. Otho I had rather have a word or twaine with you Euph. I have heard him oft enquire for thee his friend I have heard him sigh I have seene him weepe for thee Imagining some mischiefe or distresse Had falne thee since the closets separation Otho And what a slave am I to wrong this friend Enter Constantine with Iulia. Con. Where is he Iu. Here. Con. The welcom'st man alive Vnkind how couldst thou stay from me so long Otho I have bin ill at ease pray pardon me But I reioyce to see my friend so well Euph. Some Ladies love hath made him melancholy Otho Shee hath read the letter that I lately sent her In a pomegranat by those words I hope Con. Why speak you not is' t love or melancholy Otho If upon love my griefe is melancholy Con. I le haue the best Phisitians here in Meath Assay by art to cure that malladie Eup. Gainst mellancholy minds your onely Phisick Our Saxon doctors hold that principle Now I remember you did lately send me A choice pomegranate fetch it Iulia Some of those graines well stir'd in Gascoine wine Is present remedie Otho Madam I le none Of all fruits that I hate Eu. And commended it so highly by the messenger that brought it Con. T was well remembred you shall take a graine Otho You will but vexe me Con. So his melancholly Doth make him froward with his dearest friend Enter Iulia with the pomegranate T is well done Iulia quickely cut it up And bring a cup of wine or let me doo 't Otho I see I shall be plagu'd with mine owne wit Being asham'd to speake I writ my minde Were you my friends you would not martyr me With needlesse phisicke fie upon this trasn The very sight is loathsome Con. Take it up But let me see what letter 's that that dropt Came it from you or from the Spanish fruit Iu. T is all the graines that the pomegranate had Con. Then ther 's some trechery within these grains I le breake it up And 't is directed to my Euphrata Eup. What may the tenure be I pray thee reade it He opens the letter reads Otho O fall upon me some wind-shaken turrer To hide me from the anger of my friend O from his frowne because he is my friend Were he an enemie I would be bold But kindnes makes this wound ô this horror The words of friends are stronger then their power Con. Withdraw good Iulia. Exit Iulia. Eup. 'Pray what is it love Con. T is love indeed to thee but to my heart Every loose sentence is a killing dart I brought this Gorges to my hearts delight And he hath drown'd his senses with the sight Except thy selfe all things to him were free Otho thou hast done me more then iniurie Well maist thou fixe thy eye vpon the earth This action fith breedes a prodigious birth It is so monstrous and against all kinde That the lights splendor would confound thy minde Otho I have offended prethee pardon me Con. What cause did move thee Otho Her all-conquering sight Con. Couldst thou usurpe upon my well known right Otho Thinke I am flesh and blood and she is faire Con. Thinke how I love thee Otho There proceeds my care Con. Our amitie hath bin of ancient dayes During which time wrong'd I thee any wayes Otho Never Con. But rather I have done thee good Otho I grant you have ô rather shed my blood Then number the kind deedes betweene us past For this unkindnesse here I love my last Euph. He doth repent and will renounce his suite Otho I doe renounce it Con. O thou canst not do 't Otho Suffer me stay a while in her faire sight 'T will heale my wound and all love banish quite Con. The sight of the belov'd makes the desire That burnt but slowly flame like sparkling fire As thou dost love me take thee to some place Where thou maist nere see her nor I thy face Otho By what is deere betwixt us by our selves I vow hencefoorth ten thousand deaths to prove Then be a hinderance to such vertuous love Con. Breake heart t is for thy sake Otho When I am dead O then forget that I haue iniured Con. O hell of love Otho Or rather hell of friends Con. Firmely till they love Otho Then thus all friendship ends Exeunt Actus Secundus Enter Duke Fredericke Hatto and Alfred Hat Good brother heare some Musicke t will delight you Al. I le call the Actors will you see a play Fre. Or gracious father see me runne the race On a light footed horse swifter then winde Duke I pray forbeare Al. This moode will make you mad For melancholy Vshers franticke thoughts Hat It makes hot wreaking blood turne cold and drie And drithe and coldnesse are the signes of death Duke You doe torment me Fred. Is it any thing That I have done offends your grace Hat Or comes this hidden anger from my fault Alf. Here 's none but gladly would resigne his life To doe you pleasure so please you to command Duke Ifaith you are too blame to vexe me thus Hat Then grounds this sorrow on your