'T IS Pitty Shee 's a Whore Acted by the Queenes Maiesties Seruants at The Phaenix in Drury-Lane LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes for Richard Collins and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the three Kings 1633 The Sceane PARMA The Actors Names Bonauentura A Fryar A Cardinall Nuntio to the Pope Soranzo A Nobleman Florio A Cittizen of Parma Donado Another Cittizen Grimaldi A Roman Gentleman Giouanni Sonne to Florio Bergetto Nephew to Donado Richardetto A suppos'd Phisitian Vasques Seruant to Soranzo Poggio Seruant to Bergetto Bandetti Woemen Annabella Daughter to Florio Hippolita Wife to Richardetto Philotis His Neece Putana Tutresse to Annabella To the truely Noble Iohn Earle of Peterborough Lord Mordant Baron of Turuey My LORD WHere a Truth of Meritt hath a generall warrant There Loue is but a Debt Acknowledgement a Iustice Greatnesse cannot often claime Virtue by Inheritance Yet in this YOVRS appeares most Eminent for that you are not more rightly Heyre to your Fortunes then Glory shal be to your Memory Sweetenesse of disposition ennobles a freedome of Birth in BOTH your lawfull Interest adds Honour to your owne Name and mercy to my presumption Your Noble allowance of These First Fruites of my leasure in the Action emboldens my confidence of your as noble construction in this Presentment especially since my Seruice must euer owe particular duty to your Fauours by a patticular Ingagement The Grauity of the Subiect may easily excuse the leightnesse of the Title otherwise I had beene a seuere Iudge against mine owne guilt Princes haue vouchsaf't Grace to trifles offred from a purity of Deuotion your Lordship may like wise please to admit into your good opinion with these weake endeuours the constancy of Affection from the sincere Louer of your Deserts in Honour IOHN FORD To my Friend the Author WIth admiration I behel'd This Whore Adorn'd with Beauty such as might restore If euer being as Thy Muse hath fam'd Her Giouanni in his loue vnblam'd The ready Graces lent their willing ayd Pallas her selfe now playd the Chamber-maide And help't to put her Dressings on secure Rest Thou that Thy Name herein shull endure To th' end of Age and Annabella bee Gloriously Faire euen in her Infamie THOMAS ELLICE T' is Pitty Shee 's a VVHOORE Enter Fryar and Giouanni Fryar DIspute no more in this for know young man These are no Schoole-points nice Philosophy May tolerate vnlikely arguments But Heauen admits no jest wits that presum'd On wit too much by striuing how to proue There was no God with foolish grounds of Art Discouer'd first the neerest way to Hell And fild the world with deuelish Atheisme Such questions youth are fond For better 't is To blesse the Sunne then reason why it shines Yet hee thou talk'st of is aboue the Sun No more I may not heare it Gio. Gentle Father To you I haue vnclasp't my burthened soule Empty'd the store-house of my thoughts and heart Made my selfe poore of secrets haue not left Another word vntold which hath not spoke All what I euer durst or thinke or know And yet is here the comfort I shall haue Must I not doe what all men else may loue Fry Yes you may loue faire sonne Gio. Must I not praise That beauty which if fram'd a new the gods Would make a god of if they had it there And kneele to it as I doo kneele to them Fry Why foolish mad-man Gio. Shall a peeuish sound A customary forme from man to man Of brother and of sister be a barre Twixt my perpetuall happinesse and mee Say that we had one father say one wombe Curse to my ioyes gaue both vs life and birth Are wee not therefore each to other bound So much the more by Nature by the the links Of blood of reason Nay if you will hav 't Euen of Religion to be euer one One soule one flesh one loue one heart one All Fry Haue done vnhappy youth for thou art lost Gio. Shall then for that I am her brother borne My ioyes be euer banisht from her bed No Father in your eyes I see the change Of pitty and compassion from your age As from a sacred Oracle distills The life of Counsell tell mee holy man What Cure shall giue me ease in these extreames Fry Repentance sonne and sorrow for this sinne For thou hast mou'd a Maiesty aboue With thy vn-rannged almost Blasphemy Gio. O doe not speake of that deare Confessor Fry, Art thou my sonne that miracle of Wit Who once within these three Moneth's wert