mourning vaile reading on a booke at whose comming he starteth and sitteth vpright as shee passeth by hee smiles and foldes his armes as if hee did embrace her being gone he starts sodainly and speakes King Matilda stay Matilda doe but speake Whoe 's there Intreate Matilda to come backe Bon. Who would you haue my Lord Kin. Why my Lord Bonuill I would haue Matilda That but euen now past by toward the doore Bon. I sawe her not my Lord King Hadst thou a louers eye A gnat a moate a shadowe thou wouldst spy Come followe me she cannot be so farre But I shall ouertake her come away Exeunt Fri. The last appearance shadowed the faire Queene And her two children at whose sight king Iohn Shewd neither signe nor shewe of passion But when the sunne came masked in a cloude And vailed beautie ioynde with chastitie Appeared in Matildaes louely shape He starts he claspes he wakes he cals he seekes The shadowe of that substance he affects To her he sewes but she his sute reiects To him she sewes but he her sute neglectes He sues to be her loue she doth despise She sues to liue a maid which he denies What followes of this wilfull will and shall This no and nay this quenchlesse bootlesse fire This cold affection and this hot desire The act it selfe shall tell and the poore Frier Your partiall fauours humbly doth require Exit Sound trumpets Enter king Bonuile Salsbury Loreas King Now I perceiue this only was a dreame Diuine Matildaes Angell did appeare Deckt like a Uestall readie for heauens quire And to this earthly truncke will not come neare Well let her goe I must yfaith I must And so I will kings thoughts should be diuine So are Matildaes so henceforth shall mine Old Anb. So doing peace shall wait vpon your crown And blessing vpon blessing shall befall Kin. Its true my Lord I know full well there shall Sals. Your people will wax proud of such a king That of himselfe is king Lord of his thoughts Which by assertion of Philosophers Is held to be the greatest Empery Kin. And they said wisely noble Anbery Sals. Then will Fitzwater with his gallant troopes Againe keepe triumphes in the English Court Then will Matilda King Matilda what of her Sals. Like a bright starre adorne the louely traine Of beautious Ladies which attend the Queene Whose only beauty equalleth them all Ki. Like an old foole whose dim eyes wanting sight Compar'st the sunne to common candle light Sals. Pardon my liege I doe comfesse her faire Exceedes all these as farre as day doth night King Grossely alluded night by moone by starres By wandring fires exhaled meteors By artificiall lightes by eyes of beastes And little glow-wormes glimpsing in the darke Hath some where brightnesse lightnesse and somtime Under each Horizon in all parts cleare But they at no time no where can be said To be lesse darke then dungeon darkenesse is Pitch coloured Eban fac't blacker than blacke While her faire eyes giues beauty to bright day Sal. To heare the Queene thus prais'd works my contēt Kin. The Queene O had I such a thought I would repent To himselfe Sal. Further my Lord King What shall we further wade I feare I shall be tyred with this iade Sal. The common-wealth will florish encrease K. Good Oxford of those things now hold your peace And take the paines to fetchin Isabell I haue strange tydings sent me out of France Which she will take I knowe in as good part As I accept her praise fetch her I say Exit Salsbury What is the old foole gone now goe thy way What thinkst thou of him Hubert tell me man Hub. As of a good old gentleman my Lord That speaks but what he thinks thinks you thinke As he doth and I warrant you Will not canceale those praises from the Queene Which as hee deemes you vttred in her praise Kin. I would haue them beleeue it so indeede But I protest is no part of my Creede Hu. I faith your Grace did Oxfords years great wrōg To curtall his good worke that seem'd so long He peraduenture would haue brought in more After his Preface to rich plenties store Perchaunce he would haue shew'd dame vanitie That in your Court is suffered howerly And bad you punish ruffians with long haire Newe fashions and such toyes a special care Has that good man he turnes the statute booke About his hall and chambers if you looke The morall vertues in faire effigie Are liuely painted morall Philosophie Has not a sentence be it great or small But it is painted on his Honours wall Enter Queene Oxford Kin. Peace peace he comes now le ts be silent all Sals. I tell you I was proud of his good words Qu. God hold them Oxford for it s often seene A reconciled foe small good affords Sals. O forbeare trust me I gage my Honour he doth hold you deare King How cheere you Isabell The earle your spouse Hath sent defiance to the king your husband And like a tried tall souldier fled his holds In Marchland Where he knowes despight of him And all the men that he therein can raise King Iohn could haue sent dogs enowe to teare Their ill arm'd bodies peece-meale ere his bands Should with base blood haue staind their noble hāds And whether is this worshipfull good Earle This first loue old loue newe loue if you will Gone thinks your Ladishippe Forsooth good man To Normandy and there he stirs vp coales And vrgeth strong aid for confederates Who as he saies are treacherously dispos'd Qu. If he doe so the greater is his sinne Poore man I haue no interest in him King But he hath had in you as it should seeme Els would he not make sonnets of your browe Your eye your lip your hand your thigh A plague vpon him how came he so nigh Nay now you haue the curst queanes counterfet Through rage you shake because you cannot raue But answere me Why should the Bedlam slaue Entitle a whole Poem to your kisse Calling it chery ruby this and this I tell you I am iealous of your loue Which makes me breake into this passion Here 's the kinde noble Anbery de Vere Knowes what I speake is true My Lord my Lord I doe appeale to you Are these things to be borne Sal. No by the Roode These loue-rimes are the tokens of small good Hu. Why my good Lord was neuer Poetry Offred vnto a Ladies patronage Sals. Yes but not taken Hu. Yes and taken too Though muddy slaues whose ballatizing rimes With words vnpolisht shewe their brutish thoughts Naming their Maukins in each lustfull line Let no celestiall beautie looke awry When well writ poemes couching her rich praise Are offerd to her vnstain'd vertues eye For Poetries high sprighted sonnes will raise True beautie to all wisht eternitie Therefore my Lord your age is much to blame To thinke a taken Poeme Ladies shame Sa. You see the King that 's better read than you And
to Windsor take this ring Bid Blunt deliuer Bruses wife and childe Into your hands and aske him for the key Of the darke tower ore the dungeon vault In that see you shut vp the dam and brat Pretend to Blunt that you haue left them meat Will serue some sennight and vnto him say It is my will you bring the key away And here you sir I charge you on your life You doe not leaue a bit of bread with them Brand I warrant you let me alone Ki. Come backe againe with all the speede you may Hugh Some cruell taske is pointed for that slaue Which he will execute as cruelly Kin. No ruth no pittie shall haue harbour here Till faire Matilda be within these armes Enter Oxford with the Queene Oxf. Comfort my Lord comfort my gratious Lord Your loue is come againe Ki. Ah Oxford where Ox. Here my dread Soueraigne Kin. Thou ly'st she is not there Ox. Under correction you wrong my age Say I beseech you is not this the Queene Kin. I cry you mercie Oxford t is indeede Where is Matilda Qu. Where vertue chastitie and innocence remain there is Matilda King How comes she pray to be so chaste so faire so vertuous in your eye Qu. She freed me from my foes and neuer vrg'd My great abuse when she was prisoner Kin. What did you to her Qu. Raild vpon her first Then tare her haire and rent her tender cheekes K. O heauen was not the day darke at that foule deed Could the sunne see without a red eclipse The purple teares fall from those tyrant wounds Out Aethiope Gypsie thick lipt Blackamoore Wolfe Tygresse worse than either of them both Ox. Are you aduis'd my Lord K. Out doting Earle Couldst thou endure to see such violence Ox. I tell you plaine my Lord I brookt it not But staid the tempest K. Rend my loues cheekes that matchlesse Effigie Of wonder-working natures chiefest worke Teare her rich haire to which gold wyres Sunnes rayes and best of best compares In their most pride haue no comparison Abuse her name Matildaes sacred name O barbarous outrage rudenesse mercilesse Qu. I told you Oxford you mistooke the king Ox. I did indeede my liege Lord giue me leaue To leaue the Campe K. Away old foole and take with thee that trull For if she stay Ox. Come Ladie come away Tempt not his rage ruine wrath alwaies brings Lust being lord there is no trust in kings Exit ¶ Enter Mowbray Mou. To armes king Iohn Fitzwaters field is pitcht About some mile hence on a champain plaine Chester hath drawne our souldiers in array The wings already haue begun the fight K. Thither we will with wings of vengeance fly And winne Matilda or loose victory Exeunt Enter Ladie Bruse and Brand La. Why did my keeper put vs in thy hands Wherein haue we offended Blunt or thee Brand You neede not make these words You must remooue your Iodging this is all Be not afeard come come here is the doore L. O God how darke it is Brand Goe in goe in it s higher vp the staires La. My trembling heart forbids mee to goe in O if thou haue compassion tell me true What my poore boy and I must trust vnto Brand I tell thee true compassion is my foe Yet haue I bad of thee compassion Take in thy childe as I haue faith or troth Thou and thy boy shall be but prisoners And I must daily bring you meat and drinke La. Well thou hast sworn and God so giue thee light As in this darke place thou remembrest vs Poore heart thou laughst and hast not wit to thinke Upon the many feares that me afflict I will not in helpe vs assist vs Blunt We shall be murdred in a dungeon Brand Cry without cause I le haue yee in yfaith La. O let my boy and I but dine with Blunt And then I will with patience goe in Br. Will ye or nill yee zounds ye must goe in And neuer dine La. What saiest thou neuer dine Bra. No not with Blunt I meane Goe in I say Or by this hand yee get no meat to day La. My childe is hungry When shall he haue meat Bra. Why and ye would goe in immediately La. I will goe in but very much I doubt Nor I nor my poore bay shall ere come out Exit Hee seemes to locke a doore Br. Nere while yee liue yfaith now are they sure Cry till their hearts ake no man can them heare A miserable death is famishment But what care I the king commaunded me Alarum within excursions Enter Fitzwater Bruse Fitz. Now doth faire fortune offer hope of speede But howsoere we speede good cosin Bruse March with three hundred bowes pikes to Windsor Spreading a rumour that the day is ours As ours it shall be with the helpe of heauen Blunt loues our part farre better than the king's And will I gage my life vpon the newes Surrender vp the Castle to our vse By this means shall you helpe vs to a holde How ere it chance set free your Lady mother That liues in prison there with your young brother Br. Away good vnkle to the battel goe But that a certaine good insues I knowe For all the world I would not leaue you so Fitz. Away away God send thee Windsor vs this happie day Alarum still Enter Hughbert Hu. You cannot hide your selfe Matilda no disguise Will serue the turne now must you to the king And all these warres will with your presence cease Yield you to him hee soone will yield to peace Ma. They say thou took'st some pittie of a childe The king appointing thee to seare his eyes Men doe report thee to be iust of word Aud a deare louer of my Lord the king If thou didst that if thou be one of these Pittie Matilda prostrate at thy feete Hugh I sau'd young Arthurs eyes and pittie thee My word is iust which I haue giuen the king The king I loue and thee I knowe he loues Compare these then how can I pleasure thee Ma. By letting me escape to Dunmow Abbey Where I will end my life a votary Hu. And the king die with doting on thy loue Mat. No no this fire of lust would be soone laide If once he knewe me sworne a holy maid Hu. Thy teares and loue of vertue haue the power To make me at an instant true and false True to distressed beautie and rare chastitie False to king Iohn that holds the sight of thee Dearer than England or earths Emperie Goe happie soule that in so ill an age Hast such faire beautie for thy heritage Yet goe not so alone Dost heare tall souldier Call a Souldier I know thee honest guide this gentle maid To Dunmow Abbey she is one I knowe I will excuse thee and content thee well My signet take that yee may passe vnsearcht Mat. Kinde Hubert many prayers for this good deede Shall on my beads be daily numbered ¶ Enter Lester Richmond Fitzwater Lest. O trebble
