Chapter XVII: Act V: Enter ERASTUS and PERSEDA (1)

ERASTUS.

Perseda, these days are our days of joy:
What could I more desire than thee to wife?
And that I have: or than to govern Rhodes?
And that I do, thanks to great Soliman.

PERSEDA.

And thanks to gracious heav'ns, that so
Brought Soliman from worse to better;
For though I never told it thee till now,
His heart was purpos'd once to do thee wrong.

ERASTUS.

Ay, that was before he knew thee to be mine;
But now, Perseda, let's forget old griefs,
And let our studies wholly be employ'd
To work each other's bliss and heart's delight.

PERSEDA.

Our present joys will be so much the greater,
When as we call to mind forepassed griefs:
So sings the mariner upon the shore.
When he hath pass'd the dangerous time of storms;
But if my love will have old griefs forgot,
They shall lay buried in Perseda's breast.

_Enter_ BRUSOR _and_ LUCINA.

ERASTUS.

Welcome, lord Brusor.

PERSEDA.

And Lucina too.

BRUSOR.

Thanks, lord governor.

LUCINA.

And thanks to you, madam.

ERASTUS.

What hasty news brings you so soon to Rhodes?
Although to me you never come too soon.

BRUSOR.

So it is, my lord, that upon great affairs,
Importuning health and wealth of Soliman,
His highness by me entreateth you,
As ever you respect his future love,
Or have regard unto his courtesy,
To come yourself in person, and visit him,
Without inquiry what should be the cause.

ERASTUS.

Were there no ships to cross the seas withal,
Mine arms should frame me[419] oars to cross the seas;
And, should the seas turn tide to force me back,
Desire should frame me wings to fly to him.
I go, Perseda: thou must give me leave.

PERSEDA.

Though loth, yet Soliman's command prevails.

LUCINA.

And, sweet Perseda, I will stay with you
From Brusor my beloved; and I'll want[420] him,
Till he bring back Erastus unto you.

ERASTUS.

Lord Brusor, come; 'tis time that we were gone.

BRUSOR.

Perseda, farewell; be not angry,
For that I carry thy beloved from thee;
We will return with all speed possible.
And thou, Lucina, use Perseda so,
That for my carrying of Erastus hence
She curse me not; and so farewell to both.

[_Exeunt._

PERSEDA.

Come, Lucina, let's in; my heart is full. [_Exeunt._

_Enter_ SOLIMAN, LORD MARSHAL, _the Two Witnesses,_
_and Janissaries_.

SOLIMAN.

Lord Marshal, see you handle it cunningly:
And, when Erastus comes, our perjur'd friend,
See he be condemned by martial law;
Here will I stand to see, and not be seen.

MARSHAL.

Come, fellows, see when this matter comes in question
You stagger not: and, Janissaries,
See that your strangling cords be ready.

SOLIMAN.

Ah, that Perseda were not half so fair,
Or that Soliman were not so fond,
Or that Perseda had some other love,
Whose death might save my poor Erastus' life.

_Enter_ BRUSOR _and_ ERASTUS.

See where he comes, whom though I dearly love,
Yet must his blood be spill'd for my behoof:
Such is the force of marrow-burning[421] love.

MARSHAL.

Erastus, lord governor of Rhodes,
I arrest you in the king's name.

ERASTUS.

What thinks Lord Brusor of this strange arrest?
Hast thou entrapp'd me to this treachery?
Intended, well I wot, without the leave
Or licence of my lord, great Soliman.

BRUSOR.

Why then appeal to him, where thou shalt know,
And be assur'd, that I betray thee not.

SOLIMAN.

Yes, thou and I, and all of us betray him. [_Aside._

MARSHAL.

No, no; in this case no appeal shall serve.

ERASTUS.

Why, then, to thee or unto any else
I here protest by heav'ns unto you all,
That never was there man more true or just,
Or in his deeds more loyal and upright,
Or more loving or more innocent,
Than I have been to gracious Soliman,
Since first I set my feet on Turkish land.

SOLIMAN.

Myself would be his witness, if I durst;
But bright Perseda's beauty stops my tongue.

[_Aside._

MARSHAL.

Why, sirs, why face to face express you not
The treasons you reveal'd to Soliman?

1 WITNESS.

That very day Erastus went from hence,
He sent for me into his cabinet,
And for that man that is of my profession.

ERASTUS.

I never saw them, I, until this day.

1 WITNESS.

His cabin door fast shut, he first began
To question us of all sorts of fireworks;
Wherein when we had fully resolved him
What might be done, he, spreading on the board
A huge heap of our imperial coin;
All this is yours, quoth he, if you consent
To leave great Soliman and serve in Rhodes.

MARSHAL.

Why, that was treason--but onward with the rest.

_Enter_ PISTON.

PISTON.

What have we here? my master before the Marshal?

[_Aside._

1 WITNESS.

We said not ay, nor durst we say him nay,
Because we were already in his gallies;
But seem'd content to fly with him to Rhodes:
With that he purs'd the gold, and gave it us.
The rest I dare not speak, it is so bad.

ERASTUS.

Heav'ns, hear you this, and drop[422] not vengeance on them?

2 WITNESS.

The rest and worse will I discourse in brief--
Will you consent, quoth he, to fire the fleet,
That lies hard by us here in Bosphorus?
For be it spoke in secret here, quoth he,
Rhodes must no longer bear the Turkish yoke.
We said the task might easily be perform'd,
But that we lack'd such drugs to mix with powder,
As were not in his gallies to be got.
At this he leap'd for joy, swearing and promising,
That our reward should be redoubled.
We came a-land, not minding to return,
And as our duty and allegiance bound us,
We made all known unto great Soliman;
But ere we could summon him a-land,
His ships were past a-kenning[423] from the shore:
Belike he thought we had betray'd his treasons.

MARSHAL.

That all is true, that here you have declar'd,
Both lay your hands upon the Alcoran.

1 WITNESS.

Foul death betide me, if I swear not true!

2 WITNESS.

And mischief light on me, if I swear false!

SOLIMAN.

Mischief and death shall light upon you both.

[_Aside._

MARSHAL.

Erastus, thou see'st what witness hath produc'd against thee:
What answer'st thou unto their accusation?

ERASTUS.

That these are Sinons, and myself poor Troy.

MARSHAL.

