bodies to the ruthles sound That hath diuided vs and our late friends Rather then see choyce Hoffman Lor, Corrage braue Otho hee 'l vse thee kindly Enter Hoffman Heere he comes sweete host heere is the dukes heire of Leningberge doe homage and after entertaine him and me his Follower with the most conspictious pleasures That lies in thy poore hability Hoff. Before I speake to my most sacred Lord I ioyne my soft lipps to the sollid earth And with an honord bennison I blesse The hower the place the time of your arriue For now my sauadge life lead amongst beasts Shal be turn'd ciuell by your gratious helpe Otho I see thy true hearts loue drope downe in teares And this imbrace shewes I am free from feares My disturb'd blood runnes smoothly through my veines And I am bold to call thee friend bold to intreate Food for by wrack I haue lost ship friends and meat Hoff. You that attend my Lord enter the caue Bring forth the homely Cakes theis hands prepar'd While I intreat his excellence sit downe Villaine bring nothing but a burning Crowne Exit Otho What 's that thou bidst him bring a burning Crowne Hoff. Still you suspect my harmelesse inocence What though your father with the power state And your iust vncle duke of Brusia After my father had in thirty fights Fill'd all their treasures with fomens spoyles And payd poore souldiors from his treasury What though for this his merrits he was nam'd A prescript out law for a little debt Compeld to flie into the Belgique sound And liue a pirate Otho Prithee speake no more Thou raysest new doubts in my troubled heart By repetition of thy fathers wrongs Hoff. Then hee was wrong'd you graunt but not by you You vertuous gentleman Sate like a iust iudge of the vnder-shades And with an vnchang'd Rhadamantine looke Beheld the flesh mangled with many scars Par'd from the bones of my offended father And when hee was a bare anatomy You saw him chain'd vnto the common gallowes Otho Hoffman Hoff. Nay heare me patiently kind Lord My innocent youth as guilty of his sinne Was in a dungeon hidden from the sunne And there I was condemn'd to endlesse night Except I past my vow neuer to steale My fathers fleshles bones from that base tree I know nor who it was I guesse your mother She kneeld and wept for me but you did not Beseeching from that vow I might be freed Then did I sweare if Nations forraigne power Compel'd me to take downe those naked bones I neuer would release them from those chaines Neuer intombe them but immediately Remoue them from that gallowes to a tree I kept mine oath looke Luningberg t is done Behold a father hang'd vp by his sonne Otho Oh horrible aspect murtherer stand off I know thou meanst mee wronge Hoff. My Lord behold these pretious twines of light Burnt out by day eclipst when as the sunne For shame obscur'd himselfe this deed was done Where none but schrich owles sung thou receptacle thou organ of the soule Rest goe rest and you most louely Couplets Leggs and armes reside for euer heere This is my last farewell what doe you weepe Otho Oh Lorrique I am betrayd slaue touch me not Hoff. Not touch thee yes and thus trip downe thy pride You pla'ct my father in a Chaire of state This earth shall bee your throne villaine come forth Enter Lorrique And as thou mean'st to saue thy forfeit life Fixe on thy Masters head my burning Crowne While in these Cords I in eternall bands Binde fast his base and coward trembling hands Otho Lorrique art thou turn'd villaine to my life Lor. I le turne any thing sir rather then nothing I was taken life promist to betray you and I loue life so well that I would not loose it for a Kingdome for a Kings Crowne an Empire Hoff. On with the Crowne Otho Oh tortor aboue measure Hoff. My father felt this paine when thou hadst pleasure Otho Thy father dyed for piracy Ho. Oh peace had he bin iudge himselfe he would haue shew'd He had bin clearer then the Christall morne But wretches sentenc'd neuer finde defence How euer guiltlesse bee their innocence No more did hee no more shalt thou no ruth Pittied his winter age none helps thy youth Otho Oh Lorrique tortor I feele an Aetna burne Within my braines and all my body else Is like a hill of Ice all these Belgique seas That now surround vs cannot quench this flame Death like a tyrant seazeth me vnawares My sinewes shrinke like leaues parcht with the sunne My blood dissolues nerues and tendons fayle Each part 's disioynted and my breath expires Mount soule to heauen my body burnes in fire Lor. Hee 's gon Hoff. Goe let him come Lorrique This but the prologue to th e'nsuing play The first step to reuenge this seane is donne Father I offer thee thy murtherers sonne Exeunt Florish Enter Ferdinand Rodorick Lodowick Mathias Lucibell Ierom Stilt attendants Ferd. Princes of Saxony and Austria Though your owne words of sufficient weight To