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CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 3 1924 103 842 351 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tiiis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924103842351 
 
In compliance with current 
 
 Cop5Tight law, Cornell University 
 
 Library produced this 
 
 replacement volume on paper 
 
 that meets the ANSI Standard 
 
 Z39.48-1992 to replace the 
 
 irreparably deteriorated original. 
 
 2006 
 
CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 ENGLISH COLLECTION 
 
 THE GIFT OF 
 
 JAMES MORGAN HART 
 
 PROFESSOR OF ENGUSH 
 
 !\.1.S'\'?.(^\ 
 

 PSEUDO-SHAKESPEARIAN PLAYS 
 
 EDITED 
 
 KAEL WAKNKE, ph. d. 
 
 LDDWIG PROESOHOLDT, ph. d. 
 
 I. FAIRE EM. 
 
 HALLE : 
 
 Max Niemeyer. 
 1883. 
 
THE COMEDIE OF FAIRE EM 
 
 REVISED AND EDITED / J (n^U ^ 
 
 - //, /^/i /7 JyLorC 
 
 WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES 
 
 /^ m^ 
 
 KARL WARNKE, ph. d. 
 
 LUDWIG PROESOHOLDT, ph. d. 
 
 HALLE: 
 
 Max Niemeyer. 
 
 1883. 
 
 I-'. 
 V. 
 
The comedy of Faire Em has been handed down to us in 
 two quarto editions, the one published in 1631 (A), the other without 
 a date (B). Of the former, three copies are preserved in the British 
 
 Museum (643. c. 14, — '-^^ — , i6t. a. 26); of the latter, only one 
 
 copy is known to be extant.') The edition of 1631 is entitled: 
 'A Pleasant Comedie of Fairc F.m, The Millers Daughter of Man- 
 chester. With the Love of William the Conqueror. As it was 
 sundry times publiquely acted in the Honourable Citie of London, 
 by the right Honourable the Lord Strange his Seruants. London, 
 Printed for John Wright, and are to be sold at his shop at the 
 signe of the Bible in Guilt-spur street without Newgate. 1631.' The 
 title of the undated edition agrees with the one just given, except 
 in the imprint, which runs thus: 'Imprinted at London for T. N. 
 and J. W. and are to be solde in S. Dunstones Churchyarde in 
 Fleete-streete.' As little as in the title, the two editions differ in 
 the text of the play itself. In both editions, the critic meets with 
 the same senseless readings; in both, a number of scenes, evidently 
 written as verse by the author, have been corrupted to prose; and 
 in both, those prose -passages have, in the same most arbitrary 
 manner, been printed as verse. It is therefore all but certain that 
 one of the two editions is a mere reprint of the other. And there 
 can bi little doubt as to which of them is to be regarded by us 
 as th'i Ediiio princcps of the play. The spelling in the undated 
 edition is of a more ancient character than in the edition of 
 1631 ; cp. the frequent use of au (A) for a (B) in Blaiinch, si?-aunge 
 e c, the ending -es (A) for -j (B) in ortianienies, cowardes etc., the use 
 of J' (A) for / (B) in tylt, Yle, revyled; ashamde (A) for asham'd (B), 
 
 ') The initials E. M. on the fly-leaf of the copy in the Bodleian Library 
 point to Malone as former possessor of it. Two short notes, occasionally 
 written in the margin of the book, were probably made by the same scholar. 
 
vm INTRODUCTION. 
 
 iierie (A) for uery (B), etc. In some few instances, besides, the 
 edition of 1 63 1 corrects misprints or wrong readings of the undated 
 edition, viz. II. i. 82 A true lover, B truer love; III. I. 15 A T would, 
 B It would; V. I. 144 is wanting in A, added in B. Moreover, it 
 is not probable that a piece of so little intrinsic value as Faire 
 Em should have been reprinted after the year 1 63 1 , i. e. a few 
 years before . the Puritan Revolution put a temporary stop to all 
 play-writing. 
 
 A third edition of our comedy is mentioned by a certain 
 Chetwood, who, in 1750, published Faire Em together with five 
 other plays. His edition bears the same title as A and B; the 
 imprint is as follows: Dublin: Printed and Sold by the Editor 
 W. R. Chetwood, in the Four- court -marshalsea; Messrs. G. and 
 A. Ewing, P. Wilson, H. Hawker, and S. Price, in Dame-street; G. 
 Faulkner, and A. Long, in Essex-Street; J. Hoey, in Skinner Row, 
 and J. Edall, in Corkhill, Booksellers. MDCCL. In his short preface, 
 Chetwood imparts to the reader his opinions as to the time, the 
 author and the different editions of our play. 'I cannot learn', 
 he says, 'who is the Author of this Play, but by the Stile, Conduct 
 and Manner, take it to be wrote in the latter End of the Reign 
 of Queen Elizabeth. I have seen three different editions of it, the 
 First without a Date, and not divided into Acts; the secorid, in 
 161 9, with the Acts divided, and some immaterial Alterations. 
 However I have chose to follow that. The last Edition seems 
 only to be a copy of the first, since no Acts are distinguished.' 
 The 'Last Edition', mentioned by Chetwood, is probably that of 
 1 631; the second, however, which he pretends to have followed, 
 must certainly have been a rara avis. No copy of it is known to 
 be extant, and with the exception of Chetwood, no one seems to 
 have mentioned it. It may, therefore, well be doubted whether 
 there ever existed an edition of 1619. And indeed, examining 
 the alterations in Chetwood's text, which are far from being im- 
 material, we shall easily find that all of them bear the stamp of 
 the^age in which Pope edited the works of Shakespeare. The 
 metre has occasionally been smoothed by the omission or the ad- 
 dition of some indifferent word ; harsh and vulgar expressions have 
 carefully been expunged; so chastity, God, huswife, lust, slut have 
 been changed into honour, Heaven, madam,, love, maid. Very often 
 one or more lines have been omitted, and once or twice prose- 
 
INTRODUCTION. IX 
 
 passages have been turned into verse. At the end of the acts, 
 some rhyme-couplet has generally been added, which, in its rhetorical 
 and bombastic style, widely differs from the rest of the play. We 
 shall, therefore, hardly be mistaken in supposing Chetwood himself 
 to have been the author of the alterations in question. In order 
 to give more credit to his own emendations, he probably thought 
 it expedient to pretend them to have been drawn from an old 
 edition. Steevens, too, occasionally calls Chetwood, who was also 
 the author of a History of the Stage and of a Life of Ben Jonson, 'a 
 blockhead and a measureless and bungling liar.' 
 
 In our own time, the Comedy of Faire Em has been twice 
 republished, by Prof. N. Delius and by the late Mr. Simpson. In 
 the introduction to his edition 2), Prof. Delius discusses Tieck's 
 hypothesis on the author of our play and gives a short account 
 of Ghetwood's edition. As to the latter, he arrives at the same 
 conclusion as the present editors who for several of the details 
 given above are indebted to his remarks. As Prof. Delius was not 
 aware of the existence of the undated edition at the Bodleian 
 Library, his text of the play, printed in modern orthography, is on 
 the whole formed from the edition of 163 1. In the Introduction, 
 he enumerates some of Chetwood's alterations and some conjectures 
 of his own. That list, however, is far from being exhaustive; for 
 in more than one instance, Prof. Delius has departed from the 
 original text, or has adopted Chetwood's alterations, without giving 
 the reader any notice of it. His edition has certainly the merit 
 of having first called the attention of German scholars to Faire 
 Em, but our notes will sufficiently prove that it cannot stand the 
 test to which we now-a-days usually submit a critical edition. 
 
 Mr. Simpson's edition of Faire Em^) is superior to that of 
 Delius in many respects. In a number of passages, the English 
 editor has succeeded in restoring the sense and in correcting the 
 metre of the play. In most of these cases, short foot-notes indicate 
 the reading of the quarto-editions. We must however regret that 
 Mr. Simpson was prevented by a premature death from comparing 
 those foot -notes once more with the originals. Many an error 
 
 ^) Pseudo-Shakspei-esche Dramen. Herausgegeben von Nicolaus Delius. 
 Fiinftes Heft: Fair Em. Elberfeld, 1874. 
 
 ') The Scbool of Shakspere. By Richard Simpson. London, 1878, vol. 
 II, p. 337 seqq. 
 
X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 would, we are convinced, have been corrected, many an additron 
 would have been made, and many a reading would have been 
 amended; The editor of Mr. Simpson's posthumous work, Mr. 
 Gibbs, has been contented with adding some few conjectures or 
 corrections and with superintending the printing of the book. Such 
 as it is, Mr. Simpson's edition of Faire Em is only an example 
 of the ancient, now-a-days superseded eclectic method of editing 
 the productions of the past. 
 
 The greatest interest in our play has been evinced by Prof. 
 Elze. On different occasions'") he has tried to restore the corrupt 
 text and the defective versification of the play. A number of the 
 emendations, proposed by that distinguished scholar, are almost in- 
 contestable; others may be called in question by a more conser- 
 vative critic; all of them bear testimony to their author's skill and 
 learning and should certainly not be overlooked either by the editor 
 or by tjie reader of Faire Em. 
 
 The question as to the author of the Comedy of Faire Em 
 has been repeatedly taken up; but as conclusive proofs are ab- 
 solutely wanting, it is not likely ever to be brought to a satisfactory 
 close, unless new documents are produced. 
 
 The German critic -poet, L. Tieck, to whom his countrymen 
 owe a translation of Faire Em, ascribed the play to no meaner 
 a poet than to Shakespeare himself.^) The evidence by which he 
 supported this hypothesis is the same as that by which he was 
 induced to attribute Mucedorus to Shakespeare. In the library of 
 King Charles II., we are informed, there existed a volume labelled 
 Shakespeare, vol.1., which contained Mucedorus, The Merry Devil 
 of Edmonton , and Faire Em. The same remarks which we have 
 made on this criterion in our Introduction to Mucedorus, apply to 
 Faire Em. We are entirely ignorant to whom the book originally 
 belonged, and on whose authority the bookbinder gave it the title 
 in question. It may be that the original owner of the volume was 
 guided by some tradition which has long since sunk into oblivion, 
 or that he ascribed the three plays to Shakespeare only because 
 they had been represented at the Globe. That, moreover, at the 
 
 "*) Notes on Elizabethan Dramatists. Halle, 1880, p. 6 seqq., p. 125 seqq. 
 — Jahrbuch der Deutschen Shakespeare-Gesellschaft, vol. XV., p. 344 seqq. 
 
 ') Ludwig Tieck, Shakespeare's Vorschule. Leipzig, 1829, Vol. II, 
 p. VI seqq. 
 
INTRODUCTION. XI 
 
 time the book was bound, Shakespeare was not generally considered 
 as the author of the three comedies, appears from the fact that 
 the editors of the third folio of Shakespeare's works, although 
 admitting- seven plays, not contained in Ff AB, did not include 
 in it either Mucedorus, or the Merry Devil of Edmonton, or lastly 
 Faire Em. 
 
 Tieck's hypothesis seems not to have met with much appro- 
 bation: as far as we know, only one critic has taken it up and 
 endeavoured to support it with a number of new arguments. That 
 critic is Mr. Simpson, who in the long and learned Introduction 
 to his edition of our play has carefully pointed out all that can 
 be alleged in favour of Shakespeare being the author of Faire Em. 
 We think it well to lay before the reader the line of argument 
 adopted by the English scholar. 
 
 The basis of Mr. Simpson's inquiry is a passage taken from 
 the Introduction to Greene's Farewell to Folly, in which the Comedy 
 of Faire Em and its author appear to have been alluded to. That 
 passage, as far as it is of interest to us, runs thus:") 'But, by your 
 leave, gentlemen, some, overcurious, will carp and say, that if I 
 were not beyond I would not be so bold to teach my betters their 
 duty, and to show them the sun that have brighter eyes than myself. 
 Well, Diogenes told Alexander of his folly, and yet he was not a 
 king. Others will flout and over-read every line with a frump, and 
 say 'tis scurvy, when they themselves are such scabbed lads that 
 they are like to die of the fazjon; but if they come to write, or 
 publish any thing in print, it is either distilled out of ballets '), or 
 borrowed of Theological poets, which, for their calling and gravity 
 being loth to have any prophane pamphlets pass under their hand, 
 get some other Batillus to set his name to their verses. Thus is 
 the ass made proud by this underhand brokery. And he that 
 cannot write true English without the help of clerks of parish 
 churches will needs make himself the father of interludes. O 'tis 
 a jolly matter when a man hath a familiar style, and can endite 
 a whole year and never be beholding to art. But to bring Scripture 
 to prove anything he says, and kill it dead with the text in a 
 
 ^) Simpson, 1. <_., p. 377 seq. 
 
 ') 'Part of the plot of Faire Em was probably distilled from the ballad 
 licensed to Henry Carre, March 2, 1580 — 81, under the title of The Miller's 
 Daughter of Manchester,' Simpson, 1. c. 
 
XIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 as well as the third of Faire Em's suitors, Manuile, are to represent 
 play-writers of the time. As to Mountney and Manuile, Mr. Fleay 
 agrees with Mr. Simpson in identifying them with Marlowe and 
 Greene. Valingford, however, is not Shakespeare, but George Peele.») 
 All three of them try to win the hand of Faire Em. Who is Faire 
 Em? Certainly not the Manchester public, with whom the poets 
 had nothing to do, but the Company of the Queen's players, with 
 whom the poets were seeking connection. Greene, we know, was 
 connected with that company up to the year 1589; Orlando, Friar 
 Bacon and Friar Bungay, and James the Fourth were all written 
 for the Queen's players. In 1589, when Kempe had returned to 
 England, the Queen's company seems, according to our play, to 
 have dissolved its connection with Greene and entered a new 
 engagement with G. Peele. This date coincides pretty well with 
 what we know about the time in which Faire Em was published 
 (before 1591). 
 
 We cannot but acknowledge the skill and sagacity which the 
 English scholar has shown in putting forth and defending his theory. 
 Nevertheless, he has not succeeded in wiiining us over to his opinion. 
 Mr. Fleay himself must own that the allegory for which he and 
 Mr. Simpson take the fable of the play, lacks consistency. Mountney 
 and Valingford are the managers of the Queen's Company, left in 
 England by W. Kempe, and directly after we are told they are 
 two poets who try to get connected with the Queen's Company, 
 i. e. with the very same managers of it. Then, we have no histo- 
 rical proof whatever as to the relations entertained by Greene and 
 Peele with the Queen's Company. We do not know how it came 
 that Greene ceased writing for that Company, nor are we anywhere 
 informed that Peele was his successor. Lastly, it is not probable 
 that Greene, alluding as he did to the Comedy of Faire Em, 
 should have been content merely with glancing at it, when he 
 himself played such a part in it, as Manuile does. Vindictive, as 
 we know he was, he would certainly have wrought his vengeance 
 in a less gentle manner. 
 
 It may well be that the idea of the comedy was prompted to 
 
 ^) 'Camden says that Wallingford is Guall-hen "The old rampire or 
 fort." But an old fort is a Peel, and under this name that of George Peele 
 is as certainly indicated as it is under that of Pyeboard in The Puritan.' 
 Mr. Fleay, 1. c, p. 282. 
 
INTRODUCTION. xv 
 
 the unknown author of it by W. Kempe's visit at the Danish court. 
 Likewise, it may well be that some of the incidents of the play 
 refer to certain events of the stage. But it seems impossible to 
 find out the clew of these events and to fix the details of them 
 with any degree of probability. 
 
 As to the present edition of Faire Em, there remains little 
 to be said. The text, as given in the -old copies, seems not to 
 have been derived from the author's manuscript, but from some report 
 taken down in short -hand at the representation of the play. 
 Only thus can we account for the numerous instances of faulty 
 versification; only thus can we explain the fact that several scenes 
 which, to all appearance, were written in verse by the poet, have 
 been handed down to us in prose (printed as irregular verse in 
 Qq). Notwithstanding, we have thought it best to be as conservative 
 as possible in the re-establishment of the text, and to admit emen- 
 dations only in cases where the sense or the construction decidedly 
 require to be corrected or where the metre may without difficulty 
 be restored. The different readings of the two quarto - editions as 
 well as the conjectures, made by Delius, Simpson, and Eize, have 
 been carefully embodied in the notes, which, we hope, will prove 
 to be more faithful and complete than those of the former editions. 
 
 The quarto-editions of our play are not divided into acts and 
 scenes. Chetwood divided the play into five acts, Tieck into eighteen 
 scenes; Delius, combining these two divisions, has five acts and 
 eighteen scenes. Our acts and scenes correspond with those of 
 Delius; but we have followed Simpson in contracting so. XVII and 
 XVIII (Act V.) into one. Simpson has seventeen scenes, but only 
 three acts, act III., IV., and V. forming one act in his edition. 
 
FAIRE EM, 
 
DRAMATIS PERSON/E.") 
 
 William the Conqueror. Rosilio. " 
 
 ZwENO, Kijig of Denmark. Demarch. "> 
 
 Duke Dirot. Danish Ambassador. 
 
 Marques Lubeck. l^he Miller of Mancliesl^r. 
 
 MouNTNEY. Trotter, his man. 
 
 Manuile. Cilizen of Chester. 
 
 Valingford. 
 
 Blaunch •'*, Princess of Denmark. 
 Mariana, Princess of Swethia. 
 Faire Em, the Miller s Daughter. 
 Elner'), the Citizen's Daughter. 
 
 English and Danish Nobles. 
 Soldiers, Countrymen, and Attendants. 
 
 a. Wanting in Qq. ; first added by Chetwond. — h. Rocilia P. (III. ^ 25), 
 Rozilio Chet. — c. Dimach, A (I. t, 74), Diiiiniclt Cliet. (III. 0, 14). — i/. Jilaiicli 
 B (passim), Blnnncti A (II. 2, 44). — e. Eliner diet., Elinor Del. 
 
ACT I. 
 SCENE I. 
 
 Enler William the Conqueror ; Marqdes Lubeck, with a piclnre; 
 Mountney; Manuile; Valingfokd ; i^W Duke Dirot. 
 
 Lub. What meanes faire Britaines might}- Conqueror 
 So suddenly to cast away his staffe, 
 And all in passion to forsake the tylt? 
 
 Dir. My Lord, this triumph we solemnise here 
 Is of meere loue to your increasing ioyes, 5 
 
 Only expecting cheerefuU lookes for all ; 
 What sudden pangs then moues your maiesty 
 To dimme the brightnesse of the day with frownes ? 
 
 Wm. Ah, good my Lords, misconster not the cause ; 
 At least, susjiect not my displeased browes: 10 
 
 I amorously do l^eare to your intent, 
 For tlianks and all that you can wish I yeeld. 
 But that which makes me blush and shame to tell 
 Is cause why thus I turne my conquering eyes 
 To cowardes looks and beaten fantasies. 15 
 
 Mount. Since we are giltless, we the lesse dismay 
 To see this sudden change possess your cheere. 
 For if it issue from your owne 'conceits 
 Bred by suggestion of some enuious thoughts. 
 Your highnesse wisdome may suppresse it straight. 20 
 
 ' "i'et tell us, good my Lord, what thought it is 
 
 Actus Primus. Scccna^ Prima. Qq. — Stage-direction. Enter .... 
 Marquis of Lubecli, witli a picture on his ihield, as coming from the tour- 
 nament, Mountney . . Clict. — I. Prefixed Marques in Qq (passim), con- 
 queror, Del. — 4. P"or soletnnise see Abbott, A Shakespearian Grammar, 
 s. 491. Chet. has needlessly altered the line to My Lord, the triumph, we 
 have here set forth. — 7. pang Del. — 12. t/ianks; and Simp. — 15. coward 
 tool's Del. 
 
 I* 
 
FAIR EM. 
 
 [I,.. 
 
 That thus bereaues you of your late content, 
 
 That in aduise we may assist your Grace, 
 
 Or bend our forces to reuiue 3'our spirits. 
 25 JVm. Ah, Marques Lubeck, in thy power it lyes 
 
 To rid my bosome of these thraled dumps: 
 
 And therefore, good my Lords, forbeare a while 
 
 That we may parley of these priuate cares, 
 
 Whose strength subdues me more than ail the world. 
 30 Va/. We goe and wish the priuate conference 
 
 Publicke affectes in this accustomed peace. 
 
 [Exit all but William and Ihe Mauques. 
 Wvi. Now, Marques, must a conquerer at armes 
 
 Disclose himselfe thrald to vnarmed thoughts. 
 
 And, threatned of a shaddow, yeeld to lust. 
 35 No sooner had my sparkeling eyes beheld 
 
 The flames of beautie biasing on this peece, 
 
 But sodenly a sence of myracle. 
 
 Imagined on thy louely Maistres face, 
 
 Made mee abandon bodily regard, 
 40 And cast all pleasures on my woonded soule: 
 
 Then, gentle Marques, tell me what she is. 
 
 That thus thou honourest on thy warlike shield ; 
 
 And if thy loue and interest be such 
 
 As iustly may give place to mine, 
 45 That if it be, my soule with honors wings 
 
 May fly into the bosome of my deere — 
 
 If not, close them, and stoope into my graue ! 
 Lub. If this be all, renowned conquerer, 
 
 Aduance your drooping spirites, and reuiue 
 50 The wonted courage of your Conquering minde ; 
 
 For this faire picture painted on my shield 
 
 Is the true counterfeit of louely Blaunch, 
 
 / 
 
 24. Or bind Del. — your joys diet. — 26. To aid my Del. — thral- 
 led woes. Chet. — As for thraled, cp. Elze, Notes, XII, p. 6 seq., and Shakesp., 
 Sonnet CXXFV, and Tam. I. I. 225; iax dump, see Marlowe's Doctor Faustus 
 and Greene's Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay, ed. A. W. Ward, Note to I. 12 
 (p. 197). — 30. thee priuate Qq, this private Del., the private Simp. conj. — 
 31. Del. iirints and Simp. e.\plains Public ejects. — /« thy lucuslomed Del. 
 — 34. yield to love r' Chet. 
 
I, I.] FAIR EM. 5 
 
 Princes and daugliter to the King of Danes, 
 
 Whose beautie and exceSse of ornamentes 
 
 Deserues another manner of defence, 55 
 
 Pompe and high person to attend her stale 
 
 Then Marques Lubeck any way presents. 
 
 Therefore her vertues I resigne to thee, 
 
 Alreadie shrinde in thy religious brest, 
 
 To be aduanced and honoured to the full ; 60 
 
 Nor beare I this an argument of loue, 
 
 ]?ut to renowne faire Blaunch, my Soueraignes Childe, 
 
 In euerie place where 1 by armes may doe it. 
 
 IVm. Ah Marques, th\' words bring heauen vnto my soulc, 
 And had I heauen to giue for thy reward, 65 
 
 Thou shouldst be thronde in no vnworthy place. 
 But let my vttermost wealth suffice thy worth. 
 Which here I vowe, and to aspire the blisse 
 That hangs on quicke atchiuement of my loue, 
 Thy selfe and I will trauell in disguise, 70 
 
 To bring this Ladie to our Brittaine Court. 
 
 Lu6. Let William but bethinke what ma}- auayle. 
 And let mee die if I denie my ayde. 
 
 Wm. Then thus: The Duke Dirot, and th'erle Demarch, 
 Will I leaue substitutes to rule my Realme, 75 
 
 While mightie loue forbids my being here; 
 And in the name of Sir Robert of Windsor 
 Will goe with thee vnto the Danish Court. 
 Keepe Williams secretes. Marques, if thou loue him. 
 Briglit Blaunch, I come! sweet fortune, fauour me, 80 
 
 And I will laud thy name eternally! 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 Or, this, Lin Del., this an = this as an Gibbs (apud Simp.). ■ — 64. Ah, 
 friend! thy Chet. — heaven into my diet, and Del. — 67. my utmost Chet. 
 — 6g. aichievements Del. — 71, our royal court. Chet. — 74. Dimach A 
 (through the rest of the play spelled Demarch), — and earl Dimach, Chet. 
 — ■ 77. And, in the feigned name of Robert Windsor Chet. ; Simp, proposes 
 to expunge Sir. — 80, 81. sweet fortune, smile on me, || And altars shall be 
 rais''d to worship thee. Chet. 
 
6 l^Vfa KM. [I, 2. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 Enter the Mili.er and 'Em, his daughter. 
 J\fiL Come, daughter, we must learne to shake of pompe, ^ 
 To Icaue the state that carst beseemd a Knight 
 And gentleman of not a meane discent, 
 To vndertake this homely millers trade: 
 5 Thus must we maske, to saue our wretched Hues, 
 Threatned by Conquest of this haplesse Yle, 
 ^^'hose sad inuasions by the Conqueror, 
 Haue made a number such as we subiect 
 / Their gentle neckes vnto the stubborne yoke 
 
 lO Of drudging labour and base pesantrie. 
 
 Sir Thomas Goddard how old Goddard is, 
 Goddard the jNIiller of faire Manchester. 
 Why should not I content me with this state. 
 As good Sir Edmund Trofferd did the flaile? 
 15 And thou, sweet Em, must stoope to high estate 
 To ioyne with mine that thus we may protect 
 Our harmlesse lines, which, ledd in greater port. 
 Would be an enuious obiect to our foes. 
 That seeke to root all Britaines Gentrie 
 20 From bearing countenance gainst their t)Tannie. 
 
 Em. Good Father, let my full resolued thoughts' 
 With setled patiens to support this chaunce 
 Be some poore comfort to your aged soule; 
 For therein restes the height of my estate, 
 25 That )ou are pleased with this deiection. 
 
 And that all toyles my hands may vndertake 
 May serue to worke your worthines content. 
 
 Mil. Thankes, my deere daughter. These thy plesant words 
 
 Scene II. 3. of no meane Qq ; the correction as given in ottr text 
 was suggested by Simp. — g. vnto t/ieir stubborne Qq, corr. by Del. — 
 II. Tliomas Godard A (in all otlier instances spelled Goddard). — 14. Ed- 
 mii7td Trostard Del. — 15. stoope, i. c. submit. — stoop thy tiigli Del. — ' 
 Simp, thinks to liigh. to be a mistake for to like; to like estate, however, 
 would little agree'" vfith the following to ioyne with mine. — ig. Simp., over- 
 looking that Gentrie has the quality of a trisyllable here, adds up at the 
 end of the line. — ig, 20. Omitted by Chet. — 20. against Qq. — 25. Omitted 
 by Chet. — 28. thy pleasing words Chet. 
 
1, 2,1 
 
 FAIl^ ENr. 7 
 
 Transferre my soule into a second heauen : 
 
 And in thy setled minde my ioyes consist, 30 
 
 My state reuyues, and I'm in former plight. 
 
 Although our outward pomp be thus abased, 
 
 And thralde to drudging, staylesse of the world. 
 
 Let vs retaine those honorable mindes 
 
 That lately gouerned our superior state, 35 
 
 Wherein true gentrie is the only raeane 
 
 That makes vs differ from base millers borne. 
 
 Though we expect no knightly delicates, 
 
 Nor thirst in soule for former soueraigntie. 
 
 Yet may our myndes as highly scorne to stoopc 40 
 
 To base desires of vulgars worldlynes. 
 
 As if we were in our presedent way. 
 
 And, louely daughter, since thy youthfuU ycares 
 
 IMust needes admit as }'ong affections. 
 
 And that sweet loue vnpartiall perceiues 45 
 
 Her daintie subiects thorough euery part. 
 
 In chief receiue these lessons from my lippcs. 
 
 The true discouerers of a Virgins due, 
 
 Now requisite, now that I know thy minde 
 
 Something enclynde to fauour Manuils sute, 50 
 
 A gentleman, thy Louer in protest; 
 
 And that thou maist not be by loue deceiued. 
 
 But trye his meaning fit for thy desert, 
 
 In pursuit of all amorous desires. 
 
 Regard thine honour. Let not vehement sighes, 55 
 
 Nor earnest vowes importing feruent loue. 
 
 Render thee subiect to the wrath of lust. 
 
 31. reuyued, and I in Qq; for the reading as given above Uie present Edd. 
 are answerable. — 33. Omitted by diet. — And thrall to Del. — 35. Thar 
 lately A. — 37. froin plebeian birth diet. — 38. Knightly delicates. Com- 
 l^are princely delicates (Marlowe's Doctor Faustus I. 83) and a prince's deli- 
 cates (3 Henry VI., II.'5, 5')- ~~ 4I- "f "vulgar worldliness Cliet. — word- 
 liness Del; (see II. 3, 38). — 44. admit of young diet. — 45. Instead of 
 perceiues Simp, needlessly proposes to read either deceives , or peruses , or 
 pursues, or perverts. — 45, 46. Omitted by Chet. — 46. dainie B. — 
 through Qq, thorough Del. and Simp. — 47. In brief Del. — 54. Omitted 
 by Chet. — 57. wrath of love diet. 
 
FAIR EM. [I, 2. 
 
 For thai, transformed to form of sweet delight, 
 Will bring thy body and thy soule to shame. 
 60 Chiiste thoughts and modest conuersations, 
 
 Of proofe to keepe out all inchaunting vowes, 
 Vaine sighes, forst teares, and pittifuU aspects, 
 Are they that make deformed Ladies faire, 
 ^^Poore wretch, and such intycing men, 
 65 That seeke of all but onely present grace. 
 Shall in perseuerance of a Virgins due 
 Prefer the most refusers to the choice 
 Of such a soule as yeelded what they thought. 
 But hoe : where 's Trotter? 
 
 [Here enters Trotter, the Millers man, to them: and 
 
 they within call to him for their gryste. 
 
 70 Trot. Where's Trotter? why. Trotter is here. Yfaith, 
 
 you and your daughter go up and downe weeping and wa- 
 
 menting , and keeping of a wamentation , as who should say, 
 
 the Mill would goe with your wamenting. 
 
 Mil. How now. Trotter? why complainest thou so? 
 75 Trot. Why, yonder is a company of yong men and 
 
 maydes, keepe such a styr for their gryst, that they would 
 haue it before my stones be readie to grind it. But, yfaith, 
 1 would I coulde breake winde enough backward: you should 
 not tarrie for your gryst, I warrant you. 
 80 Mil. Content thee, Trotter, I will go pacifie them. 
 
 Trot. I wis you will when I cannot. Why, looke, you 
 haue a INIill — Why, what's your Mill without mee? Or 
 rather, Mistres, what were I without you? 
 
 [Here he taketh Em about the netk. 
 
 58. to former Qq; to form 0/ is Simp.'s conjecture. — 63. deformed 
 bodies fair. Del. — 64. ^imp. proposes to read And poor ones rich instead 
 of Poore wretch. — 64, 65. By o. strange blunder the words such and all 
 are transposed in Simp.'s edition ; but Simp. , rightly discerning what the 
 sense of the ]Dassage requires, jjroposes in a foot-note the arrangement of the 
 words as it is found in the old copies. — 66. Virgin's vow Simp. conj. — 
 68. 'Qy: they sought r" Simp. — The whole speech of, the Miller reminds the 
 reader of Polonius' advice to Laertes (Haml. I. 3, 55 — 81) and of the precepts 
 given to Bertram by the Countess in All's Well I. I, 69 — 8r. — 69. where 
 is Qq, Where's Simp. — 70 — 73. As four lines in Qq, divided at here \ wee- 
 ping I wamentation \ wamenting. — 70. Trotter's here diet. — 80. /'// 
 go Simp. — 82. Ot rather A. — 83. The stage-direction omitted by Del. 
 
r, 3.] FAIR EM. . g 
 
 Em. N;iy, Trollcr, if you fall a chyding, I will giue 
 you ouer. 85 
 
 Trol. I chyde 30U, dame, to amend 30U. You are too 
 fync to be a Millers daughter; for if you should but stoope 
 to take vp the tole-dish, 3'ou will haue the crampe in 3'our 
 finger at least ten weekes after. 
 
 Mil. Ah, well said, Trotter; teach her to play the good 90 
 huswife, and thou shalt haue her to thy wife, if thou canst 
 get her good wil. 
 
 Trot. Ah, words ! wherein I see Matrimonie come loaden 
 with kisses to salute me : Now let me alone to pick the mill, 
 to fill the hopper, to take the tole, to mend the sayles, 3"ca, 95 
 and to make the mill to go with the verie force of my lone. 
 [Here iliey must call for their gryst ivithin. 
 I come, I come; 3faith, now you shall haue 30ur gr3'st, or 
 else Trotter will trott and amble himselfe to death. 
 
 [They call him againe. Exit. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Eiiler King of Dknmarke, with some Attendants, Elaunch his 
 daughter, IMariana, Marques Lubeck, William, disguised. 
 
 King. Lord INIarques Lubecke, welcome home. 
 Welcome, braue Knight, vnto the Denmarke Iving, 
 — For Williams sake, the noble Norman Duke, 
 So famous for his fortunes and successe, 
 
 That graceth him with name of Conqueror ; 5 
 
 Right double welcome must thou be to us. 
 
 Rob. Wind. And to my Lord the King shall I recount 
 Your graces courteous entertainment. 
 That for his sake vouchsafe to honor me, 
 A simple Knight, attendant on his grace. lO 
 
 King. But say. Sir Knight, what may I call your name? 
 
 84. yon fall A. — yoii. o'er Del. — 85 — 88. Printed as (ive lines in 
 Qq, ending amend you \ itaicgtiter \ tole-dish \ finger \ after. — 89. fingers 
 Chet. — 90. to play omitted by Del. — 96. Here they call . . . Chet. — 
 98. They . . . again. Exeunt. Del. 
 
 Scene III. Stage-direction: Enter Zweno, King of Denmark . . . Chet. 
 
10 FAIR EM. [I, 3. 
 
 Rob. Wind. Robert Windsor, and like jour maiestie. 
 King. I tell thee, Robert, I so admire the man 
 As that I count it haynous guilt in him 
 15 That honours not Duke William with his heart. 
 
 Blaunch, bid this straunger welcome, good mj' gyrle. 
 
 Blaunch. Sir, 
 Should I neglect your highnes charge herein, 
 It might be thought cif base discourtesie. 
 20 Welcome, Sir Knight, to Denmarke, hartelie. 
 
 Rob. Wind. Thanks, gentle LacHe. Lord Marques, what is she? 
 TaiI. That same is Blaunch, the daughter to the King, 
 The substance of the shadow that you saw. 
 
 Rob. Wind. ]\Ia}- this be shee, for whom I crost the Seas? 
 25 I am ashamde to think I was so fond, 
 
 In whom there's nothing that contents my mjnd, 
 111 head, worse featurde, vncomly, nothing courtly; 
 Swart and ill fauored, a Colliers sanguine skin. 
 1 neuer saw a harder fauour'd Slut ; 
 .30 Loue her? for what? I can no whit abide her! 
 
 King. ^Mariana, I haue this day receiued letters 
 From Swethia, that lets me vnclerstand 
 Your raunsome is collecting there with speed. 
 And shortly shalbe hither sent to vs. 
 35 J/tzr. Not that I finde occasion to mislike 
 
 12. Robert of Windsor, so please your Cliet., Robert of Wi/idwr, uii't 
 Del. Qy: Robert Windsor, an it {Robert having the quality of a monosyl- 
 lable).' — 13. Del. reads Knight instead of Robert. — 14. famous gniU 
 Del. — 15. in Jiis lieart Del. — 16. good my cliild Chei. — 17. 5z> omitted 
 by Del. — 17, 18. Printed as one line in Qq; in placing Sir in a separate 
 line we have followed Simp. Both lines are omitted in Chet. — 1 8. therein 
 Del. — 20. to Denmark's royal court Chet. — 22. Blauncli, daugliter Qq, 
 tlie inserted by Chet. and Simp. Elze prefers to read Blanch, sole daugliter, 
 since, lower down (IV. 2, 7), we are informed that Blanch is the king's 'only 
 daughter' (See Elze, Notes, XIII, p. 7). — 27. /// head = Ill-licaded r The 
 only passage where we have met with the compound ill-headed, is in Spenser's 
 Faerie Queene, bk IV, c. I, st. 3, 1. 4 ; but there it has the sense of 'distur- 
 bed in the head'. Simp, and Elze think our passage corrupt; the former 
 proposes to read /// head, worse face, the latter (Notes, XIV, p. 8) Ill-shaped, 
 worserfeatured. — 29. harder -favoured maid. Chet. — 34* shortly hither 
 shall be Del. — 35. of mislike Qq, of misliking Del., to mislike Simp. conj. 
 - — ' Evidently there is something wanting here ; Mariana's speech should begin 
 
I, 3.] FAIR EM. I I 
 
 ]\Iy entertainment in your graces court, 
 But that I long to see my natiue home — 
 
 King. And reason haue you, Madam, for the same. 
 Lord Marques, I commit vnto }'our charge 
 The entertainment of Sir Robert here; 40 
 
 Let him remaine with 3'ou within the Court, 
 In solace and disport to spend the time. 
 
 J^ob. Wind. 1 thank ^our highnes, whose bounden I remaine. 
 
 [Exit King of deniiakice. 
 
 B launch, [speaketh this secretly at one end of the stage] 
 Vnhappie Blaunch, what strange effects are these 
 That workes within my thoughts confusedly? 45 
 
 That still, me thinkes, affection drawes me on, 
 To take, to like, nay more, to loue this knight. 
 
 Rob. Wind. A modest countenance ; no heauie sullen looke; 
 Not uerie fayer, but ritchly deckt with fauour; 
 A sweet face, an exceeding daintie hand; 50 
 
 A body were it framed of wax 
 B}' all the cunning Artists of the world. 
 It could not better be proportioned. 
 
 Lub. How now. Sir Robert? in a studie, man? 
 Here is no t}-me for contemplation. 55 
 
 Rob. Wind. 'Sly Lord, there is a certain odd conceit 
 Which on the sudden greatly troubles me. 
 
 Lub. How like you Blaunch ? I partly do jierceiue 
 The little boy hath played the wagg with you. 
 
 Rob. Wind. The more I look the more 1 loue to look. 60 
 Who seyes that Mariana is not faire? 
 He gage my gauntlet gainst the enuious man 
 That dares auow there liueth her compare. 
 
 Lub. Sir Robert, 3'ou mistake your counterfait, 
 This is the Lady which you came to see. 65 
 
 with a line somewhat to the following effect: It glads my heart to Jiear 
 these joyful tidings' &c. (Elze, Notes, p. 134). — 37. But I that I Del. — 
 home. Qq, home — the pres. Edd. — 38. Omitted by Chct. — 43. hightncss 
 A, highnes B. — whose bounden I remain ora. by Chet. — In Qq the 
 stage-direction is after 1. 42; set right by Del. — 44. \_Aside'\ Del. — 45. work 
 Del. — 5r. formed all of wax Del., framed all of wax Simp. conj. — 
 54. in a study. Compare in a brown study, Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay, 
 ed. Ward, XIV, lOO (p. 105 and p. 266). 
 
12 
 
 FAIR EM. p, 4. 
 
 Rob. Wind. Yea, ray Lord: She 's countcrfail in deed, 
 For there's the substance that contents me best. 
 
 Lub. That is my loue. Sir Robert, you do wrong mc. 
 Rob. Wind. The better for you, Sir, she is your Loue — 
 70 As for the wrong, I see not how it growes. 
 
 Lub. In seeking that which is anothers right. 
 Rob. Wind. As who should say your loue were priuileged. 
 That none might looke vpon her but your selfe. 
 TAib. These iarres becomes not our familiaritie, 
 75 Nor will I stand on termes to moue your patience. 
 Rob. Wind. Why, my Lord, 
 An't I of flesh and bloud as well as you .•' 
 Then giue me leaue to loue as well as you. 
 
 Litb. .To loue. Sir Robert? but whom? not she I loue? 
 80 Nor stands it with the honor of my state 
 To brooke corriuals with me in my loue. 
 
 Rob. Wind. So, Sir, we are thorough for that L[adj']. 
 Ladies, farewell. Lord Marques, will you go? 
 lie finde a time to apeake with her I trow. 
 85 Liib. With all my heart. Come, Ladies, wil 30U walke? 
 
 [Exil. 
 
 SCENK IV. 
 Enter ^Ianuii.E alone, disguised. 
 Man. .\h, Em! the subiect of my rcstlesse thoughts, 
 The Anuyle whereupon my heart doth beat. 
 Framing thy state to thy desert — 
 
 66. Yes, my Lord Del. — She is Qq, She' s the pres. Edd. — 67. there 
 is Qq, there's Chet. and Simp. — that best contents me Qq ; Simp, proposes 
 to read, either. For there's the substance that doth best content me, or, For 
 there's the substance h^st contenteth 7ne ; our text is regulated according to 
 El.'s suggestion (see Notes, XV, pp. 8 seq.). — 68. That is my love. Sir 
 Robert; you do me wrong, Del. — 74. become Del. — 76, 77. Printed as 
 one line in Qq, divided by Del. — 77. A?n not I Qq, Am T not Del. — 
 82. Omitted by Chet. — 'Thorough, a mistake — perhaps thwart. [So, sir, 
 we're thwart for)'. Simp. — for that L. Qq, for that. Del.; we have adopt- 
 ed the reading of Simp. (So, at the beginning of the line, lieing a so-called 
 monosyllabic foot),, — 84. Omitted by Chet. — Del. adds \_Aside']. — [ will 
 Jinde Qq, I'll find Simp. 
 
 Scene IV. 3. Forming thy Del. — thy loivly state Chet. 
 
I, 4.] FAIR EM. , -, 
 
 Full yll this life becomes thy heauenly looke, 
 
 Wherein sweet loue and vertue sits enthroned. 5 
 
 Bad world! where riches is esteemed aboue them both, 
 
 In whose base eyes nought else is bountifull! 
 
 A Millers daughter, saies the multitude, 
 
 Should not be loued of a gentleman. 
 
 But let them breath their soules into the ayre, 10 
 
 Yet will I still affect thee as my selfe. 
 
 So thou be constant in thy plighted vow. 
 
 But here comes one — He listen to his talke. 
 
 [Manuile staies, hiding himselfe. 
 
 Enter Valingfokd at another dore, disguised. 
 
 Val. Goe, William Conqueror, and seeke thy loue, 
 Seeke thou a m}'nion in a forren land, 15 
 
 Whilest I draw backe and court my loue at home. 
 The Millers daughter of faire Manchester 
 Hath bound my feet to this delightsome soyle, 
 And from her eyes do dart such golden beames 
 That holds my harte in her subiection. 20 
 
 Man. He ruminates on my beloued choyce : 
 God graunt he come not to preuent my hope. 
 But heres another, him yle listen to. 
 
 Enter Mountney, disguised, at another dore. 
 Mount. Nature vniust, in vtterance of thy arte, 
 To grace a pesant with a Princes fame! - 25 
 
 Pesant am I, so to mis-terme my loue: 
 Although a Millers daughter by her birth, 
 
 6. Bad world where riches are esteemed most Chet. (and not is esteem- 
 ed most, as Del., p. XI, erroneously states); Simp, proposes ^bove both ior 
 above them both. — 10. Compare Here could I breathe my soul into the 
 air, 2 Henry VI., III. 2, 391 (quoted by Simp.). — 13. I will Qq, Pll Del. 
 and Simp. — 20. That hold Del. — 22. lieav'n grant Chet. — 23. listen 
 too. Del. — 25. Princes fame Qq, princess frame Chet., princess' fame 
 Del., prince's fame Simp. Elze proposes to read princess' face, which, 
 indeed, would better agree with Mountney's subsequent praise of 'her 
 beauties worthynes' (!. 35). See Notes, XVII, pp. gseq. — 26. Pesant r Am / 
 so to Cliel. 
 
r/,'1- 
 
 14 FAIR EM. [I, 4. 
 
 Yet may her beautie and her vertues well suffice 
 
 To hyde the blemish of her birth in hell, 
 30 Where neither enuious eyes nor thought can perce, 
 
 But endlesse darknesse euer smother it. 
 ^^Goe, William Conqueror, and seeke thy loue, 
 
 Whilest I draw backe and court mine owne the while 
 
 Decking her body with such costly robes 
 35 As may become her beauties worthynes; 
 
 That so thy labors may be laughed to scorne. 
 
 And she thou seekest in forraine regions 
 * . 
 
 Be darkned and eclipst when she arriues 
 
 By one that I haue chosen nearer home. 
 
 40 Man. What! Comes he to, to intercept my loue? 
 
 Then hye thee Manuile to forestall such foes. 
 
 [Exit Manuile. 
 
 Mount. What now, I^ord Valingford, are you behinde ? 
 
 The king had chosen you to goe with him. 
 
 Val. So chose he you, therefore I marveile much 
 
 45 That both of vs should linger in this sort. 
 
 What may the king imagine of our staye? 
 
 Mount. The king may iustly think we are to blame : 
 
 But I immagined I might well be spared, 
 
 And that no other man had borne my minde. 
 
 50 Val. The like did I: in frendship then resolue 
 
 What is the cause of your vnlookt for stay? 
 
 Mount. Lord Valingford, I tell thee as a friend: 
 
 Loue is the cause why I haue stayed behinde. 
 
 Val. Loue, my Lord? of whom? 
 
 55 Mount. Of Em, the millers daughter of Manchester. 
 
 Val. But may this be? 
 
 Mount. Why not, my Lord? I hope full well you know 
 
 28. and her vertues serve Cliet. — 37. Simp., not being aware that 
 region is to be pronounced as a trisyllable here, needlessly adds \oui\ 
 after seekest (See Elze, Notes, XVII, p. 10). — 40. What comes he to, 
 Qq and Simp., What comes he too, diet., IVhat! Comes he too Del. — 
 43. hath chosen Del. and Simp. — 55. Of omitted in Qq. We have 
 adopted El.'s emendation {Notes, XVIII, p. lO), which seems to be required 
 both by grammar and metre (Daughter must, of course, be pronounced 
 as a monosyllable here). 
 
n, I.J FAIR EM. 15 
 
 That loue respects no difference of state, 
 So beautie" serue to stir affection. 
 
 fa/. But this it is that makes me wonder most, 60 
 
 That you and I should be of one conseite 
 In such a straunge vnlikly passion. 
 
 Mount. But is that true? My Lord, I hope you do but iest. 
 
 Val. I would 1 did ; then were my griefe the lesse. 
 ' Mount. Nay, neuer grieue; for if the cause be such, 65 
 To ioyne our thoughts in such a Simpathy, 
 All enuie set asyde: let vs agree 
 To yeeld to eythers fortune in this choyce. 
 
 Val. Content, say I: and whatsoere befall. 
 Shake hands, my Lord, and fortune thriue at all. 70 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 Enter Em, and TltOTTER, the Millers man, ivith a kerchife on his 
 head, and an Vrinall in his hand. 
 
 Em. Trotter, where haue you beene ? 
 
 Trot. Where haue I beene? Why, what signifies this? 
 
 E7n. A kerchiefe, doth it not? 
 
 Trot. What call you this, I pray? 
 
 Em. I say it is an Vrinall. 5 
 
 Trot. Then this is mystically to giue you to vnder.stand, 
 I have beene at the Phismicaries house. 
 
 Em. How long hast thou beene sicke? 
 
 Trot. Yfaith, euen as long as I haue not beene halfe 
 well, and that hath beene a long time. 10 
 
 Em. A loytering time, I rather immagine. 
 
 Trot. It may bee so: but the Phismicary tels mee that 
 you can help me. 
 
 Em. Why, anything I can doe for recouerie of thy health 
 be right well assured of. 15 
 
 63. But is this true? Del. — Simp, proposes to omit 7ny Lord. — 
 65. for if thou canst be such Del. — 70. tlirive o'er nil. Simp. cnnj. 
 Scene I. 9. e'en Simp. — hnlfe om. by Cliet. 
 
1 6 FAIR EM. [IT, I. 
 
 Trot. Then giue me your hand. 
 Em. To what end? 
 
 Trot. That the ending of an old indenture is the be- 
 ginning of a new bargaine. 
 20 Em. What bargaine? 
 
 Trot. That you promised to doe anything to recouer 
 my helth. 
 
 Em. On that condition I giue thee my hand. 
 Trot. Ah, sweet Em! [Here he offers to kisse her. 
 
 25 Em. How now. Trot! your maistres daughter? 
 
 Trot. Yfaith, I aime at the fairest. Ah, Em, sweet Em ! 
 Fresh as the fiowre. 
 That hath the poure 
 To wound my harte, 
 30 And ease my smart. 
 
 Of me, poore theefe, 
 In prison bound — 
 E?ii. So all your ryme 
 
 Lies on 'the ground. 
 35 But what meanes this? 
 
 Trot. Ah, marke the deuise — 
 For thee, my loue. 
 Full sicke I was, 
 In hazard of my life, 
 40 Thy promise was 
 
 To make me whole. 
 And for to be my wife. 
 Let me inioy 
 Thy loue, my deere, 
 45 And thou possesse 
 
 Thy Trotter here. 
 
 26 — 34. Printed as six lines in Qq; ending fairest \ flowre \ harte \ 
 theefe | bound | ground; in Del.'s and Simp.'s edd. the lines end at sweet 
 Eth I flower \ power \ Jieart | smart j hound- \ ground. We have adopted El.'s 
 arrangement (See Jahibuch der Deiitschen Shakespeare-Gesellschaft, vol. XV, 
 P- 345)- — ^7- Fresh as a flower El. conj. — 28. the out of Qq, added by 
 Simp. — 37 — 46. In Qq these lines form only four lines, ending at life \ 
 wife I deere \ here. Del. and Simp, have the same division. Our arrangement 
 is owing to El. (Jahrb. XV, p. 345). — 44. My loue Qq, Thy loue is El.'s 
 .correction,. Compare IV. 3. 24, 25. 
 
50 
 
 II, I.] FAIR EM. 17 
 
 Em. But I meant no such matter. 
 
 Trot. Yes, woos, but you did. He goe to our Parson, 
 Sir John, and he shall mumble vp the marriage out of 
 hand. 
 
 Em. But here comes one that will forbid the' Banes. 
 
 [Here eiiters Manuile to them. 
 Trot. Ah, Sir, you come too late. 
 Man. What remedie, Trotter? 
 Em. Goe, Trotter, my father calles. 
 
 Trot. Would you haue me go in, and leaue you two here? 55 
 Em. Why, darest thou not trust me? 
 Trot. Yes, faith, euen as long as I see you. 
 Em. Goe thy waies, I pray thee hartely. 
 Trot. That same word 'hartely' is of great force. I will 
 goe. But I pray, sir, beware you; come not too neere the 60 
 wench. 
 
 [Exit Trotter. 
 Man. I am greatly beholding to you. 
 Ah, Maistres, somtime I might haue said, my loue, 
 JJut time and fortune hath bereued me of that, 
 '^ And I, an abiect in those gratious eyes, 65 
 
 That with remorse earst saw into my griefe. 
 May sit and sigh the sorrows of my heart. 
 
 Em. In deed my Manuile hath some cause to doubt, 
 When such a swaine is riuall in his loue! 
 
 Man. Ah, Em, were he the man that causeth this mistrust, 70 
 I should esteeme of thee as at the first. 
 
 Em. But is my loue in earnest all this while ? 
 Man. Beleeue me, Em, it is not time to iest. 
 When others ioyes, what lately I possest. 
 
 Em. If touching loue my Manuile charge me thus, 75 
 
 Vnkindly must I take it at his hands. 
 For that my conscience cleeres me of offence. 
 
 48. woos om. by Del. — 55. In two copies of B (Brit. Mus. 643. 
 
 t. 14 and ^'' '^'i here has dropped out, while in a third copy (161. a. 26) 
 
 it is to be found as well as in A. — 57. e'en Simp. — 60. I pray you, 
 sir, Del. — 65. I am abiect Qq ; in our text we have adopted the emendation 
 as proposed by Simp. — 71. at thee first B. — 74. others 'joy Del. 
 
 2 
 
1 8 FAIR EM. [II, I. 
 
 Man. Ah, impudent and shamlesse in thy ill, 
 
 That with thy cunning and defraudfull toung 
 80 Seeks to delude the honest-meaning minde ! 
 
 Was neiier heard in Manchester before 
 l/Of truer l6ue then hath been twixt vs twaine: 
 
 And for my part how I haue hazarded 
 
 Displeasure of my father and my freindes, 
 85 Thy selfe can witnes. Yet notwithstanding this, 
 
 Two gentlemen attending on Duke William, 
 
 Mountney and Valingford, as I heard them named. 
 
 Oft times resort to see and to be seene 
 
 Walking the street fast by thy fathers dore, 
 90 Whose glauncing eyes vp to the windowes cast 
 
 Giues testies of their Maistres amorous hart. 
 
 This, Em, is noted and too much talked on, 
 
 .Some see 't without mistrust of ill — 
 
 Others there are that, scorning, grynne thereat, 
 95 And saith, 'There goes the Millers daughters wooers'. 
 
 Ah me! whom chiefly and most of all it doth concefhe — 
 
 To spend my time in griefe and vex my soule. 
 
 To thinke my loue should he rewarded thus. 
 
 And for thy sake abhorre all womenkind! 
 100 Em. May not a maiden looke vpon a man 
 
 Without suspitious judgement of the world? 
 
 80. seekese A. — 82. Of true louer A. — betwixt Qq, 'twixt diet, 
 and Del. — 85. 'Dele Yef Simp. — 86. genleinen A. — 87. El. proposes 
 either to pronounce Valingford as a dissyllable, or to contract Mountney and 
 and to begin the verse with two trochees, or to enclose the line in a paren- 
 thesis and to expunge as (See Notes, XX, pp. it seq., and p. 125). — 88. to 
 see and to he seene. Compare Friar; Bacon and Fri^r Bungay, ed. Ward, I. 
 139 seq., the troop of all the maids \ That come to see ami to he se^if that 
 day. Ward, 1. c, p. 204, very aptly quotes a line from Ovid, Ars Amfitoria 
 1. 99: Spectatum veniunt, veniurit, spectentur ut ipsae. — 90. up to windows 
 B, lip to the windows A (and Del.), up to thy windows Simp. — 91. Give 
 Del. and Simp. — Gives witness of Chet. — 92. Simp, needlessly inserts is 
 between and and too. — 93. see it Qq. Chet. restores a regular blank verse 
 by adding plain after see it. Del. has adopted Chet.'s reading. — 95. go Del. 
 — 9C. Chet. obtains a blank verse by omitting and and of all ; El. proposes 
 to expunge chiefly and. — 99. maiden kind diet. , women-hind Simp. — 
 100. maid Oq, maiden Del.; May not u maid. \lhen'\ look Simp. 
 
