heauen Together celebrate a solemne Masse After the Senior Bishop Cardinall You must take place and as our custome is Shall giue vs water when we celebrate This done we will bestow some time in pleasures A garde for the Cardinals French King Frier and Pope Enter with a solemne flourish of Trumpets after whom the garde troopeth with Drums and Fife Enter Guicchiardine Heere leaue we Charles with pompous ceremonies Feasting within the Vaticane at Rome From thence to Naples where the peoples hatred Conceiu'd against the former Kings made way For him without resistance to the crowne This done he marcheth back againe for France And Ferdinand doth repossesse his state Meane while King Charles sick of an Apoplexie Dyes at Ambois the Duke of Orleance Lewis the twelfth conioyntly knitting force Doth march in armes with Ferdinand of Spaine These regaine Naples and deuide that realme But this breedes mortall warre betwixt them both The wily Pope dissembles at all hands These quell onely concernes him and Caesar Exit ACTVS 3. SCAE. 1. Enter Astor Manfredi with Phillippo Ast. Brother Phillippo what auaileth it When our state lost the Fauintines compounded That I should hold both life and liberty With all reuenues of my proper state When as my life within the Court of Rome Is much more loathsome to my soule then death And liberty more griefe then seruitude Phil. I rather choose within the riuer Tiber To drowne my selfe or from Tarpeyan hill My vexed body to precipitate Then to subiect my body to the shame Of such vild brutish and vnkindely lust Ast. He that with fire and Brimstone did consume Sodome and other Citties round about Deliuer vs from this soule-slaying sinne To which our bodies are made prostitute Enter Barnardo Bâ—r. Deare salutations from my Lord the Pope I recommend vnto your excellence With semblable remembrance of his loue To you my Lord Phillippo Ast Good Barnardo My dutie bound vnto his Holynesse Returne in paiment from his Captiue seruant Bâ—r. Ingenious Prince I bring a friendly message Of tender kindnesse which I must impart They draw them-selues aside This Ruby from our Holy-fathers finger In priuate token of his faithfull loue And there-withall desireth of your loue To haue with him some priuate conference Ast. I was now going to our Ladies masse In Saint Iohn Laterans where my ghostly father Attendeth me for my confession But thanke his Holynesse on my behalfe In all due reuerence and humilitie Tell him I meane so soone as I returne pawse To come according to my bounden duty Exit Bar. My case is desperate what shall I doe Phillippo was there euer any man Hunted with such vnsatisfied rage Phil. What hath he sent againe to visit you Astor. To visit me nay to dishonor me Behold this Ruby sent from his owne finger Which as a Bawde inuiteth me to shame SCENA 2. Alexander out of a Casement Alex. Astor what Astor my delight my ioy My starre my triumph my sweete phantasie My more then sonne my loue my Concubine Let me behold those bright Stars my ioyes treasure Those glorious well attempred tender cheekes That specious for-head like a lane of Lillies That seemely Nose loues chariot triumphant Breathing Panchaian Odors to my sences That gratious mouth betwixt whose crimosin pillow Venus and Cupid sleeping kisse together That chin the ball vow'd to the Queene of beauty Now budding ready to bring forth loue blossoms Astor Manfredi turne thee to my loue Come hither Astor we must talke aboue Astor. Betraid a slaue to sinne what shall I say Most Holy father Alex. Doe not mee forget I am thy brother and thy deerest friend In riper yeares is pure and permanent Grounded on iudgement flowing from pure loue Whereas the loue lightning from young desire Fickle and feeble will not long hold fire It is so violent it will not last They 'r blest whose louers loue when youth is past Astor. To call you friend were too familiar To call you brother sorts not with our yeares To call you Father doth import some feare Due to that age your Holinesse doth beare Alex. Tell me not of mine age and Holinesse Thy sight sufficeth me to make me young Neither vpbraide me with my sanctimonie Loue is the purest essence from aboue And to thy soule I would affix my loue Come hither then and rest with mee to night Giue me fruition of those amorous pits Where blinded Cupid close in ambush sits Who with his Arrow when thou laught at Venus Shot through thy smiling cheekes and did inchaine vs Thy Chamber with Ambrosiall odors breatheth New loues and true loues vnto them that entreateth And furious Mars made milde his Faulcheon sheatheth At thy delicious aspect see thy Chamber The walles are made of Roses roofe of Lillies Be not asham'd to mount and venture it Here Cupids Alter and faire Venus hill is Thy bed is made with spice and Calamus With Sinamond and Spicnard Arabick With Opobelsam and rich gums of Aegipt Musick Angelicall of strings and voyces With sundry birds in sugred simphony Where whistling Wood-nimphes and the pleasant choise is Of Antique action mixt with harmony Attend thy ioyous entrance to this Chamber