 | The Fatall Dovvry |  |
Act. primus.
Scæna prima.
Enter Charaloyes with a paper, Romont, Charmi.Charmi.
Sir, I may moue the Court to serue your will,
But therein shall both wrong you and my selfe.
Rom.
Why thinke you so sir?
Charmi.
'Cause I am familiar
With what will be their answere: they will say,
Tis against law, and argue me of Ignorance
For offering them the motion.
Rom.
You know not, Sir,
How in this cause they may dispence with Law,
And therefore frame not you their answere for them,
But doe your parts.
Charmi.
I loue the cause so well,
As I could runne, the hazard of a checke for't.
Rom.
From whom?
Some of the bench, that watch to giue it,
More then to doe the office that they sit for:
But giue me (sir) my see.
Rom.
Now you are Noble.
Charmi.
I shall deserue this better yet, in giuing
My Lord some counsell, (if he please to heare it)
Then I shall doe with pleading.
Rom.
What may it be, sir?
Charmi.
That it would please his Lordship, as the Presidents,
And Counsaylors of Court come by, to stand
Heere, and but shew your selfe, and to some one
Or two, make his request: there is a minute
When a mans presence speakes in his owne cause,
More then the tongues of twenty aduocates.
Rom.
I haue vrg'd that.
Enter Rochfort: Du Croye.
Charmi.
Their Lordships here are comming,
I must goe get me a place, you'l finde me in Court,
And at your seruice.
Exit Charmi.
Rom.
Now put on your Spirits.
Du Croy.
The case that you prepare your selfe, my Lord,
In giuing vp the place you hold in Court,
Will proue (I feare) a trouble in the State,
And that no slight one.
Roch.
Pray you sir, no more.
Rom.
Now sir, lose not this efferd meanes: their lookes
Fixt on you, with a pittying earnestnesse,
Inuite you to demand their furtherance
To your good purpose.—This such a dulnesse
So foolish and vntimely as—
Du. Croy.
You know him.
Roch.
I doe, and much lament the sudden fall
Of his braue house. It is young Charloyes.
Sonne to the Marshall, from whom he inherits
His same and vertues onely.
Rom.
Ha, hey name you.
Du. Croye.
His father died in prison two daies since.
Yes, to the shame of this vngratefull State,
That such a Master in the art of warre,
So noble, and so highly meriting,
From this forgetfull Country, should, for want
Of meanes to satisfie his creditors,
The summes he tooke vp for the generall good,
Meet with an end so infamous.
Rom.
Dare you euer hope for like oportunity?
Du Croye.
My good Lord!
Roch.
My wish bring comfort to you.
Du Croye.
The time calls vs.
Roch.
Good morrow Colonell.
Exeunt Roch. Du Croye.
Rom.
This obstinate spleene,
You thinke becomes your sorrow, and sorts wel
With your blacke suits: but grant me wit, or iudgement,
And by the freedome of an honest man,
And a true friend to boote, I sweare 'tis shamefull.
And therefore flatter not your selfe with hope,
Your sable habit, with the hat and cloake,
No though the ribons helpe, haue power to worke 'em
To what you would: for those that had no eyes,
To see the great acts of your father, will not,
From any fashion sorrow can put on,
Bee taught to know their duties.
Char.
If they will not,
They are too old to learne, and I too young
To giue them counsell, since if they partake
The vnderstanding, and the hearts of men,
They will preuent my words and teares: if not,
What can perswasion, though made eloquent
With griefe, worke vpon such as haue chang'd natures
With the most sauage beast? Blest, blest be euer
The memory of that happy age, when iustice
Had no gards to keepe off wrongd innocence,
From flying to her succours, and in that
Assurance of redresse: where now (Romont)
Then we ariue at her. One Cerberus there
Forbids the passage, in our Courts a thousand,
As lowd, and fertyle headed, and the Client
That wants the sops, to fill their rauenous throats,
Must hope for no accesse: why should I then
Attempt impossibilities: you friend, being
Too well acquainted with my dearth of meanes,
To make my entrance that way?
