University of Virginia Library

The first Act.

Enter a Constable and two Souldiers with halberts.
1. Sold.
Mvst not a Creature passe?

Const.
No, that's the the scoape
of our Commission: Stand; who comes there?

Enter a Citizen.
Cittiz.
A friend.

Const.
The Word;

Cittiz.
Marry Sirs, God blesse us all;

Const.
well spoken, yet you must not passe,

Citiz.
Not passe?
then if you be good fellowes, let us chat
a while, prethee what meanes this sudden tumult?

Const.
The matter seemes so strange to me as yet,
we can reurne no other answer, but
the state on paine of death commands all men,
(thus ready arm'd) to stand upon their guard;

1. Sould.
You may be sure there's some rancke plot in hand,
or would the State at these unusuall houres
sit in a private Councell else:

Citiz.
'Twish a fable;
'tis but some dronken quarrell thus disturbes
our rest: or the field appointed by some
hot furious gallant, whereto the State
will not give way.

Const.
Be it the same, wee'll not
remove from hence, nor you in dutie ought
to sleight the matter thus, as if your worships
wisedome were so ripe to apprehend the cause;

Citiz.
You cannot give more likelier reasons for't:

Const.
Y'are mistaken friend, the common report's
abroad farre different from your conceit;
rais'd to the highest point of a distracted
mutiny, wee wote not what to thinke or speake,
such is the horrid treacherie intended.

Citiz.
Good Lord forbid; 'gainst whom?

Const.
This City Castle;
and by a few of Romish Recusants
thinke to subvert the true reformed Gospell:

Critiz.
How? our owne fast friends, that were a jest indeed
past my beliefe;

Const.
Be not incredulous:

Citiz.
How can I choose,
but frame my thoughts like a confused Chaos;
to thinke, these men who by exteriour signes
and loving conversations, threw their hearts
into our armes, nay more I might expresse:
but that I see, all proves a fained friendship,
and our joynt love's turn'd to a mortall hate;

Const.
'Tis much, much feared, wee'll find it so e're long,
written in Characters of blood.

1. Sold.
Silence:
the Lords themselves doe come, to give their best
advice;

Enter Pitho, Berosus, Mayor, Recorder.
Pitho.
Wee call'd you hether, to make knowne
the danger, that now, even now is reveal'd,
wherefore so true we conceive you be, that
with all speed you goe unto each port, and see
them strongly guarded, with strict command that
none on paine of death shall issue forth, untill
a true & perfect search be made throughout
this Citie, for as we credibly are inform'd,
Guyrva with all his rude conspirators,
are at this instant in a doubtfull feare
to be discovered; the guilt of such a heynous
fact doubtlesse betrayes them; Worthy friends, then
slake not your endeavours; the hast which this
great businesse now requires, admitts no leisure
to stirre your willingnesse with th'effectuall
speech of our just cause; that toucheth not your
persons only; but aymes at the Crowne of
our dread Soveraigne; and to imbase this
Kingdomes glory, beneath the hollow concave
of their Popish faction; this wee thought fit
to adde unto your now intended care,
not doubting yours, nor these your brethrens love
to him, this waightie matter most concernes:

Record.
Sir, we really intend; (far from vaine glory
be it spoken) to uphold this Cities
ancient fame, that hitherto hath noblie
borne, the tytle of a pure unspotted towne;
when treason came as nie to cut you off,
our fidelity did then expulse your foes
and with the trophies of their bloodie spoyle
return'd victorious, this we did, and are
as willing yet to manifest the same
so farre as heart and life can shew the dutie
of allegiance:

Bero.
Them Noble acts renders
you famous to posterity; nor did
th'Angolean princes prove ungratfull
for that service, as your faire City charter
can approve,

Reco.
It is acknowledg'd their royall
bounty, wherefore we that doe live will strive
to give as great a lustre to th'Angolean
nation, as our renowned ancestors
have done, in this we rest, O Lord decree
our willing powers may curb this treacherie.

