Enter Oliuer and Ralph, two seruingmen.
Oliu.
SIrrah Raph, my yong Mistrisse is in such a pittifull passionate humor for the long absence of
her loue,
Raph.
Why can you blame her, why, apples hanging longer on the tree then when they are ripe,
makes so many fallings. viz Madde wenches because they are not gathered in time, are
faine to drop of them selues, and then tis Common you know for euery man to take em
vp.
Oliu.
Mass thou saiest true, Tis common indeede, but sirah, is neither our young maister
returned, nor our fellow Sam come from London?
Ralph.
Neither of either, as the Puritan bawde saies.
Slidd I heare Sam, Sam's come, her's Tarry, come, yfaith now my nose itches for news
Oliue,
and so doe's mine elbowe.
Sam calls within, where are you there?
Sam.
Boy look you walk my horse with discretion, I haue rid him simply, I warrand his skin
sticks to his back with very heate, if a should catch cold & get the Cough of the
Lunges I were well serued, were I not? What Raph and Oliuer.
Am.
Honest fellow Sam welcome yfaith, what tricks hast thou brought from London.
Furnisht with things from London.
Sa.
You see I am hangd after the truest fashion, three hats, and two glasses, bobbing
vpon em, two rebato wyers vpon my brest, a capcase by my side, a brush at my back,
an Almanack in my pocket, & three ballats in my Codpeece, naie I am the true picture
of a Common seruingman.
Oliuer
Ile sweare thou art, Thou maist set vp when thou wilt, Ther's many a one begins with
lesse I can tel thee that proues a rich man ere he dyes, but whats the news from London
Sam.
Ralph.
5
I thats well sed, whats the newes from London Sirrah.
My young mistresse keeps such a puling for hir loue.
Sam.
Why? the more foole shee, I, the more ninny hammer shee.
Sam.
Why hees married to another Long agoe:
Sam.
Why, did you not know that till now? why, hees married, beates his wife, and has two
or three children by her: for you must note that any woman beares the more when she
is beaten.
Raph.
I thats true for shee beares the blowes.
Oliu.
Sirrah Sam, I would not for two years wages, my yong mistres knew so much, sheed run
vpon the lefte hand of her wit, and nere be here owne woman agen.
Sam.
And I think she was blest in her Cradle, that he neuer came in her bed, why hee has
consumed al, pawnd his lands, and made his vniuersitie brother stand in waxe for him,
Thers a fine phrase for a scriuener, puh he owes more then his skins worth.
Sa.
Nay Ile tell you moreouer he calls his wife whore as familiarly as one would cal Mal & Dol, and his children bastards as naturally as can bee, but what haue we heere, I thought
twas somwhat puld downe my breeches: I quite forgot my two potingsticks, these came
from London, now any thing is good heer that comes from London.
Oli.
I, farre fetcht you know:
Sam.
But speak in your conscience yfaith, haue not we as good potingsticks ith Cuntry as
need to be put ith fire, The mind of a thing is all, The mind of a thing's all, and
as thou saidst eene now, farre fetcht is the best thinges for Ladies.
Oliu.
I, and for waiting gentlewomen to.
Sam.
But Ralph, what, is our beer sower this thunder?
Oli.
No no it holds countenance yet.
Sam.
Why then follow me, Ile teach you the finest humor to be drunk in, I learnd it at
London last week.
Am.
I faith lets heare it, lets heare it.
Sam-
The brauest humor, twold do a man good to bee drunck in't, they call it knighting
in London, when they drink vpon their knees.
Am.
Faith that's excellent.
Come follow me, Ile giue you all the degrees ont in order.
Exeunt.
Enter wife.
Wife.
What will become of vs? all will awaie,
10
my husband neuer ceases in expence,
Both to consume his credit and his house?
And tis set downe by heauens iust decree,
That Ryotts child must needs be beggery,
Are these the vertues that his youth did promise,
15
Dice, and voluptuous meetings, midnight Reuels,
Taking his bed with surfetts. Ill beseeming
The auncient honor of his howse and name:
And this not all: but that which killes me most,
When he recounts his Losses and false fortunes,
20
The weaknes of his state soe much deiected,
Not as a man repentant: but halfe madd:
His fortunes cannot answere his expence:
He sits and sullenly lockes vp his Armes,
Forgetting heauen looks downward, which makes him
25
Appeare soe dreadfull, that he frights my heart,
Walks heauyly, as if his soule were earth:
Not penitent for those his sinnes are past:
But vext, his mony cannot make them last.
