 | Dick of Devonshire |  |
4
Act 1.
Sce: 1.
Ent: Don Pedro Gusman; Henrico, & Manuell, his sons; Don Fernando & Eleonora, his Daughter; & Teniente.Ped:
Gentlemen, y'have much honourd me to take
[my] such entertainement, but y'are welcome all;
twas my desire to have yor Company
at parting, heaven knowes when we shall meete againe.
Ten:
you are for France then too?
Man.
I wayte on my father.
Ped:
Henrico?
Fer:
Eleonora?
Ten:
But how chance, Manuell, yor yonger brother
is at ye Goale before you? what, no Lady to please yor eye?
Man:
I am not yet weary of my freedome; may Henrico
meete Ioy in his Election; yet I know not
one I would sooner chuse to call a Sister, then Eleonora.
Ped:
At my returne from france all things shall bee
consummate, in meane time let yor owne hearts
knilt wt h ye strongest tye of love; be merry,
in mutuall embraces, & let yor prayers
fill or departing sayles; our stay will not
be long; & ye necessity of my affaires
vnwillingly doth take me from you.
Hen:
Though I could wish yor stay, my duty bidds me
expect ye enioying of my happines
till yor returne from france; yor blessing.
Eleo:
How ever heaven dispose of Eleonora,
pray write me in yor thoughts, yor humblest daughter;
that shall make it a part of her devotions
to pray for you.
Fer:
well sir, since your designe
calls you away, may yor good Angell guard you;
Ten:
The like wish I, don Pedro.
Fer:
Manuell, I hope
you will not long breath out of Spanish Ayre; farewell.
Ped:
my thankes to all.—stay
Peeces Dischargd.
Fer:
The Captaine of ye Castle come to interprete
Ent: Bustamente.
that [new] language to vs; what newes?
Bust:
Such as will make all Spaine dance in Canary; ye Brasile fleete.
5
Arriv'd?
Bust:
Is putting into harbour, & aloud
calls for a Midwife, she is great wt h [Child] gold
& longs to be delivered.
Ped:
No he Spanyard
Is not a true reioycer at ye newes,
be't a good Omen to our Iourney.
Ten:
So we wish all.
Ped:
May we, at or returne, meet no worse newes
then now at parting; my noble Don fernando
& Teniente, once more farewell; (my daughter, I hope,)
Eleonora, Henrico. nay yor good newes deserves a farewell.
Bust:
A soldiers farewell, a fast hand [to both] & heart; good fate to both.
Hen:
Come Elinor, let them discourse their Ioyes
Ex: Pedro & Manuell.
for ye safe fleete; In thee all my delights embarke themselves.
Bust:
Tush, lett 'em come, or shipps have brought wt h them
the newes of warre.
Fer:
what is that, Gentlemen?
Ten:
I am speaking of a fleete of Enemyes.
fer:
from whence?
Ten:
from England.
Fer:
A Castle in ye Ayre.
Ten:
Doe you not beleive it?
Fer:
I heard such a report
but had no faith in't; a meere Pot gun.
Bust:
nay sir, tis certaine there hath bene great prparation
if our Intelligence be true to vs; & a mighty Navy
threatens ye Sea.
Fern:
what's that to vs: how long hath it bene a voyce [t]
they were at sea? I have venturd to discharge ye soldiers;
wc h to keepe here in pay vpon ye rumour
of a great fleete a comming, would both pester
the Towne, & be vnne[s]cessary charge to ye king or master.
Ten:
But how if they intend vs?
Fer:
Tis not probable;
the time of yeare is past sir now, more then [y]
the middle of October; had they meant vs,
we should have heard their message in loud Cannon
before this time.
Bust:
I am of that opinion.
Ten:
But Don fernando & Bustamente, call to mind
the time hath bene when we supposed too
the season past, they have saluted vs
wt h more then frendly Bulletts, tore ye ribbs
of or Towne vp; made every house too hott
for ye Inhabitants, had a spoyle of all spight of or hearts.
fer:
One Swallow makes not Sum̄er; because once
or City was their prize, is't of necessity
it must be so againe?
Bust:
or were ye Navy
greater, as fame gives out it is ye fayrest
that ever dancd vpon these Seas, why yet
should we suspect for this Citty?
fer:
because we dreame soe.
Ten:
If you did dreame, it may be as neere truth;
I wish ye contrary; but know them daring Enemyes.
fer:
The world, we doe acknowledge, cannot boast
more resolution then ye English hearts seasond for Action.
