our bloods shall mingle And drop out life together Ex. Letesi Enter Atheos The new arrived Strainger And Souldiers Athe. Worthy Sir you are welcome to your Garrison for whils't you please to stay in it it must be so My life I hold of you which when you please command I l'e sacrifice to serve you Straing Sir your b re acknowledging me your servant hath wip't off what I have or can be serviceable in and made me now your Debtor which I shall never be unable to confess although not pay It was my love to vertue and my Country commanded me to do no less then to indeavour your safety together with my own from such rude slaves as those for whom I must confess I did but sore against my will some small service having been late their Prisoner which gain'd me that command you saw I had amongst them Athe. Sir you shall or'e come in this and all things els And be assured what entertainment this Country can afford within the bounds of my command shall not be wanting to serve you I have a sight to entertain you with t is probable you have not often seen Souldiers are the marks men ready I gave command to day should be drawn out 1 Sould. They are Sir Athe. Go and give order to the Marshall he bring the Prisoners forth to execution Ex 1 Sould. Com Sir will it please you walk where I shall shew you a handsome Creature which will needs taste death for to preserve her Sisters life The like example of friendship in a Gentleman for his friend one that I ne'r yet saw Straing Is such examples of friendship common in these parts Athe. These are the first and rarest should they hold out touch I ever saw or heard of Wil 't please you walk Straing Your servant waits you Sir Ex Om Enter As on the Parade Albinus bound Clarathea in Letesia's Habuit vaild Adrastus disguised A Guard of Souldiers Albin Dares that Villain Tyrant your Governor hope to find mercy in the other world That can commit such horrid murder on a harmlesse Virgin that hates bad deeds as much as he doth Virtue You Gods above redeem an innocent Maid forth from the jaws of this Rebellious Woolf. The act appears so horrid it will not let me dye in peace 2 Sould. Peace here is our Governor Ent Athe. and Strainger Albin Yea I will hold my peace You Tyrant Governor Villain Monster of Men. Albin unvails her Look on this heavenly form as innocently fair Straing starts at sight of Clarathea as thou ar't sinfull soul And tell me if thy flesh not tremble to be her murderer Straing You Powers above protect me what vision 's this I is some Angel hath asum'd that shape to make my wounds bleed fresh Athe. Sir are you not well Straing Somewhat there was that I have seen much like that face that troubles me Good Sir what may her Name be Athe. Mistresse what may we call your Name Clarath Tell now the unfortunate Clarathea Albin Cheer up brave Maid Thou art so far from acting what may beget a fear Angels rejoice they have beg'd thee from this world to inrich their Throne whilst this admiring world gropes in the dark as wanting vertues light Clarath spies the stranger Clarath Thou sacred Spirit speak T' was kindly done to come and bear me company to the other world Clarathea faints away Albin Help help she faints Straing T is she t is she you Gods rob us not of our joy so soon Gentlemen for Heavens sake help Enter Letesia disguised Apfis speak one word of comfort Ti 's thy Corianus cals thee So so she breaths again Sir If I have ought deserved at your noble hands in what you may assist this vertuous Maid in whose well being consists my life Athe. Souldiers some of you lay by your arms And run for my Sedan fly you Villains Ex Sould Dear Lady pardon your penitent servant who only did intend to shew you Death in him to see how bravely you could bear it out Clarath Doth my Corianus live or do I Dream Corian Thou comfort of my soul Thy Corianus lives Lives to enjoy what the rich Oceans treasure should not buy for me My best Apfia Imbraces her Athe. Sir this passion tels me she should be of some value to you And I am gladly happy it so fals out that I may serve you for the life I hold Souldiers make ready and fire at that stout Villain Adrast Hold hold I say Thou foul mouth'd tyrant There is more worth lodg'd in that noble brest of his then would redeem forth from the jaws of hell thy soul design'd for Ruine Fals on Albinus his Neck Let all the unreconciled world that stands deriding at the Name of Friend wash their bespattered souls And here fall down and worship O Albinus thou hast out done story for where invention found not charity to purchase a beleef in thee they may behold their error Here