must giue him the remooue that 's flat Lor. I be gar hee be chose agen you hee giue you good worde so be dat but he will haue one fisgig or dia by gar for company on in principality be no possible Ier. Well I apprehend thee I haue a certaine Princely feeling in my selfe that he loues me not Stilt. Hold yee there my Lord I am but a poore fellow and haue but a simple liuing left me yet my brother were he a very naturall brother of mine owne should hee bee dopted I would dopt him and herrite him I 'le fit him Ier. I but how Stilt but how Lor. By gar my Lord I will tell you fine knacks for make him kicke vp his heeles and cry wee or be gar I be hange and so shall I be to and for de grand loue I beare you for de Lady Isabella's sake your most tres-excellent Lady moder Ier. Didst thou know her French doctor didst thou Silt. I as beggars doe the Ladies that are their Almesgiuers Lor. By gar you lye like Iacknape I loue de Lady With a boone coeur and for her sake here take dis same and dis same put dis in de cup where de competitor Prince otho shall drinke by gar it will poyson him brauely Stilt. That were excellent my Lord and it could be done and noe body know on 't Ier. I but he alwaies drinkes in my Fathers cup Lor. I so let be let de Duke drinke a de same Ier. What poyson my father noe I like not that so well Lor. You shall drinke too and I too and when wee bee sicke as we shall haue as shall haue a petit rumble in de belly dan take a dis same and giue your fadra dis but your cozin none of it and bygar noe body shall be dead and kicka and cry oh but Otho Stilt. That 's excellent master Ier. This is the poyson then and this is the medicine Lor. I dat be true Ier. Well Phisitian attend in my chamber heere till Stilt and I returne and if I pepper him not say I am not worthy to be cald a Duke but a drawlatch Stilt. Farewell awe and iebbit a vow and wee speede by thy practice wee 'l crush a cup of thine owne country wine Lor. Goe speede to spoyle your selues Doctor lie there Lorrique like thy selfe appeare So now I le post vnto the Hermitage and smile While silly fooles act treason act through my guile Exit Actus quartus Enter Ferdinand and Sarlois open a curtaine Kneele Saxony the Hermet and Mathias tapers burning Sarl. See Princely vncle blacke dormitory Where Austria and Prince Lodowick are layd On the cold bed of earth where they must sleepe Till earth and ayre and sea consume by fire Fer. Their rest be peace their rising glorious Sad mourners giue your partners leaue to kneele And make their offertorie on this tombe That does containe the honourablest earth That euer went vpright in Germany Sax. Welcome Duke Ferdinand come come keele kneele Thus should each friend anothers sorrow feele Sarl. Is Lucibella in this monument Red. Noe shee 's recouer'd from deaths violence But through her woundes and griefe distract of sence Sarl. Heauen helpe her here she comes Enter Lucibella mad Rod. Kneele still I pray Mat. Oh mee accurst I why liue I this blacke day Luc. Oh a sword I pray you kill me not For I am going to the riuers side To fetch white lillies and blew daffadils To sticke in Lodowicks bosome where it bled And in mine owne my true loue is not dead Noe y' are deceiud in him my father is Reason he should he made me run away And Lodowick too and you Mathias too Alacke for woe yet what a the remedy We must run all awaye yet all must dye 'T is soe I wrought it in a sampler 'T was heart in hand and true loues knots and words All true stitch by my troth the posie thus No flight deare loue but death shall seuer vs Nor that did not neyther he lies here does he not Rod. Yes louely madam pray be patient Luc. Iso I am but pray tell me true Could you be patient or you or you or you To loose a father and a husband too Yee could I cannot open doore here hoe Tell Lodowick Lucibell would speake with him I haue newes from heauen for him he must not dy I haue rob'd Prometheus of his moouing fire Open the dore I must come in and will I le beate my selfe to ayre but I le come in Sarl. Alas her tender hands smiting the stone Beweepe their mistris rage in teares of blood Ferd. Faire Lady be of comfort t' is in vaine To inuocate the dead to life againe