I fasten but a slumber on him Which must be the first entrance to my work Anth. Have you concluded yet your barbarous councel If not take my advice with ye call the King The King with whose authority you scorn me Let him but hear for you will never tell him From my own lips how willingly I 'l give My voice unto his marriage and I 'm sure He 'l set me free at least by death Eauf. Alas What King what freedome would you have You are our King and shall command your freedom And all our lives would you but sleep a while Anth. Sleep make no doubt of that look I can sleep With as much ease as one bound in a Cart Driving to execution But do you hear My vow was not to sleep nor eat untill I had perform'd a work which I shall never Never accomplish now my vow is broken For they by witchcraft charm'd me into sleep And tempted me with meat at unawares Before my sleep-drown'd senses were collected And put me on these unknown garments here With an hayl Master so betray'd me into This irksome folly or this foolish thraldome Theod. 'T was a rash vow and so well broke you now Shall be releas'd unbind him at my peril These rigorous courses have done hurt upon him We have provided otherwise to please you For we have call'd Theodrick home again Your Favourite whose absence was a grief to you Nay more because 't is thought your languishing love Bred your distemper we have taken care For hastning of your marriage your fair Queen Is sent for and at hand to ease your sorrow Anth. My Favourite and my Queen leave these abuses My hands and feet are now at liberty Strikes and kicks Theod. So is our duty and if your Majesty Will tread cur due allegiance into dust We are prepar'd to suffer Anth. Would to heaven I could unfold this mystery Eauf. See my Lord Theodrick is come Ent. Theodrick Theodr. Most gracious Sir That I have suffred under your displeasure In being barr'd your presence which no lesse Then the all cheering Sun gave life to me Was not so much my grief as not to know What my transgression was and let me now Implore your mercy so far as to name it Which if I cannot cleer me of I 'l lose my life and willingly Anth. If I could think this serious 't were enough Almost to turn my sorrows into laughter Theodr. O turn not from me royal Sir t' augment Your Highnesse displeasure but in case you will not Be pleas'd to name my trespasse give me leave To speak what I suppose has troubled you And caus'd me causelesly to be suspended Enter Genius whispering him Anth. I feel a secret instigation in me I hope by some good Angel that inclines me At last to yield a little to these men What wouldst thou say Theodr. My Lords and all forbear The presence never fear all shall be well Theodw. Heaven grant it Eauf. Was not this my policy To send for him more was it not my wit To fashion letters as with 's own hand To fetch the Queen you 'l see more at her coming Exeunt all but Theodrick Anthy Theodr. May 't please you now but to review these Pictures Anth. Good memory help me this is of the Queen The cruel Queen that banish'd my good Father And this the lively Image of my Sister Theodr. Now may it please your grace to recollect How when I told you this was my fair Mistresse Your passion first siez'd on you and pardon Royal Sir If I have since conjectured my transgression Was meerly this that I lov'd one so fair I dare not yet say fairer then your choice But freely thus to expiate my trespasse As I resign the Picture I give up All interest in her person never more Beyond your free consent to see that Beauty Anth. I have found all the error and am taught By hidden inspiration to make use on 't Genius still whispers him Give me fresh rayment I 'l take all upon me Their Crown if they will give it yet me thinks This is so like a dream where else can be King Osriick all this while that he comes not To throw me out of this usurped right Strange and new thoughts possesse me Gen. whispers Now I call To mind the vision that I had of being Call'd to the Throne of the west Saxons Kings It must be by this Queen whom how to love I cannot find My Genius promps me yes I hear it now as by an Angel spoke And that my vow was rashly made well broke I am confirm'd come she I am for her puts on Hat Feather and Cloke ex Genius Well said Theodrick Theodrick is his name How do I look Theodrick Theodr. I can find But little change which I allow to sicknesse Anth. Well said thou never flatterest Enter Jeffrey winding an Horn Jeff. News neam King news news News that will make thee well beest thou never so sick News that beest thou never so well will make thee sick News that will make thee mad beest thou never so