SCAENA 3.
Enter 1 Captaine[158] and Soldiers.
Sold. They charge us not to let him in.
1 Cap. We will doe it; He has our faithes.—What strengthe's upon the Guard?
Sold. Two hundred English.
1 Cap. Goe, and give this comaund then:
That if any Burgers or Arminian Soldiers
Offer to come upon the Guard, or let in or out
Any without our knowledge, presently
To bend their strength upon 'em.
Sold. It shalbe don. [Exit.
1 Cap. Do you disperse to the old Companies,
Bid 'em be ready; tell 'em now is the time,
And charge 'em keepe a strong eye ore the Burgers.
Ile up to'th Guard.
Sold. Wee'le doe it seriously.
[Exeunt.
SCAENA 4.
Enter Prince of Orange, William, Captaine,[159] Leiutenant, &c.
Or. None of our frends upon the Portt? Is this the welcom Of such a Towne, so bound in preservation To us and ours?
2 Cap. The Prince is sadly angry.
Leiut. Can ye blame him, Captaine, when such a den of dog whelps
Are fosterd here against him? You will rouse anon:
There are old Companies sure, honest and faithfull,
That are not poysond with this ranck infection.
Now they appeare, Sir.
Enter Captaine[160] on the walls.
1 Cap. Will your Grace please to enter?
Or. And thanck ye too.
1 Cap. The Port is open for ye.
Or. You see my number.
1 Cap. But I hope 'tis more, Sir.
Or. Theis must in first; 'Twill breed a good securitie.
1 Cap. We stand all ready for your Grace.
Or. We thanck ye.
1 Cap. What Companies come on, Sir.
Or. Three Troope of horse, That will be with ye presently: keepe strong the Port.
1 Cap. Enter when please your Grace; we shall stand sure, Sir.
[Exeunt.
SCAENA 5.
Enter Leidenberge, Vandermitten,[161] Rock Giles.
Leid. Is he come in, do you say?
Vand. He is, but followed So slenderly and poore.
Leid. We are undon then; He knowes too well what ground he ventures on. Where are the Arminian Soldiers?
R. Giles. They stand ith' market place.
Leid. Are they well armd?
R. Giles. Ready to entertaine him.
Leid. Who commaunds the Port?
Vand. The English.
Leid. Ten towsand devills! Odd's sacrament! a meere trick to betray us.
Vand. We can discover none behind.
Leid. A trick: Those English are the men borne to undooe us.
Enter Messenger.[162]
Mess. Arme, arme, and now stand to your ancient freedoms! Three troope of horse, ten Companies of foote Are enterd now the Port.
Leid. I told ye, Gentlemen.
Mess. The English make a stand upon the new Companies, Ready to charge 'em if they stirr.
Leid. Oh mischief! All our designes are crackt, layed open, ruynd: Let's looke if any cure remaine. O devill!
[Exeunt.
SCAENA 6.
Enter Duch-woemen and Burgers.
Duch-W. The Prince, the Prince, the Prince! O our husbands.
Burg. Goe pray, goe pray, goe pray: We shalbe hangd all.
Duch-W. I would it were no worse:
Enter Eng.-gentw.
Eng.-gentw. Now where's your valours, You that would eat the Prince?
Duch-W. Sweet English Gentlewoman.
Eng.-gentw. Fy, doe not run! for shame! body a me, How their feare outstincks their garlick! litle Sir Gregory,
Enter Holderus.[163]
Art thou afraid, too? out with thy two edgd tongue
And lay about thee!
Hold. Out o' my way, good woeman, Out o' my way: I shalbe whipt, and hangd too.
Eng.-gentw. Theis fellowes have strong faithes and notable valours: Ile walk about and see this sport.
[Exeunt.
SCAENA 7.
Enter Orange, Leidenberge, Burgers, Captaines,
Soldiers, and Arminians.
Or. Now, Mounseuir Leidenberge you may se openly
The issues of your desperate undertakings,
And your good helpes, myne Heeires; now you must feele too,
And to your greifes, what the deserts of those are
That boldly dare attempt their Cuntries ruyn
And who we serve, how faithfully and honestly
You must and shall confes too: not to blind ends
Hood-winckt with base ambition, such as yours are,
But to the generall good.—Let[164] theis new Companies
March by us through the Market, so to the Guard house,
And there disarme;—wee'll teach ye true obedience;—
Then let 'em quitt the Towne, hansom swag fellowes
And fitt for fowle play.
Leiut. Theis are but heavy marches.