Ten:
francisco Bustamente? how is ye Castle? what strength?
Bust:
A fort impregnable, wanting neyther soldiers nor munition.
Ten:
Well, looke to't.
Fer:
How ere that wilbe necessary, ye fort
lyes in ye mouth of danger, & it will become
you to discharge that duty, Bustamente.
Bust:
wt h my best Care.
Ten:
I wish all well, & that you had not yet
discharg'd yor Companyes, Don Fernando.
fer:
Come come, putt off yor Ielousy, drinke downe ye remembrance,
7
nothing but wine & mirth should crowne this day.
Exeunt.
Sce: 2.
Ent: Two Devonshire Merchants, as being in Sherryes.[.1.]
Heare you ye newes?
.2.
yes, that an English fleete
Is making vp to Cales.
.1.
our Sherryes merchants
though few of vs be heere, shall soundly pay
to the furnishing of this Navy.
.2.
nay, I assure you
our shipps wilbe fast bound by Spanish Charmes
not to gett hence in hast.
.1.
The Divell allready
is furling vp ye sayles; would all ye sackes
wc h we have bought for England were in Devonshire
turnd to small Beere, so we were but in Tavestoke
to see it drawne out, were it nere so thin;
I'de drinke a health to all ye Dons in Sherryes
& cry a pox vpon 'em.
.2.
That word heard by any lowsy Spanish Picardo
were worth or two neckes; Ile not curse my Diegoes,
8
may wt h great Bellyes blesse our English sayles
both out & In; & that ye whole fleete may
be at home deliverd of no worse a Conquest
then ye last noble voyage made to this Citty,
though all ye wines & merchandize I have here
were i'th'Seas bottome.
.1.
Troth so would I mine.
.2.
I nere could tell yet from what roote this huge
large spreading Tree of hate from Spayne to vs,
from vs againe to Spayne, tooke ye first growth.
.1.
No? then Ile tell you; let vs season or sorrow
wt h this discourse.
.2.
wt h all my heart I long for't.
.1.
you shall not loose yor longing; then sir, know
the hate a Spanyard beares an Englishman
nor naturall is, nor ancient; but as sparkes
flying from a flint by beating, begett flames,
matter being neere to feed & nurse ye fire,
so, from a Tinder at ye first kindled,
grew this heartburning twixt these Two great Nations.
.2.
As how pray?
.1.
heare me; any Englishman
that can but read or Chronicles, can tell
that many of or Kings & noblest Princes
have fetcht their best & royallest wives from Spayne;
the very last of all binding both kingdomes
wt hin one golden ring of love & peace
by the marriage of Queene Mary wt h that little man
(but mighty Monarch) Phillip, son & heire
to Charles ye Emperour.
.2.
you say right.
.1.
Religion
having but one face [here] then both here & there;
both Nations seemd as one; Concord, Commerce,
& sweete Com̄unity were Chaynes of Pearle
about ye neckes of eyther; But when England
threw of ye yoake of Rome, Spayne flew from her,
Spayne was no more a Sister nor a neighbour,
but a sworne Enemy: All this did but bring
9
.2.
And warme my knowledge & experience by't.
.1.
Spaines anger never blew hott coales indeed
till in Queene Elizabeths Raigne, when, (may I call [I] him so?)
that glory of his Country & Spaynes terror,
that wonder of ye land, & ye Seas minyon,
Drake, of eternall memory, harrowed th'Indyes.
.2.
The king of Spaynes west Indyes?
.1.
yes, when his Ilands,
Nombre de Dios, Cartagena, Hispaniola,
wt h Cuba & ye rest of those faire Sisters,
the mermaydes of those Seas, whose golden stringes
give him his sweetest musicke, when these were ravishd
by Drake & his brave Ginges, when these red Apples
were gather'd, & brought hither to be payr'd,
then ye Castilian Lyon began to roare.
.2.
Had he not cause, being vexd soe?
.1.
when or shipps
carryed such fire drakes in them, that ye huge
10
being great wt h gold, in labour wt h some fright,
were all delivered of fine red cheekt Children
at Plymouth, Portsmouth, & other English Havens,
& onely by men midwives: had not Spayne reason
to cry out, oh Diablos Ingleses?
.2.
It had not spoke such Spanish else.
.1.
