Musicke playing within.I. Chor.EnterAfter Oberõ, King of Fayries, an Antique, who dance abouta Tombe, plac’st conueniently on the Stage, out of the which, suddainlystarts vp as they daunce,Bohana Scot, attyred like a ridstallman, from whom the Antique flyes.OberonManet.Bohan.Ay say, whats thou?Oberon.Thy friendBohan.Bohan.What wot I, or reckI that, whay guid man, I reckno friend, nor ay reck no foe, als10ene to me, git the ganging, andtrouble not may whayet, or aysgar the recon me nene of thay friend, by the mary masse sall I.Ober.Why angrie Scot, I visit thee for loue: then whatmooues thee to wroath?Bohan.The deele awhit reck I thy loue. For I knowetoo well, that true loue tooke her flight twentie winter sence toheauen, whither till ay can, weele I wot, ay sal nere finde loue:an thou lou’st me, leaue me to my selfe. But what were thosePuppits that hopt and skipt about me year whayle?20Oberon.My subiects.Boh.Thay subiects, whay art thou a King?Ober.I am.Bohan.The deele thou art, whay thou look’st not so big asthe king of Clubs, nor so sharpe as the king of Spades, nor sofaine as the king Adaymonds, be the masse ay take thee to beethe king of false harts: therfore I rid thee away, or ayse so curryyour Kingdome, that yous be glad to runne to saue your life.Ober.Why stoycall Scot, do what thou dar’st to me, heare ismy brest strike.30Boh.Thou wilt not threap me, this whiniard has gard manybetter mẽ to lope thẽ thou: but how now? Gos sayds what wiltnot out? whay thou wich, thou deele, gads sute may whiniard.Ober.Why pull man: but what an twear out, how then?Boh.This then, thou weart best begon first: for ayl so lopthy lyms, that thouse go with half a knaues carkasse to the deeleOber.Draw it out, now strike foole, canst thou not?Boh.Bread ay gad, what deele is in me, whay tell mee thouskipiack what art thou?Ober.Nay first tell me what thou wast from thy birth, what40thou hast past hitherto, why thou dwellest in a Tombe, & leauestthe world? and then I will release thee of these bonds, beforenot.Boh.And not before, then needs must needs sal: I was bornea gentleman of the best bloud in allScotland, except the king,when time brought me to age, and death tooke my parents, Ibecame a Courtier, where though ay list not praise my selfe, ayengraued the memory ofBoughonon the skin-coate of some ofthem, and reueld with the proudest.Ober.But why liuing in such reputation, didst thou leaue to50be a Courtier?Boh.Because my pride was vanitie, my expence losse, my rewardfaire words and large promises, & my hopes spilt, for thatafter many yeares seruice, one outran me, and what the deeleshould I then do there. No no, flattering knaues that can cogand prate fastest, speede best in the Court.Ober.To what life didst thou then betake thee?Boh.I then chang’d the Court for the countrey, and the warsfor a wife: but I found the craft of swaines more vile, then theknauery of courtiers: the charge of children more heauie then60seruants, and wiues tongues worse then the warres it selfe: andtherefore I gaue ore that, & went to the Citie to dwell, & thereI kept a great house with smal cheer, but all was nere the neere.Ober.And why?Boh.because in seeking friends, I found table guests to eateme, & my meat, my wiues gossops to bewray the secrets of myheart, kindred to betray the effect of my life, which when I noted,the court ill, the country worse, and the citie worst of all, ingood time my wife died: ay wood she had died twentie wintersooner by the masse, leauing my two sonnes to the world, and70shutting my selfe into this Tombe, where if I dye, I am sure Iam safe from wilde beasts, but whilest I liue, cannot be free frõill companie. Besides, now I am sure gif all my friends faile me,I sall haue a graue of mine owne prouiding: this is all. Nowwhat art thou?Ober.OberonKing of Fayries, that loues thee because thouhatest the world, and to gratulate thee, I brought those Antiquesto shew thee some sport in daunsing, which thou hasteloued well.Bohan.Ha, ha, ha, thinkest thou those puppits can please80me? whay I haue two sonnes, that with one scottish gigge shallbreake the necke of thy Antiques.Ober.That would I faine see.Boha.Why thou shalt, howe boyes.Enter Slipper and Nano.Haud your clacks lads, trattle not for thy life, but gather vppeyour legges and daunce me forthwith a gigge worth the sight.Slip.Why I must talk on Idy fort, wherefore was my tonguemade.Boha.Prattle an thou darst ene word more, and ais dab this90whiniard in thy wembe.Ober.Be quietBohan, Ile strike him dumbe, and his brothertoo, their talk shal not hinder our gyg, fall to it, dance I say mã.Boh.Dance Humer, dance, ay rid thee.The two dance a gig deuised for the nonst.Now get you to the wide world with more thẽ my father gaueme, thats learning enough, both kindes, knauerie & honestie:and that I gaue you, spend at pleasure.Ober.Nay for their sport I will giue them this gift, to theDwarfe I giue a quicke witte, prettie of body, and awarrant his100preferment to a Princes seruice, where by his wisdome he shallgaine more loue then cõmon. And to loggerhead your sonne,I giue a wandering life, and promise he shall neuer lacke: andauow that if in all distresses he call vpon me to helpe him: nowlet them go.Exeunt with curtesies.Boh.Now King, if thou bee a King, I will shew thee whay Ihate the world by demonstration, in the year 1520. was inScotland, a king ouerruled with parasites, mifled by lust, & manycircumstances, too long to trattle on now, much like our110court ofScotlandthis day, that story haue I set down, gang withme to the gallery, & Ile shew thee the same in Action, by guidfellowes of our country men, and then when thou seest that,iudge if any wise man would not leaue the world if he could.Ober.That will I see, lead and ile follow thee.Exeunt.Laus Deo detur in Eternum.I. i.Enter the King of England, the King of Scots,Dorithehis Queen,the Countesse, LadyIda, with other Lords. AndAteukinwiththem aloofe.Attus primus. Scena prima.120K. of Scots.Brother of England, since our neighboring land,And neare alliance doth inuite our loues,The more I think vpon our last accord,The more I greeue your suddaine parting hence:First lawes of friendship did confirme our peace,Now both the seale of faith and marriage bed,The name of father, and the style of friend,These force in me affection full confirmd,So that I greeue, and this my heartie griefe130The heauens record, the world may witnesse wellTo loose your presence, who are now to meA father, brother, and a vowed friend.K. of Eng.Link all these louely stiles good king in one,And since thy griefe exceeds in my depart,I leaue myDoritheato enioy, thy whole compactLoues, and plighted vowes.Brother ofScotland, this is my ioy, my life,Her fathers honour, and her Countries hope,Her mothers comfort, and her husbands blisse:140I tell thee king, in louing of myDoll,Thou bindst her fathers heart and all his friendsIn bands of loue that death cannot dissolue.K. of Scots.Nor can her father loue her like to me,My liues light, and the comfort of my soule:FaireDorithea, that wast Englands pride,Welcome toScotland, and in signe of loue,Lo I inuest thee with the Scottish Crowne.Nobles and Ladies, stoupe vnto your Queene.And Trumpets sound, that Heralds may proclaime,150FaireDoritheapeerlesse Queene of Scots.All.Long liue and prosper our faire Q. of Scots.Enstall and Crowne her.Dor.Thanks to the king of kings for my dignity,Thanks to my father, that prouides so carefully,Thanks to my Lord and husband for this honor,And thanks to all that loue their King and me.All.Long liue faireDoritheaour true Queene.K. of E.Long shine the sun ofScotlandin her pride,Her fathers comfort, and faireScotlandsBride.160ButDorithea, since I must depart,And leaue thee from thy tender mothers charge,Let me aduise my louely daughter first,What best befits her in a forraine land,LiueDoll, for many eyes shall looke on thee,Haue care of honor and the present state:For she that steps to height of Maiestie,Is euen the marke whereat the enemy aimes.Thy vertues shall be construed to vice,Thine affable discourse to abiect minde.170If coy, detracting tongues will call thee proud:Be therefore warie in this slippery state,Honour thy husband, loue him as thy life:Make choyce of friends, as Eagles of their yoong,Who sooth no vice, who flatter not for gaine:But loue such friends as do the truth maintaine.Thinke on these lessons when thou art alone,And thou shalt liue in health when I am gone.Dor.I will engraue these preceps in my heart,And as the wind with calmnesse woes you hence,180Euen so I wish the heauens in all mishaps,May blesse my father with continuall grace.K. of E.Then son farwell, the fauouring windes inuites vs to depart.Long circumstance in taking princely leaues,Is more officious then conuenient.Brother ofScotland, loue me in my childe,You greet me well, if so you will her good.K. of Sc.Then louelyDoll, and all that fauor me,Attend to see our English friends at sea,Let all their charge depend vpon my purse:190They are our neighbors, by whose kind accord,We dare attempt the proudest Potentate.Onely faire Countesse, and your daughter stay,With you I haue some other thing to say.Exeunt all saue the King, the Countesse,Ida,Ateukin, in all royaltie.K. of S.So let them tryumph that haue cause to ioy,But wretched King, thy nuptiall knot is death:Thy Bride the breeder of thy Countries ill,For thy false heart dissenting from thy hand,200Misled by loue, hast made another choyce,Another choyce, euen when thou vowdst thy souleToDorithea, Englands choyseff pride,O then thy wandring eyes bewitcht thy heart,Euen in the Chappell did thy fancie change,When periur’d man, though faireDollhad thy hand,The ScottishIdaesbewtie stale thy heart:Yet feare and loue hath tyde thy readie tongueFrom blabbing forth the passions of thy minde,Lest fearefull silence haue in suttle lookes210Bewrayd the treason of my new vowd loue,Be faire and louelyDoll, but here’s the prizeThat lodgeth here, and entred through mine eyes,Yet how so ere I loue, I must be wise.Now louely Countesse, what reward or grace,May I imploy on you for this your zeale,And humble honors done vs in our Court,In entertainment of the English King.Countesse.It was of dutie Prince that I haue done:And what in fauour may content me most,220Is, that it please your grace to giue me leaue,For to returne vnto my Countrey home.K. of Scots.But louelyIdais your mind the same?Ida.I count of Court my Lord, as wise men do,Tis fit for those that knowes what longs thereto:Each person to his place, the wise to Art,The Cobler to his clout, the Swaine to Cart.K. of Sc.ButIdayou are faire, and bewtie shines,And seemeth best, where pomp her pride refines.Ida.If bewtie (as I know there’s none in me)230Were sworne my loue, and I his life should be:The farther from the Court I were remoued,The more I thinke of heauen I were beloued.K. of Scots.And why?Ida.Because the Court is countedVenusnet,Where gifts and vowes for stales are often set,None, be she chaste asVesta, but shall meeteA curious toong to charme her eares with sweet.K. of Scots.WhyIdathen I see you set at naught,The force of loue.240Ida.In sooth this is my thoght most gratious king,That they that little proueAre mickle blest, from bitter sweets of loue:And weele I wot, I heard a shepheard sing,That like a Bee, Loue hath a little sting:He lurkes in flowres, he pearcheth on the trees,He on Kings pillowes, bends his prettie knees:The Boy is blinde, but when he will not spie,He hath a leaden foote, and wings to flie:Beshrow me yet, for all these strange effects,250If I would like the Lad, that so infects.K. of Scots.Rare wit, fair face, what hart could more desire?ButDollis faire, and doth concerne thee neere.LetDollbe faire, she is wonne, but I must woe,And win faireIda, theres some choyce in two.ButIdathou art coy.Ida.And why dread King?K. of Scots.In that you will dispraise so sweetA thing, as loue, had I my wish.Ida.What then?260K. of Scots.Then would I place his arrow here,His bewtie in that face.Ida.And wereApollomoued and rulde by me,His wisedome should be yours, and mine his tree.K. of Scots.But here returnes our traine.Welcome faireDoll: how fares our father, is he shipt and gone.Enters the traine backe.Dor.My royall father is both shipt and gone,God and faire winds direct him to his home.K. of Sc.Amen say I, wold thou wert with him too:270Then might I haue a fitter time to woo.But Countesse you would be gone, therfore farwellYetIdaif thou wilt, stay thou behind,To accompany my Queene.But if thou like the pleasures of the Court,Or if she likte me tho she left the Court,What should I say? I know not what to say,You may depart, and you my curteous Queene,Leaue me a space, I haue a waightie cause to thinke vpon:Id., it nips me neere:280It came from thence, I feele it burning heere.Exeunt all sauing the King andAteukin.K. of Scot.Now am I free from sight of commõ eie,Where to my selfe I may disclose the griefeThat hath too great a part in mine affects.Ateu.And now is my time, by wiles & words to rise,Greater then those, that thinks themselues more wise.K. of Scots.And first fond King, thy honor doth engraue,Vpon thy browes, the drift of thy disgrace:Thy new vowd loue in sight of God and men,290Linke thee toDorithea, during life.For who more faire and vertuous then thy wife,Deceitfull murtherer of a quiet minde,Fond loue, vile lust, that thus misleads vs men,To vowe our faithes, and fall to sin againe.But Kings stoupe not to euery common thought,Idais faire and wise, fit for a King:And for faireIdawill I hazard life,Venture my Kingdome, Country, and my Crowne:Such fire hath loue, to burne a kingdome downe.300SayDolldislikes, that I estrange my loue,Am I obedient to a womans looke?Nay say her father frowne when he shall heareThat I do hold faireIdaesloue so deare:Let father frowne and fret, and fret and die,Nor earth, nor heauen shall part my loue and I.Yea they shall part vs, but we first must meet,And wo, and win, and yet the world not seet.Yea ther’s the wound, & wounded with that thoghtSo let me die: for all my drift is naught.310Ateu.Most gratious and imperiall Maiestie,K. of S.A little flattery more were but too much,Villaine what art thou that thus darest interrupt a Princes secrets.Ateu.Dread King, thy vassall is a man of Art,Who knowes by constellation of the stars,By oppositions and by drie aspects,The things are past, and those that are to come.K. of S.But where’s thy warrant to approach my presence?Ateu.My zeale and ruth to see your graces wrong,Makes me lament, I did detract so long.320K. of S.If thou knowst thoughts, tell me what mean I now?Ateu.Ile calculate the cause of those your highnesse smiles,And tell your thoughts.K. of S.But least thou spend thy time in idlenesse,And misse the matter that my mind aimes at,Tell me what star was opposite when that was thought?He strikes him on the eare.Ateu.Tis inconuenient mightie Potentate,Whose lookes resemblesIouein Maiestie,To scorne the sooth of science with contempt,330I see in those imperiall lookes of yours,The whole discourse of loue,Saturncombust,With direfull lookes at your natiuitie:Beheld faireVennsin her siluer orbe,I know by certaine exiomies I haue read,Your graces griefs, & further can expresse her name,That holds you thus in fancies bands.K. of S.Thou talkest wonders.Ateu.Nought but truth O King,TisIdais the mistresse of your heart,340Whose youth must take impression of affects,For tender twigs will bowe, and milder mindesWill yeeld to fancie be they followed well.K. of S.What god art thou composde in humane shape,Or boldTrophoniusto decide our doubts,How knowst thou this?Ateu.Euen as I know the meanes,To worke your graces freedome and your loue:Had I the mind as many Courtiers haue,To creepe into your bosome for your coyne,350And beg rewards for euery cap and knee,I then would say, if that your grace would giueThis lease, this manor, or this pattent seald,For this or that I would effect your loue:ButAteukinis no Parasite O Prince,I know your grace knowes schollers are but poore,And therefore as I blush to beg a fee,Your mightinesse is so magnificentYou cannot chuse but cast some gift apart,To ease my bashfull need that cannot beg,360As for your loue, oh might I be imployd,How faithfully wouldAteukincompasse it:But Princes rather trust a smoothing tongue,Then men of Art that can accept the time.K. of Scots.Ateu.If so thy name, for so thou saist,Thine Art appeares in entrance of my loue:And since I deeme thy wisedom matcht with truth,I will exalt thee, and thy selfe aloneShalt be the Agent to dissolue my griefe.Sooth is, I loue, andIdais my loue,370But my new marriage nips me neare,Ateukin:ForDoritheamay not brooke th’abuse.Ateu.These lets are but as moaths against the sun,Yet not so great, like dust before the winde:Yet not so light. Tut pacifie your grace,You haue the sword and scepter in your hand,You are the King, the state depends on you:Your will is law, say that the case were mine,Were she my sister whom your highnesse loues,She should consent, for that our liues, our goods,380Depend on you, and if your Queene repine,Although my nature cannot brooke of blood,And Schollers grieue to heare of murtherous deeds,But if the Lambe should let the Lyons way,By my aduise the Lambe should lose her life.Thus am I bold to speake vnto your grace,Who am too base to kisse your royall feete,For I am poore, nor haue I land nor rent,Nor countenance here in Court, but for my loue,Your Grace shall find none such within the realme.390K. of S.Wilt thou effect my loue, shal she be mine?Ateu.Ile gather Moly-rocus, and the earbes,That heales the wounds of body and the minde,Ile set out charmes and spels, nought else shalbe left,To tame the wanton if she shall rebell,Giue me but tokens of your highnesse trust.K. of S.. Thou shalt haue gold, honor and wealth inough,Winne my Loue, and I will make thee great.Ateu.These words do make me rich most noble Prince,I am more proude of them then any wealth,400Did not your grace suppose I flatter you,Beleeue me I would boldly publish this:Was neuer eye that saw a sweeter face,Nor neuer eare that heard a deeper wit,Oh God how I am rauisht in your woorth.K. of S.Ateu.Follow me, loue must haue ease.Ateu.Ile kisse your highnesse feet, march when you please.Exeunt.EnterSlipper,Nano, andAndrew, with their billes readieI. ii.written in their hands.410Andrew.Stand back sir, mine shall stand highest.Slip.Come vnder mine arme sir, or get a footstoole,Or else by the light of the Moone, I must come to it.Nano.Agree my maisters, euery man to his height,Though I stand lowest, I hope to get the best maister.Andr.Ere I will stoupe to a thistle, I will change turnes,As good lucke comes on the right hand, as the left:Here’s for me, and me, and mine.Andr.But tell me fellowes till better occasion come,Do you seeke maisters?420Ambo.We doo.Andr.But what can you do worthie preferment?Nano.Marry I can smell a knaue from a Rat.Slip.And I can licke a dish before a Cat.Andr.And I can finde two fooles vnfought,How like you that?But in earnest, now tell me of what trades are you two?Slip.How meane you that sir, of what trade?Marry Ile tell you, I haue many trades,The honest trade when I needs must,430The filching trade when time serues,The Cousening trade as I finde occasion.And I haue more qualities, I cannot abide a ful cup vnkist,A fat Capon vncaru’d,A full purse vnpickt,Nor a foole to prooue a Iustice as you do.Andr.Why sot why calst thou me foole?Nano.For examining wiser then thy selfe.Andr.So doth many more then I inScotland.Nano.Yea those are such, as haue more autthoritie then wit,440And more wealth then honestie.Slip.This is my little brother with the great wit, ware him,But what canst thou do, tel me, that art so inquisitiue of vs?Andr.Any thing that concernes a gentleman to do, that can I do.Slip.So you are of the gentle trade?Andr.True.Slip.Then gentle sir, leaue vs to our selues,For heare comes one as if he would lack a seruant ere he went.Ent.Ateu.Why soAteukin? this becomes thee best,Wealth, honour, ease, and angelles in thy chest:450Now may I say, as many often sing,No fishing to the sea, nor seruice to a king.Vnto this high promotions doth belong,Meanes to be talkt of in the thickest throng:And first to fit the humors of my Lord,Sweete layes and lynes of loue I must record.And such sweete lynes and louelayes ile endite:As men may wish for, and my leech delight,And next a traine of gallants at my heeles,That men may say, the world doth run on wheeles.460For men of art, that rise by indirection,To honour and the fauour of their King,Must vse all meanes to saue what they haue got,And win their fauours whom he neuer knew.If any frowne to see my fortunes such,A man must beare a little, not too much:But in good time these billes partend, I thinke,That some good fellowes do for seruice seeke.Read.If any gentleman, spirituall or temperall, will entertaineout of his seruice, a young stripling of the age of 30. yeares, that can470sleep with the soundest, eate with the hungriest, work with the sickest,lye with the lowdest, face with the proudest, &c. that can wait in aGentlemans chamber, when his maister is a myle of, keepe his stablewhen tis emptie, and his purse when tis full, and hath many qualitieswoorse then all these, let him write his name and goe his way,and attendance shall be giuen.Ateu.By my faith a good seruant, which is he?Slip.Trulie sir that am I?Ateu.And why doest thou write such a bill,Are all these qualities in thee?480Slip.O Lord I sir, and a great many more,Some bettet, some worse, some richer some porer,Why sir do you looke so, do they not please you?Ateu.Trulie no, for they are naught and so art thou,If thou hast no better qualities, stand by.Slip.O sir, I tell the worst first, but and you lack a man,I am for you, ile tell you the best qualities I haue.Ateu.Be breefe then.Slip.If you need me in your chamber,I can keepe the doore at a whistle, in your kitchin,490Turne the spit, and licke the pan, and make the fire burne.But if in the stable.Ateu.Yea there would I vse thee.Slip.Why there you kill me, there am I,And turne me to a horse & a wench, and I haue no peere.Ateu.Art thou so good in keeping a horse,I pray thee tell me how many good qualities hath a horse?Slip.Why so sir, a horse hath two properties of a man,That is a proude heart, and a hardie stomacke,Foure properties of a Lyon, a broad brest, a stiffe docket,500Hold your nose master. A wild countenance, and 4. good legs.Nine properties of a Foxe, nine of a Hare, nine of an Asse,And ten of a woman.Ateu.A woman, why what properties of a woman hath a Horse?Slip.O maister, know you not that?Draw your tables, and write what wise I speake.First a merry countenance.Second, a soft pace.Third, a broad forehead.Fourth, broad buttockes.510Fift, hard of warde.Sixt, easie to leape vpon.Seuenth, good at long iourney.Eight, mouing vnder a man.Ninth, alway busie with the mouth.Tenth. Euer chewing on the bridle.Ateu.Thou art a man for me, whats thy name?Slip.An auncient name sir, belonging to theChamber and the night gowne. Gesse you that.Ateu.Whats that,Slipper?520Slip.By my faith well gest, and so tis indeed:Youle be my maister?Ateu.I meane so.Slip.Reade this first.Ateu.Pleaseth it any Gentleman to entertaineA seruant of more wit then stature,Let them subscribe, and attendance shall be giuen.What of this?Slip.He is my brother sir, and we two were borne togither,Must serue togither, and will die togither,530Though we be both hangd.Ateu.Whats thy name?Nano.Nano.Ateu.The etimologie of which word, is a dwarfe:Art not thou the old stoykes son that dwels in his Tombe?Ambo.We are.Ateu.Thou art welcome to me,Wilt thou giue thy selfe wholly to be at my disposition?Nano.In all humilitie I submit my selfe.Ateu.Then will I deck thee Princely, instruct thee courtly,540And present thee to the Queene as my gift.Art thou content?Nano.Yes, and thanke your honor too.Slip.Then welcome brother, and fellow now.Andr.May it please your honor to abase your eye so lowe,As to looke either on my bill or my selfe.Ateu.What are you?An.By birth a gentleman, in profession a scholler,And one that knew your honor inEdenborough,Before your worthinesse cald you to this reputation.550By meAndrew Snoord.Ateu.AndrewI remember thee, follow me,And we will confer further, for my waightie affairesFor the king, commands me to be briefe at this time.Come onNano,Slipperfollow.Exeunt.Enter sirBartramwithEustasand others, booted.I. iii.S. Bar.But tell me louelyEustasas thou lou’st me,Among the many pleasures we haue past,Which is the rifest in thy memorie,560To draw thee ouer to thine auncient friend?Eu.What makes SirBartramthus inquisitiue?Tell me good knight, am I welcome or no?Sir Bar.By sweet S.Andrewand may sale I sweare,As welcom is my honestDickto me,As mornings sun, or as the watry moone,In merkist night, when we the borders track.I tell theeDick, thy sight hath cleerd my thoughts,Of many banefull troubles that there woond.Welcome to sirBartramas his life:570Tell me bonnyDicke, hast got a wife?Eust.A wife God shield sirBartram, that were illTo leaue my wife and wander thus astray:But time and good aduise ere many yeares,May chance to make my fancie bend that way,What newes inScotland? therefore came I hither:To see your Country, and to chat togither.Sir Bar.Why man our Countries blyth, our king is well.Our Queene so, so, the Nobles well, and worseAnd weele are they that were about the king,580But better are the Country Gentlemen.And I may tell theeEustace, in our liues,We old men neuer saw so wondrous change:But leaue this trattle, and tell me what newes,In louely England with our honest friends?Eust.The king, the Court, and all our noble frendsAre well, and God in mercy keepe them so.The Northren Lords and Ladies here abouts,That knowes I came to see your Queen and Court,Commends them to my honest friend sirBartram,590And many others that I haue not seene:Among the rest, the CountesseElinorfromCarlileWhere we merry oft haue bene,Greets well my Lord, and hath directed me,By message this faire Ladies face to see.Sir Bar.I tell theeEustace, lest mine old eyes daze,This is our Scottish moone and euenings pride:This is the blemish of your English Bride:Who sailes by her, are sure of winde at will.Her face is dangerous, her sight is ill:600And yet in sooth sweetDicke, it may be said,The king hath folly, their’s vertue in the mayd.Eust.But knows my friend this portrait, be aduisd?Sir Bar.Is it notIdathe Countesse ofArainsdaughters?Eust.So was I told byElinorofCarlile,But tell me louelyBartram, is the maid euil inclind,Misled, or Concubine vnto the King or any other Lord?Ba.Shuld I be brief & true, thẽ thus myDicke,All Englands grounds yeelds not a blyther Lasse.NorEuropcan art her for her gifts,610Of vertue, honour, beautie, and the rest:But our fõd king not knowing sin in lust,Makes loue by endlesse meanes and precious gifts,And men that see it dare not sayt my friend,But wee may wish that it were otherwise:But I rid thee to view the picture still,For by the persons sights there hangs som ill.Ba.Oh good sirBartram, you suspect I loue,Then were I mad, hee whom I neuer sawe,But how so ere, I feare not entisings,620Desire will giue no place vnto a king:Ile see her whom the world admires so much,That I may say with them, there liues none such.Bar.Be Gad and sal, both see and talke with her,And when th’ hast done, what ere her beautie be,Ile wartant thee her vertues may compare,With the proudest she that waits vpon your Queen.Eu.My Ladie intreats your Worship in to supper.Ba.Guid bonyDick, my wife will tel thee more,Was neuer no man in her booke before:630Be Gad shees blyth, faire lewely, bony, &c.Exeunt.EnterBohanand the fairy king after the first act, toII. Chor.them a rownd of Fairies, or some prittie dance.Boh.Be Gad gramersis little king for this,This sport is better in my exile life,Then euer the deceitfuil werld could yeeld.Ober.I tell theeBohan,Oberonis king,Of quiet, pleasure, profit, and content,Of wealth, of honor, and of all the world,640Tide to no place, yet all are tide to one,Liue thou in this life, exilde from world and men,And I will shew thee wonters ere we part,Boh.Then marke my stay, and the strange doubts,That follow flatterers, lust and lawlesse will,And then say I haue reason to forsake theworld,And all that are within the same.Gow shrowd vs in our harbor where weele see,The pride of folly, as it ought to be.Exeunt.650After the first act.Ober.Here see I good fond actions in thy gyg,And meanes to paint the worldes in constant waiesBut turne thine ene, see which for I can commaund.Enter two battailes strongly fighting, the oneSimi Ranus, theother,Staurobates, she flies, and her Crowne is taken,and she hurt.Boh.What gars this din of mirk and balefull harme,Where euery weane is all betaint with bloud?Ober.This shewes theeBohanwhat is worldly pompe.660Simeranu., the proud Assirrian Queene,WhenNinusdied, did tene in her warres,Three millions of footemen to the fight,Fiue hundreth thousand horse, of armed chars,A hundreth thousand more yet in her prideWas hurt and conquered byS. Taurobates.Then what is pompe?Bohan.I see thou art thine ene.Thou bonny King, if Princes fall from high,My fall is past, vntill I fall to die.670Now marke my talke, and prosecute my gyg.2.Ober.How shuld these crafts withdraw thee from the world?But looke myBohan, pompe allureth.EnterCirusking, humbling themselues: himselfe crowned byOliue Pat, at last dying, layde in a marbell tombe with thisinscriptionWho so thou bee that passest,For I know one shall passe, knowe II amCirusofPersia,680And I prithee leaue me not thus like a clod of clayWherewith my body is couered.All exeunt.Enter the king in great pompe, who reads it, & issueth,crieth vermeum.Boha.What meaneth this?Ober.CirusofPersia,Mightie in life, within a marbell graue,Was layde to rot, whomAlexanderonceBeheld in tombde, and weeping did confesse690Nothing in life could scape from wrethednesse:Why then boast men?Boh.What recke I then of life,Who makes the graue my tomb, the earth my wife:But marke mee more.3.Boh.I can no more, my patience will not warpe.To see these flatteries how they scorne and carpe.Ober.Turne but thy head.Enter our kings carring Crowns, Ladies presenting odors700to Potentates in thrond, who suddainly is slaineby his seruaunts, and thrust out, and so they eate.Exeunt.Sike is the werld, but whilke is he I sawe.Ober.Sesostriswho was conquerour of the werld,Slaine at the last, and stampt on by his slaues.Boh.How blest are peur men then that know their graue,Now marke the sequell of my Gig.Boh.An he weele meete ends: the mirk and sable nightDoth leaue the pering morne to prie abroade,710Thou nill me stay, haile then thou pride of kings,I ken the world, and wot well worldly things,Marke thou my gyg, in mirkest termes that tellesThe loathe of sinnes, and where corruption dwellsHaile me ne mere with showes of gudlie sights:My graue is mine, that rids me from dispights.Accept my gig guid King, and let me rest,The graue with guid men, is a gay built nest.Ober.The rising sunne doth call me hence away,Thankes for thy gyg, I may no longer stay:720But if my traine, did wake thee from thy rest,So shall they sing, thy lullabie to nest.Actus Secundus. Schena Prima.II. i.Enter the Countesse of Arrain, with Ida her daughterin theyr porch, sitting at worke.A Song.Count.FaireIda, might you chuse the greatest goodMidst all the world, in blessings that abound:Wherein my daughter shuld your liking be?Ida.Not in delights, or pompe, or maiestie.730Count.And why?Ida.Since these are meanes to draw the mindeFrom perfect good, and make true iudgement blind.Count.Might you haue wealth, and fortunes ritchest store?Ida.Yet would I (might I chuse) be honest poore.For she that sits at fortunes feete aloweIs sure she shall not taste a further woe.But those that prancke one top of fortunes ball,Still feare a change: and fearing catch a fall.Count.Tut foolish maide, each one contemneth need.740Ida.Good reasõ why, they know not good indeed.Count.Many marrie then, on whom distresse doth loure,Ida.Yes they that vertue deeme an honest dowre.Madame, by right this world I may compare,Vnto my worke, wherein with heedfull care,The heauenly workeman plants with curious hand,As I with needle drawe each thing one land,Euen as hee list, some men like to the Rose,Are fashioned fresh, some in their stalkes do close,And borne do suddaine die: some are but weeds,750And yet from them a secret good proceeds:I with my needle if I please may blot,The fairest rose within my cambricke plot,God with a becke can change each worldly thing,The poore to earth, the begger to the king.What then hath man, wherein hee well may boast,Since by a becke he liues, a louer is lost?Enter Eustace with letters.Count.PeaceIda, heere are straungers neare at hand.Eust.Madame God speed.760Count.I thanke you gentle squire.Eust.The countrie Countesse ofNorthumberland,Doth greete you well, and hath requested mee,To bring these letters to your Ladiship.He carries the letter.Count.I thanke her honour, and your selfe my friend.Shee receiues and peruseth them.I see she meanes you good braue Gentleman,Daughter, the LadieElinorsalutesYour selfe as well as mee, then for her sake770T’were good you entertaind that Courtiour well.Ida.As much salute as may become my sex,And hee in vertue can vouchsafe to thinke,I yeeld him for the courteous Countesse sake.Good sir sit downe, my mother heere and I,Count time mispent, an endlesse vanitie.Eust.Beyond report, the wit, the faire, the shape,What worke you