King Here on this humble ground lies he That once was King of this vast Monarchy Alas What are we Kings what 's Majesty But like a flattring glass that shews forth pride And with one stripe of all destroying death Is past to nothing lookes that face now Like to a brow that did command a Kingdome Thus pale and bloodless was this the head That wore the golden wreath thus groveld all with earth Take up the body and let it have a second buriall And layd within the sepulchers of Kings Our self will take our way And make a progress to establish Laws That this our Land Iustice may rule so even Our life may be acceptable to heaven Eâ—euâ—â— Enter Chorus The body being intomb'd King Edmund takes A progress through the Realm to establish Laws Himself in Iudgment Sits to hear mens cause Five years he spent mean time what cares befell Unto his Love the Nun of Holy-well And her affection'd Father now behold What 's done in shew I shall in words unfould A dumb shew Enter Thorny with Cittizens giving them large summes of money shewing them the money desires them to see his building goe forward takes his leave with a deaths head in his hand goes into the tombe Second dumbe shew Enter one way Edmund Wiltshire Bishop Lutius at the other Woodford and the Child he kneeles delivers to the King a Letter and a Ring he reads the Letter and smiles blesses the Child and gives it to Wiltshire the King and Bishop departes to see Anne Chorus Old Thorny thus o're grown with misery Who never more would see his vertuous Child But in a plot of ground a mile from London Builds up a tombe where night and day he lives His goods are sold and to the poor he gives Large sommes of money and takes a solemâ— oath Of those his friends and worthy Cittizens Fast by his tombe to build a famous Abbey And with three hundred work men dayly plied To have it finisht ere old Thorny died This done the King returned back to London And faithfull Woodford watching a fit time Presents him with a Letter and a Ring His long forsaken love had sent to him Which read the King wiâ—h much astonishmenâ— Remembers her and doth with teares express How much he blames his much forgetfulness Vowing to see her presents to him his Son Being grown to years of some dâ—scretion Which the King gladly takes and smiles on him What now shall follow with your gratious favour We humbly beg attention to the end And if we fail to please we 'le strive to mend Exit Ent. Old Thorny in his tombe Oh brightsome day thus low poor Thorny bows To strive with briny teares thy gladsome light Whose hopes have shut him up in darksome night Here in this tombe sequestred from the world Will Thorny spend his life and with my nayls To dig my grave and in this glass to see And view the end of all mortality Court-pomp and Citty pride look look on this And teach your souls the way to happiness â—oor flesh and blood is this the face of man After the worlds sad separation Must all return to this oh London London Thy flattery and guile Has bin the cause that I my self exil'd By Servants sorrow and Daughters sin I will behold thy populous streets no more Nor breath in thee nor surfet in thy store Here in my grave I 'le live and learn to dye That after death my Soul to Heav'n may fly Enter Lobster 'T is a fine world when a man must call a man Out of his grave to eat vittles They talke of watching of a dead corse I am Sure I have watcht a quick one this Month and brought him meat so long That I am almost starv'd my self I have brought him a clean shirt I would he would shift himself I found a lowse about him as big as The top of my thumb I thought as much He 's talking with that same casts head still Sure 't is a Lawyers head he Findes so much talke wiâ—h it it is not abel to Answer a wise word I am so hungry My guts are allmost clung together Mr pray will you leave your prating To that Memento mori and go to break-feast Thorn No set it down I have no mind of meat Till we have thankfull bin we should not eat Lobst Will you say grace and if you 'le wash your hands I 'le fetch some water Thor. Oh vanity of fooles hast thou thus long Bin my carefull contemplation And learn'st thou nothing yet look on this heaâ— This careless skull had flesh and blood And all like this must meet deformity What swearer sees this moth does not tremble Oh man how vain art thou that speakest thâ— labours For one bewitching minute of this world And after all thy joys to hell be hurld Lobst I would I were at the heaven of my vittals I 'de talke of hell afterward Thorn Hast thou no abstinence for pious workâ— Lobst There 's a piece of pye I would faine be at it Will you eat that and leave talking to that Testâ— de morte Thorn Go call my friends that over see my work Bid them come speak with me and then I 'le eat Lobst I will Sir but I 'le take away the provant Least they oversee that you see over Ent. 2 Cittizens My Master would speak with you 1 Citt. All haile to you Sir Thor. All are alike to me storm hayl or snow I take them thankfully You two were sworn overseers and performers of my will Tell me how goes the Abbey forward 2 Citt. 