Sax. I gentle Daughter be content I pray Their fate is come and ours is not far off Mat. Here is a hand ouer my fate hath power And I now sinke vnder the stroke of death But that a purer spirit fils my brest And guides me from the footsteps of dispaire Sarl. A heauenly motion full of charity Your selfe to kill you selfe were such a sinne As most diuines hold deadly Luc. I but a knaue may kill one by a tricke Or lay a plot or soe or cog or prate Make strife make a mans father hang him Or his brother how thinke you goodly Prince God giue you ioy of your adoption May nor trickes be vsd Sarl. Alas poore Lady Luc. I that 's true I am poore and yet haue things And gold ring and amidst the leaues greene Lord how d ee well I thanke god why that 's well And you my Lord and you too neuer a one weepe Must I shed all the teares well he is gone And he dwells here ye sayd ho I 'le dwell with him Death dastard Diuell robber of my life Thou base adulterer that partst man and wife Come I defie thy darts Fer. O sweet for beare For pitties sake a while her rage restraine Last she doe violence vpon herselfe Luc. O neuer feare me there is somewhat cries Within me noe tels me there 's knaues abroad Bids mee be quiet lay me downe and sleepe Good night good gentlefolkes brother your hand And yours good father you are my father now Doe but stand here I 'le run a little course At base or barley-breake or some such toye To catch the fellow and come backe againe Nay looke thee now let goe or by my troth I le tell my Lodowick how yee vse his loue Soe now god-buye now god-night indeede Lie further Lodowick take not all the roome Be not a churle thy Lucibell doth come Exit Sax. Follow her brother follow son Mathias Be carefull guardians of the troubled mayd While I conferre with Princely Ferdinand About an embassie to Aüstria With true reports of there disasterous haps Mat. Well I will be her guardian and her guide By me her sences haue bin weakned But I 'le contend with charitable paine To serue her till they be restord againe Exit Sarl. A vertuous
You know all Prussia take you for the son Of beautious Martha Sarl. I they suppose me to be Otho her son And son to that false Duke whom I will kill Or curse my stars Lor. His star is sunke already death and he Haue vowed an endlesse league of amity Sarl. Had I Briareus hands I 'de striue with heauen For executing wrath before the houre But wishes are in vaine hee 's gone Flourish Enter as many as may be spar'd with lights and make a lane kneeling while Martha the Dutchesse like a mourner with her traine passeth through Mar. Our son is somewhat slacke as wee conceiue By this delaying while our heart is fear'd And our eyes dim'd with expectation As are the lights of such as on the beach With many a longing yet a little proofe Stand wayting the returne of those they loue Enter Lorrique fals on 's knees Lord His Excellence no doubt hath great affaires But his familiar friend Lorrique is come Mar. kneele not Lorrique I prethee glad my harte With thy tongues true report of my son Otho Whome since his Princely Father is decea'st I am come from opprest with griefe In person to salute him for our Duke Lor. Your mother like affection and high care His Highnes doth returne with duteous thankes Desiring pardon of your excellence In that he did not first salute your grace But dismal accidents and bloody deeds Poysonings treasons soe disturbe this state Chiefly this gentle mind since the late death Of your right princely brother Ferdinand That like the carefull Captaine of a band He is compeld to bee the last in field Yet he protests by me and I for him That no soft rest shall enter his greeu'd eyes Till he behold your presence more desir'd Then the large Empire of the wide earth Onely he prayes that you would take your rest For in your soft content his heart is blest Mar. Spread me a Carpet on the humble earth My hand shall be the pillow to my head This step my bolster and this place my bed Lor. Your Highnes will take harme Mar. Nay neuer feare A heart with sorrow fild sleepes any where Will our son come to night Lor. Madam hee will Mar. See our traine lodgd and then Lorrique attend For captaine of the guard that wayt