THE ROYALL KING AND The Loyall Subject As it hath beene Acted with great Applause by the Queenes Maiesties Servants Aut prodesse solent aut delectare Written by Thomas Heywood LONDON Printed by Nich and Iohn Okes for Iames Becket and are to be fold at his shop at the inner Temple neare the Gate 1637 The Prologue to the Stage To give content to this most curious Age The gods themselves we' have brought downe to the Stage And figur'd them in Planets made even Hell Deliver up the Furies by no spell Saving the Muses rapture further we Have traffickt by their helpe no History We have left unrifled our Pens have beene dipt As well in opening each hid Manuscript As Tracts more vulgar whether read or sung In our domesticke or more forraigne tongue Of Faiery Elves Nymphs of the Sea and Land The Lawnes and Groves no number can be scan'd Which we have not given feet to nay 't is knowne That when our Chronicles have barren growne Of Story we have all Invention stretcht Div'd low as to the Center and then reacht Unto the Primum mobile above Nor scapt things intermediate for your love These have beene Acted often all have past Censure of which some live and some are cast For this in agitation stay the end Though nothing please yet nothing can offend Dramatis Personae THe King of England The Prince of England The Lord Martiall Captaine Bonvile The Earle of Chester Corporall Cocke The Lord Lacy Lansprisado Match The Lord Clinton The Clowne The Lord Audley A Welch-man The Lord Bonvile An Host of the ordinary The Princesse Foure young Gallants at the ordinary Isabella the Martials eldest Daughter A Servant Margaret the Martials younger Daughter A Bawd The Lady Mary Audley Two Courtezans Two Gentlemen in a Brothel-house Attendants c. The Royall King AND The Loyall Subiect Actus primus Scena prima Enter the King of England the Lord Lacy Clinton Chester and the Martiall Audley and Bonvile King THus from the holy Warres are we return'd To slumber in the Summer of soft peace Since those proud enemies that late blaspheamd And spit their furies in the face of Heaven Are now laid low in dust Chester Dread Soveraigne The Heavens have shew'd their bounty unto us In guarding your most deare and sacred life From opposite hatred and that imminent perill To which you were ingag'd Clinton When in one battaile you were twice unhorst Guirt with the opposite rankes of Infidels That had not timely rescue come from Heaven Mortall assistance had beene us'd in vaine King Ey now you load me with a surplusadge Of comprlesse debets this thrice valiant Lord My noble Martiall twice that perillous day Did he bestride me and beneath his Targe Me thought that instant did I lie as safe As in my best and strongest Cittadell The whilst his bright Sword like the Bolt of Iove Pierc't the steele-crests of barbarous Infidels And flatted them with earth although my Subject Yet in this one thing thou hast prov'd my Lord For when my life was forfeit to the Warres Thou by thy valour didst redeeme it freely And gav'st it me whilst thou ingag'st thy life For which if ever by like chance of Warre Lawes forfeiture or our prerogative Thy life come in like danger here we sweare By our earths honours and our hopes divine As thou for us wee 'le ours ingage for thine Mart. You give my Lord to Duty Attributes Too high for her submisse humility I am your vassall and ten thousand lives Of equall ranke with mine subjects and servants Be over-rated if compar'd with yours King When I forget thee may my operant parts Each one forget their office We create thee Next to our selfe of power we but except The name of King all other dignities We will communicate to thee our friend Mart. May I no longer use these Royalties Or have the power to enjoy them then I wholly Devote them to your service Prince Noble Martiall If I survive Englands Inheritance Or ever live to sit on Iacobs Stone Thy love shall with my Crowne be hereditary Mart. And gracious Prince since Heaven hath bin as liberall To grace me with your favour as my birth Was to endow me richly all your graces Shall with my great and ample revenues Be ever to your vertues serviceable King We know it and have beene observers long Of thy choice vertues neither could we yet Fasten that love on thee which came not home With double use and ample recompence Clint. These graces are beyond dimension They have nor height nor depth uncircumscrib'd And without bounds He like abroad arm'd tree O're-shadows us and throw his spacious bowes We that grow under cannot see the Sunne Nor taste the cheerefull warmth of his bright beames These branches we must loppe by fire or Thunder Or by his shadowy armes be still kept under Chest. I was borne Eagle-fighted and to gaze In the Suns fore-head I will brooke no cloud To stand betwixt me and his glorious fire I 'le have full light or none either soare high Or else sinke low my ominous Fate is cast Or to be first or of all abjects last King You shall renowned Martiall feast for us The Embassadors that come from forraigne Lands To gratulate our famous victories Mar. I shall my Lord and give them intertainment To Englands honour and to suite the place Of which I beare the name King We doubt it not We understand Lords in these tedious warres Some forward spirits have beene at great expence To furnish them like noble Gentlemen And many spent most part of their revenues In honour of their Countrey some undone In pursuit of these warres now if such come For their reliefe by suite petitionary Let them have gracious hearing and supply Or by our service or our Treasury Audley I have one Kinsman hath spent all his land And is return'd a begger and so tatter'd As that I can but blush to acknowledge him But in the Warres he spent it and for me Warres shall relieve him He was a noble Heire But what these lost let other Warres repaire King Lords all once more we greete your safe returne With generall welcome we invite you all To feast with us and joy what we have wonne Happiest in these our Martiall and our sonne Exit Enter the Clowne and a Welch-man Clowne It seemes thou hast not beene in the Warres my Friend but art new come up to London Welch Heaven plesse thee from all his mercies and his graces It was told us in Wales that you have great pigge Organ in Pauls and pigger by a great deale than our Organ at Rixam which made me make my travels and my journies on the pare hoofe up to London to have resolutions and certifications in that pisinesse that when I venture into my Countries and habitations I may give notice to mine Uncle Rice ap Davy ap Morgan ap Evan ap Iones ap Geffrey I pray where apout stands Pauls Church can you
