University of Virginia Library

Act' 5t u s

Enter Chamont, Philamor, & Lafort
Phil:
montrosse slaine & by Cleremond

Cha:
tis to true

Lafo:
but wondrous strange that anie difference
espetially of such a deadlie nature
should ere devide so eminent a freindship

Phil:
the miracle is greater that a Lady
his most devoted mrs Leonora
against the vsuall softnes of her sex
should wt h such violence & hate pursue
[OMITTED]her amorous servant since I am informd
[OMITTED]hee was apprehended by her practize
[OMITTED]when hee comes to tryall for his life
«[OMITTED]p» his accuser

Cha:
so tis rumerd
& thats the motiue that young Cleremond
makes it his humble suite to haue his Cause
decided in the Parliamt of loue
for hee prtends the bloody quarrell grew
from grounds that Clayme a reference to that place
nor feares [you] hee so you graunte him [hi] equall hearinge
but wt h vnanswerable proofe to render
the Cruell Leonora tainted wt h
a guilt beyond his

Lafort:
the kinge is acquainted
alreadie wt h the accident, besides
hee hath voutsafd to reade divers petitions
preferd on sev'all Causes, one against
mounsier dinant his docter by Nouall
a second in wc h madam Bellisant
complaines against Clarindore, there is a bill to
brought in by Perigot against yor lop p
all wc h in person hee resolues to heare
then as a Iudge to Censure

Phil:
see the forme, choyce musique vshers him

Cha:
lett vs meete the toope & mixe wth e'm

Phil:
twill poyse yor expectation·

Enter Charles: the Lords ioyne wth the troopes · A preist wth the Image of Cupid A barr sett forth: then enter Cleremond, Clarindore, Bellisant Leonora, Beaupre Perigot, Nouall, & officer montross on a beere before the barr
Charles:
lett it not seeme a wonder nor begett
an ill opinion in this faire assembly
that heere I place this statue tis not done
vppon the forfeit of or grace, that you
should wt h a superstitious reverence
fall down & worship it, nor Can it bee
presumd wee hope younge Charles that iustlie holds
the honord tytle of most christian kinge
should euer nourish such idolotrous thoughts
tis rather to instruct deceaud mankind
how much pure Loue that [h] had his birth in heaven
& scornes to bee receaud a guest but in
a noble hart prepard to entertaine him
as by the grosse misprition of weake weake men
abusd & iniurd that Celestiall fyer
wc h herogliphically is describd
in this his bow his quier & his torch
first warmd theire bloods & after gaue a name
to the old heroicque sperrits, such as orpheus
that drew men differinge little then from beasts
to Civell gouernmt, or famd Alcides
the Tirant queller that Refusd the plaine
& easie path leadinge to vitious pleasures
& ended in a precipice deepe as hell
to scale the ragged Cliff on whose firme top
virtue & honnor crownd wt h wreathes of starrs
did sitt trivmphant, but it willbee answerd
the world decayinge in her strength that now
wee are not equall to those antient tymes
& therefor tweare impertinent & tedious
to Cite more presidentes of that reverend age
but rather to endevor as wee purposd
to giue encouragemt by reward to such
as wt h theire best nerves imitate that old goodnes
& wt h seveere Correction to reforme
the modern vices, begin reade the bills

Clere:
lett myne bee first my lord twas first preferd[OMITTED]

Bell:
but till my Cause bee heard or whole sex «s[OMITTED]»

Officer
back keepe back there [OMITTED]

Novall:
prithee gentle officer [OMITTED]
handle mee gingerlie or I fall t[OMITTED]
before I can pl«e[OMITTED]» myne[OMITTED]

Per[OMITTED]
I am br«uiss[OMITTED]»

omnes
Iustice Iustice

Charles:
for beare theis Clamors you shall all bee heard
& to Confirme I am noe partiall Iudge
by lottery decide it heeres noe favor
whose bill is first Lafort

