THE Banish'd Duke OR THE TRAGEDY OF Infortunatus Acted at the Theatre Royal. Vivitur ingenio caetera mortis erunt Nil non mortale tenemus Pectoris exceptis ingeniique bonis Licensed and Entred according to Order LONDON Printed for R. Baldwin near the Oxford-Arms-Inn in Warwick-lane and Sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster MDCXC Prologue GReat lofty Spirits clogg'd with Clouds of Air Soar high in hopes and drown in deep despair Whilst discontented they turn by disdain Their Theatre of Joy to Sorrow's Scene For proof we 'll demonstrations to you bring Of what befel a more than Popish King And shew you one ambitious for a Crown Aspire in Air and in a Cloud fall down We 'll shew you Passion such as ne're was seen Cast up and cancell'd in a Roman Queen We 'll treat you with a Monster in disguise Vail'd with pretence and yet not cheat your eyes And if you relish not our dainty food We 'll fill you up a Glass of Rebels blood Blood that was shed and sacrific'd to ease The rage of Rome and Queen Papissa please And to shut up the Feast at last you shall Have for a dish a Christian Cannibal Like Ens Rationis real that 's more rare Than any Show that 's been in Smithfield-Fair Then for Desert we 'll bring you from the Skyes A Child conceiv'd and swaddled up in lyes Whose Father was and is not seen unknown Who like the Ostridge doth his brood disown His Mothers have supposed real been This yet unknown that an Imperious Queen And lest we Tantalize your Expectation With Crabs that set on edge this fruitful Nation We 'll haste the Dishes in and feed your senses With Hocus pranks and Catholick pretences Then rouse your appetites above the Sphere Of Meat and Drink we 'll blow you up with Air Air that shall make you vomit up your Dishes Of Transubstantiate Deities and Fishes But lest your quasy Stomachs should cast up Your Dainties drinking of the Roman Cup We 'll fill you out a Dram of Orange-juice Will Antidote a Surfeit and make Spruce Your drowsie Spirits Then present your eye With th' end of Pride and Prodigality Whose vain Results have since the world began Prov'd false uncertain and a great Trepan From hence then Prudence learn and be content With what you have Distractions to prevent And we will Objects never brought to light First let you see and after bid Good Night The Names of the Actors Romanus King of Albion Infortunatus Nephew to King Romanus Banish'd for pretending Right to the Crown Don Alberlo General of King Romanus's Army Cancellarius a Timist Favourite and Councellour of King Romanus Manlius Clericus Chaplain in Ordinary to King Romanus Oxonius a Church-Weather cock Mountebank of State and King Romanus's Friend Petrus Impostor a Jesuit and Father Confessor to Queen Papissa Calamus Tremebundas a subtile Sycophant King Romanus's great Favourite Don Ferdinando a Banish'd Peer of Albion and pretended Friend to Infortunatus Belgicus a Collonel and Favourite of Infortunatus Ingenioso Secretary and Counsellour to Infortunatus Banish'd by King Romanus Flavius Chaplain to Infortunatus Rogerus a Clown Knighted by Infortunatus Richardus a Country Clown who refused to be Knighted by Infortunatus Papissa a rigid Catholick and Queen to King Romanus Poviaena Queen Papissa's great Favourite and Councellour Form sa Catholica a Proselite Popish Nâ—mph Penelope a Country Maid in Love with Roger the Clown Petrona an obscure Catholick The Ghost of Antonaius Calastrophus Mayor Constables Page Messengers Executioner Midwife Children The Banish'd Duke OR THE TRAGEDY OF Infortunatus ACT. I. The SCENE a Village in Belgium Enter Infortunatus Belgicus and Ingenioso Infortunat WHat Fate doth me thus to Subjection bring The Splendid Issue of a Potent King I by Exploits in Germany and France My Valour shew'd and Fortune did advance And for this Crime my Royal Father sent Me from his Face to suffer Banishment Ingrateful Cruel Romans served thus Brave Belisarius and Andronicus Yet I in spight of Mortals am design'd To live and dye a Monarch in my mind Belgic Better Brave Prince to live thus in Exile Than be Confin'd within Great Albion's Isle It is too small environ'd by the Main Your swelling Orb of Greatness to contain On Earth's Vast Continent then live content Tho for a while you suffer Banishment Exit Belgicus Enter Flavius Flav. Great Prince your Father 's lately dead and gone And now your Unkle do's possess his Throne A Popish Prince that 's neither just nor wise Seduc'd by Fopperies Hocus pranks and lyes Doubt not the Truth of what I do Relate Blame not Misfortune but submit to Fate Infort What Is it true And is my Father dead And now Romanus Crowned in his stead Strange News Methinks the People have more Sence Than to be govern'd by a Roman Prince Are they who like their Prince were always free So easily Reduc'd to Slavery Poor Souls who from their Courage now