 | The Royall King, and The Loyall Subject |  |
Actus tertius.
Enter Clowne and the Lady Mary.Mary.
Came you from him?
Clown.
Yes if it please your Maidenship; my Master sends
you word he is the old man, and his suite is the old suite still,
or a shifter; he feares nothing but this, that hee shall
fall into the Lord your fathers hands for want of reparations.
Mary.
We know thy meaning, here beare him this gold,
And bid him suite him like the man he was,
Bid him to face the proudest hee in Court;
He shall not want whilst we have.
Clowne.
That was out of my Commission Lady, Gold
tempts, I have commandment not to touch it; 'tis another
thing he aymes at: it is a thing, but I know not what manner
of thing; but something it is, and he vowes not to shift
a shirt till he be further resolv'd: hee onely sends you Commendations,
and withall to know if you would stand to
your word.
Mary.
He wrongs me to cast doubts:
Tell him I am the same I ever was,
And ever will continue as I am.
But that he should disdaine this courtesie
Being in want, and comming too from me,
Doth somewhat trouble me.
Clowne.
We want Madam? you are deceiv'd, wee have
store, of ragges; plenty, of tatters; aboundance, of jagges;
huge rents, witnesse our breeches; ground enough to command,
for we can walke where we will, none will bid us
to Dinner; houses rent-free, and goodly ones to chuse
where we will; the Martialsie, the Counter, Newgate,
Bridewell; and would a man desire to dwell in stronger buildings?
and can you say that we are in want? No Lady, my
Captaine wants nothing but your love, and that he intreats
you to send by me the bearer.
Mary.
I doe, with all the best affection
A Virgin can bestow upon her friend.
Clown.
I dare sweare he is an honest man, but I dare not
say he is a true man.
Mary.
How, not a true man?
Clowne.
No; for hee hath sworne to steale you away,
not goe naked; he cannot steale you, but hee must steale the
cloaths you have on; and he that steales apparrell, what is he
but a Theefe? and hee that is a Theefe cannot be a true man
Ergo.
Mary.
That is no theft when men but steale their owne,
And I am his, witnesse this Diamond,
Which beare him, and thus say, that no disaster
Shall ever part me from his company.
Clown.
I shall beare this with as good will as you would
beare him, Utcunque volumus.
Mary.
What are we but our words? when they are past,
Faith should succeed, and that should ever last.
My Father?
Enter Audley.
Aud.
Wots thou who's returnd,
The unthrift Bonvile, ragged as a scarre-crow,
The Warres have gnaw'd his garments to the skinne:
I met him, and he told me of a Contract.
Mary.
Sir, such a thing there was.
Aud.
Vpon condition if he came rich.
Mary.
I heard no such exception.
Aud.
Thou doest not meane to marry with a begger?
Mary.
Vnlesse he be a Gentleman, and Bonvile
Is by his birth no lesse.
Aud.
Such onely gentile are, that can maintaine
Gentily.
Mary.
Why, should your state faile you,
Can it from you your honours take away?
Whilst your Allegeance holds, what need you more,
You ever shall be noble although poore.
Aud.
They are noble that have nobles; gentle they
That appeare such.
Mary.
Indeed so worldlings say:
But vertuous men proove they are onely deare
That all their riches can about them beare.
Sound: Enter the King, Clinton, Bonvile, Prince, Princesse.
King.
Is not Earle Chester
Prince.
Not yet my Lord.
King.
For such contention we now scorne revenge,
Wee'le try the utmost of his patience now:
He would exceed our love, if it appeare,
He will hold nothing for his King too deere.
Aud.
Earle Chester is return'd.
Enter Chester and Isabella.
King.
Hast brought her Chester?
Chest.
Her whom her father the most faire esteemes,
He hath sent by me, onely with this request,
That if his free gift doe not like your Highnesse,
You'le send her backe untoucht to his embrace.
King.
I feare we shall not, she appeares too faire,
So streightly to part with: what is he would
Attempt such virgin-modesty to staine
By hopes of honour, flatteries, or constraint?
How doe you like her? your opinions Lords?
Prince.
A beauteous Lady, one that hath no peere
In the whole Court.
King.
Therefore I hold her precious.
Princesse.
A fairer face in Court who ever saw?
Her beauty would become the name of Queene.
Clin.
One of more state or shape where shall we finde?
Aud.
Her modesty doth doe her beauty grace,
Both in her cheeke have chus'd a soveraigne seate.
King.
You have past censure Lady, now you're mine,
And by your Fathers free gift you are so,
To make, or marre; to keepe or bestow.