Lafort:
[the] tis Cleremonds

Charles:
the second

Lafort:
Perigots, the third Novalls

No:
or Cases are both lamentable Tutor

Peri:
& I am glad they shalbee heard togeither
wee cannot stand asunder

Charles:
whats the Last

Lafort:
the Iniurd Ladie Bellisants

Charles:
to the first then
& so proceede in order

Phill:
stand to the barr

Leo:
speake Cleremond thie greefe as I will myne

Peri:
a Confident little pleader, weare I in Case
I would giue her a doble fee

No:
so would I Tutor

officer.
silence, silence

Clere:
should I rise vpp to plead my innocence
tho wt h the favor of the court I stood
acquitted to the world, ye tho the wounds
of my dead freind (wc h like so manie mouthes
wt h bloody tongues Cry out alowd against mee)
by yor aucthoritie weare Closd, yet heere
a not to bee Corrupted Iudge my Conscience
would not alone Condem mee, but inflict
such lingringe tortures on mee, as the hangman
tho witty in his crueltie, could not equall
I therefore doe Confesse a guilty Cause
touchinge the fact & vncompelld acknowledge
my self the instrument of a Cryme the sunne
hidinge his face in a thick maske of Clowds
as frighted wt h the horror durst not looke on
but if yor Lawes wt h greater rigor [perish] punish
such as in vent a mischeif then the organs
by whome tis putt in act (they trulie beinge
the first greate wheele by wc h the lesser moue)
then stand forth Leonora & Ile proue
the white robe of my inocence tainted wt h
but one black spott of guilt, & euen that one
by thie hand Cast on mee but thine dyed ore
ten tymes in graine in hells most [horrid cullers] vglie cullors

Leo:
the fellow is distracted see how hee raues
now as I liue yf detestation of
his basenes would but giue me leaue I should
begin to pitty him

Clere:
frontlesse ympudence
& not to bee replide to, sir to you
& theis subordinate ministers of yor self
I turne my speech, to her I doe repent
I ere vout safd a sillable, [my birth] when first
[was noble as tis knowne nor lett it rellish]
[of arrogance to saie my fathers Care]
[wt h Curiousnes & cost did traine mee vpp]
[in all those liberall quallities that Comend]
[a gentleman, & when the tender downe]
[vppon my Chin tould mee I was a man]
I Came to Court [there] youth ease & example
[Soone] [first] made mee feele the pleasinge paines of loue
& there I saw this woman saw & loud her
wt h more then Comon ardor, [for that deitie]
[(such or affection makes him) whose dread power]
[OMITTED] [tooke for the Choycest arrow headed wt h]
[OMITTED] [not loose but loyall flames wc h aymd at mee]
[OMITTED][ame wt h greedie haste to meete the shaft]
[OMITTED]ge that my Captiue hart was made
[OMITTED] [his] [loues] devine Artillery
«[OMITTED]s rv[OMITTED]ds» noe relation
But the shott made at her was not like myne
of [gold nor of pale lead that breeds disdaine]
Cupid himself disclaymes it, I thinck rather
(as by the sequell t'will appeare) some fury
from burninge Acharon snatched a sulpher brand
that smoakd wt h hate the parent of red murther
& threw it in her boosome, pardon mee
tho[u] I dwell longe vppon the Cause that did
[produce such dire effects, & to omitt]
[for yor much patience sake the Cuninge trap]
[in wc h shee Caught mee, & wt h horrid oathes]
imbarque[d] mee in a sea of human blood
I Come to the last sceane

Leo:
tis tyme for this
growes stale & tedious

Clere:
when [I saie] shee had
to satisfie her fell rage, as a pennance
forcd mee to this black deede, her vow [to] first giuen
that I should marrie her, & shee Conceale mee:
when to her view I brought the slaughterd bodie
of my deere freind & labord wt h my teares
to stirr Compunction in her, ayded to
by the sad obiect [that] wc h might witnes for mee
at what an ouer rate I [haue made] purchased
[of] her longe wishd for embraces, then greate sir
but that I had a mother & there may bee
some 2 or 3 of her sex lesse faulty
I should affirme shee was the perfect Image
of the divell her Tutor that had left hell emptie
to dwell in wicked woman

