 | Dick of Devonshire |  |
Act: 2.
Sc: 1.
Alarum. as ye soft musicke begins, a peale of ordnance goes off; then Cornetts sounda Battaile, wc h ended; Ent: Captaine, Master of a ship, Dick Pike, wt h musketts.
Cap:
fought bravely Countrymen, honor all this while
sate in a Throne of smoake wt h sparckling eyes
looking vpon yor courages, & admiring
yor resolutions, & now rewards yor sweat
wt h victory; the Castle groanes at heart,
her strongest ribbs are bruizd wt h battering Cannons,
& she hath tane into her bowells fire enough to melt her.
Ma:
my Lord came bravely vp to her, & shewd a spirit
that com̄ands danger; his honorable example
gave vs new hearts.
Sol:
faith give ye Spanyards their due, they entertaind vs
handsomely wt h hott meat; 'twas no cold welcome.
21
but I would not willingly swallow their plums
they would rise shrewdly in a mans stomake.
Capt:
At ye first shott, when ye Convertine came in, 3. men were killd.
Ma:
At ye second .4. was't not?
Cap:
At ye Third two more;
one salutation came so close that wt h ye very wind
my hands have almost lost ye sence of feeling.
Iewell, thou mad'st thy musket spitt fire bravely.
Mast:
And my Devonshire blade, honest Dicke Pike,
spard not his Sugar pellets among my Spanyards.
Cap:
He did like a soldier; as he that chargd his muskett told me,
in this service he hath dischargd .70. bullets.
Pike:
I did my part sir, & wish'd I had bene able to have layd 'em on thicker:
but I have lynd somebodyes gutts, much good doe 'em wt h it;
some of them have wishd well to mee.
Cap:
Art hurt?
Mast:
where?
Pi:
no where; one of my flanckes itches
a litle; if a piece of lead have crept in to hide it selfe cowardly,
I am not much in debt for't.
Cap:
let my Surgeons search it.
P:
Search a pudding for plums; let my flesh alone, perhaps it wants
souldering; shall we to't agen; I have halfe a score pills yet
for my Spanyards—better then purging Comfitts.
Ent: a Soldie[OMITTED]
Cap:
what newes?
Sol:
ye fort is yeilded.
Pike.
They have bene speechles
a good while, I thought they'de yeild vp ye Ghost shortly.
22
But on Condition to march away wt h flying colours,
wc h was granted.
Cap:
what's become of ye Captaine of ye fort?
Sol:
Don francisco Bustament is carryed aboord or Generalls ship
where he had a soldier like welcome; but he & all his Company
are put over to Port Reall, vpon ye maine land, because they
should not succor ye Citty.
Cap:
unles he will swim to th'Iland;
& how fares ye Convertine?
Sol:
Her shroudes are torne
to pieces, & her Tacklings to raggs.
Cap:
No matter, she carryes the more honor.
Sol:
5[00] hundred Bulletts sticke in her sides.
Pike. [Cap:]
Tis well they scapd her heart; lying all ye fight litle more
then pistoll shott from 'em; her Starboord still to ye fort, & at
ye least .200. Musketts playing vpon her. I wishd heartily
some of or London roaring Boyes had bene in ye heate of't.
Sol:
wouldst have 'em twice burnt?
Pi:
they should have found a difference
betwixt ye smoake of Tobacco & of a muskett; another manner of noyse,
then Dam me, & refuse me, wc h they vomitt dayly:
It might have done some of 'em good, for by that meanes
they might have prayd heartily once in their lives.
Cap:
The White hall men did good service.
Mast:
Who? ye Collyers?
Sol: 1.
4000, Bullets, their ordnance & ye Hollanders
dischargd vpon ye Castle.
Capt:
Twas well done of all sides, Bullyes;
but since or forces are landed, let it be yor care
to looke well to ye ships; & honest Dick of Devonshire
be not too carelesse of yor hurts; he meanes to fight againe
that provides for his recovery soonest; hold thee, here is something
to pay ye Surgeon [wt h] & to wash ye wound wt hall.
Pi:
My noble Captaine, I'le have care of my owne & drinke yor health
wt h it.
Mast:
thou deservest more then com̄on encouragement
prithee remember mee too.
