my Lord I would not in their life time have disclos'd This hidden matter for a whole worlds good And thus it is your Father and your Brother Being dead Heaven rest their souls Off. What 's that to me Ed. Nothing my Lord but now comes that concerns you Your Father and your Brother being gone Heaven rest their souls there I begin Off. You began there before if that be the beginning Your for ever world without end We shall never come at it Ed. Now that concerns you You think you have a Sister Off. Do I but think so Ed. No truly my good Lord you do but think so Off. Is Mildred dead has she destroy'd herself Now since she left me here to spight my love Ed. You hear me not say so I saw her not Since I left both of you together here Off. Unfold your riddle Sphinx I 'l dig it else Out of your rotten belly What 's your meaning Ed. Mildred is not your Sister Off. How not my Sister Ed. Not your own natural Sister Off. Because she is unnatural didst thou but know What a poor easie request she deny'd me Thou wouldst say she were unnatural indeed Ed. I mean she was not born of the same mother Nor got by the same father that you were Off. Speak that again make but that good I 'l Saint thee Ed. My Lord I can and will maintain it I Not only for some wrong she did me lately Nor for the good my Lord that you may do me Though all the estates your own when she 's discarded But to let truth appear which has been long A burden and an heavy burden though I say 't And so will any woman say 't is to keep councel So many years together as I have done I had much a doe to keep it in I wis In my good old Lords dayes Lord how he lov'd her But few men know their children that 's the truth on 't And let that go Off I quickly to the point Ed. The point is this I lov'd my old Lord well Therefore was loth to grieve him and I lov'd My good old Lady better therefore I kept Her councel to this hour You now are all That 's left of 'em and whom should I love now But your sweet self my Lord I 'l tell you all This Mildred whom you so long call'd Sister Was not your Fathers nor your Mothers child But in the absence of your Father when Sixteen years since he was sent by the King Upon an embassie your mother then with child By sad mischance brought forth a still born babe At the same time a Lady nobly born Whose husband was in Exile brought forth this This Lady Mildred Off. Then she is nobly born Ed. Yes and by womans slight of which this is Not first example th' Infants were exchang'd Because your loving father might find joy In a fair daughter at his home-return Off. Canst thou prove this Ed. If in three dayes I do not Make it appear most plain to you multiply Your wrath upon me Off. Do so and dost hear I 'l never call old woman witch hereafter What e're I think We may be married now And Mildreds love may freely answer mine We now may safely mix and to 't again Strange strong events are labouring in my brain Come you with me Exeunt ambo Enter Ethelswick and Edelbert Eth. What fury has possess'd ' em all our art And the Kings policy will be prevented By the brain-giddiness of these wilful Lords Edel. We have no way my Lord but to give way Unto their violent rage quit the Court. Eth. And since we can make good our place no longer Post after our King Master leave them With their new King at home here that 's as mad As they Edel. And madder too I cannot wonder More what he is then at the fate that sent him Enter Theodwald Eaufride Guard Physitian 2. Attendants Theod. My Lord both in the King and States behalf In which you may excuse us Eauf. Sh't sh't let him take it How he or will or dare we have agreed The body of the Council have decreed it You must depart the Court. Eth. Must Eauf. Must and shall You and your trim consederate you have had The rule here over your Ruler till you have made him Wild frantick mad and us too God forgive me For saying so almost as mad as he I hope it is no treason Edel. No cause you said almost But had you said you had been full as mad You had pass'd a Subjects boldnesse Eauf. Take 'em hence Thrust 'em out o th' Court. Theod. Nay without violence Eth. Well my Lord when we see the King in 's wits We 'l tell him of our usage that he may thank you Eauf. In the mean time go travel on adventures Whilst we do our indeavour to amend What you have marr'd by screwing the Kings brain Into the nick of Order once again Put forth a bed Anthynus on it bound See see my Lord how they have kept him dark Manacl'd and bound on 's bed was ever King Us'd thus for pities sake unbind him quickly Anth. What Fiends or Fairies are ye Phys Let his passion A little vent it self e're you unbind him Anth. What new tormentors or into what way Of further mischief do ye mean to throw me Theod. We come to bring your Highnesse comfort Anth. Highnesse Have you that mockery for me too I told The rest that slav'd me with that attribute From whence I came who what I was and all The story of my fathers wrongs and mine Too many ever to have been but heaven Mark'd 'em out for us and I told 'em too What I had undertane by Watching Fasting Prayers too unfit to boast of with the Industry I practic'd to have found my wounded Father For which as though I durst have faith in merits They mock'd me with the title of a King And bound me here as they thought to believe it 'T is a new way of punishment and were due To one that thought his duty meritorious But I will break these Gives and with my teeth Tear off these manacles Phys O do not strive my Liege Anth. Thy Liege Dog-leech are you at that garb too I wish I had one finger loose to fillip out Thy brains and skill together for the Ratcatchers Phys He thinks my skull 's made but of urinal mettal Theod Be patient Sir Anth. Sir yet may be endured Eauf Have but a little patience we 'l unloose you Anth. A grave perswasion to a man that 's tied to 't Humb humb humb Eauf. Beshrew their heards that us'd him thus to vex him How do you like him Doctor Theod. Did you mark His talk of wrongs and of a wounded Father And how he will not hear of being a King Phys I all all I know all such fancies fall Naturally into this disease which now Is almost a wild Phrensie that will seldome Suffer the Patient think himself to be The person
that he is nor oftentimes the Creature But some four-footed Beast or feather'd Fowl But could 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 our 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 shall 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 Vshers bare Kelriick 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 Kelriick 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 A score of my wholesome Countrey Lasses with child now 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
