Saxon The Bishop of Mentz Drum Cullors Soldiours Bastard This Land of Germanie yeelds valiant men Haughty in heart as they in stature are Ten thousand such had I bene Leader of When the Blacke-Prince lately my greatest Foe Opposde me at Mazieres and wonne the day I had bene Lord of that most noble Fielde And where an Hermit now tells ore his Beades Had sat a Souldier and a Conquerour Saxon. That Hermit is too bookish to raigne long Bastard When th' Imperiall Scepter fills my hand And I haue Caesars wreath vpon my brow As had my Grandsire and his royall Father I le make Iberia wreake with my foes blood And force the Dotard to his Hermitage Mentz Such thoughts becomes the Germaine Emperour Has courage to wage Warre with all the world Saxon: Harry a word in priuate in your eare When you are Emperour as in time you shall I must rule all although you weare the Crowne The Edicts I propose you must enact And call them your owne Lawes not being vext At what I doe although I mince your honour Bastard How Saxon Saxon. Harry Darst' thou wreath thy brow In any contumelious forme gainst mee T' is by my fauour that thou art aliue My greater greatnes has repaird thy fame And being but my creature it is fitte I should bee knowne to be the worthier man Bastard Betweene our selues in priuate Sax: Publikely and in the view of all you le sweare Bastard I must But being installed in the dignitie I le alter what I sweare Saxon. Come Come your Oath Being an Elector I am bard the onely Throane And therefore will rule by a Deputy Mentz This is the Castle shall wee sommon it Enter Trier another Bishop Trier Emperour elect and princes of the State In vaine you labour to begyrt this hold With hostile Armes for Sauoy is yth field The Bishop of Cullen and stoute Brandenburgh With the Bohemian King are already prest To giue you battell ere you stirre your foote Bast. Are they so braue so hote full of courage Sax. The Palsgraue has breath'd spirit into them all Thogh sicknes make him droop wee l meet thē straight Battells are gouernd by the will of Fate An Allarum Enter to them Sauoy Bohem Marquesse and Cullen They are beaten off by the Bastards side exeunt A Flourish enter in triumph Bastard Saxon Trier Mentz leading the king of Bohemia Brandenburgh and Sauoy Prisoners Bast. So moues the Sunne in glory through the skie Hauing outpast the clowdes that shadow him Sax. Now Spanish Henry thou hast prou'd thy selfe Worthy the Germane scepter by thy valour And hee that sayes not Aue Caesar dyes Bohem. Swell not too high thou bubble least thou Bastard I le breake thy heart first Sauoy Ere my tongue pronounce Aue to any that 's my enemie I le bare my brest to meete thy conquering sword And make it crimson with an Emperours blood Bast: There must be but one Emperour that 's our selfe Therefore to prison with the counterfeit Whence neither County Pallatine nor King Shall with theyr Forces if they were conioynd Haue power to set thee free Saxon: For you my Lords that are Electors like vnto my selfe Giue but your free consents that hee shall gouerne And that shall serue as ransome for you all Marq: Neuer while life lastes Bohem. Or I breath this ayre Mentz Then let them share like fortune in his doom As they haue done this happy day i th field Bastard To prison with them all Saxon: Not till you are Crownde That sight shall serue in steed of a Tormentor And I reioyce to vexe mine enemie Bastard Giue vs our rights The two Bishops Ments Trier Crowne the Bastard Mentz Rex Romanorum magnus Imperator GerViue Caesar Saxon: Viue Caesar Bastard Enough those Viues take away my life In the delitious wrapture of my soule For there 's no heauen me thinkes like royall thoughts The Palsgraues Castles raste vnto the ground And peace establisht we meane once againe To trye our Fortune for the Realme of Spayne Exeunt Enter Peter the Hermit King of Spaine in a disguise Peter Since the decease of Englands royall Sonne That plac't me lately in Spaynes gouernment Those that did feare me for his valor sake Are by the traynes and falshood of my brother Reuolted from mee and to saue my life I was constrained put on this disguise To goe to England for a newe supplie Of men and Soldiours would but weary them I haue therefore bene in France and failing there Am come to Germanie to implore the ayde Of the Electors but by ill successe Bohemia Brandenburgh and Sauoyes tane The Bastard has bewitcht the other Peeres So that my Foe is now an Emperour And all the hope I haue to get mine owne Lyes in the Palsgraue sicke I heare to death Heare I expect his answere to my Letter Enter the Palsgraue led in by Cullen and others Palsgr. Are you the Hermit that did bring this letter Peter And personate him that sent it Palsgraue What Spaynes King Oh that I were as I was wont to bee Before this dangerous sicknesse was my Foe No Christian King that came to mee for ayde But hee should speed Peter In time you may recouer Palsgr. Meane time be welcom sit take your rest And now my Lord of Cullen I me preparde To heare the woefull tydings you haue brought Comes noble Sauoy and Bohemias King With the stoute Marquesse Brandenburgh in triumph And is proude Saxon taken with the Bastard Trier and Mentz made subiect to your sword Oh if they beespeake it and make me well Cullen All 's lost We are conquered Sauoy is surprizde And our best Friends in bondage to our Foes Heauen has forgot the Iustice of our cause And onely I escapt to tell the newes Palsg: This were enough to kill some man in health But in me the effect is contrary All lost all conquerd Sauoy made a Slaue My Friends in prison and none escapt but you Hee that can heare such ill newes and be sicke Deserues nere to recouer in my blood I feele an inflammation of reuenge There 's greater strength gathered into my nerues Then ere before since that I grewe infirme They will not rest thus and stay onely there But hauing conquered them assume the Crowne And make the Bastard Emperour Cullen Hee is Crownd Palsg. More blood increases some more ill newes Would make me cast my Night-cap on the ground And call my Groome to fetch mee a Warre-horse That I may ride before an Army royall And plucke the Crowne from off the Bastards head That is anothers right Cullen T is thought my Lord Your Castle which you left to saue your life Is beaten to the ground and your goods theirs And further that they will pursue you hither As if you fled before their conquering swords Palsgr. Be sicke who will mine Ague does retire And Cullen thou hast cur'd me with ill newes Come valiant Soldiours shew your selues
