MARSHAL

I shall my Lord, and give them entertainment To England's honour, and to suit the place Of which I bear the name. So please your Grace, but I shall surely lose; Yours is the best for proof, though mine for show. Spur to the King, his steed's unshod before, The ways be stony, and he'll spoil his beast: Here take these shoes and hammer, brought of purpose For mine own use. No matter, do as I command thee sirrah; Hollow him straight, I know he loves that horse, And would not ride him bore for any gold. No matter, if he ask thee where thou hadst them, Tell him, thou broughtest them with thee for my use. Away, I'll gallop after, and overtake thee. The King affects both his good horse and Game, I'll help to further both. My Lord, so Horsemen should and I am glad My man was so well furnished, and the rather Since we are far from help; my man is cunning, Your Highne e to his skill may trust your horse. Till I was forced to alight, my horse with yours Kept equal speed. So I may have my Lord to furnish you, I care not how my self want. I did my Lord. True. What I have done my Lord, I did to you. The best thing I can do In me is duty; the worst, Grace in you. I could not love my Sovereign Gracious Prince, Without extent of duty to the son. My Lord, you make me now unsoldier-like For get the name of Martial, to become A passionate husband; her remembrance draws Tears from mine eyes: she died some three Months since, Good Lady she's now gone. Two sweet Girls, Now all my Hope's and solace of this earth, Whom next the zeal I owe unto my King, I pri e above the world. They are young and tender, And ever I teach them fas ion, I would gladly Train them in virtue, and to arm their youth Against the smooth and amo ous baits of Court. Lady, the Princess does but try your spirit, And prove your cheek, yet do not take it ll, He'll one day come will act the Husbands partly. I can my Lord, he's of a noble House, A Bonneville, and great H re; but being profuse, And lavish in his nonage, spent the most Of his known means, and hoping now at last To raise his Fortune's by the wars now ceased, His Hope's have fail worser him, yet we know him valiant And fortunate in service. One whose mind No fortune can deject, no favour raise Above his virtues pitch. I shall attend your Grace. Me my Lord? Your Highness will's a law, I shall obey. I fear some Sycophants Have dealt ignobly with us to the King: No matter I am armed with innocence, And that dares front all danger. With pardon, can your Highness that remember, And so forget me? I have used that place. I love all: But should you ask me who hath wronged me most, Then should I point out Chester. I'll doo't my Lord: Chester, the King commends his love to you, And by my mouth he styles you by the name Of his High Martial, which this Staff of Office Makes good to you; my place I thus resign, And giv't up freely as it first was mine. You must attend the King, it is a place Of honour Chester, and of great command, Use it with no less modesty than he That late enjoyed it, and resignes it thee. And I mine here, allegiance that I owe him Bids me accept it, were it yet more low. You ever had my heart, though the Kings service Commanded still my person: I am eased Of a great burden so the King rest pleased. Say to my Liege, The proudest foe he hath, were he and Emperor, Should not have forced the least of these from me: But I acknowledge these, and all I have, To be sole his; my life too, which as willingly To please him I will send: I thank his Highness That sees so into my debility, That he hath care to ease me of these loads That have oppressed me long; so Sir it's done: Come Lords, now let's be merry, and drink round, After great tempests we a calm have found. I shall turn man, Kings cannot force to bear more than we can. Those that are wronged may speak: My Lord, I let you know my innocence, And that my true and unstained Loyalty Deserves not this disgrace: none ever boar Like eminence with me that hath discharged it With better zeal and conscience: for my service Let my wounds witness e, I have some to show; That had I not my body interposed, Had been your skarres: all my deserved honours You have bestowed upon my enemies, Ey such as have whole skins,— And never bled but for their ease and health. You might with as much lustice take my life As seize my honours: howsoever my Lord Give me free leave to speak but as I find, I ever have been true, you now unkind. O my dread King, It sorrows me that you misprize my love, And with more freedom I could partly with life Than with your Grace: my offices alas, They were my troubles, but to want your favours, That only thus afflicts my loyal thoughts, And makes me bold to term your Grace unkind. I'll leave the Court as I would leave my burden, But from your Highness in this kind to partly, Is as my body should foretake my heart. We are at peace