University of Virginia Library

Actus Secundus.

Scena Prima.

Enter Atey as before, after a little Lightning and Thundring, let there come forth this show: Perseus and Andromeda, hand in hand, and Cepheus also with Swords and Targets. Then let there come out of another door Phineus, all black in Armour, with Æthiopians after him, driving in Perseus, and having taken away Andromeda, let them depart. Atey remaining, saying.
Regit omnia numen.
When Perseus married fair Andromeda,
The onely Daughter of King Cepheus,
He thought he had establisht well his Crown,
And that his Kingdome should for aye endure.
But loe proud Phineus with a band of men,
Contriv'd of sun-burnt Æthiopians,
By force of Armes the Bride he took from him,
And turn'd their joy into a flood of teares.
So fares it with young Locrine and his Love,
He thinks this marriage tendeth to his weale,
But this foule day, this foule accursed day,
Is the beginning of his miseries.
Behold where Humber and his Scythians
Approcheth nigh with all his warlike train,
I need not I, the sequel shall declare,
What tragick chances fell out in this Warre.

Exeunt.

Scena Secunda.

Enter, Humber, Hubba, Estrilo, Segar, and their Souldiers.
Hum.
At length the Snaile doth climbe the highest tops,
Ascending up the stately Castle Walls,
At length the water with continual drops,
Doth penetrate the hardest marble stone,
At length we are arrived in Albion,
Nor could the barbarous Dacian soveraign,
Nor yet the ruler of brave Belgia
Stay us from cutting over to this Ile;
Whereas I hear a troop of Phrygians
Under the conduct of Posthumius son,
Have pitch'd up lordly pavillions,
And hope to prosper in this lovely Ile:
But I will frustrate all their foolish hope,
And teach them that the Scythian Emperour
Leads fortune tied in a chain of gold,
Constraining her to yield unto his will,
And grace him with their Regal diadem:
Which I will have, maugre their treble hosts,
And all the power their pettie Kings can make.

Hubba.
If she that rules fair Rhamnis golden gate,
Grant us the honour of the victory,
As hitherto she alwayes favour'd us,
Right noble father, we will rule the land,
Enthroniz'd in seats of Topace stones,
That Locrine and his brethren all may know,
None must be King but Humber and his son.

Hum.
Courage my son, fortune shall favour us,
And yield to us the coronet of bays,
That decketh none but noble conquerours:
But what saith Elstrid to these regions?
How liketh she the temperature thereof?
Are they not pleasant in her gracious eyes?

Estr.
The plains, my Lord, garnisht with Flora's wealth,
And overspread with party-coloured flowers,
Do yield sweet contentation to my mind,
The aerie hills enclos'd with shadie groves,
The groves replenisht with sweet chirping birds,
The birds resounding heavenly melodie,
Are equall to the groves of Thessaly,
Where Phœbus with the learned Ladies nine,
Delight themselves with musick harmony,
And from the moisture of the mountain tops,
The silent springs dance down with murmuring streams,
And water all the ground with chrystal waves,
The gentle blasts of Eurus modest wind,
Moving the pittering leaves of Silvane's woods,
Do equall it with Tempe's paradice,
And thus comforted all to one effect,
Do make me think these are the happy Iles,
Most fortunate, if Humber may them win.

Hubba.
Madam, where resolution leads the way,
And courage follows with emboldened pace,
Fortune can never use her tyranny;
For valiantnesse is like unto a rock
That standeth on the waves of Ocean,
Which though the billows beat one every side,
And Boreas fell with his tempestuous storms,
Bloweth upon it with a hideous clamour,
Yet it remaineth still unmoveable.

Hum.
Kingly resolv'd, thou glory of thy sire:
But worthy Segar, what uncouth novelties
Bring'st thou unto our royal Majesty?

Seg.
My Lord, the youngest of all Brutus sonnes,
Stout Albanact, with millions of men,
Approacheth nigh, and meaneth e're the morn,
To try your force by dint of fatal sword.

Hum.
Tut, let him come with millions of hosts,
He shall find entertainment good enough,
Yea fit for those that are our enemies:
For we'll receive them at the lances points,
And massacre their bodies with our blades:
Yea though they were in number infinite,
More then the mighty Babylonian Queen,
Semiramis the ruler of West,
Brought 'gainst the Emperour of the Scythians,
Yet would we not start back one foot from them:
That they might know we are invincible.