have fell May hence for ever in Repentance swell To think they 've lost the fit time to Rebel Rebel Is it Rebellion to Depose A Prince long since Deposed by the Laws True Protestants there only ought to Sway To whom all Subjects should Allegiance pay 'T is only such that should possess that Throne No Roman Successour should sit thereon O Nation by Submission quite undone Do they not know if Christians once but do Give Gifts to Turks they 're after forc'd thereto For once Obeying makes Obedience due What 's to be done Flav. Will you live thus in Banishment and be Kick'd from three Kingdoms by Conspiracy Must you who was Great Albion's Darling now Unto an Out-Law'd Romish Scepter bow It is below your Spirit therefore choose Rather One Head than Three Crowns thus to lose Infort I 'le haste to Albion tho' my power be small I 'le either stand up right or quite down fall Display my Courage when I come ashore I 'll fright the Priests and daunt the Scarlet Whore I 'll use no Eloquence but plead with Swords That Right with Magnanimity affords Enter Don Ferdinando Ferd. What Still in Meditation 't is in vain Better you lose your Limbs than crack your Brain Rouse up your Soul if you your Country love Or love your Self quick into Action move Do you not hear Romanus doth possess The Throne whilst you Exil'd live Kingdomless Do you not know your great Ambition Lately exprest was to enjoy your own I mean that poor griev'd and distressed Nation That 's now Impos'd upon by Usurpation To which you are true or supposed Heir Ingen. Many have said what never One durst swear Aside Ferd. And laying by your Interest it would be Since you with ease may set the Nation free One of the greatest Acts of Charity Infort Pray tell me what is' t you would have me do I cannot walk nor speak nor think for you For whether my Exercise be bad or good The well-bred Ferdinando doth intrude Ferd. Call but a
It is a Sin Petr. It is no sin at all For Fornication is but Venial But know you not that I can Pardon Sin Formos 'T is not the right way that you do begin Petr. If you be so strait-lac'd and will not do I 'll have ten pound for Pardoning of you Formos Than be a Whore I 'll twenty pay in Gold But how can Pardons thus be bought and sold Petr. I am a Journy-man and 't is my Trade To spend my Lungs to gain my Daily Bread But if you love your self with speed confess Your Mortal Sins and all your Wickedness She muttereth and confesseth Petr. O these are heinous sins and there is none That can forgive them but the Pope alone Formos What can be done then in so great a strait Since to confess my sins is now too late Petr. The Queen of Heaven doth hang upon this Pin Pointing at the Virgin Mary 's Picture And with a wink can pardon all your Sin If she a tear drop from her gracious eye You 're happy then to all Eternity If not you are undone then go and Pray And Ave-Maries to our Lady say She muttereth and maketh Mouths on the V. Maries Picture whilst he goeth behind the Hanging and squirteth water through its Eye which she perceiveth and in passion sayeth Formos Can this your Holy Church commit such things That doth Depose and set up Mighty Kings Is this one of the Miracles of Rome That to the World gives Laws and passeth Doom If this be your Religion I will choose Rather than be of it my life to lose Farewel Fare-ill Impostor I 'll be gone Of Proselited Papists I 'll be none He proffereth to detain her but she will not Exit he following ACT II. The SCENE Limia a Town in the West of Albion Enter Infortunatus with his Forces from Sea in a Gorgeous Scarlet Garb and a Feather in his Hat Infort NOW we are past the dangers of the Main And safe arriv'd to Albion again Now is the time of Honour and Renown Then have at all my Head against a Crown And tho' my present Forces be but small My Valours great and I shall Conquer all Go then provide Men Ammunition Arms Surprize this sleeping Island with Alarms Let Trumpets sound Drums beat and Cannons roar To tell the Kingdom that I 'm come ashore And set my Standard up that I may know who 'll come or stay who 's Friend and who is Foe Belg. We have no Standards they were lost at Sea With all the Train of our Artillery Infort That 's bad indeed Ferdin But we may quickly take Some Lady's Petticoat and Colours make Ingen. Sure from that Standard we shall never fly Whilst Mars and Venus are before our eye Enter Richardus and Rogerus in a Country Dress leading Penelope a Country Maid wearing a Scarlet Petticoat gazing on Infortunatus Infort What people 's those who boldly do intrude Within the Limits of my Latitude Roger. We and this Maid are only come to see Your Grace and wish you all prosperity Infort I thought that you in my designs did pry And might surprize me with some Treachery Penelop I am a Maid and have respect for you And if a Man would gladly serve you too Infort Fair