 | King Iohn And Matilda |  |
Actus 3.
Scœna I.
Enter Brand reading of a Letter.
Will
Brand, these are to certifie, That Fortune, Mistresses
of Changes, with my unluckie stars, hath rendred me a prisoner
to my most mortall Enemy young Bruce.
Bra.
That mad Tamberlaine.
Let.
My entreaty is none of the noblest, but direct against my
blood, my desires, and my deservings.
Bra.
Oh that I had a leg of that young Bruce, but minc'd and butter'd.
Let.
I am credibly possest, his Maiestie hath into your custody
commiited his Mother, and her young Sonne George, whereby you
have occasion cast into your hand to parallel their sufferings with
my fortunes, not that I would have you banish humanity.
Bra.
He need never have writ that Bawds and Serjeants have
sav'd me the labour.
Let.
Nor give to deep a wound to Conscience.
Bran.
Another labour sav'd too,
Usurers do it daily
Let.
But as I let you understand how I am here accommodated,
so shape the duty of a Servant to parallel in their persons, your villified
Mr Ralph Chester.
Brave Lord, the Laddar of my fortunes, shalt thou
suffer on that side, and for humanities sake, and thred-bare
conscience (a couple of cousin-Germans, that thrice a weeke
know not where to get a supper;) shall the friends of him that
stands Lord of thy fortunes, and thy profest foe, fare well
here; now I talk of fare, I receiv'd this Letter yesterday, and
since they have neither eaten bit, nor drunk drop, nor by these
ten stealers shall not, till I heare againe from my Lord—:
Come out madam Mother, and your youg prating brat—they
do look hungry already.
Enter Lady and Boy.
La.
What would our unkind Jaylor?
Boy.
Sure Mother Mr. Brand hath brought us victuals.
Bra.
No sirrah, I come to tell you today is fasting day.
La.
Two dayes together,
Good Mr. Brand, 'tis not mine own want beggs,
But my poor Boyes; I have held him pretty pastime,
To have him yet forget that wild woolf hunger,
And still the harmlesse soul would point each period
Of his sport, crying Mother give me bread.
Bra.
She has a winning way,
Her carriage and her person are both exquisite:
Faith tell me Madam, what would you give for some victuals
To give your Son?
La.
Any thing, set thou the price thou shalt have Gold.
Boy.
And truly sir, if you'l but give me a Cake,
Or a Capons legge, when I am a man,
I'le give you twenty shillings to buy your Boy fine things.
Bra.
If yon dare lye with me,
You and your Sonne shall both have sustenance.
La.
Hearken good heaven, what saies the man?
Boy.
He would lie with you Mother,
But then when I am a bed too, there
Will be no room for my Father.
Bra.
Be as plain and briefe as I was, dare yee do't?
La.
No thou bad man, I dare not.
Bra.
No body shall see't by this hand,
La.
Thou lyest thou feind, shouldst thou i'th Castle do't,
To all the passengers; the walls would shudder,
The Escutchions, Streamers, Bauners, all the Reliques
Of fame and honour, would fall down, to see
Honour and Fame so wounded.
Bra.
See! I am asham'd to hear you,
If such sinnes could not be done without being seen,
Informers would have a fine trade on't, a Parators place
Would counvaile five Serjeants; ha, ha, seen kither;
Why there would not be sheets enough in the Land
For the penitent, and innocent Beadles enough to correct the
Guilty; Come, come, we'l do't i'th dark then.
La.
In the dark said'st thou?
Oh in the deepest darknesse, the white Angels
Will stare upon thee, and with flaming eyes.
Will make make the room appear to thy wild conscience,
Twice lighter then the Sunne:
'Tis a foul Devil that insinuates to thee,
The sower sweetnesse of a deluded minute;
He has borrowed a white robe, pluck it off from him,
And thou wilt see him a black hideous monster,
How with a slavish look he will creep from thee,
Displeas'd that thou art falne again in love,
With holy goodnesse.
Bra.
How my Conscience wambles.
Boy.
