 | The Siege and Surrender of Mons |  |
ACT I.
SCENE I.
The Curtain drawn, discovers the Prince de Bergue, with the Counts Fontagne and Ravillido, Brigadier Fagel, Marshal Spinosa, and other Officers in Council at the Stadt-Huys or Town-Hall of Mons, examining a Scout whom they had sent to observe the Motions of the French.Prince B.
But does the Army march directly hither?
Scout.
They seem, my Lord, to have no other aim,
For from the Hills I saw their Cavalry
Descend in so much order with their Trumpets,
Haut-bois and Drums in warlike Consort playing
As if instead of fighting they intended
A solemn Triumph in the Plains of Hainault.
Prince.
'Tis yet preposterous tho, to let such Joys
Soften their Souldiers Minds before Engagement,
Know you the Strength and Number of their Force?
Scout.
Reports, my Lord, are Various, yet 'tis thought
That Fifty thousand Men compose their Army.
Prince.
Let Fifty thousand swell to Fifty Millions,
As daring as their General Luxemberg;
And cruel as the Marquess de Bouffleers,
Yet Mons shall stand against their mighty Force,
My Lords, your thoughts of this bold Undertaking?
'Tis what we feared, what did I say we fear'd it?
Forgive the word—we know not what it means
This friendly Visit we have long expected,
But yet we hope with int'rest to repay it;
'Tis kindly done to let us know their coming,
That we get things ready for their welcome,
And not as once in the Disguise of Merchants,
Seize on our Gates, and let the Foes come in,
Myn Heer (speaking to Fagel)
you best the Towns Condition know.
Fagel.
If Art and Nature ever yet contriv'd,
A place to bear the worst attacks of Fortune,
'Tis surely Mons can make the justest claim,
If Horn-works, Bastions, Counterscarps, Redoubts,
With the united Force of Germans, Dutch,
Walloones and Spaniards both of Foot and Horse,
Bred in the Art of War and Blood since Infancy
Speak a place strong, then Mons will try their Valour.
Prince B.
Fagel, the Genius of a Martial Soul,
Dictates your thoughts, yet Caution is a Vertue,
For were our Bulwarks strong as walls of Brass,
And Ramparts which to time might bid defiance,
Yet were the Souldiers treacherous or disloyal,
The place would quickly yield to Gallick Force.
Fagel.
The Souldiers false? avert the thought kind Heaven!
My Lord, so very brave and stout the' appear,
As if one gallant and Heroick Soul
Did actuate of Men so great a Body,
The Burghers too have seem'd to lay aside
All thoughts of getting Wealth, and heaping Riches.
Daily they leave their Shops to handle Arms,
And exercise with so much art and skill,
As Nature seem'd to have design'd 'em Souldiers.
Prince B.
Fagel you chear my Soul with the Relation,
That we have now no time for long Debates,
This Action now must make us Formidable,
My Lords Fontagne and Ravillido, you
With your respective Troops take care to guard
The Magazines, Spinosa 'tis your Post
To Harcourt I've already given a Charge.
Fagel.
'Tis known you no Instructions want,
Nor does your God like Vertue need Directions
Let every Man of us altho remember
No common Cause we wear upon Swords,
Let each but think that on his single Valour
Depends the Glory or the Fall of Mons
Eternal Honour or perpetual Slav'ry,
If helps to Valour we should stand in need,
Let us reflect upon the breach of Oaths,
Truces and Edicts sign'd by treacherous French,
Let's think of Phillipsburg, Spire, Worms, and other
Once famous Towns, now heaps of Dirt and Ruines,
Let this within our minds form such impressions
Of French Civility that we may never
Listen to Overtures of tame Surrender.
Fagel.
Surrender—had I my Lord the least suspicion
That in these Brains of mine such thoughts were lurking
By Heav'n Ide dash 'em out against a Mortar-piece,
As soon my Wife and all my little Children,
Ide tamely hold, before a Rugged Villain,
Whilst he with cruel Knife ript up their Throats,
As yield my Country up to Monsieur's Terms.
Ravillido.
Bravely resolv'd. But Fagels not alone,
There's not a Man that bears Command in Mons,
VVho will not wish to loose the use of Hearing
Before he'l listen to such base Demand.
Prince.
My Lords I pray you let no nice Suspicions
Disturb our Friendships—Each Man to his Post,
Mean while be Orders sent to all the Convents,
The Monasteries and Religious Houses
Within the City that the Holy Fathers
With Prayers and Tears, long Fastings and Processions
May bribe the Saints t'assist us in our woes,
And turn these threatning Clouds another Day
Spinosa, wait upon me to the Palace.
Exeunt all but Fagel.
What e're the Matter is I cannot tell,
I do not love these Priests, for in a Siege,
They are as useless as their Holy-water:
'Tis strange, their Prayers should do no more Execution
Then we effect with all our Bombs and Canon;
And for their parts, they are unskill'd in Arms:
Yet I bely 'em, for these shaven Scoundrels
Know but too well, the use of Carnal weapons;
They have more Business with their Female Penitents,
Then hearing them confess and then absolve them.
