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
Empress If you be Cook there is no remedy But you must dress one Mess of meat you self Branden. I am Physician Trier I am Secretary Mentz I am the Jester Edward O excellent is your Holiness the Vice Fortune hath fitted you y'faith my Lord You 'l play the Ambodexter cunningly Mentz Your Highness is to bitter in your Jests Alphon. Come hither Alexander to comfort thee After the death of thy beloved Father Whose life was deer unto his Emperour Thou shalt make one in this solemnity Yet e're thou draw my self will honour thee And as the custom is make thee a man Stand stiff Sir Boy now com'st thou to thy tryal Take this and that and therewithall this Sword He gives Alexander a Box on the ear or two If while thou live thou ever take the like Of me or any man I here pronounce Thou art a schelm otherwise a man Now draw thy lot and Fortune be thy speed Edward Vnckle I pray why did be box the fellow Foul lubber as he is to take such blows Richard Thus do the Princes make their Pages men Edward But that is strange to make a man with blows We say in England that he is a man That like a man dare meet his enemy And in my judgement 't is the sounder tryal Alex. Fortune hath made me Marshall of the tryumphs Alphon. Now what remains Emperess That Fortune draw her lot She opens it and gives it to the Emperess to read Empress Sound trumpets Fortune is your Emperess Alphon. This happens right for Fortune will be Queen Now Emperour you must unmask her face And tell us how you like your Emperess In my opinion England breeds no fairer Bohe. Fair Hedewick the Duke of Saxons daughter Young Prince of England you are bravely match'd Edward Tell me sweet Aunt is that this Saxon Princess Whose beauties fame made Edward cross the Seas Emperess Nephew it is hath fame been prodigal Or over sparing in the Princess praise Edward Fame I accuse thee thou did'st niggardize And faintly sound my loves perfections Great Lady Fortune and fair Emperess Whom chance this day hath thrown into my arms More welcome than the Roman Emperess Edward kisses her Hede. See doch dass ist hier kein gebrauch Mein Got ist dass dir Englisch manier dass dich Edward What meaneth this why chafes my Emperess Alphon. Now by my troth I did expect this jest Prince Edward us'd his Country fashion Edward I am an Englishman why should I not Emp. Fy Nephew Edward here in Germany To kiss a Maid a fault intollerable Edward Why should not German Maids be kist aswell as others Richard Nephew because you did not know the fashion And want the language to excuse your self I 'l be your spokes-man to your Emperess Edward Excuse it thus I like the first so well That tell her she shall chide me twice as much For such an other nay tell her more than so I 'l double kiss on kiss and give her leave To chide and braul and cry ten thousand dass dich And make her weary of her fretting humour E're I be weary of my kissing vein Dass dich a Iungfraw angry for a kiss Empress Nephew she thinks you mock her in her mirth Edward I think the Princes make a scorn of me If any do I 'l prove it with my Sword That English Courtship leaves it from the world Bohem. The pleasant'st accident that I have seen Bran. Me thinks the Prince is chaf'd as well as she Rich. Gnediges frawlin Hede. Dass dich mast ich arme kindt zu schanden gemacht werden Edward Dass dich I have kist as good as you Pray Unckle tell her if she mislike the kiss I 'l take it off agen with such an other Rich. Ey Lirbes frawlin nim es all fur gutti Es i st die Englisch manier Und gebrauche Hede. Ewer gnaden weissts woll es ist mir ein grosse schande Edward Good Aunt teach me so much Dutch to ask her pardon Empress Say so Gnediges frawlin vergebet mirs ich wills nimmermehr thuen Then kiss your hand three times upsy Dutch Edward Ich wills nimmermehr thuen if I understand it right That 's as much to say as I 'l do so no more Empr. True Nephew Edward Nay Aunt pardon me I pray I hope to kiss her many thousand times And shall I go to her like a great Boy and say I 'l do so no more Empress I pray Cosin say as I tell you Edward Gnediges frawlin vergebet mirss ich wills nimmermehr thuen Alphon. For wahr kein schandt Hedew. Gnediger hochgeborner Furst vndt herr Wan ich konte so vil englisch sprechen ich wolt ewer Gnaden Fur wahr ein filtz geben ich hoffe aber ich soll etnmahl So viel lernen dass Die mich verstrhen soll Edward What says she Alphon. O excellent young Prince look to your self She swears she 'l learn some English for your sake To make you understand her when she chides Edward I 'l teach her English she shall teach me Dutch Gnediges frawlin c. Bohem. It is great pitty that the Duke of Saxon Is absent at this joyful accident I see no reason if his Grace were here But that the Marriage might be solemniz'd I think the Prince of Wales were well content Edward I left sweet England to none other end And