THE CORONATION A COMEDY As it was presented by her Majesties Servants at the private House in Drury Lane Written by John Fletcher Gent. LONDON Printed by Tho. Cotes for Andrew Crooke and William Cooke and are to be sold at the signe of the Greene Dragon in Pauls Church-yard 1640. The Actors Names PHilâ—cles Lisander Cassander Lisimachus Antigonâ—s Arcadius Macarius Seleucus Queene Charilla Polidora Nestorius Eubulus A Bishop Polianus Sophia Demetrius Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Servants and Attâ—ndants The Prologue SInce t is become the Title of our Play A woman once in a Coronation may With pardon speake the Prologue give as free A welcome to the Theater as he That with a little beard a long blacke clokâ— With a starch'd face and supple legge hath spoke Before the Playes the twelvemonth let me theâ— Present a welcome to these Gentlemen If you be kind and noble you will not Thinke the worse of â—e for my petticote But to the Play the Poet bad me tell His feares first in the title lest it swell Some thoughts with expectation of a straine That but once could be seene in a Kings raigne This Coronation â—e hopes you may See often while the 〈◊〉 of his Play Doth prophâ—sit the Conduites may runne wine When the dayes triumph's ended and divine Briske Nectar swell his temples to a rage With something of more price to invest the stage There rests but to prepare you that although It bâ— a Coronation there doth flow No undermirth such as doth lar'â— the scene For course delight the language here is cleare And confident our Poet bad me say Hee le bate you but the folly of a Play For which although dull soules his pen dispise Who thinkes it yet too earely to be wise The nobler will thanke his muse at least Excuse him cause his thought aym'd at the best But we conclude not it dost rest in you To câ—nsure Poet Play and Prologue too But what have I omitted is there not A blush upon my cheekes that I forgâ—t The Ladies and a Female Prologue too Your pardon noble Gentlewomen you Were first within my thoughts I know you sit As free and high Commissioners of wit Have cleare and active soules nay though the men Were lost in your eyes they 'l be found agen You are the bright intelligences move And make a harmony this sphere of Love Be you propitious then our Poet sayes Our wreath from you is worth their grove of Bayes THE CORONATION Actus 1. Enter Philocles and Lisander Phi. MAke way for my Lord Protector Lisa. Your graces servants Enter Cassander and Lisimachus Cas. I like your diligent waiting where 's Lisimachus Lisi. I waite upon you sir. Cas. The Queene lookes pleasant This morning does she not Lis. I ever found Her gracious smiles on me Cas. She does consult Her safety in 't for I must tell thee boy But in the assurance of her love to thee I should advance thy hopes another way And use the power I have in Epire to Settle our owne and uncontrouled greatnesse But since she carries her selfe so fairely I am content to expect and by her marriage Secure thy fortune that 's all my ambition Now be still carefull in thy applications To her I must attend other affaires Returne and use what art thou canst to lay More charmes of love upon her Lisi. I presume Shee alwayes speakes the language of her heart And I can be ambitious for no more Happinesse on earth then she encourages Me to expect Cas. It was an act becomming The wisedome of her Father to engage A tye betweene our families and she Hath playd her best discretion to allow it But we lose time in conference waite on her And be what thou wert borne for King of Epire Exit I must away Lisi. Successe ever attend you Is not the Queene yet comming forth Lisa. Your servant You may command our duties This is the Court starre Philocles Phi. The starre that we must saile by Lisa. All must borrow A light from him the young Queene directs all Her favours that way Phi. Hee s a noble Gentleman And worthy of his expectations Too good to be the son of such a Father Lisa. Peace remember he is Lord Protector Phil. We have more need of Heavens protection I' th meane time I wonder the old King Did in his life designe him for the office Lisa. He might suspect his faith I have heard when The King who was no Epirote advanc'd His claime Cassander our Protector now Young then oppos'd him toughly with his faction But forc'd to yeeld had faire conditions And was declar'd by the whole state next heire If the King wanted issue our hopes only Thriv'd in this daughter Phi. Whom but for her smiles And hope of marriage with Lasimachus His Father by some cunning had remov'd Ere this Lisa. Take heed the Arras may have eares I should not weepe much if his grace would hence Remove to Heaven Phi. I prethee what should he do there Lisa. Some Offices will fall Phi. And the sky too ere I get one staire higher While heeâ— in place Enter Antigonus Ant. Lisander Philocles How lookes the day upon us where 's the Queene Phi. In