you tyrant take the blood you thirst for Tares open his Doubles and puls of his Disguise I am the mark you aim at T' was I that wounded your Lieutenant Apfia My Dear Corianus if you have any power to prevail speak for these worthiest of Men They will deserve your love as Persons I have been preserved by Corian Sir Then I must begg what it you please to grant you everlastingly engage your Creature That since your Lieutenant unfortunately wounded by this Gentleman is past Deaths present danger that all may be forgot between your self and those two Gentlemen the unparalleld examples of true friendship for whom besides what obligation my Apfia charms me with I am bound upon my knees to plead for And will engage they shall deserve your love And prove your Gratefull Servants Athe. Sir I have given you the power dispose of them and me as you please Souldiers unbind the Gentleman he is no more your Prisoner And now we stand all three your Debtors for the lives we hold Adrast Worthy Sir what you have so liberall ingaged for us Turns to Corianus shall be performed My Life you have preserved which I shall husband to the best advantage in all obedience to your commands Corian Sir I must proclaim my self a Traytor to my own reason should I noâ— endeavour to preserve those lives I must in mercy to my self if I l'e seek honour Imitate Letesi takes of her Disguise Letesi And doth Letesia live to see her Dear Adrastus free worthiest of Maids I joy to see as for my self thee lodgd in those blest arms thou gavest for Dead Thy vertue hath redeem'd us all Apfi I ne'r could do service worthy your acceptation till this hour And what through weaknesse I may want to serve you I know my Coranius gladly will perform Corian Lady Apfia's Friends commands the Life I hold Come my Apfia I shall unfold thy Fathers plots and charge he gave his servants to confirm me Dead which once began to grow disputable through the festering of a wound he gave me Ent Symph and Gripe man Adrast Symphronio Symph The very same I can assure you Sir if I mistake not this is your Vertuous Daughter Turns to Letesi Letesi starts back Ney flinch not fair Letesia I bring you none but friends Gripe And lives my Letesia My Child my Daughter Adrast and Letesi kneels Adrast Yes and Adrastus your Son to I can assure you Gripe My blessing on you both And with it all I have Adrast Worthy Sir my Father now Gripe Come come no words All is forgot all is forgot My joy is too great for me to contain This sight hath fild my veins with youthfull blood I hardly can beleeve I am mortall Athe. This is a Day of joy worthy remembrance And Gentlemen And Ladies what I have done displeasing to you Pray forgive it And if you please to solemnize your joyes in this poor Garrison what is and the Country can afford is yours Althe We humbly thank you Sir Gripe And should accept this noble curtefie did not my House call home which pray command as yours Where I with Feasant Cocke Parteridg and Plovers will nobly feast you And these Loyall Lovers THE AUTHOR To his Honorable Friends WHat such a weak foundation can support yo' have read which well may serve the vulgar sort as a good Winters tale where brown bowl sence may stagger the attentive Audience At least so highly please that the whole pack shall swear in Ale 's more vertue then in Sack But how amongst your worthier Brests t' will take or what impression in your judgments make Lo I submit too yet dare hope no less Then that your mercy'l save me from the Press which if I am squeez'd to Death with t is my fate some Dye with too much I for want of wait To his dear Friend the Author In stead of Epilogue I l'e chide thy Wit at least thy judgment for suspecting it Has't thou so nobly taught Friends what to do and fears't to suffer mongs't the Loyall crew who let 's thee loose by this plainly discovers was ne'r yet truly Friend to Loyall Lovers Ed Ashen
not fin'd to be a sufferer with they cruell Father T was I conspir'd thy ruine it must be so my covetousnesse to match her to young Avaritia hath forc't her to this flight You Gods above restore me but my Child And I l'e become your faithfull Penicent And what I have unjustly from poor souls detain'd I will restore till all cry hold they h've gaind Ex Enter three Souldiers 1 Sould Have you heard how the Councell of War hath disposed of the young Gallant that wounded our Lieutenant t' was a shrewd hurt t' was ten to one he had not kild him 3 Sould I hear he shall be hangd 2 Sould You are mistaken for when he had his sentence to be hang'd hating so base a Death he prov'd he had been an Officer In the late war against us And must be shot to death Trust me I pity him he seems a gallant person 1. Sould. Me thinks 't is great injustice he should die The Lieutenant as the Chirurgion doth give in being likely To recover 2. Sould. 