The Tragoedy of ROLLO DUKE of Normandy ACTED BY HIS Majesties Servants Written by JOHN FLETCHER Gent. OXFORD Printed by LEONARD LICHFIELD Printer to the Vniversity ANNO 1640 The Names of the Actors Rollo Sonnes to the deceased Duke of Normandy Otto Sonnes to the deceased Duke of Normandy Aubrey Kinsman to Rollo Gisbert Two Counsellors of State Baldwin Two Counsellors of State Latorch Favorite to Rollo Hamond Captaine of the Guard Allan His brother Granpree Servants to Rollo Verdon Servants to Rollo Trevite Servants to Otto Du Prette Servants to Otto Cittizens Guard Servants Boyes Cooke Butler Pantler Yeoman of the Cellar Russee Cheaters De Bubie Cheaters La-Fiske Cheaters Norbret Cheaters Pipeane Cheaters Sophia The old Dutchesse Matilda Her daughter Edith Daughter to Baldwin THE TRAGOEDY OF ROLLO Duke of NORMANDY ACTUS 1. SCENA 1. Enter Gisbert and Baldwin Baldw. THe brothers then are met Gisb. They are Baldw. T is thought they may be reconcil'd Gisb. T is rather wish'd For such whose reason doe direct their thoughts Without selfe flattery dare not hope it Baldwin The fires of love which the dead Duke believed His equall care of both would have united Ambition hath divided and there are Too many on both parts that know they cannot Or rise to wealth or honour their maine ends Vnlesse the tempest of the Princes fury Make troubled Seas and those Seas yeeld fit Billowes To heave them up and these are too well practis'd In their bad arts to give way to a calme Which yeelding rest to good men proves their ruine Bald. And in the shipwrack of their hopes and fortunes The Dukedome might be sav'd had it but ten That stood affected to the generall good With that confirm'd zeale which brave Aubrey does Gisb. He is indeed the perfect character of a good man And so his actions speak him Bald. And did you observe the many doubts cautions the brothers stood upon before they met Gisb. I did and yet that ever brothers should Stand on more nice termes then sworne enemies After a war proclaimd would with a stranger Wrong the reporters credit they saluted At distance and so strong was the suspicion Each had of other that before they durst Embrace they were by severall servants searcht As doubting conceal'd weapons antidotes Tane openly by both fearing the roome Appointed for the enterview was poysoned The chaires and cushions with like care survai'd And in a word in every circumstance So jealous on both parts that it is more Then to be fear'd concord can never joyne Mindes so divided Baldw. Yet our best endeavours Should not be wanting Gisbert Gisb. Neither shall they Enter Granpree and Verdon But what are these Baldw. They are without my knowledge But by their manners and behaviours They should expresse themselves SCENA 2. Gisbert Baldwin Granpree Verdon Gran. Since we serve Rollo The eldest Brother wee l be Rollians Who will maintaine us as brave as Romans You stand for him Verd. I doe Gran. Why then observe How much the businesse the so long'd for businesse By men that are nam'd from their swords concernes you Lechery our common friend so long kept under With whips and beating fatall hemp shall rise And baudry in a French-hood shall plead before her Where it shall be concluded after twelve Virginity shall be carted Verd. Excellent Gran. And Hell but grant the quarrell that 's betweene The Princes may continue and the businesse That 's of the sword t' outlast three sutes in law And we will make Atturneys lans prizadoes And our brave Gown-men practisers of back-sword The pewter of all Serjeants Maces shall be melted And turn'd into common Flaggons In which it shall be lawfull to carrouse To their most lowsey fortunes Baldw. Here 's a statesman Gran. A Creditor shall not dare but by petition To make demand of any debt and that Only once every leap yeare in which if The debtor may be won for a French Crown To pay a souse he shall be registred His benefactor Verd. The Chancellour heares you Gran. Feare not I now dare speak as lowd as he And will be heard and have all that I speak law Have you no eyes there 's a reverence due From children of the gowne to men of action Gisb. How 's this Gran. Ev'n so the times the times are chang'd All businesse is not now prefer'd in parchment Nor shall a grant passe which wants this broad seale This seale doe you see your