that the Father doth so much respect Should not me-thinks the daughters love despise 'T is good for Maides take Husbands when they may Heaven knowes how long we may be forc't to stay King Now Lords these Nuptialls we will solemnize In all high state in which we will include Yours noble Bonvile and with masks and revells Sport out the tedious nights each hand his Bride Doubly by us from either part ally'd Enter Clowne Cock Why this is as it should be now doe I smell Courtier already I feele the Souldier steale out of me by degrees for Souldier and Courtier can hardly dwell both together in one bosome I have a kind of fawning humour creeping upon me as soone as I but look't into the Court-gate and now could I take a bribe if any would be so foolish to gee 't me Now farewell Gun-powder I must change thee into Damask-powder for if I offer but to smell like a souldier the Courtiers will stop their noses when they passe by me My cask I must change to a Cap and a Feather my Bandileero to a Skarfe to hang my Sword in and indeede fashion my selfe wholly to the humours of the time My Peece I must alter to a Poynado and my Pike to a Pickadevant onely this is my comfort that our provant will be better here in the Court than in the Campe there we did use to lye hard and seldome here I must practise to lye extreamely and often But whil'st I am trifling here I shall loose the fight of the Solemnity The Prince is married and the Martiall 's married and my Master 's married there will be simple doings at night Well I must hence for I beleeve the King the Queene and the rest of the Lords will use this place for their revells Dixi Actus Quintus Enter Clinton and Chester Clin. And why so sad my Lord Chest. I am all dulnesse There 's no life in me I have lost my spirit And fluence of my braine observe you not In what a height you fellow now resides That was so late dejected trebly grafted Into the Royall blood what can succeed But that we all our honours must resigne And he of them be repossest againe Clin. The Marriages indeed are celebrated Chest. And they have all our pointed stratagems Turn'd backe upon our selves Clin. What no prevention Chest. His Basses are so fixt he cannot shrinke Being so many wayes ingraft and planted In the Kings blood but our supporters stand As shak't with Earthquakes or else built on sand Enter Audley and Bonvile Aud. My Lords attend the King and cleare this chamber For this nights revells 't is the place prepar'd Bon. Your duties Lords the King 's upon his entrance Enter the King the Queene the Prince his wife the Martiall and the Princesse King Ey so 't must be each man hand his owne For I am where I love we are even coupled Some Musicke then Princesse Here 's one falls off from me King How now my Lord dejected in your looks Or doth our sports distaste you Mar. Pardon me I cannot dance my Liege King You can looke on My Lord you take his place wee 'le have a measure And I will lead it bid the Musicke stricke A measure in the midst the Martiall goes discontented away So well done Ladies but we misse the Husband To our faire Daughter what 's become of him Chest. Gone discontented hence King What might this meane Doth he distaste his Bride or envy us That are degree'd above him where 's our Queene Queen My Liege King You shall unto him instantly Attended with a beauteous traine of Ladies And to his Chamber beare his princely Bride Bonvile take you her royall Dower along You shall receive it of our Treasurer Cap. I shall my Lord King Vsher the Queene and Ladies be their guide That done each one to bed with his faire Bride Enter Martiall Mar. I am so high that when I looke but downe To see how farre the earth is under me It quakes my body and quite chills my blood And in my feare although I stand secure I am like him that falls I but a subject And married to the Daughter of the King Though some may thinke me happy in this match To me 't is fearefull who would have a wife Above him in command to imbrace with awe Whom to displease is to distaste the King It is to have a Mistris not a wife A Queene and not a subjects bed-fellow State I could wish abroad to crowne my head But never yet lov'd Empire in my bed Enter servant Serv. The Queene your daughter with your princely Bride And other Ladies make way towards your chamber Mar. 'T is open to receive them pray them in Enter Bonvile the Queene the Princesse c. Queen My Lord the King commends his love to you In your faire Bride whom royally conducted He hath sent to be the partner of your bed Mar. Whom we receive in the armes of gratitude Duty to him and nuptiall love to her Prince 'T is well they brought me trust me my deare Lord I should have scarce had face to have come my selfe But yet their boldnesse mixt with mine together Makes me to venter I yet scarce know whither Mar. 'T is to our Nuptiall bed Princesse Ey so they say But unto me it is a pach unknowne Yet that which cheeres me I shall doe no more Than those and such as I have done before Sure 't is a thing that must though without skill Even when you please I am ready for your will Cap. With her the King hath sent this princely dower In which his love and bounty hee commends Mar. You are noble Sir and honour waites on you To crowne your future fortunes for that Casket Her beauty and her birth are dower sufficient For me a subject I cannot thinke so much good to my King As I am owing for her single selfe Then with all duty pray returne that summe Her dower is in her selfe and that I 'le keepe Which in these loyall all armes this night shall sleepe That is the Kings with that this jewell too I thinke her cheape bought at that easie rate My second duty in that gift commend Were I worth more more I have will to send Cap. An Emperor cannot shew more Royalty Than this brave Peere hee 's all magnificent I shall with the best eloquence I have Make knowne your thoughts Mar. To all at once good night Save this my beauteous Bride no wealth I prize That hath my heart tooke captive in her eyes Lights for the Queene and Ladies night growes old I count my Vertue treasure not my Gold Exeunt divers wayes Enter Clinton to the Earle Chester in his study Clin. What not at rest my Lord Chest. Why who can sleepe That hath a labouring braine and sees from farre So many stormes and tempests threaten him It is not in my element to doo 't Clin. Finde you no project yet how to remove him Chest. None