on vs Goe all away no body stay with mee Except our son come if we chaunce to call Trouble vs not god night vnto you all All with doing duty depart and she sits downe hauing a candle by her and reades Quo fugiat mortale genm nil denique tutum est Crudelis nam morsomnia falce secat Nil durum nil non mortis penetrabile telis Omnia vi demit mors vio lneta sua T is true the wise the foole the rich the poore The fayre and the deformed fall their life turnes Ayre the King and Captaine are in this alike None hath free hold of life but they are still When death heauens steward comes tennents at will I lay me downe and rest in thee my trust If I wake neuer more till all flesh rise I sleepe a happy sleepe sin in me dyes Enter Hoffman and Lorrique Hoff. Art sure she is a sleepe Lor, I cannot tell be not too hasty Hoff. She stirs not shee is fast Sleepe sweet fayre Dutchesse for thou sleep'st thy last Endymions loue muffle in cloudes thy face And all ye yellow tapers of the heauen Vayle your cleare brightnes in Cimerian mistmis Let not one light my blacke deed beautifie For with one stroake vertue and honour dyes And yet we must not kill her in this kind Weapons draw blood blood shed will plainely prooue The worthy Dutchesse worthles of this death Was murdered and the guard are witnesses None enter'd but our selues Lor. Then strangle her here is a towell fit Hoff. Good kneele and helpe compasse her necke about Alas poore Lady thou sleep'st here secure And neuer dream'st of what thou shalt endure Lor. Nay good my Lord dispatch Hoff. What ruthlesse hinde Shall I wrong nature that did ne're compose One of her sexe so perfect prethee stay Suppose we kill her thus about her necke Circles of purple blood will change the hue Of this white porphirie and the red lines Mixt with a deadly blacke will tell the world She dyed by violence then t' will be inquir'd And we held euer hatefull for the act Lor. Then place beneath her nostrils this small box Conteyning such a powder that hath power Being set on fire to suffocate each sence Without the sight of wound or shew of wrong Hoff. That 's excellent fetch fire or doe not stay The candle shall suffice yet that burnes dim And drops his waxen teares as if it mourn'd To be an agent in a deed so darke Lor. Will you confound your selfe by dotage speake S'wounds I le confound her and shee linger thus Hoff. Thou wer 't as good and better note my words Run vnto the top of dreadfull scarre And thence fall headlong on the vnder rocks Or set thy brest against a cannon fir'd When iron death flies thence on flaming wings Or with thy shoulders Atlas like attempt To beare the ruines of a falling tower Or swim the Ocean or run quicke to hell as dead assure thy selfe no better place Then once looke frowning on this angells face Confound her blacke confusion be my graue Whisper one such word more thou dyest base slaue Lor. I haue done I le honor her if you command Hoff. She stirs and when she wakes obserue me well Sooth vp what ere I say touching Prince Otho Mar. Prince Otho is our son come who 's there Lorrique Lor. What shall I answere her Mar. Whos 's that thou talkst with Hoff. The most indebted seruant to your Grace Of any creature vnderneath the Moone Mar. I prethee friend be briefe what is thy name I know thee not what businesse hast thou here Art thou a messenger come from our son If so acquaint vs with the newes thou bring'st Hoff. I saw your Highnes son Lorrique here knowes the last of any liuing Mar. Liuing heauen helpe I trust my son h 'as no commerce with death Hoff. Your son noe doubt is well in blessed state Mar. My heart is smitten through thy answere Lorrique where is thy gracious Lord Lor. In heauen I hope Hoff. True madam he did perish in the wracke When he came first by sea from Lubecke hauen Mar. What false impostor then hath mock't my care Abus'd my Princely brother Ferdinand Gotten his Dukedome in my dead sons name Hoff. I grant him an impostor therein false But when your Highnes heares the circumstance I know your wisedome and meeke piety Will Iudge him well deseruing in your eyes Mar. What can be sayd now I haue lost my son Or how can this base two-tongu'd hypocrite Excuse concealing of his masters death Vnhappy Martha in thy age vndone Robd of a husban'd cheated of a son Hoff. Heare me with patience for that pitties sake You shewed my captiue body