with a Boy drest in your Daughters gowne This is a crosse that patience cannot beare Clynton Who was the cause of this speake Where 's my Daughter Pvge Fledde to your Sonne The Steward layd the plot What I haue done Was for my Ladies sake Old Fitzw That Steward is a Villaine Clinton Le ts goe seeke him Take seuerall streetes but let your meeting be At the Water-side least they should flee to Sea Old Fi. To the water side Lord Bishop keep the boy Exeunt Old Fitzwater and Clynton Bishop I will My Dreame is falne out right Hymen is chang'd Into a slye deceyuing Mercurie But t is most requisite they that doe wrong Should feele the penaltie by suffering it I witnesse can the Young Lordes precontract Bad Fathers that infringe a holy act Exeunt Enter King Edward disguised like a priuate man a Lord with him King This day I thinke I promised the Lord Clinton To be his Guest Lord It was my Liege this Day King I haue dismist my Traine to steale vpon him But what 's the season all things are so quiet A Lordes house at so great a Cerimonie As is a Marriage should be like a Court Multitudes thronging vp and downe like waues And the Gate kept with an Officious porter To giue kinde entertainment to all Commers Here 's no such a matter Lord Here Olde Fitzwater comes Enter Olde Fitzwaters O. Fyt. Some Pegasus has borne her from my sight For nere a horse I keepe can ouertake them By all coniectures they are gone to Sea And Shipt by this King His Bride Lord Belike t is so O. Fyt. Some whirle-winde follow them And making the Ocean rougher then my brow Yee dauncing Porpusses caper aloft And mud the white foame with your ietty backs A perfect signe a tempest is at hand Rise from the bottome of the deepe ye Whales And ouerturne the Shippe that carryes them But let a Dolphin saue my Floramell And backe vnto the hauen guide her safe As for the boy make him your watry pray Eate him aliue that he may heare his bones Crash in the iawes of the Leuiathan But saue his head for me to know him by Authour of all my griefe and misery King I le interrupt his passion Lord Stay my Liege You shall heare more here comes the other Father Enter Clynton Clyn. How now my Lord haue you surprizd your Bride Old I thinke thy trechery conueyd her hence And by thy meanes another was attyr'd In her habilaments to vexe me thus Clyn. You highly wrong me Old I would right you better Were I assur'd of your close tretchery Clyn. Threaten me Old With no more then I le performe Clyn. Not in cold blood Old No but in blood like fire Clinton In choller passion and a crazed braine But when you haue slept vpon your menaces You will not then make good a noble challenge And enter single combate like a Lord Old Fitz. There lie my gage I dare thee to the field And will auer without the aduice of sleepe That thou wert priuy to the Stewards blot Clint. I le take your gage and meet you when you dare King But we 'le not suffer it that loue the liues Of euery subiect much more of our Peeres And as for you Fitz-waters that are growne Hotter then I exspected from your age Except you can produce good witnesses That Clinton has deceiu'd you of your Bride I le stay the combate or imprison you Fitz. I cannot prooue it but I thinke t is so King Correct such thoughts and giue him back his gage Fitz. With all my heart giues bake the gage King Clinton I am satisfied Enter a Messenger with a Letter whith he offers to the King King How now what newes bring you Messenger Letters my Liege from the Count Palatine King Our noble friend Bauaria's valiant Duke Messenger From him my Leige King Wee le read them instantly The Contents of the Letter All 's lost our elected friend Sauoy taken prisoner with him Bohemia and Brandenburgh sickenesse would not suffer mee to weare Armour but by the helpe of the Royall Hermit Peter the King of Spayne your friend and Beadesman I am recouered The Bastard is made Emperour and has shipt himselfe for Spaine whither I purpose to saile to hinder His intendements If I suruiue the Battell and be conquerour I le vnfitte you in England except the Sea be my Sepulcher Your Friend in Armes ROBERT the Palsgraue Ill newes not suddenly to be amended The Palsgraues sicknesse was the greatest losse The Bastard Crownd vncrowne him if thou canst Thou that art matchlesse for thy Chiualrie Send but his head from Spayne to tread vpon And I should count it an vnvalued gift As for good Sauoy and his Germaine Friends Ere long I le set them free or make the soyle That holds them prisoners a Marsh-ground for blood Till I heare newes from Spayne of good successe Each day I liue will be a yeare of griefe Clynton Pleaseth my Liege to lay aside your sorrow And with your Royall person grace my house Clynton will holde it an exceeding fauour Old Fitzw. So will Fitzwaters gratious soueraigne And though this day looke blacke with my disgrace Your Royall presence whites an Aethyops face