they say Stilt that stone Mares are gentler see if thou canst get me one of them Stilt. Not afore next grasse I could helpe you now to a stone mule a stone asse Ier. Well I le trie one course with thee at the halfe pike and then goe come draw thy pike Stilt. That 's not your fit word you must say aduance your pike and you must be here sir and here you 'l neuer learne for all my teaching Ier. I haue answered you Stilt that Princes haue no need to bee taught and I haue e'en determin'd with my selfe not to runne at tilt least I hazard my horse and harnesse therefore I le to the court and onely see my new cousin that they sayd was drownd and then retire to my Castle at Helsen and there write a new poem that I haue taken paines in almost these ten yeares It is in prayse of picketoothes Stilt. That will be excellent my Lord the barbers will buy those poems abominably Ier. Nay sirra I le get a patent from the Duke my father for the Cum Priuilegio for that poem Ad imprimendum solum besides thou shalt haue a priuiledge that no man shall sell tooth pickes without thy seale my father saies I am a foole but I thinke I bestow my time to looke out for setting a new nappe vpon his thredbare Common wealth Who 's that knockes who dares disturbe our honorable meditation harke Stilt dost thou see no noyse Stilt. No but I heare a noyse Ierom. A hall then my father and my new cousen stand aside that I may set my countenance my beard brush and mirror Stilt that set my countenance right to the mirror of Knight-hood for your mirror of magistrates is somewhat to sober how lik'st me Stilt. Oh excellent heer 's your casting bottle Ier. Sprinkle good Stilt sprinkle for my late practize hath brought mee into strange fauour ha mother of mee thou hadst almost blinded the eyes of excellence but omnia bene let them approach now and I appeare not like a Prince let my father casheere me as some say hee will Stilt. Casheere you no doe but manage your body and haue heere and heere your congies and then quid sequitur Stilt knowes and all the court shall see Hoboyes Enter Ferdinand leading Clois Hoffman Mathias and Ludowick leading Lucibella Lorrique with other lords attending comming neere the chayre of state Ferdinand Ascends places Hoffman at his feete sets a Coronet on his head A Herald proclaimes Her Ferdinand by the diuine grace prince of Heidelberg lord of Pomer and Duke of Prussia for sundry reasons him mouing the quiet state of his people especially which as a witlesse and insufficient prince disinherits Ierom Heidelberg his knowne sonne and adopteth Otho of Iuningberg his sisters sonne as heire immediately to succeed after his death in all his prouinces God saue Duke Ferdinand and Otho his heire Florish Ferd. Amen Heauen witnesse how my heart is pleas'd With the conceit of Prussias after-peace By this election Ier. Why but heare you father Ferd. Away disturbe vs not let 's in and feast For all our country in our choyce is blest Florish Exeunt Ier. Why but Stilt what 's now to be done Stilt Stilt. Nay that 's more then I know this matter will trouble vs more then all your poem of picktooths s'nailes you were better be vnknighted then vnprinc'd I haue lost all my hope of preferment if this hold Ier. Noe more Stilt I haue it heere 't is in my head and out it shall not come till red reuenge in robes of fire and madding mischiefe runne and raue they say I am a foole Stilt but follow me I le seeke out my notes of Machiauel they say hee 's an odd politician Stilt. I faith hee 's so odd that he hath driuen euen honesty from all mens hearts Ier. Well sword come forth and courage enter in Brest breake with griefe yet hold to be reueng'd Follow me Stilt widdowes vnborne shall weepe And beardlesse boyes with armour on their backes Shall beare vs out Stilt we will tread on stilts Through the purple pauement of the court Which shall bee let me see what shall it be No court but euen caue of misery Ther 's an excellent speech Stilt follow me pursue me will acquire And either die or compasse my desire Stilt. Oh braue master not a Lord O Stilt will stalke and make the earth a stage But hee will haue thee lord in spight of rage Exeunt Enter Rodorigo and Austria's Duke some followers Rod. Sir since you are content you heere shall finde A sparing supper but a bounteous minde Bad lodging but a heart as free and generous As that which is fed with generous blood Aust. Your hermitage is furnish't for a prince Rodo. Last night this roofe couer'd the sacred heads Of fiue most noble faire and gratious Princes Duke Ferdinand himselfe and Otho his nephew The sonnes of Saxon and the Austrian Princesse Aust. Oh god that girle which fled my Court and loue