Or. They wilbe lighter straight, when they are unfurnishd
You put your trust in theis; you have tall defences,—
Treason maintaind with heresie, fitt weapons!
—So now disarme the Towne: wee'll plant new Governours!
Leid. Will your Grace be pleasd to heare?
Or. Yes, at the Hage, Sir, Till when bethinck you of your acts and answeares, For there before the generall State—Where's Modesbargen?
Cap. He left the Towne two daies agoe.
Or. A guilty feare,
But we shall fright him worsse. Good order take
For the Towne, and what fitt Garrison to leave in't.
We are homeward bound, where we shall make you wellcom,
You have instructed us in what free fashion.
Come, Gentlemen, let's now goe take our rest:
Prowd confidence is but a foole at best.
[Exeunt.
Actus Tercius.
SCAENA PRIMA.
Enter Bredero, Vandort.[165]
Bre. Myne Heire Vandort, what thinck ye of the Prince now?
Vandort. Like a true noble Gentlemen he has borne himself
And a faire fortunate Soldier: I hold the State, Sir,
Most happie in his care, and this torne Cuntry,
Whose wounds smart yet, most bound to his deliveraunce.
Bre. 'Tis certaine his proceedings in this busines,
As in all els, have byn most wise and constant
And waited on with full wingd Expedition:
How many Townes armd with theis new Pretenders,
Stird up and steeld by founders of new doctrines,
The collour to their Cause, hath he (and sodainely)
Disarmd againe and setled in obedience,
And without bloodshed, Lords, without the Sword
And those Calamities that shake a kingdom:
So gently and without noyse he has performd this
As if he had don it in a dreame.
Vand. Most certaine,
He has run through a busines will much add to him
And set his vertues of with greater Lustre:
But that a man so wise as Mounseiur Barnavelt,
So trusted, so rewarded for his Service,
And one that built the ladder to his honour
Of open, honest actions, strong and straight still,
Should now be doubted!
Bred. I know not nor I wish it not, But if he have a fowle hart't has byn hid long, And cunningly that poyson has byn carried.
Vand. But why a father to theis new professions?
Why should he strengthen those opinions
That all true learning much laments and greives at
And sincks the soules sweet union into ruyn?
Why theis, my lords? and why in every Garrison,
Unles he had an end that shot at evill,
Should he so strongly plant theis fire-brands
And through his powre add daylie to their nombers?
Bred. Most sure he is suspected, strongly suspected
But that a man of his great trust and busines
Should sinck or suffer under doubts or whispers
Or loose his honour by an others envy,
Is not faire play nor honest. The Prince of Orange,
Most thinck, affects him not, nor he the Prince.
That either of their angry wills should prove
A lawful act to ruyn one another,
And not a medium of more open Justice,
More equall and more honorable, step in,
Man had no powre to stand nor fall with honour.
If he be falce, honest and upright proofes
Will ripen the Imposture.
Enter Barnavelt and his Son.
[1 Lord.[166] Here he comes, sir.]
Vand. Methincks he beares not in his Countenaunce
The fulnes of that grave and constant sperit,
Nor in his eye appeeres that heat and quicknes
He was wont to move withall.—Salute, and counsell:
Let's leave him to his thoughts.
Son. They mind ye not: Now, as I have a soule, they looke not on ye.
Bar. My noble Lords, what is't appeeres upon me
So ougly strange you start and fly my Companie?
What plague sore have ye spide, what taynt in honour,
What ill howre in my life so cleere deserving
That rancks in this below your fellowships?
For which of all my cares, of all my watches,
My services (too many and too mightie
To find rewards) am I thus recompenced,
Not lookd on, not saluted, left forgotten
Like one that came to petition to your honours,—
Over the shoulder sleighted?
Bred. Mounseiur Barnavelt,
I am sorry that a man of your great wisdom
And those rare parts that make ye lov'd and honourd,
In every Princes Court highly esteemd of,
Should loose so much in point of good and vertue
Now in the time you ought to fix your faith fast,
The creadit of your age, carelessly loose it,—
I dare not say, ambitiously—that your best frends,
And those that ever thought on your example,
Dare not with comon safetie now salute ye.
Bar. I loose in point of honour! My frends feare me! My age suspected too! now as ye are iust men Unknit this riddle.
1 Lord. You are doubted, strongly doubted.
Bar. O the devill.
2 Lord. Your loialtie suspected.
Bar. Who dare doe this?
Bred. We wish all well; and you that know how dangerous
In men of lesser mark theis foule attempts are
And often have bewaild 'em in the meanest,
I make no doubt will meet your owne fault sodainely
And chide yourself; grow faire againe and flourish
In the same full esteeme ye held and favour.
