THE Foure Prentises of London With the Conquest of Ierusalem As it hath bene diuerse times Acted at the Red Bull by the Queenes Maiesties Seruants Written by THOMAS HEYVVOOD Printed at London for I. W. 1615 To the honest and high-spirited Prentises The Readers TO you as whom this Play most especially concernes I thought good to dedicate this Labour which though written many yeares since in my Infancy of Iudgement in this kinde of Poetry and my first practise yet vnderstanding by what meanes I know not it was in these more exquisit refined Times to come to the Presse in such a forwardnesse ere it came to my knowledge that it was past preuention and knowing withall that it comes short of that accuratenesse both in Plot and Stile that these more Censorious dayes with greater curiosity acquire I must thus excuse That as Playes were then some fifteene or sixteene yeares agoe it was in the fashion Nor could it haue found a more seasonable and fit publication then at this Time when to the glory of our Nation the security of the Kingdome and the honour of the City they haue begunne againe the commendable practise of long forgotten Armes the continuance of which I wish the discipline approue and the encouragement thereof euen with my soule applaude In which great and hoped good they deserue not the least attribute of approbation who in the dull and sleepy time of peace first waken'd the remembrance of these armes in the Artillery garden which begun out of their voluntary affections prosecuted by their priuate industries and continued at their owne proper cost and charge deserues in my opinion not onely respect and regard but recompence and reward But to returne againe to you my braue spirited Prentises vpon whom I haue freely bestowed these Foure I I wish you all that haue their courages and forwardnesse their noble Fates and Fortunes Yours Thomas Heywood Drammatis Personae The old Earle of Bulleine His foure sonnes Godfrey Guy Charles Eustace Bella Franca his daughter An English Captaine Robert of Normandy The French Kings daughter Tancred a Prince of Italy The Souldan of Babylon The Sophy of Persia Turnus Moretes A Chorus or Presentor Mutes The French King The Bullenois Bandetti Irishmen Ambushes of Pagans The Clowne The Prologue Enter three in blacke clokes at three doores 1 VVHat meane you my maisters to appeare thus before your times Doe you not know that I am the Prologue Do you not see this long blacke veluet cloke vpon my backe Haue you not sounded thrice Do I not looke pale as fearing to bee out in my speech Nay haue I not all the signes of a Prologue about me Then to what end come you to interrupt mee 2 I haue a Prologue to speake too 3 And I another 1 O superfluous and more then euer I heard of three Prologues to one play 2 Haue you not seene three ropes to tole one bell three doores to one house three wayes to one towne 1 I grant you but I neuer heard of any that had three heads to one body but Cerberus But what doth your Prologue meane 2 I come to excuse the name of the Play 3 I the errours in the Play 1 And I the Author that made the Play Touching the name why is it called True and Strange or The foure Prentises of London A Gentleman that heard the subiect discourst said it was not possible to be true and none here are bound to beleeue it 2 T is true that Alexander at thirty yeares of age conquered the whole world but strange he should doe so If we should not beleeue things recorded in former ages wee were not worthy that succeeding times should beleeue things done in these our ages 1 But what authority haue you for your History I am one of those that wil beleeue nothing that is not in the Chronicle 2 Our authority is a Manuscript a booke writ in parchment which not being publique nor generall in the world wee rather thought fit to exemplifie to the publique censure things concealed and obscur'd such as are not common with euery one than such Historicall Tales as euery one can tell by the fire in Winter Had not yee rather for nouelties sake see Ierusalem yee neuer saw then London that yee see howerly So much touching the name of our History 1 You haue satisfied me and I hope all that heare me Now what haue you to speake concerning the errours in the Play 3 We acknowledge none For the errors we could finde we would willingly amend but if these cleere-sighted Gentlemen with the eyes of their iudgements looking exactly into vs finde any imperfections which are hid from our selues our request is you would rather looke ouer them then through them not with a troubled eye that makes one obiect to seeme two but with a fauourable eye which hath power in it selfe to make many to