'T is allmost finisht Sir Thorn When it is finisht I 'le have it dedicated Unto the Monks of St Benedict's Order And since I have no child to keep my fame â—e call it Thorny-Abbey by my name 1 Cit. We shall perform your charge good Sir for pitty At least remember your most wretched daughter Thorn You tear my heart when you but mention her Were every penny that is mine a pound And the least part of it given for her dowry Would raise her to the Title of a Queen She never should possess it Her soul sin Hath brought myne age with sorrow to the grave 2 Citt. Poor soul she spends her hours in a reclusive life With holy Nunnes and lives a votarist in Holy-well That comfort Sir should somewhat ease your grief Thorn It does it does and draws down tears to hear it Give her a constant heart oh powerfull heavenl Still to perseveâ—e in that pious end And as a signe that I forgive so she continues firme Bear her this blessed token sent from me A Fathers gift and charge her carefully To look upon this head and there select Reasons to answer all the Arguments Of flesh and blood there she shall see The perfect way to find eternity And so for ever may your soules be blest Whilst from the world and you I thus take rest Exit Lob. Are they gone then Lobster lay abouâ— thee
present you Prompter And what are you to present them I pray Fool. A P a P a P a Pick-pocket Prompter A fool's head are not you a Pick-pocket quoth he a Prologue you mean Fool. Why I was sure it began with a P. And though you will have it a Prologue I say it is a Pick-pocket too I and a Pick-pocket Prologue too for ask um if all their pockets be'nt the worse for it The Prompter offers to strike him and he runs in Prompter Though he 's unready in 's part I dare say He did intend to bid you Welcome to our Play What more he had to tell you in his mind I finde not by the Notes h' has left behind But within gather from their studied parts And tiâ—ing-habits they will use their arts To shew how Royal bloud 's reveng'd when spilt And THORNY-Abbey first came to be built A place for great devotion of much fame Which since to Westminster hath chang'd its name Then if you 'l silent sit and mum not say The Actors enter and begin the Play The Epilogue to Thorny-Abbey AFter so grave a Scene since 't were not fit For to unhinge your thoughts with flashy Wit Or when the King and Court in mourning's clad For Thorny's death that you alone be glad Lest you approve your selves a kin to those Who sooner then comply with Kings depose Th' old Hermit's Doctrine only wee 'l apply And teach you from a Stage to learn to dy Whose Monumental Lesson though 't be true That death betides to Men and Tapers too Yet this one favour we do hope you 'l give Through your Applause that this our Play may live The Prologue to the MARRIAGE-BROAKER YOu who are seated and for entrance pay I bid you hearty Well-come to our Play A Play span-new and ne're yet on the score For th' Poet's faults or what 's the Actors more We therefore hope 't will please and reason good Since 't doth present no tale of Robin Hood No musty Story drâ—ss'd in Phrases new And yet you 'l finde in 't Wit and Language too It s subject is well known a common Vice Made up of Riot and foul Avariee For when a Royster spends his fair Estate And penny-less'gins to repent too late His first-fetch'd project how again to thrive Is â—ast about how richly he may Wive This soon is broke to some whose reaching Wits Can well contrive and 's conscience wrinkled sits Who out of hope to share the prey about Soon plods and finds the youth a Mistress out The Match soon made they 're married with all speed But hasty Weddings soon contention breed Our Play lays open every wile and gin Whereby they coaks and draw the Feinâ—les in Theâ— be attent and since fare arm'd fore warnâ—d How to beware such guiles may hence be learn'd The Prologue to GRIM the Collier of CROYDON YOu 're Well-come but our Plot I dare not tell yee For fear I fâ—ight a Lady with great belly Or should a Scold be 'mong you I durst say Shee 'd make more work then th' Devil in the Play Heard you not never how an Actor's wife Whom he fond fool lov'd dearly as his life Coming in 's way did chance to get a jape As he was ' tired in his Devil's shape And how aquivocal a generation Was then begot and brought forth thereupon Let it not fright you this I dare to say Here is no lecherous Devil in our Play He will nor rumple Peg nor Ioan nor Nan But ha's enough at home to do with