Exeunt omnes preter Pitho & Bero.
Pitho.
Now kinde brother your grave experience
must direct, what is most needfull to be done;

Bero.
The chiefest care whereto our watchfull eye
should bar from future mischiefe, this strong fort
by heavens protection is secured, therein disabling
our insulting foes hence forward to proceed:

Pitho.
Then are our feares extinct?

Bero.
Not so, deere Sir,
the tempest threatens our ruin still; for
'tis a maxime warlike leaders use, not
to despise the weaknesse of their foes, which
else might give advantage to their designe
as many woefull presidents there are
within the limitts of my youthfull dayes:
(too tedious now to nominate,) for sixtie
odde yeares past, since first I practis'd arms, in
the Hiberean warres, when Tyrona ledd on by
some vaine prophesie or other, did strive
by dint of sword to assure himselfe the Northern
Crowne, with much expence of blood at length
t'h Angolean forces cool'd his pride, and made his
haughtie courage stoope unto a base ignoble
flight, yet now me thinks the terrour of this
sudden hell-bred newes, strikes neere my heart, then
all the legions of his furious traine, could
at that instant when Black-water-Fort, prov'd
fatall to the most and best of ours:

Pitho.
We then like prudent Statesmen must observe,
some fit occasion may endeere the Palans
to side with us, untill our powers encrease
with new supplyes from the grand Parliament

Bero.
Your advice is good,
but we are the valiant stout Osirus here,
we then could best proceed; yet fearing least
the pilfring Mountaniers doe fire the suburbs,
'twere not amisse, if we employed that warlike
Leader brave Carola, Cola, with whom five
hundred of our best and ablest men to front
the foe at home; Now friend; from whence thy newes?

Enter a Post with Letters.
Post.
From Adrohna;

Pitho.
How fares the Governor?

Post.
In health, an please your Lordship.

Bero.
Is the noble Lord Tigranes in safetie?

They peruse the letters.
Post.
The same my Lord:

Bero.
It must not be difer'd a minute longer;
goe hast thee to the governor againe,
and tell him six hundred men compleatly
arm'd shall forthwith march to strengthen him,
and further bid him be of comfort, he
shall not want, what's needfull;

Post.
I will not faile
to returne your Lordships answer,

Bero.
Brother,
we must withdraw to hasten what is promist
we should incurre a lasting scandall else:

Exeunt
A march is beaten, then Enter Athenio, Mineus, Aretas Dora, Theodorike and Lentimos.
Athenio.
Now that our army is advanch'd thus farre,
within the confines of our trembling foes
whilst yet their scattered troupes lye all dismaid,
wee'l pitch a field in view of yon proud towne,
and stoutly summon them within to yeeld,
or traine them forth, moved which a bould defiance,
wherein wee may expresse an ardent zeale
to right our natives slavery, and stop
the current of their puritan designe
intended for our totall ruine;

Mineus.
Brave man at armes, thy invincible spirit
adds more furie to the justnesse of our cause,
then when I recollect a memory
of Guyrva's sad misfortune, through some prodigious
starre, ominus to poore Lirenda still,
yet if undanted resolution may
advance the drooping state, of this our native
Clime, let him not prosper will not prosecute
that base, perfidious, Puritanicall
faction, enemies to God, our mild
and gracious Soveraigne:

Aretas.
I will not boast what
my intentions are, nor derive an active
power from my owne selfe conceit, No Noble
friends and fellow peeres in armes, my ambition's
fixt on them powers above, from whence I
have a heart both true and loyall, consecrated
to the service of this pious warre, in
proofe whereof, (vouchsafe me but that honour)
i'le be the first shall scale those feeble walls
and raze yon loftie turretts to the ground,
or dye in the adventure,

Dora.
Forbeare Aretas
promise no more then thousands will beside
we are departed from our home, under
the conduct of a happy leader, to whom
as to the publique good we owe the tender
of life, estate and fortune, for royall Carola
his just prerogatives, wrested from him
by an elected crew of shamelesse Round-heads;
wherefore lets once againe confirme our vow
in his defence, that is most deere unto us;

Athe.
The motions good, joyne hands & hearts together
They draw.
Now God defend this kingdome by our powers
whilst we are for our gracious king, and yours:

Omnes.
Grant this, O Lord Amen, Amen, O Lord.