gravity once laid My head and heeles together in the dungeon For cracking a scald officers crowne for which A time is come for vengeance and expect it For know you have not full three houres to live Gisb. Yes somewhat longer Gran. To what end Gisb. To hang you think on that Ruffion Gran. For you Schoolemaster you have a pretty daughter let me see Neere three a clock by which time I much feare I shall be tir'd with killing some five hundred Provide a bath and her to entertaine me And that shall be your ransome Baldw. Impudent raskall SCENA 3. Enter to them Trevile and Duprete Gisb. More of the crue Gran. What are you Rollians Trevile No this for Rollo and all such as serve him We stand for Otto Gran. You seeme men of fashion And therefore I le deale fairely you shall have The honour this day to be chronicled The first men kill'd by Granpree you see this sword A prettie foolish toy my valours servant And I may boldly say a Gentleman It having made when it was Charlemaines Three thousand Knights this Sir shall cut your throat And doe you all faire service else Tre. I kisse your hands for the good offer here 's another The servant of your servant which shall be proud To be scowr'd in your sweet guts till when Pray you command me Exeunt omnes praeter Gisbert Baldwin Gran. Your Idolater Sir Gish. That ever such Should hold the names of men Or justice be held cruelty when it labours To pluck such roots up Baldw. Yet they are protected and by the great ones Gisb. Not the good ones Baldwin SCENA 4. Aubrey Gilbert Baldwin Aub, Is this a time to be spent thus by such That are the principall ministers of the State When they that are the heads have fill'd the Court With factions a weake woman only left To stay their bloudy hands can her weake arme Alone divert the dangers ready now To fall upon the Common-wealth and bury The honours of it leaving not the name Of what it was O Gisbert the faire tryalls And frequent proofes which our late Maister made Both of your love and faith gave him assurance To choose you at his death to be a Guardian nay A Father of his Sonnes and that great trust How ill doe you discharge I must be plaine That at the best y' are a sad looker on Of those bad practises you should prevent And where 's the use of your Philosophy In this so needfull time be not secure For Baldwin be assur'd
joyne your hands while they are innocent You have heat of blood and youth apt to ambition To plead an easy pardon for what 's past But all the ills beyond this houre committed From Gods or men must hope for no excuse Gisb. Can you heare this unmov'd Aub. No Syllable Of this so pious charme but should have power To frustrate all the juggling deceipts With which the Divell blindes you Otto I begin to melt I know not how Rol. Mother I le leave you And Sir be thankfull for the time you live Till wee meet next which shall be soone and suddaine To her perswasion for you Soph. O yet stay And rather then part thus vouchsafe me hearing As enimies how is my soule divided My love to both is equall as my wishes But are return'd by neither my griev'd heart Hold yet a litle longer and then break I kneele to both and will speak so but this Takes the authority of a Mothers power And therefore like my selfe Otto to thee And yet observe sonne how thy Mothers teares Out strip her forward words to make way for 'em Thou art the younger Otto yet be now The first example of obedience to me And grow the elder in my love Otto The meanes to be so happy Soph. This yeeld up thy sword And let thy pietie give thy mother strength To take that from thee which no enimies force Could ere dispoile thee of why dost thou tremble And with a fearefull eye fixt on thy brother Observ'st his ready sword as bent against thee I am thy armour and will be pierc't through Ten thousand times before I will give way To any perill may arrive at thee And therefore feare not Otto T is not for my selfe But for you Mother you are now engag'd In more then lies in your unquestion'd vertue For since you have disarm'd me of defence Should I fall now though by his hand the world May say it was your practise Soph. All worlds perish Before my pietie turnes treasons parent Take it againe and stand upon your guard And while your brother is continue arm'd And yet this feare is needlesse for I knowe My Rollo