Now it resteth I appoint thy death;
Wherein thou shalt confess, I'll favour thee,
For that thou wert belov'd of Soliman:
Thou shalt forthwith be bound unto that post,
And strangled, as our Turkish order is.

PISTON.

Such favour send all Turks, I pray God. [_Aside._

ERASTUS.

I see this train was plotted, ere I came:
What boots complaining, where's no remedy?
Yet give me leave, before my life shall end,
To moan Perseda, and accuse my friend.

SOLIMAN.

O unjust Soliman! O wicked time!
Where filthy lust must murder honest love. [_Aside._

MARSHAL.

Despatch, for our time limited is past.

ERASTUS.

Alas, how can he but be short, whose tongue
Is fast tied with galling sorrow?
Farewell, Perseda; no more but that for her:
Inconstant Soliman, no more but that for him:
Unfortunate Erastus, no more but that for me:
Lo, this is all; and thus I leave to speak.

[_Then they strangle him._

PISTON.

Marry, sir, this is
A fair warning for me to get me gone.

[_Exit_ PISTON.

SOLIMAN.

O, save his life, if it be possible;
I will not lose him for my kingdom's worth.
Ah, poor Erastus! art thou dead already?
What bold presumer durst be so resolved
For to bereave Erastus' life from him,
Whose life to me was dearer than mine own?
Was't thou? and thou?--Lord Marshal, bring them hither;
And at Erastus' hand let them receive
The stroke of death, whom they have spoil'd of life.
What, is thy hand too weak? then mine shall help
To send them down to everlasting night,
To wait upon thee through eternal shade;
Thy soul shall not go mourning hence alone:
Thus die, and thus; for thus you murther'd him.

[_Then he kills the two Janissaries that_
_killed_ ERASTUS.

But soft! methinks he is not satisfied:
The breath doth murmur softly from his lips,
And bids me kill those bloody witnesses,
By whose treachery Erastus died.
Lord Marshal, hale them to the tower's top,
And throw them headlong down into the valley;
So let their treasons with their lives have end.

1 WITNESS.

Yourself procur'd us.

2 WITNESS.

Is this our hire?

[_Then the_ MARSHAL _bears them to the tower-top_.

SOLIMAN.

Speak not a word, lest in my wrathful fury
I doom you to ten thousand direful torments!
And, Brusor, see Erastus be interr'd
With honour in a kingly sepulchre:
Why, when, Lord Marshal?[424] Great Hector's son,
Although his age did plead for innocence,
Was sooner tumbled from the fatal tower,
Than are those perjur'd wicked witnesses.

[_Then they are both tumbled down._

Why, now Erastus' ghost is satisfied:
Ay, but yet the wicked judge survives,
By whom Erastus was condemned to die.
Brusor, as thou lov'st me, stab too the[425] Marshal,
Lest he detect us unto the world,
By making known our bloody practices;
And then will thou and I hoist sail to Rhodes,
Where thy Lucina and my Perseda lives.

BRUSOR.

I will, my lord. Lord Marshal, it is his highness' pleasure,
That you commend him to Erastus' soul.

[_Then he kills the_ MARSHAL.

SOLIMAN.

Here ends my dear Erastus' tragedy,
And now begins my pleasant comedy;
But if Perseda understand these news,
Our scene will prove but tragicomical.

BRUSOR.

Fear not, my lord, Lucina plays her part,
And wooes apace in Soliman's behalf.

SOLIMAN.

Then, Brusor, come; and with some few men
Let's sail to Rhodes with all convenient speed:
For, till I fold Perseda in mine arms,
My troubled ears are deaf'd with love's alarms.

[_Exeunt._

_Enter_ PERSEDA, LUCINA, _and_ BASILISCO.

PERSEDA.

Now, Signer Basilisco, which like you,
The Turkish or our nation best?

BASILISCO.

That which your ladyship will have me like.

LUCINA.

I am deceiv'd, but you were circumcis'd?

BASILISCO.

Indeed, but I was little cut in the prepuce.[426]

PERSEDA.

What means made you to steal back to Rhodes?

BASILISCO.

The mighty pinky-ey'd,[427] brand-bearing god,
To whom I am so long true servitor,
When he espied my weeping floods of tears
For your depart, he bad me follow him:
I follow'd him; he with his firebrand
Parted the seas, and we came over dryshod.

LUCINA.

A matter not unlikely: but how chance[th],
Your Turkish bonnet is not on your head?

BASILISCO.

Because I now am Christian again,
And that by natural means; for, as
The old canon says very prettily,
_Nihil est tam naturale, quod eo modo colligatum est_,
And so forth: so I became a Turk to follow her:
To follow her, am now return'd a Christian.

_Enter_ PISTON.

PISTON.

O lady and mistress, weep and lament,
And wring your hands; for my master
Is condemn'd and executed.

LUCINA.

Be patient, sweet Perseda; the fool but jests.

PERSEDA.

Ah no; my nightly dreams foretold me this,
Which, foolish woman! fondly I neglected.
But say, what death died my poor Erastus?

PISTON.

Nay, God be prais'd, his death was reasonable;
He was but strangled.

PERSEDA.

But strangled? ah, double death to me:
But say, wherefore was he condemn'd to die?

PISTON.

For nothing but high treason.

PERSEDA.

What treason, or by whom was he condemn'd?

PISTON.

'Faith, two great knights of the post swore upon
The Alcoran, that he would have fir'd the Turks' fleet.

PERSEDA.

Was Brusor by?

PISTON.

Ay.

PERSEDA.

And Soliman?

PISTON.

No; but I saw where he stood,
To hear, and see the matter well convey'd.

PERSEDA.

Accursed Soliman! profane Alcoran!
Lucina, came thy husband to this end,
To lead a lamb unto the slaughter-house?
Hast thou for this, in Soliman's behalf,
With cunning words tempted my chastity?
Thou shalt aby for both your treacheries.
It must be so.
Basilisco, dost thou love me? speak.

BASILISCO.

Ay, more than I love either life or soul:
What, shall I stab the emperor for thy sake?

PERSEDA.

No, but Lucina; if thou lov'st me, kill her.

[_Then_ BASILISCO _takes a dagger, and feels_
_upon the point of it_.

BASILISCO.

The point will mar her skin.

PERSEDA.

What, dar'st thou not? Give me the dagger then--
There's a reward for all thy treasons past.

[_Then_ PERSEDA _kills_ LUCINA.

