University of Virginia Library

[Actus Quartus.]

[sc. i]

Arch
now's plaine old Tom ins trew garb Indeed
a statsman still, tho but a wooden one
I have more fellows, this parkes my Comon wealth
thes trees poore subiects, ore whome I domineere
& playe the prorex. Cherish Hopefull plants
but vseles dew boughes, Varletties that grow prowd
I cut off as offendors for the fyer.
but Leaveing him & them, cut downe some boughes
to build thy Leavy pallace, men never care
wt we have beene but looke at wt we are.

Enter Varl: & Gerard. vizarded.
Varl.
Ambushe he comes. His traine has all forsooke [hym],
& lost hym in the chase, Anarmd and single

Enter Prorex
Pro.
An ambushe in my Way Wt would yow villaines

Ger.
be wt thow calst vs villaines & ha thy blood.

Pro.
my Blood traytors? why am Britains king Arc. wt thonders that

Varl.
but wele vntitle yow & Crowne a Man More worthy
old Archibald

Arch
The king in danger? & my Name questiond?
Have amongst yow traitors—Beat Em off

Pro:
gramercy Wood man—a stout Downe-right fellowe
thow camst in tyme, but Ile soone send the rescue

wind yor Horne

(Marginal note)

Enter Conon. Deuon, Elidure—other
Conō
Tis the kings Horne, How fares yor mat i e
we feard some danger

Pro:

Ext. Deuon & others: Enter vxor. filius.
fili:
oh good my lord, my father Lovd yow well,
—ronns to Conon & Kneles
had (yow like him) byn thus disgracd & throwne
out vnto scandall, he would ha spoake for yow—

Conon
—for him I dare not tho.

Pro.
the busyness there

Conon.
the wife & sonne of Archiballd

fili:
plaine Archiballd. he had a title once, eminent as thyne owne.

Pro:
peace Malapert yow lye.

fil:
Lye. Ile swere thow ner wert solyor wt ere thow art by that word. give a trew
gent. the lye? so much I am tho but a litle one, my Loyal father—

Pro:
thy traitor father. tis aparant Conon,
the villaines threatned to vntitle me
& crowne old Archib: ther king

fil.
my father king? oh that I were a man for there sakes—
Ide ha the combat on him durst but think soe.

Enter Deuon wt h Archib. bleeding
Pro.
A cradle champeon? now ha yow found the woodma.
father Ile call hym, for he gave me life.

Deu.
this good old man we found vnder a noake
bleeding & fainte,

Pro.
go beare him to a surgions
those wounds are myne, the blood he looses, myne
wt. care & cost yow wood bestow on me
had I those [wounds] Hurts [yow w] confer on him—for they
& death hym selfe came Armd gainst me—

Arch.
bleede still, let me be ever wounded, allwayes bleeding
to heare such musick.

vxor.
My husband

ōes:
Archiballd

fili:
my deare Lord & father? wt saye now my leige? whose the Lyer
now? whose the false traitor now, my Loyall fathers hand
have savd yor life.

Pro.
shall I be still out Honourd by this Britaine

Conon
—should Iove dart thonder. I cann hold no Longer,
has done the part my Leige of a bold—

Pro
traytor—

oes
traytor?

Pro.
yes traitor, bold and dangerous

Conon.
wt lookest at boye

fili:
to see whither the king has got two tongues or noe, for one of em,
sayd even now he savd hym from traitors; how dars the tother be so

Conon
my leige our Lands, our Honor s, & our lives

sawcy then to call him trayter

shalbe [all] come bownd, & pawnd for his allegeance,

fil:
It shall not need, my Lord, take myne for all,
twas ner yet knowne an Archiballd was false

Pro.
At yor Intreaties—how now the Hasty news.—

Deuon
Hasty Ile sweare, the horse that brought the messenger is falne
downe dead, the man lives, but scarcely Breathes.

Pro.
It seemes then tis materiall, from whome, & whence?

mess.
ffrom Rome I think, read quickly good my leige, A tyrde gentlema
put that into my hand & a halter about my Neck, & chagd me
spur for life & so I have done, Ile take my death ont

Pro.
Read.

Con.
mayt please yow take old Archiballd to favor.

