University of Virginia Library

Actus. 5.

Sce: i.

A Table
Enter [Iudg]/[Recorder], Sr Geffery, Crackbie Suckett & Bunch.
Sr Hu
I doe admire this accident since I
haue satt [recorder]/[Iudge] I haue not knowne
any such tryall.

Sr G:
Tis certaine sir, but looke you sir, Ile tell you, you do
perceiue me sir, as I'me a gentleman, I lou'd the lady
but she out of her pride I thinke or else I were to b[OMITTED]
to say soe, scornd me marke you yt [Mr Recorder]/[, Sr.] vnde[OMITTED]
you that.

Sr Hu:
You question my vnderstanding very much good Sr Geffer[OMITTED]
but pray you sir, being here more conu'sant then I ca[OMITTED]
you informe me how this quarrell grew twixt her[OMITTED]
Thurston.

Sr G:
Yes yes I can, but let me see I haue almost forgott,
to say truth I neuer heard the reason, but as the
wisest guesse, hum, hum, he should haue had her
daughter

Cra:
I might haue had her my selfe you know Vncle.

Sr G:
Peace Nephew peace, giue Iustice leaue to speake
as I related the reason I related [Mr Recorder]/[Sr]
was as I told you.

Sr Hu
you told me Nothing yet Sr Geffrey

Sr G:
Noe, did I not say, he should haue had her daughter

[OMITTED]Hu
You did, but what does that conduce to their
discention.

Sr G:
Oh sir the originall efficient cause you vnderstand
me, for suspition whispers he had giuen her a
foule blow, & would haue left her.

Cra:
Nay by my birthright Vncle, the child was not his
alone, for I dare sweare I had a hand at least
in it, I did endevor fort did I not Captaine.

Suc:
Yes there are others to, as well as you, yes she
has struck her top sayle to a man of warr,
she has bin boarded sir I can assure you.

[OMITTED]r Hu
What impudent slaue's are these, but are you
sure the gentlewoman is with child.

Sr G:
Sure doe you question it, [Sr]/[Recorder], Bunch be
ready Bunch to write their confessions quickly.

Bun:
They are not come yet to confession sir

Sr. G:
Noe matter for that, Bunch wt h [Mr Recorders]/[the Iudges]
leaue, weele here theire confession before
they come, that we may know the better to
state the cause when they doe come, ist not
best thinke you.

He:
Who shall speake for them thinke you

Sr Ge:
No matter whether any man speake nor noe
we know he killed the[m] man, and she comanded
him, ergo they are guilty, ergoe that must be
their confession Scilicet that they are guilty,
write this Bunch & then we will propend
as law and Iudgmt guides vs, whether we will
saue or condemne how say you [Sr]/[Recorder]

Cra:
Oh well don vncle, I know he would proue
what he said, otherwise I would haue venturd
a sillogisme in Baralyiton, to haue made it evident

Suc:
[But with yor favour gentlemen suppose]
[he did vnliue Thurston in faire Duell.]

Re:
[No Duell can be fayre cause tis against the kingdomes]
[lawes.]

Su:
[The kingdomes lawes, how shall a Gent' yt has]
[a blemish cast vpon his life, faire reputacon']
[haue satisfaction then, allow noe Duells hell]
[a man of armes, had better liue in woods &]
[combate wolues then among such milke sops]
[the kingdomes lawes.]

Cra:
[Patience good Captaine we will haue duells]
[lawfull.]

[OMITTED]
[Su:
Tis ffit they should being legitimatly manag'd sir.]

Sr G:
O soe are you come weele ticle you ifaith.

Ent' Constable & Prisoners

Soe please you heare are the prisoners.

Re:
Tis well, we haue waited them, Madam
I should haue bin more fortunate, to haue seene you
[in] 'tany plac'e but this, and here
in any other cause then this, I would vse you
as the precedent carridge of your life
has merited, but cannot, y'are a prisoner
convict of murder, a most hideous crime
gainst law and nature.

Sr Geff:
Yes marry is it, and yt she shall
find, ere we haue don, Bunch read
their indictmt s Bunch, she had as good haue
married me I warrant her.

Rec:
Good Sr Geffrey silence a while, who is the accuser

Con:
Here.

Re
What haue you freind to obiect agt this lady

Con:
That she confesd it was by her procuremt &
comaund[et] her sonn murdred young Thurston.