Bar. And must I heare this sett downe for all my service?
Is this the glorious mark of my deservings?
Taynted and torne in honour must I perish,
And must theis silver curles, ô you unthanckfull,
Theis emblemes of my frostie cares and travells
For you and for the State, fall with disgraces?
Goe, fall before your new Prince! worship him,
Fill all your throates with flattery, cry before him
'Tis he, and onely he, has truly serv'd ye!
Forget me and the peace I have wrought your Cuntry;
Bury my memory, raze out my name,
My forty yeares endeavoures write in dust
That your great Prince may blow 'em into nothing;
And on my Monument (you most forgetfull)
Fling all your scornes, erect an yroon-toothed envy
That she may gnaw the pious stones that hides me.
Vand. Ye are too much mov'd, and now too late ye find, Sir,
How naked and unsafe it is for a long Gowne
To buckle with the violence of an Army.
The Emperour Traian challenging a yong man
And a swift runner to try his speed against him,
The Gentleman made answeare sodainely
It was not safe nor fitt to hold contention
With any man commaunded thirtie legions.
You know the Prince and know his noble nature,
I thinck you know his powre, too: of all your wisdomes
This will not show the least nor prove the meanest
In good mens eyes, I thinck, in all that know ye,
To seeke his love: gentle and faire demeanours
Wyn more then blowes and soften stubborne angers.
Let me perswade ye.
Bar. When I am a Sycophant
And a base gleaner from an others favour,
As all you are that halt upon his crutches.
Shame take that smoothnes and that sleeke subjection!
I am myself, as great in good as he is,
As much a master of my Cuntries fortunes,
And one to whom (since I am forcd to speak it,
Since mine owne tongue must be my Advocate)
This blinded State that plaies at boa-peep with us,
This wanton State that's weary of hir lovers
And cryes out "Give me younger still and fresher!"
Is bound and so far bound: I found hir naked,
Floung out a dores and starvd, no frends to pitty hir,
The marks of all her miseries upon hir,
An orphan State that no eye smild upon:
And then how carefully I undertooke hir,
How tenderly and lovingly I noursd hir!
But now she is fatt and faire againe and I foold,
A new love in hir armes, my doatings scornd at.
And I must sue to him! be witnes, heaven,
If this poore life were forfeyt to his mercy,
At such a rate I hold a scornd subiection
I would not give a penney to redeeme it.
I have liv'd ever free, onely depended
Upon the honestie of my faire Actions,
Nor am I now to studdy how to die soe.
Bred. Take better thoughts.
Bar. They are my first and last,
The legacie I leave my friends behind me.
I never knew to flatter, to kneele basely
And beg from him a smile owes me an honour.
Ye are wreatches, poore starv'd wreatches fedd on crumbs
That he flings to ye: from your owne aboundaunce
Wreatched and slavish people ye are becom
That feele the griping yoak and yet bow to it.
What is this man, this Prince, this God ye make now,
But what our hands have molded, wrought to fashion,
And by our constant labours given a life to?
And must we fall before him now, adoare him,
Blow all we can to fill his sailes with greatnes?
Worship the Image we set up ourselves?
Put fate into his hand? into his will
Our lives and fortunes? howle and crye to our owne clay
"Be mercifull, ô Prince?" ô, pittied people!
Base, base, poore patch men! You dare not heare this;
You have sold your eares to slavery; begon and flatter.
When ere your politick Prince putts his hooke into my nose
Here must he put his Sword too.
Bred. We lament ye.
[Exeunt.
Enter the Son.
Son. We are undon, Sir.
Bar. Why?
Son. For certaine perishd. Utrecht is taken in, Modesbargen fled, And Leidenberge a Servant to their pleasures,— A prisoner, Sir.
Bar. Ha!
Son. 'Tis too true.
Bar. A prisoner?
Son. And, some say, has byn tortured, reveald much,
Even all he knowes. No letters are against ye,
For those he burnt; but they have so much foold him
That his owne tongue—
Bar. He cannot be so boyish.
Son. My goverment of Barghen is disposd of; Their anger now against us all profest, And in your ruyn all must fall.
Bar. A prisoner!
Modesbargen fledd! I am glad he is scapt their fingers.
Now if the devill had but this Leidenberge
I were safe enough. What a dull foole was I,
A stupid foole, to wrap up such a secreat
In a sheepes hart! ô I could teare my flesh now
And beat my leaden braines!