BASILISCO.

Yet dare I bear her hence to do thee good.

PERSEDA.

No; let her lie, a prey to rav'ning birds;
Nor shall her death alone suffice for his,
Rhodes now shall be no longer Soliman's:
We'll fortify our walls, and keep the town,
In spite of proud, insulting Soliman.
I know the lecher hopes to have my love;
And first Perseda shall with this hand die,
Than yield to him, and live in infamy.

[_Exeunt. Manet_ BASILISCO.

BASILISCO.

I will ruminate: Death, which the poets
Feign to be pale and meagre, hath depriv'd
Erastus' trunk from breathing vitality:
A brave cavalier, but my approved foeman.
Let me see: where is that Alcides, surnam'd Hercules,
The only clubman of his time? Dead.
Where is the eldest son of Priam,
That Abraham-colour'd Trojan? Dead.
Where is the leader of the myrmidons,
That well-knit Achilles? Dead.
Where is that furious Ajax, the son of Telamon,
Or that fraudful squire of Ithaca, i-clipp'd Ulysses? Dead.
Where is tipsy Alexander, that great cup-conqueror,
Or Pompey, that brave warrior? Dead.
I am myself strong, but I confess
Death to be stronger: I am valiant, but mortal;
I am adorn'd with nature's gifts,
A giddy goddess, that now giveth, and anon taketh;
I am wise, but quiddits will not answer death:
To conclude in a word: to be captious, virtuous, ingenious,
Are[428] to be nothing, when it pleaseth Death to be envious.
The great Turk, whose seat is Constantinople,
Hath beleaguer'd Rhodes, whose chieftain is a woman.
I could take the rule upon me;
But the shrub is safe when the cedar shaketh.
I love Perseda, as one worthy;
But I love Basilisco, as one I hold more worthy--
My father's son, my mother's solace, my proper self.
'Faith, he can do little, that cannot speak;
And he can do less, that cannot run away:
Then, sith man's life is as a glass, and a filip may crack it,
Mine is no more, and a bullet may pierce it;
Therefore I will play least in sight. [_Exit._

_Enter_ SOLIMAN _and_ BRUSOR, _with Janissaries_.

SOLIMAN.

The gates are shut; which proves that Rhodes revolts,
And that Perseda is not Soliman's.
Ah, Brusor! see where thy Lucina lies,
Butcher'd despitefully without the walls.

BRUSOR.

Unkind Perseda, couldst thou use her so?
And yet we us'd Perseda little better.

SOLIMAN.

Nay, gentle Brusor, stay thy tears a while,
Lest with thy woes thou spoil my comedy,
And all too soon be turn'd to tragedies.
Go, Brusor, bear her to thy private tent,
Where we at leisure will lament her death,
And with our[429] tears bewail her obsequies;
For yet Perseda lives for Soliman.--
Drum, sound a parley.--Were it not for her
I would sack the town, ere I would sound a parley.

[_The drum sounds a parley._ PERSEDA _comes_
_upon the walls in man's apparel._ BASILISCO
_and_ PISTON [_also_] _upon the walls_.

PERSEDA.

At whose entreaty is this parley sounded?

SOLIMAN.

At our entreaty; therefore yield the town.

PERSEDA.

Why, what art thou, that boldly bidd'st me yield?

SOLIMAN.

Great Soliman, lord of all the world.

PERSEDA.

Thou art not lord of all: Rhodes is not thine.

SOLIMAN.

It was and shall be, maugre who says no.

PERSEDA.

I, that say no, will never see it thine.

SOLIMAN.

Why, what art thou, that dar'st resist my force?

PERSEDA.

A gentleman and thy mortal enemy,
And one that dares thee to the single combat.

SOLIMAN.

First tell me, doth Perseda live or no?

PERSEDA.

She lives to see the wreck of Soliman.

SOLIMAN.

Then I will combat thee, whate'er thou art.

PERSEDA.

And in Erastus' name I'll combat thee;
And here I promise thee on my Christian faith,
Then will I yield Perseda to thy hands,
That, if thy strength shall overmatch my right,
To use as to thy liking it shall seem best.
But ere I come to enter single fight,
First let my tongue utter my heart's despite;
And thus my tale begins: Thou wicked tyrant!
Thou murderer! accursed homicide!
For whom hell gapes, and all the ugly fiends
Do wait for to receive thee in their jaws!
Ah, perjur'd and inhumane Soliman!
How could thy heart harbour a wicked thought
Against the spotless life of poor Erastus?
Was he not true? would thou hadst been as just!
Was he not valiant? would thou hadst been as virtuous!
Was he not loyal? would thou hadst been as loving?
Ah, wicked tyrant! in that one man's death
Thou hast betray'd the flower of Christendom.
Died he, because his worth obscured thine?
In slaught'ring him thy virtues are defam'd:
Didst thou misdo him in hope to win Perseda?
Ah, foolish man! therein thou art deceiv'd:
For though she live, yet will she ne'er live thine;
Which to approve I'll come to combat thee.

SOLIMAN.

Injurious, foul-mouth'd knight, my wrathful arm
Shall chastise and rebuke these injuries.
[_Then_ PERSEDA _comes down to_ SOLIMAN, [_with_]
BASILISCO _and_ PISTON.

PISTON.

Ay, but hear you, are you so foolish to fight with him?

BASILISCO.

Ay, sirrah; why not, as long as I stand by?

SOLIMAN.

I'll not defend Erastus' innocence,
But thee in maintaining Perseda's beauty.
[_Then they fight._ SOLIMAN _kills_ PERSEDA.

PERSEDA.

Ay, now I lay Perseda at thy feet;
But with thy hand first wounded to the death:
Now shall the world report that Soliman
Slew Erastus in hope to win Perseda,
And murder'd her for loving of her husband.

SOLIMAN.

What, my Perseda! all that have I done:
Yet kiss me, gentle love, before thou die.

PERSEDA.

A kiss I grant thee, though I hate thee deadly.

SOLIMAN.

I lov'd thee dearly, and accept thy kiss.
Why didst thou love Erastus more than me?
Or why didst thou not give Soliman a kiss
Ere this unhappy time? Then hadst thou liv'd.

BASILISCO.

Ah! let me kiss thee too, before I die.

SOLIMAN.

Nay, die thou shalt for thy presumption,
For kissing her whom I do hold so dear.
[_Then_ SOLIMAN _kills_ BASILISCO.

