 | Beggars Bush |  |
Actus Primus
Scæna Prima.
Enter a Merchant, and Herman.Mer.
Is he then taken?
Her.
And brought back even now sir.
Mer.
He was not in disgrace?
Her.
No man more lov'd,
Nor more deserv'd it, being the onely man.
That durst be honest in this Court.
Mer.
Indeed
We have heard abroad sir, that the State hath suffered,
A great change, since the countesse death.
Her.
It hath sir.
Mer.
My five yeares absence, hath kept me a stranger
So much to all the occurrents of my Country,
As you shall bind me for some short relation
To make me understand the present times.
Her.
I must begin then with a war was made
And seven yeares with all cruelty continued
Upon our Flanders by the Duke of Brabant,
The cause grew thus: during our Earles minority,
Woolfort, (who now usurps) was employed thither
To treat about a match betweene our Earle
And the daughter and Heire of Brabant: during which treaty
The Brabander pretends, this daughter was
Stolne from his Court, by practice of our State,
Though we are all confirm'd, 'twas a sought quarrell
To lay an unjust gripe upon this Earledome,
It being here beleev'd the Duke of Brabant
Had no such losse. This war upon't proclaim'd,
Our Earle, being then a Child, although his Father
Good Gerrard liv'd, yet in respect he was
Chosen by the Countesse favour, for her Husband
And but a Gentleman, and Floriz holding
His right unto this Country from his Mother,
The State thought fit in this defensive war,
Woolfort being then the only man of marke,
To make him Generall.
Mer.
Which place we have heard
He did discharge with honour.
Her.
I, so long,
And with so blest successes, that the Brabander
Was forc't (his treasures wasted, and the choyce
Of his best men of Armes tyr'd, or cut off)
To leave the field, and sound a base retreat
Back to his Countrey: but so broken both
In minde and meanes, er'e to make head againe,
That hitherto he fitts downe by his losse,
Not daring, or for honour, or revenge
Againe to tempt his fortune. But this Victory
More broke our State, and made a deeper hurt
In Flanders, then the greatest overthrow
She ever receiv'd: For Woolfort, now beholding
Himselfe, and actions in the flattering glasse
Of selfe-deservings, and that cherish't by
The strong assurance of his power, for then
All Captaines of the Army, were his creatures,
The common Souldier too at his devotion,
Made so by full indulgence to their rapines
And secret bounties, this strength too well knowne
And what it could effect, soone put in practice,
As furtherd by the child-hood of the Earle
And their improvidence, that might have peirc't
The heart of his designes, gave him occasion
To sieze the whole, and in that plight you find it.
Mer.
Sir, I receive the knowledge of thus much
As a choyce favour from you.
Her.
Onely I must add
Bruges holds out.
Mer.
Whether sir, I am going
For there last night I had a ship put in,
And my horse waits me.
Exit.
Her.
I wish you a good journey.
Enter Woolfort, Hubert.
Wool.
What? Hubert stealing from me? who disarm'd him,
It was more then I commanded; take your sword,
I am best guarded with it in your hand,
I have seene you use it nobly.
Hub.
And will turne it
On mine owne bosom, ere it shall be drawne
Vnworthily or rudely.
Wool.
VVould you leave me
VVithout a farwell Hubert? fly a friend
Vnwearied in his study to advance you?
VVhat have I ev'r possessed which was not yours?
Or either did not court you to command it?
Who ever yet arriv'd to any grace,
Reward or trust from me, but his approaches
Were by your faire reports of him prefer'd?
And what is more I made my selfe your Servant,
In making you the Master of those secrets
Which not the rack of conscience could draw from me,
Nor I, when I askt mercy, trust my prayers with;
Yet after these assurances of love,
These tyes and bonds of freindship, to forsake me,
Forsake me as an enemie? come you must
Give me a reason.
Hub.
Sir, and so I will,
If I may do't in privat: and you heare it.
Wool.
All leave the roome: you have your will, set downe
And use the liberty of our first friendship.
Hub.
Friendship? when you prov'd Traitor first, that vanish'd
Nor do I owe you any thought, but hate,
I know my flight hath forfeited my head;
And so I may make you first understand
What a strange monster you have made your selfe,
I welcome it.
Wool.
To me this is strange language.
Hub.
To you? why what are you?
Wool.
