 | The Loyal Svbiect |  |
Scæna prima.
Enter Duke, Burris, and two Gentlemen.Duke.
No newes of Archas yet?
Bur.
But now, and't please ye
A Post came in, Letters he brought none with him,
But this deliver'd: He saw the Armies joyne,
The game of bloud begun, and by our Generall,
Who never was acquainted, but with Conquest,
So bravely fought, he saw the Tartars shaken,
And there he said he left 'em.
Duke.
Where's Boroskie?
1 Gen.
He is up againe, and't please ye.
Bur.
Sir, me thinks
This newes should make yee lightsome, bring joy to ye,
It strikes our hearts with generall comfort.
Ex. Du.
Gone? What should this meane, so suddenly?
Hee's well?
2. Gen.
We see no other.
1.
Would the rest were well too,
That put these starts into him.
Bur.
Ile goe after him.
2.
'Twill not be fit Sir: h'as some secret in him
He would not be disturb'd in: know you any thing
Has crost him since the Generall went?
Bur.
Not any.
If there had been, I am sure I should have found it,
Onely I have heard him oft complaine for money;
Money he sayes he wants.
1.
It may be that then.
Bur.
To him that has so many wayes to raise it,
And those so honest, it cannot be.
Enter Duke and Boroskie.
1.
He comes back,
And Lord Boroskie with him.
29
There the game goes,
I feare some new thing hatching.
Du.
Come hether Burris,
Go see my Sister, and commend me to her,
And to my litle Mistrisse give this token;
Tell her I'le see her shortly.
Bur.
Yes, I shall sir.
Ex. Bur and Gent.
Du.
Waite you without: I would yet try him further.
Bor.
'Twill not be much amisse: has your grace heard yet
Of what he has done i'th' field?
Du.
A Post but now
Came in, who saw 'em joyne, and 'has deliver'd,
The enemy gave ground before he parted.
Bor.
'Tis well.
Du.
Come, speake thy mind man: 'tis not for fighting
And noise of War I keepe thee in my bosome,
Thy ends are nearer to me; from my childhood
Thou brought'st me up: and like another nature,
Made good all my necessities: speake boldly.
Bor.
Sir, what I utter, will be thought but envy
Though I intend, high heaven knows, but your honour,
When vaine and empty people shall proclaime me—
Good sir excuse me.
Du.
Do you feare me for your enemy?
Speake on your dutie.
Bor.
Then I must, and dare sir.
When he comes home, take heed the Court receive him not,
Take heed he meet not with their loves, and praises,
That glasse will shew him ten times greater Sir,
And make him strive to make good that proportion,
Then ere his fortune bred him, he is honourable,
At least I strive to understand him so,
And of a nature, if not this way poyson'd,
Perfect enough, easie, & sweet, but those are soone seduc'd sir;
He's a great man, and what that pill may worke,
Prepar'd by generall voyces of the people,
Is the end of all my councell: only this sir,
Let him retire a while, there's more hangs by it
Then you know yet: there if he stand a while well,
But till the Souldier coole, who, for their service
You must pay now most liberally, most freely,
And shewrd your selfe into 'em; 'tis the bounty
They follow with their loves, and not the bravery.
Enter 2 Gent.
Du.
But wher's the money? how now?
2 Gent.
Sir the Collonell,
Son to the Lord Archas, with most happy newes
Of the Tartars overthrow, without here
Attends your graces pleasure.
Bor.
Be not seen sir,
He's a bold fellow, let me stand his thunders,
Toth' Court he must not come: no blessing here sir,
No face of favour, if you love your honour.
Enter Theo:
Du.
Do what you thinke is meetest; I'le retire sir.
Ex.
Bor.
Conduct him in sir—welcome noble Collonell,
The.
That's much from your Lordship: pray where's the Duke?
Bor.
We heare you have beat the Tartar.
The.
Is he busie sir?
Bor.
Have ye taken Olin yet?
The.
I would faine speake with him,
Bor.
How many men have ye lost?
The.
Do's he lye this way?
Bor.
I am sure you fought it bravely.
The.
I must see him.
Bor.
You cannot yet, ye must not, what's your Commission?
The.
No gentleman o'th' Chamber here?
Bor.
Why pray ye sir?
Am not I fit to entertaine your businesse?
The.
I thinke you are not sir; I am sure ye shall not.
I bring no tales, nor slatteries: In my tongue sir,
I carry no fork'd stings.
Bor.
You keepe your bluntnesse.
The.
You are deceiv'd: it keeps me: I had felt else
Some of your plagues ere this: but good sir trifle not,
I have businesse to the Duke.
Bor.
