say I flatter if you do My deeds shall shew I flatter not with you I loue my father better then thou canst Cor. The prayse were great spoke from anothers mouth But it should seeme your neighbours dwell far off Rag. Nay here is one that will confirme as much As she hath sayd both for my selfe and her I say thou dost not wish my fathers good Cord. Deare father Leir Peace bastard Impe no issue of King Leir I will not heare thee speake one tittle more Call not me father if thou loue thy life Nor these thy sisters once presume to name Looke for no helpe henceforth from me nor mine Shift as thou wilt and trust vnto thy selfe My Kingdome will I equally deuide Twixt thy two sisters to their royall dowre And will bestow them worthy their deserts This done because thou shalt not haue the hope To haue a childs part in the time to come I presently will dispossesse my selfe And set vp these vpon my princely throne Gon. I euer thought that pride would haue a fall Ra. Plaine dealing sister your beauty is so sheene You need no dowry to make you be a Queene Exeunt Leir Gonorill Ragan Cord. Now whither poore forsaken shall I goe When mine owne sisters tryumph in my woe But vnto him which doth protect the iust In him will poore Cordella put her trust These hands shall labour for to get my spending And so I le liue vntill my dayes haue ending Per. Oh how I grieue to see my Lord thus fond To dote so much vpon vayne flattering words Ah if he but with good aduice had weyghed The hidden tenure of her humble speech Reason to rage should not haue giuen place Nor poore Cordella suffer such disgrace Exit Enter the Gallian King with Mumford and three Nobles more King Disswade me not my Lords I am resolu'd This next fayre wynd to sayle for Brittany In some disguise to see if flying fame Be not too prodigall in the wondrous prayse Of these three Nymphes the daughters of King Leir If present view do answere absent prayse And eyes allow of what our eares haue heard And Venus stand auspicious to my vowes And Fortune fauour what I take in hand I will returne seyz'd of as rich a prize As Iason when he wanne the golden fleece Mum. Heauens graūt you may the match were ful of honor And well beseeming the young Gallian King I would your Grace would fauour me so much As make me partner of your Pilgrimage I long to see the gallant Brittish Dames And feed mine eyes vpon their rare perfections For till I know the contrary I le say Our Dames in Fraunce are far more fayre then they Kin. Lord Mumford you haue saued me a labour In offring that which I did meane to aske And I most willingly accept your company Yet first I will inioyne you to obserue Some few conditions which I shall propose Mum. So that you do not tye mine eyes for looking After the amorous glaunces of fayre Dames So that you do not tye my toung from speaking My lips from kissing when occasion serues My hands from congees and my knees to bow To gallant Gyrles which were a taske more hard Then flesh and bloud is able to indure Commaund what else you please I rest content Kin. To bind thee from a thing thou canst not leaue Were but a meane to make thee seeke it more And therefore speake looke kisse salute for me In these my selfe am like to second thee Now heare thy taske I charge thee from the time That first we set sayle for the Brittish shore To vse no words of dignity to me But in the friendliest maner that thou canst Make vse of me as thy companion For we will go disguisde in Palmers weeds That no man shall mistrust vs what we are Mum. If that be all I le fit your turne I warrant you I am some kin to the Blunts and I think the bluntest of all my kindred therfore if I bee too blunt with you thank your selfe for praying me to be so King Thy pleasant company will make the way see me short It resteth now that in my absence hence I do commit the gouernment to you My trusty Lords and faythfull Counsellers Time cutteth off the rest I haue to say The wynd blowes fayre and I must needs away Nobles Heauens send your voyage to as good effect As we your land do purpose to protect Exeunt Enter the King of Cornwall and his man booted and spurd a riding wand and a letter in his hand Corn. But how far distant are we from the Court Ser. Some twenty miles my Lord or thereabouts Corn. It seemeth to me twenty thousand myles Yet hope I to be there within this houre to himselfe Ser. Then are you like to ride alone for me I thinke my Lord is weary of his life Corn. Sweet Gonorill I long to see thy face Which hast so kindly gratified my loue Enter the King of Cambria booted and spurd and his man with a wand and a letter Cam. He lookes on the letter Get a fresh horse for by my soule I sweare I am past patience longer to forbeare The wished sight of my beloued mistris Deare Ragan stay and comfort of my life Ser. to himselfe Now what in Gods name doth my Lord intend He thinks he ne're shall come at 's iourneyes end I would he had old Dedalus waxen wings That he might flye so I might stay behind For e're we get to Troynouant I see He quite will tyre himselfe his horse and me Cornwall Cambria looke one vpon another and start to see eche other there Corn. Brother of Cambria we greet you well As one whom here we little did expect Cam. Brother of Cornwall met in happy time I thought as much to haue met with the Souldan of Persia As to haue met you in this place my Lord No doubt it is about some great affayres That makes you here so slenderly accompanied Corn. To say the truth my Lord it is no lesse And for your part some hasty wind of chance Hath blowne you hither thus vpon the sudden Cam. My Lord to break off further circumstances For at this time I cannot brooke delayes Tell you your reason I will tell you mine Corn. In fayth content and therefore to be briefe For I am sure my haste 's as great as yours I am sent for to come vnto King Leir Who by these present letters promiseth His eldest daughter louely Gonorill To me in mariage and for present dowry The moity of halfe his Regiment The Ladies loue I long ago possest But vntill now I neuer had the fathers Cam. You tell me wonders yet I will relate Strange newes and henceforth we must brothers call Witnesse these lynes his honourable age Being weary of the troubles of his Crowne His princely daughter Ragan will bestow On me in mariage with halfe his Seigniories Whom I would gladly haue accepted of With the third part her complements are
