University of Virginia Library

Actus Quartus.

Enter Time.
Thus Time that in his ceaslesse motion,
controuls the hearts of Kings and Emperours,
hath now converted Sultan Shamurath
to tread the path of perfect Christendome;
and now with Bishops, Priests and Patriarks,
they are returned back to Babylon,
to Christen all that Heathen Nation;
think this is done, and now again suppose,
that Guy of Warwick after he had seen
his Saviours Tomb, and there had offered up
as Monuments of lasting Memory;
his sword, his shield, and Warlike Furniture,
he there vow'd never to bear Armes again,
and now towards England is returning back.
Imagine that Sir Raynborn his fair son,
is grown a man, and hearing of the deeds
of his great Father, leaveth all his Friends
to seek him out in Forrain Nations.
Think this is done, and now again suppose
that Guy of Warwick now is waxen old,
and at the length of many a weary step,
he comes to England, where perforce alas
he must oppose, his weak decayed limbs
against the vigor of a Gyants strength;
for now the Danes in absence of this Lord,
have set their feet so far on Englands ground,
that they had almost conquered all the Land,
and to a forced Parley drives the King;
how they conclude, and by what means agree,
Time shall make known to you immediately.
Exit Time.

Enter Swanus King of Denmark, with him Colbron. Then Athelstone King of England, with him Herod.
Athelstone.
Swanus of Denmark, since to this Enter-view,
by thee appointed, we here both are met,
Speake what canst thou demand from Englands Crown?

Swanus.
Thy Crown and Kingdome is by conquest won,
yet if thou canst provide a Champion,
that dares encounter mighty Colbron here;
if he that Fights for thee, do win the day,
all Title to thy Crown wee'l lay away;
but if that Colbron gets the day in field,
the English power to the Danes shall yield;
and then thy homage and thy Princely Crown,
will Swanus bear to Denmark as his own.

Athelst.
I force, perforce must yield to thy demand,
But had I Guy of Warwick thou shouldst know,
thy Gyants force he soon would overthrow.

Colbron.
I tell thee King, no weak-bred arm of thine,
can shed one drop of mighty Colbrons blood,
whilst I have power, or any strength to stand,
or grasp this Truncheon in my Warlike hand;
for in my Fury I will take my Foe,
and fling him higher then the Moons bright sphear,
then bandying back the Foot-ball of my rage,
cast him down headlong to the Neighbouring Seas.

King.
No more, no more, to morrow is the day.

Swanus.
When Might or Right shall bear the Crown away.

Exeunt.
Enter Guy being Old.
Guy.
Thus one and Twenty Winters have I been,
a very stranger to my home-bred soyle,
and never set my Feet on English ground;
in Foraign Countries have I eat my bread,
and now bring Winter on my Snow white-head;
which of my Friends that meets me by the way,
will once imagine that I am Sir Guy,
that vanquisht Knights, and made stout Monsters die.
O, no not one, will once remember me,
beauty and youth so little lasting be.
What place is this, wherein I am Arrived?
I know it well, 'tis call'd fair Winchester,
whereas King Athelstone doth keep his Court,
the nights far spent, and my age withered limbs,
are weak, and weary, with long travelling;
here will I sit and rest my self a while,
He sleepeth.
and with sweet sleep my wanward thoughts beguile.

Enter Athelstone with Guy, disguis'd.
Lord.
What means your Majesty, thus carelesly
to walk abroad without your wonted Guard?

Athelst.
I'le have no Guard, unlesse thy self with me,
for know this Night as I lay in my bed,
a blessed Angel bright and Christaline
in golden slumber did appear to me,
bidding me walk out of my Castle Gate,
and the first man that I should meet withal,
choose him my Champion to defend my right,
which makes me rise thus early for to see
this heaven bred Champion sent to let us free.

