 | A Game at Chaess |  |
Incipit Secundus.
Enter White Queenes Pawne, with a booke in her hand.White Queenes Pawne.
And here agen it is the daughters duty
To obey her fessors commaund in all things
Without exception, or expostulations:
Tis the most generall rule that ere I heard of:
Yet when I thinke how boundlesse vertue is,
Goodnesse and grace lies gently reconciled,
And then it appeares well to haue the power
Of the dispensor are's vncircumscribde.
En. b. B. p.
B. B. p.
She's hard vpon't, 'twas the most modest key
That I could vse to open my intents,
What little, or no paines goes to some people:
Hah? a seald note, whence this,
To the blacke Bishops pawne, these, how to me
Strange, who subscribes it? the blacke King what would he.
The Letter.
Pawne sufficiently holy; but vnmeasurably politicke: Wee had
late intelligence from our most industerous seruant, famous in
all parts of Europe, (our Knight of the blacke House) that you
haue at this instant in chase the white Queenes pawne, and very
likely by the carriage of your Game to entrap and take her: These
are therefore to require you (by the burning affection I beare to the
rape of deuotion) that speedily vpon the surprisall, of her, by all
watchfull aduantage you make some attempt vppon the White
Queenes person, whose fall or prostitution our lust most violently
rages for.
For it's owne inflamation, that yet scorches me,
I shall haue cooler time to thinke of yours,
She's past the generall rule of the large extent
And yet with what allacrity of soule,
Her eye mooues on the Letter.
W. Q. p.
Holy Sir,
Too long, I haue mist you, oh your absence starues me,
Hasten for times redemption (worthy Sir)
Lay your commands as thicke and fast vppon me
As you can speake em, how I thirst to heare em:
Set me to worke vppon this spacious vertue,
Which the poore span of life's, to morrow for
Boundlesse obedience, the humblest, yet the mightiest of all
Duties, well set her downe a vniuersal goodnesse.
B. B. p.
By holinesse of garment her safe innocence
Has frighted the full meaning from it selfe,
She's farre off from vnderstanding now
The language of my intent, then at first meeting.
W. Q. p.
For vertues sake, good sir,
Commaund me something,
Make triall of my duty in some small seruice,
And as you finde the faith of my obedience there,
Then trust it with a greater.
B. B. p.
You speake sweetly,
I do commaund you first then.
W. Q. p.
With what ioy, I do prepare my duty.
B. B. p.
To meete me,
And seale a kisse of loue vppon my lips.
W. Q. p.
Hah.
B. B. p.
At first disobedient in so little too.
How shall I trust you with a greater then,
Which was your owne request?
W. Q. p.
Pray send not backe
My Innocence to wound me, be more courteous,
I must confesse much like an ignorant plaintiffe
Who presuming on the faire path of his meaning
Goes rashly on, till on a suddaine brought
Into the wildernesse of Law, by words
Dropt vnaduisedly, hurts his good cause,
Apply it you can best (sir) if my obedience
And your command can find no better way,
Fond men command, and wantons best obey.
B. B. p.
If I can at that distance send you a blessing,
Is it not neerer to you in my armes:
It flies abroad from these lips dealt in parcells,
And I to honour thee aboue all daughters,
Invite thee home to the house, where thou mayst surfeit
On that, which others miserably pine for:
A fauour which the daughters of great Potentates,
Would looke of enuies colour but to heare.
W. Q. p.
Good men may erre sometimes, you're mistaken,
Sure if this be vertues path, tis a most strange one,
I neuer came this way before.
B. B. p.
That's your ignorance,
And therefore shall that edict still conduct you,
That knowes no way but one, nor euer seekes it.
Tis strange if vertue should be put to one,
If there be twenty wayes to some poore Village.
Your feare is wondrous falty, cast it from you,
Twill gather else in time a disobedience,
Too stubborne for my pardon.
W. Q p.
Haue I lockt my selfe
At vnawares into sinnes seruitude
With more desire of goodnesse? is this the tye
Of all strickt order, and the holiest
Of all societies, the three vowed people
For Pouerty, Obedience, Chastity:
The last they most forget, when a Virgins raine
I see the great worke of Obedience,
Is better then halfe finisht.