heere, faire Mistresse may I see it?Id.Good Sir looke on, how like you this compact?Eust.Me thinks in this I see true loue in act:780The Woodbines with their leaues do sweetly spred,The Roses blushing prancke them in their red,No flower but boasts the beauties of the spring,This bird hath life indeed if it could sing:What meanes faire Mistres had you in this worke?Ida.My needle sir.Eust.In needles then there lurkes,Some hidden grace I deeme beyond my reach.Id.Not grace in thẽ good sir, but those that teach.Eust.Say that your needle now wereCupidssting,790But ah her eie must bee no lesse,In which is heauen and heauenlinesse,In which the foode of God is shut,Whose powers the purest mindes do glut.Ida.What if it were?Eust.Then see a wondrous thing,I feare mee you would paint inTeneusheart,Affection in his power and chiefest parts.Ida.Good Lord sir no, for hearts but pricked soft,Are wounded sore, for so I heare it oft.800Eust.what recks the second,Where but your happy eye,May make him liue, whomIouehath iudgd to die.Ida.Should life & death within this needle lurke,Ile pricke no hearts, Ile pricke vpon my worke.Enter Ateuken, with Slipper the Clowne.Coun.PeaceIda, I perceiue the fox at hand.Eust.The fox? why fetch your hounds & chace him hence.Count.Oh sir these great men barke at small offence.Ateu.Come will it please you to enter gentle sir?810Offer to exeunt.Stay courteous Ladies, fauour me so much,As to discourse a word or two apart.Count.Good sir, my daughter learnes this rule of mee,To shun resort, and straungers companie:For some are shifting mates that carrie letters,Some such as you too good, because our betters.Slip.Now I pray you sir what a kin are you to a pickrell?Ateu.Why knaue?Slip.By my troth sir, because I neuer knew a proper scituation820fellow of your pitch, fitter to swallow a gudgin.Ateu.What meanst thou by this?Slip.Shifting fellow sir, these be thy words, shifting fellow:This Gentlewoman I feare me, knew your bringing vp.Ateu.How so?Slip.Why sir your father was a Miller,That could shift for a pecke of grist in a bushell,And you a faire spoken Gentleman, that can get more land bya lye, then an honest man by his readie mony.Ateu.Catiue what sayest thou?830Slip.I say sir, that if shee call you shifting knaue,You shall not put her to the proofe.Ateu.And why?Slip.Because sir, liuing by your wit as you doo shifting, isyour letters pattents, it were a hard matter for mee to get mydinner that day, wherein my Maister had not solde a dozen ofdeuices, a case of cogges, and a shute of shifts in the morning:I speak this in your commendation sir, & I pray you so take it.Ateu.If I liue knaue I will bee reuenged, what Gentlemanwould entertaine a rascall, thus to derogate from his honour?840Ida.My Lord why are you thus impatient?Ateu.Not angrieIda, but I teach this knaue,How to behaue himselfe among his betters:Behold faire Countesse to assure your stay,I heere present the signet of the king,Who now by mee faireIdadoth salute you:And since in secret I haue certaine things,In his behalfe good Madame to impart,I craue your daughter to discourse a part.Count.Shee shall in humble dutie bee addrest,850To do his Highnesse will in what shee may.Id.Now gentle sir what would his grace with me?Ateu.Faire comely Nimph, the beautie of your face,Sufficient to bewitch the heauenly powers,Hath wrought so much in him, that now of lateHee findes himselfe made captiue vnto loue,And though his power and Maiestie requires,A straight commaund before an humble sute,Yet hee his mightinesse doth so abase,As to intreat your fauour honest maid.860Ida.Is hee not married sir vnto our Queen?Ateu.Hee is.Ida.And are not they by God accurst,That seuer them whom hee hath knit in one?Ateu.They bee: what then? wee seeke not to displaceThe Princesse from her seate, but since by loueThe king is made your owne, shee is resoludeIn priuate to accept your dalliance,In spight of warre, watch, or worldly eye.Ida.Oh how hee talkes as if hee should not die,870As if that God in iustice once could winke,Vpon that fault I am a sham’d to thinke.Ateu.Tut Mistresse, man at first was born to erre,Women are all not formed to bee Saints:Tis impious for to kill our natiue king,Whom by a little fauour wee may saue.Ida.Better then liue vnchaste, to liue in graue.Ateu.Hee shall erect your state & wed you well.Ida.But can his warrant keep my soule from hell?Ateu.He will inforce, if you resist his sute.880Id.What tho, the world may shame to him accountTo bee a king of men and worldly pelfe.Ateu.Yet hath to power no rule and guide himselfe,I know you gentle Ladie and the care,Both of your honour and his graces health,Makes me confused in this daungerous state.Ida.So counsell him, but sooth thou not his sinne,Tis vaine alurement that doth make him loue,I shame to heare, bee you a shamde to mooue.Count.I see my daughter growes impatient,890I feare me hee pretends some bad intent.Ateu.Will you dispise the king, & scorne him so?Ida.In all alleageance I will serue his grace,But not in lust, oh how I blush to name it?Ateu.An endlesse worke is this, how should I frame it?They discourse priuately.Slip.Oh Mistresse may I turne a word vpon you.Ateu.Friend what wilt thou?Slip.Oh what a happie Gentlewoman bee you trulie, theworld reports this of you Mistresse, that a man can no sooner900come to your house, but the Butler comes with a blacke Iackand sayes welcome friend, heeres a cup of the best for you, verilieMistresse you are said to haue the best Ale in alScotland.Count.Sirrha go fetch him drinke, how likest thou this?Slip.Like it Mistresse? why this is quincy quarie pepperde watchet, single goby, of all that euer I tasted: Ile prooue inthis Ale and tost, the compasse of the whole world. First thisis the earth, it ties in the middle a faire browne tost, a goodlycountrie for hungrie teeth to dwell vpon: next this is the sea,a fair poole for a drie tõgue to fish in: now come I, & seing the910world is naught, I diuide it thus, & because the sea cãnot standwithout the earth, asArist.saith, I put thẽ both into their firstChaoswhich is my bellie, and so mistresse you may see your aleis become a myracle.Eustace.A merrie mate Madame I promise you.Count.Why sigh you sirrah?Slip.Trulie Madam, to think vppon the world, which sinceI denoũced, it keepes such a rumbling in my stomack, that vnlesseyour Cooke giue it a counterbuffe with some of your rostedCapons or beefe, I feare me I shal become a loose body, so920daintie I thinke, I shall neither hold fast before nor behinde.Count.Go take him in and feast this merrie swaine,Syrrha, my cooke is your phisitian.He hath a purge for to disiest the world.Ateu.Will you not,Ida, grant his highnesse this?Ida.As I haue said, in dutie I am his:For other lawlesse lusts, that ill beseeme him,I cannot like, and good I will not deeme him.Count.Idacome in, and sir if so you please,Come take a homelie widdowes intertaine.930Ida.If he haue no great haste, he may come nye.If haste, tho he be gone, I will not crie.Exeunt.Ateu.I see this labour lost, my hope in vaine,Yet will I trie an other drift againe.Enter the Bishop of S. Andrewes, Earle Douglas,II. ii.Morton, with others, one way, the Queene withDwarfes an other way.B. S. Andr.Oh wrack of Cõmon-weale! Oh wretched state!Doug.Oh haplesse flocke whereas the guide is blinde?940They all are in a muse.Mort.Oh heedlesse youth, where counsaile is dispis’d.Dorot.Come prettie knaue, and prank it by my side,Lets see your best attendaunce out of hande.Dwarfe.Madame altho my lims are very small,My heart is good, ile serue you therewithall.Doro.How if I were assaild, what couldst thou do?Dwarf.Madame call helpe, and boldly fight it to,Altho a Bee be but a litle thing:You know faire Queen, it hath a bitter sting.950Dor.How couldst thou do me good were I in greefe?Dwar.Counsell deare Princes, is a choyce releefe.ThoNestorwanted force, great was his wit,And tho I am but weake, my words are fit.S. And.Like to a ship vpon the Ocean seas,Tost in the doubtfull streame without a helme,Such is a Monarke without good aduice,I am ore heard, cast raine vpon thy tongue,Andrewesbeware, reproofe will breed a fear.Mor.Good day my Lord.960B. S. And.LordMortonwell ymet:Whereon deemes LordDouglasall this while?Dou.Of that which yours and my poore heart doth breake:Altho feare shuts our mouths we dare not speake.Dor.What meane these Princes sadly to consult?Somewhat I feare, betideth them amisse,They are so pale in lookes, so vext in minde:In happie houre the Noble Scottish PeeresHaue I incountred you, what makes you mourne?B. S. And.If we with patience may attentiue gaine,970Your Grace shall know the cause of all our griefe.Dor.Speake on good father, come and sit by me:I know thy care is for the common good.B. S. And.As fortune mightie Princes reareth some,To high estate, and place in Common-weale,So by diuine bequest to them is lent,A riper iudgement and more searching eye:Whereby they may discerne the common harme,For where importunes in the world are most,Where all our profits rise and still increase,980There is our minde, thereon we meditate,And what we do partake of good aduice,That we imploy for to concerne the same.)To this intent these nobles and my selfe,That are (or should bee) eyes of Common-weale,Seeing his highnesse reachlesse course of youthHis lawlesse and vnbridled vaine in loue,His to intentiue trust too flatterers,His abiect care of councell and his friendes,Cannot but greeue, and since we cannot drawe990His eye or Iudgement to discerne his faultsSince we haue spake and counsaile is not heard,I for my part, (let others as they list)Will leaue the Court, and leaue him to his will:Least with a ruthfull eye I should behold,His ouerthrow which sore I feare is nye.Doro.Ah father are you so estranged from loue,From due alleageance to your Prince and land,To leaue your King when most he needs your help,The thriftie husbandmen, are neuer woont1000That see their lands vnfruitfull, to forsake them:But when the mould is barraine and vnapt,They toyle, they plow, and make the fallow fatte:The pilot in the dangerous seas is knowne,In calmer waues the sillie sailor striues,Are you not members Lords of Common-weale,And can your head, your deere annointed King,Default ye Lords, except your selues do faile?Oh stay your steps, returne and counsaile him.Doug.Men seek not mosse vpon a rowling stone,1010Or water from the siue, or fire from yce:Or comfort from a rechlesse monarkes hands.Madame he sets vs light that seru’d in Court,In place of credit in his fathers dayes,If we but enter presence of his grace,Our payment is a frowne, a scoffe, a frumpe,Whilst flatteringGnatoprancks it by his side,Soothing the carelesse King in his misdeeds,And if your grace consider your estate,His life should vrge you too if all be true.1020Doug.WhyDouglaswhy?Doug.As if you haue not heardHis lawlesse loue toIdagrowne of late,His carelesse estimate of your estate.Doro.AhDouglasthou misconstrest his intent,He doth but tempt his wife, he tryees my loue:This iniurie pertaines to me, not to you.The King is young, and if he step awrie,He may amend, and I will loue him still.Should we disdaine our vines becauso they sprout1030Before their time? or young men if they straineBeyõd their reach? no vines that bloome and spreadDo promise fruites, and young men that are wilde,In age growe wise, my freendes and Scottish Peeres,If that an English Princesse may preuaile,Stay, stay with him, lo how my zealous prayerIs plead with teares, fie Peeres will you hence?S. And.Madam tis vertue in your grace to plead,But we that see his vaine vntoward course,Cannot but flie the fire before it burne,1040And shun the Court before we see his fall.Doro.Wil you not stay? then Lordings fare you well.Tho you forsake your King, the heauens I hopeWill fauour him through mine incessant prayer.Dwar.Content you Madam, thus oldOuidsings.Tis foolish to bewaile recurelesse things.Dorothea.Peace Dwarffe, these words my patience moue.Dwar.All tho you charme my speech, charme not my loueExeunt Nano Dorothea.Enter the King of Scots, Arius, the nobles spying1050him, returnes.K. of S.Douglashow now? why changest thou thy cheere?Dougl.My priuate troubles are so great my liege,As I must craue your licence for a while:For to intend mine owne affaires at home.Exit.King.You may depart, but why isMortonsad?Mor.The like occasion doth import me too,So I desire your grace to giue me leaue.K. of S.Well sir you may betake you to your ease,When such grim syrs are gone, I see no let1060To worke my will.8. Atten.What like the Eagle then,With often flight wilt thou thy feathers loose?O King canst thou indure to see thy Court,Of finest wits and Iudgements dispossest,Whilst cloking craft with soothing climbes so high,As each bewailes ambition is so bad?Thy father left thee with estate and Crowne,A learned councell to direct thy Court,These careleslie O King thou castest off,1070To entertaine a traine of Sicophants:Thou well mai’st see, although thou wilt not see,That euery eye and eare both sees and hearesThe certaine signes of thine inconstinence:Thou art alyed vnto the English King,By marriage a happie friend indeed,If vsed well, if not a mightie foe.Thinketh your grace he ean indure and brooke,To haue a partner in his daughters loue?Thinketh your grace the grudge of priuie wrongs1080Will not procure him chaunge his smiles to threats?Oh be not blinde to good, call home your Lordes,Displace these flattering Gnatoes, driue them hence:Loue and with kindnesse take your wedlocke wifeOr else (which God forbid) I feare a change,Sinne cannot thriue in courts without a plague.K. of S.Go pack thou too, vnles thou mẽd thy talk:On paine of death proud Bishop get you gone,Vnlesse you headlesse mean to hoppe away.8. Atten.Thou god of heauẽ preuent my countries fall.1090Exeunt.K. of S.These staies and lets to pleasure, plague my thoughts,Forcing my greeuous wounds a new to bleed:Bur care that hath transported me so farre,FaireIdais disperst in thought of thee:Whose answere yeeldes me life, or breeds my death:Yond comes the messenger of weale or woe.Enter Gnato.Ateuki.What newes?Ateu.The adament o King will not be filde,1100But by it selfe, and beautie that exceeds,By some exeeding fauour must be wrought,Idais coy as yet, and doth repine,Obiecting marriage, honour, feare, and death,Shee’s holy, wise, and too precise for me.K. of S.Are these thy fruites of wits, thy sight in Art?Thine eloquence? thy pollicie? thy drift?To mocke thy Prince, thẽ catiue packe thee hence,And let me die deuoured in my loue.Ateu.Good Lord how rage gainsayeth reasons power,1110My deare, my gracious, and beloued Prince,The essence of my sute, my God on earth,Sit downe and rest your selfe, appease your wrath,Least with a frowne yee wound me to the death:Oh that I were included in my graue,That eyther now to saue my Princes life,Must counsell crueltie, or loose my King.K. of S.Why sirrha, is there meanes to mooue her minde?Ateu.Oh should I not offend my royall liege.K. of S.Tell all, spare nought, so I may gaine my loue.1120Ateu.Alasse my soule why art thou torne in twaine,For feare thou talke a thing that should displease?K. of S.Tut, speake what so thou wilt I pardon thee.Ateu.How kinde a word, how courteous is his grace:Who would not die to succour such a king?My liege, this louely mayde of modest minde,Could well incline to loue, but that shee feares,FaireDorotheaspower, your grace doth know,Your wedlocke is a mightie let to loue:WereIdasure to bee your wedded wife,1130That then the twig would bowe, you might command.Ladies loue, presents pompe and high estate.K. of S.AhAteukin, how shuld we display this let?Ateu.Tut mightie Prince, oh that I might bee whist.K. of S.Why dalliest thou?Ateu.I will not mooue my Prince,I will preferre his safetie before my life:Heare mee ô king, tisDorotheasdeath,Must do you good.K. of S.What, murther of my Queene?1140Yet to enioy my loue, what is my Queene?Oh but my vowe and promise to my Queene:I but my hope to gaine a fairer Queene,With how contrarious thoughts am I with drawne?Why linger I twixt hope and doubtfull feare:IfDorothedie, willIdaloue?Ateu.Shee will my Lord.K. of S.Then let her die.Deuise, aduise the meanes,Al likes me wel that lends me hope in loue.1150Ateu.What will your grace consent, then let mee worke:Theres heere in Court a FrenchmanIaquescalde,A fit performer of our enterprise,Whom I by gifts and promise will corrupt,To slaye the Queene, so that your grace will sealeA warrant for the man to saue his life.K. of S.Nought shall he want, write thou and I wil signeAnd gentleGnato, if myIdayeelde,Thon shalt haue what thou wilt, Ile giue the straight,A Barrony, an Earledome for reward.1160Ateu.Frolicke young king, the Lasse shall bee your owne,Ile make her blyth and wanton by my wit.Exennt.
Musicke playing within.I. Chor.EnterAfter Oberõ, King of Fayries, an Antique, who dance abouta Tombe, plac’st conueniently on the Stage, out of the which, suddainlystarts vp as they daunce,Bohana Scot, attyred like a ridstallman, from whom the Antique flyes.OberonManet.Bohan.Ay say, whats thou?Oberon.Thy friendBohan.Bohan.What wot I, or reckI that, whay guid man, I reckno friend, nor ay reck no foe, als10ene to me, git the ganging, andtrouble not may whayet, or aysgar the recon me nene of thay friend, by the mary masse sall I.Ober.Why angrie Scot, I visit thee for loue: then whatmooues thee to wroath?Bohan.The deele awhit reck I thy loue. For I knowetoo well, that true loue tooke her flight twentie winter sence toheauen, whither till ay can, weele I wot, ay sal nere finde loue:an thou lou’st me, leaue me to my selfe. But what were thosePuppits that hopt and skipt about me year whayle?20Oberon.My subiects.Boh.Thay subiects, whay art thou a King?Ober.I am.Bohan.The deele thou art, whay thou look’st not so big asthe king of Clubs, nor so sharpe as the king of Spades, nor sofaine as the king Adaymonds, be the masse ay take thee to beethe king of false harts: therfore I rid thee away, or ayse so curryyour Kingdome, that yous be glad to runne to saue your life.Ober.Why stoycall Scot, do what thou dar’st to me, heare ismy brest strike.30Boh.Thou wilt not threap me, this whiniard has gard manybetter mẽ to lope thẽ thou: but how now? Gos sayds what wiltnot out? whay thou wich, thou deele, gads sute may whiniard.Ober.Why pull man: but what an twear out, how then?Boh.This then, thou weart best begon first: for ayl so lopthy lyms, that thouse go with half a knaues carkasse to the deeleOber.Draw it out, now strike foole, canst thou not?Boh.Bread ay gad, what deele is in me, whay tell mee thouskipiack what art thou?Ober.Nay first tell me what thou wast from thy birth, what40thou hast past hitherto, why thou dwellest in a Tombe, & leauestthe world? and then I will release thee of these bonds, beforenot.Boh.And not before, then needs must needs sal: I was bornea gentleman of the best bloud in allScotland, except the king,when time brought me to age, and death tooke my parents, Ibecame a Courtier, where though ay list not praise my selfe, ayengraued the memory ofBoughonon the skin-coate of some ofthem, and reueld with the proudest.Ober.But why liuing in such reputation, didst thou leaue to50be a Courtier?Boh.Because my pride was vanitie, my expence losse, my rewardfaire words and large promises, & my hopes spilt, for thatafter many yeares seruice, one outran me, and what the deeleshould I then do there. No no, flattering knaues that can cogand prate fastest, speede best in the Court.Ober.To what life didst thou then betake thee?Boh.I then chang’d the Court for the countrey, and the warsfor a wife: but I found the craft of swaines more vile, then theknauery of courtiers: the charge of children more heauie then60seruants, and wiues tongues worse then the warres it selfe: andtherefore I gaue ore that, & went to the Citie to dwell, & thereI kept a great house with smal cheer, but all was nere the neere.Ober.And why?Boh.because in seeking friends, I found table guests to eateme, & my meat, my wiues gossops to bewray the secrets of myheart, kindred to betray the effect of my life, which when I noted,the court ill, the country worse, and the citie worst of all, ingood time my wife died: ay wood she had died twentie wintersooner by the masse, leauing my two sonnes to the world, and70shutting my selfe into this Tombe, where if I dye, I am sure Iam safe from wilde beasts, but whilest I liue, cannot be free frõill companie. Besides, now I am sure gif all my friends faile me,I sall haue a graue of mine owne prouiding: this is all. Nowwhat art thou?Ober.OberonKing of Fayries, that loues thee because thouhatest the world, and to gratulate thee, I brought those Antiquesto shew thee some sport in daunsing, which thou hasteloued well.Bohan.Ha, ha, ha, thinkest thou those puppits can please80me? whay I haue two sonnes, that with one scottish gigge shallbreake the necke of thy Antiques.Ober.That would I faine see.Boha.Why thou shalt, howe boyes.Enter Slipper and Nano.Haud your clacks lads, trattle not for thy life, but gather vppeyour legges and daunce me forthwith a gigge worth the sight.Slip.Why I must talk on Idy fort, wherefore was my tonguemade.Boha.Prattle an thou darst ene word more, and ais dab this90whiniard in thy wembe.Ober.Be quietBohan, Ile strike him dumbe, and his brothertoo, their talk shal not hinder our gyg, fall to it, dance I say mã.Boh.Dance Humer, dance, ay rid thee.The two dance a gig deuised for the nonst.Now get you to the wide world with more thẽ my father gaueme, thats learning enough, both kindes, knauerie & honestie:and that I gaue you, spend at pleasure.Ober.Nay for their sport I will giue them this gift, to theDwarfe I giue a quicke witte, prettie of body, and awarrant his100preferment to a Princes seruice, where by his wisdome he shallgaine more loue then cõmon. And to loggerhead your sonne,I giue a wandering life, and promise he shall neuer lacke: andauow that if in all distresses he call vpon me to helpe him: nowlet them go.Exeunt with curtesies.Boh.Now King, if thou bee a King, I will shew thee whay Ihate the world by demonstration, in the year 1520. was inScotland, a king ouerruled with parasites, mifled by lust, & manycircumstances, too long to trattle on now, much like our110court ofScotlandthis day, that story haue I set down, gang withme to the gallery, & Ile shew thee the same in Action, by guidfellowes of our country men, and then when thou seest that,iudge if any wise man would not leaue the world if he could.Ober.That will I see, lead and ile follow thee.Exeunt.Laus Deo detur in Eternum.I. i.Enter the King of England, the King of Scots,Dorithehis Queen,the Countesse, LadyIda, with other Lords. AndAteukinwiththem aloofe.Attus primus. Scena prima.120K. of Scots.Brother of England, since our neighboring land,And neare alliance doth inuite our loues,The more I think vpon our last accord,The more I greeue your suddaine parting hence:First lawes of friendship did confirme our peace,Now both the seale of faith and marriage bed,The name of father, and the style of friend,These force in me affection full confirmd,So that I greeue, and this my heartie griefe130The heauens record, the world may witnesse wellTo loose your presence, who are now to meA father, brother, and a vowed friend.K. of Eng.Link all these louely stiles good king in one,And since thy griefe exceeds in my depart,I leaue myDoritheato enioy, thy whole compactLoues, and plighted vowes.Brother ofScotland, this is my ioy, my life,Her fathers honour, and her Countries hope,Her mothers comfort, and her husbands blisse:140I tell thee king, in louing of myDoll,Thou bindst her fathers heart and all his friendsIn bands of loue that death cannot dissolue.K. of Scots.Nor can her father loue her like to me,My liues light, and the comfort of my soule:FaireDorithea, that wast Englands pride,Welcome toScotland, and in signe of loue,Lo I inuest thee with the Scottish Crowne.Nobles and Ladies, stoupe vnto your Queene.And Trumpets sound, that Heralds may proclaime,150FaireDoritheapeerlesse Queene of Scots.All.Long liue and prosper our faire Q. of Scots.Enstall and Crowne her.Dor.Thanks to the king of kings for my dignity,Thanks to my father, that prouides so carefully,Thanks to my Lord and husband for this honor,And thanks to all that loue their King and me.All.Long liue faireDoritheaour true Queene.K. of E.Long shine the sun ofScotlandin her pride,Her fathers comfort, and faireScotlandsBride.160ButDorithea, since I must depart,And leaue thee from thy tender mothers charge,Let me aduise my louely daughter first,What best befits her in a forraine land,LiueDoll, for many eyes shall looke on thee,Haue care of honor and the present state:For she that steps to height of Maiestie,Is euen the marke whereat the enemy aimes.Thy vertues shall be construed to vice,Thine affable discourse to abiect minde.170If coy, detracting tongues will call thee proud:Be therefore warie in this slippery state,Honour thy husband, loue him as thy life:Make choyce of friends, as Eagles of their yoong,Who sooth no vice, who flatter not for gaine:But loue such friends as do the truth maintaine.Thinke on these lessons when thou art alone,And thou shalt liue in health when I am gone.Dor.I will engraue these preceps in my heart,And as the wind with calmnesse woes you hence,180Euen so I wish the heauens in all mishaps,May blesse my father with continuall grace.K. of E.Then son farwell, the fauouring windes inuites vs to depart.Long circumstance in taking princely leaues,Is more officious then conuenient.Brother ofScotland, loue me in my childe,You greet me well, if so you will her good.K. of Sc.Then louelyDoll, and all that fauor me,Attend to see our English friends at sea,Let all their charge depend vpon my purse:190They are our neighbors, by whose kind accord,We dare attempt the proudest Potentate.Onely faire Countesse, and your daughter stay,With you I haue some other thing to say.Exeunt all saue the King, the Countesse,Ida,Ateukin, in all royaltie.K. of S.So let them tryumph that haue cause to ioy,But wretched King, thy nuptiall knot is death:Thy Bride the breeder of thy Countries ill,For thy false heart dissenting from thy hand,200Misled by loue, hast made another choyce,Another choyce, euen when thou vowdst thy souleToDorithea, Englands choyseff pride,O then thy wandring eyes bewitcht thy heart,Euen in the Chappell did thy fancie change,When periur’d man, though faireDollhad thy hand,The ScottishIdaesbewtie stale thy heart:Yet feare and loue hath tyde thy readie tongueFrom blabbing forth the passions of thy minde,Lest fearefull silence haue in suttle lookes210Bewrayd the treason of my new vowd loue,Be faire and louelyDoll, but here’s the prizeThat lodgeth here, and entred through mine eyes,Yet how so ere I loue, I must be wise.Now louely Countesse, what reward or grace,May I imploy on you for this your zeale,And humble honors done vs in our Court,In entertainment of the English King.Countesse.It was of dutie Prince that I haue done:And what in fauour may content me most,220Is, that it please your grace to giue me leaue,For to returne vnto my Countrey home.K. of Scots.But louelyIdais your mind the same?Ida.I count of Court my Lord, as wise men do,Tis fit for those that knowes what longs thereto:Each person to his place, the wise to Art,The Cobler to his clout, the Swaine to Cart.K. of Sc.ButIdayou are faire, and bewtie shines,And seemeth best, where pomp her pride refines.Ida.If bewtie (as I know there’s none in me)230Were sworne my loue, and I his life should be:The farther from the Court I were remoued,The more I thinke of heauen I were beloued.K. of Scots.And why?Ida.Because the Court is countedVenusnet,Where gifts and vowes for stales are often set,None, be she chaste asVesta, but shall meeteA curious toong to charme her eares with sweet.K. of Scots.WhyIdathen I see you set at naught,The force of loue.240Ida.In sooth this is my thoght most gratious king,That they that little proueAre mickle blest, from bitter sweets of loue:And weele I wot, I heard a shepheard sing,That like a Bee, Loue hath a little sting:He lurkes in flowres, he pearcheth on the trees,He on Kings pillowes, bends his prettie knees:The Boy is blinde, but when he will not spie,He hath a leaden foote, and wings to flie:Beshrow me yet, for all these strange effects,250If I would like the Lad, that so infects.K. of Scots.Rare wit, fair face, what hart could more desire?ButDollis faire, and doth concerne thee neere.LetDollbe faire, she is wonne, but I must woe,And win faireIda, theres some choyce in two.ButIdathou art coy.Ida.And why dread King?K. of Scots.In that you will dispraise so sweetA thing, as loue, had I my wish.Ida.What then?260K. of Scots.Then would I place his arrow here,His bewtie in that face.Ida.And wereApollomoued and rulde by me,His wisedome should be yours, and mine his tree.K. of Scots.But here returnes our traine.Welcome faireDoll: how fares our father, is he shipt and gone.Enters the traine backe.Dor.My royall father is both shipt and gone,God and faire winds direct him to his home.K. of Sc.Amen say I, wold thou wert with him too:270Then might I haue a fitter time to woo.But Countesse you would be gone, therfore farwellYetIdaif thou wilt, stay thou behind,To accompany my Queene.But if thou like the pleasures of the Court,Or if she likte me tho she left the Court,What should I say? I know not what to say,You may depart, and you my curteous Queene,Leaue me a space, I haue a waightie cause to thinke vpon:Id., it nips me neere:280It came from thence, I feele it burning heere.Exeunt all sauing the King andAteukin.K. of Scot.Now am I free from sight of commõ eie,Where to my selfe I may disclose the griefeThat hath too great a part in mine affects.Ateu.And now is my time, by wiles & words to rise,Greater then those, that thinks themselues more wise.K. of Scots.And first fond King, thy honor doth engraue,Vpon thy browes, the drift of thy disgrace:Thy new vowd loue in sight of God and men,290Linke thee toDorithea, during life.For who more faire and vertuous then thy wife,Deceitfull murtherer of a quiet minde,Fond loue, vile lust, that thus misleads vs men,To vowe our faithes, and fall to sin againe.But Kings stoupe not to euery common thought,Idais faire and wise, fit for a King:And for faireIdawill I hazard life,Venture my Kingdome, Country, and my Crowne:Such fire hath loue, to burne a kingdome downe.300SayDolldislikes, that I estrange my loue,Am I obedient to a womans looke?Nay say her father frowne when he shall heareThat I do hold faireIdaesloue so deare:Let father frowne and fret, and fret and die,Nor earth, nor heauen shall part my loue and I.Yea they shall part vs, but we first must meet,And wo, and win, and yet the world not seet.Yea ther’s the wound, & wounded with that thoghtSo let me die: for all my drift is naught.310Ateu.Most gratious and imperiall Maiestie,K. of S.A little flattery more were but too much,Villaine what art thou that thus darest interrupt a Princes secrets.Ateu.Dread King, thy vassall is a man of Art,Who knowes by constellation of the stars,By oppositions and by drie aspects,The things are past, and those that are to come.K. of S.But where’s thy warrant to approach my presence?Ateu.My zeale and ruth to see your graces wrong,Makes me lament, I did detract so long.320K. of S.If thou knowst thoughts, tell me what mean I now?Ateu.Ile calculate the cause of those your highnesse smiles,And tell your thoughts.K. of S.But least thou spend thy time in idlenesse,And misse the matter that my mind aimes at,Tell me what star was opposite when that was thought?He strikes him on the eare.Ateu.Tis inconuenient mightie Potentate,Whose lookes resemblesIouein Maiestie,To scorne the sooth of science with contempt,330I see in those imperiall lookes of yours,The whole discourse of loue,Saturncombust,With direfull lookes at your natiuitie:Beheld faireVennsin her siluer orbe,I know by certaine exiomies I haue read,Your graces griefs, & further can expresse her name,That holds you thus in fancies bands.K. of S.Thou talkest wonders.Ateu.Nought but truth O King,TisIdais the mistresse of your heart,340Whose youth must take impression of affects,For tender twigs will bowe, and milder mindesWill yeeld to fancie be they followed well.K. of S.What god art thou composde in humane shape,Or boldTrophoniusto decide our doubts,How knowst thou this?Ateu.Euen as I know the meanes,To worke your graces freedome and your loue:Had I the mind as many Courtiers haue,To creepe into your bosome for your coyne,350And beg rewards for euery cap and knee,I then would say, if that your grace would giueThis lease, this manor, or this pattent seald,For this or that I would effect your loue:ButAteukinis no Parasite O Prince,I know your grace knowes schollers are but poore,And therefore as I blush to beg a fee,Your mightinesse is so magnificentYou cannot chuse but cast some gift apart,To ease my bashfull need that cannot beg,360As for your loue, oh might I be imployd,How faithfully wouldAteukincompasse it:But Princes rather trust a smoothing tongue,Then men of Art that can accept the time.K. of Scots.Ateu.If so thy name, for so thou saist,Thine Art appeares in entrance of my loue:And since I deeme thy wisedom matcht with truth,I will exalt thee, and thy selfe aloneShalt be the Agent to dissolue my griefe.Sooth is, I loue, andIdais my loue,370But my new marriage nips me neare,Ateukin:ForDoritheamay not brooke th’abuse.Ateu.These lets are but as moaths against the sun,Yet not so great, like dust before the