Isab.
It glads me I am present to a King,
Whom I have alwayes heard my father tear me
Royall in all things; vertuous, modest, chaste;
And to have one free attribute besides,
Which even the greatest Emperour need not scome,
Honest; to you if you be such my Liege,
A Virgins love I prostrate, and a heart
That wishes you all goodnesse with the duty
Then mighty Prince report your subject noble,
Since all those vertues you receive in me.
King.
Thou hast o'recome us all; that thou hast tearm'd us,
Wee'le strive to be, and to make good those attributes
Thou hast bestow'd upon us, rise our Queene,
Thy vertue hath tooke off the threatning edge
Of our intended hate: though thou art ours
Both by free gift and duty, which we challenge
As from a subject; though our power could stretch
To thy dishonour, we proclaime thee freed,
And in this grace thy father we exceed.
Prince.
The King in this shews honour: Princes still
Should be the Lords of their owne appetites,
And cherish vertue.
King.
Have I your applause?
Bon.
Your Highnesse shews both Royalty and Iudgment
In your faire choice.
King.
Are your opinions so?
Aud.
Farre be it mighty King we should distast
Where you so well affect.
Princesse.
For grace and feature
England affords not a more compleate Virgin.
Clin.
Were she not the Martials daughter,
I'd tearme her worthy for my Soveraignes Bride.
Chest.
Ey that's the griefe.
King.
This kisse then be the Seale,
Thou art our Queene, and now art onely mine.
Isab.
May I become your vassall and your Hand-maid,
Titles but equall to my humble birth:
But since your Grace a higher title daines,
Envy must needs obey where power compells.
Give expeditious order for the Rites
Of these our present Nuptials which shall be
Done with all State and due solemnity;
And Martiall in this businesse thou shall finde
Thy selfe defective, and not us unkind.
Serv.
Health to your Highnesse.
King.
Whence?
Ser.
From my sad Master,
Your Martiall once, now your dejected vassall,
And thus he bid me say: If the King daine
To grace my daughter with the stile of Queene,
To give you then this Casket which containes
A double dower; halfe of this mighty summe
He out of his revenewes had afforded,
Had she bin match but to a Barons bed;
But since your Highnesse daines her for your Bride,
And his Alliance scornes not to disdaine,
He saith a double dower is due to you.
King.
He strives to exceed us still; this emulation
Begets our hate, and questions him of life.
This Dower we take, his Daughter entertaine,
But him we never shall receive to grace.
Beare not from us so much as love or thankes:
We onely strive in all our actions
To be held peerelesse for our courtesie
And Royall bounty, which appeares the worse,
Since he a Subject would precede his Prince:
And did we not his Daughter dearely love,
Wee'd send her backe with scorne, and base neglect
But her we love, though him in heart despise,
Pay him that thanks for all his courtesies.
Serv.
In this imployment I will strive to doe
Th' office of a subject, and of servant too.
King.
Since to that emulous Lord we have sent our hate,
Come to our Nuptials let's passe on in state.
Exit.
Enter Captaine and Clowne.
Cap.
The humours of Court, Citty, Campe, and Country
I have trac't, and in them can finde no man, but money; all
subscribe to this Motto, Malo pecuniam viro. Oh poverty,
thou art esteem'd a sinne worse than whoredome, gluttony,
extortion, or usury:
Let but a poore man in a thred-bare suite,
The fine-nos'd Courtiers will not sent him; no,
They shunne the way as if they met the Pest:
Or if he have a suite, it strikes them deafe,
They cannot heare of that side.
Clown.
Come to the Citty, the Habberdasher will sooner
call us blockheads, than blocke us; come to the Sempsters,
unlesse we will give them money, we cannot enter into their
bands: though we have the Law of our sides, yet wee may
walke through Burchin-lane and be non-suited: come barefoot
to a Shooe-maker, though he be a Constable, he will not
put us into his Stocks; though the Girdler be my brother, yet
he will not let his leather imbrace me; come to the Glover,
his gloves are either so little that I cannot plucke them on, or
so great that I cannot compasse. And for the Campe, there's
honour cut out of the whole peece, but not a ragge of money.
Cap.
The Countrey hath alliance with the rest: my purpose
is now I have so thorowly made proofe of the humours
of men, I will next assay the dispositions of women, not of
the choicest, but of those whom wee call good wenches.
Clowne.
Pray Master if you goe to a house of good fellowship,
give me something to spend upon my Cockatrice;
if I have nothing about me, I shall never get in.
Cap.