brothers death Fred. Or rather on the glove I lately found Duke A plague vpon the glove what 's that to me Your prating makes me almost lunatike As you respect my welfare leave me leave me The sooner you depart the sooner I Shall finde some meanes to cure my maladie Fred. Our best course is to be obedient Exeunt all but the Duke Duke Farewell Was ever slave besotted like to me That Kings have lou'd those that they never saw Is nothing strange since they have heard their praise Birds that by painted grapes have bin deceiu'd Had yet some shadow to excuse their error Pigmalion that did love an Ivory Nimph Had an Idea to delight his sence The youth that doted on Minerva's picture Had some contentment for his eye soft Musique But love or rather an infernall hagge Envying Saxons greatnes and his ioyes Hath given me nothing but a trifling glove As if by the proportion of the case Art had the power to know the jewels nature Or Nimph or goddesse woman or faire devill If any thing thou art within my braine Draw thine owne picture let me see thy face To doate thus grossely is a grosse disgrace Musique within I heare some Musique ô ye Deities Send you this heavenly consort from the spheares To recreate a love-perplexed heart The more it founds the more it refresheth I see no instruments nor hands that play And my deare brothers durst not be so bold 'T is some celestiall rapture of the minde No earthlie harmonie is of this kinde Now it doth cease speake who comes there Enter Fredericke Alfred and Hatto Fred. Father Duke From whence proceeds the Musicke that I heard Fred.
My guard pursue them and aliue or dead Cut off the cause by which these cries are bred Come my faire Dutchesse first unto the Church There sollemnize our nuptials then unto our armes A little rough breath over beares these stormes Exeunt Manet Alfred Hatto Alfred The Duke 's besotted now we are secure This match makes well for us we may command And on them lay the abuses of the land Hat Excellent good we are like to haue warres indeed But in the meane the poore will starue for bread Wee must share proffits howsoere things goe Winner or looser neither is our foe For mutually we 'le beare our selues in all Or taking part leane to the strongest wall Exeunt Enter Constantine and Euphrata Eup. My father married to a Concubine Then hee will pardon though I marry thee And howsoe'r about it presently The rather for Montano is repealde Because of his alliance to Valentia Con. I am ready gentle loue and glad in mind That my faire Euphrata will proue so kind Euph. Come my deare Constantine performe this right And arme in arme thus will we sleepe to night Exeunt Enter Fredericke Rinaldo and Alberto with Drum Colours and Souldiers Fred. You that are carefull of your countries weale Fellow compere Supporter of the State Let us imbrace in steele our cause is good What mind so base that would not shed his blood To free his countrey from so great an ill As now raignes in it by lascivious will Our friends to warre and for my part Ere lust beare sway I le gladly yeeld my heart Alberto I heare the Duke is strong Fred. Suppose him so And be advis'd strongly to meete the foe I had rather you should think him ten thousand strong Then find it so to our destruction An enemy thought many and found few When our first courage failes giues us a new Alarum Albert. That 's the Dukes Drum Fred. They are welcome to their death The ground they tread on covers them with earth Exeunt Enter Fredericke and Duke severall Fred. The enemy sends forth a Champion To encounter me I heard him use my name The honour of the combate shall be mine Duke Come boy retreate not only I intend With thy lifes losse this bloody warre to end Fred. My naturall father in my blood I feele Passion more powerfull then that conquering steele Duke Why dost thou pause base boy thy Soveraigne's come To inter the life I gaue thee in this tombe Fred. My father oh my father nature be still That I may haue my fame or he his will Duk. What dost thou feare thy cause is' t now so evill Fred. I am possest with a relenting devill Legions of kinde thoughts haue surpriz'd my sense And I am too weake to be mine owne defence Duke Thou art a coward Fred. And you make me so For you come charm'd like a dishonour'd foe You haue conferr'd with spirits and tane their aydes To make me weake by them I am betraid My strength drawne from me by a slight What other meanes could hold me from the fight Duke I haue no spells about me Fred. T is vntrue For naturall Magique you haue brought with you And such an exorcisme in your name That I forbeare the combate to my shame But that I am no coward from your host Elect two of the valiantst that dare most Double that