though the Prince her Father be not here This Royal presence knows his mind in this Emp. Since you do come so roundly to the purpose 'T is time for me to speak the Maid is mine Giv'n freely by her Father unto me And to the end these broyls may have an end I give the Father's interest and mine own Unto my Nephew Edward Prince of Wales Edward A Jewel of incomparable price Your Majesty hath here bestowed on me How shall I ask her if she be content Empr. Say thus i st ewer gnaden woll hiemit zufrieden Edward I st ewer Gnaden woll hiemit zufrieden Hede. Wass ihr durleichtigkeit dass will dass will mein vattter vndt Wass mein vatter will darmit muss ich zufrieden sein Alphon. It is enough she doth confirm the match We will dispatch a Post unto her Father On Sunday shall the Revels and the Wedding Be both solemnized with mutual joy Sound trumpets each one look unto his charge For preparation of the Festivals Exeunt Manent Alphonsus and Alexander Alphon. Come hither Alexander thy Fathers joy If tears and sighs and deep-fetcht deadly groans Could serve t' evert inexorable fate Divine Lorenzo whom in life my heart In death my soul and better part adores Had to thy comfort and his Prince's honour Surviv'd and drawn this day this breath of life Alexan. Dread Caesar prostrate on my bended Knee I thank your Majesty for all favours shewn To my deceased Father and my self I must confess I spend but bootless tears Yet cannot
of bloud and death are hapned Saxon. My mind misgave a massacre this night Rich. How do's Prince Edward then Sax. How do's my Daughter Collen How goes it with the Palsgrave of the Rhein Brand. Prince Edward and his Bridle do live in health And shall be brought unto you when you please Saxon. Let them be presently deliver'd Coll. Lives not the Palsgrave too Mentz In Heaven or Hell he lives and reaps the merrit of his deeds Coll. What damned hand hath butchered the Prince Saxon. O that demand is needless who but he That seeks to be the Butcher of us all But vengeance and revenge shall light on him Bran. Be patient noble Princes hear the rest The two great Kings of Bohem and Castile God comfort them lie now at point of death Both poyson'd by the Palsgrave yesterday Rich. How is that possible so must my Sister The Pallatine himself and Alexander Who drunk out of the bowl be poysoned too Mentz Nor is that hainous deed alone the cause Though cause enough to ruin Monarchies He hath defil'd with lust th' Imperial Bed And by the Emperour in the fact was slain Collen O worthy guiltless Prince O had he fled Rich. But say where is the Empress where 's my Sister Mentz Not burnt to ashes yet but shall be shortly Rich. I hope her Majesty will live to see A hundred thousand flattering turncoat slaves Such as your Holiness dye a shameful death Brand. She is in prison and attends her tryal Saxon. O strange heart-breaking mischievous intents Give me my children if you love your lives No safety is in this enchanted Fort O see in happy hour there comes my Daughter And loving son scapt from the Massacre Enter Edward and Hedewick Edward My body lives although my heart be slain O Princes this hath been the dismall'st night That ever eye of sorrow did behold Here lay the Palsgrave weltring in his bloud Dying Alphonsus standing over him Upon the other hand the King of Bohem Still looking when his poyson'd bulk would break But that which pierc'd my soul with natures touch Was my tormented Aunt with blubberd cheeks Torn bloody Garments and disheveld hair Waiting for death deservedly or no That knows the searcher of all humane thoughts For these devices are beyond my reach Saxon. Sast dorh liches doister who wart dow dicselbirmafl Hede. Ais who who solt ich sem ich war in bette Saxon. Wert dow allrin so wart dow gar vorschrocken Hede. Ich ha mist audes gememt dam das ich wolt allrin geschlaffne haben abur vmb mitternaist kam meiner bridegroom bundt si flaffet bey mir bis wir mit dem getunnuel erwacht waren Edward What says she came her Bridegroom to her at midnight Rich. Nephew I see you were not over-reach'd Although she slipt out of your arms at first You ceiz'd her surely e're you left the chace Saxon. But left your Grace your Bride alone in Bed Or did she run together in the Larum Edward Alas my Lords this is no time to jest I lay full sadly in my Bed alone Not able for my life to sleep a wink Till that the Larum Bell began to Ring And then I starred from my weary couch Saxon. How now this rimes not with my daughters speech She says you found her Bed and lay with her Edward Not I your Highness did mistake her words Collen Deny it not Prince Edward 't is an honour Edward My Lords I know no reason to deny it T' have found her Bed I would have given a million Saxon. Hedswick der Furst sagt er satt mist be dir schlafin Hede. Es gefelt ihm also zum sagun aber ich habes woll gerfralet Rich. She say's you are dispos'd to jest with her But