Leo:
doe rayle on

Clere:
for not alone shee gloried in my sufferings,
for swore what shee had vowd, refusd to touch mee
much lesse to Confort mee or giue mee harbor
but instantlie ere I Could recollect
my scatterd scence betrayd mee to yor Iustice
wc h I submitte to hopinge in yor wisdome
that as in mee you lopp a limbe of murder
you will in her grubb vpp the roote, I haue said sir

Leo:
much I confesse, but much to little purpose
& tho [wt h gay rhetoricall florishes]
you strive to guild a rotten Cause the touch
of reason fortified by truth deliuerd
from my vnletterd tongue shall show it dust
[& to bee Contemd, you haue trymd vpp]
[all yor deservings should I graunte them such]
[wt h more Care then a waiter of threescore]
[does hide her wrinckles, wc h if shee encounter]
[the rayne, the winde, or sunne, the paint washd of]
[& to dim eyes discouerd, I for forbeare]
[the application & in a paine stile]
[Come roundlie to the matter,] tis Confessd
this pritty handsome gentleman (for theeues
led to the gallowes are held proper men
& so I now will Call him) would needs make mee
the mrs of his thoughts nor did I scorne [him]
[for truth is truth is truth,] to grace him as a servant
nay hee tooke pritty waies to win mee too
for a Court novice, euery yeare I was
his vallentine & in an Anagram
my name worne in his hatt, hee made mee banquets
as if hee thought that ladies like to flyes
weare to bee caught wt h sweete meates, quarrelld wt h
my Taylor yf my gowne weare not the first
of that edition, beate my shoemaker
if the least wrinckle on my foote appeard [OMITTED]
as wronginge the proportion & in t«y»me[OMITTED]
grew boulder, vsherd mee to m«a[OMITTED]»
or ells paid him that [OMITTED]
wt h such «[OMITTED]d»[OMITTED]
and of good ranck are taken wt h such gambolls
in a word I was so) & a sollem Contract
did passe betwixt vs & the daie [acknowledgd] appoynted
that should make or embraces warrantable
& lawfull to the world, all thinges so Carried
as hee ment naught but honob l e Loue

Charles:
a pritty method

Phil:
quaintly to deliuerd

Leo:
but when hee thought mee sure hee then gaue profe
that foule lust lurkd in the faire shape of loue
for valuinge neither Lawes devine nor human
his Credit nor my fame, wt h violence borne
on black saild wings of loose & base desires
as yf his naturall perts had quite forsooke him
& that the pleasures of the marriage bed
weare to bee reapd wt h noe more Ceremony
then bruite beasts Cupple, I yet blush to speake it
hee tempted mee to yeild my honor vpp
to his [[illeg.]] libidinous twines, & like an Athest
scofd at the forme & orders of the Church
nor ended so but beinge by mee reproud
hee offerd violence but was prevented

Charles:
note a suddaine Change

Lafort:
twas foule in Cleremond

Leo:
I burninge then wt h a most virtuous anger
raisd from my hart the memory of his name
revild & spitt at him, & know twas Iustice
that I should take those [deid] deities hee scornd
himen & Cupid into my protection
& bee the instrumt of theire revenge
& so I Cast him off, scornd his submission
his poore & Childish whininges, willd my servants
to shutt my gates against him, but when neither
disdaine hate nor Contempt Could free mee from
[h]his loathsome importunities, & fyerd to
to wreake myne Iniured honor I tooke gladlie
advantage of his execrable oathes
to vnder goe what pennance I enioynd him
then to the terror of all future ribalds
that make noe difference betweene loue & lust
imposd this taske vppon him I haue said [sir] to
now when you please a Censure

Cha:
shee has putt the Iudges to theire whisper

No:
what doe you thinck of theis proceedings Tutor

Peri:
the truth is I like not the severytie of the Court
would I weare quitt & in an hospitall
I Could lett fall my suite

