the face Collen Your Holiness shall pardon me in this Had I the profit I would take the pains With shame enough your Grace may bring the message Mentz Thus am I wrong'd God knows unguiltily Brand. Then arm your countenance with innocency And boldly do the message to the Prince For no man else will be the messenger Mentz Why then I must since ther 's no remedy Exit Mentz Brand. If Heav'n that guides the hearts of mighty men Do calm the Winds of these great Potentates And make them like of this Arbitrament Sweet Peace will tryumph thorough Christendom And Germany shall bless this happy day Enter Alexander de Toledo the Page Alexand. O me most miserable O my dear Father Bohem. What means this passionate accent what art thou That sounds these acclamations in our ears Alex. Pardon me Princes I have lost a Father O me the name of Father kils my heart O! I shall never see my Father more H 'as tane his leave of me for age and age Collen What was thy Father Alex. Ah me I what was a not Noble Rich valiant well-belov'd of all The glory and the wisdom of his age Chief Secretary to the Emperour Collen Lorenzo de Toledo is he dead Alex. Dead ay me dead ay me my life is dead Strangely this night bereft of breath and sense And I poor I am comforted in nothing But that the Emperour laments with me As I exclame so he he rings his hands And makes me mad to see his Majesty Excruciate himself with endless sorrow Collen The happiest news that ever I did hear Thy Father was a villain murderer Witty not wise lov'd like a Scorpion Grown rich by the impoverishing of others The chiefest cause of all these mutinies And Caesar's tutor to all villanie Alex. None but an open lyar terms him so Col. What Boy so malepert Bohem. Good Collen bear with him it was his Father Dutch-land is blessed in Lorenzo's Death Brand. Did never live a viler minded man Exeunt Manet Alex. Alex. Nor King nor Churfurst should be privileg'd To call me Boy and rayl upon my Father Were I wehrsafflig but in Germany A man must be a Boy at 40. years And dares not draw his weapon at a Dog Till being soundly box'd about the ears His Lord and Master gird him with a sword The time will come I shall be made a man Till then I 'l pine with thought of dire revenge And live in Hell untill I take revenge ACT. II. Enter Alphonsus Richard Earl of Cornwall Mentz Trier Prince Edward Bohemia Collen Brandenburge Attendants and Pages with a sword Bohem. Behold here come the Princes hand in hand Pleas'd highly with the sentence as it seems Alphon. Princes and Pillars of the Monarchy We do admire your wisdoms in this cause And do accept the King of Bohemia As worthy partner in the Government Alas my Lords I flatly now confess I was alone too weak to underprop So great a burden as the Roman Empire And hope to make you all admire the course That we intend in this conjunction Richard That I was call'd from England with consent Of all the seven Electors to this place Your selves best know who wrote for me to come 'T was no ambition mov'd me to the journey But pitty of your half declining State Which being likely now to be repayr'd By the united force of these two Kings I rest content to see you satisfied Mentz Brave Earl wonder of Princely patience I hope your grace will not mis-think of me Who for your good and for the Empires best Bethought this means to set the world at Peace Edward No doubt this means might have been thought upon Although your Holiness had dy'd in Prison Mentz Peace peace young Prince you want experience Your Unckle knows what cares accompany And wait upon the Crowns of mightiest Kings And glad he is that he hath shak'd it off Edward Heark in your ear my Lord hear me one word Although it were more than a million Which these two Kings bestow'd upon your grace Mine Unckle Richards million sav'd your life Mentz Your were best to say your Vnckle brib'd me then Edward I do but say mine Vnckle sav'd your life You know Count Mansfield your fellow Prisoner Was by the Duke of Brunschwig put to death Mentz You are a Child my Lord your words are wind Edward You are a Fox my Lord and past a Child Bohem. My Lord of Cornwall your great forwardness Crossing the Seas with aid of Englishmen Is more than we can any way requite But this your admirable patience In being pleas'd with our election Deserves far more than thanks can satisfie In any thing command the Emperours Who live to honour Richard Earl of Cornwall Alpho. Our deeds shall make our Protestations good Mean while brave Princes let us leave this place And solace us with joy of this accord Enter Isabella the Empress Hedewick the Duke of Saxon's Daughter apparelled like Fortune drawn on a Globe with a Cup in her hand wherein are Bay leaves whereupon are written the lots A train of Ladies following with Musick Empress To gratulate this unexpected Peace This glorious league confirm'd against all hope Joyful Isabella doth present this shew Of Fortunes triumph as the