yesternight she felt it in good earnest Edward Unckle these jests are too unsavorie Ill suited to these times and please me not Lab ich bin you geshlapen yesternight Hede. I leff warum snlt ihrs fragen Saxon. Edward I tell thee 't is no jesting matter Say plainly wa'st thou by her I or no Edward As I am Prince true heir to Englands Crown I never toucht her body in a Bed Hede. Das haste gethan order holle mich der divell Richard Nephew take heed you hear the Princess words Edward It is not she nor you nor all the world Shall make me say I did anothers deed Saxon. Anothers deed what think'st thou her a whore Saxon strikes Edward Edward She may be Whore and thou a villain too Strook me the Emperour I will strike again Collen Content you Princes buffet not like boys Richard Hold you the one and I will hold the other Hede. O her got help help oich arms kindt Saxon. Souldiers lay hands upon the Prince of Wales Convey him speedily unto a prison And load his Legs with grievous bolts of Iron Some bring the Whore my Daughter from my fight And thou smooth Englishman to thee I speak My hate extends to all thy Nation Pack thee out of my sight and that with speed Your English practises have all to long Muffled our German eyes pack pack I say Richard Although your Grace have reason for your rage Yet be not like a madman to your friends Saxon. My friends I scorn the friendship of such mates That seek my Daughters spoil and my dishonour But I will teach the Boy another lesson His head shall pay the ransom of his fault Richard His head Saxon. And thy head too O how my heart doth swell Was there no other Prince to mock but me First woo then marry her then lye with her And having had the pleasure of her Bed Call her a Whore in open audience None but a villain and a slave would do it My Lords of Mentz of Tryer and Brandenburg Make ope the Gates receive me as a friend I 'le be a scourge unto the English Nation Mentz Your Grace shall be the welcom'st guest alive Collen None but a madman would do such a deed Saxon. Then Collen count me mad for I will do it I 'le set my life and Land upon the hazard But I will thoroughly found this deceit What will your Grace leave me or follow me Collen No Saxon know I will not follow thee And leave Prince Richard in so great extreams Saxon. Then I defy you both and so farwell Rich. Yet Saxon hear me speak before thou go Look to the Princes life as to thine own Each perisht hair that falleth from his head By thy default shall cost a Saxon City Henry of England will not lose his heir And so farwel and think upon my words Saxon. Away I do disdain to answer thee Pack thee with shame again into thy Countrie I 'le have a Cock-boat at my proper charge And send th' Imperial Crown which thou hast won To England by Prince Edward after thee Exeunt Man Rich and Coll. Collen Answer him not Prince Richard he is mad Choler and grief
untrust my points uncas'd my self And in a moment slipt between the Sheets There lying in deep contemplation The Princess of her self drew neer to me Gave me her hand spake prettily in Dutch I know not what and kist me lovingly And as I shrank out of my luke warm place To make her room she clapt thrice with her feet And through a trap-door sunck out of my sight Knew I but her Confederates in the deed I say no more Empress Tush Cosin be content So many Lands so many fashions It is the German use be not impatient She will be so much welcomer to morrow Rich. Come Nephew we 'l be Bed-fellows to night Edward Nay if I find her not I 'le lye alone I have good hope to ferret out her Bed And so good night sweet Princess all at once Alphon. Godnight to all Marshal discharge the train Alex. To Bed to Bed the Marshal crys 't is time Exeunt Flourish Cornets Manent Saxon Richard Palsgrave Collen Empress Saxon. Now Princes it is time that we advise Now we are all fast in the Fowlers gin Not to escape his subtle snares alive Unless by force we break the Nets asunder When he begins to cavil and pick quarrels I will not trust him in the least degree Empress It may beseem me evill to mistrust My Lord and Emperour of so foul a fact But love unto his honour and your lives Makes me with tears intreat your Excellencies To fly with speed out of his dangerous reach His cloudy brow foretells a suddain storm Of blood not natural but prodigious Rich. The Castle gates are shut how should we fly But were they open I would lose my life E're I would leave my Nephew to the slaughter He and his Bride were sure to bear the brunt Saxon. Could I get out of doors I 'ld venture that And yet I hold their persons dear enough I would not doubt but e're the morning Sun Should half way run his course into the South To compass and begirt him in his Fort With Saxon lansknights and brunt-bearing Switzers Who lye in Ambuscado not far hence That he should come to Composition And with safe conduct bring into our tents Both Bride and Bridegroom