seeme none at all 1 Oh now I vnderstand you Three Prologues to our Play pardon mee y 'aue need of three hundred me thinkes and all little enough But to end our beginning in a word Thus much by the patience of these Gentlemen Spectators should you oppose your iudgements against vs where we are three which some would thinke too many were we three thousand we thinke our selues to few Our Author submits his labours to you as the Authors of all the content he hath within this circumference But for your sakes this onely we dare say We promist you and wee 'l performe a Play The foure Prentises OF LONDON Actus primus Scoena prima Enter the old Earle of Boloigne and his daughter BELLA FRANCA EARLE DAughter thou seest how Fortune turnes her wheele Wee that but late were mounted vp aloft Lul'd in the skirt of that inconstant Dame Are now throwne head-long by her ruthlesse hand To kisse that earth whereon our feete should stand What censuring eye that sees mee thus deiect Would take this shape to bee that famous Duke Which hath made Boloigne through the world renown'd And all our race with fame and honour crown'd BELL. But father how can you endure a slaue To triumph in your fortunes and heere stand In soule deiect and banisht from your land EARLE I le tell thee Girle The French King and my selfe Vpon some termes grew in a strange debate And taking carefull vantage of the time Whilst I with all my powers in aide of William The Norman Duke now English Conquerour Was busily emploi'd hee seiz'd my right Planting another and supplanting mee This is the ground of my extremitie BEL. If for King Williams sake now Conquerour You lost your birth-right and inheritance How comes it that hee sees you in this state And lifts not vp your fortunes ruinate EARLE A conquered Kingdome is not easily kept Hee hath so much adoe to guard his owne That mine is buried in obliuion And I am forc't to loose the name of Earle And liue in London like a Citizen My foure sons are bound prentice
go to warre I would not stay in London one houre longer CHAR. An houre By heauen I would not stay a minute EVST. A minute not a moment Would you put a moment Into a thousand parts that thousandth part Would not I linger might I goe to warre Why I would presently runne from my Maister Did I but heare where were a drumme to follow BELL. Would you so brother EVST. I good faith sweete Sister I would shew him as fine a paire of heeles as light and nimble as any the neatest corke shoe in all the Towne turnes vp I would i'faith BELL. And leaue me here alone GVY. Alone why sister Can you be left alone 'mongst multitudes London is full of people euery where GODF. Well leaue this iesting wee forget our selues Sister wee le haue you to our fathers house T' enioy the small possessions left you there Returne we to our Maisters and our charge Left seeking this our loytering to excuse With forg'd inuentions wee their eares abuse Sound a Drumme within softly I heare a drumme I haue as much power to sit Sort out my wares and scrible on a Shop-board When I but heare the musicke of a drumme As to abstaine from meate when I am hungry I 'le know what newes before I stirre a foote CHAR. By heauen I am enamoured of this tune 'T is the best Musicke in the world to mee EVST. My legs are marching streight when I but heare it Ran tan tan Oh I could lead a drumme With a good grace if I but saw behind mee An hundred souldiers follow in euen rankes Had I but here a band of men to lead Methinkes I could do wonders Oh 't is braue To be a Captaine and command to haue Enter after a Drumme a Captaine with a Proclamation CAP. All Commanders Captaines Liefetenants Gentlemen of Compaines Sergeants Corporals or common Souldiers whatsoeuer that will accompany to the holy warres at Hierusalem Robert Duke of Normandy the Kings sonne they shall haue pay and place according to their deserts And so God saue King William Surnamed the Conquerour Exit Drumme and Captaine EVST. Ran tan tan Now by S. George he tels gallant newes I le home no more I 'le runne away to night GVY. If I cast Bole or Spoone or Salt againe Before I haue beheld Hierusalem Let mee turne Pagan CHAR. Hats and Caps adeiw For I must leaue you if the Drumme say true GODF. Nay then haue with you brothers for my spirit With as much vigour hath burst forth as thine And can as hardly be restrain'd as yours Giue me your hands I will consort you too Let 's try what London Prentises can doe EVST. For my Trades sake if good successe I haue The Grocers Armes shall in mine Ensigne waue GVY. And if my valour bring mee to command The Gold-smithes Armes shall in my colours stand GODF. So of vs all then let vs in one ship