THE MARTYRD Souldier As it was sundry times Acted with a generall applause at the Private house in Drury lane and at other publicke Theaters By the Queenes Majesties servants The Author H. SHIRLEY Gent. LONDON Printed by I. Okes and are to be sold by Francis Eglesfield at his house in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Mary-gold 1638 To the right worshipfull Sir Kenelme Digby Knight SIR WOrkes of this Nature may fitly be compared to small and narrow rivolets that at first derive themselves to greater Rivers and afterwards are discharged into the maine Ocean So Poesie rising from obscure and almost unminded beginnings hath often advanc'd it Selfe even to the thrones of Princes witnesse that ever-living Worke of renowned Virgil so much admired and favoured by magnificent Augustus Nor can I much wonder that great men and those of Excellent parts have so often preferred Poesie it being indeed the sweetest and best speaker of all Noble Actions Nor were they wont in ancient times to preferre those their Workes to them they best knew but vnto some Person highly endued with Vallour Learning and such other Graces as render one man farre more Excellent then many others And this I hope may excuse my boldnesse in this Dedication being so much a stranger to your Worships knowledge onely presuming upon your Noble temper ever apt to cherish well-affected studies Likewise this peice seemeth to have a more speciall kind of relation to your Selfe more then to many others it being an Exact and perfect patterne of a truly Noble and Warlick Christian When it first appeared upon the Stage it went off with Applause and favour and my hope is it may yeild your Worship as much content as my selfe can wish who ever rest to be commaunded by your worship In all duty and observance I. K. To the Courteous Reader TO make too large an explanation of this following Poem were but to beguile thy appetite and somewhat dull thy expectation but the worke it selfe being now an Orphant and wanting him to protect that first begot it it were an iniury to his memory to passe him unspoken of For the man his Muse was much Courted but no common mistresse and though but seldome seene abroad yet ever much admired at This worke not the meanest of his labours has much adorned not only one but many Stages with such a generall applause as it hath drawne even the Rigid Stoickes of the Time who though not for pleasure yet for profit have gathered something out of his plentifull Vineyard My hopes are it wil prove no lesse pleasing to the Reader then it has formerly beene to the Spectators and so prooving I have my aime and full desire fare-well The Actors Names Genzerick King of the Vandals Anthonie 3. Noble men Damianus 3. Noble men Cosmo 3. Noble men Hubert A brave commander Henerick the Prince Bellizarius the Generall Eugenius a Christian Bishop Epidaurus a Lord 2. Physitians 2. Pagans 1. Camell-driver 2 Camell-driver Victoria Wife to Bellizarius Bellina his Daughter A Souldier 2. Angels 2. Christians tonguelesse Clowne Constable 3. Watchmen 3. Huntsmen 3. Other Camell-drivers Officers and Souldiers The Martyr'd Souldier Actus primus Scoena prima Enter Genzerick King of the Vandalls sicke on his Bed Anthony Damianus Cosmo and Lords King AWay leave off your golden Flatteries I know I cannot live there 's one lies here Brings me the newes my glories my greatnes Are come to nothing Anth. Be not your selfe the Bell To tolle you to the Grave and the good Fates For ought we see may winde upon your bottome A thred of excellent length Cosm. We hope the gods have not such rugged hands To snatch yee from us King Cosmo Damianus and Anthony you upon whom The Vandall State doth leane for my back 's too weake I tell you once agen that surly Monarch Who treads on all Kings throats hath sent to me His proud Embassadours I have given them Audience Here in our Chamber Royall nor could that move me To meete Death face to face were my great worke Once perfected in Affrick by my sonne I meane that generall sacrifice of Christians Whose blood would wash the Temples of our gods And win them bow downe their immortall eyes Vpon our offerings yet I talke not idly Yet Anthonie I may for sleepe I thinke Is gone out of my Kingdome it is else fled To th' poore for sleepe oft takes the harder bed And leaves the downy pillow of a King Cosm. Try Sir if Musick can procure your rest King Cosmo 't is sinne to spend a thing so precious On him that cannot weare it No no no Musick But if you needs will charme my o're-watcht eyes Now growne too monstrous for their lids to close If you so long to fill these Musick-roomes With ravishing sounds indeed unclaspe that booke Turne o're that Monument of Martyrdomes Read there how Genzerick h 'as serv'd the gods And made their Altars drunke with Christians blood Whil'st their loath'd bodies flung in funerall piles Like Incense burnt in Pyramids of fire And when their flesh and bones were all consum'd Their ashes up in Whirle-winds flew i' th Ayre To show that of foure Elements not one had care Of them dead or alive Read Anthony Anth. 