 | The Tragedie of Chabot Admirall of France |  |
Actus Quintus.
Enter Queene, Constable, Father.Qu.
The Admirall sicke?
Fa.
With danger at the heart,
I came to tell the King.
Con.
He never had
More reason in his soule, to entertaine
All the delights of health.
Fa.
I feare my Lord,
Some apprehension of the Kings unkindnesse,
By giving up his person, and his offices
To the Lawes gripe and search, is ground of his
Sad change, the greatest foules are thus oft wounded,
If he vouchsafe his presence, it may quicken
His fast decaying spirits, and prevent
Qu.
The King is now
Fraught with the joy of his fresh preservation,
The newes so violent, let into his eare,
May have some dangerous effect in him,
I wod not counsell sir to that.
Fa.
With greater reason
I may suspect they'le spread my Lord, and as
A river left his curl'd and impetuous waves
Over the bankes, by confluence of streames
That sill and swell her channell, for by this time
He has the addition of Allegres suffering,
His honest servant, whom I met though feeble
And worne with torture, going to congratulate
His Masters safetie.
Qu.
It seemes he much
Affected that Allegre.
Con.
There will be
But a sad interview and dialogue.
Qu.
Does he keepe his bed?
Fa.
In that alone
He shewes a fortitude, he will move, and walke
He sayes while his owne strength or others can
Support him, wishing he might stand and looke
His destiny in the face at the last summon,
Not sluggishly exhaile his soule in bed,
With indulgence, and nice flattery of his limbs.
Qu.
Can he in this shew spirit, and want force
To wrastle with a thought?
Fa.
Oh Madam, Madam,
We may have proofe against the sword, and tyranny
Of boysterous warre that threatens us, but when
Kings froune, a Cannon mounted in each eye,
Shoote death to apprehension, ere their fire
And force approach us.
Enter King.
Con.
Here's the King.
Qu.
No words
To interrupt his quiet,
Ile begon then.
King.
Our Admiralls father! call him backe.
Qu.
I wonot stay to heare e'm.
Exit.
Con.
Sir, be prudent,
And doe not for your sonne fright the Kings health.
Exit.
King.
What, ha they left us? how does my Admirall?
Fa.
I am forbid to tell you sir.
King.
By whom.
Fa.
The Queene and my Lord Constable.
King.
Are there
Remaining seedes of faction? have they soules
Not yet convinc'd ith truth of Chabots honour,
Cleare as the christall heaven, and bove the reach
Of imitation.
Fa.
Tis their care of you,
And no thought prejudiciall to my sonne.
King.
Their care of me?
How can the knowledge of my Admiralls state
Concerne their feares of me, I see their envie
Of Chabots happinesse, whose joy to be
Rendr'd so pure and genuine to the world
Doth grate upon their conscience and affright 'em;
But let 'em vexe, and bid my Chabot still
Exalt his heart, and triumph, he shall have
The accesse of ours, the kingdome shall put on
Such joyes for him as she would bost to celebrate
Her owne escape from ruine.
Fa.
He is not in state to heare my sad newes
I perceive.
King.
That countenance is not right, it does not answer
What I expect,
Say, how is my Admirall?
The truth upon thy life.
Fa.
To secure his, I would you had.
King.
Ha? Who durst oppose him?
Fa.
One that hath power enough hath practised on him
And made his great heart stoope.
King.
I will revenge it
Name him.
Fa.
He was his friend.
King.
A friend to malice, his owne blacke impostume
Burne his blood up, what mischiefe hath ingendred
New stormes?
Fa.
Tis the old tempest.
King.
Did not we
Appease all horrors that look'd wilde upon him?
Fa.
You drest his wounds I must confesse, but made
No cure, they bleede a fresh, pardon me sir,
Although your conscience have clos'd too soone,
He is in danger, and doth want new surgerie
Though he be right in fame, and your opinion,
He thinkes you were unkinde.
King.
Alas poore Chabot,
Doth that afflict him.
Fa.
So much, though he strive
With most resolv'd and Adamantine nerves,
As ever humane fire in flesh and blood,
Forg'd for example, to beare all, so killing
The arrowes that you shot were (still your pardon)
No Centaures blood could rancle so.