Nymph I have a suit deny me not Lend me a while your Scarlet Petticoat And when the Wars are o'r I 'll do to you A greater favour and requite you too Penelop I 'll give you it the Complement's but small If you will have my Gown you likeways shall Giveth her Scarlet Petticoat to Ferdinando Ferd. To think of Maids now is a deadly crime But may accost you at another time Enter Mayor with a Mace carried before him Guarded by the Constable and his Long Staff Mayor Great Mighty Prince we heard you was come o'r From Belgium and Landed on our Shore Therefore we 're humbly come that we may do You humble service and attend you too Then let us know what is your Sacred Will I am the City's Mayor he Constable Infort Go soon proclaim me Albion's King that I May it restore again to Liberty For I 'm resolv'd to make all Papists quake And rescue Church and State which lye at stake And then invite my Subjects to come in To fight with me against the Man of Sin Mayor We will proclaim you King and Forces raise And sing Encomiums to your worthy praise We 'll hazard all we have to fight with you Our VVives and Children Lives and Fortunes too And we 'll extol your Valour if you dye VVith Monuments of Magnanimity Exeunt Mayor and Constab The Trumpet soundeth without Infortunatus is proclaimed King with several Huzza's and Plaudities Infort I 'm Albion's King and would at first embrace My Loving Subjects by my Acts of Grace I 'd rather they should love me for my Good Than fear and tremble for my shedding Blood And fair Nymph if you have a friend or two But bring them here I 'll Knight them both for you Pointeth at Penelope and Exit Penel. You Dick and Roger objects of my love Respect to you my passion now doth move I 'll beg the King to Knight you for my sake And afterwards both Officers to make Richard I am as much a Knight as he is King Till he this Nation to Subjection bring But if he 'll Knight and give me an Estate I 'll love and serve him then at any rate But till he give me fifty pounds per annm I 'll rather hold the Plough and serve my Grannum Rog. I 'll have no Honour for a Landless Knight Is like a Lanthorn that can give no light I 'll rather drive my Cart and be invited To fare that 's course and mean than so be slighted For Gentlemen who have not must not work For Honour's sake but fight against the Turk Pene. Roger if you 'll not Knighted be I vow I 'll neither love nor marry'd be to you But if you 'll Knighted be we 'll quickly wed And both in State go to our Marriage-Bed Whilst we 're advanc'd above our Pedegree I shall be MADAM you HIS HONOUR be Rog. Rather than lose my Love I 'll bid good night To Cart and Plough and turn a begging Knight Pen. Your Honour will afford you every thing And we 'll live great in presence of a King Enter Infortunatus Infort What is the Reason of so long a stay We do but trifle here our time away Pen. Great Sir these are my Friends whom here I bring To be advanc'd to Knighthood by their KING This is my Sweet-heart and that is my Brother Altho we do not favour one another Pointeth at Roger Richard Infort Madam I will do any thing for you I 'll give them Honour and Preferment too ROGER kisseth the Kings hand falleth on his Knee and is Knighted by King INFORTUNATUS Infort Rise up Sir Roger Henceforth ever be A Knight of Honour Loyal unto me And when I 'm settl'd on my Royal Throne You of my
untrain'd rebellious Crew And afterwards compel them to inherit The just reward of their Deserts and Merit Yet tho' the Sword of Justice be a thing That 's much to be desired in a King Better his Subjects love him for his Good Than tremble at his shedding Seas of Blood Then pardon those deluded Men that rose Against their King and sided with his Foes Rom. I 'll take your Counsel for 't is wise and good I 'll live in Peace and shed no Subjects Blood Yet will in Spite of all my Subjects Noses Promote the Pope whoever it opposes Pap. Think you a drop of base rebellious Blood Can quench my Rage that doth require a Flood And will incense the Universe and Sky Unless the Western Country Rebels dye No no Revenge my Passion doth recruit And every Tree shall hang with human Fruit. Go Cancellarius soon and imp your Rage With all the Furies of this stubborn Age Fly to the West let your Revenge be hot Disgorge out Halters from your fiery Throat Hang up those Traytors of the Western King And every Rebel to Subjection bring No pity take but pass a lawless Doom On all who did not own the cause of Rome Let Widows tears and Orphans crys prevail No more with you than Toueser with his Tail Of Human Bodies Sinews Blood and Bone I 'll Beacons build as high as Babylon Canc. I 'll smoak in Fury and perform your Will Whatever you command be 't good or ill I 'll take no pity but possess their Wealth And hang themselves up to the Kings Good Health Rom. Since she must have it so pray get