Making loue colour for her heedles flight Rodo. Pardon great prince are you the Austrian duke Aust. Hermet I am Saxons proud wanton sonns Were entertaind like Priam's Firebrand At Sparta all our State gladly appear'd Like chierfull Lacedemons to receaue Those Daemons that with magicke of their tongues Bewitch't my Lucibells my Helen's eares Knocking and calling within Rodo. Who traueleth so late who knockes so hard Turne to the east end of the Chappell pray We are ready to attend you Enter duke of Saxony Sax. Which is the way to Dantzike Rodo. There is no way to Dantzike you can finde Without a guide thus late come neere I pray Sax. looke to our horses by your leaue master Hermet We are soone bidden and will proue bold guests God saue you sir Aust. That should bee Saxons tongue Sax. Indeed I am the Duke of Saxony Aust. Then art thou father to lasciuious sonnes That haue made Austrea childles Sax. O subtill duke thy craft appeares in framing thy excuse Thou dost accuse my yong sons innocence I sent them to get knowledge learne the tongues Nor to be metamorphis'd with the view Of flattering beauty peraduenture painted Aust. No I defie thee Iohn of Saxony My Lucibell for beauty needs no art Nor doe I thinke the vertues of her minde Euer inclind to this ignoble course But by the charmes and forcings of thy sonnes Sax. Oh would thou durst maintaine thy words prowd Duke Rodo. I hope great Princes neither of you dare Commit a deede so sacrilegious This holy cell Is dedicated to the sonne of peace The foot of war neuer prophan'd this floore Nor doth wrath here with his consuming voyce Affright these buildings charity with prayer Humility with abstinence combin'd Are heere the guardians of a grieued minde Aust. Father we obey thy holy voyce Duke Iohn of Saxony receiue my faith Till our eares heare the true course thy sonnes Haue taken with my fond and mis-led child I proclaime truce Why dost thou
doe not know the Lady comes with him Sax. I ha' seene that countenance Rod. Stand close I pray my heart diuines Some strange and horrid act will be reueald Luc. Nay that 's most true a fellow with a red cap told me so And bad me keepe these cloathes and giue them To a faire Lady in a mourning gowne Let goe my armes I will not run away I thanke you now now you shall see mee stay By my troth I will by my maidenhead I will Mar. Lorrique returne into the beaten path I ask't thee for a solitary plot And thou hast brought me to the dismal'st groue That euer eye beheld noe woodnimphes here Seeke with their agill steps to outstrip the Roe Nor doth the sun sucke from the queachy plot The ranknes and the venom of the Earth It seemes frequentlesse for the vse of men Some basiliskes or poysonous serpents den Lor. It is indeede an vndelight full walke But if I doe not erre in my beleefe I thinke the ground the trees the rockes the springs Haue since my Princely Master Charles his wracke Appear'd more dismall then they did before In memory of his vntimelesse fall For hereabouts hereabouts the place Where his fayre body lay deform'd by death Here Hoffmans son and I enbalm'd him After we had concluded to deceaue Your sacred person and Duke Ferdinand By causing Hoffman to assume his name Sax. This is very strange Luc. Nay tary you shall heare all the knauery anon Mar. And where 's the Chappell that you layd him in Lor. I'ts an old Chappell neere the Hermitage Mar. But was the Hermet at his buriall Lor. Noe Hoffman and I onely dig'd the graue Play'd Priest and Clarke to keepe his buriall close Rod. Most admirable Sax. Nay pray you peace Mar. Alas poore son the soule of my delights Thou in thy end wert rob'd of Funerall rites None sung thy requiem noe friend clos'd thine eyes Nor layd the hallowed earth vpon thy lips Thou wert not houseled neither did the bells ring Blessed peales nor towle thy funerall knell Thou wontst to death as those that sinke to hell Where is the apparrell that I bad him weare Against the force of witches and their spells Lor. We buried it with him it was his shroude The desert woods noe fitter meanes allowd Luc. I thinke he lyes Now by my troth that gentleman smels knaue Mar. Sweare one thing to me ere we leaue this place Whether young Hoffman did the most he might to saue my son Lor. By heauen it seemes hee did but all was vaine The flinty rockes had cut his tender scull And the rough water wash't away his braine Luc. Lyer lyer licke dish Mar. How now what woman 's this what men are these Luc. A poore mayden mistris ha's a suite to you And 't is a good suite very good apparrell Loe heere I come a woing my ding ding Loe heere we come a suing my darling Loe heere I come a praying to bidea bidea How doe you