though he dares as much as man So tender of his yet untainted valour So noble that he dares doe nothing basely You doubt him he feares you I doubt and feare Both for others safety not my owne Know yet my sonnes when of necessity You must deceive or be deceiv'd 't is better To suffer treason then to act the traytor And in a war like this in which the glory Is his that 's overcome consider then What t is for which you strive is it the Dukedome Or the command of these so ready subjects Desire of wealth or whatsoere else Fires your ambition 't is still desperate madnesse To kill the people which you would be Lords of With fire and sword to lay that countrey wast Whose rule you seek for to consume the treasures Which are the sinewes of your government In cherishing the factions that destroy it Far far be this from you make it not question'd Whither you can have interest in that Dukedome Whose ruine both contend for Otto I desire But to enjoy my owne which I will keep Rollo And rather then posteritie shall have cause To say I ruin'd all divide the Dukedome I will accept the moietie Otto I embrace it Soph. Divide me first or teare me limb by limb And let them find as many severall graves As there are Villages in Normandy And 't is lesse sinne then so to weaken it To heare it mention'd doth already make me Envy my dead Lord and almost blaspheme Those powers which heard my prayers for fruitfulnesse And did not with my first birth close my wombe To me alone my second blessing proves my first My first of misery for if heaven That gave me Rollo there had staid his bounty And Otto my deere Otto nere had been Or being had not been so worth my love The streame of my affection had run constant In one faire current all my hopes had been Laid up in one and fruitfull Normandy In this division had not lost her glories For as 't is now 't is a faire dyamond Which being preserv'd intire exceeds all value But cut in peeces though these peeces are Set in fine gold by the best workmans cunning Parts with all estimation so this Dukedome As t is yet whole the neighbouring Kings may covet But cannot compasse which divided will Become the spoile of every barbarous foe That will invade it Gisb. How this workes in both Baldw. Prince Rolloes eyes have lost their fire Gisb. And anger that but ev'n now wholly possessed Good Otto hath given place to pitty Aub. End not thus Madam But perfect what 's so well begun Soph. I see in both faire signes of reconcilement Make them sure proofes they are so the fates offer To your free choice either to live examples Of piety or wickednesse if the latter Blinds so your understanding that you cannot Pierce through her painted outside and discover That she is all deformitie within Boldly transcend all presidents of mischiefe And let the last and the worst act of tyrannies The murther of a Mother but begin The Scene of bloud you after are to heighten But if that vertue and her sure rewards Can win you to accept her for your guide To lead you up to heaven and there fix you The fairest starre in the bright sphere of honour Make me the parent of a hundred sonnes All brought into the world with joy not sorrow And every one a Father to his countrey In being now made mother of your concord Rollo Such and so good loud fame for ever speak you Bald. I now they meet like brothers The brothers throw down their swords and embrace Gisb. My hearts joy Flowes through my eyes Aub. May never womans tongue Hereafter be accus'd for this ones goodnesse Otto If we contend from this houre it shall be How to orecome in brotherly affection Rollo Otto is Rollo now and Rollo Otto Or as they have one minde rather one name From this attonement let our lives begin Be all the rest forgotten Aub. Spoke like Rollo Soph. And to the honour of this reconcilement We all this night will at a publique feast With choice wines drowne our late feares And with Musick welcome our comforts Baldw. Sure and certaine ones Soph. Supported thus I am secure o sonnes This is your Mothers triumph Exeunt omnes praet Granpre Verdon Trevile Duprete Rollo You deserve it Gran. Did ever such a hop'd for businesse end thus Verd. T is fatall to us all and yet you Granpree Have the least cause to feare Gran. Why what 's my hope Verd. The certainty that you have to be hang'd You know the Chancellours promise Gran. Plague upon you Verd. What think you of a bath and a Lords daughter To entertaine you Gran. Those desires are of fraile thoughts All friends no Rollions now nor Ottoes The severall