such Corn. If I haue one halfe and you haue the other Then betweene vs we must needs haue the whole Cam. The hole how meane you that Zlood I hope We shall haue two holes betweene vs Corn. Why the whole Kingdome Cam. I that 's very true Cor. What then is left for his third daughters dowry Louely Cordella whom the world admires Cam. T is very strange I know not what to thinke Vnlesse they meane to make a Nunne of her Corn. 'T were pity such rare beauty should be hid Within the compasse of a Cloysters wall But howsoe're if Leirs words proue true It will be good my Lord for me and you Cam. Then let s haste all danger to preuent For feare delayes doe alter his intent Exeunt Enter Gonorill and Ragan Gon. Sister when did you see Cordella last That prety piece that thinks none good ynough To speake to her because sir-reuerence She hath a little beauty extraordinary Ra. Since time my father warnd her from his presence I neuer saw her that I can remember God giuer her ioy of her surpassing beauty I thinke her dowry will be small ynough Gon. I haue incenst my father so against her As he will neuer be reclaymd agayne Rag. I was not much behind to do the like Gon. Faith sister what moues you to beare her such good will Rag. In truth I thinke the same that moueth you Because she doth surpasse vs both in beauty Gon. Beshrew your fingers how right you can gesse I tell you true it cuts me to the heart Rag. But we will keepe her low enough I warrant And clip her wings for mounting vp too hye Gon. Who euer hath her shall haue a rich mariage of her Rag. She were right fit to make a Parsons wife For they men say do loue faire women well And many times doe marry them with nothing Gon. With nothing marry God forbid why are there any such Rag. I meane no money Gon. I cry you mercy I mistooke you much And she is far too stately for the Church Shee le lay her husbands Benefice on her back Euen in one gowne if she may haue her will Ra. In faith poore soule I pitty her a little Would she were lesse fayre or more fortunate Well I thinke long vntill I see my Morgan The gallant Prince of Cambria here arriue Gon. And so do I vntill the Cornwall King Present himselfe to consummate my ioyes Peace here commeth my father Enter Leir Perillus and others Leir Cease good my Lords and sue not to reuerse Our censure which is now irreuocable We haue dispatched letters of contract Vnto the Kings of Cambria and of Cornwall Our hand and seale will iustify no lesse Then do not so dishonour me my Lords As to make shipwrack of our kingly word I am as kind as is the Pellican That kils itselfe to saue her young ones liues And yet as ielous as the princely Eagle That kils her young ones if they-do but dazell Vpon the radiant splendor of the Sunne Enter Kings of Cornwall and Cambria Within this two dayes I expect their comming But in good time they are arriu'd already This haste of yours my Lords doth testify The feruent loue you beare vnto my daughters And think your selues as welcome to King Leir As euer Pryams children were to him Corn. My gracious Lord and father too I hope Pardon for that I made no greater haste But were my horse as swift as was my will I long ere this had seene your Maiesty Cam. No other scuse of absence can I frame C Then what my brother hath inform'd your Grace For our vndeserued welcome we do vowe Perpetually to rest at your commaund Corn. But you sweet Loue illustrious Gonorill The Regent and the Soueraigne of my soule Is Cornwall welcome to your Excellency Gon. As welcome as Leander was to Hero Or braue Aeneas to the Carthage Queene So and more welcome is your Grace to me Cam. O may my fortune proue no worse then his Since heauens do know my fancy is as much Deare Ragan say if welcome vnto thee All welcomes else will little comfort me Rag. As gold is welcome to the couetous eye As sleepe is welcome to the Traueller As is fresh water to sea-beaten men Or moystned showres vnto the parched ground Or any thing more welcomer then this So and more welcome louely Morgan is Leir What resteth then but that we consummate The celebration of these nuptiall Rites My Kingdome I do equally deuide Princes draw lots and take your chaunce as falles Then they draw lots These I resigne as freely vnto you As earst by true succession they were mine And here I do freely dispossesse my selfe And make you two my true adopted heyres My selfe will soiorne with my sonne of Cornwall And take me to my prayers and my beades I know my daughter Ragan will be sorry Because I do not spend my dayes with her Would I were able to be with both at once They are the kindest gyrles in Christendome Per. I haue bin silent all this while my Lord To see if any worthyer then my selfe Would once haue spoke in poore Cordellaes cause But loue or feare tyes silence to their toungs Oh heare me speake for her my gracious Lord Whose deeds haue not deseru'd this ruthlesse doome As thus to disinherit her of all Leir Vrge this no more and if thou loue thy life I say she is no daughter that doth scorne To tell her father how she loueth him Who euer speaketh hereof to mee agayne I will esteeme him for my mortall foe Come let vs in to celebrate vith ioy The happy Nuptialls of these louely payres Exeunt omnes manet Perillus Per. Ah who so blind as they that will not see The neere approch of their owne misery Poore Lady I extremely pitty her And whilest I liue eche drop of my heart blood Will I strayne forth to do her any good Exit Enter the Gallian King and Mumford disguised like Pilgrims Mum. My Lord how do you brook this Brittish ayre King My Lord I told you of this foolish humour And bound you to the contrary you know Mum. Pardon me for once my Lord I did forget King My Lord agayne then let 's haue nothing else And so be tane for spyes and then t is well Mum. Swounds I could bite my toung in two for angert For Gods sake name your selfe some proper name King Call me Trofillus I le call thee Denapoll Mum. Might I be made the Monarch of the world I could not hit vpon these names I sweare King Then call me Will I le call thee Iacke Mum. Well be it so for I haue wel deseru'd to be cal'd Iack King Stand close for here a Brittish Lady cōmeth Enter Cordella A fayrer creature ne're mine eyes beheld Cord. This is a day of ioy vnto my sisters Wherein they both are maried vnto Kings And I by byrth as worthy as themselues Am turnd into the world to seeke my fortune How
accurst To seeke his blood whose blood did make them first Leir Ah my true friend in all extremity Let vs submit vs to the will of God Things past all sence let vs not seeke to know It is Gods will and therefore must be so My friend I am prepared for the stroke Strike when thou wilt and I forgiue thee here Euen from the very bottome of my heart Mes. But I am not prepared for to strike Leir Farewell Perillus euen the truest friend That euer liued in aduersity The latest kindnesse I le request of thee Is that thou go vnto my daughter Cordella And carry her her fathers latest blessing Withall desire her that she will forgiue me For I haue wrongd her without any cause Now Lord receyue me for I come to thee And dye I hope in perfit charity Dispatch I pray thee I haue liued too long Mes. I but you are vnwise to send an errand By him that neuer meaneth to deliuer it Why he must go along with you to heauen It were not good you should go all alone Leir No doubt he shal when by the course of nature He must surrender vp his due to death But that time shall not come till God permit Mes. Nay presently to beare you company I haue a Pasport for him in my pocket Already seald and he must needs ride Poste Shew a bagge of money Leir The letter which I read imports not so It only toucheth me no word of him Mess. I but the Queene commaunds it must be so And I am payd for him as well as you Per. I who haue borne you company in life