winde:Yet not so light. Tut pacifie your grace,You haue the sword and scepter in your hand,You are the King, the state depends on you:Your will is law, say that the case were mine,Were she my sister whom your highnesse loues,She should consent, for that our liues, our goods,380Depend on you, and if your Queene repine,Although my nature cannot brooke of blood,And Schollers grieue to heare of murtherous deeds,But if the Lambe should let the Lyons way,By my aduise the Lambe should lose her life.Thus am I bold to speake vnto your grace,Who am too base to kisse your royall feete,For I am poore, nor haue I land nor rent,Nor countenance here in Court, but for my loue,Your Grace shall find none such within the realme.390K. of S.Wilt thou effect my loue, shal she be mine?Ateu.Ile gather Moly-rocus, and the earbes,That heales the wounds of body and the minde,Ile set out charmes and spels, nought else shalbe left,To tame the wanton if she shall rebell,Giue me but tokens of your highnesse trust.K. of S.. Thou shalt haue gold, honor and wealth inough,Winne my Loue, and I will make thee great.Ateu.These words do make me rich most noble Prince,I am more proude of them then any wealth,400Did not your grace suppose I flatter you,Beleeue me I would boldly publish this:Was neuer eye that saw a sweeter face,Nor neuer eare that heard a deeper wit,Oh God how I am rauisht in your woorth.K. of S.Ateu.Follow me, loue must haue ease.Ateu.Ile kisse your highnesse feet, march when you please.Exeunt.EnterSlipper,Nano, andAndrew, with their billes readieI. ii.written in their hands.410Andrew.Stand back sir, mine shall stand highest.Slip.Come vnder mine arme sir, or get a footstoole,Or else by the light of the Moone, I must come to it.Nano.Agree my maisters, euery man to his height,Though I stand lowest, I hope to get the best maister.Andr.Ere I will stoupe to a thistle, I will change turnes,As good lucke comes on the right hand, as the left:Here’s for me, and me, and mine.Andr.But tell me fellowes till better occasion come,Do you seeke maisters?420Ambo.We doo.Andr.But what can you do worthie preferment?Nano.Marry I can smell a knaue from a Rat.Slip.And I can licke a dish before a Cat.Andr.And I can finde two fooles vnfought,How like you that?But in earnest, now tell me of what trades are you two?Slip.How meane you that sir, of what trade?Marry Ile tell you, I haue many trades,The honest trade when I needs must,430The filching trade when time serues,The Cousening trade as I finde occasion.And I haue more qualities, I cannot abide a ful cup vnkist,A fat Capon vncaru’d,A full purse vnpickt,Nor a foole to prooue a Iustice as you do.Andr.Why sot why calst thou me foole?Nano.For examining wiser then thy selfe.Andr.So doth many more then I inScotland.Nano.Yea those are such, as haue more autthoritie then wit,440And more wealth then honestie.Slip.This is my little brother with the great wit, ware him,But what canst thou do, tel me, that art so inquisitiue of vs?Andr.Any thing that concernes a gentleman to do, that can I do.Slip.So you are of the gentle trade?Andr.True.Slip.Then gentle sir, leaue vs to our selues,For heare comes one as if he would lack a seruant ere he went.Ent.Ateu.Why soAteukin? this becomes thee best,Wealth, honour, ease, and angelles in thy chest:450Now may I say, as many often sing,No fishing to the sea, nor seruice to a king.Vnto this high promotions doth belong,Meanes to be talkt of in the thickest throng:And first to fit the humors of my Lord,Sweete layes and lynes of loue I must record.And such sweete lynes and louelayes ile endite:As men may wish for, and my leech delight,And next a traine of gallants at my heeles,That men may say, the world doth run on wheeles.460For men of art, that rise by indirection,To honour and the fauour of their King,Must vse all meanes to saue what they haue got,And win their fauours whom he neuer knew.If any frowne to see my fortunes such,A man must beare a little, not too much:But in good time these billes partend, I thinke,That some good fellowes do for seruice seeke.Read.If any gentleman, spirituall or temperall, will entertaineout of his seruice, a young stripling of the age of 30. yeares, that can470sleep with the soundest, eate with the hungriest, work with the sickest,lye with the lowdest, face with the proudest, &c. that can wait in aGentlemans chamber, when his maister is a myle of, keepe his stablewhen tis emptie, and his purse when tis full, and hath many qualitieswoorse then all these, let him write his name and goe his way,and attendance shall be giuen.Ateu.By my faith a good seruant, which is he?Slip.Trulie sir that am I?Ateu.And why doest thou write such a bill,Are all these qualities in thee?480Slip.O Lord I sir, and a great many more,Some bettet, some worse, some richer some porer,Why sir do you looke so, do they not please you?Ateu.Trulie no, for they are naught and so art thou,If thou hast no better qualities, stand by.Slip.O sir, I tell the worst first, but and you lack a man,I am for you, ile tell you the best qualities I haue.Ateu.Be breefe then.Slip.If you need me in your chamber,I can keepe the doore at a whistle, in your kitchin,490Turne the spit, and licke the pan, and make the fire burne.But if in the stable.Ateu.Yea there would I vse thee.Slip.Why there you kill me, there am I,And turne me to a horse & a wench, and I haue no peere.Ateu.Art thou so good in keeping a horse,I pray thee tell me how many good qualities hath a horse?Slip.Why so sir, a horse hath two properties of a man,That is a proude heart, and a hardie stomacke,Foure properties of a Lyon, a broad brest, a stiffe docket,500Hold your nose master. A wild countenance, and 4. good legs.Nine properties of a Foxe, nine of a Hare, nine of an Asse,And ten of a woman.Ateu.A woman, why what properties of a woman hath a Horse?Slip.O maister, know you not that?Draw your tables, and write what wise I speake.First a merry countenance.Second, a soft pace.Third, a broad forehead.Fourth, broad buttockes.510Fift, hard of warde.Sixt, easie to leape vpon.Seuenth, good at long iourney.Eight, mouing vnder a man.Ninth, alway busie with the mouth.Tenth. Euer chewing on the bridle.Ateu.Thou art a man for me, whats thy name?Slip.An auncient name sir, belonging to theChamber and the night gowne. Gesse you that.Ateu.Whats that,Slipper?520Slip.By my faith well gest, and so tis indeed:Youle be my maister?Ateu.I meane so.Slip.Reade this first.Ateu.Pleaseth it any Gentleman to entertaineA seruant of more wit then stature,Let them subscribe, and attendance shall be giuen.What of this?Slip.He is my brother sir, and we two were borne togither,Must serue togither, and will die togither,530Though we be both hangd.Ateu.Whats thy name?Nano.Nano.Ateu.The etimologie of which word, is a dwarfe:Art not thou the old stoykes son that dwels in his Tombe?Ambo.We are.Ateu.Thou art welcome to me,Wilt thou giue thy selfe wholly to be at my disposition?Nano.In all humilitie I submit my selfe.Ateu.Then will I deck thee Princely, instruct thee courtly,540And present thee to the Queene as my gift.Art thou content?Nano.Yes, and thanke your honor too.Slip.Then welcome brother, and fellow now.Andr.May it please your honor to abase your eye so lowe,As to looke either on my bill or my selfe.Ateu.What are you?An.By birth a gentleman, in profession a scholler,And one that knew your honor inEdenborough,Before your worthinesse cald you to this reputation.550By meAndrew Snoord.Ateu.AndrewI remember thee, follow me,And we will confer further, for my waightie affairesFor the king, commands me to be briefe at this time.Come onNano,Slipperfollow.Exeunt.Enter sirBartramwithEustasand others, booted.I. iii.S. Bar.But tell me louelyEustasas thou lou’st me,Among the many pleasures we haue past,Which is the rifest in thy memorie,560To draw thee ouer to thine auncient friend?Eu.What makes SirBartramthus inquisitiue?Tell me good knight, am I welcome or no?Sir Bar.By sweet S.Andrewand may sale I sweare,As welcom is my honestDickto me,As mornings sun, or as the watry moone,In merkist night, when we the borders track.I tell theeDick, thy sight hath cleerd my thoughts,Of many banefull troubles that there woond.Welcome to sirBartramas his life:570Tell me bonnyDicke, hast got a wife?Eust.A wife God shield sirBartram, that were illTo leaue my wife and wander thus astray:But time and good aduise ere many yeares,May chance to make my fancie bend that way,What newes inScotland? therefore came I hither:To see your Country, and to chat togither.Sir Bar.Why man our Countries blyth, our king is well.Our Queene so, so, the Nobles well, and worseAnd weele are they that were about the king,580But better are the Country Gentlemen.And I may tell theeEustace, in our liues,We old men neuer saw so wondrous change:But leaue this trattle, and tell me what newes,In louely England with our honest friends?Eust.The king, the Court, and all our noble frendsAre well, and God in mercy keepe them so.The Northren Lords and Ladies here abouts,That knowes I came to see your Queen and Court,Commends them to my honest friend sirBartram,590And many others that I haue not seene:Among the rest, the CountesseElinorfromCarlileWhere we merry oft haue bene,Greets well my Lord, and hath directed me,By message this faire Ladies face to see.Sir Bar.I tell theeEustace, lest mine old eyes daze,This is our Scottish moone and euenings pride:This is the blemish of your English Bride:Who sailes by her, are sure of winde at will.Her face is dangerous, her sight is ill:600And yet in sooth sweetDicke, it may be said,The king hath folly, their’s vertue in the mayd.Eust.But knows my friend this portrait, be aduisd?Sir Bar.Is it notIdathe Countesse ofArainsdaughters?Eust.So was I told byElinorofCarlile,But tell me louelyBartram, is the maid euil inclind,Misled, or Concubine vnto the King or any other Lord?Ba.Shuld I be brief & true, thẽ thus myDicke,All Englands grounds yeelds not a blyther Lasse.NorEuropcan art her for her gifts,610Of vertue, honour, beautie, and the rest:But our fõd king not knowing sin in lust,Makes loue by endlesse meanes and precious gifts,And men that see it dare not sayt my friend,But wee may wish that it were otherwise:But I rid thee to view the picture still,For by the persons sights there hangs som ill.Ba.Oh good sirBartram, you suspect I loue,Then were I mad, hee whom I neuer sawe,But how so ere, I feare not entisings,620Desire will giue no place vnto a king:Ile see her whom the world admires so much,That I may say with them, there liues none such.Bar.Be Gad and sal, both see and talke with her,And when th’ hast done, what ere her beautie be,Ile wartant thee her vertues may compare,With the proudest she that waits vpon your Queen.Eu.My Ladie intreats your Worship in to supper.Ba.Guid bonyDick, my wife will tel thee more,Was neuer no man in her booke before:630Be Gad shees blyth, faire lewely, bony, &c.Exeunt.EnterBohanand the fairy king after the first act, toII. Chor.them a rownd of Fairies, or some prittie dance.Boh.Be Gad gramersis little king for this,This sport is better in my exile life,Then euer the deceitfuil werld could yeeld.Ober.I tell theeBohan,Oberonis king,Of quiet, pleasure, profit, and content,Of wealth, of honor, and of all the world,640Tide to no place, yet all are tide to one,Liue thou in this life, exilde from world and men,And I will shew thee wonters ere we part,Boh.Then marke my stay, and the strange doubts,That follow flatterers, lust and lawlesse will,And then say I haue reason to forsake theworld,And all that are within the same.Gow shrowd vs in our harbor where weele see,The pride of folly, as it ought to be.Exeunt.650After the first act.Ober.Here see I good fond actions in thy gyg,And meanes to paint the worldes in constant waiesBut turne thine ene, see which for I can commaund.Enter two battailes strongly fighting, the oneSimi Ranus, theother,Staurobates, she flies, and her Crowne is taken,and she hurt.Boh.What gars this din of mirk and balefull harme,Where euery weane is all betaint with bloud?Ober.This shewes theeBohanwhat is worldly pompe.660Simeranu., the proud Assirrian Queene,WhenNinusdied, did tene in her warres,Three millions of footemen to the fight,Fiue hundreth thousand horse, of armed chars,A hundreth thousand more yet in her prideWas hurt and conquered byS. Taurobates.Then what is pompe?Bohan.I see thou art thine ene.Thou bonny King, if Princes fall from high,My fall is past, vntill I fall to die.670Now marke my talke, and prosecute my gyg.2.Ober.How shuld these crafts withdraw thee from the world?But looke myBohan, pompe allureth.EnterCirusking, humbling themselues: himselfe crowned byOliue Pat, at last dying, layde in a marbell tombe with thisinscriptionWho so thou bee that passest,For I know one shall passe, knowe II amCirusofPersia,680And I prithee leaue me not thus like a clod of clayWherewith my body is couered.All exeunt.Enter the king in great pompe, who reads it, & issueth,crieth vermeum.Boha.What meaneth this?Ober.CirusofPersia,Mightie in life, within a marbell graue,Was layde to rot, whomAlexanderonceBeheld in tombde, and weeping did confesse690Nothing in life could scape from wrethednesse:Why then boast men?Boh.What recke I then of life,Who makes the graue my tomb, the earth my wife:But marke mee more.3.Boh.I can no more, my patience will not warpe.To see these flatteries how they scorne and carpe.Ober.Turne but thy head.Enter our kings carring Crowns, Ladies presenting odors700to Potentates in thrond, who suddainly is slaineby his seruaunts, and thrust out, and so they eate.Exeunt.Sike is the werld, but whilke is he I sawe.Ober.Sesostriswho was conquerour of the werld,Slaine at the last, and stampt on by his slaues.Boh.How blest are peur men then that know their graue,Now marke the sequell of my Gig.Boh.An he weele meete ends: the mirk and sable nightDoth leaue the pering morne to prie abroade,710Thou nill me stay, haile then thou pride of kings,I ken the world, and wot well worldly things,Marke thou my gyg, in mirkest termes that tellesThe loathe of sinnes, and where corruption dwellsHaile me ne mere with showes of gudlie sights:My graue is mine, that rids me from dispights.Accept my gig guid King, and let me rest,The graue with guid men, is a gay built nest.Ober.The rising sunne doth call me hence away,Thankes for thy gyg, I may no longer stay:720But if my traine, did wake thee from thy rest,So shall they sing, thy lullabie to nest.Actus Secundus. Schena Prima.II. i.Enter the Countesse of Arrain, with Ida her daughterin theyr porch, sitting at worke.A Song.Count.FaireIda, might you chuse the greatest goodMidst all the world, in blessings that abound:Wherein my daughter shuld your liking be?Ida.Not in delights, or pompe, or maiestie.730Count.And why?Ida.Since these are meanes to draw the mindeFrom perfect good, and make true iudgement blind.Count.Might you haue wealth, and fortunes ritchest store?Ida.Yet would I (might I chuse) be honest poore.For she that sits at fortunes feete aloweIs sure she shall not taste a further woe.But those that prancke one top of fortunes ball,Still feare a change: and fearing catch a fall.Count.Tut foolish maide, each one contemneth need.740Ida.Good reasõ why, they know not good indeed.Count.Many marrie then, on whom distresse doth loure,Ida.Yes they that vertue deeme an honest dowre.Madame, by right this world I may compare,Vnto my worke, wherein with heedfull care,The heauenly workeman plants with curious hand,As I with needle drawe each thing one land,Euen as hee list, some men like to the Rose,Are fashioned fresh, some in their stalkes do close,And borne do suddaine die: some are but weeds,750And yet from them a secret good proceeds:I with my needle if I please may blot,The fairest rose within my cambricke plot,God with a becke can change each worldly thing,The poore to earth, the begger to the king.What then hath man, wherein hee well may boast,Since by a becke he liues, a louer is lost?Enter Eustace with letters.Count.PeaceIda, heere are straungers neare at hand.Eust.Madame God speed.760Count.I thanke you gentle squire.Eust.The countrie Countesse ofNorthumberland,Doth greete you well, and hath requested mee,To bring these letters to your Ladiship.He carries the letter.Count.I thanke her honour, and your selfe my friend.Shee receiues and peruseth them.I see she meanes you good braue Gentleman,Daughter, the LadieElinorsalutesYour selfe as well as mee, then for her sake770T’were good you entertaind that Courtiour well.Ida.As much salute as may become my sex,And hee in vertue can vouchsafe to thinke,I yeeld him for the courteous Countesse sake.Good sir sit downe, my mother heere and I,Count time mispent, an endlesse vanitie.Eust.Beyond report, the wit, the faire, the shape,What worke you heere, faire Mistresse may I see it?Id.Good Sir looke on, how like you this compact?Eust.Me thinks in this I see true loue in act:780The Woodbines with their leaues do sweetly spred,The Roses blushing prancke them in their red,No flower but boasts the beauties of the spring,This bird hath life indeed if it could sing:What meanes faire Mistres had you in this worke?Ida.My needle sir.Eust.In needles then there lurkes,Some hidden grace I deeme beyond my reach.Id.Not grace in thẽ good sir, but those that teach.Eust.Say that your needle now wereCupidssting,790But ah her eie must bee no lesse,In which is heauen and heauenlinesse,In which the foode of God is shut,Whose powers the purest mindes do glut.Ida.What if it were?Eust.Then see a wondrous thing,I feare mee you would paint inTeneusheart,Affection in his power and chiefest parts.Ida.Good Lord sir no, for hearts but pricked soft,Are wounded sore, for so I heare it oft.800Eust.what recks the second,Where but your happy eye,May make him liue, whomIouehath iudgd to die.Ida.Should life & death within this needle lurke,Ile pricke no hearts, Ile pricke vpon my worke.Enter Ateuken, with Slipper the Clowne.Coun.PeaceIda, I perceiue the fox at hand.Eust.The fox? why fetch your hounds & chace him hence.Count.Oh sir these great men barke at small offence.Ateu.Come will it please you to enter gentle sir?810Offer to exeunt.Stay courteous Ladies, fauour me so much,As to discourse a word or two apart.Count.Good sir, my daughter learnes this rule of mee,To shun resort, and straungers companie:For some are shifting mates that carrie letters,Some such as you too good, because our betters.Slip.Now I pray you sir what a kin are you to a pickrell?Ateu.Why knaue?Slip.By my troth sir, because I neuer knew a proper scituation820fellow of your pitch, fitter to swallow a gudgin.Ateu.What meanst thou by this?Slip.Shifting fellow sir, these be thy words, shifting fellow:This Gentlewoman I feare me, knew your bringing vp.Ateu.How so?Slip.Why sir your father was a Miller,That could shift for a pecke of grist in a bushell,And you a faire spoken Gentleman, that can get more land bya lye, then an honest man by his readie mony.Ateu.Catiue what sayest thou?830Slip.I say sir, that if shee call you shifting knaue,You shall not put her to the proofe.Ateu.And why?Slip.Because sir, liuing by your wit as you doo shifting, isyour letters pattents, it were a hard matter for mee to get mydinner that day, wherein my Maister had not solde a dozen ofdeuices, a case of cogges, and a shute of shifts in the morning:I speak this in your commendation sir, & I pray you so take it.Ateu.If I liue knaue I will bee reuenged, what Gentlemanwould entertaine a rascall, thus to derogate from his honour?840Ida.My Lord why are you thus impatient?Ateu.Not angrieIda, but I teach this knaue,How to behaue himselfe among his betters:Behold faire Countesse to assure your stay,I heere present the signet of the king,Who now by mee faireIdadoth salute you:And since in secret I haue certaine things,In his behalfe good Madame to impart,I craue your daughter to discourse a part.Count.Shee shall in humble dutie bee addrest,850To do his Highnesse will in what shee may.Id.Now gentle sir what would his grace with me?Ateu.Faire comely Nimph, the beautie of your face,Sufficient to bewitch the heauenly powers,Hath wrought so much in him, that now of lateHee findes himselfe made captiue vnto loue,And though his power and Maiestie requires,A straight commaund before an humble sute,Yet hee his mightinesse doth so abase,As to intreat your fauour honest maid.860Ida.Is hee not married sir vnto our Queen?Ateu.Hee is.Ida.And are not they by God accurst,That seuer them whom hee hath knit in one?Ateu.They bee: what then? wee seeke not to displaceThe Princesse from her seate, but since by loueThe king is made your owne, shee is resoludeIn priuate to accept your dalliance,In spight of warre, watch, or worldly eye.Ida.Oh how hee talkes as if hee should not die,870As if that God in iustice once could winke,Vpon that fault I am a sham’d to thinke.Ateu.Tut Mistresse, man at first was born to erre,Women are all not formed to bee Saints:Tis impious for to kill our natiue king,Whom by a little fauour wee may saue.Ida.Better then liue vnchaste, to liue in graue.Ateu.Hee shall erect your state & wed you well.Ida.But can his warrant keep my soule from hell?Ateu.He will inforce, if you resist his sute.880Id.What tho, the world may shame to him accountTo bee a king of men and worldly pelfe.Ateu.Yet hath to power no rule and guide himselfe,I know you gentle Ladie and the care,Both of your honour and his graces health,Makes me confused in this daungerous state.Ida.So counsell him, but sooth thou not his sinne,Tis vaine alurement that doth make him loue,I shame to heare, bee you a shamde to mooue.Count.I see my daughter growes impatient,890I feare me hee pretends some bad intent.Ateu.Will you dispise the king, & scorne him so?Ida.In all alleageance I will serue his grace,But not in lust, oh how I blush to name it?Ateu.An endlesse worke is this, how should I frame it?They discourse priuately.Slip.Oh Mistresse may I turne a word vpon you.Ateu.Friend what wilt thou?Slip.Oh what a happie Gentlewoman bee you trulie, theworld reports this of you Mistresse, that a man can no sooner900come to your house, but the Butler comes with a blacke Iackand sayes welcome friend, heeres a cup of the best for you, verilieMistresse you are said to haue the best Ale in alScotland.Count.Sirrha go fetch him drinke, how likest thou this?Slip.Like it Mistresse? why this is quincy quarie pepperde watchet, single goby, of all that euer I tasted: Ile prooue inthis Ale and tost, the compasse of the whole world. First thisis the earth, it ties in the middle a faire browne tost, a goodlycountrie for hungrie teeth to dwell vpon: next this is the sea,a fair poole for a drie tõgue to fish in: now come I, & seing the910world is naught, I diuide it thus, & because the sea cãnot standwithout the earth, asArist.saith, I put thẽ both into their firstChaoswhich is my bellie, and so mistresse you may see your aleis become a myracle.Eustace.A merrie mate Madame I promise you.Count.Why sigh you sirrah?Slip.Trulie Madam, to think vppon the world, which sinceI denoũced, it keepes such a rumbling in my stomack, that vnlesseyour Cooke giue it a counterbuffe with some of your rostedCapons or beefe, I feare me I shal become a loose body, so920daintie I thinke, I shall neither hold fast before nor behinde.Count.Go take him in and feast this merrie swaine,Syrrha, my cooke is your phisitian.He hath a purge for to disiest the world.Ateu.Will you not,Ida, grant his highnesse this?Ida.As I haue said, in dutie I am his:For other lawlesse lusts, that ill beseeme him,I cannot like, and good I will not deeme him.Count.Idacome in, and sir if so you please,Come take a homelie widdowes intertaine.930Ida.If he haue no great haste, he may come nye.If haste, tho he be gone, I will not crie.Exeunt.Ateu.I see this labour lost, my hope in vaine,Yet will I trie an other drift againe.Enter the Bishop of S. Andrewes, Earle Douglas,II. ii.Morton, with others, one way, the Queene withDwarfes an other way.B. S. Andr.Oh wrack of Cõmon-weale! Oh wretched state!Doug.Oh haplesse flocke whereas the guide is blinde?940They all are in a muse.Mort.Oh heedlesse youth, where counsaile is dispis’d.Dorot.Come prettie knaue, and prank it by my side,Lets see your best attendaunce out of hande.Dwarfe.Madame altho my lims are very small,My heart is good, ile serue you therewithall.Doro.How if I were assaild, what couldst thou do?Dwarf.Madame call helpe, and boldly fight it to,Altho a Bee be but a litle thing:You know faire Queen, it hath a bitter sting.950Dor.How couldst thou do me good were I in greefe?Dwar.Counsell deare Princes, is a choyce releefe.ThoNestorwanted force, great was his wit,And tho I am but weake, my words are fit.S. And.Like to a ship vpon the Ocean seas,Tost in the doubtfull streame without a helme,Such is a Monarke without good aduice,I am ore heard, cast raine vpon thy tongue,Andrewesbeware, reproofe will breed a fear.Mor.Good day my Lord.960B. S. And.LordMortonwell ymet:Whereon deemes LordDouglasall this while?Dou.Of that which yours and my poore heart doth breake:Altho feare shuts our mouths we dare not speake.Dor.What meane these Princes sadly to consult?Somewhat I feare, betideth them amisse,They are so pale in lookes, so vext in minde:In happie houre the Noble Scottish PeeresHaue I incountred you, what makes you mourne?B. S. And.If we with patience may attentiue gaine,970Your Grace shall know the cause of all our griefe.Dor.Speake on good father, come and sit by me:I know thy care is for the common good.B. S. And.As fortune mightie Princes reareth some,To high estate, and place in Common-weale,So by diuine bequest to them is lent,A riper iudgement and more searching eye:Whereby they may discerne the common harme,For where importunes in the world are most,Where all our profits rise and still increase,980There is our minde, thereon we meditate,And what we do partake of good aduice,That we imploy for to concerne the same.)To this intent these nobles and my selfe,That are (or should bee) eyes of Common-weale,Seeing his highnesse reachlesse course of youthHis lawlesse and vnbridled vaine in loue,His to intentiue trust too flatterers,His abiect care of councell and his friendes,Cannot but greeue, and since we cannot drawe990His eye or Iudgement to discerne his faultsSince we haue spake and counsaile is not heard,I for my part, (let others as they list)Will leaue the Court, and leaue him to his will:Least with a ruthfull eye I should behold,His ouerthrow which sore I feare is nye.Doro.Ah father are you so estranged from loue,From due alleageance to your Prince and land,To leaue your King when most he needs your help,The thriftie husbandmen, are neuer woont1000That see their lands vnfruitfull, to forsake them:But when the mould is barraine and vnapt,They toyle, they plow, and make the fallow fatte:The pilot in the dangerous seas is knowne,In calmer waues the sillie sailor striues,Are you not members Lords of Common-weale,And can your head, your deere annointed King,Default ye Lords, except your selues do faile?Oh stay your steps, returne and counsaile him.Doug.Men seek not mosse vpon a rowling stone,1010Or water from the siue, or fire from yce:Or comfort from a rechlesse monarkes hands.Madame he sets vs light that seru’d in Court,In place of credit in his fathers dayes,If we but enter presence of his grace,Our payment is a frowne, a scoffe, a frumpe,Whilst flatteringGnatoprancks it by his side,Soothing the carelesse King in his misdeeds,And if your grace consider your estate,His life should vrge you too if all be true.1020Doug.WhyDouglaswhy?Doug.As if you haue not heardHis lawlesse loue toIdagrowne of late,His carelesse estimate of your estate.Doro.AhDouglasthou misconstrest his intent,He doth but tempt his wife, he tryees my loue:This iniurie pertaines to me, not to you.The King is young, and if he step awrie,He may amend, and I will loue him still.Should we disdaine our vines becauso they sprout1030Before their time? or young men if they straineBeyõd their reach? no vines that bloome and spreadDo promise fruites, and young men that are wilde,In age growe wise, my freendes and Scottish Peeres,If that an English Princesse may preuaile,Stay, stay with him, lo how my zealous prayerIs plead with teares, fie Peeres will you hence?S. And.Madam tis vertue in your grace to plead,But we that see his vaine vntoward course,Cannot but flie the fire before it burne,1040And shun the Court before we see his fall.Doro.Wil you not stay? then Lordings fare you well.Tho you forsake your King, the heauens I hopeWill fauour him through mine incessant prayer.Dwar.Content you Madam, thus oldOuidsings.Tis foolish to bewaile recurelesse things.Dorothea.Peace Dwarffe, these words my patience moue.Dwar.All tho you charme my speech, charme not my loueExeunt Nano Dorothea.Enter the King of Scots, Arius, the nobles spying1050him, returnes.K. of S.Douglashow now? why changest thou thy cheere?Dougl.My priuate troubles are so great my liege,As I must craue your licence for a while:For to intend mine owne affaires at home.Exit.King.You may depart, but why isMortonsad?Mor.The like occasion doth import me too,So I desire your grace to giue me leaue.K. of S.Well sir you may betake you to your ease,When such grim syrs are gone, I see no let1060To worke my will.8. Atten.What like the Eagle then,With often flight wilt thou thy feathers loose?O King canst thou indure to see thy Court,Of finest wits and Iudgements dispossest,Whilst cloking craft with soothing climbes so high,As each bewailes ambition is so bad?Thy father left thee with estate and Crowne,A learned councell to direct thy Court,These careleslie O King thou castest off,1070To entertaine a traine of Sicophants:Thou well mai’st see, although thou wilt not see,That euery eye and eare both sees and hearesThe certaine signes of thine inconstinence:Thou art alyed vnto the English King,By marriage a happie friend indeed,If vsed well, if not a mightie foe.Thinketh your grace he ean indure and brooke,To haue a partner in his daughters loue?Thinketh your grace the grudge of priuie wrongs1080Will not procure him chaunge his smiles to threats?Oh be not blinde to good, call home your Lordes,Displace these flattering Gnatoes, driue them hence:Loue and with kindnesse take your wedlocke wifeOr else (which God forbid) I feare a change,Sinne cannot thriue in courts without a plague.K. of S.Go pack thou too, vnles thou mẽd thy talk:On paine of death proud Bishop get you gone,Vnlesse you headlesse mean to hoppe away.8. Atten.Thou god of heauẽ preuent my countries fall.1090Exeunt.K. of S.These staies and lets to pleasure, plague my thoughts,Forcing my greeuous wounds a new to bleed:Bur care that hath transported me so farre,FaireIdais disperst in thought of thee:Whose answere yeeldes me life, or breeds my death:Yond comes the messenger of weale or woe.Enter Gnato.Ateuki.What newes?Ateu.The adament o King will not be filde,1100But by it selfe, and beautie that exceeds,By some exeeding fauour must be wrought,Idais coy as yet, and doth repine,Obiecting marriage, honour, feare, and death,Shee’s holy, wise, and too precise for me.K. of S.Are these thy fruites of wits, thy sight in Art?Thine eloquence? thy pollicie? thy drift?To mocke thy Prince, thẽ catiue packe thee hence,And let me die deuoured in my loue.Ateu.Good Lord how rage gainsayeth reasons power,1110My deare, my gracious, and beloued Prince,The essence of my sute, my God on earth,Sit downe and rest your selfe, appease your wrath,Least with a frowne yee wound me to the death:Oh that I were included in my graue,That eyther now to saue my Princes life,Must counsell crueltie, or loose my King.K. of S.Why sirrha, is there meanes to mooue her minde?Ateu.Oh should I not offend my royall liege.K. of S.Tell all, spare nought, so I may gaine my loue.1120Ateu.Alasse my soule why art thou torne in twaine,For feare thou talke a thing that should displease?K. of S.Tut, speake what so thou wilt I pardon thee.Ateu.How kinde a word, how courteous is his grace:Who would not die to succour such a king?My liege, this louely mayde of modest minde,Could well incline to loue, but that shee feares,FaireDorotheaspower, your grace doth know,Your wedlocke is a mightie let to loue:WereIdasure to bee your wedded wife,1130That then the twig would bowe, you might command.Ladies loue, presents pompe and high estate.K. of S.AhAteukin, how shuld we display this let?Ateu.Tut mightie Prince, oh that I might bee whist.K. of S.Why dalliest thou?Ateu.I will not mooue my Prince,I will preferre his safetie before my life:Heare mee ô king, tisDorotheasdeath,Must do you good.K. of S.What, murther of my Queene?1140Yet to enioy my loue, what is my Queene?Oh but my vowe and promise to my Queene:I but my hope to gaine a fairer Queene,With how contrarious thoughts am I with drawne?Why linger I twixt hope and doubtfull feare:IfDorothedie, willIdaloue?Ateu.Shee will my Lord.K. of S.Then let her die.Deuise, aduise the meanes,Al likes me wel that lends me hope in loue.1150Ateu.What will your grace consent, then let mee worke:Theres heere in Court a FrenchmanIaquescalde,A fit performer of our enterprise,Whom I by gifts and promise will corrupt,To slaye the Queene, so that your grace will sealeA warrant for the man to saue his life.K. of S.Nought shall he want, write thou and I wil signeAnd gentleGnato, if myIdayeelde,Thon shalt haue what thou wilt, Ile giue the straight,A Barrony, an Earledome for reward.1160Ateu.Frolicke young king, the Lasse shall bee your owne,Ile make her blyth and wanton by my wit.Exennt.