by the teares You shed when my poore father dragd to death Indur'd all violence at theyr hands By all the mercies powrd on him and me That like coole rayne somewhat allayd the heate Of our sad torment and red sufferings Here me but speake a little to repay With gratitude the fauours I receiu'd Mar. Art thou the lucklesse son of that sad man Lord of Burtholme some time admirall Hoff. I was his onely son whom you set free Therefore submissiuely I kneele and craue You would with patience heare your seruant speake Mar. Be briefe my swolne heart is at poynt to breake Hoff. I stood vpon the top of the high scarre Where I beheld the splitted ship let in Deuouring ruine in the shape of waues Some got on Rafts but were as soone cast off As they weare seated many strid the mast But the seas working was soe violent That nothing could preserue them from their fury They did and were intombed in the deepe Except some two the surges washt a shore Prince Charles being one who on Lorriques backe Hung with claspt hands that neuer could vnfold Mar. Why not aswell as he Lorrique doth liue Or how was he found claspt vpon his backe Except he had had life to fold his hands Hoff. Madam your Highnes errs in that conceite For men that dye by drowning in their death Hold surely what they claspe while they haue breath Lor. Well he held mee and sunke me too Hoff. I le witnes when I had recouerd him The Princes head being split against a Rocke Past all recouer Lorrique in desperate rage Sought sundry meanes to spoyle his new-gain'd life Exclayminge for his master cursing heauen For being vniust to you though not to him For robbing you of comfort in your son Oh gratious Lady sayd this grieued man Could I but worke a meanes to cald me her griefe Some reasonable course to keepe blacke care From her white bosome I were happy then But knowing this her heart will sinke with woe And I am rankt with miserablest men Lor. I gods my witnesse these were my laments Till Hoffman being as willing as my selfe Did for his loue to you that pittied him Take on him to be cald by your sons name Which now he must refuse except your Grace Attempt his seruice in Prince Otho's place Mar. If this that you protest be true your care Was like a long reprieue the date worne out The execution of my woe is come And I must suffer it with patience Where haue you layd the body of my son Hoff. Within the chappell of an hermitage Some halfe a myle hence Mar. I le build mee there a Cell Made like a tombe till death therein I le dwell Yet for thy wrongs yong man attend my words Since neyther Ferdinand nor Saxony Haue any heires to sway their seuerall states I le worke what lies in me to make thee Duke And since thou art accepted for my son Attempting it onely to doe me good I here adopt thee myne christen thee Otho Mine eyes are now the font the water teares That doe baptize thee in thy borrowed name Hoff. I thanke your Highnes and of iust heauen craue The ground I wrong you in may turne my graue Mar. Lights to our chamber now our feares are past What we long doubted is prou'd true at last Attend vs sonne Exeunt Martha and Lorrique Hoff. Wee 'l wait vpon your Grace Son this is somewhat this will beare the eyes Of the rude vulgar but this serues not me Dukedomes I will haue them my sword shall win If any interposer crosse my will But new made mother ther 's another fire Burnes in this liuer lust and hot desire which you must quench must I and shall I know Women will like how euer they say noe And since my heart is knit vnto her eyes If she being sanctimonious hate my suit In loue this course I le take if she denie Force her true soe si non blanditijs vi Exit Actus quintus Enter Saxony Rodorique Mathias seuerally Mat. Haue you not found her yet Sax. Not I Rod. Nor I Mat. Then I beleeeue borne by her fits of rage She ha's done violence to her bright fame And falne vpon the bosome of the Balt Sax. What reason leads yee to beleeue it son Mat. I did perceiue her some halfe houre since Clambring vpon the steepenes of the rocke But whether