fame hath for his valour blazon'd Not onely through Mantua But through the spatious bounds of Italie Where 't was shown Ferar. Hath fame been so injurious to thy merit That this great Court is not already fil'd With rumour of their matchlesse chevalrie Flor. If these be they as by their outward semblance They promise not much lesse same hath been harbinger To speak their praise before hand Noble Gentlemen You have much grac't our Court we thank you for 't And though no way according to your merits Yet will we strive to cherish such brave spirits Spenc. Th' acceptance of our smallest service Sir Is bounty above gold w' are poor Gentlemen And though we cannot gladly would deserve Goodl. 'Tas pleas'd these princes to bestow on us Too great a character and gild our praises Far above our deserts Flor. That 's but your modesty English Gentlemen let fame speak for you Farar. Gentlemen of England we pardon you all duty We accept you as our friends and our companions Such you are and such we do esteem you Spencer Mighty Prince Such boldnesse wants excuse Flor. Come wee 'll ha't so Amazement can it be Sure 't is the self same jewell I gave the English Lady more I view it More it confirmes my knowledge now is no time To question it once more renowned Englishmen Welcome to us and to these Princes Enter Ruffman Ruff. Can any man shew mee the great Duke of Florence March. Behold the Prince Ruff. Daigne thou renowned Duke to cast thy eyes Vpon a poor dejected Gentleman Whom fortune hath dejected even to nothing I have nor meat nor money these rags are all my riches Onely necessity compells me claim A debt owing by you Flor. By us Let 's know the summe and how the debt acrues Ruff. You have proclaim'd to him could bring the head Of the Bandetties Captain for his reward A thousand crowns Now I being a Gentleman A traveller and in want made this my way To raise my ruin'd hope I singled him Fought with him hand to hand and from his bloody shoulders Lopt this head Flor. Boldly and bravely done what e're thou be Thou shalt receive it from our treasurie Ruff. You shew your self as fame reports you A bounteous Prince and liberall to all strangers Flor. From what countrey Do you claim your birth Ruff. From England royall Sir Flor. These bold Englishmen I think are all compos'd of spirit and fire The element of earth hath no part in them Mant. If as you say from England we retein Some of your Countreymen know you these Gentlemen Ruff. Let me no longer live in extasie This wonder will confound me Noble friends Bootlesse it were to ask you why because I finde you here Illustrious Duke you owe Me nothing now to shew me these is reward Beyond what you proclaim'd the rest I pardon Flor. What these are we know And what thou art we need not question much That head though mute can speak it Princes once more receive our royall welcome Oh but the jewell but of that at leasure Now we cannot stay Our train lead on Florish Exeunt Dukes Spenc. Oh that we three so happily should meet And want the fourth Ruff. I left her in the hands of rape and murther Whence except some deity 'T was not in the power of man to rescue her How ever a good office I have done her Which even in death her soul will thank me for Reveng'd her on that villain Goodl. It hath exprest the noblenesse of thy Spirit For it we still shall owe thee Ruff. But what adventure hath prefer'd you And brought you thus in grace Goodl. You shall hereafter Pertake of that at large But leaving this discourse With our joynt perswasions let 's strive to comfort him That 's nothing but discomfort Ruff. Would I had brought him news of that rare vertue Yet you have never heard of our late shipwrack Goodl. Clem reported it Ruff. How Clem wher 's he Goodl. He has got a service hard by and draws wine Ruff. His master may well trust him with his maids For since the Beshaws gelded him he has learn'd To run exceeding nimbly Enter Merchant Merch. Sir 't is to you I take it My message is directed The Duke would have some conference with you but it must be in private Spenc. I am his servant still at his command Where shall 's meet anon Goodl. At Clems Spencer Content Goodl. Where wee 'll make a due relation of all our desperate fortunes Ruff. 'T is concluded Exeunt Explicit Actus quartus Actus quintus Scena prima Enter Duke of Florence and Spencer Flor. I Cannot rest till I am fully resolv'd About this jewell Sir we sent to stay you And wean you some small season from your friends And you above the rest because your presence Doth promise good discourse Spenc. Sir I am all yours Flor. How long hath been your sojourn here in Florence Spencer Two daies no more Flor. Have you since your arivall Retain'd no beauteous Mistrisse Pardon me Sir that I am come thus near you Spencer On my soul Not any royall Sir Flor. Think it my love that I presume thus farre To question you Have you observ'd no Ladie Of speciall note courted or discourst with any Within these two daies Spenc. Vpon my honour none Flor. You are a souldier and a Gentleman And should speak all truth Spenc. If otherwise I should disclaim my gentry Flor. I beleev you Sir You have a rich jewell here Worthy a Princes wearing t were not modestie To ask how you came by it or from whom Spenc. Nor can I Sir resolve you if you did But it was cast me by a Lady of whom As then I took small notice of my minde Being troubled Flor. 