custom is At Coronation of our Emperours If therefore every party be well pleas'd And stand content with this arbitriment Then daign to do as your Progenitors And draw in sequence Lots for Offices Alphon. This is an order here in Germany For Princes to disport themselves with all In sign their hearts so firmly are conjoyn'd That they will bear all fortunes equally And that the world may know I scorn no state Or course of life to do the Empire good I take my chance My Fortune is to be the Forrester Emp. If we want Venson either red or fallow Wild bore or bear you must be fin'd my Lord Bohem. The Emperour's Taster I Emp. Your Majesty hath been tasted to so oft That you have need of small instructions Richard I am the bowr Sister what is my charge Emp. Tyr'd like a Carter and a Clownish Bowr To bring a load of Wood into the Kitchin Now for my self Faith I am Chamber Maid I know my charge proceed unto the next Alphon. Prince Edward standeth melancholy still Please it your Grace my Lord to draw your lot Emp. Nephew you must be solemn with the sad And given to myrth in sportful Company The German Princes when they will be lusty Shake of all cares and Clowns and they are Fellows Edward Sweet Aunt I do not know the Country guise Yet would be glad to learn all fashions Since I am next good Fortune be my guide Brand. A most ingenuous countenance hath this Prince Worthy to be the King of England's Heir Edward Be it no disparagement to you my Lords I am your Emperour Alphon. Sound trumpets God save the Emperour Collen The world could never worse have fitted me I am not old enough to be the Cook
revengefull hands Of merciless incensed Enemies Like Caius Cassius wearie of thy life Now wouldst thou make thy Page an instrument By suddain stroak to rid thee of thy bonds Alphon. Hast thou forgotten how that very night Thy Father dy'd I took the Master-Key And with a lighted Torch walk'd through the Court Alex. I must remember that for to my death I never shall forget the slightest deed Which on that dismall Night or Day I did Alphon. Thou wast no sooner in thy restfull Bed But I disturb'd thy Father of his rest And to be short not that I hated him But for he knew my deepest Secrets With cunning Poison I did end his life Art thou his Son express it with a Stabb And make account if I had prospered Thy date was out thou wast already doom'd Thou knewst too much of me to live with me Alex. What wonders do I hear great Emperour Not that I do stedfastlie believe That thou didst murder my beloved Father But in meer pittie of thy vanquish'd state I undertake this execution Yet for I fear the sparkling Majestie Which issues from thy most Imperial eyes May strike relenting Passion to my heart And after wound receiv'd from fainting hand Thou fall halfe dead among thine Enemies I crave thy Highness leave to bind thee first Alphon. Then bind me quickly use me as thou please Emp. O Villain wilt thou kill thy Sovereign Alex. Your Highness sees that I am forc'd unto it Alphon. Fair Empress I shame to ask thee pardon Whom I have wrong'd so many thousand waies Emp. Dread Lord and Husband leave these desperat thoughts Doubt not the Princes may be reconcil'd Alex. 'T may be the Princes will be reconciled But what is that to me all Potentates on Earth Can never reconcile my grieved Soul Thou slew'st my Father thou didst make this hand Mad with Revenge to murther Innocents Now hear how in the height of all thy pride The rightfull Gods hove powr'd their justfull wrath Upon thy Tyrants head Devill as thou art And sav'd by miracle these Princes lives For know thy side hath got the Victory Saxon triumphs over his dearest friends Richard and Collen both are Prisoners And every thing hath sorted to thy wish Only hath Heaven put it in my mind for he alone directed then my thoughts Although my meaning was most mischievous To tell thee thou hadst lost in certain hope That suddainly thou wouldst have stain them both For if the Princes came to talk about it I greatly feard their lives might be prolong'd Art thou not mad to think on this deceit I le make thee madder with tormenting thee I tell thee Arch-Thief Villain Murtherer Thy Forces have obtaind the Victory Victory leads thy Foes in captive bands This Victory hath crown'd thee Emperour Only my self have vanquisht Victory And triumph in the Victors overthrow Alphon. O Alexander spare thy Princes life Alex. Even now thou didst entreat the contrary Alphon. Think what I am that begg my life of thee Alex. Think what he was whom thou hast doom'd to death But least the Princes do surprize us here Before I have perform'd my strange revenge I will be suddain in the execution Alphon. I will accept any condition Alex. Then in the presence of the Emperess The captive Prince of England and my self Forswear the joyes of Heaven the sight of God Thy Souls salvation and thy Saviour Christ Damning thy Soul to endless pains of Hell Do this or die upon my