Pro.
we had such a purpose.
but now our mynde is changd, we shall not vse
his service nor yor s Longe, let Geraldine
be sent for to the court. trust not the Barrons—
I long to heare his reason, send for Varletti too—

Con.
that letter troubles him—

filius.
wood he had Broake his neck that brought it

Pro.
take away that traitor

vxor.
yor grace was pleasd to call him other wise

fili.
He had [had as litle] vice as he has grace by this tyme & that I think had byn litle Inogh if
[he had not found hym otherwise]

Pro
Riffle his castle, cease his plate and Iewells
& turne his Lasy famely a begginge

fil.
How lasy famely: tis more Industrious then thy Romane
slaughter howse, & thy Augeons stable far better governd too.

Pro.
the yong cub bites to, but wele breake his fangs,
go take that boy & place him in the kitchin wt h the black guard

fil.
in the cole hole & yow will, I can Bless my freinds & curse
myne Enemyes there, aswell & wt h asmuch devotion, as thow
saist thy prayers in Iupiters chappell.

Pro.
A waye wt h Hym—his wife place in the Lawndrye.

vx.
een where yow please

Pro.
go chaine him to a mill
put out his eyes, or blind fold like a horse,
there let him grinde, stint him vnto his taske
& if he loose one mynut let the whipp
[make him gaine two fort]

[filii.
whip: whip thy doggs: whip thy pesants & fawneing Parasites, my father]
is a better gentleman & nobler borne, then the prowdest Ro: of yw all]

[Pro.
yow know our plesure quick dispose of em,]

[1. gard
come madam to the Laundry.]

[2 gard
to the kitchin sr a. & se we ha good Brewess to breakfast.]

[fili:
As boileing lead & ratsbane can make yow. Let me se yw there]
& for my fathers sake, Ile giue yw a cast off myne office]
a Ladle full of scalding brothe to liquor boots wt h. at any tyme.]

[Pro.
And now my Lords, mownt & a way to court]
heares a mandamus chides vs from our sport

Ext

[sc. ii]

Enter. Gibert & Countess.
Gilb:
Morow wife good morow. is Parrat sullen this morning, mary buzz.

Count:
Mary buzard yow meane, make strip & wast of my woods? fell my
Timber pluck downe my howses, rack my Tenants?

Gilb:
Tenants, small wines wife hege wines will never drinke
well & they be not soundly rackt.

Count.
the Devill will rack the in hell fort one day

Gilb:
I: when thow art foore man on's Iurye, what I have done
Ile answeare afore my betters & thyne too—

Count
that shalbe tryed & Iustice Byndeover were come once.

Gilb
Bynde-ove«r» an Antient bencher, Indeed, he was a Iustice I
thinke a fore he was a gentleman,—
Enter Howlet & dashe disguisd
yor wop s. most kindly wellcome a
howshold Iar betwixt my wife & my self

Howl.
nay nay yor goodnes is knowne,

Gilb
I hope yor good worship will take—

How.
noe bribe no I am none of these these not I: bynd hym over for that

Dashe,
Ile teach yow to
offer Iustice a Bribe an other tyme—

G:
& not giue him one—

Gilb:
I confesse twas my Ignorance, & shalbe glad to Lerne sr.

Howl.
Sr. what sr sir. I am no knight sr Knave,

Gilb:
I know that most worship full

Howl.
He knowes me for a worf l knave he sayes, Bind him over againe Dash

Dash
bind over every man that knows yow—so—I might ha work Inough.

Gilb.
a bottle of sack & a new rowle for mr Bindover

How.
no let yor rowles alone, tho bread be a bynder: my man
Dashe can binde fast Inough wt hout it, wher be yor Atturnyes

amb:
we have feed none sr.

How.

And if they come wt hout ffees hang e'm—no matter a company
of Bawleing fellows, trouble both towne & countrye, All lawe thers no
Iustice to be hard a mongst 'em—yow know yor owne causes
best. ee'n plead em yor selvs, & save a dowble fee, toot pro
et Con come, yow pro the plaintife & yow con the defendant.

Gilb:

please yor wp p. tast a cup of sack first

Howl.