heat of honour toyle and rage How cheeres earle Richmond Fitzwater speake old man We are now neere together answere mee Fitz. Lester the more our woe The likelier to be taken by the foe Rich. O let not such a thought abuse thy age Wee le neuer yield vs to the tyrants rage Fitz. But if my girle be yielded Lest. If she be Fitz. I I there 's no man but shall haue his time to dy Lest. Now is our hower which they shall dearly buy ¶ Enter king Hugh Chester Mowbray Rich. Lester wee le stand like three Battalions What saies our noble Generall theretoo Fitz. Why I say doe while I can I le keepe my place with you King How now my bug-beare will ye now submit Lest. To death but not to thee Kin. Richmond nor you Rich. Earle Richmond will not yield K. Me thinkes Fitzwater you should haue more wit Fitz. If it be wit to liue I haue no will And so in this my will orerules my wit Ki. Alarum then with weapons will We scourge your desperate will and teach yee to haue wit Fight driue back the king a Withdrawe K. Of high heroicke spirits be they all We will withdrawe a litle and conferre For they are circled round and cannot scape Rich. O that we three who in the suns arise Were like the three Triumuirates of Rome Guids of an hoast able to vanquish Rome Are not alone inclos'd with enemies Fitz. The glorie of the world hath no more stay But as it comes it fleetes and fades away Lest. Courage and let vs die they come againe It s Lord Hugh Burgh alone Hughbert what newes Hu. This daies fierce slaughter Iohn our King lamēts And to you three great leaders of an hoast That now haue not a man at all to leade You worthie captaines without companies Lest. Fitzwarer Richmond by the blessed Sunne Lord Hubert mocks vs Hu. By the Moone I doe not and put the blessed too 't It is as good an oath as you haue sworne My heart grieues that so great hearts as yours be Should put your fortunes on a sort of slaues That bring base feare within them to the field But to the matter Sith your state is such That without mercie you are sure of death Which I am sure and wel his Highnesse knowes You doe not feare at all yet he giues grant On iust conditions you shall saue your liues Fitz. On no condition will I saue my life Except Matilda be returnd againe Unblemisht vnabus'd and then I yield Hugh She now is where she neuer will returne Fitz. Neuer O God! is my Matilda dead Hugh Deade to the world dead to this woe she is She liues at Dunmow and is vowd a Nunne Fitz. Doe not delude me Hubert gentle sonne Hugh By all the faith and honour of my kin By my vnstain'd alleagiance to the king By my owne word that hath reproouelesse bin She is at Dunmow Fitz. O how came she there Hu. When all these fields were walks for rage fear This howling like a head of hungry wolues That scudding as a heard of frighted deere When dust arising like a cole blacke fogge From friend diuided friend ioynd foe to foe Yet neither those nor these could either know Til here and there through large wide mouthed woūds Proud life euen in the glorie of his heat Losing possession belcht forth streames of blood Whose spouts in falling made ten thousand drops And with that purple shower the dust alaid At such a time met I the trembling maid Seeming a doue from all her fellowes parted Seene knowne and taken vnseene vnknowne To any other that did knowe vs both At her entreats I sent her safely guided To Dunmow Abbey and the guide returnd Assures me she was gladfully receiu'd Pittied and in his sight did take her oath Fitz Hubert for this thy honourable deede I and my house will reuerence thy name Hu. Yet I beseech you hide it from the king At least that I conuaid her to the place Enter King Mowbray Chester Fitz. Hubert I will Ki. What stand they still on tearmes Lest. On honourable tearmes on tearms of right Our liues without our libertie we scorne King You shall haue life and libertie I sweare Lest. Then Lester bowes his knee to his liege Lord And humbly begs his Highnesse to beware Of wronging innocence as he hath done Rich. The like Richmond desires yields his sword Kin. I doe imbrace ye both and hold my selfe Richer by a whole Realm in hauing you Fitz. Much is my wrong yet I submit with these Begging free leaue to liue a priuate life King Old brands of malice in thy bosome rest Thou shalt haue leaue to leaue mee neuer doubt Fitzwater see thou shippe thee straight for France And neuer set thy foote on English shore Till I repeale thee Goe goe hence in peace Lest. Why doth your Highnesse wrong Fitzwater thus King I right his wrong he 's wearie of the land Rich. Not of the land but of a publike life Kin. Content ye Lords in such quick times as these We must not keepe a drone among our bees Fitz. I am as glad to goe as you to send Yet I beseech this fauour of your Grace That I may see Matilda ere I part Ki. Matilda See Matilda if thou canst Before Sunne set stay not another day The Abbey wals that shrowd my happy child Appeare within her haplesse fathers sight Farewell my Soueraigne Lester Richmond Lords Farewell to all griefe giues no way to words King Fitzwater stay Lords giue vs leaue a while Hubert goe you before vnto the Abbesse And signifie our comming let her bring Exit Hubert Matilda to her father Come old man Be not too froward and we shall be friends About this girle our mortall warres began And if thou wilt here all our quarrell ends Fitz. Reserue my honour and my daughters fame And no poore subiect that your Grace commands Shall willinger submit obey and serue K. Do then but this Perswade thy beautious child To leaue the Nunry and returne to Court And I protest from hence forth to for sweare All such conceipts of lust as I haue borne Fitz. I will my Lord doe all that I may doe But giue me leaue in this to doubt of you K. This small thing graunt and aske me any thing Or else die in exile loath'd of the King Fitz. You shall perceiue I will doe what I may Enter on the wall Abbesse Matilda Hu. Matilda is afraid to leaue the house But loe on yonder battlement she stands But in no case will come within your hands K. What will my Lady Abbesse warres with vs Speake Ladie wherefore shut you vp your gates Ab. Haue we not reason when an hoast of men Hunt and pursue religious chastitie King Iohn bethinke thee what thou tak'st in hand On paine of interdiction of thy Land Murdrers and fellons may haue sanctuary And shall not honorable maids distrest Religious virgins holy Nunnes profest Haue that small
at all will smite He shall he must I and bi r Lady may Commaund me to giue ouer holy day And set wide open what you would not see Ki. Why stand ye Lords and see this traitour pearcht Upon our Castles battlements so proude Come downe young Bruse set ope the castle gates Unto thy soueraigne let thy knee be bow'd And mercie shall be giuen to thee and thine Br. O miserable thing Comes mercie from the mouth of Iohn our king Why then belike hell will be pittifull I will not ope the gates the gate I will The gate where thy shame and my sorrowe fits See my dead mother and her famisht sonne Open thy tyrants eyes for to the world I will lay open thy fell cruelties K. We heard indeed thy mother and her sonne In prison dyed by wilfull famishment Br. Sinne doubled vpon sin Slaunderst thou the dead Unwilling willingnesse it shall appeare By then I haue produc't as I will doe The iust presumptions gainst your vniust act K. Assaile the castle Lords Alarum drums And drown this scrietchowls cryes with your deep sounds Lest. I tell thée drummer if thy drum thou smite By heauen I le send thy soule to hels darke night Hence with thy drum gods passion get thee hence Be gone I say moue not my patience Exit drum K. Are you aduised Lester what you doe Lest. I am aduised for my Soueraigne knowe Ther 's not a Lord here will lift vp his arme Against the person of you noble youth Till you haue heard the circumstantiall truth By good presumptions touching this foule deede Therefore goe on young Bruse proceede retell The allegation that puts in this doubt Whether thy mother through her wilfulnesse Famisht her selfe and her sweete sonne or no Br. Unlikely supposition nature first denies That any mother when her young ling cryes If she haue meanes is so vnnaturall To let it faint and starue But we will prooue She had no meanes except this monefull meane This torture of her selfe Come forth come forth Sir William Blunt whome slaunder saies I slewe Come tell the king and Lords what you know true King Thou hast betraid our Castle Blunt No God can tell it was surpriz'd by politicke report And affirmation that your Grace was slaine Rich. Good sir William Blunt Passe briefely to the Ladies famishment Bl. About some ten daies since there came one Brand Bringing a signet from my Lord the king And this commission signed with his hand Lords looke and reade the thing Commaunding me as the contents expresse That I should presently deliuer vp The Ladie Bruse and her young sonne to him Mow. What time a day was this Bl. It was Lord Mowbray somewhat past eleauen For we were euen then sitting downe to dine Lest. But did yee dine Bl. The Ladie and her sonne did not Brand would not stay Bru. No Lester no for here is no such signe Of any meats digesture Rich. But by the way Tell vs I pray you Blunt While she remained with you was she distraught With griefe or any other passions violent Blu. She now and then would weepe often pray For reconcilement twixt the king and Lords Chest. How to her sonne did she affected stand Blu. Affection could not any more affect Nor might a mother shewe more mothers loue Mowb. How to my Lord the king Bl. O my Lord God! I neuer knewe a subiect loue king more She neuer would blin telling how his Grace Sau'd her young sonne from souldiers from fire How faire he spake gaue her her sonne to keepe And then poore Ladie she would kisse her boy Pray for the king so hearty earnestly That in pure zeale she wept most bitterly K. I weepe for her and doe by heauen protest I honour'd Bruses wife How ere that slaue Rudely effected what I rashly wild Yet when he came againe and I bethought What bitter pennance I had put them to For my conceiu'd displeasure gainst old Bruse I had the villaine poste and beare them meat Which he excus'd protesting pittie mou'd him To leaue wine bread and other poudred meate More than they twaine could in a fortnight eate Blu. Indeede this can I witnesse with the king Which argues in that point his innocence Brand did beare in a months prouision But lockt it like a villaine farre from them And lockt them in a place where no mans eare Might heare their lamentable wofull moues For all the issue both of vent and light Came from a loouer at the towers toppe Till now Lord Bruse made open this wide gappe Br. Had I not reason thinke you to make wide The windowe that should let so much woe forth Where sits my mother martyrde by her selfe Hoping to saue her childe from martyrdome Where stands my brother martyrd by himselfe Because he would not taste his mothers bloud For thus I gather this my mothers teeth and chin Are bloudy with the sauage cookery Which her soft heart through pittie of her sonne Respectlesse made her practise on her selfe And her right hand with offring it the child Is with her owne pure bloud staind and defilde My little brothers lips and chin alone Are tainted with the bloud but his eauen teeth Like orient pearle or snowe-white yuory Haue not one touch of bloud one little spot Which is an argument the boy would not Once stir his lips to taste that bloudy foode Our cruell gentle mother ministred But as it seem'd for see his prettie Palme is bloody too he cast it on the ground For on this side these blessed reliques lye By famines rage diuided from this shrine Sad wofull mother in Ierusalem Who when thy sonne and thou didst faint for foode Buryed his sweete flesh in thy hungry wombe How mercilesse wert thou if we compare Thy fact and this For my poore Ladie mother Did kill her selfe to saue my dying brother And thou vngentle sonne of Miriam Why didst thou beg life when thy mother lackt My little brother George did nobly act A more couragious part he would not eat Nor beg to liue it seem'd he did not cry Fewe teares stand on his cheeke smooth is each eye But when he sawe my mother bent to die He dyed with her O childish valiancie Kin. Good Bruse haue done my heart can not containe The griefe it holds my eyes must shoure down raine Lest. Which showers are euen as good As raine in haruest or a swelling floode When neighbouring medowes lack the mowers sithe ¶ A march for buriall with drum and fife Enter Oxford Matilda borne with Nuns one carrying a white pendant These words writ in golde Amoris Castitatis Honoris honos The Queene following the Biere carrying a Garland of flowers set it in the midst of the Stage Rich. List Lester hearst thou not a mournfull march Lest. Yes Richmond and it seemeth old de Vere Ox. Lords by your leaue is not our soueraign here K. Yes good old Awbury Ox. Ah my gratious Lord That you so much your high