you gone I 'm sure e're long she 'll pull me from my Throne Calam. Great Queen 't is neither necessar nor wise To prosecute so bad an Enterprize 'T is strange to see you in your Fury strive To make your Foes your Greatness to survive Pap. I 'll have my Will and make the Traytors fall I 'll reign and rule I 'm one against them all Exit Canc. Enter Don Ferdinando and falleth on his Knees Ferd. I 'm come to beg Forgiveness of my Crimes That 's lately done and that of older Times If that your Majesty will pardon me I 'll henceforth still a Loyal Subject be Rom. Hence get thee gone Thou author of Mischief Thou mad'st the Breach and cur'd it to my Grief Go live in shame no punishment of Time Can equalize a Turn-Coat Traytors Crime Ferd. I am the Man that kept you on your Throne And now you slight and bid get me gone Your foes I did out-wit on your account And this is all to which it doth amount I do deserve to be promoted high And be your greatest Subject till I dye Rom. A Traytor once will be a Traytor still Turns with the Times t' accomplish all his Will Hence then thou Villain Bane of Church and State I love the Treason but the Traytor hate Exeunt Omnes The SCENE Villa Rasa Occidentalis Enter Cancellarius with Four Constables Canc. By King Romanus I was hither sent Treasons and Insurrections to prevent And to reward those Rebels who of late Strove to subvert both Kingdom Church and State Const We in Obedience to our King did seize Such Rebels as their Fancy fond to please Did in Rebellion rise to overthrow The Government with King Romanus Foe Speak but the word we 'll bring them here to you That you may judge them and condemn them too Canc. We 'll hang them first and then to Tryal bring Such Traytors as rose up against their King They shall be hurry'd hence that others may Be made more wary what to do or say I 'll take no pity nor prolong the time But every one shall suffer for his crime Then bring them here that I may quickly ease Papissa's Fury and Romanus please Exeunt Three Constables Enter Country-maid in a straw Hat and falleth upon her knees before Cancellarius Maid Thrice noble Sir grave Judge that 's just and true With mournful Tears I do petition you Canc. Speak on fair Maid for certainly I will Grant your Request and your Desire fulfil Maid My Sweet-Heart went to see the Rebels Host And was imprison'd there till all was lost Now since he was detain'd by warlike Force And neither serv'd as Souldier Foot nor Horse Forgive his crime preserve him safe and sound And you shall have in Gold Three Hundred pound Canc. Give me your Gold and I shall save his Life I hope you 'll prove to him a loving Wife Maid Here is the Gold I freely give it you Giveth him a Bag of Guineas As you have spoke I hope you 'll likewise do Canc. Let me be hang'd or else in Prison lye To my last Breath if your Sweet-Heart shall dye Enter Lady Penelope in an old torn Gown a Page holding up her Train in a sorrowful manner and presenteth a Petition to Cancellarius which he readeth thus To the Right Honourable c. The Humble Petition of Sir Roger Ringwode Knight Sheweth THat at the earnest request of my Sweet-heart who is now my Wife and the Bearer hereof I was made a Knight of Honour by King Infortunatus of Blessed Memory whom I faithfully served all the time he was in the West and therefore think it contrary to the nature of Law and Chivalry to try a Person of Quality with the ordinary Rabble or hang an honest man with the common crew Therefore thought it convenient to advise you to let me have the judgment and sentence of a free Parliament But if without any delay you will be pleased to set me at Liberty my Lady will give you five pound which is more than what we are worth in the world Which of you do your Petitioner will be always willing to serve you Sir R. R. Knight Canc. Where are those pounds that are in number five For which I must preserve a Knight alive She giveth him a Bag with Five Pound I 'll take the mony for 't is none of yours And make you an Example to all Whores Your Life is forfeit and your Husbands too With all the Necks of the Rebellious Crew Which with Infortunatus did combine To prosecute his desperate design Your name 's Penelope I heard of you And all your pranks of Treason you did do You gave your King a Petticoat of Scarlet To be a Standard like a bold-fac'd Harlot Take her away in Prison let her lye The Constable layeth hold on her For Treason she shall with Sir Roger dye Pen. What aid could I to any Host afford Who never could endure to touch a Sword 'T is true I to Infortunatus sold A Petticoat which he repay'd in Gold But how can this so great a crime set forth To sell a thing for more than thrice the worth Const Pray spare the womans Life and let her be From her Confinement set at Liberty Canc. If I her life preserve I 'll make her dance Another Jigg than she can learn in France Constable leadeth Penelope