Musicke playing within.I. Chor.EnterAfter Oberõ, King of Fayries, an Antique, who dance abouta Tombe, plac’st conueniently on the Stage, out of the which, suddainlystarts vp as they daunce,Bohana Scot, attyred like a ridstallman, from whom the Antique flyes.OberonManet.Bohan.Ay say, whats thou?Oberon.Thy friendBohan.Bohan.What wot I, or reckI that, whay guid man, I reckno friend, nor ay reck no foe, als10ene to me, git the ganging, andtrouble not may whayet, or aysgar the recon me nene of thay friend, by the mary masse sall I.Ober.Why angrie Scot, I visit thee for loue: then whatmooues thee to wroath?Bohan.The deele awhit reck I thy loue. For I knowetoo well, that true loue tooke her flight twentie winter sence toheauen, whither till ay can, weele I wot, ay sal nere finde loue:an thou lou’st me, leaue me to my selfe. But what were thosePuppits that hopt and skipt about me year whayle?20Oberon.My subiects.Boh.Thay subiects, whay art thou a King?Ober.I am.Bohan.The deele thou art, whay thou look’st not so big asthe king of Clubs, nor so sharpe as the king of Spades, nor sofaine as the king Adaymonds, be the masse ay take thee to beethe king of false harts: therfore I rid thee away, or ayse so curryyour Kingdome, that yous be glad to runne to saue your life.Ober.Why stoycall Scot, do what thou dar’st to me, heare ismy brest strike.30Boh.Thou wilt not threap me, this whiniard has gard manybetter mẽ to lope thẽ thou: but how now? Gos sayds what wiltnot out? whay thou wich, thou deele, gads sute may whiniard.Ober.Why pull man: but what an twear out, how then?Boh.This then, thou weart best begon first: for ayl so lopthy lyms, that thouse go with half a knaues carkasse to the deeleOber.Draw it out, now strike foole, canst thou not?Boh.Bread ay gad, what deele is in me, whay tell mee thouskipiack what art thou?Ober.Nay first tell me what thou wast from thy birth, what40thou hast past hitherto, why thou dwellest in a Tombe, & leauestthe world? and then I will release thee of these bonds, beforenot.Boh.And not before, then needs must needs sal: I was bornea gentleman of the best bloud in allScotland, except the king,when time brought me to age, and death tooke my parents, Ibecame a Courtier, where though ay list not praise my selfe, ayengraued the memory ofBoughonon the skin-coate of some ofthem, and reueld with the proudest.Ober.But why liuing in such reputation, didst thou leaue to50be a Courtier?Boh.Because my pride was vanitie, my expence losse, my rewardfaire words and large promises, & my hopes spilt, for thatafter many yeares seruice, one outran me, and what the deeleshould I then do there. No no, flattering knaues that can cogand prate fastest, speede best in the Court.Ober.To what life didst thou then betake thee?Boh.I then chang’d the Court for the countrey, and the warsfor a wife: but I found the craft of swaines more vile, then theknauery of courtiers: the charge of children more heauie then60seruants, and wiues tongues worse then the warres it selfe: andtherefore I gaue ore that, & went to the Citie to dwell, & thereI kept a great house with smal cheer, but all was nere the neere.Ober.And why?Boh.because in seeking friends, I found table guests to eateme, & my meat, my wiues gossops to bewray the secrets of myheart, kindred to betray the effect of my life, which when I noted,the court ill, the country worse, and the citie worst of all, ingood time my wife died: ay wood she had died twentie wintersooner by the masse, leauing my two sonnes to the world, and70shutting my selfe into this Tombe, where if I dye, I am sure Iam safe from wilde beasts, but whilest I liue, cannot be free frõill companie. Besides, now I am sure gif all my friends faile me,I sall haue a graue of mine owne prouiding: this is all. Nowwhat art thou?Ober.OberonKing of Fayries, that loues thee because thouhatest the world, and to gratulate thee, I brought those Antiquesto shew thee some sport in daunsing, which thou hasteloued well.Bohan.Ha, ha, ha, thinkest thou those puppits can please80me? whay I haue two sonnes, that with one scottish gigge shallbreake the necke of thy Antiques.Ober.That would I faine see.Boha.Why thou shalt, howe boyes.Enter Slipper and Nano.Haud your clacks lads, trattle not for thy life, but gather vppeyour legges and daunce me forthwith a gigge worth the sight.Slip.Why I must talk on Idy fort, wherefore was my tonguemade.Boha.Prattle an thou darst ene word more, and ais dab this90whiniard in thy wembe.Ober.Be quietBohan, Ile strike him dumbe, and his brothertoo, their talk shal not hinder our gyg, fall to it, dance I say mã.Boh.Dance Humer, dance, ay rid thee.The two dance a gig deuised for the nonst.Now get you to the wide world with more thẽ my father gaueme, thats learning enough, both kindes, knauerie & honestie:and that I gaue you, spend at pleasure.Ober.Nay for their sport I will giue them this gift, to theDwarfe I giue a quicke witte, prettie of body, and awarrant his100preferment to a Princes seruice, where by his wisdome he shallgaine more loue then cõmon. And to loggerhead your sonne,I giue a wandering life, and promise he shall neuer lacke: andauow that if in all distresses he call vpon me to helpe him: nowlet them go.Exeunt with curtesies.Boh.Now King, if thou bee a King, I will shew thee whay Ihate the world by demonstration, in the year 1520. was inScotland, a king ouerruled with parasites, mifled by lust, & manycircumstances, too long to trattle on now, much like our110court ofScotlandthis day, that story haue I set down, gang withme to the gallery, & Ile shew thee the same in Action, by guidfellowes of our country men, and then when thou seest that,iudge if any wise man would not leaue the world if he could.Ober.That will I see, lead and ile follow thee.Exeunt.Laus Deo detur in Eternum.I. i.Enter the King of England, the King of Scots,Dorithehis Queen,the Countesse, LadyIda, with other Lords. AndAteukinwiththem aloofe.Attus primus. Scena prima.120K. of Scots.Brother of England, since our neighboring land,And neare alliance doth inuite our loues,The more I think vpon our last accord,The more I greeue your suddaine parting hence:First lawes of friendship did confirme our peace,Now both the seale of faith and marriage bed,The name of father, and the style of friend,These force in me affection full confirmd,So that I greeue, and this my heartie griefe130The heauens record, the world may witnesse wellTo loose your presence, who are now to meA father, brother, and a vowed friend.K. of Eng.Link all these louely stiles good king in one,And since thy griefe exceeds in my depart,I leaue myDoritheato enioy, thy whole compactLoues, and plighted vowes.Brother ofScotland, this is my ioy, my life,Her fathers honour, and her Countries hope,Her mothers comfort, and her husbands blisse:140I tell thee king, in louing of myDoll,Thou bindst her fathers heart and all his friendsIn bands of loue that death cannot dissolue.K. of Scots.Nor can her father loue her like to me,My liues light, and the comfort of my soule:FaireDorithea, that wast Englands pride,Welcome toScotland, and in signe of loue,Lo I inuest thee with the Scottish Crowne.Nobles and Ladies, stoupe vnto your Queene.And Trumpets sound, that Heralds may proclaime,150FaireDoritheapeerlesse Queene of Scots.All.Long liue and prosper our faire Q. of Scots.Enstall and Crowne her.Dor.Thanks to the king of kings for my dignity,Thanks to my father, that prouides so carefully,Thanks to my Lord and husband for this honor,And thanks to all that loue their King and me.All.Long liue faireDoritheaour true Queene.K. of E.Long shine the sun ofScotlandin her pride,Her fathers comfort, and faireScotlandsBride.160ButDorithea, since I must depart,And leaue thee from thy tender mothers charge,Let me aduise my louely daughter first,What best befits her in a forraine land,LiueDoll, for many eyes shall looke on thee,Haue care of honor and the present state:For she that steps to height of Maiestie,Is euen the marke whereat the enemy aimes.Thy vertues shall be construed to vice,Thine affable discourse to abiect minde.170If coy, detracting tongues will call thee proud:Be therefore warie in this slippery state,Honour thy husband, loue him as thy life:Make choyce of friends, as Eagles of their yoong,Who sooth no vice, who flatter not for gaine:But loue such friends as do the truth maintaine.Thinke on these lessons when thou art alone,And thou shalt liue in health when I am gone.Dor.I will engraue these preceps in my heart,And as the wind with calmnesse woes you hence,180Euen so I wish the heauens in all mishaps,May blesse my father with continuall grace.K. of E.Then son farwell, the fauouring windes inuites vs to depart.Long circumstance in taking princely leaues,Is more officious then conuenient.Brother ofScotland, loue me in my childe,You greet me well, if so you will her good.K. of Sc.Then louelyDoll, and all that fauor me,Attend to see our English friends at sea,Let all their charge depend vpon my purse:190They are our neighbors, by whose kind accord,We dare attempt the proudest Potentate.Onely faire Countesse, and your daughter stay,With you I haue some other thing to say.Exeunt all saue the King, the Countesse,Ida,Ateukin, in all royaltie.K. of S.So let them tryumph that haue cause to ioy,But wretched King, thy nuptiall knot is death:Thy Bride the breeder of thy Countries ill,For thy false heart dissenting from thy hand,200Misled by loue, hast made another choyce,Another choyce, euen when thou vowdst thy souleToDorithea, Englands choyseff pride,O then thy wandring eyes bewitcht thy heart,Euen in the Chappell did thy fancie change,When periur’d man, though faireDollhad thy hand,The ScottishIdaesbewtie stale thy heart:Yet feare and loue hath tyde thy readie tongueFrom blabbing forth the passions of thy minde,Lest fearefull silence haue in suttle lookes210Bewrayd the treason of my new vowd loue,Be faire and louelyDoll, but here’s the prizeThat lodgeth here, and entred through mine eyes,Yet how so ere I loue, I must be wise.Now louely Countesse, what reward or grace,May I imploy on you for this your zeale,And humble honors done vs in our Court,In entertainment of the English King.Countesse.It was of dutie Prince that I haue done:And what in fauour may content me most,220Is, that it please your grace to giue me leaue,For to returne vnto my Countrey home.K. of Scots.But louelyIdais your mind the same?Ida.I count of Court my Lord, as wise men do,Tis fit for those that knowes what longs thereto:Each person to his place, the wise to Art,The Cobler to his clout, the Swaine to Cart.K. of Sc.ButIdayou are faire, and bewtie shines,And seemeth best, where pomp her pride refines.Ida.If bewtie (as I know there’s none in me)230Were sworne my loue, and I his life should be:The farther from the Court I were remoued,The more I thinke of heauen I were beloued.K. of Scots.And why?Ida.Because the Court is countedVenusnet,Where gifts and vowes for stales are often set,None, be she chaste asVesta, but shall meeteA curious toong to charme her eares with sweet.K. of Scots.WhyIdathen I see you set at naught,The force of loue.240Ida.In sooth this is my thoght most gratious king,That they that little proueAre mickle blest, from bitter sweets of loue:And weele I wot, I heard a shepheard sing,That like a Bee, Loue hath a little sting:He lurkes in flowres, he pearcheth on the trees,He on Kings pillowes, bends his prettie knees:The Boy is blinde, but when he will not spie,He hath a leaden foote, and wings to flie:Beshrow me yet, for all these strange effects,250If I would like the Lad, that so infects.K. of Scots.Rare wit, fair face, what hart could more desire?ButDollis faire, and doth concerne thee neere.LetDollbe faire, she is wonne, but I must woe,And win faireIda, theres some choyce in two.ButIdathou art coy.Ida.And why dread King?K. of Scots.In that you will dispraise so sweetA thing, as loue, had I my wish.Ida.What then?260K. of Scots.Then would I place his arrow here,His bewtie in that face.Ida.And wereApollomoued and rulde by me,His wisedome should be yours, and mine his tree.K. of Scots.But here returnes our traine.Welcome faireDoll: how fares our father, is he shipt and gone.Enters the traine backe.Dor.My royall father is both shipt and gone,God and faire winds direct him to his home.K. of Sc.Amen say I, wold thou wert with him too:270Then might I haue a fitter time to woo.But Countesse you would be gone, therfore farwellYetIdaif thou wilt, stay thou behind,To accompany my Queene.But if thou like the pleasures of the Court,Or if she likte me tho she left the Court,What should I say? I know not what to say,You may depart, and you my curteous Queene,Leaue me a space, I haue a waightie cause to thinke vpon:Id., it nips me neere:280It came from thence, I feele it burning heere.Exeunt all sauing the King andAteukin.K. of Scot.Now am I free from sight of commõ eie,Where to my selfe I may disclose the griefeThat hath too great a part in mine affects.Ateu.And now is my time, by wiles & words to rise,Greater then those, that thinks themselues more wise.K. of Scots.And first fond King, thy honor doth engraue,Vpon thy browes, the drift of thy disgrace:Thy new vowd loue in sight of God and men,290Linke thee toDorithea, during life.For who more faire and vertuous then thy wife,Deceitfull murtherer of a quiet minde,Fond loue, vile lust, that thus misleads vs men,To vowe our faithes, and fall to sin againe.But Kings stoupe not to euery common thought,Idais faire and wise, fit for a King:And for faireIdawill I hazard life,Venture my Kingdome, Country, and my Crowne:Such fire hath loue, to burne a kingdome downe.300SayDolldislikes, that I estrange my loue,Am I obedient to a womans looke?Nay say her father frowne when he shall heareThat I do hold faireIdaesloue so deare:Let father frowne and fret, and fret and die,Nor earth, nor heauen shall part my loue and I.Yea they shall part vs, but we first must meet,And wo, and win, and yet the world not seet.Yea ther’s the wound, & wounded with that thoghtSo let me die: for all my drift is naught.310Ateu.Most gratious and imperiall Maiestie,K. of S.A little flattery more were but too much,Villaine what art thou that thus darest interrupt a Princes secrets.Ateu.Dread King, thy vassall is a man of Art,Who knowes by constellation of the stars,By oppositions and by drie aspects,The things are past, and those that are to come.K. of S.But where’s thy warrant to approach my presence?Ateu.My zeale and ruth to see your graces wrong,Makes me lament, I did detract so long.320K. of S.If thou knowst thoughts, tell me what mean I now?Ateu.Ile calculate the cause of those your highnesse smiles,And tell your thoughts.K. of S.But least thou spend thy time in idlenesse,And misse the matter that my mind aimes at,Tell me what star was opposite when that was thought?He strikes him on the eare.Ateu.Tis inconuenient mightie Potentate,Whose lookes resemblesIouein Maiestie,To scorne the sooth of science with contempt,330I see in those imperiall lookes of yours,The whole discourse of loue,Saturncombust,With direfull lookes at your natiuitie:Beheld faireVennsin her siluer orbe,I know by certaine exiomies I haue read,Your graces griefs, & further can expresse her name,That holds you thus in fancies bands.K. of S.Thou talkest wonders.Ateu.Nought but truth O King,TisIdais the mistresse of your heart,340Whose youth must take impression of affects,For tender twigs will bowe, and milder mindesWill yeeld to fancie be they followed well.K. of S.What god art thou composde in humane shape,Or boldTrophoniusto decide our doubts,How knowst thou this?Ateu.Euen as I know the meanes,To worke your graces freedome and your loue:Had I the mind as many Courtiers haue,To creepe into your bosome for your coyne,350And beg rewards for euery cap and knee,I then would say, if that your grace would giueThis lease, this manor, or this pattent seald,For this or that I would effect your loue:ButAteukinis no Parasite O Prince,I know your grace knowes schollers are but poore,And therefore as I blush to beg a fee,Your mightinesse is so magnificentYou cannot chuse but cast some gift apart,To ease my bashfull need that cannot beg,360As for your loue, oh might I be imployd,How faithfully wouldAteukincompasse it:But Princes rather trust a smoothing tongue,Then men of Art that can accept the time.K. of Scots.Ateu.If so thy name, for so thou saist,Thine Art appeares in entrance of my loue:And since I deeme thy wisedom matcht with truth,I will exalt thee, and thy selfe aloneShalt be the Agent to dissolue my griefe.Sooth is, I loue, andIdais my loue,370But my new marriage nips me neare,Ateukin:ForDoritheamay not brooke th’abuse.Ateu.These lets are but as moaths against the sun,Yet not so great, like dust before the winde:Yet not so light. Tut pacifie your grace,You haue the sword and scepter in your hand,You are the King, the state depends on you:Your will is law, say that the case were mine,Were she my sister whom your highnesse loues,She should consent, for that our liues, our goods,380Depend on you, and if your Queene repine,Although my nature cannot brooke of blood,And Schollers grieue to heare of murtherous deeds,But if the Lambe should let the Lyons way,By my aduise the Lambe should lose her life.Thus am I bold to speake vnto your grace,Who am too base to kisse your royall feete,For I am poore, nor haue I land nor rent,Nor countenance here in Court, but for my loue,Your Grace shall find none such within the realme.390K. of S.Wilt thou effect my loue, shal she be mine?Ateu.Ile gather Moly-rocus, and the earbes,That heales the wounds of body and the minde,Ile set out charmes and spels, nought else shalbe left,To tame the wanton if she shall rebell,Giue me but tokens of your highnesse trust.K. of S.. Thou shalt haue gold, honor and wealth inough,Winne my Loue, and I will make thee great.Ateu.These words do make me rich most noble Prince,I am more proude of them then any wealth,400Did not your grace suppose I flatter you,Beleeue me I would boldly publish this:Was neuer eye that saw a sweeter face,Nor neuer eare that heard a deeper wit,Oh God how I am rauisht in your woorth.K. of S.Ateu.Follow me, loue must haue ease.Ateu.Ile kisse your highnesse feet, march when you please.Exeunt.EnterSlipper,Nano, andAndrew, with their billes readieI. ii.written in their hands.410Andrew.Stand back sir, mine shall stand highest.Slip.Come vnder mine arme sir, or get a footstoole,Or else by the light of the Moone, I must come to it.Nano.Agree my maisters, euery man to his height,Though I stand lowest, I hope to get the best maister.Andr.Ere I will stoupe to a thistle, I will change turnes,As good lucke comes on the right hand, as the left:Here’s for me, and me, and mine.Andr.But tell me fellowes till better occasion come,Do you seeke maisters?420Ambo.We doo.Andr.But what can you do worthie preferment?Nano.Marry I can smell a knaue from a Rat.Slip.And I can licke a dish before a Cat.Andr.And I can finde two fooles vnfought,How like you that?But in earnest, now tell me of what trades are you two?Slip.How meane you that sir, of what trade?Marry Ile tell you, I haue many trades,The honest trade when I needs must,430The filching trade when time serues,The Cousening trade as I finde occasion.And I haue more qualities, I cannot abide a ful cup vnkist,A fat Capon vncaru’d,A full purse vnpickt,Nor a foole to prooue a Iustice as you do.Andr.Why sot why calst thou me foole?Nano.For examining wiser then thy selfe.Andr.So doth many more then I inScotland.Nano.Yea those are such, as haue more autthoritie then wit,440And more wealth then honestie.Slip.This is my little brother with the great wit, ware him,But what canst thou do, tel me, that art so inquisitiue of vs?Andr.Any thing that concernes a gentleman to do, that can I do.Slip.So you are of the gentle trade?Andr.True.Slip.Then gentle sir, leaue vs to our selues,For heare comes one as if he would lack a seruant ere he went.Ent.Ateu.Why soAteukin? this becomes thee best,Wealth, honour, ease, and angelles in thy chest:450Now may I say, as many often sing,No fishing to the sea, nor seruice to a king.Vnto this high promotions doth belong,Meanes to be talkt of in the thickest throng:And first to fit the humors of my Lord,Sweete layes and lynes of loue I must record.And such sweete lynes and louelayes ile endite:As men may wish for, and my leech delight,And next a traine of gallants at my heeles,That men may say, the world doth run on wheeles.460For men of art, that rise by indirection,To honour and the fauour of their King,Must vse all meanes to saue what they haue got,And win their fauours whom he neuer knew.If any frowne to see my fortunes such,A man must beare a little, not too much:But in good time these billes partend, I thinke,That some good fellowes do for seruice seeke.Read.If any gentleman, spirituall or temperall, will entertaineout of his seruice, a young stripling of the age of 30. yeares, that can470sleep with the soundest, eate with the hungriest, work with the sickest,lye with the lowdest, face with the proudest, &c. that can wait in aGentlemans chamber, when his maister is a myle of, keepe his stablewhen tis emptie, and his purse when tis full, and hath many qualitieswoorse then all these, let him write his name and goe his way,and attendance shall be giuen.Ateu.By my faith a good seruant, which is he?Slip.Trulie sir that am I?Ateu.And why doest thou write such a bill,Are all these qualities in thee?480Slip.O Lord I sir, and a great many more,Some bettet, some worse, some richer some porer,Why sir do you looke so, do they not please you?Ateu.Trulie no, for they are naught and so art thou,If thou hast no better qualities, stand by.Slip.O sir, I tell the worst first, but and you lack a man,I am for you, ile tell you the best qualities I haue.Ateu.Be breefe then.Slip.If you need me in your chamber,I can keepe the doore at a whistle, in your kitchin,490Turne the spit, and licke the pan, and make the fire burne.But if in the stable.Ateu.Yea there would I vse thee.Slip.Why there you kill me, there am I,And turne me to a horse & a wench, and I haue no peere.Ateu.Art thou so good in keeping a horse,I pray thee tell me how many good qualities hath a horse?Slip.Why so sir, a horse hath two properties of a man,That is a proude heart, and a hardie stomacke,Foure properties of a Lyon, a broad brest, a stiffe docket,500Hold your nose master. A wild countenance, and 4. good legs.Nine properties of a Foxe, nine of a Hare, nine of an Asse,And ten of a woman.Ateu.A woman, why what properties of a woman hath a Horse?Slip.O maister, know you not that?Draw your tables, and write what wise I speake.First a merry countenance.Second, a soft pace.Third, a broad forehead.Fourth, broad buttockes.510Fift, hard of warde.Sixt, easie to leape vpon.Seuenth, good at long iourney.Eight, mouing vnder a man.Ninth, alway busie with the mouth.Tenth. Euer chewing on the bridle.Ateu.Thou art a man for me, whats thy name?Slip.An auncient name sir, belonging to theChamber and the night gowne. Gesse you that.Ateu.Whats that,Slipper?520Slip.By my faith well gest, and so tis indeed:Youle be my maister?Ateu.I meane so.Slip.Reade this first.Ateu.Pleaseth it any Gentleman to entertaineA seruant of more wit then stature,Let them subscribe, and attendance shall be giuen.What of this?Slip.He is my brother sir, and we two were borne togither,Must serue togither, and will die togither,530Though we be both hangd.Ateu.Whats thy name?Nano.Nano.Ateu.The etimologie of which word, is a dwarfe:Art not thou the old stoykes son that dwels in his Tombe?Ambo.We are.Ateu.Thou art welcome to me,Wilt thou giue thy selfe wholly to be at my disposition?Nano.In all humilitie I submit my selfe.Ateu.Then will I deck thee Princely, instruct thee courtly,540And present thee to the Queene as my gift.Art thou content?Nano.Yes, and thanke your honor too.Slip.Then welcome brother, and fellow now.Andr.May it please your honor to abase your eye so lowe,As to looke either on my bill or my selfe.Ateu.What are you?An.By birth a gentleman, in profession a scholler,And one that knew your honor inEdenborough,Before your worthinesse cald you to this reputation.550By meAndrew Snoord.Ateu.AndrewI remember thee, follow me,And we will confer further, for my waightie affairesFor the king, commands me to be briefe at this time.Come onNano,Slipperfollow.Exeunt.Enter sirBartramwithEustasand others, booted.I. iii.S. Bar.But tell me louelyEustasas thou lou’st me,Among the many pleasures we haue past,Which is the rifest in thy memorie,560To draw thee ouer to thine auncient friend?Eu.What makes SirBartramthus inquisitiue?Tell me good knight, am I welcome or no?Sir Bar.By sweet S.Andrewand may sale I sweare,As welcom is my honestDickto me,As mornings sun, or as the watry moone,In merkist night, when we the borders track.I tell theeDick, thy sight hath cleerd my thoughts,Of many banefull troubles that there woond.Welcome to sirBartramas his life:570Tell me bonnyDicke, hast got a wife?Eust.A wife God shield sirBartram, that were illTo leaue my wife and wander thus astray:But time and good aduise ere many yeares,May chance to make my fancie bend that way,What newes inScotland? therefore came I hither:To see your Country, and to chat togither.Sir Bar.Why man our Countries blyth, our king is well.Our Queene so, so, the Nobles well, and worseAnd weele are they that were about the king,580But better are the Country Gentlemen.And I may tell theeEustace, in our liues,We old men neuer saw so wondrous change:But leaue this trattle, and tell me what newes,In louely England with our honest friends?Eust.The king, the Court, and all our noble frendsAre well, and God in mercy keepe them so.The Northren Lords and Ladies here abouts,That knowes I came to see your Queen and Court,Commends them to my honest friend sirBartram,590And many others that I haue not seene:Among the rest, the CountesseElinorfromCarlileWhere we merry oft haue bene,Greets well my Lord, and hath directed me,By message this faire Ladies face to see.Sir Bar.I tell theeEustace, lest mine old eyes daze,This is our Scottish moone and euenings pride:This is the blemish of your English Bride:Who sailes by her, are sure of winde at will.Her face is dangerous, her sight is ill:600And yet in sooth sweetDicke, it may be said,The king hath folly, their’s vertue in the mayd.Eust.But knows my friend this portrait, be aduisd?Sir Bar.Is it notIdathe Countesse ofArainsdaughters?Eust.So was I told byElinorofCarlile,But tell me louelyBartram, is the maid euil inclind,Misled, or Concubine vnto the King or any other Lord?Ba.Shuld I be brief & true, thẽ thus myDicke,All Englands grounds yeelds not a blyther Lasse.NorEuropcan art her for her gifts,610Of vertue, honour, beautie, and the rest:But our fõd king not knowing sin in lust,Makes loue by endlesse meanes and precious gifts,And men that see it dare not sayt my friend,But wee may wish that it were otherwise:But I rid thee to view the picture still,For by the persons sights there hangs som ill.Ba.Oh good sirBartram, you suspect I loue,Then were I mad, hee whom I neuer sawe,But how so ere, I feare not entisings,620Desire will giue no place vnto a king:Ile see her whom the world admires so much,That I may say with them, there liues none such.Bar.Be Gad and sal, both see and talke with her,And when th’ hast done, what ere her beautie be,Ile wartant thee her vertues may compare,With the proudest she that waits vpon your Queen.Eu.My Ladie intreats your Worship in to supper.Ba.Guid bonyDick, my wife will tel thee more,Was neuer no man in her booke before:630Be Gad shees blyth, faire lewely, bony, &c.Exeunt.