And kisse the hilts
Athe.
The squadrons now must quarter in due order,
Dora take you the charge thereof, my selfe,
Mineus, and Aretas will see if threats
or promises will best prevaile, th'obdurato
Newters to side with us:

Enter a Scout.
Scout.
Arme Sirs, arme, arme,
an army of well appointed Angoleans
march directly hither;

Athe.
Never more joyfull newes,
come my hearts cheer up; hearken this welcome
March a farre off.
sound, invites your valour, be not found dismaid
although your foes be arm'd, the most of ours
all naked men, ne're train'd to any seemely
posture

Theod.
What troopes will you appoint to give
the charge?

Athe.
Lentimos, and you Theodorike must lead
a partie forth, wee'l follow after
with them we shall conceive expedient

Theod.
Shine happy starres, propitious fate direct us,
Come, lets away, heaven will I hope protect us

Exeunt alarums
A good while after the Alarums begun, Enter Albinus and Celar, severally their weapons drawne.
Celar.
Whither shall we fly, Captain Albinus
make hast away, or we are lost for ever,
our ranks are broken by the bloodie foe
that like so many cruell Tygers rage
and slaughter all they meet, with ruth full groanes
of dying men the aire is fill'd, and death
in triumph waites upon our vanquisht forces.

Alb.
I scorne to flinch, or leave my harmelesse men
a prey to them whose cruelty extends
beyond the bounds of human nature;
of my estate they have deprived me else,
so most of those we have now seene lye dead
then to revenge that wrong I led them forth,
and to that end ile stay; my life's no more
but lost argments the summe of their large score:

Celar.
Our Serjeant Major hath forsooke the field,

Alb.
More Coward he;

Celar.
Shall we submit or yeeld;

Albin.
Neither; you may in that your pleasure doe.

Celar.
As you resolve so I will stand to it to;

Enter Theodericke & Lentimos.
Theo.
See where Albinus stands, as if he meant
to conquer all.

Alb.
Come on Traytor.

Theo.
Thou lyest.
base slave, that proud word shall cost thee deerely.

Lent.
An equall match come, man to man;

Theod.
Fall backe good sir,
doe you pursue the rest that flyes amaine:
Exit. Lent.
have at you Sirs.
They fight, Celar flyes, and Albinus is kill'd.
packe hence thou wretched soule, goe downe to stix,
there learne of Tantalus what is't to strive,
against the streame, for which he starves alive.

Exit.
The body is taken off, then enter Pitho, Berosus, Osirus, Cola, and Tibernus.
Pitho.
When first this unexpected newes was brought us
we little thought it would clime to that height,
or that there were such tyrannie intended,
against the miserable Northerne Subjects
but since we doe (unto our griefes) behold
the sad disaster of our dearest friends

Cola.
Expect no better measure at their hands
if their emperious pride be not abated;

Pitho.
'twill come too late I feare,

Osir.
'twish a fable,
let damn'd Medæa raise her spitefull charmes,
from the depth of th'infernall sootie caves,
or from grim Pluto's court conjure a number
of armed furies, this horrid crew, were
they more strong then hell is deepe, our just cause,
cryes at th'impartiall throane of God for aide,
to affront and keepe in awe, these bold usurpers
of our Soveraigne's power;

Pith.
Most nobly spoken:

Bero.
To thinke otherwise we should wrong our selves,
had we not lost our expectations
for some private guilt, against the deity
my cause of knowledge being sad and heavy,
for the late army we sent forth they say,
received a fatall overthrow,

Osir.
Be not dismaid, thinke not the dismall sight
of our defeated troupes, shall strike us silent
or rent our fortunes with an odious tearme
of Coward feare, 'tis a base deformed object.
a scandall for posteritie to blot
our fame, No my Lord, as yet my hopes hath life,
by the same president in other stout
commanders, witnesse Bellona's darling,
invincible Cæsar (whose fame and valour
did spread over the girdled orb, unto
the Antipodes, Darius, Priam, the
Macedonian King, with infinit others
impertinent to nominate these potent
conquerors I say, were subject to the like
misfortunes, yet notwithstanding afterwards
have been victorious; And why not wee?