all Religious Subjects will combine To bring you home and forward your design Therefore forbear distractions to prevent And live another Year in Banishment Infort 'T is strange to see Men of politick wit Nibble at all and yet at nothing hit 'T is not observable what any says As long 's a Council drives contrary ways Call in some Conjurer that I may know If we shall Albion's Monarch overthrow Enter Conjurer in a prodigious dress and with a formidable aspect staring Infortunatus in the Face Conjur Great Prince I am come here at your command To answer you whatever you demand Infort Tell me thou Son of Satan if I shall By force of Arms make Albion's Monarch fall Conjur Leo ascends and looks unto the Moon After he had looked on an Almanack or Conjuring Book He roars and threatens to pull Taurus down And so I know by this your Planet's good You 'l conquer Albion without shedding Blood Infort This Astronomick Fool Nonsense doth prate But cannot tell our Fortunes nor our Fate Old Antoninus could discover more Than all th' Enchanters of the Scarlet Whore Canst thou not in the twinkling of an Eye Bring here the Ghost of old Calastrophy Conjur I 'll try The Conjurer goes under a Hanging and maketh an hideous noise through a Reed or speaking Trumpet in these or such Words Rabbi David Eliazer cumque Nicolosa Vinsamor mnmus absumus abchaos abdemor Gorgon Enter Ghost in a White Shroud Infort Advance pale Ghost that 's in a Surplice come From Styx or Lethe or Elisium Fill up a Glass of State-Politick Wine Taketh up a Drinking Glass I 'll drink my Service to this grim Divine Old Gentleman that looks so pale and green Good Health to all our Friends where you have been Ghost What wicked Madness doth possess your Brain To bring me from my residence again In Life you brought in danger my gray Head Now you molest me after I am dead Infort Hold hold Old Man And why a Wheedler still I 'll make you serve me now against your Will I 'm half a Monarch and desire to know If I shall King Romanus overthrow My Father 's Dead and he doth wear his Crown A Popish Prince therefore would pull him down Ghost Are there no Men alive could let you know If your Designs would take effect or no Go go and prosper whilst your Head is hot Though all will prove but like the former Plot Yet in a few days space you shall with me In silent Grave a Residenter be Flav. Old Friend Why dost thou thus possess our Ears With Ghostly Maggots Jealousies and Fears As tho' we knew not what and how to do In great Exploits of War as well as you He is invited o'r with sighs and smiles By all the People within Albion's Isles And is assur'd as soon's he comes to Land To have both Gold and Money at command There have been several Messengers here sent For him the Kingdom 's ruine to prevent For Popish Kings serve but to ruine Nations They keep no Word for Mental Reservations Let your Prediction then be smooth and good Without effusion of a Sea of Blood That our great want of Armour now may be Supply'd by you in Magnanimity And we may boldly fight in such a Cause Lives Church and State Religion and our Laws Ghost Leave off to talk for I will speak no more Of your Design than I have done before Infort Thou Church-Hobgobling Mountebank of State Time's Weather-cock confounder of my Fate I thee adjure by Earth and by the Sea And all the dark Intrigues 'twixt thee and me By that broad Beard and by thy Triple Name By Babel's Whore and thy immortal Fame To tell me if to Albion I shall go And whether it will prove my overthrow Ghost Go go in haste and Sail the swelling Main I 'll tell you more when you return again Infort Hence get thee gone Impostor of the Age And act no more on this inferiour Stage But that I know thou art already Dead I would cut off thy old Politick Head Draws his Sword and strikes whilst the Ghost evanisheth Sure I can worst a Babylonian ELF The Pope of Rome When I can frighten thus Grim Mars himself Enter Messenger from Albion Messeng Brave Prince I 'm come from Albion to declare That you 're reputed there our Lawful Heir And tho your Unkle doth possess the Crown His Subjects do not love him pull him down A Roman Catholick who never sticks To falsify his Word to Hereticks His Queen 's an Empress and in spite of Fate She 'll steer the Helm of Kingdom Church and State She wears the Royal Breeches yet must do What e're the Pope of Rome commands her to And tho her Crimes and Wickedness abound To spot the Skies and Albion confound His Holiness as all her Priests do tell Can save her Soul and sing her out of Hell She doth protest and swear by all that 's good Taking her Oath in Sacraments of Blood That Albion's Church shall suddenly fall down And kneel before the Pope's great Triple Crown Our Bleeding Nation thus relief defers Whilst Church and State turn your Petitioners We 'll