 | The Valiant Scot |  |
Act. II.
Enter Grimsbie, two or three followers, VVallace bound and hoodwinkt.Gr.
VVhat talk'st of Conscience? th'art an apparant rebell.
Wall.
How can he be a rebell was nere subject?
What right has Edward to the Crowne of Scotland
(The sword except) more then my selfe, or Grymsbie?
Gri.
What greater right then conquest?
Wall.
Then what cause,
Iuster then mine? respected Country man,
Thou hast beene nobly valued, and held ranke
With best deservers, look upon the wounds
And mortall stabs of that distressed breast
That gave thee suck; see thy poore brethren slaves,
Thy sisters ravisht, and all out-rages
That bloudy Conquest can give lycence to,
See this, and then aske Conscience if the man
That with his bloud seeks generall reformation
Deserves the name of Traitour,
Whither do'st leade me?
Gri.
To Northumberland
And Beaumont.
Wa.
Butchers do your worst,
Torture, I spit defiance in thy face,
And death, embrace thee with as kinde a narme
As if thou wert.
O. Wa.
Thy Father.
Peg.
And thy waife.
Wall.
In heaven or in a slumber, who resolves me?
Speake, am I dead, or living? or asleep?
Or all, or both, or neither? tell me fate.
Me thinks I see my Father, warlike Graham,
The Fryer, what Peggie too? I prethee joye
Do not ore-flow my sences, deerest friends
Pegg, Father, Coming, Mentith, Graham, see
I am new moulded, and here stands the creature
That by a warrant granted from the Queene
Form'd me from out a second Chaos breath'd
New life, new motions, new dimensions,
To tell the story were to shame the world,
And make all mankinde blush.
Peg.
May luive.
Gra., Fri.
Our prayers.
Com.
And all our friendship like a coat of steele
Stand betwixt him, and danger.
Wa.
All joyne hands,
Thus like a mountaine Cedar Wallace stands
Amongst a grove of friends, not to remove
For Edwards thunder, nor the frowne of Jove,
I'le hew the yoke from off my countries necke,
Or never house, this religious Fryer
Is a full witnesse to the sacred bond
Twixt heaven and me, which on my part I'le keep,
Or pay the forfeit with my bloud.
Fri.
Heaven shield
Many a tall wood oake beene fell'd
Ere Wallace stoope, heed Gentrid sawe
Fell Sotherne folk, many a crie,
Fray cradled barns, e're he shall flie,
Nurses sighes, and mothers tears
Shall swell the clouds, till thy awne bloud,
Prove false thilk Crag fall nere lig dead.
Wal.
Shall Wallace live till his owne bloud prove false,
Why, that can never be till palsey age
Hath thrust his icy fingers through my veins,
And frozen up the passages of bloud.
Com.
The town of Lavercke, peopled only with English pride
And overjoyed with thy surprizall are made drunk with mirth,
Bonefires, bels, banquets, and the devill and all
Invite our swords to their sad funerall.
Wal.
Close with advantage, put your selves in Armes,
And cease their forfeit lives, this holy Frien
Shall first bestow a matrimoniall band
Of our united love, and then my sword
Like winged lightning shall prepare a way,
To Lavercks doom.
Fri.
Nea marry, stay a wheane,
Dip not thy winyard in the weambe
Of Lavercks town, for giffe thou gange,
Thouse weark thy lives friend mickle wrang,
Thouse come back seafe, but barne I feare,
Ise never blinck upon thee meare.
Kneel till thy Sier his benuson crave,
Next duty bin till dig her grave,
Kisse, kisse thy Peg, for well a neer,
Thase amerous twins fall nere kisse mare,
Till in deaths armes they kisse, thilke stare
Stands writ in heaven and seal'd by fate.
Wal.
Then fate dissembles with mee, this the second time
She has by vision summon'd me to armes.
Exeunt.
Has.
Whom have you there?
Sel.
Seeking the cave for shelter,
See whom kind fare hath given us.
Has.
Trecherous Wallace,
The doting wizzard, and dissembling woman
Chief cause of this Rebellion, now revenge,
Clothe thee in crimson, and prepare to feast,
Wee'l tune such dismall musick, as shall dint,
Smiles in thy shallow cheeks.
Peg.
Alas, for wae,
What gars this Iewde? what ill intend ye man?