her bed-chamber Ant. Who was with her Lisa. None but the yong Lord Lisimachus Ant. T is no treason If a man wish himselfe a Courtier Of such a possibility he has The mounting fate Phi. I would his Father were Mounted toth ' gallowes Ant. He has a path faire enough If he survive by title of his Father Lisa. The Queene will hasten his ascent Phi. Would I wore Queene Ant. Thou wod'st become rarely the peticote What wod'st thou doe Phi. Why I wod marry My Gentleman usher and trust all the strength And burden of my state upon his legges Rather then be call'd wife by any sonne Of such a Father Lisa. Come le ts leave this subject We may finde more secure discourse when saw You young Arcadius Lord Macarius Nephew Ant. There 's a sparke a youth moulded for a favorite The Queene might doe him honour Phi. Favorite t is too cheape a name there were a match Now for her Virgin blood Lisa. Must every man That has a hansomâ— face or legge feed such Ambition I confesse I honour him He has a nimble soule and gives great hope To be no woman-hater dances hansomely Can court a Lady powerfully but more goes Toth ' making of a Prince hee s here An ds Vncle. Enter Arcadius Macarius Seleucus Sel. Save you Gentlemen who can direct me To finde my Lord Protector Lisa. He was here Within this halfe houre young Liâ—machus His sonne is with the Queene Sel. There let him complement I have other businesse ha Arcadius Exit Phi. Observ'd you with what eyes Arcadius And he saluted their two families Will hardly reconcile Ant. Seleucus carries Himselfe too roughly with what pride and scorne He past by em Lisa. The tother with lesse shew Of anger carries pride enough in 's soule I
raise power to curbe this insurrection Ant. Lose no time then Dem. We will not arme one man Speake it agen have I a brother living And must be no King Mac. What meanes your grace Dem. This newes doth speake me happy it exalts My heart and makes me capable of more Then twenty Kingdomes Phi. Will you not sir stand Vpon your guard Dem. I le stand upon my honour Mercy releives me Lisa. Will you lose the Kingdome Dem. The worlds too poore to bribe me leave Me all lest you extenuate my fame and I Be thought to have redeem'd it by your counsell You shall not share one scruple in the honour Titles may set a glosse upon our name But vertue onely is the soule of Fame Mac. He 's strangely possest Gentlemen Exeunt Omnes Actus Quintus Enter Philocles and Lisander Phi. HEre 's a strange turne Lisander Lisa. T is a Kingdome Easily purchasd who will trust the faith Of multitudes Phi. It was his fault that would So tamely give hiâ— title to their mercy TheÌ„ neÌ„w King has possession Lisa. And is like To keep 't we are alone what doft thinke of This innovation i ft not a fine ligge A precious cunning in the late Protector To shuffle a new Prince into the state Phi. I know not how they have shuffled but my head on 't A false card is turn'd up trump but fates looke too 't Enter Cassander and Eubulus Eub. Does he not carry it bravely Cas. Excellently Philocles Lisander Phi. Lis. Your Lordships servants Are we not bound to heaven for multiplying These blessings on the Kingdome Phi. Heaven alone Workes miracles my Lord. Lisa. I thinke your Lordship Had as little hope once to see these Princes Revive Phi. Here we must place our thankes Next providence for preserving So deere a pledge Enter Leonatus attended Eub. The King Leo. It is our pleasure The number of our guard be doubled give A Largesse to the Soldiers but dismisse not The troopes till we command Cas. May it please Leo. It will not please us otherwise my Lord We have tride your faith Eub. Does he not speakeÌ„ with confidence Leo. My Lords and Gentlemen to whose faith we must Owe next to heaven our fortune and our safety After a tedious eclipse the day Is bright and we invested in those honours Our blood and birth did challenge Cas. May no time Be registred in our annalls that shall mention One that had life to oppose your sacred person Leo. Let them whose titles forg'd and flaw'd suspect Their states security our right to Epire Heaven is oblig'd to prosper tâ—eason has No face so blacke to fright it all my cares Levell to this that I may worthily Manage the province and advance the honour Of our deere Country and be confident If an expence of blood may give addition Of any happinesse to you I shall Offer my heart the sacrifice and rejoâ—e To make my selfe a ghost to have inscrib'd Vpon my marble but whose cause I dyed for Enb. May Heaven avert such danger Cas. Excellent Prince In whom we see the Coppy of his Father None but the sonne of Theodosius Could have spoke thus Leo. You are pleasd to interpret well Yet give me leave to say in my owne justice I have but exprest the promptnesse of my soule To serve you all but t is not empty wishes Can satisfie our mighty charge a weight Would make an Atlas double a Kings name Doth sound harmoniously to men at distance