Exeunt Capt: & Mast:
P:
Why now am I sorry I have no more hurt gentlemen;
but I tooke it as earnest to receive more, if occasion bee.
I have but a Barrell to bestow among my Dons,
while that [can] lasts let 'em come & welcome; the drinke shalbe
23
they shall want no Balls to wash their faces; if any doe light
in ye i r bodies they may chance be scourd all over.
Sol: 2.
we may hap to be in ye sudds our selves.
Pi:
There will be charges savd then; for my part, I am but one,
& there will be shotts enough.
Sol: 2.
more by a score, then I hope wilbe payd these two dayes.
Pi:
Talke not of paying, here's more then a Month comes to;
well, if or service be done, & there be any other liquor to be gott,
we'le drinke no salt water as long as this lasts.
Sol: 2.
Come, let's have a dish to our Countrymen, & let's remember
Tavestoke.
Pi:
Godamercy for that, boy; a match, a match.
Exeunt.
Sce: 2.
Ent: Henrico Gusman, his sword drawne, & Eleonora.Hen:
Yet ye Citty is safe enough; feare not Eleonora;
24
should yeild her strength vp to th'invader, thou
art lockd vp like a spirit in a Christall;
not an enchanted Castle, held vp by
strong charme, is halfe so safe; this house, though now
it carry not ye figure & faire shape
wc h ye first workeman gave it, eating Time
having devourd ye face of't, is wt hin
a Sanctuary, & hath so much cunning
couchd in ye body not a Laborinth
is so full of Meanders.
Eleo:
Sir, yor prsence
confirmes me in opinion of my safety;
not of my life so much; for that's a thing
I owe to nature, & should one day be
a weary of it; like to Innes we take
our houses vp, having but here a place
of lodging, not of dwelling. But of honor
you give me my assurance, for in such
a time of thicke Confusions I much feard
that might be hazarded: And who knowes what
the soldier, that hath no lawe but that
of cruelty & rapine, when like a Bird
of prey, his Tallents are possessd of one
so weake as I am?
Hen:
He yt durst offend
thee wt h a sillable, or but fright that bloud
out of thy Cheekes to seeke another place
not daring to be seene there where it now
is of it selfe sufficient to ravish
a mortall yt wt h iust eyes can looke on it,
had better be a Divell. But a haire
ye poorest part of thee, & in this excellent
because tis thine, should any dare to ravish
from these his soft Companions, wc h ye wind
would be for[e] ever proud to play wt hall,
h'had better dig his mothers Coffin vp
25
El:
I know you will defend me.
Hen:
will defend thee?
have I a life, a soule yt in thy service
I would not wish expird? I doe but borrow
my selfe from thee.
El:
rather you putt to Interest,
& for that principall you have credited
to Eleonora, her heart is paid backe
as ye iust Vsury.
Hen:
you vndoe me sweet
wt h too much love, if ere I marry thee
I feare thou'lt kill mee.
El:
How?
Hen:
wt h tendring me too much, my Eleonora,
for in my Conscience thou'lt extreamely love me,
& extreames often kill.
El:
There can be no extreame of love sir.
H:
yes but there may; & some say Iealousy
runs from yt Sea, a rivolet but deducted
from ye mayne Channell.
El:
This is a new language.
H:
Have you not heard men have bene killd wt h Ioy?
our greife doth but contract ye heart, & gladnesse
26
Is hott i'th'fourth Degree.
El:
Sir, yor discourse
is stuffe of severall pieces, & knitts not
wt h yt you vsd but now; if we can practize
a vertuous love, there's no hurt to exceed in't:
what doe you, sir?
Hen:
looke on thee.
El:
Why doe you eye me soe? this is not vsuall,
are you well?
Hen:
well, never better.
El:
pray heaven it bode me no vnhappinesse!
how doth my father?
Hen:
He's very well too, feare not.
El:
Still I read in yor Eyes.
Hen:
what, Babyes? prety one;
thy owne face, naught else, I receivd yt way
all this beauty into my heart, & 'tis perhaps come backe to looke
out at ye window. Come, Ile winke againe,
it shall not trouble you; hence my trayterous thoughts.
El:
Indeed you are not well.