Has.
To make rebellion fatherlesse,
And murder a madding widdower.
O. Wal.
Oh, spare mine age.
Peg.
Pitie my beauty.
Fri.
My religion.
Sel.
Like pity, as thy barbarous sonne bestow'd
On my boyes life, ile print upon thy bosome.
Has.
Like pitie as thy husband pitilesse,
Took on the widdows tears, and Orphans cryes
That kist his, and hung about his knees
At Lavercks massacre, Ile shew on thee.
Sel.
Thus fell my sonne,
And thus the father of his murtherer fals.
Has.
Thus wither'd the pride of Laverck.
And thus fades the flower that caus'd their ruine.
Jef.
Thus religious cries
Exit Haslerig.
Were stopt with steele, and thus religion dies.
O. Wal.
Wallace, revenge me as thou art my sonne.
Peg.
Revenge thy wait.
Fri.
Revenge Religion.
Enter Haslerigg.
Has.
Thunderbolts and fire rampier your throats,
The slaves growne infinite,
And moves in every place at once,
Shift for your selves:
Proud Wallace reeking in the bloud of Lavercke,
Like a fierce tiger nurst in humane spoyle,
Pursues the slaughter, the barren hills lye strewed
With mangled limbes, such as the gentle night
Rescue from death, fall in the morning flight,
Then flye or fall for company,
Flie from a rebell, but fate keep true course,
Weele ebbe like flouds, to flow with stronger force.
Exeunt.
Enter Wallace all bloudy.
Wal.
Pursue the slaughter, whilst I, salvation shield me.
Fryer Gertrid answer me, what barbarous hand
Has cast my friend into this cold dead sweat,
Resolve me gentle Father, fellon death,
Tha'st acted sacrilegious burglary, and told my father.
O. W.
Wallace.
Wal.
No excuse.
Peg.
Ay sea husband.
Wall.
Intreat not, ye are guilty both.
And parties in the deerest robbery,
Then though my wife and father (mercy fate,)
Play not the tyrant with me, do not try
My sences bore their weake abilitie,
Cease to afflict me, or I shall turne Rebell,
And breathe invectives gainst thy power.
Peg.
O my deare Wallas for the luive waife,
For liuve of awe sawles, and thy daying waife,
Of all thy joyes the derne and dismawe end.
Wall.
Torture above indurance,
King of dreames dissolve my vision.
Peg.
Wallace is a wake.
Wall.
O if I be, let my soule never sleepe,
In the blest bosome of my Ancestors,
Till I have drawne a sea of purple teares
From forth the bosomes of the murderers,
Deere Peggie father. Gertrid, which way, where
How, when, what meanes, what cause shall I devise
To finde it out, and venge your tragedies?
Peg.
I'le teach ye how,
Selby and Haslerigg byn the fell blood-hounds
Whae have hunted laife untill thilcke toyles of death.
Wa.
Are they turn'd hangmen?
Peg.
Religious cryes, beauteous entreats, and reverend
well-awayes
Wallas revenge my death,
And for a favour keep my hindmost breath.
Dies.
Wall.
And house it here.
Enter Grimsby, Coming, Mentith, and Graham
Gri.
Where's VVallas? never eye
Saw such a ruthlesse massacre.
VVal.
Yes Grimsby,
VVallace can shewe a massacre will proove
Thine but a may-game.
Gri.
Terrible and strange!
VVall.
Dost start at this? then see a spectacle
Of force to stay the motion of the spheares.
Or strike the Sun dead in the browe of heaven,
Looke, and like men shott from the browe of thunder,
Gra.
Whose bloody act was this?
VVal.
The bloody acts
Contriv'd and plotted by experienc'd villaines.
Gri.
Who were the authors?
VVal.
Iudge, they all spake English,
Death best becomes that Dialect,
The first was bloody Hasleriggs, the second
More villaine-like was Selbyes, but the third
All had a hand in.
Trumpet. Enter Messenger.
Mess.
English Embassadours.
Exit Mess.
Wa.
They are welcome, let not one sullen browe
Be seene in all this fiery firmament.
Enter Mountford, Glascot, and Sebastian.
VVal.
Welcome, your businesse?
Seb.
Farre more like a Prince,
Then a base rebell looks the Northerne traytor.
Mount.
