Enter King Iohn K. Io: Come Charles and arme thee Edward is intrapt The Prince of Wales is falne into our hands And we haue compast him he cannot scape Ch: But will your highnes fight to day Io: What else my son hee s scarse eight thousand strong and we are threescore thousand at the least Ch: I haue a prophecy my gratious Lord Wherein is written what successe is like To happen vs in this outragious warre It was deliuered me at Cresses field By one that is an aged Hermyt there when fethered soul shal make thine army tremble and flint stones rise and breake the battell ray Then thinke on him that doth not now dissemble For that shal be the haples dreadfull day Yet in the end thy foot thou shalt aduance as farre in England as thy foe in Fraunce Io: By this it seemes we shal be fortunate For as it is impossible that stones Should euer rise and breake the battaile ray Or airie foule make men in armes to quake So is it like we shall not be subdude Or say this might be true yet in the end Since he doth promise we shall driue him hence And forrage their Countrie as they haue don ours By this reuenge that losse will seeme the lesse But all are fryuolous fancies toyes and dreames Once we are sure we haue insnard the sonne Catch we the father after how we can Exeunt Enter Prince Edward Audley and others Pr: Audley the armes of death embrace vs round And comfort haue we none saue that to die We pay sower earnest for a sweeter life At Cressey field our Clouds of Warlike smoke chokt vp those French mouths disseuered them But now their multitudes of millions hide Masking as t were the beautious burning Sunne Leauing no hope to vs but sullen darke And eie lesse terror of all ending night Au. This suddaine mightie and expedient head That they haue made faire Prince is wonderfull Before vs in the vallie lies the king Vantagd with all that heauen and earth can yeeld His partie stronger battaild then our whole His sonne the brauing Duke of Normandie Hath trimd the Mountaine on our right hand vp In shining plate that now the aspiring hill Shewes like a siluer quarrie or an orbe Aloft the which the Banners bannarets And new replenisht pendants cuff the aire And beat the windes that for their gaudinesse Struggles to kisse them on our left handlies Phillip the younger issue of the king Coting the other hill in such arraie That all his guilded vpright pikes do seeme Streight trees of gold the pendant leaues And their deuice of Antique heraldry Quartred in collours seeming sundy fruits Makes it the Orchard of the Hesperides Behinde vs two the hill doth beare his height For like a halfe Moone opening but one way It rounds vs in there at our backs are lodgd The fatall Crosbowes and the battaile there Is gouernd by the rough Chattillion Then thus it stands the valleie for our flight The king binds in the hils on either hand Are proudly royalized by his sonnes And on the Hill behind stands certaine death In pay and seruice with Chattillion Pr: Deathes name is much more mightie then his deeds Thy parcelling this power hath made it more As many sands as these my hands can hold are but my handful of so many sands Then all the world and call it but a power Easely tane vp and quickly throwne away But if I stand to count them sand by sand The number would confound my memorie And make a thousand millions of a taske Which briefelie is no more indeed then one These quarters squadrons and these regements Before behinde vs and on either hand Are but a power when we name a man His hand his foote his head hath seuerall strengthes And being al but one selfe instant strength Why all this many Audely is but one And we can call it all but one mans strength He that hath farre to goe tels it by miles If he should tell the steps it kills his hart The drops are infinite that make a floud And yet thou knowest we call it but a Raine There is but one Fraunce one king of Fraunce That Fraunce hath no more kings and that same king Hath but the puissant legion of one king And we haue one then apprehend no ods For one to one is faire equalitie Enter an Herald from king Iohn Pr: What tidings messenger be playne and briefe He: The king of Fraunce my soueraigne Lord and master Greets by me his fo the Prince of Wals If thou call forth a hundred men of name Of Lords Knights Esquires and English gentlemen And with thy selfe and those kneele at his feete He straight will fold his bloody collours vp And ransome shall redeeme liues forfeited If not this day shall drinke more English blood Then ere was buried in our Bryttish earth What is the answere to his profered mercy Pr: This heauen that couers Fraunce containes the mercy That drawes from me submissiue orizons That such base breath should vanish from my lips To vrge the plea of mercie to a man The Lord forbid returne and tell the king My tongue is made of steele and it shall beg My mercie on his coward burgonet Tell him my colours are as red as his My men as bold our English armes as strong returne him my defiance in his face He. I go Enter another Pr: What newes with thee He. I he Duke of Normandie my Lord master Pittying thy youth is so ingirt with perill By me hath sent a nimble ioynted iennet As swift as euer yet thou didst bestride And therewithall he counsels thee to flie Els death himself hath sworne that thou shalt die P Back with the beast vnto the beast that sent him Tell him I cannot sit a cowards horse Bid him to daie bestride the iade himselfe For I will staine my horse quite ore with bloud And double guild my spurs but I will catch him So tell the capring boy and get thee gone Enter another He: Edward of Wales Phillip the second sonne To the most mightie christian king of France Seeing thy bodies liuing date expird All full of charitie and christian loue Commends this booke full fraught with prayers To thy faire hand and for thy houre of lyfe Intreats thee that thou meditate therein And arme thy soule for hir long iourney towards Thus haue I done his bidding and returne Pr. Herald of Phillip greet thy Lord from me All good that he can send I can receiue But thinkst thou not the vnaduised boy Hath wrongd himselfe in this far tendering me Happily he cannot praie without the booke I thinke him no diuine extemporall Then render backe this common place of prayer To do himselfe good in aduersitie Besides he knows not my sinnes qualitie and therefore knowes no praiers for my auaile Ere night his praier may be to praie to God To put it in my heart to heare his praier So tell the courtly wanton and be gone He.