Your Prince and Master,
The Earle of Flaunders.
Hub.
By a proper title,
Rais'd to it by cunning circumvention, force,
Blood, and proscriptions.
Wool.
And in all this wisedome;
Had I not reason? when by Gerrards plotts
I should haue first been call'd to a strict accopt
How, and which way I had consum'd that masse
Of money, as they terme it in the warr,
76
Detracted my great action, made my faith
And loyalty so suspected in which failing
He sought my life by practice.
Hub.
With what fore-head,
Do you speake this to me? who (as I know't)
Must, and will say 'tis false,
Wool.
My guard there.
Hub.
Sir, you bad me sit, & promis'd you would heare
Which I now say you shall, not a sound more,
For I that am contemner of mine owne,
Am Master of your life; then heer's a Sword
Betweene you, and all aydes Sir, though you blind
The credulous beast, the multitude, you passe not
These grosse untruthes on me.
Wool.
How? grosse untruthes.
Hub.
I, and it is favourable language,
They had bin in a meane man lyes, and foule ones.
Wool.
You take strange licence.
Hub.
Yes, were not those rumours
Of being called unto your answers, spread
By your owne followers; and weake Gerrard wrought
(But by your cunnig practise) to be beleeve
That you were dangerous; yet not to be
Punish'd by any formall course of law,
But first to be made sure, and have your crimes
Layd open after, which your queint traine taking
You fled unto the Campe, and there crav'd humbly
Protection for your innocent life, and that,
Since you had scap'd the fury of the warr,
You might not fall by treason, and for proofe,
You did not for your owne ends make this danger;
Some that had been before, by you subornd,
Came forth and tooke their oathes they had been hir'd
By Gerrard to your murther. This once heard,
And easily beleev'd, th'inraged Souldier
Seeing no further then the outward man,
Snatch'd hastily his Armes, ran to the Court,
Kill'd all that made resistance, cut in pieces
Such as were Servants, or thought friends to Gerrard,
Vowing the like to him.
Wool.
Will you yet end?
Hub.
Which he foreseeing, with his Sonne, the Earle,
Forsooke the Citty, and by secret wayes
As you give out, and we would gladly have it,
Escap'd their fury: though 'tis more then fear'd
They fell among the rest; Nor stand you there
To let us onely mourne, the impious meanes
By which you got it, but your cruelties since
So far: transcend your former bloody ills,
As if compar'd, they onely would appeare
Essayes of mischiefe; do not stop your eares,
More are behind yet.
Wool.
O repeat them not,
'Tis hell to heare them nam'd.
Hub.
You should have thought,
That hell would be your punishment when you did them,
A Prince, in nothing but your princely lusts,
And boundlesse rapines.
Wool.
No more I beseech you.
Hub.
Who was the Lord of house or land, that stood
Within the prospect of your covetous eye?
Wool.
You are in this to me a greater Tyrant,
Then ere I was to any.
Hub.
I end thus
The generall griefe, now to my private wrong;
The losse of Gerrards daughter Jaqueline:
The hop'd for partner of my lawfull bed,
Your cruelty hath frighted from mine armes;
And her, I now was wandring to recouer.
Thinke you that I had reason now to leave you,
When you are growne so justly odious,
That ev'n my stay here with your grace and favour,
Makes my life ircksome? here surely take it,
And do me but this fruite of all your frendship,
That I may dye by you, and not your hang-man.
Wool.
Oh Hubert, these your wordes and reasons have
As well drawne drops of blood from my griev'd hart,
As these teares from mine eyes;
Despise them not
By all that's sacred, I am serious Hubert,
You now have made me sensible, what furyes,
Whips, hangmen, and tormentors a bad man
Do's ever beare about him: let the good
That you this day have done, be ever numberd,
The first of your best actions;
Can you think,
Where Floriz is or Gerrard, or your love,
Or any else, or all that are proscrib'd?
I will resigne, what I usurpe, or have
Unjustly forc'd; the dayes I have to live
Are too too few to make them satisfaction
With any penitence: yet I vow to practise
All of a man.
Hub.
O that your hart and tongue
Did not now differ!
Wool.
By my griefes they do not
Nake the good paines to search them out; 'tis worth it,
You have made cleane a Leper: trust me you have,
And made me once more fit for the society,
I hope of good men.
Hub.