Rom.
Would I were not.
But Sir, you haue a cause, a cause so iust,
Of such necessitie, not to be deferd,
As would compell a mayde, whose foot was neuer
Set ore her fathers threshold, nor within
The house where she was borne, euer spake word,
Which was not vshered with pure virgin blushes,
To drowne the tempest of a pleaders tongue,
And force corruption to giue backe the hire
It tooke against her: let examples moue you.
You see great men irk birth, esteeme and fortune,
Rather then lose a scruple of their right,
Fawne basely vpon such, whose gownes put off,
They would disdaine for Seruants.
Char.
And to these can I become a suytor?
Rom.
Without losse,
Would you consider, that to gaine their fauors,
Our chastest dames put off their modesties,
Soldiers forget their honors, vsurers
Make sacrifice of Gold, poets of wit,
And men religious, part with fame, and goodnesse?
Be therfore wonne to vse the meanes, that may
Aduance your pious ends.
Char.
You shall orecome.
Rom.
And you receiue the glory, pray you now practise.
'Tis well.
Enter Old Nouall, Liladam, & 3 Creditors.
Char.
Not looke on me!
Rom.
You must have patience—Offer't againe.
And be againe contemn'd?
Nou.
I know whats to be done.
1 Cred.
And that your Lordship
Will please to do your knowledge, we offer, first
Our thankefull hearts heere, as a bounteous earnest
To what we will adde
Nou.
One word more of this
I am your enemie. Am I a man
Your bribes can worke on? ha?
Lilad.
Friends, you mistake
The way to winne my Lord, he must not heare this,
But I, as one in fauour, in his sight,
May harken to you for my profit. Sir,
I pray heare em.
Nou.
Tis well.
Lilad.
Obserue him now.
Nou.
Your cause being good, and your proceedings so,
Without corruption; I am your friend,
Speake your desires.
2 Cred.
Oh, they are charitable,
The Marshall stood ingag'd vnto vs three,
Two hundred thousand crownes, which by his death
We are defeated of. For which great losse
We ayme at nothing but his rotten flesh,
Nor is that cruelty.
1 Cred.
I haue a sonne,
That talkes of nothing but of Gunnes and Armors,
And sweares hee'll be a soldier, tis an humor
I would diuert him from, and I am told
That if I minister to him in his drinke
Powder, made of this banquerout Marshalls bones,
Prouided that the carcase not aboue ground,
'T will cure his foolish frensie.
Nou.
You shew in it
A fathers care. I haue a sonne my selfe,
A fashionable Gentleman and a peacefull:
He should take of it too. Sir, what are you?
Char.
A Gentleman.
Nou.
So are many that rake dunghills.
If you haue any suit, moue it in Court.
I take no papers in corners.
Rom.
Yes as the matter may be carried, and hereby
To mannage the conuayance—Follow him.
Lil.
You are rude. I say, he shall not passe.
Exit Nouall. Char: and Aduocates.
Rom.
You say so.
On what assurance?
For the well cutting of his Lordships cornes,
Picking his toes, or any office else
Neerer to basenesse!
Lil.
Looke vpon mee better,
Are these the ensignes of so coorse a fellow?
Be well aduis'd.
Rom.
Out, rogue, do not I know,
(Kicks him)
These glorious weedes spring from the sordid dunghill
Of thy officious basenesse? wert thou worthy
Of any thing from me, but my contempt,
I would do more then this, more, you Court-spider.
Lil.
But that this man is lawlesse; he should find
that I am valiant.
1 Cred.
If your eares are fast,
Tis nothing. Whats a blow or two? as muck—
2 Cred.
These chastisements, as vsefull are as frequent
To such as would grow rich.
Rom.
Are they so Rascals? I will be-friend you then.
1 Cred.
Beare witnesse, Sirs.
Lil.
Trueth, I haue borne my part already, friends.
In the Court you shall haue more.
Exit.
Rom.