reviving comforts food or medicine Seg. Oh set me down Anth. And must we needs be set By the malitious ignorance of Fortune On this internal way Seg. Patience good Son Anth. Where ill abounds and every good is wanting Was 't not enough that so much blood was spilt From this white reverend head from which hath flow'd Counsels that have preserv'd the blood of Nations And fitter now to wear a Diadem It self then thus be stain'd with his own wrong Had it not been enough to have left him so Thou Tyrant Fortune but to take away All means of Succour no relief no comfort Seg. Good Son be not impatient Anth And see see Accursed Fate he bleeds a fresh again As if his blood I now but wash'd away Cry'd for the rest to follow it Seg. Indeed Son this impatience hurts thy self and me Better let me bleed still bleeding 's an easie death Then thou displease the awful power of Heaven By chiding at the feign'd ones good take heed Anth. Me you have justly chidden and I beg Pardon of Heaven and you and now methinks I am inspir'd unto a further duty Of seeking remedy I 'l leave no way untried To find it if I may And though my absence Will sore perplex me I will with your grief Leave you a while to forrage for relief But first pray let me change a sword with you Sir Not that I think yours better but because I fear some charm is in 't or secret ill Gainst you you sigh so when you view it still Seg. Good Son forbear 't and me unto my thoughts Till thou returnst Heavens my blessing with thee Anth. So strengthned I shall sure find remedy To raise you out of this calamity Exit Anthynus Seg. This sword Anthynus no shouldst rhou but know This sword as I do it would raise thy Fury Unto an execution of that horror Would shake me in my grave this sword Which now I cannot but with tears remember Was once mine own I gave it to thy Brother I will not call him so but to my Son Why should I call him so but to Offa And so I fear I naâ—e my murtherer For when I gave it him I charg'd him never To part with it he firmly vow'd the same And that whilst I or he should live no man Should ever give it motion but himself Wer 't thou so greedy of my life my Offa To snatch it from me thus when as the wounds Thy Parricidial hands has given me Are not so bitter as the wronged thoughts Though they are deep and overflow their btinks I have two wounds within me that are deeper Which have discover'd in my heart and bowels A trebbled Spring of deerer blood then this One pricks me with compassion for thee My good my charitable pious Son All blessing due to sanctimonious vertue Be ever thy companion till thou art crown'd Mongst Sons of men the pattern of true Piety What foul mistrusts puddles of jealousie Were lodg'd in this dark bosome against thee And of affection what a pure stream did run By a false Current to my second Son Who by thy truth appears not now thine own Which makes my other wound in that so long I cherish'd him by doing of thee wrong Now from my heart issue two streams of blood One thick and clotty th' other clean Vetmilion In the grosse blood I vent the wrong conceit I swallow'd against thee my good Anthynus And in the cleer I see Offa's falshood may In both my blood runs forth apace O My thick blood Anthynus be forgiven by thee And the clear cleanse my Offa's treachery Oh sincks Enter Hâ—rmit and Servant Herm. Didst thou not heat a groan a dying groan Serv. Not I Sir I heard nothing Herm. Hark look about I am sure I heard a groan Ser Here Sir here 's something that perhaps has groand But it 's out of hearing now Herm. And so is pitty amongst men Ay me an old man Murthered A seeming simple innocent old man And yet he holds a sword Serv. So more work still Whilst we are gathering Simples to cure one Here 's another Jâ—hn Simple laid in our way to bury Herm. He is yet warm Serv. I but he has no breath not so much I 'l undertake as a Scolding wise that has been 9. dayes in the grave Herm. Alas he 's gone indeed What ruthless villains Could have done this on such an aged man In this so harmlesse habit Serv. Good master let it warn you though we have hitherto Pass'd by these man Tygers these wolvish Outlaws safely early and late as not Worth their malice Yet pray Sir now since they Begin to kill men of this coat and these years let us Forsake this Salvage habitation and live In the world oâ— meat again Herm How ill are these white hairs bestain d with red Methinks I should have known this face Nothing to wipe The blood off come help away with him Serv. He 's holp away and made away enough already methinks Herm. Why dost not lift Serv. Sure they have blown their sins into him that kill'd him He 's so heavy he 's deadly heavy Pray Sir let me Fetch my grave instruments your book and bestow him here You will not bury him in your Cave I 'm sure Herm. I say I 'l have him down perhaps the wounded Man that 's there may know him Serv. I would I had but this Fellows weight in buttock Beef Exeunt Enter Anthynus Anth. I come my Father chide not now my stay In which I was more tardy I confesse Then e're I was in duty I have brought you Where are you Sir Ha! this was sure the place And this the very Oak at which I lest him I mark'd it carefully and took due heed Even to the number of my steps in my Departure how to make my back return Nor was my tarriance such that in that space He could recover strength to shift his ground I wish it were so well with him My Lord My father what a mist of doubts stand I Amaz'd in and my unspeakable amazement Is such that I begin to call my sight And memory in question whither this place Or whither he or I or any thing Be or be not good senses do not leave me My search will be in vain if you forsake me Father my Lord where are you how or where Ecch. Here. Anth. That was well said speak on Ex. Now where Ecch. Now here Anth. within Anth. Now here where is that here Ecch. Here. Ent. Anth. Anth. I hear and follow but I know not where Ecch. Here. Anth. At the same place again If there be place or I know any thing How is my willingness in search deluded It is the Wood that rings with my complaint And mocking Eccho makes her merry with it Curs'd be thy babling and mayst thou become A sport for wanton boys in thy fond answers Or stay perhaps it was some gentle Spirit Hovering i th' Air that saw his flight