PISTON.

I will not kiss her, sir; but give me leave
To weep over her; for, while she liv'd,
She lov'd me dearly, and I loved her.

SOLIMAN.

If thou didst love her, villain, as thou sayest,[430]
Then wait on her thorough eternal night.
[_Then_ SOLIMAN _kills_ PISTON.
Ah, Perseda! how shall I mourn for thee?
Fair-springing rose, ill-pluck'd before thy time!
Ah, heav'ns! that hitherto have smil'd on me,
Why do you unkindly low'r on Soliman?
The loss of half my realms, nay, crown's decay,
Could not have prick'd so near unto my heart,
As doth the loss of my Perseda's life.
And with her life I likewise lose my love;
And with her love my heart's felicity:
Ev'n for Erastus' death the heav'ns have plagued me;
Ah, no, the heav'ns did never more accurse me,
Than when they made me butcher of my love.
Yet justly how can I condemn myself,
When Brusor lives that was the cause of all?--
Come, Brusor, help to lift her body up:
Is she not fair?

BRUSOR.

Ev'n in the hour of death.

SOLIMAN.

Was she not constant?

BRUSOR.

As firm as are the poles whereon heav'n lies.

SOLIMAN.

Was she not chaste?

BRUSOR.

As is Pandora's or Diana's thoughts.

SOLIMAN.

Then tell me, his treasons set aside,
What was Erastus in thy opinion?

BRUSOR.

Fair-spoken, wise, courteous, and liberal;
Kind even to his foes, gentle, and affable;
And, all in all, his deeds heroical.

SOLIMAN.

Ah! was he so? how durst thou then, ungracious councillor,
First cause me murder such a worthy man,
And after tempt so virtuous a woman?
Be this therefore the last that e'er thou speak.
Janissaries, take him straight unto the block;
Off with his head, and suffer him not to speak.

[_Exit_ BRUSOR.

And now, Perseda, here I lay me down,
And on thy beauty still contemplate,
Until mine eyes shall surfeit by my gazing.
But stay, let me see what paper is this.

[_Then he takes up a paper, and reads in it_
_as followeth--_

Tyrant, my lips were sauc'd[431] with deadly poison,
To plague thy heart that is so full of poison.

What, am I poison'd? Then, Janissaries,
Let me see Rhodes recover'd ere I die.
Soldiers, assault the town on ev'ry side;
Spoil all, kill all; let none escape your fury.

[_Sound an alarm to the fight._

Say, Captain, is Rhodes recovered again?

CAPTAIN.

It is, my lord, and stoops to Soliman.

SOLIMAN.

Yet that allays the fury of my pain,
Before I die, for doubtless die I must.
Ay, fates, injurious fates have so decreed:
For now I feel the poison 'gins to work,
And I am weak, ev'n to the very death;
Yet something more contentedly I die,
For that my death was wrought by her device
Who, living, was my joy, whose death my woe.
Ah, Janissaries! now dies your emperor,
Before his age hath seen his mellow'd years;
And, if you ever lov'd your emperor,
Affright me not with sorrows and laments:
And, when my soul from body shall depart,
Trouble me not; but let me pass in peace,
And in your silence let your love be shown.
My last request, for I command no more,
Is that my body with Perseda's be
Interr'd, where my Erastus lies entomb'd,
And let one epitaph contain us all.
Ah! now I feel the paper told me true;
The poison is dispers'd through ev'ry vein,
And boils, like Ætna, in my frying guts.
Forgive me, dear Erastus, my unkindness;
I have reveng'd thy death with many deaths:
And, sweet Perseda, fly not Soliman,
When as my gliding ghost shall follow thee
With eager mood thorough eternal night.
And now pale death sits on my panting soul,
And with revenging ire doth tyrannise,
And says: for Soliman's too much amiss
This day shall be the period of my bliss.

[_Then_ SOLIMAN _dies, and they carry him forth_
_with silence. Exeunt omnes_.

_Enter_ CHORUS.

FORTUNE.

I gave Erastus woe and misery
Amidst his greatest joy and jollity.

LOVE.

But I that have power in earth and heav'n above,
Stang them both with never-failing love.

DEATH.

But I bereft them both of love and life.

LOVE.

Of life, but not of love; for ev'n in death
Their souls are knit, though bodies be disjoin'd:
Thou didst but wound their flesh, their minds are free,
Their bodies buried, yet they honour me.

DEATH.

Hence, foolish Fortune! and thou, wanton Love!
Your deeds are trifles, mine of consequence.

FORTUNE.

I give world's happiness and woe's increase.

LOVE.

By joining persons, I increase the world.

DEATH.

By wasting all I conquer all the world:
And now, to end our difference at last,
In this last act note but the deeds of Death.
Where is Erastus now, but in my triumph?
Where are the murtherers, but in my triumph?
Where's judge and witness, but in my triumph?
Where's false Lucina, but in my triumph?
Where's fair Perseda, but in my triumph?
Where's Basilisco, but in my triumph?
Where's faithful Piston, but in my triumph?
Where's valiant Brusor, but in my triumph?
And where's great Soliman, but in my triumph?
Their loves and fortune ended with their lives,
And they must wait upon the car of death.
Pack, Love and Fortune! play in comedies:
For powerful Death best fitteth tragedies.

LOVE.

I go, yet Love shall never yield to Death.

[_Exit_ LOVE.

DEATH.

But Fortune shall; for when I waste the world,
Then times' and kingdoms' fortunes shall decay.

FORTUNE.

Meantime will Fortune govern, as she may.

[_Exit_ FORTUNE.

DEATH.

Ay, now will Death, in his most haughty pride,
Fetch his imperial car from deepest hell,
And ride in triumph through the wicked world;
Sparing none but sacred Cynthia's friend,[432]
Whom death did fear, before her life began:
For holy fates have grav'n it in their tables,
That Death shall die, if he attempt her end,
Whose life is heav'n's delight, and Cynthia's friend.

[_Exit._

FOOTNOTES:

[419] [Old copy, _mine_.]

[420] [Dispense with him.]

[421] [Old copy, _morrow burning_.]

[422] [Old copy, _drops_.]

[423] [Distinguishing, discerning.]

[424] [An exclamation of impatience, because the witnesses are not despatched.]

[425] [Old copy, _in the_.]