II, I.] FAIR EM. 
 
 '9 
 
 Man. If sight dOe moue offence, 'tis th' better ndt to,, see. 
 But thou didst more, vnconstant as thou art. 
 For with them thou hadst taike and conference. 
 
 Em. May not a maid talke with a man without mistrust? 105 
 
 Man. Not with such men suspected amorous. 
 
 Em. I grieue to see my Manuiles ielousie. 
 
 Man. Ah, Km, faithful! loue is full of ielousie. 
 So did I loue thee true and faithfully. 
 
 For which I am rewarded most vnthankfuUy. no 
 
 [Exit, in a rage. Manet Em, 
 
 Em. And so away? What, in displeasure gone, 
 And left me such a bitter sweet to gnaw upon? 
 Ah, Manuile, little wottest thou 
 How neere this parting goeth to my heart. 
 Vncourteous loue, whose followers reaps reward 1 1 5 
 
 Of hate, disdaine, reproach and infamie. 
 The fruit of franticke, bedlome ielousie! 
 
 [Here enter Mountney to Em. 
 But here comes one of these suspitious men: 
 Witnes, my God, without desert of me. 
 
 For onely Manuile honor I in harte, i 20 
 
 Nor shall vnkindnesse cause me from him start ! 
 
 Mount. For this good fortune, Venus, be thou blest. 
 To meet my loue, the mistres of my heart, 
 Where time and place giues oportunity. 
 
 102. it is the better Qq; 'tis better Simp. conj. — 108. Simp.'s proposal 
 to restore a regular blank verse by expunging Em, will hardly find favour, 
 because 'it is customary with pur poet to add the name of the person ad- 
 dressed, especially after an interjection which begins the verse'. Cp. II. I. 
 70, 113, 164. EI. proposes to place Ah, Em! in an interjectional line and to 
 read: Ah, Em! \ All faithful love Sec. (Notes, XIX, pp. loseq.). — 1 10. Scan: 
 Enr which \ I'm r'wdr \ ded most \ unthdnk \ fully \. (See El., Jahrb., XV, 
 p. 345). Whether we read the line in that manner or no, Simp.'s conjecture 
 So I'm rewarded is at any rate unnecessary. — III. The j^refix Ein. cm. in 
 Qq. — 112. Simp, proposes to read on for upon. — 113. Chet. restores the 
 legitimate number of feet by duplicating Manuile. — 1 15. reap Del. — 
 116. Del. erroneously prints bate for hate. — 117. Here enter .... A. — 
 uq. IVitness, my soul, Chet. — I2r. from him to start Qq ; the omission 
 of tn is Simp.'s conjecture. See Abbott, ^. 349. — Nor shall uniindness 
 cause ffiy love to start Chet. 
 
 2* 
 
20 FAIR EM. [11, I. 
 
 125 At full to let her vnderstand my loue. 
 
 [He turtles to Em and offers to lake her by the hand, 
 
 and she goes from him. 
 Faire mistres, since my fortune sorts so well, 
 Heare you a word. What meaneth this? 
 Nay, stay, faire Em. 
 
 Em. I'm going homewards, Syr. 
 
 Mount. Yet stay, sweet loue, to whom I must disclose 
 130 The hidden secrets of a louers thoughts, 
 
 Not doubting but to finde such kinde remorse 
 As naturally you are enclyned to. 
 
 Em. The gentleman, your friend, Syr, 
 I haue not scene him this foure dayes, at th' least. 
 135 Mount. Whats that to mee? 
 
 I speake not, sweet, in person of my friend. 
 But for nly selfe, whom, if that loue deserue 
 To haue regard, being honourable loue. 
 Not base affects of loose lasciuious loue, 
 140 Whom youthfull Wantons play and dally With, 
 y' But that Vnites in bands of holy rytes, 
 And knits the sacred Knot that Gods — 
 
 [Here Em cuts him off. 
 Em. What meane you, sir, to keepe me here so long? 
 I cannot vnderstand you by your sygnes ; 
 145 You keepe a pratling with your lippes. 
 
 But neuer a word you speake that I can heare. 
 
 Mount. What? is she deafe? a great impediment! 
 Yet remedies there are for such defects. 
 Sweet Em, it is no little griefe to mee, 
 1 50 To see, where Nature, in her pryde of Art, 
 
 Hath wrought perfections ritch and admirable — • 
 Em. Speake you to me. Sir? 
 
 I28j I am Qq. — 1 33. T)ie gentleman , your friend. Sir P Del. — 
 134. the least Qq. — 135, 136. Printed as one line in Qq; we have adopted 
 the division of Del. and Simp. — 138. being used as a monosyllable here. — 
 139. loose lascivious lust El. conj.; cp. I, 2. 57. — 14[. in honourable bands 
 Qq; we have expunged honourable on the authority of El., who justly re- 
 marks that this word is owing to a faulty repetition from 1. 138 (See Notes, 
 p. 13). — 142. God's Del.; Knot that heaven Chet. 
 
II, I.] FAIR EM. 
 
 21 
 
 Mmtnt. To thee, my onely joy. 
 
 Em. I cannot heare you. 
 
 Mount. Oh, plague of fortune! Oh, hell without compare! 
 What boots it vs to gaze and not enioy? 15=; 
 
 Em. Fare you Well, Sir. 
 
 [Exit Em. Manet Mountney. 
 
 Mount. Farewell, my loue, nay, farewell life and all! 
 Could I procure redresse for thi,s infirmitie. 
 It might be meanes- shee would regard my suit. 
 I am acquainted with the Kings Physitions, 160 
 
 Amongst the which there's one, mine honest friend, 
 Seignior AlbertoJ a very learned man, 
 His judgment will 1 haue to help this ill. 
 Ah, Em, faire Em, if art can make thee whole. 
 He Buy that sense for thee, although it cost me deere. 165 
 But, Mountney, stay: this may be but deceit, 
 A matter fained onely to delude thee, 
 And, not vnlike, perhaps by Valingford. 
 He loues faire Em as well as I — - 
 
 As well as I? Ah, no, not halfe so well. 170 
 
 Put case: yet may he be thine enimie. 
 And give her counsell to dissemble thus. 
 He try th' euent and if it fall out so, 
 Frindship, farewell : Loue makes me now a foe. 
 
 [Exit Mountney. 
 
 154. Simp, proposes lo expunge the second Oh! — 155. 'Probably 
 and not to hear? so to rhyme with compare'. Simp. — El. doubts whether 
 we should not read and not converse, or whether a line to the following 
 effect has not dropped out: and not enjoy \ The sweet converse of mutual love 
 between us. In our opinion , the reading of the Qq offers no difficulty. — 
 157. For the shifting accent of Farewell compare V. I. 208. — 163. His 
 judgment will I crave Simp. conj. — 165. though' t cost me dear Simp, 
 conj. — 166. may be yet deceit Chet. — 169. loves the lovely Em, Chet. — 
 171. Yet he may Del. — Instead of this line Chet. reads: Yet he may prove 
 thy favour'd friend, which line Del. has inserted in his text between 11. 1 70 
 and 171. — 173. the euent Qq, th'event Chet. and Del. — if it should be 
 so Chet. 
 
2 2 FAIR EM. [II, 2. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 Enter ^[arques LuiiECK and Mariana. 
 Mar. Trust me, my Lord, I 'm sorry for your hurt. 
 Lub. Gramercie, Madam; but it is not great: 
 Onely a thrust, prickt with a Rapier's point 
 Alar. How grew the quarrel, my Lord? 
 5 Lub. Sweet Ladie, for thy sake. There was, this last 
 
 night, two maskcs in one company; my selfe the forraost: the 
 other strangers were: amongst the which, when the Musicke 
 began to sound the Measures, eche Masker made choice of 
 his Ladie ; and one, more forward then the rest, stopt towards 
 lO thee, which I perceiuing, thrust him aside, and tooke thee my 
 selfe. But this was taken in so ill part that at my commihg 
 out of the court gale, with iustling together, it was my chaunce 
 to be thrust into the arme. The doer thereof, because he 
 was the originali cause of the disorder at that inconucnient 
 1 5 time , was presently committed , and is this morning sent for 
 to aunswer the matter. And 1 think here he comes. 
 
 [Here enter Sir Robert of WiNDSOii with a Gaylor. 
 What, Sir Robert of Windsor, how now ? 
 
 Scene II (See Appendix), i. lam Qq, I'm Simp. — i. I thanli you 
 madam; Chet. — 5. Ladie om. by Chel. — Ttiere was last night Del. — 6. in 
 our company Simp. conj. — 5 — 18. The speech of Lubeck is printed as ir- 
 regular verse in Qtj ; the lines end at for thy sake \ one company | Urangers 
 luere \ the Pleasures \ of his Ladie \ iuwards thee \ thee my self e \ ill part [ iust- 
 ling together \ the arme \ disorder \ committed \ the matter \ how now, — Tlie 
 same passage has been versified by Chet. as follows: LaisI night three mas- 
 kers in one compajiy \ Jlntcr'd the spacious hall. I observed them well ; j 
 £ach masker chose his lady in the dance \ And one, the foremost, bent his 
 steps tow'rds thee ; \ Which I perceiving, thriist myself between, \ But this 
 was taken in so ill a part, | That, when the sports were done, he drew upon 
 me, I And in the scuffle I received this hurt. | The peace and quiet of the 
 place thus broke, | 'The guards seized 07i the bold offender, | And in durance 
 stayed him to answer this \. — 6, 7. the others Del. and El. ; the use of 
 other as a plural pronoun, however, is consistent with ancient use; see Ab- 
 bott, s. 12. Compare also Marlowe's Edward II., ed. Fleay, I. 4. 415 : Whiles 
 other walk below. (Dyce , p. 193'', Wagner, p. 36, and Tancock, p. 23, 
 read with the later quartos While others walk below). — 9. steps Del. — 
 12. out at the Del. — 17. Stage - direction. Enter William with a Keeper. 
 Chet. 
 
II, 2.] FAIR EM. 23 
 
 Mod. Wind. Ifailh, my Lord, a prisoner: but what ayles 
 your armc ? 20 
 
 Ltd. Hurl the last 'night by mischauncu. 
 
 J?o6. Wind. What, not in the Maskc at the Court gate? 
 
 Ltib. Yes, trust me, there. 
 
 Rob. Wind. Why then , my Lord , I thank you for my 
 nights lodging. 25 
 
 Lub. And I you for my hurt, if it were so. Keeper, 
 awaie, I discharge you of your prisoner. [Exit Ihe Keeper. 
 
 Rob. Wind. Lord Marques,, you ofiferd me disgrace lo 
 shoulder me. 
 
 Ltd). Sir, I knew }'ou not, and therefore you must par- 30 
 don me, and the rather it might be alleaged to me of mearo 
 simplicitie to sec another daunce with my Maistris, disguysed, 
 and I my selfe in presence. But seeing it was our happs to 
 damnific each other . unwillingly, let vs be content with our 
 harmes, and lay the fault, where it was, and so become friends. 35 
 
 Rob. Wind. YfaiLh, 1 am content with my nights lodging, 
 if you be content with your hurt. 
 
 Lub. Not content that 1 haue it, but content to forget 
 how I came by it. 
 
 Rob. Wind. My Lord, here comes Ladie Blaunch, lets 40 
 away. [Enter Blaunch. 
 
 L^iib. With good will. Ladie, you will stay? 
 
 [Exit LuuECK and Sir Rohekt. 
 Mar. Madam — 
 
 Blaunch. Mariana, as I am grieued with thy presence: 
 so am I not offended for thy absence; and were it not a 45 
 breach to modestie, thou shouldest know before I left thee. 
 
 19. Simp, proposes to omit my Lord. — 21. Hurt last night, Del. — Chel. 
 omits by inischaunce . — 26, 27. As two lines in Qq, divided at 'uoere so. — 
 27. awaie; discharge Simp. conj. — 30 — 35. Instead of these lines diet, 
 reads: Sir, I knew you not, and t/ie re/ore, crave excuse. \ Come, let us be 
 contented with our lianns, \ And lay the fault on chance, and b/ecome friends. \ 
 — 30 — 39. In Qq tlie lines end at pardon ?ne \ ?ne of \ my Maistris \ seeing 
 it I unwillingly \ our harmes \ become friends \ lodging \ hurt | but content \ 
 by it. — ^33. 'Qy. read hap?' EI. (Notes, p. (30). — 40. Enter Blaunch. 
 after. 1. 38 in Del. — 42. will you stay} Del., Simp., El. — 44 — 48. Ending 
 in Qq at presence | absence | modestie | thee | madnesse \ begyn, you \ 
 scoulding !. 
 
24 FAIR EM. pi, 2. 
 
 Mar. How neare is this humour to madnesse! If you 
 hould on as you begyn, you are in a prely way to scoulding. 
 B launch. To scoulding, huswife? 
 50 Mar. Maddam, here comes one. 
 
 [Here enters one with a letter. 
 Blaunch. There doth indeed. Fellow , wouldest thou 
 haue any thing with any body here? 
 
 Mes. I haue a letter to deliuer to the Ladie Mariana. 
 Blaunch. Giue it me. 
 
 55 Mes. There must none but shee haue it. 
 
 Blaunch. [snatcheth the letter from htm, Et exit Messenger.] 
 Go to, foolish fellow. And therefore, to ease the anger 
 I sustaine. He be so bold to open it. Whats here? Sir 
 Robert greets you well? You, Maistries, his loue, his life! 
 Oh amorous man, how he entertaines his new. Maistres; and 
 60 bestowes on Lubeck , his od friend, a home night capp to 
 keep in his witt. 
 
 Mar. Maddam , though you haue discourteously redd 
 my letter, yet, 1 pray you, giue it me. 
 
 Blaunch. Then fake it, there, and there, and there. 
 
 [She tears it. Et exit BLAUNCH. 
 65 Mar. How farr doth this diflfer from raodestie 1 Yet will 
 
 I gather vp the peeces, which happelie may shew to me the 
 intent thereof, though not the meaning. 
 
 [She gathers up the peeces and ioynes them. 
 
 'Your seruant and loue, sir Robert of Windsor, Alias William 
 
 the Conqueror, vvisheth long health and happinesse'. Is this 
 
 70 William the Conqueror, shrouded vnder the name of sir Robert 
 
 47, 48. yon tiould A. — 49. To scolding, madam! diet. — 50. Stage- 
 direction: Enter a servant with a letter. Chet. — 51. would' s thou Simp. — 
 
 56 — 63. In Qq the lines are divided 3X fellow \ sustaine \ W/iat's herer \ 
 wellF I man \ Maistries \ friend \ witt \ discourteously \ giue it me \. — 
 58. your Maistries Qq, You Mistress Simp., You, mistress Del. — 60. old 
 friend Chet. and Del. — 65 — 67. In Qq ending at modestie \ happelie \ there- 
 of I meaning \. — 68. In the old copies the prefix Mar. is repeated at the 
 beginning of this line. — and lover Del. For love = lover see Al. Schmidt, 
 Shak.-Lex., s. v. love (4), p. 672b. — alius Qq, corf, by Del. — 68—75. End-, 
 ing at Windsor \ happinesse \ under \ Windsor? \ world \ loue | can \ 
 Blaunch \ my selfe \ Tnay \ in Qq. — 69. wisheth long life and Del. 
 
11, 3-] FAIR EM. 25 
 
 of Windsor? Were he the Monarch of the world he should 
 not dispossesse Lubeck of his loue. Therefore I will to the 
 Court, and there, if 1 can, close to be freinds with Ladie 
 Blaunch; and thereby keepe Lubeck, my loue, for my selfe, 
 and further the Ladie Blaunch in her sute, as much as I may. 75 
 
 [Exil. 
 
 SCENE 111. 
 Enter Em sola. 
 Em. Jelousie, that sharps the louers sight, a.it> 
 
 And makes him conceiue and coaster his intent, ^ -^ 
 Hath so bewitched my louely Manuils sences 
 That he misdoubts his Em, that loues his soule; 
 He doth suspect corriuals in his loue, 5 
 
 Which, how untrue it is, be iudge, my God! 
 But now no more — Here corameth Valingford ; 
 Shift him off now, as thou hast done the other. 
 
 Enler Valingford. 
 
 Val. See, how Fortune presents me with the hope 1 lookt 
 for! Fair Em! 10 
 
 Evi. Who is that? 
 
 Val. I am Valingford, thy loue and friend. 
 
 Em. I cry yoU mercie, sir; I thought so by your speach. 
 
 Val. What ayleth thine eyes? 
 
 Em. Oh blinde, sir, blind, stricken blinde, by mishap, 15 
 on a sudden. 
 
 Val. But is it possible you should be taken on such a 
 suddain? Infortunate Valingford, to be thus crost in thy 
 loue! Faire Em, I am not a little sorrie to see this thy hard 
 hap. Yet neuerthelesse — 1 am acquainted with a learned 20 
 Physitian that will do anything for thee, at my request; to 
 him will I resort, and enquire his judgement, as concerning 
 the recouery of so excellent a sence. 
 
 71—73. He should not dispossess my Lubeck' s love \ Therefore I will 
 to court; and, if I can &c. Chet. 
 
 Scene III. Stage - direction : Enter Em solus. Qq. I. [Ah,] Jealousy, 
 Simp. — 6. be Judge, high heaven, Chet. — 11. Who's Simp. — 12. 'Dele 
 Valingford' Simp. — 14. thy eyes A. — 17. But it is Del. — 17—23. In 
 Qq the lines end at suddain \ loue \ hap \ Physitian \ request \ iudgement \ 
 
26 FAIR EM. [II, 3. 
 
 Em. Oh Lord, sir, and of all things I cannot abide 
 25 Physicke, the verie name thereof to me is odious. 
 
 Val. No? Not the thing will doe thee so much good? 
 Sweet Em, hether I came to parley of loue, hoping to haue 
 found thee in thy, vvoonted prosperity; and haue the gods so 
 unmercifully thwarted my expectation, by dealing so sinisterly 
 30 with thee, sweet Em? ^ 
 
 Em. Good sir, no more, it fits not rde 
 To haue respect to such vaine fantasies 
 As idle loue prfcsents my eares withall, 
 More reason I should ghostly giue my selfe 
 35 To sacred prayers, for this my former sinne, 
 For which this plague is iustly fallen vpon me. 
 Than t' harken to the vanities of loue. 
 
 sencc |. Del. and Simp, print ihcm as prose. Elze, lakiny this passage and 
 11. 23 seqq. lo be two instances of metrical composition degenerated into prose, 
 restores the former one in this way (Notes, p. 15): Infortunate Valingfurd, 
 to he thus cross\l \ In love! — Fair Em, 2^ in not a little sorry \ To see this 
 thy hard hap, yet nevertheless \ I am acquainted with u. learn'd physician \ 
 That will do anything for thee \ At my request; to him will I resort \ And 
 will require his judgment as concerning \ TK recovery of so excellent a 
 sense \. After the third line the same critic thinks a verse to the following 
 effect to be wanting (Notes, p. 132): I fairly hope, all will be well again. 
 Cliet. versifies the passage in this way: But, is it possible you should he taken 
 thus? I Unhappy Valingford! to be thus cross' d. \ Fair Em, I'm tortured 
 at Ihy great mishap. | I have a learn'd physician for my friend, \ That will 
 do anything at my request. |. — 24. Ah Lord, Del. — and om. diet. — 
 24, 25. Divided at Physicke in Qq. — 26 — 30. Printed as five lines in Qq, 
 ending good \ loue \ prosperity \ expectation \ sweet Em \. Del. and Simp, 
 print the passage as prose. Elze tries to arrange the lines in a twofold 
 manner; Notes, p. 15: Nor Not the thing will do thee so much goodF \ 
 Sweet Em, I hither came to parle of love \ Hoping t'have found thee in thy 
 wonted state ; \ And have the Gods thwart' d so unmerc' fully \ My hope, by 
 dealing so sinisterly \ With thee F Em. Good sir, no more. It fits not me j 
 To have respect to such vain phantasies \ &c. ; p. 133: Sweet Em, I hither 
 came to parle of love, \ Hoping t'have found thee in thy wont' d prosper' ty ; ] 
 And have the Gods \ Thwart' d so unmerc' fully my expectation, \ By dealing 
 so sinisterly with thee, \ Sweet Em} Em. Good sir, no more; \ &c. Instead 
 of 11. 26 — 30 Chet. has only the following two verses: No! Not the thing 
 will do thee so much good? \ Sweet Em, hither I came to parley love \. — 
 
 34. Simp, erroneously states giue my life to be the reading of B. — 
 
 35. pray'rs Del. — 36. falVn Del. and Simp. — 37. to harken Qq, Than 
 hearken Simp. conj. 
 
II, 3-] FAIR EM. 
 
 27 
 
 Val. Yet, sweet Em, 
 
 Accept this iewel at my hand, which I 
 
 Bestow on thee in token of my loue. 40 
 
 Em. A Jewell, sir! what pleasure can I haue 
 
 In jewels, treasure, or any worldly thing 
 
 That want my sight that should deserne thereof? 
 
 Ah, sir, I must leaue you. 
 
 The paine of mine eyes is so extreame, 45 
 
 I cannot long stay in a place. I take my leave. [Exit Em. 
 
 Va/. Zounds! what a crosse is this to my conceit! But, 
 Valingford, serch the depth of this deuise. Why may not 
 this be fained subtiitie, by Mounteney's inuention, to the intent 
 that 1 seeing such occasion should leaue off my suit, and not 50 
 any more persist to solicite her of loue? He trie the euent; 
 if I can, by any meanes, perceaue the effect of this deceyte 
 to be procured by his meanes, friend Mountney, the one of 
 vs is like to repent our bargeine. [Exit. 
 
 38 — 40. As two lines in Qq, ending hand \ loue \. We liiive adopted 
 El.'s .-iirangement. Simp, and Del. print the passage as prose. Simp., how- 
 ever, proposes to drop Ein, and thus to restore a regular blank verse. Yet, 
 sweetest Em , accept this ring from me, | Which I bestow in token of my 
 love. Chet. — 42. laordly Y>t^., see, above, I. 2. 41. — 43. mine sight 'iKm'p. 
 — 45. The metre requires that we pronounce e final al paine, a trace of the 
 early English pronunciation. Cp. Abbott, a. 489. — 46. Instead of this line 
 Chet. only has / cannot longer stay. — 47 — 54. In Qq the lines end at 
 conceit I deuise | subtiitie \ intent \ suit \ loue \ perceaue \ meanes \ bargeine . 
 El. restores the passage in the following way (Notes, p. 12); 'Zounds! what 
 a cross is this to my conceit! \ But Valingford , search the depth of this 
 device. I Why may not this be some feign'd subtlety ] By Mounteney's in- 
 vention, to th' intent \ That I, seeing such occasion, should leave off | My 
 suit, and not persist t' solicit her \ Of love P I'll try th' event. If I pe-r- 
 ceive \ By any means th' effect of this deceit \ Procured by thy means, friend 
 Mounteney, \ The one of us is like t'repent our bargain. \. — 49. Simp, is 
 mistaken in giving some feign'd as the reading of B; some is not to be found 
 in either of the old copies. — 50, 51. and not . . . . louer om. by Chet. — 
 Simp, is again mistaken , when stating Chet. to have expunged the words 
 /'// try the event. — 52. Th'effect of this deceit procured by him, Chet. — 
 54. Chet. concludes the scene with the following rhyme -couplet: Rivals, in 
 war, create a glorious strife; \ But hate ensues, when rivals for a wife {. 
 
28 FAIR EM. [Ill, I. 
 
 ACT III. 
 SCENE I. 
 Enter Mauiana and Makques Lubeck. 
 Lub. Ladie, , 
 Since that occasion, forward in our good, 
 Presentcth place and opportunitie, 
 Let me intreat your woonted Idnd consent 
 5 And freindly furtherance in a suit 1 haue. 
 
 Mar. My Lord, you know you need not to intreat. 
 But may comraaund Mariana to her power, 
 Be't no impeachment to my honest fam<.:. 
 
 Lub. Free are my thoughts from such base villanie 
 lo As may in question, Ladie, call your name; 
 Yet is the matter of such consequence. 
 Standing vpon my honorable credit. 
 To be eiTected with such zeale and secrcsie 
 As, should I speake and faile my expectation, 
 15 It would redound greatly to my preiudice. 
 Mar. My Lord, wherein hath Mariana 
 Giuen you occasion that you should iriistrust. 
 Or else be iealous of my secresie ? 
 1/ Ltib. Mariana, do not misconster of me : 
 
 20 1 not mistrust thee, nor thy secresie; 
 Nor let my loue misconster my intent. 
 Nor thinke thereof but well and honorable. 
 Thus stands the case: 
 Thou knowest from England hether came with me 
 
 Scene I. I, 2. Printed as one line in Qq; Lady placed in a separate 
 line by Del. — 8. Be it Qq, Be 't Del. — honost B. — 15. f would A, 
 It would B, 'T would Simp. conj. If we do not choose to follow Simp., 
 we must pronounce redound as a monosyllable. — 16 — 18. Printed as two 
 lines , the first ending at occasion , in Qq ; regulated by Del. — My Lord, 
 wherein hath Mariana given occasion, \ That you should, thus, mistrust my 
 secrecy P | Chet. — 17. Giuen as a monosyllable. — 'Dele^o«' Simp. — 
 19. A syllable pause line; Maria \ na — \ do not \ miscdn \ ster of m.e\ 
 See Hamlet, ed. Elze (Halle 1882), pp. 126 seq. — misconster m£ Simp., 
 misconceive of me Del. (cp. V. I. 86). Perhaps misconster is due to the error 
 of some transcriber or compositor, whose eye caught the word from 1. 21. — 
 22. Simp.'s proposal honourably (cp. I. 128) is unnecessary; cp. Abbott, a. I. — 
 23 — 25. Printed as two lines in Qq, divided at England \ ; set right by Del. 
 
Ill, l.j FAIR EM. 29 
 
 Robert of Windsor, a noble man at Armes, 25 
 
 Lustie and valiant, in spring time of his yeares, 
 No maruell then though he proue amorous. 
 
 Mar. True, my Lord, he came to see faire Blaunch. 
 
 Ltib. No, Mariana, that 's not it. His loue to Blaunch 
 Was then extinct, when first he saw thy face. 30 
 
 'Tis thee he loues; yea, thou art onely shee 
 That's u aistres and commaunder of his thoughts. 
 
 Mar. Well, well, my Lord, I like you ; for such drifts 
 Put silly ladies often to their shifts. 
 
 Oft haue I heard you say you loucd me well, 35 
 
 Yea, sworne the same, and I beliieued you to. 
 Can this be found an action of good faith 
 Thus to dissemble where you found true loue? 
 
 Lub. Mariana, I npt dissemble, on mine honor. 
 Nor failes my faith to thee. But for my friend, 40 
 
 For princely William, by whom thou shalt possesse 
 The tytle and estate of Maiestie, 
 Fitting thy loue, and vertues of thy minde — 
 For him I speake, for him do I intreat. 
 
 And, with thy fauour, fully do resigne 45 
 
 To him ■ the claime and interest of my loue. 
 Sweet Mariana, then, denie mee not: 
 Loue William, loue my friend, and honour me, 
 Who els is cleane dishonored by thy meanes. 
 
 Mar. Borne to mishap, my selfe am onely shee 50 
 
 On whom the Sunne of fortune neuer shyned: 
 But Planets rulde by retrograde aspect 
 
 29, 30. As three lines in Qq, ending it \ extinct \ face \ ; our arrange- 
 ment is that of Del. — 29. that is Qq, IhaCs Del. — non it A. — Blnnch 
 A. — This line is, in our opinion, to be scanned thus: No Mar \ iini[a] 
 that's I not it \ &c. For ihe dissyllabic pronunciation Miirian[a], compare, 
 below, 1. 72. — 31. thoti are B. — Qy. Read, here and below, 1. 50, th'one- 
 ly she? See Abbott, s. 224; the same expression occurs in Henry V., II. 
 I. 83. — 32. That is Qq, That's Del. and Simp. — 33, 34. Omitted by 
 Chet. — 36. you too Edd. — 39. I don 't dissemble Del. — 41. Jy is to be 
 slurred; Simp, proposes to print b'-whom. — 42. tytte of estate and Maiestie 
 Qq; we liave followed Del. — 43. Simp, erroneously gives Fitting the lore 
 as the reading of B. — 52. retrogarde Qq, retrograde Edd. Cp. A Looking- 
 Glass for London anil England, Relmgrade conjunctions of the stars (quot- 
 ed by Ward, 1. c, p. 162). 
 
30 FAIR EM. [Ill, I. 
 
 Fordtold mine yH in itiy nEttiuitie ! 
 
 Lub. SweSt Ladie, cease, let my intreatie serue 
 55 To pacifie the pass'ioli of thy gri6fe, 
 
 Which, well 1 ktibw, proceeds of ardent loue. 
 
 Mar. But Lubeck now regards ndt Mariana. 
 
 Lub. Euen as my life, so loue I Mariaiia. 
 
 Mar. Why do you post me to another then ? 
 60 Lub. He is my friend, and I do loue the rnan. 
 
 Mar. Then will Duke William robb me of my loue? 
 
 Lub. No, as his life Mariana he doth loue. 
 
 Mar. Speake for your selfe, my Lord, let him alone. 
 
 Lub. .So do I, Madam, for he and I am one. 
 65 Mar. Then louiiig you I do content you both. ' 
 
 Lub. In Ibuing him, you shall content vs both: 
 Me, for I craue that fauour at your hands. 
 Him, for he hopes that comfort at your hands. 
 
 Mar. Leaue of, my Lord, here comes the Ladie Blaunch. 
 
 Enter Blaunch to them. 
 70 Lub. Hard hap to breake vs of our talke so soone! 
 
 Sweet Mariana, doe remember me. [Exit Lubeck. 
 
 Mar. Thy Mariana can't chuse but remember thee. 
 Blaunch. Mariana, well met. \o\i are verie forward in 
 your loue. 
 75 Mar. Madam, be it in secret spoken to your selfe, if you 
 
 will but follow the complot I haue inuented, you will not 
 thmk me so forward as your selfe shall proue fortunate. 
 
 54. seace A. — 64. Cp. As You Like It, I. 3. 99, Which teacheth thee 
 that thou and lam one. — 67, 68. Omitted by Cliet. — 68. He, for hopes 
 Qq, He for he hopes Del., Him, for he hopes Simp. — "JZ. Scan : Thy Mar \ 
 ian[aj can't \ &c. See, above, 1. 29. Elze (Notes, p. 1 27) proposes to ex- 
 punge Thy. — ■ Thy Mariana never can forget thee Chet. — 73 — 1 01. There 
 is little doubt that also this passage was originally written in verse. But it 
 has been handed down in a state so hopelessly corrupt that an attempt to 
 emend it would certainly not he compatible with the rules of criticism. — 
 73. verie om. by Chet. — Elze (Notes, p. 127) proposes to read: Blaunch: 
 Mariana, \ Well met. You're very forward in your love. \ Mar.; Madam, \ 
 Be it in secret spoken to yourself'. \ If you'll but follow th' cotnplot I've 
 invented, \ &c. — 75. seqq. In Qq the lines end at your selfe | inuented \ 
 forward \ fortunate \ how \ you j Windsor . — 75. in a secret Del, — hut 
 om. by Chet. — 76. the plot Chet. 
 
in. I.] FAIR EM. 31 
 
 Blaunch. As how? 
 
 Mar. Madam, as thus. It is not vnknowen to you that .Sir 
 Robert of Windsor, a man that you do not little esteeme, hath 80 
 long importuned me of loue ;- but rather than 1 will be found 
 false or vniust to the Marques Lubeck, I will, as did the con- 
 stant ladie Penelope, vndertake to effect some great taske. 
 
 Blaunch. What of all this? 
 
 Mar. The next tyme that .Sir Robert shall come in his 85 
 woonted sort, to solicit me with loue, I will seeme to agree, and 
 like of anything that the knight shall demaund, so far foorth as 
 it be no impeachment to my chastitie. And, to conclude, poynt 
 some place for to meet the man, for my c;onueyance from the 
 Denmarke Court: which determined vpon, he will appoynt some 90 
 certaine time for our departure: whereof, you hauing intelligence, 
 you may soone set downe a plot to were the English Crowne, 
 and then — 
 
 Blaunch. What then? 
 
 Mar. If .Sir Robert proue a King and 30U his Queene, 95 
 how then? 
 
 Blaunch. Were I assured of the one, as I am perswaded 
 of the other , there were some possibilitie in it. But here 
 comes the man. 
 
 Mar. Madam, begon, and you shall see I will worke 100 
 to your desire and my content. [Exit Blaunch. 
 
 79 seqq. esteeme \ loue \ false \ Lubeck \ Penelope \ taske | Qq. — 79. /;■ 
 is well known to you. Chet. — 80. not a little Simp. — i\. found om. by 
 Del. — 85 — 9J. come \ loue \ anything \ foorth \ chastitie | the man \ court \ 
 time I intelligence \ crowne \ Qq. Elze arrange.? this passage as follows (Notes, 
 p. 127): The next time that Sir Robert shall come here \ In's wonted sort 
 to solicit me with love \ I'll seem fngree and like of anything | That th' 
 knight shall demand, so far forth as it be | No itnfeachment to my chastity; 
 t'conclude, \ I will appoint some place for Vmeet the man, \ For my convey- 
 ance from the Denmark court. — 86. I'll diet. — 88. to my honour 
 diet. — appoint Del. — appoint some meeting place for my conveyance 
 Chet. — 90. the Danish Court Chet. — Which fx'd, he will appoint 
 Chet. — 97 — 101. The lines end at perswaded \ in it | the man \ see \ content \ 
 in Qq. — 100, lOl. Madam, begone, and you shall see \ That I will work 
 to both vour souls' content, \ Chet. 
 
32 FAIR EM. [111,1. 
 
 Enter W. Conqueror. 
 Wm. Sweet Lady, this is well and happily met, 
 
 For Fortune hetherto hath been my foe, 
 
 And though I haue oft sought to speake with you, 
 105 Yet stil I haue beene crost with sinister happs. 
 
 I cannot, Madam, tell a louing tale. 
 
 Or court my Maistres with fabulous discourses. 
 
 That am a souldier swome to follow armes — 
 
 But this 1 bluntly let you vnderstand — 
 1 10 I honour you with such religious zeale 
 
 As may become an honorable minde. 
 
 Nor may I make my loue the siege of Troy, 
 
 That am a straunger in this Countrie. 
 
 First, what I am 1 know you are resolued, 
 1 1 5 For that my friend hath let you t'vnderstand. 
 
 The Marques Lubeck, to whom I am so bound 
 
 That whilest I Hue I count me onely his. 
 
 Mar. Surely you are beholding to the Marques, 
 
 For he hath beene an earnest spokesman in your cause. 
 120 Wm. And yealdes my Ladie then, at his request. 
 
 To grace Duke William with her gratious loue? 
 Mar. My Lord, 
 
 I am a prisoner, and hard it were 
 
 To get me from the Court. 
 1 25 Wm. An easie matter, to get you from the Court, 
 
 101. [Enter IV. Cong.] not in Qq; added by Del. — 102. Lady Qq, Sweet 
 lady proposed by El. (Notes, p. 127); cp., above, 1. 54. — 102 — 104. Printed as 
 prose by Del. and Simp. — 103. For added by Simp. — 104. Del. erroneously 
 prints often. — 105. sinister to be pronounced as a dissyllable [sinister). — 
 
 106. 'Compare Henry V th's courtship: Henry V., V. 2. 98 et seq.' Simp. — 
 
 107. Are we allowed to consider Maistres as a monosyllable here? Or must 
 we pronounce Maist(e)res'i The latter pronunciation would involve the ad- 
 mittance of a weak-ending alexandrine. Chet. reads with false vows of love; 
 Simp, proposes Or with discourses fabulous court my mistress, and El. would 
 regulate the line thus (Jahrb., XV, p. 346): Or court with fabulous discourse 
 
 my mistress. — 113. Countrie, a trisyllable here; cp. Abbott, s. 477. The 
 
 line is omitted in Chet. — 1 1 5. you that to Qq, corr. by Simp. — let yoti 
 understand Chet. — 118. Cp. As You Like It, IV. I. 60, you are fain to 
 be beholding to your wives for, where Pope reads beholden; just so in our 
 
 passage Chet.: beholden to that lord. — 119. spokes-man for you Chet. 
 
 122. My Lord placed in a separate line by El. (Jahrb., XV, 346). 
 
in, 2.] FAIR EM. 33 ' 
 
 If case that you will thereto giue consent. 
 
 Mar. Put case I should, how would you vse me than? 
 
 Wm. Not otherwise but well and honorably. 
 I haue at Sea a shipp that doth attend, 
 
 Which shall foorthwith conduct vs into England ; 1 30 
 
 Where, when we are, I straight will marrie thee. 
 We may not stay deliberating long, 
 Least that suspition, enuious of our weale, 
 Set in a foot to hinder our pretence. 
 
 Mar. But this L thinke were most conuenient, 135 
 
 To maske my face, the better t'scape vnknowne. 
 
 Wm. A good deuise: till then, Farwell, faire loue. 
 
 Mar. But this I must intreat your grace, 
 You would not seek by lust vnlawfuUy 
 To wrong my chaste determinations. 146 
 
 Wm. I hold that man most shamelesse in his sinne 
 That seekes to wrong an honest ladies name. 
 Whom he thinkes worthy of his marriage bed. 
 
 Mar. In hope your othe is true, 
 I leaue your grace till the appoynted tyme. 145 
 
 [Exil Mariana. 
 
 Wm. O happie William, blessed in thy loue. 
 Most fortunate in Marianaes loue! 
 Well, Lubeck, well, this courtesie of thine 
 I will requite, if God permit me life. [Exil. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 E?iier Valingford and Mountney at two sundrie dores, 
 looking angerly each on olher with Rapiers drawen. 
 Moufil. Valingford, 
 So hardlie I disgest an iniurie 
 
 127. What if T should Chet. — 133. Simp, erroneously reads conscious 
 of our -weal; both of the old copies have enuious. — 134. to hinder our 
 pretence; cp. Mucedorus, III." 5. 3: But other business hindered my pretence, 
 and ib., III. 4. 2: frustrate my pretence. — 136. to scape Qq and Edd. — 
 146. 'Qy, read, fortune for loueP' Simp. — 147. Omitted by Chet. — 149. if 
 heaven permit Chet. 
 
 Scene II. i — 5. Printed as three lines in Qq, ending at iniurie \ stands | 
 name \ ; in the edd. of Del. and Simp, the lines end proffered me \ detest | 
 name \. For our arrangement see El., Notes, p. 12 seq. 
 
 3 
 
34 FAIR EM. [Ill, 2. 
 
 Thou 'st profered me, 
 
 As, were it not that I detest to do 
 5 What stands not with the honor of my name. 
 
 Thy death should paie the ransom of thy fault. 
 
 Val. And, Mountney, had not ray reuenging wrath, 
 
 Incenst with more than ordinarie loue, 
 
 Beene such for to depriue thee of thy life, 
 lO Thou hadst not liued to braue me as thou doest. 
 
 Wretch as thou art, 
 
 Wherein hath Valingford offended thee? 
 
 That honorable bond which late we did 
 
 Confirme in presence of the gods, 
 15 When with the Conqueror we arriued here. 
 
 For my part hath been kept inviolably, 
 
 Till, now, loo much abused by thy villanie, 
 
 I am inforced to cancel! all those bands, 
 
 By hating him which I so well did loue. 
 20 Mount. Subtill thou art, and cunning in thy fraud, 
 
 That, giuing me occasion of offence. 
 
 Thou pickst a quarrell to excuse thy shame. 
 
 Why, Valingford, was 't not enough for thee. 
 
 To be a ryvall twixt me and my loue, 
 25 But counsell her, to my no small disgrace. 
 
 That, when I came to talke with her of loue. 
 
 She should seeme deafe, as fayning not to heare? 
 
 Val. But hath shee, Mountney, vsed thee as thou sayest? 
 Mount. Thou knowest too welt shee hath: wherein 
 30 Thou couldest not do me greater iniurie. 
 
 Val. Then I perceiue we are deluded both. 
 
 For when I offered many gifts of Gold, 
 
 3. Thou hast Qq. — 4. as -were not A, as wer't not B (adopted by 
 Simp.), as were it not Del. — that om. by Simp. — 6. thy ransom Qq; 
 corr. by Del. — 10, II. Form one line in Qq; divided by Del. — II. Omitted 
 by Chet. — 13, 14 Divided at confirme \ in Qq; set right by Del. — 14." z« 
 presence of the Gods om. by Chet. — Conqueror as a dissyllable here. — 
 17. villanie may be pronounced as a dissyll.ible; see Abbott, ». 468. — 18. to 
 cancel Del. (a misprint). — 23. was it Qq, was't Del. and Simp. — 29. End- 
 ing at hath | in Qq; corr. by Del. — 32—34. Printed as two lines in Qq, 
 
Ill, 3.] FAIR EM. 
 
 35 
 
 And iewels to entreate for loue, 
 
 Shee hath refused them with a coy disdaine, 
 
 AUedging that shee could not see the sunne! 35 
 
 The same conjectured I to be thy drift, 
 
 That fayning so shee might be ridd of mee. 
 
 Mount. The like did I by thee. But are not these 
 Natural! impediments? 
 
 Val. In my coniecture merely counterfeit: 40 
 
 Therefore let us ioyne hands in frindship once againe, 
 Since that the iarre grew onely by coniecture. 
 
 Mount. With all my heart: Yet lets trye th' truth thereof. 
 
 Val. With right good will. W^e '11 straight vnto her father, 
 And there to learne whither it be so or no. [Exeunt. 45 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Enter William and Blaunch disguised, with 
 a maske ouer her face. 
 
 Wm. Come on, my loue, the comfort of my life. 
 Disguised thus, we may remaine vnknowne, 
 And get we once to Seas, I force not then 
 We quickly shall attaine the English shore. 
 
 the first ending at iewels | . Arranged by Del. — 33, 34. Contracted into one 
 line by Chet. : T' entreat for love, she scorned them with disdain. — 34. Simp, 
 expunges a. — 38, 39. Printed as one line in Qq; divided by Del. — In Chet. 1. 38 
 ends at thee (and so El. conj., Jahrb., XV, 346). — 41. lets A, let's B, let 
 lis Del. — El. proposes to read : Therefore in friendsliip let's join hands 
 again (Jahrb., XV, 34O); but, with stricter adherence to the originals, we 
 might restore a regular blank verse thus : Therefore let's once again join 
 hands in friendship. — 42. yars Del. (a misprint). — 43. lets Qq, let us 
 Del. and Simp. — the truth Qq, th' truth El. conj. (Jahrb., I.e.). — 44. We 
 will Qq, We'll Del., we will unto her Chet. [straight om.). — 45. whither 
 is to be pronounced as a monosyllable. — Although the construction is rather 
 a loose one, it seems unnecessary to alter it and to read with Eke either 
 To learri there or And there we'll learn (see Jahrb., XV, 347). — And thereto 
 learn Chet. 
 
 Scene in. 3. I force not then ; cp. Mucedorus, Induction, 1. 68 : I force 
 it not, T scorn what thou canst do; New Custom (apud Dodsley, Old Plays, 
 ed. Hazlitt, vol. Ill, p. 39): I force not, I, so the villain were dead. — to 
 sea, I doubt not then. Chet. 
 
36 FAIR EM. [Ill, 4. 
 
 5 Blaunch. But this I vrge you with your former oath: 
 
 You shall not seeke to violate mine honour 
 Vntill our marriage rights be all performed. 
 
 Win. Mariana, here I sweare to thee by heauen, 
 And by the honour that I beare to Amies, 
 10 Neuer to seeke or craue at hands of thee 
 The spoyle of honourable chastitie, 
 Vntill we do attaine the English coast, 
 Where thou shalt be my right espoused Queen. 
 
 Blaunch. In hope your oath proceedeth from your heart, 
 15 Let's leaue the Court, and betake vs to his power 
 That gouernes all things to his mightie will. 
 And will reward the iust with endlesse ioye, 
 And plague the bad with most extreme annoy. 
 Wm. Lady, as little tarriance as we may, 
 20 Lest some misfortune happen by the way. 
 
 [Exit Blaunch and William. 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 Enter the MiLLER, his man Tkottek, and Manuile. 
 Mil. I tell you, sir, it is no little greefe to mee, you 
 should so hardly conseit of my daughter, whose honest report, 
 though I saie it, was neuer blotted with any title of de- 
 famation. 
 5 Man. Father Miller, the repaire of those gentlemen to 
 
 your house hath giuen me great occasion to mislike. 
 
 7. rights is , of course , the old spelling for rites (as Del. prints) ; cp. 
 Al. Schmidt, Shak.-Lex., s. v. rite, p. 982b. — 13. right-espoused Del. — 
 15. betake is to be pronounced as a monosyllable (b'take). — 16. by his 
 mighty will Chet. — 20. Least B. — mis-fortune Qq. 
 
 Scene IV. The same remarks that we have made on Act III, Scene I, 
 11. 73 seqq., apply to this scene. In all probability it was originally written 
 in blank verse, which, in some passages, may be .restored without great dif- 
 ficulty; but, in general, the text of the scene is so utterly corrupt that no 
 critic seems able to amend it except by violent and arbitrary alterations. 
 Here, therefore, as in all similar cases, we have thought it best to follow 
 Del. and Simp., who have printed the whole scene as prose. — 1 — 4- Printed 
 as four lines in Qq, ending mee \ daughter \ it \ defamation |. — 5, 6. As 
 two lines, divided at house | in Qq. — 5. these gentlemen Chet. 
 
ni, 4.] FAIR EM. 37 
 
 Mil. As for those gentlemen, I neuer saw in them any 
 euill intreatie. But should they haue profered it, her chaste 
 minde hath proofe enough to preuent it. 
 
 Trot. Those gentlemen are as honest as euer I saw: 10 
 For yfaith one of them gaue me six pence to fetch a quart 
 of Seek. — See, maister, here they come. 
 
 Enter Valingford and Mountney. 
 
 Mil. Trotter, call Em. Now they are here together. He 
 haue this matter throughly debated. [Exit Trotter. 
 
 Blount. Father, well met. We are come to confer 15 
 with you. 
 
 Man. Nay, with his daughter rather. 
 
 Val. Thus it is, father, we are come to craue your frind- 
 ship in a matter. 
 
 Mil. Gentlemen, as you are straungers to me, yet by the 20 
 way of courtesie you shall demaund any reasonable thing at 
 my hands. 
 
 Man. What, is the matter so forward they come to craue 
 his good will? 
 
 Val. It is giuen us to vnderstand that your daughter is 25 
 sodenly become both blinde and deafe. 
 
 Mil. Mary, God forbid! I have sent for her. Indeed, 
 she hath kept her chamber this three dales. It were no litle 
 griefe to me if it should be so. 
 
 Man. This is Gods iudgement for her trecherie! 30 
 
 Enter Trottek, leading Em. 
 Mil. Gentlemen, I feare yoirr words are too true. See 
 where Trotter comes leading of her. — What ayles my Em? 
 Not blinde, I hope? 
 
 7 — 9. Three lines in Qq, ending them \ it\ it \. — 14. tlioroughly Del. 
 and Simp. — \%. we come Simp. — 20 — 22. Three lines in Qq, ending 
 at me | demaund \ hands |. — 21. 'Qy, read, shall commandF' Simp. — 
 23, 24. Two lines in Qq, divided ?i.\. forward. — 2'^. forward P They X)e\. — • 
 came A. — 25, 26. Two lines in Qq, the first ending at daughter. — 
 27 — 29. In Qq the lines end at indeed \ dates \ so \. — 28. these three days 
 Chet. — 30. is heaven' s judgement Chet. — 31 — 33. As three lines in Qq, 
 ending true \ her \ hoJ>e \. — 31. two true Qq (followed by Simp.). 
 
38 FAIR EM. [ni, 4. 
 
 Em. [Aside] Mountney and Valingford both together! 
 35 And Manuile, to whom i- haue faithfully vowed my loue! Now, 
 Em, suddenly helpe thy selfe. 
 
 Mount. This is no desembling, Valingford. 
 Val. If it be, it is cunningly contriued of all sides. 
 Em. [Aside lo Trotter] Trotter, lend me thy hand; and 
 40 as thou louest me, keep my counsell, and iustifie what so euer 
 I sale and He largely requite thee. 
 
 Trot. Ah, that's as much as to saie you would tell a 
 monstrous, terrible, horrible, outragious lie, and I shall sooth 
 it — no, berlady! 
 45 Em. My present extremitie wills me, if thou loue me. 
 
 Trotter. 
 
 Trot. That same word 'loue' makes me to doe any thing. 
 Em. Trotter, wheres my father? 
 
 Trot. Why, what a blynd dunce are you, can you not 
 50 see? He standeth right before you. 
 
 [He thrusts Em vpon her father. 
 Em. Is this my father? — Good father, giue me leaue 
 to sit where 1 may not be disturbed, sith God hath visited 
 me both of my sight and hearing. 
 
 Mil. Tell me, sweet Em, how came this blindnes? Thy 
 55 eyes are louely to looke on, and yet haue they lost the 
 benefit of their sight? What a griefe is this to thy poore 
 father ! 
 
 34 — 36. Three lines in Qq, ending together \ loue \ selfe \. — 34. [Aside] 
 added by -Del. — 38. if ir be A. — on all sides Cliet. — 39 — 41. Three 
 lines in Qq, ending hand \ counsell \ thee |. El. (Notes, p. 16) arranges' the 
 passage in this way: Trotter, \ Lend me thy hand, and as thou lovest -me \ 
 Pray keep my counsel, and justify whatever \ I say, and largely I'll requite 
 thee. \. The same critic (Jahrb., XV, 347) proposes another arrangement: 
 Trotter, \ Lend me thy hand, and as thou lovest me, keep \ My counsel and 
 justify -whate'er I say, \ And' largely I'll requite thee. \. — 39. {Aside to 
 Trotter] added by the pres. Edd. — 42. that is B. — 43. monstrous om. 
 by Del. — 46. Trotrer A. — 50. The stage-direction in Qq after 1. 48. — 
 51 — 53. As four lines in Qq, ending /a;Ai?rr' | sit \ disturbed \ hearing |. — 
 52. since Del. — Since fate has robb'd me of m.y sight and hearing. Chet. — 
 55. lovely yet to look upon, Chet. — they've lost El. conj. (Jahrb., XV, 347). — 
 54 — -57. El., who divides the lines at blindnes \ on \ sight \, proposes to add 
 Oh, before what. 
 
Ill, 4.] FAIR EM. 39. 
 
 Em. Good father, let mc not stand as an open gazing 
 stock to euerie one, but in a place alone, as fits a creature 
 so miserable. 60 
 
 Mil. Trotter, lead her in, the vtter ouerthrow of poore 
 Goddardes ioy and onely solace. 
 
 [Exit the Miller, Trotter and Em. 
 
 Man. Both blinde and deafe! Then is she no wife for 
 me; and glad am 1 so good occasion is hapned: Now will I 
 away to Chester, and leaue these gentlemen to their blinde 65 
 fortune. [Exit Manuile. 
 
 Mount. Since fortune hath thus spitefully crost our hope, 
 let vs leaue this quest and hearken after our King, who is at 
 this day landed at Lirpoole. 
 
 Val. Goe, my Lord, He follow you. 70 
 
 [Exit MOUNTNEY. 
 Well, now Mountncy is gone. He stale behind to solicit my 
 loue; for I imagine that I shall find this but a fained in- 
 uention, thereby to haue vs leaue off our suits. 
 
 [Exit Valingford. 
 
 58 — 60. Printed as two lines in Qq, divided at euerie one '. El. (Notes, 
 p. 17) arranges the passage thus: father \ gazing-stock (as om,) | alone | miser- 
 able (inserting that's between creature and so) \. — 58. let we not Del. (a 
 misprint). — 59. a lone A. — 61, 62. El. (Jalirb., XV, 347) would arrange 
 the passage as follows: Trotter, lead her in! \ This is the utter overthrow 
 of ;poor I Old Goddard's joy and only solace. \. — 63 — 66. The lines end at 
 me I hapned \ Ma nchester \ fortune. \ in Qq. — Both blind and deaf — she 
 is no wife for me; \ And glad am I so good occasion happen'd: \ Now will 
 I bend tny course to Manchester, \ And leave these gentlemen to their blind 
 fortune. \ Chet. — For El.'s metrical reconstruction see Jahrb., XV, 348. — 
 63. Then she is Del. — 64. glad I am Del. — Simp, is mistaken in giving 
 so good an occasion as the reading of B. — 65. Manchester Qq, Chester 
 Del.; compare, below, IV. 3. 5, 62. — 67. spiteful Chet. — 68. Let's Chet. 
 and El. conj. — guest Qq, quest or gear Simp. conj. — 69. Liverpool 
 Del. — Who is at Liv'rpool landed at this day. El. conj. (Jahrb., XV, 348). — 
 70. [Exit M.] in Qq after 1. 69. — In Chet. the end of the scene runs thus: 
 My lord, I'll follow you — ] Now, that Mountney' s gone, \ I'll stay behind 
 to solicit my fair love. \ I love her for her virtues , lasting charms; \ A 
 never-fading flow' r will fill my arms. \. — 71 — 73. Printed as three lines 
 in Qq, ending gone \ loue \ inuention \. — 73. \Exit Val.] added by Del. 
 
40 FAIR EM. [Ill, 5. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 Enter Makques Lubeck and the King of Denmark, 
 
 angerly with some attendants. 
 Zweno. Well, Lubeck, well, it is not possible 
 
 But you must be concenting to this act. 
 