Lady:
Please you sir yt a poore prisoner may
entreate one favour.

Sr G:
Yes you shall haue favour.

Reco:
Any thinge mercy can graunt
vnpreiudiciall to Iustice.

Lady:
Then this
you shall not need to produce witnesses
or charge a Iury to designe me guilty
of Thurstons murder, I confes it to you
twas only I that slew him.

Sr G:
Marke that [Sr]/[Recorder], shee yt slew him do you hea[OMITTED]

Re:
Pray disturbe her not, how comes it then Madam
to be affirmd your Sonn did kill him.

Sr G:
I lets heare that, how it comes, well remembred
[Mr Recorder] you did even speake before me.

Cra:
O how learnedly could I speake now, might I
haue licence.

Lady:
Pray sir.
let me not be oppresd wt h noyse my cause
beares not so slender waight, for my owne life
so many reasons forfeits it to death
that 'twere a Sinn, had I a will to liue
to plead to saue it. but for this my sonn
I do beseech a hearing.

Re:
Speake freely lady

Lady
Thus then
Suppose the wrested rigor of yor lawes
iniustly sentenc'd any here to death
& you enforce on some vnwilling man
the prsent execucon' of yor Act
you will not after cause the instrumt.
of your decree as guilty of his blood
to suffer as a Homicide. how then
can yor impartiall Iudgment
censure my sonn, for this wc h was my fact.
Thurston the malice of my will wishd dead
my instigation and severe comaund
compeld him to atcheiu't, and you will graunt
noe princes lawes retaine more actiue force
to ingage a subiect to performe their hests
then natures does, astring a deutious child
to obey his parent.

Sr G:
Pish all this is nothing, there is a flat Statute
agt it let me see, in Anno vigessimo tricessimo
Henerio octauo. be it enacted, what followes
Bunch.

Re:
Nay good sir peace
Madam these are but wild evasions
for times protraction, for yor paritie
it cannot hold since Nature, does enforce
noe child to obey his parent in an Act
that is not good and Iust.

Lady
Why this seemd both
to his obedience, but relinquish that
and come to Conscience does it not comaund
in its strict Canons to exact no more
then blood for blood, vnlesse you doe extort
worse then an vsurer, for Thurstons life
I offer myne, wc h if it be to meane
to appease your Iustice, let it satisfie
your mercie, spare my Sonn & I shall goe
as willingly to death as to my rest
after a painfull child birth looke on him
how fitt the Subiect is to inuite yor pittie
what Tyrant hand would cut this Cedar up
ere its full groath (at wc h it stately head
would giue a shade to heauen) or pluck this Rose
as yet scarce blossomd.

Sr G:
Hum what says Bunch

Lady
Mercy wilbe proud
'tinfold him gently in her Iuory armes
and as she walkes a long with him each word
he speakes sheele greedily catch at wt h a kisse
from his soft lipps, such as the amorous ffawnes
enforce on the light Satyrs led me dy
who like the palme (when consious yt tis void
of fruite & moysture) prostratly doe begg
a Charitable headsman.

Re:
So bad a cause
deserues not to be pleaded thus deere madam
greife overwhelmes me for you yt yor guilt
has damp'd the eyes of mercy, and vndone
all intercession, please you to desist
we must proceed 'toth examination
of the other prisoners Sr Geffrey
we shall need your graue assistance
Sr Geffrey be more attentiue.

[OMITTED]r G:
Tis very necessary, I wilbe sworne she did bewitch me
I thinke I was almost a sleepe, but now to yee Ifaith come
on what can you say yt Iudgmt shall not passe agt. you

Thoro:
Sir you are the Iudge here.

Re:
Yes sir, why question you my power.

Tho:
Noe scarlet man I question thy witt
at least thy humanity and the Conscience
that dares Imagine, to destroy this wealth
to hang this matchles Diamond in the eare
of Ethiope Death, send him to fill thy house
strike with his dart thy Children, & thy selfe
gray bearded miscreant, whose best acts compard[OMITTED]
with Thurstons murder, (cause this lady did[OMITTED]
Are full iniquity.

Su:
[The man speaks home and boldly]

Re:
Sr you are fitter for a Iayle[r] or Beddlam
then to stand free before vs.
What art thou mad man

Sr G:
Yes what are you sir, I aske to, thoug I know y[OMITTED]
enough, what are you.