Ther's for you sirrah; doth not the world wonder I
should be so flush of money, and so bare in cloaths? the reason
of this I shall give account for hereafter: But to our purpose,
here they say dwels my Lady Bawdy-face, here will
we knock.
Enter Bawd.
Bawd.
Who's there? what would you have? ha?
Cap.
Sweet Lady we would enter; nay by your leave.
Bawd.
Enter? where? here be no breaches for you to enter
truely.
Cap.
And yet we are souldiers, and have venter'd upon as
hot service as this place affords any.
Bawd.
Away you base companions, we have no breaches
your ragges.
Cap.
Nay, pray give way.
Bawd.
Away you rogues, doe you come to shake your
ragges here? doe you thinke we can vent our ware without
money you rascals? get you from my doore you beggerly
companions, or I'le wash you hence with hot scalding water.
Clown.
Nay I warrant her, wenches can afford her that at
all times.
Bawd.
Doe I keepe house to entertaine Tatterdemaleans
with a Poxe, you will be gone?
Cap.
We must forbeare, the gallants are out of patience,
stand aside.
Enter two Gentlemen.
1. Gent.
I would faine goe in, but I have spent all my mony.
2. Gent.
No matter, they shall not know so much till we
get in, and then let me alone, I'le out till I be fir'd out.
1. Gent.
Then let's set a good face of the matter,
By your leave Lady.
Bawd.
You're welcome Gentlemen.
1. Gent.
What fellows be yon?
Bawd.
Two poore souldiers that came for an almes and
please you, that stay for some reversions; there's none such
come into my house I warrant you.
2. Gent.
Save you sweet Lady.
Bawd.
Where be those kitchinstuffes here, shall we have
no attendants? shew these Gentlemen into a close roome,
with a standing bed in't, and a truckle too; you are welcome
Gentlemen.
Cap.
'Tis generall thorow the world, each state esteemes
A man not what he is, but what he seemes:
The purest flesh rag'd can no entrance have,
But It'ch and all disease if it come brave,
Wide open stand the gates of lust and sin,
And those at which the wide world enters in.
Madam, to be short, I must have a wench, though I am ragged
outward, I am rich inward: here's a brace of Angels for
Bawd.
Your Worship's very heartily welcome: wher's
Sis? Where's Ioyce? the best roome in the house for
the Gentleman: call Mistris Priscilla, and bid her keepe the
Gentleman company.
Cap.
I'le make bold to enter.
Bawd.
Your Worship's most lovingly welcome: let the
Gentleman have attendance, and cleane linnen if he need any;
whither would you, you rogue?
Clown.
Marry I would after my Master.
Bawd.
Thy Master? why is yon raggamuffin able to keep
a man?
Clown.
Ey that he is able to keepe a man, and himselfe too.
Bawd.
Then that man must be able to pay for himselfe
too, or else he may coole his heeles without if his appetite
be hot.
Clown.
Then shall I not goe in?
Bawd.
No by my Mayden-head shal you not, nor any such
beggerly companion shall enter here, but he shall come thorow
me too.
Shakes a purse.
Clown.
No? what remedy? ha, ha; hee that rings at a
doore with such a Bell, and cannot enter? Well, if there be
no remedy, I'le even stay without.
Bawd.
Oh me! is it you Sir? and are so strong to stand at
the doore? Pray will you come neare? your Master is new
gone in afore: Lord, Lord, that you would not enter without
trusting! you were even as farre out of my remembrance
as one that I had never seene afore.
Clown.
I cannot blame you to forget me, for I thinke
this be the first time of our meeting.
Bawd.
What would you have Sir?
Clown.
Nothing as they say, but a congratulation for our
first acquaintance. I have it here old bully bottom, I have it
here.
Bawd.
I have it here too: nay, pray sir come in, I am loath
to kisse at doore, for feare my neighbours should see.
Clowne.
Speake, shall you and I, condogge together?
Bawd.
Nay, I beseech you sir, come in: a Gentleman, and
stand at doore? I'le lead the way, and you shal come behind.
Clown.
No, no; I will not salute you after the Italian fashion:
I'le enter before.
Bawd.
Most lovingly, pray draw the latch sir.
Exit.
Enter the two Gentlemen with the two wenches.
1. Gent.
Nay faith sweet rogue thou shalt trust me for once.
1. Whore.
Trust you? come up, can'st thou pay the hackny
for the hire of a horse, and think'st thou to breath me upon trust?
1. Gen.
Thou bid'st me come up, and shall not ride?
1. Whore.
Yes the gallows as soone.
