SCAENA 3.
Enter Barnavelt (in his studdy).
Bar. This from the King of Fraunce, of much importance,
And this from Englands Queene, both mightie Princes
And of immortall memories: here the Rewards sett,—
They lou'd me both. The King of Swechland this,
About a Truyce; his bounty, too. What's this?
From the Elector Palatine of Brandenburge,
To doe him faire and acceptable offices:
I did so; a rich iewell and a chaine he sent me.
The Count of Solems, and this from his faire Countess
About compounding of a busines:
I did it and I had their thancks. Count Bentham,
The Archbishop of Cullen, Duke of Brunswick,
Grave Embden: theis from Citties, theis from Provinces;
Petitions theis; theis from the States for places.
Have I held correspondence with theis Princes,
And had their loves, the molding of their busines,
Trusted with their most secreat purposes?
Of every State acquainted with the misteries?
And must I stick here now, stick unreleevd, too?
Must all theis glories vanish into darknes,
And Barnavelt passe with 'em and glide away
Like a spent exhalation? I cannot hold;
I am crackt too deepe alredy. What have I don
I cannot answeare? Foole! remember not
Fame has too many eares and eyes to find thee!
What help, ô miserable man? none left thee.
What constant frends? 'tis now a cryme to know thee
… … … be death.
Enter Servant.
Serv. My Lady would entreat, Sir—
Bar. My head? What art thou? from whom sent?
Serv. Heaven blesse me!
Bar. Are they so greedy of my blood?—O, pardon me: I know thee now; thou art my honest Servant. What would thy Lady?
Serv. Your Company to supper, Sir.
Bar. I cannot eate; I am full alredy, tell hir:
Bid hir sitt downe: full, full, too full. [Exit Serv.
My thancks
Poyzd equally with those faire services
I have done the States, I should walk confidently
Upon this high-straind danger. O, this end swayes me,
A heavy bad opinion is fixt here
That pulls me of; and I must downe for ever.
Enter Daughter[183]
Daught. Sir, will it please ye—
Bar. Ha!
Daught. Will it please ye, Sir—
Bar. Please me! what please me?—that I send thee, Girle, To some of my great Masters to beg for me. Didst thou meane so?
Daught. I meane, Sir—
Bar. Thou art too charitable
To prostitute thy beutie to releeve me;
With thy soft kisses to redeeme from fetters
The stubborne fortune of thy wretched father.
Daught. I understand ye not.
Bar. I hope thou do'st not.
Daught. My Lady Mother, Sir—
Bar. Prethee, good Girle, Be not so cruell to thy aged father To somme up all his miseries before him.
Daught. I come, Sir, to entreat your Company.
Bar. I am not alone.
Daught. My Mother will not eate, Sir. —What fitt is this!
Bar. There can be no attonement:
I know the Prince: Vandort is fleshd upon me,
And Bredero, though he be of noble nature,
Dare not step in. Wher's my Son William?
His Goverment is gon, too; and the Soldier,
O, the falce Soldier! What! wouldst thou have a husband?
Goe, marry an English Captaine, and hee'll teach thee
How to defy thy father and his fortune.—
I cannot eate; I have no stomach, Girle.
Daught. Good Sir, be patient.
Bar. No news from Grotius? No flow of frends there? Hoger-beets lye still, too? —Away: ile come anon.
Daught. Now heaven preserve ye! [Exit.
Bar. A gentle Girle: why should not I pray, too?
I had nere more need. When I am sett and gon,
What understanding can they stick up then
To fill the place I bore? None, not a man:
To traffick with Great Princes? none: to deale
With all the trobles of the war? None, certaine, no man:
To bring in daylie treasure? I know no man;
They cannot pick a man made up to serve 'em.
Why should I feare then? doubt, and fly before
Myne owne weake thoughts?—Art thou there, too?
Enter Wife[184] and Daughter.
Wife. Fy, fy, Sir:
Why do you suffer theis sad dead retirements
To choake your speritts? You have studied long enough
To serve the uses of those men that scorne ye;
'Tis time you take your ease now.
Bar. I shall shortly; An everlasting ease, I hope.
Wife. Why weep ye, My deere Sir? speak.
Bar. Never till now unhappie! Thy fruit there and my fall ripen togeather And fortune gives me heires of my disgraces.
Wife. Take nobler thoughts.