Thus to a rebell from a royall King,
If VVallace will confesse himselfe a traytor,
And for his bloody outrages and thefts,
Crave mercy, and submit himselfe to Edward,
There's hope of life.
VVal.
Still charitable English.
Seb.
Tis not he sure,
This looks not like a man shold shake a kingdome.
Mount.
This if he shall denie,
Rape, murther, ruine, all the sonnes of warre
Stands striving for the prey, and once let loose,
Shall not be checkt, nor taken up, till rage
Be tyr'd with murther, and thy selfe in chaynes
Wal.
This is all perfit English, have ye yet spoke?
Moun.
We have.
Wa.
Then we begin,
And to a tyrant thus sayes a loyall subject,
If Edward will confesse himselfe a tyrant.
And kingly fellon, and make good such theft
As he and his have practis'd, sue his peace
By yeelding up his and himselfe to VVallace,
There's hope of life, this if he shall deny
Rape, murther, ruine, all the brood of warre
Shalbe let flie, and never be lur'd of
Till they be gorg'd, and bated with the heart
Of the proud King himselfe.
Seb.
Now speakes a man
Would thrust Iove from Olympus.
Glas.
Calme your spleene,
For now speaks mercy, if your Countryes wrongs
Grow from abuse in Edwards substitutes,
You shall have equall hearing, and the wrongs
Punish't in the deservers.
VVa.
This should not be English,
O, if it be King Edward is no tyrant.
Glas.
What answers VValace?
VVa.
First pray pardon me,
If like the working of a troubled sea
My bosome rose in billows, for though the windes
That rais'd the storme be downe, yet the deare ruines
Lye still in view, a father, and a wife,
Age, beauty, and religion, for thee
Thousands shall weep, as many wives
Shed purple teares for thee, as many Church-men
Offer their reeking soules in sacrifice,
Court, City, Church, the Chamber of your King,
The Chaire of State shall be no priviledge.
This was not Edwards act.
VVa.
Yet such as Edward
Plac'd in commission, oh t'was a churlish storme,
And wretched I like a forlorne surviver
Left to interre their deare remembrances.
Seb.
Good gentleman.
VVa.
But bid relentlesse Edward
Send in the pyrats Haslerigg and Selbye,
And in their hands letters of Mart subscribed,
To make me Master of my owne revenge,
Or like a Ball wrapt in a cloud of fire,
Ruine shall fall upon his paluce top,
Pierce through the roofe, and in his chayre of State
Sollicit Iustice.
Mo.
Into his Princely eares I'le give your wrongs.
Gri.
Will VValace here advise?
VVa.
Yes.
Gri.
Then be rul'd by Grymsby.
VVhispers.
VVal.
Thanks for thy kindnesse. Lords Embassadors,
Such we esteeme you, may we crave perusall
Of your commission?
Moun.
VVallace shall command it.
Wa.
Mountfort and Glascott, what third fellow's that?
Mou.
One of our followers.
VVal.
Good, his name is not inserted,
One call out a headsman.
Seb.
Ambitious rebell, know I am a Prince,
And nephew to the Queene.
VVal.
Wer't thou the King,
Having no portion in the Embassie,
I'de ha' thy head, goe on, and strike it of,
A second cut his tongue out, and a third
Thrust out their eyes, and put their followers to the sword.
Omu.
VVallace wilbe more milde.
Exeunt.
VVa.
VVallace wilbe more just
Sound Drums and drown their cries.
Revenge beats at heavens gates for tyrannies.
Enter Agen.
So now our tragick Muse jets on the stage,
You that for seeing basenesse want your sight,
Beare with this present our indeer'd, commends
Back to the Queen, and say so much we tender
Her sacred honour, weed not see it wrong'd
Even in her Nephew, you that for sparing speech
In honours cause are justly mute, conduct
This eyelesse messenger, abuse not our intent
In the delivery, make speedy haste,
Lest we be there before you, share in like wrong,
Lend him your eyes, and borrow you his tongue,
If any question you about your harms,
Say Wallace did it in the right of Armes.
Exeunt English.
Gri.
This will affright the English.
Wall.
Honor'd Grimsby,
This and ten thousand, thousand more extremes
Cannot appease my anger, you that love me
See those I lov'd inhum'd, my selfe disguis'd,
Will be their Convoy to the English Campe,
And see their usage.
