A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 2

by Unknown

SCAENA 3.

Enter[150] Pr. of Orange, Gra: William,
Collonells & Captaines.

Or. I, now methincks I feele the happynes
Of being sproong from such a noble father,
That sacrifizd his honour, life and fortune
For his lov'd Cuntry. Now the blood and kindred
Of Horne and Egmont (Memories great Martires),
That must outlive all Alva's Tirranies
And when their Stories told ev'n shake his ashes,
Methincks through theis vaines now, now at this instant,
I feele their Cuntries losse; I feele[151] too—

Will. All feele sencibly,
And every noble hart laments their miseries,
And every eie, that labours not with mallice,
Sees your great services and through what dangers
You have raisd those noble speritts monuments.

Or. What I have don I look not back to magnifie;
My Cuntry calld me to it. What I shall yet doe,
With all the industrie and strength I have lent me
And grace of heaven to guid, so it but satisfie
The expectation of the State commaunds me
And in my Cuntries eye appeere but lovely,
I shall sitt downe, though old and bruizd yet happie;
Nor can the bitter and bold tounge of mallice,
That never yet spoke well of faire deservings,
With all hir course aspersions floong upon me
Make me forsake my dutie, touch or shake me
Or gaine so much upon me as an anger,
Whilst here I hold me loyall. Yet believe, Gentlemen,
Theis wrongs are neither few nor slight, nor followed
By liberall tongues provokd by want or wine,
For such were to be smild at and so slighted,
But by those men, and shot so neer mine honour
I feare my person too; but, so the State suffer not,
I am as easie to forget.

Will. Too easie;
And that feeds up their mallice to a Monster.
You are the arme oth' war, the Soldiers sperit;
The other but dead stories, you the dooer.

Col. It stands not with the honour you have won, Sir, Still built upon and betterd.

Or. No more, good Collonell.

Col. The love the Soldier beares you to give way thus!
To have your actions consturd, scornd and scoffd at
By such malignant soules! you are yourself, Sir,
And master of more mindes that love and honour ye.[152]

Will. Yf you would see it; but take through the mallice The evill intended now, now bent upon ye.

Or. I pray ye, no more; as you love me, no more.
Stupid I never was nor so secure yet
To lead my patience to mine owne betraying:
I shall find time and riper cause.— [Guard at dore.
Now, frends,
Are my Lords the States set yet.

1 Gu. An houre agoe, Sir.

Or. Beshrew ye, Gentlemen, you have made me tardy: Open the dore,

1 Gu. I beseech your Grace to pardon me.[153]

Or. Do'st thou know who I am?

1 Gu. Yes, Sir, and honour you.

Or. Why do'st thou keep the dore fast then?

Will. Thou fellow,
Thou sawcy fellow, and you that stand by gaping!
Is the Prince of no more value, no more respect
Then like a Page?

2 Gu. We beseech your Excellencies
To pardon us; our duties are not wanting,
Nor dare we entertaine a thought to crosse ye:
We are placed here on Commaund.

Or. To keepe me out?
Have I lost my place in Councell? are my services
Growne to so poore regards, my worth so bankrupt?
Or am I tainted with dishonest actions,
That I am held unfitt my Cuntries busines?
Who placd ye here?

1 Gu. The body of the Councell; And we beseech your Grace make it not our syn: They gave us strict commaund to stop your passage.

Or. 'Twas frendly don and like my noble masters.

Will. Deny you place? make good the dore against ye? This is unsufferable, most unsufferable.

Or. Now I begin to feele those doubts; I feare still—

Col. So far to dare provoke ye! 'tis too monstrous;
And you forget your self, your birth, your honour,
The name of Soldier if you suffer this,
Suffer from these, these things, these—pox upon't!—
These molds of men made noble by your services,
Your daylie sweatts.

1 Cap. It must not be endured thus, The wrong extends to us, we feele it severally.

2 Cap. Your sweet humillitie has made 'em scorne ye
And us, and all the world that serve their uses;
And stick themselves up teachers, masters, princes,
Allmost new gods too, founders of new faithes.
—Weell force your way.

Col. Let's see then who dare stop ye.

Gu. Not we, I am sure.

Col. Let's see who dare denie ye Your place and right of councell.