I know you for
The worst of spirits, that striue to rob the tombes
Of what is their inheritance, from the dead.
For vsurers, bred by a riotous peace:
That hold the Charter of your wealth & freedome,
But when you feare the rich heirs will grow wise,
To keepe their Lands out of your parchment toyles;
And then, the Diuell your father's cald vpon,
To inuent some wayes of Luxury ne're thought on.
Be gone, and quickly, or Ile leaue no roome
Vpon your forhead for your hornes to sprowt on,
Without a murmure, or I will vndoe you;
For I will beate you honest.
1 Cred.
Thrift forbid.
We will beare this, rather then hazard that.
Ex: Creditor.
Enter Charloyes.
Rom.
I am some-what eas'd in this yet.
Char
(Onely friend)
To what vaine purpose do I make my sorrow,
Wayte on the triumph of their cruelty?
Or teach their pride from my humilitie,
To thinke it has orecome? They are determin'd
What they will do: and it may well become me,
To robbe them of the glory they expect
From my submisse intreaties.
Rom.
Thinke not so, Sir,
The difficulties that you incounter with,
Will crowne the vndertaking—Heauen! you weepe:
And I could do so too, but that I know,
Theres more expected from the sonne and friend
Of him, whose fatall losse now shakes our natures,
Then sighs, or teares, (in which a village nurse
Or cunning strumpet, when her knaue is hangd,
May ouercome vs.) We are men (young Lord)
Let vs not do like women. To the Court,
And there speake like your birth: wake sleeping iustice,
Or dare the Axe. This is a way will sort
With what you are. I call you not to that
I will shrinke from my selfe. I will deserue
Your thankes, or suffer with you—O how brauely
That sudden fire of anger shewes in you!
O, extreme danger suffer like your selfe.
Exeunt.
Enter Rochfort, Nouall Se. Charmi, Du Croye, Aduocates, Baumont and Officers, and 3. Presidents.
Du Croye.
Your Lordship's seated, May this meeting proue
prosperous to vs, and to the generall good of Burgundy.
Nou. Se.
Speake to the poynt.
Du Croy.
Which is,
With honour to dispose the place and power
Of primier President, which this reuerent man
Graue Rochfort, (whom for honours sake I name)
Is purpos'd to resigne a place, my Lords,
In which he hath with such integrity,
Perform'd the first and best parts of a Iudge,
That as his life transcends all faire examples
Of such as were before him in Dijon,
So it remaines to those that shall succeed him,
A President they may imitate, but not equall.
Roch.
I may not sit to heare this.
Du Croy.
Let the loue
And thankfulnes we are bound to pay to goodnesse,
In this o'recome your modestie.
Roch.
My thankes
For this great fauour shall preuent your trouble.
The honourable trust that was impos'd
Vpon my weakenesse, since you witnesse for me,
It was not ill discharg'd, I will not mention,
Nor now, if age had not depriu'd me of
The little strength I had to gouerne well,
The Prouince that I vnder tooke, forsake it.
Nou.
That we could lend you of our yeeres.
Du Croy.
Or strength.
Nou.
Or as you are, perswade you to continue
The noble exercise of your knowing iudgement.
Roch.
That may not be, nor can your Lordships goodnes,
Sufficient wealth, deny the vse of it,
And though old age, when one foot's in the graue,
In many, when all humors else are spent
Feeds no affection in them, but desire
To adde height to the mountaine of their riches:
In me it is not so, I rest content
With the honours, and estate I now possesse,
And that I may haue liberty to vse,
What Heauen still blessing my poore industry,
Hath made me Master of: I pray the Court
To ease me of my burthen, that I may
Employ the small remainder of my life,
In liuing well, and learning how to dye so,
Enter Romont, and Charalois.
Rom.
See sir, our Aduocate.
Du Croy.
The Court intreats,
Your Lordship will be pleasd to name the man,
Which you would haue your successor, and in me,
All promise to confirme it.
Roch.
I embrace it,
As an assurance of their fauour to me,
And name my Lord Nouall.
Du Croy.