leagues hence there is a loftie hill Whose top seemes toplesse for the imbracing skie Doth hide his high head in her a zure bosome Vpon whose tall top when thy foot attaines Looke backe vpon the humble vale beneath Humble of late but now made proud with armes and thence behold the wretched prince of Wales Hoopt with a bond of yron round about After which sight to Callice spurre amaine and saie the prince was smoothered and not slaine and tell the king this is not all his ill For I will greet him ere he thinkes I will Awaie be gone the smoake but of our shot Will choake our foes though bullets hit them not Exit Allarum Enter prince Edward and Artoys Art: How fares your grace are you not shot my Lord Pri No deare Artoys but choakt with dust and smoake And stept aside for breath and fresher aire Art Breath then and too it againe the amazed French are quite distract with gazing on the crowes and were our quiuers full of shafts againe Your grace should see a glorious day of this O for more arrowes Lord that 's our want Pri. Courage Artoys a fig for feathered shafts When feathered foules doo bandie on our side What need we fight and sweate and keepe a coile 〈…〉 outscolde our aduersaries Vp vp Artoys the ground it selfe is armd Fire containing flint command our bowes To hurle awaie their pretie colored Ew and to it with stones awaie Artoys awaie My soule doth prophesie we win the daie Exeunt Allarum Enter king Iohn Our multitudes are in themselues confounded Dismayed and distraught swift starting feare Hath buzd a cold dismaie through all our armie and euerie pettie disaduantage promptes The feare possessed abiect soule to flie My selfe whose spirit is steele to their dull lead What with recalling of the prophesie and that our natiue stones from English armes Rebell against vs finde my selfe attainted With strong surprise of weake and yeelding feare Enter Charles Fly father flie the French do kill the French Some that would stand let driue at some that flie Our drums strike nothing but discouragement Our trumpets sound dishonor and retire The spirit of feare that feareth nought but death Cowardly workes confusion on it selfe Enter Phillip Plucke out your eies and see not this daies shame An arme hath beate an armie one poore Dauid Hath with a stone foild twentie stout Goliaths Some twentie naked staruelings with small flints Hath driuen backe a puisant host of men Araid and fenst in all accomplements Ioh: Mordiu they quait at vs and kill vs vp No lesse than fortie thousand wicked elders Haue fortie leane slaues this daie stoned to death Ch: O that I were some other countryman This daie hath set derision on the French and all the world wilt blurt and scorne at vs Kin: What is there no hope left Pr: No hope but death to burie vp our shame Ki. Make vp once more with me the twentith part Of those that liue are men in ow to quaile The feeble handfull on the aduerse part Ch. Then charge againe if heauen be not opposd VVe cannot loose the daie Kin. On awaie Exeunt Enter Audley wounded rescued by two squirs Esq. How fares my Lord Aud. Euen as a man may do That dines at such a bloudie feast as this Esq. I hope my Lord that is no mortall scarre Aud. No matter if it be the count is cast and in the worst ends but a mortall man Good friends conuey me to the princely Edward That in the crimson brauerie of my bloud I may become him with saluting him I le smile and tell him that this open scarre Doth end the haruest of his Audleys warre Ex. Enter prince Edward king Iohn Charles and all with Ensignes spred Retreat sounded Pri. Now Iohn in France lately Iohn of France Thy bloudie Ensignes are my captiue colours and you high vanting Charles of Normandie That once to daie sent me a horse to flie are now the subiects of my clemencie Fie Lords is it not a shame that English boies VVhose early daies are yet not worth a beard Should in the bosome of your kingdome thus One against twentie beate you vp together Kin. Thy fortune not thy force hath conquerd vs Pri. an argument that heauen aides the right See see Artoys doth bring with him along the late good counsell giuer to my soule VVelcome Artoys and welcome Phillip to VVho now of you or I haue need to praie Now is the prouerbe verefied in you Too bright a morning breeds a morning daie Sound Trumpets enter Audley But say what grym discoragement comes heere Alas what thousand armed men of Fraunce Haue writ that note of death in Audleys face Speake thou that wooest death with thy careles smile and lookst so merrily vpon thy graue As if thou wert enamored on thyne end What hungry sword hath so bereaud thy face And lopt a true friend from my louing soule Au. O Prince thy sweet bemoning speech to me Is as a morneful knell to one dead sicke Pr: Deare Audley if my tongue ring out thy end My armes shal be the graue what may I do To win thy life or to reuenge thy death If thou wilt drinke the blood of captyue kings Or that it were restoritiue command A Heath of kings blood and I le drinke to thee If honor may dispence for thee with death The neuer dying honor of this daie Share wholie Audley to thy selfe and liue Aud: Victorious Prince that thou art so behold A Caesars fame in kings captiuitie If I could hold dym death but at a bay Till I did see my liege thy loyall father My soule should yeeld this Castle of my flesh This mangled tribute with all willingnes To darkenes consummation dust and Wormes Pr: Cheerely bold man thy soule is all to proud To yeeld her Citie for one little breach Should be diuorced from her earthly spouse By the soft temper of a French mans sword Lo to repaire thy life I giue to thee Three thousand Marks a yeere in English land Au: I take thy gift to pay the debts I owe These two poore Esquires redeemd me from the French With lusty deer hazzard of their liues What thou hast giuen me I giue to them And as thou louest me Prince lay thy consent To this bequeath in my last testament Pr: Renowned Audley liue and haue from mee This gift twise doubled to these Esquires and thee But liue or die what thou hast giuen away To these and theirs shall lasting freedome stay Come gentlemen I will see my friend bestowed With in an easie Litter then we le martch Proudly toward Callis with tryumphant pace Vnto my royall father and there bring The tribut of my wars faire Fraunce his king Ex. Enter sixe Citizens in their Shirts bare foote with halters about their necks Enter King Edward Queen Phillip Derby soldiers Ed. No more Queene Phillip pacifie your selfe Copland except he can excuse his fault Shall finde displeasure written in
in the sea Had been preuented of this mortall griefe Ki Content thee Phillip t is not teares will serue To call him backe if he be taken hence Comfort thy selfe as I do gentle Queene With hope of sharpe vnheard of dyre reuenge He bids me to prouide his funerall And so I will but all the Peeres in Fraunce Shall mourners be and weepe out bloody teares Vntill their emptie vaines be drie and sere The pillers of his hearse shall be his bones The mould that couers him their Citie ashes His knell the groning cryes of dying men And in the stead of tapers on his tombe an hundred fiftie towers shall burning blaze While we bewaile our valiant sonnes decease After a flourish sounded within enter an herald He. Reioyce my Lord ascend the imperial throne The mightie and redoubted prince of Wales Great seruitor to bloudie Mars in armes The French mans terror and his countries fame Triumphant rideth like a Romane peere and lowly at his stirop comes a foot King Iohn of France together with his sonne In captiue bonds whose diadem he brings To crowne thee with and to proclaime thee king Ki. Away with mourning Phillip wipe thine eies Sound Trumpets welcome in Plantaginet Enter Prince Edward king Iohn Phillip Audley Artoys Ki As things long lost when they are found again So doth my sonne reioyce his fathers heart For whom euen now my soule was much perplext Q. Be this a token to expresse my ioy kisse him For inward passions will not let me speake Pr. My