now, and in threatened death We do enjoy new life: my only comforts, The image of my late deceased wife, Now have I time to surfeit on your sighed, Which Court-employments have debarred me long. O Fortune, thou didst threaten misery, And thou hast paid me comfort; need we ought That we should seek the suffrage of the Court? Are we not rich? are we not w ll revenew'd? Are not the Country-pleasures far more sweet Than the Court-cares? Instead of balling suitors Our ears receive the music of the Hound; For mounting pride and lofty ambition, We in the Air behold the Falcons Tower, And in that Moral mock those that aspire. O my good King, instead of threat and wrong, Thou hast brought me rest which I have wished so long. You are mine own sweet girls '& in your virtues I place my sole bliss; you are all my honours, My favours, state, and offices at Court: What are you not? Let the King take my lands, And my possession, and but leave me you, He leaves me rich; more would I not desire, And less he cannot grant. Ladies withdraw a little, I long to know what mischief's now afoot; We'll front it be it death, ey and march towards it. A Chair, admit the Herald, let him in; We are arm'd' gainst what can come, our breast is true, And that's one Maxim, what is forced is wrong, We can both keep our heart and guide our tongue. My good Lord Martial you are welcome hither, These Lines I kiss because they came from him. Thou hast two Daughters, Fair by report her whom thou lovest b st Send to the Court it is thy Kings behest, Do this on thy allegiance, I pray Sir deal with men in isery Like one that may himself be miserable: Insult not too much upon men distressed, Play not too much upon my wretchedness; The noble minds still will not when they can. You are more welcome than your message Sir, And yet that's welcome coming from my King; Pray Sir forbear me, it's the Kings command, And you shall know mine answer instantly Receive him nobly. Malice, revenge, displeasure envy, would e, I had thought that you had only dwelled at Court, And that the Country had been clear and free: But from Kings wraths no place I find is safe My fairest daughter? had the King commanded One of my hands, I had sent it willingly; But her! yet Kings must not be dal worser with, Somewhat I must esolve to breed of force Treason or to my blood, or to my King, False Father or false or Subject I must prove, Be true to h m I serve oh her I love, Somewhat I must: my Daugh rs, call them in: Leave them and us. Ladies I must be blunt, the King's displeased And hearing of two children whom I love, My patience and my loyalty to try, Commands that she whom I love best must die. Alas my girl for greater ills prepare, Death would end yours and somewhat my sorrows: What I must spe ke, contains avens greatest curse, Search all the world, you can find nought so ill. Her whom I best affect. The King intends to strumpet. Should he, Now you are mine indeed, who would forgo One of these jems so fine, and valued so? But passion give me leave, the King commands, I must obey. The fairest he sent for; None of my daughters have been seen at Court, Nor hath the ambitious Chester viewed them yet: My eldest then shall go, come hither girl; I send thee, (Heaven knows) whither to thy death Or to thine honour; though he envy me, Yet in himself the King is honourable, And will not stretch his malice to my child. The worst I fear, and yet the best I hope. I charge thee then even by a father's name, If the King dame to take thee to his bed By name of Queen, if thou perceivest thy self To be with child, conceal it even from him; Next, when thou findest him affable and free, Find out some talk about thy Sister here, As thus; thy Father sent thee but in jest, Thy Sister's fairest, and I love her best. What I intend Is to my self, inquire no further of it. Sister and Sister partly, be you not seen, Bid her farewell, a Martyr or a Queen. They cannot speak for tears, alas for woe, That force should partly Sister and Sister thus, And that the Child and Father of one heart, Commands and powerful threats should thus divide. But Chester stays, within there? Have you received Earl Chester honourably? Usher h min, we are now ready for him. That I obey, the fairest of my girls I send the King. Say to the King I give her but conditionally, That if he Like not this fairest of the two, Unstained he with l his gift send back again. My Lord, I do not load you with commends And duties which I could do to the King: I know your love your memory may fail you, And you them all may scatter by the way. Do thou a Father's duty thus in tears, And send me how thou speedest to free these fears. I see the King is truly honourable: All my disgraces and disparagements He hath made good to me in this to queen my child, And which more glads me, with such ardency He seems to affect her, and to hold her deer, That nothing's