Most willingly will beare a share in death It skilleth not for me my friend a whit Nor for a hundred such as thou and I Mes. Mary but it doth sir by your leaue your good dayes are past though it bee no matter for you t is a matter for me proper men are not so rife Per. Oh but beware how thou dost lay thy hand Vpon the high anoynted of the Lords O be aduised ere thou dost begin Dispatch me straight but meddle not with him Leir Friend thy commission is to deale with me And I am he that hath deserued all The plot was layd to take away my life And here it is I do intreat thee take it Yet for my sake and as thou art a man Spare this my friend that hither with me came I brought him forth whereas he had not bin But for good will to beare me company He left his friends his country and his goods And came with me in most extremity Oh if he should miscarry here and dye Who is the cause of it but only I Mes. Why that am I let that ne're trouble thee Leir O no t is I O had I now to giue thee The monarchy of all the spacious world To saue his life I would bestow it on thee But I haue nothing but these tears and prayer And the submission of a bended knee kneels O if all this to mercy moue they mind Spare him in heauen thou shalt like mercy find Mes. I am as hard to be moued as another and yet me thinks the strength of their perswasions stirres me a little Per. My friend if feare of the almighty power Haue power to moue thee we haue sayd ynough But if thy mind be moueable with gold We haue not presently to giue it thee Yet to thy selfe thou mayst do greater good To keepe thy hands still vndefilde from blood For do but well consider with thy selfe When thou hast finisht this outragious act What horrour still will haunt thee for the deed Think this agayne that they which would incense Thee for to be the Butcher of their father When it is done for feare it should be knowne Would make a meanes to rid thee from the world Oh then art thou for euer tyed in chaynes Of euerlasting torments to indure Euen in the hotest hole of grisly hell Such paynes as neuer mortall toung can tell It thunders He quakes and lets fall the Dagger next to Perillus Leir O heauens be thanked he wil spare my friend Now when thou wilt come make an end of me G He lets fall the other dagger Per. Oh happy sight He meanes to saue my Lord The King of heauen continue this good mind Leir Why stayst thou to do execution Mes. I am as wilfull as you for your life I will not do it now you do intreat me Per. Ah now I see thou hast some sparke of grace Mes. Beshrew you for it you haue put it in me The parlosest old men that ere I heard Well to be flat I le not meddle with you Here I found you and here I le leaue you If any aske you why the case so stands Say that your tounges were better then your hands Exit Mess. Per. Farewell If euer we together mee It shall go hard but I will thee regreet Courage my Lord the worst is ouerpast Let vs giue thanks to God and hye vs hence Leir Thou art deceyued for I am past the best And know not whither for to go from hence Death had bin better welcome vnto me Then lenger life to adde more misery Per. It were not good to returne from whence we came Vnto your daughter Ragan back againe Now let vs go to France vnto Cordella Your youngest daughter doubtlesse she will succour you Leir Oh how can I perswade myselfe of that Since the other two are quite deuoyd of loue To whom I was so kind as that my gifts Might make them loue me if 't were nothing else Per. No worldly gifts but grace from God on hye Doth nourish vertue and true charity Remember well what words Cordella spake What time you askt her how she lou'd your Grace Se sayd her loue vnto you was as much As ought a child to beare vnto her father Leir But she did find my loue was not to her As should a father beare vnto a child Per. That makes not her loue to be any lesse If she do loue you as a child should do You haue tryed two try one more for my sake I le ne're intreat you further tryall make Remember well the dreame you had of late And thinke what comfort it foretels to vs Leir Come truest friend that euer man possest I know thou counsailst all things for the best If this third daughter play a kinder part It comes of God and not of my desert Exeunt Enter the Gallian Ambassador solus Am. There is of late newes come vnto the Court That old Lord Leir remaynes in Cambria I le hye me thither presently to impart My letters and my message vnto him I neuer was lesse welcome to a place In all my life time then I haue bin hither Especially vnto the stately Queene Who would not cast one gracious looke on me But still with lowring and suspicious eyes Would take exceptions at each word I spake And fayne she would haue vndermined me To know what my Ambassage
did import But she is like to hop without her hope And in this matter for to want her will Though by report shee le hau 't in all things else Well I will poste away for Cambria Within these few dayes I hope to be there Exit Enter the King and Queene of Gallia Mumford King By this our father vnderstands our mind And our kind greetings sent to him of late Therefore my mind presageth ere 't be long We shall receyue from Brittayne happy newes Cord. I feare my sister will disswade his minde For shee to me hath alwayes bin vnkind King Feare not my loue since that we know the worst The last meanes helpes if that we misse the first If hee 'le not come to Gallia vnto vs Then we will sayle to Brittayne vnto him Mum. Well if I once see Brittayne agayne I haue sworne I le ne're come home without my wench And I le not be forsworne I le rather neuer come home while I liue Cor. Are you sure Mumford she is a mayd still Mum. Nay I le not sweare she is a mayd but she goes for one I 'le take her at all aduentures if I can get her Cord. I that 's well put in Mum. Well put in nay it was ill put in for had it Bin as well put in as ere I put in in my dayes I would haue made her follow me to Fraunce Cor. Nay you 'd haue bin so kind as take her with you Or else were I as she I would haue bin so louing as I de stay behind you Yet I must confesse you are a very proper man And able to make a wench do more then she would do Mum. Well I haue a payre of slops for the nonce Will hold all your mocks King Nay we see you haue a hansome hose Cor. I and of the newest fashion Mum. More bobs more put them in still They 'll serue instead of bumbast yet put not in too many lest the seames crack and they fly out amongst you againe you must not think to outface me so easily in my mistris quarrel who if I see once agayne ten teame of horses shall not draw me away till I haue full and whole possession King I but one teame and a cart will serue the turne Cor. Not only for him but also for his wench Mum. Well you are two to one I le giue you ouer And since I see you so pleasantly disposed Which indeed is but seldome seene I le clayme A promise of you which you shall not deny me For promise is debt by this hand you promisd it me Therefore you owe it me and you shall pay it me Or I le sue you vpon an action of vnkindnesse King Prithy Lord Mumford what promise did I make thee Mum. Fayth nothing but this That the next fayre weather which is very now You would go in progresse downe to the sea side Which is very neere King Fayth in this motion I will ioyne with thee And be a mediator to my Queene Prithy my Loue let this march go forward My mind foretels 't will be a lucky voyage Cor. Entreaty needs not where you may cōmaund So you be pleasde I am right well content Yet as the Sea I much desire to see So am I most vnwilling to be seene King Wee le go disguised all vnknowne to any Cor. Howsoeuer you make one I le make another Mum. and I the third oh I am ouer-ioyed See what loue is which getteth with a word What all the world besides could ne're obtayne But what disguises shall we haue my Lord King Fayth thus my Queene I wil be disguisde Like a playne country couple and you shall be Roger Our man and wayt vpon vs or if you will You shall go first and we will wayt on you Mum. 