Guy starts from his sleep.
Guy.
Give me my Sword, mine Armour, and my shield,
that I may Coap with Hybean Hercules;
the horrid villain in a Centaures shape
hath ravisht Layda on her wedding day;
therefore I hand to hand will Coap with him
were he the Master Monster of the world:
alas where am I poor distressed Man?
my troubled mind utters I know not what,
thou Fight with Monsters, Fight thou with thy grave,
and for thy sins humble forgivenesse crave.
But out alas, I fear I am o're-heard,
He espies the King walking.
I will enquire of these the ready way
that leads directly to your City fair;
good morrow, and God blesse you Gentleman.

Athelst.
Good morrow Father.

Guy.
May I be bold to crave which is the way,
that leads directly unto Winchester?

Athelst.
This path good Father leads to Winchester.
O heaven what should I think my dream pretend,
that will'd me choose the first man I should meet;
but this good Aged man is far unfit,
yet will I ask his Counsel in this cause
that may avail me far more then his strength,
good Father may a stranger be so bold
to have some private conference with thy self?

Guy.
Speak on good Sir and what so e're it be,
My truth I give to keep it secretly.

Athelst.
Then know good Father that I am a King,
my Courts beset with many Enemies,
and this last night as I lay in my bed
a Heavenly Vision did appear to me,
bidding me rise up streight and walk abroad,
and the first man that I should meet withal,
choose him my Champion to defend my right;
thou Aged Father art the first I meet,
but he that doth maintain this Fight,
is a most monstrous Gyant huge and strong,
and thou art feeble, weak and impotent,
yet thy Counsel Father, what I were best to do?

Guy.
Do as Heaven wills, ye do my Gracious Lord,
if by the all fore-seeing power thereof,
I am appointed for to do this deed;
though I be old, yet you shall well perceive,
I'le not give back nor yield one foot of ground;
what though he be a Gyant that maintaines
this deadly combate? ere I'le turn my face,
I'le leave my body breathlesse in this place.

Athelst.
O how glad's my very Soul to see
a youthful mind in Aged Livery!
come Reverend Father, for thou now shalt be,
a Kings companion that will honour thee.

Guy.
Go on great King, an old man once will try,
the Vigor of a churlish Gyants strength;
though he be huge and strong with whom I Fight,
my God is just and still maintaines the right.

Exeunt.
Enter Swanus and Colbron.
Swanus.
Now Colbron rowse thy Gyants setled-limbs,
for all our blessed hopes on thee we lay,
thinking to bear the English Crown away.

Colbr.
I tell thee King thou troublest me with doubts,
for halfe their Kingdome is already won
by Colbron and the Danish Conquerours,
upon the rest I will sharp vengeance take.
Where are these faint-hearts? O that they were come,
that I might finish up a day of Doom!

Swanus.
I hear them coming, therefore lets prepare,
to bid them welcome to a bloody feast,
for I perceive they all are resolute.

Enter Athelstone with Guy and others.
Athelstone.
Swanus of Denmark, see wee keep our word,
and come to try our right by dint of Sword.

Swa.
Bring forth thy Champion.

Athelst.
Here he stands prepar'd.

Swanus.
O, who? he alas poor silly man,
give him a pair of Beads to pray upon.

Athelstone.
Scorn him not Swanus, for this old mans hand,
against thy mighty Gyants force shall stand.

Colbron.
Must Colbron Fight with such a withered Ghost,
a very shrimp, a worm, a gnat, a fly,
I scorn him and will spurn him at my feet.

Guy.
Leave of thy braves, blaspheming heathen dog,
for God whose quarrel I do take in hand
will add fresh strength to these my withered limbs,
these aged sinews that are weak and old,
he can renew with monster conquering strength;
therefore to shew, I do not fear thy threats,
sound an Alarum lets begin the Fight,
for with my Palmers staffe i'le coap with thee.

Athelst.
Thou shalt not hazard so thy honoured age,
begirt thy self with these wars Ornaments.