A fearefull melancholie vngodly sorrow.
30
Oh yonder he comes, now in despight of ills
Ile speake to him, and I will heare him speake,
And do my best to driue it from his heart.
Enter Husband.
Hus.
Poxe oth Last throw, it made
Fiue hundred Angels vanish from my sight,
35
Ime damnd, Ime damnd: the Angels haue forsook me
Nay tis certainely true: for he that has no coyne
Is damnd in this world: hee's gon, hee's gon.
Hus.
Oh! most punishment of all I haue a wife,
Wi.
40
I doe intreat you as you loue your soule,
Tell me the cause of this your discontent.
Hus.
A vengeance strip thee naked, thou art cause,
Effect, quality, property, thou, thou, thou.
Exit.
Wife.
Bad, turnd to worse?
45
both beggery of the soule, as of the bodie.
And so much vnlike him selfe at first,
As if some vexed spirit
Had got his form vpon him.
Enter Husband againe.
He comes agen:
50
He saies I am the cause, I never yet
Spoke lesse then wordes of duty, and of loue.
Hus.
If mariage be honourable, then Cuckolds are honourable, for they cannot be made without
marriage.
Foole: what meant I to marry to get beggars? now must my eldest sonne be a knaue or
nothing, he cannot liue vppot'h foole, for he wil haue no land to maintaine him: that
morgage sits like a snaffle vpon mine inheritance, and makes me chaw vpon Iron. My
second sonne must be a promooter, and my third a theefe, or an vnderputter, a slaue
pander.
ErrorMetrica
Oh beggery, beggery, to what base vses dost thou put a man.
I think the Deuill scornes to be a bawde.
He beares himselfe more proudly, has more care on's credit.
55
Base slauish abiect filthie pouertie.
Wi.
Good sir; by all our vowes I doe beseech you,
Show me the true cause of your discontent?
Hus.
Mony, mony, mony, and thou must supply me.
Wi.
Alas, I am the lest cause of your discontent,
60
Yet what is mine, either in rings or Iewels
Vse to your own desire, but I beseech you,
As y'are a gentleman by many bloods,
Though I my selfe be out of your respect
Thinke on the state of these three louely boies
65
You haue bin father to.
Hu.
Puh Bastards, bastards, bastards, begot in tricks, begot in tricks.
Wi.
Heauen knowes how those words wrong me? but I maie,
Endure these griefes among a thousand more.
Oh, call to mind your lands already morgadge,
70
Your selfe woond into debts, your hopefull brother,
At the vniuersitie in bonds for you
Like to be ceasd vpon. And
Hu,
Ha done thou harlot,
Whome though for fashion sake I married,
75
I neuer could abide? thinkst thou thy wordes
Shall kill my pleasures, fal of to thy friends,
Thou and thy bastards begg: I will not bate
A whit in humor? midnight still I loue you,
And reuel in your Company; Curbd in,
80
Shall it be said in all societies,
That I broke custome, that I flagd in monie,
No, those thy iewels, I will play as freely
As when my state was fullest.
H-
85
spurns her
Nay I protest, and take that for an earnest,
I will for euer hould thee in contempt,
And neuer touch the sheets that couer thee,
But be diuorst in bed till thou consent,
Thy dowry shall be sold to giue new life
90
Vnto those pleasures which I most affect
Wi.
Sir doe but turne a gentle eye on me,
And what the law shall giue me leaue to do
You shall command.
Hu.
Look it be done, shal I want dust & like a slaue
95
weare nothing in my pockets but my hands
holding his hands in his pockets.
To fil them vp with nailes.
Oh much against my blood, let it be done,
I was neuer made to be a looker on:
A bawde to dice? Ile shake the drabbs my selfe
100
And make em yeeld, I saie look it be done.
Wi.
I take my leaue it shall.
Exit.
Hu.
Speedily, speedily, I hate the very howre I chose a wife a trouble trebled, three
children like three euils hang vpon me, fie, fie, fie, strumpet, & bastards, strumpet
and bastards.