number treble it or more I haue heart at will t' encounter with a score Or had your selfe come in a strange attire One of us twaine had lost his living fire Duke I le trie your valour see audacious boy Thou art incompast with a world of foes Montano Alfred Vandermas and all My Dutchesse comes too to behold thy fall If thou hast spirit enough now craue her ayd Never was poore ventrous souldier worse apayd Exit Duke Fred. My desire now from the skie of starres Dart all your Deitie since I am beset In honourable wise payes all Natures debt They fight Fredericke beats them off and courses the Dutchesse over the stage Actus quartus Enter Duke Montano Valentia Hatto and Alfred Drumme Colours and Souldiers Duke Our anger long agoe renowned Lords Is satisfied in faire Valentias loue Behold our proud sonne and these traiterous crew That dares confront us in the field of Mars Valen. You haue been too patient my beloved Lord In calming these tumultuous jarring spirits Scourge them with steele and make the proudest know T is more then death to haue their Prince their foe Mon. Bloody constraints beseemes where dutie failes And Oratory ceasing force prevailes Hat Peace would doe better so it pleas'd your sonne Fred. In her allurements first begun Banish her from the land and I le resigne Duk. Learne thine owne dutie traitor I know mine Albert. Then there 's no banishment Duk. None but by death Thy head is forfeit for that daring breath Alfred Submit degenerate and presumptuous Lord. Albert. When we are ignorant to weild a sword Fred. Never shall noble knee bend to this ground As long as that vile strumpet liveth crownd Duk. I cannot stay to heare my loue deprau'd In few words is it peace or shall we fight Till our deepe wounds shall dampe the heavenly light Make the ayre purple with the reaking gore Fre. Fight whilst life serues you we will nere giue ore The grasse greene pauement shall be drownd in blood And yet I le wade to kill her in the flood Duke Alarum Drum madnesse is on their side All vertuous counsell is by them defied Vpon our part strike Drums Trumpets proclaime Death most assur'd to those that haue their shame Alarum fight lustily and driue away the Duke Fredericke pursues Valentia over the stage and takes her a Retreate sounded Enter at one doore the Duke Mon Hatto and Alfred with Drum and Colours Enter at the other doore Fredericke leading Valentia prisoner Rinaldo and Alberto with Drum and Colours Duke Why doe traitors sound retreat so soone Fred. Behold the cause Duke Valentia prisoner Fred. The firebrand of this tumultuous warre The originall from whence your subjects bloud Flowes in abundance of this spatious play Valen. And what of all this Fred. That thy life 's too meane To satisfie the unworthiest of the Campe For the effusion of a loyall drop Duk. Meanes Fredericke then to kill his fathers heart In faire Valentia's death Fred. Not touch your hand other Then humble as becomes a sonne But shee shall suffer for enchanting you Valen. I am a Dutchesse set my ransome downe Fred. A dutchesse whence proceeds that borowed name Of what continuance scarcely hath the Sunne Beheld thy pride a day but doth decline Shaming to view a crowned Concubine Duke In mine owne honour Fredericke I command thou set a ransome on Valentia Fred. What honor 's that your Dukedomes interest Your princely birth your honourable fame All these are blemisht with a strumpets name Mon. Be not so cruell to bereaue her life 'T will draw upon thee a perpetuall scar Thy fathers
a Goddesse That I should fetch their flying soules from heaven And breath them once more in their clay cold bodies Duke Thou art a witch a damn'd forceresse No goddesse but the goddesse of blacke hell And all those devils thy followers What makes thou on the earth to murder men Will not my sonnes and daughters timelesse liues Taken away in prime of their fresh youth Serue to suffice thee Valen. O you are mad my Lord Duke How can I choose And such a foule Erynnis gase on me Such furious legions circle mee about And my slaine Sonne and Daughters fire brands Lying so neere me to torment my soule Extremitie of all extremities Take pitty on the wandring sense of mine Or it will breake the prison of my soule And like to wild fire fly about the world Till they haue no abioing in the world I faint I dye my sorrowes are so great Oh mortalitie renounce thy seate He fals down Valen. The Duke I feare is slaine with extreame griefe I that had power to kill him will assay hence forth My utmost industry to saue his life Looke up my Lord 't is not Valentias voice That Courtezan that hath betray'd thy honour Murder'd thy children and almost slaine thee I am thy sonne I am Prince Fredericke If thou