& thank the too I comend the, yet thow feedst thy cause well. tis like to thrive &
batten the better, some hide bownd Clients [star**] starve a suit in
lawe as they do a child at nurse for want of wt. it should
have, & then laye the Blame of the Honest lawyer—wet
thy neb too Dashe, thy pen will cast Inke the clerer, now Pro—
show cause pro, showe cause,

Count

thus then, he rackes my tenants, ruynes my howses, fells my okes.

Howl.

wt s. that Dashe: wt do she talke on,

Dash.

talkes of felling of oaks sr.

Howl

so I thought for myne eyes were gathering Carpenters
chipps—a cup of sack to clere em Dashe—so he fells thine okes

Count.

& wood sell em too, but afore this reverend Iustice my freind
& thine

Howl.

How hows that? does she make Iustice any mans freind
bynd—her over for that Dashe over wt h her

Dash.

nay sr. she makes a Iack of both sides on yow: freind to
plaintife & defendant too.

Howl.
does she so, does she so, bind her over dowble for that. for by
this wine as I am trew Iustice I am freind nether to pro nor con—

Dash.
yow may Beleve hym he takes a depe oth: shees downe sr.

Count.
but touch an oake, an Arme, a bough, a branch a bushe, nay
so much as an akorne cup, & thow darst, dost here, for thine
ears & thow darest

Howl.
shele make a good Atturny her self in tyme she mootes handsomly
all ready; now pro, wt can yow say for yr self pro—

Gilb:
why harke yow, hark yow yow Mr i s. of the Mandamus office
shall not I fell myne owne sell myne owne, touch myne owne

Count
thyne owne? thow oakes of thyne owne: where grow they in
Knaves acre furlong? oakes of thine owne nor so much as a
rotten elder to hang the best freind thow hast one.

Howl.
no elder no oake: a triyall consequent, drawne a Minore ad
Maius: she plaies home to yw. prove the okes yor owne, yor cast ellse.

Gilb.
Her owne Argument concluds it: she confesses they are hers.

Howl.
Ergo none of yor s. gone agen pro, gone Agen, the old statute
of millio. quillio. trillio. calld Meum non est tuū cuts yor plea
off by the Hams.

Gilb:
I give it new leggs Againe thus then? man & wife being one
the consequent proves there goods chattles & all other Implemt s.
to be soe. but we are man & wife Ergo—

Howl.
a plaine case in ploiden, the man carryes it. [Are] yow are content
to stand to our Censure, minister the oathe Dashe, giue him the
full oath—Dashe has paid fort aforehand

Dash.
yow shall swere by the contents of this to stand to my Mr s arbytramt.

Gilb.
I do—

Dash-
kiss the booke then, So sufficient & nowe—.

Howl:
what dost thow meane to do knave

Dash.
why to take his oath mr. ist not my place do I sit here for nothing

Howl.
Tis well done on the Dashe, now mister hers.

Dash.
yow are content to take the same oath yr fore-man did

Count
I am. & ther vpon I kiss the booke. Dash: tis sufficient

Dash.
wt do yw meane sr.

Howl.

mary to take her oath my selfe, I shall make affidavit
wt h the safer conscyence—I think I had best leave binding
over & begin to take Depositions thers most swetnes int of the
two, but to the order set it downe Dashe: An oake is a body
now a body yw all knowe belongs to the topp: the top is the
head, but the husband is the head Ergo he being the head may Ritu Mariti challenge the
body Armes hands,

Dash
thighes leggs Calfes Anckles feete toes & all—

Howl.
no, theres a Quere [for] in that, for the thighes & legs, being deawe
boughes, [that] & bushes that grow vnder Covert Barron
as we call it, she may vse occupy, & in way of chamber
fuell, ritu vxoris Imploye.

Count
a reasonable order & conscionable, let hym take the bodye
& giue me fredome to make vse of the boughes & the bushes.

Gilb.
no. I will not part wt h a bough nor a Bushe, so big as
to fforme a Hare or burrowe a Cony in—give yw the
boughes & the Bushes, mary Buz.

Count
prethe Leave buzing my boughes & my Bushes are all thine
swete husband [intr] be freinds good mr Iustice intreat him—

Howl.
Intreat I comand him, be freinds or Ile bynd the over, (& affirme & that ipso facto may
this wine never go thorough me else

Gilb:
well to [kepe] giue yor oath [in yr belly] clerer vent I am content but—

Enter one
One:
is not one Iustice Byndover here

Gilb.
the man of worp. sits there

one:
Sr. a company of sea fareing men at yr shop wood spek wt h yow.