the gallowes yet I thinke too This may be done and we may be rewarded Not with a rope but with a Royall master And yet we may be hang'd too Yeo. sel. Say 't were done Who is it done for is it not for Rollo and for his right Cook And yet we may be hang'd too Butl. Or say he take it say we be discover'd Yeo. sel. Is not the same man bound still to protect us Are we not his Butl. Sure he will never faile us Cook If he doe friends we shall finde that will hold us And yet me thinks this prologue to our purpose These Crownes should promise more T is easly done As easy as a man would rost an egge If that be all for look ye gentlemen Here stands my broths my finger slipps a litle Downe drops a dose I stirre him with my ladle And there 's a dish for a Duke Olla podrilla Here stands a bak't meate he wants a litle seasning A foolish mistake my spice boxe gentlemen And put in some of this the matters ended Dredge ye a dish of Plovers there 's the art on 't Or in a galingale a little does it Yeo. sel. Or as I fill my wine Cook T is very true Sir Blessing it with your hand thus quick and neatly first T is past Yeo. sel. And done once t is as easy For him to thank us for it and reward us Pant. But 't is a damned sinne Cook I never feare that The fire 's my playfellow and now I am resolv'd boyes But. Why then have with yee Yeo. sel. The same for mee Pant. For me too Cook And now no more our worships but our Lordships Pā. Not this yeare o' my knowledge I le un-lord ye Exeūt SCENA 3. Enter Servant aud Shewer Ser. Perfume the roome round and prepare the table Gentlemen officers waite in your places Shewer Make roome there Roome for the Dukes meate Gentlemen be bare there Cleere all the entrance Guard put by those papers And Gentlemen Vshers see the Gallery cleere The Dukes are coming on Ho boyes and banquet Enter Sophia between Rollo and Otto Aubrey Latorch Gisbert Baldwin attendants Hamon Matilda Serv. T is certainly inform'd Otto Reward the fellow And looke you mainely to it Ser. My life for you Sir Soph. Now am I straight my Lords and young againe My long since blasted hopes shoote out in blossomes The fruits of everlasting love appearing O my blest boyes the honour of my yeares Of all my cares the bounteous faire rewarders O let me thus embrace you thus for ever Within a mothers love lock up your friendships And my sweet sonnes once more with mutuall twineings As one chast bed begot you make one body Blessings from heaven in thousand showers fall on yee Aub. O womans goodnesse never to be equall'd May the most sinfull creatures of thy Sex But kneeling at thy Monument rise Saints Soph. Sit downe my worthy sonnes my Lords your places I now me thinks the Table 's nobly furnish't Now the meat nourishes the wine gives Spirit And all the roome stuck with a generall pleasure Shewes like the peacefull bower of happinesse Aub. Long may it last and from a heart fill'd with it Full as my cup I give it round my Lords Bald. And may that stubborne heart be drunk with sorrow Refuses it men dying now should take it And by the vertue of this Ceremony Shake off their miseries and sleepe in peace Roll. You are sad my noble brother Otto no indeed Sir Soph. No sadnesse my sweet sonne this day Roll. Pray ye eate Something is here you have lov'd tast of this dish It will prepare your Stomack Otto Thank you brother I am not now dispos'd to eate Roll. Or that You put us out of heart man come these bak'd meats Were ever your best dyet Otto None I thanke you Soph. Are you well noble Child Otto Yes gratious mother Roll. Give him a cup of wine then pledge the health Drinke it to me I le give it to my mother Soph. Doe my best child Otto I must not my best mother Indeed I dare not for of late my body Has been much weakned by excesse of dyet The promise of a feaver hanging on mee And even now ready if not by abstinence Roll. Excuse your selfe sir Come t is your feare not your feaver brother And you have done me a most worthy kindnesse My Royall mother and my noble Lords Heare for it now concernes me to speak boldly What faith can be expected from such vowes From his dissembling smiles what