 | A Game at Chaess |  |
Incipit Quartus.
Enter Blacke Knights Pawne, and Blacke Bishops Pawne.B. Kt. P.
The Iesuit in his gallant habit,
Tis he my Confessor, he might haue pass'd me
Seauen yeares together, had I not by chance
Aduanc'd mine eye vpon that lettered Hat bond:
The Iesuiticall symbale to be worne,
By the braue Colledgians with consent,
Tis a strange habit for a holy Father,
A president of pouerty especially:
But wee the sonnes and daughters of Obedience,
Dare not once think a wry, but must confesse our selues
Long speare and ponyard, as to the Abbey and Alter,
And happy we are so highly grac'd t'attaine to't,
Holy and reuerend.
B. B. p.
How has found me out?
B. Kt. p.
Oh (sir) put on the sparklingst trim of glory,
Perfection will shine for most, and I know you
By the Catholicall marke you weare about you,
The marke aboue your fore-head.
B. B. p.
Are you growne
So ambitious in your obseruance: well, your businesse,
I haue my Game to follow.
B. Kt. p.
I haue a worme
Followes me, so that I can follow no game,
The most faint hearted pawne, if hee could see
His play might snap me vp at pleasure:
I desire (sir) to be absolued, my conscience
Being at ease, I could then with more courage
Play my Game.
B. B. p.
'Twas a base fact.
B. Kt. p.
'Twas to a Schisamticke pawne (sir.)
B. B. p.
What's that to the ability of reuenge
Suffices I haue neither will nor power
To giue you absolution for that violence,
Make your petition to the penance Chamber,
If the Taxe Regester relieue you in't,
By the black Bishops clemencie you hau'wroght out,
A single peece of fauour with your money,
It's all your refuge now.
Ent. w. Q. and B. Q. pawne.
B. Kt. p.
This sting shootes deeper.
B. B. p.
Yonder's my Game, which like apoletick Chessner,
I must not seeme to see.
W. Q. p.
Oh my heart.
B. Q. p.
That 'tis.
W. Q. p.
The very same that the Magicall
B. Q. p.
And how like
A most regardlesse stranger hee walkes by,
Meerely ignorant of this fate, you are not indeede
The principall'st part of him, what strange misteries
Inscrutable loue workes by.
W. Q. p.
The time you see,
Is not yet come.
B. Q. p.
But 'tis in our power now
To bring time neerer, knowledge is a masterie,
And make it obserue vs, and not wee it.
W. Q. p.
I would force nothing
From it's proper vertue,
Let time haue his full course. I'de rather die
The modest death of vndiscouered loue,
You haue heau'ns least and lowest seruant suffer,
Or in his motion receiue checke for me:
How is my soules growth altar'd that single life,
The fittest garment that peace ere made for't
Is growne too streight, too stubborne on the suddain.
B. Q. p.
Hee comes this way agen.
W. Q. p.
Oh there's a Traytor
Leapt from my heart into my cheeke all ready,
That will betray all to his powerfull eye,
If it but glance vpon me.
B. Q. p.
By my verity
Looke, he's past by agen, downe in neglect
Without the prosperous hin't of so much happinesse
To looke vppon his fortune, how close fate
Seales vp the eye of humaine vnderstanding,
Till like the Sunnes flower, time and loue incloses it,
'Tis pitty he should dwell in ignorance longer.
W. Q. p.
What will you do?
B. Q. p.
Yes, dye a bashfull death, doe
And let the remedie passe by vnus'd skill,
Absolute (Sir) with your most noble pardon,
For this my rude intrusion, I am bold
To bring the knowledge of a secret neerer,
By many daies (sir) then would it arriue,
In its owne proper reuelation with you,
Pray turne and fix, doe you know yon'd noble goodnesse.
B. B. p,
Tis the first minute my eye blest me with her,
And clearely shewes how much my knowledge wanted,
Not knowing her till now.
B. Q. p.
She's to be lik'd then,
Pray view aduisedly, there's strong reason,
That I'me so bold to vrge it, you must guesse
The worke concernes you neerer then you thinke for.
B. B. p.
Her glory, and the wonder of this secret,
Puts a recipicall amazement on me.