tame News that beest thou never so mad will make thee tame Anth. What 's thy news Jeff. A wife a wife a wife can do all this The Queen is come and all my Cousin Lords Are gone to fetch her in in pompe Oh ho Knight me oh Knight me quickly for my news Theodr. Away you fool Jeff. Away you Favourite Hinder me not unlesse I prophesie Kings Fools and Favourites never shall agree And many years after we are in our graves Fools shall be Knights and Favourites shall be known From black Sheep I prophesie Oh ho she comes she comes now neam King Bear up stiff before and meet her Here 's a day And a night towards indeed Oh ho the house Begins to reel already and all our brains turn Round oh ho Enter Ushers bare Kelrick and Elkwin Theodwald and Eaufride a Cardinal the Queen two Ladies bearing up her Train Followers the Queen Bertha kneels Anthynus as King takes her up kisses her they confer the four Lords salute and confer Theodwald and Eaufride give their supposed Kings hand to the Cardinal Kelrick and Elkwin give their Queens hand to the Cardinal the Cardinal joyns their hands Anthynus and Bertha kisse all the Lords embrace the Exeunt in state as before Jeff. Oh what a night will here be what a night will here be What a beast am I that I have not at least half Lasses with child now A score of my wholesome Countrey That forty weeks hence the Queen might have her Choice of Nurses there had been a thriving way to raise My fortunes indeed Oh what a night will here be Exit ACT. V. SCEN. I. Enter Mildred Offa. Mild. HElp help oh help Off. Your cries will be in vain 'T is not in the power of any flesh but yours To allay or to prevent my heat of blood Mild. O you diviner powers that ordain'd chastity To be a vertue lend
by her By which her Majesty So much the more appear'd I could not hold This Figure of that all to be commanding beauty When my high thoughts were fled up to her presence Now take thy piece of craftsmanship again Which trust me is a pritty one whilst I Devote my service to this Deity Emb. Sir you have given me the Queens Picture King Ha! What a mistake was here But thou art honest And covetest but thy own Take it Theodrick Now tell me of what house er Parentage Your Mistrisse is Emb. I told you first her Vertues Her person next and by this her beauty Which you are pleas'd to deem not much amisse King 'T is such Theodrick that had I not seen This so much above it pardon my hypocrisie I should have envied any man but thee In such a choice But speak her parentage Emb. That 's all her blemish King Is she of tainted blood Emb. You search with Kingly wisedom She is daughter To that hold obstinate Baron I enform'd you of Whom the Queen in her just displeasure banish'd King Thy love to her may hereafter plead for him But soft I am not well Emb. Heaven blesse the King Who waits within there King Tarry let me see That Picture once again It wants exceedingly Of this in many things Emb. I should want judgement Not to grant that King Here it wants palpably The drooping of the brow and here again The dulnesse of the Eye which here shews deadly But for a little squint it has Good Queen You look a squint Then look you Sir yours wants You shall not hear me neither cause I will not Spoil your conceit of it Your Lady wants The furious sharpnesse of the nose which here My Queen has very shrewly And again You han't the hanging of the nether lip Which the best Phisiognomists do tell us Shews women apt to lust and strong incontinence Phew This is all too sweet for mortal sense Here take 't again and keep mine for me with it Lay 'em together th' one may mend the tother Emb. I have known women oft marry one another Their Pictures may perhaps have greater vertue King I am not well what kind of Changeling am I A wild confusion rumbles in my brain My thoughts are all at strife Emb. How fares your Highnesse King Sick sick Theodrick Emb. Retire Sir to your Couch Enter 2. Lords 1. 2. Lor. Where is my Lord the King King Here yet my Lords Emb. The King 's not well 1. Lor. We have provided for your Highnesse journey In such a sort as never King went forth King Whither to Heaven my Lords 2. Lor. Yes to the Queen Lovers count marriage Heaven before they wed But afterwards I know what some have said Oh this is your honey moon Yes yes you shall to Heaven your Heaven as you call it In such a royal manner See the Order King Pray peace Emb. You do not well to vex the King You see he 's sick 1. Lor. Sick marry Heaven forbid 2. Lor. Sick o' the Wife before he has her Come a very trothplight qualm into your Chamber And as we find you we 'l our selves bestir Emb. Who waits within there call the