 Is this the man so highly you extold? 
 
 And play a part so hateful! with his friend? 
 5 Since first he came with thee into the court. 
 
 What entertainement and what countenance 
 
 He hath receiued, none better knowes than thou. 
 
 In recompence whereof, he quites me well 
 
 To steale away faire Mariana my prisoner, 
 10 Whose raunsome being lately greed vpon, 
 
 I am deluded of by this escape. 
 
 Besides, I know not how to answer it, 
 
 When shee shall be demaunded home to Swethia. 
 
 .' Lub. My gracious Lord, coniecture not, I pray, 
 15 Worser of Lubeck than he doth deserue: 
 
 Your highnes knowes Mariana was my loue, 
 
 Sole paragon and mistres of my thoughts. 
 
 Is't likely I should know of her departure, 
 
 Wherein there's no man iniured more than I? 
 20 Zweno. That carries reason, Marques, I confesse. 
 
 Call foorth my daughter. Yet I am perswaded 
 ■ That shee, poore soule, suspected not her going; 
 
 For as I heare, shee likewise loued the man, 
 
 Which he, to blame, did not at all regard. 
 
 Enter RosiLio and MARIANA. 
 25 Ros. My Lord, here is the Princesse Mariana; 
 
 It is your daughter is conueyed away. 
 
 Scene V. 2. in this Del. — 5. in to the Simp. — 8. quits Simp. -^ 
 ^. fair Marian, my captive. Chet. — 10. lately fixed on diet. — 15- More 
 ill of Chet. — 18. Is it Qq, Is't Del. — 19. there is Qq, there's Del. and 
 Simp. — Wherein no man is injured Chet. — 24. The stage- direction added 
 by Del. — 25. Rocilia B, Rozilio Chet. — 26. For the omission of the relative 
 see Abbott, s. 244. 
 
m, 6.] FAIR EM. 41 
 
 Zweno. What, my daughter gone! 
 Now, Marques, your villainie breakes foorth. 
 This match is of your making, gentle sir, 
 And you shall dearly know the price thereof. 30 
 
 Liih. Knew I thereof, or that there was intent 
 In Robert thus to steale your highnes daughter. 
 Let heauens in iustice presently confound me! 
 
 Zweno. Not all the protestations thou canst vse 
 Shall saue thy life. Away with him to prison! 35 
 
 And, minion, otherwise it cannot be 
 But you 're an agent in this trecherie. 
 I will reuenge it throughly on you both. 
 Away with her to prison! 
 
 Heres stuffe indeed! My daughter stolen away! 40 
 
 It booteth not thus to disturbe my selfe, 
 •But presently to send to English William, 
 To send me that proud knight of Windsor hither, 
 Here in my Court to suffer for his shame. 
 Or at my pleasure to be punished there, 45 
 
 Withall that Blaunch be sent me home againe. 
 Or I shall fetch her vnto Windsors cost, 
 
 Yea, and Williams too, if he denie her mee. 
 
 [Exeunt all. 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 
 Enter William, taken with souldiers. 
 
 Wm. Could any crosse, could any plague be worse? 
 
 Could heauen or hell, did both conspire in one 
 
 T' afflict my soule, inuent a greater scourge 
 
 Than presently I am tormented with? 
 
 Ah, Mariana, cause of my lament! 5 
 
 loy of my hart, and comfort of my life, 
 
 For thee I breath my sorrowes in the ayre 
 
 And tyre myself, for silently I sigh, 
 
 28. your may be pronounced as a dissyllable; Now, Marques, [now] 
 your Simp. — 33. Let heaven Chet. — 37. you are Qq, you're Del. — 38. tho- 
 roughly Chet. — 39, 40. Divided at indeed! \ in Qq; set right by Del. — 
 48. [Exit Zweno.] Qq; corr. by Del. 
 
 Scene VI. 3. To afflict Qq, T' afflict Chet. — 7, 8. For whether I 
 breathe or silently I sigh Simp. conj. 
 
42 FAIR EM. pil, 6. 
 
 My sorrowes afflicts my soule with equall passion. 
 lO SouL Go to, sirrah, put vp, 'tis to small purpose. 
 Wj>i. Hence, villaines, hence! 
 Dare you to lay your hands vpon your Soueraigne? 
 
 Sou/. Well, sir, we'll deale for that. 
 But here comes one will remedie all this. 
 
 EnUr Demaech. 
 15 jVIy Lord, watching this night in the campe 
 We tooke this man, and know not what he is; 
 And in his companie was a gallant dame, 
 A woman faire in outward shewe she seemd, 
 But that her face was masked, we could not see 
 20 The grace and fauour of her countenance. 
 
 Dem. Tell me, good fellow, of" whence and what thou art. 
 Soul. Why do you not answer my Lord? 
 He takes scorne to answer! 
 
 Dan. And takest thou scorn to answer my demaund? 
 25 Thy proud behauiour very well deserues 
 
 This misdemeanour at the worst be construed. 
 Why doest thou neither know, nor hast thou heard. 
 That in the absence of the Saxon Duke 
 Demarch is his especial! Substitute, 
 30 To punish those that shall offend the lawes? 
 
 W?n. In knowing this, I know thou art a traytor; 
 A rebel!, and mutenous conspirator. 
 Why, Demarch, knoM'est thou who I am? 
 / 
 
 ' 9. My^griefs afflict Chet. — afflict Del. — me soule A. — 10. sirha A; 
 cp. Marlowe's Faustus etc., ed. Ward, Note to IF. 5 (p. 142). — li is Qq and 
 Edd. — II, 12. Divided at hands in Qq. In the division of the lines we 
 have followed El.'s proposal (Notes, p. 133). — 12. Dare you lay Qq, How 
 dare you lay Del., Dare you [to] lay Simp. — 13. we will Qq; we om. by 
 Del. — 15. In Qq Souldier is prefixed also to this line. — For the dis- 
 syllabic pronunciation oi Lord see Marlowe's Edward II., ed. Fleay, II. 5. 107 
 (and Notes, p. 117). — El., comparing 1. 31, proposes to read My Lord, in 
 watching tic. (Notes, p. lyseq.). — 17. Pronounce comp'ny. — 21. what art 
 thoup Simp. — 28. The Saxon Duke. 'He was a Norman. William is 
 variously termed etc' Simp., Note ad loc. — 32. rebel is to be pronounced 
 as a monosyllable. It is, therefore, unnecessary to read with Simp, and a 
 mutinous. 
 
IV, I.J FAIR EM. 43 
 
 Dem. Pardon, my dread Lord, th' error of my sence, 
 And misdemeanour to your princely excellencie! 35 
 
 Wm. Why, Demarch, 
 What is the cause my subiects are in armes? 
 
 Dem. Free are my thoughts, my dread and gracious Lord, 
 From treason to your state and common weale; 
 Only reuengement of a priuate grudge, 40 
 
 By Lord Dirot lately profered me. 
 That stands not with the honor of my name. 
 Is cause I haue assembled for my guard 
 Some men in armes, that may withstand his force 
 Whose setled malice aymeth at my life. 45 
 
 Wm. Where's Lord Dirot? 
 
 Dem. In arme6, my gratious Lord, 
 
 Not past two miles from hence, as credibly 
 I'm assertained. 
 
 Wm. Well, come, let us go. 
 
 I feare 1 shall find traytors of you both. 
 
 [Exeunt all. 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 Enler Ihe Citizen of Chester, and his daughter 
 Elner, and Manuile. 
 at. Indeed, sir, it would do verie well if you could 
 intreat your father to come hither; but, if you thinke it be 
 
 34. the error Qq. — 35. El. (Notes, p. 135) substitutes excellence for 
 excellencie. — 36, 37. Printed as one line in Qq; divided by El. — 39. and 
 th' common weal El. conj. — 46 — 49. Six lines in Qq, ending Dirot \ Lord \ 
 hence \ assertained \ go \ both \. El. (Notes, p. 18) arranges the passage thus: 
 Wm. Conq. Where's Lord Dirot? \ Dem. In arms, my gracious lord, not 
 past two miles \ From hence, as credibly I'm ascertain' d. |. The arrangement 
 as given above is that of the present editors. — 46. Where is Qq. — 48. I 
 am Qq. — let's Del. — 49. [Exit] Qq. — Chet. adds the following rhyme- 
 couplet: Traitors to kings fly in the face- of heav'n, \ Since by almighty 
 Jove the sceptre's given. 
 
 Scene I. Also this scene is printed as verse in the old copies. — 
 Stage-direction: Manchester Qq, Chester Del., a Citizen of Chester Chet. — 
 Eliner Chel. (throughout), Elinor Del. — 1. would be very Del. — 2. it to 
 be Del. 
 
44 FAIR EM. [TV, I. 
 
 too farr, I care not much to take horse and ride to Man- 
 chester. I am sure my daughter is content with either. How 
 5 say est thou, Elner, art thou not?- 
 
 El. As you shall thinke best I must be contented. 
 
 B'layi. Well; Elner, farewell. Only thus much, I pray: 
 
 make all things in a readines, either to serue here, or Lo 
 
 carry thither with vs. 
 
 lo Cil. As for that, sir, take you no care; and so I betake 
 
 you to your iournie. [Exit Manuile. 
 
 EnUr Valingfokd. 
 
 But soft, what gentleman is this? 
 
 Val. God speed, sir. Might a man craue a word or 
 two with you? 
 15 Cil. God forbid els, sir; 1 pray you speake your pleasure. 
 
 Val. The gentleman that parted from you , was he not 
 of Manchester, his father lyuing there of good account? 
 
 Cil. Yes, mary is he, sir. Why doe you aske? Belike 
 you haue had some acquaintance with him? 
 20 Val. 1 haue been acquainted, in times past, but, through 
 
 his double dealing, I am growen werie of his companie. For, 
 be it spoken to you, he hath been acquainted with a poore 
 millers daughter, and diuers tyraes hath promist her marriage. 
 But what with his delayes and flouts he hath brought her into 
 25 such a taking that I feare me it will cost her her life. 
 
 Cil. To be playne with you, sir, his father and I haue 
 been of old acquaintance, and a motion was made betweene 
 my daughter and his sonne, which is now throughly agreed 
 vpon, saue onely the place appoynted for the mariage, whether 
 30 it shall be kept here or at Manchester; and for no other 
 occasion he is now ridden. 
 
 El. What hath he done to you, that you should speake 
 so ill of the man? 
 
 Val. Oh, gentlewoman, I crie you mercie: he is your 
 35 husband that shalbe. 
 
 4. I'm sure Cliet. — 10. and so betake Cliet. — II. [Exit M.] added 
 by Del. — 27. beteewene A. — 28. now is Simp. — thoroughly Cliet. 
 
 :-4J 
 
IV, 2.] FAIR EM. ^5 
 
 El. If I knew this to be true, he should not be my 
 husband were he neuer so good. And therefore, good father, 
 I would desire you to take the paines to beare this gentleman 
 companie to Manchester, to know whether this be true or no. 
 
 Cit. Now trust mee, gentleman, hee deales with mee very 40 
 hardly, knowing how well I ment to him; but I care not much 
 to ride to Manchester, to know whether his fathers will be he 
 should deale with me so badly. Will it please you, sir, to 
 go in? We will presently take horse and away. 
 
 Val. If it please you to go in. He follow you presently. 45 
 
 [Exit Elner and her father. 
 Now shall I be reuenged on Manuile, and by this meanes 
 get Em to .my wife; and therefore I will strayght to her 
 fathers, and informe them both of all that is hapned. 
 
 [Exit. 
 SCENE II. 
 
 Enter William, the Ambassador of Denamarke, 
 
 Demakch, and other attendants. 
 Wm. What newes with the Denmarke Embassador? 
 Emb. Mary, thus: 
 The King of Denmarke and my Soueraigne 
 Doth send to know of thee what is the cause. 
 That iniuriously, against the law of armes, 5 
 
 Thou 'st stolen away his onely daughter Blaunch, 
 
 44. we' II presently Chet. — 45. Exeunt Eliner . . . Chet. — 46 — 48. No'ia 
 shall I be revenged on faithless Manvile, \ And, by this means, fair Em will 
 he revenged. \ Chet. — 47. to be my Simp. — to her father Del. — ^48. has 
 happened. Simp. This alteration is quite uncalled for, as in the English of 
 Shakespeare's lime the intransitive verbs were more commonly used with is 
 than with has. Cp. Abbott, s. 295. 
 
 Scene II. 2, 3. Forming one line in Qq and Edd. ; separated by El. — 
 4. of the Qq. — 5, 6. Elze, who, very likely, is right in thinking the reiteration 
 of onely in 11. 6 and 7 to be what the German critics call a ' diltography ', 
 alters (Notes, p. 19): That thou host stol'n, against the law of arms \ In- 
 juriously away his daughter Blanch, \. But, in our opinion, it would be 
 belter, not to separate away from its participle stol'n, and to read: That 
 ihou hast stoL'n away, injuriously, \ Against the law of armes, his daughter 
 Blanch \. More conservative critics may perhaps prefer another proposal made 
 by EI. (p. 20): That, 'gainst the law of arms, injuriously \ Thou'st stol'n 
 away his only daughter Blanch. — C. Thou hast Qq. 
 
46 FAIR EM. [IV, 3. 
 
 The onely stay and comfort of his life? 
 Therefore by me 
 
 He willeth thee to send his daughter Blaunch, 
 10 Or else foorthwith he '11 leuy such an host, 
 As soone shall fetch -her in despite of thee. 
 
 Wm. Embassador, this answer I retorne thy king. 
 He willeth me to send his daughter Blaunch, 
 Saying, I conuaid her from the Danish court, 
 15 That neuer yet did once as thinke thereof. 
 As for his menacing and daunting threats, 
 I nill regard him nor his Danish power; 
 For if he come to fetch her foorth my Realme 
 I will prouide him such a banquet here, 
 20 That he shall haue small cause to giue me thanks. 
 S7nd. Is this your answer, then? 
 Wm. It is; and so begone. 
 
 I^md. I goe; but to your cost. [Exit Ambassador. 
 
 Wvi. Demarch, 
 25 Our subiects, earst leuied in ciuill broyles. 
 Muster foorthwith, for to defend the Realme. 
 In hope whereof, that we shall finde you true. 
 We freely pardon this thy late offence. 
 
 Dem. Most humble thanks I render to your grace. 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 Enter 'the Miller and Valingford. 
 Mil, Alas, gentleman, why sliould you trouble your selfe 
 so much, considering the imperfections of my daughter, which 
 
 8, 9. One line in Qq. — 9. El. thinks the same compositor's error as 
 in 11. 6, 7 to have occurred here, his daughter Blanch having come down 
 from 1. 6, or up from 1. 13; he, therefore, proposes to read: Therefore .... 
 to send her. Chet. alters: Therefore, by me, he wills thee send her back. 
 In placing Therefore by me in a separate line we have followed Del. and 
 Simp. — 10. he •will Qq and Simp., he'll Del. — 14. Saying, a monosyllable 
 here. — 15. yet once did Simp. — 17. Simp, reads, by mistake, I will regard. 
 For the archaic form nill = ne will, cp. Tarn., II. I. 273, and Haml., V. I. 19. — 
 18. comes Del. — 24, 25. As one line in Qq; divided by Del. — 26. Mustred 
 Qq; corr. by Del. and Sifnp. 
 
 ScKNB'. III. This scene is again printed as verse in the old copies. — 
 Enter the Millier. A. 
 
IV, 3.J FAIR EM. 47 
 
 is able to with -draw the loue of any man frona her, as 
 alreadie it hath done in her first choyce. Maister Manuile 
 hath forsaken her, and at Chester shall be maried to a mans 5 
 daughter of no little wealth. But if my daughter knew so 
 much, it would gee verie neere her heart, I feare me. 
 
 Vai. Father Miller, such is the entyre affection to your 
 daughter, as no misfortune whatsoeuer can alter. My fellow 
 Mountney, thou seest, gaue quickly ouer; but I, by reason of 10 
 my good meaning, am not so soone to be changed, although 
 I am borne off with scornes and deniall. 
 
 Enter Em to them. 
 
 Mil. Trust me, sir, I know not what to saie. My daughter 
 is not to be compelled by me; but here she comes her selfe: 
 speake to her and spare not, for I neuer was troubled with 15 
 loue matters so much before. 
 
 Em. [Aside] Good Lord! shall I neuer be rid of this 
 importunate man? Now must I dissemble blyndnes againe. 
 Once more for thy sake, Manuile, thus am I inforced, because 
 I shall complete my full resolued mynde to thee. Father, 20 
 where are you? 
 
 Mil. Here, sweet Em. Answer this gentleman, that would 
 so fayne enioy thy loue. 
 
 Em. Where are you, sir? will you neuer leaue this idle 
 and vaine pursuit of loue? Is not England stor'd enough 25 
 to content you, but you must still trouble the poore con- 
 temptible mayd of Manchester? 
 
 Val. None can content me but the fayre maide of Man- 
 chester. 
 
 Em. I perceiue loue is vainly described, that, being 30 
 blynd himselfo, would haue you likewise troubled with a blinde 
 wife, hauing the benefit of your eyes. But neither follow him 
 so much in follic, but loue one in ^vhom you may better 
 delight. 
 
 8. 'Qy, my entire' Simp. — Father, stick is ih' entire Chet. ^ 9 — 12. 
 My fellma .... denial/. Omitted by diet. — 10. quicly A. — 12. denials 
 Del. — 13. dauf^kter's Chet. — 17. [Aside] added by Del. — iq. / am 
 Del. — insorced A. — 25. etwught A. — 26. still om. by Del. 
 
48 FAIR EM. [IV, 3. 
 
 35 Va/. Father Miller, thy daughter shall haue honor by 
 
 graunting mee her loue. I am a Gentleman of King Williams 
 Court, and no meane man in King Williams fauour. 
 
 Em. If you be a Lord, syr, as you say, you offer both 
 your selfe and mee great wrong; yours, as apparant, in limit- 
 
 40 ing your loue so vnorderly, for which you rashly endure re- 
 prochement; mine, as open and euident, when, being shut 
 from the vanities of this world, you would haue me as an 
 open gazing stock to all the world; for lust; not loue, leades 
 you into this error. But from the one I will keepe me as well 
 
 45 as I can; and yeeld the other to none but to my father, as 
 I am bound by dutie. 
 
 Vai. Why, faire Em, Manuile hath forsaken thee, and 
 must at Chester be married: which if I speake otherwise than 
 true, let thy father speake what credibly he hath heard. 
 
 50 £m. But can it be Manuile will deale so ~vnkindly to 
 
 reward my iustice with such monstrous vngentlenes? Haue I 
 dissembled for thy sake, and doest thou now thus requite it? 
 In deed these many daies I haue not seen him, which hath 
 made me marueile at his long absence. But, father, are you 
 
 55 assured of the words he spake were concerning Manuile? 
 
 MiZ In sooth, daughter, now it is foorth I must needs 
 confirme it: Maister Manuile hath forsaken thee, and at Chester 
 must be married to a man's daughter of no little wealth. His 
 owne father procures it, and therefore I dare credit it; and 
 
 60 doe thou belpeue it, for trust me, daughter, it is so. 
 
 £m. Then, good father, pardon the iniurie that I haue 
 don to you, onely causing your griefe, by ouer-fond affecting 
 a man so trothlesse. And you likewise, sir, I pray hold me 
 excused, as I hope this cause will allow sufficiently for mee: 
 
 65 My loue to Manuile, thinking he would requite it, hath made 
 
 38. man in favour with my prince. Chet. — 39. your's Chet.^ — 
 41. which, leing Del. — 41, 42. shut out from Simp. — 42. of the world 
 Del. — 42, 43. have me u gazing-stock Chet. — 44, 45. /'// keep me as I 
 can Chet. — 49. credibly I have heard Del. — 54, 55. are you assured 
 of the words he speak were true concerning Manvile? Chet.; are you assured 
 if the words he spake were true, concerning Manvile? Del. — 5O. Indeed, 
 daughter, now it is such, I must Del. — 63. / pray you Del. 
 
IV, 3.]"' ^"^^^ ^*^- 49 
 
 me double w ith my father ■ and you, and many more besides, 
 which I will no longer hyde from you: That inticing speeches 
 should not beguile mee, I haue made my selfe deafe to any 
 but to him; and lest any mans person should please mee 
 more than his, I haue dissembled the want of my sight: Both 70 
 which shaddowes of my irreuocable affections I haue not 
 spar'd to confirme before him , my father , and all other 
 amorous soliciters — wherewith not made acquainted, I per- 
 ceiue my true intent hath wrought mine owne sorrow, and 
 seeking by loue to be regarded, am cut of with contempt, 75 
 and dispised. 
 
 Mil. Tell me, sweet Em, hast thou but fained all this 
 while for his loue, that hath so descourteously forsaken thee? 
 
 Evi. Credit me, father, I haue told you the troth; where- 
 with I desire you and Lord Valingford not to be displeased. 80 
 For ought else I shall saie, let my present griefe hold me 
 excused. But, may 1 liue to see that vngratfull man iustly 
 rewarded for his trecherie, poore Em would think her selfe 
 not a little happie. Favour my departing at this instant; for 
 my troubled thought desires to meditate alone in silence. 85 
 
 [Exit Em. 
 
 Val. Will not Em shew one cheerefull looke on Valingford? 
 Mil. Alas, sir, blame her not; you see shee hath good 
 cause, being so handled by this gentleman: And so lie leaue 
 you, and go comfort my poore wench as well as I may. 
 
 [Exit the Miller. 
 Val. Farewell, good father. ^ 90 
 
 [Exit Valingford. 
 
 77. lut om. by Del. — 77, 78. all this only for his Chet. — 79. told 
 you truth Chet. — 80. desire yon A. — 85. in silence om. by Chet. — 
 88. being so handled by this gentleman om. by Chet. — 89. as well as I 
 may om. by Chet. — 90 Chet. adds the following rhyme couplet: O love! 
 deceiving mirror, bane to joy, \ Who lights aflame, -whose lustre -will destroy \. 
 
50 F-*-IR EM. [V, I. 
 
 A C T V. 
 
 SCENE 1. 
 
 Enter ZwENO, King of Denrnarke, with RosiLiO 
 and other attendants. 
 Zweno. Rosilio, is this the place whereas 
 The Duke William should meet mee? 
 Ros. It is, and like your grace. 
 
 Zweno. Goe, captaine! Away, regard the charge I gaue: 
 5 See all our men be martialed for the fight; 
 Dispose the wards, as lately was deuised; 
 And let the prisoners, vnder seuerall gards. 
 Be kept apart, vntill you heare from us. 
 Let this suffice, you know my resolution. 
 lO If William, Duke of Saxonie, be the man, 
 That by his answer sent us, he would send 
 Not words, but wounds; not parleis, but alarms, 
 Must be descider of this controuersie. 
 Rosilio, stay with mee; the rest begone. [Exeunt. 
 
 Enter William, and Demarch with other attendants. 
 15 Wm. All but Demarch go shroud you out of sight; 
 
 For He goe parley with the Prince my selfe. 
 
 Dem. Should Zweno, by this parley, call you foorth, 
 Vpon intent iniuriously to deale. 
 This ofifereth too much oportunitie. 
 20 Wm. No, no, Demarch, 
 
 That were a breach against the law of Armes. 
 
 Therefore be gone, and leaue vs here alone. [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene I. 1,2. Divided in Qq at William j; corr. by Del. — 3. a«V 
 Del. — 10. Duke of Saxon Qq, Duke of Normandy Chet. Saxony, as we 
 have given in our text , is written in the margin of the copy, which was used 
 by Malone (the undated Q, Bodl. Libr.). — It. he would seem Simp. conj. — 
 13. deciders T)e\.; cp., however, As You Lilie It, III. 4. 33seqq.: t/ie oath of 
 a lover is no stronger than the word of a tapster ; they are both the confrmer' 
 of false reckonings, — 15. Here begins anotlier scene in Del.'s edition. But 
 Zweno and Ros. remain on the stage, and Wm. and Dem. enter to them. — 
 shroud yon Del. (a misprint). — 16. For I will go parley Qq, For Z will 
 parley Del., For I'll go parley Simp. — 20 — 22. As three lines in Qq, ending 
 breach \ begone \ alone | ; corr. by Del. 
 
V, I.] FAIR EM, J, 
 
 I see that Zweno's maister of his word, 
 
 Zweno, William of Saxonie greeteth thee, 
 
 Either well or yll, according to thy intent. 25 
 
 If well thou wish to him and Saxonie, 
 
 He bids thee frindly welcome as he can ; 
 
 If yll thou wish to him and Saxonie, 
 
 He must withstand thy mallice as he may. 
 
 Zweno. William, 30 
 
 For other name and title giue I none 
 To him, who, were he worthie of those honours 
 That Fortune and his predecessors left, 
 I ought, by right and humaine courtesie. 
 
 To grace his style the duke of Saxonie; 35 
 
 But, for I finde a base, degenerate mynde, 
 I frame my speech according to the man, 
 And not the state that he vnworthie holds. 
 
 Wm. Herein, Zweno, doest thou abase thy state, 
 To breake the peace which by our auncesters 40 
 
 Hath heretofore been honourably kept. 
 
 Ziveno. And should that peace for euer haue been kept. 
 Had not thy selfe been author of the breach: 
 Nor stands it with the honor of my state, 
 Or nature of a father to his childe, 45 
 
 That I should so be robbed of my daughter. 
 And not, vnto the vtmost of my power, 
 Reuenge so intollerable an iniurie. 
 
 Wjii. Is this the colour of your quarrell, Zweno? 
 I well perceiue the wisest men may erre. 50 
 
 And thinke you I conueied away your daughter Blaunch? 
 
 23. In Del.'s edition Zweno and Ros. reenter here. — Zweno is Qq. — 
 24. William of England diet. — 26. to him, and England's crown. Chet. 
 — 28. to him, and this my realm. Chet. — Saxanie A. — 30, 31. One line 
 in Qq and Edd. — '34. common courtesy'^, conj. — 35. To grace his style 
 with King of England. Chet. — To style his grace Simp. — 39. abuse thy 
 Del. — 42. El. proposes lo read: And that peace should for ever have been 
 kept. — 44. of thy state Del. — 50. man Del. — 51. El. supposes Blaunch 
 to have been inserted here by faulty anticipation from 1. 56. In the same 
 critic's opinion the metre of this line might also be regulated by omitting 
 either And or away (see Notes, p. 135 seq.). 
 
52 
 
 FAIR EM: [V, I. 
 
 Zweno. Art thou so impudent to deny thou didst, 
 When that the proofe thereof is manifest? 
 
 Wm. What proofe is there? 
 55 Zweno. Thine owne confession is sufficient proofe. 
 
 Wm. Did I confesse I stole your daughter Blaunch? 
 
 Zweno. Thou didst confesse thou hadst a Ladie hence. 
 
 Wm. I haue, and do. 
 
 Zweno. Why, that was Blaunch, my daughter. 
 
 Wm. Nay, that was Mariana, 
 60 Who wrongfully thou detainest prisoner. 
 
 Zweno. Shamelesse persisting in thy ill! 
 Thou doest mayntaine a manifest vntroth. 
 As shee shall iustifie vnto thy teeth. 
 Rosilio, fetch her and the Marques hether. 
 
 [Exit R0.SIL10 for Mariana. 
 65 Wm. It cannot be I should be so deceiued. 
 
 Dem. I heard this night among the souidiers 
 That in their watch they tooke a pensiue. ladie. 
 Who, at th' appoyntment of the Lord Dirot, 
 Is yet in keeping. What shee is I know not: 
 70 Oneiy thus much I ouer-heard by chance. 
 
 Wm. And what of this? 
 
 Dem. It may be Blaunch, the King of Denmarkes daughter. 
 
 Wm. It may be so; but on my iyfe it is not; 
 Yet, Demarch, goe, and fetch her strayght. [Exit Demarch. 
 
 Enter Rosilio with the Marques. 
 75 Ros. Pleaseth your highnes, here is the Marques and Mariana. 
 
 Ziveno. See here, Duke William, your competitors. 
 That were consenting to my daughters scape: 
 Let them resolue you of the truth herein. 
 And here I vow and solemly protest, 
 
 58. Printed as two lines in Qq and Del., as one line by Simp. — 60. 
 Whom Del. — detainedst Chet. and Del. — 66. / heare B and Edd. — 68. 
 the appoyntment Qq, th' appointment Chet. — 68, 69. Divided at keeping- in 
 Qq and Chet.; regulated by Del. — 70. oner -hard Qq; corr. by Del. — 74. 
 El. propose.s to transpose Demarch and go. — Stage-direction added by El. 
 — 78. reso/ut yn?i of the trueth hereing A. 
 
V, I.] FAIR EM. ^^ 
 
 That in thy presence they shall lose their heds, 80 
 
 Vnlesse I here whereas my daughter is! 
 
 Wm. Oh, Marques Lubeck, how it grieueth me, 
 That for ray sake thou shouldest indure these bondes! 
 Be iudge, my soule, that feeles the martirdome! 
 
 Lud. Duke William, you know it's for your cause 85 
 
 It ple^seth thus the King to misconceiue of me, 
 And for his pleasure doth me iniurie. 
 
 Unier Demarch with the Ladie Blaunch. 
 
 Dem. May it please 3'our highnesse. 
 Here is the Ladie whom you sent me for. 
 
 Wm. Away, Demarch! what tellest thou me of Ladies? go 
 I so detest the dealing of their sex, 
 As that I count a louers state to be 
 The base and vildest slauerie in the world! 
 
 Dem. What humors are these? Heres a straunge alteration! 
 
 Ziveno. See, Duke William, is this Blaunch or no? 95 
 
 You know her if you see her, I am sure. 
 
 Wm. Zweno, 
 1 was deceiued, yea vtterly deceiued; 
 Yet this is shea: this same is Ladie Blaunch. 
 And for mine error, here I am content 1 00 
 
 To do whatsoeuer Zweno shall set downe. 
 Ah, cruell Mariana, thus to vse 
 The man which loued and honoured thee with's heart! 
 
 85. it is Qq and Del., it's Simp. — 86. It pleaseth t/i' King to mis- 
 conceive of me El. conj. — 89. whom not in Qq; inserted on El.'s authority 
 (Notes, p. 136). — 92,93. Divided at the base in Qq. — 93. vilest Chet. — 
 i' th' -world Simp. — 94. As two lines in diet., the first ending at these? \. 
 — 95. See is to be considered as a 'mnnosyllabic foot. — 96. The words of 
 Zweno: You Iciiow tier, if you see her bring to mind the title of Sam. 
 Rowley's chronicle-history 'When you see me, you know me' Compare Muce- 
 dorus, I. 4. 62 (in Warnke and Proescholdt's cd. I. 4. 30; p. 31) where the words 
 ol Mouse: Why, then you know nobody, an you know not me seem to refer to 
 the title of Tho. Heywood's play 'If you know not me, you know nobocjy'. — 
 97, 98. Forming one line in Qq and Edd. — 99. EI. proposes Yes for Yet. — 
 TGI. whatever Simp.; whatsoeuer to be pronounced as a trisyllable. — 103. with 
 his Qq and Del., with's Simp. — tllee so tnuch Chet. 
 
54 
 
 FAIR EM. [V, r. 
 
 Mar. When first I came into your highnes court, 
 105 And William oft importuning me of loue, 
 
 I did deuise, to ease the griefe your daughter did sustain, 
 
 Shee'id meete Sir William masked, as I it were. 
 
 This put in proofe did take so good effect. 
 
 As yet it seemes his grace is not resolued, 
 1 10 But it was I which he conueied away. 
 
 Wm. May this be true? It cannot be but true. 
 
 Was 't Ladie Blaunch which I conueied away? 
 
 Vnconstant Mariana, thus to deale 
 
 With him which meant to thee nought but faith! 
 115 Blaunch. Pardon, deere father, my follyes that are past. 
 
 Wherein I haue neglected thus my dutie, 
 
 Which I in reuerence ought to shew your grace; 
 
 For, led by loue, I thus haue gone astray. 
 
 And now repent the errors I was in. 
 1 20 Zweno. Stand vp, deare daughter. Though thy fault deserues 
 
 For to be punisht in th' extremest sort. 
 
 Yet loue, that couers multitude of sinns, 
 
 Makes loue in parents winke at childrens faults. 
 
 Sufficeth, Blaunch, thy father loues thee so, 
 125 Thy follies past he knowes, but will not know. 
 
 104. E). proposes unto your; cp. I. T. 78. — 105. often importing Qq, 
 oft' importing- Simp., oft importuning- El. conj. ; cp. III. I. 81. — 107. Shee 
 should Qq, She Vrf El. conj. — meet. Sir, William diet. — III. Simp, pro- 
 poses to read It cannot but be true. — 112. IVas it Qq, IVas't Del. and 
 Simp. — 113, 114. Divided at Mariana \ in Qq; corr. by Del. — 114. nought 
 is to be pronounced as a dissyllable; cp. Which Use \ would free \ have wro \ 
 ug-ht. All I is well\, Macb. II. I. 19, quoted by Abbott, s. 484, p. 381 (E!., 
 Jahrb., XV, 349). — 115. Almost the same line (Pardon, dear father, the 
 follies that are past) occurs in The London Prodigal (Doubtful Plays of Wm. 
 Shakespeare, ed. MoKlcc; Leipzig, Tauchnitz) V. I. (p. 276). — are pas Del. (a 
 misprint). — 116. thus not in Qq, added by Del. — this my duty Chet. — 
 me dutie A. — 118. For led by loue Qq and Simp.; the punctuation added 
 by the pres. Edd. — Forled by love Del.; the veih forlead, however, occurs 
 so seldom in the Elizabethan literature , that we have not ventured to admit 
 the reading of Del. into the text. See Nares, Gloss., and Halliwell, Diet, of 
 Arch, and Prov. Words, s. v. — 121. the Qq. — 122. multitudes Chet. — 
 123. Makes loving parents Ci\t\.. and Del.- — 124. Suffice »'< Simp, conj.; but 
 sufficeth without it often occurs in Shale. 
 
V, I.] FAIR EM. 55 
 
 And here, Duke William, take my daughter to thy wife. 
 For well I am assured shee loues thee well. 
 
 Wm. A proper coniunction! 
 As who should say, lately come out o' th' f3'er, 
 I would go thrust my selfe into the flame. 130 
 
 Let Maistres nice go saint it where shee list, 
 And coyly quaint it with dissembling face; 
 I hold in scome the fooleries that they vse: 
 I being free, will ne'er subiect my selfe 
 To any such as shee is underneath the sunne. 135 
 
 Zjvejio. Refusest thou to take my daughter to thy wife? 
 I tell thee, Duke, this rash deniall may bring 
 More mischicfe on thee then thou canst auoyd. 
 
 W?ii. Conseit hath wrought such general] dislike, 
 Through the false dealing of Mariana, 140 
 
 That vtterly I doe abhor their sex. 
 They're all disloyall, vnconstant, all vniust: 
 Who tryes as I haue tryed, and findes as I haue found, 
 Will say there's no such creatures on the ground. 
 
 Blaunch. Vnconstant Knight, though some deserue no trust, 145 
 Thers others faithfull, louing, loyall, and iust! 
 
 Enter to them Valingford with Eji and the Miller, and 
 MOUNTNEY, and Manuile, and Elner. 
 Wm. How now Lord Valingford, what makes these women here? 
 Val. Here be two women, may it please your grace. 
 That are contracted to one man, and are : 
 
 In strife whether shall haue him to their husband. 150 
 
 Wm. Stand foorth, women, and saie 
 To whether of you did he first giue his faith. 
 Em. To me, forsooth. 
 
 128, 129. Divided at say \ in Qq; corr. by Del. — 128. coniuntion A. 
 — 129. of the Qq, 0' th' pies. Edd. — 132. cryly Del. (a misprint). — 134. 
 neuer Qq, ne'er Del. — 135. sucti as om. Simp. conj. — 137, 138. Divided 
 at deniall in Qq; corr. by Del. — 141. abhor the sex Chet. — 142. they are 
 Qq, they're Del. — 143. Two lines in Oq, the first ending at tryed |; corr. 
 by Del. — 145. though same Del. (a misprint). — 146. and om. by Chet. — 
 148. Here is two Del. — 149, 150. Divided at man \ in Qq. — 150. to her 
 husband Simp. — 152. first give faith Chet. — 153. To me, my liege. Chet. 
 
56 FAIR EM. [V, I. 
 
 El. To me, my gracious Lord. 
 155 Wm. Speake, Manuile: to whether didst thou giue thy faith? 
 Man. To. saie the troth, this maid had first my loue. 
 El. Yea, Manuile, but there was no witnesse by. 
 Em. Thy conscience, Manuile, is a hundred witnesses. 
 El. Shee hath stolne a conscience to serae her owne 
 160 turne; but you are deceiued, yfaith, he will none of you. 
 Man. Indeed, dred Lord, so deere I held her loue 
 As in the same I put my whole delight; 
 But some impediments, which at that instant 
 Hapned, made me forsake her quite; 
 165 For which I had her fathers franke consent. 
 Wm. What were th' impediments? 
 Man. Why, shee could neither heare nor see. 
 Wm. Now shee doth both. Mayden, how were you cured? 
 Em. Pardon, my Lord, lie tell your grace the troth, 
 1 70 Be't not imputed to me as discredit. 
 
 I loued this Manuile so much, that still my thought, 
 When he was absent, did present to mee 
 The forme and feature of that countenance 
 Which I did shrine an ydoll in mine heart. 
 175 And neuer could I see a man, methought, 
 That equald Manuile in my partiall eye. 
 Nor was there any loue betweene us lost. 
 But that 1 held the same in high regard, 
 Vntill repaire of some vnto our house, 
 1 80 Of whom my Manuile grew thus iealous 
 As if he tooke exception, I vouchsafed 
 To heare them speake, or saw them when they came : 
 
 155. faitth A. — 158. OA omits is. — By a mistake Simp, gives is a 
 thousand witnesses as the reading of OB. — 159, 160. Printed as two lines 
 in Qq, the first ending at turne. — 163. Ending at hapned in Qq. — 166. 
 the impediments Qq, th' impediments Simp. — 168. Two lines in Chet., ending 
 hoth I cured j. — l-jo. Be it Qq, Be't Del. — 171. me thought Qq, mythought 
 Del., jrrethought Simp. The emendation my thought is to be found in the 
 margin of QA, written by the same hand as above, 1. 10. As to the use of 
 me for my in A, cp. III. 6. g, and V. I. 116. — 173. The frame and Del. -^ 
 174. in my heart B. — 180. iealous is to be pronounced as a trisyllable 
 {ieai-i-ous); cp. S. Walker, Versif., p. ]54seqq., El. Jahrb., XV, 350. 
 
V, I.] FAIR EM. 57 
 
 On which I straight tooke order with my selfe, 
 
 To voyde the scrupule of his conscience, 
 
 By counterfaiting that I neither saw 185 
 
 Nor heard, any wayes to rid my hands of them. 
 
 All this I did to keepe my Manuiles loue. 
 
 Which he vnkindly seekes for to reward. 
 
 Man. And did my Em, to keepe her faith with mee, 
 Dissemble that shee neither heard nor sawe? igo 
 
 Pardon me, sweet Em, for I am onely thine! 
 
 Em. Lay off thy hands, disloyall as thou art! 
 Nor shalt thou haue possession of my loue. 
 That canst so finely shift thy matters off! 
 Put case I had been blind, and could not see — 195 
 
 As often times such visitations falles 
 That pleaseth God, which all things doth dispose — 
 Shouldest thou forsake me in regard of that? 
 I tell thee Manuile, hadst thou been blinde. 
 Or deafe, or dumbe, 200 
 
 Or else what impediments might befall to man, 
 Em would haue loued, and kept, and honoured thee; 
 Yea, begg'd, if wealth had faylde, for thy releefe. 
 
 Man. Forgiue me, sweet Em! 
 
 Em. I do forgiue thee, with my heart, 205 
 
 And will forget thee too, if case I can: 
 But neuer speake to mee, nor seeme to know mee! 
 
 Alan. Then farewell, frost! farewell a wench that will! 
 Now, Elner, I am thine owne, my gyrl. 
 
 EL Myne, Manuile? thou neuer shalt be myne. 210 
 
 185, 186. Divided at heard \ in Qq; our division has been proposed by 
 El. — 196. visitation Del. — igg. El. proposes haddest for hadst. — 200 — 
 203. In Qq the lines end impediments \ kept \ faylde \ releefe \. — 2or. The 
 line is to be scanned: Or else \ what 'mped \ 'merits might | &c. See Jahrb., 
 XV, 350. It is tlierefore unnecessary to read with Simp.: Or what impeditnents 
 else might befal man, — 205. / do forgive with all my heart. Del. — 207. 
 now seem Del. (a misprint). — 208. Printed as two lines in Qq, ending frost j 
 yjill 1 — Del.'s and Simp.'s transposition Well-fare a wench is an unneces- 
 sary alteration of the text, farewell having a shifting accent; cp. K. John, 
 III. 3. 17; Mucedorus, III. 4. 34; see also above, II. I. 157, and Abbott, ». 
 475' P- 3^'- — 2°9- ^^ must either pronounce Elner as a trisyllable (Eliner), 
 or consider the line with Simp, as a verse of four accents, and read I'm. 
 
58 FAIR EM. [V, I. 
 
 I so detest thy villanie, 
 
 That whilest I Hue I will abhor thy companie! 
 
 Man. Is't come to this? Of late I'd choyce of tvvaine, 
 On either side, to haue me to her husband, 
 2 1 5 And now am vtterly reiected of them both. 
 
 Val. My Lord, 
 This gentleman stood something in our light, 
 When time was; now I thinke it not amisse 
 To laugh at him that sometime scorned at vs. 
 2 20 Mount. Content my Lord, inuent the forme. 
 
 Val. Then thus. 
 
 Wm. I see that women are not general! euils, 
 Blaunch is faire: methinkes I see in her 
 A modest countenance, a heauenly blush. 
 225 Zweno, receiue a reconciled foe, 
 
 Not as thy friend, but as thy sonnc-in-law, 
 If so that thou be thus content. 
 
 Zweno. I i6y to see your grace so tractable. 
 Here, take my daughter Blaunch; 
 230 And after my desease the Denmarke Crowne. 
 
 Wm. Now, sir, how stands the case with you? 
 
 Man. I partly am perswaded as your grace is; 
 My Lord, he's best at ease that medleth least. 
 
 Val. Sir, may a man 
 235 Be so bold as to craue a word with you? 
 
 Man. Yea, two or three. What are they? 
 
 Val. I say, this maid will haue thee to her husband. 
 
 Mount. And I say this: and thereof will I lay 
 An hundred pound. 
 
 213. Is it Qq, Is't Del. — I had Qq. — 2l6 — 218. My Lord, this 
 genthinan, when time was, \ Stood something in our tight, j And now I ihinlie 
 it not amisse \ Qq; we have adopted El.'s ariangement. — 22t. El. thinks 
 the -conclusion of the play to be corrupt, or, at least, in great disorder. He 
 proposes to arrange the lines that follow in this way: 22 r, 234 — 254, 231 — 
 233, 222 — 230, 255 — 278. For further particulars see Jahrb., XV, 351 seq. — 
 233. he IS Qq, tie's diet, and Simp. — 234, 235. Divided at bold \ in Qq. — 
 238, 239. Forming one line in Qq. — 238 — 240. thereof . . . whereon, a striking 
 example for the free interchange between otz and of. See Doctor Faustus, ed. 
 Ward, note to II. 15, p. 142 seq., and Abbott, s. 181. 
 
V, I.J FAIR EM. 515 
 
 Va/. And I say i/ii's: whereon lie lay as much. 240 
 
 Jlfnn. And I say neither: what say you to that? 
 
 Mount. If that be true, then are we both deceiued. 
 
 Man. Why, it is true, and you are both deceiued. 
 
 Lub. In mine eyes this' the properest wench ; 
 Might I aduise thee, take her to thy wife! 245 
 
 Zweno. It seemes to me, shee hath refused him. 
 
 Lub. Why, theres the spite. 
 
 Zweno. If one refuse him, yet may he haue the other. 
 
 Lub. He'll aske but her good will, and all her friends. 
 
 Ziveno. Might I aduise thee? Let them both alone. 250 
 
 Alan. Yea, thats the course, and thereon will I stand ; 
 Such idle love hencefoorth I will detest. 
 
 Val. The foxe will eat no grapes, and why? 
 
 Mount. I know full well, because they hang too hye. 
 Wm. And may it be a Millers daughter by her birth? 255 
 I cannot thinke but shee is better borne. 
 
 Val. Sir Thomas Goddard hight this reuerent man 
 Famed for his virtues, and his good successe, 
 Whose fame hath been renowmed through the world. 
 
 Wm. Sir Thomas Goddard, welcome to thy Prince; 260 
 And, faire Em, frolike with thy good father; 
 As glad am I to find Sir Thomas Goddard, 
 As good Sir Thomas Tfeford, on the plaines. 
 He like a sheepheard, and thou our countrie Miller. 
 
 ^[^. And longer let not Goddard liue a day 265 
 
 Than he in honour loves his soueraigne. 
 
 W?n. But say. Sir Thomas, shall I giue thy daughter? 
 
 240. / 'tiiill Qq, /'// Del. and Simp. — 242. we are Del. — 244, 245. 
 Printed as three lines in Del. and Simp., ending eyes \ thee \ wife \. We 
 have retained the arrangement of the original and printed the lines according 
 to EI.'s corrections. The old copies read this is for this' and unto for to. 
 As to the contraction this', see S. Walker, Versif., p. 80 seqq., and Abbott, 
 s. 461. — 244. In 7ny eyes Del. — 248. he may Del. — 249. He will Qq, 
 He'll Del. — 255. may't Simp. — 259. renown'd throughout the world. 
 Chet. — 261. Simp., in order to improve the metre, inserts thou aher frolic. 
 This insertion, however, seems needless, as the line may perhaps be scanned 
 thus: And \ fair Em \ frolic \ with thy | good fa \ ther. See El., Jahrb., 
 XV, 352. — 262. / ani Del. — 2O3. Edmund Troferd Del., Edmond 2'reford 
 Simp. — 264. and om. by Del. 
 
6o FAIR EM. [V, I. 
 
 Mil: Sir Thomas Goddard, and all that he hath, 
 Doth rest at th' pleasure of your Maiestie. 
 270 Wvi. And what sayes Em to louely Valingford? 
 It seemed he loued you well, that for your saike 
 Durst leaue his King. 
 
 Em. Em restes at the pleasure of your highnes; 
 And would I were a wife for his desert. 
 275 Wm. Then here, Lord Valingford, receiue faire Em. 
 Here take her, make her thy espoused wife. 
 Then goe we in, that preparation may be made. 
 To see these nuptials solemly performed. 
 
 [Exeunt all. Sound Drummes and Trumpets. 
 
 268. Sir Thomas not in Qq; added by Simp. — 269. the Qq. • — 270. 
 says lovely Eni to Valingford ? Del. — 271, 272. Divided at well \ in Qq. — 
 271. It stem's Del. — 272. Darst Del. — 273. rests B. — 274. Chet. adds 
 Ti liner I know his merit, and I know his truth. — 275. Printed as two lines 
 in Qq, ending Valingford \ Em |. — 276. Cliet. inserts two lines: Val. / 
 laie her as the treasure of my life. | Em. And with this hand I give thee 
 all my heart. — 278. Chet. ends the play with the Ibllowing rhyme couplet: 
 Thus war tumultuous flies to banishment, | And England' s breast is fraught 
 with rich content. 
 
 The End. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 A. II. Sc. 2. In all probability, the whole scene was originally 
 written in verse. Prof. Elze (Notes, p. 128 seqq.) has tried to restore 
 the shape in which, in his opinion, it came from the author's pen. 
 His arrangement is, as' follows: 
 
 Mar. Trust me, my Lord, I'm sorry for your hurt. 
 Luh. Gramercy, madam; but it is not great. 
 Only a thrust, prick'd with a rapier's point. 
 Mar. How grew the quarrel, my Lord? 
 Luh. Sweet, for thy sake. 
 
 There was last night two maskers in our company, 
 Myself the foremost; the others strangers were 
 'Mongst which, when th'music 'gan to sound the measures, 
 Each masker made choice of his lady; and one. 
 More forward than the rest, slept towards thee; 
 Which I perceiving 
 
 Thrust him aside and took thee out myself. 
 But this was taken in so ill a part 
 That at my coming out of the court-gate. 
 With justling together, it was my chance to be 
 Thrust into th'arm. The doer thereof, because 
 He was th'original cause of the disorder. 
 At th' inconvenient time, was presently 
 Committ'd, and is this morning sent for hither 
 To answer th'matter; and here, I think, he comes. 
 
 Enter William the Conqueror with a Jailor. 
 What, Sir Robert of Windsor? How now! 
 
 Wm. Conq. V faith, a prisoner; but what ails your arm? 
 Luh. Hurt by mischance last night. 
 
62 APPENDIX. 
 
 Wm. Cong. What? Not in the mask at the court-gate? 
 
 Zub. Yes, trust me, there. 
 
 Wm. Cong. Why then, my Lord, I thank you for my lodging. 
 
 Lub. And I you for my hurt, if it were so. 
 Keeper, away! 
 I here discharge you of your prisoner. [Exit Keeper. 
 
 Wm. Cong-. Lord Marquess! 
 You offer'd me disgrace to shoulder me. 
 
 Lui. Sir! 
 I knew you not, and therefore pardon me, 
 And th'rather as it might be alleged to me 
 Of mere simplicity, to see another 
 Dance with my mistress, disguis'd, myself in presence. 
 But seeing it was our haps to damnify 
 Each other unwillingly, let's be content 
 With both our harms and lay the fault where 't was. 
 And so be friends. 
 
 Wm. Cong. V faith, I am content with my night's lodging, 
 If you be with your hurt. 
 
 Lu5. Not that I have't, 
 
 But I'm content to forget how I came by't. 
 
 Wm. Cong. My Lord, 
 Here comes the lady Blanch, let us away. 
 
 Enter Blanch. 
 
 Lub. With right good will. [To Mariana] Lady, will you stay? 
 
 Adar. Madam — [Exeunt William the Congiieror and Luheck. 
 
 Blanch. Mariana, as I'm grieved with thy presence, 
 So am I not offended for thy absence. 
 And, were it not a breach to modesty, 
 Thou shouldest know before I left thee. 
 
 Mar. [Aside] How near this humour is a'kin to madness! 
 If you hold on to talk as you begin. 
 You're in a pretty way to scolding. 
 
 Blanch. To scolding, huswife? 
 
 Mar. Madam, here comes one. 
 
 Enter a Messenger ivith a Letter. 
 Blanch. There does indeed. Fellow, wouldst thou 
 Have anything with anybody here? 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 63 
 
 Mess. I have a letter to deliver to the Lady Mariana. 
 
 Blanch. Give it me. 
 
 Mess. There must none but she have it. 
 
 [Blanch sjtatcheth the letter from him. 
 
 Blanch. Go to, foolish fellow. [Exit Messenger. 
 
 And, therefore, to ease the anger I sustain, 
 I'll be so bold to open it. What's here? 
 'Sir Robert greets you well!' 
 
 You, mistress, his love, his life? Oh, amorous man, 
 How he his new mistress entertains. 
 And on his old friend Lubeck doth bestow 
 A horned nightcap to keep in his wit. 
 
 Mar. Madam, 
 Though you discourteously have read my letter, 
 Yet, pray you, give it me. 
 
 Blanch. Then take it, there, and there, and there. 
 
 [She tears it. Exit Blanch. 
 
 Mar. How far doth this differ from modesty! 
 Yet 1 will gather up the pieces, which. 
 Haply, may show to me th' intent thereof, 
 Though not the meaning. 
 
 [She gathers up the pieces and joins them. 
 [Reads] 'Your servant and love. Sir Robert of Windsor, alias 
 William the Conqueror, wisheth long health and happiness.' 
 Is this then William the Conqueror 
 Shrouded under th' name of Sir Robert of Windsor? 
 Were he the monarch of the world, he should 
 Not dispossess my Lubeck of his love. 
 Therefore I'll to the court, there, if I can. 
 Close to be friends with Lady Blanch, thereby 
 To keep my love, my Lubeck, for myself. 
 And further the Lady Blanch in her own suit. 
 As much as e'er 1 may. 
 
E. Karhas, Printer, Halle. 
 
PSEUDO-SHAKESPEARIAN PLAYS. 
 
 EDITED 
 
 KARL WAENKE, ph.d. 
 
 LUDWIG PROESOHOLDT, vh.d. 
 
 II. THE ilERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 
 
 HALLE: 
 
 Max Niemeyer. 
 1884. 
 
THE 
 
 MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 
 
 REVISED AND EDITED 
 
 WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES 
 
 KAEL WARNKE, ph.d. 
 
 LUDWIG PROESCHOLDT, ph.d. 
 
 HALLE: 
 
 Max Niemeyer. 
 
 1884. 
 
 Q 
 
h.zsizs 
 
 1 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
The earliest known edition of The Merry Devil of Edmonton 
 was published in 1608, with the title: 'The Merry Devill of Ed- 
 monton. As it hath beene sundry times Acted, by his Maiesties Seruants, 
 at the Globe on the bank-side. London, Printed by Henry Ballard for 
 Arthur fohnson, dwelling at the signe of the white -horse in Paules 
 Churchyard, owr against the great North doore of Paules. 1 608.' (A). 
 In the course of the next fifty years five more editions of the play 
 were issued, the first two of which were likewise printed for Arthur 
 Johnson in 16 12 and 1617 (BC), the third and fourth for Francis 
 Falkner in 1626 and 1631 (DE), and the fifth for W. Gilbertson 
 in 1655 (F). 
 
