University of Virginia Library

The third Act.

Enter Cola in a fury.
Cola.
Plague choake him for a gracelesse villen, not
a minutes ease my restlesse fancie had,
since first I understood my dismall fate,
ha, is this your prophecie, good man halter?
is this my fortune? Sir, you will be lost
He reads.
in this warre, by the hands of one you least
suspect, before you shall returne againe:
Must my labour, my zealous labour be,
requited with a death I most abhorre,
not that I feare grim death base conjurer,
but that a Lirendean slave should vanquish
me, and glorie in my overthrow, O, O,
O, damn'd divells incarnate, if die I must
my life shall cost ten thousand lives accurst

Enter Tibernus.
Tiber.
There's at least a score of arch-traitors sent to
towne, whereof one Cephalon.

Cola.
Ha, Brukill I hope,

Tibe.
The very same;

Cola.
God's blessing on thy heart,
for this good newes; a very rogue in graine.

Tibe.
There is another old Commander, whom
they call Lieutenant-Collonell Rufus, one
can disclose more then a hundred more,

Cola.
I'le serue
it out of his old bones i'faith: good Tibernus
fetch them hither.

Tibe.
Them all?

Cola.
No, none but that paire
of cunning rogues: desire the Constable
to yoake the rest, they cannot be secure,
Exit Tibe.
enough, but these shall to the racke without redemption.

Enter Tibernus, Cephalon, Ruffus and Souldiers.
Tiber.
Cleere the way there, for the prisoners, ho,

Cola.
Are you there Sirs? have you brought Magna Charta,
to reprive you from the gollowes? ha

Ceph.
No,
His Majesty's more gracious.

Cola.
What, what, to
pardon a rable of disloyall Cut-throates,
a nimble actor of this bold Commotion?

Ceph.
I never was.

Cola.
I say thou lyest traytor.
and sate in chiefe commission.

Ceph.
Never in my life.

Cola.
Better confesse.

Ceph.
What I did not?

Cola.
The racke shall force thee then.

Ceph.
Mercy great Sir supports his royall throne
from whence your glories are derived, and is
th'admired Emblem of heroicall vertue
disperst throughout the world, wherein his highnesse
like a prince composed of goodnes, would not
his subjects ruin, but rather have his
mercy eminent, as himselfe is good

Cola.
Rugh curres, now y'are glad to fawne, when hetherto
'twas lofty bragges yee stood on, a treacherie
I'le trample into dust, and make you know,
before we part, what homage you doe owe:

Ruf.
Sir, for my selfe thus much I will confesse,
not that I feare thy racke or tortures Cola,
for why they shall no more then what I freely
speake, I was indeed employed by the state
of Lirenda, poore discontented Lirenda;
to make knowne their woefull grievance to his
Sacred Majestie, which had he knowne, doubtlesse
his royall soule would grieve to heare th'unheard of
crueltie; thy squadrons exercise:

Cola.
I tell thee doting traytor they are justly
serv'd.

Ruf.
How, traytor?

Cola.
I traytor to thy face I speake it.

Ruf.
Even to thy selfe I doe returne the same.

Cola.
How captious they thwart me with insulting
language; leade them to execution straight.

Tibe.
First use the racke.

Cola.
He dyes.

Tibe.
Let me beseech you Sir.

Cola.
At thy request it shall be so.

Tibe.
The racke sirs, ho:

The Souldirs fetch in the racke.
Ruf.
Before that engine of inveterate
malice comes, vouchsafe me hearing; I claime
a double priviledge; first the benefit
of your late printed Proclamation
Osirus promise next I should have quarter,
such as became a martiall man to have,
which now we humbly offer your acceptance.

Cola.
Dissembling Crocodile, thy hidden spleene
shall not corrupt justice by invective
flattery, no vipers no, a world of
tortures are more requisite.

Ceph.
Let Mercy
mittigate your rage.

Cola.
Presume to speake againe,
and by my soveraignes hand you both shall hang.

Ruf.
That were an act like thy selfe.

Tibe.
Come sirs you must unloose with expedition

Ceph.
Is that the recompence of our submission,
will neither honour, faith, nor pittie move thee.