iustifie the honorable loue borne by Lodowick to bright Lucybell Yet since your parents liue and as I heare There is betweene them some dissention Blame vs not for detaining you thus long Till we had notice how the businesse stood Lodo. Your royall entertaine great Ferdinand Exceeding expectation in our stay Bind vs to thanks and if my brother please To hold his challenge for a Turnament In praise of Lucibellas excellence No doubt our father and the Austrian duke Will be in person at so royall sport Ferd. We trust they will Rodo. I doe assure your grace The Austrian and the duke of Saxony By true report of pilgrimes at my cell From eyther of there courts set hetherward Some sixe dayes since Ferd. Thankes Rodorick for this newes They are more welcome then the sad discourse Of Leningberg our nephewes timeles wrake Which addeth sorrow to the mourning griefes Abound in vs for our Dutches death Ie. I truly Princes my father has had but hard lucke since your comming to his court for ought I know you are bred of ill weather come before you are sent for yet if my most gratious father say you are welcome I his more gratious sonne take you by the hands though I can tell you my mothers death comes somewhat neere my heart but I am a prince and princes haue power more then common people to subdue their passions Mat. We know your worthinesse is experienc't in all true wisedome Ier. True I am no foole I haue bin at Wittenberg where wit growes Ferd. Peace thou vnshapen honor my states shame My ages corsiue and my blacke sinnes curse Oh hadst thou neuer bin I had bin then A happy childlesse man now among men I am the most vnhappie one that knowes No end of mine and of my peoples woes I tell you Princesse and most gracious maide I doe not weare these sable ornaments For Isabellas death though she were deare Nor
leaue old Saxony Childles for all this sorrow Prince and if Otho Helpe in my son with noble Austria Lodowick shal be my burden brother yours The louely but the lucklesse Lucibell So treade a heauy measure now le ts goe To interre the dead our hearts being dead with woe Exeunt carrying the dead bodies Rod. Ther 's life in Lucibell for I feele Rodo. last with Lucibell A breath more odoriferous then balme Thirle through the corrall portals of her lipps Apparent signes of life her pulses beate Oh if I could but yet recouer her T' would satisfie the State of Austria That else would be disturb'd for want of heires Heauen be propitious guide my artlesse hand To preserue fainting life in this cleare forme Graunt this thou soule of all Diuinity And I will striue what euer mortall may Enter Hoffman and Saxony To serue thee on my knees both night and day Tarry Prince Otho and see theyr bodies balm'd Hoff. I pray you thinke me not in passion dull I must withdraw and weepe my heart is full Oh reuerent man thou bearst the richest fruite That euer fell in the vnripined spring Goe lay her soft she had ill fate to fall But rich or faire or strong death swallowes all Hola Lorrique leaue our horse draw neere Enter Lorrique Helpe me to sing a hymne vnto the fates Compos'd of laughing interiections Lor. Why my good Lord what accidents Haue chanc't that tickle so your spleene Hoff. Oh my deere selfe thou trusty treasurer of my reuenge Kneele downe and at my bidding kisse the earth And on her cold eare whisper this strict charge That she prouide the best of her perfumes The fat of Lambs rap't from the bleating Ewes The sweetest smelling wood she can deuise For I must offer vp a sacrifice To blest occasion that hath seconded With opportune meanes my desire of wreake Lor. Now I haue kis't the earth let me pertake In your great ioy that seemes to exceed Are Lodowick and the Princesse murder'd Hoff. T is done goe hie thee to Prince Ferdinand Tell him how misaduenture and mistrust Hath kild Prince Lodowick and bright Lucibell By Prince Mathias hand adde to that chaunce Another vnexpected accident Say that the Dukes of Austria and Saxony Being by the Hermet Rodorick intertain'd And hearing outcries in the dead of night Came and beheld the tragick spectacle Which sight did so inrage the Austrian Duke That he assail'd the Saxon but fell slaine On his pale daughter now defloured by death Lor. Is Austria then slaine by Saxony Hoff. Come come hee 's dead eyther by him or me Noe matter hee 's gone ther 's more to goe Runne with the newes away Exit Enter Stilt and a rabble of poore souldiers old Stilt his father with his scarfe like a Captaine A scuruy march Stilt. Father set you the army in qeraye while I inuocate The Generall Foulkes Fibs forman and Friends all Officers ail helpe to marshall Prince Ierom my Lord shall remunerate that is shall be Full of thankesgiuing while nature is able to Nourish or sustayne Father you haue order to stay the rest be sententious and full of