and all other friends Empress My Chamber Window stands upon the Wall And thence with ease you may escape away Saxon. Prince Richard you will bear me Company Richard I will my Lord Saxon. And you Prince Pallatine Pals. The Spanish Tyrant hath me in suspect Of poysoning him I 'l therefore stay it out To fly upon 't were to accuse my self Empress If need require I 'le hide the Pallatine Untill to morrow if you stay no longer Saxon. If God be with us e're to morrow noon We 'll be with Ensigns spread before the Walls We leave dear pledges of our quick return Emp. May the Heavens prosper your just intents Exeunt Enter Alphonsus Alphon. This dangerous plot was happily overheard Here didst thou listen in a blessed howr Alexander where do'st thou hide thy self I 've sought thee in each Corner of the Court And now or never must thou play the man Alex. And now or never must your Highness stir Treason hath round encompassed your life Alphon. I have no leasure now to hear thy talk Seest thou this Key Alex. Intends your Majesty that I should steal into the Princes Chambers And sleeping stab them in their Beds to night That cannot be Alphon. Wilt thou not hear me speak Alex. The Prince of England Saxon and of Collen Are in the Empress Chamber privily Alphon. All this is nothing they would murder me I come not there to night seest thou this Key Alex. They mean to fly out at the Chamber Window And raise an Army to beseege your Grace Now may your Highness take them with the deed Alphon. The Prince of Wales I hope is none of them Alex. Him and his Bride by force they will recover Alphon. What makes the cursed Palsgrave of the Rhein Alex. Him hath the Empress taken to her charge And in her Closet means to hide him safe Alphon. To hide him in her Closet of bold deeds The dearest charge that e're she undertook Well let them bring their Complots to an end I 'le undermine to meet them in their works Alex. Will not your Grace surprize them e're they fly Alphon. No let them bring their purpose to effect I 'le fall upon them at my best advantage Seest thou this Key there take it Alexander Yet take it not unless thou be resolv'd Tush I am fond to make a doubt of thee Take it I say it doth command all Doors And will make open way to dire revenge Alex. I know not what your Majesty doth mean Alphon. Hie thee with speed into the inner Chamber Next to the Chappe and there shalt thou find The danty trembling Bride coutcht in her Bed Having beguil'd her Bridegroom of his hopes Taking her farewel of Virginity Which she to morrow night expects to lose By night all Cats are gray and in the dark She will imbrace thee for the Prince of Wales Thinking that he hath found her Chamber out Fall to thy business and make few words And having pleas'd thy senses with delight And fild thy beating vains with stealing joy Make thence agen before the break of day What strange events will follow this device We need not study on our foes shall find How now how standst thou hast thou not the heart Alex. Should I not have the heart to do this deed I were a Bastard villain and no man Her sweetness and the sweetness of revenge Tickles my senses in a double sense And so I wish your Majesty good night Alphon. God night sweet Venus prosper thy attempt Alex. Sweet Venus and grim Ate I implore Stand both of you to me auspicious Exit Alexander Alphon. It had been pitty of his Fathers life Whose death hath made him such a perfect villain What murder wrack and causeless enmity 'Twixt dearest friends that are my strongest foes Will follow suddainly upon this rape I hope to live to see and laugh thereat And yet this peece of practice is not all The King of Bohem though he little feel it Because in twenty hours it will not work Hath from my Knives point suck'd his deadly bane Whereof I will be least of all suspected For I will feign my self as sick as he And blind mine enemies eyes with deadly groans Upon the Palsgrave and mine Emperess Heavy suspect shall light to bruze their bones Though Saxon would not suffer him to taste The deadly potion provided for him He cannot save him from the Sword of Iustice When all the world shall think that like a villain He hath poyson'd two great Emperours with one draught That deed is done and by this time I hope The other is a doing Alexander I doubt it not will do it thorowly While these things are a brewing I 'l not sleep But sudainly break ope the Chamber doors And rush upon my Empress and the Palsgrave Holla
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
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