'T were more then time this deuice is excelent Come let vs about it Exeunt Enter Cambria and Ragan with Nobles Cam. What strange mischance or vnexpected hap Hath thus depriu'd vs of our fathers presence Can no man tell vs what 's become of him With whom we did conuerse not two dayes since My Lords let euery where light-horse be sent To scoure about through all our Regiment Dispatch a Poste immediately to Cornwall To see if any newes by of him there My selfe will make a strickt inquiry here And all about our Cities neere at hand Till certayne newes of his abode be brought Rag. All sorrow is but counterfet to mine Whose lips are almost sealed vp with griefe Mine is the substance whilst they do but seeme To weepe the lesse which teares cannot redeeme O ne're was heard so strange a misaduenture A thing so far beyond the reach of sence Since no mans reason in the cause can enter What hath remou'd my father thus from hence O I do feare some charme or inuocation Of wicked spirits or infernall fiends Stird by Cordella moues this innouation And brings my father timelesse to his end But might I know that the detested Witch Were certayne cause of this vncertayne ill Myselfe to Fraunce would go in some disguise And with these nayles scratch out her hatefull eyes For since I am depriued of my father I loath my life and wish my death the rather Cam. The heauens are iust and hate impiety And will no doubt reueale such haynous crimes Censure not any till you know the right Let him be Iudge that bringeth truth to light Ra. O but my griefe like to a swelling tyde Exceeds the bounds of common patience Nor can I moderate my toung so much To conceale them whom I hold in suspect Cam. This matter shall be sifted if it be she A thousand Fraunces shall not harbour her Enter the Gallian Ambassador Am. All happinesse vnto the Cambrian King Cam. Welcom my friend from whence is thy Ambassage Am. I came from Gallia vnto Cornwall sent With letters to your honourable father Whom there not finding as I did expect I was directed hither to repayre Rag. Frenchman what is thy message to my father Am. My letters Madam will import the same Which my Commission is for to deliuer Ra. In his absence you may trust vs with your letters Am. I must performe my charge in such a maner As I haue strict commaundement from the King Ra. There is good packing twixt your King and you You need not hither come to aske for him You know where he is better then our selues Am. Madam I hope not far off Ra. Hath the young murdresse your outragious Queene No meanes to colour her detested deeds In finishing my guiltlesse fathers dayes Because he gaue her nothing to her dowre But by the colour of a fayn'd Ambassage To send him letters hither to our Court Go carry them to them that sent them hither And bid them keepe their scroules vnto themselues They cannot blinde vs with such slight excuse To smother vp so monstrous vild abuse And were it not it is 'gainst law of Armes To offer violence to a Messenger
Leir Come let vs go and see what God will send When all meanes faile he is the surest friend Exeunt Enter the Gallian King and Queens and Mumford with a basket disguised like Countrey folke King This tedious iourney all on foot sweet Loue Cannot be pleasing to your tender ioynts Which ne're were vsed to these toylesome walks Cord. I neuer in my life tooke more delight In any iourney then I do in this Ic did me good when as we hapt to light Amongst the merry crue of country folke To see what industry and paynes they tooke To win them commendations mongst their friends Lord how they labour to bestir themselues And in their quirks to go beyond the Moone And so take on them with such antike fits That one would think they were beside their wits Come away Roger with your basket Mum. Soft Dame here comes a couple of old youthes I must needs make my selfe fat with testing at them Cor. Nay prithy do not they do seeme to be Enter Leir Perillus very faintly Men much o'regone with griefe and misery Let 's stand aside and harken what they say Leir Ah my Perillus now I see we both Shall end our dayes in this vntrustfull soyle Oh I do faint for want of sustenance And thou I know in little better case No gentle tree affords one taste of fruit To comfort vs vntill we meet with men No lucky path conducts our lucklesse steps Vnto a place where any comfort dwels Sweet rest betyde vnto our happy soules For here I see our bodies must haue end Per. Ah my deare Lord how doth my heart lament To see you brought to this extremity O if you loue me as you do professe Or euer thought well of me in my life He strips vp his arme Feed on this flesh whose veynes are not so dry But there is vertue left to comfort you O feed on this if this will do you good I le smile for ioy to see you suck my bloud Leir I am no Caniball that I should delight To slake my hungry iawes with humane flesh I am no deuill or ten times worse then so To suck the bloud of such a peerelesse friend O do not think that I respect my life So dearely as I do thy loyall loue Ah Brittayne I shall neuer see thee more That hast vnkindly banished thy King And yet not thou dost make me to complayne But they which were more neere to me then thou Cor. What do I heare this lamentable voyce Me thinks ere now I oftentimes haue heard Leir Ah Gonorill was halfe my Kingdomes gift The cause that thou didst seeke to haue my life Ah cruell Ragan did I giue thee all And all could not suffice without my bloud Ah poore Cordella did I giue thee nought Nor neuer shall be able for to giue O let me warne all ages that insueth How they trust flattery and reiect the trueth Well vnkind Girles I here forgiue you both Yet the iust heauens will hardly do the like And only craue forgiuenesse at the end Of good Cordella and of thee my friend Of God whose Maiesty I haue offended By my transgression many thousand wayes Of her deare heart whom I for no occasion Turn'd out of all through flatterers perswasion Of thee kind friend who but for me I know Hadst neuer come vnto this place of wo Cor. Alack that euer I should liue to see My noble father in this misery King Sweet Loue reueale not what thou art as yet Vntill we know the ground of all