Bar. What will becom of thee, Wiffe,
When I am gon? When they have gorgd their envies
With what I have, what honest hand in pitty
Will powre out to thy wants? What noble eye
Will looke upon my Children strooke with miserie
And say 'you had a father that I honourd;
For his sake be my Brothers and my Sisters.'
Wife. There cannot be such crueltie.
Bar. I hope not;
Yet what so confident Sailour that heares the Sea rore,
The winds sing lowd and dreadfull, the day darkend,
But he will cry 'a storme'! downe with his Canvas
And hull, expecting of that horrid feavour?
Enter Son.
—How now? What newes?
Son. Plucke up your hart, Sir, fairely And wither not away thus poorely from us; Be now secure: the myst ye feard is vanishd,— Leidenberch's dead.
Bar. Dead?
Son. Killd himself; his owne hand
Most bravely was his Justice; nor left behind him
One peece of paper to dishonour ye.
They are all to seeke now for their Accusations.
Bar. And is he dead? so timely, too? so truly? Speak't againe, Will?
Son. Hee's dead, Sir, if I live here.
Bar. And his owne hand?
Son. His hand and will performd it.
Bar. Give me some wyne. I find now, notwithstanding
[Enter Servant with wine.
The opposition of those mindes that hate me,
A wise-man spyns his owne fate and secures it.
Nor can I, that have powre to perswade men dye,
Want living frends to iustifie my Creadit.
Goe in and get me meat now; invyte my frends,
I am determind to be high and merry.
Thou hast lost thy Charge; wee'll have another, Will;
It shall goe hard els. The Prince of Orange now
Will find what frends I have, and of what reckning;
And when he seekes this life, he must make passage
Through thousands more and those he little dreames of.
Son. I wonder how he got that speritt, Sir, to dye soe?
Bar. He was a weak man, indeed, but he has redeemd it: There be some other I could wish of his mind. Do'st thinck they dare doe any thing now.
Son. 'Troth, I thinck not, Sir.
Bar. No, Boy, I warrant thee; they make great soundes, But mark what followes. Prethee, let's be merry, I want it much.
Son. I am glad to see you so, Sir.
Enter Servant.
Bar. I cannot be above two daies from Councell, I know their wants. How now, what haste?
Serv. O, Sir, ye are undon; We have lost ye.
Bar. Ha!
Serv. For ever lost ye.
Bar. Why?
[Serv.] The Captaine of the Guard, the Princes Captaine—
Bar. Where? how?
Enter Wife & Daughter.
Serv. Is broken in now upon us.
Wife. He will not be denyde. O, my deare Husband! The cruell Princes Captaine!
[Captaine within.
Cap. Ope the dore; Wee'll force it els, and all that dare resist us Wee'll put to th'Sword.
Bar. Open the dore: farewell, Wiffe;
Goe to the French Embassadour presently;
There's all my hope. To him make knowne my misery,
Wooe him with teares, with praires: this kisse; be happie.
Wife. O, we shall never see ye more!
[Exeunt Wife and Daughter.
Enter Captaine & others.
Bar. Away!—
You Instrument of blood, why doe ye seeke us?
I have knowne the day you have wayted like a suppliant
And those knees bended as I past. Is there no reverence
Belonging to me left now, that like a Ruffian
Rudely ye force my lodgings? No punishment
Due to a cryme of that fowle nature?
Cap. You must pardon me,
I have commission, Sir, for what I offer,
And from those men that are your Masters, too;
At least you'll find 'em soe. You must shift your lodging,
And presently: I have a charge to see ye
Yeild yourself quietly.
Bar. Goe and tell their Lordships
I will attend to-morrow. I know my time
And how to meet their mallice without guards.
This is the Prince, the cruell Prince your Master,
The thirstie Prince of this poore Life.
Cap. Be not vext; That will not help ye, Sir.
Bar. I wilbe vext,
And such an anger I will fling amongst 'em
Shall shake the servile soules of these poore wretches
That stick his slight deservings above mine.
I charge ye draw your Guard off and disperce 'em:
I have a powre as full as theirs.
Cap. You'll find not; And I must have ye with me.
Bar. And am I subiect
That have stood the brunt of all their busines,
And when they slept watcht to secure their slombers,—
Subiect to slights, to scornes, to taynts, to tortures?
To feed one privat mallice am I betrayd?