Hub.
Now by great Jove the supreme King of heaven,
And the immortal gods that live therein,
When as the morning shews his chearfull face,
And Lucifer mounted upon his steed,
Brings in the chariot of the golden sun,
I'le meet young Albanact in the open field,
And crack my launce upon his burganet,
To try the valour of his boyish strength:
There will I shew such ruthfull spectacles
And cause so great effusion of bloud,
That all his boyes shall wonder at my strength:
As when the warlike Queen of Amazon,
Penthesilea armed with her launce,
Girt with a corslet of bright shining steel,
Coopt up the faint-heart Grecians in the camp.

Hum.
Spoke like a warlike Knight, my noble son,
Nay, like a Prince that seeks his father's joy.
Therefore to morrow ere fair Titan shine,
And bashfull Eos messenger of light,
Expells the liquid sleep from out mens eyes,
Thou shalt conduct the right wing of the host,
The left wing shall be under Segar's charge,
The rearward shall be under me my self;
And lovely Estrild fair and gracious,
If fortune favour me in mine attempts,
Thou shalt be Queen of lovely Albion.
Fortune shall favour me in mine attempts,
And make thee Queen of lovely Albion.
Come let us in and muster up our train,
And furnish up our lusty souldiers,
That they may be a bulwark to our state,
And bring our wished joyes to perfect end.

Exeunt.

Scena Tertia.

Enter Strumbo, Dorothy, Trompart, cobling shooes, and singing.
Trom.
We Coblers lead a merry life:

All.
Dan, dan, dan, dan:

Strum.
Void of all envy and of strife:

All.
Dan diddle dan.

Dor.
Our ease is great, our labour small:

All.
Dan, dan, dan, dan.

Strum.
And yet our gains be much withall:

All.
Dan diddle dan.

Dor.
With this art so fine and fair:

All.
Dan, dan, dan, dan.

Trom.
No occupation may compare:

All.
Dan diddle dan.

Strum.
For merry pastime and joyfull glee:
Dan, dan, dan, dan.

Dor.
Most happy men we Coblers be:
Dan diddle dan.

Trum.
The can stands full of nappy ale,
Dan: dan: dan: dan:

Strum.
In our shop still withouten fail:
Dan diddle dan.

Dor.
This is our meat, this is our food:
Dan: dan: dan: dan:

Trum.
This brings us to a merry mood:
Dan diddle dan.

Strum.
This makes us work for company:
Dan, dan, dan, dan:

Dor.
To pull the Tankards cheerfully:
Dan diddle dan.

Trum.
Drink to thy husband Dorothie,
Dan, dan, dan, dan:

Dor.
Why then my Strumbo there's to thee:
Dan diddle dan:

Strum.
Drink thou the rest Trumpart amain:
Dan, dan, dan, dan.

Dor.
When that is gone, we'll fill't again:
Dan diddle dan.

Cap.
The poorest state is farthest from annoy,
How merrily he sitteth on his stool:
But when he sees that needs he must be prest,
He'll turn his note and sing another tune,
Ho, by your leave Master Cobler.

Strum.

You are welcome gentleman, what will you
any old shooes or buskins, or will you have your shooes
clouted, I will do them as well as any Cobler in Cathnes
whatsoever?

Captain
shewing him press-money.

O Master Cobler, you are far deceived in me, for
don you see this? I come not to buy any shooes, but to
buy your self; come sir, you must be a souldier in the
King's cause.

Strum.

Why, but hear you sir, has your King any
Commission to take any man against his will. I promise
you, I can scant believe it, or did he give you
Commission?

Cap.

O sir, ye need not care for that, I need no
Commission: hold here, I command you in the name of
our King Albanact, to appear to morrow in the townhouse
of Cathnes.

Strum.

King Nactabell, I cry God mercy, what have
we to do with him, or he with us? but you sir master
capontail, draw your pasteboard, or else I promise you,
I'le give you a canvasado with a bastinado over your
shoulders, and teach you to come hither with your implements.

Cap.

I pray thee good fellow be content, I do the Kings
command.

Strum.

Put me out of your book then.

Cap.

I may not.

Srumbo Snatching up a staff.

No will, come sir, will your stomack serve you, by gogs
blew hood and halidom, I will have about with you.