vp or downe I could not guesse By reason of the distance Enter Lucibella with rich clothes Rod. Stand aside she comes let her not scape vs now Sax. What has shee got apparrell I and rich Poore soule shee in her idle lunacy Hath tooke it from some house where t' will be mist Mat. Le ts circle her about least spying vs she run away with wonted nimblenesse Fayrest well met Luc. Well ouertaken sir Sax. What haue ye here Luc. And you too heartely Rod I am sure you know Luc. Why that 's well I like that that you are well and you and you god buye Sax. Nay nay you must not goe wee 'l hold you now Luc. Why that 's well done Pray come see my house I haue a fine house now and goodly knacks And gay apparrell looke ye here this is braue And two leane porters staru'd for lacke of meat Pray let goe mine armes looke here they bee Om. Oh horrid sight Luc. Nay neuer start I pray is it not like I keepe A princely house when I haue such fat porters at my gate Sax What should this meane why in this wood So thicke so solitary and remote From common road of men should these hang thus Brother your Hermitage is not far hence When knew you any execution here Rod. I neuer knew any and these bones are greene This lesse anatomy hath not hung long The bigger by the mosse and drynes seemes Of more coutinuance Mat What 's on there heads Luc. why golden Crownes my porters shall bee Kings And hide there barebones with these gay weeds Sax I doe remember the Admirall Hoffman that kept the Iland of Burtholme Was by the Duke of Prussia adiudg'd To haue his head fear'd with a burning crowne And after made a bare Anatomy Which by his son was from the gallowes stolne Luc I that same son of his but where liues he Sax. No doubt he doth possesse some caue hard by Luc. Come goe with me I le shew you where he dwels Or some body I know not who it is Here looke looke here here is a way goes downe Downe downe a downe hey downe downe I sung that song while Lodowicke slept with me Rod. This is some Caue let 's boldly enter in And learne the mistery of that sad sight Come Lady guide vs in yon know the way Luc. True that 's the way you cannot misse the path The way to death and black destruction Is the wide way no body is now at home Or tarry peraduenture here comes some will tell you more Enter Martha and Lorrique Mat. Stand close this is Lorrique I
this hatefull plot Least we be circumuented Rod. True 't is to put on open armes Mat. T is now too late we are beset With souldiers we must fight and since it must be Let 's to 't valiantly Enter Dutchesse Lord with souldiers Lord Princes prepare not to resist your foes Wee are as firme as life vnto your blood The Dutchesse Martha greetes old Saxony Prince Mathias Rodorick and fayre Lucibell To me she hath discouer'd the damnd plots Of that perfidious Hoffman and hath sent These armed souldiers to attend on you Sax. We thanke her Highnes but we thinke in vaine Both you and we attend Lorrique lyes slaine By Hoffmans slye suspition best be ioyn'd To apprehend him publiquely Lord There is no need our Dutchesse hath apparrel'd Her speech in a greene liuery She salutes him faire but her heart Like his actions is attir'd In red and blew and sable ornaments Sax. But tell vs where they are Lord At hand she comes with him alone her plot is She comes in happy time for all your good Mat Cease words vse deedes Reuenge drawes nigh Sax. Come set his body like a scarcrow This bush shroud you this you Stand close true souldiers for reuenge Luc. I doe doe doe I pray you heartely doe stand close Enter Hoffman and Dutchesse Hoff. I wonder much why you aske me for Lorrique What is Lorrique to you or what to me I tell you he is damn'd enquire no more His name is hatefuller then death Mar. Heauen what alterations these Can I beleeue you loue mee as you swore When you are so inconstant to your friend Hoff. He is noe friend of mine whom you affect Pardon me Madam such a fury raignes Ouer my boyling blood that I enuy Any one on whom you cast an amorous eye Mar. What growne so louing marry heauen defend Wee shall deceiue you if you dote on vs For I haue sworne to lead a widdowes life And neuer more to be tearm'd married wife Hoff. I but you must Mar. Must