 | Beggars Bush |  |
Actus Quintus
Scæna Prima.
Enter Bertha, and a Boore.Ber.
Lead, if thou thinkst we are right: why dost thou make
These often stands? thou saidst thou knewst the way
Boor.
Fear nothing, I doe know it: would twere homeward.
Ber.
Wrought from me, by a Beggar? at the time
That most should tye him? 'Tis some other Love
That hath a more command on his affections,
And he that fetcht him, a disguised Agent,
Not what he personated; for his fashion
Was more familiar with him, and more powerfull
Then one that ask'd an almes: I must finde out
One, if not both: kind darknesse be my shrowd
And cover loves too curious search in me,
For yet, suspition, I would not name thee.
Boor.
Mistris, it grows some-what pretty and dark.
Ber.
What then?
Boor.
Nay, nothing; do not thinke I am afraid,
Although perhaps you are.
Ber.
I am not, forward.
Boo.
Sure but you are: give me your hand, fear nothing.
There's one leg in the wood, do not pull backward:
What a sweate one on's are in, you or I?
Pray God it do not prove the plague; yet sure
It has infected me; for I sweat too,
It runs out at my knees, feele, feele, I pray you.
Ber.
What ailes the fellow?
Boor.
Hark, hark I besech you,
Doe you heare nothing?
Ber.
No.
Boor.
Lyst: a wilde hog,
He grunts: now 'tis a beare: this wood is full of 'em,
And now, a wolfe Mistris, a wolfe a wolfe,
It is the howling of a wolfe.
Ber.
The braying of an asse, is it not.
Boor.
Oh, now one has me;
Oh, my left ham, farewell.
Ber.
Looke to your shankes,
Your breech is safe enough, the wolfe's a Fern-brake.
Boo.
But see, see, see. There is a serpent in it,
It has eyes as broad as platters; it spits fire;
Now it creeps towards us, help me to say my prayers:
It hath swallowed me almost, my breath is stopt,
I cannot speake; do I speake Mistris? tell me.
Ber.
Why, thou timerous Sot, canst thou perceive
Any thing i'the bush, but a poore glo-worme?
Boo.
It may be tis but a glo-worm now, but 'twill
Grow to a fire-drake presently.
Ber.
Come thou from it:
I have a pretious guide of you; and a courteous
That gives me leave to lead my selfe the way thus.
Boor.
It thunders, you heare that now.
Ber.
I heare one hollow.
Boo.
'Tis thunder, thunder:
See, a flash of Lightning:
Are you not blasted Mistris? pull your maske off,
It has plaid the barber with me here: I have lost
My beard, my beard, pray God you be not shaven,
'Twill spoile your marriage Mistris.
Ber.
What strange wonders,
Feare fancies in a Coward?
Boor.
Now, the earth opens.
Ber.
Prethee hold thy peace.
Boor.
Will you on then?
Ber.
Both love and jealousie have made me bold,
Where my fate leads me, I must goe.
Exit.
Boor.
God be with you then.
Enter Woolfort, Hemskirke, and Attendants.
Hem.
It was the fellow sure, he that should guide me,
The hunts-man that did hollow us.
Woolf.
Best make a stand
And listen to his next: ha?
Hem.
Who goes there?
Boor.
Mistris, I am taken.
Hem.
Mistris? look forth souldiers.
Woolf.
What are you sirha?
Boo.
Truly all is left
Of a poore Boore, by day-light, by night no body,
You might have spar'd your drum, and guns, & pikes too
For I am none that will stand out Sir, I.
You may take me in with a walking sticke
Euen when you please, and hold me with a pack-threed.
Hem.
What woman was't you call'd to.
Boor.
VVoman? none Sir.
Woolf.
None? did you not name Mistris?
Boor.
Yes, but shee's
No woman yet! she should have been this night,
But that a Beggar stole away her Bridegroome,
VVhom we were going to make hue and cry after;
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And was the Bride, and all; but in came Clause,
The old lame Beggar, and whips up Mr Goswin;
Under his arme; away with him as a Kite,
Or an old Fox, would swoope a way a gosling.
Hems.
'Tis she, 'tis she, 'tis she, Niece?
Ber.
Ha?
Hem.
She Sir,
This was a noble entrance to your fortune,
That being on the point thus to be married:
Upon her venture here: you should surprise her.
Woolf.
I begin Hemskirck, to believe my fate,
Works to my ends.