gracious father here receiue the gift This wreath of conquest and reward of warre Got with as mickle perill of our liues as ere was thing of price before this daie Install your highnes in your proper right and heere withall I render to your hands These prisoners chiefe occasion of our strife Kin: So Iohn of France I see you keepe your word You promist to be sooner with our selfe Then we did thinke for and t is so in deed But had you done at first as now you do How many ciuill townes had stoode vntoucht That now are turnd to ragged heaps of stones How many peoples liues mightst thou haue saud that are vntimely sunke into their graues Io: Edward recount not things irreuocable Tell me what ransome thou requirest to haue Kin: Thy ransome Iohn hereafter shall be known But first to England thou must crosse the seas To see what intertainment it affords How ere it fals it cannot be so bad as ours hath bin since we ariude in France Ioh: Accursed man of this I was fortolde But did misconster what the prophet told Pri Now father this petition Edward makes To thee whose grace hath bin his strongest shield That as thy pleasure chose me for the man To be the instrument to shew thy power So thou wilt grant that many princes more Bred and brought vp within that little Isle May still be famous for lyke victories and for my part the bloudie scars I beare The wearie nights that I haue watcht in field The dangerous conflicts I haue often had The fearefull menaces were proffered me The heate and cold and what else might displease I wish were now redoubled twentie fold So that hereafter ages when they reade The painfull traffike of my tender youth Might thereby be inflamd with such resolue as not the territories of France alone But likewise Spain Turkie and what countries els That iustly would prouoke faire Englands ire Might at their presence tremble and retire Kin: Here English Lordes we do proclaime a rest an intercession of our painfull armes Sheath vp your swords refresh your weary lims Peruse your spoiles and after we haue breathd a daie or two within this hauen towne God willing then for England we le be shipt VVhere in a happie houre I trust we shall Ariue three kings two princes and a queene FINIS
THE RAIGNE OF KING EDVVARD the third As it hath bin sundrie times plaied about the Citie of London LONDON Printed for Cuthbert Burby 1596 THE RAIGNE OF K Edward the third Enter King Edward Derby Prince Edward Audely and Artoys King RObert of Artoys banisht though thou be From Fraunce thy natiue Country yet with vs Thou shalt retayne as great a Seigniorie For we create thee Earle of Richmond heere And now goe forwards with our pedegree Who next succeeded Phillip of Bew Ar. Three sonnes of his which all successefully Did sit vpon their fathers regall Throne Yet dyed and left no issue of their loynes King But was my mother sister vnto those Art: Shee was my Lord and onely Issabel Was all the daughters that this Phillip had Whome afterward your father tooke to wife And from the fragrant garden of her wombe Your gratious selfe the flower of Europes hope Deriued is inheritor to Fraunce But not the rancor of rebellious mindes When thus the lynage of Bew was out The French obscurd your mothers Priuiledge And though she were the next of blood proclaymed Iohn of the house of Valoys now their king The reason was they say the Realme of Fraunce Repleat with Princes of great parentage Ought not admit a gouernor to rule Except he be discended of the male And that 's the speciall ground of their contempt Where with they study to exclude your grace But they shall finde that forged ground of theirs To be but dusty heapes of brittile sande Art: Perhaps it will be thought a heynous thing That I a French man should discouer this But heauen I call to recorde of my vowes It is not hate nor any priuat wronge But loue vnto my country and the right Prouokes my tongue thus lauish in report You are the lyneal watch men of our peace And Iohn of Valoys in directly climbes What then should subiects but imbrace their King Ah where in may our duety more be seene Then stryuing to rebate a tyrants pride And place the true shepheard of our comonwealth King This counsayle Artoyes like to fruictfull shewers Hath added growth vnto my dignitye And by the fiery vigor of thy words Hot courage is engendred in my brest Which heretofore was rakt in ignorance But nowe doth mount with golden winges of fame And will approue faire Issabells discent Able to yoak their stubburne necks with steele That spurne against my souereignety in France sound a horne A messenger Lord Awdley know from whence Enter a messenger Lorragne Aud: The Duke of Lorrayne hauing crost the seas In treates he may haue conference with your highnes King Admit him Lords that we may heare the newes Say Duke of Lorrayne wherefore art thou come Lor: The most renowned prince K. Iohn of France Doth greete thee Edward and by me commandes That for so much as by his liberall gift The Guyen Dukedome is entayld to thee Thou do him lowly homage for the same And for that purpose here I somon thee Repaire to France within these forty daies That there according as the coustome is Thou mayst be sworne true liegeman to our King Or else thy title in that prouince dyes And hee him self will repossesse the place K. Ed: See how occasion laughes me in the face No sooner minded to prepare for France But straight I am inuited nay with threats Vppon a penaltie inioynd to come T were but a childish part to say him nay Lorrayne returne this answere to thy Lord I meane to visit him as he requests But how not seruilely disposd to bend But like a conquerer to make him bowe His lame vnpolisht shifts are come to light And trueth hath puld the visard from his face That sett a glasse vpon his arrogannce Dare he commaund a fealty in mee Tell him the Crowne that hee vsurpes is myne And where he sets his foote he ought to knele T is not a petty Dukedome that I claime But all the whole Dominions of the Realme Which if with grudging he refuse to yeld I le take away those borrowed plumes of his And send him naked to the wildernes Lor: Then Edward here in spight of all thy Lords I doe pronounce defyaunce to thy face Pri Defiance French man we rebound it backe Euen to the bottom of thy masters throat And be it spoke with reuerence of the King My gratious father and these other Lordes I hold thy message but as scurrylous And him that sent thee like the lazy droane Crept vp by stelth vnto the Eagles nest From whence we le shake him with so rough a storme As others shal be warned by his harme War: Byd him leaue of the Lyons case he weares Least meeting with the Lyon in the feeld He chaunce to teare him peecemede for his pride Art: The soundest counsell I can giue his grace Is to surrender ere he be constraynd A voluntarie mischiefe hath lesse scorne Then when reproch with violence is borne Lor. Regenerate Traytor viper to the place Where thou was fostred in thine infancy Bearest thou a part in this conspiracy He drawes his Sword K. Ed. Lorraine behold the sharpnes of this steele Feruent desire that sits against my heart Is farre more thornie pricking than this blade That with the nightingale I shall be scard As oft as I dispose my selfe to rest Vntill my collours be displaide in Fraunce This is thy finall Answere so be gone Lor. It is not that nor any English braue Afflicts me so as doth his poysoned view That is most false should most of all be true K. Ed. Now Lord our fleeting Barke is vnder sayle Our gage is throwne and warre is soone began But not so quickely brought vnto an end Enter Mountague Moun. But wherefore comes Sir william Mountague How stands the league betweene the Scot and vs Mo. Crackt and disseuered my renowned Lord The treacherous King no sooner was informde Of your with drawing of your army backe But straight forgetting of his former othe He made inuasion on the bordering Townes Barwicke is woon Newcastle spoyld and lost And now the tyrant hath beguirt with seege The Castle of Rocksborough where inclosd The Countes Salsbury is like to perish King That is thy daughter Warwicke is it not Whose husband hath in Brittayne serud so long About the planting of Lord Mouneford there VVar. It is my Lord Ki Ignoble Dauid hast thou none to greeue But silly Ladies with thy threatning armes But I will make you shrinke your snailie hornes First therefore Audley this shal be thy charge Go leuie footemen for our warres in Fraunce And Ned take muster of our men at armes In euery shire elect a seuerall band Let them be Souldiers of a lustie spirite Such as dread nothing but dishonors blot Be warie therefore since we do comence A famous Warre and with so mighty a nation Derby be thou Embassador for vs Vnto our Father in Law the Earle of Henalt Make him acquainted with our enterprise And likewise will him with our