The Court allows it.
Roch.
But there are suters waite heere, and their causes
May be of more necessity to be heard,
And therefore wish that mine may be defer'd,
And theirs haue hearing.
Du Croy.
If your Lordship please
To take the place, we will proceed.
Charm.
The cause
We come to offer to your Lordships censure,
Is in it selfe so noble, that it needs not
Or Rhetorique me that plead, or fauour
From your graue Lordships, to determine of it.
Since to the prayse of your impartiall iustice
(Which guilty, nay condemn'd men, dare not scandall)
VVith married to that Iustice.
Non. Se.
Speake to the cause.
Charm.
I will, my Lord: to say, the late dead Marshall
The father of this young Lord heere, my Clyent,
Hath done his Country great and faithfull seruice,
Might taske me of impertinence to repeate,
What your graue Lordships cannot but remember,
He in his life, become indebted to
These thriftie men, I will not wrong their credits,
By guing them the attributes they now merit,
And sayling by the fortune of the warres,
Of meanes to free himselfe, from his ingagements,
He was arrested, and for want of bayle
Imprisond at their suite, and not long after
VVith losse of liberty ended his life.
And though it be a Maxim in our Lawes,
All suites dye with the person, these mens malice
In death find matter for their hate to worke on,
Denying him the decent Rytes of buriall,
VVhich the sworn enemies of the Christian faith
Grant freely to their slaues: may it therefore please
Your Lordships, so to fashion your decree,
That what their crueltie doth forbid, your pittie
May giue allowance to.
Nou. Se.
How long haue you Sir practis'd in Court?
Charmi.
Some twenty yeeres, my Lord.
Nou. Se.
By your grosse ignorance it should appeare,
Not twentie dayes.
Charmi.
I hope I haue giuen no cause in this, my Lord—
Nou. Se.
How dare you moue the Court,
To the dispensing with an Act confirmd
By Parliment, to the terror of all banquerouts?
Go home, and with more care peruse the Statutes:
Or the next motion fauoring of this booldnesse,
May force you to leape (against your will)
Ouer the place you plead at.
I foresaw this.
Rom.
Why does your Lordship thinke, the mouing of
A cause more honest then this Court had euer
The honor to determine, can deserue
A checke like this?
Nou. Se.
Strange boldnes!
Rom.
Tis fit freedome:
Or do you conclude, an aduocate cannot hold
His credit with the Iudge, vnlesse he study
His face more then the cause for which he pleades?
Charmi.
Forbeare.
Rom.
Or cannot you, that haue the power
To qualifie the rigour of the Lawes
When you are pleased, take a little from
The strictnesse of your sowre decrees, enacted
In fauor of the greedy creditors
Against the orethrowne debter?
Nou. Se.
Sirra, you that prate
Thus sawcily, what are you?
Rom.
Why Ile tell you,
Thou purple-colour'd man, I am one to whom
Thou owest the meanes thou hast of sitting there
A corrupt Elder.
Charmi.
Forbeare.
Rom.
The nose thou wear'st, is my gift, and those eyes,
That meete no obiect so base as their Master,
Had bin, long since, torne from that guiltie head,
And thou thy selfe slaue to some needy Swisse,
Had I not worne a sword, and vs'd it better
Then in thy prayers thou ere didst thy tongue.
Nou. Se.
Shall such an Insolence passe vnpunisht?
Charmi.
Heare mee.
Rom.
Yet I, that in my seruice done my Country,
Disdaine to bee put in the scale with thee,
Confesse my selfe vnworthy to bee valued
VVith the least part, nay haire of the dead Marshall,
Of whose so many glorious vndertakings,
Performd against the subtill Fox of France,
The politique Lewis, or the more desperate Swisse,
And 'twyll outwaygh all the good purpose,
Though put in act, that euer Gowneman practizd.
Nou. Se.
Away with him to prison.
Rom.