Kings Physitians Exeunt omnes SCEN. II. A shout within the Musick sound the Bells Enter 4. Clowns with tools 1. AND what 's the reason of all this merry glee 2. The King the King man must be married 3. And must he have a Wife 2. A Wife a Queen man and all the Wives in her Dominion Must be his Commonwealth and under us 4. O brave 2. And we must son and daughter it upon their Nation 4. That will be brave indeed 1. O but where is Jeffrey jolly Jeffrey now the prick and praise The very prick and praise and prime Spark of our Parish to set our Bonefires and our Mirth a blazing 3. The Bells a ringing and the Bowls a trowling the Fidlers fumbling Tumbling O Jeffrey where art thou Jeffrey 2. He 's at hand I warrant you he went but to Church E'en now 4. What to pray at such a time as this 2. No but to help to rear the Tennor and will come Presently 3. That 's to be born withal It is indeed a divelish Lopheavy Bell I would the Church-warden that Should have mended it when he robb'd the poor were Hang'd in 's place 2. There said you well The Curate could say almost as much When 't was But it makes no matter what he saies I see Little amended 3. Whoop here comes Jeffrey sweating in these affairs Ent. Jeffrey Jeff. The great Bells of our Town they tingle they tangle They jingle they jangle the Tenner of them goes merrily 4. O Jeffrey welcome Jeffrey Jeff. And shall we have a Queen All So they say Jeffrey O the bravest Woman Jeff. Take heed o'th at woman did you say Take heed I Give you warning No man must know she is a woman But the King himself But a brave Queen she is they say And loves a man with all her heart Where art O Queen we 'l make thee Such an holy day as shall Justle all the working dayes out of our Almanack It Shall be said that we will work no more till thy Seventh Son O Queen who must be born a Prophet shall Foretel the Age to come shall not have a true labourer Or honest workman in it 1. So we may make a long holyday indeed Jeff. Let work no more be thought on we will revel it out Of remembrance we will not cease our joy to sleep for Fear we dream of work again Down with your prophane Tools and Implements of Husbandry the very sight of 'em Dishonours our new holy day 1. But Jeffrey our Masters grudge to give us wood Enough to make a beaking Bonefire Jeff. How 2. They say 't is waste Jeff. Not wood to make a Bonefire Your Sheeplocks Flayles Spades Shovels Rakes and Pitchforks shall all be made a Bonefire 2. And so we may be sure to make holy day till We get new ones Jeff. The maids shall bring their Rocks their Wheels and Reels their Tubs their Pales Buttocks 4. Buckets thou wouldst say Jeff. Where was my mind Their Buckets shall they bring Washbowls and Butter-churns Their Buckingtubs Baskets and Battledoors And all be made a Bonefire for the Queen 3. My mother will not let her household stuff go so Jeff. We 'l burn her for a witch then with all her trash And her thatcht mansion too about her Ears But we will shew our zeal unto the Queen In fire sufficient All 4. Ah good Boy Jeff. Sfoot if our Masters do rebel against us Now Majesty 's on our side and not give fewel When we mean to give fire as duty binds We 'l have their Carts by th' arses Hardles Wheelbarrows The Ploughs and Harrows and the Whips Because the Beasts shall play too only we 'l spare Their Racks and Mangers All that 's made of wood Belonging to our work besides shall perish Shall
me not but give me leave A little to consider nearer home Say his diviner part be taken up To those celestial joys where blessed ones Find their inheritance of immortality I cannot think his earthly properties So soon could find the passage to that height His body would be here poor martyr'd body That though it yet did live could not part hence Without the help of others legs hands And here haunt none but such whose Cruelty Would tosse him into further misery Wild Beasts if here were any half so ravenous As those inhumane mankind monsters were That drew his blood and these unusual tears Could not devour him all some particle Some remnant would be left to blesse a Son with But here is none but that too sure a sign For me to know the place by where I left him Part of the blood I saw run from him O Dear hallowed blood inspire me with this kisse To find the fountain whence this stream did flow I will not eat nor sleep until I know No canst thou tell me nothing Then I 'l take A Sample of the precious store was spilt To keep me still in memory of the guilt And of my vow never to feed or rest Until I find him here or with the blest Exit ACT. III Enter Theodwald and meet Ethelswick Theod. I have not known nor read