Sir, do not abuse
My aptnesse to beleeve.
Wool.
Suspect not you
A faith that's built upon so true a sorrow,
Make your owne safetyes: aske them all the ties
Humanity can give, Hemskirick too shall
Along with you to this so wish'd discovery,
And in my name profess all that you promise;
And I will give you this helpe to't: I have
Of late receiv'd certaine intelligence,
That some of them are in or about Bruges
To be found out: which I did then interpret,
The cause of that Townes standing out against me;
But now am glad, it may direct your purpose
Of giving them their safety, and mee peace.
Hub.
Be constant to your goodnesse, & you have it.
Exit.
Scæna Secunda.
Enter 3. Marchants.1. Mer.
T'is much that you deliver of this Goswin.
2. Mer.
But short of what I could, yet have the Country
Confirmd it true, and by a generall oath,
And not a man hazard his credit in it:
He beares himselfe with such a confidence
As if he were the Master of the Sea,
And not a winde upon the Sailers compasse,
But from one part or other, was his factor,
To bring him in the best commodities,
Merchant e're venturd for:
1.
'Tis strange,
2.
And yet;
77
Compared with other his peculiar fashions,
Which all admire: he's young, and rich, at least
Thus far reputed so, that since he liv'd
In Bruges, there was never brought to harbour
So rich a Bottome, but his bill would passe
Unquestion'd for her lading.
3 Mer.
Yet he still
Continues a good man.
2 Mer.
So good, that but
To doubt him, would be held an injury
Or rather malice, with the best that traffique;
But this is nothing, a great stocke, and fortune,
Crowning his judgement in his undertakings
May keep him upright that way: But that wealth
Should want the power to make him dote on it,
Or youth teach him to wrong it, best commends
His constant temper; for his outward habit
'Tis sutable to his present course of life:
His table furnish'd well, but not with dainties
That please the appetite only for their rarenesse,
Or the deare price: nor given to wine or women,
Beyond his health, or warrant of a man,
I meane a good one: and so loves his state
He will not hazard it at play; nor lend
Upon the assurance of a well-pen'd Letter,
Although a challenge second the denyall
From such as make th'opinion of their valour
Their meanes of feeding.
1 Mer.
These are wayes to thrive,
And the meanes not curs'd.
2 Mer.
What follows this,
Makes many Venturers with him, in their wishes,
For his prosperity: for when desert
Or reason leads him to be liberall,
His noble mind and ready hand contend
Which can add most to his free curtesies,
Or in their worth, or speed to make them so.
Is there a Virgin of good fame wants dowre?
He is a father to her; or a Souldier
That in his Countreyes service, from the warre
Hath brought him only scars, and want? his house
Receives him, and relieves him, with that care
As if what he possess'd had been laid up
For such good uses, and he steward of it.
But I should loose my selfe to speake him further
And stale in my relation, the much good
You may be witnesse of, if your remove
From Brugis, be not speedy.
1 Mer.
This report
I do assure you will not hasten it,
Nor would I wish a better man to deale with
For what I am to part with.
3 Mer.
Never doubt it,
He is your man and ours, only I wish
His too much forwardnesse to embrace all bargains
Sucke him not in the end.
2 Mer.
Have better hopes,
For my part I am confident; here he comes.
Enter Florez & the fourth Merchant.
Flor.
I take it at your own rates: your wine of Cyprus,
But for your Candy sugars, they have met
With such foule weather, and are priz'd so high
I cannot save in them.
4 Mer.
I am unwilling
To seeke another Chap-man: make me offer
Of something near my price, that may assure me
You can deale for them.
Flor.
I both can, and will,
But not with too much losse; your bill of lading
Speakes of two hundred chests, valued by you
At thirty thousand gilders. I will have them
At twenty eight; so, in the payment of
Three thousand sterling, you fall only in
Two hundred pound.
4 Mar.
You know, they are so cheape.—
Flo.
Why looke you; I'le deale fairly, ther's in prison,
And at your suite, a Pirat, but unable
To make you satisfaction, and past hope
To live a weeke, if you should prosecute
What you can prove against him: set him free,
And you shall have your money to a Stiver,
And present payment.