Cola.
He stirres my choller, will none obey my will
I'le teare each limme my selfe asunder, unlesse
with speed he suffer?

Tibe.
Doe not provoke him Sir.

Cephalon is layd on the racke and drawne.
Ceph.
Heaven grant us patience then.

Cola.
A standish Sirs:
take now th'examination as he speakes it;

Ceph.
Hold, hold, for Christs sake hold; the torment's great.

Cola.
Did'st not thou conspire to surprize the Castle?

Ceph.
Yes, yes, I did.

Cola.
And went to severall parts
of the kingdome for powder?

Ceph.
I did, I did.

Cola.
Wast not thou private to their consultations?

Ceph.
Very true.

Cola.
Did not you then intend, to
extirpate all th'Angolean Protestants,
to disposesse our Soveraigne of his Crowne,
to usurpe the government of Lirenda?

Ceph.
My conscience cannot accuse them so,

Cola.
'Tis false thou sayest:

Ceph.
O no, no, no:

Cola.
Rack up the villen higher yet, till he
confesse, confesse I bid thee.

Ceph.
Torments force me,
to acknowledge that was never done.

Cola.
How, how?

Ceph.
I doe confesse what you demand is true.

Cola.
Write that Tibernus, when thy rebellious
kinsmen and thy selfe, would carouse and feast,
you wish'd my head among you there,

Ceph.
We did,

Cola.
For which thou shalt a twist up higher yet.

Ceph.
Then as you hope for mercy Sir forbeare,
my paines intollerable; oh I die.

Cola.
Now take him off, your turne comes next.

Ruf.
In vaine
you seeke to force me Sir, since what I speake
shall be through feare not truth: nor will refuse
to answer the least syllable you aske.

Cola.
Expect no favour 'tis denyed thee:

Ruf.
Such
favour mayst thou at thy last judgment finde:
Rufus is laid on the Racke & drawn,
O cruell tyrant, will no remorse of
conscience enter thy blacke soule to see,
my aged limbes thus rent with tyrannie?

Tibe.
Better confesse, then languish on the racke,

Ruf.
I can no more then what unto the Councell
else I did.

Cola.
Higher with him: confesse in hast,
or by great Iove i'le racke thy life away,

Ruf.
Take it, O take my wretched life away,
so it appease thy furie, no toungue can tell
what torments I endure?

Tib.
He faintes an please you.

Cola.
Let him faint and hang to, no great matter,
a doting proud obdurate foole, will not
confesse, goe take them hence unto the jayle;

4. Sould.
Your pleasure shall be done.

2. Sould.
Zlid, search their pockets.

3. Sould.
'twill make us swill boyes, swill boyes merily

2. Sould.
Thanke me for that, good man dunse, or it should
walke to the Constable againe.

1. Soul.
His shallow Coxcomb,
had not the wit to thinke on't.

3. Sould.
However anon
wee'll be as joviall lads, as cup and can.

Exeunt.
Cola.
The rests shall be used with like severitie.

Tib.
'Twere wisely done of you.

Enter Souldiers leading in two Countreymen.
Cola.
Who have you there?

1. Sould.
Two rogues with each a bag of salt we tooke,
going to supply their wants abroad,

Cola.
You have done well,
to intercept the knaves:
goe bid the Provost Marshall execute
them presently:

1. Sould.
Come away, come an' be hang'd.

Man.
Where master?

1. Soul.
To be hang'd that's plaine English,

Man.
I trow no, for what Agra?

1. Sould.
The gallowes will
instruct you better, come an' be hang'd, come.

Exeunt.
Enter Belfrida.
Tibe.
Behold your chiefe spie is return'd Sir Carola.
your Argos, your pretty tell tale Mercury,

Belf.
First, arme your grave thoughts with attentive patience,
least what I speake might prove offensive to you,
your foes doe daily expect from Spaine, France
and the Low-Conntreyes, plentie of all fit
ornaments of warre, as powder, bullet, match,
musketts, petternalls, and such like, moreover
many valiant brave Commanders.

Cola.
Hell take them first,
a brood of most disloyall vipers, ha,
what peremptorie slave durst tell this fable?