Myne age, myne honour and my honest dealing
Sold to the hangmans Sword?
Cap. I cannot stay.
Bar. Take me
And glory in my blood, you most ungratefull;
Feed your long bloody hopes and bath your angers
In Barnavelts deservings; share my Services;
Let it be death to pitty me; to speak well of me,
The ruyn of whole famylies. When I am gon
And angry war againe shall ceize your Cuntry,
Too late remember then and cursse your follyes.
—I am ready. Farwell, Son; remember me
But not my fortune; let them cry that shall want me.
Cap. No man come neere on paine of death: away with him.
[Exeunt.
SCAENA 4.
Enter Orange & 1 Captaine.[185]
Cap. And as I told your Highnes, so wee tooke him.
Or. 'Twas with discretion and valour followd. You were not noted as you made entraunce Into the Hague?
Cap. No, Sir; 'twas about midnight, And few were stirring but the Guard.
Or. The better.
Let his being brought in be still conceald, and tell him
If uncompelld he will confes the truth
At Barnavelts Arraignement, that all favour
That I can wyn him shall prepare a way
To quallifie his fault.
Cap. Ile work him to it And doubt not.
Enter Burgers & Women with bowghs & flowres.
Cap. 'Tis Kramis[186]-time,
In which it is a custome with the people
To deck their dores with Garlonds, Bowghes, and flowres
That are most gratious.
Or. I remember. —Stand close.
[1] Burg. Strew, strew: more Garlonds and more Flowres.
Up with the Bowghes! Sacramant, I will have
My noble frends house, Mounseiur Barnavelts,
As well deckt as his Excellencies Court,
For though they have got him in prison he deserves
As well as any.
Cap. Mark you that.
2 Burg. 'Tis said They will cutt of his head.
1 Burg. Much![187] with a Cusshin! They know he has too many frends.
[2] Burg. They dare not. People will talke: I hope ere long to see him As great as ever.
[1] Burg. Greater too, I doubt not, And of more powre; his feet upon the necks Of all his Enemies.
Or. I am glad I heard this; And Barnavelt shall feele I will make use oft. Come; follow me. [Exeunt.
2 Burg. So, now the merry Song We made for his good Lady. Lustique,[188] hoa!
[Song.
Enter Wife above.
Wife. All thancks, kind frends, that a sad house can give ye
Pray you receive; for I rest well assurd,
Though theis sports are unseasonable here,
They testifie your loves; and, if my Lord
Ere live to be himself againe, I know
He will remember it.
1 Burg. Now for the Daunce, Boyes.
Wife. Ther's something for your paines: drinck it, I pray.
2 Burg. To a doyt, my vroa, to thy Lords health and thyne. The Bree[189] for his Excellencie and the Heeres That love him not. Ten hundred thousand blessings To him and thee, my vroa. [Daunce.
Wife. I thanck you, frend. [Exeunt.
SCAENA 5.
Enter Orange, Bredero, Vandort, William, Lords. [Table.
Vand. Let him be sent for presently: he shall know, [A Bar brought in. Were he ten times more popular, his frends And flatterers Centuple, the Sword of Justice Shall fall on him as on the meanest man Since he deserves it.
Enter Provost, Captaines & Guard with Barnavelt.
Pro. Make roome for the Prisoner.
Bar. My dutie to your Highnes and theis Princes
And an increase of wisdome to your Lordships,
For which the world admires you, I wish to you.
Alas, what troble do's a weake old man,
(That is, being out of all imployment, useles)
The bag of his deserts, too, cast behind you,
Impose upon this Senat? My poore life
(Which others envy makes your Instruments
To fight against) will hardly be a Conquest
Worthie such great performers.
Vand. Mounseiur Barnavelt,
'Tis no mans envy that hath brought us hether
To sitt as Judges on you, but your owne.
Your owne late actions they have raisd a war
Against your former merritts, and defeated
What ever then was ranckt for good and great,
For which your Enemies, those that you thought frends,
Triumph, not wee.
Bre. We rather wish you could Acquitt yourself of that for which we have Too evident prooffes, then labour to intrap you.
Bar. I must beleeve and suffer whatsoever Your Lordships charge me with: yet would gladly heare What my faultes are.
Vand. Read the Confessions Of Leidenberch and Taurinus.
Bar. Leidenberch!