fruit of friendship From all his full embraces what blest issue When he shall brand me here with base suspition He takes me for a poysoner Soph. Gods defend it sonne Roll. For a foule knave a villaine and so feares mee Otto I could say something too Soph. You must not so sir Without your great forgetfulnesse of virtue This is your brother and your honour'd brother Indeed your loving brother Roll. If he please so Soph. One noble Father with as noble thoughts Begot your minds and bodies one care rockt you And one truth to you both was ever sacred Now fye my Otto whether flyes your goodnesse Because the right hand has the power of cutting Shall the left presently cry out hee 's maymde They are one my childe one power and one performance And joyn'd together thus one love one body Aub. I doe beseech your Grace take to your thoughts More certaine Counsailors then doubts and feares They strangle nature and disperse themselves If once beleev'd into such foggs and errors That the bright truth her selfe can never sever Your brother is a Royall gentleman Full of him selfe honour and honesty And take heed Sir how nature bent to goodnesse So straight a Cedar to himselfe uprightnesse Be wrested from his true use prove not dangerous Roll. Nay my good brother knowes I am to patient Lator. Why should your grace think him a poysoner Has he no more respect to piety And but he has by oath tyde up his fury Who durst but think that thought Aub. Away thou firebrand Lator. If men of his sort of his power and place The eldest sonne in honour to this Dukedome Bald. For shame cōtain thy tongue thy poysonous tongue That with her burning Venome will infect all And once more blow a wildfire through the Dukedome Gisb. Latorch if thou bee'st honest or a man Containe thy selfe Aub. Goe to no more by heaven You 'l finde you have plaid the foole else Not a word more Soph. Prethee sweet sonne Roll. Let him alone sweet mother and my Lords To make you understand how much I honour This sacred peace and next my innocence And to avoid all future difference Discourse may draw on to a way of danger I quit my place and take my leave for this night Wishing a generall joy may dwell among yee Aub. Shall we waite upon your Grace Rol. I dare not break yee La Torch Exit Roll. Lator Soph. Doe you now
those Icy chaines by thee Roll. What bright starre taking beauties for me upon her In all the happy lustre of heavens glory Has dropt downe from the skye to comfort mee Wonder of nature let it not prophane thee My rude hand touch thy beauty nor this kisse The gentle sacrifice of love and service Be offer'd to the honour of thy sweetnesse Edith My gratious Lord no diety dwells here Nor nothing of that vertue but obedience The servant to your will affects no flattery Roll. Can it be flattery to sweare those eyes Are loves eternall lamps he fires all hearts with That tongue the smart string to his bow those sighes The deadly shafts he sends into our soules O look upon me with thy spring of beauty Edith Your Grace is full of game Roll. By heaven my Edith Thy mother fed on roses when she got thee Edith And thine on brambles that hath prickt her heart out Roll. The sweetnesse of th' Arabian winde still blowing Vpon the treasures of perfumes and spices In all their pride and pleasures call thee Mistris Edith Wil t please you sit Sir Roll. So you please sit by mee Faire gentle maid there is no speaking to thee The Excellency that appears upon thee Tyes up my tongue pray speak to mee Edith Of what sir Roll. Of any thing and any thing is excellent Will you take my direction speak of love then Speak of thy faire selfe Edith and whilst thou speakst Let me thus languishing give up my selfe wench Edith Has a strange cunning tongue why doe you sigh sir How masterly he turnes himselfe to catch me Rollo The way to Paradise my gentle maid Is hard and crooked scarce repentance finding With all her holy helps the doore to enter Give me thy hand what dost thou feele Edith Your teares sir You weep extreamly strengthen me now Iustice Why are these sorrowes Sir Rollo Thou 'lt never love me If I should tell thee and yet there is no way left Ever to purchase this blest Paradise But swimming thither in these teares Edith I stagger Rollo Are they not drops of bloud Edith No Rollo They are for bloud then For guiltlesse