'T is true but since it is their pleasure he shall die What cannot they pretend to take away his life They say he fell upon our Guard and that though not Discovered he had more aid which fled though I dare say there 's nothing of it true could I but save his life I willingly would venture a limbe 1. Sould. And he that shoots him may his hands rot off for me 2. Sould. Amen say I. Come let 's to the Parade where we Shall know what hour he dies and who are Chose his marks men Ex. Om. Enter Atheos Sol. My eyes have not beheld a more diviner shape Her beauty hath inflamed me to that height I must Injoy her though I survive no minutes after She dotes upon that slave that wounded my Lieutenant for which He dies for when she knows him dead her love Like the affections of most women will die with him But should she continue obstinate and hate me as having Power to save his life I then were further off obtaining My desiers But I will court her high Rich gifts are Baits that beauty often bites at Laborious cunning With a weighty purse in time will do it If nothing will prevail this follows next by course What I not fairly can I le do by force Ex. Enter Albin Symph Albin I wounder much we hear not from Adrastus I know no reason for it I have been strangely troubled Since his departure the Gods grant all be well Symphronio you shall along with me to old Gripemans To see if he continue in his Frantick fury Besides we shall of Clarathea understand what course He hath taken in search of his fair Daughter Symph God when you will I am for you Enter Mettle Albin Mettle I somewhat fear the goodness of thy news Thy looks betray some sad mischance Mett weeps Nay if thou weep'st 't is vain but to suspect it Mett 'T is sad indeed For if you make not haste you 'l never see My Master more alive Symph Is he so dangerously sick Mett No Sir he wants no health this letter will take you off gives Albin a Letter From wondring at my language Albin He must not long out-live him by whose means he falls Alb. reads Symphronio peruse those sad contents Symph reads Come come Symphronio 't is no time to grieve But to resolve what 's to be done where 's fair Letesia Mett She is close prisoner in the Governour 's house And none but such as he appoints comes near her Albin Poor Gentlewoman I will redeem thy Adrastus Or perish in the attempt Symphronio I shall intreat thee stay yet a while In Town and visit Gripeman as my Brother The rest contrive thy self onely to see what course He steeres to finde his Daughter Clarathea shall along with me her present service May stand Letesia in some sted And be confident you shall by Mettle speedily hear From me how all things stands For so it may fall out that you may do great servis For Adrastus here Mettle run to Clarathea tell her she must provide Immediately to go a long with me to her Mistress Mett I shall Sir Ex. Mett Symph Since you conceive my stay may be a furtherance to my Distressed friend I faithfully shall study here to act Whatever your directions shall imploy me in Albin Thanks noble Symphronio Fare thee well My brains are all on fire I long to act what I in heart desire Ex. Am. Enter Atheos Letesia Athe. Lady you do exceed in grief you wrong your beauty To lament for what 's not in your power to remedy He is but a man you grieve for And there are more It 'h World as handsomely active as he Clear those fair eyes and tell me if my self I must confess unworthy may deserve your love Letesi Do you love me then Athe. My actions fair one shall satisfie that doubt Letesi I take you at your word then set my husband free Athe. That 's not within the compass of my power to do Letesi You are a dissembler and prophane the name of Love This is not nobly done to triumph over a weak woman Through her ill fate your slave The conquest you will gain by 't may well be added Amongst the Trophies of your great victories Achiev'd in this rebellion Athe. Lady the usage you have found and from a stranger too Deserves more civil language But I 'le forget it And doubt not this foolish passion over But you 'l consider and be sorry for it Letesi Never For know lay it in thy power to make me empress Of the World I would not out-live my husband Many hours to injoy it Athe. Lady I see this is no time to urge a serious answer from you But yet remember you are in my power and if you please You may be happy