KING

TO Hus from the holy Wars are we returned, To, slumber in the Summer of soft peace, Since those proud enemies that late blasphemed And spit their furies in the face of Heaven, Are now laid low in dust. Ey, now you load me with a surplu dge , Of comprlesse debe this thrice My noble Martial, twice that pe llous day Did he bestride me, and beneath his Targe. Me thought that instant did I lie as safe As in my best and strongest Citadel; The while his bright Sword Like the Bolt of Jove, Pierced the steel-crests of barbarous Infidels, And flatted them with earth; although my Subject, Yet in this one thing thou hast proved my Lord: For when my life was forfeit to the Wars, Thou by thy valour didst redeem it freely, And gavest it me, while thou ingag'st thy life: For which if ever by Like chance of War, Laws forfeiture, or our prerogative, Thy life come in Like danger, here we swear By our earth's honours, and our Hope's divine, As thou for us, we'll ours engage for thine. When I forget thee, may my operant parts Each one forget their office: We create he Next to our self of power, we but except The name of King, all other dignities We will communicate to thee our friend. We know it. and have been observers long Of thy choice virtues neither could we yet Fasten that love on thee, which came not home With double use and ample recompense. You shall renowned Martial feast for us The Ambassadors that come from foreign Lands, To gratulate our famous victories. We doubt it not: We understand Lords, in these tedious wars Some forward spirits have been at great expense To furnish them Like noble Gentlemen; And many spent most partly of their revenues In honour of their Country, some undone In pursuit of that see wars: now if such come For their relief by suit petitionary, Let them have gracious hearing, and supply Or by our service, or our Treasury Lords all, once more we greet your safe return, With general welcome, we invite you all To feast with us, and joy what we have woe e, Happiest in these, our Martial, and our son. Come, we will to the c ace, be near us Martial, I'll try to day which of our two good steeds Can speed it best; let the most swift take both. That will we try, the wager grows not deep Equals the lay, and what we win, we'll keep, Mount, mount. You have fetched me up at length, that's to your for tune, Or my misfortune, for I lost a shoe. Martial you ride well furnished to the field, Thou couldst not have presented me a gift I could have tasted better, for that beast I much esteem: you were outstripped at length. Our Lords? now Gentlemen, How do you Like the Chase? Had not my horse been by mischance unshod, My Martial here and I had led you till. And you the worst, Witness the hugeness of your way behind: Is not my horse yet shod? Then let us mount again. Whose does, the Martials? Were you furnished For us, and for your self kept no supply? Apprehension help me, for every circumstance apply Thou hast done me and unwonted courtesy; You spied my lose first. And then alighted. Upon my life it's so, To unshoe thine own good steed, and furnish mine, Was't not? upon thy life resolve me true. You will exceed me still, and yet my courtesy Shall rank with thine; for this great duty shown, I pay thee thus, both steeds are now thine own. the art ours; come mount, we with return to Court, To order the great Tournament prepared To do our son grace; in which we entreat Martial, your aid, because your skill is great. You have persuaded much, and I begin To censure strangel, of his emulous love. And well it may be; is he not our vassal? Why should the Martial then contend with us. To exceed in any virtue? we observe him. His popularity, how affable He's to the people; his Hospitality, Which adds unto his love; his forwardness, To entertain Ambassadors, and feast them, Which though he do ' upon his proper charge, And for our honour, yet it may be thought A smoothness, and a cunning, to grow great; It must be so. A project we intend To prove him faithless, or a perfect friend. This Anniversary do we yearly keep In memory of our late victories. In joy of which we make a public feast, And banquet all our P eres thus openly. Fit Lords, those only we appoint to wait, Attend us for this day: and now to crown Our Festival, we will begin this health. Who's that so near ou elbow? Martial? you? Stand off we wish you, further. Ey you my Lord. You are too near us yet: what are we King, Or have we countermanders? Lords this Health: See it go round, 'twas to our victory. Thou dost prompt me well, You are our Martial. Your Staff? support it, and resolve me thus: Which of yond Lords there seated at the board, Hast thou been most in opposition with? Or whom dost thou least favour? Chester then, Bear him that Staff, giv't up into his hand, Say, I commend me to him by the name Of our High Martial; take your place below, And let him wait on us: what do you pause? Or shall we twice command? Attend us Chester, wait upon our Cup, It is and honour endue to you this day. Command you fellow give his golden Key To the Lord Clinton; henceforth we debar him Access unto our Chamber, see it done. Cannot all this stir his impatience up? I'll search his breast but I will find his gaul: Command him give his Staff of Council up, We will bestow it elsewhere where we please. Will you contest? What have you Sir that is not held from us? Or what can your own virtue purchase you Without our grace? Are not your Fortune's, favours, And your revenues ours? where should they end But where they first began? have we not power To give our own? or must we ask your counsel, To grace where you appoint? need we a Guardian, Or a me you at the place? Sir, we command you to abandon Court, And take it as a favour that we now Not question of your life; without reply Leave