B. B. p.
What a stranger,
Are you to duty growne, what distance keep you,
Must I bid you come forwards to a happines
Your selfe should sue for? 'twas neuer so with me,
I dare not let this stubbornnesse be knowne,
To make that courteous care a preuiledge
For wilfull disobedience, it turnes then
Into the blacknesse of a curse vppon you,
Come, come, be neerer.
W. Q p
Neerer?
B. B. p.
Was that in scorne?
I would not haue it proued so for the hopes
Of the great Monarchy, if it were like it,
Let it not dare to flye abroad agen,
A stronger I will coape with't.
W. Q p.
Blesse me, threatnes me,
And quite dismayes the good strength that should
Helpe me. I neuer was so doubtfull of my safety.
B. B. p.
'Twas but my iealousie, forgiue me (sweetnesse)
Yours is the house of meeknesse, and no veonome liues
Vnder that roofe, be neerer; why so fearefull?
Neerer the Altar the more safe and sacred.
W. Q. p.
But neerer the offerors oft more wicked.
B. B. p.
A plaine and most insufferable contempt,
My glory I haue lost vppon this woman,
In freely offering that she should haue kneel'd
A yeare in vaine for: my respect is darkned,
Giue me my reuerence agen thou hast rob'd me off
In thy repulse, thou shalt not carry it hence.
W. Q p.
(Sir.)
B. B. p.
Thou'rt too great a winner to depart;
And I too deepe a looser to giue way to't.
W. Q. p.
Oh Heauen!
B. B. p.
Lay me downe reputation,
Before thou sturst thy nice Virginity
Is recompence too little for my loue,
'Tis well if I accept of that for both,
Thy losse is but thine owne, there's arte to helpe thee,
And fooles to passe thee to; in my discouery
The hope of absolute Monarchy eclipst,
Assurance thou canst make me none for thy secrecy,
But by thy honors losse, that act must awe thee.
W. Q. p.
Oh my distrest condition.
B. B. p.
Dost weepe?
If thou hadst any pitty, this necessity
Would wring it from thee, I must else destroy thee:
We must not trust the policy of Europe,
Vppon a womans tongue.
W. Q. p.
Then take my life (Sir)
And leaue my honor for to guide me to Heauen.
B. B. p.
Take heed I take not both, which I haue vowed
Since, if longer thou resist.
W. Q p.
Helpe, oh helpe.
B. B. p.
Art thou so cruell for an honors bable,
To vndo a whole fraternity, and disperse
The secrets of most nations lock't in vs?
W. Q. p.
For Heauen and vertues sake.
A noyse within.
B. B. p.
Must force confound noyse?
Hah, what's that? silence (if faire worth be in thee.)
W. Q. p.
Ile venture my escape on all dangers now.
B. B. p.
Who comes to take me, let me see that pawnes face,
Or his proud tympanous Mas-swell with state winde,
Which being once prickt in the Convocation house,
The corrupt ayre puffes out, and he falls shriueld.
W. Q. p.
I will discouer the Arch-hypocrite,
To all the kinreds of the earth.
B. B. p.
Confusion in that voyce,
Rings the alarum of my vndooing,
How, which way scapt she from me?
Enter blacke Queenes Pawne.
B. Q. p.
Are you mad?
Can lust infatuate a man so hopefull?
No patience in your blood: the dog-starre raines sure,
Time, and fire temper would haue wrought her
And made that noyse of purpose to giue warrant
For mine owne turne, which ends in all I worke for.
B. B. p.
Me thinkes I stand ouer a powder vault,
And the match now a kindling: what's to be done?
'Tis his owne case, he will defend you mainly,
And hapily here he comes with the black Knight too.
Enter Blacke Bishop, and blacke Knight.
B. B.
Oh you made noble work for the white house,
This act will the aduersaries mouth,
And blow the Luthrens check, till't cracke agen.
B. Kt.
This will aduance the great Monarchall businesse
In all parts well, and helpe the agents forward,
Which I haue leauen yeares laboured to accomplish.