'T is swelld to a faire Volume King Would I liv'd to adde a second part too 't read listen No Vandall ere writ such a Chronicle Anth. Five hundred broyl'd to death in Oyle and Lead Seven hundred flead alive their Carkasses Throwne to King Genzericks hounds King Ha ha brave Hunting Anth. Vpon the great day of Apollo's Feast The fourth Moneth of your Reigne King On give me more Let me dye fat with laughing Anth. Thirty faire Mothers big with Christian brats Vpon a scaffold in the Palace plac'd Had first their dugges sear'd off their wombes ript up About their miscreant heads their first borne Sonnes Tost as a Sacrifice to Iupiter On his great day and the Ninth Month of Genzerick King A Play a Comicall Stage our Palace was Any more oh let me surfeit Anth. Foure hundred Virgins ravisht King Christian Whores common 't is common Anth. And then their trembling bodies tost on the Pikes Of those that spoyl'd 'em sacrific'd to Pallas King More more hang Mayden-heads Christian Maiden-heads Anth. This leafe is full of tortur'd Christians Some pauncht some starv'd some eyes and braines bor'd out Some whipt to death some torne by Lyons King Damianus I cannot live to heare my service out Such haste the gods make to reward me Omnes Looke to the King Shouts within Enter Hubert King What shouts are these see Cosmo Cos. Good newes my Lord here comes Hubert from the warrs Hub. Long life and health wait ever on the King King Hubert thy wishes are come short of both Hast thou good newes be briefe then and speake quickly I must else heare thee in another World Hub. In briefe then know Henrick your valiant sonne With Bellizarius and my selfe come laden
gibbrish tell me honestly Where the Cause lies and give a Remedy And that with speed or in despight of Art Of Nature you and all your heavenly motions I le recollect so much of life into me As shall give space to see you tortur'd Some body told me that a Bath of mans blood Would restore me Christians shall pay for 't Fetch the Bishop hither he shall begin Cosm. Hee 's gone for King What 's my disease 1. Phys. My Lord you are poyson'd King I told thee so my selfe and told thee how But what 's the reason that I have no helpe The Coffers of my Treasury are full Or if they were not tributary Christians Bring in sufficient store to pay your fees If that you gape at 2. Phys. Wilt please your Highnesse then to take this Cordiall Gold never truely did you good till now King 'T is gone 2. Phys. My Lord it was the perfectst tincture Of Gold that ever any Art produc'd With it was mixt a true rare Quintessence Extracted out of Orientall Bezar And with it was dissolv'd the Magisteriall Made of the Horne Armenia so much boasts of Which though dull Death had usurp't Natures right Is able to create new life agen King Why does it good on men and not on Kings We have the selfe-same passages for Nature With mortall men our pulses beate like theirs We are subject unto passions as they are I finde it now but to my griefe I finde Life stands not with us on such ticklish points What is 't because we are Kings Life takes it leave With greater state No no the envious gods Maligne our happinesse Oh that my breath had power With my last words to blast their Deities 1. Phys. The Cordiall that you tooke requires rest For healths sake good my Lord repose your selfe King Yes any thing for health draw round the Curtaines Dam. Wee 'le watch by him whilst you two doe consult 1. Phys. VVhat guesse you by that Vrine 2. Phys. Surely death 1. Phys. Death certaine without contradiction For though the Vrin be a whore and lies Yet where I finde her in all parts agree VVith other Symtomes of apparent death I le give her faith Pray Sir doe but marke These blacke Hypostacies it plainely shewes Mortification generally through the spirits And