the face Collen Your Holiness shall pardon me in this Had I the profit I would take the pains With shame enough your Grace may bring the message Mentz Thus am I wrong'd God knows unguiltily Brand. Then arm your countenance with innocency And boldly do the message to the Prince For no man else will be the messenger Mentz Why then I must since ther 's no remedy Exit Mentz Brand. If Heav'n that guides the hearts of mighty men Do calm the Winds of these great Potentates And make them like of this Arbitrament Sweet Peace will tryumph thorough Christendom And Germany shall bless this happy day Enter Alexander de Toledo the Page Alexand. O me most miserable O my dear Father Bohem. What means this passionate accent what art thou That sounds these acclamations in our ears Alex. Pardon me Princes I have lost a Father O me the name of Father kils my heart O! I shall never see my Father more H 'as tane his leave of me for age and age Collen What was thy Father Alex. Ah me I what was a not Noble Rich valiant well-belov'd of all The glory and the wisdom of his age Chief Secretary to the Emperour Collen Lorenzo de Toledo is he dead Alex. Dead ay me dead ay me my life is dead Strangely this night bereft of breath and sense And I poor I am comforted in nothing But that the Emperour laments with me As I exclame so he he rings his hands And makes me mad to see his Majesty Excruciate himself with endless sorrow Collen The happiest news that ever I did hear Thy Father was a villain murderer Witty not wise lov'd like a Scorpion Grown rich by the impoverishing of others The chiefest cause of all these mutinies And Caesar's tutor to all villanie Alex. None but an open lyar terms him so Col. What Boy so malepert Bohem. Good Collen bear with him it was his Father Dutch-land is blessed in Lorenzo's Death Brand. Did never live a viler minded man Exeunt Manet Alex. Alex. Nor King nor Churfurst should be privileg'd To call me Boy and rayl upon my Father Were I wehrsafflig but in Germany A man must be a Boy at 40. years And dares not draw his weapon at a Dog Till being soundly box'd about the ears His Lord and Master gird him with a sword The time will come I shall be made a man Till then I 'l pine with thought of dire revenge And live in Hell untill I take revenge ACT. II. Enter Alphonsus Richard Earl of Cornwall Mentz Trier Prince Edward Bohemia Collen Brandenburge Attendants and Pages with a sword Bohem. Behold here come the Princes hand in hand Pleas'd highly with the sentence as it seems Alphon. Princes and Pillars of the Monarchy We do admire your wisdoms in this cause And do accept the King of Bohemia As worthy partner in the Government Alas my Lords I flatly now confess I was alone too weak to underprop So great a burden as the Roman Empire And hope to make you all admire the course That we intend in this conjunction Richard That I was call'd from England with consent Of all the seven Electors to this place Your selves best know who wrote for me to come 'T was no ambition mov'd me to the journey But pitty of your half declining State Which being likely now to be repayr'd By the united force of these two Kings I rest content to see you satisfied Mentz Brave Earl wonder of Princely patience I hope your grace will not mis-think of me Who for your good and for the Empires best Bethought this means to set the world at Peace Edward No doubt this means might have been thought upon Although your Holiness had dy'd in Prison Mentz Peace peace young Prince you want experience Your Unckle knows what cares accompany And wait upon the Crowns of mightiest Kings And glad he is that he hath shak'd it off Edward Heark in your ear my Lord hear me one word Although it were more than a million Which these two Kings bestow'd upon your grace Mine Unckle Richards million sav'd your life Mentz Your were best to say your Vnckle brib'd me then Edward I do but say mine Vnckle sav'd your life You know Count Mansfield your fellow Prisoner Was by the Duke of Brunschwig put to death Mentz You are a Child my Lord your words are wind Edward You are a Fox my Lord and past a Child Bohem. My Lord of Cornwall your great forwardness Crossing the Seas with aid of Englishmen Is more than we can any way requite But this your admirable patience In being pleas'd with our election Deserves far more than thanks can satisfie In any thing command the Emperours Who live to honour Richard Earl of Cornwall Alpho. Our deeds shall make our Protestations good Mean while brave Princes let us leave this place And solace us with joy of this accord Enter Isabella the Empress Hedewick the Duke of Saxon's Daughter apparelled like Fortune drawn on a Globe with a Cup in her hand wherein are Bay leaves whereupon are written the lots A train of Ladies following with Musick Empress To gratulate this unexpected Peace This glorious league confirm'd against all hope Joyful Isabella doth present this shew Of Fortunes triumph as the custom is At Coronation of our Emperours If therefore every party be well pleas'd And stand content with this arbitriment Then daign to do as your Progenitors And draw in sequence Lots for Offices Alphon. This is an order here in Germany For Princes to disport themselves with all In sign their hearts so firmly are conjoyn'd That they will bear all fortunes equally And that the world may know I scorn no state Or course of life to do the Empire good I take my chance My Fortune is to be the Forrester Emp. If we want Venson either red or fallow Wild bore or bear you must be fin'd my Lord Bohem. The Emperour's Taster I Emp. Your Majesty hath been tasted to so oft That you have need of small instructions Richard I am the bowr Sister what is my charge Emp. Tyr'd like a Carter and a Clownish Bowr To bring a load of Wood into the Kitchin Now for my self Faith I am Chamber Maid I know my charge proceed unto the next Alphon. Prince Edward standeth melancholy still Please it your Grace my Lord to draw your lot Emp. Nephew you must be solemn with the sad And given to myrth in sportful Company The German Princes when they will be lusty Shake of all cares and Clowns and they are Fellows Edward Sweet Aunt I do not know the Country guise Yet would be glad to learn all fashions Since I am next good Fortune be my guide Brand. A most ingenuous countenance hath this Prince Worthy to be the King of England's Heir Edward Be it no disparagement to you my Lords I am your Emperour Alphon. Sound trumpets God save the Emperour Collen The world could never worse have fitted me I am not old enough to be the Cook
Empress If you be Cook there is no remedy But you must dress one Mess of meat you self Branden. I am Physician Trier I am Secretary Mentz I am the Jester Edward O excellent is your Holiness the Vice Fortune hath fitted you y'faith my Lord You 'l play the Ambodexter cunningly Mentz Your Highness is to bitter in your Jests Alphon. Come hither Alexander to comfort thee After the death of thy beloved Father Whose life was deer unto his Emperour Thou shalt make one in this solemnity Yet e're thou draw my self will honour thee And as the custom is make thee a man Stand stiff Sir Boy now com'st thou to thy tryal Take this and that and therewithall this Sword He gives Alexander a Box on the ear or two If while thou live thou ever take the like Of me or any man I here pronounce Thou art a schelm otherwise a man Now draw thy lot and Fortune be thy speed Edward Vnckle I pray why did be box the fellow Foul lubber as he is to take such blows Richard Thus do the Princes make their Pages men Edward But that is strange to make a man with blows We say in England that he is a man That like a man dare meet his enemy And in my judgement 't is the sounder tryal Alex. Fortune hath made me Marshall of the tryumphs Alphon. Now what remains Emperess That Fortune draw her lot She opens it and gives it to the Emperess to read Empress Sound trumpets Fortune is your Emperess Alphon. This happens right for Fortune will be Queen Now Emperour you must unmask her face And