Do, do, good sir, think of it,
It will make you give's some bread.
And then you'l be a very honest man.
Bra.
I have heard you.
La.
And with a thirsty soul I hope.
Bra.
Yes, as Usurers heare Sermons, more for novelty then
integrity, I love good words when I pay nothing for 'em;
what do you see in me that I should appear unworthy of your
grant.
La.
Because in that request,
Thou appear'st to me as ugly as a Toad.
Bra.
A Toad!
I, and a Frog to if you go to that,
Doe not cry Mother.
Bra.
Get you both in, by this victorious sword,
And by the horrid odious comparison,
(for such a one first sure made comparisons odious)
Ye get not a bit this seven dayes.
Lady.
By that time
My Boy and I shall make a pair of happy ones
In yonder glorious Kingdom; tell me George,
Shall this bad man abuse thy Fathers bed?
Or shall we fast yet longer?
Bra.
The boy will consent I warrant you,
The Pages have instructed him.
Boy.
Indeed I am very hungry:
Bra.
Did I not tell you so.
Boy.
But rather then this Goat shall lie in my fathers place,
Indeed i'le fast this seven years.
La.
Ah noble boy,
Sweet plant of goodnesse, thou hast prov'd it true,
Vertue will wish the good it cannot do.
Bra.
A terribly ugly Toad.
Exeunt.
Enter King, Queen, and Oxford.
Ox.
Good sir ye must be patient.
K.
Patient,
Bitternesse dwels with me: if I do not put him
To an eternall patience, that shall dare
To witch me into that dull fit of fools;
Matilda won and lost!
Qu.
Good sir
K.
Away;
Struggle not with the tempest of my blood,
That will undo thee.
Qu.
Richmond Lyon like,
(After we sent our Letter with the Forces
The Barrons had prepar'd,) clouded our day,
Ches.
They out o'th Tower to,
Fitzwater, Bruce, and Leister, with fresh powers,
Are not a league hence.
K.
The Lyon Richmond, a Hare had he met with any
But field Mice, Rats, Run-awayes, and Weezles,
Frighted even with the waving of a Flag,
They would have call'd a scar-crow stuff'd with straw,
And bound upon a ten groats Irish Garron,
The Glorious Richmond 'pon his firie Steed;
Oh there is nothing certaine but our sorrows,
Our borrow'd blisse is but the shuttle-cock
Of a dayes pastime.
Qu.
I have pastim'd her, if tearing be a pastime,
Let that comfort you,
I have torne her almost to death.
K.
Matilda.
Qu.
Yes.
K.
And would you have it comfort me?
Qu.
I know it does, call but up your Troops
Brayely again, recover her, and read
Upon her face my fury.
K.
Oh ye cruell one,
Crueller then the flame that turn'd to Cinders
The fair Ephesian Temple; wilde as a Woolf,
The Bear is not so bloody, teare her hairs,
Which when they took their pastime with the winds,
Would charm the astonish'd gazer; tear that face,
Lovely as is the morning, in whose eyes
Stands writ the history of her heart, inticing
The ravish'd Reader to runne on, 'pon whose eye lids
Discretion dwels, which when a wilde thought
Would at those Casements like a Theefe steale in,
Playes her hearts noble friend, and shuts out sin.
Qu.
O why then sir, if she be such a volum
Of white unvanquish'd ventue, would you stain,
And blot the fair leaves with your soul desires,
K.
She has put me to my sophistry.
Qu.
I knew I was made
Your stale for her obtaining.
Oh why
Raise you so high a Piramis to her praise,
And prostrate your own vertue? if she be
Such a Book of goodnesse (with bad desires)
Why do you read her? fie no truth intends,
Seeks to corrupt that Text which he commends,
Good sir consider it.
Enter Hubert.
K.
Well, I will think on't, and you will have done.
Hu.
Now is the time my Lord,
If e're you would be fortunate in your desires,
Richmond, young Bruce, Matilda,
(With the Earl of Chester prisoner,) and a slight convoy
But of some threescore Horse, and two hundred Archers
Are now i'th valley crossing of the County,
'Tis thought for Essex.