Lady well I thanke God will you buy a bargane I pray i'ts fine apparrell Mar. Run my liues blood comfort my troubled heart That trembles at the sight of this attire Lorrique looke on them knowest thou not these clothes Nor the distracted bringer prethee speake Lor. Ay me accurst and damn'd I know them both The bringer is the Austrian Lucibella Luc. I you say true I am the very same Lor. The apparrell was my Lords your Princely son's Mar. This is not seawet if my son were drown'd Then why thus dry is his apparrell found Lor, O me accurst o miserable me Fall heauen and hide my shame gape earth rise sea Swallow orewhelme me wherefore should I liue The most perfidious wretch that euer breath'd And base consenter to my deare Lords death Luc. Nay looke you heere do you see these poore staru'd ghosts can you tell whose they be Mar. Alas what are they what are you that seeme In ciuill habits to hide ruthlesse hearts Lorrique what are they what wilt thou attempt Helpe Gentlemen if yee be Gentlemen And stay this fellow from dispayring ill Lor. I was ordain'd vnto perdition stay me not For when yee know the mischiefes I haue done at least consented to through coward feare You would not stop me if I skipt in quicke To that blacke bottomlesse and ruthlesse gulph Where euerlasting sorrowes like linkt chaynes Fetter the wretched in eternall night Mar. what hast thou done Luc. Knauery I warrant you tell truth and shame the Diuell my boy doe and thou shalt haue a fine thing by and by Sax. I take your Highnes for that reuerend Dutches Late wife vnto the Duke of Prussia Mar I am the wretched childlesse widdow sir Lor. Princesse heare me and I will briefely tell How you came childlesse you brotherlesse You husbandlesse and fatherlesse all all I le tell you hauing ended act my fall Mat Well forward Lor. Be it soe I haue deseru'd a greater cruelty To bee kept liuing when I long to dye Mar. I charge thee setting by all circumstance Thou vtter what thou knowest my heart is steele Nor can it suffer more then it doth feele Lor. Then thus Prince Charles and I escap't the wracke Came safe a shore to this accursed plot Where we met Hoffman who vpon yon tree Preseru'd his fathers bare anatomy The biggest of them two were those strong bones That acted mighty deeds Hoffman the son full of reuenge and hate 'Gainst euery hand that wrought his fathers hurt Yet guilded ore his enuie with faire shewes And entertain'd vs with as friendly termes As falshood could inuent and 't is well knowne Bitter deceit vseth the sweetest speech At length he tooke aduantage bound my Lord And in a chayne tyed him to yonder rocke While with a burning Crowne he feard in twaine The purple Veynes strong sinewes arteries nerues And euery cartilage about the head In which sad torment the mild Prince fell dead Mar. Did Hoffman this and thou conceal'st the deed Lor. Pardon my feare Dread Madam Mar. well goe on I am confident to heare all cruelty And am resolu'd to act some if noe hand Will else attempt the murderers and but mine Lor. Be patient you will finde associates For there are many murderers more behinde Mar. what did hee with the body of my son Lor. Buried the flesh the bones are they that hang Close by his fathers Mar. Let them hang a while Hope of reuenge in wrath doth make mee smile Luc. Pray let him tell the rest Lor. This acted Hoffman forc't me to conceale The murder of my Lord and threatned more Then death by many torments till I swore To call him Otho and say he was your son I swore and kept my oath Rod. O Heauen Sax. O Diuell Luc. Nay I pray you peace Lor. Then sent he me for you and you he sent Or as I best remember lead you on Vnto the Chappell porch where hee himselfe Appointed them to stay and there you know What hapned in your wrath
bodies to the ruthles sound That hath diuided vs and our late friends Rather then see choyce Hoffman Lor, Corrage braue Otho hee 'l vse thee kindly Enter Hoffman Heere he comes sweete host heere is the dukes heire of Leningberge doe homage and after entertaine him and me his Follower with the most conspictious pleasures That lies in thy poore hability Hoff. Before I speake to my most sacred Lord I ioyne my soft lipps to the sollid earth And with an honord bennison I blesse The hower the place the time of your arriue For now my sauadge life lead amongst beasts Shal be turn'd ciuell by your gratious helpe Otho I see thy true hearts loue drope downe in teares And this imbrace shewes I am free from feares My disturb'd blood runnes smoothly through my veines And I am bold to call thee friend bold to intreate Food for by wrack I haue lost ship friends and meat Hoff. You that attend my Lord enter the caue Bring