 The Editio princeps of the play has been accessible to us in 
 a copy, preserved in Trinity College, Cambridge, and bearing the 
 press-mark Capell R. 2^. The edition of 161 2 is, as far as we 
 know, not to be found in any public library; we owe the knowledge 
 of it to the liberality of Mr. A. H. Huth, who kindly allowed us to 
 make a transcript from his own copy of it. The remaining four 
 editions of the play have been collated by us after copies preserved 
 in the British Museum and bearing the press-marks C. 24. 1. 1 2 (C), 
 C. 34. b. 19 (D), 161. a. 23 and 643. c. 12 (E, two copies), 643. c. 
 
 13 (F). 
 
 Even a priori it may be supposed that the first three editions 
 of the play, being printed for the same publisher, are nearly related 
 to each other. And indeed, in a number of cases B and C show 
 the same mistakes as the edition of 1608. So panting is printed 
 for parting 11. 3. 16, steale for stealth II. 3. 27, parsonages ior parson- 
 age IV. 2. 34; wrong prefixes are put before the lines I. 3. 31; 
 n. 2. 20; rV. I. 12; IV. 2. 63; V. I. 72, 113; stage-directions are 
 omitted IV. i. 172; V. i. iii; V. 2. 104. On the other hand, not 
 unfrequently two of the editions exhibit a mistake, avoided or cor- 
 rected by the third. So AB Ind. 72; III. i. 11 ; V. 2. 44; AC L 
 
Vni INTRODUCTION. 
 
 I. 33, 40; I. 2. 23; BC n. 3. 56; m. 2. 11; IV. 2. 67. It is evident 
 that C, having some mistakes or misprints in common only with A, 
 others only with B, cannot have been directly derived either from 
 A or from B^ On the contrary we must suppose that B and C 
 are independent of each other, and that both of them are based 
 on a lost or at least unknown edition of our play (A*). This hypo- 
 thetical edition preserved part of the mistakes of A, and added a 
 few more of its own. To the former class belong all those which 
 are to be met with either in AB or in AC, to the latter those 
 which we find in BC. At any rate. A' seems to have been of 
 little intrinsic value and was probably a mere reprint of A. For C, 
 though deriving from A', differs from A only in subordinate and 
 unimportant points. So C prints shall for can I. 2. 50, toward for 
 towards I. 3. 66, this night for to night 11. 2. 79, yonder iox yond II. 
 3. 17, betweene for betwixt ib. 50, some for such III. 2. 64, your for our 
 ib. 157, at for in IV. i. 20, hlacke for dark IV. 2. i.i) Whilst C in 
 all essential points agrees with the Editio princeps of the play, B 
 offers a great many diiferent readings from A. As all subsequent 
 editions are, directly or indirectly, based on B, it matters much to 
 know whether the readings of B are to be considered as corrections 
 of the poet himself, or as the arbitrary alterations of some unknown 
 editor. Setting aside all those readings which may be quite as 
 genuine and quite as correct in B as in A, we shall turn our eye 
 only to those passages in which either of the editions presents a 
 reading decidedly superior to the other. There can be little doubt 
 that the reading of A must be preferred by us Ind. 39; I. i. 3; 
 I. 2. 25; I. 3. 68; I. 3. 85, 86; HI. 2. 90; IV. 2. 6. To these pas- 
 sages we add 11. i. 23 and V. i. 72 where, in all probability at 
 least, A presents the original reading. B, on the other hand, ex- 
 hibits a better reading than A I. i. 40; I. 3. gi; II. i. 44. The mis- 
 print in A I. 3. 98 was already corrected in A', as the reading of 
 C agrees with that of B. Thus we see that only in a few instances 
 the editor of B succeeded in removing a wrong reading, but that, 
 on the contrary, he introduced into the text a number af altera- 
 tions which must be rejected by us. As to the indifferent passages, 
 it will therefore certainly be best not to depart from the reading 
 of A, particularly when supported by C. 
 
 ') A' added I. 3. Ill which had dropped out in A (only in some copies?). 
 
INTRODUCTION. IX 
 
 It is easily to be seen that D and E, which form the second 
 group of the old editions, directly emanate from B. We meet in 
 them not only with the same mistakes which we have pointed out 
 in B, but with some misprints not contained either in A or in C; 
 cp. I. 2. 19 disconimnance BD for discontinuance, 11. 2. 25 no om. BDE, 
 V. 2. 26 Ventre BDEF for Cerere. Far however from merely re- 
 printing B, the editor of D tried to adapt the text of the play as 
 much as possible to his own age. So he wrote miles for mile Pr. 1 3, 
 cough o'ih lungs for cough a'th lungs I. 3. 50, horse is for horses I. 
 3. 12b, /rowardnesse for scares 11. 2. 5'J,j'ou ior j/ee V. i. 39, a/ Ihe 
 next assizes for at next a. V. 2. 11, doe you see for dee see A, doe 
 see B V. 2. 44; cp., besides, to acquaint for t' acquaint III. 2. 165, 
 Meiropolitane for Metrapolitan IV. i. 64 &c. In conformity with the 
 statute of King James I., the editor of D either omitted or altered 
 the name of God; so he omitted to God IV. 2. 44, Lord ib. 57, 
 and wrote hy the mass for by the Lord ib. 43, before love for before 
 God V. I. 125, by my sword for hy the Lord II. i. 59. For the same 
 reason he always printed blood for zblood, hart for zhart, foot for 
 zfoot, life for slife, nounes for zounds &c. Of greater interest to us 
 are those alterations by which the editor of D tried to restore the 
 defective sense of some passages. In our opinion he succeeded in 
 giving a right or at least an acceptable reading I. i. 16; 11. i. 6; 
 n. 2. 5; ib. 54; II. 3. 2; ib. 27; ni. 2. 127; IV. 2. 34; V. 2. 142. 
 Besides D is right in assigning I. 3. 31 to lerningham, II. 2. 20 to 
 Sir Arthur, IV. 2. 63 to Sexton, and in adding stage - directions 
 where they are wanted. In all other cases, however, where D 
 differs from A (AC), we have not deviated from the reading which 
 must be considered by us as the original one. 
 
 The same remark applies to E. Published five years after- 
 wards by the same book -seller, it agrees in all essential points 
 with D; the few slight alterations which it offers are of little or 
 no interest for the modem reader of the play, 
 
 A similar place to that of D is held by F, published twenty- 
 four years after E (1655). The editor of F chose the last edition 
 published (E) as the model to work on, and followed it so closely 
 as to adopt even some glaring mistakes; cp. the notes to Pr. 36; 
 Ind. 70; I. I. 99; I. 3. 30; ib. 42; n. 2. 7; III. 2. 19; IV. I. 77; IV. 
 2. 30; V. I. 66; V. 2. 66; besides V. 2. 10; ib. 31; ib. 116. Not- 
 withstanding we owe to F the correction of a number of passages 
 
X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 which had been quite disregarded by all preceding editors. Not 
 unfrequently it happens that the names of Raph, Harry, Arthur, 
 Clare and lerningham are confounded with one another in ABCDE; 
 cp. II. 2. 44; IIL I. 68; III. 2. 150; IV. I. 99; V. i Stage-dir.; ib. 
 106, 107. As in some of these passages the verse suffers from 
 the alteration required by the sense, we have perhaps to suppose 
 that the poet himself, carelessly preparing his manuscript for the 
 press,' committed the blunders which were faithfully preserved 
 in . the following editions. Be that as it may, there can be no 
 doubt that the alterations of F must be considered as corrections 
 and are to be put into the critical text of the play. Besides, the 
 editor took care to regulate the versification of the play, in print- 
 ing as verse a number of prose-passages which doubtless must be 
 read as verse; s. II. 3. 22 — 24; III. 2. 128, 129; V. 1.43 — 45; ib. 
 97 — 105; V. 2. 82, 83^ In a few isolated cases some trivial mis- 
 takes of a different kind were removed by F; cp. the notes to I. 
 I. 70, 72; II. 3. 27; III. 2. 28; IV. I. 134. 
 
 Eighty-nine years after F the first modern edition of the play 
 was published in 'A Select Collection of Old Plays. London, Printed 
 for R. Dodsley in Pall-Mall, 1744, Vol. XI, pp. 123 — 169' (G). In 
 the Introductory Notice it is distinctly stated that this edition was 
 printed from the one published in 1655; and even without that 
 notice it might easily be seen that the editor of G did not resort 
 to any of the earlier editions; cp. ad I. 3. 23; II. 2. 69; II. 3. 72; 
 III. I. 117; V. I. 70; V. 2. 31. The meaning of many an expression 
 having become obsolete and obscure in the course of a century, 
 a number of passages were altered in G; cp. the notes to I. 2.4'; 
 I. 3. 73; II. I. 56; ib. 60; ni. I. 77; III. 2. 89; ib. 158; IV. I. 79 &c. 
 Only in two cases (I. i. 70 and IT. i. ,68) we have thought fit to 
 avail ourselves of the alterations of G. 
 
 The second edition of Dodsley's Select Collection of Old Plays 
 was published by Isaac Reed, London 1780 (H). The title asserts 
 that this edition has been 'corrected and collated with the old copies', 
 and at the end of the Merry Devil of Edmonton (Vol. V, 245 — 306) 
 Isaac Reed says: 'That (the edition) of 1655, from which the former 
 editiofl of this play was printed, is unworthy of any notice from 
 the number of errors it contains.' Notwithstanding this, Reed did 
 not hesitate substantially to reprint G; cp. I. i. loi; L3. 42; ib. 48; 
 ib. no; II. 3. 40; III; I. 77; IV. I. 79; ib. 118 &c. Now and then. 
 
INTRODUCTION. XI 
 
 it is true, he must have had recourse to one of the older editions; 
 for in some few cases he disdains the reading of DEFG and agrees 
 with ABC, s. I. 3. 133; n. 2. 38; IV. 2. 57.; That old edition was 
 in all probability C, cp. I. 2. 25; I. 3. 98 and V. 2. 56. On the 
 whole, however, the editor of H stuck to G, i. e. to BDEFG, 
 and only in the few instances just mentioned he preferred the 
 reading of A (C). As the editor did not choose to add an;^ cor- 
 rections, the addition of the U. 2. 7 1 may be considered merely as 
 a mistake. 
 
 A new edition of the comedy was published in 'The Ancient 
 British Drama. London, Printed for William Miller, Albemarle 
 Street, By James Ballantyne and Co. Edinburgh 1 8 10', 3 voU., 
 vol. n, 238 — 257 (I). This edition, though superintended by Walter 
 Scott, is of little interest to the critic; it is evidently based on H, 
 and it is certainly only a matter of chance if it agrees with other 
 editions, as Ind. i; IV. i. 86; V. i. 118. 
 
 H was likewise the basis of the reprint of our play in the 
 third edition of Dodsley's Collection, ed. J.P.Collier, London 1825, 
 vol. V, p. 221 — -274 (K). Now and then, however, G also must 
 have been compared by the editor; cp. I. 2. 25; I. 3. 98, and par- 
 ticularly n. 1 . 68. Only in few instances Collier corrected the verse 
 or tried to throw light on an obscure passage by adding a con- 
 jecture of his own. 
 
 * Lastly the comedy of the Merry Devil was published in the 
 fourth edition of Dodsley's Collection, ed. W. Carew Hazlitt, Lon- 
 don 1875, vol. X, p. 201 — 264 (L). This edition is doubtless 
 superior to all preceding it; Mr. Hazlitt collated some of the old 
 editions and in many cases tried to re-establish the sense and the 
 metre of an apparently corrupt passage^ But as Mr. Hazlitt did 
 not examine the EdUio princeps and was not aware of the second 
 edition of the play, his edition too, careful ds it is, cannot stand 
 the test to which we now-a-days submit a critical edition. 
 
 Three different Elizabethan dramatists, Shakespeare, Drayton, 
 and Heywood, have been proposed as presumptive authors of the 
 play; but as cogent arguments are absolutely wanting, it will hardly 
 ever be possible to settle the question definitively. 
 
 In the Library of King Charles II., we are told, there existed 
 a volume, containing Mucedorus, The Merry Devill of Edmonton 
 
XII INTRODUCTION. 
 
 and Faire Em, and labelled Shakespeare, vol. /.') On the authority 
 of that inscription, Kirkman, the bookseller, registered the play in 
 his catalogue as a comedy of Shakespeare's. In England that tra- 
 dition seems not to have met with any advocate; in Germany, 
 however, two well-known Shakespearian critics, L. Tieck and H. von 
 Friesen, felt inclined to attribute the play to Shakespeare. 
 
 In Tieck's opinion 2), the whole play is of a piece with the 
 Merry Wives of Windsor, particularly in the form which the latter 
 comedy had in its first edition; some of the personages closely 
 resemble Shakespearian characters; the Induction as well as the 
 scene in the forest bear the stamp of Shakespeare's genius. Tieck's 
 opinion as to the author of the play has been adopted and sup- 
 ported by H. von Friesen.*) Friesen, it is true, owns that one of 
 the most striking characteristics of Shakespeare's art, the symmetry 
 and skilful arrangement of the whole, is wanting; yet he is of 
 opinion that the play, both in language and contents, is not un- 
 worthy of Shakespeare. The Host in the Merry Devil of Edmonton 
 is cast in the same mould as the Host in the Merry Wives, and 
 the conversation between Sir Arthur, Sir Raph and Friar Hildersham 
 reminds the reader of the Comedy of Errors ; some parallel thoughts 
 and expressions may be traced in Romeo and Juliet, Richard II., 
 the Merchant of Venice, and even the Sonnets ; the trochaic short- 
 lines HI. I and 2 are something like to the invocations and magical 
 charms of the elves in the Midsummemight's-Dream. All such ana- 
 logies and parallel passages, however, amount to little in the way 
 of evidence. Besides, in nothing do scholars disagpree more than 
 in literary questions of the kind. The very resemblance of the 
 two hosts makes Ch. Knight*) think it impossible that Shakespeare 
 wrote the play, since he, in the abundance of his riches, would 
 certainly not have repeated himself. The same forest scene, which 
 to Tieck seems to have a Shakespearian touch, lacks in Ulrici's 
 opinion*) all that fine irony which is characteristic of the comical 
 
 ') Afterwards in Garrick's Collection; now, broken up, in the British 
 Museum. According to Simpson, Transactions of the New-Shakspere-Society, 
 the label was Shakespeare, vol. II. 
 
 ») Tieck, Alt-Englisches Theater, vol. II, pp. 7—9. 
 
 ') H. von Friesen, Fliichtige Bemerkungen iiber einige Stiicke, welche 
 Shakespeare zugeschrieben werden. Shakespeare-Jahrbuch, vol.1, pp. 160 — 165. 
 
 ') Charles Knight, Studies on Shakespeare, p. 288 seqq. 
 
 ') Ulrici, Shakespeare's Dramatische Kunst, ed. 2, vol. Ill, p. 71 seqq. 
 
INTRODUCTION. XIII 
 
 episodes in Shakespeare's plays. The action of the play, the same 
 critic continues, is likewise destitute of that unity which we admire 
 in all the plays of the great dramatist ; the story of Fabell's treaty 
 with the devil has nothing to do with the subject of the play ; the 
 love-aflfair between Milliscent and Young Mountchensey is but loosely 
 and quite externally connected with the pranks of Sir John and his 
 merry companions. The conclusion, arrived at by Ulrici, is thfit 
 the author of the Merry Devil of Edmonton must have been a not 
 unskilful poet, endowed particularly with a certain talent for popular 
 poetry, and g^own up under Shakespeare's influence, but that we 
 can by no means set down Shakespeare himself as the author of 
 the play. Every reader, we feel sure, will subscribe to Ulrici's 
 opinion, and hardly any critic will now-a-days venture to claim the 
 play for England's greatest poet. 
 
 In his Dramatic Literature of the Age of Elizabeth 1820, p. 221, 
 Hazlitt proposes Thomas Heywood as the author of the play. 'The 
 Merry Devil of Edmonton', he says, 'which has been sometimes 
 attributed to Shakespeare, is assuredly not unworthy of him. It is 
 more likely, however, both from the style and subject-matter, to 
 have been Heywood's than any other person's. Romantic, sweet, 
 tender, it expresses the feelings of honour, of love, and friendship 
 in their utmost delicacy, enthusiasm and purity.' Also Ulrici is of 
 opinion that the management of the fable as well as the style of 
 the comedy remind the reader of Heywood's plays. The exterior 
 evidence, however, which the same learned gentleman has adduced 
 in favour of his theory, is based on a mistake and cannot be turned 
 to any account On March s"* 1608 the two booksellers Joseph 
 Hunt and Thomas Archer had a book registered with the title: 
 'A Book called the Lyfe and Deathe of the Merry Devil of Ed- 
 monton, with the pleasant Pranks of Smugge the Smyth, Sir John 
 and mine Hoste of the George, about their stealing of Venison. 
 By T. B.' This 'book' is certainly identical with the prose -tract 
 which was published (for the second time?) in 1631 and the author 
 of which was Tony Brewer. 1) Ulrici, however, identifies this tract 
 
 ') The prose-tract has been described by Dr. L. Proescholdt in 'Eine 
 prosaische Nachbildung der Erzahlung des MuUers aus Chaucer's Canterbury 
 Tales ', Anglia VII, p. 1 1 6 seqq. According to the entry in the catalogue of 
 the British Museum Dr. P. stated the author of the book to have been Thomas 
 Brewer. Mr. Bullen kindly hinted to us that the author's name was Tony 
 
'■J 
 
 XIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 with our comedy and supposes T. B, to have been the initials of 
 the author of our play. As there is no dramatic poet known to 
 him, whose name shows the initials T. B., Ulrici thinks T. B. to be 
 a misprint for T. H. i. e. Thomas Heywood.^) 
 
 For completeness' sake we add that Thomas Coxeter (d. i747) 
 and Oldys have ascribed our play to Michael Drayton, perhaps only 
 because he has in his Polyolbion described the localities mentioned 
 in our play. 
 
 The comedy of the Merry Devil of Edmonton is, as far as we 
 know, mentioned for the first time in the Blacke Booke by T. M., 
 1604: 'Giue him leaue to see the Merry Devil of Edmunton, or A 
 Woman kill'd with kindness.' The play was not entered into the 
 Stationers' Registers till on the 22* October 1607; the earliest edition 
 extant (i5o8) seems in fact to be the Editio princeps of the play. 
 The resemblance to the Merry Wives induced Tieck to assign it 
 to the year 1600; but A. W. Ward, 1. c. I. 463, is probably right 
 in believing this year in any case too late a date. The . battle of 
 S. Quentins (1558) would indeed hardly have been mentioned in 
 a comedy like Ours, if the remembrance of it had no more been 
 within the memory of men. 
 
 The Merry Devil of Edmonton must have been a highly 
 popular performance. This not only appears from the number of 
 early editions, but is attested in plain words by Ben Jonson, who 
 in the prologue of 'The Devil is an Ass' says 2): 
 
 'And show this but the same face you have done 
 Your dear delight, the Devil of Edmonton.' 
 Of modern critics Ch. Lamb in his ' Specimens of English Dramatic 
 Poets' I. 55 — 60 speaks with great warmth and admiration of the 
 play, and Ch. Knight and Ulrici pronounce a by no means un- 
 favourable judgment on it. Mr. Swinburne in his 'Sonnets on the 
 English Dramatic Poets', No. XVIII, calls our comedy 
 
 Brewer, whose initials ' T. B.' also stand on the titlepage of the ' Country 
 Girl', the scene of which is laid in Edmonton. 
 
 ') The same mistake occurs again in A. W. Ward, History of English 
 Dramatic Literature I, p. 463 : ' The first edition of the play did not bear the 
 initials of Shakspere, but those of T. B.' 
 
 *) Ben Jonson, ed. Cunningham, vol. 11, p. 212. 
 
INTRODUCTION. XV 
 
 'that sweet pageant of the kindly fiend 
 Who, seeing three friends in spirit and heart made one, 
 Crowned with good hap the true love-wiles he screened 
 In the pleached lanes of pleasant Edmonton.' 
 
 The principal charm of the play lay for contemporaries doubtless 
 in the comical scenes; and also Peter Fabell, the merry Fiend of 
 Edmonton, may be supposed to have been a favourite personage 
 with them. It is much to be regretted that all we know about 
 Peter Fabell amounts to little more than what we learn from our 
 comedy. In T. Brewer's prose-tract only the first four chapters treat 
 of Maister Peter, all the rest is devoted to Smug and his 'pleasant 
 Prancks.' 'In Edmonton', Brewer says, 'he was borne, liued and 
 died, in the reign of King H. VII [1485 — 1509]. He was a man 
 of good discent: and a man, either for his gifts extemall or intemall, 
 inferior to few. For his person he was absolute. Nature had never 
 showne the fulnesse of her skill more in any then in him. For the 
 other, I meane his great learning (including many misteries), hee 
 was as amply blest as any.'' As early as 1533 Peter Fabell was 
 made the hero of a ballad, entitled Fabyls Ghoste. Th. Warton, 
 in his History of English Poetry, ed. W. C. Hazlitt (London, 1871), 
 vol. IV, p. 76, says: 'In the dispersed library of the late Mr. William 
 Collins I saw a thin folio of two sheets in black letter, containing 
 a poem in the octave stanza, entitled Fabyls Ghoste, printed by 
 John Rastell in the year 1533. The piece is of no merit ... [The 
 old play] has nothing, except the machine of the chime, in common 
 with Fabyll's Ghoste.' 
 
 As in most comedies of the age, the blank-verse in the Merry 
 Devil of Edmonton is interspersed with numerous prose-passages. 
 All persons of an essentially comical character do not 'speake in 
 Numbers', as the Host calls it. Thus Master Blague the Host, and 
 his boon -companions Banks and Smug, Sir John the priest 2, and 
 his Sexton, Bilbo and the Chamberlain speak in prose, and so do 
 the other persons when conversing with them; s. I. i; I. 2; 11. 3. 
 44 seqq.; V. i. 1 11; V. 2. When any of the other persons are joking, 
 they also use prose instead of verse; cp. the scene in the Abbey 
 
 ') Quoted by Nares, s. v. Fabell. 
 =>) But cp. II. I. 22 seqq. 
 
XVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 KL I. 12 seqq.; ib. 27; ib. 36; ib. 45 seqq.; III. 2. 132. Prose is 
 also used to express passion or anger ; cp. especially V. i . i g seqq. 
 where the comical effect is heightened by the sudden change of 
 verse and prose; V. i. 49 seqq.; ib. 54 seqq.; V. 2. 65 seqq. There- 
 •?-■ fore we have thought it best to print A. Jerningham's speech and 
 H. Clare's answer to it as prose I. 3. 61 seqq. and 67 seqq. In 
 some other instances prose is intended to lower the dramatic pitch. 
 ^nm/^\ Harry Clare and Arth ur Jerningham, when in the forest with Milli- 
 scent, use prose when talking about the way and the time (IV. i. 
 T,T, — 45), but they pass to verse as soon as they address Milliscent 
 (ib. 46). Raph, Brian's man, speaks in prose IV. i. 72; Brian's 
 words are printed in the editions partly as prose, partly as verse. It 
 seems possible to re-establish verse in most passages ; the two prose- 
 passages which we admit may be explained as spoken in anger. 
 
 Frequently passages which must doubtless be regarded as verse 
 are printed as prose in the old editions. In most cases the metre 
 is restored by the subsequent editions; so by D II. 2. 90; by F II. 
 3. 22; III. 2. 128; V. I. 43; ib. 97; by K III. 2. 123; ib. 162; by L 
 
 III. I. 112; by the present Edd. III. 2. 139; IV. I. 161 &c. On the 
 other hand a prose-passage is printed as verse by part of the Edd. 
 I. 3. 61 seqq. 
 
 Proper Alexandrines with six accents are seldom to be met 
 with in our play. As apparent Alexandrines may be considered 
 I. 3. 40; III. I. i; III. 2. 4 where the redundant two or three syl- 
 lables are best put in separate lines; besides III. I. 94; V. i. 38; 
 ib. 92; ib. 107. Real Alexandrines seem to be II. 2.66; HI. 1.68; 
 
 IV. I. 129; ib. 145. 
 
 The Prioress and Raymond, in the disguise of Benedick, speak 
 in rhymed lines with four accents; the metre is generally trochaic, 
 but is frequently interchanged with iambic lines. Bilbo, finally, uses 
 some short-lines (II. 3. 58 — 63), the rhythm of which agrees very 
 well with their contents. 
 
 The text of the present edition of the Merry Devil of Edmon- 
 ton has been based on the edition of 1608. Wherever the text of 
 A offers a mistake, we have tried to correct it according to the 
 subsequent editions; wherever, on the other hand, the original 
 reading may be justified, we have taken care not to depart from 
 it in an arbitrary manner. Only in a few isolated instances where 
 
INTRODUCTION. XVII 
 
 the tradition was in all appearance corrupt, we have ventured to 
 emend the passage to the best of our power. The readings of 
 all subsequent editions have been embodied by us in the foot- 
 notes, which, we hope, will prove to be faithful and complete. It 
 seemed, however, unnecessary to swell the foot-notes by pointing 
 out the merely orthographical changes of the different editions. The 
 text of the play has been printed in the orthography exhibited by A. 
 The two or three words where for distinctness' sake we have altered 
 the original spelling, hare been indicated in the notes. We have 
 not thought it necessary to smooth the metre by contracting forms 
 like ouer, we haue, we will &c., where the verse requires a mono- 
 syllable, or by dissolving forms like o're, nunry, absolude, where the 
 metre requires a word of two or three syllables. 
 
 The Explanatory Notes, added to our text, are intended to 
 expound the sense of an obscure passage, or to give the meaning 
 of a word now out of use.') The parallel passages from Shakespeare 
 and other contemporary poets, by which some passages and con- 
 structions have been illustrated, will, we hope, not be disdained by 
 the reader of the play. 
 
 In the old editions our play is not divided into acts and scenes. 
 Tieck first divided the play into eleven scenes; we have styled the 
 first scene Induction and have divided the remainder of the play 
 iato five acts and twelve scenes. 
 
 ') We beg the readet's indulgence for a mistake occurring in the Notes, 
 ad I. 2. 26. Cooper's Dictionary bears the tide ' Thesaurus Linguae Romanae 
 et Britannicae ', and was first published in 1565. 
 
THE 
 
 MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 
 
DRAMATIS PERSONS. 
 
 Sir Arthur Clare. 
 Sir Richard Mounchensey. 
 Sir Raph Ierningham. 
 Harry Clare, son to Sir Arthur. 
 Raymond Mounchensey, son to 
 
 Sir Richard. 
 Francke Ierningham, son to Sir 
 
 Raph. 
 Peter Fabell, the Merry Devil. 
 COREB, a Spirit. 
 Blague, the Host. 
 
 Sir Iohn, a Priest. 
 
 Banks, the Miller of Waliham. 
 
 Smug, the Smith of Edmonton. 
 
 Sexton. 
 
 Bilbo. 
 
 Brian. 
 
 Raph, Brian s man. 
 
 Friar Hildersham. 
 
 Benedick. 
 
 Chamberlaine. 
 
 Lady Dorcas Clare. 
 MiLLisCENT Clare, her Daughter. 
 The Prioresse of Cheston Nunnery. 
 Nuns and Attendants. 
 
THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 Your silence and attention, worthy friends, 
 
 That your free spirits may with more pleasing sense 
 
 Relish the life of this our actiue sceane! 
 
 To which intent, to calme this murmuring breath, 
 
 We ring this round^ with our inuoking spelles; 5 
 
 If that your listning eares be yet prepard 
 
 To entertayne the subiect of our play, 
 
 Lend vs your patience! 
 
 Tis Peter Fabell, a renowned SchoUer, 
 
 Whose fame hath still beene hitherto forgot 10 
 
 By all the writers of this latter age. 
 
 In Middle-sex his birth and his abode, 
 
 Not full seauen mile from this great famous Citty, ' 
 
 That, for his fame in sleights and magicke won, 
 
 Was calde the merry Fiend of Edmonton. 15 
 
 If any heere make doubt of such a name. 
 
 In Edmonton yet fresh vnto this day, 
 
 Fixt in the wall of that old antient Church, 
 
 His monument remayneth to be seene; 
 
 His memory yet in the mouths of men, 20 
 
 That whilst he liude he could deceiue the Deuill. 
 
 Imagine now that whilst he is retirde 
 
 From Cambridge backe vnto his natiue home, 
 
 Suppose the silent, sable- visagd e night 
 
 Casts her blacke curtaine ouer all the World; 25 
 
 And whilst he sleepes within his silent bed, 
 
 Toylde with the studies of the passed day. 
 
 Prologue. 13. miles D and the rest. — 14. in sseights A, in flights I. — 
 20. yet lives in or yet is in Collier conj. — 1/24. visage C. 
 
 I* 
 
4 THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 The very time and houre wherein that spirite 
 
 That many yeeres attended his commaund, 
 30 And oftentimes twixt Cambridge and that towne 
 
 Had in a minute borne him through the ayre, 
 
 By composition twixt the fiend and him, 
 
 Comes now to claime the SchoUer for his due. 
 
 [I)raw the Curtaines. 
 
 Behold him heere, laide on his restlesse couch, 
 35 His fatall chime prepared at his head. 
 
 His chamber guarded with these sable slights, 
 
 And by him stands that Necromanticke chaire. 
 
 In which he makes his direful! inuocations. 
 
 And binds the fiends that shall obey his will. 
 40 Sit with a pleased eye, vntill you know ^ 
 
 The Commicke end of our sad Tragique show. \Exit. 
 
 33. The stage-dir. after 1. 32 in the old copies. — 36. -with his sable EFG. 
 
INDUCTION. 
 
 The Chime goes, in which time Fabell is oft scene to stare about him, and 
 hold vp his hands. 
 
 Fab. What meanes the tolling of this fatal] chime? 
 O, what a trembling horror strikes my hart! 
 My stiffned haire stands vpright on my head, 
 As doe the bristles of a porcupine. 
 
 Enter Coreb, a Spirit. 
 
 Cor. Fabell, awake! or I will beare thee hence 5 
 
 Hedlong to hell. 
 
 Fab. Ha, ha, 
 Why dost thou wake me? Coreb, is it thou? 
 
 Cor. Tis I. 
 
 Fab. I know thee well: I heare the watchful! dogs 10 
 
 With hollow howling tell of thy approch; 
 The lights burne dim, affrighted with thy presence; 
 And this distemperd and tempestuous night 
 Tells me the ayre is troubled with some Deuill. 
 
 Cor. Come, art thou ready? 15 
 
 Fab. Whither? or to what? 
 
 Cor. Why, Scholler, this the houre my date expires; 
 I must depart, and come to claime my due. 
 
 Fab. Hah, what is thy due? 
 
 Cor. Fabell, thy selfe! 
 
 Fab. O, let not darkenes heare thee speake that word, 
 Lest that with force it hurry hence amaine, 20 
 
 Induction. Induction pres. Edd., not marked in the old copies; Scene I. 
 TiecU. I. routing- FGI, trolling H. — 5. for / L. — 7, 8. Divided at vie | 
 in all former Edd. — 16. this is the hour GHI. 
 
6 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. {Induction. 
 
 And leaue the world to looke vpon my woe: 
 Yet ouerwhelme me with this globe of earth, 
 And let a little sparrow with her bill 
 Take but so much as shee can beare away, 
 25 That, euery day thus losing of my load, 
 I may againe in time yet hope to rise. 
 
 Cor. Didst thou not write thy name in thine owne blood, 
 And drewst the formall deed twixt thee and mee. 
 And is it not recorded now in hell? 
 30 Fab. Why comst thou in this _sterne and horred shape, 
 Not in familiar sort, as thou wast wont? 
 
 Cor. Because the date of thy command is out. 
 And I am master of thy skill and thee. 
 
 Fab. Coreb, thou angry and impatient spirit, 
 35 I haue earnest busines for a priuate friend; 
 Reserue me, spirit, vntill some further time. 
 
 Cor. I will not for the mines of all the earth. 
 
 Fab. Then let me rise, and ere I leaue the world, 
 Dispatch some busines that I haue to doe; 
 40 And in meane time repose thee in that chayre. 
 
 Cor. Fabell, I will. \Sil doivne. 
 
 Fab. 0, that this soule, that cost so great a price 
 As the deere pretious blood of her redeemer, 
 Inspirde with knowledge, should by that alone 
 45 Which makes a man so meane vnto the powers, 
 Euen lead him downe into the depth of hell. 
 When men in their owne pride striue to know more 
 Then man should know! 
 
 For this alone God cast the Angelles downe. 
 50 The infinity of Arts is like a sea. 
 
 Into which, when man will take in hand to saile 
 Further then reason, which should be his Pilot, 
 Hath skill to guide him, losing once his compasse. 
 He falleth to such deepe and dangerous whirlepooles, 
 55 As he doth lose the very sight of heauen: 
 
 27. name with thine G and the rest. — ^,6. farther G and the rest. — 
 39. He dispatch BDEFG. — 41. [Stage-dir.] Sits down in the necromantic 
 chair. L. — 42. great'\ dear G and the rest. — 45. m.eane'\ near FG. — 
 52, 57. farther G and the rest. — 55. haven I. 
 
Induction?^ THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 7 
 
 The more he striues to come to quiet har'.o., 
 The further still he finds himselfe from land. 
 Man, striuing still to finde the depth of euill, 
 Seeking to be a God, becomes a Diuell. ' , 
 
 Cor. Come, Fabell, hast thou done? 60 
 
 Fab. Yes, yes. Come hither! 
 
 Cor. Fabell, I cannot. 
 
 Fab. Cannot? — What ailes your holownes? 
 
 Cor. Good Fabell, helpe me! 
 
 Fab. Alas! where lies your griefe? some AqtuL-vilae\ 
 The Deuil's very sicke, I feare hee'le die; 65 
 
 For he lookes very ill. 
 
 Cor. Darst thou deride the minister of darkenes? 
 In Lucifers dread name Coreb coniures thee 
 To set him free. 
 
 Fab. I will not for the mines of all the earth, 70 
 
 Vnles thou giue me libertie to see 
 Seauen yeares more, before thou seaze on mee. 
 
 Cor. Fabell, I giue it thee. 
 
 Fab. Sweare, damned fiend! 
 
 Cor. Vnbind me, and by hell 1 will not touch thee, 
 Till seauen yeares from this houre be full expirde. 75 
 
 Fab. Enough, come out. 
 
 Cor. A vengeance take thy art! 
 
 Line and conuert all piety to euill: j 
 Neuer did man thus ouer-reach the Deuill. 
 No time on earth like Phaetontique flames 
 Can haue perpetuall being. He returne 80 
 
 To my infernall mansion; but be sure. 
 Thy seauen yeeres done, noe tricke shall make me tarry. 
 But, Coreb, thou to hell shalt Fabell carry. " \Exit. 
 
 Fab. Then thus betwixt vs two this variance ends. 
 Thou to thy fellow Fiends, I to my friends! ' \Exit. 85 
 
 58. 7?«i^<?] know C. — 68. dread'\ great D and the rest. — "JO. for all 
 the mines EF. — 72. yeayes\ fiends AB. — 79. Phaetentique ABC, Phae- 
 tonic L. — 83. Exit oiti. BDEFG. — 84. between F and the rest. 
 
AC T I. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 Enter Sir Arthur Clare, Dorcas, his Lady, Milliscent, his daughter, 
 yong Har-ry Clare, the men hooted, the Gentlewomen in Cloakes and safe- 
 ' gteardes. Blague, the merry host of the George, comes in with them. 
 
 Host. Welcome, good knight, to the George at Waltham, 
 my free -hold, my tenements, goods and chattels! Madam, 
 heer's a roome is the very Homer and Iliads of a lodging, 
 it hath none of the foure elements in it; I built it out of the 
 5 Center, and I drinke neere the lesse sacke. Welcome, my 
 little wast of maiden-heads! What? 1 serue the good Duke 
 of Norfolke. 
 
 Sir Ar. God a mercie, my good host Blague! Thou hast 
 a good seate here. 
 lO Host. Tis correspondent or so: there's not a Ta rtarian nor 
 a Carrier, shall breath vpon your geldings ; they haue villanous 
 rancke feete, the rogues, and they shall not sweat in my linnen. 
 Knights and Lords too haue bene drunke in my house, I thanke 
 the destinies. 
 15 F. Cla. Pre' the, good sinful Inkeeper, wil that corruption, 
 
 thine Ostler, looke well to my gelding. Hay, a poxe of these 
 rushes ! 
 
 Host. You, Saint Dennis, your gelding shall walke without 
 doores, and coole his feete for his masters sake. By the body 
 20 Of S. George, I haue an excellent intillect to goe steale som 
 venison. Now, when wast thou in the forrest? 
 
 Scene I. Scene II. Tieck. 3. is\ in BDEF. — 16. Ostler to looke F 
 and the rest. — 16, 18. geldings ABC. — 19. feete} keels FG. — 20. g^oe 
 om. F; go to steale C. — 21. venison now, when AC, venison. Now when B, 
 venison: Now when the rest. 
 
I, l] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 9 
 
 K, Cla. Away, you stale messe of white-broth ! Come hither, 
 sister, let me helpe you. 
 
 Sir Ar. Mine Host, is not Sir Richard Mounchensey come 
 yet, according to our appointment, when we last dinde here? 25 
 
 Host. The knight's not yet apparent. — Marry, heere's a 
 forerunner that summons a parle, and saith, heele be here top 
 and top-gallant presently. 
 
 Sir Ar. Tis well. Good mine host, goe downe, and see 
 breakfast be prouided. 30 
 
 Host. Knight, thy breath hath the force of a woman, it takes 
 me downe; I am for the baser element of the kitchin: I retire 
 like a valiant souldier, face point -blanke to the foe -man, or, 
 like a Courtier, that must not shew the Prince his posteriors; 
 I vanish to know my canuasadoes , and my in terrogatorie s, for 35 
 I serue the good Duke of Norfolke. \Exit. 
 
 Sir Ar. How doth my Lady? are you not weary. Madam? 
 Come hither, I must talke in priuate with you ; 
 My daughter Milliscent must not ouer-heare. 
 
 Mil. I, whispring, pray God it tend to my good! 40 
 
 Strange feare assailes my heart, vsurps my blood. 
 
 Sir Ar. You know our meeting with the knight Mounchensey 
 Is to assure our daughter to his heire. 
 
 L. Dor. Tis, without question. 
 
 Sir Ar. Two tedious winters haue past ore, since first 45 
 
 This couple lou'd each other, and in passion 
 Glewd first their naked hands with youthful! moysture — 
 lust so long, on my knowledge. 
 
 Z. Dor. And what of this? 
 
 Sir Ar. This morning should my daughter lose her name, 
 And to Mounchenseys house conuey our armes, 50 
 
 Quartered within his scutchion; th' affiance, made 
 Twixt him and her, this morning should be sealde. 
 
 L. Dor. I know it should. 
 
 27. a parley and saith B, a parle and faith C, a parley and faith the 
 rest. — 33. souldiers face, point blanki AC. — 34. the"] his F and the rest. — 
 35. / added by the present Edd. — 36. Exit om. EFG. — 39. [Stage-dir.] 
 Speaking low added by L. — 40. tend my good AC. — a,\. feares assailes E, 
 fears assail F, fears assail G. — 46. These couple all Edd., except FG. — 
 51. the affiance F and the rest. 
 
lO THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. p, I 
 
 Sir Ar. But there are crosses, wife; heere's one in Waltham, 
 55 Another at the Abby, and the third 
 
 At Cheston; and tis ominous to passe 
 
 Any of these without a pater-noster. 
 
 Crosses of loue still thwart this marriage, 
 
 Whilst that we two, like spirits, walke in night 
 60 About those stony and hard hearted plots. 
 Mil. O God, what meanes my father? 
 Sir Ar. For looke you, wife, the riotous old knight 
 
 Hath ouer-run his annual reuenue 
 
 In keeping iolly Christmas all the yeere: 
 65 The nostrilles of his chimny are still stuft 
 
 With smoake, more chargeable then Cane-tobacco ; 
 
 His hawkes deuoure his fattest dogs, whilst simple. 
 
 His leanest curres eate his hounds carrion. 
 
 Besides, I heard of late, his yonger brother, 
 70 A Turky merchant, hath sore suck'de the knight 
 
 By meanes of some great losses on the sea; 
 
 That, you conceiue mee, before God all's naught. 
 
 His seate is weake. Thus, each thing rightly scand, 
 
 You'le see a flight , wife, shortly of his land. 
 75 Mil. Treason to my hearts truest soueraigne! 
 
 How soone is loue smothered in foggy gaine! 
 
 L. Dor. But how shall we preuent this dangerous match? 
 Sir Ar. I haue a plot, a tricke; and this it is — 
 
 Vnder this colour lie breake off the match: 
 80 He tell the knight that now my minde is changd 
 
 For marrying of my daughter: for I intend 
 
 To send her vnto Cheston Nunry. 
 Mil. O me accurst! 
 
 54. m] at FG. — 55' '^"'^ '^ third G and the rest. — 56. it is E and 
 the rest. — 58. marriage has the quality of a trisyllable here. — 59. sprites C. — 
 65. chimneys D and the rest. — 67, 68. His hawks devour his fattest hogs, 
 whilst Simple, His leanest cur, eats his hounds' carrion L. — 68. eate him 
 hounds AC. — 70. Or Turkey all Edd., except GL; sure most Edd., sore 
 only FGL. — 72. all naught ABCDE, all is naught FGHI, all's naught 
 KL. — 80. knights DE. — 81. For the monosyllabic pronunciation of 
 daughter cp. Faire Em, I. 4. 55. — 82. Nunry to be pronounced as a tri- 
 syllable. 
 
T, 2] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 1 1 
 
 Sir Ar. There to become a most religious Nunne. 
 
 Mil. He first be buried quicke. 85 
 
 Sir Ar. To spend her beauty in most priuate prayers. 
 
 Mil. He sooner be a sinner in forsaking 
 Mother and father. 
 
 Sir Ar. How dost like my plot? 
 
 L. Dor. Exceeding well ; but is it your intent 
 Shee shall continue there? no 
 
 Sir Ar. Continue there? Ha, ha, that were a iest! 
 You know a virgin may continue there 
 A twelue moneth and a day onely on triall. 
 There shall my daughter soiourne some three moneths, 
 And in meanc time He compasse a faire match 95 
 
 Twixt youthfuU lerningham, the lusty heire 
 Of Sir Raph lerningham, dwelling in the forrest. 
 I thinke they'le both come hither with Mounchensey. 
 
 L. Dor. Your care argues the loue you beare our childe; 
 I will subscribe to any thing youle haue me. \_Exeunt. 100 
 
 Mil. You will subscribe to it! Good, good, tis well; 
 Loue hath two chaires of state, heauen and hell. 
 My dear Mounchensey, thou my death shall rue, 
 Ere to thy heart Milliscent proue vntrue. • \Exil. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 Enter Blagde. 
 
 Host. Ostlers, you knaues and commanders, take the horses 
 of the knights and competitors: your honourable hulkes haue 
 put into harborough, theile take in fresh water here, and I 
 haue prouided cleane chamber-pots. Via, they come! 
 
 Eiiter Sir Richard Mounchensey, Sir Raph Ierningham, young 
 Fkanke Ierningham, Raymond Mounchensey, Peter Fabell, 
 
 and Bilbo. 
 
 84. Prefix om. B. — 93. onely om. L. — 99. beare your childe EFG. — 
 100. Exeunt. The stage-direction is put after 1. q8 in ABC; Exeunt Sir Ar- 
 thur and Dorcas IKL; om. in DEFGH. — loi. good only once in GHI. — 
 104. Exeunt G. 
 
 Scene II. Scene III. Tieck. — 4. Via they come printed as stage-direction 
 in Edd., voyez — they come G. 
 
12 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [I, 2 
 
 5 Host. The destinies be most neate Chamberlaines to these 
 swaggering puritanes, knights of the subsidy. 
 Sir Rich. God a mercy, good mine host. 
 Sir Raph. Thankes, good host Blague. 
 
 Host. Roome for my case of pistolles, that haue Greeke 
 lO and Latine bullets in them; let me cling to your flanks, my 
 nimble Giheralters . and blow wind in your calues to make 
 them swell bigger. Ha, lie caper in mine owne fee-simple. 
 Away with puntillioes and Orthography! I serue the good 
 Duke of Norfolke. Bilbo, Titer e tu, patulae recuhans sub teg- 
 15 mine fagi. 
 
 Bil. Truely, mine host, Bilbo , though he be somewhat out 
 of fashion, will be your onely blade still. I haue a villanous 
 sharp stomacke to slice a breakfast. 
 
 Host. Thou shalt haue it without any more d iscontinuance, 
 20 releases, or atturne ment . What! we know our termes ofhunt- 
 ing and the sea-card . 
 
 Bil. And doe you serue the good Duke of Norfolke still? 
 Host. Still, and still, and still, my souldier of S. Quintins! 
 Come, follow me; I haue Charles waine below in a but of 
 25 sacke, 't will glister like your Crab-fish. 
 
 Bil. You haue fine SchoUer-like tearmes; your Coopers 
 Dixionary is your onely booke to study in a celler, a man 
 shall finde very strange words in it. Come, my host, lets 
 serue the good Duke of Norfolke. 
 30 Host. And still, and still, and still, my boy, lie serue the 
 
 good Duke of Norfolke. \Exeunt Host and Bilbo. 
 
 Enter Sir Arthur Clare, Harry Clare and Milliscent. 
 Sir Raph. Good Sir Arthur Clare! 
 Sir Ar. What Gentleman is that ? I know him not. 
 Sir Rich. Tis M. Fabell, Sir, a Cambridge scholler, 
 35 My sonnes deere friend. 
 
 Sir Ar. Sir, I intreat you know me. 
 
 II. Giberlaters EFG. — 14. The words Titere tu &c. ave given to Bilbo 
 in D and the rest, the word Bilbo being erroneously taken for a prefix. — 
 19. discontinnance BD. — 20. release L. — 23. S. Qiiintus AC. — 25. sacke, 
 I will BDEFGK. — 31. No stage-direction in most Edd. In KL Enter Sir 
 Arthur Clare, Harry Clare, and Milliscent. 
 
I. 3] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 
 
 13 
 
 Fah. CommaTid me, sir; I am affected to you 
 For your Mounchenseys sake. 
 
 Sir Ar. Alas, for him, 
 
 I not respect whether he sinke or swim! *" 
 A word in priuate, Sir Ralph lerningham. 
 
 i?aj'. Methinks your father looketh strangely on me: 40 
 
 Say, loue, why are you sad? 
 
 ^'■i- I am not, sweete; 
 
 Passion is strong, when woe with woe doth meete. 
 
 Sir Ar. Shall's in to breakfast? After wee'I conclude 
 The cause of this our comming: in and feed. 
 And let that vsher a more serious deed. " 45 
 
 Mil. Whilst you desire his griefe, my heart shall bleed/ 
 
 F. ler. Raymond Mounchensey, come, be frolick, friend, 
 This is the day thou hast expected long. 
 
 Ray. Pray God, deere lerningham, it proue so happy. 
 
 Y. ler. There's nought can alter it! Be merry, lad! 50 
 
 Fab. There's nought shall alter it! Be liuely, Raymond! 
 Stand any opposition gainst thy hope. 
 Art shall confront it with her largest scope. {Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE m. 
 Peter Fabell, solus. 
 
 Fab. Good old Mounchensey, is thy hap so ill, 
 That for thy bounty and thy royall parts 
 Thy kind alliance should be held in scome. 
 And after all these promises my Clare 
 
 Refuse to giue his daughter to thy sonne, 5 
 
 Onely because thy Reuenues cannot reach 
 To make her dowage of so rich a ioynture 
 As can the heire of wealthy lerningham? 
 And therefore is the false foxe now i n hand 
 To strike a match betwixt her and th' other; 10 
 
 41. are you so sad C. — 42. woe doe mete E. — 47, 50. Given to K 
 Clare in L. — 49. deere Harry Clar£ Edd. — 50. nought shall alter C. — • 
 53. Exeunt, save Fabel L. 
 
 Scene III. 4. promises by Clare Edd., corr. by L. — 10. the other 
 F and the rest. 
 
14 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [I, 3 
 
 And the old gray-beards now are close together, 
 Plotting it in the Garden. Is't euen so? 
 Raymond Mounchensey, boy, haue thou and I 
 Thus long at Cambridge read the liberall Arts, 
 
 15 The Metaphisickes, Magicke, and those parts 
 Of the most secret deepe Philosophy? 
 Haue I so many melancholy nights 
 
 Watch'd on the top of Peter-house highest tower, 
 
 And come we backe vnto our natiue home, 
 20 For want of skill to lose the wench thou lou'st? 
 
 Weele first hang Enfield in such rings of miste 
 
 As neuer rose from any dampish fenne: 
 
 He make the brinde sea to rise at Ware, 
 
 And drowne the marshes vnto Stratford bridge; 
 25 He driue the Deere from Waltham in their walkes. 
 
 And scatter them like sheepe in euery field. 
 
 We may perhaps be crost; but, if we be, 
 
 He shall crosse the Deuill, that but crosses me. 
 
 Enter Raymond, yong Ierningham and yong Clake. 
 But here comes Raymond, disconsolate and sad, 
 30 And heeres the gallant that must haue the wench. 
 
 Y. ler. I pri'thee, Raymond, leaue these solcmne dumps: 
 . Reuiue thy spirits, thou that before hast beene 
 More watchfuU then the day-proclayming Cocke, 
 As sportiue as a Kid, as francke and merry 
 35 As mirth herselfel 
 
 If ought in me may thy content procure. 
 It is thine owne, thou mayst thy selfe assure. 
 Ray. Ha, Ierningham, if any but thy selfe 
 Had spoke that word, it would haue come as cold 
 40 As the bleake Northeme winds upon the face 
 Of winter. 
 
 21. I'll first L. — Enuill most Edd. , Euuill C, Enfield L. — 23. brinde 
 to be pronounced brined; brinish FG. — 28. [Stage -dir.] Enter Raymond 
 and yong Ierningham most Edd., and young Clare only added in FG. — 
 29. disconsolant DE. — 30. And heere comes the Gallant must haue EFG. — 
 31. The prefix ler. om. in ABC. — 40. wind C. — 40, 41. As one line in FG. — 
 41 — 46. Printed as five lines in L, ending power \ thee \ lips \ won \ cannot. 
 
I, 3] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 15 
 
 From thee they haue some power vpon my blood; 
 
 Yet being from thee, had but that hollow sound 
 
 Come from the lips of any liuing man, 
 
 It might haue won the credite of mine eare; 45 
 
 From thee it cannot. 
 
 v. ler. If I vnderstand thee, I am a villain: 
 What, dost thou speake in Parables to thy friends? 
 
 V. Cla. Come, boy, and make me this same groning loue, 
 Troubled with stitches and the cough a'th lungs, 50 
 
 That wept his eyes out when he was a Childe, 
 And euer since hath shot at hudman-blind . 
 Make her leape, caper, ierke, and laugh, and sing. 
 And play me horse-trickes; 
 
 Make Cupid wanton as his mothers doue: 55 
 
 But in this sort, boy, I would haue thee loue. 
 
 Fab. Why, how now. Mad cap? What, my lusty Franke, 
 So neere a wife, and will not tell your friend? 
 But you will to this geere in hugge r-mugger; ,, 
 Art thou turnde miser, Rascall, in thy loues? ' 60 
 
 Y. ler. Who, I? z'sblood, what should all you see in me, 
 that I should looke like a married man, ha? am I balde? are 
 my legs too little for my hose? If I feele any thing in my 
 forehead, I am a villain. Doe I weare a night-cap? doe I 
 bend in the hams? What dost thou see in mee, that I should 65 
 be towards marriage, ha? 
 
 v. Cla. What, thou married? let me looke vpon thee. Rogue; 
 
 42. power a monosyllable here. — vpon] ofEF, on GHI. — 6,%. friend 
 G and the rest. — 50. a'th D and the rest. — 56. But, in Edd. — 61 — 66. 
 Printed partly as verse in ABC, the lines ending at in me \ ha \ hose \ I 
 am I . The rest is printed as prose. In DEFGHI the passage is printed 
 in six lines, divided at me | ha \ hose \ uillaine \ hams | ha. If, indeed, the 
 passage is to' be considered as verse corrupted into prose, we should per- 
 haps scan it: Who IP \ Z'sblood, what should all you see in mee, that 
 I should I Looke like a m.arried man? ha, am I balde P \ Are m,y legs too little^ 
 for m-y hoseP If I \ Feele anything in my forehead, I am \ A villain; doe 
 I weare u. night-capp doe | I bend z' th hamsP What doest thou see in 
 mee \ That I should be towards marriage, haP "We have thought it best 
 to follow KL and print the whole passage as prose. — 66. toward C. — 
 67 — 69. Apparently n prose-passage (KL). In ABC divided at thee \ how | 
 company \in\ . 
 
1 6 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [I, 3 
 
 who has giuen out this of thee? how camst thou into this ill 
 name? What company hast thou bin in, Rascall? 
 
 70 Fab. You are the man, sir, must haue Millescent, 
 
 The match is making in the Garden now; 
 Her ioynture is agreed on, and th' old men. 
 Your fathers, meane to lanch their busie bags. 
 But in meane time to thrust Mountchensey off. 
 
 75 For colour of this new intended match, 
 Faire Millescent to Cheston must be sent, 
 To take the approbation for a Nun. 
 Nere looke vpon me. Lad, the match is done. 
 
 Y. ler. Raymond Mountchensey, now I touch thy griefe 
 
 80 With the true feeling of a zealous friend. 
 And as for faire and beauteous Millescent, 
 With my vaine breath I will not seeke to slubber 
 Her angell-likc perfections; but thou know'st 
 That Essex hath the Saint that I adore. 
 