Lanch all together and as wee are brothers So let vs enter zealous amity And still preuaile by our vnited strength I know our hearts are one sister Fare-well Trust mee in vaine you should perswade our stay For wee are bent consort vs with your prayers ALL Farewell BELL. Farewell GODF. God! GVY. Heauen CHAR. Fate EVST. Fortune GODF. Make vs happy men To win GVY. Weare CHAR. Vanquish EVST. Ouercome Exeunt BEL. Amen Haue you all left mee midst a world of strangers Here onely to my selfe not to protect me Or to defend me from apparant wrong Since it is so I 'le follow after you In some disguise I will pursue their steps And vnto God and fortune yeeld my selfe Toward sea they are gone and vnto sea must I A Virgines vnexpected fate to try Exit Enter marching ROBERT of Normandy the Captaine the foure brethren Drumme and Souldiers Enter the PRESENTER PRE. Thus haue you seene these brothers shipt to Sea Bound on their voiage to the holy Land All bent to try their fortunes in one Barke Now to auoide all dilatory newes Which might with-hold you from the Stories pith And substance of the matter wee entend I must entreat your patience to forbeare Whilst we do feast your eye and starue your eare For in dumbe shews which were they writ at large Would aske a long and tedious circumstance Their infant fortunes I will soone expresse And from the truth in no one point digresse Yee haue seene the father of these foure faire sons Already gone his weary pilgrimage Godfrey Guy Charles and Eustace prest to sea To follow Robert Duke of Normandy Imagine now yee see the aire made thicke With stormy tempests that disturbe the sea And the foure windes at warre among themselues And the weake barkes wherein the brothers saile Split on strange rockes and they enforc't to swim To saue their desperate liues where what befell thē Disperst to seuerall corners of the world We will make bold to explane it in dumbe Show For from their fortunes all our Scene must grow Enter with a Drumme on one side certaine Spaniards on the other side certaine Citizens of Bullen the Spaniards insult vpon them and make them do them homage to the Cittizens enter GODFREY as newly landed and halfe naked conferres with the Cittizens and by his instigation they set vpon the Spaniards and beate them away they come to honour him and he discloseth himselfe vnto them which done they Crowne him and accept him for their Prince and so Exeunt Those Cittizens you see were Bullonoyes Kept vnder bondage of that tyrannous Earle To whom the French King gaue that ancient seate Which to the wronged Pilgrim did belong But in the height of his ambition Godfrey by Shipwracke throwne vpon that Coast Stirres vp th' oppressed Citty to reuoult And by his valour was th' usurper slaine The Citty from base bondage free'd againe The men of Bulloigne wondring what strong hand Had beene the meanes of their deliuerance Besought him to make knowne his birth and state Which Godfrey did The people glad to see Their naturall Prince procure their liberty Homage to him create him Earle of Bulloigne And repossesse him in his fathers seate Where we will leaue him hauing honour wonne And now returne vnto the second sonne Enter the King of France and his daughter walking to them GVY all wet The Lady entreateth her father for his entertainement which is granted and rich cloathes are put about him sic Exeunt As the French King did with his daughter walke By the Sea-side from farre they might espy One on a rafter floate vpon the waues VVho as he drew more neere vnto the shore They might discerne a man though basely clad Yet sparkes of honour kindled in his eyes Him at first sight the beauteous Lady loues And prayes her father to receiue him home To which the King accords and in his Court Makes him a great and speciall Officer There leaue we Guy a gallant Courtier prou'd And of the beauteous Lady well belou'd Enter Bandetto's with the Earle prisoner Exeunt some of
to foure Trades Godfrey my eldest boy I haue made a Mercer Guy my next sonne enrol'd in Gold-smithes Trade My third sonne Charles bound to an Haberdasher Yong Eustace is a Grocer all high borne Yet of the Citty-trades they haue no scorne Thus bare necessity hath made me seeke Some refuge to sustaine our pouerty And hauing plac't my sonnes in such a sort The little wealth I haue left I leaue to thee My selfe will trauaile to the holy Land And ere I lie within the earths vaste wombe Pay my deuoute vowes at my Sauiours Tombe BELL. Was that the cause you sent for my foure brothers EVRLE. Their wished sight will cheere my aged heart And I will blesse them all before I part Enter GODFREY GVY CHARLES and EVSTACE like Apprentices GODF. I wonder brothers why my father hath sent for vs thus earely that all businesse set apart wee must meete together this morning GVY. I know not the reason I had much ado to get leaue of my Maister to be spared from my attendance in the Shop and seruing of Customers CHA. 