none and therefore can I finde no rest Clin. It growes towards day Chest. That day is night to me Whil'st you Sunne shines I had this even some conference In private with the King in which I urg'd The Martialls discontent withall inferr'd That by his looke the Princesse he despis'd The King chang'd face and could we second this By any new conjecture there were hope To draw him in displeasure Clin. Watch advantage And as you finde the humour of the King Worke it unto the Martialls deepe disgrace But soft the Prince Enter the Prince and Katherine Kath. So early up how did you like your rest Prince I found my most rest in my most unrest A little sleepe serves a new married man The first night of his brydalls I have made you A Woman of a Maide Kath. You were up Both late and early Prince Why you were abroad Before the Sunne was up and the most wise Doe say 't is healthfull still betimes to rise Good day Chest. In one ten thousand Prince Lords you have not seene The King to day it was his custome ever Still to be stirring early with the Sunne But here 's his Majesty Enter Captaine and the King Audley and Bonvile King Not all your smooth and cunning Oratory Can colour so his pride but we esteeme him A flattering Traytor one that scornes our love And in disdaine sent backe our Daughters Dower Your Iudgement Lords Chest. Hath he refus'd the Princesse King No but her Dower sent back and insolently Her whom we gave he with a gift would buy A jewell shall we merchandize our Daughter As one not able to bestow her nobly But that our poverty must force us sell her Cap. Your Highnesse much mispriseth his intent For he had no such thought King We know his pride Which his ambition can no longer shadow Chest. Your Highnesse might doe well to call in question His insolence and to arraigne him for t King Be you his Iudges Bonvile Audley you Command him straight on his Allegiance To make appearance and to answer us Before our Lords of his contempt and scorne Prince Shall we command him hither King From his bed And if convicted he shall surely pay for 't Aud. We shall my Lord Chest. Arraigne him on the suddaine e're it proved Le him not dreame upon evasive shiftes But take him unprepared Clin. Shall we command A Barre and call a Iury of his Peeres Whil'st Chester that enjoyes the place of Martiall Objects such Allegations 'gainst his life As he hath drawne out of his rude demeanor King It shall be so a Barre and instantly We will our selfe in person heare him speake And see what iust excuse he can produce For his contempt Prince My gracious Lord and Father What he hath done to you proceeds of honour Not of disdaine or scorne hee 's truely noble And if a Regall bounty be a sinne In any subject hee 's onely guilty Of that true vertue Cap. Saw your Majesty With what an humble zeale and prostrate love He did retender your faire Daughters Dower You would not his intent thus misreceive Chest. 'T is humble pride and meere hypocrisie To blinde the King 't is but ambitious zeale And a dissembling cunning to aspire Kath. My Father call'd in question for his life Oh let not me a sad spectator be Of such a dismall object Prince Nor will I But leave them to their hated cruelty King This is no place for Ladies we allow Her absence of the rest let none depart Till we have search't the cunning of his heart A Barre set out the King and Chester with Clinton and the Prince and Captaine take their seates Audley and Bonvile bring him to the Barre as out of his bed then take their seates Mar. A Barre a Iudgement seate and Iury set Yet cannot all this daunt our innocence Chest. You have disloyally sought to exceed The King your Soveraigne and his royall deeds To blemish which your fellow Peeres thus conster That strengthen'd by th' alliance of the King And better armed by the peoples love You may prove dangerous In policy of state to quench the sparkes Before they grow to flame and top your height Before your spacious branches spread too farre What to this generall motion can you say Before we taxe you with particulars Mar. With reverence to the State 'fore which I stand That you my Lord of Chester appeare shallow To thinke my actions can disgrace the Kings As if the luster of a petty Starre Should with the Moone compare Alas my deeds Conferr'd with his are like a Candles light To out-shine the mid-dayes glory Can the King The glorious mirrour of all gratitude Condemne that vertue in anothers bosome Which in his owne shines so transparantly Oh pardon me meere vertue is my end Whose pitch the King doth many times transcend Clin. To taxe you more succinctly you have first Abus'd the King in sending to the Court Your daughter lesse faire and the least belov'd Aud. And that includes contempt most barbarous Which you in that unsubject-like exprest Your former emulations we omit As things that may finde tolerable excuse And are indeed not matters capitall But to the best and greatest when the King Out of his bounty and magnificence Vouchsaft to stile thee with the name of sonne Being but a subject with contorted browes And lookes of scorne you tooke his courtesie And in contempt sent back the Princesse dower Chest. Most true a grounded proposition To question you of life Mar. My life my lords It pleases me that the King in person daines To grace my cause with his Majesticke eare You plead for me in this and speake my excuse I have but two in all He sent for one and he receiv'd them both With them a sweete and lovely Prince to boote Who ever lost I am sure the King hath wonne At once a wife a daughter and a sonne Bonv. 'T is true my Lord we all can witnesse it Mar. He that my discontent objects to me With the faire Princesse speakes uncertainly The man judicious such for fooles allowes As have their inward hearts drawne in their browes Is there in all that bench a man so honest That can in this be discontent with me I charge you all those favours I receive From his high Majesty I swallow not With greedy appetite perhaps like you When I am grac't it comes with awe and feare Lest I offend that Prince that holds me deare That for my brow Chest. But for your scornfull sending Of the faire Princesse dower backe to th' King How can you answer that Mar. Why Chester thus I am a man though subject if the meanest Lord or'e his wife why should that priviledge Be onely bard me should I wive an Empresse And take her dowerlesse should we love or hate In that my bounty equalls her estate Witnesse that Iudge above you I esteeme The Princesse dearely and yet married her But as my wife for which I am infinitely Bound