Fight both.
Enter Thrasimachus.
Thra.
How now, what noise, what sudden clamor's this?
How now, my Captain and the Cobler so hard at it?
Sirs what is your quarrel?

Cap.
Nothing, sir, but that he will not take press-mony.

Thra.
Here good fellow, take it at my command,
Unlesse you mean to be stretch'd.

Strum.

Truly, Master gentleman, I lack no mony, if
you please I will resigne it to one of these poor fellows.

Thrasi.
No such matter,
Look you be at the common house to morrow.

Exit Thrasimachus and the Captain.
Strum.

O wife I have spun a fair thred, if I had
been quiet, I had not been prest, and therefore well
may I wayment; But come sirra, shut up, for we must to
the warrs.

Exeunt.

Scena Quarta.

Enter Albanact, Debon. Thrasimachus, and the Lords.
Alb.
Brave Cavaliers, Princes of Albany,
Whose trenchant blades with our deceased sire,
Passing the frontiers of brave Grecia,
Were bathed in our enemies lukewarme bloud,
Now is the time to manifest your wills,
Your haughty minds and resolutions,
Now opportunity is offred
To try your courage and your earnest zeal,
Which you alwayes protest to Albanact,
For at this time, yea at this present time,
Stout fugitives come from the Scithians bounds
Have pestred every place with mutinies:
But trust me, Lordings, I will never cease
To persecute the rascal runnagates,
Till all the rivers stained with their bloud,
Shall fully shew their fatal overthrow.

Deb.
So shall your Highnesse merit great renown,
And imitate your aged father's steps.

Alb.
But tell me cousin, cam'st thou through the plains?
And saw'st thou there the faint-heart fugitives
Mustring their weather-beaten souldiers,
What order keep they in their marshalling?

Thra.
After we past the groves of Caledone,
We did behold the stragling Scithians Camp,
Repleat with men, stor'd with munition;
There might we see the valiant minded Knights
Fetching carriers along the spacious plains,
Humber and Hubba arm'd in azure blew,
Mounted upon their coursers white as snow,
Went to behold the pleasant flowring fields;
Hector and Troilus, Priamus lovely sons,
Chasing the Grecians over Simoeis,
Were not to be compared to these two Knights.

Alba.
Well hast thou painted out in eloquence
The portraiture of Humber and his son;
As fortunate as was Policrates,
Yet should they not escape our conquering swords,
Or boast of ought but of our clemencie.

Enter Strumbo and Trompart crying often;
Wild fire and pitch, wild fire and pitch, &c.

Thra.
What sirs, what mean you by these clamors made,
Those outcries raised in our stately Court?

Strum.
Wild-fire and pitch, wild-fire and pitch.

Thra.
Villains I say, tell us the cause hereof?

Strum.
Wild-fire and pitch, wild-fire and pitch.

Thra.
Tell me you villains, why you make this noise,
Or with my Lance, I will prick your bowels out.

Al.
Where are your houses, where's your dwelling place?

Strum.

Place, Ha, ha, ha, laugh a month and a day
at him; place! I cry God mercy, why doe you think that
such poor honest men as we be, hold our habitacles in
Kings Palaces: Ha, ha, ha. But because you seem to be
an abominable Chieftain, I will tell you your state.

This honest fellow and I had our mansion Cottage in
the suburbs of this City, hard by the Temple of Mercury.
And by the common Souldiers of the Shittens, the Scythians
what doe you call them? with all the suburbs were burnt
to the ground, and the ashes are left there for the Countrey
Wives to wash bucks withall. And that which
grieves me most, my loving Wife, O cruell strife; the
wicked flames did roast.

Both
cry.
Wild-fire and Pitch, Wild-fire and Pitch.

Alba.
Well, we must remedy these outrages,
And throw revenge upon their hatefull heads,
And you good fellows for your houses burnt,
We will remunerate your store of Gold,
And build your houses by our Pallace gate.

Strumbo.

Gate! O petty treason to my person, no
where else but by your backside; Gate! oh how I am
vexed in my Coller: Gate! I cry God mercy, do you
hear, Master King? If you mean to gratifie such poor
men as we be, you must build our houses by the Tavern.

Alba.

It shall be done, sir.

Strum.