'Faith as soone as I heard but the messenger say my father must speake with mee I left my Tanakrd to guard the Conduit and away came I EVST. I beshrew him I should haue bene at breake-fast with two or three good boyes this morning but that match is disappointed by this meeting BELL. See where my brothers are already come EARLE Godfrey Guy Charles yong Eustace all at once Diuide a fathers blessing in foure parts And share my prayers amongst you equally First Godfrey tell mee how thou lik'st thy Trade And knowing in thy thoughts what thou hast ben How canst thou brooke to be as thou art now GODF. Bound must obey Since I haue vndertooke To serue my Maister truely for seuen yeares My duty shall both answere that desire And my old Maisters profite euery way I praise that Citty which made Princes Trades-men Where that man noble or ignoble borne That would not practise some mechanicke skill Which might support his state in penury Should die the death not sufferd like a drone To sucke the hony from the publicke Hiue I hold it no disparage to my birth Though I be borne an Earle to haue the skill And the full knowledge of the Mercers Trade And were I now to be create a new It should not grieue me to haue spent my time The secrets of so rich a Trade to know By which aduantage and much profites grow EAR. Well hast thou done to ouercome thy fate Making thy minde conformed to thy state How likes my Guy the Gold-smithes faculty GVY. As a good refuge in extremity Say I be borne a Prince and be cast downe By some sinister chance or fortunes frowne Say I be banisht when I haue a Trade And in my selfe a meanes to purchase wealth Though my state waste and towring honours fall That still stayes with mee in the extream'st of all EARLE What saies my third sonne Charles CHAR. If I should say I would not brooke those bonds Which God and fate and you haue tied me in You would be preaching disobedience Or should I say the Citty-trades are base For such a great mans sonnes to take on them Your fatherly regard would straight aduise mee To chastise my rebellious thoughts and say Sonne you by this may liue another day Therefore as my two brothers I reply You aske mee if I like it I say I EARLE What saies my yongest boy EVST. Father I say Hawking is a pretty sport And Hunting is a Princely exercise To ride a great horse oh 't is admirable EARL Eustace I know it is but to my question How canst thou brooke to be a Prentise boy EVST. Mee thinkes I could endure it for seuen yeares Did not my Maister keepe me in too much I cannot goe to breake-fast in a morning With my kinde mates and fellow-Prentises But he cries Eustace one bid Eustace come And my name Eustace is in euery roome If I might once a weeke but see a Tilting Sixe daies I would fall vnto my businesse close And ere the weekes end winne that idle day Hee will not let mee see a mustering Nor in a May-day morning fetch in May I am no sooner got into the Fencing-schoole To play a venew with some friend I bring But Eustace Eustace all the streete must ring Hee will allow me not one howr for sport I must not strike a foote-ball in the streete But hee will frowne not view the dancing-schoole But hee will misse me straight not suffer mee So much as take vp cudgels in the streete But hee will chide I must not go to buffets No though I bee prouoked that 's the hell Were 't not for this I could endure it well EARLE Sonnes yee must all forget your birth and honors And looke into the times necessity I know yee are perswaded Thinke not sonnes the names of Prentice can disparage you For howsoeuer of you esteem'd they bee Euen Kings themselues haue of these Trades beene free I made a vow to see the holy Land And in the same my Sauiours Sepulchre Hauing so well dispos'd you I will now First blesse you Boyes and then preferre my vow GODF. With much ado do I containe my spirit Within these bandes that haue inclos'd me round Though now this case the noble Sunne doth shroud Time shall behold that Sunne breake through this clowd GVY. My Genius bids my soule haue patience And sayes I shall not be a Prentise long I scorne it not but yet my spirits aime To haue this hand catch at the Crowne of Fame CHAR. An Haberdasher is the Trade Ivse But the soft wool feeles in my hand like steele And I could wish each hat comes through my hand Were turn'd into an Helmet and each Helmet Vpon a Souldiers head for me to