On minute sets back by some cod-peece Colledge stil.
B. B. p.
I dwell not (sir) alone in this default,
The blacke house yeelds me partners.
B. B.
All more cautelous.
B. Kt.
Qui caute, caste, that's my Motto still,
Iue trauailed with that word ouer most Kingdomes,
And laine safe with most nations on a leaking bottom
I haue beene as often tost on Vennes seas
As trymer, and fresher Barkes, when sounder vessels
Haue layne at anchor, that is kept the doore.
B. B.
She has no witnesse then?
B. Kt.
Grosse wirnesse, when went one of his society?
To mischiefe with a witnesse?
B. B.
I haue don't then,
Away vpon the wings of speed, take post horse,
Cast thirty leagues of earth behind thee suddenly,
Leaue letters ante-dated at our house,
Ten dayes at least from this.
B. Kt.
Bishop I taste thee,
Good strong Episcopall counsell, take a bottle on't,
Twill serue thee all thy iourney.
But good (sir) how,
For my getting for the vnspied?
B. B.
There's Checke agen.
B. Q. P.
No Ile helpe that.
B. Kt.
Well sayd my bouncing Iesuitesse,
B. Q. p.
There lies a secret valt.
B. Kt.
Away, make hast then.
B. B. p.
Runne for my Cabinet of intelligences,
For feare they search the house, good Bishop burn'em,
I cannot stand to picke 'em now.
B. B.
Begone the dangers all in you.
B. Kt.
Let me see Queenes pawne,
How formerly has packt vp his intelligences,
H'as laid them all in truckell beds (me thinkes)
And like Court harbingers has writ the names
In Chalke vpon their Chambers: Anglica,
Oh this is the English house, what newes there trow?
Hah by this hand most of these are bawdy epistles,
Time they were burnt indeed, whole bundles of'em:
Here's from his daughter Blanch & daughter Bridget:
From the safe sanctuary in the White-Friers:
Those from two tender sisters of compassion,
In the bowels of Blomsbury:
These three from the Nonnery in Drury lane:
A fire, a fire, (go Iesuitesse) a fire:
What haue you there?
B. B
A note (sir) of State policy,
And an exceeding safe one.
B. Kt.
Pray let's see it (Sir)
To sell away all the powder in the Kingdome,
To preuent blowing vp, that's safe, ile able it:
Here's a factious obseruation now,
That suits my humor better, he writes here
Some wiues in England will commit adultery,
And then send to Rome for a Bull for their husbands.
B. B.
Haue they those shifts?
Oh no familiar breathing
Sweeter, here wench take those papers,
Scorch em soundly, burne em to French russet,
And put em, in agen.
B B.
Why, what's your mystery?
B. K.
Oh (sir) 'twill mocke the aduersary strangly,
If ere the house be searcht, 'twas done in Vennis
Vppon the Iesuiticall expulse there,
Where the Inquesitors came all specturald
To picke out syllables out of the dung of treason,
(As children pick their cherry-stones) yet found none;
But what they made themselues with ends of letters.
Do as I bid you Pawne.
Ent. B. Knights pawne.
B. Q. p.
Faith not in all,
I loue roguria too well to let it fall:
How now what newes with you?
B. K. p.
The sting of conscience
Afflicts me so for that inhumane violence,
On the White bishops Pawne, it takes away
My ioy my rest.
B. Q. p.
This 'tis to make an Eunuch,
You made a sport on't then.
B. K. p
Cease agreuation,
I come to be obsolu'd for't, where is my Confessor,
Why do'st thou point to the ground?
B. Q. p.
'Cause he went that way:
Come, come helpe me in with this Cabinet,
Ile tell thee a strange Story.
B. K. p.
If't be sad tis welcome.
B. Q. p.
Tis not much troubled with mirth, sir.
Ex.
Enter Fat bishop, with his Pawne.
Fat B.
Pawne.
B. p.
I attend at your holinesse seruice.