Near the Tavern, I, by Lady, sir, it was spoken
like a good fellow. Do you hear, sir? when our house
is builded, if you do chance to passe or re-passe that way,
we will bestow a quart of the best Wine upon you?

Exit.
Alb.
It grieves me, Lordings, that my Subjects goods
Should thus be spoyled by the Scythians,
Who as you see with lightfoot forragers,
Depopulate the places where they come,
But cursed Humber thou shalt rue the day
That ere thou cam'st unto Cathnesia.

Exeunt.

Scena Quinta.

Enter Humber, Hubba, Segar, Trussier, and their Soldiers.
Hum.
Hubba, go take a Coronet of our Horse,
As many Launciers, and light-armed Knights,
As may suffice for such an enterprise,
And place them in the Grove of Calcedon,
With these, when as the skirmish doth encrease,
Retire thou from the shelters of the wood,
And set upon the weakned Trojans backs,
For policy joyned with Chivalry,
Can never be put back from victory.

Exeunt.
Enter Albanact, Clownes with him.
Alb.
Thou base born Hunne, how durst thou be so bold,
As once to menace warlike Albanact?
The great Commander of these Regions,
But thou shalt buy thy rashnesse with thy death,
And rue too late thy over-bold attempts,
For with this Sword, this Instrument of death,
That hath been drenched in my Foe-mens blood,
I'le separate thy body from thy head,
And set that Coward blood of thine abroach.

Strum.
Nay with this staffe great Strumbo's Instrument,
I'le crack thy Cockscombe, paltry Scythian.

Hum.
Nor wreak I of thy threats, thou princox boy,
Nor doe I fear thy foolish insolency,
And but thou better use thy bragging blade,
Then thou dost rule thy overflowing tongue,
Superbious Britain, thou shalt know too soon
The force of Humber and his Scythians.

Let them fight.
Humber and his Soldiers run in.
Strum.
O horrible, terrible.

Scena Sexta.

Sound the Alarm. Enter Humber and his Soldiers.
Hum.
How bravely this young Britain, Albanact,
Darteth abroad the thunderbolts of warre,
Beating down millions with his furious mood;
And in his glory triumphs over all,
Moving the massie squadrants of the ground;
Heap hills on hills, to scale the starry skie:
As when Briareus armed with an hundred hands,
Flung forth an hundred mountains at great Jove,
And when the monstrous gyant Monichus
Hurl'd mount Olimpus at great Mars his targe,
And shot huge Cedars at Minerva's shield.
How doth he overlook with haughty front
My fleeting hoasts, and lifts his lofty face
Against us all that now do fear his force,
Like as we see the wrathfull Sea from farre,
In a great mountain heapt with hideous noyse,
With thousand billowes beat against the Ships,
And tosse them in the Waves like Tennis Balls.

Sound the Alarm.
Humb.
Ay me, I fear my Hubba is surpris'd.

Sound again. Enter Albanact.
Alba.
Follow me, Souldiers, follow Albanact;
Pursue the Scythians flying through the field:
Let none of them escape with victory:
That they may know the Britains force is more
Than all the power of the trembling Hunnes.

Thra.
Forward, brave soldiers, forward, keep the chase,
He that takes captive Humber or his Son,
Shall be rewarded with a Crown of gold.

Sound alarm, then let them fight, Humber give back Hubba enters at their backs, and kills Debon, let Strumbo fall down, Albanact run in, and afterwards enter wounded.
Alba.
Injurious fortune, hast thou crost me thus?
Thus in the morning of my victories,
Thus in the prime of my felicity
To cut me off by such hard overthrow.
Hadst thou no time thy rancour to declare,
But in the spring of all my dignities?
Hadst thou no place to spit thy venome out
But on the person of young Albanact?
I that ere while did scare mine enemies,
And drove them almost to a shamefull flight:
I that ere while full Lyon-like did fare
Amongst the dangers of the thick throng'd pikes,
Must now depart most lamentably slain
By Humber's treacheries and fortunes spights:
Curst be their charmes, damn'd be her cursed charmes
That doth delude the wayward hearts of men,
Of men that trust unto her fickle wheele,
Which never leaveth turning upside down.
O gods, O heavens, allot me but the place
Where I may finde her hatefull mansion,
I'le passe the Alpes to watry Meroe,
Where fiery Phœbus in his charriot,
The wheeles whereof are dect with Emeralds,
Cast such a heat, yea such a scorching heat,
And spoileth Flora of her chequered grasse,
I'le overturn the mountain Caucasus,
Where fell Chimæra in her triple shape,
Rolleth hot flames from out her monstrous panch,
Scaring the beasts with issue of her gorge,
I'le passe the frozen Zone where Icy flakes
Stopping the passage of the fleeting ships
Do lie, like mountains in the congeal'd Sea,
Where if I find that hatefull house of Hers,
I'le pull the fickle wheele from out her hands,
And tie her self in everlasting bands:
But all in vain I breathe these threatnings,
The day is lost, the Hunnes are conquerors,
Debon is slain, my men are done to death,
The currents swift swimme violently with blood,
And last, O that this last night so long last,
My self with wounds past all recovery,
Must leave my Crown for Humber to possesse.