Hem.
Yes Sir, and this adds trust,
Unto the fellow our guide, who assur'd me Floris,
Liv'd in some Merchants shop, as Gerrard did:
In the old beggars, and that he would use
Him for the traine, to call the other forth,
All which we finde is done—That's he againe—
Holla againe
Woolf.
Good we sent out to meet him.
Hems.
Heer's the Oke.
Ber.
O I am miserably lost, thus falne
Into my vncles hands from all my hopes,
Can I not thinke away my selfe and dye?
O I am miserably lost; thus fallen
Into my Uncles hands, from all my hopes:
No matter now, where thou be false or no,
Goswin, whether thou love an other better;
Or me alone; or where thou keep thy vow,
And word, or that thou come, or stay: for I
To thee from henceforth, must be ever absent,
And thou to me: no more shall we come neere,
To tell our selves, how bright each other eyes were,
How soft our language, and how sweet our kisses,
Whil'st we made one our food, th'other our feast,
Not mix our soules by sight, or by a letter
Hereafter, but as small relation have,
As two new gon to in habiting a grave:
Can I not thinke away my selfe and dye?
Enter Hubert. Higgen. Prig. Ferret. Snap. Gincks. like Boores.
Hub.
I like your habits well: they are safe, stand close
Hig.
But what's the action we are for now? ha?
Robbing a Ripper of his fish?
Prig.
Or taking,
A poultrer prisoner, without ransome, Bullyes?
Hig.
Or cutting off a convoy of butter?
Fer.
Or surprising a Boores ken, for granting cheates?
Prig.
Or cackling cheates?
Hig.
Or mergery-praters, Rogers,
And Tibs o'th the Buttry?
Prig.
O' I could drive a Regiment
Of geese afore me, such a night as this
Ten leagues with my hatt, and staff, and not a hisse
Heard, or a wing of my troopes disordered.
Hig.
Tell us,
If it be milling of a lag of duds,
The fetching of a back of clothes or so;
We are horribly out of linnen.
Hub.
No such matter.
Hig.
Let me alone for any Farmers dog,
If you have a minde to the cheese-loft: 'tis but thus:
And he is a silenc'd Mastiff, during pleasure.
Hub.
Would it would please you to be silent.
Hig.
Mum.
Woolf.
Who's there?
Hub.
A friend, the Huntsman.
Hems.
O 'tis he.
Hub.
I have kept touch Sir, which is the Earle of these?
Will ye know a man now?
Hems.
This my Lord's the friend,
Hath undertooke the service.
Hub.
If't be worth
His Lordships thanks anon, when 'tis done
Lording, I'le looke for't, a rude woodman,
I know how to pitch my toyles, drive in my game:
And I have don't. both Floriz and his Father
Old Gerrard, with Lord Arnold of Bentbuisen,
Cozen, and Jaqueline, young Floris Sister;
I haue 'em all.
Wool.
Thou speak'st too much, too happy,
To carry faith with it.
Hub.
I can bring you
Where you shall see, and finde 'em.
Wool.
We will double,
What ever Hemskirck then hath promis'd thee.
Hub.
And I'le deserve it treble; what horse ha you?
Woolf.
A hundred.
Hub.
That's well: ready to take
Upon surprise of 'em?
Hems.
Yes.
Hub.
Devide then,
Your force into five Squadrons; for there are
So many out lets, wayes, thorough the wood,
That issue from the place: where they are lodg'd;
Five severall wayes, of all which passages
We must posses our selves, to round 'em in,
For by one starting hole, they'll all escape else;
I and 4. Boores here, to me will be guides,
The Squadron, where you are, my selfe will lead:
And that they may be more secure, I'le use
My wonted whoopes, and hollowes, as I were
A hunting for 'em; which will make them rest,
Careles of any noyse, and be a direction
To the other guides, how we approch 'em still.
Wool.
'Tis orderd well, and relisheth the Souldier,
Make the division Hemskirck, you are my charge
Faire one, I'le looke to you.
Boo.
Shall no body need
To looke to me? I'le looke unto my selfe.
Hub.
'Tis but this, remember.
Hig.
Say 'tis don boy.
Exeunt.
Scæna Secunda.
Enter Gerrard and Floriz.Ger.
