University of Virginia Library

Actus primus,

Scena prima.

Enter the King of England, the Lord Lacy, Clinton, Chester, and the Martiall, Audley, and Bonvile.
King.
Thus from the holy Warres are we return'd,
To slumber in the Summer of soft peace,
Since those proud enemies that late blaspheamd
And spit their furies in the face of Heaven,
Are now laid low in dust.

Chester.
Dread Soveraigne,
The Heavens have shew'd their bounty unto us,
In guarding your most deare and sacred life
From opposite hatred, and that imminent perill
To which you were ingag'd.

Clinton.
When in one battaile you were twice unhoist,
Guirt with the opposite rankes of Infidels,
That had not timely resoue come from Heaven,
Mortall assistance had beene us'd in vaine.

King.
Ey, now you load me with a surplussadge
Of comptlesse debt to this thrice valiant Lord
My noble Martiall, twice that perillous day.
Did he bestride me, and beneath his Targe
Me thought that instant did I lie as safe
As in my best and strongest Cittadell;
The whilst his bright Sword like the Bolt of Iove,
Pierc't the steele-crests of barbarous Infidels,
And flatted them with earth; although my Subject,
Yet in this one thing thou hast prov'd my Lord:
For when my life was forfeit to the Warres,
Thou by thy valour didst redeeme it freely,
And gav'st it me, whilst thou ingag'st thy life:
For which if ever by like chance of Warre,
Lawes forfeiture, or our prerogative,
Thy life come in like danger, here we sweare
By our earths honours, and our hopes divine,
As thou for us, wee'le ours ingage for thine.

Mart.
You give my Lord, to Duty Attributes
Too high for her submisse humility:
I am your vassall, and ten thousand lives
Of equall ranke with mine, subjects and servants,
Be over-rated if compar'd with yours.

King.
When I forget thee, may my operant parts
Each one forget their office: We create thee
Next to our selfe of power, we but except
The name of King, all other dignities
We will communicate to thee our friend.

Mart.
May I no longer use these Royalties,
Or have the power to enjoy them, then I wholly
Devote them to your service.

Prince.
Noble Martiall,
If I survive Englands Inheritance,
Or ever live to sit on Iacobs Stone,
Thy love shall with my Crowne be hereditary.

Mart.
And gracious Prince, since Heaven hath bin as liberall
To grace me with your favour, as my birth
Was to endow me richly; all your graces
Shall with my great and ample revenues
Be ever to your vertues serviceable.

King.
We know it, and have beene observers long
Of thy choice vertues, neither could we yet
Fasten that love on thee, which came not home
With double use and ample recompence.

Clint.
These graces are beyond dimension,
They have nor height, nor depth, uncircumscrib'd,
And without bounds. He like a broad arm'd tree
O're-shadows us, and throw his spacious bowes,
We that grow under cannot see the Sunne,
Nor taste the cheerefull warmth of his bright beames.
These branches we most loppe by fire or Thunder,
Or by his shadowy armes be still kept under.

Chest.
I was borne Eagle-sighted, and to gaze
In the Suns fore-head; I will brooke no cloud
To stand betwixt me and his glorious fire,
I'le have full light, or none; either soare high,
Or else sinke low; my ominous Fate is cast,
Or to be first, or of all abjects last.

King.
You shall renowned Martiall feast for us
The Embassadors that come from forraigne Lands,
To gratulate our famous victories.

Mar.
I shall my Lord, and give them intertainment
To Englands honour, and to suite the place
Of which I beare the name.

King.
We doubt it not:
We understand Lords, in these tedious warres
Some forward spirits have beene at great expence
To furnish them like noble Gentlemen;
And many spent most part of their revenues
In honour of their Countrey, some undone
In pursuit of these warres: now if such come
For their reliefe by suite petitionary,
Let them have gracious hearing, and supply
Or by our service, or our Treasury

Audley.
I have one Kinsman hath spent all his land,
And is return'd a begger, and so tatter'd,
As that I can but blush to acknowledge him:
But in the Warres he spent it, and for me,
Warres shall relieve him. He was a noble Heire,
But what these lost, let other Warres repaire.

