 | Dick of Devonshire |  |
Sce: 2.
Ent: Pike in shackles, nightcap, playsters on his face, A Iaylor.P:
The fleete is gone, & I have now no hope of liberty,
yet I am well refreshd in ye care hath bene taken for my cure;
but was ever English horse thus Spanish bitted & bossd?
Iay:
Sir, ye care of yor keeper by whom this ease hath bene procured
requires remuneration.
P:
here's for you my frend.
Iay:
I assure you ye best Surgeons this part of Spaine affoords,
through my care taken of you, & you may thanke me.
P:
What an arrogant rascall's this? sir I thought my thankes herein
had chiefly appertaind to ye humanity of ye Governour;
& yt yor especiall care had bene in providing these necessary shackles,
to keepe me from running into further danger: these I tooke to be
the strong bonds of yor frendship.
Iay:
Sir, I hope they fitt you as well as if they had bene made for you;
& I am so much yor servant yt I doe wish 'em stronger for yor sake.
P:
Tis overwell as it is sir.
Iay:
you are most curteous.
Exit.
P:
A precious rogue; if ye Iaylors be so pregnant, what is ye hangman
troe? by yt time my misery hath brought me to climbe to his
acquaintance I shall find a frend to ye last gaspe.
Ent: Catelyna & Iaylor.
what's here? a Lady? are ye weomen so cruell here
to insult ore Captive wretches?
Cat:
Is this ye English prisoner?
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Yes madam.
Cat:
trust me a goodly person.
Pi:
She eyes me wistly; sure she comes not to in struct her selfe
in ye Art of painting by these patternes of my face?
Cat:
Sir, shall I speake wt h you?
P:
Yes Lady, so you will not mocke me.
Cat:
Indeed I cannot, but must needs acknowledge my selfe beholding to you.
P:
This I must beare, I will doe soe, & call't my sweet affliction.
Cat:
Will you heare me sir? I am ye Lady—
P:
Yes, I doe heare you say you are ye Lady; but let me tell you madam
yt Ladyes, though they should have tenderest sence of honor, & all
vertuous goodnesse, & so resemble Goddesses, as well in soule as feature;
doe often prove dissemblers, & in their seemely breasts beare cruelty
& mischiefe: If you be one of those, oh be converted;
returne from whence you came & know tis irreligious,
nay divelish, to tread & triumph over misery.
Cat:
How well he speakes! yet in ye sence bewraying
a sence distracted; sure his Captivity
his wounds & hard entreaty make him franticke?
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enough to win beleeife; I am ye Lady
of ye knight vanquished by you, Don Iohn;
P:
y'have said enough indeed; pitty of heaven,
what new invented cruelty is this?
was't not enough yt by his ruthlesse basenes
I had these wounds inflicted, but I must
be torturd wt h his Wifes vniust reioycings?
Twas well his politicke feare wc h durst not come
to glory in his handy worke him selfe
could send yor priviledg'd Ladyship.
Cat:
Indeed you much mistake me; as I live,
as I hope mercy, & for after life,
I come for nothing but to offer thankes
vnto yor goodnes, by whose manly temper
my lord & husband reassum'd his life;
and aske yor Christian pardon for ye wrong
wc h by yor suffering now pleads him guilty.
Good sir, let no mistrust of my iust purpose
crosse yor affection; did you know my love
to honor & to honest Actions,
you would not then reiect my gratulations;
And since that Deeds doe best declare or meaning,
I pray accept of this; this money, & these clothes; & my request
vnto yor keeper for best meates & wines,
that are agreable to yor health & taste:
And honest frend, thou knowst & darest, I hope,
beleive me, I will see thee payd for all.
Iay:
yes my good Lady.—loe you sir, you see
still how my care provides yor good; you may
suppose ye Governours humanity
takes care for you in this too.
Pi:
Excellent Lady, I doe now beleive
Ent: Don Iohn.
vertue & weomen are growne frends againe;
Io:
What magicall Illusion's this? tis she,
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are you a prison Visiter for this,
to cherish my dishonor for yor merit?
Cat:
My lord I hope my Charity workes for yor honor,
releiving him whose mercy spard yor life.
Io:
But that I'me subiect to ye law, & know
my blowes are mortall, I would strike thee dead.
Ignoble & degenerate from Spanish bloud,
darst thou maintaine this to be charity?
Thy strumpett itch, & treason to my bed
thou seek'st to act in cherishing this Villaine.
Cat:
Saints be my witnesses you doe me wrong.
Io:
thou robb'st my honor.
P:
you wound her honor & you robb yor selfe,
& me, & all good Christians by this outrage.
Io:
Doe you prate sir?
Pi:
sir I may speake, my toungue's vnshackled yet,
& were my hands & feete so, on free ground,
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against an Hoast of such ignoble Husbands.
Io:
You are condemnd allready by ye Law
I make no doubt, & therefore speake yor pleasure,
& here come those fore whom my rage is silent.
Ent: ferdinando, Teniente, Guard.
fer:
Deliver vp ye prisoner to ye Teniente;
I need not sir instruct you in yor place,
to beare him wt h a guard, as is appointed,
vnto ye publicke tryall held at Sherrys.
Ten:
It shalbe done.
fer:
how long hath he bene yor prisoner?
Iay:
.18. dayes.
Fer:
you, & ye Surgeons out of ye kings pay
Ile see dischargd; you have, according to the Order,
conveyd already Bustamente thither
to yeild account for yeilding vp ye Castle?
Ten:
Tis done my Lord.
fer:
Don Iohn, you likewise, in his Maiesties name
stand chargd to make yor personall appearance
to give in Evidence against this prisoner.
Io:
I shall be ready there my Lord.
Pi:
To Sherrys? they say ye best sacke's there,
I meane to take one draught of dying comfort.
Cat:
I hope you'le not deny my Company to waite on you to Sherris?
Io:
no; you shall goe to see yor frend there totter.
P:
I have a suite my Lord, to see an Englishman,
a merchant, prisoner here, before I goe.
fer:
call him; that done, you know yor charge.
Exit Iaylor.
Ten:
And shall performe it.
Ex: Fern: Iohn: Catelina.
P:
Oh, Mr. Woodrow, I must now take leave
Ent: Iaylor & Woodrow.
of prison fellowship wt h you; yor fortunes
may call you into England, after payment
of some few money debts; but I am calld
vnto a further tryall; my debt is life,
wc h if they take not by extortion,
I meane by Tortures, I shall gladly pay it.
Wo:
I have heard, & thought you, by what I had heard,
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depending on heavens mercy.
P:
you doe instruct me well; but, worthy Countryman,
once more let me give you this to remember,
& tis my last request; that when yor better stars
shall guide you into England, youle be pleasd
to take my Country, Devonshire, in yor way;
where you may find in Tavestoke (whom I left)
my wife & Children wretched in my misfortunes;
Com̄end me to them, tell them, & my frends,
that if I be, as I suspect I shalbe,
at Sherris putt to death, I dyed a Christian soldier,
no way I hope, offending my iust king,
nor my religion; but ye Spanish lawes.
Exeunt.
| Dick of Devonshire | |