hast any liking of that name Looke on my face I come to comfort thee Duke The name of Fredericke is like Hermes wande Able to charme and uncharme sorrowfull men Who nam'd Fredericke Valen. I pronounc't his name That haue the power to giue thee thy lost Sonne Had I like vertue to restore the other Behold my Lord behold thy headlesse Sonne Blest with a head the late deceased living As yet not fully waken'd from the sleepe My drowfie potion kindled in his braine But much about this houre the power should cease And see he wakes Duke O happinesse 't is hee Valen. Imbrace him then but ne're more imbrace me Fred. Where am I in what dungeon where 's my graue Was I not dead or dreamt I I was dead This am I sure that I was prisoned Duke Thou art deceiv'd my Sonne but this deceit Is worth commendations thanke my Dutchesse Her discretion reedified thy life But she hath pron'd her selfe a gracious wife Fred. She tempt me to lust wait in my grave Valen 'T was but to try thy faith unto thy father Let it suffice his hand was at thy death But t was my mercie that proclaim'd thy breath Fred. To heaven and you I render worthy thankes Duke O liv'd my Euphrata and Constantine How gladly would I all my griefe resigne Albert. On that condition and with this besides That you are pleas'd to pardon us and them We doe referre our persons to your mercie Duke My daughter my deare sonne in law Vertuous Alberto then my friend My ioyes are at the highest make this plaine How these sav'd drownd as Fredericke has bin slaine Albert. Presuming on the example of these friends And know we are all actors in this plot Boldly presented your presence with this minde If pardoning them your grace would pardon us If otherwise this was the ioy of either That death 's lesse painefull when friends die together Duke We doe receive you all into our fauour And my faire Dutchesse my unkind divorce Shall be confounded with a second marriage I here receive thee once more as my wife Val. You have your children I have paid that debt You have divore'd me therefore I am free And henceforth I will be at libertie Duke There 's no divorce can part thee from thy Lord. Valen. Like to unkindnesse ther is no divorce I will no more be won unto your bed But take some course to lament my life mislead Duk. Canst thou live better then in sacred wedlock Valen. Wedlocke to me is unpleasing since my Lord Hath broke the band of marriage with unkindnesse Duke Intreate her children Fredericke Euphrata Let me not loose the essence of my soule Fred. Divine Valentia mirrour of thy sexe The pride of true reclaim'd incontinence Honour of the dishonoring yeeld I pray And be mercifull pitty my fathers smart Since thy last thraldome hath neare cleft his heart Eup. 'T was for his children that his spleene did rise Anger a torture haunting the most wise Valen. O no I am a murderesse an Erinnis A fury sent from Limbo to affright Legions of people with my horrid sight Hat What doe you meane be won by their intreaties Alfred 'T is madnesse in you to be thus perverse Val Who ever speaks base wretches be you dumb You are the catter pillers of the state By your bad dealings he is unfortunate Thou honourable true beloved Lord Hearken to me and by thy antient love I charge thee banish these realme-sucking slaues That build their pallace upon poore mens graves O those are they that have wrong'd both you and me Made this blest land a land of miserie And since by too much loving your grace hath falne Into a generall hatred of your subiects Redeeme your lost estate with better dayes So shall you merit never dying praise So shall you gaine lives quietnesse on earth And after death a new celestiall birth Duke Vnto thy wisedome I referre their doomes My selfe my Dukedome and my crowne Oh were there any thing of higher rate That unto hee I 'de wholly consecrate Val. This kind surrender shewes you are a Prince Worthy to be an Angell in the world Of immortalitie Which these cursed creatures never can attaine But that this world may know how much I hate This cruell base oppression of the poore First I enioyne you for the wrongs you haue done Make restitution and because your goods Are not sufficient so to satisfie I doe condemne your bodies to the Mynes Where liue like golden drudges all your liues In digging of the mettall you best loue Death is your due but for your noble race This gentle sentence I impose on you The Duke succeeding shall behold it done Duke Who 's that my loue Valen. Kind Freaericke your sonne The interest that your grace hath given to me I freely doe impart Duke We doe agree to what my Dutchesse please Valen. The state is thine Thy Vncles sentence Fredericke shall be mine Fred. Beare them away what you