When we did sett our feete even on their Mynes
& brought their golden fagotts thence, their Ingotts,
& silver wedges; when each ship of ours
was able to spread sayles of silke; the Tacklings
of twisted gold; when every marryner
at his arrivall here had his deepe pockets
crammd full of Pistoletts; when ye poorest ship Boy
might on ye Thames make duckes & drakes wt h pieces [,]
of Eight, fetchd out of Spayne; These were ye Bellowes,
wc h blew ye Spanish bonfires of revenge:
these were ye times in wc h they calld or Nation
Boracho's, Lutherans, & furias del' Inferno.
.2.
would we might now give them ye selfe same cause
to call vs soe.
.1.
the very name of Drake
was a Bugbeare to fright Children; Nurses still'd
their little Spanish Nynnyes when they cryde
hush, ye Drake comes.
.2.
All this must needs beget
their mortall hate to vs.
.1.
It did; yet then
we lovd them beyond measure.
.2.
why?
.1.
why did not Spaine fetch gold from ye West Indies
for vs to spend here merrily? she planted Vines
we eate ye Grapes; she playd ye Spanish Pavine
vnder our windowes, we in or bedds lay laughing
to heare such Mynstrelsy.
.2.
how then turnd ye windes?
why did this beauteous face of love in vs
putt on so blacke a Visour of hate to them?
.1.
Oh sir, doe but looke backe to Eighty Eight,
that Spanish glasse shall tell you; shew each wrinckle.
11
to be layd on their kinges Trencher: who were their Cookes?
marry sir, his Grandees, & great Dons of Spaine.
A Navy was provided, a royall fleete,
infinite, for ye bravery of Admiralls,
Vice Admirall, Generalls, Colonells & Commanders,
soldiers, & all ye war like furniture
cost or experience, or mans witt could muster
for such a mayne designe.
.2.
Stay, Eighty Eight?
Thirty eight yeares agoe; much about then
came I into ye world: well sir, this fleete.
.1.
wc h made ye Sea [first,] fish wonder what new kingdome
was building over theirs, beate downe ye Billowes
before them to gett thither; twas such a Monster
in body; such a wonder in ye Eyes,
& such a Thunder in ye eares of Christendome,
that ye Popes Holynes would needes be Godfather
12
th'Invincible Armado.
.2.
That's to say
A fleete of shipps not to be overcome
by any power of man.
.1.
These were ye Whales
these were ye huge Levyathans of ye Sea
wc h roaring came wt h wide & dreadfull Iawes
to swallow vp our kingdome, shipps, & Nation.
The fame of this Armado flew wt h Terror
riding on Envyes [backe] wing; the prparation
was wayted on wt h wonder, & the approach
shew'd ye grim face of horror; yet, gainst all these
our Country & or Courages were armd.
2.
St. George for England.
.1.
And St. George we cryde
albeit, we heard, ye Spanish Inquisition
was aboord every ship, wt h Torture, torments,
whipps strung wt h wyre, & knives to cutt or throates.
But from ye armed winds an hoast brake forth
wc h tare their shipps, & sav'd ours: thus I have read[,]
Two storyes to you; one, why Spayne hates vs,
t'other why we love not them.
.2.
oh sir, I thanke you.
Exeunt.
Sce: 3.
Ent: Teniente, Don Iohn, Henrico.Ten:
I ever feard some ill fate pointed at
this Citty.
Io:
makes ye fleete this way?
Hen:
Buzzano?
Ten:
I did dreame every night of't, & ye Ravens
wt h their vnlucky throates never leave croaking
some danger to vs all.
Hen:
where's Buzzano? villaine,
Io:
Be not discomforted.
Ten:
Don Fernando too
hath cutt or strengths off, taken away or swords
should save or throates: I did priudicate
too rashly of ye English, now we may
yleid vp ye Towne; Sirra, gett you up
Ent: Buzzano.
to th'highest Turret yt lookes three leagues into the Sea,
13
Buz:
why I can tell you ere I goe.
Hen:
what?
Buz:
why there are fishes & shipps too in ye Sea,
they were made for that purpose.
Ten:
The fellow doates; climbe quickly sirra, & tell vs
whither any bend to this place; there's a fleete
abroad, skud rascall.
Hen:
Villayne away, & cast yor eyes into the Sea.
Buz:
Ile be hangd first: some wiser then some; mine Eyes
into ye Sea? I see no reason for't.
Ten:
why stayest thou? this slave is wt hout sence,
gett vp & see, & report the truth.
Buz:
That's another matter, I will overlooke you all prsently.
Exit.
Io:
What were I best to doe? I doe not like these Navyes.
Hen:
Tis past question, if they were kenn'd this way
that they intend to make another meale of this Citty.