us. Shall we not be ourself, or shall we brook Competitors in reign? act what we do By other men's appointment? he being gone, We are unrivalled; we'll be sole, or none. Pleased, or not pleased, if we be England's King, And mightiest in the Sphere in which we move, We'll shine alone, this Phaeton cast down, We'll state us now amid of our best affected: Our new created Martial first led on, Whose Loyalty we now must built upon. Is not Earl Chester Returned yet with and answer from the Martial? For such contention we now scorn revenge, Wee' le try the utmost of his patience now: He would exceed our love, if it appear, He will hold nothing for his King too deer. Hast brought her Chester? I fear we shall not, she app ears too fair, So streightly to partly with: what is he would Attempt such virgin-modesty to stain By Hope's of honour, flatteries, or constraint? How do you Like her? your opinions Lords? Therefore I hold her precious. You have passed censure Lady, now you're mine, And by your Father's free gift you are so, To make, or mar; to keep or bestow. Thou hast overcome us all; that thou hast termed us, We'll strive to be, and to make good those attributes Thou hast bestowed upon us, rise our Queen, Thy virtue hath took off the threatening edge Of our intended hate: though thou art ours Both by free gift and duty, which we challenge As from a subject; though our power could stretch To thy dishonour, we proclaim thee freed, And in this grace thy father we exceed. Have your applause? Are your opinions so? This kiss then be the Seal, Thou art our Queen, and now art only mine. He strives to exceed us still; this emulation Begets our hate, and questions him of life. This Dower we take, his Daughter entertain, But him we never shall receive to grace. Bear not from us so much as love or thanks: We only strive in all our actions To be held peerless for our courtesy And Royal bounty, which appears the worse, Since he a Subject would precede his Prince: And did we not his Daughter dearly love, Wee'd send her back with scorn, and b see neglect But her we love, though him in heart despise, Pay him that thanks for all his courtesies. Since to that emulous Lord we have sent our hate, Come to our Nuptials let S pass on in state. Before you all I here acknowledge Lords, I never held me happy but in this My virtuous choice, in having your applause, Methinks I had the sweet consent of Heaven. Lords, and the rest forbear us till we call, A chair first, and another for our Queen, Some private conference we intend with her: Now leave us. My fairest Isabella, the choi e jewel That I wear next my heart; I cannot hide My love to thee, it's Like the Sun invelopt In watery clouds, whose glory will break thorough, And spite opposure, seornes to be concealed; Saving one thing, ask what my kingdom yields. And it is freely thine. I cannot speak it without some distaste To thee my Queen, yet if thy heart be ours Name it not to me. Beg not thy father's free repeal to Court, And to those offices we have bestowed, Save this, my Kingdom, and what it contains, Is thy wills subject. Thou now hast-thrust thy hand into my bosom, And we are one: Thy beauty, o thy beauty! Never was King blessed with so fair a wife. I do not blame thy Father to prefer Thee' before thy sister both in love and face, Since Europe yields not one of equal grace: Why smiles my love? We by our noble Martial made request For the most fair, and her whom he best loved: Durst he delude us? Our love to thee shall not overcome that hate We owe thy Father, though thou be'st our Queen. Thou art lost indeed, for thou hast lost my heart, Nor shalt thou keep it longet: all my love Is swallowed in the spleen I bear thy Father, And in this deep disgrace put on his King, Which we'll revenge. It shall be thus: Chester bear hence this Lady to her Father As one unworthy us, with her that dower The double dower he by his servant sent: Thy tears nor knee shall once prevail with us. As thou art loyal, without further language Depart our presence, we'll not hear thee speak. Command him on his life to send to Court His tother Daughter, and at our first summons, Lest we proclaim him Traitor: this see done On thy Allegiance. None dare to censure or examine this, That we shall hold our friend, or of our blood: Subject's that dare against their Kings contend, Hurl themselves down while others High ascend. No news yet from our Martial? we three months Have stayed his leisure, but receive not yet That daughter we sent for. Heaven knows I love her above all the world, And but her Father, this contends with us When we in all our actious strive to exceed: We could not brook her absence half so long. But we will try his patience to the full. All his proceedings we partake at large, Know both his fallen and height; we shall regard him Even with his worth: be near us, of our chamber. Sir, we shall use your wisdom, and prefer it According to your worth. Be this your hope We know you. Whence? Speak, hath he sent his daughter? We are full of expectations, pray admit Those Presents that he means to greet us with. His bounty hath no limit, but my Queen! Her bright aspect so much persuades with me, It charms me more than his humility. Arise in grace, and sweet, forget your wrong. Beauteous Maid, You are our Sister, and that royal Title From all disgrace your freedom shall proclaim. Am I a King, and must be exceeded still? Or shall a subject say that we can owe? His bounty we will equal, and exceed; We have power to better what in him's but well. Your free opinions Lords, is not this Lady The fairer of the twain? how durst our subject Then dally with us in that high design? Dost love her? Her whom thou so much praisest, take to wise. I never meant thee less: Thy Sister and thy daughter freely embrace, That next