King I accept your kindnesse wil be your Guest Exeunt Enter the Palsgraue Cullen and Peter the King of Spayne Drum Cullors and Soldiors Palsg. Next vnto heauen to you we giue the praise Most zealous King for our recouery And now my Lord of Cullen shew your selfe As good a Souldier as a Cleargie man In stead of Beades now vse a Martiall sword For here in Spayne where the Blacke Prince incampte And made the Bastard flie our Tents are pitcht And the prowde Foe comes with a Spleene inrag'de To driue vs from Mazieres Harry shall know As hee has Kingly blood within his veynes And is a Caesar hee shall meete with Caesars Cullen I heare their Drummes Peter And I reioyce to heare them Enter to them the Bastard Saxon Mentz and Trier Bastard The Palsgraue heere now wee shall haue Your voyce to our Election or for that your life Saxon. You were sicke in Germanie Palsgraue But now recouered And hither come to beate you out of Spaine Trier He beares himself as he were sure to cōquer Mentz And looks more like a Ioue then like a man Palsgraue I hold my thunder here my right arme Has vigor in it when you feele my blowes To giue you cause to call them Thunderboltes If there be any in this Martiall Troope That with a Soldiours face has a bold heart And dares auerre that this religious prince Is not the lawfull and true King of Spaine I will make good his Title by the sword And against that prowde combattant oppose My selfe as challenger to fight for him Bastard I dare take vp your gage and answere you But that I should impaire this dayes renowne By giuing desperate men such meanes to dye Who for you know your Armie weake
proceede In this most dangerous warre against the Palsgraue Who as I heare by firme intelligence Meanes with his Fleete to touch the English Shore And draw the valiant Edward to his part Bast. If such a day come t will be blacke to vs For of all Nations in the world I hate To deale with Englishmen they conquer so Saxon. Follow his example and le ts get a King To take our part as well as they haue done France has beene wasted by their crueltie And cannot but in spleene desire reuenge Were he sollicited to be our friend We should with the more ease be conquerers Mentz Send thither Trier Or fayle thither Bast. That 's the best But shall we onely build our hopes on strength I thinke t were good to peece the Lyons skinne Where it too short falls with the Foxes skinne A couple of Protean villaines I haue ready For any dangerous attempt in peace And they can poyson stab and lye in wayte Like Serpents to intrappe and cease their prey Mendoza and Vandome those are the men Let them be call'd in Mentz They are heare great Caesar Enter Vandome and Mendoza Van. Most mightie Emperour what 's your Highnes will Bast. That vnto England presently you sayle And there consort you with the Earle of Artoyes A Frenchman borne but one that loues vs well Let him and you send vs intelligence Of the proceedings of the English King With the haughty Palsgraue giue the Earle this Letter By which yee may winne credit in his trust And er 't be long I will deuise a plot Which you shall mannage for the generall good Be carefull as you doe respect our loue And hope for gold in showres meane time take this Mend. Your will shall be obey'd Vand. It shall be done Sax. Great Ioue can say no more That State thriues best that has such Slaues in store Bast. See our Fleet ready and yee swelling gales That blow the good houres fill our empty sayles Exeunt Enter the King the Queene and Poytieres F. King My Lord of Poytieres as you are inform'd Where meanes the Emperour and his trayne to land Poyt. Here at this 〈◊〉 of Bolleigne the newes Is certaine that his Mightinesse is neere Qu. How angry has the heauens as bin with the sea That it hath boyld so much and cast the sands Into such mountaines that they ouer-looke The bounds that held them in F. King Well may our friends Escape the danger of this heauy storme Small gusts at Land sinke a whole Fleete at sea And whilst our Cities keepe vs from their rage The Rocks beare them as Tennis-Courts doe balles I de haue an Atheist trauell through the deepe And he shall see such wonders that his soule Would make him soone beleeue there is a God But what fayre Gentle woman haue we here Which is a Ship-wrackt creature comes a shore Enter Floramell Flo. All wet and weary with a boysterous storme At last I haue set my foote vpon the Land I tremble as a Feauer shooke my ioynts But t is the Ocean that has frozen me Drop there thou moysture of a swelling Flood And let me see no Fisher-man at hand To tell me in what Coast I am arriu'd Alas I see none I shall dye with cold Q. Poytiers Speake to her giue the woman comfort Poyt. How is it with pretty Gentlewoman Flor. Sir I am very cold and wet and ill Would you could helpe me to a little fire To dry my selfe and I would pray for you Poyt. T is now no time to reason of your state Here take my Cloake A taffata Cloake Flora. Alasse Sir t is but thinne And makes 〈◊〉 the more to 〈…〉 I would be shifted into warmer Roades If I could meete with some kind Gentlewoman Qu. Make vse of me you shall not want for helpe Flo. You seeme to be of a Maiestique state What should a poore distressed Gentlewoman Trouble a person of such eminence F. King Thy state wants present pitty women take it Flo. I haue seene a King ere now And by your Diadem you should be one Pray rather let me dye then trouble you Qu. T is perfect charitie to helpe the poore Yet by these Iewels you should beare a place If not amongst the Royall with the Noble Flo. Indeede I am but a poore Gentlewoman Punisht for wearing Iewels in a storme But I haue lost a husband whom I lou'd For marying whom I haue endur'd this crosse And now his