University of Virginia Library

Actus Primus.

Enter Time
Time that is past, the Muses now recalls,
forcing my fleeting presence to retire,
and pitch my feet upon the English shore,
I had almost drown'd in black oblivion,
an honour'd History of an English Knight,
as Famous once for deeds of Chivalry,
as any of the Worthies of the world:
Renowned Sir Guy of Warwick whose great Name,
makes England famous in all after times,
for nursing up so brave a Martiallist.
Time now renues his fortunes to the world
and layes them open to your Gentle Views;
think then with apprehensive eyes you see
this war like Lord boldly attempt to fight,
with that fell savage Bore of Calledon
that spoiles the fields and murders passengers,
him hath his sword subdu'd; and now again,
be combates with that huge and monstrous beast,
call'd the wild Cow of Dunsmore Heath;
all for the love of Phillis he performs,
for Phillis love, old Rohons only Child,
what will not Guy of Warwick dare to do?
and having done those things that she enjoyn'd,
he reaps the harvest of her happy love,
and at the length enjoyes her for his wife.
To grace this bridal feast, imagine then,
King Athelstone hath left fair Winchester
and here in Warwick Castle keeps his Court.
VVhat follows now of Guy and his fair Deeds,
sit and behold, the story now proceeds.
Exit Time.

Enter King Athelstone, Guy, Phillis, Rohon, Herod, with others.
King.
Brave Guy of Warwick, honourable Earl.
thus long in love and favour to thy self
King Athelstone hath left fair Winchester,
to frolick here with thee and thy fair Bride;
Phillis the comfort of old Rohons Age
thus long to you we have been troublesome,
and used your Parkes and Pastures as our own;
but now wee'l leave these parts of Warwickshire
and back again return to Winchester.

Guy.
These Kingly favours that your grace hath shown,
in honouring me a worthlesse Subject thus,
hath plum'd my thoughts with Eagle-flighted wings,
and beares my mounting minde as high as Heaven,
till I have done some deeds of Chivalry;
Worthy the love of your Dread Maiesty:

Guy.
Which il'e perform with treble diligence,
and at your yearly Feast of Pentecost
will Guy of Warwick send a hundred Knights,
suddue'd and conquer'd by these Warlike Armes,
to do their Homage to King Athelstone,
lowly upon their knees at Winchester.

King.
We thank thee Guy, but will not have it so,
live with thy love, thy sword hath won thee Fame,
and all the world doth speak of Warwicks Name.

Herod.
The conquests that by thee hath been Atchiev'd,
makes men amaz'd, and warlike Knights affraid
to come in danger of thy Conquering Sword.

Lord.
Thy manly deeds are Graven in each mans breast,
and thy large fame is spread from East to West.

Rohon.
Live then in peace, my fair high-hearted Sonne,
since all men muse, to think what thou hast done,
the Calledonian savage Bore is dead,
and by thy hand the wild Cow slaughtred,
that kept such Revels upon Dunsmore Heath;
and many adventures hast thou past beside
to make my Daughter Phillis thy fair Bride:
she now is thine, and all that I possesse,
is Guy of Warwicks so hee'l stay with us.

Phillis.
Intends my honoured Lord to leave us then,
speak gentle love, my heart is full of fear;
O seek not danger, that is every where.

King.
Content thee Phillis for he shall not go,
thy love intreats but we command him so,
And now Earl Rohon, reach the King thy hand;
Old man we thank thee and we take our leave;
Farewell Sir Guy, fair Phillis now adieu,
all earthly comfort still attend on you.

Exit King.
Guy.
Bright Angels still protect your Majesty,
Father conduct the King a little on his way,
Exit Rohon and Herod.
Sir Herod attend them, Phillis here, and I,
must yet confer, wee'l follow presently.

Phillis.
What means my honour'd Lord to stay behind,
when every one attends his Soveraign;
why dost thou look so sad and stand so mute?
all looking downwards with thy care-craz'd head:
speak gentle love, if griefe thy mind oppresse,
Phillis will never leave thee comfortlesse.

Guy.
Ah Phillis!

Phillis.
Sweet: what hath Phillis done
that thy great heart should grieve to think upon?

Guy.
Nothing, O nothing, and I now to thee,
neither the fear of death, the losse of friends,
nor any thing this mortal life can yield,
doth trouble me or once molest my mind.

Phill.
What then disturbs thy high heroick Thoughts?

Guy.
That I must leave my Phiilis whom I love;
O be not sad dear soul, but hear me speak;
for what I say must stand irrevocable.
Seven years to win thy love this Sword of mine,
hath beat down Monsters, and subdued strong Knights;
seven years to win thy love this breast of mine,
hath bin oppos'd even against the face of death:
But for my God who gave me power and strength
to doe these wonders in the sight of man,
hath Guy of Warwicke yet no service done,
the thought of which torments my inward soul;
and breaks my heart untill I have redeem'd
my great neglect of service to my God;
For which to him alone I have made a Vow,
never to lie by my fair Phillis side,
to eat, to drink, nor rest long in one place,
till I have seen my Saviours Sepulchre,
within the Walls of fair Jerusalem;
and with my Sword for my Redeemers sake,
beat back those misbelieving Saracens,
that seek the Ruine of that holy place,
making them leave deluding Mahomet,
and trust upon the blessed Name of Christ.
All this hath Warwicke sworn to undertake,
or loose his Life for his Redeemers sake.

