The Famous Historye of the life and death of Captaine Thomas Stukeley With his marriage to Alderman Curteis Daughter, and valiant ending of his life at the Battaile of Alcazar |
 | The Famous Historye of the life and death of Captaine Thomas Stukeley |  |
Proceed son Vernon, on with your discourse.
Ver.
Sir Thomas Curteis, spare that name of
sonne. I must confes I should haue bin your
Sonne, and had thereto your Wiues and your
consent.
Cur.
And had son Vernon, I and so haue still?
Bones a Dod man, if I be a Knight,
Sir Thomas Curtise, and an Alderman.
they that say deny my Daughter is not yours?
Roundly off.
by ye and nay I think them not my friends,
Passion of me man, not my Daughter yours?
What say you wife.
Wife.
Husband what should I say,
Is it not knowne through London, doo not our frends
daily expect the marriage of our childe,
to maister Vernon here? and aske ye me,
what say you wife?
Cur.
Why heard ye not his words,
he must confesse he should haue bin our Son:
and thereto had both your consent and mine?
haue you denied him since. Passion of me,
Besse, and Son both, these speches make me muse
not haue our Daughter.
Wife.
Husband, husband, perhaps his mind is chaungd,
or our girls portion is not great enough,
and therefore now he seeks to break it off.
Sits the winde there wife? ha, thinke ye so?
by yea and nay, then wife he deales not well.
Come roundly roundly come, what is the matter?
passion of me, breake off, and for no cause? ha?
Ver.
Sir Thomas patience but your selfe awhile.
and you shall see, that meere necesitie
breakes off our match.
Cur.
On then a Gods name,
Ver.
I doubt not, but by marriage of your childe,
you seeke such comforts as the sacred state,
yeelds you as parents, vs as children?
Cur.
what else Sonne Vernon?
And those high blessings, no way are attained,
but by the mutuall simpathizing loue,
that as combining hands so should the harts,
of either partie, else it cannot be.
Cur.
all this is true Sonne Vernon.
Ver.
now then Sir Thomas, you cannot expect
these comforts by our matches on neither part
If you giue me her hand and not her hart,
The one I know you may, compulsesiuely.
the other neuer but vnwillingly
Cur.
Bones of dod man, how? what haue we heere?
her hand and nother hart. Nell, come hither Nell,
passion of me wench, how comes this to passe
we point ye one, you loue another, ha?
Wife.
May this be so maide, ha? why speake ye not.
Ver.
Madam, and good Sir Thomas be not rough
with your faire daughter, what her bashfulnes
conceales from you, fauour me to disclose
See ye this Gentleman heere maister Stukley?
Cur.
Oh maister Stukly a couerteous Gentleman,
what of him?
Ver.
he is the substance of my shaddowed loue,
I but a Cipher, in respect of him.
you giue me your consent, but he gaines hers,
Oh what a wrong in you, were this to her,
being your childe, and hope of after ioy,
Oh what a wrong in me, were this to him,
being my freend, my deere, esteemed frend,
to rob her of her harts best happines,
him of the good his gracious fortune giues:
If I should hinder him, or you keepe her,
from this right match, which reason doth prefer.
Cur.
Bones a dod Nell, how? loue maister Stuklie.
Wife.
A handsome proper man, but how now daughter?
must maids be chusers.
Stuk.
Madam and kind Sir Thomas, looke on me,
not with disdainfull lookes, or base contempt.
I am a Gentleman, and well deriu'de,
equall I may say, in all true respects,
with higher fortune then I aime at now.
But since your daughters vertues and firme loue,
in each of vs hath made resolued choise,
Since my deare frend to me hath yeelded vp,
what right he might prefer to your faire childe,
in true regard of our so mutuall loue:
So you your selues make perfect those faire hopes,
that by contracted marriage you expect,
where either partie resteth fully pleas'd.
Hel.
Upon my knees deare parents I intreat it,
and count it not in me immodesty,
to loue the man, whom heauen appointed for me.
your choise I must commend, but mine much more,
bearing the seale of firme affection,
his vertues in the publick worlds repute,
deserueth one more worthy then my selfe,
Since maister Vernon then prefers his friende,
before him selfe, and in so iust a case:
let me intreat that reason may take place.
To further it, thus frankely I begin,
here deare Tom stukly, all the right I haue,
In faire Nell Curtes, I resigne to thee.
be but her parents, pleasd so well as I,
God giue you ioy as man, and wife say I.
stuk.
What saies Sir Thomas shall I call him father?
and Madam, you my mother?
Cur.
Soft and faire Sir.
Come hither wife, stukly is a gallant man,
and one here in our Citty much beloued,
Wife.
Nay husband, both in Court and country too,
a Gentleman well borne, and as I heare,
his fathers heire, the match were not amisse
since Nell is so affected to him, and beside,
you see that maister Vernon leaues her quite,
Cur.
Passion of me wife, but I heard last day,
hees very wilde, a quarreller, a fighter,
I, and I doubt a spend good too.
Wife.
That is but youthfulnes, marriag will tame him,
young Gentlemen will run their course awhile,
and yet be nere the worse.
Cur.
Say ye so wife,
Well, Son Vernon (should haue bin) and maister Stukley.
Come, we will dine together, and talke more
concerning this new motion. Well Nell, well,
you cannot chuse a man? not you? by yea and nay,
I grow in good opinion of him, come, no more a doo,
we will to dinner, and be merry too.
Stuk.
I feele thee comming fortune, if it proue,
blest be the woing speeds so soone of loue.
Exeunt.
Enter maister stukly, and maister Newton, a sittisen.
Old Stuklie.
Ber Lady we haue sitten well my host
tis one a clock my watch saies: what saies your clock
much there about Sir, is it your pleasure we
prepare your Lodging.
Old Stuk.
What else Sir, nay I will not chang mine host
good maister Newton Ile be bold with you
mine old frend and aquantance and companion,
who euer else be here I must be one,
you shall not driue me from you: that yov shall not.
Newton.
my very worshipfull and louing frend maister
stukly you are right welcome to my house,
and be as bold heare as you were at home
will you abroad so soone Sir after Dinner.
Old Stuk.
Yes Sir about a little Businesses:
Newton.
Beshrow me Sir, you haue come far to day
I pray you rest your selfe this after noone,
your Bed shall be made ready if you please,
and take to morrow for your Businesses.
Old Stuk.
O Sir I thanke you, but it shal not need,
I thanke god Sir I am as fresh and lusty
as when I set this morning from mine Inne,
tut forty miles tis nothing before noone:
now in mid Aprill and the waies so faire.
Newton.
I am younger then your selfe by twenty yeers,
and Ber-Lady would not vnder take it.
Old Stuk.
Ho twenty yeers ago: I haue ridden from this
Towne to my house and nere draw bit:
but maister Newton those daies and I be parted
well Sir Ile to the Temple to see my sonne,
when saw you that vnthrifty Boy Tom Stuklie
Newton.
He was not here since you were last in towne
but the other day I saw him come vp fleet-street
with the Lord Winsor, and Lord Aburganny,
an Irish Lord or two in companie,
I promise you he is a gallant man:
Old stuk.
I had as liue you had seen him in the Temple
walk, confering with some learned Councelor
or at the moote vpon a case in Law.
Sir so you may I doubt not on occasion
Old Stuk.
I promise you I doubt it maister Newton,
I heare some things that pleaseth me but a little,
it is not my allowance serues the turne
to mainetaine company with Noblemen.
Newton.
Why Sir it showes he Bears a gallant mind
I faith he is a gallant sprightly youth,
of a fine mettle and an Actiue spirit,
Old Stuk.
god make him honest Sir: and giue him grace
Newton.
my wife expects your company at supper,
Old Stuk.
Yes Sir God willing.
Newton.
and if your sō be at leisure, I pray you bring him
Old Stuk.
I thank you Sir, I her his corage very much commended
but to licentions that is all I fear,
but that he doth accommadate with the Best,
in that he showes himselfe a Gentleman,
and though perhaps he shall not know so much,
I do not much mislike that humor in him.
A Gentleman of Bloud and quallity,
to sort gimself amongst the noblest spirits,
shewes the true sparks of honourable worth,
and rightly showes in this he is mine owne,
For when I was of young Tom Stuklies yeares
and of the Inns of court as he is now,
I would be conuersant still with the Best
the Brauest spirits, that were about the town,
But soft this is his chamber as I take it.
he knocks.
Enter the Page.
Page.
who calles there,
gods me my maisters father, now my maister hees
at the Tabling house too, what the deuill makes this
old Crackle-breech here now, howe the pox
stumbled he hether, god saue your worship.
Old Stuk.
how now Boy? wheres your maister
Page.
he is not come from dinner Sir,
how not from dinner: tis past dinner time in
the hall an hower ago. Harke ye sirra tell me
true is he in commonds, tell me not a lie now
Aside.
Page.
What shall I do, I am in a pittifull case A pox on
him for an old Scand-pouch: if he take me with a
lie now, by this flesh and bloud, heele whip me
most Pernitiously: if I should say he is in commonds
and he proue it not so, by this light hele pepper me,
faith Ile tell truth.
Old Stuk.
Sirra why speake you not,
Page.
I thinke he be not in commonds Sir,
Old Stuk.
Where dinnes he,
Page.
At Palmers ordinary,
Old Stuk.
your maister is an ordinary Student,
Page.
indeed Sir he studies very extraordinarily,
Old Stuk.
and you the rope-ripe ordinarily,
I sent him money to prouid him Bookes
Page.
See see, the deuil ought my maister a shame and
now he has paid him: he had nere so much grace as
to Buy him a keye to his studdy dore: if he haue
ere a Booke there, but old hackt swords as Foxes
Bilboes, and Horne-Buckles, I am an Infidell, I
cannot tell what to doe. Ile deuise some scuse
Old Stuk.
Sirra heare yee me, giue me the key of his studdy
Page.
Sir he euer carries it about him,
Old Stuk.
how let me see methinks the doore stands open
Page.
A plague one it, he hath found it: I was not war
Sir, be like he had thought he had lock it and turnd
the key to short.
aside
now we shall see this old cutter play his part
for in faith hees furnished with all kind of weapons,
Old stuk.
what be these my sons bookes I promise you A
studdy richly furnisht. well said Tom stukly,
Laying out all his Tooles.
for Littleton, stamford and Brooke heeres
long sword, short sword, and Buckler, but alls
for the Bar: yet I had ment to haue made my
sonne a Barester not a Baratter: but I see he
meanes not to trouble the law: I pray god the law
trouble not him: sirra Halter-sacke
Page.
Sir.
Old stuk.
Where is this towardly youth your maister.
this Lawier this Lawier, I would faine see him, his learned
maistership: where is he.
Page.
It will not be long before he comes Sir.
Old Sukly goes againe to the studdy.
If he be not curst in his mothers Belly
heele keepe him out of the way: I would I were with
him too: for I shall haue a Baiting worse then a hanging
Old stuk.
If he haue so much as a candstick I am a traitor,
but an old hilt of a Broken sword to set his light in
of a Temple pot, with a little old sarsnet in it.
heeres a fellow like to proue a Lawier, if sword and,
Butkler hold.
Enter stuklie at the further end of the stage.
stuk.
Boy, has Dicke Blackstone sent home my new
Buckler, rogue why stirs thou not
Page.
What a gaping keep you: a pox on't, my old maister
is heare: youle hate yfaith.
Stuk.
How long has he beene heere rogue.
Page.
This two howers.
stukly.
Zownds he has been taking an Inuentorye of my
houshould stuffe: all my brauery lies about the flour
Old Stuk.
O thou graceles boy, how doest thou bestowe thy time
He kneeles downe.
Stuk.
Your blessing good father.
O thou vnblessed Boy, thou vild lewd vuthrift
stuk.
How does my mother Sir, and all in Hampshere,
Old Stuk.
The worse to heare of thy demeanure here
stuk.
I am glad to heare of their good health: god continue it.
Old stuk.
Thou graceles rake hell and is all my cost
this fiue years space here for thy maintinance,
spent in this sort thou lewd misordred villaine.
Stuk.
Sir I am glad to see you looke so well,
I promise you it Ioyes me at the hart
boy bring the chaire and let my father sit,
and if old maister Prouye be within
Ile call him sir to beare you company
Old Stuk.
I, I, thou carst not how thou stopst my mouth
so that thou hearst not of thy Uillany,
it is no maruell though you write so oft
for seuerall soms to furnish you with Bookes,
beleeue me Sir, your studdys richly furnisht:
Stuk.
This villaine boy, nere Dresses vp the chamber
I pray thee put these things out of the way.
Old stuk.
I would I could cast thee out of the way
And so I should not see my shameles sonne
Be these the Bookes Sir that you looke vpon.
stuk.
Father this as right a Foxe as ere you saw
And has beene as soundly tride as any blade in England
Old stuk.
I trust you'le make me account Sir of my mony.
Indeed Sir: he dos rascand very fast in the hilts,
Old stuk.
Tom Stukly, what a shame is this for thee,
To see so many of thy countrymen
Of whom the world did nere expect thy hopes
so forward, and so towardly to the Law,
And thou whose infancies did flatter me,
with expectation of so many goods:
To proue A very chaungling and to follow,
these ruffanly and vild disordred courses.
Nay hark you father I pray you be content. I haue
done my goodwill, but it will not doe. Iohn A-Nokes and
Iohn A-styles and I cannot cotten. O this law french is
worse then Butter'd mackerell, ful of Bones, ful of Bones,
it sticks here it will not down, Aurum potabile wil not get
it down, my grand-father, bestowd as much of you as you
haue Done of me, but of my conscience you were as I am, a
true man to the house, you tooke nothing away with you.
Old stuk.
O had thy grandsir beene as kind to me
as I haue beene to thee, thou vild lewd vnthrift
I had done well.
stuk.
nay so you do, God be thanked, but hark you
Father thereis a neerer way to the wood then all
This. A neerer cut, then scratching for things out
Of a standish all a mans life, which I haue found
Out, and if you will stick to me, I doubt not but
You shall thinke I haue bestowed my time well
And this it is. I am in possibility to marry Alderman
Curtesses Daughter, now father if you will
Open the Bagg of your affection and speake but
A few good words for me to the old Alderman
shees mine horse and foote.
Old stuk.
But with what coulour can I speake for thee
Being so lewd and Prodigall a (spend thrift)
A common quarreller, with shame I speake it,
That I dare scarsly owne thee with my credit.
stuk.
Peace good father: no more of that, stick to me
once, if you will but tickle the olde fellow in
The eare, looke you, with a certaine word called a Ioyuter:
Ha, that same Ioynter, and a proper man withall
as I am, will draw you on a wench: as a
squirrills skin, will draw one a spanish shooe
Old stuk.
Now aforegod Tom stukly: thy ryots
Are so notorious in the Citty:
As I am much afraid the Alderman,
stuk.
I father this is certaine, but all thats nothing,
I haue the wenches goodwill and he must yeeld
Spight of his hart: shes worth forty thousand pound
O father this is the right Philosophers
stone, true multiplcation I haue found it.
Old stuk.
Well Sirra, come and goe with me to supper:
whether Ile send for a frend or two of mine,
and take their Better counsels in the matter.
stuk.
I pray you let it be so: Sirra Boye
Locke the doore, and bring my sword:
Page.
I will Sir.
Enter at one doore Crosse the Mercer at another spring the Vintyner.
Crosse.
I nere heard such a murmur of a marriage
Yet for my life I cannot meete a man
that soundly can report the certainty,
spring.