Phil. Is it possible that the Diuil can be so sweet a dissembler Ast. Yes and play the pleasant part of a conceited Aniâ—re◠〈…〉 the shape of a bright Angell Alex. Now my sweet friend the ioyes of loue doth mutter Thy mind too bashfull is speake tounge loues vtter Thy Corrall gums cud loues pure quintisence And thou thy selfe faire boy loues purest essence Ast. Oh blessed heauens let Sathan tempt no longer His force is powerfull yet thy strenght much stronger He that with guilefull baites gilded vntruth So seekes to blast the blossome of my youth Allex. Delicious fruites diuine Confections Of hearbes roots flowers of sundrie fashions Preseruatiues drawne from the rich Elixar Of finest gould pure pearle and precious stones Prouided for thy diuine apetite Wines of more price made by th' industrious art In sacred distillations then that Nectar Which Hebe bare when Ioue did most affect her Phi. Sathan false god of lies and flatterie How palpable is this grosse villaine Alex. What wilt thou come Manfredi to my Chamber And blesse me with thy precious breath of Amber Asto. After our ladies Masse I will returne Deare God what furies in his soule doe burne After the Celebration of the Masse I come my Lord Exeunt Astor and Phillippe Alex. Come then and let that passe Alexander tinketh a bell Holla Barnardo All busines for this night I will adiourne Giue good attendance that at his returne Astor may come to me for my sicke heart Till Astor with his beauty full embrace Doe blesse my body wounded with his dart Can find no rest loue hath it in hot chase ACT. 3. SCAE. 2. Enter Caesar Borgia the Cardinall and Frescobaldy a ruffiane Caes. Wilt thou performe it faithfully Fre. What I will I liue to eate to drinke to sleepe Caes. Wilt thou performe it
To be possessed of this vniuerse And leaue it all behind him in a moment Might some one man attaine that happinesse Which our first Adam had in Parradice Before he did preuaricate why then It were a worke of lasting worthinesse To rippe the bowells of our mother Ops For treasure and to conquer all the world Because eternity would promise it Out out alas my paines my guttes my liuer And yet I feare it not though in security Once more I will with powrefull exorcismes Inuoke those Angells of eternall darkenesse To shew me now the manner of death Alexander draweth the Curtaine of his studie where hee discouereth the diuill sitting in his pontificals Alexander crosseth himselfe starting at the sight Diu. What dost thou start foule child of reprobation Vaine are thy crosses vaine all exorcismes Those be no fruites of faith but mere hypocrisie Signa te signa temeré me tangis angis Roma tibi subito motibus ibit amor Rome Which once was thy gorgeous concubine Hath now forsaken thee now doth she finde Thy falshood which did her adulterate What dost thou tremble slaue of sinne and hell Alexander taketh his booke of Magicke the Diuil laugheth Alex. I exorcise thee foule malignant spirit In the names of of of Diuil Of what foule mouth poluted soule Corrupted flesh God hath forsaken thee Thy date expired it thy powre determined Alex. Dissolue dissolue break breake black soule dissolue And poyson all this hem so here with sinne Diu. Thy death and dissolution stand at dore Resolue now to dissolue thy soule is ours Alex. Proud Lucifer Traytor to great Iehouah Father of lies my time is not expir'd I will not do that violence to God Taking that which is his from him To be bestow'd on his great enemy Diu. Thou that hast throwne those graces in his face How canst thou think vpon saluation Think that th' art damn'd I will declare it plainely They sit togither Alex. Seauen years are yet to come I look for them Diu. Examine thy soule with this counterparte Alex. Behold it is it not for eight years 8 daies Diu. Thou foole examine in Arithmetik Numbers without distinction placed thus Annos with the figure 11. signifying eleuen years the figure Seauen applyed to Dies importing seauen daies Alex. How how how how howe 's that Deh quella malitia del Diabolo Deh quello veleno del inferuno And for what stands this figure then Diu. Why for eighteene this figure stands for octauo referred vnto di◠last before signifying th' eight day after so that Annos vndicem without distinction signifying eleauen years and this figure seauen added to daies and that octauo post importing the eight day following moriere thou shalt die I meane thy bodie with thy soule in respect of Heauen Thus many daies hast thou continued Pope And this is thy last day design'd by fate Alex Thou canst not mock me with thy Sophistrie My soule is more diuine and cannot perish Diuil Thy soule foule beast is like a Menstruous cloath Poluted with vnpardonable sinnes Alex. Know then malignant Angell of confusion My soule is a diuine light first created In liknesse liuely formed to the word Which word was God that God the cause of causes My soule is substance of the liuing God Stampt with the seale of heauen whose Carracter Is his eternall word at which hell trembles Diuil And what of that thou therein hast no part I do confesse