wretch Let him be hangd aliue in the high way that ioyneth to the power Don. Aliue or deade I reck not how I die You them and these I desperately defie Ely Repent or neuer looke to be absolu'd But die accurst as thou deseruest well Don. Then giue me my desert curse one by one Ely First I accurse thee and if thou persist Unto damnation leaue thee wretched man Don. What doe I care for your damnation Am I not doom'd to death what more damnation Can there insue your loud and yelling cryes Pri. Yes diuell heare thy fellowe spirit speake Who would repent O faine he would repent After this bodies bitter punishment There is an euer-during endlesse woe A quenchlesse fire an vnconsuming paine Which desperate soules and bodies must indure Don. Can you preach this yet set me on sir Prior To runne into this endlesse quenchlesse fier Pri. High heauens shewe mercie to my many ils Neuer had this bene done but like a fiend Thou temptedst me with ceaselesse diuelish thoughts Therefore I curse with bitternesse of soule The hower wherein I saw thy balefull eyes My eyes I curse for looking on those eyes My eares I curse for harkning to thy tongue I curse thy tongue for tempting of myne eares Each part I curse that wee call thine or mine Thine for enticing mine mine following thine Don. A holy prayer what Collect haue we next This time Robin stirres Fitz. My Marian wanteth words such is her woe But old Fitzwater for his girle and him Begs nothing but worlds plague for such a foe Which causelesse harmd a vertuous noble man A pitier of his griefes when he felt griefe Therefore be thee of thy hatefull deede Thou faithlesse Prior and thou this ruthlesse theefe Pri. Will no man curse me giuing so much cause Then Doncaster our selues our selues accurse And let no good betide to thee or mee All the yeomen Frier Much Iinny cry All Amen amen accursed may ye bee For murdring Robin flower of curtesie Robin sits vp Rob. O ring not such a peale for Robins death Let sweete forgiuenesse be my passing bell Art thou there Marian then fly forth my breath To die with in thy armes contents me well Pri. Keepe in keepe in a little while thy soule Till I haue powr'd my soule forth at thy feete Rob. I slept not vnkle I your griefe did heare Let him forgiue your soule that bought it deare Your bodies deede I in my death forgiue And humbly begge the king that you may liue Stand to your Cleargie vnkle saue your life And lead a better life than you haue done Pri. O gentle Nephew ah my brothers sonne Thou dying glory of old Huntington Wishest thou life to such a murdrous foe I will not liue sith thou must life for goe Oh happie Warman blessed in thy end Now too too late thy truth I doe commend O Nephew Nephew Doncaster and I Murdred poore Warman for he did denie To ioyne with vs in this blacke tragedy Rob. Alas poore Warman Frier little Iohn I told ye both where Warmans bodie lay And of his buriall I le dispose anone King Is there no lawe Lord Ely to conuict This Prior that confesseth murders thus Ely He is a hallowed man and must be tried Aud punisht by the censure of the Church Pri. The Church therein doth erre God doth allowe No Canon to preserue a murderers life Richard king Richard in thy Grandsires daies A law was made the Cleargie sworne thereto That whatsoeuer Church-man did commit Treason or murder or false felonie Should like a seculer be punished Treason we did for sure we did intend King Richards poisoning Soueraigne of this land Murder we did in working Warmans end And my deare Nephewes by this fatall hand And theft we did for we haue robd the king The State the Nobles Commons and his men Of a true Peere firme Piller liberall Lord Fitzwater we haue robd of a kinde sonne And Marians loue-ioyes we haue quite vndoone Don. Whoppe what a coyle is here with your confession Pri. I aske but iudgement for my foule transgression King Thy own mouth hath condemned thee Hence with him Hang this man dead then see him buried But let the other hang aliue in chaines Don. I thanke you sir Exeunt yeomen Frier prisoners Much Ioh. My selfe will goe my Lord And see sharpe Iustice done vpon these slaues Rob. O goe not hence Prince Iohn a word or two Before I die I faine would say to you King Robin wee see what we are sad to see Death like a champion treading downe thy life Yet in thy end somwhat to comfort thee Wee freely giue to thy betrothed wife Beautious and chast Matilda all those lands Falne by thy folly to the Priors hands And by his fault now forfetted to mee Earle Huntington she shall thy Countesse bee And thy wight yeomen they shall wend with mee Against the faithlesse enemies of Christ Rob. Bring forth a Beere and couer if with greene A Beere is brought in That on my death-bed I may here sit downe Beere brought he sits At Robins buriall let no blacke be seene Let no hand giue for him a mourning gowne For in his death his king hath giuen him life By this large gift giuen to his maiden wife Chaist maid Matilda Countesse of account Chase with thy bright eyes all these clouds of woe From these faire cheekes I pray thee sweete do so Thinke it is bootelesse folly to complaine For that which neuer can be had againe Queene Elianor you once were Matilds foe Prince Iohn you long sought her vnlawfull loue Let dying Robin Hood intreat you both To change those passions Madame turne your hate To princely loue Prince Iohn conuert your loue To vertuous passions chast and moderate O that your gratious right hands would infolde Matildas right hand prisoned in my palme And sweare to doe what Robin Hood desires Qu. I sweare I will I will a mother be To faire Matildas life and chastitie Ioh. When Iohn solicites chast Matildaes eares With lawlesse sutes as he hath often done Or offers to the altars of her eyes Lasciuious Poems stuft with vanities He craues to see but short and sower daies His death be like to Robins he desires His periur'd body proue a poysoned prey For cowled Monkes and barefoote begging Friers Rob. Inough inough Fitzwater take your child My dying frost which no sunnes heat can thawe Closes the powers of all my outward parts My freezing blood runnes backe vnto my heart Where it assists death which it would resist Only my loue a little hinders death For he beholds her eyes and cannot smite Then goe not yet Matilda stay a while Frier make speede and lift my latest will Mat. O let mee looke for euer in thy eyes And lay my warme breath to thy bloodlesse lips If my sight can restraine deaths tyrannies Or keepe liues breath within thy bosome lockt Rob. Away away Forbeare my loue all this is but delay Fitz. Come maiden daughter from
far more wrongd than I takes it not wel Ki. Yes but I doe I thinke not Isabell Lord The worse for any writing of Brunes Sa. Will you ha the troth my Lord I thinke so too And though I be an old man by my sword My arme shall iustifie my constant word Qu. After a long storme in a troublous sea The Pilot is no gladder of a calme Than Isabell to see the vexed lookes Of her lou'd Lord chang'd into sweete aspects Kin. I will not tell thee what a world of foes For thy loue deare loue rise against my life To himselfe Matildaes loue fewe swords will fight for thee I will not number vp the many woes That shall be multiplied strife vpon strife Will follow But to shunne insuing ils I le take shuch pledges as shall please me aske Of each proud Baron dwelling in the Realme Bruse kinsman and the deputie to March Hath a high-minded Lady to his wife An able sonne for armes and a lesse body That is the comfort of his fathers life Madame I know you loue the Lady well And of her wealth you may be bold to build By sending you foure hundred white milch kine And ten like coloured bulles to serue that heard So faire that euery cow did Iö seeme And euery bull Europaes rauisher To friend my selfe with such a subiects truth Thus I commaund You and Earle Salsbury Shall with what speede conueniently ye may Hye ye to Gilford there the Ladie lies And her sonnes too as I am told by spies All that she hath I knowe she calleth yours All that she hath I gladly would call mine If she abuse yee if she vse yee well For euer be what she retaines her owne Only goe by as Queenes in progresse doe And send me word how she receiueth you Qu. Well I auouch she will before I goe Farre be it Iohn should prooue Lord Bruses foe Come noble Oxford I long to be at Gilford Sals. In such a businesse Madam so doe I Exeunt King Goe on good stales now Gilford is mine owne Hubert I charge you take an hundred horse And followe vnto Gilford Castle gates The Queene pretend you come to tend vpon Sent carefully from vs when you are in Boldly demaund the Lady for her sonnes For pledges of her husbands faith and hers Whome when yee haue vpon the Castle seize And keepe it to our vse vntill we come Meane while let me alone with Hugh your sonne To worke a wonder if no prodigie But whatsoere it shall attempted be Hub. Euen that which to your Maiestie May seeme contentfull thereto I agree King Goe then to Gilford and a victor be Exit Hub. Moubray our maske are you and Chester ready Mow. We will before your Grace I warrant you King How thinkst of it Mowbray Hu. As on a maske but for our torch-bearers Hell cannot rake so mad a crewe as I King Faith who is chiefe Hu. Will Brand my Lord But then your Grace must curbe his cruelty The raigne once got he 's apt for villanie Kin. I knowe the villaine is both rough and grim But as a ty-dogge I will muzzle him I le bring him vp to fawne vpon my friends And worry dead my foes But to our maske I meane this night to reuell at the feast Where faire Matilda graceth euery guest And if my hidden curtesie she grace Old Bainards Castle good Fitzwaters place Iohn will make rich with royall Englands wealth But if she do uot not those scattred bands Dropping from Austria and the Holy land That boast so much of glorious victories Shall stoppe the inundations of those woes That like a deluge I will bring on them I knowe the crue is there banish all feares If wrongd they shall be ours if welcome theirs Exeūt ¶ Enter Fitzwater and his sonne Bruse and call forth his daughter Fitz. Why how now votary still at your booke Euer in mourning weedes For shame for shame With better entertainement cheere our friends Now by the blest crosse you are much too blame To crosse our mirth thus you are much too blame I say Good Lord hath neuer woe inough of well ada Indeed indeede Some sorrow fits but this is more than neede Mat. Good father pardon me You saw I sate the supper and the banquet You knowe I cannot dance discourse I shunne By reason that my wit but small before Comes farre behinde the ripe wits of our age Young B. You l be too ripe for mariage If you delay by day and day thus long There is the noble Wigmore lord of the March That lyes on Wye Lug and the Seuerne streames His sonne is like the sunnes syres Ganimede And for your loue hath sent a Lord to plead His absence I did purpose to excuse ¶ Enter Lester Richmond But Lester to the man for him that sues F. My cousin Bruse hath bene your Broker Lester At least hath broke the matter to my girle Lest. O for a barber at the time of neede Or one of these that dresses periwigs To decke my gray head with a youthfull haire But I must too 't Matilda thus it is Say can ye loue mee I am Wigmors sonne Ma. My cousin said he look't like Ganimede But you but you Ley. But I but I you say Am rather like old Chremes in a play But that 's a nice obiection I am hee But by atturney shippe made deputie Mat. He 's neuer like to speede well all his life That by atturney sues to winne a wife But graunt you are whome you seeme nothing like Young Wigmore the heire to this noble Lord He for his sonne hath yet sent vs nere a word Old Br. If you grant loue when his sonne doth wooe Then in your ioynture hee le send say and doe Y. Br. And for a dooer cosin take my word Looke for a good egge he was a good bird Cocke a the game ifaith neuer feare Ma. I but I feare the match will fall out ill Because he saies his sonne is named Will Fitz. And why good daughter Hath some Palmister Some Augur or some dreaming Calculator For such I know you often hearken to Bene prating gainst the name Go too go too Doe not beleeue them Lester fall to wooe Ma. I must beleeue my father and t is you That if I ought misdid reproou'd me still And chiding said you 'r wedded to your will Fitz. God for thy mercy haue yee catcht me there Wigmore is William woman Lester speake Thou art the simplest wooer in the world Lest. You haue put me out she hath tooke me down You with your talke she with her ready tongue You told me I should find her milde and still And scarce a worde come from her in an hower Then did I thinke I should haue all the talke Unhindred by your willingnesse to helpe Unanswerd till I had no more to say And then Y. B. What then she with a courtly curtsie saying nay Ma. Your friends atturney might haue gone his way With as