tell us how you like your Emperess In my opinion England breeds no fairer Bohe. Fair Hedewick the Duke of Saxons daughter Young Prince of England you are bravely match'd Edward Tell me sweet Aunt is that this Saxon Princess Whose beauties fame made Edward cross the Seas Emperess Nephew it is hath fame been prodigal Or over sparing in the Princess praise Edward Fame I accuse thee thou did'st niggardize And faintly sound my loves perfections Great Lady Fortune and fair Emperess Whom chance this day hath thrown into my arms More welcome than the Roman Emperess Edward kisses her Hede. See doch dass ist hier kein gebrauch Mein Got ist dass dir Englisch manier dass dich Edward What meaneth this why chafes my Emperess Alphon. Now by my troth I did expect this jest Prince Edward us'd his Country fashion Edward I am an Englishman why should I not Emp. Fy Nephew Edward here in Germany To kiss a Maid a fault intollerable Edward Why should not German Maids be kist aswell as others Richard Nephew because you did not know the fashion And want the language to excuse your self I 'l be your spokes-man to your Emperess Edward Excuse it thus I like the first so well That tell her she shall chide me twice as much For such an other nay tell her more than so I 'l double kiss on kiss and give her leave To chide and braul and cry ten thousand dass dich And make her weary of her fretting humour E're I be weary of my kissing vein Dass dich a Iungfraw angry for a kiss Empress Nephew she thinks you mock her in her mirth Edward I think the Princes make a scorn of me If any do I 'l prove it with my Sword That English Courtship leaves it from the world Bohem. The pleasant'st accident that I have seen Bran. Me thinks the Prince is chaf'd as well as she Rich. Gnediges frawlin Hede. Dass dich mast ich arme kindt zu schanden gemacht werden Edward Dass dich I have kist as good as you Pray Unckle tell her if she mislike the kiss I 'l take it off agen with such an other Rich. Ey Lirbes frawlin nim es all fur gutti Es i st die Englisch manier Und gebrauche Hede. Ewer gnaden weissts woll es ist mir ein grosse schande Edward Good Aunt teach me so much Dutch to ask her pardon Empress Say so Gnediges frawlin vergebet mirs ich wills nimmermehr thuen Then kiss your hand three times upsy Dutch Edward Ich wills nimmermehr thuen if I understand it right That 's as much to say as I 'l do so no more Empr. True Nephew Edward Nay Aunt pardon me I pray I hope to kiss her many thousand times And shall I go to her like a great Boy and say I 'l do so no more Empress I pray Cosin say as I tell you Edward Gnediges frawlin vergebet mirss ich wills nimmermehr thuen Alphon. For wahr kein schandt Hedew. Gnediger hochgeborner Furst vndt herr Wan ich konte so vil englisch sprechen ich wolt ewer Gnaden Fur wahr ein filtz geben ich hoffe aber ich soll etnmahl So viel lernen dass Die mich verstrhen soll Edward What says she Alphon. O excellent young Prince look to your self She swears she 'l learn some English for your sake To make you understand her when she chides Edward I 'l teach her English she shall teach me Dutch Gnediges frawlin c. Bohem. It is great pitty that the Duke of Saxon Is absent at this joyful accident I see no reason if his Grace were here But that the Marriage might be solemniz'd I think the Prince of Wales were well content Edward I left sweet England to none other end And though the Prince her Father be not here This Royal presence knows his mind in this Emp. Since you do come so roundly to the purpose 'T is time for me to speak the Maid is mine Giv'n freely by her Father unto me And to the end these broyls may have an end I give the Father's interest and mine own Unto my Nephew Edward Prince of Wales Edward A Jewel of incomparable price Your Majesty hath here bestowed on me How shall I ask her if she be content Empr. Say thus i st ewer gnaden woll hiemit zufrieden Edward I st ewer Gnaden woll hiemit zufrieden Hede. Wass ihr durleichtigkeit dass will dass will mein vattter vndt Wass mein vatter will darmit muss ich zufrieden sein Alphon. It is enough she doth confirm the match We will dispatch a Post unto her Father On Sunday shall the Revels and the Wedding Be both solemnized with mutual joy Sound trumpets each one look unto his charge For preparation of the Festivals Exeunt Manent Alphonsus and Alexander Alphon. Come hither Alexander thy Fathers joy If tears and sighs and deep-fetcht deadly groans Could serve t' evert inexorable fate Divine Lorenzo whom in life my heart In death my soul and better part adores Had to thy comfort and his Prince's honour Surviv'd and drawn this day this breath of life Alexan. Dread Caesar prostrate on my bended Knee I thank your Majesty for all favours shewn To my deceased Father and my self I must confess I spend but bootless tears Yet cannot
bridle nature I must weep Or heart will break with burden of my thoughts Nor am I yet so young or fond withall Causless to spend my gall and fret my heart 'T is not that he is dead for all must dye But that I live to hear his lives reproach O sacred Emperour these ears have heard What no Sons ears can unrevenged hear The Princes all of them but specially The Prince Elector Archbishop of Collen Revil'd him by the names of murderer Arch villain robber of the Empires fame And Caesars tutor in all wickedness And with a general voice applaus'd his death As for a special good to Christendome Alphon. Have they not reason to applaud the deed Which they themselves have plotted ah my Boy Thou art too young to dive into their drifts Alex. Yet old enough I hope to be reveng'd Alphon. What wilt thou do or whither wilt thou run Alex. Headlong to bring them death then dye my self Alphon. First hear the reason why I do mistrust them Alex. They had no reason for my Father's death And I scorn reason till they all be dead Alphon. Thou wilt not scorn my Counsel in revenge Alex. My rage admits no Counsel but revenge Alphon. First let me tell thee whom I do mistrust Alex. Your Highness said you did mistrust them all Alpho. Yea Alexander all of them and more than all My most especiall neerest dearest friends Alex. All 's one to me for know thou Emperour Were it thy Father Brother or thine Empress Yea were 't thy self that did'st conspire his death This fatal hand should take away thy life Alphon. Spoke like a Son worthy so dear a Father Be still and hearken I will tell thee all The Duke of Saxon Alex. O I thought no less Alphon. Suppress thy choler hearken to the rest Saxon I say so wrought with flattering Mentz Mentz with Bohemia Trier and Brandenburg For Collen and the Palsgrave of the Rhein Were principals with Saxon in the Plot That in a general meeting to that purpose The seven selected Emperours electors Most hainously concluded of the murder The reason why they doom'd him unto death Was his deep wisdom and sound policy Knowing while he did live my state was firm He being dead my hope must dye with him Now Alexander will we be reveng'd Upon this wicked whore of Babylon This hideous monster with the seven-fold head We must with cunning level at the heart With pierc'd and perisht all the body dyes Or strike we off her heads by one and one Behooveth us to use dexterity Lest she do trample us under her feet And tryumph in our honours overthrow Alex. Mad and amazd to hear this tragicke doom I do subscribe unto your sound advice Alphon. Then hear the rest these seven gave but she sentence A neerer hand put it in execution And but I lov'd Lorenzo as my life I never would betray my dearest Wife Alex. What what the Empress accessary to Alphon. What cannot kindred do her Brother Richard Hoping thereby to be an Emperour Gave her a dram that sent him to his grave Alex. O my poor Father wert thou such an eye-sore That 9. the greatest Princes of the earth Must be confederate in thy tragedy But why do I respect their mightiness Who did not once respect my Fathers life Your Majesty may take it as you please I 'l be reveng'd upon your Emperess On English Richard