Hen:
Indeed I am not, all's not well wt hin me:
why should I be a Villaine? Eleonora,
doe not looke on me, turne those eyes away
they would betray thee to thy sorrow; or
lett me by parting carry along wt h me
that wc h to know vndoes thee.
El:
Are you not hurt?
Hen:
yes.
El:
good heaven defend, I have a soveraigne Balme.
Exit.
Hen:
Vanish you vgly shapes, & wt h her prsence
quitt yor sharpe stings; into what monstrous creature
feele I my selfe a growing? yet I cannot
force backe ye streame, it comes so fast vpon me,
Ent: Eleonora.
I cannot.
El:
here good Henrico, let me see yor wound.
H:
no, I am well againe, thankes my best love;
come, let vs walke & talke; I had a fancy,
but tis no matter;—Buzzano?
Buz:
Did you call?
Enter Buz:
H:
yes, ye Balme, here.
Buz:
what shall I doe wt h it?
H:
lay it vp safe, tis good for a greene wound,
but mine's a blacke one: & d'you heare, sirra,
draw vp ye Bridge, give entrance vnto none.
27
All my fellowes are abroad sir, there's nobody at home but I.
H:
no matter, let none enter; were my father
brought wt h a whirlwind backe, he finds all shutt
till I have done.
Buz:
well sir; madam, all this is
yt you should not b'afraid; you now see what a kind man he is,
he will suffer none to enter but him selfe.
Exit.
El:
If all this proceed out of yor care of me, how much am I
bound to acknowledge you? sir, me thinkes you mind me not.
Hen:
yes, I doe nothing else but thinke of thee, & of my father too, Don Pedro.
El:
Ha? I hope he's well?
Hen:
I wish he were returnd
my Eleonor for both our sakes.
El:
The same wish I sir.
Hen:
That then or Ioys, wc h now, like flowers nipp'd
wt h frost, hang[s] downe ye head as if the stalkes
could not sustaine ye topps: they droope too much;
At his returne th'art mine.
El:
I am yours now
In holyest Contract.
Hen:
that's ye ground we build on:
faith, since allready the foundation's layd
let's work vpon't; y'are mine, you say, allready,
28
but ye possession; let's not then expect
th'vncertainety of a returne from france
but be all one ymediately.
El:
I vnderstand you not.
Hen:
Since y'are a Tree reservd for me, what now
should hinder me from climbing; all yor Apples
I know are ripe allready; tis not stealth
I shall rob nobody.
El:
you'le not be a Divell?
H:
No, I will but play ye man wt h you; why you know tis nothing.
El:
will you enforce mine honor? oh, Henrico,
where have you lost your goodnesse? sure you cannot
be so ignoble, if you thinke me worthy
to be your wife at least, to turne Eleonora into a whore?
H:
pish, some hungry Landlords would have rent before
ye Quarter day, I doe no more; by faire meanes
yeild vp yor fort, the Tenement is mine owne
& I must dwell in't.
El:
my feares pointed wrong,
you are no Enemy, no wolfe, it was
a Villaine I distrusted, oh make me not
find in your prsence yt destruction
my thoughts were so affrighted wt h.
Hen:
We shall have such adoe now?
El:
your fathers house will prove no Castle to mee,
if you at home doe wound mee; Twas an Angell
spoke in you lately, Not my Cheeke should bee
made pale wt h feare; lay not a lasting blush
[vp]on my white name; No haire should perish here,
was voycd even now; oh let not a blacke Deed,
& by my sworne prserver, be my death;
my ever living death: Henrico, call
to mind yor holy vowes; thinke on or parents;
our selves, our honest names; doe not kill all
wt h such a murthering piece: you are not long
t'expect, wt h ye consent of men & Angells,
that, wc h to take now from me, will be losse;
29
for a poore minutes sin.
H:
If't be a worke, madam, of so short time
pray let me beg a minutes privacy;
twill be soone done.
El:
yes, but ye horror of
so foule a Deed shall never: there's layd vp
eternity of wrath in Hell for lust;
oh, tis ye devills exercise; Henrico,
you are a man, a man whom I have layd vp
nearest my heart; In you 'twill be a sin
to threaten heaven, & dare yt Iustice throw
downe Thunder at you: Come, I know you doe
but try my vertue, whether I be proofe
against anothers Battery: for these teares—
H:
nay then I see you needs will try my strength,
my bloud's on fire, I boyle wt h expectation
to meete ye pleasure, & I will.