Howl.
Brazele m'chants a my life, oh How, how do I tym a way my tyme
here & hazard the Loss of a whole flete of Tobacco: where
ly the buyeing weights

Dashe
In the Dowble Deale box in the lower counter—

Gilb.
I think this be Dowble Dealing Inough in*:

Gilb
[but why] do yw not sell &
buy all by one scale Sr.

(How.)
Iustice for bid else, but there
maye be difference in weights secundu quall: & yet all trew
secundum quan: too:

Count:
I did not thinke yr wop. had

To coūrt this Iar came Luckely about
twill ope a sluce, to let much busyness out

Ext;

(Marginal note)

byn [a Tobacco man Till now:] soe well skilld in Tobacco

Howl.
Quere for that, why
may not a [Tobacco] Marchant be a Iustice aswell as a pynn-pedlar,
a Lord-Lord Maistress have I done yow. so many Iobbs
of Iorny work & do yow not know my workmanship yet

Count
yes yes, a knave is easy to be knowne from—

How.
a Iustice
if yor eyes were maches, or but a trew paire of spectacles—

Gib:
thow art the onely make peace—when alls Done; come wife thow
seest wt. paines our servants take, to cover our Errors & mainetaine
our Creditts, come buss buss & be freinds—

Count.
Buss mary Buz: Are yow not content to abvse me yor selfe
but set yor Iack-anapes his to mock & mowe at me too—

Howl.
trewly Mistress. I do nether mock at yw. nor purpose to
mowe in yor medow, but—be freinds wt h my Honest mr.
or on goes my gowne Agen, & then I bynd yw over, [wt hout]
hand and foot wt hout Baile or maine prize—

Gilb:
prethe swete wife—

Count.
I scorne the title, fell my oakes doe
sell the Timber yow maye;

Gilb-
nay nay but wife—

Count.
pull downe my howses:

Gilb-
wt wife I saye,

Cont.
rack my
poore Tenants—

Gilb:
prethe.

Count.
I scorne the

Gib.
here me

Count.
I defye the, tho thow wearst the sword of Iustice (as thow wodst
doe my head) vnder thy girdle, here in the Countrye,
Ile to the court & there:

Gilb.
the court? mary buz. thow tot h cort

Count:
yes I to the court, the king will know me & redress my wrong.
I shall fynde iustice out, tho it be long—first sra my horse.

Gilb.
go se her well horst & do yow man her; mak hast I do not yr erand afore you

[sci. iii]

Enter Prorex. Gerard. Varletti Barrons
Pro.
Thow hast given Me full sufficeings—& thy letter
thoughsomwt. late, exprest much Loialtie.
for wc h we owe the, but to the busyness.
now lords of Britaine (much against our will)
tis Cesars plesure, that yor government
should be reformd.—

shows a paper
Conon.
I told yw we should here
more of that letter—

Dev.
wt. Cesar or yor selfe
please to comand shalbe obeyd.

Pro:
we thanke yow
first tis his plesure that yow three by name
being worne out, & tyred in Court service
Be easd, & sent home to yor contry howses,

oēs
In yow, we do obey great Cesar

Pro.
tis yor dutyes.
yor offices & titles Leave behinde yw.—
(giue vp there staues
to our dispose, so now yow may Begone

Conon
and wepe to se, that wc h we cannot shonn—
our shame, & the whole Lands Ruyn—

Ext—.
Pro.
goe, & be trew proffitts, now Geraldine
ffirst wt h this staff of office we Create the
Britaines high Champeon, thy fathers office,
next Erle of Conon, Mr of our horse
captaine of both our guards, pen{t}ioners, & switzers

Ger.
If ever we have occasion to stick & scwer
let em Looke to there weasands.

Pro.
Varletti, wt h this staff we make the Marshall,
& generall of our Romaine Garrison,—

Varl.
the Bene fice I gapd for

Pro.
wt h it high admirall of our Navy royall,

Varl.
the whole comand of the kingdome, nothing else, as good give vs
the Crowne too, & save vs a labour, for have it we wll
your highnes honors are above my merit

Pro:
study to reach em then, thes two are statesmen,
fit for my purpose, a loose prodigall
& a spruce Reveller, the old men ware to wise
& full of pollicy, call forthe Archiballd,
gerard thine eare

Ger.
for a Hang man, say no more, Ile be for yow streight—

Ext
Pro.
about it, & be serious, se he enters.