Gri.
'Twill be an act of danger.
Wal.
The fitter him that undertakes it, Wallace
Would hold himself not worthy of his fate
Should he bawke danger, disswade not, I will on
Were certain death against my bosome bent,
There's gain in bloud it's honorably spent.
Exit.
Gri.
And such I feare will thine be, honour'd friends
See those remayns of honorable love
Cradled in earth, that once perform'd take Armes
The comming of some speciall friends by oath,
Bound to assist us, hark how their friendly drums
Chide them for loytring.
Enter Douglas, Mackbeth, and VVintersdale.
Honor'd Douglas, welcome,
Welcome Mackbeth, and doughty Wintersdale,
Not, unto men more, driven in needfull want,
Could you have brought supply.
Doug.
The better welcome,
Gold to rich men, and treasure to the wealthy,
Are known companions, wher's our Generall,
The hopefull VVallace?
Gri.
Gone in quest of death,
Firme as his fate, cause he sees danger shuns him,
He's gone to seek it in the English tents.
Mack.
So Hercules sought honour out in Hell.
He not deserves, the name of Generall,
Dares not face danger, and out-do the Devill.
Gri.
And such a man is VVallace, yet least worth
Bears him beyond his strength, bring up your powers
For present charge, his thoughts are tragicall,
And full of bloud, active, and violent all.
Doug.
You that best know 'em, feed 'em, all that's ours,
For Scotlands good call VVallaces and yours.
Exeunt.
Enter VVallace, like a halting Souldier on wooden stumps, with Mountford dumbe, and Glascot blinde.
Wal.
Whare man? till the English Campe senu you,
like ranck riders amble up westward, you gang the
wrang wey man, you sall luse and ye play at shoola-groate,
ha' ye na linckers?
Glas.
Ahlas I want my eyes, but have a tongue,
He sees, but cannot speake.
Wa.
Blyncke at smaw faults then, make me the thridman,
and here's a bunny noyse of Fidlers to gang fra
winehouse to winehouse, a blind harper, a mute Cornet,
and an old Scotch bagpipe worne toth' stumps.
Glas.
Are you a Scotch man Sir?
Wa.
Ye marry am I, boddy and sawle a true Scotchman
borne, but a true liegeman, hang him that does not
luife your King, and your Countryman, what gude victales
is that which thilke bonny man that haz glazen
windows to his lindging has tyed up in his wallet there?
Glas.
Tis the head of a young murderd gentleman.
VVa.
What senn you man! a mans scalpe, I doubt ye
be three fawse knaves liggand yare heads together about
na gudenes, a traytors head ist not?
Gla.
No, but we ha' met with villaynes worse then traytors.
VValace your countryman, that bloody hangman
Mangled us all three thus.
VVa.
VValas my Countryman, ay say upon him,
Fawe lymmerlike wad I had his head here too,
Ized beare it by my sawle toth' English Campe
Or neere gang farder.
Gla.
Twold be a glorious sight there.
VVa.
And you could see it ye sulled sea so man, VVallace
Cut of my shancks too, cause I ran away from him
To serve your gude Prince, harke man, I weare
Na shooen but wodden clampers.
Gla.
Of charity leade us to th' English Campe,
Wal.
Gang alang man tis hard by now, a mans head
I deempt the pure man had gaugand lang to lawe
And sae was thrust out of dores by head and shoulders.
Glas.
No lawe was ere so cruell as Wallas is.
Wa.
Ne marry? na law so cruell, fay man fay, I luick'd
upon a man a lawe not lang since that sent an awde man
and his wife, and many barnes a begging, he had better
a slizand theire weazond pipes, and cut theire heads off,
but whay was a sa bludy mynded thinke ye?
Gla.
I cannot judge.
Wa.
Marry man, to get possession of the pure mans
house, but there was a cat ganged beyond the man a
lawe.
Gla.
A cat goe beyond a lawyer? how?
Wa.
I'le tell you how, the man a lawe being got in,
the Cat outreach'd him, and leaped toth' top oth lindging,
and standand on the tyles, the man a lawe scoarning
any ane to be abuife him, offer to fling and dingand
downe the poore puscatt, but she meawed at him, and
cryed hawd thou foule lowne hawd, as thou thrusts out
this poore man and his barnes, sa there is ane abuife sall
thrust out thee, stay blind man, here comes souldiers.