lead Warre is the walke which I desire to tread EVST. I am a Grocer Yet had rather see A faire guilt sword hung in a veluet sheath Then the best Barbary sugar in the world Were it a freight of price inestimable I haue a kinde of prompting in my braine That sayes Though I be bound to a sweete Trade I must forgoe it I keepe too much in I would fast from meate and drinke a Summers day To see swords clash or view a desperate fray EARLE Bridle these humours sonnes expell them cleane And your high Spirits within your breasts containe Whilst I my tedious Pilgrimage prepare To spend my age in pouerty and prayer My first-borne first fare-well my second next Charles Eustace Daughter Heere my blessings say Your wishes beare mee on my sacred way Exit GODF. Euen to the place you trauaile there to ascend With those deuoute prayers you to heauen commend Brothers since wee are now as strangers here Yet by our fathers prouident care so plac'd That wee may liue secure from penury So let vs please our Maisters by our care That we our ruin'd fortunes may repaire GVY. Brother if I knew where to
shine bright as the noone-tide Sun Since Syon and Ierusalem are won OLD D. My former want hath now sufficient store For hauing seene this I desire no more How faire and smoth my streame of pleasure runnes To looke at once on Syon and my sonnes GV. Shoures of aboundance raine into our lips To make repentance grow within our hearts What greater earthly blisse could heauen powre downe Then Syon our deere father and this Towne CHA. Then to confirme these conquests God hath giuen vs Seal'd with the bloud of Kings and Emperous Let vs elect a King that may maintaine Our honours with the deaths of Monarches slaine EVST. Call forth the Patriarch of Ierusalem His right hand must be that dignity GODF. With teares I speake it lagging in the traine Of the distressed Soldan he was 〈◊〉 ROB. Prais'd be our God we haue reueng'd his death Great Potentates consort him to his graue CHA. What man for grauity and sanctity May we thinke worthy of this honoured place ROB. Whose yeares deuotion and most sacred life Better can fit that holy place then his Whose worthy sonnes haue brought to end these warres Princes ioyne hands inuest him all at once Flourish OLD D. My feruent zeale bids I should not deny It brings my soule to heauen before I die EVST. But Princes whom will yee elect the King To guard this Citty from succeeding perill GODF. Robert of Normandy ROB. Oh chose Prince Tancred rather TANC. Too weake is my desert and I refuse it EVST. Then put it too most voices ALL Robert of Normandy ROB. Princes we much commend you for your loues But letters from England tell me William's dead And by succession left the Crowne to me I say Prince Godfrey hath deseru'd it best TAN. So Tancred sayes ALL And so say all the rest GODF. Princes ye presse me downe with too much honors And load a soule that cannot beare them vp Disswade me not no counsell I will heare Behold a Crowne which Godfrey meanes to weare A Crowne of Thornes This made the bloud run from our Sauiours Brow No Crowne but this can Godfreyes heart allow Prayers are my pride deuotion drawes my sword No pompe but this can Bullens soule affoord My vow 's irreuocable state I refuse No other Crowne but this will Godfrey chuse TAN. If he refuse the place elect Prince Guy Most voices shall he haue the Scepter ALL I ROB. Then Crowne him straight and henceforth let his name Be through the world call'd Guy of Lessingham All these desire it I consent with them Long liue Prince Guy King of Hierusalem Flourish GV. The Crowne is burst and parted from my head I feare the heauens are angry with your choice OLD D. Sonne Guy they are not By Diuine instinct The heauens haue lent me a Propheticke spirit This she wes thy troublous raigne mutines from farre Shall fright thy Townes and Prouinces with warre GV. If it be nothing else Crowne me againe We haue a heart our Kingdome to maintaine What honours do my brothers heads awaite ROB. Prince Eustace you shall weare this Crowne of State Be King of Sicil and command that Isle Lord Charles the crowne of Cyprus longs to you That in the fight the King of Cyprus slue One generall voyce at once proclaime them Kings Flourish CHA. In memory of this solemnity Here will I leaue this Scutchion borne by mee That in what coast so e're my bones be laid This shield may be an honour to my Trade EVST. Mine shall hang there a trophee of my fame My Trade is famous by King Eustace name GVY. In memory a king hath borne this shield I adde these Challices to this Argent Field GODF. In honour of my first profession That shield in all these warres by Godfrey borne I crowne this