University of Virginia Library

[OMITTED] tertius.

Enter Sr. Griffin, Powesse, Gosselen and Euan
Gosselen.
I can not blame ye Lordes to stirre so early,
considering what occasions are in hand.
Loues long pursuit, at length to be requited
wt h the due guerdon to continued hope
And such by meanes of freendly Iohn a Kent,
shall yeeld you bothe your seuerall harts content.

Euan.
yea, but the Countesse and the other Ladyes,
I doubt were wearied with so late a walke.
ffor as it seemes they are not stirring yet,
And little kindnesse were it to disease them,
before them selues think best to leaue their chamber.
But say Prince Griffin, wheron doo ye muse?
you not mislyke Sydanen is so neere?
Nor you, that Marian beares her company.

S. Griffin.
Sir Euan, Ile be playne, & tell ye what I thought.
I deeply did conceit within my selfe,
Lord Moortons passions he will act this morning:
when newes is brought him that his bryde is gon.
Think ye he will not cursse the fatall houre:
began so sweete, & now falles out so sower?

Powesse.
Nay let my Riuall beare him company,
And good olde Chester, for his forwardnes:
in seeking to deceiue me of my wife.
But what will he imagine of his Countesse?
Shee's gon from Courte, and no man can tell whether:
and colde their sute, should they pursue them hether.

Gosselen
Therof you may be bolde; but much I muse
where Iohn a Kent bestowes him all this whyle.
He is so carefull of his coy conceites,
to sute this sollemne day as it should be:
that for your sakes, I knowe it shall excell,
at least he labours all thinges may be well.

Enter Iohn a Cumber lyke Iohn a Kent.
S. Griffin.
See where he comes, deep pondering wt h him selfe,
important matters, we must not disturb him,
but giue him leaue, till his owne leysure him.
[musique]
Silence, me thinkes I heare sweet melodie,
And see he sets the Castell gate wyde ope,
Stand we aloofe, and note what followeth.

Musique whi[OMITTED] he opens the doore
ffrom one end of the Stage enter an antique queintly disguysde and cōming dauncing before them, singes.
i. Antique.
when wanton looue had walkte astray,
then good regard began to chide:
And meeting her vppon the way,
sayes wanton lasse you must abyde.
ffor I haue seene in many yeares,
That sudden looue breedes sullen feares;
Shall I neuer while I liue keep my girle at schoole:
She hath wandred too and fro,
ffurder then a Mayde should goe,
Shall she neuer while she liues make me more a foole
[OMITTED]a ducking curtesy—

exit into the «C»
Cumber.
you little thinke who it is that sung this song?

S. Griffin
No Iohn, I pray thee tell vs who it is.

Cumber.
why Prince Llwellen, come to his daughters wedding
Is he her father, and not woorth the bidding?

S. Griffin
Thou doost but iest Iohn, I hope it is not so.

Cumber.
I say it is. Heere comes another, lets see if him I knowe.

ffrom the other end of the Stage, enter another antique, as the first.
2. Antique.
In a silent shade, as I sate a sunning,
there I heard a Mayd greeuously complayne:
Many mones she made mongst her sighes still cōming
all wo«***********************»
Then her aged father, counceld her the ra«th»
to consent where he had plaste his mynde:
But her peeuish mother, brought her to another,
though it was agaynst bothe course and kynde.
Then like a father will I, come to check my filly,
for her gadding foorth without my leaue:
And if she repent it, I am well contented,
home agayne my darling to receiue.

exit into the Castell[OMITTED]
Cumber.
Lord Powesse, you may guesse by the song who this is.

Powesse.
If thother was Llwellen as thou saydst,
I doubt then this Ranulphe Earle of Chester,
Or some deuise figured by thee for theem,
to fright vs when we are in surest safetie.

Cumber.
Content ye Lordes, the fathers beeing by,
you may be sure nothing shall goe awry.
Heere comes another, listen what he is.

ffrom vnder the Stage the third Antique.
3 Antique.
you that seek to sunder looue,
learne a lesson ere you goe:
And as others paynes doo prooue,
so abyde your selues lyke woe.
ffor I fynde, and you shall feele:
selfe same turne of ffortunes wheele.
Then if wrong be repayde:
say deserued mends is made.

exit into the Castell.
Cumber.
what say ye to Earle Moorton, Prince Griffin? lyke ye his company
or no?

S. Griffin.
Come Iohn, thou loou'st to iest, I perswade me it is not so.

Gosselen.
Tush no such matter, this antique disguise,
Is but to giue the Brydes a good morrow so soone as they rise.

Euan.
And to make you despaire in the course of his arte,
he giues these names to euery seuerall parte.