[426] [Old copy, _porpuse_; but there is no reason to suppose that the speaker was intended to blunder.]

[427] [Old copy, _pinck-anyed_. See Nares and Halliwell _in v._]

[428] [Old copy, _or_.]

[429] [Old copy, _her_.]

[430] [Old copy, _said'st_.]

[431] Old copy, _Sawst_.

[432] [Queen Elizabeth.]

LIFE AND DEATH

OF

JACK STRAW.

_EDITIONS._

_The Life and Death of Iack Straw, a notable Rebell in_
_England: who was kild in Smithfield by the Lord Maior of
London. Printed at London by Iohn Danter, and are to be
solde by William Barley at his shop in Gratious-street ouer
against Leaden-Hall, 1593._ [In the colophon, 1594.] 4°.
Black letter.

_The Life and Death of Iacke Straw.... Printed at London
for Thomas Pauyer, and are to be sold at his shop at the
entering into the Exchange._ 1604. 4°.

Both these editions are of the highest rarity, the copy of the former in the Garrick Collection being the only one which has occurred to notice, and of the latter, the Malone and Heber copies being all that seem to be known.

This not ill-written drama, which is built on the familiar historical episode of Wat Tyler, as narrated in the chronicles, is chiefly in blank verse, but occasionally in rhyme, and consists of four acts only. Mr Collier does not appear to notice it in his "Dramatic Annals." It is now reprinted for the first time.

There are passages in "The Life and Death of Jack Straw" which lead us to suspect that it might prove to be an early work of some distinguished dramatist; it is a question if it was ever revised after its original composition, as it bears many marks of carelessness and inexperience.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.[433]

THE KING [RICHARD II.]
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
LORD TREASURER.
SECRETARY OF STATE.
THE EARL OF SALISBURY.
SIR JOHN MORTON, _Governor of Rochester_.
SIR JOHN NEWTON.
LORD MAYOR OF LONDON [WALWORTH.]
JACK STRAW, _a rebel_.
WAT TYLER, _a rebel_.
TOM MILLER, _the clown_.
JOHN BALL, _a parson_.
HOB CARTER, _a rustic_.
NOBS, _a boy_.
_A Bishop._
_A Fleming._
_Messenger._
THE QUEEN-MOTHER.

THE LIFE AND DEATH

OF

JACK STRAW.

FOOTNOTES:

[433] [Not in the old copies.]

ACTUS PRIMUS.

COLLECTOR, JACK STRAW.

COLL. Now such a murmuring to rise, upon so trifling a thing,
In all my life never saw I before:
And yet I have been officer this seven year and more.
The Tiler and his wife are in a great rage,
Affirming their daughter to be under age.

J. S. Art thou the collector of the king's task?[434]

COLL. I am, Jack Straw;[435] why dost thou ask?

J. S. Because thou goest beyond the commission of the king;
We grant to his highness pleasure in everything.
Thou hast thy task-money for all that be here,
My daughter is not fourteen years old, therefore she goes clear.

COLL. And because thou sayest so, I should believe thee?

J. S. Choose whether thou wilt or no, thou gettest no more of me;
For I am sure thy office doth not arm thee with such authority,
Thus to abuse the poor people of the country.
But chiefest of all, vile villain as thou art,
To play so unmanly and beastly a part,
As to search my daughter thus in my presence!

COLL. Why, base villain, wilt thou teach me what to do?
Wilt thou prescribe me mine office, and what belongs thereto?
[_Offers to strike him._

J. S. What, villain, dost strike me? I swear by the rood,
As I am Jack Straw, thou shalt buy it with thy blood.
There lie, and be well paid for thy pain.

[_Throws him on the ground._

COLL. O help, help, the king's officer is slain!

[_Dies._

_Enter_ PARSON BALL, WAT TYLER, NOBS,
TOM MILLER _the clown_.

W. T. How now, Jack Straw, doth anybody abuse thee?

J. S. Alas, Wat! I have killed the king's officer in striking rashly.

T. M. A small matter to recover a man that is slain:
Blow wind in his tail, and fetch him again?

PAR. Content thee, 'tis no matter, and Jack Straw, God-a-mercy,
Herein thou hast done good service to thy country:
Were all inhuman slaves so served as he,
England would be civil, and from all such dealings free.

NOBS. By Gog's blood, my master, we will not put up this so quietly;
We owe God a death, and we can but die:
And though the fairest end of a rebel is the gallows,
Yet, if you will be ruled by me,
We'll so deal of ourselves as we'll revenge this villainy.

J. S. The king, God wot, knows not what's done by[436] such
poor men as we,
But we'll make him know it, if you will be ruled by me.
Here's Parson Ball, an honest priest, and tells us that in charity
We may stick together in such quarrels honestly.

T. M. What, is he an honest man? The devil he is! he is the
parson of the town;
You think there's no knavery hid under a black gown?
Find him in a pulpit but twice in the year,
And I'll find him forty times in the ale-house tasting strong beer.

PAR. Neighbours, neighbours! the weakest now-a-days goes to the wall;
But mark my words, and follow the counsel of John Ball.
England is grown to such a pass of late,
That rich men triumph to see the poor beg at their gate.
But I am able, by good Scripture, before you to prove
That God doth not this dealing allow nor love.
But when Adam delved, and Eve span,
Who was then a gentleman?
Brethren, brethren, it were better to have this community,
Than to have this difference in degrees:
The landlord his rent, the lawyer his fees.
So quickly the poor man's substance is spent,
But merrily with the world it went,
When men ate berries of the hawthorn-tree:
And thou help me, I'll help thee:
There was no place for surgery,
And old men knew not usury.
Now 'tis come to a woful pass,
The widow, that hath but a pan of brass,
And scarce a house to hide her head;
Sometimes no penny to buy her bread,
Must pay her landlord many a groat,
Or 'twill be pulled out of her throat.
Brethren mine, so might I thrive,
As I wish not to be alive,
To see such dealings with extremity,
The rich have all, the poor live in misery:
But follow the counsel of John Ball.
I promise you, I love ye all;
And make division equally
Of each man's goods indifferently,
And rightly may you follow arms
To rid you from these civil harms.

J. S. Well said, parson, so may it be,
As we purpose to prefer thee:
We will have all the rich men displaced,
And all the bravery of them defaced;
And as rightly as I am Jack Straw,
In spite of all the men of law,
Make thee Archbishop of Canterbury
And Chancellor of England, or I'll die.
How sayest thou, Wat, shall it be so?

