 | The Vow Breaker. Or, The Faire Maide of Clifton |  |
Actus Quintus.
Scena Prima.
Enter Arguile, Clifton, Monlucke, Jo. Ball, Miles, Souldiers Mortigue, Doysells, Souldiers on the Walls.Clif.
After the hand of warre has raz'd your walls,
Affrighting peace from your Jvory beds,
And like the reaper with his angry sickle
Leaves the Earth full of soares, and wounds,
Yet after plasters her with her owne crop;
So come we after warre, bloudy turmoiles
To bring you peace, which had you sued before,
Thousands that now ly boweld in the earth
Had liv'd to memory what we have done.
Set ope your gates, & with spred armes embrace her
For which as followes yee have articulated,
Mon.
Which we, Monluck, Bishop of Valence
Labrosse, Amyens joynt commissioners
For the most christian King, and Queene,
Francis, and Mary of France, and Scotland,
Have Confirm'd.
Mor., Doy.
Which, we as duty bindes, must obey.
Clif.
The Articles thus followe, The most mighty Princesse
Elizabeth by the grace of God, of England, France, and
Ireland Queene, defendor of the faith, &c and the most
Christian King, Francis, and Mary, by the same grace
King, and Queene of France, and Scotland have bore
Record upon a reconciliation of peace, and amity to be
inviolably kept betweene them, their subjects, Kingdomes,
and confines; and therefore in their names it is straitly commanded
to all manner of persons, borne under their obeysances,
by Sea or Land, and to keepe good peace eyther with other
from this time forwards, as they will answer therto, at their
utmost perils; long live Elizabeth, Francis, and Mary;
Omn.
Long live Elizabeth, &c.
Mor.
We much desire to heare the Articles,
On which this peace stands fully ratifi'd.
Clif.
They are thirteene in number;
The principall, and of most effect, are these,
That the French Souldiers, and all men of warre
Leave the Realme of Scotland in twenty daies,
Sixe score Souldiers, onely are excepted,
Three score of them to remaine at Inskeith,
And three score, at the Castle of Dun-barr,
Their wages to be paid from the estates
of Scotland; and to live lawfull subjects
To the Lawes, and ordinances of that Realme,
All fortifications in, or, about Leith,
Which by the French was built, shalbe defaced,
That France conveigh not any man of warre
Nor ammunition into this Land,
Without a free consent in Parliament,
Of the three estates of these great Kingdomes.
That Francis, and Mary King, and Queene of France,
From henceforth beare not the Armes of England
Which solely appertaine to our dread Mistris
The Queene of England, and to no other.
These as you hope for peace, you must observe.
Mor.
We subjects are the hands, Kings are the heads,
And what the head commands, the hands must act,
Our barrocadoed portalls shall flie ope,
And yeild entrance; if war-like Clifton please,
As we have fought together, so wee'le feast,
Such viands, as a raized Towne can yeild
You shall receive; noble sir Francis Leake
Hath in this manner proclam'd this peace
On the North-side whom we will gratulate
Clif.
By my Hollidam, we accept your offer;
Lay by your armes; still after frayes come feasts,
To which we Souldiers, are the welcom'st guests;
Vnbrace our drums, instead of warr's Allarmes,
Exeunt Omnes. nisi Crosse, Bal.
Wee'le meete, like constant lovers, arme in armes.
Bal.
See, Joshua is enter'd, one cup of briske Orleance Makes
him i'th temper he was when he leap'd into Leene.
Cros.
Will he be drunke?
Bal.
Most swine-like, and then by the vertue of his good liquor
hee's able to convert any Brownisticall sister.
Cros.
An excellent quality!
Bal.
Nay, in that moode, you shall have him, instead of presenting
Piramus, and Thisbe, personate Cato Censorious, and his
three sons, onely in one thing he's out, one of Cato's sons hang'd
himselfe, and that he refer's to a dumbe show;
Cros.
Me thinks he should hang himselfe for the jest sake.
Bal.
As he did his Cat for killing a Mouse on Sunday, see!
he has top'd the cannikin already; now will he sing treason
familiarly, being sober, aske him why he did it? in sincerity, it
was not he, it was his drinke.
Enter Joshua, reeling with Jacks.
Ios.
As it is in the painted cloath, in sincerity; good liquor
quickens the spirit.
And at a cup of good Ale mourne.
I'le tell how Townes without fire we did burne,
and is not that a wonder?
Bal.
That's more then the painted cloath!
Ios.
Enter'd the breach, and scal'd the wall,
And made the formost battery of all,
and is not that a wonder?
Admirable!
Ios.
