University of Virginia Library

Scæa. pria.

Enter Bredero, Vandort: [& 2. Lords.]
Bre.
Myne Heire Vandort, what thinck ye of the Prince now?

Vandort
like a true noble Gentleman, he has borne himself,
and a faire fortunate Soldier: I hold the State Sir
most happie in his care: and this torne Cuntry
whose wounds smart yet, most bound to his deliueraunce.

Bre.
'tis certaine his proceedings in this busines
as in all els, haue byn most wise, and constant,
and waited on with full wingd Expedition:
how many Townes, armd with theis new Pretenders,
stird vp, and steeld by founders of new doctrines
the cullor to their Cause, hath he, (and sodainely)
disarmd againe, and setled in obedience,
and without bloodshed, lords, wthout the Sword,
and those Calamities, that shake a kingdom
so gently, and without noyce, he has performd this
as if he had don it in a dreame?

[1. lord.]
most certaine

Vand
he ha's run through a busines, will much add to him,
and sett his vertues of with greater lustre,
But that a man so wise, as Mounseiur Barnauelt,
so trusted, so rewarded for his Service,
and one that built the ladder to his honor
of open honest actions, strong, and straight still,
should now be doubted.

[2. lord.]
I know not, nor I wish it not,

Bred.
but if he haue a fowle hart, 'thas byn hid long,
and cun̄ingly that poyson has byn carried

Vandort.
But why a Father to theis new professions?
why should he strengthen those opinions,
that all true learning much laments, and greives at,
and sincks the soules sweet vnion, into ruyn,
why theis my lords? and why in every Garrison
vnles he had an end that shot at evill
should he so strongly plant theis fire-brands,
and through his powre, add daylie to their nombers?

—Ent
Bred.
most sure he is suspected, strongly suspected
but that a man of his great trust, and busines
should sinck, or suffer vnder doubts, or whispers
or loose his honor by an others envy
is not faire play, nor honest: The Prince of Orange
most thinck affects him not, nor he the Prince
that either of their angry wills should prove
a lawfull act, to ruyn one another,
and not a medium of more open Iustice
more equall, and more honorable step in
man had no powre to stand, nor fall with honor
if he be falce, honest, and vpright proofes
will ripen the Imposture.

—Enter Barnauelt & his Son.
1. lord.
here he comes Sir.

Vandort
Methincks he beares not in his Countenaunce
the fullnes of that grave, and constant sperit,
nor in his eye appeeres that heat, and quicknes
he was wont to move withall, salute, and counsell: [let's leaue him to his thoughts.]

Son.
they mind ye not:
now, as I haue a soule, they looke not on Ye.

Bar.
My noble lords: what is't appeeres vpon me
so ougly strange, you start, and fly my Companie?
what plague sore haue Ye spide? what taynt in honor?
what ill howre in my life, so cleere deserving
that rancks me thus below yor fellowships?
for wc h of all my cares, of all my watches,
my services (too many, and too mightie
to find rewards) am I thus recompenced?
not lookd on, not saluted? left forgotten
like one that came to petition to yor honor s,
over the shoulder sleighted?

Bred.
Mounseiur Barnauelt,
I am sorry that a man of yor great wisdom,
and those rare parts, that make ye lou'd, and honord,
in every Princes Court, highly esteemd of,
should loose somuch in point of good, & vertue,
now in the time, you ought to fix yor faith fast,
the creadit of yor age carelesly loose it,
I dare not say ambitiously: that yor best frends
and those that ever hoong on your example
dare not, wt h comon safetie now salute ye.

Bar.
I loose in point of honor? my frends feare me?
my age suspected too? now as ye are iust men
vnknit this riddle.

1. lord.
ye are doubted, strongly doubted.

Bar.
ô the devill,

2. lord.
your loialtie suspected.

Bar.
who dare doe this?