2. Whore.
A Gentleman, and have no money? marry you
make a most knightly offer.
2. Gent.
How? to offer thee no money?
2. Whore.
How can they offer that have none?
2. Gent.
I'le either give thee ware or money, that's as good.
2. Whore.
Ey but sir, I'le deale with no such chapmen.
Enter Bawd, Captaine, and Clowne.
Bawd.
What's the matter here? ha? can you not agree about
the bargaine?
1. Whore.
Here's Gallants would have us breath'd, and forsooth
they have no money.
2. Whore.
They thinke belike, dyet, lodging, ruffes, cloaths,
and holland-smocks can all be had without money, and a
disease, if wee should catch it, Heaven blesse us, can be cur'd
without money.
Bawd.
That's fine yfaith: if my beds be shaken out of
their joints, or my cords broken, must not the Ioyner and
the Rope-maker both have money? if my rugges be rub'd out
with your toes, can they be repair'd without money? if my
linnen be foul'd, can I pay my landresse without money? besides,
we must have somthing to maintaine our broken windows
I hope; the Glazier wil not mend thē without mony.
1. Gent.
Come, come, let's run a score for once.
Bawd.
You shall not score of my tally, out of my doores.
Cap.
Why shall we not be bosom'd? have we paid, and
must we not have wenches?
Bawd.
You shal have the choicest of my house gentlemen.
1. Gent.
Who, those Rascalls?
Bawd.
They be Rascalls that have no money; those be
Gentlemen that have Crownes; these are they that pay the
Ioyner, the rope-maker, the Vpholster, the Laundrer, the
Glazier; will you get you out of my doores, or shall wee
scold you hence?
Clown.
That you shall never by thrusting them out of
doores.
1. Gent.
Who but a mad man would be so base as to be hir'd,
much more to hire one of those bruitists, that make no difference
betwixt a Gentleman and a begger, nay, I have seene
enough to be soone intreated.
2. Gent.
You shall not need to feare me, I am gone:
Hee's past before, nor will I stay behinde;
I have seene enough to loath all your sisterhood.
Bawd.
Marry farewell frost. Now Sir, will you make
your choice, and your man after?
Cap.
I'le have both, these are mine.
Clown.
Goe you then with your paire of Whores, I'le goe
with this old skuller that first ply'd me.
Bawd.
I see thou lovest to goe by water; come, shall we
dally together? sit upon my knee my sweet boy, what money
hast thou in thy purse? wilt thou bestow this upon me
my sweet chicke?
Clowne.
I'le see what I shall have first for my money by
your favour.
1. Whore.
And shall I have this?
2. Whore.
And I this?
Cap.
Both these are mine, we are agreed then?
But I am asham'd, being such a tatter'd rogue, to lye with
two such fine gentlewomen; besides, to tell you truely, I am
louzie.
1. Whore.
No matter, thou shalt have a cleane shirt, and
time be cast into an Oven.
Cap.
But I have a worse fault, my skinne's not perfect:
What should I say I am?
2. Whore.
Itchy? Oh thou shalt have Brimstone and
Butter.
Cap.
Worse than all these, my body is diseased,
I shall infect yours.
1. Whore.
If we come by any mischance, thou hast money
to pay for the cure: come, shall's withdraw into the next
chamber?
Cap.
You are not women, you are devils both,
And that your Damme; my body save in warres,
Is yet unskarr'd, nor shall it be with you.
Say the last leacher that imbrac't you here,
And folded in his armes your rottennesse,
Had beene all these, would you not all that filth
Vomite on me? or who would buy diseases,
And make his body for a Spittle fit,
That may walke sound? I came to schoole you Whoore,
Not to corrupt you; for what need I that
When you are all corruption; be he lame,
Have he no Nose, be all his body stung
With the French Fly, with the Sarpego dry'd:
Be he a Lazar, or a Leper, bring
Coyne in his fist, he shall embrace your lust
Before the purest flesh that sues of trust.
Bawd.
What Diogenes have we here? I warrant the Cinnicke
himselfe sayd not so much when he was seene to come
out of a Bawdy house.
Cap.
He sham'd not to come out, but held it sinne
Not to be pardon'd to be seene goe in.
But I'le be modest: nay, nay, keepe your Gold
To cure those hot diseases you have got,
And being once cleere, betake you to one man,
And study to be honest, that's my counsell:
You have brought many like yon Gentlemen
Which did they owne our thoughts, these rags would change
To shine as we shall, though you think it strange.
Come, come, this house is infected, shall we goe?
Clowne.
Why Sir, shall I have no sport for my money, but
even a snatch and away?