Think on it So fare you well Ex. Atheos Letesia Where am I or of whom can I expect relief Was ever wretched creature so miserably unhappy as I am And shall Letesia live and my Adrastus die And I his murderer Thou might'st have lived brave soul the patern still Of virtue But I have robb'd the World of such a juel The Gods esteem'd too rich to bless this earth with I must in justice sacrifice my life to him that I have ruin'd For on my knees before the gods I vow she kneels When I shall understand his death caused by this Act of mine one hour not to out-live him There is no hope of mercy on honourable tearms From such a heap of sin as this Was ever woman courted by a villain to her dishonour Just in the act of murdering her husband And shall I not revenge thy death brave soul It is decreed That hand that murders thee that heart shall bleed Ex. Letesia Enter Albinus and Clarathea both disguised Albin Could'st thou Clarathea readily finde the way to the House we came from Clarath Most undoubtedly I could Albin And give perfect
directions to Letesia Clarath Such as she shall not miss But Sir are you confident they will be honest in what I must confess they chearfully have undertook to be most secret in Albin O Clarathea The woman was my Nurse whose milk Innocent as the Livory it wore still sympathized With Loyal bloud She can betray nothing But her own fear how much she wants to do Not suffer for her friends Adrastus and Letesia's lives thrown upon less assurance Might though in their safeties justly Have call'd me murderer Pre thee Clarathea how do I look May I not pass turns him about For currant without a superscription written On my back this is a Traitour Clarath You may But Sir the danger 's great you undertake Do'st thou consider mine and slight thy own Thou wonder of thy Sex Thou mak'st me blushing To confess that when I have paid my debt to friendship By laying down this inconsiderable life I have but initated thee a woman Clarath Pardon me worthy Sir I do confess I may resolve But yet may stagger too in the performance of such a piece of friendship Had I not a guide to light me more strange Than is a blazing Star Albin It is too pitifully strange indeed to finde true friendship Farewell brave soul Be carefull of the hour takes her by the hand And directions of the way For Letesia's impatient Love Should she but miss Adrastus some few minutes Might be occasion of their certain ruine This kiss so farewell earth Kisses her Our meetings next in Heaven Ex. Albinus Clarath And may the noble example of thy friendship Be as a Star to future ages To light them unto virtue Ex. Clarath Enter Gripeman Symphronio Gripe Sir if I not mistake you are a stranger to me What may your business be Symph Sir I am brother to a Gentleman made happy in your Acquaintance his name Adrastus Gripe Away out of my sight I know your business well Sir know I have left those cursed ways that would have Headlong hurried me to Hell Be gone I say And if you be his brother tell him I do advise him To repent and not betray his friends Symph This is strange he is converted I must another way to work Aside Sir you do mistake my business My brother not being well And sorry to think what he had undertaken sent me To let you know his change of minde And bade me tell you in any thing that 's noble and honest He faithfully would serve you But to betray a friend or do an act unworthy He would not for the World Gripe 'T is honestly resolved you now are welcom I love your brother for it Young man follow his steps And covet not by base sinister ways to hoard up wealth Least thou be Father but of one virtuous childe He weeps And have that taken from thee Symph Sir your tears hath easily gain'd credit in my belief It hath been your sad case Gripe Indeed it hath and could I but injoy my Childe I would with comfortable tears labour to wash My too bad sins away But 't was my fault seeking to match her to a covetious Wretch she thus deserted me Symph Suppose in this her time of absence she should bestow Her self on a more noble choice though not so rich Could you forgive her and with joy receive Your Childe again Gripe O worthy Sir there 's Musick in your tongue receive her Yes next to the joys above on earth I know none like it Symph I am glad to hear you say so And though I am a stranger to your Daughters flight And place of being keep your house and I doubt not But ere long to be the happy bringer of the joyfull news Your Daughter 's well and shew you where she is Ex. Symph Gripe Blessings go with thee thou art my good Angel How gracious are the Gods so soon