While we are fighting to defend their Lives,
These holy Rogues are nibbling at our Wives.
SCENE II.
The Scene the chief Street in Mons.Enter six Burgers with Pioneers and other Rabble.
1. Burger.
(looking up).
You Sirrah, untile that House quickly, or I shall
untile your Brain-pan for you—you Dog.
2. Burg.
What's the meaning of your practice Neighbour, d'ye think
the French when they've taken the Town, will come in at the Top of the
House?
1. Burg.
No, but they will send their Messengers beforehand to give us
notice of their coming, by a very civil Person, in the shape of a Bomb.
2. Burg.
And how does he deliver his Message?
1. Burg.
Truly in a very passionate manner, he is so very full of rage.
that he bursts with it.
3. Burg.
Why he speaks his mind very plainly then.
1. Burg.
Ay and very loudly too when I was at Genoa, the French Fleet
gave us a Visit en passant, and sent us such a number of these fiery Messengers,
that the Town could hardly afford 'em house-room.
4. Burg.
Unpave that Quadrangle quickly, we'll endeavour they shall
fall soft, for they are very apt to break their Bones when they come
down.
5. Burg.
This new way of House-breaking came up but very lately
sure.
And the Devil on't is, there's no Statute against it,
But when are we to expect this French Visit?
1. Burg.
They are now within 4 Leagues of the place and cannot fail
Of being here by to morrow noon.
5 Burg.
Well, Heaven be prais'd we are pretty well provided to entertain
'em, our Governour is a Wise Discreet Prince, his Officers Trusty,
and I hope we have no Rogues amongst our selves.
2 Burg.
Only our foolish pity is apt to betray us in Complacense to the
Women; my Wife does so desire me to keep out of Harms way, that she
grows perfectly troublesom.
6 Burg.
For my part I could wish 'em all in Purgatory while the Business
is over.
1 Burg.
Ay, and the Priests too with 'em, for they are never asunder,
since the noise of the French's coming, the Confessionalls and Churches are
so cramm'd with 'em, that one cannot get a Priest now to a sick man's Bed,
and so the poor Wretch must go out of the World without Extream
Unction.
6 Burg.
For my part I have an indifferent Opinion of my Wives Honesty,
but I cannot swear for the Chastity of her Confessor, since by a mistake he
show'd her Aretines Postures instead of the Rosary.
Enter a Rabble bringing in 3 French Spies.
1 Rabble.
Bring 'em along, bring 'em along—we'l give 'em Beef to
their Vinegar.
2 Rabble.
Will nothing go down with you ye Dogs but Gun-Powder
Sawce.
2 Burg.
The Occasion of this Tumult quickly Sirrah.
1 Rabble.
Why Sir, these very civil Gentleman foreseeing the Miserie
we were to suffer in the Siege designed to have Blown up our great Magazine
of Powder.
1 Burg.
Horrible Rogues!
2 Rab.
Nay Sir, the very Lighted Match was discovered within 9 inches
of the Train.
3 Burg.
By which it may be easily guess't they are not 10 inches from
Halter.
1 Rab.
The design Sir was laid in the Garden of Malheur the French
Lawyer, but he has troop't off and so sav'd his Bacon.
Shall Villanies like this remain unpunisht?
Rather then such designing Hell-Born Rogues
Should want due punishment I'd once turn Hang-man,
But lest our Passions should exceed Discretion
Carry the Rascals to the Governour
Who is too prudent and too just a Prince
To let such Treacheries pass unrewarded.
1 Rab.
Yes Sir, yes Sir, we'l conduct 'em to the Governour, and afterwards
hope to make one Holi-day to see 'em broke on the Wheel: Come
away Dogs, Rogues, Sons of Whores, come away.
[Exeunt Rabble with the Prisoners.
5 Burg.
A Lucky discovery this—the whole French Army could not do
as half the mischief as one of these was able to effect—
1 Burg.
Yet all this shall not abate one jot of my kindness for the French,
Oh methinks a Monsieurs heart would be a rare Breakfast
5 Burg.
Well Pepper'd and Salted upon a Spanish Gridiron.
Guns heard at a distance.
1 Burg.
Hear you the noise?
2 Burg.
I am not Deaf I think—well now the worst is come to the worst,
if you'll follow my example, Bury your Plate, Lock up your Wives and
Children, and with a Musket on his Shoulder, let every man be the Swiss
of his own Family.
[Exeunt.
SCENE III.
Enter a large Procession of the Religious, the Host born under a Canopy by the Abbots Grimchi and Vaneuf, assisted by the Dominicans, &c. the chief of the Town following in due Order, with Wax Tapers in their hands making a very large Train—Durand, Ternon and Foquet bringing up the Reer—in their solemn March the Priests sing.Who have no Passions now but Love,
Behold our sad distressed Town,
And look with tender Pity down.
