 | The Captives |  |
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Enter The Lady de Averne wth a letter in her hand readinge, and wth her, mayde [or page,]Lady
And howe came you by this
Myde
ffollowinge you to'th chappell.
and I protest not thinkinge any thinge,
ffryar Ihon oth' suddeine pluckt mee by the sleev[OMITTED]
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but privatly bycause it was a thinge,
only concernd your person,
Lady.
twas well doonne;
but prthee do no more so, ffor this tyme,
takt ffor a warninge.
Myde.
madam I am skoold.
Lady:
doo so or ever loose mee. [heares sweet stuffe,]
can this bee in a vowed monastick lyffe
or to bee ffownd in Churchmen: [nothinge but Love]
[and all Syr reverens like.] tis a question
whether to smyle or vex, to lawghe or storme.
bycause in this I ffinde the cause off boathe,
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to Incorradge such a boldnes. yes this letter
Instructs mee what: hee saythe my affability.
and modest smiles still gracinge his salutes.
moovd him to wryte: oh what a chary care then
had womene neede have' boathe off lipps and eyes
when every ffayre woord's censurd liberty
and every kind looke meere licensiousnes.
I have bin heatherto so greate a stranger
to these vnusd temptations. that in trothe.
I knwe' not howe, to take this: sylly ffryar,
madnes or ffolly, one off these t'must bee.
Iff th'one I pitty att the other laughe
and so no more reguard it
Madam,
madam Iff ought bee in that letter ill.
mee thinks tis good that you can takt so well.
Lady
peace you, a brainles weake bee' sotted ffellowe,
but lett mee better recollect my selff
madnes, nor ffolly and add lust to them,
durst [in] not in ffury heate or Ignorans.
have tempted my vnquestiond chastity
wth out a ffowrthe abetter: Iealosy
the more' I ponder' that, I more' suspect.
say that my Lord shoold have a hand in this
[& knwinge there' is such differens in [y]our yeares.]
to proove my' ffaythe might putt this triall on mee.
elce howe durst such a poore penurious ffryar
oppose such an vnheard off Impudens
gaynst my Incensed ffury and revendge,
my best is there-ffore as I am Inocent
to stooddy myne owne saffety: showe this letter
wch onc' my charity woold have' conceild,
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Denis.
to my Lords Iust Incensment. then indanger
myne owne vnblemisht truth and loyalty
by incurringe his displeasure. heare hee coms.
to h
Enter the Lord de Averne, wth som ffollowers: his mā Denis.
L. Avern.
nwe Lady readinge.
Lady
yes a letter Sr.
L Averne
Imports it any newes
Lady:
yes syr strange newes
and scarce to bee beeleeved,
L Averne.
fforreigne
Lady.
[nay] domestick.
tis howshould busines all.
L Averne.
may I impart: it
Lady
oh syr in any case: as one it most concernes
but I intreate you: reade it wth patiens: the simplicity
off him that writte it will afford you mirthe,
or elce his mallice; spleene. nwe by his temper,
and change off countenance, I shall easily ffind
whose hnd was cheiffe in this:
L Averne.
All leave the place.
[Lady] Denis
wee shall syr,
L Averne.
possible
that this shoold bee in man nay in man vow'ed
vnto a strickt abstemious. chastity
ffrom my owne Creature, and ffrom one I ffeede,
nay ffrom a place built in my holliest vowe's,
establichet in my purpose, in my lyffe'
maintaynd ffrom my revenue, after death
ffirmd, and assurd to all posterityes.
that, that shoold breede such vipers,
Lady
patiens syr the ffellowe suer is madd
L Averne.
I can be madd as hee too, and I will.
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som woold hold meritorious. att the least
Intended ffor an act off piety,
to suffer in my zeale, nay to bee mock't
in my devotion, by those empty drones
that ffeede vpon the hony off my hyve,
to Invert my good Intendements, turne this nest
I built ffor [[illeg.]] pryer, vnto a bedd off Sinnes.
wch thus I'l punish: this religious place,
once [built], vowed to sanctity, I'l vnder myne,
and in one Instant blowe the structure vpp
wth all th'vnhallowed covent.
Lady
y'are in extreames.
where one offends shall ffor his heighnous ffact'
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L Averne.
some Iustyce I will showe them heare on earthe
beeffore they ffinde it multiplyed [in heaven.] elcewhea«re»
Lady,
ffor my sake syr do-not ffor one mans error,
destroy a woorke off perpetuity
by wch your name shall lyve. one man offends
lett the delinquent suffer,
L Averne
so 'tt shalbee.
and thou hast well advysd. som pen and Inke theire
Lady,
what purpose you
L Averne.
thats soly to my selffe,
and in my ffyxt thoughts stands Irreproovable,
Enter Dennis wt h pen Inke & paper
Syr heares pen Inke and paper
L Averne
to his letter my selff will giue an answer,
Wrytes
Denis
suer alls not well that on the suddeine thus.
my Lord is so distempered:
Lady:
I have I ffeare
styrd such a heate, that nought save bloodd will quensh.
but wishe my teares might doo't hee's ffull off storme
and that in him will not bee [ly] easily calmd
his rage and troble boath pronounce him guiltles
off this attempt wch makes mee rather doubt
hee may proove too seveare in his revendge,
wch I wth all indevour will prevent,
yet to the most censorious I appeale,
what coold I lesse have doone to save myne honor
ffrom suffringe beneathe skandall,
L Averne:
see heare's all
tis short and sweete, wryte' this in your' owne hand:
wth out exchange off the least sillable
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or doubt-ffull Coma, then subscribe your name,
seal't then wth your owne signet and dispatche it
as I will ha'te dyrected. doo't. I charge you
wth out the least demurre or ffallacy
by dooinge this you shall prevent distrust.
or ffuture breach beetwixt vs. you shall ffurther
expresse a iust obediens,
Lady
Syr I shall.
what ere your conceald purpose bee' I shall.
L Averne.
provyde mee horses I will ryde [to day,]
[Lady] Denis
when syr,
L Averne.
Instantly after diner and gee't out
I am not to returne till three dayes hence,
so spreade' it throughe the howse,
Denis
what ffollowers syr,
meane you to take a longe,
L Avern.
thy selff no more.
ffor tis a private business: and wth all
provyde mee,—harke thyne eare.
Denis:
a stronge one syrr
L Averne
one that will howld. wth all giue' private order
at night the guarden gate may bee left ope,
[wth] by wch wee may returne vnknwn to any,
what I intend lyes heare.
Denis
all wee servants
are bound to doo, but not examine what.
thats out off our Comission,
L Averne.
twixt vs too
I shall resolve thee ffurther,
Denis.
I am gone syr
L Avern.
nwe sweate lady have you doon
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as you Comanded,
L Averne
Itt wants nothinge nwe
but Seale and super scription I'l see't doon
and marke' mee' nwe at even songe, passinge throughe
the Clooyster to the chappell, when the ffryar[s]
amongst the rest bowes wth his woonted duckes.
add rather then deminish ffrom your smiles.
and woonted ffavours. lett this shee post then,
conveigh this letter to the ffryers close ffist.
who no dowbt gapes ffor answer,
Lady:
All shall bee'
as you Instruct[s] but punishe syr wth pitty
putt him to payne or shame, but deathe alas.
is too seveare example,
L Averne.
tush wyffe ffeare not
thinkst thou Ile gueld a church man,
(exeunt
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