'T is even so Spenc. Perhaps your grace by knowing of this jewell May know the beauteous slinger and so You might engage me deeply to acquaint me with her To prove her gratefull debtor Flor. No such thing You know none in this Citie Spenc. Worse then scorn Or foul disgrace befall me if I know Any you can call woman Flor. Be not moved I spoke but this in sport Sure this strange Lady Casting her eye upon this Gentleman Grew straight of him inamour'd which makes her Keep off from my embraces but I le sound all Yet my own wrongs prevent Sir I staid you But to another purpose to commit A weighty secret to you Spenc. Wer 't of millions I de prove your faithfull steward Flor. I have a Mistrisse that I tender dearer Then mine own eyes Observe me dearer Sir Whom neither courtship moves favours can work Nor no preferment tempt Spenc. How rich were he Could call himself lord of such a jewell Flor. My intreaties friends perswasions importunities Of my chast Ladies cannot prevail at all Now would I chose a stranger selecting thee To bear to her these few lines which contein The substance of my minde Spencer And Sir I shall Flor. In thy aspect I
no distast nor discontented brow Appeare in you their lust I le make the ground To set all free or keep your honour sound Disperse the King 's on comming Flourish Enter Mullisheg Tota Ioffer and Alcade Mull. We consecrate this evening beautious Bride To'ch honour of your nuptialls Is all done Goodl. Done Tot. Is he ours Ruff. Yours Tot. And wee ever thine Goodl. I and so cast that she shall grasp you freely And think she hugs her Spencer Ruff. And when he bosoms you thinkes he infolds His lovely Besse Tot. Thou mak'st a Queen thy servant Goodl. Your highnesse Signet to command our passage from chamber to chamber Mull. 'T is there Goodl. The word Mull. 'T is Mullisheg Goodl. This must bring us safe aboard Mull. We keep the Bride Too long from rest now she is free for bed Tot. Please her to accept it In honour of her beauty this night I le do her any service Besse Mighty princesse Excuse my breeding from such arrogance And overbold presumption you nor yours Can owe me any duty 't is besides The fashion of our countrey not to trust The secrets of a nuptiall night like this To the eyes of any stranger Tot. At your pleasure Bess. With our first nights unlacing mighty Queen We dare not trust our husbands 't is a modestie Our English maids professe Mull. Keep your own customes as you shall think best So for this night we leave you to your rest Tot. Remember Ruff. 'T is writ here Mull. Captain Exeunt Manet Goodlack Goodl. I am fast Now is my task in labour and is plung'd In thousand throes of childebirth dangerous it is To deal where kings affaires are questiond Or may be parled But what 's he so base That would not all his utmost powers extend For freedome of his countrey and his friend When all the Court is silent sunk in dreams Then must my spirits awake By this the King H 'as tane his leave of bride and bridegrome too And th' amorous Queen longs for some happy news From Ruffman as great Fesse expects from us My friend and Besse wrapt in a thousand fears To finde my plot in action and it now Must take new life auspitious fate thy aide To guard the honour of this English maid Exit Enter Ruffman ushuring the Queen Ruff. Tread soft good Madam Tot. Is this the Chamber Ruff. I le bring him instantly He thinks this bed provided for his Besse And that she lodges here while she poore soul Embraceth nought but ayre Tot. Thou mak'st a Queen thy servant Ruff. Beware be not too loud lest that your tongue Betraies you Tot. Mute as night As silent and as secret Wrongs should be Paid with wrongs for so indeed 't is meet My just revenge though secret yet 't is sweet Haste time and hast our bounty Ruff. Queen I shall So now were we all safe and in our Negro shipt Might'st thou lie there till dooms day lustfull Queen Exit Enter Goodlack and the King Goodl. My lord the custome is in England still For maids to go to bed before their husbands It saves their cheek from many a modest blush King And in the dark Goodl. We use it for the most part King Soft may their bones lie in their beds of ashes That brought this custome into England first Goodl. This the place where Besse expects her Spencer King Thou Viceroy of Argiers for Captain that Is now thy title thou hast won a