4 Mar.
This is above wonder,
A Merchant of your ranke, that have at Sea
So many Bottoms in the danger of
These water-Theeves, should be a meanes to save 'em
It more importing you for your owne safety
To be at charge to scoure the Sea of them
Then stay the sword of Justice, that is ready
To fall on one so conscious of his guilt
That he dares not deny it.
Flo.
You mistake me,
If you thinke I would cherish in this Captaine
The wrong he did to you, or any man;
I was lately with him, (having first, from others
True testimony been assured, a man
Of more desert never put from the shore)
I read his letters of Mart from this State granted
For the recovery of such losses, as
He had receiv'd in Spain, 'twas that he aim'd at,
Not at three tuns of wine, bisket, or beefe,
Which his necessity made him take from you.
If he had pillag'd you neare, or sunke your ship,
Or thrown your men o'r-boord, then he deserv'd
The Lawes extreamest rigour: But since want
Of what he could not live without, compel'd him
To that he did (which yet our State calls death)
I pitty his misfortune; and to worke you
To some compassion of them, I come up
To your own price: save him, the goods are mine;
If not, seeke else-where, I'le not deale for them.
4 Mar.
Well Sir, for your love, I will once be lead
To change my purpose.
Flo.
For your profit rather.
4 Mar.
I'le presently make meanes for his discharge,
Till when, I leave you.
2 Mar.
What do you thinke of this?
1 Mar.
As of a deed of noble pitty: guided
By a strong judgement.
2 Mar.
Save your Master Goswin.
Flo.
Good day to all.
2 Mar.
We bring you the refusall
Of more Commodities.
Flo.
Are you the owners
Of the ship that lastnight put into the Harbour?
1 Mar.
Both of the Ship, and lading.
Flo.
What's the fraught?
1 Mar.
Indico, Quitchineel, choice Chyna stuffs.
3 Mar.
And cloath of Gold brought from Camball.
Flo.
Rich lading,
For which I were your Chapman, but I am
Already out of cash.
1 Mar.
I'le give you day
For the molety of all.
Flo.
How long?
78
Sixe moneths.
Flo.
'Tis a faire offer: which (if we agree
About the prizes) I, with thanks accept of,
And will make present payment of the rest;
Some two hours hence I'le come aboord.
1 Mer.
The Gunner shall speake you welcome.
Flo.
I'le not faile,
3 Mer.
Good morrow.
Exit Merch.
Flo.
Heaven grant my Ships a safe returne, before
The day of this great payment: as they are
Expected three moneths sooner: and my credite
Stands good with all the world.
Enter Gerrard.
Ger.
Blesse my good Master,
The prayers of your poor Beads-man ever shall
Be sent up for you.
Flo.
God 'a mercy Clause,
Ther's something to put thee in minde hereafter
To thinke of me.
Ger.
May he that gave it you
Reward you for it, with encrease, good Master.
Flo.
I thrive the better for thy prayers.
Ger.
I hope so.
This three yeares have I fed upon your bounties,
And by the fire of your blest charity warm'd me,
And yet, good Master, pardon me, that must,
Though I have now receiv'd your almes, presume
To make one sute more to you.
Flo.
What is't Clause?
Ger.
Yet do not think me impudent I beseech you,
Since hitherto your charity hath prevented
My begging your reliefe, 'tis not for money
Nor cloaths (good Master) but your good word for me.
Flo.
That thou shalt have, Clause, for I think thee honest.
Ger.
To morrow then (dear Mr.) take the trouble
Of walking early unto Beggars Bush,
And as you see me, among others (Brethren
In my affliction) when you are demanded
Which you like best among us, point out me,
And then passe by, as if you knew me not.
Flo.
But what will that advantage thee?
Ger.
O much Sir,
'Twill give me the preheminence of the rest,
Make me a King among 'em, and protect me,
From all abuse, such as are stronger, might
Offer my age; Sir, at your better leizure
I will informe you further of the good
It may do to me.
Flo.
'Troth thou mak'st me wonder;
Have you a King and Common-wealth among you?
Ger.
We have, & there are States are governd worse.
Flo.
Ambition among Beggars?
Ger.
Many great ones
Wou'd part with halfe their States, to have the place,
And credit to beg in the first file, Master:
But shall be so much bound to your furtherance
In my Petition?
Flo.
That thou shalt not misse of,
Nor any worldly care make me forget it,
I will be early there.
Ger.
Heaven blesse my Master.
Exeunt.
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