Musicke playing within.I. Chor.EnterAfter Oberõ, King of Fayries, an Antique, who dance abouta Tombe, plac’st conueniently on the Stage, out of the which, suddainlystarts vp as they daunce,Bohana Scot, attyred like a ridstallman, from whom the Antique flyes.OberonManet.Bohan.Ay say, whats thou?Oberon.Thy friendBohan.Bohan.What wot I, or reckI that, whay guid man, I reckno friend, nor ay reck no foe, als10ene to me, git the ganging, andtrouble not may whayet, or aysgar the recon me nene of thay friend, by the mary masse sall I.Ober.Why angrie Scot, I visit thee for loue: then whatmooues thee to wroath?Bohan.The deele awhit reck I thy loue. For I knowetoo well, that true loue tooke her flight twentie winter sence toheauen, whither till ay can, weele I wot, ay sal nere finde loue:an thou lou’st me, leaue me to my selfe. But what were thosePuppits that hopt and skipt about me year whayle?20Oberon.My subiects.Boh.Thay subiects, whay art thou a King?Ober.I am.Bohan.The deele thou art, whay thou look’st not so big asthe king of Clubs, nor so sharpe as the king of Spades, nor sofaine as the king Adaymonds, be the masse ay take thee to beethe king of false harts: therfore I rid thee away, or ayse so curryyour Kingdome, that yous be glad to runne to saue your life.Ober.Why stoycall Scot, do what thou dar’st to me, heare ismy brest strike.30Boh.Thou wilt not threap me, this whiniard has gard manybetter mẽ to lope thẽ thou: but how now? Gos sayds what wiltnot out? whay thou wich, thou deele, gads sute may whiniard.Ober.Why pull man: but what an twear out, how then?Boh.This then, thou weart best begon first: for ayl so lopthy lyms, that thouse go with half a knaues carkasse to the deeleOber.Draw it out, now strike foole, canst thou not?Boh.Bread ay gad, what deele is in me, whay tell mee thouskipiack what art thou?Ober.Nay first tell me what thou wast from thy birth, what40thou hast past hitherto, why thou dwellest in a Tombe, & leauestthe world? and then I will release thee of these bonds, beforenot.Boh.And not before, then needs must needs sal: I was bornea gentleman of the best bloud in allScotland, except the king,when time brought me to age, and death tooke my parents, Ibecame a Courtier, where though ay list not praise my selfe, ayengraued the memory ofBoughonon the skin-coate of some ofthem, and reueld with the proudest.Ober.But why liuing in such reputation, didst thou leaue to50be a Courtier?Boh.Because my pride was vanitie, my expence losse, my rewardfaire words and large promises, & my hopes spilt, for thatafter many yeares seruice, one outran me, and what the deeleshould I then do there. No no, flattering knaues that can cogand prate fastest, speede best in the Court.Ober.To what life didst thou then betake thee?Boh.I then chang’d the Court for the countrey, and the warsfor a wife: but I found the craft of swaines more vile, then theknauery of courtiers: the charge of children more heauie then60seruants, and wiues tongues worse then the warres it selfe: andtherefore I gaue ore that, & went to the Citie to dwell, & thereI kept a great house with smal cheer, but all was nere the neere.Ober.And why?Boh.because in seeking friends, I found table guests to eateme, & my meat, my wiues gossops to bewray the secrets of myheart, kindred to betray the effect of my life, which when I noted,the court ill, the country worse, and the citie worst of all, ingood time my wife died: ay wood she had died twentie wintersooner by the masse, leauing my two sonnes to the world, and70shutting my selfe into this Tombe, where if I dye, I am sure Iam safe from wilde beasts, but whilest I liue, cannot be free frõill companie. Besides, now I am sure gif all my friends faile me,I sall haue a graue of mine owne prouiding: this is all. Nowwhat art thou?Ober.OberonKing of Fayries, that loues thee because thouhatest the world, and to gratulate thee, I brought those Antiquesto shew thee some sport in daunsing, which thou hasteloued well.Bohan.Ha, ha, ha, thinkest thou those puppits can please80me? whay I haue two sonnes, that with one scottish gigge shallbreake the necke of thy Antiques.Ober.That would I faine see.Boha.Why thou shalt, howe boyes.Enter Slipper and Nano.Haud your clacks lads, trattle not for thy life, but gather vppeyour legges and daunce me forthwith a gigge worth the sight.Slip.Why I must talk on Idy fort, wherefore was my tonguemade.Boha.Prattle an thou darst ene word more, and ais dab this90whiniard in thy wembe.Ober.Be quietBohan, Ile strike him dumbe, and his brothertoo, their talk shal not hinder our gyg, fall to it, dance I say mã.Boh.Dance Humer, dance, ay rid thee.The two dance a gig deuised for the nonst.Now get you to the wide world with more thẽ my father gaueme, thats learning enough, both kindes, knauerie & honestie:and that I gaue you, spend at pleasure.Ober.Nay for their sport I will giue them this gift, to theDwarfe I giue a quicke witte, prettie of body, and awarrant his100preferment to a Princes seruice, where by his wisdome he shallgaine more loue then cõmon. And to loggerhead your sonne,I giue a wandering life, and promise he shall neuer lacke: andauow that if in all distresses he call vpon me to helpe him: nowlet them go.Exeunt with curtesies.Boh.Now King, if thou bee a King, I will shew thee whay Ihate the world by demonstration, in the year 1520. was inScotland, a king ouerruled with parasites, mifled by lust, & manycircumstances, too long to trattle on now, much like our110court ofScotlandthis day, that story haue I set down, gang withme to the gallery, & Ile shew thee the same in Action, by guidfellowes of our country men, and then when thou seest that,iudge if any wise man would not leaue the world if he could.Ober.That will I see, lead and ile follow thee.Exeunt.
Musicke playing within.I. Chor.
EnterAfter Oberõ, King of Fayries, an Antique, who dance abouta Tombe, plac’st conueniently on the Stage, out of the which, suddainlystarts vp as they daunce,Bohana Scot, attyred like a ridstallman, from whom the Antique flyes.OberonManet.
Bohan.
Bohan.
Ay say, whats thou?
Bohan.What wot I, or reckI that, whay guid man, I reckno friend, nor ay reck no foe, als10ene to me, git the ganging, andtrouble not may whayet, or aysgar the recon me nene of thay friend, by the mary masse sall I.
Ober.Why angrie Scot, I visit thee for loue: then whatmooues thee to wroath?
Bohan.The deele awhit reck I thy loue. For I knowetoo well, that true loue tooke her flight twentie winter sence toheauen, whither till ay can, weele I wot, ay sal nere finde loue:an thou lou’st me, leaue me to my selfe. But what were thosePuppits that hopt and skipt about me year whayle?20
Oberon.My subiects.
Boh.Thay subiects, whay art thou a King?
Ober.I am.
Bohan.The deele thou art, whay thou look’st not so big asthe king of Clubs, nor so sharpe as the king of Spades, nor sofaine as the king Adaymonds, be the masse ay take thee to beethe king of false harts: therfore I rid thee away, or ayse so curryyour Kingdome, that yous be glad to runne to saue your life.
Ober.Why stoycall Scot, do what thou dar’st to me, heare ismy brest strike.30
Boh.Thou wilt not threap me, this whiniard has gard manybetter mẽ to lope thẽ thou: but how now? Gos sayds what wiltnot out? whay thou wich, thou deele, gads sute may whiniard.
Ober.Why pull man: but what an twear out, how then?
Boh.This then, thou weart best begon first: for ayl so lopthy lyms, that thouse go with half a knaues carkasse to the deele
Ober.Draw it out, now strike foole, canst thou not?
Boh.Bread ay gad, what deele is in me, whay tell mee thouskipiack what art thou?
Ober.Nay first tell me what thou wast from thy birth, what40thou hast past hitherto, why thou dwellest in a Tombe, & leauestthe world? and then I will release thee of these bonds, beforenot.
Boh.And not before, then needs must needs sal: I was bornea gentleman of the best bloud in allScotland, except the king,when time brought me to age, and death tooke my parents, Ibecame a Courtier, where though ay list not praise my selfe, ayengraued the memory ofBoughonon the skin-coate of some ofthem, and reueld with the proudest.
Ober.But why liuing in such reputation, didst thou leaue to50be a Courtier?
Boh.Because my pride was vanitie, my expence losse, my rewardfaire words and large promises, & my hopes spilt, for thatafter many yeares seruice, one outran me, and what the deeleshould I then do there. No no, flattering knaues that can cogand prate fastest, speede best in the Court.
Ober.To what life didst thou then betake thee?
Boh.I then chang’d the Court for the countrey, and the warsfor a wife: but I found the craft of swaines more vile, then theknauery of courtiers: the charge of children more heauie then60seruants, and wiues tongues worse then the warres it selfe: andtherefore I gaue ore that, & went to the Citie to dwell, & thereI kept a great house with smal cheer, but all was nere the neere.
Ober.And why?
Boh.because in seeking friends, I found table guests to eateme, & my meat, my wiues gossops to bewray the secrets of myheart, kindred to betray the effect of my life, which when I noted,the court ill, the country worse, and the citie worst of all, ingood time my wife died: ay wood she had died twentie wintersooner by the masse, leauing my two sonnes to the world, and70shutting my selfe into this Tombe, where if I dye, I am sure Iam safe from wilde beasts, but whilest I liue, cannot be free frõill companie. Besides, now I am sure gif all my friends faile me,I sall haue a graue of mine owne prouiding: this is all. Nowwhat art thou?
Ober.OberonKing of Fayries, that loues thee because thouhatest the world, and to gratulate thee, I brought those Antiquesto shew thee some sport in daunsing, which thou hasteloued well.
Bohan.Ha, ha, ha, thinkest thou those puppits can please80me? whay I haue two sonnes, that with one scottish gigge shallbreake the necke of thy Antiques.
Ober.That would I faine see.
Boha.Why thou shalt, howe boyes.Enter Slipper and Nano.Haud your clacks lads, trattle not for thy life, but gather vppeyour legges and daunce me forthwith a gigge worth the sight.
Enter Slipper and Nano.
Slip.Why I must talk on Idy fort, wherefore was my tonguemade.
Boha.Prattle an thou darst ene word more, and ais dab this90whiniard in thy wembe.
Ober.Be quietBohan, Ile strike him dumbe, and his brothertoo, their talk shal not hinder our gyg, fall to it, dance I say mã.
Boh.Dance Humer, dance, ay rid thee.The two dance a gig deuised for the nonst.Now get you to the wide world with more thẽ my father gaueme, thats learning enough, both kindes, knauerie & honestie:and that I gaue you, spend at pleasure.
The two dance a gig deuised for the nonst.
Ober.Nay for their sport I will giue them this gift, to theDwarfe I giue a quicke witte, prettie of body, and awarrant his100preferment to a Princes seruice, where by his wisdome he shallgaine more loue then cõmon. And to loggerhead your sonne,I giue a wandering life, and promise he shall neuer lacke: andauow that if in all distresses he call vpon me to helpe him: nowlet them go.
Exeunt with curtesies.
Boh.Now King, if thou bee a King, I will shew thee whay Ihate the world by demonstration, in the year 1520. was inScotland, a king ouerruled with parasites, mifled by lust, & manycircumstances, too long to trattle on now, much like our110court ofScotlandthis day, that story haue I set down, gang withme to the gallery, & Ile shew thee the same in Action, by guidfellowes of our country men, and then when thou seest that,iudge if any wise man would not leaue the world if he could.
Ober.That will I see, lead and ile follow thee.Exeunt.
Laus Deo detur in Eternum.I. i.Enter the King of England, the King of Scots,Dorithehis Queen,the Countesse, LadyIda, with other Lords. AndAteukinwiththem aloofe.Attus primus. Scena prima.120K. of Scots.Brother of England, since our neighboring land,And neare alliance doth inuite our loues,The more I think vpon our last accord,The more I greeue your suddaine parting hence:First lawes of friendship did confirme our peace,Now both the seale of faith and marriage bed,The name of father, and the style of friend,These force in me affection full confirmd,So that I greeue, and this my heartie griefe130The heauens record, the world may witnesse wellTo loose your presence, who are now to meA father, brother, and a vowed friend.K. of Eng.Link all these louely stiles good king in one,And since thy griefe exceeds in my depart,I leaue myDoritheato enioy, thy whole compactLoues, and plighted vowes.Brother ofScotland, this is my ioy, my life,Her fathers honour, and her Countries hope,Her mothers comfort, and her husbands blisse:140I tell thee king, in louing of myDoll,Thou bindst her fathers heart and all his friendsIn bands of loue that death cannot dissolue.K. of Scots.Nor can her father loue her like to me,My liues light, and the comfort of my soule:FaireDorithea, that wast Englands pride,Welcome toScotland, and in signe of loue,Lo I inuest thee with the Scottish Crowne.Nobles and Ladies, stoupe vnto your Queene.And Trumpets sound, that Heralds may proclaime,150FaireDoritheapeerlesse Queene of Scots.All.Long liue and prosper our faire Q. of Scots.Enstall and Crowne her.Dor.Thanks to the king of kings for my dignity,Thanks to my father, that prouides so carefully,Thanks to my Lord and husband for this honor,And thanks to all that loue their King and me.All.Long liue faireDoritheaour true Queene.K. of E.Long shine the sun ofScotlandin her pride,Her fathers comfort, and faireScotlandsBride.160ButDorithea, since I must depart,And leaue thee from thy tender mothers charge,Let me aduise my louely daughter first,What best befits her in a forraine land,LiueDoll, for many eyes shall looke on thee,Haue care of honor and the present state:For she that steps to height of Maiestie,Is euen the marke whereat the enemy aimes.Thy vertues shall be construed to vice,Thine affable discourse to abiect minde.170If coy, detracting tongues will call thee proud:Be therefore warie in this slippery state,Honour thy husband, loue him as thy life:Make choyce of friends, as Eagles of their yoong,Who sooth no vice, who flatter not for gaine:But loue such friends as do the truth maintaine.Thinke on these lessons when thou art alone,And thou shalt liue in health when I am gone.Dor.I will engraue these preceps in my heart,And as the wind with calmnesse woes you hence,180Euen so I wish the heauens in all mishaps,May blesse my father with continuall grace.K. of E.Then son farwell, the fauouring windes inuites vs to depart.Long circumstance in taking princely leaues,Is more officious then conuenient.Brother ofScotland, loue me in my childe,You greet me well, if so you will her good.K. of Sc.Then louelyDoll, and all that fauor me,Attend to see our English friends at sea,Let all their charge depend vpon my purse:190They are our neighbors, by whose kind accord,We dare attempt the proudest Potentate.Onely faire Countesse, and your daughter stay,With you I haue some other thing to say.Exeunt all saue the King, the Countesse,Ida,Ateukin, in all royaltie.K. of S.So let them tryumph that haue cause to ioy,But wretched King, thy nuptiall knot is death:Thy Bride the breeder of thy Countries ill,For thy false heart dissenting from thy hand,200Misled by loue, hast made another choyce,Another choyce, euen when thou vowdst thy souleToDorithea, Englands choyseff pride,O then thy wandring eyes bewitcht thy heart,Euen in the Chappell did thy fancie change,When periur’d man, though faireDollhad thy hand,The ScottishIdaesbewtie stale thy heart:Yet feare and loue hath tyde thy readie tongueFrom blabbing forth the passions of thy minde,Lest fearefull silence haue in suttle lookes210Bewrayd the treason of my new vowd loue,Be faire and louelyDoll, but here’s the prizeThat lodgeth here, and entred through mine eyes,Yet how so ere I loue, I must be wise.Now louely Countesse, what reward or grace,May I imploy on you for this your zeale,And humble honors done vs in our Court,In entertainment of the English King.Countesse.It was of dutie Prince that I haue done:And what in fauour may content me most,220Is, that it please your grace to giue me leaue,For to returne vnto my Countrey home.K. of Scots.But louelyIdais your mind the same?Ida.I count of Court my Lord, as wise men do,Tis fit for those that knowes what longs thereto:Each person to his place, the wise to Art,The Cobler to his clout, the Swaine to Cart.K. of Sc.ButIdayou are faire, and bewtie shines,And seemeth best, where pomp her pride refines.Ida.If bewtie (as I know there’s none in me)230Were sworne my loue, and I his life should be:The farther from the Court I were remoued,The more I thinke of heauen I were beloued.K. of Scots.And why?Ida.Because the Court is countedVenusnet,Where gifts and vowes for stales are often set,None, be she chaste asVesta, but shall meeteA curious toong to charme her eares with sweet.K. of Scots.WhyIdathen I see you set at naught,The force of loue.240Ida.In sooth this is my thoght most gratious king,That they that little proueAre mickle blest, from bitter sweets of loue:And weele I wot, I heard a shepheard sing,That like a Bee, Loue hath a little sting:He lurkes in flowres, he pearcheth on the trees,He on Kings pillowes, bends his prettie knees:The Boy is blinde, but when he will not spie,He hath a leaden foote, and wings to flie:Beshrow me yet, for all these strange effects,250If I would like the Lad, that so infects.K. of Scots.Rare wit, fair face, what hart could more desire?ButDollis faire, and doth concerne thee neere.LetDollbe faire, she is wonne, but I must woe,And win faireIda, theres some choyce in two.ButIdathou art coy.Ida.And why dread King?K. of Scots.In that you will dispraise so sweetA thing, as loue, had I my wish.Ida.What then?260K. of Scots.Then would I place his arrow here,His bewtie in that face.Ida.And wereApollomoued and rulde by me,His wisedome should be yours, and mine his tree.K. of Scots.But here returnes our traine.Welcome faireDoll: how fares our father, is he shipt and gone.Enters the traine backe.Dor.My royall father is both shipt and gone,God and faire winds direct him to his home.K. of Sc.Amen say I, wold thou wert with him too:270Then might I haue a fitter time to woo.But Countesse you would be gone, therfore farwellYetIdaif thou wilt, stay thou behind,To accompany my Queene.But if thou like the pleasures of the Court,Or if she likte me tho she left the Court,What should I say? I know not what to say,You may depart, and you my curteous Queene,Leaue me a space, I haue a waightie cause to thinke vpon:Id., it nips me neere:280It came from thence, I feele it burning heere.Exeunt all sauing the King andAteukin.K. of Scot.Now am I free from sight of commõ eie,Where to my selfe I may disclose the griefeThat hath too great a part in mine affects.Ateu.And now is my time, by wiles & words to rise,Greater then those, that thinks themselues more wise.K. of Scots.And first fond King, thy honor doth engraue,Vpon thy browes, the drift of thy disgrace:Thy new vowd loue in sight of God and men,290Linke thee toDorithea, during life.For who more faire and vertuous then thy wife,Deceitfull murtherer of a quiet minde,Fond loue, vile lust, that thus misleads vs men,To vowe our faithes, and fall to sin againe.But Kings stoupe not to euery common thought,Idais faire and wise, fit for a King:And for faireIdawill I hazard life,Venture my Kingdome, Country, and my Crowne:Such fire hath loue, to burne a kingdome downe.300SayDolldislikes, that I estrange my loue,Am I obedient to a womans looke?Nay say her father frowne when he shall heareThat I do hold faireIdaesloue so deare:Let father frowne and fret, and fret and die,Nor earth, nor heauen shall part my loue and I.Yea they shall part vs, but we first must meet,And wo, and win, and yet the world not seet.Yea ther’s the wound, & wounded with that thoghtSo let me die: for all my drift is naught.310Ateu.Most gratious and imperiall Maiestie,K. of S.A little flattery more were but too much,Villaine what art thou that thus darest interrupt a Princes secrets.Ateu.Dread King, thy vassall is a man of Art,Who knowes by constellation of the stars,By oppositions and by drie aspects,The things are past, and those that are to come.K. of S.But where’s thy warrant to approach my presence?Ateu.My zeale and ruth to see your graces wrong,Makes me lament, I did detract so long.320K. of S.If thou knowst thoughts, tell me what mean I now?Ateu.Ile calculate the cause of those your highnesse smiles,And tell your thoughts.K. of S.But least thou spend thy time in idlenesse,And misse the matter that my mind aimes at,Tell me what star was opposite when that was thought?He strikes him on the eare.Ateu.Tis inconuenient mightie Potentate,Whose lookes resemblesIouein Maiestie,To scorne the sooth of science with contempt,330I see in those imperiall lookes of yours,The whole discourse of loue,Saturncombust,With direfull lookes at your natiuitie:Beheld faireVennsin her siluer orbe,I know by certaine exiomies I haue read,Your graces griefs, & further can expresse her name,That holds you thus in fancies bands.K. of S.Thou talkest wonders.Ateu.Nought but truth O King,TisIdais the mistresse of your heart,340Whose youth must take impression of affects,For tender twigs will bowe, and milder mindesWill yeeld to fancie be they followed well.K. of S.What god art thou composde in humane shape,Or boldTrophoniusto decide our doubts,How knowst thou this?Ateu.Euen as I know the meanes,To worke your graces freedome and your loue:Had I the mind as many Courtiers haue,To creepe into your bosome for your coyne,350And beg rewards for euery cap and knee,I then would say, if that your grace would giueThis lease, this manor, or this pattent seald,For this or that I would effect your loue:ButAteukinis no Parasite O Prince,I know your grace knowes schollers are but poore,And therefore as I blush to beg a fee,Your mightinesse is so magnificentYou cannot chuse but cast some gift apart,To ease my bashfull need that cannot beg,360As for your loue, oh might I be imployd,How faithfully wouldAteukincompasse it:But Princes rather trust a smoothing tongue,Then men of Art that can accept the time.K. of Scots.Ateu.If so thy name, for so thou saist,Thine Art appeares in entrance of my loue:And since I deeme thy wisedom matcht with truth,I will exalt thee, and thy selfe aloneShalt be the Agent to dissolue my griefe.Sooth is, I loue, andIdais my loue,370But my new marriage nips me neare,Ateukin:ForDoritheamay not brooke th’abuse.Ateu.These lets are but as moaths against the sun,Yet not so great, like dust before the winde:Yet not so light. Tut pacifie your grace,You haue the sword and scepter in your hand,You are the King, the state depends on you:Your will is law, say that the case were mine,Were she my sister whom your highnesse loues,She should consent, for that our liues, our goods,380Depend on you, and if your Queene repine,Although my nature cannot brooke of blood,And Schollers grieue to heare of murtherous deeds,But if the Lambe should let the Lyons way,By my aduise the Lambe should lose her life.Thus am I bold to speake vnto your grace,Who am too base to kisse your royall feete,For I am poore, nor haue I land nor rent,Nor countenance here in Court, but for my loue,Your Grace shall find none such within the realme.390K. of S.Wilt thou effect my loue, shal she be mine?Ateu.Ile gather Moly-rocus, and the earbes,That heales the wounds of body and the minde,Ile set out charmes and spels, nought else shalbe left,To tame the wanton if she shall rebell,Giue me but tokens of your highnesse trust.K. of S.. Thou shalt haue gold, honor and wealth inough,Winne my Loue, and I will make thee great.Ateu.These words do make me rich most noble Prince,I am more proude of them then any wealth,400Did not your grace suppose I flatter you,Beleeue me I would boldly publish this:Was neuer eye that saw a sweeter face,Nor neuer eare that heard a deeper wit,Oh God how I am rauisht in your woorth.K. of S.Ateu.Follow me, loue must haue ease.Ateu.Ile kisse your highnesse feet, march when you please.Exeunt.
Laus Deo detur in Eternum.I. i.
Enter the King of England, the King of Scots,Dorithehis Queen,the Countesse, LadyIda, with other Lords. AndAteukinwiththem aloofe.
Attus primus. Scena prima.120
K. of Scots.Brother of England, since our neighboring land,And neare alliance doth inuite our loues,The more I think vpon our last accord,The more I greeue your suddaine parting hence:First lawes of friendship did confirme our peace,Now both the seale of faith and marriage bed,The name of father, and the style of friend,These force in me affection full confirmd,So that I greeue, and this my heartie griefe130The heauens record, the world may witnesse wellTo loose your presence, who are now to meA father, brother, and a vowed friend.
K. of Eng.Link all these louely stiles good king in one,And since thy griefe exceeds in my depart,I leaue myDoritheato enioy, thy whole compactLoues, and plighted vowes.Brother ofScotland, this is my ioy, my life,Her fathers honour, and her Countries hope,Her mothers comfort, and her husbands blisse:140I tell thee king, in louing of myDoll,Thou bindst her fathers heart and all his friendsIn bands of loue that death cannot dissolue.
K. of Scots.Nor can her father loue her like to me,My liues light, and the comfort of my soule:FaireDorithea, that wast Englands pride,Welcome toScotland, and in signe of loue,Lo I inuest thee with the Scottish Crowne.Nobles and Ladies, stoupe vnto your Queene.And Trumpets sound, that Heralds may proclaime,150FaireDoritheapeerlesse Queene of Scots.
All.Long liue and prosper our faire Q. of Scots.
Enstall and Crowne her.
Dor.Thanks to the king of kings for my dignity,Thanks to my father, that prouides so carefully,Thanks to my Lord and husband for this honor,And thanks to all that loue their King and me.
All.Long liue faireDoritheaour true Queene.
K. of E.Long shine the sun ofScotlandin her pride,Her fathers comfort, and faireScotlandsBride.160ButDorithea, since I must depart,And leaue thee from thy tender mothers charge,Let me aduise my louely daughter first,What best befits her in a forraine land,LiueDoll, for many eyes shall looke on thee,Haue care of honor and the present state:For she that steps to height of Maiestie,Is euen the marke whereat the enemy aimes.Thy vertues shall be construed to vice,Thine affable discourse to abiect minde.170If coy, detracting tongues will call thee proud:Be therefore warie in this slippery state,Honour thy husband, loue him as thy life:Make choyce of friends, as Eagles of their yoong,Who sooth no vice, who flatter not for gaine:But loue such friends as do the truth maintaine.Thinke on these lessons when thou art alone,And thou shalt liue in health when I am gone.
Dor.I will engraue these preceps in my heart,And as the wind with calmnesse woes you hence,180Euen so I wish the heauens in all mishaps,May blesse my father with continuall grace.
K. of E.Then son farwell, the fauouring windes inuites vs to depart.Long circumstance in taking princely leaues,Is more officious then conuenient.Brother ofScotland, loue me in my childe,You greet me well, if so you will her good.
K. of Sc.Then louelyDoll, and all that fauor me,Attend to see our English friends at sea,Let all their charge depend vpon my purse:190They are our neighbors, by whose kind accord,We dare attempt the proudest Potentate.Onely faire Countesse, and your daughter stay,With you I haue some other thing to say.
Exeunt all saue the King, the Countesse,Ida,Ateukin, in all royaltie.
K. of S.So let them tryumph that haue cause to ioy,But wretched King, thy nuptiall knot is death:Thy Bride the breeder of thy Countries ill,For thy false heart dissenting from thy hand,200Misled by loue, hast made another choyce,Another choyce, euen when thou vowdst thy souleToDorithea, Englands choyseff pride,O then thy wandring eyes bewitcht thy heart,Euen in the Chappell did thy fancie change,When periur’d man, though faireDollhad thy hand,The ScottishIdaesbewtie stale thy heart:Yet feare and loue hath tyde thy readie tongueFrom blabbing forth the passions of thy minde,Lest fearefull silence haue in suttle lookes210Bewrayd the treason of my new vowd loue,Be faire and louelyDoll, but here’s the prizeThat lodgeth here, and entred through mine eyes,Yet how so ere I loue, I must be wise.Now louely Countesse, what reward or grace,May I imploy on you for this your zeale,And humble honors done vs in our Court,In entertainment of the English King.
Countesse.It was of dutie Prince that I haue done:And what in fauour may content me most,220Is, that it please your grace to giue me leaue,For to returne vnto my Countrey home.
K. of Scots.But louelyIdais your mind the same?
Ida.I count of Court my Lord, as wise men do,Tis fit for those that knowes what longs thereto:Each person to his place, the wise to Art,The Cobler to his clout, the Swaine to Cart.
K. of Sc.ButIdayou are faire, and bewtie shines,And seemeth best, where pomp her pride refines.
Ida.If bewtie (as I know there’s none in me)230Were sworne my loue, and I his life should be:The farther from the Court I were remoued,The more I thinke of heauen I were beloued.
K. of Scots.And why?
Ida.Because the Court is countedVenusnet,Where gifts and vowes for stales are often set,None, be she chaste asVesta, but shall meeteA curious toong to charme her eares with sweet.
K. of Scots.WhyIdathen I see you set at naught,The force of loue.240
Ida.In sooth this is my thoght most gratious king,That they that little proueAre mickle blest, from bitter sweets of loue:And weele I wot, I heard a shepheard sing,That like a Bee, Loue hath a little sting:He lurkes in flowres, he pearcheth on the trees,He on Kings pillowes, bends his prettie knees:The Boy is blinde, but when he will not spie,He hath a leaden foote, and wings to flie:Beshrow me yet, for all these strange effects,250If I would like the Lad, that so infects.