reason why because he only knew All Plotts and complots of his villanie His death was made the Basis and the Ground Of every mischief that hath troubled you Saxon. If thou thy Father and thy Progenie Were hang'd and burnt and broken on the Wheel How could their deaths heap mischief on our heads Alex. And if you will not hear the Reason chuse I tell thee I have slain an Emperour And thereby think my self as good a man As thou or any man in Christendom Thou shalt entreat me ere I tell thee more Brand. Proceed Alex. Not I Saxon. I prethe now proceed Alex. Since you intreat me then I will proceed This murtherous Devill having slain my Father Buz'd cunningly into my credulous ears That by a General Councell of the States And as it were by Act of Parlement The seven Electors had set down his death And made the Empress Executioner Transferring all the guilt from him to you This I believ'd and first did set upon The life of Princely Richard by the Boors But how my purpose faild in that his Grace best knows Next by a double intricate deceit Midst all his Mirth was Bohem poysoned And good old Mentz to save Alphonso's life Who at that instant was in perfect health Twixt jest and earnest was made a Sacrifice As for the Palatine your Graces knew His Highness and the Queens unguiltines But now my Lord of Saxon hark to me Father of Saxon should I rather call you T was I that made your Grace a Grandfather Prince Edward plow'd the ground I sow'd the Seed Poor Hedewick bore the most unhappy fruit Created in a most unluckie hour To a most violent and untimely death Sax. O loathsome Villain O detested deeds O guiltless Prince O me most miserable Brand. But tell us who reveal'd to thee at last This shamefull guilt and our unguiltiness Alex. Why that 's the wonder Lords and thus it was When like a tyrant he had tane his seat And that the furie of the Fight began Upon the highest Watch-Tow'r of the Fort It was my office to behold alofft The Warres event and having seen the end I saw how Victory with equal wings Hang hovering 'twixt the Battails here and there Till at the last the English Lyons fled And Saxon's side obtain'd the Victory Which seen I posted from the turrets top More furiously than ere Laocoon ran When Trojan hands drew in Troy's overthrow But yet as fatally as he or any The tyrant seeing me star'd in my face And suddainly demanded what 's the newes I as the Fates would have it hoping that he Even in a twinkling would have slain 'em both For so he swore before the Fight began Cri'd bitterly that he had lost the day The sound whereof did kill his dastard heart And made the Villain desperatly confess The murther of my Father praying me With dire revenge to ridd him of his life Short tale to make I bound him cunningly Told him of the deceit triumphing over him And lastly with my Rapier slew him dead Sax. O Heavens justly have you tane revenge But thou thou murtherous adulterous slave What Bull of Phalaris what strange device Shall we invent to take away thy life Alex. If Edward and the Empress whom I sav'd Will not requite it now and save my life Then let me die contentedly I die Having at last reveng'd my Fathers death Sax. Villain not all the world shall save thy life Edw. Hadst thou not been Author of my Hedewicks death I would have certainly sav'd thee from death But if my Sentence now may take effect I would adjudge the Villain to be hang'd As here the Jewes are hang'd in Germany Sax. Young Prince it shall be so go dragg the Slave Unto the place of execution There let the Iudas on a Jewish Gallowes Hang by the heels between two English Mastives There feed on Doggs let Doggs there feed on thee And by all means prolong his miserie Alex. O might thy self and all these English Currs Instead of Mastive-Doggs hang by my side How sweetly would I tugg upon your Flesh Exit Alex. Sax. Away with him suffer him not to speak And now my lords Collen Tryer and Barndenburg Whose Hearts are bruz'd to think upon these woes Though no man hast such reason as my self We of the seven Electors that remain After so many bloody Massacres Kneeling upon our Knees humbly intreat Your Excellence to be our Emperour The Royalties of the Coronation Shall be at Aix shortly solemnized Cullen Brave Princely Richard now refuse it not Though the Election be made in Tears Joy shall attend thy Coronation Richard It stands not with mine Honour to deny it Yet by mine Honour fain I would refuse it Edward Uncle the weight of all these Miseries Maketh my heart as heavy as your own But an Imperial Crown would lighten it Let this one reason make you take the Crown Richard What 's that sweet nephew Edward Sweet Uncle this it is Was never Englishman yet Emperour Therefore to honour England and your self Let private sorrow yield to publike Fame That once an Englishman bare Caesar's name Richard Nephew thou hast prevail'd Princes stand up We humbly do accept your sacred offer Cullen Then sound the Trumpets and cry Vivat Caesar All Vivat Caesar Cullen Richardus Dei gratia Romanorum Imperator semper Augustus Comes Cornubiae Richard Sweet Sister now let Caesar comfort you And all the rest that yet are comfortless Let them expect from English Caesar's hands Peace and abundance of all earthly Joy FINIS