King.
If this
Be all, ile cure him, Kings retaine
More Balsome in their soule then hurt in anger.
Fa.
Farre short sir, with one breath they uncreate,
And Kings with onely words more wounds can make
Then all their kingdome made in balme can heale,
Tis dangerous to play to wilde a descant
On numerous vertue, though it become Princes
To assure their adventures made in every thing,
Goodnesse confin'd within poore flesh and blood,
Hath but a queazie and still sickly state,
A musicall hand should onely play on her
Fluent as ayre, yet every touch command.
King.
No more,
Commend us to the Admirall, and say,
Fa.
I will not doubt that blessing, and shall move
Nimbly with this command.
Exeunt.
Enter Officers before, Treasurer, Secretary, and Iudges, attended by Petitioners, the Advocate also with many papers in his hand, they take their places.
The Chancellor with a guard, and plac'd at the Barre.
Tre.
Did you beleeve the Chancellor had beene
So foule?
Sec.
Hee's lost toth' people, what contempts
They throw upon him? but we must be wise.
1 Iud.
Were there no other guilt, his malice shew'd
Vpon the Admirall, in orebearing justice,
Would well deserve a sentence.
Tre.
And a deepe one.
2 Iud.
If please your Lordships to remember that
Was specially commended by the King,
As being most blemish to his royall person,
And the free justice of his state.
Tre.
Already
He has confest upon his examinations
Enough for sensure, yet to obey forme—
Mr. Advocate if you please—
Adv.
I am ready for your Lordships: It hath beene said,
and will be said agen, and may truely be justified, Omnia ex
lite fieri. It was the position of Philosophers, and now proved
by a more Phylosophycall sect, the Lawyers, that Omnia ex
lite fiaxt, we are all made by Law, made I say, and worthily
if we be just, if we be unjust, marr'd, though in marring some,
there is necessitie of making others, for if one fall by the Law,
tenne to one but another is exalted by the execution of the
Law, since the corruption of one must conclude the generation
of another, though not alwayes in the same profession;
the corruption of an Apothecary, may be the generation of a
Doctor of Physicke; the corruption of a Citizen may beget a
Courtier, & a Courtier may very well beget an Alderman, the
corruption of an Alderman may be the generation of a Country
Iustice, whose corrupt ignorance easily may beget a tumult,
may beget a Gentleman-Vsher, and a Gentleman-Vsher
may beget a Lord, whose wit may beget a Poet, and a Poet
may get a thousand pound a yeare, but nothing without corruption.
Tre.
Good Mr. Advocate be pleased to leave all digressions,
and speake of the Chancellor.
Adv.
Your Lordship doth very seasonably premonish, and
I shall not neede to leave my subject corruption, while I discourse
of him, who is the very fenne and stigian abisse of it,
five thousand and odde hundred foule and impious corruptions,
for I will be briefe; have beene found by severall examinations,
and by oathes prov'd against this odious and polluted
Chancelor, a man of so tainted, and contagious a life, that it is
a miracle any man enjoyeth his nostrills, that hath lived within
the sent of his offices; he was borne with teeth in his head,
by an affidavit of his Midwife, to note his devouring, and
hath one toe on his left foote crooked, and in the forme of an
Eagles talon, to foretell his rapacitie: What shall I say?
branded, mark'd, and design'd in his birth for shame and obloquie,
which appeareth further by a mole under his right eare,
with only three Witches haires int, strange and ominous predictions
of nature.
Tre.
You have acquainted your selfe but very lately
With this intelligence, for as I remember
Your tongue was guilty of no such character,
When hee sat Iudge upon the Admirall,
A pious incorrupt man, a faithfull and fortunate
Servant to his King, and one of the greatest
Honours that ever the Admirall received, was
That he had so noble and just a Iudge, this must
Imply a strange volubilitie in your tongue, or
Conscience, I speake not to discountenance any
Evidence for the King, but to put you in minde,
Mr. Advocate that you had then a better opinion
Of my Lord Chancellor.
Adv.