He's not well sir,
And cannot now be spoke withall.
The.
Not well sir?
How would he ha'been, if we had lost? not well sir?
I bring him newes to make him well: his enemie
That would have burnt his City here, and your house too,
Your brave gilt house, my Lord, your honours hangings,
Where all your Ancestors, and all their battles,
Their silke and golden battles are discipher'd:
That would not only have abus'd your buildings,
Your goodly buildings sir, and have drnnke dry your butteries,
Purlcin'd your Lordships plate, the Duke bestow'd on you,
For turning hansomely o'th' toe, and trim'd your Virgins,
Trim'd 'em of a new cut, and't like your Lordship,
'Tis ten to one, your wife too, and the curse is
You had had no remedy against these Rascals,
No Law, and't like your honour; would have kil'd you too
And roasted ye, and eaten ye, ere this time:
Notable knaves my Lord, unruly Rascals:
These youths have we tide up, put muzzels on 'em,
And pair'd their nailes, that honest civill Gentlemen,
And such most noble persons as your selfe is,
May live in peace, and rule the land with a twine thread.
These newes I bring,
Bor.
And were they thus deliver'd ye?
Theod.
My Lord, I am no pen-man, nor no Orator,
My tongue was never oyl'd with Here and't like ye,
There I beseech yee, weigh, I am a souldier,
And truth I covet onely, no fine termes sir;
I come not to stand treating here; my businesse
Is with the Duke, and of such generall blessing—
Bor.
You have overthrowne the enemy, we know it,
And we rejoyce in't; ye have done like honest subjects,
You have done handsomely and well.
Theod.
But well sir?
But handsomly and well? what are we juglers?
Ile doe all that in cutting up a Capon.
But handsomely and well? does your Lordship take us
For the Dukes Tumblers? we have done bravely sir,
Ventur'd our lives like men.
Bor.
Then bravely be it.
Theod.
And for as brave rewards we look, and graces,
We have sweat and bled for't sir.
Bor.
And ye may have it,
If you will stay the giving. Men that thank themselves first,
For any good they doe, take off the lustre,
And blot the benefit.
Theod.
Are these the welcomes,
The Bells that ring out our rewards? pray heartily,
Early and late, there may be no more enemies:
Doe my good Lord, pray seriously, and sigh too,
For if there be—
Bor.
They must be met, and fought with.
The.
By whom? by you? they must be met & flattererd.
Why, what a devill aild ye to do these things?
With what assurance dare ye mocke men thus?
You have but single lives, and those I take it
A Sword may find too: why do ye dam the Duke up?
30
Should fill our empty veines againe with comforts?
But if ye use these knick knacks,
This fast and loose, with faithfull men and honest,
You'l be the first will find it.
Enter Archas, Souldiers, Putskey, Ancient, and others,
Boros.
You are too untemperate.
Theod.
Better be so, and theefe too, then unthankfull:
Pray use this old man so, and then we are paid all.
The Duke thanks ye for your service, & the Court thanks ye,
And wonderfull desirous they are to see ye;
Pray heaven we have roome enough to march for May-games,
Pageants, & bonfires for your welcome home Sir;
Here your most noble friend the Lord Boroskey,
A Gentleman too tender of your credit,
And ever in the Dukes eare, for your good Sir,
Crazie and sickly, yet to be your servant,
Has leapt into the open aire to meet ye.
Bor.
The best is your words wound not, you are welcome home Sir.
Hartily welcome home, and for your service,
The noble overthrow you gave the Enemy,
The Duke salutes ye too with all his thanks Sir.
Anc.
Sure they will now regard us.
Puts.
There's a reason:
But by the changing of the Colonels countenance,
The rolling of his eyes like angry billowes;
I feare the wind's not downe yet, Ancient.
Arch.
Is the Duke well Sir?
Boros.
Not much unhealthy,
Only a little grudging of an ague,
Which cannot last: he has heard, which makes him fearful,
And loath as yet to give your worth due welcome,
The sicknesse hath been somewhat hot i'th' Army,
Which happily may prove more doubt, then danger,
And more his feare then fate: yet howsoever,
An honest care—
Ar.
Ye say right, and it shall be;
For though upon my life 'tis but a rumor,
A meere opinion, without faith or feare in't;
For Sir, I thanke heaven, we never stood more healthy,
Never more high and lusty; yet to satisfie,
We cannot be too curious or too carefull
Of what concernes his state, wee'l draw away Sir,
And lodge at further distance, and lesse danger.
Boros.
It will be well.
Anc.
It will be very scurvy.
I smell it out, it stinks abominably,
Stir it no more.
Boros.