If that curses,
Vrg'd iustly, and breath'd forth so, euer fell
On those that did deserue them; let not mine
Be spent in vaine now, that thou from this instant
Mayest in thy feare that they will fall upon thee,
Be sensible of the plagues they shall bring with them.
And for denying of a little earth,
To couer what remaynes of our great soldyer:
May all your wiues proue whores, your factors theeues,
And while you liue, your ryotous heires vndoe you.
And thou, the patron of their cruelty,
Of all thy Lordships liue not to be owner
Of so much dung as will conceale a Dog,
Or what is worse, thy selfe in. And thy yeeres,
To th'end thou mayst be wretched, I wish many,
And as thou hast denied the dead a graue,
May misery in thy life make thee desire one,
Which men and all the Elements keepe from thee:
I haue begun well, imitate, exceed.
Roch.
Good counsayle were it, a prayse worthy deed.
Ex. Officers with Rom.
Du. Croye.
Remember what we are.
Chara.
Thus low my duty
Answeres your Lordships counsaile. I will vse
In the few words (with which I am to trouble
Your Lordships eares) the temper that you wish mee,
Not that I feare to speake my thoughts as lowd,
And with a liberty beyond Romont:
But that I know, for me that am made vp
Of all that's wretched, so to haste my end,
Would seeme to most, rather a willingnesse
To quit the burthen of a hopelesse life,
I therefore bring the tribute of my prayse
To your seueritie, and commend the Iustice,
That will not for the many seruices
That any man hath done the Common wealth,
Winke at his least of ills: what though my father
VVrit man before he was so, and confirmd it,
By numbring that day, no part of his life,
In which he did not seruice to his Country;
Was he to be free therefore from the Lawes,
And ceremonious forme in your decrees?
Or else because he did as much as man
In those three memorable ouerthrowes
At Granson, Morat, Nancy, where his Master,
The warlike Charloyes (with whose misfortunes
I beare his name) lost treasure, men and life,
To be excus'd, from payment of those summes
Which (his owne patrimony spent) his zeale,
To serue his Countrey, forc'd him to take vp?
Nou. Se.
The president were ill.
Chara.
And yet, my Lord, this much
I know youll grant; After those great defeatures,
Which in their dreadfull ruines buried quick,
Enter officers.
Courage and hope, in all men but himselfe,
He forst the proud foe, in his height of conquest,
To yeeld vnto an honourable peace.
And in it saued an hundred thousand liues,
To end his owne, that was sure proofe against
The scalding Summers heate, and Winters frost,
Ill ayres, the Cannon, and the enemies sword,
In a most loathsome prison.
Du Croy.
Twas his fault to be so prodigall.
Nou. Se.
He had frō the state sufficient entertainment for the Army.
Char.
Sufficent? My Lord, you sit at home,
And though your fees are boundlesse at the barre:
Are thriftie in the charges of the warre,
But your wills be obeyd. To these I turne,
They are onely good men, that pay what they owe.
2 Cred.
And so they are.
1 Cred.
'Tis the City Doctrine,
We stand bound to maintaine it,
Char.
Be constant in it,
And since you are as mercilesse in your natures,
As base, and mercenary in your meanes
By which you get your wealth, I will not vrge
The Court to take away one scruple from
The right of their lawes, or one good thought
In you to mend your disposition with.
I know there is no musique to your eares
So pleasing as the groanes of men in prison,
And that the teares of widows, and the cries
Of famish'd Orphants, are the feasts that take you.
That to be in your danger, with more care
Should be auoyded, then infectious ayre,
The loath'd embraces of diseased women,
A flatterers poyson, or the losse of honour.
Yet rather then my father reuerent dust
Shall want a place in that faire monument,
In which our noble Ancestors lye intomb'd,
Before the Court I offer vp my selfe
A prisoner for it: loade me with those yrons
That haue worne out his life, in my best strength
Ile run to th'incounter of cold hunger,
And choose my dwelling where no Sun dares enter,
So he may be releas'd.
1 Cred.
What meane you sir?
2 Aduo.
Onely your fee against her's so much sayd
Already in this cause, and sayd so well,
That should I onely offer to speake in it,
I should not bee heard, or laught at for it.