 85 Where ere did we meete thee and wanton s prings . 
 That like a wag thou hast not laught at me, ' 
 And with regardles iesting mockt my loue? 
 How many a sad and weary summer night 
 My sighs haue drunke the dew from off the earth, 
 
 90 And I haue taught the Nighting-gale to wake, 
 And from the meadowes sprung the earely Larke 
 An houre before she should haue list to sing: 
 I haue loaded the poore minutes with my moanes. 
 That I haue made the heauy slow-pasde houres 
 
 95 To hang like heauie clogs vpon the day. 
 
 But, deere Mounchensey, had not my affection 
 
 Seazde on the beauty of another dame, 
 
 Before I'de wrong the chase, and o'regiue th' loue 
 
 68. giuen this out of BD and the rest. — 69. ill-name L. ^ 73. pursy 
 bags G. — 81. And as for thy fair beauteous G. — 85 — 86. Where ere did'st 
 meete me, but we two were louiall, \ But like u. wag &c. BDE; Where ere 
 didst meet m£, that we two were jovial, \ But like a wag &c. F and the rest. — 
 88. How'\ Now ABCDEF; summer's night GHIK. — 89. sights C. — 90. And 
 om. AC. — 91. spring AC. — 92. list'\ rest AC. — 98. Before I would vnage 
 the chase, and ouergiue loue A, Before Pde •wrong the chase, and o'regiue 
 loue C, Before I would wrong the chase and leaue the loue BDEFG, Before 
 rid wrong the chase and leaue the loue K.L. 
 
I. 3-J THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 1 7 
 
 Of one so worthy and so true a friend, 
 
 I will abiure both beauty and her sight, ^ 100 
 
 And will in loue become a c ounterfeit. ' * 
 
 Ray. Deere lemingham, thou hast begot my life, 
 And from the mouth of hell, where now I sate, 
 I feele my spirit rebound against the stars: 
 
 Thou hast conquerd me, deere friend; in my free soule 105 
 
 Neither time nor death can by their power controule. 
 
 Fah. Franke lemingham, thou art a gallant boy; 
 And were he not my pupill, I would say 
 He were as fine a metled Gentleman, 
 
 Of as free spirit, and of as fine a temper 1 1 o 
 
 As is in England; and he is a man 
 That very richly may deserue thy loue. 
 But, noble Clare, this while of our discourse. 
 What may Mounchenseys honour to thy selfe 
 Exact vpon the measure of thy grace? 115 
 
 Y. CLa. Raymond Mounchensey? I would haue thee know, 
 He does not breath this ayre. 
 Whose loue I cherish, and whose soule I loue 
 More then Mounchenseyes : 
 
 Nor euer in toy life did see the man , 120 
 
 Whom, for his wit and many vertuous parts, 
 I thinke more worthy of my sisters loue. 
 But since the matter growes vnto this passe, 
 1 must not seeme to crosse my Fathers will; 
 
 But when thou list to visit her by night, 125 
 
 My horses sadled, and the stable doore 
 Stands ready for thee; vse them at thy pleasure. 
 In honest marriage wed her frankly, boy. 
 And if thou getst her, lad, God giue thee joy! 
 
 Ray. Then, care, away! Let fates my fall pretend, 130 
 
 Backt with the fauours of so true a friend! 
 
 10^. friend, and my free soulCr. — 106. Their time or death A.^, Their 
 time nor death C, There time or death DEF, Nor time nor death G, There 
 time, nor death HIK.L. — no. and as GHI. — III. Dropped out in A; 
 As is'\ As any G. — 117 — 119. As two lines in L, divided at cherish. — 
 122. more worthy] no more B. — 126. horse is sadled D and the rest. — 
 130. The prefix Ray. wanting in B; Fate D and the rest. 
 
 2 
 
1 8 THE MERRY DEVIL Ot EDMONTON. [II, I. 
 
 Fab. Let vs alone, to bussell for the set; / 
 For age and craft with wit and Art haue met. 
 He make my spirits to dance such nightly Jigs 
 
 135 Along the way twixt this and Totnam crosse, 
 The Carriers lades shall cast their heauie packs, 
 And the strong hedges scarse shall keepe them in: 
 The Milke-maides Cuts shall tume the wenches off, 
 And lay the Dossers tumbling in the dust: 
 
 140 The franke and merry London Prentises, 
 
 That come for creame and lusty country cheere, 
 Shall lose their way; and, scrambling in the ditches, 
 All night shall whoop and hollow, cry and call, 
 Yet none to other finde the way at all. ' 
 
 145 Ray. Pursue the proiect, scholler: what we can do 
 
 To helpe indeauour, ioyne our liues thereto! '^ \Exeunt. 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 Enter Banks, Sir John and Smug. 
 
 Banks. Take me with you, good Sir lohn! A plague on thee, 
 Smug, and thou touchest liquor, thou art founderd straight. 
 What! are your braines alwayes water-milles? must they euer 
 runne round? 
 5 Smug. Banks, your ale is a Philistine fox ; z' hart, theres fire 
 i'th taile on't; you are a rogue to charge vs with Mugs i'th 
 rereward. A plague of this winde; O, it tickles our Cata- 
 strophe. 
 
 Sir lo. Neighbour Banks of Waltham, and Goodman Smug, 
 
 10 the honest Smith of Edmonton, as I dwell betwixt you both 
 
 at Enfield, I know the taste of both your ale houses, they 
 
 are good both, smart both. Hem, Grasse and hay! we are 
 
 133. haue\ hath DEFG. — 134. sprites B; to om. G; ligs om. 
 C. — 135. Totiian C. — 139. their Dossers D and the rest. — 143. 
 hallow D, hallo L. — 144. Yef^ And BDEFG. — 146. Exeunt first 
 added in D. 
 
 Scene I. Scene IV. Tieck. — 5. is a\ is as a E and the rest; there f^; 
 nounes theres D and the rest. — 6. taile : out ABC. 
 
II, I.] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. IQ 
 
 all mortall; lets Hue till we die, and be merry; and theres 
 an end. 
 
 Banks. Well said, Sir lohn, you are of the same humor 15 
 still; and doth the water runne the same way still, boy? 
 
 Smug. Vulcan was a rogue to him; Sir lohn, locke, lock, 
 lock fast, sir lohn ; so, sir lohn. He one of these yeares, when 
 it shall please the Goddesses and the destinies, be drunke in 
 your company ; thats all now, and God send vs health. Shall 20 
 I sweare I loue you? 
 
 Sir lo. No oathes, no oaths, good neighbour Smug; 
 Weel wet our lips together in hugge; 
 Carrouse in priuate, and eleuate the hart. 
 
 And the liner and the lights, and the lights, marke you me, 25 
 within vs; for hem, Grasse and hay! we are all mortall, lets 
 liue till we die, and bee Merry, and thers an end. 
 
 Banks. But to our former motion about stealing some venison; 
 whither goe we? 
 
 Sir lo. Into the forrest, neighbour Banks, into Brians walke, 30 
 the madde keeper. 
 
 Smug. Z' blood! He tickle your keeper. 
 
 Banks. Yfaith, thou art alwayes drunke when we haue neede 
 of thee. 
 
 Smug. Neede of mee? z' hart! you shall haue neede of mee 35 
 alwayes while theres yron in an Anuill. 
 
 Banks. M. Parson, may the Smith goe, thinke you, being 
 in this taking? 
 
 Smug. Go? He goe in spight of all the belles in Waltham. 
 
 Sir lo. The question is, good neighboure Banks — let 40 
 mee see: the Moone shines to night, — ther's not a narrow 
 bridge betwixt this and the forrest, — his braine will be setled 
 ere night; he may go, he may go, neighbour Banks. Now 
 we want none but the company of mine host Blague of the 
 George at Waltham; if he were here, our Consort were full. 45 
 
 13, 26. we are not yet all G. — 13. till he die B. — 23. together and hugge 
 BD and the rest. — 25. and the lights only once in EFG. — 31. madlteeper 
 H, mad-keeper KL. — 32. Blood D and the rest. — 35. hart D and the 
 rest. — 36. there is F and the rest. — 40. The question is good, neigh- 
 bour L. — 42. ■wiir\ may BD and the rest. — 44. Blague at the George 
 AC. — 45. our comfort were full. I. 
 
 2* 
 
20 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [H, I. 
 
 Looke where comes my good host, the Duke of Norfolks man ! 
 and how? and how? a hem, grasse and hay! wee are not 
 yet mortall; lets line till we die, and be merry; and ther's 
 
 an end. 
 
 Enter Host. 
 
 50 Host. Ha, my Castilian dialogues! and art thou in breath 
 stil, boy? Miller, doth the match hold? Smith, I see by thy 
 eyes thou hast bin reading little Geneua print: but wend we 
 merrily to the forrest, to steale some of the kings Deere! lie 
 meet you at the time apointed. Away, I haue Knights and 
 
 55 Colon ells at my house, and must tend the HungarionSj If we 
 be scard in the forrest, weele meete in the Church-porch at 
 Enfield; ist Correspondent? 
 
 Banks. Tis well; but how, if any of vs should be taken? 
 Smug. He shall haue ransome, by the Lord. 
 
 60 Host. Tush, the knaue keepers are my bosonians and my 
 pensioners. Nine a clock! be valiant, my little Gogmagogs; 
 He fence with all the lustices in Hartfordshire. He haue a 
 Bucke till I die; lie slay a Doe while I Hue. Hold your bow 
 straight and steady! I serue the good Duke of Norfolke. 
 
 65 Smug. O rare! who, ho, ho, boy! 
 
 Sir lo. Peace, neighbor Smug! You see this is a Boore, a 
 Boore of the country, an illiterate Boore, and yet the Cittizen 
 of good fellowes. Come, lets prouide; a hem, Grasse and 
 hay! wee are not yet all mortall; weel line till we die, and 
 
 70 be merry; and theres an end. Come, Smug! 
 
 Smug. Good night, Waltham — who, ho, ho, boy! [JExeunt. 
 
 SCENE n. 
 Enter the Knights and Gentlemen from breakfast againe. 
 
 Sir Rich. Nor I for thee, Clare, not of this. 
 What? hast thou fed me all this while with shalles? 
 And com' St to tell me now, thou lik'st it not? 
 
 48. let vs Hue F and the rest. — 52. reading a little D and the rest. — 
 55. Hungarians F and the rest. — 56. scatter' d G. — 59. ransome by my 
 Sword D and the rest. — 60. knaues D and the rest, except L; my bonasosis 
 DEF; m^y bona socias G and the rest. — 66. is a om. BD and the rest. — 
 68. good fellows KL; lets prouide a hen, grass most Edd. The mistake is 
 corrected in GKL. 
 
n, 2.] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 2 I 
 
 Sir Ar. I doe not hold thy offer competent; 
 Nor doe I like th' assurance of thy land, 5 
 
 The title is so brangled with thy debts. 
 
 Sir Rich. Too good for thee; and, knight, thou knowest it well, 
 I fawnd not on thee for thy goods, not 1; 
 Twas thine owne motion; that thy wife doth know. 
 
 L. Dor. Husband, it was so; he lies not in that. 10 
 
 Sir Ar. Hold thy chat, queane. 
 
 Sir Rich. To which I hearkned willingly, and the rather, 
 Because I was perswaded it proceeded 
 From loue thou bor'st to me and to my boy; 
 And gau'st him free accesse vnto thy house, 15 
 
 Where he hath not behaude him to thy childe, 
 But as befits a Gentleman to doe: 
 Nor is my poore distressed state so low. 
 That lie shut vp my doores, 1 warrant thee. 
 
 Sir Ar. Let it suffice, Mounchensey, I mislike it; 20 
 
 Nor thinke thy sonne a match fit for my childe. 
 
 Sir Rich. I tell thee, Clare, his blood is good and cleere, 
 As the best drop that panteth in thy veines: 
 But for this maide, thy faire and vertuous childe, 
 She is no more disparagd by thy basenes 25 
 
 Then the most orient and the pretious iewell. 
 Which still retaines his lustre and his beauty. 
 Although a slaue were owner of the same. 
 
 Sir Ar. She is the last is left me to bestow. 
 And her I meane to dedicate to God. 30 
 
 Sir Rich. You doe, sir? 
 
 Sir Ar. Sir, sir, I doe, she is mine owne. 
 
 Sir Rich. And pity she is sol \Aside. 
 
 Damnation dog thee and thy wretched pelfe! 
 
 Sir Ar. Not thou, Mounchensey, shalt bestow my childe. 
 
 Sir Rich. Neither shouldst thou bestow her where thou mean'st. 35 
 
 Scene II. Scene V. Tieck. — 5. the assurance F and the rest; of 
 thy loue ABC. — 7, 8. Divided at knowst it EFG. — 20, 21. Added to 
 Moun.'s speech in ABC. — 22. To tell thee ABC. — 25. no om. BDE. — 
 26. and most precious L. — 28. were the owner C. — 33. damnation, 
 dog Edd.; pelfe aside ABC, aside a stage - direction in D and the rest. — 
 35. shall' st L. 
 
22 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [H, 2. 
 
 Sir Ar. What wilt thou doe? 
 
 Sir Rich. No matter, let that bee; 
 
 I wil doe that, perhaps, shall anger thee: 
 Thou hast wrongd my loue, and, by Gods blessed Angell, 
 Thou shalt well know it. 
 
 Sir Ar. Tut, braue not me! 
 
 40 Sir Rich. Braue thee, base Churle! Were't not for man-hood 
 I say no more, but that there be some by [sake — 
 
 Whose blood is hotter then ours is. 
 Which, being stird, might make vs both repent 
 This foolish meeting. But, Harry Clare, 
 45 Although thy father haue abused my friendship. 
 Yet I loue thee, I doe, my noble boy, 
 I doe, yfaith. 
 
 L. Dor. I, doe, do. 
 Fill all the world with talke of vs, man, man; 
 50 I neuer lookt for better at your hands. * \ 
 
 Fab. I hoped your great experience and your yeeres 
 Would haue prou'de patience rather to your soule. 
 Then with this frantique and vntamed passion 
 To whet their skeens. And, but for that 
 55 I hope their friendships are too well confirmd. 
 And their minds temperd with more kindly heat, 
 Then for their froward parents scares, 
 That they should breake forth into publique brawles. 
 Howere the rough hand of th' vntoward world 
 60 Hath moulded your proceedings in this matter. 
 Yet I am sure the first intent was loue: 
 Then since the first spring was so sweet and warme. 
 Let it die gently; ne're kill it with a scorne. 
 
 Ray. thou base world, how leprous it that soule 
 65 That is once Um'd in that polluted muddel 
 
 ,-■ « 
 
 38. Gods] a DEFGr. — 42. Whose youthful Mood pres. Edd. conj.; cp. 
 Sh., Rich. II.-, I. 3. 83: Rouse up thy youthful Mood, and Rom., II. 5. 12: 
 Had she affections and warm youthful Mood. — 44. Raph Clare ABCDE. — 
 45. hath E and the rest. — 51. hope ABC. — 54. and but that ABC. — 
 ^"J. forward B; their forward Parents frowardnesse DEFGKL, their froward 
 parent's frowardness HI. — 59. the untoward F and the rest. — 63. with 
 scorn L. — 65. in thy polluted G-. 
 
n, 2.] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 23 
 
 Oh, sir Arthur, you haue startled his free actiue spirits 
 With a too sharpe spur for his minde to beare. 
 Haue patience, sir; the remedy to woe 
 Is, to leaue what of force we must forgoe. 
 
 Mil. And I must' take a twelue moneths approbation, 70 
 
 That in meane time this sole and priuate life 
 At the yeares end may fashion me a wife. *^ 
 But, sweet Mounchensey, ere this yeare be done, 
 Thou'st be a frier, if that I be a Nun. ^ 
 
 And, father, ere young leminghams He bee, 75 
 
 I will tume mad to spight both him and thee. 
 
 Sir Ar. Wife, come to horse, and, huswife, make you ready; 
 For, if I liue, I sweare by this good light, , 
 He see you lodgde in Chesson house to night. \Exeimt. 
 
 Sir Rich. Raymond, away! Thou seest how matters fall. 80 
 Churle, hell consume thee, and thy pelfe, and all! ■' 
 
 Fab. Now, M. Clare, you see how matters f adge ; 
 Your Milliscent must needes be made a Nun. 
 Well, sir, we are the men must plie this match: 
 Hold you your peace, and be a looker on, 85 
 
 And send her vnto Chesson where he will; 
 He send mee fellowes of a handfull hie 
 Into the Cloysters where the Nuns frequent, 
 Shall make them skip like Does about the Dale, 
 And make the Lady prioresse of the house go 
 
 To play at leape-frogge, naked in their smockes, 
 Untill the merry wenches at their masse 
 Cry teehee weehee; 
 
 And tickling these mad Lasses in their flanckes. 
 Shall sprawle, and squeake, and pinch their fellow Nunnes. 95 
 
 Be liuely, boyes, before the Wench we lose. 
 He make the Abbas weare the Cannons hose'. \Exeunt. 
 
 66. spirit L. — 67. With too sharp a spur G. — 69. •iahat'\ that D 
 and the rest; we must of force FG. — 71. in the mean HIKL. — 79. this 
 night C; Exeunt first in D. — 84. the match E and the rest. — 86. txihen 
 he -will L. — 90, 91. Divided at play in ABC. — 91. in her smock GL. — 
 96. 'We'll lose G. 
 
24 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [II, 3. 
 
 SCENE ni. 
 
 Enter Harry Clare, Franke Ierningham, Peter Fabell, 
 and Millescent. 
 Y. Cla. Spight now hath done her worst; sister, be patient! 
 Y. ler. Forewarnd, poore Raymonds company! O heauen! 
 When the composure of weake frailtie meete 
 Vpon this mart of durt, o, then weake loue 
 5 Must in hir owne vnhappines be silent. 
 And winck on all deformities. 
 
 Mil. Tis well: 
 
 Whers Raymond, Brother? Whers my. deere Mounchensey? 
 Would wee might weepe together and then part; 
 Our sighing parle would much ease my heart. 
 10 Fab. Sweete beautie, fould your sorrowes in the thought 
 Of future reconcilement. Let your teares 
 Shew you a woman; but be no farther spent 
 Then from the eyes; for, sweet, experience sayes 
 That loue is firme thats flatterd with delayes. 
 15 Mil. Alas, sir, thinke you I shall ere be his? ^ 
 Fab, As sure as parting smiles on future blisse. 
 Yond comes my friend! See, he hath doted 
 So long vpon your beautie, that your want 
 Will with a pale retirement wast his blood ; 
 20 For in true loue Musicke doth sweetly dwell: 
 
 Seuerd, these lesse worlds beare within them hell. 
 
 Enter Raymond Mounchensey. 
 Ray. Harry and Francke, you are enioynd to waine 
 Your friendship from mee; we must part the breath. 
 Of all aduised corruption pardon mee! 
 
 25 Faith, I must say so; you may thinke I loue you; 
 I breath not, rougher spight do seuer vs; 
 
 Scene III. Scene VI. Tieck. — 3. company to heauen ABC. — 
 3. meet\_s\ L. — 9. parley BDEFGK; One sighing- parley L. Pronounce 
 par'le. — 12. be om. 'L.; further CDEF. — n. for, sweet experience ¥i, for 
 sweet experience KL. — 16. panting ABC. — 17. Yonder C. — 22—24. 
 Printed as prose in ABCDE, — 23, 24. part the breath Of all a. c, pardon 
 mee. all Edd. — 24. of ill advis'd L. — 26. Tho' J breathe not, and tho' rough 
 spite do sever us G; to sever L. 
 
II. 3-] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 25 
 
 -Weele meete by stealth, sweet friends, by stealth you twaine; 
 Kisses are sweetest got with strugling paine. ■ 
 
 F. ler. Our friendship dies not Raymond. 
 
 I^V- Pardon mee: 
 
 I am busied; I haue lost my faculties, 30 
 
 And buried them in Milliscents cleere eyes. 
 
 Mil. Alas, sweete Loue, what shall become of me? 
 I must to Chesson to the Nunery, ^ 
 
 I shall nere see thee more. 
 
 Ray- How, sweete? , "N 
 
 He be thy votary, weele often meete: / 35 
 
 This kisse diuides vs, and breathes soft adievv, — 
 This be a double charme to keepe both true. ' 
 
 Fab. Haue done: your fathers may chance spie your parting. 
 Refuse not you by any meanes, good sweetnes, 
 To goe vnto the Nunnery; farre from hence 40 
 
 Must wee beget your loues sweete happines. 
 You shall not stay there long; your harder bed 
 Shall be more soft when Nun and Maide are dead. 
 
 Enter BiLBO. 
 
 Ray. Now, sirra, whats the matter? 
 
 Bil. Marry, you must to horse presently; that villanous 45 
 old gowty churle. Sir Arthur Clare, longs till he bee at the 
 Nunry. 
 
 Y. Cla. How, sir? 
 
 Bil. O, I cry you mercy, he is your father, sir, indeed ; but 
 I am sure that theres lesse affinitie betwixt your two natures 50 
 then there is betweene a broker and a Cutpurse. 
 
 Ray. Bring my gelding, sirra. 
 
 Bil. Well, nothing greeues me, but for the poore wench; 
 she must now cry vale to Lobster pies, hartichokes, and all 
 such meates of mortalitie; poore gentlewoman, the signe must 55 
 
 27. by steale ABC; friend most Edd., friends only FG. — 28. with'] by 
 D and the rest. — 39. Refuse you not EFG. — 40. vnto'\ into G and the 
 rest; farre"] for D and the rest. — 46. Sir Richard Clare all Edd. — 49. The 
 prefix Bil. om. ABCDE; sir ora. CHI. — 50. betweene C. — 52. Bring me 
 my F and the rest. 
 
26 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [Ill, I. 
 
 not be in Virgo any longer with her, and that me g^ieues 
 
 ful wel. 
 
 Poor Milliscent 
 
 Must pray and repent: 
 
 60 O fatalle wonder! 
 
 Sheele now be no fatter, 
 
 Loue must not come at her. 
 
 Yet she shall be k ept vnder . \^Exit. 
 
 Y. ler. Farewell, deere Raymond. 
 
 Y. Cla. Friend, adew. 
 
 Mil. Deere sweete, s^ 
 
 65 No ioy enioyes my hearte till wee next meete. \Exeuni. y- 
 
 Fab. Well, Raymond, now the tide of discontent -^ 
 
 Beats in thy face; but, er't be long, the wind 
 
 Shall turne the flood. Wee must to Waltham Abby, 
 
 And as faire Milliscent in Cheston hues, 
 
 70 A most vn willing Nun, so thou shalt there 
 
 Become a beardles Nouice; to what end. 
 
 Let time and future accidents declare: 
 
 Tast thou my sleights, thy loue He onely share. 
 
 Ray. Turne frier? Come, my good Counsellor, lets goe, 
 
 75 Yet that disguise will hardly shrowd my woe. ^ \JExeunt. 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 Enter the Prior esse of Cheston, with a Nun or two, Sie: Arthur 
 
 Clare, Sir Ralph Ierningham, Henry and Francke, the Lady, 
 
 and Bilbo, with Milliscent. 
 
 L. Dor. Madam, 
 The loue vnto this holy Sister-hood, 
 And our confirmd opinion of your zeale 
 Hath truely wonpe vs to bestow our Childe 
 5 Rather on this then any neighbouring Cell. 
 
 Pri. lesus, Daughter Maries childe, 
 
 56. grieues fall well BC; grieues; farewell D and the rest. — 65. Now 
 ioy B. — 6g. Chesson DE. — 72. future'] further F, farther G. 
 
 Scene I. Scene VII. Tieck. — 6. Jesus' Daughter, Mary's Child, L. 
 
in, I.] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 27 
 
 Holy Matron, womaii milde, 
 For thee a masse shall still be sayd, 
 Euery Sister drop a bead; 
 
 And those again succeeding them 10 
 
 For you shall sing a Requiem. 
 y. ler. The wench is gone, Harry; she is no more a woman 
 of this world. Marke her well, shee lookes like a Nun already. 
 What thinkst on her? 
 
 V. Cla. By my faith, her face comes handsomly to 't. But 1 5 
 peace, lets heare the rest. 
 
 Sir Ar. Madam, for a twelue-months approbation. 
 Wee meane to make this trial! of our childe. 
 Your care and our deere blessing, in meane time. 
 Wee pray, may prosper this intended worke. 20 
 
 Pri. May your happie soule be blithe, 
 That so truely pay your Tithe: 
 He who many children gaue, 
 Tis fit that he one child should haue. 
 Then, faire Virgin, heare my spell, 25 
 
 For I must your duty tell. 
 Mil. Good men and true, stand together, and heare your charge! 
 Pfi. First, a mornings take your booke. 
 
 The glasse wherein your selfe must looke; 
 Your young thoughts, so proud and ioUy, 30 
 
 Must be turnd to motions holy; 
 For your buske, attires, and toyes 
 Haue your thoughts on heauenly ioyes; 
 And for all your follies past 
 
 You must doe penance, pray, and fast. 35 
 
 Bil. Let her take heed of fasting ; and if euer she hurt her 
 selfe with praying. He nere trust beast. 
 Mil. This goes hard, berladye! 
 
 Pri. You shal ring the sacring Bell, 
 
 Keepe your howers, and toll your knell, 40 
 
 Rise ad midnight to your Mattins, 
 
 II. ring A, ring B. — 18. this\ the EFG. — 21. hafpie om. EFG. — 
 23. He that D and the rest. — V-. busk attires KL. — 39. sacringi sauing 
 A. — 40. tell all Edd. except L. 
 
28 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [Ill, I. 
 
 Read your Psalter, sing your Lattin&i. 
 And when your blood shall kindle pleasure. 
 Scourge your selfe in plenteous measure. 
 45 Mil. Worse and worse, by Saint Mary! 
 
 Y. ler. Sirra Hal, how does she hold her countenance? 
 Wei, goe thy wayes, if euer thou proue a Nunne, He build 
 an Abby. 
 
 F. Cla. She may be a Nun; but if euer shee prooue an 
 50 Anchoresse, He dig her graue with my nailes. 
 v. ler. To her againe, mother! 
 Y. Cla. Hold thine owne, wench! 
 Pri. You must read the mornings Masse, 
 You must creepe vnto the Crosse, 
 55 Put cold Ashes on your head, 
 
 Haue a Haire-cloth for your bed. 
 Bil. She had rather haue a man in her bed. 
 Pri. Bid your beads, and tell your needs, 
 Your holy Avies, and your Creedes; 
 60 Holy maide, this must be done. 
 
 If you meane to Hue a Nun. 
 Mil. The holy maide will be no Nun. 
 
 Sir Ar. Madam, we haue some busines of import. 
 And must be gone. 
 65 Wilt please you take my wife into your closet. 
 
 Who further will acquaint you with my mind; 
 And so, good madam, for this time Adiew. \Exetin( women. 
 Sir Raph. Well now, Francke lerningham, how sayest thou? 
 
 To be briefe, — 
 What wilt thou say for all this, if we two, 
 70 Her father and my selfe, can bring about. 
 
 That we conuert this Nun to be a wife, 
 And thou the husband to this pretty Nun? 
 How then, my Lad? ha, Francke, it may be done. 
 Y. Cla. I, now it workes. 
 75 Y. ler. O God, sir, you amaze mee at your words; 
 
 S3, morning masse B and the rest. — 58. Bind your beads all Edd. — 
 66. farther G and the rest. — 68. Francke Clare ABCDE ; printed as two 
 lines in HIKL, the first ending at thou. — 70. Thy father ABCDE. — 
 75. words om. K. 
 
m, I .] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 
 
 29 
 
 Thinke with your selfe, Sir, what a thing it were 
 
 To cause a Recluse to remoue her vow: 
 
 A maymed, contrite, and repentant soule, 
 
 Euer mortified with fasting and with prayer, 
 
 Whose thoughts, euen as hir eyes, are fixd on heauen, 80 
 
 To drawe a virgin, thus deuour'd with zeale, 
 
 Backe to the world: O impious deede! 
 
 Nor by the Canon Law can it be done 
 
 Without a dispensation from the Church; 
 
 Besides, she is so prone vnto this life, 85 
 
 As sheele euen shreeke to heare a husband namde. 
 
 Bil. I, a poore innocent shee! Well, heres no knauery; hee 
 flowts the old fooles to their teeth. 
 
 Sir Raph. Boy, I am glad to heare 
 Thou mak'st such scruple of that conscien ce; go 
 
 And in a man so young as is your selfe, 
 I promise you tis very seldome seene. 
 But Franke, this is a tricke, a meere deuise, 
 A sleight plotted betwixt her father and my selfe. 
 To thrust Mounchenseyes nose besides the cu shion ; 95 
 
 That, being thus debard of all accesse. 
 Time yet may worke him from her thoughts, 
 And giue thee ample scope to thy desires. 
 
 Bil, A plague on you both for a couple of lewes! 
 
 Y. Cla. How now, Franke, what say you to that? 100 
 
 Y, ler. Let me alone, I warrant thee. 
 Sir, 
 
 Assurde that this motion doth proceede 
 From your most kinde and fatherly affection, 
 
 I do dispose my liking to your pleasure: 105 
 
 But for it is a matter of such moment 
 As holy marriage, I must craue thus much, 
 To haue some conference with my ghostly father. 
 Frier Hildersham, here by, at Waltham Abby, 
 
 77. renounce GHI. — 78. maymeifl sainted L. — 81. deuout D and 
 the rest. — 87. innocent, she L. — 90. of thy conscience L. — 93. is om. 
 B. — 94. Scan: A sleight \ plott(ed) 'twixt \ her fdth \ er etc. — 95. beside 
 BCDEK.L. — 102. Sir placed in a separate line by the pres. Edd. — 103. 
 Assurde to be pronounced as a trisyllable. 
 
30 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [Ill, 2. 
 
 I lo To be absolude of things, that it is fit 
 
 None only but my confessor should know. 
 
 Sir Raph. With all my heart. He is a reuerend man; 
 
 And to morrow-morning wee will meet all at the Abby, 
 
 Where by th' opinion of that reuerend man 
 115 Wee will proceede; I like it passing well. 
 
 Till then we part, boy; I thinke of it; farewell! ' 
 
 A parents care no mortall tongue can tell. ' ' \Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE n. 
 
 Enter Sir Arthur Clare, and Raymond Mounchensey, lilte a Frier. 
 
 Sir Ar. Holy yong Nouice, I haue told you now 
 
 My full intent, and doe refer the rest 
 
 To your professed secrecy and care: 
 
 And see, 
 5 Our serious speech hath stolne vpon the way, 
 
 That we are come vnto the Abby gate. 
 
 Because I know Mountchensey is a foxe. 
 
 That craftily doth ouerlooke my doings. 
 
 He not be seene, not I; tush, I haue done, 
 10 I had a Daughter, but shea's now a Nun. ' 
 
 Farewell, deere Sonne, farewell. \Exit. 
 
 Ray. Fare you well! — I, you haue done! / 
 
 Your daughter, sir, shall not be long a Nun. 
 
 O my rare Tutor, neuer mortall braine 
 15 Plotted out such a masse of pollicie; 
 
 And my deere bosome is so great with laughter. 
 
 Begot by his simplicity and error. 
 
 My soule is fallen in labour with her ioy. 
 
 O my true friends, Franke lerningham and Clare, 
 20 Did you now know but how this iest takes fire — 
 
 1 12 — 117 wrongly given to Sir Arthur in ABCDE. — 112 — 114. Printed 
 as prose in Edd., only L divides the lines at man | abbey \ man | . — 112. 
 hees BCDE. — ■ 114. the opinion F and the rest. — 116. boy. Ay, think L. — 
 117. Exeunt om. FG. 
 
 Scene II. Scene VIII. Tieclc. — 10. she is G. — 11. deere onne B, 
 deare one C. — 15. masse'\ plot DEHIK, piece FG, mesh L. — 18. in om. 
 B. — 19. true om. E and the rest. — 20. Did you hut know, but how D and 
 the rest, except G : Did you but know, how this. 
 
in, 2.] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 3 1 
 
 That good sir Arthur, thinking me a Nouice, 
 
 Had euen powrd himselfe into my bosome, 
 
 O, you would vent your spleenes with tickling mirth! 
 
 But, Raymond, peace, and haue an eye about, 
 
 For feare perhaps some of the Nuns looke out. ' 25 
 
 Peace and charity within, 
 
 Neuer toucht with deadly sin; 
 
 I cast my holy water pure 
 
 On this wall and on this doore. 
 
 That from euill shall defend, 30 
 
 And keepe you from the vgly fiend: 
 
 Euill spirit, by night nor day, 
 
 Shall approch or come this way; 
 
 Elfe nor Fairy, by this grace, 
 
 Day nor night shall haunt this place. 35 
 
 Holy maidens! [Knocke. 
 
 [Atiswere within.\ Who's that which knocks? ha, who is there? 
 Ray. Gentle Nun, here is a Frier. 
 
 Enter NuN. 
 Nun. A Frier without, now Christ vs saue! 
 
 Holy man, what wouldst thou haue? 40 
 
 Ray. Holy Mayde, I hither come 
 
 From Frier and Father Hildersome, 
 
 By the fauour and the grace 
 
 Of the Prioresse of this place 
 
 Amongst you all to visit one 45 
 
 That's come for approbation; 
 
 Before she was as now you are. 
 
 The Daughter of Sir Arthur Clare, 
 
 But since she now became a Nun, 
 
 Call'd Milliscent of Edmunton. 50 
 
 Nun. Holy man, repose you there; 
 
 This newes lie to our Abbas beare. 
 
 To tell her what a man is sent. 
 
 And your message and intent. 
 
 28. my om. D and the rest; water foore ABCDE. — 32. Spright D 
 and the rest. — 36. Holy maidens knocke, printed as stage-dir. in ABCDEF, 
 first printed as part of Mounchensey's speech in G. — 53. her only in CGL. 
 
32 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [Ill, 2. 
 
 55 Ray. Benedicite. 
 
 Nun. Benedicite. \Exit. 
 
 Ray. Doe, my good plumpe wench; if all fall right, « 
 He make your sister-hood one lesse by night, 'l-'-- i^^-fv^ , 
 Now happy fortune speede this merry drift, 
 6o I like a wench comes roundly to her shrift. 
 
 Enter Lady and Milliscent. 
 L. Dor. Haue Friers recourse then to the house of Nuns? 
 Mil. Madam, it is the order of this place. 
 When any Virgin comes for approbation, — 
 Lest that for feare or such sinister practise 
 65 Shee should be forcde to vndergoe this vaile. 
 
 Which should proceed from conscience and deuotion, — 
 A visitor is sent from Waltham house, , j 
 
 To take the true confession of the maide. 
 
 L. Dor. Is that the order? I commend it well: ,:;'' 
 70 You to your shrift. He backe vnto the Cell. 'i\ ^ '" \Exit. 
 
 Ray. Life of my soulel bright Angel! 
 Mil. What meanes the Frier? 
 Ray. O MUiscent, tis I. 
 
 Mil. My heart misgiues me; I should know that voyce. 
 You? who are you? the holy virgin blesse me! 
 75 Tell me your name: you shall, ere you confesse me. 
 Ray. Mountchensey, thy true friend. 
 Mil. My Raymond, my deere heart! 
 Sweete life, giue leaue to my distracted soule, 
 
 To wake a little from this swoone of joy. 
 
 80 By what meanes camst thou to assume this shape? 
 Ray. By meanes of Peter Fabell, my kind Tutor, 
 Who in the habite of Frier Hildersham, 
 Franke leminghams old friend and confessor. 
 Plotted by Francke, by Harry and my selfe, 
 85 And so deliuered to Sir Arthur Clare, 
 
 Who brought me heere vnto the Abby gate. 
 To be his Nun-made daughters visitor. 
 
 60. [Stage - dir.] Enter Lady, Milliscent ABC. — 64. feare of some 
 sinister C. — 84. hy Fabell and all Edd. 
 
Ill, 2.] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 33 
 
 Mil. You are all sweete traytors to my poore old father. 
 O my deere life! I was a dream't to night 
 
 That, as I was a-praying in mine Psalter, 90 
 
 There came a spirit vnto me as I kneeld, 
 And by his strong perswasions tempted me 
 To leaue this Nunry; and methought 
 He came in the most glorious Angell-shape, 
 
 That mortall eye did euer looke vpon. 95 
 
 Ha, thou art sure that spirit, for theres no forme 
 Is in mine eye so glorious as thine owne. 
 
 Ray. O thou Idolatresse, that dost this worship 
 To him whose likenes is but praise of thee! 
 
 Thou bright vnsetting star, which through this vaile, 100 
 
 For very enuy, mak'st the Sun looke pale! 
 
 Mil. Well, Visitor, lest that perhaps my mother 
 Should thinke the Frier too strict in his decrees, 
 I this confesse to my sweet ghostly father: 
 
 If chast pure loue be sin, I must confesse, 105 
 
 I haue offended three yeares now with thee. 
 
 Ray. But doe you yet repent you of the same? 
 Mil. Yfaith, I cannot. 
 
 Ray. Nor will I absolue thee 
 
 Of that sweete sin, though it be venial; 
 
 Yet haue the pennance of a thousand kisses, no 
 
 And 1 enioyne you to this pilgrimage: 
 That in the euening you bestow your selfe 
 Heere in the walke neere to the willow ground, 
 Where He be ready both with men and horse 
 To waite your comming, and conuey you hence 115 
 
 Vnto a lodge I haue in Enfield chase. 
 No more replie, if that you yeeld consent — 
 I see more eyes vpon our stay are bent." 
 
 Mil. Sweete life, farewell! Tis done: let that suffice; 
 What my tongue failes, I send thee by mine eyes.' {Exit. 120 
 
 Enter Fabell, Clare, and Ierningham. 
 Y. ler. Now, Visitor, how does this new made Nun? 
 
 89. a dreaming G. - 9°- »"^-f praying B and the rest; in my Psalter 
 CE atid the rest. — 94- Angell-shape. The hyphen added by L. 
 
 3 
 
34 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [Ill, 2. 
 
 K Cla. Come, come, how does she, noble Capouchin? 
 
 Ray. She may be poore in spirit, but for the flesh, 
 Tis fatte and plumpe, boyes. Ah, rogues, there is 
 1 25 A company of girles would turn you all Friers. 
 
 Fah. But how, Mountchensey, how, lad, for the wench? 
 
 Ray. Sounds, lads, yfaith, I thanke my holy habit, 
 1 haue confest her, and the Lady Prioresse 
 Hath giuen me ghostly counsell with her blessing. 
 130 And how say yee, boyes, 
 
 If I be chose the weekely visitor? 
 
 Y. Cla. Z'blood, sheel haue nere a Nun vnbagd to sing 
 masse then. 
 
 Y. ler. The Abbot of Waltham will haue as many Children 
 135 to put to nurse as he has calues in the Marsh. 
 
 Ray. Well, to be breefe, the Nun will soone at night lurne 
 tippit ; if I can but deuise to quit her cleanly of the Nunry, 
 she is mine owne. 
 
 Fah. But, Sirra Raymond, 
 140 What newes of Peter Fabel at the house? 
 
 Ray. Tush, hees the onely man ; 
 A Necromancer and a Coniurer 
 That workes for yong Mountchensey altogether; 
 And if it be not for Fryer Benedicke, 
 145 That he can crosse him by his learned skill, 
 The Wench is gone; 
 Fabell will fetch her out by very magicke. 
 
 Fah. Stands the winde there, boy? Keepe them in that key, 
 The wench is ours before to-morrow day. 
 150 Well, Harry and Franke, as ye are gentlemen, 
 
 Sticke to vs close this once! You know your fathers 
 Haue men and horse lie ready still at Chesson, 
 
 123 — 125. Printed as two lines, the first ending at boyes in most Edd., 
 first set right in K. — 125. you Friers all. pres. Edd. conj. — 127. Sound 
 ABC. — 128, 129. Printed as prose in ABCDE. — 132. Blood D and the 
 rest. — 134. Waltham-house will BC. — 136, 137. turne lippet most Edd., 
 tippet first in K. — 137. can om. C. — 139 — 147. Printed as prose in EJd. — 
 \!^\. he is¥ and the rest. — 145. liim by om. C, — 148. keeps C. — 150 — 158. 
 Printed as prose in most Edd., printed as verse in KL. — 150. Raph and 
 Franke ABCDE. 
 
IV, I.] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 35 
 
 To w atch the coast be cleere, to scowt about, 
 
 And haue an eye vnto Mountchenseys walks: 
 
 Therfore you two may houer thereabouts, 155 
 
 And no man will suspect you for the matter; 
 
 Be ready but to take her at our hands, 
 
 Leaue vs to scamble for hir getthig out. 
 
 F. ler. Z'bloud, if al Herford-shire were at our heeles, 
 Weele carry hpr a,way in spight of them. 160 
 
 Y. Cla. But whither, Raymond? 
 
 Ray. To Brians vpper lodge in Enfield Chase; 
 He is mine honest Friend and a tall keeper; 
 He send my man vnto him presently 
 T' acquaint him with your comminge and intent. 'i 65 
 
 Fab. Be breefe and secret! 
 
 Ray. Soon at night remember 
 
 You bring your horses to the willow ground. 
 
 V. ler. Tis done; no more! 
 
 V. Cla. We will not faile the hower. 
 
 My life and fortune now lies in your power. 
 
 Fab. About our busines! Raymond, lets away! 170 
 
 Thinke of your hower; it drawes well of the day. [^Exeunt. 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 Enter Blague, Banks, Smug, atid Sir Iohn. •■ j. 
 
 Host. Come, yee Hungarian pilchers, we are once more 
 come vnder the zona torrida of the forrest. Lets be resolute, 
 lets file to and againe; and if the deuill come, weele put him 
 to his Interogatories, and not budge a foote. What? s' foote, 
 ile put fire into you, yee shall all three serue the good Duke 5 
 of Norfolke. 
 
 154. Mountchensey walks A, Mountchenseys walke C. — 157. at your 
 hands C. — 158. to scramble Gr. — 159, 160. Printed as prose in all Edd. — 
 159. Blood D and the rest. — 162 — 165. Printed generally as prose, as verse 
 only in KL. — 163. tall-keeper K. — 165. to acquaint D and the rest. — 
 169. lie L. — 171. [Stage-dir.] Exit. ABC. 
 
 Scene I. Scene IX. Tieck. — 3. :/ om. D and the rest. — 4. WliatP 
 foote D and the rest. 
 
 3* 
 
36 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [IV, I. 
 
 Srnug. Mine host, my bully, ray pretious consull, my noble 
 
 Holefernes, 1 haue bin drunke i' thy house twenty times and 
 
 ten, all's one for that: I was last night in the third heauens, 
 
 lo my braine was poore, it had yest in 't; but now I am a man 
 
 of action; is 't not so, lad? 
 
 Batiks. Why, now thou hast two of the liberal! sciences 
 about thee, wit and reason, thou maist serue the Duke of 
 Europe. 
 1 5 Smug. I will serue the Duke of Christendom, and doe him 
 more credit in his celler then all the plate in his buttery; is 't 
 not so, lad? 
 
 Sir lo. Mine host and Smug, stand there; Banks, you and 
 your horse keepe together; but lie close, shew no trickes, for 
 20 feare of the keeper. If we be scard, weele meete in the Church 
 -porch at Enfield. 
 
 Smug. Content, sir lohn. 
 
 Banks. Smug, dost not thou remember the tree thou fellst 
 out of last night? 
 25 S?!iug. Tush, and 't had bin as high as the Abby, I should 
 nere haue hurt my selfe; I haue fallen into the riuer, comming 
 home from Waltham, and scapt drowning. 
 
 Sir Jo. Come, seuer, feare no spirits! Weele haue a Bucke 
 presently; we haue watched later then this for a Doe, mine 
 30 Host. 
 
 JIos/. Thou speakst as true as veluet. 
 
 S/r lo. Why then, come ! Grasse and hay, &c. \Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Clake, Ierningham and Millescent. 
 F. Cla. Franke Ierningham! 
 V. ler. Speake softly, rogue; how now? 
 35 Y. Cla. S' foot, we shall lose our way, its so darke; where- 
 
 abouts are we? 
 
 Y. ler. Why, man, at Potters gate; the way lies right: 
 hearke! the clocke strikes at Enfield; whats the houre? 
 
 8. V th house C , in thy house E and the rest. — 9. heaven D and 
 the rest. — 12—14. Given to Bit. in ABC; corr. in D. — 17. so, lad om. 
 C. — 20. /«] at C. ~ 25. Tlie prefix Smug om. C; the^ an BD and the 
 rest. — 26. I om. D. — 28. feare'\ eare A. — 37. Potters-\ Poiters BDEF, 
 Porter's GHIKL. 
 
IV, I.] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 37 
 
 v. Cla. Ten, the bell sayes. 
 
 Y. let: A lies in's throate, it was but eight when we set 40 
 out of Cheston. Sir lohn and his Sexton are at ale to night, 
 the clocke runs at random. 
 
 F. Cla. Nay, as sure as thou liu'st, the villanous vicar is 
 abroad in the Chase this darke night: the stone Priest steales 
 more venison then halfe the country. 45 
 
 v. ler. Milliscent, how dost thou? 
 
 Mil. Sir, very well. 
 
 I would to God we were at Brians Lodge. 
 
 Y. Cla. We shall anon; z'ounds, harke! what meanes this noyse? 
 
 Y. ler. Stay, I heere horsemen. 
 
 Y. Cla. I heare footmen too. 
 
 Y. ler. Nay, then I haue it: we haue bin discouerd, 50 
 
 And we are followed by our fathers men. 
 
 Mil. Brother and friend, alas, what shall we doe? ei»'I^;''|5^+'5^"* 
 
 Y. Cla. Sister, speake softly, or we are descride. 
 They are hard vpon vs, what so ere they be; 
 Shadow your selfe behind this brake of feme, 55 
 
 Weele get into the wood, and let them passe. 
 
 Enter Sir Iohn, Blague, Smug, and Banks, one after another. 
 
 Sir lo. Grasse and hay! wee are all mortall; the keeper's 
 abroad, and there's an end. 
 
 Banks. Sir Iohn! 
 
 Sir lo. Neighbour Bankes, what newes? 60 
 
 Banks. Z'wounds, Sir Iohn, the keepers are abroad; I was 
 hard by 'am. 
 
 Sir lo. Grasse and hay! wher's mine host Blague? 
 
 Host. Here, Metrapolitane. The Philistines are vpon vs, be 
 silent; let vs serue the good Duke of Norfolke. But where 65 
 is Smug? 
 
 Smug. Here; a poxe on yee all, dogs; I haue kild the 
 greatest Bucke in Brians walke. Shift for your selues, all the 
 keepers are vp. Lets meete in Enfield Church porch; away, 
 we are all taken els. \Exeunt. 70 
 
 40. A lie in's G , A lie's in's HIKL. — ^l. at their Ale D and the 
 rest. — 46. Milliscent, now dost L. — 48, 73. s^ounds'\ nounes D and the 
 rest. — 48. Two lines in Edd., divided at harke. — 56. Enter"] Exeunt B. 
 
38 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [IV, i. 
 
 Enter Brian, wiih Raph, his man, and his hound. 
 Bri. Raph, hearst thou any stirring? 
 
 Raph. I heard one speake here hard by, in the bottome. 
 Peace, Maister, speake low; zownes, if I did not heare a bow 
 goe oflF, and the Bucke bray, I neuer heard deere in my life. 
 75 Bri. When went your fellowes out into their walks? 
 Raph. An hower agoe. 
 
 Bri. S' life, is there stealers abroad, and they cannot heare 
 Of them: where the deuill are my men to night? 
 Sirra, goe vp the wind towards Buckleys lodge! 
 80 lie cast about the bottome with my hound. 
 And I will meete thee vnder Cony oke. 
 Raph. I will, Sir. 
 
 Bri. How now ? by the masse, my hound stayes vpon some- 
 Harke, harke, Bowman, harke, harke, there! [thing; 
 
 85 Mil. Brother, Frank© lerningham, brother Clare! 
 
 Bri. Peace; thats a womans voyce! Stand! who's there? 
 Stand, or lie shoote. 
 
 Mil. O Lord! hold your hands, 1 meane no harme, sir. 
 Bri. Speake, who are you? 
 90 Mil. 1 am a maid, sir; who? M.Brian? 
 
 Bri. The very same; sure, I should know her voyce; 
 Mistris Milliscent? 
 Mil. 1, it is I, sir. 
 
 Bri. God for his passion! what make you here alone? 
 95 1 lookd for you at my lodge an hower agoe. 
 What meanes your company to leaue you thus? 
 Who brought you hither? 
 
 Mil. My brother. Sir, and M. lerningham. 
 Who, hearing folks about vs in the Chase, 
 100 Feard it had bin sir Raph and my father, 
 
 77- la C this line (Bri. S' Ufe ....of) has been erroneously placed 
 between 11. 74 and 75. - Life D and the rest, they-] wee E and the rest. - 
 79. vp the] up and G and the rest; toward BD and the rest. — 78 Of 
 them put in a separate line in L. - 86. that a GHKL. - 90. Master Brian? 
 D and the rest. - ^f>. your] you E. — 97. Master lerningham D and the rest. — 
 99. 100. Chase, and fearing it had G; sir Arthur and my father ABCDE 
 «r Raph and m.f FG, Sir Arthur, my father. HIKL; feard pron. feared. 
 The metre would be smoothed by transposing bin my father and sir Raph. 
 
IV, I.] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 39 
 
 Who had pursude vs, thus dispearsed our selues, 
 Till they were past vs. 
 
 Bri. But where be they? 
 
 Mil. They be not farre off, here about the groue. 
 
 Enter Clare and Ierningham. 
 
 Y. Cla. Be not afraid! man, I heard Brians tongue, 105 
 
 Thats certain. 
 
 v. ler: Call softly for your sister. 
 
 Y. Cla. Milliscent! 
 
 Mil. I, brother, heere. 
 
 Bri. M. Clare! no 
 
 Y. Cla. I told you it was Brian. 
 
 Bri. Whoes that? M. Ierningham, you are a couple of hot 
 -shots; does a man commit his wench to \ you, to put her to 
 grasse at this time of night? 
 
 Y. ler. We heard a noyse about here in the Chase, "V"^ I'S 
 And fearing that our fathers had pursude vs, 'i v <: I 
 Seuerd our selues. 
 
 Y. Cla. Brian, how hapd'st thou on her? 
 
 Bri. Seeking for stealers are abroad to night. 
 My hound staled on her, and so found her out. 
 
 Y. Cla. They were these stealers that affrighted vs; 120 
 
 I was hard vpon them, when they horst their Deere, 
 And I perceiue they tooke me for a keeper. 
 
 Bri. Which way tooke they? 
 
 Y. ler. Towards Enfield. 
 
 Bri. A plagfue vpon 't, thats that damned Priest, and Blague 125 
 of the George — he that serues the good Duke of Nor- 
 folke. 
 
 A nqyse within: Follow, follow, follow. 
 
 Y. Cla. Peace, thats my fathers voyce. 
 
 Bri. Z'ownds, you suspected them, and now they are heere indeed. 
 
 Mil. Alas, what shall we doe? 13O 
 
 lOI. vs, and thus L. — 105. / hear L. — I ID. Master Clare D and 
 the rest. — 112. Who is that F and the rest ; Master I. D and the rest. — 
 115. herel her ABC, vs D and the rest. — 117. hapnedst BDEFG, happedst 
 L. — n8. stealers that are G and the rest. — 125. that's the damnd E and 
 the rest. — 129. Nownes D and the rest; ^ou haue suspected EFG. 
 
40 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [IV, I. 
 
 Bri. If you goe to the lodge, you are surely taken; 
 Strike downe the wood to Enfield presently, 
 And if Mounchensey come, He send him t'yee. 
 Let mee alone to bussle with your Fathers; 
 135 I warrant you that I will keepe them play ^^, 
 
 Till you haue quit the Chase; away, away ! [Exeunt all but Brian. 
 Whoes there? 
 
 Enter the Knights. 
 
 Sir Raph. In the kings name, pursue the Rauisher! 
 
 Bri. Stand, or He shoote. 
 140 Sir Ar. Whoes there? 
 
 Bri. I am the keeper that doe charge you stand; 
 You haue stollen my Deere. 
 
 Sir Ar. We stolne thy Deere? we doe pursue a thiefe. 
 
 Bri. You are arrant theeues, and ye haue stolne my Deere. 
 145 Sir Raph. We are Knights; Sir Arthur Clare, and Sir Raph 
 
 [lemingham. 
 
 Bri. The more your shame, that Knights should bee such 
 
 Sir Ar. Who, or what art thou? [thieues. 
 
 Bri. My name is Brian, keeper of this walke. 
 
 Sir Raph. O Brian, a villain! 
 150 Thou hast receiu'd my Daughter to thy Lodge. 
 
 Bri. You haue stolne the best Deere in my walke to night. 
 My Deere! 
 
 Sir Ar. My daughter! 
 Stop not my way! 
 
 Bri. What make you in my walke? 
 
 155 You haue stolne the best Bucke in my walke to night. 
 
 Sir Ar. My Daughter! 
 
 Bri. My Deere! 
 
 Sir Raph. Where is Mountchensey? 
 
 Bri. Wheres my Bucke? 
 160 Sir Ar. I will complaine me of thee to the king. 
 
 131. The prefix Bri. om. B. — 133. to you F and the rest. — 134. 
 ^Pather ABCDE. — 135. Keepe him play C. — 136. Stage-direction added 
 by the present Edd. — 137. [Stage-dir.] Enter the knight B, Enter the two 
 knights C. — 151, 152. One line in Edd. — 153, 154 (A^'. ■• OTay). One line 
 in Edd. — 154, l^t,. [What .. night) printed as prose in Edd. — 159. Where 
 is my L. 
 
IV, 2.] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 41 
 
 B7-i. lie complaine vnto the king you spoile his game: 
 Tis strange that men of your account and calling 
 Will offer it! 
 
 I tell you true, Sir Arthur and Sir Raph, 
 That none but you haue onely spoild my game. 165 
 
 Sir Ar. I charge you, stop vs not! 
 
 Bri. I charge you both ye get out of my ground! 
 Is this a time for such as you, 
 Men of your place and of your grauity. 
 
 To be abroad a-theeuing? Tis a shame; 170 
 
 And, afore God, if I had shot at you, 
 I had serude you well enough. • 1 \Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 Enter Banks the Miller, wet on his kgges. 
 