Bero.
Our case, my Lord, is weake and desperate;

Osir.
For shame cast off them looks of sadd dispaire,
it ill beseemes your calling, time, or place
an occasion seldome lesse needfull,
without a further consultation: come,
let's goe immediatly claspe on our coates
of steell, and dare the traytors to their face,
whil'st I doe animate and lead up the rest
of our decayed forces: Courage as then,
a little sparke may lighten all againe:

Pitho.
Since your undanted spirit must needs forward,
then be as prosperous as Hannibal
when he conveyed his army o're the mounting
Alps, or like the sonne of Iove, when Giants
impudence did invade the heavens

Exeunt omnes preter Cola.
Cola.
My hearts,
as good as theirs, had I equall power, ide
teare the fabricke of this world asunder,
my fury like Ioves violent thunder
should blast the earth farre worse then Phæton
in his heedles course, what would I not have done,
what Kingdomes ransackt till I had my will
of these on whom I ground my hatred still:

Exit.
Enter Athenio, Mineus, Aretas and Dora: They take their Seates.
Athe.
To satisfy the nice conceit of those
who judge our actions as their fancies are,
our taking armes shall to the world appeare
a just and naturall defence in us
when to His Majesty, ther's not the least
conceit of any harme once meant, either
in's Royall person Crowne or dignitie;

Min.
So farre we still expresse our selves my Lord,
for in this protection is layd forth
the motives whereon wee chiefely ground this warre
next with a tender care we doe reserve
all that concernes our soveraignes right, to
the Lirendean Crowne, therein excluding
all forraigne power, all Princes whatsoever:

Athe.
If such a Covenant we had not made;
No Cæsar, Scipio, Hanniball, nor that
worlds conqueror proud Macedon, were their
expired dates renewed againe, could not,
nay should not subdue the gentry of Lirenda
from their obedience to th'Angolean King,
most firme and true since mighty Cheapstow did
conduct us hither;

Aretas.
Nor doe we now intend a base revolt
had Rome's majestique throne command it so
my humble answer faith
give Cæsars due, to God thy heart and faith;

Dora.
That was indeed the chiefe occasion first
that moved us joyne with them.

Athe.
And will maintaine it
whil'st life breathes in this corps of mine,

Mine.
And mine,

Aret.
We are resolv'd to live and die together.

Enter a Messenger.
Messen.
May it please your Lordships, one Theodorike
desires admittance to your Lordships presence:

Athe.
Goe give him entrance, good man hispaines, are
Exit Messeng.
great to draw the Commons forth.

Mine.
Such friends as him we need.

Dora.
The more his praise.

Enter Theodoricke.
Athe.
Welcome Theodoricke.

Theo.
Then know my Lords, with paines unspeakable
I've drawne together, of mine my neere allyes
their servants, friends and tenants, a thousand
able men, at Rufus quarters, in a fit
readines to doe you service, when further
know, our scouts for certaine doe report, that
fifteen hundred desperate bloodie rogues
under the command of Sir Daretas, at
Medra haven are landed, beside one
Collonell Crambich, (a branch of the cursed
tribe in Pickland) is trusted with the leading
of a thousand chosen men, all Citizens,
with whom, by true intelligence, Sir Carola
intends t'expulse us from our native dwellings,
with such a savage spleen, men, women, infants
on their mothers pape, are vowed to be kild;

Athe.
That project crusheth all, Notwithstanding
cosen, and Collonell (a title not worth
the least of thy applauded meritts,)
returne, with such small forces as you have
give Cola a manfull skermish, and we
shall speedily unto your aide.