Tho:
I am one.
to expresse my selfe in my true character)
soe full of ciuill reason and iust truth
that to denie my owne peculiar act
I should esteeme, as base and black a sinne
as Scythians doe Adultery, twas I
that gaue this lady Councell to inuade
yt Thurstons life, and out of Cowardise
feareing my person, set his bold young man
to be his murderer, Ime the principall
the very source from whenc this brooke of blood
fetches its spring.

Re:
Still more of the conspiracy, Sir what say you
to these designemt s.

Su:
Say sir you slew the man in equall duell
twill bring you off I warrant you.

Sr G:
Answere you youth of valour you yt dare see
men of credit bleede. ha.

Y:Mar:
Sr I am to dy, & should I now speake false
twould be a maine addicon' to the ill
what I a lone comitted, for this man
howsoere his fury, does transport his tongue
hees guiltlesse on't, I must confesse my Mother
did for some private wrong wc h he had don
wish me to call him to account, but this
Steward did with all violence sollicit
that I should slay him.

Alex:
Whoe I, goe to, ist come to this.

Re:
Sir you must answer this

Sr Geff:
marke how the mischeife lookes.

Alex
I doe defie thy mallice thou falce Iudge, goe to my[OMITTED]
I appeale to, she that knowes my vertue & Integrity[OMITTED]

Re:
Away with him, to'th Iayle a publike Sessions may[OMITTED]
long from thence deliuer him to the gallowes.

Const:
Come Sir.

Ext'.
Re:
Madam for you & for your sonn, yor crimes being soe
manifest, I wish, you would prpare yor selues for heauen
meane time you must remaine saffe prissoners,
vntill the Iudges sitt who best may giue a sentence
on your fact.

Tho:
And what for me.

Sr Geff:
I what for him Mr [Recorder]/[Iustice]

Recor:
Sure your words
rather proceed from some distraction
then from similitude of [truth] truth
you may begon we doe quitt you.

Tho
And Ile quit my selfe
of what you will not, my hated life
you haue condemd a lady who a my claime
as many slaues to waite on her in death
as the most superstitious Indian prince
(that carries servants to attend ith graue)
can by's prerogatiue, nor shall she want
waiters while you & I my reverend Iudg
are with in reach of one an other.

Offers att ye Recor:
Su:
Death sir dare you presume to
draw before vs men of stout performance.

[OMITTED]r G:
You sir weele haue you hangd to Sir with
the Steward.

Re:
we doe forgiue him twas his passion
tis manly to forbeare infirmities
in noble soules, [Shout] [OMITTED][thin]
[Whats the matter] away wt h the delinquents Officers
[there looke to the prisoners.]

Enter Timothy
Sr G:
[I charge you looke to them, there is some]
[rescue intended I warrant you.]

[OMITTED]thy [Const:]
[Sir yonder are some six or seauen without]
[attird like Masquers that will not be denied]
[attmittance.]

Re:
[What are they.]

Con:
[ffaith we know not, nor will they tell vs]
[only this they say heareing of the lady Marloues]
[condemnation, they are come wt h shew of]
[death to make her more prpard fort.]

Re:
[We will deny none of her freinds to see her]
[they can intend noe rescue.]

Con:
[Noe my life ont sir, they come vnarm'd.]

Re:
[Be still letts see this misterie.]

Florishe Horrid Musike.
Enter Death: Gri: and furies
Gri:
[If in charnell houses, Caues]
[horrid grots, and mossie graues]
[where the mandraks hideous howles]
[welcome bodies voide of Soules]
[my power extends, why may not I]
[hugg those who are condem'd to dy]
[grimme dispaire arise and bring]
[horror with thee, and the king]
[of our dull regions, bid ye rest]
[of your Society be addrest]
[As they feare the frowne of chaunce]
[to grace this prsence with a Daunce.]

Recorders. Enter [De] Hymen & ye lovers.
Tim:
[death auaunt thou hast no power]
[this is Hymens happie hower]
[away toth dark shades hence]
[and grim dispaire let Innocence]
[triumph and bring eternall peace,]
[to all your soules & Ioys increase]
[Smile, Smile sweet ayre on vs yt come]
[to sing Deaths Epicedium]
[extract from roses gentlest winds]
[suchodors, as Young Hymen finds]
[at Sweet Arabian nuptialls, let]
[the youthfull graces, here beget]
[Soe smooth a peace, yt every breath]
[may blesse this marriage of death,]
[ffeare nothing lady, whose bright eye]
[sing'd deaths wings as he flew by]
[wee therefore trust me only come]
[to sing deaths Epicedium.]
[discover.]
stay, stay, by your leaue mr Iustice

Tim:
[And now] madam [being] yor servant [to]
Timothy, [I] brings you newes you must not dy
know you this Gentleman.

