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
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
wher 's the Captain of the Guard Enter Captain and Souldiers Cap. What would your Majesty Alphon. Take six travants well arm'd and followe They break with violence into the Chamber and Alphonsu trayls the Empress by the hair Enter Alphonsus Empress Souldiers c. Alphon. Come forth thou damned Witch adulteror Whore Foul scandal to thy name thy sex thy blood Emp. O Emperour gentle Husband pitty me Alphon. Canst thou deny thou wert confederate With my arch enemies that sought my blood And like a Strumpet through thy Chamber Window Hast with thine own hands helpt to let them down With an intent that they should gather arms Besiege my Court and take away my life Emp. Ah my Alphonsus Alphon. Thy Alphonsus Whore Emp. O pierce my heart trail me not by my hair What I have done I did it for the best Alphon. So for the best advantage of thy lust Hast thou in secret Clytemnestra like Hid thy Aegestus thy adulterous love Emp. Heav'n be the record 'twixt my Lord and me How pure and sacred I do hold thy Bed Alphon. Art thou so impudent to bely the deed Is not the Palsgrave hidden in thy Chamber Empe. That I have hid the Palsgrave I confess But to no ill intent your conscience knows Alphon. Thy treasons murders incests sorceries Are all committed to a good intent Thou know'st he was my deadly enemy Emp. By this device I hop'd to make your friends Alphon. Then bring him forth we 'l reconcile our selves Emp. Should I betray so great a Prince's life Alphon. Thou holdst his life far dearer than thy Lords This very night hast thou betrayd my blood But thus and thus will I revenge my self And but thou speedily deliver him I 'le trail thee through the Kennels of the Street And cut the Nose from thy bewitching face And into England send thee like a Strumpet Emp. Pull every hair from off my head Drag me at Horses tayls cut off my nose My Princely tongue shall not betray a Prince Alphon. That will I try Emp. O Heav'n revenge my shame Enter Palsgrave Pal. Is Caesar now become a torturer A Hangman of his Wife turn'd murderer Here is the Pallatine what wouldst thou more Alphon. Upon him Souldiers strike him to the ground Emp. Ah Souldiers spare the Princely Pallatine Alphon. Down with the damn'd adulterous murderer Kill him I say his blood be on my head They kill the Pallatine Run to the Tow'r and Ring the Larum Bell That fore the world I may excuse my self And tell the reason of this bloody deed Enter Edward in his night gown and shirt Edw. How now what means this sudain strange Allarm What wretched dame is this with blubbered cheeks And rent dishevel'd hair Emp. O my dear Nephew Fly fly the Shambles for thy turn is next Edward What my Imperial Aunt then break my heart Alphon. Brave Prince be still as I am nobly born There is no ill intended to thy person Enter Mentz Tryer Branden Bohem. Mentz Where is my Page bring me my two hand Sword Tryer. What is the matter is the Court a fire Bran. Whos 's that the Emperour with his weapon drawn Bohem. Though deadly sick yet am I forc'd to rise To know the reason of this hurley burley Alphon. Princes be silent I will tell the cause Though sudainly a grining at my heart Forbids my tongue his wanted course of speech See you this Harlot traytress to my life See you this murderer stain to mine honour These twain I found together in my Bed Shamefully committing lewd Adultery And hainously conspiring all your deaths I mean your deaths that are not dead already As for the King of Boheme and my self We are not of this world we have our transports Giv'n in the bowl by this adulterous Prince And least the poyson work too strong with me Before that I have warnd you of your harms I will be brief in the relation That he hath staind my Bed these eyes have seen That he hath murder'd two Imperial Kings Our speedy deaths will be too sudain proof That he and she have bought and sold your lives To Saxon Collen and the English Prince Their Ensigns spread before the Walls to morrow Will all too sudainly bid you defiance Now tell me Princes have I not just cause To slay the murderer of so many souls And have not all cause to applaud the deed More would I utter but the poysons force Forbids my speech you can conceive the rest Bohem. Your Majesty reach me your dying hand With thousand thanks for this so just revenge O how the poysons force begins to work Mentz The world may pitty and applaud the deed Brand. Did never age bring forth such hainous acts Edward My senses are confounded and amaz'd Emp. The God of Heav'n knows my unguiltiness Enter Messenger Mes. Arm arm my Lords we have descry'd a far An Army of ten thousand men at arms Alphon. Some run unto the Walls some draw up the Sluce Some speedily let the Purculless down Mentz Now may we see the Emperours words are true To prison with the wicked murderous Whore