King.
Lords all, once more we greete your safe returne,
With generall welcome, we invite you all
To feast with us, and joy what we have wonne,
Happiest in these, our Martiall, and our sonne.

Exit.
Enter the Clowne and a Welch-man.
Clowne.

It seemes thou hast not beene in the Warres my
Friend, but art new come up to London.

Welch.

Heaven plesse thee from all his mercies, and his
graces: It was told us in Wales, that you have great pigge Organ
in Pauls, and pigger by a great deale than our Organ
at Rixam, which made me make my travels and my journies
on the pare hoofe up to London, to have resolutions and certifications
in that pisinesse, that when I returne into my
Countries and habitations, I may give notice to mine Uncle,
Rice ap Davy, ap Morgan, ap Even, ap Iones, ap Geffrey.
I pray where apout stands Pauls Church, can you tell her?

Clown.

O very easily; stand with thy face that way, and
follow thy nose, and thou wilt be there presently. But doest
thou heare Brittan, take my word, our Organ of Powles is
much bigger and better than yours of Rixam, by as
much as Powles Church is bigger and better than Saint
Pancridge.

Welch.

Awe man, you prittle and prattle nothing but leasings
and untruths: now will you but ease your posteriors a
little, and I will quickly shew you your Organ of Pauls.

Clown.

Very good, I like your demonstration well; but
doest thou thinke your Organ of Rixam can compare with
ours for all that?

Welch.

Lend me but your eares and your apprehensions, and

I will make you easily to acknowledge your errours.

Clowne.

But first shew me your case in which you carry
your two paire of Organs, sure those slops wil not hold them:
but in the meane time walke with me to the next red Lettice,
and I will give thee two Cannes, and wet thine Organ-pipes
well I warrant thee.

Welch.

I will take your courtesies, and if ever I shall meet
you in Glamorgan, or Rednock-shire, I will make bold to requite
some part of your kindnesses.

A loud winding of Hornes within.
Clowne.

The very noise of that Horne hath frighted my
courtesie but all's one, fare-well for this time, and at our
next meeting ten to one I will be as good as my word.

Welch.

Say you so man, why then Cad keepe you from
all his mercies, and good fortunes, and make us all his servants.

Sound againe.
Enter the King, Martiall, &c.
King.
Come, we will to the chace, be neare us Martiall,
I'le try to day which of our two good steeds
Can speed it best; let the most swift take both.

Mar.
So please your Grace, but I shall surely loose;
Yours is the best for proofe, though mine for show.

King.
That will we try, the wager growes not deepe
Equals the lay, and what we winne, wee'le keepe,
Mount, mount.

Exeunt.
Chester.
Greater and greater still, no plot, no tricke
To have him quite remov'd from the Kings Grace,
To slander him?

Clin.
The King will lend no eare
To any just complaint that's made of him;
What can our scandals doe then?

Chest.
Challenge him
Of Treason then, and that may haply call
His Loyalty into suspect and question,
Which in the King at least will breed a coldnesse,
If not a deadnesse of affection.

Clint.
Of Treason? say he crave the combate then,
For that's the least he can; which of us two
Shall combate him? I know his blowes too well,
Not I.

Chest.
I should be loath.

Clin.
How doe you rellish this?
His vertue and his bounty wonne him grace,
On that wee'le build to ruine all his favours,
And worke him to disgrace.

Chest.
Pray teach me how?

Clin.
First, praise him to the King, give all his vertues
Double their due adde unto every thing,
Ey, and Hyperbolize in all his deeds:
Let his knowne vertues be the common Theame
Of our discourse to stale him, rate his worth,
To equalize, if not to exceed the King:
This cannot but beget distast at least.