And tooke it too in warr-like sort
I'le sweare that a ly is a true report,
and is not that a wonder?
Cros.
Ther's wonder in that, Jo!
[Ios.]
And cloath, and vit'les every day,
And never a Captaine ran away,
and is not that a wonder?
Bal.
Nay, and but sixe daies to'th weeke.
Ios.
Is there any man here desires to edyfie? I am in the humour
of converting; I was converted in my drinke, and so
are most of my bretheren; I'le stand while I am able, and then
will goe sleepe on it.
Bal.
Hee's gone both waies; see the French Lords, & our's enter.
Musique, Enter. Lord Grey, Clifton, Arguile, attendants Monlucke, Mortigue, Doysells, all embrace.
Mon.
On honorable tearmes we now embrace.
Gr.
If what we articl'd be full perform'd
Clif.
They are my Lord in each particular,
And the French ready to depart the Towne,
By my Hollidam, they have feasted us.
Not like to foes but friends, 'tis my wonder,
That a beseiged Towne could yeild such Cates,
In such extremities, and exigents,
Full forty severall messes, yet not one,
Eyther of fish or flesh, onely one dish,
Which was the daintiest, (a powder'd horse)
That, I tooke notice off.
Gr.
Large stomacks, and empty sallet dishes
Are the French-mans viandes; his banquetings,
Cloyes not the stomacke, but gives satiety,
A fresh appetite; that makes the body
Full dishes are like potions unto them,
I know not whether nicety or want;
Clif.
By my Hollidam; want, want,
Give me the English chine, and that feedes men,
And they that feede well, certainly will fight
Vnlesse some Woolfe, or maw-Worme be internate;
Arg.
I relish your opinion.
Gr.
Lords of France you may depart at pleasure.
F. Lo.
Prosperity, and peace ever t'wixt France, and England.
E. Lo.
Amen saith England; when France forgets her pride England will honour her,
Gr.
Come my coemates in warre,
Our Souldiers instantly shall march for Barwicke,
The Duke of Norfolke, waites their arrivall.
Sir Francis Leake shall give them safe conduct,
You, Arguile, Clifton, and my selfe
With expedition are for Nottingham,
To meete our peerlesse princesse Elizabeth
Who in her progresse there will lay her Court.
Arguile shall there receive the hostages
Due to the federary Lords of Scotland,
Wee'le turne warr's clangors into musik's sweete,
And like new vested pares in wed-locke meete
Exeunt Omnes.
Enter. Miles, and Ball.
Bal.
What if it were a Puppet-play?
Mi.
Absurd! absurd! thei'le be out in turning up the white of
the eies, besides, ther's none of us can speake i'th nose.
Bal.
Yes, Joshua;
Mi.
Most abhominable! wood'st thou have a Puritan speake
to a Play; a Puppet Play! thou ought'st to be burn'd for thy
hereticall conceit, why thou poison'd sowter, wood'st thou have
a Puritan speake to a Play? still give me the hobby-Horse.
Bal.
But who shall play the hobby-Horse, Master Major?
Mi.
I hope, I looke, as like a hobby-Horse as Master Major
I have not liv'd to these yeares, but a man woo'd thinke I should
as ever a Major on'em all;
Bal.
Not so, cholericke Miles.
Mi.
Let the Major play the hobby-Horse among his bretheren,
and he will; I hope our Towne Ladds cannot want a
hobby-Horse, have I practic'd my Reines my Carree'res, my
Pranckers, my Ambles, my false Trotts, my smooth Ambles, and
Canterbury Paces, and shall Master Major put me besides the hobby-Horse?
Bal.
Thou wilt not understand me Miles!
Mi.
I am an asse if I doe not; have I borrow'd the sore Horsebells
his Plumes, and braveries, nay had his mane new shorne,
and frizl'd, and shall the Major put me besides the hobby-Horse?
let him hobby-Horse at home and he will!
Bal.
Thou art impatient.
Mi.
Woo'd it not make a man impatient; am I not going to
buy ribbons, and toyes of sweet Vrsula for the Marian, and shall
not I play the hobby-Horse?
Bal.
Why then, let the Major speake the Oration;
Mi.
Disgracefull, am not. I able to make a narration to the
Prince, I have plai'd a Major in my time, with as good dacity as
e're a hobby-Horse on'em all; and the Major will prompt me,
let him, he shall finde, i'le stand out like a man of Coventry.
Bal.
What shall Joshua doe?
Mi.
Not know of it by any meanes, hee'l keepe more stir
with the hobby-Horse, then he did with the Pipers at Tedbury
Bull-running; provide thou for the Dragon, and leave me for a
hobby-Horse.
Ball.