this Cor. O but some meat some meat do you not see How neere they are to death for want of food Per. Lord which didst help they seruants at their need Or now or neuer send vs helpe with speed Oh comfort comfort yonder is a banquet And men and women my Lord be of good cheare For I see comfort comming very neere O my Lord a banquet and men and women Leir O let kind pity mollify their hearts That they may helpe vs in our great extreames Per. God saue you friends if this blessed banquet Affordeth any food or sustenance Euen for his sake that saued vs all from death Vouchsafe to saue vs from the gripe of famine Cor. Here father sit and eat here sit drink She bringeth him to the table And would it were far better for your sakes Perillus takes Leir by the hand to the table Per. I le giue you thanks anon my friend doth faynt And needeth present comfort Leir drinks Mum. I warrant he ne're stayes to say grace O there 's no sauce to a good stomake Per. The blessed God of heauen hath thought vpon vs Leir The thanks be his and these kind courteous folke By whose humanity we are preserued They eat hungerly Leir drinkes Cor. And may that draught be vnto him as was That which old Eson dranke which did renue His withered age and made him young againe And may that meat be vnto him as was That which Elias ate in strength whereof He walked fourty dayes and neuer faynted Shall I conceale me longer from my father Or shall I manifest my selfe to him King Forbeare a while vntill his strength returne Lest being ouer-ioyed with seeing thee His poore weake sences should forsake their office And so our cause of ioy be turnd to sorrow Per. What chere my Lord how do you feele your selfe Leir Me thinks I neuer ate such sauory meat It is as pleasant as the blessed Manna That raynd from heauen amongst the Israelites It hath recall'd my spirits home agayne And made me fresh as earst I was before But how shall we congratulate their kindnesse Per. Infayth I know no how sufficiently But the best meane that I can think on is this I le offer them my dublet in requitall For we haue nothing else to spare Leir Nay stay Perillus for they shall haue mine Per. Pardon my Lord I sweare they shall haue mine Perillus proffers his dublet they will not take it Leir Ah who would think such kindnes should remayne Among such strange and vnacquainted men And that such hate should harbour in the brest Of those which haue occasion to be best Cor. Ah good old father tell to me thy griefe I le sorrow with thee if not adde reliefe Leir Ah good young daughter I may call thee so For thou art like a daughter I did owe Cor. Do you not owe her still what is she dead Leir No God forbid but all my interest 's gone By shewing my selfe too much vnnaturall So haue I lost the title of a father and me be call'd a stranger to her rather Cor. Your title 's good still for t is alwayes knowne A man may do as him list with his owne But haue you but one daughter then in all Leir Yes I haue more by two then would I had Cor. O say not so but rather see the end They that are bad may haue the grace to mend But how haue they offended you so much Leir If from
age vnto this extreme want Do now reiect contemne despise abhor me What reason moueth thee to sorrow for me Per. Where reason fayles let teares confirme my loue And speake how much your passions do me moue Ah good my Lord condemne not all for one You haue two daughters left to whom I know You shall be welcome if you please to go Leir Oh how thy words adde sorrow to my soule To thinke of my vnkindnesse to Cordella Whom causelesle I did dispossesse of all Vpon th' vnkind suggestions of her sisters And for her sake I thinke this heauy doome Is falne on me and not without desert Yet vnto Ragan was I alwayes kinde And gaue to her the halfe of all I had It may be if I should to her repayre She would be kinder and intreat me fayre Per. No doubt she would practise ere 't be long By force of Armes for to redresse your wrong Leir Well since thou doest aduise me for to go I am resolu'd to try the worst of wo Exeunt Enter Ragan solus Rag. How may I blesse the howre of my natiuity Which bodeth vnto me such happy Starres How may I thank kind fortune that vouchsafes To all my actions such desir'd euent I rule the King of Cambria as I please The States are all obedient to my will And looke what ere I say it shall be so Not any one that dareth answere no My eldest sister liues in royall state And wanteth nothing fitting her degreet Yet hath she such a cooling card withall As that her hony sauoureth much of gall My father with her is quarter-master still And many times restraynes her of her will But if he were with me and seru'd me so I de send him packing some where else to go I de entertayne him with such slender cost That he should quickly wish to change his host Exit Enter Cornwall Gonorill and attendants Corn. Ah Gonorill what dire vnhappy chaunce Hath sequestred thy father from our presence That no report can yet be heard of him Some great vnkindnesse hath bin offred him Exceeding far the bounds of patience Else all the world shall neuer me perswade He would forsake vs without notice made Gon. Alas my Lord whom doth it touch so neere Or who hath interest in this griefe but I Whom sorrow had brought to her longest home But that I know his qualities so well I know he is but stolne vpon my sister At vnawares to see her how she fares And spend a little time with her to note How all things goe and how she likes her choyce And when occasion serues hee le steale from her And vnawares returne to vs agayne Therefore my Lord be frolick and resolue To see my father here agayne e're long Corn. I hope so too but yet to be more sure I le send a Poste immediately to know Whether he be arriued there or no Exit Gon. But I will intercept the Messenger And temper him before he doth depart With sweet perswasions and with sound rewards That his report shall ratify my speech And make my Lord cease further to inquire If he be not gone to my sisters Court As sure my mind presageth that he is He happely may by trauelling vnknowne wayes Fall sicke and as a common passenger Be dead and buried would God it were so well For then there were no more to do but this He went away and none knowes where he is But say he be in Cambria with the King And there exclayme against me as he will I know he is as welcome to my sister As water is into a broken ship Well after him I le send such thunderclaps Of slaunder scandall and inuented tales That all the blame shall be remou'd from me And vnperceiu'd rebound vpon himselfe Thus with one nayle another I le expell And make the world iudge that I vsde him well Enter the Messenger that should go to Cambria with a letter in his band Gon. My honest friend whither away so fast Mes. To Cambria Madam with letters frō the king Gon. To whom Mess. Vnto your father if he be there Gon. Let me see them She opens them Mess. Madam I hope your Grace will stand Betweene me and my neck-verse if I be Calld in question for opening the Kings letters Gon. 