Belfr.
Them who invoke your happy fates, for certaine
did approve it upon oath, and further said,
one Dictus went for that expected ayd:

Cola.
What is he gone to Sea?

Belfr.
Yes gone to Sea.

Cola.
A blister build on thy tongue foule serpent
Tibernus thou lovest me,

Tibe.
My heart and life is yours.

Cola.
Speed after good Tibernus in all post,
send forth a power to watch at every coast,
perhaps he lurkes in hollow caves abroad,
till winde and tide doth serve, whil'st this base rascall,
(corrupted with a golden bribe,) will not
reveale his private haunt.

Belfr.
Sir, if I have
offended pardon me:

Cola.
By heavens I will not,
put him into the Provost Marshalls custodie,
till further order comes from us; Tibernus
charge Amphilus on his life to scoure the Seas,
and let the harvest be destroyed.

Exeunt.
Tibe.
It shall.

Cola.
What Hercules can remove this mountaine
of enraged passions from my heart? O now
it nothing fitts my care to speake but thunder
or take into my throate the trumpe of Heaven,
with whose determinate blasts the winde shall
burst, that blew his sailes aloft, and th'enraged
Seas consume their foamy waves, that will not
let his vessell sinke, whereby my care might
be disperst, void of suspicion, ascending
from, this wicked plot unseene, a poysoned
plot sufficient to infect the world; when
they doe shew themselves the worst of men:

Exit.
Enter Elleonora, pursued by a Souldier his sword drawne.
Sould.
Stay harlot stay, or by the heavens above,
I'le neither spare thee for reward nor love:

Elleo.
Pittie oh pittie friend my woefull case,
my parents are by thee already slaine,
what would my loathsome life availe thee then,
kinde heart relent, relent if any sparke
of civill grace be in thee.

Sould.
Z'blood and wounds,
unlesse thou yeelds me freely thy virginity
I'le pierce thy brest with this remorselesse steele;

Elleo.
I scorne thy hellish motion: hands of rude divell
or I'le convince thee with a chast deniall
like vertues darling faire Susanna.

Sould.
Here's needlesse
fustian trow mistris twitle, twatle, what now?
nay friske about the sinquapace, all's one;
thou strivest in vaine to hinder my desires,
yeeld, yeeld speedily.

Elleo.
Never whilst I live:
helpe, helpe,

Enter another Souldier.
2. Sould.
I come to helpe away your
maiden-head, if't be not lost already.

Elle.
More furies yet,

2. Sould.
And more, if need require,

Elleo.
O beastly filthy lewdnesse,
will no compassion move you? O kill mee
kill me sooner then bereave me of a
modest fame, see these eyes dimme with distilling,
teares, that never knew to weepe till this sad
houre, yet would some pitty crave from your hard
hearts, oh honest friends hearken to my griefes,
let not your better sence be deafe unto
the woefull plaints of a distressed maiden

1. Sould.
Who hath a nimble tongue, and pratles strangely,

2. Sould.
And as strong as a witch.

She struggles with them.
Elle.
Helpe, helpe in time,
some helpe from heaven, helpe me yee powers divine.

Enter Theodoricke.
Theod.
Me thinkes I hard not very farre from hence
some woefull Creatures to lament and greeve,
crying a loud for helpe, as 'twere,

Elleo.
Helpe, helpe;

Theod.
Some ravisht virgin did emplore my aide,
I'le therefore search this silent desert thorow
untill I find from whence proceeds, this heavy
dolefull crye:

Elleo.
'Tis shame to use a maiden thus.

1. Sould.
Zwounds jade talke not of shame to us,

2. Sould.
Stab the queane;

1. Sould.
Z'life that's the way this pettish harlot will,
affront us else.

Elleo.
Oh stay thy murdering hand:
murder, murder:

2. Soul.
A shee divell by God: canst not kill her troe:

He spies them.
Theod.
Direct me heaven, O that in time I may
bestow my helpe: ha, what base inhuman fray
is this? I did suppose as much, when first,
her shrill laments did pierce the aire, and sent
into my soule a deepe conceit of pittie,
ha, two to one weake creature drench in teares,
trust me, the oddes is much, and marvaile shee
held out so long; well name of God, i'le forward,
fly shamelesse villens fly, if not, by heavens
I'le force your flight, & thus revenge her wrong:

He strikes at them
1. Sould.
Rascall thou shalt deerely repent that blow.