Your Lordship hath most aptly interpos'd, and with a
word I shall easily satisfie all your judgements; He was then
be your Lordships cases, out of the chaire and seate of Iustice,
he hath his frailties, is loos'ed and expos'd to the conditions of
other humane natures; so every Iudge, your Lordships are not
ignorant hath a kinde of priviledge while he is in his state,
office and being, and although hee may quoad se, internally
and privately be guilty of bribery of Iustice, yet quoad nos, and
in publike he is an upright and innocent Iudge, we are to take
no notice, nay, we deserved to suffer, if wee should detect or
staine him; for in that we disparage the Office, which is the
Kings, and may be our owne, but once remov'd from his
place by just dishonour of the King, he is no more a Iudge but
a common person, whom the law takes hold on, and wee are
then to forget what hee hath beene, and without partialitie to
strip and lay him open to the world, a counterfeit and corrupt
Iudge, as for example, hee may and ought to flourish in
his greatnesse, and breake any mans necke, with as much facilitie
as a jeast, but the case being altered, and hee downe, every
subject shall be heard, a Wolfe may be appareld in a Lambskinne;
and if every man should be afraid to speake truth, nay
and more than truth, if the good of the subject which are clients
sometime require it, there would be no remove of Officers,
if no remove no motions, if no motion in Court no heate,
and by consequence but cold Termes; take away this moving,
this removing of Iudges, the Law may bury it selfe in Buckram,
and the kingdome suffer for want of a due execution;
and now I hope your Lordships are satisfied.
Tre.
Most learnedly concluded to acquit your selfe.
I Iud.
Mr. Advocate, please you to urge for satisfaction
Of the world, and clearing the Kings honour, how
Injustly he proceeded against the Admirall.
Adv.
I shall obey your Lordship—So vast, so infinite
hath beene the impudence of this Chancellor, not onely
toward the subject, but even the sacred person of the King,
that I tremble as with a Palsie to remember it. This man, or
rather this monster, having power and commission trusted for
the examination of the Lord Admirall, a man perfect in all honour
and justice; indeede the very ornament and second
flowers, and indeede the best flower in our garden. Having
used all wayes to circumvent his innocence by suborning and
promising rewards to his betrayers, by compelling others by
the cruelty of tortures, as nemely Mounsieur Allegre most honest
and faithfull servant to his Lord, tearing and extending his
sinewes upon the racke to force a confession to his purpose,
and finding nothing prevaile upon the invincible vertue of the
Admirall.
Sec.
How he would flatter him?
Adv.
Yet most maliciously proceeded to arraigne him; to
be short against all colour of Iustice condemn'd him of high
treasons; oh thinke what the life of man is, that can never be
recompenced; but the life of a just man, a man that is the vigour
and glory of our life and nation to be torne to death, and
sacrifis'd beyond the mallice of common persecution. What
Tiger of Hercanian breede could have beene so cruell? but this
is not all? he was not guilty onely of murder, guilty I may say
In foro cõsctieniæ, though our good Admirall was miraculously
preserv'd, but unto this he added a most prodigious & fearefull
rape, a rape even upon Iustice it self, the very soule of our state,
for the rest of the Iudges upon the Bench, venerable images of
Austria, he most tyranously compel'd to set their hands to his
most unjust sentence; did ever story remember the like outrage
and in justice; what forfeit, what penalty can be enough to
satisfie this transcendent offence? and yet my good Lords,
this is but veniall to the sacriledge which now followes, and
by him committed, not content with this sentence, not satisfied
with horrid violence upon the sacred Tribunall, but hee proceedes
and blasphemes the very name and honour of the King
himselfe, observe that, making him the author and impulsive
cause of all these rapines, justifying that he mov'd onely by his
speciall command to the death, nay the murder of his most
faithfull subject, translating all his owne blacke and damnable
guilt upon the Kings heires, a traytor to his Country, first, he
conspires the death of one whom the King loves, and whom every
subject ought to honour, and then makes it no conscience
to proclaime it the Kings act, & by consequence declares him a
Within
An Advocate, an Advocate, teare him in peeces,
Teare the Chancellor in peeces.
Tre.
The people have deepe sence of the Chancellors injustice.
Sec.
We must be carefull to prevent their mutiny.