esteem'd A wonder of thine age throughout Bononia How did the Vniuersity applaud Thy Gouerment Behauiour Learning Speech Sweetnesse and all that could make vp a man I was proud of my Tutellage and chose Rather to leaue my Bookes then part with thee I did so but the fruites of all my hopes Are lost in thee as thou art in thy selfe O Giouanni hast thou left the Schooles Of Knowledge to conuerse with Lust and Death For Death waites on thy Lust looke through the World And thou shalt see a thousand faces shine More glorious then this Idoll thou ador'st Leaue her and take thy choyce 't is much lesse sinne Though in such games as those they lose that winne Gio. It were more ease to stop the Ocean From floates and ebbs then to disswade my vowes Fry Then I haue done and in thy wilfull flame Already see thy ruine Heauen is iust Yet heare my counsell Gio. As a voyce of life Fry Hye to thy Fathers house there locke thee fast Alone within thy Chamber then fall downe On both thy knees and grouell on the ground Cry to thy heart wash euery word thou vtter'st In teares and if 't bee possible of blood Begge Heauen to cleanse the leprosie of Lust That rots thy Soule acknowledge what thou art A wretch a worme a nothing weepe sigh pray Three times a day and three times euery night For seuen dayes space doe this then if thou find'st No change in thy desires returne to me I 'le thinke on remedy pray for thy selfe At home whil'st I pray for thee here away My blessing with thee wee haue neede to pray Gio. All this I 'le doe to free mee from the rod Of vengeance else I 'le sweare my Fate 's my God Exeunt Enter Grimaldi and Vasques ready to fight Vas. Come sir stand to your tackling if you proue Crauen I 'le make you run quickly Gri. Thou art no equall match for mee Vas. Indeed I neuer went to the warres to bring home newes nor cannot play the Mountibanke for a meales meate and sweare I got my wounds in the field see you these gray haires they 'le not flinch for a bloody nose wilt thou to this geere Gri. Why slaue think'st thou I 'le ballance my reputation With a Cast-suite Call thy Maister he shall know that I dare Vas. Scold like a Cot-queane that 's your Profession thou poore shaddow of a Souldier I will make thee
I know the man they say a is a souldier hee that lou'd your daughter Sir an 't please y'ee 't was hee for certaine Flo. Grimaldi on my life Offic. I I the same Richard The Cardinall is Noble he no doubt Will giue true Iustice Do. Knocke some one at the gate Pog. I 'le knocke sir Poggio knocks Seruant within What would'ee Flo. Wee require speech with the Lord Cardinall About some present businesse pray informe His Grace that we are here Enter Cardinall and Grimaldi Car. Why how now friends what sawcy mates are you That know nor duty nor Ciuillity Are we a person fit to be your hoast Or is our house become your common Inne To beate our dores at pleasure what such haste Is yours as that it cannot waite fit times Are you the Maisters of this Common-wealth And know no more discretion oh your newes Is here before you you haue lost a Nephew Donado last night by Grimaldi slaine Is that your businesse well sir we haue knowledge on 't Let that suffice Gri. In presence of your Grace In thought I neuer ment Bergetto harme But Florio you can tell with how much scorne Soranzo backt with his Confederates Hath often wrong'd mee I to be reueng'd For that I could not win him else to fight Had thought by way of Ambush to haue kild him But was vnluckely therein mistooke Else hee had felt what late Bergetto did And though my fault to him were meerely chance Yet humbly I submit me to your Grace To doe with mee as you please Car. Rise vp Grimaldi You Cittizens of Parma if you seeke For Iustice Know as Nuntio from the Pope For this offence I here receiue Grimaldi Into his holinesse protection Hee is no Common man but nobly borne Of Princes blood though you Sir Florio Thought him to meane a husband for your daughter If more you seeke for you must goe to Rome For hee shall thither learne more wit for shame Bury your dead away Grimaldi leaue 'em Ex. Car. Gri. Do. Is this a Church-mans voyce dwels Iustice here Flo Iustice is fledd to Heauen and comes no neerer Soranzo was 't for him O Impudence Had he the face to speake it and not blush Come come Donado there 's no helpe in this When Cardinals thinke murder 's not amisse Great