F. B.
For great I grant you, but greatly holy,
There the soyld alters fat Cathedrall bodies,
Much like the Lady in the Lobstars head,
A great deale of shell and garbage of all colours,
But for the pure part, that should take wings and mount,
That's at last gaspe, as if a man should gape,
And from a huge bulke let forth a butter-flye,
Like those big-bellied mountaines, which the Poet
Deliuers, that are brought to bed with mans flesh,
Are my booke Printed pawne, my last invictiues
Against the blacke-house?
F. B. p.
Ready for publication:
For I saw perfect bookes this morning (sir)
F. B.
Fetch me a few, which I will instantly
Distribute amongst the White-house.
F. B. p.
With all speede (sir.)
F. B.
Tis a most Lordly life to rayle at ease,
Set, eate, and drinke vpon the fat of one Kingdome;
And rayle vpon an other with the iuce on't:
I haue writ this booke out of the strength and marrow
Of six and thirty dishes at a meale:
But most on't out of cullishe of Cocke sparrowes,
Twill sticke and glew the faster to the aduersary,
Twill slit the roote of their most Caluish cause,
And yet I eate but little Butchers meate
In the conception:
Of all things I commend the White-house best,
For plenty and variety of victualls:
When I was one of the blacke-house profest,
My flesh sell halfe a Cubit, time to revolt,
When my owne ribs reuolted; but to say truth,
I haue no preferment yet, that's suteable
To the greatnesse of my person and my parts:
I grant I liue at ease, for I am made
The Maister of the beds, the long acre of beds:
But there's no Marie-gold, that shuts and opens,
Pluckes, Hyanths, Honie-suckles, Daffa-down-dillies,
There was a time I'd much more drab then beds,
Now I'ue more beds, then drabs:
Yet there's no eminent trader deales in whole-sayle;
But she and I haue clap a barging vp,
Let in at water-gate, for which I haue rackt
My tennants purse-strings, that then'ue twang'd agen:
Yonder blacke Knight, the Fistula of Europe,
Enter b. B. with b. K.
Whose disease once I vndertooke to cure,
With a high Holborne halter, when hee last
Vouchsaft to peepe into my priuiledged lodgings,
He saw good store of plate, and rich hangings:
He knew I brought none to the White-house with me,
I haue not lost the vse of my profession,
Since I turned White-house bishop:
En. Pawne with bookes.
B. Kt.
Looke, more bookes yet?
Yonder greasie gormundizing Prelate
Does worke our house more mischiefe by his scripts,
His fat and fulsome Volumes,
Then the whole body of the aduers party.
B. B.
Oh 'twere a Master-peece of serpent subtilty
To fetch him a this side agen.
B. Kt.
And then damne him
Into the bag for euer, or expose him
Against the aduerse party, which now he feeds on;
And that would double dam him, my reuenge
Has prompted me already, ile confound him
A both sides for the phisicke he prouided,
And the base Chyrurgion he invented for me,
Ile tell you what a most vncutholicall ieast
He put vpon me once when my paine tortur'd me,
He told me he had found a present cure for me,
Which I grew proude on, and obseru'd him seriously,
What thinke you 'twas, being execution day,
The common Hangman.
B. B.
I'le make him the baloom ball,
Of the Churches.
And both the sides shall tosse him, he lookes like one,
A thing sweld vp with mingled drinke and wine,
And will bound well from one side to another.
Come, you shall write our second bishops deedes,
Which ha's yet no imployment in the Game,
Perhaps nor euer shall, it may be wonne
Without his motion, it rests in ours:
He shall be flattered with Sede vacant,
Make him beleeue he comes into his place,
And that will fetch him with a vengance to vs.
For I know powder is not more ambitious,
When the match meet it, then his minde for mounting.
As Couetous, and Leacherous.
B. B.
No more, now (Sir) both the sides fill.
W. Ki.
This ha's bin look't for long.
F. B.
The stronger sting it shootes into the bloud
Of the blacke aduersary, I'm asham'd now,
I was theirs euer, what a Lumpe was I?
When I was led in ignorance and blindnesse?
I must confesse I'ue all my life time playd
The Foole, iill now.
B Kt.
And now he plaies two parts, the foole and knaue.
F. B.
Ther's my recantation in the last leafe.