Or. Stay, I commaund ye;
He that puts forward first to this wild action
Has lost my love and is becom mine Enemy,
My mortall enemie. Put up your weapons,
You draw 'em against order, duty, faith;
And let me die ere render such examples.
The men you make so meane, so slight account of,
And in your angers prise, not in your honours,
Are Princes, powerfull Princes, mightie Princes;
That daylie feed more men of your great fashion
And noble ranck, pay and maintaine their fortunes,
Then any monarch Europe has: and for this bountie,
If ye consider truly, Gentlemen,
And honestly, with thankfull harts remember,
You are to pay them back againe your service:
They are your masters, your best masters, noblest,
Those that protect your states, hold up your fortunes;
And for this good you are to sacrifize
Your thancks and duties, not your threats and angers.
I and all Soldiers els that strike with their armes,
And draw from them the meanes of life and honour,
Are doble tyde in faith to observe their pleasures.

Col. A Prince of rare humanitie and temper.
Sir, as you teach us armes, you man our minds, too,
With civill precepts, making us true Soldiers,
Then worthie to receive a trust from others
When we stand masters of our owne discretions.

Enter Barnavelt, Modesbargen, Leidenberch, Grotius
Bredero, Vandort & Hogerbeets.

Will. Your good and great example tyes us all, Sir.

Cap. The Councell's broken up.

Or. My noble Lords,
Let it not seeme displeasing to your wisdomes,
I humbly ask in what I have offended,
Or how suspected stand, or with what cryme blotted,
That this day from your fellowship, your councell,
My Cuntries care and where I owe most service,
Like a man perishd in his worth I am exilde.

Bar. Your Grace must know we cannot wait attendaunce, Which happely you looke for.

Or. Wayt, my lords!

Bar. Nor what we shall designe for the States comfort
Stay your deliberate crosses. We know you are able,
And every way a wise Prince fitt for counsell;
But I must tell ye, Sir, and tell ye truly,
The Soldier has so blowne ye up, so swelld ye
And those few services you call your owne,
That now our commendations are too light gales,
Too slacke and emptie windes, to move your worthes;
And trumpets of your owne tongue and the Soldiers
Now onely fill your sailes.

Bre. Be not so bitter.

Bar. We mix with quiet speritts, staid and temperate,
And those that levell at not great but good ends
Dare hold us their Companions, not their Servants,
And in that ranck be ready to supply us.
Your Grace is growne too haughtie.

Leid. Might it please you
But thinck, Sir, of our honest services
(I dare not terme them equall) and but waigh well,
In which I know your Grace a perfect master,
Your judgment excellent, and then but tell us
And truly (which I know your goodnes will doe)
Why should we seeme so poore, so undertrodden,
And though not trusted with the State and Councell,
Why so unable vallued. Pardon, great Sir,
If those complaine who feele the waight of envy,
If such poore trod on wormes make show to turne againe.
Nor is it we that feele, I hope, nor you, Sir,
That gives the cullour of this difference:
Rumour has many tongues but few speak truth:
We feele not onely,—if we did 'twere happie—
Our Cuntry, Sir, our Cuntrie beares the blow too;
But you were ever noble.

Or. Good my Lords,
Let it be free your Servant, chargd in mallice,
If not fling of his crymes, at least excuse 'em
To you my great correcter. Would to heaven, Sir,
That syn of pride and insolence you speake of,
That pufft up greatnes blowne from others follyes
Were not too neere akin to your great Lordship
And lay not in your bosom, your most deere one.
You taint me, Sir, with syns concerne my manners,—
If I have such Ile studdy to correct 'em;
But, should I taint you, I should charge ye deeper:
The cure of those would make ye shrinck and shake, too,
—Shake of your head.

Bar. You are too weak ith' hams, Sir.

Or. Who raisd these new religious forces, Sir,
And by what warrant? what assignement had ye
From the States generall? who blew new fires?
Even fires of fowle rebellion, I must tell ye;
The bellowes to it, Religion. You were lov'd yet
But for your ends,—through all the Townes, the Garrisons,
To fright the union of the State, to shake it.
What syns are theis? You may smile with much comfort,
And they that see ye and not looke closely to ye
May crye too er't be long.

Bar. Your Grace has leave, Sir,
And tis right good it be soe.—Follow me home,
And there Ile give ye new directions
How to proceed, and sodainely.