Theo.
To my
griefe I speake it, the campe hath scarce a dozen
pound of powder.

Aret.
Heaven will strengthen thee.

Athe.
Here take this sword, and use't against our foes.

Theod.
Vpon their carcasses ile spare no blowes,
farewell my Lords, Theodorike will goe,
expose his fate against your powerfull foe;

Exit.
Enter Florilla, Dulis, Pulchrina and Ellenora.
Ellen.
Yonder they are Madam.

Dul.
My thinkes they lacke
them pleasant smiles of mirth, that like so many
radiant beames of Sol, gave comfort to
the gloomy shade of our disquiet thoughts.

Flor.
Why therefore we doe now presume this visit
hoping we may at least disperse them cares
that we suspect doth seize them unawares

Dora.
Behold my Lords, who comes?

Flor.
We are discover'd;
health to your Lorships.

They rise.
Athe.
Welcome faire Ladyes all.

Pulch.
Must we demande your licence to entrude.

Athe.
'Twere needlesse; your beauties are sufficient
to claime a greater favour.

Dulis.
Sir you know,
'tis the desire of love, fond women doe
so much regard, that overcome with joy,
you men esteemes it as a needlesse toy,
and may perhaps our kindesse now expresse
in the harsh language of ungratfulnesse:

Athe.
Your will my deere,

Dulis.
Is only to be merry this new yeere,
for Christmas being now well neere expir'd
without the comfort of your usuall mirth,
what joy have we, what sorrowes can prevent
when in your looks the mappe of discontent:

Mine.
It lyes beyond the reach of female wit,
to sound the cause that doth occasion it,

Dul.
Howsoever some short time wee'l borrow,
to curb the mischiefe of a sudden sorrow;

Florill.
Our musicke hath of late unto them given,
a song, penn'd by a friend that doth protest
he loves this Nation deerely, in whose brest
such deepe affection by their kindnesse came
that he doth honour and respect the name;

Athe.
This makes you to affect it so.

Dulis.
Love bindes us to it.

Flor.
Will you be pleased to heare it then?

Athe.
Yes, and with thanks to.

[Flor., Dulis., Pulch.]
THE SONG.

Dulis.
How like you this?

Mine.
A perfect good one, Ladie;

Flor.
Seeing the Poets fancie hath pleas'd you thus,
wee crave the like respect, which granted us,
shall not divert you long from them affaires
whereto we see you are enclin'd to most
how like you of a dance my Lords.

Mine.
Fairest beautie,
none dares denie, when you expresse the law
that keepes offending lovers most in awe.

Flor.
It merits not this complement, your love,
in this, is that which we desire to prove,
some musicke there.

Musicke and the Lords and Ladyes dance.
Athe.
believe me this was neatly done,

Mine.
And gave us much contentment.

Dora.
Ladies a banquet.
after this to entertaine our Noble friends.

Flor.
If that small worth you thinke will please your friend,
leade on the way my Lords and wee'l attend.

Exeunt omnes preter Ellenora.
Elle.
Goe, goe spend the remnant of your happy dayes,
whil'st I with silent griefe doe vent my thoughts,
thoughts able to dismay a minde most resolute
if what a maidens braine conceives will take
effect, our woefull houres are posting on;
we may be confident Angolias furie,
arm'd with a mortall hatreds ready bent
to mischiefes, void of pittie, with pretence,
this cruell rage is in their owne defence,
least we who have been still as slaves to them
should now endeavour to regaine our owne
religion, lawes, and liberty, this, O this
it feares me will produce more inhuman
acts, then ever brutish Nero did invent:
oh, oh, silly, heart, why doest thou figure forth
so strange a forme? silence no more, no more,
let not the aire be private to thy griefe,
fearing some fatall starre, approves thy speech
propheticall; and make these thoughts in fact
a mournfull Chorus to the following act:

Exit.