Rapiers point Emp. Sweet Lord and Husband spit in 's face Die like a man and live not like a Devill Alex. What wilt thou save thy life and damn thy Soul Alph. O hold thy hand Alphonsus doth renounce Edward Aunt stop your years hear not this Blasphemy Empr. Sweet Husband think that Christ did dy for thee Alphon. Alphonsus doth renounce the joyes of Heaven The sight of Angells and his Saviours blood And gives his Soul unto the Devills power Alex. Thus will I make delivery of the Deed Die and be damn'd now am I satisfied Edward O damned Miscreant what hast thou done Alex. When I have leasure I will answer thee Mean while I 'le take my heels and save my self If I be ever call'd in question I hope your Majesties will save my life You have so happily preserved yours Did I not think it both of you should die Exit Alex. Enter Saxon Branden Tryer Richard and Collen as prisoners and Soldiers Saxon. Bring forth these daring Champions to the Block Comfort your selves you shall have company Great Emperor where is his Majestie What bloody spectacle do I behold Emp. Revenge revenge O Saxon Brandenburg My Lord is slain Caesar is doom'd to death Edward Princes make haste follow the murtherer Saxon. Is Caesar slain Edward Follow the Murtherer Emp. Why stand you gasing on an other thus Follow the Murtherer Saxon. What Murtherer Edward The villain Alexander hath slain his Lord Make after him with speed so shall you hear Such villanie as you have never heard Brand. My Lord of Tryer we both with our light Horse Will scoure the Coasts and quickly bring him in Saxon. That can your Excellence alone perform Stay you my Lord and guard the Prisoners While I alas unhappiest Prince alive Over his Trunk consume my self in Tears Hath Alexander done this damned deed That cannot be why should he slay his Lord O cruel Fate O miserable me Me thinks I now present Mark Antony Folding dead Iulius Caesar in mine arms No no I rather will present Achilles And on Patroclus Tomb do sacrifise Let me be spurn'd and hated as a Dogg But I perform more direfull bloody Rites Than Thetis Son for Menctiades Edward Leave mourning for thy Foes pitty thy Friends Sax. Friends have I none and that which grieves my Soul Is want of Foes to work my wreak upon But were you Traitors 4 four hundred thousand Then might I satisfie my self with Blood Enter Brandenb Alexand. and Soldiers Saxon. See Alexander where Caesar lieth slain The guilt whereof the Traitors cast on thee Speak canst thou tell who slew thy Soveraign Alexan. Why who but I how should I curse my self If any but my self had done this deed This happy hand blest be my hand therefore Reveng'd my Fathers death upon his Soul And Saxon thou hast cause to curse and bann That he is dead before thou didst inflict Torments on him that so hath torn thy heart Saxon. What Mysteries are these Bran. Princes can you inform us of the Truth Edward The Deed 's so heinous that my faltering tongue Abhorres the utterance Yet I must tell it Alex. Your Highness shall not need to take the pains What you abhorr to tell I joy to tell Therefore be silent and give audience You mighty men and Rulers of the Earth Prepare your Ears to hear of Stratagems Whose dire effects have gaul'd your princely hearts Confounded your conceits muffled your eyes First to begin this villanous Fiend of Hell Murther'd my Father sleeping in his Chair The
THE TRAGEDY OF ALPHONSUS EMPEROUR OF GERMANY As it hath been very often acted with great applause at the Private house in BLACK-FRIERS by his MAIESTIES Servants By George Chapman Gent LONDON Printed for HUMPHREY MOSELEY and are to be sold at his Shopp at the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard 1614 To the Reader I Shall not need to bespeak thee Courteous if thou hast seen this Piece presented with all the Elegance of Life and Action on the Black-Friers Stage But if it be a Stranger to thee give me leave to prepare thy acceptation by telling thee it was receiv'd with general applause and thy judgement I doubt not will be satisfied in the reading I will not raise thy Expectation further nor delay thy Entertainment by a tedious Preface The Design is high the Contrivement subtle and will deserve thy grave Attention in the perusall Farewell Dramatis Personae ALphonsus Emperour of Germany The seven Electors of the German Empire King of Bohemia Bishop of Mentz Bishop of Collen Bishop of Tryer Pallatine of the Rhein Duke of Saxon Marquess of Brandenburgh Prince Edward of England Richard Duke of Cornwall Lorenzo de Cipres Secretary to the Emperour Alexander his Son the Emperours Page Isabella the Empress Hedewick Daughter to the Duke of Saxon Captain of the Guard Souldiers Jaylor Two Boores ALPHONSUS Emperour of Germany Enter Alphonsus the Emperour in his night-gown and his shirt and a torch in his hand Alexander de Tripes his Page following him Al. BOy give me the Master Key of all the doors To Bed again and leave me to my self Exit