to heauen and earth The sin is more to hacke and hew poore men Then to embrace in an vnlawfull bed The register of all rarieties Since Letherne Adam till this youngest howre Enter Countesse King Goe Lodwike put thy hand into thy purse Play spend giue ryot wast do what thou wilt So thou wilt hence awhile and leaue me heere Now my soules plaiefellow art thou come To speake the more then heauenly word of yea To my obiection in thy beautious loue Count My father on his blessing hath commanded King That thou shalt yeeld to me Coun: I deare my liege your due King And that my dearest loue can be no lesse Then right for right and render loue for loue Count Then wrong for wrong and endles hate for hate But sith I see your maiestie so bent That my vnwillingnes my husbands loue Your high estate nor no respect respected Can be my helpe but that your mightines Will ouerbeare and awe these deare regards I bynd my discontent to my content And what I would not I le compell I will Prouided that your selfe remoue those lets That stand betweene your highnes loue and mine King Name then faire Countesse and by heauen I will Co: It is their liues that stand betweene our loue That I would haue chokt vp my soueraigne Ki. Whose liues my Lady Co. My thrice loving liege Your Queene and Salisbury my wedded husband Who liuing haue that tytle in our loue That we cannot bestow but by their death Ki Thy opposition is beyond our Law Co. So is your desire if the law Can hinder you to execute the one Let it forbid you to attempt the other I Cannot thinke you loue me as you say Vnlesse you do make good what you haue sworne No more thy husband and the Queene shall dye Fairer thou art by farre then Hero was Beardles Leander not so strong as I He swome an easie curraunt for his loue But I will throng a hellie spout of bloud To arryue at Cestus where my Hero lyes Co: Nay you le do more you le make the Ryuer to With their hart bloods that keepe our loue asunder Of which my husband and your wife are twayne Ki. Thy beauty makes them guilty of their death And giues in euidence that they shall dye Vpon which verdict I their Iudge condemne them Co: O periurde beautie more corrupted Iudge When to the great Starre-chamber ore our heads The vniuersell Sessions cals to count This packing euill we both shall tremble for it Ki. VVhat saies my faire loue is she resolute Co. Resolute to be dissolude and therefore this Keepe but thy word great king and I am thine Stand where thou dost I le part a little from thee And see how I will yeeld me to thy hands Here by my side doth hang my wedding knifes Take thou the one and with it kill thy Queene And learne by me to finde her where she lies And with this other I le dispatch my loue Which now lies fast a sleepe within my hart When they are gone then I le consent to loue Stir not lasciuious king to hinder me My resolution is more nimbler far Then thy preuention can be in my rescue And if thou stir I strike therefore stand still And heare the choyce that I will put thee to Either sweare to leaue thy most vnholie sute And neuer hence forth to solicit me Or else by heauen this sharpe poynted knyfe Shall staine thy earth with that which thou would staine My poore chast blood sweare Edward sweare Or I will strike and die before thee heere King Euen by that power I sweare that giues me now The power to be ashamed of my selfe I neuer meane to part my lips againe In any words that tends to such a sute Arise true English Ladie whom our I le May better boast of then euer Romaine might Of her whose ransackt treasurie hath taskt The vaine indeuor of so many pens Arise and be my fault thy honors fame Which after ages shall enrich thee with I am awaked from this idle dreame Warwike my Sonne Darby Artoys and Audley Braue warriours all where are you all this while Enter all Warwike I make thee Warden of the North Thou Prince of Wales and Audley straight to Sea Scoure to New-hauen some there staie for me My selfe Artoys and Darby will through Flaunders To greete our friends there and to craue their aide This night will scarce suffice me to discouer My follies seege against a faithfull louer For ere the Sunne shal guide the esteme skie We le wake him with our Marshall harmonie Exeunt Enter King Iohn of Fraunce his two sonnes Charles of Normandie and Phillip and the Duke of Lorraine King Iohn Heere till our Nauie of a thousand and saile Haue made a breakfast to our foe by Sea Let vs incampe to wait their happie speede Lorraine what readines is Edward in How hast thou heard that he prouided is Of marshiall furniture for this exployt Lo: To lay aside vnnecessary soothing And not to spend the time in circumstaunce T is bruted for a certenty my Lord That hee s exceeding strongly fortified His subiects flocke as willingly to warre As if vnto a tryumph they were led Ch: England was wont to harbour malcontents Blood thirsty and seditious Catelynes Spend thrifts and such as gape for nothing else But changing and alteration of the state And is it possible That they are now so loyall in them selues Lo: All but the Scot who sollemnly protests As heere to fore I haue enformd his grace Neuer to sheath his Sword or take a truce Io: Ah that 's the anchredge of some better hope But on the other side to thinke what friends King Edward hath retaynd in Netherland Among those euer-bibbing Epicures Those frothy Dutch men puft with double beere That drinke and swill in euery place they come Doth not a little aggrauate mine ire Besides we heare the Emperor conioynes And stalls him in his owne authoritie But all the mightier that their number is The greater glory reapes the victory Some friends haue we beside drum stricke power The sterne Polonian and the warlike Dane The king of Bohemia and of Cycelie Are all become confederates with vs And as I thinke are marching hither apace But soft I heare the musicke of their drums By which I gesse that their approch is neare Enter the King of Bohemia with Danes and a Polonian Captaine with other soldiers another way King of Boheme King Iohn of Fraunce as league and neighborhood Requires when friends are any way distrest I come to aide thee with my countries force Pol. Cap. And from great Musco fearefull to the Turke And lofty Poland nurse of hardie men I bring these seruitors to fight for thee Who willingly will venture in thy cause K. Io: Welcome Bohemian king and welcome all This your great kindnesse I will not forget Besides your plentiful rewards in Crownes That from our Treasory ye shall receiue There comes a hare