Exeunt ACT. IV. Enter Saxon and Richard with Souldiers Saxon. My Lord of Cornwall let us march before To speedy rescue of our dearest friends The rereward with the armed Legions Committed to the Prince of Collen's charge Cannot so lightly pass the mountain tops Richard Let 's summon sudainly unto a Parly I do not doubt but e're we need their helps Collen with all his forces will be here Enter Collen with Drums and an Army Richard Your Holiness hath made good hast to day And like a beaten Souldier lead your troops Collen In time of peace I am an Arch-Bishop And like a Church-man can both sing and say But when the innocent do suffer wrong I cast my rocket off upon the Altar And like a Prince betake my self to arms Enter above Mentz Tryer and Brandeburg Mentz Great Prince of Saxonie what mean these arms Richard of Cornwall what may this intend Brother of Collen no more Churchman now Instead of Miter and a Crossier Staff Have you betane you to your Helm and Targe Were you so merry yesterday as friends Cloaking your treason in your Clowns attire Saxon. Mentz we return the traytor in thy face To save our lives and to release our friends Out of the Spaniards deadly trapping Snares Without intent of ill this power is rais'd Therefore grave Prince Marquess of Brandenburg My loving Cosin as indifferent Judge To you an aged Peace-maker we speak Deliver with safe conduct in our tents Prince Edward and his Bride the Pallatine With every one of high or low degree That are suspicious of the King of Spain So shall you see that in the self same howr We marched to the Walls with colours spread We will cashier our troups and part good friends Brand. Alas my Lord crave you the Pallatine Rich. If craving will not serve we will command Brand. Ah me since your departure good my Lords Strange accidents
have rob'd him of his senses Like accident to this was never heard Rich. Break heart and dye flie hence my troubled spirit I am not able for to underbear The weight of sorrow which doth bruze my soul O Edward O sweet Edward O my life O noble Collen last of all my hopes The only friend in my extremities If thou doest love me as I know thou doest Unsheath thy sword and rid me of this sorrow Collen Away with abject thoughts fie Princely Richard Rowze up thy self and call thy senses home Shake of this base pusillanimitie And cast about to remedie these wrongs Richard Alas I see no means of remedie Collen The hearken to my Counsel and advice We will Intrench our selves not far from hence With those small pow'rs we have and send for more If they do make assault we will defend If violence be offer'd to the Prince We 'l rescue him with venture of our lives Let us with patience attend advantage Time may reveal the author of these treasons For why undoubtedly the sweet young Princess Fowly beguild by night with cunning shew Hath to some villain lost her Maiden-head Rich. O that I knew the foul incestuous wretch Thus would I tear him with my teeth and nails Had Saxon sense he would conceave so much And not revenge on guiltless Edwards life Collen Perswade your self he will be twice advis'd Before he offer wrong unto the Prince Rich. In that good hope I will have patience Come gentle Prince whose pitty to a stranger Is rare and admirable not to be spoken England cannot requite this gentleness Collen Tush talk not of requital let us go To fortifie our selves within our trench Exeunt Enter Alphonso carried in the Couch Saxony Mentz Tryer Brandenburg Alexander Alphon. O most excessive pain O raging Fire Is burning Cancer or the Scorpion Descended from the Heavenly Zodiack To parch mine Entrals with a quenchless flame Drink drink I say give drink or I shall dye Fill a thousand bowls of Wine Water I say Water from forth the cold Tartarian hils I feel th' ascending flame lick up my blood Mine Entrals shrink together like a scrowl Of burning parchment and my Marrow fries Bring hugie Cakes of Ice and Flakes of Snow That I may drink of them being dissolved Saxon. We do beseech your Majestie have patience Alphon. Had I but drunk an ordinary poyson The sight of thee great Duke of Saxony My friend in death in life my greatest foe Might both allay the venom and the torment But that adulterous Palsgrave and my Wife Upon whose life and soul I vengeance cry Gave me a mineral not to be digested Which burning eats and eating burns my heart My Lord of Tryer run to the King of Bohem Commend me to him ask him how he fares None but my self can rightly pitty him For none but we have sympathie of pains Tell him when he is dead my time 's not long And when I dye bid him prepare to follow Exit Tryer Now now it works a fresh are you my friends Then throw me on the cold swift running Rhyn And let me bath there for an hour or two I cannot bear this pain Mentz O would th' unpartial fates afflict on me These deadly pains and ease my Emperour How willing would I bear them