Marian Whom he so little pleases she in scorn Doth teach his Devilship to wind the Horn. But if your children cry when Robin comes You may to still them buâ— here Pears or Plums Then sit you quiet all who are come in St. Dunstan will soon enter and begin THORNY-ABBEY OR The LONDON-MAID A TRAGEDY Written by T. W. LONDON Printed in the year 1662. The Persons who are represented in THORNY-ABBEY Sibert Earl of Coventry Emma his Wife The Earl of Wiltshire The KING Lucius a Bishop Prince Edmund the King's Brother Ann Daughter to old Thorny Lobster old Thorny's Man Ioan his Maid Old Thorny Mr. Woodford his Cosen Gaufreid an Attendant on Prince Edmund and his Pander Two Murderers The King's Guard Pages to the King A Post. A Constable with Beadles attending Chorus with dumb Shews Two Citizens over-seers of Thorny's Will Abbess of Haly-well Edmund the King 's base Son by Ann old Thorny's Daughter The Scene LONDON THORNY-ABBEY Or The London Maid Ent. Sibert Earle of Coventry Emma The Earle of Wiltshire meeting them Sibe GOod day and wellcom too my Lord of Wiltshire Wilt. Most Noble Sibert Earle of Coventry Our good King longes to see you Sib. Is he alighted Wilt. Yes Sir at your Castle-gate he stands Cloyd with Petitioners from whose humble hands He fils his own with papers of complaints Still promising redress and comfort to them Sib. Hee 's a right gratious Prince the fire of Hell Consume the Slaves and their petitions For Sibert is not free from their complaints I fear our ruines Emma Why should Sibert fear The King nor all the Land can wrong thee here Sib. A thousand hearts must bleed first harke he comes Enter King Bishop Prince Edmund Earle of VViltshire Attendants King Oh me good Heavens what strange petitions Have these poor people here deliver'd us Command them all to morrow here attend us Where we will answer their petitions Renowned Sibert Earl of Coventry To you and your vertuous Lady herâ— For som few dayes we must be troublesome Sib. Great King my State my Castle self all Here in obedience at your feet shall fall King We thank you both Come Brother Edmund take your place by us Good Bishop Lutius rest your Reverend age And you good Earle of Wiltshire counsell us To work the Commons safety of the Land And weigh all doubts with an impartial hand Only for this our resolution makes A progress through the Land with our own eyes To looke into the States inormityes Sib. 'T will be a deed worthy your eare and care King So had'it need good Sibert for we here intend To see the poor man's wrongs payd with redress And let not great theeves swallow up the less Wilt. It is not well my Leige for since you came From your Court at London still you see Corruption like a loathsome leprosy Hath made the faire face of ag'd ancestry Deform'd and hatefull Temples erected only To holy uses are now for thrift turnd into barneâ— and stables Edm. 'T were fit for to reform them Royall Brother such ulcers found Must needs be cut least they corrupt what 's sound King Such farre worse the sad complaints here speak But by my Crown we 'le have them all remov'd Brother back you to London to your Earldom And in our name summon all the Citizens Unto a generall Councill and there make A stric't inquiry both of all offences and The Offenders see that
I a King's Son Mother An. I dare not say thou art yet heaven weâ— knowes it Wilt. Our good King 's fair soul hath confest it An. My duty on my knees I render him Beseeching you to assure his Majesty That if the holy vows of faithfull hearts Witnest by heaven may make a marriage lawfull Without this earthly ceremonious state This câ—ild is onely hiâ— legâ—t mate Edm. I can forbear no longer I believe thee Come to my soul thou best of women Within this small circumference of my armes I hold a jâ—wel That which â— prise more then my diadem Come my dear love An. Oh my dear Lord Abb. The King turn'd Friar Edm. Come I must take away your Votariâ— Abb. Your Highness may command so she be pleas'd I could my self change states to be so rais'd Edm. Dry up these tears all grief is overthrown An. Content be yours I am no more my own But Oh! my Father Edm. Has lost himself in grief but when he hears Our sacred union he 'll find new joys Come my fair Queen set forward to our Court Where we 'l espouse thee On Reverend Bishop Thy hand shall joyn us let all people sing Anne Thorny's wife unto Great Englands King Exit Ent. Old Thorny led by an Angel Th. Oh! stay thou Minister yet speak to me Why hast thou led me all this silent night 'Bout this large building as if y 'ould survey Their workmanship and statelinesse I did not for my self erect this pile I have a Pallace for my proper use Ang. From the white path of blest Eternitie I 'me sent to comfort thy mortality Persevere Thorny as thou hast begun Thou