 Banks. S'foote, heeres a darke night indeed! I thinke I 
 haue bin in fifteene ditches betweene this and the forrest. 
 Soft, hears Enfield Church: I am so wet with climing ouer 
 into an orchard for to steale some filberts. Well, heere 
 He sit in the Church porch, and wait for the rest of my 5 
 consort. 4. ^ T] , \ i4 ;>* 
 
 Enter the Sexton. 
 
 Sex. Heeres a skye as blacke as Lucifer, God blesse vs! 
 Heere was goodman Theophilus buried; hee was the best 
 Nutcracker that euer dwelt in Enfield. Well, tis g. a clock, 
 tis time to ring curfew. Lord blesse vs, what a white thing 10 
 is that in the Church porch! O Lord, my legges are too 
 weake for my body, my haire is too stiffe for my night-cap, 
 my heart failes; this is the ghost of Theophilus. O Lord, 
 it foUowes me! I cannot say my prayers, and one would 
 giue me a thousand pound. Good spirit, I haue bowld 15 
 and drunke and followed the hounds with you a thousand 
 
 161 — 165, 167 — 172. Printed as prose in Edd. — 167. ye om. BD and 
 the rest. — 169. Men of place most Edd., men of your place and of your 
 grauity G, men of place and grauity C. — 172. Exeunt om. ABC. 
 
 Scene II. Scene X. Tieck. — i. Foote D and the rest; darke"] blacke 
 C. — 6. consorts BD and the rest. — Enter Sexton and Priest. G. — 9. in 
 England L. — 10. what white BC. — 15. me thousand C. 
 
42 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [IV, 2. 
 
 times, though I hatie not the spirit now to deale with you. 
 
 O Lord! 
 
 Enter Priest. 
 
 Sir lo. Grasse and hay! we are all mortall. Who's there? 
 20 Sex. We are grasse and hay indeede; I know you to bee 
 Master Parson by your phrase. 
 Sir lo. Sexton ! 
 ^•^.v. I, Sir! 
 
 Sir lo. For mortalities sake, whats the matter? 
 25 Sex. O Lord, I am a man of another element.; Maister 
 Theophilus Ghost is in the Church porch. There was a hundred 
 Cats, all fire, dancing here euen now, and they are clombe 
 vp to the top of the steeple; ile not into the bellfree for a 
 world. 
 30 Sir lo. O good Salomon; I haue bin about a deede of 
 darknes to night: O Lord, I saw fifteen spirits in the forrest, 
 like white buUes; if I lye, I am an arrant theefe: mortalitie 
 haunts vs — grasse and hay! the deuills at our heeles, and 
 lets hence to the parsonage. [Exeunt. 
 
 [The Miller comes out very softly. 
 35 Banks. What noise was that? Tis the watch, sure; that 
 villanous vnlucky rogue. Smug, is taine, vpon my life; and then 
 all our villeny comes out; I heard one cry, sure. 
 
 Enter Host Blague. 
 
 Host. If I go steale any more veneson, I am a Paradox! 
 
 S'foot, I can scarce beare the sinne of my flesh in the day, 
 
 40 tis so heauy; if I tume not honest, and serue the good Duke 
 
 of Norfolke, as true mareterraneum s kinker should doe, let 
 
 me neuer looke higher then the element of a Constable. 
 
 Banks. By the Lord, there are some watchmen; I heare 
 them name Maister Constable; I would to God my Mill were 
 45 an Eunuch, and wanted her stones, so I were hence. 
 Host. Who's there? 
 
 26. an hundred F and the rest. — 27. here om. BD and the rest. — 
 30. goodman Salomon EF, goodman Solomon GHIKL. — 34. parso- 
 nages ABC. — 37. villeny] knauerie D and the rest. — 39. Foot D- and the 
 rest. — 41. as a triie D and the rest; skinner EFG. — 43. By the masse.- 
 D and the rest. — 44. to God om. D and the rest. 
 
IV, 2.] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 43 
 
 Banks. Tis the Constable, by this light; He steale hence, 
 and if I can meete mine Host Blague, ile tell him how Smug 
 is taine, and will him to looke to himselfe. [Exi'i. 
 
 Host. What the deuill is that white thing? this same is a 50 
 Church-yarci, and I haue heard that ghosts and villenous 
 goblins haue beene seene here. 
 
 Enter Sexton and Priest. 
 
 Sir lo. Grasse and hay! O, that I could coniure! wee saw 
 a spirite here in the Church-yard; and in the fallow field ther's 
 the deuill with a mans body vpon his backe in a white sheet. 55 
 
 Sex. It may be a womans body. Sir lohn. 
 
 Sir lo. If shee be a woman, the sheets damne her; Lord 
 blesse vs, what a night of mortalitie is this! 
 
 Host. Priest! 
 
 Sir lo. Mine host! 60 
 
 Host. Did you not see a spirit all in white crosse you at 
 the stile? 
 
 Sex. O no, mine host; but there sate one in the porch; I 
 haue not breath ynough left to blesse me from the Deuill. 
 
 Host. Whoes that? - 65 
 
 Sir lo. The Sexton, almost frighted out of his wits. Did 
 you see Banks or Smug? 
 
 Host. No, they are gone to Waltham, sure. I would faine 
 hence; come, lets to my house: Ile nere serue the Duke of 
 Norfolk in this fashion againe whilst I breath. If the deuill 70 
 be amongst vs, tis time to hoist saile, and cry r oomer . Keepe 
 together; Sexton, thou art secret, what? Lets be comfortable 
 one to another. 
 
 Sir lo. We are all mortal!, mine host. 
 
 Host. True; and lie serue God in the night hereafter afore 75 
 the Duke of Norfolke. \Exeunt. 
 
 57. Lord om. DEFG. — 63, 64. Assigned to the Priest in ABC. — 
 66. frightened L. — 67. Bank BC. — 71. among L. — 76. Exeunt om. FG. 
 
44 
 
 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [V, 
 
 AC T V. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 Enter Sir Arthur Clare and Sir Raph Ierningham, 
 
 trussing their points as new vp. 
 
 Sir Raph. Good morrow, gentle knigljt. 
 
 A happy day after your short nights rest! 
 
 Sir Ar. Ha, ha, sir Raph, stirring so soone indeed? 
 
 Birlady, sir, rest would haue done right well; 
 5 Our riding late last night has made me drowsie. 
 
 Goe to, goe to, those dayes are gone with vs. 
 
 Sir Raph. Sir Arthur, Sir Arthur, care go with those dayes. 
 
 Let 'am euen goe together, let 'am goe! 
 
 Tis time, yfaith, that wee were in our graues, 
 lO When children leaue obedience to their Parents, 
 
 When there's no feare of God, no care, no dutie. 
 
 Well, well, nay, nay, it shall not doe, it shall not; 
 
 No, Mountchensey, thou'lt heare on't, thou shalt. 
 
 Thou shalt yfaith! 
 15 He hang thy son, if there be law in England. 
 
 A mans Child rauisht from a Nunry! 
 
 This is rare! 
 
 Well, well, ther's one gone for Frier Hildersham. 
 Sir Ar. Nay, gentle knight, do not vexe thus, 
 20 It will but hurt your health. 
 
 You cannot greeue more then I doe, but to what end? But 
 
 harke you. Sir Raph, I was about to say somthing — it makes 
 
 no matter. But hearke you in your eare: the Frier's a knaue; 
 
 but God forgiue me, a man cannot tell neither ; s' foot, I am 
 25 so out of patience, I know not what to say. 
 
 Sir Raph. Ther's one went for the Frier an hower agoe. 
 
 Comes he not yet? s'foot, if 1 doe find knauery unders cowle. 
 
 Scene I. Scene XI. Tieck. — [Stage-dir.] Enter Sir Raph Clare and 
 Sir Arthur Ierningham ABCDE. — 12. One nay om. BD and the rest. — 
 13. thou'st Edd., thou'lt L. — 14, 15 and 17, 18. One line in Edd., in L 
 13 — 18 printed as four lines, ending at son \ child | rare \ Hildersham. — 
 18. well only once in E and the rest. — 20. hurt your heate BDEHIKL, 
 hurt your heart C, hurt you heat F, hurt you, heat; G. — 1"^. foote DEFG. 
 
V, I.] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 45 
 
 He tickle him, He firke him. Here, here, hee's here, hee's 
 here. Good morrow, Frier; good morrow, gentle Frier. 
 
 Enter Hildersham. 
 
 Sir Ar. Good morrow, Father Hildersham, good morrow. 30 
 
 Hil. Good morrow, reuerend Knights, vnto you both. 
 
 Sir Ar. Father, how now? you heare how matters goe; 
 I am vndone, my Childe ist cast away. 
 You did your best, at least I thinke the best; 
 But we are all crost; flatly, all is dasht. 1 35 
 
 Hil. Alas, good knights, how might the matter be? 
 Let mee vnderstand your greefe for Charity. ^ 
 
 Sir Ar. Who does not vnderstand my griefes? Alas, alas! 
 And yet yee do not! Will the Church permit 
 A Nun in approbation of her habit 40 
 
 To be rauished? 
 
 Hil. A holy woman, benedicite! 
 Now God forfend that any should presume 
 To touch the sister of a holy house. 
 
 Sir Ar. Ihesus deliuer mee! 45 
 
 Sir Raph. Why, Milliscent, the daughter of this knight. 
 Is out of Cheston taken the last night. ^ 
 
 Hil. Was that faire maiden late become a Nun? 
 
 Sir Raph. Was she, quotha? Knauery, knauery, knauery; ..j 777 
 I smell it, I smell it, yfaith; is^ the win^ in that dor<^ is it 56 
 euen so? doost thou aske me that now? \^ 
 
 Hil. It is the first time that I ere heard of it. / '^' 
 
 Sir Ar. That's very strange. 
 
 Sir Raph. Why, tell me, Frier, tell mee; thou art counted 
 a holy man; doe not play the hypocrite with me, nor 55 
 beare with mee. I cannot dissemble. Did I ought but by 
 thy own consent, by thy allowance — nay, further, by thy 
 warrant? 
 
 Hil. Why, Reuerend knight — 
 
 Sir Raph. Vnreuerend Frier — 60 
 
 38. my grief eP C and the rest. — 39. yet you doe D and the rest. — ■ 
 43 — 45. Printed as pi-ose in ABCDE. — 47. the'\ this BD and the rest. — 
 49. knauery four times in BD and the rest. — ^1. that ere I heard B. — 
 55. nor'\ now Collier conj. — 57. farther GHIK. 
 
46 ' THE MERRY DEVIL OF^ EDMONTON. [V, I-. 
 
 Hil. Nay, then giue me leaue, sir, to depart in quiet; I 
 had hopd you had sent for mee to some other end. 
 
 Sir Ar. Nay, stay, good Frier; if any thing hath hapd 
 About this matter in thy loue to vs, 
 65 That thy strickt order cannot iustifie. 
 Admit it be so, we will couer it. 
 Take no care, man: 
 
 Disclayme not yet thy counsell and aduise, y' J. ,'• '■' 
 The wisest man that is may be orereacht. tA ■> ' 
 70 Hit Sir Arthur, by my order and my faith, 
 I know not what you meane. 
 
 Sir Raph. By your order and your faith? 
 This is most strange of all : Why, tell me, Frier, 
 Are not you Confessor to my Son-Francke? 
 75 Hil. Yes, that I am. 
 
 Sir Raph. And did not this good knight here and my selfe 
 Confesse with you, being his ghostly Father, 
 To deale with him about th'intended marriage 
 Betwixt him and that faire young Milliscent? 
 80 Hil. I neuer heard of any match intended. 
 
 Sir Ar. Did not we breake our minds that very time. 
 That our deuice of making her a Nun 
 Was but a colour and a very plotte 
 To put by young Mountchensey ? 1st not true? 
 85 Hil. The more I striue to know what you should meane, 
 
 The lesse I vnderstand you. ' y 
 
 Sir Raph. Did not you tell vs still how Peter Fabell - ' , 1 '' ' 
 At length would crosse vs, if we tooke not heed? 
 Hil. I haue heard of one that is a great magician, 
 go But hees about the Vniversity. 
 
 Sir Raph. Did not you send your nouice Benedic 
 To perswade the girle to leaue Mountchenseys loue, ,/ 
 
 To crosse that Peter Fabell in his art. 
 And to that purpose made him visitor? 
 
 (16. it to be so E and the rest. — 68. yet my counsell D and the rest. — 
 70. and by ?ny FG. — 72 — 74. Two lines in Edd., ending at all \ Frier. — 
 72. Prefixed Sir Arthur in ABC; and by your BD and the rest. — 73. of all 
 oni. EFG. — 78. vnbanded Edd.; for intended the pres. Edd. are answerable. — 
 82. o/] in B and the rest. — 87, 88. Printed as prose in Edd. — 91. Did 
 you not BEF. 
 
V, I.J THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 47 
 
 Hil. I neuer sent my nouice from the house, 95 
 
 Nor haue we made our visitation yet. 
 
 Sir Ar. Neuer sent him? Nay, did he not goe? 
 And did not I direct him to the house, 
 And conferre with him by the way? and did he not 
 Tell me what charge he had receiued from you, 100 
 
 Word by word, as I requested at your hands? 
 
 Hil. That you shall know; hee came along with me. 
 And stayes without. Come hither, Benedic! 
 
 Enter Benedic. 
 Yong Benedic, were you ere sent by me 
 To Cheston Nunnery for a visitor? 105 
 
 Ben. Neuer, sir, truely. 
 
 Sir Raph. Stranger then all the rest! 
 
 Sir Ar. Did not I direct you to the house^? Confer with you 
 From Waltham Abby vnto Cheston wall ? 
 
 Ben. I neuer saw you, sir, before this hower! 
 
 Sir Raph. The deuill thou didst not! Hoe, Chamberlen! no 
 
 Elder Chamberlaine. 
 
 Cham. Anon, anon. 
 
 Sir Raph. Call mine host Blague hither! 
 
 Cham. I will send one ouer to see if he be vp; I thinke 
 he bee scarce stirring yet. 
 
 Sir Raph. Why, knaue, didst thou not tell me an hower 115 
 ago, mine host was vp? 
 
 Cham. I, sir, my Master's vp. 
 
 Sir Raph. You knaue, is a vp, and is a not vp? Doest 
 thou mocke me? 
 
 Cham. I, sir, my M. is vp; but I thinke M. Blague indeed 120 
 be not stirring. 
 
 Sir Raph. Why, who's thy Master? is not the Master of 
 the house thy Master? 
 
 95. from my house B and the rest. — 97 — 105. Printed as prose in 
 ABODE. — 99. did not he BDHIKL. — 1 06. Given to Sir Ar., 1. 107 to 
 Sir Ra. in ABCDE. — 107, 108. Three lines in Edd., divided at house \ Abby \ 
 wall. — III. Enter Chamberlaine om. ABC. — 113. Prefixed Cla. in ABC; 
 one'\ once B; ouer sir to see D and the rest. — 118. is he up, and is he not 
 up HKL. — 120. my Master . . . Master Blague D and the rest. 
 
48 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [V, 2. 
 
 Cham. Yes, sir; but M. Blague dwells ouer the way. 
 125 Sir Ar. Is not this the George? Before God, theres some 
 
 [villany in this. 
 
 Cham. S'foote, our signe's remoou'd; this is strange! 
 
 \JExeunt. 
 
 SCENE 11. 
 Enter Blague, trussing his points. 
 Host. Chamberlen, speake vp to the new lodgings, bid Nell 
 looke well to the bakt meats! 
 
 Enter Sir Arthur atid Sir Raph. 
 How now, my old le nerts bauke my house, my castle, lie in 
 Waltham all night, and not vnder the Canopie of your host 
 5 Blagues house? 
 
 Sir Ar. Mine host, mine host, we lay all night at the George 
 '^in Waltham; but whether the George be your fee-simple or no, 
 tis a doubtful! question. Looke vpon your signe! 
 
 Host. Body of Saint George, this is mine ouerthwart neigh- 
 10 hour hath done this to seduce my blind customers. He tickle 
 his catastrophe for this ; if I do not indite him at next assises 
 for Burglary, let me die of the yellowest for I see tis no 
 boote in these dayes to serue the good Duke of Norfolke. The 
 villanous world is turnd manger; one lade deceiues another, 
 1 5 and your Ostler playes his part commonly for the fourth share. 
 Haue wee Commedies in hand, you whorson, villanous male 
 London letcher? 
 
 Sir Ar. Mine host, we haue had the moylingst night of it 
 that euer we had in our Hues. 
 20 Host. 1st certaine? 
 
 124. dwells om. B. — 125. before loue theres D and the rest. — 126. 
 Foote D and the rest. — Exeunt om. Edd. 
 
 Scene II. The scene is continued in Tieck. — I — 5. Divided at lodg- 
 ings \ Tneats \ horse | not \ house in Edd. — i. spealie'\ speed L. — 2. meat 
 F and the rest; the stage-dir. Enter . . . added by the pres. Edd. — ■ 3. ?«j 
 old lennerts banke, my horse, my castle most Edd., old jennet's back, my 
 house [Zf] my castle L. house for horse first conj. by Steevens. — 8. doubt- 
 full ora. BD and the rest. — 10, II. ^0 seduce . . .for this om. EFG. — 
 II. at the next D and the rest. — 12. see it is L. — 14. mangy L. — 
 1 7. London-le ether D, London leether E, London-leather FG. — 20. Is it F 
 and the rest. 
 
V, 2.] THE MERRY DEVTL OF EDMONTON. 49 
 
 Sir Raph. We haue bin in the Forrest all night almost. 
 
 Host. S'foot, how did I misse you? Hart, I was a-stealing 
 a Bucke there. 
 
 Sir Ar. A plague on you; we were stayed for you. 
 
 Host. Were you, my noble Romanes? Why, you shall share; 25 
 the venison is a footing. Sine Cerere &" Baccho friget Venus; 
 that is, theres a good breakfast prouided for a marriage thats 
 in my house this morning. 
 
 Sir Ar. A marriage, mine host? 
 
 Host. A coniunction copulatiue; a gallant match betweene 30 
 your daughter and M. Raymond Mountchensey, yong luuentus. 
 
 Sir Ar. How? 
 
 Host. Tis firme, tis done. Weele shew you a president i'th 
 
 Sir Raph. How? married? [ciuill law for't. 
 
 Host. Leaue trickes and admiration. Theres a cleanely paire 35 
 of sheetes in the bed iii the Orchard chamber, and they shall lie 
 there. What? He doe it; He serue the good Duke of Norfolke. 
 
 Sir Ar. Thou shalt repent this, Blague. 
 
 Sir Raph. If any law in England will make thee smart for 
 this, expect it with all seucrity. 40 
 
 Host. I renounce your defiance, if you parle so roughly. 
 He barracado my gates against you. Stand, faire bully; Priest, 
 come off from the reireward! What can you say now? Twas 
 done in my house; I haue shelter i'th Court for't. D'yee see yon 
 bay window? I serue the good Duke of Norfolk, and tis his lodg- 45 
 ing. Storm, I care not, seruing the good Duke of Norfolk. Thou 
 art an Actor in this, and thou shalt carry fire in thy face etemally.- 
 
 Enter Smog, Mountcsensey, Harry Clare, and Milliscent. 
 
 Smug. Fire, s'blood, theres no fire in England like your 
 Trinidado sack. Is any man heere humorous ? We stole the 
 venison, and weele iustifie it: say you now! 50 
 
 21. Assigned to Sir Ar. in L. — 22. Foote D and the rest; was stealing 
 of a Y> and the rest. — 26. Venere BDEF. — 27. there is CFG and the rest; 
 that is CFG and the rest. — '31. M. (i. c. Master) om. L; juvents EG. — 
 33. in the F and the rest. — 36. sheets on the bed D and the rest; bed on 
 the Orchard B, in Orchard Chamber A. — 37. / serue D and the rest. — 
 43. reward EF. — 44. in the F and the rest. — 44, 45. Dee see your bay 
 A, Doe see your bay B, Doe you see yon bay D and the rest. — 48. Fire, 
 nouns, ther's D and the rest. 
 
50 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [V, 2. 
 
 Host. In good sooth, Smug, theres more sacke on the fire. Smug. 
 Smug. I do not take any exceptions against your sacke; but 
 if youle lend mee a picke staffe, ile cudgle them all hence, by 
 this hand. 
 55 Host. I say thou shalt into the Celler. 
 
 Smug. S'foot, mine Host, shalls not grapple? Pray, pray 
 
 you; I could fight now for all the world like a Cock atrices ege . 
 
 Shalls not serue the Duke of Norfolk? \Exit. 
 
 Host. In, skipger^ in! 
 
 60 Sir Ar. Sirra, hath young Mountchensey married your sister? 
 
 y. Cla. Tis certaine, Sir; here's the Priest that coupled them, 
 
 the parties ioyned, and the honest witnesse that cride Amen. 
 
 Ray. Sir Arthur Clare, my new created Father, 
 I beseech you, heare mee. 
 65 Sir Ar. Sir, sir, you are a foolish boy; you haue done that 
 you cannot answere; I dare be bould to ceaze her from you; 
 for shee's a profest Nun. 
 
 Mil. With pardon, sir, that name is quite vndone; 
 This true-loue knot cancelles both maid and Nun. '' 
 70 When first you told me I should act that part, 
 How cold and bloody it crept ore my hart! 
 To Chesson with a smiling brow I went; 
 But yet, deere sir, it was to this intent. 
 That my sweete Raymond might find better meanes 
 75 To steale me thence. In breefe, disguised he came, 
 T Like Nouice to old father Hildersham; 
 ^f}i^'' His tutor here did act that cunning part. 
 
 And in our loue hath ioynd much wit to art 
 Sir Ar. Is't euen so? 
 80 Mil. With pardon therefore wee intreat your smiles; 
 Loue, thwarted, turnes itselfe to thousand wiles. ■" 
 
 Sir Ar. Young Maister lerningham, were you an actor 
 In your owne loues abuse? 
 
 -^ I'r. My thoughts, good sir. 
 
 Did labour seriously vnto this end, 
 85 To wrong my selfe, ere ide abuse my friend.'' 
 
 53. you lend L. — 56, 57. pray you, pray you CHIKL. — 66. to ceaze 
 0,1 her EFG. — 79. Is it F and the rest. — 82, 83 (. . abuse). Printed as 
 prose in ABCDE. 
 
V, 2.] THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 5 I 
 
 Host. He speakes like a Batchelor of Musicke, all in Numbers. 
 Knights, if I had knowne you would haue let this couy of 
 Partridges sit thus long vpon their knees vnder my signe post, 
 I would haue spred my dore with old Couerlids. 
 
 Sir Ar. Well, sir, for this your signe was remoued, was it? 90 
 Host. Faith, wee followed the directions of the deuill. Master 
 Peter Fabell; and Smug, Lord blesse vs! could neuer stand 
 vpright since. ' 
 
 Sir Ar. You, sir, twas you was his minister that^married them? 
 Sir lo. Sir, to proue my selfe an honest man, being that I 95 
 was last night in the forrest stealing Venison — now, sir, to 
 haue you stand my friend, if that matter should bee calld in 
 question, I married your daughter to this worthy gentleman. 
 
 Sir Ar. I may chaunce to requite you, and make your 
 necke crack for't. 100 
 
 Sir lo. If you doe, I am as resolute as my Neighbour vicar 
 of Waltham Abby; a hem, grasse and hay! wee are all mortall; 
 lets liue till we be hangd, mine host, and be merry, and theres 
 an end. 
 
 Enter Fabell. 
 Fab. Now, knights, I enter; now my part begins. 105 
 
 To end this difference, know, at first I knew 
 What you intended, ere your loue tooke flight 
 From old Mountchensey ; you, sir Arthur Clare, 
 Were minded to haue married this sweete beauty 
 To yong Franke lemingham ; to crosse which match, no 
 
 I vsde some pretty sleights; but I protest 
 Such as but sate vpon the skirts of Art; 
 No coniurations, nor such weighty spells 
 As tie the soule to their performancy. 
 
 These for his loue, who once was my deere puple, 115 
 
 Haue I effected. Now, mee thinks, tis strange 
 That you, being old in wisedome, should thus knit 
 Your forehead on this match, since reason failes; 
 No law can curbe the louers rash attempt; 
 
 89. old om. D and the rest. — 97. thati the D and the rest. — 98. your'l 
 you A. — 104. Enter Fabell om. ABC, Enter Fabian DE. — ioS.^om] your 
 B. — no. ■whicK\ this E. and the rest. — 116. afectedKE. — 119. lover's L. 
 
 4* 
 
52 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [V, 2. 
 
 1 20 Yeares, in resisting this, are sadly spent. 
 
 Smile, then, vpon your daughter and Idnd sonne, 
 And let our toyle to future ages proue. 
 The Deuili of Edmonton did good in Loue. 
 
 Sir Ar. Well, tis in vaine to crosse the prouidence: 
 125 Deere Sonne, I take thee vp into my hart; 
 Rise, daughter; this is a kind fathers part. 
 
 Host. Why, Sir lohn, send for Spindles qoise, presently: Ha, 
 er't be night. He seme the good Duke of Norfolke. 
 
 Sir lo. Grasse and hay! mine Host, lets live till we die, and 
 130 be merry, and theres an end. 
 
 Sir Ar. What, is breakfast ready, mine Host? 
 Host. Tis, my little Hebrew. 
 Sir Ar. Sirra, ride straight to Chesson Nunry, 
 Fetch thence my Lady; the house, I know, 
 135 By this time misses their yong votary. 
 Come, knights, lets in! 
 
 Bil. I will to horse presently, sir. — A plague a my Lady, 
 I shall misse a good breakfast. Smug, how chaunce you cut 
 so plaguely behind. Smug? 
 140 Smug. Stand away, lie founder you else. 
 
 Bil. Farewell, Smug, thou art in another element. 
 Smug. I will be by and by; I will be Saint George againe. 
 Sir Ar. Take heed the fellow doe not hurt himselfe. 
 Sir Raph. Did we not last night iind two S. Georges here? 
 145 Fab. Yes, knights, this martialist was one of them. 
 
 F. Cla. Then thus conclude your night of merriment! 
 
 \Exeunt omnes. 
 
 126. This is a. kind father's part given to Mil. in L. — 127. Why, Sir 
 George the old copies; corr. in L. — 132. Prefix Host om. C. — 137. a my] 
 my D, on my E and the rest. — 142. Sir George ABC; corr. in D. — 
 
 The End. 
 
NOTES. 
 
 THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 1/ 5. round, the interior of the play-house, on account of its 
 circular form. For the same reason the circle of the theatre is 
 called a wooden H. V. Prol. 13. 
 
 y" "]. to enter tayne, to enter into, to admit. Cp. Shak. Lucr. 1629 
 
 Awake, Ihou Roman dame 
 And entertain my love. 
 14. that refers to his, 1. 12: the birth and the abode of him 
 who was called the merry Fiend of Edmonton. 
 
 19. His monu?nent remqyneth to be seene. 'A monument, reputed 
 to be his, was shown in Edmonton Church, in the time of Weaver 
 and of Norden: but it was without inscription, and therefore could 
 throw no light on his history'. Nares, s. v. Fabell. 
 
 20. His memory, scil. remaineth, 1. 19. 
 
 22 seqq. The construction of the whole sentence, in which 
 11. 24, 25 form a sort of parenthesis, is somewhat inexact, as the 
 verb which ought to join that (1. 22) and The vejy time and houre 
 (1. 28) is wanting. 
 
 36. guarded with these sable slights, ornamented with sable deco- 
 V rations or devices, slighj , originally, artifice, contrivance; thence, 
 anything artfully conceived or contrived, ornaments. Similarly, de^ 
 vice originally means contrivance, stratagem; thence, anything fanci- 
 fully conceived; cp. K. John I. 210 
 
 Not alone in habit and device. 
 Exterior form, outward accoutrement. 
 
 INDUCTION. 
 
 3, 4. Cp. Haml. I. 5. 19, 20 
 
 And each particular hair to stand an-end, 
 Like quills upon the fretful porpentine. 
 16. this, i. e. this is; see Abbot, A Shakespearian Grammar, 
 s. 461. 
 
 22 seqq. Rather than so abruptly be carried to hell, Fabell 
 will bear on his shoulders the whole globe of earth like Hercules, 
 
54 NOTES. [Aci I. 
 
 and at the same time endure the sufferings by which Prometheus 
 was tormented. 
 
 45. ineane, despicable. The sense of the lines is: Immoderate 
 desire of knowledge renders man contemptible to the powers and 
 may even lead him down to hell. 
 
 62. holowness, properly, deceitfulness, treachery; as a title given 
 to Coreb it was probably suggested by the expression his holiness, 
 the appellation of the Pope of Rome. 
 
 79. like Phaetonlique flames, such Phaetonic endeavours. As 
 Phaeton perished in trying to take Phoebus' place, so Fabell will 
 finally fail in attempting to out-wit the Devil. 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 I. [Stage -dir.] Blague, from the French blague, swaggering, 
 bragging. 
 
 lb. Safe-guardes, large petticoats, worn over the other clothes, 
 to protect them from dirt; see Nares, Gloss., s. v. 
 / 1,5. my liille wast of maiden-heads, addressed to Harry Clare. 
 
 The abstract substantive waste is used here for the concrete noun 
 waster, destroyer. Cp. the similar use of corruption, 1. 15. 
 , I, 10. a Tartarian. Nares and Webster give /Azlf/" as the meaning 
 
 / of the word. More properly, a Tartarian seems to be any person 
 of low order who strolls about the country like a gypsy. Cp. a 
 Bohemian Tartar M. Wives IV. 5. 21; tawny Tartar Mids. III. 2. loi. 
 1,15. wil that corruption looke well. As to the construction of 
 wil, cp. H.V. n. 4. go willing you overlook this pedigree, TitV. i. 160 
 willing you to demand your hostages, 
 r I. 27. The Host, having a great predilection for nautical terms 
 
 V (cp. I. 2. I seqq.), means to enhance the idea oi presently by adding 
 top and top-gallant. 
 
 (/I) 35- ^y canuasadoes and my interrogatories, canvasa dg^ a bur- 
 lesque form for canvass , inspection, examination; interrogatory occurs 
 again IV. i. 4. 
 
 v/i, 43. assure, to engage, to affiance. 
 
 I, 54. Near Waltham King Edward I. had a cross erected in 
 remembrance of Queen Elinor. — Clare fiirst uses crosses in the 
 sense of disappointment, vexation; in order to avert Milliscent's 
 attention, he then speaks of crosses in the proper sense of the 
 word, and gives his whole speech such an obscure and unintelligible 
 turn that Milliscent is right in exclaiming: 
 
 God, what meanes my father? 
 I. 57. 58. Cp. Merch. of Ven. V. i. 30—32 
 she doth stray about 
 By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays 
 For happy wedlock hours. (Quoted by Hazlitt.) 
 
Aci I.] NOTES. 55 
 
 V I, 66. Cane-tobacco. 'Tobacco made up in a particular form, 
 highly esteemed and dear.' Nares, Gloss., s. v. 
 
 1, 67, 68. Convinced that Mr. Hazlitt's alteration of the text 
 does not hit the mark, and unable to proffer an emendation that 
 would remove the difficulties of this Jiyzzling passage once for all, 
 we have left the reading of the originals unchanged. Tieck's trans- 
 lation of the two lines is to the following effect: 
 
 Was Hunde haben sollten frisst der Falk, 
 Ihn kost'f der Spitz mehr ah der Solo/anger. 
 
 / I, 74. Fou'le see a flight, wife, shortly of his land, i. e. you will soon 
 see how his land passes away; cp.V. 2. 107 ere your hue took flight. 
 
 2, I. Ostlers, you knaues and commanders. The Host considers 
 his ostlers as his officers, commander being the officer who ranks 
 next above a lieutenant in the Navy. 
 
 2, 2. your honourable hulkes. As to the use oi your, Lat. iste, 
 cp. Abbott, s. 221. 
 
 2, 4. Via is, according to Florio, 'an adverb of encouraging, 
 *^much used by commanders, as also by riders to their horses'. (Quoted 
 by Al. Schmidt, Shakespeare-Lexicon, s. v.). 
 
 2, 5, 6 and 9 — 14. Tieck translates these quaint speeches of 
 mine Host Blague thus : Mogen die Verhangnisse saub're Kammerdiener 
 diesen landstreichenden Puritanern werden, ihr Ritter der Subsidien I . . . 
 Ha! Platz da fiir mein Paar Pisiolen, die mit griechischen und latei- 
 nischen Kugeln geladen sind; lasst mich euch in die Flanken fallen, ihr 
 meine behenden Gibraltars, und Wind in eure Lendenstiicke blasen, doss 
 sie dicker auflaufen! Ha! spring en will ich in meinem Besiizlhum! Weg 
 mit alien Punctilio's und alter Orthographic! ich diene dem guten Herzog 
 von Norfolk! 
 
 2, 14. Titere tu &c. Verg. Eel. I. I Tityre tu &c. 
 ^2, 16. Bilbo, prop., a rapier, a sword, from the town of Bilboa, 
 in Spain, famous for the manufacture of good blades. 
 
 2, 19, 20. without ariy more discontinuance, releases, or atturnement. 
 Besides its proper meaning, the word discontinuance is an English 
 law-term and refers to the alienation of an estate. The use of this 
 word induces the loquacious Host to add two other law-terms of 
 a similar sense, but which have nothing to do with the idea he 
 will express. 
 ^ 2, 21. sea-card, mariner's card, compass. 
 
 2, 23. my souldier of S. Quintins. Eight thousand English sol- 
 diers, under the command of the Earl of Pembroke, were present 
 at the battle of S. Quentins, 1557. 
 
 2, 24 seq. The Host compares his sack to the stars commonly 
 called Charles' wain or the Great Bear, and to a crabfish glistening 
 in the dark. 
 
 2, 26. your Coopers Dixionary. Cooper's Thesaurus Linguae 
 Latinae was published in 1584. 
 
56 NOTES. [Act I. 
 
 ^2, 42. Passion, deep sorrow and grief, as often in Shakespeare. 
 
 2, 45. After breakfast Sir Arthur intends to communicate to 
 Mounchensey his purpose of sending Milliscent to the Nunnery. 
 
 ,/3> 9- to ^^ ^'^ hand, to be about. 
 y^S, 14. read, studied. 
 
 3, 38 seqq. The sense of these lines seems to be: If any other 
 person shbuld have offered to help me, I should not have cared 
 for it, knowing that nobody can bring me comfort. Thy words, 
 however, exercise some influence upon me, as I know thou art able 
 to help me if thou wilt. But I feel sure that thou wilt not give 
 up Milliscent, and therefore I should have preferred any other per- 
 son to offer me his help; I should have believed him, but I cannot 
 believe thee. 
 
 3, 49 seqq. The construction of this rather diffuse passage is: 
 Come, Raymond, and make thy groning love .... leape, caper . . . 
 (1. 53), i. e. do not exhibit thy love in such a melancholy way, but 
 in a more cheerful manner. — As 11. 51, 52, like 1. 50, refer to loue, 
 and contain an evident allusion to Cupid, the change of the gender 
 (!• 5 1) 53) ™^y easily be accounted for. 
 
 ^^ 3j 52. at hudman-hlin d, i.e. with his eyes blind-folded as in the 
 children's game now called blind-man's-buff. Cp. Haml. III. 4. 77 
 
 What devil was't 
 That thus hath cozened you at hoodman-blind. 
 
 ^ 3t 59- '" hugger-mugger, in secrecy, clandestinely. Cp. Haml. 
 IV. 5. 84, and Ford, 'Tis Pity she's a Whore, III. i. (Works, ed. 
 Hartley Coleridge, p. 35a): there is no way hut to clap up a mar- 
 riage in hugger-mugger (quoted by Elze), and The Revenger's Tra- 
 gedy V. (apud Dodsley, Old Plays, ed. Hazlitt, vol. V, p. go): and 
 how quaintly he died, like a politician, in hugger-mugger. 
 y^ 3, 65. doe I bend in the hams? Cp. Pericles IV. 2. 114 The 
 French knight that cowers i'the hams. Who? M. Veroles. 
 
 y 3, 68. to giue out, to publish, proclaim, 
 v/' 3' 73- to lanch, to send a ship into the water, in a figurative 
 sense here. Tieck translates: die Alien, Eure Vdter, | Gedenken thdt'ge 
 Beutel flott zu machen. 
 , 3, 82. to slubber, to obscure or darken. Cp. Oth. I. 3. 227, and 
 
 the First Part of Jeronimo (Dodsley, ed. Hazlitt vol. IV, p. 374): The 
 evening too begins to slubber day. 
 •y^ 3; 85. spring, springall, a youth, a lad. 
 ^ 3, loi. a counterfeit, a false coin; cp. Gentl. V. 4. 53 thou coun- 
 
 terfeit to thy true friend.'-—^ 
 
 3, 105 seq. Thou hast given me back to life, dear friend; my 
 soul feels so free that neither time nor even death can lessen or 
 alter my happiness. 
 
 3, 114 seq. What favour may Raymond expect at thy hands 
 for the honour he renders to thee? 
 
Aci II,] NOTES. 57 
 
 v^3, 12^. passe, unfortunate state, predicament; cp. Lear 111. 4. 65 
 have his daughters hr ought him to this pass! 
 •^ 3, 143. hollow. The form hollo is also used by Shakespeare, 
 Van. 973 
 
 she hears some huntsman hollo. 
 
 ACT n. 
 
 / I, 7. it tickles our Catastrophe. The same expression occurs 
 again V. 2. 10, and is used by Falstaff 2 H. IV., II. i. 66:, 
 ril tickle your Catastrophe. 
 I, 40. The question is. As similar incomplete constructions very 
 often occur in familiar conversation, Mr. Hazlitt's reading the question 
 is good, neighbour B. seems to be uncalled for. 
 V^\, 50. Castilian, 'a delicate courtier. 
 
 Come, come, Castilian, skim the pusset curd. 
 Shew thy queere substance, worthless, most absurd' 
 (Quoted by Nares, s. v., from Marston's Satires, 1599.) 
 
 I, 52. 'His address to the smith, on reading the little Geneva 
 print, was an equivoque on the redness of his eyes from having 
 drunk too much, and the small type in which the Scriptures were 
 printed in the common Genevan version' (Hazlitt). The English 
 bible was printed several times at Geneva, first in 1560. 
 
 '/i, 55. Hungarions, a cant term for hungry person. Cp-. Shak., 
 M. W. I. 3. 23 O base Hun gar ion wight. 
 
 i/i, 60. bosonians, the same as bezonians, which is used twice by 
 Shakespeare 2 H. IV., V. 3. 118; 2 H. VI., IV. i. 134. The word 
 comes from the Italian bisogno iieed, want, and means a beggar. — 
 The sense of the line is: The keepers beg at my house and are 
 quite dependent on me. 
 
 I, 61. Gog and Magog, originally two nations hostile to the 
 Israelites; popular name for two colossal statues in the Guildhall, 
 London. 
 
 1, 67. the Cittizen of good fellowes, in contrast with the preceding 
 a Boore, a Boore of the Country. 
 
 ^ 2, 2. with shalles. A quibble on shall, shale, shell, and shall, 
 denoting futurity. Nares, s. v., very aptly quotes, besides our pas- 
 sage, Churchyard, Challenge p. 153 
 
 Thus all with shall or shalles ye shal be fed. 
 
 '2, 6. brangled, confused, entangled. 
 
 \A, 26. orient, bright, shining; cp. Shakespeare, Pilgr. 133 bright, 
 orient pearl. 
 
 2, 40. Were 't not for manhood sake. But for the dignity of 
 a gentleman of my age, I should not brave thee with mere words, 
 but challenge thee with sword in hand. 
 
58 NOTES. [Act III. 
 
 / 2, 57. soares, soaring flight; thence, high-flown words, quarrel. 
 2, 68, 69. Addressing his father, 
 j/' 2, 82. to fadge, to go, proceed, succeed; cp. L.L.L. V. i. 154, 
 and Tw. N. II. 2. 34. 
 
 2, 84. Addressing R. Mounchensey. 
 
 y 2, 87. fellowes of a handfuU hie, i. e. sprites, hie, high; a hand- 
 full, a palm, a measure of four inches. Cp. B. Jonson, Cynthia's 
 Rev. III. 4: 
 
 Here stalks me by a proud and spangled sir 
 That looks three handfuls higher than his foretop. 
 
 (Quoted by Nares.) 
 
 3, 3. the composure of weake frailtie meete. As composure means 
 'the elements which compose s. t, the materials', it is not necessary 
 to substitute meets (L) for the plural number meete. 
 
 3, 19 seq. Your absence will so waste his blood that his cheeks 
 shall look quite pale. 
 
 1/3, 22. For to waine, to avert, to alienate, cp. 3 Henry VI., IV. 
 4. 17, and Tit. Andr. I. i. 211. 
 
 / 3> J,^- your fathers may chance spie your parting. The verb to 
 chance is sometimes, though rarely, followed by the infinitive without 
 to; cp. 2 H. IV., II. I. 12 // may chance cost some of us our Hues; 
 Troil. I. I. id you may chance burn your lips (Q), F to burn. 
 ^ 3, 63. kept under, to keep under, to restrain, detain, has here 
 "^apparently an obscene sense; else j/f/ at the beginning of the line 
 can hardly be accounted for. 
 
 ACT ni. 
 
 I, 7. Holy matron, woman milde. Apposition to Daughter Marie. 
 
 I, 22. That refers to your (1. 21): you that so truely pay your 
 tithe. Cp. V. 2. 115. 
 
 ^/ I, 12. buske. 'The busk was thought very essential to the female 
 figure. Marston, Scourge II. 7: 
 
 Her long slit sleeves, stiffe buske, puffe verdingall. 
 Is all that makes her thus angelical! Nares s. v. 
 
 / I. 39- the sacring Bell. 'A small bell used in the Roman Catholic 
 Church to call attention to the more solemn parts of the service of 
 the mass.' Webster. The word also occurs Henry VIII., III. 2. 295. 
 y^ I, 42. Lattins, Latin prayers or hymns. 
 
 I, 53. mornings Masse. Cp. morning^ joy Lucr. 1 107, morning's 
 rest Rom. V. 3. 189, mornings dew Tit. 11. 3. 201, a morning's holy 
 office Cymb. IH. 3. 4. 
 
 I, 81. Cp. Per. IV. 4. 25: Pericles, in sorrow all devoured. 
 
 I, 87. /, a poore innocent shee. Cp. Tw. I. 5. 259 the cruellest she. 
 It is, therefore, unnecessary to alter the punctuation as Hazlitt 
 has done. 
 
Aa IV.] NOTES. 59 
 
 ^/ I, 90. conscience, thought, consideration; Haml. III. I. 83 
 
 Thus conscience does make cowards of us all. 
 
 y/^ I, 95. To thrust Mounchenseyes nose besides the cushion, i. e. to 
 
 impose upon M. Cp. the phrases to miss the cushion, to be beside 
 
 the cushion. According to Nares, cushion was a term of archery, 
 
 being a name for the mark at which the archers shot 
 
 I, loi. Addressed to Harry Clare. 
 
 1, III. None only but (Edd. only, but). But only as weU as only 
 but are often used for only or but. Cp. Merch. HI. 5. 51 in none 
 only but parrots. 
 
 y'Z, \t. rny deere bosome. Cp. the Shakespearian phrases my dear 
 heart, my dear blood, my dear soul, in all of which dear has the signi- 
 fication of inmost. 
 
 2, 20. Did you now know but how this iest takes fire, but, properly 
 belonging to know, is attracted by the following sentence. A similar 
 instance of attraction is Mcb. V. 8. 40 
 
 He only lived but till he was a man. 
 
 2, 81 — 87. The sense of the passage as we read it (1. 84 Harry) 
 is: Peter Fabell, in the habit of Frier Hildersham, made his plot 
 with the aid of Francke and Harry and with my own assistance, 
 and so, i. e. in that disguise he conversed with Sir Arthur Clare. 
 y^ 2, 132. vnbagd, not pregnant, to bag, to become pregnant. 
 /^, 137. turne tippet, to make a complete change, particularly 
 used of a maid becoming a wife. The origin of the phrase is not 
 clear. Cp. Ben Jonson, The Case is Altered III. 3. (ed. Gifford, 
 vol. VI, p. 378 seq.): Vou to turn tippet! fie, fie! and Beaumont and 
 Fletcher, Monsieur Thomas U. 2. 5 (ed. Darnley, vol. I, p. 472^): Vou 
 must turn tippet. (Quoted by Nares.) 
 
 2, 141. hees the onely man. Cp. M. Ado III. i. 92 he is the onely 
 man of Italy. 
 
 2, 144. Cp. V. I. 91 seqq. 
 ^ 2, 153. To watch the coast be cleere. The same proverbial ex- 
 pression occurs I H. VI., I. 3. 89 see the coast cleared. 
 ^ 2, 163. tall, lusty, sturdy. Shakespeare generally uses the word 
 in an ironical or derisory sense; see Al. Schmidt, Shakespeare- 
 Lexicon, s. v. But the contemporary writers often use it without 
 ridiculing it as an affected term of fashion. Cp. Nares, s. v. 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 I, 19. A horse, a machine upon which anything is supported by 
 ""^ laying it across (Halliwell, Diet, of Arch, and Prov. Words, s. v. [3]). 
 See, below, 1. 121. 
 
 I, 32. The ^c. means, of course, that Sir John repeats his old 
 saying "We are all mortal; we'll live till we die, and be merry, and 
 ther's an end." (Collier). 
 
6o NOTES. [Aei V. 
 
 ^ 1 1 44- ^^ statu Priest. Cp. a stone horse, i.e. a horse not 
 castrated. 
 y" I' 79- S"' ""P ^^"' wz«(i J- e, go against the wind. Cp. down the 
 
 wind, in the direction of the wind. 
 
 2, 40. mareterraneum skinker. The Host seems to mean medi- 
 v terraneum. skinker. For skinker, tapster, drawer, see Nares s. v. 
 
 2, 71. roomer, an old sea term; to go or put roomer, to tack 
 (^ about before the wind. See Halliwell, Diet., s. v. To cry roomer, to 
 give the command to tack about before the wind. 
 
 ACT V. 
 
 ^/ I, 28. Ilefirke him. to firk, to beat, to drub; cp. H. V., IV. 4. 29 
 
 I'll fer hitn, and firk him, and ferret him. 
 
 i, 55, 56. The sense of the lines is: Tell me the plain truth, 
 for your calling forbids all hypocrisy, nor need you be indulgent 
 towards me («or beare with me): I am quite prepared to hear and 
 to bear the whole truth. Collier's conjecture, therefore, ingenious 
 though it be, seems to be unnecessary. 
 
 1, 125. Is not this the George? In order to mislead the two 
 knights, Fabell and his companions seem to have interchanged the 
 signs of the two inns, and to have engaged Smug, in the disguise 
 of Saint George, to stand over the door of the George. Only thus 
 can we account for V. 2. 142 where Smug says / will be Saint George 
 again. Cp., besides, ib. 144, 145. See Tieck, Alt-Englisches Theater 
 II, p. 8. 
 
 2, 3. Jenerts, jennets; see the similar expression of the Host 
 ^ I. 2, 1 1 my nimble Giber alte rs (^gibber, a bauky horse V 
 
 Ib. bauke. Steevens feels inclined to retain the original reading 
 banke. 'The merry Host', he says, 'seems willing to assemble ideas 
 expressive of trust and confidence. The old quartos begin the word 
 jenert with a capital letter, and therefore we may suppose lenert's 
 bank to have been the shop of some banker, in whose possession 
 money could be deposited with security. The Irish still say, as 
 sure as Burton's bank, and our own countrymen as sure as the 
 bank 0/ England.' But even granting that there were country-banks 
 in England as early as the end of the sixteenth century, which is 
 by no means probable, we must own that we cannot make out the 
 meaning of the expression in our passage. Quite as little are we 
 satisfied by Mr. Hazlitt's conjecture lenert's back. The word bank 
 which we have introduced into the text, is the ancient spelling of 
 balk and is several times found in the old Edd. of Shakespeare 
 (s. Al. Schmidt, Shak.-Lex., s. v.). For the use of bauk cp. By reason 
 "> of the contagion then in London, we balked the inns Evelyn. (Quoted by 
 ^ Webster.), 
 
 Ib. house. The reading horse was probably influenced by the 
 preceding jenerts. house was already conjectured by Nares, s. v. 
 
AciV.] [NOTES. 6 1 
 
 Jenerts. As to the expression my house, my castle, cp. I. 1. 2 Wel- 
 come good knight, to the George at Waltham, viy free-hold, my tene- 
 ments, goods and chattels. By the reading, proposed by Mr. Haz- 
 litt, my house is my castle, the construction of the whole passage 
 seems to lose consistency. 
 C^2, 12. the yellowes, jaundice in horses; cp. Shak., Tam. III. 2. 54. 
 2, 16. haue we Commedies in hand, do we perform a comedy. 
 2, 26. Sine Cerere et Baccho friget Venus. Ter. Eun. 4, 5, 6. 
 /^ 2, 31. Lusty fuventus is the title of one of the oldest English 
 Moral-Plays. 
 
 \^ 2, 46. Storm, be passionate, chafe. 
 
 j^^^ 2, 49. to be hum.orous, to act from caprice, cp. Span. Trag., 
 Old Plays, ed. Hazlitt, vol. V, p. 31. 
 
 ^ 2, 57. like a Cockatrices ege. The cockatrice or basilisk was 
 fabled to have so deadly an eye as to kill by its very look. Cp. Shak. 
 Rom. III. 2. 45 
 
 Say thou but I, 
 And that bare vowel 1 shall poison more 
 Than the death-darting eye of cockatrice. 
 
 ^ 2,59. skipper, a thoughtless young fellow. Cp. Shak. Shr. II. 341 
 skipper, stand back! 
 
 2, 88. sit thus long vpon their knees. Milliscent and Mountchen- 
 sey are kneeling before Clare. 
 i/" 2, 127. Spindles noise, noise, a company of musicians; cp. 
 
 2 H. IV., n. 4. 13 find out Sneak's noise. 
 
Ehrh. Karras, Printer, Halle. 
 
PSEUDO-SHAKESPEARIAN PLAYS. 
 
 
 EDITJ^D 
 
 KAKL WAENKE, ph. i>. 
 
 LUDWIG PEOESOHOLDT, i'h.d. 
 
 III. KING EDWARD III. 
 
 HALLE : 
 
 Max Niemeyer. 
 1886. 
 
 ■'S 
 
KING EDWARD III. 
 
 REVISED AND EDITED 
 
 WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES 
 
 KAEL WABNKE, ph. d. 
 
 LUDWIG PROESOHOLDT, ph. d. 
 
 HALLE: 
 
 Max Niemeyer. 
 1886. 
 
 }3 
 
^.rs^ss^ 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
The earliest edition of the Pseudo- Shakespearian play of King' 
 Edward III. (A) was published in 1596, with the title: 'The Raigne 
 0/ King Edward the third. As it hath bin sundrie times plaied' about 
 the Citie of London. London, Printed for CutMert Burby. 1596.' 
 (Preserved in the British Museum; Press-mark C. 21. c. 50).') A 
 second edition of the play (B) was printed in 1599 for the same 
 publisher and with the same title (Imprinted at London by Simon 
 Stafford, for Cuthbert Burby. And are to be sold at his shop neere 
 the Royall Exchange. iS99j- (Preserved in the British Museum; 
 Press -mark C. 21. b. 40). 2) Like most old plays, the Editio princeps 
 of Edward III. is very badly printed ; there is scarcely a page in 
 it which is not disfigured by blunders and misprints. The edition 
 of 1599 corrected part of these mistakes, but we need hardly add 
 that also B is far from being correctly printed; many misprints 
 passed from A into B , and many others were added in B. B, 
 however, is not purely a reprint of A; it was intended to be a 
 revised edition. Unfortunately he who revised the play had no 
 happy hand; for most of the alterations which he introduced into 
 the text are arbitrary and decidedly inferior to the readings of A. 
 It must be regretted therefore that modem editors should some- 
 times without any cogent reason have departed from A and given 
 the preference to the readings of the edition of 1599. 
 
 Most of the gross and palpable blunders exhibited both by 
 A and B were removed by Capell, who in 1760 edited Edward III. 
 
 ') The play was entered in the Stationers' Register on the first of 
 December 1595: 'Cutbert Burby. Entred for his co^ie vnder the hands of 
 the wardens A book Intitled Edward the Third and the Blacke Prince, their 
 
 warres with King lohn of Fraunce vj"*.' (Arber's Transscript III, p. 55). 
 
 ^) According to the Stationers' Registers other editions would seem to 
 have followed in 1609, 1617, and 1625; but none of these is known to have 
 been preserved. 
 
VIII INTRODUCTION. 
 
 in 'Prolusions; or, Select Pieces of ancient Poetry. Compil'd with 
 great Care from their several Originals, and offer'd to the Publick 
 as Specimens of the Integrity that should be found in the Editions 
 of worthy Authors. London. Printed for J. and R. Torson, in the 
 Strand. 1760.' Capell kept what he had promised on the title- 
 page of his edition; each scene of the play bears testimony how 
 much care he took to give the play a form worthy of its contents. 
 He first divided the piece into acts and scenes, added the Draviaiis 
 Persona, and, which is more important, happily succeeded in cor- 
 recting a great number of passages quite unintelligible in A and 
 B. The age in which Capell lived, accounts for his sometimes 
 overshooting the mark. Like Pope in his edition of Shakespeare, 
 Capell, adapting the metre and grammar in Edward IIL to the 
 rules of his own time, often altered a word or a line which had 
 been quite correctly printed in the old editions. Nor shall we be 
 surprised to find that he did not scrupulously stick to A or B, but 
 that he took indifferently the reading which he liked best. Mistakes, 
 such as Capell would have thought them, are seldom to be met 
 with in his edition (III. 3. 5 tell me om.). On the whole, every 
 sensible reader must acknowledge that Capell's edition is compara- 
 tively speaking to be considered a good one, and that in many 
 respects it is superior to all subsequent editions. None of the 
 modern editors seem to have thought it necessary again to collate 
 the old copies of the play; all of them entirely rely upon Capell 
 and his notes. 
 