Cumber.
what another yet? who should this be?

The fourth out of a tree, if possible it may be.
4 Antiq[OMITTED].
you stole my looue, fye vppon ye, fye, [a]
you stole my looue, fye fye a.
guest you but what, a paine it is to prooue,
you for your looue would dye a.
And hencefoorth neuer longer,
Be such a craftie wronger.
But when deceit takes such a fall,
Then farewell sly deuise and all.
you stole my looue, fye vppon ye fye,
you stole my looue, fye fye a.

exit into the Castell.
Cumber.

My Lord of Pembrooke? may it be possible? by my faith we lookte for no
such guests: Nay then Ile in to make vp the messe.

exit into the Castell, & makes fast the dore
Euan.
what meaneth Iohn by this mad merrie humour?
he namde the Prince Llwellen, and the Earle of Chester,
the Earles of Moorton and of Pembrook; bothe your Riualles
It seemes he would entise vs to beleeue,
that in these antique shewes of queint deuise,
they seuerally are entred in the Castell.
Tis hard for vs to iudge of his intent

Enter Iohn a Kent talking with his boy.
S Griffin.
heere now he comes agayne, but not from foorth the Castell:
Ile be so bolde as break his serious talke,
for these deuises make me much misdoubt,
further then I as yet will seeme to speak on.
Now gentle Iohn, shall we intreat to knowe,
the meaning of your merrie antique showe?

Iohn.
what shewe my Lord? what meaning should I tell?

Powesse.
why Iohn those antiques went into the Castell.
foure was there of them, and eche seuerally,
both daunc'ste and sung heere very pleasantly.
The first thou toldst vs was the Prince Llwellen,
The second, noble Ranulphe Earle of Chester,
whom thou hadst brought to grace this day withall.
Moorton and Pembrook were the other twayne,
In all which Iohn, I knowe thou didst but fayne.
then more at large d«****************»
«**********»why Lordes, I pray ye say,
[OMITTED]till this instant, sawe ye me today?

[OMITTED]len.
Sawe thee sweet Iohn? I pray thee leaue this iesting,
thy feyned straungenes makes these Lordes amazde.
didst thou not first set ope the Castell gate?
and then from sundry places issued foorth,
the skipping antiques, singing seuerall songs,
as loouers vse, that haue endurde some wrongs?
And when they all were entred at the gate,
thou followedst, seeming then to barre it fast.
whence now thou com'ste, to make vs more admyre:
I cannot guesse, tell vs, I thee desyre.

Iohn.
Maister, Ile credit ye, because you speak it.
But on my faith, all this is straunge to me.
My boy and I haue for these two houres space,
beene greatly busyed in an other place,
To tell ye trueth, against the Brydes should rise,
to sporte them with some pleasing vanities.

S. Griffin.
Then Iohn lets in for feare of tretcherie,
my hart misgiues there is some villainie.

Iohn.
The gate is fast my Lordes, bound wt h such charmes,
/he tryes the doore[OMITTED]
as very easily will not be vndoone.
I hope the learned Owen Glenderwellin,
is not come hither [as] in the Lordes behalfe,
that are your Riualles, and at this aduauntage:
hath ouerreachte me, when I least misdoubted.
Is it not he, I cannot guesse the man.

Enter Iohn a Cumber on the walles lyke Iohn a Kent
Powesse.
My Lordes, see one appeareth on the walles.
It's Iohn a Kent, how? Iohn a Kent is heere.
Some sly Magitian hath vsurpte thy shape,
and this day made vs all vnfortunate.

Iohn.
what ere thou be, I charge thee tell thy name.

Cumber.
My name is Iohn, what sayst thou to the same?

Iohn.
I would thou wert the Iohn that I could wish

Cumber
If Iohn a Cumber? then the same it is.
In thy proud thoughtes Iohn, did I heare thee say,
thou wantedst one to thwart thy deep desseignes,
layd cunningly to countercheck this looue,
because it should not take successe so soone.
And me thou namdste, freendly, or how I care not,
heere am I now. And what those Lordes haue tolde thee,
is very true, thine eyes shall witness it.
Musique
Sound musique, while I shewe to Iohn a Kent,
those hither come, for whom he neuer sent.

whyle the musique playes, enters on the walles Llwellen Chester wt h his Countesse, Moorton with Sydanen, Pemb. with Marian, Oswen and Amerye.
S. Griffin.
Ah Iohn, if these be not illusions,
but the same partyes, all our hope is dashte.
Llewellen, Ranulphe and our hatefull foes,
help Iohn, or now afreshe beginnes our woes.