friends if they should finde me out Would finish what the storme has left vndone Queene His name Flo. T was Infortunio as mine is With the alteration of a letter onely Quee. Good Infortuna goe along with me I le finde some helpe for this thy misery Flo. May the Sea neuer vse you of this fashion I take your courtesie and will attend Exeunt Queene and Floramell F.K. Young fayre and louely is she not Poytiers Poyt. She is a comely and a sweet Gentlewoman F. King In my opinion shee 's the fayrest creature Nature ere made Poyt. In loue my gracious Liege strange F.K. What and my Queen aliue that would seeme strange Poyt. Loue does regard no person nor the time F. King Loue is a power will ouer-rule a King Poyt. Finding her honest though of meane estate You may doe well to rayse poore vertue vp And marry her to some great Nobleman F. K. I le thinke of that hereafter now the newes Enter Queene Qu. The Emperour and the Electors are arriu'd Enter Bast ard Saxon Mentz and Trier Bast. Health to the Maiestie and Seate of France F. King As welcome hither is your Mightinesse As if you were arriu'd in Germany Bast. I thanke King Iohn F. King Saxon with Mentz and Trier Saxon. We rest your louing friend for Warre Trier For Counsell F. King And Counsell is as great a friend as War Mentz It hath preuaild as much Queene Thrice welcome all Bast. The storme has kept vs ouerlong at Sea But Mighty King of France worse stormes then these Haue and will shake vs if you helpe vs not All things goe Backwards that should bode vs good And he that is Conqueror already The haughty palsgraue is to England sayld To ioyne with Edward in our ouerthrow F.K. We haue felt the valour of the English King And of his sonne the Blacke Prince now deceased Witnes Poytiers and Cressey where our blood Royall although it be sau'd to make clay Moyst with the showers and temper the dry earth When I and all my sonnes were prisoners tane And had to England to be wondred at Ransom'd although I was it grieues me much I cannot doe the like vnto my foe Sa. Let your French Souldiers ioyne themselues with ours And wee le inuade his Kingdome Bast. And constraine him the Palsgraue to the like disgrace Me. Fortune was neuer stedfast vnto any But like the Ocean that bounds in the Land Both ebbs and flowes according to the Moone Quee. But if I might aduise your Maiestie By former
losses you should be more wise Then hazzard France againe to the like snoyle Edward is fortunate in all his warres And wise men will not striue against the streames Therefore be circumspect and keepe your owne F.K. This theame our counsel shal at large discusse Till when to England wee le Ambassage send To aduise King Edward not to be our foe Left it offend vs that are friends to both If thé Doue speede not wee le the Serpent proue Sax. And winne by craft what may not be by loue Who shall haue that imployment Bast. Not your Honor because your spirit is rough and turbulent F.K. No if I might intreat these reuerend Bishops By them I would direct this Embassie Since it concernes them it behooues they stirre Who know the sweetes will cause no warre Trier Wee le vndertake it if the Emperour please Bast. When I send thither it shall be in thunder Yet as the French King orders it proceede F. K. You know your charge be milde but yet not base Though we giue ground we will not lose our place Manet Saxon. Exeunt Saxon. Euen now a bold conceit hath entered me And that 's to visit England in disguise As well to further our conspiracie Against the Palsgraue and King Edwards life As to surueigh the Countrey and obserue What Hauen 's best to entertaine a Fleete The English Nation with my soule I hate And would doe any thing to winne the State Exit Enter Edward Clynton olde Fytzwaters the Palsgraue Cullen and others King Not possible my Lords to finde those men Are they so wily to deceiue vs all Sure they are harboured by some neere about That does affect the English Diadem He 's worse then mad would ayme at Englands Crowne Though the Blacke Prince be dead so many sonnes I haue left to gouerne which marres their rule Edward himselfe has left a hopefull heyre The Princely Richard to inherit it Plots yet tricks yet well we must hope the best Pals. I rather thinke the ill was aymd at me Because I came to mooue your Maiestie For the deposing of the Emperour And it is knowne the Bastard is my foe Witnesse the Warres in Germany and Spayne Treason by him is euermore in act His brayne coynes faster then the English Mynt Tretcherous proceedings gold has many friends And he must be a man of excellent vertue Whom it corrupts not Howsoere I am sorry The Saylors did escape Clyn. Here are their cases 2. Saylors canuas Suits Vnder the which I thinke were better cloathes And for their Steedes thought could not be more quicke Or we had tooke them O. Fytz. They were swift indeed King As swiftly with their flight vanish our feares And now most Noble Palsgraue of the Rheine Thinke your selfe welcome to the English Court And reuerend Cullen Cullen I doe thanke your Grace King Your Father lou'd me well and for his sake As well as for your owne I le honour you And after feasting we will try your force In friendly manner at a Tournament Which as I thinke you haue prepard my Lords O. F. We haue my Liege the most youthful blood That the Court yeelds will shew their Chiualdry In honour of Bauaria's Royall Duke Palsg. Let him sit fast that shall contend with me Or I shall shake him be he nere so Royall I shew no fauour when I am in Armes Nor looke for any from my Opposites But Turnaments are reuels made for sport And hee runnes well that gets a good report King Wee le trie your valour perchance run with you Leade on Exeunt Enter the Earle of Artoise Artoise