K.
Where are their main Forces?
Hub.
Inscon'st in Hartford Castle, our Forces yet
Not so diminish'd, or in rout for want
Of their lost Generall, but if you please,
We dare with hope assail them.
K.
I will be Generall,
Order the Powers you have for present on-set.
Qu.
My Lord, you said you would consider.
K.
I am considering bravely how to charge
The Foe just in the face: Matilda I am now thy Souldier,
Friend of my heart, the King himselfe comes for thee,
Who shall in this dayes doings amply prove,
Honour takes fire from the flame of love.
Hu.
Good fortune on our side sir.
Exeunt. Manet Queen.
Qu.
Hear not that prayer
A Charge afar off.
Good heaven, oh tempt not vertue to adorn
A foul Cause with fair fortunes: Hark, hark, they meet,
And now pell mell the angry Lords do list
But let his Cause miscarry; I will not stay
To see him so pursue those wild desires,
Which cannot sure end well; i'le to the Lords
So near at hand, and with Matilda's Father,
Accommodate my griefs, and let there be
Her feares, my tears, the Kings infirmity.
Exit
Enter King, Oxford, and Matilda.
K.
Oxford, she's now the Kings.
Ma.
Most miserable Maid.
K.
Most excellent Matilda all are thy friends,
Imperious love sat on my Lance just then,
When on the panting brest of daring Richmond
(Who like a melancholly sullen Cloud,
Eclips'd thy Chariot) thou didst see me print
My restlesse passion: Oxford keep my happinesse,
Just with that care thou wouldst preserve that pair
Of precious things, thine eyes; Chesters ingag'd
Deep in the Chase, and we must fetch him off;
Pardon me honour that I plac'd love first,
My doings now are thine.
Exit.
Ox.
Keep near the King, Gentlemen,
His unbounded spirit may loose him else; good Madam
Do not lament so, though your friends are scatter'd,
Y'are in a spheare of happinesse.
Mat.
Oh that great power,
That many times out of this toy I hath taken me,
Deliver me again, because again,
Vertue hath made me miserabl.
Ent. young Bruce.
Y. Bru.
Oh that necessity
Should force us unto flight, base flight, repugnant
To man and honour. Ha! happy flight now,
That brought me this way.
Mat.
Cozen.
Y. Bru.
Oxford, either give back
Of the forgetfull King, or thou or I
Must never see him more.
Ox.
That to our fortunes,
I must not faile the King sir.
Y. Bru.
I must not faile then
Enter Richmond.
To get her as I can sir.
Fight, Oxford falls!
Rich.
We are scatter'd now
Paste making head againe.
Y. Bru.
But I have made shift to get my Cuz agen sir.
Rich.
Let us not stay now to expostulate, Necessity
Directs us to our friends not a league distant,
If we not fly we are lost.
Ma.
Good Cuz lets flie,
Tis no disgrace to obey necessity.
Y. Bru.
Oh I could stamp and tear that hagge necessity,
Bitter necessity, thou scourge of things
That forces Lyons to wear Swallows wings.
Exe. Manet Ox. to him enter King, Chester, & others.
Ches.
You have plaid the Souldier sir.
K.
The Souldier Chester; I am so light with joy,
I could do any thing.
Ches.
Troth sir would it might please you then to grace
Me with the President-ship of Picardy,
Falne in this last Rebellion from the Lord
Bruce unto your Crown.
K.
Tis thine as certaine
As Matilda is the Kings: Oh Chester, now Matilda
Is in the Kings power.
Ox.
No sir, she is in heavens.
Ches.
Who's this, Oxford, lets help to raise him up.
K.
What saist thou man? Matilda, where is Matilda?
Ox.
Young Bruce in his flight happening upon this way
For her recovery gave me fierce assault;
I did stand for you sir as much as man could,
Till my mis-fortune found me, then I sell;
To him came Richmond, and with all speed possible
They have carried her to'th Lords on tother side the heath.