Saxon and the Palsgrave On Bohem Collen Mentz Trier and Brandenburg If that the Pope of Rome himself were one In this confederacy undaunted I Amidst the College of his Cardinals Would press and stab him in St. Peters chair Though clad in all his Pontificalibus Alphon. Why Alexander do'st thou speak to me As if thou didst mistrust my forwardness No thou shalt know my love to him was such And in my heart I have proscrib'd them all That had to do in this conspiracy The bands of Wedlock shall not serve her turn Her fatal lot is cast among the rest And to conclude my soul doth live in Hell Till I have set my foot upon their necks That gave this spur of sorrow to my heart But with advice it must be managed Not with a head-long rage as thou intend'st Nor in a moment can it be perform'd This work requires long time dissembling looks Commixt with undermining actions Watching advantages to execute Our foes are mighty and their number great It therefore follows that our Strangems Must branch forth into manifold deceits Endless devices bottomless conclusions Alexan. What by your Majesty is prescrib'd to me That will I execute or dye the death I am content to suck my sorrows up And with dull patience will attend the time Gaping for every opportunity That may present the least occasion Although each minute multiply mine anguish And to my view present a thousand forms Of senseless bodies in my Fathers shape Yelling with open throat for just revenge Alphon. Content thy self he shall not cry in vain I have already plotted Richards death Alex. That hath my Fathers sacred Ghost inspir'd O tell me shall I stab him suddainly The time seems long till I be set a work Alphon. Thou knowest in griping at our lots to day It was Prince Richard's hap to be the bowr So that his Office is to drive the Cart And bring a load of Wood into the Kitchin Alex. O excellent your Grace being Forester As in the thicket he doth load the Cart May shoot him dead as if he were a Deer Alphon. No Alexander that device were shallow Thus it must be there are two very howrs Appointed for to help him in the Wood These must be brib'd or cunningly seduc'd Instead of helping him to murder him Ale Verbum satis sapienti it is enough Fortune hath made me Marshal of the sports I hope to Marshal them to th' Devils Feast Plot you the rest this will I execute Dutch bowrs as towsandt schelms and gold to tempt them Alphon. 'T is right about it then but cunningly Alex. Else let me lose that good opinion Which by your Highness I desire to hold By Letters which I 'l strew within the Wood I 'l undermine the bowrs to murder him Nor shall they know who set them so a work Like a familiar will I fly about And nimbly haunt their Ghosts in every nook Exit Manet Alphonsus Alphon. This one nayl helps to drive the other out I slew the Father and bewitch the Son With power of words to be the instrument To rid my foes with danger of his life How easily can subtil age intice Such credulous young novices to their death Huge wonders will Alphonsus bring to pass By the mad mind of this enraged Boy Even they which think themselves my greatest friends Shall fall by this deceit yea my Arch-enemies Shall turn to be my chief confederates My sollitary walks may breed suspect I 'le therefore give my self to Companie As I intended nothing out these sports Yet hope to send most actors in this
untrust my points uncas'd my self And in a moment slipt between the Sheets There lying in deep contemplation The Princess of her self drew neer to me Gave me her hand spake prettily in Dutch I know not what and kist me lovingly And as I shrank out of my luke warm place To make her room she clapt thrice with her feet And through a trap-door sunck out of my sight Knew I but her Confederates in the deed I say no more Empress Tush Cosin be content So many Lands so many fashions It is the German use be not impatient She will be so much welcomer to morrow Rich. Come Nephew we 'l be Bed-fellows to night Edward Nay if I find her not I 'le lye alone I have good hope to ferret out her Bed And so good night sweet Princess all at once Alphon. Godnight to all Marshal discharge the train Alex. To Bed to Bed the Marshal crys 't is time Exeunt Flourish Cornets Manent Saxon Richard Palsgrave Collen Empress Saxon. Now Princes it is time that we advise Now we are all fast in the Fowlers gin Not to escape his subtle snares alive Unless by force we break the Nets asunder When he begins to cavil and pick quarrels I will not trust him in the least degree Empress It may beseem me evill to mistrust My Lord and Emperour of so foul a fact But love unto his honour and your lives Makes me with tears intreat your Excellencies To fly with speed out of his dangerous reach His cloudy brow foretells a suddain storm Of blood not natural but prodigious Rich. The Castle gates are shut how should we fly But were they open I would lose my life E're I would leave my Nephew to the slaughter He and his Bride were sure to bear the brunt Saxon. Could I get out of doors I 'ld venture that And yet I hold their persons dear enough I would not doubt but e're the morning Sun Should half way run his course into the South To compass and begirt him in his Fort With Saxon lansknights and brunt-bearing Switzers Who lye in Ambuscado not far hence That he should come to Composition And with safe conduct bring into our tents Both Bride and Bridegroom and all other friends Empress My Chamber Window stands upon the Wall And thence with ease you may escape away Saxon. Prince Richard you will bear me Company Richard I will my Lord Saxon. And you Prince Pallatine Pals. The Spanish Tyrant hath me in suspect Of poysoning him I 'l therefore stay it out To fly upon 't were to accuse my self Empress If need require I 'le hide the Pallatine Untill to morrow if you stay no longer Saxon. If God be with us e're to morrow noon We 'll be with Ensigns spread before the Walls We leave dear pledges of our quick return Emp. May the Heavens prosper your just intents Exeunt Enter Alphonsus Alphon. This dangerous plot was happily overheard Here didst thou listen in a blessed howr Alexander where do'st thou hide thy self I 've sought thee in each Corner of the Court And now or never must thou play the man Alex. And now or never must your Highness stir Treason hath round encompassed your life Alphon. I have no leasure now to hear thy talk Seest thou this Key Alex. Intends your Majesty that I should steal into the Princes Chambers And sleeping stab them in their Beds to night That cannot be Alphon. Wilt thou not hear me speak Alex. The Prince of England Saxon and of Collen Are in the Empress Chamber privily Alphon. All this is nothing they would murder me I come not there to night seest thou this Key Alex. They mean to fly out at the Chamber Window And raise an Army to beseege your Grace Now may your Highness take them with the deed Alphon. The Prince of Wales I hope is none of them Alex. Him and his Bride by force they will recover Alphon. What makes the cursed Palsgrave of the Rhein Alex. Him hath the Empress taken to her charge And in her Closet means to hide him safe Alphon. To hide him in her Closet of bold deeds The dearest charge that e're she undertook Well let them bring their Complots to an end I 'le undermine to meet them in their works Alex. Will not your Grace surprize them e're they fly Alphon. No let them bring their purpose to effect I 'le fall upon them at my best advantage Seest thou this Key there take it Alexander Yet take it not unless thou be resolv'd Tush I am fond to make a doubt of thee Take it I say it doth command all Doors And will make open way to dire revenge Alex. I know not what your Majesty doth mean Alphon. Hie thee with speed into the inner Chamber Next to the Chappe and there shalt thou find The danty trembling Bride coutcht in her Bed Having beguil'd her Bridegroom of his hopes Taking her farewel of Virginity Which she to morrow night expects to lose By night all Cats are gray and in the dark She will