Theod.
Release that Ladie first, I claime her mine,
if not, be sure this blade's as sharpe as thine.

He drawes.
1. Sould.
We meane not Sir at your request to flinch
as if we feared thy lofty threats, no, no
proud loytring scab, get thee away in time,
or thou shalt rue the houre, and curse the day,
in seeking to deprive us of our pray.

Theod.
Vntie her speedily base pilfring rogues,
or by them powers above, youle soone repent,
the wrong you doe this harmelesse innocent:

Elleo.
Rescue, O rescue Noble Sir, a virgin,
ready to be deprived of such a treasure,
once lost, the world cannot repaire againe.

Theod.
Faire beautie be of comfort, I'le fight for thee:
Come ruffians come, come quench your bloodie thirst,
my heart's the fountaine drinke, drinke till y'are burst,
if your insatiate lust be not yet coole,
I'le soone extinguish that in human flame,
why gape you thus, whil'st valour may be had,
charge both at once.

1. Sould.
Z'life sure the fellowes mad,

2. Sould.
Let him goe to, wee'l cure his frenzie fitts,
or make him be more lunatike in's wits.
They fight, one is presently kill'd, the other soone after.
Quarter, quarter, good Sir give me quarter,

Theod.
The very same that all thy bloody tribe
doth give my Countreymen, when they submit
their fainting lives upon a faithlesse promise:
goe, meet thy brothers soule poore naked rogue,
where greedie Charon waites to waft him ore,
unto great Belzibubs infernall shore;
Now be at libertie: give thanks to God therefore.

Elleo.
His Majesty I'le praise for evermore,
and you for this excessive kindnes thanks,
O thankes kinde heart, ten thousand thanks I give thee,
wishing that heavens may shoure perpetuall
blessings on thee:

Theo.
Deare heart relate the legend
of thy misfortune.

Elleo.
Sir, my griefes would rent
a heart of marble, were it sensible of
them grosse abuses done (perhaps) unto
your owne deere friends as well as mine: oh Cola,
that mounster tyrant Cola, his barbarous
command, no civill thought but thought but must lament
to thinke ont, a Turke could not more brutish
villaine then he, and to a kingdome
(good God,) that raised both him and his from nothing,
my aged Father, Mother, Brother, Sisters all,
all my deere friends were basely murdered by him,
when having notice of ther bloodie ends,
feare lead me hither, supposing I was
free from danger, but oh it almost proved
a theater of rape and murder, had
not your valour ransom'd my hard fate;
To these I did a shoure of liquid teares
present in lieu of what they sought, but would not doe:
when my chiefe comfort was the gods, oh they,
would then transforme me like to Niobes,
my griefes Ide most happy had I beene,
then Metamorphos'd like that mournfull queene;

Weepes.
Theod.
Faire beautie doe not wast them Christall streames,
that to a lovers minde more precious is
then Mida's wealth?

Elle.
Perswade me not,

Theod.
I will:

Elleo.
Reason enjoynes me to obey your will,
with all them dutifull respects I owe,
your most accomplisht vertue.

Theod.
Then you reward
my small endeavours highly: come my faire
prisoner, wherein more freedome we may
dispence with fullen, griefe a while, prethee
letts to the next adjacent garison
and as (without selfe spraise) I late did shield
thee from the furie of these slaves, so under God
I'le be thy safeguard thither, whence may proceed,
some kinde refreshment to poore soules in need.

Exeunt.
The bodyes are taken off; then Enter foure Souldiers.
1. Sould.
Come along brother Souldiers, the round, the round.

2. Sould.
Zlid Sirs, where is the best pillage found?

1. Sould.
At hangmans lane end, where market-folks
with store of belliware, of force must passe,

3. Sould.
Zlid my teeth waters else, there, let's goe there boys,

1. Sould.
Masse alls but need never so payd in our dayes,
with mouldie scraps of cheese, and butter, with
as many collours as the rainbow in't:
well my heart's in hope we shall feast merrily
anon, let's be joviall, a fit of our
owne mirth, then to the worke my lads.