King To be thy breast companion Goodl. Not too loud Why enters not your highnesse you are safe King With as much joy as to our prophets rest But what thinks Spencer of this Goodl. I have shifted in her place A certain Moor whom I have hir'd for money Which poore soul he entertains for Besse King My excellent friend Goodl. Beware of conference lest your tongue reveals What this safe darknesse hides King I am all silent Oh thou contentfull night into thy arms Of all that ere I tasted sweetest and best I throw me more for pleasure then for rest Exit King Goodl. One fury claspe another and there beget Young devills between you so fair Besse be safe I have here the kings signet this will yeeld us Way through the court and city Besse being mask't How can she be discride when none suspect Our flight this day not dream't on now to execute What was before purpos'd which if it speed I le say the heavens have in our fates agreed Exit Enter Besse Spencer and Ruffman Spenc. How goes the night Ruff. T is some two howers from day Besse Yet no news from the Captain Ruff. I have done a Midwives part I have brought the Queen to bed I could do no more Enter Goodlack Spenc. The Captain is come Besse Thy news Goodl. All safe faith wench I have put them to it for a single combate I have left them at it Besse King and Queen Goodl. The same Ruff. Now for us Goodl. I ther 's all the danger ther 's one Bashaw Whose eyes is fixt on Spencer and he now Walks e'ne before our lodging Besse Then what 's past Is all yet to no purpose Goodl. He and I May freely passe the Court and you fair Besse I would disguise but then for Spencer Besse Why that 's the main of all all without his freedome That we can aime at 's nothing Spenc. It shall be thus which alter none that loves me With this signet you three shall passe to 'th ship Whil'st I 'me in sight she will not be suspected My escape leaue to my own fair fortunes Besse How that Spenc. Through twenty Bashaws I will hew my way But I will see thee e're morning Besse Think'st thou Spencer That I will leave thee thinkst thou that I can Thou maist as well part body from the soul As part us now It is our wedding night Would'st now divide us Spenc. Yeeld to times necessities and to our strict disasters Goodl. Words are vain We now must cleave to action our stay 's death And if we be not quick in expedition We all perish Spenc. Besse be swaid Besse To go to sea without thee And leave thee subject unto a tyrants cruelty I le dye a thousand deaths first Spenc. First save one And by degrees the rest When thou hast past The perills of this night I am half safe But whilst thou art still invirond more then better Half of my part 's indanger'd Goodl. Talk your selves To your deaths do will you venter forth Leave me to the Bashaw Ruff. Or me I le buffet with him for my passage Spenc. Neither in what I purpose I am constant Conduct her safe th' advantage of the night I le take for my escape and my sweet Besse If in the morning I behold thee not Safe within my Negro be assur'd I am dead Nay now delaies are vain Besse Sir did you love Me you would not stay behinde me Spenc. I le ha 't so Gentlemen be charie of this jewell That throws her self into
have any grace with mighty Fesse Mul. We can deny thee nothing beautious maid A kisse shall be his pardon Bes. Thus I pay 't Clem. Must your black face be smooching my Mistresses white lips with a moorian I would you had kist her a Alc. Ha how is that sir Clem. I know what I say sir I would he had kist her a Alcade A what Clem. A thousand times to have done him a pleasure Enter Spencer and Goodlacke Mull. That kisse was worth the ransome of a King What 's he of that brave presence Besse A Gentleman of England and my friend Doe him some grace for my sake Mull. For thy sake what would not I performe Hee shall have grace and honour Ioffer goe And see him gelded to attend on us He shall be our chiefe Eunuch Besse Not for ten worlds Behold great king I stand Betwixt him and all danger Have I found thee Ceaze what I have take both my ship and goods Leave nought that 's mine unrifled spare me him And have I found my Spencer Clem. Please your Majestie I see all men are not capable of honour what he he refuseth may it please you to bestow on me Mull. With all my heart Goe beare him hence Alcade Into our Alkedavy honour him And let him taste the razor Clem. There 's honour for me Alc. Come follow Clem. No sir I le goe before you for mine honour Exit Spenc. Oh shew your selfe renowned king the same Fame blazons you bestow this Maid on me T is such a gift as kingdomes cannot buy She is a president of all true love And shall be registred to after times That ne'er shall patterne her Goodl. Heard you the story of their constant love 'T would move in you compassion Rough. Let not intemperate love sway you bove pitty That forraigne nation that ne'er heard