B. B. p.
And tis not without worth,
You two must be better acquainted.
B. B. p.
Is their cause affinity,
Or any couetous helpe creation ioyes in,
To bring that worke forward.
B. Q. p.
Yes, yes, I can shew you,
The neerest way to that perfection,
Of a most vertuous one, that ioy ere found,
Pray marke her once agen you follow me,
And I will shew you her, must be your wife (sir.)
B. B. p.
The mistery exceds, or els creation,
Has set that admirable peece before vs,
To chuse out chaste delight by.
B. Q. p.
Please you follow (Sir.)
B. B. p.
What heart haue you to put in on one obiect,
And cannot get me off? tis paine to part from't.
Exit.
W. Q. p.
If there proue no cheek in the Magick glasse,
But by proportion come as faire, and full
Into his eyes as his into mine lately,
Enter agen B. B. p.
B. B. p.
The very selfe same that my mirror blest me, with
From head to foote, the beauty and the habit,
Kept you this place? still did not you remooue Lady.
VV. Q. p.
Not a foote (sir.)
B. Q. p.
Is't possible,
I would haue sworne I'de seene the substance yonder,
'Twas to that lustre, to that life presented.
W. Q. p.
Euen so was yours to me (sir.)
B. B. p.
Pawne, saw you mine.
W. Q. p.
Perfectly cleare, no
Sooner my name vsed, but yours appeared.
B. B. p.
Iust so did yours at mine now.
B. Q. p.
Why stand you idle, will you let time
Cousen you, (protracting time) of those
Delicious benefits, that faith marked to you,
You modest paire of blushing,
Gamesters, and you (Sir) the bashfull
I cannot flatter a foule fault in any,
Can you be more then man and wife assigne,
And by a power the most irreuocable,
Others that be adventurers in delight,
May meete with crosses, shame or seperation
You know the mind of fate, you must be coupled.
B. B. p.
Shee speakes but truth in this,
I see no reason then,
That wee should misse the rellish of this night;
But wee are both shame-fac't.
W. Q. p.
How this night (Sir)
Did not I know you must be mine, and therein
Your priuiledge runnes strong, for that loose motion
You neuer should be, is it not by fortune
To match with a pure minde, then am I miserable,
The Doues and all chast louing, winged creatures
Haue their paires fit, their desires iustly
The (may of woman) fate has ordayned (Sir)
We should be man and wife, has not giuen
Warrant for ayme act of knowledge till
We are so.
B. B. p.
Tender ey'd modesty, how it grieues at this,
I'me as farre off for all this, strange imposture,
As at first enter-view, where lies our game now?
You know I cannot marry by my order.
B. Q. p.
I know you cannot (sir) yet you
May venture on a contract.
B. B. p.
Hah!
B. Q. p.
Surely you may (sir,)
Without all question so farre, without danger
Or any staine to your vow, and that make take her:
Nay do't with speede, sheele thinke you
Meane the better too.
B. B. p.
Be not so lauish of that blessed spring,
You'ue wasted that vpon a cold occasion now,
Would wash a sinfull soule white by our loue ioyes,
That motion shall neere light vpon my tongue more,
Till we're contracted, then I hope your mine.
W. Q. p.
In all iust duty euer.
B. Q. p.
Then doe you question it?
Pish, then you're man and wife,
All but Church Ceremonies:
Pray let's see it done first,
She shall do reason then:
Now ile enioy the sport, and cousen you both,
My bloods game is the wages I haue
Workt for.
Exe.
Enter blacke Knight and his pawne.
B. Kt.
Pawne, I haue spoke to the Fat bishop for thee,
Ile get thy absolution from his owne mouth:
Reach me my Chayre of ease, my Chaire of coufonage
I loue a life to sit vppon a banke
Of Heretique gold: Oh soft and gentle (sirrah)
There's a foule flaw i'th bottom of my bum (pawne)
I neere shall make sound souldier, but sound treacher
With any hee in Europe, how now? quality
Thou hast the paultrest foole that ere I met with,
It cannot beare one suckling villaine:
Mine can digest a monster without credit,
A finne as weighty as an Elephant,
And neuer wamble for't.