Alexder Is Richard come have four Electors sworn To make him Keisar in despite of me Why then Alphonsus it is time to wake No Englishman thou art too hot at hand Too shallow braind to undermine my throne The Spanish Sun hath purifi'd my wit And dry'd up all gross humours in my head That I am sighted as the King of Birds And can discern thy deepest Stratagems I am the lawful German Emperour Chosen enstall'd by general consent And they may tearm me Tyrant as they please I will be King and Tyrant if I please For what is Empire but a Tyrannie And none but children use it otherwise Of seven Electors four are falln away The other three I dare not greatly trust My Wife is Sister to mine enemy And therefore wisely to be dealt withall But why do I except in special When this position must be general That no man living must be credited Further than tends unto thy proper good But to the purpose of my silent walk Within this Chamber lyes my Secretary Lorenzo de Cipres in whose learned brain Is all the compass of the world containd And as the ignorant and simple age Of our forefathers blinded in their zeal Receiv'd dark answers from Appollo's shrine And honour'd him as Patron of their bliss So I not muffled in simplicitie Zealous indeed of nothing but my good Hast to the Augur of my happiness To lay the ground of my ensuing Wars He learns his wisdom not by flight of Birds By prying into sacrificed beasts By Hares that cross the way by howling Wolves By gazing on the Starry Element Or vain imaginary calculations But from a setled wisdom in it self Which teacheth to be void of passion To be Religious as the ravenous Wolf Who loves the Lamb for hunger and for prey To threaten our inferiors with our looks To flatter our Superiors at our need To be an outward Saint an inward Devill These are the lectures that my Master reads This Key commands all Chambers in the Court Now on a sudain will I try his wit I know my comming is unlook'd for He opens the door and finds Lorenzo sleep a loft Nay sleep Lorenzo I will walk a while As nature in the framing of the world Ordain'd there should be nihil vacuum Even so me thinks his wisdom should contrive That all his Study should be full of wit And every corner stuft with sentences What 's this Plato Aristotle tush these are ordinary It seems this is a note but newly written He reads a note which he finds among his Books Una arbusta non alit duos Erithicos which being granted the Roman Empire will not suffice Alphonsus King of Castile and Richard Earl of Cornwall his competitor thy wisdom teacheth thee to cleave to the strongest Alphonsus is in possession and therefore the strongest but he is in hatred with the Electors and men rather honour the Sunrising than the Sun going down I marry this is argued like himself and now me thinks he wakes Lorenzo Riseth and snatches at his sword which hung by his Bed side Loren. What are there thieves within the Emperour's Court Villain thou dy'st what mak'st thou in my Chamber Alphon. How now Lorenzo wilt thou slay thy Lord Loren. I do beseech your sacred Majesty to pardon me I did not know your grace Alphon. Ly down Lorenzo I will sit by thee The ayr is sharp and piercing tremble not Had it been any other but our self He must have been a villain and a thief Loren. Alas my Lord what means your excellence To walk by night in these so dangerous times Alphon. Have I not reason now to walk and watch When I am compast with so many foes They ward they watch they cast and they conspire To win confederate Princes to their aid And batter down the Eagle from my creast O my Lorenzo if thou help me not Th' Imperial Crown is shaken from my head And giv'n from me unto an English Earl Thou knowest how all things stand as well as we Who are our enemies and who our friends Who must be threatned and who dallyed with Who won by words and who by force of arms For all the honour I have done to thee Now speak and speak to purpose in the cause Nay rest thy body labour with thy brain And of thy words my self will be the scribe Loren. Why then my Lord take Paper Pen and Ink Write first this maxim it shall do you good 1. A Prince must be of the nature of the Lion and the Fox but not the one without the other Alphon. The Fox is subtil but he wanteth force The Lion strong but scorneth policie I 'l imitate Lysander in this point And where the Lion's hide is thin and scant I 'l firmly patch it with the Foxes fell Let it suffice I can be both in one Loren. 2. A Prince above all things must seem devout but there is nothing so dangerous to his state as to regard his promise or his oath Alphon. Tush fear not me my promise are sound But he that trusts them shall be sure to fail Loren. Nay my good Lord but that I know your Majesty To be a ready quickwitted Scholar I would bestow a comment on the text 3. Trust not a reconciled friend for good turns cannot blot out old grudges Alphon. Then must I watch the Palatine of the Rhein I caus'd his Father to be