shalt be made a bright-Celestiall Sun And with a quire of Angels thou shalt sing Thy pilgrimage and toyl is almost ended And now arriv'd whither thy steps have tended Leaving the world and her abortive race And sit as King in an immaculate place Exit Thor. Into what Sphear is my transcending soul Climb'd from the earth me thinks even now I see How death comes in to part this world and me I 'le hast me to my tombe and meet thee there What ho my man wake Sirrah rise and leave My silent tomb I 'le now go sleep my self Lob. I can never rest sleeping nor waking· This 't is to serve a Master that 's troubled with Chollimolly Some talk of taking pleasure in their bed I 'm sure I take none there for I am almost asleep before I go to bed and I am call'd up before I wake And this my masters bed that he sayes shall be his grave is none of the softest and surely none of the easiest neither for if it were he would not talk so much of it He thinks says and speaks of nothing else but of that and his dying two things I can't abide to hear of If he would mention good provision as plum-PUDDING good pouder'd beef mutton or veal turkies or capons pasties or tarts there were some comfort towards the keeping up of this poor frail flesh But he 's alwayes peeping on a bare deadman's head talking of grim death of an hourglasse run out and of tapers that are burnt and such like heavy stuffe that my weak stomack can't digest Well I 'le walk easily home and see what â—oan hath provided for us for unlesse I do look after all we shall have nothing Exit Thorney awakes and enters Thus thus my joyes are quite extinguisht never To be reviv'd thus gon thus gon for ever Oh world what art thou naught but discontent A Chaos of confusion making man repent All his delight and pleasure he hath past That bringeth naught but misery at last Oh heaven how much unto thee am I bound That I an end of this my grief have found And through this pilgrimage of life at last Wiâ—h patience through it I have gone and past But oh the sad remembrance of my child Has drawn back my grief that now was quite exil'd Still gripes my heart but being now to die All dying men should end in charity I doe forgive her now doe thou so heaven And then the debt of her defame is even Enter Young Edmund Wiltshire and Woodford Young Edm Good Sir where where 's my grandfather Pray shew him me That I may ask his blessing on my knee Thorn Ha! what apparition's this I was awake even now Why doe you kneel or thus stand bare about me You doe not worship me I 'me sure I am no Idol You hear me speak I hope VVood. We think no less but that you are a man And living This Mr. Thorney is the Royal Prince Thorn Pray pardon me I doe not come at Court You see good Sir what doting age can doe It is my duty then to kneel to you VVood. Stand up good Sir alas why doe you kneel Why doe you turn aside Thorn Stand up my Daughters Son And tempt no more my resolution I 'le ne're more see thee nor thy worthy Mother Queen Though trap't with all the ornaments of state And for her memory even Thee I hate Yet though I see thee not thus on thy head I 'le backward lay my hand and bend my knee With sighs and tears to pull a blessing down Shall be more pretious then thy fathers Crown Let heaven and holy Angels ever spread Their blest beatitudes upon thy head Peace crown thy days all graces thee attend And to thy race let thy race never end Live long in virtue let thy good o'regrow thee Or die before thy bad shall overthrow thee Nay rise my Child thy face ne're more I 'le see But pray to send thee blest eternitie Commend me to thy Mother say that I Freely forgive her and to heavens doe pray To wipe her deep insculped sins away And though on earth she now is placed high Oh! let her ne're transcend Humility My starrs burn dim my times sand-glass is run Record what for a daughter I have done And to the King my Royal Son say thus That his baâ—e Father dy'd ambitious For when his fainting body thus sunk down His soul flew up to heav'n to gain a Crown Young Edm. O my Grandsire Dyes VVood. I want tears to lament his misery VVilt Where 's the Reverend man VVood. He 's dead he 's dead My good Lord of Wiltshire Before the gasp of his last breath was gon His speech being usher'd with a deep fetcht groan Through the sad confluence and mistie throng Of his distracted thoughts his feeble tongue Dropt forth these words Thus fleet thus transitory Is mans delight and all that painted glory Poor earth can give Nor wealth nor bloud nor beauty Can quit the debt that necessary duty They owe to change and time but like a flow'r They flourish now and fade within an hour Wilt. The world is like a Play his glass is run Death acts the Epilogue and thus his dayes are done The King and Queen are come to comfort him VVood. They come