No:
tis still yor Counsaile

Charles
we are resolud & wt h an equall hand
will hold the scale of Iustice, pitty shall not
robb vs of strength & will to draw her sword
nor passion transsport vs lett a preist
& headsman bee in readines, doe you start
to heare them namd, some little pawse wee graunt you
to take examination of yors selves
what either of you haue deservd & whie
theis instrumts of our power are now thought vsefull
you shall heare more anon·—

Clere:
I like not this

Leo:
a dred full preperation I Confesse
it shakes my Confidence

Clarin:
I presumd this Court
had been in sport erected, but now I find
[OMITTED] wt h horror to the strongest hopes I built on
[OMITTED] tis not safe to bee subiect of
[OMITTED] kings
[OMITTED]use
[OMITTED]

Novall:
nay take mee alonge to
& since that or complaints differ not much
dispatch vs both togeither, I accuse
this divilish docter

Per:
I this wicked lord

No:
tis knowne I was an able lustie man
fitt to gett souldiers to serve my kinge
& Cuntry in the warrs, & howsoeuer
tis said I am not valliant of my self
I was a striker, one that Could strike home to
& never did beget a girle tho drunk
to make this good I Could produce braue boyes
that others father, twiggs of myne owne graftinge
that loud a drume at 4 & ere full ten
fought battailes for the perish they weare borne in
& such by blowes old stories saie still proud
fortunate Captaines now [here] where as in Iustice
I should haue had a pention from the state
for my good service this ingrate full docter
havinge noe Child & never like to haue one
because in pitty of his barrennesse
I plotted how to help him to an heire
has wt h a drench so far disabled mee
that the greate Turke may trust mee wt h his virgins
& never vse a surgion, now consider
if this bee not hard measure & a wronge
to little don Cupid, if hee bee the god
of Cuplinge as tis said, & [will vndoe]
[yf you giue way to this all younger brothers]
[that carrie theire revenewes in theire breeches]
haue I not nicked it Tutor

Per:
to a haire boy
or bills shall passe nere feare it, for my Case
it is the same sir my intent as noble
as was my pupills

Cham:
plead it not ore againe then
it takes much from the dignitie of the Court
but to giue audience to such things as theis
that doe in theire defence Condem themselues
& neede not an accuser to be short sir
& in a language as far from obsceanesse
as the foule Cause will giue mee leaue, bee pleasd
to know thus much theis hungrie paire of flesh flyes
& most inseparable brace of Coxcombs
tho borne of divers mothers twins in basenes
weare frequent at my table had free welcome
& entertainemt fitt for better men
in the retorne of wc h this thanckfull mounsier
tempted my wife, seducd her, at the least
to him shee did appeare so, wc h discouerd
& wt h what treachery hee did abuse
my bounties, treadinge vnder neath his feete
all due respect of hospitable rights
or the honor of my familie tho th'intent
Deservd a stabb e'ene at the holy alter
I borrowed so much of yor power to right mee
as to make him Caper

Din:
for this gallant
I doe Confesse I Coold him spoyld his ramblinge
would all such as delight in it weare servd so
& since you are acquainted wt h the motiues
that did induce mee to it I for beare
a needlesse repetition

Cham:
tis not worth it
the Creminall Iudge is «f[OMITTED]»
of pleas of this [OMITTED]
an «**»iurd ladie [OMITTED]
I see the Statue of the good of loue
dropp downe teares of Compassion, his sad mother
& faire Cheekd graces that attend on her
weepinge for Companie, as if that all
the ornamts vppon the paphian shrine
weare wt h one gripe by sacrilidgious hands
torne from the holy Alter tis a Cause sir
that Iustlie may exact yor best attention
wc h if you trulie vnderstand & Censure
you not alone shall right the present tymes
but bind posterity to bee yor debtor
stand forth deere madam looke vppon this face
examine euery feature & proportion
& you wt h mee must graunt this rare peice finshd
nature disparinge ere to make the like
brake sodenlie the mould in wc h twas fashiond
yet to increase yor pitty & call on
yor Iustice wt h seueritie this faire outside
was but the Couer of a fairer mynd
thinck then what punishmt hee must deserve
& Iustlie suffer that Could arme his hart
wt h such impenitrable flinty hardnes
to iniure so much sweetenes