2. Sould.
What shall we have?

1. Sould.
What but Lord Pitho's song?

2. Soul.
Your voice is best, begin.

THE SONG.
1. Sould.

Omnes.

2. Sould.

Omnes.

3. Sould.

Omnes.

Enter a Traveller.
1. Sould.
Silence gentlemen, stand cleere, yonder comes
a traveller.

2. Sould.
I'le dive into his pocket straight;

3. Sould.
His cloake is mine already,

4.
And if his felt
be worth the taking, from whence come you Sir?

Trav.
Who gives authoritie to question me,

1. Sould.
Povertie bids us to examine you,
canst lend us money friend?

Trav.
Not a pennie.

2. Sould.
Wilt thou bestow some on us then?

They rifle him.
Trav.
Forbeare, forbeare;

1. Sould.
Wee must change cloakes,

3. Sould.
Your felt is good I see,

Trave.
You will not deale thus shamefully I troe?

1. Sould.
Get thee gone, begone, or I will make thee goe.

Trav.
With a light purse, and a heavy heart,

Exit.
1. Sould.
See, see, 'tis waightie, silver O my conscience
well, wee'll share anon, good lucke attend us.
Enter a Maide servant.
Who comes next?

4. Sould.
A maid with something in her lappe.

1. Sould.
Stirre not a foote, she comes directly this way:
what ha'st thou here sweet heart?

Maid.
Nothing for you.

1. Sould.
What need you be so coy? 'tis ne're the worse
wee see't.

Maid.
Nor much the better neither: loe
'tis bread and meate my mistris sent me for
unto the market.

2. Sould.
Your mistris put not
a crum of this into her chappes by God.

Maid.
Thou louzie, filching rogue, let goe my meate,
or I will to thy captaine presently
complaine: cannot folkes passe the streets for you?

2. Sould.
There's thy napkin, we scorne basenesse.

Maid.
Basenesse.
base rogues, what are you else?

3. Sould.
Do'st call us rogues.

Maid.
Your actions speakes it so.

2. Sould.
Z'life trull begon
or I will kicke thee home: an angrie spider
to grumble for a little victualls thus:

3. Sould.
Get home scold, get home.

They beat her off.
Enter a Gentleman.
4. Sould.
A prize, a prize:

1. Sould.
Stand close, for if he spies us hee'll drop in
some house or other: Save you Sir.

Gent.
And you likewise;

2. Sould.
Kinde Sir, regard a Souldiers want, something
to drinke, your bounty Sir,

Gent.
There's twelve pence for yee;

2. Sould.
In earnest of a greater summe, your leave Sir;

Gent.
Keepe off, you are too forward Sirs;

1. Sould.
Draw if you dare,
an thou lovest thy life stirre not:

Gent.
I am a Protestant.

2. Soul.
Be what you will, all's one to us sweet Sir:

They rifle him.
Gent.
Restore my purse, and I'le part with it freely,

2. Sould.
An' if we doe the King shall know it; ha, ha.

Gent.
I must share with mine owne,

3. Sould.
You looke to be beaten.
I see that, goe to the Councell complaine,
tell Pitho an himselfe were here I'de doe as much.

Gent.
There's no contesting with these desperate knaves.

Exit
1. Sould.
Ha ha brother, am not I a nimble lad?

3. Sould.
Fackings and that thou art,

4. Soul.
Grammercy bully,
how has learn'd the tricke ant?

2. Sould.
Ah to plunge into
a well lin'd pocket, no art
beyond it.

3. Sould.
Or to whip off a hatt or a cloake
and a wey-wit: but say what occupation
likes thee best?

4. Soul.
Warr's but a pedling figarie,
with a number of lowzie customers,
knocks, hunger, cold, thirst, the captain's-pay, a
disease that sore torment us, 'tis a most
unchristian purgation, some vermen too,
la, they creepe, bite, and keepes a damnable quarter
on my shoulders, an' I could shrug them off,
I'de ne're desire 'em on againe.

2. Sould.
No better
barrell better hering on us all, we can
sing the same song, to the tune of Lachrimæ,
but to the purpose.