to hear my prayers The hope I have of what I would injoy Hath made me young again Ex. Gripe Enter Adrastus Albinus as in Prison Adrast Dear friend leave off to urge it Canst thou believe Adrastus values his wretched life At such a rate to purchase it with the loss of thine I should be branded for a Coward upon record should I accept it No no Thou miracle of friendship preserve thy noble life To imploy it in thy Prince and Countreys cause There wants such guides to honour and desert Poor Letesia I call the Gods to witness were 't not to part With thee my death would be as welcom as my sleep But since it is the pleasure of the Gods we shall not here On earth injoy I freely do bestow her on thee Albinus Take her and be confident thou wilt finde her worthy Thy acceptance And may you live long and happy And once a year Water my sad remembrance with a tear Pardon me Adrastus for I must speak my thoughts Your language or religion I am mistaken in You would bequeath fair Letesia to me your self Resolves to Murder Hath she so ill deserved For her return of Love and loss of friends Onely for your sake And will you requite her love With taking away her life Adrast Protect me innocence I understand you not Albin You shall do then For know Letesia hath sworn Not many hours to out-live you which shee 'l perform Maugre the Worlds resistance Can you deny to save that noble life that hath engaged her Own so far for yours and make her own white hands The instruments of her death Be mercifull if not for pitie For shame of th' World which will cry out in Ballads ' Gainst the Murder Clarathea too That faithful'lst of Servants at the same time shift's cloaths with your Letesia Who will not fail to meet you at the house appointed Where should she miss you her impatient Love might put The whole frame of our great business out of joynt And for that you do suppose I loose my safety in preserving Yours you much mistake I have not gone so simply to work But I have secured that Adrast Make me but happy in that assurance And I l'e desire to live if but to call thee friend Albin Know then I have brib'd some of your guard To assist me in my escape Come come no words withdraw And let us shift our cloaths Be confident in your going out And no man can suspect you Be sure keep fresh in your remembrance the directions To the house you meet at as what most near concerns you I cannot hear therefore make no reply No complements dear friend when death 's so nigh Ex. Om. Enter Atheos and Souldiers Athe. Where stands the wind 1. Sould. North East Athe. Run to the Key and give order the long Boat be made Ready and mann'd with able men I 'le out to Sea anon Two or three leagues Saw you your Lieutenant lately 2. Sould. Sir I did this morning and found him pretty hearty Athe. Where are your Serjeants 2. Sould. Sir I left them at their quarter but
now Athe. Go and from me give them strickt charge they speedily Draw out all those commanded men I gave them order for I le have the prisoner shot before I put to Sea Ex. Athe. 3. Sould. Now what say you you that were confident He should not die for this 2. Sould. Why I say I am sorry for it and could almost die for him There is no Justice he should suffer death for this For what he did he was provok't too by uncivill language 3. Sould. 'T is all the Justice now in fashion every man in office Makes his will his Law Were all the Souldiers In the Garrison of my minde he should shoot him himself And that I think he dares not do and Look him in the face come let 's go Ex. Sould Enter Atheos and Clarathea in Letesias habit Athe. 'T is your best way to tell me where she is gone Clarath It lies not in my power or if it did can you think I that have undertaken thus much for her will now betray her Athe. Art ' not afraid of Torture Clarath Not I I can assure you I came to undergo What you d are lay upon me Athe. That 's nobly spoken yet Let me but this night enjoy thee And I le not onely forgive thee all and set thee free our Garrison But generously reward thee Clarath Sir I thank you for your courteous proffer but I le not buy My freedom at that rate Had my Sister stayed Perhaps you might have had her consent Athe. She jeers me aside I do believe I should was she your Sister then Clarath She was Athe. And do you love her so well to die for her Clarath Indeed I do Athe. Then speedily prepare your time is short Or will you yet consent do but consider what it is to live Which weighed with what you foolishly deny And you must yield in reason Clarath Indeed I must not and when I do to save this wretched life May all diseases