vse not force I pray Hoff. Yeild to my loue and then with meekest words And the most humble actions I le intreat Your sacred beauty deny me I le turne fire More wild then wrath come then agree If not to marry yet in vnseene sports To quench these Lawlesse heates that burne in me Mar. What my adopted son become my louer And make a want on minion of his mother Now fie vpon you fie y' are too obsceane If like your words your thoughts appeare vncleane Hoff. By heauen I doe not ieast goe to belieue me 'T is well you laugh smile on I like this Say will you yeild Mar. At the first fie noe That were an abiect course but let vs walke Into some couert there are pretty caues Lucky to louers suites for Virgil sings That Dido being driuen by a sharpe storme Into a Lybian caue was there intic'd By siluer-tongu'd Aeneas to affect And should you serue me soe I were vndone Disgrac'd in Germany by euery Boore Who in their rymes woud iest at Marthas name Calling her mynion to her cozen son Hoff. Fayrer then Dido or loues amorous Queene I know a caue where in the bright dayes eyes Look't neuer but a skance through a small creeke Or little cranny of the fretted scarre There I haue sometimes liu'd there are fit seates To sit and chat and coll and kisse and steale Loues hidden pleasures come are you disposd To venter entrance if you be assay 'T is death to quicke desire vse no delay Mar. Vertue and modesty bids me say noe Yet trust me Hoffman tha' rt so sweet a man And so belou'd of me that I must goe Hoff. I am crown'd the King of pleasure Mar. Hatefull slaue thou goest to meete destruction in the caue Hoff. S'death who stands here What 's that Lorriques pale ghost I am amaz'd nay slaue stand of Thy weapons sure the prize is ours Mar. Come forth deere friends murder is in our powers Sax. Yeild thee base son of shame Hoff. How now what 's here am I betrayd By dotage by the falshood of a face Oh wretched foole falne by a womans hand From high reuenges spheare the blisse of soules Sax. Cut out the murtherers tongue Hoff. What doe you meane Whom haue I murder'd wherefore bind yee me Mar. They are Iustices to punish thy bare bones Looke with thy blood-shed eyes on these bare bones And tell me that which dead Lorrique confest Who i st thou villained that least who wa st Hoff. Why Otho thy sons and that 's my fathers by him Mar. O mercilesse and cruell murtherer To leaue me childlesse Luc. And mee husbandlesse Mat. Me brotherlesse oh smooth tongu'd hypocrite How thou didst draw me to my brothers death Sax. Talke noe more to him he seekes dignity Reason he should receaue his desperate hire And weare his crowne made flaming hot with fire Bring forth the burning crowne there Enter a Lord with the Crowne Hoff Doe old dog thou helpst to worry my dead Father And must thou kill me too 't is well 't is fit I that had sworne vnto my fathers soule To be reueng'd on Austria Saxony Prussia Luningberg and all there heires Had prosper'd in the downefall of some fiue Had onely three to offer to the fiends And then must fall in loue oh wretched eyes That haue betray'd my heart bee you accurst And as the melting drops run from my brows Soe fall they on the strings that guide your heart Whereby their oylye heat may cracke them first I soe boyle on thou foolish idle braine For giuing entertainement to loues thoughts A man resolu'd in blood bound by a vow For noe lesse vengeance then his fathers death Yet become amorous of his foes wife Oh sin against all conceit worthy this shame And all the tortures that the world can name Mar. Call vpon heauen base wretch thinke on thy soule Hoff. In charity and prayer To no purpose without charity Sax. We pardon thee and pray for thy soules health Hoff. Soe doe not I for yours nor pardon you You kild my father my most warlike father Thus as you deale by me you did by him But I deserue it that haue slackt reuenge Through fickle beauty and a womans fraud But Hell the hope of all dispayring men That wring the poore and eate the people vp As greedy beasts the haruest of their spring That Hell where cowards haue their seats prepar'd And barbarous asses such as haue rob'd souldiers of Reward and punish true desert with scorned death FINIS