nor heard since I Was of discretion to know any thing Worthy a mans capacity of the like Eth. You are well met my Lord And you as welcome to the Court my Lord although a sad one Eth. Came you now from the King my Lord Theod. Even now Eth. How left you him good my Lord Theod. As the Physitians I fear must shortly do not knowing what To say to him Eth. Heaven blesse the King is he So dangerously sick Theod. He 's sick enough To be pray'd for my Lord Although I cannot properly call it A sickness I am sure 't is a disease Both to himself and all that come about him I fear he 's brain-crack'd lunatick and Frantick mad And all the Doctors almost as mad as he Because they cannot find the cause something They guesse afflicts his mind but of what nature It is or how the strong conceit may grow They can by no means win or wrest from him Such is the obstinacy of his disease Eth. Where is Theodrick then his bosome Friend His special Favourite He methinks might gain The knowledge of his inmost thoughts Theod. 'T is thought He put these wild tormenting thoughts into him For which the King has banish'd him the Court And with a guard upon his person sent him To live confin'd at his house My self and all The faithful body of the State have mov'd The King for his repeal again to favour Even we that for these two years space have wish'd him For good State-reasons favourlesse and headlesse Have beg'd for his enlargement that the King Might vent his troubled thoughts into his Brest And so find way to ease but all in vain He will not hear of him Eth. You tell me wonders But good my Lord how takes the King his rest Theod. Troth as mad mortals do we cannot tell Whether he sleeps at all or not Sometimes He seems to sleep but then his troubled thoughts Expresse themselves in sighs in suddain starts In groans and sometimes speech of od confus'd And indigested matter then he leaps From off his bed calls for his horse and Armour Swords Spears and Battelaxes But anon Bids all be let alone and calls for books Shoffels Divinity and Poetry Phylosophy Historical together sports And throws all by Then calls for merry Which e're they be presented he forbids With strong rebukes to all that spend their time In any exercise but contemplation In solitary places then walks forth Into the Groves and Thickets charging those That follow him nor dare they disobey To keep aloof at such proportion'd distance As he unheard by all may vent his passions Unto the Air the Woods the Rocks the Springs And twice in these Retirements have we lost him In those obscure Meanders which his melancholy Has led him to and when much industry And care had found him out 't was double trouble To wind him and his fancies home again Eth. It is most pitiful Enter Physitian Theod. Now how does the King Phys. Full now my Lord of a new fancy He Is now becoming Pilgrim Eth. A Pilgrim why Phys. I know not why nor to what shrine nor do I hold it fit to ask him but to give Free way unto his fancy yet a while In all to please and play with his infirmity 'T is our best way to cool Phrenetique humours Before we kill 'em Sir His Pilgrimage shall not be far though he pretends a long one He has on his weeds already And who associates him Phys. Only my self and his new fool he saies Theo. Good a fool and a Physitian Phys A Physitian and a fool you would say The Physitian ever Before the fool my Lord Theod. And why the fool before my Lord I pray Phys. Your Lordships pardon we must have no Lord Along with us though I was sent to enquire If you Lord Ethelswick were come to Court Whom the King sent for Exit Physitian Theod. Sent the King for you After your long retirement in the Country Eth. He did indeed my Lord Theod. There 's something in 't then That savours not of madnesse altogether That having put by your Antagonist The trouble of the Court his favourite He sends for you immediately upon 't Enter King Jeffrey Alfride and Edelbert Here comes our Pilgrim King King Stand all apart To be compleatly arm'd from head to foot Cannot advance the spirit of a King Above the power of love nor to be clad In poorest habit of humility Can mortify the least of the desires That love enflames man with No outward dresse Can change or make affection more or lesse I have tried all the wayes I can to conquer Or to humiliate my raging passion Which still grows more predominant ore my reason I find it in my self and know my error Though no means to correct it I do know 'T is fouly done to slight the Queen that loves me And it was an act no lesse unprincely To cast into suspence my friendly servant For what transgression was 't in him to love One fairer then my choice before he knew My wavering inconstancy I know Withal my punishment is just how e're My sufferings make me wish it less severe For my unjust removing of Theodrick I lose all helpful counsel all relief That my oreburdend breaking heart cries out for Into his brest I could unload my grief Were it compos'd of ought but his abuse I must not dare not trust him with this story Lest for redresse I meet revenge Who 's there All My Lord the King King O you are welcome Ethelswick I am now To trust you in a serious affair Eth. My duty binds me to your
