iPresenteD to
library
of tbe
of Toronto
Professor W.J.Alexander
3oo
HEYWOOD'S
DRAMATIC WORKS
HE DRAMATIC WORKS OF
THOMAS HEYWOODNOW
FIRST COLLECTED WITH
ILLUSTRATIVE NOTES AND
A MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR
IN SIX VOLUMES
Aut prodejfe foknt aut dele ft are
VOLUME THE FIRST
LONDON
JOHN PEARSON YORK STREET COVENT GARDEN
18/4
2,570
v, i
cop.2,
CONTENTS
VOLUME THE FIRST
MEMOIR OF THOMAS HEYWOOD
FIRST AND SECOND PARTS OF KING EDWARD
THE FOURTH
IF YOU KNOW NOT ME, YOU KNOW NO BODY,
OR THE TROUBLES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH
THE SECOND PART OF IF YOU KNOW NOT
ME, YOU KNOW NO BODY
NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS
VOLUME THE SECOND
THE FAIRE MAID OF THE EXCHANGE
A WOMAN KILLED WITH KINDNESSE
THE FOUR PRENTISES OF LONDON
THE FAIRE MAID OF THE WEST
NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS
vi CONTENTS
VOLUME THE THIRD
THE GOLDEN AGE
THE SILVER AGE
THE BRAZEN AGE
THE FIRST AND SECOND PARTS OF THE
IRON AGE
NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS
VOLUME THE FOURTH
THE ENGLISH TRAVELLER
.
A MAIDENHEAD WELL LOST
THE LANCASHIRE WITCHES
LONDON'S lus HONORARIUM
LONDINI SINUS SALUTIS
LONDINI SPECULUM
(
NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS
VOLUME THE FIFTH
\
A CHALLENGE FOR BEAUTIE
LOVES MAISTRESSE
THE RAPE OF LUCRECE
LONDINI PORTA PIETATIS
CONTENTS Vll
THE WISE WOMAN OF HOGSDON
LONDINI STATUS PACATUS
NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS
VOLUME THE SIXTH
THE ROYALL KING AND THE LOYALL SUBJECT
PLEASANT DIALOGUES AND DRAMMAS
FORTUNE BY LAND AND SEA
NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS
Memoir of
THOMAS HEYWOOD
IHOMAS HEYWOOD was probably
one of the moft prolific writers of
his own, or of any other age or
country ; and on that account he has
fometimes been not inappropriately termed
the Englifh Lope de Vega. Befides the two
hundred and twenty (i) plays, inwhich he " had
either an entire hand or at leaft a maine
finger," he was the author of Poems, Hif-
tories, and differtations innumerable, on all
fubjects from the creation of the world down
to the Spanifh Armada ; from the building of
(i) It muft be remembered that it was in 1633 that
Hey wood made this affertion, and as he publifhed feveral
plays after that date, the total number is perhaps under-
ftated here.
x Memoir of Thomas Heywood.
Noah's ark down to the building of the laft new
man-of-war, and of all fizes from ftately folio
down to modeft duodecimo. If, therefore, we
were to eftimate a man's life by the number and
extent of his works, we fhould fay that Thomas
Heywood had not been gathered to his fathers
until he had arrived at a ripe old age ; but
whether, according to the ordinary mode of cal
culating human exiftence, he lived to any great
length of days, the few materials within our reach
do not enable us to afcertain. The time of his
birth and death are alike unknown : the place of
the firft may be collected from his works ; but as
to the laft, we are unable to trace him to his
grave. We learn from A funer all Elegy, upon
the death of Sir George St. Poole, of Lincolnefhire,
my Country-man, (2) that he was a native of that
county ; and from the dedication of Cartwright's
Edition of his Apology for Actors, that he was
a Fellow of Peter Houfe, Cambridge. (3)
(2) Printed in Hey wood's P leaf ant Dialogues and
Drammds, Lond. 1637, p. 252.
(3) Heywood himfelf in his Apology for Aftors (1612)
alludes to the time of his refidence in Cambridge :
" In the time of my refidence in Cambridge, I have feen
tragedyes, comedyes, historyes, paflorals, and fhewes,
publickly acted, in which the graduates of good place
and reputation have bene fpecially parted."
Memoir of Thomas Heywood. xi
This ftatement is probably correct, and nearly
all his extant works difplay extenfive general
reading, and confiderable claffical attainments.
From the manner in which he alludes to his
family, (4) it may be inferred that it held a
refpectable rank in fociety : in the Dedication
to The Englijh Traveller, addreffed to Sir
Henry Appleton, he fpeaks of the " alter
nate love and thofe frequent courtefies which
interchangeably paffed between yourfelf and
that good old gentleman, mine uncle (Mailer
Edmund Heywood), whom you pleafed to grace
by the title of father ;" and in the fame place, he
alludes to " my countryman, Sir William Elvifh,
whom, for his unmerited love, many ways ex
tended to me, I much honour."
In what year Heywood came to London we
have no account ; but on the I4th October, 1596,
a perfon whofe name Henflowe fpells " Hawode"
had written a book, or play, for the Lord Ad
miral's Company. On the 25th of March, 1598,
we find "Thomas Hawoode" regularly engaged
by Henflowe as a player and a fharer in the com
pany. From this date, at all events until the
(4) It may here be noted that he was in no way related
to John Heywood, the elder dramatift, with whom Schegel
feems to have confounded him.
xii Memoir of Thomas Heywood.
death of Queen Anne, the wife of James I., Hey
wood continued on the flage ; for in the account
of the perfons who attended her funeral, he is
introduced as " one of her majefty's players."
After quitting the Lord Admiral's Company, on
the acceffion of James I., Heywood became one
of the theatrical fervants of the Earl of Worcefter,
and was by that nobleman transferred to the
queen. " I was, my lord," (fays Heywood in
dedicating one of his books (5) to the Earl of Wor
cefter) " your creature, and amongft other your
fervants, you beftowed me upon the excellent
Princeffe Q. Anne, .... but by her lamented
death your gift is returned againe into your
hands."
On the authority of Henflowe we learn, that
in December 1598, he wrote a piece called War
without Blows, and Love without Suit ; and in
February, 1598-9, (following) another entitled
Joan as good as my Lady. Neither of thefe
appears now to be extant, either in a printed or
manufcript form. The four Prentices of London,
though not apparently printed until 1615, mufl
have been written about this time. (6)
(5) Nine books of Various Hi/lory concerning Women,
folio, Lond. 1624.
(6) Heywood fpeaks of it in the Dedication as " written
many yeares fmce, in my Infancy of Judgment in this
Memoir of Thomas Heywood. xiii
His firft printed productions were the feries
of hiftorical plays on Edward the Fourth and
Queen Elizabeth. Thefe were publifhed furrep-
titioufly and without his name the former in
1600, and the latter in 1605-6. Both are in
black letter. The text of the firft part of Queen
Elizabeth is, as the author himfelf complains,
very corrupt, and can only be confidered the
fragment of a play. We may affume that it
found its way to the prefs by means of fhort-
hand notes, taken in the theatre while the drama
was in courfe of reprefentation. Why the
author did not think it worth while, in any fub-
fequent impreflion, to render it more complete,
we know not. The fecond part, which deals with
the events of Elizabeth's reign, is, as our readers
will perceive, much more perfect, and runs out to
a much greater length : from that, we feel per-
fuaded, nothing important was omitted. We
probably have it in the editions of 1606, 1609,
and 1623, pretty much in the form in which it
came from Hey wood's pen, when it was firft
a6led, quite early in the reign of James I. In
the edition of 1633 we find it moft materially
kinde of Poetry, and my firft pradlife :" and further on
he fayes : " as Playes were then fome fifteens or fixteene
yeares a&oe it was in the fafhion."
xiv Memoir of Thomas Heywood.
altered fubfequent to the " Chorus," and the
" Chorus " itfelf is there new, having been de-
figned to prepare the fpectators for the great
event about to fucceed in the reprefentation, viz.,
the defeat of the Spanifh Armada. This inci
dent had been but briefly and imperfectly treated
in previous editions, and it feems more than
likely that Heywood himfelf introduced the
changes, and made the additions, on revival,
for the fake of giving the drama increafed effect
and greater novelty. That revival, we take it,
followed the revival of the firft part of the fame
fubje6l, and was perhaps confequent upon the
favour with which its renewed performance had
been received by public audiences at the Cock
pit Theatre.
Our impreffion of this portion of the drama
(we mean the portion including and following
the " Chorus ") is from the edition of 1633, under
the perfuafion that the author meant that his
work mould permanently (as far as fuch produc
tions were at that period confidered permanent)
bear that fhape. However, for greater com-
pletenefs, and to afford ready means of compari-
fon, we have fubjoined the brief fcenes of this
conclufion of the drama, as they appear in the
earlier impreffions.
Befides the firft part of If You know not Me,
Memoir of Thomas Heywood. xv
You know Nobody, which is devoted to the
" Troubles of Queen Elizabeth," Heywood left
behind him a profe narrative of the events of
her life, from the elevation of her fitter to her
own acceffion. In this hiftory he goes over many
of the circumftances of his play ; and it is the
more worthy of attention, becaufe it may be faid
in a degree to fupply fome of the obvious de
ficiencies of his drama, in the curtailed and
decrepit fhape in which it has reached our
hands. In the Notes to this volume we fupply
fuch extracts from it as afford illustrations of
the fcenes of the drama. It was printed in Lon
don, with the following title :
" England's Elizabeth : her Life and Troubles, during
her Minoritie from the Cradle to the Crowne. Hiftorically
laid open and interwoven with fuch eminent Paffages of
State as happened under the Reigne of Henry the Eight,
Edward the Sixt, Q. Mary ; all of them aptly introducing
to the prefent Relation. By Tho. Heywood. London,
printed by John Beale, for Philip Waterhoufe, and are to
be fold at his Shop at St. Paul's head, neere Lo-ndon-
ftone. 1631."
This is a fmall duodecimo of 234 pages, be-
fides the preliminary matter.
Two of Hey wood's befh plays. A Woman killed
with Kindnefs, and The Fair Maid of the Ex
change, were printed in 1607. The date at
which the former was originally brought out, is
xvi Memoir of Thomas Hey wood.
afcertained with unufual precifion from Hen-
flowe's Diary, as printed by the Shakefpeare
Society in 1845, pp. 249, 250, where the follow
ing entries occur :
" Paid, at the appointment of the company, the 6th
of March, 1602, unto Thomas Hey wood, in full
payment for his play, called A Woman Killed
with Kindnefs, the fum of 3"
" Paid, at the appointment of Thomas Blackwood,
the 7th of March, 1602, unto the tailor which
made the black fatin fuit for the Woman killed
with Kindnefs, the fum of lew."
The play, therefore, was finifhed when Hen-
flowe paid 3 for it ; and we may conclude,
perhaps, that the " black fatin fuit " was worn by
the hero after the fall of his wife, and when fhe
was dying, in confequence of the undeferved
tendernefs with which fhe had been treated by
her forgiving husband. Nothing can be more
tragically touching than the later fcenes of this
fine moral play.
The earliefl printed notice yet difcovered of
A Woman Killed with Kindnefs is found in The
Blacke Booke, by T. M., 1604, where it is. coupled
with The Merry Devil of Edmonton. The words
of the author are :
" And being fet out of the Shoppe, (with her man afore
her, to quench the jealouzie of her Husband) fhee, by thy
inftruclions, (hall turne the honefl. fimple fellow off at the
Memoir of Thomas Hey wood. xvii
next turning, and give him leave to fee the merry Dwell
of Edmunton, or a Woman kild with kindneffe, when
his Miftrefs is going her felfe to the fame murther."
Of The Faire Maid of the Exchange Mr. Bar-
ron Field gives the following account :
" The Royal Exchange was then full of mops, like a
bazaar. The Fair Maid, Phillis Flower, though her
parents are wealthy, is an apprentice to a fempftrefs in this
Exchange ; and, one night, in company with a female
fervant, taking home fome work to a lady at Mile-End,
they are affaulted by Scarlet and Bobbington, two men of
broken fortune, from whom they are at firft refcued by
the Cripple with his crutch ; and, the ruffians having re
turned, fecondly by the affiftanee of Frank Goulding, the
lovjr-hero of the comedy. Grateful for their fervices the
Fair Maid falls in love, not with Frank, but with the Crip
ple. Frank is the younger brother of Ferdinand and An
thony Goulding, who afterwards feverally confide to him
their paffion for the fame Fair Maid. Frank feoffs at
love, but is fubfequently himfelf caught in the very fame
mare. The two elder brothers, overhearing each other
confefs their love for the fame object, fet about mutual
circumvention, and entrufl their refpedlive flratagems to
Frank, who, by the help of his friend the Cripple, cheats
them both, and in the difguife of his " crooked habit,"
eventually gains the hand of the Fair Maid. Her father
had favoured the fuit of Ferdinand, and her mother that
of Anthony ; but they are all out-witted by Frank, and
rejected by Phillis. Our dramatifl has not dared to let
his deformed Cripple accept the offered love of the hero
ine ; and this at the expenfe of deflroying the interefl we
take in her, by making her mofl unaccountably transfer
b
xviii Memoir of Thomas Heywood.
her affections at laft, for the mere"purpofe of letting the
curtain fall upon her marriage with fomebody. But this
is a comedy of intrigue, though containing one well-drawn
character ; and in comedies of intrigue the ladies refera
ble pullets, who transfer their affections to the cunningefl
conqueror, and are as readily deceived by the difguife
of drefs as Dame Partlet takes a lump of chalk for an
egg-
" To conclude the argument of this comedy. There is
an underplot, which is not fo good. Bowdler and Bernard,
two fpendthrifts, but friends of the Cripple, make love to
Moll Berry, who treats both with witty difdain ; but is
really in love with Bowdler, and even affiances herfelf to
him. Bernard owes her father a hundred pounds, for
which he caufes him to be arrefled ; when the Cripple per-
fuades her, moft unaccountably, that me is in love with
Bernard, and to marry him : this me does, and then offers
herfelf to her father, as bail for her husband, who, upon
the ufual promife of reform, is forgiven and releafed.
There is a ftill more unneceffary incident of Matter Flower's
lending Bobbington ten pounds upon a diamond, which
afterwards appears to have been ftolen ; and the comedy
concludes with the father of our bride and bridegroom
being taken before the judges upon a charge of felony,
leaving us in ignorance of the remit."
In his Specimens Charles Lamb, after quoting
the fcene where Cripple offers to fit Frank
Golding with ready-made Love Epiftles, ob-
ferves :
'* The above fatire againfl fome dramatic plagiarifts of
the time is put into the mouth of the Cripple, who is an
Memoir of Thomas Hey wood. xix
excellent fellow, and the hero of the comedy. Of his
humour this extract is a fuffi cient fpecimen ; but he is de-
fcribed (albeit a tradefman, yet wealthy withal) with
heroic qualities of mind and body ; the latter of which
he evinces by refcuing his miftrefs (the Fair Maid) from
three robbers by the main force of one crutch luftily ap
plied ; and the former by his foregoing the advantages
which this action gained him in her good opinion, and
beftowing his wit and fineffe in procuring for her a huf-
band in the perfon of his friend Golding, more worthy of
her beauty, than he could conceive his own maimed and
halting limbs to be. It would require fome boldness in a
dramatifl now-a-days to exhibit fuch a character ; and
fome luck in finding a fumcient actor, who would be will
ing to perfonate the infirmities, together with the virtues
of the noble cripple."
In 1608 The Rape of Lucrecewas publifhed in
its firft form ; but in later editions it was confi-
derably enlarged, and fome new fongs were
added. Of this play, a modern writer has thus
fpoken :
" The Rape of Lucrece is a fort of dramatic monfler, in
the conftruction of which every rule of propriety is vio
lated, and all grace and fymmetry are fet at defiance. The
author, one would fuppofe, mud have produced it when in
a flate of inebriety ; in which a man of genius may fre
quently, amidft ftrange and foolifh things, give birth to
poetical and impaffioned conceptions. The dignified cha
racters of Roman flory are, in this play, really infected
with the madnefs which Brutus only affumes. But, with an
exuberance of buffoonery and conceits, are mingled a con-
b 2
xx Memoir of Thomas Heywood.
fiderable portion of poetry and fome powerful fcenes.
Upon the whole, this fmgular competition, with all its ab-
furdities, contains fo much that is really excellent, that
it is well worthy of forming a part of this collec
tion." (7)
The Four Ages, which extended in time of
publication over more than twenty years, form
in their complete fequence one of Heywood's
moft interefting and important works. He has
dealt very beautifully with the old mythological
legends ; though he is doubtlefs under very confi-
derable obligations to his great predeceffor Ovid.
Of thefe five plays, 7 he Golden Age appeared
in 1611 ; the Silver and Brazen Ages in 1613,
and the two parts of TJte Iron Age not until 1632.
It was the intention of Heywood to have pub-
limed them together eventually in one " hand-
fome Volume," and "to illuftrate the whole Worke,
with an Explanation of all the difficulties, and an
Hiftoricall Comment of every hard name, which
may appeare obfcure or intricate to fuch as are
not frequent in Poetry." Circumftances, how
ever, prevented the accomplimment of this pur-
pofe ; though the author lived for fome years
afterwards.
(7) Preface to the Reprint of Heywood's Rape of Lu~
crece in The Old Englijh Drama, a Seleflion of Plays
from the Old Englijh Dramatifts. Lond. 1824.
Memoir of Thomas Heywood. xxi
Heywood wrote all the known pageants for
Lord Mayor's Day, between 1630 and 1640,
when they ceafed for fome years to be exhi
bited. Such of thefe as were extant or accef-
fible have been included in the prefent volumes.
The two parts of The Fair Maid of the Weft
were printed in 1631. They were in exiftence
in 1617, when an attack was made upon the
Cock -pit theatre, in Drury Lane, where they had
been frequently acted. There is no doubt
that they long continued popular performances ;
and we may imagine that a printed edition was
called for, becaufe their reputation had led to
their recent performance before the King and
Queen.
Great and many allowances mufb be made for
the conftruction and conduct of the ftory. What
would tell extremely well in a narrative, would
fometimes appear violent and improbable on the
ftage. Confidering the difficulties with which
Heywood in this relpect had to contend (aiding
himfelf, however, by Chorus and dumb-fhow),
it cannot be difputed that he has difplayed much
fkill andjngenuity. There are abundant inftances
of rapid alterations of the fcene of action, and
of as frequent appeals, therefore, to the imagina
tion of the fpectators : in the fourth Act, it is
transferred at once from Cornwall to Morocco,
xxii Memoir of Thomas Heywood.
and from Morocco to the Azores ; but nobody
is kept for more than a moment in fufpenfe as to
the place reprefented. The buftle is unceafing,
and attention never wearies. For the coarfenefs
of a fmall portion of the comic bufinefs, the ufua*
excufe muft be found in the manners of the
time ; and, at all events, it was not fuch as the
King and Queen could not fit patiently to hear?
and they perhaps liftened to it with as much en
joyment as lefs exalted auditors. The poetry
and pathos of fome of the fcenes in which the
hero and heroine are engaged cannot be too
highly praifed : it is extremely touching, from
its truth to nature and its graceful fimplicity,
without the flighteft apparent effort on the part
of the author. The characters are ftrongly
drawn and clearly diftinguifhed, while that of the
heroine is admirably preferved and is conftantly
attractive. (8)
The EnglifJi Traveller was publifhed in 1633.
" Heywood's Preface to this Play," fays Charles Lamb,
" is interefting, as it fhows the heroic indifference about
poflerity, which fome of thefe great writers fee'm to have
felt. There is a magnanimity in authormip as in every
thing elfe. Of the two hundred and twenty pieces which
(8) See Mr. Payne Collier's Introduction to The Fair
Maid of the Weft, as printed for the Shakefpeare Society
in 1850.
Memoir of Thomas Heywood. xxiii
he here fpeaks of having been concerned in, only twenty-
, five have come down to us, for the reafons affigned in the
.^reface. The reft have perifhed, expofed to the cafualties
df a theatre. Heywood's ambition feems to have been
onfined to the pleafure of hearing the players fpeak his
Ihes while he lived. It does not appear that he ever con
templated the poffibility of being read by after ages. What
a lender pittance of fame was motive fufficient to the pro-
diftion of fuch plays as the The Englijh Traveller, the
Challenge for Beauty, and the Woman Killed with Kind-
nej / Poflerity is bound to take care that a writer lofes
nohing by fuch a noble modefly."
leywood's " own account," fays Hazlitt, " makes the
nunber of his writings for the ftage, or thofe in which he
hadimain hand, upwards of two hundred. In fact, I do
not yonder at any quantity that an author is faid to have
writ en ; for the more a man writes, the more he can
vrita."
A Maidenhead Well Loft followed in 1634.
This is one of the beft of Heywood's roman-
ic plays ; the ftory is developed with fweet
petic feeling, and the whole has about it the air
;nd the charm of a fairy-tale. In the fame year
jppeared The late Lancajhire Witches, a comedy
h which he was affifted by Richard Brome, who
'.ad formerly been a fervant of Ben Jonfon, but
/ho had at this time raifed himfelf to confider-
,ble repute by his writings for the ftage. Thofe
xxiv Memoir of Thomas Heywood.
who are acquainted with his other plays, which
have lately been reprinted, will probably find
little difficulty in difcriminating between his por
tions of the comedy and thofe of Heywood.
This play was recently reprinted by Mr. Hall-
well, but without annotation.
In 1636 appeared A Challenge for Beautie, aid
Loves Miftris. Of the former fome account vfll
be found in a fubfequent page : the latter it niy
be remarked is an exquifite, airy dramatization
of the old claflical ftory of Cupid and Pyfchj
fmgularly happy in its felicitous touches of pof ry
that feem to come unfought, and in its eiiire
freedom from all taint of vulgarity.
The remaining extant plays of Heywooc are
The Royall King and Loyal Subject, publihed
in 1637; The Wife Woman of Hogsdon, 163$;
and Fortune by Land and Sea, written in con
junction with William Rowley, and publifhc
apparently for the firft time fome years aft
Heywood's death, in 1655.
His lateft dated production appeared
1641 ; (9) but we may perhaps infer, from t!
following lines that he was Hill living in 164*
they are from A Satire againft Separatifls
lifhed in that year :
(9) The Life of Ambrofius Merlin.
Memoir of Thomas Heywood. xxv
" So may rare Pageants grace the Lord Mayor's fhow :
And none find out that they are idols too :
So may you come to deep in fur at laft,
And fome Smectymnuan, when your days are paft,
Your funeral fermon of fix hours rehearfe,
And Heywood fing your acts in lofty verfe."
We proceed to fubjoin the teftimonies of the
beft authorities reflecting Heywood's claims as
a dramatift. We begin with Charles Lamb, who
thus writes :
" If I were to be confulted as to a Reprint of our Old
Englifh Dramatifts., I mould advife to begin with the col
lected Plays of Heywood. He was a fellow Actor, and
fellow Dramatift, with Shakefpeare. He poffeffed not the
imagination of the latter ; but in all thofe qualities which
gained for Shakefpeare the attribute of gentle, he was not
inferior to him. Generofity, courtefy, temperance in the
depths of paffion ; fweetnefs, in a word, and gentlenefs ;
Chriftianifm ; and true hearty Anglicifm of feelings, map-
ing that Chriftianifm, mine throughout his beautiful writ
ings in a manner more confpicuous than in thofe of
Shakefpeare ; but only more confpicuous, inafmuch as in
Heywood thefe qualities are primary, in the other fubordi-
nate to poetry. Heywood mould be known to his country
men, as he deferves. His plots are almoft invariably
Englifh."
In another place he adds :
" Heywood is a fort of profe Shakefpeare. His fcenes
are to the full as natural and affecting. But we mifs the
Poet, that which in Shakefpere always appears out and
xxvi Memoir of Thomas Heywood.
above the furface of the nature. Heywood's characters,
his country gentlemen, &c., are exactly what we fee (but
of the beft kind of what we fee) in life."
. William Hazlitt, in his Lectures on the Dra
matic Literature of the Age of Elizabeth, (peaks
of Heywood in the following terms :
"Heywood's imagination is a gentle, lambent flame,
that purifies without confuming. 'His manner is fimplicity
itfelf. There is nothing fupernatural, nothing flartling or
terrific. He makes ufe of the commoneft circumflances
of every-day life, and of the eafieft tempers, to mow the
workings or rather the inefficacy of the paffions, the vis
inerticB of tragedy. His incidents flrike from their very
familiarity, and the diflreffes he paints invite our fympathy
from the calmnefs and refignation with which they are
borne. The pathos might be deemed purer from its hav
ing no mixture of turbulence or vindiclivenefs in it ; and
in proportion as the fufferers are made to deferve a better
fate. In the midft of the mofl untoward reverfes and cut
ting injuries, good nature and good fenfe keep their ac-
cuftomed fway. He defcribes men's errors with tendernefs,
and their duties only with zeal, and the heightenings of a
poetic fancy. His flyle is equally natural, fimple, and
unconflrained. The dialogue (bating the verfe) is fuch as
might be uttered in ordinary converfation. It is beau
tiful profe put into heroic meaiure. It is not fo much
that he ufes the common Englifh idiom for everything
(for that the mofl poetical and impaffioned of our elder
dramatifls do equally), but the fimplicity of the characters,
and the equable flow of the fentiments do not require or
fuffer it to be warped from the tone of level fpeaking, by
Memoir of Thomas Heywood. xxvii
figurative expreffions, or hyperbolical allufions. A few
fcattered exceptions occur now and then, where the hectic
flufh of paffion forces them from the lips, and they are not
the worfe for being rare. In the play called A Woman
Killed with Kindnefs, fuch poetical ornaments are to be
met with at confiderable Intervals, (10) and do not diflurb
the calm ferenity and domeflic fimplicity of the author's
ftyle. The conclufion of Wendell's declaration of love to
Mrs. Frankford may ferve as an illuflration of its general
merits, both as to purity of thought and diction, (n)
The winding up of this play is rather awkwardly
managed, and the moral is, according to eflablilhed ufage,
equivocal. The view here given of country manners is
truly edifying. The frequent quarrels and ferocious habits
of private life are well expofed in the fatal rencounter be
tween Sir Francis Acton and Sir Charles Mountford about
a hawking match, in the ruin and rancorous perfecution
of the latter in confequence, and in the hard, unfeeling,
cold-blooded treatment he receives in his diflrefs from his
own relations, and from a fellow of the name of Shafton.
After reading the fketch of this laft character, who is intro
duced as a mere ordinary perfonage, the reprefentative of
a clafs, without any preface or apology, no one can doubt
the credibility of that of Sir Giles Overreach. The callous
declaration of one of thefe unconfcionable churls,
" This is no world in which to pity men,"
might have been taken as a motto for the good old times
in general, and with a very few refervations, if Hey wood
has not groffly libelled them.
(10) Three instances are given, which the reader will
perhaps prefer to find out for himfelf. ED.
(n) Fair, and of all beloved," &c. See Vol. II. p. 112.
xxviii Memoir of Thomas Heywood.
Heywood's plots have little of artifice or regularity 01
defign to recommend them. He writes on careleffiy, as
it happens, and trufts to Nature and a certain happy tran
quillity of fpirit, for gaining the favour of the audience. He
is faid, befides attending to his duties as an aclor, to have
compofed regularly a meet a day. This may account in
fome meafure for the unembarraffed facility of his flyle.
The fame remarks will apply with certain modifications,
to other remaining works of this writer, the Royal King
and Loyal Subjeft, A Challenge for Beauty, and The
Engli/h Traveller. The barb of misfortune is fheathed
in the mildnefs of the writer's temperament, and the flory
jogs en very comfortably without effort or refiftance, to
the eutkanajla of the cataflrophe. In two of thefe the
perfon principally aggrieved furvives, and feels himfelf
none the worfe for it.
The following criticifm of Heywood's Plays
is from an article in the Retrofpeftwe Re
view (12) :
The character of his dramas is very various he is fo
diffimilar from himfelf, that we are tempted to doubt his
identity. One can only reconcile the fact of his having
written fome of the plays afcribed to him by fuppofing,
with Kirkman, that he wrote them loofely in taverns, or
that he was fpurred on to their hafty production by necef-
fity ; or laftly, that he did not originate, but only added
to and altered many of them. How elfe can we account
for the author of A Woman killed with Kindnefs, and
The Engli/h Traveller, writing fuch plays as Edward IV.,
The Fair Maid of the Exchange, &c. We will ilightly
(12) Lond. 1825, vol. xi. pp. 126154.
Memoir of Thomas Heywood. xxix
notice thefe inferior productions before we fpeak of thofe
of a more elevated kind.
The play of Edward IV. is a long and tedious bufi-
nefs. There are one or two touching parts in thofe fcenes
in which Jane Shore is introduced, but Heywood has not
made anything like what he might have done with fuch
materials, nor, indeed, anything at all approaching to
what he has himfelf done in other pieces. With the ex
ception of thofe parts, the play is mere chronicle, without
poetry or dramatic fituation. The character of Matthew
Shore, however, is not bad ; and there is, in the midft of
the mifery and difafler with which the play abounds,
a fpirit of kindnefs and humanity which obtains our good
will, notwithflanding we find fo little to excite our feelings.
The author has made Richard III. a very vulgar villain.
The iirft part of the play of If you know not me, you know
Nobody ; or, the Troubles of Queen Elizabeth of the in
accurate printing of which the author very much com
plains poffeffes neither character, paffion, nor poetry.
The fecond part has a more poetical air about it, and pof
feffes more of character than the firft. Old Hobfon, a
blunt, honefl, and charitable citizen; John Gremam, a
wild, indomitable youth ; and Timothy, a puritanical
hypocrite and knave, are well difcriminated. The only
foundation for the ftrange title of this piece is the anfwer
of old Hobfon to an inquiry made by the Queen,
" Knoweft thou not me ? then thou knowefl nobody."
The Wife Woman of Hogfdon is characterized by
fome humorous fituations, but pofleffes little intereft and
lefs poetry. Sir Boniface, one of the characters, is a
humorous caricature of a pedant. The Fair Maid of the
Exchange (Hey wood's title to which is exceedingly doubt
ful) and The Fair Maid of the Weft are hardly worthy of
xxx Memoir of Thomas Heywood.
notice. The Four Prentices of London is a rhyming,
braggart production, which is ridiculed in Beaumont and
Fletcher's Knight of the Burning Pejlle. A Maiden-head
well lojl is not worth finding, and the Four Ages are as
poor as the author is faid to have been by a writer of the
day, who obferves that
' Well of the golden age he could entreat,
But little of the metal he could get.'
How different in flyle, in pathos, in the very tone of o:
nary feeling, are thefe from the plays we are about to
mention.
Heywood's bed comedies are diflinguifhed by a pecu
liar air, a fuperior manner ; his gentlemen are the moft
refined and finifhed of gentlemen refined in their nice
fenfe of the true and beautiful, their fine moral perception,
and finifhed in the moft fcrupulous attention to polite
manners, moft exact in the obfervances of decorum with
out appearing rigoroufly precife ; ductile as fufed gold to
that which is good, and unmalleable to that which is
evil ; men, in fhort, ' of moft erected fpirits.' There is an
inexpreffible charm about thofe characters, a politenefs
founded on benevolence and the charities of life, a fpirit
of the good and kind which twines around our affections,
which gives us an elevation above the infirmities which
flem]is heir to, and identifies us with the noblenefs of foul
and ftrength of character which med ' a glory 7 round their
heads.
Heywood, like many of our old dramatifts, deals in the
extreme of character, which frequently amounts to
heroifm. His heroes are of unmaken purpofe, of irre-
fiftible patience ; men who will ftand beneath the fword
fuipended by a fingle hair ; and, with the power of motion,
Memoir of Thomas Heywood. xxxi
ftill refolutely bide the confequence. The point of honour
is difcriminated with the mod fubtle nicety ; a vow is
confidered as regiftered in heaven ; it is the fentence of
fate, and mufl be equally inexorable. The fpirit, however,
is frequently facrificed to the letter, and the good and the
true are difregarded to preferve a confiflency with a fup-
pofed virtue a fort of character better calculated to
fupply, from the paffionate and deep internal conflicts
which it occafions, affecting fubjects for the ftage, than
ufeful example or inftruction for human happinefs. To
fome, this character will appear unnatural ; and fo it
would be, if man were left to his own natural tendencies ;
but if we grant the exiftence of the artificial notions of
honour and virtue on which it is founded, then the charac
ters are perfectly confiflent and natural, although acting
under a falfe impreffion of what is right and jufl. Fancy,
for inflance, a generous, honed, and valiant gentleman,
induced by a noble duke to convey a letter to an unyield
ing lady, who is, as that gentleman conceives, unknown
to him ; and, by the duke's dictation, who fufpects that
he is more intimately connected with her than is agree
able to his grace's intereii, to fwear that he will not caft
an amorous look on her, fpeak ' no familiar fyllable, touch
or come near her bofom,' &c. Fancy him haftening to
perform the duke's behefts, and difcovering, to his amaze
ment, that he has undertaken to folicit his own wife for
another. Imagine him tricked into a vow, in total igno
rance of the circumftances, and refolving to bind himfelf
to fo unjuft a ftipulation, the effect of which is to make
two perfons miferable, and not to make the third happy ;
yet Heywood makes Spencer, in The Fair Maid of the
Weft, rigidly perform this vow, and leave .his miflrefs in a
fwoon, without attempting to render her any affiftance.
xxxii Memoir of Thomas Heywood.
The confequence is that the Fair Maid of the Weft, the
lady in queftion, is under the neceffity of tricking the
duke into another vow, in order to get out of the diffi
culty.
TheJfe exaggerated fituations, however, are mixed with
others of the deepeft feeling, the moft glorious overflow
ings of the affections, the kindefl fympathies, the ten-
derefl fentiments. Heywood knew well the nature of
human paffions, but he threw them into extravagant pofi-
tions. .... He did not deal fkilfully with the invifible
world, and yet he was not altogether unacquainted with
1 the winged fpirits of the air ; ' he introduces them grace
fully in Love's Mijlrefs, one of the moft beautiful and
pureft of mafques founded upon claffical mythology.
" In a rank in many refpects confiderably above the
plays we firft mentioned, we muft place the Rape of
Lucrece, one of the moft wild, irregular, and unaccount
able productions of that age.. Amongft the moft extra
vagant buffoonery, we find fparks of genius which would
do honour to any dramatift ; touches of feeling to which
no reader can be indifferent. The fcene in which the
crime is perpetrated, and that which immediately follows,
are of this defcription. The dreadful confummation is
preceded by an awful note of preparation, a folemn paufe
in the ftride of guilt, which makes the boldeft hold his
breath, and is fucceeded by a difplay of the moft ex-
quifitely touching grief. Not the leaft fmgular part of this
play are the fongs, which are freely introduced, and fome-
what too freely expreffed. Some of them are ftrange and
fantaftical productions, and one is written in a fort of
Dutch jargon. One is on national predilection, and is an
odd and at the fame time amufmg collection of con-
trafts. It appears to have been a favourite with the
Memoir of Thomas Heywood. xxxiii
author, if we may judge from the circumflance of his
having alfo introduced it in the Challenge for Beauty,
There is in the Rape of Lucrece a ftrange mixture of the
solemn and ludicrous. Heywood has affigned to mod of
the honed patricians of Rome an affumed gaiety, a reck-
lefs fpirit of merriment, a love of ' merry tunes which have
no mirth in them,' all to hide the difcontent and forrow
which lurk beneath ; but, inflead of making them merry
patricians, he has overftepped the modefly of nature, and
invefted them with the livery of fools.
" The next play we mall notice is The Englifh Tra
veller, a production which abounds with good fcenes,
good writing, and excellent fentiment, and is diflinguifhed
by pure, gentle, and attractive characters Hey wood's
characters. They are perfectly natural, and yet appear
to belong to a fuperior order to any which we fee in ordi
nary life, not in reach of intellect, but in fweetnefs of dif-
pofition and perfection of moral character, the influence
of which is diffufed over the whole of the dialogues of his
beft plays. They are calculated, as we have before inti
mated, to make us wifer and better. We might inflance
for example, Mr. Generous, in The LancaJJiire Witches,
two or three characters in the Woman killed with Kind-
ne/s, and young Geraldine in The Englifh Traveller.
The chief and moft interefling part of this play turns on
the following circumflances : Young Geraldine, on his re"
turn from travel, vifits his father's friend, Wincot, a kind-
hearted, honed old gentleman, who has married a young
lady, formerly the traveller's playmate, and whom it had
been reported, previoufly to his going abroad, he was to
have married. Without children himfelf, Wincot has the
utmod fondnefs for Young Geraldine, and when he is pre-
fent, can hardly bear to hear any other perfon fpeak ; he
c
xxxiv Memoir of Thomas Heywood.
defires him to command his houfe, fervants, c. ; in fhort,
treats him like a fon. Geraldine introduces his friend
Delavel ; Delavel conceives a paffion for the wife, and
proves a villain ; he infmuates into the mind of Geraldine's
father, that his fon's vifits to Wincot are neither confiflent
with his own honour, nor with the lady's reputation. Old
Geraldine takes the alarm, and prevails upon his fon to
promife that he will ceafe his vifits to Wincot. The latter,
furprifed at his unufual abfence, and ignorant of the caufe,
urges him to renew the intercourfe, or, at leaft, fatisfy him
as to the caufe of his flaying away for fo long a time, and
propofes a private meeting for that purpofe. An appoint
ment is accordingly made at Wincot's houfe, at a time
when the family have retired to reft. They meet, and
Geraldine proceeds to explain the caufe of his abfence.
The attempt he makes to fee the lady before leaving, puts
him in poffeffion of fatal information. He hears the wife
and Delavel converfe in a manner which leaves no room
to doubt the nature of their connexion. He determines
to travel once more ; but before he quits the country, he
cannot refufe to pay a parting vifit to his friend Wincot,
who prepares a little feafl for him. Geraldine ftudioufly
avoids both his miftrefs and his falfe friend. The former,
however, feeks for, and fucceeds in gaining, an occafion
of fpeaking to him in private
The Challenge for Beauty, is founded upon the following
incicidents : Ifabella, the imperious queen of Spain and
Portugal, arrogates to herfelf the perfection of beauty and
virtue, and inflicls the penalty of banimment on Bonavida
an honeft nobleman, for not affenting to the juflice of her
claims. The fentence is to continue in force until fuch
time as he can produce the equal of the royal paragon.
He travels far and near, but without fuccefs, until he fets
Memoir of Thomas Heywood. xxxv
his foot upon the fhores of England, and there he meets
with the object of his fearch, in the perfon of the beautiful
Hellena. He is fmitten with her charms, offers her his
hand, and, in due feafon, is accepted. It is neceffary,
however, that he mould return to Spain, to make arrange
ments for redeeming his fentence, and on his departure
he leaves her a ring, with a ftrict injunction not to part
with it, on any confideration whatever. He arrives in his
native country, unfolds the fuccefs of his fearch, is required
to produce the formidable rival of royalty, and on his
failure to do fo, is thrown into prifon. Meanwhile the
jealous Ifabella defpatches Pineda and Centella, two bafe
courtiers, to England, to try to obtain pofleffion of the
ring which Bonavida had given to Hellena, and on the
obtaining of which he had offered to reft the iffue of his
caufe. On their arrival in England, one of them makes
love to her maid, and perfuades her to fteal the ring, which
(he fucceeds in doing, whilft her miftrefs is warning her
hands. She delivers it to her pretended lover, who im
mediately flies with it to Spain, as an indifputable proof
of the inconftancy of Hellena. The queen triumphs in the
fuccefs of her flratagem ; Bonavida is brought out of
prifon, to be a witnefs of the fhame of his miftrefs, which
is proclaimed by the two emiffaries, and proved by the
production of the ring, the identity of which Bonavida
acknowledges. For his infolent difparagement of the
fovereign of beauty and virtue, he is condemned to death.
At the appointed time, everything being prepared, and the
executioner ready to do his office, Hellena, to whom the
deceived maid had confeffed the fraud which had been
practifed upon her, a'nd who has a fhrewd fufpicion of the
fource of it, appears on the fpot The Challenge for
Beauty is full of action and intereft, "and poffeffes a great
xxxvi Memoir of Thomas Heywood.
variety of well-difcriminated characters ; the arrogant and
vain-glorious Ifabella, the vivacious vanity of Petrocella,
and the noble innocence and enterprife of Hellena,amongfl
the female, and the weak and yielding king and his lying
courtiers, the mixture of boafling and pride, with kigh
honour, in Valladaura, and the fierce contempt and rigid
integrity of Mountferrers, amongft the male characters,
form altogether a varied and pleafing group. There is
great vivacity in this performance, and fometimes con-
fiderable fmartnefs of. repartee ; as, for example, in the
fcene between Petrocella and Valladaura, an old lover juft
returned from a cruife, and Aldana, the lady's foolifh old
father.
The Royal King and Loyal Subjett is a good play, with
out poffeffing any very flriking fcenes, but we cannot fay
fo much for the moral of it. It is a perfect fample of loyal
non^refiftance of paffive obedience pufhed to its extreme
verge ; it is .not the cafe of a pliant fycophant a mere
court nonentity, the contempt which muft accompany
whofe all-complying nature would have been a fufficient
equipoife to his flavifh obedience ; but it is that of a mag
nanimous, valiant, and difcreet gentleman, who is as
blindly fubmiffive as the moil abfolute defpot could defire.
The fubftance of the ftory is, that certain noble perfons
about court, jealous of the virtues, fame, and kingly favour
which the marfhal, " the loyal fubjecl," enjoys, endeavour
to prejudice the royal mind againft him. They fucceed fo
far as to induce the royal, or tyrant king to prove him
to put his virtue, that is his power of bearing and for
bearing, to the fevered teft which royal ingenuity can
devife. The king firft ftrips him of all his offices, one by
one, and in the moft public and contemptuous manner
bellows them upon his unworthy .enemies, and then banifhes
Memoir of Thomas Heywood. xxxvii
him from court. Underflanding that the marfhal has two
daughters, the king defpatches a nobleman with a com
mand for him to fend to court her of the two who is the
moft dear to him. The marfhal fends the elder, who, by
her beauty and grace, gains the affections of majefty, and
is made his queen. The marfhal, who forefaw this event,
had inftrufled his daughter, when me found herfelf preg
nant, to fpeak of the fuperior beauty of her fitter, and the
greater affection which the marfhal had for her. Here
upon his majetty, in feeming rage, packs off his queen to
her father, and requires the other daughter to be fent to
him. The marfhal delays complying with this requifition
(the only inttance of his difobedience) for three months.
At lafl, he fends the queen crowned, accompanied with a
double dowry, and attended by her fitter to court, he him-
felf remaining at a convenient diftance, and begging per-
miffion to prefent his majefty with a more valuable prefent
than anything he had yet fent. The king confents the
marfhal approaches, and prefents a magnificent cradle and
a young prince. A reconciliation takes place, and l;he
marfhal receives a king's daughter for his wife, but his
probation does not end here he undergoes a public trial,
and, that having terminated in his triumph, and the dif-
comfiture of his enemies, the fcene clofes.
The beft known and beft of Heywood's plays is A
Woman Killed with Kindnefs. This is the moft tearful
of tragedies ; the moft touching in ftory ; the moft pathetic
in detail ; it raifes, in the reader's breaft, " a fea of
troubles ;" a sympathy the moft engroffing ; a grief the
loft profound. We are overwhelmed with the emotion
of the unhappy fufferers, and are carried along in the
ftream of diftrefs, incapable of refiftance, and unconfcious
of anything but the fcene before us. If the miferable
xxxviii Memoir of Thomas Heywood.
termination of a guilty connexion can ever ferve as an
example to thofe who are flill innocent, the unparalleled
agony exhibited in this tragedy, muft ferve as an awful
beacon to warn the pure and inexperienced. . . . The fub-
jec"l of this domeflic tragedy, the conjugal infidelity of Mrs.
Frankford, is pretty much the fame as that of The EngHJh
Traveller ; but is infinitely more diftreffing in its details.
Mrs. Frankford is reprefented as a pure and good woman,
and yet me furrenders at difcretion, or rather at indifcretion,
hardly making a mew of refiftance. It muft be admitted,
that the tempter fuftains his caufe in a very artful manner,
with many a glozing wile ; but yet the conqueft appears
unnaturally precipitate. This, however, does not at all
diminifh the intereft, or intenfity, of the fcenes which
follow. The underplot of this play is alfo of an interefting
and affecting kind. The occafional rhyme with which
fome, even the moft folemn paffages, canter off, gives an
unpleafant jerk to the courfe of our feelings ; it caufes too
violent a change in the meafure and produces a difagree-
able effea."
From an article on " Beaumont and Fletcher
and their Contemporaries," which appeared
in the Edinburgh Review fome thirty years
ago, (12) we extract the following eftimate of
Heywood :
Heywood is one of the moft prolific of all dramatifls ;
and his works of other forts are likewife numerous. He
declares himfelf to have compofed, in whole or in part, two
hundred and twenty plays ; and accounts for the fewnefs
(12) Ed. Rev. April, 1841, pp. 221 223.
Memoir of Thomas Heywood. xxxix
of thofe that have been printed, amounting, fo far as we
can now difcover, to fewer than thirty. His range of fub-
jecls embraces feveral comedies, avowedly intended to be
pictures of contemporary Englifh life ; but it alfo includes
other kinds of works, which we have here more particu
larly in view. One clafs of thefe confifts of his plays called
the "Golden," "Silver," "Brazen," and "Iron" Ages,
which bring down the claffical legends from Saturn to the
taking of Troy. In the fame clafs may be reckoned fuch
plays as his Rape of Lucrece, in which the (lately tragedy
is relieved by a multitude of comic fongs, fung by
one of the Roman " lords," and fet forth in the title-page
of the printed copy as a primary inducement to attract,
purchafers. Another clafs is inftanced in his Foure Pren
tices ; in which Godfrey of Bulloigne and his three brothers
pafs from behind the counters of London mops to the firft
crufade, and the conquefl of Jerufalem. A third clafs is
the domeftic tragedy, to which belongs his Woman Killed
with Kindnefs. . . . This interefling work is an attempt
at reftoring a kind of drama, of which feveral had been
written before or about 1590 fuch as "Arden of Fever-
fliam," and " A Warning for Faire Women." Hey wood's
Ages both in their fubjec~i and in the method of its treat
ment, bear the fame antique ftamp. His Foure Prentifes
of London has been oddly reprefented by fome critics as
a fatire upon knight-errantry a light in which it is quite
wrong to confider it. Ridiculous it certainly is in its con
ception, and in feveral parts of its execution juft like
Greene's Alphonfus or Orlando, to which it bears fome
refemblance. But the author wrote in fober ferioufnefs ;
and printing his play in 1615, he dedicates it gravely
** To the honeft and high-fpirited prentices, the readers ;"
adding fome curious information as to the viciffitudes
xl Memoir of Thomas Hey wood.
of tafte that had come over, not only the public, but the
author himfelf.
Before the date of that dedication, indeed, Hey_
wood, taught by experience, and by the examples of
excellence which were accumulating around him, had
written feveral of his comedies of Englifh many
ners. Among thefe were his Fair Maid of the Exchange-
a love-comedy of intrigue, "very delectable and full of
mirth;" and the two parts of the Fair Maid of the Weft
which is a lively mixture of native and familiar life with
foreign and romantic adventure. His better plays, how
ever, are probably later, and therefore poffefs an additional
intereft for us, while we look towards Fletcher's fchoo^
and works. Such is The Englijh Traveller, a comedy
much in Ben Jonfon's manner ; with a double plot, in"
genioufly combined, and folemnized, in the death of the
feduced wife, by a tragic fentiment refembling.that which
makes the flory of his older tragedy. His Wife Woman
of Hogfdon, a comedy of intrigue, not without intereft nor
force of character, has not been reprinted fmce the feven-
teenth century ; nor has his Maidenhead Well Loft a
play far fuperior, which has a romantic air of feeling, well
kept up, and has furnifhed, in feveral of its fituations,
hints for Maffmger's Great Duke of Florence. We have
dwelt long upon Heywood, becaufe he is a writer for
whom we entertain a great affection. Charles Lamb has
called him " a profe Shakefpeare ;" and the expreffion
conveys the idea of much that characterizes his manner.
He is one of the mod moral of the dramatifls of his time ;
and there is a natural repofe in his fcenes, which contrails
pleafingly with the excitement that reigns in mofl of his
contemporaries. He walks quietly to and fro among his
characters while they are yet at large as members of
Memoir of Thomas Heywood. xli
fociety ; contenting himfelfwith a fad fmile at their follies,
or with a frequent warning to them on the confequences
of their crimes."
We have evidence that Heywood was for many
years engaged upon a collection of the Lives of
Poets of his own day and country, as well as
of other times and nations. It would of courfe
have included Shakefpeare, and his dramatic pre-
deceffors and contemporaries; and it is poffible
that the manufcript or part of it, may yet lurk
in fome unexplored receptacle. Richard Braith-
wayte, in his Scholar's Medley, 1614, gave the
earlieft information of Heywood's intention to
make " a defcription of all Poets' lives ;" and, ten
years afterwards, in his Nine Books of various
Hiftory concerning Women, Heywood himfelf tells
us that the title of his projected work would be
The Lives of all the Poets, modern and foreign. It
was ftill in progrefs in 1635, when the Hier archie
of theBleffed Angells appeared, on p. 245 of which
work we meet with the following paffage : " In
proceeding further I might have forefhalled a
work e, which hereafter (I hope) by God's affiftance,
to commit to the publick view; namely, the Lives
of all the Poets, Forreine and moderne, from the
firft before Homer, to the novijjinii and laft, of
what nation or language foever."
The manner in which he would probably have
xlii Memoir of Thomas Heywood.
treated the fubje<5t makes us ftill more regret the
lofs of his collection of the Lives of the Poets ;
and we may judge of that manner from the terms
in which he fpeaks of his great contemporaries
in the body of the work juft quoted. What
he fays of them affords a curious proof of the
kindly and familiar footing on which they lived
with each other. Though the paffage is now
well known, we mail venture to quote it once
more. He is complaining in a mood half
ferious, half comic, of the difrefpe<5t which Poets
in his time met with from the world, compared
with the honours paid them by antiquity.
" Greene, who had in both Academies ta'ne
Degree of Matter, yet could never gaine
To be call'd more than Robin ; who, had he
Profeft ought fave the Mufe, ferv'd and been free
After a feven-yeares' prentifemip, might have
(With credit too) gone Robert to his grave.
Mario, renowned for his rare art and wit,
Could ne're attaine beyond the name of Kit,
Although his Hero and Leander did
Merit addition rather. Famous Kid
Was call'd but Tom. Tom Watfon, though he wrote
Able to make Apollo's felfe to dote
Upon his Mufe, for all that he could ftrive,
Yet never could to his full name arrive.
Tom Na/h (in his time of no fmall efleeme)
Could not a fecond fyllable redeeme.
Memoir of Thomas Heywood. xliii
Excellent Bewmont, in the formoft ranke
Of the rar'ft wits, was never more than Franck.
Mellifluous Shake-fpeare, whofe inchanting quill
Commanded mirth or paffion, was but Will ;
And famous Jonfon, though his learned pen
Be dipt in Caflaly, is ftill but Ben.
Fletcher and Webfter, of that learned packe
None of the mean' ft, yet neither was but Jacke.
Decker 's but Tom ; nor May nor Middletonj
And hee's now but Jacke Foord\hz.\. once was John?
" Poffibly," fays Charles Lamb, in quoting the above
paffage, " our Poet was a little fore, that this contemp
tuous curtailment of their baptifmal names was chiefly
exercifed upon his Poetical Brethren of the Drama. We
hear nothing about Sam. Daniel, or Ned Spenfer in his
catalogue. The familiarity of common difcourfe might
probably take the greater liberties with the dramatic
poets, as conceiving of them as more upon a level with
the ftage actors. Or did their greater publicity, and popu
larity in confequence, faften thefe diminutives upon them
out of a feeling of love and kindnefs ? Doubtlefs Hey
wood had. an indiftindl conception of this truth when
(coming to his own name), with that beautiful retracing
which is natural to one who, not fatirically given, has.
wandered a little out of his way into fomething recrimina
tive, he goes on to fay :
' Nor fpeake I this, that any here expreft,
Should think themfelues leffe worthy than the reft,
Whofe names haue their full fyllable and found ;
Or that Franck, Kit, or lacke, are the leaft wound
Vnto their fame and merit. I for my part
(Thinke others what they pleafe) accept that heart
xliv Memoir of Thomas Heywood.
Which courts my loue in mofl familiar phrafe ;
And that it takes not from my paines or praife.
If any one to me fo bluntly com,
I hold he loues me beft that calls me Tom' "
We can figure to ourfelves no higher prize, of
a literary kind, than the difcovery of the manu-
fcript of the lives of fuch men by fuch a man,
who would probably have given us their great
characteriftics and individual peculiarities, and
have dwelt with fond detail upon the fcenes of
their early and focial intercourfe.
But whatever of Heywood's writing may be
loft, enough remains to warrant our affigning
him a high place among that brilliant company
of poets and dramatifts who adorned the reigns
of Elizabeth and of the firft James and Charles.
There were others, perhaps, who had more fire
of poetry, more brilliancy of wit, or more
fervour of paffion ; but in dealing with the com
mon life which is in all ages effentially the fame,
none ihowed a truer tendernefs and pathos, a
more thoroughly human fympathy, than Thomas
Hey wood.
To his worthie friend the
Authour, Mafter Thomas
Heywood.
HEywood, when men weigh truly what thou art,
How the whole frame of learning claimes apart
In thy deepe apprehenfton ; and then fee.
To knowledge added fo much induftry ;
Who will deny thee the befl Palme and Bayes ?
And that to name thee, to himfelfe is praife.
Asfirft, which I muft ever firft preferre,
Thy skill in Poetry, where thoufofarre
Haft gone, as none beyond thee, and haft writ,
That after-ages muft defpaire of wit
Or matter to write more. Nor art thou leffe,
In whatfoere thy fancy will exprejfe.
Thy pen commands all hiftory, all actions,
Counfels, Decrees, men, manners, States, and factions,
Playes. Epicediums, Odes, andLyricks,
Tranftations, Epitaphs, and Panegyricks :
They all doefpeake thy worth. Nor doft thou teach
Things meere prophane ; but thy great Mufe does reach
Above the Orbes, unto the utmoft skie,
And makes tranfttion imto Deitie.
When thou withfuch high flraines detainft our eares,
As might become the Angels, or the Spheares.
What Reader then injuflice can decline
From this aj/ertion ? Poets are divine,
Rapt with a heavenly fire, which is made knowne
By no example better than thine owne.
SH. MARMION.
To the learned Authour
Mafter THOMAS
HEYWOOD.
WHo can deny but Poets take their birth
Fromfome thing thafs more excellent than earth ?
Since thofe harmonious Jlrains that fill our eares,
Proclaime their neere allyance with the Spheares,
And /hew es their Art all Arts as farre exceed
As doth the fiery-Cane, the weakejl Reed.
That Matter which fix lines of Prof e rehearfe,
May fitly be contained in one Verfe ;
Yea, and fo pithily (if well compacled]
That out of it whole Bookes may be extracted.
A Prefident whereof if thou wouldfl find,
I prethee gentle Reader bend thy mind
To what this little Volume doth containe,
Andfure the fruit will recompence thy paine,
ThefubjeR with the Authour s names agree,
Who all have left unto Pofteritie
Such Noble badges of their learned fame,
That my weake Pen can no way /hew the fame ;
Therefore doe thou, oh Hey wood, weare the JSayes
As thy jufi merit many thoufand wayes.
For this thy Worke, with others heretofore
Shall honor thee till time f hall be no more.
D.
To my praife- worthy friend
Mafter THOMAS
HEYWOOD.
THy Worth unto the Knowing World is knowne,
Let Criticks cenfure others by their owne,
And tintt their foreheads with a purple fhame, \
When they f hall fee thy Works, or heare thy Name, >
Whilft with thy owne, thou fetft forth others fame j )
Whofe lofty Anthems, in our Englijh lone
Thoufmg'ft, and mat? ft them live, though dead &* gone.
What barking or untutor'd Momus then
Will dare to belch againft thy learned Pen f
Whofe worthier Lines, unto their foule difgrace,
Shall f pit defiance in a brafenface ;
And when th art dead, thy Poefie Jhallfing
Such pleafant ftraines, whereof the World Jhall ring ;
And Envies felfe, infpight of all Affayes,
Shall crowne thy Tombe-ftone with eter nail B ayes.
S.N.
THE
AUTHOR TO HIS BOOKE.
The world's a theater ; the earth aftage, om ^
Which God and nature doth with acT.ors fill : by the
Kings have their entrance in due equipage,
Andfome there parts play well, and others ill.
The beft no better are (in this theater),
Where every humor 's fitted in his kinde ;
This a truefubiett atts, and that a tray tor,
Thefirjl applauded, and the la/I confined ;
This plaies an honefi man, and that a knave,
A gentle perfon this, and he a clowne,
One man is ragged, and another brave :
All men have parts, and each one acts his owne.
She a chafte lady acleth all her life ;
A wanton curtezan another play es ;
This covets marriage love, that nuptial ftrife ;
Both in continual aflionfpend their dayes :
Some citizens, fomefoldiers, borne to adventer,
Sheepheards, andfea-men. Then our play's begun
When we are borne, and to the world fir/I enter,
And allfinde exits when their parts are done.
If then the world a theater prefent,
As by the roundneffe it appears mojlfit,
Built with ftarre galleries of hye afcent,
In which Jehove doth as fpettatorfit,
And chief e determiner to applaud the beft,
And their indevours crowne with more then merit ;
Bui by their evill attions doomes the reft
To end difgradt, whilft others praife inherit ;
He that denyes then theaters Jhould be, No theatei
He may as well deny a world to me.
THOMAS HEYWOOD.*
Prefixed to Heywood's Apology for A ftors (1612).
THE FIRST
and Second parts of King
Edward the Fourth.
CONTAINING,
His merie paftime with the Tanner of Tarn-
worth, as alfo his loue to faire Miftriffe
Shore, her great promotion, fall and
miferie, and laftly the lamentable
death of both her and her
husband.
Likewife the befieging of London, by the
Baftard Falconbridge, and the valiant
defence of the fame by the Lord
Maior and the Citizens.
As it hath diuers times beene publikely played
by the Right Honourable the Earle of
Derbie his feruants.
Imprinted at London by F. K. for Humfrey Lownes
Oxenbridge. 1600.
THE
FIRST AND SECOND
parts of King Edward the fourth.
Contayning his merrie paftime with the Tanner of
Tamworth, as alfo his loue to faire Miftrefle
Shore, her great promotion, fall and
miferie, and laflly the lamentable
death of both her and her
husband.
Enter King Edward, the Dutches of Yorke, the Queene,
the Lord Howard, and Sir Thomas Sellinger.
Dutcheffe.
SOnne I tell ye you haue done you know not
What:
King. I haue married a woman, elfe I am deceiued
mother.
Dutch. Married a woman ? married indeed,
Here is a marriage that befits a King :
It is no maruaile it was done in hafte,
B 2
4 The firft part of
Here is a Bridall and with hell to boote,
You haue made worke.
King. Faith mother fome we haue indeed, but
ere long you mail fee vs make worke for an heir appa-
rant, I doubt not, nay, nay, come come, Gods will
what chiding ftill 1
Dutch. O God that ere I liude to fee this day.
King. By my faith mother, I hope you mall fee
the night too, and in the morning I will be bold to
bid you to the Chriftning Grandmother, and God
mother to a Prince of Wales, tut mother, tis a flirring
world.
Dutch. Haue you fent Warwicke into France for
this?
King. No by my faith mother I fent Warwicke
into France for an other, but this by chance beeing
neerer hand, and comming in the way I cannot tell
how, we concluded, and now (as you fee) are going
about to get a young King.
Dutch. But tell me fonne how will you anfwere
this?
I ft poffible your ram vnlawfull ac~l
Should not breed mortall hate betwixt the Realmes ?
What may the French King thinke when he mail
heare
That whilfl you fend to entreat about his daughter,
Bafely to take a fubiedl of your owne 1
What may the Princeffe Bona thinke of this 1
Our noble Cofin Warwicke that great Lord,
That Center-making thunderclap of warre,
That like a Colum propt the houfe of Yorke :
And boare our white Rofe brauely in his top, -
When he mall hear his embaffage abus'd,
In this but made an inftrument by you,
I know his foule will blufh within his bofome,
And fhame will fit in Scarlet on his Brow,
To have his honor toucht with this foule blemifh.
Sonne, fonne, I tell you that is done by you,
Which yet the child that is vnborne mall rue.
King Edward the fourth. 5
King. Tufh mother you are deceiued, all true
fubiecls fliall haue caufe to thanke God, to haue their
King borne of a true Englifh woman. I tell you, it
was neuer well fmce wee matched with flrangers ; fo
our children haue beene flill like Chicken of the halfe
kind. But where the cock and the hen be both of
one breede, there is like to be birds of the game.
Heare you, mother, heare you ; had I gone to it by
fortune, I had made your fons George and Dick to
haue flood gaping after the Crowne. This wench,
mother, is a widow, and hath made proofe of her
valour ; and for any thing I know, I am as like to do
the deed, as John Gray her husband was. I had
rather the people praied to blefs mine heire, than fend
me an heire. Hold your peace, if you can fee :
there was neuer mother had a towarder fon. Why,
Coufm Howard and Tom Sellinger, heard you euer
fuch a coile about a wife 1
How. ' My foueraign Lord, with patience bear her
fpleen.
Your princely mother's zeal is like a riuer,
That from the free abundance of the waters
Breakes out into this inundation.
From her abundant care this rage proceedes,
Ore-fwoln with the extremity of loue.
Set. My lord, my lord, auoid a woman's humor.
If you refill this tumour of her will,
Here you mail haue her dwell vpon this paffion,
Vntil me lade and dull our eares againe.
Seem you but forry for what you haue done,
And flraight fhele put the finger in the eye,
With comfort now, fmce it cannot be helpt.
But make you mow to juilify the a<5l,
If ever other language in her lips
Than Out vpon it, it is abhominable,
I dare be hanged.
Say any thing, it makes no matter what,
Then thus be wearied with a womans chat.
Dutch. I, I, you are the fpaniels of the court,
6 The fir/I part of
And thus you fawne, and footh your wanton king :
But Edward, hadft thou prizd thy maieftie,
Thou neuer wouldfl haue ftaind thy princely flate
With the bale leauings of a fubiedls bed,
Nor borne the blemifh of her bigamy.
A widow, is it not a goodly thing ?
Grafs children, come ask bleffing of the King.
Queene. Nay, I befeech your grace my lady Yerk y
Euen as you are a princefs and a widow,
Think not fo meanly of my widowhood :
A fpotlefs Virgin came I firft to Gray ;
With him I liu'd a true and faithful wife ;
And fince his high imperiall maiefly
Hath pleas'd to bleffe my poor deiecled ftate
With the high Soueraign title of his Queene,
I here protefl before the hoft of heauen,
I came as chafte a widow to his bed
As when a virgin I to Gray was wed.
King. Come, come, haue done. Now you haue
chid enough. God's foot, we were as merry ere me
came as any people in Chriftendom, I with the mif-
treffe and thefe with the maids, only we haue no
fidlers at our feafl ; but, mother, you haue made a fit
of mirth. Welcome to Grafton, mother. By my
troth, you are euen iuft come as I wifhed you here.
Let vs go to fupper ; and in charity giue vs your
bleffing ere we go to bed.
Dutch* O Edward, Edward! fly and leaue this
place,
Wherein, poor filly king, thou art enchanted,
This is her dam of Bedford* work, her mother,
That hath bewitch'd thee, Edward, my poor child.
Dimonour not the princes of thy land,
To make them kneele with reverence at her feet,
That, ere thou didft empale with foueraigntie,
They would haue fcorned to haue lookd vpon.
Theres no fuch difference twixt the greateft peere
And the poor filliefl kitching-maide that Hues,
As is betwixt thy worthinefs and hers.
King Edward the fourth. 7
Queene. I do confefle it : yet, my lady Yorkc,
My mother is a dutchefle, as you are,
A princefle born, the Duke of Bedford's wife,
And, as you knowe, a daughter and a fifter
Vnto the royall blood of Burgundy.
Biit you cannot fo bafely think on me,
As I do think of thefe vain worldly titles.
Gcd from my foule my fmne as far diuide,
As I am far from boafling in this pride !
o>/. Madam, me is the mirror of her kinde,
Hal me but fo much fpleen as hath a gnat,
He; fpirits would ftartle to abide your taunts.
She is a faint, and, madam, you blafpheme,
To -vrong fo fweet a lady.
Jlutch. Thou art a minion and a flatterer.
Sri. Madam, but that you are my Soueraignes
Mother,
I wmld let you know that you wrong a gentleman.
fjw. Good coufin Sellinger, haue patience.
Her grace's rage, by too much violence,
Han fpent itfelf already into air.
Dea madam, 1 befeech you, on my knee,
Tenler that louing-kindneffe to the Queene,
That I dare fweare me doth in foule to you.
E 7 .w. Well faid, good coz; I pray thee, make
.hem friends.
Why how now, Befs, what weepe ? nay then, He
hide you.
Whalfudden newes comes by this meffenger ?
Enter a Meffenger.
Mis. My foueraign lord, the baflard Fcdconbridge
Of la? hath flirr'd rebellion in the fouth,
Encoiraging his forces to deliuer
King Yenryi late depos'd, out of the lower.
To hii the malcontented commons flock
From^uery part of Suffex, Kent, and
His ainy waxed twentie thoufand flrong,
8
The firft part of
And, as it is fuppos'd by circumftance,
Meane to take London, if not well defended.
Edw. Well, let this Phaeton, that is mounted thus,
Look he fit furely, or, by England's George,
He breake his necke. This is no new euafion ;
I furely thought that one day I fhould fee
That baftard Falcon take his wings to mount
Into our eagle-aerie. Methought I faw
Black difcontent fit euer on his browe,
And now I fee I calculated well.
Good coufm Howard, and Tom Sellinger,
This night wele fpend in feaft and iollity
With our new Queen and our beloued mother :
To morrow you mail haue a commiffion
To raife vp powers againfl this haughty rebel.
Sirrah, depart not till you know our pleafure.
You mall conuey vs letters back to London
Vnto the Mayor, Recorder, and our friend es.
Is fupper ready ? come by, my bonny Beffe.
Welcome, mother ; we are all your guefts. Edunt.
Enter Falconbridge with his troops marching, Spijing,
Smoke, Chub, and others.
Fal. Hold, drumme !
Spi. Hold, drumme, and be hanged !
Smoke. Hold, drum, hold ! peace then, ho !
Silence to the proclamation.
Spi. You lie, you rogue ; tis to the oration.
Chub. Nay, then, you all lie ; tis to the coblidtion.
FaL True hearted Englifli, and our pliant
friends.
All. Ho ! braue General, ifaith.
Spi. Peace there, you rogues, or I will fplij your
chaps.
Pal. Dear countrymen, I publickly proclai
If any wronged difcontented Englifli,
Toucht with true feeling of King Henry's wron
Henry the Sixt, the lawfull king of England,
King Edward the fourth. 9
Who, by that tyrant Edward, the vfurper,
Is held a wretched prifoner in the Tower.
If any man that faine would be enfranchis'd
From the fad yoke of Yorki/h feruitude,
Vnder which we toil like naked galley-flaues,
Know he that Thomas Neuille, the Lord Falcon-
bridge
All. I, I, a Falconbridge \ a Falconbridge \
Spi. Peace, ye clamorous rogues ! On, General,
with your oration. Peace, there !
Fal. Pitying King Henry's poor diftrefled cafe,
Arm'd with his title and a fubiecTs zeal,
Takes vp jufl armes againft the houfe of Yorke,
And does proclaime our ancient liberty.
All. Liberty, liberty, liberty, general liberty !
Fal. We do not rife like Tyler, Cade, and Straw,
Bluebeard, and other of that rafcal rout,
Bafely like tinkers or fuch muddy flaues,
For mending meafures or the price of corne,
Or for fome common in the wield of Kent
Thats by fome greedy cormorant enclos'd,
But in the true and antient lawfull right
Of the redoubted houfe of Lancafter.
Our blood is noble, by our birth a Neuille,
And by our lawful line, Lord Falconbridge.
Whofe here thats of fo dull a leaden temper,
That is not fired with a Neuille 's name ?
All. A Neuille ! a Neuille ! a Neuille !
Fal. Our quarrell, like ourfelf, is honourable,
The law our warrant.
Smoke. I, I, the law is on our fide.
Chub. I, the law is in our hands.
Spi. Peace, you rogues !
Fal. And more : a blefling by the word pro-
pos'd
To thofe that aide a true anointed king.
Courage, braue fpirits, and cry a Falconbridge !
All. A Falconbridge ! a Falconbridge !
io The firft part of
FaL We will be Matters of the Mint ourfelues,
And fet our own ftamp on the golden coin.
We'll fhoe our neighing couriers with no worfe
Than the pure ft filuer that is folde in Cheape.
At Leadenhall, we'll fell pearles by the pecke,
As now the mealmen vfe to fell their meal.
In Wejlminfter, wt'll keep a folemne court,
And build it bigger to receiue our men.
Cry Falconbridge, my hearts, and liberty !
AIL Falconbridge and liberty, &c.
Smoke. Peace, ye flaues ; or I will fmoke ye elfe.
Chub. Peace, ye flaues, or I will chub your chaps ;
but indeed thou mayeft well fmoke them, beaufe thy
name is Smoke.
Smoke. Why, firs, I hope Smoke, the fmith of Chep-
flead, is as good a man as Chub, the chandler of Sand
wich.
Spi. Peace, ye rogues > what, are you quarrelling 1
and now lift to Captaine Spicing.
You know Cheapfide : there are the mercers' mops.
Where we will meafure veluet by the pikes,
And filkes and fatins by the ftreet's whole bredth :
We'le take the tankards from the conduit-cocks
To fill with ipocras and drinke carouie,
Where chains of gold and plate mall be as plenty
As wooden dimes in the wild of Kent.
Smoke. Oh, brauely faid, Ned Spicing \ the honeft-
eft lad that euer pound fpice in a mortar. Now fpeaks
Captaine Smoke.
Looke, lads ; for from this hill ye may difcerne
The louely town which we are marching to :
That fame is London, lads, ye looke vpon :
Range all arow, my heares, and ftand at gaze,
As do the herds of deere at fome ftrange fight,
Or as a troop of hungry trauellers,
That fixe their eyes vpon a furnifht feaft.
Looke how the Tower doth tice vs to come on,
To take out Henry the Sixt, there prifoner :
King Edward the fourth. 1 1
See how Saint Katharines fmokes ; wipe, flaues, your
eyes,
And whet your flomachs for the good malt-pies.
Chub. Why, then, belike I am nobody. Room and
avoidance, for now fpeaks Captain Chub.
No fooner in London will wee be,
But the bakers for you, the brewers for mee.
Birchin lane mail fuite vs.
The coftermongers fruite vs,
The poulters fend vs in fowl,
And butchers meate without controul :
And euer when we fuppe or dine,
The vintners freely bring vs in wine.
In anybody aske who mail pay,
Cut off his head and fend him away.
This is Captain Chub's law, whofoeuer fay nay.
Fal, Brauely refolued, fo march we forward all,
And boldly fay, good luck mail us befall. Exeunt.
Enter the Lord Mayor, M. Shore, and M. Joffelin, in
their veluet coats and gorgets, and leading Jlaues.
Mayor. This is well done. Thus mould good Citti-
zens
Fafhion themfelues as well for warre as peace.
Haue ye commanded that in euery ftreete
They hang forth lights as foon as night comes on 1
Say coufm Shore ; that was referr'd to you.
Shore. We haue, my lord. Befides, from euery
hall
There is at leafl two hundred men in armes.
Mayor. It cheeres my heart to hear this readi-
neffe.
Let neuer rebels put true mbiects down.
Come when they will, their welcome mall be fuch,
As they had better kept them further off.
But where is Maifter Recorder ? his aduice
Muft not be wanting in thefe high affairs.
Shore. About an hour ago, and lorn e what more,
1 2 The firft part of
I left him fortifying the bridge, my lord ;
Which done, he purpofed to meete you here.
Maior. A difcreet painful gentleman he is,
And we mull all of vs be fo inclin'd,
If we intend to haue the City fafe,
Or look for thanks and credit with the King.
I tell ye, matters, aged though I be,
I, for my part, will to no bed this night.
Jof. Why, is it thought the Baflard is fo near?
Maior. How meane ye, Maifter Joffelin, by
near ?
He neither comes from Italy nor Sp&in ;
But out of Kent and EJfex, which you know
Are both fo near, as nearer cannot be.
Jof. Nay, by your patience, good my Lord, a
word.
Simple tho' I am, yet I muft confefs,
A mifchief further off would, and fo forth ;
You knowe my meaning. Things not feene before
Are, and fo forth. Yet, in good fadneffe,
I would that all were well ; and perchance
It may be fo. What ! were it not for hope,
The heart, and fo forth. But to the matter :
You meane and purpofe ; I, I am fure ye do.
Maior. Well, maifler J off din, we are fure ye mean
well,
Although fomewhat defecliue in your vtterance.
Jof. Ay, ay, my Lord Maior, I am you know,
Willing, ready, and fo forth; tut, tut, for me,
ha, ha !
My manfion is at Ham, and thence, you know,
I come to help you in this needfull time,
When rebels are fo bufy, and fo forth.
What, mafters ? age mud neuer be defpis'd.
You mail find me, my Lord, Hill, and fo forth.
Enter Urswick, the Recorder.
Shore. My lord, now here comes Maifter Recorder.
King Edward the fourth. 1 3
Rec, Good eu'n, my good Lord Maior. The ftreets
are chain 'd,
The bridge well mann'd, and euery place prepared.
Shall we now go together and confult
What elfe there is to be determin'd of ?
Maior. Your coming, Maifter Recorder, was the
thing
We all defired ; therefore, let vs confult.
And now what fay ye, if with halfe our power
We iffue forth and giue the rebels fight ?
Rec. Before they do prouoke vs nearer hand.
There were no way to that, if all be pleafed.
Whats your opinion, Maifter Jofielin ?
Jof. Good footh, my lord Maior and Maifter Re
corder,
You may take your choice ; but, in my conceit,
Iffue if you will, or elfe flay if you will.
A man can neuer be too wary and fo forth.
Yet, as to iffue will not be the worft,
Even fo to tarry. Well, you may think more on't,
But all is one ; we mall be fure to fight,
And you are wife enough to fee your time ;
I, I, a God's name.
Rec. My Lord,
Accept his meaning better than his counfell.
Maior. I, fo we do, or elfe we were to blame.
What if we flop the paffage of the Thames
With fuch prouifion as we haue of fhips ?
Rec. 'Tis doubtful yet, my lord, whether the
rebels
Purpofe that way to feek our detriment.
Rather, mefeemeth, they will come by land,
And either make affault at London Bridge,
Or elfe at Aldgate, both which entrances
Were good they mould be ftrongly fortified.
Jof. Well faid, maifter Recorder. You do. I, I
I ye warrant.
Rec. As for the other, the whole companies
Of Mercers, Grocers, Drapers, and the refl,
14 The firft part of
Are drawne together, for their bed defence,
Befide the Tower, a neighbour to that place,
As on the one fide it will cleare the riuer,
So on the other, with their ordinance,
It may repulfe and beate them from the gate.
A noife within
Maior. What noife is this 1 prouide ye fuddenly,
And euerie man betake him to his charge.
Enter a Meffenger.
Shore. Soft ; who is this 1 How now, my friende,
what newes ?
Mef. My mafter, the Lieutenant of the Tower,
Giues ye to vnderftand he hath defcried
The army of the rebels.
Rec. Which way come they ?
Mef. From Effexward ; and therefore 'tis his
mind
You guard both Aldgate well and Bijhopfgate.
Maior. Saint George, away ! and let vs all refolue
Either to vanquim this rebellious rout,
Preferue our goods, our children, and our wiues,
Or feale our refolution with our Hues. Exeunt.
Enter Falconbridge, with Spicing and his Troopes.
Fal. Summon the City, and command our en
trance ;
Which, if we mail be ftubbornly denied,
Our power mall rum like thunder through the walls.
Spi. Open your gates, flaues, when I command ye.
Spicing beats on the gates, and then enters the Lord
Maior and his affociates, with prentices.
Maior. What's he that beats thus at the City
gates,
King Edward the fourth. 1 5
Commanding entrance as he were a king ?
FaL He that will haue releafement for a King,
I, Thomas Neuille, the Lord Falconbridge.
Spi. Ho, firrah, you clapperdudgin, vnlocke, vn-
bolt ! or I'll bolt you, if I get in. Stand you preach
ing, with a pox ?
Maior. We haue no warrant, Thomas Falconbridge,
To let your armed troops into our city,
Confidering you haue taken vp thefe arms
Againft our foueraign and our countries peace.
FaL I tell thee, Maior, and know he tells thee fo,
That cometh armed in a king's defence,
That I craue entrance in King Henrys name,
In right of the true line of Lancajler.
Methinks that word, fpoke from a Neuille' s mouth,
Should like an earthquake rend your chained
gates.
And tear in pieces your portcullifes.
I thunder it again into your ears,
You flout and braue couragious Londoners ;
In Henry's name, I craue my entrance in.
Rec. Should Henry's name command the entrance
here,
We mould deny allegiance vnto Edward,
Whofe true and faithful fubiecls we are fworn, ,
And in whofe prefence is our fword vpborne.
FaL I tell thee, traitor, then thou bear'fl thy
fword
Againft thy true vndoubted king.
Shore. Nay, then, I tell thee, baftard Falconbridge,
My lord Maior bears his fword in his defence,
That put the fword into the arms of London,
Made the lord Maiors for euer after knights,
Richard, depos'd by Henry Bolingbroke,
From whom the houfe of Yorke doth claime their
right.
FaL What's he that anfwers vs thus faucily ?