Oh villaine, villaine;
Suppose he had cut thy heart strings, hadst thou cast
Thy dying eye upon Matilda's face?
She would have shot another spirit into rhee,
More daring then the first, at least more fortunate.
Ches.
Let him be convey'd to'th Town and drest,
Our best course is now to with-draw, the Lords
Are strong, and may give us dangerous chase else.
K.
What are our hopes
Like Garlands, upon afflictions forehead worn,
Kist in the morning, and at evening torne.
Exit.
A Table and Chaires set out.
Enter Fitzwater, old Bruce, young Bruce, Richmond, and Leister.
O. Bru.
The day is then the Kings.
Rich.
White victory
Clapt on her silver wings, with a sullen face
Took leave of us, and pitched upon his Tent,
Where she sat smiling, while necessity
Enforced our flight.
Y. Bru.
Oh that witch Necessity.
Fitz.
Well, well, away with the witch,
Tis well you brought Matilda off; come, come,
Sit to Council.
And brther Bruce you have a Wife and Sonne
Unjustly detayn'd from you, I am injur'd,
I pray set you our feet into the path
Of our proceedings.
Y. Bru.
Lets with our powers
Raze Winsor walls.
Fitz.
Now you are i'th field straight,
Give old men leave; you would raze! what would you raze!
Your reputation with your rash proceedings;
Come, come, hear your Father.
Y. Bru.
Why let him speak then,
O. Bru.
First let us take up our affronts in order,
And fix by ours, the Generalls grievances,
The crying groans of England, whose blubberd cheeks
Daily impair'd.
Rich.
What's to be done?
Leis.
Let's send to the French King,
Proffer him our assistance, to trans-fer
The Crown from John to him, if at such a day
He will put over a strong Navie Royall,
With an Army for the attempt, with which (our Forces
Making one body) both at at Sea and Land,
We bid fair for our freedoms.
Fitz.
I do not like it.
Y. Eru.
S'foot, you will like nothing;
Let us be ring'd and nooz'd,
O. Bru.
Besides, being assoil'd of his six years Interdiction,
Those that before fled from him as a Leaper,
Will now flock to him.
Rich.
They begin already,
(Although we seek (with our own) their good,) to censure
And call hostility plain faction.
Leis.
This is my resolve, I say there is no way
To fix our freedomes, but to call in Philip
And make him King.
Exit Richmend.
Om.
So think we all.
Fitz.
I but I think not so,
Though y'are all wise for Philip, he'l be a gainer,
But what will you get by't? They run on Rocks and shelves,
Can can counsell others, not secure themselves.
Y. Bru.
We must and will do something.
Fitz.
You will send to Philip,
Instruct him to proceed, it may be furnish
His Navie with our Pilots, he lands, we proffer
Change, John for Philip; oh can you think,
That we can undergo a heavier stroke
From a Naturall, then from a Forreigne yoak;
Go to, go to, who in no estate can rest,
They may change oft, but seldome comes the best.
Ol. Bru.
I am diverted.
Which way would you steer then?
Fitz.
By the same Compasse, but not upon this parallel,
I do not like the line; but this wee'l do,
Wee'l send for Lewis, Philips Sonne the Dolphine,
And to him (seemingly) prefer the proffer,
A Crown will fire him; may be he shall land,
But with no more Force then we please; and it may be
He shall take a fisher Town, for every Nation
Can take away their trading as the time goes,
Our maine Force being ready, we will hover
'Twixt John and Lewis; if John deny an oath
To redresse our griefes, and become regular
And Hostage for the keeping it, we joyne
With the French and fright him further; if he consent,
We fall on his part then, expulse Lewis,
And send him to the Seas again; the Dolphine
Is young and may be wrought on, but old Philip
Is dangerously politick, with foot ashore,
Hee'l brook no jugling, both ease, and safety
We work on Willowes, but when we strike at Oaks,
We sweat, and sometimes hurt with our own strokes.
Om.
It shall be thus effected.
Leis.
But let report divulge his Landing,
With more eminent danger then we will let him practise.