rather choose before your feet to fall Than be a Foot stool to a Cannibal That Cannibal which in subjection brings All Powers on Earth Deposing mighty Kings Our case the object of your pity make Since we and all we have do lie at stake Come o'r then come let not your Heart be faint You neither shall for Men nor Money want Ne'r fear your Fate nor what Rome's rage can do We serve our selves in standing close to you You still have been the object of our eye Our confidence whereon we do rely Now Peers and People solemnly do vow To rise and fall to live and dye with you Yea Nodnol-City can and will alone Secure your Right and set you on the Throne Infort My Fleet is Rigg'd I 'll quickly go to Sea This Sword of mine shall set three Nations free Ingen. Forbear brave Sir for what wise Prince relies Without assurance on uncertainties Great Words blown up with promises of Air Delude the Mind but vanish in Despair Should you but go to Albion and then find Your expectation blasted by the Wind You would your self undo three Nations bring In greater Slavery to a Popish King Infort If you prate more this Sword shall run you thorow But all prepare to go on Board to morrow Exeunt omnes The SCENE Petrus Impostor's Chamber Enter Petrus Impostor in a Ghostly Popish Dress with Formosa a Proselite Popish Maid Formos My Ghostly Father I 'm come to confess My Youthful Sins and Wanton Wickedness Petr. Come let us have near converse with another He proffereth to take her under the Hanging And then I 'll pardon all your sins together Formos I keep my Lent and justly can deny With Ghostly Fathers in a Bed to lye Petr. Then let me So small a matter will not turn you Whore Formos
Bastard born an empty Clown Be Heir to France and wear Great Albion's Crown Base born ill bred and base till in his Tomb Base as his Mothers How can he for a Lawful Right now plead Cast Out-Law'd and condemn'd to lose his Head I can out of this Pillow which you see Produce a Royal Prince as good as he Which may as soon by Transubstantation Be made his Highness in this fruitful Nation She pulleth a Pillow from under her Gown throweth it among them Man Rather than he shall wear Great Albion's Crown I 'll burn my Surplice and throw by my Gown Renounce the Clergy cut the Church asunder And turn Bonarges or a Son of Thunder Tho old I 'll be a Gospel-Granadeer And roar in smoak like Babels Cannoneer I with the carnal Sword my Flock shall feed And preach such Doctrine as shall make them bleed Whilst every word Granado-like shall smell Of Fire and Brimstone that came up from Hell Calam. Don Ferdinando that 's cunning in deceit Declar'd a Rebel both to Church and State Is with th' Usurper and commands his Horse And bears the rule of all his warlike Force Send him a Pardon of his former crimes Committed now and at all other times He will betray the Traitor with these few Deluded Myrmidons that trouble you Thus you will save much blood from being spilt Until you hang the Rebels for their Guilt Rom. I do approve your Council and I 'll go With speed and serve the Grand Usurper so Exeunt omnes The SCENE Infortunatus's Quarters Enter Infortunatus Ferdinando Flavius and Ingenioso Infort I 've call'd you here in haste to know if I Shall still go on or my design lay by You see those Peers and Nobles that did vow To aid me with their Lives and Money too Have prov'd perfidious been but Traps and Snares To draw me in a Labyrinth of Cares If I fly back again to whence I came The Roman rage will flourish to a flame If I resolve the Romanists to fight And should be beat and put unto the flight Then all those poor men now that follow me To Queen Papissa sacrific'd will be Alberlo rampant to resist me 's come With men well disciplin'd by beat Drum Whilst all my Forces plainly to confess Are raw unarm'd and I am moneyless From sorrow's Scene I do contemplate now What base deceituful people's brought me to Ferd. Are you who was the Champion of the Nation The Kingdom 's Boast and Europe's Admiration Whose warlike Sword made Germany to bleed And all King David's worthies did exceed So soon cast down and thus compell'd to be Void of your wonted Magnanimity This Sword of mine with irresistless blows Shall gain the day and dissipate our Foes Ferg A man 's but one and every Musket Ball If shot with care can make a Captain fall But there 's no fear but we shall gain the Day If you 'll prove true and do half what you say Ingen. You with Alberlo once was sworn Brother To aid to live and die with one another Now is the time to try if he 'll be true By bringing all his Forces o're to you Send him a Letter then and I shall find A way to send it and to pump his mind Infort What you do say I greatly do approve I 'll mind Alberlo of his former love Ferd. I 'll write a more than pressing Letter too To see what Wit and Loyalty can do Infort With speed and care