K. of Scots.Rare wit, fair face, what hart could more desire?ButDollis faire, and doth concerne thee neere.LetDollbe faire, she is wonne, but I must woe,And win faireIda, theres some choyce in two.ButIdathou art coy.
Ida.And why dread King?
K. of Scots.In that you will dispraise so sweetA thing, as loue, had I my wish.
Ida.What then?260
K. of Scots.Then would I place his arrow here,His bewtie in that face.
Ida.And wereApollomoued and rulde by me,His wisedome should be yours, and mine his tree.
K. of Scots.But here returnes our traine.Welcome faireDoll: how fares our father, is he shipt and gone.
Enters the traine backe.
Dor.My royall father is both shipt and gone,God and faire winds direct him to his home.
K. of Sc.Amen say I, wold thou wert with him too:270Then might I haue a fitter time to woo.But Countesse you would be gone, therfore farwellYetIdaif thou wilt, stay thou behind,To accompany my Queene.But if thou like the pleasures of the Court,Or if she likte me tho she left the Court,What should I say? I know not what to say,You may depart, and you my curteous Queene,Leaue me a space, I haue a waightie cause to thinke vpon:
Id., it nips me neere:280It came from thence, I feele it burning heere.
Exeunt all sauing the King andAteukin.
K. of Scot.Now am I free from sight of commõ eie,Where to my selfe I may disclose the griefeThat hath too great a part in mine affects.
Ateu.And now is my time, by wiles & words to rise,Greater then those, that thinks themselues more wise.
K. of Scots.And first fond King, thy honor doth engraue,Vpon thy browes, the drift of thy disgrace:Thy new vowd loue in sight of God and men,290Linke thee toDorithea, during life.For who more faire and vertuous then thy wife,Deceitfull murtherer of a quiet minde,Fond loue, vile lust, that thus misleads vs men,To vowe our faithes, and fall to sin againe.But Kings stoupe not to euery common thought,Idais faire and wise, fit for a King:And for faireIdawill I hazard life,Venture my Kingdome, Country, and my Crowne:Such fire hath loue, to burne a kingdome downe.300SayDolldislikes, that I estrange my loue,Am I obedient to a womans looke?Nay say her father frowne when he shall heareThat I do hold faireIdaesloue so deare:Let father frowne and fret, and fret and die,Nor earth, nor heauen shall part my loue and I.Yea they shall part vs, but we first must meet,And wo, and win, and yet the world not seet.Yea ther’s the wound, & wounded with that thoghtSo let me die: for all my drift is naught.310
Ateu.Most gratious and imperiall Maiestie,
K. of S.A little flattery more were but too much,Villaine what art thou that thus darest interrupt a Princes secrets.
Ateu.Dread King, thy vassall is a man of Art,Who knowes by constellation of the stars,By oppositions and by drie aspects,The things are past, and those that are to come.
K. of S.But where’s thy warrant to approach my presence?
Ateu.My zeale and ruth to see your graces wrong,Makes me lament, I did detract so long.320
K. of S.If thou knowst thoughts, tell me what mean I now?
Ateu.Ile calculate the cause of those your highnesse smiles,And tell your thoughts.
K. of S.But least thou spend thy time in idlenesse,And misse the matter that my mind aimes at,Tell me what star was opposite when that was thought?
He strikes him on the eare.
Ateu.Tis inconuenient mightie Potentate,Whose lookes resemblesIouein Maiestie,To scorne the sooth of science with contempt,330I see in those imperiall lookes of yours,The whole discourse of loue,Saturncombust,With direfull lookes at your natiuitie:Beheld faireVennsin her siluer orbe,I know by certaine exiomies I haue read,Your graces griefs, & further can expresse her name,That holds you thus in fancies bands.
K. of S.Thou talkest wonders.
Ateu.Nought but truth O King,TisIdais the mistresse of your heart,340Whose youth must take impression of affects,For tender twigs will bowe, and milder mindesWill yeeld to fancie be they followed well.
K. of S.What god art thou composde in humane shape,Or boldTrophoniusto decide our doubts,How knowst thou this?
Ateu.Euen as I know the meanes,To worke your graces freedome and your loue:Had I the mind as many Courtiers haue,To creepe into your bosome for your coyne,350And beg rewards for euery cap and knee,I then would say, if that your grace would giueThis lease, this manor, or this pattent seald,For this or that I would effect your loue:ButAteukinis no Parasite O Prince,I know your grace knowes schollers are but poore,And therefore as I blush to beg a fee,Your mightinesse is so magnificentYou cannot chuse but cast some gift apart,To ease my bashfull need that cannot beg,360As for your loue, oh might I be imployd,How faithfully wouldAteukincompasse it:But Princes rather trust a smoothing tongue,Then men of Art that can accept the time.
K. of Scots.Ateu.If so thy name, for so thou saist,Thine Art appeares in entrance of my loue:And since I deeme thy wisedom matcht with truth,I will exalt thee, and thy selfe aloneShalt be the Agent to dissolue my griefe.Sooth is, I loue, andIdais my loue,370But my new marriage nips me neare,Ateukin:ForDoritheamay not brooke th’abuse.
Ateu.These lets are but as moaths against the sun,Yet not so great, like dust before the winde:Yet not so light. Tut pacifie your grace,You haue the sword and scepter in your hand,You are the King, the state depends on you:Your will is law, say that the case were mine,Were she my sister whom your highnesse loues,She should consent, for that our liues, our goods,380Depend on you, and if your Queene repine,Although my nature cannot brooke of blood,And Schollers grieue to heare of murtherous deeds,But if the Lambe should let the Lyons way,By my aduise the Lambe should lose her life.Thus am I bold to speake vnto your grace,Who am too base to kisse your royall feete,For I am poore, nor haue I land nor rent,Nor countenance here in Court, but for my loue,Your Grace shall find none such within the realme.390
K. of S.Wilt thou effect my loue, shal she be mine?
Ateu.Ile gather Moly-rocus, and the earbes,That heales the wounds of body and the minde,Ile set out charmes and spels, nought else shalbe left,To tame the wanton if she shall rebell,Giue me but tokens of your highnesse trust.
K. of S.. Thou shalt haue gold, honor and wealth inough,Winne my Loue, and I will make thee great.
Ateu.These words do make me rich most noble Prince,I am more proude of them then any wealth,400Did not your grace suppose I flatter you,Beleeue me I would boldly publish this:Was neuer eye that saw a sweeter face,Nor neuer eare that heard a deeper wit,Oh God how I am rauisht in your woorth.
K. of S.Ateu.Follow me, loue must haue ease.
Ateu.Ile kisse your highnesse feet, march when you please.
Exeunt.
EnterSlipper,Nano, andAndrew, with their billes readieI. ii.written in their hands.410Andrew.Stand back sir, mine shall stand highest.Slip.Come vnder mine arme sir, or get a footstoole,Or else by the light of the Moone, I must come to it.Nano.Agree my maisters, euery man to his height,Though I stand lowest, I hope to get the best maister.Andr.Ere I will stoupe to a thistle, I will change turnes,As good lucke comes on the right hand, as the left:Here’s for me, and me, and mine.Andr.But tell me fellowes till better occasion come,Do you seeke maisters?420Ambo.We doo.Andr.But what can you do worthie preferment?Nano.Marry I can smell a knaue from a Rat.Slip.And I can licke a dish before a Cat.Andr.And I can finde two fooles vnfought,How like you that?But in earnest, now tell me of what trades are you two?Slip.How meane you that sir, of what trade?Marry Ile tell you, I haue many trades,The honest trade when I needs must,430The filching trade when time serues,The Cousening trade as I finde occasion.And I haue more qualities, I cannot abide a ful cup vnkist,A fat Capon vncaru’d,A full purse vnpickt,Nor a foole to prooue a Iustice as you do.Andr.Why sot why calst thou me foole?Nano.For examining wiser then thy selfe.Andr.So doth many more then I inScotland.Nano.Yea those are such, as haue more autthoritie then wit,440And more wealth then honestie.Slip.This is my little brother with the great wit, ware him,But what canst thou do, tel me, that art so inquisitiue of vs?Andr.Any thing that concernes a gentleman to do, that can I do.Slip.So you are of the gentle trade?Andr.True.Slip.Then gentle sir, leaue vs to our selues,For heare comes one as if he would lack a seruant ere he went.Ent.Ateu.Why soAteukin? this becomes thee best,Wealth, honour, ease, and angelles in thy chest:450Now may I say, as many often sing,No fishing to the sea, nor seruice to a king.Vnto this high promotions doth belong,Meanes to be talkt of in the thickest throng:And first to fit the humors of my Lord,Sweete layes and lynes of loue I must record.And such sweete lynes and louelayes ile endite:As men may wish for, and my leech delight,And next a traine of gallants at my heeles,That men may say, the world doth run on wheeles.460For men of art, that rise by indirection,To honour and the fauour of their King,Must vse all meanes to saue what they haue got,And win their fauours whom he neuer knew.If any frowne to see my fortunes such,A man must beare a little, not too much:But in good time these billes partend, I thinke,That some good fellowes do for seruice seeke.Read.If any gentleman, spirituall or temperall, will entertaineout of his seruice, a young stripling of the age of 30. yeares, that can470sleep with the soundest, eate with the hungriest, work with the sickest,lye with the lowdest, face with the proudest, &c. that can wait in aGentlemans chamber, when his maister is a myle of, keepe his stablewhen tis emptie, and his purse when tis full, and hath many qualitieswoorse then all these, let him write his name and goe his way,and attendance shall be giuen.Ateu.By my faith a good seruant, which is he?Slip.Trulie sir that am I?Ateu.And why doest thou write such a bill,Are all these qualities in thee?480Slip.O Lord I sir, and a great many more,Some bettet, some worse, some richer some porer,Why sir do you looke so, do they not please you?Ateu.Trulie no, for they are naught and so art thou,If thou hast no better qualities, stand by.Slip.O sir, I tell the worst first, but and you lack a man,I am for you, ile tell you the best qualities I haue.Ateu.Be breefe then.Slip.If you need me in your chamber,I can keepe the doore at a whistle, in your kitchin,490Turne the spit, and licke the pan, and make the fire burne.But if in the stable.Ateu.Yea there would I vse thee.Slip.Why there you kill me, there am I,And turne me to a horse & a wench, and I haue no peere.Ateu.Art thou so good in keeping a horse,I pray thee tell me how many good qualities hath a horse?Slip.Why so sir, a horse hath two properties of a man,That is a proude heart, and a hardie stomacke,Foure properties of a Lyon, a broad brest, a stiffe docket,500Hold your nose master. A wild countenance, and 4. good legs.Nine properties of a Foxe, nine of a Hare, nine of an Asse,And ten of a woman.Ateu.A woman, why what properties of a woman hath a Horse?Slip.O maister, know you not that?Draw your tables, and write what wise I speake.First a merry countenance.Second, a soft pace.Third, a broad forehead.Fourth, broad buttockes.510Fift, hard of warde.Sixt, easie to leape vpon.Seuenth, good at long iourney.Eight, mouing vnder a man.Ninth, alway busie with the mouth.Tenth. Euer chewing on the bridle.Ateu.Thou art a man for me, whats thy name?Slip.An auncient name sir, belonging to theChamber and the night gowne. Gesse you that.Ateu.Whats that,Slipper?520Slip.By my faith well gest, and so tis indeed:Youle be my maister?Ateu.I meane so.Slip.Reade this first.Ateu.Pleaseth it any Gentleman to entertaineA seruant of more wit then stature,Let them subscribe, and attendance shall be giuen.What of this?Slip.He is my brother sir, and we two were borne togither,Must serue togither, and will die togither,530Though we be both hangd.Ateu.Whats thy name?Nano.Nano.Ateu.The etimologie of which word, is a dwarfe:Art not thou the old stoykes son that dwels in his Tombe?Ambo.We are.Ateu.Thou art welcome to me,Wilt thou giue thy selfe wholly to be at my disposition?Nano.In all humilitie I submit my selfe.Ateu.Then will I deck thee Princely, instruct thee courtly,540And present thee to the Queene as my gift.Art thou content?Nano.Yes, and thanke your honor too.Slip.Then welcome brother, and fellow now.Andr.May it please your honor to abase your eye so lowe,As to looke either on my bill or my selfe.Ateu.What are you?An.By birth a gentleman, in profession a scholler,And one that knew your honor inEdenborough,Before your worthinesse cald you to this reputation.550By meAndrew Snoord.Ateu.AndrewI remember thee, follow me,And we will confer further, for my waightie affairesFor the king, commands me to be briefe at this time.Come onNano,Slipperfollow.Exeunt.
EnterSlipper,Nano, andAndrew, with their billes readieI. ii.written in their hands.410
Andrew.Stand back sir, mine shall stand highest.
Slip.Come vnder mine arme sir, or get a footstoole,Or else by the light of the Moone, I must come to it.
Nano.Agree my maisters, euery man to his height,Though I stand lowest, I hope to get the best maister.
Andr.Ere I will stoupe to a thistle, I will change turnes,As good lucke comes on the right hand, as the left:Here’s for me, and me, and mine.
Andr.But tell me fellowes till better occasion come,Do you seeke maisters?420
Ambo.We doo.
Andr.But what can you do worthie preferment?
Nano.Marry I can smell a knaue from a Rat.
Slip.And I can licke a dish before a Cat.
Andr.And I can finde two fooles vnfought,How like you that?But in earnest, now tell me of what trades are you two?
Slip.How meane you that sir, of what trade?Marry Ile tell you, I haue many trades,The honest trade when I needs must,430The filching trade when time serues,The Cousening trade as I finde occasion.And I haue more qualities, I cannot abide a ful cup vnkist,A fat Capon vncaru’d,A full purse vnpickt,Nor a foole to prooue a Iustice as you do.
Andr.Why sot why calst thou me foole?
Nano.For examining wiser then thy selfe.
Andr.So doth many more then I inScotland.
Nano.Yea those are such, as haue more autthoritie then wit,440And more wealth then honestie.
Slip.This is my little brother with the great wit, ware him,But what canst thou do, tel me, that art so inquisitiue of vs?
Andr.Any thing that concernes a gentleman to do, that can I do.
Slip.So you are of the gentle trade?
Andr.True.
Slip.Then gentle sir, leaue vs to our selues,For heare comes one as if he would lack a seruant ere he went.Ent.Ateu.Why soAteukin? this becomes thee best,Wealth, honour, ease, and angelles in thy chest:450Now may I say, as many often sing,No fishing to the sea, nor seruice to a king.Vnto this high promotions doth belong,Meanes to be talkt of in the thickest throng:And first to fit the humors of my Lord,Sweete layes and lynes of loue I must record.And such sweete lynes and louelayes ile endite:As men may wish for, and my leech delight,And next a traine of gallants at my heeles,That men may say, the world doth run on wheeles.460For men of art, that rise by indirection,To honour and the fauour of their King,Must vse all meanes to saue what they haue got,And win their fauours whom he neuer knew.If any frowne to see my fortunes such,A man must beare a little, not too much:But in good time these billes partend, I thinke,That some good fellowes do for seruice seeke.
Read.If any gentleman, spirituall or temperall, will entertaineout of his seruice, a young stripling of the age of 30. yeares, that can470sleep with the soundest, eate with the hungriest, work with the sickest,lye with the lowdest, face with the proudest, &c. that can wait in aGentlemans chamber, when his maister is a myle of, keepe his stablewhen tis emptie, and his purse when tis full, and hath many qualitieswoorse then all these, let him write his name and goe his way,and attendance shall be giuen.
Ateu.By my faith a good seruant, which is he?
Slip.Trulie sir that am I?
Ateu.And why doest thou write such a bill,Are all these qualities in thee?480
Slip.O Lord I sir, and a great many more,Some bettet, some worse, some richer some porer,Why sir do you looke so, do they not please you?
Ateu.Trulie no, for they are naught and so art thou,If thou hast no better qualities, stand by.
Slip.O sir, I tell the worst first, but and you lack a man,I am for you, ile tell you the best qualities I haue.
Ateu.Be breefe then.
Slip.If you need me in your chamber,I can keepe the doore at a whistle, in your kitchin,490Turne the spit, and licke the pan, and make the fire burne.But if in the stable.
Ateu.Yea there would I vse thee.
Slip.Why there you kill me, there am I,And turne me to a horse & a wench, and I haue no peere.
Ateu.Art thou so good in keeping a horse,I pray thee tell me how many good qualities hath a horse?
Slip.Why so sir, a horse hath two properties of a man,That is a proude heart, and a hardie stomacke,Foure properties of a Lyon, a broad brest, a stiffe docket,500Hold your nose master. A wild countenance, and 4. good legs.Nine properties of a Foxe, nine of a Hare, nine of an Asse,And ten of a woman.
Ateu.A woman, why what properties of a woman hath a Horse?
Slip.O maister, know you not that?Draw your tables, and write what wise I speake.First a merry countenance.Second, a soft pace.Third, a broad forehead.Fourth, broad buttockes.510Fift, hard of warde.Sixt, easie to leape vpon.Seuenth, good at long iourney.Eight, mouing vnder a man.Ninth, alway busie with the mouth.Tenth. Euer chewing on the bridle.
Ateu.Thou art a man for me, whats thy name?
Slip.An auncient name sir, belonging to theChamber and the night gowne. Gesse you that.
Ateu.Whats that,Slipper?520
Slip.By my faith well gest, and so tis indeed:Youle be my maister?
Ateu.I meane so.
Slip.Reade this first.
Ateu.Pleaseth it any Gentleman to entertaineA seruant of more wit then stature,Let them subscribe, and attendance shall be giuen.What of this?
Slip.He is my brother sir, and we two were borne togither,Must serue togither, and will die togither,530Though we be both hangd.
Ateu.Whats thy name?
Nano.Nano.
Ateu.The etimologie of which word, is a dwarfe:Art not thou the old stoykes son that dwels in his Tombe?
Ambo.We are.
Ateu.Thou art welcome to me,Wilt thou giue thy selfe wholly to be at my disposition?
Nano.In all humilitie I submit my selfe.
Ateu.Then will I deck thee Princely, instruct thee courtly,540And present thee to the Queene as my gift.Art thou content?
Nano.Yes, and thanke your honor too.
Slip.Then welcome brother, and fellow now.
Andr.May it please your honor to abase your eye so lowe,As to looke either on my bill or my selfe.
Ateu.What are you?
An.By birth a gentleman, in profession a scholler,And one that knew your honor inEdenborough,Before your worthinesse cald you to this reputation.550By meAndrew Snoord.
Ateu.AndrewI remember thee, follow me,And we will confer further, for my waightie affairesFor the king, commands me to be briefe at this time.Come onNano,Slipperfollow.
Exeunt.
Enter sirBartramwithEustasand others, booted.I. iii.S. Bar.But tell me louelyEustasas thou lou’st me,Among the many pleasures we haue past,Which is the rifest in thy memorie,560To draw thee ouer to thine auncient friend?Eu.What makes SirBartramthus inquisitiue?Tell me good knight, am I welcome or no?Sir Bar.By sweet S.Andrewand may sale I sweare,As welcom is my honestDickto me,As mornings sun, or as the watry moone,In merkist night, when we the borders track.I tell theeDick, thy sight hath cleerd my thoughts,Of many banefull troubles that there woond.Welcome to sirBartramas his life:570Tell me bonnyDicke, hast got a wife?Eust.A wife God shield sirBartram, that were illTo leaue my wife and wander thus astray:But time and good aduise ere many yeares,May chance to make my fancie bend that way,What newes inScotland? therefore came I hither:To see your Country, and to chat togither.Sir Bar.Why man our Countries blyth, our king is well.Our Queene so, so, the Nobles well, and worseAnd weele are they that were about the king,580But better are the Country Gentlemen.And I may tell theeEustace, in our liues,We old men neuer saw so wondrous change:But leaue this trattle, and tell me what newes,In louely England with our honest friends?Eust.The king, the Court, and all our noble frendsAre well, and God in mercy keepe them so.The Northren Lords and Ladies here abouts,That knowes I came to see your Queen and Court,Commends them to my honest friend sirBartram,590And many others that I haue not seene:Among the rest, the CountesseElinorfromCarlileWhere we merry oft haue bene,Greets well my Lord, and hath directed me,By message this faire Ladies face to see.Sir Bar.I tell theeEustace, lest mine old eyes daze,This is our Scottish moone and euenings pride:This is the blemish of your English Bride:Who sailes by her, are sure of winde at will.Her face is dangerous, her sight is ill:600And yet in sooth sweetDicke, it may be said,The king hath folly, their’s vertue in the mayd.Eust.But knows my friend this portrait, be aduisd?Sir Bar.Is it notIdathe Countesse ofArainsdaughters?Eust.So was I told byElinorofCarlile,But tell me louelyBartram, is the maid euil inclind,Misled, or Concubine vnto the King or any other Lord?Ba.Shuld I be brief & true, thẽ thus myDicke,All Englands grounds yeelds not a blyther Lasse.NorEuropcan art her for her gifts,610Of vertue, honour, beautie, and the rest:But our fõd king not knowing sin in lust,Makes loue by endlesse meanes and precious gifts,And men that see it dare not sayt my friend,But wee may wish that it were otherwise:But I rid thee to view the picture still,For by the persons sights there hangs som ill.Ba.Oh good sirBartram, you suspect I loue,Then were I mad, hee whom I neuer sawe,But how so ere, I feare not entisings,620Desire will giue no place vnto a king:Ile see her whom the world admires so much,That I may say with them, there liues none such.Bar.Be Gad and sal, both see and talke with her,And when th’ hast done, what ere her beautie be,Ile wartant thee her vertues may compare,With the proudest she that waits vpon your Queen.Eu.My Ladie intreats your Worship in to supper.Ba.Guid bonyDick, my wife will tel thee more,Was neuer no man in her booke before:630Be Gad shees blyth, faire lewely, bony, &c.Exeunt.
Enter sirBartramwithEustasand others, booted.I. iii.
S. Bar.But tell me louelyEustasas thou lou’st me,Among the many pleasures we haue past,Which is the rifest in thy memorie,560To draw thee ouer to thine auncient friend?
Eu.What makes SirBartramthus inquisitiue?Tell me good knight, am I welcome or no?
Sir Bar.By sweet S.Andrewand may sale I sweare,As welcom is my honestDickto me,As mornings sun, or as the watry moone,In merkist night, when we the borders track.I tell theeDick, thy sight hath cleerd my thoughts,Of many banefull troubles that there woond.Welcome to sirBartramas his life:570Tell me bonnyDicke, hast got a wife?
Eust.A wife God shield sirBartram, that were illTo leaue my wife and wander thus astray:But time and good aduise ere many yeares,May chance to make my fancie bend that way,What newes inScotland? therefore came I hither:To see your Country, and to chat togither.
Sir Bar.Why man our Countries blyth, our king is well.Our Queene so, so, the Nobles well, and worseAnd weele are they that were about the king,580But better are the Country Gentlemen.And I may tell theeEustace, in our liues,We old men neuer saw so wondrous change:But leaue this trattle, and tell me what newes,In louely England with our honest friends?
Eust.The king, the Court, and all our noble frendsAre well, and God in mercy keepe them so.The Northren Lords and Ladies here abouts,That knowes I came to see your Queen and Court,Commends them to my honest friend sirBartram,590And many others that I haue not seene:Among the rest, the CountesseElinorfromCarlileWhere we merry oft haue bene,Greets well my Lord, and hath directed me,By message this faire Ladies face to see.
Sir Bar.I tell theeEustace, lest mine old eyes daze,This is our Scottish moone and euenings pride:This is the blemish of your English Bride:Who sailes by her, are sure of winde at will.Her face is dangerous, her sight is ill:600And yet in sooth sweetDicke, it may be said,The king hath folly, their’s vertue in the mayd.
Eust.But knows my friend this portrait, be aduisd?
Sir Bar.Is it notIdathe Countesse ofArainsdaughters?
Eust.So was I told byElinorofCarlile,But tell me louelyBartram, is the maid euil inclind,Misled, or Concubine vnto the King or any other Lord?
Ba.Shuld I be brief & true, thẽ thus myDicke,All Englands grounds yeelds not a blyther Lasse.NorEuropcan art her for her gifts,610Of vertue, honour, beautie, and the rest:But our fõd king not knowing sin in lust,Makes loue by endlesse meanes and precious gifts,And men that see it dare not sayt my friend,But wee may wish that it were otherwise:But I rid thee to view the picture still,For by the persons sights there hangs som ill.
Ba.Oh good sirBartram, you suspect I loue,Then were I mad, hee whom I neuer sawe,But how so ere, I feare not entisings,620Desire will giue no place vnto a king:Ile see her whom the world admires so much,That I may say with them, there liues none such.
Bar.Be Gad and sal, both see and talke with her,And when th’ hast done, what ere her beautie be,Ile wartant thee her vertues may compare,With the proudest she that waits vpon your Queen.
Eu.My Ladie intreats your Worship in to supper.
Ba.Guid bonyDick, my wife will tel thee more,Was neuer no man in her booke before:630Be Gad shees blyth, faire lewely, bony, &c.
Exeunt.