Cap.
Leave me, and leave me ever, and observe
This rule from me, where there is lodg'd a Whore,
Thinke the Plagues crosse is set upon that doore.
Clowne.
Then Lord have mercy upon us: where have we
beene?
The Clowne goes learing away, and shaking his head.
Bawd.
Hist, hist; heere's a rayling companion indeed.
1. Whore.
I know not what you call a rayling companion:
but such another discourse would make me goe neere to turn
honest.
Bawd.
Nay, if you be in that minde, I'le send for your
love: the plague in my house? the Pox is as soone: I am sure
there was never man yet that had Lord have mercy upon
us in his minde, that would ever enter here: Nay will you
goe?
Sound, enter the King, Prince, Princesse, all the Lords, the Queene, &c.
King.
Before you all I here acknowledge Lords,
I never held me happy but in this
My vertuous choice, in having your applause,
Me-thinks I had the sweet consent of Heaven.
Princesse.
This noble Lady, now my royall Mother,
Hath by her love to you, regard to us,
And courteous affability to all,
Attain'd the generall suffrage of the Realme.
Princesse.
Her modest carriage shall be rules to me,
Which I shall ever study to observe.
Queen.
I feele my body growing by the King,
And I am quicke although he know it not;
Now comes my fathers last injunction
To my remembrance, which I must fulfill,
Although a Queene, I am his daughter still.
King.
Lords, and the rest forbeare us till we call,
A chaire first, and another for our Queene,
Some private conference we intend with her:
Now leave us.
Exeunt Lords.
King.
My fairest Isabella, the choice jewell
That I weare next my heart; I cannot hide
My love to thee, 'tis like the Sunne invelopt
In watery clouds, whose glory will breake thorow,
And spite opposure, scornes to be conceal'd;
Saving one thing, aske what my kingdome yeelds,
And it is freely thine.
Queen.
What's that my Lord?
King.
I cannot speake it without some distaste
To thee my Queene, yet if thy heart be ours
Name it not to me.
Queen.
I am onely yours.
King.
Begge not thy fathers free repeale to Court,
And to those offices we have bestow'd,
Save this, my Kingdome, and what it containes,
Is thy wills subject.
Queen.
You are my King, and Husband;
The first includes allegeance, the next duty,
Both these have power above a Fathers name,
Though as a daughter I could wish it done,
Yet since it stands against your Royall pleasure,
I have no suite that way.
King.
Thou now hast thrust thy hand into my bosome,
And we are one: Thy beauty, oh thy beauty!
Never was King blest with so faire a wife.
I doe not blame thy Father to preferre
Since Europe yeelds not one of equall grace:
Why smiles my love?
Queen.
As knowing one so faire,
With whom my pale cheeke never durst compare:
Had you but seene my Sister, you would say,
To her the blushing Corrall should give way:
For her cheeke staines it; Lillies to her brow
Must yeeld their Ivory whitenesse, and allow
Themselves o'recome. If e're you saw the skie
When it was clear'st, it never could come nigh
Her Azure veines in colour; shee's much clearer,
Ey, and her love much to my Father dearer.
King.
We by our noble Martiall made request
For the most faire, and her whom he best lov'd:
Durst he delude us?
Queen.
What I speake is true,
So will your selfe say when shee comes in place.
King.
Our love to thee shall not or'ecome that hate
We owe thy Father, though thou bee'st our Queene.
Queen.
He keeps her as his Treasure, locks her safe
Within his armes: he onely minded me
As one he lov'd not, but thought meerely lost.
King.
Thou art lost indeed, for thou hast lost my heart,
Nor shalt thou keepe it longer: all my love
Is swallowed in the spleene I beare thy Father,
And in this deepe disgrace put on his King,
Which wee'le revenge.
Enter Prince, Princesse, Chester, Clinton, Bonvile, and Audley.
King.
It shall be thus:
Chester beare hence this Lady to her Father
As one unworthy us, with her that dower
The double dower he by his servant sent:
Thy teares nor knee shall once prevaile with us.
As thou art loyall, without further language
Depart our presence, wee'le not heare thee speake.
What shall I further say?
King.
Command him on his life to send to Court
His to ther Daughter, and at our first summons,
Lest we proclaime him Traytor: this see done
On thy Allegeance.
Chest.
Now the goale is ours.
King.
None dare to censure or examine this,
That we shall hold our friend, or of our blood:
Subjects that dare against their Kings contend,
Hurle themselves downe whilst others hie ascend.
Exit.
| The Royall King, and The Loyall Subject | |