B. Kt. p.
I, you haue beene vs'd to't (sir)
That's a great helpe, the swallow of my conscience
Has but a narrow passage, you must thinke yet
It lyes i'th pænitent pipe, and will not downe,
If I had got seauen thousand pounds by Offices
And guld downe you, the bore would haue bin bigger.
B. Kt.
Nay, an thou prou'st factious, I shall hug thee,
Can a poore-pocht-soft reare iniquity
So rude vpon thy conscience, I'me asham'd of thee,
Hadst thou betrayed the witnesse to the blacke,
Beggard a Kingdome by dissimulation,
Vnioynted the faire frame of peace, and trafficke
Poyson'd alleagance, set faith backe and wrought
Weomens soft soules euen vp to the masculine malice,
To pursue truth to death if the cause rowz'd em,
That staires and parets as first taught to curse thee:
All these and ten times troubled has this braine
Bin parent too, they are my off-springs all.
B. Kt. p.
A goodly broode.
B. Kt.
Yet I can jest as lightly,
Laugh and tell strange stories to Court Madames,
(Daughters of my seducements) with alacrity,
As high and heartily, as youths time of innocence
That neuer knew a sinne, to shape a sorrow by;
To shake a fault, my conscience is be calm'd rather,
B. Kt. p.
I'me sure there's a Whirle-winde huffes in mine.
B. Kt.
Sirrah, I ha sold the Groome ath stoole six times,
And receiued money of six seuerall Ladies:
Ambitious to take place of Baronets wiues
To three old money Matrons I haue promis'd,
The mother ship oth maydes, I'ue taught our friends
To conueigh white house gold, to our blacke kingdom
In cold backt pasties, so cousen Searchers:
For venting halbow'd oyle, beades, needles, pardons,
Pictures, veronices, heads in priuate presses,
That's done one i'th habit of a Pedler:
Letters convaied in roles, Tobaco-roles:
When a restraint comes, by my politicke counsell;
Some of our Iesuites turne Gentle-men Vshers:
Some Falkners, some park-keeper, & some hunts-men:
One tooke the shape of an old Ladies Cooke once,
And dispatcht two chares in a sunday morning,
The Altar and the Dresser: pray what vse
Put I my summer recreation too?
But more t'enforme my knowledge in the state
And strength of the white Kingdome? no fortifications,
Hauen, Creeke, landing place, 'bout the white Coast,
But I got draught, and plot-forme, learn'd the depth
Of all the Channels, knowledge of all sands,
Shelues, Rockes and Riuers for invasion:
A Catalogue of all the Nauy Royall:
The burrhen of each shippe, the brasse murtherers:
The number of the men, to what cape bound:
Agen for the discouery of the Inlands:
Neuer a Shire but the State better knowne
To me, then to her best Inhabitants:
What power of men and horse, gentries, reuenewes,
Who well affected to your side, how ill,
Thirty eight soules haue bin seduced (Pawne)
Since the Ioales vomited with the Pill I gaue 'em.
B. K. p.
Sure you put oyle of toad into the phisick (sir)
B. Kt.
I'me now about a maister-peece of play,
To entrap the Wh. Knight, and with false alurements,
Entice him to our Black House, more will follow,
Whilst our Fat Bishop sets vpon the Queene
Then will our gamely sweetly.
Enter Fat Bishop.
B. Kt. p.
Hee's come now (sir)
F. B.
Heer's Taxa Penitentiaris Knight,
The booke of generall pardons, of all prizes:
I haue bin searching for his sinne this halfe houre,
And cannot light vpon it.
B. Kt.
That is strange let me see it.
B. K. p.
Wretched as I am, ha's my rage done that
There is no president of pardon for?
B. Kt.
For wilfull murder 13. pounds, 4. shillings,
and sixe-pence, that's reasonable cheape, for killing,
killing, killing, killing, killing, killing.
Why heer's nothing but killing of this side.
F. B.
Turne 'ore the sheete, you shal finde adultery
And other triuiall sinnes.
B. Kt.
Adultery, oh I'me met now, for Adultery
A couple of shillings, and for Fornication fiue pence,
Mas these are the good penny-worths,
I cannot see how a man can mend himselfe, for lying
With Mother, Sister, or Daughter, I marry (sir)
Thirty three pounds, three shilling, and three pence,
The sins gradation right payd all in threestoo.