Look down upon our Matrons Fears,
Who daily to the Temple throng,
Your kindest pity we implore
Our wishes cannot hope for more,
'Tis pity pity we implore.
[The Procession goes off, manent Durand, Ternon and Foquet.
Foquet.
Ha ha ha ha ha—
Durand.
You'r merry Foquet, the Occasion pray you.
Foquet.
Have I not reason? when I see the two Abbots so very piously
assisting at a Devotion when their hearts are quite another way.
Durand.
How came you by this Intelligence, you are but a Lay-man, and
Gentlemen of their Character seldom make such their Confessors.
Foquet.
Come come Durand, and you Monsieur Ternon, off off with your
Disguises, and show your selves honest men—that is by interpretation
according to the Spanish Version—Rogues.
Ternon.
You amaze me for—
Foquet.
Nay never start Ternon, you and I with Durand, are all engaged
in one cause. See you this
(shews Gold)
Who for such a Sum would not Hang his Father, lye with his Mother, and
Crack his Sisters Maidenhead ha—?
Durand.
Come, come, I see you have found us out, and for my part
my Fortunes having been at Low Water-mark a long time, I thought
a little French Gold no very unacceptable Present considering my Circumstances.
Ternon.
Well then since we understand one another, let's consult the
chief Methods how to merit more of these Favours.
Foquet.
Our first chief Business must be to magnify the Glory's of the
French King in all Companys where we can do it safely; then that we
may be equally as much at ease under his Government as under the King
of Spain, who is at too great a distance to take Cognizance of the ill Administration
of his Officers.
Ternon.
I had a Letter t'other day from a Correspondence of mine
in England, who tells me that Gentlemen there lay Wagers like mad
that Mons will be in the French hands by such a time.—you know
these—
Enter a Rabble crying out Confusion to the French, Confusion to the French.
Rabble.
How now, who are you?
Ternon.
We Gentlemen, we are Citizens of Mons.
Rabble.
Are you for the French or no?
Foquet.
For the French, no, no? rot the Rogues, sink, burn and confound
'em—Heaven be Deaf to my Prayers.
[Aside.
Rabble.
Come come along with us, along with us.
Exeunt.
SCENE 4.
SCENE. The Palace.Enter Prince de Bergue Discoursing with Fagel and Spinosa with other Officers.
Prince.
I'm glad to find that gen'rous Resolution
Appears in both the Soldiers and the Burghers
To keep the Town even to the last extremity.
Fagel.
Never did men appear with greater Brav'ry
In all the Sieges History makes mention
Then this of Mons.
Prince.
Have the French form'd their Camp?
Fagel.
They'r very busy in pursuit of Ruin,
Their Horse consist of two and forty Squadrons,
And in fit posts they now their Foot are placing;
Great numbers of the Boors they have compell'd
To work upon the Lines and drain the Marshes,
Nor have they given us one kind Salute
From mouth of Gun, but hourly we expect it.
Prince.
Since in Civility they are so backward,
Let us then first begin—And you Spinosa
Go quickly then and order Colonel Harcourt,
With a pickt number of bold daring Youths
Assisted by some few Dragoons and Horse,
That instantly they make a furious Sally
Upon the Foe, and Heaven succeed their Arms.
Spinosa.
I know, my Lord, the Message will be welcome,
Their youthful Blood is ready to boil or'e
With Rage against the French, with half that Eagerness
They would not fly to the desired embraces
Of the most charming of their Mistresses
As now they will to Arms.
Prince.
No Speeches Marshal—
Their Truth I doubt not—execute your Orders.
Spinosa.
I go my Lord.
Exit Spinosa.
Prince.
If my presaging hopes are true propheticks,
Our Enemies will soon repent this Visit.
Enter one from the French Camp.
Officer.
My Lord, A Messenger from the Enemy:
Prince.
Your Business, Sir.
Mess.
'Tis from the noble Marquess de Bouffleers,
Who to your Highness bid me give this Summons.
Prince.
Read it Captain,
To an Officer.
Officer
Reads.
To you the Prince and Governour of Mons,
My Royal Master his kind Greeting sends,
And in his Name commands you to surrender
The Town and Citadel without delay;
Which just Demand, if proudly you refuse,
Himself attended with his Son the Dauphine,
And all the Flower of France will force you to't,
Bouffleers.
Prince.
Go tell the Marquess from the Prince Bergue,
The King of France affords me too much Honour
The brave Defence we are resolv'd to make.
Exit Messenger.
Surrender Mons, my dear lov'd Native Town?
As soon I'd sell my valued Right of Birth
With Arms and plenty of Provisions stor'd,
We doubt not but to tire the Force of France.
Scarce thirteen years are past since they attempted
To gain the Town, but then they were repulsed
At height of Noon, and beaten from their Trenches
By the brave Valour of the great Nassau
Now Britains Monarch at the Hague Consulting
The fittest Methods Christendom to free
From servile Chains and Arbitrary Sway
Which gladly France would on all Europe lay.
| The Siege and Surrender of Mons | |