W. T. Ay, Jack Straw, or else I'll bide many a foul blow.
It shall be no other but he,
That thus favours the commonalty.
Stay we no longer prating here,
But let us roundly to this gear.
'Tis more than time that we were gone,
We'll be lords, my masters, every one.

T. M. And I, my masters, will make one,
To fight when all our foes be gone;
Well shall they see, before we'll lack,
We'll stuff the gallows till it crack.

J. S. I hope we shall have men enou',
To aid us herein, Wat; how thinkest thou?

PAR. Tag and rag, thou needst not doubt.

W. T. But who shall be captain of the rout?

PAR. That shall you two, for all our Kentish men.

J. S. Fellow-captain, welcome, let's about it.

W. T. Agreed, fellow-captain; to London.

[_Exeunt all but Nobbs._

NOBBS. Here's even work towards for the hangman: did you ever
see such a crew.
After so bad a beginning, what's like to ensue?
Faith, even the common reward for rebels, Swingledom.
Swangledom, you know as well as I.
But what care they? ye hear them say they owe God a death, and
they can but die.
'Tis dishonour for such as they to die in their bed,
And credit to caper under the gallows, all save the head;
And yet, by my fay, the beginning of this riot
May chance cost many a man's life, before all be at quiet:
And i' faith I'll be amongst them, as forward as the best,
And if ought fall out but well, I shall shift amongst the rest,
And being but a boy, may hide me in the throng.
Tyburn, stand fast; I fear you will be loden, ere it be long.
[_Exit._

_Enter_ LORD TREASURER, LORD ARCHBISHOP, _and_
SECRETARY, _with others_.

L. T. And yet, Lord Archbishop, your grace doth know
That, since the latest time of parliament,
Wherein this task was granted to the king
By general consent of either house,
To help his wars, which he intends to France,
For wreak and just recovery of his right,
How slow their payment is in every place,
That better a king not to command at all,
Than be beholding to ungrateful minds.

ARCH. Lord Treasurer, it seemeth strange to me,
That, being won with reason and regard
Of true-succeeding prince, the common sort
Should be so slack to give, or grudge the gift
That is to be employed for their behoof.
Hard and unnatural be the thoughts of theirs
That suck the milk, and will not help the well.
The king himself, being now but young of age,
If things should fall out otherwise than well,
The blame doth fall upon the councillor.
And if I take my aim not all awry,
The Multitude, a beast of many heads,
Of misconceiving and misconstruing minds,
Reputes this last benevolence to the king,
Given at high court of parliament,
A matter more required for private good,
Than help or benefit of commonweal,
Wherein how much they wrong the better sort,
My conscience beareth witness in the cause.
SEC. My lords, because your words not worthless are,
Because they stand on reason's surest ground,
And tend unto the profit of the king,
Whose profit is the profit of the land.
You give me leave, in reverence to the cause,
To speak my mind touching this question:
When such as we do see the people's hearts,
Expressed as far as time will give them leave,
With heartiness of their benevolence,
Methinks it were for others' happiness,
That hearts and purses should together go:
Misdeem not, good my lords, of this my speech,
Sith well I wot the noble and the slave,
And all, do live but for a commonweal,
Which commonweal, in other terms, is the king's.

MESSENGER. The Justices and Sheriffs of Kent
Sends greetings to your Honours here by me.

[_Delivers a letter._

ARCH. My lords,[437] this brief doth openly unfold
A dangerous task to us and all our trains,
With speed let us impart the news
Unto my lord the king, the fearful news
That, whilst the flame doth but begin,
Sad policy may serve to quench the fire:
The Commons now are up in Kent; let us not
Suffer this first attempt too far.

TREAS. My friend, what power have they assembled in the field?

MESS. My lord, a twenty thousand men or thereabout.

SEC. See here the peril, that was late foreseen,
Ready to fall on this unhappy land!
What barbarous minds for grievance more than needs
Unnaturally seek wreak on[438] their lord,
Their true, anointed prince, their lawful king;
So dare this blind, unshamefac'd multitude
Lay violent hands, they wot not why nor where
But be thou still, as best becometh thee,
To stand in quarrel with thy natural liege,
The sun may sometimes be eclips'd with clouds,
But hardly may the twinkling stars obscure,
Or put him out, of whom they borrow light.

[_Exeunt._

_Enter_ JACK STRAW, WAT TYLER, HOB CARTER, TOM MILLER, _and_
NOBS.

J. S. Ay, marry, Wat, this is another matter; methinks the
world is changed of late,
Who would live like a beggar, and may be in this estate?

W. T. We are here four captains just, Jack Straw, Wat Tyler,
Hob Carter, and Tom Miller:
Search me all England, and find four such captains, and by
Gog's blood, I'll be hanged.

NOBS. So you will be nevertheless, I stand in great doubt. [_Aside._

H. C. Captain Straw and Captain Tyler, I think I have brought a
company of Essex men for my train,
That will never yield, but kill, or else be slain.

T. M. And for a little captain I have the advantage of you all,
For while you are fighting, I can creep into a quart pot, I am
so small.

NOBS. But, masters, what answer made Sir John Morton at Rochester?
I heard say he would keep the castle still for the King's use?

J. S. So he did, till I fetch'd him out by force; and I have
his wife and children pledges for his speedy return from the
king, to whom he is gone with our message.

T. M. Let him take heed he bring a wise answer to our worships,
or else his pledges goes to the pot.

H. C. Captain Straw, how many men have we in the field?

J. S. Marry, Captain Carter, about fifty thousand men.

H. C. Where shall we pitch our tents to lie in safety?

J. S. Marry, Hob, upon Blackheath beside Greenwich, there we'll lie;
And if the king will come thither to know our pleasure, so it
is; if not, I know what we'll do.

W. T. Gog's blood, Jack, have we the cards in our hands?
Let's take it upon us, while we have it.

[_Exeunt, except_ NOBS.

NOBS. Ay, marry, for you know not how long you shall hold it,
Fifty thousand men they have already in arms that will draw together;
If we hang together as fast, some of us shall repent it. [EXIT.

_Enter the_ QUEEN-MOTHER, _the_ COUNTY[439] OF SALISBURY,
_and a_ GENTLEMAN-USHER.