'T was was I that opened them it was not thou Mes. I but you need not care and so must I A hansome man be quickly trust vp And when a man 's hang'd all the world cannot saue him Gon. He that hangs thee were better hang his father Or that but hurts thee in the least degree I tell thee we make great account of thee Mes. I am o're-ioy'd I surfet of sweet words Kind Queene had I a hundred liues I would Spend ninety nyne of them for you for that word Gon. I but thou wouldst keepe one life still And that 's as many as thou art like to haue Mes. That one life is not too deare for my good Queene this sword this buckler this head this heart these hands armes legs tripes bowels and all the members else whatsoeuer are at your dispose vse me trust me commaund me if I fayle in any thing tye me to a dung cart and make a Scauengers horse of me and whip me so long as I haue any skin on my back Gon. In token of further imployment take that Flings him a purse Mes. A strong Bond a firme Obligation good in law good in law if I keepe not the condition let my necke be the forfeyture of my negligence Gon. I like thee well thou hast a good toung Mes. And as bad a toung if it be set on it as any Oysterwife at Billingsgate hath why I haue made many of my neighbours forsake their houses with rayling vpon them and go dwell else where and so by my meanes houses haue bin good cheape in our parish My toung being well whetted with choller is more sharpe then a Razer of Palermo Gon. O thou art a fit man for my purpose Mes. Commend me not sweet Queene before you try me As my deserts are so do think of me Gon. Well sayd then this is thy tryall Instead of carrying the Kings letters to my father carry thou these letters to my sister which contayne matter quite contrary to the other there shal she be giuen to vnderstand that my father hath detracted her giuen out slaundrous speaches against her and that hee hath most intollerably abused me let my Lord and me at variance and made mutinyes amongst the commons These things although it be not so Yet thou must affirme them to be true With othes and protestations as will serue To driue my sister out of loue with him And cause my will accomplished to be This do thou winst my fauour for euer And makest a hye way of preferment to thee And all thy friends Mess. It sufficeth conceyt it is already done I will so toung-whip him that I will Leaue him as bare of credit as a Poulter
Leaues a Cony when she pulls off his skin Gon. Yet there is a further matter Mes. I thirst to heare it Gon. If my sister thinketh conuenient as my letters importeth to make him away hast thou the heart to effect it Mess. Few words are best in so small a matter These are but trifles By this booke I will kisse the paper Gon. About it presently I long till it be done Mes. I fly I fly Exeunt Enter Cordella solus I haue bin ouer-negligent to day In going to the Temple of my God To render thanks for all his benefits Which he miraculously hath bestowed on me In raysing me out of my meane estate When as I was deuoyd of worldly friends And placing me in such a sweet content As far exceeds the reach of my deserts My kingly husband myrrour of his time For zeale for iustice kindnesse and for care To God his subiects me and Common weale By his appoyntment was ordaynd for me I cannot with the thing that I do want I cannot want the thing but I may haue Saue only this which I shall ne're obtayne My fathers loue oh this I ne're shall gayne I would abstayne from any nutryment And pyne my body to the very bones Bare foote I would on pilgrimage set forth Vnto the furthest quarters of the earth And all my life time would I sackcloth weare And mourning-wise powre dust vpon my head So he but to forgiue me once would please That his gray haires might go to heauen in peace And yet I know not how I him offended Or wherein iustly I haue deserued blame Oh sisters you are much to blame in this It was not he but you that did me wrong Yet God forgiue both him and you and me Euen as I doe in perfit charity I will to Church and pray vnto my Sauiour That ere I dye I may obtayne his fauour Exit Enter Leir and Perillus fayntly Per. Rest on me my Lord and stay your selfe The way seemes tedious to your aged lymmes Leir Nay rest on me kind friend and stay thy selfe Thou art as old as I but more kind Per. Ah good my Lord it ill befits that I Should leane vpon the person of a King Leir But it fits worse that I should bring thee forth That had no cause to come along with me Through these vncouth paths and tirefull wayes And neuer ease thy faynting limmes a whit Thou hast left all I all to come with me And I for all haue nought to guerdon thee Per. Cease good my Lord to aggrauate my woes With these kind words which cuts my heart in two To think your will should want the power to do Leir Cease good Perillus for to call me Lord And think me but the shaddow of my selfe Per. That honourable title will I giue Vnto my Lord so long as I do liue Oh be of comfort for I see the place Whereas your daughter keeps her residence And loe in happy time the Cambrian Prince Is here arriu'd to gratify our comming Enter the Prince of Cambria Ragan and Nobles looke vpon them and whisper together Leir Were I best speak or sit me downe and dye I am asham'd to tell this heauy tale Per. Then let me tell it if you please my Lord T is shame for them that were the cause thereof Cam. What two old men are those that seeme so sad Me thinks I should remember well their lookes Rag. No I mistake not sure it is my father I must dissemble kindnesse now of force She runneth to him and kneeles downe saying Father I bid you welcome full of griefe To see your Grace vsde thus vnworthily And ill befitting for your reuerend age To come on foot a iourney so indurable Oh what disaster chaunce hath bin the cause To make your cheeks so hollow spare and leane E He cannot speake for weeping for Gods loue come Let vs refresh him with some needfull things And at more leysure we may better know Whence springs the ground of this vnlookt for wo Cam. Come father e're we any further talke You shall refresh you after this weary walk Exeunt manet Ragan Rag. Comes he to me with finger in the eye To tell a tale against my sister here Whom I do know he greatly hath abusde And now like a contentious crafty wretch He first begins for to complayne himselfe When as himselfe is in the greatest fault I le not be partiall in my sisters cause Nor yet beleeue his doting vayne reports Who for a trifle safely I dare say Vpon a spleene is stolen thence away And here forsooth he hopeth to haue harbour And to be moan'd and made on like a child But ere 't be long his comming he shall curse And truely say he came from bad to worse Yet will I make fayre weather to procure Conuenient meanes and then I le strike it sure Exit Enter Messenger solus Mes. Now happily I am arriued here Before the stately Palace of the Cambrian King If Leir be here safe-seated and in rest To rowse him from it I will do my best Enter Ragan Now bags of gold your vertue is no doubt To make me in my message bold and stout The King of heauen preserue your Maiesty And send your Highnesse euerlasting raigne Ra. Thanks good my friend but