Enter, [Keper.] Conon Archibald
Conon [Kep]:
wilt please yow eat sir, yave done yor forenones taske
& may refresh yw r. selfe.

Arch.
and thanck yow too, I'ue a good stomach now—
toile whetts the Appetite, is this my dineing chamber—
& these my Cates, I'ue had a larger table
& better furnisht wt h provision—but
Heaven & my king be thankd for thys [t]is more
then I desyre, or can Deserve—

Pro.
hees more then man sure, or at least no Britaine
they cannot speake this Language,

Arch.
this Bread (tho somwhat course & hard) is wholesome
& sawsd wt h hunger, has as swote a tast
as yor court vyands, battens a great deale better,
now let me vewe my Cup-board of Court plate,
this wooden dishe, In wc h vpon my knee
I drinke a harty health to my kings wellfare

Pro
And I could all most pldge it in my teares.

Arch
This water, (tho but pudle) has refresht me,
better then all yor wyne, & spyritted liquor
that stead of cooleing over heats the blood
& fills vs full of surffetts & diseases.

Varl.
Hunger has made him a phisitian too—

Enter filius wt h somthing—
fil.
wt. have we heare, a dishe of water and a crust of
mowldy Iannick? Is this diet for my father? he allows
better to his hownds, I could fling it in the cooke Ruffians
face that provided it, come my noble father, heres somwt.
better chere yet, a cold capon & a bottle of old Malligo.

Arch.
ah las my child wt. hast thow done

fili:
got yow good victualls father, I know yow want not a
stomach

Arch
Labour Indeed prepares one, but in doeing soe
thow hast vndone thy selfe, broaken the kings comand

fil
wood I had broake his neck, that causd the king give that
comand I meane—

Val.
the boy has a knaveish meaneinge at sombody

Arch.
ah las poore boy thow takkst [thow knowst not wt.]/[as thow hast done]
In both, thow knowest not wt.

fil.
But I doe father, fall to yor meat & Ile tell yow.
I know the king said, any one that relevd yow was a
traitor, I have relevd yow & yet am none, there the
king was in An Error by his Leave

Pro:
da' mercy Boy thow tellst me my faults mildlye

Conon [Kep.]
come sawse box leave prateing, take away yr scrapps &
get yow gone tis more then my comission but he is yr father, & ile winke at yw for once,

Pro.
I am prowd I have a servant Dares be honest yet

Arch.
How get hym gone? thow art a villaine then,
pardon me nature I must do the wronge
he is a traitor, & tho he be my sonne
& onely store of my posteritye
atach & hale the traiterouse boy to prisonn
or Ile atach yow both.

Varl.
stark mad wt h loyaltye

Kep.
yow shall not need sr., Ile take order wt h hym, come sr a.

fili
why & sr a. yow need not be thus officious, Ile go wt hout
haleing, my father lent me life, & synce tis his plesure to
take it againe, Ius aut Nefas—I cannot bestow it better
if I be a traitor to the king, I am sure trew subiet to
Heaven & my father, vse me how thow wilt
wt. I have done I scorne once to denye
I durst offend, and Dare as boldly dye

—Ext.
Arch.
Be this thine Epitaph here lye two in one
An Innocent traytor & a knoweing sonne.

Pro.
And thow the root of admiration

Arch:
is the boy fast?

Keper.
as lock & key cann make him—

Arch:
then Blind fold me, & letts to work agen,
Ile grinde, till my strong Ioints faint vnder me
so the great Prorex will but take me vp,
& say well Labourd Loyall Archiballd.

Pro
this canot be Desembled, & Ile torture
his Loyalty no Longer,

(Enter Gerald. disguisd
Varl
maintaine yor tryall, here comes Geraldine,

Ger.
By yor Leave officer, whers my fellow Archiballd

Kep:
yor fellow Hang man?

Ger.
& I were a Hangdog I might be thine? yow know this ring?