thy soule was first ordayn'd To good but by free-will to sinne thou slaue Hast sold that soule from happinesse to hell Alex. Marke yet what I can answer for this soule Mightie Iehouah most exuperant Two creatures made in feature like himselfe The world and man world reasonable and immortall Man reasonable but dissoluble and mortall And therefore man was called Microcosmus The little world and second tipe of God Conteyning those high faculties and functions And elements which are within the world Man then that doth participate with all Through operation conuersation and simbolisation With matter in the subiect properly With th' elements in body quadrifarie With growing plants in vertue vegitatiue In sence with beasts with heauens by th' influence Of the superiour spirits into th' inferiour In wisedome and capacitie with Angels With Eloym in that great continent Is without doubt preserued by that God Finding all things conteined in himselfe Diuil Answer me vaine Philosopher to this Thou that hast planted man in this perfection Not looking on thy detestable soule Which first like a pure leafe of whitest Lilly Cleere from all blemish was bestow'd by God And thou foule beast didst shamefully polute it Is it not one of humaine faculties To propose for your selues the best you can Where other creatures carryed with blinde force Make them-selues bond-slaues to the present time The scope of mans creation was to glorifie The most all potent maker of all things The Alpha and Omega of all bountie But he that wilfully betrayes this soule That pretious Iewell wherein God delights Dishonors God and doth depriue himselfe Of all saluation and beatitude Alex. Rest with this answer that my soule is Gods Whose habitacle is prepar'd in heauen First it doth know God being figured According to that Image of himselfe And then the world whose liuely shape it beares And to conclude the soule of man knowes all Because with all things it doth simbolize For in this Man there is a minde intelligent A quickning word and a celestiall spirit That like a lightning euery way diffused All things which are made by the mighty power Vniteth moueth and replenisheth Diu. These things should haue beene thought vpon before The summum bonum which liues in the soule Is an eternall pleasure to behold And haue fruition of the mightie power Which thou didst neuer see nor canst enioy Alex. Pawse yet a little let me meditate Alexander holdeth vp his hands wringing and softly crying Mercy mercy mercy arise arise vp vp vp fy fy no no stirre stubburne stonie stiff indurate heart not yet vp why what wilt thou not foule traytor to my soule not yet The Diuill laugheth Arise arise aduaunce heart clogg'd with sinne Oppressed with damnation vp aduaunce yet Wilt thou not stirre stiffe heart what am I damn'd Yet a little yet a little oh yet not yet alas High God of heauens and earth if thou beare loue Vnto the soule of sinfull man shew mercy Mercy good Lord oh mercy mercy mercy Oh saue my soule out of the Lyons pawes My darling from the denne of blacke damnation My soule my doue couer with siluer wings Her downe and plumage make of fine tryed gould Help help help aboue stirre stirre stupiditie Diu. He charmes in Dauids words with Iudas spirit Alex. It will not no it will not yet alas no no no is that my sentence to damnation I am vndone vndone Diuill He shall dispaire vassall of sinne and hell Prouide thy selfe in black dispaire to dwell He ceazeth on his face
strong hearted proud and valiant But well attempted with callidity Brother with reuerence of his holinesse Whose sacred words like blessed Oracles Haue pointed at your prudence Caesar would Haue giuen the like aduise but in conclusion Vndoubtedly to worke out thy confusion Enter Barnardo Ale Vpon my blessing follow Caesars counsell It tendeth to thy glory Bern. Most blessed Lord Embassadors from Ferdinande of Naples Arriued heere attend your holinesse Ale This is a welcome messenger for Godfrey To make a marriage with the Lady Saunce And Candy for so much as this requires A ioyfull entertainment take that honor And bid him welcome with due complements Shew courteous language laudable apporte Let them be feasted in more sumpteous sort Then ordinary messengers of state Obserue his speeches fathome his designes And for I know thy nature tractable And full of courtesie shew courtesie And good intreatie to them Gentle Candie Now shew thy selfe a polititian I neede not giue thee large instructions For that I know thee wise and honorable Greete them from vs Caesar shall at a turne Giue correspondence to thy courtesie I as well sitteth with my state and honor Within these ten daies wil admit them hearing Meane while learne out by lore of policie The substance of their motions that we may Be better arm'd to giue them resolution Can. Your holinesse in this shall see my skill To do you seruice Exit Candy Alex. Caesar now to thee This taske vpon thy shoulders onely leanes I rest vpon thee Caesar were it not That thou must second it or first it rather I durst not trust such things of consequence