Guy.
What shall I do? unhappy wretched man,
for when I left the wars of Palestine,
I made a vow even in the sight of Heaven
never to Fight with Sword or Shield again;
but I must break that vow, or leave this Land,
my Native Country to the violent hand;
of damned Usurpers, which shall never be,
I'le break my Oath, and sweet Heaven pardon me.
Here do I take this Sword into my hand,
and buckle fast this shield unto my Arme,
although I know it is no armed hand
that can prevail, but Heaven where truth doth stand;
and now thou great Arch-guyder of the world,
that saved Daniell in the Lyons Den,
look down on me, with thy all-pitious Eyes,
and by my Hand vanquish thy Enemies,
that all may say in Glory to thy name,
that little David hath Goliath slain;
St. George for England, lets begin the Fight,
Angels by me defend fair Englands right.

Colbron.
In Mahounds name I do thee here defie,
for I will crush thy bones immediately.

They Fight, Guy killeth Colbron.
Athelst.
St. George, St. George, England hath prevail'd,
and Denmark and his Champion now are quaild.

Swa.
Mahound Confound that old mans hellish Arme,
that hath wrought Englands good, and Denmarks harm;
now force perforce, to Denmark we must go,
ne're had the Danes so great an overthrow.
Exit Swanus.

Athelst.
Since by thy means most Reverend Aged Man,
I and my Country are delivered,
from the usurping Danish Tyrants power,
I conjure thee by that holy vow
which thou didst make in taking on this weed,
of thy religious holy pilgrimage;
tell me thy name, and what thy Countries call'd,
which was so happy as to Foster thee.

Guy.
Upon Condition that your Majesty,
will vow to keep close what I shall reveal,
I will resolve your princely mind at full.

Athelst.
Speak freely then, for what so e're it be,
upon my word I'le keep it secretly.

Guy.
I take your princely word then know great King,
I am your Subject and in England born,
and many favours have receiv'd of you,
past the deserts of my unworthinesse;
for which it glads my soul that e're I dye,
I have done some service for your Majesty.
When I was young, men knew me by my looks,
but now the hand of age hath chang'd me so,
that not one man doth Guy of Warwick know.

Athelst.
So said my soul, when I first saw thy face,
welcome, O welcome, to thy Native soile,
which thou hast freed from ruine and from spoil;
and ten times welcome art thou unto me,
thy absence long hath wrought my misery,
But tell me, hast thou seen fair Phillis yet?

Guy.
My Lord I have not, nor I do not know,
whether my beloved Phillis lives or no.

Athelst.
I can assure thee that thy Phillis lives,
but her old Father Rohon he is dead;
Sir Rainborn thy couragious hearted Son,
Guy weeps.
hath been these two years for to seek thee out,
why weepst thou Guy?

Guy.
I weep for joy to hear this happy news,
hath Guy of Warwick then a Kingly Son?
and is fair Phillis still in perfect health?

Athelst.
She is good Guy, and i'le send speedy post,
to Warwick Castle for to fetch her hither.

Guy.
O I beseech your grace to give me leave,
an end of this my Pilgrimage to make;
for when I took my way Palestine,
I made a vow for seven and twenty years
to keep my self unknown from all my Friends;
full one and twenty are expired and gone,
six more being past, I from my vow am free,
and then to all my friends disclos'd i'le be.

Athelst.
I must consent, since thou will have it so,
but at the six years end i'le come to thee,
and with me I will bring so rich a Train,
as shall in state, bring Warwick home again;
till then I leave thee to thy sweet content,
willing my life for thy good be spent.

Exit King.
Guy.
Farewel my Liege, Farewel my Soveraigne,
and now poor Guy, since thou art left alone,
think on thy Makers mighty love to thee,
who in thy youth did make thee fear'd of all,
and by thine age hath wrought a monstrous fall;
he hath preserv'd thy true and faithful Wife,
whom thou didst love more dearer then thy Life;
to her i'le go as fast as I can hye,
but shee'l not think that VVarwick is so nigh:
ah Phillis, now thy Lord is waxen old,
who when thou sawest him last was stout and bold;
yet as I am, I'le sek my Phillis Face,
if he that made me gives me Life and space,
I'le tell her tydings of mine own estate,
and fetch my food at my own Castle Gate;
And for six years which I alone must lead.
Phillis must feed her unknown Lord with bread.

Exit.