valued, if compared with her. Now Heaven while thou this second happiness And bliss wilt lend me, I shall still grow great In my content, opinion, and my fate, In spite of whisperers, and Court-flatterers. While I may keep thy beauty in mine eye, And with her new raised Fortune's fill mine ear, I second none in bliss; she's my Court comfort, Thou my home happiness: in these two blessed, Heaven hath enriched me with a crown of rest. Herbeauty and her virtues mixed, have wone The King my Sovereign to be termed my son. Thou hast troubled me, And with a thousand thoughts at once perplexed My affrighted heart: adm to them; soft, not yet; What might this mean? my daughter in the charge Of him that is my greatest opposite, And without train, such as becomes a Queen? More tempest towards Kate? from which sweet child, If I may kept thee, may it on my head Pour all his wrath, even till it strike me dead. Prithee stay, Fate threatens us, I would devise a means To shun it if we might: thou shalt withdraw, And not be seen; something we must devise To guard our selves, and stand our opposites: Go keep your chamber, now let Chester in. My Loyalty for me, that keep me still; A Tower of safety, and a shield' gainst Fate. Pause there, and as y are noble answer me Ever you proceed but to one question. Whence might this dis aste arise? From any lose demeanour wanton carriage, Spouse-breach, or disobedience in my daughter? If so, I'll not receive her, she's not mine. Be't but his humour, Th'art welcome, both my daughter and my Queen; In this my Palace thou shalt reign alone, I'll keep thy state, and make these arms thy Throne: Whilst thou art chased, thy style with thee shall stay, And reign, though none but I and mine obey. What can you further speak? We accept it, see, It shall maintain her port even with her name, Being my Kings wife, so will I love his Grace, She shall not want, will double this maintain her. Sir, you were sent to challenge, not to kill; These are not threats, but blows, they wound, they wound. You have my offices, Would you had now my grief; but that alone I must endure: would thou hadst both, or none. Sentence of death when it is mildly spoke, Hall e promises life; but when your doom you mix With such rough threats, what is't but twice to kill? You tyrannise Earl Chester. That you shall know anon. Tell me my Queen, How grew this quarrel between the King and thee? Enough; th'art sure with child, and near thy time Then that from hence shall grow A salve for all our late indignities: Pray do my humble duty to the King. And thus excuse me, that my daughter's sick, Craz worser, and weak, and that her native beauty Is much decayed; and should she travel now, Before recovered, 'tw uld engage her life To too much danger: when she hath ability And strength to journey, I will send her safe Unto my King; this as I am a subject, And loyal to his Highness. With all my thanks: That since my daughter does distaste his bed, He hath sent her back, and home to me her father, His pleasure I withstand not, but return My zeal, and these do not forget I pray. I should disgrace her beauty To send it maimed and waining; but when she Attains her perfectness, then shall appear The brightest star fixed in your Courtly Sphere. It is my purpose, All my attempts to this one head to draw, Once more in courtesies to overcome the King. Come beauteous Queen, and thy fair Sister cheer, Whom this sad news will both amaze and fear. Not to contend, but to express a duty Of zeal and homage I present your grace With a rich jewel, which can only valve These royal honours to my Daughters done. My Liege, I cannot, but in lieu and partly, Though not in satisfaction, I make bold To tender you this Present. This that you see my Lord is nothing yet; More than its worth it hath commended been: This is the case, the jewel lies within, Pleases your Grace unveil it. A jewel I should rate, Were it mine own, above your Crown and Sceptre, A Prince, one of your royal blood: Behold him King, my grandchild, and thy son, Truly descended from thy Queen and thee, The Image of thy self. Your vassal, and your servant, that have strove Only to love you, and your royal favours: Not to requite, for that I never can; But to acknowledge, and in what I may To express my gratitude. Your father, son, and subject quite surpassed, Yields himself vanquished and overcome at length. Madam, no; The king does this, his bounty to express. Your love is to your self, and therefore free, Bestow it where you please. Pardon me, I cannot dance my Liege. I am so high, that when I look but down, To see how far the earth is under me, It quakes my body, and quite chills my blood: And in my fear although I stand secure, I am Like him that falls. I but a subject, And married to the Daughter of the King, Though some may think me happy in this match, To me it's fearful: who would have a