Nay then Fitzwater tels your Maiestie You doe him wrong and well will let you wit He will defende his honour to the death King And Bruse you are no otherwise dispos'd You will not giue your sons to me for pledge Br. I haue but one being my lesser boy Who is at Gilford for my other sonne Ki. He braues me with the rest Well it is night and there 's no sunne to sweare by But by Gods sonne and by him I here protest A miserable storme this night to raise That shall not cease while England giueth rest To such vile traitors Bruse I le begin with you I will ifaith as true as God is true Exeunt king cum suis Lest. Then shal a storme be rais'd against a storme And tempest be with tempest beaten backe Fitz. But this firme Iland like the sea will tosse And many goodly buildings goe to wracke Many a widowe weepe her dying sonne And many a mother to her helplesse babes Cry out vncomfortably children peace Your crying vnto me is all in vaine Dead is my husband your poore father slaine Yong Br. We can not helpe it vnkle Ri. No you see intreats humble sutes haue now no power But lust and wrath the kingdome doth deuour Br. Me he did menace first and much I feare He will to Gilford and besiege my wife Fitz. O hye to saue her Richmond ride with him Rich. Let vs away Bruse least we come to late And with vs take some score of men well armde Exeunt Richmond Fitz. Doe Lester and my selfe will keepe the citie Til we are furnisht with an able armie Your Nephew Bruse shal take an hundred armed men And poast to Hartford Castle with your sister Sith wrong will wake vs we will keepe such watch As for his life he shall not hurt vs bring Exeunt omnes ¶ Enter Queene Bruses Ladie Hubert Salsbury Qu. Be comforted good Madame doe not feare But giue your sonne as pledge vnto the king Your selfe at Court may keepe him company Wif. I am betraid alas I am betraid And little thought your Highnesse had bene bent So much against me for my many loues As to prepare an entrance for my foe Qu. As I shall liue in heauen I did not knowe Of Huberts comming but lament not this Your sonne you say is gone what feare you then Wi. O madame murder mischiefe wrongs of men I feare I feare what i st I doe not feare Sith hope is so farre of despaire so neare Ox. Answere mee good Hubert I pray the Hubert doe What thinke you of this matter may I on your word Perswade the woman that all things are well Hu. You may perswade her if you can my Lord For I protest I knowe no other thing But that the king would haue him for a pledge of the Lord Bruses faith Sals. And reason too Now by my Honour Hubert I protest it is good reason Bruse I tell you plaine Is no sound cloake to keepe Iohn from the raine I will goe to her Hu. Doe good simple Earle If not by threats nor my intreats she yield Thy braine is barren of inuention Dried vp with care neuer will shee yield her sonne to thee that hauing power wantst wit Br. Wife I ouerheare thee Hubert Ox. So do I dame Bruse But stir no coles the man is well belou'd And merits more than so Bru. W. But I will answere Hubert thou fatall keeper of poore babes That are appointed hostages for Iohn Had I a sonne here as I haue not one For yesterday I sent him into Wales Thinkst thou I would be so degenerate So farre from kinde to giue him vnto thee I would not I protest thou knowest my minde Ox. Ladie you feare more than you neede to doe Indeede you doe in very deede you doe Hubert is wrongd about the thing you meane About young Arthur O I thought t was so Indeede the honest good kinde gentleman Did all he might for safegard of the childe Qu. Beleeue me Madame Bruse the man is wrongd B. W. But he wrongs me to keepe my Castle thus Disarming my true seruants arming his Now more of outrage comes what shall I doe ¶ Enter the king Mowbray Winchester Chester King O this is well Hubert where 's Bruses sonne Wi. Where thou shalt neuer see him Iohn K. Ladie we shall haue talke with you anone Where is he Hubert Hu. Hid or fled my Lord we can by no means get her to confesse Sa. Welcome to Gilford Oxfords liefest Lord K. You scarce giue welcome ere I bid you goe For you my Lord the Queene and Winchester Shall march to Harford Sweete Isabell And if thou loue me play the Amazon Matilda that hath long bewitcht mine eye Is as I heare by spials now in Harford Castle Besiege her there for now her hauty father Ruffians it vp and downe and all the brood Of viperous traitors whet their poysoned teeth That they may feed on vs that foster them Goe forward and goe with you victorie Which to assure my powers shall followe you Sals. Did I not tell you this then trust me next Nay he is chang'd and cares no more for her Than I doe Madame King Be gone I say be gone Your speede rich victory attendeth on But your delay May giue your foes the happie glorious day Qu. One boone my Liege and part Kin. Be briefe Qu. Shew that poore Ladie pittie I beseech Exeunt Kin. I will indeede Come Ladie let vs in You haue a sonne goe in and bring him mee And for the Queenes sake I will fauour yee B. W. I haue no son come come come in and search And if you finde him wretched may I bee Exit Ki. Chester and Hubert see you keepe good watch Not farre of doe I heare a warlike sound Bruse on my life looke too 't while I goe in To seeke this boy for needs we must haue him Come with vs Mowbray Exeunt ¶ Enter Bruse Richmoud Souldiers Rich. The Castle gates are shut what ho what ho You that are seruants to the Lady Bruse Arise make entrance for your Lord and friends Enter or aboue Hugh Winchester HU. We will make issue ere yee enter here Who haue we there Richmond and Bruse I st you What vp so soone are yee so earely here In you yfaith the Prouerb 's verified Y' are earely vp and yet are nere the neare Rich. The worse our fortune Bruse let vs goe hence We haue no power to fight nor make defence Ch. What Richmond will you proue a Runaway Rich. From thee good Winchester Now the Lord defend Bruse we will stay and fight Br. T is to no end we haue but twentie men they be tyr'd But ere we doe retire tell me Lord Hubert Where are my wife and sonne Hu. Your wife is here your sonne we cannot finde Br. Let son wife high heauens your comfort finde Exeunt ¶ Enter King Mowbray Ladie Bruse Chest. Bruse hath beene here my Lord Ki. I let him
Some innouation or some monstrous act Cruell vnkindly horrid full of hate As that vile deede at Windsor done of late Gentle Matilda somewhat I mistrust Yet thee I neede not feare such is his loue Againe the place doth giue thee warrantise Yet I remember when his Highnesse said The lustfull monke of Bury should him aid I so it is if she haue any ill Through the lewd shaueling wil her shame be wrought If it so chaunce Matildaes guiltlesse wrong Will with the losse of many a life be bought But Hubert will be still his dread Lords friend Howeuer he deserues his master serue Though he neglect him will not I neglect Whoeuer failes him I will Iohn affect For though kings fault in many a foule offence Subiects must sue not mend with violence Exit Enter Oxford Queene Ox. Now by my faith you are too blame Madame Euer tormenting euer vexing you Cease off these fretting humours pray yee doe Griefe will not mend it nought can pleasure you But patient suffering nor by your Graces leaue Haue you such cause to make this hue and cry After a husband you haue not in good sooth Yearely a childe this paiment is not bad Content faire Queene and do not think it strange That kings doe sometimes seeke delight in change For now and then I tell you poore men range Sit downe a little I will make you smile Though I be now like to the snowie Alpes I was as hot as Aetna in my youth All fire yfaith true heart of oake right steele A ruffian Ladie often for my sport I to a lodge of mine did make resort To viewe my deere I said deare God can tell It was my keepers wife whome I lou'd well My Countesse God be with her was a shrowe As women be your Maiestie doth knowe And some odde pickthanke put it in her head All was not well but such a life I led And the poore keeper and his smooth'd fac't wife That will I nil I there she might not bide But for the people I did well prouide And by gods mother for my Ladies spight I trickt her in her kinde I seru'd her right Were she at London I the country kept Come thither I at London would sojourne Came she to court from court I straight way stept Return I to the court would backe returne So this way that way euery way she went I still was retrograde seld opposite Till at the last by mildenesse and submission We met kist ioyn'd and here left all suspition Qu. Now out vpon you Vere I would haue thought The world had not containd a chaster man Ox. Now by my fay I will be sworne I am In all I tell you I confesse no ill But that I curbd a froward womans will Yet had my keepers wife bene of my minde There had bene cause some fault with vs to finde But I protest her noes and nayes were such That for my life she euer kept goe much Qu. You would take nay but our king Iohn saies no No nay no answere will suffice his turne He for he cannot tempt true chastitie Filles all the Land with hostile crueltie Is it not shame he that should punish sinne Defend the righteous helpe the innocent Carues with his sworde the purpose of his will Upon the guarders of the vertuous And hunts admired spotlesse maiden-head With all the darts of desolation Because she scorneth to be dissolute Me that he leaues I doe not murmur at That he loues her doth no whit me perplex If she did loue him or my selfe did hate But this alone is it that me doth vex He leaues me that loues him and her pursues That loath him and loues me how can I chuse But sadly grieue and mourne in my greene youth When nor of her nor mee he taketh ruthe Ox. Ha doue good Queene for gods good loue ha don This raging humour will no doubt be staid Uertuous Matilda is profest a Nunne Within a mile at Dunmow liues the maid God will not suffer any thing so vile Hee will not sure that he should her defile Qu. Nor Church nor chappell Abbey Nunry Are priuileg'd from his intemperance But leaue we him and let vs I entreat Goe visit faire Matilda much I am In debt vnto the maide Ox. You are indeede You wrongd her when with blowes you made her bleed But if you please to visit her faire dame Our coach is readie we will soone be there Qu. Thanks Oxford and with vs I meane to beare The beautious garland sent me out of Spaine Which I will offer in the Abbey chappell As witnesse of Matildaes chastitie Whom while I liue I euer vow to loue In recompence of rash and causelesse wrong Enter Brand solus with cuppe bottle of poyson Brand Good by this hand exceding passing good The dog no sooner dranke it but yugh yugh quoth he So grins me with his teeth lyes downe and dies Yughst quoth I by gogs bloud goe thy waies Of all thy line and generation Was neuer dog so worshipt as thou art For ere thou di'dst thou wert an officer I ly not by these nailes a squires place For the vile cur became a countesse taster So dyed the dog Now in our next account The Countesse comes le ts see a Countesse a Nunne Why so why so What would she haue the whole world quite vndone Wee le meete her for that trick What not a king Hanging 's too good for her I am but a plaine knaue And yet should any of these no forsooths These pray awayes these trip and goes these tits Deny mee now by these A plague vpon this bottle and this cup I cannot act mine oath but too 't againe By these ten ends of flesh and blood I sweare First with this hand wound thus about her haire And with this dagger lustilie lambackt I would yfaith I by my villany I would but here but here she comes Led by two doctors in sweete letchery If they speede with my poyson I goe by If not haue at you maid then steppe in I Enter Matilda betweene the Monke and the Nunne Mon. And as I saide faire maid you haue done well In your distresse to seeke this holy place But tell me truely how doe you expell The rage of lust-arising heat in you Ma. By praier by fasting by considering The shame of ill and meede of doing well Ab. But daughter daughter tell me in my eate Haue you no fleshly fightings now and then whisper Brand Fleshly quoth you a maid of threescore years And fleshly fightings sticking in her teeth Well wench th' art matcht yfaith Ab. You doe confesse the king hath tempted you And thinking now and then on gifts and state A glowing heat hath proudly puft you vp But thanks to God his Grace hath done you good Mon. Who the kings Grace Ma. No Gods Grace holy monke Mo. The kings Grace faine would do you good faire maid Me. Ill good he meanes my fame to violate Ab. Well let that be
Oxford Queene Abbesse attendants Ox And say you Ladie Abbesse that there came One from the King vnto her what was hee Ab. Yonder he stands I know not what he is Still he stands staring Q. Iesus haue mercy Oxford come not nigh him Ox. Not nigh him Madame yes keepe you away Ab. Come in good Queene I doe not mean to stay Exit Ab. Nor I to stirre before I see the end Ox. Why starest thou thus speake fellow answer me Who art thou Bra. A bloodie villaine and a murderer A hundred haue I slaine with mine owne hands T was I that staru'd the Ladie Bruse to death And her young sonne at Windsor Castle late T is I haue slaine Matilda blessed maid And now will hurry to damnations mouth Forst by the gnawing worme of conscience Runs in Ox. Hold him for gods sake stay the desperate wretch Ma. O some good pittying man compassionate That wretched man so woefull desperate Saue him for gods sake he hath set me free From much worlds woe much wrong much miserie Qu. I heare thy tongue true perfect charitie Chaste maide faire maide looke vp and speake to mee Ma. Whos 's here my gracious soueraigne Isabell I will take strength and kneele Qu. Matilda sit I le kneele to thee Forgiue me gētle girle My most vngentle wrongs Ma. Faire beautious Queene I giue god thankes I doe not thinke on wrongs Ox. How now Fitzwaters childe how dost thou girle Ma. Well my good Lord of Oxford prettie well A little trauell more and I shall rest For I am almost at my iorneyes end O that my head were rais'd a little vp My drousie head whose dim decaying lights Assure me it is almost time to sleep Raise her heade I thanke your Hignesse I haue now some ease Be witnesse I beseeth your Maiestie That I forgiue the King with all my heart With all the little of my liuing heart That giues me leaue to say I can forgiue And I beseech high heauen he long may liue A happie King a king beloou'd and feard Oxford for gods sake to my father write The latest commendations of his childe And say Matilda kept his Honours charge Dying a spotlesse maiden vndefilde Bid him be glad for I am gone to ioy I that did turne his weale to bitter woe The king and he will quickly now growe friends And by their friendshippe much content will growe Sinke earth to earth fade flower ordaind to fade But passe forth soule vnto the shrine of peace Beg there attonement may be quickly made Faire Queene kinde Oxford all good you attend Fly forth my soule heauens king be there thy friend Ox. O pittie mourning sight age pittilesse Are these the messages king Iohn doth send Keepe in my teares for shame your conduits keepe Sad woe beholding eyes no will ye not Why then a Gods name weepe Sit. Qu. I cannot weepe for wrath here here take in The blessed bodie of this noble maid In milke white cloathing let the