1 Iud.
It will become out wisedomes to secure the court
And prisoner.
Tre.
Captaine of the guard.
2.
What can you say for your selfe Lord Chancellor.
Cha.
Againe, I confesse all, and humbly fly to
The royall mercy of the King.
Tre.
And this submission is the way to purchase it.
Cha.
Heare me great Iudges, if you have not lost
For my sake all your charities, I beseech you,
Let the King know my heart is full of penitence,
Calme his high-going sea, or in that tempest
I ruine to eternitie, oh my Lords,
Consider your owne places, and the helmes
You sit at, while with all your providence
You steere, looke forth and see devouring quicksands,
My ambition now is punish'd, and my pride
Of state and greatnesse falling into nothing,
I that had never time through vast employments
To thinke of heaven, feele his revengefull wrath,
Boyling my blood, and scorching up my entrills,
There doomesday is my conscience blacke and horrid,
For my abuse of Iustice, but no stings
Prickt with that terrour as the wounds I made
Vpon the pious Admirall, some good man
Beare my repentance thither, he is mercifull,
And may encline the King to stay his lightning
Which threatens my confusion, that my free
Resigne of title, office, and what else
My pride look'd at, would buy my poore lives safety,
For ever banish me the court, and let
Me waste my life farre off in some Village.
Adv.
How? Did your Lordships note his request to you,
he would direct your sentence to punish him with confining
having offended to deserve death, beg'd he might be banished
into a Parmisan. I hope your Lordships will be more just to
the nature of his offences.
Sec.
I could have wish'd him fall on softer ground
For his good parts.
Tre.
My Lord, this is your sentence for you high misdemeanours
against his Majesties Iudges, for your unjust sentence
of the most equall Lord Admirall, for many and foule corruptions
and abuse of your office, and that infinite staine of the
Kings person, and honour, we in his Majesties name, deprive
you of your estate of Chancellor, & declare you uncapeable of
any judiciall office, & besides condemne you in the sum of two
hundred thousand crownes; whereof one hundred thousand to
the King, and one hundred thousand to the Lord Admirall,
and what remaineth of your estate to goe to the restitution of
those you have injur'd, and to suffer perpetuall imprisonment
in the Castle, so take him to your custody. Your Lordships
have beene mercifull in his sentence.
They have spar'd my life then, that some cure may bring,
I spend it in my prayers for the King.
Exeunt.
Enter Admirall in his Gowne and Cap, his Wife.
Adm.
Allegre I am glad he hath so much strength,
I prethee let me see him.
Wif.
It will but
Enlarge a passion—my Lord hee'le come
Another time and tender you his service.
Adm.
Nay then—
Wif.
Although I like it not, I must obey.
Exit.
Enter Allegre supported.
Adm.
Welcome my injur'd servant, what a misery
Ha they made on thee?
Al.
Though some change appeare
Vpon my body, whose severe affliction
Hath brought it thus to be sustained by others,
My hurt is still the fame in faith to you,
Not broken with their rage.
Adm.
Alas poore man!
As the affected world beleeves I taste,
This object were enough to unsweeten all,
Though in thy absence I had suffering,
And felt within me a strong sympathy,
While for my sake their cruelty did vexe,
And fright thy nerves with horrour of thy sence,
Yet in this spectacle I apprehend
More griefe than all my imagination
Could let before into me; didst not curse me
Vpon the torture?
Al.
Good my Lord, let not
The thought of what I suffer'd dwell upon
Your memory, they could not punish more
Then what my duty did oblige to beare
For you and Iustice, but theres some thing in
Your lookes, presents more feare than all the mallice
Of my tormentors could affect my soule with,
That palenesse, and the other formes you weare,
Would well become a guilty Admirall, and one
Lost to his hopes and honour, not the man
Vpon whose life the fury of unjustice
Arm'd with fierce lightning, and the power of thunder,
Can make no breach, I was not rack'd till now,
Theres more death in that falling eye, than all
Rage ever yet brought forth, what accident sir can blast,
Can be so blacke and fatall to distract
The calme? the triumph that should sit upon
Your noble brow, misfortune could have no
Time to conspire with fate, since you were rescued
By the great arme of providence, nor can
Those garlands that now grow about your forehead
With all the poyson of the world be blasted.