father is required at your hands Bert. Ha! Arn. But his accuser reads another lesson Now Madam Offa brought bound in a Chair Off. Whither do you hurry me If I must answer 't give me yet some time To make provision of befitting Presents To supply the hard hands of my stern Judges Into a tender feeling of my cause I know what Eacus loves what Mines likes And what will make grave Radamanthus run Anth. He is distracted Arn. Yes and speaks hainous things Against himself both of my Lords murder And an intended rare against his Sister Anth. Incestuous monster Off. Hark how the Divel lies I have no Sister Ed. How he 's possess'd Of that strange error I must satisfie you That was meerly feign'd by me to save her honour From his outragious lust Arn. But here comes that Clears all at once Welcome my honour'd Lords Enter Segebert Alberto Jeff. Outlaw Jeff. A boon a boon my gratious Liege Arn Hold your peace fool Seg. My Son Anthynus living Osr. You are my Father in your Daughters right Seg. My blessing on my Girle Osr. But see Anthynus at a greater height Anth. My Father Bert. And my Father noble Sir Your pardon and for ever welcome Seg. If this were real now and not a Dream Jeff. Come leave your fooling hear a wise man speak Great King according unto thy behest With Knights adventurers I went in quest Through the Woods and Forrests wild To scoure the Dens of Outlaws vild Whence these old men this Knave I bring Together with this Starveling Whom I present not dead but quick Unto thy grace King Osriick Arn. Look this way fool This is King Osriick man Jeff. Whose fool am I then Osr. Mine Mild. And mine Anth. Mine Bert. And mine Jeff. Whoop hold a little best let me be every bodies fool Round about the house But amongst you all let me not lose reward I must not fool for nought the times are hard Osr. Still the fool's covetous Bert. I ow thee a just reward for I proclaim'd To him that brought this man alive or dead A thousand crowns but since thou art so fortunate To bring him home alive and well recover'd Out of such danger Jeff. I shall have nothing shall I Bert. I 'l double thy reward give thee two thousand crows Jeff. It is enough in conscience who bids more For till you are out-bidden I 'l be your fool But can you tell whose Favourite you are then Theodr. Where I was first I 'l ever wish to be Osr. And I 'l be thine Theodrick for thou in this Hast above favour shewn me unto blisse Seg. I have perform'd your Majesties command Though not in sending yet in bringing home My banish'd friend Lord Alberto the preserver Of my now happy life Bert. It shall be to his honour welcome Alberto Outl. Oh what an heavenly smell of meat is here Seg. All the unhappiness I now can see Is but an argument of tears for thee In whom I 'm justly punish'd Anth. Take him hence From my grieved fathers sight Seg. And pray let care Be had for his recovery his senses may Bring a new soul into him for which I pray Off. What am I freed Arn. Yes yes my Lord all 's well Off. I knew my bribes would do it Jeff. I 'l off with him for 't is unknown to you What good a fool may on a mad man do Ex. Arn. Offa Jeffrey Seg. This sword was evidence enough against him But here 's one of the Outlaws that confess'd it For whom since he is penitent I beg pardon Mild. The other two his fellows are both extant For whom together with three theevish workmen That were strong instruments in my delivery Let me beg mercy Anth. I have heard of them that robb'd my brothers Jewel-house 'T is a day of grace And we are taught by heavens abundant mercy Shewn upon us beyond our expectation To imitate that goodnesse Bert. I forgive All on my part Osr. I pardon all on mine Bert. And now right royal Sir let me entreat For former love to make our last compleat You will be pleas'd a month with us to stay In triumphs to commemorate this day Osr. Next to my sum of happinesse my Bride I should have sought that honour royal Sister Anth. Thus through tempestuous sighs and showres of tears Joy at the last more cheerfully appears Exeunt RIC. BROME Deus dedit his quoque Finem FINIS