To feeble spirits therefore from our stables Six Persian Coursers arm'd and furnished With rich Caparisons of gold and Pearle With six rich Complet Armors for their saddles And such a Cabbinet of pretious Iewels As we shall choose within to morrow morning Present from vs in token of our loue Let for no cost in sumptuous banqueting Beleeue me Caesar some-times at a banquet More ground is got then at a bloudy battell Worme out their humors fathom their delights If they delight in that which Naples couets Fine witty loue-sick braue and beautifull Eloquent glancing full of fantasies Such Sugar harted Syrens or such Commets As shine in our imperiall state of Rome True pick-locks in close wards of policie Present them with the Paragons of Rome And spare not for a Million in expence So long as here they keepe their residence Caesar. Caesar in such a case will prooue true Caesar Wise franke and honorable Alex. I doubt it not And Caesar as thou doost imbrace my loue More then the world besides accomplish this And wee shall Caesar with high blessings blisse Exit Caes. By this time is my faire Lucretia Befitted for a businesse of bloud Neerely concerning her estate and mine Exit SCAE. 5. Enter Lucretia alone in her night gowne vntired bringing in a chaire which she planteth vpon the Stage Luc. Lucretia cast off all seruile feare Reuenge thy selfe vpon thy iealous husband That 〈…〉 thine honor wrong'd thy bed Feare not with resolution act his death Lâ—◠〈…〉 face in policies 〈…〉 now proue Caesars Sister 〈…〉 thy stratagems as hee 〈…〉 haue found examples in all times 〈…〉 thou melt the then call to minde 〈…〉 wrathfull furie 〈…〉 hideous fact 〈…〉 murther of her onely sonne A 〈…〉 Daughters all but one That in one night their husbands sleeping slew My cause as iust as theirs my heart as resolute My hands as ready Gismond I come Haâ—ld on with furie to reuenge these wrongs And loue imprison'd with thy iealousie I haue deuised such a curious snare As 〈…〉 neuer yet deuis'd To graspe his armes vnable to resist Deaths instruments inclosed in these hands Shee kneeleth downe Young lusty Daughters of gumme Erebus Which spit out vengeance from your viperous heires Infâ—â—e a three 〈◊〉 gâ—â— in these armes Iâ—â—â—ble 〈…〉 â—râ—ng indurate heart To consumate the plan of my reuenge Shee riseth and walketh passionately Enter Gismond di Viselli vntrussed in his Night-cap tying his points Heere comes the subiect of my Tragedy Gis. What my Lucretia walking alone These solitarie passions should bewray Some discontentment and those gracious eyes Seeme to be moon'd with anger not with loue Tell me Lucretia may thy Gismond know Luc. Demaundst thou the cause miutious Gismond When like a recluse shut vp from the world I liue close prisoner to thy iealousie The Esperian Dragons kept not with more watch The golden fruit then thou my fatall beauty Thou wouldst exclude me from the sight of Sunne But that his beames break through some circuities Thou wouldst debarre me from the common ayre But that against my will I suck it in And breath it out in scalding sighes againe Were I in Naxos where no noise is heard But Nâ—mâ—â—esâ—age 〈◊〉 fights but ruthelesse rocks Or in the Libiâ—nâ—eserâ—s or exchang'd This Hemisphere of Rome for 〈◊〉 Intâ—â—odes Were not so glorious as to dwell in Rome Banish'd 〈…〉 and conference of friends Gâ—s. 〈◊〉 thou my iealousie may blame thy beauty And loue imprison'd in those amorous lookes I leaue the 〈◊〉 efâ—ectâ—oâ—s on thy face Least he more wondring at thy precious eyes Then any Nimphes which he most honored Should beare thee to some other Paradice And rob me silly man of this worlds ioy I feare the windes least amorous Ioue in them Enuying such pretious nature amongst men With extreame passion hence should hurry thee Oh loue is full of feare all things I feare By which I might be frustrate of thy loue Luc. Scoffst thou mee Gismond with continuall taunts Oh God of heauens shall I both suffer shame And scorne with such dispisd captiuitie Gis. Here in the presence of the powers in Heauen I doe not speake on scorne but in meere loue And further Lucrese of thy clemencie For loue and beautie both are riche in bountie Forgiue me what is past and I will sweare Neuer to vex thee with more iealousie Luc. Thou wilt so sweare thy selfe Gismond come hither Sit downe and answer me this question Gismond sitteth downe in a Chaire Lucretia on a stoole beside him When I bestowed on thee this diamond A Iewell once held precious as my life And with it cast away my selfe on thee Didst thou not promise to maintaine mine honour 〈◊〉 in word nor deed to giue suspect O thy dislike and hast thou not since then In presence of my neerest Noble friends 〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 for my lightnesse 〈…〉 his mony vp So 〈…〉 and sight of them 〈◊〉 When 〈◊〉 thou didst bestow this Diamond I had a precious lustre in mine eye And was 〈◊〉 of vertue when I vow'd To maintaine that which was impossible But 〈◊〉 that time this stone hath had a flaw Brother within the ring his foile growne dimme The vertue vanish'd and the luste lost She graspeth him in his chaire Luc. I can no longer brooke these base rebukes These taunting riddles and close libellings 〈◊〉 Oh helpe I am strangled She