Valoys whether I intende To skirmish not for pillage but for the Crowne Which thou dost weare and that I vowe to haue Or one of vs shall fall in to this graue Pri Ed: Looke not for crosse inuectiues at our hands Or rayling execrations of despight Let creeping serpents hide in hollow banckes Sting with theyr tongues we haue remorseles swordes And they shall pleade for vs and our affaires Yet thus much breefly by my fathers leaue As all the immodest poyson of thy throat Is scandalous and most notorious lyes And our pretended quarell is truly iust So end the battaile when we meet to daie May eyther of vs prosper and preuaile Or luckles curst receue eternall shame Kin Ed: That needs no further question and I knowe His conscience witnesseth it is my right Therfore Valoys say wilt thou yet resigne Before the sickles thrust into the Corne Or that inkindled fury turne to flame Ioh: Edward I know what right thou hast in France And ere I basely will resigne my Crowne This Champion field shall be a poole of bloode And all our prospect as a slaughter house Pr Ed: I that approues thee tyrant what thou art No father king or shepheard of thy realme But one that teares her entrailes with thy handes And like a thirstie tyger suckst her bloud Aud: You peeres of France why do you follow him That is so prodigall to spend your liues Ch: Whom should they follow aged impotent But he that is their true borne soueraigne Kin: Obraidst thou him because within his face Time hath ingraud deep caracters of age Know that these graue schollers of experience Like stiffe growen oakes will stand unmouable When whirle wind quickly turnes vp yonger trees Dar. Was euer anie of thy fathers house king But thy selfe before this present time Edwards great linage by the mothers side Fiue hundred yeeres hath helde the scepter vp Iudge then conspiratours by this descent Which is the true borne soueraigne this or that Pri Father range your battailes prate no more These English fame would spend the time in wodrs That night approching they might escape vnfought K Ioh: Lords and my louing Subiects knowes the time That your intended force must bide the touch Therfore my frinds consider this in breefe He that you fight for is your naturall King He against whom you fight a forrener He that you fight for rules in clemencie And fames you with a mild and gentle byt He against whome you fight if hee preuaile Will straight in throne himselfe in tyrranie Make slaues of you and with a heauie hand Curtall and courb your swetest libertie Then to protect your Country and your King Let but the haughty Courrage of your hartes Answere the number of your able handes And we shall quicklie chase theis fugitiues For what 's this Edward but a belly god A tender and lasciuious wantonnes That thother daie was almost dead for loue And what I praie you is his goodly gard Such as but scant them of their chines of beefe And take awaie their downie featherbedes And presently they are as resty stiffe As t were a many ouer ridden iades Then French men scorne that such should be your Lords And rather bind ye them in captiue bands All Fra Viue le Roy God saue King Iohn of France Io: Now on this plaine of Cressie spred your selues And Edward when thou darest begin the fight Ki. Ed: We presently wil meet thee Iohn of Fraunce And English Lordes let vs resolue the daie Either to cleere vs of that scandalous cryme Or be intombed in our innocence And Ned because this battell is the first That euer yet thou foughtest in pitched field As ancient custome is of Martialists To dub thee with the tipe of chiualrie In solemne manner wee will giue thee armes Come therefore Heralds orderly bring forth A strong attirement for the prince my sonne Enter foure Heraldes bringing in a coate armour a helmet a lance and a shield Kin: Edward Plantagenet in the name of God As with this armour I impall thy breast So be thy noble vnrelenting heart Wald in with flint of matchlesse fortitude That neuer base affections enter there Fight and be valiant conquere where thou comst Now follow Lords and do him honor to Dar: Edward Plantagenet prince of Wales As I do set this helmet on thy head Where with the chamber of this braine is fenst So may thy temples with Bellonas hand Be still adornd with lawrell victorie Fight and be valiant conquer where thou comst Aud. Edward Plantagenet prince of Wales Receiue this lance into thy manly hand Vse it in fashion of a brasen pen To drawe forth bloudie stratagems in France And print thy valiant deeds in honors booke Fight and be valiant vanquish where thou comst Art: Edward Plantagenet prince of Wales Hold take this target weare it on thy arme And may the view thereof like Perscus shield Astonish and transforme thy gazing foes To senselesse images of meger death Fight and be valiant conquer where thou comst Ki. Now wants there nought but knighthood which deferd Wee leaue till thou hast won it in the fielde My gratious father and yee forwarde peeres This honor you haue done me animates And chears my greene yet scarse appearing strength With comfortable good persaging signes No otherwise then did ould Iacobes wordes When as he breathed his blessings on his sonnes These hallowed giftes of yours when I prophane Or vse them not to glory of my God To patronage the fatherles and poore Or for the benefite of Englands peace Be numbe my ioynts waxe feeble both mine armes Wither my hart that like a saples tree I may remayne the map of infamy K. Ed: Then this our steelde Battailes shall be rainged The leading of the vowarde Ned is thyne To dignifie whose lusty spirit the more We temper it with Audlys grauitie That courage and experience ioynd in one Your manage may be second vnto none For the mayne battells I will guide my selfe And Darby in the rereward march behind That orderly disposd and set in ray Let vs to horse and God graunt vs the daye Exeunt Alarum Enter a many French men flying After them Prince Edward runing Then enter King Iohn and Duke of Loraine Iohn Oh Lorrain say what meane our men to fly Our nomber is far greater then our foes Lor. The garrison of Genoaes my Lorde That cam from Paris weary with their march Grudging to be soddenly imployd No sooner in the forefront tooke their place But straite retyring so dismaide the rest As likewise they betook themselues to flight In which for hast to make a safe escape More in the clustering throng are prest to death Then by the ennimie a thousand fold K. Io: O haplesse fortune let vs yet assay If we can counsell some of them to stay Enter King Edward and Audley Ki E Lord Audley whiles our sonne is in the chase With draw our powers vnto this little hill And heere a season
let vs breath our selues Au. I will my Lord Exit sound Retreat K. Ed. Iust dooming heauen whose secret prouidence To our grosse iudgement is inscrutable How are we bound to praise thy wondrous works That hast this day giuen way vnto the right And made the wicked stumble at them selues Enter Artoys Rescue king Edward rescue for thy sonne Kin: Rescue Artoys what is he prisoner Or by violence fell beside his horse Ar. Neither my Lord but narrowly beset With turning Frenchmen whom he did persue As t is impossible that he should scape Except your highnes presently descend Kin: Tut let him fight we gaue him armes to day And he is laboring for a knighthood man Enter Derby Da: The Prince my Lord the Prince oh succour him Hee s close incompast with a world of odds Ki Then will he win a world of honor to If he by vallour can redeeme him thence If not what remedy we haue more sonnes Then one to comfort our declyning age Enter Audley Au, Renowned Edward giue me leaue I pray To lead my souldiers where I may releeue Your Graces sonne in danger to be slayne The snares of French like Emmets on a banke Muster about him whilest he Lion like Intangled in the net of their assaults Frantiquely wrends and byts the wouen toyle But all in vaine he cannot free him selfe K Ed: Audley content I will not haue a man On paine of death sent forth to succour him This is the day ordaynd by desteny To season his courage with those greeuous thoughts That if he breaketh out Nestors yeares on earth Will make him sauor still of this exployt Dar: Ah but he shall not liue to see those dayes Ki Why then his Ephitaph is lasting prayse An Yet good my Lord t is too much wilfulnes To let his blood be spilt that may be saude Kin. Exclayme no more for none of you can tell Whether a borrowed aid will serue or no Perhapps he is already slayne or tane And dare a Falcon when shee s in her flight And euer after shee le be huggard like Let Edward be deliuered by our hands And still in danger he le expect the like But if himselfe himselfe redeeme from thence