Leid. | We are yours, Sir. Mod. | [Exeunt Bar., Leid., Mod.

Or. My lords, to what a monster this man's grown You may (if not abusd with dull securitie) See plaine as day.

Bre. We doe not like his carriage.

Van. He do's all, speakes all, all disposes.

Or. Spoiles all.
He that dare live to see him work his ends out
Uncrossd and unprevented, that wretched man
Dare live to see his Cuntry shrinck before him.
Consider my best lords, my noblest masters,
How most, most fitt, how just and necessary
A sodaine and a strong prevention.

Bre. We all conceave your Grace and all look through him
And find him what we feare not yet but grieve at.
You shall have new Commission from us all
To take in all those Townes he has thrust his men in:
When you have that, proceed as likes your Excellence.

Or. Your lordships true friend and most obedient Servant.

Van. Come to the present busines then.

Or. We attend you.

[Exeunt.

Actus Secundus.

SCAENA PRIMA.

Enter Barnavelt, Leidenberch, Modesbargen.

Bar. I have with danger venturd thus far to you
That you might know by me our plot's discoverd.
But let not that discourage you: though Van Dort
And Bredero, with others, have assented
To force this Towne, stand you still on your Guard,
And on my reputation rest assured
With violence they never dare attempt you;
For that would give the world to understand
Th'united Provinces, that by their concord
So long have held out 'gainst th'opposition
Of all Spaines Governours, their plotts and armyes,
Make way to their most certaine ruyn by
A Civill warre.

Leid. This cannot be denide.

Bar. And so at any time we may make our peace, Returning to our first obedience Upon what termes we please.

Mod. That is not certaine;
For, should we tempt them once to bring their forces
Against the Towne and find we give it up
For want of strength to keepe it, the Conditions
To which we must subscribe are in their will
And not our choice or pleasure.

Bar. You are governd More by your feare then reason.

Mod. May it prove soe: That way I would be guiltie.

Bar. How appeere The new raisd Companies?

Leid. They stand full and faithfull;
And for the Burgers, they are well affected
To our designes. The Arminians play their parts too,
And thunder in their meetings hell and dampnation
To such as hold against us.

Bar. 'Tis well orderd:
But have you tride by any meanes (it skills not
How much you promise) to wyn the old Soldiers
(The English Companies, in chief, I ayme at)
To stand firme for us?

Leid. We have to that purpose
Imploid Rock-Giles, with some choice Burgers els
That are most popular to the Officers
That doe commaund here in the Collonells absence.
We expect them every mynitt. Yf your Lordship
(For 'tis not fitt, I think, you should be seene)
Will please to stand aside (yet you shalbe
Within the hearing of our Conference)
You shall perceive we will imploy all arts
To make them ours.

Mod. They are come.

Bar. Be earnest with them.

Enter Rock-Giles, 2 Burgers, Captaines, Leuitenant.

R: Giles. With much adoe I have brought 'em: the prowde Shellains[154] Are paid too well, and that makes them forget We are their Masters.

1 Burg. But when we tooke them on,
Famishd allmost for want of entertainement,
Then they cryde out they would do any thing
We would commaund them.

1 Cap. And so we say still, Provided it be honest.

Giles. Is it fitt
That mercenary Soldiers, that for pay
Give up their liberties and are sworne t'expose
Their lyves and fortunes to all dangers, should
Capitulate with their Lords?

1 Burg. Prescribing when They are pleasd to be commaunded and for what.

Giles. Answeare to this.

Leuit. You know our resolutions, And therefore, Captaine, speak for all.

1 Cap. I will,
And doe it boldly: We were entertaind
To serve the generall States and not one Province;
To fight as often as the Prince of Orange
Shall lead us forth, and not to stand against him;
To guard this Cuntrie, not to ruyn it;
To beat of foreigne Enemies, not to cherish
Domestique factions. And where you upbraid us
With the poore means we have to feed, not cloath us,
Forgetting at how deere a rate we buy
The triffles we have from you, thus I answeare:—
Noe Cuntrie ere made a defensive war
And gaind by it but you. What privat Gentleman
That onely trailes a pike, that comes from England
Or Fraunce, but brings gold with him which he leaves here
And so enriches you? Where such as serve
The Polander, Bohemian, Dane, or Turck,
Though they come almost naked to their Collours,
Besides their pay (which they contempne) the spoiles
Of armyes overthrowne, of Citties sackd,
Depopulations of wealthie Cuntries,
If he survive the uncertaine chaunce of war,
Returne him home to end his age in plenty
Of wealth and honours.