The Duke Sir would have you too,
For a short day or two, retyre to your owne house,
Whither himselfe will come to visit ye,
And give ye thanks.
Arch.
I shall attend his pleasure.
Anc.
A trick, a lowsie trick: so hoa, a trick boyes.
Ar.
How now, what's that?
Anc.
I thought I had found a Hare Sir,
But 'tis a Fox, an old Fox, shall we hunt him?
Ar.
No more such words.
Boros.
The souldier's growne too sawcy,
You must tie him straiter up.
Ar.
I doe my best Sir;
But men of free-born minds sometimes will slie out.
Anc.
May not we see the Duke?
Boros.
Not at this time Gentlemen,
Your Generall knowes the cause.
Anc.
We have no plague Sir,
Unlesse it be in our pay, nor no pox neither;
Or if we had, I hope that good old Courtier
Will not deny us place there.
Puts.
Certaine my Lord,
Considering what we are and what we have done;
If not, what need ye may have, 'twould be better,
A great deale nobler, and taste honester
To use us with more sweetnes; men that dig
And lash away their lives at the Carts taile,
Double our comforts; meat, and their Masters thanks too,
When they worke well, they have; Men of our qualitie,
When they doe well, and venture for't with valor,
Fight hard, lye hard, feed hard, when they come home Sir,
And know these are deserving things, things worthy,
Can you then blame 'em if their minds a little
Be stirr'd with glory? 'tis a pride becomes 'em,
A litle season'd with ambition,
To be respected, reckon'd well, and honour'd
For what they have don: when to come home thus poorly,
And met with such unjointed joy, so looked on,
As if we had done no more but drest a horse well;
So entertain'd, as if I thank ye Gentlemen,
Take that to drinke, had pow'r to please a souldier?
Where be the shouts, the bels rung out, the people?
The Prince himself?
Ar.
Peace: I perceive your eye Sir
Is fixt upon this Captaine for his freedome,
And happily you find his tongue too forward;
As I am Master of the place, I carry,
'Tis fit I thinke so too, but were I this man,
No stronger tye upon me, then the truth
And tongue to tell it, I should speake as he do's,
And thinke with modestie enough, such Saints
That daily thrust their loves & lives through hazards,
And fearelesse for their Countries peace, march hourely
Through all the doores of death, and know the darkest,
Should better be canoniz'd for their service:
What labour would these men neglect, what danger
Where honour is, though seated in a billow,
Rising as high as heaven, would not these souldiers,
Like to so many Sea-gods charge up to it?
Doe you see these swords? times Sithe was ne're so sharp Sir;
Nor ever at one harvest mow'd such handfuls:
Thoughts ne're so sudden, nor beliefe so sure,
When they are drawne, and were it not sometimes;
I swim upon their angers to allay 'em,
And like a calme depresse their fell intentions;
They are so deadly sure, nature would suffer—
And whose are all these glories? why, their Princes,
Their Countries, and their Friends? Alas, of all these,
And all the happy ends they bring, the blessings,
They only share the labors, a little joy then,
And outside of a welcome, at an upshot
Would not have done amisse Sir; But howsoever
Between me and my duty, no crack Sir
Shall dare appeare: I hope by my example
No discontent in them: without doubt Gentlemen,
The Duke will both looke suddenly and truly
On your deserts: Methinks 'twere good they were paid Sir.
Bor.
They shall be immediately; I stay for mony;
And any favour else—.
Ar.
We are all bound to ye;
And so I take my leave Sir; when the Duke pleases
To make me worthy of his eyes—
Bor.
Which will be suddenly,
I know his good thoughts to ye.
31
With all duty.
And all humility, I shall attend Sir.
Bor.
Once more you are welcome home: these shall be satisfied.
The.
Be sure we be: and hansomely.
Ar.
Waite you on me sir.
The.
And honestly: no jugling.
Ar.
Will ye come sir?
Exit.
Bor.
Pray do not doubt.
Theo.
We are no Boyes.
Exit.
Enter a Gent. and 2 or 3 with money.
Bor.
Well sir.
Gent.
Here's money from the Duke, and't please your Lordship.
Bor.
'Tis well.
Gent.
How sowre the Souldiers looke?
Bor.
Is't told?
Gent.
Yes: and for every company a double pay,
And the Dukes love to all.
Anc.
That's worth a ducket.
Bor.
You that be Officers, see it discharg'd then,
Why do not ye take it up?
Anc.
'Tis too heavy:
Body o'me, I have strain'd mine arme.
Bor.
Do ye scorne it?
Anc.
Has your Lordship any dice about ye? sit round Gentlemen.
And come on seaven for my share.
Put.