Fitz.
For this time
Ent. Queen, Matilda & Ladies.
Rise then; See the Queen and Ladies,
Good Madam cast off sadnesse,
Matilda we are all here i'th City safe;
The very hearts o'th Citizens (men injur'd
In their priviledges as we are) they are ours,
What should we fear then?
Enter Richmond.
Mat.
You are all such friends,
I am poor in my well-meaning thankfulnesse.
Rich.
A Barge with divers youthfull Citizens,
Apparell'd rich like Masquers, is now land'd
Upon the Stairs, hearing the Queen was here,
Withall this meeting of their noble friends,
And grace the evening with their Revels.
Fitz.
In the Hall wee'l meet them. Did not I tell you
These Citizens were noble lads our friends?
Waite on the Ladies Lords, I am here your Graces servant,
By my troth I thank 'em, they will crown our feast,
And credite me, having such a princely guest.
Exeunt.
Loud Musick.
Enter at one doore Fitzwater, old Bruce, young Bruce, Leister, Matilda and Ladies; at the other doore, the King, Chester, Oxford, Masquers.
A Dance.
Fitz.
Now by my troth they are gallants,
Citizens said you; now I remember to,
Ye do go gallant in your Shops, no wonder then,
If in Masques you cut it. I remember Gentlemen,
Your Fathers wore a king of comely habite,
Comely, because it wel became the reverend name of Citizens,
But now let a Knight walk with you in your shops,
(And I commend you for't, ye keep the fashion)
We know not which is which—; how my tongue ranges,
And night grows old, mad times, must have mad changes;
Come, come, a Hall, a hall.
The Masquers take the Ladies, and fall to the Dance.
Qu.
Beleeve me you have done well.
Y. Bru.
Pox a' these Cats guts, how they squeak.
Methinks a rattling sheep-skin lustily boxt,
Would thunder brave amongst them.
One of the Torch bearers takes Matilda.
Mat.
I can dance no more indeed sir.
Fitz.
I am deceiv'd if that fellow did not carry
A Torch e'n now;
Will you shame the Gentleman?
Dance when I bid you.
Mat.
Oh me, that graspe was like the Kings.
O. Bru.
Dance Cuz.
Fitz.
In good deed dance,
Or you will make me angry.
The K. pulls her violently.
Body of me, that's too much for a Torch-bearer,
She will not stretch I assure you, if you come hither
For love so 'tis.
K.
For love.
Eitz.
But if you and your Company,
Put on forgetfull rudenesse, pray take your Cupid yonder,
Your thing of feathers, and your Barge stands ready
To bear ye all aboard the ship of Fools,
I am plain Robin—passion of me!
Look if he do not threaten me; I will see thee,
Wert thou King John himselfe.
Pulls off his Vizard.
Om.
The King!
Mat.
Oh which way shall I flie?
Qu.
I would not leave so sweet a chaste companion.
Exeunt Qu. Mat. Rich, and Ladies. In the bussle, Fitzwater drops one of his Gloves, Hubert takes it up, and goes after the Ladies.
Hub.
What's this, one of her Fathers Gloves?
This shall be drawn upon the luckie hand of a thriving plot.
K.
Behold thy King, thine Bruce, one of the Fathers
Of these retir'd factions; Richmond, thy King,
And thine rough Leister; is this still your nest
Wherein to hatch another Scorpions Egge,
To sting the afflicted bosome of your Country,
To bruise her sides with the earth-wounding hoofes
Of War-apparell'd Horses, whose dreadful neighings
May fright her pale face to a bloody blush,
And again make her groane.
Fitz.
Your pardon sir,
By my good Sword I knew ye not.
Ches.
No, if you had,
Your dangerous Brother Bruce and you, had laid
Some plot for his sacred person; then pleaded ignorance,
That ye took him as he seem'd, a sawcy stranger.
Y. Bru.
Chester, Thou art not noble in thy censure,
And sawn'st thy selfe into the abus'd favour
Of the to-credulous King.