Feare not, i'le be a fiery Dragon,
Enter Vrsula.
Mil.
And I a thund'ring St. George as ever rode on horse-backe,
but see younders sweete Vrsula, more white then soote,
and blacker then white Snow.
Vrs.
Younder's my Antagonist; a haunts me like a ghost,
conceits 'tis love sir reverence,
why Vrsula, Neece Vrsula?
Within.
Vrs.
That's my uncle's call, if I stay a litle, he'le fetch me
in, which if he does, I may perchance harpe upon a conceit
to beate this parboil'd gentlemans love out of my mealy
Millers coate.
Sings.
Miles.
You dainty Dames so finely dek'd
In beauties to behold,
And you that trip it up, and downe
Like Lambes in Cupid's fould,
Not farre from Nottingham of late,
In Clifton, as I heare
There dwelt a faire, and comely dame,
For beauty without peere.
Vrs.
How now Master Miles, singing!
Mi.
I Mistris Vrsula, a very mery lamentable dolefull new
Ditty of young Bateman, and his Nan; that ever poore young
gentleman should die like a bird on a Tree, for the love to a
woman—for here it is in the third staff.
Of't times you may perceive,
The fairest face, the falsest heart,
And soonest will deceive.
Mistris Vrsula I give you this as a caution to remember Bateman,
and his sweet, your cozen, looke on me, and veiw your selfe
were it not pitty I should hang my selfe for love, and that you
should die none knowes how?
Why Vrsula, Neece Vrsula.
Within.
Vrs.
Alas! what shall we doe? if my uncle comes, hee'le take
thee for a Ghost, his braine is so fraught with distempers, and
then falls he raging madd,
Mi.
Will he not strike?
Why Vrsula, Neece Vrsula;
Within.
Vrs.
Sometimes hee will, so after your fit is over, I'le
Enter Boote i'ns shirt.
Bo.
Passion on passion! am I growne old, and odious in your
eies? what no attendance Mistris!
Vrs.
Oh Lo-oooord sir;
Bo.
What ailes thee woman, what's the matter? ha! why
doo'st thou quake, shake, tremble, and shiver ha!
Vrs.
Oh, there, there, there!
Bo.
Bee'st thou the devill, I will talke with thee;
Mi.
Ha, ha, no foole to th'old one, he takes me for a Ghost;
Bo.
Art thou of aire, of earth, heaven or hell,
Or art thou of some Incubusses breede?
Is there more walking Batemans? answer me,
Or I will beate thy carcas into a forme
That is full substantiall, and has feeling,
Seeing, hearing, smelling, and sweete-tasting, Ghost, I'le thunder thee;
Mi.
Oh, ho, Master, Boote, Master Boote.
Bo.
I; can the devill feele or, is he sensible of beating?
What art thou! hast thou feeling?
Mi.
I, and hearing, and seeing too; and you'l let me alone
i'le tell you what I am;
Bo.
Ghost, i'le confine thee;
Mi.
'Las sir! I'me no Ghost, I am plaine honest Miles the
Miller of Ruddington; a gentleman and a Souldier,
Bo.
And Miles the Miller of Ruddington gentleman, and
Souldier what make you here?
Mi.
Alas sir to borrow a few ribbandes, bracelets, eare-rings
wyertyers, and silke girdles, and hand-kerchers for a Morice,
and a show before the Queene.
Bo.
Miles you came to Heale my Neece.
Mi.
Oh Lord sir; I came to furnish the hobby-horse.
Bo.
Get into your hobby-horse, gallop, and be gon then, or
i'le Morisdance you—mistris waite you on me.
Exit.
Urs.
Farewell good hobby-horse—weehee—
Exit.
Mil.
'Tis but a jades tricke Mistris Vrsula, but patience
forrage on like the hobby-Horse.
Exeunt Omnes.
Enter Major Aldermen attendants, Queene, and Lords attendants.
Qu.
Master Major!
We thanke you for your entertainment,
And for your princely present, a cup of gold!
In gratefullnes we backe returne the keyes
With all the embleames of your government;
We in our progresse, are a sojourner,
Not an inhabitant, we will be so with you;
A welcome fuller of bounty, vertue, love,
We have not seene; therefore to gratulate
As a small token of our princely love,
On, to your former motion made for Trent.
You'd have it navigable to Gainsborough
So to Boston, Kingston, Humber, and Hull;
But, what are the causes?
Ma.
By St. Lucy Besse, I am a plaine honest Tanner, my brothers
here, one a Shoo-maker, to'ther a Felmonger, we are all
downe right toth'hide; I ha' noe Lawyers eloquence, our
Recorder cannot whistle, but by the bones of sweete St. Lucy
welcome, on welcome.