stoppeth his mouth pulleth out his dagger and offereth to gagge him Lu. Peace wretched villaine then reciue this quickly Or by the liuing powers of heauen I le kill thee She â—aggeâ—â— him and taketh a paper out of her boosome Take pen and incke t is not to make thy will For if then wilt subscribe I will not kill T is but to cleere those scandalls of my shame With which thy iealousie did me defame Gismonde subscribeth So now that part is playd what followes now Thou Ribbauld Cuckcold Rascall Libeller Pernicious Lecher voide of all performance Periurious Coxcombe foole now for those wrongs Which no great spirit could well tollerate Come I with mortall vengeance on thy soule Take this for sclandring of his Holinesse My blessed father and my brother Caesar She stabbeth With incest this take for my brother Candy And this for Noble Sphorza whom thou wrongest And since the time is shorte I will be shorte For locking vp of me calling me whore Setting espialls tending at my taile Take this and this this to make amends three stabs togither And put thee from thy paines She vnbindeth him layeth him on the grownd putteth the dagger in his hand a paper on his knee taking certaine papers out of his pocket putteth in others in their steede conuaieth away the chaire Now will my father Alexander say That I did take the best and safest way And Caesar will approue it with his heart That Lucrece hath perform'd a cunning parte If others aske who Gismonde kild or why It was himselfe repenting iealousie Exit Lucretia Barbarossa knocketh at a dore Bar. Holla within there Why fellowes Sâ—ruinâ—man Heere my Lord Bar. What is my Lord Viselli stirring yet My Lord the Pope expects him and the ambassadors Of Naples craue his company Enter Bar. and Seruingman Ser. My Lord I haue not seene him yet this morning Bar. Is not your Lady Lucrec stirring yet Ser. No my good Lord I thinke shee be not yet come from her chamber her custome is not to be seene so soone Bar. T is well t is wel let her take case in gods name But make hast call vp my Lord thy maister honest fellow Ser. With patience of your Lordship I will speake For three daies space I did finde in my Lord Passionate motions and strange melancholie 'T may be his solitude hath drawne him forth I will first looke the garden and the galleries Bar. Do my good friend I will expect thee in this parler here As Barbarossa goes on hee findeth Viselli murthered vpon the ground and starteth Fellow come backe come back fellow come back Your Lord 〈◊〉 murthred here call vp your Lady Call in your fellow seruants Dâ—h anta Croce 〈…〉 grasped in his fatall hand 〈…〉 some violence wrought on himselfe 〈…〉 much violate her selfe 〈…〉 wrought by bloudy Borgiaes race 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 hypochrisie Iusâ—â—â—e 〈…〉 â—â—me and inâ—eruâ—able Reâ—â—aleâ—â—t oh 〈◊〉 it in thy mercy Enter Lucrecia with Monticilla Luc. Where 〈◊〉 my Lord my deare Lord Bâ—r. Fairy Lady Approch not neere this ruthfull spectacle Approach not neere this spectacle of bloud This ruthfull spectacle of bloud and death Lease suddaine horror of these bleeding wounds Wound thy distracted spirits to pale death Lâ—c. What honor or what mortall spectacle Vpon such suddaine hath astonished me Oh my deere Lord Viselli speake to me Oh most disastrous accident and houre Ay me most wretched and vnfortunate My deerest 〈◊〉 the treasure of my life The sweetest paradice of my best hopes Is murthred out the murtherers Leaue not vnseartcht a corner nor a Crany Locke vp the dores there least that homicide Escape vs in this passion Bâ—r. Haue patience Lady Heauens will reueale the murther doubt it not Luâ—. Ah Noble Barbarossa much I feare Now with these eyes I see the murtherer Staind with the guilt of nature oh my Lord You little know that these worke womans hands Twise rescued haue the violence of his From killing of himselfe before this time Oh fie vpon the diuill and melancholy Which leaue me desolate a forelorne widdow Mot. Madam these papers will bewray some matter Luc. Oh might I finde an other murtherer Bar. These do containe some matter read them Lady Luc. My heart swolne vp with sorrow lends no light Vnto mine eyes nor force vnto my tongue To see one letter or to reade one word I pray you reade it good Lord Barbarossa Barbarossa readeth I Gismond de Viselli through desperate griefe conceiued in iealousie which I bare against my Lady Lucrecia hauing found out by much triall and examination her faithfulnesse and innocency make this my protestation as the last piacular oblation to her for those wrongs that with mine own vnfortunate hands I haue ended my life desiring her and all others to forgiue me and pray for me subscribed with mine owne hand and sealed with my seale Gismond de Viselli Il velâ—uâ— d'amore A me trafâ—se il cuoro Mot. Oh Lord of heauens haue pardon on his soule Luc. This is his hand and seale speake now my Lord