1 Cred.
'Tis the first mony aduocate ere gaue backe,
Though hee sayd nothing.
Roch.
Be aduis'd, young Lord,
Your liberty, and ioyes of life together:
Your bounty is imployd vpon a subiect
That is not sensible of it, with which, wise man
Neuer abus'd his goodnesse; the great vertues
Of your dead father vindicate themselues,
From these mens malice, and breake ope the prison,
Though it containe his body.
Nou. Se.
Let him alone,
If he loue Lords, a Gods name let him weare 'em,
Prouided these consent.
Char.
I hope they are not
So ignorant in any way of profit,
As to neglect a possibility
To get their owne, by seeking it from that
Which can returne them nothing, but ill fame,
And curses for their barbarous cruelties.
3 Cred.
What thinke you of the offer?
2 Cred.
Very well.
1 Cred.
Accept it by all meanes: let's shut him vp,
He is well-shaped and has a villanous tongue,
And should he study that way of renenge,
As I dare almost sweare he loues a wench,
We haue no wiues, nor neuer shall get daughters
That will hold out against him.
Du Croy.
What's your answer?
2 Cred.
Speake you for all.
1 Cred.
Why, let our executions
That lye vpon the father, bee return'd
Vpon the sonne, and we release the body.
Nou. Se.
The Court must grant you that.
Char.
I thanke your Lordships,
They haue in it confirm'd on me such glory,
As no time can take from me; I am ready,
Come lead me where you please: captiuity
That comes with honour, is true liberty.
Exit Charmi, Cred. & Officers.
Strange rashnesse.
Roch.
A braue resolution rather,
Worthy a better fortune, but howeuer
It is not now to be disputed, therefore
To my owne cause. Already I haue found
Your Lordships bountifull in your fauours to me,
And that should teach my modesty to end heere
And presse your loues no further.
Du Croy.
There is nothing
The Court can grant, but with assurance you
May aske it, and obtaine it.
Roch.
You incourage a bold Petitioner, and 'tis not fit
Your fauours should be lost. Besides, 'tas beene
A custome many yeeres, at the surrendring
The place I now giue vp, to grant the President
One boone, that parted with it. And to confirme
Your grace towards me, against all such as may
Detract my actions, and life hereafter,
I now preferre it to you.
Du Croy.
Speake it freely.
Roch.
I then desire the liberty of Romont,
And that my Lord Nouall whose priuate wrong
Was equall to the iniurie that was done
To the dignity of the Court, will pardon it,
And now signe his enlargement.
Nou. Se.
Pray you demand
The moyety of my estate, or any thing
Within my power, but this.
Roch.
Am I denyed then—my first and last request?
Du Croy.
It must not be.
2. Pre.
I haue a voyce to giue in it.
3. Pre.
And I.
And if perswasion will not worke him to it,
We will make knowne our power.
Nou. Se.
You are too violent,
You shall haue my consent—But would you had
Made tryall of my loue in any thing
You haue what you desire.
Roch.
I thanke your Lordships.
Du Croy.
The court is vp, make way.
Ex. omnes, prater Roch. & Baumont.
Roch.
I follow you—Baumont.
Baum.
My Lord.
Roch.
You are a scholler, Baumont,
And can search deeper into th'intents of men,
Then those that are lesse knowing—How appear'd
The piety and braue behauiour of
Young Charloyes to you?
Baum.
It is my wonder,
Since I want language to expresse it fully;
And sure the Collonell—
Roch.
Fie! he was faulty—what present mony haue I?
Baum.
There is no want
Of any summe a priuate man has vse for.
Roch.
'Tis well:
I am strangely taken with this Charaloyes;
Me thinkes, from his example, the whole age
Should learne to be good, and continue so.
Vertue workes strangely with vstand his goodnesse
Rising aboue his fortune, seemes to me
Princelike, to will, not aske a courtesie.
Exeunt.
| The Fatall Dovvry | |