your name May chronicle your vertues Mull. You have wakend in me an heroick spirit Lust shall not conquer vertue Till this hower We grac'd thee for thy beauty English woman But now we wonder at thy constancy Bes. Oh were you of our faith I de sweare great Mullisheg To be a god on earth And lives my Spencer In troath I thought thee dead Spenc. In hope of thee I liv'd to gaine both life and libertie Enter Clem running Clem. No more of your honour if you love me Is this your Moorish preferment to rob a man of his best jewels Mul. Hast thou seene our Alkedavy Clem. Davy doe you call him he may be call'd shavee I am sure he hath tickled my currant commodity No more your cutting honour if you love me Mul. All your strange fortunes we will heare discourst And after that your faire espousals grace If you can finde a man of your beliefe To doe that gratefull office Spenc. None more fit Then this religious and grave Gentleman Late rescewed from deaths sentence Preacher None more proud To doe you that poore service Mul. Noble Englishman I cannot fasten bounty to my will Worthy thy merit move some suite to us Spencer To make you more renown'd great king and us The more indebted there 's an Englishman Hath forfeited his ship for goods uncustom'd Mul. Thy suite is granted ere it be halfe begg'd Dispose them at thy pleasure Spenc. Mighty king We are your Highnesse servants Mul. Come beautious Maid wee 'll see thee crown'd a bride At all our pompous banquets these shall waite Thy followers and thy servants presse with gold And not the mean'st that to thy traine belongs But shall approve our bounty Leade in state And wheresoe'er thy fame shall be inroll'd The world report thou art a Girle worth gold Explicit Actus quintus FINIS THE FAIR MAID OF THE WEST OR A Girle worth gold The second part As it was lately acted before the King and Queen with approved liking By the Queens Majesties Comedians Written by T. H. LONDON Printed for Richard Royston and are to be sold at his Shop in Ivie Lane 1631 To the true favourer of the Muses and all good Arts Thomas Hammon Esquire of Graies Inne c. THe first part of this work I bestowed upon your friend Mr. Iohn Othow the second I have confer'd upon you both being incorporated into one House and noble Societie The proximitie in your Chambers and much familiar conference having bred a mutuall correspondencie betwixt you The prime motive inviting me to this Dedication the much love and many courtesies reflecting upon me from you both Being the rather incouraged thereunto that though the subject it self carry no great countenance in the Title yet it hath not onely past the censure of the Plebe and Gentrie but of the Patricians and Praetextatae as also of our royall Augustus and Livia The reason why I have selected you my Patrons was to exclude my self from the number of those of whom Iuvenal speaks Satyre 7. Scire volunt omnes mercedem solvere nemo Please you at any of your more leasur'd houres to vouchsafe the perusall of these sleight papers your acceptance shall be my recompence Receive my wishes for your earths happinesse in millions for your heavens blisse in myriads Taking my leave of you with that in Adelph Nunquam ita magnifice quicquam dicam Id virtus quin superet tua Yours plenally devoted THOMAS HEYVVOOD To the READER CVrteous Reader if thou beest tired in the first part I would not wish thee to be travel'd in the second but I hope much better and that thou didst leave in the last as one that came late to his Inne to rest himself for that night onely with purpose to go on with the second as he that riseth early the next morning having refresh't himself to proceed on his journey By this time you cannot choose but be acquainted with the most of our Acts but not with all and more particularly for Spencer and his westerne Besse With these Countreymen of ours in their fellowship you have heard the beginning of their troubles but are not yet come to the end of their travells in which you may accompany them on land without the prejudice of deep wayes or robbers and by Sea free from the danger of rocks or Pirates as neither using horse or ship more then this book in thine hand and thy chaire in thy chamber More complement I purpose not and I hope thou expectest not Farewell One studious to be thine T. H. Dramatis Personae TOota Queen of Fesse and wife of Mullisheg By heophilus Bourne Bashaw I offer Ruffman Clem the Clown Mullisheg King of Fesse Bashaw Alcade By Mr. Anonie Turner Mr. Spencer Capt. Goodlacke Forset Besse Bridges A Porter of the kings gate A Lieutenant of the Moors A Guard A Negro A Chorus A Captain of the Bandetti The D. of Florence with followers By Mr. Ioh. Somner The Duke of Mantua By Rob. Axall The D. of Farara By Christoph. Goad An English Merchant Two Florentine lords Pedro Venturo Generall at Sea for the D. of Florence THE FAIRE MAID