circumstance I aduise you and remember this that more then mortality fights on our side For we haue treason and iniquity to maintayne our quarrell Old Stilt. Hah what say'st my sonne treason and iniquity Stilt. Reason and equity I meant Father ther 's little controuersity in the words but like a Captaine couragious I pray goe forward remember the place you are in noe more but this the dayes of old no more but that and the glory Father Knighthood at least to the vtter defacing of you and your posterity Noe more but soe Exit O. Stilt. Well goe thy waies thou art able to put fire into a Flint stone thou hast as rheumatique a tongue to perswade as any is betweene Pole and Pomer but thou art euen kitt after kind I am thy father and was infamous for my exprobations to discourage a dissembly of tall souldiers afore thou wert borne and I haue made them stand to it tooth and nayle how say you most valiant and reprobate Country men haue ye not heard I haue bin a stinger a tickler a wormer Fibs. Yet noble ancient Captaine Stilt ye haue remou'd mens hearts I haue heard that of my father God rest his soule when yee were but one of the common all souldiers that seru'd old Sarloys in Norway O. Stilt. I then was and Sarloys was a gentleman wou'd not haue giuen his head for the washing but hee is cut of as all valiant caualeroes shall and they be no more negligent of themselues But to the purpose wee are dissembled together and falne into battayle beray in the behalfe Prince Ierom a vertuous Prince a wise Prince and a most respectlesse Prince my son Timothies master and the vnlawfull heire of this land Now sir the old Duke has put out a declamation and saies our rising is noe other then a resurrection for the Prince inspires not against his father but the Duke inspires against his son vsing him most naturally charitably and abhominably to put him from intercession of the crowne wherefore as yee bee true men and obstinate subiects to the State vncouer your heads and cast vp your caps and cry a Ierom a Ierom Om A Ierom a Ierom a Ierom Enter Ierom and Stilt Ier. Most noble Countrymen I cannot but condole in ioy and smile in teares to see you assembled in my right but this is the lamentation that I poore Prince must make who for my fathers proclamation am like for to loose my head except you stand to mee for they are comming on with bowes bills and guns against vs but if you be valiant and stand to me lustily all th' earth shall roare but wee 'l haue victory Enter with Drum and Colours Duke Ferdinand Hoffman Lorrique Captaiue to leade the drum the souldiers march and make a stand All on Ieroms side cast vp their caps and cry a Ierom. Fer. Vpon those traytors valiant gentlemen Let not that beast the multitude confront With garlicke-breath and their confused cries The Maiesty of me their awfull Duke Strike their Typhoean body downe to fire That dare 'gainst vs their soueraigne conspire Ier. Come come you shall haue your hands full and you Come where we haue to doe stand to it Stilt Stilt. stand to 't heer 's the father and the son will stand though all the rest flie away O Stilt. I warrant you Prince when the battaile comes to ioyning my son and I will bee inuisible and they ouercome vs I le giue you leaue to say I haue no pith in me vpon vm true Prince vpon vm An Alarum Hoffman kneeles betweene the Armies Stilt. I thought t wou'd come to that I thought we shou'd bring The false Prince on his knees Fer. What meanes my Dukedomes hope to turne thus base arise and smite thy foes Sarl. I see them not my most honor'd vncle pittie I beseech These silly
this hatefull plot Least we be circumuented Rod. True 't is to put on open armes Mat. T is now too late we are beset With souldiers we must fight and since it must be Let 's to 't valiantly Enter Dutchesse Lord with souldiers Lord Princes prepare not to resist your foes Wee are as firme as life vnto your blood The Dutchesse Martha greetes old Saxony Prince Mathias Rodorick and fayre Lucibell To me she hath discouer'd the damnd plots Of that perfidious Hoffman and hath sent These armed souldiers to attend on you Sax. We thanke her Highnes but we thinke in vaine Both you and we attend Lorrique lyes slaine By Hoffmans slye suspition best be ioyn'd To apprehend him publiquely Lord There is no need our Dutchesse hath apparrel'd Her speech in a greene liuery She salutes him faire but her heart Like his actions is attir'd In red and blew and sable ornaments Sax. But tell vs where they are Lord At hand she comes with him alone her plot is She comes in happy time for all your good Mat Cease words vse deedes Reuenge drawes nigh Sax. Come set his body like a scarcrow This bush shroud you this you Stand close true souldiers for reuenge Luc. I doe doe doe I pray you heartely doe stand close Enter Hoffman and Dutchesse Hoff. I wonder