Enter Bolt with three or foure tattar'd Souldiers.
Omn.
Stand que voula, spyes about our trenches?
Bolt.
And see they have knock'd some man downe
sirra,
What are you?
1 So.
He must be prest, he will not speake.
Bol.
What art thou I charge thee? hast thou neere a
tongue
He has no tounge indeed sir.
Bol.
Two heads and neere a tongue, what are you?
That like a blind asse stand still, and cannot tell us so.
Gla.
I'me blind indeed,
Conduct us to the Lords i'th' English Campe.
2 So.
How Lords, are you Ladyes that you long for
Lords?
Bol.
Do you take us for gulls to goe tell the Lords
here's a dumbe man would speake with'em, what are
you sirra? come halt not, lets not find you in two tales
y'are best.
Wa.
Ize a Scotch man sir, ye shall neere find me in
twa tales.
Bo.
A Scotch man sir, do you know where you are sir?
Your blew bonnet on before an English scull,
Where's your leg sir, when an Officer speaks to you?
Wa.
My leg sir is not in my galligaskin and slop as
yours is, I'ze a pure Scotch souldier out at heeles, and am
glad to bestirr my stumps, guide these gude men y'are
wranged Countrymen, wha that fawse traytor Wallace
has misusand in sike wise.
Om.
Wallas, oh slave!
Bolt.
I shall live (fellows in armes out at Elbows)
To give fire to my peace with a burnt ynch of match
Made of that rascals fat of mawegut.
Wa.
By my sawle sir wad I might come
To'th making of sike a match.
Bol.
Here's my hand, because thou sayest so,
Thou shalt be by when I make him give sire to my
touch-hole.
Enter Queene Elenor, Clifford, Percy, Beaumont, and others.
Omn.
The Lords are going to view the trenches.
Bol.
Every man to his parrapet,
Cli.
Its well done fellowes.
Bol.
Cry your Lordship mercy,
This blind buzzard here cannot see,
Whither will you march headlong my friend?
Per.
What men are these?
Bol.
I leave them to your Honors sifting,
I have fortifications to look too.
Cliff.
There's drinking money, hence to your works.
Bol.
Blesse your honours.
Exeunt Bolt. and Sould.
Percy.
What men are these, I aske, will no man speak?
Gla.
Heare and in hearing wish the sound unheard,
Youthfull Sebastian nephew to the Queene
Longing to see the man fam'd for th'excesse
Or goodnes and of badnes, seeing unjoyned
In honored Embassie disguis'd attempted
The rebell Wallaces presence.
Omn.
Glascot and Mountford.
Clif.
Who did this damned villany?
Gla.
Our message told,
The traytor newly set on fire with madnes,
Showing the mangled bodies of a Fryer,
His wife and father, burst out into flames
Hye hot and violent, In which fierce rage
Revolted Grimsby knew Sebastian
(Tho Herald like he went disguis'd) and seazed
Him and us for three intelligencing spies,
Cut off his head, his tongue, and Glascots eyes.
Per.
Hang up this, provide for these, trufle him up.
Wa.
What sen ye man?
Exeunt Moun. and Glas.
Per.
What slave, what Turke that murders his owne
brethren
Whom we have tane to mercy, I'le not spare
Fathers, nor mothers, nor their bawling barnes,
Wal.
Ah bonny men, I met um playe and at bo-peep, &
gangand out a their way, and sall I be hanged for my good
deeds of charrity, I'ze a poor Scutch souldier, and am ron
away from that Rebell Wallas, to feight and for your gude
Prince, ah he's a gude King, and y'are all bonny men, I'ze
follow ye all to the death, and to the Devill, and ony man
dare gang so far for all my clutches, giffe I clutch Wallace,
he's neer carry it till hell nor heaven.
Per.
If he do, may Percies name be crost
Out of the roll of men.
Clif.
So much swears Clifford.
Per.
Sneak not away sirra, y'are not gone yet.
VVal.
I ken it vary weel.
I'ze not gangan to hanging yet.
Clif.
Yet though a traitour, thus much let me speak
For absent VVallace, were the case your own,
Or one that's baser having any spirit,
A murder'd father and a bleeding wife,
Mangled before him, would strike sire in snow,
Make loyalty turn traitor, and obedience
Forget all duty.