I cannot meet a man in any place,
But still he hath this marriage in his mouth,
This day saies one, to morrow saies another
Another saies tis past, and he was there:
Another tels me that vpon his knowledge
it is not yet this three dais at the least:
I thinke the world is set a madding I.
Crosse.
What maister spring the Uintiner
I pray god Sir your smell be as good as your tast
spring.
Maister Crosse the Mercer ist euen so, you haue
somthing in the wind: I beleeue you haue bin brought to
the Booke as wel as your neighbours: vpon my life he
Comes vpon the same Busines that I doe, and perhaps
he can tell me how the world goes here
well met maister Crosse.
Crosse.
What maister spring whether away:
spring.
I was about to aske you as much
Crosse.
O you would faine haue some companie, I feel
you. Go to, Tom Stukely shall hane the wench: and helter
skelter, the Aldermans bags shall paie for all.
spring
Art thou a true Prophet?
Crosse.
I was adreamt to night, that he paide me all in
double Pistolets.
spring.
I would I had mine in plaine Testerns.
Crosse.
Tut, beggerly paiment, hang it.
Enter sharpe the Cutlar, and Blunt the Buckler maker.
What, more of the same Couie, all birds of a feather
spring.
Sharpe the Cutler of Fleetstreat methinks,
And Blunt of the Strand the Buckler maker.
Crosse.
Haue at him at Blunt and Sharpe, for sworde
and buckler, we are for him.
sharp.
Wel met maister Spring.
spring.
So are you maister Sharpe.
Crosse.
What maister Blunt, shall we lie at Ward?
Putting out his hand
Blunt
I pray God we may sir, to saue our selues by this marriage.
spring.
Stay here coms Tom.
Stukely, and Iacke Harbart.
Enter Stukely and Harbart in their hose and doublets.
Crosse
Whats the matter.
stuk.
To speake it publiklie, in such a presence,
he hath vndone his daughter by the marriage,
you are a most disgracefull Ideot:
The greatest iniurie ere crost my spirit
could not haue drawne so base a wrong from me.
Harbart
I spake it but in myrth, but since your snuffe
Is so soon lighted, let it quench againe:
Are you so tetche Stukely, with apox.
stuk.
You are a slaue thus to abuse me Harbert,
Harb
you are a vain foole Stukely so to cal me,
stuk.
Inforce me not I prethe at this time.
Har.
Inforce you, zbloud, you wil not be inforced
Harbart your bloods too hot
Harb.
You haue brought me into the ayre to coole it then.
stuke.
Thou hast almost tempted me beyond my strength
Harb.
if I wisht that I would be your euell sperit.
Cro.
heres sword and buckler by me call for clubs.
spring.
so we may beate out the Brains of our businesse,
sharp.
we come in an ill time.
Blunt.
So I feare.
Crosse.
how now Sharp, is your edge taken off.
sharp.
I am blunted with my neighbour in faith.
stuk.
Thou camst on purpose Harbert to disgrace me.
Harb.
Sirra your mothers son lies in his throat.
stuk.
I pray thee stand not thus.
Harb.
To vnder prop your choller least it fall.
stuk.
Thou hast found a time to triumph one my courag
when I am gyued: durst thou else haue saide thus much.
Harb.
When will ye be vnfettered.
stuk.
Wher ere I meet you next, Ile haue you by the ears
Harb.
Stukly you shall not ile keepe you from my ears
by the length of my rapier.
stuk.
saie no more.
Enter Curteis, Mother Bride, and the rest.
Bride.
Where is my husband, where is maister stuklie,
alasse my hart: vpon my wedding to fall ont thus.
Moth.
For gods loue: good sonne stuklie and M. Harbart
pacifie your selfe.
Curtisse.
Fie, Tom fie, fie, Bones a Dod man, what coile is here
stuk.
What meane you sir: why rise you from the table
we rise for nothing but to talke a little,
Harbart looke to it, by this Blessed day ile be with you
Harb.
I would the day were come,
but you take day still with your creditors.
spring.
I do not like that,
Crosse.
Whhat doest thou meane.
spring.
That he shuld take longer day with his creditors.
For gods loue good sonne Stukely be content.
Cur.
gods blest Captaine Harbert, Bones of Dod man be content.
Harb.
we are good friends with all my hart,
the Dyning roome Sir growing somwhat hot,
we stept out hether but to take the ayre,
Stuke. Bride.
I pray thee good sweet hart be not so angry,
and Captaine Harbart let me tell you this,
knowing the disposition of your friend,
you might haue spard the speeches that you vsed.
Harb.
If they haue any way displeased you,
I am verie sorie.
But let him take them how he will I care not,
Stuk.
Harbart, Ile make you eate your words.
Curt.
Gods me blest, lets to dinner again, als, well als
well, Come, come, come.
Mother.
Come Master Harb. you shall be my prisoner:
Daughter take you your husband by the hand, and let vs in to Dinner.
Exit.
Crosse.
Heres a wedding indeed. I perceiue by this,
that we come in ill season for our monie.
spring.
I would I had my debt before Harbart & he meet
Sharp.
why so master spring?
spring.
Because, If they two meete, I feare
One of them payes for it, they are two tall
Gentlemen, as England yeeldes.
Blunt.
Well, lets awaie for this, and come to morrowe
the sooner.
Crosse.
Content.
Enter Vernon with Hamdon and Ridley, two of his Friends.
Ham.
If not at our requests, yet gentle friend,
For your owne safetie, change your former mind:
Haue you not wealth, Whie should you leaue the Land?
Rid.
Are you not here of credit in the Cittie,
Upon a wilful and vncertaine humor?
Ver.
I know that my estate is sound and good,
as on the one side strengthened with rich frends,
and one the other well established
by the assistance of a priuate stock:
yet what is this? Or all externall pompe
that otherwise is incident to men,
If the mind want that comfort it should haue?
beleeue me Gentlemen it is as musicke,
to men in prison, or as Dainty meate
brought to a sick man, whose afflicting paine
hath neither left him appetite nor tast.
Ham.
How springs this distcontent? wherein lies
this gall of Conscience that desturbs you so?
Rid.
We are your friends showe vs your inward griefe,
And we will either finde a remedy,
Or sharing euery one a part of it.
So lessen it, and it shall loose his force.
Ham.
In it for sorrow you forsooke your Bride,
and gaue your interrest to another man.
Rid.
You hit the naile vpon the head: tis that
and nothing else that breeds this discontent.
Ver.
Be not deceiu'd, I did it by aduise,
Nor do I any way repent me of it:
She lou'd not me, albeit I honord her:
and such a match what were it but to ioyne
fire and water? Marriage is no toy,
to be desired where there is Dislike,
and therefore weighing his deserts with mine,
her loue to him, and his to her againe,
I rather chose to benefite my Friend,
whereby two might be pleasd: than greedilie
assuming what I might, displease all three.
Ham.
What then hath weand you from your countreys loue?
Nor that, nor any thing, I know not what:
yet whilst I breath this natiue ayre of mine,
Methinks I sucke in poison to my hart:
and whilst I tread vpon this English earth,
It is as if I set my carelesse feet
Upon a banke, where vnderneath is hid
a bed of crawling Serpents: any place
but only here (methinks) would make me happy,
Say twere the meanest Cottage in the world:
But here I am accurst, and here I liue.
as one depriued both of soule and sence.
Which strange conceit from whence it should proceed,
I cannot vtter, other than from this,
That I am fired with a desire to trauell,
and see the fashions, state, and quallities
of other Countries: Therefore if you loue me
offer no further to resist in me
The setled resolution of my mind.
Rid.
Yet since you needs will leaue vs and the Realme,
go not to Ireland: The countries rude
and full of tumult and rebellious strife,
Rather make choise of Italy or France.
Ver.
My word is past vnto a Gentleman,
with whom I will not breake: and here he comes.
Enter Harbart and another Captaine.
Har.
Sir as I told you, euen at dinner time,
His fury was so great, as he must needs
Rise from the table to confer with me,
About my speeches which I did maintaine,
And sure if place had serud we there had fought,
Cap.
I would I could deuise to make you friends.
The rather for I heare he is appointed.
to haue a charg in this our Irish expedition.
Ham.
It is no matter: Harbart fears him not,
as he of his: and will at any time,
Or when he dares meet him vpon that quarrell.
Ver.
Captaine well met.
Harb.
Maister Uernon we stay for you,
Our horses halfe an houer agoe were ready,
And we had backt them but we lackt your companie.
Ver.
Some conference with these gentlemen my frends
Made me neclect mine houre: but when you please,
I now am ready to attend on you.
Harb.
It is well done, we will away forthwith,
Saint albans though the day were further spent
We may well reach to bed to night.
Ver.
Kinde frends I now must bid ye both farewell.
Ham.
Naie we wil see you Mounted ere we part.
(Exeunt.
Enter Curtes and his Casher.
Cur.
Sirrha, what men are those that stay without?
Cash.
Some that would speake with M. Stukly Sir.
Cur.
Knowst what their busines is, or whence they come
Cash:
Tradesmen they are, and of the Citty sir,
But what their busines is I cannot tell.
Cur.
Upon my life some Creditors of his,
That hearing of his matching with my Daughter
come to demaund some mony which he owes them.
It is euen so, They know he hath receiude
his marriage money: they perceiue hees flush,
and meane to share with him, ere all be gone.
Ile see the sequele: Here he coms himselfe,
and with him (O the body of me)
Halfe the Tradesmen in the towne (I thinke)
Enter Stukelie with bagges of money. After him thronging Arthur Crosse the Mercer, Iohn sparing the Vint. William sharp, Tho, Thump, Geo, haz, tennis keeper, henry Crackc
Stuk.
Now ye slaues: a man can no sooner step
into a little wealth, but presently
youle haue the sent of him, youle visit him,
heres billes enough: had I now as many
shot and piks, I would with a valiant band
of mine owne subiects march among the Irish,
but let me see: deliuer your petition
Crosse deliuers his bill.
Ile proue an honest man athe chauncerie
Cur.
Little law I feare and lesser Conscience.
stukly
The grosse sum of your debt Sir.
Crosse.
two hundred pound.
Stuk.
For what?
Crosse.
For silks and veluets Sir.
Stuk.
Your name.
Cros.
Arthur Crosse the Mercer.
stuk.
Well maister Crosse, the first sillabell of your name
might haue spard ye this labour: but all is one: thers
your money.
Cur.
Two hundered pounds? so theirs an end of that,
I will be sworne I got it not so soone.
Stuk.
Your title to my purse.
Spa.
Thurty pounds Sir.
Stuk.
For what?
Spa.
For Tauerne suppers, and for quarts of wine
stuk.
Oh at the Gray hound in fleetstreet.
spa.
I Sir the same.
Stuk.
Your name is Sparing.
spa.
Iohn Sparing Sir, the vintener.
Cur.
you spard not him when you did score so much:
stuk.
There maister Sparing, would I were your scoller
That I might learne to spare as well as you,
Exit spa.
That will neere be vntill it be too late.
stuk.
Now Sir to you.
sharp.
Your seruant Sir: william Sharp for Bilboes,
Foxes and Tolledo blades.
stuk.
What.
sharp.
Forty markes:
stuk.
you cut somewhat deepe maister Sharp, but thers a
preseruitiue for a green wound.
Cur.
Beshrow me but ii wounds me: what preseruitiue
haue I for that.
stuk.
Of whence are you,
Thu.
Tho Thumpe Sir, the Buckler maker of S. Giles
stuk.
The sum therevnto belonging.
Thu.
Fifteene pound Sir for broade lind Bucklers
beside steele piks,
Cur.
Body of me, halfe the monie would arme fiue tall
fellows for the wars.
stuk.
Thumpe I will not answere you with the like violence
for if I should, the broadest buckler that ere you made
would not defend you from being bankerout.
Thu.
I thanke your worship.
Exit Thumpe.
stuk.
Are you sick of the yellows too?
Haz.
Not so sick Sir but I hope to haue a childs
part by your last will & testament
Cur.
Thers a knaue, he thinks after they are paid?
he meanes to go and hang himselfe: whats his legacie
stuk.
For tennis Balles when the Frenchimbassitor was
here thirteene pound: is it so much.
Haz.
Iust so much with the fowling of fair Linnen when
you were hot.
Cur.
Faire Linnen? hoy daie: your fair Linnen wipes
him of a good deale of monie.
stuk.
Georg Hazzard I take it thats your name.
Haz.
my name is so Sir.
stuk.
George: you haue hit the hazzard,
giues him mony
It was a hazzard whether he would haue hit or no,
But for my mony.
Stuk.
What else.
Crack.
I hope Sir: your worship hath not forgot Harry
Crack the Fencer, for forfits, and vennyes giuen vpon a
wager at the ninth button of your doublet, thirty Crowns.
Cur.
Cracke his crowne and that makes one and thirtye.
stuk.
Well Crack I haue no wy to defend your thrust,
but by this downe right blow.
(Giues him mony.
Crack.
I take it double Sir, and please you
stuk.
Let it suffice your valliant and my choller past.
More clients yet? your name?
Blu.
Geffery Blurt Sir. Balife of Finsburie
For fraies and bloudshed in the theater fields, Fiue marks.
Cur.
Body of me nere a Surgeian in this town would
haue askt more.
stuk.
Blurt I haue no reason to pay thee whole.
Blu.
Why so and please you.
stuk.
Iack Dudley and I were haues in that action take
part of him.
Blur.
Allasse Sir, hees in Finsbury Iaile for hurting a
man behind the windmilles last Satterday.
Stuk.
Why then belike you haue good pawn for your mony
Blu.
I would we had Sir.
stuk.
Well I see your Dogged natures: a good sword and
buckler man is of no reckoning amongst ye: but let the
Sheriffe thinke, when he hath lost Iack Dudly,
he looseth twenty marke a yeere as good fee simple
as ere a barron in England holds. Thers your amerciaments.
And giue Iack Dudley this from me to pay his
Fees.
Exit Blurt.
Blu.
I thank ye Sir.
Cur.
I would he had broke his pate ere he went in earnest,
of a new reckoning: ah son, son, thou hast deceiued
my opinion, my daughter cast away, and I haue
bequeahtd my mony to a prodigall.
Father why so, shall I not pay my debts?
stuk.
Not with my mony son, not with my mony.
stuk.
It is mine owne, and Stuklie of his owne,
will be as Franke as shall the Emperor.
I scorne this trash, betrayer of mens souls:
Ile spurne it with my foot: and with my hand,
Raine shewers of plenty one this Barren land,
were it my fortune could exceed the clouds,
yet would I beare a mind surmounting that.
father you haue enough for your, and for your store
When mine is gone you must prouide me more.
Exit.
Cur.
Is it euen so. The captaines words are true:
he is a spend thrift but ile keepe him short
he gets not a dennier more then he hath.
Enter Lady Curteis and Old Stuklie.
Lady.
Husband you are sent for in all the hast
to the yeeld hall, about the Souldiers
that are to be dispatcht for Ireland.
Cur.
I may be sent for wife whether I will,
and tis no matter greatly where I goe,
Lady.
Why so I pray.
Cur.
Would you ere haue thoght
that tauerns, Fencers, Baliffes, and suco like,
should by the fruites of my late sitting vp,
and early rising, haue maintained their state,
Old Stuk.
What meane ye brother Curteis.
Cur.
Ah brother Stuklie,
My meaning had you beene but heere euen now,
you might haue scand without my vtterance,
here was Item, vpon Item, such a crue
as I nere saw one man indebted too.
Enter Stukely, Lieft, Ens, Drum, and soldiors.
Lief.
Here stay we soldiors till the houre be come
our captaine did appoint to meet with vs:
The valiant Stukly: we shal haue a guide,
Theres not a better in the Regiment.