sham'd not to come out but held it sinne Not to be pardon'd to be seene goe in But I 'le be modest nay nay keepe your Gold To cure those hot diseases you have got And being once cleere betake you to one man And study to be honest that 's my counsell You have brought many like you Gentlemen That jet in Silkes to goe thus ragg'd like us Which did they owne our thoughts these rags would change To shine as we shall though you think it strange Come come this house is infected shall we goe Clowne Why Sir shall I have no sport for my money but even a snatch and away Cap. Leave me and leave me ever and observe This rule from me where there is lodg'd a Whore Thinke the Plagues crosse is set upon that doore Clowne Then Lord have mercy upon us where have we beene The Clowne goes learing away and shaking his head Bawd Hist hist heere 's a rayling companion indeed 1. Whore I know not what you call a rayling companion but such another discourse would make me goe neere to turn honest Bawd Nay if you be in that minde I 'le send for your love the plague in my house the Pox is as soone I am sure there was never man yet that had Lord have mercy upon us in his minde that would ever enter here Nay will you goe Sound enter the King Prince Princesse all the Lords the Queene c. King Before you all I here acknowledge Lords I never held me happy but in this My vertuous choice in having your applause Me-thinks I had the sweet consent of Heaven Princesse This noble Lady now my royall Mother Hath by her love to you regard to us And courteous affability to all Attain'd the generall suffrage of the Realme Princesse Her modest carriage shall be rules to me Her words instructions her behaviour precepts Which I shall ever study to observe Queen I feele my body growing by the King And I am quicke although he know it not Now comes my fathers last injunction To my remembrance which I must fulfill Although a Queene I am his daughter still King Lords and the rest forbeare us till we call A chaire first and another for our Queene Some private conference we intend with her Now leave us Exeunt Lords King My fairest Isabella the choice jewell That I weare next my heart I cannot hide My love to thee 't is like the Sunne invelopt In watery clouds whose glory will breake thorow And spite opposure scornes to be conceal'd Saving one thing aske what my kingdome yeelds And it is freely thine Queen What 's that my Lord King I cannot speake it without some distaste To thee my Queene yet if thy heart be ours Name it not to me Queen I am onely yours King Begge not thy fathers free repeale to Court And to those offices we have bestow'd Save this my Kingdome and what it containes Is thy wills subject Queen You are my King and Husband The first includes allegeance the next duty Both these have power above a Fathers name Though as a daughter I could wish it done Yet since it stands against your Royall pleasure I have no suite that way King Thou now hast-thrust thy hand into my bosome And we are one Thy beauty oh thy beauty Never was King blest with so faire a wife I doe not blame thy Father to preferre Thee 'fore thy sister both in love and face Since Europe yeelds not one of equall grace Why smiles my love Queen As knowing one so faire With whom my pale cheeke never durst compare Had you but seene my Sister you would say To her the blushing Corrall should give way For her cheeke staines it Lillies to her brow Must yeeld their Ivory whitenesse and allow Themselves o'recome If e're you saw the skie When it was clear'st it never could come nigh Her Azure veines in colour shee 's much clearer Ey and her love much to my Father dearer King We by our noble Martiall made request For the most faire and her whom he best lov'd Durst he delude us Queen What I speake is true So will your selfe say when shee comes in place King Our love to thee shall not or'ecome that hate We owe thy Father though thou bee'st our Queene Queen He keeps her as his Treasure locks her safe Within his armes he onely minded me As one he lov'd not but thought meerely lost King Thou art lost indeed for thou hast lost my heart Nor shalt thou keepe it longer all my love Is swallowed in the spleene I beare thy Father And in this deepe disgrace put on his King Which wee 'le revenge Enter Prince Princesse Chester Clinton Bonvile and Audley King It shall be thus Chester beare hence this Lady to her Father As one unworthy us with her that dower The double dower he by his servant sent Thy teares nor knee shall once prevaile with us As thou art loyall without further language Depart our presence wee 'le not heare thee speake Chest. What shall I further say King Command him on his life to send to Court His tother Daughter and at our first summons Lest we proclaime him Traytor this see done On thy Allegeance Chest. Now the goale is ours King None dare to censure or examine this That we shall hold our friend or of our blood Subjects that dare against their Kings contend Hurle themselves downe whilst others hie ascend Exit Actus quartus Enter the Martiall and his daughter Katherine Mar. I see the King is truely honourable All my disgraces and disparagements He hath made good to me in this to queene my child And which more glads me with such ardency He seemes to affect her and to hold her deare That nothing's valued if compar'd with her Now Heaven whilst thou this second happinesse And blisse wilt lend me I shall still grow great In my content opinion and my fate In spight of whisperers and Court-flatterers Kath. Had you best lov'd my Sister and lesse me I had beene Queene before her but she venter'd For her preferment therefore 't is her due Out of our feares and loves her honours grew Mar. Whilst I may keepe thy beauty in mine eye And with her new rais'd fortunes fill mine eare I second none in blisse she 's my Court comfort Thou my home happinesse in these two blest Heaven hath inrich't me with a crowne of rest Kath. Nor doe I cover greater Royalties Than to enjoy your presence and your love The best of these I prize above all fortunes Nor would I change them for my Sisters state Mar. Her beauty and her vertues mixt have won The King my Soveraigne to be tearm'd my son Enter Servant Ser. Earle Chester with the Queene your princely daughter Are without traine alighted at the gate And by this entred Mar. Thou hast troubled me And with a thousand thoughts at once perplex't My affrighted heart admit them soft not yet What might this meane my daughter in the charge Of him that