much why you aske me for Lorrique What is Lorrique to you or what to me I tell you he is damn'd enquire no more His name is hatefuller then death Mar. Heauen what alterations these Can I beleeue you loue mee as you swore When you are so inconstant to your friend Hoff. He is noe friend of mine whom you affect Pardon me Madam such a fury raignes Ouer my boyling blood that I enuy Any one on whom you cast an amorous eye Mar. What growne so louing marry heauen defend Wee shall deceiue you if you dote on vs For I haue sworne to lead a widdowes life And neuer more to be tearm'd married wife Hoff. I but you must Mar. Must vse not force I pray Hoff. Yeild to my loue and then with meekest words And the most humble actions I le intreat Your sacred beauty deny me I le turne fire More wild then wrath come then agree If not to marry yet in vnseene sports To quench these Lawlesse heates that burne in me Mar. What my adopted son become my louer And make a want on minion of his mother Now fie vpon you fie y' are too obsceane If like your words your thoughts appeare vncleane Hoff. By heauen I doe not ieast goe to belieue me 'T is well you laugh smile on I like this Say will you yeild Mar. At the first fie noe That were an abiect course but let vs walke Into some couert there are pretty caues Lucky to louers suites for Virgil sings That Dido being driuen by a sharpe storme Into a Lybian caue was there intic'd By siluer-tongu'd Aeneas to affect And should you serue me soe I were vndone Disgrac'd in Germany by euery Boore Who in their rymes woud iest at Marthas name Calling her mynion to her cozen son Hoff. Fayrer then Dido or loues amorous Queene I know a caue where in the bright dayes eyes Look't neuer but a skance through a small creeke Or little cranny of the fretted scarre There I haue sometimes liu'd there are fit seates To sit and chat and coll and kisse and steale Loues hidden pleasures come are you disposd To venter entrance if you be assay 'T is death to quicke desire vse no delay Mar. Vertue and modesty bids me say noe Yet trust me Hoffman tha' rt so sweet a man And so belou'd of me that I must goe Hoff. I am crown'd the King of pleasure Mar. Hatefull slaue thou goest to meete destruction in the caue Hoff. S'death who stands here What 's that Lorriques pale ghost I am amaz'd nay slaue stand of Thy weapons sure the prize is ours Mar. Come forth deere friends murder is in our powers Sax. Yeild thee base son of shame Hoff. How now what 's here am I betrayd By dotage by the falshood of a face Oh wretched foole falne by a womans hand From high reuenges spheare the blisse of soules Sax. Cut out the murtherers tongue Hoff. What doe you meane Whom haue I murder'd wherefore bind yee me Mar. They are Iustices to punish thy bare bones Looke with thy blood-shed eyes on these bare bones And tell me that which dead Lorrique confest Who i st thou villained that least who wa st Hoff. Why Otho thy sons and that 's my fathers by him Mar. O mercilesse and cruell murtherer To leaue me childlesse Luc. And mee husbandlesse Mat. Me brotherlesse oh smooth tongu'd hypocrite How thou didst draw me to my brothers death Sax. Talke noe more to him he seekes dignity Reason he should receaue his desperate hire And weare his crowne made flaming hot with fire Bring forth the burning crowne there Enter a Lord with the Crowne Hoff Doe old dog thou helpst to worry my dead Father And must thou kill me too 't is well 't is fit I that had sworne vnto my fathers soule To be reueng'd on Austria Saxony Prussia Luningberg and all there heires Had prosper'd in the downefall of some fiue Had onely three to offer to the fiends And then must fall in loue oh wretched eyes That haue betray'd my heart bee you accurst And as the melting drops run from my brows Soe fall they on the strings that guide your heart Whereby their oylye heat may cracke them first I soe boyle on thou foolish idle braine For giuing entertainement to loues thoughts A man resolu'd in blood bound by a vow For noe lesse vengeance then his fathers death Yet become amorous of his foes wife Oh sin against all conceit worthy this shame And all the tortures that the world can name Mar. Call vpon heauen base wretch thinke on thy soule Hoff. In charity and prayer To no purpose without charity Sax. We pardon thee and pray for thy soules health Hoff. Soe doe not I for yours nor pardon you You kild my father my most warlike father Thus as you deale by me you did by him But I deserue it that haue slackt reuenge Through fickle beauty and a womans fraud But Hell the hope of all dispayring men That wring the poore and eate the people vp As greedy beasts the haruest of their spring That Hell where cowards haue their seats prepar'd And barbarous asses such as haue rob'd souldiers of Reward and punish true desert with scorned death FINIS