Qu.
I have tasted your welcome, and would faine
Grant your designe, soe you give reason.
Ma.
By St. Lucy, and shall, elce i'm an asse, and my bretheren
Dotterells; Give reason, brother Sheeps-kin, second me for I must
speake Historiography, History I should say, but these hard
words cloy my stomacke, like lumpes of Bacon.
Qu.
Ya'r a merry man Master Major.
Ma.
I were a Traitour elce, I woo'd not be merry with thee,
Besse still welcome, and welcome;
Qu.
On, to your Charter.
Ma.
Thus it was,
Edward the first from whom we beare our armes,
Three Crownes displaied in an Azure feilde,
Small barks it bore, but not of that full weight,
That were transportable for our affaires,
In the two Edwards, the second, and third,
Vnto the second Richard it continu'd
Till Bulling-brooke began! then Harry the fift,
And Pearcy fell at odds; in which division,
Dividing of the Land; Glendower began
To stop the water-courses of flowing Trent,
By that meanes our navigable course was stop'd,
And where before we usually transported
With things un-numerous from Hull to us!
And in returne releiv'd the neighbour coaste,
With fuell, and commodities of great use.
As Wooll, Lead, Corne, fruits, and Iron;
We now have neyther; but with double cost,
This is the cause why we entreate your Grace
To signe our pattent, an by St Lucy, Besse;
Wee'le pray for thee, and that's thy full reward.
Qu.
You shall enjoy your wishes;
Enter. Grey, Clifton, Arguile.
Omnes:
Long live Elizabeth;
Qu.
We thanke you;
Welcome renowned Iohn of Wilton,
And you the war like Heroes of his traine,
VVar-like Clifton; fame has ben before thee,
And with her shrill Trumpe sent your praises home,
E're your arrivall; rise noble John of Wilton;
The onely champion of Elizabeth.
Gr.
Peace, and prosperity guard your sacred throne,
And make your foes submissive like the French;
Leith is surrenderd, the French quite expuls'd;
The Scotch inhabiting their native bounds,
Whom we have found most loyall to your Grace,
And therefore they require their hostages
Due to the federary Scottish Lords.
And they shall have them; welcome bold Arguile,
Thanke thou the god of batles, that hast given
Prosperity to our first enterprise,
Being the first Batle that we ever wag'd,
Link'd victory unto a virgin's arme,
For which we render thee all attributes,
Guarded by thee, and these our loving subjects,
We feare noe Spanish force, nor French-mens braves,
Let Austria bragge; and Rome, and Italy
Send out their poyson'd Darts; dreadlesse we stand
Protected by thy never failing power,
Lord Grey, returne you governour of Barwicke,
The Duke of Norfolke, for some speciall causes
VVe must recall; Arguile shall have his pleadges,
VVe but reserv'd them to preserve our selves,
Clifton; be thou our deputy Leivetenant,
And Lord warden of Nottingham Castle,
Our selfe wilbe Leivetenant of the County.
For Howard, Pellham, Leake, and all the rest
That in this victory shar'd with dangers,
They shall participate our princely loves.
Omnes:
Heavens blesse your Majesty.
Qu.
I know not how to dignifie your deedes
Without a large premeditation;
Grey, and Clifton, Clifton, and war-like Grey
Fought for our father, brother, and sister
At Dennis, Roan, Bullen, and at Callice
The bloudy sweat that Muslborough bredd
At Edenborough, and now againe at Leith,
In all which we fortunately conquer'd,
Thankes unto heaven, next your valiant hands.
Clif.
Your Majesty begets a spring of youth
In me an old decayed Tree of age,
VVorne with as many snowy winters stormes,
As makes the brauny Oake grow sap-les,
Leaveles witherd, times period is ruine,
Yet by my life, my heart retaines 'its vigour.
To you the Soveraigne mistris of our hearts.
Qu.
Master Maior, and noble Iohn of Wilton,
And war-like Clifton with all your men of warre
VVe this night doe invite you, for our gueasts,
To sup with us; to morrow wee'le survey
The underminings, and unpaced greife
That Mortimer, and Isabell did devise
To steale their sportive daliancies in,
Of whom your stately fortresse does retaine
The Labyrinth (now called Mortimers hole)
Heaven for our victory we first will pay,
And praise our subjects that redeem'd the day,
Proud France, and poysoning Spaine, if heave'n us blesse
A virgin's arme shall quell your mightines.
Omnes:
Long life attend your Majesty.
Exeunt Omnes.
| The Vow Breaker. Or, The Faire Maide of Clifton | |