He wil haue vanquisht cheerefull death and feare And euer after dread their force no more Then if they were but babes or Captiue slaues Aud. O cruell Father farewell Edward then Da: Farewell sweete Prince the hope of chiualry Art: O would my life might ransome him from death K. Ed: But soft me thinkes I heare The dismall charge of Trumpets loud retreat All are not slayne I hope that went with him Some will returne with tidings good or bad Enter Prince Edward in tryumph bearing in his hande hit shiuered Launce and the King of Boheme borne before wrapt in the Coullours They runne and imbrace him Aud, O ioyfull sight victorious Edward liues Der: Welcome braue Prince Ki Welcome Plantagenet Pr. kneele and kisse his fathers hand First hauing donne my duety as beseemed Lords I le greet you all with harty thanks And now behold after my winters toyle My paynefull voyage on the boystrous sea Of warres deuouring gulphes and steely rocks I bring my fraught vnto the wished port My Summers hope my trauels sweet reward And heere with humble duety I present This sacrifice this first fruit of my sword Cropt and cut downe euen at the gate of death The king of Boheme father whome I slue Whom you sayd had intrencht me round about And laye as thicke vpon my battered crest As on an Anuell with their ponderous glaues Yet marble courage still did vnderprop And when my weary armes with often blowes Like the continuall laboring Wood-mans Axe That is enioynd to fell a load of Oakes Began to faulter straight I would recouer My gifts you gaue me and my zealous vow And then new courage made me fresh againe That in despight I craud my passage forth And put the multitude to speedy flyght his Sword borne by a Soldier Lo this hath Edwards hand fild your request And done I hope the duety of a Knight Ki I well thou hast deserud a knight-hood Ned And therefore with thy sword yet reaking warme With blood of those that fought to be thy bane Arise Prince Edward trusty knight at armes This day thou hast confounded me with ioy And proude thy selfe fit heire vnto a king Pr Heere is a note my gratious Lord of those That in this conflict of our foes were slaine Eleuen Princes of esteeme Foure score Barons A hundred and twenty knights and thirty thousand Common souldiers and of our men a thousand Our God be praised Now Iohn of Fraunce I hope Thou knowest King Edward for no wantonesse No loue sicke cockney nor his souldiers iades But which way is the fearefull king escapt Pr: Towards Poyctiers noble father and his sonnes King Ned thou and Audley shall pursue them still Myselfe and Derby will to Calice streight And there begyrt that Hauen towne with seege Now lies it on an vpshot therefore strike And wistlie follow whiles the games on foote Ki. What Pictures this Pr: A Pellican my Lord Wounding her bosome with her crooked beak That so her nest of young ones might be fed With drops of blood that issue from her hart The motto Sic vos and so should you Exeunt Enter Lord Mountford with a Coronet in his hande with him the Earle of Salisbury Mo: My Lord of Salisbury since by our aide Mine ennemie Sir Charles of Bloys is slaine And I againe am quietly possest In Brittaines Dukedome knowe that I resolue For this kind furtherance of your king and you To sweare allegeance to his maiesty In sign where of receiue this Coronet Beare it vnto him and with all mine othe Neuer to be but Edwards faithful friend Sa: I take it Mountfort thus I hope eare long The whole Dominions of the Realme of Fraunce Wil be surrendred to his conquering hand Exit Now if I knew but safely how to passe I would to Calice gladly meete his Grace Whether I am by letters certified Yet he intends to haue his host remooude It shal be so this pollicy will serue Ho whos 's within bring Villiers to me Enter Villeirs Villiers thou knowest thou art my prisoner And that I might for ransome if I would Require of thee a hundred thousand Francks Or else retayne and keepe thee captiue still But so it is that for a smaller charge Thou maist be quit and if thou wilt thy selfe And this it is procure me but a pasport Of Charles the Duke of Normandy that I Without restraint may haue recourse to Callis Through all the Countries where he hath to doe Which thou maist easely obtayne I thinke By reason I haue often heard thee say He and thou were students once together And then thou shalt be set at libertie How saiest thou wilt thou vndertake to do it Vil. I will my Lord but I must speake with him Sa. Why so thou shalt
I go Pr. How confident their strength and number makes them Now Audley sound those siluer winges of thine And let those milke white messengers of time Shew thy times learning in this dangerous time Thy selfe art busie and bit with many broiles And stratagems sore past with yron pens Are texted in thine honorable face Thou art a married man in this distresse But danger wooes me as a blushing maide Teach me an answere to this perillous time Aud. To die is all as common as to liue The one in choice the other holds in chase For from the instant we begin to liue We do pursue and hunt the time to die First bud we then we blow and after seed Then presently we fall and as a shade Followes the bodie so we follow death If then we hunt for death why do we feare it If we feare it why do we follow it If we do teare how can we shun it If we do feare with feare we do but aide The thing we feare to seize on vs the sooner If wee feare not then no resolued proffer Can ouerthrow the limit of our fate For whether ripe or rotten drop we shall as we do drawe the lotterie of our doome Pri. Ah good olde man a thousand thousand armors These wordes of thine haue buckled on my backe Ah what an idiot hast thou made of lyfe To seeke the thing it feares and how disgrast The imperiall victorie of murdring death Since all the liues his conquering arrowes strike Seeke him and he not them to shame his glorie I will not giue a pennie for a lyfe Nor halfe a halfe penie to shun grim death Since for to liue is but to seeke to die And dying but beginning of new lyfe Let come the houre when he that rules it will To liue or die I hold indifferent Exeunt Enter king Iohn and Charles Ioh: A sodaine darknes hath defast the skie The windes are crept into their caues for feare the leaues moue not the world is husht and still the birdes cease singing and the wandring brookes Murmure no wonted greeting to their shores Silence attends some wonder and expecteth That heauen should pronounce some prophesie Where or from whome proceeds this silence Charles Ch: Our men with open mouthes and staring eyes Looke on each other as they did attend Each others wordes and yet no creature speakes A tongue-tied feare hath made a midnight houre and speeches sleepe through all the waking regions Ioh: But now the pompeous Sunne in all his pride Lookt through his golden coach vpon the worlde and on a sodaine hath he hid himselfe that now the vnder earth is as a graue Darke deadly silent and vncomfortable A clamor of rauens Harke what a deadly outcrie do I heare Ch. Here comes my brother Phillip Ioh. All dismaid What fearefull words are those thy lookes presage Pr. A flight a flight Ioh: Coward what flight thou liest there needs no flight Pr. A flight Kin: Awake thy crauen powers and tell on the substance of that verie feare in deed Which is so gastly printed in thy face What is the matter Pr. A flight of vgly rauens Do croke and houer ore our souldiers heads And keepe in triangles and cornerd squares Right as our forces are imbatteled With their approach there came this sodain fog Which now hath hid the airie flower of heauen And made at noone a night vnnaturall Vpon the quaking and dismaied world In briefe our souldiers haue let fall their armes and stand like metamorphosd images Bloudlesse and pale one gazing on another Io: I now I call to mind the prophesie But I must giue no enterance to a feare Returne and harten vp these yeelding soules Tell them the rauens seeing them in armes So many faire against a famisht few Come but to dine