Smoke. Sirrah, your name, that we may know ye
hereafter.
1 6 The firft part of
Shore. My name is Shore, a goldfmith by my
trade.
FaL What ! not that Shore that hath the dainty
wife?
Store's wife, the flow'r of London for her beauty !
Shore. Yes, rebel, eu'n the very lame.
Spi. Run, rafcal, and fetch thy wife to oui
General prefently, or elfe all the gold in Cheapfide
cannot ranfom her. Wilt thou not ftirre when I bid
thee?
FaL Shore, liften : thy wife is mine, thats flat.
This night, in thine own houfe, me fleeps with
me.
Now, Crosby, lord Maior, mall we enter in ?
Maior. Crosby, the lord Maior, tells thee, proud
rebel, no.
FaL No, Crosby mall I not? Then doting
lord,
I cram the name of rebel down thy throat.
There's not the pooreft rafcal of my camp,
But if he chance to meet thee in Cheapfide,
Vpon thy foot-cloth, he mall make thee light,
And hold his flirrup while he mount thy horfe,
Then lackey him which way he pleafe to go.
Crosby, I'll make the citizens be glad
To fend thee and the aldermen, thy brethren,
All manacled and chain'd like galley-flaues,
To ranfom them and to redeem the city.
Maior. Nay, then, proud rebel, paufe, and hear
me fpeak.
There's not the poorefl and meaneft citizen,
That is a faithful fubiecl to the King,
But, in defpite of thy rebellious rout,
Shall walk to Bowe, a fmall wand in his hand,
Although thou lie encamp'd at Mile-end Green,
And not the proudefl rebel of you all
Shall dare to touch him for his damned foul.
Come, we will pull vp our portcullifes,
And let me fee thee enter if thou dare.
King Edward the fourth. 1 7
Fal Spoken like a man, and true veluet-iacket,
And we will enter, or ftrike by the way. Exeunt.
Enter Lord Maior, Recorder, and loffelin.
Maior. Where's Matter Recorder and Matter lof-
felinl
Rec. Here, my lord Maior. We now haue manned
the walls,
And fortified fuch places as were needfull.
Maior. Why, it is well, brothers and citizens ;
Sticke to your city as good men mould do.
Think that in Richard's time even fuch a rebel
Was then by Walworth, the lord Maior of London,
Stabb'd dead in Smithfield.
Then mow yourfelues as it befits the time,
And let this find a hundred Walworths now
Dare flabbe a rebell, were he made of braffe.
And, prentices, ftick to your officers,
For you may come to be as we are now.
God and our King again ft an arrant rebel !
Brothers, away ; let vs defend our walles.
Firft Ap. My Lord, your wordes are able to
infufe
A double courage in a coward's breaft.
Then feare not vs ; although our chins be bare,
Our hearts are good : the trial mall be feene
Againtt thefe rebels on this champion greene.
Sec. Ap. We haue no trickes nor policies of
warre,
But by the antient cuftom of our fathers,
We'll foundly lay it on ; take't off that will :
And, London prentices, be rul'd by me j
Die ere ye lofe fair Londons liberty.
Spi. How now, my flat-caps , are you growne fo
brave ?
'Tis but your wordes : when matters come to proofe,
You'll feud as twere a company of fheepe.
1 8 The firft part of
My counfel therefore is to keepe your fhoppes.
What lacke you ? better will befeeme your mouthes
Than terms of warre. In footh, you are too
yong.
Firft Ap. Sirrah, go to ; you (hall not finde it fo.
Flat-caps thou caH'ft vs. We fcorne not the name,
And fhortly, by the vertue of our f words,
We'll make your cappe fo fit unto your crowne,
As fconce and cappe and all mail kiffe the ground.
Sec. Ap. You are thofe defperate, idle, fwaggering
mates,
That haunt the fuburbes in the time of peace,
And raife vp ale-houfe brawls in the flreete ;
And when the rumour of the warre begins,
You hide your heads, and are not to be found.
Thou term'ft it better that we keep our fhoppes.
It's good indeede wee mould have fuch a care,
But yet, for all our keeping now and then,
Your pilfring fingers break into our locks,
Vntil at Tyburn you acquit the fault.
Go to : albeit by cuflome we are milde,
As thofe that do profeffe ciuility,
Yet, being mou d, a neft of angry hornets
Shall not be more offeniiue than we will.
Wele fly about your ears and fting your hearts.
Joff. He tells you truth, my friends, and fo
forth.
Pal. Who can endure to be fo brau'd by boys ?
Firft Ap. Nay, fcorn vs not that we are prentices.
The Chronicles of England can report
What memorable actions we haue done,
To which this daies achieuement mall be knit,
To make the volume larger than it is.
Maior. Now, of mine honour, ye do cheere my
heart.
Braue Englifh offsprings, valiantly refolu'd !
Sec. Ap. My Lord, return you back ; let vs alone ;
You are our mafters ; giue vs leaue to 'work ;
And if we do not vanquifh them in fight,
King Edward the fourth. 1 9
Let vs go fupperlefs to bed at night.
Exeunt all but Spicing, Smoke, and their creu>.
Spi. Smoke, get thee vp on the top of S. Buttolphs
fteeple, and make a proclamation.
Smoke. What, a plague, fhould I proclaime there ?
Spi. That the bells be rung backward,
And cutting of throats be cried hauock.
No more calling of lanthorn and candle-light :
That maidenheads be valued at juft nothing;
And facke be fold by the fallet.
That no piddling flaue ftand to picke a locke, but
flam me off the hinges, as one would flit up a cow's
paunch.
Smoke. Let no man haue leffe then a warehoufe to
his wardrope. Cry a fig for a fergeant, and walk ty
the Counter like a lord : plucke out the clapper of
Bow Bell, and hang vp all the fextons in the city.
Spi. Rantum, fcantum, rogues, follow your leader,
Cavallero Spicing, the maddeil flaue that euer pund
fpice in a mortar.
Smoke. Take me an vfurer by the greafie pouch
and lhake out his crownes, as a hungry dog would
make a haggas. Bar foule play, rogues, and Hue by
honeft filching and dealing : he that hath a true finger,
let him forfeit his face to the frying-pan. Follow your
leader, rogues, follow your leader !
Spi. Affault, affault ! and cry, a Falconbridge !
Joffelin on the walls cries to them
Jos. Sirrah Spicing, if Spicing be thy name, we are
here for matters and caufes as it might feem for the
king : therefore, it were good, and fo forth.
Spi. Open the gates ; or, if we be the picklocks,
ye rogues, we'll play the mafliff dogs amongft you. If
I worry not a thoufand of you with my teeth, let me
be hanged in a packthread, and fo forth.
Jos. Fond fellow, iuftice is to be vfed ; I, marry,
c 2
2O The fir/I part of
is it ; and law in fome fort, as it were, is to be fol
lowed. Oh, God forbid elfe ! This our magiflrate
hath power as might feem, and fo forth ; for duty is to
be obferued, and officers mufl be obeyed, in fort and
calling, and fo forth.
Spi. We'll talk more, anon, good Mailer and-fo-
forth.
Here is a very fierie affault on all fides, wherein the
prentices doe great feruice.
Enter Falconbridge, angry, with his men.
Fal. Why this is to truft to thefe bafe rogues,
This dirty fcum of rafcal peafantry,
This heartlefs rout of bafe rafcality.
A plague vpon you all, you cowardly rogues,
You crauen curs, you (limy muddy clownes,
Whofe courage but confifts in multitude,
Like fheep and neat that follow one another,
Which if one run away, all follow after ;
This hedgebred rafcal, this filthy fry of ditches ;
A vengeance take you all ! This 'tis to lead you.
Now do you cry and mrieke at euery fhocke ;
A hot confuming mifchief follow you !
Spi. 'Swounds ! fcale, rogues, fcale ! A Falcon-
bridge, a Falconbridge \
Enter Lord Maior and his train.
Maior. Set open the gates ! Nay, then, we'll fally
out.
It neuer (hall be faid, when I was Maior,
The Londoners were (hut vp in the city.
Then cry King Edward, and let's iffue out.
Fal. Now, if ye be true-hearted Englifhmen,
The gates fet open and the portcullis vp,
Let's pell-mell in, to flop their paffage out.
He that firft enters be poffeft of Cheape,
King Edward the fourth. 2 1
I glue him it freely, and the chiefeft wench.
Spi. That he can finde. Let that lie in the bar-
gaine. Exeunt.
The Lord Maior and the Citizens hauin% valiantly
repulfed the Rebels from the city, enters Falcon -
bridge and Spicing, and their train, wounded and
difmayed.
Spi. Hearefl thou, general 1 there's hot drinking
at the Mouth of Bifhopf-gate, for our foldiers are all
mouth. They lie like rafcals, with their braines
beaten out, Therefore, fmce we are all like to feede
hogs in Houndfditch, let vs retire our troopes, and
faue our maimed men : or, if we iffue further, we are
put to the fword, euery mothers fonne of vs.
Fal. Art thou that villain, in whofe damned
mouth
Was neuer heard of any word but wounds ?
Whofe recreant limbs are notcht with gaping fears,
Thicker than any carking craftfmans fcore,
Whofe very fcalp is fcratch'd, and craz'd, and broken,
Like an old mazer beaten on the Hones ;
And ftandU thou now to faue our maimed men ?
A plague upon thee, coward !
Spi. Why how now, bafe Thomas ? 'S wounds !
wert thou a bafe-viol, thou art but a rafcal and a rebel,
as I am, hearefl thou 1 If I do not turn true fubiec~l,
and leaue thee, let me be worried with dogs.
'Swounds ! doll thou impeach my manhood ? Tom Ne
ville, thou had'ft as good to haue damned thyfelf as
uttered fuch a word. Flatly, I forfake thee ; and all
that loue Ned Spicing, follow me.
Here the reft offer to follow.
Fal. Come, come, ye tefly fool, thou feeft me
grieu'd,
Yet canft not beare with mine infirmity.
Thou knowes I hold thee for as tall a man
As any hues or breathes our Englifh aire.
22 The firft part of
I know there Hues not a more fiery fpirit,
A more refolued, valiant. A plague vpon it
Thou knowft I loue thee ; yet if a word efcape
My lips, in anger, how tefly then thou art.
I had rather all men left me then thyfelf.
Thou art my foul : thou art my genius.
I cannot Hue without thee, not an hour.
Thus mud I ftill be forcd, againfl my will, afide.
To foothe this dirty flaue, this cowardly rafcall.
Come, come, be friends, ye tefly firebrand !
We muft retire. There is no remedy.
Spi. Nay, Tom, if thou wilt haue me mount on
the walls,
And cafl myfelf down headlong on their pikes,
He do it. But to impeach my valour !
Had any man but thou fpoke half fo much,
I would haue fpilt his heart. Still beware
My valour : fuch words go hardly down.
Well, I am friends : thou thoughtft not as thou
fpakfl.
JFal. No ; on my foule, thou think'fl not that I
did.
Sound a retreat there, I command ye, ftrait !
But whither mail we retire ?
Spi. To Mile-end Greene. There is no fitter
place.
Fal. Then let vs back retire to Mile-end Greene,
And there expecl frefh fuccour from our friends,
With fuch fupply as mall ere long affure
The city is our own. March on ! Away ! Exeunt.
Enter Lord Maior, with his irame, and prentices.
Maior. Ye haue beftirr'd you like good citizens,
And mown yourfelues true fubiecls to your king.
You worthily, prentices, beflir'd yourfelues,
That it did cheer my heart to fee your valour.
The rebels are retir'd to Mile-end Greene.
Kin% Edward the fourth. 23
Rec. Where fo we may not fuffer them to reft,
But iCfue forth vpon them with frefh force.
*<)$. My lord Maior, diligence doth well, and fo
forth. Matters muft be looked into as they ought,
indeed mould they. When things are well done, they
are, and fo forth ; for caufes and things mufl indeed
be looked into.
Maior. Well, fir, we very well conceiue your
meaning,
And you haue mown yourfelf a worthy gentleman.
See that our walls be kept with courts of guard,
And well defended againft the enemy ;
For we will now withdraw vs to Guildhall,
To take aduice what further mufl be done. Exeunt,
Enter Mafter Shore and Jane, his Wife,
Shore. Be not afraid, fweetheart, the worft is
pafl:
God haue the praife, the victory is ours.
We haue preuailed : the rebels are repuls'd,
And euery flreete of London foundeth ioy.
Canft thou, then, gentle Jane, be fad alone 1
Jane. I am not fad now you are here with me,
My ioy, my hope, my comfort, and my loue,
My dear, dear husband, kindeft Matthew Shore.
But when thefe arms, the circles of my foule,
Were in the fight fo forward, as I heard,
How could I choofe, fweetheart, but be afraide ?
Shore. Why doll thou tremble now, when perils
pail 2
Jane. I think vpon the horror of the time.
But tell me why you fought fo defperately 1
Shore. Firft to maintain King Edward's royalty ;
Next, to defend the city's liberty ;
But chiefly Jane, to keep thee from the toil
Of him that to my face did vow thy fpoil.
Had he preuaild, where then had been our Hues ?
Difhonourd our daughters, rauifhd our fair wiues ;
24 The fir/I part of
Poffeffd our goods, and fet our feruants free ;
Yet all this nothing to the lofs of thee.
Ja?ie. Of me fvveetheart ? why how fhould I
loft?
Were I by thoufand ftormes of fortune toft,
And fhould indure the pooreft wretched life,
Yet Jane will be thy honefl loyal wife.
The greateft prince the Sunne did euer fee,
Shall neuer make me proue vntrue to thee.
Shore. I feare not faire means, but a rebels
force.
Jane. Thefe hands mail make this body a dead
corfe
Ere force or flattery mail mine honour flain.
Shore. True fame furuiues, when death the flem
hath flain.
Enter an Officer from the Lord Maior.
Officer. God faue ye, matter Shore, and, miflrifs,
by your leaue ;
Sir, my lord Maior fends for you by me,
And prays your fpeedy prefence at Guildhall,
Theres newes the rebels haue made head againe,
And haue enfconcd themfelues vpon Mile-end,
And prefently our armed men mufl out.
You being Captaine of two companies,
In honour of your valour and your skill,
Muft leade the vaward. God and right fland with
ye!
Shore. Friend, tell my Lord He wait vpon him
ftrait.
lane. Friend, tell my Lord he does my husband
wrong,
To fet him foremoft in the danger flill.
Ye fhall not goe, if I may haue my will.
Shore. Peace, wife, no more. Friend, I will fol
low ye. Exit,
lane. Ifaith ye fhall not. Prethee do not go.
King Edward the fourth. 25
Shore. Not go, fweetheart? that were a cowards
trick,
A traitor's part, to fhrink when others fight.
Enuy fhall neuer fay that Matthew Shore,
The goldfmith, flayd, when other men went out
To meet his Kings and countrys enemy.
No, lane ; gainft all the rebels on Mile-end,
I dare alone King Edwards right defend.
lane. If you be flaine, what fhall become of me 1
Shore. Right well, my wench : enow will marry
thee.
I leaue thee worth at leaft fiue thoufand pound.
lane. Marry again ? that word my heart doth
wound. She weeps.
I'll neuer marry, nor I will not Hue
If thou be killd. Let me go with thee, Mat.
Shore. Tis idle talke, good lane ; no more of
that.
Go to my lady Maioreffe and the reft,
As you are ft ill companion with the beft ;
With them be merrie, and pray for our good fpeed.
lane. To part from thee, my very heart doth
bleed. Exeunt.
Enter Falconbridge with his Troops, marching as being
at Mile end.
Fal. Yet ftand we in the fight of vpreard Troy,
And fuck the air fhe draws : our very breath
Flies from our noftrils warme vnto the walls.
We beard her briftling fpires, her battled towers,
And proudly ftand and gaze her in the face.
Look on me, and I doubt not ye imagine
My worth as great as any one of yours,
My fortunes, would I bafely fawn on Edward,
To be as fair as any mans in England.
But he that keeps your Soueraign in the Tower
Hath feized my land, and robbd me of my right.
I am a gentleman as well as hee.
What he hath got, he holds by tyranny.
2 6 The firft part of
Now, if you faint, or cowardly fhould fly,
There is no hope for any one to Hue.
We heare the Londoners will leaue the city,
And bid vs battle here on Mile-end Green,
Whom if we vanquifh, then we take the town,
And ride in triumph thorough Cheape to Pauls.
The Mint is ours, Cheape, Lombard Street, our own ;
The meanefl foldier wealthier than a king.
Spi. March fair, ye rogues, all kings or capknitters.
Dofl thou hear, Tom Falconbridge % I prithee grant
me one boon I mail aske thee.
Fal. What is it, Ned'i its hard I mould deny
thee.
Spi. Why, that when we haue won the city, as
we cannot chufe but win it, that I may haue the
knighting of all thefe rogues and rafcals.
Fal. What then 1
Spi. What then 1 ? Zounds, I fcorn your fcuruy,
wry-mouthed What then 1 Now, a poxe take me if I
fight a blow.
Fal. Why, this is fine. Go to ; knight whom thou
wilt.
Spi. Who ? I knight any of them ? He fee them
hanged firfl for a company of tattered ragged rafcals.
If I were a king, I would not knight one of them.
Chub. What, not me, Cavallero Chub,?
Spi. Yes, I care not if 1 knight thee ; and yet He
fee thee hanged ere He honour thee fo much. I care
not fo much for the matter ; but I would not be
denied my humour.
Fal. Why, what a perverfe fellow art thou, Ned !
Spi. Ho, my fine Tom, my braue Falconbridge, my
mad Greeke, my lufty Neuille \ thou art a king, a
Ccefar \ a plague on thee ; I loue thee not, and yet
He die with thee.
Enter the Lord Maior, Recorder, loffelin, Shore, and
their Soldiers, marching.
Maior. See how rebellion can exalt itfelf,
King Edward the fourth* 27
Pruning the feathers of fick difcipline.
Rec. They think they can outlook our truer looks.
Shore. Mark but the fcornful eye of Falconbridge.
Maior. I rather think tis feare vpon his cheeke.
Deciphers pale difturbance in his heart.
Jos. Our coming forth hath well, I fay no more;
But (hall we take occafion, and fo forth ?
Rebellion fhould haue no refpite. Oh, my lord,
The time hath been but all is one for that.
Spi. How like a troop of rank oreridden jades
Yon bumy-bearded citizens appeare !
Chub. Nay, rather fo many men in the moone,
And euery one a furzen bufh in his mouth.
Spi. The four and twenty wards ! now, fair befal
them;
Would any one haue thought before this houre,
There had been fuch increafe of muddy flaues?
Fal. Peace, foldiers ! they are refolute, you fee ;
And not to flatter vs, nor fauour them,
Such haughtie flomacks feldom haue been feene
Imbodied in the breafls of Citizens.
How fternly in their own peculiar ftrength,
Without the affiftance of their lingring King,
Did they of late repulfe vs from their walls !
And now again how expeditioufly,
And vnexpecled, they haue met vs here !
Were we more deadly incenfd than we are,
I would not but commend their chiualry.
Spi. Captaine, mall we goe challenge them to
fight?
Sblood ! we burn daylight ; they will think, anon,
We are afraid to fee their glittering fwords.
Chub. Tell them, they come inflead of pudding
pies
And Stratford cakes, to make's a banquet here.
Fal. Soft ; giue me leaue ; I will deuife with
words
To weaken and abafh their fortitude.
Rec. The baftard offers to come forth, my lord.
28 The firjl part of
Maior. I am the man intend to anfwer him.
Fal. Crosby \
Maior. Traitor !
All. Traitor ! zounds, down with him !
Fal. Be patient : giue me leaue, I fay, to fpeak.
I doubt not but the traitors name mail reft
With thofe that keep their lawfull King in bonds.
Mean time, ye men of London, once again
Behold my warlike colours are difplayed,
Which I haue vowed mail neuer be wrapt vp
Vntil your lofty buildings kiffe our feete,
Vnlefs you grant me paffage through your ftreetes.
Rec. Paffage, faift thou ? That muft be ore our
brefts,
If any paffage thou art like to haue.
Fal. Why then vpon your bodies will I treade,
And wade through {landing pooles of your loft blood.
Shore. We know thy threates, and reckon them as
winde,
Not of fufficient power to make a reede.
Spi. But we fhook your gates not long agoe,
And made your walls to make like Irifh bogges.
Chub. I, and fo terrified ye, that not one of ye
durft come to fetch a pint of facke at the Mouth at
Bi/hopfgate ', no, not for your hues.
Jos. I, but you know what followed, and fo
forth.
Spi. Et cetera ! are you there ? methinkes, the
fight of the dun bull, the Neuilles honoured creft,
mould make you leaue your broken fentences, and
quite forget euer to fpeake at all.
Shore. Nay, then, look thou upon our Cities arms,
Wherein is a bloody dagger : that is it,
Wherewith a rebel like to Falconbridge
Had his defert, meet for his treachery.
Can you behold that, and not quake for fear ]
Rec. Since when, it is fucceffmely decreed,
Traitors with vs mail neuer better fpeed.
Spi. Captain e and fellow-foldiers, talk no more,
King Edward the fourth. 29
But draw your meaning forth in downright blows.
Fal. Sound then alarum.
Maior. Doe the like for vs,
And where the right is, there attend fuccefs !
Jos. Stay, and be better aduisd. Why, country
men,
What is this Falconbridge you follow fo 1
I could inftruc~l you ; but you know my minde.
And, Falconbridge, what are thefe ruflicalls,
Thou fhouldft repofe fuch confidence in glaife ;
Shall I informe thee 1 No, thou art wife enough.
Edward of York delayes the time, you fay ;
Therefore he will not come. Imagine fo.
The cities weake. Hold that opinion ftill.
And your pretence King Henrys liberty.
True ; but as how 1 Shall I declare you ? No.
What then ? youle fight. A Gods name, take your
choice.
I can no more but giue you my aduice.
Fal. Away with this parenthefis of words.
Crosby, courage thy men/ and on this Greene
Whofe caufe is right, let it be quickly feen.
Maior. I am ready as thou canft defire.
On then, a Gods name !
They fight. The rebels driue them back. Then enter
Falconbridge and Spicing.
1
Fal. This was well fought. Now, Spicing, lift to
me.
The citizens thus hauing giuen vs ground,
And therefore fomewhat daunted, take a band
Of Eflex foldiers, and with all the fpeed
Thou poffibly canft make, withdraw thyfelf,
And get between the city gates and them.
Spi. Oh braue Tom Neuille, gallant Falconbridge,
I aim at thy intended policy ;
This is thy meaning: while thou art employd
And holdft them battle here on Mile-end Greene,
3<D The firft part of
I mufl prouide, as harbinger before,
There be not only cleare and open paffage,
But the beft merchants houfes to receiue
Vs and our retinue. I am proud of that,
And will not fleepe vpon thy juft command.
Fal. Away, then ! I will follow as I may,
And doubt not but that ours will be the day.
After fome excurfions, enter Lord Maior and Mafter
Shore.
Maior. We haue recouerd what before we loft,
And Heauen ftands with the juftice of our caufe.
But this I noted in the fight euen now,
That part of this rebellious crew is fent,
By what direction, or for what intent,
I cannot gueffe, but may fufpec"! the worft ;
And, as it feemes, they compaffe it about
To hem vs in, or get the gate of vs :
And therefore, coufin Shore, as I repofe
Truft in thy valour and thy loyalty,
Draw forth three hundred bowmen and fome pikes,
And prefently encounter their affault.
Shore. 1 haue your meaning; and effect, my
Lord,
I trufl fhall difappoint them of their hope. Exit.
After an alarum, enter Spicing, with a Drum, and
certain Soldiers.
Spi. Come on my hearts, we will be kings to
night,
Caroufe in gold, and fleep with merchants wiues,
While their poor husbands lofe their liues abroad :
We are now quite behind our enemies backs,
And theres no let or hindrance in the way,
But we may take poffeffion of the town.
Ah you mad rogues, this is the wifhed hour ;
Follow your leader and be refolute.
King Edward the fourth. 3 1
As he marches, thinking to enter Shore and his Sol
diers iffue forth and repulfe him. After excur-
fions, wherein the Rebelsare difperfed, enter Maior,
Recorder, Shore, Joffelin, and a Mejfenger talking
with the Maior.
Maior. I, my good friend, fo certify his Grace,
The rebels are difperfed all and fled,
And now his Highneffe meetes with vic~lory.
Exit Meffenger.
Marfhal yourfelues, and keepe in good array.
To add more glory to this viclory,
The King in perfon cometh to this place.
How greate an honour haue you gaind to-day !
And how much is this City famed for euer,
That twice, without the help either of King,
Or any but of God and our own felues
We haue preuail'd againfl our countries foes.
Thankes to his maiefty affifled vs,
Who always helps true fubiecls in their need !
The trumpets found, and then enters King Edward,
Lord Howard, Sellinger, and the train.
King. Where is my Lord Maior ?
Maior. Here, dread Soueraign.
I hold no lordlhip nor no dignity
In prefence of my gracious Lord the King.
But all I humble at your Highneffe feet,
With the moft happy conqueft of proud rebels,
Difperfd and fled, that now remaines no doubt
Of euer making head to vexe vs more.
King. You haue not tane the baflard Falcon-
bridge,
Or is he flain ?
Maior. Neither, my gracious Lord.
Although we labour'd to our vttermofl,
Yet all our care came ouer-fhort
For apprehending him or Spicing either ;
32 The firft part of
But fome are taken \ others on profferd grace
Yielded themfelues, and at your mercy fland.
King. Thankes, good Lord Maior. You may
condemn vs
Of too much flacknefs in fuch vrgent need ;
But we afiure you on our royall word,
So foon as we had gather' d vs a power,
We dallied not, but made all hafle we could.
What order haue ye tane for Falconbridge
And his confederates in this rebellion 1
Maior. Vnder your leaue, my leige, we
proclaim' d
Who bringeth Falconbridge, aliue or dead,
Shall be requited with a thoufand markes.
As much for Spicing. Others of lefs worth,
At eafier rates are fet.
King. Well haue ye done ;
And we will fee it paid from our Exchequer.
Now leaue we this and come to you,
That haue fo well deferu'd in thefe affaires,
Affaires, I mean, of fo maine confequence.
Kneel down and all of you receiue in field
The honour you haue merited in field.
Drawes hisfword and knights them.
Arife Sir John Crofebie, Lord Maior of London and
Knight.
Arife Sir Ralfe Joffeline Knight.
Arife Sir Thomas Vrfewicke, our Recorder of London
and Knight.
Now tell me which is Matter Shoare.
Maior. This fame, my Lord,
And hand to hand he fought with Falconbridge.
King. Shoare, kneel thou down. What call ye elfe
his name ?
Rec. His name is Mathew Shoare, my Lord.
King. Shoare
Why kneelfl thou not, and at thy Soueraignes hand
Receiue thy right ^
Shore. Pardon me, gratious lord,
I doe not ttarid contemptuous, or defpifing
King Edward the fourth. 33
Such royall fauor of my Soueraign,
But to acknowledge mine vnworthinefs.
Farre be it from the thought of Mathew Shoare
That he mould be aduanc'd with Aldermen,
With our Lord Maior, and our right graue Recorder.
If any thing hath been performd by me,
That may deferue your Highnes meanfl refpect,
I haue enough, and I defire no more ;
Then let me crane that I may haue no more.
King. Well, be it as thou wilt ; fome other way
We will deuife to quittance thy deierts,
And not to faile therein, vpon my word.
Now let me tell ye all my friends at once,
Your King is married fince you faw him lad,
And hafle to helpe you in this needfull time
Made me on fudden to forlake my Bride.
But feeing all things are fallen out fo well,
And there remaines no further doubt of ill,
Let me entreate you would go boote yourfelues,
And bring your King a little on his way.
How fay you, my Lord ; mall it be fo ?
Ma. Now God forbid but that my Lord the King
Should always haue his fubiecls at command.
Jof. Forbid, quotha ? I, in good fadnefs : your
maieftie mall finde vs alwaies ready, and fo forth.
King. Why, then, fet forward, Gentlemen ;
And come, L. Maior, I muft conferre with you.
Exeunt.
.
Enter Falconbridge and Spicing, with their weapons
in their hands.
Spi. Art thou the man whofe victories drawne
at fea
Fild euery heart with terror of thy name ? .
Art thou that Neuill whom we tooke thee for *{
Thou art a loufe, thou baliard Falconbridge ;
Thou bafer than a baftard, in whofe birth
The very dregs of feruitude appeares.
34 The fir/I part of
Why, tell me, liuer of fome rotten fheepe,
After, by thy allurements, we are brought
To vndertake this courfe, after thy promifes
Of many golden mountaines to enfue,
Is this the greatefl comfort thou canfl giue ?
Haft thou enfnar'd our heedleffe feet with death,
And brought vs to the libbet of defame,
And now dofl bid vs milt and faue ourfelues !
No, crauen, were I fure I mould be tane,
I would not flir my feete, vntill this hand
Had venged me on thee for mifguiding us.
FaL Opprobrious uillaine, liable excrement,
That neuer dreamtft of other manhood yet,
But how to ierke a horfe, vntill my words
Infufd into thee refolutions fire.
Controllft thou me for that wherein thyfelf
Art only the occafion of miihap 1
Hadfl thou and they flood to it as well as I,
The day had bin our own, and London now,
That laughes in triumph, mould haue wept in teares.
But, being backd by fuch faint-hearted flaues,
No maruel if the Lion go to wracke,
As though it were not incident to kings
Sometime to take repulfe : mine is no more.
Nor is it for that muddy braine of thine
To tutor me how to digefl my loffe,
Then, fly with thofe that are already fled,
Or ilay behind, and hang all but the head.
Spi. Oh, prejudice to Spitings conqu'ring name,
Whofe valour eu'n the hackes this fworde has made
Upon the flint and iron bars at Aldgate,
Like mouths will publifh whiles the City Hands,
That I fhrunk backe, that I was neuer feene
To mow my manly fpleen but with a whip ?
I tell thee Falconbridge, the leafl of thefe
Doe challenge blood, before they be appeas'd.
FaL Away, ye fcoundrel ! tempt not my refolue.
The courage that furuiues in Falconbridge
Scornes the incounter of fo bafe a drudge.
King Edward the fourth. 35
Spi. By the pure temper of this fword of mine,
By this true flefh and blood that gripes the fame,
And by the honour I did winne of late,
Againft thofe froftie-bearded citizens,
It mail be tride before we do depart,
Whether accufeth other wrongfully,
Or which of vs two is the better man.
Fal. I mall but quit the hangman of a labour :
Yet rather then to be vpbraided thus,
The Eagle once will ftoop to feed on carion.
Theyfight.
Enter Chub.
Chub. Hold, if ye be men ; if not, hold as ye are,
rebels and ftrong theeues. I bring ye newes of a pro
clamation. The King hath promifed that whofoeuer
can bring the head of Falconbridge or Spicing, mall
haue for his labour a thoufand crowns. What meane
you then to fwagger ? Saue yourfelues.
Spi. This proclamation comes in happy time,
lie vanquifh Palconbridge, and with this fword
Cut off his head and bear it to the King.
So not alone (hall I be pardoned,
But haue the thoufand crownes is promifed.
Fal. This rafcal was ordaind to faue my life,
For now, when I haue ouerthrown the wretch,
Euen with his head He yield me to the King.
His princely word is paft to pardon me ;
And, though I were the chief in this rebellion,
Yet this will be a meanes to make my peace.
Chub. Oh, that I knew how to betray them both.
Fal. How fay' ft thou, Spicing ? wilt thou yeeld
thyfelH
For I haue vowd either aliue or dead
To bring thee to King Edward.
Spi. And I haue vowd the like by thee :
How will thefe two bad contraries agree ]
D 2
36 The firft part of
Chub. And I the fame by both of you.
FaL Come, fir, He quickly rid you of that care.
Spi. And what thou lotted me (hall be thy (hare.
Chub. Here comes a Miller. Help to part the
fray.
Thefe are the rebells Falconbridge and Spicing.
The word of them is worth a thoufand crowns.
Mil. Marry, and fuch a booty would I haue.
Submit, fubmit ; it is in vaine to (Iriue. Exit. Fal.
Spi. Why, what art thou ?
Mil. One that will hamper you.
But whats the other that is fled away ?
Chub. Oh, miller, that was Falconbridge,
And this is Spicing, his companion.
Spi. I tell thee, miller, thou haft beene the
meanes
To hinder the moft charitable deede
That euer honed Chridian vndertooke.
Chub. Thou cand beare me witnefs, I had
ta'en
That mod notorious rebell, but for him.
Mil. But I haue taken thee ; and the world
knowes
That Spicing is as bad as who is bed.
Spi. Why, thou midaked : I am a true fubie6l.
Chub. Miller, he lies : be fure to hold him fad.
Spi. Dod thou accufe me 1 apprehend him too,
For hes as guilty as anie of vs.
Mil. Come, you (hall both together anfwer it,
Before my Lord Maior ; and here he comes.
Enter Lord Maior, Joffeline, and other Attendants.
Maior. Sir Ralph Joffeline, haue you euer feen a
prince more affable than Edward is 1 What merry
talk he had vpon the way !
Doubtlefs, my lord, hele proue a royal
King.
King Edward the fourth. 3 7
But how now ; what are thefe 1
Mil. God fane your honour !
Here I prefent vnto you, my Lord Maior,
A pair of rebels, whom I did efpy
As I was bufy grinding at my mill ;
And taking them for vagrant idle knaues,
That had befet fome true man from his houfe,
I came to keepe the peace ; but afterward
Found that it was the baftard Falconbridge
And this his mate, together by the ears.
The one, for all that I could do, efcap'd ;
The other flandeth at your mercy here.
Maior. It is the rebel Spicing.
SpL It is indeed ;
I fee you are not blind ; you know me then.
Maior. Well, miller, thou haft done a fubiec~ls
part,
And worthily deferuft that recompence
Is publickly proclaimed by the King.
But whats this other ? I haue feene his face ;
And, as I take it, he is one of them.
Mil. I muft confefs, I took them both together.
He aided me to apprehend the reft.
Chub. A tells you true, my lord. I am Chub the
Chandler ; and I curfe the time that euer I faw t^ieir
faces ; for, if they had not been, I had liued an honeft
man in mine owne country, and neuer come to this.
Spi. Out, rogue ! doft thou recant for feare of
death ?
I, Maior, I am he that fought to cut your throat ;
And fmce I haue mifcarried in the fac~l,
lie ne'er deny it, do the worft you can.
Maior. Bring him away.* He mall haue martiall law,
And, at the next tree we do come vnto,
Be hanged, to rid the world of fuch a wretch.
Miller thy duty is a thoufand markes,
Which muft be fhar'd betwixt thee and this poor fel-
lowe
That did reueale him. And, firrah, your life is fau'd
38 The fir/I part of
On this condition, that you hang vp Spicing.
How faift thou 1 wilt thou do it 1
Chub. Will I do it 1 what a queftion is that ! I
would hang him if he were my father, to faue mine
owne life.
Maior. Then, when ye haue done it, come home
to my houfe, and there ye truly mall haue your
reward.
Spi. Well, firrah, then thou mull be my hang
man 1
Chub. I by my troth, fir, for fault of a better.
Spi. Well, commend me to little Pirn, and pray
her to redeeme my paund hofe : they lye at the Blue
Boare for eleuen pence, and if my hofleffe will haue
the other odd penny, tell her me is a damned bawd,
and there is no trueth in her fcore.
Chub. Take no thought, fir, for your paund hofe.
They are loufie, and not worthe redeeming.
Spi. There is a conflable flickes in my mind : he
got my fword from me, that night I mould haue killed
black Ralphe. If I had liued, I would haue been
meet with him.
Chub. I, fir ; but here's a thing mail take an order
for that.
Spi. Commend me to blacke Luce, bouncing Heft,
and lufty Kate, and the other pretty morfels of man's
flefli. Farewell, pink and pinnace, flibote and caruel,
Turnbull and Spittal \ I die like a man.
Club. Oh, captain Spicing thy vain enticing
Brought me from my trade,
From good candles-making to this pains
taking,
A rebel to be made.
Therefore, Ned Spicing, to quit thy enticing,
This mufl be thy hope :
By one of thy fellows to be led to the gal
lows,
To end in a rope. Exeunt.
King Edward the fourth. 39
Enter Hobs the Tanner of Tamworth.
Hobs. Dudgeon ! doll thou heare ? looke well to
Brock, my mare. Driue Dun and her faire and foftly
downe the hill ; and take heede the thornes teare not
the homes of my cow-hides, as thou goeft neare the
hedges. Ha, what faiefl thou, knaue ? Is the Bulls
hide downe 1 why, lay it vp again ; what care I 1 He
meet thee at the flile, and help to fet all ftraite.
And yet, God help ! its a crooked world, and an vn-
thrifty ; for fome, that haue ne'er a fhooe, had rather
go barefoot than buy clout-leather to mend the old,
when they can buy no new ; for they haue time enough
to mend all, they fit fo long betweene the cup and the
wall. Well, God amend them ! God amend them !
Let me fee, by my executor here, my leather pouch,
what I haue taken, what I haue fpent, what I haue
gained, what I haue loft, and what I haue laid out.
My taking is more than my fpending, for heeres flore
left. I haue fpent but a groat ; a penny for my two
iades, a penny to the poor, a penny pot of ale, and a
penny cake for my man and me, a dicker of cow-hides
coll me.
Heer enter the Queene and Dutcheffe with their riding
rods, unpinning their masses. Hobs goes forward.
'Snailes, who comes here ? Miftrifs Ferris, or Mif-
tifs What call ye her ] Put vp, John Hobs : money
tempts beauty.
Dtitch. Well met, good fellow : fawft thou not the
hurt?
Hobs. My heart ? God blefs me from feeing my
heart.
Dutch. Thy heart ? the deer, man ; we demand
the deere.
Hobs. Do you demand whats deare ? Marry,
come and cow-hides. Mafs, a good fnug laffe, well
40 The firft part of
like my daughter Nell. I had rather than a bend of
leather fhee and I might fmouch together.
Dutch. Cam'ft thou not downe the wood ?
Hobs. Yes, miftrifs ; that I did.
Dutch. And faweft thou not the deere imboft ?
Hobs. By my hood, ye make me laugh. What the
dickens? is it loue that makes ye prate to me fo
fondly? By my fathers foule, I would I had jobd
faces with you.
Hunts. Why, how now, Hobs ? fo faucy with the
Dutchefle and the Queene 1
Hobs. Much Queene, I trowe ! thefe be but wo
men : and one of them is like my wench. I would
fhe had her rags. I would giue a load of haire and
homes, and a fat of leather, to match her to fome juftice,
by the meg-holly.
Hunt. Be filent, Tanner, and aske pardon of the
Queene.
Hobs. And ye be the Queene, I cry ye mercy,
good Miflrefs Queene.
Queene. No fault, my friend. Madam, let's take
our bows,
And in the Handing feeke to get a moot.
Dutch. Come, bend our bows, and bring the herd
of deer. Exeunt.
Hobs. God fend you good {landing, and g(
ftriking, and fat flefh ! See, if all gentlewomen be not
alike when their blacke faces be on ! I took<
the Queene, as I am a true tanner, for miftrei
Ferris.
Enter Sellenger and Howard in greene.
Soft, who comes here ? more knaues yet ?
Sel. Ho, good fellow faweft thou not the King?
Hobs. No, good fellow I faw no king, Whi:h
king doft thou ask for ?
Hoiv. Why, King Edward. What king is there
elfei
King Edward the fourth. 4 1
Hobs. There's another king, and ye could hit on
him ; one Harry, one Harry ; and, by our Lady, they
fay hees the honefler man of the two.
Sel. Sirrah, beware you fpeake not treafon.
Hobs. What, if I do ?
Sel. Then malt thou be hanged.
Hobs. A dogs death : I'll not meddle with it ; for,
by my troth, I know not when I fpeak treafon, when
I do not. There's fuch halting betwixt two kings,
that a man cannot go vpright, but he (hall offend
t'one of them. I would God had them both, for
me.
How. Well, thou fawefl not the King ?
Hobs. No ; is he in the country 1
How. He's hunting here, at Drayton Baffet.
Hobs. The deuil he is? God bleffe his mafler-
fhip : I faw a woman heere, that they faid was the
Queene. She's as like my daughter, but my daughter
is the fairer, as euer I fee.
Sel. Farewell, fellow ; fpeake well of the King.
Exeunt.
Hobs. God make him an honed man ! I hope
thats well fpoken ; for, by the moufe-foot, fome giue
him hard words, whether he zerues em not. Let him
look to that. He meddle of my cow-hide, and let the
world Hide.
Enter the King difguifed.
The deuil in a dung-cart. How thefe royflers fwarme
in the country, now the King is fo neare ! God 'liuer
me .ilrom this ; for this looks like a theefe ; but a man
cannot tell amongd thefe court-nols whofe true.
King. Holla, my friend ! good fellow, prithee,
flay.
Hobs. No fuch matter. I haue more hafle of my
way.
King. If thou be a good fellow, let me borrow a
word.
42 The fir/I part of
Hobs. My purfe, thou meaneft. I am no good
fellowe ; and I pray God thou beeft not one.
King. Why 1 doft thou not loue a good fellow ?
Hobs. No : good fellowes be thieues.
King. Doft thou think I am one ?
Hobs. Thought is free ; and thou art not my
ghoftly father.
King. I mean thee no harme.
Hobs. Who knows that but thyfelf? I pray God
he fpie not my purfe.
King. On my troth I meane thee none.
Hobs. Vpon thy oth He flay. Now, what faifl
thou to me 1 fpeak quickly ; for my company ftaies for
me beneath, at the next ftile.
King. The king is hunting hereabouts. Didft
thou fee his Maiefty ?
Hobs. His Maiefly ? what's that ? his horfe or his
mare ?
King. Turn ! I meane his Grace ?
Hobs. Grace, quotha? pray God he haue anie.
Which king doefl thou quire for ?
King. Why, for King Edward. Knoweft thou anie
more kings then one ?
Hobs. I know not fo many ; for I tell thee I know
none. Marry, I hear of King Edward.
King. Didft thou fee his Highneffe ?
Hobs. By my holidame, thats the befl terme thou
gauefl him yet : hes hie enough ; but he has put
poor King Harry lowe enough.
King. How low hath he put him ?
Hobs. Nay, I cannot tell ; but he has put him
downe, for he has got the crowne ; much good doot
him with it.
King. Amen. I like thy talke fo well, I would I
knew thy name.
Hobs. Doft thou not know me ?
King. No.
Hobs. Then thou knoweft nobody. Didft neuer
heare of John Hobs, the Tanner of Tamworth ?
King Edward the fourth. 43
King. Not till now, I promife thee ; but now I
like thee well.
Hobs. So do not I thee. I feare thou art fome
outrider, that lines by taking of purfes here, on
Baflets Heath. But I feare thee not, for I haue wared
all my mony in cowhides at Coleshill Market, and my
man and my mare are hard by at the hill-foote.
King. Is that thy gray mare, thats tied at the ftile,
with the hides on her back ?
Hobs. Thats Brooke, my mare ; and theres Dun
my nag, and Dudgeon, my man.
King. Theres neither man nor horfe ; but onely
one mare.
Hobs. Gods blue budkin ! has the knaue ferued
me fo 1 Farewell, I may lofe hides, horns, and mare
and all, by prating with thee.
King. Tarry, man, tarry! theile fooner take my
gelding than thy grey mare ; for I haue tied mine by
her.
Hobs. That will I fee, afore lie take your word.
King. He beare thee company.
Hobs. I had as lieue goe alone. Exeunt.
Enter the two Huntfmen againe with the bowes.
1. Hunt. Now, on my troth, the Queene fhootes
paffing well.
2. Hunt. So did the Dutcheffe, when me was as
young.
1. Hunt. Age fliakes the hand, and moots both
wide and fhort.
2. Hunt. What haue they giuen vs 1
1. Hunt. Six rofe-nobles juft.
2. Hunt. The Queen gaue foure.
1. Hunt. True j and the Dutcheffe twaine.
2. Hunt. O, were we euer fo paid for our paine.
i. Hunt. Tut ! had the King come, as they faid
he would.
He would haue raind vpon vs fhow'rs of gold.
44 The firft part of
2. Hunt. Why, he is hunting fome where here
about.
Let's firft go drink and then go feek him out.
Exeunt.
Enter King Edward againe and Hobs.
K. Ed. Hay faift thou tanner 1 wilt thou take my
courfer for thy mare ?
Hobs. Courfer, callfl thou him 1 So ill mought I
fare, thy skittifli jade will neuer abide to carrie my
leather, my horns, nor hide. But, if I were fo mad
to fcore, what boote wouldft thou giue me ?
King. Nay, boote thats boot worthy. I look for
boote of thee.
Hobs. Ha, ha, a merry jigge. Why, man, Brocke,
my mare, knowes ha and ree, and will ftand when I
cry ho, and let me get vp and down, and make water
when I do.
King. I'll giue thee a noble, if I like her pace.
Lay thy cowhides on my faddle, and let's jog towards
Drayton.
Hobs, 'Tis out of my way ; but I begin to like
thee well.
King. Thou wilt like me better before we do
part.
I prithee tell me, what fay they of the King ?
Hobs. Of the Kings, thou mean eft. Art thou no
blabbe, if I tell thee <\
King. If the King know't not now, he mall neuer
knowe it for me.
Hobs. Mafs, they fay King Harriets a very ad-
vowtry man.
King. A deuout man? And whats King Edward 1
Hobs. He's a frank franion, a merry companion,
and loues a wench well. They fay he has married a
poor widow, becaufe fries faire.
King. Doft thou like him the worfe for that?
Hobs. No ; by my feckins, but the better ; for
King Edward the fourth. 45
though I be a plain Tanner, I loue a faire laffe my-
felf.
King. Prithee tell me, how loue they king Ed
ward "I
Hobs. Faith, as poor folks loue holidays, glad to
haue them now and then ; but to haue them come too
often will vndoe them. So, to fee the King now and
then 'tis comfort ; but euery day would begger vs ;
and I may fay to thee, we feare we mail be troubled
to lend him money ; for we doubt hees but needy.
King. Wouldft thou lend him no money, if he
mould neede?
Hobs. By my halidome, yes. He fhall haue half
my ftore ; and He fell fole leather to helpe him to
more.
King. Faith, whether louefl thou better Harry or
Edwardl
Hobs. Nay, thats counfel, and two may keepe it,
if one be away.
King. Shall I fay my confcience ? I think Harry
is the true king.
Hobs. Art aduifed of that ? Harrys of the old
houfe of Lancajler ; and that progenity do I loue.
King. And thou doeft not hate the houfe of
Hobs. Why, no ; for I am jufl akin to Sutton
Windmill ; I can grind which way foe're the winde
blow. If it be Harry, I can fay, Well fare Lancajler.
If it be EdTvard, I can fing, Yorke, Yorke, for my
mony.
King. Thou art of my mind ; but I fay Harry is
the lawful king. Edward is but an vfurper, and a
fool, and a coward.
Hobs. Nay, there thou Heft. He has wit inough
and courage inough. Doft thou not fpeake treafon ?
King. Ay, but I know to whom I fpeake it.
Hobs. Doft thou ? Well, if I were conftable, I
mould be forfworn, if I fet thee not in the flockes for
it.
46 The firft part of
King. Well, let it go no further ; for I did ferue
King Harry, and I loue him beft, though now I ferue
King Edward.
Hobs. Thou art the arranter knaue to fpeake ill
of thy matter. But firrah, whats thy name? what
office haft thou 1 and what will the King do for
thee ?
King. My name is Ned. I am the Kings butler ;
and he will do more for me than for any nobleman in
the court.
Hobs. The deuil he will ? he's the more fool ; and
fo I'll tell him, if ere I fee him ; and I would I might
fee him in my poor houfe at Tamworth.
King. Go with me to the Court, and He bring
thee to the King ; and what fuit foe'er thou haue to
him, I'll warrant thee to fpeed.
Hobs. I ha nothing to do at Court. lie home
with my cowhides : and if the King will come to me,
he mall be welcome.
King. Haft thou no fuit touching thy trade, to
tranfport hides or fell leather onely in a certain circuit ;
or about barke, or fuch like, to haue letters patent 1
Hobs. By the mafs and the matins, I like not
thofe patents. Sirrah, they that haue them do, as the
priefts did in old time, buy and fell the finnes of the
people. So they make the King belieue they mend
whats amiffe, and for money they make the thing
worfe than it is. Theres another thing in too, the
more is the pity.
King. What pity, John Hobs ? I prithee fay all.
Hobs. Faith, 'tis pity that one fubiect mould haue
in his hand that might do good to many through the
land.
King. Sayft thou me fo, tanner ? Well, let's caft
lots whether thou fhalt go with me to Dray ton, or I
go home with thee to TamwortJi.
Hobs. Lot me no lotting. He not go with thee.
If thou wilt go with me, caufe thou art my lieges
man (and yet I think he has many honefter), thou
King Edward the fourth. 47
(halt be welcome to John Hobs ; thou fhalt be wel
come to beef and bacon, and perhaps a bag-pudding ;
and my daughter Nell fhall pop a poffet vpon thee,
when thou goeil to bed.
King. Heeres my hand. He but go and fee the
King ferued, and He be at home as foon as thyfelf.
Hobs. Doft thou heare me, Ned*[ If I (hall be thy
hod,
Make hade thou art bed, for fear thou kifs the poft.
Exit Hobs.
King. Farewell, John Hobs, the honed true
tanner !
I fee plain men, by obferuation
Of things that alter in the change of times,
Do gather knowledge ; and the meaned life
Proportiond with content fufficiency,
Is merrier then the mighty date of kinges.
Enters Howard and Sellenger.
How now ? what newes bring ye, firs 1 Wheres the
Queene ?
SeL Her Highneffe and your Mother, my dread
Lord,
Are both inuited by Sir Humfrey Bowes,
Where they intend to fead and lodge this night ;
And do expec"t your graces prefence there.
King. Tom Sellenger I haue other bufmeffe,
Adray from you and all my other traine.
I met a tanner, fuch a merry mate,
So frolicke and fo full of good conceite,
That I haue giuen my word to be his gued,
Becau(e he knowes me not to be the King.
Good coufin Howard, grudge not at the iead,
But greete my mother and my wife from me ;
Bid them be merry : I mud haue my humour ;
Let them both fuppe and (leepe when they fee time.
Commend me kindly to Sir Humfrey Bowes \
Tell him at breakfad I will vifit him.
This night Tom Sellmger and I mud fead
48 The firft part of
With Hobs the tanner : there plain Ned and Tom
No King nor Sellenger for a thoufand pound.
Enter a Meffenger, booted, with letters, and kneeling
giues them to the King.
How. The Queene and Dutcheffe will be dif-
content,
Becaufe his highnefs comes not to the feaft.
Sel. Sir Humfrey Bowes may take the mofl con-
ceite ;
But whats the end ? the King will haue his plea-
fure.
King. Good news, my boys, Harry the Sixt is
dead.
Perufe that letter. Sirrah, drink you that.
Giues his purfe.
And flay not ; but poft back againe for life,
And thanke my brother Glojler for his newes :
Commend me to him ; He fee him to-morrowe night. '
How like ye it firs 1
Sel. Oh, pafling well, my Liege ;
You may be merry for this happy news.
King. The merrier with our hoft the tanner, Tom,
My lord, take you that letter to the ladies ;
Bid them be merry with the fecond courfe ;
And if we fee them not before we go,
Pray them to journey eafily after vs ;
Weele poft to London : fo good night, my lord.
Exeunt.
Enter Hobs and his daughter Nell.
Hobs. Come, Nell, come, daughter. Is your hands
and your face warned 1
Nell. I, forfooth, father.
Hobs. Yee mufl bee cleanely, I tell ye ', for there
conies a courtnol hither to-night, the Kings mafler-
fhips butler, Ned, a fpruce youth ; but beware ye be
King Edward the fourth. 49
not in loue nor ouertaken by him, for courtiers be
ilippery lads.
Nell. No, forfooth, father.
Hobs. Gods bleffmg on thee ! That half-yeares
fchooling at Litchfield was better to thee then houfe
and land. It has put fuch manners into thee I
forfooth, and No, forfooth, at euery word. Ye haue
a clean fmock on. I like your apparell well. Is
fupper ready 1
Nell. I, forfooth, father.
Hobs. Haue we a good barley bag-pudding, a piece
of fat bacon, a good cow-heel, a hard cheefe, and a
brown loaf?
Nell. All this, forfooth, and more. Ye mail haue
a poflet ; but indeede the rats haue fpoiled your hard
cheefe.
Hobs. Now, the deuil choke them ! So they haue
eat me a farthing candle the other night.
Dudgeon (within). What, maifler, maifler !
Hobs. How now, knaue ? what fayft thou, Dud
geon 1
Dud. Heres guefls come. Wheres Helen 1
Hobs. What guefts be they 1
Dad. A courtnol ; one Ned, the Kings butcher, he
faies, and his friends too.
Hobs. Ned, the Kings butcher ? Ha, ha ! the Kings
butler. Take their horfes and walk them, and bid
them come near houfe. Nell, lay the cloth, and clap
fupper o' th' boord. Exit Nell.
Enter King Edward and Sellenger.
Mafs, heres Ned, indeed, and another mifproud
ruffian. Welcome, Ned, I like thy honefty; thou
keepeft promife.
King. Ifaith, honefl tanner, He euer keep promife
with thee. Prithee, bid my friend welcome.
Hobs. By my troth, ye are both welcome to Tarn-
worth.
Friend, I know not your name.
1 E
50 The fir/I part of
Sel. My name is Tom Twift.
Hobs. Belieue, ye that lift. But ye are wel.
come both; and I like ye both well .but for one
thing.
Sel. Whats that ?
Hobs. Nay, that I keepe to myfelfe ; for I figh
to fee and think that pride brings many one to ex-
truclion.
King. Prethee, tell vs thy meaning.
Hobs. Troth I doubt ye ne'er came truly by all
thefe gay rags. Tis not your bare wages and thin
fees ye haue of the King can keep ye thus fine ; but
either ye muft rob the King priuily, or his fubiecls
openly, to maintain your probicalitie.
Sel. Thinkfl thou fo, tanner ?
Hobs. Tis no matter what I think. Come, lets go
to fupper. What Nell, What Dudgeon, where be thefe
folkes ?
Enter Nell and Dudgeon, with a table covered.
Daughter, bid my friends welcome.
Nell. Ye are welcome, gentlemen, as I may
fay.
Sel. I thank ye, faire maide. Kifs her both.
King. A pretty wench, by my fay.
Hobs. How likeft her, Nedl
King. I like her fo well, I would ye would make
mee your fon in law.
Hobs. And I like thee fo well, Ned, that, hadfl
thou an occupation (for feruice is no heritage : a
young courtier, an old beggar), I could find in my
heart to caft her away vpon thee ; and if thou wilt
forfake the court and turn tanner, or bind thyfelfe to
a fhoomaker in Liechfield, ile.giue thee twenty nobles
ready money with my Nell, and truft thee with a
dicker of leather to fet vp thy trade.
Sel. Ned, he offers ye fair, if ye haue the grace to
take it.
King Edward the fourth. 5 1
King. He does, indeed, Tom \ and hereafter I'le
tell him more.
Hobs. Come, fit down to fupper : go to, Nell : no
more fheep's eyes : ye may be caught, I tell ye : thefe
be liquorim lads.
Nell. I warrant ye, father ; yet in truth Ned is a
very proper man, and t'other may feme j but Ned's a
pearl in mine eye.
Hobs. Daughter, call Dudgeon and his fellows.
Weele haue a three-men fong, to make our guefts
merry. Exit Nell.
Nailes, what courtriols are ye ? yeele neither talk nor
eate.
What newes at the court ? Do fomewhat for yourmeate.
King. Heauie newes there : King Henry is dead.
Hobs. That's light news and merry for your mailer,
King Edward.
King. But how will the Commons take it 1
Hobs. Well, God be with good King Henry.
Faith, the Commons will take it as a common thing.
Death's an honeft man ; for he fpares not the King.
For as one comes, anothers tane away ;
And feldom comes the better, thats all we fay.
Sel. Shrewdly fpoken, tanner, by my fay !
Hobs. Come, fill me a cup of mother Whet/lones
ale;
I may drinke to my friends and driue down my tale.
Here, Ned and Tom, I drink to ye ; and yet, if I
come to the court, I doubt youle not know me.
King. Yes, Tom mall be my furety, tanner ; I will
know thee.
Sel. If thou doll not, Ned, by my troth, I befhrew
thee.
King. I drinke to thy wife that may be.
Sel. Faith Ned, thou maieft hue to make her a
lady.
King. Turn, her father offers nothing, hairing no
more children but her.
Hobs. I would I had not, condition (he had all.
E 2
5 2 The fir ft part of
Bat I haue a knaue to my fon ; I remember him by
you ; euen fuch an vnthrift as one of you two, that
fpends all on gay clothes and new fafhions ; and no
work will down with him, that I fear hele be hanged.
God blefs you from a better fortune, yet you wear fuch
filthy breeks. Lord, were not this a good falhion ?
I, and would faue many a fair penny.
King. Let that pafs, and let vs heare your fong.
Hobs. Agreed, agreed ! Come, fol, fol, fol, fa, fa,
fa ! Say, Dudgeon.
Here they fing the three mans Song.
Agencourt, Agencourt \ know ye not Agencourt ?
Where the Englijhflew and hurt
All the French foemen :
With our Guns and bills brown,
O, the French were beaten downe,
Morris-pikes and bowmen.
Sel. Well fung, good fellowes ! I would the King
heard ye.
Hobs. So mould I, faith ; I mould flrain a note for
him. Come, take away, and let's to bed. Ye (hall
haue clean fheetes, Ned ; but they be coarfe, good
flrong hemp, of my daughters own fpinning ; and I
tell thee, your chamber-pot mufl be a fair home, a
badge of our occupation; for we buy no bending
pewter, nor breaking earth.
King. No matter, Hobs ; we will not go to bed.
Hobs. What then ?
King. Even what thou wilt ; for it is near day.
Tanner, gramercies for our hearty cheere !
If ere it be thy chance to come to court,
Enquire for me, Ned, the Kings butler,
Or Tom, of the Kings chamber, my companion,
And fee what welcome we will giue thee there.
Hobs. I haue heard of com tiers haue faid as much
as you, and when they haue been tride, would not bid
their friends drinke.
King Edward the fourth. 53
Sel. We are none fuch. Let our horfes be
brought out ; for we mufl away ; and fo, with thankes,
farewell !
Hobs. Farewell to ye both. Commend me to the
King ; and tell him I would haue been glad to haue
feene his worfliip heere. Exit.
King. Come, Tom, for London ! horfe, and hence,
away !
Enter Vice-Admiral, and the Captain of the lie of
Wight, with Falconbridge bound, the Headfman
bearing the axe before him.
Mor. Thomas Neuill, yet haft thou gracious time
Of deare repentance. Now difcharge thy confcience ;
Lay open thine offences to the world,
That we may witneffe thou doft die a Chriflian.
Fal. Why, Sir Harry Morton, haue you arraigned,
Condemn'd, and brought me to this place
Of bloody execution, and now aske
If I be guilty ? Therein doth appeare
What juflice you haue vfde. Call you this law ?
Cap. Thou doft miftake our meaning, Falcon-
bridge
We do not aske as being ignorant
Of thy tranfgreffion, but as vrging thee
To hearty forrow for thy vile mifdeedes,
That Heauen may take companion on thy foule.
Fal. How charitable you would feeme to be !
I feare anon youle fay it is for loue
You binde me thus, and bring me to the block,
And that of meere affection you are mou'd
To cut my head off. Cunning policy
Such butchers as yourfelues neuer want
A colour to excufe your flaughterous mind.
Mor. We butcher thee ? and thou deny thyfelfe
But thou haft been a pirate on the fea ?
Canft thou deny but with the communal tie
Of Kent and Effex, thou didft rife in arms,
54 The fir/I part of
And twice affault the city London, where
Thou twice didft take repulfe ? and, fmce that time,
Canft thou deny that, being fled from hence,
Thou joinedft in confederacy with France,
And camft with them to burne Southampton here ?
Are thefe no faults, thou fhouldft fo much prefume
To cleare thyfelfe, and lay thy blood on vs 1
FaL Hear me, Sir Harry, fmce we mud difpute !
Capt. Difpute ! Vnciuil wretch, what needs dif
pute?
Did not the Vice Admirall heere and I,
En count' ring with the nauy of the French,
Attach thee in a fhip of Normandie,
And wilt thou Hand upon thine innocence ?
Defpatch, thou art as rightfully condemnde
As euer rebel was. And thou malt die.
FaL I make no queftion of it, I muft die ;
But let me telle you how I fcorne your threats.
So little do I reckon of the name
Of vgly Death, as, were he vifible,
Ide wreftle with him for the victory,
And tug the ilaue, and teare him with my teeth,
But I would make him floope to Falconbridge ;
And for this life, this paltry brittle life,
This blaft of winde, which you haue labour'd fo,
By iuries, feffions, and I know not what,
To robbe me of, is of fo vile repute,
That, to obtain e that I might Hue mine age,
I would not giue the value of a point.
You cannot be fo cruel to afflict,
But I will be as forward to indure.
Mor. Go to, leaue off thefe idle braues of thine,
And think vpon thy foul's health, Falconbridge.
Capt. Submit, and ask forgiuenefs of thy King.
FaL What king 1
Mor. Why Edward, of the houfe of Yorke.
FaL He is no king of mine. He does vfurp ;
And, if the deflinies had giuen me leaue,
I would haue told him fo before this time,
King Edward the fourth. 5 5
And pull'd the diadem from off his head.
Mor. Thou art a traitor. Stop thy traitor's mouth.
Fal. I am no traitor : Lancafter is King.
If that be treafon to defend his right.
What ift for them that do imprifon him 1
If infurredlion to aduance his fceptre,
What fault is theirs that ftep into his throne 1
Oh, God, thou pourdft the balm vpon his head ;
Can that pure vn6lion be wipt off again 1
Thou once didft crown him in his infancy ;
Shall wicked men now in his age depofe him 1
Oh, pardon me, if I expoftulate
More than becomes a fmfull man to do
England I fear thou wilt thy folly rue.
Capt. Thou triflefl time, and dofl but weary vs
With dilatory queflions. Make an end.
Fal. Indeed, the end of all kingdoms mufl end ;
Honour and riches all mufl haue an end ;
Aid he that thinks he doth the mofl preuaile,
Hs head once laid, there refteth but a tale.
Ccme, fellow, do thy office. What, methinkes,
Trou lookft as if thy heart were in thy hofe.
Pu! vp thy fpirits; it will be quickly done ;
A blow or two at mofl will feme the turne.
Eead. Forgiue me, fir, your death.
fd. Forgiue thee ? I, and giue thee, too.
Hold ; there is fome few crowns for thee to drinke.
Turn ! weepe not, man : giue lofers leaue to plaine :
And jet, ifaith, my loffe I count a gaine.
Firfl, let me fee, is thy axe fharpe inough 1
1 am ndifferent. Well, a Gods name, to this geare.
Heed. ' Come, and yield your head gently to the
bocke.
Fal. Gently, faiefl thou ; thou wilt not vfe me fo.
But all is one for that. What flrength thou haft,
Throughout the whole proportion of thy limbs,
Reuoke it all into thy manly arms,
And fpire me not. I am a gentleman,
A Netutle, and a Falconbridge befide :
56 The fir fl part of
Then do thy work : thou mayft get credit by it ;
For, if thou doft not, I muft tell thee plain,
I mall be pafling angry when tis done.
Head. I warrant you, fir : none in the land lhall
do it better.
Fal. Why, now thou pleafeft me. England, fare
well !
And, old Plantagenet, if thou furuiue,
Think on my loue, although it did not thriue.
He is led forth.
Mor. As for his head, it mail be fent with fpeed
To London, and the promifed reward
Alloted for the apprehending him,
Be giuen vnto the poore of Southampton here.
How fay you captaine ; are you fo content 1
Copt. With all my heart ; but I do maruel much
We heare not of the meffenger we fent,
To giue the King intelligence of this.
Mor. Take truce with your furmifes. Here hs
comes.
Enter a Meffenger.
Fellow, it feems that thou art flow of gate,
Or very negligent in our affairs.
What fays King Edward to our feruice done ?
Mef. To anfwer you directly and as briefly,
I fpoke not with him ; for when I was come
To Drayton Bafjet, where they faid he was,
Twas told me there, that eu'n the night before,
His Highneffe in all hafte was rid to London,
The occafion, Henrys death within the Tower,
Of which the people are in fundry tales,
Some thinking he was murderd, fome again
Suppofmg that he died a natural death.
Mor. Well, howfoeuer that concerns not vs.
We haue to do with no mans death but his,
That for his treafon here hath loft his head.
Come, let vs giue direction as before^
King Edward the fourth. 57
And afterward make back vnto the more. Exeunt.
Enter the Lord Maior, in his fear let gown, with a
guilded rapier by his fide.
Mair. I marie, Crosbie this befits thee well.
But fome will maruel that, that with fcarlet gowne,
I weare a guilded rapier by my fide :
Why let them know, I was knighted in the field
For my good feruice to my Lord the King ;
And therefore I may wear it lawfully
In court, in city, or at any royal banquet
But foft John Crosbie thou forgetfl thyfelf,
And doft not mind thy birth and parentage ;
Where thou waft born, and whence thou art deriued.
I do not mame to fay the Hofpital
Of London was my chiefefl foflring place :
There did I learn that, near vnto the Grope,
Commonly calld Cow Crof/e neare I
An honeft citizen did chance to find me
A poor fhoomaker by trade he was,
And doubting of my chriftendom or no,
Calld me according to the place he found me,
John Crosbie, finding me fo by a croffe.
The Maifters of the Hofpital, at further yeares,
Bound me apprentice to the Grocer's trade,
Wherein God pleafd to blefs my poor endeauours,
That, by his bleffing, I am come to this.
The man that found me I haue well requited,
And to the Hofpital, my foftering place,
An hundred pound a yeare I giue for euer.
Likewife, in memory of me, John Crosbie,
In Bi/hopfgate Street, a poor Houfe haue I built,
And as my name haue calld it Crosbie Houfe.
And when as God mall take me from this life,
In little S. Helens will I be buried.
All this declares I boaft not of my birth ;
But found on earth, I mr.ft returne to earth.
But God, for his pitty ! . forget myfelf :
-S The firft part of
The King, my foneraign lorde, will come anon,
And nothing is as yet in readinefle.
Where are ye, confin Shore \ nay, where is miftrifle
Shore\
Oh, I am forry that (he flaies fo long !
See what it is to be a widdower,
And lack a lady Maioreffe in fnch neede !
Enter M. Shore and Miftreffe Shore.
Oh, are ye come \ Welcome, good coufin Shore \
But yon indeed are welcome, gentle neke !
Needs muft you be our lady Maioreffe now,
Andhelpe vs ; or ehe we are fham'd for euer.
Good coufin, ftfll thus am I bold with you.
Shore. Wish afl my heart, my lord, and thank
too,
That you do pleafe to vfe our homely help.
Mawr. Why, fee bow oealely fhe beflii^ herfdt,
And, in good forth, makes hufwifery to mine !
Ah, had my lady Maiorels Had to fee
Fan- Miftrifie Shore thus beautify her houfe.
She would haue been not little proud thereot
Jane. Wen, my lord Maior, I thank you for that
flout:
But let his highnefle now come when he pieafe,
All things are in a perfect readinefle.
TkqbriMsf^atabl^axdfaTxintJubaapuL
Maur. The more am I beholding, niece, to you,
"Itat- tat-^ inch r*"nfs to fem^ our credit now.
My feruants are fo flacke, his Maiefbe
Methane rjeen here before we were preparde.
Ji _1 1 1! ^ I _~-r^r I~ "' 5 -~. 1 S JI'-^JIHZ C-
-:s r:.~T^ f*mi* 2~.
Howard, Seffinger, and the
King. Now, my lord Maior, bane we not kept our
word?
King Edward the fourth. 5 9
Becaufe we could not flay to dine with you,
At our departure hence, we promifed,
Firft food we tafted at our backe returne
Should be with you ; flill yielding hearty thankes
To you and all our London citizens,
For the great feruice which you did perform
Againft that bold-facd rebel, Falconbridge.
Maior. My gratious lord, what then we did,
We did account no more than was our duty,
Thereto obliged by true fubiecfls zeal \
And may he neuer Hue that not defends
The honour of his King and Country !
Next thanke I God, it likes your maieflie
To blefTe my poore roof with your royal prefence.
To me could come no greater happinefs.
King. Thanks, good lord Maior ; but wheres my
lady Maioreffe ;
I hope that me will bid vs welcome, too.
Maior. She would my liege and with no little
ioy,
Had fhe but liu'd to fee this blefled day ;
But in her flead this gentlewoman here,
My coufms wife, that office will fupplie.
How fay you Miflriffe Shore 1
Ki?ig. How ! Miflriffe Shore, what, not his wife
That did refufe his knighthood at our hand ?
Maior. The very lame, my lord ; and here he is.
King. What, mafler Shore, we are your debtor
flill;
But, by Gods grace, intend not fo to die ;
And, gentlewoman, now before your face,
I muft condemne him of difcourtefy ;
Yea, and of great wrong that he hath offerd you ;
For you had beene a Lady but for him.
He was in fault ; trull me, he was to blame,
To hinder vertue of her due by right.
Jane. My gratious Lord, my poor and humble
thoughts
Nere had an eye to fuch vnworthinefle ;
60 The fir/I part of
And though fome hold it as a maxim,
That womens minds by nature do afpire,
Yet how, both God and Mailer Shore, I thank
For my continuance in this humble ftate,
And likewife how I loue your maieftie
For gratious fufferance that it may be fo,
Heauen beare true record of my inward foule :
Now it remaines, on my lord Maiors behalf,
I do fuch duty as becometh me,
To bid your highnefs welcome to his houfe.
Were welcomes vertue powerful in my word,
The King of England mould not doubt thereof.
King. Nor do I, Miflriffe Shore. Now my lord
Maior,
Edward dare boldly fweare that he is welcome.
You fpake the word well, very well, ifaith :
But Miftriffe Shore her tongue hath gilded it.
Tell me, coufin Howard, and Tom Sellinger,
Had euer citizen fo faire a wife ?
How. Of flefh and bloud I neuer did behold
A woman euery way fo abfolute.
Sel. Nor I, my liege. Were Sellinger a King,
He could afford Shores wife to be a queene.
King. Why, how now, Tom ? Nay, rather, how
now, Nedl
What change is this 1 proud, faucy, rouing eye,
What whifperfl in my braine that me is faire 1
I know it, I fee it : fairer than my Queene 1
Wilt thou maintaine it 1 What, and thou traitor heart,
Wouldfl thou fhake hands in this confpiracy 1
Down, rebel ; back, bafe, trecherous conceit ;
I will not credit thee. My Beffe is fair,
And Shores wife but a blowze, compared to her.
Come, let vs fit ; here will I take my place.
And, my lord Maior, fill me a bowl of wine,
That I may drink to your elecled Maioreffe ;
And mafler Shore, tell me how like you this 1
My lord Maior makes your wife his lady Maiorefle.
Shore. So well, my lord, as better cannot be,
King Edward the fourth. 6 1
All in the honor of your maiefly.
The Lord Maior brings a bowle of wine, and humbly
on his knees offers it to the King.
King. Nay, drinke to vs, Lord Maior ; wele haue
itfo.
Go to, I fay ; you are our tafler now.
Drink, then, and we will pledge ye.
Maior. All health and happinefs to my foueraign !
hee drinkes.
King. Fill full our cup ; and, lady Maioreife,
This full caroufe we mean to drinke to you ;
And you mull pledge vs ; but yet no more
Than you mail pleafe to anfwer vs withall.
He drinkes, and the trumpets found. Then wine is
brought to her, andflie offers to drink.
Nay, you muft drink to fome body ; yea Tom
To thee ! Well, firrah, fee you do her right.
For Edward would : oh, would to God he might !
Yet, idle eye, wilt thou be gadding flill ?
Keep home, keep home, for feare of further ill.
Enter a Meffenger, with letters.
How now ? Letters to us, From whom ?
Mef. My liege, this from the Duke of Burgundy,
And this is from the Conflable of France.
King. What newes from them ?
He opens the letter and reades.
To claim our right in France ;
And they will aide vs. Yea, will ye fo ?
But other aide muft aide vs, ere we goe.
Hefeems to read the letters, but glances on
Mijlrejje Shore in his reading.
A womans aid, that hath more power than France
To crown e vs, or to kill vs with mifchance.
If chaft refolue be to fuch beauty tide,
Sue how thou canfl, thou wilt be flill denide.
Her husband hath deferued well of thee :
Tut, lone makes no refpecl, where'er it be.
Thou wrongfl the Queene : euery inforced ill
62 The firft part of
Muft be endurd, where beauty feekes to kill.
Thou feemft to read, only to blinde their eyes,
Who, knowing it, thy folly would difpife.
Heftarts from the table.
Thanks for my cheere, Lord Maior ! I am not well :
I know not how to take thefe news this fit, I mean,
That hath bereft me of all reafon clean.
Maior. God fhield my Soueraign !
King. Nay, nothing. I mail be well anon.
Jane. May it pleafe your highnefs, fit.
King. I, faine with thee. Nay, we mull needes
be gone.
Coufin Howard, conuey thefe letters to our Counfel ;
And bid them giue vs their aduice of them.
Thanks for my cheere, Lord Maior, farewell to you !
And farewell, miftreffe Shoare, Lady Maior effe, I mould
fay,
Tis you haue caufed our parting at this time.
Farewell, matter Shoare \ farewell to all !
We'll meet once more, to make amends for this.
Exeunt King, Howard, and Sellinger.
Maior. Oh, God ! here to be ill !
My houfe to caufe my Soueraigns difcontent !
Coufin Shore, I had rather fpent
Shore. Content yourfelf, my lord ! Kings haue
their humors.
The letters did containe fomwhat, no doubt,
That did difpleafe him.
Jane. So, my lord, thinke I.
But, by Gods helpe, he will be well againe.
Maior. I hope fo too. Well coufm for your
paines,
I can but thanke ye : chiefly you, fair neice,
At night, I pray ye, both come fuppe with me.
How fay ye ? will ye ?
Shore. Yes, my lord, we will.
So for this time we humbly take our leaue.
Exeunt Shore and his Wife.
Maior. Oh, now the fudden fickneffe of my liege
King Edward the foiirth. 63
Afflicts my foule with many paffions !
His highneffe did intend to be right merry ;
And God he knows how it would glad my foule,
If I had feen his highneffe fatisfied
With the poor entertainment of his Maior,
His humble vaffal, whofe lands, whofe life, and all,
Are, and in duty rnufl be alwaies, his.
Well, God, I trufl, will bleffe his graces health,
And quickly eafe him of his fuddaine fit.
Take away there, ho ! rid this place ;
And God of heauen blefs my foueraign's grace. Exit.
Enter two prentices, preparing the Goldfmittts Shop
with plate.
1 Pren. Sirrah Jack, come fet out.
2 Pren. You are the elder prentice ! I pray you do
it, left my miflriffe talk with you when me comes
downe. What is it aclock ?
1 Preji. Six by Allhallowes \
2 Pren. Lying and ftealing will bring ye to the gal
lows.
Is heere all the plate 1
1 Pren. Ay, that muft ferue to-day. Where is the
weights and balance ?
2 Pren. All ready. Hark, my miftrefs comes.
Exit i Ap.
Enter Miftris Shore, with her worke in her hand.
Jane. Sir boy, while I attend the fhop myfelf,
See if the workman haue difpatcht the cup.
How many ounces weighes it ?
2 Pren. Twenty, forfooth.
Jane. What faid the gentleman to the fafhion ?
2 Pren. He told my mafter. I was not within.
Jane. Go fir make hafte. Your mailers in Cheape-
fide.
Take heed ye were beft your loitring be not fpide.
64 The fir ft part of
The boy departs, and Jhe fits f owing in herjhop.
Enter the King difguifed.
King. Well fare a cafe to put a king in yet.
Good miflrefs Shore \ this doth your loue procure :
This ihape is fecret ; and I hope tis fure.
The watermen that daily vfe the Court,
And fee me often, know me not in this.
At Lion quay I landed in their view,
Yet none of them took knowledge of the King.
If an) gallant ftriue to haue the wall,
He yield it gently. Soft ; here mufl I turn ;
Heres Lombard Streete, and heres the Pelican ;
And there's the phoenix in the pelicans ne(l.
Oh, rare perfection of rich Natures work !
Bright twinkling fpark of precious diamond,
Of greater value then all India !
Were there no funne, by whofe kind, lonely heate,
The earth brings forth thofe ftones we hold of prize,
Her radiant eies, dejected to the ground,
Would turn each pebble to a diamond.
Gaze, greedy eies ; and be not fatisfied
Till you find reft where hearts defire doth bide.
Jane. What would you buy, fir, that you look on
here?
King. Your faireft jewel, be it not too dear.
Firft how this fapphire miftrefs, that you wear 1
Jane. Sir, it is right ; that will I warrant ye.
No jeweller in London fhowes a better.
King. No, nor the like ; you praife it pafling well.
Jane. Do I ? No ; if fome lapidary had the
flone, more would not buy it than I can demand.
Tis as well fet, I think, as ere ye faw.
King. 'Tis fet, indeed, vpon the fairefl hand that
e'er I faw.
Jane. You are difpofed to jefl. But for value
his maieftie might wear it.
King. Mjght he, ifaith 1
Jane. Sir, tis the ring I mean.
King Edward the fourth. 65
King. I meant the hand.
Jane. You are a merry man :
I fee you come to cheape, and not to buy.
King. Yet he that offers fairer than lie do,
Shall hardly find a partner in his bargaine.
Jane. Perhaps in buying things of fo fmall value.
King. Rather becaufe no wealth can purchafe it.
Jane. He were too fond that would fo highly
prife
The thing which once was giuen away for loue.
King. His hap was good that came fo eafily^y it.