too late Whirlewinds of grief has overwhelm'd lifes state VVilt He is then dead Alas this suddain death Will strike the Court with grief and heaviness But hark they come Ent. King Queen and Attendants King Where 's aged Thorny Quee. Where 's my displeased Father VVoodf Here 's his Effigies drawn unto the life By the grave workman of mortality All dreading death this doth prefigurate Man's pilgrimage on earth whose steps do tend To bring his life unto his journyes end Queâ—n O me unhappie eyes rain down bring drops And with them here embalme my Father's Corps Had I but got his blessing e'â—e he died I had bin happy Young Edm. You want not that Mother For in his blessing me he did name you And sent to you a blest Beatitude Queen Heaven quit him for 't let all the Court In black lament his death And let 's in sighes chaunt forth his requiem And to express my love unto the Hearse From whence I came the Nuns I 'le freely give Five hundred pounds a year whiles that I live King And I 'le make sure thy gift And now His old lamented Corps let be convai'd Upon a Chariot lin'd and oâ—erlaid With Sables then to receive the Crown Prepar'd for Virtue and deserv'd Renown Where now we leave him to be full pâ—sâ—est Of endlesse peace and everlasting Rest. Set on to Court 'till a fit time doth call To solemnize this mournfull Funeral And while the world shall last old Thorny's name Shall live recorded in the book of Fame FINIS ⸫ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ⸫ Here the Candles are putting out
Therefore his anger for to qualifie Is in my judgment to him to reveal The man that made him loose your Virgins name An. O my dear Cuz it is a waigthy secret that 's inclosed Within my answer nor can it be reveald But to a bosom sworn to secrecy And yet your love should not be question'd VVood. Were all the engines of tormenting terrour Put to my flesh if I doe vow a secret None near shall force it from me An. I beleeve it Know then kind Sir the authour of this folly Sin or shame or how you please to call it Was youthfull Edmund now th'elected King VVood. Prince Edmund An. He may deny it now but here 's a witness Oh! doe but think with what unequall strength This Citadell of honour was besieg'd And you will hardly blame my yielding weakness When oportunity the bawd of time Had call'd me forth and brought me to his presence Think what amazing terrour Royalty could doe With a commanding love what sugred breath Words able to infuse an appetite In a coole votarist yet manger all My vanquishment was but conditionall You doe not hear me Cuz VVood. Yes and so you yielded on conditions An. True Sir when flattring oaths sweet vows Coind love were out of breath still I remaind A maiden votaris but then came forth this Murthering piece of grief we chang'd the Jugall words of matrimony between our Souls and the large ceremony was but Defer'd unto the King's consent which by his Brothers death is now his own VVood. But lust once sated they forget all oaths That helpt them to 't and though a Prince he 's Subject to affections I but think you Hee 'l not forget An. I cannot tell VVood. And violate his vow An. Alas I dare not claim it but how ere This token of his love I 'me sure to bear And for his sake thus have my vows decreed No man shall ever second this his deed Ent. Lobster and Ioane Lobst O Mris Mris I have run so fast and taken such Pains That my wind 's gone backward and foreward And have stirred so much that I doe Saving of your presence you may smell the rest Ioane has bin down but but I took her up again yonder comes your Father With such a company of Beagles Ioa. And such a company of whips Lobst And such a company of sumners Ioa. And such a company of knaves Lobst Slaves that look as if they had eat No meat this seven years and they Bring the ingines that must give your Shoulders the bloody lash An. Oh heavens forgive me am I the first offender Thor. Let all the Officers beset the door And look Mr Constable here 's your pray Go strike your tallent in Ent. Thorney Constable and others Thor. Here 's banquets for you I 'le make her pass Through all the puâ—gato yes of pennance You are the Phisician that let wantons blood To cure the itch of lust you may doe good but yet beyond your help There will remain an everlasting scar a spot a stain That never will be out oh look on me You that distribute justice partially Scourge your own flesh and blood when it rebells VVood. Good Sir be patient I pray depart And consider what he hath done is not in hate rashness An. Upon my knees dear Sir Thor. I will not hear thee strumpet Heaven earth and men give ear and hear my words Here take my vow his force beyond this hour We never more will meet I 'le hate the place that keeps thee And as a lasting trophie of thy guilt I will