Enter three Gentlemen heering him.
1 Gent.
Still doe those loathsome thoughts Iare on your tongue.
Your selfe to staine the honour of your wife,
Nobly discended, those whom men call mad
105
Endanger others; but hee's more then mad
That wounds himselfe, whose owne wordes do proclaym
Scandalls vniust, to soile his better name:
It is not fit I pray forsake it.
2 Gen.
Good sir, let modestie reproue you.
3. Gen.
110
Let honest kindnes sway so much with you.
Hu,
God den, I thanke you sir, how do you, adeiue,
Ime glad to see you, farewel Instructions, Admonitions.
Exeun Gent,
Enter a seruant.
Hu.
How now sirra what wud you,
Ser.
Only to certifie you sir, that my mistris was met by the way, by thē who were sent
for her vp to Londō by her honorable vnkle, your worships late gardian.
Hus
So sir, then she is gon and so may you be:
But let her looke that the thing be done she wots of: or hel wil stand more pleasāt
thē her house at home.
Enter a Gentleman.
Gen.
Well or ill met I care not.
Gen.
115
I am come with confidence to chide you.
Hu.
Who me? chide me? doo't finely then: let it not moue me, for if thou chidst me angry
I shall strike.
Gen.
Strike thine owne follies, for it is they
Deserue to be wel beaten, we are now in priuate,
Ther's none but thou and I? thou'rt fond & peeuish,
120
An vncleane ryoter, thy landes and Credit
Lie now both sick of a consumption
I am sorry for thee: that man spends with shame
That with his ritches does consume his name:
And such art thou.
Gent.
No thou shalt heare me further:
Thy fathers and forefathers worthy honors,
Which were our country monuments: our grace,
Follies in thee begin now to deface:
130
The spring time of thy youth did fairely promise
such a most fruitfull summer to thy friends
It scarce can enter into mens beliefes,
Such dearth should hang on thee, wee that see it,
Are sorry to beleeue it: in thy change,
135
This voice into all places wil be hurld:
thou and the deuill has deceaued the world.
Gent.
but of all the worst:
Thy vertuous wife right honourably allied
140
Thou hast proclaimed a strumpet.
Hus.
Nay then I know thee,
Thou art her champion thou, her priuat friend,
The partie you wot on.
Gent.
Oh ignoble thought.
145
I am past my patient bloode, shall I stand idle
and see my reputation toucht to death.
Hu.
Ta's galde you this, has it.
Gent.
No monster, I will proue
My thoughts did only tend to vertuous loue,
150
Loue of her vertues? there it goes:
Gent.
Base spirit,
To laie thy hate vpon the fruitfull
They fight and the Husbands hurt,
Honor of thine own bed.
Ge.
155
Woult thou yeeld it yet?
Hu.
Sir, Sir, I haue not done with you,
Gent.
I hope nor nere shall doe.
Fight agen.
Hu.
Haue you got tricks are you in cunning with me.
Gent.
No plaine and right.
160
He needs no cunning that for truth doth fight.
Husband falls downe.
Hu.
Hard fortune, am I leueld with the ground?
Gent.
Now sir you lie at mercy,
Ge.
Alas that hate should bring vs to our graue:
165
You see my sword's not thirsty for your life,
I am sorrier for your woonde then your selfe,
Y'are of a vertuous house, show vertuous deeds
Tis not your honour, tis your folly bleedes,
Much good has bin expected in your life,
170
Cancell not all mens hopes, you haue a wife
Kind and obedient: heape not wrongfull shame
On her your posterity, let only sin be sore,
And by this fall, rise neuer to fall more —
And so I leaue you.
Exit:
Hu.
175
Has the dogg left me then
After his tooth hath reft me? oh my hart
Would faine leape after him, reuenge I saye,
Ime mad to be reueng'd, my strumpet wife:
It is thy quarrel that rips thus my flesh,
180
And makes my brest spit blood, but thou shalt bleed:
Vanquisht? got downe? vnable eene to speak?
Surely tis want of mony makes men weake,
Exi
I? twas that orethrew me, Id'e nere bin downe els.
Enter wife in a riding suite with a seruingman.
Seru.
Faith mistris If it might not bee presumtion
185
In me to tell you so, for his excuse
You had smal reason, knowing his abuse,
Wi.