He forces her in
El:
Helpe, helpe.
30
Helpe? what Nightingale was that? did one cry out for helpe?
there's no Christian soule in ye house but they Two, & my selfe;
And twas not mine I know by ye smallnes of ye voice.
Twas some woman cryde out, & therefore can be none but my yong
Lady; it was she as sure as I am hungry, he's wt h her;
but why, having one man, did she cry out for more?
oh, or Spanish Ovens are not heated wt h one Bavyn:
well, I must say nothing, my yong Cocke has bene treading,
Ile tread softly & [heare] [see] if I can heare what they doe; but see.
Ent: Henrico & Eleonora, loose haired, & weeping.
Hen:
What doe you looke after?
Buz:
Why sir I looke after a voyce yt appeard
to me even now, crying helpe; a very small one.
H:
If what thou seest or heard'st be ever mutterd by thee,
though in thy sleepe, villaine Ile pistoll thee.
B:
Hum, it will not be safe to dreame of a knave shortly,
are you so good at a gun? If you vse this too often
yor birding piece will scarce carry a yard levell.
H:
Come, dresse yor hayre vp, & be wise at last,
no more, I have done.
B:
So I thinke in my Conscience, he hath done wt h her.
H:
If you can be so simple to proclaime it, I can be impudent.
El:
yet dar'st thou live? & doe I live to see
my selfe ye shame of weomen? have I not
wept teares enough to drowne me? then let fire
enthrone it selfe wt hin me & beget
prodigious Cometts, yt wt h flaming haires
may threaten danger to thee.
Hen:
nay, nay, nay,
if you be so hott Ile leave you, like wine that's burnt
you must be sett light by, & then you'le come to a temper.
Exit.
El:
Oh helpe me out of hell.
Buz:
Sh'has bene at Barly breake;
madam, I must say nothing; there is a Pistoll & so forth;
but if you have occasion to vse me, try mee; if I doe not
prove an honester man to you then my Master, would my
Codpiece point were broake; I know what I know, & yet Ile
tell no Tales;—but [if] ever I come to speake once—I say nothing.
31
Oh yt I could not breath! how can I have
a Ioy in life whose honour's in ye grave?
Exeunt.
Sce: 3.
Ent: Pike, wt h his sword in his hand, a Cloake on his Arme.P:
The freshnes of this Ayre does well after ye saltnes of ye Sea;
a pleasant Country too to looke vpon, & would serve well to live vpon
if a man had it, & knew how to place it out of this hott Clymate.
I would I had a matter, or a Mannor indeed, of a .1000. Acres
of these wood lands, & roome to sett it in Devonshire; I would
compare wt h any Prince betweene Tavestoke & Paradice for
an Orchard: But I could wish I were not alone here
in this Conceit dreaming of golden Apples, least they prove
bitter fruite: whether are our land soldiers straggeld troe?
I would faine sett eye on some of them; Ile venture a litle further
Devonshire Dicke was never afraid yet,
Ent: Three Soldiers.
how now, my hearts, vpon a retreat so soone?
32
I, to ye shipps, we have or loades here of ye best merchandise
we can find in this Quarter.
.2.
will you taste a Lymon,? excellent
good to coole you.
Pi:
they are goodly ones, where gott you them?
3.
A litle above here, in an Orchard, where we left some of our Company.
Pi:
but may one goe safe, wt hout danger?
.1.
As safely as ever you gatherd nutts in England, ye Spaniards are all fled
.2.
Not soe much as the leg of a Spanyard left
to squayle at their owne Appletrees.
Exeunt soldiers.
Pi:
Ile have a pull at these pom Citrons for my noble Captaine;
& if I had a Porters basket full of 'em I would count them no burthen
in requitall of some part of ye love he hath shewen me.
Exit.
Sce: 4a.
Ent: .3. other soldiers.1.
They cannot be far before vs I am sure.
2.
But for ye Hedge, we might descry them wt hin Two muskett shott.
3.
pray god ye Enemy be not wt hin one musket shott of vs; behind ye i s hedges;
for I am sure I saw an Harquebuse whip ore ye way before vs
Ent:
but even now. oh, oh.