thee hath our Kingdoms second place, How say you Lords, have we requited well Our Subject's bounty? are we in his debt? Let then our subject know his King hath power To vanquish him in all degrees of honour, And he must now confess him self excelled: With what can Heaven or Earth his want supply To equal this our latest courtesy? We have the day, we rise, and he must fallen As one subdued. No sir? think you your Master will yet yield? And leave to us the honour of the day? I wish him here but this last sighed to see, To make him us acknowledge. Speak, let me know Thy utmost suit. For our Queens love, and our fair daughters sake, We do not much care if we grant him that. Admit him, and his presence urge with speed; Well may he imitate, but not exceed. Lords, we are proud of this our unity, Double Alliance, of our sons fair choice, Since it's applauded by your general voice; The rather since so matchless is our Grace, That force perforce our subject must give place. Valve our bounty? shouldst thou fell thy self Even to thy skin, thou couldst not rate it truly. What's the project? Here's cost and art, and amply both expressed, I have not viewed the Like. It's a brave outside. Yes, I will: But ever I open it my Lord, I doubt The wealth within not equals that without. What have we here? A child? How can this be? To this rich jewel I hold nothing equal, I know thee virtuous, and thy father loyal; But should I doubt both, yet this royal Infant Hath such affection in my heart impressed, That it assures him mine: my noble subject, Thou hast at length overcome me, and I now Shall ever, ever hold me vanquished. Hadst thou sought Earth or Sea, and from them both Extracted that which was most precious held, Thou nothing couldst have found to equal this, This, the mixed Image of my Queen and me; Here then shall all my emulation end, Oh recome by thee our subject, and our friend. Thine is the conquest: But shall I gee't over thus? it's in my head How I this lost days honour shall regain, A gift as great as rich I have in store, With which to gratify our Subject's love, And of a valve unrequitable: Thou hast given me a Grandchild, and a son, A royal in ant, and to me most deer, Yet to surpass thee in this emulous strife, I give thee here a daughter and a wife. Now must thou needs confess the conquest won By me thy King, thy Father, and thy son. Now Lords, these Nuptials we will solemnize In all high state, in which we will include Yours noble Bonneville, and with masks and revels Sport out the tedious nights, each hand his Bride Doubly by us from either partly allied. Ey, so 'tmust be, each man hand his own: For I am where I love; we are even coupled, Some Music then. How now my Lord, dejected in your looks? Or does our sports distaste you? You can look on: My Lord, you take his place, we'll have a measure, And I will led it; bid the Music stricke. What might this mean? Does he distaste his Bride, or envy us That are degree'd above him? where's our Queen? You shall unto him instantly, Attended with a beauteous train of Ladies, And to his Chamber bear his princely Bride. Bonneville, take you her royal Dower along, You shall receive it of our Treasurer. Usher the Queen and Ladies, be their guide, That done, each one to bed with his fair Bride. N to all your smooth and cunning Oratory Can colour so his pride, but we esteem him A flattering Traitor, one that scorns our love, And in disdain sent back our Daughters Dower: Your Judgement Lords? No; but her Dower sent back, and insolently; Her whom we gave, he with a gift would buy, A jewel; shall we merchandise our Daughter, As one not able to bestow her nobly, But that our poverty must force us fell her? We know his pride, Which his ambition can no longer shadow. Be you his Judges Bonneville, Audley, you: Command him straight on his Allegiance, To make appearance, and to answer us Before our Lords of his contempt and scorn. From his bed, And if convicted, he shall surely pay for't. It shall be so; a Bar, and instantly We will our self in person hear him speak, And see what ust excuse he can produce For his contempt. This is no place for Ladies, we allow Her absence; of the rest let none depart, Till we have searched the cunning of his heart. And sentence them. That Sentence we confirm, and it shall stand Irrevocable by our straight command. A Laurel wreathe, a scaffold, and a block, Our self will see the Execution done: Only thy life is ours, thy goods are free. Hence with the e womanish clamours. A Traitor's he That dares so term him, Chester, we mean thee: Our best of Subject's, with our height of grace We wed thee to us, in this strict embrace Thy virtues, bounties, envied courtesies; Thy courage, and thy constancy in death, Thy love and Loyalty to the end continued, More than their clamorous importunities Prevail with us: then as our best and greatest, Not to exceed, but equal thee in love, To end between us this Heroic strife, Accept what we most pecioushold, thy Life. I observe in thee The substance of all perfect Loyalty; In you save flattery, envy, hate, and pride Nothing, or ought to goodness that's allied; Resign those places that belong to him, Better than so born noble, be unborn. Till you your hearts can fashion to your faces, We here suspend you from your stile and places. Once more from us receive Thy beauteous Bride, as we will hand our Queen: The Prince already is possessed of his. Nay Bonneville, as your Bridals were together, So follow in your rank, and by the style Of a Lord Baron, you are now no less If you dare take our word: Our Funerals thus We'll turn to feasting, and our blood to wines Of most choice taste pressed, from the purest Grape. Our noble Martial, kinsman, and our friend, In our two virtues after times shall sing, A Loyal Subject, and a Royal King.