men may doe there wills we must obey But Heauen will iudge them for 't another day Exeunt Actus Quartus A Banquet Hoboyes Enter the Fryar Giouanni Annabella Philotis Soranz Donado Florio Richardetto Putana and Vasques Fry THese holy rights perform'd now take your times To spend the remnant of the day in Feast Such fit repasts are pleasing to the Saints Who are your guests though not with mortall eyes To be beheld long prosper in this day You happy Couple to each others ioy Soran. Father your prayer is heard the hand of goodnesse Hath beene a sheild for me against my death And more to blesse me hath enricht my life With this most precious Iewell such a prize As Earth hath not another like to this Cheere vp my Loue and Gentlemen my Friends Reioyce with mee in mirth this day wee 'le crowne With lusty Cups to Annabella's health Gio. Oh Torture were the marriage yet vndone Aside Ere I 'de endure this sight to see my Loue Clipt by another I would dare Confusion And stand the horrour of ten thousand deaths Vas. Are you not well Sir Gio. Prethee fellow wayte I neede not thy officious diligence Flo. Signior Donado come you must forget Your late mishaps and drowne your cares in wine So an Vasques Vas. My Lord Soran. Reach me that weighty bowle Here brother Giouanni here 's to you Your turne comes next though now a Batchelour Here 's to your sisters happinesse and mine Gio. I cannot drinke Soran. What Gio. 'T will indeede offend me Anna. Pray doe not vrge him if hee be not willing Flo. How now what noyse is this Vas. O sir I had forgot to tell you certaine youg Maidens of Parma in honour to Madam Annabella's marriage haue sent their loues to her in a Masque for which they humbly craue your patience and silence Soran. Wee are much bound to them so much the more as it comes vnexpected guide them in Hoboyes Enter Hippolita and Ladies in white Roabes with Garlands of Willowes Musicke and a Daunce Dance Soran. Thanks louely Virgins now might wee but know To whom wee haue beene beholding for this loue Wee shall acknowledge it Hip. Yes you shall know What thinke you now Omnes Hippolita Hip. 'T is shee Bee not amaz'd nor blush young louely Bride I come not to defraud you of your man 'T is now no time to reckon vp the talke What Parma long hath rumour'd of vs both Let rash report run on the breath that vents it Will like a bubble breake it selfe at last But now to you Sweet Creature lend 's your hand Perhaps it hath beene said that I would claime Some interest in Soranzo now your Lord What I haue right to doe his soule knowes best But in my duty to your Noble worth Sweete Annabella and my care of you Here take Soranzo take this hand from me I 'le once more ioyne what by the holy Church Is finish't and allow'd haue I done well Soran. You haue too much ingag'd vs Hip. One thing more That you may know my single charity Freely I here remit all interest I ere could clayme and guie you backe your vowes And to confirm 't reach me a Cup of wine My Lord Soranzo in this draught I drinke Long res t' ee looke to it Vasques Vas. Feare nothing He giues her a poysond Cup She drinks Soran. Hippolita I thanke you and will pledge This happy Vnion as another life Wine there Vas. You shall haue none neither shall you pledge her Hip. How Vas. Know now Mistresse shee deuill your owne mischieuous treachery Hath kild you I must not marry you Hip. Villaine Omnes What 's the matter Vas. Foolish woeman thou art now like a Fire-brand that hath kindled others and burnt thy selfe Troppo sperar niganna thy vaine hope hath deceiued thee thou art but dead if thou hast any grace pray Hip. Monster Vas. Dye in charity for shame This thing of malice this woman had priuately corrupted mee with promise of malice vnder this politique reconciliation to to poyson my Lord whiles shee might laugh at his Confusion oh his marriage-day I promis'd her faire but I knew what my reward should haue beene and would willingly haue spar'd her life but that I was acquainted with the danger of her disposition and now haue fitted her a iust payment in her owne coyne there shee is shee hath yet and end thy dayes in peace vild woman as for life there 's no hope thinke not on 't Omnes Wonderfull Iustice Richard Heauen thou art righteous Hip. O 't is true I feele my minute comming had that slaue Kept promise o my torment thou this houre Had'st dyed Soranzo heate