forth the homely Cakes theis hands prepar'd While I intreat his excellence sit downe Villaine bring nothing but a burning Crowne Exit Otho What 's that thou bidst him bring a burning Crowne Hoff. Still you suspect my harmelesse inocence What though your father with the power state And your iust vncle duke of Brusia After my father had in thirty fights Fill'd all their treasures with fomens spoyles And payd poore souldiors from his treasury What though for this his merrits he was nam'd A prescript out law for a little debt Compeld to flie into the Belgique sound And liue a pirate Otho Prithee speake no more Thou raysest new doubts in my troubled heart By repetition of thy fathers wrongs Hoff. Then hee was wrong'd you graunt but not by you You vertuous gentleman Sate like a iust iudge of the vnder-shades And with an vnchang'd Rhadamantine looke Beheld the flesh mangled with many scars Par'd from the bones of my offended father And when hee was a bare anatomy You saw him chain'd vnto the common gallowes Otho Hoffman Hoff. Nay heare me patiently kind Lord My innocent youth as guilty of his sinne Was in a dungeon hidden from the sunne And there I was condemn'd to endlesse night Except I past my vow neuer to steale My fathers fleshles bones from that base tree I know nor who it was I guesse your mother She kneeld and wept for me but you did not Beseeching from that vow I might be freed Then did I sweare if Nations forraigne power Compel'd me to take downe those naked bones I neuer would release them from those chaines Neuer intombe them but immediately Remoue them from that gallowes to a tree I kept mine oath looke Luningberg t is done Behold a father hang'd vp by his sonne Otho Oh horrible aspect murtherer stand off I know thou meanst mee wronge Hoff. My Lord behold these pretious twines of light Burnt out by day eclipst when as the sunne For shame obscur'd himselfe this deed was done Where none but schrich owles sung thou receptacle thou organ of the soule Rest goe rest and you most louely Couplets Leggs and armes reside for euer heere This is my last farewell what doe you weepe Otho Oh Lorrique I am betrayd slaue touch me not Hoff. Not touch thee yes and thus trip downe thy pride You pla'ct my father in a Chaire of state This earth shall bee your throne villaine come forth Enter Lorrique And as thou mean'st to saue thy forfeit life Fixe on thy Masters head my burning Crowne While in these Cords I in eternall bands Binde fast his base and coward trembling hands Otho Lorrique art thou turn'd villaine to my life Lor. I le turne any thing sir rather then nothing I was taken life promist to betray you and I loue life so well that I would not loose it for a Kingdome for a Kings Crowne an Empire Hoff. On with the Crowne Otho Oh tortor aboue measure Hoff. My father felt this paine when thou hadst pleasure Otho Thy father dyed for piracy Ho. Oh peace had he bin iudge himselfe he would haue shew'd He had bin clearer then the Christall morne But wretches sentenc'd neuer finde defence How euer guiltlesse bee their innocence No more did hee no more shalt thou no ruth Pittied his winter age none helps thy youth Otho Oh Lorrique tortor I feele an Aetna burne Within my braines and all my body else Is like a hill of Ice all these Belgique seas That now surround vs cannot quench this flame Death like a tyrant seazeth me vnawares My sinewes shrinke like leaues parcht with the sunne My blood dissolues nerues and tendons fayle Each part 's disioynted and my breath expires Mount soule to heauen my body burnes in fire Lor. Hee 's gon Hoff. Goe let him come Lorrique This but the prologue to th e'nsuing play The first step to reuenge this seane is donne Father I offer thee thy murtherers sonne Exeunt Florish Enter Ferdinand Rodorick Lodowick Mathias Lucibell Ierom Stilt attendants Ferd. Princes of Saxony and Austria Though your owne words of sufficient weight To iustifie the honorable loue borne by Lodowick to bright Lucybell Yet since your parents liue and as I heare There is betweene them some dissention Blame vs not for detaining you thus long Till we had notice how the businesse stood Lodo. Your royall entertaine great Ferdinand Exceeding expectation in our stay Bind vs to thanks and if my brother please To hold his challenge for a Turnament In praise of Lucibellas excellence No doubt our father and the Austrian duke Will be in person at so royall sport Ferd. We trust they will Rodo. I doe assure your grace The Austrian and the duke of Saxony By true report of pilgrimes at my cell From eyther of there courts set hetherward Some sixe dayes since Ferd. Thankes Rodorick for this newes They are more welcome then the sad