Giue you assault vpon, the enimie
follow me: and so himselfe will be
The formost man that shall begin the fight.
Nor will he nicelie creepe into the the towne,
when we are lodgd with in the dampish field,
but voluntarilie pertake your toyle,
and of his priuate purse releeue your wants,
Ens.
Leeuetenant hees a galant Gentleman.
We know it well, and he that is not willing
to venture life with him, I would for my part
he might end his daies worser then the pestilence.
Lief.
Nay if you looke but on his mind,
much more occasion shall ye find to loue him
Hees liberall, and goes not to the wars
to make a gaine of his poore Souldiors spoile,
but spoile the foe to make his Souldiers gaine,
and here he comes stand all in good array.
Enter stukly and his Wife.
stuk.
I prethee wife Importune me no more,
might tears perswade or words preuaile with me,
thy tears and words ere this had won mee state:
but tis not thou nor anie power but his
that has that power to take awaie my life,
that can abridge my purpose I will goe.
Wife.
shall then my ioyes haue an end ere they begin
and shall the terme of three daies being Wife,
for euer after cause a widdowhood,
We scarse are ioynd together and must part,
we scarse are warme with in our nuptiall bed,
and you forsake me there to freezse alone:
Oh doe not so and if you euer loued,
or if you neuer loued, yet in regard
of my affection, leaue me not so soone
Good Lord that thou wilt still importune me,
Haue I not said I vndertake this taske,
Only to make thee great.
Wife.
But I desire to be no more then what I am alredy
So by your absence I be made no lesse.
stuk.
But that contents not me, it is not chambering
Now I haue beauty to be dallying with,
Nor pampering of my selfe with belly cheare,
Now I haue got a little worldly pelfe,
that is the end or leuels of my thought:
I must haue honour, honour is the thing
Stukly doth thirst for, and to clime the Mount
Where she is seated gold shall be my footstoole,
Wife.
But there are many daungers by the way,
and hastie climers quicklie catch a fall.
stuk.
he sonest looseth that despaires to winn,
but I haue no such preiudiciall feare,
If there be any shall outliue the brunt
of raging war, or purchase dignitie,
I am perswaded to be one of those.
If all miscarrie: yet it will not grieue,
or grieue the lesse to die with company.
Wife.
That name of death alreadie martirs me,
stuk.
Tut neuer feare: and if I chaunce to die
Thou being a lustie widdow: thers enrw
will gladlie sue to be receiud of thee,
the worst is I confes, I leaue thee poore,
as taking with me all the Iewels thou hast,
And all the coine was giuen me for thy dower:
But I do leaue thee with a wealthy father,
And one that will not see thee want I know,
Beside thou hast a ioynture of such Lands,
as I am born vnto: and therefore sease,
And let me seale thy lips vp with this kisse.
Wife.
Stay but a day or two and then depart.
are not my souldiers ready: what a shame
were it to send them forward and my selfe
come lagging after like one that fears,
or went vnwillingly vnto wars,
as thou respects me talk no more to me.
Wife.
Am I so odious that I may not speak,
Well I haue listned when you talkt ere now,
Or words had beene the haruest of your hope,
But since to silence I am so inioyned,
I would my life might likewise haue an end
Stuk.
March hence away, or still there will be cast,
Some let or other to detract our hast.
As they are Marching, Enter curteis and Old Stukly.
cur.
Bones a Dod man, laie downe thy tabor sticks,
And heare me speake, or with my Dudgen dagger
Ile plaie a fit of mirth vpon thy pate.
Why here me Tom, here me son stukly, ha:
What here to daie, and gone to morrow. See
Thy wife laments, canst thou behold her weepe,
stuk.
Sound drums I say: I will not heare a word.
Old Stuk.
Wilt thou not hear thy father Graceles Boie.
stuk.
Father, vnlesse you meane I shall be thought
a traitor to her Maiesty: a coward,
a sleepy dormouse, and a carpet squire
Mix ntmy forward summer with sharpe breath,
Nor intercept my purpose being good.
Old Stuk.
I come not wilfull Boy as a reprouer
Of any vertuous action thou intends,
But to reproue thy lacke of husbandry,
And the vnthrifty courses thou hast vsde,
Learne to be sober, and not rashly thus,
To rush into affaires of such great moment.
Stuk.
Father, I know not what you tearme rashnes,
Or strenth to weild a sword, I uowd in hart
To be a souldior, and the time now serues,
And now my vow shall be accomplished,
For any thing betwixt my wife and me:
we are agreed: how euer sower cheere
Doe at our parting show the contrary:
If you as well as she can be perswaded,
Why so, if not sound drums I will not heare no more.
cur.
Nay Tom, son Tom, thou art deceiud in me
I am not griued that thou shouldst serue thy prince,
Nor doe I take exeptions at thy mind,
So long as honor is thy obiect Tom,
But that without our knowledge thou departs,
And one the sudden: body of me, tis that
That striks a discontentment in vs all.
Stuk.
I cannot helpe it Sir, with all my hart,
And in all reuerend duty of a Son,
I take my farwell: Fathers of you both
Thus much intreating if I nere returne,
Ye would haue both a care vnto my wife.
Exit
Old stuk.
Well Brother Curtise hope the best of him
He may returne a comfort to vs all,
And were a not my son I would commend
His resolution, tis heroycall.
Cur.
Thers no remedy now but patience,
But were the Bargaine to be begin againe,
I would be twise aduised ere Ide bestow
My daughter so: ywis, so large a sum,
Is more then I had thought should fly with wings,
Of vaine expences into Ireland.
But all is one, come daughter neuer mourne,
I will not see thee want whilst I do liue.
Old stuk.
I hope she hath the like conceit of me,
Then comfort girle feare no extremity.
Exeunt.
Oneale.
O Hamlon.
Hamlon.
Ow.
One.
Treade softlie on the stones,
The water tells vs we are neere the towne,
Neale Mackener come on, fixe all our eies
vpon the walles of this bewitched towne,
that harbours suth a sort of English churles,
to see if any signall be set out
Where we shall enter to suprise Dundalke.
Mackener.
Oneale speake softly we are neere the walles,
the English Sentinells do keepe good watch,
if they descry vs all our labours lost.
Ham.
Our labour lost, for we can see no signe
of any white that hangeth ouer the wall.
Where we shall enter by our spies within.
Oneale.
A plague vpon the drowzie drunken slaues,
Bryan Mac Phelim, and that Neale O Quyme,
Who being Drunke or sleeping with his Drabs,
Forget the busines that they haue in hand.
Mack.
O Neale be patient & suspect the worst,
they maye vnto the English be betraid,
or else perceiuing strong watch euery where,
Dare not approach the walles or gates for feare.
Ham.
Oneale, thy secretary saies very true,
the English knowing all the power so nere,
will be more watchfull then their custome is,
So both our spies and frends dare not assay,
To hang out signall nor come nere the Port.
Neale.
Why so it is, I know within Dundalke.
I haue ten frends to one the English haue.
I meane of towns men: but sure pollicie
Cannot by might attaine our entrance in.
that we might cut of all the English heads,
Of thers that watch and thers that sleepe in beds
to morrow comes O Kane with Gallinglasse,
and teage magennies, with his lightfoot kerne,
then will we not come miching thus by night,
But charge the towne and winne it by day light,
O Hanlon, captaine Harbart shall be thine,
and Gainsfords ransome shall be Mackeners.
Han.
Thanks great Oneale.
Mack.
Be whist I heare one stir
On Coughs within.
Oneale.
Some English Soldior that hath got the cough,
Ile ease that griefe by cutting off his head.
Mack.
These English churles die if they lacke there bed,
and bread and beere porrage and powdred beefe.
Han.
O Marafastot shamrocks, are no meat,
Nor Bonny clabbo, nor greene Water-cresses,
Nor our strong butter, nor our sweild otmeale,
and drinking water brings them to the Flixe.
Oneale.
It is there nicenes silly puling fooles,
Mack.
There be of them can fare as hard as we,
and harder too, but drunkerds and such like.
as spend there time in ale house surfetting,
And brothell houses quickly catch their Bane,
Oneale.
One coughes againe, lets slip aside vnseene,
to morrow we will ease them of their spleen.
Enter Shane Oneale O Hanlon, Neale Mackener softly as by night.
Onele.
O Hanlon.
Humlon.
Owe.
Oneale.
Fate is the token? fate siegne that Brian Mack
Phelem said he would hang oot?
Han.
I feate I kno not ask the Shecretary.
On.
Neale Mackener.
Mack.
Hest, Oneale hest, pease too art at the vater seed.
On.
Fate is the token bodeaugh breene? That I sall see
Mack.
I feat Oneale thoo art Saint Patrick his cushin and
a great Lord, but thou art not weeze. The siegne is a paire
Of feete trouzes, or a feete shurt, or some feete blankead,
To be hang oote ober the valles, fan we sall be let in
At the lettle Booygh dore by the abbay.
Oneale.
Esta clamper, thoo talkest to much the English
Upon the vall will heare the, lake, feagh bodeaugh
Dost thou see any thing feete.
Mack.
No by this hand, shan Oneal, we see no feat thing
One coughs within.
Han.
Cresh blesh vs, fo ish tat ishe coughes.
Mack.
Saint Patrick blesh vs we be not betraid.
Oneale.
Mackener, Mack Deawle, marafastot art thou a
feete liuerd kana: Tish some English churle in the toone
That coughes, that is dree, some prood English souldior hees
a dree cough, can drinke no vater. The English churle dees
If he get not bread and porrage and a hose to
lee in: but looke is the sieegne, oote, zeele cut his troate and
Help him of his cough fan I get into Dundalk.
Mack.
Bee this hand Oneale der is no siegne, zee am
afaid Brian Mack Phelemy is wyd his streepo, and forgeats
To hang a siegne or let vs in.
Oneale.
No matter come, no noyse tis almost day, softly
let vs creepe aboote by the valles seed ane awan sone at night
Euen at shuttene of the gates fan Ocane and Magennis
Come from Carlingford, we will Enter lusttly the town
Mackener O Hanlon, zee will giue you tree captaines
to ransome.
Han.
Zee wil take tree prishoners and giue thee too and take de turd my self
One.
Speake softly O Hanlon and gow make ready oore
kerne and Gallinglasse against night, and bid my bagpiper
be ready to peep Ballootherie soon, for I will sleepe in Dundalke
at night. come go back into the Fewes again.
Han.
Slaue haggat Bryan Mac Phelemy.
Slaue lets Rorie beg.
Exit.
Enter Herbart at one dore with soldiors, and Vernon at another.
Harb.
God morrow mayster Vernon.
Ver.
God morrow Captaine Harbart.
Harb.
Is it your vse to be so earlie vp
such vigilance doth fit vs soldiers best,
and search our garrisons for feare of spies,
Ver.
And trauellers that vse to walke the rounde,
of euerie Countrey to surveye the world,
must not be frend with sleepe and idlenesse.
But in plaine termes I do preuent mine houre,
by reason of a gentle mans report
that is a soldier and did walke the round,
Who comming in this morning to his rest,
saide the enimie was about the towne to night.
Lieu.
So saide this soldier that stoode Sentynell,
now this last watch at Dawning of the day,
that he did heare hard by the water side,
nere the North gate that opens toward the Fewes,
some trampling on the grauell vp and downe:
he did but Cough and thought to call to them,
And they were gon: soldier was it so.
Soul.
Yes gouernor I know twas Shane Oneale,
they were so whist whilst they were nere the walls,
pray god the haue no spies within the towne.
Harb.
Thou prayst too late, the townsmen are spies,
and help and store them with prouision,
and loue them better then vs Englishmen.
Ver.
It behooues you therefore to be circumspect
Lieu.
Feare not you that, Ile serch the towne my selfe,
and place a double gard at euere gate.
How stands the wind?
Ver.
From England very fayre.
Wee looke for fresh supplies to come from thenec
to strength our garryson for yt is but weake,
and we must beare the brunt of all the North.
Ver.
your men are healthfull.
Harb.
theres no soldier sik,
But he that drinkes or spende his thrift at dice
Sound a Drume a sare of,
what drume is this?
Ver:
A drume without the towne.
Harb.
Some band of men from England new arryu'd,
or els some Company of the English Pale,
bid Captaine Gainsford gard the Sowthern Port:
Toward Tredaghe, and take that Companie in,
Ile see our troups in redines this day,
for I expect the Irish soune at night,
Ver.
What will you do.
Ile to the southerne Port,
to see what Captaine leads this band of men
Exiunt
Harb.
I make ye liuetenant Gouernor for the time.
Enter Stukely, his Lifetenant Auntient Drume Souldiers and Company.
stuk.
I muse what Lord is gouernor of this towne,
That comes not forth to welcome Stukely in.
Lieu.
The townes so long he cannot here our Drume,
And if he did he knowes not whose it is?
Stuk.
Drum, thumpe thy tapskinnes hard about the pate
Drumme sounds Enter Vernon Gainsford and Soldiers.
and make the Ram-heads heere that are within:
Zounds who is that Vernon with a partysane,
Is he a Souldior? then the Enimies dead.
Ver.
Is Stukly come? Whom I desire to shun?
and must he needs to Ireland follow me?
I will not draw that ayre wherin he breaths,
one kingdom shall not hold vs if I can.
Is not this lusty Stukly with his men?
Ver.
Yes captaine Gainsford this is lusty Tom.
Stuk.
These gallants are growne ceremonies,
They stand at gaze as if they knew me not,
Or else they straine a further compliment,
to see if I will vaile my bonnet first,
Ile eat my fether ere I moue my hat,
Before I see their crownes vncouered.
Lief.
Cherish that humor it becomes your port.
Ver.
He doth expect we should salute him first:
Gains.
Tis fit we should for hees but new ariu'd,
Ver.
Your welcome into Ireland captaine Stukly.
stuk.
Gramercies maister Uernon, and well met,
I did not dreame that you professed armes,
Ver.
It is not my profession but my pleasure
The Gouernour being busie in the towne,
Makes we Lieutenant Gouernor for the time.
Gains.
Braue captaine Stukley welcom to Dundalk.
stuk.
Thanks captaine Gainsford euen withall my hart.
Stuklies Lieft. deliuers a Letter to vernon.
ver.
To me Lieftenant? from whom I pray ye.
Lief.
From an old friend.
Ver.
Ile see what frend it is
stuk.
What Enemie lies there nere about this towne?
Gains.
The Rebell Shane Oneale and all his power.
Stuk.
Why doe ye not beat them home into their dens?
Gains.
We haue enough a do to keepe the Towne.
Stuk.
To keepe the towne? dare they beleager it?
Gains.
I and assaulte it.
Stuk.
Hang them sauage slaues,
Belike they know you dare not issue out,
Who is Gouernor here?
Gains.
Thats Captaine Harbart Sir.
Stuk.
Sdeath I am bewitched, mine enemie Gouernor,
well tis no matter, yle about without him,
aside alone.
Tis maruell heele iudure their prowde approach,
Harbert is valliant: but the slaues are proud,
And haue no boote to fetch worth folloing them.
Gains.
Yes captaine Stukly they haue gallant horse,
The best in Ireland are of Ulsters breed,
They haue a pray of Garrans cowes and sheepe,
Well worth a brace of thousand pounds at least,
Stuk.
Hang cows and sheep, but haue among theyr horse,
Ile loose this head but ile haue hobbies from them.
What news from England that ye read so long
To Vernon.
Ver.
The largest newes concernes your selfe.
Stuk.
Wherein.
Ver.
Will Mallerye writs, ye do not loue your wife,
You are vnkind, you make not much of her.
Stuk.