 In his edition of ' The Doubtful Plays of Shakespeare. London 
 and New -York. s. a.', Tyrrell printed the play from Capell's edition, 
 adding only some isolated conjectures of his own. But very few 
 of these conjectures correct the reading of Capell and deserve to 
 be introduced into the critical text of the play, viz. 1. i. 105, ib. 134, 
 II. 2. 157. . 
 
 To the reader of our own age the play has been made acces- 
 sible by Prof. N. Delius' edition (Pseudo - shaksperesche Dramen, 
 No. I. Elberfeld, 1854). Delius' edition is based on Capell's Pro- 
 lusions; where his text differs from that of Capell, it is most 
 frequently owing to a strange mistake made by him. In a list of 
 Various Readings added to his edition, Capell gives beside the 
 Varia lectio of A and B a certain number of conjectural emen- 
 dations which seemed to him very plausible, but not so well-founded 
 
INTRODUCTION. IX 
 
 as to be embodied into the text of the play. In his Introductory 
 Notice Capell expressly says: 'he (the reader) will find at the end 
 of each poem all the other rejected readings of the editions made 
 use of; and, intermix'd with these, are some conjectural ones, being 
 such as were thought plausible, but not of force enough to demand 
 a place in the text. These latter readings have no mark given 
 them, the others are distinguish'd by the mark of the edition they 
 belong to.' Prof. Delius, having to all appearance not read that 
 notice, erroneously supposed all the readings contained in Capell's 
 list to have been drawn from some old edition, and consequently 
 adopted a great part of Capell's conjectures for his edition. Besides, 
 Delius, without giving any notice of it, altered Capell's text by 
 introducing a number of conjectures of his own. The text which 
 results from such a proceeding is of course by no means to be 
 trusted, and it is the less so, as the critical notes given by Delius 
 are scanty and inexact in the highest degree. As to the conjectural 
 readings proposed by Capell and adopted by Delius, only a few 
 of them seem to be incontestible , viz. I. i. 39, I. 2. 104, I. 2. 153, 
 III. 2. 58, III. 3. I, III. 3. 25; most of them, however, deserve no 
 place in the text of a critical edition. Of the conjectures made 
 by Delius, only five (I. i. 36, I. 2. 159, II. i. 57, II. 2. 40, 11. 2. 117) 
 have been adopted by us. 
 
 Delius' edition has had the honour of being reprinted in the 
 'Leopold Shakspere' (p. 1037 — 1056) and in the Doubtful Plays 
 of William Shakespeare, edited by Max Moltke (Tauchnitz edition, 
 Vol. 104 1). The former is a mere reprint of Delius' edition, into 
 which even obvious misprints have passed, cp. II. I. 453 same f. 
 sha?ne. Mr. Moltke, likewise, worked on Delius' edition, adopting, 
 now and then, some reading given by Delius in his Varia Lectio'^) 
 and inserting some few conjectures of his own.2) 
 
 The latest modern edition of Edward III. has been published 
 by J. P. Collier in The Plays and Poems of W. Shakespeare, with 
 the purest text and briefest notes [including Edward III., The Two 
 
 ') Viz. n. I. 184. treasure i. treasurer, II. 2. 103 sweep f. beat, lb. 124 
 objection f. subjection. III. 5. 36 his green courage with those thoughts f. 
 his courage with those grievous thoughts, IV. 4. 124 wings f. strings. 
 
 ^) Viz. II. I. 414 environ'd t. inwir'd (see ad loc), ib. 418 then om., II. 
 2. Wj fair rarities f. varieties, ib. 158 Arrive f. To arrive. III. 2. 59 Turned 
 aside f. Turned but aside, IV. 4. 75 your f. our. 
 
X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Noble Kinsmen, Mucedorus , and A Yorkshire Tragedy]. Maiden- 
 head (completed in 1878). Limited to 58 Copies/ Mr. Collier, 
 too, seems only to have made use of Capell's edition, and not to 
 have consulted the old editions. Like Prof. Delius, he succeeded 
 in correcting some lines of the play, viz. L 2. 159, 11. i. 285, IL 2. 40; 
 on the whole, however, he treated both the metre and the text of 
 the play in quite an arbitrary and uncritical manner. 
 
 The play of Edward IIL has been three times translated! 
 into German, first in 1836: Vier Schauspiele von Shakespeare, 
 libersetzt von Ludwig Tieck. Stuttgart und: Tiibingen; 1836. 
 From an essay of Hermann von Friesen (Shakespeare -Jahrbuch II, 
 p. 64 seqq.) we learn that the four plays were translated not by 
 Tieck, but by Wolf von Baudissin,' and that Tieck only intended 
 to accompany them with an introduction, which, however, was never 
 published.- The translations of Ortlepp (Nachtrage zu Shakespeare's 
 Werken, Stuttgart 1840, vol.11) and of Max Moltke (Leipzig, Uni- 
 versalbibliothek 685) rely in all essential points on that of Tieck - 
 Baudissin.') 
 
 The greater part of Edward III. is based on Holinshed's Chronicle 
 of England, the episode I, 2 — II on Holinshed's Chronicle of Scot- 
 land and on Painter's Palace of Pleasure. With the exception of 
 the scenes in which Villiers plays the principal part (IV. i. ig — 43, 
 ib. 3. I — 56) and which the poet must have derived from some 
 other source^), there is no reason to believe that the author of 
 the play consulted any other book. We think it best to give the 
 
 ') Ch. F. Weisse, the author of 'Eduard der Dritte, ein Trauerspiel in 
 fiinf Aufziigen ' (Beytrag zum Deutschen Theater. Erster Theil. Zwote, ver- 
 besserte und vefmehrte Auflage. Leipzig, 1765) appears not to have known 
 the English play. His source was Rapin Thoyras' History of England. 
 Cp. J. Minor, Ch. F. "Weisse und seine Beziehungen zur deutschen Literatur 
 des 18. Jahrhunderts , Innsbruck 1880, p. 206 — 208. — "Whether there is an 
 affinity or no between the Pseudo- Shakespearian 'Edward III.' and the tra- 
 gedy of 'Edouardlll.' by Gresset (translated into German, "Wi^n 1758) and 
 La Calprenede's 'Edouard III.' we are unable to say, as neither of the works 
 have been accessible to us. 
 
 ^) The name of Villiers occurs in Holinshed as the name of a place, 
 II, p. 641. 
 
INTRODUCTION; XI 
 
 passages from which the facts were taken, here at full, with the; 
 acts and scenes which they illustrate.^) 
 
 I. I. 1 — 50 (Hoi. II, 605; A. D. 1333): 'This yeare was the 
 warre proclamed betwixt England and France, cheefely by the pro- 
 curement of the lord Robert Dartois, a Frenchman, as then banished 
 out of France, vpon occasion of a claime by him made vnto the 
 earledome of Artois. This lord Robert after he was banished 
 France, fled ouer vnto King Edward , who gladlie receiued him 
 and made him earle of Richmond.' 
 
 (lb., p. 611, 612): 'It is well knowne that Philip le Beau 
 King of France had issue by his wife queene Jone three sons, 
 Lewis surnamed Hutine, Philip Le Long, and Charles le Beau: 
 also two daughters, the one dieing in hir infancie, and the other 
 named Isabel! lined, and was married vnto Edward the second of 
 that name, king of England, who begot of hir this Edward the 
 third, that made this claime. The three sonnes of the foresaid 
 Philip le Beau reigned ech after other as kings of France .... 
 (All three of them dying without leaving any heir) King Edward 
 averred that the kingdome of France apperteined vnto him as 
 lawfull heire, bicause that he alone was remaining of the kings 
 stock, and touched his mothers father Philip le Beau, in the next 
 degree of consanguinitie, as he that was borne of his daughter 
 Isabell.' 
 
 I. I. 56seqq. According to Holinshed King Edward III. did 
 homage to the French King for the dukedome of Guyenne. 
 (11. p. 597; A. D. 1329) 'In the third yeare of his reigne about the 
 Ascension-tide, King Edward went ouer into France, and coming 
 to the French king Philip de Valois, as then being at Amiens, did 
 there his homage vnto him for the duchie of Guien.' 
 
 I. I. 121 — 138. For the King's campaign in Scotland, the 
 author of the play seems to have made use of several accounts 
 found in Holinshed. (V, p. 376) 'After this the governor [of King 
 David] came to the Castle of Lochindoris and laid siege to it, 
 wherewithin was the countesse of Atholl, the wife of the late 
 slaine earle Dauid. This woman hauing knowledge aforehand, that 
 
 ') We take the opportunity of expressing our thanks to the Admini- 
 stration of the University-Library at Gottingen for having favoured us with 
 'Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland. In six volumes. 
 London 1807 seqq.', from which we give our quotations. 
 
XII INTRODUCTION. 
 
 hir house should be besieged, had sent vnto the King of England 
 and to Edward BalioU for succours. The king of England now 
 doubting least all the strengths in Scotland, kept by such as were 
 his friends, would be lost without recouerie, if the same were not 
 the sooner rescued, he raised an armie of fortie thousand men, 
 and entering therewith into Scotland, came to the castle of Lochin- 
 doris aforesaid. The Scots that lay there at siege, vpon knowledge 
 had of his comming towards them, brake vp, and departed from 
 thence. Heerevpon, when he had refreshed the hold with new 
 men, munition, and vittels, he tooke the countesse foorth with him, 
 and passed with bloudie swoord thorough Murrey . . .' 
 
 I. I. 134, 135. S. ad IV. I. I — 18. 
 
 I. I. 147 — 152 (V, p. 608). 'Thus we may perceiue that Flanders 
 rested wholie at king Edward's commandement.' ib. 'The aliance of 
 the earle of Heinault first procured the king of England all these 
 freends.' ib. 'There was sent to the emperour to procure his freend- 
 ship, from the king of England, the marques of Gulike .... The 
 duke of Gelderland . . . trauelled most earnestlie to procure him all 
 the freends within the empire that he could make.' 
 
 I. 2. I — 73 (V, p. 378). 'About the same time sir William 
 Montacute earle of Salisburie, togither with the earle of Arundell, 
 came into Scotland with a great power of men, and besieged the 
 castle of Dunbar, lieing at the same for the space of 22 weeks.' 
 Within the said castell was the countesse hir selfe, surnamed blacke 
 Agnes of Dunbar, who shewed such manlie defense, that no gaine 
 was to be got anie waies forth at hir hands, so that in the end 
 they were constreined to raise their siege, and to depart without 
 speed of their purpose. It is said; that this countesse vsed manie 
 pleasant words in iesting and tawnting at the enimies dooings, 
 thereby the more to incourage hir souldiers. 
 
 The Earl of Douglas is very often mentioned in Holinshed, 
 f. i. II, p. 604: 'The Lord W"" Douglas still coasted the Englishmen, 
 doing to them what damage he might.' Likewise, the author of 
 the play found in Holinshed that the Earl of Warwick was sent 
 into Scotland (IL, p. 606). Cp., besides, ib. p. 602 (A. D. 1334) 
 ' then entering into Scotland, came to Roxborough where he repared 
 the castell which had beene aforetime destroied.' 
 
 ib. 94seqq. The Countess of Salisbury is also mentioned in 
 Holinshed (II, p. 629): 'It chanced that King Edward finding 
 
INTRODUCTION. XIII 
 
 either the garter of the queene or of some lady with whom he 
 was in loue (marginal note : The coimtes of Salisbury), being fallen 
 from hir leg, stooped downe and tooke it vp, whereat diuerse of 
 the nobles found matter to iest, and to talke their fausies merilie, 
 touching the king's affection towards the woman, vnto whome he 
 said, that if he liued, it should come to passe that most high honor 
 should be giuen vnto them for the garter's sake: and therevpon 
 shortlie after, he deuised and ordeined this order of the garter, 
 with such a posie, wherby he signified that his nobles iudged 
 otherwise of him than the truth was.' 
 
 The materials for the scenes following (I. 2 — II. i and 2) have 
 been taken from Painter's Novel. But as the poet was indebted 
 to it merely for the leading idea, not for any particulars of the 
 episode, we think it sufficient only to give a summary of the con- 
 tents of Painter's diffuse and prosy narrative. 
 
 In a war made by King Edward on King David of Scotland, 
 the Scots lay siege to the castle of Roxborough, which is valiantly 
 defended by the Countess of Salisbury. Being pressed hard by 
 the besiegers, the Countess sends for help to Kirig Edward. On 
 hearing of his approach, the Scots speedily decamp ; King Edward 
 arrives and stays for some days in the Castle. Struck with the 
 beauty and graces of the Countess, whose name is yElips, he falls 
 desperately in love with her, and endeavours to win her aflfections. 
 All his proposals, however, are indignantly rejected by the Countess. 
 Quite as little is she inveigled by a love - letter which the King, 
 on his return to London, addresses to her. Meanwhile Earl Salis- 
 bury, the husband, and Earl Warwick, the father of the Countess, 
 who have been kept prisoners in France, are released; the former, 
 however, having long been ill, dies before coming home. When 
 Warwick has arrived in London, the King induces him to inter- 
 cede with the Countess in his favour. The old Earl who has 
 sworn to help the king, without knowing' for what purpose his 
 assistance is required , keeps his word', and tries , not without 
 many sighs and tears, to prevail upon his daughter to yield to 
 the king. Highly gratified to see how firmly resolved she is 
 not to deviate from' the path of honour, he imparts her 
 refusal to the king. Fallen into disfavour, he retires from the 
 court and lives on his estates, leaving, however, his wife and 
 daughter in London. Several times the King sends his secretary 
 
XIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 to make the Countess change her mind; but seeing that her 
 chastity is not to be shaken by words, he resolves to make sure 
 of her by force; The mother, acquainted with the king's purpose, 
 and fearing that her whole family should have to suffer from his 
 disfavour, apparently succeeds in overpersuading her daughter. 
 Accompanied by the secretary, the two ladies repair to the Palace. 
 The Kilig, delighted to see at length his wishes accomplished, leads 
 the Countess into his apartment. Here, however, she throws herself 
 at his feet, and presenting a knife to him-, implores him rathei: to 
 kill her than deprive her of honour and chastity. The King, 
 overcome by the incorruptible sentiments and the steadfast character 
 of the Countess, changes his mind, and raising the lady from the 
 ground, kisses her and leads her out of the room. The whole 
 court being just assembled, Edward declares to have chosen the 
 Countess to be his queen, and the nuptial ceremony is instantly 
 performed hf the Archbishop of York. 
 
 m. I. Battle at Sluise (Hoi. II, p. 614; A. D. 1340): 'The 
 Fi-ench nauie laie betwixt Sluise and Blancbergh so that when the 
 king of England approched, either part descried other, and there- 
 with prepared them to battell. The king of England staled, till 
 the sunne which at the first was in his face, came somewhat west- 
 ward, and so had it vpon his backe, that it should not hinder the 
 sight of his people, and so therewith did set vpon his enimies with 
 great manhood', who likewise verie stoutlie incountered him, by 
 reason whereof issued a sore and deadlie fight betwixt them . . . . 
 at length the Englishmen hauing the aduantage, not oneiiie of the 
 sunne, but also of the wind and tide, so fortunatlie that the French 
 fleet was driven into the streighfs in such wise that neither the 
 souldiers nor mariners could helpe themselues, in somuch that both 
 heauen^ sea;: and wind seemed all to haue conspired against the 
 Frenchmen! . J .' ! ' 
 
 '^ 1111131;! — 10 (Hoi. Ill, p. 636): L . . 'at length by one of the 
 prisoners' named Gobin de Grace; he (the king of England)' was 
 told where he might paSse with his armie ouer the riuef -of Some, 
 at a foord in the same riuer, being hard in the bottome, and 
 verie shallow at an eb water .... When the king of England had 
 thus passed the riuer, he acquitted Gobin Agace and all his companie 
 of their ransomes, and gaue to the saine Gobin an hundred nobles, 
 and a good horse, and so the king rode foorth as he did before. 
 
INTRODUCTION. XV 
 
 ,,. lU. 3. 219^226. (Hol. n, p. 637; A. D. 1346): 'Then he 
 ordained three battels, in the first was the prince of Wales, and 
 with him the earle of Warwike . . . (mot Audley) ... In the 
 second battle was the earle of Northampton . . . (not Derby) . . . 
 The third battell the king led himselfe.' 
 
 . m. 4. I— 13. (Hol. II, p. 638; A. D. 1346): 'There were of 
 Genowaies crosbowes to the number of twelue or fifteen thousand, 
 the: which were commanded to go on before, and with their shot 
 to begin the battell ; but they were so werie with going on foot that 
 morning six leagues armed with their crosbowes , that they said 
 to itheir constables " We be not well vsed , in that we are com- 
 manded to fight this dale, for we be not in case to doo any 
 great feat of armes, we haue more need of rest." These words 
 carne to the hearing of the earle of Alanson, who said "A man is 
 well; at ease to be charged with such a sort of rascals that faint 
 and fail now at most need" .... When the Genowaies felt the 
 arrowes persing their heads, armes and breasts, many of them cast 
 dqwne their crosbowes, and cut the strings, and returned discomfited. 
 When the French king saw them flee awaie, he said "Slea these 
 rascals, for they will let and trouble us without reason." 
 
 Ijl. 5. 10—56. (Hol. II, p. 639; A. D. 1346): 'They of that 
 battell (the Prince's battle) had as then inough to doo, in somuch 
 that some which were about him, as the earle of Northampton, 
 and others sent to the king, where he stood aloft on a windmill 
 hill," requiring him to aduance forward, and come to their aid, 
 they being as thus sore laid to of their enimies. The king here- 
 upon demanded if his sonne were siaine, hurt or felled to the 
 earth. "No (said the knight that brought the message), but he is 
 sore matched.'.' "Well (said the king) returne to him and them 
 that sent you, and saie to them I will that this iournie be his, 
 with the honor therof." With this answer the knight returned, 
 which greatlie incouraged them to doo their best to win the spurs, 
 being half abashed in that they had so sent to the king for aid." 
 : III. 5.. 61— 100 (Hol. II, p. 639 ; A. D. 1346): 'Among other 
 which died that dale, these I find registred by name as cheefest, 
 lohti king of Boheme ' . . . . ' When the Frenchmen were clearelie 
 ouercome, and those that were left aliue fled and gone, so that 
 the; Englishmen heard no more noise of them, king Edward came 
 down from- the hill (on the which he stood all that day with his 
 
XVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 helmet still on his head) and going to the prince, imbraced him 
 in his armes, and kissed him, saiing: "Fair Sonne, God send you 
 good perseuerance in this your prosperous beginning, you haue 
 noblie acquitted your selfe, you are well worthie to haue the gouern- 
 ance of a realme committed to your hands for your valiant doings." 
 The prince inclined himselfe to the earth in honouring his father, 
 as he best could. This done, they thanked God togither with their 
 souldiers for their good aduenture .... (ib. p. 640) ... the Idng 
 ordered to search what the number was of them that werfe slaine, 
 and vpon the view taken, it was reported vnto him, that there were 
 found dead eleuen princes, foure score baronets, twelue hundred 
 knights, and more than thirtie thousand of the meaner sort. ' 
 
 IV. I. I — 18 (Hoi. II, p. 621; A. D. 1341): 'For whereas con- 
 tention arose betwixt one Charles of Blois and John earle of 
 Mountford, about the right to the duchie of Britaine; the earle of 
 Mountford, thinking that he had wrong offered him at the French 
 king's hands, who fauoured his aduersarie Charles de Blois, alied 
 
 himselfe with the king of England (ib. p. 623) At length a 
 
 truce was taken for a time during the which the countess of Rich- 
 mond (? Mountford) came ouer into England , to commune with 
 king Edward, touching the affaires of Britaine, who appointed sir 
 Robert Dartois, earle of Richmond, the earles of Salisburie, Pem- 
 broke ... to go with her ouer into Britain.' 
 
 IV. 2. 7 — 35 (Hoi. II, p. 640; A. D. 1346): 'When the said sir 
 John de Vienne (captain of Calis) saw the manner of the English 
 host, and what the king's intention was, he constreined all the 
 poore and meane people to depart out of the towne.' The king 
 of England perceiuing that this was doone of purpose to spare 
 vittels, would not driue them backe againe to helpe to consume 
 the same, but rather pitied them; and therefore did not onelie 
 shew them^so- much grace- to -suffer- them~ to- passe through- his 
 host, but also gaue them meat and drinke to dinner, and more- 
 ouer two pence sterling to euerie person.' 
 
 IV. 2. 37 — 61 (Hoi. II, p. 643seqq.; A. D. 1346): 'AH this while 
 the siege continued still before Calis, and the French king amongst 
 other deuises which he imagined to raise the king of England 
 from it, procured the Scots to make warre into England, in somuch 
 that Dauid king of Scotland, notwithstanding the truce which 
 yet indured betwixt him and the king of England, vpon hope now 
 
INTRODUCTION. XYII 
 
 to doo some great exploit, by reason of the absence of king 
 Edward, in tangled then with the besieging of Calls, he assembled 
 the whole puissance of his realme . . . and with them entered into 
 England, burning, spoiling, and wasting the countrie till he came 
 as far as Durham. The lords of England that were left at home 
 with the queene for the sure keeping and defense of the realme . . . 
 assembled an host of all such people as were able to beare armour, 
 both preests and other. Their generall assemblie was appointed 
 at Newcastell, and when they were all togither, they were to the 
 number of 1200 men of armes, 3000 archers, and 7000 other, 
 with the Welshmen, and issuing out of the towne, they found the 
 Scots readie to come forward to incounter them .... The queene 
 was there in person, and went from ranke to ranke, and incouragd 
 hir people in the best manner she could, and that done she 
 departed, committing them and their cause to God, the giuer of 
 all victorie .... The king was taken in the field sore wounded, 
 for he fought valiantly. He was prisoner to an esquier of 
 Northumberland, who as soone as he had taken him, rode out of 
 the field with him accompanied onlie with eight of his seruants, 
 and rested not till he came to his owne castell where he dwelled, 
 being thirtie miles distant from the place of the battel). The 
 queene of England being certeinelie informed that the king of 
 Scots was taken, and that John Copland had conveyed him out of 
 the field, no man vnderstood to what place, she incontinentlie 
 wrote to him, commanding him foorthwith to bring his prisoner 
 king Dauid vnto hir presence: but John Copland wrote to hir 
 againe for a determinate answer, that he would not deliuer his 
 prisoner the said king Dauid vnto any person liuing, man or 
 woman, except onelie to the king of England, his souereigne lord 
 and master. Herevpon the queene wrote letters to the king, signi- 
 iieng to him both of the happie victorie chanced to his people 
 against the Scots, and also of the demeanour of John Copland, 
 in deteining the Scotish king.' 
 
 IV. 2. 62 — 85 (Hoi. II, p. 647 seq.; A. D. 1347): 'The French 
 king perceiving he could not have his purpose, brake vp his host 
 and returned to France, bidding Calls farewell. After that the 
 French king with his host was once departed, without ministring 
 anie succour to them within the towne, they began to sue for a 
 parlee, which being granted, in the end they were contented to 
 
XVIII INTRODUCTION. 
 
 yeeld, and the king granted to receiue them and the towne on 
 these conditions; that six of the cheefe burgesses of the towne 
 should come foorth bareheaded, barefooted, and barelegged, and 
 in their shirts, with halters about their necks, with the keies of 
 the towne and castell in their hands, to submit themselues simplie 
 to the kings will, and the residue he was contented to make 
 mercie.' 
 
 IV. 3. 63—85 and IV..6. 9—17. (Hol..n, p. 665): 'Here is to 
 be remembered that when this cardinall ofPiergort was sent from 
 the pope to trauell betwixt the parties for a peace to be had, and 
 that the pope exhorted him verie eamestlie to shew his vttermost 
 diligence and indeuour therein: at his setting foorth to go oh 
 that message, the said cardinall (as was said) made this answer: 
 Most blessed father (said he) either we will persuade them to peace 
 and quietnesse, either else shall the verie flintstones crie out of it. 
 But this he spake not of himselfe, as it was supposed, but being 
 a prelate in that time, he prophesied what should follow; for when 
 the English archers hud bestowed all their arrowes vpon their 
 enimies, they tooke vp pebles from the place where they stood, 
 being full of those kind of stones, and approching to their enimies, 
 they drew the same with such violence on them, that lighting 
 against their helmets, armor and targets, they made a great ringing 
 noise, so that the cardinals prophesie was fulfilled, that he would 
 either persuade a peace, or else the stones should crie out thereof.' 
 
 IV. 4. (Hoi. n, p. 665; A. D. 1356): 'The prince offered to 
 render into the kings hands all that he had woone in that voiage, 
 as well townes as castels, and also to release all the prisoners, 
 which he or any of his men had taken in that ioumie : and further 
 he was contented to haue been swome not to beare armour against 
 the French king within the terme of seuen yeares next following. 
 But the French king would not agree therevnto: the vttermost that 
 he would agree vnto, was this, that the prince and an hundred of 
 his knights should yeeld themselues as prisoners vnto him, other- 
 wise he would not haue the matter taken vp. . . . But the prince 
 in no wise could be brought to any such vnreasonable condition.' 
 
 IV. 5. (Hoi. II, p. 638, A. D. 1346: Cressy): 'Also at the same 
 instant there fell a great raine and an eclipse with a terrible 
 thunder, and before the raine, there came flieng ouer both armies 
 a great number of crowes, for feare of the tempest comming: then 
 
INTRODUCTION. XIX 
 
 anon the aire began to wax cleare, and the sunne to shine faire 
 and bright, which was right in the Frenchmen's eies, and on the 
 Englishmen's backes . . .' 
 
 IV. 6. (Hoi. II, p. 666; A.D. 1356): 'The vaward of the French- 
 men . . . began to disorder within a while, by reason of the shot of 
 the archers, togither with the helpe of the men ofarmes, amongst 
 whome in the forefront was the lord lames Audeley, to performe 
 a vow which he had made, to be one of the first setters on ... . 
 The noble prowesse of the said lord lames Audley breaking through 
 the Frenchmens battell with the slaughter of many enimies was 
 that day most apparant. The loiall constancie of the noble earles 
 of Warwike and Suflfolke, that fought so stoutlie, so earnestlie, and 
 so fiercelie, was right manifest. And the prince himselfe did not 
 onelie fulfill the office of a noble cheefteine, but also of a right 
 valiant and expert souldiour, attempting whatsoeuer any other 
 warriour would in such case have done.' 
 
 IV. 7. (Hoi. II, p. 667): 'The prince of Wales . . . manfullie 
 assailed the maine battell of the Frenchmen, where the king him- 
 selfe was, who like a valiant prince would not flee, but fought 
 right manfullie : so that ' if the fourth part of his men had doone 
 halfe their parts as he did his, the victorie by likelihood had rested 
 (as Froissard saith) on his side: but he was forsaken by his three 
 sonnes, and of his brother the duke of Orleence, which fled out of 
 the battle with cleare hands. Fihallie, after huge slaughter made 
 of those noblemen, and other which abode with him euen to the 
 end, he was taken, and so likewise was his yongest son Philip.' 
 
 IV. 8 and 9. 18 — 59. (Hoi. II, p. 668): 'The prince gaue to the 
 lord lames Audelie (who had receiued in the battell many sore 
 wounds) fiue hundred marks of yearelie reuenues assigned foorth 
 of his lands in England* The which gift the knight granted as 
 freelie as he had receiued it vnto foure of his esquiers, which in 
 the battell had beene euer attendant about his person, without 
 whose aid and valiant support he knew well that he had beene 
 slaine sundrie times in the same battell by his enimies, and there- 
 fore thought it a dutie of humanitie and gratitude to make them 
 amends with some temporall recompense that had saued his life, 
 than the which nothing is more deere . . . When the prince heard 
 that he had so doone, he meruelled What his meaning was thereby, 
 and caused him to be brought before his presence, and demanded 
 
 b* 
 
XX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of him wherefore he had bestowed vpon him, and whether he 
 thought that gift too meane for him or not. The lord Audelie 
 so excused himselfe in extolling the good seruice doone to him 
 by his esquiers, though he had so mania times escaped the dangers of 
 death, that the prince did not onelie'confirme the resignatidn of the 
 fiue hundred marks, but gave him fine hundred marks more of like 
 yearelie reuenues, in maner and forme as he had receiued the other.' 
 
 IV. 9. I — 17. Holinshed relates (U, p. 668): 'The prince 
 made a great supper in his lodging that night to the French king, 
 and to the most part of his nobles that were taken prisoners, and 
 did all the honour that he could deuise to the king. And where 
 he perceiued by his cheere and countenance, that his heart was 
 full of pensiue greefe, carefuli thought, and heauinesses, he com- 
 forted him in the best manner that he might.' 
 
 V. I — 3 and 64 — 96. (Hoi. II, 645) : 'King Edward immediatly 
 by letters commanded lohn Copland to repaire vnto him where he 
 laie at siege before Calis, which with all conuenient speed he did, 
 and there so excused himselfe of that which the queene had found 
 hirselfe greened with him, for deteining the king of Scots from hir, 
 that the king did not onelie pardon him, but also gaue to him fiue 
 hundred pounds sterling of yearelie rent, to him and to his heires 
 bodie, commanding him yet vpon his retume into England to 
 deliuer king Dauid unto the queene, which he did, and so excused 
 himselfe also vnto hir, that she was therewith satisfied and con- 
 tented. Then the queene, after she had taken order for the safe 
 keeping of the king of Scots, and good gouemement of the realme, 
 tooke the sea and sailed ouer, to the king hir husband still lieng 
 before Calis.' 
 
 V. 4 — 59. (Hoi. n, 647): 'This determinate resolution of king 
 Edward being intimated to the commons of the towne, assembled in the 
 market-place by the sound of the common bell before the capteine, 
 caused manie a weeping eie amongst them: but in the end, when 
 it was perceiued that no other grace would be obteined, six of 
 the most wealthie burgesses of all the towne agreed to hazard their 
 Hues for the safeguard of the residue, and so according to the 
 prescript order deuised by the king they went foorth to the gates, 
 and were presented to the king, before' whome they kneeled downe, 
 offered to him the keies of the towne, and besought him to haue 
 mercie upon them. But the king regarded them with a fell coun- 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXI 
 
 tenance, commanded stre ight that their heads should be striken off. 
 And although many of the noble men did make great intreatance 
 for them, yet would no grace be shewed, vntill the queene, being 
 great with child, came and kneeled downe before the king hir 
 husband, and with lamentable cheere and weeping eies intreated 
 so much for them, that finallie the kings anger was assuaged and 
 his rigor turned to mercie so that he gaue the prisoners vnto hir 
 to doo hir pleasure with them. Then the queene commanded 
 them to be brought into hir chamber, and caused the halters to 
 be taken from their necks, clothed them anew, gaue them their 
 dinner, and bestowing vpon ech of them six nobles, appointed them 
 to be conueied out of the host in safeguard, and set at libertie.' 
 
 None other of the so-called Pseudo- Shakespearian plays has 
 so often been ascribed to England's greatest poet as King Edward III. 
 For the first time we find it attributed to Shakespeare in T. GofTs 
 Catalogue 1656. More than a hundred years later Capell took up 
 T. GofFs suggestion and printed Edward III. as 'a Play thought to 
 be writ by Shakespeare.' Far, however, from obtruding his hypo- 
 thesis upon the reader, Capell unpretendingly says in the Intro- 
 duction of the play: 'it must be confess'd that its being his work 
 is conjecture only, and matter of opinion, and the reader must 
 form one of his own, guided by what is now before him, and by 
 what he shall meet with in perusal of the piece itself.' With much 
 less reserve J. P. Collier stood up for Shakespeare's authorship in 
 his essay: 'King Edward III.: a historical play by William Shake- 
 speare. An essay in vindication of Shakespeare's authorship of the 
 play.' (Privately printed; dated Maidenhead, March 14"', 1874.) 
 He even goes as far as to say at the end of his essay: 'I take 
 shame to myself that I could omit, in both my editions of Shake- 
 speare, such a grand contribution to the series of our English 
 dramas as King Edward III.' 1) 
 
 In Germany Tieck seems to have been of opinion that the 
 play was composed by Shakespeare. Attributing plays of much 
 
 1) In a letter addressed to the Athenaeum (No. 2422, March 28, 1874, 
 p. 426) J. P. Collier set forth the same theory, in a somewhat abridged form, 
 but without adding any new arguments to it. 
 
XXII INTRODUCTION. 
 
 less intrinsic value to Shakespeare, he would certainly also have 
 claimed Edward III. for his favorite poet, if he had got the oppor- 
 tunity of publishing the introduction which he had promised to 
 add to Baudissin's translation. The subsequent translators, Ortlepp 
 and Moltke, likewise think Shakespeare to have been the author 
 of the play; neither of them, however, gives any reasons for his 
 supposition. Moltke, it is true, promised in a postscript added to 
 his translation to treat the question at large in his Shakespeare- 
 Museum; but the latter ceased; to exist, before any article in 
 vindication of Shakespeare's authorship of our play had been 
 published in it. 
 
 In the first edition of 'Shakespeare's Dramatische Kunst' 
 Ulrici, judging only from Baudissin's translation of the play, was 
 inclined to ascribe Edward III. to Shakespeare '); in the third 
 edition of his book, however, having meanwhile read the English 
 original, he no longer believes Shakespeare to have been the author 
 of the play, though still freely allowing the great merits of which 
 the play is possessed. 
 
 What were the reasons, we ask, which engaged Capell and 
 Collier, the German translators, and for a time so eminent a 
 critic as Ulrici, to attribute the play to Shakespeare? 
 
 The period into which our play leads us is among the most 
 brilliant in English history. The victories obtained by King Edward 
 in France, and the triumphs gained by his sun the Black Prince 
 over the French king must have filled the heart of every English- 
 man with pride and delight, and might well have tempted the pen 
 of a poet like Shakespeare. The saine sources, Holinshed and 
 Painter, which so richly yielded for the Histories and Comedies, 
 also afforded ample materials for the reign of King Edward III. 
 
 But not only the subject itself, but also the manner in which 
 it is treated, reminds the reader of Shakespeare. In the first scenes 
 the King appears to be bent only on prosecuting his rights in 
 France and on delivering his country from the inroads of the 
 
 1) Ulrici's opinion was acceded to by Ch. Knight in his Pictorial 
 Edition of Shakspere's Works, Doubtful Plays, p. 280 seqq. 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXIII 
 
 treacherous Scot The highest designs that ever king devised, are 
 floating before his mind's eye: he will procure both the happiness 
 and greatness of his country. But before destiny thinks him 
 worthy of mastering his mighty foes, he must master himself and 
 get the upperhand of his own unruly temper. The mighty King, 
 whose very approach makes his enemies tremble , who appears to us 
 as the bravest of the brave, plays quite an unworthy and unkingly 
 part as soon as he leaves the path of honour and casts his eye 
 on the wife of his vassal. He scolds at the drum which interrupts 
 his love-sick musing ; he prefers the company of his poet-secretary 
 to that of his loyal generals; he lends no ear to the account of 
 his ambassadors, and it is only for a moment that the aspect of 
 his warlike son reminds him of his duty: no sooner does he hear 
 the word Countess than he sinks back again into his shameful 
 passion. True energy, however, and true greatness of mind will 
 overcome all temptations. The virtue and chastity of the Countess 
 form the bright star which leads the king back again to the way 
 of honour and duty. Having conquered himself, Edward, truly 
 great, may conquer others. The proud King of France and his 
 overweening sons must feel the edge of Edward's sword: God 
 gives the victory not to him who boasts of his own strength and 
 confides in his own superior power, but to him whose cause is 
 just and whose character has proved worthy of victory. And that 
 indeed King Edward is worthy of victory, is well indicated at the 
 end of the play by the mercy which he shows to the stubborn 
 inhabitants of Calais. Thus, it will seem, the author has tried 
 to show in his play that he only deserves to be crowned with 
 success , and to become a master of others who strives to check 
 his own passions, and to be a master of himself There is no 
 doubt that the same idea pervades a great number of the trage- 
 dies and historical plays of Shakespeare.') 
 
 Besides the king some other characters of the play are delineated 
 in a manner which sufficiently proves that the author of King 
 Edward IIL was superior to the greater number of contemporary 
 
 1) Mr. Furnivall (Leopold - Shakspere, p. CII) points out the double 
 repetition of the leading idea of the King-and-Countess scene — a man won 
 from intended baseness by the appeal of a nobler nature : first, Prince Charles 
 of France by Villiers's appeal to him ; second, King John of France by his 
 son Prince Charles's appeal to him. 
 
XXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 playwrights. The King's Son, the famous Black Prince, appears to 
 us possessed with all those qualities which made him the darling 
 prince of the English nation. Though he has just left his study 
 and books, he is equal in valour and fearlessness to any knight 
 who has passed his life in battle and slaughter. The battalions 
 of the French surround him 'Jike emmets on a bank', and none 
 is near to succour him ; but his dauntless sword carves him a way 
 and wins him a well-deserved knighthood. With his own hand he 
 slays the mighty ally of the French, the king of Boheme; with his 
 own hand he takes King John prisoner, and thus ends the long 
 war. Though encompassed by the greatest dangers , the Prince, 
 full of noble pride, rejects the dishonourable conditions proposed 
 to him by the French king; but his heart bleeds when seeing 
 Old Audley, his faithful" companion, wounded to death, and in 
 every way possible he endeavours to show him his high esteem 
 and gratitude. Not only towards his friends but also towards his 
 enemies Edward proves kind-hearted and humane: all those towns 
 which willingly yield to his arms are spared by him , and only 
 those which stubbornly make head against him must taste of the 
 bitter fruit of war. On the height of glory and success the Prince 
 does not forget that Heaven has chosen him to be his instrument, 
 and humbly he acluiowledges that God alone has guided his hand 
 and sword. Only one feature seems not to be in unison with the 
 character of the Prince as represented by our poet. When King John 
 and his son have been taken prisoners. Prince Edward addresses 
 them in a discourteous and even rude manner. This behaviour 
 is the more surprising to us as according to Holinshed he did 
 all in his power to pay his respect to the captive monarch, and 
 to make him forget his misfortune. 
 
 The contrast between Edward and his adversaries is well set 
 forth by the poet. All the virtues with which the king of England 
 and the Black Prince are adorned, fall short in King John and 
 his sons. As the cause for which they have taken up arms, is 
 defective in itself, so their own and their soldiers' courage is far 
 from being equal to the task. King Edward confides in God and 
 his right, King John only trusts in his superior powers ; the minds 
 of the English rest unshaken by all vicissitudes of fortune, the 
 French stand horror-stricken on hearing a mere prophesy. The 
 English king and the Prince of Wales are loyal and equitable both 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXV 
 
 to their friends and enemies, the king of France even refuses to 
 ratify the word pawned by his own son. So indeed it seems but 
 just that the French king and his sons should be subdued by the 
 English. 
 
 Little is to be said of the generals and captains forming the 
 train of the two kings; in sentiment and even in language they 
 seem to be cast in the same mould; loyalty and courage are the 
 principles on which all of them regulate their doings. 
 
 With much more skill the poet has drawn the portrait of two 
 representatives of the English and French people. Copland, the 
 squire who refuses to give up his prisoner King David of Scotland 
 to any other person but to the king, is indeed a thoroughly 
 English character. His upright though stubborn behaviour must 
 deservedly have been applauded by the English public of the age 
 of Queen Elizabeth. 
 
 The episode in which Villiers plays the principal part has 
 not been taken from Holinshed. The poet doubtless added those 
 scenes, not only to set forth the mean character of the French 
 king, but also to represent the enemies of his nation as not wholly 
 devoid of honour and righteousness. 
 
 The talent of the author of our play, however, may best be 
 seen in the Countess-episode (I. 2 — II. 2). Out of the heroine of 
 a dull Italian novel he has formed a character which would cer- 
 tainly have done honour to any playwright of the age. The 
 Countess is indeed, as A. W. Ward (Engl. Dram. Lit., I, p. 457) 
 says, 'the true representative of high breeding united to moral 
 purity. Bright and courteous in word and demeanour, she is as 
 firm in her adherence to virtue as the prude who has no answer 
 but a shudder to the first suggestion of harm. She is the type 
 of what the king acknowledges her to be, when her constancy 
 has overcome his passion : 
 
 Arise, true English lady.' 
 It is true that also this episode is not without its drawbacks. We 
 shall hardly sympathize with the part the Earl of Warwick plays 
 as go-between between the king and his daughter, the Countess 
 of Salisbury. No right-minded person could ever have hit upon 
 Warwick's expedient in order to settle the conflict between honour 
 and duty. In Bandello's Novel first the Count and afterwards the 
 Countess simply advise their daughter to yield to the king; the 
 
XXVr INTRODUCTION. 
 
 author of our play was well aware that such a character would 
 not become the English stage; but trying to modify it, he did not 
 succeed in giving it such a turn as to excite our sympathy. 
 
 But be this as it may, certain it is that the poet did not 
 want power to fix and develop a character which he beheld before 
 his mind's eye. 
 
 As to the diction of the play, it must be allowed that in a 
 number of passages it rises above the pitch generally attained by 
 the playwrights of the age (Cp. I. i. 67 seqq., 11. 2. 174 seqq., IV. 4. 
 40 seqq., IV. 5. 92 seqq.). It is more surprising that sometimes 
 thoughts and expressions occurring in Shakespearian plays are also 
 to be met with in King Edward III.i) Cp., e. g., 
 
 I. 2. 131 Now, in the Sunne alone it doth not lye. 
 
 With light to take light from a mortall eye. 
 and L. L. L. I. i . 77 Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile. 
 
 II. I. 255 seqq. He that doth clip or counterfeit your stamp. 
 
 Shall die, my Lord: And will your sacred selfe 
 Comit high treason against the King of heauen, 
 To stamp his Image in forbidden mettel. 
 Forgetting your alleageance and your othe. 
 
 and Meas. II. 4. 42 // were as good 
 
 To pardon him that hath from nature stolen 
 A man already made, as to remit 
 Their saucy sweetness, that do coin Heaven's image 
 In stamps that are forbid. 
 II. 1.438 The freshest summers day doth soonest taint 
 
 The lothed carrion that it seemes to kisse. 
 
 andHaml. H. 2. 181 For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being 
 
 a good kissing carrion. 
 IV. 4. 140 If, then, we hunt for death, why do we fear e it? 
 
 If we feare it, why do we follow it? 
 If we do feare, how can we shun it? 
 If we do feare, with feare we do but aide 
 The thing we feare, to seize on vs the sooner: 
 If wee feare not, then no resolued proffer 
 Can ouerthrow the limit of our fate ; 
 
 ') Cp., particularly, H. von Friesen's essay: Edward ni., angeblich ein 
 Stuck von Shakespeare (Shakespeare-Jahrbuch II, p. 64). 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXVII 
 
 For, whether ripe or rotten, drop we shall. 
 As we do drawe the lotterie of our doome. 
 and Jul. Cass. II. 2.32 Cowards die many times before their deaths; 
 
 The valiant never taste of death hut once. 
 
 Of all the wonders that I yet have heard. 
 
 It seems to me most strange that men should fear; 
 
 Seeing that death, a necessary end, 
 
 Will come, when it will come. 
 
 IV. g. 29 My amies shall be thy grave. 
 
 and iH VI., IV. 7. 32 Now my old arms are young fohn Talbot's grave. 
 
 V. I. 39 Ah, be more milde vnto these yeelding men! 
 
 It is a glorious thing to stablish peace, 
 And kings approch the nearest vnto God 
 By giuing life and safety unto men. 
 andMerch.IV. i. iqz But mercy is above this sceptred sway, 
 It is enthroned in the hearts of kings. 
 It is an attribute of God himself. 
 And earthly power doth then show likest God's, 
 When mercy seasons justice. 
 The line II. l. 451 Lillies, that fester, smel far worse then weeds 
 even literally occurs again in Shakespeare's Sonnets (94, 14), and 
 the passage IL 2. 195 seqq. 
 
 Arise, true English Ladie; whom our lie 
 May better boast of, then ever Romaine might 
 Of her, whose ransackt treasurie hath taskt 
 The vaine indeuor of so many pens 
 is considered by most critics as a direct allusion to Shakespeare's 
 Lucrece. 
 
 Considering all these arguments we can hardly be astonished 
 that Capell, the German translators, and Collier have felt inclined 
 to ascribe the play to Shakespeare. And yet, though our play is 
 certainly superior to many other contemporary pieces, and though 
 some passages even directly remind the reader of Shakespeare, we 
 are nevertheless of opinion that the whole of the play is such as 
 to prevent us from adopting the hypothesis of Shakespeare's 
 authorship. 
 
XXVIII INTRODUCTIpN. 
 
 The object which Shakespeare had in view in all his historical 
 plays, was to represent the strife of human weakness and frailty 
 against the unshaken decrees of fate. Thus he infused historical 
 facts with new life, and interested his own age and all times in 
 the destiny of his heroes; thus he succeeded in forming histories 
 into tragedies. The author of Edward III., however, far from con- 
 •ceiving the full meaning of history, was content skilfully to com- 
 bine within the narrow limits of a play the most remarkable events 
 of the reign of the great English king. His play is no more than 
 a versified chronicle, and with the only exception of the king, not 
 even an attempt is made to give the development of a character. 
 
 The sources from whic:h Shakespeare invariably drew the sub- 
 ject of his historical plays were the chronicles of Holinshed and 
 Hall ; in none he made use of two sources so much opposed to each 
 other as Painter's Novel is to Holinshed's Chronicle. The reign of 
 King Edward is among the brightest chapters in English history; 
 the names of the king and his warlike son are closely connected 
 with the most splendid triumphs ever gained by the English people. 
 It would indeed be surprising if Shakespeare, aware as he was of 
 the dignity of history, should in drawing the picture of Edward III. 
 have had recourse to an anecdote related by an Italian novelist. 
 But even supposing he should have done so in the beginning of 
 his dramatical career, he would certainly even then have more 
 harmoniously interwoven the two plots with one another. Though 
 there may indeed exist a sort of interior connexion between the 
 episode and the principal plot, yet it appears more than doubtful 
 whether the link joining the two parts was easily, if at all, dis- 
 coverable by the play-going public of the age. The last three acts 
 contain no more than two or three direct references to the main 
 plot of the first two acts (III. 3." 156 seq. and III. 5. 102); not even 
 the names of the Countess, the heroine of the episode, and of 
 Ludowick, the king's secretary, are mentioned again in the rest of 
 the play. In most of his plays Shakespeare has united several 
 actions into one: but in none is there so wide a chasm between 
 them as in Edward III. 
 
 As to the composition of the principal plot, it is not to be 
 denied that the author has selected with some skill the most im- 
 portant and interesting passages of Holinshed's chronicle, and it 
 matters little that in some details he has thought fit to deviate from 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXIX 
 
 the strict course of history, i) But every attentive reader of the play 
 must notice that the single scenes are not seldom as little inter- 
 nally connected as the two principal plots. Besides the progress 
 of the play is sometimes impeded by a long narrative where we 
 should have preferred to assist at the action itself. Add besides 
 that most characters in the play suffer from a certain monotony, 
 and that some of them, as Warwick and in some measure also 
 the Prince of Wales, show real deficiencies such as never occur 
 in Shakespeare.'^) 
 
 Nor does the general character of the style in our play speak 
 in favour of Shakespeare's authorship. Mr. Furnivall is not wrong 
 in saying (Leopold-Shakspere, p. C) that nearly all the characters 
 talk in the same high exaggerated style. Isolated passages which 
 remind the reader of Shakespeare, cannot be taken into account. 
 First of all, we must not forget that some weak and trivial passages 
 occur beside lines not unworthy of Shakespeare. Some phrases 
 which are to be met with both in our play and in the genuine Works 
 of Shakespeare belong neither to Shakespeare nor the author of 
 Edward III., but to the age in which the plays were written, and it 
 would not be difficult to gather the same or similar expressions from 
 the works of other contemporary authors. But how are we to account 
 for those two passages which to all appearance directly refer to Shake- 
 speare ? First, it is not beyond all doubt that, uncertain as the date 
 of the play is, the passage (II. 2. 195) must needs have been written 
 with respect to Shakespeare's poem.3) But even supposing that the 
 line refers to it, it is, as Prof. Elze has already pointed out (Shake- 
 speare- Jahrb. XIII, p. 79), highly improbable that Shakespeare should 
 have called his poem, which we know had been very well received 
 by his contemporaries^), a 'vain endeavour' of his pen. Much more 
 
 1) The war began in 1337 with King Philip of France. 1340 Naval 
 Battle of Sluice. 1346 Battle of Crecy. 1346- 1347 Siege of Calais. 1356 
 Battle of Poitiers against King John. 
 
 ") Also the lines II. I. 194 seqq., 222 seqq. hardly agree with the cha- 
 racter of the Countess, as intended by the poet. Cp. Friesen, 1. c, p. 80. 
 
 ') The story of Lucrece was treated in a novel by Bandello-Paintei 
 which must have been known to the author of our play, in a ballad (Evans's 
 Old Ballads, 1810, II, p. 301), and perhaps also in an early play. 
 
 ') ' The sweet witty soul of Ovid lives in mellifluous and honey-tongued 
 Shakespeare. Witness his Venus and Adonis, his Lucreece , his sugared 
 Sonnets among his private friends.^ Meres, Palladis Tamia, 1598. 
 
XXX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 likely it seems on the contrary that the author of King Edward III., 
 envious of Shakespeare, should have somewhat depreciatingly have 
 alluded to the poem of his great rival. Neither can the line which 
 occurs again in the Sonnets, be considered as an absolutely cogent 
 argument. In no other instance has Shakespeare taken a verse 
 of one play to employ it in another one.i) From Meres, Palladis 
 Tamia 1598, we learn that Shakespeare's Sonnets, before being 
 published, were circulating among his private friends. So it may 
 well be supposed that the author of Edward III. should either 
 directly or indirectly have heard or read the verse in question 
 and have applied it in his play. Besides, the line, as H. von 
 Friesen rightly points out, agrees much better with the context of 
 the Sonnets than of the Play. 
 
 After all this, we are convinced that Shakespeare is not to 
 be regarded as the author of King Edward III. And indeed, had 
 Shakespeare composed the play, it would be highly surprising that 
 neither Meres should have mentioned it, nor that the editors of 
 the first Folio-edition, though printing Love's Labour's Lost and 
 Romeo and Juliet after the quartos published by Cuthbert Burby 
 in 1598 and 1599 (through the reprint of 1609), should have ex- 
 cluded from their edition Edward lU., published some years before 
 by the same Cuthbert Burby. 
 
 The best passages of the play, those perhaps which have 
 given rise to the hypothesis of Shakespeare's authorship, are to 
 be met with in the Countess-episode. There we find the greater 
 part of the locutions which remind the reader of Shakespeare; 
 there the allusion to Lucrece and the line from the Sonnets; 
 there lastly the character of the Countess, which is superior to all 
 the rest. No wonder, therefore, that part of the critics have felt 
 inclined to ascribe the episode at least to Shakespeare. This hypo- 
 
 'And Shakespeare, thou whose honey-flowing vein 
 Pleasing the world thy praises doth obtain. 
 Whose Venus and whose Lucreece, sweet and chaste. 
 Thy name in Fame's immortal book hath placed.' 
 R. Barnefield, Poems in Divers Humorous Persons, 1598. 
 
 *) 2 H. VI., I. I. 237 and III. i. 86 cannot be taken into account. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XXXI 
 
 thesis was started by Mr. Fleay, Academy 1874, April 25, p. 461 seqq., 
 and Shakespeare Manual 1878, p. 303 seqq. 
 
 Mr. Fleay is of opinion that two hands have been at work in 
 the composition of the play. 'The two parts', he says, 'are di- 
 stinctly diflferent in general style and poetic power; they are also 
 clearly separated by metrical characteristics of the most pronounced 
 kind. They are equally distinguished by the use or disuse of 
 special words; and the personages common to the two portions 
 of the play — for example the Black Prince — have different 
 characters in those portions and are unequally developed.' All 
 these arguments, however, are merely indicated; only one — the 
 metrical test — is more at large developed by Mr. Fleay. As the 
 latter in many cases is important, we subjoin a table in which the 
 metrical peculiarities of our play have been set forth. 
 
 Act and Scene 
 
 Verse-lines 
 
 Rhyme-lines 
 
 Lines with 
 double endings 
 
 I. I 
 
 169 
 
 10 
 
 6 
 
 I. 2 
 
 l66 
 
 50 
 
 II 
 
 , n. I 
 
 459 
 
 36 
 
 56. 
 
 II. 2 
 
 212 
 
 8 
 
 ^^1 
 
 in. I 
 
 189 
 
 10 
 
 3 
 
 m. 2 
 
 75 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 jn.3 
 
 228 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 HI. 4 
 
 13 
 
 I 
 
 — 
 
 111.5 
 
 "5 
 
 2 
 
 I 
 
 IV. I 
 
 43 
 
 — 
 
 6 
 
 IV. 2 
 
 85 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 IV. 3 
 
 85 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 IV. 4 
 
 161 
 
 2 
 
 15 
 
 IV. 5 
 
 127 
 
 10 
 
 9 
 
 IV. 6 
 
 I? 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 IV. 7 
 
 35 
 
 — 
 
 5 
 
 IV. 8 
 
 10 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 IV. 9 
 
 64 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 V. 
 