is my greatest opposite And without traine such as becomes a Queene More tempest towards Kate from which sweete child If I may keept thee may it on my head Powre all his wrath even till it strike me dead Kath. Rather my Lord your Royall life to free All his sterne fury let him showre on me Ser. My Lord shall I admit them Mar. Prithee stay Fate threatens us I would devise a meanes To shunne it if we might thou shalt withdraw To his Daughter And not be seene something we must devise To guard our selves and stand our opposites Goe keepe your chamber now let Chester in Serv. I shall my Lord Mar. My Loyalty for me that keepe me still A Tower of safety and a shield 'gainst Fate Enter the servant ushering Chester and the Queene Chest. The King thy daughter hath in scorne sent backe Mar. Pause there and as Y are noble answer me E're you proceed but to one question Chest. Propound it Mar. Whence might this distaste arise From any loose demeanor wanton carriage Spouse-breach or disobedience in my daughter If so I 'le not receive her shee 's not mine Queen That let mine enemy speake for in this kind I would be tax't by such Chest. Vpon my soule There is no guilt in her Mar. Bee 't but his humour Th' art welcome both my daughter and my Queene In this my Palace thou shalt reigne alone I 'le keepe thy state and make these armes thy Throne Whil'st thou art chast thy stile with thee shall stay And reigne though none but I and mine obey What can you further speake Chest. Her double Dower The King returnes thee Mar. We accept it see It shall maintaine her port even with her name Being my Kings wife so will I love his Grace Shee shall not want will double this maintaine her Chest. Being thus discharg'd of her I from the King Command thee send thy fairer Girle to Court Shee that 's at home with her to act his pleasure Mar. Sir you were sent to challenge not to kill These are not threats but blowes they wound they wound Chest. If Treasons imputation thou wilt shun And not incurre the forfeit of thy life Let the Kings will take place Mar. You have my offices Would you had now my griefe but that alone I must endure would thou had'st both or none Sentence of death when it is mildly spoke Halte promises life but when your doome you mixe With such rough threats what is 't but twice to kill You tyrannize Earle Chester Chest. Will you send her Mar. That you shall know anon Tell me my Queene How grew this quarrell 'tweene the King and thee Queen By you was never Lady more belov'd Or wife more constant than I was to him Have you forgot your charge when I perceiv'd My selfe so growne I could no longer hide My greatnesse I began to speake the beauties Of my faire Sister and how much she excell'd And that you sent me thither as a jest That shee was fairest and you lov'd her best Mar. Enough th' art sure with child and neare thy time Queen Nothing more sure Mar. Then that from hence shall grow A salve for all our late indignities Pray doe my humble duty to the King And thus excuse me that my daughter 's sicke Crazed and weake and that her native beauty Is much decay'd and should she travell now Before recovered 't would ingage her life To too much danger when she hath ability And strength to journey I will send her safe Vnto my King this as I am a subject And loyall to his Highnesse Chest. Your excuse Hath ground from love and reason This your answer I shall returne to the King Mar. With all my thanks That since my daughter doth distaste his bed He hath sent her backe and home to me her father His pleasure I withstand not but returne My zeale and these doe not forget I pray Chest. I shall your words have perfect and repeate them Vnto the King Mar. I should disgrace her beauty To send it maim'd and wayning but when she Attaines her perfectnesse then shall appeare The brightest starre fix't in your Courtly Spheare Chest. The King shall know as much Mar. It is my purpose All my attempts to this one head to draw Once more in courtesies to o'recome the King Come beauteous Queene and thy faire Sister cheere Whom this sad newes will both amaze and feare Exeunt Enter Bonvile in all his bravery and his man in a new livery Cap. Sirrah are all my lands out of morgage and my deeds redeem'd Clowne I cannot tell that Sir but wee have had whole chest-fulls of writings brought home to our house Cap. Why then 't is done I am possest againe Of all my Fathers ancient revenues Clowne But how came you by all this money to buy these new suits methinks we are not the men we were Cap. Questionlesse that for now those that before despis'd us and our company at meeting give us the bonjour Oh Heaven thou ever art Vertues sole Patron And wilt not let it sinke all my knowne fortunes I had ingag'd at home or spent abroad But in the warres when I was held quite bankrupt Of all good happ it was my chance to quarter In such a house when we had sack 't a Towne That yeelded me inestimable store Of gold and jewells those I kept till now Vnknowne to any pleading poverty Onely to try the humour of my friends Which I have proov'd and now know how to finde Fixt upon wealth to want unnaturall Enter Match and Touch-boxe Clown See Sir yonder are my old fellows Match and Touch boxe I doe not thinke but they come to offer their service to you Touch. Save thee noble Captaine hearing of thy good fortunes and advancement I am come to offer my selfe to be partaker of the same and to follow thee in the same colours that thou hast suited the rest of thy servants Clown God-a-mercy horse you shall not stand to my livery Match You see our old clothes sticke by us still good Captaine see us new moulded Cap. You are flies away they that my Winter fled Shall not my Summer taste they onely merit A happy harbour that through stormy Seas Hazard their Barkes not they that sayle with ease You taste none of my fortunes Clown Corporall you see this Livery if you had stay'd by it we had beene both cut out of a peece Match if you had not left us you had beene one of this guard Goe away betake you to the end of the Towne let me finde you betweene Woods close-stile and Islington with will it please your Worship to bestow the price of two Cannes upon a poore souldier that hath serv'd in the face of the Souldan and so forth Apage away I scorne to be fellow to any that wil leave their Masters in adversity if he entertaine you he shall turne away me that 's certaine Match Then good your Worship bestow something upon a poore