Writs he I haue not made much of my wife,
Ile tell ye captaine how much I haue made,
(To Gainsford.
I haue made away her portion and her plate,
Her borders, bracelets, chaines and all her Rings,
And all the clothes belonging to her back,
Saue one poore gowne, and he that can make more,
Of one poore wife let him take her for me,
Ver.
Well had I known you would haue made so much,
you should not haue beene troubled with my loue.
Stuk.
come, strike vp drum, lets march into the towne,
Ver.
UUell go thy waies a kingdom is to smal,
(Exeunt all but Vernon
For his expence that hath ny meane at all,
Doubtles if euer man was misbegot,
It is this Stukly: of a boundles mind,
Undaunted spirit, and vncontrouled spleene,
Lauish as is the liquide Oceane,
That drops his crownes euen as the clouds drop Raine,
Yet once I loud him better then my selfe,
when like my selfe too prodigall in loue,
I gaue my loue to such a Prodigall,
as if his breath infected all the aire,
And therefore Ireland now farwell to thee,
For though thy soile no venime will sustaine,
There treads a monster on thy fruitfull brest,
If any shipping bee for Spaine or Fraunce,
Abord will I and seeke some further chaunce.
Enter Herbert in a shirt of male and Booted. and his Page with him.
Herb.
Boy, bid the Seriant Maior shut the gates,
And see them guarded with a double ward,
That done, bid him commaund the companies,
To man the walles: then bid the messenger
Hast with these letters te ihe Deputy,
Exit Page
Enter Srukly.
Come captaine Stukly whers your campany,
Draw then with speede vnto the water Port.
Stuk.
Is there for euery one a Tankerd there?
Herb.
How do you meane a Tankerd?
Stuk.
Sir in briefe,
I made a vow you know it well inough,
For your kindspeeches to my wiues old Dad,
Sir Thomes Curteis: that wheresoeuer we met
I would fight with you, therefore your tooles,
(He Drawes.
Her.
UUhat were my speeches?
Stuk.
That the old knight had cast awaie his Daughter
when ye perceiud she was bestowed on me.
Har.
I spake those words, and thou hast proud them true
Stuk.
and for those words Harbert ile fight with you
Har.
Rash hare braind Stuklie, knost thou what thou dost
to quarrell in a towne of Garrison,
and Draw thy wepon on the Gouernor?
Stuk.
Zounds haue ye logick to defend your skin,
Lay by your tricks and take you to your tooles,
think ye your Gouernors tittle 's rapier proofe,
Come, come, vntrusse put off those coward shifts
Stukley thou knowst I am a soldior,
And hate the name of carpet coward to death,
I tell thee but the discipline of war.
Stuk.
Gods, you may hang vs then by the law,
By law of manhood here I challeng thee,
Lay by thy terms and answere like a man.
Harb.
Thou seest the publique enemie is at hand,
And we shall fight about a priuate brall.
Stuk.
Nor shall that shift Tom Harbart serue thy turne.
Harb.
Then giue me leaue but to disarme my selfe,
Thou knowst I scorue t'haue ods of anie man.
stuk.
Disarme of what? of schole boies haberdines
Such as they cast at points in euer streete?
No arme thy legs, put splinters in thy bootes,
cask on thy head, and gantles on thy hands,
Would thou wert armd in pistoll proofe compleat,
And nothing bare but euen thy verie lips,
I hold my head ile hurt thee in thy mouth,
Laie by thy scar-crow name of Gouernor,
And arme thee els vnto a fingers breadth.
Harb.
Brauing braggart since thou dost seeke thy death
Looke to thy selfe ile speed thee if I can,
They fight.
stuk.
Sir your teeth bleeds this picktooth is to keene,
Drum soundeth and a Bagpipe.
Har.
Hark the enemies charges we must to the walles,
another time ile pick your teeth as well.
stuk.
Euen when ye can. I said I would hit your mouth.
Exeunt Ambo: Alarum is sounded, diuers excurtions, Stukly persues, shane Oneale, and Neale Mackener, And after a good pretty fight his Lieftenannt and Auntient rescue Stuklie, and chace the Ireshe out. Then an excurtion berwixt Herbert and O Hanlon, and so a retreat sounded. Enter Harbart, Gainsford, and some souldiors on the walles.
Are all the gates and Posternes closd againe.
Gai.
I euery one, and strong gards at them all.
har.
Who would haue thought these naked sauages,
These Northerne Irish durst haue beene so bold,
T'haue giuen assault vnto a warlike towne?
Gains.
Our suffrance and remissenes giues them hart,
we make them proud by mewing vp our selues,
In walled towns, whilst they triumph abroad
and Revell in the countrey as they please.
harb.
Well Seriant Maior we will stur abroad,
This soddaine sally was performd as men,
It cut three hundred rebells throats at least,
And did discomfite and disperse them all.
Gains.
Had we persude we had tane a lusty pray.
hatb.
Ye see tis night, and time we should retire,
To guard the town, but hark what drum is this:
Are any of our company without?
Gains.
Tis lustie Stukley if any be abroad,
He is so eager to persue the foe,
And flesh his souldiers that are new arriude,
that he forgot or heard not the retreat,
At which gate shall he enter Gouernor?
harb.
He shall not enter, giue me all the keyes,
Ile teach him dutie and true discipline
Enter Stukly Lieftenant: Auncient Drum and soldiers, a noies within of driuing beasts.
stuk.
Are the gates shut alreadie? open how.
herb.
Who knocks so boldly?
stuk.
Ha? who's that aboue?
her,
Herbart the Gouernor, who is that below?
Stuk.
Stuley the captaine, knocks to be let in
herb.
Stukley the captaine comes not in to night.
Stuk.
How? not to night? I am sure ye do but iest.
herb.
I do not vse to iest in these affaires.
stuk.
Ye do not iest and I must stay without,
Nor company, nor Captaine comes in heere,
vntill the morning that the gates be ope.
Stuk.
We humble thank ye honorable Sir?
what if the Irish should make head, againe,
and set vpon vs woulde ye rescue vs,
Harb.
No why retird ye not at the retreat,
As did my selfe and all the other troupes,
Stuk.
Because I ment not to come empty home,
But bring some booty to enrich my men,
Besides in prosecution we haue slaine
Two hundreth Irish since yo left the chace,
And brought a prey six hundreth cowes at least
Forty chiefe horse, a hundred hatkneys Iades
and yet the Gouernor will not let vs in.
Harb.
No sir I will not and will aunswer it.
If all your throats be cut you are well serud,
To teach ye know the discipline of warre.
There is a time to fight a time to cease,
a time to watch, a time to take your rest,
a time to open and to shut the Ports,
and at this time Stukley the gates are shut,
and till a full time shall not be opte.
Stuk.
Solomon saies with words mild.
Spare the rod and spill the child,
Wholsome instruction, goodly dissipline:
This is a simple piece of small revenge.
But this I vow who shut mee out of by night,
shall neuer see me enter heere by daie.
will ye sir let the pray taken in,
For feare the Ireshe rescue yt againe.
Gains.
twer pitty Sir to lose so good a pray,
And greater pitty but to lose one man.
Harb.
You may let in the pray. But keepe them out,
Stuk.
stay Seriant Mayor? O white liuerd lout,
More than a man to Gods owne liknes mad?
Harbart.
Thou getst not one cow to thy share,
Nor a owes taile, vnles as Cacus, did,
I by the taile could draw one from the heard,
And cast her at thy head the hornes and all.
Herb.
Go make your Cabane vnderneath the wall,
And so god night.
stuk.
Farwell go pick your teeth,
Exeunt Harb and Gains
How glad am I my trunkes are yet abord,
Liftenant, Autient, Fellow soldiers all,
I would we might not part but needes we must,
Tom stukely Can not brooke the least disgrace.
To night Ile byde such venture as you shall
Lets man the bridge, the water flowes apace,
If the enimie come he dare not passe the floud
So on this side we with our praye are safe.
How many Cowes shall fall vnto my share.
Lief.
all if ye please, your valor compassed all.
stuk.
shall all the cowes be mine, Ile not haue one.
Thirtie chiefe horse if you will let me haue,
two shippe from hence to seke a better coast.
His Purse.
share that amongst ye, theres a hundred pound,
and two moneths pay thats due vnto my selfe.
I giue you franklie, drink it for my sake.
Lief.
But Captaine will you leaur this land indeed
stuk.
Before the son the morning doth salute
Ile see my hobbies safely sent abord,
Then follow I that scorne to be contrould,
Of any man thats meaner then a king,
farewell Oneale, if Stukly here had staid,
thy head for treason, soone thou shouldst haue paied.
Exeunt.
Enter Oneale with a halter about his neck, and Neale Mackener after him.
Mack.
Oh what intends the great Oneale by this?
Neale Mackener, I do not weare this cord,
as doubting or fordooming such a death,
but thou who art my Secretarye, knowst
that my vnkind Rebellions merite more:
Therefore I beare this hatefull cord in signe
of true Repentance, of my treasons past,
and at the Deputies feete on humble knees
will sue for pardon from her maiesties:
Whose Clemencie I grieve to haue abus,
what sayest thou: is it not my safest course,
Mack.
Can I beliue that mighty shane Oneale?
Is so deiect in corage as he seemes
or that his dauntles dragon winged thoght,
can humble them at any Princes feet.
Oneale
What can I do my forces are dispersd,
my kinred slayne, my horses made a praye,
Ocane, O hanlon, and Magennis kild,
If the Queenes power pursue I am but dead,
If I submit she is mercifull
Her Deputy will graunt me life in her behalfe.
Mack.
Thou canst not tell the state offended stands
And thou condemnd in euery subiects eie,
And I am censurd for my practises,
Rather retire thee into Clamgeboy.
Where Alexander and Mack Gilliam Buske,
May ioyne their Scots vnto thy scattred troups,
And reenforce the English with fresh power,
If not, at least thy life is safe with them:
Untill thy friends may reunite themselues.
Oneale.
I would imbrace thy counsell but I feare
The wrongs that I haue done vnto the Scots,
Sticks in the brest of Alexander Oge,
And he will take occasion of Reuenge,
Enter Alexander slge and maister Gillian Buske two Scots
put it in proofe for here comes he and Busk.
Cast off thy cord let not them see thy shame,
Gillam the newes are true of great Oneale.
Dundalke hath dasht his pride and quelld his power.
Busk.
Occasion offers vs a faire Reuenge,
For our deere couzen yong Mack Agnus death.
Alex.
Who'le take reueng on weknes thats deprest?
Busk.
Whole let his kinsmans bloud vnwreaked rest.
One.
Do they not see vs? or disdaine to see vs?
Mack.
Salute them kindly.
One.
Gentlemen good day
Alexander Mack Surlo and maister gillam Buske,
Fortune hath fround vpon your frend Oneale,
My troups are beaten, by the English power,
If therefore you will ioyne your Scottishe aide,
With the remainder of my followers,
Your means may make recouery of my losse,
And you shall bind Oneale to quit your loue.
Alex.
how can a Rebell or a traitor hope
Of good successe against his soueraigne:
Awhile perhaps he may disturbe the state,
And dam himselfe but at the last he falls.
Mack.
I thought thou hadst despisd the English churles,
Busk.
Admit he did, how can he loue Oneale,
But chiefly thee that was the counsellor,
To cut of yong Mack Agnus our deere couzen.
Mack.
Not my aduise but his too sawcy braues,
To great Oneale, did cause his cutting off.
Busk.
Speake such another word Ile cut thy throat,
Thou traterous Rebell Mackener.
One.
Mack gilliam Buske vpbraide not Neale Mackener,
I did the deed and hold it was well done,
Because he braud me in my owne commaund,
Alex.
as thou dost vs now in our owne commaund,
For instefying of so foule a fact,
here is reuenge traitors haue at you both.
They Draw and fight, Oneale Flies, Alexander pursues
Fliest thou thou traitorous coward Shane Oneale,
I am too light a foote to let thee scape.
(Exit after Oneale.
Busk.
Ile stop your flight, you shall not follow him,
Mack.
I meant it not proud ouerweaning Scot.
Busk.
haue at thee then Rebellious Irishman,
They fight Mack. is slaine. Enter Alex. with Oneales head.
Alex.
I see we are victors both, Mack Gilliam Busk.
Here is the head of traitorous shane Oneale.
Busk.
And heres his bloudie Secretarie dead.
Alex.
No force; this head for present will I send,
To that most noble English deputie,
that ministers Iustice as he were a God,
and guerdons vertue like a liberall king,
This gratefull present may procure our peace,
And so the English fight and our feare may cease
Busk.
And may all Irish that with treason deale,
Come to like end or worse then shane Oneale.
Exeunt.
Enter Hernand with stuklie brought in with Bils. and halberds to them the Gouernors wife.
stuk.
Had I known thus much Gouernor I would haue
burnt my ships in the hauen before thy face and haue fed
Haddocks with my horses.
Gou.
Is thou and al thou hast at my dispose and dost deny
me vpon curtesie: what I may take whether
thou wilt or no. Stukly if thou be cald so
Ile make thee know a Gouernor of Cales.
stuk.
Gouernor, will nothing but fiue of my horses serue
Your turne, Sirra thou gets not one
of them, and a haire would saue thy life: if I had
as many horses as their be stones in the Iland
Thou shouldst not haue one of them.
Gou.
Know Stukly too
It had beene thy duty to haue offerd them
and glad that I would grace thee to accept them,
And not make tender of his goods to me.
stuk.
Why then know Gouernor, here is once one that
dares thrust into this harbor:
Nor cares not of a haire how thou dost take it,
I will not giue one of my hobbies for thy gouernment.
Gou.
I will be answerable to thee for thy horses,
Stuk.
Doest thou keepe a tole-Booth: zounds doest thou
Make a horse courser of me.
Gou.
Nay Sirra then ile lay you by the heeles,
And I will haue them euery horse of them:
Stuk.
Thou getst no so much as a naile of one of them
No, if thou wouldst draw it with thy teeth,
If you doe, ile clench it with your scalp,
Enter the Gouernors wife.
Gou.
Call me the Prouost hether presently
one goes.
Lady
to one. Of the attendants.
Sirra is this the English gentleman Of the attendants.
Which brought the horses.
Ser.
Madom it is he: this is the man:
Lady.
How do they call him:
Ser,
His Seruants say, his name is Signeor Stukly.
Lady.
Now by my troth and as I am a Lady
Aside
I neuer saw a fairer Gentleman
I would it lay in my power to do him good.
Enter the Prouost.
Gou.
Sirra as I haue seizd your ships and horses,
so I commit your Body vnto prison,
Untill his highnes pleasure shall be knowne,
Prouost lay Irons vpon him and take him to
your charge.
Lady.
Well well, for all this, might I haue my will,
Aside
In faith his entertainment should be better.
Stuk.
You muddy slaue, you may by your power do a
This Geere, and Sirra see a horse be not
Lacking if he be: ile make thee on thy bare
Feete, lead him in a halter after me to
The furthest pare of spaine.
Gouer.
Go to, thou art a base pirat.
Stuk.
Sirra muchacho: you that haue eaten a horse
And his taile hangs out of your mouth, you lie.
All that thou canst do, shall not get a horse,
If saint Iaques your saint want a horse,
he should not get one of them: he should go
A foote else all the daies of his life.
By this flesh and bloud, Ile make thee repent it.
Gou.
Away with him.
Exit Stukley.
Lady.
Yet good my Lord consider what you do
Surely the confidence of this mans spirit,
Showes that his bloud is either great or noble,
Or that is fortunes at his owne commaund.
Gou.
I hold him rather to be some desprat pirat,
That thinks to domanyer vpon the Land
As he is vsde amongst his mates at Sea.