Chest.
But further.

Clin.
Thus; then fall off from his praise,
And question his best deeds, as it may be
His noble bounty is but popular grace,
And his humility but inward pride:
His vulgar suffrage and applause abroad,
A way to climbe and seate himselfe aloft,
You understand me?

Chest.
Fully; come to horse,
Hornes.
And as we ride, our further plots disgest,
To finde what may disturbe, what ayd us best.

Exit.
Enter Martiall, and Servant.
Mar.
Spurre to the King, his steed's unshod before,
The wayes be stony, and hee'le spoyle his beast:
Here take these shooes and hammer, brought of purpose
For mine owne use.

Serv.

My Lord, have you pluck't the shooes off from your
owne horse, to set them on anothers, a thousand to one but
you will spoyle your owne Guelding quite.

Mar.
No matter, doe as I command thee sirrah;
Hollow him streight, I know he loves that horse,
And would not ride him bare for any gold.

Serv.

Your horse is as good as his I am sure, and I think
you love him as well.

Mar.
No matter, if he aske thee where thou hadst them,
Tell him, thou broughtst them with thee for my use.
Away, I'le gallop after, and over-take thee.

Serv.

Put your shooes on another horses feete, and let
your owne goe bare-foot? a jest indeed.

Mar.
The King affects both his good horse and Game,
I'le helpe to further both.

Enter the King, and Martiall: Winde hornes.
King.
You have fetcht me up at length, that's to your fortune,
Or my misfortune, for I lost a shooe.
Martiall you ride well furnisht to the field,

Mar.
My Lord, so Horsemen should and I am glad
My man was so well furnisht, and the rather
Since we are farre from helpe; my man is cunning,
Your Highnesse to his skill may trust your horse.

King.
Thou couldst not have presented me a gift
I could have tasted better, for that beast
I much esteeme: you were out-stript at length.

Mar.
Till I was forc't to alight, my horse with yours
Kept equal speed.

Enter the Lords.
King.
Our Lords? now Gentlemen,
How doe you like the Chace?

Audl.
'Twas excellent.

King.
Had not my horse beene by mischance unshed,
My Martiall here and I had led you still.

Chest.
You were the better horst.

King.
And you the worst,
Witnesse the hugenesse of your way behind:
Is not my horse yet shod?

Serv.
He is my Lord.

King.
Then let us mount againe.

Clin.
Your horse my Lord, is not in state to ride.
He wants two shooes before.

King.
Whose doth, the Martials?

Mart.
Oft such mischances happen.

King.
Were you furnisht
For us, and for your selfe kept no supply?

Mar.
So I may have my Lord to furnish you,
I care not how my selfe want.

King.
Apprehension helpe mee, for every circumstance apply
Thou hast done me an unwonted courtesie;
You spy'd my losse first.

Mar.
I did my Lord.

King.
And then alighted.

Mar.
True.

King.
Vpon my life 'tis so,
To unshooe thine owne good steed, and furnish mine,
Was't not? upon thy life resolve me true.

Mar.
What I have done my Lord, I did to you.

King.
You will exceed me still, and yet my courtesie
Shall ranke with thine; for this great duty showne,
I pay thee thus, both steeds are now thine owne.

Clint.
They wager love.

Mar.
The best thing I can doe
In me is duty; the worst, Grace in you.

King.
Th'art ours; come mount, we wil returne to Court,
To order the great Turnament prepar'd
To doe our sonne grace; in which we intreat
Martiall, your ayde, because your skill is great.

Exit
Enter Corporall and Cocke ragged.
Corpor.

We have visited all our familiars, is it not now
time that we revisite our Captaine?

Cock.

With all my heart good Corporall, but it had not
bin amisse, if we had gone to Burchen-lane first to have suited
us: and yet it is a credit for a man of the sword to goe
thread-bare, because by his apparrell he may be taken to be
an old Soldier.