By this time Sir I hope you want no reasons
Why I broke off your marriage, for though I
Should as a Subject study you my Prince
In things indifferent, it will not therefore
Discredit you, to acknowledge are your Father,
By harkning to my necessary counsells.
Flo.
Acknowledge you my Father? Sir I do,
And may impiety, conspiring with
My other Sinnes, sinck me, and sodainly
When I forget to pay you a Sonnes duty
In my obedience, and that help'd forth
With all the cheerefullnesse.
Ger.
I pray you rise,
And may those powers that see and love this in you,
Reward you for it: Taught by your example
Having receiv'd the rights due to a Father,
I tender you th'allegance of a Subject:
Which as my Prince accept of.
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Kneele to me?
May mountaines first fall down beneath their valleys,
And are no more mount upwards, when I suffer
An act in nature so preposterous;
I must o'recome in this, in all things else
The victory be yours: could you here read me,
You should perceive how all my faculties
Triumph in my blest fate, to be found yours;
I am your son, your son Sir, and am prouder
To be so, to the Father, to such goodnesse
(Which heaven be pleas'd, I may inherit from you)
Then I shall ever of those specious titles
That plead for my succession in the Earldome
(Did I possesse it now) left by my mother.
Ger.
I do beleeve it: but—
Flo.
O my lov'd Father,
Before I knew you were so, by instinct,
Nature had taught me, to look on your wants,
Not as a strangers: and I know not how,
What you call'd charity, I thought the payment
Of some religious debt, nature stood bound for;
And last of all, when your magnificent bounty
In my low ebb of fortune, had brought in
A flood of blessings, though my threatning wants
And feare of their effects, still kept me stupid,
I soone found out, it was no common pitty
That lead you to it.
Ger.
Thinke of this hereafter
When we with joy may call it to remembrance,
There will be a time, more opportune, then now
To end your story, with all circumstances,
I add this only: when we fled from Woolfort
I sent you into England, and there placed you
With a brave Flanders Merchant, call'd rich Goswin,
A man supplyed by me unto that purpose,
As bound by oath never to discover you,
Who dying, left his name and wealth unto you
As his reputed Son, and yet receiv'd so;
But now, is Florez, and a Prince, remember
The countreys, and the subjects generall good
Must challenge the first part in your affection:
The faire maid, whom you chose to be your wife,
Being so far beneath you, that your love
Must grant shee's not your equall.
Flo.
In discent
Or borrowed glories, from dead Ancestors,
But for her beauty, chastity, and all vertues
Ever remembred in the best of women,
A Monarch might receive from her, not give,
Though she were his Crownes purchase; In this only
Be an indulgent Father: in all else,
Use my authority.
Enter Hubert, Hemskirke, Woolfort, Bertha and Souldiers.
Hub.
Sir, here be two of 'em,
The Father and the Son, the rest you shall have
As fast as I can rouze them.
Ger.
Who's this? Woolfort?
Wool.
I Criple, your faigned crutches wil not help you,
Nor patch'd disguise that hath so long conceal'd you,
It's now no halting: I must here finde Gerrard,
And in this Merchants habit, one called Florez
Who would be an Earl.
Ger.
And is, wert thou a subject.
Flo.
Is this that Traitor Woolfort?
Woolf.
Yes, but you
Are they that are betraid: Hemskirke;
Ber.
My Goswin
Turn'd Prince? ô I am poorer by this greatnesse,
Then all my former jealousies or misfortunes.
Flo.
Gertrude?
Woolf.
Stay Sir, you were to day too neare her,
You must no more ayme at those easy accesses,
Lesse you can do't in aire, without a head,
Which shall be sodainly tri'de.
Ber.
O take my heart, first,
And since I cannot hope now to enjoy him,
Let me but fall a part of his glad ransome.
Woolf.
You know not your own value, that entreat
Ger.
So proud a fiend as Woolfort.
VVoolf.
For so lost
A thing as Florez.
Flo.
And that would be so
Rather then she should stoop againe to thee;
There is no death, but's sweeter then all life,
When VVoolfort is to give it: O my Gertrude,
It is not that, nor Prince dome that I goe from,
It is from thee, that losse includeth all.
Wool.
I, if my young Prince knew his losse, hee would say so,
VVhich that he yet may chew on, I will tell him
This is no Gertrude, nor no Hemskirks Niece,
Nor Vandoncks daughter; this is Bertha, Bertha,
The heir of Brabant, she that caus'd the warr,
Whom I did steale, during my treaty there,
For your minority, to raise my selfe;
I then fore-seeing 'twould beget a quarrell.