Jane. The gift fo fmall, that (askt) who could
denie it.
King. Oh, me gaue more, that fuch a gift then
gaue,
Than earth ere had, or world mall euer haue.
Jane. His hap is ill, mould it be as you fay,
That, hauing giuen him what you rate fo high,
And yet is ftill the poorer by the match.
King. That eafily proues he doth not know the
worth.
Jane. Yet, hauing had the vfe of it fo long,
It rather proues you ouer rate the thing,
He being a chapman, as it feems you are.
King. Indeed, none mould aduenture on the
thing,
Thats to be purchaft only by a king.
Jane. If kings loue that which no man elfe
refpecls,
It may be fo ; elfe do I fee fmall reafon
A king mould take delight in fuch coarfe fluff.
King. Liues there a king that would not giue his
crowne
To purchafe fuch a kingdom of content 1
Jane. In my conceit, right well you aske that
queftion :
The world I think containes not fuch fond king.
King. Why miflrefs Shore, I am the man will do it.
i F
66 The firjt part of
Jane. Its proudely fpoke, although Ide not be-
lieue it,
Were he king Edward that mould offer it.
King. But fliall I haue it *l
Jane. Vpon what acquaintance ?
King. Why fmce I faw thee lafl.
Jane. Where was that ?
King. At the Lord Maiors, in the prefence of the
King.
Jane. I haue forgotten that I faw you there ;
For there were manie that I took fmall note of.
King. Of me you did, and we had fome difcourfe.
Jane. You are deceiued, fir ; I had then no time,
For my attendance on his maieflie.
King. He gage my hand vnto your hand of that.
Look well upon me. He difcouers himfelf.
Jane. Now, I befeech you, let this flrange dif-
guife
Excufe my boldneffe to your maiefly. Kneeles.
Whateuer we poffeffe is all your highnefs \
Only mine honour, which I cannot grant.
King. Only thy loue, bright angel, Edward craues;
For which I thus aduentured to fee thee.
Enter Maifter Shore.
Jane. But here comes one to whom I only gaue
it;
And he, I doubt, will fay you mail not haue it.
King. Am I fo foone cut off? O fpite,
How fay you, miftreffe ; will you take my offer 1
Jane. Indeed, I cannot, fir, afford it fo.
King. Youle not be offered fairlier I beleeue.
Jane. Indeed, you offer like a gentleman j
But yet the Jewell will not fo be left.
Shore. Sir, if you bid not too much under-foot,
lie driue the bargain twixt you and my wife.
King. Alas, good S/iore, myfelf dare anfwer No.
afidf.
King Edward the fourth. 67
Nothing can make thee fuch a Jewell foregoe.
She laith you fhall be too much lofer by it.
Shore. See in the row, then, if you can fpeede
better.
King. See many worlds arow, affords not like.
As he goes forth) Shore looks earneftly andperceiues
it is the King, whereat hefeemeth greatly dif contented.
Jane. Why lookefl thou, Maf\ knowft thou the
gentleman ?
Alas, what ails thee, that thou lookfl fo pale ?
What cheer, fweetheart ? alas ! where hail thou been ?
Shore. Nay, nothing, Jane. Know you the
gentleman ?
Jane. Not I, fweetheart. Alas ! why do you
aske?
Is he thine enemy ?
Shore. I cannot tell.
What came he heere to cheapen at our mop ?
Jane. This Jewell, loue.
Shore. Well, I pray God he came for nothing elfe.
Jane. Why, who is it ? I do fufpedl him, Shore,
That you demand thus doubtedly of me.
Shore. Ah, Jane, it is the King.
Jane. The King, what then ? is it for that thou
figheftl
Were he a thoufand kings, thou haft no caufe
To feare his prefence, or fufpedl my loue.
Shore. I know I haue not. See, he comes again.
The King enters againe, muffled in his cloak.
King. Still is my hindrer there ? be patient,
heart !
Some fitter feafon muft affwage the fmart.
What, will ye take that, miflriffe, which I offerd ye ?
I come again, fir, as one willing to buy.
I Jane. Indeed, I cannot, fir ; I pray ye
Deale with my husband. Heare what he will fay.
Shore. He fell it worth your money, if you pleafe.
F 2
68 The firft part of
I pray you come neare fir.
King. I am too neare already, thou fo neare.
Nay, nay, me knowes what I did offer her ;
And, in good fadneffe, I can giue no more.
So fare ye well fir ; I will not deal with you. Exit.
Jane. You are deceiud, fweetheart. Tis not the
King.
Thinke you he would aduenture thus alone 1
Shore. I do aflure thee, Jane, it is the King.
Oh, God ! twixt the extreames of loue and fear,
In what a fhiuering ague fits my foul !
Keep we our treafure fecret, yet fo fond
As fet fo rich a beauty as this is
In the wide view of euery gazers eye ?
Oh, traitor beautie, oh, deceitfull good !
That doeft confpire againft thyfelf and loue :
No fooner got, but wifht againe of others !
In thine own felf injurious to thy felf !
Oh, rich poor portion ! thou good evil thing !
How many joyful woes flill dofl thou bring !
Jane. I prithee, come, fweet loue, and fit by me.
No king thats vnder heauen He loue like thee. Exeunt.
Enter Sir Humfrey Bowes and Maijler Afton, being
two Juftices, Harry Grudgen, Robert Good-
fellow, and John Hobs the Tauner.
Bowes. Neighbours and friend^ the caufe that you
are cald
Concernes the Kings mofl excellent Maiefty,
Whofe right, you know, by his progenitors,
Vnto the crowne and foueraignty of France,
Is wrongfully detained by the French ;
Which to reuenge and royally regaine,
His highneffe meanes to put himfelf in armes,
And in his princely perfon to conduct
His warlicke troops againft the enemy.
But for his coffers which are vnfurnimed,
Through ciuill difcord and interline war,
King Edward the fourth. 69
Whofe bleeding fears our eies may yet behold,
He praies his faithful, louing fubie6ls help,
To further this his jufl great enterprize.
Hobs. So the feck and meaning, whereby, as it
were, of all your long purgation, Sir Humfrey, is no
more, in fome refpec~l, but the King wants mony, and
would haue fome of his commonty.
Bowes. Tanner, you rightly vnderftand the matter.
Aft. Note this, withal ; where his dread maieftie,
Our lawfull fouereign and moft royall king,
Might haue exacted or impofd a tax,
Or borrowd greater fums then we can fpare,
(For all we haue is at his dread command)
He doth not fo ; but mildly doth intreate
Our kind beneuolence, what we will giue,
With willing minds, towards this mighty charge,
Enter Lord Howard.
Which to receiue, his noble counfeller
And Kinfraan, the Lord Howard, here is come.
How. Now, good Sir Humfrey Bowes and Maifler
Afton,
Haue ye declared the Kings mofl gratious pleafure ?
Bowes. We haue, my Lord.
How. His Highneffe will not force
As loan or tribute, but will take your gift
In grateful part, and recompenfe your loue.
Bowes. To mow my loue, though money now be
fcarce,
A hundreth pound lie giue his maiefty.
How. Tis well, Sir Humfrey.
Aft. I a hundred marks,
How. Thanks, mailer Afton ; you both mow your
loue.
Now ask your neighbors what they will beftowe ?
Bowzs. Come maifter Hadland, your Beneuolence.
Had. Oh, good Sir Humfrey, do not rack my
purfe.
You know my Hate : I lately fold my land.
7o The fir ft part of
Afl. Then you haue mony : let the King haue
part.
Hobs. I, do, matter Hadland, do. They fay ye
fold a foule deale of dirtie land for faire gold and
filuer. Let the King haue fome nowe, while you
haue it ; for, if ye be forborne a while, all will be
fpent ; for he that cannot keep land, that lies fail,
will haue much adoe to hold money; tis flippery
ware ; tis melting ware : tis melting ware.
How. Gramercy tanner.
Bowes. Say, what mail we haue 1
Had. My forty millings.
Aft. Robert Goodfellow,
I knowe you will be liberal! to the King.
Good. O, Maifter AJlon, be content, I pray ye :
You know my charge ; my houihold very greate ;
And my houfekeeping holdes me very bare ;
Three fcore vprifing and downlying fir,
Spends no fmall ftore of victuals in a yeare ;
Two brace of grayhounds, twenty couple of hounds ;
And then 'my iades devoure a deale of corne ;
My Chriftmaffe coil ; and then my friends that
come,
Amounts to charge ; I am Robin Goodfellowe,
That welcomes all and keepes a frolick houfe.
I haue no mony. Pray ye, pardon me.
How. Heres a plain tanner can teach you how to
thriue.
Keep fewer dogs, and then ye may feede men :
Yet feede no idle men ; tis needleffe charge :
You that on hounds and hunting-mates will fpend,
No doubt but fomthing to your King youle lend.
Good, My brace of angells : by my troth, that's
all.
Hobs. Maffe, and tis well the curs haue left fo
much. I thought they would haue eaten vp thy houfe
and land ere this.
Bowes. Now, Harry Grudgen.
Grud. What would you haue of me? Money,
King Edward the fourth. 7 1
I haue none ; and He fell no flock. Heres old
polling, fubfidy, fifteen, foldiers and to the poor !
And you may haue your will, youle foon Ihut me out
a door.
Hobs. Hear ye, worfhips, will ye let me anfwer my
neighbour Grudgen 1 By my halidome, Harry Grud-
gen \ th'art but a grumbling, grudging churl : thou
haft two ploughs going, and nere a cradle rocking ;
thafl a peck of mony, go to ; turne thee loofe ; thoult
go to law with the vicar for a tithe goofe, and wilt not
fpare the King four or fiue pound.
Grud. Gep, goodman Tanner, are ye fo round ?
your prolicatenefs has brought your fon to the gallows
almoft. You can be frank of another mans cofl.
Hobs. Th'art no honeft man, to twit me with my
fon : he may outline thee yet, for aught that he has
done : my fons ith gaol : is he the firft hath been
there? And thou wert a man, as thart a beaft, I
would haue thee by the eares. Weeping.
How. Friend, thou wantft nurture to vpbraid a
father
With a fons fault. We fit not here for this.
Whats thy beneuolence to his Maiefty ?
Hobs. His benegligence ? hang him, hele not giue
a penny willingly.
Grud. I care not much to caft away forty pence.
How. Out, grudging peafant, bafe, ill-nurtured
groome,
Is this the loue thou bearft vnto the King ?
Gentlemen, take notice of the flaue ;
And if he fault, let him be foundly plagude.
Now frolick tanner, what wilt thou affoord ?
Hobs, Twenty old angels and a fcore of hides ; if
that be too little, take twenty nobles more. While I
haue it, my King mail fpend of my flore.
How. The King mail know thy louing liberal
heart.
Hobs. Shall he, ifaith 1 I thank ye heartily : but
hear ye, gentlemen, you come from the Court ?
7 2 The firfl part of
How. I doe.
Hobs. Lord, how does the King ? and how does
Ned, the Kings butler, and Tom, of his Chamber ? I
am fure ye know them.
How. They do very well.
Hobs. For want of better guefts, they were at my
houfe one night.
How. I know they were.
Hobs. They promift me a good turne for kifling
my daughter Nell', and now I ha' cazion to try them.
My fon's in Dybell here, in Caperdochy, itha gaol ;
for peeping into another man's purfe ; and, outftep the
King be miferable, hees like to totter. Can that fame
Ne^ the butler, do any thing with the King ?
How. More than myfelf, or any other lord.
Hobs. A halter he can, by my troth, ye re jounce
my heart to heare it.
How. Come to the Court : I warrant thy fons
life:
Ned will faue that, and do thee greater good.
Hobs. He weane Brock, my mares foal, and come
vp to the King ; and it mall go hard but two fat hens
for your pains I will bring.
Bowes. My lord, this fellow now will giue
Fiue pounds, fo you will pardon his rude fpeech.
How. For fiue and fiue I cannot brooke the
beaft.
Grud. What giues the tanner 1 I am as able as
he.
Aft. He giues ten pound.
Grud. Take twenty then of me.
I pray ye my lord, forgiue my rough-heaued fpeech.
I wis, I meant no hurt vnto my liege.
Bowes. Let vs intreat your lordfhips patience.
How. I do, at your requeft, remit the offence ;
So lets depart : heres all we haue to do.
Aft. Tis, for this time and place, my lord.
Sirrah, bring your mony.
Hobs. What haue you faued now, good man
King Edward the fourth. 73
Grud%en, by your hinching and your pinching ? not
the worth of a blacke pudding. Exeunt.
Enter Miftris Shore and Miftris Blague.
Mais. Bla. Now miftrefs Shore, what urgent caufe
is that
Which made ye fend for me in fuch great hafte ?
I promife ye, it made me halfe afraid
You were not well.
Jane. Truft me, nor ficke nor well,
But troubled flill with the difeafe I told ye.
Here is another letter from the King.
Was neuer poor foule fo importuned ?
Mais. Bla. But will no anfwer feme ?
Jane. No, miflrefs Blague ; no anfwer will fuffice.
He, he it is, that with a violent fiege
Labours to breake into my plighted faith.
Oh, what am I, he mould fo much forget
His royal ftate and his high maieflie ?
Still doth he come difguifed to my houfe,
And in mod humble terms bewrays his loue.
My husband grieues : alas, how can he choofe,
Fearing the difpoffeffment of his Jane 1
And when he cannot come (for him) he writes,
Offering befide incomparable gifts :
And all to win me to his princely will.
Mais. Bla. Belieue me, Miflriffe Shore, a dangerous
cafe;
And euery way replete with doubtful feare.
If you mould yield, your vertuous name were foild,
And your beloued husband made a fcorn ;
And if not yield, tis likely that his loue,
Which now admires ye, will conuert to hate ;
And who knows not a princes hate is death 1
Yet I will not be me mail counfel ye :
Good miflrefs Shore, do what ye will for me.
Jane. Then counfell me what I were beft to do.
74 The firjl part of
Mais. Bla. You know, his greatneffe can difpenfe
with ill,
Making the fin feem leffer by his worth ;
And you yourfelf, your children, and your friends,
Be all aduanced to worldly dignity ;
And this worlds pomp, you know is a goodly thing.
Yet I will not be (he (hall counfell ye ;
Good miftrefs Shore, do what ye will for me.
Jane. Alas, I know that I was bound by oath
To keep the promife that I made at firft ;
And virtue Hues, when pomp confumes to dud.
Mais. Bla. So we do fay difhonour is no (hame,
When (lander does not touch th' offenders name.
You (hall be folded in a princes arms,
Whofe beck difperfeth euen the greateft harmes.
Many, that fit themfelues in high degree,
Will then be glad to (loope and bend the knee.
And who id, hauing plenty in the hand,
Neuer commanded, but doth dill command,
That cannot work in fuch exceffe of things,
To quit the guilt one fmall tranfgreflion brings ?
Yet I will not be (he (hall counfell ye :
Good maiftreffe Shore, do what ye will for me.
Jane. Here do I Hue, although in mean eflate, .
Yet with a confcience free from all debate ;
Where higher footing may in time procure
A fudden fall, and mixe my (weete with foure.
Mais. Bla. True, I confelfe a priuate life is
good,
Nor would I otherw'fe be vnderdood.
To be a goldfmiths wife is fome content ;
But dayes in court more pleafantly are fpent.
A houfeholds gouernment deferues renowne,
But what is a companion to a crowne 1
The name of Midrifle is a pretty thing,
But Madam at each word doth glory bring.
Yet I will not be (he (hall counfel ye :
Good Midrifs Shore, do what ye will for me.
King Edward the fourth. 75
Jane. Oh, that I knew which were the beft of
twain,
Which for I doe not, I am ficke with paine.
Enter her Boy.
How now fir boy, what is the newes with you ?
Boy. The gentleman, forfooth, the other day,
That would haue bought the Jewell at our flail,
Is here to fpeake with ye.
Jane. Oh, God ! it is the King.
Good miftriffe Blague, withdraw ye from this place :
He come anon, fo foon as he is gone.
And firrah, get you to the mop again. Exit Boy.
Mais. Bla. Now, miftriffe Shore, bethink ye what
to do.
Such fuitors come not euery day to woo.
Miflris Blague departs, and the King enters in his
former difguife.
King. Thou mayft conuicl. me, beauties pride, of
boldnefs,
That I intrude like an vnbidden gueft ;
But, Loue being guide my fault will feem the leffe.
Jane. Moft welcome to your fubiecls homely
roofe !
The foot, my foueraign, feldom doth offence,
Vnlefs the heart fome other hurt intend.
King. The moft thou feeft is hurt vnto myfelf :
How for thy fake is maiefty difrobed !
Riches made poore and dignity brought low,
Only that thou mightft our affection know !
Jane. The more the pity, that, within the sky,
The funne that mould all other vapors dry,
And guide the world with his moft glorious light,
Is muffled vp himfelf in wilfull night.
King. The want of thee, fair Cinthia, is the
caufe.
Spread thou thy filuer brightnefTe in the aire,
And ftrait the gladfome morning will appeare.
76 The firjl part of
Jane. I may not wander. He, that guides my car,
Is an immoued, conftant, fixed Star.
King. But I will giue that Star a Comets name,
And fhield both thee and him from further blame.
Jane. How if the Hoft of Heauen at this abufe
Repine ? who can the prodigy excufe ?
King. It lies within the compafle of my power,
To dim their enuious eyes, dare feeme to loure.
But, leauing this our enigmatick talke,
Thou muft fweete Jane, repaire vnto the Court.
His tongue intreates, controuls the greateft peer :
His hand plights loue, a royall fceptre holds ;
And in his heart he hath confirmd thy good,
Which may not, mull not, mall not be withftood.
Jane. If you inforce me, I haue nought to fay ;
But wim I had not liued to fee this day.
King. Blame not the time. Thou malt haue caufe
to joy !
Jane, in the euening I will fend for thee,
And thou and thine mail be aduanced by me :
In figri whereof, receiue this true-loue kiffe.
Nothing ill meant, there can be no amiffe. Exit.
Jane. Well, I will in ; and ere the time beginne,
Learn how to be repentant for my finne. Exit.
Enter Lord Maior, Maifter Shore, and Fraunces
Emeriley.
Maior. But, coufm Shore, are ye affured it was the
King you faw in fuch difguife ?
Shore. Do I know you, the vncle of my wife ?
Know I Frank Emerfley, her brother here ?
So furely do I knowe that counterfeit
To be the King,
Fran. Well, admit all this,
And that his maiefty, in fuch difguife,
Pleafe to furuay the manner of our city,
Or what occafion elfe may like himfelf :
Methinks you haue fmall reafon, brother Shore,
To be difpleafde thereat.
Ma. Oh, I haue found him now.
King Edward the fourth. 77
Becaufe my Neece, his wife, is beautifull,
And well reputed for her vertuous parts,
He, in his fond conceit, mifdoubts the King
Doth dote on her in his affection.
I know not coufm how fhe may be changed,
By any caufe in your procuring it,
From the fair carriage of her wonted courfe ;
But well I wot, I haue oft heard you fay,
She merited no fcruple of miflike.
If now fome giddy fancy in your braine *
Make you conceiue finifterly of her,
And with a perfon of fuch difference,
I tell you Coufm more for her refpec~l
Than to foothe you in fuch fottilhnefs,
I would reueale ye open to the world,
And let your folly iuftly plague yourfelf.
Shore. Yncle, you are too forward in your rage,
And much miflake me in this fuddenneffe.
Your neeces reputation haue I prifde,
And ihrined as deuoutly in my foule,
As you or any that it can concerne.
Nor when I tell you that it is the King
Comes muffled like a common ieruing-man,
Do I infer thereby my wife is falfe,
Or fwerues one iot from wonted modeflie.
Though in my mop me fit, more to refpe6l
Her feruants duty, then for any fkill
She doth, or can pretend, in what we trade,
Is it not flrange, that euer when he comes,
It is to her, and will not deale with me ?
Ah, vncle, Frank, nay, would all her kin
Were heere to cenfure of my caufe aright.
Though I mifdeeme not her, yet give me leaue
To doubt what his fly walking may entend.
And let me tell ye, he that is poffeft
Of fuch a beautie, feares vncfermining guefles ;
Efpecially a mighty one, like him,
Whofe greatneffe may guikf oner vgly fmne.
But fay his coming is not to my wife,
78 The firft part of
Then hath he fome fly aiming at my life,
By falfe compounded metalls, or light gold,
Or elfe fome other trifle to be fold.
When kings themfelues fo narrowly do pry
Into the world, men feare ; and why not I ?
Fran. Belieue me, brother, in this doubtful cafe,
I know not well how I mould anfwer ye.
I wonder in this ferious bufie time
Qf this great gathered Beneuolence
or his regaining of his right in France,
The day and nightly turmoile of his lordes,
Yea of the whole estate in generall,
He can be fpared from thefe great affaires,
And wander heere difguifed in this fort.
But is not this your Boy?
Enter Boy.
Shore. Yes, marry, is it. How now ; what newes
with thee %
Boy. Matter, my miftreffe, by a nobleman,
Is fent for to the King, in a clofe coach.
Shees gone with him. Thefe are the news I bring.
Maior. How, my neece fent for to the King ?
By a nobleman, and fhee is gone with him ?
Nay, then, I like it not.
Em. How, gone, faiett thou 1
Shore. Be patient vncle, ftorm not, gentle Franke,
The wrong is mine. By whom ? A king.
To talke of fuch it is no common thing.
She is gone, thou faiefl 1
Boy. Yes, truly, fir : tis fo.
Shore. I cannot help it ; a Gods name, let her
goe.
You cannot help it, vncle ; no nor you.
Where kings are medlers, meaner men mutt rue.
I ttorme againft it ? no ; farewell, Jane Shore.
Once thou watt mine ; but mutt be fo no more.
Maior. Gone to the Court? Exit.
King Edward the fourth. 79
Shore. Yet, vncle, will ye rage 1
Let mine example your high heat affwage.
To note offences in a mightie man
It is enough ; amend it he that can.
Franke Emerfley \ my wife thy filler was ;
Lands, goods, and all I haue, to thee I paffe,
Saue that poor portion, muft along with me,
To beare me from this badge of obloquy.
It neuer mail be faid that Matthew Shore
A kings difhonor in his bonnet wore.
Em. Good brother.
Shore. Striue not to change me, for I am refolued,
And will not tarrie. England fare thou well.
And, Edward, for requiting me fo well,
But dare I fpeake of him 1 forbeare, forbeare.
Come, franke, I will furrender all to thee,
And then abroad, where ere my fortune be. Exeunt.
Enter King Edward, Howard, Sellinger, &c.
King. And haue our country fubiecls beene fo
franke
And bountifull in their Beneuolence
Toward our prefent expedition ?
Thanks, coufm Howard, for thy paines herein :
We will haue letters fent to euery mire
Of thankful gratitude, that they may knowe
How highly we refpecl their gentleneffe.
How. One thing, my Lord, I had well neare
forgot :
Your pleafant hoft, the Tanner of Tamworth.
King. What of him, coufm ?
How. He was right liberall :
Twenty old angels did he -fend your grace ;
And others, feeing him fo bountifull,
Stretcht further than they otherwife had done.
King. Truft me, I muft requite that honefl
Tanner.
Oh, had he kept his word and come to Court,
8o The fir /I part of
Then, in good fadneffe, we had had good fport.
How. That is not long, my lord, which comes at
lafl. '
Hees come to London, on an earn eft caufe.
His f onne lies prifoner in Stafford Jaile,
And is condemned for a robbery.
Your Highneffe pardoning his fonnes offence,
May yield the Tanner no meane recompenfe.
King. But who hath feene him fmce he came to
towne ?
Sel. My Lord, in Holborne twas my hap to fee
him,
Gazing about. I fent away my men ;
And clapping on one of their liuery cloakes,
Came to him ; and the Tanner knew me flraite.
How doft thou Tom ? and How doth Ned 1 quoth
he;
That honeft, merry hangman, how doth he 1
I, knowing that your maieftie intended
This day in perfon to come to the Tower,
There"bade him meete me, where Ned and I
Would bring him to the prefence of the King,
And there procure a pardon for his fonne.
King. Haue then a care we be not feene of him,
Vntil we be prouided for the purpofe ;
Becaufe, once more wele haue a little fport.
Tom Sellinger, let that care be yours.
Sel. I warrant ye, my lord. Let me alone.
Enter the Lord Maior.
King. Welcome, lord Maior ! what, haue you figni-
fide
Our thankfulneffe vnto our citizens,
For their late-gathered Beneuolence ?
Maior. Before the citizens in our Guildhall,
Mailer Recorder made a good oration,
Of thankfull gratitude vnto them all,
Which they receiued with fo kinde refpecl
King Edward the fourth. 8 1
And loue vnto your royall maieftie,
As it appeard to vs they forrowed
Their bounty to your highnefs was no more.
King. Lord Maior, thanks to yourfelf and'them !
And go ye with vs now into the Tower,
To fee the order that we fhall obferue
In this fo needful preparation ;
The better may you fignifie to them
What neede there was of their Beneuolence.
Maior. He wait vpon your gracious maieflie.
Yet there is one thing that much grieueth me. afide.
Exeunt.
Enter Shore and two Watermen, bearing his trunkes.
Shore. Go, honeft fellow; bear my trunckes
aboard ;
And tell the maifter He come prefently.
Enter Mi (Iris Shore, lady -like attired, with diuers fuppli-
cations in her hand, JJie unpinning her Mask, and
attended on by many Suitors.
i. Waterman. We will, fir. But what lady haue
we he ere 1
Belike me is of no meane countenance,
That hath fo many fuitors waiting on her.
Shore. Go, one of you, I pray ye, inquire her
name.
i. Waterman. My honefl friend, what Lady call ye
this?
Ayre. Her name is Miftriffe Shore, the kings be-
loued ;
A fpecial friend to fuitors at the court,
Shore. Her name is miftriffe Shore, the Kings be
loved !
Where mall I hide my head, or flop mine ears,
But like an owle I mail be wonderd at ?
When me with me was wont to walke the ftreetes,
i G
8 2 The firft part of
The people then, as me did pafs along,
Would fay, There goes faire, modeft, miftriffe Shore.
When fhe attended like a City dame,
Was prais'd of matrons. So that citizens,
When they would fpeake of ought vnto their wiues.
Fetcht their example flill from miflrifle Shore.
But now fhe goes deckt in her courtly robes.
This is not me, that once in feemely blacke
Was the chafte, fober wife of Matthew Shore;
For now (he is King Edwards concubine.
Oh, greate ill title, honorable fhame !
Her good I had ; but, King, her ill is thine :
Once Shore's true wife ; now Edwards concubine.
Amongft the reft, He note4rer new behauiour.
All this while, Jheftands conferring priuatdy with her
Suitors, and looking on their bills.
Ayre. Good miftriffe Shore, remember my fon's
life.
Jane. What is thy name *?
Ayre. My name is Thomas Ayre.
. Jane. There is his pardon, figned by the King.
Ayre. In fign of humble, hearty thankfulneffe,
Take this, in angels, twenty pound.
Jane. What think ye that I buie and fell for
bribes
His highnefs fauour, or his fubiecls blood ?
No, without gifts, God grant I may do good.
For all my good cannot redeeme my ill j
Yet to doe good I will endeuour Hill,
Shore. Yet all this good doth but guild ore afide.
thy ill.
Pal. Miftriffe the reftitution of my landes,
Taken perforce by his highneffe officers.
Jane. The Kings content your goodes mail be re-
flored,
But the officers will hardly yeeld thereto.
Yet be content ; He fee ye haue no wrong.
Shore. Thou canfl not fay to me fo. I haue
wrong.
King Edward the fourth. 83
Jockey. Miftrefs, gude faith, gin yele help me til
my laund, whilk the faulfe loon, Billy Grime of Glen-
dale^ hauds wrangfully fra me, I's quite your gudenels
with a bonny nag, fall fwum away fo deftly as the
winde.
Jane. Your fuit, my friend, requires a longer
time.
Yet fmce you dwell fo far, to eafe your charge,
Your diet with my feruants you may take ;
And fome relief lie get thee of the King.
Shore. It's cold relief thou gettil me from the
King.
Jocky. .Now, Gods bleffmg light on that gudely
fair face. I's be your bedefman, miflrefs ; I, indeed,
fall I.
Pal. God bleffe the care you haue of doing
Ayre. Pity me mould mifcarry in her life.
That beares fo fweete a minde in doing good.
Shore. So fay I, too. Ah, Jane, this kills my
heart,
That thou reckes other, and not ruft my fmart
Ruf. Miflriffe, I fear you haue forgot my fuit.
Jam. Oh, tis for a licence to tranfport corne
From this land, and lead, to foraigne realmes.
I had your bill ; but I haue torne your bill ;
And twere no Ihame, I think, to teare your eares,
That care not how you wound the commonwealth.
The poor muft flarue for foode, to fill your purfe,
And the enemy bandy bullets of our leade !
No, maifler Rufford, He not fpeake for you,
Except it be to haue you punilhed.
Jocky. By the mefie, a deft lafs ! Chrifts benifon
light on her.
She efpies her husband, walking aloof off , and
takes him for another Sutor.
Jane. Is that another Sutor ? I haue no bill of
his."
Go, one of you, and know what he would haue.
G 2
84 The firft part of
Shore. Yes, Jane the bill of my obliged faith :
And I had thine ; but thou haft cancelld it.
Herejhe knowes him, and lamenting, comes to him.
Jane. Oh God, it is my husband, kind Matthew
Shore.
Shore. Ah Jane, whats he dare fay he is thy hus
band?
Thou waft a wife, but now thou art not fo ;
Thou waft a maid, a maid when thou waft wife ;
Thou waft a wife, euen when thou waft a maide ;
So good, fo modeft, and fo chafte thou waft !
But now thou art diuorct whiles yet he liues,
That was thy husband, while thou waft his wife.
Thy wifehood ftaind, by thy difhonour'd life.
For now thou art nor widow, maide, nor wife.
Jane. I muft confeffe, I yeelded vp the fort,
Wherein lay all the riches of my joy ;
But yet, fweete Share, before I yeelded it,
I did indure the longft and greateft fiege
That euer batterd on poor chaftity.
And but to him that did affault the fame,
For euer it had been inuincible.
But I will yeeld it backe againe to thee.
He cannot blame me, though it be fo done,
To lofe by me, what firft by me was wonne.
Shore. No, Jane, there is no place allowd for
me,
Where once a king has tane poffeffion.
Meane men brooke not a riual in their loue ;
Much lefs fo high unriualld maieftie.
A concubine to one, fo great as Edward,
Is far too greate to be the wife of Shore.
Jane. I will refufe the pleafures of the Court.
Let me go with thee, Shore, though not as a wife,
Yet as thy flaue fmce I haue loft that name.
I will redeem the wrong that I haue done thee,
With my true feruice, if thou wilt accept it
Srore. Thou go with me, Jane t \ Oh God forbid
That I mould be a traitor to my King !
King Edward the fourth. 8 5
Shall I become a felon to his pleafures,
And fly away, as guilty of the theft ?
No, my dear Jane, I fay it may not be.
Oh t what haue fubiec~ls that is not their kings,
He not examine his prerogatiue.
yane. Why, then, fweete Mat, let me intreate thee
{lay.
What ill with Edward that I cannot do ?
He make thee wealthier than ere Richard was,
That entertaind the three greatefl kings in Europe,
And feafted them in London on a day.
Aske what thou wilt ; were it a million,
That may content thee ; thou malt haue it Shore.
Shore. Indeed, this were fome comfort to a man
That tailed want or worldly mifery ;
But I haue lofl what wealth cannot returne.
All worldly loffes are but toys to mine :
all my wealth the lofs of thee was more
Than euer time or fortune can reftore.
Therefore, fweet Jane farewell, once thou wafl mine ;
Too rich for me ; and that King Edward knew.
Adieu, O world, he mail deceiued be,
That puts his truft in women or in thee. Exit.
Jane. O Shore, farewell, poor heart ; in death He
tell
1 euer loued thee, Shore, farewell, farewell. Exit.
Enter King Edward, Lord Maior, Howard, Sellinger,
and the traine.
King. Hauing awakt forth of their fleepy dens
Our drowfy cannons, which, ere long, mail charm
The watchful French with deaths eternall fleepe ;
And all things elfe in readineffe for France,
Awhile we will giue truce vnto our care.
There is a merry tanner neare at hand,
With whom we meane to be a little merry.
Therefore, Lord Maior, and you, my other friendes,
I mufl intreate you not to knowledge me.
86 The firfi part of
No man ftand bare all as companions.
Giue a cloke, that I may be difguifde.
Tom Sellinger, go thou and take another.
So Tanner, now come when ye pleafe ; we are pro-
uided.
And in good time j fee he is come already.
Enter the Tanner.
Tom Sellinger ; go thou and meet him.
Set, What John Hobs \ welcome, ifaith, to Court.
Hobs. Gramercies, honeft Tom : where is the hang
man, Nedl
Where is that mad rafcal ? mail I not fee him 1
Sel. See where he ftands : that fame is he.
Hobs. What Ned% a plague found thee, how doft
thou, for a villaine ? how doft thou mad rogue ? and
how ? and how 1
King. In health John Hobs ; and very glad to fee
thee;
But fay, what wind droue thee to London 1
Hobs. Ah, 'Ned, I was brought hither with a whirl-
winde, man : my fon, my fon ; did I not tell thee I
had a knaue to my fon 1
King. Yes, tanner ; what of him ?
Hobs. Faith, he's in Capperdochy, Ned, in Stafford
Jaile, for a robbery ; and is like to be hanged, except
thou get the King to be more miferable to him.
King. If that be all, tanner, lie warrant him,
I will procure his pardon of the King.
Hobs. Wilt thou, Ned ? for thofe good words, fee
what my daughter Nell hath fent thee : a handkercher
wrought with as good Couentry-filk blue thread, as
euer thou faweft.
King. And I perhaps may weare it, for her fake,
In better prefence then thou art aware of.
Hobs. Now, Ned*[ a better prefent, that thou canfl
not haue, for filk, cloth, and workmanfhip. Why, Nell
made it, man. But, Ned, is not the King in this com-
King Edward the fourth. 8 7
pany 1 What's he in the long beard and the red petti'
coate? Before God, I mifdoubt, Ned, that is the
King. I knowe it by my Lord What-ye-call's players.
King. How by them, tanner ?
Hobs. Euer when they play an enterlout or a com
modity at Tamworth, the King alwaies is in a long
bearde and a red gowne, like him. Therefore I fpedl
him to be the King.
King. No truft me tanner, this is not the King ;
But thou (halt fee the King before thou goeft,
This man is the Lord Maior, Lord Maior of London.
Here was the Recorder too ; but he is gone.
Hobs. What nicknames thefe courtnols haue !
Mare and Corder, quotha ! we haue no fuch at Lich-
field. There is the honeft Bailiff and his brethren.
Such words gree beft with vs.
King. My lord Maior, I pray ye, for my fake,
To bid this honeft tanner welcome.
Maior. You are welcome, my honeft friend.
In figne whereof, I pray you fee my houfe,
And fup with me this night.
Hobs. I thanke ye, Goodman Maior; but I care
not for no meat. My ftomach is like to a ficke
fwines, that will neither eate nor drinke till me knowe
what mail become of her pig. Ned and Tom, you pro-
mifed me a good turn when I came to Court. Either
do it now, or go hang yourfelues.
King. No fooner comes the King, but I will do it.
Sel. I warrant thee, tanner; fear not thy fonnes
life.
Hobs. Nay I feare not his life, I fear his death.
Enter Maifter of S. Katharines and Widow
Norton.
Majler. All health and happinefs to my foueraign !
King. The Maifter of S. Katharines hath marred
all.
88 The fir/I part of
Hobs. Out, alas that euer I was born.
The Tanner falls into afwound'. they labour to reuiue
him, meanwhile the King puts on his royal robes.
King. Looke to the tanner there, he takes no
harm.
I would not haue him (for my crown) mifcany.
Widow. Let me come to him, by my Kings good
leaue.
Here's ginger, honeft man j bite it.
Hobs. Bite ginger, bite ginger, bite a dogs date. I
I am but a dead man. Ah, my liege that you mould
deal fo with a poor well-meaning man : but it makes
no matter ; 1 can but die.
King. But when, tanner ? canft thou tell 1
Hobs. Nay, euen when you pleafe ; for I haue fo
defended ye, by calling ye plaine Ned, mad rogue, and
rafcal, that I know youle haue me hanged. Therefore,
make no more ado, but fend me down to Stafford, and
there, a Gods name, hang me with my fon. And heres
another as honefl as yourfelf. You made me call him
plaine Tom : I warrant, his name is Thomas, and fome
man of worftiip too. Therefore, lets to it, euen when
and where ye will.
King. Tanner, attend ! Not only do we pardon
thee,
But in all princely kindneffe welcome thee ;
And thy fonnes trefpaffe do .we pardon too.
One go and fee that forthwith it be drawn
Vnder our feal of England, as it ought.
And forty pounds we giue thee, to defray
Thy charges in thy coming vp to London.
Now, tanner, what faifl thou to vs ?
Hobs. Marry, you fpeak like an honefl man, if you
mean what you fay.
King. We mean it, tanner, on our royal word.
Now, Maifter of S. Katharines, what would you ?
Maifler. My gracious lord, the great beneuolence
(Though fmall to that your fubiecls could afford)
King Edward the fourth. 89
Of poor S. Katharines do I bring your grace.
Fiue hundred pounds here haue they fent by me,
For the eafier portage, all in angel gold.
What this good widdowe, miftriffe Norton, will,
She comes herfelf, and brings her gift with her.
Widow. Pardon me, gracious lord, prefumption,
Nor ouerweening in mine owne conceite,
Makes me thus bolde to fome before your grace ;
But loue and duty to your maieflie,
And great defire to fee my lord the King.
Our Maifter, here, fpake of beneuolence,
And faid my twenty nobles was enough.
I thought not fo ; but at your highnefs feete,
A widows mite, a token of her zeale,
In humble duty giues you twenty pound.
King. Now by my crowne, a gallant lufty girle.
Of all the exhibition yet beflowed,
This womans liberality likes me beft.
Is thy name Norton ?
Widow. I, my gracious liege.
King. How long haft thou been a widow ?
Widow. It is, my lord,
Since I did bury Wilkin> my good man,
At Shrouetide next, euen juft a dozen yeares.
King. In all which fpace, couldfl thou not finde a
man,
On whom thou mightft beftowe thyfelf againe 1
Widow. Not anie like my Wilkin, whofe deare
loue
I knowe is matchleffe : in refpec"l of whom
I thinke not any worthy of a kifs.
Kmg. No, widow ? that He try. How like you
this 1 He kiffeth her.
Widow. Belhrew my heart, it was a honey kifs,
Able to make an aged woman young ;
And for the fame, moft fweete and louely prince,
See what the widow giues'you from her ftore,
Forty olde angels, but for one kifs more.
90 King Edward the fourth.
King. Marry, widow, and thou fhalt haue it. Jo)
Hobs, thou art a widower : lackft thou fuch a wife 1
Hobs. Snails, twenty pound akiffe 1 ? Had fhe as
many twenty pound bags as I haue knobs of barke in
my tan-fat, me might kiffe them away in a quarter of a
year. He no S. Katharines widows, if kiffes be fo
dear.
Widow. Clubs and clouted fhoes, there's none
enamoured here.
King. Lord Maior, we thanke you, and intreat
withall
To recommend vs to our Citizens.
We mufl for France. We bid you all farewell.
Come tanner thou malt go with vs to Court ;
To morrow you mall dine with my lord Maior,
And afterward fet homeward when ye pleafe.
God and our right that only fight for vs,
Adieu, pray that our toile proue profperous.
Exeunt.
FINIS.
THE SECOND
PART OF KING EDWARD
THE FOURTH.
Containing
his iourney into France, for the obtaining of
his right there t
The trecherous falfhood of the Duke of Bur-
gundie and the Conftable of France
vfed againft him, and his
returne home
againe.
Likewife the profecution of the hiftorie of M.
Shoare and his faire wife.
Concluding with the lamentable death of them
both.
Enter King Edward, Howard, Sellinger, and Souldiers
marching.
King. Is this the aide our coufm Burgundy
And the great Conflable of France affured us 1
Haue we marcht thus far through the heart of France,
And with the terrour of our Englifh drummes
Roufed the poore trembling French, which leaue their
townes,
That now the wolues affrighted from the fieldes
92 The fecond part of
Do get their prey, and kennell in the ftreetes ?
Our thundering cannons, now this fortnight fpace,
Like common bellmen in fome market towne,
Haue cride the Conftable and Burgundy \
But yet I fee they come not to our aide.
Wele bring them in, or by the bleffed light,
Wele fearch the ground fills of their cities walls.
Since you haue brought me hither, I will make
The proudefl tower that Hands in France to quake.
I maruel much that Scales returnes not j for by him
I doe expect to heare their refolutions.
Enter the Lord Scales.
How. My foueraign, he is happily returned.
King. Welcome, my lord ; welcome, good oofm
Scales.
What newes from Burgundy 1 what is his anfwer ?
What, comes he to our fuccour, as he promifed ?
Scales. Not by his good will. For ought that I
can fee,
He lingers flill in his long fiege at Nufe.
I vrged his promife and your expectation,
Euen to the force and compaffe of my fpirit.
I cheerd my firme perfuafions with your hopes,
And guilded them with my befl oratory :
I framed my fpeech flill fitly, as I found
The temper of his humor to be wrought vpon j
But flill I found him earthly, vnrefolued,
Muddie ; and, methought, euer through his eyes,
I faw his wauering and vnfettled fpirit ;
And, to be fhort, fubtle and trecherous,
And one that doth intend no good to you.
And he will come, and yet he wanteth power ;
He would faine come, but may not leaue the fiege,
He hopes he mall, but yet he knows not when,
He purpofed, but fome impediments
Haue hinderd his determined intent.
Briefly, I thinke he will not come at all.
King Edward the fourth. 93
King. But is he like to take the town of Nufe ?
Scales. My lord, the town is liker to take him ;
That, if he chance to come to you at all,
Tis but for fuccour.
King. But what faies Count S. Paull
Scales. My lord, he lies and reuels at S. Quintins,
And laughs at Edwards coming into France.
There domineiring with his drunken crewe,
Make jigs of vs, and in their flauering iefts
Tell how like rogues we lie here in the field.
Then comes a ilaue, one of thefe drunken fots,
In with a tauern-reckoning for a fupplication,
Difguifed with a cufhion on his head,
A drawers apron for a heralds coate,
And tells the Count, the King of England craues
One of his worthy honours dog-kennels,
To be his lodging for a day or two.
With fome fuch other tauern-foolery.
With that, this filthie, rafcall, greafie rout
Burft out in laughter at this worthie ieft,
Naighing like horfes. Thus the Count S. Paul
Regards his promife to your maieftie.
King, Will no man thruil the flaue into a fack-
butl
Sel. Now, by this light, were I but neare the
flaue
With a blacke iacke, I would beate out his braines.
How. If it pleafe your highneffe but to fay the
word,
Wele pluck him out of Quintins by the eares.
King. No, coufin Howard ; wele referue our-
valour
For better purpofe. Since they both refufe vg,
Ourfelues will be vnriualld. in our honour.
Now our firft carl, my Lord, is at maine France,
Whilft yet our army is in health and ftrong ;
And, haue we once but broke into that war,
I will not leaue S. Paul, nor
94 The fecond part of
Not a bare pigs- cote to fhroud them in.
Herald.
Her. My foueraign !
King. Go, herald, and to Lewis, the French
king,
Denounce flern war, and tell him I am come
To take poffeffion of my realme of France.
Dene him boldly from vs. Be thy voice
As fierce as thunder, to affright his foule.
Herald, begone, I fay, and be thy breath
Piercing as lightning, and thy words as death.
Her. I goe, my liege, refolud to your high will.
Exit.
King. Sound drumme, I fay ; fet forward with our
powre ;
And, France, ere long expect a dreadful houre !
I will not take the Englifh ftandards down,
Till thou empale my temples with thy crowne.
Enter Lewis the French King, Bourbon, and St. Pierre,
with the Herald of England.
Lewis. Herald of England, we are pleafed to
heare
What meffage thou haft brought vs from thy King.
Prepare thyfelf, and be aduifed in fpeech.
Her. Right gratious and moft Chriftian King of
France !
I come not to thy prefence vnprepared
To do the meffage of my royal liege.
Edward the Fourth, of England and of France
The lawful King, and Lord of Ireland,
Whofe puiffant magnanimious breaft incenfed,
Through manifefl notorious iniuries,
Offerd by thee, King Lewis, and thy French,
Againft his title to the crowne of France,
And right in all thefe dukedomes following,
y Anjou, Guy en, Aguileme,
King Edward the fourth. 95
Breathes forth by me, the organ of his fpeech,
Hoflile defiance to thy realme and thee.
And trampling now vpon the face of France
With barbed horfe and valiant armed foote,
Himfelf the leader of thofe martiall troopes,
Bids thee to battle, where and when thou darfl,
Except thou make fuch reflitution
And yearely tribute on good hoflages,
As may content his iuft concerned wrath.
And to this mefiage anfwer I expec"l.
Lew. Right peremptory is this embaffage ;
And were my roiall brother of England pleafed
To entertaine thofe kinde affections
Wherewith we do imbrace his amity,
Needleffe were all thefe thunder-threatning wordes.
Let Heauen, where all our thoughts are regifterd,
Beare record with what deepe defire of peace
We mall fubfcribe to fuch conditions
As equity for England mail propound.
If Edward r haue fuftained wrong in France,
Lewis was neuer authour of that wrong ;
Yet, faultlefs, we will make due recompenfe.
We are affurd that his maieflick thoughts,
In his mild fpirit, did neuer mean thefe warres,
Till Charles Burgundy, once our fawning friend,
But now our open foe, and Count S. Paul,
Our fubiect once and Conftable of France,
But now a traitour to our realme and vs,
Were motiues to incite him vnto armes,
Which hauing done, will leaue him, on my life.
Her. The King my maifler reckes not Burgundy,
And fcorns S. Paul, that trechrous Conftable.
His puiffance is fufficient in itfelf
To conquer France, like his progenitors.
Lew. He mall not neede to wafte by force of
warre,
Where peace mall yeeld him more then he can win.
We couet peace, and we will purchafe it
At any rate that reafon can demand.
96 The Jecond part of
And it is better England ioin in league
With vs, his ftrong, old, open enemy,
Than with thofe weake and new diffembling friends.
We do fecure vs from our open foes,
But trufl in friendes (though faithleffe) we repofe.
My Lord S, Pierre and coufin Bourbon, fpeake.
What cenfure you of Burgundy and S. Paul ?
St. Pierre. Dread Lord, it is well known that
Burgundy
Made mow of tender feruice to your maiefly,
Till by the engine of his flatteries,
He made a breach into your Highneffe loue ;
Where enterd once and thereof full poffeft,
He fo abufd that royal excellence
By getting footing into manie towns,
Caftles, and forts, belonging to your crowne,
That now he holds them gainil your realme and you.
Bur. And Count S. Paul, the Conftable of
France,
Ambitious in that high authority,
Vfurps the lands and feigneuries of thofe
That are true fubiecls, noble peers of France.
Your boundleffe fauours did him firft fuborne ;
And now to be your liegeman he thinkes fcorne.
Lew. By this coniec~ture the vnfteady courfe
Thy royal maifler vndertakes in France :
And herald intimate what feruent zeale
We haue to league with Edward and his Englifti.
Three hundreth crownes we giue thee for reward,
And of rich crimfon veluet thirty yardes,
In hope thou wilt vnto thy foueraign tell
We mow thee not one difcontented looke,
Nor render him one misbeholden word ;
But his defiance and his dare to warre,
We fwallow with the fupple oile of peace ;
Which gentle herald if thou canft procure,
A thoufand crowns mall iuflly guerdon thee.
Her. So pleafe it your moft facred maiefly,
To fend vnto my gracious Soueraign
King Edward the fourth. 97
Equall conditions for the bonds of peace
And reflitution of his iniuries,
His temper is not of obdurate malice,
But fweete relenting princely clemency.
Performe your promife of a thoufand crownes,
And fecond me with fome fit meiTenger,
And I will vndertake to worke your peace.
Lew. By the true honor of a Chriftian king,
Effect our peace, and thou malt haue our crownes.
And we will poft a herald after thee,
That mail confirm thy fpeech and our defignes.
Go, Mugeroun ; fee to this herauld giuen
The veluet and three hundreth crownes propofed.
Farewell, good friend, remember our requeft,
And kindly recommend vs to King Edward.
Exeunt Engli/Ji Herald and Mugeroun.
How think you lords 1 is't not more requifite
To make our peace, then war with Englands power ?
Bour. Yes, gracious Lord ; the wounds are bleed
ing yet
That Talbot, Bedford, and King Henry made,
Which peace muft cure, or France (hall languifh flill.
S. Pierre. Befides my liege, by thefe inteftine
foes,
The Conftable and trecherous Burgundy,
The States in danger, if the Englifh flir.
Enter Mugeroun.
Lew. Tis perilous and full of doubt, my lords ;
We muft haue peace with England euerie way.
Who mail be herald in thefe high affaires 1
Bur. No better man then Monfieur Mugeroun,
Whofe wit is fharp, whofe eloquence is found ;
His prefence gracious, and his courage good ;
A gentleman, a fcholar, and a fouldier ;
A compleate man for fuch an embaffage.
Art thou content to be emploied, Mugeroun^
In this negotiation to King Edward"*
98 The fecond part of
Mug. If your moft facred maieflie command,
Your humble vaffall Mugeroun mall goe.
Lew. Gramercies, Mugeroun. But thou muft
affume
A heralds habit, and his office both,
To pleade our loue, and to procure vs peace
With Englifh Edward, for the good of France.
Mug. I know the matter and the form, my Lord.
Giue me my Heralds Coat, and I am gone.
Lew. Thou art a man compofed for bufmefs.
Attend on vs for thy inftruclions,
And other fit fupplies for thefe affaires ;
And for thy diligence expecl reward. Exeunt.
Enter feueral waies, Burgundy and the Conftable of
France.
Con. Whither away fo fad goes Burgundy ?
Bur. Nay rather whither goes the Conftable ?
Con. Why, to King Edward, man. Is he not
come?
Meanft thou not likewife to goe vifit him ?
Bur. Oh, excellent. I knowe that in thy foule
Thou knowft that I doe purpofe nothing leffe.
Nay, I do knowe, for all thy outward Ihowe,
Thou haft no meaning once to looke on him.
Brother diffembler, leaue this colouring,
With him that means as falfely as thyfelf.
Con. I, but thou knowft that Edward on onr
letters,
And hoping our affiftance when he came,
Did make this purpofd voyage into France',
And with his forces is he heere arriued,
Trufting that we will keepe our word with him.
Now though we meane it not, yet fet a face
Vpon the matter as though we intended
To keepe our word with him effectually.
Bur. And for my better countnance in this cafe,
My lingring fiege at Nufe will ferue the turne.
King Edward the foitrth. 99
There will I fpend the time to clifappoint
King Edwards hope of my conioining with him.
Con. And I will keepe me ftill here in S. Quintins,
Pretending mighty matters for his aide,
But not performing any, on my word.
The rather Burgundy, becaufe I aime \ AH
At matters which perhaps may coft your head, \this
If all hit right to expectation. J afide,
In the meane fpace, like a good crafty knaue,
That hugs the man he wilheth hangd in heart,
Keep I faire weather ftill with But -gundy y
Till matters fall out for my purpofe fit.
la, font monfecrets, beau temps pour moy.
Bur. Id, font monfecrets, beau temps pour moy.
Are ye fo crafty Conftable ? proceede, proceede,
You quicke, Iharpe fighted man, imagine me
Blind e, witleffe, and a filly ideot,
That pries not into all your policies.
Who, I ? no. God doth knowe. my fimple wit
Can neuer found a judgment of fuch reach,
As in our cunning Conftable of France.
Perfuade thyfelf fo ftill, and when time ferues,
And that thou art in mod extremity,
Needing my helpe, then take thou heede of me ;
In meane while, fir, you are the onely man
That hath my heart ? Hath ? I, and great reafon
too.
Thus it befits men of deep reach to do.
Well, Conftable youle back again to Nufe,
And not aide Englifh Edwardl
Con. What elfe, man ?
And keepe thee in St. Quintins : fo (hall we
Smile at King Edwards weake capacity. Exeunt.
Enter King Edward, with Burgundy, Howard,
Sellinger, and Scales.
King. Tell me not Burgundie tis I am wrongd ;
H 2
ioo The fecond part of
And you haue dealt like a difloyall knight 1
Bur. Edward of England, thefe are vnkingly
words.
KinQ He that will do, my lord, what he fhould
not,
Mud and mall heare of me what he would not,
I fay againe, you haue deluded me.
Bur. Am I not come according to my word ?
King. No, Charles of Burgundy \ thy word was
giu en
To meet with me in Aprill ; now tis Augufl ;
The place appointed, Cales, not Lorraine ;
And thy approach to be with martiall troopes ;
But thou art come, not hauing in thy traine
So much as page or lackey to attend thee.
As who ihould fay thy prefence were munition,
And ftrength enough to anfwer our expect.
Summer is almoft fpent, yet nothing done.
And all by dalliance with vncertaine hope.
Bur. My forces lay before the citie Nufe.
From which I could not rife but with dishonour,
Vnleffe vpon fome compofition had.
King. There was no fuch exception in your
letters.
Why fmiles Lord Scales ?
Scales. My man reports, my Lord,
The compofition that the Duke there made
Was meere compulfion ; for the cittizens
Draue him from thence perforce.
King. I thought fo much.
We mould not yet haue feene your Excellence,
But that your heeles were better then your hands.
Bur. Lord Scales, thou dofl me wrong to flander
me.
King. Letting that pafle, it (hall be feene, my
Lord,
That we are able of ourfelfe to claime
Our right in France, without or your affiftance
King Edward the fourth . i o i
Or anie others, but the helpe of Heauen.
Bur. I make no queftion of it : yet the Con-
flable,
Prefl with no fuch occafion as I was,
Might haue excufd vs both, if he had pleafed.
King* Accufe him not. Your Cities, as we came,
Were euen as much to be condemned as his.
They gaue vs leaue to lye within the field,
And fcarcely would affoord vs meat for money.
This was imall friendship, in refpecfl of that
You had engagd your honour to performe.
But march we forward as we were determined.
This is S. QuintinS) where you fay, my Lord,
The Conftable is ready to receiue vs.
Bur. So much he fignified to me my letter.
King. Well, we (hall fee his entertainment. For
ward !
As they march vpon the Jlage, the Lord Scales is Jlrucke
downe, and two Souldiers flaineoutright, with great
JJiotfrom the towne.
Fly to our main battalia ; bid them (land.
Theres treafon plotted : fpeake to me, Lord Scales j
Or if there be no power of life remaining
To vtter thy hearts grieuance, make a figne.
Two of our common fouldiers flaine befide !
This is hard welcome. But it was not you,
At whom the fatall enginer did aime :
My bread the leuell was, though you the marke :
In which confpiracy, anfwer me, Duke,
Is not thy foule as guilty as the Earles 1
Bur. Perifti, my foule, King Edward, if I knew
Of any fuch intention. Yet I did,
And grieue that it hath fped no otherwife.
King. Howard and Sellinger
Burgundy Jleales away.
What is there hope of life in none of them ?
How. The fouldiers are both flaine outright, my
Lord,
iO2 The Jecond part of
But the Lord Scales a little is recouerd.
Kins;. Conuey his body to our pauilion,
And let our Surgeons vfe all diligence
They can deuife for faueguard of his life,
Whilft we with all extremity of warre
Go plague S. Quintins. Howard fetch on our
powers,
We will not ftir a foot till we haue fhowne
Juft vengeance on the Conftable of France.
1 Oh, God, to wooe vs firft to pafs the fea,
And at our coming thus to halt with vs !
I think the like thereof was neuer feen.
But wheres the Duke 1
SeL Gone, as it feemes, my Lord,
Stept fecretly away, as one that knew
His confcience would accufe him if he flaid.
King. A pair of moft difiembling hypocrites,
Is he and this bafe Earle, on whom I vowe,
Leauing King Lewis vnpreiudizd in peace,
To fpend the whole meafure of my kindled rage.
Their ftreets fhall fweate with their effufed blood,
And this bright funne be darkend with the unoke
Of fmouldring cinders, when their city lies
Buried in ames of reuengefull fire :
On whofe pale fuperficies, in the fteade
Of parchment, with my lance He drawe thefe
lines
Edward of England left this memory,
In iujl reuenge of hatefull treachery.
Enter Howard againe.
Lord Howard, haue ye done as I commanded ?
How. Our battles are difpofd ; and on the browe
Of euery inferiour feruitour, my lord,
You might behold deftruclion figured,
Greedily thirfling to beginne the fight ;
But when no longer they might be reflraind,
And that the drumme and trumpet both beganne
To found warres cheerfull harmony, behold
King Edward the fourth. 103
A flag of truce vpon the walls was hangd,
And forth the gates did iffue meekly pacde,
Three men, whereof the Conftable is one ; .
The other two, the gunner and his mate,
By whofe grofs ouerfight (as they report)
This fuddaine chance vn wittingly befell.
King. Bring forth the Conftable. The other
two,
See them fafe-guarded till you know our pleafure.
Enter the Conftable.
Now, my Lord Howard, how is it with Scales ?
How. Well, my dread Soueraigne, now his wound
is dreft.
And by the opinion of the furgeons,
Tis thought he mail not perifti by this hurt.
King. I am the gladder. But unfaithfull Earl,
I do not fee how yet I can difpenfe
With thy fubmiffion. This was not the welcome
Your letters fent to England promifd me.
Con. Right high and mighty prince, condemn me
not,
That am as innocent in this offence
As any fouldier in the Englifh army.
The fault is in our gunners ignorance,
Who, taking you for Lewis, King of France,
That likewife is within the cities ken,
Made that vnlucky mot to beate him ^backe,
A.nd not of malice to your maieftie :
To knowledge which, I brought them with myfelf,
And thirty thoufand crownes within this purfe.
Sent by the burghers to redeeme your lacke.
King. Conftable of France, we will not felle a
droppe
Of Englifh bloud for all the gould in France :
But infomuch two of our men are flaine,
To quit their deaths, thofe two that came with
thee
1 04 The fecond part of
Shall both be craramd into a cannons mouth,
And fo be (hot into the towne againe.
It is not like but that they knew our colors,
And of fet purpofe did this villainy ;
Nor can I be perfwaded thoroughly
But that our perfon was the marke they aimd at.
Yet are we well content to hold you excufd,
Marie our foldiers muft be fatisfide ;
And, therefore, firfl (hall be diflributed
Thefe crownes amongft them ; then you (hall re-
turne,
And of your bed prouifion fende to vs
Thirty waine-load, befide twelue tun of wine.
This if the burghers will fubfcribe vnto,
Their peace is made. Otherwife I will proclaime
Free liberty for all to take the fpoile.
Con. Your highnefs (hall be anfwerd prefently,
And I 'will fee thefe articles performd.
King. Yet one thing more. I will that you, my
Lord,
Together with the Duke of Burgundy,
Do ere to-morrow noone, bring all your force,
And joine with ours ; or elfe we doe recant,
And thefe conditions (hall be fruftrate.
Con. Mine are at hand, my lord ; and I will
write
-The Duke may likewife be in readineffe.
King. Let him haue fafe-conducl through our
army.
And, gainft the morning, euery leader fee
His troops be furnifht. For no longer time,
God willing, the trial (hall be deferred
Twixt Lewis and vs. What echoing found is this ?
Set. A gentleman from the King of France, my
Lord,
Craues parlance with your Excellence.
King. A gentleman, bring him in.
What news, a Gods name, from our brother Lewis 1
King Edward the foiirth. 105
Enter Mugeroun.
Mug. Mod puiffant and moft honorable King,
My royall mailer, Lewis, the King of France,
Doth greete your highneffe with vnfaigned loue,
Wifhing your health profperity, and rule ;
And thus he fays by me : When was it feen
That euer Lewis pretended hurt to England,
Either by clofe confpirators fent ouer
To vndermine your flate, or openly
By taking arms with purpofe to inuade ?
Nay, when was it that Lewis was euer heard
So much as to detract from Edwards name 1
But ftill hath done him all his due of fpeech,
By blazing to the world his high deferts
Of wifedom. valour, and his heroicke birth ?
Whence is it, then, that Edward is incenfd
To render hate for loue, for amity ftern war ?
Not of himfelfe, we know ; but by the means
Of fome infectious counfell, that, like mudde
Would ipoile the pure temper of his noble minde.
It is the Duke and that pernicious rebell,
Earl of S. Paul, haue fet abroach thefe warres,
Who of themfelues vnable to proceede,
Would make your Grace the inftrument of wrong ;
And when you haue done what you can for them,
You fhall be fure of nothing but of this,
Still to be doubled and diffembled with.
But if it might feem gratious in your eie
To cad off thefe defpifd confederates,
Vnfit companions for fo greate a Prince,
And joine in league with Lewis, my royall maifler,
Him fhall you find as willing as of power
To do your grace all offices of loue.
And what commodity may fpring thereby
To both the realmes, your Grace is wife enough,
i o 6 The fecond part of
Without my rude fuggeftions, to imagine.
Befides, much bloodOied for this prefent time
Will be preuented when two fuch perfonages
Shall meete together to make hands in peace,
And not with mock of lance and curtel-axe.
That Lewis is willing, I am his fubflitute ;
And he himfelf in perfon, if you pleafe,
Not farre from hence, will fignify as much.
King. Sir, withdraw, and giue vs leaue awhile
To take aduifement of our counfellers.
What fay ye, Lords, vnto this profferd truce ?
How. In my conceit, let it not be flipt, my
Lord.
Sel. Will it not be difhonor, hauing landed
So great an army in thefe parts of France,
And not to fight before we do returne ?
How. How can it be, when the enemie fubmits,
And of himfelf makes tender of allegiance ?
Sel. I, thats the queftion, whether he will yeeld,
And do King Edward fealty or no ?
King. What talk ye, lords? he mail fubfcribe to
that;
Or no condition He accept at all.
Hoiv. Let him be bound, my -Lord, to pay your
grace,
Toward your exfjenfes fmceyour coming oner,
Seuenty-fme thoufand crownes of the funne,
And, yearely after, fifty thoufand more,
During your life, with homage therewithal!,
That he doth hold his roialtie from you ;
And take his offer ; twill not be amiffe.
King. It mail be fo. Draw you the articles :
And Sellinger, call forth the Meffenger.
Bring with thee, too, a cuppe of maffie gould,
And bid the bearer of our priuy purfe
Inclofe therein a hundred Englifh ryals.
Friend we do accept thy maifters league,
\\ : ith no lefs firm affedlion then he craues ;
King Edward the fourth. 107
If he will meet vs here, betwixt our tents,
It (hall on both fides be confirmd by oath,
. On this condition, that he will fubfcribe
To certaine articles fhall be propofed.
And fo thou haft thy anfwere. To requite
Thy paines herein, we giue to thee this cuppe.
Mug. Health and increafe of honour wait on Ed
ward.
King. Lord Howard bring the Frenchman on his
way.
King Lewis is one that neuer was precife :
But nowe, Lord Howard and Tom Selling,
There is a taske remaines for you to do :
And that is this : you two fhall be difguifed,
And one of you repaire to Burgundy,
The other to the Conftable of France ;
Where you fhall learne in fecret, if you can,
If they intend to meete vs heere to-morrow,
Or how they take this our accord with France.
Somewhat it glues' me you will bring from thence
Worthy the noting. Will you vndertake it 1
SeZ. With all my heart, my Lord. I am for Bur
gundy.
How. And I am for the Conftable of France.
Exeunt.
King. Make fpeede againe. What newes ?
Mef. The King of France, my lord, attended
roially,
Is marching hitherward to meet your grace.
King. He fhall be welcome. Haft thou drawne
the articles ?
Mef. Yes, my dread Soueraigne.
King. Go, call foorth our traine,
We may receiue him with like maieftie.
The fecond part of
Enter certaine Noblemen and Soldiers, with drummes.
They march about the ftage. Then enter King
Lewis and his traine> and meet with King Edward.
The Kings embrace.
A". Lew. My princely brother, we are grieued
much
To thinke you haue been at fo greate a charge,
And toild your royal felfe fo far from home,
Vpon the vnconflant promife of thofe men
That doth diffemble with your Grace and me.
K. Ed. Brother of France, you might condemne
vs rightly,
Not onely of great wrongs and toils fuflaind,
But of exceeding folly, if, incited,
We had prefumd to enter thefe dominions
Vpon no other reafon than the word
And weak afliftance of the Earle S. Paule
Or Burgundy's perfuafion. Tis our right
That wings the body of compofed warre ;
And though we liftend to their flatteries,
Yet fo we fhapd the courfe of our affaires,
As of ourfelues we might be able found,
Without the trufling to a broken flarfe.
K. Lew. I knowe your maieftie had more difcre-
tion ;
But this is not the occafion of our meeting.
If you be pleafd to entertain a peace,
My kingly brother, in the fight of thefe,
And of the all-difcouering eye of Heauen,
Let vs imbrace ; for as my life. I fweare
I tender England and your happinefie.
K. Ed. The like do I by you and warlike France.
But princely brother ere this knot be knit,
There are fome few conditions to be fignde.
That done I am as ready as yourfelf.
K. Lew. Faire brother, let vs hear them what they
be.
K. Ed. Herauld, repeate the articles.
King Edward the fourth. 109
Her. Firfl it is couenanted that Lewis King of
France, according to the cuftom of his predeceflors,
fhall do homage to King Edward, King of England,
as his Soueraign and true heire to all the dominions
of France.
Bour. How as his Soueraign ? That were to de-
pofe
And quite bereaue him of his diadem.
Will kingly Lewis floope to fuch a vaffallage ?
K. Ed. Bourbon, and if he will not, let him
chufe.
K. Lew. Brother, haue patience, Bourbon^ feale
your lips ;
And interrupt not thefe high confequents.
Forward, herauld, what is elfe demanded ?
Her. Secondly, it is couenanted that Lewis, King
of France, mail pay vnto Edward, King of England,
immediately upon the agreement betwixt their maief-
ties, feuenty-fiue thoufand crowns of the fun, toward
the charge King Edward hath been at fince his arri-
ual in thefe parts of France.
Bour. Mort Dieu / hele neither leaue him crowne
nor coine.
K. Lew. Bourbori I fay be filent, Herauld, reacle
on.
Her. Thirdly and laflly it is couenanted that, ouer
and befides thefe feuenty-fiue thoufand crownes of the
fun now prefently to be paid, Lewis, King of France,
fhall yearely heereafter, during the life of Edward,
King of England, pay fifty thoufand crownes more,
without fraud or guile, to be tendered at his maieflys
caftle, commonly called the Towre of London.
Bour. Nay, bind him that he bring his lordfhip a
couple of capons, too, euery year befide. Here is a
peace, indeed, far worfe then warre.
K. Ed. Brother of France, are you refohid to do,
According as you heare the couenants drawne ?
K. Lew. Brother of England, mount your roial
throne,
no The fecond part of
For fubie<5ls weale and glory of my God,
And to deale iuftly with the world befide,
Knowing your title to be lineall
From the great Edward of that name the Third,
Your predeceffor, thus I do refigne,
Giuing my crowne and fcepter to your hand,
As an obedient liegeman to your Grace.
K. Ed. The fame do I deliuer backe againe
With as large intereft as you had before.
Now for the other couenants.
K. Lew. Thofe, my Lord,
Shall likewife be performd with expedition ;
And euer after, as you haue prefcribd,
The yearly penfion (hall be truely paid.
Her. Swear on this book, King Lewis, fo helpe
you God,
You meane no otherwife then you haue faid.
K. Lew. So helpe me God, as I diffemble not.
K. Ed. And fo help he me, as .1 intend to keepe
Vnfeigned league and truce with noble France.
And, kingly brother, now to confummate
This happy day, feail in our royall tent.
Englilh and French are one. So it is meant. Exeunt.
Enter at one doore, Burgundy, chafing, with him Sellin-
ger, difguifed like a Souldier : at another, the
Conftable of France, with him Howard, in the like
difguife.
Bur. A peace concluded, faiil thou ? ill not fo?
Sel. My lord, I do affure you, it is fo.
Con. And thou affirmft the like : fay, doll thou
not 1 ?
How. I doe, my Lord, and that for certainty.
Bur. I haue found it now, the villaine Con liable
Hath fecretly with Edward thus compact,
To joine our King and him in amity,
And thereby fioubtleffe got into his hands
Such lands and Dukedoms as I aimed at,
King Edward the fourth. i n
And leaues me difappointed in my hope.
A plague vpon fuch crafty cofening afide.
Now mail I be a mark for them to aim at,
And that vile flaue to triumph at my foil.
Con. Tis fo ; for it can be no otherwife.
Burgundy hath been priuy to this plot ;
Confpird with Lewis and the Englifh King,
To faue his owne flake, and afiure himfelf
Of all thofe feigneuries I hoped for ;
And thereupon this clofe peace is contriued.
Now mufl the Conftable be as a butte
For all their bullets to be leuelld at.
Hell and hot vengeance light on Burgundy
For this his fubtile fecret villany.
Bur. Well, fellow, for thy pains, take that.
Leaue me alone ; for I am much difpleafed. to Sel.
Con. And get thee gone, my friend. There's for
thy pains.
So leaue me to myfelf. to How.
Sel. Fare ye well, fir ! I hope I haue pepperd ye.
How. And fo I thinke haue I my Conflable.
Exeunt Sel. and How.
Bur. Now,, Conftable this peace, this peace ;
What think ye of it, man ?
Con. Nay, rather what thinks Burgundy 1
Cur. I thinke he that did contriue the fame
Was little leffe than a diflembling villaine.
Con. Dog, bite thyfelf, come on, come on,
Haue not you play'd John for the King,
To faue yourfelf, fir ?
Bur. I, art thou good at that ?
Adieu, fir I may chance to hit you pat. Exit.
Con. You may, fir : I perhaps may be before ye,
And for this cunning through the nofe to bore ye.
Exeunt.
Enter King Edward, King Lewis, Howard, Sellinger,
and their frame.
K. Ed. So, Sellinger we then perceiue by thee
H2 The fecond part of
The Duke is pafling angry at our league 1
Set. I, my dread Lord ! beyond companion,
Like a mad dogge, fnatching at euery one
That paffeth by : mail I but mow you how,
And act the manner of his tragicke fury ?
K. Ed. No, Hay awhile. Methought I heard tliee
fay
They meant to greet vs by their meilengers.
Sel. They did my Lord.
K. Ed. What, and the Conflable too ?
How. My foueraign, yes.
K. Ed. But how tooke he the nevves 1
How. 'Faith, euen as difcontented as might be ;
But, being a more deep melancholifle,
And fullener of temper then the Duke,
He chawes his malice, fumes and frothes at mouth,
Vttering but little more then what we gather
By his difturbed looks and riuelld front ;
Sauing that now and then his boiling paffion,
Damnd vp as in a furnace, finding vent,
Breaks through his feuerd lips into fhort puffs,
And then he mumbles forth a word or two,
As doth a toothleffe monke when hees at mattens.
K. Ed. Oh, it was fport alone to note their car
riage.
Sel. Sport, my Lord ? will you but heare me
fpeake,
And if I do not wearie you with laughter,
Nere truft Tom Sellinger more vpon his word.
Sound a trutnpet.
K. Ed. I pray thee, peace : by this it mould
appeare
One of their meffengers is come. Go fee.
Vpon my life, we fliall haue fome devife
Of new diflimulation. How now, Tom 1
Sel. Tis as your highneffe did fuppofe, my Lord.
Here is a meffenger from burgundy.
K. Ed. Excellent good, admit him prefently :
And, brother of France, let me intreat your grace
King Edward the fourth. 1 1 3
To ftand afide a little in my tent,
Lead, finding vs together, he refraine
To tell the meffage he is fent about ;
So Cure I am perfuaded we mail find
Some notable piece of knauerie fet afoote.
K. Lew. With all my hart. Vrge him fpeak loud
inough,
That I, my Lord, may vnderftand him too. Exit.
Enter the Lord of Conte. ,
K. Ed. Fear not. I haue the method in my
mind.
What, is it you, my lord of Conte 1 Welcome,
How doth the valiant Duke ? in health, I hope ?
Con. In health, my lord, of body, though in
mind
Somewhat diftemper'd, that your grace hath joind
In league with his profefled enemie.
K. Ed, How fay you that, my lord ? pray you
fpeak e out ;
For I, of late, by reafon of a cold,
Am fomewhat thicke of hearing.
Con. Thus, my Lord.
Your grace demanded if the Duke were well.
I anfwer you, he is in health of bcdy,
Though inwardly, in mind, fomewhat perplext
That you, without his knowledge, haue tane truce
With childifh Lewis, hartlefs King of France.
K. Ed. With whom, I pray ye? A little louder,
fir.
Conte. With childifh Lewis, that heartlefs king of
France.
K. Ed. I now do vnderftand you. Is it that
He takes vnkindly ^ Why, if hee had come
With his expected forces, as he promift,
I had been flill uncapable of peace ;
But he deceiuing me, the fault was his.
Con. No, my good lord, the fault was not in him,
But in that lewd pernicious counterfeit,
ii4 The fecond part of
That crafty foxe, the Conflable of France,
Who counfeld him to keepe him at his fiege,
Saying it would be more difhonorable
To rife from thence, then any way profitable
To meet your maieftie. Befide my lord,
It hath been proued fince how much the Conflable
Hates your proceedings, by that wilfull mot
Was made againft you from S. Quintins walls,
Which though he feemd to colour with faire fpeech,
The truth is, they did leuel at yourfelfe,
And grieued when they heard you were not flaine.
K. Ed. May I be bold to credit your report ?
Conte. The Duke, vpon his honour, bade me fay
That it was true ; and therewithall, quoth he,
Tell noble Edward, if he will recant,
And fall from Lewis againe, knowing it is
More for his dignity to be fole King,
And conquer France, as did his anceflors,
Then take a fee, and fo be fatisfied,
That I am ready with twelue thoufand foldiers,
All well appointed, and not only will
Deliuer him the Conflable of France,
That he may punifh him as hee fees good,
But feat him in the throne imperial,
Which now another bafely doth vfurpe.
K. Ed. Speake that againe : I heard not your laft
words.
Conte. But feat you in the throne imperial,
Which now another bafely doth vfurpe.
K. Ed. I thank his honour for his good regard.
Pleafeth you Hay till we haue paus'd vpon it,
And you mail haue our anfwer to the Duke.
Tom Sellinger, receiue him ; to your tent,
And let him tafte a cup of Orleance wine.
Now, my kingly brother, haue you heard this news ?
K. Lew. So plainely, my lord, that I fcarce held
myfelf
From flepping forth, hearing my royal name
So much profande and flubberd as it was ;
King Edward the fourth. 1 1 5
But I do weigh the perfon like himfelfe,
From whence it came, a fly diffembler ;
And, fpight my anger, I was forft fometime
To fmile, to thinke the Duke doth hang his friend,
Behind his backe, whom to his face he fmothes.
K. Ed. But we mail haue farre better fport anon.
Howard tells me that another meffenger
Is come in poft hafle from the Conftable ;
As you haue begun, with patience heare the reft.
K. Lew. No more adoe. He to my place again.
Remember that you ftil be deafe, my lord.
K. Ed. I warrant you. Howard, cal in the mef
fenger.
Enter the Meffenger from the Conftable.
Mes. Health to the victorious King of England
K. Ed. Tell him he muft flraine out his voice
aloud ;
For I am fomewhat deafe, and cannot heare.
How. His maieftie requefls you to fpeake out,
Becaufe his hearing is of late decaide.
Mes. The worthy Earle S. Paul.
K. Ed. Come neere mee.
Mes. The worthy Earle S. Paul greets noble
Edward,
And giues your grace to vnderftand by me,
That whereas Charles, that painted fepulchre,
And moft difloyall Duke of Burgundy,
Hath but ufurpt the habit of a friend,
Being in heart your deadly enemy,
As well appeares in his falfe breach of promife,
And that whereas he neuer meant himfelfe,
To fend you aide, but likewife was the meanes
To hinder my lords well affected duty,
Alleadging, you defirde his company
But that you might betraie him to the King.
Befide, whereas it will be prou'd, my lord,
That he did hire the gunner of SL Quintins,
I 2
1 1 6 Thefecond 'part of
For a large fum of money, to difcharge
Three feueral pieces of great ordenance,
Vpon your coming to that curfed town,
To flay your maieflie : in which regard,
If it will pleafe you to reuoke from France,
And think of Burgundy as he deferues,
The Duke with expedition bad me fay
That he would put the Earle into your hands,
Whereby you might reuen'ge his treacherous purpofe,
And aide you, too, with twife fiue thoufand men,
And feat you like a conquerour in France.
K. Ed. Can it feeme poffible that two fuch
friends,
So firmly knit together as they were,
Should on a fuddaine now be fuch great foes ?
Mes. The Earle, my lord, could neuer abide the
Duke,
Since his lafl treafon againft your facred perfon,
Before S. Quintins came to open light,
K. Ed. Was that the caufe of their diffention,
then?
Mef. It was, my lord.
K. Ed. Well, I will think vpont,
And you mall haue our anfwere by and by.
Cofin Howard, take him afide ;
But let him be kept from the others fight.
How. Sir, will you walk in ? my lord will take
aduice,
And fo defpatch you backe againe vnto the Earle.
K. Lew. Here's vying of villany, who mail haue
all,
Fraud with deceit, deceit with fraud outfacde,
I would the diuel were there to cry fwoop-ftake.
But how intends your grace to deale with them ?
K. Ed. Faith in their kind. I am the fteele you
-fee,
Againft the which their enuy being ftrooke,
The fparkles of hipocrifie fly forth.
Twere not amiffe to quench them in their blood.
King Edward the fourth. 1 1 7
Enter another Meffenqir to the King of France, with
letters.
Mef. My lord, here's letters to your maieftie ;
One from the Duke of Burgundy, the other
From the Conftable.