what imports thy message message Mes. Kind greetings from the Cornwall Queene The residue these letters will declare She opens the letters Rag. How fares our royall sister Mes. I did leaue her at my parting in good health She reads the letter frownes and stamps See how her colour comes and goes agayne Now red as scarlet now as pale as ash She how she knits her brow and bytes her lips And stamps and makes a dumbe shew of disdayne Mixt with reuenge and violent extreames Here will be more worke and more crownes for me Rag. Alas poore soule and hath he vsde her thus And is he now come hither with intent To set diuorce betwixt my Lord and me Doth he giue out that he doth heare repore That I do rule my husband as I list And therefore meanes to alter so the case That I shall know my Lord to be my head Well it were best for him to take good heed Or I will make him hop without a head For his presumption dottard that he is In Cornwall he hath made such mutinies First setting of the King against the Queene Then stirring vp the Commons 'gainst the King That had he there continued any longer He had bin call'd in question for his fact So vpon that occasion thence he fled And comes thus slily stealing vnto vs And now already since his comming hither My Lord and he are growne in such a league That I can haue no conference with his Grace I feare he doth already intimate Some forged cauillations 'gainst my state T is therefore best to cut him off in time Lest slaunderous rumours once abroad disperst It is too late for them to be reuerst Friend as the tennour of these
letters shewes My sister puts great confidence in thee Mes. She neuer yet committed trust to me But that I hope she found me alwayes faythfull So will I be to any friend of hers That hath occasion to imploy my helpe Rag. Hast thou the heart to act a stratagem And giue a stabbe or two if need require Mes. I haue a heart compact of Adamant Which neuer knew what melting pitty meant I weigh no more the murdring of a man Then I respect the cracking of a Flea When I doe catch her byting on my skin If you will haue your husband or your father Or both of them sent to another world Do but commaund me doo 't it shall be done Rag. It is ynough we make no doubt of thee Meet vs to morrow here at nyne a clock Meane while farewell and drink that for my sake Exit Mes. I this is it will make me do the deed Oh had I euery day such customers This were the gainefulst trade in Christendome A purse of gold giu'n for a paltry stabbe Why here 's a wench that longs to haue a stabbe Wel I could giue it her and ne're hurt her neither Enter the Gallian King and Cordella King When will these clouds of sorrow once disperse And smiling ioy tryumph vpon thy brow When will this Scene of sadnesse haue an end And pleasant acts insue to moue delight When will my louely Queene cease to lament And take some comfort to her grieued thoughts If of thy selfe thou daignst to haue no care Yet pitty me whom thy griefe makes despayre Cor. O grieue not you my Lord you haue no cause Let not my passions moue your mind a whit For I am bound by nature to lament For his ill will that life to me first lent If so the stocke be dryed with disdayne Withered and sere the branch must needes remaine King But thou art now graft in another stock I am the stock and thou the louely branch And from my root continuall sap shall flow To make thee flourish with perpetuall spring Forget thy father and thy kindred now Since they forsake thee like inhumane beastes Thinke they are dead since all their kindnesse dies And bury them where black obliuion lyes Think not thou art the daughter of old Leir Who did vnkindly disinherit thee But think thou art the noble Gallian Queene And wife to him that dearely loueth thee Embrace the ioyes that present with thee dwell Let sorrow packe and hide her selfe in hell Cord. Not that I misse my country or my kinne My old acquaintance or my ancient friends Doth any whit distemperate my mynd Knowing you which are more deare to me Then Country kin and all things els can be Yet pardon me my gracious Lord in this For what can stop the course of natures power As easy is it for foure-footed beasts To stay themselues vpon the liquid ayre And mount aloft into the element And ouerstrip the feathered Fowles in flight As easy is it for the slimy Fish To liue and thriue without the helpe of water As easy is it for the Blackamoore To wash the tawny colour from his skin Which all oppose against the course of nature As I am able to forget my father King Myrrour of vertue Phoenix of our age Too kind a daughter for an vnkind father Be of good comfort for I will dispatch Ambassadors immediately for Brittayne Vnto the King of Cornwalls Court whereas Your father keepeth now his residence And in the kindest maner him intreat That setting former grieuances apart He will be pleasde to come and visit vs If no intreaty will suffice the turne I le offer him the halfe of all my Crowne If that moues not wee le furnish out a Fleet And sayle to Cornwall for to visit him And there you shall be firemly reconcilde In perfit loue as earst you were before Cor. Where toung cannot sufficient thanks afford The King of heauen remunerate my Lord King Only be blithe and frolick sweet with me This and much more I le do to comfort thee Enter Messenger solus Mes. It is a world to see now I am flush How many friends I purchase euery where How many seekes to creepe into my fauour And kisse their hands and bend their knees to me No more here comes the Queene now shall I know her mind And hope for to deriue more crownes from her Enter Ragā Rag. My friend I see thou mind'st thy promise well And art before me here me thinks to day Mes. I am a poore man and it like your Grace But yet I alwayes loue to keepe my word Ra. Wel keepe thy word with me thou shalt see That of a poore man I will make thee rich Mes. I long to heare it it might haue bin dispatcht If you had told me of it yesternight Ra. It is a thing of right strange consequence And well I cannot vtter it in words Mes. It is more strange that I am not by this Beside my selfe with longing for to heare it Were it to meet the Deuill in his denne And try a bout with him for a scratcht face I de vndertake it if you would but bid me Ra. Ah good my friend that I should haue thee do Is such a thing as I do shame to speake Yet it must needs be done Mes. I le speak it for thee Queene shall I kill thy father I know t is that and if it be so say Rag. I Mes. Why that 's ynough Rag. And yet that is not all Mes. What else Rag. Thou must kill that old man that came with him Mes. Here are two hands for eche of them is one Rag. And for eche hand here is a recompence Giue him two purses Mes. Oh that I had ten hands by myracle I could teare ten in pieces with my teeth So in my mouth youl l put a purse of gold But in what maner must it be effected Rag. To morrow morning ere the breake of day I by a wyle will send them to the thicket That is about some two myles from the Court And promise them to meet them there my selfe Because I must haue priuate conference About some newes I haue receyu'd from Cornwall This is ynough I know they will not fayle And then be ready for to play thy part Which done thou mayst right easily escape And no man once mistrust thee for the fact But yet before thou prosecute the act Shew him the letter which my sister sent There let him read his owne inditement first And then proceed to execution But see thou faynt not for they will speake fayre Mes. Could he speak words as pleasing as the pipe Of Mercury which charm'd the hundred eyes Of watchfull Argos and inforc'd him sleepe Yet here are words so pleasing to my thoughts To the purse As quite shall take away the sound of his Exit Rag. About it then and when thou hast dispatcht I le find a meanes to send thee after him Exit Enter Cornwall and Gonorill Corn. I wonder that the