And those who cannot penetrate beyond The barke and outskinne of a common wealth Or state have eyes but ravish'd with the Ceremony That must attend a Prince and understand not What cares allay the glories of a Crowne But good Kings finde and feele the contrary You have tride my Lord the burden and can tell It would require a Pilote of more yeares To steere this Kingdome now impos'd on me By justice of my birth Cas. I wish not life But to partake those happy dayes which must Succeed these faire proceedings we are blest But sir be sparing to your selfe we shall Hazard our joyes in you too soone the burden Of stateÌ„ affaires impose upon your counsell T is fitter that we waste our lives then you Call age too soone upon you with the trouble And cares that threaten such an undertaking Preserve your youth Leo. And choose you our protector I st that you would conclude my Lord We will Deserve our subjects faith for our owne sake Not sit an idle gazer at the helme Enter Messenger Phi. How observ'd you that Marke how Cassander's planet strucke Eu. He might have lookd more calmely for all that I begin to feare but doe not yet seeme troubled Leo. With what newes travailes his hast I must secure My selfe betimes not be a King in jest And weare my crowne a tenant to their breath Cas. Demetrius sir your brother With other traytors that oppose your claimes Are fled to the Castle of Nestorius And fortifie Mes. I said not so my Lord. Cas. I le have it thought so hence Exit Messen. Leo. Plant forces to batter The wals and in their ruine bring us word They live not Eub. Good sir heare me Cas. Let it worke Were Demetrius dead we easily might uncrowne This swolne impostor and my sonne be faire To peice with young Sophia who I heare Repents her late affront Eub. Their lives may doe You service let not blood staine your beginnings The people not yet warme in their allegianceÌ„ May thinke it worth their tumult to revenge it With hazard of your selfe Leo. Who dares but thinke it Yet offer first our mercy if they yeeld Demetrius must not live my Lord your counsell What if he were in heaven Cas. You have my consent You shannot stay long after him Leo. Sophia is Not my sister To prevent al that may indanger us wee 'l marry her That done no matter though we stand discover'd For in her title then we are King of Epire Without dispute Cas. Hum in my judgement sir That wonot doe so well Leo. What 's your opinion Cas. He countermines my plot are you so cunning Leo. What 's that you mutter sir Cas. I mutter sir Leo. Best say I am no King but some impostor Rais'd up to gull the state Cas. Very fine to have said within Few houres you 'd beene no King nor like to be Was not in the compasse of high treason I take it Eub. Restraine your anger the Kings mov'd speake not Cas. I will speake louder doe I not know him That selfe same hand that raisd him to the throne Shall plu ke him from it is this my reward Leo. Our guard to prison with him Cas. Me to prison Leo. Off with his head Cas. My head Eub. Vouchsafe to heare me great sir. Cas. How dares he be so insolent Jha wrought my selfe into a fine condition d ee know me Gentlemen Phi. Very well my Lord How are we bound to heaven for multiplying These blessings on the Kingdome
Will stretch so farre as death so soone as we Are Crown'd prepare your selves Selâ—ucus kisses her hand Sel. I have receiv'd another life in this high favour And may lose what nature gave me Que. Arcadius to encourage thy young vallour We give thee our Fathers sword Command it from our Armory Lisimachus To our Coronation Exeunt Sel. I le forfeit My heÌ„ad for a rebellion then suffer it Exit Arc. I am circled with confusions I le doeÌ„ somewhat My braines and friends assist me Exit Phi. But doe you thinke they le fight indeed Lisa. Perhaps Her Majesty will see about or two And yet t is wondrous strange such spectacles Are rare i th' Court and they were to skirmish naked Before her then there might be some excuse There is some gimcrackes in 't the Queene is wise Above her yeares Phi. Macarius is perplext Enter Eubulus Lisa. I cannot blame him but my Lord 〈◊〉 Returneâ— they are both troubled las good men But our duties are expected we forget Exit Phil. Lis. Eub. I must resolve and yet things are not ripe My braines upon the torture Mac. This may quit The hazard of his person whose least drop Of blood is worth more then our families My Lord Eubulus I have thought a way To stay the young mens desperate proceedings It is our cause they fight let us beseech The Queene to grant us two the priviledge Of duell rather then expose their lives To eithers fury it were pitty they Should runne upon so blacke a destiny We are both old and may be spar'd a paire Of fruitlesse trees mossie and withered trunckes That fill up too much roome Eub. Most willingly And I will praise her charity to allow it I have not yet forgot to use a sword Le ts lose no time by this act she