Corp.

Cocke, thy father was a fresh water soldier, thou art not;
Thou hast beene powdred, witnesse thy flaxe & touch-box.

Enter Match.
Cocke.

But who comes yonder, my Match? I am glad I
have met thee.

Match.

I knew Cock, at one time or other thou wouldst
meete with thy Match. What, shall we goe to my Captains
lodging?

Enter Captaine extreame ragged.
Corp.

Spare that paines, yonder he appears in his colours.

Capt.

Fortun' de la guere; I that have flourisht, no colours
like me, nay, no Trumpet thou in his highest key, have nothing
now but ragges to flourish; I that have fac't the enemy,
have not so much as any facing left me: were my suite but as
well pointed as I have seene some, and stood I but in the
midst of my followers, I might say I had nothing about me
but ragge and ragge. I am descended nobly; for I am descended
so low, that all the cloaths of my backe are scarce worth
a Noble: I was borne to thousands, and yet a thousand to
one, they will now scarce acknowledge mee where I was
borne.

Corp.

Health to our worthy Captaine,

Capt.

Thanks my most worthy soldiers; and yet if I should
examine your worths, what at the most could all you make?

Corp.

I would not have your Worship to examine our outsides.

Capt.

And for your insides I'le passe my word.

Cock.

Cānot all your worships credit afford you a new suit?

Cap.

Credit me, no; my revenues were a thousand a yeere,
part of which I lavish't amongst gallants, riotted in Tavernes,
havockt in Ordinaries; and when my estate began to
ebbe, as my last refuge, I laid all my hopes upon the last wars,
but failing there, (as the world imagins) I am return'd as
you see. The King hath promised supply and reliefe to all
that have spent their estates in his expeditions, but many like
my selfe have beene borne to be poore, that scorne to be beggars;
as many have beene borne to be rich, that can never
leave it; the truth is, I am my selfe as my proceedings will
expresse me further.

Cor.

Will you cashiere us Captaine, or shall wee follow
your future fortunes?

Capt.

You shall not leave me; my purpose is to try the
humours of all my friends, my Allies, my ancient associates,
and see how they will respect me in my supposed poverty:
though I loose their acquaintance, I will loose none of my
retinew. How say you Gentlemen, will you copart with
me in this my dejectednesse?

Corp.

As I am Corporall, so will I prove true Squire to
thy body.

Cock.

And as I am true Cocke, so will I crow at thy service,
waite on thee with a combe for thy head, with fire to
thy Peece, with water to thy hands, and be cocke sure in any
imployment whatsoever.

Match.

And as I am true Match, I shall scorne that any of
them shall o're-match me in duty.

Capt.

Attend me then; if I rise, you shall ascend; if fall,
I will lie flat with you. First then I will make some tryall of
my Friends at the Court, and in good time: here's the King.

Sound, Enter the King discoursing with Chester, and Clinton, Audley, and Bonvile.
King.
You have perswaded much, and I begin
To censure strangely of his emulous love.

Chest.
Further my Lord, what can his smoothnesse meane,
His courtesie and his humility,
But as sly baites to catch the peoples hearts,
And weane them from your love.

Clin.
Doth he not strive
In all things to exceed your courtesie,
Of purpose to out-shine your Royall deeds,
And daze I your brightnesse, that himselfe may shine?
Is he not onely popular my Liege?
Is not the peoples suffrage sole to him,
Whilst they neglect your fame, his traine doth equall,
If not exceed yours; still his Chamber throng'd
With store of suitors: where the Martiall lies,
There is the Court, all eyes are bent on him,
And on his glories; there's no Theame abroad,
But how he sav'd you from the Pagans sword,
How his sole hand swayes, guides, and guards the Realme.

Chest.
Thinke but my Lord on his last game at Chesse,
'Twas his past odds, but when he saw you moov'd,
With what a sly neglect he lost the mate,
Onely to make you bound to'him.