then write as I command And I to what you write will put my hand Exit Ferdinando Enter Belgicus Belg. I came to tell your Majesty that I Have fought a Party of the Enemy We went to forrage in a little Town And from our Horses as we lighted down Some Rebels rampant came in great disdain But run the Gantlet backward through the Lane We were but sixty and they eighty strong The brush was hot but scarce an half hour long We killed Six and they to us one man Then valiantly with whip and spur they ran Infort The News is good may it be ever so Until I work Romanus overthrow But soon return unto the Camp and I Will keep in mind your Magnanimity Exit Belgicus Enter Ferdinando Ferd. I 've written a Letter of transcendent sense As rich in Loyalty as Eloquence Great Sir be pleas'd but once to read it o're And then as you think fit make less or more Infortunatus readeth the Letter Entirely Beloved Cousin The Experience of your former Respects prompteth me at present to write to you with the greater assurance of your Loving Acceptance and put you in Remembrance of our former favours upon the account of which I earnestly request you for the respect you owe to Church and State and the particular Interest of every honest man to assist me with your best advice how to behave my self in so great an Undertaking and to come over and joyn your Forces with ours that we may settle every thing on a right Base and the Kingdom may be freed from the vengeance of Popery which hangeth over the Head of these three Languishing Nations Which if you will be pleased to do you will not only make your self Famous to all succeeding Ages in rescuing this Nation from the flaming rage of Popery but also promote yourself above the power and revenge of your greatest Enemies and infinitely oblige me to be Your Everlasting Friend c. Infort With speed and privacy as I command To Ingenioso Convey this Letter to Alberlo's hand If he will grant me what I now require I 'll grant in Greatness what he can desire Ferd. Send likewise this wherein with deepest sense I do accost his Grace and Excellence Perswading him to joyn both Foot and Horse To our Religious Military Force If he my earnest suit slight or deny This Sword of mine shall make Alberlo dye Exit Ferdin Ingen. I 'll send them both in haste and none shall know From whence they come or whether they do go Flav. I 'm jealous of what Ferdinando said Pray let his Letter be in publick read Infort Then quickly read it o're that I may know If he will prove a counterfeit or no. Flavius breaketh open and readeth the Letter May it please your Excellence I thought it convenient to accost and humbly acquaint you with the condition of King Infortunatus's Army the number whereof is but few and those badly disciplin'd and arm'd so that it will be no hard matter to overthrow him and his weak Forces But if you will perswade King Romanus to whom I owe my Allegiance to pardon me all my former Crimes Treasons and Conspiracies whereof I am guilty against him and his late Brother and for which I am cast out-law'd and condemn'd I will soon crush the power of our new King and save the Nation the trouble and expence of a bloody War Therefore with all speed and privacy communicate your mind to Your Excellency's Faithful Friend and Humble Servant c. Infort
Is Ferdinando whom for Truth and Zeal And mighty words no Age could parellel Become a Rogue and turn'd my mortal Foe Who 's been my Sharer both in Weal and Woe Go bring him back for this perfidious Plot Pointeth at Ingen. I 'll see the Rascal in my presence shot Exit Ingenioso Flav. In whom can Kings put confidence since he Pretending to so much Fidelity Brought to the Test is found a timerous Slave A Timist Traytor and a Turn-Coat Knave Infort His Death shall to succeeding Ages be Esteem'd a Monument of Treachery That all who curse with a vindictive hate May wish their Foes to meet with such a Fate Enter Ingenioso with Ferdinando guarded with Souldiers and his hands tyed behind him Infort Monster of men thou Judas in disguise Thou Devil vail'd with Perjuries and Lyes Perfidious wretch how durst thou once design Me to betray and ruin all that 's mine I never thought thee ill but ever good And in thy quarrel oft-times spent my Blood And dost thou thus require me who for thee Have run such hazards both by Land and Sea Come tye him to the Stake and let him know The fury of a Friend turn'd to a Foe I 'll see him shot to death that Traytors all May take example from his Tragick fall Two Souldiers tye him and make ready their Muskets to shoot him Ferd. Mercy O mercy I for mercy cry You need no shots here I for fear shall dye Infort Forbear awhile your Muskets both lay by Until we hear the Traytors Legacy The Souldiers lay by their Muskets Ferd. Some pity on me for your Goodness take Forgive me for my Wife and Childrens sake I swear by