haue said shall stand Whilst I haue interest in this new given land Hat We doe receiue our iudgements with a curse Valen Learne to pray better or it shall be worse Lords see these wormes of kingdomes be destroyed And now to giue a period to my speech I doe intreate your grace if that your loue Be not growne cold but that your heart desires The true societie of a chaste wife Be pleas'd to undergoe a further doome Wee haue liv'd too lightly we haue spent our dayes Which should be dedicated to our God In soule destroying pleasure and our sloth Hath drawne upon the Realme a world of playes Therefore hereafter let us liue together In some removed cell or hermitage Vnto the which poore travellers mislead May haue direction and reliefe of wants Duke A hermetary life is better then a kingdome So my Valentia beare me company Valen. If my dread Lord will for my sake endure So strickt a calling my bewitching haires Shall be made napkins to dry up the teares That true repentance wringeth from our hearts Our sinnes we 'l number with a thousand sighes Fasting shall be the Steward of our Feast Continuall prayer in stead of costly cates And the Remainder of our life a schoole To learne new lessons for the land of heaven The will where power is wanting is good payment Grace doth reiect no thoughr tho' nere so small So it be good our God is kind to all Come my deare Lord this is a course more kind No life like us that haue a heavenly mind Mon. O let me be a servant in that life Valen. With all my heart a Partner let him be There 's small ambition in humility Duke Fredericke farewell deare Euphrata adue Remember us in prayer as we will you Exeunt D. D. Fred. A happy change would all that step awry Would take like course in seeking pietie Otho Two humble suites I craue of my best friend First pardon for my rashnesse in your loue Next this most loyall Virgin for my wife Con. With all my heart if Iulia be pleas'd Iulia. I haue no power to disobey your grant Con. Then she is yours Fred. Alberto The offices belonging to our Vncles We doe deriue to you for your good service In our late warres and in our sisters loue And now set forwards Lords let us be gone To solemnize two mariages in one The Epilogue ENcouragement unto the valiant Is like a golden spurre upon the heele Of a young Knight like to a wreath of Bay To a good Poet like a sparkeling Crowne Vnto a Kings Son Honour and renowne Is the efficient and persevering cause Of every well deserved action Take away some recorde encouragement And the World 's like a Chaos all delight Buried unborne in everlasting night Even so it fares with us and with the rest Of the same facultie all meerely nothing Without your favour every labour dyes Saue such whose second springs comes from your eyes Extend your beames of loue to us at full As the Sunne does unto the Easterne clime And England may bring forth like India As costly spice as orientall Iems The earth 's all one the heare refines the moulde And favour makes the poorest ground yielde gold FINIS
curse and a continuall warre Duke Oh doe not threaten Fredericke is so mild He will not proue such a degenerate child I cannot blame him tho' hee rise in armes 'T was not in hate to me but in disdaine That I should sell my royaltie so vaine But did he know the value of the iem Hee would not crase it for a Dyadem That shee was common her owne words approue But many faults are cover'd where men loue As thou respects my blessing and good dayes Restore her Fredericke and augment her prayse Fred. Restore her Albert. Never Duke Albert Thou wert kind and I ne're wrong'd thee Doe not change thy minde Hat You doe abase your honour to intreate Duke How can I choose my affection is so great Alfred Your power is strong the enemy is but weake Duke In her destruction all my powers will breake As thou dost hope of kindnesse in thy choyse If ere thou loue giue eare unto my voice Turne not aside thy eye the feares I feele Makes me to bow where t is thy part to kneele Loe vassailelike laying aside command I humbly craue this favour at thy hand Let me haue my beloved and take my state My life I undervalue to that rate Craue any thing that in my power doth lye T is thine so faire Valentia may not dye Fred. My soule is griev'd and it appals my blood To see my father pusseld in such mood Yet shall shee dye I le doe as I haue said With mine hand I le chop off the Stumpets head Alberto Kill her my Lord or let me haue the honour Duke Tigers would saue her if they lookt upon her Shee is so beautifull so heavenly bright That shee would make them loue her for the sight Thou art more rude then such if thou proceede In the execution of so vilde a deede Remember one thing I did never loue