to save Prince Edwards life Sax. Then like a Warrior spill it in the Field My griefull anger cannot be appeaz'd By sacrifice of any but himself Thou hast dishonour'd me and thou shalt dye Therefore alarum alarum to the fight That thousands more may bear thee company Rich. Nephew and Sister now farewell for ever Ed. Heaven and the Right prevail and let me die Uncle farewell Emp. Brother farewell untill wee meet in Heaven Exeunt Manent Alphon. Edw. Emp. Alex. Alphon. Here 's farewell Brother Nephew Vncle Aunt As if in thousand years you should not meet Good Nephew and good Aunt content your selves The Sword of Saxon and these Daggers-points Before the Evening-Star doth shew it self Will take sufficient order for your meeting But Alexander my trustie Alexander Run to the Watch-Tow'r as I pointed thee And by thy life I charge thee look unto it Thou be the first to bring me certain word I we be Conquerors or Conquered Alex. With carefull speed I will perform this charge Exit Alphon Now have I leasure yet to talk with you Fair Isabell the Palsgrave's Paramour Wherein was he a better man than I Or wherfore should thy love to him effect Such deadly hate unto thy Emperour Yet welfare wenches that can love Good fellows And not mix Murder with Adulterie Emp. Great Emperor I dare not call you Husband Your Conscience knows my hearts unguiltiness Alpho. Didst thou not poison or consent to poison us Emp. Should any but your Highness tell me so I should forget my patience at my death And call him Villain Liar Murderer Alphon. She that doth so miscall me at her end Edward I prethee speak thy Conscience Thinkst thou not that in her prosperitie Sh' hath vext my Soul with bitter Words and Deeds O Prince of England I do count thee wise That thou wilt not be cumber'd with a wife When thou hadst stoln her daintie rose Corance And pluck'd the flow'r of her virginitie Edw. Tyrant of Spain thou liest in thy threat Alpho. Good words thou seest thy life is in our hands Edw. I see thou art become a common Hangman An Office farre more fitting to thy mind Than princelie to the Imperiall dignitie Alphon. I do not exercise on common persons Your Highness is a Prince and she an Empress I therefore count not of a dignitie Hark Edward how they labour all in vain With loss of many a valiant Soldiers life To rescue them whom Heaven and we have doom'd Dost thou not tremble when thou think'st upon 't Edw. Let guiltie minds tremble at sight of Death My heart is of the nature of the Palm Not to be broken till the highest Bud Be bent and ti'd unto the lowest Root I rather wonder that thy Tyrants heart Can give consent that those thy Butcherous hands Should offer violence to thy Flesh and Blood See how her guiltless innocence doth plead In silent Oratorie of her chastest tears Alphon. Those tears proceed from Fury and curst heart I know the stomach of your English Dames Emp. No Emperour these tears proceed from grief Alphon. Grief that thou canst not be reveng'd of Vs Emp. Grief that your Highness is so ill advis'd To offer violence to my Nephew Edward Since then there must be sacrifice of Blood Let my heart-blood save both your bloods unspilt For of his death thy Heart must pay the guilt Edw. No Auut I will not buy my life so dear Therefore Alphonso if thou beest a man Shed manly blood and let me end this strife Alphon. Here 's straining curtesie at a bitter Feast Content thee Empress for thou art my Wife Thou shalt obtain thy Boon and die the death And for it were unprinceby to deny So slight request unto so great a Lord Edward shall bear thee company in Death A Retreat But hark the heat of battail hath an end One side or other hath the victory Enter Alexander And see where Alexander sweating comes Speak man what newes speak shall I die or live Shall I stab sure or els prolong their lives To grievous Torments speak am I Conquerour What hath thy hast bereft thee of thy speech Hast thou not breath to speak one siliable O speak thy dalliance kills me wonn or lost Amaz'd lets fall the Daggers Alex. Lost Alphon. Ah me my Senses fail my sight is gon Alex. Will not your Grace dispatch the Strumpet Queen Shall she then live and we be doom'd to death Is your Heart faint or is your Hand too weak Shall servill fear break your so sacred Oaths Me thinks an Emperour should hold his word Give me the Weapons I will soon dispatch them My Fathers yelling Ghost cries for revenge His Blood within my Veins boyls for revenge O give me leave Cesar to take revenge Alphon. Vpon condition that thou wilt protest To take revenge upon the Murtherers Without respect of dignity or State Afflicted speedy pittiless Revenge I will commit this Dagger to thy trust And give thee leave to execute thy Will Alex. What need I here reiterate the Deeds Which deadly sorrow made me perpetrate How neer did I entrap Prince Richard's life How sure set I the Knife to Mentz his heart How cunninglie was