The discontented English like to mee Hates all delight I and the Court it selfe To lead a priuate life where they may plot Reuenge on those that are theyr opposites Not many yeares past who but I esteem'd King Edward has vpon my shoulder leand And thankt mee in mine eare many a time For making Fraunce his I betraid Valoys My soueraigne King in England to get grace And now I lookte to be a Duke at least Artoise is sleighted as a thing forgot But I haue sent my Attendant to the Court And if he speed not I shall proue as false Edward to thee as to my Natiue French Enter a Seruant Seruant The King is not at leysure To listen to your sute All his thoughts now Are taken vp to giue the Palsgraue grace Who is come to Court and meanes to Turney there Art Treason run with them or som dángerous plot Take life and being to destroy them both Must my affaires giue place vnto a Palgraue T' was I that quartered with the English Lyons The Armes of France in opening Edwards Title Which but for mee had in obliuion slept Then I was as the Palsgraue in his brest My sight his foode my saying his harts rest Who 's that that knock's look forth bring vs word Seru. A couple of Gentleme would speak with you Arto. Let them com in were they a pair of mischiefs They are welcome now For I haue thoughts like Held Blacke and confusde Enter Vandome and Mendozze Seru. These are the Gentlemen Vandome Our busines is to you most noble Artoise The Emperour does salute you in this Letter And prayes you by the Honour of an Earle You faile not to conioyne your ayde with ours About some plot against his Enemies Artoise The Letter speaks the words but names no plot Mendo T is not deuisd as yet but ere lóg great Caesar Will set it downe and send it to vs all Now as his Mightinesse desires is this That you giue shelter to vs while wee stay For his Affaires in England and your pénsion Which euery yeare you haue receiued from him Shall from henceforth be doubled with his loue Artoise Caesar is gracious and has my hart But were not you the Seruants that attended On the last Emperour that was made away And helpt to send him to a timelesse graue Vandome We were my Lord Artoise Let me embrace you in mine armes for that Mendo But that ill speed followed our hopes to day We had giuen a period to King Edwards life And to the Palsgraues Vandome Wee attempted it Habited like Saylers but our pistolls failde And after long pursute our Roabes throwne off We escapte with life Mendozze And come to liue with you Artoise Liue here as safe as in a Fort of brasse Such men I wisht for to a fit my spleene Vnto one marke all our affections tend And they both dye if that the Emperour send Exeunt The Trumpets sound within as at a Tournament A great shoute Enter old Fytzwaters and Clynton O. Fytz. Did you ere see a better Tournament Or brauer Runners then this day appear'd In the Tilt-yard Clyn. The best that ere I saw What a braue Horse the Palsgraue rid vpon And with what courage nimblenesse and strength Did he vnhorse his valiant opposites Speares flew in splinters halfe the way to heauen And none that ranne against him kept
this saddle Except the King and he demeand him well It ioyes my soule that he has yet in store Such manly vigor and the peoples hearts Were not a little glad O. Fytz. Here they come all Enter King Edward Palsgraue Cullen and others King I feare you are ouer-wearied with our sports To speake the truth I feele them troublesome Whether it be by discontinuancce or age I know not But my breath growes short Pals. What Oke is euer strong age makes Ioues tree The fayrest King and Emperour of the wood To bend it selfe and bow his lofty armes Downewards vnto the earth that softned it No Caeder growes straight till his latest day As there 's a weaknesse in their springing vp So is there in their declination The middle age the luffy does expresse And there flowes vigor like a sea of strength Able to beare downe what doth stand the streame Such is mine now but as my yeers doe flow Like Okes and Caeders they must straight bow low King Sit by our side and weare a Caesars wreath A Wreath of Laurell Palsgr. Victorious Edward keepe it as your right And let it mingle with your Royall Crowne That haue deseru'd it in a field of warre Not as t is mine giuen for a Turnament King It is our gifte and you shall weare it still Bring forth the other honour wee intend Vnto this thrice renowned Gentleman Enter an Herauld with a faire Cushion and the Garter vppon it Herald My gratious Liege here is the Garter ready King Which to the Palsgraue we cōmand you beare Garter and Herald heere presents your Honour With the Order of the Garter whence he takes His Office and his Name by our Decree This is a fauour which no Forraine Prince Euer enioyd yet but the time may come When Kings in seeking it may be instald It was my Institution and is worne By none but the most Noble and those fewe Hereafter I will tell your Excellence The Motiue why the Order was deuisd Meane time his hand shall claspe it to your Legge For t is a custome which you must not breake Palsgr: Your Highnes honours mee exceedingly King You are now my Fellow-Knight and you must sweare To fight for Ladies their Fames preserue But that wee leaue to Deputation It shall suffice now say on passe your word My Word and Oath so please your Maiestie The Motto as I red it was in French Honny soit qui Mal y pense Ill be his meede makes goodnesse an offence Or Euill bee to him that euill thinkes I haue learnt the sence the Order I will keepe Inuiolate by Hand and by my Sword And hope in time it shall as famous prooue As that of Malta or Ierusalems Clinton The Bishops Mentz Trier sent frō France By the French King desire to be admitted With them