for his sake Alphon. O Mentz I would not wish unto a Dog The least of thousand torments that afflict me Much less unto your Princely holiness See see my Lord of Mentz he points at you Mentz It is your fantasie and nothing else But were death here I would dispute with him And tell him to his teeth he doth unjustice To take your Majesty in the prime of youth Such wither'd rotten branches as my self Should first be lopt had he not partial hands And here I do protest upon my Knee I would as willingly now leave my life To save my King and Emperour alive As erst my Mother brought me to the world Brand. My Lord of Mentz this flattery is too gross A Prince of your experience and calling Should not so fondly call the Heavens to witness Mentz Think you my Lord I would not hold my word Brand. You know my Lord death is a bitter guest Mentz To ease his pain and save my Emperour I sweetly would embrace that bitterness Alex. If I were death I knew what I would do Mentz But see his Majesty is faln a sleep Ah me I fear it is a dying slumber Alphon. My Lord of Saxonie do you hear this jest Saxon. What should I hear my Lord Alphon. Do you not hear How loudly death proclames it in mine ears Swearing by trophies Tombs and deadmens Graves If I have any friend so dear to me That to excuse my life will lose his own I shall be presently restor'd to health Enter Tryer Mentz I would he durst make good his promises Alphon. My Lord of Tryer how fares my fellow Emperour Tryer. His Majesty is eas'd of all his pains Alphon. O happy news now have I hope of health Mentz My joyful heart doth spring within my bodie To hear those words Comfort your Majestie I will excuse you Or at the least will bear you Company Alphon. My hope is vain now now my heart will break My Lord of Tryer you did but flatter me Tell me the truth how fares his Majestie Tryer. I told your Highness eas'd of all his pain Alphon. I understand thee now he 's eas'd by death And now I feel an alteration Farewel sweet Lords farewel my Lord of Mentz The truest friend that ever earth did bear Live long in happiness to revenge my death Upon my Wife and all the English brood My Lord of Saxonie your Grace hath cause Mentz I dare thee death to take away my life Some charitable hand that loves his Prince And hath the heart draw forth his Sword and rid me of my life Alex. I love my Prince and have the heart to do it Mentz O stay a while Alex. Nay now it is to late Bran. Villain what hast thou done th' ast slain a Prince Alex. I did no more than he intreated me Alphon. How now what make I in my Couch so late Princes why stand you so gazing about me Or who is that lies slain before my face O I have wrong my soul was half in Heaven His holiness did know the joys above And therefore is ascended in my stead Come Princes let us bear the body hence I 'le spend a Million to embalm the same Let all the Bels within the Empire Ring Let Mass be said in every Church and Chappel And that I may perform my latest vow I will procure so much by Gold or friends That my sweet Mentz shall be Canonized And numbred in the Bed-role of the Saints I hope the Pope will not deny it me I 'le build a Church in honour of thy name Within the antient famous Citie Mentz Fairer than any one in Germany There shalt thou be interrd with Kingly Pomp Over thy Tomb
woll er sagt esist nicht sein therefore it dyes He dashes out the Childs brains Hede. O Got in seinem trone O mein kindt mein kindt Saxon. There murderer take his head and breathless lymbs Ther 's flesh enough bury it in thy bowels Eat that or dye for hunger I protest Thou getst no other food till that be spent And now to thee lewd Whore dishonour'd strumpet Thy turn is next therefore prepare to dye Edward O mighty Duke of Saxon spare thy Child Sax. She is thy Wife Edward and thou shouldst spare her One Gracious word of thine will save her life Edward I do confess Saxon she is mine own As I have marryed her I will live with her Comfort thy self sweet Hedewick and sweet Wife Hede. Ach ach vnd wehe warumb sagt your Excellence nicht so before now i st to late vnser arme kindt ist kilt Edward Though thou be mine and I do pittie thee I would not Nurse a Bastard for a Son Hede. O Edouard now ich mark your mening ich sholdt be your whore mein Uatter ich begehr upon meine knee last mich lieber sterben ade falce Edouart falce Prince ich begehrs nicht Saxon. Unprincely thoughts do hammer in thy head I' st not enough that thou hast sham'd her once And seen the Bastard torn before thy face But thou wouldst get more brats for Butcherie No Hedewick thou shalt not live the day Hede. O Herr Gott nimb meine feele in deiner henden Saxon. It is thy hand that gives this deadly stroak Hede. O Herr Sabote das mein vnschuldt an tag kommen mocht Edward Her blood be on that wretched villains head That is the cause of all this misery Saxon. Now murderous-minded Prince hast thou beheld