Bar. This is shrewdly urgd.

1 Cap. Where we, poore wretches, covetous of fame onely,
Come hether but as to a Schoole of war
To learne to struggle against cold and hunger,
And with unwearied steps to overcome
A tedious march when the hot Lyons breath
Burnes up the feilds; the glory that we ayme at
Being our obedience to such as doe
Commaund in cheif; to keepe our rancks, to fly
More then the death all mutenies and rebellions.
And would you then, whose wisdomes should correct
Such follies in us, rob us of that litle,
That litle honour that rewards our service,
To bring our necks to the Hangmans Sword or Halter,
Or (should we scape) to brand our foreheads with
The name of Rebells?

Giles. I am put to a non plus:— Speake mine Here Secretarie.

Leid. I have heard
So much deliverd by you and so well,
Your actions, too, at all parts answearing
What you have spoken, that I must acknowledge
We all stand far indebted to your service:
And therefore, as unto the worthiest,
The faithfullest and strongest that protect
Us and our Cuntries, we now seek to you,
And would not but such men should be remembred
As principall assistants in the Care
Of a disease which now the State lyes sick of.
I know you love the valiant Prince, and yet
You must graunt him a Servant to the States
As you are, Gentlemen, and therefore will not
Defend that in him which you would not cherish
In cold blood in your selves; for should he be
Disloyall—

Leuit. He disloyall! 'tis a language I will not heare.

2 Cap. Such a suspition of him Is one that wore a Sword deserv'd the lye.

1 Cap. We know your oild tongue; and your rethorique
Will hardly work on us that are acquainted
With what faire language your ill purposes
Are ever cloathd, nor ever wilbe won
To undervalue him whose least fam'd service
Scornes to be put in ballance with the best
Of all your Counsailes; and for his faith, O heaven!
It do's as far transcend yours in your praires
As light do's darkness.

Leid. I perceive 'tis true
That such as flatter Servants make them prowd.
Wee'll use a rougher way, and here commaund you
To leave the Towne, and sodainely, if you wish not
To be forced hence.

1 Cap. Your new raisd Companies
Of such as never saw the Enemie
Can hardly make that good: we were placed here
By the allowaunce of the generall States
And of the Prince to keep it to their use.

Leuit. And we will doe it.

1 Cap. And while there is Lead
Upon a house, or any Soldier master
But of a doyt: when that is gon, expect
That we will make you sport, or leave our lives
To witness we were faithfull.—Come, Lieutenant,
Let us draw up the Companies; and then
Charge on us when you please.
[Exeunt.

Mod. This I foresaw.

Bar. Oh, I am lost with anger! are we falne
So lowe from what we were, that we dare heare
This from our Servants and not punish it?
Where is the terrour of our names, our powre
That Spaine with feare hath felt in both his Indies?
We are lost for ever, and from freemen growne
Slaves so contemptible as no worthie Prince,
That would have men, not sluggish Beasts, his Servants,
Would ere vouchsafe the owning. Now, my frends,
I call not on your furtherance to preserve
The lustre of my actions; let me with them
Be nere remembred, so this government
Your wives, your lives and liberties be safe:
And therefore, as you would be what you are,
Freemen and masters of what yet is yours,
Rise up against this Tirant, and defend
With rigour what too gentle lenitie
Hath almost lost.

Leid. Ile to the new raisd Soldiers And make them firme.

Giles. Ile muster up the Burgers And make them stand upon their guard.

Mod. For me Ile not be wanting.

Bar. Ile back to the Hage
And something there Ile doe that shall divert
The torrent that swells towards us, or sinck in it;
And let this Prince of Orange seat him sure,
Or he shall fall when he is most secure.

[Exeunt.

SCAENA 2.

Enter Holderus, Dutch-woemen and an English Gentlew.