I grant I had, but alasse,
Whie should our faults at home be spred abroad:
Tis griefe enough within dores: At first sight
190
Myne Vncle could run ore his prodigall life
As perfectly, as if his serious eye
Had nombred all his follies:
Knew of his morgadg'd lands, his friends in bonds,
himselfe withered with debts: And in that minute
195
Had I added his vsage and vnkindnes,
Twould haue confounded euery thought of good:
Where now, fathering his ryots on his youth,
Which time and tame experience will shake off,
gessing his kindnes to me (as I smoothd him
200
With all the skill I had) though his deserts
Are in forme vglier then an vnshapte Bear.
Hee's reddy to prefer him to some office
And place at Court, A good and sure reliefe
To al his stooping fortunes twil be a meanes I hope,
205
To make new league between vs, and redeeme
His vertues with his landes.
Ser
I should think so mistris. If he should not now be kinde to you and loue you, and
cherish you vp, I should thinke the deuill himselfe kept open house in him.
Wi.
I doubt not but he will now, prethe leaue me,
I think I heare him comming.
Exit.
Wife.
By this good meanes I shal preserue my lāds,
And free my husband out of vserers hands:
Now ther is no neede of sale, my Vncle's kind
I hope, if ought, this will content his minde,
215
Here comes my husband.
Enter Husband.
Hu.
Now, are you come, wher's the mony, lets see the mony, is the rubbish sold, those
wiseakers your lands, why when, the mony, where ist, powr't down, down with it, downe
with it, I say powr't oth ground lets see't, lets see't.
Wi.
Good sir, keep but in patience and I hope
My words shall like you well, I bring you better
Comfort then the sale of my Dowrie.
Wi.
220
Pray do not fright me sir, but vouchsafe me hearing, my Vncle glad of your kindnes
to mee & milde vsage. for soe I made it to him? has in pitty
of your declining fortunes, prouided
A place for you at Court of worth & credit,
which so much ouerioyd me
Hu.
spurns her
Out on thee filth, ouer and ouerioyd.
225
When Ime in torments?
Thou pollitick whore, subtiller then nine Deuils, was this thy iourney to Nuncke,
to set downe the historie of me, of my state and fortunes:
Shall I that Dedicated my selfe to pleasure, be nowe confind in seruice to crouch
and stand like an old man ith hams, my hat off, I that neuer could abide to vncover
my head ith Church, base slut, this fruite beares thy complaints.
Wife.
Oh heauen knowes,
That my complaintes were praises, and best wordes
230
of you, and your estate: onely my friends,
Knew of your morgagde Landes, and were possest
Of euery accident before I came.
If thou suspect it but a plot in me
To keepe my dowrie, or for mine owne good
235
or my poore though it sutes a mother
To show a naturall care in their reliefs),
Yet ile forget my selfe to calme your blood:
Consume it, as your pleasure counsels you,
And all I wishe, eene Clemency affoords:
240
giue mee but comely looks and modest wordes.
Hu.
Money whore, money, or Ile-
Enters a seruant very hastily.
to his man
What the deuel? how now? thy hasty news?
Seruant in a feare
Hu.
What? maie I not looke vpon my dagger?
245
Speake villaine, or I will execute the pointe on thee: quick, short.
Ser.
Why sir a gentlemā from the Vniuersity staies below to speake with you.
Hu.
From the Vniuersity? so, Vniuersity
That long word runs through mee.
Exeunt.
Wi.
Wif. alone
Was euer wife so wretchedlie beset,
250
Had not this newes stept in between, the point
Had offered violence to my brest.
That which some women call greate misery
Would show but little heere: would scarce be seene
Amongst my miseries: I maie Compare
255
For wretched fortunes with all wiues that are,
Nothing will please him; vntill all be nothing.
He calls it slauery to be preferd.
A place of credit, a base seruitude.
What shall become of me, and my poore children,
260
Two here, and one at nurse, my prettie beggers,
I see how ruine with a palsie hand
Begins to shake the auncient seat to dust:
the heauy weight of sorrow, drawes my liddes
Ouer my dankishe eies: I can scarce see,
265
Thus griefe will laste, it wakes and sleeps with mee.
Enter the Husband with the master of the Colledge.