Adm.
Allegre, thou dost beare thy wounds upon thee,
In wide and spacious characters, but in
The volumne of my sadnesse thou dost want
An eye to reade an open force, hath torne
Thy manly sinewes which sometime may cure
Past all the remedy of art or time,
The flatteries of Court, of fame or honours,
Thus in the Sommer a tall flourishing tree,
Transplanted by strong hand, with all her leaves
And blooming pride upon her makes a shew
Of Spring, tempting the eye with wanton blossome,
But not the Sunne with all her amorous smiles,
The dewes of mornings, or the teares of night,
Can roote her fibers in the earth agen,
Or make her bosome kinde, to growth and bearing,
But the tree withers, and those very beames
That once were naturall warmth to her soft verdure
Dry up her sap and shoote a feaver through
The barke and rinde, till she becomes a burthen
To that which gave her life: so Chabot, Chabot,
Al.
Wonder in apprehension, I must
Suspect your health indeede.
Adm.
No no, thou shanot
Be troubled, I but stirr'd thee with a morrall,
Thats empty containes nothing, I am well,
See I can walke poore man, thou hast not strength yet.
Al.
What accident is ground of this distraction?
Enter Admirall.
Adm.
Thou hast not heard yet whats become oth' Chancellor?
Al.
Not yet my Lord.
Adm,
Poore gentleman, when I thinke
Vpon the King, I've balme enough to cure
A thousand wounds, have I not Allegre?
Was ever bountious mercy read in story,
Like his upon my life, condemn'd for sacrifice
By Law, and snatch'd out of the flame unlooked for,
And unpetitioned? but his justice then
That wod not spare whom his owne love made great,
But give me up to the most cruell test
Of Iudges, for some boldnesse in defence
Of my owne merits, and my honest faith to him
Was rare, past example.
Fa.
Sir, the King
Is comming hither.
Al.
It will
Become my duty sir to leave you now.
Adm,
Stay by all meanes Allegre, 'tshall concerne you,
I'me infinitely honor'd in his presence.
Enter King, Queene, Constable, and Wife.
King.
Madam be comforted, Ile be his Phisitian.
Wif.
Pray heaven you may.
King.
No ceremoniall knees,
Give me thy heart, my deare, my honest Chabot,
And yet in vaine I chalenge that tis here
Already in my owne, and shall be cherish'd
With care of my best life, violence
Shall ravish it from my possession,
Not those distempers that infirme my blood
And spirits shall betray it to a feare,
When time and nature joyne to dispossesse
My body of a cold and languishing breath,
No stroake in all my arteries, but silence
In every faculty, yet dissect me then,
And in my heart, the world shall read thee living,
And by the vertue of thy name write there,
That part of me shall never putrifie,
When I am lost in all my other dust.
Adm.
You too much honour your poore servant sir,
My heart dispares so rich a monument;
But when it dies—
King.
I wonot heare a sound
Of any thing that trenched upon death,
He speakes the funerall of my crowne that prophesies
So unkinde a fate, weele live and die together,
And by that duty which hath taught you hitherto,
All loyall and just services I charge thee,
Preserve thy heart for me and thy reward,
Which now shall crowne thy merits.
Adm.
I have found
And by this overflow of royall grace,
All my deserts are shadowes and flie from mee,
I have not in the wealth of my desires,
Enough to pay you now, yet you encourage me
To make one suite.
King.
So soone as nam'd possesse it.
Adm.
You would be pleas'd take notice of this Gentleman,
A Secretary of mine.
Con.
Mounsieur Allegre,
He that was rack'd sir for your Admirall.
Adm.
His limbs want strength to tender their full duty,
An honest man that suffers for my sake.
King.
He shall be deare to us, for what has past sir
By the unjustice of our Chancellors power,
Weele study to recompence, ith' meane time that office
You exercis'd for Chabot we translate
To our selfe, you shall be our Secretary.
Al.
This is
An honour above my weake desert, and shall
Oblige the service of my life to satisfie it.
Adm.
You are gracious, and in this act have put
All our complaints to silence, you Allegre,
Enter Tresuror, Secretary.