Besides, its lesse disgrace to bear his braues,
here where your power is absolute and free,
And where he wholy stands at your dispose,
Then in a place indifferent to either,
And where you both should stand in equall termes.
Gou.
If I did prize his honor with mine owne,
Then wife perhaps I might allow your reason,
Lady.
Besids perhaps they may be for a present,
Which now his heate, restraines him to disclose,
Which should they be to any prince of Spaine,
how ill it may be taken at your hands.
gou.
This his committing giues some cause to doubt,
I care not, were they sent vnto the Deuill,
Where the commission of my Gouerment,
To morrow Ile vnto the courte my selfe:
to day I haue some busines in the Isle.
and twill be euening ere I do returne,
Exit gouernor,
Enter Prouest.
Lady.
Prouest,
Pro.
madame.
Lady.
where haue you yet bestowd this gentleman
Pro.
madam hees here within the pallace yet,
Ready to goe vnto the marshalsey,
He had beene gone but that vpon some busines,
I come to know his honors plesure in:
And he is gone: but Prouest since your prisoner,
Is not departed I pray thee bring him hether,
Ile see if by perswasion I can win him,
To yeelde and to submit vnto my Lord.
Pro.
Madam I will,
He fetcheth him in.
lady.
I thanke you: giue vs leaue a little.
Faire gentleman: but that it is too late
To call back yesterdaie I would haue wisht:
That you had dealt more kindly with my Lord,
Sir it should seeme you haue beene vnaquainted,
With the hot blouds and Temper of our Clime,
Or with a Spaniards noble disposition,
Whereas your kind submission might haue wrought
What your high spleene and courage cannot doe.
Stuk.
Faire courteous Lady, had your beatious selfe
Askt any thing: a noble English hart,
had made you mistres of your owne desiers,
But to be threatned and subiected by him
Zounds first ile fray him out on's gouerment,
And vex his very marrow in his Bones.
Thinks he because I am fallen into his hands,
I feare his power, zbloudile stare his eies out first,
he lookes not one the Sun I dare not braue.
Lady.
Braue gentleman: yet I could haue wisht
I had but beene of counsell with your thoughts,
But withou breach or touch of modesty
Euen for the loue I beare vnto your country,
Mine honor kept vnstaind which I protest,
I prize beyond the thing I hold th dearest,
Commaund what euer lieth in my power,
To comfort you in this extreamity.
Stuk.
Madam; how much your noble Spanish curtisie
hath power in me,
And I will be the champion of your honor,
Where euer I become in christendome.
Lady.
Yes know a Lady of spaine can be as kind,
as any English woman of them all,
What is it Signor I can helpe you with
Stuk.
my liberties the thing I most desire.
Lady.
That presently I cannot warrant you,
But I will labor for it to my Lord,
With all the means my wits can all deuise,
Stuk.
Then this Madam. might I possibly obtaine, but
To worke some meanes for me, by your best endeuers
That I may haue but one of my horses that I
Will chuse, and but respit for one day to
Ride a little way, vpon some earnest busines,
Now in the absence of your husband, and as I
am a souldior and a gentleman, and by the honors
Of my Nation: I will come back by the prefixed houre.
lady.
Sir should I deuise some means for the accomplishment
of your desire, and that it shoud come to my husbands
for your comming back, besides if by this meanes,
you should seeke to escape greater treasons
Might be obiected, then I hope your are guiltie of,
I Immagin you are not Ignorant.
Stuk.
Madam, if all your wits can but hide
It but from your husband, if he should come before
I returne, for the other I dare pawne my
Soule to you, that I will hold my word.
lady.
Goe too, mine honor and life is your baile let your
Returne be sixe a clock in the euening, I
Will once truste an Englishman on his word.
(Exeunt.
Enter King Phillip with him Alua and Sancto Dauila, with them the Portingall embassador.
Phil.
Speake reuerend intercessor for the state
Of young Sebastian king of Portingall,
What craues our deare intire beloued cunsin,
Wherein we may befriend his Maiestie?
Bot.
First sacred king the Soueraigne of my faith,
And Portugals vndoubted supreame head,
Doeth kindly greet your highnes in all loue,
Next on behalfe of your respectiue care,
And the league-bound of naturall amitie,
Which he mistrusts not: but combines ye both
as being kinsmen he intrets this boone:
That whereas lately from the King of Fez,
Muly Mahamet, to my royall maister,
Hath honorable ambassage beene sent
And great intreaty made to craue his aide,
against Mullucco brother to that king,
Who now intruds vpon Mahamets bounds,
and building on his priuiledge of age,
and inequallity of matchles strength,
striues to depriue him of his diadem,
It would seeme good vnto your princely selfe,
as in the like we shall be readie still,
at spaines intreatie to assist my lorde,
With some such necessarie strength of war,
to Portingalls great profit and renowne.
Phil.
are then Molucco and his brother king,
at ciuill mutinie among themselues:
Bot.
They are my Lord, and many wofull daies
th'afflicted Barbary hath suffred spoile,
and bin a prey vnto her naturall Subiects.
Phil.
The right is in Molucco: wherefore then
Would Prince Sebastian ayde the other part?
Beside, Mahamet is an Infidell,
From whose associate fellowship in this
and all things else we Christians must refraine.
Bot.
Grace but his reasons with your milde conceit,
Whereon he grounds his lawfull resolution,
and mighty Philip you shall quickly find
this his intent to be most honourable:
Not for reguard of any supreame claime
the sterne Mahamet layes vnto the Crowne,
Nor any Iustice that in his behalfe
May be presumde vpon, doth stout Sebastian
Lyst to this motion, but for honours sake,
For Portugals chiefe good, and to aduance
the christian true Religion through those parts,
Is he inclinde to vndertake this war.
Phil.
How can that be: acquaint vs with your meaning.
Bot.
This worthy king: tis not vnknowne to you,
that diuers townes and citties scituate
Within the borders of rich Barbary,
Which king Emanuell conquered by his sword
and left appropriate still to be enioyde,
of such as should be kings in Portugall.
Or, but by this preuention like to fall,
and be confiscate to the Moore againe,
but by an army thither brought in time,
not only these great citties shall be kept,
And quite distinguishing his brothers claime
When we haue planted him: and that by vs,
The cuntrey is subdued and kept in awe,
We shall not only still retaine our own
But for Mahamet to subscribe to vs,
And either he and his change their faith,
and worship that eternall god we doe,
and dissanulling be dispriued of life,
And so assume the Gouernment our selues.
Phill.
This tastes of honor and of pollicie
Might yt with like successe bee brought to passe.
Bot.
With your assistance: thers no doubt my lord
But what we haue imagind shall ere long,
be truely and effectually performd.
Phill.
I, But Mulluccos Army doth consist
Of Dreadles Turkes and Warlike Sarazens,
Is much to be suspected in this casse.
Bot,
What can they do though great their number be
When for their single force we come in strength,
Of Spaine, of Portingall, and Barbarye.
Phill.
Your reasons haue preuaild, what power is it
Our louing cosin doeth request of vs.
Bot.
Of horse and foote indifferently commixte,
Only ten thousand will supply his want.
Phill.
(Botellio, so I take it you are cald)
Giue place a while till with our faithfull lord.
We haue aduisde vs better on the cause,
and then you shall haue answer presently.
Now you supporters of our royall state,
Exit Bot.
Alua: and Sanct Danulo, breifely shewe,
What your oppinion is touching the sute
Of neighboring Portingals fame-thirstie king.
Alua.
That he attemptes an enterprise my leige,
Will sooner breake his necke then make him great,
That hereby if occasion be laid hold on,
That Spaine and Portingall shalbe vnite,
And you the Soueraigne ruler of them both
Phil.
Expresse thy meaning Danulo in that point,
Da.
It shall not need I stand on circumstance,
Your highnes knowes Sebastian once remoude,
The way is open soly for your selfe,
Either by force or by corrupting gold,
To step into the throan, now for a meane
To cut him off: what better way than this,
To sooth his purpose and to draw him on
With expectation of a strong supply,
But when he is set forth vpon his way,
And left his countrey that without reproach,
And scandall to his name, he cannot retire,
Then to proclaim on paine of speedy death,
that not a Spaniard seeme to ioyne with him,
So landed once in desart Baberie,
His weakned souldiors and himselfe at once,
shall fall before Mulluccos conquering sword.
Alua.
Meane space to coulor your intent the better,
Muster your men as if you meant to aide him,
But with these men assone as he is gone,
approach the borders of faire Portingall,
That if it chaunce Sebastian doe seruiue,
the pagans sword: yet in his absence we
may enter his domminions sack his towns.
and take possession of the realme by force.
Da.
Withall dispatch, embassadors to Rome,
and forthwith to intreat the Popes aduice,
Who in no wise before hand we are sure,
Will licence any christian potentate,
to traffick or conuerse with heathen kings,
and so his prohebition may excuse,
and serue to cloake your breach of promise with.
Phil.
You counsell well and fitting our desire,
That many years haue wisht that portingall,
And fruitfull Castile being one continent,
Had likewise bin the subiect of one Scepter,
Call forth th'ambassider as you haue said.
Enter Bottella.
So will we dally with our counsines suite,
My Lord Botellio we haue waighd th effect
Of your imbassage and in nature bound,
Beside the affection of neere neighbour-hood,
To do our kinsman and your noble king,
All offices of kindnes that we can,
Tel him from vs we onely not commend,
His hauty mind in this attempt of his,
But his discreet and politike proceeding,
And will therein to further his intent,
Ayde him with twice fiue thousand armed souldiors,
And fiftie gallies all well furnished,
Which on the feurth of Iune neere to the straights,
Of Giberalter in a hauen there,
Called Ell Porto de Sancto Maria,
shall waite his comming on toward Apheryca.
So wishing him a happy proserous brother,
In all we may, we liue to do him good.
Bot.
Thanks to the high and mighty king of Spaine,
Stuk.
Lord Sancto Danulo, bring him on his way.
(Exit Botel. Danulo.
and Alua now what thinke ye of this plot.
Is it not too seuere, ambitious
and more deceitfull than becomes a King.
Alua.
a kingdomes thurst hath to despence my Lord,
With any rigor or extremity.
and that which in meane men would seeme a fault,
as leaning to ambition or such like,
Is in a king but well beseeming him.
And howsoeuer vulger wits repine.
yet regall maiesty muste haue his course.
Enter Danulo.
Phil.
Danulo: what newes you are so soone returnd?
Da.
A gallant Englishman my gracious Lord,
Haughty in looke and hastie in his busines
But now ariu'd at the court gate,
Earnestly craues admittance to your presence.
Phil.
An English Gentleman let him draw neere.
Enter Stukly.
Stuk.
Right high and mighty: if to kings in stald,
And sacredly annointed it belong
To minester true iustice and releeue
the poore opressed stranger, then from thee
Renowed Phillip, that by birth of place,
Upholds the Scepter of a Royall king,
Stukley a souldior and a Gentleman,
But neither like a souldier nor a man,
Of some of thy vnworthy subiects handled:
Doeth challenge Iustice at thy sacred hands,
And sucour gainst oppression offered him.
Phil.
Oppression offerd and by some of ours.
Stukt
Yes royall Phillip and in some respect
The vile abuse doth tuch your maiesty.
Phil.
Stand vp and tell the manner of thy griefe
And on our royall name we promise thee,
Thoffender shalbe sharply punnished.
Alua.
A lustie man beleeue me of his limes.
Da.
I and as knightly in his talke beside,
Stuk.
Thus kingly Phillip hauing serud of late,
Under my princes army in the field,
against the rude rebellious Irish: where
Upon desire to trauell and especially,
Upon affection that I had to see
As also to make tender of my loue,
and deutyous seruice to your maiesty,
Shipping my selfe with other priuate goods
Which I had purthast by my diute of sword,
I came to Cales: where landed with my pray,
In number thirtie hobbies for the shore,
One Don Herando there your goueenor,
attacheth both my ship and all therein,
and though I tell them that the hobbies were,
a present for your grace and for that cause,
I thither brought them, yet the veciuill Lord,
Because he might not haue one horse of them,
To his owne vse, clapt irons one my heeles,
and in a dungeon like a gripple churle,
I think his purpose was to Famish me,
But that by straung aduenture and good hap,
I scapt his tirant fingers: hoping here,
If I might once get opertunitie,
To let your highnes vnderstand thereof,
I should find remedy against his wrong.
Phil.
Haue we such base ignoble substitutes,
That dare so hanously oppresse a stranger,
and such a one as came to offer vs,
The bounty of his hart in friendly guifts?
Let there be sent a messenger forthwith
To bring the wretch to answere his abuse,
and Stukley welcome to king Phillips court,
Repose thy selfe: theu shalt haue right with me,
and fauor to againe thine enemie.
Stuk.
I thanke your Maiesty: but must intreat.
You would Uouchsafe to pardon me in this
I needs must back againe to cales my Lord.
Phil.
Be not afraid, thy goods shalbe purloynd,
Theres not a mite but he shall bring it forth.
Stuk.
It is not that and please your Maiesty,
But I haue past my word I will returne,
And Stukley holds his promise as religion,
Phil.
Well then my Lord of Alua giue in charge,
Some of our pentioners atend on him,
To bring Herando hether safely guarded,
Alua.
It shall be done my Lord.
(Exeunt.
Enter Prouost and Gouernors wife.
Pro.
What shall we doe, the time drawes on,
The English captaine promist to returne,
But yet he comes not: if my Lord should misse him
My life were lost, your credit thereby crakt,
Lady.
Content thee Prouost: such apparant sign
Of manly dispotition, shine in him,
Of valor, gentry, and what not beside,
As I presume if he remaine aliue,
He wil returne at his prefixed houre:
As yet the respite that was graunted him,
Is not expirde I doe not doubt ere then,
But he will rid vs of the feare we are in.
Pro.
Had we but Maddam, known which way he went,
Or had himselfe tolde vs of the place,
To which he purposed to make his Iourney,
There had beene yet some comfort and some hope,
But ignorant of both how can we choose,
But be suspitious and almost despaire.
Lady.
Thou talkest absurdly? had we known the place
The cause which made him and which way he went,
What thanke were that to vs to let him goe,
Where we were sure to find him out againe,
Or how shoud tryall of his faith appeare,
In matters of no waght or geopardy?
Now being so that of our free accord
Without the least respect but to his promise,
Tis at his charg to stay on his returne,
And yet will vnconstrained keepe his vow,
approues him truely loyall, vs truely louing.
Pro.
If I be cald in question for his absence,
Maddam I must relie vpon your wit,
Enter Herando.
Lady.
Be that thy refuge here Herando comes.
Her.
Prouost I haue bethought me at the last,
How to dispose of Stukley and his goods,
part of his horses I will giue the king,
and part I will bestow vpon my frends,
To these conditions if he condiscend,
I am content he shall haue liberty,
and he, his ship, and men be so discharg'd.
But otherwise ile cause his ship be sunke,
and he and his as pyrates suffer death.
Therefore go fetch him to me presently,
I may be certaine if heele yeeld or no.
Pro.
Ah Maddam I am struken dum and dead?
What shall I answere to my Lords demaund.
Lady.
Be not so fearfull least thy guylty lookes,
argue suspition of some treachery,
Her.
Doest heare me Prouost fetch me Stukley forth,
Lad.
Make it as though thou vnderstands him not.
Her.
Maddam what whispers he into your eare,
that he neglects to do as I commaund.
Lady.