Palsgrave doom'd to death How subtilly was Bohem poisoned How slily did I satisfie my lust Commixing dulcet Love with deadly Hate When Princesse Hedwick lost her Maidenhead Sweetly embracing me for Englands Heir Edw. O execrable deeds Emp. O salvage mind Alex. Edward I give thee leave to hear of this But will forbid the blabbing of your tongue Now gratious Lord and sacred Emperour Your highness knowing these and many more Which fearles pregnancie hath wrought in me You do me wrong to doubt that I will dive Into their hearts that have not spar'd their betters Be therefore suddain lest we die our selves I know the Conquerour hasts to rescue them Alphon. Thy Reasons are effectuall take this Dagger Yet pawse a while Emp. Sweet Nephew now farewell Alphon. They are most dear to me whom thou must kill Edward Hark Aunt he now begins to pittie you Alex. But they consented to my Fathers death Alphon. More then consented they did execute Emp. I will not make his Majestie a Lyar I kill'd thy Father therefore let me die But save the life of this unguilty Prince Edward I kill'd thy Father therefore let me die But save the life of this unguiltie Empress Alphon Hark thou to me and think their words as wind I kill'd thy Father therfore let me die And save the lives of these two guiltless Princes Art thou amaz'd to hear what I have said There take the weapon now revenge at full Thy Fathers death and those my dire deceits That made thee murtherer of so many Souls Alex. O Emperour how cunningly wouldst thou entrap My simple youth to credit Fictions Thou kill my Father no no Emperour Caesar did love Lorentzo all to dearly Seeing thy Forces now are vanquished Frustrate thy hopes thy Highness like to fall Into the cruel and
put to death Loren. Your Highness hath as little cause to trust The dangerous mighty Duke of Saxony You know you sought to banish him the Land And as for Cullen was not he the first That sent for Richard into Germany Alphon. What 's thy opinion of the other four Alphon. That Bohemie neither cares for one nor other But hopes this deadly strife between you twain Will cast th' Imperial Crown upon his head For Trier and Brandenberg I think of them As simple men that wish the common good And as for Mentz I need not censure him Richard hath chain'd him in a golden bond And sav'd his life from ignominious death Alphon. Let it suffice Lorenzo that I know When Churfurst Mentz was taken Prisoner By young victorious Otho Duke of Brunschweige That Richard Earl of Cornwall did disburse The ransome of a King a million To save his life and rid him out of bands That sum of gold did fill the Brunschweige bags But since my self have rain'd a golden shower Of bright Hungarian Ducates and Crusadoes Into the private Coffers of the Bishop The English Angels took their wings and fled My crosses bless his Coffers and plead for me His Voice is mine bought with ten tun of Gold And at the meeting of the seven Electors His Princely double-dealing holiness Will spoyl the English Emperour of hope But I refer these matter to the sequel Proceed Lorenzo forward to the next Loren. I 'm glad your grace hath dealt so cunningly With that victorious fickle minded Prelate for in election his voice is first but to the next 4. 'T is more safety for a Prince to be feared than loved Alphon. Love is an humour pleaseth him that loves Let me be hated so I please my self Love is an humour mild and changeable But fear er graves a reverence in the heart Loren. 5. To keep an usurped Crown a Prince must swear forswear poyson murder and commit all kind of villanies provided it be cunningly kept from the eye of the world Alphon. But my Lorenzo that 's the hardest point It is not for a Prince to execute Physicians and Apothecaries must know And service fear or Counsel-breaking bribes Will from a Peasant in an hour extort Enough to overthrow a Monarchy Loren. Therefore my Lord set down this sixt and last Article 6. Be alwaies jealous of him that knows your secrets And therefore it behooves you credit few And when you grow into the least suspect With silent cunning must you cut them off As for example Iulio Lentulus A most renowned Neapolitan Gave me this Box of poyson t' was not long But therewithall I sent him to his grave Alphon. And what 's the special vertue of the same Loren. That it is twenty days before it works Alphon. But what is this Loren. This an infection that kils suddainly This but a toy to cast a man asleep Alphon. How bing drunk Loren. No being smelt unto Alphon. Then smell Lorenzo I did break thy sleep And for this time this lecture shall suffice Loraen. What have you done my Lord y 'ave made me safe For stirring hence these four and twenty hours Alphon. I see this charms his senses sudainly How now Lorenzo half asleep already Aeneas Pilot by the God of dreams Was never lull'd into a sounder trance And now Alphonsus over-read thy notes He reads These are already at my fingers ends