mankinde hateth most Proclaim it on my fore-head Enter 1. Souldier Athe. So brave 1. Sould. Sir the prisoner wounded our Lieutenant is fled And another in his cloaths left in his room Athe. Then by the Gods the Marshall shall to Torture This is brave juggling Lady you know now who this Valiant villain is that dares die for his friend But you have Engines I doubt not now at work For your escapes But I le prevent them And since you are so valiant you dare die You shall have your desire Souldier run to the Goal And let the Gallant know at five a clock this evening He dies For by my Tortured Soul at my return from Sea Ex. Sould. Without you do repent and yield to my desires You both shall suffer death Clarath You 'l ease me of a pain ther 's nothing else Can quit me from Ex. Om. Enter Adristus Solus What are we men we should desire to live in this frail World where there is nothing certain but uncertainty To day with the rising of the Sun rais'd to the height Of what our joys can aim at And by his setting Ruined and forgotten A friend The Ecche T was friend I said Answers friend Hark how theretorting Eccho shrilly through the grove Eccho answers again Conveighs the name of friend and rests its self As weary in the Toyling search Of what deserved that name And shall my friend the worthiest of what deserves That Title die to preserve my life No Dear Letesia whom by the Gods I love and value Next my honour thou must excuse me Too well I know Albinus did but pretend the way Of his own safety to encourage me in the securing mine How soon that fatal sentence of his death May be pronounc'd I know not Something I must pretend to fair Letesia of business For some time which will be difficulty obtain'd Forgive me my Letesia my honour is more than life Justice and friendship now parts man and wife Exit Enter Albinus in Adrastus cloaths and two Souldiers Sould. Sir it is the pleasure of our Governour that I should let You know about five a clock this evening you must prepare to die Albin Thanks honest Souldier there 's for thy news gives him money He shall not take me unprovided Know'st thou what death he is resolved I suffer 1. Sould. Shot I believe Sir for there 's no order to the contrary Albin It is a noble death I thank him for 2. Sould. Would I could save your life 'T is pity such true friendship should be cut off Albin Thank thee noble Souldier A great shout without What may this shout of joy proclaim 1. Sould. Truly Sir I know not Enter Corporal How now Corporal know you the reason of this shout Hark the great Guns are fired too Corpor. Yes it is to welcom a Gentleman ashore That this day saved our Governour 's life 2. Sould. By what strange means there was no storm at Sea Corpor. No no 't was thus Our Governour no sooner had put out to Sea Whether to take the air or make himself Sea-sick I know not But a small Boat of Pirats well mann'd With Musketeers hid in a small creek whipt out And got between our shore and them Who being far Too nimble for our Boat having more Oars Soon boarded them who to save their lives were forc'd To yield When to the amazement of our Governour This Gentleman now landed and then their Captain Clap't in our Governour 's hand a good broad sword Bidding our men if ever now fight for Liberty and injoy it Himself giving a brave testimony to our doubtfull men By the death of two or three of the chief Pyrats that he was in earnest This done they all fell to it The Pyrats distracted at this Surprisal not knowing what to think and less to do The major part was soon cut off the rest brought prisoners in In this same skirmish we had but two men hurt And this brave Gentleman the preserver of their lives Received two wounds i' th' shoulder Now you may judg whether our Governor hath not just cause nobly to entertain this stranger 2 Sould. Come let 's go see him Sir we wish it lay within the compass of our powers to serve you Albin I thank you honest Souldiers Ex Om Ent. Letesia Sol. disguised I was a curst to let him go what businesse can he have here in a place he is a stranger to His noble soul will not endure to let Albinus suffer in his cause And this a plot by him contrived for to procure my safety You powers above that looks with joy on penitential tears She weeps behold a poor beblubbered Maid on bended knees She kneels to implore your mercy Let not your vengeance fall upon the innocent for the Guilties sake spare my Adrastus and lay your load on me She riseth But if my cruell Fathers fins cannot be wash't off but with our bloods we 'l make one sacrifice And since our bodies are denied to enjoy