vpon their handie worke and praie vpon the carrion that they kill For when we see a horse laid downe to die although not dead the rauenous birds Sit watching the departure of his life Euen so these rauens for the carcases Of those poore English that are markt to die Houer about and if they crie to vs T is but for meate that we must kill for them Awaie and comfort vp my souldiers and sound the trumpets and at once dispatch This litle busines of a silly fraude Exit Pr. Another noise Salisbury brought in by a French Captaine Cap: Behold my liege this knight and fortie mo Of whom the better part are slaine and fled With all indeuor sought to breake our rankes And make their waie to the incompast prince Dispose of him as please your maiestie Io: Go the next bough souldier that thou seest Disgrace it with his bodie presently For I doo hold a tree in France too good To be the gallowes of an English theefe Sa: My Lord of Normandie I haue your passe And warrant for my safetie through this land Ch. Villiers procurd it for thee did he not Sal: He did Ch: And it is currant thou shalt freely passe En Io: I freely to the gallows to be hangd Without deniall or impediment Awaie with him Vil. I hope your highnes will not so disgrace me and dash the vertue of my seale at armes He hath my neuer broken name to shew Carectred with this princely hande of mine and rather let me leaue to be a prince Than break the stable verdict of a prince I doo beseech you let him passe in quiet Ki Thou and thy word lie both in my command What canst thou promise that I cannot breake Which of these twaine is greater infamie To disobey thy father or thy selfe Thy word nor no mans may exceed his power Nor that same man doth neuer breake his worde That keepes it to the vtmost of his power The breach of faith dwels in the soules consent Which if thy selfe without consent doo breake Thou art not charged with the breach of faith Go hang him for thy lisence lies in mee and my constraint stands the excuse for thee Ch. VVhat am I not a soldier in my word Then armes adieu and let them fight that list Shall I not giue my girdle from my wast But with a gardion I shall be controld To saie I may not giue my things awaie Vpon my soule had Edward prince of VVales Ingagde his word writ downe his noble hand For all your knights to passe his fathers land The roiall king to grace his warlike sonne VVould not alone safe conduct giue to them But with all bountie feasted them and theirs Kin: Dwelst thou on presidents then be it so Say Englishman of what degree thou art Sa: An Earle in England though a prisoner here And those that knowe me call me Salisburie Kin: Then Salisburie say whether thou art bound Sa. To Callice where my liege king Edward is Kin: To Callice Salisburie then to Callice packe and bid the king prepare a noble graue To put his princely sonne blacke Edward in and as thou trauelst westward from this place Some two
our lookes And now vnto this proud resisting towne Souldiers assault I will no longer stay To be deluded by their false delaies Put all to sword and make the spoyle your owne All Mercy king Edward mercie gratious Lord Ki Contemptuous villaines call ye now for truce Mine eares are stopt against your bootelesse cryes Sound drums allarum draw threatning swords All Ah noble Prince take pittie on this towne And heare vs mightie king We claime the promise that your highnes made The two daies respit is not yet expirde And we are come with willingnes to beare What tortering death or punishment you please So that the trembling multitude be saued Ki My promise wel I do confesse as much But I require the cheefest Citizens And men of most account that should submit You peraduenture are but seruile groomes Or some fellonious robbers on the Sea Whome apprehended law would execute Albeit seuerity lay dead in vs No no ye cannot ouerreach vs thus Two The Sun dread Lord that in the western fall Beholds vs now low brought through miserie Did in the Orient purple of the morne Salute our comming forth when we were knowne Or may our portion be with damned fiends Ki If it be so then let our couenant stand We take possession of the towne in peace But for your selues looke you for no remorse But as imperiall iustice hath decreed Your bodies shal be dragd about these wals And after feele the stroake of quartering steele This is your dome go souldiers see it done Qu Ah be more milde vnto these yeelding men It is a glorious thing to stablish peace And kings approch the nearest vnto God By giuing life and fafety vnto men As thou intendest to be king of Fraunce So let her people liue to call thee king For what the sword cuts down or fire hath spoyld Is held in reputation none of ours Ki Although experience teach vs this is true That peacefull quietnes brings most delight When most of all abuses are controld Yet insomuch it shal be knowne that we Aswell can master our affections As conquer other by the dynt of sword Phillip preuaile we yeeld to thy request These men shall liue to boast of clemencie And tyrannie strike terror to thy selfe Two long liue your highnes happy be your reigne Ki Go get you hence returne vnto the towne And if this kindnes hath deserud your loue Learne then to reuerence Edw as your king Ex. Now might we heare of our affaires abroad We would till glomy Winter were ore spent Dispose our men in garrison a while But who comes heere Enter Copland and King Dauid De, Copland my Lord and Dauid King of Scots Ki Is this the proud presumtious Esquire of the North That would not yeeld his prisoner to my Queen Cop: I am my liege a Northen Esquire indeed But neither proud nor insolent I trust Ki What moude thee then to be so obstinate To contradict our royall Queenes desire Co. No wilfull disobedience mightie Lord But my desert and publike law at armes I tooke the king my selfe in single fight and like a souldier would be loath to loose The least preheminence that I had won And Copland straight vpon your highnes charge Is come to Fraunce and with a lowly minde Doth vale the bonnet of his victory Receiue dread Lorde the custome of my fraught The wealthie tribute of my laboring hands Which should long since haue been surrendred vp Had but your gratious selfe bin there in place Q But Copland thou didst scorne the kings command Neglecting our commission in his name Cop. His name I reuerence but his person more His name shall keepe me in alleagaunce still But to his person I will bend my knee King I praie thee Phillip let displeasure passe This man doth please mee and I like his words For what is he that will attempt great deeds and loose the glory that ensues the same all riuers haue recourse vnto the Sea and Coplands faith relation to his king Kneele therefore downe now rise king Edwards knight and to maintayne thy state I freely giue Fiue hundred marks a yeere to thee and thine Welcom Lord Salisburie what news from Brittaine Enter Salsbury Sa: This mightie king the Country we haue won And Charles de Mountford regent of that place Presents your highnes with this Coronet Protesting true allegeaunce to your Grace Ki We thanke thee for thy seruice valient Earle Challenge our fauour for we owe it thee Sa: But now my Lord as this is ioyful newes So must my voice be tragicall againe and I must sing of dolefull accidents Ki What haue our men the ouerthrow at Poitiers Oris our sonne beset with too much odds Sa. He was my Lord and as my worthlesse selfe With fortie other seruiceable knights Vnder safe conduct of the Dolphins seale Did trauaile that way finding him distrest A troupe of Launces met vs on the way Surprisd and brought vs prisoners to the king Who proud of this and eager of reuenge Commanded straight to cut of all our heads And surely we had died but that the Duke More full of honor then his angry syre Procurd our quicke deliuerance from thence But ere we went salute your king quoth hee Bid him prouide a funerall for his sonne To day our sword shall cut his thred of life And sooner then he thinkes we le be with him To quittance