you may finde the Pulse to shew as much By his uncertainty of time and strength 2. Phys. VVe finde the spirits often suffisticated By many accidents but yet not mortified A sudden feare will doe it 1. Phys. Very right But there 's no malitious humour mixt As in the King sir you must understand A Scorpion stung him now a Scorpion is A small compacted creature in whom Earth Hath the predominance but mixt with fire So that in him Saturne and Mars doe meet This little Creature hath his severall humours And these their excrements these met together Enflam'd by anger made a deadly poison And by how much the creatures body 's lesse By so much is the force of venome more As Lightning through a windows Casement Hurts more than that which enters at the doore 2. Phys. But for the way to cure it 1. Phys. Know none Yet Ancient VVriters have prescrib'd us many As Theophrastus holds most excellent Diophoratick Medicines to expell Ill vapours from the noble parts by sweate But Avices and also Rabby Roses Doe thinke it better by provoking Vrin Since by the Urine blood may well be purg'd And spirits from the blood have nutriment But for my part I ever held opinon In such a case the ventosies are best 2 Phys. They are indeed and they doe farre exceede 1 Phys. All the great curious Cataphlasmes Or the live taile of a deplum'd Henne Or your hot Pigeons or your quartered Whelpes For they by a meere forc'd attractive power Retaine that safely which by force was drawne Whereas the other things I nam'd before Doe lose their vertue as they lose their heat 2 Phys. The ventosies shall be our next intensions Anton. Pray Gentlemen attend his Highnesse King Your next intentions be to drowne your selves Dogge-leaches all I see I am not mortall For I with patience have thus long endur'd Beyond the strength of all mortality But now the thrice heate furnace of my bosome Disdaineth bounds doe not I scorch you all Goe goe you are all but prating Mountebankes Quacksalvers and Imposures get you all from me 2 Phys. These Ventosies my Lord will give you ease King A vengeance on thy Ventosies and thee Enter Eugenius Anton. The Bishop Sir is come King Christian thy blood Must give me ease and helpe Eugen. Drinke then thy fill None of the Fathers that begot sweet Physick That Divine Lady comforter to man Invented such a medicine as mans blood A drinke so pretious should not be so spilt Take mine and heaven pardon you the guilt King A Butcher see his throat cut Eugen. I am so farre from shrinking that mine owne hands Sall bare my throat and am so farre from wishing Ill to you that mangle me that before My blood shall wash these Rushes King I will cure thee 1. Phys. You cure him King Speak on fellow Eug. If I doe not Restore your limbes to soundnesse drive the poyson From the infected part study your tortures To teare me peece-meale yet be kept alive King Oh reverent man come neare me worke this wonder Aske gold honours any any thing The sublunary treasures of this world Can yeeld and they are thine Eug. I will doe nothing without a recompence King A royall one Omnes Name what you would desire King Stand by you trouble him A recompence can my Crowne buy thee take it Reach him my Crowne and plant it on his head Eug. No here 's my bargaine King Quickly oh speake quickly Off with the good-mans Irons Eug. Free all those Christians which are now thy slaves In all thy Cittadels Castles Fortresses Those in Bellanna and Mersaganna Those in Alempha and in Hazaneth Those in thy Gallies those in thy Iayles and Dungeons King Those any where my Signet take my Signet And free all on your lives free all the Christians What dost thou else desire Eug. This that thy selfe trample upon thy Pagan gods Omnes Sir King Away Eug. Wash your soule white by wading in the streame Of Christian gore King I will turne Christian Dam. Better wolves worry this accursed King Better Have Bandogs worry all of you than I To languish in a torment that feedes on me As if the Furies bit me I le turne Christian And if I doe not let the Thunder pay My breach of promise cure me good old man And I will call thee father thou shalt have A King come kneeling to thee every Morning To take a blessing from thee and to heare thee Salute him as a Sonne When when is this wonder Eug. Now you are well Sir King Ha! Eug. Has your paine left you King Yes see else Damianus Antony Cosmo I am well Omnes He does it by inchantment 1. Phys. By