K. Lew. More villany ! a thoufand crowns to
nothing !
K. Ed. Can there be more than is already
broacht,
Methinks they haue already done fo well,
As this may ferue to bring them both to hell.
K. Lew. No, no ; they are indifferently well
loden ;
But yet their fraughts not full. See other ware,
Other prouifion to prepare their way.-
The very fame, my lord, which they pretend,
In loue to you, againft my life and crown,
The fame they vndertake to do for me
Againfl your fafety ; vrging, if I pleafe,
That they will ioin their forces both with mine,
And in your back return to Calice, cut the throats
Of you and all your foldiers.
K. Ed. Oh damnable !
But that I fee it figurde in thefe lines,
I would haue fworne there had been nothing
left
For their pernitious braine to worke vpon.
K. Lew. A traitors like a bold-facde hipo-
crite,
That neuer will be brought vnto a non-plus,
So long as he hath liberty to fpeake.
K. Ed. The way to cure them is to cut them
off.
Call forth their meffengers once more to vs.
How. Both of them, my lord ?
K. Ed. Yes, both together.
Wele fee if they haue grace to blufh or no,
At that their mafters fhame now to attempt.
i T 8 The feoond part of
Enter both the Meffencrs.
Conte. What, is his maiefty of France fo neere 1
And Monfier Roffe, the Earles fecretary ?
I feare fome hurt depends vpon his prefence.
Mef. How comes it that I fee the French King
here?
Ay, and the Lord of Conte, too, methinks.
Pray God our meffage be not made a fcorne.
K. Ed. You told me that you came from Earle
S. Paul ?
Mef. I did, my lord ; and therein fabled not.
K. Ed. You told me, too, of many kind in-
deauours
Which he intended for our benefite ?
Mef. No more then he is willing to perform.
K. Ed. Know you his handwriting, if you feet.
Mef. I doe, my lord.
K. Ed. Is this his hand or no ?
Mef. I cannot fay but that it is his hand.
K. Ed. How comes it then that vnderneath his
hand
My death is fought, when yon, that are his mouth,
Tune to our ears a quite contrary tale 1
The like read you decipherd in this paper
Concerning treacherous, wauering Burgundy :
Vnleffe you grant they can dmide themfelues,
And of two mapes become foure fubftances,
How is it I mould haue their knightly aide,
And yet by them be vtterly deftroide ?
K. Lew. And I to be protected by their meanes,
And yet they (hall confpire againft my life 1
K. Ed. What call you this but vile hipocrify 1
K. Lew. Nay pefant-like, vnheard-of treachery.
Conte. My lord, vpbraid not me with this
offence :
I do protefl I knew of no fuch letters,
Nor any other intention of the Duke,
More then before was vtterd in my meffage.
King Edward the fourth. 119
Sel. Will you be halting too before a creeple ?
Do you not remember what they were,
That firfl did certify the Duke of truce
Betwixt the renowned Edward and the French ?
Conte. Yes, they were two foldiers ; what of
that?
Sel. Thofe foldiers were this gentleman and 1,
Where we did hear the foul-mouth d Duke exclaim
Againft our noble Soueraign and this prince,
And roarde and bellowd like a parim-bull,
And that in hearing both of you and him.
His words io pleafe my lord I can repeat,
As he did fpeake them at the very time.
K. Ed. Well, they are meffengers ; and, for that
caufe,
We are content to bear with their amiffe ;
But keepe them fafe, and let them not returne,
To carry tales vnto thofe counterfeits,
Vntil you haue them both as faft infnarde :
To compaffe which the better, brother of France,
Fiue thoufand of our foldiers here we leaue,
To be imploide in feruice to that end.
The reft with vs to England mall return. Exit.
Enter Chorus.
Cho. King Edward is returned home to Eng
land,
And Lewis, King of France, foon afterward
Surprized both his fubtil enemies,
Rewarding them with traiterous recompence.
Now do we draw the curtain of our Scene,
To fpeake of Shore and his faire wife againe,
With other matters thereupon depending.
You muft imagine fince you faw him lafl
Preparde for trauaile, he hath been abroade,
And feene the fun dry fafhions of the world,
Vlyffes-\ti&, his countries loue at length,
Hoping his wiues death, and to fee his friends,
1 20 The fecond part of
Such as did forrow for his great mifhaps,
Come home is hee ; but fo vnluckily,
As he is like to loofe his life thereby.
His and her fortunes mail we now purfue,
Gracde with your gentle fufferance and view. Exit.
Enter miftris Shore with Jocky her Man, and fame
Attendants more, and ts met by Sir Robert
Brackenburie.
Jane. Haue ye beftowd our fmall beneuo-
lence
On the poore prifoners in the common gaol
Of the White Lion and the Kings Bench ?
Jocky. Yes, forfooth ?
Jane. What prifons this ?
Jocky. The Marfhalfea, forfooth !
.
Enter Sir Robert Brackenbury.
Bra. Well met, faire lady in the happieft time
And choifeft place that my defire could wifh.
Without offence, where haue ye beene this way ?
Jane. To take the aire here, in Saint Georges
field,
Sir Robert Brackenbury, and to vifit fome
Poore patients that cannot vifit me.
Bra* Are you a phyfition ?
Jane. I, a fimple one.
Bra. What difeafe cure yee ?
Jane. Faith, none perfectly.
My phyficke doth but mitigate the paine
A little while, and then it comes againe.
Bra. Sweet miftris Shore, I vnderfland ye not.
Jane. Maifler Lieutenant, I belieue you well.
Jocky. Gude faith, Sir Robert Brobenbelly, may
maiftrefs fpeaks deftly and truly ; for (he hes been till
fee thofe that cannot come till fee her ; and theyes
peatients perforce. The prifoners, man, in the twea
King Edward thefoiirth. 1 2 1
prifons. And me hes gynne tham her filler and her
geer till bay them fude.
Bra. Gramercies, Jocky, thou refoluft my doubt.
A comfort-miniflering, kind phyfition,
That once a week in her owne perfon vifits
The prifoners and the poore in hofpitals,
In London or neere London euery way ;
Whofe purfe is open to the hungry foule ;
Whofe piteous heart faues many a tall mans life.
Jane. Peace, good Sir Robert, tis not worthy
praife,
Nor yet worth thanks, that is of duty done.
For you know well, the world doth know too well,
That all the coals of my poor charity
Cannot confume the fcandall of my name.
What remedy 1 well, tel me, gentle knight,
What meant your kind falute and gentle fpeech
At your firft meeting, when you feemde to bleffe
The time and place of our encounter heere ?
Bra. Lady, there lies here prifonde in the Mar-
Jhalfea,
A gentleman of good parents and good difcent,
My deare, neare kinfman, Captaine Harrie Stran-
guidge,
As tall a skilfull nauigator tride
As ere fet foote in any (hip at fea,
Whofe lucke it was to take a prize of Prance,
As he from Rcchell was for London bound ;
For which (except his pardon be obtain'd
By fome efpeciall favorite of the King)
He and his crew, a company of proper men,
Are fure to die, becaufe twas fmce the league.
Jane. Let me fee him and all his company.
Bra. Keeper, bring forth the Captain and his
crew.
Enter Keeper^ Stranguidge, Shore difguifed, and three
more fettered.
Jocky. Now, fay oth deel, that fike bonny men
1 2-2 Tlie fecond part of
fud be hampert like plu-jades. Waes me for ye, gude
lads.
Bra. I, cofm Harry \ this is miftris Shore,
Peerleffe in court, for beautie, bountie, pittie !
Jane viewes them all.
And if me cannot faue thee, thou mufl die.
Stran. Will fhe, if fhe can 1
Bra. I, cofm Stranguidge, I.
Shore, afide. Oh, torment worfe than death, to fee
her face,
That caufd her fhame and my vnjufl difgrace !
O, that our mutual eyes were bafiliske
To kill each other at this enterview.
Bra. How like ye him, lady? you haue viewed
him well.
yam. I pity him, and that fame proper man
That turnes his backe, afhamd of this diflreffe.
Shore. Amam'd of thee, caufe of my heauineffe.
Jane. And all the reft. Oh were the King re
turn' d,
There might be hope ; but, ere his comming home,
They may be tried, condemnd, and judgd, and dead.
Shore. I am condemn' d by fentence of defame,
afide.
O, were I dead, I might not fee my fhame !
Bra. Your credit, lady, may prolong their triall.
What judge is he that will giue you deniall ?
Jane. He rack my credit, and will lanch my
crownes,
To faue their Hues, if they haue done no murther.
Shore. Oh, thou haft crack'd thy credit with a
crowne,
And murderd me, poore Matthew Shore, aliue ! afide.
Stran. Faire lady, we did fhed no drop of bloud,
Nor cafl one Frenchman ouerbord, and yet,
Becaufe the league was made before the faci,
Which we poor feamen God knows neuer heard,
We doubt our liues ; yea, though we mould reftore
Treble the value that we tooke and more.
King Edward the foztrth. 123
Twas lawfull prize when I put out to fea,
And warranted in my commiffion.
The kings are fmce combind in amity
(Long may it laft) and I vnwittingly
Haue tooke a Frenchman fmce the truce was tane,
And if I die, via, one day I muft.
And God will pardon all my fins, I truft.
My grief will be for thefe poore harmleffe men,
Who thought my warrant might fuborn the xleed ; .
Chiefly that gentleman that flands fadly there,
Who (on my foule) was but a paffenger.
Jane. Well, Captain Stranguidqe, were the king at
home,
I could fay more.
Sir an. Lady, hees come afhore.
Lad night at Douer, my boy came from thence,
And faw his highneffe land.
Jane. Then courage firs
He vfe my faireft meanes to faue your Hues.
In the meane feafon, fpend that for my fake.
cafts her purfe.
Enter Lord Marqueffe Dorfet, and claps her on the
/houlder.
Mar. By your leaue, miflris Shore, I haue taken
paines
To find you out. Come, you muft go with me.
Jane. Whither, my lord 'I
Mar. Vnto the Queene, my mother.
Jane. Good my lord Marquejje Dorfet, wrong me
not.
Mar. I cannot wrong thee, as thou wrongft my
mother,
He bring thee to her. Let her vfe her pleafure.
Jane. Againfl my will I wrong her good my
ford,
Yet am afhamd to fee her naaiefty.
Sweet lord, excufe me. Say ye faw me not.
1 24 The fecond part of
Mar. Shall I delude my mother for a whore ?
No, miflrefs Shore, ye muft go to the Queen e.
Jane. Muft I, my lord '\ what will me do to me ]
Vfe violence on me, now the Kings away ?
Alas, my lord, behold this fhowr of tears,
Which kinde King Edward would compaflionate.
Bring me not to her : fhe will flit my nofe,
Or mark my face, or fpurn me vnto death.
Look on me lord ! Can you find in your heart
To haue me fpoil'd that neuer thought you harme ?
Oh, rather with your rapier run me through,
Then carry me to the difpleafed Queene.
Shore. Oh, hadft thou neuer broke thy vow to
me,
From feare and wrong had I defended thee.
Mar. I am inexorable. Therefore arife,
And go with me. What rafcall crue is this 1
Miftris Shores futors ? fuch flaues make her proud.
What, Sir Robert Brackenbury ! you a Shorift too ?
Bra. No Shorift, but to faue my cofms life.
Mar. Then He be hangd if he efcape, for this ,
The rather for your meanes to miftris Shore.
My mother can do nothing : this whore all.
Come away, minion you fliall prate no more.
Jane. Pray for me, friends ; and I will pray for
you.
God fend you better hap then I expe6l ;
Go to my lodging, you ; and, if I perifh,
Take what is there in lieu of your true feruice.
Jock. Na ! a maye fale ayfe nere forfake my gude
maiftrefs, till aye ha feen tha worfl that fpight can du
her.
Exeunt Marqueffe and Jane, and theirs.
Shore. For all the wrong that thou haft done to
o
me.
They mould not hurt thee yet if I were free.
Bra. See, coufin Strangtiidge, how the cafe is
changed,
She that could help thee cannot help herfelfe.
King Edward the fourth. 125
Stran. What remedy ? the God of heauen helps
all.
What fay ye mates 1 our hope of life is dafht.
Now none but God, lets put our truft in him,
And euery man repent him of his fmne,
And as together we haue liude like men,
So like tall men together let vs die.
The befl is, if we dye for this offence,
Our ignorance mall plead our innocence.
Keeper. Your meat is ready, Captain ; you mull
in.
Stran. Mud I ? I will. Cofm, what will you
do?
Bra. Vint you foone j but now I will to Court,
To fee what mail become of miftris Shore.
Stran. God fpeede ye well.
Keeper. Come, fir, will you goe in ?
Shore. He eate no meat. Giue me leaue to walk
here.
Exeunt omnes prwter Shore.
Am I not left alone ? No ; millions
Of miferies attend me euery where :
Ah, Matthew Shore, how doth all-feeing Heauen
Punifh fome fmne from thy blind confcience. hid !
Inflicting paine where all thy pleafure was ;
And by my wife came all thefe woes to paffe.
She falfde her faith, and brake her wedlocks band :
Her honour falln, how could my credit Hand ?
Yet will not I, poore Jane, on thee exclaim.
Though guilty thou, I guiltlefle naffer Ihame.
I left this land, too little for my griefe ;
Returning, am accounted as a theefe,
Who in that fhip came for a paffenger
To fee my friends, hoping the death of her ;
At fight of whom fome fparks of former loue
(Hid in affections afhes) pity mooue,
Kindling compaffion in my broken heart,
That bleeds to thinke on her infuing fmart.
126 The fecond part of
O, fee weake womens imperfections,
That leaue their husbands fafe protections,
Hazarding all on flrangers flatteries,
Whofe luft allaid, leaues them to miferies.
See what dishonour breach of wedlock brings,
Which is not fafe, euen in the arms of kings.
Thus do I Jane lament thy prefent ftate,
Wifhing my teares thy torments might abate. Exit.
Enter the Queene, Marqueffe Dorfet leading mi/iris
Shore, who fals downe on her knees before the
Queene fear efull and weeping.
Queen. Now as I am a queene, a goodly creature,
Son, how was fhee attended, where you found her ?
Mar. Madame I found her at the Mar half 6a>
Going to vifit the poore prifoners,
As me came by, hauing been to take the aire ;
And there the keeper told me me oft deales
Such bounteous almes as feldom hath been feene.
Queen. Now, before God ! me would make a gal
lant Queene.
But, good fon Dorfet, ftand afide awhile.
God faue your Majefty, my Lady Shore.
My Lady Shore, faid 1 1 Oh blafphemy,
To wrong your title with a ladies name !
Queene Shore, nay rather Emprefle Shore \
God faue your grace, your maietty, your highnes
Lord I want titles you muft pardon me ?
What ? you kneel there ? King Edwards bed
fellow,
And I, your fubiecl, fit ? fie, fie for fhame.
Come take your place j and ile kneel where you do.
I may take your place : you may take mine.
Good lord, that you will fo debafe yourfelf !
I am fure, you are our fitter queene at leaft :
Nay, that you are. Then let vs fit together.
King Edward the fourth. 1 2 7
Jane. Great queene yet heare me, if my fmne
committed
Haiie riot ftopt vp all paflage to your mercie.
To tell the wrongs that I haue done your highnes,
Might make reuenge exceed extremity.
Oh, had I words or tongue to vtter it,
To plead my womans weakneffe, and his flrength,
That was the onely worker of my fall,
Euen Innocence herfelfe would blufh for fhame,
Once to be namde or fpoken of in this.
Let them expect for mercy whofe offence
May but be called fmne. Oh mine is more.
Proftrate as earth before your highneffe feete,
Inflicl what torments you mail thinke mod rneete.
Mar. Spurn the whore, (mother) teare thofe entic
ing eies,
That robd you of King Edwards dearefl loue.
Mangle thofe locks, the baits to his defires,
Let me come to her : you but ftand and talke,
As if reuenge confided but in words.
Queen. Son ! ftand aloofe, and do not trouble
me.
Alas, poorfoule as much adoe haue I Afide.
To forbeare teares to keepe her company.
Yet once more will I to my former humor.
Why, as I am, thinke that thou wert a queen ;
^And I as thou mould wrong thy princely bed,
And win the King thy husband, as thou mine 1
Would it not fling thy foule ? Or if that I,
Being a queene, while thou didfl loue thy husband,
Should but haue done as thou haft done to me,
Would it not grieue thee ? Yes, I warrant thee.
Ther's not the meaneft woman that doth Hue,
But if me like and loue her husband well,
She had rather feele his warme limrnes in her bed
Then fee him in the armes of any queene.
You are flefh and blood as we, and we as yon,
And all alike in our affections,
Though maiefly makes vs the more ambitious.
128 The fecond part of
What tis to fall into fo great a hand,
Knowledge might teach thee. There was once a
king,
Henry the Second, who did keep his lemman
Cag'd vp at Woodflocke in a labyrinth :
His queen yet got a tricke to finde her out ;
And how fhe vfde her, I am fure thou haft heard.
Thou art not mewde vp in fome fecret place ;
But kept in court here vnderneath my nofe.
Now, in the abfence of my lord the King,
Haue I not time moft fitting for reuenge ?
Faire Rofamond, me a pure virgin was,
Vntill the king feduc'd her to his will.
She wrongd but one bed \ only the angry Queens ;
But thou haft wronged two; mine and thy hus
bands.
Be thine own iudge, and now in iuftice fee
What due reuenge I ought to take on thee.
Jane. Eun what you will (great queen e) here do
Hie,
Humble and proftrate at your highneffe feete ;
Inflict on me what may reuenge your wrong :
Was neuer lambe abode more patiently
Then I will do. Call all your griefes to minde ;
And do euen what you will, or how likes you,
I will not ftirre I will not fhrike or cry,
Be it torture, poifon, any punimment,
Was neuer doue or turtle more fubmifs,
Then I will be vnto your chaftifement.
Mar. Fetcht I her for this 1 mother, let me come
to her ;
And what companion will not fuffer you
To do to her, referre the fame to me.
Queen. Touch her not fon, vpon thy life I charge
thee!
But keepe of ftill, if thou wilt haue my loue.
Exit Marquis.
I am glad to heare ye are fo well refolude,
To beare the burthen of my iuft difpleafure.
King Edward the fourth . 129
She drawes forth a knife, and making as though Jlie
meant to fpoile her face, rims to her, and falling on
her knees, embraces and kijfes her, cajling away the
knife.
Thus, then, Tie do. Alas, poor foul !
Shall I weep with thee 1 in faith, poor heart, I will.
Be of good comfort : thou (halt haue no harm ;
But if that kiffes haue the power to kill thee,
Thus, thus, and thus, a thoufand times He flab
thee.
Jane, I forgiue thee. What fort is fo ftrong,
But, with befieging, he will batter it ?
Weep not (fweet Jane) alas, I know thy fex,
Toucht with the felf-fame weaknes that thou art :
And if my flate had beene as meane as thine,
And fuch a beauty to allure his eye
(Though I may promife much to mine owne flrength),
What might haue hapt to mee I cannot tell.
Nay feare not ; for I fpeak it with my heart,
And in thy forrow truly beare a part.
Jane. Moft high and mighty Queene, may I be-
lieue
There can be found fuch mercy in a woman 1
And in a queene, more then in a wife,
So deeply wrongd as I haue wronged you 1
In this bright chriftal mirror of your mercy,
I fee the greatneffe of my fmne the more,
And makes my fault more odious in mine eyes.
Your princely pity now doth wound me more
Than all your threatnings euer did before.
Queen. Rife, my fweet Jane I fay thou malt not
kneele
Oh God forbid that Edwards queene mould hate
Her, whom me knowes he doth fo dearely loue.
My loue to her, may purchafe me his loue.
Jane, fpeak well vnto the King of me and mine ;
Remember not my fons ore-hafty fpeech ;
Thou art my lifter, and I loue thee fo.
1 30 The fecond part of
I know thou maiefl do much with my deare lord.
Speak well of vs to him in any cafe,
And I and mine will loue and cherifh thee.
Jane. All I can do is all too little too,
But to requite the leall part of this grace.
The deareft thoughts that harbour in this brefl
Shall in your feruice onely be expreft.
Enter King Edward angerly, his Lords following, and
Sir Robert Brackenburie.
King. What, is my Jane with her ? It is to true.
See where me hath her downe vpon her knees !
Why, how now Beffet what, will you wrong my
Janet
Come hither, love ! what hath me done to thee 1
Jane /#/.$ on her knees to the King.
Jane. Oh, royall Edward! loue, loue thy beaute
ous Queen
The onely perfect mirrour of her kind,
For all the choifefl vertues can be named !
Oh, let not my bewitching lookes withdraw
Your deare affections from your dearer queene !
But to requite the grace that (he hath fhowne,
To me, the worthleffe creature on this earth.
To banifh me the Court immediately.
Great King let me but beg one boone of thee,
That Shores wife ne'er do her more iniury !
As Jane kneels on one fide the King^fo the
Queene fteps and kneeles on the other.
Queen. Nay, then, He beg againft her, royal Ed
ward
Loue thy Jane ftill ; nay more, if more may be ;
ktffing her.
And this is all the harm that at my hands
She mail indure for it. Oh where my Edward
loues.
It ill befeemes his Queene to grudge thereat.
King Edward the fourth. 131
King. Say'fl them me fo, Bejje\ on my kingly
word,
Edward will honour thee in heart for this.
But, trufl me, Beffe, I greatly was afraid
I fhould not finde ye in fo good a tune.
How now, what would our Conftable of the Tower ?
Bra. The Queen and miflrefs Shore do know my
fuit.
Queen. It is for Stranguidge and his men at fea.
Edward, needs muft you pardon them.
King. Haue I not vowd the contrary already ?
Difhonour me, when I haue made a league 1
My word is paft, and they mail fuffer death ;
Or neuer more let me fee France againe.
Jane. Why, there is one was but a paffenger.
Shall he die too 1
King. Pafle me no pafTage, Jam.
Were he in company, he dies for company.
Queen. Good Jane, intreat for them.
Jane. Come Edward, I mufl not take this anfwer.
Needs mufl I haue fome grace for Stranguidge.
King. Why Jane, haue I not denide my Queene 1
Yet what ift, Jane, I would deny to thee ?
I prithee, Brackenbury, be not thou difpleafde :
My word is paft. Not one of them mail liue.
One, go and fee them forthwith fent to death.
Exeunt.
Enter Clarence, Glofler, and Shaw.
Gloft. I cannot fee this prophecy you fpeake of
Should any way fo much difpleafe the King ;
And yet I promife you good brother Clarence,
Tis fuch a letter as concerns vs both.
That G. mould put away King Edwards children,
And fit vpon his throne ! that G. mould ? well.
Cla. God blefs the King and thofe two fweet young
princes.
K 2
132 The fecond part of
Gloft. Amen, good brother Clarence.
Shaw. Amen.
Ghojl. And fend them all to Heauen Ihortly, I
befeech him.
Cla. The Kings much trobled, in his ficknes 7
with it.
Gloft. 1 promife you he is, and very much.
But, Doctor Shaw, who prophefied that G.
Should be fo fadly ominous to vs ?
Shaw. My lord of Glofler, I receiued the fame
From old Frier Anfelme of S. Bartholmews.
Gloft. A great learnd man he was > and, as I haue
heard,
Hath prophefied of very many things :
I promife you, it troubles me.
I hope, in me his prophefy is true. afide.
Clar. And fo it does me, I tell you, brother
Glofler.
Gloft. I am fure it does, for, look you, brother
Clarence,
We know not how his highnes will apply it :
We are but two, yourfelf my lord, and I.
Should the yong princes faile which God defend.
Clar. Which God defend
D. Shaw. Which God defend.
Gloft. aftde. But they mould be cut off. Amen y
amen.
You brother, firft, and mould your iffue faile,
Poor I am next, the yongeft of the three.
But how far I am from a thought of that,
Heau'n witnefs with me that I wifh you dead. aftde.
Clar. Brother I durft be fworne.
Gloft. God bleffe you all !
And take you to him, if it be his will !
Now. brother, this prophefie of G. troubling the
King,
He may as well apply it vnto Glofter,
My dukedoms name, if he be iealious,
King Edward t lie fourth, 133
As vnto George, your name, good brother Clarence.
God help, God help, i'faith it troubles me,
You would not think how : afide that any of you
Hue.
Clar. It cannot chufe : how innocent I am,
And how vnfpotted are my loyall thoughts
Vnto his highnes and thofe fweete yong princes,
God be my record.
Gloft. Who. you ? I, I durfl anfwer for you,
That I mail cut you off ere it be long. afidt.
But, reuerend doctor, you can onely tell,
Being his highnes confeffor, how he takes it.
Shaw, you know my mind, a villaine like myfelf.
afide to Shaw.
Shaw. My lord of Clarence, I mufl tell your lord-
fliip,
His highnefs is much troubled in his ficknes
With this fame prophecy of G. Who is this G 1
Oft-times he will demaund ; then will he figh,
And name his brother George, yourfelf, my lord,
And then he ftrikes his breaft, I promife you.
This morning, in the extreamefl of his fit,
He lay fo flill, we all thought he had flept,
When fuddenly, George is the G. quoth he,
And gaue a groane, and turnd his face away.
Clar. God be my witneffe, witneffe with my
foule,
My iuft and vpright thoughts to him and his,
I (land fo guiltleffe and fo innocent,
As I could wilh my breaft to be tranfparent,
And my thoughts written in great letters there,
The world might reade the fecrets of my foule.
. Glqft. Ah brother Clarence, when you are fuf-
peaed
Well, well, it is a wicked world the while :
But fhal I tell you, brother, in plaine tearms,
I feare yourfelfe and I haue enemies
About the King, God pardon them,
1 34 The fecond part of
The world was neuer worfer to be trufted.
Ah brother George, where is that loue that was ?
Ah it is banifht, brother, from the world.
Ah, confcience, confcience, and true brotherhood,
Tis gone, tis gone. Brother, I am your friend,
I am your louing brother, your own felfe,
And loue you as my foule ; vfe me in what you pleafe,
And you (hall fee He do a brothers part,
Send you to Heaun, I hope, ere it be long : afide.
I am a true-ftampt villaine as euer lined.
Clar. I know you- will. Then, brother, I befeech
you,
Plead you mine innocence vnto the King,
And in meane time, to tell my loyalty,
He keep within my houfe at Bainards Caftle,
Vntil I heare how my dread foueraign takes it.
Gloft. Do fo, good brother.
Clar. Farewel, good brother Glofter.
Gloft. My teares will fcarcely let me take my
leaue,
I loue you fo : farewell, fweet George. Exit Clar.
So, is he gone 1 now Shaw tis in thy power
To bind me to thee euerlaflingly,
And there is not one ftep that I fhall rife,
But I will draw thee with me vnto greatneffe.
Thou fhalt fit in my bofome as my foule.
Incenfe the King, now being as thou art,
So neare about him, and his confeilor,
That this G. onely is George, Duke of Clarence.
Do6lor, thou neecPft not my inftrucflion ;
Thou haft a fearching brain e, a nimble fpirit,
Able to matter any mans affections.
Effect it, Shaw, and bring it to pafs once,
He make thee the greatefl Shaw that euer was.
Shaw. My lord, I am going by commandement
Vnto the Marfhalfea, to Captain Stranguidge,
For piracy of late condemnd to die,
There to confeffe him and his company ;
King Edward the fourth. 135
That done, He come with fpeed backe to the
King,
And make no doubt but ile effect the thing.
Gloft. Farewell, gentle Doctor.
Shaw. Farewell, my lord of Glofter. Exit.
Gloft. Let me awake my fleeping wits awhile.
Ha, the marke thou aimft at, Richard, is a crowne,
And many ftand betwixt thee and the fame.
What of all that 1 Doctor play thou thy part :
lie climbe vp by degrees, through many a heart. Exit.
Enter Brackenburie with Vaux the Keeper.
Bra. Why, matter Vaux, is there no remedy ?
But inflanftly they muft be led to death ?
Can it not be deferrd till afternoon,
Or but two hours, in hope to get reprie ?
Keeper. Maifter Lieutenant, tis in vaine to fpeake :
The Kings incenfd, and will not pardon them.
The men are patient, and refolude to die ;
The Captaine and that other gentleman
Haue caft the dice whether fhall fuffer firft.
Bra. How fell the lot, to Stranguidge or to
him ?
Keeper. The guiltlefle pafienger muft firft go toot.
Bra. They are all guiltleffe from intent of ill.
Keeper. And yet muft die for doing of the deed.
Befides, the Duke of Exeter found dead,
And naked, floating vp and down the fea,
Twixt Calice and our coaft, is laide to them,
That they mould rob and caft him ouerboord.
Bra. My foule mall be pawne, they neuer knew
of it.
Keeper. Well bring them forth.
Bra. Stay them yet but an houre.
Keeper. I dare not doe it, Sir Robert Bracken-
bury :
You are Lieutenant of the Tower yourfelfe,
And know the peril of protracting time :
136 The fecond part of
Moreouer heres that pickthank, Do6lor Shaw,
The Duke of Glqfters fpaniel, fhriuing them.
Come, bring them forth.
Bra. Poor Stranguidge, muft thou die ?
Enter one bearing a filuer oare before Stranguidge,
Shore, and two or three more pinioned, and two or
three' with bills and a hangman.
Bra.ftil. I dare not fay good morrow, but ill day,
That Harry Stranguidge is thus caft away.
Stran. Good coufin Brackenbury, be as well
content
To fee me die, as I to fuffer death.
Be witnefs that I die an honeft man,
Becaufe my fa6l proues ill through ignorance ;
And for the Duke of Exeter his death,
So ipeed my foul as I am innocent.
Here goes my grief, this guiltlefs gentleman,
Like sEfops ftork, that dies for company,
And came (God knows) but as a paffenger.
Ah mailer Flud, a thoufand flouds of woe
Ore-flow my foul that thou muft perifh fo.
Shore. Good Captaine, let no perturbation
Hinder our paffage to a better world.
This lafl breaths blaft will waft our weary fouls
Ouer deaths gulf, to heauens moft happy port,
There is a little battle to be fought,
The while the Hangman prepares, Shore at this fpeech
mounts vp the ladder.
Wherein by lot the leading muft be mine.
Second me, Captaine, and this bitter breakfaft
Shall bring a fweeter fupper with the Saints.
Shaw. This Chrillian patience, at the point of
death,
Doth argue he hath led no wicked life,
How euer Heauen hath laide this crofs on him.
Well, Matthew Flud for fo thou call'ft thyfelf,
King Edward the fourth. 137
Finifli a good courfe as thou haft begun,
And clear thy conference by confeffion.
What know' ft thou of the Duke of Exeters death ?
Shore. So God refpecl the waygate of my foule,
As I know nothing.
Shaw. Then concerning this
For which thou died, knew Stranguidge of the league
Betwixt the kings before he took that prize ?
Shore. No, in my confcience.
Shaw. Strangutdge, what fay you ?
You fee theres but a turn betwixt your Hues ;
You mull be next : confefs, and faue your foule,
Concerning that wherein I queftion'd him.
I am your ghoftly father, to abfolue
You of your fins, if you confefs the truth.
Stran. True, D. Shaw, and, .as I hope for
heauen,
In that great day when we mail all appeare,
I neither knew how that good Duke came dead,
Nor of the league, til I had tane the prize.
Neither was Find (that innocent dying man)
Euer with me but as a paffenger.
Shaw. More happy he. Well, JFlud, forgiue the
world,
As thou wilt haue forgiueneffe from the heauens.
Shore. O fo I do, and pray the world forgiue
What wrong I did whilft I therein did liue ;
And now I pray you turne your paines to them,
And leaue me priuate for a little fpace
To meditate vpon my parting hence.
Shaw. Do, gentle Find, and we will pray for
thee.
Shore. Pray not for Flud> but pray for Matthew
Shore ;
For Shore couered with the cloak of Flud.
If I haue finned in changing of my name,
Forgiue me, God, twas done to hide my mame.
And I forgiue the world, King Edward firft,
That wrackt my ftate, by winning of my wife ;
138 The fecond part of
And though he would not pardon trefpaffe fmall
In thefe, in me God knowes no fault at all,
I pardon him, though guilty of my fall.
Perhaps he would, if he had knowne twas I ;
But twenty deaths I rather wifh to die,
Than liue beholding for one minutes breath
To him, that liuing, wounded me with death.
Death of my joy, and hell of my defame,
Which now mall die vnder this borrow' d name.
Jane, God forgiue thee, euen as I forgiue ;
And pray thou maift repent while thou doft liue.
I am as glad to leaue this loathed light,
As to embrace thee on our marriage-night.
To die vnknown thus is my greateft good,
That Matthew Shores not hanged, but Matthew
Floud\
For flouds of woe haue wafhd away the more
That neuer wife no kin mail looke on more.
Now, when you will, I am prepard to go.
Enter Jocky running and crying.
Jocky. Haud, haud ! fay for fpeed ! vntaye, vn-
truffe, pull downe, pull off! God feaue the King !
off with the helters ! hence with the prifoners ! a par
don, a pardon !
Bra. Good news, vnlookt for ! Welcome, gen
tle friend,
Who brings the pardon 1
Jocky. Stay, firft let ma blaw ! my maiflrefs, maif-
trefs Shore, fhee brings tha pardon, tha Kings par-
donne : Off with thofe bands ! beftow them o' tha
hangman ! May maiflrefs made me run the neareft
way ore tha fields. She raids a pace the hee way.
She's at hand bay this. Sirrah, ye that preach, come
down. Let Doctor Shaw ha your place: hees tha
better fcholar. Maiflrefs Shore brings a new leffon
for you.
Shore. O I had read my latefl leffon well,
King Edward the fourth. 139
Had he been ready to haue faid Amen.
point to the hangman.
Now (hall I Hue to fee my fliame agen.
S ho are comes down.
Oh, had I dide vnwitting to my wife,
Rather than fee her, though (he bring me life.
Enter Jane, in hafle, in her riding-cloak and faue-guard,
with a par don in her hand.
Jane. Alas I fee that eu'n my fmalleft flay
Had loft my labour, and caft them away,
God knows, I hafled all that ere I might.
Here, Matter Vaux, King Edward greets ye well :
His gracious pardon frees this gentleman,
And all his company, from fhameful death.
All. God faue the King, and God blefs Miflrefs
Shore.
Jocky. Amen; and keep thefe fra coming here
any rnair.
Jatie. You muft difcharge them, paying of their
fees,
Which for I fear their ftore is very fmall,
I will defray. Hold, here, take purfe and all,
Nay, mailer Faux, tis gold ; if not enough,
Send to me : I will pay you royally.
Stran. Lady, in behalf of all the reft,
With humble thanks I yeeld myfelf your flaue.
Command their feruice and command my life.
Jane. No, Captain Strangutdge ', let the King
command
Your Hues and feruice, who hath giuen you life.
Thefe and fuch offices confcience bids me doe.
Shaw. Pity that ere awry fhe trod her fhoe.
Shore. O had that confcience prickt when loue
prouokt.
Bra. Lady the lafl but not the leafl in debt,
To your deuotion for my coufins life,
I render thanks : yet thanks is but a breath,
140 The fecond part of
Command me, madam, during life.
Old Brackenbiiry vowes for you to ftand
Whilft I haue limbs or any foot of land.
Shore. Thus is her glory builded on the fand.
Jane. Thanks, good Mailer Lieutenant of the
Tower.
Sirra, prepare my horfe : why flay you
here? (2o Joe.)
Pray ye, commend me to my noble friend
The Duke of Clarence, now your prifoner :
Bid him not doubt the Kings difpleafures pafl,
I hope to gain him fauour and releafe.
Bra. God grant ye may, he's a noble gentle
man.
Shaw. My patron Glofter will crofs it if he can.
Exit.
Enter Meffenger.
Mef. Where's miftris Shorel Lady, I come in
poft.
The King hath had a very dangerous fit
Since you came from him. Twice his maiefly
Hath fwounded, and with much ado reuiued ;
And flill, as breath will giue him leaue to fpeak,
He calls 'for you. The Queene and all the lords
Haue fent to feeke ye : hade vnto his grace,
Or elfe I fear youle neuer fee his face.
Jane. O God defend, good friends, pray for the
King.
More bitter are the newes which he doth bring,
Than thofe were fweet I brought to you but late :
If Edward die, confounded is my flate.
He hafte unto him, and will fpend my bloud
To faue his life, or to him any good.
Exeunt Jhe and the Mcjjenger.
Shore. And fo would I for thee, hadfl thou beene
true :
But if he die, bid all thy pompe adieu.
King Edward the fourth. 141
Bra. Beleeue me, but I do not like thefe newes
Of the Kings dangerous ficknefs.
Keeper. No, nor I.
Captain and Matter Fliidde, and all the rett,
I do reioice your pardon was obtained
Before thefe newes, thefe inaufpicious news :
If the King die, the ftate will foon be changed.
Matter Lieutenant ! youle go to the Tower.
He take my leaue. Gallants, God buoye all.
Exeunt Vaux and his traine.
Stran.. God buoye, Matter Vaux ! I wus ye ha'
loft good guetts.
Bra. You mail be my guett for a night or two,
Coufm, till your own lodging be prepared.
But, tell me, fir, what meanes hath matter Fludde.
Strang. I cannot tell : He ask him if ye will.
Bra. Do fo ; and if his fortunes be debafde,
He entertaine him, if hele dwell with me,
On good codition.
Stran. Matter Matthew Floode,
Hear ye my cofm Brackenburies mind?
He hath conceiud fuch liking of your parts,
That if your means furmount not his fuppofe,
Hele entertain ye gladly at the Tower
To wait on him, and put ye in great truft.
Shore. In what I vndertake, I will be jutt,
And hold me happy, if my diligence
May pleafe fo worthy a gentleman as he.
Whatere my fortunes haue been, they are now
Such as to feruice make their maitter bow.
Bra. No, Flood, more like a friend and fellow-
mate
I mean to vfe thee, then a feruitor,
And place thee in fome credit in the Tower,
And giue thee means to Hue in fome good fort.
Shore. I thanke ye, fir. God grant I may deferue
it.
Bra. Coufin, and all your crue, come home with
me,
142 The fecond part of
Where after forrow we may merry be.
Shore. The Tower will be a place of fecret reft,
Where I may heare good newes and bad, and vfe
the beft.
God blefs the King a worfe may weare the crowne ;
And then, Jane Shore, thy credit will come downe.
For though He neuer bed nor bord with thee,
Yet thy definition wifh I not to fee :
Becaufe I loude thee when thou waft my wife,
Not for now fauing my difdained life,
Which lafts too long. ^God grant vs both to mend,
Well I muft in my feruice to attend. Exit.
The Lord Louell and Doftor Shaw meet on the
Jtage.
Shaw. Well met, my good lord Louell.
Lou. Whither away fo faft goes Doctor Shaw ?
Shaw. Why, to the Tower, to fhriue the Duke of
Clarence,
Who as I hear is falln fo grieuous fick,
As it is thought he can by no means fcape.
Lou. He neither can nor mall, I warrant thee.
Shaw. I hope my lord he is not dead already.
Lov. But I hope fir he is : I am fure I faw him
dead,
Of a flies death ; drownd in a butte of Malmfey.
Shaw. Drownd in a butte of Malmfey ! that is
ftrange,
Doubtlefs he neuer would mifdoe himfelf 1
Lou. No ; that thou knowft right well : he had
fome helpers :
Thy hand was in it with the Duke of Glofters,
As fmoothly as thou feekft to couer it.
Shaw. O foule words, my lord no more of that :
The world knowes nothing : then what mould I
feare ?
Doth not your honour feeke promotion ?
Oh giue the Doctor then a little leaue,
King Edward the fourth. 1 43
So that he gaine preferment with a King,
Cares not who goes to wracke, whofe heart doth
wring.
Lou. A king? what King ?
Shaw. Why Richard man, who elfe 1 good Lord'
I fee,
Wife men fometimes haue weake capacity.
Lou. Why, is not Edward liuing ? and if he were
not,
Hath he not children 1 what mail become of them ]
Shaw. Why, man, lining for beds, a knife or fo,
What, make a boy a king, and a man by,
Richard, a man for vs ? fie, that were fhame.
Lou. Nay, then I fee, if Edward were deceaft,
Which way the game would go.
Shaw. What elfe, my lord ?
That way the current of our fortune runs,
By noble Richard, gallant royall Richard :
He is the man muft onely do vs good ;
So I haue honour, let me fwimme through bloud.
My lord, be but at Pauls Crofs on Sunday next ;
I hope I haue it here mall ioundly proue
King Edwards children not legitimate.
Nay, and that for King Edward ruling now,
And George the Duke of Clarence, fo late dead,
Their mother hapt to tread the fhoe awry.
Lou. Why, what is Richard then ?
Shaw. Tut, lawfull man : he laies it fo himfelfe ;
And what he faies, He be fo bold to fweare,
Though in my foule I know it otherwife.
Beware promotion, while you Hue, my lord.
Enter Catesby.
Cat. A flaff, a ftaffe ! a thoufand crownes for a
ftaff!
Lou. What ftaff, Sir William Catesby ?
Cat. Why, man, a white ftaffe for my lord pro
tector.
144 The fecond part of
Lou. Why, is King Edward dead ?
Cat. Dead, Louell, dead. And Richard, our good
lord,
Is made proteclor of the fweete young prince.
O, for a ftaffe, where might I haue a flaffe,
That I might firft prefent it to his hand 1
Shaw. Now, do I fmell two bifhopricks at leaft.
My fermon mail be pepperd found for this.
Enter miftris Shore, weeping, Jockie following.
Cat. Why, how now, miflris Shore ? what, put
finger in the eie ?
Nay, then, I fee you haue fome caufe to cry.
Lou. I blame her not. Her chiefefl flay is gone,
The only flaff me had to leane vpon.
I fee by her thefe tidings are too true.
Jane. I, my lord Louell \ they are too true, in
deed.
Royal King Edward now hath breath'd his lafl ;
The Queen turnd out, and euery friend put by ;
None now admitted, but whom Richard pleafe.
Lou. Why, doubtless Richard will be kind to you
Jane. Ah, my lord Louell, God bleffe me from his
kindnefs :
No fooner was the white ftaffe in his hand,
But finding me and the right woful queene,
Sadly bemoning fuch a mighty lofs,
Here is no place, quoth he ; you muft be gone :
We haue other matters now to think vpon.
For you (quoth he to me) and bit his lip,
And flroke me with his ftaff, but faid no more.
Whereby I know he meaneth me no good.
Cat. Well, miftris Shore, 'tis like to be a bufn
time :
Shift for yourfelfe, Come lads, let vs begone,
Royall King Richard muft be waite vpon.
Shaw. Well, miftris Shoare, if you haue need of me
You mall command me to the vttermoft. Exeunt
King Edward the Fourth. 1 4 5
Jane. Firfl, let me die, ere I do put my trufl
In any fliering fpaniel of you all.
Go,Jocky, take down all my hangings,
And quickly fee my trunks be conuayd forth
To miflrefs Blages, an Inne in Lombard Streete,
The Flower-de-luce. Good Jock, make fome fpeed ;
She, fhe muft be my refuge in this need.
See it done quickly, Jocky. Exit.
Jocky. Whickly, quotha 1 marry, here's a whick
chaunge, indeed, fie whick chaunge did I neuer fee
before. Now, dream I, that Ife be a very puir fellow,
and hardly ha' any filler to drink with a gude-fellow.
But what fland I tattling here. I muft go do my
maiflrefs bidding ; carry all her Huff and gear to maif-
trefs Blages at the Flower-de-luce in Lombard Street.
Whick then, difpatch. Exit.
Enter Brackenbury and Floud, to them the two young
princes, Edward and Richard, Glofter, Catef.
Louell and Tirill.
Bra. Come hither, Flood let me heare thy
opinion.
Thou knoweft I build vpon thy confidence,
And honeft dealing in my greateft affaires.
I haue receiued letters from the Duke,
Glofter, I meane, Proteclor of the land,
Who giues in charge the Tower be preparde,
This night, to entertaine the two young princes.
It is my duty to obey, I know ;
But manifold fufpicions troubles me.
Shore. He is their vncle, fir ; and, in that fenfe,
Nature mould warrant their fecurity :
Next, his deceafed brother, at his death,
To Richards care committed both the realme,
And their protection ; where humanity
Stands as an orator to plead againfl
All wrong fuggeflion of vnciuil thoughts :
Befide you are Lieutenant of the Tower ;
i L
1 46 The fecond part of
Say there mould be any hurt pretended,
The priuiledge of your authority
Pries into euery corner of this houfe,
And what can then be done without your know
ledge I
Bra. Thou fayfl true, Flood, though Richard be Pro
tector,
When once they are within the Tower limits,
The charge of them (vnlefs he derogate
From this my office, which was neuer feen
In any kings time) doth belong to me :
And ere that Brackenbury will confent
Or fuffer wrong be done vnto thefe babes,
His fword, and all the''flrength within the Tower
Shall be oppos'd againft the proudefl comer.
Be it to my foul, as I entend to them !
Shore. And faith in me vnto this commonwealth,
And truth to men, hath hitherto beene feene
The pylot that hath guided my Hues courfe,
Though twas my fortune to be wrongd in both,
And therefore fir neither the mightieft frowne,
Nor any bribes, mail winne me otherwife.
Bra. Tis well refolued. Still, methinks, they
mould
Be fafe enough with vs ; and yet I feare
But now no more : it feemes they are at hand.
P. Ed. Vncle, what gentleman is that 1 Enter.
Glos. It is, fweet prince, Lieutenant of the Tower.
P. Ed. Sir, we are come to be your guefls to
night.
I pray you, tell me, did you euer know
Our father Edward lodgde within this place ?
Bra. Neuer to lodge, my liege ; but oftentimes,
On other occafions, I haue feene him here.
Ri. Brother, laft night, when you did fend for
me.
My mother told me, hearing we mould lodge
Within the Tower, that "it was a prifon,
And therefore maruell'd that my vncle Glofter,
King Edward the Fourth. 147
Of all the houfes for a kings receipt
Within this city, had appointed none
Where you might keep your court but only here.
Glos. Vile brats, how they do defcant on the
Tower \
My gentle nephew, they were ill aduifed
To tutor you with fuch vnfitting terms
(Who ere they were) againfl this royal manfion.
What if fome part of it hath been referu'd
To be a prifon for nobility 1
Follows it therefore, that it cannot ferue
To any other vfe ? Ccefar himfelf,
That built the fame, within it kept his court,
And many kings fince him : the rooms are large,
The building ftately, and for ftrength befide,
It is the fafeft and the furefl hold you haue.
P. Ed. Vncle of Glqfter, if you thinke it fo,
Tis not for me to contradict your will,
We mull allow it, and are well content.
Glos. On then, a Gods name.
P. Ed. Yet, before we goe,
One queftion more with you, mafter Lieutenant :
We like you well ; and but we do perceiue
More comfort in your looks than in thefe walls,
For all our vncle Glofters friendly fpeech,
Our hearts would be as heauy ftill as lead.
I pray you tell me, at which dore or gate
Was it my vncle Clarence did go in,
When he was fent a prifoner to this place ?
Bra. At this, my liege ! Why fighs your maiefly?
P. Ed. He went in here that nere came back
again,
But as God hath decreed, fo let it be,
Come, brother, mail we go ?
P. R. Yes, brother ; any where with you. Exeunt.
Tiril pulls Catesby by the fleeue.
Tir. Sir, were it bed I did attend the Duke,
Or flay his leifure till his backe returne ?
L 2
148 The fecond part of
Cat. I pray you, matter Tirill, flay without :
It is not good you fhould be feen by day
Within the Tower, efpecially at this time ;
He tel his honour of your being here,
And you mail know his pleafure prefently.
Tir, Euen fo, fir. Men would be glad by any
means
To raife themfelues, that haue been ouerthrowne
By fortunes fcorn ; and I am one of them.
Enter Duke of Glocefter.
Here comes the Duke.
Glof. Catesby is this the man 1
Cat. It is, ift like your excellency.
Glof. Come neare.
Thy name, I heare, is Tiril, is it not ?
Tir. James Tiril is my name, my gracious lord.
Glof. Welcome, it mould appeare that thou haft
been
In better flate then now it feemes thou art.
Tyr. I haue been, by my fay, my lord ! though
now depreft
And clouded ouer with aduerfity.
Glof. Be rulde by me, and thou malt rife againe,
And proue more happy than thou euer waft.
There is but onely two degrees by which
It mail be needful for thee to afcend,
And that is, faith and taciturnitie.
Tir. If euer I proue falfe vnto your grace,
Conuert your fauour to afflictions.
Glof. But canfl thou too be fecret ?
Tyr. Trie me, my lord.
This tongue was neuer knowne to be a blab.
Glof. Thy countenance hath, like a filuer key,
Opend the clofet of my heart. Read there ;
If fcholer-like thou canfl expound thofe lines,
Thou art the man ordaind to feme my turn.
Tyr. So far as my capacity will reach,
Tlie fenfe my lord is this. This night you fay,
King Edward the Fourth. 149
The two young Princes both muft fuffer death.
Glof. Thou haft my meaning. Wilt thou do it ?
fpeak.
Tyr. It mall be done.
Glof. Inough ! come, follow me,
For thy direction, and for gold to fee,
Such as muft aide thee in their tragedy.
Enter miftris Blage and Jockie, loden.
Bla. Welcome, good Jockie I what good news
bring you 1
Jockie. Marry maiftrefs my gude maiftrefs greets
ye, maiftrefs, and prays ye, maiftrefs, till dight vp her
chamber, for fhele lig wi ye to-night, maiftrefs. And
heres her cat-skin till fhe come.
Enter Jane.
Jane. Why how now loiterer ? make ye no more
haft?
When will my trunkes and all my ftuffe be brought,
If you thus loiter ? Go, make haft withal.
Jockie. Marry, fall I, gin yele be bud peetient
a while. Exit.
Jane. Good gentle miftrefs Blage, the only
friend,
That fortune leaues me to rely vpon,
My counfels clofet and my tower of ftrength,
To whom for fafety I retire myfelf,
To be fecure in thefe tempeftuous times,
O fmile on me, and giue me gentle lookes.
If I be welcome, then with cheereful heart
And willing hand, fhow me true figns thereof.
Bla. Doubt ye of welcome ladie, to your friend ?
Nay to your feruant, to your beadfwoman,
To fpeake but truth, your bountie bondwoman 1
Vfe me, command me, call my houfe your owne,
And all I haue, fweet lady, at your will
1 50 The Jecond part of
Jane. Away with titles, lay by courtly tearms.
The cafe is alterd now the King is dead ;
And with his life my fauouring friends are fled.
No madam, now, but, as I was before,
Your faithfull kind companion, poor Jane Shore \
Bla. I loude you then, and fmce, and euer mail,
You are the woman, though your fortunes fall :
You, when my husbands lewde tranfgreflion
Of all our welth had loft pofleflion,
By forfaiture into his highnes hands,
Got reftitution of our goods and lands.
He fled, and died in france : to heale that harme,
You helpt me to three manors in fee-farme,
The worft of which clears three fcore pound a yeare.
Haue I not reafon, then, to hold ye deare ?
Yes, hap what will, vntil my life do end,
You are and (hall be my beft beloued friend.
Jane. How, if misfortune my folly do fucceed ?
Bla. Truft me, true friends bide touch in time of
neede.
Jane. If want confume the wealth I had before.
Bla. My wealth is yours, and you mail fpend my
ftore.
Jane. But the Protector profecutes his hate.
Bla. With me Hue fecret from the worlds debate.
Jane. You will be weary of fo bad a gueft.
Bla. Then let me neuer on the earth be bleft
Jane. Ah, miftrifs JBlage you tender me fuch
loue,
As all my forrowes from my foul remoue ;
And though my portion be not very" large,
Yet come I not to you to be a charge.
Coin, plate, and iewels, prizde at loweft rate,
I bring with me, to maintaine my eftate,
Worth twenty thoufand pound, and my array.
If you furuiue to fee my dying day,
From you no penny will I giue away.
Bla. And I thanke you that fo my wealth ir*-
creaft,
King Edward the Fourth, 151
Am worth, I trow, ten thoufand pounds at leaft.
I thinke, like two warme widdowes we may Hue,
Vntill good fortune two good husbands giue ;
For furely, miftrifs Shore, your husbands dead :
When heard ye of him 1
Jane. Neuer fmce he fled.
O, miflrifs Blage, now put you in my head
That kills my heart. Why mould I breathe this
aire,
Whofe loft good name no treafure can lepaire?
O, were he here with me to lead his life,
Although he neuer vfed me as a wife,
But as a drudge to fpurne me with his feete,
Yet mould I think with him that life were fweete.
Bla. How can ye once conceit fo bafe a thing,
That haue beene kift and cokerd by a King 1
Weepe not ; you hurt yourfelf, by Gods bleft mother,
Your husbands dead, woman, thinke vpon another,
Let vs in to fupper : drinke wine : cheere your
heart ;
And whilft I Hue, be fure He take your part. Exeunt.
Enter Brackenbury, Shore, Dighton, Forreft, Tirill.
Tir. Sir, I affure you, tis my lord Protectors
warrant.
Bra. My friend, I haue conferrd it with his
letters,
And tis his hand, indeed, He not deny.
But blame me not, although I be precife
In matters that fo nearly do concern me.
Digh. My lord Protector, fir, I make no doubt,
Dare iuftify his warrant, though perhaps
He doth not now acquaint you why he doth it.
Bra. I think, fir, theres no fubiedl now in Eng
land
Will vrge his grace to mow what he dare do ;
Nor will I aske him why he does it ;
I would I might, to rid me of my doubt. (A fide.)
152 The fecond part of
For. Why fir I think he needs no prefident,
For what he does : I thinke his power is abfolute
enough.
Bra. I haue no power fir to examine it,
Nor will I do : obey your warrant,
Which I will keepe for my fecurity.
Tyr. You mall do well in that fir.
Bra. Heres the keys,
Shore. And yet I could wifh rny lord Protedlor
afide.
Had fent his warrant hither by fome other.
I doe not like their looks, I tell you true.
Bra. Nor I, Flud, I affure thee.
For. What does that flaue mutter to his maifler ?
Digh. I heare him fay he does not like our
lookes.
Tyr. Why not our lookes, fir.
For. Sirra, we heare you.
Shore. I am glad you doe, fir: all is one for
that.
But, if you did not, hearken better now
I neuer faw three faces in whofe looks
Did euer fit more terror, or more death.
God bleffe the princes, if it be his will,
I do not like thefe villaines.
Digh. Zounds, ftab the villain. Sirra, do you
braue us 3
Shore. I, thats your comming ; for you come to
ftab.
For. Stab him.
Shore. Nay, then, He flab with thee.
Tir. Zblood, cut his throat.
Bra. Hold, gentlemen, I pray you.
Shore. Sir, I am hurt, ftabd in the arm.
Bra. This is not to be juftified, my friends,
To draw your weapons here within the Tower>
And by the law it is no lefs than death.
I cannot think the Duke will like of this.
I pray ye be content : too much is done.
King Edward the fourth. 153
2}r. He might haue held his peace, then, and been
quiet.
Farewell, farewell.
Shore. Hell and damnation follow murtherers.
Bra. Go, Flud,
Get thee fome furgeon to looke to thy wound.
Haft no acquaintance with fome skilfull furgeon ?
Keep thy wound clofe, and let it not take aire.
And for my own part, I will not flay here.
Whither wilt thou go, that I may fend to thee ?
Shore. To one Miftrifs Blages, an inn, in Gracious
Street.
There you mail find me, or (hall heare of me.
Bra. Sweet princely babes, farewell I fear you
fore :
I doubt thefe eyes mail neuer fee you more.
Enter the two young Princes^ Edward and Richard,
in their gowns and caps, vnbuttond> and vntruft.
Ric. How does your lordfliip ?
Ed. Well, good brother Richard.
How does yourfelf? you told me your head aked.
Ric. Indeed it does, my Lord feele with your
hands
How hot it is. He laies his hand on his brothers head.
Ed. Indeed you haue caught cold,
With fitting yefternight to heare me read.
I pray thee go to bed, fweet Dick, poore little
heart.
Ric. Youle giue me leaue to wait vpon your lord-
mip.
Ed. I had more need, brother, to wait on you.
For you are fick ; and fo am not I,
Ric. Oh, lord, methinks this going to our bed,
How like it is to going to our graue.
Ed. I pray thee, do not fpeake of graues fweet
heart.
154 The fecond part of
Indeed thou frighted me.
Ric. Why, my lord brother, did not our tutor teac
vs,
That when at night we went vnto our bed,
We ftill mould think we went vnto our graue.
Ed. Yes, thats true,
That we mould do as eu'ry Chriftian ought,
To be prepard to die at euery hour,
But I am heauy.
Ric. Indeed, and fo am I.
Ed. Then let vs fay our prayers and go to bed.
They kneel, andfolemn muficke the while within.
The muficke ceafeth, and they rife.
Ric. What, bleeds your grace 1
Ed. I two drops and no more.
Ric. God bleffe vs both ; and I defire no more.
Ed. Brother, fee here what Dauid fays, and fo
fay I :
Lord ! in thee will I truft, although I die.
As the young Princes go out, enter Tirill.
Tir. Go, lay ye down, but neuer more to rife,
I haue put my hand into the fouleft murder
That euer was committed fince the world.
The very fenfeleffe ftones here in the walles
Breake out in teares but to behold the fact.
Methinkes the bodies lying dead in graues,
Should rife and cry againft vs. O hark, (a noife within)
harke,
The mandrakes fhrieks are mufic to their cries,
The very night is frighted, and the ftarres
Do drop like torches, to behold this deed :
The very centre of the earth doth make,
Methinks the Towre mould rent down from the
toppe,
To let the heauen look on this monftrous deede.
King Edward the fourth. 155
Enter at the one doore, Dighton, with Edward vnder his
arm, at the other doore, Forreft with Richard.
Digh. Stand further, damned rogue, and come not
near me.
For. Nay, Hand thou further villain, Hand afide.
Digh. Are we not both damnd for this curfed deed %
For. Thou art the witnefs that thou bearft the King.
Digh. And what bearft thou ?
For. It is too true. Oh, I am damnd indeed !
He lookes downe on the boy vnder his arme.
Tyr. I am as deepe as you, although my hand
Did not the deede.
Digh. O villaine, art thou there 1
For. A plague light on thee !
Tyr. Curfe not,
A thoufand plagues will light vpon vs all.
They lay them down.
The prieft here in the Tower will bury them.
Let vs away.
Enter M. Plage dv her two men, bringing in Shoar
alias Flond, in a chaire, his arme bleeding a-
pace.
Bla. So, fet him here awhile, where is more aire.
How cheere you, fir. Alack, he doth begin
To change his colour. Where is miftrifs Shore 1
Gone to her clofet for a precious balm,
The fame (me fayd) King Edward vs'd himfelf.
Alack, I fear hele die before me come.
Run quickly for fome rofa-folis. Faint not, fir ;
Be of good comfort. Come, good miftrifs Shore,
What haue you there 1
Jane. Stand by, and giue me leaue.
Bla. Unhappy me, to lodge him in my houfe !
Jane* I warrant you, woman, be not fo afraid.
If not this bloud-ftone hangd about his necke,
This balme will ftanch it, by the helpe of God.
Lift vp his arme, whilft I do bathe his wound.
1 5 6 The fecond part of
The fign belike was here when he was hurt,
Or elfe fome principal and chief veine is pierft.
Bl. How euer fure the furgeon was a knaue,
That lookt no better to him at the firft.
Jane. Blame him not, Miftrifs Blage ; the beft of
them,
In fuch a cafe as this, may be to feeke.
Bla. Now, God be bleffed ! fee the crimfon
bloud,
That was precipitate and falling down
Into his arm, retires into his face,
How fare you, fir ? how do you feele yourfelf?
Shore. Oh, wherefore haue you wakt me from my
fleepe 1
And broke the quiet flumber I was in 1
Methought I fate in fuch a pleafant place,
So full of all delight as neuer any eie
Beheld, nor heart of man could comprehend,
If you had let me go, I felt no paine :
But being now reuokt, my grief renews.
Jane. Giue him fome rofa-folis, miflrefs Blage,
And that will likewife animate the fprites,
And fend alacrity vnto the heart,
That hath been ftrugling with the pangs of death.
Bla. Here, fir, drinke this ; you need not feare it,
fir;
It is no hurt : fee, I will be your tafter :
Then drinke I pray you.
Jane. Now, fellowes, raife his body from the
chaire,
And gently let him walke a turne or two.
Bla. Good footh, miftrifs Shore, I did not think
till now
You had been fuch a cunning skilld phyfition.
Shore. Oh, miftreffe Blage, though I muft needs
confeffe
It would haue been more welcome to my foule,
If I had died, and been remoud at lafl,
From the confufed troubles of this world,
King Edward the Fourth. 157
Whereof I haue fuftained no meane waight,
Than lingring here, be made a packhorfe ftill
Of torments, in comparifon of which
Death is but as the pricking of a thorne,
Yet I do thank you for your taken paines,
And would to God I could requite your loue !
Bla. Sir, I did you little good. What was
done,
Afcribe the benefit and praife thereof
Vnto the gentlewoman, kind miflrifs Shore,
Who, next to God, prefervd your feeble life.
Shore. How ? miftrefs Shore, good friends, let go
your hold !
My ftrength is now fufficient of itfelf.
Oh is it (he that ftill prolongs my woe ?
Was it ordaind not onely at the firft
She mould be my deftruclion, but now twife,
When gratious deftinies had brought about
To ende this weary pilgrimage of mine,
Mufl me, and none but me, preuent that good,
And ftop my entrance to eternall bliffe ?
Oh, lafting plague, oh, endleffe corrafme !
It now repents me double that I fcapte
Since's lifes made death, and lifes author hate !
Jane. Sir, take my counfell, and fit downe
againe.
It is not good to be fo bold of foot
Vpon the fudden, till you haue more ftrength.
Shore. Miftrefs, I thanke you, and I care not
much
If I be ruld by you. fits downe.
Oh, God, that fhe mould pity me vnknown,
That, knowing me, by her was ouerthrowne ;
Or ignorantly me mould regard this fmart,
That heretofore fpard not to ftab my heart.
Enter Brackenbury.
Bra. By your leaue, miftrifs Blage, I am fome-
what bold,
158 The fecond part of
Is there not a gentleman within your houfe,
Calld M. Flood, came hither hurt lafl night ?
Bla. Is his name Flood "I I knew it not till
now ;
But here he is, and well recouered.
Thanks to this gentlewoman, miftrefs Shore.
Bra. Pardon me, miftrefs Shore, I faw you not :
And trull me, I am forry at the heart
So good a creature as yourfelfe hath beene
Should be fo vilely dealt with as you are.
I promife you, the world laments your cafe.
Jane. How meane you, fir ? I vnderftand you
not.
Lament my cafe for what ? for Edwards death 1
I know that I haue loft a gracious friend ;
But that is not to be remedied now.
Bra. No, miftrifs Shore, it is for Richards hate,
That too much enuies your prolperity.
Jane. I know he loues me not, and for that
caufe,
I haue withdrawn me wholly from the Court.
Bra. You haue not feene the proclamation,
then ?
Jane, The proclamation ? No. What proclama
tion 1
Bra. Oh, miftrifs Shore, The King, in euery
ftreet
Of London and in euery borough town
Throughout this land, hath publikely proclaimed,
On paine of death, that none mail harbour you,
Or giue you foode or clothes to keepe you warme ;
But hauing firft done fhameful penance here,
You mall be then thruft forth the city-gates
Into the naked cold, forfaken field.
I fable not, I would to God I did,
See, heres the manner of it put in print,
Tis to be told in euery Stationers mop,
Befides a number of them clapt on pofts,
Where people crowding, as they read your fall,
King Edward the Fourth. 1 59
Some murmur, and fome figh ; but moft of them
Haue their relenting eyes euen big with teares.
Jam. Gods will be done. I know my finne is
great,
And he that is omnipotent and iuft
Cannot but muft reward me heauily.
Bra. It grieues me, miftrifs Shore, it was my
chance,
To be the firft reporter of this newes.
Jane. Let it not grieue, I muft haue heard of it,
And now as good as at another time.
Bra. I pray ye, miftrifs Blage, haue care of
Flood 'f
And what his charge is I will fee you paid. Exit.
Jane. Farewell to all that ftill (hall be my
fong,
Let men impofe upon me nere fuch wrong ;
And this extremity mail feeme the leffe,
In that I haue a friend to lean vnto.
Sweet miftrifs Blage, there were vpon the earth
No comfort left for miferable Jane,
But that I do prefume vpon your loue.
I know, though tyrant Richard had fet down
A greater penalty than is proclaimd,
Which cannot well be thought, yet in your houfe
I mould haue fuccour and reliefe befide.
Bla. What ! and fo I mould be a traitor,
mould I \
Is that the care you haue of me and mine ?
I thanke you, truly, no theres no fuch matter.
I loue you well, but loue myfelfe better.
As long as you were held a true fubiedt,
I made account of you accordingly;
But, being otherwife, I doe reiecl you,
And will not cherifh my kings enemy.
You know the danger of the proclamation :
I would to God you would depart my houfe.
Jane. When was it euer feen Jane Shore was
falfe
1 60 The fecond part of
Either vnto her countrey or her king ?
And therefore tis not well, good miftrifs Blage,
That you vpbraid me with a traitors name.
Bla. I, but you haue been a wicked liuer,
And now you fee what tis to be vnchafle :
You mould haue kept you with your honefl hus
band :
'Twas neuer other like but that fuch like filthineffe
Would haue a foule and deteftable end.
Jane. Time was that you did tell me otherwife,
And ftudied how to fet a gloffe on that,
Which now you fay is vgly and deformde.
Bla. I told you then as then the time did ferue,
And more, indeed, to try your difpofition,
Than any way to encourage you to finne.
But when I faw you were ambitious,
And faintly flood on terms of modefly,
I left you to your own arbiterment.
Can you deny it was not fo ? how fay you ?
Jane. We will not, miftrifs Blage, difpute of that ;
But now, in charity and womanhood,
Let me find fauour, if it be but this,
That in fome barne or ftable I may fhrowd,
Till otherwife I be prouided for.
Bla. I pray ye do not vrge me miftrifs Shore,
I will not haue my houfe indanger'd fo.
Jane. Oh you did promife I mould neuer want,
And that your houfe was mine, and fwore the fame.
To keepe your oth be then compaffionate.
Bla. So you did fwear you would be true to
Shore \
But you were not fo good as your word.
My oathes dimerit which by the Kings command.
Jane. Yet let me haue thofe jewels and that
money
Which is within my trunkes.
Bla. I know M none.
If there be any, le be fo bolde,
As keepe it for y \ir diet and your mans.
I
King Edward the fourth. 1 6 1
It is no little charge I haue beene at
To feed your dainty tooth, fmce you came hither
Befide, houfe-roome, I'm fure, is fomewhat worth.
Shore. Ah, Jane \ I cannot choofe but pity
thee.
Heres the firft ftep to thy deep mifery.
Jane. Oh, that my graue had then been made my
houfe,
When either firft I went vnto the Court,
Or from the Court returnd vnto this place !
Enter two Apparators.
Serttant. How now, what are you ? it had been
manners,
You mould haue knockt before you had come in.
Firft. Ap. We are the Bimops Parators, my friend ;
And miflrifs 4 iS!&ra our errand is to you.
This day it is commanded by the King,
You muft be flript out of your rich attire,
And in a white meet go from Temple-barre
Vntil you come to Algate, bare footed,
Your haire about your eares, and in your hand
A burning taper. Therefore, go with vs.
Jane. Euen when and whither you will j and would
to God,
The King as foone could rid my foule of fin,
As he may ftrip my body of thefe rags !
2. Ap. That would be foon enough : but come
away.
And miftrifs JBlage, youle hardly anfwer it,
When it is known we found her in your houfe.
i. Ap. It feemes you do not feare to harbour her.
Mrs. J3la. I harbour her ? out on her, ftrumpet
queane
She preft upon me, where I would or no.
He fee her hangd ere I will harbour her.
So now, her iewels and her gold is mine,
1 M
1 6 2 The fecond part of
And I am made at lead foure thoufand pound,
Wealthier by this match then I was before :
And what can be objected for the fame
That once I lou'd her : well, perhaps I did ;
And women all are gouernd by the moon,
But now I am of another humour ;
Which is, you know a planet that will change.
Cat. Now, M. Sheriffe of London ! do your
office.
Attach this rebel to his maiefly,
And, hauing ftript her to her petticoate,
Turne her out a doores, with this condition,
That no man harbour her that durfl prefume
To harbour that lewde curtizan, Shores wife,
Againfl the flrait commandement of the King.
Bla. I befeech you, fir.
Cat. Away with her, I fay.
The while lie feaze vpon her houfe and goods,
Which wholly are confifcate to the King. Exit.
Shore. Oh, what haue I beheld, were I as young,
As when I came to London to be prentice,
This pageant were fufficient to inftruc~l
And teach me euer after to be wife.
Firfl haue I feen defert of wantonneffe
And breach of wedlocke j then of flattery ;
Next of diflembling loue ; and laft of all,
The ruine of bafe catching auarice.
But poore Jane Shore in that I lou'd thee once,
And was thy husband, I muft pity thee.
The fparks of old affection long agoe,
Rakte vp in afhes of difpleafure kindle ;
And in this furnace of aduerfity
The world mail fee a husbands loyalty. Exit.
Enter D. $\\&w,penfively reading on his booke, after
him follows the ghoft of Frier Anfelme, with a
lighted torch.
Shaw. Spuria vitulamina non agent radices alias.
King Edward the fourth. 163
Baftardly flips haue always flender growth.
Ah, Shaw this was the curfed theme
That, at Patils croffe, thou mad ft thy fermon of,
To proue the lawful ifTue of thy King,
Got out of wedlock, illegitimate.
Ah, Duke of Glofter this didft thou procure.
Did Richard (villain) No, it was thy fault,
Thou wouldft be won to fuch a damned deed,
Which now to think on makes my foul to bleed.
Ah, frier Anfelme fleepe among the bleft ;
Thy propheTie thus falfely did I wrefl.
Enter Anfelme.
An. Thou didfl and be thou damnd therefore,
Nere come thy foul where bleffednefs abides,
Didfl thou not know the letter G. was Glofter ?
Shaw. Anfelme^ I did.
An. Why, then, didfl thou affirm
That it was meant by George fas, Duke of Clarence*{
That honorable harmleffe gentleman,
Whofe thoughts all innocent as any child,
Yet came through thee to fuch a luckleffe death.
Shaw. I was inforced by the Duke of Glofter.
An. Enforfl, -faifl thou ? wouldfl thou then be
enforft,
Being a man of thy profeffion,
To fin fo vilely, and with thine owne mouth
To damne thy foule ? No ; thou wafl not enforct ;
But gaine and hope of high promotion
Hired thee thereto. Say, was it fo, or no ?
Shaw. It did, it did.
An. Why then record in thy black hellim
thoughts
How many mifchiefes haue enfued hereon?
Firfl, wronged Clarence drowned in the Tower ;
Next Edwards children murder'd in the Tower ;
This day at Pomfret noble gentlemen
M 2
164 The fecond part of
Three, the Queens kinred, lofe their harmlefie
heads.
Thinkfl thou that here this flood of mifchief flays
No, villain, many are markt to the block,
And they the neareft, think them further! off.
Euen Buckingham, creator of that king,
Shall he to woe and wretched ending bring.
All this (accurfed man) hath come by thee,
And thy falfe wrefling of my prophecy,
For ILnglands good, difclofed to thy trufl ;
And fo it had beene, hadft thou proued iufk.
But thou and euery one that had a hand
In that mofl wofull murther of the princes,
To fatall ends you are appointed all.
Here in thy fludy fhalt thou flerue thyfelf,
And from this houre not tafle one bit of food,
The refl mail after follow, on a row,
To all their deaths ; vengeance will not be flow.
Enter a Meffenger to Shaw.
Mef. Where is M. Defter Shaw ?
Shaw. Here friend ; what is thy will with me ?
Mef. King Richard prays ye to come to An
ftrait,
For he would be confefl.
Shaw. I cannot come. I pray thee, take tfift
Frier ;
For he can do it better farre than I.
Mef. A frier, M. Doctor. I fee none.
Shaw. Doeft thou not 1 No : thy untainted
foul
Cannot difcerne the horrors that I doe.
An. Shaw, go with him; and tell that tyrant
Richard^
He hath but three years limited for life ;
And then a fhamefull death takes hold on him.
That done, returne ; and in thy fludy end
King Edward the fourth. 165
Thy loathed life, that didft us all offend.
Shaw. With all my heart. Would it were ended
now !
So it were done, I care not where nor how. Exeunt.
Enter the. two Parators, with Mi/Iris Shore in a white
JJieet barefooted with her hair about her eares, and
in her hand a waxe taper.
1. Par. Now, miftrifs Shore, here our commiffion
ends.
Put off your robe of lhame : for this is Algate,
Whither it was appointed we fhould bring you.
Jane. My robe of lhame? Oh, that fo foule a
name
Should be applied vnto fo faire a garment I
Which is no more to be condemned of lhame
Then fnow of putrefaction is deferued,
To couer an infedlious heap of dung.
My robe of lhame, but not my lhame, put off;
For that fits branded on my forehead Hill,
And therefore in derifion was I wrapt,
In this white fheete ; and in derifion bore
This burning taper to expreffe.my folly,
That hauing light of reafon to direcl me,
Delighted yet in by-ways of darke error.
2. Par. Well, miftrifs Shore 1 hope you grudge not
us.
We mowed you all the fauour poor men could.
Jane. Oh, God forbid ! I know the King's edict
Set you a work, and not your own defires.
i. Par. I, truly, miftrifs ; and for our parts
We could be well content twere otherwile,
But that the laws feuere. And fo we leaue you.
Exit.
Jane. Farewell unto you both ! and London too !
Farewell to thee, where firft I was enticde
That fcandalizde thy dignity with lhame ;
But now thou haft returnd me treble blame ;
1 66 The fecond part of
My tongue, that gaue confent, injoined to beg ;
Mine eies adiudged to hourely laments \
Mine arms, for their embracings, catch the aire ;
And thefe quicke, nimble feet, that were fo ready
To flep into a Kings forbidden bed,
London ! thy flints haue punifht for their pride,
And thou haft drunke their blood for thy reuenge.
What now avails to think what I haue beene 1
Then welcome nakednefs and pouerty !
Welcome, contempt, welcome, you barren fields !
Welcome the lacke of meat and lacke of friends !
And wretched Jane, according to thy ftate,
Sit here, fit here, and lower if might be ?
All things that breath, in their extremity,
Haue fome recourfe of fuccour. Thou haft none.
The child offended flies vnto the mother.
The fouldier ftrucke retires vnto his Captain.
The fifh, diftreffed, flides into the riuer,
Birds of the aire do fly vnto their dams,
And vnderneath their wings are quickly fhrouded,
Nay, beat the fpaniell and his matter moans him.
But I haue neither where to fhroud myfelf,
Nor any one to make my moan vnto.
Come, patience, then ; and though my body pine,
Make then a banquet to refrelh my foule.
Let hearts deepe throbbing fighs be all my bread ;
My drink fait teares ; my guetts repentant thoughts
That whofo knew me, and doth fee me now,
May fhun by me the breach of wedlocks vow.
Enter Brackenbury, with a prayer-book, and fome
relief in a doathfor mi/Iris Shoare.
Bra. Oh, God how full of dangers growes thefe
times,
And no affurance, feene in any ftate,
No man can fay that he is matter now
Of any thing is his, fuch is the tide
Of fhort ditturbance running through the land !
King Edward the fourth. 167
I haue giuen ouer my office in the Tower,
Becaufe I cannot brooke their vile complots,
Nor fmother fuch outragious villainies.
But miflrefs Shore to be fo bafely wrongd
And vilely vfd, that hath fo well deferued.
It doth afflict me in the very foul !
She faud my kinfman, Harry Stranguidge, life ;
Therefore, in duty am I bound to her
To do what good I may, though law forbid.
See where me fits ! God comfort thee, good foule !
Firft, take that to relieue thy body with ;
And next receiue this book, wherein is food,
Manna of heauen to refrefh thy foul.
Thefe holy meditations, miftrifs Shore
Will yield much comfort in this mifery,
Whereon contemplate ftill, and neuer linne,
That God may be vnmindfull of thy finne.
Jane. Matter Lieutenant ! in my heart I thank ye
For this kind comfort to a wretched foul.
Welcome, fweet prayer-book, food of my life,
The foueraign balm for my fick confcience.
Thou malt be my fouls pleafure and delight,
To wipe my fins out of Jehovaes fight.
Bra. Do fo good Mittrifs Shore. Now I mutt
leaue ye,
Becaufe fome other bufnefs calls me hence ;
And God, I pray, regard your penitence ! Exit.
Jane. Farewell, fir Robert I and for this good to
me,
The God of heauen be mindful flill of thee !
Asjhefits weeping and parying, Enters at one. doore
young M. Aire, and M. Rufford at another.
Aire. This way me went, and cannot be far
off;
For but euen now I met the officers,
That were attendant on her in her penance.
1 68 The fecond part of
Yonder me fits ! now then Aire fhow thyfelf
Thankeful to her, that fometime faued thy life,
When law had made thee fubiedl to bafe death.
Giue her thy purfe ; for here comes fomebody.
Stand by awhile, for fear thou be difcouerd.
Ruf. What, miftrefs Shore 1 King Edward's con
cubine
Set on a molehill? oh, difparagement
A throne were fitter for your ladyfhip.
Fie, will you flubber thefe fair cheekes with teares?
Or fit fo folitary 1 wheres all your feruants ?
Where is your gowne of filke, your periwigs,
Your fine rebatoes, and your coftly iewels 1
What, not fo much as a fhoe vpon your foote ?
Nay, then, I fee the world goes hard with whores.
Aire. The villain flaue gibes at her mifery.