Kep.
yes, tis the kings Signet

Ger
let that seale vp yor chapps. & deliver me yor prisoner,

Kep
I must obay. Heaven bless the Archiballd
I do not like that villaines Lookes—

Ger.
give me the Key and leave vs, & now must I have a word &
a blow wt h yow sr. the king my master requests a favour
from yow

Arch.
Request he may comand, wt. ist sr?

Ger.
yor calfes head & purtnance, to make a Cullise for a
blood-hownd that lyes sick of a consumption,

Arch
My head? pray take it, tis his owne, & yet
the faith full Service I have done him merritts
nobler reward

Ger
the whole land knows that, but wt can yow expect from
a tyrant?

Arch.
Tyrant whome meane yow?

Ger.
why the prorex?

Arch.
Villaine
vnspeake that word, recant thine Herezye
I shall apeach the for a traitor else.

Ger.
not when yow know me, se I am Geraldine
animated by the Barrones to thrust my self into this
disguise, to kill the prorex and work thy fredome

Arch.
geraldine! treason, capitall treason,
give me a tongue of thunder to proclaime it
Geraldine, Conon, Elidure, all traitors
the kings in Danger, treason, murderous treason,

Pro.
I can forbeare no Longer. who ist Names treson?

Arch
tis I my Leige, yor vassall Archiballd
yow are Betraid, this Villaine whome yow sent
to doe a noble office, proves a trayter
nay never pluck me, tis yong Geraldine—

Pro.
how Geraldine?

Arch.
nay Ile do yor Errand, profferd
to give me fredome, on condicion
I would abett & second the bold treasonn
of him, false Conon, Elidure & Deuon,

Ger
to all wc h had not yor highnes enterd afore yor Cue
he seemd willing Inough to consent to

Pro.
devill tempt no more, I shame to have done so much

Arch.

Enter filius
Pro.
oh thow meanst thy sonn
cause his offence was but Releveing the
at thy intreaty we will pardon hym,

Arch.
At my Intreaty? Loyalty for bids
I should intreat for traitors, yet nature I confess
moves to that purpose

ffil.
Then Nature is a coward.
Intreat for me? no Iff I merit Death
giue me faire lawe, a tryall by my peeres
Britaines—or Romaine Devills if they haue soules
I dare stand a censure, if I merit death
via? I scorne to weare a life a bout me
thats not myne owne, & yet I lov't the rather
that it dares dy for Loveing of my father.

Pr.
Cesar has not a courage more vntamde
his fathers spirit speakes in him to se them dy
vallour wood dy wt h grefe, make nature bank root
Leave her not worth one spark of resolution
to stock a second generation wt h.
we must not loose such Iewells. well synce nether
Iutice can clere, nor Evidence convict the
Imbrace & love these Lords thy fellow peeres
instead of Devon Elidure & Conon
& kepe thy offices in court: if not—

Arch.
Keper come chaine me to my mill agen,
for want of graine, Ile grind my bones to powder
ere ile be yoakd wt h such

fili:
Capering Iack a dandyes: my ffellows of the black guard
are sub stantiall yeomen to em, Ile to my old cole hole agen

Ex«t»
fil.
farwell myll gard. Archrascalls all.

Pro.
wele not intreat yw. adue good good mr Archib.—
Away wt h hym, nor think it Tyrany
safety sayes, weare thy danger in thyne Eye.

Arch.
I am yor vassall, & submit to all.
this howre yor sport, the next my Buryall.

Conō
not if my life & service cann prevent it

Arch
my cozen conon?

Cono.
yes old Archiballd
this shape wt h gold I purchast of thy keper
to acquaint the wt h a dangerous stratagem,
In wc h, tho yet vnknowne, the king hym selfe
& the whole kingdome must intreat thine aide
& I by Intercepting of this Letter
Luckely found per vse it, how dost like it

Arch.
Tis an vndertakeing worthy—
a state smans sword. & a conspiracye
Miraculously reveald, the man I must present
I am perfect in; a rough-Hewen humorous solyor

Conon.
rashe, bloody, & vaine glorious, Blinde of an Eye,

Arch.
Ile play him to accont
but for munition, men, horse & Armor.

Conon,
there in show thine Art
drawe thyne owne swords against e'm—& yet Deuon,
& Elidure have got materialls
fit for the buildinge,

Arch: