University of Virginia Library

Scena Tertij

Enter Achomates.
Acho.
The promise was direct and absolute,
To blesse my Temples with a sacred Crowne,
VVith protestations of a quicke dispatch,
Ere his owne right were cancelled by fate,
So to cut off all rivals in my joyes.
VVhat intercedent chance hath made his care
So slacke in the performance? by heaven I feare,
Delayes will proue delusions of my hopes
And that homebred Mercurian Selymus,
VVill split the expectation of my blisse,
Forefend it Mahomet, or I shall be
A sad revenger of indignitie.
How now? vvhat speakes this bold intrusion?

Enter a Messenger.
Messen.
Health to Achomates from Baiazet.

Acho.
From Baiazet? vnfold thy welcome newes,
How fares our Noble Father?

Messen.
In full health;
And wils you thus by mee: to muster vp
Your surest forces, and with moderate hast,
Repaire vnto the Court, where you shall find
Employments worthy of a valorous mind.

Achom.
To muster armes? can'st thou surmise the cause?

Messen.
VVith confidence I dare not; but tis sayd,
Against that haughtie Noble Selymus,
VVho of the Tartar King implored ayd,
To an vncertaine end: himselfe giues out
To fight with Hungary, and stretch the bounds
Of the old Turkish regiment; But fame
With panting voice, bids Baiazet beware,
And whispers in his eare, he is the foe,
Proud Selymus intends to overthrow.

Acho.
Enough, regreet our Father with our love
Tell him wee shall not sleepe to his command;
Exit
Fly nimbly backe: dares the audacious boy,
Trouble the world with his tempestuous armes?
Ile chastise him with yron whips of warre,
If either strength or stratagems shall serue,
To spoyle the gavvdy plumes of his high crest,
I'le vse the strongest violence of both;
I am swolne big with hate, and I could breake
Vntimely passage with a wholesome stabbe
To vent the monster strangled in my wombe.
Father I come, he that detaines a Crowne
Bequeath'd to me, must thunder-strike me downe.

Enter Corcutus.
Corcu.
Buzzing reports haue pier't my studdy walles,
And clog'd my meditations ayry wings,
By which I mount aboue the mouing spheares
And search the hidden closets of the heauen,
I cannot liue retir'd, but I must heare
Mine owne wrongs sounded in my troubled eare:
VVhat? will my father falsifye that oath;
In which he vowd successions right to mee,
VVhen I resign'd my honors vp to him,
He deepely swore; when the vprising Sunne
Of his bright-shining royallty had runne
It's compleat course through the whole heauen of state,
And fainting dropt into the VVesterne lapse;
My brightnesse next should throw it's golden beames,
Vpon the worlds wide face, and ouer-peere
The duskie clouds of hidden privacie,
And shall Achomates succeed? Shall hee
Shine in the spangled robes of Majesty?
Then Baiazet is false, let it be so
I am secur'd from a huge masse of woe.
Yet Ile to th'Court, that when Achomates
Shall spie mee, and remember but my due
'Twill staine his lustre with a blushing hue,

Enter Baiazet, Cherseogles.
Baia.
My cares are growne to great to be compriz'd,
Within the narrow compasse of my breast,
Vice-roy of Greece, Ile powre into thy heart
Part of my secrets; which being entred in,
Locke them as close vp, as thou wouldst a sinne
Committed, yet not knowne: I must impart
Things worth thy faithfull silence.

Chers.
Worthy Sir,
By the inclosure of my soule I sweare—

Baia.
Ile not heare out thine oth, in briefe 'tis thus
The Bassaes are all false and loue not vs;
Nor doth my brain sicke fury prompt me thus,
I read it in their gestures, conventicles,
Actions, and counsells, my suspitious eye
Hath found a great breach in their loyalty.

Chers.
Surely this cannot bee.

Baiazet
By heauen 'tis true,
Each man that guards mine honour is my foe,
Ile shake these splendant robes of Majesty
From my ore-burden'd shoulders, and to ease
My selfe, bequeath them to Achomates.

Cherse.
Achomates?

Baia.
Euen he, vnlesse the voyce
Of the whole Citie interdict my choice.

Enter Isaacke, Mesithes, Mustapha.
Cherse.
Heere comes the Bassaes,
Sure I see bad newes
Pourtrai'd on the Index of their fronts.