Do you thinke sir,
This is the end we fight? can this durt draw us
To such a stupid tamenesse, that our service
Neglected, and look'd lamely on, and skewd at
With a few honourable words, and this, is righted?
Have not we eyes and eares, to heare and see Sir,
And minds to understand the slights we carry?
I come home old, and full of hurts, men looke on me
As if I had got 'em from a whore, and shun me;
I tell my griefes, and feare my wants, I am answer'd,
Alas 'tis pity! pray dine with me on Sunday:
These are the sores we are sicke of, the minds malladies.
And can this cure 'em? you should have us'd us nobly,
And for our doing well, as well proclam'd us,
To the worlds eye, have shewd and fainted us,
Then ye had paid us bravely: then we had shin'd sir,
Not in this gilded stuffe but in our glory:
You may take backe your money.
Gent.
This I fear'd still.
Bor.
Consider better Gentlemen.
Anc.
Thanke your Lordship:
And now I'l put on my considering cap:
My Lord, that I am no Courtier, you may guesse it
By having no sute to you for this money:
For though I want, I want not this, nor shall not,
Whilst you want that civility to ranke it
With those rights we expected; money growes sir,
And men must gather it, all is not put in one purse.
And that I am no Carter, I could never whistle yet:
But that I am a Souldier, and a Gentleman,
And a fine Gentleman, and't like your honour,
And a most pleasant companion: all you that are witty,
Come list to my ditty: come set in boyes,
With your Lordships patience.
Song.
How do you like my Song, my Lord?
Bor.
Even as I like your self, but 'twould be a great deale better,
You would prove a great deale wiser, and take this mony,
In your owne phrase I speake now sir, and 'tis very well.
You have learn'd to sing; for since you prove so liberall,
To refuse such meanes as this, maintaine your voice still,
'Twill prove your best friend.
Anc.
'Tis a singing age sir,
A merry moone here now: I'le follow it:
Fidling, and fooling now, gaines more then fighting.
Bor.
What is't you blench at? what would you aske? speak freely.
Sol.
And so we dare: a triumph for the Generall.
Put.
And then an honour speciall to his vertue.
Anc.
That we may be prefer'd that have serv'd for it,
And cram'd up into favour like the worshipfull,
At least upon the Cities charge made drunke
For one whole year; we have done 'em ten yeares service;
That we may enjoy our lechery without grudging,
And mine, or thine be nothing, all things equall,
And catch as catch may be proclamed: that when we borrow,
And have no will to pay againe, no Law
Lay hold upon vs, nor no Court controule us.
Bor.
Some of these may come to passe; the Duke may do 'em,
And no doubt will: the Generall will find too,
And so will you, if you but stay with patience: I have no power.
Put.
Nor will: come fellow Souldiers.
Bor.
Pray be not so distrustfull.
Put.
There are waies yet,
And honest waies; we are not brought up Statues.
Anc.
If your Lordship
Have any silke stockings, that have holes i'th' heeles,
Or ever an honourable Cassock that wants buttons,
I could have cur'd such malladies: your Lordships custome
And my good Ladies, if the bones want setting
In her old bodies—
Bor.
This is disobedience.
Anc.
Eight pence a day, and hard Eggs.
Put.
Troop off Gentlemen,
Some Coine we have, whilst this lasts, or our credits,
Wee'll never sell our Generalls worth for six-pence.
Ye are beholding to us.
Anc.
Fare ye well Sir,
And buy a pipe with that: doe ye see this skarfe sir?
By this hand Ile cry Brooms in't, birchen Brooms sir,
Before I eate one bit from your benevolence.
Now to our old occupations againe.
By your leave Lord.
Exit.
Bor.
You will bite when ye are sharper; take up the money.
This love I must remove, this fondnes to him,
This tendernesse of heart; I have lost my way else.
There is no sending man, they will not take it,
They are yet too full of pillage,
They'll dance for't ere't be long:
Come, bring it after.
Enter Duke.
Duke.
How now, refus'd their money?
Bor.
Very bravely,
And stand upon such termes 'tis terrible.
Du.
Where's Archas?
Bor.
Hee's retir'd Sir, to his house,
According to your pleasure, full of dutie
To outward shew: but what within—
Duk.
Refuse it?
Bor.
Most confidently: 'tis not your revenewes
Can feed them sir, and yet they have found a Generall
That knowes no ebbe of bountie: there they eate Sir,
And loath your invitations.
Du.
'Tis not possible,
Hee's poor as they.
Bor.
You'll find it otherwise.
Pray make your journey thither presently,
And as ye goe Ile open yee a wonder.
Good sir this morning.
Duke.
Follow me, Ile doe it.
Exeunt.
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