souldier I protest Clown Loe I have taught him his lesson already I knew where I should have you Cap. There 's first to make you beggers for to that all such must come that leave their Masters poore Begon and never let me see you more Touch. God be with you good Captaine come Match let us betake us to our randevous at some out end of the Citty Cap. Hee makes a begger first that first relieves him Not Vsurers make more beggers where they live Than charitable men that use to give Clown Here comes a Lord Enter Clinton Clin. I am glad to see you Sir Cap. You know me now your Worship 's wondrous wise You could not know me in my last disguise Clin. Lord God you were so chang'd Cap. So am I now From what I was of late you can allow This habite well but put my tother on No congie then your Lordship must be gon You are my Summer-friend Enter Bonvile Bonv. Cousin well met Cap. You should have said well found For I was lost but late dead under ground Our Kinred was when I redeem'd my Land They both reviv'd and both before you stand Bon. Well well I know you now Cap. And why not then I am the same without all difference when You saw me last I was as rich as good Have no additions since of name or blood Onely because I wore a thread-bare suite I was not worthy of a poore salute A few good cloaths put on with small adoo Purchase your knowledge and your kinred too You are my silken Unkle oh my Lord Enter Audley and his Daughter You are not in haste now Aud. I have time to stay To aske you how you doe being glad to heare Of your good fortune your repurchast lands And state much amplified Cap. All this is true Ey but my Lord let me examine you Remember you a Contract that once past Betwixt me and your daughter here shee stands Aud. Sir since you did vnmorgage all your meanes It came into my thoughts trust me before I could not call 't to minde Cap. Oh mens weake strength That aime at worlds when they but their meere length Must at their end enjoy Thou then art mine Of all that I have proov'd in poverty The onely test of vertue what are these Though they be Lords but worldlings men all earth Thou art above them vertuous that 's divine Onely thy heart is noble therefore mine Mary And to be yours is to be what I wish You were to me as welcome in your ragges As in these Silkes I never did examine The out side of a man but I begin To censure first of that which growes within Cap. Onely for that I love thee These are Lords That have bought Titles Men may merchandize Wares ey and trafficke all commodities From Sea to Sea ey and from shore to shore But in my thoughts of all things that are sold 'T is pitty Honour should be bought for gold It cuts off all desert Enter the Host Clowne Master who 's here mine Host of the Ordinary Cap. Your businesse sir what by petition Host. Falne to a little decay by trusting and knowing your Worship ever a bountifull young Gentleman I make bold to make my wants first knowne to you Cap. Pray what 's your suite Host. Onely for a cast suite or some small remuneration Cap. And thou shalt have the suite I last put off Fetch it me Cock Cock I shall Sir Cap. Falne to decay I 'le fit you in your kind Cock I have a suite to you Sir and this it is Cap. In this suit came I to thine Ordinary In this thou would'st have thrust me out of doores Therefore with this that then proclaim'd me poore I 'le salve thy wants nor will I give thee more Base worldlings that despise all such as need Who to the needy begger are still dumbe Not knowing unto what themselves may come Host. I have a cold suite on 't if I be forc't to weare it in winter I bid your worship farewell Clown So should all that keepe Ordinaries bid their guests farewell though their entertainment be never so ill Well sir I take you but for an ordinary fellow and so I leave you Master who will not say that you are a brave fellow and a most noble Captaine that with a word or two can discomfit an Host Cap. I know you therefore know to rate your worths Both to their height and depth their true dimensions I understand for I have try'd them all But thou art of another element A mirrour of thy sexe that canst distinguish Vertue from wealth thee as my owne I elect And these according to themselves despise A Courtier henceforth I my selfe professe And thee my wife thou hast deserv'd no lesse Enter the King the Prince and the Princesse and Chester King No newes yet from our Martiall we three moneths Have stay'd his leasure but receive not yet That daughter we sent for Prince She peradventure Hath not her strength recovered or her beauty Lost by her sicknesse to the full regain'd Chest. Vpon my life my Lord when she is perfect And hath receiv'd her full ability Shee shall attend your pleasure Princesse But your Queene That vertuous Lady when I thinke on her I can but grieve at her dejectednesse King Heaven knowes I love her above all the world And but her Father this contends with us When we in all our actions strive to exceed We could not brooke her absence halfe so long But we will try his patience to the full Enter Bonvile Audley Captaine Clinton Mary the Clowne Cap. My prostrate duty to the King my Master I here present Prince This is the Gentleman Commended for his valour in your warres Whose ruin'd fortunes I made suite to raise I would intreat your Highnesse to respect him King All his proceedings we partake at large Know both his fall and height we shall regard him Even with his worth be neare us of our chamber Sir we shall use your wisedome and preferre it According to your worth Be this your hope We know you Cap. Onely in that I am happy Enter the Servant Serv. Health to your Majesty King Whence Serv. From my Master The pOOrest subject that your land containes Rich onely in his truth and loyalty King Speake hath he sent his daughter Serv. Yes my Liege He hath sent his daughters please you rest satisfied And patiently peruse what he hath sent King We are full of expectations pray admit Those Presents that he meanes to greete us with Serv. You shall my Lord Sound enter with two Gentlemen-ushers before them the Queen crown'd her sister to attend her as her waiting-maid with a traine Serv. Your Queene and wife crown'd with a wreath of gold Of his owne charge with that this double dower Doubled againe and guarded with this traine Of Gentlewomen according to her state My Lord presents you this his younger daughter He hath bestow'd a hand-maide to your Queene A place