1 D. W. Here come the Sisters: that's an English Gentlewoman, Let's pray for hir Conversion.

2 D. W. You are wellcom, Lady,
And your comming over hether is most happy;
For here you may behold the generall freedom
We live and traffique in, the ioy of woemen.
No emperious Spanish eye governes our actions,
Nor Italian jealouzie locks up our meetings:
We are ourselves our owne disposers, masters;
And those that you call husbands are our Servants.

3 D. W. Your owne Cuntry breedes ye hansom, maintaines ye brave,
But with a stubborne hand the husbands awe ye:
You speake but what they please, looke where they point ye,
And though ye have some libertie 'tis lymitted.

4 D. W. Which cursse you must shake of. To live is nothing;
To live admird and lookd at,—poore deservings
But to live soe, so free you may commaund, Lady,
Compell, and there raigne Soveraigne.

1 D. W. Do you thinck there's any thing
Our husbands labour for, and not for our ends?
Are we shut out of Counsailes, privacies,
And onely lymitted our household busines?
No, certaine, Lady; we pertake with all,
Or our good men pertake no rest. Why this man
Works theis or theis waies, with or against the State,
We know and give allowaunces.

2 D. W. Why such a Gentleman,
Thus hansom and thus yong, commaunds such a quarter;
Where theis faire Ladies lye; why the Grave's angry
And Mounseiur Barnavelt now discontent,—
Do you thinck it's fitt we should be ignorant?

2 D. W. Or why there's sprung up now a new devotion?
Good Gentlewoman, no. Do you see this fellow?
He is a Scholler and a parlous Scholler,
Or whether he be a Scholler or no 'tis not a doy't matter:
He's a fine talker and a zealous talker;
We can make him thinck what we list, say what we list,
Print what we list and whom we list abuse in't.

Eng.-gentw. And a Teacher do you say?

2 D. W. A singuler teacher, For so we hold such here.

Eng.-gentw. Doe they use no modestie Upon my life, some of theis new Arminians, Theis hissing tosts!

Hold. An ignorant strange woman, Whose faith is onely tride by a Coach and foure horses.

3 D. W. Come, you must be as we are and the rest of your Countrywomen; You doe not know the sweet on't.

Eng.-gentw. Indeed, nor will not;
Our Cuntry brings us up to faire Obedience
To know our husbands for our Governours,
So to obey and serve 'em: two heads make monsters;
Nor Dare we thinck of what is don above us,
Nor talk of Graves.

Hold. The Grave shall smart for 't shortly; Goe you and tell him soe, gooddy English woman: You have long tayles and long tongues, but we shall clip 'em.

Enter Vandermitten.[155]

I D. W. How now? what haste?

Vand. The Prince is drawing up to us
And has disarmd all the strong Townes about us
Of our new Soldiers; the English now stand only
And the old Companies.

Eng.-gentw. Now your wisdomes, Ladies,
Your learning also, Sir, your learned prating—
You that dare prick your eares up at great Princes
And doble charge your tongue with new opinions,—
What can you doe? or can theis holly woemen
That you have arm'd against obedience
And made contempners of the fooles their husbands,
Examiners of State,—can they doe any thing?
Can they defy the Prince?

Hold. They shall defie him, And to his face: why doe not ye raise the Burgers And draw up the new Companies?

Enter Leidenberge?[156]

Leid. Away, good women!
This is no sport for you: goe, cheere your husbands
And bid 'em stand now bravely for their liberties.
Arnam and Roterdam and all about us
Have yeilded him obedience; all the new Companies
Purgd and disarmd. Goe you; talke to the Arminians,
And raise their harts. Good Ladies, no more Councells:
This is no time to puppet in.

1 D. W. We are gon, Sir,

2 D. W. And will so coniure up our lazie husbands.

Eng.-gentw. And coniure wisely, too; the devill will faile else. [Exeunt Women.

Leid. What's she?

Vand. An English woman.

Leid. Would they were all shipt well To th' other part oth' world. Theis stubborne English We onely feare.

Vand. We are strong enough to curb 'em.

Leid. But we have turnop hearts.

Enter a Messenger.

Now what's the next newes?

Mess.[157] The Prince is at the Barriers, and desires his entraunce

Leid. He must not enter:—what Company is with him?

Mess. But few, and those unarmd too: about some twentie.

Leid. And what behind?

Mess. We can discover none.

Leid. Let's goe and view: Brothers, be strong and valiant; We have lost the Towne els and our freedoms with it. [Exeunt.