He telles me my Lord: the English captaine,
Is growne submisse and very tractable,
and of himselfe is ready to resigne,
as much as you require to haue of him,
and that euen now after his counsell heard,
How best he might craue pardon for his pride,
His stife resistance, and adautious words,
Whereto he answerd that his readiest way,
and so he tels me, that he left him studying,
How to intend some quaint conceited method,
Might draw Remorse from your displeased mind.
Her.
Is he Prouost, become flexable?
Pro.
Exceeding mild and penitent my Lord,
Her.
I thought his stomack would come down at last,
Go bid him saue a labor with his pen,
and tell him we are heere, let it suffice
If with his tongne he do recant his fault.
Lady.
Nay let him write for writting will remaine
When words but spoken may be soone forgot,
It makes the better on your side my Lord,
That vnder-neath his hand it shall appeare,
By his consent and not by your constraint,
he made sudrender of his prize to you,
So shall the world what after chaunce to fall,
Cleere your extortion and abuse.
Her.
It cannot be but he hath done ere this,
I prethee see: much matter in few liues,
Is quickly cought by one of meaner wit,
Lady.
It were not good to trouble him so soone.
Her.
I will not subiect my desire herein,
and wait vpon his leisure look I say.
lady.
Without some cunning shift we are vndone.
Aside.
Her.
Why staist thou Prouost when I bid thee go.
lady.
With draw thy selfe to satisfie his mind,
Pro.
Helpe my excuse, sweet Maddam, if I faile.
lady.
Let me alone: my lord, how glad am I,
There shalbe now ettonement of this strife,
and that this English gentleman is pleasde.
To yeld obedience and your selfe as willing
To be appeasd at his humility.
Her.
I tell thee wife he stoupt in happy time,
Or all submission else had come to late,
Where is he Prouost? will he come to vs:
lady.
Is he not yet returnd.
Pro.
Maddam not yet.
(Aside.
lady.
Then doe I feare our plot will be discouered.
Her.
UUhy speakst not man? where is thy prisoner?
Pro.
He hath not yet my Lord set downe his mind,
he doeth intreat your honor staye awhile,
and he will then haue made an end of all.
Her.
Ile waite no longer one his maistership,
Giue me the key ile fetch him forth my selfe,
lady.
UUhat will you do, you fetch him forth your selfe,
I would not that for all the wealth in spaine,
will you so much annoie your vitall powers,
as to oppresse them with the prison stinke,
You shall not if you loue me come so neere:
The place is mortallie infected latelie,
and as the Prouost telles me diuers die,
Of straung deseses, and no longer since
than the last morning, two were buried thence?
aske him me Lord if this be true or no.
Pro.
It is most certaine there are many sicke,
and therefore good my Lord refraine the place.
Har.
Unlesse thou bring him straight way to my sight,
Nor daunger nor intreatie shall preuaile,
But I will enter at the doore my selfe.
lady.
See once againe it may be his come,
Meane space ile hold him with some other talke.
(Aside
Pro.
Do gentle Maddam.
lady.
If he be not come,
protract the time as much as in thee lies.
Pro.
Ile tarrie long inough: nere doubt of that.
Her.
Sirra before thou go: bring him forth,
Or looke to lie in irons as he doth.
lady.
I haue not seene you often times my Lord,
You were not wont in things as great as this,
But that you would be perswaded by my words.
Her.
I cannot tell how I may thinke of you,
Your busying of your selfe so much herein,
and speaking for this Englishman so oft,
Makes me suspect more then I thought to do.
lady.
suspect as how, that I doe fauor him,
Or ist your meaning that I go about.
To set him free, your best accuse me flately,
That I haue taught him heere to breake the prison,
Is this the recompence for my good will,
Haue I this thanke fer being Prouedent,
and carefull for your health? go where you will,
suspect thy selfe and me, cut short thy daies
Do any thing that may disparage you,
hereafter I will learne to hold my tongue.
Her.
how now my loue, what angry for a word?
lady.
haue I not reason when you grow suspitious,
Of me that am your selfe your bosome frend.
Her.
I prethee be content I meant no harme,
I know thou wouldst not preiudice my state,
to be the empresse af all asia here
(Now he comes.
Enter Stukly in Gyues.
lady.
then do I cast of feare,
and whilst I liue hereafter will I trust,
an Englishman the better for his sake.
Her.
UUheres the submission that ye told me of,
call ye this repentance for his pride.
Stuk.
Uh at craues the vniust gouernor of calles.
Her.
Obstinate captaine that thou lend thy knee,
and make surrender of what I require,
Or thou and thine like pyrates all shall die.
Stuk.
I cannot heare, I would you would speak louder.
Her.
Doest thou deride me.
Not deride you Sir.
But for my hobbies ile not spare a haire,
So much of their tales, to pick your teeth,
lady.
Sweet captaine speake him faire at my intreaty.
Stuk.
Maddam I owe my life to do you seruice
But for his threats I do not care a rush.
Har.
How haue I bin deluded by your words,
he scornes me still, knock off his yron gyues,
and let an Executioner be sent for
I will not stir vntill I see him dead.
Stuk.
Herando, I do dare the worst thou canst.
lady.
Oh do not prouoke him so.
Stuk.
content you Maddam, Stukley beares a mind,
that will not melt at any tirants words.
Her.
calst thou me tirant too, it is enough,
Enter Marshall.
In sooth ile try your patience for that word.
Mar.
Herando, In his maiesties high name,
I charg you presently prepare your selfe,
to make appearance at the court this night,
and bring this gentleman your prisoner heere,
together with such horses as you haue.
Of his in your possession: faile you not
As you will answer it vnto your perill.
Her.
how knowes the king he was my prisonor,
Mes.
What answer make ye will you goe with me.
Her.
With all my hart: this Stukely is some diuel
And with his sorsery hath incenst the king,
stuk.
Hernando, if your Lordship want a horse,
One of my Hobbies is at your command.
Her.
he flaters me: But I must dissemble with him
braue Signior stukly what so ere hath past,
Betwixt your selfe and me conceiue the best
It was but triall of your fortitude,
Than what you see me a valiant gentleman,
I do imbrace you with a brothers loue,
Come let vs goe ile do you any grace,
Unto the King my honer extends vnto,
Stuk.
when I do need it, I will thanke ye Sir.
But Maddam wherein may I quittence you,
whose kindnes is the cause of all my good.
lady.
I craue not more for any thing I doe,
But that you vertuously report of me,
and in remembrance of me weare this scarfe.
Stuk.
This on mine arme, your selfe within my hart,
Doeth Stukly vow perpetually to beare.
Exeunt.
Enter Vernon and a Maister of a ship with the lantado and two or three officers.
Ver.
Signor Lantado by your patience,
It is no wrack: nor you by law can ceaze,
vpon the ship or goods here cast away.
lant.
Sir, Sir, your negatiue is of no force
you are part-owner haplie of the ship,
Or else capemarchaut ventred in the fraght,
Your speach is partiall to saue ship and goodes.
Ver.
Examine then the maister of his oath?
lant.
So we intend.
Ship. M.
Sir you haue knowne me long,
aud neuer knew me falsefie my word,
Much lesse mine oath, which I will freelie pawne,
My life and all to testifie the truth
lant.
Whence was the ship.
Ship. Ma.
Of London?
lant.
What her name.
ship. M.
The Pelicane?
lant.
What burden was she of.
Ship M.
Two hundred tonne.
lant.
And what her Lading?
Packs of English cloth,
This gentleman ought neither shippe nor goods
But came from Brittaine as a passenger,
For at Saint mallowes we had cause to touch
To take a bord a marchants Factor there,
and there we found this honest gentleman.
very desirous to be shipt for Spain.
In luckles hour he brought his trunks aboard,
and in more halpes time the same are lost,
Ver.
small losse were that if all the rest were safe,
The men are lost onely we two surviue.
Whom you by showes of pittie, haue enforct,
to come ashore and leaue the crazed shippe,
And will ye now forget what you haue sworne?
and seeke to make awrack of that is none.
set vs abroad againe and let vs bide,
The hazzard of the tempest and the tide.
Lant.
Ye are ashore, and thanke mee for your liues,
Which said, why should you value shippe or goods?
You sweare you are but passenger, let passe
let the owners and the marchant veare the losse
Ship.
What if hee should? The master there am I,
and were I dead, if any did suruiue
and liue aboard, you can not make awrack,
Ver.
No I will kneele before the king of Spaine.
Before my Countrey men such losse sustaine
Lant.
proud English man since thou art peremtorie.
Thou shalt nor kneele nor see his maiestie,
Away wtih them Trumpets sound. Enter king Phillip: leaning on Stuklees. Shoulder, Alua, Dauita, Valdes that was the messenger, Hernando before bare, and the Gouernor. Hernando after (with other.
K. Phil.
Heroyck Stukly, on our royal word
We neuer did esteeme a present more,
Than those faire Irish horse of your frank guift.
Redoubted Phillip Royall Catholique king,
It pleaseth so the Bounty of your spirit,
To recken them that that are of little worth,
But if your highnes know my inward zeale,
To do you seruice past the worlds compare,
You would esteeme those thirty Irish Iades,
As thirty mites to all the Indian mines.
K. Phil.
How we esteeme your present and your selfe,
Our instant fauors shall aduertise you.
Alua and Sancto Danula shall declare,
To gallant Stukley what regard we beare,
Ver.
Crosse of all Crosses why should sea and wind,
Spare me to liue where double death 's assignd,
Ist possible that Stukley so deiect,
In England? liues in Spaine in such respect.
K. Phil.
Stay what are these.
Ver.
Poore suters to your grace,
An English ship is split here in the Race,
And this Lantado the Uizadmyrall,
Comming abord and seeing vs aliue,
The sole remainder of a hundred Soules,
Entised vs by christian promises,
to come a shore as pittying our case,
Our feete no sooner toucht this Spanish earth,
Than he would make a wrack of ship and goods.
Lant.
Dread Soueragne true, the ship is split and sunke
and euery billow ouer-rakes the hull,
this lyuing couple crept vp to the poope,
In dread of daunger and of present death,
In charity I tooke to saue their liues.
Ship. M.
With promise and prouiso gracious king,
that no aduantage should be tane thereof,
Else had I staid though he had gone a shore,
K. Phil.
UUhy, what are you.
Ship. M.
The Maister of the ship.
And he the owner or the venturerer,
and would deceiue vs of our royalty.
Ver.
Upon my life great King I meant it not,
I am no Owner nor yet venturer,
I came but in her as a passenger,
But afore I saw the tide was at the highest,
and ebbing water would haue laid vs dry,
The ship belonging to my place of birth,
I was resolud to bide the vtmost brunt,
and saue the ship and goods for th'english owners,
K. Phil.
Whereof you may be one.
Stuk.
Heare me great king,
If you beleeue this brest haue any spark,
Of honor or of Uulger honestie,
Then credite me this gentleman that speaks,
Was neuer owner of a ship in's life.
Nor Marchant venturer though both trades be good.
But well deri'ud of rich and gentle birth,
Holds it his blisse to be a traueller,
K. Phil
Your Protestations haue perswaded vs
Lantado leaue them and discharg the ship,
and gentleman, and shipper stay without,
This honorable countreyman of yours,
shall bring our further pleasure for your good.
Ver.
If in the Basilisks fore-prizzing eie,
Be safety for the obiect it beholds,
Then Stukley may to Vernon comfort bring,
Els men are safe at Sea when Syrens sing.
Exit Vernon Ship Maister and Landato.
K. Phil.
Now gallant Stukley, boast of Phillips grace,
By such imployments as we haue assignd,
The king our couzene Don Sebastian,
Solicites vs for aide to Africa,
In hope to conquer the Barbarians.
The farther Princes of that parched soile,
And the young King of Portingall beleeues,
And so do we, their strife shall breed him peace,
And for he stands ingagd by Royall oath,
To helpe the king Fez against his fe.
And craues asistance from vs of his blood
We haue consented with condition,
to giue it him if Rome doth hold it fit:
and you braue Stukley are the man select,
to carrie to the Pope our Embassie,
and we will furnish you for these affaires,
Do not admire the strangnes of our choice,
In pointing you before our natiue nobles,
But thinke our loue, our hope, or your desart,
Or all conioynd aduance you to this place.
Stuk.
Most sacred and mightie king of Spaine,
though many reasons might with stand belief
that you would chuse me your ambassador,
Yet since your highnes twice hath spoke the word,
I humblie credite and accept the charg.
K Phil.
and to defraie your charg in our affaires,
Our bountie shal exceede her vsuall bounds:
First for it is the time of Gubilie,
Next for you go from Phillip King of Spaine,
and last for high regard we hold you in?
stuk.
With fauor I will studdie to deserue.
K. Phil.
It is deserud: Valdes deliuer you,
Fiue thousand Duccats to Don stukleyes hands,
Here are our letters and commission,
with such Instruction as concerne the cause,
So much for that: now for your countreymen,
whose ship miscaried here vpon our coast
we do allow them all couenient helpe,
For your sake to recouer ship and goods,
and that their losse may seeme so much the lesse.
So gallant Stukley carry them these newes,
and make you ready for these great affaires.
stuk.
Ready to serue and follow your command
Exit. Stuk.
K Phil.
Are not these English like their country fish,
Cald gudgeons? that will bite at euery bate?
how easily the credulous fooles beleeue,
The thing they fancy, or would wish of chaunce,
Using no precepts of art prospectiue,
To see what end each proiect sorteth to,
Hernandes tell me what is thy conceit,
Of our election and of Stukleys worth?
Her.
Most gracious and dread soueraigne pardon me,
To speake of Stukly in particuler,
Because your frowne lies heauy one me yet,
For that I did and offred him at Cales,
But generally I censure thenglish thus,
hardy, but rash, wittie, but ouerweaning
Els would this English hot braine weigh thintent
Your highnes hath in thus imployning him
Phil.
Thou iudgest rightly, it is not for loue,
We beare this nation that we grace him thus,
but vse him as the agent of our guile,
For if the matter were of great import,
Or that we would keepe touch with Portingall,
and aide his voyage into Barbarie,
Stukley should haue no hand in these affaires,
but now we deale as Lords of Uinegards vse,
stop with one bush two gappes into their ground,
One must we send to Rome to Iubile,
and Stukley for his guift must haue reward,
One bounty guilded with imployments grace,
Serues both the turnes, and sends proud Stukley hence,
Ualdes, fiue thousand Duccats pay him that,
So are we rid of a fond Englishman.
(Exit Omnes.
Stuk.
But is it certaine that my wife is dead.
Ship. M.
Sure as I liue I saw her buried,
First dide the mother, then the daughter next
Then old Sir Thomas Curteis liued not long
And dide not rich: but what was left, he gaue
Part to his brother, part to the hospitall.
Stuk.
Then wheres the part hee left his sonne in law.
Ship. M.
Pardon me sir he left no part for you.
Ver.
Your part and graund part were consumd to sone,
To haue a porcyon left you at the last,
Stuk.
Frend Vernon leaue such discontenting speach
your melancholie ouer flowes your spleene,
Euen as the billowes ouer racke your shippe,
Whose losse the king for my sake will restore,
Then taxe me not good Vernon with graund parts,
Whats twenty thousand pound to a free hart.
Twenty weekes charges for a gentleman,
A thousand pound a week's but faire expence.
Ver.
your wife dide not worth such a wekes expence.
Stuk.
What remedy yet Stukly wil not want,
shees gone and all her frends their heads are laide
Good resurrection haue they at the last,
then shall we meete againe: In the meane space,
Tom Stukly liues, lustie Tom Stukly,
Grast by the greatest king of christendome.
(Enter one of the K. men.
Nuntio.
the gouernor of Cales Hernandes staies
to crye you mercy and to take his leaue,
(Exit Nuntio,
Stuk.
there let him staie I leaue him to himselfe
I loue him not nor malice one so meane.