discourse Of Leningberg our nephewes timeles wrake Which addeth sorrow to the mourning griefes Abound in vs for our Dutches death Ie. I truly Princes my father has had but hard lucke since your comming to his court for ought I know you are bred of ill weather come before you are sent for yet if my most gratious father say you are welcome I his more gratious sonne take you by the hands though I can tell you my mothers death comes somewhat neere my heart but I am a prince and princes haue power more then common people to subdue their passions Mat. We know your worthinesse is experienc't in all true wisedome Ier. True I am no foole I haue bin at Wittenberg where wit growes Ferd. Peace thou vnshapen honor my states shame My ages corsiue and my blacke sinnes curse Oh hadst thou neuer bin I had bin then A happy childlesse man now among men I am the most vnhappie one that knowes No end of mine and of my peoples woes I tell you Princesse and most gracious maide I doe not weare these sable ornaments For Isabellas death though she were deare Nor
You know all Prussia take you for the son Of beautious Martha Sarl. I they suppose me to be Otho her son And son to that false Duke whom I will kill Or curse my stars Lor. His star is sunke already death and he Haue vowed an endlesse league of amity Sarl. Had I Briareus hands I 'de striue with heauen For executing wrath before the houre But wishes are in vaine hee 's gone Flourish Enter as many as may be spar'd with lights and make a lane kneeling while Martha the Dutchesse like a mourner with her traine passeth through Mar. Our son is somewhat slacke as wee conceiue By this delaying while our heart is fear'd And our eyes dim'd with expectation As are the lights of such as on the beach With many a longing yet a little proofe Stand wayting the returne of those they loue Enter Lorrique fals on 's knees Lord His Excellence no doubt hath great affaires But his familiar friend Lorrique is come Mar. kneele not Lorrique I prethee glad my harte With thy tongues true report of my son Otho Whome since his Princely Father is decea'st I am come from opprest with griefe In person to salute him for our Duke Lor. Your mother like affection and high care His Highnes doth returne with duteous thankes Desiring pardon of your excellence In that he did not first salute your grace But dismal accidents and bloody deeds Poysonings treasons soe disturbe this state Chiefly this gentle mind since the late death Of your right princely brother Ferdinand That like the carefull Captaine of a band He is compeld to bee the last in field Yet he protests by me and I for him That no soft rest shall enter his greeu'd eyes Till he behold your presence more desir'd Then the large Empire of the wide earth Onely he prayes that you would take your rest For in your soft content his heart is blest Mar. Spread me a Carpet on the humble earth My hand shall be the pillow to my head This step my bolster and this place my bed Lor. Your Highnes will take harme Mar. Nay neuer feare A heart with sorrow fild sleepes any where Will our son come to night Lor. Madam hee will Mar. See our traine lodgd and then Lorrique attend For captaine of the guard that wayt on vs Goe all away no body stay with mee Except our son come if we chaunce to call Trouble vs not god night vnto you all All with doing duty depart and she sits downe hauing a candle by her and reades Quo fugiat mortale genm nil denique tutum est Crudelis nam morsomnia falce secat Nil durum nil non mortis penetrabile telis Omnia vi demit mors vio lneta sua T is true the wise the foole the rich the poore The fayre and the deformed fall their life turnes Ayre the King and Captaine are in this alike None hath free hold of life but they are still When death heauens steward comes tennents at will I lay me downe and rest in thee my trust If I wake neuer more till all flesh rise I sleepe a happy sleepe sin in me dyes Enter Hoffman and Lorrique Hoff. Art sure she is a sleepe Lor, I cannot tell be not too hasty Hoff. She stirs not shee is fast Sleepe sweet fayre Dutchesse for thou sleep'st thy last Endymions loue muffle in cloudes thy face And all ye yellow tapers of the heauen Vayle your cleare brightnes in Cimerian mistmis Let not one light my blacke deed beautifie For with one stroake vertue and honour dyes And yet we must not kill her in this kind Weapons draw blood blood shed will plainely prooue The worthy Dutchesse worthles of this death Was murdered and the guard are witnesses None enter'd but our selues Lor. Then strangle her here is a towell fit Hoff. Good kneele and helpe compasse her necke about Alas poore Lady thou sleep'st here secure And neuer dream'st of what