ATEUKIN

Most gracious and imperial Majesty, Dread King, thy vassal is a man of Art, Who knows by constellation of the stars, By oppositions and by dry aspects, The things are passed, and those that are to come. My zeal and ruth to see your graces wrong, Makes me lament, I did detract so long. I'll calculate the cause of those your highness smiles, And tell your thoughts. 'Tis inconvenient mighty Potentate, Whose looks resembles Jove in Majesty, To scorn the sooth of science with contempt, I see in those imperial looks of yours, The whole discourse of love, Saturn combust, With direful looks at your nativity: Beheld fair Venus in her silver orb, I know by certain exiomies I have read, Your graces griefs, & further can express her name, That holds you thus in fancies bans. Nought but truth Oh King, 'Tis Ida is the mistress of your heart, Whose youth must take impression of affects, For tend twigs will bow, and milder minds Will yield to fancy be they followed well. Even as I know the means, To work your graces freedom and your love: Had I the mind as many Courtiers have, To creep into your bosom for your coin, And beg rewards for every cap and knee, I then would say, if that your grace would give This lease, this manor, or this pa tent sealed, For this or that I would effect your love: But Ateukin is no Parasite Oh Prince, I know your grace knows scholars are but poor, And therefore as I blush to beg a fee, Your mightiness is so magnificent You cannot choose but cast some gift apart, To ease my bashful needs that cannot beg, As for your love, o might I be employed, How faithfully would Ateukin compass it: But Princes rather trust a smoothing tongue, Then men of Art that can accept the time. These lets are but as moths against the sun, Yet not so great, Like dust before the wind: Yet not so light. Tut. pacify your grace, You have the sword and sceptre in your hand, You are are the King, the state depends on you: Your will is law, say that the case were mine, Were she my sister whom your highness loves, She should consent, for that our lives, our goods, Depend on you, and if your Queen repine, Although my nature cannot brook of blood, And Scholars grieve to hear of murderous deeds, But if the Lamb should let the Lyons way, By my advise the Lamb should loose her life. Thus am I bold to speak unto your grace, Who am too base to kiss your royal feet, For I am poor, nor would e I land nor rend, Nor countenance here in Court, but for my love, Your Grace shall find none such within the realm. I'll gather Moly-rocus, and the earbes, That heals the wounds of body and the mind, I'll set out charms and spells, nought else shall be left, To tame the wanton if she shall rebel, Give me but tokens of your highness trust. These words do make me rich most noble Prince, I am more proud of them then any wealth, Did not your grace suppose I flatter you, Believe me I would boldly publish this: Was never eye that saw a sweeter face, Nor never ear that herd a deeper wit, O God how I am ravished in your Worth. I'll kiss your highness feet, march when you please. By my faith a good servant, which is he? And why dost thou write such a bill, Are all these qualities in thee? Truly no, for they are nought and so art thou, If thou hast no better qualities, stand by. Be brief then. Art thou so good in keeping a horse, I pray thee tell me how many good qualities hath a horse? A woman, why what properties of a woman hath a Horse? Thou art a man for me, whats thy name? Whats that, Slipper? I mean so. Pleases it any Gentleman to entertain A servant of more wit then stature, Let them subscribe, and attendance shall be given. What of this? Whats thy name? The etymology of which word, is a dwarf: Art not thou the old stoykes son that dwells in his Tomb? Thou art welcome to me, Wilt thou give thy self wholly to be at my disposition? Then will I deck thee Princely, instruct thee courtly, And present thee to the Queen as my gift. Art thou content? What are you? Andrew I remember thee, follow me, And we will confer further, for my weighty affairs For the king, commands me to be brief at this time. Come on Nano, Slipper follow. Come with to please you to enter gentle sir? Stay courteous Ladies, favour me so much, As to discourse a word or two apart. Why knave? What meanest thou by this? How so? Catiue what sayest thou? And why? If I live knave I will be revenged, what Gentleman would entertain a rascal, thus to derogate from his honour? Not angry Ida, but I teach this knave, How to behave himself among his betters: Behold fair Countess to assure your stay, I here present the signet of the king, Who now by me fair Ida does salute you: And since in secret I have certain things, In his behalf good Madame to impart, I crave your daughter to discourse a partly. Fair comely Nymph, the beauty of your face, Sufficient to bewitch the heavenly powers, Hath wrought so much in him, that now of late He finds himself made captive unto love, And though his power and Majesty requires, A straight command before and humble suit, Yet he his mightiness does so abase, As to entreat your favour honest maid. He is. They be: what then? we seek not to displace The Princess from her seat, but since by love The king is made your own, she is resolved In private to accept your dalliance, In spite of war, watch, or worldly eye. Tut Mistress, man at first was born to err, Women are all not formed to be Saints: 'Tis impious for to kill our native king, Whom by a little favour we may save. He shall erect your state & wed you well. He will enforce, if you resist his suit. Yet hath to power no rule and guide himself, I know you gentle Lady and the care, Both of your honour and his graces health, Makes me confused in this dangerous state. Will you despise the king, & scorn him so? And endless work is this, how should I frame it? Friend what wilt thou? Will you not, Ida, grant his highness this? I see this labour lost, my hope in vain, Yet will I try and other drift again. The adament oh King will not be filde, But by it self, and beauty that exceeds, By some exceeding favour must be wrought, Ida is coy as yet, and does repine, Objecting marriage, honour, fear, and death, She's holy, wise, and too precise for me. Good Lord how rage gainsayeth reasons power, My deer, my gracious, and beloved Prince, The essence of my suit, my God on earth, Fit down and rest your self, appease your wrath, Least with a frown ye wound me to the death: O