Ruf. Now, whether is it better to be in Court, -
And there to beg a licence of the King,
For tranfportation of commodities,
Than here to fit forfaken as thou dofll
I think vpon condition Edward liued,
And thou were ftill in fauour as before,
Thou wouldft not fay that Rufford had deferued
To haue his eares rent for, a worfer fuite
Then licence to fhip ouer corn and lead.
What, not a word, faith wench He tell thee what ;
If thou doft think thy old trade out of date,
Go learne to play the bawde another while.
Aire. Inhuman wretch why dofl thou fcorne
her fo 1 ,
And vex her grieued foul with bitter taunts ?
Ruf. Becaufe I will. She is a curtizan,
And one abhorred of the world for luft.
Aire. If all thy faults were in thy forehead
writ,
Perhaps thou wouldft thyfelf appeare no leffe,
But much more horrible then Ihe doth now.
Ruf. You are no iudge of mine fir.
King Edward the fourth. 169
Aire. Why nor thou of her.
Ruf. The world hath iudged and found her
guilty,
And tis the Kings command me be held odious.
Aire. The King of heauen commandeth other-
wife ;
And if thou be not willing to relieve her,
Let it fuffize thou feefl her miferable,
And ftudy not to amplify her grief.
Enter M. Blage verie poorly a begging, with her basket
and clap-dijh.
What other woful fpedlacle comes here ?
When Rufford lookes away, Aire throwes his purfe
to Miflrifs Shore.
Miflrifs, take that and fpend it for my fake.
Bla. Oh I am pincht with more then common
want.
Where (hall I find relief 1 Good gentleman,
Pity a wretched woman, like to flame,
And I wil pray for ye. One halfpennie,
For Chrifts fake, to comfort me withall.
Ruf. What, Miflrifs Blage ! ift you ? no maruaile,
fure,
But you mould be relieued : a halfpenny, quotha 1
I, marry, fir ; and fo be hanged myfelf !
Not I : this gentleman may, if he pleafe.
Get you to your companion, miflrifs Shore,
And then there is a paire of queanes well met
Now I bethink me, He go to the King,
And tell him that fome will relieue Shores wife,
Except fome officer there be appointed
That carefully regards it be not fo.
Thereof myfelf will I make offer to him,
Which queflionlefs he cannot but accept,
So (hall I flill purfue Shores wife with hate,
That fcorned me in her high whores eflate. Exit.
Bla. Good gentleman, beflow your charity,
1 70 The fecond part of
One fingle halfpenny to helpe my neede.
Aire. Not one, were I the mafter of a mint
What ? fuccour thee that didft betray thy friend 1
See where me fits ! whom thou didft fcorne indeed,
And therefore rightly art thou fcornd again.
Thou thoughtft to be enriched by her goods,
But thou haft now loft both thy own and hers ;
And for my part, knew 1 1 would faue thy life,
Thou ihouldft not get fo much as a crumb of bread.
Packe counterfeit packe away diffembling drab.
Bla. Oh, mifery, but mail I ftay to looke
Her in the face whom I fo much haue wronged ?
Jane. Yes, miftreffe JBlage I freely pardon you.
You haue done me no wrong. Come, fit by me.
Twas fo in wealth ; why not in pouerty 1
Bla. Oh, willingly, if you can brooke her prefence,
Whom you have greater reafon to defpife.
Jane. Why woman, Richard, that hath banilht
me
And feekes my ruine (caufelefs though it be)
Do I in heart pray for, and will do Hill.
Come thou, and mare with me what God hath f ent :
A ftranger gaue it me ; and part thereof
I do as freely now beftow on you.
Bla. I thank you, miftrefs Shore, this courtefy
Renewes the grief of my inconftancy.
Enter mafter Shore, with relief for his wife.
Shore. Yonder me fits how like a witherd tree,
That is in winter leaueleffe and bereft
Of liuely fap, fits the poor abiect foul,
How much vnlike the woman is fhe now,
She was but yefterday : fo fhort and brittle
Is this worlds happinefs : But who is that,
Falfe miftrefs Blage 1 how canft thou brook her
Janel
I thou waft always mild and pitifull !
Oh hadft thou been as chad, we had beene bleft !
King Edward the fourth. 1 7 1
But now no more of that : me fhall not flarue,
So long as this, and fuch as this may feme.
Here, nriftrefs Shore feed on thefe homely cates,
And there is wine to drink them downe withal.
Jane. Good fir, your name 1 that pities poor Jane
Shore,
That in my praiers I may remember you.
Shore. No matter for my name ; I am a friend
That loues you well. So farewell, miflrifs Shore,
When that is fpent, I vow to bring you more.
Jane. Gods bleffing be your guide where ere you
go !
Thus, miflrifs Blage, you fee, amidft our woe,
For all the world can do, God fends reliefe,
And will not yet we perifh in our grief.
Come, let us ftep into fome fecret place,
Where undifturbd we may partake this grace.
Bla. Tis not amiffe, if you be fo content,
For here the fields too open and frequent. Exeunt.
Mafter Shore enters againe.
Shore. What, is fhe gone fo f oone ? alacke poore
Jane,
How I compaffionate thy woful cafe !
Whereas we liued togither man and wife,
Oft on an humble flool by the fire-fide
Sate fhe contented, when as my high heat
Would chide her for it ; but what would fhe fay ?
Husband, we both mufl lower fit one day.
When I dare fwear fhe neuer dreamd of this :
But fee, good God, what prophefying is.
Enter Rufford and Fogge with the counterfait
letter-patents. Shore Jlands afide.
Ruf. This is King Richards hand ; I know it
well ;
And this of thine is iuflly counterfeit,
172 The fecond part of
As he himfelf would fwear it were his own.
Shore. The Kings hand counterfeit 1 lift more
that.
Ruf. Why, euery letter, eeury little dafh
In all refpecls alike ! Now may I vfe
My tranfportation of my corn and hides,
Without the danger of forbidding lawe ;
And fo I would haue done in Edivards days,
But that good miftrifs Shore did pleafe to crofs me ;
But mark ho\* now I will requite her for it !
I moud my fuit, and plainly told the King
Some would relieue her, if no man had charge
To fee feverely to the contrary.
Forthwith his Grace appointed me the man,
And gaue me officers to waite vpon me,
Which will fo countenance thy cunning work,
As I mail no way be fufpected in it.
How faift thou Fogge-1
Fogg. It will do well indeed.
But good fir haue a care in any cafe,
For elfe you know what harme may come thereon.
Ruf. A care, faieft thou 1 Why, man,' I will not
truft
My houfe, my flrongeft locks, nor any place
But mine owne bofom. There will I keepe it ftill.
If I mifcarry, fo doth it with me.
Shore. Are ye fo cunning fir ? I fay no more.
Jane Shore or I may quittance you for this. Exit.
Ruf. Well, Fog%e, I haue contented thee.
Thou maift be gone : I muft about my charge,
To fee that none releeue Shores wife with ought.
Exit Fogge.
Enter the Officers with bills.
Come on, good fellows ! you that muft attend
King Richards feruice, vnder my command,
Your charge is to be very vigilant
Ouer that ftrumpet whom they call Shores wife.
If any traitor giue her but a mite,
King Edward the fourth. 1 7 3
A draught of water, or a cruft of bread,
Or any other food, whatere it be,
Lay hold on him ; for it is prefent death
By good King Richards proclamation.
This is her haunt : here (land I Sentinell,
Keepe you vnfeene, and aid me when I call.
Enter Jockie and Jeffrey, with a bottle of ale, cheefe,
and halfepenny loaves, to play at bowles. Mi/Iris
Shore enters and fits where Jtie was wont.
Jockie. Now rnuft I under colour of playing at
bowles, help till relieue my gude maiftres, maiflres
Short. Come, Jeffrey, we will play fiue vp, for this
bottle of ale, and yonder gude puir woman mall keep
the flakes, and this cheefe (hall be the maifter.
They play ftill towards her, and Jockie often breakes
bread and cheefe, & gives her, A"// Jeffrey being called
away, he then giues her all, and is apprehended.
Ruf. Here is a villain that will not relieue her,
But yet hele lofe ; he bowls that way to help her.
Apprehend him, fellows, when I bid ye.
Although his mate be gone, he mail pay for it.
Take him, and let the .beadles whip him well.
Jockie. Hear ye, fir ! (hall they be whipt and
hanged that giue to the puir 1 then they (hall be
damned that take fro' the puir. They lead him away.
Enter young Aire againe, and Shore Jlands aloof off.
Aire. Oh yonder fits the fweet forfaken foule,
To whom for euer I (land deeply bound.
She faved my life : then, Aire, help to faue hers.
Ruf. Whither go ye, fir ?
You come to give this ftrumpet fome reliefe.
Ayre. She did more good then euer thou canfl do,
And if thou wilt not pity her thyfelf,
Give others leaue, by duty bound thereto.
1 74 The fecond part of
Here, miftrefs Shore, take this ; and would to God
It were fo much as my poor heart could wifh.
He gives his purje.
Shore. Who is it that thus pities my poor wife 1
Tis Matter Aire ; God's bleffmg on him for it.
Ruf. Darefl thou do fo, Airet
Ay re. Ruff or d, I dare do more.
Here is my ring : it waies an ounce of gold ;
And take my cloake to keepe ye from the cold.
Rnf. Thou art a traitor, Aire.
Ayre. . Rufford, thou art a villaine fo to call me.
Ruf* Lay hold on him. Attach him, officers.
Ayre. Rufford ile anfwer thine arreft with this.
He draivs his rapier , but he is apprehended.
Ruf. All this contending, fir, will not auaile,
This treafon will be rated at thy life.
Ayre. Life is too little for her fake that faued it.
Shore. Is he a traitor, fir, for doing good 1
God faue the King, a true heart means no ill.
I truft he hath reclaimd his fharpe edict,
And will not that his pooreft fubje6l perifli ;
And fo perfwaded, I myfelf will doe
That which both loue and nature binds me to.
I cannot giue her as me well deferues ;
For me hath loll a greater benefit.
Poor woman, take that purfe.
Ruf. Ile take't away,
Shore. You mall not, fir ; for I will anfwer it
Before the King, if you inforce it fo.
Ruf. It muft be fo. You mail vnto the King.
Shore. You will be he will firfl repent the thing.
Come, mailer Aire, ile bear ye company,
Which wife men fay doth eafe calamity. Exeunt.
Jane. If grief to fpeech free paffage could afford,
Or for each woe I had a fitting word,
I might complain, or if my floods of tears
Could moue remorfe of minds, or pierfe dull ears,
Or warn away my cares, or cleanfe my crime,
With words, and tears I would bewail the time.
King Edward the fourth. 175
But it is bootlefs ; why Hue I to fee
All thofe defpifed that do pity me ?
Defpifed ? alas, deftroyed and led to death,
That gaue me almes here to prolong my breath.
Fair dames, behold ! let my example proue,
There is no loue like to a husbands loue. Exit.
Enter King Richard, Louell, Catesby, Rufford, Shore
and Aire pinioned and led betwixt two Officers.
Glos. Now, tell us, Rufford, which of thefe it is,
That, in the heat of his vpheaued fpleene,
Contemnes our crowne, difdaines our dignity,
And armes himfelfe againfl authority.
Ruf. Both haue offended my dread foueraigne,
Though not alike, yet both faults capital.
Thefe lines declare what, when, and where it was.
Glos. Which is that Aire ?
Ruf. This young man, my liege.
Glos. I thought it was fome hot diflempered
blood,
That fired his giddy braine with bufmeffe.
Is thy name Aire ^
Ayre. It is.
Glos. This paper fays fo.
Ayre. Perifh may he that made that paper fpeak.
Glos. Ha ? doft thou wifh confufion vnto us ?
This paper is the organe of our power,
And mall pronounce thy condemnation.
We make it fpeake thy treafon to thy face,
And thy malitious tong fpeakes treafon ftill.
Relievfl thou Shores wife, in contempt of vs ?
Ayre. No ; but her iuft defert.
She faued my life, which I had forfeited,
Whereby my goods and life me merited.
Glos. And thou malt pay it, in the felfefame
place
Where thou this man our officer did ft outface,
And fcorndft us faying if we flood by,
1 76 Thefecond fart of
Thou wouldfi. relieue her.
Ayre. I do it not deny
For want of food her breath was neere expird :
I gaue her meanes to buy it undefirde,
And rather chufe to die for charity,
Then Hue condemned of ingratitude.
Glos. Your good deuotion brings you to tfie gal
lows :
He hath his fentence. Rufford, fee him hanged.
They lead out A ire.
Now, fir, your name ?
Shore. Is it not written there ?
Glos. Heres Matthew flood.
Ruf. That is his name, my lord.
Glos. Is thy name Flood 1
Shore. So matter Ruff or d faies.
Glos. Flood and Aire the elements confpire,
In aire and water, to confound our power.
Didft thou relieue that hateful wretch, Shores wife ?
Shore. I did relieue that woful wretch, Shores
wife.
Glos. Thou feemft a man well flaid and tempe
rate :
Durfl thou infringe our proclamation ?
Shore. I did not breake it.
Ruf. Yes and added more,
That you would anfwere it before the King.
Shore. And added more, you would repent the
thing.
Ruf. Who ? I ? his highnes knows my innocence,
And ready feruice with my goods and life' :
Anfwer thy treafons to his maieflie.
Glos. What canft thou fay, Flood, why thou fhouldft
not die 1
Shore. Nothing for I am mortal and muft die,
When my time comes ; but that I thinks not yet,
Although (God knows) each houre I wifh it were,
So full of dolor is my wearie life.
Now fay I this, that I do know the man
King Edward the fourth. 1 7 7
Which doth abet that traiterous libeller,
Who did compofe and fpread that flanderous rime,
Which fcandals you and doth abufe the time.
Glos. What libeller ? another Collingborne 1
That wrote : The Cat, the Rat, and Louell our dog,
Do rule all England vnder a hog.
Canfl thou repeat it, Floodl
Shore. I think I can, if you command me fo.
Glos. We do command thee.
Shore. In this fort it goes :
The crook-bakt Boare the way hath found
To root our Rofes from the ground.
Both flower and bud will he confound,
Till King of beajls thefwine be crownde :
And then the Dog, the Cat, and Rat,
Shall in his trough feed and be fat.
Finis, quoth mafter Fogge, chief fecretary and counfel-
lor to mailer Rufford.
Glos. How fayft thou Rood, doth Rufford fofter
this?
SJwre. He is a traitour, if he do, my lord.
Ruf. I fofter it 1 dread lord, I aske no grace,
If I be guilty of this libelling.
Vouchfafe me iuftice, as you are my prince,
Againft this traitor that accufeth me.
Shore. What iuftice crauft thou ? I will combat
thee.
In fign whereof, I do unbutton me,
And in my fhirt my challenge will maintain.
Thou calft me traitor : I will proue thee one.
Open thy bofom like me, if thou dareft.
Ruf. I will not be fo rude, before his grace.
Shore. Thou wilt not ope the pack of thy dif-
grace.
Becaufe thy doublets ftufft with traiterous libels.
Glos. Catesby, tear off the buttons from his breaft.
What findft thou there ?
Cat. Your highnes hand and feal,
For tranfportation of hides, corne, and lead.
1 N
1 7 8 The fecond part of
Glos. Traitor, did I fign that commiffion ?
Ruf. O pardon me, moft royall King !
Glos. Pardon ? to counterfeit my hand and feal ?
Haue I beftowd fuch loue, fuch countenance,
Such truft on thee, and hich authority, ;
To haue my hand and fignet counterfet ?
To carry corn, the food of all the land,
And lead, which after might annoy the land,
And hides, whofe leather mofl relieue the land,
To flrangers, enemies vnto the land,
Didft thou fo nearly counterfeit my hand 1
Ruf. Not I, my liege ! but Fogge, the attorney.
Glos. Away with him, Louell and Catesby ^ go,
Command the Sheriffs of London prefently,
To fee him drawne, and hangd, and quartered.
Let them not drinke before they fee him dead.
Haft you again.
Louell and Catesby lead out Rufford.
Rttf. Well, Flood, thou art my death.
I might haue liud to haue feene thee lofe thy head.
Shore. Thou haft but iuftice for thy cruelty
Againft the guiltleffe fouls in mifery.
I aske no fauour, if I merit death.
Glos. Crauft thou no fauour? then I tell thee,
Flood,
Thou art a traitor, breaking our edict,
By fuccouring that traitrous quean, Shores wife,
And thou malt die.
Shore. If I haue broke the law.
Glos. If, traitor? didft thou not giue her thy
purfe ?
And doft thou not maintaine the deede ?
Enter Louell and Catesby againe.
Shore. I do,
If it be death to the relenting heart
Of a kind husband, wronged by a king,
To pity his poore weake feduced wife,
I
King Edward the fourth. 1 79
Whome all the world mufl fuffer by command,
To pine and perifh for the want of food :
If it be treafon for her husband then,
In the deare bowels of his former loue
To bury his owne wrong and her mifdeed,
And giue her meat whom he was wont to feed,
Then Shore mufl die ; for Flood is not my name,
Though once I tooke it to conceale my fhame.
Pity permits not injurd Shore pafs by,
And fee his once-loued wife with famine die.
Glos. Louell and Catesby \ this is Shore, indeed.
Shore^ we confefs that thou haft priuiledge,
And art excepted in our proclamation,
Becaufe thou art her husband, whom it concerns ;
And thou maid lawfully relieue thy wife,
Vpon condition thou forgiue her fault,
Take her againe, and vfe her as before ;
Hazard new homes; how faieft thou, wilt thou,
Shore ?
Shore. If any but your Grace mould fo vpbraid,
Such rude reproach mould roughly be repaid.
Suppofe for treafon that fhe lay condemned,
Might I not feed her till her hour of death,
And yet myfelf no traitor for it ?
Glof. Thou mightefl.
Shore. And why not now, (O pardon me, dread
lord!)
When fhe hath had both punifhment and fhame
Sufficient, fmce a king did caufe her blame,
May I not giue her food to faue her life,
Yet neuer take and vfe her as my wife ?
Glof. Except thou take her home againe to
thee,
Thou art a flranger, and it mall not be,
For if thou do, expect what doth belong.
Shore. I neuer can forget fo great a wrong.
Glof. Then neuer feede her whom thou canft not
loue.
Shore. My charity doth that companion moue.
N2
180 The fecond part of
Glof. Moue vs no more. Louell, let Aire
hangd,
Juft in the place where he relieued Shores wife.
Shore hath his pardon for this firfl offence :
The name of husband pleads his innocence.
Away with them : Catesby, come you with vs.
Exeunt.
Jockie is led to whipping ouer the Jlage, fpeaking fame
words, but of no importance. Then is young Aire
brought forth to execution by the Sheriff and Offi
cers, Mi/Iris Shore weeping, and mafter Shore
Jlanding by.
Aire. Good miftrifs Shore grieue me not with your
teares j
But let me go in quiet to my end.
Jane. Alas poore foule !
Was neuer innocent thus put to death !
Aire. The mores my ioy that I am innocent.
My death is the lefle grieuous, I am fo.
Jane. Ah mafter Aire\ the time hath been ere
now,
When I haue kneeld to Edward on my knees,
And beggd for him that now doth make me beg,
I haue giuen him when he hath begd of me,
Though he forbids to giue me when I beg.
I haue ere now relieued him and his,
Though he and his deny relief to me.
Had I been enuious then, as Richard now,
I had not ftarud, nor Edwards fons been murderd,
Nor Richard liued to put you now to death.
Aire. The more, Jane, is thy vertue and his fin.
Sheriff. Come fir difpatch !
Aire. Difpatch, fay you ? difpatch you may it
call :
He cannot Hay when death difpatch eth all.
Jane. Lord, is my fin fo horrible and grieuous,
That I mould now become a murderer ^
King Edward the fourth. 1 8 1
I haue faude the life of many a man condemnd,
But neuer was the death of man before.
That any man thus for my fake mould die,
Afflicts me more then all my mifery.
Aire. Jane, be content !
I am as much indebted vnto thee,
As vnto nature : I owed thee a life
When it was forfeit vnto death by law.
Thou begdft it of the king and gau'fl it me.
This houfe of flefh, wherein this foul doth dwell,
Is thine, and thou art landladie of it,
And this poor life a Tenant but at pleafure,
It neuer came to pay the rent till now,
But hath run in arerage all this while,
And now for very fhame comes to difcharge it,
When death diftrains for what is but thy due.
I had not ought thee fo much as I doe,
But by thy only mercy to preferue it,
Vntil I lofe it for my charity.
Thou giufl me more than euer I can pay.
Then do thy pleafure executioner
And now, farewell, kind, vertuous, miflrifs Shore \
In heauen weele meet again : in earth no more.
Here he is executed.
Jane. Farewell, farewell ! thou for thy alms doft
die,
And I mud end here flarued in mifery !
In life my friend, in death lie not forfake thee.
Thou goeft to heauen ; I hope to ouertake thee.
Shore. O world, what art thou ? man, euen from
his birth,
Finds nothing elfe but mifery on earth,
Thou neuer (world) fcorndft me fo much before ;
But I vaine world doe hate thee ten times more.
I am glad I fee approaching death fo nie
World thou hateft me : I thee, vain world defie.
I pray ye yet good matter officers !
Do but this kindnefs to poore wretched fouls,
As let vs haue the burial of our friend :
1 8 2 The fecond part of
It is but fo much labour fau'd for you.
She. There, take his body ! bury it where you
will;
So it be quickly done out of the way.
Exit Sheriff and Officers.
Jane. Whats he that begs the burial of my
friend 1
And hath fo oftentimes relieued me ?
Ah, gentle fir to comfort my fad woe,
Let me that good kind man of mercy know.
Shore. Ah, Jane now there is none but thou
and I,
Look on me well. Knowft thou thy Matthew
Shore ?
Jane. My husband ! then breake my heart , and
Hue no more !
:, , . Shefwounds, and he fupports her in his armes.
Shore. Ah my deare Jane comfort thy heauy
foule,
Go not away fo foone ; a little flay,
A little, little while, that thou and I,
Like man and wife may here together die.
Jane. How can I looke vpon my husbands face,
That fhamd myfelf, and wrought his deep dif-
grace \
Shore. Jane, be content. Our woes are now
alike.
With one felf rod thou feefl God doth vs flrike.
If for thy fin, ile pray to heauen for thee,
And if for mine, do thou as much for me.
Jane. Ah, Shore ifl poffible thou canil forgiue
me?
Shore. Yes, Jane, I do.
Jane. I cannot hope thou wilt.
My faults fo great, that I cannot expect it.
Shore. Ifaith, I do, as freely from my foule,
As at Gods hands I hope to be forgiuen.
Jane. Then God reward thee, for we now mufl
part :
King Edward the fourth. 183
I feel cold death doth feize vpon my heart
shore. And he is come to me. Lo ! here he lies ;
I feele him ready to clofe vp mine eyes.
Lend me thy hand to burie this our friend,
Anc then we both will haften to our end.
Here they put the body of yong Aire into a Coffin,
and then he fits down on the one fide of it, and
Jhe on the other.
fare, fit thou there ! Here I my place will haue,
jiie me thy hand ; thus we embrace our graue,
Ah, Jane \ he that the depth of woe will fee,
Lethim but now behold our mifery !
Butbe content \ this is the beft of all,
Lover than now we are, we cannot fall !
Jane. Ah, I am faint ! how happy Aire, art thou,
Notfeeling that which doth afflict us now !
Store. Oh, happy graue ! to us this comfort
^iuing !
Her< lies two liuing dead ! here one dead liuing !
Hen for his fake, lo ! this we do for thee !
Thoi lookfl for one, and art poffeft of three.
J-me. Oh, dying marriage! oh, fweet married
death
Tho. graue, which only mouldft part faithful friends,
Brin;fl vs togither, and doll joine our hands.
Oh, iuing death ! euen in this dying life,
Yet ere I go, once, Matthew kifs thy wife.
He kiffeth her, and /he dies.
Shore. Ah, my fweet Jane farewell, farewell, poor
foul!
N)W, tyiwrtftRickard do the worft thou canft.
Sie doth defie thee. Oh, vnconftant world,
lere lies a true anatomic of thee,
^ king had all my ioy, that her enioyed,
Aid by a king again me was deftroyecL
A\ ages of my kingly woes mail tell.
Cnce more, inconflant world farewell, farewell.
He dyes.
1 84 The fecond part of
Enter Sir Robert Brackenburie with two or three 4
his Seruants.
Bra. Sirs if the King, or elfe the Duke of Buck
ingham,
Do fend for me, I will attend them ftraight
But what are thefe, here openly lie dead ]
Oh, God! the one is miftrifs Shore > and this
Flood,
That was my man. The third is matter Aire,
Who fuffered death for his relieuing her.
They mall not thus lie in the open way.
Lend me your hands and heauie hearts withall
At mine own charge, lie giue them burialL
They bear them thene.
\
Enter King Richard, crowned, Buckingham, Ame
of Warwicke, Louell, Catesby, Fogg, and Atten
dants.
Rich, Mod noble Lords fince it hath pleafed yo
Beyond our expectation on your bounties,
T'empale my temples with the Diademe,
How far my quiet thoughts haue euer beene
From this fo great maieftike fouerainty,
Heauen beft can witnefs. Now I am your king.
Long may I be fo, to deferue your loue,
But I will be a feruant to you all,
Pray God my broken fleeps may giue you reft.
But onely that my bloud doth challenge it,
Being your lawfull Prince by true fucceffion,
I could haue wifht with all my heart I could,
This maiefty had fitten on the brow
Of any other !
So much do I affect a priuate life,
To fpend my dayes in contemplation.
But fmce that Heauen and you will haue it fo,
I take crown as meekly at your hands,
As free and pure from an ambitious thought,
King Edward the fourth. 1 8 5
As any new bom babe ! Thus mud thou Richard,
afide.
Seeme as a faint to men in outward mow,
Being a very diuill in thy heart.
Thus muft thou couer all thy villanies,
And keepe them clofe from ouerlookers eyes.
Buck. My foueraign by the general confent
Of all the Lords and commons of the land,
I tender to your royal maieflie
This princely lady, the Lady Anne of Warwick,
Judged the only worthier! of your loue,
To be your highneffe bride, faire Englands Queen.
Rich, My royall princely cofin, Buckingham
I fee you ftriue to bleffe me more and more.
Your bounty is fo large and ample to me,
You ouerflow my fpirits with your great loue.
I willingly accept this vertuous princefs,
And crowne her angel-beauty with my loue.
Lov. Then, at the hand of your high parliament,
I giue her here vnto your maiefly,
Rich. Lord Louell\ I as heartily receiue her.
Welcome, fair Queen !
Cat. And from the lords and commons of your
land,
I giue the free and voluntary oath
Of their allegeance to your maiefly,
As to their foueraign and liege lord and lady,
Richard the third and beauteous Anne, his queen,
The true and lawful king and queen of England.
Rich. I do accept it Catesby, and returne
Exchange of mutual and party loue.
Now, Fogge too, that in your traiterous libels,
Befides the counterfeiting of our hand and feal
For Rufford, though fo great a fault deferud
To fuffer death, as he already hath,
Going about to flubber our renowne,
And wound vs with reproach and infamy,
Yet, Fogge, that thou thyfelf maift plainly fee
How far I am from feeking fharp reuenge,
1 86 The fecond part of
Fogge, I forgiue thee. And withall we do
Repeal our heauy fentence gainft Shores wife,
Refloring all her goods ; for we intend
With all the world now to be perfect friends.
Cat. Why, my good lord, you know fhes dead
already.
Rich. True, Catesby, elfe I , ne'er had fpoke fuch
words afide.
Alas I fee, our kindneffe comes too late,
For Catesby tells me me is dead already.
Cat. I, my good lord, fo is her husband too.
Rich. Would they had liude, to fee our friendly
change,
But, Catesby, fay, where died Shore and his wife ?
Cat, Where A ire was hang'd for giuing her re
lief,
There both of them, round circkling his cold
graue,
And arme in arme, departed from this life.
The people, for the love they bear to her
And her kind husband, pitying his wrongs,
For euer after meane to call the ditch
Shores Ditch, as in the memory of them.
Their bodies, in the Friers minorities,
Are in one graue enterred all together.
But miftrefs Blage, for her ingratitude
To miflrefs Shore, lies dead vnburied,
And no one will afford her burial.
Rich. But miflrefs Bla%e, me mall haue burial
too,
What now ? we muft be friends ; indeed we mufl.
And now, my lords, I giue you all to know,
In memory of our eternal loue,
I doe ordain an Order of the bath,
Twelue knights in number of that royall fort,
Which Order, with all princely ceremonies,
Shall be obferued in all royall pompe,
As Edwards, our forefather, of the garter,
Which feafl our felfe and our beloued Queene
King Edward the fourth. 1 8 7
Will pi?efently folemnize in our perfon.
Buc. Now am I bold to put your grace in mind
Of my long fuit, and partly your own promife,
The Earle of Hereford* land.
Rich. Coufm, weele better think of that here
after.
Buc. My pains my lord hath not deferud delay.
Rich. Will you appoint our time, then you mail
flay.
For this hote haflinefs fir you mail flay.
Moue vs no more, you were befl.
Buc. I Richard, is it come to this *\
In my firfl fuite of all, doft thou deny me,
Breake thine^own word, and turn me off fo fleightly ?
Richard^ thou hadft as good.^haue damnd thy foul,
As bafely thus to deal with Buckingham.
Richard^ ile fit vpon thy crumped moulder,
I faith, I will, if heaven will giue me leaue ;
And, Harry Richmond, this hand alone
Shall fetch thee home, and feat thee in his throne.
* Exit.
Rich. What is he gone in heat, why, farewell he,
He is difpleafed : let him be pleafed again,
We haue no time to think on angry men.
Come, my fweet Queen, let vs go folemnize
Our Knighthoods Order in moft royall wife. Exeunt.
FINIS.
IF YOU KNOW NOT ME,
YOU KNOW NO BODIE;
OR,
The troubles of Queene ELIZABETH.
AT LONDON,
Pointed for Nathaniel Butter. 1605.
A Prologue to the P lay of Qiieene Elizabeth,
as it was lajl revived at the Cock-pit,
in which the Author taxeth the mojl
corrupted copy now imprinted, which
was publiflied without his confent.
Prologue.
Plays have a fate in their conception lent,
Some fo fhort liv'd, no fooner fhew'd, than fpent ;
But borne to day, to morrow buried, and
Though taught to fpeake, neither to goe nor fland.
This : (by what fate I know not) fure no merit,
That it difclaims, may for the age inherit,
Writing 'bove one and twenty ; but ill nurft,
And yet receiv'd, as well perform'd at firft,
Grac't and frequented, for the cradle age,
Did throng the Seates, the Boxes, and the Stage
So much ; that fome by Stenography drew
The plot : put it in print : (fcarce one word trew :)
And in that lameneffe it hath limp't fo long,
The Author now to vindicate that wrong
Hath tooke the paines, upright upon its feete
To teach it walke, fo pleafe you fit, and fee't,
\
IF YOU KNOW NOT ME,
YOU KNOW NOBODY;
OR,
The Troubles of Queen Elizabeth.
Enter SuiTex and Lord Chamberlaine.
Sujj.
|0od morrow, my good Lord Chamberlaine.
L. Cham. Many good morrowes to my
good Lord of Stiff ex.
Sujf. Who's with the Queen, my Lord ?
T.~Cham. The Cardinal of Winchefler, the Lord
of Tame, the good Lord Shandoyfe; and, befides,
Lord Howard, Sir Henry Beningfield^ and divers
others.
Suff. A word my lord in private.
Enter Tame and Shandoyfe.
Shand. Touching the Queene, my lord, who now
fits high,
1 n
1 94 If you know not me,
What thinks the realm of Philip, th' Emperours
forme,
A marriage by the Councell treated of ?
Tame. Pray God 't prove well.
Suff. Good morrow lords.
Tame. Good morrow, my good Lord of Sufftx.
Shand. I cry your Honours mercy.
Cham. Good morrow to the Lords of Tame and
Shaiidoyfe.
Tame. The like to you, my Lords. As you were
fpeaking
Enter Lord Howard and Sir Henry Beningfield.
Betting. Concerning Wiat and the Kentim rebels,
Their overthrow is pad : the rebell Dukes,
That fought by all meanes to proclaim Queen
Jane,
Chiefly Northumberland, for Guilfords fake
He forc'd his brother Duke vnto that war ;
But each one had his merit.
How. Oh my lord,
The Law proceeded gainfl their great offence,
And tis not well, fince they have fuffered judg
ment,
That we mould raife their fcandall, being dead :
Tis impious, not by true judgment bred.
Suff. Good morrow my Lord ; Good morrow,
good Sir Henry.
Bening. Pardon my lord I faw you not till
now.
Cham, Good morrow, good lord Howard.
How. Your Honors. The like to you, my lords.
Tame. With all my hart, Lord Howard.
Cham. Forward I pray.
Suff. The Suffolke men my Lord, were to the
Queen
The very ftayres by which me did afcend :
Shees greatly bound unto them for their loues.
you know no body. 195
Enter Cardinall of Winchefter.
Winch. Good morrow, Lords. Attend the Queene
into the prefence.
Suff. Your duties, Lords. Exeunt Omnes.
Enter Tame bearing the purfe, Shandoyfe the mace,
Howard the fcepter, Suffex the croume : then, the
Queene ; after her the Cardinall, Sentlow, Gage,
and attendants.
Queen. By Gods afliftance, and the power of
heaven,
We are inflated in our Brothers throne,
And all thofe powers that warred againfl our right,
By help of heauen and your friendly aide,
Difperfed and fled, here we may fit fecure.
Our heart is joyfull, lords, our peace is pure.
Enter Dodds.
Dodds. I do befeech your Maiefly perufe
This poor petition.
Queen. O Matter Dodds,
We are indebted to you for your loue.
You flood vs in great Head, euen in our ebb
Of fortune, when our hopes were neare declined,
And when our flate did beare the loweft faile,
Which we haue reafon to requite, we know :
Read his petition, my good Lord Cardinal!.
Dodds. Oh, gracious foueraign, let my lord, the
duke,
Haue the perilling of it,
Or any other that is near your Grace,
He will be to our fuite an oppofite.
Winch. And reafon, fellow. Madam, here is a large
recital and vpbraiding of your highnels foueraignty :
the Suffolke men, that lifted you to the throne, and
o 2
196 If you know not me,
here poffeft you, claim your promife you made to them
about Religion.
Dodds. True, gracious Soueraign ;
But that we do vpbraid your maiefty,
Or make recitall of our deeds forepafL
Other then confcience, honefty, and zeale,
By loue, by faith, and by our duty bound
To you, the true and next fucceflme heir,
If you contrary this, I needs muft fay,
Your skilleffe tongue doth make our well-tuned words
Jarre in the Princefle ears ; and of our text
You make a wrong conttruc"lion. Gracious Queene,
Your humble fubiedls proftrate in my mouth
A general fuit : when we firft flockt to you,
And made firft head with you at Fromagkam,
Twas thus concluded, that we, your liegemen,
Should ftill enioy our confciences, and vfe
That faith which in King Edwards dayes was held
canonicall.
Winch. May't pleafe your highnes note the Com
mons infolence :
They tie you to conditions and fet limits to your
liking.
Queen. They mall know,
To whom their faithfull duties they doe owe :
Since they, the limbs, the head would feeke to fway,
Before they gouerne, they (hall learne t' obey.
See it feuerely ordered, Winchefter.
Winch. Away with him, it mall be throughly
fcand j
And you vpon the pillory three dayes ftand.
Exit Dodds.
Bening. Has not your fitter, gracious Queene, a
hand
In thefe petitions ? Well your highnefs knowes,
She is. a fauourite of thefe heretiques.
Winch. And well remembred. Is't not probable
That fhe in Wiats expedition,
And other infurreclions lately queld,
you know no body. 197
Was a confederate ? If your highnefs will
Your own eftate preferue, you muft forefee
Fore danger, and cut off all fuch as would
Your fafety preiudice.
Bening. Such is your filler, a mere oppofite
To vs in our opinion ; and, befides,
Shes next fucceflive, mould your maiefty
Die iffuleffe, which heauen defend.
Omnes. Which heauen defend.
Bening. The ftate of our Religion would decline.
Queen. My lords of Tame and Chandoyfe,
You two (hall haue a firm commiffion fealed
To fetch our lifter, young Elizabeth,
From AJhbridge, where me lies, and with a band
Of armed fouldiers to conduct her vp to London,
Where we will heare her.
Sent. Gracious Queen,
She only craues but to behold your face,
That me might cleare herfelfe
Of all fuppofed treafons, Hill protefting
She is as true a fubiecl to your Grace,
As Hues this day.
Winch. Doe you not heare with what a faucy im
pudence
This Sentlow here prefumes ?
Queen. Away with him, He teach him know his
place ;
To frown when we frown, fmile on whom we grace.
Winch. 'Twill be a means to keep the reft in
awe,
Making their Soueraigns brow, to them a law.
Queen. All thofe that feeke our lifters caufe to
fauour,
Let them be lodged.
Winch. Young Courtney, Earle of Deuonjhire,
feems chiefly
To affea her faaion.
Queen. Commit him to the Tower,
198 If you know not me,
Till time affords vs and our Councell breathing fpace.
A home within.
Whence is that Pofte ?
Conft. My foueraign, it is from Southampton.
Queen. Our fecretary, vnfeale them,
And return vs prefent anfwer of the contents.
Whats the maine bufmefle.
Shefpeakes to the L. Conftable.
Conft. That Philip, Prince of Spaine,
Son to the Emperour, is fafely arriu'd,
And landed at Southampton.
Queen. Prepare to meet him, Lords, with all our
Pompe.
How. Prepare you, lords, with our faire Queene
to ride ;
And his high princely (late let no man hide.
Queen. Set forward, lords : this fudden newes is
fvveet ;
Two royall louers on the mid way meet. Ex omnes.
Enter Majler Gage, and a Gentlewoman.
Gage. Good morrow, miftreffe. Came you from
the Princeffe \
Worn. Mailer Gage, I did.
Gage. How fares her grace ?
.' '/om. O wondrous crazy, gentle Matter Gage.
Her lleepes are all vnquiet, and her head
Beats, and grows giddy with continuall griefe.
Gage. God grant her comfort, and releafe her
paine,
So good a lady few on earth remaine.
Enter the Clowne.
Clown. Oh, arme, arme, arme.
you know no body. 199
Gage. How now, whats the matter ?
Clown. Oh Lord the houfe is befet : fouldiers are
as hot as fire, are ready to enter euery hole about the
houfe j for as I was a'th top of the ftacke, the found
of the drum hot me fuch a box a'th eare, that I
came tumbling down the Hack, with a thoufand
billets a'th top on me. Look about, and helpe, for
God fake.
Gage. Heauen guard the Princeffe ! grant that all
be well !
This drum, I feare will proue her paffmg-bell.
Enter Tame and Shandoyfe, with Souldiers,
drum, &>c.
Tame. Wheres the Princeffe 1
Gage. Oh my honoured lords,
May I with reuerence prefume to aske
What meanes thefe armes ? Why do you thus
begirt
A poor weake lady, neare at point of death ?
Shand. Refolue the Princeffe we mud fpeake with
her.
Gentlew. My lords.
Know there is no admittance to her prefence
Without the leaue firft granted from herfelf.
Tame. Goe tell her we muft, and will.
Gentlew. He certify fo much. Exit Woman.
Gage. My lords, as you are honorably borne,
As you did loue her Father, or her Brother,
As you doe owe allegeance to the Queene,
In pity of her weakneffe and low flate,
With befl of fauour her commiferate,
Enter Woman.
Woman. Her Grace intreats you but to flay till
morne,
2Oo If you know not me.
And then your meffage mall be heard at full.
Shand. Tis from the Queene, and we will fpeake
with her.
Worn. He certify fo much.
Tame. It mail not need Preffe after her my
Lord.
Enter Elizabeth, in her bed. Doftor Owine, and Doftor
Wendith.
Eliz. We are not pleafed with your intrufion,
lords,
Is your haft fuch, or your affaires fo vrgent,
That fuddenly, and at this time of night,
You preffe on me, and will not Hay till morne ?
Tame. Sorry we are, fweet lady, to behold you
In this fad plight.
Eliz. And I, my lords, not glad.
My heart, oh, how it beates.
Shand. Madam,
Our meffage, and our duty from our Queene,
We come to tender to you. It is her pleafure
That you the 7. day of this moneth, appeare
At Weflminfter.
Eliz. At Weflminfter ? My lords, no foule more
glad then I
To doe my duty to her Majefty ;
But I am forry at the heart. My heart !
Oh good doclor raife jme. Oh, my heart ! ; I hope
my lords,
Considering my extremity and weaknefs,
You will difpenfe a little with your hafle.
Tame Do6lor Owine and Doclor Wendith^
You are the Queenes phyfitians, truly fworn
On your allegeance :
As before her highnefs you will anfwer it,
Speak, may the Princefs be remou'd with life \
you know no body. 201
D. Ow. Not without danger, lords, yet without
death.
Her feuer is not mortall ; yet you fee
Into what danger it hath brought the Princefle.
Shand. Is your opinion fo 1
D. Wend. My iudgement is, not deadly but yet
dangerous.
No fooner fhall me come to take the aire
But fhe will faint ; and, if not well prepared
And attended, her life is in much danger.
Tame. Madam, we take no pleafure to deliuer
So ftricl a meffage.
Eliz. Nor I my lords to heare a meffage deliuered
with fuch flridftnefs.
Well, muft I go ?
Shand. So fayes the Queene.
Eliz. Why, then, it mufl be fo.
Tame. To-morrow earely then you mufl prepare.
Eliz. Tis many a morrow fince my feeble legs
Felt this my bodies waight O I mall faint,
And if I tafte the rawneffe of the aire,
I am but dead ; indeed, I am but dead.
'Tis late ; conduct thefe lords vnto their chambers,
And cheere them well, for they haue iournied hard,
Whilfl we prepare vs for our morrows iourney.
Shand. Madam, the Queen hath fent her letter for
you.
Eliz. The Queen is kinde, and we will flriue with
death
To tender her our life.
We afe her fubiecl:, and obey her heft.
Good night : we wifh you what we want good reft.
Exeunt omnes.
Enter Queen Mary, Philip, and all the Nobles but
Tame and Shandoyfe.
Queen. Thus in the face of Heauen, and broad
eye
2O2 If you know not me,
Of all the multitude,
We giue a welcome to the Spanifh Prince.
Thofe plaufme fhouts, which giue you entertaine,
Eccho as much to the Almighties eares,
And there they found with pleafure, that excels
The clamorous trumpets and loud ringing bells.
Phil. Thrice excellent and euer gratious PrincerTe,
Doubly famous for vertue and for beauty,
We embrace your large-ftretched honours with the
arms of loue.
Our royal marriage, treated firft in heauen,
To be folemnized here, both by Gods voice
And by our loues confent, we thus embrace.
Now Spain and England^ two populous kingdomes
That haue a long time been oppofd
In hoflile emulation, (hall be at one.
This mall be Spani/h-England, ours EngliJh-Spaine.
Florifh.
Queen. Hark the redoubling ecchoes of the
people,
How it proclaimes their loues, and welcome to this
union.
Phil. Then here before the pillars of the land,
We do embrace and make a publike contract.
Our fouls are ioyfull : then, bright heauens fmile,
Whilft we proclaim our new-vnited ftile.
Queen. Reade Suffex.
Suff. (reads). Philip and Mary, by the grace of God,
King and Queene of England, Spaine, France, and Ire
land ; King and Queen of Naples, Cicilia, Leon, and
Aragon ; Arch-Duke and Ducheffe of Auftria, Bur-
gondy, of Brabant, Zealand, and Holland : Prince
and Princeffe of Sweaue ; Count and Counteffe of Haf-
burge, Maiorca, Sardinia, of the firme land and maine
ocean-fea ; Palatines of Hierufalem and of Henolt ;
Lord and Lady of Friefland, and of the Ifles \ and
Gouernor and Gouerneffe of all Africa and Afia.
Omnes. Long Hue the King and Queene.
Florifh.
yoti know no body. 203
King and Qu. We thanke you all.
L. Con/I. When pleafe yonr highnefs to folemnize
this your nuptials ?
Queen. The twenty-fifth day of this month, July.
Phil. It likes vs well. But, royall Queen, we
want
One lady at this high folemnity ;
We haue a filler called Elizabeth. (
Whofe virtues, and endowments of \ the mind,
Haue filld the eares of Spaine.
Winch. Great are the caufes, now too long to
fay,
Why fhee my foueraign, mould be kept away.
Conft. The Lords of Tame and Shandoyfe are re-
turn'd.
Enter Tame and Shandoyfe, and Gage.
Queen. How fares our fitter ? Is me come along ?
Tame. We found the Princeffe ficke and in great
danger ;
Yet did we vrge our ftric~t commiffion :
She much entreated that me might be fpar'd
Vntill her health and ftrength might be rettor'd.
Shand. Two of your highnes dodlors we then
call'd,
And charged them, as they would anfwer it,
To tell the truth, if that our iourneys toile
Might be no preiudice vnto her life,
Or if we might with fafety bring her thence.
They anfwered that we might. We did fo.
Here fhe is, to doe her duty to your maiefty.
Queen. Let her attend : we will find time to
heare her.
Phil. But, royall Queen, yet, for her vertues fake,
Deeme her offences, if me haue offended,
With all the lenity a fitter can.
Queen. My Lord of Winchejler> my Lord of
Suffex,
204 If you know not me,
Lord Howard, Tame, and Shandoyfe,
Take you commiffion to examine her
Of all fuppofed crimes. So to our nuptials.
Phil. What feftiuall more royall hath been feen,
Then twixt Spains Prince, and England* royall
Queen ? Exeunt.
Enter Elizabeth, her Gentlewoman, and three houJJiold
Seruants.
Eliz. Is not my gentleman-vfher yet returned 1
Gentlew. Madam, not yet.
Eliz. O, God ! my fear hath been
Good phyficke ; but the Queens difpleafure, that
Hath cured my bodies imperfection,
Hath made me heart fick, brain fick, and fick euen
to death.
What are you ?
i Seru. Your houfhold officers and humble fer-
uants,
Who, now your houfe, fair Princefs, is diffolued,
And quite broke vp, come to attend your Grace.
Eliz. We thanke you, and are more indebted for
your loues
Then we haue power or vertue to requite.
Alas ! I am all the Queens, yet nothing of myfelfe ;
But God and innocence,
Be you my patrons, and defend my caufe.
Why weepe you, gentlemen ?
Cook. Not for ourfelues : men are not made to
weep
At their owne fortunes. Our eyes are made of fire ;
And to extract water from fire is hard.
Nothing but fuch a Princeffe griefe as yours,
So good a lady, and fo beautiful, fo abfolute a
miftrifs,
And perfect, as you euer haue been,
Haue power to doe't : your forrow makes vs fad.
Eliz. My innocence yet makes my heart as light
you know no body. 205
As my front's heauy. All that Heauen fends is wel
come. . .
Gentlemen, diuide thefe few crownes amongft you :
I am now a prifoner, and mall want nothing.
I haue fome friends about her Maiefly
That are prouiding for me all things, all things ;
I, euen my graue ; and being poffefl of that,
I (hall need nothing. Weepe not, I pray ;
Rather, you mould reioice. If I mifcarry
In this enterprife, and you aske why,
A Virgin and a Martyr both I die.
Enter Gage.
Gage. He that firft gaue you life, protect that life
From thofe that wifh your death.
Eliz. Whats my offence 1 who be my accufers ?
Gage, Madam, that the Queene and Winchester
beft know.
Eliz. What fays the Queen vnto my late petition 1
Gage. You are denide that grace :
Her maiefly will not admit you conference.
Sir William Stntlow, vrging that motion,
Was firft committed, fince fent to the Tower.
Madam, in brief, your foes are the Queens friends,
Your friends her foes.
Six of the Councel are this day appointed
To examine you of certain articles.
Eliz. They mall be welcome. My God, in whom
in whom I truft,
Will help, deliver, faue, defend the iuft.
Enter Winchefter, Suffex, Howard, Tame, Shandoyfe,
and Conftable.
Sufs. All forbeare this place, vnleffe the Princefs.
Winch. Madam,
We from the Queen are joind in full commiffion.
They fa : JJie kneeles.
2O6
If you know not me.
Sufs. By your fauour, good my lord,
Ere you proceed. Madam, although this place
Doth tye you to this reuerence, it becomes not,
You being a Princefs, to deieci your knee.
A chair there !
Eliz. My duty with my fortunes doe agree,
And to the Queene in you I bend my knee.
Sufs. You mall not kneele where Suffex fits in
place.
The chamber-keeper, a chaire there, for her Grace !
Winch. Madam, perhaps you cenfure hardly
That was enforced in this commiffion.
Eliz. Know you your own guilt, my good Lord
Chancellor,
That you accufe yourfelfe ? I thinke not fo :
I am of this mind no man is my foe.
Winch. Madam,
I would you would fubmit vnto her highnes.
Eliz. Submit, my Lord of Winchefter ! Tis fit
That none but bafe offenders mould fubmit.
No, no, my lord : I eafily fpie your drift :
Hauing nothing whereon you can accufe me,
Do feek to haue myfelfe myfelfe betray ;
So by myfelfe mine owne blood mould be fpilt.
Confeffe fubmiffion, I confelfe a guilt.
Tame. What anfwer you to Wyats late rebellion ?
Madam, tis thought that you did let them on.
Eliz. Who ill will fay fo 1 Men may much fuf-
pe a,
But yet, my lord, none can my life detect.
I a confederate with thofe Kentilh rebels !
If I ere faw, or lent to them, let the Queen take my
head.
Hath not proud Wiat fuffered for his offence ?
And in the purging both of foul and body for
Heauen,
Did Wiat then accufe Elizabeth ?
Sufs. Madam, he did not.'
Eliz. My reuerent lord, I know it.
you know no body. 207
How. Madam he would not.
Eliz. Oh my good lord he could not.
Sufs. The fame day
Frogmorton was arraigned in the Guildhall,
It was impofd on him, whether this Princefs
Had a hand with him, or no : he did deny it
Cleared her fore his death, yet accufed others.
Eliz. My God be praifed !
This is newes but of a minute old.
Shand. What anfwer you to Sir Peter Carew, in
the Weft
The Weftern rebels r {
Eliz. Aske the vnborn infant : fee what that will
anfwer ;
For that and I are both alike in guilt.
Let not by rigor innocent blood be fpilt.
Winch. Come, madam ; anfwer briefly to thefe
treafons.
Eliz. Treafon, Lords ! If it be treafon
To be the daughter to th' eight Henry,
Siiler to Edward, and the next of blood
"Vnto my gracious Soueraign, the now Queene,
I am a traitor : if not, I fpit at treafon.
In Henries reign, this law could not haue flood.
Oh, God chat we mould fuffer for our blood.
C&nft. Madam,
The Queene mufl heare you fing another fong,
Before you part with vs.
Eliz. My God doth know,
I can no note but truth ; that with heauens King
One day in quires of angels I (hall fmg.
Winch. Then, madam, you will not fubmit 1
Eliz. My life I will, but not as guilty.
My lords, let pale offenders pardon craue :
If we offend, laws rigor let vs haue.
Winch. You are flubborne. Come, lets certify the
Queene.
Tame. Roome for the lords, there I
Exeunt Councel.
208 If you know not me,
Eliz. Thou Power Eternal, Innocents iuft guide,
That fway'fi the fcepter of all monarchies,
Prote6l the guiltleffe from thefe rauening jawes,
That hydeous death prefent by tyrants laws :
And as my heart is knowne to thee mofl pure,
Grant me releafe, or patience to endure.
Enter Gage and Seruants.
Gage. Madam, we, your poor humble feruants,
Made bold to prefs into your Graces prefence,
To know how your caufe goes.
Eliz. Well, well ; I thank my God, well.
How can a caufe go ill with innocents 1
For they to whom wrongs in this world are done,
Shall be rewarded in the world to come.
Enter the fix Councillors.
Winch. It is the pleafure of her maiefty,
That you be ftraight committed to the Tower.
Eliz. The Tower ! for what ?
Winch. Moreover, all your houfehold feruants
We haue difcharged, except this gentleman, your
vfher,
And this gentlewoman : thus did the Queen com
mand.
And for your guard, an hundred Northern white-
cotes
Are appointed to conduct you thither.
To-night, vnto your chamber : to-morrow earely
Prepare you for the Tower.
Your barge flands ready to conduct you thither.
She kneeles.
Eliz. Oh, God, my heart ! A prifoner in the
Tower 1
Speak to the Queene, my lords, that fome other place
May lodge her fitter ; thats too vile too bafe.
you know no body. 209
Sufs. Come, my lords, lets all ioin in one petition
to the Queen,
That me may not be lodged within the Tower.
Winch. My lord, you know it is in vain ;
For the Queens fentence is definitiue,
And we muft fee't performed.
Eliz. Then, to our chamber, comfortlefle and
fad:
To-morrow to the Tower that fatall place,
\Vhere I (hall nere behold the funnes bright face.
Sufs. Now, God forbid ! a better hap Heauen
fend.
Thus men may mourn for what they cannot mend.
Exeunt omnes.
Enter three white-cote Souldiers> with ajacke of beer e.
1. Come, my maflers, you know your charge.
Tis now about eleuen : here we muft watch till
morning, and then carry the Princeffe to the
Tower,
2. How mail we fpend the time till morning ]
3. Mafs, wele drink, and talke of our friends.
2. 1 but, my friend, do not talk of State matters.
i. Not I : He not meddle with the State. I hope
this a man may fay, without offence prethee drink
to me.
3. With all my heart, ifaith : this a majn might
lawfully fpeak. But now, faith, what waft about to
fay?
1. Mass, I fay this that the Lady Elizabeth is
both a lady and Elizabeth-, and if I mould fay fhe
were a vertuous princefs, were there any harm in
that?
2. No, by my troth, theres no harm in that. But
beware of talking of the Princefs. Lets meddle with
our kindred ; there we may be bold.
i. Well, firs, I haue two fifters, and the one loues
the other, and would not fend her to prifon for a mil-
i p
2 1 o If you know not me,
lion. Is there any harm in this ? He keepe myfelfe
within compaffe, I warrant you ; for I do not talke of
the Queene ; I talk of my fitters. lie keepe myfelfe
within my compafs, I warrant you.
3. I but fir; that word filler goes hardly down.
1. Why, fir, I hope 6 a man may be hold with his
own. I learned that of the Queen. He keepe my-
lelfe within compaffe, I warrant you.
2. I but fir, why is the Princefs committed ?
1. It may be, me doth not know herfelf. It may
be, the Queene knowes not the caufe. It may be, my
Lord of Winchejler doth not know. It may be fo :
nothing is impoffible. It may be, theres knauery in
monkery : theres nothing unpoffible. Is there any
harm in that?
2. Shoemaker, you goe a little beyond your
laft.
1. Why ? In faying nothing's unpoffible ? He
fland to it. For faying a truth's a truth ? He proue
it.- For faying there may be knauery in munkery ?
He iuftify it. I do not fay there is, but may be. I
know what I know : he knowes what he knowes.
Marry, we know not what euery man knowes.
2. My matters, we haue talkd fo long, that I
thinke tis day.
1. I think fo too. Is there any harme in all
this?
2. None ith world.
3. And I thinke by this time the Princeffe is
ready to take her barge.
i. Come, then, lets go. Would all were well.
Is there any harme in all this ? but, alas !
Wifhes and teares haue both one property ;
They mew their loue that want the remedy.
Exeunt omnes.
Enter Winchetter and Beningfield.
Wtnch. Did you not mark what a piteous eye (he
caft
you know no body. 211
To the Queens window, as (he pafs'd along \
Fain fhe would haue ftaid, but that I caufed
The bargemen to make hafte and row away.
Bening. The bargemen were too defperate, my
lord,
In flaying till the water was fo low ;
For then, you know, being vnderneath the Bridge,
The barges flerne did flrike vpon the ground,
And was in danger to haue drovvnd vs all.
Winch. Well, fhe hath fcapd that danger.
Would fhe but conform herfelf in her opinion,
She onely might rely vpon my loue,
To win her to the fauour of the Queene.
Bening. But that will neuer be : this is my cen-
fure ;
It (he be guilty in the lead degree,
May all her wrongs furuiue and light on her :
If other ways, that (he be cleared. Thus, both ways
I wi(h her downe, or elfe her (late to raife.
Enter Suffex, Tame, Howard, Shandoyfe, and Gage.
Sufs. Why doth the Princeffe keepe her barge fo
long ?
Why lands (he not ? Some one go fee the caufe.
Gage. That (hall be my charge, my lord.
Exit Gage.
Sufs. Oh, me my lords, her (late is wondrous
hard.
I haue feene the day my hand Ide not haue lent
To bring my foueraigns fifter to the Tower.
Good my lords, (Iretch your commiflion
To do this Princeffe but fome little fauour.
Shand. My lord, my lord,
Let not the loue we bear the Princefle
Incur the Queens difpleafure : tis no dallying with
matters of State. Who dares gainfay the Queene ?
Sufs. Marry a God, not I ; no, no, not I :
Yet who (hall hinder thefe mine eyes to forrow
p 2
212 If you know not me,
For her forrow ? By Gods marry dear,
That the Queene could not, though herfelf were
My lords, my lords, if it were held foule treafon
To grieue for her hard vfage, by my foule,
Mine eyes would hardly proue me a true fubiec"l.
Tis the Queens pleafure, and we muft obey ;
But I fliall mourn, mould King and Queen fay nay.
Enter Gage.
Gage. My grieued miftrefs humbly thus intreats,
For to remoue back to the common ftaires,
And not to land where traytors put to more.
Some difference me entreats your honours make
Twixt Oyflal fountains and foul, muddy fprings ;
Twixt thofe that are condemned by the law,
And thofe whom treafons ftaine did neuer blemifh.
Thus (he attends your anfwer ; and fits ftill,
Whilft her wet eyes full many a tear doth fpill.
Sufs. Marry a God, tis true, and tis no reafon.
Lanch bargeman !
Good lady land where traitors vfe to land,
And fore her guilt be proued 1 Gods marry, no,
And the Queen wills it, that it mould be fo.
Chand. My lord, you muft looke into our comrm'f-
fion.
No fauor's granted, me of force muft land :
Tis a decree which we cannot withftand.
So tell her, Mafter Gage. Exit Gage.
Sufs. As good a lady as ere England bred.
Would he that caufed this woe had loft his head !
Enter Gage, Elizabeth, and Clarentia, her Gentle
woman.
Gage. Madam, you haue ftept too mort into the
water.
Eliz. No matter where I tread.
Would where I fet my foot there lay my head.
you know no body. 2 1 3
Land traitor like ! My foots wet in the flood ;
So fhall my heart ere long be drencht in blood.
Enter Conjlable.
Winch. Here comes the Conftable of the Tower.
This is your charge.
Conjl. And I receiue my prifoner. Come, will
you go ?
Eliz. Whither, my lord 1 vnto a grate of iron,
Where griefe and care my poore heart (hall en-
uiron ?
I am not well.
Sufs. A chair for the Princefle !
Conft. Heres no chair for prifoners.
Come, will you fee your chamber ?
Eliz. Then, on this ftone, this cold flone, I will
fit.
I needs muft fay, you hardly me entreat,
When for a chair this hard flone is my feat.
Sufs. My lord, you deal too cruelly with the
Princefs.
You knew her father ; flies no flranger to you.
- Tame. Madam, it raines.
Sufs. Good lady, take my cloake.
Eliz. No ; let it alone. See, gentlemen,
The piteous heauens weepe teares into my bofom.
On this cold flone I fit, raine in my face ;
But better here then in a worfer place,
Where this bad man will lead me.
Clarentia, reach my booke.
Now, lead me where you pleafe, from fight of day,
Or in a dungeon I fhall fee to pray.
Exeunt Elizabeth, Gage, Clarentia, and Conjlable.
Sufs. Nay, nay, you need not bolt and lock fo
faft;
She is no ftarter. Honorable lords,
Speake to the Queene me may haue fome releafe.
214 If y oic know not me,
Enter Conftable.
Conjl. So, fo. Let me alone, let me alone to
coope her.
He vfe her fo, the Queen mail much commend
My diligent care.
How. Where haue you left the Princeffe ?
Conft. Where me is fafe enough, I warrant you.
I haue not granted her the priuilege
Of any walke or garden, or to ope
Her windowes cafements to receiue the air.
Sufs. My lord, my lord, you deal without re-
fpeO, '
And worfe then your commiflion can maintain.
Conft. My lord, I hope I know my office
well,
And better then yourfelf within this place :
Then teach not me my duty. She mall be vfed fo
flill;
The Queene commands, and He obey her will.
Sufs. But if this time mould alter, marke me
well,
Could this be anfwer'd ? Could it fellow peers ?
I think not fo.
Conft. Turn, turn ! the Queen is young, likely to
beare
Of her own body a more royall heir.
Enter Gage.
Gage. My lords, the Princeffe humbly entreats,
That her owne feruants may beare vp her diet.
A company of bafe, vntutord flaues,
Whofe hands did neuer ferue a princefs board,
Do take that priuiledge.
Conft. Twas my appointment, and it mail be fo.
Sufs. Gods marry, deare, but it mall not be.
Lord Howard, ioine with me : we'll to the King.
you know no body. 2 1 5
Enter Souldiers, tuith diflies.
Gage. Stay, good my lords : for inflance, fee, they
come.
If this be feemly, let your honours iudge.
Stifs. Come, come, my lords : why doe you ftay
fo long ?
The Queens high fauour mail amend this wrong.
Exeunt omnes, prater Gage 6- Con/lab.
Conjl. Now fir, what haue you got by your com
plaining, you common find-fault What is your Miftris
ftomacke fo queafie ] our honed Souldiers mufl not
touch her meat, then let her fail ; I know her flomacke
will come downe at laft.
Enter Souldiers with more di/hes. Gage takes one from
them.
Gage. Untutord flaue, He eafe thee of this
burthen.
Her highnefle fcorns
To touch the difh her feruants bring not vp.
Conjl. Prefume to touch a dim, He lodge thee
there,
Where thou malt fee no fun, in one whole yeare.
Exeunt Conjlabk and Soldiers.
Gage. I would to God you would in any. place
Where I might Hue from thought of her difgrace !
Oh ! thou all-feeing heauens, with piteous eye
Look on the oppreffions of their cruelty.
Let not thy truth by falmood be oppreil,
But let her vertues mine, and giue her reft.
Confound the flights and praclife of thofe men,
Whofe pride doe kick againfl the leat of Heauen.
Oh ! draw the curtains from their filthy fin,
And make them loathe the hell which they Hue in.
Profper the Princeffe, and her life defend ;
A glorious comfort to her troubles fend.
If euer thou hadfl pity, hear my prayer,
And giue releamient to a Princes care. Exit Gage.
2i 6 Ifyott know not me,
A DUMB SHOW.
Enter fix with torches. Tame and Chandos, bare
headed ; Philip and Mary after them ; then Win-
chefter, Beningfield, and Attendants. At the
other door, Suffex and Howard. Suffex deliuers
a petition to the King, the King receiues it,Jhows it
to the Queen ; Jhe Jhows it to Winchefter and to
Beningfield ; they ftorm : the King whifpers to
Suffex, and raifes him and Howard ; giues them
the petition : they take their leaues and depart. The
King whifpers a little to the Queen. Exeunt.
. Enter Conftable and Gage.
Gage. The Princefs thus entreats you honord
lord ;
She may but walke in the Lieutenants garden,
Or elfe repofe herfelfe in the Queens lodgings.
My honourd lord, grant this, as you did loue
The famous Henry, her deceafed father.
Conft. Come, talke not to me, for I am re-
folu'd
Nor lodging, garden, nor Lieutenants walkes,
Shall here be granted : flies a prifoner.
Gage. My Lord, they fhall.
Con/1. How (hall they, knaue ?
Gage. If the Queen pleafe, they fhall.
A noble and right reuerend councellor
Promifd to beg it of her Maiefty ;
And if me fay the word, my lord, me fhall.
Conft. I ; if me fay the word, it fhall be fo.
My Lord of Winchefter fpeakes the contrary ;
So doe the clergy : they are honefl men.
Gage. My honoured lord, why mould you take de
light
To torture a poor lady innocent 1
you know no body. 217
The Queene I know, when (he mall heare of this,
Will greatly difcommend your cruelty.
You feru'd her father, and he lou'd you well :
You feru'd her brother, and he held you deare ;
And can you hate the filler he beft loued 1
You ferue her fitter ; fhe efleemes you high,
And you may liue to ferue her, ere you die.
And, therefore, good my lord, let this preuail :
Only the cafements of her windowes ope,
Whereby fhe may receiue frefh gladfome air.
Con/I. Oh ! you preach well to deaf men : no,
not I.
So letters may fly in ; He none of that
She is my prifoner ; and if I durfl,
But that my warrant is not yet fo Ariel,
Ide lay her in a dungeon where her eyes
Should not haue light to read her prayer-booke.
So would I danger both her foul and body,
Caufe me an alien is to vs Catholikes :
Her bed mould be all fnakes, her reft defpaire ;
Torture mould make her curfe her faithleffe prayer.
Enter Suffex, Howard, and Seruants.
Suff. My lord, it is the pleafure of the Queene,
The prifoner Princeffe mould haue all the vfe
Of the Lieutenants garden, the Queens lodgings,
And all the liberty this place affords.
Conft. What meanes her Grace by that 1
Suff. You may goe aske her, and you will, my
lord.
Moreouer, tis her highnefs further pleafure,
That her fworne feruants mail attend on her :
Two gentlemen of her ewry, two of her pantry,
Two of her kitchin, and two of her wardrobe,
Befides this gentleman here Mafter Gage.
Conft. The next will be her freedom. Oh this
mads me.
How. Which way lies the Princeffe ?
2 1 8 If y oil know not me,
Con/I. This way, my lord.
How. This will be glad tidings. Come, lets tell
her Grace.
Exeunt omues, prater Conftable 6 Gage.
Gage. Wilt pleafe your honour let my lady
walke
In the Lieutenants garden,
Or may but fee the lodgings of the Queen,
Or ope the cafements to receiue frefh air ?
Shall me, my lord 1 Shall me this freedom vfe ?
She mall ; for you can neither will nor chufe.
Or (hall me haue fome feruants of her own,
To attend on her ? I pray, let it be fo ;
And let your looke no more poore prifoners
daunt,
I pray, deny not what you needs muft grant.
Exit Gage.
Conjl. This bafe groome flouts me. Oh this frets
my heart :
Thefe knaues will iet vpon their priuiledge.
But yet He vex her : I haue found the means.
He haue my cookes to dreffe my meate with hers,
And euery officer my men mail match.
Oh! that I could but drain her hearts deare
blood.
Oh ! it would feede me, do my foule much good.
Enter the Clown beating a Souldier.
Exeunt.
Enter Cooke beating another Souldier.
Conjl. How now ! what meanes the fellow ?
Cook. Audacious flaue, prefuming in my place !
Conjl. Sir twas my pleafure, and I did command
it.
Cook. The proudell he that keeps within the
Tower
you know no body. 2 1 9
Shall haue not eye into my priuate office.
Con/I. No, fir <{ Why, fay tis I.
Cook. Be it yourfelf, or any other here,
He make him fup the hotteft broth I haue.
Conft. You will not.
Cook. Zounds ? I will :
I haue been true to her, and will be dill.
Exit Cooke.
Conft. Well ; He haue this amended, ere't be long,
And venge myfelf on her for all their wrong.
Exeunt omnes.
Enter a Boy with a nofegay.
Boy. I haue got another nofegay for my young
lady.
My lord faid I fhould be foundly whipt,
If I were feen to bring her any more ;
But yet He venture once again, ftie's fo good.
Oh ! here's her chamber : He call and fee if (he be
ilirring.
Where are you, lady 1
Eliz. Welcome, fweet boy : what haft thou brought
me there 1
Boy. Madam, I haue brought you another nofe
gay'
But you mufl not let it be feene ; for, if it be,
I mail be foundly whipt : indeed, la, indeed, I
mail.
Eliz. God a mercy, boy ! Heres to requite thy
loue. Exit: Eliz.
Enter Conflable, Suffex, Howard, and Attendants.
Conft. Stay him, flay him 1 Oh haue I caught you,
.fir?
Where haue you been 1
Boy. To carry my young lady fome more
flowers.
22o If you know not me,
How. Alas, my lord ! a child, Pray, let him go.
Confl. A crafty knaue, my lords. Search him for
letters.
Sujj. Letters, my lord ! It is impoffible.
Conjt. Come, tell me what letters thou carryedft
her?
He giue thee figs and fugar-plums.
Boy. Will you, indeed? Well, He take your
word,
For you looke like an honefl man.
Confl. Now, tell me what letters thou deli-
ueredft ?
Boy. Faith, gaffer, I know no letters but great A,
B, and C : I am not come to K yet.
Now, gaffer, will you giue me my fugar-plums ?
Conft. Yes, marry will I, Take him away :
Let him be foundly whipt, I charge you, firrah.
Enter Elizabeth, Gage, and Clarentia,
Eliz. They keep euen infants from vs : they do
well.
My fight they haue too long barred, and now my
fmell.
This Tower hath made me fall to hufwifry :
I fpend my labours to relieue the poor.
Go, Gage ; diflribute thefe to thofe that need.
Enter Winchefler, Beningfield, and Tame.
Winch. Madam, the Queene, out of her royal
bounty,
Hath freed you from the thraldom of the Tower,
And now this gentleman muft be your guardian.
Eliz. I thank her me hath rid me of a tyrant.
Is he appointed now to be my keeper ?
What is he, lords ?
Tame. A gentleman in fauqr with the Queene.
you know no body. 221
Eliz. It feems fo, by his charge. But tell me,
Gage,
Is yet the fcaffold Handing on Tower Hill,
Whereon young Guilford and the Lady Jane
Did fuffer death ?
Gage. Vpon my life it ftands not.
Eliz. Lord Howard, what is he ^
How. A gentleman, though of a fterne afpecl ;
Yet milde enough, I hope your Grace will finde.
Eliz. Hath he not, think you, a ftretcht con-
fcience ;
And if my fecret murder mould be put into his
hands,
Hath he not heart, think you, to execute ?
How. Defend it, Heauen ; and Gods almighty
hand
Betwixt your Grace and fuch intendments fland.
Bening. Come, madam ; will you go ?
Eliz. With all my heart. Farewell, farewell :
I am freed from limbo, to be fent to hell.
Exeunt omnes.
Enter Cook and Pantler.
Cook. What ftorme comes next ? this hath difperft
vs quite,
And fhatterd vs to nothing.
Though we be denied the prefence of our miftre/s>
Yet we will walke aloofe, and none controle vs.
Pant. Here will fhee croffe the riuer ; ftand in her
eye,
That me may take fome notice of our neglecled
duties.
Enter three poor men.
i. Come : this way, they fay, the fweet Princefs
comes. Let vs prefent her with fuch tokens of good
will as we haue.
222 If you know not me,
2. They fay fhe's fuch a vertuous Princefs, that
ihe'll accept of a cup of cold water ; and I haue euen
a nofegay for her Grace. Here fhee comes.
Enter Elizabeth, Beningfield, Gage, and Tame.
Omnes. The Lord preferue thy fweet Grace.
Eliz. What are thefe ?
Gage. The townefmen of the country, gather'd
here
To greet your Grace, hearing you paft this way.
Eliz. Giue them this gold, and thanke them for
their loues.
Bening. What traitor knaues are gather'd here, to
make a tumult ?
Omnes. Now, the Lord blefs thy fweet Grace !
Bening. If they perfift, I charge you, foldiers, flop
their mouths.
Eliz. It mall not need.
The poor are louing, but the rich defpife ;
And though you curb their tongues, fpare them their
eyes.
Your loue my fmart allayes not, but prolongs :
Pray for me in your hearts, not with your tongues.
See, fee, my lord : looke, I haue ftilld them all.
Not one amongfl them but debates my fall.
Tame. Alas, Sir Harry, thefe are honeft country
men,
That much reioice to fee the Princefs well.
Bening. My lord, my lord, my charge is great.
Tame. And mine as great as yours. Bells.
Bening. Hark, hark, my lord, what bells are
thefe ?
Gage. The townfmen of this village,
Hearing her highnefs pafs this way,
Salutes her coming with this peal of bells.
Bening. Traitors and knaues ! Ring bells,
When the Queens enemy paffeth through the town 1
Go, fet the knaues by the heels : make their pates
you know no body. 223
Ring noon, I charge thee, Barwicke. Exit Barwicke.
Eliz. Alas, poor men ! help them, thou God
aboue !
Thus men are forc'd to fuffer for my loue.
What faid my feruants thofe that flood aloof?
Gage. They deeply coniur'd me, out of their loues,
To know how your cafe goes, which thefe poor people
fecond.
Eliz. Say to them, tanquam Ovis.
Bening. Come, come away. This lingering will
benight vs.
Tame. Madam, this night your lodging's at my
houfe :
No prifoner are you, madam, for this night.
Bening. How ? no prifoner t \
Tame. No ; no prifoner. What I intend to do,
He anfwer. Madam, will 't pleafe you go 1
Exit Eliz., Beningfield, and Tame.
Cook. Now, gentle matter vfher, what fayes my
lady?
Gage. This did (he bid me fay tanquam Ovis.
Farewell, I muft away. Exit Gage.
1. Tanqus our is 1 Pray, what's tanqus our is ,
neighbour 1
2. If the pried were here, he'd fmell it out
ftraight.
Cook. Myfelf haue been a fcholar, and I under-
ftand what tanqtiam Ovis meanes.
We fent to know how her Grace did fare :
She tanquam ovis faid : even like a (heep
That's to the (laughter led.
1 . Tanquam ovrus : that I mould Hue to fee tan-
quam ovris.
2. I (hall ne'er loue tanquam ovris again, for this
tricke. Exeunt omnes.
Enter Beningfield and Barwick, his man.
Bening. Barwick, is this the chair of (late I
224 If you know not me,
Barw. I, fir ; this is it.
Bening. Take it downe, and pull off my boots.
Barw. Come on, Sir.
Enter Clowne.
Clown. O monftrous, what a fawcy companion's
this ? to pull off his boots in the chair of flate. He fit
you a pennyworth for it.
Bening. Well faid, Barwicke. Pull, knaue.
Barw. Ah, ha, fir !
Bening. Well faid : now it comes.
The Clowne pulls the chair from vnder him.
Clown. Gods pity, I thinke you are downe. Cry
you mercy.
Bening. What faucy arrant knaue art thou ?
How?
Clown. Not fo faucy an arran^ naue as your wor-
fhip takes me to be.
Bening. Villain ! thou hafl broke my crooper.
Clown. I am forry tis no worfe for your wor-
Ihip.
Bening. Knaue ! dofl flout me ?
Exeunt. He beats him out.
Enter the Englijhman and Spaniard.
Spa. The wall, the wajl.
Eng. Sblood. Spaniard, you get no wall here,
vnlefs you would haue your head and the wall knockt
together.
Spa. Signor Cavalero Danglatero, I mufl haue the
wall.
Eng. I doe protefl, hadfl thou not enforft it,
I had not regarded it; but, fince you will needs
haue the wall, He take the pains to thruft you into
the kennel.
Sp. Oh, bafe Cavalero, my fword and poynard,
well-tried in Toledo, fhall giue thee the imbrocado.
you know no body. 225
Eng. Marry, and welcome, fir. Come on.
They fight : he hurts the Spaniard.
Spa. Holo, holo ! thou haft giuen me the can-
viffado.
Eng. Come, fir ; will you any more ?
Spa. Signer Cavalero, look behind thee. A blade
of Toledo is drawne againft thee.
He lookes backe : he kills him.
Enter Philip, Howard, Suflex, Con/table and
Grefham.
Phil. Hang that ignoble groome ! Had we
not
Beheld thy cowardice, we mould haue fworn
Such bafenefs had not followed vs,
Spa. Oh, voftro -vandado, grand Emperato.
How. Pardon I n, my lord.
Phil. Are you refpecllefs of our honor, lords,
That you would haue vs bofom cowardife ?
I do protefl, the great Turkes empire
Shall not redeem e thee from a felons death.
What place is this, my lords ?
Sujf. Charing Crofs, my liege.
Phil. Then, by this crofs, where thou haft done
this murder,
Thou (halt be hang'd. So, lords, away with him.
Exit Spaniard.
Suff. Your grace may purchafe glory from aboue,
And entire loue from all your peoples hearts,
To make atonement 'twixt the woful Princefle
And our dread foueraign, your moil virtuous Queene.
How. It were a deed worthy of memory.
Con/I. My lord, flies factious : rather could I
wilh
She were married to fome priuate gentleman,
And with her dower conuaid out of the land,
Then here to ftay, and be a mutiner.
So may your higfmefle ftate be more fecure ;
i Q
226 If you know not me,
For whilft me Hues, warres and commotions,
Foul infurreclions, will be fet abroch.
I thinke twere not amiffe to take her head :
This land would be in quiet, were me dead.
Sufs. O, my lord, you fpeake not charitably.
Phil. Nor will we, lords, embrace his heedleffe
counfell.
I do proteft, as I am King of Spain^
My utmoft power He ftretch to make them friends.
Come, lords, lets in : my loue and wit He try,
To end this jarre ; the Queene mail not deny.
Exeunt omnes.
Enter Elizabeth, Beningfield, Clarentia, Tame, Gage,
and Barwicke.
Eliz. What fearful terror doth affaile my heart ?
Good Gage, come hither, and refolue me true
In thy opinion, (hall I outliue this night ?
I preethee, fpeake.
Gage. Outliue this night ! I pray Madam, why ?
Eliz. Then, to be plaine, this night I looke to
die.
Gage. O, madam, you were borne to better for
tunes,
That God that made you will protect you ftill
From all your enemies that wifh you ill.
Eliz. My heart is fearful.
Gage. Oh, my honord lord,
As euer you were noble in your thoughts,
Speake, mail my lady outliue this night, or no ?
Tame. You much amaze me, fir : elfe heauen fore-
fend.