That, a necessity of my employment,
The same employment, make me master of strength,
That strength, the Lord of Flanders, so of Brabant,
By marrying her: which had not been to doe Sir,
She come of years, but that the expectation
First of her Fathers death, retarded it,
And since the standing out of Bruges, where
Hemskirke had hid her, till she was neer lost:
But Sir, we have recover'd her: your Merchantship
May breake, for this was one of your best bottoms
I thinke
Ger.
Insolent Devill!
Enter Hubert, with Jaqueline, Gynks and Costin.
Woolf.
Who are these, Hemskirke?
Hem.
More, more, Sir.
Flo.
How they triumph in their treachery?
Hem.
Lord Arnold of Bentbusin this Lord Costin,
This Jaqueline the sister unto Florez.
Wol.
All found? why here's brave game, this was sport-royall,
And puts me in thought of a new kind of death for 'em.
Hunts-man, your horn: first wind me Florez fall,
Next Gerrards, then his daughter Jaquelins,
Those rascalls, they shall dye without their rights:
Hang 'em Hemskirke on these trees; Il'e take
The assay of these my selfe.
Hub.
Not here my Lord,
Let 'em be broken up, upon a scaffold,
Twill shew the better when their arbour's made.
Ger.
Wretch art thou not content thou hast betraid us
But mocke us too?
Ginks.
False Hubert, this is monstrous.
Wool.
Hubert?
Hem.
VVho, this?
Ger.
Yes, this is Hubert, Woolfort,
I hope he ha's helpt himselfe to a tree.
Woolf.
The first,
The first of any, and most glad I have you Sir,
I let you goe before, but for a traine;
Is't you have done this service?
Hub.
As your Hunts-man,
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The Woolf's a foote, let slip, kill, kill, kill, kill.
Enter with a drum Van-donck, Merchants, Higgen, Prig, Ferret, Snap.
Woolf.
Betray'd?
Hub.
No, but well catch'd. and I the Huntsman.
Van-d.
How do you Woolfort? Rascall, good knave Wool:
I speake it now without the Rose, and Hemskirck,
Rogue Hemskirck, you that have no neice, this Lady
Was stolen by you, and tame by you, and now
Resign'd by me, to the right owner here?
Take her my Prince.
Flo.
Can this be possible,
Welcom my love, my sweet, my worthy love.
Van-d.
I ha' giv'n you her twice: now keep her better & thanke
Lord Hubert, that came to me in Gerrards name,
And got me out, with my brave Boyes, to march
Like Cæsar, when he bred his Comentaryes,
So I, to end my Chronicle, came forth
Cæsar Van-donck, & veni, vidi, vici,
Give me my Bottle, and set downe the drum;
You had your tricks Sir, had you? we ha' tricks too,
You stole the Lady?
Hig.
And we led your Squadrons
Where they ha' scratch'd their leggs a little, with brambles,
If not their faces.
Prig.
Yes, and run their heads
Against trees.
Hig.
'Tis Captaine Prig, Sir.
Prig.
And Coronell Higgen.
Hig.
We have fill'd a pitt with your people some with leggs
Some with armes broken, and a neck, or two
I think be loose.
Prig.
The rest too, that escap'd,
Are not yet out o'the briars,
Hig.
And your horses, Sir,
Are well set up in Bruges all by this time:
You looke as you were not well Sir, and would be
Shortly let blood; do you want a scarfe?
Van-d.
A halter.
Ger.
'Twas like your selfe, honest, and noble Hubert:
Can'st thou behold these mirrors altogether,
Of thy long, false, and bloody usurpation?
Thy tyrranous proscription, and fresh treason:
And not so see thy selfe, as to fall downe
And sincking, force a grave, with thine owne guilt,
As deep as hell, to couer thee and it?
Woolf.
No, I can stand: and praise the toyles that tooke me
And laughing in them dye, they were brave snares.
Flo.
'Twer truer valour, if thou durst repent
The wrongs th'hast don, and live.
Woolf.
Who, I repent?
And say I am sorry? yes, 'tis the fooles language
And not for Woolfort.
Van-d.
Woolfort thou art a Divell,
And speaks his language, oh that I had my longing
Under this rew of trees now would I hang him.
Flo.
No let him live, untill he can repent,
But banish'd from our State, that is thy doome.