dispose my self that did beget thee Never shall razor prune thy careless looks I 'le never hence forth feed but on the ground I 'le never pare my nails but let them grow Into unseemly clawes with which I 'le dig My Monumentall bed An. Oh kill me Sir and end my miseries VVood. Good Sir calme this passion All this distemperature for a grief so slight Thor. Oh! shut me up in everlasting night Let me but see her under Justice grip't And then I 'le turn away my eyes for ever For now I go to contemplation Thy soul I pitty yet though not thy flesh That wealth should have indow'd thy nuptialls Shall build a sanctuary for holy men To make thy peace in heaven lewd world farewell I never will discover more of thee Then from the humble prospect of my grave My charge can be but small my care much less I have not left me now a child to bless Exit Lob. If every wench should be so used that had eaten white puddings We should not have so many Children left upon stalls as we have Unnaturall Father that would whip his own child for drinking a little white bastard Ye ill looking rascall Canst find in thy heart to whip a great Bellyed woman Mris now I am in a good mind Here 's good hanging me I beseech you Mris Let me be flead from the chin to the navell Rather then you shall be whipt Io. Or I beseech you let me indure the ponnance Lob. I good Mris if you will not let me be whipt In any â—ase let Ioane be whipt VVood Pray will you be gone Lob. Yes I goe but I cannot chuse but cry To think that a woman for once doing Should be undone for ever Come Ioane here 's A faire example for you let 's then to the buttery And candole for sorrow's drie you know Wee 'l weep whole paâ—l fulls and in briny teares My self and Ioane will ducke ore head and eares VVood. Mr Constable I beseech you Sir to shew to us what Favour you can you see her case therefore I pray Leave unto me your Prisoner I 'le pass my word For her apperance at her delivery Const. Sir I am but the Laws dependancy And for her Fathers sake though against his will I 'le leave her to your care and take your bayl Till course of Law shall further summon her VVood. I pray Sir depart as privatly as you can To avoyd further punishment Const. Well Sir I 'le follow your directions My charge is yours Exit VVood. There now remains onely this That I intreat you to accept my house For entertainement till you be delivered There you shall want for nothing but have Kinde respect An. Heaven make me able to requite your love VVood. Come home with me and bid all grief Adieu An. The health of my sick soul relies on you There is another home I dare not name I 'le be disgrac't ere I his worth defame Exeunt Ent. Edmund Earle of VViltshire Sibert Bishop Edm. How like a tedious day is Majesty Which gives his light unto succession The day expir'd night with his pale dark cheek Wraps up his brightness and gives day repose To give another a reflection So by death's hand my brothers dayes destroy'd My Sunshine day refulgently appeares Which how he died the heavenly eye of love Whose searching Majesty lightens all thoughts And opens all her dark obscurity Best
knows whose hands were bathed in the blood Wilt. You see the cruell terrors of these times Oh! gratious Prince and that which doth exceed The strength of all amazement since the death Of our late murdered Lord and Soveraign The Sun and Moon was never seen to shine Edm. The eye of heaven is banish't from the earth And gone to wander in eternall night And ransake some Cemerian seated cave To finde the Murderers that with horror sitts Starting at every apparition And never will illuminate the world Till it hath brought him to transparent view And to him speaks this thunder Sib. No 't is to me but I 'le not answer Though the boults should flie and strike me to the center Edm. How horridly it cracks A generall desolation sure is come And heavens glorious eye I think is banish't hence eternally Sib. Take courage Sir a Royall thought Stoops not to Fortunes blindness great thoughts are ever Fixt to the publik good and not kept down by passions Oh! the blood Wilt. Let 's invocate the powers above For to reveal the horrid Murderers Sib. Hot vengeance light on him that so perswades him Edm. Swear as you hope for heaven your carefull studies Shall be to siâ—t this execrable deed And bring to light this damned Murtherer Sib. Zoundes I must kill him too and prevent his purpose VVilt We vow the same with force and diligence Edm. As for my self I will outwatch the night Wast these life-seeing tapers of mine eyes Till they drop forth the sockets of my skull But I will finde the execrable Slave Why standst thou silent Sibert Sib. Alas my Lord I am hid in sorrow That in my house this mischief happened And yet dear Prince I have already spent The utmost