And lest the world should find this little Schedule Thus will I rend the text and after this On my behaviour set so fair a gloss That men shall take me for a Convertite But some may think I should forget my part And have been over rash in renting it To put them out of doubt I study sure I 'le make a backward repetition In being jealous of my Counsel keepers This is the poyson that kils sudainly So didst thou unto Iulius Lentulus And blood with blood must be requited thus Now am I safe and no man knows my Counsels Churfurst of Mentz if now thou play thy part Erning thy gold with cunning workmanship Upon the Bemish Kings ambition Richard shall shamefully fail of his hope And I with triumph keep my Emperie Exit Enter the King of Bohemia the Bishops of Mentz Collen Trier the Pallatine of the Rhein The Duke of Saxon The Marquess of Brandenburg Bohe. Churfursts and Princes of the Election Since by the adverse fortune of our age The sacred and Imperial Majesty Hath been usurp'd by open Tyranny We the seven Pillars of the German Empire To whom successively it doth belong To make election of our Emperours Are here assembled to unite a new Unto her former strength and glorious type Our half declining Roman Monarchy And in that hope I Henry King of Bohem Churfurst and Sewer to the Emperour Do take my seat next to the sacred throne Mentz Next seat belongs to Iulius Florius Archbishop of Mentz Chancelor of Germany By birth the Duke of fruitful Pomerland Pal. The next place in election longs to me George Cassimirus Palsgrave of the Rhein His Highness Taster and upon my knee I vow a pure sincere innated zeal Unto my Country and no wrested hate Or private love shall blind mine intellect Collen Brave Duke of Saxon Dutchlands greatest hope Stir now or never let the Spanish tyrant That hath dishonoured us murder'd our Friends And stain'd this seat with blood of innocents At last be chastis'd with the Saxon sword And may Albertus Archbishop of Collen Chancelor of Gallia and the fourth Elector Be thought unworthy of his place and birth But he assist thee to his utmost power Sax. Wisdom not words must be the soveraign salve To search and heal these grievous festred wounds And in that hope Augustus Duke of Saxon Arch-Marshall to the Emperour take my place Trier The like doth Frederick Arch-Bishop of Trier Duke of Lorrain Chancelour of Italie Bran. The seventh and last is Ioachim Carolus Marquess of Brandenburg overworn with age Whose Office is to be the Treasurer But Wars have made the Coffers like the Chair Peace bringeth plenty Wars bring poverty Grant Heauens this meeting may be to effect Establish Peace and cut off Tyrannie Enter the Empress Isabella King John's Daughter Empress Pardon my bold intrusion mighty Churfursts And let my words pierce deeply in your hearts O! I beseech you on my bended Knees I the poor miserable Empress A stranger in this Land unus'd to broyls Wife to the one and Sister to the other That are Competitors for Soveraignty All that I pray is make a quiet end Make Peace between my Husband and my Brother O think how grief doth stand on either side If either party chance to be miss My Husband is my Husband but my Brother My heart doth melt to think he should miscarry My Brother is my Brother but my Husband O how my joynts do shake fearing his wrong If both should dye in these uncertain broyls O me why do I live to think upon 't Bear with my interrupted speeches
Lords Tears stop my voice your wisdoms know my meaning Alas I know my Brother Richard's heart Affects not Empire he would rather choose To make return again to Palestine And be a scourge unto the Infidels As for my Lord he is impatient The more my grief the lesser is my hope Yet Princes thus he sends you word by me He will submit himself to your award And labour to amend what is amiss All I have said or can device to say Is few words of great worth Make unity Bohe. Madam that we have suffer'd you to kneel so long Agrees not with your dignity nor ours Thus we excuse it when we once are set In solemn Councel of Election We may not rise till somewhat be concluded So much for that touching your earnest sure Your Majestie doth know how it concerns us Comfort your self as we do hope the best But tell us Madam wher 's your Husband now Empress I left him at his prayers good my Lord Saxon. At prayers Madam that 's a miracle Pall. Vndoubtedly your Highness did mistake 'T was sure some Book of Conjuration I think he never said pray'r in his life Empress Ah me my fear I fear will take effect Your hate to him and love unto my Brother Will break my heart and spoil th' Imperial peace Mentz My Lord of Saxon and Prince Pallatine This hard opinion yet is more than needs But gracious Madam leave us to our selves Empress I go and Heav'n that holds the Hearts of Kings Direct your Counsels unto unity Exit Bohe. Now to the depth of that we have in hand This is the question whether the King of Spain Shall