thou shalt endure Lor. Nay good my Lord dispatch Hoff. What ruthlesse hinde Shall I wrong nature that did ne're compose One of her sexe so perfect prethee stay Suppose we kill her thus about her necke Circles of purple blood will change the hue Of this white porphirie and the red lines Mixt with a deadly blacke will tell the world She dyed by violence then t' will be inquir'd And we held euer hatefull for the act Lor. Then place beneath her nostrils this small box Conteyning such a powder that hath power Being set on fire to suffocate each sence Without the sight of wound or shew of wrong Hoff. That 's excellent fetch fire or doe not stay The candle shall suffice yet that burnes dim And drops his waxen teares as if it mourn'd To be an agent in a deed so darke Lor. Will you confound your selfe by dotage speake S'wounds I le confound her and shee linger thus Hoff. Thou wer 't as good and better note my words Run vnto the top of dreadfull scarre And thence fall headlong on the vnder rocks Or set thy brest against a cannon fir'd When iron death flies thence on flaming wings Or with thy shoulders Atlas like attempt To beare the ruines of a falling tower Or swim the Ocean or run quicke to hell as dead assure thy selfe no better place Then once looke frowning on this angells face Confound her blacke confusion be my graue Whisper one such word more thou dyest base slaue Lor. I haue done I le honor her if you command Hoff. She stirs and when she wakes obserue me well Sooth vp what ere I say touching Prince Otho Mar. Prince Otho is our son come who 's there Lorrique Lor. What shall I answere her Mar. Whos 's that thou talkst with Hoff. The most indebted seruant to your Grace Of any creature vnderneath the Moone Mar. I prethee friend be briefe what is thy name I know thee not what businesse hast thou here Art thou a messenger come from our son If so acquaint vs with the newes thou bring'st Hoff. I saw your Highnes son Lorrique here knowes the last of any liuing Mar. Liuing heauen helpe I trust my son h 'as no commerce with death Hoff. Your son noe doubt is well in blessed state Mar. My heart is smitten through thy answere Lorrique where is thy gracious Lord Lor. In heauen I hope Hoff. True madam he did perish in the wracke When he came first by sea from Lubecke hauen Mar. What false impostor then hath mock't my care Abus'd my Princely brother Ferdinand Gotten his Dukedome in my dead sons name Hoff. I grant him an impostor therein false But when your Highnes heares the circumstance I know your wisedome and meeke piety Will Iudge him well deseruing in your eyes Mar. What can be sayd now I haue lost my son Or how can this base two-tongu'd hypocrite Excuse concealing of his masters death Vnhappy Martha in thy age vndone Robd of a husban'd cheated of a son Hoff. Heare me with patience for that pitties sake You shewed my captiue body
Luc. To me a sleepe And to my harmelesse Lodowick in my armes Mat. On on that deed is writ among the acts of guilt A brothers sword a brothers life blood spilt Sax. Proceed what 's next kild he not Austria Ler. He did Luc. O villaine did he kill my Father And make my brother kill my husband too Sax. Goe forward Lor. After all those hated murders He taught the foolish prince in the disguise Of a French Doctor to prepare a poyson Which was the death of Princely Ferdinand Next plot hee purpos'd your graces death And had opposd my strength of my teares You had bin murder'd as you lay a sleepe Sax. Let 's heare no more seeke out the hated wretch And with due torture let his life be forc'd From his despised body Rod. Doe I pray Sax. All the Land will helpe And each man be a iustice in this act Mar. Well I that neuer knew reuenges power Haue entertaind her newly in my brest Determine what 's to doe Luc. Euen what you will would I were with my Lodowick a sleepe In the Elizian fieldes where no feares dwell For earth appeares as vile to me as hell Lor. Let me be Prologue to your scene of wrath And as the Romane Cateline resolu'd His doubtfull followers by exhausting blood From the liue body so draw mine cast mine Vpon the troubled and offended earth Offer blood fit for an infernall sacrifice Wine is not powr'd but on celestiall offrings Therefore I aduise you As you hope to thriue in your reuenge smite me That haue bin pander to this iniury Mar. Thou merit'st death indeede Mat. Stay iudge him not let me a little plead in his excuse And this one sentence serues a man compel'd To euill acts cannot be iustly held A wilfull malefactor the law still Lookes vpon the deede ne're on the will Besides although I grant the matter small And very safe to rayse a multitude That by their power might ceaze