Ten:
The first was but a Breakefast, they have shrewd stomakes;
oh, for a lusty storme to bury all
their hopes in the waves now; one good swelling Gust
would breake their ribbs in pieces.
14
Io:
No witches abroad?
Buz:
I see, I see, I see.
All:
What?
Buz:
nay, I cannot tell what yet.
something it is; I thinke it be a Towne.
Hen:
Some Iland in ye Sea?
Buz:
It swims on ye water.
Io:
Tis ye fleete; come they this way?
Buz:
yes, th'are ships,
I know 'em by their foule linnen: now I see
them plainely; they come, they come, they come.
Hen:
How far off?
Ten:
Speake sirra.
Buz:
If you would peace, I might heare what they say,
the wind serves to bring every word they speake;
they make towards, yes, towards this Citty.
A great fleete; stay, stay, looke to yor selves Dons,
they spitt fire allready, & have hung vp a thousand flaggs
of defyance. They are at ye fort, ye Castle, at ye Castle,
would I were pelted to death wt h Orenges & Lymons.
Ten:
Here comes Don Fernando, what newes?
Ent: Fernando wt h Eleonora.
fer:
Assured danger gentlemen, for all or men
already are in a palsye & doe fly
they know not whither; they are English.
the Citty's allmost desperate.
Ten:
Don Iohn, come wt h me
& helpe to encourage ye remayning soldiers.
Fer:
new supply shall quickly cheare yor hearts; Henrico?
Hen:
Sir?
fer:
In this Confusion, when a thousand feares
present them selves, & danger wt h full face
lookes on ye generall Towne, let me locke vp
this Treasure in yor armes; & for you have
at least an equall interest wt h mee
In Eleonora, in yor fathers house
she may hope more security; being of strength,
for this storme cannot last: But in yor love
she hath a stronger guard.
Hen:
This Act of Confidence
binds me for ever to Fernando, come
halfe of my soule, for we two must not bee
in life devided; Though ye Citty lye
at mercy of ye Enemy, yet from
15
shall take thee from me.
Ent: Buzzano & Spaniards flying.
Buz:
They come, they come, they come.
fer:
Com̄itting this my Iewell to yor trust
I must vnto my charge, my blessing.
Ele:
Oh doe not leave me sir; for wt hout you
what safety can I have? you are my father,
pray stay you wt h me.
Fer:
oh my Girle, I cannot,
dare not be so vnfaithfull to ye trust
his maiesty putt me in; though I would stay.
Eleo:
I feare if you goe hence all will not long be well.
Hen:
Distrust you me Elionora?
El:
no indeed,
you ever had wt h me th'opinion
of a most noble gentleman.
fer:
what then?
El:
I know not what besides my feare, & that
beggs I may share yor fortune, since you may not
take vp such safety here as I have.
16
Come, you are too blame; this heaven that now lookes on vs
wt h rugged brow may quickly smile againe
& then I shall revisite my Eleonora; so farewell.
Exit.
Hen:
Till when, wt h greater care then were ye Dragons
supposd to watch ye golden Apples growing
In the Hesperides, shall Henrico wayte
on his best loved—oh my Eleonora
I would to heaven there were no war but here
to shoote love darts; each smile from this fayre Eye
may take an Army prisoners; let me give
my life vp here vnto these lipps, & yet
I shall, by th'sweetnes of a kisse, take backe
the same againe,—oh thou, in whom alone
vertue hath perfect figure, hide not day
in such a Cloud; what feare hath enterd here?
my life is twisted on a Thread wt h thine,
were't not defenced, there could nothing come
to make this cheeke looke pale, wc h at yor Eye
will not fall dead before you.
Ent: Buzzano.
Sirra, let all yor care & duty bee
employd to cheare this Lady; pray be merry,
Buz:
Oh sir, yonder's such doings.
Hen:
Hell on yor bawling, not a sillable to affright her,
or I shall tune your Instrument there.
Buz:
He'le breake ye head of my instrument, why sir,
weomen are not affraid to heare of doings.
Hen:
Still Iarring?
Buz:
when ye whole towne is altogether by th'eares
you might give me leave to Iar a litle my selfe, I have done sir.
Hen:
Putt on thy merryest face Buzzano.
Buz:
I have but one face, but I can make a great many.
Hen:
My best Eleonora, I shall soone returne,
In ye meane time be owner of this house
the possesor: All danger [I meete] sweet shall dwell
far off; Ile but enquire ye state of things in the Citty
& fly backe to thee wt h loves wings.