all that 's good I 'll prove to you Henceforth a Subject faithful good and true This is the first beginning of your Reign Stain not your hands with this poor blood of mine I have been still partaker of your losses And born the burden of your Royal crosses Now let your Candour and your Innocence Blot out my crime and cover my offence Infort I know you have been sharer in my Fate Also the object of my Unkle's hate But how could you like Judas go astray And proffer me so-basely to betray To Popish hands that ne're did Albion good But lov'd to shed and suck the Subjects Blood Ferd. This is the first time that I went astray Yet never did intend you to betray I with Alberlo seemingly combin'd Only to know the secrets of his mind Which suddenly I would have brought to you To be resolv'd the better what do Infort That 's more indeed than hitherto I knew Ferd. You may believe what I affirm is true Infort Then loose my Ferdinando let him be A faithful Friend and Councellour to me Flav. Where is the Sword of Justice such a King Is like a Honey-Bee without a Sting I 'd seldome save a Law-Condemned Man For sure the Rogue will hang me if he can Enter Belgicus Belg. Alberlo's Men are quartered here hard by By Two's and Threes in Villages they lye Come let us go in silence of the Night We 'll either kill or put them all to Flight Infort Your News is good and your Advice is better Than all the Wit in Ferdinando's Letter I ne'r was bred a Coward nor can kill Poor Men asleep that never did me ill Belg. There is another thing that we may do For Souldiers should be Wise and Valiant too We may surprize them in their Beds asleep And afterwards them in close Prison keep As Hostages which may in time augment Our Number and our Enemies prevent From being cruel ' gainst our men which they May Captives take and in their fury slay Flav. In policy it were a deadly a crime To slip th' occasion of so fit a time Wherein we may our Enemies o'recome Without the noise of Trumpet or of Drum Inge. Then let us go and with a Warlike Slight Confound our Foes which rob us of our Right 'T is fitter we them sleeping Captives take Than that they Hang us up when we 're awake Ferd. I will not condescend to any thing That stains the Reputation of my King It is below His Majesty to be Tainted with such Pusillanimity We 'll fight them fairly in the open field For on our side I 'm sure no man will yield Infort Let it be so your counsel I advance I 'll let them see some stratagems of France I 'll shew them Conduct both and Courage too And what Great Spirits if provok'd can do Exeunt Infortunatus Belgicus and Flavius Ingen. Thou wicked wretch that dost contrive our fall To Ferd. Thy cruel counsel will undo us all Thy heart doth always give thy tongue the lye Thou' rt void of Courage Wit and Honesty Come draw that bloody Sword wherewith you boast To Conquer all and kill Alberlo's Host I 'll try your Valour tho' you seem to be A Great Goliah in respect of me Ferd. I 'll neither fight nor yet contrive your fall But find a way how to outwit you all Ingen. Pretending Coward bane of Church and State Because thou wilt not fight I 'll break thy pate Striketh him several blows over the head till the blood runneth down Thou weather-cock thy base deceitful Head Will make thy name stink after thou art dead Ferdin Murder O murder hold your Sword else I Shall be uncivil and for fear will dye Enter Infortunatus and Belgicus in haste Infort What noise was this I heard Ingen. No noise at all My Friend did only act the General Enter Messenger from Alberlo Messeng Here I am from Alberlo come to bring A Letter to your late Proclaimed King Infort Come hither then for I am he whom you Receiv'd command to give the Letter too He taketh and readeth the Letter Since you are but an Ape of Majesty I know not by what Title to accost you being neither King nor Subject But in short notwithstanling all our former ties of Friendship I will not be induced to betray my Trust and undeserve that Confidence which King Romanus hath placed in me neither is it proper for me tho it were not too late to give you any advice but it had been better for you to have staid where you was than to have come over here to put the Nation both to expence and trouble and work your own overthrow with the ruin of those poor Men who have joined with you in so desperate an Adventure who will be reputed and suffer as Traytors for prosecuting your Treasonable Designs which really is both the grief and regret of Your once real Friend c. Infort And doth Alberlo thus requite me now For all my service done and favours too I was his Friend still in my Father's time To fight now for three Kingdoms is a crime I 'll make him feel my Rage and likewise know That hence I 'll prove his everlasting Foe I 'll give him Battle soon in open field And make him feel the Sword that ne'r did yield