Sr G:
Now on my knighthood Mr Thurston

Lady
Amazement leaue me is he liueing.

Re:
Are we deluded.

Tim:
So it appeares sir, the gent' never had hurt,
hees here and let him speake for him selfe
and this gentlewoman his wife.

Lady.
Who Clariana.

Thur:
With yor leaue reverend father. to you Madam
whome I must now call Mother, first yor ∥don
yt the conceiud report of my famd death
has brought you to this triall, next
for this your daughter, & yor sonn, whose virtue[OMITTED]
redeem'd me from the death yor rage had thought[OMITTED]
I should haue suffr'd, he agreing with me
consented to appeach himselfe of that
he nere intended, and procurd this man
as his accuser, of my murder wc h
was but contriud, to let you see the error
of your sterne malice that acquainted with
the foulenesse of the fact, by the effect
you might repent it, & bestow yor blessing
on vs your Suppliant Children.

[OMITTED]:Mar. Clari:
wc h we begg with hearty sorrow, if we haue
transgresd our duty to you.

Re:
I am happie, to see soe blesd a period.

Sr Ge:
Ha, ha, widdow are you come of thus widdow
you may thanke me I hope youle haue me
now widdow.

Lady
This soddaine comfort
had I not yet a relique left of greife
would like a violent torrent over beare
the banks of my mortallity, Oh Thurston
whom I respect with a more sacred loue
then was my former, take my blessing wt h her
and all the wishes that a Ioyfull mother
can to a child deuote, had my Belisia
and her deare Bonuill liud this happy day
should haue beheld a double wedding

[Su:
Death must he haue her then]

Re:
Spoake like a mother

Thoro:
Madam the Surplussage of loue yt's in my brest
must needs haue vent in gratulation
of your full ioyes, would you mind yor promise
and make me fortunate in yor loue

Lady
Sir I haue vowd, since by my meanes
my daughter and her loue perishd
vnhappily to seclude my selfe from mans
Society.

Tho:
Weele cancell that obligation
quickly. Lady I now will vrge
Bonuil Belisia & Grimes, discover
yor promise twas a plot betwixt vs
to giue them out for drownd,
least your pursuite should haue
impeachd their marriage wc h is now
most iustly consummate a lonly I
remaine [at your] at your devotion for a wife

Lady
Take her, & with me a repentance, as profound
as Anchorits for their sin. pay.

Re:
Madam how blest am I
to see you thus past hope recouerd.
my mirth at your faire wedding
shall demonstrate.

Sr G:
I will daunce too, that certaine, though I
breake my legs or get the tissick.

Suc:
[Doe you know me sir.]

Bon.
[Yes very well sir.]

Suc:
[you are married sir.]

Bon:
[I what of that]

Suc:
[Nothing but send you Ioy sir.]

Lady:
But wheres my Steward hees not hangd
I hope this mirth admitts no Tragedy.

Gri:
Behold the figure.

Alex:
I craue forgiuenesse.

Lady.
Goe to, you haue it.

Ale:
Thanke you madam.
I, I will goe to & goe to, and there be ere a[OMITTED]
wench to be got for loue or mony rath[OMITTED]
then plot murder, tis the sweeter sinn of[OMITTED]
besides theres noe danger of ones cragg[OMITTED]
worst is but stand in one sheet for ly[OMITTED]
in two and therefore goe to & goe to I[OMITTED]
And I sayt agen

Sr Geff:
Bunch take my cloake Bunch it shal[OMITTED]
be sed, so many weddings & nere a Da[OMITTED]
for soe many good turnes the hangman[OMITTED]
ha done you theres one for all, hey.

Tho:
Well said sir Geffrey.

Sr Ge:
Hey when I was young, but come we loose[OMITTED]
every one his lasse & stricke vp Musick.

Daunce.
Lady.
Now gentlemen my thanks to all & since
tis my good hap to escape these ills
goe in with me and celebrate this feast
with choyse solemnitie, where or discourse
shall merrily forgett these harmes, & proue
theres noe Arraingmt like to that of loue

Exeunt Oes