imbrace thee for the Prince of Wales Thinking that he hath found her Chamber out Fall to thy business and make few words And having pleas'd thy senses with delight And fild thy beating vains with stealing joy Make thence agen before the break of day What strange events will follow this device We need not study on our foes shall find How now how standst thou hast thou not the heart Alex. Should I not have the heart to do this deed I were a Bastard villain and no man Her sweetness and the sweetness of revenge Tickles my senses in a double sense And so I wish your Majesty good night Alphon. God night sweet Venus prosper thy attempt Alex. Sweet Venus and grim Ate I implore Stand both of you to me auspicious Exit Alexander Alphon. It had been pitty of his Fathers life Whose death hath made him such a perfect villain What murder wrack and causeless enmity 'Twixt dearest friends that are my strongest foes Will follow suddainly upon this rape I hope to live to see and laugh thereat And yet this peece of practice is not all The King of Bohem though he little feel it Because in twenty hours it will not work Hath from my Knives point suck'd his deadly bane Whereof I will be least of all suspected For I will feign my self as sick as he And blind mine enemies eyes with deadly groans Upon the Palsgrave and mine Emperess Heavy suspect shall light to bruze their bones Though Saxon would not suffer him to taste The deadly potion provided for him He cannot save him from the Sword of Iustice When all the world shall think that like a villain He hath poyson'd two great Emperours with one draught That deed is done and by this time I hope The other is a doing Alexander I doubt it not will do it thorowly While these things are a brewing I 'l not sleep But sudainly break ope the Chamber doors And rush upon my Empress and the Palsgrave Holla
shall hang a sacred Lamp Which till the day of doom shall ever burn Yea after ages shall speak of thy renown And go a Pilgrimage to thy sacred Tomb Grief stops my voice who loves his Emperour Lay to his helping hand and bear him hence Sweet Father and redeemer of my life Exeunt Manet Alexander Alex. Now is my Lord sole Emperour of Rome And three Conspirators of my Fathers death Are cunningly sent unto Heaven or Hell Like subtilty to this was never seen Alas poor Mentz I pittying thy prayers Could do no less than lend a helping hand Thou wert a famous flatterer in thy life And now hast reapt the fruits thereof in death But thou shalt be rewarded like a Saint With Masses Bels dirges and burning Lamps 'T is good I envie not thy happiness But ah the sweet remembrance of that night That night I mean of sweetness and of stealth When for a Prince a Princess did imbrace me Paying the first fruits of her Marriage Bed Makes me forget all other accidents O Saxon I would willingly forgive The deadly trespass of my Fathers death So I might have thy Daughter to my Wife And to be plain I have best right unto her And love her best and have deserv'd her best But thou art fond to think on such a match Thou must imagin nothing but revenge And if my computation fail me not Ere long I shall be thorowly reveng'd Exit Enter the Duke of Saxon and Hedewick with the Child Saxon. Come forth thou perfect map of miserie Desolate Daughter and distressed Mother In whom the Father and the Son are curst Thus once again we will assay the Prince 'T may be the sight of his own flesh and blood Will now at last pierce his obdurate heart Jailor how fares it with thy prisoner Let him appear upon the battlements Hede. O mein deere vatter ich habe in dis lang lang 30. weeken welche mich duncket sein 40. iahr gewesen ein litte Englisch gelernet vnd ich hope he will me verstohn vnd shew me a little pittie Enter Edward on the Walls and Iailor Saxon. Good morrow to your grace Edward of Wales Son and immediate Heir to Henry the third King of England and Lord of Ireland Thy Fathers comfort and the peoples hope 'T is not in mockage nor at unawares That I am ceremonious to repeat Thy high descent ioynd with thy Kingly might But therewithall to intimate unto thee What God expecteth from the higher powers Justice and mercie truth sobrietie Relenting hearts hands innocent of blood Princes are Gods chief substitutes on earth And should be Lamps unto the common sort But you will say I am become a Preacher No Prince I am an humble suppliant And to prepare thine ears make this exordium To pierce thine eyes and heart behold this spectacle Three Generations of the Saxon blood Descended lineallie from forth my Loyns Kneeling and crying to thy mightiness First look on me and think what I have been For now I think my self of no account Next Caesar greatest man in Germanie Neerly a lyed and ever friend to England But Womens sighs move more in manly hearts O see the hands she elevates to Heaven Behold those eyes that whilome were thy joyes Uttering domb eloquence in Christal tears If these exclames and sights be ordinarie Then look with pittie on thy other self This is thy flesh and blood bone of thy bone A goodly Boy the Image of his sire Turn'st thou away O were thy Father here He would as I do take him in his arms And sweetly kiss his Grand-child in the face O Edward too young in experience That canst not look into the grievous wrack Ensuing this thy obstinate deniall O Edward too young in experience That canst not see into the future good Ensuing thy most just acknowledgement Hear me thy truest friend I will repeat them For good thou hast an Heir indubitate Whose eyes already sparckle Majesty Born in true Wedlock of a Princely Mother And all the German Princes to thy friends Where on the contrary thine eyes shall see The speedy Tragedie of thee and thine Like Athamas first will I ceize upon Thy young unchristened and despised Son And with his guiltless brains bepaint the Stones Then like Virginius will I kill my Child Unto thine eyes a pleasing spectacle Yet shall it be a momentarie pleasure Henry of England shall mourn with me For thou thy self Edward shall make the third And be an actor in this bloody Scean Hede. Ah myne seete Edouart mein herzkin myne scherzkin mein herziges einiges herz mein allerleivest husband I preedee mein leefe see me friendlich one good feete harte tell de trut and at lest to me and dyne allerleefest schild shew pitty dan ich bin dyne vnd dow bist myne dow hast me geven ein kindelein O Edouart feete Edouart erbarmet sein Edw. O Hedewick peace thy speeches pierce my soul Hede. Hedewick doe yow excellencie hight me Hedewick seete Edouart yow weete ich bin yowr allerlieueste wife Edward The Priest I must confess made thee my Wife Curst be the damned villanous adulterer That with so fowl a blot divorc'd our love Hede. O mein allerleevester hieborne Furst vnd Herr dinck dat unser Herr Gott sitts in himmells trone and sees dat hart vnd will my cause woll recken Saxon. Edward hold me not up with long delays But quickly say wilt thou confess the truth Edward As true as I am born of Kingly Linage And am the best Plantagenet next my Father I never carnallie did touch her body Saxon. Edward this answer had we long ago Seest thou this brat speak quickly or he dyes Edward His death will be more piercing to thine eyes Than unto mine he is not of my kin Hede. O Father O myne Uatter spare myne kindt O Edouart O Prince Edouart spreak now oder nimmermehr die kindt ist mein it soll nicht sterben Saxon. Have I dishonoured my self so much To bow my Knee to thee which never bow'd But to my God and am I thus rewarded Is he not thine speak murderous-minded Prince Edward O Saxon Saxon mitigate thy rage First thy exceeding great humilitie When to thy captive prisoner thou didst kneel Had almost made my lying tongue confess The deed which I protest I never did But thy not causeless furious madding humour Together with thy Daughters pitious cryes Whom as my life and soul I dearly love Had thorowly almost perswaded me To save her honour and belie my self And were I not a Prince of so high blood And Bastards have no scepter-bearing hands I would in silence smother up this blot And in compassion of thy Daughters wrong Be counted Father to an others Child For why my soul knows her unguiltiness Saxon. Smooth words in bitter sense is thine answer Hede. Ey vatter geue mir mein kindt die kind i st mein Saxon. Das weis ich
to save Prince Edwards life Sax. Then like a Warrior spill it in the Field My griefull anger cannot be appeaz'd By sacrifice of any but himself Thou hast dishonour'd me and thou shalt dye Therefore alarum alarum to the fight That thousands more may bear thee company Rich. Nephew and Sister now farewell for ever Ed. Heaven and the Right prevail and let me die Uncle farewell Emp. Brother farewell untill wee meet in Heaven Exeunt Manent Alphon. Edw. Emp. Alex. Alphon. Here 's farewell Brother Nephew Vncle Aunt As if in thousand years you should not meet Good Nephew and good Aunt content your selves The Sword of Saxon and these Daggers-points Before the Evening-Star doth shew it self Will take sufficient order for your meeting But Alexander my trustie Alexander Run to the Watch-Tow'r as I pointed thee And by thy life I charge thee look unto it Thou be the first to bring me certain word I we be Conquerors or Conquered Alex. With carefull speed I will perform this charge Exit Alphon Now have I leasure yet to talk with you Fair Isabell the Palsgrave's Paramour Wherein was he a better man than I Or wherfore should thy love to him effect Such deadly hate unto thy Emperour Yet welfare wenches that can love Good fellows And not mix Murder with Adulterie Emp. Great Emperor I dare not call you Husband Your Conscience knows my hearts unguiltiness Alpho. Didst thou not poison or consent to poison us Emp. Should any but your Highness tell me so I should forget my patience at my death And call him Villain Liar Murderer Alphon. She that doth so miscall me at her end Edward I prethee speak thy Conscience Thinkst thou not that in her prosperitie Sh' hath vext my Soul with bitter Words and Deeds O Prince of England I do count thee wise That thou wilt not be cumber'd with a wife When thou hadst stoln her daintie rose Corance And pluck'd the flow'r of her virginitie Edw. Tyrant of Spain thou liest in thy threat Alpho. Good words thou seest thy life is in our hands Edw. I see thou art become a common Hangman An Office farre more fitting to thy mind Than princelie to the Imperiall dignitie Alphon. I do not exercise on common persons Your Highness is a Prince and she an Empress I therefore count not of a dignitie Hark Edward how they labour all in vain With loss of many a valiant Soldiers life To rescue them whom Heaven and we have doom'd Dost thou not tremble when thou think'st upon 't Edw. Let guiltie minds tremble at sight of Death My heart is of the nature of the Palm Not to be broken till the highest Bud Be bent and ti'd unto the lowest Root I rather wonder that thy Tyrants heart Can give consent that those thy Butcherous hands Should offer violence to thy Flesh and Blood See how her guiltless innocence doth plead In silent Oratorie of her chastest tears Alphon. Those tears proceed from Fury and curst heart I know the stomach of your English Dames Emp. No Emperour these tears proceed from grief Alphon. Grief that thou canst not be reveng'd of Vs Emp. Grief that your Highness is so ill advis'd To offer violence to my Nephew Edward Since then there must be sacrifice of Blood Let my heart-blood save both your bloods unspilt For of his death thy Heart must pay the guilt Edw. No Auut I will not buy my life so dear Therefore Alphonso if thou beest a man Shed manly blood and let me end this strife Alphon. Here 's straining curtesie at a bitter Feast Content thee Empress for thou art my Wife Thou shalt obtain thy Boon and die the death And for it were unprinceby to deny So slight request unto so great a Lord Edward shall bear thee company in Death A Retreat But hark the heat of battail hath an end One side or other hath the victory Enter Alexander And see where Alexander sweating comes Speak man what newes speak shall I die or live Shall I stab sure or els prolong their lives To grievous Torments speak am I Conquerour What hath thy hast bereft thee of thy speech Hast thou not breath to speak one siliable O speak thy dalliance kills me wonn or lost Amaz'd lets fall the Daggers Alex. Lost Alphon. Ah me my Senses fail my sight is gon Alex. Will not your Grace dispatch the Strumpet Queen Shall she then live and we be doom'd to death Is your Heart faint or is your Hand too weak Shall servill fear break your so sacred Oaths Me thinks an Emperour should hold his word Give me the Weapons I will soon dispatch them My Fathers yelling Ghost cries for revenge His Blood within my Veins boyls for revenge O give me leave Cesar to take revenge Alphon. Vpon condition that thou wilt protest To take revenge upon the Murtherers Without respect of dignity or State Afflicted speedy pittiless Revenge I will commit this Dagger to thy trust And give thee leave to execute thy Will Alex. What need I here reiterate the Deeds Which deadly sorrow made me perpetrate How neer did I entrap Prince Richard's life How sure set I the Knife to Mentz his heart How cunninglie was Palsgrave doom'd to death How subtilly was Bohem poisoned How slily did I satisfie my lust Commixing dulcet Love with deadly Hate When Princesse Hedwick lost her Maidenhead Sweetly embracing me for Englands Heir Edw. O execrable deeds Emp. O salvage mind Alex. Edward I give thee leave to hear of this But will forbid the blabbing of your tongue Now gratious Lord and sacred Emperour Your highness knowing these and many more Which fearles pregnancie hath wrought in me You do me wrong to doubt that I will dive Into their hearts that have not spar'd their betters Be therefore suddain lest we die our selves I know the Conquerour hasts to rescue them Alphon. Thy Reasons are effectuall take this Dagger Yet pawse a while Emp. Sweet Nephew now farewell Alphon. They are most dear to me whom thou must kill Edward Hark Aunt he now begins to pittie you Alex. But they consented to my Fathers death Alphon. More then consented they did execute Emp. I will not make his Majestie a Lyar I kill'd thy Father therefore let me die But save the life of this unguilty Prince Edward I kill'd thy Father therefore let me die But save the life of this unguiltie Empress Alphon Hark thou to me and think their words as wind I kill'd thy Father therfore let me die And save the lives of these two guiltless Princes Art thou amaz'd to hear what I have said There take the weapon now revenge at full Thy Fathers death and those my dire deceits That made thee murtherer of so many Souls Alex. O Emperour how cunningly wouldst thou entrap My simple youth to credit Fictions Thou kill my Father no no Emperour Caesar did love Lorentzo all to dearly Seeing thy Forces now are vanquished Frustrate thy hopes thy Highness like to fall Into the cruel and
revengefull hands Of merciless incensed Enemies Like Caius Cassius wearie of thy life Now wouldst thou make thy Page an instrument By suddain stroak to rid thee of thy bonds Alphon. Hast thou forgotten how that very night Thy Father dy'd I took the Master-Key And with a lighted Torch walk'd through the Court Alex. I must remember that for to my death I never shall forget the slightest deed Which on that dismall Night or Day I did Alphon. Thou wast no sooner in thy restfull Bed But I disturb'd thy Father of his rest And to be short not that I hated him But for he knew my deepest Secrets With cunning Poison I did end his life Art thou his Son express it with a Stabb And make account if I had prospered Thy date was out thou wast already doom'd Thou knewst too much of me to live with me Alex. What wonders do I hear great Emperour Not that I do stedfastlie believe That thou didst murder my beloved Father But in meer pittie of thy vanquish'd state I undertake this execution Yet for I fear the sparkling Majestie Which issues from thy most Imperial eyes May strike relenting Passion to my heart And after wound receiv'd from fainting hand Thou fall halfe dead among thine Enemies I crave thy Highness leave to bind thee first Alphon. Then bind me quickly use me as thou please Emp. O Villain wilt thou kill thy Sovereign Alex. Your Highness sees that I am forc'd unto it Alphon. Fair Empress I shame to ask thee pardon Whom I have wrong'd so many thousand waies Emp. Dread Lord and Husband leave these desperat thoughts Doubt not the Princes may be reconcil'd Alex. 'T may be the Princes will be reconciled But what is that to me all Potentates on Earth Can never reconcile my grieved Soul Thou slew'st my Father thou didst make this hand Mad with Revenge to murther Innocents Now hear how in the height of all thy pride The rightfull Gods hove powr'd their justfull wrath Upon thy Tyrants head Devill as thou art And sav'd by miracle these Princes lives For know thy side hath got the Victory Saxon triumphs over his dearest friends Richard and Collen both are Prisoners And every thing hath sorted to thy wish Only hath Heaven put it in my mind for he alone directed then my thoughts Although my meaning was most mischievous To tell thee thou hadst lost in certain hope That suddainly thou wouldst have stain them both For if the Princes came to talk about it I greatly feard their lives might be prolong'd Art thou not mad to think on this deceit I le make thee madder with tormenting thee I tell thee Arch-Thief Villain Murtherer Thy Forces have obtaind the Victory Victory leads thy Foes in captive bands This Victory hath crown'd thee Emperour Only my self have vanquisht Victory And triumph in the Victors overthrow Alphon. O Alexander spare thy Princes life Alex. Even now thou didst entreat the contrary Alphon. Think what I am that begg my life of thee Alex. Think what he was whom thou hast doom'd to death But least the Princes do surprize us here Before I have perform'd my strange revenge I will be suddain in the execution Alphon. I will accept any condition Alex. Then in the presence of the Emperess The captive Prince of England and my self Forswear the joyes of Heaven the sight of God Thy Souls salvation and thy Saviour Christ Damning thy Soul to endless pains of Hell Do this or die upon my Rapiers point Emp. Sweet Lord and Husband spit in 's face Die like a man and live not like a Devill Alex. What wilt thou save thy life and damn thy Soul Alph. O hold thy hand Alphonsus doth renounce Edward Aunt stop your years hear not this Blasphemy Empr. Sweet Husband think that Christ did dy for thee Alphon. Alphonsus doth renounce the joyes of Heaven The sight of Angells and his Saviours blood And gives his Soul unto the Devills power Alex. Thus will I make delivery of the Deed Die and be damn'd now am I satisfied Edward O damned Miscreant what hast thou done Alex. When I have leasure I will answer thee Mean while I 'le take my heels and save my self If I be ever call'd in question I hope your Majesties will save my life You have so happily preserved yours Did I not think it both of you should die Exit Alex. Enter Saxon Branden Tryer Richard and Collen as prisoners and Soldiers Saxon. Bring forth these daring Champions to the Block Comfort your selves you shall have company Great Emperor where is his Majestie What bloody spectacle do I behold Emp. Revenge revenge O Saxon Brandenburg My Lord is slain Caesar is doom'd to death Edward Princes make haste follow the murtherer Saxon. Is Caesar slain Edward Follow the Murtherer Emp. Why stand you gasing on an other thus Follow the Murtherer Saxon. What Murtherer Edward The villain Alexander hath slain his Lord Make after him with speed so shall you hear Such villanie as you have never heard Brand. My Lord of Tryer we both with our light Horse Will scoure the Coasts and quickly bring him in Saxon. That can your Excellence alone perform Stay you my Lord and guard the Prisoners While I alas unhappiest Prince alive Over his Trunk consume my self in Tears Hath Alexander done this damned deed That cannot be why should he slay his Lord O cruel Fate O miserable me Me thinks I now present Mark Antony Folding dead Iulius Caesar in mine arms No no I rather will present Achilles And on Patroclus Tomb do sacrifise Let me be spurn'd and hated as a Dogg But I perform more direfull bloody Rites Than Thetis Son for Menctiades Edward Leave mourning for thy Foes pitty thy Friends Sax. Friends have I none and that which grieves my Soul Is want of Foes to work my wreak upon But were you Traitors 4 four hundred thousand Then might I satisfie my self with Blood Enter Brandenb Alexand. and Soldiers Saxon. See Alexander where Caesar lieth slain The guilt whereof the Traitors cast on thee Speak canst thou tell who slew thy Soveraign Alexan. Why who but I how should I curse my self If any but my self had done this deed This happy hand blest be my hand therefore Reveng'd my Fathers death upon his Soul And Saxon thou hast cause to curse and bann That he is dead before thou didst inflict Torments on him that so hath torn thy heart Saxon. What Mysteries are these Bran. Princes can you inform us of the Truth Edward The Deed 's so heinous that my faltering tongue Abhorres the utterance Yet I must tell it Alex. Your Highness shall not need to take the pains What you abhorr to tell I joy to tell Therefore be silent and give audience You mighty men and Rulers of the Earth Prepare your Ears to hear of Stratagems Whose dire effects have gaul'd your princely hearts Confounded your conceits muffled your eyes First to begin this villanous Fiend of Hell Murther'd my Father sleeping in his Chair The
reason why because he only knew All Plotts and complots of his villanie His death was made the Basis and the Ground Of every mischief that hath troubled you Saxon. If thou thy Father and thy Progenie Were hang'd and burnt and broken on the Wheel How could their deaths heap mischief on our heads Alex. And if you will not hear the Reason chuse I tell thee I have slain an Emperour And thereby think my self as good a man As thou or any man in Christendom Thou shalt entreat me ere I tell thee more Brand. Proceed Alex. Not I Saxon. I prethe now proceed Alex. Since you intreat me then I will proceed This murtherous Devill having slain my Father Buz'd cunningly into my credulous ears That by a General Councell of the States And as it were by Act of Parlement The seven Electors had set down his death And made the Empress Executioner Transferring all the guilt from him to you This I believ'd and first did set upon The life of Princely Richard by the Boors But how my purpose faild in that his Grace best knows Next by a double intricate deceit Midst all his Mirth was Bohem poysoned And good old Mentz to save Alphonso's life Who at that instant was in perfect health Twixt jest and earnest was made a Sacrifice As for the Palatine your Graces knew His Highness and the Queens unguiltines But now my Lord of Saxon hark to me Father of Saxon should I rather call you T was I that made your Grace a Grandfather Prince Edward plow'd the ground I sow'd the Seed Poor Hedewick bore the most unhappy fruit Created in a most unluckie hour To a most violent and untimely death Sax. O loathsome Villain O detested deeds O guiltless Prince O me most miserable Brand. But tell us who reveal'd to thee at last This shamefull guilt and our unguiltiness Alex. Why that 's the wonder Lords and thus it was When like a tyrant he had tane his seat And that the furie of the Fight began Upon the highest Watch-Tow'r of the Fort It was my office to behold alofft The Warres event and having seen the end I saw how Victory with equal wings Hang hovering 'twixt the Battails here and there Till at the last the English Lyons fled And Saxon's side obtain'd the Victory Which seen I posted from the turrets top More furiously than ere Laocoon ran When Trojan hands drew in Troy's overthrow But yet as fatally as he or any The tyrant seeing me star'd in my face And suddainly demanded what 's the newes I as the Fates would have it hoping that he Even in a twinkling would have slain 'em both For so he swore before the Fight began Cri'd bitterly that he had lost the day The sound whereof did kill his dastard heart And made the Villain desperatly confess The murther of my Father praying me With dire revenge to ridd him of his life Short tale to make I bound him cunningly Told him of the deceit triumphing over him And lastly with my Rapier slew him dead Sax. O Heavens justly have you tane revenge But thou thou murtherous adulterous slave What Bull of Phalaris what strange device Shall we invent to take away thy life Alex. If Edward and the Empress whom I sav'd Will not requite it now and save my life Then let me die contentedly I die Having at last reveng'd my Fathers death Sax. Villain not all the world shall save thy life Edw. Hadst thou not been Author of my Hedewicks death I would have certainly sav'd thee from death But if my Sentence now may take effect I would adjudge the Villain to be hang'd As here the Jewes are hang'd in Germany Sax. Young Prince it shall be so go dragg the Slave Unto the place of execution There let the Iudas on a Jewish Gallowes Hang by the heels between two English Mastives There feed on Doggs let Doggs there feed on thee And by all means prolong his miserie Alex. O might thy self and all these English Currs Instead of Mastive-Doggs hang by my side How sweetly would I tugg upon your Flesh Exit Alex. Sax. Away with him suffer him not to speak And now my lords Collen Tryer and Barndenburg Whose Hearts are bruz'd to think upon these woes Though no man hast such reason as my self We of the seven Electors that remain After so many bloody Massacres Kneeling upon our Knees humbly intreat Your Excellence to be our Emperour The Royalties of the Coronation Shall be at Aix shortly solemnized Cullen Brave Princely Richard now refuse it not Though the Election be made in Tears Joy shall attend thy Coronation Richard It stands not with mine Honour to deny it Yet by mine Honour fain I would refuse it Edward Uncle the weight of all these Miseries Maketh my heart as heavy as your own But an Imperial Crown would lighten it Let this one reason make you take the Crown Richard What 's that sweet nephew Edward Sweet Uncle this it is Was never Englishman yet Emperour Therefore to honour England and your self Let private sorrow yield to publike Fame That once an Englishman bare Caesar's name Richard Nephew thou hast prevail'd Princes stand up We humbly do accept your sacred offer Cullen Then sound the Trumpets and cry Vivat Caesar All Vivat Caesar Cullen Richardus Dei gratia Romanorum Imperator semper Augustus Comes Cornubiae Richard Sweet Sister now let Caesar comfort you And all the rest that yet are comfortless Let them expect from English Caesar's hands Peace and abundance of all earthly Joy FINIS
THE TRAGEDY OF ALPHONSUS EMPEROUR OF GERMANY As it hath been very often acted with great applause at the Private house in BLACK-FRIERS by his MAIESTIES Servants By George Chapman Gent LONDON Printed for HUMPHREY MOSELEY and are to be sold at his Shopp at the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard 1614 To the Reader I Shall not need to bespeak thee Courteous if thou hast seen this Piece presented with all the Elegance of Life and Action on the Black-Friers Stage But if it be a Stranger to thee give me leave to prepare thy acceptation by telling thee it was receiv'd with general applause and thy judgement I doubt not will be satisfied in the reading I will not raise thy Expectation further nor delay thy Entertainment by a tedious Preface The Design is high the Contrivement subtle and will deserve thy grave Attention in the perusall Farewell Dramatis Personae ALphonsus Emperour of Germany The seven Electors of the German Empire King of Bohemia Bishop of Mentz Bishop of Collen Bishop of Tryer Pallatine of the Rhein Duke of Saxon Marquess of Brandenburgh Prince Edward of England Richard Duke of Cornwall Lorenzo de Cipres Secretary to the Emperour Alexander his Son the Emperours Page Isabella the Empress Hedewick Daughter to the Duke of Saxon Captain of the Guard Souldiers Jaylor Two Boores ALPHONSUS Emperour of Germany Enter Alphonsus the Emperour in his night-gown and his shirt and a torch in his hand Alexander de Tripes his Page following him Al. BOy give me the Master Key of all the doors To Bed again and leave me to my self Exit Alexder Is Richard come have four Electors sworn To make him Keisar in despite of me Why then Alphonsus it is time to wake No Englishman thou art too hot at hand Too shallow braind to undermine my throne The Spanish Sun hath purifi'd my wit And dry'd up all gross humours in my head That I am sighted as the King of Birds And can discern thy deepest Stratagems I am the lawful German Emperour Chosen enstall'd by general consent And they may tearm me Tyrant as they please I will be King and Tyrant if I please For what is Empire but a Tyrannie And none but children use it otherwise Of seven Electors four are falln away The other three I dare not greatly trust My Wife is Sister to mine enemy And therefore wisely to be dealt withall But why do I except in special When this position must be general That no man living must be credited Further than tends unto thy proper good But to the purpose of my silent walk Within this Chamber lyes my Secretary Lorenzo de Cipres in whose learned brain Is all the compass of the world containd And as the ignorant and simple age Of our forefathers blinded in their zeal Receiv'd dark answers from Appollo's shrine And honour'd him as Patron of their bliss So I not muffled in simplicitie Zealous indeed of nothing but my good Hast to the Augur of my happiness To lay the ground of my ensuing Wars He learns his wisdom not by flight of Birds By prying into sacrificed beasts By Hares that cross the way by howling Wolves By gazing on the Starry Element Or vain imaginary calculations But from a setled wisdom in it self Which teacheth to be void of passion To be Religious as the ravenous Wolf Who loves the Lamb for hunger and for prey To threaten our inferiors with our looks To flatter our Superiors at our need To be an outward Saint an inward Devill These are the lectures that my Master reads This Key commands all Chambers in the Court Now on a sudain will I try his wit I know my comming is unlook'd for He opens the door and finds Lorenzo sleep a loft Nay sleep Lorenzo I will walk a while As nature in the framing of the world Ordain'd there should be nihil vacuum Even so me thinks his wisdom should contrive That all his Study should be full of wit And every corner stuft with sentences What 's this Plato Aristotle tush these are ordinary It seems this is a note but newly written He reads a note which he finds among his Books Una arbusta non alit duos Erithicos which being granted the Roman Empire will not suffice Alphonsus King of Castile and Richard Earl of Cornwall his competitor thy wisdom teacheth thee to cleave to the strongest Alphonsus is in possession and therefore the strongest but he is in hatred with the Electors and men rather honour the Sunrising than the Sun going down I marry this is argued like himself and now me thinks he wakes Lorenzo Riseth and snatches at his sword which hung by his Bed side Loren. What are there thieves within the Emperour's Court Villain thou dy'st what mak'st thou in my Chamber Alphon. How now Lorenzo wilt thou slay thy Lord Loren. I do beseech your sacred Majesty to pardon me I did not know your grace Alphon. Ly down Lorenzo I will sit by thee The ayr is sharp and piercing tremble not Had it been any other but our self He must have been a villain and a thief Loren. Alas my Lord what means your excellence To walk by night in these so dangerous times Alphon. Have I not reason now to walk and watch When I am compast with so many foes They ward they watch they cast and they conspire To win confederate Princes to their aid And batter down the Eagle from my creast O my Lorenzo if thou help me not Th' Imperial Crown is shaken from my head And giv'n from me unto an English Earl Thou knowest how all things stand as well as we Who are our enemies and who our friends Who must be threatned and who dallyed with Who won by words and who by force of arms For all the honour I have done to thee Now speak and speak to purpose in the cause Nay rest thy body labour with thy brain And of thy words my self will be the scribe Loren. Why then my Lord take Paper Pen and Ink Write first this maxim it shall do you good 1. A Prince must be of the nature of the Lion and the Fox but not the one without the other Alphon. The Fox is subtil but he wanteth force The Lion strong but scorneth policie I 'l imitate Lysander in this point And where the Lion's hide is thin and scant I 'l firmly patch it with the Foxes fell Let it suffice I can be both in one Loren. 2. A Prince above all things must seem devout but there is nothing so dangerous to his state as to regard his promise or his oath Alphon. Tush fear not me my promise are sound But he that trusts them shall be sure to fail Loren. Nay my good Lord but that I know your Majesty To be a ready quickwitted Scholar I would bestow a comment on the text 3. Trust not a reconciled friend for good turns cannot blot out old grudges Alphon. Then must I watch the Palatine of the Rhein I caus'd his Father to be
put to death Loren. Your Highness hath as little cause to trust The dangerous mighty Duke of Saxony You know you sought to banish him the Land And as for Cullen was not he the first That sent for Richard into Germany Alphon. What 's thy opinion of the other four Alphon. That Bohemie neither cares for one nor other But hopes this deadly strife between you twain Will cast th' Imperial Crown upon his head For Trier and Brandenberg I think of them As simple men that wish the common good And as for Mentz I need not censure him Richard hath chain'd him in a golden bond And sav'd his life from ignominious death Alphon. Let it suffice Lorenzo that I know When Churfurst Mentz was taken Prisoner By young victorious Otho Duke of Brunschweige That Richard Earl of Cornwall did disburse The ransome of a King a million To save his life and rid him out of bands That sum of gold did fill the Brunschweige bags But since my self have rain'd a golden shower Of bright Hungarian Ducates and Crusadoes Into the private Coffers of the Bishop The English Angels took their wings and fled My crosses bless his Coffers and plead for me His Voice is mine bought with ten tun of Gold And at the meeting of the seven Electors His Princely double-dealing holiness Will spoyl the English Emperour of hope But I refer these matter to the sequel Proceed Lorenzo forward to the next Loren. I 'm glad your grace hath dealt so cunningly With that victorious fickle minded Prelate for in election his voice is first but to the next 4. 'T is more safety for a Prince to be feared than loved Alphon. Love is an humour pleaseth him that loves Let me be hated so I please my self Love is an humour mild and changeable But fear er graves a reverence in the heart Loren. 5. To keep an usurped Crown a Prince must swear forswear poyson murder and commit all kind of villanies provided it be cunningly kept from the eye of the world Alphon. But my Lorenzo that 's the hardest point It is not for a Prince to execute Physicians and Apothecaries must know And service fear or Counsel-breaking bribes Will from a Peasant in an hour extort Enough to overthrow a Monarchy Loren. Therefore my Lord set down this sixt and last Article 6. Be alwaies jealous of him that knows your secrets And therefore it behooves you credit few And when you grow into the least suspect With silent cunning must you cut them off As for example Iulio Lentulus A most renowned Neapolitan Gave me this Box of poyson t' was not long But therewithall I sent him to his grave Alphon. And what 's the special vertue of the same Loren. That it is twenty days before it works Alphon. But what is this Loren. This an infection that kils suddainly This but a toy to cast a man asleep Alphon. How bing drunk Loren. No being smelt unto Alphon. Then smell Lorenzo I did break thy sleep And for this time this lecture shall suffice Loraen. What have you done my Lord y 'ave made me safe For stirring hence these four and twenty hours Alphon. I see this charms his senses sudainly How now Lorenzo half asleep already Aeneas Pilot by the God of dreams Was never lull'd into a sounder trance And now Alphonsus over-read thy notes He reads These are already at my fingers ends And lest the world should find this little Schedule Thus will I rend the text and after this On my behaviour set so fair a gloss That men shall take me for a Convertite But some may think I should forget my part And have been over rash in renting it To put them out of doubt I study sure I 'le make a backward repetition In being jealous of my Counsel keepers This is the poyson that kils sudainly So didst thou unto Iulius Lentulus And blood with blood must be requited thus Now am I safe and no man knows my Counsels Churfurst of Mentz if now thou play thy part Erning thy gold with cunning workmanship Upon the Bemish Kings ambition Richard shall shamefully fail of his hope And I with triumph keep my Emperie Exit Enter the King of Bohemia the Bishops of Mentz Collen Trier the Pallatine of the Rhein The Duke of Saxon The Marquess of Brandenburg Bohe. Churfursts and Princes of the Election Since by the adverse fortune of our age The sacred and Imperial Majesty Hath been usurp'd by open Tyranny We the seven Pillars of the German Empire To whom successively it doth belong To make election of our Emperours Are here assembled to unite a new Unto her former strength and glorious type Our half declining Roman Monarchy And in that hope I Henry King of Bohem Churfurst and Sewer to the Emperour Do take my seat next to the sacred throne Mentz Next seat belongs to Iulius Florius Archbishop of Mentz Chancelor of Germany By birth the Duke of fruitful Pomerland Pal. The next place in election longs to me George Cassimirus Palsgrave of the Rhein His Highness Taster and upon my knee I vow a pure sincere innated zeal Unto my Country and no wrested hate Or private love shall blind mine intellect Collen Brave Duke of Saxon Dutchlands greatest hope Stir now or never let the Spanish tyrant That hath dishonoured us murder'd our Friends And stain'd this seat with blood of innocents At last be chastis'd with the Saxon sword And may Albertus Archbishop of Collen Chancelor of Gallia and the fourth Elector Be thought unworthy of his place and birth But he assist thee to his utmost power Sax. Wisdom not words must be the soveraign salve To search and heal these grievous festred wounds And in that hope Augustus Duke of Saxon Arch-Marshall to the Emperour take my place Trier The like doth Frederick Arch-Bishop of Trier Duke of Lorrain Chancelour of Italie Bran. The seventh and last is Ioachim Carolus Marquess of Brandenburg overworn with age Whose Office is to be the Treasurer But Wars have made the Coffers like the Chair Peace bringeth plenty Wars bring poverty Grant Heauens this meeting may be to effect Establish Peace and cut off Tyrannie Enter the Empress Isabella King John's Daughter Empress Pardon my bold intrusion mighty Churfursts And let my words pierce deeply in your hearts O! I beseech you on my bended Knees I the poor miserable Empress A stranger in this Land unus'd to broyls Wife to the one and Sister to the other That are Competitors for Soveraignty All that I pray is make a quiet end Make Peace between my Husband and my Brother O think how grief doth stand on either side If either party chance to be miss My Husband is my Husband but my Brother My heart doth melt to think he should miscarry My Brother is my Brother but my Husband O how my joynts do shake fearing his wrong If both should dye in these uncertain broyls O me why do I live to think upon 't Bear with my interrupted speeches