F. B.
You haue read the story of that monster (sir)
That got his daughter, sister & wife, of his own mother
B. Kt.
Symone nine pounds.
F. B.
They may thank me for that, t'was ninteene,
Before I came, I haue mittigated many of the summs.
Sodomy sixe pence, you should haue
Put that summe euer on the back side of your booke
Bishop.
F. B.
Ther's few on's very forward (sir)
B Kt.
What's heere? a old presidents of incouragment.
F. B.
I those are ancient notes.
B. Kt
Giuen as a gratitud for the kiling of an Heretical
Prince, with a poysond knife duckats 5 thousand.
F. B.
True (sir) that was payed.
B. Kt.
Promis'd to Doctor Lopus for poysoning the
Mayden Queene of the Whit Kingdom, ducats twenty
thousand, which sayd sum was afterwards giuen as a
meritorious almes to the Nunnery at Lisbone, hauing
at this present, ten thousand pounds more at vse in the
Towne-house of Antwerp.
B. Kt. p.
What's all this to my conscience (worthy Holinesse)
I sue for pardon, I haue brought mony with me.
F. B.
You must depart, you see there is no president,
Of any price or pardon for that fact.
B. K. p.
Most miserable, are fouler sinnes remitted?
Killing, nay wilfull murder.
F. B.
True, there is instance:
Were yon to kill him I'de pardon you:
Ther's president for that, and price set downe,
But none for Gelding.
B. Kt. p.
I haue pickt out vnderstanding now for euer,
Out of the Carbulistique bloody ridle,
I'le make away all my estate and kill him,
And by that act obtaine full absolution.
Exit.
Enter the Black King.
B. Ki.
Why Bishop, Knight, wher's your remooues?
Your troopes? stand you now idle in the heart of game?
B. Kt.
My life for yoursblack soueraigne the game is ours,
I haue wrought vnder-hand for the Whit Knight,
And this braue Duke, and finde them very cunning
And for their Sanctimonius Queen's surprizall,
In that State-puzell, and distracted hurry,
Trust my Arch subtilty with.
B. Kt.
Oh Eagle pride,
Neuer was Game more hopefull of our side.
B. Kt.
If Bishop bul-beife, be not snapt at next bout,
As the Game stands, I'le neuer trust arte more.
Exeunt
Recorder. Dumb shew. Enter Blacke Queenes Pawne with a light, conducting the White Queenes Pawne to a Chamber, and fetching in the Blacke Bishops Pawne conueyes him to an other, puts out the light, and followes.
Enter Whit Knight, and White Duke.
VV. Kt.
True noble Duke, faire vertues most indeer'd one,
Let vs preuent their ranke insinuation,
With truth of cause, and cunning meet their plots:
With confident goodnes, that shal strike them grauling.
VV. D.
(Sir) all the Gyns, traps, and alluring snares,
The Diuell ha's bin at worke since eighty eight,
Are layd for the great hope of this Game onely.
W. Kt.
The more noble will Truths triumphs bee,
When they haue wound about our constant courages,
The glittering serpent, that e're false-hood fashoned;
And glorying most, in his resplendent poysons,
Iust Heauen can finde a bolt to bruise his head.
VV. D.
Looke would see destruction lie a sunning?
In yonder smile sits blood, and treachery basking,
Ent. B. Kt.
In that perfidious modell of face falsehood:
Hell is drawne grinning.
VV. K.
What a payne it is
For Truth to faine a little?
B. Kt.
Oh faire Knight,
The rising glory of the House of Candor,
Haue I so many protestations lost?
I that haue vowed the faculties of Soule,
Life, spirit, and braine, to your sweete Game of youth,
(Your noble fruitfull Game) can you mistrust
Any foule play in me? that haue bin euer
The most submisse obseruers of your vertues,
And no way taunted with ambition.
(Saue onely to be thought your first admirer,
How often haue I chang'd (for your delight)
The Royall Presentation of my place?
