University of Virginia Library

Scena sexta.

Enter Captaine Crack-stone, armed like a Champion.
Crack-st.
Now shall my valerositie appeare vnto all,
How I can kill men, and serue a woman at her call.
My gr[OMITTED]test griefe is, that in dooing this feate,
I am sure my honour will not be so greate.
As when I giue a charger to my foes in the open feelde,
Or put Citties into sackes, and make thousandes to yeelde.
To bring Fedele to the Counter, is but to fight with a flie,
There is neither praise, pride, nor prouidence in the victorie.
Therefore take heede Crack-stone what you doe,
You hazarde your good name, your honour standes on tip toe.
To kill a Gentlemā yt neuer ought me malice, is more thē crueltie,
And to kill him for a woman, will bring me vtterly to infancie.
Shall I kill him then? peraduenture yea: shall I let him go?
Peraduenture I may, peraduenture no.
Oh single deuise, here is a braine I beleeue,
Able to shoote birdboltes of inuentiōs, from my head into my sleeue.
I will make a great noyse before Victoriaes doore in the streete,
As though at this present with Fedele I did meete.
Then will I runne to her house amayne,
And make her beleeue that Fedele is slayne.
Then before that she heare any newes of his life,
I'le haue her to the Priest, and make her my wife.
Haue euen at it as well as I can,
Fight with the Ayre.
Ah Uillaines, thus many of you set vpon a naked man.
Drawe on my good fellowes and spare not, strike home,
Ah cowardly Dastardes, so sone be you gone?

Fedele.
Arme, Arme, Arme.

Pedante.
Kill, kill, kill.

Fedele.
Downe with Crack-stone.

Pedante.
Giue me a Bill.

Heere Crack-stone runnes into the net, Fedele after him, leauing Pedante on the stage.
Fedele.
Followe, followe.

Crack-st.
Out alas where am I now?

Pedante.
Faste ynough by this time I trow.
Is this my lusty kill Cow, that will eate vp so many men at a bit,
And when he deales with a shadowe will not stand to it?

Enter Fedele and two or three other, leading Crack-stone in the net, singing.
Be still my mates, that keepe the gates,
When euery watch is set:
Your lucke is naught, your freendes haue caught,
Your Captaine in a net.
Heigh ho Crack-stone, heigh ho Crack-stone.
A Nodie, a Nodie, a Nodie, we haue,
Heigh hoe, Crack-stone, lustie and braue.
Now souldiers all, forsake the wall,
Your foes haue got the towne,
Manhood is fled, God Mars is dead,
Your Captaine is a clowne.
Heigh ho Crack-stone, Heigh ho Crack-stone,
A Nodie, a Nodie, a Nodie, we haue,
Heigh ho Crack-stone, lusty and braue.

Victoria
out at her windowe.
Attilia, come hither streight, some sturre is in the streete,
Me thinkes I heare the noise of men, and trampling of their feete.

Fedele.
Ah Sir, you meant to kill me you, to please Victoria,
But now I trust to make of thee a poore Crack-stone, if I may.

Crack-st
If that victorious Prince of battaile god Marche-beere, had not bene a sleepe,
I had made you euery one into corners to creepe.
T'is the Fortune of warre, lucke runnes not euer to one side,
Therefore I am content the prickatorie to abide.
I am not strong Sampier to breake out of your hands,
But oh yt some little hōgry Mouse, would gnaw a sunder my bāds.
I would giue you such a frezado, or cāuazado, take which you please
As should be small to your comfort, and little to your ease.

Pedante.
Oh what this Captaine would do, if he were out of his skin,
Till his courage be cooler, I pray you holde him in.

Attilia.
Mistresse, I can not tell what is best to be saide,
Once more I perceiue you are betraide.
I see that Fedele and his friendes haue your Champion beset,
And now both to his shame and yours, he is caught in a net.

Victoria.
Art thou sure that it is so?

Attilia.
Haue an eye to the ende.

Fedele.
Now let vs shew him to Victoria, his dearest friend.

Pedante.
Then let him be led through euery streete in ye towne,
That euery crackrope, may throw rottē egs at ye clown.

Here they bring him singing vn to Victor. windowe.
Fedele.
Hoe, Victoria, if yu be awake, rise & looke out I pray,

Crack-st.
The hunt is vp,
And fooles be fledg'de before the perfect day.