Did not I soone disclose the murtherer Told I not that the murtherer was present Ah neuer neuer shall I liue to see she soundeth Bar. Comfort you selfe deere Lady God will send succor Your husband hath paied deerely for these wrongs Luc. Giue me my Lord againe death shall not haue him Come my deere Gismond come againe my ioye Delay me not least I preuent thy loue I cannot brooke delay 's Lucrece shall follow Lucrece offereth to stab her selfe Barbarossa preuenteth her Bar. Tempt not Gods iustice Lady fall to praier Helpe in the take your Lord out of her sight Luc. Oh my deare friends that see my miseries I you beseech in dearest tendernesse Bring in the body of my dearest Lord That I before my death may with these eyes Behold him honor'd in his obsequies Bar. And I wil beare these papers to his Holines Whose sorrow wil exceed for Gismonds death Exeunt Enter Guicchiardin Cho. Thus foule suspition feare and jealousie Of shame dishonor and his wiues hot lust Hath seaz'd vpon Visell whose reuenge Was to restraine Lucrece from Company But swelling pride and lust both limitles Answer'd his louing feare and shame with death Attend the sequell Now successiuely After such warlike preparations So many firme hopes found in Italy King Charles with fifteene hundred men at armes Three thousand Archers with six thousand Swisse French men and Gascons twise as many more With martiall measures ouer Piemont Treads a long march after his drums and fife With Milans force and now his trumpets hard Vnto the gates of Rome giue fresh allarms Vnto the Pope who stirreth vp in armes ACT. 2. SCAE. 1. Enter Alexander with a Lintstock in his hand with him Caesar Borgia Caraffa Bernardo Piccolomini the Castilian Gassper de fois Mr. of the ordinance Alex. Castillian take fiue hundred harguebusse Two hundred Arbalastes and fortifie Vpon the tower of Saint Sebastian Affronting that port where prowd Charles
thirst Phi. Madam you may not drinke Till you receaue this one preseruatiue Luc. A foule vnsauorie loathsome stinke choakes vp My vitall sences and a boyling heat suppes vp the liuely spirit in my lungs Phi. This poyson spreads and is incurable Madame receiue one precious antidote Luc. What haue I caught you Sforza Who painted my faire face with these foule spots You see them in my foule deformed blots Deliuer me from that murthered man He comes to stab my soule I wounded him Oh Gismond Gismond hide those bleeding wounds My soule bleeds drops of sorrow for thy sake Looke not so wrathfull I am penitent Loue and remorse did harbour in thine hart What doest thou becken to me I will come And follow thee through millions of woes Phi. Sweet Lady will you take a little rest It will refresh your spirits instantly Luc. No rest vntill I see my Lord againe Mot. Deere Lady doe you loue your life take rest Shee taketh hold of Mottiâ—ila Luc From the pure burning coles of true contrition Me thinkes I see the liuely counterfet Of catiue Cressed in her misery Ingenderd out of hir disloyalty Ah Moticilla whome I trained vp In cunning sleights and snares of filthinesse Forgiue me for that sinne liue and repent Mot: Oh God forgiue me for my sinnes are great And if his goodnesse lend my life some space I will with pennance call on him for grace And spend the remnant of my life in prayer Luc: I can no more death summoneth my soule Open thy bosome father Abraham Mercyfull father let thy mercy passe Extend thy mercy where no mercy was Mercyfull father for thy sonnes deere merrit Pardon my sinnfull soule receiue my spirrit Expirat Lucrece Phi: Now is her soule at rest t is very strange As well the cause as manner of her death I haue beene studied in Hipocrates In bookes of Gallen and olde Auecine Obseru'd the cures of diuers learned doctors In France in Spaine and higher Germany Yet neuer met with such an accent Beare in her body I will in all hast Bring wofull newes vnto saint Peeters Pallace His Holinesse will grieuiously lament Exeunt omnes SCAE. 4. Enter Caesar and Barbarossa souldiers drums and trumpets Caes Fellows in armes after our victories Had in the first front of our happie warr With men of hardy resolution Now must we bend our forces against Furly Where that prowd Amazonian Katharine Dareth defiance in the face of warr And yet our hopes are sure all passage cleere And she before I lodge this restles head Shall beare the bondage of this victorie Bar: These proud presuming spirrits of vaine women Whose bloodlesse woundes are only bloody words 〈◊〉 without reason fight without resistance But on the face of grimme deuouring Warre With frowning fore-head menacing his force They fall downe on their backs as Venus did When Mars beheld her with a Souldiers face Caes. Nay we must fight I know the puissant spirit Of warlike Kate the pride of Italie Sforzaes braue sister and old Riarioes widdow Excellent valour and deepe policie Must winne it if we purchase at her hands Bar. And yet we be before-hand with the Lady Hauing surprized her treasure and her sonnes As they were making their escape for Florence What shall we trie renowned generall