Van-d.
Then hang his worthy Captaine here, this Hemskirck
For profit of th'example.
Flo.
No let him,
Enjoy his shame too: with his conscious life,
To shew how much our innocence contemnes;
All practise from the guiltiest, to molest us.
Van-d.
A noble prince.
Ger.
Sir, you must helpe to joyne
A paire of hands, as they have don their heartes here,
And to their loves with joy.
Flo.
As to mine owne,
My gratious Sister, worthiest Brother:
Van-d.
I'le go more, and have the bon-fire made,
My fire-workes, and flap dragons, and good backrack,
With a peck of little fishes, to drink downe
In healthes to this day.
Hig.
Slight, here be changes,
The Bells ha' not so many, nor a dance, Prig.
Prig.
Our Company's growne horrible thin by it,
What think you Ferret?
Fer.
Marry I do thinke,
That we might all be Lords now, if we could stand for't
Hig.
Not I if they should offer it: I'le dislodge first,
Remove the Bush to another climat.
Ger.
Sir, you must thanke this worthy Burgomaster,
Here be friends aske to be look'd on too:
And thank'd, who though their trade, and course of life
Be not so perfect, but it may be betterd,
Have yet us'd me with curtesy, and bin true
Subjects unto me, while I was their King,
A place I know not well, how to resigne.
Nor unto whom: But this I will entreat
Your grace, command them, follow me to Bruges;
Where I will take the care on me, to finde
Some manly, and more profitable course
To fit them, as a part of the Republique.
Flo.
Do you heare Sirs? do so.
Hig.
Thankes to your good grace.
Prig.
To your good Lordship.
Fer.
May you both live long.
Ger.
Attend me at Van-doncks, the Burgomasters.
Ex. all but Beggars.
Hig.
Yes, to beat hemp, and be whipt twice a weeke,
Or turne the wheele, for Crab the Rope-maker:
Or learne to go along with him, his course;
That's a fine course now, i' the Common-wealth, Prig,
What say you to it?
Prig.
It is the backwardst course,
I know i'the world.
Hig.
Then Higgen will scarce thrive by it,
You do conclude?
Prig.
'Faith hardly, very hardly.
Hig.
Troth I am partly of your minde, Prince Prig.
And therefore farewell Flanders, Higgen will seek
Some safer shelter, in some other Clymat:
With this his tatterd Colony: Let me see
Snap, Ferret, Prig, and Higgen, all are left
O the true blood: what? shall we into England?
Prig.
Agreed,
Hig.
Then beare up bravely with your Brute my lads
Higgen hath prig'd the prancers in his dayes,
And sold good peny-worthes; we will have a course,
The spirit of Bottom, is growne bottomlesse.
Prig.
I'le mand no more, nor cant.
Hig.
Yes, your six peny worth
In private, brother, sixpence is a summ,
I'le steale you any mans dogg for
Prig.
For Sixpence more,
You'l tell the owner where he is
Hig.
Tis right,
Higgen must practise, so must Prig to eat;
And write the Letter: and gi' the word, But now
No more, as either of these.
Prig.
But as true Beggars,
As ere we were.
Hig.
We stand here, for an Epilogue;
Ladyes, your bountyes first; the rest will follow,
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If you be pleas'd look cheerely throw your eyes:
Out at your maskes.
Prig.
And let your beauties sparkle.
Hig.
So may you ne'er want dressings, Iewells, gownes
Still i' the fashion.
Prig.
Nor the men you love,
VVealth nor discourse to please you.
Hig.
May you Gentlemen,
Never want good fresh suites nor liberty.
Prig.
May every Merchant here see safe his ventures.
Hig.
And every honest Citizen his debts in.
Prig.
The Lawyers gaine good Clyents.
Hig.
And the Clyents good Councell.
Prig.
All the Gamesters here good fortune.
Hig.
The Drunkards too good wine.
Prig.
The eaters meate
Fit for their tasts and pallats.
Hig.
The good wives kind Husbands.
Prig.
The young maides choyce of Sutors.
Hig.
The Midwives merry hearts.
Prig.
And all good cheere.
Hig.
As you are kinde unto us and our Bush,
We are the Beggars and your dayly Beadsmen,
And have your money, but the Almes we aske
And live by, is your Grace, give that and then
VV'eel boldly say our word is, Come agen.
| Beggars Bush | |