Q. M. This strange, unwelcome, and unhappy news,
Of these unnatural rebels and unjust,
That threaten wrack unto this wretched land;
Ay me, affrights my woman's 'mazed mind,
Burdens my heart, and interrupts my sleep,
That now, unless some better tidings come
Unto my son, their true anointed king,
My heavy heart, I fear, will break in twain,
Surcharged with a heavy load of thoughts.

E. OF S. Madam, your grace's care in this I much commend,
For, though your son, my lord the king, be young.
Yet he will see so well unto himself,
That he will make the proudest rebel know
What 'tis to move or to displease a king;
And though his looks bewray such lenity,[440]
Yet at advantage he can use extremity:
Your grace may call to mind that, being a king,
He will not put up any injury,
Especially of base and common men,
Which are not worthy but with reverence
To look into the princely state of kings.
A king sometimes will make a show of courtesy,
Only to fit a following policy:
And it may be the king determines so,
That he will try, before he trust, a foe.

USHER. True, madam; for your grace's son the King
Is so well ruled by divers of his peers,
As that I think the proudest foe he hath
Shall find more work than he will take in hand,
That seeks the downfal of his Majesty.
I hope the Council are too wise for that,
To suffer rebels in aspiring pride,
That purpose treason to the prince and state.
In good time see where my lord the king
Doth come, accompanied with the Bishop and Lord Treasurer.

KING. I marvel much, my lords, what rage it is
That moves my people, whom I love so dear,
Under a show of quarrel good and just,
To rise against us thus in mutinies,
With threat'ning force against our state and us:
But if it be, as we are given to know
By letters and by credible report,
A little spark hath kindled all this fire,
Which must be quench'd with circumspect regard,
Before we feel the violence of the flame.
Meanwhile, sweet lady mother, be content,
And think their malice shall not injure you;
For we have tools to crop and cut them off,
Ere they presume to touch our royal self,
And thus resolve, that you secure shall be,
What hard mishap soever fall to me.

_Enter_ MESSENGER.

MES. Health and good hap befall your Majesty!

USHER. My lord, here is a messenger from Kent,
That craves access unto your Majesty.

KING. Admit him near, for we will hear him speak:
'Tis hard, when 'twixt the people and the king
Such terms of threats and parlies must be had!
Would any gentleman or man of worth
Be seen in such a cause, without offence
Both to his God, his country, and his prince,
Except he were enforced thereunto?

QUEEN. I cannot think so good a gentleman
As is that knight, Sir John Morton I mean,
Would entertain so base and vile a thought:
Nor can it sink into my woman's head
That, were it not for fear or policy,
So true a bird would file so fair a nest;
But here he comes. O, so my longing mind
Desires to know the tidings he doth bring.

_Enter_ SIR JOHN MORTON.

MOR. The Commons of Kent salute your Majesty,
And I am made their unhappy messenger:
My lord, a crew of rebels are in field,
And they have made commotions late in Kent,
And drawn your people to a mutiny;
And if your grace see not to it in time,
Your land will come to ruin by their means.
Yet may your grace find remedy in time,
To qualify their pride, that thus presume.

BISHOP. Who are the captains of this rebel rout,
That thus do rise 'gainst their anointed king?
What, be they men of any worth, or no?
If men of worth, I cannot choose but pity them.

MOR. No, my good lord,
They be men of no great account, for they
Be none but tilers, thatchers, millers, and such like,
That in their lives did never come in field,
Before this mutiny did call them forth;
And for security of my back-return,
Upon this message which I showed the king,
They keep my wife and children for a pledge,
And hold me out from forth my castle at Rochester,
And swore me there to come unto your Majesty;
And, having told you their minds,
I hope your grace will pardon me for all:
In that I am enforced thereunto.

KING. How many men have they assembled in the field?

MOR. I think, my lord, about twenty thousand men;
But, if your grace would follow my advice,
Thus would I deal with these rebellious men:
I would find time to parley with some of them,
And know what in their minds they do intend,
For being armed with such treacherous thoughts,
They may perform more than your grace expects.

KING. With speed return to those unnatural men,
And see, Sir John, you greet them thus from us:
Tell them that we ourselves will come to them,
To understand their meaning and their minds;
And tell them, if they have any evil sustained,
Ourselves will see sufficient recompense:
Go, good Sir John, and tell them upon the Thames
Ourselves will meet with them, there to confer
Concerning their avail;[441] do so, Sir John,
And kindly recommend us to them all.

MOR. We shall fulfil your grace's mind in this;
And thus I take my _congé_ of your majesty,
Wishing your grace thrice Nestor's years to reign,
To keep your land, and guard your royal train.

QUEEN. Farewell, good knight, and as thou darest,
Remember them, though they forget themselves.

[_Exit_ MORTON.

BISHOP. Your grace herein is very well advised.
With resolution fitting your degree,
Your grace must show yourself to be a king,
And rule like God's vicegerent here on earth,
The looks of kings do lend both life and death,
And when a king doth set down his decree,
His sentence should be irrevocable.
Your grace herein hath shown your princely mind,
In that you hate to prey on carrion flesh;
Such prey befits not kings to prey upon,
That may command and countermand their own.
I hope, my lord, this message so will prove,
That public hate will turn to private love.
And therefore I say, my lord, you have answered well,
The task was given your grace by Act of Parliament,
And you have reason to demand your due.

KING. My lord, I hope we shall not need to fear
To meet those men, that thus do threaten us.
We will, my lord to-morrow meet with them,
And hear, my lord, what 'tis that they demand.
Mother, your grace shall need to take no care,
For you shall in our Tower of London stay
Till we return from Kent to you again.
My lord, see everything prepared for us;
And, mother, thus I leave your majesty,
You to the Tower, and I must hence to Kent.

TREAS. My lord, if so you please, take my advice herein,
That speaks in love and duty to your grace:
I shall in every matter privilege
Your majesty and all your lordly train.
I mean against your manor of Greenwich town,
And so amidst the stream may hover safe,
Meanwhile they send some few and chosen men,
To give your grace to understand their minds,
And thus, my lords, I have adventured
To show your majesty my mind herein. [_Exeunt._

FOOTNOTES:

[434] [Tax.]

[435] [Old copy, _Tyler_; but he is not on the stage.]

[436] [_i.e._, To such poor men.]

[437] [Letter.]

[438] Old copy, _upon_.