And search her resolution Caes. Shall wee doubt you not Nay though the walles of Furly were of steele These pledges should make passage for our powers And what shall we stoope for those twenty Ensignes Which this last night haue enter'd their Ports Nay were they ten to one within those walles Caesar that carries Fortune in his Standerd Would make them giue ground subiect them-selues Bar. Speake then at once renowned generall Shall we go Souldier-like to worke at first Shall we salute her with our Cannon Câ—s. What no Barbarossa not without a parlee Fore-God I loue her and admire her valour And till we finde her words prooue empty squibs We giue her all the noble rights of warre Summon a parlee Sound drum answer Trumpet Enter vpon the walles Countesse Katherine Iulio Sforza Ensigne souldiers Drummes Trumpets What haue wee Pallas come vpon these walles To bring confusion of our companies Doth proud Penthesilea liue againe Which some-time raging in the Fields of blood Made passage with her angry sword through millions Kat. I tell thee Cesar sonne of Alexander A booke befits thee better then a blade Percase in scorne thou wilt reply the like A distaffe fits me better then a pike Know Caesar had I now so many liues As here are stoanes or haires vpon your beards I would forgo them al before this honor Which my deere Lord Riario did leaue mee The pledge of my deere loue his Childrens patrimony Caes. Speake in a milder key renowned Kate I loue you well and all braue Sforzaes race Yet you must yeeld there is no remedy It is the Churches right and I must haue it Kath. Me thinkes a pulpet were more fit for thee But did'st thou euer reade Saint Gregory That he which hunteth for authority Himselfe should gouerne direct and know well He did a deede of danger that aduanc'd thee For proud ambition violates all right Caes. Be not so bitter Kate a friend intreates you But if intreaties will not looke vpon mee Heere standeth Cesar the sharpe scourge of Furly And were your fort fenc'd with as many men As it is girt with stones Caesar would haue it Subdue them and make pillage of their goods And in resistance seale it with their blouds Kat. What are your weapons sheathed in your throates Is euery word a sword then shake hands Caesar Venter no further and we will be friends But if your words haue accents in keene swords And end in bloud then Caesar looke on me I with defiance turne swords in your throates You shall not thrust that imputation Vpon our fex for I will fight it out So long as I can stand vpon these walls Câ—s. You would repent it if you knew the worst Consider Kate be well aduised first Kat. Caesar at one word to discharge my conscience Were there a Cannon there to be dischardg'd Vpon this fruitfull wombe the nurse of Children And I sure peece mell to be torne withall If I would not surrender vp this forte Your Cannon shot should plowe these bowells vp That vow to God and my deere husband made I neuer will infringe with perfedy I know thee bloudy Caesar the dishonor In yeelding vp thy reuerend purple roabes Which should protect widowes and Orphanes rightes Appeareth well in taking vniust armes To wrong the Widowes and the Fatherlesse Either fight Caesar or forsake the field Perswade thy selfe aliue I will not yeeld Caes. Then I will shew you what warres desteny Prognosticates bring forth her ransome hither Barbarossa bringeth from Caesars Tent hir two boyes If nature be not quite extinguished These pledges shall enfranchize you from warre I brought them to this purpose that in them You with your friends might liue in
And here alas lye dead vpon this bed Bent. Alas it is a ruthfull spectacle Two princely boyes of noble disposition Endued with honorable gifts of vertue Car. Of gracious fauour wise and liberall Phaenzaes hope Bernardo beare them in His Holynesse will much bemone their fate Bent. My Lord my Lord I do not like of this Caraf. Peace man no more do I but beare with patience Bent. It is suspicious but we may not talke Come let vs in oh God! Car. Oh God what times are these Exeunt omnes Guicchiardine After the bloudy Duke Valentinoys Had conquered Furly with the warlick Lady By wily force he tooke in Capua Then through insidious sleights and treacheries He did surprize the state of Camerine Where he captiued Iulio di Varana With his two sonnes all which he strangled With semblable tyranny proud Coesar On termes of trust meetes with the Duke Grauina And Vitellozzo with the prince of Fermo Whome he betraide at Sinigaglia Bereauing them both of their states and liues He conquereth Vrbin and with violence Performeth strange and hiddeous outrages By this time with his forces backe to Rome Caesar is marching what betyded there Endes in the subiect of this Tragedie ACTVS 5. SCAE. 1. Enter Caesar after a florish of trumpets with Drums ensignes soldiers Barbarossa Cardinall Caraffa Bentiuogli Baglioni Caesa. Now that by cunning force and pollicie All the free states and citties of Romania Subiected are vnto the Church of Rome And that our pikes and swordes in blood and slaughter Are staind