Enter Valdes,
the king don Stukly praies to speake wt you,
But euen a word, he will not staie you long,
stuk.
I shall attend his highnes by and by
(Exeunt Valdes
For old acquaintance and for Cuntrey sake,
It shal be no disgrace to feast with me,
Whom the king vseth with so great respect.
ship. M.
Pardon sir, I must go see my shippe,
Whose owner shal be thankfull for your fauour.
stuk.
What saies master Vernon.
Ver.
I, some other time,
May trouble you although it be not now.
stuk.
As your occasions shall induce you sir
(Exit stukly
Ver.
Good maister see if any thing of mine,
May from the ship bee safely brought a shore,
And I will see your paines considered.
ship. M.
I do not doubt but all your stuffe is safe,
The hatches are as close as any cheast.
Nothing takes hurt but what is in the hold,
Because the keele is split vpon the sands,
Ile send your trunks a shore and then prouide,
to seeke our drownd men and to burie them,
(Exit
Ver.
Not all the drownd, but those are drownd and dead,
for I am drownd in my conceyt aliue,
Some sinne of mine hath so offended heauen
that heauen still sends offence vnto mine eye.
What should I think of Stukly or my selfe,
either was he created for my scourge,
or I was borne the foile to his faire happes.
or in our birth our starres were retrograde.
In Ireland there he braud his Gouernor,
In Spaine he is Companion to the king,
His fortunes mownts and mine stoups to the ground,
he as the Uine, I as the Colewort Grow,
I liue in euerie ayre but where he breaths,
his eie is as the Gorgons head to me,
and doth transforme my senses into stone.
some hold Spains climate to be very hot,
I feele my blood congeald to yce in Spaine,
Nor I neere Stukley, Spaine farewell to thee,
Either ile raunge this vuniuerse about,
Or I will be where Stukley hath no being.
Exit.
Enter Stukley, Valdes, stuklys Page. and one bearing Bags sealed.
stuk.
How many Duccats did the king assigne?
Val.
Fiue thousand,
stuk.
Are they all within these Bags?
Val.
Well neere.
Stuk.
how neere?
Val.
Perhaps some twenty want.
The Bags are set one the Table.
stuk.
Why should there want a Marmady? a mite?
Doth the king know that any Duccats lacks,
Val.
he doth and saw the bags would hold no more,
and seald them with his signet as you see,
stuk.
Valdes returne them I will haue none of them,
And tell thy maister the great king of Spaine,
I honor him but scorne his nigardice,
Cast the Bags to the ground.
And spurne abridged bounty with my foote,
a bate base twentie from fiue thousand Duccats,
Ile giue fiue thousand duccats to my boy,
If I had promisd Phillip all the world
Or any kindome england sole except,
I would haue perisht or performd my word,
and not reserud one cottage to my selfe,
Nor so much ground as would haue made my graue,
Footer for duccats if he take the tyth,
Tell him ile do his busines at Rome,
vpon my proper cost but for his crownes,
Since they come curtaild carry them againe
Come boy to horse, away, spaniard farewell,
Val.
Stay Sir I pray ye til I moue the king.
Thou moust a mountaine sooner then my mind,
Exit stukly and his Page.
Val.
What a high spirit hath this Englishman,
He tunes his speaches to a kingly keye,
conquers the world, and cast it at his heeles,
Enter King Phillip and his Lords.
Here comes the king.
Phil.
How now is Stukley gone.
Val.
Gone and will do your busines at Rome
though he refused the Duccats you assignd.
Phil.
How so.
Val.
Because that twenty Duccats want.
Phil.
Amongst fiue thousand may not twenty lack,
val.
No no, he supposeth you repent your gift,
If you abridge your bounty but a mite.
Phil.
Not for the world shall Stukley go without,
Go ad a thousand Duccats more to these,
and post and pray him not to be displeasd,
Tell him I did it but to try his minde,
which I commend aboue my treasury,
If England haue but Fifty thousand such,
the power of Spaine their coast shall touch,
come Lords to horse to Cyuilt lies our way,
Ualdes I charg you to eschue delay.
(Exeunt Omnes.
Enter Sebastian, Antonia, Herando, the Cardnall and Botellio.
seba.
the great and honored promise thou returnst vs,
From our braue kinsman Philip king of Spaine,
My Deare Botellio ads a second life:
vnto the action that we haue in hand,
the ioyfull breath that issues from thy lips,
Comes like a lusty gale to stuffe our sailes,
curling the smooth browes of the Affrick deepe,
O let me heare thy tongue sound once againe,
the cheerfull promise, of our new supplies,
Why thus emperiall Spaine bad me returne,
Unto the great puissant Portingall:
Ten thousand foote: of gallant Spanish bloud,
Men borne in honor? and exployts in war,
And not on Indian or Base bastard Moore;
Fifty his gallies, of the proudest Uessels,
That to this day yet euer Bare an Ore
To meete you at the Port De sant Maria,
The fourth of Iune.
Sebast.
The fourth of Iune, at Port De sant Maria
Ten thousand foote, and fiftie of his Gallies,
By land and sea, and at a certaine time,
Oh what a gallant harmony is heere,
Methinks that I could stand and still repeat them,
A month togeather, they so please my soule,
Ha Antonio: O what an armies heere,
Turning to the king of Portingall,
I tell thee cosen: neuer christian King,
Cam with so proud a power to Africa
Anto.
And yet the Greatnes of your royall spirit,
Makes all this nothing, so your glory shines,
aboue the power of spaine and Portingall.
Sebast.
cosen Antonio. to pay Bottello back,
The interest of his spanish embassy,
as you haue taken muster of our powers,
Report the number what our army is.
Anto.
Unto your number of Ten thousand spaniards
In the kings armey: add to this Bottellio:
Three thousand mercinary spanish Moors,
Of voluntary valiant Portingals,
Three thousand three score speciall men of armes,
The Garrison of Taieer, and light horsemen,
Fiue thousand and foure hundred,
Fiue thousand Germans and Ittalians,
My power three thousand and the Duke Averos,
Besides the power that we do expect from Rome,
thirty seauen thousand wee are now compleat.
Sebast.
Our army Ioynd with that Mahamet brings,
his Barbarians, and his Mountaine Moores,
Brought from the Desarts of burnt africa,
His valiant Turks: traind vp in spoile of war,
his souldiers of Morcco and of sirus:
To fifty thousand as his promise is.
Ha Braue Antonio there will be a power,
to affright the very walles of Fes,
and make stout africk tremble at the fight,
Where we shall braue her on the sun burnd plains
and with our cannons chrush her wanton head,
O my Antonio how I long to see,
how spanish blood and turkish will agree.
Anto.
How shall it please your sacred Maiesty,
to appoint the seurall charges of this war.
sebast.
Cosen antonio in this heate of war,
for the safetie of our royall kingdom,
Let vs yet speake of things concerne our peace,
although but breefe. first our deerest cosen,
for your princely selfe,
your right vnto the crown of Portingall,
as first and nearest of our royall bloud,
that should we faile: the next in our succesion,
tis you and yours, to sit vpon our throne,
Which is our pleasure to be published.
anto.
Long may my liege & soueraign Lord Sebastian,
Sit on the royall throne of portingall.
sebast.
we thank you princelly cosen,
Our deare and reuerent vnckle Cardinall,
vnto our selfe commit our wars in africa,
for the great trust we reposse in you
We do bequeath our kingdoms gouerment,
Deserues the great protection of our Realme.
Card.
The most vnworthy of that royall place,
Whose manie yeares and imbecillitie,
are but too weak to vnderprop the burthen
But may the remnant of my age be spent,
To Portugals reliefe and your content.
Sebast.
Now Antonie vnto our seuerall charges,
Your selfe wil share the fortunes in these wars,
we do commit a Garrison of Tanieers,
vnto the leading of Aluares Peres,
our volintary Portingalls to Lodouico Ceasar,
the mercinary spaniards to alonzo,
Mereneces Leeuetenant generall of our forces,
Tanara for the Germain collonell,
and now set forward let our Ensigns fly,
Either victorious, or if conquered die.
Eeter Chorus.
Cho.
Thus farre through patience of your gentle ears
hath Stukleys life in Comicke historie
Bin new reuiude, that long ago laie rakte
in dust of Africke with his bodie there:
Thus farre vpon the steps of high promotion
his happie starres aduaunst him. Now at highest
as cleerest summer daies haue darkest nights,
and euerie thing must finish: So in him
his state declining drawes vnto an end,
For by the Pope created as you heard
Marquesse of Ireland: with that new honor,
Embarkt and victualed thinke him on the Sea:
and that the time sebastian had set downe
to meet with Philips promist ayde is past:
Toward Afrike he, toward Ireland the other,
are both addrest vpon the boysterous waues:
But meeting what strange accident befell,
And he deluded by the hope he had,
To be ascribed by the Castyle King,
Reguard this shew and plainly see the thing.
Enter at one doore Phillip King of spaine, Alua and souldiors they take their stand: then Enter another way, sebastian, Don Antonio, Avero with drumes and ensines they likewise take their stande. Afrer some pawse Antonio is sent forth to Phillip, who with obeysance done approching away againe very disdainfully: and as the spanish souldiors are about to follow Antonio, Phillip with his drawn sword stops them and so departs. Whereat sebastian makes showe of great displeasure, but whispering with his lords each incoraging other as they are about to to depart. Enter stukly and his Italian band: who keping aloof, sebastian sends Antonio to him, with whom stukley drawes neere towarde the king, and hauing awhile conferd, at last retirs to his souldiors, to whom he makes show of perswading them to ioyn with the portugeese: at first they seeme to mislike but last they yeelde and so both armie meeting imbrace when with a sudden Thunder-clap the sky is one fire and the blazing star appears which they prognosticating to be fortunat departed very ioyfull.
So far was Phillip as you haue beheld,
from Lending aide vnto the Portgeese,
Is not content to vndergo the Blot,
Of breach of promise but with naked sword,
Of vnauoided Iustice threatens such,
As should but offer to depart the Land.
Whereby the prince though very much disturbd,
Yet not dismaid so haughty was his mind,
Resolueth still to prosecute his Iourny,
and whilst they are debating on the cause,
stukly by weather is driuen in to them,
What ships he had and what Italian bands,
and whereto he was bound: thoffence thereof,
the great dishonor and Impiety,
Laid open by Sebastian, straite recants,
and moues his souldiers which with much ado,
at last are won to make for Barbary,
No sooner was this fellowship contriude,
and they had ioind their armies both in one:
But heauen displeasd with their rash enterprize,
Sent such a fatall comet in the aire,
Which they misconstring shone succesfully,
dde hast the faster furowing through the deepe,
and now suppose but wo the wretched houre,
and wo that damd Mahamet whose guile,
this tender and vnskild yet valliant king,
Was thus allurd vnto a timeles death,
that in Tyrill a towne in Barbary,
they all are landed: and not far from thence
Doe meete that stragling fugetiue the Moore,
With some small forces: what doeth then ensue,
we may discourse but christendome shall Rue.
(Exit.
Enter muly mahamet with Calipolis drawne in their chariot, with them a messenger from sebastian.
sebast.
Go let ten thousand of our guard be sent,
to entertaine the great Sebastian,
and welcome christian to the king of Fesse,
and tell the portingall thy royall maister,
that africk makes obeysance to his feet,
and stoups her proud head lower than his knee,
tell him mine eies are thursty for his presence.
mes.
I will returne to tell your highnes pleasure.
maha.
Do so begone.
and let our chariot be drawne softly forward,
where I and my Calipolis will sit,
Now faire Calipolis rouze thy proud beauty,
and strike their eies with verder of thy selfe.
He leaps from his Chariot.
Enter sebastian at the sound of Trumpets
Dismount thee Muly from thy charyot wheels
to entertaine the mighty christian king,
welcome Sebastian king of portingale.
sebast.
thanks to the mighty and emperiall fesse,
why thus alights the mighty emperour.
muly.
that I will do great portingall the grace,
to set thee by Calipolis my Queene.
sebast.
Let mighty Mulis selfe supply that place,
and giue me leaue to attend vpon your loue.
muly.
Mount thee Sebastian Muly doth commaund,
It is my pleasure I will haue it so,
Mount thee braue Lord and sit thee on her side,
and say Sebastian that the sonne of Phœbus,
vpon his fathers fiery burnishd carr,
Nere sat so glorious, as the portingall,
Ioue would exchaung his Scepter for thy seat,
and would abandon Iunos godlike bedd,
Might he inioy my faire Calipolis,
Welcom Sebastian loue to africa.
Calip.
All welcom that Calipolis can giue,
To the renowned mighty Portinguyse,
here sit sweet prince and rest thee after toil,
Ile wipe thy Browes with leaues more sweet and soft,
Then is the downe of Cithereas fans,
Ile fan thy face, with the delicious plumes,
Of that sweet wonder of Arabia,
With precious waters Ile refresh thy curles,
Whose very sauor shall make Panthers wild,
and liuely smell of those Dilicious sweets
and with such glorious liquors please thy tast,
Nor neuer grast the banquets of the Gods.
Muli.
Then speake the comfort of great Mulies life
her teeth more white, than Cancase frosty clots,
where she vnlocks the portals of her lips,
Beauty a Phenix burneth in her eie,
Which there still liueth, as it still doth die.
Stuk.
Why heers a gallant, heers a king indeed,
He speaks all Mars tut let me follow such a
Lad as this: This is pure fire.
Euery looke he casts flasheth like lightning,
Theres mettle in this Boy.
He brings a breath that sets our sailes on fire,
Why now I see we shall haue cuffs indeed.
Ant.
Now afore God, he is a gallant Prince,
Muli.
What Princes be these in your company?
Sebast.
That is our cousin Prince Antonio,
The other Stukley the braue Irish Marquesse.
Muli.
Noble Antonio, and renowned Marquesse,
ten thousand welcoms into Afryca.
An.
Thanks to great Muly.
Stuk.
To your mightinesse.
Muli.
Next now the neighing of our warlike horse
Shall shake the pallace of commanding Ioue,
Our roaring Canons teare the highest clouds,
and fright the sunne out of his wonted course,
Africke Ile die thy Tawny sands in bloud,
and set a purple on thy Sunburnt face,
This is the day thy terror first began,
Before great Muly and Sebastian,
Driue on, and I will lackky by thy side,
these Christian Lords I trust will take no scorne,
When Muli-hamet beares them company.
Away,
Exeunt.
Anto.
Second thy sonne what ere thou best that callest,
and with thy proud importance greet our eares,
Muly ham.
What African or warlick Portingall,
comes forth to answer.
Anto.
Muly Hamet I.
Muly.
Antonio.
Anto.
The same proud Moore: that proud Portugal.
Muly.
Where is sebastian: he comes not forth
Himselfe to answere me.
Enter sebastian: Mahamet and the traine.
sebast.
Here Muly hamet, here stout African
What wouldst thou Hamet with the portugise
Wheres abdelmeleek thy proud haughty brother.
Enter Abdelmeleck and his traine.
Abdel.
heare braue sebastian king of portingall,
sebast,
O art thou there: thy selfe in presence then.
What wouldst thou beg proud abdelmeleck speake,
abdel.
Beg, it is a word I neuer herd before
yet vnderstand I what thou meanst therby,
thers not a child of manly Zariks line,
But scorns to Beg of Mahomet himselfe,
we shall lead fortune with vs bound about,
and sell her Bounty as we do our slaues,
we mount her back, and manage her for war,
as we do vse to serue Barbarian horse,
and check her with the snaffle and the razins,
We bend her swelling crest, and stop and turne,
as it best liks vs hauty portingalls,
sebast.
weelspur your Iennet lusty african
and with our pistols, weele prick her pampred sides
vntill with yacking she do breake her gerths,
and fling her gallant rider in the field,
Abdel.