Wer't like a Ciceronian in pure Latain.
W. B.
Pure honesty, the better latain serues then,
B. Kt.
Out of those pestilent pamphlets those are they
That wound our cause to the heart.
B. B.
Heere more anger yet.
B. Kt.
But we come well prouided for this storme.
Enter both Houses
W. Q.
Is this my Pawne? she that should
Guard our Person,
Her shape vsurping, sorrow and affrightment,
Has preuailed strangly with her.
W. Q. p.
King of Integrety,
Queene of the same, and all the house professors
Of noble Candor, vncorrupted iustice,
And truth of heart, through my alone discouery
(My life and honor wondrously preserued)
I bring into your knowledge with my sufferings,
Fearefull affrightments, and heart-killing terrors,
The great incendiary of all Christendome,
The absolute abuser of true sanctity,
Fayrer peace, and holy order can be found
In any part of th'vniuersall Globe:
Who making meeke deuotion keep the doore,
(His lips being full of holy zeale at first)
Would haue committed a foule rape vppon me.
W. Q.
Hah?
W. Ki.
A rape? that's foule indeed, the very sound
To our eare fowler then the offence it selfe
To some Kings of the earth.
W. Q. p.
Sir, to proceede,
Gladly I offered life to preserue honour,
Which would not be accepted without both:
The chiefe of his ill ayme being at mine honour,
Till heauen was pleased by some vnlookt for accident,
To giue me courage to redeeme my selfe.
W. Ki.
When we finde desperate sinnes
In ill mens company,
We place a charitable sorrow there;
But custome and their leaprous inclination,
Quits vs of wonder: for our expectation
Is answered in their liues, but to finde sinne
Vnder a robe of Sanctity, is able
To draw all number to that monster onely,
The pride of him that tooke first fall for pride,
Is to be Angell shapt, and imitate
The forme from whence he fell; but this offendor,
Farre baser then sinnes maister, fix'd by vowe
To holy order which is Angells method,
It grieues me that my knowledge must be tainted,
With his infested name,
Oh rather with thy finger point him out.
W. Q. p.
The place that he should fill is void ray L.
His guilt has scarde him, the blacke Bishops pawne.
B. B.
Hah, mine, my pawne? the glory of his order,
The prime and president zealo: on the earth?
Impudent pawne, for thy sake at this minute
Modesty suffers, all that's vertuous blushes,
And truths selfe like the sunne vext with a mist,
Lookes red with anger.
W. B.
Be not thou drunke with rage too.
B. B.
Sober sincerite nor you a cup.
Spake with Hypocrisie.
W. Kt.
You name their Bishop,
But your own Christmas bole your mornings draught
Next your Episcopall heart all the twelue dayes,
Which smacke you cannot leaue all the yeare after.
B. Kt.
A shrew'd recorte
Has made our Bishop smell of burning too,
Would I stood farther off, wer't no impeachment
To my honor or the game, wold they wold play faster.
White Knight, ther's acknowledged from our house,
A reuerence to you and a respect
To that Lord Duke stands next you, with the fauour
Of the white King, and th'afore-named respected,
I combate with this cause, if withall speed
Wast not one syllable, vnfortunate pawne)
Of what I speake, thou dost not plead destruction
From this Leuiathan scandall, that lyes rowling
Vpon the Christall waters of deuotion,
Or what may quit the more (though enough nothing)
Fall downe, and foame, and by that pange discouer,
The vexing spirit of falshood strongly within thee,
Make thy selfe ready for perdition,
Ther's no remoue in all the Game to scape it,
This pawne or this, the Bishop, or my selfe
Will take thee in the end, play how you can.
W. Q. p.
Spite of sins glorious ostentation;
And all blood-threates, that thunder crackes of pride,
Vshering a storme of malice house of impudence,
Trust and æquiuocation, my true cause
Shall keepe the path it treads in.
B. Kt.
I play thus then:
Now in the hearing of this high assembly,
Bring forth the time of this attempts conception.
W. Q p.
Conception? oh how tenderly you handle it.
W. B.
It seemes black Knight you are affraid to touch it.