Exit.
17
I prithee call him backe.
Buz:
Signior Henrico,
she has something more to say to you.
redit.
Hen:
To me sweetest?
El:
Henrico, doe you love me?
Hen:
By this faire hand.
El:
And will you leave me too?
Hen:
Not for ye wealth of Spaine.
El:
Since I must be yor prisoner; let me have
my Keepers Company: for I am afraid
some Enemy, in yor absence, like a wolfe,
may ceize on me; I know not whither more
I ere shall see my father; doe not you
ravish yor selfe from me; for at ye worst
we may dye here Henrico; and I had rather
fall in your eye then in yor absence be
dishonord; if ye destinyes have not
spun out or longer threads let's dye together.
Hen:
Oh doe not racke my soule wt h these sad accents
18
can promise such security as this
to Eleonora; doe not talke of dying,
our best dayes are to come; putt on thy quiet
& be above ye reach of a misfortune:
Ile prsently wayte on thee; by this kisse.
Buz:
would I might keepe yor oath; so please you, Lady,
Buzzano will sweare too.
Hen:
What?
B:
that you'le be there & here agen presently.
H:
Attend her sirra.
Buz:
If you must needs goe,
pray sir keepe yor selfe out of Gun-shott.
H:
mind you yor charge.
Buz:
you shall heare a good report of my piece I warrant you.
take heed you be not sent to heaven wt h a powder,
A company of hott shotts are abroad I can tell you.
El:
if you will goe, may yor successe be faire.
Hen:
farewell, heaven cannot chuse but heare yt prayer.
Exit.
Buz:
Now what please you, Madam? that I shall Amble, Trott, or walke?
El:
Any pace.
Buz.
yet if you would referre it to me, I'de vse none of them.
El:
what wouldst doe?
Buz:
why I would Gallop or [OMITTED] run,
for I thinke long till I be at home, in or Castle of comfort.
If it please you Ile lead you a hand gallop, madam, in ye plaine
ground, trott vp hill wt h you, & racke downewards.
El:
Talke not of rackes, prithee, the times prsent too many.
Buz:
ride me as you will then, I am vsd both to Curbe & snaffle.
El:
I prithee tell me, Buzzano, so I heare thy Master call thee.
Buz:
He may call me at his pleasure forsooth.
El:
Dost thou know ye nature of ye English?
Buz:
Both men & weomen; I travelld thither wt h an Embassador;
for ye men, Ile not misse you a haire of their Condition;
and for ye weomen, I know 'em as well as if I had bene in ye i r bellyes.
El:
Are they not cruell?
Buz:
As Tygers when they set on't,
no mercy, vnlesse we aske them forgivenes.
El:
That's somewhat yet.
Buz:
but not to you, that's onely to men;
for lett ye weomen fall downe afore 'em never so often,
they'le rather fall vpon them: nay, some of them are so spitefull
19
El:
foole, I meane not your way.
Buz:
keepe yor owne way madam, I meane ye playne way.
El:
Are they not vnmercifull in their natures to such
as are in ye i r power? their Enemyes, as we may be?
Buz:
Their enemyes as we may be in their power?
I had rather be cramm'd into a Cannon, & shott against ye i r ships,
then you should prove a witch & tell true now.
The Tartar is not halfe so grim; not a Turke would vse vs
so like Iewes as they will. If it come to that once,
that they take ye Towne, you shall see Spanish Dons heads
cryed vp & downe as they doe our Orenges & Lymons.
And ye weomens heads shall off too, not a maydenhead of gold shall scape 'em.
El:
It is no valor to vse Tyranny vpon ye conquerd; they have bene reported
A noble Nation: and when last ye pride
20
of their brave Generall, no outrage ever
the soldiers durst com̄itt vpon our persons;
though all or wealth ran in full streames vpon them
our honours were prservd, or fame belyes them.
Buz:
no matter what fame sayes, perhaps I know more then she does;
& yet, now you talke of valour, they are not comparable to vs.
El:
How?
Buz:
why valor is but ye courage of a man;
courage is, as they say, [the] ye spirit of a man; & ye spirit of a man
is ye greatnes, as we call it, of his stomacke;
now, tis well knowen to ye whole world they feed better, & eate more
then we, Ergo, we have better stomackes then they.
But see, we have talk't or selves at home already; & ye point is open,
will't please you enter? or shall I enter before you? I am yor man madam.
El:
you know ye way best; whil'st abroad they are
at fight, twixt hope & feare at home I warre.
Exeunt.
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