associate comes the bold Poytiers But as I thinke hee 's no Embassadour King Giue them admittance We could not wish for a more braue assemblie Then at this instant to giue Audience Enter Mentz and Trier and Saxon disguised like a Frenchman Mentz Because the matter does concerne our selues Most mighty King of England we haue taken This Embassie in hand not sent by Caesar But from your Neighbour the great King of France Who by vs first intreates after enioynes You take good heede how you the Palsgraue aide For that he sayes and will maintaine asmuch It were vniust now Caesar to depose Who by his valour if all Titles faile Merits the honour of an Emperour Trier And that he is peerlesse for his minde And haughty resolution through the world That none so well as hee deserues the stile And being inuested in the dignitie T were a dishonour great and Capitall Now to constraine him to a lower place Which if you seeke hee le shield from such disgrace King Has France forgot our former victories That his Commission is so peremptorie Or is it but the Stratageme of Caesar To blinde vs with the Name of the French King And Iohn of France be ignorant of this Before we answere your prowde Embassie Wee l send Embassadours to know the truth And if we be deceiu'd by a tricke Caesar shall know he has dishonourd vs Saxon. I am a Frenchman and a Peere of France My name Poyctiers but no Ambassadour Yet by the Honours that my sword hath wonne King Iohn of France deliuered what they spake King Being no Embassadour why came you hither To be a Spye and to surueigh my Land Saxon A Spye one of my blood without disguise Being the first Reuealer of my selfe How can this hold King Edward to be true I vse no Intelligence but with my sword Nor seeke for other corners then deepe wounds So if I come by any great mans hart In honourable difference I surueigh it Palsgraue At whose hart aime you now that you are come To iustifie an Embassage against mee Saxon. I say who weares the Germaine Diadem Deserues it better then the best that 's here Or any whom the English King or thou For priuate reasons wouldst preferre to weare it And that it is not honour prompts you to it But secret pride to haue a person gouerne Which Palsgraue thou mightst rule ambitiously Palsgr: Thou fowl-mouth'd slāderer eat thy prowd words vp Wherwith thou hast asperst me or my furie Shall make thee curse this bold-fac'te impudence Saxon. Come Come you cannot doe it Palsgraue Cannot Saxon. Nor dare I le stand the furie of thy prowdest shocke Not fearing danger in so sleight a Foe Should I put off these Masks my wounds would fright And these wide mouthes which I haue got in warre Not halfe heald vp pronounce it in thy blood Thou art too weake to enter Armes with mee Palsgraue Since mildnesse cannot temper your stern wrath But that your splene must vomit vpon mee I le teach you Syr to haue your tongue lockt vp By taking off your locke Pulls off his locke Saxon. My haire torne off They part them Palsgr. Who haue we here This is the hauty Saxon Saxon. Grant me the cōbat Edward of this Palsgraue King He is a prince himselfe knowes his power Palsgraue Now by the honour of my Fathers house Saxon I le meete thee in the Realme of France In the Kings Court or place where thou wert borne So I may haue good Hostage and faire play Saxon. Now by my gage thou shalt His gloue Palsgr: This shall suffise I haue your locke to mee a better pledge Saxon. I would I had thy head to counteruayle it A whyrl-winde be thy guide and a rough Sea Plague thee before thou comst for my haires losse Hel som Diuell was author of this crosse Exit Saxō King You haue payd him soundly and deseruedly But now to answere you in briefe t is thus The Palsgraue and our selfe will see the King With expedition where if hee make good The prowd Iniunction you haue chargde vs with We will lay wast his Countrey and once more Put France
in hazard of a sound losse Palsgraue This Saxons braue giues courage to vs all But I le requite it with a Germaine braule Enter Saxon Artoise Vandome and Mendoza Trier and Cullen Sax. You are the cause next to disgrace the Palsgraue For which I came The Emperour greetes you well And would haue noble Artoise lend his hand Both to cut off Bauaria and the King Artoise Where Mentz Here in England Trier Or what place you will Vandome France is the safer for the Stratagem Mendoz. And Edward is determined to saile thither Saxon. In Frauce then giue it birth Where if it sayle I le be the Palsgraues death Exeunt Enter French King solus F. King The care of Kingdomes is a weighty charge So is the care of children But Loues care Exceeds them all That dryes the blood of life More then the Feauer though they burne like Fire And to submit it to the law of reason Makes reason follie and discourse a Foole Then irresistable all ruling power Reuell in young mens hearts and leaue the olde Or meddle with inferiours not with Kings We should be priuiledged because most high But what 's a King vnto a Deitie Enter Floramell with a Napkin and a cup of Wine Floramell Your Maiestie call'd for a cup of wine F. King I did faire creature I thank your paines But when I view the colour of your lippe And looke on this the wine me thinks lookes pale You haue a better luster in your eye Then any sparkel that can rise from hence The siluer whitenesse that adornes thy necke Sullyes the plate and makes the Napkin blacke Thy looking well makes all things else looke fowle Being so faire in bodie what 's thy soule Floram. My soule and body are the gift of heauē And I will vse them to my Makers praise If other seruice great King you require I am ready attend your hearts desire F. King I think sweet creature what thy tongue has vtterd Is distant many paces