Officer reads. First, that the Arminian faction (of which Sir John Van Olden Barnavelt, late Advocate of Holland and West Frizeland and Councellor of State, was without contradiction the head) had resolved and agreed to renounce and break the generallity and unitie of the State.
Secondly, Change and alter the Religion, and to that end, without the
Consent of the Generall States, had raysed up and dispeirsed 3000
Arminian Soldiers.
Thirdly, To degrade the Prince of Orange.
Fourthly, To massacre the people of the Townes which were their greatest
Enemies or offered resistaunce.
Fiftly, yf that fayled, to take in assistaunce of some forreigne
Potentates, as Spaine or Brabant, delivering unto them Utricht,
Nunweghen, Bergen op Zone, and the Brill—
Bar. And that, with others, this was Barnavelts purpose? For so your Lordships take it.
Bred. With good reason.
Vand. Too many and strong proofes invyting us To creadit it.
Bar. Yf you will have them such,
All truth I can bring to dyvert your Lordships
From your determinate opinion that way
Will not remove them. Yet 'tis strange that man
Should labour to devide those Generall States
That had no weak hand in unyting them,—
That Barnavelt (a name you have remembered
When you have thought by whom you were mad happie)—
That Barnavelt (alowd I dare repeat it),
Who, when there was Combustion in the State,
Your Excellence, Grave William and Count Henrie,
Taking instructions for your Commaunds
From one that then ruld all; the Provinces
Refucing to bring in their Contributions
And arguing whether the West Frizelander
And Hollander had powre to raise such Tribut,
When many of the Governours stood ill
Affected to you, all our Garrisons
Not sworne then to the Generall States but others,
Which the promiscuous multitude gladly followed:
When Graves and Vendloe were held by the Spaniard
And Nunweghen with violence assaulted,
Confusion with one greedy gripe being ready
To seaze on all; then when the Sluice was lost
And all in muteny at Midleborough,
Who then rose up or durst step in before me
To doe these Cuntries service? Who then labourd
More then the now suspected Barnavelt
T'appease seditions and compound all Quarrells?
Who pacified the Malcontents? Who taught you
To stand upon your Guards and trust yourselves?
O, you forgettfull, all this I performd
And in the golden fagot of faire Concord
Bound safely up those strengthes which Mutenies,
Corruption and homebred Traitors scatterd.
Vand. This is a point you often choose to treat of, And yet some part of theis good services None will deny you.
Or. But to ingrosse all Would argue me your ward, should I give way too't, And these grave Lords your Schollers.
Bar. In the Art
Of Goverment they scornd not once to be soe,
Nor you to give me hearing: and if ever
'Twer lawful th' unthanckfull men t'upbraid
Unequall benefitts, let it not in me
Be now held glorious if I speake my best.
I have five times in regall Embassies
Byn sent the principall Agent for theis Cuntries,
And for your good have spoken face to face
With mightie Kings: twyce with that virgin Queene,
Our Patronesse of happie memory,
Elizabeth of England; twyce in Fraunce
With that invincible King that worthely
(Though dead) is still'd the Great, Henry the fourth;
Once with the King of Britaine that now is:
Yet let my greatest Enemy name the least
Of theis so high Imployments in which I
Treated without advantage, and returnd not
With proffitt, as with honour, to my Cuntry,
And let me fall beneath the worst aspersion
His mallice can throw on me. Besides Soldiers
So often levied by my meanes for you,
Which to particularize were teadious,
Two millions and five hundred thousand pounds,
For which the Provinces stood bound, I wrought
Freely to be dischargd; the Townes they pawnd
To be deliverd up; and after all
Theis meritorious and prosperous travells
T'unyte theis States, can Barnavelt be suspected
To be the authour to undoe that knot
Which with such toyle he fastend[190].
Or. Pawse, I beseech you,
And while you gather breath to fill the Trumpet
Of your deserts give me leave to deliver
A litle for the States and mine owne honour.
We have heard a glorious Catalogue of your vertues
But not one vice or slip of yours rememberd;
But I will help your memory:—who was he
That gave intelligence of my sodaine comming
To surprize Antwerpe? They that brought the Letters
Were knowne and but from you could have no notice
Of any such design. Who hinderd me
From rescuing of Rheinberch in the last Seige?
Who warranted the yeilding of it up
Without necessitie to the Governour?