Into a minicke Iester, and and become
(For your sake, and the expulsion of sad thoughts)
Of a great state sice, a light sonne of pastime,
Made three score yeare a Tomboy, a meere wanton,
Ile tell you what I told a (Sauoy) dame once:
New Wed, high, plumph, and lusting for an issue,
Within the yeare I promis'd her a childe,
If she would stride ouer (Saint Rumbants) breeches,
A relique kept at Methlin, the next morning
One of my followers old hose was conueyed
Into her chamber, where she tride the feate,
By that, and a Court friend, after grew great.
VV. Kt.
Why who could be without thee?
B. Kt.
I will change,
To please you, to any shape, and my ayme
H'as bin to win your loue, in all this game.
W. Kt.
Thou hast it nobly, and I long to see,
The Black-house pleasure, state and dignitie.
B. K.
Of honor you'le so surfet and delight,
You'le nere desire agen to see the Whit.
Exeunt.
Enter Whit Queene.
VV. Q.
My luoe, my hope, my deerest, oh he's gon,
Entrapt, ensnard, surprised amongst the black on's,
I neuer felt extremity like this,
Thicke darknesse dwels vpon this houre, Integrity
By errors dullest element interpose,
Suffers a blacke ecclipse, I neuer was
More sicke of loue then now I am of horror:
I shalbe taken, the games lost, I'me set vppon:
Oh tis the turne-coate Bishop, hauing watched
Th'advantage of his play, comes now to seize on me:
Oh! I'me hard be set, distressed most miserable.
F. B.
Tis in vaine to stirre, remooue which way you can:
I take you now, this is the time we haue hop'd for,
Queene you must downe.
W. Q.
No rescue, no deliuerer.
F. B.
The blacke Kings blood burnes for thy prostitution,
And nothing but the spring of thy chast vertue
Can coole his inflamation: instantly
He dyes vpon a plurifie of Luxury,
If he deflower thee not.
Enter white Bishop.
W. Q.
Oh streight of misery.
VV. B.
And is your holinesse his diuine procurer?
F. B.
The diuells in't, I'me taken by a Ring-doue:
VVhere stood this Bishop all this while, that I saw him not?
W. B.
Oh you were so ambitious you lookt ouer me,
You aym'd at no lesse person, then the Queene
(The glory of the Game) if she were wonne,
The way were open to the Master-Checque,
Which (looke you) he and his, liues to giue you:
Honor and vertue guide him in his station.
Ent. VV. King.
W. Q.
Oh, my safe sanctuary.
VV. Ki.
Let Heauens blessings
Be no longer mine, then I am thy sure one:
The Doues house is not safer in the Rocke,
Then thou in my firme bosome.
VV. Q.
I am bless'd in't.
VV. Kt.
Is it that lumpe of ranke ingratitude,
Swell'd with the poyson of Hypocrisie:
Of the sweet firtile blessings of our Kingdome, Bishop
Thou hast done our White House gracious seruice,
And worthy the faire reuerence of thy place:
For (thee black Holinesse) that workes out thy death,
As the blind Moale the prop'rest sonne of earth,
Who in casting his ambitious hills vp,
Is often taken and destroyed in the midst
Of his aduanc'd worke: 'twere well with thee,
If like that verminous labourer, which thou imitatest
In hils of pride and malice, when death puts thee vp,
The silent graue might prooue the bag for euer:
No deeper pit then that for thy vaine hope
O, the white Knight, and his most firme assistant,
Two princely peeces, which I know thy thoughts
Giue lost for euer now, my strong assurance
Of their fixt vertues, could you let in seas
Of populous vatruthes against that Fort,
'Twould burst the proudest billowes.
W. Q.
My feare's past then.
VV. Kt.
Feare? you were neuer guilty of an injury
To goodnesse, but in that.
W. Q.
It stayd not with me (sir.)
W. Kt.
It was too much, if it vsurp'd a thought,
Place a strong guard there.
W. Q.
Confidence is set (sir.)
W Kt.
Take that prize hence (you reuerend of men)
Put couetousnes into the bag againe.
F. B.
The Bag had need be sound, or it goes to wracke,
Sinne and my weight will make a strong one cracke.
Finit Actus Quartus.
| A Game at Chaess | |