We would inflict such torments on thy selfe As should inforce thee to reueale the truth Am. Madam your threats no whit apall my mind I know my conscience guiltlesse of this act My King and Queene I dare be sworne are free From any thought of such impiety And therefore Madam you haue done them wrong And ill beseeming with a sisters loue Who in meere duty tender him as much As euer you respected him for dowre The King your husband will not say as much Cam. I will suspend my iudgement for a time Till more apparance giue vs further light Yet to be playne your comming doth inforce A great suspicion to our doubtfull mind And that you do resemble to be briefe Him that first robs and then cries Stop the theefe Am. Pray God some neere you haue not done the like Rag. Hence saucy mate reply no more to vs She strikes him For law of Armes shall not protect thy toung Am. Ne're was I offred such discourtesy God and my King I trust ere it be long Will find a meane to remedy this wrong Exit Amb. Rag. How shall I liue to suffer this disgrace At euery base and vulgar peasants hands It ill befitteth my imperiall state To be thus vsde and no man take my part Shee weeps Cam. What should I do infringe the law of Armes Were to my euerlasting obloquy But I will take reuenge vpon his master Which sent him hither to delude vs thus Rag. Nay if you put vp this be sure ere long Now that my father thus is made away Shee le come clayme a third part of your Crowne As due vnto her by inheritance Cam. But I will proue her title to be nought But shame and the reward of Parricide And make her an example to the world For after-ages to admire her penance This will I do as I am Cambriaes King Or lose my life to prosecute reuenge Come first let 's learne what newes is of our father And then proceed as best occasion fits Exeunt Enter Leir Perillus and two Marriners in sea-gownes and sea-caps Per. My honest friends we are asham'd to shew The great extremity of our present state In that at this time we are brought so low That we want money for to pay our passage The truth is so we met with some good fellowes A little before we came aboord your ship Which stript vs quite of all the coyne we had And left vs not a penny in our purses Yet wanting mony we will vse the meane To see you satisfied to the vttermost Looke on Leir 1. Mar. Here 's a good gown 't would become me passing wel I should be fine in it Looke on Perillus 2. Mar. Here 's a good cloke I maruel how I should look in it Leir Fayth had we others to supply their roome Though ne're so meane you willingly should haue them 1. Mar. Do you heare sir you looke like an honest man I le not stand to do you a pleasure here 's a good strōg motly gaberdine cost me xiiij good shillings at Billinsgate giue me your gowne for it your cap for mine I le forgiue your passage Leir With al my heart and xx. thanks Leir he changeth 2. Mar. Do you heare sir you shal haue a better match thē he because you are my friend here is a good sheeps russet seagowne wil bide more stresse I warrant you then two of his yet for you seem to be an honest gentleman I am content to chāge it for your cloke and aske you nothing for your passage more Pull off Perillus cloke Per. My owne I willingly would change with thee And think my selfe indebted to thy kindnesse But would my friend might keepe his garment still My friend I le giue thee this new dublet if thou wilt Restore his gowne vnto him back agayne 1. Mar. Nay if I do would I might ne're eate powderd beefe and mustard more nor drink Can of good liquor whilst I liue My friend you haue small reason to seeke to hinder me of my bargaine but the best is a bargayne 's a bargayne Leir Leir to Perillus Kind friend it is much better as it is For by this meanes we may escape vnknowne Till time and opportunity do fit 2. Mar. Hark hark they are laying their heads together Thei le repent them of their bargayne anon 'T were best for vs to go while we are well 1. Mar. God be with you sir for your passage back agayne I le vse you as vnreasonable as another Leir I know thou wilt but we hope to bring ready money With vs when we come back agayne Exeunt Mariners Were euer men in this extremity In a strange country and deuoyd of friends And not a penny for to helpe our selues Kind friend what thinkst thou will become of vs Per. Be of good cheere my Lord I haue a dublet Will yeeld vs mony ynough to serue our turnes Vntill we come vnto your daughters Court And then I hope we shall find friends ynough Leir Ah kind Perillus that is it I feare H And makes me faynt or euer I come there Can kindnesse spring out of ingratitude Or loue be reapt where hatred hath bin sowne Can Henbane ioyne in league with Methridate Or Sugar grow in Wormwoods bitter stalke It cannot be they are too opposite And so am I to any kindnesse here I haue throwne Wormwood on the sugred youth And like to Henbane poysoned the Fount Whence flowed the Methridate of a childs goodwil I like an enuious thorne haue prickt the heart And turnd sweet Grapes to sowre vnrelisht Sloes The causelesseire of my respectlesse brest Hath sowrd the sweet milk of dame Natures paps My bitter words haue gauld her hony thoughts And weeds of rancour chokt the flower of grace Then what remainder is of any hope But all our fortunes will go quite aslope Per. Feare not my Lord the perfit good indeed Can neuer be corrupted by the bad A new fresh vessell still retaynes the taste Of that which first is powr'd into the same And therfore though you name yourselfe the thorn The weed the gall the henbane the wormewood Yet shee le continue in her former state The hony milke Grape Sugar Methridate Leir Thou pleasing Orator vnto me in wo Cease to beguile me with thy hopefull speaches O ioyne with me and thinke of nought but crosses And then wee le one lament anothers losses Per. Why say the worst the worst can be but death And death is better then for to despaire Then hazzard death which may conuert to life Banish despaire which brings a thousand deathes Leir Orecome with thy strong arguments I yeeld To be directed by thee as thou wilt As thou yeeldst comfort to my crazed thoughts Would I could yeeld the like vnto thy body Which is full weake I know and ill apayd For want of fresh meat and due sustenance Per. Alack my Lord my heart doth bleed to think That you should be in such extremity