Clin.
For all the favours, graces, honours, loves
Bestow'd upon him from your bounteous hand,
His cunning was to thinke to quit you all,
And pay you with a horse-shooe.

Chest.
In the Turnament
Made by the Prince your sonne, when he was Peerelesse,
And without equall, this ambitious Martiall
Strives to exceed, and did; but when he saw
Your Highnesse moov'd to see the Prince disgrac't,
He lost the Prize; but how? that all the people
Might see it given, not forfeit, which did adde
Rather than derogate: briefly my Lord,
His courtesie is all ambition.

King.
And well it may be; is he not our vassall?
Why should the Martiall then contend with us.
To exceed in any vertue? we observe him.
His popularity, how affable
He's to the people; his Hospitality,
Which addes unto his love; his forwardnesse,
To entertaine Embassadors, and feast them,
Which though he doo't upon his proper charge,
And for our honour, yet it may be thought
A smoothnesse, and a cunning, to grow great;
It must be so. A project we intend
To proove him faithlesse, or a perfect friend.

Exit.
Chest.
It takes, these jealous thoughts we must pursue,
And to his late doubts still adde somthing new.

Cap.
Your speech being ended, now comes in my cue.
My honourable Lord.

Chest.
What begger's this?

Cap.
Beggar my Lord? I never begg'd of you:
But were I a begger, I might be a Courtiers fellow;
Could I begge suites my Lord as well as you,
I need not goe thus clad; or were you free
From begging as I am, you might ranke me.

Chest.
Comparisons? Away.

Exit.
Cap.
Folly and pride
In Silkes and Lace their imperfections shew,
But let pure vertue come in garments torne
To begge reliefe she gets a courtly scorne;
My Lord you know me?

Clin.
I have seene that face.

Cap.
Why 'tis the same it was, it is no changeling,
It beares the selfe-same front; 'tis not like yours,
Paled with the least disgrace, or puft with bragges,
That smiles upon gay cloaths, and frownes on rags.
Mine's stedfast as the Sunne, and free as Fate;
Whose equall eyes looke upon want and state.

Clin.
And doth not mine so too? Pray what's your busines?

Cap.

Onely that you would know me: the Kings favour
hath made you a Baron, and the Kings warres have made
me a bare one: there's lesse difference in the Accent of the
word, than in the cost of our weeds: This is the same face
you were once acquainted with though not the same habite:
I could know your face, though your diseas'd body were
wrapt in sheepe-skins.

Clin.
This fellow offends me.

Cap.
Goe churle, passe free,
Thou knowst my forfeit lands, though forget'st me:

Nay, you would be going too, you are as affraid of a torne
suite, as a younger brother of a Serjeant, a rich corne-master
of a plentifull yeere, or a troublesome Attourney to heare
of suits put to compremize.

Sir, I must challenge you, you are my kinsman;
My Grandsir was the first that rais'd the name
Of Bonvile to this height, but Lord to see
That you are growne a Lord, and know not me.

Bonv.
Cousin, I know you, you have bin an unthrift,
And lavisht what you had; had I so done,
I might have ebb'd like you, where I now flow.

Cap.

Yet I can purchase that, which all the wealth you
have will never winne you.

Bon.
And what's that I pray?

Cap.
Wit: is the word strange to you, wit?

Bon.
Whither wilt thou?

Cap.
True,
Wit will to many ere it come to you.

Bon.
Feed you upon your purchase, I'le keepe mine.

Cap.
Have you the wit to doo't?

Cap.
I have wit to buy,
And you to sell, which is the greater gaine?
Cousin I'le keepe my wealth, keep you your brain.

Cap.
The wealth of Mydas choak thee ere th'art old,
And even the bread thou feed'st on change to gold.
My Lord, you heare how I pray for my Kinred,
I have a little more charity for my friend: with you
I have some businesse.