EnterBohanand the fairy king after the first act, toII. Chor.them a rownd of Fairies, or some prittie dance.Boh.Be Gad gramersis little king for this,This sport is better in my exile life,Then euer the deceitfuil werld could yeeld.Ober.I tell theeBohan,Oberonis king,Of quiet, pleasure, profit, and content,Of wealth, of honor, and of all the world,640Tide to no place, yet all are tide to one,Liue thou in this life, exilde from world and men,And I will shew thee wonters ere we part,Boh.Then marke my stay, and the strange doubts,That follow flatterers, lust and lawlesse will,And then say I haue reason to forsake theworld,And all that are within the same.Gow shrowd vs in our harbor where weele see,The pride of folly, as it ought to be.Exeunt.650After the first act.Ober.Here see I good fond actions in thy gyg,And meanes to paint the worldes in constant waiesBut turne thine ene, see which for I can commaund.Enter two battailes strongly fighting, the oneSimi Ranus, theother,Staurobates, she flies, and her Crowne is taken,and she hurt.Boh.What gars this din of mirk and balefull harme,Where euery weane is all betaint with bloud?Ober.This shewes theeBohanwhat is worldly pompe.660Simeranu., the proud Assirrian Queene,WhenNinusdied, did tene in her warres,Three millions of footemen to the fight,Fiue hundreth thousand horse, of armed chars,A hundreth thousand more yet in her prideWas hurt and conquered byS. Taurobates.Then what is pompe?Bohan.I see thou art thine ene.Thou bonny King, if Princes fall from high,My fall is past, vntill I fall to die.670Now marke my talke, and prosecute my gyg.2.Ober.How shuld these crafts withdraw thee from the world?But looke myBohan, pompe allureth.EnterCirusking, humbling themselues: himselfe crowned byOliue Pat, at last dying, layde in a marbell tombe with thisinscriptionWho so thou bee that passest,For I know one shall passe, knowe II amCirusofPersia,680And I prithee leaue me not thus like a clod of clayWherewith my body is couered.All exeunt.Enter the king in great pompe, who reads it, & issueth,crieth vermeum.Boha.What meaneth this?Ober.CirusofPersia,Mightie in life, within a marbell graue,Was layde to rot, whomAlexanderonceBeheld in tombde, and weeping did confesse690Nothing in life could scape from wrethednesse:Why then boast men?Boh.What recke I then of life,Who makes the graue my tomb, the earth my wife:But marke mee more.3.Boh.I can no more, my patience will not warpe.To see these flatteries how they scorne and carpe.Ober.Turne but thy head.Enter our kings carring Crowns, Ladies presenting odors700to Potentates in thrond, who suddainly is slaineby his seruaunts, and thrust out, and so they eate.Exeunt.Sike is the werld, but whilke is he I sawe.Ober.Sesostriswho was conquerour of the werld,Slaine at the last, and stampt on by his slaues.Boh.How blest are peur men then that know their graue,Now marke the sequell of my Gig.Boh.An he weele meete ends: the mirk and sable nightDoth leaue the pering morne to prie abroade,710Thou nill me stay, haile then thou pride of kings,I ken the world, and wot well worldly things,Marke thou my gyg, in mirkest termes that tellesThe loathe of sinnes, and where corruption dwellsHaile me ne mere with showes of gudlie sights:My graue is mine, that rids me from dispights.Accept my gig guid King, and let me rest,The graue with guid men, is a gay built nest.Ober.The rising sunne doth call me hence away,Thankes for thy gyg, I may no longer stay:720But if my traine, did wake thee from thy rest,So shall they sing, thy lullabie to nest.Actus Secundus. Schena Prima.II. i.Enter the Countesse of Arrain, with Ida her daughterin theyr porch, sitting at worke.A Song.Count.FaireIda, might you chuse the greatest goodMidst all the world, in blessings that abound:Wherein my daughter shuld your liking be?Ida.Not in delights, or pompe, or maiestie.730Count.And why?Ida.Since these are meanes to draw the mindeFrom perfect good, and make true iudgement blind.Count.Might you haue wealth, and fortunes ritchest store?Ida.Yet would I (might I chuse) be honest poore.For she that sits at fortunes feete aloweIs sure she shall not taste a further woe.But those that prancke one top of fortunes ball,Still feare a change: and fearing catch a fall.Count.Tut foolish maide, each one contemneth need.740Ida.Good reasõ why, they know not good indeed.Count.Many marrie then, on whom distresse doth loure,Ida.Yes they that vertue deeme an honest dowre.Madame, by right this world I may compare,Vnto my worke, wherein with heedfull care,The heauenly workeman plants with curious hand,As I with needle drawe each thing one land,Euen as hee list, some men like to the Rose,Are fashioned fresh, some in their stalkes do close,And borne do suddaine die: some are but weeds,750And yet from them a secret good proceeds:I with my needle if I please may blot,The fairest rose within my cambricke plot,God with a becke can change each worldly thing,The poore to earth, the begger to the king.What then hath man, wherein hee well may boast,Since by a becke he liues, a louer is lost?Enter Eustace with letters.Count.PeaceIda, heere are straungers neare at hand.Eust.Madame God speed.760Count.I thanke you gentle squire.Eust.The countrie Countesse ofNorthumberland,Doth greete you well, and hath requested mee,To bring these letters to your Ladiship.He carries the letter.Count.I thanke her honour, and your selfe my friend.Shee receiues and peruseth them.I see she meanes you good braue Gentleman,Daughter, the LadieElinorsalutesYour selfe as well as mee, then for her sake770T’were good you entertaind that Courtiour well.Ida.As much salute as may become my sex,And hee in vertue can vouchsafe to thinke,I yeeld him for the courteous Countesse sake.Good sir sit downe, my mother heere and I,Count time mispent, an endlesse vanitie.Eust.Beyond report, the wit, the faire, the shape,What worke you heere, faire Mistresse may I see it?Id.Good Sir looke on, how like you this compact?Eust.Me thinks in this I see true loue in act:780The Woodbines with their leaues do sweetly spred,The Roses blushing prancke them in their red,No flower but boasts the beauties of the spring,This bird hath life indeed if it could sing:What meanes faire Mistres had you in this worke?Ida.My needle sir.Eust.In needles then there lurkes,Some hidden grace I deeme beyond my reach.Id.Not grace in thẽ good sir, but those that teach.Eust.Say that your needle now wereCupidssting,790But ah her eie must bee no lesse,In which is heauen and heauenlinesse,In which the foode of God is shut,Whose powers the purest mindes do glut.Ida.What if it were?Eust.Then see a wondrous thing,I feare mee you would paint inTeneusheart,Affection in his power and chiefest parts.Ida.Good Lord sir no, for hearts but pricked soft,Are wounded sore, for so I heare it oft.800Eust.what recks the second,Where but your happy eye,May make him liue, whomIouehath iudgd to die.Ida.Should life & death within this needle lurke,Ile pricke no hearts, Ile pricke vpon my worke.Enter Ateuken, with Slipper the Clowne.Coun.PeaceIda, I perceiue the fox at hand.Eust.The fox? why fetch your hounds & chace him hence.Count.Oh sir these great men barke at small offence.Ateu.Come will it please you to enter gentle sir?810Offer to exeunt.Stay courteous Ladies, fauour me so much,As to discourse a word or two apart.Count.Good sir, my daughter learnes this rule of mee,To shun resort, and straungers companie:For some are shifting mates that carrie letters,Some such as you too good, because our betters.Slip.Now I pray you sir what a kin are you to a pickrell?Ateu.Why knaue?Slip.By my troth sir, because I neuer knew a proper scituation820fellow of your pitch, fitter to swallow a gudgin.Ateu.What meanst thou by this?Slip.Shifting fellow sir, these be thy words, shifting fellow:This Gentlewoman I feare me, knew your bringing vp.Ateu.How so?Slip.Why sir your father was a Miller,That could shift for a pecke of grist in a bushell,And you a faire spoken Gentleman, that can get more land bya lye, then an honest man by his readie mony.Ateu.Catiue what sayest thou?830Slip.I say sir, that if shee call you shifting knaue,You shall not put her to the proofe.Ateu.And why?Slip.Because sir, liuing by your wit as you doo shifting, isyour letters pattents, it were a hard matter for mee to get mydinner that day, wherein my Maister had not solde a dozen ofdeuices, a case of cogges, and a shute of shifts in the morning:I speak this in your commendation sir, & I pray you so take it.Ateu.If I liue knaue I will bee reuenged, what Gentlemanwould entertaine a rascall, thus to derogate from his honour?840Ida.My Lord why are you thus impatient?Ateu.Not angrieIda, but I teach this knaue,How to behaue himselfe among his betters:Behold faire Countesse to assure your stay,I heere present the signet of the king,Who now by mee faireIdadoth salute you:And since in secret I haue certaine things,In his behalfe good Madame to impart,I craue your daughter to discourse a part.Count.Shee shall in humble dutie bee addrest,850To do his Highnesse will in what shee may.Id.Now gentle sir what would his grace with me?Ateu.Faire comely Nimph, the beautie of your face,Sufficient to bewitch the heauenly powers,Hath wrought so much in him, that now of lateHee findes himselfe made captiue vnto loue,And though his power and Maiestie requires,A straight commaund before an humble sute,Yet hee his mightinesse doth so abase,As to intreat your fauour honest maid.860Ida.Is hee not married sir vnto our Queen?Ateu.Hee is.Ida.And are not they by God accurst,That seuer them whom hee hath knit in one?Ateu.They bee: what then? wee seeke not to displaceThe Princesse from her seate, but since by loueThe king is made your owne, shee is resoludeIn priuate to accept your dalliance,In spight of warre, watch, or worldly eye.Ida.Oh how hee talkes as if hee should not die,870As if that God in iustice once could winke,Vpon that fault I am a sham’d to thinke.Ateu.Tut Mistresse, man at first was born to erre,Women are all not formed to bee Saints:Tis impious for to kill our natiue king,Whom by a little fauour wee may saue.Ida.Better then liue vnchaste, to liue in graue.Ateu.Hee shall erect your state & wed you well.Ida.But can his warrant keep my soule from hell?Ateu.He will inforce, if you resist his sute.880Id.What tho, the world may shame to him accountTo bee a king of men and worldly pelfe.Ateu.Yet hath to power no rule and guide himselfe,I know you gentle Ladie and the care,Both of your honour and his graces health,Makes me confused in this daungerous state.Ida.So counsell him, but sooth thou not his sinne,Tis vaine alurement that doth make him loue,I shame to heare, bee you a shamde to mooue.Count.I see my daughter growes impatient,890I feare me hee pretends some bad intent.Ateu.Will you dispise the king, & scorne him so?Ida.In all alleageance I will serue his grace,But not in lust, oh how I blush to name it?Ateu.An endlesse worke is this, how should I frame it?They discourse priuately.Slip.Oh Mistresse may I turne a word vpon you.Ateu.Friend what wilt thou?Slip.Oh what a happie Gentlewoman bee you trulie, theworld reports this of you Mistresse, that a man can no sooner900come to your house, but the Butler comes with a blacke Iackand sayes welcome friend, heeres a cup of the best for you, verilieMistresse you are said to haue the best Ale in alScotland.Count.Sirrha go fetch him drinke, how likest thou this?Slip.Like it Mistresse? why this is quincy quarie pepperde watchet, single goby, of all that euer I tasted: Ile prooue inthis Ale and tost, the compasse of the whole world. First thisis the earth, it ties in the middle a faire browne tost, a goodlycountrie for hungrie teeth to dwell vpon: next this is the sea,a fair poole for a drie tõgue to fish in: now come I, & seing the910world is naught, I diuide it thus, & because the sea cãnot standwithout the earth, asArist.saith, I put thẽ both into their firstChaoswhich is my bellie, and so mistresse you may see your aleis become a myracle.Eustace.A merrie mate Madame I promise you.Count.Why sigh you sirrah?Slip.Trulie Madam, to think vppon the world, which sinceI denoũced, it keepes such a rumbling in my stomack, that vnlesseyour Cooke giue it a counterbuffe with some of your rostedCapons or beefe, I feare me I shal become a loose body, so920daintie I thinke, I shall neither hold fast before nor behinde.Count.Go take him in and feast this merrie swaine,Syrrha, my cooke is your phisitian.He hath a purge for to disiest the world.Ateu.Will you not,Ida, grant his highnesse this?Ida.As I haue said, in dutie I am his:For other lawlesse lusts, that ill beseeme him,I cannot like, and good I will not deeme him.Count.Idacome in, and sir if so you please,Come take a homelie widdowes intertaine.930Ida.If he haue no great haste, he may come nye.If haste, tho he be gone, I will not crie.Exeunt.Ateu.I see this labour lost, my hope in vaine,Yet will I trie an other drift againe.Enter the Bishop of S. Andrewes, Earle Douglas,II. ii.Morton, with others, one way, the Queene withDwarfes an other way.B. S. Andr.Oh wrack of Cõmon-weale! Oh wretched state!Doug.Oh haplesse flocke whereas the guide is blinde?940They all are in a muse.Mort.Oh heedlesse youth, where counsaile is dispis’d.Dorot.Come prettie knaue, and prank it by my side,Lets see your best attendaunce out of hande.Dwarfe.Madame altho my lims are very small,My heart is good, ile serue you therewithall.Doro.How if I were assaild, what couldst thou do?Dwarf.Madame call helpe, and boldly fight it to,Altho a Bee be but a litle thing:You know faire Queen, it hath a bitter sting.950Dor.How couldst thou do me good were I in greefe?Dwar.Counsell deare Princes, is a choyce releefe.ThoNestorwanted force, great was his wit,And tho I am but weake, my words are fit.S. And.Like to a ship vpon the Ocean seas,Tost in the doubtfull streame without a helme,Such is a Monarke without good aduice,I am ore heard, cast raine vpon thy tongue,Andrewesbeware, reproofe will breed a fear.Mor.Good day my Lord.960B. S. And.LordMortonwell ymet:Whereon deemes LordDouglasall this while?Dou.Of that which yours and my poore heart doth breake:Altho feare shuts our mouths we dare not speake.Dor.What meane these Princes sadly to consult?Somewhat I feare, betideth them amisse,They are so pale in lookes, so vext in minde:In happie houre the Noble Scottish PeeresHaue I incountred you, what makes you mourne?B. S. And.If we with patience may attentiue gaine,970Your Grace shall know the cause of all our griefe.Dor.Speake on good father, come and sit by me:I know thy care is for the common good.B. S. And.As fortune mightie Princes reareth some,To high estate, and place in Common-weale,So by diuine bequest to them is lent,A riper iudgement and more searching eye:Whereby they may discerne the common harme,For where importunes in the world are most,Where all our profits rise and still increase,980There is our minde, thereon we meditate,And what we do partake of good aduice,That we imploy for to concerne the same.)To this intent these nobles and my selfe,That are (or should bee) eyes of Common-weale,Seeing his highnesse reachlesse course of youthHis lawlesse and vnbridled vaine in loue,His to intentiue trust too flatterers,His abiect care of councell and his friendes,Cannot but greeue, and since we cannot drawe990His eye or Iudgement to discerne his faultsSince we haue spake and counsaile is not heard,I for my part, (let others as they list)Will leaue the Court, and leaue him to his will:Least with a ruthfull eye I should behold,His ouerthrow which sore I feare is nye.Doro.Ah father are you so estranged from loue,From due alleageance to your Prince and land,To leaue your King when most he needs your help,The thriftie husbandmen, are neuer woont1000That see their lands vnfruitfull, to forsake them:But when the mould is barraine and vnapt,They toyle, they plow, and make the fallow fatte:The pilot in the dangerous seas is knowne,In calmer waues the sillie sailor striues,Are you not members Lords of Common-weale,And can your head, your deere annointed King,Default ye Lords, except your selues do faile?Oh stay your steps, returne and counsaile him.Doug.Men seek not mosse vpon a rowling stone,1010Or water from the siue, or fire from yce:Or comfort from a rechlesse monarkes hands.Madame he sets vs light that seru’d in Court,In place of credit in his fathers dayes,If we but enter presence of his grace,Our payment is a frowne, a scoffe, a frumpe,Whilst flatteringGnatoprancks it by his side,Soothing the carelesse King in his misdeeds,And if your grace consider your estate,His life should vrge you too if all be true.1020Doug.WhyDouglaswhy?Doug.As if you haue not heardHis lawlesse loue toIdagrowne of late,His carelesse estimate of your estate.Doro.AhDouglasthou misconstrest his intent,He doth but tempt his wife, he tryees my loue:This iniurie pertaines to me, not to you.The King is young, and if he step awrie,He may amend, and I will loue him still.Should we disdaine our vines becauso they sprout1030Before their time? or young men if they straineBeyõd their reach? no vines that bloome and spreadDo promise fruites, and young men that are wilde,In age growe wise, my freendes and Scottish Peeres,If that an English Princesse may preuaile,Stay, stay with him, lo how my zealous prayerIs plead with teares, fie Peeres will you hence?S. And.Madam tis vertue in your grace to plead,But we that see his vaine vntoward course,Cannot but flie the fire before it burne,1040And shun the Court before we see his fall.Doro.Wil you not stay? then Lordings fare you well.Tho you forsake your King, the heauens I hopeWill fauour him through mine incessant prayer.Dwar.Content you Madam, thus oldOuidsings.Tis foolish to bewaile recurelesse things.Dorothea.Peace Dwarffe, these words my patience moue.Dwar.All tho you charme my speech, charme not my loueExeunt Nano Dorothea.Enter the King of Scots, Arius, the nobles spying1050him, returnes.K. of S.Douglashow now? why changest thou thy cheere?Dougl.My priuate troubles are so great my liege,As I must craue your licence for a while:For to intend mine owne affaires at home.Exit.King.You may depart, but why isMortonsad?Mor.The like occasion doth import me too,So I desire your grace to giue me leaue.K. of S.Well sir you may betake you to your ease,When such grim syrs are gone, I see no let1060To worke my will.8. Atten.What like the Eagle then,With often flight wilt thou thy feathers loose?O King canst thou indure to see thy Court,Of finest wits and Iudgements dispossest,Whilst cloking craft with soothing climbes so high,As each bewailes ambition is so bad?Thy father left thee with estate and Crowne,A learned councell to direct thy Court,These careleslie O King thou castest off,1070To entertaine a traine of Sicophants:Thou well mai’st see, although thou wilt not see,That euery eye and eare both sees and hearesThe certaine signes of thine inconstinence:Thou art alyed vnto the English King,By marriage a happie friend indeed,If vsed well, if not a mightie foe.Thinketh your grace he ean indure and brooke,To haue a partner in his daughters loue?Thinketh your grace the grudge of priuie wrongs1080Will not procure him chaunge his smiles to threats?Oh be not blinde to good, call home your Lordes,Displace these flattering Gnatoes, driue them hence:Loue and with kindnesse take your wedlocke wifeOr else (which God forbid) I feare a change,Sinne cannot thriue in courts without a plague.K. of S.Go pack thou too, vnles thou mẽd thy talk:On paine of death proud Bishop get you gone,Vnlesse you headlesse mean to hoppe away.8. Atten.Thou god of heauẽ preuent my countries fall.1090Exeunt.K. of S.These staies and lets to pleasure, plague my thoughts,Forcing my greeuous wounds a new to bleed:Bur care that hath transported me so farre,FaireIdais disperst in thought of thee:Whose answere yeeldes me life, or breeds my death:Yond comes the messenger of weale or woe.Enter Gnato.Ateuki.What newes?Ateu.The adament o King will not be filde,1100But by it selfe, and beautie that exceeds,By some exeeding fauour must be wrought,Idais coy as yet, and doth repine,Obiecting marriage, honour, feare, and death,Shee’s holy, wise, and too precise for me.K. of S.Are these thy fruites of wits, thy sight in Art?Thine eloquence? thy pollicie? thy drift?To mocke thy Prince, thẽ catiue packe thee hence,And let me die deuoured in my loue.Ateu.Good Lord how rage gainsayeth reasons power,1110My deare, my gracious, and beloued Prince,The essence of my sute, my God on earth,Sit downe and rest your selfe, appease your wrath,Least with a frowne yee wound me to the death:Oh that I were included in my graue,That eyther now to saue my Princes life,Must counsell crueltie, or loose my King.K. of S.Why sirrha, is there meanes to mooue her minde?Ateu.Oh should I not offend my royall liege.K. of S.Tell all, spare nought, so I may gaine my loue.1120Ateu.Alasse my soule why art thou torne in twaine,For feare thou talke a thing that should displease?K. of S.Tut, speake what so thou wilt I pardon thee.Ateu.How kinde a word, how courteous is his grace:Who would not die to succour such a king?My liege, this louely mayde of modest minde,Could well incline to loue, but that shee feares,FaireDorotheaspower, your grace doth know,Your wedlocke is a mightie let to loue:WereIdasure to bee your wedded wife,1130That then the twig would bowe, you might command.Ladies loue, presents pompe and high estate.K. of S.AhAteukin, how shuld we display this let?Ateu.Tut mightie Prince, oh that I might bee whist.K. of S.Why dalliest thou?Ateu.I will not mooue my Prince,I will preferre his safetie before my life:Heare mee ô king, tisDorotheasdeath,Must do you good.K. of S.What, murther of my Queene?1140Yet to enioy my loue, what is my Queene?Oh but my vowe and promise to my Queene:I but my hope to gaine a fairer Queene,With how contrarious thoughts am I with drawne?Why linger I twixt hope and doubtfull feare:IfDorothedie, willIdaloue?Ateu.Shee will my Lord.K. of S.Then let her die.Deuise, aduise the meanes,Al likes me wel that lends me hope in loue.1150Ateu.What will your grace consent, then let mee worke:Theres heere in Court a FrenchmanIaquescalde,A fit performer of our enterprise,Whom I by gifts and promise will corrupt,To slaye the Queene, so that your grace will sealeA warrant for the man to saue his life.K. of S.Nought shall he want, write thou and I wil signeAnd gentleGnato, if myIdayeelde,Thon shalt haue what thou wilt, Ile giue the straight,A Barrony, an Earledome for reward.1160Ateu.Frolicke young king, the Lasse shall bee your owne,Ile make her blyth and wanton by my wit.Exennt.
EnterBohanand the fairy king after the first act, toII. Chor.them a rownd of Fairies, or some prittie dance.Boh.Be Gad gramersis little king for this,This sport is better in my exile life,Then euer the deceitfuil werld could yeeld.Ober.I tell theeBohan,Oberonis king,Of quiet, pleasure, profit, and content,Of wealth, of honor, and of all the world,640Tide to no place, yet all are tide to one,Liue thou in this life, exilde from world and men,And I will shew thee wonters ere we part,Boh.Then marke my stay, and the strange doubts,That follow flatterers, lust and lawlesse will,And then say I haue reason to forsake theworld,And all that are within the same.Gow shrowd vs in our harbor where weele see,The pride of folly, as it ought to be.Exeunt.650After the first act.Ober.Here see I good fond actions in thy gyg,And meanes to paint the worldes in constant waiesBut turne thine ene, see which for I can commaund.Enter two battailes strongly fighting, the oneSimi Ranus, theother,Staurobates, she flies, and her Crowne is taken,and she hurt.Boh.What gars this din of mirk and balefull harme,Where euery weane is all betaint with bloud?Ober.This shewes theeBohanwhat is worldly pompe.660Simeranu., the proud Assirrian Queene,WhenNinusdied, did tene in her warres,Three millions of footemen to the fight,Fiue hundreth thousand horse, of armed chars,A hundreth thousand more yet in her prideWas hurt and conquered byS. Taurobates.Then what is pompe?Bohan.I see thou art thine ene.Thou bonny King, if Princes fall from high,My fall is past, vntill I fall to die.670Now marke my talke, and prosecute my gyg.2.Ober.How shuld these crafts withdraw thee from the world?But looke myBohan, pompe allureth.EnterCirusking, humbling themselues: himselfe crowned byOliue Pat, at last dying, layde in a marbell tombe with thisinscriptionWho so thou bee that passest,For I know one shall passe, knowe II amCirusofPersia,680And I prithee leaue me not thus like a clod of clayWherewith my body is couered.All exeunt.Enter the king in great pompe, who reads it, & issueth,crieth vermeum.Boha.What meaneth this?Ober.CirusofPersia,Mightie in life, within a marbell graue,Was layde to rot, whomAlexanderonceBeheld in tombde, and weeping did confesse690Nothing in life could scape from wrethednesse:Why then boast men?Boh.What recke I then of life,Who makes the graue my tomb, the earth my wife:But marke mee more.3.Boh.I can no more, my patience will not warpe.To see these flatteries how they scorne and carpe.Ober.Turne but thy head.Enter our kings carring Crowns, Ladies presenting odors700to Potentates in thrond, who suddainly is slaineby his seruaunts, and thrust out, and so they eate.Exeunt.Sike is the werld, but whilke is he I sawe.Ober.Sesostriswho was conquerour of the werld,Slaine at the last, and stampt on by his slaues.Boh.How blest are peur men then that know their graue,Now marke the sequell of my Gig.Boh.An he weele meete ends: the mirk and sable nightDoth leaue the pering morne to prie abroade,710Thou nill me stay, haile then thou pride of kings,I ken the world, and wot well worldly things,Marke thou my gyg, in mirkest termes that tellesThe loathe of sinnes, and where corruption dwellsHaile me ne mere with showes of gudlie sights:My graue is mine, that rids me from dispights.Accept my gig guid King, and let me rest,The graue with guid men, is a gay built nest.Ober.The rising sunne doth call me hence away,Thankes for thy gyg, I may no longer stay:720But if my traine, did wake thee from thy rest,So shall they sing, thy lullabie to nest.
EnterBohanand the fairy king after the first act, toII. Chor.them a rownd of Fairies, or some prittie dance.
Boh.Be Gad gramersis little king for this,This sport is better in my exile life,Then euer the deceitfuil werld could yeeld.
Ober.I tell theeBohan,Oberonis king,Of quiet, pleasure, profit, and content,Of wealth, of honor, and of all the world,640Tide to no place, yet all are tide to one,Liue thou in this life, exilde from world and men,And I will shew thee wonters ere we part,
Boh.Then marke my stay, and the strange doubts,That follow flatterers, lust and lawlesse will,And then say I haue reason to forsake theworld,And all that are within the same.Gow shrowd vs in our harbor where weele see,The pride of folly, as it ought to be.
Exeunt.650
After the first act.
Ober.Here see I good fond actions in thy gyg,And meanes to paint the worldes in constant waiesBut turne thine ene, see which for I can commaund.
Enter two battailes strongly fighting, the oneSimi Ranus, theother,Staurobates, she flies, and her Crowne is taken,and she hurt.
Boh.What gars this din of mirk and balefull harme,Where euery weane is all betaint with bloud?
Ober.This shewes theeBohanwhat is worldly pompe.660
Simeranu., the proud Assirrian Queene,WhenNinusdied, did tene in her warres,Three millions of footemen to the fight,Fiue hundreth thousand horse, of armed chars,A hundreth thousand more yet in her prideWas hurt and conquered byS. Taurobates.Then what is pompe?
Bohan.I see thou art thine ene.Thou bonny King, if Princes fall from high,My fall is past, vntill I fall to die.670Now marke my talke, and prosecute my gyg.
2.
Ober.How shuld these crafts withdraw thee from the world?But looke myBohan, pompe allureth.EnterCirusking, humbling themselues: himselfe crowned byOliue Pat, at last dying, layde in a marbell tombe with thisinscriptionWho so thou bee that passest,For I know one shall passe, knowe II amCirusofPersia,680And I prithee leaue me not thus like a clod of clayWherewith my body is couered.
EnterCirusking, humbling themselues: himselfe crowned byOliue Pat, at last dying, layde in a marbell tombe with thisinscription
All exeunt.
Enter the king in great pompe, who reads it, & issueth,crieth vermeum.
Boha.What meaneth this?
Ober.CirusofPersia,Mightie in life, within a marbell graue,Was layde to rot, whomAlexanderonceBeheld in tombde, and weeping did confesse690Nothing in life could scape from wrethednesse:Why then boast men?
Boh.What recke I then of life,Who makes the graue my tomb, the earth my wife:But marke mee more.
3.
Boh.I can no more, my patience will not warpe.To see these flatteries how they scorne and carpe.
Ober.Turne but thy head.
Enter our kings carring Crowns, Ladies presenting odors700to Potentates in thrond, who suddainly is slaineby his seruaunts, and thrust out, and so they eate.Exeunt.Sike is the werld, but whilke is he I sawe.
Exeunt.
Ober.Sesostriswho was conquerour of the werld,Slaine at the last, and stampt on by his slaues.
Boh.How blest are peur men then that know their graue,Now marke the sequell of my Gig.
Boh.An he weele meete ends: the mirk and sable nightDoth leaue the pering morne to prie abroade,710Thou nill me stay, haile then thou pride of kings,I ken the world, and wot well worldly things,Marke thou my gyg, in mirkest termes that tellesThe loathe of sinnes, and where corruption dwellsHaile me ne mere with showes of gudlie sights:My graue is mine, that rids me from dispights.Accept my gig guid King, and let me rest,The graue with guid men, is a gay built nest.
Ober.The rising sunne doth call me hence away,Thankes for thy gyg, I may no longer stay:720But if my traine, did wake thee from thy rest,So shall they sing, thy lullabie to nest.
Actus Secundus. Schena Prima.II. i.Enter the Countesse of Arrain, with Ida her daughterin theyr porch, sitting at worke.A Song.Count.FaireIda, might you chuse the greatest goodMidst all the world, in blessings that abound:Wherein my daughter shuld your liking be?Ida.Not in delights, or pompe, or maiestie.730Count.And why?Ida.Since these are meanes to draw the mindeFrom perfect good, and make true iudgement blind.Count.Might you haue wealth, and fortunes ritchest store?Ida.Yet would I (might I chuse) be honest poore.For she that sits at fortunes feete aloweIs sure she shall not taste a further woe.But those that prancke one top of fortunes ball,Still feare a change: and fearing catch a fall.Count.Tut foolish maide, each one contemneth need.740Ida.Good reasõ why, they know not good indeed.Count.Many marrie then, on whom distresse doth loure,Ida.Yes they that vertue deeme an honest dowre.Madame, by right this world I may compare,Vnto my worke, wherein with heedfull care,The heauenly workeman plants with curious hand,As I with needle drawe each thing one land,Euen as hee list, some men like to the Rose,Are fashioned fresh, some in their stalkes do close,And borne do suddaine die: some are but weeds,750And yet from them a secret good proceeds:I with my needle if I please may blot,The fairest rose within my cambricke plot,God with a becke can change each worldly thing,The poore to earth, the begger to the king.What then hath man, wherein hee well may boast,Since by a becke he liues, a louer is lost?Enter Eustace with letters.Count.PeaceIda, heere are straungers neare at hand.Eust.Madame God speed.760Count.I thanke you gentle squire.Eust.The countrie Countesse ofNorthumberland,Doth greete you well, and hath requested mee,To bring these letters to your Ladiship.He carries the letter.Count.I thanke her honour, and your selfe my friend.Shee receiues and peruseth them.I see she meanes you good braue Gentleman,Daughter, the LadieElinorsalutesYour selfe as well as mee, then for her sake770T’were good you entertaind that Courtiour well.Ida.As much salute as may become my sex,And hee in vertue can vouchsafe to thinke,I yeeld him for the courteous Countesse sake.Good sir sit downe, my mother heere and I,Count time mispent, an endlesse vanitie.Eust.Beyond report, the wit, the faire, the shape,What worke you heere, faire Mistresse may I see it?Id.Good Sir looke on, how like you this compact?Eust.Me thinks in this I see true loue in act:780The Woodbines with their leaues do sweetly spred,The Roses blushing prancke them in their red,No flower but boasts the beauties of the spring,This bird hath life indeed if it could sing:What meanes faire Mistres had you in this worke?Ida.My needle sir.Eust.In needles then there lurkes,Some hidden grace I deeme beyond my reach.Id.Not grace in thẽ good sir, but those that teach.Eust.Say that your needle now wereCupidssting,790But ah her eie must bee no lesse,In which is heauen and heauenlinesse,In which the foode of God is shut,Whose powers the purest mindes do glut.Ida.What if it were?Eust.Then see a wondrous thing,I feare mee you would paint inTeneusheart,Affection in his power and chiefest parts.Ida.Good Lord sir no, for hearts but pricked soft,Are wounded sore, for so I heare it oft.800Eust.what recks the second,Where but your happy eye,May make him liue, whomIouehath iudgd to die.Ida.Should life & death within this needle lurke,Ile pricke no hearts, Ile pricke vpon my worke.Enter Ateuken, with Slipper the Clowne.Coun.PeaceIda, I perceiue the fox at hand.Eust.The fox? why fetch your hounds & chace him hence.Count.Oh sir these great men barke at small offence.Ateu.Come will it please you to enter gentle sir?810Offer to exeunt.Stay courteous Ladies, fauour me so much,As to discourse a word or two apart.Count.Good sir, my daughter learnes this rule of mee,To shun resort, and straungers companie:For some are shifting mates that carrie letters,Some such as you too good, because our betters.Slip.Now I pray you sir what a kin are you to a pickrell?Ateu.Why knaue?Slip.By my troth sir, because I neuer knew a proper scituation820fellow of your pitch, fitter to swallow a gudgin.Ateu.What meanst thou by this?Slip.Shifting fellow sir, these be thy words, shifting fellow:This Gentlewoman I feare me, knew your bringing vp.Ateu.How so?Slip.Why sir your father was a Miller,That could shift for a pecke of grist in a bushell,And you a faire spoken Gentleman, that can get more land bya lye, then an honest man by his readie mony.Ateu.Catiue what sayest thou?830Slip.I say sir, that if shee call you shifting knaue,You shall not put her to the proofe.Ateu.And why?Slip.Because sir, liuing by your wit as you doo shifting, isyour letters pattents, it were a hard matter for mee to get mydinner that day, wherein my Maister had not solde a dozen ofdeuices, a case of cogges, and a shute of shifts in the morning:I speak this in your commendation sir, & I pray you so take it.Ateu.If I liue knaue I will bee reuenged, what Gentlemanwould entertaine a rascall, thus to derogate from his honour?840Ida.My Lord why are you thus impatient?Ateu.Not angrieIda, but I teach this knaue,How to behaue himselfe among his betters:Behold faire Countesse to assure your stay,I heere present the signet of the king,Who now by mee faireIdadoth salute you:And since in secret I haue certaine things,In his behalfe good Madame to impart,I craue your daughter to discourse a part.Count.Shee shall in humble dutie bee addrest,850To do his Highnesse will in what shee may.Id.Now gentle sir what would his grace with me?Ateu.Faire comely Nimph, the beautie of your face,Sufficient to bewitch the heauenly powers,Hath wrought so much in him, that now of lateHee findes himselfe made captiue vnto loue,And though his power and Maiestie requires,A straight commaund before an humble sute,Yet hee his mightinesse doth so abase,As to intreat your fauour honest maid.860Ida.Is hee not married sir vnto our Queen?Ateu.Hee is.Ida.And are not they by God accurst,That seuer them whom hee hath knit in one?Ateu.They bee: what then? wee seeke not to displaceThe Princesse from her seate, but since by loueThe king is made your owne, shee is resoludeIn priuate to accept your dalliance,In spight of warre, watch, or worldly eye.Ida.Oh how hee talkes as if hee should not die,870As if that God in iustice once could winke,Vpon that fault I am a sham’d to thinke.Ateu.Tut Mistresse, man at first was born to erre,Women are all not formed to bee Saints:Tis impious for to kill our natiue king,Whom by a little fauour wee may saue.Ida.Better then liue vnchaste, to liue in graue.Ateu.Hee shall erect your state & wed you well.Ida.But can his warrant keep my soule from hell?Ateu.He will inforce, if you resist his sute.880Id.What tho, the world may shame to him accountTo bee a king of men and worldly pelfe.Ateu.Yet hath to power no rule and guide himselfe,I know you gentle Ladie and the care,Both of your honour and his graces health,Makes me confused in this daungerous state.Ida.So counsell him, but sooth thou not his sinne,Tis vaine alurement that doth make him loue,I shame to heare, bee you a shamde to mooue.Count.I see my daughter growes impatient,890I feare me hee pretends some bad intent.Ateu.Will you dispise the king, & scorne him so?Ida.In all alleageance I will serue his grace,But not in lust, oh how I blush to name it?Ateu.An endlesse worke is this, how should I frame it?They discourse priuately.Slip.Oh Mistresse may I turne a word vpon you.Ateu.Friend what wilt thou?Slip.Oh what a happie Gentlewoman bee you trulie, theworld reports this of you Mistresse, that a man can no sooner900come to your house, but the Butler comes with a blacke Iackand sayes welcome friend, heeres a cup of the best for you, verilieMistresse you are said to haue the best Ale in alScotland.Count.Sirrha go fetch him drinke, how likest thou this?Slip.Like it Mistresse? why this is quincy quarie pepperde watchet, single goby, of all that euer I tasted: Ile prooue inthis Ale and tost, the compasse of the whole world. First thisis the earth, it ties in the middle a faire browne tost, a goodlycountrie for hungrie teeth to dwell vpon: next this is the sea,a fair poole for a drie tõgue to fish in: now come I, & seing the910world is naught, I diuide it thus, & because the sea cãnot standwithout the earth, asArist.saith, I put thẽ both into their firstChaoswhich is my bellie, and so mistresse you may see your aleis become a myracle.Eustace.A merrie mate Madame I promise you.Count.Why sigh you sirrah?Slip.Trulie Madam, to think vppon the world, which sinceI denoũced, it keepes such a rumbling in my stomack, that vnlesseyour Cooke giue it a counterbuffe with some of your rostedCapons or beefe, I feare me I shal become a loose body, so920daintie I thinke, I shall neither hold fast before nor behinde.Count.Go take him in and feast this merrie swaine,Syrrha, my cooke is your phisitian.He hath a purge for to disiest the world.Ateu.Will you not,Ida, grant his highnesse this?Ida.As I haue said, in dutie I am his:For other lawlesse lusts, that ill beseeme him,I cannot like, and good I will not deeme him.Count.Idacome in, and sir if so you please,Come take a homelie widdowes intertaine.930Ida.If he haue no great haste, he may come nye.If haste, tho he be gone, I will not crie.Exeunt.Ateu.I see this labour lost, my hope in vaine,Yet will I trie an other drift againe.