from thy heart My hearts desire t is not in bending low After the afficious custome of a Court Nor lyes it in the vse of common things To bring and take away my hearts desire Is to enioy thee in another sort Which if thou yeeld vnto thou shalt be great Greatest in France next nay before my Queene For I le finde meanes to to take away her life So I may haue thee as a second wife Flora. The Saint of France forbid it all powers That haue continued both so long together In sacred rites of Mariage heauen deny I should be Authour of her Tragedy Or giue content where murther is oppos'd If I should yeeld and your Queene made away Might you not vse me so another day T is fearefull building vpon any sinne One mischiefe entred brings another in The second pulls a third the third drawes more And they for all the rest set ope the dore Till custome take away the iudging sence That to offend we thinke it no offence Wherefore my Lord kill mischiefe while t is small So by degrees you may destroy it all F. King Diuine is thy discourse like to thy beauty Flo. Does not Idolatrize beauties a flowre Which springs and withers almost in an houre Sicknesse impayres it but death kills it quite It vades as fast as shaddowes in the night Why should your Grace call it Diuinitie There 's nought diuine but that which cannot dye Least I offend by staying here too long I le take my leaue and so curbe in my tongue F. King Speake still I le heare thee Exit Floramell Flor. To our Sex t is bard We should be twice seene ere we be once heard F. K. Shee 'll neuer yeeld why do I woo her then Because I cannot bridle my desires Nor sleepe nor eate but as I dreame of her Shee 's to me as my Genius or my soule And more then they because she gouernes them Some way I le take my freedome to recouer That there 's no physicke made to cure a Louer Enter the French Queene Queene My Lord F. King My Loue Queene Yes F. King Infortuna Queene How Infortuna F. K. I mistooke thy name Yet now I thinke on 't I had busie thoughts How I might raise that Virgin to some Honour And match her with some worthy Peere of France Qu. Your selfe my Lord in some Adulterate kinde F. K. Nay then you wrong me I meant vertuously Beleeue me Sweet I did I loue thee so No euill thought should make me wrong thy bed By this it shall not this and this my Loue Kisses her Queene You flatter me F. K. I loue thee as I should What we haue liu'd together twenty yeeres And neuer wrongd each other should I now Be the first causer of the marriage breach Banish such thoughts let all mistrust begon If she grow iealous I am twice vndone Exit F. King Quee. I le haue about with her to finde out all Within there Enter Floramell Flo. Madame Queene What Medea was 't Of whom you learnt the Art of Sorcery To inchaunt a King and draw him to your bed Thinke you because you are my Mayd of Honour I le honour you so farre to haue my Lord Thou shamelesse Callet t is ingratitude Into my Husbands heart so to intrude I could haue helpt thee to a wealthy choyce Had you spar'd mine but now it cannot be For I must hate thee for thy tretchery Flo. I am accus'd that ought to be excus'd And blam'd as one vnchaste for being chaste I Inchaunt the King and vse Medeas Art Witch-craft I haue alwaies hated with my heart And except Modestie a Circe be I know no other kinde of Sorcery Your Highnesse sent me with a Cup of Wine Vnto the King the occasion of his wooing Was it my fault to doe your Highnesse will Iudge gracious Maiestie but as you ought And doe not blame me for a Virgins tryall His loue was answered with a strong denyall And so deny'd for euer shall he be That seekes by such meanes to dishonour me Before I wrong a Queene so truely kinde I le marre my face and make my sad eyes blinde Queene In. Exit Floramell Wee le consider farther of your teares I le haue her watcht if she prooues false she dyes But if continue constant to the end Neuer had Lady a more Royall friend Exit Enter young Fitzwaters aloft Y. Fytz. Since I was cast vpon this fatall Rocke And saw my Loue disseuered by the waues And my kinde Steward in the Ocean drownd Here I haue liu'd fed onely with raw Fish Such as the Sea yeelds and each Shippe I see As dayly there are some furrow this way I call vnto for ayde but nere the neere Once ask't me What I was I answer'd him An Englishman Quoth he Stay there and starue To the next that past I sayd I was a French-borne I le ayde no French quoth he Vnto a third That I a Spaniard was He bad me hang So that I know not
she promisde vs a maske Queene The Palsgrave F. K. Be Iouiall Caesar mirth began the night And we will end it with the like delight Enter King Edward the Palsgraue and Y. Fitz Floramell Cullen diuers Lords in the Maske they daunce there F. King We are beholding to you Gentlemen For this your Court-ship pray discouer now F. King We will and make you all die prisoners F.K. King Edward heere Saxon. The Palsgraue Bastard All our foes Mentz Whose plot was this Trier Or is it not a Dreame Palsgraue T is such a Dreame you l neuer wakeÌ„ from To talke of this strange admiration Which like the night houers on euery eye Know that I haue deluded you with hopes Vaine like those villaines which my sword did kill And by a Letter to the King deliuered Sent by your Queene to be reueng'd for lust I causde his Maiestie to enter thus Queene I receiued them in at the backe Gate King Where 's the Lady that has wrongd the Queen Y. Fytzw Heere is my trosh-plight wife Freer from that soule imputation Then is her Maiestie from iealousie King Is shee then chaste French King I le answere for the Virgin By my good Fortunes once now by my beard She is as nobly vertuous of a stranger As ere I knew and though I sought her loue I nere obtaind it