Who was the cause no greater powre was sent
Against the Enemie when he past the Rhine
And tooke the Townes of Oldensell, Lingen, Groll?
To thinck of this would give a litle vent
To the windy bladder of your vanitie
Which you have blowne to an unlymitted vastnes.
Your Insolence to me before the Battaile
Of Flaunders I forget[191].—
Call in Modesbargen.
Bar. [aside[192] He a prisoner, too! Then I am lost.
Enter Captaine with Modesbargen.
Or. Ha! do's that startle you?
Bar. [aside[192] I must collect myself.
Or. You shall heare more.
Modesb. O, Mounseiur Barnavelt, do we meet thus?
I am as sorry to behold you there
As know myself a Prisoner. Now you perceive
To what a desperate state your headlong Counsells
And rash designes have brought us: to stand out now
Were to no purpose, for, alas, they have
Too pregnant prooffes against us.
Bar. You that feele
The horrour of fowle guilt in your falce bosom
Confes yourself soe; my strong Inocence
To the death stands constant.
Or. Take Modesbargen in.
[Exit Cap. and Modesb.]
Vand. This is an impudence I never read of.
But now wee'll show thee, miserable man,
Such further prooffes as would call up a blush
Upon the devills cheeke. Looke upon this,
Signd by the Governor, Chauncellor and Counsell
Of Gilderland and Zutphen, who here name thee
The roote and head of the late Schisme.
Bred. And this
Sent from the Lords of Utrecht, where 'tis prov'd
That the new Companies were raisd by you,
And to what purpose.
William. To subvert Religion, To deface Justice and to breake the union And holly League betweene the Provinces.
[Henry.[193] The Proclamations are allowd by you
Sent forth against the Protestants; and here
Your resolution to degrade my Brother
And then dispose of him as you thought fitt.]
Vand. Your plott here to withdraw all the old Soldiers From the Commandement of the States, and wyn them To serve for your ends in a Civill war.
Bred. To raise up Cittizen against Cittizen, Stranger gainst stranger, Soldier against Soldier, And Maiestrates against the Maiestrates.
Or. To waste the Land within that with lesse danger
The forraigne Enemy might make his entraunce.
Yf then this be not treacherie beyond
All presidents of Traitours—
Bar. Give me Leave
Onely to smile, then say all theis are falce,
Your witnesses subornd, your testemonies
And wrytings forgd, and this elaborate forme
Of Justice to delude the world a cover
For future practises: this I affirme
Upon my soule[194]. Now when you please condempne me:
I will not use one sillable for your mercy
To have mine age renewd and once againe
To see a second triumph of my glories.
You rise, and I grow tedious; let me take
My farwell of you yet, and at the place
Where I have oft byn heard; and, as my life
Was ever fertile of good councells for you,
It shall not be in the last moment barren.
Octavius[195], when he did affect the Empire
And strove to tread upon the neck of Rome
And all hir ancient freedoms, tooke that course[196]
That now is practisd on you; for the Catos
And all free sperritts slaine or els proscribd
That durst have stir'd against him, he then sceasd
The absolute rule of all. You can apply this[197]:
And here I prophecie I, that have lyvd
And dye a free man, shall when I am ashes
Be sensible of your groanes and wishes for me;
And when too late you see this Goverment
Changd to a Monarchie[198] youll howle in vaine
And wish you had a Barnavelt againe.
Now lead me where you will: a speedy Sentence:
I am ready for it and 'tis all I ask you.
[Exeunt.
Actus Quintus.
SCAENA PRIMA.
Enter Wife, Daughter, Servant with Peares.
Wife. Denyde to see my Husband! ô you Tirants!
And (to increase my misery) in vaine
By heaven I kneeld for't, wept and kneeld in vaine
To such as would, while Barnavelt was himself—
But why do I remember that word 'was,'
That never happie word of 'was.'
Serv. Good Madam,
Beare (with your usuall wisdom) what is not
In you to help. The strict guard's kept upon him;
His State ceizd on; my Lord your Son disgracd, too,
And all your frends suspected, may assure you
No price beneath his head must answeare for him.
Daughter. But is he not alredy dead?
Wife. I, I, There lyes my feare.
Serv. I sweare to you I saw him
Not many howres since, and hundreds more;
But yet, as one that's bound to honour him,
I had rather have had assuraunce of his death
Than so to have seen him.
Both. Why?