Strum.

Lord have mercy upon us, Masters, I think
this is a holy-day, every man lies sleeping in the fields,
but God knowes full sore against their wills.

Thra.
Fly, noble Albanact, and save thy self,
The Scythians follow with great celerity,
And there's no way but fight, or speedy death,
Flie, noble Albanact, and save thy self.

Sound the Alarm.
Alba.
Nay let them flie that fear to die the death,
That tremble at the name of fatall Mors,
Ne're shall proud Humber boast or brag himself,
That he hath put young Albanact to flight:
And least he should triumph at my decay,
This sword shall reave his Master of his life,
That oft hath sav'd his Masters doubtfull life:
But oh my brethren if you care for me,
Revenge my death upon his traiterous head.
Et vos queis domus est nigrantis regia ditis,
Qui regitis rigido stigios moderamine lucos:
Nox cæci regina poli furialis Erinnis,
Diique deæque omnes Albanum tollite regem,
Tollite flumineis undis rigidaque palude
Nunc me fata vocant, hoc condam pectore ferrum.
Thrust himself through

Enter Trumpart.
O what hath he done? his Nose bleeds: but I smell a Fox,
Look where my Master lies, Master, Master.

Strum.
Let me alone, I tell thee, for I am dead.

Trum.
Yet one, good, good, Master.

Strum.
I will not speak, for I am dead I tell thee.

Trum.
And is my Master dead?
O sticks and stones, brickbats and bones,
and is my Master dead?
O you cockatrices, and you bablatrices,
that in the woods dwell:
You briers and brambles, you Cook shops and shambles,
come howle and yell.
With howling and screeking, with wailing and weeping,
come you to lament.
O Colliers of Croyden, and Rusticks of Royden,
and Fishers of Kent.
For Strumbo the Cobler, the fine merry Cobler
of Cathnes town:
At this same stoure, at this very hour
lies dead on the ground.
O Master, thieves, thieves, thieves.

Strum.

Where be they? cox me tunny, bobekin,
let me be rising, be gone, we shall be robb'd by and by.

Scena Octava.

Enter Humber, Hubba, Segar, Thrassier, Estrild, and the Souldiers.
Hum.
Thus from the dreadful shocks of furious Mars's
Thundring alarmes, and Rhamnusia's Drum
We are retired with joyfull victory,
The slaughter'd Trojans squeltring in their blood,
Infect the aire with their carcasses,
And are a prey for every ravenous bird.

Estrild.
So perish they that are our enemies.
So perish they that love not Humber's weale.
And mighty Jove, Commander of the world,
Protect my love from all false treacheries.

Hum.
Thanks lovely Estrild, solace to my soule.
But, valiant Hubba, for thy Chivalry
Declar'd against the men of Albany,
Loe here a flowring garland wreath'd of bay,
As a reward for this thy forward minde.

Set it on his head.
Hub.
This unexpected honour, noble Sire,
Will prick my courage unto braver deeds,
And cause me to attempt such hard exploits,
That all the world shall sound of Hubba's name.

Hum.
And now, brave Soldiers, for this good success,
Carouse whole cups of Amazonian Wine,
Sweeter then Nectar or Ambrosia,
And cast away the Clods of cursed care,
With goblets crown'd with Semeleius gifts,
Now let us march to Abis silver streames,
That clearly glide along the Champane fields,
And moist the grassy meads with humid drops.
Sound Drums and Trumpets, sound up cheerfully,
Sith we return with joy and victory.