Hu.
Please you draw neer sir, y'are exceeding welcome.
Ma.
Thats my doubt, I fear, I come not to be welcome.
Ma.
Tis not my fashion Sir to dwell in long circūstance, but to be plain, and effectuall,
therefore to the purpose.
The cause of my setting forth was pittious and lamentable, that hopefull young gentleman
your brother, whose vertues we all loue deerelie through your default, and vnnaturall
negligence lies in bond executed for your debt, a prisoner,all his studies amazed
his hope strook dead, and the pride of his youth muffled in theis dark clowds of oppression.
Mr.
Oh, you haue kild the towardest hope of all our vniuesitie: wherefore without repentance
and amends, expect pandorus and suddain Iudgements to fall grieuosly vpon you, your
brother a man who profited in his diuine Imployments mighte haue made ten thousand
soules fit for heauen, now by your carelesse courses caste in prison which you must
answere for, and assure your spirit it wil come home at length.
Mr.
Wisemen think ill of you, others speake ill of you, no man loues you, nay euen those
whome honesty condemnes, condemne you: and take this from the vertuous affection I
beare your brother, neuer looke for prosperous hower, good thought, quiet sleepes,
contented walkes, nor anything that makes man perfect til you redeem him, what is
your answer how will yov bestow him, vpon desperate miserye, or better hopes? I suffer,
till I heare your answer.
Hu.
Sir you haue much wrought with mee, I feele you in my soule, you are your artes master.
I neuer had sence til now; your sillables haue cleft me Both for your words and pains
I thank you: I cannot but acknowledge grieuous wronges done to my brother, mighty,
mighty, mighty wrongs. Within there,
Enter a seruingman.
Sir Hu.
Fil me a bowle of wine. Alas poore brother, Brus'd with an execution for my sake
Exit seruant for wine.
Mr.
A bruse indeed makes many a mortall
Sore till the graue cure em
Enter with wine.
Hu.
Sir I begin to you, y'aue chid your welcome:
Mr.
I could haue wisht it better for your sake,
270
I pledge you sir, to the kind man in prison.
Hu.
Let it be soe?
Now Sir if you so please
Drink both.
To spend but a fewe minuts in a walke about my grounds below, my man heere shall attend
you: I doubt not but by that time to be furnisht of a sufficient answere, and therein
my brother fully satisfied.
Mr.
Good sir in that, the Angells would be pleasd, And the worlds murmures calmd, and
I should saye I set forth then vpon a lucky daie.
Exit.
Hu.
Oh thou confused man, thy pleasant sins haue vndone thee thy damnation has beggerd
thee, that heauen should say we must not answer, and yet made women: giues our sences
waie to finde pleasure, which being found confounds vs, why shold we know those things
so much misuse vs — oh would vertue had been forbidden, wee should then haue prooued
all vertuous, for tis our bloude to loue what we are forbidden, had not drunkennes
byn forbidden what man wold haue been foole to a beast, and Zany to a swine to show
tricks in the mire, what is there in three dice to make a man draw thrice three thousand
acres into the compasse of a round little table, & with the gentlemans palsy in the
hand shake out his posteritie thieues or beggars: tis done, I ha don't yfaith: terrible
horrible misery. — how well was I left, very well, very wel.
My Lands shewed like a full moone about mee, but nowe the moon's ith last quarter,
wayning, waining, And I am mad to think that moone was mine: Mine and my fathers,
and my forefathers generations, generations: downe goes the howse of vs, down, downe;
it sincks: Now is the name a beggar, begs in me that name which hundreds of yeeres
has made this shiere famous: in me, and my posterity runs out.
Teares his haire — In my seede fiue are made miserable besides my selfe, my ryot is now my brothers iaylor,
my wiues sighing, my three boyes penurie, and mine own confusion:
ErrorMetrica
Why sit my haires vpon my cursed head?
275
Will not this poyson scatter them? oh my brothers
In execution among deuells that stretch him: & make
him giue. And I in want, not able for to lyue.
Nor to redeeme him,
Divines and dying men may talke of hell,
280
But in my heart her seuerall torments dwell,
Slauery and mysery.
Who in this case would not take vp mony vpon his soule, pawn his saluation, liue at
interest:
ErrorMetrica
I that did euer in aboundance dwell,
for me to want, exceeds the throwes of hel.