Llwellen.
And are ye taken tardy in your shames?
Proude Southwales Prince, and ouerdaring Powesse?
See now the issue of your enterprise,
requites ye with your well deseruing merits,
And my Sydanen thus restord agayne,
shall wt h Earle Moorton safely now remayne

Chester.
Madame, I iudg'de [ye] you guiltie in this wrong,
till Iohn a Cumber [resolu'de] heere resolu'de the doubt.
Now Powesse brag of thy late gotten conquest,
Let Iohn a Kent wt h all the witte he hath,
restore thee Marian if he can from me.
Heere Earle of Pembrook, take her, she is thine,
And thank kinde Iohn whose cunning is diuine.

Pemb.
Thankes vnto him, and you moste noble Lord,
And shame to them, such as their deedes deserue,
that would haue seuerd me from my sweet choyse.
I hope heer's one hath met wt h Iohn a Kent
To teache him how true looue he dooth preuent [OMITTED]

[S] Mooreton
was there no way to yeeld your looue successe,
but by that fellowes sillie practises?
let him heerafter meddle wt h his mates,
heere's one hath giuen me Marian back agayne
let him attempt to fetche her if he dare.

Sydanen
was euer Lady wronged thus before?
Marian thou knowest my minde, I say no more.

Marian.
Sweet Cossen, what we may not now impart,
heere let vs bury it, closely in our hart.

Countesse.
This sudden chaunge hath altred quite your hope.
what was at first concluded, now must be,
Cossen & daughter, help none else ye see.

Cumber.
Now Iohn without, listen to Iohn wt hin,
the mariage thou appoyntedst for those Lordes,
shalbe effected now with these two Lordes.
[And for they would not let vs] be their guests,
[They nor thy selfe gets any of our] feastes,
In mockerie wishe for me another day,
So fare ye well, we haue no more to say.

Iohn.
Good Iohn within, heare Iohn without a little,
winners may bragge, loosers haue leaue to speak.
vnder my shaddowe haue you doone all this,
much greater cunning had it beene thine owne.
As yet thou doost but rob me of my selfe,
Good honest Ihon, let me beholde thy selfe.
Perhaps my shape makes thee thus boldly vaunte,
and armes thee with this ablenes of skill,
wheras thine owne beeing insufficient,
may make thee feare to deale wt h Iohn a Kent.

Cumber.
Lordes and fayre Ladyes, goe disporte your selues,
about the walkes and gardens of this Castell.
And for thou ween'st so gayly of thy selfe,
within this hower Iohn Ile meete with thee,
in myne owne shape, vppon this Castell greene,
where I will dare thee, and out dare thee too,
in whatsoeuer Iohn a Kent can doo.

Iohn
I take thy woord, Ladyes to you alone,
wishe I all good, but to the others, none.

/they discend.
S. «G»riffin.
why say sweet Iohn, what shall betyde vs now?
Now are we wursse then ere we were before.

Iohn.
Sirra, get ye to the back gate of the Castell,
and through the key hole quickly wring thee in,
marke well, and bring me woord what stratageme,
this cumbring Iohn meanes next to enterprise
ffor I am sure he will not leaue me so,
At least I meane, not him, away then, goe.

Shrimp.
I fly Sir, and am there alreadie

exit boy.
Powesse.
No comfort Iohn? what standst thou all a mort?
tis only we that haue the greatest cause.
Thou canst I knowe cope wt h this Iohn a Cumber
and maister him, maugre his vtmoste skill,
if thou wilt searche into thy deepe conceites.

Gosselen.
Iohn, I my selfe haue oft times heard thee wishe,
that thou mightst buckle with this Iohn a Cumber.
Come is he now to all our deep disgrace,
except thou help it ere he scape this place.

Iohn.
Maister, what? he that went beyond the deuill,
And made him [sell] serue him seuen yeares prentiship:
ist possible for me to conquer him?
tis better take this foyle, and so to end.

S. Griffin.
why then our Ladyes this day shall be wed,
If or thou canst or wilt not stand vs now in sted.

Iohn.
Nay there's no wedding toward, that I can see,
And when tis doone, yet heere it must not be.
Content your selues, and walke the woodes about,
[you see] heere is no getting in, we are fayre lockt out.

Enter shrimpe.
I cannot tell, but if I hit aright
ffor walking heere all day, Ile make them some walke all night[OMITTED]

manet Iohn.
Be gon I pray ye, I must be «a»lo«ne»
Enter Shrimpe skipping.
[OMITTED]me on Sirra, tell me, what newes?