Bred.
we wish all well: and You that know how dangerous
in men of lesser mark, theis fowle attempts are
and often haue bewaild 'em in the meanest,
I make no doubt, will meet yor owne fault, sodainely,
and chide yorself: grow faire againe, and flourish: [—in the same full esteeme ye held, & fauor,]

[Ba]Bar.
and must I heare [this] sett downe for all my service,
is this the glorious mark of my deservings?
taynted, and torne in honor must I perish
and must theis silver curles, ô you vnthanckfull
theis emblemes of my frostie cares, and travells,
for you, and for the State, fall wt h disgraces?
Goe fall before yor new Prince, worship him,
fill all yor throates with flattery, cry before him
'tis he, and onely he, h'as truly seru'd ye;
forget me, and the peace I haue wrought you r Cuntry,
bury my memory, raze out my name,
my forty yeares endeauor s, wryte in dust,
that yor great Prince, may blow'em into nothing,
and on my Monument, (you most forgetfull)
fling all yor scornes: erect an yron-toothd envy
that she may gnaw the pious stones that hides me.

Vandort
ye are too much mou'd: and now too late ye find Sir,
how naked, and vnsafe it is for a long Gowne
to buckle with the violence of an Army;
The Emperor Traian, challenging a Yong man
and a swift runner, to try his speed against him,
the Gentleman made answeare sodainely
it was not safe, nor fitt, to hold contention
wt h any man com̄aunded thirtie legions.
you know the Prince, and know his noble nature,
I thinck you know his powre too: of all Yor wisdomes
this will not show the least, nor prove the meanest
in good mens eyes, I thinck in all that know Ye,
to seeke his love; gentle & faire demeanor s
wyn more then blowes, and soften stubborne anger s.
let me perswade ye.

Bar.

Bred.
take better thoughts.

Bar.
they are my first, and last,
the legacie I leave my frends behind me,
I neuer knew to flatter, to kneele basely,
and beg from him a smile, owes me an honor;
Ye are wreatches, poore staru'd wreatches: fedd on crumbs
that he flings to ye: from yor owne aboundaunce,
wreatched, and slavish people, ye are becom,
that feele the griping yoak, and yet bow to it;
what is this man, this Prince, this god ye make now,
but what or hands haue molded, wrought to fashion,
and by or constant labor s, given a life to?
and must we fall before him, now, adoare him,
blow all we can, to fill his sailes wt h greatnes,
worship the Image we set vp orselues,
put fate into his hand, into his will
or lives, and fortunes? howle, and cry to or owne clay
be mercifull ô Prince? ô pittied people,
base, base, poore patcht vp men: You dare not heare this,
you haue sold yor eares to slavery: begon, and flatter:
when ere your politick Prince putts his hooke into my nose,
here must he put his Sword too.

Bred
we lament ye.

—Ext.
Enter ye Son
Son.
We are vndon, Sir.

Bar.
why?

Son.
for certaine perishd
Vtrecht is taken in: Modesbargen fled,
and Leidenberge, a Servant to their pleasures
a prisoner Sir.

B«a»r.
ha

Son
'tis too true.

Bar
a prisoner?

Son
and some say, has byn torturd, reveald much
even all he knowes: no letters are against ye
for those he burnt: but they haue somuch foold him
that his owne tongue

Bar.
he cannot be so boyish

Son.
my government of Barghen, is disposd of
their anger now, against vs all profest,
and in yor ruyn, all must fall.

Bar.
a prisoner?
Modesbargen fledd? I am glad he is scapt their fingers:
Now if the Devill had but this Leidenberge
I were safe enough: what a dull foole was I
a stupid foole, to wrap vp such a secreat
in a sheepes hart? ô I could teare my flesh now,
and beat my leaden braines

Son.
faith try the Prince, Sir,
you are at yor last.

Bar.
art thou my Son? thou lyest:
I neuer got a Parasite, a Coward,
I seeke the Prince, or bend in base submission?
ile seeke my grave first: yf I needes must fall
and that the fatall howre is cast of Barnauelt,
iust like a strong demolishd Towne ile totter,
and fright the neighbor Cuntries with my murmor:
my ruyns shall reach all: The valiant Soldier
whose eies are vnacquainted but wt h anger
shall weep for me, because I fedd, and noursd him.
Princes shall mourne my losse, and this vnthanckfull
forgetfull Cuntry, when I sleepe in ashes,
shall feele, and then confes I was a Father

—Exeunt/