Gage. For if we fhould imagine any plot
Pretending to the hurt of our deare miflrifs,
I and my fellowes, though farre vnable are
To fland againfl your power, will die together.
Tame. And I with you would fpend my deareft
blood
you know no body. 227
To doe that virtuous lady any good.
Sir Harry, now my charge I mutt refigne :
The lady's wholly in your cuftody ;
Yet vfe her kindly, as me well deferues,
And fo I take my leaue. Madam adieu. Exit Tame.
Eliz. My honord lord, farewell : vnwilling I
With griefe and woe mutt continue.
Help me to fome inke and paper, good Sir Harry.
Bening. What to doe, madam 1
Eliz. To write a letter to the Queene, my fitter.
Bening. I find not that in my Commifiion.
Eliz. Good iailor, vrge not thy Commiffion.
Bening. No iailor, but your guardian, madam.
Eliz. Then, reach me pen and inke.
Bening. Madam, I dare not : my Commiffion
ferues not.
Eliz. Thus haue you driuen me off, from time to
time,
Still vrging me with your Commifiion.
Good iailor, be not fo feuere.
Bening. Good madam, I entreat you, lofe that
name of iailor ; twill be a by-word to me and my pof-
terity.
Eliz. As often as you name your Commiffion,
So often will I call you iailor.
Bening. Say I fhould reach you pen, ink, and
paper,
Who ift dare beare a letter fent from you ?
Eliz. I do not keepe a feruant fo difhonett
\ That would deny me that.
Bening. Whoeuer dares, none mall.
Gage. Madam, impofe the letter to my truft.
^Vere I to beare it through a field of pikes,
aid in my way ten thoufand arm'd men ambufht,
le make my paffage through the midft of them,
id perforce beare it to the Queene your fitter.
Bcnmg. Body of me, what a bold knaue's this.
\Eliz. Gage, leaue me to myfelfe.
C3V i T\ ,1 j *J9/1 1
th< u euer ung Power > that g uid ' ft a11 nearts
\
\
22'
228 If you know not me,
Giue to my pen a true perfwafiue flyle,
That it may moue my impatient lifters eares,
And vrge her to compaffionate my woe. Jhe writes.
Beningfield takes a book, and lookes into it.
Bening. What has me written here 1
Much fufpecled by me, nothing proued can be,
he reads.
Finis, quoth Elizabeth, the prifoner.
Pray God it proue fo. Soft what booke's this ?
Marry a God ! whats here an Englifh Bible ?
Sanfla Maria, pardon this prophanation of my heart !
Water, Barwicke ! water ! lie meddle with't no more.
Eliz. My heart is heauy, and my eye doth clofe.
I am weary of writing fleepy on the fudden.
Clarentia, leaue me, and command fome mufic
In the withdrawing chamber. Jhefleeps.
Bening. Your letter mall be forthcoming, lady.
I will perufe it, ere it fcape me now.
Exit Beningfield.
A DUMB SHOW.
Enter Winchefter, Conftable, Barwick, and Fryers : At
the other door, two Angels. The Fryers ftep to her,
offering to kill her : the Angels driue them back.
Exeunt. The Angel opens the Bible, and puts it in
her hand as Jhe fleeps. Exeunt Angels. She
wakes.
Eliz. O, God how pleafant was this fleepe to me
Clarentia, fawft thou nothing ?
Clar. Madam, not I.
I ne'er flept foundlier for the time.
Eliz, Nor heardft thou nothing ?
Clar. Neither, madam.
Eliz. Didft thou not put this booke into
hand?
Clar. Madam not I.
Eliz. Then, twas by infpiration. Heauen, I
you know no body. 229
With his eternal hand, will guide the iuft.
What chapter's this ? Whofo putteth his truft in the
Lord, Jhall not be confounded.
My Sauiour, thankes ; on thee my hope I build :
Thou lou'fl poor innocents, and art their fhield.
Enter Beningfield and Gage.
Bening. Here haue you writ a long excufe, it
feemes,
But no fubmiffion to the Queene, your filler.
Eliz. Should they fubmit that neuer wrought of
fence ?
The law will alwayes quit wrong'd innocence.
Gage, take my letter : to the lords commend
My humble duty.
Gage. Madam, I fly
To giue this letter to her Maiefly.
Hoping, when I return,
To giue you comfort that now fadly mourn.
Exeunt cmnes, prczter Bening.
Bening. I, do, write and fend. He croffe you flill.
She mail not fpeake to any man aliue,
But He orehear her : no letter, nor no token
Shall euer haue acceffe vnto her hands,
But firft I fee it.
So, like a fubiec~l to my Soueraigns flate,
I will purfue her with my deadly hate.
Enter Clown.
Clown. O, Sir Harry! you looke well to your
office :
Yonders one in the garden with the Princeffe.
Bening. How, knaue ! with the Princeffe ? me
parted euen now.
Clown. I fir, that's all one ; but fhee no fooner
came into the Garden, but he leapt ore the wall ; and
there they are together bufy in talke fir.
2 3 If you know not me,
Betting. Here's for thy paines : thou art an honed
fellow.
Go, take a guard, and apprehend them draight.
Ex. Clown.
Bring them before me. O this was well found out.
Now will the Queene commend my diligent care,
And praife me for my feruice to her Grace.
Ha 1 traitors fwarm fo neare about my houfe ?
Tis time to look into't. Oh, well faid, Barwicke.
Where's the prifoner ?
Enter Clown, Barwick, and Soldiers, leading a goat :
his f word drawne.
Clown. Here he is, in a dring, my lord.
Bening. Lord blefs vs ! Knaue, what had thou
there ?
Clown. This is he I told you was bufy in talk with
the PrincerTe. What a did there, you mud get out of
him by examination.
Bening. Why, knaue, this is a bead.
Clown: So may your worfhip be, for any thing that
I know.
Bening. What art thou, knaue ?
Clown. If your wormip does not remember me, I
hope your worfhips crooper doth. But if you haue
any thing to fay to this honed fellow, who for his
gray head and reuerent beard is fo like, he may be
akinne to you.
Bening. Akin to me? Knaue, I'll haue thee
whipt
Clown. Then, your worfhip will cry quittance with
my poderiors, for mifufmg of yours.
Bening. Nay, but dod thou flout me dill ?
He beats him. Exeunt.
Zfafcr.Winchefter, Grefham with paper ; Conjlable
with a Purfeuant.
GreJJi. I pray your honour to regard my hade.
you know no body. 231
Winch. I know your bufmeffe, and your hafle
(hall flay.
As you were fpeaking, my Lord Conflable.
Cmijl. When as the King fhall come to feale thefe
writs.
Grefli, My lord, you know his Highnes treafure
Hays,
And cannot be tranfported thefe three moneths,
Vnleffe that now your honour feal my warrant.
Winch* Fellow, what then I This warrant, that
concernes
The Princefs death, muffle amongft the refl :
He'll ne'er perufe'L
Grejh. How ! the Princefs death ? Thankes,
Heauen, by whom
I am made a willing inflrument her life to faue,
That may Hue crownd when thou art in thy graue,
Exit Grefham.
Which. Stand ready, Purfevant, that when tis
fignd,
Thou niaiii be gone, and gallop with the winde.
Enter Philip, Suffex, and Gage.
Phil, Our Chancellor, lords. This is our fealing
day:
This our States bufmefs. Is our fignet there 1
Enter Howard and Grefham, as lie is fealing.
How. Stay your imperial hand ! Let not your feal
Imprint deaths imprefs in your fitters heart
Phil. Our fiflers heart ! Lord Howard, what
meanes this!
How. The Chancelor, and that inuirious lord
Can well expound the meaning.
Winch. Oh, chance accurft ! how came he by this
notice 1
Her life is guarded by the hand of heauen,
232 If you know not me,
And we in vain purfue it.
Phil. Lord Chancellor, your dealing is not faire.
See, lords, what writs offer themfelues
To the imprefie of our feale.
Sujf. See, my lord, a warrant
For the Princeffe death, before fhe be convicted.
What jugling call you this ? See, fee, for Gods fake.
Gage. And a purfeuant, ready to poft,
Away with it, to fee it done with fpeed.
What flinty breft could brooke to fee her bleed ?
Phil. Lord Chancellor, out of our prerogatiue
We will make bold to enterline your warrant.
Sujff. Whofe plot was this ?
How. The Chancellors, and my Lord Conftables.
Suff. How was 't reuealed ?
How. By this gentleman, Matter Gre/ham, the
Kings Agent, here.
Sujff. He hath mew'd his loue to the King &
Queens maiefty,
His feruice to his Country, and care of the Princeffe.
Grejh. My duty to them all.
Phil. Inftead of charging of the Sheriffes ^vith
her,
We here difcharge her keeper, JBening field ',
And where we mould haue brought her to the block,
We now will haue her brought to Hampton Court,
There to attend the pleafure of the Queene.
The Purfeuant, that mould haue potted downe
With tidings of her death, beare her the meffage
Of her repriued life. You, Matter Gage,
Affitt his fpeed. A good days work we ha made,
To refcue innocence fo neare betray'd.
Enter Clown and Clarentia.
Clown. Whither go you fo fatt, Mittrifs Clarential
Clar. A milking.
Clown. A milking ! that's a poore office for a
madame.
you know no body. 233
Clar. Better be a milkmaide free, then a madam
in bondage.
Oh had ft thoii heard the Princeffe yefternight,
Sitting within an arbor, all alone,
To heare a milkemaid fmg,
It would haue moou'd a flinty heart to melt,
Weeping and wifhing, wifhing and weeping,
A thoufand times me with herfelf debates
With the poore milkmaid to exchange eftates.
She was a Sempfter in the Tower, being a Princeffe,
And mail I, her poor Gentlewoman, difdaine
To be a milkmaid in the country ?
Clown. Troth you fay true : euery one to his for
tune, as men go to hanging. The time hath been
when I would^a fcorn'd to carry coals, but now, the
cafe is alter'd j euery man as far as his talent will
ftretch.
Enter a Gentlewoman.
Gentle. Where's Miftrefs Clarentia 1 To horfe, to
horfe ! The Princeffe is fent for to the Court. She's
gone already. Come, let's after.
Clar. The Princefs gone, and I left here be-
hinde ?
Come, come : our horfes mall outflrip the winde.
Clown. And He not be long after you ; for I am
fure my curtail will carry me as fail as your double
Gelding. Exeunt.
Enter Elizabeth and Gage.
Eliz. I wonder, Gage that we
Haue flaid fo long fo near the Court, and yet
Haue heard no newes from our difpleafed filler.
This more affrights me than my former troubles.
I fear this Hampton-court will be my graue.
234 If you know not me,
Gage. Good madam, blot fuch thoughts out of
your minde.
The lords, I know, are ftill about your fute,
And make no doubt but they will fo preuaile,
Both with the King and Queen, that you mail fee
Their heynous anger will be turn'd to loue.
Enter Howard.
How. Where is the Princeffe 1
Eliz. Welcome, my good Lord Howard.
What fayes the Queene ? Will me admit my fight ?
How. Madam, (he will : this night me hath ap
pointed,
That (he herfelfe in perfon means to heare you.
Protract no time ; then, come ; let's haft away.
Exeunt.
Enter four torches. Philip, Winch efler, Howard,
Shandoyfe, Beningneld, and attendants.
Queen* Where is the Princeffe 1
How. She waits your pleafure at the common
ftaires.
Queen. Ufher her in by torch-light.
How. Gentlemen Vfhers and gentlemen Pen-
tioners,
Lights for the Princefs : Attendance, gentlemen.
Phil. For her fuppofed virtues, royall Queene,
Looke on your filler with a fmiling brow,
And if her fault merit not too much hate,
Let her be cenfur'd with all lenity.
Let your deepe hatred end where it begunne :
She hath been too long banifht from the fun.
Queen. Our fauour (hall be farre boue her defert ;
And me that hath been baniih'd from the light,
Shall once againe behold our cheerfull fight.
You my lord mall ftep behinde the arras,
you know no body. 235
And heare our conference. Wele (how her grace,
For there fhines too much mercy in your face.
Phil. We bear this mind : we errors would not
feed,
Nor cherifh wrongs, nor yet fee innocents bleed.
Queen. Call the Princels !
Exeunt for the Princefs. Philip behind the arras.
Enter all with Elizabeth.
All forbeare this place, except our filler, now.
Exeunt omnes.
Eliz. That God that raifd you, flay you, and
protect
You from your foes, and cleare me from fufpedl.
Queen. Wherefore doe you cry ?
To fee yourfelf fo low, or vs fo hie 1
Eliz. Neither, dread Queen : mine is a womanifli
teare,
In part compell'd by joy, and part by fear.
Joy of your fight thefe brinifh tears haue bred,
And feare of my Queens frowne to ftrike me dead.
Queen. Siller, I rather think they're tears of
fpleene.
Eliz. You were my filler, now you are my
Queene.
Queen. I, that's your grief.
Eliz. Madam, he was my foe,
And not your friend, that hath poffeft you fo.
I am as true a fubiecl to your grace,
As any Hues this day. Did you but fee
My heart, it bends farre lower then my knee.
Queen. We know you can fpeake well. Will you
fubmit ?
Eliz. My life, madam, I will j but not as guilty :
Should I confefs
Fault done by her that neuer did tranfgreffe ?
I ioy to haue a fifler Queene fo royall ;
I would it as much pleafd your Maiefly,
That you enioy a fiftejr thats fo true.
2 3^ If you know not me>
If I were guilty of the leaft offence,
Madam, 'twould taint the blood euen in your face.
The treafons of the father being noble,
Vnnobles all his children : Let your grace
Exact all torture and imprifonment,
Whatere my greateft enemies can deuife,
And when they haue all done their worft, yet I
Will your true fubjecl, and true fitter die.
Phil, (behind the arras}. Mirror of vertue and bright
Natures pride !
Pity it had beene fuchjjfiaujy mould haue dide.
Queen. Youle not fubmit, then, but end as you
begin.
Eliz. Madam, to death I will, but not to fin.
Queen. You are not guilty, then 1
Eliz. I think e I am not.
Queen. I am not of your minde.
Eliz. I would your highnefs were.
Queen. How meane you that ?
Eliz. To thinke as I thinke, that my foul is
clear.
Queen. You haue been wrong imprifoned, then ?
Eliz. He not fay fo.
Queen. Whatere you think, arife and kiffe our
hand.
Say, God hath raifd you friends.
Eliz. Then God hath kept his promife.
Queen. Promife, why?
Eliz. To raife them friends that on his word rely.
Enter Philip.
Phil. And may the heauens applaud this vnity :
Accurfl be they that firft procurd this wrong.
Now, by my crown, you ha been kept downe too
long.
Queen. Siller this night yourfelfe ihall feafl with
me;
To-morrow for the country : you are free.
you know no body. 237
Lights for the Princeffe, conduct her to her chamber.
Exit Elizabeth.
Phil. My foul is ioyfull that this peace is made ;
A peace that pleafeth heauen and earth and all,
Redeeming captiue thoughts from captiue thrall.
Faire Queene, the ferious bufmefs of my father
Is now at hand to be accomplished :
Of your fair fight needs muft I take my leaue :
Returne I fhall, though parting caufe vs grieue.
Queen. Why mould two hearts be forc'd to fepa-
rate ?
I know your bufmeffe, but belieue me, fweet,
My foul diuines we neuer more fhall meet.
Phil. Yet faire Queene, hope the bed : I (hall re
turn e,
Who met with ioy, though now fadly mourn.
Exeunt Philip &> Qu.
Bening. What, droops your honour '\
Winch. Oh, I am fick.
Conft. Where lies your grief 1
Winch. Where yours and all good fubiecls elfe
mould lie,
Neare at the heart.
This confirmation I do greatly dread ;
For now our true religion will decay.
I doe diuine, whoeuer Hues feuen yeare
Shall fee no Religion here but herefy.
Bening. Come, come, my lords, this is but for a
mow.
Our Queene I warrant, wifhes in her heart
Her fifter Princeffe were without her head.
Winch. No, no, my lords : this peace is natu-
rall;
This combination is without deceit ;
But I will once more write to incenfe the Queene.
The plot is laid : thus it mail be performed.
Sir Harry, you fhall go attach her feruant,
Vpon fufpition of fome treachery,
2 3 8 If you know not me,
Wherein the Princeffe fhall be acceffary.
If this doe faile, my policy is downe.
But I grow faint : the feuer fteals on me ;
Death, like a vultur tyres vpon my heart,
lie leaue you two to profecute the drift :
My bones to earth I giue, to heauen my foul I lift
Exeunt omnes.
Enter Gage and Clarentia.
Gage. Madam Clarentia., is my lady flirring ?
Clar. Yes, Mailer Gage, but heauy at -the heart,
For mee was frighted with a dreame this night.
She faid me dream'd her filler was new married,
And fate vpon an high imperial throne :
That me herfelf was call into a dungeon,
Where enemies enuirond her about,
Offering their weapons to her naked breft ;
Nay, they would fcarcely giue her leaue to pray,
They made fuch hafte to hurry her away.
Gage. Heauen fhield my miflrifs, and make her
friends increafe ;
Conuert her foes ; eflate her in true peace.
Clar. Then did I dreame of weddings and of
flowers.
Methought I was within the fineft garden
That euer mortall eye did yet behold :
Then flraight me thought fome of the chiefe were
pickt
To dreffe the bride. O twas the rarefl mow
To fee the bride goe fmiling longft the ftreets,
As if me went to happinefs eternal.
Gage. O mofl vnhappy dreame, my feare is
now
As great as yours : before it was but fmall.
Come, lets goe comfort her that ioys us all.
Exeunt.
you know no body. 239
ENTER A DUMBE SHOW: SIXE TORCHES.
Suffex bearing the crowne, Howard bearing the Scepter,
the Conftable the Mace, Tame thepurfe, Shandoyfe
the f word : Philip and Mary ; after them the Car
dinal Poole, Beningfield, and attendants. Philip
and Mary conferre : he takes leaue, and exit. Nobles
bring him to the door and returne ; JJie falls in a
f wound; they comfort her.
A dead march. Enter four with the herfe of Winchef-
ter, with the fcepter and purfe lying on it ; the
Queen takes the fcepter and purje, and giues it
to Cardinal Poole. A Sennet, 6 exeunt omnes,
prater Suffex,
Stiff. Winche/ter dead ! Oh God ! euen at his
death
He fhew'd his malice to the fweet young Princefs.
God pardon him, his foul mufl anfwer all.
Shee's ftill preferued, and ftill her foes do fall.
The Queen is much befotted on thefe Prelates,
For there's another raifed, more bafe then he,
Poole that Arch, for truth and honefly.
Enter Beningfield.
Bening. My lord of Suffex, I can tell ill news.
The Cardinal Poole, that now was firmly well,
Is fuddenly falln fick, and like to dye.
Suff. Let him go. Why, then, theres a fall of Pre
lates. *
This realme will neuer fland in perfect ftate,
Till all their faclion be cleare ruinate.
Enter Conftable.
Conft. Sir Harry, do you heare the whifpeiing in
the Court ?
240 If you know not me,
They fay the Queene is crafie, very ill.
Suff. How heard you that ?
Conjl Tis common through the houfe.
Enter Howard.
How. Tis a fad Court, my lord.
Suff. Whats the matter ? fay, how fares the
Queen ?
How. Whether in forrow for the Kings depar
ture,
Or elfe for grief at Winchefters deceafe,
Or elfe that Cardinal Pooh is fodainly dead,
I cannot tell ; but (he's exceeding fick.
Suff. The State begins to alter.
How. Nay, more, my lord : I came now from the
prefence ;
I heard the doclors whifper it in fecret,
There is no way but one.
Suff. God's will be done. Who's with the Queene,
my lord ?
Haw. The Duke of Norfolke, and the Earle of
Oxford,
The Earle of Arundell, and diuers others :
They are withdrawne into the inward chamber,
There to take counfel, and intreat your prefence.
Suff. Wele wait vpon their Honours. Ex. omnes.
Enter Elizabeth, Gage, and Clarentia aboue.
Eliz. O God ! my laft nights dreame I greatly
feare ;
It doth prefage my death. Good Matter Gage,
Looke to the pathway that doth come from
Court ;
I looke each minute for deaths meffenger.
Would he were here now, fo my foule were pure,
That I with patience might the ftroke endure. .,1
you know no body. 241
Gage. Madam, I fee from farre a horfeman
coming ;
This way he bends his fpeed. He comes fo fad,
That he is couerd in a cloud of dufl ;
And now I haue loft his fight. He appeares
againe.
Making his way ouer hill, hedge, ditch, and
plaine ;
One after him : they two ftriue,
As on the race they had wagerd both their Hues ;
Another after him.
Eliz. O God ! what meanes this hafte 1
Pray for my ioule : my life cannot long laft.
Gage. Strange and miraculous, the firfl being at
the gate,
His horfe hath broke his necke, and call his
rider.
Eliz. This fame is but as prologue to my death,
My heart is guiltleffe, though they take my breath.
Enter Sir Henry Karew.
Karew. God faue the Queene, God faue Eli
zabeth.
Eliz. God fave the Queene ; fo all good fubiecls
fay :
I am her fubiecl, and for her ftill pray.
Karew. My horfe did you allegeance at the
gate,
For there he broke his necke and there he lies,
For I myfelf had much adoe to rife.
The fall hath bruif d me, yet I Hue to cry,
God blefs your Grace, God blefs your Maiefly !
Gage. Long Hue the Queen, long Hue your
majefty !
Eliz. This newes is fweete : my heart was fore
afraid,
Rife thou, firfl Baron that we euer made.
1 R
242 If you know not me y
Karew. Thankes to your Maiefly. Happy be my
tongue,
That firfl breath'd right to one that had mch wrong.
Enter Sir John Brocket.
Brock. Am I preuented in my hade. O chance
accurfl !
My hopes did footh me that I was the firfl ;
Let not my duty be ore-fway'd by fpleen ;
Long liue my Soueraign, and God faue the
Queen !
Eliz. Thanks, good Sir John : we will deferue
your loue.
Enter Howard.
How. Though third in order, yet the firfl in
loue,
I tender my allegeance to your grace.
Liue long, faire Queene; thrice happy be your
raigne,
He that inflates you, your high flate maintaine.
Eliz. Lord Howard, thankes ; you euer were our
friend :
I fee your loue continues to the end.
But chiefly thanks to you, my Lord of Hunfdon.
How. Meaning this gentleman 1
Eliz. The very fame :
His tongue was firfl proclaimer of our name.
And trufly Gage, in token of our grace,
We giue to you a Captaine Pentioners place.
How. Madam, the Counfell are here hard at
hand.
Eliz. We will defcend and meet them.
Carew. Let's guard our Soueraign, praifing that
power,
That can throw downe and raife within an hour.
Ex. omnes.
you know no body. 243
Enter the Clowne and one more with faggots.
Clown. Come, neighbour ; come away : euery
man his faggot and his double pot, for ioy of the old
Queens death.
Let bels ring, and children fmg,
For we may haue caufe to remember
The feuenteenth day of Nouember.
Enter Lord of Tame.
Tame. How now, my mailers, what's here to
do?
Clown. Faith, making bone-fires, for ioy of the new
Queene. Come, fir, your penny : and you be a true
fubiecl, you'll battle with vs your faggot. We'll be
merry, i'faith.
Tame. And you do well. And yet, methinke,
twere fit
To fpend fome funerall teares vpon her hearfe,
Who, while me liu'd was deare vnto you all.
Clown. I, but do you not know the old prouerb ?
We mufl Hue by the quicke, and not by the dead.
Tame. Did you not loue her father, when he
liu'd,
As dearly as you ere did loue any,
And yet reioiced at his funeral 1
Likewife her brother, you efteem'd him dear,
Yet once departed, joyfully you fung:
Run to make bonefires, to proclaime your loue
Vnto the new, forgetting ftill the old :
Now me is gone, how you mone for her !
Wete it not fit a while to mone her hearfe,
And dutifully then reioice for th' other ?
Had you the wifefl and the louing'ft prince
That euer fwayd a fcepter in the world,
This is the loue he mail haue after life.
Let princes while they Hue haue loue, or fear, tis fit,
For after death there's none continues it.
R 2
244 If you know not me,
Clown. By my faith, my matters, he fpeakes
wifely.
Come, wele to the end of the lane, and there wele
make a bonefire and be merry.
i. Faith agreed He fpend my halfepenny towards
another faggot, rather than the new Queene (hall want
a bonefire. Exeunt. Manet Tame.
Tame. I blame you not, nor doe I you com
mend.
For you will flill the ftrongeft fide defend. Exit.
A SENNET.
Enter foure Trumpeters : after them Sergeant Trum
peter, with a mace ; after him Purfe-bearer.
Suffex, with the Crowne ; Howard the Scepter ;
Conftable, with the Cap of Maintenance ; Shan-
doyfe, with the Sword \ Tame, with the Collar
and a George. Foure Gentlemen bearing the
Canopy ouer the Queene ; two Gentlewomen, bear
ing vp her traine : fixe Gentlemen Petitioners. The
Queene takes ftate.
Omnes. Long Hue, long reigne our Soueraigne.
Eliz. We thanke you all.
Sufi. The imperiall crpwne I here prefent your
Grace :
With it my ftaffe of office, and my place.
Eliz. Whilil we this Crowne, fo long your place
enioy.
How. Th' imperial fcepter here I offer vp.
Eliz. Keep it, my lord ; and with it be you hye
Admiral.
Conft. This Cap of Maintenance I prefent, .
My ftaffe of office, and my vtmofl feruice.
Eliz. Your loue we know,
Conft. Pardon me, gracious madam : twas not
fpleen,
But that allegeance that I ow'd my Queen.
you know no body. 245
Madam, I feru'd her truly at that day,
And I as truly will your Grace obey.
Eliz. We doe as freely pardon, as you truly
ferue ;
Onely your ftaffe of office wele displace :
Inflead of that, wele owe you greater grace.
Enter Beningfield,
Benin%. Long Hue the Queen ! long Hue your
maiefly !
I haue rid hard to be the firfl reporter
Of thefe glad tidings firft, and all thefe here.
Sujf. You are in your loue as free as in your
care :
You're come euen mil a day after the faire.
Eliz. What's he ? My iailor 1
Benin%. God preferue your Grace.
Eliz. Be not afhamed, man : look me in the
face.
Who haue you now to patronize your ftridlnefs on 1
For your kindnefs this we will beftow :
When we haue one we would haue hardly vf'd,
And cruelly dealt with, you mail be the man.
This is a day for peace, not vengeance fit,
All your good deeds we'll quit, all wrongs remit.
Where we left of proceed.
Shand. The fword of luflice on my bended
knee
I to your grace prefent Heauen blefs your raign.
Eliz. This fword is ours ; this ftaffe is yours
again.
Tame. This Garter, with the order of the George,
Two ornaments vnto the crowne of England,
I here prefent.
Eliz. Poffeffe them dill, my lord. What offices
beare you 1
Gage. I Captain of your Highnes Petitioners.
246 If you know not me,
Brock. I of your Guard.
Sergeant. I Sergeant Trumpeter prefent my
Mace.
Eliz. Some we intend to raife, none to dif-
place.
Lord Hunfdon, we will one day finde a ftaffe
To poyfe your hand : you are our coufm, and
Deferue to be employd nearer our perfon.
But now to you, from whom we take this ftaff,
Since Cardinal Pole is now deceafl and dead,
To mow all malice from our breaft is worne,
Before you let that Purfe and Mace be borne.
And now to London, lords, lead on the way,
Praifmg that King that all kings elfe obey.
Sennet about the Stage in order. The Maior of London
meets them.
Maior. I from this citie London doe prefent
This purfe and Bible to your Maiefty.
A thoufand of your faithfull citizens,
In veluet Coats and chaines, well mounted, flay
To greet their Royall Soueraigne on the way.
Eliz. We thanke you all; but firfl this Book I
kiffe:
Thou art the way to honor ; thou to blifle.
An Englifh Bible ! Thankes, my good Lord Mayor,
You of our body and our foule haue care,
This is the iewel that we ftill loue bell ;
This was our folace when we were diflrefl.
This book, that hath fo long conceald itfelf,
So long fhut vp, fo long hid, now, lords, fee,
We here unclafpe : for euer it is free.
Who lookes for ioy, let him this booke adore ;
This is true food for rich men and for poore.
Who drinkes of this is certain ne'er to perifh :
This will the foule with heauenly vertue cherifh.
Lay hand vpon this Anchor euery foule,
Your names mall be in an eternall fcroll ;
\
you know no body. 247
Who builds on this, dwels in a happy (late :
This is the fountaine, cleare, immaculate.
That happy ifiue that mail us fucceed,
And in our populous kingdome this booke reade,
For them, as for our felues, we humbly pray,
They may Hue long, and bled. So, lead the way.
FINIS.
If you know not me,
you know no body.
THE SECOND PART.
With the building of the Royall Exchange.
AND
The fampus Yi6lory of Queen Elizabeth : Anno 1588.
LONDON
A Printed for NATHAN AEL BVTTER. 1632.
[Carefully collated with the earlier editions of
1606 1623.]
If you know not me,
you know nobody.
THE SECOND PART.
With the Building of the Exchange,
Alus primus, Scezna prima.
Enter one of Grefhams Faffors, and a Barbary
Merchant.
Faft. My matter, fir, requefls your company,
About confirming certaine couenants
Touching your laft nights conference.
Mer. The Sugars.
Belieue me, to his credit be it fpoke,
He is a man of heedful prouidence,
And one that by innatiue courtefie
Winnes loue from ftrangers. Be it without offence,
How are his prefent fortunes reckoned ?
Fatt. Neither to flatter, nor detract from him,
He is a Merchant of good eftimate :
Care how to get, and forecafl to encreafe,
(If fo they be accounted) be his faults.
Mer. They are efpeciall vertues, being clear
From auarice and bafe extortion.
,2 5 2 If you know not me.
Enter Grejham.
But here he comes. ; ,
Good day to M, GreJJiam.
You keepe your word.
Grejh. Elfe (liould I ill deferue
The title that I weare, a merchants tongue
Should not ftrike falfe.
Mer. What thinke you of my proffer
Touching the Sugar ?
Grejh. I bethought myfelfe
Both of the gaine and lofies incident,
And this, I take 't was the whole circumflance,
It was my motion, and I thinke your prornife,
To get a me feal'd Patent from your king,
For all your Barbary Sugars at a price,
During the kings life ; and for his princely loue,
I am to fend him threefcore thoufand pounds.
Mer. Twas fo condition'd, and to that effect
His highnefs promife is already pafl ;
And if you dare giue credit to my trufl,
Send but your priuate Letters to your Factor,
That deales for your affaires in Barbary,
His maiefly mail either feal your Patent,
Or He return the money to your Factor.
Grejh. As much as I defire. Pray, fir, draw
neare
And tafte a cup of wine whilfl I confider
And throughly fcan fuch accidental doubts,
As may concerne a matter of fuch moment.
Mer. At your befl leyfure. Exit.
Grejh. He refolue you flraight.
Bethinke thee, Grejham, threefcore thoufand pounds,
A good round fum : let not the hope of gaine
Draw thee to loffe. I am to haue a patent
For all the Barbary Sugars at a rate,
The gaine cleares halfe in halfe, but then the hazard :
My terme continues during the king's life :
The king may die before my firft return ;
you know no bcdy. 253
Then where's my cam? Why, fo the king may
Hue
Thefe 40 years ; then where is Grejhams gaine ?
It (lands in this, as in all ventures elfe,
Doubtful. No more ; He through, what ere it cod,
So much cleare gaine, or fo much coine cleare lofl.
Within there ho.
Enter John Grefliam. 2. or 3. Faftors.
Fatt. At hand, fir : did you call ?
Grejh. How thriues our cafh ? What, is it well
encreaft ?
I fpeake like one that muft be forc't to borrow.
i. Faft. Your wormip's merry.
Grejh. Merry? Tell me, knaue,
Doft thou not thinke that threefcore thoufand pounds
Would make an honed merchant try his friends 1
Faff. Yes, by my faith, fir; but you haue a
friend
Would not fee you Hand out for twice the fumme.
Grejh. Praife God for all. But what's the common
rumour
Touching my bargain with the King of Barbary 1
i. Fait. Tis held your credit and your countries
honor,
That being but a Merchant of the City,
And taken in a manner vnprouided,
You mould vpon a meere prefumption
And naked promife, part with fo much Cam,
Which the bed merchants both in Spaine and
France
Denied to venture on.
Grejh. Good ; but withall,
What doe they thinke in generall of the bargaine ?
i. Fa ft. That if the king confirme and feale your
patent,
London will yeeld you partners anow.
254 If y u know not
Gre/h. I think no lefs. Goe fit you for the fea,
I meane to fend you into Barbary,
You vnto Venice, you to Portingall,
Prouide you prefently. Where much is fpent,
Some mud be got, thrift mould be prouident.
Come hither, Cofin : all the reft depart.
Exeunt Faftors.
John. I had as good depart too ; for hee'll ring a
peale in mine eare, 'twill found worfe than a pafling-
bell.
Gre/h. I haue tane note of your bad hus
bandry,
Carelefle refpecl, and prodigal expence,
And out of my experience counfell you.
John. And I hope good Vncle you think I am as
ready to take good counfell as you to giue it ; and I
doubt not but to cleare myfelfe of all objections that
foule-mouthed enuy fhall intimate againft me.
Grejh. How can you fatisfie the great com
plaint
Preferr'd againft you by old Miftrifs Blunt,
A woman of approued honefty.
John. That's true ; her honefty hath been proued
oftner then once or twice. But do you know her, Vn
cle ? are you inward with her courfe of life 1 Shes a
common midwife for trade-falne virginity: there, are
more maidenheads charged and dif charged in her
houfe in a yeare, then peeces at the Artillery yard."
Gre/h. She brings in further proofe that you mifcall'd
her.
John. I neuer call'd her out of her name, by this
hand Vncle, to my remembrance.
Grejh. No ? me fays you call'd her bawde.
John. True : and I haue knowne her anfwer to 't a
thoufand times. Tut, vncle; tis her name, and I
know who gaue it her, too : by the fame token, her
godfather gaue her a bow'd angel, ftanding at the
doore, which (he hath kept time out a mind.
you know no body. 255
Grejh. Antonio reports you loue his wife.
John. Loue ? why, alas, vncle, I hold it parcell
of my duty to loue my neighbours ; and mould I hats
his wife no man would hold me a fit member for a
commonwealth.
Gre/h. He hates you for't.
John. Why, alas, Vncle, that's not my fault ; He
loue him nerethelefs. You know we are commanded
to loue our enemies ; and, though he would fee me
hang'd, yet will I loue his wife.
Gre/h. He told me you beftow'd a gowne of a
ftrumpet.
John. Why alas Vncle, the poore whore went
naked, and you know the text commands vs to cloath
the naked ; and deeds of mercy be imputed vnto vs
for faults, God helpe the elect.
Gre/h. Well, if your prodigall expences be
aim'd
At any vertuous and religious end,
Tis the more tolerable ; and I am proud
You can fo probably excufe yourfelf.
John. Well Vncle to approue my words, as, indeed,
good words without deeds, are like your greene fig-
tree without fruit : I haue fworne myfelfe to a more
conformable and ftri<5l courfe of life.
Gre/h. Well, coufin, hoping you'll proue a new
man.
John. A new man, what elfe Vncle 1 He be a
new man from the top to the toe, or He want of my
will. In Head of tennis-court, my morning exercife
mall be at Saint Antlins : He leaue ordinaries ; and to
the end 1 may forfweare dicing and drabbing, keepe
me more fhort vncle, onely allow mee good appa-
rell ; good rags, He ftand to 't, are better then feuen
yeares prentilhip, for theyle make a man free of any,
nay, of all companies, without indenture, fathers copy,
or any helpe whatfoeuer. But I fee my error ; wilde
youth mud be bridled. Keepe me mort, good
vncle.
256 If you know noi me>
Grejh. On thefe prefumptions He apparell thee ;
And to confirme this refolution,
I will preferre you vnto Mafter Hobfon,
A man of a well knowne difcretion.
John. Any thing, good vncle. I haue feru'd my
prentifhip already, butbinde me againe, and I mall be
content ; and tis but reafon, neither. Send me to the
conduit with the water-tankard : He beat linnen-buckes,
or any thing, to redeeme my negligence.
Grejh. Your education challenges more refpect.
The factor dealt for him in France is dead.
John. And you intend to fend me in his
roome.
Grejh. I do indeed.
John. It is well done Vncle and twill not be
amiffe in policy to do fo. The only way to curbe a
diffolute youth as I am, is to fend him from his ac
quaintance ; and therefore fend me far enough, good
Vncle : fend mee into France, and fpare not ; and if
that reclaime me not, giue me ore as paft all good-
neffe.
Grejh. Now afore God my thoughts were much
againft him,
And my intent was to haue chid him roundly ;
But his fubmifnue recantation
Hath made me friends with him. Come follow
me :
He doe thee good, and that immediately. Exit.
John. Thanke you, good vncle. You'll fend me
into France ; all Forboon ; and I do not (how you the
right trick of a cofin afore I leaue England, He giue
you leaue to call me Cut, and cozen me of my patri
mony, as you haue done. Exit.
Enter Hobfons Prentifes, and a boy.
i. Pren. Prethee fellow Goodman fet forth the
ware, and looke to the mop a little. He but drinke a
you know no body. 257
cup of wine with a cuftomer at the Rofe and Crownc
in the Poultry, and come againe prefently.
2. Pren. Foot I cannot, I muft needs ftep to the
Dagger, in Cheape, to fend a letter into the country
vnto my father. Stand by; you are the youngefl
prentife, looke you to the mop.
Enter Hobfon.
Hob. Where be thefe varlets ? Bones a me, at
Tauern ?
Knaues, villains, fpend goods, foot my cuftomers
Muft either ferue themfelues, or packe vnferued.
Now they peepe like Italian pantelowns,
Behind an arras ; but He Mart you, knaues.
I haue a fhooing-horn to- draw on your liquor :
What fay you to a peece of a falt-eele ?
Come forth, you hang-dogs, Bones a me, the knaues
Fleere in my face, they know me too well.
I talke and prate, and lay't not on their jackes,
And the proud Jacks care not a fig for me ;
But bones a me, He turne another leafe.
Where haue you beene fir ?
1. Pren. An honefl cuftomer
Requefted me to drinke a pint of wine.
Hob. Bones a me, muft your crimfon throat
Be fcourd with wine ? your mafter's glad of beere :
But you'll die banquerouts, knaues and banquerouts
all.
And where haue you been ?
3. Pren. . At breakfaft with a Dagger-pie, fir.
Hob. A Dagger-pie ? uds, daggers death, thefe
knaues
Sit cocke-a-hope, but Hobfon pays for all.
But bones a me, knaues, either mend you manners,
Leaue ale-houles, tauerns, and the tipling mates,
Your punks and cockatrices, or He clap ye
Clofe up in Bridewell : bones a me, He do 't.
2. Pren. Befeech you, fir, pardon this firft offence,
i s
2 5 8 If you know not me.
Hob. FIrft, bones a me, why, tis your common
courfe.
And you muft needs be gulling, goe by turnes,
One to the ale-houfe, and two keepe the mop.
Enter Pedler, with tawnie coate.
2 Pren. It mall be done, fir. How much ware
would you haue ?
Taw. Five pounds worth in fuch commodities
As I befpoke laft night.
i Pren. They are ready forted.
Taw. God blefs you, Matter Hobfon.
Hob. Bones a me, knaue, thou'rt welcome. What's
the newes
At bawdy Barnewell, and at Sturbridge Faire ?
What, haue your London wenches any trading ?
Taw. After the old lort, fir : they vifit the Toule-
booth, and the Bulring ftill.
" Hob. Good girles they do their kind. What, your
packs empty 1
Good newes, a figne you bring your purfes full,
And bones a me, full purfes mutt be welcome :
Sort out their wares. Welcome's yo.ur due ;
Pay the old debt, and pen and inke for new.
Taw. We have for you, fir, as white as Bears
teeth.
Hob. Bones a me knaues You are welcome ; but
what newes 1
What newes i'th' country ? what commodities
Are moft refpedled with your Country Girls ?
Taw. Faith, fir, our Country Girls are akinne to
your London Courtiers ; euery month ficke of a new
fafhion. The horning-busk and filken bridelaces are
in good requett with the parfons wife : your huge
poking-tticke, and French periwig, with chamber
maids and waiting gentlewomen. Now, your Puri
tans poker is not fo huge, but fomewhat longer ; a
long ilender poking-tticke is the all in all with your
you know no body. 259
Suffolke Puritane. Your filk-band, half farthingales,
and changeable fore-parts are common ; not a wench
of thirteene but weares a changeable fore-part.
Hob. An ancient wearing : there's fome change
able fluff
Has been a weare with women time out of mind.
Taw. Befides fir, many of our young married men,
haue tane an order to weare yellow garters, points,
and fhootyings ; and tis thought yellow will grow a
cuflome.
Hob. 'Tas been vs'de long at London.
Taw. And tis thought 'twill come in requefl in
the Country, too: for a fafhion that three or four
young wenches have promifed mee their husbands
lhall weare, or theyle miffe of their markes. Then
your maske, filke-lace, wafht gloues, carnation girdles,
and bufk-point futable, as common as coales from
Newcaflle : you fhall not haue a kitchin-maid fcrape
trenchers without her wafht gloues ; a darie-wench will
not ride to market, to fell her butter-milke, without
her maske and her buske.
Hob. Still a good hearing. Let the country pay
Well for their pride ; tis gratis here at London,
And that's the caufe 'tis grown fo generall.
But feed their humours, and doe not fpare ;
Bring country money for our London ware.
Enter Grefham and John Grefham.
Gre/h. Where's M. Hobfon ? Cry you mercy, fir.
Hob. No harme good M. GreJJiam ; pray draw
neare,
He but difpatch a few old cuflomers,
And bend a prefent eare to your difcourfe.
Gre/h. At -your befl leyfure.
Hob. Nay my task is done.
O M. Grejham) 'twas a golden world,
When we were boyes : an honefl country-yeoman,
s 2
260 If you know not me y
Such as our fathers were, God reft their fouls,
Would wear white karfie. Bones a me, you knaues !'
Stooles for thefe gentlemen. Your worfhip's wel
come.
Gre/h. You know my bufmeffe.
Hob. About your kinfman :
He mail be welcome. Befeech you, gentleman,
Leffe of your courtefy. When mail we fee the
youth 1
Gre/h. Why, this is he.
Hob. Which, bones a me, which 1
Gre/h. Why, this.
Hob. Which 1 where ? What, this young gentle
man ?
Bones a me man, he's not for Hobfons turne,
He looks more like my mailer then my feruant.
Grefh. I muft confeffe he is a gentleman,
And my neare kinfman : were he mine owne
childe,
His fervice mould be yours.
Hob. I thanke you for't ;
And for your fake He giue him entertainment.
But gentleman, if you become my man,
You muft become more ciuill : bones a me,
What a curld pate is here ? I muft ha't off.
You fee my liuery : Hobfons men are knowne
By their freeze coats. And you will dwell with me,
You muft be plaine, and leaue off brauery.
John. I hope, fir, to put on fuch ciuill confor
mity, as you fhall not repent my entertainment,
Hob. Pray God it proue fo.
Grefh. If he doe reipect
An vncles loue, let him be diligent.
Hob. Well, M. GreJJiam^ partly for your loue,
And chiefly to fupply my prefent want,
Becaufe you fay your kinfman is well feene
Both in languages and faclorfhip,
I doe intend to fend him into France,
In truft both with my Merchandizes and my Cam.
you know no body. 261
John. And if I take not order to cafhier that and
myfelfe too, a pox of all French farthingales.
Grefh. How Hand you minded to your matters
motion 1
John. Somewhat vn willing to leaue my acquaint
ance ; but good vncle, I know you fend me out of
loue, and I hope 'twill be a meanes to call me home
the fooner.
Gre/h. Pray God it may.
John. He want of my will elfe. He play a mer
chants part with you, He take vp French commodities,
veluet kirtles, and taffety fore parts. He ha that I go
for, or He make halfe the hot-houfes in Deepe fmoke
for this tricke.
Hob. What, are your bookes made euen with your
accompts ?
1 Pren. I haue compar'd our wares with our re
ceipt,
And find fir, ten pounds difference.
Hob. Bones a me knaue,
Ten pounds in a morning ? here's the fruit
Of Dagger-pyes and ale-houfe guflings.
Make euen your recknings, or bones a me knaues,
You mall all fmart for't.
2 Pren. Hark you, fellow Goodman :
Who tooke the ten pounds of the country chapman,
That told my mailer -the new faftrions ?
i Pren. Fore God not I.
3 Pren. Nor I.
Hob. Bones a me, knaues,
I haue pay'd foundly for my country newes.
What was his name ^
1 Pren. Now afore God, I know not.
2 Pren. I neuer faw him in the mop till now.
Hob. Now, bones a me, what carelefle' knaues
keepe I,
Giue me the booke, What habit did he weare \
i Pren. As I remember me, a tawny coat.
262 If you know not me.
Hob. Art fure 1 then, fet him downe John Tawny-
coat.
i Pren. Ten pound in truft vnto John Tawny-
coat.
Hob. Bones a me man, thefe knaues will begger
me.
Gre/h. Birlady, fir, ten pounds is too much to
lofe;
But ten times ten pound cannot make your credit.
Hob. Thanke God for all : when I came firfl to
towne,
It would haue fhooke me (hrewdly. But M. Grejham,
How ftands your difference with Sir Thomas Ram-
fey ?
Are you made friends yet ?
Grejh. He is fo obflinate,
That neither Juries nor commiffions,
Nor the intreaties of his nearefl friends,
Can ftoope him vnto compofition.
Hob. Tis paffmg ftrange. Were Hobfon in your
coat,
Ere I'de connime a penny amongfl lawyers,
I'd giu't poore people ; bones a me I would.
Grejh. A good refolue ; but Sir Thomas Ramfies
mind
Is of another temper, and ere Grejham
Will giue away a tittle of his right,
The Law mall begger me.
Hob. Bones a me, man, 'twill doe that quickly.
Grejh. To preuent which courfe,
The Lady Ramfey hath by earnefl fuit
Procur'd the reuerend preacher, Doctor Nowell,
A man well reckoned for his grave refpecl,
To comprimife and end our difference,
The, place, the Lumbard; ten of clocke the
houre
Appointed for the hearing of our caufe.
Shall I requefl your friendly company ?
you know no body. 263
Hob. With all my heart, both company and
purfe :
Bones a me, knaues, looke better to my mop :
Men of our trade mufl wear good husbands eyes ;
Mongfl many chapmen, there are few that buyes.
My leyfure now your bufmeffe attends ;
Time's won, not loft, that's fpent to make men
friends. Exeunt,
Enter Doftor Nowell and my Lady Ramfie.
Lady. Good Mafter Doctor Newell, let your loue
Now mow itfelfe vnto me. Such as they,
Men of the chiefeil note within this city,
To be at fuch a jarre, doth make me blufh,
Whom it doth fcarfe concern : you are a good man ;
Take you the courfe in hand, and make them friends :
'Twill be a good dayes work, if fo it ends.
D. Now. My Lady Ramfy, I haue heard ere this,
Of their contentions, their long fuit in law \
How by good friends they haue been perfwaded
both,
Yet both but deafe to faire perfwafion.
What good will my word doe with headftrong men ?
Breath, blowne againft the wind, returnes againe.
Lady. Although to gentlemen and citizens,
They haue beene fo ram, yet to fo graue a man,
Of whom none fpeake. but fpeake with reuerence,
Whofe words are gather'd in by euery eare,
As flowers receiue the dew that comfort them,
They will be more attentiue. Pray, take it in hand :
Tis a good deed ; 'twill with your vertue ftand.
D. Now. To be a make-peace doth become me
well,
The charitable motion good in you ;
And in good footh, 'twill make me wet mine eyes
To fee them euen, haue beene fo long at odds,
And by my meanes. He doe the beft I can,
But God muft bleffe my words, for man's but man.
264 If you know not me.
Enter Sir Thomas Ramfie.
Lady. I thank you heartily, and by the houre I
know,
They will be prefently here on the Lumbard,
Whither I drew you for this intent :
And fee, Sir Thomas is come ; pray breake with him.
D. Now. Good day to Sir Thomas Ramfie.
Ram. M. Deane of Pauls, as much to you.
'Tis ftrange to fee you here in Lumber Street,
This place of traffique, whereon merchants meet.
D. Now. 'Tis not my cuftom : but Sir Thomas
Enter M. Grefham and old Hobfon.
Hob. Come, come.
Now, body a me, I fweare not euery day,
You are too-too much to blame : two citizens
Such as yourfelfe and Sir Thomas Ramfie are,
To beate yourfelues in law fixe or feuen yeare,
Make lawyers, Turn eyes clerks, and knaues to fpend
Your money in a brabling controuerfy,
Euen like two fooles. See where the other is,
With our Deane of Pauls. Ne'er better met ;
We two as umpiers will conclude a ftrife
Before the clock flrike twelue, that now is eleuen,
Lawyers this full feuen yeare haue brabled in,
And with a cup or two of merry-go-do wne,
Make them make hands. Is't not well faid, M.
Dean?
D. Now. And I could wifh it as well done, M.
Hobfon.
Grejh. He haue you both know, though you are
my friends,
I fcorne my caufe mould floope or yeeld to him,
Although he be reputed Ramfie the rich.
Ram. And Grejkam mall perceiue that Ramfies
purfe
Shall make him fpend the wealth of Ofterley>
you know no body. 265
But he fhall know.
Grejh. Know, what fhall I know ?
Ram. That Ramfie is as good a man as Grejham.
Grejh. And Grejham is as good a man as Ramfie.
Ram. Tut, tut, tut.
GreJJt. Tut in thy teeth, although thou art a
knight.
Hob. Bones-a-me, you are both to blame.
We two like friends come to conclude your ftrife,
And you like fifh-wiues fall a fcolding here.
D. Now. How Hands the difference twixt you my
good friends ?
Lady. The impatience both of the one and other
Will not permit to heare each other fpeake :
He tell the caufe for both ; and thus it is.
There is a lordfhip called Ofterley,
That M. Grejham hath both bought and built upon.
Gre/h. And tis a goodly manour, M. Deane.
Lady. Which Ofterley, before he dealt therein,
Sir Thomas, my husband here, did thinke to buy,
And had giuen earneft for it
Ram. Then Grejham here, deales with the land-
feller,
And buyes my bargain mofl dimoneftly.
Gre/h. God for his mercy, touch mine honefty,
Away with comprimife, with taking vp ;
The law fhall try my caufe and honefly.
Ram. Twill proue no better then it mould,
Grejham.
Grejh. Twill proue as good as Ramfies, Ramfie.
Ram. Doe not I know thy rifmg ?
Grejh. I, and I know thine.
Ram. Why, mine was honeftly.
Grejh. And fo was mine.
Hob. Heyday, bones a me,
Was't euer feene two men to fcold before ?
Here's, I know thy rifmg, and I know thine,
When as Gods bleffing that hath rais'd them both.
Am I worfe becaufe in Edwards days,
266 If you know not me,
When Popery went downe, I did ingroffe
Mod of the beads that were within the kingdome,
That when Queen Mary had renew'd that Church,
They that would pray on beads were forc'd to me 1
I made them flretch their purfe-flrings, grew rich
thereby ;
Beads were to me a good commodity.
Grejh. No matter for your beads, my right's my
right.
Ram. Yet Grefham mail well know he hath done
me wrong.
Grefh. There's law enough to right you : take your
courfe.
D. Now. Reaion being made mans guide, why is't
that force
And violent paflions do fweepe the foul
Into fuch headlong mifchiefs ? 'tis onely this ;
Reafon would rule, Nature a rebell is.
You know the fire of your contention,
Hath onely cherifhing and is maintain'd
From vile affections, whofe flrength's but thus,
As foultry heat doth make vs fhun the fire,
An extreame cold doth alter that defire,
All things that haue beginnings haue their ends :
Your hate mufl haue conclufion ; then be friends.
Hob. Friends. M. Doctor Nowell, look you here,
Here's M. Gre/hams hand.
Lady. He bring the other.
Hob. This feuen yeare they haue beene in law
together.
How much fuch men as they in feuen yeares fpend,
Lawyers may laugh at, but let wife men judge.
Grejh. Friend Hobfon.
Ram. Wife, lady.
Hob. Bones a me, He hold you fafl :
I will not haue a couple of fuch men
Make cackling lawyers rich, and themfelues fooles,
And for a trifling caufe, as I am old Hobfon,
Gref. Sir Thomas Jtamfie.
you know no body. 267
Ram. Master Gre/ham.
Hob. Body of me, both mail be fchool'd. M. D.
You know the caufe, that this contention
Is onely that he bought a peece of land,
This had giuen earneft for : all Adams earth,
And Adams earth is free for Adams fons,
And tis a fhame men mould contend for it.
Whatere you fpeake mail for a fentence fland,
And being fpoke, they mall make hand in hand.
D. Now. If I muft then decide the difference,
Thus it mall be : becaufe that Sir Thomas Ramfie
Had earneft giuen before you bought the land,
Though you were not acquainted with fo much,
I do award he haue an hundred pounds
Towards his charges ; and for that you
Haue both paid for the land and built vpon it,
It mail continue yours. The money you haue fpent,
Eyther account it loft, or badly lent.
Gre/h. Gods precious ! I haue fpent flue hundred
pound.
Ram. And fo haue I.
Hob. No matter,
The judgement ftands, onely this verdit too :
Had you before the law forefeen the loffe,
You had not now come home by weeping-croffe.
Strifes may as well haue end 'twixt honeft men ;
Lawyers fet fooles to law, then laugh at them.
Gre/ti. Fore God, tis true ; and now I thinke
vpon it,
We might at firft haue ended it by friends,
And made ourfelues merry with the money.
But being done, tis done ; then Sir Thomas Ramfie,
Lets leaue both lofers : tis but a thoufand pound j
And if you be as well content as I,
Here wele make hands and let our anger die.
Hob. Shake hands ; by the nmrry-god, Sir Thomas,
what elfe ?
268 If you know not me.
Ram. You mow yourfelues our friends, to make vs
friends ;
Then in good footh He not be obftinate.
Lady. Nay, M. Dodtor Nowell, join their hands.
I know the reuerent regard of you
Hath temperd both their hearts.
Gre/h. Madam, tis true.
I think to any but fo good a man
We mould haue both been headflrong ; but come.
D. Now. With all my heart. Long may you Hue
together,
As friend mould be to friend, brother to brother.
Gre/h. Amen, amen, Sir Thomas.
Ram. Amen, amen. Mafter Gre/ham.
Hob. Amen, amen, to you both.
And is not this better then euery terme
To trot after lawyers 1
Gre/h. Good footh, tis true, if we could thinke
it fo;
But tis mans nature, he defires his woe. Aftorme.
Now, paffion-a-me, Sir Thomas, a cruel florm ;
And we flay long, we ihall be wet to th' skin.
I do not lik 't : nay it angers me,
That fuch a famous city as this is,
Wherein fo many gallant merchants are,
Haue not a place to meet in, but in this,
Where euery fhowre of raine muft trouble them.
I cannot tell, but if I Hue : lets ftep into the Popes-
head;
We mall be dropping dry if we flay here.
He haue a roofe built, and fuch a roofe,
That merchants and their wiues, friend, and their
friends,
Shall walk vnderneath it, as now in Powles.
What day of the month is this ?
Hob. Day, M. Grejham ? let me fee ;
I tooke a fellowes word for twenty pound :
The tenth of March, the tenth of March.
you know no body. 269
Grefli. The tenth of March ; well, if I liue,
He raife a worke (hall make our merchants fay,
Twas a good fhowre that fell vpon that day.
How now lacke ?
Enter John Grefham.
John. Sir, my M. here hailing prefered me to be
his factor into France, I am come to take my leaue of
you.
Grejh. I thank him for his care of thee. M.
Hobfyn,
My kinfman's come to take his leaue of me ;
He tells me you are fending him for France.
Hob. Bones a me, knaue, art there yet 1
I thought thou hadfl beene halfe way there by this.
John. I did but flay fir, to take my leaue of
my vncle.
Grejh. O M. Hobfon, he comes in a very good
time.
I was bethinking me whom I mould fend
To fetch this hundred pound I am fet to pay
To Sir Thomas Ramfie. Nay, as we are friends,
We'll haue all couenants kept before we part.
John. God grant that I may fee it.
Gre/h. Here John, take this feal'd ring :
Bid Timothy prefently fend me a hundred pound.
John. I fir.
GreJJi. I am fure he hath it ready told for thee,
Wele (lay here on the Lumbard till thou comfL
John. Yes, fir.
D. Now. Nay, flay, good John : thou knowfl my
dwelling, John \
John. In Powles Churchyard, fir.
D. Now. The hundred pound thou art fent for,
bring it thither.
John. Yes marry will I fir. Exit.
J). Now. And my good friends fince that fo long a
Jlrife
270 If you know not me,
Hath end by my perfwafion, He entreat
My houfe may entertaine you for this time ;
Where with fuch neceffaries we'll pafs the time,
As God mail beft be pleafed, and you contented.
I keepe no riot, nor you looke for none,
Onely my table is for euery one.
Grejh. A cup of fack, and welcome, M. Deane :
Nature is beft contented with a meane. Exeunt.
Enter Timothy and John Grefham.
John. As I told you Timothy,
You mud fend my vncle flraight a hundred pound :
He dines at Doctor Nowels, and gaue me in charge
To hafte with the money after him.
Tim. You come to me John for a hundred pound :
I thank my fpirituall maker, I haue the charge of many
hundreds of his now John. I hope John, you feare
God.
John. Feare God ? sfoot, what elfe : I fear God
and the devill too.
Tim. I muft tell you John, and I know it, you
haue not fed of the fpirituall food, but edified by faith,
and fuffered the tares of the wild affections to be
burnt.
John. Foot thou wouldfl not haue me make my-
felf a French martyr, to be burnt at thefe yeares,
wouldfl thou 1
Tim. I haue known them John, of our Church,
haue been burnt for other fmnes before thy yeares.
John. I by my faith Timothy it may be you haue ;
for as clofe as you carry your teeth together, with
indeed good brother, I doe not thinke but once in a
yeare a man might find you quartered betwixt the
mouth at Bifhopfgate, and the preaching place in the
Spittle.
Tim. Now ; you talk of the Spittle, I muft fay, in
very deed, I haue beene in the Spittle.
you know no body. 271
John. It is more like Timothy you haue beene ac
quainted with the pox, then.
Tim. But if you mould thinke John that I would
be there to commit, deale, or to fpeake more pro-
phanely, to venture in the way of all flefh, you do
wrong me being a brother of the faith.
John. Come right yourfelfe and your matter, then,
and fend him this one hundred pound. Here's his
feal'd ring ; I hope a warrant fufficient.
Tim. V"pon fo good fecurity, John, He fit me to
deliver it. Exit.
John. Spend it ! God fend me but once to finger it,
and if I doe not make a Flanders reckoning on't
and that is, as I haue heard mad wagges fay, receiue it
here, and reuell it away in another place let me bee
fpit out of the roome of good fellowfhip, and neuer
haue fo much fauor as to touch the skirt of a taffata
petticoat.
Tut, I am young and mine Vncle's an old chuife ;
And He not want, yfaith, fince he hath enough.
I muft not let this fame wainfcot face, yea and nay,
hear me, though.
Enter Timothy.
Tim. Here John ; accept my duty to my matter.
I muft tell you John, I would not haue trutted you,
John, without fo fufncient a difcharge.
John. I am the leffe beholding vnto you. But
now I haue it, becaufe you preacht to me vpon my
demand of it, He be fo bold to lecture vnto you vpon
your delivery. Timothy, you know the prouerb, good
Timothy, That the Jlill fow eates all the drajfe; and no
quettion the moft fmoother-tongued fellow, the more
arrant knaue : God forbid I mould call you fo, Timo
thy, yet will I leaue this for your further remem
brance.
Vnder the yea and nay, men often buy
Much cozenage, finde many a lie :
272 If you know not me,
He that with yea and nay makes all his fayings,
Yet pr ones a Judas in his dealings,
Shall haue this written ore his graue,
Thy life feemed pure, yet died a knaue.
Tim. Do you hear John ; you know the chap-
mans word in London, lie trujl you, but no further
then I fee you. You haue the hundred pound, John,
but, for that you haue wronged vs that loue to be edi
fied, fl will goe with you to my matter, and fee the
money deliuered.
John. Why, a trailed me to come with it.
i Tim. I care not, by yea and nay : He go ; by yea
and nay, I will.
John. Let me but aske thee this queftion ; whe
ther doft thou go in any loue to thy mafter, or to
me ?
Tim. Though my mafter be my mafter, yet you
haue ftirr'd my ftomacke.
John. I thought there was the fruit of your puri-
tane patience. Come, let's along, and I do not
mow your religion a trick mail fcarce be digefted
with pepins or cheefe, let me be called Cut. Come
along. Exit.
j Enter Honefly, the Sergeant, and Quicke.
Hon. Fellow Quick, pray thee haue a care : if thou
canft fee John the vpholfter, I muft needs arreft
him.
Quick. How much is the debt 1
Hon. Some fifty pound.
Quick. Doft thou think he is able to put in bail
to the aclion ?
Hon. I think fcarce enough.
Quick. Why, then, wele arreft him to the Popes-
head, call for the beft cheere in the houfe, firft feed
vpon him, and then, if hee will not come off, carry
him to the Compter. But if he will ftretch fome 4.
or 5. pound, being the fum is fo great, he mail paffe.
you know no body. 273
Weele make him fweare he mail not tell he was ar-
relled, and wele fweare to the creditor we cannot meet
with him.
Hon. Fore God thou fayeft well.
Quick. I haue ferued Sent the Perfumer, Tallow
the Currier, Quarrell the Glafier, and fome three or
four more of our poore fmelts fo this morning.
Enter John.
John. Hart I haue courfl through two or three
lanes, yet the miching flaue folio wes me fo clofe, I
cannot giue him the flip for this hundred pound : as
God faue me, now tis in my hand, Ide rather be
hang'd then part from it. Foot, 'twill make a man
merry half a yeare together in France, command
wenches or anything. Part from it, quoth you ; that
were a left, indeed : (hall a young man as I am, and,
though I fay it, indifferent proper, goe into a flrange
country, and not mow himfelfe what metall he is made
of, when a comes there ? I proteft a very good hun
dred pound : a hundred pound will goe farre in
France, and when a man hath it not of his owne. who
mould he make bold withal for it, if he may not with
his vncle ? But fee, if that thin-faced rogue be not
come againe. I mufl haue a trick for him.
Enter Tim.
Tim. For all your fore-long -too and fro, by yea
and nay, He follow you.
John. Will you ? There mould be fergeants here
abouts. Will you 1 Lord, if it be thy will fend me
to hit of one, and if I doe not mow you a trick. Thou
fhouldft be a fergeant by thy peering fo.
Hon. Why, M. John, fo I am.
John. Thou art happily met ; I am looking for
one.
What's thy name ?
1 T
274 If you know not me,
Hon. My name, M. John, I haue beene merry
at your vncles many a time : my name's Honefty.
John. Ifaith.
Quick. Nay, He allure you his name is Honefty,
and I am Quick, his yeoman.
John. Honefty \ who, the pox, gaue thee that
name?
But thou muft doe an office for mine vncle.
Here, Quick, run thou before and enter the action ;
There's money : an action of an hundred pound
Againft Timothy Thin-beard, M. Grejhams laclor.
I hope I mail teach you to dog me.
Quick. An action againfl Thin-beard : I goe. Exit.
John. Here, Honefty, here's money for thy
arreft,
Be fure to take good bail, or clap him fail.
I hope I mail mew you a tricke.
Hon. Mum for that.
John. See where he is : God profper it.
Fallen upon him like a hungry dog vpon a piece of
meat;
And if this be not a tricke to catch a foole,
A more knaue learne me, and He goe to fchoole.
Hon. I arrefl you, fir.
Tim. Arrefl me, thou feruant to Satan, at whofe
fuit?
Hon. At your mailers, M. Grejhams.
Tim. O God, for thy mercy, M. John, M.
John.
John. Nay, nay, this 100. pound hath other worke
in hand for me ;
You are in the deuils hands, and fo agree. Exit.
Tim. My good friend, now what mull become of
me?
Hon. Vnleffe we (hall to the tauerne, and drinke
till you can fend for baile, you mull to the Compter.
Tim. Is there no difference made betwixt the
faithfull and the vnfaithfull ?
Hon. Faith very little in paying of debts ; but if
you know no body. 275
you be lo holy, I mantel how you ran fo far behind
hand with your mailer.
Tim. I muft confelfe I owe my matter 500.
pound. How I came fo, it is not fit to lay the fins of
our flelh open to euery eye ; and you know the fay
ing, Tis bad to do euil, but worjl to boa/I of it ; yet he
aboue knows, that fometimes as foon as I haue come
from Bow Church, I haue gone to a bawdy-houfe.
Hon. Nay it appeares fo, that now your mailer
hath fmelt out your knauery.
Tim. Not to commit in very deed good friend, but
onely to fee falhions ; or to recreate and ftir vp our
drowfie appetites.
Ent. Qu.
Hon. Well, here comes my fellow Quicke, and,
vnleffe you will content vs for Haying, you muft along
to the Compter.
Tim. I hope you thinke The labourer is worthy of
his hire. We will Hay here at the tauern ; and,
Qidcke, I will content thee, to carry a Letter to my
mailer, wherein I will make him a reftitution of his
500. pound by repentance, and mow him the way
that my fraile nature hath run into.
Hon. Well, we'le be paid by the houre.
Tim. It will not be amiffe if you buy an houre*
glafs. Exeunt.
Enter D. Nowell, Grelham, Sir Thomas Ramfie,
Hobfon, Lady Ramfie.
Grejh. Come, M. D. Nowell, now we haue done
Our worft to your good cheere, we'd faine be gone ;
Only we Hay my kinfman's long return e,
To pay this hundred pound to Sir Thomas Ramfie.
D. Now. Then alfure you he will be here pre-
fently :
In the meane time I haue drawne you to this walke,
T 2
276 If you know not me,
A gallery, wherein I keepe the pictures
Of many charitable citizens,
That having fully fatisfied your bodies,
You may by them learne to refrefh your foules.
Grefh. Are all thefe pictures of good citizens ?
D. Now* They are ; and He defcribe to you fome
of their births,
How they beftow'd their Hues, and did fo liue,
The fruits of this life might a better giue.
Gre/h, You mail gaine more in mewing this to vs,
Then you haue mowne.
Lady. Good M. Deane, I pray you (hew it vs.
D. Now. This was the picture of Sir John Filpot,
fometimes Mayor.
This man at one time, at his owne charge,
Leuied ten thoufand fouldiers, guarded the realme
From the incurfions of our enemies,
And in the yeare a thoufand three hundred and
eighty,
When Thomas of Woodftocke, Thomas Percy, with
other noblemen,
Were lent to aide the Duke of Brittany,
This faid John Filpot furnifh'd out foure mips
At his own charges, and did releafe the armor
That the poore foldiers had for victuals pawn'd.
This man did liue when Walworth was Lord Maior,
That prouident, valiant, and learned citizen,
That both attach'd and kild that traytor Tyler ',
For which good feruice, Walworth the Lord Mayor,
This Filpot, and four other Aldermen,
Were knighted in the field.
Thus did he liue ; and yet, before he dy'd,
Affur'd reliefe for thirteene poore for euer.
Grejh. By the marry god, a worthy citizen,
On good my Dean.
D. Now. This Sir Richard Whittington, three
times Mayor,
Sonne to a knight, and prentife to a mercer,
Began the Library of Gray- Friars in London,
you know no body. 277
And his executors after him did build
Whittington Colledge, thirteene Alms-houfes for poor
men,
Repair'd S. Bartholomew es, in Smithfield,
Glafed the Guildhall, and built Newgate.
Mob. Bones of me, then I haue heard lies ;
For I haue heard he was a fcullion,
And rais'd himfelf by venture of a Cat.
D. Now. They did the more wrong to the gentle
man.
This Sir John Allen, mercer and Mayor of London,
A man fo graue of life, that he was made
A Priuy Councillor to King Henry the Eight.
He gaue this city a rich coller of gold,
That by the Mayor fucceeding mould be worne ;
Of which Sir William Laxton was the firfl,
And is continued euen vnto this yeare.
A number more there are, of whofe good deeds
This city florimt
' Grejh. And we may be amamed,
For in their deeds we fee our owne difgrace.
We that are citizens, are rich as they were,
Behold their charity in euery llreet,
Churches for prayer, almes-houfes for the poore,
Conduits which bring vs water; all which good
We doe fee, and are relieu'd withal,
And yet we Hue like beafts, fpend time and dye,
Leauing no good to be remember'd by.
Lady. Among the (lories of thefe blefied men,
So many that inrich your gallery,
There are two womens pictures : what were they 1
D. Now. They are two that haue deferu'd a
memory
Worthy the note of our poflerity.
This Agnes Fofter, wife to Sir A. Fofter,
That freed a begger at the grate of Lud-gate,
Was after Mayor of this moft famous city,
And builded the fouth fide of Lud-gate vp,
Vpon which wall thefe verfes I haue read :
278 If you know not me,
Deuoutfoules, that paffe this way,
For M. Fojler late Mayor honcftly pray,
And Agnes his wife to God confecrate,
That ,of pity this houfe made for Londoners in Lud-
gate;
S# that for lodging and water here nothing they pay,
As their keepers Jhall anfwer at dreadfull Doomefday.
Lady. O, what a charitable deed was this !
D. Now. This Aue Gibfon, who in her husbands
life,
Being a grocer, and a Sheriffe of London,
Founded a Free School at Ratcliffe,
There to inftnicl threescore poore children ;
Built fourteene almes-houfes for fourteene poore,
Leauing for Tutors 50. pound a yeare,
And quarterly for euery one a noble.
Lady. Why fhould not I Hue fo, that being dead,
My name might haue a regifler with theirs.
Grejh* Why mould not all of vs being wealthy
men,
And by Gods bleffing onely raifd, but
Caft in our minds how we might them exceed
In godly workes, helping of them that need.
Hob. Bones a me, 'tis true : why mould we Hue
To haue the poor to curfe vs, being dead ?
Heauen grant that I may Hue, that, when I die,
Although my children laugh, the poor may cry.
Now. If you will follow the religious path
That thefe haue beat before you, you mail win
Heauen.
Euen in the mid-day walkes you mall not walk the
flreet,
But widows orifons, lazars prayers, orphans thankes,
Will fly into your eares, and with a joyfull blufh
Make you thanke God that you haue done for them ;
When, otherwife, they'le fill your eares with curfes,
Crying, we feed on woe, you are our nurfes.
O is't not better that young couples fay,
You rais'd vs vp, then, you were our decay \
you know no body. 279
And mothers tongues teach their firft borne to fmg
Of your good deeds, then by your bad to wring ?
Hob. No more, M. D. Nowell, no more.
I thinke thefe words mould make a man of flint
To mend his life : how fay you, M. Gre/ham ?
Grejh. Fore god, they haue flarted teares into my
eies;
And, M. D. Nowell, you mail fee
The words that you haue fpoke haue wrought effect
in me.
Lady. And from thefe women I will take a way
To guide my life for a more blefled flay.
Now. Begin then whilft you Hue left being dead,
The good you giue in charge be neuer done.
Make your owne hands your executors, your eyes
ouerfeers,
And haue this faying euer in your mind :
Women be forgetful, children be unkind) '
Executors be couetous, and take what they can finde.
Hob. In my time I haue feen many of them.
Gre/Ji. He learn then to preuent them whilft I
Hue.
The good I mean to do, thefe hands fhall giue.
Enter Quick.
Quick. The matter you wot of fir is done.
Grejh. Done, knaue ! what's done ?
Quick. He is in huckflers handling, fir ; and here
he commends him vnto you.
Grefli. Many-god knaue, dofl tell me riddles ?
what's all this ?
Quick. A thing will fpeak his owne mind to you,
If you pleafe but to open the lip.
Enter Clown.
Clown. By your leaue, gentlemen, I am come to
280 If you know not me,
fmell out my matter here. Your kinfman John, fir,
your kinfman John.
Grefh. O he has brought the hundred pound.
Where is he ?
Quick. It appears by this, the matter is of lefs
waight.
Grefh. What, more papers 1
Fellow, what haft thou brought me here ? a recanta
tion ?
Clown. It may be fo, for he appeares in a white
meet.
Quick. Indeed, he feems fory for his bad life.
Gre/h. Bad life ! bad life, knaue ! what meanes all
this?
M. D. Nowell, pray reade it for me,
And lie reade that my kinfman John hath fent.
Where is he knaue 1
Clown. Your worfhip is no wifer then you mould
be, to keepe any of that coat.
Grejh. Knaue thou meaneft.
Clown. Knaue I meane, fir, but your kinfman
John,
That by this time's well forward on his way.
Gre/h. Heyday ! what haue we here ? knauery as
quicke as eels :
We'le more of this.
Clown. You were bed let me helpe you hold
it fir.
Gre/h. Why knaue, doft thinke I cannot hold a
paper ?
Clown. Helpe will do no hurt j for if the knauery
be as quicke as an eele, it may chance to deceiue
you.
Grejh. (reads.)
I am a merchant made by chance,
And lacking coine to venture,
Your hundred pound s gone toward France ;
Your Fatlor's in the Compter.
you know no body. 281
Quick. No, fir; he is yet but in the tauern at
Compter-gate ; but he mall foon be in, if you pleafe.
Gre/h. Away, knaue, let me read on :
My father gaue me a portion,
You keepe away my due ;
I haue paid myfelfe a part tofpend :
Herds a dif charge for you.
Precious cole here's a knaue round with me.
D. Now. Your faclor Timothy Thinbeard, writes to
you,
Who, as it feems, is arrefled at your fute.
Grejh. How ! at my fute ?
D. Now. And here confeffeth by ufmg bad com
pany
He is run behind hand flue hundred pound.
And doth intreat you would be good to him.
Grejh. How ! run behind hand fiue hundred pound,
And by bad company ! M. Dean of Powles,
He is a fellow feemes fo pure of life,
I durft haue trufted him with all I had.
D. Now. Here is fo much vnder his owne
hand.
Grejh. Ha, let me fee. Who fet you to arreft
him ?
Quick. Why, your kinfman John ; your kinfman
John.
Grejh. Ha, ha, ifaith, I fmell the knauery,
then.
This knaue belike miftrufting of my kinfman,
Would come along to fee the money giuen me :
Mad Jack) hauing no tricke to put him off,
Arrefls him with a lergeant, at my fute.
There went my hundred pound away : this Thinbeard,
then,
Knowing himfelfe to haue play'd the knaue with
me,
And thinking I had arrefled him indeed,
Confeffeth all his trickes with yea and nay.
So, here's fiue hundred pound come, one run away.
282 If you know not me,
Hob. Bones a me, M. Gre/ham, is my man John
gone away with your hundred pound ?
Clown. Faith it appeares fo, by the acquittance
that I brought.
Grejh. No matter, M. Hobfon : the charge you
truft him with
He fee he mail difcharge. I know he is wilde,
Yet, I muft tell you, He not fee him iunke ;
And, afore-god, it hath done my heart more good,
The knaue had wit to do fo mad a tricke,
Then if he had profited me twice fo much.
Ram. He euer had the name of mad Jack
Grejham.
Grejh. He's the more like his vncle. Sir Thomas
Ramfey,
When I was young, I doe remember well,
I was as very a knaue as he is now.
Sirrah, bring Thin-beard hither to me ; and Sir Thomas
Ramfey,
Your hundred pound He fee you paid myfelfe.
Ha, ha ! mad Jack, gramercy for this flight :
This hundred pounds makes me thy vncle right.
Exeunt.
Enter John Tawnie-coat.
Taw. I, fure, 'tis in this lane : I turned on the
right hand, coming from the Stockes. Nay, though
there was mailer careleffe, man careleffe, and all care-
leffe, He ftill be honefl John, and fcorne to take any
mans ware but He pay them for it. I warrant they
thinke me an arrant knaue, for going away and not
paying ; and in my confcience the mafter cudgeld the
men, and the men the mafter, and all about me ;
when, as (I fweare) I did it innocently. But, fure,
this is the lane : theres the Windmill ; theres the Dogs
head in the pot ; and heres the Fryer whipping the
Nunnes arfe. Tis hereabout fure.
you know no body. 283
Enter in thejhop two of Hobfons folkes> and opening
thejhop.
1. Come fellow Crack, haue you forted vp thofe
wares ?
Markt them with 54 1 They muft be packt up.
2. I haue done't an houre ago. Haue you feald
up
My mailers letter to his fac~lor, John Grejham ?
It is at Deepe, in France, to fend him matches,
For he muft vfe them at Briftow fair.
i. I, and the poll receiued it two houres fince.
Taw. Sure, it is hereabout : the kennell was on
my right hand; and I thinke, in my confcience, I
fhall neuer haue the grace of God and good lucke, if
I do not pay it. S'foot, look here, look here, I know
this is the mop, by that fame ilretch-halter. O my
mafters, by your leaue, good fellows.
i. You are welcome, fir ; you are welcome.
Taw. Indeed thats the common faying about Lon
don, if men bring money with them,
T. O, fir, money cuflomers to vs are bell wel
come.
Taw. You fay well ; fo they mould be. Come,
turn o're your books : I am come to pay this fame ten
pound.
i. And we are ready to receiue money. What
might we call your name ?
Taw. Why, my name is John Goodfellow. I hope
I am not afhamed of my name.
1. Your kinne are the more beholding vnto you.
Fellow Crack) turn o'er the kalender, and looke for
John Goodfellow.
2. What comes it to ?
Taw. Ten pound.
i. You will haue no more wares with you, will you
fir I
Taw. Nay, prethee, not too fafl : let's pay for the
old, before we talke of any new.