same be laid Exeunt with the bodie Upon an open biere that all may see King Iohns vnkingly lust and crueltie Ox. I be it so Your selfe if so you please Will I attend vpon and both vs waite On chast Matildaes bodie which with speede To Windsor Castle we will hence conuey There is another spectacle of ruth Old Bruses famisht Ladie and her sonne Qu. There is the king besieging of young Bruse His Lords are there who when they see this sight I know will haue small heart for Iohn to fight Ox. But where 's the murderer ha is not he staid Ser. Borne with a violent rage he clim'd a tree And none of vs could hinder his intent But getting to the top boughes fast he tied His garters to his necke and a weake branch Which being vnable to sustaine his weight Downe to the ground he fell where bones and flesh Lie pasht together in a poole of bloode Ox. Alas for woe but this is iust heauens doome On those that liue by bloode in bloode they die May an example of it honest friends Doe well take paines beware of crueltie Come Madam come to Windsor let vs goe And there to Bruses griefe adde greater woe Exeunt Enter Bruse vpon the walles Bru. Will not my bitter bannings and sad plaints My iust and execrable execrations My teares my prayers my pittie-mouing mones Preuaile thou glorious bright Lampe of the day To cause thee keepe an obit for their soules And dwell one month with the Antipodes Bright sunne retire gylde not this vault of death With thy illustrate raies retyre retyre And yield black night thy Empery a while A little while till as my teares be spent My bloode be likewise shed in raining drops By the tempestuous rage of tyrant Iohn Learne of thy loue the morning she hath wept Shower vpon shower of siluer deawie teares High trees lowe plants and prettie little flowers Witnesse her woe on them her griefe appeares And as shee dreepes on them they doe not let By droppe and droppe their mother earth to wet See these hard stones how fast small rouelets Issue from them though they seeme issuelesse And wet eyed woe on euery thing is viewde Saue in thy face that smil'st at my distresse O doe not drinke their teares thus greedily Yet let the mornings mourning garment dwell Upon the sad earth Wilt thou not thou churle Then surfet with thy exhalations speedily For all earths venemous infecting wormes Haue belcht their seuerall poysons on the fields Mixing their simples in thy compound draught Well Phoebus well drinke on I say drinke on But when thou dost vngorge thee grant me this Thou power those poysons on the head of Iohn Drum Enter Chester Mowbray Souldiers Lester Richmond at an other Souldiers Bru. How now my Lords were ye last night so pleasd With the beholding of that propertie Which Iohn and other murderers haue wrought Upon my starued mother and her sonne That you are come againe Shall I againe Set open shop shew my dead ware deare bought Of a relentlesse merchant that doth trade On the red sea swolne mightie with the bloud Of noble vertuous harmelesse innocents Whose cole black vessell is of Ebonie Their shrouds tackle wrought wou'n by wrong Stretcht with no other gale of winde but griefe Whose sighes with full blasts beateth on her shrouds The Master murder is the Pilot shame The Mariners rape theft and periury The burden tyrannous oppression Which howerly he in England doth vnlade Say shall I open shop and shewe my wares Lest. No good Lord Bruse we haue enough of that Drum Enter king Hubert Souldiers Ki. To Windsor welcome Hubert Soft me thinks Bruse and our Lords are at a parly now Br. Chester and Mowbray you are Iohns sworn friends Will you see more Speake answere me my Lords I am no niggard you shall haue your fill Both We haue too much and surfet with the woe Br. Are you all full Here comes a rauening kite That both at quick at deade
state should neglect Ah god in heauen forgiue this bloudie deede Young Bruse young Bruse I weepe Thy mothers and thy brothers wrong Yet to afflict thee more more griefe I bring Br. O Honourable Awbery de Vere Let sorrow in a sable sute appeare Doe not misshape her garments like delight If it be griefe why cloth'st thou her in white Ox. I cannot tell thee yet I must sit downe Attend young Bruse and listen to the Queene Shee le not be tongue tyed we shall haue a stirre Anone I feare would make a man halfe sicke Qu. Are you here leatcher O intemperate king Wilt thou not see mee come come shewe your face Your Graces gracelesse kings vnkingly face What mute hands folded eyes fixt on the earth Whose turne is next now to be murdered The famisht Bruses are on yonder side On this another I will name anone One for whose head this garland I doe beare And this faire milke-white spotlesse pendant too Looke vp king Iohn see yonder sits thy shame Yonder it lyes what must I tell her name It is Matilda poysoned by thee Ki. Matilda O that foule swift footed slaue That kils ere one haue time to hid him saue Faire gentle girle vngently made away Br. My banisht vncles daughter art thou there Then I defie all hope and sweare Lest. Stay Bruse and listen wel what oath to swear Lewys the Dolphin pittying one estate Is by the Christian king his father sent With aid to helpe vs and is landed too Lords that will fly the denne of cruelty And fight to free your selues from tyranny Bruse keepe that Castle to the only vse Of our elected king Lewys of Fraunce Oxf. Gods passion doe not so king Iohn is here Lords whisper not with Lester Lester fie Stir not againe regardlesse mutinie Speake to them Hugh I know thou loou'st the king Madame goe to them nay doe for gods sake doe Downe with your stomacke for if he goe downe You must downe too and be no longer Queene Aduise you goe intreat them speedily My soueraigne wherefore sit you sighing there The Lords are all about to followe Lewys Up and intreat them els they will away K Good Oxford let them goe Why should they stay Ox. What are you desperate that must not be Heare me my Lords All stand in Counsell Ki. This pendant let mee see Amoris Castitatis Honoris honos She was indeede of London the honour once When she was lou'd of vertuous Huntington Of chastitie the honour all her life To impure thoughts she neuer could be wonne And she of Honour was the honour too By birth in life she honour honoured Bring in two tapers lighted quick dispatch Lest. Remēber Bruse thy charge Come Lords away All but Oxford and Hugh Away wee will away Bring in two white Tapers Ox. Harke Lester but one word a little stay Helpe mee good Hubert helpe me gentle Queene Againe conferre K. How dim these Tapers burne they giue no light Here were two beautious Lamps that could haue taught The Sunne to shine by day the Moone by night But they are dim too cleane extinguished Away with these sith those faire lights be dead Ox. And as I say harke Bruse vnto our talke Thinke you it is for loue of England Lewis comes Nay Fraunce is not so kinde I would it were Aduise your selues harke dost thou heare me Bruse Br. Oxford I doe Ox. Can noble English hearts beare the French yoke No Lester Richmond thinke on Lewys sire That left you and your king in Palestine Qu. And think beside you know not Lewys nature Who may be as bad as Iohn or rather worse than he Hu. And looke my Lords vpon his silent woe His soule is at the doore of death I knowe See how he seekes to suck if he could drawe Poyson from dead Matildaes ashie lips I le be sworne his very heart strings nips A vengeance on that slaue that cursed Brand I le kill him if I liue with this right hand Ox. Thou canst not Hubert he hath kild himselfe But to our matter Lester pray thee speake Young Bruse for gods sake let vs knowe thy minde Bru. I would be loath to be a strangers slaue For Englands loue I would no French king haue Lest. Well Oxford if I be deceiu'd in Iohn againe It s long of you Lord Hubert and the Queene Yield vp the Castle Bruse wee le once more try King Iohns proceedings Oxford tell him so Oxford goes to the king does his duety and talkes with him Br. I will come downe but first farewell dear mother Kisse her Farewell poore little George my pretty brother Now will I shut my shambles in againe Farewell farewell In euerlasting blisse your sweete soules dwell Ox. But you must mend yfaith in faith you must Lest. My Lord once more your subiects do submit Beseeching you to thinke how things haue past And let some comfort shine on vs your friends Through the bright splendour of your vertuous life K. I thanke you all and Lester I protest I will be better than I yet haue beene Br. Of Windsor Castle here the keyes I yield K. Thanks Bruse forgiue mee and I pray thee see Thy mother and thy brother buried Bruse offers to kisse Matilda In Windsor Castle Church Doe kisse her cheeke Weepe thou on that on this side I will weepe Q. Chaste virgine thus I crowne thee with these flowers K. Let vs goe on to Dunmow with this maid Among the hallowed Nunnes let her be laide Unto her tombe a monthly pilgrimage Doth king Iohn vowe in penance for this wrong Goe forward maids on with Matildaes herse And on her Toombe see you ingraue this verse Within this Marble monument doth lye Matilda martyrde for her chastitie Exeunt Epilogus Thus is Matildaes story showne in act And rough heawen out by an vncunning hand Being of the most materiall points compackt That with the certainst state of truth doe stand FINIS
THE DEATH OF ROBERT EARLE OF HVNTINGTON OTHERWISE CALLED Robin Hood of merrie Sherwodde with the lamentable Tragedie of chaste MATILDA his faire maid MARIAN poysoned at Dunmowe by King IOHN Acted by the Right Honourable the Earle of Notingham Lord high Admirall of England his seruants ¶ Imprinted at London for William Leake 1601 THE DEATH OF ROBERT EARLE OF HVNTINGTON ¶ Enter Frier Tucke SCEANE I Frier HOlla holla holla follow follow followe Like noyse within Now benedicite what fowle absurditie follie foolerie had like to followed mee I my mates like addle pates inuiting great States to see our last play are hunting the hay with ho that way the goodly Heart ranne with followe little Iohn Much play the man and I like a sot haue wholly forgot the course of our plot but crosse-bowe lye downe come on Friers gowne hoode couer my crowne and with a lowe becke preuent a sharpe checke Blithe sit yee all and winke at our rude cry Minde where wee left in Sheerewod merrily The king his traine Robin his yeomen tall Gone to the wodde to see the fat deare fall Wee left maid Marian busie in the bower And prettie linny looking euery hower For their returning from the hunting game And therefore seeke to set each thing in frame Warman all wofull for his sinne we left Sir Doncaster whose villanies and theft You neuer heard of but too soone yee shall Hurt with the Prior shame them both befall They two will make our mirth be short and small But least I bring yee sorrowe ere the time Pardon I beg of your well iudging eyne And take in part bad prologue and rude play The hunters holloo Tucke must needes away Therefore downe weede bowe doe the deede to make the Stagge bleede and if my hand speede hey for a cry with a throate strained hie a lowde yall at the beasts fall Exit Holloo within Enter King Ely Fitzwater Salsbury Chester Prince Iohn little Iohn Scathlocke Kin. Where is our mother Pr. Iohn Mounted in a stand Six fallowe deere haue dyed by her hand Fitz. Three Stags I slewe Ely Two Bucks by me fell downe Chest. As many dyed by mee Sals. But I had three Prin. Scathlocke where 's Much Sca. When last I saw him may it please your Grace He and the Frier footed it apace Prin. Scathlocke no Grace your fellowe plaine Iohn Lit. Ioh. I warrant you Much will be here anone Pr. Thinkst thou little Iohn that he must Iinny wed 's Lit. Ioh. No doubt he must Prin. Then to adorne his head we shall haue hornes good slore King God for thy grace How could I misse the Stagge I had in chase Twice did I hit him in the very necke When backe my arrowes flewe as they had smit On some sure armour Where is Robin Hood And the wighte Scarlet Seeke them little Iohn Exit Ioh. I le haue that Stagge before I dine to day ¶ Enter Much Much O the frier the frier the frier King Why how now Much Cry ye mercy master king Marry this is the matter Scarlet is following the Stagge you hit and has almost lodg'd him now the Frier has the best bowe but yours in all the field which and Scarlet had he would haue him straight Kin. Where is thy master Much Nay I cannot tell nor the Frier neither Scath. I heare them holloo farre off in the wod King Come Much canst lead vs where as Scarlet is Muc. Neuer feare you follow me Exeunt hollooing SCEANE II. ¶ Enter sir Doncaster Prior Don. You were resolued to haue him poysoned Or kild or made away you car'd not how What diuell makes you doubtfull now to doo 't Pri. Why Doncaster his kindnesse in our needes Don. A plague vpon his kindnesse let him die I neuer temperd poyson in my life but I imployd it By th' masse and I loose this For euer looke to loose my company Pri. But will you giue it him Don. That cannot bee The Queene Earle Chester and Earle Salsbury If they once see mee I am a deade man Or did they heare my name I le lay my life They all would hunt me for my life Pri. What hast thou done to them Don. Faith some odde toyes That made me fly the south but passe wee them Here is the poyson will you giue it Robin Pri. Now by this gold I will Don. Or as I said for euer I defie your company Pri. Well he shall die and in his iollity And in my head I haue a policy To make him die disgrac't Don. O tell it Prior Pri. I will but not as now Call the Frier within Wee le seeke a place