Phill.
Sweet Lord!

Guy.
O do not bid me stay,
and ask me what thou wilt, I must away!

Phill.
See the rich burthen of my youthful womb,
the hopeful issue of thy happy love;
let that yet move thee, dear Lord do not go,
lest both of us do pine with grief and woe.

Guy.
Weep not sweet love; for tears will not avail;
but when the time comes thou art brought on bed,
and of thy child art safe delivered:
Give it to Herod if it be a a son,
with it deliver him this Ring of Gold;
tell him that I intreat him from my heart
that he will see my Infant well brought up;
bid him be kind to him, as I have been,
in all Adventures dangerous to him.
Now give me my Palmers Gown, my Hat and Staff,
these must I wear, fly hence all worldly pomp;
thus for my Saviour and Redeemer's sake
these blessed Weeds of Pilgrimage I take.

Phill.
My hearts so sad I know not what to say,
God grant thy Grave be not that Gown of gray;
My much misdoubting heart sayes I shall see,
my high loved Lord laid low in misery.

Guy.
Do not presage, dear love, but here me speak,
I charge thee on that love thou bearst to me,
never to reveal to Father, Friend, no nor the King himself,
what I intend nor whither I am gone;
until a month be past and I hence free;
for pursuit of my Friends will follow me.
Do this and Phillis love will brightly shine,
and Guy return with joy from Palestine.

Phillis.
I must, I will even do what you please,
your will shall be fulfilled yet ere you go;
this pledge of my true love I will bestow;
upon thy Hand I put my marriage Ring,
If ere I see the same and thou not by,
Phillis will grieving weep, and weeping die.

Guy.
I take thy pledge of love, and in exchange,
I give this true loves kisse, and here I Vow,
nothing but death shall make me leave this Ring.
Time calls me hence, fair Phillis now farewell,
with thee let all Heavens joys for ever dwell.

Exeunt.
Enter Old Philip Sparrow, & his son the Clown.
Old.
Dost thou hear me soon, zoon.

Clow.

Never talk Father, never talk; for Youth will have his
swindge, if it be in a Halter; and I being a young Man and a
Scholar, will go travel to try the fruits of my Learning.

Old.

But whither wilt thou go soon ha?

Clow.

Faith Father, Romo Romulus, even to Rome, Morter
morteribus, with a Morter on my Head. But Father Ile come
upon ye with a Verse, Prapria que maribones tribiunter masculæ
dogstones.

Old.

Whats that zoon ha?

Clow.

That is, you must give me Forty pounds, and I must go
seek my fortune.

Old.

Nay chil hold thee vorty of my teeth on that, the whorson
knave, and he'd tarry at home he might be Clark of our
Parish, so he might; he has his writing and reading Tongue, as
perfect as eating porredge, so he has; and sides all that, he spowts
Latin as vast as a Mill grinds fault; but che know the cause why
thoudst so vain be jogging?

Clow.

Why Father?

Old.

Nay chill tell thee with a witnesse, 'tis comported all about
our Parish that thou hast got our Neighbour Sparlings
Daughter with Barne.

Clow.

How comes the old Fox to know this trow; well I must
set a good face on the matter or alls mar'd. Who I get her with
Child? Father, why I take to witnesse the back-side of our
Barn-door, I never kist her but twice in all my life.

Old.

That thou shalt see, come hither Parnell.

Enter Parnell.
Par.

O Mr. Sparrow I little thought you would have us'd me
thus!

Clow.

Why Parnell how have I us'd you? If there be ever a
one in the Parish can use you better, let him take you and the
Child too for me.

Par.

But Mr. Sparrow you are not so good as your promise.

Clow.

Nay Parnell never talk of that; for I have been better to
you then my promise.

Old.

How Knave, hast thou been better to her then thy promise,
ha?

Clow.

Why Father if you'l not bite off my Nose, Ile tell ye, I
promised her to go home and eat a sowre Milk Posset; and if I
have got her with child, 'tis more then my promise, and she's beholding
to me for my labour.

Old.

I sirrah, but you must marry her and make her amends.

Clow.

How like an old fool you talk Father, why, she had more
need make me amends; for I have made her look pritty and
plump, and she has made me look like a shotten Herring. But
Father take your blessing from me, for I must needs be walking.

Hony sops queen Maries pence,
Tears parts at going hence,
Ego volo Domine tu,
Sparrow will come with joy to you.

Old.

Gods malediction go with thee good soon, Ah wees me,
wees me.

Par.

Farewel good Mr. Sparrow.

Exeunt Old Man & Parnel.
Clow.

Nay do not cry good Father, do not weep sweet Parnel,
but even farewel and be hang'd, thats twice God bo'ye; I made
as though I had been sorry, but I could not weep and if I should
ha been hang'd; but now will I go serve the bravest Man in all
the world, his Name is Sir Guy of Warwick; they say he's going
to Jerusalem and Jerico; but if he goes to the Divel I'le go with
him, that's flat; and if Parnel be brought to bed before I come
again, some honest Fellow do so much as pay for the Nursing of
the Child, and Ile do as much for him another time.

Exit.