Aud.
I am in haste now.

Cap.
I pray you stay.

Audl.
Not now indeed.

Cap.
Pardon, for here's no way
Before you heare me.

Aud.
Prithee be briefe.

Cap.
Your daughter lives I hope.

Aud.
What's that to thee?

Cap.
Somewhat 'twill proove, ey and concerning me;
Before I laid my fortunes on these warres,
And was in hope to thrive, by your consent,
Nay, by your motion our united hearts
Were made more firme by contract; well you know
We were betroth'd.

Aud.
Sir, I remember't not.

Cap.
I doe, and thus proceed:
I was in hope to have rais'd my fortunes high,
And with them to have pull'd her by degrees
Vnto that eminence at which I aime:
I venter'd for it, but instead of wealth
I purchast nought but wounds. Honour I had,
And the repute of valour; but my Lord,
These simply of themselves are naked Titles,
Respectlesse, without pride, and bombast wealth,
And to the purblind world shew seeming bad,
Behold in me their shapes, they thus goe clad.

Aud.
You said you would be briefe.

Cap.
All that I had,
I spent upon my Soldiers, we tooke no spoile.
The warres have grated on me ev'n to this
That you now see: Now my last refuge is,
To raise my selfe by her.

Aud.
And spend her meanes
As thou hast done thine owne vile unthrift? no,
I know no Contract.

Cap.
I have one to shew.

Aud.
No matter; think'st thou that I'le vent my bagges
To suite in Sattin him that jets in ragges?

Exit.
Cap.
The world's all of one heart, this blaze I can,
All love the money, none esteemes the man.
These be our friends at Court, and fine ones too,
Are they not pray? where be our followers?

Cock.
Here noble Captaine.

Cap.

You see how our friends grace us, what hopes we have
to preferre you?

Corp.
I see sufficient: Captaine, I will discharge my selfe,
I meane to seeke else-where for preferment.

Cap.
All leave me if you please; but him that stayes,
If e're I mount, I'le with my fortunes raise.

Match.

Captaine, I desire your passe, I meane to march along
with my Corporall.

Cap.

Wilt thou goe too?

Cock.

I leave you? who I? for a little diversity, for a wet
storme? no Sir, though your out-sides fall away, I'le cleave

as close to you as your linings.

Cap.

Gramercy yet, away without reply?

Corp.

Futre for thy base service.

Cap.

Away, sfoot how am I falne out of my humour? and
yet this strangenesse of my nearest friends and alliance deserves
a little cōtemplating; is't possible, that even Lords, that
have the best educating, whose eares are frequent to the most
fluent discourse, that live in the very braine of the Land, the
Court, that these should be gull'd with shadows, and not
be able to distinguish a man when they see him; thou knowest
me, yet these doe not.

Cock.

Why may not a poore man have as good eyes as another?
their eares indeed may be larger than mine, but I
can see as far without spectacles as the best Lord in the land.

Cap.

These superficiall Lords that thinke every thing to
be as it appeares, they never question a mans wit, his discretion,
his language, his inward vertues, but as hee seemes,
he passes.

Cock.
I warrant if I should looke like an Asse,
They would take mee for one too.

Cap.

The next I try is my betroth'd, if she acknowledge
this hand that hath received hers, this heart, this face, and
knowes the person from the garment, I shall say, Woman,
there is more vertue in thee than Man.

Cock.

There's no question of that; for they say, they will
hold out better: But Sir, if we be no better habited, I make a
question how we shall get in at the Court-gate; for I'le assure
you your fashion is not in request at the Court.

Cap.

My vertue is not to be imitated; I'le hold my purpose
though I be kept backe, and venter lashing in the Porters
Lodge. Come, follow me, I will goe see my Mistresse,

Though guirt with all the Ladies of the Court:
Though ragged Vertue oft may be kept out,
No grate so strongly kept above the Center,
But Asses with gold laden, free may enter.