still continue in the Royal throne Or yield it up unto Plantagenet Or we proceed unto a third Eelection Saxon. E're such a viperous blood-thirsty Spaniard Shall suck the hearts of our Nobility Th' Imperial Sword which Saxony doth bear Shall be unsheath'd to War against the world Pall. My hate is more than words can testifie Slave as he is he murdered my Father Coll. Prince Richard is the Champion of the world Learned and mild fit for the Government Bohe. And what have we to do with Englishmen They are divided from our Continent But now that we may orderly proceed To our high Office of Election To you my Lord of Mentz it doth belong Having first voice in this Imperial Synod To name a worthy man for Emperour Mentz It may be thought most grave and reverend Princes That in respect of divers sums of gold Which Richard of meer charitable love Not as a bribe but as a deed of Alms Disburs'd for me unto the Duke of Brunschweige That I dare name no other man but he Or should I nominate an other Prince Upon the contrary I may be thought A most ingrateful wretch unto my Friend But private cause must yield to publick good Therefore me thinks it were the fittest course To choose the worthiest upon this Bench Bohem. We are all Germans why should we be yoak'd Either by Englishmen or Spaniards Saxo. The Earl of Cornwall by a full consent Was sent for out of England Mentz Though he were Our later thoughts are purer than our first And to conclude I think this end were best Since we have once chosen him Emperour That some great Prince of wisdom and of power Whose countenance may overbear his pride Be joynd in equal Government with Alphonsus Bohem. Your Holiness hath soundly in few words Set down a mean to quiet all these broyls Trier So may we hope for peace if he amend But shall Prince Richard then be joynd with him Pal. Why should your Highness ask that question As if a Prince of so high Kingly Birth Would live in couples with so base a Cur Bohe. Prince Pallatine such words do ill become thee Saxon. He said but right and call'd Dog a Dog Bohe. His Birth is Princely Saxo. His manners villanous And vertuous Richard scorns so base a yoak Bohe. My Lord of Saxon give me leave to tell you Ambition blinds your judgement in this case You hope if by your means Richard be Emperour He in requital of so great advancement Will make the long-desired Marriage up Between the Prince of England and your Sister And to that end Edward the Prince of Wales Hath born his Uncle Company to Germany Saxo. Why King of Bohem i' st unknown to thee How oft the Saxons Sons have marryed Queens And Daughters Kings yea mightiest Emperours If Edward like her beauty and behaviour He 'l make no question of her Princely Birth But let that pass I say as erst I said That vertuous Richard scorns so base a yoak Mentz If Richard scorn some one upon this Bench Whose power may overbear Alphonsus pride Is to be named What think you my Lords Saxon. I think it was a mighty mass of Gold That made your grace of this opinion Mentz My Lord of Saxony you wrong me much And know I highly scorn to take a bribe Pal. I think you scorn indeed to have it known But to the purpose if it must be so Who is the fittest man to joyn with him Collen First with an Oxe to plough will I be yok'd Mentz The fittest is your grace in mine opinion Bohem. I am content to stay these mutinies To take upon me what you do impose Saxon. Why here 's a tempest quickly overblown God give you joy my Lord of half the Empire For me I will not meddle in the matter But warn your Majestie to have a care And vigilant respect unto your person I 'l hie me home to fortifie my Towns Not to offend but to defend my self Pals. Ha' with you Cosin and adieu my Lords I am afraid this suddain knitted Peace Will turn unto a tedious lasting War Only thus much we do request you all Deal honourably with the Earl of Cornwall And so adieu Exeunt Saxon. and Pals Brand. I like not this strange Farewel of the Dukes Bohem. In all elections some are malcontent It doth concern us now with speed to know How the Competitors will like of this And therefore you my Lord Archbishop of Trier Impart this order of arbitrament Unto the Emperour bid him be content To stand content with half or lose the whole My Lord of Mentz go you unto Prince Richard And tell him flatly here 's no Crown nor Empire For English Islanders tell him 't were his best To hie him home to help the King his Brother Against the Earl of Leicester and the Barons Collen My Lord of Mentz sweet words will qualifie When bitter tearms will adde unto his rage 'T is no small hope that hath deceiv'd the Duke Therefore be mild I know an Englishman Being flattered is a Lamb threatned a Lion Tell him his charges what so e're they are Shal be repaid with treble vantages Do this we will expect their resolutions Mentz Brother of Collen I entreat your grace To take this charge upon you in my stead For why I shame to look him in