the murderer Yet two especiall reasons crosse that course First many hauing notice of our plot One babling tongue may vtter out intent And Hoffman being warn'd is surely arm'd Hauing the fort and treasure in his powre And be his cause more then notorious ill He may with gold maintaine it at his will Scape vs for no doubt hee 's full of sleights Besides Reuenge should haue proportion By slye deceit he acted euery wronge And by deceit I would haue him intrapt Then the reuenge were fit iust and square And t' would more vex him that is all compos'd Of craft and subtilty to be outstript In his owne fashion then a hundred deaths Therefore by my aduice pardon Lorrique Vpon condition that he lay some plot To intercept the other Om. We are agreede Lor. Your mercy doth all bounds of hope exceed And if you will repose that trust in me By all the protestations truth can make Before the Sun haue run his mid-dayes course I will to morrow yeeld him to your handes Sax. Shew vs the meanes Lor. The meanes is in the Dutchesse pollicy If she can smooth the murder but a while Mar. I le turn deceit to ouerthrow his fraud Lor. Then with faire words his flatteries entertayne And when he doth importune you for loue Desire him first to shew you the first place Where he beheld Prince Charles after the wracke Say you haue earnestly entreated me But I haue lead you in a labyrinth Of noe effect he full of heate and lust Glad of occasion will no doubt alone Conduct you to this fatall horrid caue Thi king by force or fayre meanes to attaine His false hearts longing and your honors stayne But being in the height of his base pride The Duke the Hermet Lodowick and my selfe Will change his pleasures into wretched And redeemelesse misery Sax. The plot is good Madam are you agreed Mar. To any thing how euer desperate Luc. I but by your leaue Lady and Lords all what if This knaue that has bin play the knaue still And tell tales out of schoole how then Lor. I know not what to sweare by but noe soule Longs for the sight of endlesse happinesse With more desire then mine thirsts for his death By all the gods that shall giue ill men life I am resolu'd chiefe agent in his end Mat. We credit thee ioyne hands and ring him round Kneele on his head lay our right hands and sweare Vengeance against Hoffman Om. Vengeance vengeance fall On him or suddaine death vpon vs all Sax Come part we to the caue You to the Court Iustice dig murthers graue Exit Lorrique and Martha Luc. Nay I le come my wits are mine agen Now faith growes firme to punish faithlesse men Exeunt Enter Hoffman and all the traine that attended the Dutchesse first Hoff. Not to be found hell which way is she gon Lord Her Highnes charg'd vs to call you her son The mistery we know not but we know You are not Princely Otho of Luningberg Hoff. Noe matter what I am tell me the way she went With that Lorrique speake or by heauen Hell shall receiue you all Enter Martha and Lorrique Lord Be not in rag'd she comes And with her comes trusty Lorrique Hoff. Madam I fear'd you and my heart was sicke With doubt some ouer-desperate accident Had drawne you to the melancholy pathes That lye within the verge of this rough scarre Mar. Your doubt was but an Embrio I indeed Desir'd Lorrique to bring me to the place Where you beheld the shipwracke of my son And he hath led me vp and downe the wood But neuer brought me to the fatall beach Hoff. It were not fit you should see the sad place That still seemes dismall since the Princes death Lord Dead is our soueraigne Lord the Prince dead Mar. Inquire no more of that I will anon Resolue you of his fate this time for beare Esteeme this gentleman your Lord and Prince Lor. Wee hold him soe sith you command vs so Hoff. Will you goe forward Madam Mar. Willingly soe you will promise mee to walke to morrow And see the Earth that gently did receiue My sons wrack't body from the churlish fome Hoff. I le wayt vpon your Grace set forward there Trickes and deuices longings well 't is good I le swim to my desires through seas of blood Exeunt Lor. Fox you 'l be taken hunter you are falne Into the pit you dig'd I laught to see How I out-strip the Prince of villany Hoffman for me told such a smoothing tale That had not this strange accident befalne In finding of the caue I had bin held More deere then euer in the Dutchesse eyes But now shee 'l hold me hard what ere she say Yet is her word past that shee 'l pardon me And I haue wealth hoor'd vp which I le beare To some strange place rich men liue any where Enter Hoffman Hoff. What are you gadding sir what mooues your flight Coyne not excuses in your crouching come What cause haue you to flie and seeke strange hoords For your