bloud and they must drop my Edith They must thus drop till I have drown'd my mischiefes Edith If this be true I have no strength to touch him Rollo Pree look upon me turne not from me Ahlas I doe confesse I 'me made of mischiefe Begot with all mens miseries upon me But see my sorrowes minde and doe not thou learne Whose only sweetest sacrifice is softnesse Whose true condition tendernesse of nature Edith My anger melts ô I shall loose my justice Rollo Doe not thou learne to kill with cruelty Those blessed eyes as I have done with mallice When thou hast wounded me to death with scorne As I deserve it Lady for my true love When thou hadst loden me with earth for ever Take heed my sorrowes and the stings I suffer Take heed my nightly dreames of death and horrour Pursue thee not no time shall tell thy griefes then Nor shall an houre of joy adde to thy beauties Look not upon me as I kill'd thy father As I was smear'd in bloud doe thou not hate me But thus in whitenesse of my wash'd repentance In my hearts teares and truth of love to Edith In my faire life hereafter Edith He will foole me Rollo O with thine Angell eyes behold and blesse me Of heaven we call for mercy and obtaine it To justice for our right on earth and have it Of thee I beg for love save me and give it Edith Now heaven thy help or I am gone for ever His tongue has turn'd me into melting pitty Enter Hamond and Guard Ham. Keep the doore safe and upon paine of death Let no man enter till I give the word Guard We shall Sir Ham. Here he is in all his pleasure Rollo I have my wish How now why dost thou stare so Edith A help I hope Rollo What dost thou here who sent thee Ham. My brother and the base malitious office Thou mad'st me doe to Aubrey pray Rollo Pray Ham. Pray Pray if thou canst pray I shall kill thy soule else Pray suddenly Rollo Thou canst not be so traiterous Ham. It is a justice stay Lady For I perceive your end a womans hand Must not rob me of vengeance Edith T is my glory Ham. T is mine stay share with me By the Gods Rollo There is no way to save thy life Rol. No Ham. No It is so monstrous no repentance cures it Rollo Why then thou shalt kill her first and what this bloud Will cast upon thy cursed head Ham. Poore guard Sir Ed. Spare not brave Captaine Rol. Feare or the divell ha thee Ham. Such feare Sir as you gave your honour'd mother When your most vertuous brother sheild-like held her Such I le give you put her away Rol. I will not I will not dye so tamely Ham. Murdrous villaine Wilt thou draw seas of bloud upon thee Edith Feare not Kill him good Captaine anyway dispatch him My body 's honour'd with that sword that through me Sends his black soule to hell ô but for one hand Ham Shake him off bravely Edith He 's too strong strike him Ham. O I am with you Sir now keep you from him What has he got a knife Edith Look to him Captaine For now he will be mischievous Ham. Doe you smile Sir Does it so tickle you have at you once more Edith O bravely thrust take heed he comes not in Sir To him againe you give him too much respit Rollo Yet wilt thou save my life and I le forgive thee And give thee all all honours all advancements Call thee my friend Edith Strike strike and heare him not His tongue will tempt a Saint Rollo O for my soules sake Edith Save nothing of him Ham. Now for your farewell Are you so wary take you that Rollo Thou that too O thou hast kil'd me basely basely basely Dyes Edith The just reward of murder falls upon thee How doe you Sir has he not hurt you Ham. No I feele not any thing Sophia Matilda Aubrey and Lords at the doore Aub. I charge yee let us passe Guard Yee cannot yet sir Aub. I le make my way then Guard We are sworne to our Captaine And till he give the word Enter Soph. Matil Aub. Lords and attendants Ham. Now let 'em in there Soph. O there he lies sorrow on sorrow seeks me O in his bloud he lies Aub. Had you spoke sooner this might have beene Prevented Take the Dutches And lead her off this is no sight for her eyes Mat. O bravely done wench Edith There stands the noble doer Mat. May honour ever seek thee for thy justice O 't was a deed of high and brave adventure A justice even for heaven to envy at Farewell my sorrowes and my teares take truce My wishes are come round ô bloudy brother Till this houre never beautious till thy life Like a full