will licence Our soules to leave our bodies but a day Perhaps an houre the sooner they may live To doe her better service and be friends When we are dead and yet I have no hope This will be granted curse upon our faction Mac. If she deny us Eub. What Mac. I wod doe somewhat Eub. There 's something o th' suddaine strucke upon My imagination that may secure us Mac. Name it if no dishonour waite upon 't To preserve them I le accept any danger Eub. There is no other way and yet my heart Would be excus d but t is to save his life Mac. Speake it Eubulus Eub. In your eare I shall It shanot make a noyse if you refuse it Mac. Hum though it stirre my blood I le meet Arcadius If this preserve thee not I must unseale Another mystery Exit Enter Queene Lisimachus Cassander Charilla Lisander Philocles Antigonus Que. We owe to all your loves and will deserve At least by our indeavours that none may This day repent their prayers my Lord Protector Cas. Madam I have no Such title now and am blest to lose That name so happily I was but trusted With a glorious burden Que. You have prov'd Your selfe our faithfull counsellor and must still Protect our growing state a Kingdomes Scepter Weighs downe a womans arme this crowne sits heavy Vpon my brow already and we know There 's something more then mettle in this wreath Of shining glory but your faith and counsell That are familiar with mysteries And depths of state have power to make us fit For such a bearing in which both you shall Doe loyall service and reward your duties Cas. Heaven preserve your Highnesse Que. But yet my Lords and Gentlemen let noneÌ„ Mistake me that because I urge your wisdomes I shall grow carelesse and impose on you The managing of this great Province no We will be active too and as we are In dignity above your persons so The greatest portion of the difficulties We call to us you in your severall places Releeving us with your experience Observing in your best directions All modesty and distance for although We are but young no action shall forfeit Our royall priviledge or encourage any Too unreverent boldnesse as it will become Our honour to consult eÌ„re we determine Of the most necessary things of state So we are sensible of a checke But in a brow that saucily controules Our action presuming on our yeares As few or frailty of our sex that head Is not secure that dares our power or justice Phi. She has a brave spirit looke how the Protector Growes pale already Que. But I speake to you Are perfect in obedience and may spareÌ„ This theame yet 't was no immateriall Part of our character since I desire All should take notice I have studied The knowledge of my selfe by which I shall Better distinguish of your worth and persons In your relations to us Lisa. This language Is but a threatning to some body Que. But we misse some that use not to absent Their duties from us where 's Macarius Cas. Retir'd to grieve your Majesty hath given Consent Arcadius should enter List To day with young Seleucus Que. We purpose Enter Gentleman They shall proceed what 's he Phil A Gentleman belonging to Seleucus that giveÌ„s notice He is prepar'd and waites your royall pleasure Que. He was composd for action give notice To Arcadius and admit the challenger Let other Princes boast their gaudy tilting And mockery of battles but our triumph Is celebrated with true noble vallour Enter Selucus Arcadius at severall doores their pages before them bearing their Targets Two young men spirited enough to have Two Kingdomes staked upon their swords Lisimachus Doe not they excellently become their armes T were pitty but they should doe something more Then wave their plumes a shout within What noyse is that Enter Macarius and Eubulus Mac. The peoples joy to know us reconcild Is added to the Iubile of the day We have no more a faction but one heart Peace flow in every bosome Eub. Throw away These instruments of death and like two friends Imbrace by our example Que. This unfain'd Mac. By our duties to your selfe deare Madam Command them not advance our houses from This minute are incorporated happy day Our eyes at which before revenge looke forth May cleare suspition oh my Arcadius Eub. We have found a neerer way to friendship Madam Then by exposing them to fight for us Que. If this be faithfull our desires are blest We had no thought to waste but reconcile Your blood this was and we did prophesie This happy chance spring into eithers bosome Arcadius and Seleucus what can now Be added to this dayes felicity Yes there is something is there not my Lord While we are Virgin Queene Ca. Ha that string Doth promise musicke Que. I am yet my Lords Your single joy and when I looke upon What I have tooke to manage the great care Of this most flowrishing Kingdome I incline To thinke I shall doe justice to my selfe If I chose one whose strength and vertue may Assist my undertaking thinke you Lords A husband would not helpe Lisa. No question