Thy words do sound of honor christian king,
Which makes me therefore pitty thee the more,
And sorrow that thy valour should be sunke,
In such a vasty vnknowne sea of Armes.
Where thy bid courage, cannot beare that saile,
That thy proud hauty sperit would gladly haue,
Therefore Sebastian cast aside these armes
that thou vniustly beares against thy friend,
and leaue that traitor that but trains thee on,
Into the Iaws of thy distruction.
Muly.
Braue yong Sebastian king of Portingall,
and Don Antonio here me gallant Lords,
Muly Mahamet, but you are in presence,
Would thinke himselfe damnd euerlastingly,
But to hold wrack with so base a slaue,
Whose coward melting soule for very feare,
Comes frighted vp and downe within his bosome,
and faine would find a Message from his breast,
So Daunted with the terror of our armes,
That he is mad his souldiers will not flie,
That with some coulor he might turne his back.
Seest thou the power, of afriks in my hand
Like furious lightening in the hand of Ioue,
to dash thy pride, and like a raging storme,
to teare those Turkish flags that spread their silks,
vpon the strandes of peacefull africa,
and quakest not slaue: with terror of the same.
Hamet.
Dare but my brothers Bastard and a slaue,
that should haue kneeld at Abdelmelechs feet,
send these proud threats from his audacious lips.
Maha.
Downe Dog: and crouch before the feet
Of great Morocco: of mighty Fesse:
But why vouchsafe I language to this Slane,
Here me Sebastian: thou braue Portuguise,
whose Countries bounds and limets do extend
From mighty Atlas: ouer all those Lands,
that stretch themselues to the Atlanticke Sea,
And looke vpon Canaraes wealthy Isles,
And on the west to Gibaltaras Straights,
those fruitfull For-lands, and the famous townes
Assure sebastian king of portingall
Most glorious and triumphant victorie.
Abdel.
Heare me Sebastian, heare me youthfull king?
and abdelmelech will receiue thee yet,
And clip thee in the armes of gentle peace.
forsake this tyrant and ioyne hands with me,
and at thy pleasure quietly possesse,
The towns thou holdest in africk at this day,
Aginer, Zahanra, Seuta, Penon, Melilla,
Which Muly Mahamet, will disposesse thee of,
If by thy means he should obtaine the day.
Sebast.
Say Abdelmeleck, tell me wilt thou yet
Dismise thy power, breake these rebellious armes,
Which now thou bearest gainste the king of Fesse,
and great Sebastian king of Portingall:
Yet of Mahamet, will obtaine thy life.
Hamet.
Looke on the power that Abdelmeleck bringes,
Of braue resolued Turks, and valiant Moores,
Approued Alarkes: puisant Argolets,
as numberles as be these Africks sands,
and turne thee then and leaue thy petty power,
the succor fayling you exspect from spaine,
and bow thy knees for mercy Portingall,
anto.
Our very slaues our Negros, Muleters,
able to giue you Battaile in the field,
Then think of those that you must cope withall,
The Portingall and his approued power.
The Irish Marques, Stukley and his troups,
Of warlike Germans and Italians,
Aluares, Ceasar, Menesis and avero,
Proud abdelmeleck, kneele and beg for grace,
abbel.
Then proud Sebastian I deny all meanes.
Maha.
Therefore Mahamet and Sebastian farewell.
Excursions.
Enter Sebastian, antonio, auaro and Stukly In counsell together.
Sebast.
Aduise vs Lords if we this present night,
shall passe the riuer of Mezaga here,
Upon whose sundry banks our tents are picht,
Or stay the morning Fresh approaching sun.
aue.
In my opinion let vs not remoue,
The night is darke the riuer passing deepe,
And we our selues and all my troops my Lord,
Exceeding weary with the last daies martch.
anto.
My Lord Abero councels well me thinks.
Sebast.
Whhats your opinion Marques of Ireland?
Stuk.
My Lord might I perswade neither to night,
Nor in the morning should ye crosse the riuer:
Our men are weake, the enimie is strong,
our men are feeble, they in perfect health,
Beside tis better disipline I iudge,
To let them seeke vs heere, than we them there,
Considering what aduantage may be had,
Gainst them that first attempt to passe the riuer,
Againe, on this side whatsoeuer fall
We haue Larassa and Morrocco both,
strong townes of succor to retire vnto,
Sebast.
Retire vnto, talkes stukely of retreate
are you inuested with a Marquesse name,
Grast with the title of a fierye spirit,
Renombd, and talkest so of fortitude?
Can there issue from your lips a tearme,
So base and beggerly, as that of flight,
I rather thought that Stukley would haue said,
We baite here and are not swift enough,
In seeking fit time to begin the fight.
Stuk.
Conceit me not Sebastian at the worst,
You craud my counsell and in that respect,
I speake my conscience if you like it not,
Condemne me not therefore of cowardise,
For what I said was as a faithfull frend,
Carefull we should imbrace the safest course.
But as I am Tom Stukley, and a captaine,
Neuer knowne yet to stand in feare of death,
Rise when you will his foote that is the formost,
His sword that soonest drawn my foote and sword,
Shalbe as forward and as quickly drawne:
Nay do but follow and ile lead the way,
Ile be the first shall wade vp to the chinne,
Or passe Mezagas channell, and the first
Shall giue assault vnto the enemy,
So little do I feare thextreamest brunt,
Or hardest fortune that attends on war.
Enter Muly.
Muly.
To armes braue king, to armes couragous Lords,
Bright crested victory doeth waft vs on,
And all aduantage that may be had,
Offer to fill our hands with wished spoile,
and chere our hearts with endles happines,
False Abdelmeleck mortally is sick,
For feare I thinke that we shall vanquish him,
his souldiors mutinise, and his best frends,
Begin to wauer and mistrust the cause,
Of which three thousand of his stout Alarks,
men very expert with the shielde and Launce,
Of many thousands more that will reuolt,
Were we but ordered once within the field,
I dare assure ye had not crost the riuer,
As now the day breake calles vs to labour,
So that there might be expeditious means,
For such as do affect vs to depart,
Halfe abdelmelecks, army would forsake him.
Sebast.
No longer great Mahamet will we linger,
We gaue direction by our pyoners,
So soone as any beames of light appeard
Within the East: to settle to their work,
and make our passage smother through the forde,
and least they loyter we our selfe in person,
Will ouerlook them that by ten a clocke,
Within yonder plaine adiacent to Alcazar,
The lot of happy Fortune may be cast,
Come Lordes and each vnto his seuerall charges.
Muly.
Brauely resolud, my selfe will follow you,
and so it happen that Mahamet speed,
I wreck not who or turk or christian bleed.
Exeunt.
The Trumpets sounding to the Bataile. Enter abdelmeleck and sebastian, fighting: after them againe, Muly Mahamet, and Muly hamet: then antonio: with some other passing away, then they retired back, abdelmeleck alone in the battell.
Abdel.
Fetch me one drop of water any man:
and I will giue him Taneers wealthy Towne,
The sands of africk, are so parching hot,
That when our blood doth light vpon the earth,
The drops do seeth like Caldrons as they stand,
Tell Made like Inck it cleaue vnto the hooue,
Of our fierce Ienets: which sunke vnder neath vs,
Ouercome with heate: some water, water howe.
soul.
My Lord you haue beene very lately sicke.
Running in hast.
and scarcely yet recoured your disease,
Hazzard not so the safety of vs all.
abdel.
Go slaue and preach vnto the droughty earth
Perswade it if thou canst to shun the raine,
My soule to death is thursty for reuenge,
Rush through the ranks, let the proud christians know,
That abdelmeleck vowes their ouerthrow.
(Exit runing.
Enter Sebastian.
sebast.
The sun so heats our armor with his beames,
that it doth burne and seare our very flesh,
that when we would stretch out our armes to strike,
Our parched senewes crack like parchments scroles,
and fly in sunder that our armes stands out
stife as our Launces, and our swords fall down,
Panting for breath.
and stick their enuious points into the earth:
Muli mah.
there neuer yet was such aheat before,
Since Phaiton set this vniuerse on fier,
that the earth fearing he had liu'd againe.
and got into the charyot of the sunn,
Opens her wide mouth like a gaping wall,
Hastilie.
sebast.
Muli mahamet say, how stands the day?
muli mah.
Fly, fly Sebastian: for the foe preuailes,
Dugall, who led fiue thousand men of war,
Is now reuolted to the enemy,
farewell Sebastian, this our latest night,
I will assay to saue my selfe by flight.
Enter a companie set vpon sebastian, and kill him, they go out, enter a soldier bringing in abdelmeleck on his back, muli-mahamet following.
muli-hamet.
I euer feard that my coragious Brother,
would wade so far: into this storme of war,
that he would be too lauish of his person.
Soul.
My Lord be died not by the dint of sword:
But, beeing ouercome with toile and heate,
Sunck downe for faintnes, and gaue vp his soule.
Muly
In the secrets maner that thou canst deuise,
Conuey his royall course into our tent,
for if his death should once be blowne abroad,
It were a means to ouerthrow the day.
Enter a souldior running.
Exit souldier carrying his body.
Speake slaue who has thaduantage of the day.
Soul.
Our valiant turques, and Moores haue got the field
Sebastyan slaine: Muly Mahamet fled,
And abdelmeleck crownd with victory.
Muly.
Shine glorious sun, and beare vnto the west
Newes of our conquest: and fright those that dwell,
Under our feete with Terror of our name,
Raine in thy fiery palfraies yet awhile,
And trot them softly on those ayrie plancks,
To looke vpon the glory of the day.
Exit.
Enter Don Antonio, disguised like a priest fearefully Lookeing about him.
Anto.
Ah poore Antonio, which way canst thou take,
But dredfull horror dogs thee at the heeles?
Sebastian slaine, Muly Mahamet fled:
All Portingalls braue Infantries slaine,
and not a man of marke or note aliue.
Thou glad to hide thee in a priests disgiuse,
Thy Chaplen, that came with thee to the warr,
and in this battell likewise lost his life.
Heauen (be thou pleasd) this yet may stand in sted:
If not, thy will then be accomplished.
Enter three or foure Turkish Soldiors.
1. Soul.
See, heers a preest yet left aliue.
Sirra, come hether, how hast thou escapt;
What, shall we kill him?
2. Soul.
No, kill him not, first let vs ransack him.
Anto.
All that I haue my frends, ile giue ye freely,
So it may please ye but to saue my life?
Which to destroy will do ye little good.
2. Soul.
Come then be breefe, lets see, what hast thou?
Anto.
This purse containeth all the coine I haue,
These Bracelets my dead Lord bestowed on me,
That if I scapt, I might remember him,
In my deuotions and my daily praiers.
2. Soul.
UUhose preest wast thou?
anto.
Ferdinands. duke of Aueros.
2. Soul.
UUell listen fellowes twil do vs little good
To kil him, when we may make benefit
By selling of him to be some mans slaue:
And now I call to mind the wealthy Moore,
amaleck that dwelles heer in the Fesse, Heele giue as much
as any man, how say ye shal it be so.
2 Soul.
No better counsell can be.
anto.
Thy will O God be done, what ere become of me
Chorus.
Thus of Alcazars battell in one day
three kings at once did loose their haples liues.
Your gentle fauour must we needs entreat,
For rude presenting such a royall fight,
UUhich more imaginatian must supply:
Then all our vtmost strength can reach vnto.
Suppose the Soldiours, who you saw surprizd,
the poore dismayed prince antonio:
Haue sold him to the wealthy Moore they talkt off,
And that such time as needs must be allowed,
already he hath past in seruitude,
Sit now and see vnto our stories end,
all those mishaps that this poore Prince attend.
After antonio's going out Enter Muly hamet with victorie.
The certen number that can yet be found,
and of the christian Lords,
The Duke of averro: and the bish. of Cambra, and Portua
The Irish Marques, Stukley, Count Tanara,
two hundred of the cheefe nobility of Portingall,
and muly Hamet, passing of the ford,
Of swift Larissa to escape by flight,
His horse and he both drowned in the riuer.
muly.
See that the Body of Sebastian,
Haue christian and kingly Buriall,
after his country maner for in life,
A Brauer sperit nere liued vpon the same,
and let the christian bodies be interd,
for muly-mahamet: let his skin be flead,
from of the flesh: from foote vnto the head,
and stuft within: and so be borne about,
through all the partes of our Dominions,
to terefie the like that shall pursue,
to lift their swords against their souerayn.
And in Memoriall of this victory,
for euer after be this fourth of August,
Kept holy to the seruice of our godes,
Through all our Kingdoms and dominions.
Enter Stukley faint and wearie being wounded, with him Vernon.
stuk.
Come noble Vernon that I meete you heere,
Were the day far more bloudy then it is,
our hope more desprate and our liues beset,
With greater perill then we can deuise,
Yet should I laugh at death and thinke this field,
but as an easie bed to sleep vpon.
Ver.
Oh maister Stukley since there now remaines,
No way but one, and life must heere haue end,
Pardon my speech, if in a word or two,
Whilst here we breath vs, I discharg my soule.
Not that I hate you but because thereby,
That griefe which I did study to forget,
Was still renewed, and therefore when we met,
In Ireland, Spaine, and at the last in Rome,
and that I saw I could no way dircet,
My course but alwais you were in my way,
I thought if Europe I forsooke that then,
We should be far enough disioinde but loe,
Euen here in Aphrick we are met againe,
and now there is no parting but by death.
stuk.
And then I hope that we shall meete in heauen,
Why maister Uernon In our birth we two,
Were so ordaind to be of one selfe heart,
to loue one woman, breath one country aire,
And now at last as we haue simpathizde,
In our affections lead one kind of life,
So now we both shall die one kind of death,
In which let this our speciall comfort be,
That though this parched earth of Barbary,
Drinke no more English bloud but of vs twaine,
yet with this bloud of ours the bloud of kings,
shall be commixt, and with their fame our fame
shalbe eternizde in the mouthes of men.
Ver.
Forgiue me then my former fond conceytes,
And ere we die let vs imbrace like frends,
stuk.
Forgiue me rather that must die before,
I can requite the frenship you haue showne,
Imbrace.
So this is all the will and testament,
That we can make our bodies we bequeath,
to earth from whence they came our soules to heauen,
But for a passing bell to towle our knell,
Our selues will play the sextons and our swords,
shall ring our farwell on the burganets,
Of these bloud thursty and vnciuill turks.
See where he is lay hands vpon him sirs,
Stuk.
Souldiers what meane ye? will you mutinise?
Ver.
He is your Leader doe you seeke his life?
2
To lead vs to destruction, but if he
had kept his Oath he swore vnto the Pope,
we had beene safe in Ireland, where now
we perish heere in Aphrick but before
we tast of death, we vow to see him dead.
then braue Italians stab him to the heart,
That hath so wickedly behauide your liues,
Ver.
First villaines you shall tryumph in my death,
and either kill me tsl or set him free.
Stuk.
Heare we you bloudy villaynes.
2.
Stab him souldiors.
Vernon fights with some of them to saue Stukly and is slaine of them, in the meane while the rest stab Stukley
Stuk.
Oh haue you slaine my frend.
2.
Yet doth he prate.
Stuk.
England farewell: what fortune neuer yet,
Did crosse Tom Stukley in, to show her frowne,
By treason suffers him to be ouerthrowne.
Dies.
FINIS.
| The Famous Historye of the life and death of Captaine Thomas Stukeley | |