Serv. I have followd him
When every step he made met a Petition,
And these, that are his Judges now, like Clyents
Have wayted on him. The whole Court attended
When he was pleasd to speake, and, with such murmours
As glad Spectators in a Theater
Grace their best Actors with, they ever heard him;
When to have had a sight of him was held
A prosperous omen; when no eye gazd on him
That was not filld with admiration, not
As now with scorne or pitty. His rude Guard,
For proofe that they contempne all such as ayme
Or hope for his release (as if he were
Some prodigie or monster), each night show him
To such as greive his fortune, which must be
To him worse then ten thousand deaths made horrid
With all the actes of Crueltie.
Daught. I have hope yet To see an alteration.
Wife. My good Servant,
He has some frends left yet and powerfull ones
That can doe more then weepe for him as we doe;
Those I will strayt sollicite. In the meane time,
That to his comfort he may know so much,
Endeavour thou to have this simple present
As from thy self sent to him.
Serv. I will hazard All that can fall upon me to effect it.
[Exeunt[199] Wife and Daughter.
Enter Provost & Guard.
Pro. What makes this fellow here? Whether would ye, Sir?
Serv. Sir, to desire accesse unto my Lord
Were to ask that I know must be denide,
And therefore I forbeare it; but intreating
What cannot wrong you in the graunt, I hope
To find you curteous.
Pro. What's the Suit?
Serv. This onely:
My Lord, your prisoner, for my service gave me
A poore house with an Orchard in the Cuntry.
The fruites of which he did not scorne to taste of
In th'height of his prosperitie; but of all
That pleasd his pallat there was one faire tree,
On which theis Peares grew, which by his appointment
Were still reservd for him, and as a Rent
Due for my Living I stood bound to tender.
Theis, yf you please, the last I shall pay to him,
I would present him with, by what Attorney
Your goodnes shall prescribe me.
Prov. They are faire Peares, Exceeding faire ones: ile make bold with one, The rest beare to him.
Serv. [aside[200] All wilbe discoverd, I am glad I am got off, yet. [Exit.
Enter Provosts Wife[201].
Prov. What make you here? Do you come to traile a pike or use a Musket?
Wife. For neither, Sir; I came to see you.
Pro. Home!
This is no place for women. To your Gossips!
This burthen would become a Chamber better.
Wife. 'Tis a faire Peare.
Prov. You long for't: pray you take it,
You are priviledgd now to beg.—Ha! charmes in't? stay,
Give mee't. I would not for a thousand dollars
This had byn undiscoverd. Pray you goe home;
At night ile see you.
Wife. You know my obedience And I must practise it.
Prov. Make out for the fellow
That came with this device. 'Twas queintly carried:
The stalke pluckt cleanly out, and in the quill
This scroll conveyd. What ere it be the Prince
Shall instantly peruse it.
Enter Orange, Wm., Vandort, Bredero.
Or. How came you by this?
Prov. I intercepted it in a dish of Peares Brought by a man of Barnavelts, but sent to him From some of better ranck.
Or. See what is written here,— 'You have frends left and therefore, Sir, dispaire not.'
Vand. 'Tis this that feeds his Insolence, theis are they
That, when they should have paid their prairs for him
As for a guilty man, adoarnd his house
In the dispight of us and of our Justice.
Bred. But such shall find their flattering breath but makes The fire, our Cuntries safetie byds us cherish, To burne with greater heate.
Vand. And so consume him.
Or. The freedom of our goverment, and our honours,
And what we dare doe now lies at the stake.
The better part of all the christian world
Marks our proceedings, and it wilbe said,
Yf having the Conspirators in our powre
We sentence none of them, being convincd, too,
Of fowre and thirtie Articles and each treason,
'Tis don for feare. Then, to affright the rest,
I hold it fitt that Barnavelt, one that has
Most frends and meanes to hurt, and will fall therefore
With greater terror, should receive his Sentence,
Then dye as he deserves. For Modesbargen
And Hogerbeets we shall find fitt time to
Thinck of them hereafter.
Bred. Let him be sent for.
Vand. In the meane time 'tis fit we should give hearing To the French Embassadors, who, I know, come now To mediat for him.
Bred. Wayt upon them in: Their Propositions shalbe answeard freely, And by such men as are their frends, not Servants.
Enter Boisise, Morier, Wife, Daughter, Attendants.