that may become her were she child Vnto your greatest Peere had he had more More had he sent these worthlesse as they be He humbly craves you would receive by me King His bounty hath no limit but my Queene Her bright aspect so much perswades with me It charmes me more than his humility Arise in grace and sweet forget your wrong Queen My joyes unspeakable can finde no tongue To expresse my true hearts meaning King Beauteous Maide You are our Sister and that royall Title From all disgrace your freedome shall proclaime Kath. I finde your Grace the same my noble Father Hath still reported you royall in all By whom the vertuous rise th th' ignoble fall Prince I have not seene a Lady more compleate Her modesty and beauty both are matchlesse King Am I a King and must be exceeded still Or shall a subject say that we can owe His bounty we will equall and exceed We have power to better what in him 's but well Your free opinions Lords is not this Lady The fairer of the twaine how durst our subject Then dally with us in that high designe Chest. With pardon of the Queene shee 's paralell'd By her faire Sister Clin. Were my censure free I durst say better'd Prince Were it put to me I should avow she not the Queene alone Excells in grace but all that I have seene King Dost love her Prince As my honour or my life King Her whom thou so much praisest take to wise Prince You blesse my youth Kate And strive to eternize me Queen Nor in this joy have I the meanest part Now doth your Grace your inward love expresse To me and mine King I never meant thee lesse Thy Sister and thy daughter freely imbrace That next thee hath our Kingdomes second place How say you Lords have we requited well Our subjects bounty are we in his debt Aud. Your Highnesse is in courtesie invincible Bonv. And bountifull beyond comparison Chest. This must not hold prevention out of hand For if the Martiall rise we stand not long Clin. Our wits must then to worke Chest. They must of force This is not that to which our fortunes trust King Let then our subject know his King hath power To vanquish him in all degrees of honour And he must now confesse him selfe excell'd With what can Heaven or Earth his want supply To equall this our latest courtesie We have the day we rise and he must fall As one subdu'd Serv. His Highnesse knows not all One speciall gift he hath reserv'd in store May happily make your Grace contend no more King No sir thinke you your Master will yet yeeld And leave to us the honour of the day I wish him here but this last sight to see To make him us acknowledge Serv. On my knee One boone I have to begge King Speake let me know Thy utmost suite Serv. My noble Master stayes Not farre from Court and durst he be so ambitious As but to appeare before you and present you With a rich gift exceeding all have past The onely perfect token of his zeale He would himselfe perpetually hold vanquish't In all degrees of love and courtesie King For our Queenes love and our faire daughters sake We doe not much care if we grant him that Admit him and his presence urge with speed Well may he imitate but not exceed Chest. I feare our fall if once the Martiall rise Downe downe must we Clin. Therefore devise some plot His favour to prevent Chest. Leave it to me King Lords we are proud of this our unity Double Alliance of our sonnes faire choice Since 't is applauded by your generall voyce The rather since so matchlesse is our Grace That force perforce our subject must give place Enter the Martiall with a rich Cradle borne after him by two Servants Mar. Not to contend but to expresse a duty Of zeale and homage I present your grace With a rich jewell which can onely value These royall honours to my Daughters done King Value our bounty shouldst thou sell thy selfe Even to thy skin thou couldst not rate it truely Mar. My Liege I cannot but in liew and part Though not in satisfaction I make bold To tender you this Present King What 's the project Here 's cost and art and amply both exprest I have not view'd the like Prince 'T is wondrous rare I have not seene a Modell richlier fram'd Princesse Or for the quantity better contriv'd This Lord in all his actions is still noble Exceeding all requitall King 'T is a brave out-side Mar. This that you see my Lord is nothing yet More than its worth it hath commended bin This is the case the jewell lyes within Pleaseth your Grace t' unvaile it King Yes I will But e're I open it my Lord I doubt The wealth within not equalls that without King VVhat have we here Mar. A jewell I should rate Were it mine owne above your Crowne and Scepter King A child Mar. A Prince one of your royall blood Behold him King my grand-child and thy sonne Truely descended from thy Queene and thee The Image of thy selfe King How can this be Queen My royall Liege and Husband view him well If your owne favour you can call to minde Behold it in this Infant limn'd to 'th life Hee 's yours and mine no kinred can be nearer King To this rich jewell I hold nothing equall I know thee vertuous and thy father loyall But should I doubt both yet this royall Infant Hath such affection in my heart imprest That it assures him mine my noble subject Thou hast at length o'recome me and I now Shall ever ever hold me vanquished Had'st thou sought Earth or Sea and from them both Extracted that which was most precious held Thou nothing could'st have found to equall this This the mixt Image of my Queene and me Here then shall all my emulation end O'recome by thee our subject and our friend Mar. Your vassall and your servant that have strove Onely to love you and your royall favours Not to requite for that I never can But to acknowledge and in what I may To expresse my gratitude King Thine is the conquest But shall I gee 't o're thus 't is in my head How I this lost dayes honour shall regaine A gift as great as rich I have in store With which to gratifie our subjects love And of a value unrequitable Thou hast given me a Grand-child and a sonne A royall infant and to me most deare Yet to surpasse thee in this emulous strife I give thee here a daughter and a wife Now must thou needs confesse the conquest wonne By me thy King thy Father and thy sonne Mar. Your father sonne and subject quite surpast Yeelds himselfe vanquish't and o'recome at length Princesse You have not my consent yet Mar. Madam no The king doth this his bounty to expresse Your love is to your selfe and therefore free Bestow it where you please Princesse Why then on thee He