Victoria.
Who calles?

Shrinke in & looke out againe.
Fedele.
Fedele: See the Champion, whome you set to murder me,
This deed throughout the Cittie, shortly shall dishonour thee.

Victoria.
Out, I defie him.

Fedele.
What sayest thou Attilia?

Attilia.
He is a knaue, I denie him.

Crack-st
Thou art a Drabbe and a Queane, if my name be Crack-stone,
I was requested to this, both by thee and Victoria.

Attilia.
By my mistresse and me good man Coward, doe you know what you say?
Take yt Sir, your face was not washte yester day.

Emptie a chāber pot on his head.
Crack-st
A rope on all whores, will you drinke any Ale,
I thinke she crownde me with a potle of stale.
This drinke was ill brued, and might haue bene sparde,
The very graines of the Malte, stickes fast to my bearde.

Pedante.
You will tell me more anon, when euery maide in this towne,
Hath emptied her almes box on the top of your crowne.

Crack-st
Alas good maister Fedele, as you are a Gentleman, no farther let me go,
I shall be chok'te with this dole, if you handle me so.
Consider I am a man, subiect to ye same pressing-yron of ye minde yt other mē are,
For the loue of a woman, ouerwhelmed with care.
I confesse I am as you are, flesh & blood, and loued Victoria so well,
That I could haue bin content for her sake, to haue gone quicke to hell.
Therefore forgiue me, and if I take not your part, and be reuenged vpon her, before I doe reste,
Set the gun-shot of tyrannie to the bulwarkes of my breste.
Cut off my Rammes hornes, and breake into the belfrie,
And blesse the cursed dayes of my virginitie.

Pedante.
He rowles in his Retorike as an Ape in his tayle,
Wynde and tide at commaundement, he flyes with full sayle.

Fedele.
So that thou seeke all meanes thou canst, Victoria to deface,
And blaze her in eache company, and strike her in disgrace.
I let thee goe.

Let him out of the net.
Crack-st
Unhoode me I pray,
I am as wearie of my cariage as a Dogge of his day.

Pedante
Slacke the cordes there my masters, giue him sea-roome in haste,
Close ayre is not holsome for Gallants to taste.

Crack-st
Now I beginne to feele my heart by little & little rise out of my hose,
Yet the sente of this water, is still in my nose.
I thinke I am the perplexionablest man that liues at this day,
For I would faine be reuenged of Victoria, and I know not which way.

Pedante.
Follow my counsell, and be ruled by mee,
Then shalt thou see Captaine, what I'le doe for thee.
I'le teache thee a way, to crye quittance with her before it be long,
And make her recant her chatering at window with an other song.

Crack-st
Gramercy Pediculus, thou art the comfortablest fellowe that euer I did see,
I thinke thou wast borne vnder some merry Planet, in the time of diuersitie.

Fedele.
Now sith Victoriaes name is like for euer to be lost,
Further reuenge I will not seeke, as I to her did boste.
Because that as my selfe vniustly seru'd Virginia.
So am I now iustly requited by Victoria.
Therefore Pedante goe, and pardon of Virginia craue,
And tell her that I will be hers,

Pedante.
That's it she would haue.
But I beseech you Sir, tarry till the day be light,
I am loth to goe stumbling in the streetes this night,

Fedele.
Then till the morning let it rest, but early see thou rise,
And doe my message in the meekest sort thou canst deuise.
Meanewhyle wee'le home and take a sleepe, for I am ouer-watcht.

Exit with them that helde the net.
Pedante.
Uery well Sir, beare you the net after,
I haue some businesse with the Captaine to be dispatcht.
Now maister Captaine come with me, for as soone as my maister to bed I haue brought,
You shall see what a thing for you I haue wrought.
And because you haue determined on Victoria to reuenge your wrōg,
It must be done this night or neuer, time doe not prolong.
As her flatterie this night, bring did you in bandes,
So this night I shall deliuer her into your handes.

Crack-st.
Then let vs away and our selues prouide,
Thou knowest the paruerbe, no body taries for the tide.

Exeunt.
The fourth Act being ended, the Consort soundeth a pleasant Allemaigne.