284 If you know not me,
2. John Goodfellow ? Fellow Nimblechaps, hen.
no fuch name in all our booke.
i. I think thou art mop-eyed this morning : git.c
me the bool^. Letter I, letter I, letter I When had
you your ware 1
Taw. I had it fome ten da yes ago.
i. Your name's John Goodfellow,yc>Uiiay. Letter
I, letter I, letter I. You do not come to mocke vs, do
you ? Letter I, letter I, letter I. By this hand, if I
thought you did, I would knock you about the ears,
afore we parted. Fellow Crack, get me a cudgel
ready. Letter I, letter I, letter I. Sfoot ! here's no
luch name in all our booke. Do you heare, fellow ?
Are you drunke, this morning, to make vs looke for
moonftiine in the water 1
Taw. Fut ! art not thou drunk, this morning 1
Canft not receiue the money that's due to thee ? I
tell thee, I had ten pounds worth of ware here.
1. And I tell thee, John Goodfellow^ here's no
fuch name in our booke, nor no fuch ware deli-
uered.
Taw. Gods precious ! theres a jefl, indeed : fo a
man may be fworne out of himfelf. Had I not ten
pounds worth of ware here ?
2. No, goodman goofe that you had not.
Taw. Heyda ! here's excellent fellows, are able to
make their mailers haire grow through his hood in a
moneth ! They can not only careleffly deliuer away
his ware, but alfo they will not take money for it when
it comes.
i. Do you hear, hoyden 1 and my matter were not
in the next roome, Ide knocke you about th' eares for
playing the knaue with vs, ere you parted.
Taw. I thinke your matter had jnore need (if he
lookt well about him) to knock you for playing the
Jackes with him. Theres your ten pounds ; tell it out
with a wanion, and take it for your pains.
i. Fut! heres a mad flaue, indeed, will giue vs
ten pound, in fpite of our teeths.
you know no body. 285
2. Fellow Nimblechaps, alas ! let the poore fellow
alone : it appears he is befides him.
Taw. Mafle, I thinke you will fooner make your
matter flarke mad, if you play thus with euerybody.
Enter old Hobfon.
HoL Heyda, bones-a-me, here's lazy knaues !
Paft eight a clock, and neither ware forted,
Nor mop fwept.
Taw. Good morrow to you, fir : haue you any
more flomacke to receiue money then your men haue
this morning ?
Hob. Money is welcome chaffer : welcome, good
friend, welcome, good friend.
Taw. Here's M.onfiewr Matafiart your man fcornes
to receiue it.
Hob. How, knaues ! thinke fcorne to receiue my
money ?
Bones-a-me, growne proud, proud knaues, proud ?
i. I hope we know, fir, you do not vfe to bring vp
your feruants to receiue money vnleffe it be due vnto
you.
Hob. No, bones-a-me, knaues, not for a million.
Friend, come to pay me money ? for what, for
what?
For what come you to pay me money 1
Taw. Why, fir, for ware I had fome moneth
ago,
Being pins, points, and laces,
Poting-flicks for young wiues, for young wenches
glaffes,
Ware of all forts, which I bore at my back,
To fell where I come, with what do you lacke ?
What do you lacke ? what do you lacke ?
Hob. Bones-a-me, a merry knaue. What's thy
name %
Taw. My name, fir, is John Goodfcllow^
286 If you know not me,
An honefl poore pedler of Kent.
Hob. And had ten pound in ware of me a moneth
ago?
Bones giue me the booke. John Goodfellow, of
Kent.
Taw. Oh, fir, nomine <5^ natura, by name and
nature,
I am as well known for a good fellow in Kent,
As your city Sumner's known for a knaue.
Come, fir, will you be telling ?
Hob. Tell me no tellings : bones-a-me here's no
fuch matter.
Away, knaue, away, thou owefl me none. Out of my
doors.
Taw. How owe you none, fay you ! This is but a
trick to try my honefly now.
Hob. There's a groat : goe drink a pint of
fack;
Comfort thyfelf ; thou art not well in thy wits.
God forbid, pay me ten pound not due to me.
Taw. Gods dickens, heres a jeft, indeed ! matter
mad, men mad. and all mad : here's a mad houfhold.
Do you hear, M. Hobfon, I do not greatly care to take
your groat, and I care as little to fpend it ; yet you
mail know I am John, honefl John, and will not be
outfac't of my honefly. Here I had ten pounds worth
of ware, and I will pay for it.
Hob. Nimblechaps ! call for help JSiimblechaps.
Bones of me, the man begins to raue.
2. Mafler I have found out one John Tawny-
coat,
Had ten pounds' worth of ware a moneth ago.
Taw. Why, that's I, that's I ! I was John Tawny-
coat then,
Though I am John Gray-coat now.
Mob. John Tawny-coat / Welcome, John Tawny-
coat,
Taw. 'Foot ! do you think Tie be outfac'd of my-
honefly ?
you know no body. 287
Hob. A ftool for John Tawny-coat, welcome
John Tawny-coat;
Honefl John Tawny-coat, welcome John Tawny-
coat.
Taw. Nay, He aflure you, we were honeft, all the
generation of us.
There tis, to a doit, I warrant you : you need not tell
it after me.
Foot ! do you think He be outfac't of mine honefly ?
Hob. Thou art honeft John, honeft John Tawny-
coat.
Having fo honeftly paid for this,
Sort up his pack ftraight worth twentie pound.
He truft thee, honeft John ; Hobfon will truft thee ;
And any time the ware that thou doft lack,
Money, or money not, He ftuffe thy packe.
Taw. I thanke you, Mailer Hobfon ; and this is
the fruit of honeftie.
Enter a Purfeuant.
Purf. By your leaue M. Hobfon, I bring this fauour
to you.
My royal miftreffe, Queene Elizabeth,
Hath fent to borrow a hundred pound of you.
Hob. How ! bones a me, Queen know Hobfon,
Queene know Hobfon ?
And fend but for one hundred pound 1 Friend
come in ;
Come in, friend ; mall haue two ; Queen mail haue
two.
If Queene know Hobfon once, her Hobfons purfe
Muft be free for her ; fhee is Brands nurfe.
Come in, good friend. Ha ! Queene know Hobfon ]
Nay, come in, John ; wele dine together too.
Taw. Make vp my packe, and lie along from
you,
Singing merrily on the way,
Points, pins, gloues, and purfes,
288 If you know not ine>
Poting-fticks, and black j cat-rings,
Cambricks, lawns, and pretty things.
Come, maids, and buy, my backe doth cracke,
I haue all that you want ; what do you lack ?
What do you lacke ?
Enter Grelham and Sword-bearer.
Grejh. Our cities fword-bearer, and my very good
friend,
What, haue our honorable Court of Aldermen
Determined yet ? lhall Grejham haue a place
To erect this worthy building to his name,
May make the city fpeake of him for euer ]
Sword. They are in earned counfell fir about it.
Grejh. Be you my agent to and fro to them :
I know your place, and will be thankfull to you. .
Tell them, I wait here in the Mayors Court ;
Beneath in the Sheriffs Court my workmen waite,
In number full an hundred : my frame is ready ;
All onely flay their pleafure ; then out of hand
Vp goes my work, a credit to the land.
Sword. I mail be dutiful in your requefl. Exit.
Gre/h. Do, good M. Sword-bearer. Now when
this worke is rais'd
It mall be in the pleafure of my life
To come and meet our merchants at their houre,
And fee them, in the greatefl florme that is,
Walke dry, and in a worke I rais'd for them ;
Or fetch a turne within my vpper walke,
Within which fquare I have orderd fhops mail be
Of neat, but necefiarieft trades in London :
And in the richefl fort being garnifht out,
Twill do me good to fee fhops, with faire wiues
Sit to attend the profit of their husbands ;
Young maids brought vp, young men as prentifes.
Some mail proue maflers, and fpeake in GreJJiams
praife,
In GreJJiams worke we did our fortunes raife.
you know no body. 289
For I dare fay, both country and the Court
For wares it l \ be beholding to this worke.
Enter Sword-bearer, Lord Mawr, and Sheriffs.
Sword. Mailer Ore/ham,
Thus fends the Lord Maior and the Court of Alder
men.
Ram. Or rather come to bring the newes our-
felfe.
We haue determin'd of a place for you
In Cornhill, the delightful of this city,
Where you (hall raife your frame. The city at their
charge
Hath bought the houfes and the ground,
And paid for both three thoufand fiue hundred three
and twenty pound.
Order is giuen the houfes mail be fold
To any man will buy them and remoue them.
Sher. Which is already done, being fourfcore houf-
holds,
Were fold at four hundred threefcore and eighteene
pounds.
The plot is alfo plained at the cities charges,
And we, in name of the whole citizens,
Do come to giue you full poffefllon
Of this our purchafe whereon to build a Burfe,
A place for merchants to affemble in,
At your owne charges.
GreJJi. Matter Sheriff, He do't ; and what I fpend
therein,
I fcorne to lofe day ; neglect is a fin.
Where be my workmen 1
Enter Workmen.
Work. Here, here, with trowel and tools ready
at- hand.
i U
290 If you know not we*
Enter D. Nowell and Hobfon.
Grejh. Come, fellows, come :
We haue a frame made, and we haue roome
To raife it. But M. D. Nowell and Mafter Hobfon^
We haue your prefence in a happy time ;
This feuenth of June, we the firft ftone will lay
Of our new Burfe. Giue vs fome brickes.
Here's a brick, here's a fair foueraign.
Thus I begin ; be it hereafter told,
I laid the firfl ftone with a piece of gold.
He that loues Grejliam follow him in this :
The gold we lay due to the workmen is.
Work. Oh, God blefs M. Grejham \ God blefs
M. Grejham \
Ram. The Maior of London, M. Grejham, follows
you.
Vnto your firft this fecond I doe fit.
And lay this piece of gold a- top of it.
Sher. So do the Sheriffs of London after you.
Hob. And, bones-a-me, old Hobfon will be one.
Here, fellows, there's my gold j giue me a ftone.
Work. God forbid, a man of your credit mould
want ftones.
D. Now. Is this the plot, fir, of your work in
hand?
Grejh. The whole plot, both of form and fafhion.
D. Now. In footh, it will be a goodly edifice ;
Much art appears in it : in all my time,
I haue not feen a work of this neat form.
What is this vaultage for, is fafhion'd here ?
Gre/h. Stowage for merchants ware, and ftrangers
goods,
As either by exchange or other ways are vendible.
D. Now. Here is a middle round, and a faire
fpace,
The round is grated, and the fpace
Seems open : your conceit for that 1
Grejh. The grates giue light vnto the cellerage,
you know no body. 291
Vpon the which He haue my friends to walk,
When Heauen giues comfortable rain vnto the
earth,
For that I will haue couered.
D, Now. So it appears.
Gre/h. This fpace, that hides not heauen from vs,
Shall be fo flill ; my reafon is,
There's fummers heat as well as winters cold ;
And I allow, and here's my reafon for't,
,Tis better to be bleakt by winters breath,
Then to be ftifled vp with fummers heat.
In cold weather, walk dry, and thick together,
And euery honefl man warm one another :
In fummer, then, when too much heat offends,
Take air, a Gods name, merchants or my friends.
D. Now. And what of this part that is ouer
head?
GreJJi. M. Deane, in this
There is more ware there then in all the reft.
Here, like a parifh for good citizens
And their faire wiues to dwell in, He haue (hops,
Where euery day they mail become themfelues
In neat attire ; that when our courtiers
Shall come in trains to trace old Grejhams Burfe,
They (hall haue fuch a girdle of chafte eyes,
And fuch a globe of beauty round about,
Ladies (hall blufh to turn their vizards off,
And courtiers fweare they ly'd when they did
fcoffe.
D. Now. Kind M. Grefham y this fame worke of
yours
Will be a tombe for you, after your death ;
A benefit to tradefmen, and a place
Where merchants meet, their traffique to maintain,
Where neither cold (hall hurt them, heat, nor rain.
Gre/h. O, Mailer Nowell, I did not forget
The troublefome (lorme we had in Lumber-Street,
That time Sir Thomas and I were aduerfaries,
And you and Mailer Hobfon made vs friends.
U 2
292 If yoii know not me,
I then did fay, and now He keep my word.
I faw a want, and I would help afford :
Nor is my promife giuen you when you fhew'd
That ranke of charitable men to vs,
That I would follow their good actions,
Forgot with me ; but that before I die
The world mail fee He leaue like memory.
A blafing ftar.
Hob. Fore-god, my lord, haue you beheld the
like?
Look how it ftreaks ! what do you think of it 1
Sher. Tis a flrange comet. M. Hobfon,
My time, to my remembrance, hath not feene
A fight fo wonderful. Mafter Doctor Nowell,
To iudge of thefe things your experience
Exceedeth ours \ what do you hold of it ?
For I haue heard that meteors in the air,
Of leffer form, lefle wonderfull than thefe,
Rather foretell of dangers imminent,
Then flatter vs with future happinefs.
D. Now. Art may difcourfe of thefe things ; none
can iudge
Directly of the will of Heauen in this :
And by difcourfe thus far I hold of it.
That this flrange ftar appearing in the North,
And in the conftellation of Cajfiopey,
Which, with three fixed ftars commixt to it,
Doth make a figure geometricall,
Lozenge-wife, called of the learned JRombus,
Conducted with the hourely moon of Heauen,
And neuer altered from the fixed fphere,
Foretels fuch alteration, that, my friends,
Heauen grant with this firfl fight our forrow ends.
Hob. Gods will be done. Matter Dean, hap what
hap will,
Death doth not fear the good man but the ill.
Gre/h. Well faid, M. Hobfon :
Let's Hue to-day, that if death come to-morrow,
He's rather meffenger of joy then forrow.
you know no body. 293
Enter a Fttftor.
Now, fir, what news from Barbary 1
Facl. Vnwelcome news, fir. The King of Barbary
is (lain.
Grefi. Ha ! flain by treafon, or by war 1
Faff. By war, in that renowned battell
Swift fame defires to carry through the world,
The battle of Alcaf&r, wherein two kings,
Befides the King of Barbary^ were flain,
Kings of Morocco and of Portugal,
With Stewkeley, that renowned Englifhman,
That had a fpirit equal with a king,
Made fellow with thefe kings in warlike ftrife,
Honord his country, and concluded life.
Grefh. Cold news, birlady. The venture, Gentle
men,
Of threefcore thoufand pound with that dead king,
Lies in a hazard to be wonne or loft.
In what eftate confifts the kingdom now ?
FaEl. In peace ; and the fucceeding happy heire
Was crown'd then king, when I took mip from
thence.
Gre/h. To that king, then, be meflenger from vs,
And by the found of trumpet fummon him.
Say that thy mafter, and a London merchant,
Craues due performance of fuch couenants,
Confirmed by the late King vnto ourfelf,
That for the fum of threefcore thoufand pound,
The trafficke of his fugars mould be mine.
If he refufe the former bargain made,
Then, freely claim the money that we lent :
Say that our coin did ftead the former king ;
If he be kinde, we haue as much for him.
Hob. By the many-god, it was a dangerous
day :
Three kings, befide young Stewkeley, ilaine :
294 If y u know not me,
He tell you, my Lord Maior, what I haue feen.
When fword and bucklers were in queftion,
I haue feen that ..Stewkeley beat a ftreet before
him.
He was fo familiar growne in euery mouth,
That if it hapned any fighting were,
The queftion ftraight was, was not Stewkeley there ?
Bones-a-me, he would hew it ! Now, what news with
you?
Enter a Boy.
Boy. Heres a letter fent you from John Gref-
Hob. O, an anfwer of a letter that I fent,
To fend me matches againfl Briftow fair,
If then any were come.
Boy. I cannot tell fir well what to call it ;
but inflead of matches of ware, when you read your
letter, I belieue you will find your factor hath matcht
you.
Hob. What's here ? what's here ? Reade the letter.
As neare as I could gheffe at your meaning, I haue
laboured to furnijh you, and haue fent you tivothoufand
pounds worth of match.
How 1 bones, knaue, two thoufand pounds worth ol
match !
Boy. Faith, mailer, neuer chafe at it ; for if you
cannot put it away for match, it may be the hangman
will buy fome of it for halters.
Hob. Bones a me, I fent for matches of ware, fel
lows of ware.
Boy. And match being a kind of ware, I thinke
your factor hath matcht you.
Hob. The blafing ftar did not appeare for no
thing.
I fent to be forted with matches of ware,
And he hath fent me nought but a commodity of
Match,
you know no body. 295
And in a time when there's no vent for it.
What do you think on't, gentlemen 1
I little thought J-ack would haue ferued me fo.
Gre/h. Nay, Mafter Hobfon, grieue not at Jacks
croffe ;
My doubt is more, and yet I laugh at loffe.
Exeunt.
Enter 2. Lords,
1. Lord. You haue trauel'd, fir: how do you like
this building 1
Truft me, it is the goodliefl thing that I haue feen :
England affords none fuch.
2. Lord. Nor Chriflendom ;
I might fay, all the world has not his fellow.
I haue been in Turkies great Conftantinople ;
The merchants there meet in a goodly temple,
But haue no common Burfe : in Rome, but Rome's
Built after the manner of Frankford and Embden :
There, where the greateft marts and meeting places
Of merchants are, haue ftreets and pent-houfes,
And, as I might compare them to themfelues,
Like Lumber Street before this Burfe was built.
Enter Sir Thomas Ramfey.
1. Lord. I haue feen the like in Briftout.
Ram. Good morrow to your honors.
2. Lord. Thanks to my good Lord Maior.
We are gazing here on M. Grejhams work.
Ram. I think you haue not feene a goodlieo:
frame.
2. Lord. Not in my life; yet I haue beene in
Venice,
In the Realto there, called S. Marks \
Tis but a bable, if compard to this.
The neareft that which moft refembles this,
296 If you know not me,
Is the great Burfe in Antwerp, yet not comparable
Either in height or widenefs, the fair cellerage,
Or goodly (hops aboue. Oh, my Lord Maior,
This Gre/ham hath much graced your city, London :
His fame will long outliue him.
i. Lord. It is reported
You, Sir Thomas Ramfey, are as rich as he :
This mould incite you to fuch noble works,
To eternize you.
Ram. Your lordfhip pleafes to be pleafant with
me :
I am the meanefl of a many men
In this faire city. Matter Grejhams fame
Drawes me as a fpeclator amongfl others,
To fee his cofl, but not compare with it.
1. Lord. And it is cofl indeed.
2. Lord. But when, to fit thefe empty roomes
about here,
The pictures grauen of all the Englifh kings
Shall be fet ouer, and in order placd,
How glorious will it then be ?
i. Lord. Admirable.
Ram. Thefe very pictures will furmount my
wealth.
1. Lord. But how will Matter Gre/ham name this
place ?
2. Lord. I heard my Lord of Lecejler to the
Queene
Highly commend this worke, and (he then promift
To come in perfon, and here chriften it :
It cannot haue a better godmother.
This Gre/ham 'is a royall citizen.
Ram. He feafts this day the Ruffian Ambaffa-
dor :
I am a bidden guett ; where, if it pleafe you
i. Lord. Good Sir Thomas,
We know what you would fay. We are his guetts,
Inuited to ; yet in our way we tooke
yoii know no body. 297
This wonder, worth our paines : it is our way
To Bijhopfgate, to Mailer Grefhams houfe ;
Thither fo pleafe you, wele affociate you. Exeunt.
Enter M. Grefham, leading in the Ambaffador. Muficke,
and a banquet ferued in : the Ambaffador s fet.
Enter Sir Thomas Ramfie, the 2. Lords, my Lady
Ramfie, the Waits in Sergeants gowns, with one In
terpreter.
Grejh. Lords all at once, welcome ; welcome at
once.
You come to my new buildings vp-fitting :
It hath been long in labour, now deliuerd,
And vp ; anon, wele haue a health to it.
This RuJJian Prince, the Emperours Ambaffador,
Doth not our language vnderftand. Interpreter,
Say that we bid him welcome.
Inter. The Prince fpeaks Latin,
And in that language wele interpret for him.
Salutem tibi optat, et admntum tuum grauiffime
IJle Londinenfis.
Amb. Iftum libens audio, ages illi meo nomine
Ex animo gratias : funde qiwd bibamus.
Inter. He gladly thanks you for his royall wel
come,
And drinkes to you.
Grejk. We vnderfland that figne.
Come, let our full-crown' d cups oreflow with wine,
Welcome againe, fair lords.
2. Lord. Thanks, M. GreJJiam :
We haue been viewing of your works.
Gre/h. My Burfe : how do you like it, lords ?
It is a pretty bable.
2. Lord. Tis a faire worke :
Her Maiefly intends to name the place.
Grejh. She doth her fervant Grefham too much
grace.
If you know not me s
It will be pretty when my pidlures come
To fill thofe empty rooms ; if that hold,
That mips rich fraught is worth her waight in gold.
1. Lord. It will be rare and famous.
Grejh. What was it that the Ruffian whifpered ?
Inter. He askt me what interpreter the Queene
Would in his embaffy employ.
Grejh. None : tell him none :
For, though a woman, (he is a rare linguift.
Where other princes vfe interpreters,
She, propria voce, I haue fome Latin too ;
She of herfelfe anfwers them without interpreter,
Both Spanijh, Latine, French, and Greek,
Dutch, and Italian : fo let him know.
My Lord of Lecejler fent me word, laft night,
(And I am prouder on't then on my building)
The Queene to grace me and my workes the more,
The feueral Ambaffadors there will heare,
And them in perfon anfwer.
2. Lord. Tis moll true.
Enter a gentleman, whifpering to Sir Thomas Ramfie.
Grejh. The Ruffian with the French.
What would that gentleman, Sir Thomas 1
Ram. He is a merchant, and a jeweller :
Mongfl other Hones, he faith he hath a pearle,
Orient and round, weighing fo many carets,
That it can fcarce be valued : the French King
And many other Dukes haue for the riches
And price refufed to buy it ; now he comes
To offer it to this Ambaffador.
Grejh. Show him the pearle, interpreter,
The Lord Ambaffador.
Inter. Mercator quidam et aurifex fpeftandum tibi
profert Gemmam domine fereniffime.
Amb. Et pulchra, et principe digna: interroga
quanti iudicat ?
you know no body. 299
Inter. He commends it to be both rich and faire,
And defires to know how you value it.
Mer. My price, fir, is fifteene hundred pound.
Amb. Quanti valet 1
Inter. Mille quingentis minis.
Amb. Non, non; nimis peccara eftifta Gemma.
Inter. He faith it is too dear ; he will not buy it.
Grejh. I will perufe your pearle. Is that the
price ?
Mer. I cannot bate one crowne, and gaine by it.
Enter a Mariner.
Grejh. We'le not be acceffary to your lofs ;
And yet confidering all things fome may thinke vs
To be but bare of treafure at this time,
Having disburft fo much about our workes ;
Yet, if our mips and trade in Barbary
Hold currant, we are well. What newes from fea?
How ftands my mips ?
Mar. Your mips, in which all the kings pictures
were,
From Brute vnto our Queene Elizabeth,
Drawne in white marble, by a ftorme at fea
Is wrack't and loft.
Grejh. The loffe, I weigh not this ;
Onely it grieues me that my famous building
Shall want fo rich and faire an ornament.
Lady R. It touches all the city; for thofe
pictures
Had doubly grac'd this royall edifice.
Ram. Methinkes the mips loffe moft mould trouble
you.
GreJIi. My fhip's but wealth : why, we haue
wealth.
The pictures were the grace of my new Burfe :
So I might them in their true forme behold,
I car'd not to haue loft their waights in gold.
300 If you know not me.
Enter a Faftor.
i. Lord. A noble citizen !
Grefo. Our fadlor ! What good news from Bar-
bary 1
What fayes the king ? Speak : didft thou fummon
him?
Or haft thou brought my threefcore thoufand pound ?
Or mail I haue the fugars at that rate 1
If fo, new marble pid/tures we'le haue wrought,
And in a new fhip from beyond fea brought.
FaEl. The king, that in the regall chaire fuc-
ceeds
The king late dead, I fummon'd, and demanded
Either your money tender'd, or the fugars
After the rate propos'd. He denied both ;
Alleaging, though he was fucceffive heir,
He was not, therefore, either tide to pay
The late kings debts, nor yet to fland vnto
Vnneceffary bargaines : notwithflanding,
To gratifie your love, the king hath fent you
As prefents, not as fatisfaclion,
A coftly dagger and a paire of flippers ;
And there's all for your threefcore thoufand pound.
Gre/h. Birlady, a 'dear bargain.
1. Lord. I feare me this will plague him. A flrange
crofle :
How will he take this newes 1 loffe vpon loffe.
2. Lord. Nay, will it not vndoe him ? doth he not
wifh
His buildings in his purfe 1
Grefh. A dagger, that's well :
A paire of flippers Come, vndoe my fhoes.
What, 60. thoufand pound in flerling money,
And paid me all in flippers 1 Then hoboyes, play !
On flippers He dance all my care away.
Fit, fit, he had the jufl length of my foot.
You may report, lords, when you come to Court,
You Grejham faw a paire of flippers weare,
you know no body. 301
Coft thirty thoufand pound.
1. Lord. Somewhat too deare.
Gre/h. Nor yet, for all this treafure we haue loft,
Repents it vs one penny of our coft.
2. Lord. As royall in his vertues as his build
ings.
Ram. Thefe loffes would haue killd me.
Gre/h. Jeweller,
Lets fee thy pearl. Go pound it in a morter ;
Beat it to powder, then return it me :
What Dukes and Lords, and thefe Ambaffadors
Haue, euen before our face, refufd to purchafe,
As of too high a price to venture on,
Gre/ham, a London merchant, here will buy.
What, is it broken fmall ? Fill us fome wine :
Fuller, yet fuller, till the brim oreflows.
Here fifteene hundred pound at one clap goes.
Inftead of fugar Grefliam drinks this pearle
Vnto his Queene and miftreffe : pledge it, lords.
Who euer faw a merchant brauelier fraught,
In dearer flippers, or a richer draught 1
Ram. You are an honour to all Engli/h mer
chants ;
As bountiful as rich, as charitable
As rich, as renowned as any of all.
Gre/h. I doe not this as prodigall of my wealth ;
Rather to mow how I efleern that loffe
Which cannot be regain'd. A London merchant
Thus treads on a kings prefent. Jeweller,
My factor mail deliuer you the money.
And, lords, fo pleafe you but to fee my fchoole
Of the feuen learned liberal fciences,
Which I haue founded here neare Bifhopfgate,
I will conduct you. I will make it, Lords,
An Vniverfity within itfelfe,
And giue't from my reuenues maintenance.
W are not like thofe that are not liberal
Till they be dying ; what we meane to giue,
We will beftow and fee done whilft we liue.
3O2 If you kn&w not me,
Attendance ! come, th' Ambaffador, guefts, all,
Your welcome's great, albeit your cheere's but fmall.
Exeunt.
Enter Tawny-coat with afpade.
Taw. Hard world, when men dig liuing out of
Hones,
As wretched miferable I am enforft.
And yet there Hues more pity in the earth,
Then in the flinty bofomes of her children ;
For fhee's content to haue her aged brefl
Mangled with mattockes, rent and torne with fpades,
To giue her children and their children bread j
When man more flinty then her flony ribs
That was their mother, neither by intreats,
Tears, nor complaints, will yeeld them fuflenance.
But tis our ages fault ; the mightier
Tear liuing out of vs, we out of her.
Enter Hobfon, in his gowne and flippers.
Hob. Mother a me, what a thick mift is here ?
I walked abroad to take the mornings aire,
And I am out of knowledge. Bones a me,
What meads, and what inclofures haue we here ?
How now, old Hobfon \ doat in thine old age 1
A foole at three fcore ? Whither wilt thou, wit ?
I crofl the water in my gown and flippers,
To fee my rents and buildings of the Bankfide>
And I am flipt clean out of ken, fore-god,
A wool-gathering.
Taw. Either mine care's deceiued,
Or I mould know that tongue. Tis fo, indeed,
Each word he fpeakes makes my torn heart to-
bleed.
Hob. Ha, ha ! I fmile at my owne foolery.
Now I remember mine old grandmother
Would talk of fairies and hobgoblins,
yoit, know no body. 303
That would lead milkmaids ouer hedge and ditch,
Make them milk their neighbours kine ;
And ten to one this Robin Goodfellow
Tawny-coat di%s.
Hath led me vp and down the madmans maze.
I heare fome company ; for fhame all whift,
Sit thee downe, Hobfon, a right man in the mift.
Taw. Tis he. Alas ! when the rough hand of
want
Hath caft vs downe, it loads vs with mifhaps.
I broke my day with him. O had that fatal
houre
Broken my heart : and, villain that I was,
Neuer fo much as write in my excufe :
And he for that default hath fued my bill,
And with an execution is come downe,
To feaze my houfehold fluff, imprifon me,
And turne my wife and children out of doores.
What, mail I fly him 1 No ; he 's pitiful :
Then, with my teares I will importune him.
God faue you M. Hobfon*
Hob. Hobfon, bones a me,
What voice is that 1 Art thou a man, or friend ?
Tell me if thou beefl that Will of the Wifp,
That leadfl me this wild morice 1 I coniure thee
To leaue me to myfelfe.
Taw. O Matter Hobfon !
As euer you haue beene a poore mans friend,
Continue flill fo : infult not o'er my fortunes.
Hob. I am in the mift. What art thou 1 fpeake.
Taw. A debter of your worfhips.
Hob. A debter of mine ! mother of me, thou
Heft.
I know thee not, nor doe I know this place.
If thou oweft me any thing, pay me with thy
loue :
And if thou beeft acquainted in thefe woods,
Conducl me to fome towne, or diredl road
That leads to London, and He here difcharge thee
304 If you know not me,
Of debts and duties, and befide impart
Somewhat to cherim thee.
Taw. What mould I thinke 1
He knowes me ; and, for feare I mould fcape him,
He would intice me to the officers.
Matter Hobfon \ though not for mine owne,
Yet for my wife and my poore childrens fakes,
If your intent be to irnprifon me,
Vpon my knees I do intreat you fpare me.
The goods you trufted me withal, I haue not
wafted
In riot and excefs, but my kinde heart,
Seeing my helplefie neighbours in diftreffe,
By reafon of the long and extreame dearth,
Some I relieued, fome trufted with my goods,
Whofe pouertie's not able to repay.
Then beare with me a little ; your rich ftore
Hath fau'd my life, and fed an hundred more.
Hob. Now, bones-a-me, another Tawny-coat.
What's thy name, knaue ?
Taw. John Rowland, fir.
Hob. Bones-a-me,
1 thought as much. Art not thou Tawney-coat ?
Taw. I am the man whom you call'd Tawny-coat.
Hob. And I the Hob/on that will pitty thee.
Now bones-a-me, what mak'ft thou with a fpade ?
Taw. This fpade alas, tis all the wealth I haue,
When my poor wife and children cry for bread,
They ftill muft cry till thefe haue purchaft it ;
They muft go naked till thefe harden'd hands,
When the cold breath of winter ftrikes on them,
Till thefe haue earned it.
Hob. Now, alas, good foul !
It melts my heart to heare him, and mine eyes
Could weepe for company. What earn'ft a day ?
Taw . Little God knows.
Though I be ftirring earlier then the larbe,
And at my labour later then the lambe,
Towards my wife and childrens maintenance
you know no body. 305
I fcarcely earne me threepence by the day.
Hob. Alas, the while, poor foules I pitty them ;
And in thy words, as in a looking-glafs,
I fee the toil and travell of the country,
And quiet gaine of cities bleffedneffe.
Heauens will for all, and mould not we refpect it,
We are vnworthy life. But, bones-a-me,
Dofl think to pay me twenty pound
And keep thy charge earning a groat a day ?
Taw. And God blefs my labours, I hope I (hall.
I haue this quarter by exceeding thrift,
Bare clothing, and fpare dyet, fcrap'd together
Fine millings in a purfe, which I lay vp
Towards your worfhips debt.
Hob. Giue it me ; fomewhat hath fome fauour.
And yet mall I fpend that which the poor labourer
got?
No, God forbid : old Hobfon ne'er will eat,
Rather then furfet vpon poore mens fweat.
Take it againe, and buy thy children bread.
But foft, the mift doth break. : what town is this ?
Taw. Detford, an't like your worfhip.
Enter Timothy.
Hob. Bones-a-me, to Detfordc&mo. I to do charity.
I fee 'twas Gods appointment
But who comes here ? Bones a me, honeft Tim \
'Twas faid in London you were bound for France,
And I determin'd to haue writ by you.
Tim. By yea and nay, M. Hobfon, 'tis no vntmth.
I was bound for France, landed in France, diipatcht
fome fecret bufineffe for a filler in France, and from
her haue French tokens to deliuer to the Qfterhood
whom I (hall firft encounter in England.
Hob. Bones-a-me, Tim, fo fpeedy in your iour-
ney !
It feemes your bufmefs was of much import.
306 If yoit, know not me y
Tim. Verely it was, and it flood chiefly between
two women ; and, as you know, women loue to haue
their bufmeffe difpatcht.
Hob. Mother-a-me, Tim, I am glad of it.
But how does my faclor, John GreJJiam, in France ?
Tim. Your grauitie may better confider of that
then I can difcourfe ; but withal I pray you think he
is a wilde youth. There are tauerns in France, yet I
do not think John Grefham is giuen to frequent
them ; and yet I mufl remember you he is a youth,
and youth may be drawne to expences. England's on
this fide, France on that ; the fea's betwixt him and
his mailer ; but I doe not think him guilty, yet I could
fay.
Hob. Mother a me, leaue off thefe parables,
And tell me plainly, is he not a wencher ?
Tim. By yea and by nay, fir, without parable, I am
no tell-tale. I haue feen him in company with
Madona fuch a one, or fuch a one : it becomes not
flefh and blood to reueale. Your worfhip knowes he
is in France, the fea betwixt him and you, and what a
young youth in that cafe is prone vnto : your grauity
is wife. He not fay fo much as I faw him drinking
with a French lady or laffe in a tauerne, becaufe your
grauity is wife ; but if I had, it had beene leffe then
perhaps you imagine on fuch a wild youth as he no
queflion does deferue.
Hob. Mother-a-me, 'tis fo. In a French tauerne,
Kiffing the lady, and the fea betwixt vs.
I am for you, M. John ; thus in my gowne and flip
pers,
And nightcap and gowne, He flep ouer to France.
Here, Tawny-coat, receiue thou my feal'd ring :
Beare it to my facSlor ; bid him by that token
Sort thee out forty pounds worth of fuch wares
As thou malt thinke mofl beneficial.
Thou art a free man ; vp with thy trade agen :
He raife thee, Rowland, if God fay, Amen.
Taw. I know not how.
you knoiv no body. 307
Hob. Tut, bones-a-me, man, peace ! Hobfon will
do't : thou oweft me but twenty pound, lie venture
forty more. Timothy here mail be thy witnefs to my
fac~lor in this bufmefs.
To all our friends in London fay I am gone
Ouer to France. I am for you, M. John. Exeunt.
Enter John and Cnrtezan.
Cur. Sweet youth, thou art too young, and yet
fcarce ripe
To tail the fweetnefs of my mellowed loue.
John. That's the reafon I fet thy teeth on edge
thus ; but thou know'ft I promift to haue a bout with
thee at our lafl parley, and I am come to perform e
my word : name the weapon.
Cur. Nothing but kiffes and enticing lookes.
yohn. Then ward your lips well, or you'le ha' the
firft venney.
Cur. I haue no ward but this : my tender fex
Haue not the manly skill to breake a thruft.
O how I dote on thee ! I haue tride ere now
The fweaty Spaniard and the carowfing Dane,
The foggy Dutchman, and the fiery French,
The briske Italian, and indeed what not ;
And yet of all and all, the Englimman
Shall goe for me : I, y'are the trued louers,
The ableft, lafl night, and the trueft men
That breathe beneath the fun.
John. Why then the Englishman for thy money :
God-a-mercy little rogue, there's no loue loft, lie
affure thee. I am my maflers factor, and thou haft a
commodity that I muft needs take vp, and not enter't
into his cam-book neither. Little thinks my mafter in
England what ware I deale withal here in France ; but
fmce 'tis offer'd me at the beft hand, He venture on't,
though I be a lofer by the bargain.
Cur. I would be priuate, left the tell-tale aire
Whifper our loue. I prethee, let vs in
x 2
308 If y oil know not me,
To the inner chamber ; I am jealous
Of all eyes but mine owne to looke vpon thee :
I would haue none to fee thee but myfelf,
In amorous arms to fold thee but myfelf,
To affociate, talke, difcourfe, or dally with thee,
Clip, grafpe hands, or kiffe thee, but myfelf.
John. Who would not be a merchant venturer,
and lay out for fuch a faire returned I mail ven
ture the doubling of my yeares prefently. I thinke I
haue met with a better commodity then matches, and
my mailer cannot fay but he hath met with his
match. This 'tis to haue the land and the fea be
twixt me and my mafter : here can I keep my
French reuels, and none fay fo much as black is
mine eye. Prithee, little pinckany, beftow this iewell
a me.
Cur. This iewel's a loue : aske my life, 'tis thine ;
But this an Englifh factor whom you know,
Gaue me at his departure out of Rhoane,
And I haue vow'd to keepe it for his fake.
Any thing but this iewel.
John. But if I could get his iewel cleanly, and
carry it him ouer at my return for a token, 'twere a
ieft worth laughing at. But and thou wilt not giue
me this iewel, prethee giue me this fame chaine to
weare for thy fake.
Cur. This was another countrymans of yours :
He made me fwear to keep't till his returne.
Ask me ought elfe, 'tis thine.
John. Why, then, this ring.
Cur. That you, of all the fauours that I wear,
Could find out nothing but this ring ? this ring,
A toy not worth the giuing ; yet I fooner
Would part with life then this. A dying friend
Bequeath'd it at his death. But, honey loue,
What mouldft thou talke of giuing ? 'tis a word
Worne out of ufe ; it founds not well in French :
A man mould ftill fay take, take, to his wench.
John. Then, I fay take : take this and this ; ftill
you know no body. 309
take heed of me, left I (hew you a flippery tricke for
this. Tis the kindefl wench in Chriflendom, but
fhe'le part with nothing. Shall we haue another
wooing room ?
Cur. What room thou pleafeft, deare heart, I
agree :
Where Ye I go,, there (hall be roome for thee.
John. Any? then I may chance to make you
wifh rather my roome then my company, and you
looke not the better to't. They withdraw.
Enter at the other end of the ftage Hobfon in his gowne
and flippers.
Hob. I haue flipt ore into France; and in my
flippers,
Giuen all my friends the flip, to fee this gallant,
My man, he that hath matcht me. Bones-a-rne,
The knaue's a prophet, elfe it could not be.
He's not at his lodging, yet by an Englifh fadlor,
A fellow knowes not me, I was directed
Vnto this houfe. He know what bufmefse
The knaue hath here. Pulfat.
Intrat Puella.
Wench. Who's there ? who's at the doore ?
Hob. Damfel, good day : is there not a fellow here,
an Englishman?
Wench. Here's an Englifhman, but none of your
fellow, neither. I hope, fir, we are not all fellowes at
foot-ball.
Hob. Nay, bones-a-me. girle, there's no reafon wee
mould bee fellows. But prithee, my wench, is there
not one yack Grefliam here ?
'Wetich. No, good man looke like a goofe ; but
there's one Mafler John Grejham, an Englifh gentle
man here. And you know no manners, you mould
be taught fome.
3io If you know not me,
Hob. Bones-a-me, goodman mailer, matter fer-
vant !
Old goodman Hobfon keeps gentlemen to his men.
Jacke turn'd to M. John ; marry, fir reuerence !
The French maid taught me manners. Well, I hope
We mail haue a fight of the gentleman.
Wench. As you vfe yourfelf, you may, and you may
not. Exeunt ambo.
Faft. Curtiz.
John. Thou feefl this iewel well becomes mine
eare,
This ring my finger, and this chaine mine arm.
Cour. He be thy iewell : at thy lips lie hang,
And, as this ring thy finger compaffeth,
So fhall thefe armes thy wafte. Thefe are but
toyes ;
Let me difplace them.
Intrat puella.
Wench. M. John, here's a fellow below would
fpeake with you.
John. With me : what is he ?
Wench. A fimple coxcombe ; He call him vp
to you.
John. Do, my fweete Buifamacke. Some carrier,
or bafe knaue, that hangs of my liberality. I hope
'tis not pure Tim come for the fecond part of my
beneuolence.
Admit him in, that he may praife our fate,
And fee us in our choifeft pomp and ftate.
Wench. Here's the fellow I told you of, fir.
Intrat Hobfon.
John. Zoones ! my mailer.
Hob. Sante amen \ Man John, a wenchart
you know no body. 311
knaue, racke and manger knaue ? Bones-a-me, can
not a fnatch and away feme your turn, but you mud
lie at racke and manger 1 Is this the ware you deale
with, feruant John 1
John. Chapmans ware, fir.
Hob. Sirra, firra, the dealing with fuch ware be
longs not to our trade. Bones-a-me, knaue, a prentife
muft not occupy for himfelf, but for his mafter, to any
purpofe.
John. And he cannot occupy for his mailer, with
out the confent of his miftris.
Hob. Come, y'are a knaue.
John. Of your owne bringing vp, fir.
Hob. Befides, thou canfl not keepe open mop
here, becaufe thou art a forraigner, by the laws of the
realm.
John* Not within the liberty ; but I hope the
fuburbs tolerates any man or woman to occupy for
themfelues : they may do't in the city, too, and they
be naturalized once.
Hob. I but firra, He haue none of my Englifh
prentifes frenchified. Bones-a-me, knaue, He haue
thee deal with no fuch broken commodities.
John. Your worfhip mufl haue fuch as the
country yeelds, or none at all. But, I pray, fir,
what's our trade ?
Hob. What faift thou, knaue 1
John. That your worfhip is a haberdafher of all
wares.
Hob. Bones-a-me ! a haberdafher of fmall wares.
John. And that the worfl trade in all Chriflen-
dom, and efpecially for French women : if they know
a man to be a haberdafher of fmall ware, they'll 'haue
no dealing with him ; and therefore, and you will haue
any good commodities here, you mufl change your
copy. You neuer were a traueller, and therefore
you know not what belongs to't. But you doe
clean miflake this gentlewoman, and you take her
for a light wench : weigh her in equal balance, and
3 1 2 If you know not me,
you fhall find her no fuch woman, no fuch woman,
affure you.
Hob. No ! what is me, then, yohn 1
John. Fore- god, fir, I would not haue you wrong
the gentlewomans repute for a world. This metrefla
deals for herfelf, and hath many forts of ware at
command : I was 'now bargaining with her about a
certain Country commodity, and had not your coming
marr'd the match, we had gone through for't. And
further, mould you wrong the ladies reputation here
in France, lie affure you they haue the law of their
fides. But, to confirme your good opinion of her, this
is me of whom I tooke vp your commodity of matches :
be forry for your oifence, and excuse you to her for
mame matter.
Hob. Bones-a-me knaue, I cannot fpeake a word
of French.
John. Nor fhe of Englifli. But all's one : vpon
her matter, and what
You cannot do in words, perform in dumb figns.
What, in your flippers come to take me napping 1
He giue you what you come for inttantly,
And, on the fodaine make you fo agaft,
You will be glad to pardon what is pad. Exit.
Hob. Madam, I cry you mercy for this wrong
Done to your ladilhip : I did fufpec~l you
For a bad liuer, but I fee you cleare ;
For which mittake I doe remaine your feruant.
Cour. Gramercy, mounfier.
Hob. How ! would you my gray mare fee 1
An J t like your ladyfhip, I came by water,
And neither on mares back, nor horfe backe.
Cour. No, no point par la Francoi^.
Hob. No, indeed, lady, my name is not Francis ;
your feruant, and John Hobfon.
Cour. No point?
Hob. No points ? yes, indeed, lady ; I haue points
at my hofe, though I go vntruft.
Cour . No point par la.
you know no body. 3 1 3
Hob. I haue no points in my parlour, indeed ; but
I haue a hundred pounds worth in my mop.
Intrat Joh. ctim aliis Fatt.
John. Turn ! fear not lads ; for he knowes none
of you.
Doe but buffe out a little broken French,
And he'le neuer take you to be Englishmen.
Omn. Fatt. We'le fecond the other, but ma
nage it.
John. Be patient, I befeech you, gentlemen.
Though you be officers, appointed here
To fearch fufpec~led places, as this is
A moft notorious filthy bawdy-houfe,
And carry all old rufly fornicators,
Aboue the age of fifty vnto prifon,
Yet know, this is an honeft gentleman.
Hob. A fearch, and this a bawdy-houfe ? Why,
John \
Bones-a-me, knaue, how comes this to pafs ?
1 Fatt. Meafar, man a moy.
Hob. How ! muft you haue money of me ? lie
know wherefore firft, by your leaues.
John. Nay, matter, I would it were but a money
matter ;
A cage, or whipping pott, or fo : 'tis worfe.
What ! an old man to chide his prentice hence,
As if he had fome priuate bufmefs,
And then himfelf get clofe vnto his wench ?
Nay, whipping's all too good. Had you found
me fo,
There had been work enough ; there had been
newes
For England, and a whole twelue months chiding
Of my good vncle.
2 Fatt. Je vouftrefau amil't.
Hob. How ! mutt I go to prifon for doing amifs ?
John. To prifon ! nay to, whipping, I am forry ;
314 If you know not me>
And, to my power, I will intreat for you.
Fie, matter, fie !
Hob. Bones-a-me, John, is not this a lady 1
John. No, by my troth, mailer ; iuch as be in the
garden-alleys.
Joan's as good as this French lady.
Hob. Is not this gentlewoman a dealer 1
And hath fhe not a good commodity ?
John. Yes by my faith fir, I confefs both.
Hob. Hath fhe not ware 1
John. She hath, and at a reafonable reckning.
Hob. And may not then a chapman deal with
her?
John. Marry may you, fir : and He fend news to
your Wife of your dealing.
The caufe of your coming to France mail be
knowne,
And what fecond hand commodities you cooke vp
Since your comming : my miflris in England mail
know
What vtterance you haue for your fmall wares in
France.
Pen and inke ! He fet it down in blacke and
white.
Hob. Bones a me, John \ what, John \ why hon-
eft John %
John. Harty commendations vnderttand re-
uerend Matter Hobfon found with a whore in Roane
place, a common bawdy-houfe mutt be whipt.
Hob. No more, good John !
John. You haue had none yet whipt about the
town.
Hob. Sweet, honett John \ why bones-a-me, knaue
John \
John. In witnes whereof, all thefe honett gentle
men eye-witneffes haue fet to their hands. Nay, my
my mittrefse fliall know't, that's flat. Are there not
wenches enow in England, but you mutt walke ouer
fea in your flippers, and venture (being not fhod) to
you know no body. 315
come into France awenehing ? what an old man, too !
She mail know what a flippery tricke you would haue
ferued her in your flippers in France.
Hob. Nay, bones-a-me, John : friends, fweet John,
all friends ;
I doe confefs t'hafl ouer-reacht thy mafter.
Ca me, ca thee : conceale this from my wife,
And He keep all thy knauery from thine vncle.
John. Well fir, in hope of amendment, I am con
tent, and yet
Hob. Nay, bones-a-me, He take you at your
word,
Befides, I hope thefe honefl gentlemen
Will faue my credit.
John. He entreat for you.
Hob. Tis logicke to me, fir; I vnderftand you not.
John. Marry fir they fay if you will walke with
them to their lodgings, for my fake they inuite you to
dinner.
Hob. God-a-mercy, gentlemen ; God-a-mercy
John.
But, bones-a-me knaue, where are their lodgings ?
John. Hard by ; for why doe you ask ?
Hob. I hope theyle bring me to no more bawdy-
houfes ;
I would not be taken napping againe for two and
one.
But, gentlemen, He accept of your curtefie, and then,
John, _
You mail with me to England : wele mow France
Our backes. And you will needs deale for your-
felfe
Afore your time, you mall do't in Ejigland.
Will you walk, gentlemen 1
Cur. Adieu, monfieur : and GreJ}iam> farewell
too.
No more of French loue, no more French loffe (hall
do. Exeunt*
316 If you know not me,
Enter Sir Thomas Ramfie being Mayor, Sheriff,
Sword-bearer, &c.
Sir Tho. Well faid my mailers. See all things be
ready
To giue her Majefty fuch entertainment
As may grace London, and become the ftate
Her highnefs brings along. Where's the Queen
now ?
Sword. She comes along the Strand from Som-
merfet Houfe,
Through Temple Barre, down Fleet Steeet, and the
Cheap,
The North fide of the Burfe to Bifltopfgate,
And dines at Mafter Grejhams, and appoints
To returne on the fouth fide, through Corne-hitt\
And there when fne hath view'd the roomes
aboue
And walkes below, fhele giue name to the Burfe.
Sher. The flreets are fit, and all the com
panies
Plac'd in their liueries gainfl her returne.
But, my Lord Mayor, fliall thefe Ambaffadors
This day haue audience ?
Sir Tho. Admittance if not audience was
granted :
See therefore trumpets and all kinds of muficke
Be plac'd againft her royal interview,
The fteps with arras fpread where me afcends ;
Befides, giue charge vnto the fhopkeepers
To make their beft fhowes in the vpper roomes,
Becaufe the Queen intends to cornpafie it.
Sher. Tis done my lord. Tr umpets afar off.
Sir Tho. The Queene hath din'd : the trumpets
found already,
And giue note of her comming. Bid the waits
And Hoboyes to be ready at an inflant.
know no body. 3 1 7
Enter, at one doore, the Queen, Lecefter, Suffex,
Lords, Grefham : at the other, Caffimer, the
French and Florentine Ambaffadors, Sir Thomas
Ramfie, 6.
Queen. Lejler and Suffex, are thofe the Ambaffa-
dors ?
Left. They are dread foueraign : he that formoft
Hands,
The Emperour's ; the fecond is the French ;
The laft is the Florentine.
Queen. We will receiue them.
Here the Queene entertaines the Ambaffadors, and
in their feueral languages confers with them.
Suffex and Lefter place the Ambaffadors,
We at our Court of Greenwich will dilate
Further of thefe defignes. Where's Gre/ham %
Grejh. Your humble fubiecl and feruant.
Queen. Our leafure now ferues to furuey your
Burfe.
A goodly frame, a rare 1 proportion.
This city our great chamber cannot mow vs,
To adde vnto our fame a monument
Of greater beauty. Lecefter, what fayft thou ?
Leic. That I my foueraign haue not feene the
like.
Queen. Stiff ex, nor you ?
Stiff. Madam, not' I. This Grejhams work of
ftone
Will Hue to him when I am dead an.l gone.
Enter Hobfon.
Hob. God blefs thy grace, Queen Beffe.
Queen. Friend, what art you ?
Hob. Knoweft thou not me, Queene ? then thou
knoweft nobody.
Bones-a-me, Queene, I am Hobfon ; and old Hobfon,
By the Socks, I am fure you know me.
3 1 8 If yoii know not me,
Queen. What is he Lecefter 1 doft thou know
fellow ?
GreJJiam, or you ?
Grejh. May it pleafe your Maiefty,
He is a rich fubftantial citizen.
Hob. Bones-a-me, woman, fend to borrow money
Of one you doe not know ! there's a new tricke.
Your grace fent to me by a purfeuant
And by a priuy feal, to lend your highnefie
An hundred pound : I, hearing that my Queene
Had need of money, and thinking you had knowne
me,
Would needs vpon the bearer force two hundred.
The Queene mould haue had three rather then
faile ;
I, by this hand. Queene Beffe, I am old Hobfon,
A haberdafher, and dwelling by the flocks.
When thou feefl money with thy grace is fcant,
For twice fiue hundred pound thou malt not want.
Queen. Vpon my bond.
Hob. No, no, my foueraign ;
He take thine own word, without fcrip or fcrowle.
Queen. Thanks honeft Hobfon : as I am true
maid,
He lee myfelf the money back repaid.
Thou without grudging lendft, thy purfe is free ;
Honefl as plain.
Stiff. A true well meaning man, I warrant him.
Grejh. Your Maiefly promifl to giue the name
To my new Burfe.
Queen. Grejham, we will. A herauld, and a trum
pet !
Lee. A herauld and a trumpet !
Queen. Proclaime through euery high ftreet of this
city,
This place to be no longer calPd a Burfe,
But, fince the building's {lately, fair, and {Irange,
Be it for euer call'd, the Royal Exchange.
AfloriJJi here.
you know no body. 319
And whilft this voice flies through the City forth
right,
Arife Sir Thomas Gre/ham now a knight.
Be our Ambaffadors conducted all
Vnto their feuerall lodgings. This 23. of January,
A thoufand, fiue hundred, and feuenty, Elizabeth
Chriftens this famous worke. Now to our Court
Of Greenwich. Gre/ham, thanks for our good cheere.
We to our people, they to vs are deare. Exeunt.
Enter Nowell and Lady Ramfie.
Lady R. What think you of my husband, Matter
Deane 1
Now. As of all men : we are mortal, made of
clay,
Now healthful, now crafie, now fick, now well,
Now Hue, now dead ; and then to heauen or hell.
Lady R. It cheeres my heart, now, in his deepe of
ficknefs,
He is fo charitable, and fo well addicted
Vnto the poores relief.
Now. It ioyes me too.
Great is the number of the rich in mew
About the city, but of the charitable
There are but few.
La. R. Amongfl thefe, I hold old Hobfon well
deferues
To be ranckt equal with the bountifullefl.
He hath rais'd many falling, but efpecially
One Matter Rowland, once call'd Tawny-coat,
But now an able citizen, late chofen
A matter of the Hofpital.
Now. I know him well ;
A good x fufficient man ; and fince he purchatt
His freedom in the city, God hath blett
His trauaile with increafe.
La. R. I haue knowne old Hobfon
Sit with his neighbour Gunter, a good man,
\
320 If you know not me,
In Chrifts Church, morn by morn, to watch poore
couples
That come there to be married, and to be
Their common fathers, and giue them in the Church,
And fome few angels for a dower to boot.
Befides, they two are call'd the common goffips,
To witnefs at the Fount for poore mens children.
None they refufe that on their helpe do call ;
And to fpeake truth they're bountifull to all.
Enter Hobfon.
Hob. Good morrow, Mafter Doftor, my good
lady!
Bones-a-me, woman, thou look'ft fad to-day ;
Thou haft not drunk a cup of fack this morning.
La. R. We haue beene dealing of our charity
This morning to poor foldiers, fuch as want.
Hob. Gods bleffing of your heart : need mufl be
fed.
Let vs that haue it giue the hungry bread.
Enter Rowland, alias Tawny-coat.
Taw. Where's Mafter Hobfon ?
Hob. My new elected mafter of the Hofpital,
What hafty newes with you 1
Taw. Oh, fir, the loue I beare you makes me
chary
Of your good name ; your credit's deare to me.
You neuer were condemn'd for any thing,
Since I had nrft acquaintance with your name,
As now you are. You haue done a deed this day,
That hath from you tane all good thoughts away.
Hob. Where 1 bones-a-me ! Why ? fpeak, why 1
Taw. This day you haue purfued the law feuerely
Again ft one Timothy, that ftole from you
A hundred pound ; and he's condemn'd for it,
And this day he muft dye.
you know no body.
321
Hob. Bones, man ! 'tis not fo.
Taw. He is by this half way to Tyburne gone.
The fuit was follow'd in John Grejhams name ;
How can you then avow you know it not ?
Hob. A horfe, a horfe, cart horfe, malt-horfe,
any thing
To faue the knaue's life 1 I proteft, I fweare,
This was the firfl time that I heard the knaue
Hath been in any trouble. Bones-a-me,
'Twas done without my knowledge.
Taw. Young Gre/ham in his name purfu'd his
life.
Hob. They 'are knaues both. A horfe !
A hundred thoufand pound cannot make a man ;
A hundred mall not hang one by my meanes :
Men are more worth then money, M. Rowland.
Come help me to a horfe. The next I meet,
To faue the knaues life, gallops through the (Ireet.
Exeunt Hobfon and Tawney-coat.
Now. Men are more worth then money, he fays
.true ;
'Tis faid by many, but maintain'd by few.
Lady. He is plain and honefl : how many great
profeffors
Liue in this populous city, that make (hew
Of greater zeal, yet will not pay fo deare
For a tranfgreffors life. But few are found
To faue a man would lofe a hundred pound.
Enter Tawney-coat.
Now. So fuddenly returned ?
Taw. He rid too fall for me. He hath beene at
buffets
With a poor collier, and vpon his horfe
Is, without faddle, bridle, boots, or fpurs,
Gallopt towards S. Giles.
Now. They will take him for a madman.
Taw. All's one to him : he does not (land on
brauery,
322 If you know not me,
So he may doe men good. Good deeds excel ;
And, though but homely done, may be done well.
Lady R. Heauen profper his intent. Now, M.
Doaor,
And M. Rowland, let rne craue your companies
To fee my crazy husband, who hath made you
One of his executors, and would vfe your paines
In thefe extreames of ficknefs.
Now. I am pleas'd ;
He giue him phyficke for a foule difeas'd. Exeunt.
Enter three Lords.
1. You are an early rifer, my good lord.
2. The blood of youth that trafficks in the Court
Mufl not be fluggifh ; your kind remembrance.
3. My very good lord,
We, that are liars that waite vpon the traine
Of fuch a Cynthia vnder which we liue,
Mufl not be tardie.
1. You haue faid true: we are flarters in one
houre,
And our attendance is to waite on fuch a Queen e,
Whofe vertue all the world : but to leaue that,
Which euery tongue is glad to commune with,
Since Monfiers firfl arriual in the Land,
The time that he was here, and the time fince,
What royalty hath beene in Englands Court,
Both princely reuelling and warlike fport !
2. Such fports do fitly fit our nation,
That forraine eyes beholding what we are,
May rather feek our peace then wifh our war.
3. Heauen blefs our foueraign from her foes in
tent,
The peace we haue is by her gouemment.
Enter DoEl. Parry.
i. M. Dodlor Parry.
you know no body. 323
2. Good morrow, M. Doctor.
3. You are an early rifer, fir.
Dr. My lord, my lord, my very good lord.
1. This fummer morning makes vs couetous
To take the profit of the pleafant aire.
D. 'Tis healthful to be flirring in a morning.
2. It hath pleas'd the Queene, to mew him many
fauours.
3. You fay but right ; and fmce his laft difgrace,
The caufe fo great it had furely touch'd his life,
Had not the Queen been gracious, he feems at Court
A man more gracious in our foueraign's eye,
Then greater fubiects.
2. She hath giuen him much preferment,
In greatefl place grac't him with conference,
Ask't for him in his abfence ; and, indeed,
Made knowne to vs he is one in her regard.
3. But did you neuer heare the caufe of his dif
grace ?
2. He did intend the murther of a gentleman
One, M. Hare, here, of the Inner Temple,
And fo farre brought his purpofe to effect,
That M. Hare being priuate in his chamber,
He watching, as he thought fit time, broke in vpon
him ;
But he, affaulted fo, behau'd himfelf,
That he did guard himfelf, and attach't him.
From whence he was committed vnto Neiugate,
And at the Seflions, by twelue honed men,
Found guilty of burglary, and condemn'd to die :
And had died, had her grace not pardon'd him.
3. She is a gracious princelfe vnto all.
Many fhe raifeth, wimeth none mould fall.
i. Fie, M. Doaor,
Your face beares not the habit it was wont,
And your difcourfe is alter'd : what's the mattei ?
Dr. And if my brow be fad, or my face pale,
They do belye my heart, for I am merry.
i. Men being, as you are, fo great in grace
Y 2
324 If you know not me,
With fuch a royal princeffe, haue no reafon.
Enter a Gentleman.
Gent. Room for my Lord high Steward.
Enter the Earl of Lecefler ; all the Lords flocke
after him, and exeunt. Manet Parry.
Dr. The difcontented defire to be alone :
My wifhes are made vp, for they are gone.
Here are no blabs but this, and this one clocke
He keep from going with a double locke.
Yet it will flrike : this day it mufl be done.
What mufl be done ? what muft this engine do ?
A deed of treafon hath prepar'd me to.
Thefe two, thefe two ; why they had life by her,
And mall thefe two kill their deliuerer,
The life that makes me rife 1 thefe once my fin
Had forfeited ; her mercy pardon'd me.
I had beene eaten vp with worms ere this,
Had not her mercy giuen a life to this ;
And yet thefe hands, if I performe my oath,
Mufl kill that life that gaue a life to both,
I haue tane the Sacrament to do't, conferr'd
With Cardinal Como about it, and receiu'd
Full abfolution from his Holineffe :
Been fatisfied by many holy fathers,
During my trauels both in France and Italy y
The deed is iufl and meritorious.
And yet I am troubled when I do remember
The excellency of her Maiefty ;
And I would faine defifl, but that I know
How many vowes of mine are gone to heauen,
My letters and my promifes on earth,
To holy fathers and graue Catholikes,
That I would do't for good of Catholikes,
Then, in the garden where this day me walkes,
you know no body. 325
Her graces I will cad behind mine eyes,
And by a fubiects hand a Soueraign dies.
Enter Gent.
Gent. Clear the way, gentlemen, for the Queen !
Matter Do&or Parry, Exit Gent.
Dr. O let me fee a difference in this man.
Before this Queen (that I am come to kill)
Shew'd me the gracious eye of her refpecl,
And gaue me countenance 'mongft greateft earls,
This man was forwarder to thrufl me forth,
Then now he is humble to accept me in.
If, then, her grace hath honor'd me fo much,
How can this hand giue her a treacherous touch ?
The trumpets fpeak ; Heauen ! what (hall I do ?
Euen what hell and my damn'd heart mall thruft me
to.
Enter Queen, Letter, and Lords.
Queen. Fair day, my lords. You are all larkes,
this morning;
Vp with the fun : you are {lining earely.
Lecef. We are all fubiecls to your foueraignes light'
Queen. That you call duty, we accept as loue,
And we do thanke you \ nay, we thanke you all :
Tis not to one, but 'tis in general.
Left. The Queen would walke apart : forbear, my
lords.
Dr. Now, what makes me (hake ?
Doe angels guard her, or doth Heauen pertake
Her refuge ?
Queen. In fuch a garden may a foueraigne
Be taught her louing fubiects to maintaine.
Each plant, vnto his nature and his worth,
Hairing full cheriming, it fpringeth forth.
Weedes mutt be weeded out, yet weeded fo,
Till they doe hurt, let them a Gods name grow.
Dr. Now Queene. He offers to /hoot.
326 If yoit, know not me.
Queen. Who's there ? my kind friend, M. Doctor
Parry 1
Dr. My mofl dread foveraign.
Queen. Why do you tremble, M. Doctor ? Haiie
you any fute to vs ?
Shake not at vs ; we doe our fubiects loue.
Or does thy face mow fignes of difcontent
Through any heauie want oppreffeth thee ?
As Jhe turnes back, he offers tojhoote, but
returning he withdrawes his hand.
Though at our Court of Greenwich thou wer't croft,
In fuing to be Mafter of St. Katherines,
To do thee good feeke out a better place :
She'le giue thee that, the which hath giuen thee
grace.
Dr. I know your loue dread Queene Now.
Queen. Mafter Doctor about the talke we had
together
Of Inglim Fugitiues that feeke my life :
You told me of them I am beholding to you.
Dr. I did no more then duty. O, happy time !
Queen. And will they ftill perfift ? doe they defire
my blood,
That wake, when I mould fleepe, to doe them good I
Dr. Madam !
Queen. Oh, my Maker ! Parry, villain, traitor,
What doofl thou with that dagge ?
Dr. Pardon, dread foveraign.
Queen. Pardon, thou villain, fhewes thou art a
traitor.
Treafon, my lords, treafon.
Enter the Lords.
Left. Ha ! by the bleft place of Heauen, treafon,
and we fo neare ?
A traitour with a dagge ! Gods holy mother !
Lords, guard the Queene. Are you not frighted,
madam ?
He play the fergeant to arrefl the wretch.
you know no body. 327
Queen. Be not fo rafli, good Lecejler : he's dead
already ;
Struck with remorfe of that he was to doe.
Pray let me fpeak with him. Say, M. Doctor,
Wherein haue I deferu'd an ill of you,
Vnlefs it were an ill in pardoning you.
What haue I done toward you to feeke my life,
Vnlels it were in taking you to grace ?
Dr. Mercy, dread Queene !
Queen. I thank my God I haue mercy to remit
A greater fin, if you repent for it. Arife.
Leic. My lords, what do you mean ? take hence
that villain.
Let her alone, fhe'le pardon him againe.
Good Queen, we know you are too mercifull
To deale with traitours of this monflrous kinde.
Away with him to the Tower, then to death.
A traitours death mall fuch a traitour haue,
That feeks his foueraignes life that did him faue.
Queen. Good Lecejler.
Lee. Good Queen, you muft be rul'd. Exeunt.
Enter lacke Grejham.
John. Nay, 'sfoot, Jack, hold on thy refolution.
They fay that may happen in one hour that happens
lot againe in 7. yeare : and I mould chance to take her
n the right vaine, and me kindly beftow herfelfe vpon
me, why then there's a man made from nothing ; for,
before God, I haue fpent all, and am not worth any
thing. And, indeed, unlelfe this fame good old Lady
Ramfey take fome pitie vpon me, and take me for
better for worfe, God knowes in which of the two
Counters I mall keepe my next Chriftmas in ! But,
by this hand, if Ihee will accept of mee in this
miferable eftate that I am in now for, before God,
I haue neither money nor credit, as I am an honed
man and that's more, I am afear'd then any man
will beleeue of me ile forfwear all women but her,
328 If you know not me y
and will not kiffe any of my neighbours wiues fo:
kingdome. Here's the houfe : He knock at the door.
What, (halt I doot in the caualier humour, with,
Whofe within, there ho ! or in the Puritan humour,
with, By your leaue, good brother. Faith, in neither ;
for in the one I mall be taken for a fwaggering kraue,
and in the other, to be an hypocritical fool; but
honeft Jack, in thine owne honeft humour. Plain
dealing's a iewell, and I haue vs'd it fo long, I am next
door to a begger.
Enters. Creditors.
But, Gods precious, what a plague make thefe here ?
Thefe two are two of my creditors : I mufl flop their
mouths, fleet them from hence, or all the fat's in the
fire.
1. M. Gre/ham, you are well met.
John. I hope, gentlemen, you will fay fo anon.
But you are alone, are you not ?
2. Alone M. Grejham, why doe you aske 1
John. A man hath reafon to aske, being as I am,
that neuer feeth his creditors but is afeard of the
catch-pole. But you are kind, my friends j and, I
thanke you, you will beare with me.
i. I but M. Grejhani) a man may beare till his
backe breake.
John. I, porters may ; but you that are fubftantial
honed citizens, there is no feare to be made of your
breaking. You know there's no man fo low, but God
can raife him ; and though I am now out at heeles,
or fo as you thinke, I am in the way of preferment,
and hope to be able to pay euery man within this
hour.
1. We mould be glad to fee it.
2. But how, pray, fir ?
John. How ? why, very eafily, if I can compafie
it. The truth is, though you would little think it, I
am fuitor for my L. Ramfey.
2. But I dare fweare fhe is no fuiter to you.
you know no body. 329
Enter Lady Ramfey and D. Nowell.
John. Why, that's true, too ; for if (he were a
filter to me, we fhould be man and wife ftraight, and
you mould haue your money within this halfe houre.
But looke ; looke where me comes : as you are good
men, mum ; patience, and pray for my proceedings.
If I doe fpeed, as I am partly perfwaded, you (hall
haue your own, with the aduantage : If I mould be
croft, you know the worft ; forbearance is no acquit
tance. But mum ! if it proue a match, and any of
you mould chance to be in the Counter, you know,
my marriage being fpread, my word will be currant,
then mum.
Now. Madam, you are welcome into Lumber-
Jlreet.
Lady. I thanke your curtefie, good M. Dean.
John. See how fortunatly all things chance. If
it happen as I hope it will, (he taking a liking
to me, here is a priefl to marry us prefently.
Madam.
Lady. Would you any bufmeffe with me, fir ?
John. Faith, lady, neceffary bufmes ; and not to
go far about the bum, I am come to be a futer vnto
you. And you know the famion of young men, when
they come awooing to ancient widowes, the way to
fpeed is to begin thus.
Lady. You are very forward fir.
John. You would fay fo, lady, if you knew how
forward I would be. But, madam, you are rich, and
by my troth, I am very poore, and I haue beene, as a
man mould fay, ftark naught ; but he goes far that
neuer turns ; and if now I haue a defire to mend, and
being in fo good a way, you know how vncharitable
it were in you to put me out of it. You may make
an honed man of me, if it pleafe you ; and when thou
haft made me one, by my troth Mall He keep myfelf,
for I am a gentleman both by the fathers fide and
mothers fide j and, though I haue not the mucke of
33 IJ you know not me,
the world, I haue a great deale of good loue, and I
prethee accept of it.
Lady. M. Dean,
Do you know this gentlemans bufmefs to me 1
Now. Not I, beleeue me, madam.
John. I mail haue her fure. Why, ile tell you,
fir. My lady here is a comely, ancient, rich widow,
and I am an honeft, proper, poore young man, re
membering ftill I am a gentlemen : now, what good
her riches may do to my pouertie, your granitic may
gheffe ; faue a foule, perhaps, M. Dean. Look you,
fir : it is but giuing my hand into hers, and hers into
mine. M. Deane, I proteft before God fhee hath my
heart already ; and with fome three or four words,
which I know you haue by rote, make vs two, my
Lady and I, one, till death vs depart.
Lady R. This gentleman thinks that to be a mat
ter of nothing. But doe you loue me as you doe pro-
ted?
John. Loue you, madam 1 loue you, by this hand.
I mall haue her, fure. Friends, you fee how the
bufmeffe goes forward ; bring me your bills to-morrow
morning ; or, vpon the hope that I haue, you may
leaue them with me : I mail be able to difcharge.
Ha ! ha ! Jacke.
Lady. How will you maintain me, fir, if I mould
marry you ?
John. Maintaine ! what needfl thou aske that
queftion ? Foot tho'u hafl maintenance ynough for
thee and I too. If I mould marry you ! Friends,
you fee how it goes now : to-morrow, within an houre
after I am married, I muft lake the vpper hand of my
vncle ; and the next Sunday, I, that was fcarce worthy
to fit in the belferie, the churchwardens fetch me, and
feat me in the Chauncel.
Lady. M. Deane, I protefl, neuer fince I was
widow
Neuer did man make fo much loue to me.
Sir, for your loue, I am much beholding to you.
you know no body. 331
John. Do Molly prithee do not think it fo. Be
chofen one of the Common Counfell, or one of the
Matters of the Hofpital, fo perhaps I mall neuer be
come it. Marry, if I mould be chofen one of the
Maflers of Bridewell, for fome of my old acquaintance,
foot, I would take it vpon me : vice muft be corrected,
vice muft be corrected.
Lady. Fill me a large cup full of hippocras,
And bring me hither 20. 11. in gold.
John. And one of your husbands liuery gownes.
So now you trouble yourfelf fo much : that gold is to
contract vs withal. A fimple morning ; friends, you
cannot beat me downe with your bills. M. Deane of
Powles, I pray you flay and dine with me ; you mail
not fay me nay : the oftner you come, the more wel
come.
Now. You are merry, fir.
John. I thank God, and all the world may fee, I
haue no other caufe,
That I am likely to be fo well beftowed.
Lady. Sir, you mail not fay the loue you fhew'd to
me.
Was entertain'd but with kind curtefy :
This for your loue vnto your health I drinke.
Pledge me.
John. I by my troth, Mall will I, were it as deepe
as a well.
Lady. Now, for your paines, there is twenty pound
in gold.
Nay, take the cup too fir. Thanks for your loue ;
And were my thoughts bent vnto marriage,
I rather would with you, that feeme thus wild,
Then one that hath worfe thoughts, and feemes more
mild.
John. Foot, will you not haue me, then ?
Lady R. Yes, when I mean to marry any one ;
And that not whilfl I Hue.
John. See how a man may be deceiued ! I thought
332 If you know not me,
I fhould haue beene fure, by this time. Well,
though I (hall not haue you, I mall haue this with a
good will.
Lady. With all my heart; and for the loue you
haue mown,
Wifh it to thriue with you, euen as mine own.
1 . To-morrow mall we attend your worlhip ?
2. Sir, heres my bill; it comes to twenty
pound.
John. Friend, Ploy dens prouerb, the cafe is altered :
and, by my troth, I haue learn'd you a leffon ; forbear
ance is no acquittance.
Lady. What men are thefe 1
John. Faith, madam, men that haue my hand,
though not for my honefty, yet for the money that I
owe them.
Lady. What doth he owe you ?
1. Fiftie pound, madam.
Lady. What you ?
2. A hundred marks.
Lady. He pay you both. And, fir, to do you
good,
To all your creditors He do the like.
John. Thats faid like a kind wench j
And though we neuer meet again,
We will haue one buffe more at parting.
And now, i'faith, I haue all my wild oats fown,
And if I can grow rich by the helpe of this,
He fay I rofe by Lady Ramfeys kifs. Exeunt.
Enter Chorus.
From fifty eight, the firft yeare of her raigne,
We come to eighty-eight, and of her raigne
The thirtieth yeare. This Queen inaugurated,
And flrongly planted in her peoples heart,
Was in her youth folicited in marriage
By many princely heires of Chriflendom,
,,,.
you know no body. 333
Especially by Philip, King of Spaine,
Her fitters husband ; who to achieue his ends,
Had got a difpenfation from the Pope :
But, after many treats and embaffies,
Finding his hopes in her quite fruflrated,
Aims all his ftratagems, plots, and defignes,
Both to the vtter ruine of our land,
And our religion. But th' vndaunted Queene,
Fearing no threats, but willing to flrike firft,
Sets forth a fleete of one-and-twenty faile
To the Weft Indies, vnder the condudl
Of Francis Drake and Chriftopher Carlisle \
Who fet on Cap de Verd, then Hifpaniola,
Setting on fire the towns of S. Anthony
And S. Dominick. The proud Spaniard,
Enraged at this affront, fends forth a fleet,
Three whole yeares in preparing, to fubuert,
Ruine, and quite depopulate this land.
Imagine you now fee them vnder fail,
S well'd vp with many a proud, vaineglorious boaft,
And newly enter'd in our Englijh coaft. Exit.
Enter the Duke of Medina, Don Pedro, John Mani-
nus RicalduSj and other Spaniards.
Med. We are where we long wifht to be at laft ;
And now this elephants burden, our Armado,
Three years an embrion, is at length produc'd,
And brought into the world to Hue at fea.
Nonfufficit orbis, our proud Spani/h motto
By th' Englijh mockt, and found at Carthagen,
Shall it not now take force ?
Can England fatisfie our auarice,
That worlds cannot fuffize 1 What thinks ' Don
Pedro *{
Ped. Alphonfus Perez Guifman,
Duke of Medina and Sidonia,
And royal general of our great Armado,
I think we come too ftrong. What's our defigne
334 If you know not me,
Againft a petty ifland gouernd by a woman ?
I thinke, inflead of military men,
Garnifh'd with armes and martiall difcipline,
She, with a feminine traine
Of her bright ladies, beautifull'ft and beft,
Will meet vs in their fmocks, willing to pay
Their maidenheads for ranfome.
Med. Think'ft thou fo, Don Pedro ?
Fed. I therein am confident ;
And partly forry that our King of Spaine
Hath been at charge of fuch a magazine,
When halfe our men and ammunition
Might haue beene fpar'd.
Med. Thou put'fl me now in minde
Of the Grand Signior, who, (fome few yeares fmce)
When as the great Ambaffadour of Spaine
Importun'd him for aid againft the land
Styl'd by the title of the Maiden Ifle,
Calls for a mappe : now, when the Ambaffadour
Had fhow'd him th' Indies, all America,
Some parts of Afta, and Europa too,
Climes that took vp the greateft part o' th' card,
And finding England but a fpot of earth,,
Or a few acres, if at all, compard
To our fo large and fpacious prouinces,
Denies him aid, as much againfl his honour
To fight with fuch a centuple of oddes ;
But gaue him this aduice : Were I (faid he)
As your great King of Spaine, out of my king-
domes
Ide preffe or hire fo many pioneers,
As with their fpades and mattocks mould digge vp
This wart of Earth, and cafl it in the Sea.
And well methought he fpake.
Fed. We haue fhowne ourfelues,
But are as yet vnfought with.
Med. All their hearts
Are dead within 'em ; wee, I feare, mall finde
Their feas vnguarded, and their fhoares vnmann'd,
you know no body. 335
And conquer without battaile.
Rical. All their honours
And offices we haue difpofd already.
There's not a noble family in Spaine,
In Naples, Portugal \ nay Italy,
That hath not in our fleete fome eminent perfon
To (hare in this rich booty.
Med. John Martinus Ricaldus, you our prime naui-
gator,
Since fam'd Columbus or great Mageline,
Giue vs a briefe relation of the ftrength
And potency of this our great Armado,
Chriflend, by th' Pope, the Nauy Inuincible.
Rical. Twelue mighty gallions of Portugale ;
Fourteene great mips of Biskey, of Caflile ;
Eleuen tall mips of Andelofia ;
Sixteen gallions, fourteen of Guipufcoa ;
Ten fail that run by th' name o' th' Eailern fleet ;
The mips of Ureas, Zaibras, Naples ; gallies,
Great galliaffes, fly-boats, pinnaces,
Amounting to the number of an hundred
And thirty tight, tall faile ; the moft of them
Seeming like caftles built vpon the fea.
Med. And what can all their barges, cockboats,
oares,
Small veffels (better to be faid to creepe
Then fail vpon the ocean) doe 'gainft thefe ?
They are o'ercome already.
Rical. All their burdens,
Fifty-feuen thoufand eight hundred fixty-eight Tunne ;
In them nineteene thoufand two hundred ninety-nue
fouldiers,
Two thoufand eight hundred and eighty gaily flaues,
Eight thoufand fix hundred and fifty mariners,
Two thoufand fix hundred and thirty peece of ord-
'nance,
Culuerin, and cannon.