Son. Faith, try the Prince, Sir; You are at your last.
Bar. Art thou my Son? thou lyest;
I never got a Parasite, a Coward.
I seeke the Prince or bend in base submission!
Ile seeke my grave first. Yf I needes must fall
And that the fatall howre is cast of Barnavelt,
Just like a strong demolishd Tower ile totter
And fright the neighbour Cuntries with my murmour.
My ruyns shall reach all: the valiant Soldier,
Whose eies are unacquainted but with anger,
Shall weep for me because I fedd and noursd him;
Princes shall mourne my losse, and this unthanckfull,
Forgetful Cuntry, when I sleepe in ashes,
Shall feele and then confes I was a father.
[Exeunt.
SCAENA 2.
Enter P. of Orange, William, Bredero, Vandort, Lords, Collonells, Captaines.
Bred. Will your Excellence please to sitt?
[Table: Bell.
Or. I am prowd your Lordships
So willingly restore me to that place
From which the envy of the Advocate
Of late hath forcd me. And that you may know,
How ere his mallice live to me, all hatred
Is dead in me to him, I am a Suitour
He may be sent for; for, as Barnavelt is
A member of this body politique,
I honour him, and will not scorne to yeild
A strict accompt of all my Actions to him;
And, though my Enemie, while he continues
A frend to his owne fame and loyall to[167]
The State, I love him and shall greive that he,
When he falls from it must deserve my pitty.
Vand. This disposition in your Excellence
Do's well becom you, but would wrong our iudgements
To call one as a partner to these counsailes
That is suspected, and ev'n then when all
His dark designes and deepest purposes
Are to be sifted.
Bred. It were most unfit, And therefore we entreat your Highnes to[167] Presse it no further.
Or. My good lords, your pardon;
You are your owne disposers.—Gentlemen,
I shall a while entreat ye to forbeare
The troble that you put upon yourselves
In following me. I can need no defence here,
Being left among these whose grave counsailes ever
Have lookd out for my safetie. 'Tis your pleasure
And therefore I embrace it.
[Exeunt Collonells & Captaines.
Vand. Now, when you please,
Your Excellence may deliver what you have
Observ'd concerning the Arminian faction,
What hopes and heads it had, for without question
It found more favorers, and great ones too,
Then yet we have discoverd.
Or. My grave Lords,
That it hath byn my happines to take in,
And with so litle blood, so many Townes
That were falne of, is a large recompence
For all my travell; and I would advise
That (since[168] all now sing the sweet tunes of Concord,
No Sword unsheathd, the meanes to hurt cut off,
And all their stings pluckd out that would have used them
Against the publique peace) we should end here
And not with labour search for that which will
Afflict us when 'tis found. Something I know
That I could wish I nere had understood,
Which yet if I should speake, as the respect
And duty that I owe my Cuntry binds me,
It wilbe thought 'tis rather privat spleene
Then pious zeale. But that is not the hazard
Which I would shun: I rather feare the men
We must offend in this, being great, rich, wise,
Sided with strong frends, trusted with the guard
Of places most important, will bring forth
Rather new births of tumult, should they be
Calld to their Triall, then appease disorder
In their iust punishment; and in doing Justice
On three or foure that are delinquents, loose
So many thousand inocents that stand firme
And faithfull patriots. Let us leave them therefore
To the scourge of their owne consciences: perhaps
Th'assurance that they are yet undiscoverd,
Because not cyted to their answeare, will
So work with them hereafter to doe well
That we shall ioy we sought no farther in it.
Vand. Such mild proceedings in a Goverment
New setled, whose maine strength had it's dependaunce
Upon the powre of some perticuler men,
Might be given way to, but in ours it were
Unsafe and scandalous: then the Provinces
Have lost their liberties, Justice hir Sword,
And we prepared a way for our owne ruyn
When for respect or favour unto any,
Of what condition soever, we
Palliat seditions and forbeare to call
Treason by hir owne name.
1 Lord. It must not be: Such mercie to ourselves were tirranie.
2 Lord. Nor are we to consider who they are
That have offended, but what's the offence
And how it should be punishd, to deter
Others by the example.
Bred. Which we will doe;
And using that united powre which warrants
All we thinck fitt, we doe intreat your Highnes
(For willingly we would not say comaund you),
As you affect the safetie of the State
Or to preserve your owne deserved honours
And never-tainted loyaltie, to make knowne
All such as are suspected.
Or. I obey you;
And though I cannot give up certaine proofes
To point out the delinquents, I will name
The men the generall voice proclaimes for guiltie.