[439] _i.e._, Earl.

[440][Softness or gentleness.]

[441] [Interest, advantage.]

ACTUS SECUNDUS.

_Enter_ TOM MILLER, _with a goose_.

T. M. It is good to make provision; for peradventure
We shall lack victuals, and we lie in camp
On Blackheath long.
And, in faith, as long as this goose lasts we'll not starve:
And as many good fellows as will come
To the eating of her, come, and welcome.
For, in faith, I came lightly by her,
And lightly come, lightly gone.
We captains are Lords within ourselves, and if
The world hold out, we shall be kings shortly.

[_Enter_ NOBS, _and cut away the goose while he_
_talketh, leave the head behind him,[442] and exit_.

T. M. The rest of my fellow-captains are gone
Before to Greenwich to meet the king:
That comes to know our minds,
And while they be about it:
I'll make good cheer with my goose here--
What! is the goose flown away without her head?

[_Exit._

_Re-enter_ TOM MILLER, _with_ JACK STRAW, WAT
TYLER, HOB CARTER, SIR JOHN MORTON,
_and their crew_.[443]

J. S. Here's a stir more than needs;
What means the king thus to abuse us?
And make us run about [at] his pleasure, and to no end?
He promised us to meet us on the water,
And by [our] Lady, as soon as we came at the waterside,
He fair and flat turns his barge, and away he goes to London.
I tell thee, Wat, we will not put up this abuse.

W. T. By Gog's blood, Captain Straw, we will
Remove our camp, and away to London roundly,
And there we'll speak with him, or we'll
Know why we shall not.

J. S. God a-mercy, Wat; and ere we have done.
We will be lords every one.

HOB. Gentle Jack Straw,
In one line let us draw,
And we'll not leave a man of law,
Nor a paper worth a haw,
And make him worse than a daw,
That shall stand against Jack Straw.

MOR. Methinks you might do well to answer the king, in the name
of the whole company: some dozen or twenty men for the nonce,
that may deliver the minds of you all in few words.

J. S. Sir John Morton, you are an ass to tell us what we have to do;
Hold your prating, you were best.

W. T. I tell thee, Sir John, thou abusest us;
But let's to London as fast as we can. [_Exeunt._

_Enter_ KING, ARCHBISHOP, TREASURER, SECRETARY,
SIR JOHN NEWTON, _and_ SPENCER, _a_
_bargeman_.

KING. My lords,
If all our men are come unto the shore,
Let us return again into the town.
These people are not to be talk'd withal,
Much less with reason to be ordered,
That so unorderly, with shrieks[444] and cries,
Make show as though they would invade us all.
I have not heard, nor read of any king,
So ungently of his people entertained.

[_Exeunt_ KING _and his train, save_ NEWTON
_and_ SPENCER.

SPEN. Sir John, what was the cause the king returned so soon,
And with such haste so quickly took the shore?

NEW. Bargeman, the king had reason for the same,
I warrant thee he was not ill-advised.

SPEN. I think he meant to have commenced some talk
With that unruly crew.

NEW. He meant so, indeed, Spencer; but you heard how it fell out?

SPEN. Not well; I held my stern so hard.

NEW. 'Twas thus; the king and all his company,
Being rowed with oars so far as Greenwich town,
It was a world to see what troops of men,
Like bees that swarm about the honeyhive,
'Gan strew the gravel ground and sandy plain,
That filled the air with cries and fearful noise;
And from the water did an echo rise,
That pierced the ears of our renowned king:
Affrighting so his heart with strong conceit
Of some unhappy, grievous stratagem,
That (trust me) with my ears I heard him say,
He thought they would have all, like spaniels,
Ta'en water desp'rately, and boarded him.
So did they all i-fare like frantic men,
That time he thought to speed away apace,
And take the best advantage of the place.

SPEN. Indeed I could not greatly blame his majesty,
Myself was not so scared this seven years:
Methought there was sufficient months enough,
At highest tide t' have drawen the Thames dry.

NEW. Spencer, ere it flow thrice at London bridge,
London, I fear, will hear of worser news.

[_Exeunt_ AMBO.

_Enter_ JACK STRAW, WAT TYLER, HOB CARTER,
TOM MILLER, NOBS, MORTON, _and Southwarkmen_.

SOUTH. Neighbours, you that keep the gates, let the king's
liege people in, or we must be fain to aid them with balls
of wildfire, or some other device; for they have spoiled all
Southwark, let out all the prisoners, broke up the Marshalsea
and the King's Bench, and made great havoc in the borough here.

Therefore, I pray you, let them in.

W. T. Porter, open the gate; if thou lovest thyself, or thine
own life, open the gate.

T. M. You have a certain spare goose came in to be roasted:
She is enough by this. [_Exeunt all but_ MORTON.

MOR. What means these wretched miscreants,
To make a spoil of their own countrymen?
Unnatural rebels: whatsoe'er
By foreign foes may seem no whit so strange,
As Englishmen to trouble England thus.
Well may I term it incest to the land,
Like that foul lawless force and violence,
Which Cyniras did offer to his child.
O happy time, from all such troubles free,
What now, alas, is like to be the end
Of this attempt, but that so long as they
Are glutted all with blood, they bathe therein.

[_Exit._

_Enter_ NOBS _with a Fleming_.

Sirrah, here it is set down by our captains
That as many of you as cannot say bread and cheese
In good and perfect English, ye die for it:
And that was the cause so many strangers
Did die in Smithfield. Let us hear
You say bread and cheese.

FLEM. _Broed[445] and keyse._ [_Exeunt both._

FOOTNOTES:

[442] [Old copy, _behind him, with them and Morton_; but Morton does not enter till a little later.]

[443] [This direction is very imperfectly given in the old copy.]

[444] [Old copy, _strike_.]

ACTUS TERTIUS.

_Enter_ KING, LORD MAYOR, SIR JOHN NEWTON,
_Two Sergeants, with Guard and Gentlemen_.

K. Sir Newton and Lord Mayor,
This wrong that I am offered,
This open and unnatural injury,
A king to be thus hardly handled
Of his own people, and no other foes,
But such as have been brought up and bred in his
Own bosom: nourished with his tender care.
To be thus robbed of honour and of friends;
Thus daunted with continual frights and fears;
Haled on to what mishap I cannot tell;
More hard mishap than had of like been mine.
Had I not marked been to be a king.