Vpon my Child and Childs Child thy desire Swear to thy self that here I firmly swear That thou shall surely follow her to morrow In Company of thy adulterous Aunt Jaylor convey him to his Dungeon If he be hungrie I have thrown him meat If thirstie let him suck the newly born lymbs Edward O Heavens and Heavenly powers if you be just Reward the author of this wickedness Exit Edw. Iaoler Enter Alexander Alex. To arms great Duke of Saxonie to arms My Lord of Collen and the Earl of Cornwall In rescue of Prince Edward and the Empress Have levy'd fresh supplies and presently Will bid you battail in the open Field Sax. They never could have come in fitter time Thirst they for blood and they shall quench their thirst Alex. O piteous spectacle poor Princess Hedewick Sax. Stand not to pittie lend a helping hand Alex. What slave hath murdered this guiltless Child Sax. What dar'st thou call me slave unto my face I tell thee villain I have done this deed And seeing the Father and the Grand-sires heart Can give consent and execute their own Wherefore should such a rascal as thy self Presume to pittie them whom we have slain Alex. Pardon me if it be presumption To pittie them I will presume no more Sax. Then help I long to be amidst my foes Exeunt ACT. V. Alarum and Retreat Enter Richard and Collen with Drums and Souldiers Richard What means your Excellence to sound retreat This is the day of doom unto our Friends Before Sun set my Sister and my Nephew Vnless we rescue them must lose their lives The cause admits no dalliance nor delay He that so tyrant-like hath slain his own Will take no pittie on a strangers blood Collen At my entreaty e're we strike the battail Let 's summon out our enemies to a parle Words spoken in time have vertue power and price And mildness may prevail and take effect When dynt of Sword perhaps will aggravate Rich. Then sound a Parly to fulfill your mind Although I know no good can follow it A Parley Enter Alphonso Empress Saxon Edward prisoner Tryer Brandenburg Alexander and Souldiers Alphon. Why how now Emperour that should have been Are these the English Generals bravado's Make you assault so hotly at the first And in the self same moment sound retreat To let you know that neither War nor words Have power for to divert their fatall doom Thus are we both resolv'd if we tryumph And by the right and justice of our cause Obtain the victorie as I doubt it not Then both of you shall bear them Company And e're Sun set we will perform our oaths With just effusion of their guilty bloods If you be Conquerours and we overcome Carry not that conceit to rescue them My self will be the Executioner And with these Ponyards frustrate all your hopes Making you tryumph in a bloodie Field Saxon. To put you out of doubt that we intend it Please it your Majesty to take your Seate And make a demonstration of your meaning Alphon. First on my right hand bind the English Whore That venemous Serpent nurst within my breast To suck the vitall bloud out of my veins My Empress must have some preheminence Especially at such a bloodie Banquet Her State and love to me deserves no less Saxon. That to Prince Edward I may shew my love And do the latest honour to his State These hands of mine that never chained any Shall fasten him in fetters to the Chair Now Princes are you ready for the battail Collen Now art thou right the picture of thy self Seated in height of all thy Tyrannie But tell us what intends this spectacle Alphon. To make the certaintie of their deaths more plain And Cancel all your hopes to save their lives While Saxon leads the troups into the Field Thus will I vex their souls with sight of death Loudly exclaming in their half dead ears That if we win they shall have companie Viz. The English Emperour And you my Lord Archbishop of Collen If we be vanquisht then they must expect Speedy dispatch from these two Daggers points Collen What canst thou tyrant then expect but death Alphon. Tush hear me out that hand which shed their blood Can do the like to rid me out of bonds Rich. But that 's a damned resolution Alphon. So must this desperate disease be cur'd Rich. O Saxon I 'le yield my self and all my power To save my Nephew though my Sister dye Sax. Thy Brothers Kingdom shall not save his life Edward Uncle you see these savage minded men Will have no other ransom but my blood England hath Heirs though I be never King And hearts and hands to scourge this tyrannie And so farewel Emp. A thousand times farewel Sweet Brother Richard and brave Prince of Collen Sax. What Richard hath this object pierc'd thy heart By this imagine how it went with me When yesterday I slew my Children Rich. O Saxon I entreat thee on my Knees Sax. Thou shalt obtain like mercy with thy kneeling As lately I obtaind at Edward's hands Rich. Pitty the tears I powr before thy feet Sax. Pitty those tears why I shed bloudie tears Rich. I 'le do the like