the wods haue many eares And some me thinkes are calling for the Frier Exeunt SCEANE III ¶ Enter calling the Frier as afore Ioh. The Frier the Frier Scath. Why where 's this Frier Fri. Here sir what is your desire ¶ Enter Robin Hoode Rob. Why Frier what a murren dost thou meane The King cals for thee For a mightie stagge That hath a copper ring about his necke With letters on it which hee would haue read Hath Scarlet kild I pray thee goe thy way Fri. Master I will no longer will I stay Exit Rob. Good vnkle be more carefull of your health And you sir Doncaster your wounds are greene Both Through your great kindnes we are cōforted Rob. And Warman I aduise you to more mirth Shun solitary walkes keepe company Forget your fault I haue forgiuen the fault Good Warman be more blithe and at this time A little helpe my Marian and her maide Much shall come to you straight a little now We must al striue to doe the best we may Exit winding War On you and her I le waite vntill my dying day Exeunt and as they are going out Doncaster puls Warman Don. Warman a word My good Lord Prior and I Are full of griefe to see thy misery War My misery sir Doncaster why I thanke God I neuer was in better state than now Pri. Why what a seruile slauish minde hast thou Art thou a man and canst be such a beast Asse-like to beare the burthen of thy wrong War What wrong haue I I st wrong to be relieu'd Don. Relieu'd saist thou Why shallow witted foole Dost thou not see Robins ambitious pride And how he clymes by pittying and aspires By humble lookes good deedes and such fond toyes To be a monarch raigning ouer vs As if wee were the vassals to his will War I am his vassall and I will be still Pri. Warman thou art a foole I doe confesse Were these good deedes done in sinceritie Pittie of minde thine or this knights distresse Without vaine brags it were true charitie But to relieue our fainting bodies wants And grieue our soules with quippes and bitter braids Is good turnes ouerturnd no thanks wee owe To any whatsoeuer helps vs so War Neither himselfe nor any that hee keepes Euer vpbraided mee since I came last Don. O God haue mercie on thee
silly asse Doth he not say to euery guest that comes This same is Warman that was once my steward War And what of that Pri. I st not as much to say Why here he stands that once did mee betray Don. Did hee not bring a troope to grace himselfe Like Captiues waiting on a conquerours chaire And calling of them out by one and one Presented them like fairings to the king Pri. O I there was a rare inuention A plague vpon the foole I hate him worse for that than all the rest War Why should you hate him why should you or you Enuie this noble Lord thus as you doe Don. Nay rather why dost thou not ioyne in hate With vs that lately liu'dst like vs in wealthy state Remember this remember foolish man How thou hast bene the Shrieue of Notingham Pri. Cry to thy thoughts let this thought neuer cease I haue bene Iustice of my Soueraignes peace Lord of faire liuings men with cap and knee In liueries waited howerly on mee Don. And when thou thinkst thou hast bene such such Thinke then what t is to be a mate to Much To runne when Robin bids come at his call Be mistresse Marians man Pri. Nay thinke withall War What shall I thinke but thinke vpon my need When men fed dogs and me they would not feede When I despaird through want and sought to die My pitious master of his charitie Forgaue my fault relieu'd and saued mee This doe I thinke vpon and you should thinke If you had hope of soules saluation First Prior that he is of thy flesh and bloode That thou art vnkle vnto Robin Hoode That by extortion thou didst get his lands God and I know how it came to thy hands Now thou pursu'dst him in his misery And how heauen plagu'd thy hearts extreamitie Thinke Doncaster when hired by this Prior Thou cam'st to take my master with the Frier And wert thy selfe tane how he set thee free Gaue thee an hundred pound to comfort thee And both bethinke yee how but yesterday Wounded and naked in the fielde you lay How with his owne hand he did raise your heads Powrd balme into your wounds your bodies fed Watcht when yee slept wept when he sawe your woe Don. Stay Warman stay I graunt that he did so And you turnd honest haue forsworne the villaine War Euen from my soule I villany defie Pri. A blessed hower a fit time now to die Don. And you shall Conscience Stab him he fals War O forgiue mee God And saue my master from their bloodie hands Pri. What hast thou made him sure Don Its deade sure he is dead if that be sure Pri. Then let vs thrust the dagger in his hand And when the next comes cry he kild himselfe Don. That must be now yonder comes Robin Hood No life in him Pri. No no not any life Three mortall wounds haue let in piercing ayre And at their gaps his life is cleane let out Rob. Who is it vncle that you so bemone Pri. Warman good nephew whom sir Doncaster I Found freshly bleeding as he now doth lye You were scarce gone when he did stab himselfe Ro. O God he in his own hand houlds his own harts hurt I dreaded too much his distressed looke Belike the wretch despaird and slewe himselfe Don. Nay that 's most sure yet he had little reason Considering how well you vsed him Rob. Well I am sorie but must not be sad Because the King is comming to my bower Helpe mee I pray thee to remooue his bodie Least he should come and see him murdered Sometime anone he shall be buried Exit Pri. Good all is good this is as I desire Now for a face of pure hypocrisie Sweete murder cloath thee in religious weedes Raigne in my bosome that with helpe of thee I may effect this Robins Tragedie ¶ Enter Robin Doncaster Do. Nay nay you must not take this thing so heauily Rob. A bodies losse sir Doncaster is much But a soule 's too is more to be bemon'd Pri. Truly I wonder at your vertuous minde O God to one so kinde who 'ud be vnkinde Let goe this griefe now must you put on ioy And for the many fauours I haue found So much exceeding all conceipt of mine Unto your cheere I le adde a pretious drinke Of colour rich and red sent mee from Rome There 's in it Moly Syrian Balsamum Golds rich Elixer O t is pretious Rob. Where is it vncle Pri. As yesterday Sir Doncaster and I rid on our way Theeues did beset vs bound vs as you saw And among other things did take from mee This rich confection but regardlesly As common drinke they cast into a bush The bottle which this day sir Doncaster Fetcht and hath left it in the inner lodging I tell you cosin I doe loue you well A pint of this ransomde the Sophies sonne When he was taken in Natolia I meant indeede to giue it my liege Lord In hope to haue his fauour but to you I put my selfe be my good friend And in your owne restoring mee restore Rob. Unkle I will you neede vrge that no more But what 's the vertues of this pretious drinke Pri. It keepes fresh youth restores diseased sight Helps natures weakenesse smothes the scars of woūds And cooles the intrals with a balmie breath When they by thirst or trauell boyle with heate Rob. Unkle I thanke you pray you let me haue A cuppe prepared gainst the king comes in To coole his heate my selfe will giue it him Pri. And when he drinkes be bold to say he drinkes A richer draught than that dissolued pearle Which Cleopatra dranke to Antonie Rob. I haue much businesse let it be your charge To make this rich draught readie for the King And I will quit it pray yee doe not faile Exit Pri. I warrant you good Nephew Don. Better and better still We thought before but to haue poysond him And now shall Robin Hoode destroy the king Euen when the King the Queene the Prince the Lords Ioy in his vertues this supposed vice Will turne to sharpe hate their exceeding loue Pri. Ha ha ha I cannot chuse but laugh To see my cosin cosend in this sort Faile him quoth you nay hang mee if I doe But Doncaster art sure the poysons are well mixt Don. Tut tut let me alone for poysoning I haue alreadie turnd ore foure or fiue That angerd mee But tell mee Prior Wherefore so deadly dost thou hate thy cosin Pri. Shall I be plaine Because if he were deade I should be made the Earle of Huntington Don. A prettie cause But thou a church-man art Pri. Cut man if that would fall I le haue a dispensation and turne temporall But tell mee Doncaster why dost thou hate him Don. By the Masse I cannot tel O yes now I ha 't I hate thy cousin Earle of Huntington Because so many loue him as there doe And I my selfe am loued of so fewe Nay I haue other reasons for
my hate Hee is a foole and will be reconcilde To anie foe hee hath he is too milde Too honest for this world fitter for heauen Hee will not kill these greedie cormorants Nor strippe base pesants of the wealth they haue He does abuse a thieues name and an outlawes And is indeede no outlawe nor no theefe He is vnworthy of such reuerent names Besides he keepes a paltry whinling girle And will not bed forsooth before he bride I le stand too 't he abuses maidenhead That will not take it being offered Hinders the common wealth of able men Another thing I hate him for againe He saies his praiers fasts eues giues alms does good For these and such like crimes sweares Doncaster To worke the speedie death of Robin Hoode Pri, Well said yfaith Harke hark the king returns To doe this deede my heart like fuel burns Exeunt SCEANE IIII ¶ Winde hornes Enter King Queene Iohn Fitzwater Ely Chester Salsbury Lester little Iohn Frier Tuck Scarlet Scathlocke and Much Frier Tuck carrying a Stags head dauncing King Gramercy Frier for thy glee Thou greatly hast contented mee What with thy sporting and thy game I sweare I highly pleased am Fri. It was my masters whole desire That maiden yeoman swaine and frier Their arts and wits should all apply For pleasure of your Maiestie Qu. Some Richard looke I pray you on the ring That was about the necke of the last stagge Chest. Was his name Scarlet that shot off his necke Iohn Chester it was this honest fellow Scarlet This is the fellowe and a yeoman bold As euer courst the swift Hart on the molde King Frier here 's somewhat grau'd vpon the Ring I pray thee reade it Meane while list to mee This while most compassing the Frier about the Ring Scarlet and Scathlock you bold bretheren Twelue pence a day I giue each for his fee And hence forth see yee liue like honest men Both We will my Liege else-let vs dye the death Much A boone a boone vpon my knee Good king Richard I begge of thee For indeede sir the troth is Much is my father and hee is one of your tenants in Kings Mill at Wakefield all on a greene O there dwelleth a iolly pinder at Wakefield all on a greene Now I would haue you if you wil doe so much for mee to set mee forward in the way of marriage to Iinny the mill would not be cast away vpon vs King Much be thou euer master of that mill I giue it thee for thine inheritance Much Thanks pretious Prince of curtesie I le to Inny and tell her of my lands yfaith Exit Ioh. Here Frier here here it begins Fri. read When Harold hare-foote raigned king About my necke he put this ring King In Harolds time more than a hundred yeare Hath this ring bene about this newe slaine Deere I am sory now it dyde but let the same Head ring and all be sent to Notingham And in the Castle kept for monuments Fitz. My Liege I heard an olde tale long agoe That Harold being Goodwins sonne of Kent When he had got faire Englands gouernment Hunted for pleasure once within this wood And singled out a faire and stately Stagge Which foote to foote the king in running caught And sure this was the Stagge King It was no doubt Chest. But some my Lord affirme That Iulius Caesar many yeares before Tooke such a Stag and such a Poesie writ King It should not be in Iulius Caesars time There was no English vsed in this Land Untill the Saxons came and this is writ In Saxon characters Ioh. Well 't was a goodly beast ¶ Enter Robin Hoode King How now earle Robert Fri, A forfet a forfet my liege Lord My masters lawes are on record The Court-roll here your Grace may see King I pray thee Frier read them mee Fri. One shall suffice and this is hee No man that commeth in this wod To feast or dwell with Robin Hood Shall call him Earle Lord Knight or Squire He no such titles doth desire But Robin Hood plaine Robin Hoode That honest yeoman stout and good On paine of forfetting a marke That must be paid to mee his Clarke My liege my liege this lawe you broke Almost in the last word you spoke That crime may not acquited bee Till Frier Tuck receiue his fee Casts him purse King There 's more than twenty marks mad Frier Fri. If thus you pay the Clarke his hire Oft may you forfet I desire You are a perfect penitent And well you doe your wrong repent For this your Highnesse liberall gift I here absolue you without shrift King Gramercies Frier Now Robin Hood Sith Robin Hood it needes must bee I was about to aske before If thou didst see the great Stags fall Rob. I did my Lord I sawe it all But missing this same prating Frier And hearing you so much desire To haue the lozels companie I went to seeke Small honestie Fri. But you found much when you found mee Rob. I Much my man but not a iot Of honestie in thee God wot Qu. Robin you doe abuse the Frier Fri. Madam I dare not call him lyer He may be bold with mee he knowes How now Prince Iohn how goes how goes This wod-mans life with you to day My fellow Wodnet you would bee Ioh. I am thy fellowe thou dost see And to be plaine as God me saue So well I like thee merry knaue That I thy company must haue Nay and I will Fri. Nay and you shall Rob. My Lord you neede not feare at all But you shall haue his company He will be bold I warrant you King Know you where ere a spring is nie Faine would I drink I am right dry Rob. I haue a drinke within my bower Of pleasing taste and soueraigne power My reuerend vncle giues it mee To giue vnto your Maiestie King I would be loath indeede being in heate To drinke cold water Let vs to thy bower Ro. Runne Frier before bid my vnkle be in readines Fr. Gon with a trice on such good businesse Exeūt omnes SCEANE V. ¶ Enter Marian with a white apron Mar. What Much What Iinny Much I say Much What 's the matter mistresse Mar. I pray thee see the fueller Suffer the cooke to want no wodde Good Lord where is this idle girle Why Iinny Within I come forsooth Mar. I pray thee bring the flowers forth Much I le goe send her mistres and help the cookes if they haue any neede Exit Much Mar. Dispatch good Much What Iin I say ¶ Enter linny Much Hie yee hie yee she cals for life Mar. Indeede indeede you doe me wrong To let me cry and call so long Iin. Forsooth I strawed the dining bowers And smoth'd the walkes with hearbes flowers The yeomens tables I haue spred Drest salts laid trenchers set on bread Nay all is well I warrant you Mar. You are not well I promise you Your foresleeues are not pind fie fie And all your