Enters his little sonne with a top and a scourge.
Son.
What aile you father, are you not well, I cannot scourge my top as long as you stand
so: you take vp all the roome with your wide legs, puh you cannot make mee afeard
with this, I feare no vizards, nor bugbeares.
Husb, takes vp the childe by the skirts of his long coate in one hand and drawes his
dagger with th'other.
Hu.
Vp sir, for heer thou hast no inheritance left.
Sonne.
Oh what will you do father, I am your white boie.
Hu.
strikes him Thou shalt be my red boie, take that.
Son:
Oh you hurt me father.
Hu.
My eldest beggar: thou shalt not liue to aske an vsurer bread, to crie at a great
mans gate, or followe good your honour by a Couch, no, nor your brother 'tis charity
to braine you.
Son.
How shall I learne now my heads broke?
Hu.
stabs him.
Bleed bleed rather then beg beg?
285
be not thy names disgrace:
Spurne thou thy fortunes first if they be base:
Come view thy second brother: fates,
My childrens bloud shall spin into your faces, you shall see.
How Confidently we scorne beggery?
Exit with his Sonne.
Enter a maide with a child in her armes, the mother by her a sleepe.
M.
290
Sleep sweet babe sorrow makes thy mother sleep,
It boades small good when heauines falls so deepe,
Hush prettie boy thy hopes might haue been better,
Tis lost at Dice what ancient honour won,
Hard when the father plaies awaie the Sonne:
295
Nothing but misery serues in this house.
ruine and desolation oh
Enter husband with the boie bleeding.
Hu:
Striues with her for the child.
Whore, giue me that boy,
M.
Oh help, help, out alas, murder murder,
Hus.
Are you gossiping, prating sturdy queane, Ile
300
breake your clamor with your neck down staires:
Throws her down.
Tumble, tumble, headlong,
So, the surest waie to charme a womans tongue
Is break hir neck, a pollitician did it.
Son.
Mother, mother, I am kild mother.
305
W. wakes.
Ha, whose that cride oh me my children:
catches vp the yongest.
both, both, both; bloudy, bloudy.
Hu.
Strumpet let go the boy, let go the beggar.
Wi.
310
Oh what will you doe deare husband,
Hu.
There are too many beggars.
Hu.
315
Doest thou preuent me still?
Wi.
Stabs at the child in hir armes.
Oh god;
Wi.
gets it from hir.
Oh my deare boy,
Hu.
Brat thou shalt not liue to shame thy howse,
shee's hurt and sinks downe.
Hu.
And perish now begon,
Ther's whores enow, and want wold make thee one.
Enter a lusty seruant.
Ser.
Oh Sir what deeds are these?
Hus.
Base slaue my vassail:
325
Comst thou between my fury to question me
Ser:
Were you the Deuil I would hold you sir,
Hu.
Hould me? presumption, Ile vndoe thee for't,
Ser.
Sbloud you haue vndone vs all sir,
Hus.
Haue I no power, shall my slaue fetter me?
Ser.
Nay then the Deuil wrastles, I am throwne,
Hu:
ouer comes him. now Ile teare thee,
Oh villane now Ile tug thee,
set quick spurres to my vassaile, bruize him,
335
trample him, so, I think thou wilt not folow me in hast
My horse stands reddy sadled, away, away,
Now to my brat at nursse, my sucking begger:
Fates, Ile not leaue you one to trample one.
The Master meets him.
Ma.
How ist with you sir me thinks you looke of a distracted colour.
Hu.
340
Who I sir, tis but your fancie,
Please you walke in Sir, and Ile soone resolue you,
I want one small parte to make vp the som,
And then my brother shall rest satisfied,
Mr.
I shall be glad to see it, sir Ile attend you.
Exeu.
Ser
345
Oh I am scarce able to heaue vp my selfe:
H'as so bruizd me with his diuelish waight,
And torne my flesh with his bloud-hasty spurre
A man before of easie constitution
Till now hells power supplied; to his soules wrong,
350
Oh how damnation can make weake men strong.
Enter Master, and two seruants.
Ser.
Oh the most pitteous deed sir since you came.
Mr.
A deadly greeting: has he somde vp theis
To satisfie his brother? heer's an other:
And by the bleeding infants, the dead mother.