those displeasures he hath done This said we past not daring to reply Our harts were dead our lookes diffusd and wan Wandring at last we clymd vnto a hill From whence although our griefe were much before Yet now to see the occasion with our eies Did thrice so much increase our heauines For there my Lord oh there we did descry Downe in a vallie how both armies laie The French had cast their trenches like a ring And euery Barricados open front Was thicke imbost with brasen ordynaunce Heere stood a battaile of ten thousand horse There twise as many pikes in quadrant wise Here Crosbowes and deadly wounding darts And in the midst like to a slender poynt Within the compasse of the horison as t were a rising bubble in the sea A Hasle wand a midst a wood of Pynes Or as a beare fast chaind vnto a stake Stood famous Edward still expecting when Those doggs of Fraunce would fasten on his flesh Anon the death procuring knell begins Off goe the Cannons that with trembling noyse Did shake the very Mountayne where they stood Then sound the Trumpets clangor in the aire The battailes ioyne and when we could no more Discerne the difference twixt the friend and so So intricate the darke confusion was Away we turnd our watrie eies with sighs as blacke as pouder fuming into smoke And thus I feare vnhappie haue I told The most vntimely tale of Edwards fall Qu Ah me is this my welcome into Fraunce Is this the comfort that I lookt to haue When I should meete with my belooued sonne Sweete Ned I would thy mother
take Horse and post from hence Onely before thou goest sweare by thy faith That if thou canst not compasse my desire Thou wilt returne my prisoner backe againe And that shal be sufficient warrant for mee Vil: To that condition I agree my Lord And will vnfaynedly performe the same Exit Sal: Farewell Villiers Thus once I meane to trie a French mans faith Exit Enter King Edward and Derby with Souldiers Kin: Since they refuse our profered league my Lord And will not ope their gates and let vs in We will intrench our selues on euery side That neither vituals nor supply of men May come to succour this accursed towne Famine shall combate where our swords are stopt Enter sixe poore Frenchmen Der. The promised aid that made them stand aloofe Is now retirde and gone an other way It will repent them of their stubborne will But what are these poore ragged slaues my Lord Ki Edw Aske what they are it seemes they come from Callis Der. You wretched patterns of dispayre and woe What are you liuing men er glyding ghosts Crept from your graues to walke vpon the earth Poore No ghosts my Lord but men that breath a life Farre worse then is the quiet sleepe of death Wee are distressed poore inhabitants That long haue been deseased sicke and lame And now because we are not fit to serue The Captayne of the towne hath thrust vs foorth That so expence of victuals may be saued K. Ed. A charitable deed no doubt and worthy praise But how do you imagine then to speed We are your enemies in such a case We can no lesse but put ye to the sword Since when we proffered truce it was refusde So: And if your grace no otherwise vouchsafe As welcome death is vnto vs as life Ki Poore silly men much wrongd and more distrest Go Derby go and see they be relieud Command that victuals be appoynted them And giue to euery one fiue Crownes a peece The Lion scornes to touch the yeelding pray And Edwards sword must fresh it selfe in such As wilfull stubbornnes hath made peruerse Enter Lord Pearsie Ki Lord Persie welcome what 's the newes in England Per: The Queene my Lord comes heere to your Grace And from hir highnesse and the Lord vicegerent I bring this happie tidings of successe Dauid of Scotland lately vp in armes Thinking belike he soonest should preuaile Your highnes being absent from the Realme Is by the fruitfull seruice of your peeres And painefull trauell of the Queene her selfe That big with child was euery day in armes Vanquisht subdude and taken prisoner Ki Thanks Persie for thy newes with all my hart What was he tooke him prisoner in the field Per. A Esquire my Lord Iohn Copland is his name Who since intreated by her Maiestie Denies to make surrender of his prize To anie but vnto your grace alone Whereat the Queene is greouously displeasd Ki Well then we le haue a Pursiuaunt dispatch To summon Copland hither out of hand And with him he shall bring his prisoner king Per: The Queene my Lord her selfe by this at Sea And purposeth as soone as winde will serue To land at Callis and to visit you Ki She shall be welcome and to wait her comming I le pitch my tent neere to the sandy shore Enter a Captayne The Burgesses of Callis mighty king Haue by a counsell willingly decreed To yeeld the towne and Castle to your hands Vpon condition it will please your grace To graunt them benefite of life and goods K. Ed. They wil so Then belike they may command Dispose elect and gouerne as they list No sirra tell them since they did refuse Our princely clemencie at first proclaymed They shall not haue it now although they would Will accept of nought but fire and sword Except within these two daies sixe of them That are the welthiest marchaunts in the towne Come naked all but for their linnen shirts With each a halter hangd about his necke And prostrate yeeld themselues vpon their knees To be afflicted hanged or what I please And so you may informe their masterships Exeunt Cap. Why this it is to trust a broken staffe Had we not been perswaded Iohn our King Would with his armie haue releeud the towne We had not stood vpon defiance so But now t 's past that no man can recall And better some do go to wrack then all Exit Enter Charles of Normandy and Villiers Ch: I wounder Villiers thou shouldest importune me For one that is our deadly ennemie Vil: Not for his sake my gratious Lord so much Am I become an earnest aduocate As that thereby my ransome will be quit Ch: Thy ransome man why needest thou talke of that Art thou not free and are not all occasions That happen for aduantage of our foes To be accepted of and stood vpon Vil: No good my Lord except the same be iust For profit must with honor be comixt Or else our actions are but scandalous But letting passe these intricate obiections Wilt please your highnes to subscribe or no Ch. Villiers I will not nor I cannot do it Salisbury shall not haue his will so much To clayme a pasport how it pleaseth himselfe Vil: Why then I know the extremitie my Lord I must returne to prison whence I came Ch Returne I hope thou wilt not What bird that hath escapt the fowlers gin Will not beware how shee s insnard againe Or what is he so senceles and secure That hauing hardely past a dangerous gulfe Will put him selfe in perill there againe Vil: Ah but it is mine othe my gratious Lord Which I in conscience may not violate Or else a kingdome should not draw me hence Ch: Thine othe why that doth bind thee to abide Hast thou not sworne obedience to thy Prince Vil: In all things that vprightly he commands But either to perswade or threaten me Not to performe the couenant of my word Is lawlesse and I need not to obey Ch: Why is it lawfull for a man to kill And not to breake a promise with his foe Vil: To kill my Lord when warre is once proclaymd So that our quarrel be for wrongs receaude No doubt is lawfully permitted vs But in an othe we must be well aduisd How we do sweare and when we once haue sworne Not to infringe it though we die therefore Therefore my Lord as willing I returne As if I were to flie to paradise Ch: Stay my Villeirs thine honorable minde Deserues to be eternally admirde Thy sute shal be no longer thus deferd Giue me the paper I le subscribe to it And wheretofore I loued thee as Villeirs Heereafter I le embrace thee as my selfe Stay and be still in fauour with thy Lord Vil: I humbly thanke your grace I must dispatch And send this pasport first vnto the Earle And then I will attend your highnes pleasure Ch. Do so Villeirs and Charles when he hath neede Be such his souldiers howsoeuer he speede Exit Villeirs