Ches.
Oh temptation, what a Devill art thou;
Now by my blood young man, you court my spleen
In a vain glorious shape; Chester fawne,
Just heaven forbid it.
An Axe upon your neck, ehe just heavens give you
And that in heaven were justice—
Ol. Bru.
Sonne, y'are too full of choller.
Y. Bru.
Choller, Halter.
Fitz.
By the masse that's neer the choller.
K.
Upon your lives no more, the King is here;
Fitzwater, I did not come to quarrell with thee,
I would have such a good man ever neer me,
And for a florish to the rest (of whom
As of old Bruce we have) we will require strict pledges, and
Fitzwater let thy Daughter live at Court, she shall be kept
I'th custody of the Queen, but as no pledge.
Fitz.
The Queen is gracioue.
K.
Come, to their ruines leave these turbulent Lords.
Fitz.
But suppose the Queen should ride abroad to hunt,
And leave Matilda solitary at home,
I think the King would come and comfort her.
Ki.
I am of thy mind, I think he would.
Fitz.
Would he so?—I would have no one hear.
Takes the K. aside,
K.
They cannot man.
Fitz.
Pray tell the King, ile keep my Girle at home,
And comfort her my selfe.
K.
You will.
Fitz.
John, John, now I speak out;
You made your Masque for this, a Masque indeed,
And wel-a day! that it should prove a Cover
For such a night of Tempests, such wilde affections,
Such an ill-favour'd night.
Enter Hubert.
K.
Hubert, is't done?
Hub.
Past expectation, I have better'd your plot,
And got the Queene too,
And will bring them early in the morning to'th Court.
K.
Have the Torch-bearers given fire to the plot?
Hub.
They mixt with oppertunity.
Enter Richmond.
Fitz.
I do not like this whispering,
Where are the Ladies and Matilda?
Rich.
The Ladies are at the further side the Castle,
That said he serv'd Earle Leister, that with him
She and the Queene should flie for safety whither
You had directed him, glad of any scape,
They took a Barge, another leapt in after them,
But whom he was I know not.
Exit.
Ol. Bru.
Sent you a Glove.
Fitz.
A Glove indeed I misse, but I sent none.
Leis.
This is a Riddle.
K.
I will play Oedipus, and expound it for you,
As Hubert has infus'd; you drop'd your Glove,
Ingenius Hubert found it, and (though we
Had directed otherwise,) he employ'd a Gentleman
Of our own Chamber, one unknown to Matilda,
To bring it as your close intelligence
For her flight with him; he that leapt into'th Barge,
As they put of, was Oxford, now we have her
Never again to lose her.
Leis.
By my vext blood
King John, this is not honourable.
Enter Richmond.
Rich.
We are betray'd,
All that bore Torches in the Masque to night,
Were of the Guard, who upon a receiv'd watch-word,
Fell to their Arms, beat down all oppos'd them,
And are shaping their course this way.
Y. Bru.
Lets meet 'em,
We have an injur'd patience, came death in whirle-winds,
Ile be the first shall front him; to thy prayers John,
Pray heartily, that thy friend; fatall points
May pierce these hearts; for if they misse 'tshall prove
The bloodiest beauty story ever told
To fright the Readers souls; a purple cloud
Shall shaddow England, the whole Land shall reele,
The Center groans, thy very Crown shall stand
Trembling upon thy Temples, till it fall
A Mourner at thy fames black funerall.
Exit.
Fitz.
Oh noble Nephew.
Exeunt Barrons.
Ha, ha, ha, let 'em rave on; Ingenious Hubert!
That couldst so swifty apprehend a smooth
Path to'th possession of Matilda!
Quit Oxford from her charge; unto thy care
The King commends the Mistresse of his heart,
I'th morning let me see her.
Hu.
She shall waite upon you sir.
Ches.
The Barrens threaten high sir.
K.
Let them burst.
Come Gentlemen, to'th Barge, and so to'th Court,
To clip our wishes, perills appear sport.
Exeunt.
| King Iohn And Matilda | |