Boi[202]. We will plead for him and prevaile, we doubt not.
Take comfort therefore, Madam, and a while,
Since you are not to be admitted here,
Leave us to our endeavors.
Wife. Heaven direct And prosper theis your charitable traviles.
[Exeunt Wife & Daughter.
Or. Bring Chaires there for their Lordships.
[2 Chaires.
Vand.[203] And prepare them A sylent hearing.
Bois. My good Lords,
We are commaunded by the King our Master
(Who ever hath respected your affaires
As the tranquility of his owne kingdoms)
To let you thus far understand his pleasure:
He do's exhort you, as the best foundation
Of your estate, with all care to preserve
The union of your provinces, and wishes
The change that you have made of Maiestrates,
The Advocate and Counsellors of State
In many of your Townes, breed not dissentions
In steed of ceasing them. Touching your Prisoners
That stand accusd of detestable Crymes,
His Counsaile is, if they be culpable,
That you use speedy Justice and with rigour.
Mor. Ever remembring that the greatest Princes
Have sometimes to their glory byn most apt
To pardon what was enterprizd against
Their Goverments, nay their lives; and that the freest
And the best Common-Wealthes, have alwaies usd
To spare the blood of their owne Cittizens,
And that in great offenders—it still being
The principall signe of libertie and freedom
Not easily, but with mature advice,
To touch the lives of Cittizens.
Bois. And the rather
When question is made of such as are
Your officers placed in authoritie,
Of whom the ancientst Mounsieur Barnavelt,
So much commended for so many good
And notable services don for theis Cuntries,
Deserves most serious regard. My Master
And other Kings & Princes your allyes,
Lyving yet witnesses of his great meritts
And with such admiration that they can
Be hardly brought to thinck he should conspire
Against these States, for which yourselves best know
What travayles he hath undergon; and therefore
Once more he do's advice you to use mercy,
Which if you doe, he then shall thinck you merit
The many favours you have tasted from him:
Yf not, he having given you whollsom Counsaile,
Yf you refuce it he must thinck himself
Slighted in his requests; and then, perhaps,
Hereafter you may misse that promptnes in him
Which you have found when your wants most requird it.
Vand. May it please your Highnes in the names of all To make their Lordships answeare.
Or. Willingly;
For I must still be glad to take occasion
To speak how much your Lordships and myself
Ever stand bound to that most Christian King
Whose favours, with all thancks, we must acknowledge
As with all care preserve. Onely we hope
His Maiestie will give us leave to say
We greive that he is misinformd of us
And our proceedings, of which we hereafter
Will give him certaine and unanswerable proofes
To iustefie our Actions, which we will
Make knowne to all the world; till when we wish
He will be pleasd to give way to the States
To finish what they have begon, with Justice
Temperd with mercy; and that your good Lordships
Will give his Grace to understand thus much,
If with the generall voice you doe approve it.
Bred. We will confirme it with our generall Seale, And send our answeare to his Propositions With our respect and duties.
Mor. This we shall Make knowne unto him.
Or. Roome there for their Lordships.
[Ext. Embs.
Bred. What thinck you now, my Lords?
Vand. In my opinion 'Tis time he had his Sentence!
Wm. Is it drawne?
Vand. Yes, here it is. The peoples loves grow daungerous;
In every place the whispers of his rescue;
The lowd and common voice of his deservings
Is floong abroad. Nor doe they handle theis things
By rules of truth and reason, but their owne wills—
Their headstrong hott affections.
Bred. Is he sent for?
Or. Yes and will presently be here.
Bred. Sit downe then, And now with speedy Justice let's prepare To cutt off this Imposthume.
Enter Provost & Guard, with Barnavelt.
Vand. 'Tis high time, Sir.
Prov. Roome for the Prisoner!
Vand. Bring him in; Sit downe, Sir, And take your last place with us.
Bar. 'Tis your forme And I infringe no order.
Bred. Mounseiur Barnavelt,
Will ye confes yet freely your bad practises
And lay those Instruments open to the World,
Those bloody and bold Instruments you wrought by?
Mercy may sleepe awhile but never dyes, Sir.
Bar. I have spoake all I can, and seald that all With all I have to care for now, my Conscience. More I beseech your honours—
Or. Take your pleasure.
Vand. You will give us no more lights: What this world gives you, To morrow thus we take away. Receive it.