great credit as did that Orator Which handling an Oration some three howers Ill for the matter worse than bad for phrase Hauing said Dixi lookt and found not one To praise or dispraise his Oration For wearied with his talke they all were gone F. Now by my troth if any troth I haue I amas merry at Matildaes mirth As I was glad to see her first daies birth For till this hower so helpe me holidam Since the too timely death of Huntington Not a blithe word had passage through her lips Ley. See what a pleasing humour wooers bring Cos. B. O but yee leaue too soone Ley. Yet she auerers I stand too long shall I chuse yours or hers Mat. Either forbeare I pray yee for a while Welcome Lord Richmond Rich. What doth Matilda smile That still like sadnesse solitary sat Then off with widowes weedes and teach your feete That haue forgot for want of exercise And by the meanes your sorrowe had no meane To tread a measure for a gallant crue Of courtly maskers landed at the staires Before whome vnintreated I am come And haue preuented I beleeue their page Who with his torch is entred Fitz. Richmond thankes If you haue ought to say about the maskers Beseech the Gentlemen to enter in For they are welcome guests to old Fitzwater Exit Messenger Sonne sonne I pray you fetch the Ladies in We haue beene talking here about a match And left our noble friends in discontent Rich. Nay by my faith we had much merriment Yet thought it long you neither came nor sent Matilda faints and sits downe Fitz. How now Matilda pray thee cheere thee girle Mat. I thought it was a lightning before death Too sodaine to be certaine good pleasure stay Enter Ladies Wilt thou not wanton churle then goe thy way After maske Ri. What chang'd so soon so soon falne to your dūps Cheerly the maske comes in O God this veile looke Fit not this sport Mat. I le leaue it Lest. Nay for your loue Williams sake faire maiden stay Dance Maskers take each a Ladie Iohn Matilda but refusing father This is no courtship daughter be not nice You both abuse him and disparage vs His fellowes had the Ladies they did chuse And wel you knowe here 's no more maids than Maud Your selfe are all our store I pray you rise Or by my faith I say you doe vs wrong Mat. I wil do what you wil lead lead your daunce Ki. You know me by my speach Mat. I my Liege I O! that temptations tongue Had no where to be plac't but in your head Ki. Well say I haue her tongue had I not neede When you haue both her eyes nay all her shape Able to tempt euen Ioue himselfe to rape Ma. Good my Lord leaue or I will leaue the place Daunce againe in the first course Maitlda flings from him Iohn followes Fitz. Daunce out your Galliard Gods deare holibread Y' are too forgetfull daunce or by my troth You 'l moue my patience more than I will speake She vnwilling Iohn roughly puls her Nay soft vnmannerd sir you are too rough Her ioynts are weake your armes are strong tough If yee come here for sport you welcome be If not better your roome than such bad company Iohn threatens him by signes Dost threaten mee then will I see thy face Kin. And so thou shalt looke on me rebell Lord Thou that wert late a factious ring-leader And in the open field gau'st me fierce fight Art thou againe gathering another head That with such rudenesse thou dost entertaine The gentle comming of thy Soueraigne Fitz. My dread Lord heare me and forgiue this fault What I haue earst done long since you forgaue If I did lead the Barons in the field The Barons chose me when they could not chuse But make some leader you were so missed When better thoughts entred your royall breast We then obeyd you as our Soueraigne head King You did euen what you list and so doe still I am the king but you must haue your will The plaine troth is we are not come in sport Though for our comming this was our best cloake For if we neuer come till you doe send We must not be your guests while bankets last Contentious brauls you howerly send to vs But we may send and send and you returne This Lord is sicke that pained with the gout He rid from home You thinke I finde not out Your close confederacies yes I doe no doubt Lest. If there be here a close confederate Gods vengeance light vpon him with my hate K. No you are open Lester that I knowe Ch. I by the Lord my Lord your open foe Lest. By thy Lords Lord and mine proud Rafe of Chester Thou dar'st not say so wert thou from the king MOW. Yes but he dares and shall Rich. Mowbray if you stand by He dares perchance els will the dastard fly Ch. My owne sword shall maintaine my tongues true speach For it is not frequented to such lies As wrangling Lester and proud Richmond vse It cannot set out like a thundring drumme Or roaring Canon stuft with naught but brags The multitudes of seas died red with blood And famous cities into cinders turn'd By their two armed armes King I Chester And then they shewe vs rags torne off belike From poore decayed Ladies petticotes For neither bill nor feathered shot nor pike Made halfe or any of those rents they haue These patcht together fastned vnto staues They will not stick to sweare haue beene aduanc't Against the Sophie Souldan and the Turke Le. Do not maintaine proud Chester my liues Liege Your words I must put vp his if I beare Yes you shall beare them Beare and yet not bite We haue you muzzeld now remember once You brau'd vs with your Bombard boasting words Come briefely Lester Richmōd both Fitzwaters Bruse Deliuer vp your swords immediatly And either yield your bodies to our hands Or giue such pledges as we shall accept Unto our Steward Winchester with speede Lest. I will not leaue my armes nor break my word Except I be prouok't your liege-man I am sworne That oath is pledge enough If you mislike Kin. Thou hearest me say I doe Lest. And I reply that pledge refus'd I haue no more for you Rich. And Richmond saies as noble Lester saith Alreadie haue we plighted fame and faith Which being scornde returns to vs againe And by the kings owne mouth we are discharg'd Kin. Fitzwater what say you Fitz. What pledge desires my Liege King I aske your stubborne daughter Yong Br. That were a gage to be ingag'd Fitz. Peace thou head-strong boy Pardon me soueraigne all my power is yours My goods you may commaund my life you may My children too I know with both their liues Will readily aduenture deaths worst wrongs To doe such seruice as true subiects should But honorable fame true chastitie Kin. Make no exceptions yield her vp to mee Or looke for euer for my enmitie Fitz.
goe we haue good pledges though wee see but one The other we are sure will come anone Mow. I doe aduise you for your owne discharge Deliuer vp your sonne vnto the king King Nay let her chuse Come hither Mowbray The king and Mowbray whisper HU. The king is angry Ladie Bruse aduise you L. Br. What be aduis'd by thee to haue my louing kinde and prettie boy giuen to an vnkinde killer of sweete boyes Ch. Madame go too take counsell of your friends I warrant you the king will vse him well L. B. I as he vs'd his Nephewe Arthur Chester God blesse my childe from being vsed so MOW. Sir Hubert what are all the people voided The horses and the cattle turned forth Hu. Mowbray they be Mow. Then will I doe the kings commaundement L. B. What will he doe good lord what will he doe Mowbray I pray you what i st you will doe MO. Why fire the Castle L. B. The Castle Mowbray tarry tarry man Hold me not Chester gentle Mowbray stay Good Hubert let me goe To lead a many able men to fight And modest looking maid I see you too And vnfit sight to viewe virginitie Guarded with other souldiers than good praiers But you will say the king occasions it Say what you will no king but would take cause Of iust offence yield you young Bruse your mother is in holde Yield you young maid your father is in holde Ma. Will the Queene keepe me from the lustfull king Then will I yield Qu. A plague vpon this counterfaiting queane Mat. Gods blessed mercy will you still be mad And wrong a noble virgine with vile speach Ox. Let me alone Matilda maiden faire Thou virgine spouse true Huntingtons iust heire Wilt thou come hither and I doe protest The Queene and I to mitigate this warre Will doe what thou wouldest haue Ma. I come Br. You shall not goe sound drums to warre Ox. Alack alack for woe well God for vs sith it will needes be so Alarum fight stay Ox. What stay you for Br. Matildaes cryes doe stay vs Mat. Oxford I come in hope of thy defence Br. First will I die ere you shall yield your selfe To any coward Lord that serues the King Ox. Coward proud boy thou findest me no such beast And thou shalt rue in earnest this rude iest Fight againe Matilda taken led by the haire by two Souldiers Ox. Rude hands how hale you vertuous honour forth You doe not well away now by my faith Yee doe not well I say Take her faire Queene vse her as she deserues Shee s faire shee s noble chast and debonaire I must according to due course of warre See that our souldiers scatter not too fare Least what care wonne our negligence mray loose Exit Qu. Is this the Helen this the Paragon That makes the English Ilinnus flame so fast Mat. I am not she you see I am not shee I am not rauisht yet as Helen was I know not what will come of Iohns desire That rages like the sea that burnes like fire Qu. Plaine Iohn proud Ione I le teare your painted face thus thus I le vse you Enter Oxford Ma. Doe doe what you will Ox. How goes this geere ha foule fall so foule a deed Poore chast childe of Fitzwater dost thou bleede By Gods blest mother this is more than neede And more I tell you true than I would beare Were not the danger of the campe so neere Enter a messenger Mess. My Lord the foes haue gathered head Lord Bruse the father ioyneth with the sonne Ox. Why here 's the matter we must spend our time To keepe your nailes from scratching innocence Which should haue beene bestowed for our defence What shall we now doe helpe me holy God The foe is come and we are out of ranke Skirmish Queene taken Matilda rescued Enter olde Bruse wounded led by his sonne and Lester Br. Is the field ours Young B. I thanks to noble Lester Br. Giue God thanks sonne be carefull to thy mother Commend me to Fitzwater loue thy brother If either armes or praiers may him recouer Fals down Lest. How cheeres old Bruse Br. His soule to ioy is fled His griefe is in my bosome buried Lest. His life was dearely bought For my eyes sawe A shambles of dead men about his feete Sent by his sword vnto eternall shade With honour bury him cease teares good Bruse Br. Teares helpe not I confesse yet must I weepe Souldiers your helpe to beare him to my tent Exeunt cum Bruse Ma. Be comforted great Queene forget my wrongs It was my fortune and no fault of yours Qu. Is she thus milde or doth she mock my chance Lest. Queene Elianor are you a prisoner See what it is to be a souldier But what foule hand hath harm'd Matildaes faire Speake honourable maid who tore thy haire Did Oxford or the Queene this violence Ma. Ungentle groomes first tooke and sore me thus From whom old Oxford chastising their wrong Mest kindly brought mee to this gentle Queene Who laid her soft hand on my bleeding cheekes Gaue kisses to my lips wept for my woe And was deuising how to send me backe Euen when your last alarum frighted vs And by her kindnesse fell into your hands Lest. Which kindnesse we returne Madame be free Souldiers conduct the Queene whether she please Qu. Farewell Matilda if I liue beleeue I will remember this O how I grieue That I should wrong so innocent a maid Come Ladie old Fitzwater is not farre He le weepe to see these scarres full well I knowe Ma Would I were from this wofull world of warre Sure I will scape and to some Nunry goe Exeunt Enter king Oxford Hubert K. Had you her then had you her in your power Ox. I marry had we we had taken her K. O had she beene in mine Not all earths power from my power should haue freed her Ox. You are a king and high are Princes thoughts It may be with your sight you could haue chac't An host of armed men it may be so But we your subiects did the best we could Yet Bruse the father backing Bruse the sonne Scattred our troopes brought rescue to Matilda And tooke your peerelesse Queene their prisoner K. On all the race of Bruses for this wrong I will haue vengeance Hubert call in Brand Exit Hu. My Lord of Oxford giue vs leaue a while to be alone Ox. I will my liege but be you comforted The Queene will be recouer'd doe not feare As well as ere she was K. Oxford for beare I pray Ox. Yet for the wrong she did vnto Matilda I feare I feare Exit K. The father and the sonne did rescue her The mother and the sonne shall rue the deede So it shall be I am resolu'd thereon Matilda my soules foode those haue bereft And these of bodies foode I will bereaue Enter Hubert Brand K. Will Brand Brand Your Maiestie Make legs K. Lesse of your curtsie Hubert stand aside Poast spedily