Clarind:
I must stand
the furie of this tempest, wc h alreadie
sings in my eares

Bell:
greate sir the too much praise
this lord (my guardian once) has showerd vppon mee
could not but springe vpp blushes in my Cheekes
yf greefe had left mee blood enough to speake
my humble modestie, [& so far I am]
[from beinge litigious, that though I weare robd]
[of my whole estate provided my faire name]
[had been vnwounded had [sl] now been silent]
but since the wronge I vndergoe, if smotherd
would iniure or whole sex, I must laie by
my native bashfullnes & putt on bouldnes
fitt to incounter wt h the impudence
of this bad man; that from his birth hath been
so farr from nourishinge an honest thought
that the abuse of virgins was his studie
& dailie practize his forsakinge of
his wife distressed Beaupre[e] his lewd wager
wt h theis companions like himself t'[o whore] abuse mee
his desperate resolution in my presence
to bee his owne assassinate, to prevent wc h
foolish Compassion forcd mee to surrender
the life of life my honor, I passe ouer
Ile onlie toutch his foule ingratitude
to scourge wc h monster, yf yor lawes prouide not
a punishmt wt h rigor they are vselesse
or if the sword the gallowes or the wheele
bee due to such as spoyle vs of our goods
Pirillus brazen bull the English [w]rack
the german pincers, or the Scotch oyld [poo] boote
tho Ioynd togeither yet Come short of tortore
to theire full merrit those accursed wretches
that steale or reputations & good names
as this base villaine has done myne, forgiue mee
if rage provoke mee to vncivell language
[OMITTED] the cause requires it was it not enough
[OMITTED]to preserve thie life I lost myne honor
«[OMITTED]m»pence of such aguift
«[OMITTED]bl sh i»t to my disgrace
[OMITTED]nfortunate I:
whome but of late the Citty, nay all ffraunce
durst bringe in opposition for chaste lyfe
wt h anie woman in the Christian world
am now become a by word & a scorne
in myne owne Cuntry

Charles:
as I liue shee moues mee
is this true Clarindore

No:
oh tis [true] [ver] very true sir
hee bragd of it to mee

Per:
& mee, nay since wee must bee censurd weegiue evidence
tis Comfort to haue fellowes in affliction
you shall not scape fine mounsir

Clarin:
peace you dog boults
sir I adresse my self to you & hope
you haue reservd one eare for my defence
the other freely given to my accuser
this Lady that complaines of iniury
if shee haue anie was her self the Cause
that brought it to her for beinge younge and rich
& faire to as you see, & from that prowd
shee bosted of her strength as if it weare not
in the power of Love to vndermyne the fort
on wc h her Chastety was stronglie raizd
I that was bred a Courtier & servd
almost my whole life vnder Cupids ensignes
Could not in iustice but interpret this
as an affront to the greate god of loue
& all his followers, if shee weare not brought
to due obedience theis stronge reasons sir
made mee to vndertake her, how I woed
or what I swore it skills not (since tis said
& trulie Iupiter & venus smile
at Lovers periuries) to bee breefe shee yeilded
& I enioyd her, if this bee a Cryme
& all such as offend this pleasant waie
are to bee punishd, I am sure you would haue
few followers in the Court, you are younge yor self sir
& what would you in such a Cause

Lafort:
for beare

Phil:
you are rude & insolent

Cla:
good words gentle Iudge[s]
I haue noe oyld tongue, & I hope my bluntnes
will not offend

Charles:
but did you boast yor Conquest
got on this Lady

Cla:
after victory
a little glorie in a souldiers mouth
is not vncomly, loue beinge a kind of warr to
& what I did [att] atchiue was full of Labor
as his that wiñes stronge townes & merrits trivmphes
I thought it Could not but take from myne honor
besides the wager of 3 thowsand Crownes
made sure by her Confession of my service
if it had been reueald