Baia.
Bad newes? We haue out-liu'd good dayes too long,
We can expect no other, come vnclaspe
Volumes of mischiefes, and make deafe my eares
With an infused multitude of cares.

Bassaes.
Young Selymus hath crost Danubius floud,
And seiz'd vpon the Provinces of Thrace,
And with a Navie plow'd the Euxine Sea.

Baia.
Peace bellowing night-rauens, with how cheerefull noise
Their puffing lungs croke out the balefull note,
Are these the warres 'gainst Hungary? you powers
Of heauen, brush off your cloddy patience,
If you but winke at these notorious crimes,
I'le say you dare not check our stubborne times.
Well as yet, I'le make vse of his pretence
Vize-roy of Greece, beare you this Embassie
To that suspected Traytor Selymus,
Tell him the warres 'gainst th'Hungarian foe,
Are full of dangers and approued harmes,
Never attempted by our Ancestors,
Without repulse or damage bid him dismisse
His rough Tartarian youth, then if he stand
Vnmou'd and stiffe, feigne vengeance is at hand.
Make thy best speed.

Cherse.
I shall, 'twill be well done
To reconcile a Father and a Sonne.

Baia.
Thought he tumultuous vprores could deserue
The favour of his Prince: h'as troad awry,
And mist the path that leades to Majestie.
These bright Imperious ornaments shall grace
No rebell-monster, nor base runne-away.
My resolution's firme, it shall not be;
Bassaes, this day an Herauld shall proclaime
In the worlds care, my great successours name.
Are you content?

Exit.
Mustapha calls in an Herauld.
Bassaes.
We are.

Baiaz.
Call forth an Herrauld.

Isaack.
As our alleageance bindes vs wee'le obey.
But what we graunt, the Souldiers will gaine-say.
Aside.
Thou shalt not thriue in this: I dare be bold
My golden hookes haue ta'ne a faster hold.

Baia.
Herauld,
Be my loud Eccho, ratifie my deede,
And say Achomates shall next succeede.

Herauld.

Baiazet the second by the appointment of our great
Prophet Mahomet, the onely Monarch of the World, a mighty
God on earth, an inuincible Cæsar, King of all Kings, from the
East vnto the West, Gouernour of Greece, Sultan of Babylon,
Soueraigne Of Persia and Armenia, triumphant Tutor of Ierusalem,
Lord possessour of the Sepulcher of the Crucified God,
subuerter and sworne enemie of the Christians, and of all that
call vpon Christ; proclaimeth Achomates his second sonne next
and immediate successour.

An alarum of Trumpets
Within.
None but Baiazet, none but Baiazet.

Baiaz.
By heauen they are corrupted: none but I?
'Tis no loue borne to me that moues this cry.

Mesith.
Great Baiazet the cause why they deny
This iust proposall, riseth from an vse
And customary licence long obseru'd;
To wit, when their crown'd Emperour is dead,
The interpos'd vacation is a time
Of lawlesse freedome: then they dare to spoile
The Iewish Marchants of their traffick wares,
And prey vpon all strangers: so that should
Your Honour be conferr'd vpon your sonne
Whilst you your selfe yet breath, then should they loose
The long expected gaines; therefore refuse
What you propos'd.

Baiaz.
If that be all the cause,
Wee'le giue them such a Kingly donatiue,
As doubly shall buy out those ill-got spoiles
Fiue hundred thousand Duckets, if they please
With my free choise to crowne Achomates,
Proclaim'd to be their due.

A flourish of Trumpets.
Herauld.

Baiazet the second by appointment of our great Prophet
Mahomet, &c. proclaimeth that hee'le attribute 500.
Thousand Duckats if you yeeld alleageance
To Achomates his successour.

Trumpets sound againe.
Within.
None but Baiazet, none but Baiazet.

Baia.
Achomates I sent for, how hee'le disgest
These grosse illusions, I may iustly feare:
By this I had discourag'd Selymus,
And kill'd his hopes; by this I had cut off
The growth of hate, and choked discords seed.

Exit.
Enter Mustapha with a Messenger to the other Bassaes.
Mustaph.
Beare this to Selymus with thy best care.

Mesith.
And this.

Giue him Letters.
Isaack.
And this: fly, let thy winged speed
Returne a suddaine answere, elie we bleed.

Exeunt.