Med. Half thefe would fuffize ;
If you know not me,
Nor haue we need of fuch furplufage,
Againft their petty fly-boats.
Enter a Spaniard.
Span. We haue difcouer'd,
Riding along the coafls of France and Dunkerke,
An Englifh nauy.
Med. Of what flrength, what force ?
Span. Their number fmall, yet daring, as it
feemes :
Their Ihips are but low built, yet fwift of faile,
Whether their purpofe be to fight, I know not ;
They beare vp brauely with vs.
Fed. Caft our fleet
Into a wide and femi-circled moone ;
And, if we can but once incompaffe them,
We'le make the fea their graues, and themfelues food
For the fea worme call'd haddock.
Med. Let's faile on
Towards the Thames mouth, and there disburden vs
Of our land fouldiers ;
And if the Prince of Parma keepe his appointment,
Who (with a thoufand able men-at-arms,
Old fouldiers, and of moll approued difcipline)
Lies garrifond at Dunkerke. we at once
Will fwallow vp their nation, and our word
Be from henceforth Victoria.
Omnes. Victoria, Victoria. Exeunt.
Med. Had we no other forces in our fleete,
Nor men, nor arms, nor ammunition,
Powder, nor ord'nance, but our empty bottomes,
Ballad with the Papers bleffing, and our nauy
Chriften'd by him the Nauy Inuincible,
We had enough : what's more's vnneceflary.
Nor thinke we threaten England all in vaine ;
Tis ours, and we heere chriften it New Spaine.
Omnes. Victoria^ Victoria.
you know no body. 337
Drum and colours. Enter the Earle of Lecefter, the
Earle of Hunfdon^ bearing the ftandard, Queene
Elizabeth, compleatly armed y and Souldiers.
Queen. A ftand ! From London thus far haue we
marched ;
Here pitch our tents. How doe you call this place ?
Leic. The town you fee, to whom thefe downes
belong,
Giues them to name the plains of Tilbery.
Queen. Be this, then, ilil'd our camp at Tilbery ;
And the firfl place we haue been feene in arms,
Or thus accoutred, here we fixe our foot,
Not to ftir backe, were we fure here t' incounter
With all the Spanifh vengeance threaten'd vs,
Came it in fire and thunder. Know, my fubiects,
Your Queene hath now put on a mafculine fpirit,
To tell the bold and daring what they are,
Or what they ought to be \ and fuch as faint,
Teach them, by my example, fortitude.
Nor let the beft proou'd foldier here difdaine
A woman mouM conduct an hoft of men,
To their difgrace or want of prefident.
Haue you not read of braue Zenobia,
An Eafterne queene, who fac'd the Romaine legions,
Euen in their pride and height of potency,
And in the field incounter'd perfonally
Aurelianus Cafart Think in me
Her fpirit furuiues, Queen of this weftern ifle,
To make the fcorn'd name of Elizabeth
As frightful and as terrible to Spaine
As was Zenobias to the State of Rome.
Oh I could wifh them landed, and in view,
To bid them inftant battaile ere march farther,
Into my land. This is my vow, my reft ;
I'le paue their way with this my virgin breft.
Left. But (madam) ere that day come,
There will be many a bloody nofe, I, and crack 5 d
crown :
338 If you know not me,
We mall make work for furgeons.
Queen. I hope fo, Le/ler.Qi you, Sir Anthony
Browne,
Though your religion and recufancy
Might, in thefe dangerous and fufpicious times,
Haue drawne your loyalty into fufpecl,
Yet haue you herein amply clear'd yourfelf,
By bringing vs fiue hundred men, well arm'd,
And your owne felfe in perfon.
Sir Antho. Not only thofe, but all that I enioy,
Are at your highnes feryice.
Queen. Now, Lord Hunfdon,
The Lord-Lieutenant of our force by land
Vnder our general, Lifter, what thinkeft thou
Of their Armado, chriften'd by the Pope
The Nauy Inuindble ?
Huns. That there's a power aboue both them and
vs,
That can their proud and haughty menaces
Conuert to their owne ruins.
Queen. Thinkeft thou fo, Hunfdon ?
No doubt it will. Let me better furuay my campe.
Some wine, there ! A health to all my fouldiers.
Flourifh trumpets.
Methinks I do not fee, 'mongft all my troops,
One with a courtiers face, but all look foldier-like,
A peal of /hot within,
Whence came this found of (hot ?
Leic. It feems, the nauy
Styl'd by the Pope the Nauy Inuincible,
Riding along the coafl of France and Dunkerk,
Difcouer'd firft by Captaine Thomas Fleming,
Is met and fought with by your admiral.
Queen* Heauen profper their defence !
Oh had God made vs man-like like our mind,
We'd not be here fenc'd in a mure of armes,
But ha' been prefent at thefe fea alarmes. Horn.
you know no body. 339
Enter i. Pofl.
Make way, there ! What's the news ?
i. Heauen blefle your Maiefty !
Your royal fleet bids battaile to the Spaniard,
Whofe number with aduantage of the wind,
Gains them great odds but the vndaunted worth
And well knowne valour of your admiral,
Sir Francis Drake, and Martin Furbi/her>
John Hawkins, and your other Englifh captains,
Takes not away all hope of victory.
Queen. Canfl thou defcribe the manner of the
fight?
And where the royal nauies firft incounter'd 1
Poft. From Douer cliff we might difcern them
join
'Twixt that and Calice ; there the fight begun.
Sir Francis Drake, Vice- Admiral, was firft
Gaue an onfet to this great Armado of Spaine ;
The manner thus. With twenty-flue fail,
Thofe mips of no great burden, yet well mann'd,
For in that dreadful confli'Tt few or none
Of your mips royal came within the fight,
This Drake, I fay, (whofe memory mall Hue
While this great world, he compaft firfl, mall lafl)
Gaue order that his fquadrons, one by one,
Should follow him fome diftance, flears his courfe,
But none to fhoote till he himfelf gaue fire.
Forward he fteer'd, as far before the reft
As a good musket can well beare at twice,
And as a fpy comes to furuay their fleet,
Which feem'd like a huge city built on the fea.
They mot, and mot, and emptied their broadfides
At his poor fingle veffel : he failes on,
Yet all this while no fire was feene from him.
The reft behind, longing for action,
Thought he had beene turn'd coward, that had done
All this for their more fafety. He now finding
Moft of their prefent fury fpent at him,
Z 2
340 If you know not me,
Fires a whole tyre at once, and hauing emptied
A full broadfide, the reft came vp to him,
And did the like, vndaunted. Scarce the laft
Had paft by them, but Drake had clear' d the fea ;
For, ere th' vnweildly veffels could be ftirr'd,
Or their late emptied ord'nance charg'd agen,
He takes aduantage both of winde and tide,
And the fame courfe he took in his progreffe,
Doth in his backe returne keepe the fame order,
Scouring along, as if he would befiege them
With a new wall of fire, in all his fquadrons
Leaning no charge that was not brauely mann'd :
Infomuch, that blood as vifibly was feene
To pour out of their portholes, in fuch manner
As after fhowres i' th' city, fpouts fpill raine.
And thus Drake bad them welcome : what after
happen'd,
Such a huge cloud of fmoke inviron'd vs,
We could not well difcouer.
Queen. There's for thy fpeed ;
And England ne'er want fuch a Drake at neede.
Enter the Second Pqft.
Th' art welcome : what canft thou relate,
Touching this naval confli6l 1
2. Pofl. Since Drakes firft onfet, and our fleete
retir'd,
The Spanifh nauy, being linckt and chain'd
Like a half moon, or to a full bent bow,
Attend aduantage ; where, amongft the reft,
Sir Martin Furbifher, blinded with fmoake,
By chance is fallen into the midft of them,
Still fighting 'gainft extremity of odds,
Where he, with all his gallant followers,
Are folded in deaths arms.
Queen. If he furuiue, he mall be nobly ranfom'd :
If he be dead,
Yet he fhall Hue in immortality.
you know no body. 341
How fares our Admiral ?
2. Pojl. Brauely he directs,
And with much judgment. England neuer bred
Men that a fea-fight better managed.
Queen. It cheers my blood ; and if fo Heaven be
pleas'd,
For lome neglected duty in ourfelf,
To punifh vs with loffe of thefe braue fpirits,
His will be done ; yet will we pray for them.
What fays valiant Lefter 1
Thou wilt not leaue vs, wilt thou ? lookfl thou pale ?
What fays old Hunfdon 1 nay, He fpeake thy part :
Thy hand, old lord, I'm fure I haue thy heart.
Huns. Both hand and heart.
Enter the Third Pojl.
Queen. Before thou fpeak'ft, take that : if he be
dead,
Our felfe will fee his funerall honoured.
3. Pojl. I then proceed thus \ when the great
gallianes
And galliaffes had inviron'd them,
The vndaunted Furbiflter^ though round befet,
Cheer'd vp his foldiers, and well mann'd his fights,
And {landing barehead brauely on the decke,
W T hen murdering mot, as thick as April's hail,
Swoong by his ears, he waued his warlike fword,
Firing at once his tyres on either fide
With fuch a fury that he brake their chaines,
Shatter'd their decks, and made their flouteft fliips
Like drunkards reel, and tumble fide to fide.
Thus in war's fpight and all the Spaniards feoff,
He brought both ihip and fouldiers brauely off.
Queen. War's fpight, indeed ; and we, to do him
right,
Will call the fliip he fought in The War res- fpight.
Now, countrymen, mall our fpirits here on land
Come fhort of theirs fo much admir'd at fea ?
342 If you know not me,
If there be any here that harbour feare,
We giue them liberty to leaue the campe,
And thank them for their abfence.
A march, lead on ! we'le meet the worft can fall :
A march within.
A maiden Queene is now your generall.
As they march about the fiage, Sir Francis Drake and
Sir Martin Furbilher meet them with Spanijh
enfigns in their hands, and drum and colours
before them.
Queen. What meanes thofe Spanifh enfignes in the
hands
Of Englifh fubie<5ls ?
Drake. Gracious Queene,
.They mow that Spaniards' Hues are in the hands
Of England's foueraign.
Queen. England s God be praifed !
But, prethee, Drake (for well I know thy name,
Nor will I be vnmindful of thy worth)
Briefly rehearfe the danger of the battle ;
Till Furbifher was refcued we haue heard.
Drake. We then retir'd ; and after counfell call'd,
We ftuft eight empty hoys with pitch and oil,
And all the ingredients apteft to take fire,
And fent them where their proud Armado lay.
The Spaniard, now at anchor, thought we had come
For parley, and fo rode fecure ; but when
They beheld them flame like to fo many bright bon
fires,
Making their fleete an Etna like themfelues,
They cut their cables, let their anchors fink,
Burying at once more wealth within the fea,
Then th' Indies can in many years reftore.
Now their high built and large capacious bottomes
Being by this means vnaccommodated,
Like to fo many rough, vnbridled fteeds,
Command themfelues, or rather are commanded,
you know no body. 343
And hurried where th' inconftant windes fhall pleafe.
Some fell on quickfands, others brake on fhelues :
Medina^ their great Grand and General,
We left vnto the mercy of the fea ;
Don Pedro, their high admirall, we tooke,
With many knights and noblemen of Spaine,
Who are by this time landed at St. Margrets,
From whence your admirall brings them vp by land,
And at St. James's means to greet your grace.
Queen. Next vnder Heauen your valours haue the
praife !
But prethee, Drake,
Giue vs a brief relation of thofe mips,
That in this expedition were employ'd
Againft the Spanilh forces ?
Drake. The Elizabeth Jonas, Triumph, the White
Beare,
The Mer Honora, and the Victory ;
Arch Raleigh, Du Repulfe, Garland, Warres-fpight,
The Mary Rofe, the Bonaventure, Hope,
The Lion, Rainbow, Vantguard, Nonpareil,
Dreadnought, Defiance, Swiftfure, Antilach,
The Whale, the Scout, Achates, the Reuenge.
Queen. Drake, no more.
Where'er this nauy mail hereafter faile,
O may it with no lefs fucceffe preuail :
Difmiffe our campe, and tread a royal march
Toward St. James's, where in martial order
We'le meete and parley our Lord Admiral.
As for thofe enfigns, let them be fafely kept,
And giue commandment to the Deane of Paul's
He not forget, in his next learned fermon,
To celebrate this conqueft at Paul's crofs ;
And to the audience in our name declare
Our thanks to Heauen, in vniuerfal prayer.
For though our enemies be ouerthrown,
*Tis by the hand of Heauen, and not our own.
One found a call. Now louing countrymen, Call.
And fellow foldiers, merited thanks to all.
344 If you know not me,
We here difmifle you, and diffolue our campe.
Omnes. Long Hue, long raign our Queene
Elizabeth \
Queen. Thankes, general thanks :
Towards London march wee to a peaceful throne :
We wifh no warres, yet we muft guard our owne.
Exeunt omnes.
FINIS.
345
APPENDIX.
[The following is the conclufion of the Second part
of " If You know not Me, You know Nobody," as it
ftands in the editions of 1606, 1609, and 1623.]
A peale of Chambers.
Enter Queen, Hunfdon, Lecefter, Drum, Colours,
and Souldiers.
Queen. A ftand, there, lords ! Whence comes this
found of {hot?
Lei. Pleafe it your maiefty, tis thought the Fleete
Lately difcouered by your fubiecfl Fleming,
Riding along the coafls of France and Dunkerk,
Is met and fought with by your Admirall.
Queen. Heauen profper his proceedings ! Harke,
my lords ;
Still it increafeth. Oh, had God and nature
Giuen vs proportion man-like to our mind,
Wede not ftand here, fenc't in a wall of arms,
But haue been prefent in thefe fea alarms.
Hunf. Your royal refolution hath created
New fpirits in our fouldiers brefts, and made
Of one man three.
346 If you know not me y
Enter a Poft.
Queen. Make way, there ! What's the newes ?
Pojl. Your royal fleet bids battell to the Spa
niards,
Whofe number with the aduantage of the winde,
Giues them great odds ; but the vndaunted worth
And well knowne valour of your Admirall,
Sir Francis Drake, and Martin Furbijher,
Giues vs affured hope of victory.
Queen. Where did the royal nauies firft encoun
ter ?
Pq/i. From Douer cliffs we might difcerne them
joine,
But fuch a cloud of fmoake enuirond them,
We could difcouer nought of their proceedings ;
For the great Spanijh fleet had winde and tide.
God and good hearts Hand on your Graces fide.
Queen. There's for thy newes. He that firft lent
me breath,
Stand in the right of wrong'd Elizabeth
Omnes. God and his angels, for Elizabeth.
Enter another Pott.
Queen. Welcome, a God's name ! What's the
newes, my friend ?
Alas, good man, his looks fpeake for his tongue.
How ftands the fea-fight ?
Pojl. Moft contrarious.
The Spanijh fleet, call in a warlike ranke,
Like a half moon, or to a full bent bow,
Wait for aduantage : when, amongft the reft,
Sir Martin Furbi/her, blinded with fmoake,
And fir'd in heart with emulating honour,
Gaue the proud Spaniard a broadfide of mot :
But being within the compaffe of their danger,
The diftant corners of their gripled fleet
Circled him round. This valiant Furbijher,
you know no body. 347
With all his braue and gallant followers,
Are folded in deaths armes.
Queen. If he furuiue,
He fhall be nobly ranfom'd : if he die,
He Hues an honour to his nation.
How fares our Admiral ?
Pqfl. Brauely he fights :
Directs with judgement and with heedfull care
Offends the foe. England nere bred
Men that a fea fight better managed.
Queen. It cheers my blood : and if my God be
pleafed,
For fome neglec~led duty in ourfelfe,
To punim vs with lofle of them at fea,
His will be done : yet will we pray for them.
If they returne, ourfelfe will be the firfl
Will bid them welcome. What fays valiant Lecejler ?
Thou wilt not leaue me, wilt thou ? Doft thou looke
pale?
What fays old Hunfdon 1 Nay ; He fpeak thy
part.
Thy hand, old Lord ; I am fure I haue thy heart.
Hunf. Both hand and heart.
A noife within^ crying A Furbifher.
Enter a Captain.
Queen. Then let both heart and hand
Be brauely vfed, in honour of our land.
Before thou fpeakft, take that : if he dead,
A Queen will fee his funeral honoured.
Cap. When the foes mips
Had grafpt his mips within a fteely girdle,
The valiant Captain, ouercharg'd with her,
Hauing no roome for cowardize or fear,
Gaue all his Ordinance a gallant charge,
Cheer'd vp his fouldiers, man'd vp his fights,
And {landing barehead brauely on the decke,
When dangerous mot, as thick as April haile,
.
348 If you know not me,
Dropt by his eares, he wau'd his warlike fword,
And, with a bold defiance to the foe,
The watchword given, his ordnance let fly
With fuch a fury, that it broke their rankes,
Shatterd their fides, and made their warlike (hips
Like drunkards reele, and tumble fide to fide :
But to conclude, fuch was the will of heauen,
And the true fpirit of that gentleman,
That, being thought hopeleffe to be preferued,
Yet, in wars fpight, and all the Spaniards feoff,
He brought his fhip and fouldiers brauely off.
Queen. Wars fpight, indeed ! and we, to do him
right,
The fhip he faild in, fought in, call Wars fpight.
Now, noble fouldiers, rouze your hearts, like men
To noble refolution : if any here
There be that loues vs not, or harbour feare,
We giue him liberty to leaue our campe
Without difpleafure.
Our armies royall, fo be equal our hearts ;
For with the meanefl here He fpend my blood,
And fo to lofe it count my onely good.
A march, lead on, weele meet the word can fall :
A maiden-Queen will be your General.
They march one way out. At the other doore, enter Sir
Francis Drake, with colours and enftgnes taken
from the Spaniards.
What mean thefe Spanijh enfignes in the hands
Of Englijh fubiefts ?
Drake. Honorable Queen,
They mew that Spaniards Hues are in the hands
Of England* foueraign.
Queen. Englands God be praifd !
But prethee Drake, for well I know thy name,
And He not be unmindful of thy worth,
Briefly rehearfe the danger of the battell,
Till Furbi/her was refcued we haue heard.
you know no body. 349
Drake. The danger after that was worfe than
then.
Valour on both fides ftroue to rife with honor,
As is a pair of balance, once made euen,
So flood the day, inclind to neyther fide.
Sometimes we yeelded ; but like a ramme
That makes returnment to redouble ftrength,
Then forc'd them yeeld ; when our Lord Admirall
Following the chafe, Pedro their Admiral,
With many knights and captaines of acconnt,
Were by his noble deeds tane prifoners,
And vnder his conduct are fafely kept,
And are by this time landed at S. Margrets :
From whence they meane to march along by land,
And at S. James heele greete your Maiefty.
Thefe Spani/h enfigns, tokens of our conqueft,
Our captaines tooke from off their batter'd fhips :
Such as flood out, we funke ; fuch as fubmitted,
Tafled our Englijh mercy, and furuive,
Vaffals and prifoners to your foueraigntie.
Queen. Next vnder God your valors haue the
praife :
Difmifs our campe, and tread a royall march
Towards S. James, where, in martiall order,
Weele meet and parley our Lord Admiral,
And fet a ranfome of his prifoners.
As for thofe enfignes, fee them fafely kept ;
And giue commandment to the Deane of Powles
He not forget, in his next learned fermon,
To celebrate this conquefl at Powles Croffe ;
And to the audience in our name declare
Our thankes to heauen in vniuerfal prayer :
For though our enemies be ouerthrown,
Tis by the hand of heauen, and not our own.
On ! found a call ! Now louing countrymen,
Subiedls, and fellow fouldiers, that haue left
Your weeping wiues, your goods, and children,
And laid your Hues vpon the edge of death,
For good of England and Elizabeth,
350 If you know not me,
We thanke you all. Thofe that for vs would
bleed,
Shall finde vs kinde to them, and to their feed.
We here difmiffe you, and difmifle our campe.
Againe we thanke you : pleafeth God we Hue,
A greater recompence then thanks weele giue.
All. Our Hues and liuings for Elizabeth.
Queen. Thankes j general thankes.
Towards London march we to a peacefull throne :
We wilh no wars, yet we muft guard our owne.
Exeunt.
FINIS.
Epilogue.
The Princeffe young Elizabeth y'hatfe feene
In her minority, and fmce a Queene,
A Subject, and a Soveraigne : in th' one
A pittied Lady : in the royall Throne
A potent Queene. It now in you doth reft
To know, in which fhe hath demeand her beft.
NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE i.
The Flrjl and Second parts of King Edward the FourtJi,
Reprinted for the Shakefpeare Society in 1842, "from the
unique black letter firft Edition of 1600, collated with one other
in black letter, and with thofe of 1619 and 1626, with an Intro
duction and Notes by Barren Field." Thefe notes we have laid
extenfively under contribution in the enfuing pages.
In the black letter edition of 1605, the word "God" is
frequently changed into " Cock" in evafion of the ftatute of
3 Jac. I, then newly paffed. It is almoft needle! s to fay that
the original word has been invariably reftored in the prefent
reprint.
PAGE 6.
A Jit of mirth.
As oppofed to a continuance. The phrafe occurs in Putten-
ham's Art of Engli/h Poefit, 1589, where the author fpeaks of
"blind harpers, or fuch like tavern-minftrels, that give a fit of
mirth for a groat." Thy wordyfr refers to the portions or paufes
in a ballad or romance.
PAGE 7.
Falconbridge.
"The perfon here meant was Thomas Nevil, baftard fon to
Lord Falconbridge ; ' a man (fays Hall) of no lefs courage then
1 AA
354
audacity, that a more meter could not be chofen to fet all the
worlde in a broyle, and to put the eftate of the realme on an yl
hazard.' He once brought his mips up the Thames, and with a
confiderable body of the men of Kent and Effex, made a fpirited
affault on the City, with a view to plunder and pillage, which
was not repelled but after a fharp conflict and the lofs of many
lives ; and had it happened at a more critical period, might have
been attended with fatal confequences to Edward. After roving
on the fea fome little time longer, he ventured to land at
Southampton, where he was taken and beheaded." Ritfon.
It appears from both the Camden Society's publications, hereafter
quoted, that he was taken at Sandwich.
PAGE 10.
At Leadenkall, we 1 II fell pearles by the pecke.
Leadenhall was a public granary.
PAGE u.
Birchin lanefaall fuite vs.
i.e. mail furnifh us with fuits of clothes. Birchin Lane was
the Monmouth Street of the city. It' was not inhabited by the
mercers and woollen-drapers, as ftated by Mr. Rimbault in his
notes to Pollie's Anatomie, but by " the fripperers or upholders,
that fold old apparel and houfehold fluff." The mercers, as
appears both from Stow and from this play, lived in Cheapfide.
See The Roy all King and the Loy all Subject, vol. vi., p. 13.
PAGE 15.
Clapperdudgin.
A cant term for a beggar, ingenioufly derived by Mr. Collier
from knocking the clapdifh (which beggars carried) with a knife
or dudgeon.
PAGE 19.
And cutting of throats be cried havock.
See Coriolanus, var. ed., acl; iii. fcene I. Crying havock\>y the
conqueror was the converfe of crying quarter by the conquered.
Ib.
Sallet.
A helmet. See the commentators on 2 Henry FI., adl iv.
fcene 10.
355
PAGE ig.
A true finger.
i.e. the finger of a true, or honeft man.
PAGE 21.
The Moiith of Bi/hopfgate.
Some inn at the gate, where liquors were fold.
Ib.
Mazer.
Mazard, the face.
Ib.
As tall a man.
i.e. as brave a man.
PAGE 33.
Arife Sir John Crofebie, Lord Maior of London and Knight.
Arife Sir Ralfe Joffeline Knight.
It appears from Stow that Sir John Crosby was Sheriff, not
mayor, in this year, and that Sir Ralph Joceline was mayor, and
knighted, in 1464. Crosby never was mayor. The following is
Stow's annal of the year 1470 :
"1470. The loth. [Edw. IV. J Sir John Crosbie, John Ward,
[Sheriffs] ; mayor, Sir John Stockton, mercer.
"Thomas the baftard Fauconbridge, with a riotous company,
fet upon this city at Aldgate, Bifhopfgate, the Bridge, &c., and
twelve aldermen, with the recorder, were knighted in the field
by Edward IV., to wit, John Stockton, mayor, Raph Verney,
late mayor, John Yong, late mayor, William Tayler, late mayor,
Richard Lee, late mayor, Matthew Phillips, late mayor, George
Ireland, William Stoker, William Hampton, fince mayor, Thomas
Stolbroke, John Crosbie, and Bartlemew James, fince mayor, With
Thomas Urfwike, recorder." Stow's Survey of London by Thorns,
p. 193. See alfu Mr. Bruce's Notes to the Camden Society's
Hiftorie of the Arrival of Edward IV., and the fame Society's
Warkworth's Chronicle, p. 21.
PAGE 37.
Miller thy duty is a thoufand markes.
i.e. that which is due to thee.
AA 2
356
PAGE 38.
Farewell pink and pinnace, flibote and caruel, Turnbull and
Spittal.
The four names of craft are ufed for the ladies of Spicing's
acquaintance. For turnbull, fee Collier's Shakefpeare, vol. iv<
p. 407. A fpittal is an hofpital, or peft houfe.
PAGE 39.
Dicker.
A dicker of leather is ten hides.
PAGE 40.
Saweft thou not the deere imboft.
" When a deer is hard run, and foams at the mouth, he is faid
to be imboft" Warton on Taming of the Shrew,, act i. fcene I.
Ib.
that makes ye prate to me fo fondly.
Hobs does not underftand "deer imboft," and takes it for
foolifh love-talk.
Ib.
meg-holly.
Probably a contraction or corruption for the Virgin Mary.
PAGE 41.
by the moufe-foot.
" I know a man that will never fwear but by cock and pye, or
moufe-foot. I hope you will not fay thefe be oaths." The
Plaine Mans Pathway to Heaven. By Arthur Dent. 1601.
Ib.
thefe courtnols.
This word occurs in the old ballad of the King and the Miller
of Mansfield, and is a contemptuous word for courtiei' court-
noodle. So grout-noil means groffe-tede. See Sherwood.
PAGE 42.
His Maiejly?
Although Mr. Douce has mown that the word majejly was oc-
357
cafionally applied to kings, long before the reign of James I. , a
few years previous to which this play was written, yet War-
burton is probably right in faying that this king was the firft in
England that affumed the words f acred majefty as a fettled ftyle,
to the exclufion of highnefs and grace, which were previoufly em
ployed, at the option of the fpeaker. Thus, indifcriminately,
Shakefpeare ufes all thefe words, making his hiftorical charac
ters fpeak the language of his, and not of their own, time ; and it
is therefore perfectly natural that the Tanner of Heywood's days
fhould not know what "his majefty" means, and, like Falftaff,
fhould quibble at the word grace.
PAGE 42.
Do/I thou not know me ? Then thou knowejl nobody.
The fame words are fpoken by Hobfon to the Queen in
Heywood's Elizabeth, to which they form the fecond title. Vide
Supra, p. 317.
PAGE 43.
Gods blue budkin.
This may be called the oathkin of Odsbodikins, or by God's body.
The epithet blue is analogous to the French venire bleu, or mor-
bleu.
PAGE 44.
my mare knowes ha and ree.
Ar and re are the words one hears from the mule-drivers all
day long in Spain, where the verb to drive is arrear.
PAGE 45.
Nay thats counfel.
i.e., that's a fecret.
to.
Yorke, Yorke, for my many.
See this old fong in Ritfon's Northern Garlands.
PAGE 47.
kifs the poft.
This was a by-word for being fhut out. See Haughton and
358
Chettle's Patient Griffil, Every Man in his Humour, adl iii.
fcene 3. A Woman KilTd with Kindnefs, Heywood, vol. ii.
PAGE 51.
condition /lie had all,
It was not uncommon, in familiar language, to omit the word
upon. See Gifford's Matfi'nger, vol. iv. p. 488.
PAGE 52.
gramercies.
Grande merci, French, many thanks.
PAGE 64.
If any gallant ftritie to have the wall.
In Heywood's days, and long afterwards, a contefl for the
wall-fide, in walking the ftreets, was an uncivil characterise of
the metropolis.
PAGE 65.
He were too fond, &c.
i.e., foolifh.
PAGE 69.
Our kind beneuolence
"This tax (called benevolence) was devifed by Edward the
Fourth, for which he fuftained much enuie." Bacon's Hiftoi'ie of
the Raigne of King Henry the Seventh.
PAGE 71.
Heres old polling, fubfidy, fifteen foldiers and to the poor !
Old is equivalent to what we fliould now call everlajling,
Polling was a poll-tax ; a fubfidy was the fifth part of a man's
land and goods, according to a low valuation ; and for fifteens,
fee Collier's SJiakefpeare, vol. v. p. 197.
Ib.
By my halidome.
" This Mr. Ritfon explains, by my holy doom, or fentence at
the refurre&ion, from the Saxon haligdom ; but the word does
not appear to have had fuch a meaning. It rather fignifies holi-
nefs, or honejly. It likewife denoted a facrament, a fanduary,
relics of faints, or any thing holy. It feems in later times to
359
have been corrupted into kolidame, as if it expreffed the holy
Virgin. Thus we have So help me God and hollidame I See Bul-
lein's Book of the tife of ftckemen, 1579, fo. 2." Douce.
Mr. Crabb Robinfonalforejectsdiw;?, or judgment, andconfiders
dom as a mere fuffix, correfponding with the German thiim, in
which language heiligthum is the ordinary word for fanftuary, or
holy place or thing. Thum, in German, anfwers to our dom in
Chriftendom, kingdom, freedom, wifdom. By m'y halidom, there
fore, means by my goodnefs, by my holinefs I The Englifh dic
tionaries attribute the fuffix dom to the Saxon word for dominion,
or doom ; but this is doubtful.
PAGE 72.
Dybell here in Caperdochy.
This is fome cant term for a prifon, and is not met with elfe-
\vhere.
A
Outftep the king be miferable.
Unlefs the King be compaflionate.
PAGE 80.
That Jwneft, merry hangman, how doth he ?
Hangman was a term of endearment, and this explains the
following paffage in Mtich Ado about Nothing, act iii. fcene 2.
" He hath twice or thrice cut Cupid's bowftring, and the little
hangman dare not fhoot."
So in Loves Labour Loft, ac"t v. fcene 2.
"Cupid a boy,
Ay, and a fhrewd unhappy gallows too."
PAGE 90.
tan-fat,
Tan-vat, or tan-pit.
PAGE 92.
Nufe.
Neufs?
PAGE 106.
crownes of thefunne.
Mr. Douce fays thefe were gold, originally coined by Louis
XI , and that their name was derived from the mint-mark of a
fun. They were current in this kingdom by weight, as certain
Englifh coins were in France. See alfo Gifford's Maffinger, vol.
i. P- 131-
PAGE 107.
Somewhat, it giues me, yoii will bring from thence,
i.e., my mind gives me, or mifgives me.
PAGE 109.
a couple of capons, too, euery year beftde.
This is a common refervation in old leafes, befides the rent.
PAGE in.
Played John.
Contemporary plays are full of playing Jack and playing the
flouting Jack. The allufion here is to the fong fo named : " Shee
euerie day fmgs John for the King." Sharpman's Fleire, fig. F.
ed. 1610.
PAGE 117.
Hypocrite.
The black letter edition of 1613, and the roman of 1626, read
heretic. The other various readings are fo numerous and fo
trivial, that we have not noted them.
PAGE 162.
Spuria vitulamina, &c.
This text is from the Vulgate verfion of the Wifdom of Solo
mon, iii. 4.
PAGE 186.
Shore's Ditch.
The old ballad (AJane Shore has the fame idea ; but the place
was fo called hundreds of years before. See Stow's Survey of
London, Thorns' ed., p. 158, and Fuller's Worthies, Middlefex.
A ditch, or fewer, is vulgarly called &fhore. Heywood has taken
his facts from the old ballad, and not from hiftory. Jane Shore
was living thirty years after the death of Edward IV., when Sir
Thomas More wrote his Hiftory of Richard III. It- appears,
from a letter of King Richard's in the Harleian MSS. (Percy's
Reliques, ii. 405), that, while fhe was imprifoned, the folicitor-
general wifhed to marry her, and that the king would have
releafed her for that purpofe, if the learned gentleman could not
be diffuaded from the match. Shore is in that letter called
William ; but Heywood has ftrictly followed the names and
tragedy of the old ballad.
PAGE 189.
If you know not me> you know no bodie.
The two hiftorical Plays on the Lite and Reign of Queen
Elizabeth, with an Introduction and Notes by Mr. J. Payne
Collier, were printed for the Shakefpeare Society in 1851.
PAGE 191.
A Prologue to the Play of Queene Elizabeth.
From Hey wood's Pleafant Dialogues and Dramma's, 1637,
p. 248.
PAGE 196.
And made firft head with you at Fromagham.
Queen Mary fought fhelter in Framlingham Caflle, while the
Duke of Northumberland was endeavouring to enforce the claim
of Lady Jane Grey. " When the Lady Mary received the news
of her brother's death, having long before been acquainted with
the Duke of Northumberland's fecret practices, me judged it un-
fafe to remain near London, where her enemies were in full
power ; and, therefore, pretending a fear of the plague, by reafon
of the fudden death of one of her domeftics, me withdrew from
St. Edmund's Bury, (her abode at that time) and in one day
came to Framlingham Caflle, in the county of Suffolk, about four
fcore miles from London, and not far from the fea ; by which, if
the extremity of her fears required it, fhe might have an eafy
paffage to France At the fame time, news was brought
that the people of Norfolk and Suffolk had taken their oaths to
her." BifJwp Godwin, in Kennett, ii., 329. Stow fays "By
this time word was brought to the Tower that the Lady Mary
was fled to Framlingham Caftle, in Suffolk, where the people of
the country almoft wholly relbrted to her." Annales, 1615,
p. 1032. In the old copies of this play, the name of the place
is printed " Fromagham," according to the ruftic and local
pronunciation.
R.
Wiats expedition.
This allufion to the quelling of Wyat and his adherents is a
little premature : he was not fubdued and taken until February,
1554 ; and thefe incidents formed the fubject of a play by Dekker
.and Webfter, which was printed very imperfectly in 1607.
362
PAGE 197.
Young Courtney, Earle of Devonjhire.
Edward Courtenay had been created Earl of Devon, (not
Devonfhire) according to Stow (Annales, 1041), on 3rd Sep
tember, 1553.
PAGE 198.
Enter Matter Gage, and a Gentlewoman.
Of courfe, the fcene here changes to Afhridge, where Elizabeth,
as we have been already told, was refiding.
PAGE 199.
Souldiers are as hot as fire.
" Are" feems furplufage, but is not neceffarily fo, and the later
copies here follow the reading of the eaiiieft.
Ib.
Enter Tame and Shandoyfe, with Souldiers, drum, &c.
Tame. Where's the Princeffe ?
Gage. Oh my honoured lords,
May I with reuerence prefume to aske
What meanes thefe armes ? Why do you thus begirt
A poore weake lady, neare at point of death ?
In his England's Elizabeth, Heywood thus fpeaks of this
fcene : "This which at the firft was in the Queene but meere
fufpition, by Bifhop Gardiner's aggravation grew after into her
high indignation, in fo much that a ftricl: Commiffion was fent
down to Afhridge, where fhee then fojourned, to have her with
all fpeede removed from thence, and brought up to London, there
to anfwer all fuch criminal articles as could be objected againft
Her. The charge was committed to Sir John Williams, Lord of
Tame, Sir Edward Haftings, and Sir Thomas Cornwallis, all
three Councillors of State, and for the better accomplifhment of
the fervice, a guard of 250 horfemen were attendant on them.
The Princefs was at the fame time dangeroufly ficke, and even
almoft to death : the day was quite fpent, and the evening come
on, newes being brought unto her by her fervants (much
affrighted) that fo great a ftrength had begirt her houfe, and in
fuch a time when her innocence could not fo much as dreame of
any thing dangerous that might be fuggefted againft her, it bred
363
in her, liowfoever, no fmall amazement ; but ere fhee could well
recollect herfelfe, a great rapping was heard at the gate. Shee
fending to demand the caufe thereof, inftead of returning an
anfwer, the Lords ftept into the houfe, without demanding fo
much as leave of the porter, and coming into the hull, where
they met miftrefs Afliley, a gentlewoman that attended her, they
willed her to inform her Lady that they had a meffage to deliver
from the Queene. The Gentlewoman went up and told her
what they had faid, who fent them word back by her againe,
that it being then an unfeaf enable time of the night, me in her
bed and dangeroufly ficke, to intreate them, if not in courtefie, yet
for modefties fake, to defer the delivery of their meflage till
morning ; but they, without further reply, as fhee was returning
to the Princeffes chamber, followed her up flairs and preffed in
after her, prefenting themfelves at her bedfide. At which fight
file was fuddenly moved, and told them that fhe was not well
pleafed with their uncivill intrufion. They, by her low and faint
fpeech perceiving her debilitie and weaknefs of body, defired her
grace's pardon, (the Lord Tame fpeaking in excufe of all the
reft) and told her they were forry to find fuch infirmitie upon
her, efpecially fince it was the Queenes exprefs pleafure that the
feventh of that prefent moneth fhee muft appeare before her Ma-
jeftie, at her Court neere Weftminfter. To whom fhe anfwered
that the Queen had not a fubjecl: in the whole kingdom more ready
or willing to tender their fervice and loyalty to her Highneffe than
herfelfe ; yet hoped, withall, in regard of her prefent difability, they
who were eye-witneffes of her weake eftate might in their own
charity and goodnefs difpenfe with their extremity of haft ; but
the haft was fuch and the extremitie fo great, that their Com-
miffion was to bring her either alive or dead. A fojre Commiffion
it is, faid fhee. Hereupon they confulted with her Phyfitians,
charging them on their allegiance to refolve them whether fhe
might be removed thence without imminent perill of her life.
Upon conference together they returned anfwer that fhe might
undergo that journey without death, though not without great
danger, herjinfirmity being hazardfull, but not mortall. Their
opinions thus delivered, they told her grace that fhe muft
of neceffity prepare herfelfe for the morrow's journey."
Page 96, &c.
It will be feen, by the above quotation, that Hey wood ufes
364
fome of the very fame expremoris he had employed in his play,
and fuch will be found to be the cafe hereafter.
PAGE 200.
Enter Elizabeth in her bed.
Meaning, no doubt, that the Princefs, ill in her bed, was thruft
out upon the ftage, and the fcene immediately fuppofed to be a
bed-room. So, in A Woman Killed with Kindnefs, we have
" Enter Mrs. Frankford in her bed."
PAGE 201.
Enter Queen Mary, Philip, &c.
The fcene is here transferred to Winchefter, whither Mary had
gone to meet Philip, and where they were married.
PAGE 202.
Philip and Mary, by the grace of God, &c.
Stow gives their "ftyle" as follows "Philip and Mary, by
the grace of God, King and Queen of England, France, Naples,
Hierufalem, and Ireland, Defenders of the Faith, Princes of
Spain and Sicily, Archdukes of Auftrich, Dukes of Milan, Bur
gundy and Brebant, Counties of Afpurge, Flanders, and Tyroll."
Annales, 1057. Bifhop Godwin adds that the ftyle was pro
claimed in Latin, French, and Englifh.
PAGE 203.
The twenty-fifth day of this month, Jiily.
St. James's day : Heywood is very particular and accurate in
this date.
PAGE 204.
What fejlivall, &c.
Thefe two lines, in edit. 1632, are made part of the Queen's
fpeech.
Ib.
And perfect, as you ever have been.
This line, like many others, is incurably defective. Edit. 1605
reads, " And perfect as you ever have delivered been." Ed.
1623 "as you have ever beene."
365
PAGE 205.
Jn this enterprife, and you aske why.
"And ask you why" edit. 1605. The defective metre
might be fet right by inferting " my " before enterprife.
PAGE 205 206.
Enter Winche/ler, Suflex, Howard, Tame, Shandoyfe,
and Con/table.
Sujs. All forbeare this place, vnlefle the Princefs.
Winch. Madam.
We from the Queen are join'd in full commiffion.
They fet : Jhe kneeles.
Sufs. By your fauour, good my lord,
Ere you proceed. Madam, although this place
Doth tye you to this reuerence, it becomes not,
You being a Princefs, to deiect your knee.
"Upon the Friday before Palme Sunday, the Bifh. of Win-
chefter, with nine more of the Council, convented her : being
come before them, and offering to kneele, the Earl of Suflex would
by no means fuffer her, but commanded a chayre to bee brought
in for her to fit on. Gardiner, Bifhop of Winchefter, and then
Lord Chancellor, taking upon him to be the mouth of the reft,
began very Iharply to reprove her (as if me had beene already
convicted) for having a hand in Wiat's rebellion ; to whom me
mildly anfwered, with a modeft proteftation, that fhee had never
had the leaft knowledge of his practice and proceedings : for
proofe whereof, faid fhee, * when Wyat at his death was by fome
malicious enemies of mine demanded whether I was any way
knowing or acceffary to his infurrection, even at the parting of
life and body, having prepared his foule for heaven, when no dif-
fimulation can be fo much as fufpected, even then he pronounced
me guiltleffe. Befides the like queftion being demanded of
Nicholas Throckmorton and James Crofts, at their Arraignment,
I was likewife cleared by them : and being acquitted by all others,
(my lords) would you have me to accufe my felfe ?' After this
me was queftioned about a ftirring in the Weft, rais'd by Sir
Peter Carew, but anfwered to every particular fo diftinctly, that
they could not take hold of the leaft circumftance, whereby they
might any way ftrengthen their accufation : which Gardiner per-
366
ceiving, told her that it would be her fafefl courfe to fubmit her
felf to the Queene, and crave pardon of her gracious Majeftie. '
Whereunto me anfwered that fubmifiion confeft a crime, and
pardon belonged to a delinquent, either of which being proved by
her, fhe would then, and not till then, make ufe of his Grace's
councell." England's Elizabeth, page 108,
PAGE 206.
Madam, perhaps you cenfure hardly,
That was enforced in this commijjion.
The meaning would fe.em to be, " Madam, perhaps, you cen
fure, or think, hardly of us, that were enforced in this commif-
fion :" it only wants a flight alteration, to complete the verfe and
the fenfe : thus
" Madam, perhaps, of us you cenfure hardly,
That were enforc'd in this commiffion."
PAGE 207.
The fame day
Frogmorton was arraigned in the GuildhalL
Stowe fays, " The i;th of April, were led to the Guildhall in
London, to be arraign'd, Sir Nicholas Throckmorton and Sir
James Croft, Robert Winter and Cuthbert Vaughan being alfo
had thither to witnefs againft them ; where that day no more was
arraigned but Sir Nicholas Throckmorton, who tarrying from
feven o'clock in the morning until almoft five at night, was by
the verdict of the jury acquit : he pleaded not guilty, and that he
was confenting to nothing, &c. But the jury which quit him
was commanded to appear before the Council at an hour's
warning, and the lofs of ^"500 the piece." Annales, 1055. We
are to underftand, from the text, that Wyat, not Throckmorton,
cleared Elizabeth before his death.
Ib,
What anfwer you to Sir Peter Carew, in the Weft.
" Within fix days after [the trial of Robert Dudley], there was
word brought to the Court, how that Sir Peter Carow, Sir
Gawine Carow, Sir Thomas Deny, with divers other, were
up in Devonfhire, in the refitting of the King of Spam's coming
367
hither, and that they had taken the city of Exeter, and cattle
there, into their cuftody." Stow's Annales, p. 1044.
PAGE 208.
Enter the fix Councellors.
" Winch. It is the pleafure of her maiefty
That you be ftraight committed to the Tower" &c.
" In the midft of thefe conceptions, Gardiner and the reft en-
tred the chamber, and told her that it was her Maiefties pleafure
fhee muft inftantly be conveyed to the Tower ; that her houfehold
was diffolved, and all her fervants difcharged, except the Gentle
man Umer, three Gentlewomen, and two Groomes, and that for
her guard 200 northern white coates were appointed that night
to watch about her lodging, and early the next morning to fee
her fafely delivered into the cuftody of the Lieftenant of the
Tower. The very name of Tower ftruck deepe horror into her,
infomuch that the cheerful blood forfaking her frefh cheeks left
nothing but afhy paleneffe in her vifage : Ihee fpake thefe.words
' Alaife my Lords, how conies it that I have fo incenfed my
fitter and Soveraigne? If it be held to be either criminal or
capitall to be daughter to King Henry, fitter to King Edward,
of facred memory, or to bee the next in blood to the Queene, I
may then perhaps incurre as well the feverity of cenfure as the
rigour of fentence : but otherwife I here proteft, before Heaven
and you, I never, either in act or thought, have as yet trefpaffed
againft her Majefty; whofe pleafure, if it be fo that I muft be
confined, and my liberty reftrained, my humble fuite is unto you
to be Petitioners on my behalfe unto her Majetty, that I may be
fent unto fome other place lefs notorious, that being a prifon for
Traytors and Malefactors in the higheft degree.' The Earl of Suf-
fex prefently replied that her requeft was both juft and reafonable,
defiring the reft of the Lords to joine with him in her behalfe ;
whereupon the Bifhop of Winchefter cut him off, and told him
that it was the Queenes abfolute command, and her pleafure was
unalterable." England 's Elizabeth, page 112.
Elizabeth was committed to the Tower, according to Stow, on
the 1 8th of March, being Palm Sunday. She was conducted
thither by the Lord Treafurer and the Earl of Suffex, who took her
by water from Weftminfter. Annales, p. 1054.
368
PAGE 209.
With all my heart ? faith.
Edit. 1605 has " With all my hearty faith," and later impref-
fions, " With all my heart, faith." It is a trifle, but no doubt our
text is the true reading.
PAGE 210.
Nothing TtnpoJJible.
Edit. 1605 adds "to God," but thofe words were afterwards
omitted no doubt in confequence of the ftatute againft the ufe
of oaths, and of the name of the Creator, on the ftage, 3 Jac.
I., C. 21.
Ib.
My mafters, we have talkdfo long, that I thinke tis day.
This may feem rather a large demand upon the imagination
of the audience, confidering that there had been no intervening
fcene, and that the talke of the "white-coated foldiers" had
commenced on the previous page, " about eleven" at night. The
fact is, that at this period of our ftage, fpectators were accuf-
tomed to allow fuch claims.
PAGE 212.
" Enter Gage, Elizabeth, Clarentia, her Gentlewoman.
" Gage. Madam, you have ftepp'd too fhort, into the water,
&c.
" She went afhore, and ftepped fhort, into the water."
England's Elizabeth, page 122.
"She was then delivered to the charge of the Conftable of
the Tower, who received her as his prifoner, and told her that
he would mow her to her lodgings ; but fhe, being faint, began
to complaine. The good Earle of Suffex, feeing her colour be
gin to faile, and fhe ready to fmke under his armes, called for a
chayre ; but the Conftable would not fuffer it to be brought.
Then fhe fat down upon a faire ftone, at which time there fell a
great fliower of raine : the heavens themfelves did feeme to
weepe at fuch inhumane ufage. Suffex offered to caft his cloake
about her, but fhe by no means would admit it. Then the Lief-
tenent, M. Bridges, intreated her to withdraw herfelfe from the
violence of the ftorm into fome fhelter, to whom fhe anfwered,
369
* I had better to fit here then in a worfer place ; for God know-
eth, not I, whither you intend to lead me.' " England's Eliza
beth, page 123.
PAGE 214.
" Enter Gage.
Gage. My Lords, the Princejfe humbly entreats
That her owne fervants may beare up her diet, &c.
" She was ftill kept clofe prifoner : the Conftable of the Tower,
then Lord Chamberlaine, would not fufifer her own fervants to
carry up her dyet, but put it into the hands of rude and unman
nerly foldiers, of which me complaining to her Gentleman U flier
to have that abufe better ordered, the Lieftenant not only de-
nyed to fee it remedied, but threatened him with imprifonment,
if he againe did but urge fuch a motion : neither would he fuffer her
own cooks to drefs her dyet, but mingled his own fervants with
hers. " England's Elizabeth, page 1 14.
PAGE 216.
Gives them fas. petition.
Gives them a petition, edit. 1605.
PAGE 218.
Thefe knaves will iet upon their priviledge.
The word "jet" hardly requires explanation. It is from
jetter, French, and fignifies to fwagger, or throw onefelf about,
affuming falfe confequence. It is of conflant occurrence in
almoft every old author,
PAGE 220.
Enter Winchefter, Beningfield, and Tame.
Madam, the Queene, out of her royal bounty,
Hath freed you front the thraldom of the Tower, &c.
Stow tells us, " On the iQth May, Lady Elizabeth was con
veyed from the Tower of London, by water, to Richmond ;
from thence to Windfor ; and fo, by the Lord Williams, to
Ricote, in Oxfordfhire ; and from thence to Woodftock."
Annales, 1056.
" From thence (the Tower) [they] conveyed her to Woodftock,
under the conduct and charge of S r Henry Benningfield, with
1 BB
370
whom was joyned in Commiffion Sr John Williams, the Lord of
Tame, and a hundred Northern Blew-Coates to attend them.
Thefe prefenting themfelves before her, me inftantly appre
hended^ them to be her new guardians ; but at the fight of
Sr Henry, whom me had never till that time feene, me fodainly
ftarted backe, and called to one of the lords, privately demand
ing of him, whether the fcaffold were yet Handing whereon the
innocent Lady Jane had not long before fuffered ? He refolved
her that upon his honour it was quite taken downe, and that no
memorial thereof was now remaining. Then fhee beckoned an
other noble-man unto her, and asked of him what Sr Henry was ?
if he knew him ? or if a private murther was committed to his
charge, whether he had not the confcience to performe it ? An-
fwer was made that he was a man whom the Queene refpecled,
and the Chancellour much favoured." England's Elizabeth,
page 146.
PAGE 221.
Is yet the fcaffold ftanding on Tower Hill,
Whereon young Guilford and the Lady Jane
Didfuffer death ?
Heywood here mifreprefents the fact, for Lady Jane Grey was
not executed on Tower Hill, but within the Tower, on the I2th
February, 1554 5.
PAGE 222.
Enter Elizabeth, Beningfield, Gage, and Tame.
Omnes. The Lord preferve thyfweet Grace !
Eliz. What are thefe ?
Gage. The townefmen of the country, &c.
" The next morning, the country people, underftanding which
way me was to take her journey, had affembled themfelves in
divers places, fome praying for her prefervation and liberty ; others
prefented her with nofegayes, and fuch expreffion of their loves as
the countrey afforded. The inhabitants of neighbour villages
commanded the Bels to be rung ; fo that, with the loud acclama
tions of People, and the found of Bels, the very ayre did eccho
with the prefervation of Elizabeth. Which being perceived by
Sr Henry Benningfield, he called them rebels and traytors, beat
ing them back with his truncheon. As for the ringers, he made
their pates ring noone before they were releafed out of the flocks.
The Princeffe intreated him in their behalfe, and defired that he
would defift from the rigour ufed to the people
At every word he fpoke he ftill had up his Commimon, which
the Princefs, taking notice of, told him he was no better than her
Goaler. The very name of Goaler moved his patience ; but
knowing not how to mend himfelfe, he humbly intreated her
grace not to ufe that name, it being a name of dilhonour, a fcan-
dall to his gentry. ' It is no matter,' (faid me) * Sir Henry ; me-
thinkes that name and your nature agree well together. Let me not
heare of that word Commimon : as oft as you but nominate your
Commiffion, fo oft will I call you Gaoler. ' As me paffed along
towards Windfor, divers of her fervants, feeing her paffe fo fadly
by the way, being fuch as had been formerly difcharged at the
diffolution of her houfehold, requefted her Grace that (he would
vouchfafe to refolve them whither me was carry ed? to whom me
fent back an anfwer in thefe two narrow words, Tanquam Ovis.
England's Elizabeth, page 155.
PAGE 223.
Enter Beningfield, &c.
We muft fuppofe that the fcene here changes to the houfe of
Lord Tame.
PAGE 224.
Enter Beningfield and Barwick, his man..
BENING. Barwick, is this the chaire offtate? &c.
" Sir Henry being thus oppofed, went up into a chamber, [af
the houfe of Lord Tame] where was prepared a chayre, two
cufhions, and a rich carpet for her grace to fit in ; but he, im
patient to fee fuch princely furniture for her entertainment, rather
than hee mould not bee taken notice of, like Heroftratus, that
fet the Temple of Diana on fire onely to get him a name, hee
prefumptuoufly fate in the chayre, and called one Barwicke, his
man, to pull off his bootes : which being known all over the
houfe, he was well derided for his uncivill behaviour." Eng
land's Elizabeth, page 160.
Ib.
Well faid, Banvick.
"Well faid" was, of old, often ufed for well done. See
Shakefpeare, edit. Collier, iii., 39 ; iv. 330; vi., 337, &c.
B B 2
372
PAGE 224.
Enter the Englijhman and Spaniard.
The fcene is here transferred to London to Charing Crofs
where this rencontre is faid to have occurred.
PAGE 225.
Oh voftro mandado, grand Emperato.
Sic in orig. ; but perhaps we ought to read, Al vueftro man-
dato, grande Emperador. Heywood poffibly thought that what
he wrote would pafs with his audience for fufficiently good
Spanifh j or, more probably, it was mifprinted by the old typo
grapher.
Ib.
Your grace may pur chafe glory from above.
Edit. 1632 fubftitutes honour for "glory."
Ib.
Then here toftay, and be a mutiner.
Mutiner is the old word, in the fame way as Enginer in Ham
let, aft iii. fc. 4.
" For 'tis the fport, to have the enginer
Hoift with his own petar."
Gabriel Harvey, in Pierce 's Supererogation, 1593, calls Nam " the
dreadful enginer of phrafes." Modern editors have fubftituted
"engineer," in the paffage in Hamlet, without reflecling what
was the language of the time when Shakefpeare wrote.
PAGE 226.
Enter Elizabeth, Beningneld, Clarentia, Tame, Gage, and
Barwicke.
ELIZ. What fear Jul terror doth ajfaile my heart ? &c.
" He [her Gentleman Ufher] found Sr Henry Benningfield and
the Lord of Tame walking together, and having fingled out the
L. of Tame, told him that the caufe of his coming was to be re-
folved, whether there were any fecret plot intended againft her
gr*:e that night or no ? and if there were, that he and his fel
lows might know it, for they mould account themfelves happy to
lofe their lives in her refcue. The Lord of Tame nobly replyed that
all fuch fears were needleffe, for if any fuch thing were attempted,
373
he and all his followers would fpend their blouds in her defence."
England's Elizabeth, page 153.
PAGE 228.
Beningfield takes a book andlookes into it.
The probable meaning of this old ilage direction is, that after
Beningfield has taken up the book (which turns out to be a Bible
in Englim) he overlooks and repeats what Elizabeth has written.
This couplet is imputed to Elizabeth in Foxe's Afls and Monu
ments, and from thence Heywood may have derived it.
Ib.
BENING. What hasJJie written here ?
"Before her departure from Woodftocke, having private
notice that one M. Edmond Tremaine and M. Smithweeke were
on the racke, and flriclly urged to have accufed her innocence,
at her remove from thence fhe wrote thefe two verfes with her
diamond in a glaffe window :
' Much fufpected by me,
Nothing proved can be,
' Quoth Elizabeth, Prifoner.'
Immediately after, order came down to bring her up to Court.
England's Elizabeth, page 1 88.
PAGE 230.
His /word drawne.
Probably Barwick had drawn his fword, but it is not eafy to
afcertain to whom the pronoun "his " applies here.
PAGE 231.
Our Chancellor, lords.
Gardiner had been appointed Lord Chancellor on 23rd
Auguft, 1553. See Lord Campbell's Lives, ii., 54. Stow gives
the fame date. ' ' The 23 of Auguft, the Queen delivered Khe
Great Seal to Doctor Gardener, Bifhop of Winchefter, and
made him Lord Chancellor." Annales, 1041.
Ib.
WINCH. Fellow, what then ? This warrant, that concernes
The Princefs death Jhiiffle among /I the reft;
He'll ne're perufe' t.
" In the interim, a warrant came downe, under feale, for her
374
execution. Gardiner was the onely Daedalus and inventor of the
engine ; but Mailer Bridges had the honour of her delivery ; for
he no fooner received the warrant, but, miftrufting falfe play>
prefently made haft to the Queen. Shee was no fooner informed,
but renounced the leaft knowledge thereof, called Gardiner and
others whom me fufpected before her, blamed them for their
inhumane ufage of her, and took advice for her better fecurity ;
and thus was Achitophel's bloudy device prevented." England's
Elizabeth, page 146.
PAGE 232.
To refcue innocence fo neare betray'd.
Edit. 1605 reads " toofoone betray 'd.'*
- Ib.
Enter Clown and Clarentia,
Of courfe, in the country, where Beningfield had the cuftody
of Elizabeth.
PAGE 233.
When I would afcorrid to carry coals.
This phrafe often occurs in our old writers, to indicate fubmif-
fion to injury, indignity, or unworthy office.
Ib.
I am fure my curtail will carry me as fa ft as your double
Gelding.
A "curtail" was a docked, or fhort-tailed horfe : the Clown
means to pun upon " double gelding " and double gilding.
PAGE 234.
Enter four torches.
The fcene changes to Hampton Court, in the neighbourhood
of which Elizabeth had arrived in the preceding fcene. Among
the dramatis perfona prefent, the important character of "the
Queen" is omitted. This interview is fuppofed to occur at
night.
PAGE 235.
QUEEN. Call the Princefs !
Exeunt for the Princefs. Philip behind the arras.
"At laft, after many letters written, long fuite, and great
375
friends made, me was admitted to the prefence of the Queene,
whofe face in two years and more fhe had not feene. King
Philip having before mediated for her, and placed himfelfe, un-
knowne to the Queene, behind the hangings of Arras, on pur-
pofe to heare the difcourfe, her grace, about ten of the clocke at
night, was fent for into the prefence King Philip,
having privately overheard the conference, was now fully fettled
in a good opinion of her loyalty." England's Elizabeth, page
197.
PAGE 235.
Andfeare of my Queens frowne.
Our reading here is that of the later copies : edit. 1605 has,
"for fear of my Queen's frown," which does not exprefs what
Elizabeth means, viz., that her tears were compelled in part by
joy, and in part by fear.
PAGE 236.
Unnobles all his children.
All your children, edit. 1605.
Ib.
And when they have all done their worjl.
The fenfe feems to require that we mould read, " And when
they have all done their worft," though the word italicifed is
wanting in the original. The addition alfo improves the mea.-
fure, which, however, is generally fo irregular as to be a very
unfure guide.
PAGE 237.
Returne IJhall, &c.
Philip went to Flanders on 4th September, 1555, and returned
to England 23rd March, 1557.
PAGE 238.
My bones to earth I give, &c.
Bifliop Gardiner died on I2th November, after the departure
of Philip to Flanders.
Ib.
Heaven fhield my miftrifs.
Heaven blefs my miftrefs, edit. 1632.
376
PAGE 238.
Brave /I mow, edit 1632.
PAGE 240.
Or elfe that Cardinal Poole isfodainly dead.
Cardinal Pole did not, in fact, die until fome hours after
Queen Mary :. however, Heywood, like other play-wrights of his
day, did not profefs to treat matters hiftorically, but dramatically.
Stow (Annales, p. 1073) tells us that Pole died on the lame day
as Queen Mary.
Ib.
Enter Elizabeth, Gage, and Clarentia, above.
That is, we may prefume, in the balcony at the back of the old
ftage. Elizabeth was at Hatfield at the time of the death of her
fifter. The three bearers of the news of the acceffion of Eliza
beth muft have flood on the boards, and from thence addreffed
the Queen in the balcony above.
PAGE 241.
Rife thou, fir/I Baron that we ever made.
-Henry Carew (or Carey) fon and heir of William Carew, by
Mary, daughter of the Earl of Wiltfhire, and fifter of Anne
Boleyn, mother of Elizabeth, confequently firft coufm to the new
Queen, was not, in facl;, created Baron Hunfdon until I3th
January, 1559.
PAGE 243.
Enter the Clowne and one more with faggots.
" One more" was the fmalleft number that would anfwer the
purpofe, and perhaps the largeft number the company could
fpare.
Ib.
And yet, methinke, twerefit.
"But yet, methink, 'twere fit "edit. 1632.
PAGE 244.
Nor doe I you commend.
"Nor do you much commend " edit. 1632.
377
PAGE 244.
A Sennet.
i.e., a. founding of trumpets fometimes, perhaps more pro
perly, printed, z,fonnet. Act iii. fc. I of Henry VI., Part II.,
opens with " A Sennet." See alfo Henry VIII. a<5l ii. fc. 4,
which begins, "Trumpets Sennet, and Cornets."
PAGE 246.
Before you let that Purfe and Mace be borne.
It feems doubtful to whom the Queen addreffes this and the
three preceding lines. Sir Nicholas Bacon was not made
Keeper of the Great Seal till December 22, 1558 : on the
fecond day of her reign (November 18, 1558) Elizabeth had
taken it from Archbifhop Heath, having thus early determined
that he mould not continue in office, although he was made one
of her Privy Council. " The Purfe and Mace " fpoken of in the
line we have quoted, might be the infignia of the Lord Cham
berlain, but Lord Hunfdon was not appointed to that office
until afterwards : Lord Howard of Effingham firft filled that
poft, according to Camden's Elizabeth. Kennett, ii., 369.
Ib.
Sennet about the Stage in order. The Maior of London
meets them.
MAIOR. I from this citie, London, doeprefent
This purfe and Bible to your Maiefty, &c.
" But being come to the Little Conduit in Cheape, Ihee per
ceived an offer of Love, and demanded what it might fignify ?
One told her Grace that there was placed Time. ' Time, Time !
(faid fhee) ' and Time, I praife my God, hath brought me hither.
But what is that other with the Booke ?' She was refolved that
it was Truth, the daughter of Time, prefenting the Bible in
Englifh, whereunto me anfwered, * I thanke the Citie for this
guift above all the reft : it is a Booke which I will often and
often read over.' Then me commanded Sir John Perrot, one of
the Knights that held up the Canopie, to go and receive the
Bible ; but being informed that it was to bee let downe unto her
by a filken firing, fhee commanded him to flay. In the interim, a
Purfe of gold was prefented by the Recorder, in the behalfe of
the City, which fhee received with her owne hand." England's
Elizabeth, page 234.
378
PAGE 251.
Atflus Primus. Scana Prima.
This is the only mark of an act or fcene in the whole play,
but the divifione are ufually pretty evident, from the courfe of the
incidents, or from the progrefs of the dialogue. In our notes,
wherever it feemed at all neceffary, we have pointed out the
changes of fcenes ; but, of courfe, the feparation of the different
acts could only be a matter of conjecture, which, as heretofore,
is left to the reader. We muft fuppofe this firft fcene to occur
in Grefham's warehoufe.
PAGE 253.
London will yeeld you partners enow.
In this line, ' ' partners " is to be read as a trifyllable ; and
fuch was formerly the cafe with various words now ufed as diffyl-
lables.
PAGE 254.
You to Portingall.
The common name of Portugal at that date.
PAGE 255.
My morning exercife Jkatt be at Saint Antlins.
" A new morning prayer and lecture, the bells for which be
gan to ring at five in the morning, was eftabliflied at St. Antho-
lin's,inBudge Row, 'after Geneva fafhion, '.in September, 1559 :"
Cunningham's Handbook of London, 2nd edit., p. 15 : where fee
alfo other information as to the puritanical character of the
preachings at St. Antolin's, or St. Anthony's.
PAGE 256.
lie beat linnen-buckes.
Linen was of old carried to the walh in buck-bafltets, and here
by " linen-bucks" John Grefliam feems to intend the linen that
was contained in the bucks, and which was to be beaten in the
water to make it clean. " This 'tis to have linen and buck -
bafkets. Merry Wives of Windfor, ad iii. fc. 5.
Ib.
Now, afore God.
" Now, as Hive" edit. 1632.
379
PAGE 257.
The Dagger in Cheape.
The Dagger Tavern was in Cheapfide ; and hence, as appears
afterwards, Dagger-pies, often mentioned by our old writers. In
vol. ii. of Extracts from the Stationers' Regiflers, p. 171, is
mentioned the publication of " A fancie on the fall of the Dagger
in Cheap," which may mean either that the houfe, or the fign
which it bore, fell down : probably the latter, although the Editor,
in his note on the entry, fuppofed the word "fall " applied to
the houfe. There was alfo a Dagger Tavern in Holborn : fee
Cunningham's Handbook of London, 2nd edit, p. 152.
Your punkes and cockatrices.
A cockatrice was the old cant name for a proftitute.
PAGE 258.
As white as Bears teeth.
Poffibly, thefe words apply to the white money the Pedlar
puts down, " to pay the old debt," before he contracts a new
one.
PAGE 259.
and its thought yellow will grow a cuftome.
It did fo ; and, in fact, it was fo when Heywood wrote, as he
he informs us, though the " cuftom " afterwards became almoft
u niverfal.
PAGE 261.
The hot-houfes in Deepe.
A " hot-houfe" was then a very common name for a brothel.
PAGE 267.
Fore God, tis true.
"7#dm/ 'tis true "edit. 1632. We have not thought it neceffary
always to note variations of this kind, occafioned by the greater
ftrictnefs of the law fubfequent to the publication of the edition
of 1606.
PAGE 270.
/ hope, John, youfeare God.
" I hope, John, you fear what you ought to fear " edit. 1632.
PAGE 272.
Let me be called Cut.
A term of contempt or abufe which has occurred before, and
is ufed by Shakefpeare. See Twelfth Night, aft ii., fc. 3,
(edit. Collier, iii., 359) where it is fufficiently explained, and its
antiquity eftablifhed.
Ib.
Enter Honefty the Sergeant, and Quicke.
The fcene here changes to a ftreet, as is obvious from the
courfe of the dialogue.
PAGE 273.
The michingyftzw.
" Miching " means Dealing. See Shakefpeare, edit. Collier,
vii., 271, where it is alfo ftated that "mallecho," in Hamlet, is
probably meant for the Spanifh word malhecho.
PAGE 277.
That freed a begger at the grate of Lud-gate.
" That freed/rom begging 'at the grate at Ludgate "edit. 1632,
which, from the ftory, feems to be the true reading. Stow,
in his Survey of London, 1599, p. 33, gives the name Stephen
Forfter.
PAGE 278.
Although my children laugh, the poor may cry.
Edit. 1632 gives the line thus :
" The poor may laugh, although my children cry ;"
which is a reading clearly not attributable to the poet himfelf.
PAGE 282.
Enter John Tawnie-coat.
The fcene changes to a ftreet into which Hobfon's mop opens.
The Pedlar is ftill called John Tawny-coat, but he now wears a
grey coat.
Ib.
Coming from the Stocks.
The Stocks, as it was called, flood on the ground now occu
pied by the Maniion Houfe. (Cunningham's Handbook of Lon
don, p. 473, 2nd edit.) The figns of the houfes mentioned by
Tawny-coat form a curious note of locality : they were, no
doubt, the very figns exifling there in Heywood's time.
PAGE 283.
A t Brijlow fair.
Briftol was then ufually written and printed Briftow.
PAGE 284.
Their mafters haire grow through his hood.
" Through his head "edit. 1606.
Ib.
Do you hear, hoyden ?
Gifford (Jonfon's Works, vi., 171) fays that hoiden is " con
fined to defignate fome romping girl ;" but, in fat, it was ap
plied to both fexes, and here we have it addreffed to the Pedlar.
Ib.
Tell it out "with a wanion.
i. e., with a vengeance, of which one may poffibly be a corrup
tion of the other : the etymology of " wanion " is very doubtful.
PAGE 285.
It appears he is befides him,
" It appears the poor fellow is befides himfelf " edit. 1632.
PAGE 289.
To any man will buy them and remove them.
Stow (Annales, 1615, p. 1117) fpeaks as follows of this under
taking and its completion : " Certain houfes in Cornhill being
firfl purchafed by the citizens of London, at their charges, for
certain thoufands of pounds, were in the month of February
cried by the Bellman, and afterwards fold to fuch perfons as
mould take them down and carry them from thence ; which was
done in the months of April and May next following. And then,
the ground being made plain, at the charges alfo of the city
(having coft them, one way and other, more than five thoufand
pound) poffeffion thereof was by certain Aldermen, in the name
of the whole citizens, given to the right wormipful Sir Thomas
Greiham, knight, agent to the Queen's highnefs, there to build a
place for merchants to affemble in, at his own proper charges ;
who on the feventh of June laid the firft ftone of the foundation
(being brick) and forthwith the workmen followed upon the
382
ame with fuch diligence, that by the month of November, in the
year of our Lord 1567, the fame was covered with flate. And
on the 22 day of December, in the year of our Lord, 1568, the
merchants of London left their meetings in Lombard Street, at
fuch times as they had accuftomed there to meet, and this day
came into the new Burfe, builded by Sir Thomas Grefham, as is
afore mowed."
PAGE 290.
The round is grated.
The old copies have greater, but we have ventured to alter it
to grated, in conformity with what follows, where Sir T.
Grefham explains the ufe of the " grates." Greater hardly makes
fenfe of the paffage.
PAGE 291.
Here, like a -poxifti for good Citizens.
Perhaps we ought to read/arzw for "parifh ;" but the old
copies are uniform.
PAGE 292.
A blazing Jiar.
This blazing ftar, mentioned in the margin, may have eafily
been rendered vifible to the audience by artificial means.
PAGE 293.
The battle of Alcafar.
The incidents relating to this battle had been brought upon
the ftage by George Peele (at leafl the play has in modern times
been plaufibly imputed to him) in a drama entitled The Battle of
Alcazar, fought in Barbary, between Sebajiian, King of Portugal
and Abddmelec, King of Morocco. With the death of Captain
Stukeley? &c., 4to, 1594. See Peele's Works, edit. Dyce, ii., 82.
A play in which Stukeley figured was performed by Henflowe's
company in 1596 : fee Henflowe's Diary, p. 77. Whetftone, in
his Englifh Myrror, 1586, p. 84, gives a narrative of the battle,
but does not mention Stukeley.
PAGE 294.
// may be the hang-man will buy fame of it for halters.
Hobfon had fent for matches of goods, or pieces of fimilar
pattern and fabric ; and John Grefliam had bought for him two
thoufand pounds' worth of fuch match as was of old ufed by fol-
383
diers for fetting fire to gunpowder and other combuftibles : it was
made of tow, like rope.
PAGE 295.
My doubt is more.
Poffibly, "doubt" is a mifprint for debt ; but "doubt" is in
telligible, and all the old copies concur in that word.
PAGE 296.
The pictures graven of all the Engli/h kings.
By "pictures" was fometimes, of old, meant Jlatues perhaps
becaufe ftatues were formerly often painted. This fhould be
borne in mind in reading the laft fcene of The Winter's Tale.
The word " rooms," in the preceding line, means merely places,
or niches.
Ib.
Admirable.
So edits. 1606 1623; that of 1632 has, "Very admirable,
and worthy praife."
PAGE 297.
The waits in Sergeants gowns.
The waits were the city muficians, and they were perhaps
dreffed " in Sergeants' gowns," for greater ftate. They are again
mentioned in a later fcene.
PAGE 298.
Thatjhips rich fraught.
Edit. 1606 omits "fraught," and edit. 1623 omits "rich."
Ib.
The feueral Ambajfadors there will heare,
" Then will hear "edit. 1606.
PAGE 301.
Thus treads on a kings prefent.
" Meaning the flippers," are explanatory words inferted in the
margin of the earlier editions.
PAGE 302.
Enter Tawny-coat, with a fpade.
Tawny-coat is the Pedlar, John Goodfellow, called, as we
384
have feen, Tawny-coat from the drefs he wears early in tbe
play. He has been reduced to extreme poverty, and the fcene
here muft be underftood to reprefent the neighbourhood of Dept-
ford, not very far from the Bankfide. We muft bear in mind
that even the immediate vicinity of the Bankfide, efpecially
towards Newington Butts, was then all open fields and marfhy
grounds, much covered with wood, and not, as now, confiding
merely of ftreets and houfes.
PAGE 302.
Whither wilt thou wit ?
A proverbial exclamation of frequent occurrence, and ufed by
Shakefpeare in As You Like It.
PAGE 304.
John Rowland fir.
By an error of the tranfcriber or printer, or by the forgetful-
nefs of the poet, John Goodfellow, as Tawny-coat has been
hitherto called, is here, and henceforth to the end of the play,
named John Rowland. Robin Goodfellow, the fprite, has been
mentioned on the preceding page, and poffibly the confufion has
been occafioned by this circumftance.
PAGE 306.
but I doe not think him guilty, yet I could fay.
So the firft edition (1606) : the edition of 1623 has dropped
out all the words after " doe not," leaving the fpeech incomplete.
The edition of 1632 adds, " But I do not fpeak what I think,
and yet I think more at this time than I mean to fpeak."
Ib.
As he no queftion does deferve.
"Does deferve fomething" edit. 1632. Other minor variations
occur in this part of the fcene.
PAGE 307.
Enter John and Curtezan.
The fcene here fliifts to France ; the licence allowed to our
old dramatifts, and the loud calls they made upon the imagina
tions of their auditors, are mown by the incident that Hobfon
3$5
firft wanders to Deptford, and then proceeds to France in his
nightcap, gown, and flippers, in order to detect John Grefham in
his pranks.
PAGE 307.
yetile hd! the firft venney.
Veney^ or venie, was a fencing term, from the French, and fig-
nified the touch or blow with the foil : "the firft veney" is the
firft hit.
Ib.
Why then the Englifhman for thy money.
This expreffion was proverbial, and a play was written by
William Haughton, and printed in 1616, under the title of Eng-
lijhmenfor my Money, or a Woman will have her Will.
PAGE 309.
Enter at the other end ofthejlage Hobfow.
John and the Courtefan withdraw from one room into another,
and, immediately, the ftage is fuppofed to reprefent the outfide
of a houfe. Hobfon knocks at a door, and is anfwered by Puella,
(as (he is called in the ftage direction) probably from the balcony
which then was to be taken for a window.
PAGE 310.
Do, my fweete Buffamacke.
Buffalmaco is the name of a hero in Boccaccio, (Day viii.,
nov. 3) and he was brought upon the Englifh ftage by Marfton ;
but why that name, or any corruption of it, mould have been
applied to this wench, we cannot determine.
PAGE 311.
A haberdajher of fmall wares.
John fays " of all wares," for the fake of his pretended excufe,
and Hobfon corrects him ; but edit. 1632 has all in both places,
by which the joke, fuch as it is, is facrificed.
PAGE 313.
Meafar man a moy.
This, and fome of the gibberifli that follows, could hardly be
jntended by Heywood for French, but merely for fomething that
founded like it. We print it as it ftands in the original.
1 c c
386
PAGE 315.
No more of French loue, no more French lojfcfliall do.
This is not very clear, and edit. 1632 fubftitutes " No more of
French, no more French craft mall do." To orriit "of" in the
line as it ftands in the text, would improve both fenfe and
metre.
PAGE 316.
Enter Sir Thomas Ramfie, c.
After the preceding highly comic and well managed, though
not very probable, fcene, the ftage now again reprefents part of
the city of London. The firft words of Sir Thomas Ramfey's
fpeech afford another out of innumerable inftances where "well
faid" is to be taken for well done.
PAGE 319.
And whiljl this voice files through the City forth-right.
Ed. 1632 reads "ftreets" for City.
Ib.
Enter Nowell and Lady Ramfie.
The precife interval fuppofed to occur between this fcene and
the laft is not known, as no authority that we have been able to
confult gives the date of the laft illnefs and death of Sir Thomas
Ramfey. The ftage now reprefents his houfe.
Ib.
A mafter of the Hofpitall.
i.e., Chrift's Hofpital.
PAGE 322.
, Whofe verlue all the world
A fentence, we may fuppofe, purpofely left incomplete ; but in
ome of the later editions the blank is filled up by, "Whofe
virtue is ^lnmatcKd"
Ib.
Enter Dofl. Parry.
It is curious to compare Heywood's treatment of this fubjecl:,
i.e., the attempted affaffmation of Queen Elizabeth by Doctor
Parry, with that of Dekker in his Whore of Babylon, publimed a
year later (1607).
PAGE 326.
Asjhe turnes back, c.
This ftage-direction was added in the edition of 1632.
Ib.
Pardon, thou villain, JJieives thou art a traitor.
Edit. 1632 gives the line, " Pardon, thou villain, that (hows
thou art a traitor."
PAGE 327.
Arife.
We doubt if this word were not meant for a ftage-direclion
We may conclude that Parry fell upon his knees, and that the
Queen's fpeech ended with the clofe of the couplet.
PAGE 330.
till death us depart.
This is the old and true word in the marriage ceremony : in
modern times, when the meaning of. to "depart," as tofeparale,
was forgotten, do part has been fubftituted for depart.
PAGE 332.
Enter Chorus.
The editions of this play, in 1606 1623, have no part of this
Chorus, which is firft found in edit. 1632. From that impreffiou
we have reprinted all the reft of this play, fince it varies impor
tantly from the earlier copies.
PAGE 334.
Climes that took up the gnate/l part o' th? card.
" Card" was then the ordinary term for map: hence, "to
fleer by the card ;" and, figuratively, "to talk by the card," in
reference to exadlnefs and fafety of difcourfe.
PAGE 337.
Drum and colours. Enter the Earle of Lecefter, &c.
The fcene now becomes the famous camp near Tilbury ; but
we may be faid to have no means of deciding how far the ftage
itfelf and its appurtenances accorded with thefe changes. Per
haps little more was done than what was effected by the appear-
C C 2
388
ance of the perfons and their accoutrements, and the mention,
very early in the dialogue, of the fuppofed place of action.
" Drum and colours" may (how that one drum and one pair of
colours anfwered the purpofe.
PAGE 351.
Epilogue.
Printed in Heywood's Pleafant Dialogues and Dramma's
(Lond. 1637), p. 249.
END OF FIRST VOLUME.
HI
2570
1874
v.l__,
cop. 2
Heywood, Thomas
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Thomas Heywood
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