and sheath'd quiet in our scaberds Our blood and wounds stanch'd and bound vp in scarfs Let vs for this could season of the yeare Rest vs and cheere our selues till the next spring And then march forward with alacrity Braue Barbarossa take these souldiers Vnto some quarter where by sound of drum According to their muster giue them pay Let them be satisfied and so dischargd Fellowes in armes faithfull and valiant I thanke you for your paines and honesties In token of our good heart to your seruice Wee giue each common soldier more then pay Two ducates and all other officers According to their place redoubled With many thankes for your exceeding valor Assuring you that in these warres with vs Caesar shall make you Captaines of your spoyles And so doth he commend you to your ease Sold. A Caesar a Caesar God saue Caesar Exit Barba Sound trumpets and a florish with drums marching with soldiers Caesa. Sirra come hether you must wayte on me My good Lord Cardinall and Bentiuoli Much thankes and deere acceptance of your loues I louingly returne for your great paines Caraâ—. His Holinesse gaue vs in serious charge To giue you greeting and withall prepares A sumpteous feast for that solemnity To which he doth inuite the Cardinalls With other Lords your fauourers in Rome Câ—s. Humbly commend my duty to my father Tell him this night I purpose to be with him Pointing at letters in his hand Tell him I liue in health and touching these I pray you certifie his Holinesse I will haue speciall care and so my Lords For a small season I will take my leaue Ben. We do congratulate your safe returne Exit Caraffa Bent Cesar looketh on his letters Caes Come hither Baglioni speake sincerely Knowst thou Brandino Rotsi th' apothecary Bag. What I my gratious Lord know I my selfe Caes. How should I know that sir Ba. May it please your highnes he serues his Holines Câ—. He did indeed somtime and for his villanies Is worthily cast of but tell me sirra Thou do'st remember how for breach of armes When thou didst stab a certaine lance-prizado I pardon'd thee thy life â—ag. True my good Lord I very well remember He was a lowsie villaine marry was he And if he liued yet such is my stomacke That were he chopt in mammockes I could eate him But for that honour in a souldiers word He spend my life to do your highnesse seruice Caes. Hast thou thy peece then ready Bag. Oh my good Lord lies fix sound as a bell With all my warlike furniture beside Good flask and touch-box a Valentia blade A slauish dagger powder of Rhemes and bulletes Here they beene Câ—s. Somtime this after-noone within the parke Next to the Vatican Ratsie wil be And as I know thee stout and resolute Bestow a bullet on him as he passeth Few words if any man attach thee for it By my protection thou shalt be enlarged Bag. And if I do not my good Lord damme me for it I haue an old grudge at him cole black curre He shall haue two steele bullets strongly charg'd Nay but heere me my Lord I le tell you what By this true fox of steele I had as good a spaniell for the water As euer hunted ducke and this true villaine Because my dog did eate vp a pannado Within his house what did that Spanish roague What did he thinke you my Lord Marry very faire and instantly Poyson'd my Spaniell with Rosa-solis A pox on him micher faith I le pay him his olde fippence for 't now Câ—s. Take this to buy thee clothes my trusty seruant Nay t is gold be not affeard of it Bag. Affeard my Lord Were it a tempest in a showre of gold I would indure it and adore you for 't Câ—s. Then Baglion fit thee to thy furniture Watch in a corner close beyond some tree And when the deed is done repaire to me Say that thy peece went off against thy will Keepe a light match in cock weare flaske and touch-box And take a murren with thee so fare-well Thus must I diue deepe in a villaines nature And thus must saue a villaine from the gallows To play my partes in others purposes The man whome I to benefit would choose I must in matters of more moment vse Or els I will not benefit a man And cut him of in sequell if I can Bâ—g. Here me but my good Lord marke my words well If old Henrilico shrink in this seruice Casseir him call him whip-stock let him perish For want of Spanish wines and maluasie Caes. Then faile not my true seruant finely closely Exit Caes. Bag. No more but by this crosse Why now this Noble Caesars like himself Hath fitted me with seruice if the world Had sought out som-what to content a man Nothing could better please old Ballion Then to kill a raskall coward curre A Spanish squirt-vp a black poysning toade I like this trading better then the warres For there I serue for two ducates a month And not a duck egge richer when I march And in continuall hazard of my life For which percase my peece kills twenty persons Now shall I march in purse with many ducates For one houres seruice but to kill one man Free from all danger of mine enemy I will about it and take vp my stand Exit Enter Bernardo Bern. Thus doth one hideous act succeed an other Vntill the mouth of mischeife be made vp Now must I traine