Till thou my Frederick broughtst that fatall Gloue That and the Owners name thou didst descry Onely for that cause let not my loue dye Fred. O gods Duke Cannot my kneeling serue my teares prevaile When all helpes faile mee yet this will not faile Proffer thy weapon to her beauteous side And with her heart my heart I will divide Intreaty I le urge none more then are past And either now relent or here 's my last Fred. Stay if I should relent will you agree To signe our generall pardon presently Duke By heaven I doe I freely pardon all And a reward I giue in generall Fred. Then take her you deserue her were shee better Making your Crowne and life to be her Debter Duke Welcome a thousand times welcome sweete wife Never more deare then now I haue sould thy life Valen. This more then kindnesse I turne backe to you Doubling my chast vow to bee ever true Fred. Then here the warres end are our fightings mande Yet by your leaue I le stand upon my Guard Duke Take any course you please Citie or Towne My royall word I le keepe by this my Crowne Fred. Then thus I le take my leaue Duke Since we must part Farewell my Sonne all farewell with my heart Exount Fred. and his Mon. T was well my Lord 't was a good policie To gaine your bride I hope your grace did not meane To be thus overrulde by a proud Sonne Duke Why thinke you he intends some treachery Mon. Why not and did release Valentia To blind your eyes hee that could be so proud To rise in armes against his naturall Father Hath courage to doe more when he sees time Duke But I haue pardon'd that offence by oath Mon. It were no periury to make him know Hee is your Sonne and sonnes a dutie owe This sequestration will in time aspire Vnto a flame shall set your Realme on fire Warre when a Subiect hath the meanes of will 'T is not enough to say he has no will For will is alter'd by the place and time And hee that 's once up knowes the way to clime I speake perchance like a prophetique foole But these are wise can counsaile with your bride Wisedome adviseth timely to provide Duke What thinkes my loue of Frederickes reconcilement Valen. That he has spirit enough to be a traytor But I am be holding to him for a life And he may brag he gaue your grace a wife A good old man he could not choose but feele For shame some small remorse to see you kneele Pray God he gaue me not into your hand That he might be the ruine of your land Duke Thinkes my loue so but brothers what 's your censure Hat I am no Polititian Alfred Neither I. Wee are both content to liue quietly Duke Hee may be a villaine tho' he be my Sonne Mon. Why not and worke your ruine like a foe Had he meant well why did he leaue you so Your noble heart was free from all deceipt But hee 's retirde to doe some dangerous feate When Subiects stand upon their guard looke to 't They haue some plot in hand and they will do 't Duke What course is readiest to prevent such mischiefe Mon. Plucke up the fulsome thistle in the prime Young trees bend lightly but grow strong in time Were I the worthiest to advise your honour You should pursue him with your spredding bands Swifter in march then is the lightning flame And take him tardy whilst his plots are tame Now to charge on his army questionlesse Would driue them all into a great distresse If not confound them having tane your Sonne You may be as kind and doe as hee hath done So shall he know himselfe and be lesse proud Valen. The counsailes good Duke And it shall be allowed You that doe loue me see the host prepar'd To scare those traytors that our liues haue scarde Our armie 's many but their power is free Besides they are traytors all with us are true Sound Drums and trumpets make the world rebound Hearten our friends and all our foes confound Alarum Exeunt Enter Montano with two or three Souldiers Vandarman leading Fredericke bound Fred. Base cowards traytors how am I surprizde With these bonds I am a Prince by birth And princely spirits disdaine such clogs of earth Let goe you slaues Mon. First know your fathers pleasure Fred. You are too bold Mon. But you shall keepe a measure Fred. Thou blood of common Concubines must I Be bound by thee and heire of Saxony Duke It is our pleasure Enter Duke and Valen. Valen. Haue you caught him so Now shall you waite the mercy we will shew I was too base to be your fathers wife Duke But he shall sue to thee to saue his life Fred. Periurde ungratefull unnaturall Is this the Pardon given in generall Duke Wee 'l talke of that hereafter make him fast Valen. Helpe Vandermas our selfe will ayding be To keepe in awe such senselesse trechery Duke My helpe and all to prison there till death Remaine in duresse Fred. Rather stop my breath Strangle me with these cords prison