Bar. My Sentence?
Vand. Yes; consider for your soule now, And so farewell.
Bar. I humbly thanck your honours: I shall not play my last Act worst.
Bred. Heavens mercy And a still conscience wayt upon your end, Sir.
Or. Now guard him back againe: by the break of day You shall have order from us.
Prov. Roome for the Prisoner!—
[Ext. Provost and Guard, with Barnavelt.
Or. The world shall know that what's iust we dare doe.
Vand. Nor shall the desperate act of Leidenberch
Delude what we determind. Let his Coffin
Be therefore hangd up on the publique Gallowes.
Th'Executioners like hungry vultures
Have smelld out their imployment.
Or. Let them have it:
And all that plot against the generall good
Learne from this mans example, great in age,
Greater in wealth and in authoritie,
But matchles in his worldly pollicie,
That there is one above that do's deride
The wisest counsailes that are misaplide.
[Exeunt.
SCAENA 2.
Enter Harlem, Leyden & Utrecht Executioners.
Har. Now hard and sharpe, for a wager, who shall doe it. Here's a Sword would doe a man's head good to be cut of with it; cures all rhumes, all Catharres, megroomes, verteegoes: presto, be gone!
Ley. You must not carry it, Harlem: you are a pretty fellow and lop the lyne of life well, but weake to Baltazar. Give roome for Leyden: heer's an old Cutter, heer's one has polld more pates and neater then a dicker[204], of your Barbers; they nere need washing after. Do's not thy neck itch now to be scratchd a little with this?
Har. No, in truth do's it not; but if you'll try first, yf I doe not whip your dodipoll as clenly of and set it on againe as handsomely as it stands now, that you may blow your nose and pledge me too Cans after—
Ley. I was afraid The rogue had don't indeed.
Utr. You two imagine now
You are excellent workmen and that you can doe wonders,
And Utrecht but an Asse. Let's feele your Raizors:
Handsawes, meere handsawes! Do you put your knees to'em too,
And take mens necks for timber? You cutt a feather?
Cut butter when your tooles are hot! Looke here, puppies;
Heer's the sword that cutt of Pompeis head.
Har. The head of a Pumpion.[205]
Utr. Looke on't but come not neere it: the very wind on't
Will borrow a leg or an arme. Heers touch & take, boyes!
And this shall moaw the head of Mounsieur Barnavelt.
Man is but grasse and hay: I have him here
And here I have him. I would undertake with this Sword
To cutt the devills head of, hornes and all,
And give it to a Burger for his breakfast.
Ley. We know you have byn the headman of the parish
A great while, Utricht, and ministerd much Justice,
Nickt many a worthie gamester; and that you, Harlem,
Have shortend many a hanging cause, to your Commendation:
Yet, for all this, who shall trym Monsieur Barnavelt
Must run by fortune. You are proper men both;
But why before me that have studdied the true trick on't
Theis twenty yeeres, and run through all the theorems?
Har. Let's fling for't then.
Ley. I am content.
Utr. And I.
Har. Sit round, then: here are dyce, and ile begin to ye.
Have at your head, Sir John! dewce ace[206]; a doggs-head![207]
The devill turnd this ace up. Farwell, velvet gowne!
Thou hast mist the luckiest hand to scratch thy Coxcomb.
Ley. No, no, Sir. Now for my part. Heigh! fight aloft for the head, boyes. How? Cater-trey[208]?
Utr. Will you take a sleeve for your share, Sir?
Ley. 'Tis but a desperat cast, and so hee'l find it, If it fall to me. Cast for your game.
Utr. Have at it:
Stay, let me swing my Sword thrice round first: now,
Now the Graves head … goose giblitts.—
Two sixes, boyes! I knew I should performe it.
Har. Ye have it: thanck your fortune.
Utr. I could not misse it,
I never lost so faire a stake yet. How ile doe it
And in what posture: first, how ile take my leave of him,
With a few teares to draw more money from him;
Then fold up his braunchd[209] gowne, his hat, his doblet,
And like the devill cry 'mine owne! lye there, boyes!'
Then bind his eyes; last stir myself up bravely
And, in the midle of a whollsome praire,
Whip and—hic iacet Barnavelt.—
Come, let's sing our old Song,
And then come view me how I doe my busines.
Boy, come, sing you for me.
[Song. Exeunt.