Three or 4 shott dischargd, .2. soldiers slaine, ye other falls on his belly.
Pike.
Are you bouncing? Ile no further;
sure these can be no Crow keepers nor bird
scarers from ye fruite? what rascalls were my Countrymen to tell me
there was no danger? alas, what's here? 3. of or Soldiers slaine?
dead, shott through ye very bowells: so, is this quite dead too?
poore wretches, you have payd for yor Capon sauce.
3.
oh, oh.
Pi:
there's some life in yt yet; what cheare? how is't, my heart
of gold? speake man, if thou canst; looke this way; I promise thee
tis an honest man & a true Englishman yt speakes to thee:
thou look'st away as if thou didst not trust me; I prithee speake to
me any thing, Ile take thy word & thanke thee too; Alas I feare
he's past it; he strives, & cannot speake; tis good to shift this ground,
they may be charging more hidden villany while I stand prating
heere; he breathes still, come thou shalt not stay behind for want
of leggs or shoulders to beare thee—If there be surgery in or ships
33
& a Christian, in honest Dicke of Devonshire; Come along, nay, now
I feare my honesty is betrayd—A horseman proudly mounted
makes towards me, & tis a Don yt thinkes him selfe as brave
as St. Iaques him selfe: what shall I doe? there is no starting,
I must stand th'encounter; lye still a while, & pray if thou canst,
while I doe my best to save my owne & ye litle breath thou hast left.
but I am in yt prvented too, his breath's quite gone allready;
and all ye Christian duty I have now left for thee is to close thy
eyes wt h a short prayer; mayst thou be in heaven, Amen.
now Don Diego, & Don Thunderbolt, or Don Divell I defye thee.
Ent: Don Iohn arm'd. Pike drawes & wrapps his Cloake about his arme.
Io:
oh Viliaco, Diablo, Anglese.
P:
a pox vpon thee Hispaniola;
They fight.
nay if you be no better in ye Reare then in ye Van,
I shall make no doubt to vanquish & vanquash you too; before we part
my doughty Don Diego.
He hath him downe & disarmes him.
Io:
mercy Englishman, oh spare my life, pardonne moye Ie vous pre.
P:
And take yor goods, is that yor meaning Don?
34
I am no pocketeere, no diver into slopps, yet you may please
to empty them yor selfe good Don in recompence of ye sweet life
I give you; you vnderstand me well. This Coyne may passe
in England; what is yor Don ship calld I pray?
Io:
Don Iohn, a knight of Spaine.
P:
A knight of Spayne?
& I [am] a Squire of Tavestoke: well, Don Iohn,
I am a litle in hast, & am vnmannerly constreynd to leave yor
Castillian on foote; while my Devonshire worship shall teach
yor Spanish Iennett an English gallop, a dios signior;
Ent: 12. Muskettiers.
oh what a Tyde of fortunes spight am I now to swim through?
beare vp yet Iovyall heart, & while thou knowest heavens mercy
doe not start. once more let me embrace you signior.
.1.
I say he is an Englishman, lett's shoote him.
2.
I say ye other is a Spanyard & Don Iohn,
& we dare not shoote ye one for feare of killing th'other.
Io:
oh hold, & spare vs both, for we are frends.
.1.
But by your leave we will part yor embraces, so disarme disarme.
Io:
I thanke you Countrymen, I hope you'le trust my honor wt h my armes?
1.
yes take them Signior, but you will yeild ye Englishman or prisoner?
Io:
yes, wt h a Villaines marke.
He woundes him.
1.
A villaines marke indeed, wound a disarmed soldier?
Io:
He triumphd in ye odds he had of me,
& he shall know yt from ye Spanish race
revenge, though nere so bloudy, is not base.
away wt h him a prisoner in to th'Citty.
P:
where you please, although yor Law's more merciles then Seas.
Exeunt.
Sce: 5.
Ent: Don Ferdinando, ye Teniente, wt h Attend.t s; Bustamente brought in wt h a Guard.Fer:
Francisco Bustamente, late Captaine of ye Castle
stand forth, accusd of Treason gainst his Maiesty.
Bust:
It is a language I not vnderstand,
35
vnto my king & Country I am made
Attendant to ye Law, & in this honourd
prsence ye Governour & Teniente
vnder whose Iurisdiction I hold place,
I would not beare nor heare it.