[OMITTED]mp.[OMITTED]
Sir, yonder's great preparation for a play,
which by the shaddowes of the Lordes and Ladyes,
heere on the greene shall foorthwith be enacted.
And Iohn a Cumbers whole intent heerin,
Is that your selfe shall see before your face,
his arte made currant to your deep disgrace.

Iohn.
But wher's the Countesse, Marian and Sydanen?
they are not in the Castell, that I knowe.

Shrimpe.
Earle Chesters sonne, and young Lord Amerye
are merily conducting them to Chester,
And thither will the Lordes them selues this night,
when they haue seene this play in your dispight.

Iohn
Be gon, and bring the Ladyes back agayne,
with them likewise are sent to be their guydes,
Stay with them at the Chestnut tree hard by
till I come for them. Now bestirre thee Iohn,
/exit boy
for in thy play I purpose to make one.

exit.
Enter Iohn a Cumber in his owne habit, with him Turnop Hugh, and Thomas the tabrer.
Turnop.

doo ye heare Sir? we can be content as it were to furnish ye w
t h our facilitie in your play or enterlude, marie where ye would vs
to flout, scoff and scorne at Iohn a Kent, for my part, let Hugh
Sexten and Thomas Tabrer doo as they see occasion, I am not
to mock him, that is able to make a man a Munkey in lesse then halfe
a minute of an houre.

Hugh.

Ile tell ye what Sir, if it be true that is spoken, marie I will not
stand to it, a man were better deale w
t h the best man in the countrey, then w
t h Maister Iohn a Kent, he neuer goes abroad with out a bushell of deuilles about him, that if one speak but an ill woord of him,
he knowes it by and by, and it is no more, but send out one of his
deuilles, and whers the man then? nay, God blesse me from him.

Thomas.

Harkeye Sir, you are a Gentleman, and weele doo as much for «[OMITTED]y»
Lord, the Earle as poore man may doo, If it be to doo or say any thing
agaynst him selfe, or any other, weele doo it, marie Thomas Taberrer
will neuer meddle w
t h Mr. Iohn, no, not I.

Cumber.
why sillie soules, Ile be your warrantise
Iohn shall not touche ye, doo the best he can,
Ile make ye scorne him to his very face.
And let him [how] vendge it, how he will or dare[OMITTED]

En[OMITTED] Iohn a K[OMITTED]t listning.
Turnop.

By my troth Sir, ye seeme an honest man, and so faith, could ye
be as good as your woord, there be that perhaps would come
somewhat roundly to ye. Indeed Sir, Maister Iohn hath dealt
but euen so so w
t h me in times past, harke ye Sir, I neuer kist wenc«h» or playd the good fellowe, as sometimes ye knowe fleshe & bloode
will be frayle, but my wife hath knowen on it ere I came home, and
it could not be but by some of his flying deuilles.

Cumber.
[Nay I could tell ye other thinges besyde,]
[what dayly wronges he dooth vnto ye all,]
[which for they aske some leysure to reporte,]
[Ile vrge no more, but that ye ioyne wt h me,]
[in such an action as I haue in hand,]
[when you shall see him so disabled,]
[not daring to offend the wurst of you,]
[as hencefoorth will he hyde his head for shame,]
[weele make him such a scoffing iesting game.]

Hugh.

But shall he neither send his deuilles to pinche vs? nor doo any other
harme if we doo as you bid vs?

Cumber.
harke me, Ile make him fret him selfe to death,
with very anger that he cannot touche ye,
Bob, buffet him, doo him what wrong ye will,
And feare not Ile defend ye by my skill.

Thomas.

well Sir, Ile stand by & giue aime, and if I see them speed well, Ile
bring ye such a crewe of wenches on whom his deuilles haue tolde lyes
and tales, that your hart would burst to heare how they will vse him

Cumber.
why this is excellent, you fit me now.
Come in with me, Ile giue ye apt enstructions,
according to the purpose I entend.
That Iohn a Kent was nere so courst before,
Our time is short, come lette vs in about it.

exeunt.
Iohn.
Poore Iohn a Kent, heer's making roddes for[OMITTED]
Many haue doone the lyke, to whip them selue[OMITTED]
But Iohn a Cumber is more wise then so
he will doo nothing, but shall take successe.
This walke I made, to see this wundrous man,
Now hauing seene him, I am satisfyed.
I know not what this play of his will prooue,
But his intent to deale with shaddowes only,
I meane to alter, weele haue the substaunces.
And least he should want Actors in his play,
Prince Griffin, Lord Powesse and my merrie Maister,
Ile introduce as I shall finde due cause.
And if it chaunce as some of vs doo looke,
One of vs Iohns must play besyde the booke.

exit.