Charles
whoe would haue thought
that such an impudence could ere haue harbord
in the brest of anie gentleman, in this
thou dost degrade thie self of all the honors [OMITTED]
thie ancestors left thee, & in thie base natu[OMITTED]
tis to apparant that thou art a peasan[OMITTED]
boast of a Ladies favors: this [OMITTED]
thou art the Captain [OMITTED]
that glorie in th[OMITTED]
wt h name of Courtship, such as dare belye
greate womens bounties & repulsd & scornd
Comitt adultery wt h theire good names
and never touch theire persons, I am sorry
for yor sake madam that I cannot make
such reperations for you in yor honor
as I desire for yf I should Compell him
to marry you it weare to him a blessinge
to you a punishmt hee beinge so vnworthie
I therefore doe resigne my place to you
bee yor owne Iudge, what ere you shall determine
by my Crowne Ile see performd

Clarin:
I am in a fine Case
to stand at a womans mercy

Bell:
then thus sir
I am not bloody nor bent to revenge
and studie his amendment not his ruin
yet since you haue given vpp yor power to mee
for punishment I doe enioyne him to
marry this more

Cla:
a divell hange mee rather

Charles:
tis not to bee alterd

Cla:
this is cruelty
beyond expression. Sr I haue a wife

Cham:
I to good for thee view her well
[vs] & then this varnish from her face washd of
thou shalt find Beaupre

Cla:
Beaupre

Bell:
yes his wife sir
Longe by him wt h violence cast of
& in this shape shee servd mee all my studies
ayminge to make a faire atonement for her
to wc h yor mat y may now Constraine him

Cla:
it needs not, I receaue her & aske pardon
of her & you

Bell:
on both or parts tis graunted
this was yor bedfellow & filld yor armes
when you thought you imbracd mee, I am yet
a virgin nor had euer given Consent
in my Chast howse to such a wantō passage
but that I knew that her desires weare lawfull
but now noe more personated passion
this is theman I loud that I loud trulie
howeuer I disembled wt h him
dyes all affection in mee so greate sir
resume yor seate

Charles:
an vnexpected yssue
wc h I reioyce in would tweare in or power
to give a period to the rest like this
& spare [the] our heavie Censure, but the death
of good montrosse for bids it. Cleremond
thou instantlie shalt marry Leonora·
wc h done as sodenly thie head Cutt off
& Corpes interd vppon thie graue Ile build
a room of 8 foote square, in wc h this lady
for punishment of her Cruelty shall dye
an anchoresse

Leo:
I doe repent and rather
will marry him & forgiue him

[OMITTED] Clere
bind her to


[OMITTED] her word greate sir, montrosse liues, this a plott
[OMITTED] this obstinate lady
«[OMITTED]b*» so cheated
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]repent
yor good opinion of mee when thought dead
nor lett not my neglect [neglect] to wait vppon you
(Consideringe what a busines of import
diverted mee) bee thought vnpardonable

Bell:
for my part tis for giuen, & thus I seale

Charles:
nor are wee averse
to yor desires may you liue longe & happie

No:
mercy to vs greate sir

Peri:
wee will become
Chast & reformed men

Cham: & Din:
wee both are suiters
on this submission for yor pardon sir

Charles:
wc h wee in part will graunt, wc h to deter
others by theire example from pursuinge
vnlawfull lusts that thinck adultery
a sport to bee oft practizd, fix on them
twoe Satirs heads, & so in Capitall letters
theire foule intents written on theire brests weel haue them
led thrice through Paris then at the Court gatt
to stand 3 howers, where Clarindor shall make
his recantation for the Iniury
done to the lady Bellisant & read
a sharp invective endinge wt h a Curse
against all such as boast of ladies fovors
wc h done, both trulie penitent, my docter
shall vse his best art to restore yor strength
and render Perigot a perfect man·