Modesbargens flight assures him one, nor is
The pentionary of Roterdam[169] Grotius,
Free from suspition: from Utrecht I have brought
The Secretarie Leidenberge, who hath
Confest alredy something that will give us
Light to find out the rest. I would end here
And leave out Barnavelt.
Bred. If he be guiltie He's to be nam'd and punishd with the rest.
Vand. Upon good evidence, but not till then To be committed.
Will. 'Twer expedient That something should be practisd to bring in Modesbargen. Out of him the truth of all May be wroong out.
Bred. The advice is sound and good.
Vand. But with much difficultie to be performd;
For how to force him out of Germanie
(Whether they say hee's fledd) without a war,
At least the breaking of that league we have
Concluded with them, I ingeniously
Confes my ignoraunce.
Or. Since you approve it, Leave that to me.
Enter Officer[170]
Off. My lord.
Or. Call in the Captaine You saw me speake with at the dore.
Off. 'Tis don. [Exit.
Bred. What does your Excellence ayme at?
Or. Have but patience, You shall know sodainely.
Enter Captaine.[171]
Cap. My good Angell keepe me And turne it to the best.—What am I sent for?
Or. You are wellcom, Captaine; nay 'tis for your good That you are calld for. You are well acquainted With all the parts of Germanie?
Cap. I have livd there. Most of my time.
Or. But doe you know the Castle Belonging to Modesbargens Aunt or Cosen,— Which 'tis I know not?
Cap. Very well, my Lord; A pleasant Cuntry 'tis, and yeilds good hunting.
Bred. And that's a sport Modesbargen from his youth Was much inclind to.
Or. Wee'll make use of it. It is of waight that you must undertake, And does require your secrecie and care.
Cap. In both I wilbe faithfull.
Or. I beleeve you;
And, to confirme it, with all possible speed
I would have you to post thether: from the Borders
Make choice of any horsemen you thinck fitt,
And, when you come there, devide them into parties
And lodge neere to the Castle. Yf Modesbargen
Come forth to hunt, or if at any time
You find the draw-bridge up, break in upon him
And willing or unwilling force him hether.
You shall have gold to furnish you, and this don
Propose your owne rewards, they shalbe graunted.
Cap. Yf I be wanting let my head pay for it; Ile instantly about it. [Exit.
Or. Doe, and prosper.
Will. What will you do with Leidenberge?
Bred. Let him be
Kept safe a while: for Barnavelt, till we have
Some certaine proofes against him, I hold fitt
He have his libertie, but be suspended
From any place or voice in Court untill
His guilt or inocence appeere.
Vand. I like it.
Lords. We are all of your opinion.
Or. Bring in Leidenberch.
Enter Leidenberch, Boy, Guard.
Boy. Doe all theis, father, wayt on you?
Leid. Yes, Boy.
Boy. Indeed I doe not like their Countenaunces; They looke as if they meant you litle good. Pray you, put them away.
Leid. Alas, poore inocent, It is for thee I suffer; for my self I have set up my rest.
Or. Now, Mounseiur Leidenberch,
We send not for you, though your fault deserve it,
To load you with reproofe, but to advise you
To make use of the way we have found out
To save your life and honour. You already,
In free confession of your fault, have made
A part of satisfaction; goe on in it,
And you shall find a faire discovery
Of youre fowle purposes and th'agents in 'em
Will wyn more favour from theyr lordships to you
Then any obstinate deniall can doe.
Leid. All that I know I will deliver to you, And beyond that your Excellence nor their Lordships Will not, I hope, perswade me.
Vand. In the meane time You are a prisoner.
Boy. Who? my father?
Bred. Yes, Boy.
Boy. Then I will be a prisoner, too. For heaven sake
Let me goe with him, for theis naughtie men
Will nere wayt on him well. I am usd to undresse him
When he's to goe to bed, and then read to him
Untill he be a sleepe, and then pray by him:
I will not leave him.
Bred. Why, thou shalt not, Boy. Goe with thy father.
Boy. You are a good Lord,
Indeed I love you for't and will pray for you.
Come, father; now I must goe too, I care not.
While I am with you, you shall have no hurt,
Ile be your warrant.
Leid. I have lost myself, But something I shall doe.
[Exeunt Leid., Boy, Guard.
Or. 'Tis time to rise; And, if your Lordshipps please, we will defer Our other busines to an other sitting.
Vand. In the meane time wee'll use all honest meanes To sound the depth of this Confederacie, In which Heaven's hand direct us and assist us.
[Exeunt.