El.
But our Nephews death
And the disgrace done our Embassadours.
Clif.
They then put off their title, and put on
The name of spies, when in their companies,
They take disguis'd observers.
VVal.
By my sawle the English are gallant men.
Per.
No snare to intrap this Wolfe?
Clif.
How Northumberland; intrap a fo?
Sure 'tis no English word,
Clifford at least was ne're acquainted with't.
Give him fair summons, dare him to the field,
And trap him then.
VVal.
Ah bony man!
His being a traitour warrants it, dispatch
A second message with acknowledgment
Of former wrongs to our Embassadours,
With promise of a friendly enterview
Early to morrow, impartially to heare
Their wrongs, and mildely minister redresse.
Clif.
Insnare him so and spare not, for you'le finde I feare,
That Selby, Haslerig, and the rest
Lay yokes too heavy on the Nations neck.
El.
If they do punish 'em.
Clif.
Punish 'em, sdeath hang 'em.
Per.
Shall we agree to have such message sent
To allure this bloudy Tygre into th' net
And waking then or sleeping kill him.
Clif.
No.
Per.
All stratagems are lawfull 'gainst a fo.
Clif.
Do what you will, but my consent is no.
Beau.
I'le venture to the Rebell.
Per.
Do good Beaumont, Scotchman dar'st thou conduct him as his guide?
Clif.
But return sirra, or the next time we take yee
Y'are Crag shall pay for't.
Wal.
I'ze not run away fra yee, giffe I do hang mee and
drae mee, cum bully Joe, I dare not gang to the Scottis
Campe, th'yle sa slay upon me, Ile near cum back agen,
but lze bring you where yee shall see that Lowne VVallace.
Beau.
That's all I wish; lead on.
Wal.
Marry sall I, luke to your selfe,
Ile thrust you into the Dewles chops.
Exeunt Beaum. and VVal.
Beau.
Forgetting out let me scuffle.
El.
Consult for present execution.
Cliff.
What is, what should, what can this Wallace be?
And is so curious in her workmanship,
No part deforms him,
Yet Wallace is a Rebell, his chief scandall
Is poverty of Gentry, by my sword
Wert no impeach to my deare Ancestors,
I well could spare him some of my unus'd titles,
Or would at martiall gaming so I might lose
And Wallace winne so much of Cliffords honour,
Our stocks might be alike, but I exceed,
This night he is betray'd, he shall not,
I'le turn traitor first he shall not,
Call Beaumont back, or else by Cliffords honor,
An oath which I esteem above my life,
I will turn traitor, and reveale your plots,
Call him back.
Per.
Is Clifford mad?
Clif.
No Percie's lunatick, suppose he be a traitor
And discipline of the field allow the act,
What honour is it for a herd of yours
To worry a sleeping Beare? goe call him back.
Enter Beaumont with a wooden stump.
Per.
See he comes uncall'd.
Clif.
The news.
Bea.
News call you it, let no Scot come neer your tents,
Wallace sends you this token.
Clif.
Ha, how, Wallace.
Per.
Was that the traitor?
Clif.
By Mars his helme, a compleat Warrior,
I so love his worth, I'le court it with my sword.
Bea.
Had you but stood in distance of his thunder.
For, we parted just where our trenches ended,
You'de ha' sworn the God of VVar had spoke,
To hunt me in my tent, I'le rouze him in's own,
And bids me give you this wooden stumpe,
And sweares to make you weare it,
If you dare stand him in the field.
Per.
Base Rebell, why durst he not stand here?
Clif.
None pray'd him stay,
Twas manners being not welcom'd to get away.
Beau.
He sends, commends to Clifford, with this wish,
That if at this great match of life, and death,
He chance to lose the smallest part of honour
His sword may joyn't, he knows best how to use it.
At my return from France, quoth he, this vow
Which I have promis'd shall be surely payed,
Our Country overtopt with tyranny,
Makes us flie thither for succour, Æolus,
Let favourable winds and tydes assist me,
That spoak, revolted Grimsby and his powers
Met him in Armes, what further he intends,
Harke their Drum tels, here my Commission ends.
Clif.
Lets send him commendations too, beat ours.
Exeunt.
| The Valiant Scot | |