minutes in this fatall business No place no person no suspected breast That might unto the act be aidable But I have torne it open and examin'd So that deceit it self could not deceive me But all in vain the damn'd Murderer lies unrevealed And heaven or none must find him hee 's so subtill Edm. I feare thy Loyalty come let 's to Coventry And there we will fift out murthers darkest ways Sibert let 's have your Company along Were millions given this purpose to prevent All Europe shall not hinder our intent Be ready Sibert Sib. With all my heart my Lord. Mischief confound it Edm. Set forward Lords Thou that still guards the right Bring this dark obscure murther to the light Exeunt Manet Sibert So the King 's for Coventry and I as mark't With some brand of suspicion must be the man To attend above the rest Sfoot what note Or character of guilt lies on my brow More then the rest my speech was firm I was less frighted with this loud tongu'd thundeâ— Then was the King or any of his Peeres And but my conscience nothing troubles me And that is no mans burthen but my own Which I 'le conceal though with the Kingdoms ruine Let Hell spit fire I 'le not accuse my self Although the Sun and Heaven be hid in clouds And with an everlasting darkness cover us Thunder loud Oh! I presume too much that crack has mazed me Horrour of Hell what shall I doe think Sibert and conceive What if the King should call my wife in question Or that the Murderers we hir'd to doe 't Should be surpris'd and brought unto the King Examined put to death where 's Sibert then Thrown in Hell fire never to rise again Which to prevent I 'le presently make flight And leave with them my feare and jealousie I 'le ship my self for Ireland and there Shrowd my self safe and there close up my eares From this loud peals of thunder which are sent And on my head with winged vengeance bent Exit Ent. Mr Woodford and Anne Thorny Wood. Now you are a happy mother the good Heavens Has brought your burthen to a happy issue you may Now curse the cause you shall have my instructions To direct you An. Now Heaven forbid VVood. By his delay you may see how he stands affected An. 'T is a delay without proportion VVood. Your Father threatens and persues your lives best shipwrack Vowing if you should starve not to give A penny for to comfort you An. Yet I will pray for him eternally And for my Sovereign which hath forsaken me But of his love I will expect no more Think wise or dream then of that thing Unknown unsought or never thought upon Wood. Oh! be not to your self so cruel An. Since in his loss I have lost my self and honour I now resolve in this unblemisht habit to weare out The remnant of my days in penetance Amongst the holy Nunnes of Holy well Into whose Sister-hood I am admitted And there for ever will I plant my being VVood. Oh! gentle Cuz An. I am deaf to all persuasions My best of blood I have no friend but you And in your virtue I impose my trust That with all secret care you chuse a time To give this ring to my dear Soveraign The once dear pledge of his forgotten love With it this letter in whose sad contents Is nothing but a vertuous milde intreaty That he would gratiously behold this child His hapless Son and called by his name Edmund that mongst the longer of my sighes I may have comfort to keep down my griefs VVood. And as my own I mean to tender it An. Your vertue makes my care lie easy on me Good Cosen speak what temper holds my Father VVood. Has given o're his house and all his wealth He means for to distribute to holy uses An. And yet I live and breath that am the sinfull author Of these sorrows but flows this deluge for his own Offences Or the remembrance of my hatefull shame VVood. From your disgrace An. Then to this World Adieu why doe you urge To hold me longer here a Prisoner I have out lived myne honour buried alive My old and vertuous Father for which I am below All reach of humane pitty that I know They wish to Serpents more prosperity My soul 's as black as darkness and can take no light Of other beauty till my teares have washt it I doe beseech you Cuz commend my duty To my Father and intreat his vertue To lâ—y no more affliction on his age for my offences past And last to thee my first of cares Whose innocence is spotted with my sin Oh! be thou made so blest that in thy vertues I and my faults may loose their memories Take my last kiss and with it these my teares Which to thy Royall Father thou shalt beare Now take it â—r and with it all my comforts all my prayers Love it dear Cuz though from grief it spring Yet 't is the onely Son unto a King farwell I feare we never more shall meet on earth Here my joys end you have my sorrows birth Exit VVood. Success attend you would all that stept awry Would be but subject to thy penalty Come on thou