Queene No where is my witnesse King Sonne call them in Enter 〈…〉 Palsgraue What can you sweare French: What must hee sweare English: I le sweare that the Lady is a good Ladie The Queen a good Queen ther 's an end of swearing King Is this all English And more then you should get of mee but that the Queene gaue vs golde to say something but who haue we here sirrah Frenchm. Players by this light players Oh I loue a play with all my heart English Begin begin we are set Sits on the Railes French: That 's a braue King English: That 's a braue boy that playes the Queenes part French: He shal be my Iuggler English: And when the play 's don I le be at charges To bid them all to supper Palsgraue Away with them French: I am very sleepy English: Would I were a bed Y. Fitz. I le leade you thither English God a mercy good Chamberlaine French The play 's done and now we must go home Farewell Exeunt Fooles Queene But shal the stream turne this way is my plot Become so weake you will beleeue a Subiect Before a Queene I haue out-shot my selfe In seeking Iustice at an enemies hand This is a crosse beyond the strength of brayne Sure I shall end my dayes in Lunacy Like one to whom due vengeance is denide Because of weaknesse on my selfe I le turne The fury that should light vpon my foe Scatter my hayre like chaffe before the winde Hell in this world dwells in a iealous minde Exit Q. Pals. Our reuelling has strucke day out of night And bright Aurora vshers foorth the Sunne To his diurnall course yet neyther night Day nor the morning with her flaring beames Can stirre vp valour in this Saxons brest What is thy minde made captiue with thy body Or thinkst thou that I take aduantages Where honour should be shewd I me still my selfe Ready to giue an answere to thy challenge As at the first and if thou conquerst me By my Atchiuements I will set thee free Sax. You shew your selfe in this a Noble foe And I receiue more honour then I hop't I thought because I was your prisoner You had esteemd captiuitie a conquest But since you haue awaked sleeping valour And giuen your Captiue such a priuiledge I am the same bolde combattant to dare And doe asmuch as erst I did intend Palsgraue Choose your owne Weapons and I le meete you streight Saxon. My Armour there Exeunt Enter Cullen Cullen Clinton and bold Fitzwaters are arriu'de And bring with them releast from seruitude Brandenberg Sauoy and Bohemia King Guide them in Enter Old Fytzwaters Clinton Drum and Cullens with Sauoy Brandenberg and Bishops with Soldiers Old Fytzw: Those with our selues we humbly doe present vnto your Maiestie Clinton Such as our Swordes by a glorious victorie set free King When Heauen is pleasde to giue prosperitie How it flowes in : welcome my honord Friends I am glad your thraldomes proue your libertie Sauoy The King of England has bene alwayes kinde Bohem. I haue euer found it so Brandenb: And so haue I Old Fytzw: Whom doe I fee my Sonne that stole my Bride As you respect my seruice gracious King Let me haue Iustice Clint: Clinton kneeles with him Y. Fytz. To their great seruice greater I oppose And doe beseech your Highnes wrong me not Old-Fyztw: Wrong thee Y. Fytzw I wrong mee may not Kings doe wrong Or dare you thinke because you are my Father I le loose my wife Clinton Daughter come from him least I force you hither Floramell Father I may not Y. Fytz. Fathers both shee shall not King Wee le heare no more of these bold menaces On paine of death I charge you both forbeare And let my censure sway this difference In England as your house the Byshop tolde mee That Clintons Daughter by a precontract Was young Fytzwaters wife and that some tricke Betwixt the Fathers to preserue theyr wealth Broke off the match to haue him wedde the olde This being true I charge you on your liues Vrge him no further in his lawfull choyce But as t was wrong enough to hinder it Make him amends by being reconcilde Y. Fytzw. Which I intreat vpon a dutious knee Floramell And so doe I Old Fytzw. Rise rise I am frends with you both and When my Anger 's ouer you shall find me a kind Father Clinton So shall you Y. Fytz. All le ts are now remou'd I am truly happy Cullen The Combattants are ready King Guide them in Enter seuerally Saxon and the Palsgraue Armd and in theyr shyrts Drum Culiors Palsgr. Idle are words where we must vse our swords Yet that it may appeare what mindes we beare Now we are marcht into this dreadfull Lists Know that this day my Honour shall exceede Or I lye breathlesse where I set my foote Saxon. Were thy brest Marble thy ribbs of brasse Saxon will haue the superioritie Or in this dreadfull place his life expires Palsgraue Sound trumpets the destinies guide all Fight and kills Saxon. Bastard The Palsgraue is invincible I thinke F. King Not to be ouercome Mentz Nor to be tam'de by any F. King Matchlesse and farre beyond the praise of words are all thy actions let me honour thee Palsgraue Our Friends returnd in safety cheers more F. King Caesar resigne your Title vnto Sauoy and Sauoy fit you vp whilst the doctors heare ioyn all their hands to make thee Emperour Palsgr: 〈◊〉 as the first Bohem Trier And to get your loue We will disgrace our selues to honour him Bastard Receiue the Crowne but as hee weares the same may it crush out his braines Palsgr. Long liue and happily the 〈◊〉 Caesar Sauoy As happily as your kinded loues haue made me And long as please the Heauens Palsgraue Your fareâ—â—â— rights shall be perfect â—â— with State in Germanie whither I make the Maiestie of England and all our Friends King I le beare you companie Palsgr: Faire windes and prosperous to our several Realmes wee wish and pray for t is not our least good To be the Fauorites of the waning Flood Exeunt W. Smyth FINIS