4. Sould.
Faith mine jumpes right with
thine Bullie, 'tis a neate kinde of trade, we onely
borrow from those can spare it: yet I say
'tis more gentill far then three pence a day,

1. Sould.
Has hit the nayle i'th' head, come shake hands,
this day we thrive lads, to morrow againe
boyes, a short life and a merry Sirs, follow
your leader.

Omnes.
O brave Timothy, O rare Timothie.

Exeunt.
Enter Tigranes and Barbazella with a guard.
Barb.
If ere I did conspire with Cornet Brinfort,
or knew of his departure, before I was
inform, he went; O let me ne're behold,
Sun, Moone, Starres, or any Celestiall power,
that keepes due motion in their proper spheres

Tigr.
Perjured slut, thy complices are yet extant,
Whose owne confessions doe approve thy crime;

Barb.
Produce my accusers,

Tigr.
Them gentlemen
that now are in restraint for the same fact
speakes thy accomplisht willingnesse,

Barb.
O no.
doe not cast that foule aspersion on them,
so farre I doe presume their worth is such,
that death cannot urge them expresse as much,

Tigr.
This falshood shall in thy blood appeare,

Barb.
Noble Sir:
my fault as you have censured it, never
deserv'd the least of this God knowes: if innocence
may pleade my cause, no soule more wrong'd then I;

weepe.
Tigr.
Them teares resemble Synons trecherie
against old Priams Troy, wherefore 'tis said,
vice doth her just hate never more provoke,
then when she vailes it under vertues cloake:
discover Brinsforts plot immediatly
or as I live I'le spare no tortures on thee:

Bar.
Enjoyne my sinne some other penance, if truth
must not appeare t'acquit me from so foule
a scandall, hide, O hide, my loath'd face, in some
nastie gloomy dungeon; or hang in chaines
untill I eate the flesh, that ne're offended,
here then my naked brest, readie to receive
what you will scribe thereon; my blood will ferve
instead of inke, where if you please record,
how willingly I suffer'd for my Lord
and maker Christ.

Tigr.
For lustfull treason rather,
untill thou dost confesse, il'e write in wounds
fit characters to thy rightfull sufferance.

Here shee is drawne aloft, with burning matches between each finger.
Barb.
O kill me, kill me, doe but grant that favour,
be no more crueller then death, feele, O feele,
your heart's transform'd to stone, let my heart's blood
dissolve your selfe againe, else you'le become
the lively portraicture of tirannie;

Tigr.
Thus I expresse me yet,

Barb.
And yet I live:

Tigr.
All the torments hell can boast of shall be
inflicted on thee; not suddenly no,
but with a fretting paine vex thy desire,

Barb.
Thy cruell thoughts to hell's darke plagues aspire,
Iesu Redeemer of my soule, to thee
I must addresse my pittifull complaint,
when men rakes lesse remorse on contrite teares
then Tigers doe, thou knowest, O Lord; whither
my thoughts were ever guiltie of that crime
deserving this unheard of crueltie, but, O
eternall wisedome my griefe cryes at thy
watchfull eare for every, vouchsafe it may,
abate them torments that will last for aye.

1. Sould.
How resolute these pettish Papists are,
Aside.
she'd sooner let her fingers burne to th'bone,
then once reveale, a rebells base intention,

2. Sould.
Who was her sweet heart, and loved him deerely,

1. Sould.
Mas lad an seemes so;

Tigr.
Speake huswife, speake,

Barb.
What would you have me speake,

Tigr.
What Brinforts plot was in departing hence

Barb.
Aske me no more, I am a stranger in't:

Tigr.
Did ever man behold such impudence?
I know thou lyest;

Bar.
O be not thus incredulous,
Iewes, Turkes, Infidells, yes Heathens to, all
nations doe commiserate the dolefull
paines of them like me, nor will not urge them
further, once the fires exposed, but your beliefes
more strange then theirs.

Tigr.
Confesse, thou foolish wench confesse,
or I will cause new match to be applyed:

Bar.
Doe what you please, my God I trust will strengthen
me against thy hellish furie.

Tigr.
'Tis a folly.
to compell this slut I see, goe, take her off.
untill some evidence comes in against her.

Exeunt.