Cherish your health, and feeble limbs which cannot
Without much prejudice be thus employ'd;
All my best wishes with thee.
Al.
All my prayers
Are duties to your Lordship—
Exit.
King.
Tis too little,
Can forfeit of his place, wealth, and a lasting
Imprisonment purge his offences to
Our honest Admirall, had our person beene
Exempted from his mallice, he did persecute
The life of Chabot with an equall wrath,
You should have powr'd death on his treacherous head,
I revoke all your sentences, and make
Him that was wrong'd full Master of his destiny,
Adm.
O farre be such injustice,
I know his doome is heavie, and I begge
Where mercy may be let into his sentence
For my sake you would soften it, I have
Glory enough to be set right in yours,
And my deare countries thought, and by an act
With such apparent notice to the world.
King.
Expresse it in some joy then.
Adm.
I will strive
To shew that pious gratitude to you but—
Kng.
But what
Adm.
My frame hath lately sir beene tane a peeces,
And but now put together, the least force
Of mirth will shake and unjoynt all my reason,
Your patience royall sir.
King.
Ile have no patience,
If thou forget the courage of a man.
Adm.
My strength would flatter me.
King.
Phisitians,
Now I begin to feare his apprehension,
Why how is Chabots spirit falne?
Qu.
Twere best
He were convei'd to his bed.
Wif.
How soone turn'd widdow.
Adm.
Who would not wish to live to serve your goodnes.
Stand from me, you betray me with your feares,
The plummets may fall off that hang upon
My heart, they were but thoughts at first, or if
They weigh me downe to death, let not my eyes
Close with another object then the King,
Let him be last I looke on.
King.
I would not have him lost for my whole Kingdome.
Con.
He may recover sir.
King.
I see it fall,
For Iustice being the proppe of every Kingdome
And mine broke, violating him that was
The knot and contract of it all in him,
It already falling in my eare,
And Capitoll were deafe, so heavens loud chiding,
Ile have another sentence for my Chancellor,
Vnlesse my Chabot live,
In a Prince
What a swift executioner is a frowne,
Especially of great and noble soules;
How is it with my Philip?
Adm.
I must begge
One other boone.
King.
Vpon condition
My Chabot will collect his scatter'd spirits,
And be himselfe agen, he shall divide
My Kingdome with me.
Fa.
Sweete King.
Adm.
I observe
A fierce and kllling wrath engendred in you;
For my sake, as you wish me strength to serve you,
Forgive your Chancellor, let not the story
Of Philip Chabot read hereafter draw
A teare from any family, I beseech
Your royall mercy on his life, and free
Remission of all seasure upon his state,
I have no comfort else.
King.
Endeavour
But thy owne health, and pronounce generall pardon
To all through France.
Adm.
Sir I must kneele to thanke you,
It is not seal'd else, your blest hand live happy,
May all you trust have no lesse faith then Chabot,
Oh.
Wif.
His heart is broken.
Fa.
And kneeling sir,
As his ambition were in death to shew
The truth of his obedience.
Con.
I feard this issue.
Tre.
Hees past hope.
King.
He has a victory ins death, this world
To glorious eternitie, tis too late
To fright the ayre with words, my teares embalme him.
Wif.
What can become of me?
Qu.
Ile be your husband Madam, and with care
Supply your childrens father, to your father
Ile be a sonne, in what our love or power
Can serve his friends, Chabot shall nere be wanting,
The greatest losse is mine, past scale or recompence,
We will proceede no further gainst the Chancellor,
To the charitie of our Admirall he owes
His life which ever banish'd to a prison,
Shall not beget in us, or in the subject
New feares of his injustice, for his fortunes
Great and acquir'd corruptly, tis our will
They make just restitution for all wrongs
That shall within a yeare be prov'd against him;
O Chabot that shall boast as many monuments
As there be hearts in France, which as they grow,
Shall with more love enshrine thee, Kings they say,
Die not, or starve succession, oh why
Should that stand firme, and Kings themselves despaire,
To finde their subject still in the next heire.
Exeunt.
FJNJS.
| The Tragedie of Chabot Admirall of France | |