that I were included in my graven, That either now to save my Princes life, Must counsel cruelty, or lose my King. O should I not offend my royal liege. Alas my soul why art thou torn in twain, For fear thou talk a thing that should displease? How kind a word, how courteous is his grace: Who would not die to succour such a king? My liege, this lovely maid of modest mind, Could well incline to love, but that she fears, Fair Dorothea's power, your grace does know, Your wedlock is a mighty let to love: Were Ida sure to be your wedded wife, That then the twig would bow, you might come manned. Ladies love, presents pomp and high estate. Tut mighty Prince, o that I might be whist I will not move my Prince, I will prefer his safety before my life: Hear me o king, 'tis Dorothea's death, Must do you good. She will my Lord. What will your grace consent, then let me work: Theres here in Court a Frenchman Jaques called, A fit performer of our enterprise, Whom I by gifts and promise will corrupt, To slay the Queen, so that your grace will seal A warrant for the man to save his life. Frolic young king, the Lass shall be your own, I'll make her blithe and wanton by my wit. Andrew. Where be my writings I put in my pocket last night. No sir, the letters patents for east spring. Yea sir, and will work wonders too, which you unless you find them out, villain search me them out and bring the ̄ me, or thou art but dead. Dost thou doubt it? Thou flatterest me. Are you prating knave, I will teach you better nurture? Is this the care you have of my wardrobe? Of my accounts, and matters of trust? Villain go, fly, find them out: If thou loosest them, thou loosest my credit. Say you so, then hold feel you that you never felt. Signior Jaques well met, you shall command me, vallet, Sirrah go cause my writings be proclaimed in the Market place, Promise a great reward to them that finds them, Look where I supped and every where. Sieur Jaques, this our happy meeting hides, Your friends and me, of care and grievous to isle, For I that look into deserts of men, And see among the soldiers in this court, A noble forward mind, and judge thereof, Cannot but seek the means to raise them up: Who merit credit in the Commonweal. To this intent friend Jaque I have found A means to make you great, and well esteemd' Both with the king, and with the best in Court: For I espy in you a valiant mind, Which makes me love, admire, and honour you: To this intent (if so your trust and faith, Your secrecy be equal with your force) I will impart a service to thy self, Which if thou dost effect, the King, my self, And what or he, and I with him can work, Shall be employed in what thou wilt desire. Then hoping one thy truth, I prithe see, How kind Ateukin is to forward me, Hold take this earnest penny of my love. And mark my words, the King by me requires, No slender service Jaques at thy hands. Thou must by privy practice make a way, The Queen fair Dorethea as she sleeps: Or how thou wilt, so she be done to death: Thou shalt not want promotion hear in Court. Thou shalt have warrant Jaques from the King, None shall outface, gainsay and wrong my friend. Do not I love thee Jaques? fear not then, I tell thee who so touches thee in ought, Shall injure me, I love, I tender thee: Thou art a subject fit to serve his grace, Jaques, I had a written warrant once, But that by great misfortune late is lost, Come weened we to S. Andrews, where his grace Is now in progress, where he shall assure Thy safety, and confirm thee to the act. Say Gentlemen, where may we find the king? A pleasant work in hand, Follow your sport, and we will seek his grace. O then my liege, how happy art thou grown, How favoured of the heavens, and blessed by love: Me thinks I see fair Ida in thine arms, Craving remission for her late attempt, Me think I see her blushing steal a kiss: Uniting both your souls by such a sweet, And you my King suck Nectar from her lips. Why then delays your grace to gain the rest You long desired? why lose we forward time? Write, make me spokesman now, vow marriage, If she deny your favour let me die. Your grace must bear with imperfections: This is exceeding love that makes him speak. Why Prince it is no murder in a King To end and others life to save his own, For you are not as common people be. Who die and perish with a few men tears, But if you fail, the state does whole default The Realm is rend in twain, in such alosse, And Aristotle holds this for true, Of evils needs we must choose the least, Then better were it, that a woman died, Then all the help of Scotland should be blended, 'Tis policy my liege, in every state, To cut off members that disturb the head. And by corruption generation grows. And contraries maintain the world and state. How much o mighty king, Is thy Ateukin bound to honour thee: Bow thee Andrew, bend thine sturdy knees, Seest thou not here thine only God on earth? Come follow me, his graven I see is made, That thus on sudden he hath left us here. Come Jaques, we will have our packet soon dispatch And you shall be my mate upon the way. What? was I born to be the scorn of kin? To gather feathers Like to a hopper crow, And lose them in the height of all my pomp: Accursed man now is my credit lost: Where is my vows I made unto the king? What shall become of me, if he shall hear, That I have caused him kill a virtuous Queen? And hope in vain for that which now is lost: Where shall I hide my head? I know the heavens Are joust, and will revenge: I know my sins Exceed compare: should I proceed in this? This Eustace must a man be made away: O were I dead, how happy should I be? Thou dost me good to leave me thus alone, That galling grief and I may yoke in one: O what are subtle means to climb on high? When every fallen swarms with exceeding shame? I promised Ida's love unto the Prince, But she is lost, and I am false forsworn: I practised Dorothea's hapless death, And by this practice have commenced a war. O cursed raze of men that traficque guile, And in the end, themselves and kings beguile: A shamed to look upon my Prince again: A shamed of my suggestions and advise: A shamed of life: a shamed that I have erde: I'll hide my self, expecting for my shame. Thus God does work with those, that purschase fame By flattery, and make their Prince their gain. And now is my time, by wiles & words to rise, Greater then those, that thinks themselves more wise. What means this triumph friend? why are these feasts?