Maids head with a wreath of Thorne OLD D. Oh were my daughter here this ioy to see How light her soule how glad would my heart bee TANC. VVould I had now my loue GVY. Or I that Dame That addes to beauties sunne a brighter flame ROB. VVere the faire virgine here I would renowne Her glorious beauty with the English Crowne EVST. Princes I le fit you all Lady come forth Enter BELLA FRANCA BELL. The louely Princes TAN. Faire Mistresse CHA. Lady GODF. Madame GV. Honoured Saint BELL. Nay pardon me loue comes not by constraint But Princes will you grant me patience Before I part I meane to please you all First holy Patriarch tell me of all others Whom in the world you most desire to see OLD D. My daughter BELL. Prince Godfrey Charles and Eustace whom say you ALL Next your selfe our sister BELL. And whom you TAN. My loue BELL. Who 's that TANC. Your honoured selfe faire Maid BELL. Nay I 'le make good the words that I haue said Father I giue a daughter to your hand Brothers behold here doth your sister stand Tancred behold the Lady you once ceas'd Onely I leaue Prince Robert here displeas'd OLD D. My daughter Bella Franca BRO. Sister TANC. Loue OLD D. I am to happy and too full of ioy Heauen powres on me more good then I can beare I that before was steru'd now surfet here ROB. Princes and Lady nothing can displease vs For we pertake in all this glad content And with applause reioyce this accident Tancred reioyce your loue and you your friends Where you beginne with marriage our loue ends Kings kings Peeres to heauen ascribe the glory Whilst we to Chronicles report this story GV. Make loue vnto my sister 't is most strange Now Guy I would thy hadst thy French loue here My heart should grant her what I then refus'd Now hauing got this state of dignity I grieue that I haue so obdurate beene But for amends would make her Syons Queene EVST. And well remembred brother I must now Entreate you for a pretty boy your Page That hath on some occasion stray'd from you GV. Oh brother where 's the villaine EVST. Pardon him and I will tell you GV. Great were th' offence I would not cleare for you EVST. The poore boy brother stayes within my Tent But so disguis'd you cannot know him now For hee 's turn'd wench and but I know the wagge To be a ioy to see him thus transform'd I should haue sworne he had bene a we◠indeed GV. Pray let me see him brother in that habite I would not loose the villaine for more gold Then Syon would be sold for he will blush To be tane tardy in his Maids attire EVST. You haue pardoned him GV. I haue EVST. Then lacke appeare Enter the French Lady Nay blush not to be in your womans geere GV. Leape heart dance spirit be merry iocund soule 'T is she vndoubtedly FREN. LAD. You know me then GV. I do 't was that disguise That all this while hath blinded my cleere eyes EVST. Fie are you not asham'd to kisse a boy And in your armes to graspe him with such ioy GV. She is no boy you do mistake her quite EVST. A boy a Page a wagtaile by this light VVhat say you sister BELL. Sure he told me so For if he be a maide I made him one EVST. Do not mistake the sex man for he 's none It is a rogue a wag his name is Iack A notable dissembling lad a Crack GVY. Brother 't is you that are deceiu'd in her Beshrew her she hath beene my bedfellow A yeare and more yet I had not the grace Brothers receiue a sister reuerent father Accept a daughter whilst I take a wife And of a great Kings daughter make a Queene This is the beauteous virgin the French Lady To whom my fortune still remaines in debt EVST. A Lady then I cry you mercy brother A gallant Bride would I had such another FREN. L. A wondrous change she that your Page hath beene Is now at length transform'd to be your Queene Pardon me Guy my loue drew me along No shamelesse lust GVY. Faire Saint I did you wrong If fortune had not bene your friend in this You had not laine thus long without a kisse Father embrace her brothers sister all OLD D. This fortune makes our ioyes meere comicall The fame of our successe all Europe rings The father Patriarch sees his sonnes all Kings ROB. The heauens are full of bounty then braue Princes First in the Temple hang these Trophies vp As a remembrance of your fortunes past You good old father weare your Patriarchs Roabes Prince Godfrey walke you with your Crowne of Thorns Guy with his Lady Tancred with his wife Charles with his Crowne of Cyprus and yong Eustace Crown'd with the rich Sicilian Diadem I with the honour of the Pagans deaths So in Procession walke we to CHRISTS Tombe With humble hearts to pay our Pilgrimes vowes Repaire we to our Countries that once done For Syon and Ierusalem are wonne Exeunt Omnes FINIS