Actus Secundus. Schena Prima.II. i.
Enter the Countesse of Arrain, with Ida her daughterin theyr porch, sitting at worke.
A Song.
Count.FaireIda, might you chuse the greatest goodMidst all the world, in blessings that abound:Wherein my daughter shuld your liking be?
Ida.Not in delights, or pompe, or maiestie.730
Count.And why?
Ida.Since these are meanes to draw the mindeFrom perfect good, and make true iudgement blind.
Count.Might you haue wealth, and fortunes ritchest store?
Ida.Yet would I (might I chuse) be honest poore.For she that sits at fortunes feete aloweIs sure she shall not taste a further woe.But those that prancke one top of fortunes ball,Still feare a change: and fearing catch a fall.
Count.Tut foolish maide, each one contemneth need.740
Ida.Good reasõ why, they know not good indeed.
Count.Many marrie then, on whom distresse doth loure,
Ida.Yes they that vertue deeme an honest dowre.Madame, by right this world I may compare,Vnto my worke, wherein with heedfull care,The heauenly workeman plants with curious hand,As I with needle drawe each thing one land,Euen as hee list, some men like to the Rose,Are fashioned fresh, some in their stalkes do close,And borne do suddaine die: some are but weeds,750And yet from them a secret good proceeds:I with my needle if I please may blot,The fairest rose within my cambricke plot,God with a becke can change each worldly thing,The poore to earth, the begger to the king.What then hath man, wherein hee well may boast,Since by a becke he liues, a louer is lost?
Enter Eustace with letters.
Count.PeaceIda, heere are straungers neare at hand.
Eust.Madame God speed.760
Count.I thanke you gentle squire.
Eust.The countrie Countesse ofNorthumberland,Doth greete you well, and hath requested mee,To bring these letters to your Ladiship.
He carries the letter.
Count.I thanke her honour, and your selfe my friend.Shee receiues and peruseth them.I see she meanes you good braue Gentleman,Daughter, the LadieElinorsalutesYour selfe as well as mee, then for her sake770T’were good you entertaind that Courtiour well.
Shee receiues and peruseth them.
Ida.As much salute as may become my sex,And hee in vertue can vouchsafe to thinke,I yeeld him for the courteous Countesse sake.Good sir sit downe, my mother heere and I,Count time mispent, an endlesse vanitie.
Eust.Beyond report, the wit, the faire, the shape,What worke you heere, faire Mistresse may I see it?
Id.Good Sir looke on, how like you this compact?
Eust.Me thinks in this I see true loue in act:780The Woodbines with their leaues do sweetly spred,The Roses blushing prancke them in their red,No flower but boasts the beauties of the spring,This bird hath life indeed if it could sing:What meanes faire Mistres had you in this worke?
Ida.My needle sir.
Eust.In needles then there lurkes,Some hidden grace I deeme beyond my reach.
Id.Not grace in thẽ good sir, but those that teach.
Eust.Say that your needle now wereCupidssting,790But ah her eie must bee no lesse,In which is heauen and heauenlinesse,In which the foode of God is shut,Whose powers the purest mindes do glut.
Ida.What if it were?
Eust.Then see a wondrous thing,I feare mee you would paint inTeneusheart,Affection in his power and chiefest parts.
Ida.Good Lord sir no, for hearts but pricked soft,Are wounded sore, for so I heare it oft.800
Eust.what recks the second,Where but your happy eye,May make him liue, whomIouehath iudgd to die.
Ida.Should life & death within this needle lurke,Ile pricke no hearts, Ile pricke vpon my worke.
Enter Ateuken, with Slipper the Clowne.
Coun.PeaceIda, I perceiue the fox at hand.
Eust.The fox? why fetch your hounds & chace him hence.
Count.Oh sir these great men barke at small offence.
Ateu.Come will it please you to enter gentle sir?810Offer to exeunt.Stay courteous Ladies, fauour me so much,As to discourse a word or two apart.
Offer to exeunt.
Count.Good sir, my daughter learnes this rule of mee,To shun resort, and straungers companie:For some are shifting mates that carrie letters,Some such as you too good, because our betters.
Slip.Now I pray you sir what a kin are you to a pickrell?
Ateu.Why knaue?
Slip.By my troth sir, because I neuer knew a proper scituation820fellow of your pitch, fitter to swallow a gudgin.
Ateu.What meanst thou by this?
Slip.Shifting fellow sir, these be thy words, shifting fellow:This Gentlewoman I feare me, knew your bringing vp.
Ateu.How so?
Slip.Why sir your father was a Miller,That could shift for a pecke of grist in a bushell,And you a faire spoken Gentleman, that can get more land bya lye, then an honest man by his readie mony.
Ateu.Catiue what sayest thou?830
Slip.I say sir, that if shee call you shifting knaue,You shall not put her to the proofe.
Ateu.And why?
Slip.Because sir, liuing by your wit as you doo shifting, isyour letters pattents, it were a hard matter for mee to get mydinner that day, wherein my Maister had not solde a dozen ofdeuices, a case of cogges, and a shute of shifts in the morning:I speak this in your commendation sir, & I pray you so take it.
Ateu.If I liue knaue I will bee reuenged, what Gentlemanwould entertaine a rascall, thus to derogate from his honour?840
Ida.My Lord why are you thus impatient?
Ateu.Not angrieIda, but I teach this knaue,How to behaue himselfe among his betters:Behold faire Countesse to assure your stay,I heere present the signet of the king,Who now by mee faireIdadoth salute you:And since in secret I haue certaine things,In his behalfe good Madame to impart,I craue your daughter to discourse a part.
Count.Shee shall in humble dutie bee addrest,850To do his Highnesse will in what shee may.
Id.Now gentle sir what would his grace with me?
Ateu.Faire comely Nimph, the beautie of your face,Sufficient to bewitch the heauenly powers,Hath wrought so much in him, that now of lateHee findes himselfe made captiue vnto loue,And though his power and Maiestie requires,A straight commaund before an humble sute,Yet hee his mightinesse doth so abase,As to intreat your fauour honest maid.860
Ida.Is hee not married sir vnto our Queen?
Ateu.Hee is.
Ida.And are not they by God accurst,That seuer them whom hee hath knit in one?
Ateu.They bee: what then? wee seeke not to displaceThe Princesse from her seate, but since by loueThe king is made your owne, shee is resoludeIn priuate to accept your dalliance,In spight of warre, watch, or worldly eye.
Ida.Oh how hee talkes as if hee should not die,870As if that God in iustice once could winke,Vpon that fault I am a sham’d to thinke.
Ateu.Tut Mistresse, man at first was born to erre,Women are all not formed to bee Saints:Tis impious for to kill our natiue king,Whom by a little fauour wee may saue.
Ida.Better then liue vnchaste, to liue in graue.
Ateu.Hee shall erect your state & wed you well.
Ida.But can his warrant keep my soule from hell?
Ateu.He will inforce, if you resist his sute.880
Id.What tho, the world may shame to him accountTo bee a king of men and worldly pelfe.
Ateu.Yet hath to power no rule and guide himselfe,I know you gentle Ladie and the care,Both of your honour and his graces health,Makes me confused in this daungerous state.
Ida.So counsell him, but sooth thou not his sinne,Tis vaine alurement that doth make him loue,I shame to heare, bee you a shamde to mooue.
Count.I see my daughter growes impatient,890I feare me hee pretends some bad intent.
Ateu.Will you dispise the king, & scorne him so?
Ida.In all alleageance I will serue his grace,But not in lust, oh how I blush to name it?
Ateu.An endlesse worke is this, how should I frame it?
They discourse priuately.
Slip.Oh Mistresse may I turne a word vpon you.
Ateu.Friend what wilt thou?
Slip.Oh what a happie Gentlewoman bee you trulie, theworld reports this of you Mistresse, that a man can no sooner900come to your house, but the Butler comes with a blacke Iackand sayes welcome friend, heeres a cup of the best for you, verilieMistresse you are said to haue the best Ale in alScotland.
Count.Sirrha go fetch him drinke, how likest thou this?
Slip.Like it Mistresse? why this is quincy quarie pepperde watchet, single goby, of all that euer I tasted: Ile prooue inthis Ale and tost, the compasse of the whole world. First thisis the earth, it ties in the middle a faire browne tost, a goodlycountrie for hungrie teeth to dwell vpon: next this is the sea,a fair poole for a drie tõgue to fish in: now come I, & seing the910world is naught, I diuide it thus, & because the sea cãnot standwithout the earth, asArist.saith, I put thẽ both into their firstChaoswhich is my bellie, and so mistresse you may see your aleis become a myracle.
Eustace.A merrie mate Madame I promise you.
Count.Why sigh you sirrah?
Slip.Trulie Madam, to think vppon the world, which sinceI denoũced, it keepes such a rumbling in my stomack, that vnlesseyour Cooke giue it a counterbuffe with some of your rostedCapons or beefe, I feare me I shal become a loose body, so920daintie I thinke, I shall neither hold fast before nor behinde.
Count.Go take him in and feast this merrie swaine,Syrrha, my cooke is your phisitian.He hath a purge for to disiest the world.
Ateu.Will you not,Ida, grant his highnesse this?
Ida.As I haue said, in dutie I am his:For other lawlesse lusts, that ill beseeme him,I cannot like, and good I will not deeme him.
Count.Idacome in, and sir if so you please,Come take a homelie widdowes intertaine.930
Ida.If he haue no great haste, he may come nye.If haste, tho he be gone, I will not crie.
Exeunt.
Ateu.I see this labour lost, my hope in vaine,Yet will I trie an other drift againe.
Enter the Bishop of S. Andrewes, Earle Douglas,II. ii.Morton, with others, one way, the Queene withDwarfes an other way.B. S. Andr.Oh wrack of Cõmon-weale! Oh wretched state!Doug.Oh haplesse flocke whereas the guide is blinde?940They all are in a muse.Mort.Oh heedlesse youth, where counsaile is dispis’d.Dorot.Come prettie knaue, and prank it by my side,Lets see your best attendaunce out of hande.Dwarfe.Madame altho my lims are very small,My heart is good, ile serue you therewithall.Doro.How if I were assaild, what couldst thou do?Dwarf.Madame call helpe, and boldly fight it to,Altho a Bee be but a litle thing:You know faire Queen, it hath a bitter sting.950Dor.How couldst thou do me good were I in greefe?Dwar.Counsell deare Princes, is a choyce releefe.ThoNestorwanted force, great was his wit,And tho I am but weake, my words are fit.S. And.Like to a ship vpon the Ocean seas,Tost in the doubtfull streame without a helme,Such is a Monarke without good aduice,I am ore heard, cast raine vpon thy tongue,Andrewesbeware, reproofe will breed a fear.Mor.Good day my Lord.960B. S. And.LordMortonwell ymet:Whereon deemes LordDouglasall this while?Dou.Of that which yours and my poore heart doth breake:Altho feare shuts our mouths we dare not speake.Dor.What meane these Princes sadly to consult?Somewhat I feare, betideth them amisse,They are so pale in lookes, so vext in minde:In happie houre the Noble Scottish PeeresHaue I incountred you, what makes you mourne?B. S. And.If we with patience may attentiue gaine,970Your Grace shall know the cause of all our griefe.Dor.Speake on good father, come and sit by me:I know thy care is for the common good.B. S. And.As fortune mightie Princes reareth some,To high estate, and place in Common-weale,So by diuine bequest to them is lent,A riper iudgement and more searching eye:Whereby they may discerne the common harme,For where importunes in the world are most,Where all our profits rise and still increase,980There is our minde, thereon we meditate,And what we do partake of good aduice,That we imploy for to concerne the same.)To this intent these nobles and my selfe,That are (or should bee) eyes of Common-weale,Seeing his highnesse reachlesse course of youthHis lawlesse and vnbridled vaine in loue,His to intentiue trust too flatterers,His abiect care of councell and his friendes,Cannot but greeue, and since we cannot drawe990His eye or Iudgement to discerne his faultsSince we haue spake and counsaile is not heard,I for my part, (let others as they list)Will leaue the Court, and leaue him to his will:Least with a ruthfull eye I should behold,His ouerthrow which sore I feare is nye.Doro.Ah father are you so estranged from loue,From due alleageance to your Prince and land,To leaue your King when most he needs your help,The thriftie husbandmen, are neuer woont1000That see their lands vnfruitfull, to forsake them:But when the mould is barraine and vnapt,They toyle, they plow, and make the fallow fatte:The pilot in the dangerous seas is knowne,In calmer waues the sillie sailor striues,Are you not members Lords of Common-weale,And can your head, your deere annointed King,Default ye Lords, except your selues do faile?Oh stay your steps, returne and counsaile him.Doug.Men seek not mosse vpon a rowling stone,1010Or water from the siue, or fire from yce:Or comfort from a rechlesse monarkes hands.Madame he sets vs light that seru’d in Court,In place of credit in his fathers dayes,If we but enter presence of his grace,Our payment is a frowne, a scoffe, a frumpe,Whilst flatteringGnatoprancks it by his side,Soothing the carelesse King in his misdeeds,And if your grace consider your estate,His life should vrge you too if all be true.1020Doug.WhyDouglaswhy?Doug.As if you haue not heardHis lawlesse loue toIdagrowne of late,His carelesse estimate of your estate.Doro.AhDouglasthou misconstrest his intent,He doth but tempt his wife, he tryees my loue:This iniurie pertaines to me, not to you.The King is young, and if he step awrie,He may amend, and I will loue him still.Should we disdaine our vines becauso they sprout1030Before their time? or young men if they straineBeyõd their reach? no vines that bloome and spreadDo promise fruites, and young men that are wilde,In age growe wise, my freendes and Scottish Peeres,If that an English Princesse may preuaile,Stay, stay with him, lo how my zealous prayerIs plead with teares, fie Peeres will you hence?S. And.Madam tis vertue in your grace to plead,But we that see his vaine vntoward course,Cannot but flie the fire before it burne,1040And shun the Court before we see his fall.Doro.Wil you not stay? then Lordings fare you well.Tho you forsake your King, the heauens I hopeWill fauour him through mine incessant prayer.Dwar.Content you Madam, thus oldOuidsings.Tis foolish to bewaile recurelesse things.Dorothea.Peace Dwarffe, these words my patience moue.Dwar.All tho you charme my speech, charme not my loueExeunt Nano Dorothea.Enter the King of Scots, Arius, the nobles spying1050him, returnes.K. of S.Douglashow now? why changest thou thy cheere?Dougl.My priuate troubles are so great my liege,As I must craue your licence for a while:For to intend mine owne affaires at home.Exit.King.You may depart, but why isMortonsad?Mor.The like occasion doth import me too,So I desire your grace to giue me leaue.K. of S.Well sir you may betake you to your ease,When such grim syrs are gone, I see no let1060To worke my will.8. Atten.What like the Eagle then,With often flight wilt thou thy feathers loose?O King canst thou indure to see thy Court,Of finest wits and Iudgements dispossest,Whilst cloking craft with soothing climbes so high,As each bewailes ambition is so bad?Thy father left thee with estate and Crowne,A learned councell to direct thy Court,These careleslie O King thou castest off,1070To entertaine a traine of Sicophants:Thou well mai’st see, although thou wilt not see,That euery eye and eare both sees and hearesThe certaine signes of thine inconstinence:Thou art alyed vnto the English King,By marriage a happie friend indeed,If vsed well, if not a mightie foe.Thinketh your grace he ean indure and brooke,To haue a partner in his daughters loue?Thinketh your grace the grudge of priuie wrongs1080Will not procure him chaunge his smiles to threats?Oh be not blinde to good, call home your Lordes,Displace these flattering Gnatoes, driue them hence:Loue and with kindnesse take your wedlocke wifeOr else (which God forbid) I feare a change,Sinne cannot thriue in courts without a plague.K. of S.Go pack thou too, vnles thou mẽd thy talk:On paine of death proud Bishop get you gone,Vnlesse you headlesse mean to hoppe away.8. Atten.Thou god of heauẽ preuent my countries fall.1090Exeunt.K. of S.These staies and lets to pleasure, plague my thoughts,Forcing my greeuous wounds a new to bleed:Bur care that hath transported me so farre,FaireIdais disperst in thought of thee:Whose answere yeeldes me life, or breeds my death:Yond comes the messenger of weale or woe.Enter Gnato.Ateuki.What newes?Ateu.The adament o King will not be filde,1100But by it selfe, and beautie that exceeds,By some exeeding fauour must be wrought,Idais coy as yet, and doth repine,Obiecting marriage, honour, feare, and death,Shee’s holy, wise, and too precise for me.K. of S.Are these thy fruites of wits, thy sight in Art?Thine eloquence? thy pollicie? thy drift?To mocke thy Prince, thẽ catiue packe thee hence,And let me die deuoured in my loue.Ateu.Good Lord how rage gainsayeth reasons power,1110My deare, my gracious, and beloued Prince,The essence of my sute, my God on earth,Sit downe and rest your selfe, appease your wrath,Least with a frowne yee wound me to the death:Oh that I were included in my graue,That eyther now to saue my Princes life,Must counsell crueltie, or loose my King.K. of S.Why sirrha, is there meanes to mooue her minde?Ateu.Oh should I not offend my royall liege.K. of S.Tell all, spare nought, so I may gaine my loue.1120Ateu.Alasse my soule why art thou torne in twaine,For feare thou talke a thing that should displease?K. of S.Tut, speake what so thou wilt I pardon thee.Ateu.How kinde a word, how courteous is his grace:Who would not die to succour such a king?My liege, this louely mayde of modest minde,Could well incline to loue, but that shee feares,FaireDorotheaspower, your grace doth know,Your wedlocke is a mightie let to loue:WereIdasure to bee your wedded wife,1130That then the twig would bowe, you might command.Ladies loue, presents pompe and high estate.K. of S.AhAteukin, how shuld we display this let?Ateu.Tut mightie Prince, oh that I might bee whist.K. of S.Why dalliest thou?Ateu.I will not mooue my Prince,I will preferre his safetie before my life:Heare mee ô king, tisDorotheasdeath,Must do you good.K. of S.What, murther of my Queene?1140Yet to enioy my loue, what is my Queene?Oh but my vowe and promise to my Queene:I but my hope to gaine a fairer Queene,With how contrarious thoughts am I with drawne?Why linger I twixt hope and doubtfull feare:IfDorothedie, willIdaloue?Ateu.Shee will my Lord.K. of S.Then let her die.Deuise, aduise the meanes,Al likes me wel that lends me hope in loue.1150Ateu.What will your grace consent, then let mee worke:Theres heere in Court a FrenchmanIaquescalde,A fit performer of our enterprise,Whom I by gifts and promise will corrupt,To slaye the Queene, so that your grace will sealeA warrant for the man to saue his life.K. of S.Nought shall he want, write thou and I wil signeAnd gentleGnato, if myIdayeelde,Thon shalt haue what thou wilt, Ile giue the straight,A Barrony, an Earledome for reward.1160Ateu.Frolicke young king, the Lasse shall bee your owne,Ile make her blyth and wanton by my wit.Exennt.
Enter the Bishop of S. Andrewes, Earle Douglas,II. ii.Morton, with others, one way, the Queene withDwarfes an other way.
B. S. Andr.Oh wrack of Cõmon-weale! Oh wretched state!
Doug.Oh haplesse flocke whereas the guide is blinde?940
They all are in a muse.
Mort.Oh heedlesse youth, where counsaile is dispis’d.
Dorot.Come prettie knaue, and prank it by my side,Lets see your best attendaunce out of hande.
Dwarfe.Madame altho my lims are very small,My heart is good, ile serue you therewithall.
Doro.How if I were assaild, what couldst thou do?
Dwarf.Madame call helpe, and boldly fight it to,Altho a Bee be but a litle thing:You know faire Queen, it hath a bitter sting.950
Dor.How couldst thou do me good were I in greefe?
Dwar.Counsell deare Princes, is a choyce releefe.ThoNestorwanted force, great was his wit,And tho I am but weake, my words are fit.
S. And.Like to a ship vpon the Ocean seas,Tost in the doubtfull streame without a helme,Such is a Monarke without good aduice,I am ore heard, cast raine vpon thy tongue,Andrewesbeware, reproofe will breed a fear.
Mor.Good day my Lord.960
B. S. And.LordMortonwell ymet:Whereon deemes LordDouglasall this while?
Dou.Of that which yours and my poore heart doth breake:Altho feare shuts our mouths we dare not speake.
Dor.What meane these Princes sadly to consult?Somewhat I feare, betideth them amisse,They are so pale in lookes, so vext in minde:In happie houre the Noble Scottish PeeresHaue I incountred you, what makes you mourne?
B. S. And.If we with patience may attentiue gaine,970Your Grace shall know the cause of all our griefe.
Dor.Speake on good father, come and sit by me:I know thy care is for the common good.
B. S. And.As fortune mightie Princes reareth some,To high estate, and place in Common-weale,So by diuine bequest to them is lent,A riper iudgement and more searching eye:Whereby they may discerne the common harme,For where importunes in the world are most,Where all our profits rise and still increase,980There is our minde, thereon we meditate,And what we do partake of good aduice,That we imploy for to concerne the same.)To this intent these nobles and my selfe,That are (or should bee) eyes of Common-weale,Seeing his highnesse reachlesse course of youthHis lawlesse and vnbridled vaine in loue,His to intentiue trust too flatterers,His abiect care of councell and his friendes,Cannot but greeue, and since we cannot drawe990His eye or Iudgement to discerne his faultsSince we haue spake and counsaile is not heard,I for my part, (let others as they list)Will leaue the Court, and leaue him to his will:Least with a ruthfull eye I should behold,His ouerthrow which sore I feare is nye.
Doro.Ah father are you so estranged from loue,From due alleageance to your Prince and land,To leaue your King when most he needs your help,The thriftie husbandmen, are neuer woont1000That see their lands vnfruitfull, to forsake them:But when the mould is barraine and vnapt,They toyle, they plow, and make the fallow fatte:The pilot in the dangerous seas is knowne,In calmer waues the sillie sailor striues,Are you not members Lords of Common-weale,And can your head, your deere annointed King,Default ye Lords, except your selues do faile?Oh stay your steps, returne and counsaile him.
Doug.Men seek not mosse vpon a rowling stone,1010Or water from the siue, or fire from yce:Or comfort from a rechlesse monarkes hands.Madame he sets vs light that seru’d in Court,In place of credit in his fathers dayes,If we but enter presence of his grace,Our payment is a frowne, a scoffe, a frumpe,Whilst flatteringGnatoprancks it by his side,Soothing the carelesse King in his misdeeds,And if your grace consider your estate,His life should vrge you too if all be true.1020
Doug.WhyDouglaswhy?
Doug.As if you haue not heardHis lawlesse loue toIdagrowne of late,His carelesse estimate of your estate.
Doro.AhDouglasthou misconstrest his intent,He doth but tempt his wife, he tryees my loue:This iniurie pertaines to me, not to you.The King is young, and if he step awrie,He may amend, and I will loue him still.Should we disdaine our vines becauso they sprout1030Before their time? or young men if they straineBeyõd their reach? no vines that bloome and spreadDo promise fruites, and young men that are wilde,In age growe wise, my freendes and Scottish Peeres,If that an English Princesse may preuaile,Stay, stay with him, lo how my zealous prayerIs plead with teares, fie Peeres will you hence?
S. And.Madam tis vertue in your grace to plead,But we that see his vaine vntoward course,Cannot but flie the fire before it burne,1040And shun the Court before we see his fall.
Doro.Wil you not stay? then Lordings fare you well.Tho you forsake your King, the heauens I hopeWill fauour him through mine incessant prayer.
Dwar.Content you Madam, thus oldOuidsings.Tis foolish to bewaile recurelesse things.
Dorothea.Peace Dwarffe, these words my patience moue.
Dwar.All tho you charme my speech, charme not my loue
Exeunt Nano Dorothea.
Enter the King of Scots, Arius, the nobles spying1050him, returnes.
K. of S.Douglashow now? why changest thou thy cheere?
Dougl.My priuate troubles are so great my liege,As I must craue your licence for a while:For to intend mine owne affaires at home.Exit.
King.You may depart, but why isMortonsad?
Mor.The like occasion doth import me too,So I desire your grace to giue me leaue.
K. of S.Well sir you may betake you to your ease,When such grim syrs are gone, I see no let1060To worke my will.
8. Atten.What like the Eagle then,With often flight wilt thou thy feathers loose?O King canst thou indure to see thy Court,Of finest wits and Iudgements dispossest,Whilst cloking craft with soothing climbes so high,As each bewailes ambition is so bad?Thy father left thee with estate and Crowne,A learned councell to direct thy Court,These careleslie O King thou castest off,1070To entertaine a traine of Sicophants:Thou well mai’st see, although thou wilt not see,That euery eye and eare both sees and hearesThe certaine signes of thine inconstinence:Thou art alyed vnto the English King,By marriage a happie friend indeed,If vsed well, if not a mightie foe.Thinketh your grace he ean indure and brooke,To haue a partner in his daughters loue?Thinketh your grace the grudge of priuie wrongs1080Will not procure him chaunge his smiles to threats?Oh be not blinde to good, call home your Lordes,Displace these flattering Gnatoes, driue them hence:Loue and with kindnesse take your wedlocke wifeOr else (which God forbid) I feare a change,Sinne cannot thriue in courts without a plague.
K. of S.Go pack thou too, vnles thou mẽd thy talk:On paine of death proud Bishop get you gone,Vnlesse you headlesse mean to hoppe away.
8. Atten.Thou god of heauẽ preuent my countries fall.1090
Exeunt.
K. of S.These staies and lets to pleasure, plague my thoughts,Forcing my greeuous wounds a new to bleed:Bur care that hath transported me so farre,FaireIdais disperst in thought of thee:Whose answere yeeldes me life, or breeds my death:Yond comes the messenger of weale or woe.
Enter Gnato.
Ateuki.What newes?
Ateu.The adament o King will not be filde,1100But by it selfe, and beautie that exceeds,By some exeeding fauour must be wrought,Idais coy as yet, and doth repine,Obiecting marriage, honour, feare, and death,Shee’s holy, wise, and too precise for me.
K. of S.Are these thy fruites of wits, thy sight in Art?Thine eloquence? thy pollicie? thy drift?To mocke thy Prince, thẽ catiue packe thee hence,And let me die deuoured in my loue.
Ateu.Good Lord how rage gainsayeth reasons power,1110My deare, my gracious, and beloued Prince,The essence of my sute, my God on earth,Sit downe and rest your selfe, appease your wrath,Least with a frowne yee wound me to the death:Oh that I were included in my graue,That eyther now to saue my Princes life,Must counsell crueltie, or loose my King.
K. of S.Why sirrha, is there meanes to mooue her minde?
Ateu.Oh should I not offend my royall liege.
K. of S.Tell all, spare nought, so I may gaine my loue.1120
Ateu.Alasse my soule why art thou torne in twaine,For feare thou talke a thing that should displease?
K. of S.Tut, speake what so thou wilt I pardon thee.
Ateu.How kinde a word, how courteous is his grace:Who would not die to succour such a king?My liege, this louely mayde of modest minde,Could well incline to loue, but that shee feares,FaireDorotheaspower, your grace doth know,Your wedlocke is a mightie let to loue:WereIdasure to bee your wedded wife,1130That then the twig would bowe, you might command.Ladies loue, presents pompe and high estate.
K. of S.AhAteukin, how shuld we display this let?
Ateu.Tut mightie Prince, oh that I might bee whist.
K. of S.Why dalliest thou?
Ateu.I will not mooue my Prince,I will preferre his safetie before my life:Heare mee ô king, tisDorotheasdeath,Must do you good.
K. of S.What, murther of my Queene?1140Yet to enioy my loue, what is my Queene?Oh but my vowe and promise to my Queene:I but my hope to gaine a fairer Queene,With how contrarious thoughts am I with drawne?Why linger I twixt hope and doubtfull feare:IfDorothedie, willIdaloue?
Ateu.Shee will my Lord.
K. of S.Then let her die.Deuise, aduise the meanes,Al likes me wel that lends me hope in loue.1150
Ateu.What will your grace consent, then let mee worke:Theres heere in Court a FrenchmanIaquescalde,A fit performer of our enterprise,Whom I by gifts and promise will corrupt,To slaye the Queene, so that your grace will sealeA warrant for the man to saue his life.
K. of S.Nought shall he want, write thou and I wil signeAnd gentleGnato, if myIdayeelde,Thon shalt haue what thou wilt, Ile giue the straight,A Barrony, an Earledome for reward.1160
Ateu.Frolicke young king, the Lasse shall bee your owne,Ile make her blyth and wanton by my wit.
Exennt.