B. Kt.
Well it's eruption, will she haue it so then?
Or your white Bishop for her, the more vncleane;
Vile and impious that you vrge the straine to,
The greater will her shames heape now i'th'end,
And the wronges meeke mans glory, the time (pawne.)
W. Q. p.
Yesterdayes cursed euening.
B. Kt.
Oh the treasure of my reuenge I cant spend all one thee,
Ruine enough to spare for all thy kinred too,
For honors sake call in more slanderers,
I haue such plentifull confusion,
I know not how to wast it, ile be nobler yet,
And put her to her owne house: King of meeknesse
Take the cause to thee, for our hands too heauy,
Our proofes will fall vpon her like a Tower,
And grinde het bones to powder.
What new engine,
Ha's the diuell raysed in him now.
B. Kt.
Is it he,
And that the time stands firme, now to your scandall,
Pray do not shift your slander.
W. Q. p.
Shift your treachery,
They'ue worne one suite too long.
B. Kt.
That holy man,
So wrongfully accused by this lost pawne:
H'as not beene seene these ten daies in these parts.
W. Kt.
How.
B. Kt.
Nay at this instant thirty leagues from hence.
W. p.
Fadomelesse falshood, will it scape vnblasted.
W. K.
Can you make this appeare?
B. Kt.
Light is not clearer,
By his owne letters (most impartiall Monarch.
W. Kt. p.
How wrongfully may sacred vertue suffer, sir.
B. Kt.
Bishop we haue a treasure of that false heart.
W. Ki.
Step forth and reach those proofes.
W. Q. p.
Amazement couers me,
Can I be forsaken of a cause
So strong in truth and equity, will vertue
Send me no ayde in this hard time of friendship.
B. Kt.
There's an infallible staffe and a red hat
Reserued for you.
W. Kt. p.
Oh, sir, indeede.
B. Kt.
A staffe
That will not easily breake, you may trust to't,
And such a one had your corruption tired of,
There's a state figge for you now.
W. Ki.
Behold all,
How they were in one:
I alwayes held a charity so good
To holinesse profest I euer beleeued rather,
The accuser false, you the professor vitious.
A charity like all your vertues else,
Gracious and glorious.
W. Ki.
Where sits the offence,
Let the faults punishment be deriued from thence:
We leaue her to your censure.
B. Kt.
Most iust Maiesty.
W. Q. p.
Calamity of vertue, my Queene leaues me too:
Am I cast off as the Oliue casts her flower?
Poore friendlesse innocence art thou left a prey,
To the deuourer?
W. Kt.
Nor thou art not lost,
Let em put on their bloodiest resolutions,
If the faire policy I ayme at prospers:
Thy counsell (noble Duke.)
W. D.
For that worke chiefely.
VV. Kt.
A man for speede now.
W. B. p.
Let it be my honor, sir,
Make me that flight that owes my liues seruice.
B. Kt.
Was not this brought about well for our honours?
B. B.
Pish, the Galician braine can worke out wonders.
B. Kt.
Let's vse her, as vpon like discouery
A mayde was vsed at Venice, euery one
Be ready with a pennance being maiesty
Vessell of foolish scandall, take thy fright
Had beene in that Cabinet of nicenesse,
Halfe the virginities the earth lockt vp,
And all sweept at one cast by the dexterity
Of a Iesuiticall Gamster, t'ad not valu'd
The least part of that generall worth thou hast tainted.
B. Ki.
First I enioyne thee to a three daies fast for't.
B. Q.
You're too penurious, sir, ill make it foure.
B. B.
I to a twelue houres kneeling at one time.
B. Kt.
And in a roome fil'd all with Aretines pictures,
(More then the twelue labours of Luxurie)
Thou shalt not so much as the chast pummell see
For a discouerer, ile torment thy modesty.
B. D.
After that foure dayes last, into the inquisition house,
Strengthned with bread and water for worse pennance.
B. Kt.
Why well sayd Duke of our house, nobly agriuated.
W. Q. p.
Vertue to shew her influence more strong,
Fits me with patience mightier then my wrong.
Finit Actus Secundus.
| A Game at Chaess | |