Mr.
Surgeons, Surgeons, she recouers life
One of his men al faint and bloudied.
1. Seru.
Follow, our murderous master has took horse
To kill his child at nurse, oh follow quickly.
Mr.
360
I am the readiest, it shal be my charge
To raise the towne vpon him
Exit Mr and seruant
1. Ser.
How is it with my most afflicted Mistris?
Wi.
365
Why do I now recouer? why half liue?
To see my children bleede before mine eies.
A sight able to kill a mothers brest
Without an executioner, what art thou māgled too?
1. Ser,
I thinking to preuent what his quicke mischiefes had so soone acted; came and rusht
vpon him
370
We strugled, but a fowler strength then his
Orethrew me with his armes, then did he bruize me
And rent my flesh, and robd me of my haire
Like a man mad in execution
Made me vnfit to rise and follow him.
Wi.
375
What is it has beguild him of all grace?
And stole awaie humanity from his brest?
To slaie his children, purpos'd to kill his wife,
And spoile his saruants.
Enters two seruants.
Ambo sir,
Please you leaue this most accursed place, a surgeon waites within.
Wi.
380
Willing to leaue it,
Tis guiltie of sweete bloud, innocent bloud,
Murder has tooke this chamber with ful hands,
Exeunt
And wil nere out as long as the house stands.
Enter Husband as being thrown off his horse, And falls:
Hu.
Oh stumbling Iade the spauin ouertake thee,
385
the fiftie diseases stop thee,
Oh, I am sorely bruisde, plague founder thee,
Thou runst at ease and pleasure, hart, of chance
to Throw me now within a flight oth Towne,
In such plaine euen ground, sfot, a man may dice vpon't, and throw awaie the Medowes,
filthy beast.
Crie within Follow, follow, follow.
Hus.
390
Ha? I hear sounds of men; like hew and crie:
vp, vp, and struggle to thy horse, make on
Dispatch that little begger and all's done.
Kni.
Heere, this waie, this waye:
Hus.
At my backe? oh,
395
What fate haue I, my limbes deny mee go,
My will is bated, beggery claimes a parte.
Oh could I here reach to the infants heart.
Enter M. of the Colledge, 3. Gentlemen, and others with Holberds.
Finde him.
All.
Heere, heere, yonder, yonder.
Mr.
Vnnaturall, flintie, more then barbarous:
400
The Scithians in their marble hearted fates,
Could not haue acted more remorselesse deeds
In their relentlesse natures, then these of thine:
Was this the answear I long waited on,
The satisfaction for thy prisoned brother?
Hus.
405
Why, he can haue no more on's then our skins,
And some of em want but fleaing.
1. Gen.
Great sinnes haue made him impudent:
Mr.
H'as shed so much bloud that he cannot bluff
2. Ge.
Away with him, bear him along to the Iustices:
410
A gentleman of woorship dwels at hand,
There shall his deeds be blazd:
Hus.
Why all the better,
My glory tis to haue my action knowne,
I grieue for nothing, but I mist of one:
Mr.
415
Ther's little of a father in that griefe:
Beare him away.
Exeunt.
Enters a knight with two or three Gentlemen.
Knig.
Endangered so his wife? murdered his children?
Kni,
I am sorry I ere knew him,
420
That euer he took life and naturall being
From such an honoured stock, and fair discent;
Til this black minut without staine or blemish.
Enter the master of the colledge and the rest, with the prisoner.
Kni.
The serpent of his house? Ime sorry for this time that I am in place of iustice.
Kni.
Doe not repeate it twice I know too muche, would it had nere byn thought on:
Sir I bleede for you.
4 Gent.
Your fathers sorrows are aliue in me:
What made you shew such monstrous crueltie. 〈 ◊ 〉 a worde Sir,
430
I hane consumd all, plaid awaie long acre,
And I thought it the charitablest deed I could doe
To cussen beggery: and knock my house oth head.
Kni.
Oh in a cooler bloud you will repent it.
Hus.
I repent now, that ones left vnkild,
435
My brat at nurse. Oh I would ful fain haue weand him
Knigh.
Well, I doe not think but in to morrowes morrowes iudgement.