Fer:
I'de be glad
you could as easily acquitt yor selfe
of guilt, as stand vp in yor owne defence;
but Bustamente, when it doth appeare
to law & reason, on wc h Law is grounded,
yor great offence in daring to betray
the Spanish honor vnto Infamy,
In yeilding vp ye fort on such sleight cause;
you can no lesse then yeild yor selfe most guilty.
Bust:
farre be it from yor thought, my honourd Lord,
to wrest ye hazardous fortune of ye warre
into ye bloudyer Censure of ye Law:
Was it my fault yt in ye first assault
or Canoniers were slayne? whereby or strength
36
& or defensive part so much enfeebled
that possibility to subsist was lost,
or by resistance to prserve one life,?
while there was sparke of hope I did maintayne
the fight wt h fiery resolution
& (give me leave to speake it) like a Soldier.
Ten:
To my seeming yor resolution was forwarder
to yeild then to repell; you had else stood longer out.
Bust:
We stood ye losse of most of or best men
& of or muskettiers no lesse then fifty
fell by ye adverse shott, whose bodyes wt h their armes
were cast by my directions downe a Well
because their armes should neyther arme or foes
nor of or losse ye sight give them encouragement.
Fer:
That pollicy pleades no excuse, you yet
had men enough, had they bene soldiers,
fitt for a Leaders Iustification:
And doe not we know yt .6. score at least
of those base Picaro's wt h wc h you stuff'd
ye fort to feed, not fight, vnworthy of
ye name of Spanyards, much lesse of soldiers,
at once ran all away like sheepe together,
having but ore ye walls descryde th'approach
of th'Enemy? some of ye feare-spurrd Villaines
were overtane by slaughter in ye i r flight,
others were taken, & are sure to find
or lawes as sharpe as eyther sword or Bullet:
for yor part Bustamente, for yt you have
done, heretofore, more for yor Countryes love,
you shall not doubt of honorable tryall
wc h in ye Court of warre shalbe determind,
at Sherris, whitherward you instantly
shall wt h a guard be sent; see't done, away.
Bus:
The best of my desire is to obey.
Exit, wt h a guard
37
fer:
whence is yt soldier?
.1.
of England.
Io:
Or of Hell.
.1.
It was or chance to come vnto ye rescue
of this renowned knight Don Iohn,
who was his prisoner as he now is ours,
some few more of his mates we shott & slew
that were (out of their English liquorishnes)
bold to robb orchards of forbidden fruite.
.2.
It was a fine Ambition, they would have thought
themselves as famous as their Countryman
that putt a girdle round about ye world,
could they have said at their returne to England
vnto ye i r Sons, looke Boyes, this fruite your father
wt h his Adventurous hands in Spayne did gather.
Fer:
Tis a goodly fellow.
.1.
Had you not better have gone home wt hout Lymons
to eate Capons wt h yor frends, then to stay here
38
Pi:
I could better fast wt h a noble Enemy then feast wt h unworthy
frends.
Fer:
How came he by these woundes?
P:
Not by noble Enemyes; this on my face
by this proud man, yet not more proud then base;
for when my hands were in a manner bound,
I having given him life, he gave this wound.
Fer:
Twas vnadvisd.
Ten:
The more vnmanly done;
& though, Don Iohn, by law y'are not accusd,
he being a Com̄on Enemy, yet being a man
you in humanity are not excusd.
Io:
It was my fury & thirst of revenge.
Fer:
Reason & manhood had become you better;
your honour's wounded deeper then his flesh,
yet we must quitt yor person, & com̄itt
the Englishman to prison.
Ten:
To prison wt h him, but let best care be taken
for ye best surgeons, that his wounds be look'd to.
P:
Your care is noble, & I yeild best thankes,
& tis but need, I tell yor Seignioryes,
for I have one hurt more then you have seene,
as basely given, & by a baser person.
A Flemming seeing me led a prisoner
cryde, whither doe you lead yt English Dog?
kill, kill him, cryde hee; he's no Christian;
& ran me in ye bodie wt h his Halbert
at least foure inches deepe.
fer:
Poore man, I pitty thee, but to ye prison wt h him.
Ten:
And let him be carefully lookt to.
Exeunt omnes.
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