from Christians and drinke up the teares Of those alive halfe slaughter'd in their feares Hub. Father I le not offend you have you done So long chusing one Crowne Anton. Let Drums and Trumpets proclaime Hubert our King Omnes Sound Drummes and Trumpets Hub. I have it then as well by voyce as sword For should you hold it backe it would be mine I claime it then by conquest fields are wonne By yeelding as by stroakes yet noble Vandals I will lay by the Conquest and acknowledge That your hands and your hearts the pinacles are On which my greatnesse mounts unto this height And now in sight of you and heaven I sweare By those new sacred fires kindled within me 'T is not your hope of Gold my brow desires A thronging Court to me is but a Cell These popular acclamations which thus dance I' th Aire should passe by me as whistling windes Playing with leaves of trees I 'me not ambitious Of Titles glorious and majesticall But what I doe is to save blood save you I meane to be a husband for you all And fill you all with riches Epid. 'T is that we thirst for For all our bagges are emptied in these warres Rais'd by seditious Christians Hub. Peace thou foole They are not bags of gold that melts in fire Which I will fill your coffers with my treasury Are riches for your soules my armes are spread Like wings to protect Christians what have you done Proclaim'd a Christian King and Christian Kings Should not be bloody Omnes How turn'd Christian Eugen. O blest King happy day Omnes Must we forsake our gods then Hub. Violent streames Must not bee stopt by violence there 's an art To meete and put by the most boysterous wave 'T is now no policy for you to murmure Nor will I threaten a great counsell by you Shall straight be cal'd to set this frame in order Of this great state Omnes To that we all are willing Hub. Are you then willing this noble maid Shall be me Queene Omnes With all our hearts Hub. By no hand but by thine will we be Crown'd Come my Bellina Bel. Your vow is past to me that I should ever Preserve my Virgin honour that you would never Tempt me unto your bed Hub. That vow I keepe I vow'd so long as my knees bow'd to Iove To let you be your selfe But excellent Lady I now am seal'd a Christian as you are And you have sworne oft that when upon my fore-head That glorious Starre was stucke you would be mine In holy wedlocke come sweete you and I Shall from our loynes produce a race of Kings And ploughing up false gods set up one true Christians unborne crowning both me and you With praise as now with gold Bel. A fortunate day A great power prompts me on and I obey Flourish Omnes Long live Hubert and Bellina King and Queene Of Goths and Vandals Hub. Two royall Iewels you give me this and this Father your hand is lucky I am covetous Of one Gift more after your sacred way Make you this Queene a wife our Coronation Is turnd into a bridall Omnes All joy and happinesse Hub. To guard your lives will I lay out mine owne And like Vines plant you round about my throne The end of the fift and last Act To the Reader of this Play now come in Print THat this play 's old 't is true but now if any Should for that cause despise it we have many Reasons both just and pregnant to maintaine Antiquity and those too not all vaine We know and not long since there was a time Strong lines were not lookt after but if Rime O then 't was excellent who but beleeves That Doublets with stuft bellies and big sleeves And those Trunck-hose which now our Age doth scorne Were all in fashion and with custome worne And what 's now out of date who is 't can tell But it may come in fashion and sute well With rigour therefore judge not but with reason Since what you read was fitted to that season The Epilogue AS in a Feast so in a Comedy Two Sences must be pleas'd in both the Eye In Feasts the Eye and Taste must be invited In Comedies the Eye and Eare delighted And he that onely seekes to please but either While both he doth not please he pleaseth neither What ever Feast could every guest content When as t' each man each Taste is different But lesse a Scene where nought but as 't is newer Can please where Guests are more and Dishes fewer Yet in this thought this thought the Author eas'd Who once made all all but all never pleas'd Faine would we please the best if not the many And sooner will the best be pleas'd then any Our rest we set in pleasing of the best So we wish you what you may give us Rest FINIS NI-COLIA ARBOR IOVIS 1610 TAM ROBVR TAM ROBOR