to the King why should I grow ingag'd Above my power since this my Lords you know The lesse we runne in debt the lesse we owe Give me my thoughts and score you on I pray I wish no more than I have meanes to pay Chest. Shall we my Lord his actions censure freely King And sentence them Aud. A Persian History I read of late how the great Sophy once Flying a noble Falcon at the Herne In comes by chance an Eagle sousing by Which when the Hawke espyes leaves her first game And boldly venters on the King of Birds Long tug'd they in the Ayre till at the length The Falcon better breath'd seiz'd on the Eagle And struck it dead The Barons prais'd the Bird And for her courage she was peerelesse held The Emperor after some deliberate thoughts Made him no lesse he caus'd a Crowne of gold To be new fram'd and fitted to her head In honour of her courage Then the Bird With great applause was to the market-place In tri triumph borne where when her utmost worth Had beene proclaim'd the common Executioner First by the Kings command tooke off her Crowne And after with a sword strooke off her head As one no better than a noble Traytor Vnto the King of Birds Chest. This use we make From this your ancient Persian History That you a noble and a courteous Peere Prais'd for your hospitall vertues and high bounty Shall be first crown'd with Lawrell to your worth But since you durst against your Soveraigne Oppose your selfe you by your pride misled Shall as a noble Traytor loose your head King That Sentence we confirme and it shall stand Irrevocable by our streight command Mar. I am glad my Liege I have a life yet left In which to shew my bounty even in that I will be liberall and spend it for you Take it 't is the last jewell that I have In liew of which oh grant me but a grave King A Laurell wreath a scaffold and a blocke Our selfe will see the Execution done Onely thy life is ours thy goods are free Mar. My Lord you are the life of courtesie And you are kinde unto me above measure To give away what might enrich your selfe Since they are mine I will bestow them thus The best of those that were so late but yours My jewells I by will restore you backe You shall receive them separate from the rest To you the Kings sonne and by marriage mine On you I will bestow my Armory Stables of Horse and weapons for the warres I know you love a Souldier to the Princesse And my two Daughters I give equall portions From my revenue but if my faire wife Proove and produce a Male-child him I make My universall Heire but if a Female Her Dower is with the rest proportionable The next I give it is my Soule to Heaven Where my Creator reignes my words thus end Body to Earth my Soule to Heaven ascend Enter the Queene Katherine the Princesse and the other Lady Princesse Stay Queene Hold Kath. Executioner forbeare Queen Heare me a Daughter for a Father plead Princesse Oh Father heare me for my Husbands life Doubly ally'd I am his Neece and Wife Kath. Oh Father heare me for a Father crave Queene Than sentence him oh let me perish rather I pleade for him that 's both my sonne and Father Kath. Oh make your mercy to this prisoner free Queene Father to us Princesse And Husband unto me King Hence with these womanish clamours Prince Vnto these Let me my Liege presume to adde another Behold him kneele that is your sonne and brother Kath. Your Sister and your Daughter great King heare Princesse Your Mother and your Daughter Queene Or like deare Your Queene and Sister Princesse Speake what hath he done Prince Who ever saw a father on a sonne Give sentence or my Royall Lord which rather Addes to your guilt a sonne condemne the father Chest. My Liege command them hence they but disturbe The Traytor in his death King A Traytor 's he That dares so tearme him Chester we meane thee Our best of subjects with our height of grace We wedde thee to us in this strict imbrace Thy vertues bounties envy'd courtesies Thy courage and thy constancy in death Thy love and Loyalty to the end continued More than their clamorous importunities Prevaile with us then as our best and greatest Not to exceed but equall thee in love To end betweene us this Heroick strife Accept what we most precious hold thy Life Mar. Which as your gift I 'le keepe till Heaven Nature Confine it hence and alwayes it expose Vnto your love and service I never lov'd it Bnt since 't was yours and by your gift now mine King I observe in thee The substance of all perfect Loyalty In you save flattery envy hate and pride Nothing or ought to goodnesse that 's ally'd Resigne those places that belong to him Better than so borne noble be unborne Till you your hearts can fashion to your faces We here suspend you from your stiles and places Prince A royall doome King Once more from us receive Thy beauteous Bride as we will hand our Queene The Prince already is possest of his Nay Bonvile as your Bridals were together So follow in your ranke and by the stile Of a Lord Baron you are now no lesse If you dare take our word Our Funerals thus Wee 'le turne to feasting and our blood to wines Of most choice taste prest from the purest Grape Our noble Martiall kinsman and our friend In our two vertues after times shall sing A Loyall Subject and a Royall King The Epilogue to the Reader THat this Play 's old 't is true but now if any Should for that cause despise it we have many Reasons both just and pregnant to maintaine Antiquity and those too not al vaine We know and not long since there was a time Strong lines were not lookt after but if rime O then 't was excellent who but beleeves But Doublets with stuft bellies and bigge sleeves And those Trunke-hose which now the age doth scorn Were all in fashion and with frequence worne And what 's now out of date who is 't can tell But it may come in fashion and sute well With rigour therefore judge not but with reason Since what you read was fitted to that season FINIS