priuiledge Now out vpon shee out Holy Saint Catherine shield my virginitie I neuer stoode in such extreamitie Hu. My Lord the Abbesse lyes I warrant you For I haue heard there is a Monke of Bury That once a weake comes thither to make merry Kin. Content thee Hubert that same monke and she And the worst come my instruments shall be Good Ladie Abbesse feare no violence There 's not one here shall offer you offence Fitz. Daughter all this while teares my speach haue staid My Lord the King Lords all draw neare I pray And heare a poore mans parting from his childe Matilda still my vnstaind honours ioy Faire Ornament of old Fitzwaters coat Borne to rich fortunes did not this ill age Bereaue thee of thy birth-rights heritage Thou seest our Soueraigne Lord of both our liues A long besieger of thy chastitie Hath scattred all our forces slaine our friends Raced our Castles left vs nere a house Wherein to hide vs from his wrathfull eye Yet God prouides France is appointed mee And thou find'st house-roome in this Nunry Here if the king should dote as he hath done It s sacriledge to tempt a holy Nunne But I haue hope he will not yet my feare So drownes my hope as I am forst to stay And leaue abruptly what I more would say Mat. O goe not yet my grieu'd hearts comforter I am as valiant to resist desire As euer thou wert worthie in the field Iohn may attempt but if Matilda yield O then Fitz. I then Matilda thou dost loose The former glorie of thy chast resolues These seauen years hast thou bid a Martyrs pains Resisting in thy selfe lust-growing fier For being mortall sure thou hadst desire And fiue sad winters haue their full course runne Since thou didst bury noble Huntington In these years many months and many daies Haue bene consum'd thy vertues to consume Gifts haue bene heralds Pandars did presume To tempt thy chast eares with their vnchast tongues All in effect working to no effect For I was still the watchman of thy tower The keeper of fowle wormes from my faire flower But now no more no more Fitzwater may Defend his poore Lambe from the Lyons prey Thy order and thy holy prayers may To helpe thee thou hast priuiledge by lawe Therefore be resolute and nobly die Abhorre base lust defend thy chastitie K. Dispatch Fitzwater hinder not thy childe Many preferments doe on her awaite Fitz. I girle I know thou shalt be offerd wealth Which is a shrewde inticement in sad want Great honours to lift vp thy lowe estate And glorious titles to eternize thee Al these doe but gild ouer vgly shame Such wealth my child foreruns releaselesse need Such honour euer prooues dishonourate For titles none comes neare a vertuous name O keepe it euer as thou hast done yet And though these darke times should forget thy praise An age will come that shall eternize it Bid me farewell and speake it in a word Ma. Farewell deare father Fitz. Oh farewell sweete childe My Liege farewell Lester Richmond Hughbert Chester and Mowbray friends and foes farewell Matilda see thou keepe thy spotlesse fame And liue eterniz'd els die soone with shame Exit Na Amen amen father adieu adieu Griefe dwels with mee sweete comfort follow you Ab. Come daughter come this is a wofull sight When good endeauours are opprest by might Exeunt from aboue Abbesse Matilda K. Ah Hubert seest thou not the sunne go downe Clowdy and darke Matilda stay one word She shakes her head and scornefully saies nay Rich. How cheer'st thou Lester Lest. Mad man at my state That cannot raise true honour ruinate Enter Messenger King I will not be disdeignd I vowe to see Quick vengeance on this girle for scorning me Mess. Yoūg Bruse my Lord hath gotten Windsor castle Slaine Blunt your Constable and those that kept it And finding in a tower his mother dead With his young brother staru'd and famished That euery one may see the rufull sight In the thick wall he a wide windowe makes And as he found them so he lets them be A spectacle to euery commer by That heauen and earth your tyrant shame may see All people cursing crying fie vpon The tyrant mercilesse inhumane Iohn Ki. Chester and Mowbray march away to Windsor Suppresse that traitor Bruse What if his dam In wilfull fury would receiue no meat Nor suffer her young childe any to eat Is it our fault Haste yee with speede away And we wil followe goe be gon I pray Exit Ch. Mow. Hu. O black and wofull deede O pittous thing When slaues attend the fierce thoughts of a king Lest. My Lord shall we goe too Kin. Lester and Richmond I I pray yee doe Lest. Get I my Beare ragged staffe once more Rais'd in the field for these wrongs some shall roare Exit RIchmond Lester K. Fetch in the Monke of Bury that I talkt off Exit Hubert for the Monke And bid Will Brand my instrument of death Come likewise in Conuert to raging hate Monke Hugh Brand enter My long resisted loue Welcome good Monke Mon. Thanks to my Liege K. Thou hast bene long in sute To be installed Abbot of your house And in your fauour many friends haue stird Now is the hower that you shall be preferd Upon condition and the matter small Short shrift to make good honest Confessor I loue a faire Nunne now in Dunmow Abbey The Abbesse loues you and you pleasure her Now if betweene you two this prettie Ladie Could be perswaded to affect a king Your sute is graunted and on Dunmowe Abbey I will bestowe a hundred markes a yeare Mon. A holy Nunne a young Nunne and a Lady Deare ware my Lord yet bid you well as may be Strike hands a bargaine she shall be your owne Or if she will not Ki. Nay if she doe refuse I le send a deaths-man with you this is hee If she be wilfull leaue her to his hands And on her owne head be her hasted end Mon. The matter shall be done K. Sirra what poysons haue you readie Brand Store store K. Awaite on the monke then and ere we take horse I le giue you such instructions as you neede Hughbert prepare to Windsor with our hoast Exit King Monke Hu. Your tyrannies haue lost my loue almost And yet I cannot chuse but loue eternally This wanton king repleat with crueltie O how are all his princely vertues staind With lust abhorred and lasciuious heate Which kindling first to fire nowe in a flame Shewes to the whole world clearely his fowle shame To quench this flame full many a tide of teares Like ouerflowing full seas haue bene spent And many a dry land drunke with humane blood Yet nothing helps his passions violent Rather they adde oyle to his raging fire Heate to his heate desire to his desire Somewhat I feare is now a managing For that prodigious bloodie stigmatique Is neuer cald vnto his kingly sight But like a Comet he portendeth still
Br. Good baud good mother B. How faine you would that that good deed should he Ab. I was about to say somewhat vpon a thing O thus it is We maids that all the day are occupied In labour and chaste hallowed exercise Are nothing so much tempted while day lasts As we are tried and prooued in the night Tell mee Matilda had you since you came No dreames no visions nothing worth the note Ma. No I thanke God Ab. Truly you will you will Except you take good heede and blesse your selfe For if I lie but on my backe a while I am past recouery sure of a bad dreame You see yon reuerend Monke now God he knowes I loue him dearer for his holinesse And I beleeue the diuell knowes it too For the foule fiend comes to me many a night As like the monke as if he were the man Many a hundred nights the Nuns haue seene Pray cry make crosses doe they what they can Once gotten in then doe I fall to worke My holy water bucket being neere hand I whisper secret spelles and coniure him That the foule fiend hath no more powre to stand He downe as I can quickly get him laid I blesse my selfe and like a holy maid Turne on my right side where I sleepe all night Without more dreames or troubling of the spright Brand An Abbesse by the crosse of my good blade An excellent mother to bring vp a maid For mee I meane and my good master Iohn But neuer any for an honest man Coughs Now fie vpon that word of honestie Passing my throat ' thad almost choked me Sblood I le for sweare it for this tricke Mon. We trifle time Faire maid it s thus in briefe This Abbey by your meanes may haue reliefe An hundred markes a yeare answere I pray What will you doe herein Ma. Euen all I may Ab. It s charitably spoken my faire childe A little thing of yours a little helpe Will serue the turne learne but to beare to beare The burden of this world and it will doe Bra. Well goe thy waies Is this no baud think you Ma. Madam the heauie burden of the world Hath long opprest mee Ab But not prest you right Now shall you beare a burden farre more light Ma. What burden bearing wherto tends this talke Mon. To you to vs this Abbey and King Iohn Me. O God forefend he should be thought vpon Mon. Lady make short the king must lie with you Ma. With me with me First turns to the Monke then to the Abbesse Ab. Sweete neuer looke so strange He shall come closely no bodie shall see Ma. How can he come but one hath eyes to see Mon. Your chamber windowes shall be shadowed Mat. But no vaile from my conscience shadowes me Ab. And all the Nunnes sent quietly to bed Ma. But they will rise and by my blushing red Quickly giue guesse of my lost maidenhead Bra. She goes yfaith by God she is their owne Mo. Be not so nice the sin is veniall Considering you yield for charitie And by your fall the Nunnery shall rise Ab. Regard good counsell daughter pray be wise Mon. Come here 's a stirre wilt doe wench wil it do Ab. Say I say I forget the sound of no Or else say no and take it wilt thou so Mat. Doe you intend thus lewdely as you speake Br. I by gogs bloode do they moppet you were best To take their proffers least if they forsake you I play the diuels part step in and take you Mat. Some holy water helpe me blessed Nunnes Two damned spirits in religious weedes Attempt to tempt my spotlesse chastitie And a third diuell gaping for my soule With horrid starings gastly frighteth me Ab. You may call while you will but maid list what we say Or be assur'd this is your dying day Drawes a Crucifix Mat. In his name that did suffer for my sinne And by this blessed signe I coniure you Depart fowle fiends returne from whence yee came Auoide yee fiends and cease to trouble mee Brand Zounds she thinks vs diuels Heare you coniurer Except you vse that tricke to coniure downe The standing spirit of my Lord the King That your good mother there the Abbesse vses To coniure downe the spirit of the Monke Not all your crosses haue the power to blesse Your bodie from a sharpe and speedie death Ma. Are ye not fiends but mortall bodies then Feeles them all Brand Maid maid catch lower when you feele yoūg men Sblood I was neuer taken for the diuell till now Ma. O where shall chastitie haue true defence When Churchmen lay this siege to innocence Where shall a maid haue certaine sanctuary When Ladie Lust rules all the Nunnery Now fie vpon yee both false seeming Saints incarnate diuels diuelish hypocrites A cowled Monke an aged vailed Nunne Become base Pandars and with lustfull speach Assaie the chast eares of true maidenhead Now fie vpon this age would I were deade Monk Come leaue her Ladie she shall haue her wish Ab. Speede her I pray thee should the baggage liue Shee le slaunder all the chaste Nunnes in the Land Exeunt Monke Abbesse Bra. Well well goe get you two vnto your coniuring Let me alone to lay her on gods ground Ma. Why dost thou stay Bra. Why maid because I must I haue a message to you from the king Ma. And thou art welcome to his humble maid I thought thee to be grim and fierce at first But now thou hast a sweete aspect milde lookes Art thou not come to kill me from the king Brand Yes Ma. And thou art welcom euen the welcom'st man That euer came vnto a woefull maid Be briefe goodfellow I haue in the world No goods to giue no will at all to make But Gods will and the kings on me be done A little money kept to giue in almes I haue about mee deaths-man take it all Thou art the last poore alms-man I shall see Come come dispatch what weapon will death weare When he assailes mee Is it knife or sworde A strangling cord or sodaine flaming fire Bran. Neither thou manly maid looke here look here A cup of poyson Wherefore dost thou smile Mat. O God in this the king is mercifull My deare lou'd Huntington by poyson dyed Good fellow tell the king I thanke his Grace And doe forgiue his causelesse crueltie I doe forgiue thee to but doe aduise Thou leaue this bloodie course and seeke to saue Thy soule immortall closed in thy brest Giues it her Be briefe I pray thee now to King Iohns health A full carouse and god remember not The curse he gaue himselfe at Robins death Wishing by poyson he might end his life If euer he solicited my loue Farewell goodfellowe now thy medicine workes And with the labour I am forc't to rest Bra. Zounds she cares not she makes death a ieast Ma. The guiltlesse feare not death Farewel good friēd I pray thee be no trouble in my end He stands staring and quaking Enter