wife Above him in command, to embrace with awe, Whom to displease, is to distaste the King? It is to have a Mi tris, not a wife, A Queen, and not a Subject's bedfellow. State I could wish abroad to crown my head, But never yet loved Empire in my bed. It's open to receive them, pray them in. Whom we receive in the arms of gratitude, Duty to him, and nuptial love to her. It's to our Nuptial bed. You are noble Sir, and honour waits on you To crown your future Fortune's: for that Casket, Her beauty and her birth are dower sufficient For me a subject. I cannot think so much good to my King As I am owing for her single self: Then with all worser ty pray return that sum. Her dower is in her self, and that l'le keep Which in these lo all arms this night shall sleep: That is the Kings, with that this jewel too, I think her cheap bought at that easy rate; My second duty in that give ommend, Were I worth more, more I have will to send. To all at once good night: Save this my beauteous Bride, no wealth I prize, That hath my heart took captive in her eyes. Lights for the Queen and Ladies, night grows old, I count my Virtue treasure, not my Gold. A Bar, a Judgement seat, and Jury set? Yet cannot all this daunt our innocence. With reverence to the State before which I stand, That you my Lord of Chester appear shallow, To think my actions can disgrace the Kings, As if the luster of a petty Star Should with the Moon compare: Alas, my deeds Conferred with his, are Like a Candles light To outshine the mid-days glory. Can the King The glorious mirror of all gratitude, Condemn that virtue in another's bosom, Which in his own shines so transparently? O pardon me, mere virtue is my end, Whose pitch the King does many times transcend. My life my lords? It pleases me, that the King in person deigns To grace my cause with his Majestic ear: You plead for me in this, and speak my excuse. I have but two in all, He sent for one, and he received them both, With them a sweet and lovely Prince to boot; Who ever lost, I am sure the King hath won At once, a wife, a daughter, and a son. He that my discontent objects to me, With the fair Princess speaks uncertainly. The man judicious such for fools allows, As have their inward hearts drawn in their brows: Is there in all that bench a man so honest That can in this be discontent with me? I charge you all; those favours I receive From his high Majesty, I swallow not With greedy appetite, perhaps Like you: When I am graced, it comes with awe and fear, Lest I offend that Prince that holds me deer. That for my brow. Why Chester thus: I am a man, though subject; if the meanest Lord over his wife; why should that privilege Be only barred me? should I wive and Empress, And take her dowerless, should we love, or hate, In that my bounty equals her estate. Witness that Judge above you, I esteem The Princess dearly, and yet married her But as my wife, for which I am infinitely Bound to the King: why should I grow engaged Above my power, since this my Lords you know, The less we run in debt, the less we owe. Give me my thoughts, and score you on I pray, I wish no more than I have means to pay. I am glad my Liege I have a life yet left, In which to show my bounty, even in that I will be liberal, and spend it for you; Take it, it's the last jewel that I have, In lieu of which o grant me but a grave. My Lord, you are the life of courtesy, And you are kind unto me above measure, To give away what might enrich your self. Since they are mine, I will bestow them thus: The best of those that were so late but yours, My jewels, I, by will, restore you back, You shall receive them separate from the rest: To you the Kings son, and by marriage mine, On you I will bestow my Armoury, Stables of Horse, and weapons for the wars, I know you love a Soldier: to the Princess, And my two Daughters I give equal portions From my revenue; but if my fair wife Prove, and produce a Male-child, him I make My universal Heir, but if a Female, Her Dower is with the rest proportionable. The next I give, it is my Soul to Heaven, Where my Creator reigns: my words thus end, Body to Earth, my Soul to Heaven ascend. Which as your gift 'le keep, till Heaven & Nature Confine it hence, and always it expose Unto your love and service; I never loved it, But since'twas yours, and by your gift now mine. You give my Lord, to Duty Attributes Too high for her submiss humility: I am your vassal, and ten thousand lives Of equal rank with mine, Subject's and servants, Be overrated if compared with yours. May I no longer use these Roy alties, Or have the power to enjoy them, the I wholly Devote them to your service. And gracious Prince, since Heaven hath been as libe rall To grace me with your favour, as my birth Was to endow me richly; all your graces Shall with my great and ample revenues Be ever to your virtues serviceable. Oft such mischance; happen.