The terror will sit closer to your soule,
When the dread thought of death remembers you to further which, take this sad voice
from me:
Neuer was act plaid more vnnaturally.
Kni.
Goe leade him to the Iayle,
Where iustice claimes all, there must pitty faile.
Hus.
Come come, awaie with me.
Exit prisoner.
Mr.
Sir, you deserue the worship of your place,
445
Would all did so: in you the law is grace,
Kni
It is my wish it should be so,
Ruinous man, the desolation of his howse, the blot
Vpon his predecessors honord name:
That man is neerest shame that is past shame.
Exit.
Enter Husband with the officers, The Maister and gentlemen as going by his house.
Hu.
450
I am right against my howse, seat of my Ancestors: I heare my wif's aliue; but much
endangered:
Let me intreat to speak with her
before the prison gripe me.
Enter his wife brought in a chaire.
Gent.
See heer she comes of her selfe,
Wi.
Oh my sweete Hus-band, my deere distressed husband, now in the hands of vnrelenting
lawes,
455
My greatest sorrow, my extremest bleeding,
Now my soule bleeds.
Hu.
How now? kind to me? did I not wound thee, left thee for dead.
Wife.
Tut farre greater wounds did my brest feele,
Vnkindnes strikes a deeper wound then steele,
460
You haue been still vnkinde to mee:
Hus.
Faith, and so I thinke I haue:
I did my murthers roughly out of hand,
Desperate and suddaine, but thou hast deuiz'd
A fine way now to kill me, thou hast giuen mine eies
465
Seauen woonds a peece; now glides the deuill from
mee, departes at euery ioynt, heaues vp my nailes;
Oh catch him new torments, that were near inuēted,
Binde him one thousand more you blessed Angells
In that pit bottomlesse, let him not rise
470
To make men act vnnaturall tragedies
To spred into a father, and in furie,
Make him his childrens executioners:
Murder his wife, his seruants, and who not?
For that man's darke, where heauen is quite forgot.
Wi.
475
Oh my repentant husband.
Hus.
My deere soull, whom I too much haue wrongd,
For death I die, and for this haue I longd.
Wi.
Thou sholdst not (be assurde) for these faults die,
If the law cold forgiue assoone as I,
Hus.
480
What sight is yonder?
Children laid out.
Wi.
Oh our two bleeding boyes laid forth vpon the thresholde.
Hu.
Heer's weight enough to make a heart-string crack
Oh were it lawfull that your prettie soules
Might looke from heauen into your fathers eyes,
485
Then should you see the penitent glasses melt,
And both your murthers shoote vpon my cheekes,
But you are playing in the Angells lappes,
And will not looke on me,
Who void of grace, kild you in beggery.
490
Oh that I might my wishes now attaine,
I should then wish you liuing were againe:
Though I did begge with you, which thing I feard,
Oh twas the enemy my eyes so bleard.
Oh would you could pray heauen me to forgiue,
495
That will vnto my end repentant liue.
Wi.
It makes me eene forget all other sorrowes
and leaue parte with this. Come will you goe,
Hus.
Ile kisse the bloud I spilt and then I goe:
my soull is bloudied, well may my lippes be so.
500
Farewell deere wife, now thou and I must parte,
I of thy wrongs repent me with my harte.
Wi.
Oh staye thou shalt not goe:
Hus.
That's but in vaine, you see it must be so.
Farewell ye bloudie ashes of my boyes,
505
My punishments are their eternall ioyes.
Let euery father looke into my deedes,
And then their heirs may prosper while mine bleeds.
Wi.
Exeunt
More wretched am I now in this distresse,
then former sorrows made me.
Husband with hol●●●●
Mr.
510
Oh kinde wife be comforted,
One ioy is yet vnmurdered:
You haue a boy at nursse your ioy's in him.
Wi:
Dearer then all is my poore husbands life:
Heauen giue my body strength, which yet is faint
515
With much expence of bloud, and I will kneele,
Sue for his life, nomber vp all my friends,
To plead for pardon my deare husbands life.
Mr:
Was it in man to woond so kinde a creature?
Ile euer praise a woman for thy sake,
520
I must returne with griefe my answer's set:
I shall bring newes weies heauier then the debt:
Two brothers: one in bond lies ouerthrowne
This, on a deadlier execution.
FINIS.