 243 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 On examining the list given above, we see, it is true, that 
 the total sum of rhymes is greater in the episode than in the 
 principal play. (Proportion of verse -lines to rhyme -lines in the 
 
XXXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Independently of Mr. Fleay, Prof. A. W. Ward, A History of 
 English Dramatic Literature, 1875, I, p. 455 has come to a similar 
 conclusion. He even goes a step further than Mr. Fleay. In his 
 opinion, not only the episode is, both in language and characteri- 
 sation, not unworthy of Shakespeare, but also in the rest of the 
 play the learned Professor supposes a hand resembling Shake- 
 peare's, if not his own, to have been at work to relieve the mere 
 facts borrowed from the Chronicles. Prof. Ward thinks it not 
 impossible that Shakespeare 'made use of an earlier piece, intro- 
 ducing the entire episode of acts I and II, and modifying and 
 altering the substance of the entire play into its remaining acts.' 
 'But', he adds (p. 457) 'it is only for the first two acts that I 
 claim the honour of being recognised as wholly or at least sub- 
 stantially his. They are full of the conceits in which he indulged 
 in his earlier period; but they are conceits of so happy and thought- 
 ful a kind as not to contradict the theory suggested.' The same 
 remarks as we have made on Mr. Fleay's theory apply to Prof. 
 Ward's suggestion. Neither is it established that two authors have 
 been at work in the composition of our play, nor is there any 
 reason for supposing Shakespeare to have written part of the play. 
 
 In the third edition of 'Shakespeare's Dramatische Kunst' 
 Ulrici finds that both in style and composition Edward III. bears 
 a certain resemblance to Lodge's The Wounds of Civil War, and 
 thinks it not unlikely that Th. Lodge was the author of the play. 
 But as all external evidence is wanting, Ulrici himself gives his 
 suggestion as a mere guess, and indeed it seems hardly possible 
 ever to give a positive .answer to the question as to the author- 
 ship of The Reign of King Edward III. 
 
THE RAIGNE 
 
 OF 
 
 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 
 
DRAMATIS PERSON^.i) 
 
 Edward III., King of England. 
 Edward, Prince of Wales, his Son. 
 Earl of Warwick. 
 Earl of Derby. 
 Earl of Salisbury. 
 Lord Audley. 
 Lord Percy. 
 
 LoDowicK, Edward's Corifideki 
 Sir William IVEountague. 
 Sir Iohn Copland. 
 Two Esquires, and a Herald. 
 Robert, styling himself Earl, of 
 f X.RTOYS. I ; I 1 i i k\ 
 Earl of Mountford. 
 GoBiN de Gray. 
 Iohn, King of France. 
 Charles, and Philip, his Sons. 
 Duke of Lorrain. 
 
 Villiers, a French Lord. 
 
 King of Bohemia i Aids to King 
 
 A Polish Captain I Iohn. 
 
 Six Citizens 1 
 
 A Captain \ of Calais. 
 
 A poor Inhabitant \ 
 
 Another Captain. 
 
 A Mariner. 
 
 Three Heralds. 
 
 Four Frenchmen. 
 
 David, King of Scotland. 
 
 Earl Douglas. 
 
 Tvap Scotch Messengers. ' • A 
 
 Philippa, Edward's Queen. 
 Countess of Salisbury. 
 A French Woman. 
 
 Lords, and divers other Attendants; 
 
 Heralds, Officers, Soldiers etc. 
 
 Scene, dispersed; in England, Flanders, and France. 
 
 ') First add. by Cap. 
 
Act !■ :'. ". ■ , "' 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 London. A Room of State in the Pahce. Flourish. 
 
 Enter King Edward, Derby, Prince EoVARii, AtfDifeY, <xnd AUtoys. 
 
 King. Robert of Artoys, banisht though thou be 
 From Fraunce, thy natiue Country, yet with vs " 
 Thou shalt retayne as great a Seigniorie: , •' • 
 
 For we create thee Earle of Richmond heere. 
 And now goe forwards with our pedegree: 
 Who next succeeded Phillip le Bew? f 
 
 Art. Three sonnes of hiSj which all successively . 
 Did sit vpon their fathers regall Throne, 
 Yet dyed, and left no issue of their loynes. 
 
 King. But was my mother sister vnto those? lo 
 
 Art. Shee was, my Lord; and onely Issabel , 
 
 Was all the daughters that this Phillip had, . ■ • , 
 
 Whome afterward your father tooke to wife ; i , 
 
 And from the fragrant garden of her wombe ; , . ; - . ■, 
 Your g^atious selfe, the flower of Eurqpes hope, , , 15 
 
 .Deriued is inheritor to Fraunce., --.Ai' ■-.-■ 
 
 But note the rancor of rebellious mindes:^ .., , 1 /. 
 
 When thus the lynage of le Bew was out, 
 The French obscurd ylDiir nkJtheffe Pfitiiledgilj 
 And, though she were the iiext of blood, pfotjlayrned 20 
 
 Act I. Scene I. Stage-dir. First in Cap. Enter King Edward, attended; 
 PRINCE OF Wales j Warwick, DIirbYj AotiBEY, Artois, a«<f Cithers. Cap. 
 aiid Bel. — 6. siic'ciided its GoH. cOilj.; Phillip of Beii) AB, coxt. by Gap; ^^ 
 7; iasAi o/^ Cap. prop-.; successefully KB, corf, by Cap. — \'j.tiote'\not K. '■ — 
 \Z. of Bew Ka, of te Bedii 'km Ca^: - ' ! l' •■ 
 
4 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [I, i- 
 
 lohn, of the house of Valoys, now their king: 
 
 The reason was, they say, the Realme of Fraunce, 
 
 Repleat with Princes of great parentage, 
 
 Ought not admit a gouernor to rule, 
 25 Except he be discended of the male; 
 
 And thats the speciall ground of their contempt, 
 
 Wherewith they study to exclude your grace: 
 
 But they shall finde that forged ground of theirs 
 
 To be but dusty heapes of brittile sande. 
 30 Perhaps it will be thought a heynous thing. 
 
 That I, a French man, should discouer this; 
 
 But heauen I call to recoyde of my vowes: 
 
 It is not hate nor any priuate wronge. 
 
 But loue vnto my country and the right, 
 35 Prouokes my tongue, thus lauish in report. 
 
 You are the lyneal. watchman of our peace. 
 
 And lohn of Valoys indirectly climbes: 
 
 What then should subiects but imbrace their king? 
 
 And wherein may our duety more be scene, 
 40 Then stryuing to rebate a tyrants pride ''' ' 
 
 And place the true shepheard of our comonwealth? 
 
 King. This counsayle, Artoyes, like to fruictfull shewers. 
 
 Hath added growth vnto my dignitye; 
 
 And, by the fiery vigor of thy words, 
 45 Hot courage is engendred in my brest. 
 
 Which heretofore was rakt in ignorance. 
 
 But nowe doth mount with golden winges of fame. 
 
 And will approue faire Issabells discent 
 
 Able to yoak their stubbume necks with Steele, 
 50 That spume against my souereignety in France. [Sound' a horne. 
 
 A messenger? — Lord Awdley, know fi-om whence. 
 
 Exit AuDLEY, and returns. 
 Aud. The Duke of Lorrayne, hauing crost the seas, 
 Intreates he may haue conference with your highnes. 
 
 30. Art. Perhap , . . AB ; Art. struck out by Cap. — 36. watchmen 
 AB, watchman Del. and Col. — 39. -And^ Ah AB, And proposed by Cap. 
 and adopted by Del. . — 41. And om. by Cap. and subs. Edd. — 50. [Cornet 
 within.'] mod. Edd. — $1. Stage -dir. add. by Tyr. and Del. 
 
I, I-] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 5 
 
 King. Admit him, Lords, that we may heare the newes. 
 
 Enter Lorrayne. 
 
 Say, Duke of Lorrayne, wherefore art thou come? • 55 
 
 Lor. The most renowned prince, King lohn of France, 
 
 Doth greete thee, Edward, and by me commandes. 
 
 That, for so much as by his liberall gift 
 
 The Guyen Dukedome is entayld to thee. 
 
 Thou do him lowly homage for the same. 60 
 
 And, for that purpose, here 1 somon thee, 
 
 Repaire to France within these forty dales. 
 
 That there, according as the coustome is. 
 
 Thou mayst be sworne true liegeman to our king; 
 
 Or else thy title in that prouince dyes, 65 
 
 And hee himself will repossesse the place. 
 
 King. See, how occasion laughes me in the face! 
 
 No sooner minded to prepare for France, 
 
 But straight I am inuited, — nay, with threats, 
 
 Vppon a penaltie, inioynd to come: 70 
 
 Twere but a childish part to say him nay. — 
 
 Lorrayne, returne this answere to thy Lord: 
 
 I meane to visit him as he requests; 
 
 But how? not seruilely disposd to bend. 
 
 But like a conquerer to make him bowe. 75 
 
 His lame vnpolisht shifts are come to light ; 
 
 And trueth hath puld the visard from his face. 
 
 That sett a glosse vpon his arrogance. 
 
 Dare he commaund a fealty in mee? 
 
 Tell him, the Crowne that hee vsurpes, is myne, 80 
 
 And where he sets his foote, he ought to knele. 
 
 Tis not a petty Dukedome that I claime, 
 
 But all the whole Dominions of the Realme ; 
 
 Which if with grudging he refuse to yeld, 
 
 54. Stage -dir. Enter a Messenger Lorrayne. after 1. 51 AB; Exeunt 
 Lords. King takes his State. Re-enter Lords; with Lorrain, attended. 
 Tyr. and Del. — 64. our'\ the B and Edd. — 71. foolish B and Edd. — 
 76. shists A. — 78. glasse A; cp. to set a gloss on I H. VI., IV. I. 103; 
 Tim. I. 2. 16. 
 
6 KING EDWARD THE THJRD. [I,. I, 
 
 85 He take away those borrowed plupips of bis, : . / 
 
 And send him naked to the wildernes. 
 
 Lor. Then, Edward,. here, in spight of all thy Lords, 
 I doe pronounce defyaunce to thy face. 
 
 Prince. Defiance, French rnan ? we rebound it baclie,' • 
 go Euen to the bottom of' thy raasters throat". ' " ; 
 
 And, be it spoke with reuerence of the king, 
 My gratious father, and these other Lordes, ' ; 
 
 I hold thy message but as scurfylous. 
 And him that sent thee, like the lazy droane, 
 95 Crept vp by stelth vnto the Eagles nest; 
 
 From whence weale shake him with so rough a storme,' 
 As others shalbe warned by his harme. 
 
 War. Byd him leaiie off the Lyons case he weares, 
 Least, meeting with the Lyon in the feeld, 
 100 He chaunce to teare him peecemeale for his pride. 
 Art. The soundest counseU I can giue his grace. 
 Is to surrender ere he be constraynd. 
 A voluntarie mischiefe hath lesse scome, 
 
 Then when reproch with violence is borne. ■' '"• ' ' 
 
 105 Lor. Degenerate Traytor, viper to the place 
 Where thou wast fostred in thine infancy, 
 Bearest thou a part in this conspiracy? \^He drawes Ms Sword. 
 
 King. Lorraine, behold the sharpnes of this Steele: 
 Feruent desire that sits against ray heart, {Drawing his, 
 
 no Is farre more thomie- pricking than this blade; 
 That, with the nightingale, I shall be scard, 
 As oft as I dispose my selfe to. rest, 
 Vntill my collours be; displaide in;Fraunce: 
 This is thy finall- Answere ; so be gone. 
 115 Lor. It is not that, nor any English braue, 
 Afflicts me so, as doth his poysoned view. 
 That is most false, should most of all be true. [Exit Lorrayne. 
 
 ■87. slight] sight prop, by Cap. and ad. by Del. — 105. Regenerate 
 AB and Cap., Degenerate Tyr. and Del. Col. says in a note; Regenerate 
 may be right, but most likely a misprint for Degenerate, In Rich. II., I. i. 144. 
 
 Shakespeare has '4 recreant and most degenerate traitor'. — 106. was A. • 
 
 J08. Stage-dir. \_Drawing his.'], add. by Del. .— 117. Stage-dir. wanting in 
 AB; mod. Edd. [Exeunt terrain and Train.']. 
 
I. I -J KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 7 
 
 King. Now, Lords, our fleeting Barke. is vnder sayle; 
 Our gage is throwne, and warre is soone begun. 
 But not so quickely brought vnto an end. 120 
 
 Enter Mountague. 
 But wherefore comes Sir William Mountague? 
 How stands the league betweene the Scot and vs? 
 
 Mount. Crackt and disseuered, my renowned Lord. 
 The treacherous King no sooner was informde 
 Of your withdrawing of your army ba,cke, 125 
 
 But straight, forgetting of his former othe. 
 He made inuasion on the bordering Townes : 
 Barwicke is woon, Newcastle spoyld and lost, 
 And now the tyrant hath beguirt with sepge 
 
 The Castle of Rocksborough, where inclosd 130 
 
 The Countes Salsbury is like to perish. 
 
 King. That is thy daughter, Warwicke, is it not? 
 Whose husband hath in Brittayne serud so long 
 About the planting of Lord Mountford there? 
 
 War. It is, my Lord. 135 
 
 King. Ignoble Dauid! hast thou none to greeue 
 But silly Ladies with thy threatning annes? 
 But I will make you shrinke your snailie homes! 
 First, therefore, Audley, this shalbe thy charge. 
 Go leuie footemen for our warres in Fraunce; 140 
 
 And, Ned, take muster of our men at armes: 
 In euery shire elect a seuerall band. 
 Let them be Souldiers of a lustie spirite; 
 Such as dread nothing but dishonors blot ; 
 
 Be warie therefore, since we do comence 145 
 
 A famous Warre, and with so mighty a nation. 
 Derby, be thou Embassador for vs 
 Unto our Father in Law, the Earle of Henalt: 
 Make him acquainted with our enterprise. 
 
 118. Lord AB, corr. by Cap. — 121, 122. Given to fflouN. in A. — 
 125. your army] our army B and Del. — 1 34. Mounefort AB and Cap., 
 corr. by Tyr. — 139. this shalbe] let this be Col. — 146. mighty nation 
 Cap. and Tyr. 
 
8 ■ KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [I, 2 
 
 150 And likewise will him, with our owne allies 
 
 That are in Flaunders, to solicite too 
 
 The Emperour of Almaigne in our name. 
 
 My selfe, whilst you are ioyntly thus employd, 
 
 Will, with these forces that 1 haue at hand, 
 155 March, and once more repulse the trayterous Scot. 
 
 But, Sirs, be resolute; we shal haue warres 
 
 On euery side; and, Ned, thou must begin 
 
 Now to forget thy study and thy bookes. 
 
 And vre^ thy shoulders to an Armors weight. 
 160 Prince. As cheereful sounding to my youthfuU spleene 
 
 This tumult is of warres increasing broyles, 
 
 As, at the Coronation of a king. 
 
 The ioyfuU clamours of the people are, 
 
 When Aue, Casar! they pronounce alowd. 
 165 Within this schoole of honor I shal leame 
 
 Either to sacrifice my foes to death. 
 
 Or in a rightful! quarrel spend my breath. 
 
 Then cheerefully forward, ech a seuerall way; 
 
 In great affaires tis nought to use delay. \Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 RoxBOROUGH. Before the Castle. 
 Enter the Countesse. 
 Count. Alas, how much in vaine my poore eyes gaze 
 For souccour that my soueraigne should send ! 
 Ah, cosin Mountague, I feare, thou wantst 
 The liuely spirit, sharpely to solicit 
 5 With vehement sute the king in my behalfe: 
 Thou dost not tell him, what a griefe it is 
 To be the scomefuU captiue to a Scot, 
 Either to be wooed with broad vntuned othes. 
 Or forst by rough insulting barbarisme: 
 
 153. -while Col. — 155. Scots Cap. and subsequent Edd. 
 
 Scene II. Stage -dir. Roxborough. Before the Castle, add. by Cap.; 
 Enter Countess of Salisbury, and certain of her People, vpon the Walls. 
 Cap. and subs. Edd. — l. A cosin A; wants A. — 4. spirirt A. 
 
I, 2.J KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 9 
 
 Thou doest not tell him, if he heere preuaile, 10 
 
 How much they will deride vs in the North, 
 And, in their vild,, vnseuill, skipping giggs, 
 Bray foorth their Conquest and our ouerthrow 
 Euen in the barraine, bleake, and fruitlesse aire. 
 
 Enter Dauid, Douglas, and Lorraine. 
 I must withdraw, the euerlasting foe 15 
 
 Comes to the wall; He closely step aside, 
 And list their babble, blunt and full of pride. 
 
 K. Da. My Lord of Lorrayne, to our brother of Fraunce 
 Commend vs, as the man in Christendome 
 
 That we most reuerence and intirely loue. 20 
 
 Touching your embassage, returne and say, 
 That we with England will not enter parlie. 
 Nor neuer make faire wether , or take truce; 
 But burne their neighbor townes, and so persist 
 With eager Roads beyond their Citie Yorke. 25 
 
 And neuer shall our bonny riders rest. 
 Nor rusting canker haue the time to eate 
 Their light- borne snaffles nor their nimble spurres, 
 Nor lay aside their lacks of Gymould mayle, 
 
 Nor hang their staues of grayned Scottish ash 30 
 
 In peacefull wise vpon their Citie wals. 
 Nor from their buttoned tawny leatheme belts 
 Dismisse their byting whinyards, tjU your King 
 Cry out 'Enough, spare England now for pittie!' 
 Farewell, and tell him that you leaue vs here 35 
 
 Before this Castle; say, you came from vs, 
 Euen when we had that yeelded to our hands. 
 
 Lor. I take my leaue, and fayrely will returne 
 Your acceptable greeting to my king. \ExU Lor. 
 
 King. Now, Duglas, to our former taske again, 40 
 
 For the deuision of this certayne spoyle. 
 
 Don. My liege, I craue the Ladie, and no more. 
 
 14. Stage -dir. Enter King David, and Forces; with Douglas, Lor- 
 RAIN, and Others. Del. — 17. rabble B; [Retiring behind the works.]. Del. 
 — 20. Whom Cap. and Edd.; must A. — 25. Hods AB. — 27. rust in 
 canker AB, corr. by Cap. — 28. spurre A. — 38. / om. A. 
 
lO KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [I, 2, 
 
 King. Nay, soft ye, sir, first I must make my choyse, 
 And first I do bespeake her for my selfe. 
 45 Dou. Why then, my liege, let me enio)^ her iewels. 
 
 King. Those are her owne, still liable to her. 
 And, who inherits her, hath those withall, 
 
 -,',.■ , Enter a Scot in hast, 
 . . Mes. My liege, as we were pricking on the hils. 
 
 To fetch in booty, marching hitherward, 
 50 We might discry a mighty host of men ; 
 
 The sijnne, refliqting on the armour, shewed 
 A field of plate, a wood of pikes aduanced. 
 Bethinke your highnes speedely herein: 
 An . easie march within foiire howres will bring 
 55 The hindmost rancke vnto this place, my liege. 
 
 King. Dislodge, dislodge, it is the king of England. 
 Dou. lemmy, my man, saddle my bonny blacke. 
 King. Meanst thou to fight, Duglas? we are to weake. . 
 Dou. I know it well, my liege, and therefore flie. 
 60 Count. My Lords of Scotland, will ye stay and drinke? 
 King. She mocks at vs; Duglas, I cannot endure it. 
 Count. Say, good my Lord, which is he, must haue the Ladie, 
 And which, her iewels? I am sure, my Lords, 
 Ye will not hence, till you haue shard the spoyles, 
 65 King. Shee heard the messenger, and lieard our talke ; 
 And now that comfort makes her scorne at vs. 
 
 Annother messenger. 
 Mes. Arme, my good Lord! O, we are all surprisde! 
 Coun. After the French embassador, my liege. 
 And tell him, that you dare not ride to Yorke; 
 70 Excuse it, that your bonnie horse is lame. 
 
 King. She heard that too ; intollerable griefe! 
 Woman, farewell ! Although 1 do not stay . . . [Exeunt Scots. 
 
 43. ye om. B. — 47. Stage -dir. Enter a Messenger hastily. Del. — 
 52. pickes A. — 59. flee B and Edd. — 60. {Rising from her concealment^ 
 Del. — 61. can't Edd. — 62. good om. by Cap., Tyr., and Col. — 66. \_Enter 
 another messenger.] Del. — 68. CouN. om. AB. — 71. He AB. — 72. stay."] 
 AB and Edd. , stay . . .] Del. ; {Alarums. Exeunt Scots.] Del. 
 
I, 3,] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. I l 
 
 Coun. Tis not for feare^ and yet you run ^iway, — ; 
 O happie comfort, welcome to our house! j > - - ; 
 
 The confident and boystrous boasting Scot, ■' ■! 75 
 
 That swore before my walls they would not b^cl^p, 
 For all the armed power of this larid, " 
 
 With facelesses fear^ that euer turneg hi§ back©, : ; ii'i 
 
 Turnd hence against the' blasting North -ea,st w|nde, ' vi' 7 
 Vpon the bare report and name of Armes, . . 7 80 
 
 Enter Mount ague, / 
 
 O Sommers day! See where my Cosin comes! .•:■ i ' 
 
 Moun. How fares my Aunt? Why, aunt, we are not Scots ; - n 
 Why do you shut yoijr gates against you* friends? :■ 
 
 Coun. Well may I giue a welcome, Cosin, to thee, . ' 1 
 For thou comst well to chase my foesr from hence. "' 85 
 
 Moun. The king himselfe is come in person hither; 
 Deare Aunt, discend, and gratulate his highnes. '. ' ,, ' ' 
 
 Coun. How may 1 entertayne his Maiestie, - ' .'. 
 
 To shew my duety and his dignitie? \Exit, from above. 
 
 Enter King Edward, Warwicke, Artoyes, with Others. 
 
 King. What, are the stealing Foxes fled and gone, 90 
 
 Before we could vncupple at their heeles? 
 
 War. They are, my liege; but, with a cheereful cry, 
 Hot hounds, and hardie, chase them at the heeles. 
 
 Enter COUNTESSE. 
 King. This is the Countesse, Warwike, is it not? 
 War. Euen shee, my liege; whose beauty tyraiits feare, 95 
 As a May blossome with pernitious winds, 
 Hath sullied, withered, ouercast, and donne, 
 
 King. Hath she been fairer, Warwike, then she is? 
 
 76. they] he prop, by Cap. and ad. by Del. — 79, againe AB, against 
 prop, by Cap. and ad. by Del. — 86. names B ; [Enter Montague and Others."] 
 Del. — 81. Given to Moun. in AB. — 82. Why, aunt first added by Cap. — 
 84. coz Col. — 89. {Exit, from above.'] first add. by Cap.; [Flourish. Enter . .] 
 Del. — 93. hunds A; [Re-enter Countess, attended^ Del. — 95. my om. A; 
 tyrant's Cap., tyrant Del. ~ 96. with] which B and Col. — 97. Have Col. 
 
li KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [I, 2. 
 
 War. My gratious King, . faire is she not at all, 
 lOO If that her selfe were by to staine her selfe. 
 As I haue seene her when she was her selfe. 
 
 King. What strange enchantment lurkt in those her eyes, 
 When they exceld this excellence they haue, 
 That now their dym declyne hath power to draw 
 105 My subiect eyes from persing maiestie. 
 To gaze on her with doting admiration? 
 
 Court. In duetie lower then the ground I kneele. 
 And for my dul knees bow my feeling heart. 
 To witnes my obedience to your highnes, 
 no With many millions of a subiects thanks 
 
 For this your Royall presence, whose approch 
 Hath driuen war and danger from my gate. 
 
 King. Lady, stand vp; I come to bring thee peace, 
 How euer thereby I haue purchast war. 
 1 1 5 Coun. No war to you, my liege ; the Scots are gone, 
 And gallop home toward Scotland with their hate. 
 
 King. Least, yeelding heere, I pyne in shameful! loue. 
 Come, weele persue the Scots ; — Artoyes, away 1 
 Coun. A little while, my gratious soueraigne, stay, 
 120 And let the power of a mighty king 
 
 Honor our roofe; my husband in the warres, 
 When he shall heare it, will triumph for ioy; 
 Then, deare my liege, now niggard not thy state: 
 Being at the wall, enter our homely gate. 
 125 King. Pardon me, countesse, I will come no neare; 
 I dreamde to night of treason, and I feare. 
 Coun. Far from this place let vgly treason ly ! 
 King. No farther off, then her conspyring eye. 
 Which shoots infected poyson in my heart, 
 130 Beyond repulse of wit or cure of Art. 
 Now, in the Sunne alone it doth not lye. 
 With light to take light from a mortall eye; 
 For here two day-stars that myne eies would see 
 
 102. lurke A. — 104. her dym AB, their dym prop, by Cap. and ad. 
 by Del. — 1 1 6. haste Cap. and Edd. — 117, 118. Continued to Coun. 
 in A. — 123. thyl your Col. — 133. two'] to A; eye Col. 
 
I. 2.] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 
 
 13 
 
 More then the Sunne, steales myne owne light from mee. 
 Contemplatiue desire, desire to be 135 
 
 In contemplation, that may master thee! 
 Warwike, Artoys, to horse and lets away! 
 
 Coun. What might I speake, to make my soueraigne stay? 
 
 King. What needs a tongue to such a speaking eie. 
 That more perswads then winning Oratorie? 140 
 
 Coun. Let not thy presence, like the Aprill sunne. 
 Flatter our earth, and sodenly be done. 
 More happie do not make our outward wall, 
 Then thou wilt grace our inner house withall. 
 Our house, my liege, is like a Country swaiiie, 145 
 
 Whose habit rude and manners blunt and playne 
 Presageth nought ; yet inly beautified 
 With bounties riches and faire hidden pride. 
 For, where the golden Ore doth buried lie, 
 
 The ground, vndeckt with natures tapestrie, 150 
 
 Seemes barrayne, sere, vnfertill, fructles, dry; 
 And where the vpper turfe of earth doth boast 
 His pide perfumes and party -colloured cost,. 
 Delue there, and find this issue and their pride 
 To spring from ordure and corruptions side. , , 155 
 
 But, to make vp my alt too long compare, 
 These ragged walles no testimonie are. 
 What is within; but, like a cloake, doth hide 
 From weathers Waste the vnder gamisht pride. 
 More gratious then my tearmes can, let thee be,i 160 
 
 Intreat thy selfe to stay a while with mee. 
 
 King. As wise, as faire; what fond fit can be heard. 
 When wisedome keepes the gate as beauties gard? — 
 Countesse, albeit my busines vrgeth me, 
 
 Yt shall attend, while I attend on thee: 165 
 
 Come on, my Lords; heere will I host to night. [Exeunt. 
 
 134, steal mod. Edd. — 144. inward B and Edd. — 153. pide^ pride 
 AB, proud'EAHi., pied prop, by Cap. and ad. by Del.; perfumes] presumes B. 
 — 157. testomie A. — 159. Waste] West KQ, Waste conj. by Del. and Col. 
 
14 KING EDAVARD the THIRD. [1I-, I- 
 
 : - ■, :,:■:;; - . ■ . ^ ■■■f^ 
 
 ,^ci ACT IL '.■■::.: - :.::.:n./.; 
 
 SCENE I. -■ ■ ;"■■ ■ ' '; ■; " "''. 
 The Same; Gardens of the Castle. , ^ 
 
 Er^ier Lodowick. 
 
 I , Lod. 1 might perceiuehis -eye in her 6ye iostj : - i i 
 
 His eare to drifike her sweieJt tongues vtter^nce, ; . ■ ' * 
 
 And changing passion — like irlcohstarit clouds i 
 
 That rackt vpon the carriage of the windes . .>A<. 
 
 5 Increase and die — ^ in his disturbed eheekes. ' ; .. •' 
 
 I . Loe, when shee blushtj euen then did he looke pale, ' 
 
 As if her cheeky by some inchaunted poweir > ; ' .. /.' 
 
 Attracted had the cherie blood ftom his: ; , . ; ri. 
 
 Anone, with reuer-eat fearfe when sh6 grew pale^- . !'/7' 
 
 lO His eheekes put on their scarlet' ornaments; ..: . ,..'[ 
 
 , But no more like her oryentall red, ' •' 
 
 Then Bricke to Corrall or litie things to dead. .., 
 
 Why did he then- thtis- eoimterfeit fter lookes? ^ — -— — -r-. 
 
 If she did blush,., twas tender modest shame,- . ••'! , 
 
 15 Being in the saered presence of a King; i ,... ■,; 
 1 If he did blush, twas red immodest shame, ' ... . ; 
 
 To vaile his eyes amissC) being a king: - 
 If she lookt pale, twas silly womians feare,- 1 
 
 To beare her selfe iri presence of a king; ,,' 
 
 20 If he lookt pal^; it was with guiltie feare,.; i 
 
 .To dote amisse, bdng a mighty king. 
 
 Then, Scottish warresj fairewell; I feare twill prbouB . '. I 
 
 A lingring. English seege of p6euish louc; -i 
 
 Here comes his highneS, walking all alonej i -v 
 
 i Enter. King Edward. . ,; 
 
 25 KiAgi Sh6i& is grdwhe more fairer far, since I came hither, 
 Her voice more siluer euery word then other, 
 , , Her wit more fluent. What a strange discourse 
 
 . Act II. Scene I. gtage-dir. add. by Cap; — i. LoD.] Lor. A. — 
 4. racke A. — 10. cheeke K&. — \^. present A. — ly. wazle AB; cp. Shale. 
 Ven. 956: she vailed her eyelids; Meas. V. 20: vail your regard upon a 
 ■wronged maid. — 25. thither A. 
 
n, 1.1 , KING ED Ward the third. 
 
 15 
 
 Vnfolded she of Dauid and his Scots! 
 
 'Euen thus', quoth she, 'he spake', aiid theii spoktt broad, ■ 
 
 With epithiteis and accents of the Scot, '■'■ 30 
 
 But somewhat bettet then the Scot could Speake: 
 
 'And thus', quoth she, and atiswfeired then her selfe| -' 
 
 For who could speake like her? but she her selfe ■ ' 
 
 Breathes from the wall an Angels note ffoin Heauen ' ■ 
 
 Of sweete defiance to her barbarous foes. " ' ' 35 
 
 When she would talke of peace, me thifikes, het torig 
 
 Commanded war to prison; wheli of war. 
 
 It wakened Caesar froin his Rorhatlte g^aiie. 
 
 To heare warre beautified by hfesr discoiifse. 
 
 Wisedome is foolishnes . biit in her totigue; ' 40 
 
 Beauty a slander but in her faife facej ' ■ ' 
 
 There is no summer but iil hei: cheerefull looked. 
 
 Nor frosty wintei" but in hei' disdayne. 
 
 I cannot blame the Scots that did besiege her; 
 
 For she is all the Treasure of otir land; ■ ■ 45 
 
 But call them cowards, that tKey fan away, 
 
 Hauiug so rich and faire a cause to stay. ^^ ' 
 
 Aft thou there, Lodwicke? Giue iitfe iilcke and paper! "^ 
 
 Lod. I will, my liege. ' ' 
 
 J^mg. And bid the Lofds hold oft thdif play at Chessfr, 50 
 For wee will walke and hieditate aloriri. 
 
 Lod. I will, my souefaign^. [Exii LoDOWick. 
 
 J^ing. This fellow is ivell read in poetrid. 
 And hath a lustie and pefswasiiie spiriter 
 
 I will acquaint him with my pasSion, '55 
 
 Which he shall shadow with a vaile of lawnd. 
 Through which the Queene of beauties Queenes shall see 
 Her selfe the ground of my infifmitie. 
 
 Snier Lodwike. , , , , 
 
 Kmg. Hast thou pen, inke, and paper ready, Lodowike? 
 Lod. Ready, toy liege* ^9 
 
 2^. sjioke] spake B and Edd., exc. Del. — 30. Scots \i&\. -r- 48. Zo^^o- 
 mche B and Edd. '— 49; liege] soueraigne B and Eddi — 5^. soueraigne'\ 
 liege B dUd Edd-. Stage - dir. first in Cap. — 53. well om. B. — 57. Queenes'] 
 Queen AB, corr. by Del. — 59. Lodow. B. 
 
1 6 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [II, i- 
 
 King. Then in the sommer-arber sit by me, 
 
 Make it our counsel -house or cabynet: 
 
 Since greene our thoughts, greene be the conuenticle, 
 
 Where we will ease vs by disburdning them. 
 65 Now, Lod'wike, inuocate some golden Muse, 
 
 To bring thee hither an inchanted pen, 
 
 That may for sighes set downe true sighes indeed, 
 
 Talking of griefe, to make thee ready grone; 
 
 And when thou writest of teares, encouch the word 
 70 Before and after with such sweete laments, 
 
 That it may rayse drops in a Tarters eye, 
 
 And make a flynt -hear t Sythian pytifull; 
 
 For so much moouing hath a Poets pen: 
 
 Then, if thou be a Poet, moue thou so,, 
 75 And be enriched by thy soueraignes loue. 
 
 For, if the touch of sweet concordant strings 
 
 Could force attendance in the eares of hel, 
 
 How much more shall the straine of poets wit 
 
 Beguile and rauish soft and humane myndes? 
 80 Lod. To whome, my Lord, shal I direct my stile? 
 
 King. To one that shames the faire and sots the wise; 
 
 Whose bodie, as an abstract or a breefe, 
 
 Containes ech generall vertue in the worlde. 
 
 Better then bewtifull thou must begin; 
 85 Deuise for faire a fairer word then faire; 
 
 And euery ornament that thou wouldest praise, 
 
 Fly it a pitch aboue the soare of praise. 
 
 For flattery feare thou not to be conuicted;- 
 
 For, were thy admiration ten tymes more, 
 90 Ten tymes ten thousand more the worth exceeds 
 
 Of that thou art to praise, thy praises worth. 
 
 Beginne; I will to contemplat the while: 
 
 Forget not to set downe, how passionat, 
 
 65. Lodovncke B and Edd., — ■ 68. ready\ really conj. by Coll. 
 
 71. Torters AB; Tartar's Cap. and subs. Edd. — 75. soueraigne A. 
 
 77. attention conj. by Coll.; but cp. Give attendance to reading I. Tim. IV. 
 13; Diligent attendance to instruction. Barrow. Quoted by Webster. 
 
 78. straines A and Del. : — 79. heguild A. — 80. LoD.] LoR. A. — 82. bodie 
 is an AB; corr. by Cap. — 90. thel thy A. — 91. thy'\ their AB; corr. by Cap. 
 — 92 Beginne I •will AB. 
 
II. !■] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 
 
 17 
 
 95 
 
 How hart-sicke, and how full of languishment, 
 Her beautie makes mee. 
 
 Lod- Write I to a woman? 
 
 King. What bewtie els could triumph ouer me, 
 Or who but women doe our loue-layes greet? 
 What, thinkest thou I did bid thee praise a horse? 
 
 Lod. Of what condicion or estate she is, 
 Twere requisite that I should know, my Lord. 100 
 
 King. Of such estate, that hers is as a th.roane. 
 And my estate the footstoole where shee treads: 
 Then maist thou iudge what her condition is. 
 By the proportion of her mightines. 
 
 Write on, while I peruse her in. my thoughts. — 105 
 
 Her voice to musicke or the nightingale — : 
 To musicke euery sommer - leaping swaine 
 Compares his sunburnt louer when shee speakes; 
 And why should I speake of the nightingale? * 
 The nightingale singes of adulterate wrong, no 
 
 And that, compared, is too satyrical; 
 For sinne, though synne, would not be so esteemd. 
 But, rather, vertue sin, synne vertue deemd. 
 Her hair, far softer then the silke - wormes twist, 
 Like to a flattering glas, doth make more faire 115 
 
 The yelow Amber: — like a flattering glas 
 Comes in too soone; for, writing of her eies. 
 He say that like a glas they catch the sunne, 
 And thence the hot reflection doth rebounde 
 
 Against my brest, and burner my hart within. 120 
 
 Ah, what a world of^ descant makes my soule 
 Vpon this voluntarie ground of loue! — 
 Come, Lodwick, hast thou tumd thy inke to golde? 
 If not, write but in letters Capitall 
 
 My mistres name, and it wil guild thy paper; 125 
 
 Reade, Lorde, reade; 
 
 95. Writ A. — 96. triump on A. — 99. Lod.] Lor. A. — 1 1.5. to] as 
 B and Edd., except Del. — 124 — 136. Two lines in AB, divided at name \ and 
 reade \ ; three lines in Cap. and£dd., ending at capital, \ narne, \ read. | . — 124. iut 
 ■write Coi. — 126. 'Jiead, Lord, read. So the old copies ; but young Lodowick 
 was not a peer, and possibly it oiight to run : Read, lad, read ; or lord might 
 possibly be taken as an exclamation of impatience, Read, lord! Read.' Coll. 
 We have perhaps to read : Read, Lodwicb, read. . 
 
Id K:tiir& ibwARl) THE tHtR&. pit- 
 
 Fill thou the emptie hollowes of mine' eares 
 
 With the sweete hearing of thy poetrie; 
 
 Zod. I haue not to a period brought her praise. 
 130 JSi'ng. Her praise is as my Ibiie, both- infinit, 
 
 Which apprehend' such violfent extremes; 
 
 That they disdaine an ending period). 
 
 Her bewtie hath no match but my aflFectibn; 
 
 Hers more then most, myne most and more- then inore :■ 
 135 Hers more to praise, then tell' the sea by drops, 
 
 Nay, more then dtop the massie earth by sands, 
 
 And sand by sand print them iti memorie:- 
 
 Then wherefore talkest thou of a period 
 
 To that which craues vnended' adtniratibn?' 
 140 Read, let vs hears. 
 
 Lod. 'More faire and chast then is the queen of shades,' — 
 I^ing. That line hath two faults, grosse' and palpablte: 
 
 Comparest thou her to- the palte queene- of ni^ht, 
 
 Who, being set in darke, seemes therefore light? 
 145 What is she, when the sunne lifts vp hiS head'j. 
 
 But like a fading taper^ dyra and' dead?' 
 
 My loue shall braue the eye of- heauen at nooii. 
 
 And, being vnmaskt, outshine the golden sun. 
 
 Lod. What is the otlier faulte, my soueraighe Lord?' 
 150 Ji^mg. Reade ore the line againe^ 
 
 Lod. 'More faire and chast'' — 
 
 King. I did not bid thee talkc of chastitie, 
 
 To ransack so the treasure of her minde; 
 
 For I had rather haUe her chased then chast 
 
 Out with the moone-line, I- wil none of it'; 
 155 And let me haue hir likened to the sun: 
 
 Say shee hath thrice more splendour- then the suni 
 
 That her perfections emulats the sunne, 
 
 That shee breeds sweets- as plenteous as the sunne. 
 
 That shee doth thaw cold winter like the sunne-, 
 i6q That she doth- cheere fresh sommerv like the sunne,- 
 
 That shee doth dazle gazers like the; sunne j 
 
 137. 4nd. iaid, bjisaidj AB/, corr. by Cap., — i\2. iine\ loue A, 
 
 152, treason,. ASi apdiCol., treasure Cap.,, I'.yr,, and Del. — 153. i:had\f 
 I would Col. — 157. perfection Cap. and "mod; Eddj 
 
n, li] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 19 
 
 And, in this application to the sunne, > 
 
 Bid her be free and generall as the sunne, 
 
 Who smiles vpon the basest weed that growes 
 
 As louinglie as on the fragrant rose. 165 
 
 Lets see what . foUowes that same moonelight line. 
 
 Lod. 'More faire and chast then is the queen of shades. 
 More bould in constancie' — 
 
 J^mg. In constancie ! then who ? ■ 
 
 I^d' . ' 'Then ludith was.' 
 
 King. O monstrous line! Put in the next a sword, 170 
 
 And I shall woo her to cut off my head. 
 Blot, blot, good Lodwicke! Let vs heare the next. 
 
 Lod. Theres all. that yet is donne. 
 
 I^mg. I thancke thee then, thou hast don litle ill; 
 But what is don, is passing passing ill. ■ 175 
 
 No, let the Captaine talke of boystrous warr; 
 The prisoner, of immured darke constraint; 
 The; sick man best sets downe the pangs of death; - 
 The man that starues, the sweetnes of a feast; 
 The frozen soule, the benefite of fire ; . 1 80 
 
 And euery griefe, his happie opposite: 
 Loue cannot sound well but in louers toungs; 
 Giue me the pen. and paper, I will write. 
 
 Enier Countes. 
 But soft, here comes the treasurer of my spirit. — 
 Lodwick, thou knowst not how to draw a battell; 185 
 
 These wings, these flankars, and these squadrons 
 Argue in thee defectine discipline : 
 Thou shouldest haue placed this here, this other here. 
 
 Couni. Pardon my boldnes, my thrice gracious Lord; 
 Let my intrusion here be cald my duetie, 190 
 
 That comes to see my soueraigne how he fares. 
 
 JiLtng. Go, draw the same, I tell thee in what forme. 
 
 162. to'] of Col. — 167. queen\ loiter AB; corr. by Cap. — \-]'] .emured 
 AB. — 184. treasure B and Edd., except Del. — 186. squadrons here Cap. 
 and Tyr. ; but squadrons must be read as a trisyllable. — 189. Lords AB; 
 corr. by Cap. 
 
20 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [P. '• 
 
 Lod. I go. \Exit LoDOWiCK. 
 
 Count. Sorry 1 am to see my liege so sad: 
 195 What may thy subiect do to driue from thee 
 , Thy gloomy consort, suUome melancholia? 
 
 King. Ah, Lady, I am blunt and cannot strawe 
 The flowers of solace in a ground of shame: — 
 Since I came hither, Countes, I am wronged. 
 200 Count. Now God forbid that anie in my howse 
 
 Should thinck my soueraigne wrong! Thrice gentle King,- 
 Acquaint me with your cause of discontent. 
 
 King. How neere then shall I be to remedie? 
 Count. As nere, my Liege, as all my womans power 
 205 Can .pawne it selfe to buy thy remedy. 
 
 . King. If thou speakst true, then haue I my redresse: 
 Ingage thy power to redeeme my loyeS, 
 And I am ioyfuU, Countes ; els I die. 
 Count. I will, my Liege. 
 
 King., Sweare, Countes, that thou wilt. 
 
 2 10 Count. By heauen, I will. 
 
 King. Then take thy selfe a litel waie aside^ 
 And tell thy self, a king doth dote on thee: 
 Say that within thy power it doth lie 
 To make him happy, and that thou hast sworne 
 215 To giue him all the loy within thy power: 
 Do this, and tell me when I shall be happie. 
 
 Count. All this is done, my thrice dread soueraigne : 
 That power of loue, that I haue power to g^ue. 
 Thou hast with all dauout obedience; 
 220 Inploy me how thou wilt in profe thereof. 
 
 King. Thou hearst me saye that I do dote on thee. 
 Count. Yf on my beauty, take yt if thou canst; 
 Though litle, I do prise it ten tymes .lesse: 
 If on my vertue, take it if thou canst; 
 225 For vertues store by gfiuing doth augment: 
 
 193. LOD.J Lor. A; Stage-dir. added by Cap. — 196. Thyl This B 
 and Edd., except Del. — 202. Given to K. Edw. in A; your\ theyr A. — 
 209. Counties A. — 213. it first, add. by Cap. — 214. that om. B. — 
 215. him\ 7ne Cap. and subs. Edd. — 217. Two lines in B, divided at done: 
 
n, I.J KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 21 
 
 Be it on what it will, that I can giue 
 And thou canst take awaie, inherit it. 
 
 King. It is thy beautie that 1 woulde enioy. 
 
 Count. O, were it painted, I would wipe it off 
 And dispossesse my selfe, to giue it thee. 230 
 
 But, souereigne, it is souldered to my life: 
 Take one, and both ; for, like an humble shaddow, 
 Yt hauntes the sunshine of my summers life. 
 
 King. But thou maist lend it me, to sport withal!. 
 
 Count. As easie may my intellectual soule 235 
 
 Be lent awaie, and yet my bodie liue. 
 As lend my bodie, pallace to my soule, 
 Awaie from her, and yet retaine my soule. 
 My bodie is her bower, her Court, her abey, 
 
 And shee an Angell, pure, deuine, vnspotted: 240 
 
 If I should lend her house, my Lord, to thee, 
 I kill my poore soule, and my poore soule me. 
 
 King. Didst thou not swere to giue me what I would ? 
 
 .Count. I did, my liege, so, what you would, I could. 
 
 King. I wish no more of thee then thou maist giue: 245 
 
 Nor beg I do not, but I rather buie, 
 That is, thy loue; and for that loue of thine 
 In rich exchaunge I tender to thee myne. 
 
 Count. But that your lippes were sacred, my Lord, 
 You would prophane the holie name of loue, 250 
 
 That loue you offer me, you cannot giue; 
 For Caesar owes that tribut to his Queene: 
 That loue you beg of me, I cannot giue; 
 For Sara owes that duetie to her Lord. 
 
 He that doth clip or counterfeit your stamp, 255 
 
 Shall die, my Lord: And will your sacred selfe 
 Comit high treason against the King of heaueri. 
 To stamp his Image in forbidden mettel. 
 Forgetting your alleageance and your othe? 
 
 230. disposse A. — 234. ConUnued to CoUN. in A; lend'\ leue A. — 
 241. lend'\ leaue A. — 244. liegel lord Col. — 249. my lord Cap., Tyr., 
 and Del.; but sacred is used as a trisyllable. — 257. 'gainst Qx\^. and subs. 
 Edd., except Del.. 
 
22 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [H> '• 
 
 260 In violating mariage sacred la"w, 
 
 You breake a greater honor then your selfe: 
 
 To be a king is of a younger house 
 
 Then to be maried; your progenitour, . 
 
 Sole-raigning Adam on the vniuerse, 
 265 By God was honored for a married man, 
 
 But not by him aanoiated for a king. 
 
 It is a pennalty to breake your statutes, 
 
 Though not enacted with your highneS hand: 
 
 How much more, to infringe the holy act, 
 270 Made by the mouth of God, seald with his hand? 
 
 I know, my souereigne, iii my husbands loue, 
 
 Who now doth loyall seruice in his warrs. 
 
 Doth but to try the wife of Salisbury, 
 
 Whither shee will heare a wantons tale, or no ; 
 275 Lest being therein guilty by my stay. 
 
 From that, not from my liege, 1 toume awaie. \Exit. 
 
 ■ King, Whether is her bewtie by her words dyuine, 
 
 Or are her words sweet chaplaines to her bewtie? 
 
 Like as the wind doth beautifie a saile, 
 280 And as a saile becomes the vnseene winde, 
 
 So doe her words her bewties, bewties wordes. 
 
 O, that I were a hpnie -gathering bee. 
 
 To beare the combe of vertue from this flower. 
 
 And not a poison- sucking enuiotis spider, 
 285 To turne the iuce I take to deadlie venom! 
 
 Religion is austere and bewty gentle ; 
 
 Too strict a gardion for so faire a ward! 
 
 O, that shee were, as is the aire, to mee! 
 
 Why, so she is ; for, when I would embrace her, 
 290 This do I, and catch nothing but my selfe, 
 
 I must enioy her; for I cannot beate 
 
 With reason and reproofe fond loue awaie. 
 
 260. secred A. — 268. ■witK\ by Cap. and subs. Edd. — 269. But hoiu 
 Col, — 281. her bewties] her beauty Cap., Tyr., and Del.; bewties words] 
 bewtie (y) words AB and subs. Edd., except Col. — 283. this] his AB and Del. 
 : — 285, iuce] vice AB and Edd.; happily corr. by Col. — 287. To siricke 
 A, Too strict B and Edd.; ward] weedAB; corr. by Cap. 
 
U. i-i] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 
 
 23 
 
 Enter Warwicke. 
 Here comes her father: I will worke with him, 
 To beare my coUonrs ia this field of loue. 
 
 War. How is it that my souereigne is so sad? 295 
 
 May I with pardon know your highnes griefe, 
 And that my old endeuor will remoue it, 
 It shall not comber long your maiestie. 
 
 King. A kind and voluntary gift thou profetest. 
 That I was forwarde to haue begd of thee. 300 
 
 But, O thoa world, great nurse of flattetie, 
 Whie dost thou tip mens tongues with golden words. 
 And peise their deedes with weight of heauie leade, 
 That faire performance cannot follow promise? 
 O, that a man might hold the hartes close booke 305 
 
 And choke the lauish tongue, when it doth vtter 
 The breath of falshood not carectred there! 
 
 War. Far be it from the honor of my age, 
 That I should owe bright gould and render lead; 
 Age is a cynike, not a flatteren 310 
 
 I saye againe, that, if 1 knew your griefe. 
 And that by me it may be lesned. 
 My proper harme should buy your highnes good. 
 
 King. These are the vulger tenders of false men^ 
 That neuer pay the duetie of their words. 315 
 
 Thou wilt not sticke to sweare what thou hast said; 
 But, when thou knowest my griefes condition. 
 This rash disgorged vomit of thy word 
 Thou wilt eate vp againe^ and leaue me helples. 
 
 War. By heauen, I will not, though your maiestie 320 
 
 Did byd me run vpon your sworde and die. 
 
 King. Say that my greefe is no way medicinable 
 But by the losse and bruising of thine honoun 
 
 War. Yf nothing but that losse may vantage you, 
 I would account that losse my vauntage too. 325 
 
 King. Thinkst that thoU canst unswere thy oth againe? 
 
 War. I cannot; nor I would not, if I could. 
 
 . 299. offerest B and subs. Edd. — 3 id. cyHclie A. — 311. I if K. — 
 314, 315. Continued to War. in A. -^ 325. dccotint'] accomplish A. =^ 
 326. nnsweye\ ansWere AB; coH". by Cap. 
 
24 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [^h ^• 
 
 Xing. But, if thou dost, what shal I say to thee? 
 War. What may be said to anie- periurd viliaine, 
 330 That breaks the sacred warrant of an oath. 
 
 King. What wilt thou say to one that breaks an othe? 
 War. That hee hath broke his faith with God and man, 
 And from them both standes excommunicat. 
 X^ing. What office were it, to suggest a man 
 335 To breake a lawful! and religious vowe? 
 
 War. An office for the deuill, not for man. 
 Xmg. That deuilles office must thou do for me. 
 Or breake thy oth and cancell all the bondes 
 Of loue and duetie twixt thy self and mee; 
 340 And therefore, Warwike, if thou art thy selfe, 
 The Lord and master of thy word and othe, 
 Go to thy daughter ; and in my behalfe 
 Comaund her, woo her, win her anie waies, 
 To be my mistres and my secret loue. 
 345 I will not stand to heare thee make reply: 
 
 Thy oth breake hers, or let thy souereigne dye. [£xit. 
 
 War. O doting king! O detestable office! 
 Well may I tempt my self to wrong my self. 
 When he hath swome me by the name of God 
 350 To breake a vowe, made by the name of God. 
 What, if I sweare by this right hand of mine 
 To cut this right hande off? The better waie 
 Were to prophaine the Idoll, then confound it: 
 But neither will I do; He keepe myne oath, 
 355 And to my daughter make a recantation 
 Of all the vertue I haue preacht to her: 
 He say, she must forget her husband Salisbury, 
 If she remember to embrace the king; 
 He say, an othe may easily be broken; 
 360 But not so easily pardoned, being broken; 
 lie say, it is true charity to loue, 
 But not true loue to be so charitable; 
 
 329. to] of Col. — 330. breake A. — 338. and] or AB and Edd. — 
 341. thy] the. Col. — 346. breakes B. — 347 ss. Given to King in A; O det.] 
 or det. AB ; corr. by Cap. — 350. by] in Col. — 354. my othe B and Edd. 
 
II, I.] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 25 
 
 He say, his greatnes may beare out the shame, 
 
 But not his kingdome can buy out the sinne; 
 
 He say, it is my duety to perswade, 365 
 
 But not her honestie to giue consent. 
 
 Enter Countesse. 
 
 ' See where she comes : Was neuer father had 
 Against his child an embassage so bad! 
 
 Count. My Lord and father, I haue sought for you: 
 My mother and the Peeres importune you 370 
 
 To keepe in presence of his maiestie. 
 And do your best to make his highnes merrie. 
 
 War. (Aside^ How shall I enter in this gracelesse errand? 
 I must not call her child; for wheres the father 
 That will in such a sute seduce his child? 375 
 
 Then, 'wife of Salisbury', shall I so begin? 
 No, hees my friend; and where is found the friend 
 That will doe friendship such indammagement? 
 (To the Count') Neither iriy daughter nor my deare friends wife, 
 I am not Warwike, as thou thinkst I am, 380 
 
 But an atturnie from the Court of hell, 
 That thus haue housd my spirite in his forme^ 
 To do a message to thee from the King. 
 The mighty king of England dotes on thee: 
 
 He that hath power to take away thy life, 385 
 
 Hath power to take thy honor; then consent 
 To pawne' thine honor rather then thy life : 
 Honor is often- lost and got againe, 
 But life, once gone, hath no recouerie. 
 
 The Sunne, that withers heye, doth nourish grasse; 390 
 
 The king, that would distaine thee, will aduance thee. 
 The Poets write that great Achilles speare 
 Could heale the wound it made: the morrall is, 
 What mighty men misdoo, they can amend. 
 The Lyon doth become his bloody iawes, 395 
 
 ^■]\. presence] promise A. — 373 (Aside.) zxid 379, (To the Count.) not 
 in Edd. — 373. arrant AB. — 386. thine B and Edd. — 389. doth] goth A- 
 
26 KING EDWARB THE THIRD. [U, I- 
 
 And grace his forragement by being milde, 
 
 When vassell feare lies trembling at his feete. 
 
 The king will in his glory hide thy shame; 
 
 And those that gaze on him to finde out thee, 
 400 Will loose their eie- sight, looking in the Sunne. 
 
 What can one drop of poyson' harme the Sea, 
 
 Whose hugie vastures can digest the ill 
 
 And make it loose his operation? 
 
 The kings great name will temper thy misdeeds, 
 405 And giue the bitter potion of rep'roch 
 
 A sugred sweet and most delitious tast. 
 
 Besides, it is no harme to do the thing 
 
 Which without shame could not be left vndone. 
 
 Thus haue I in his maiesties behalfe 
 410 Apparaled sin in vertuous sentences. 
 
 And dwel vpon thy answere in his sute. 
 
 Count. Vnnaturall beseege ! woe me vhhappie, 
 
 To haue escapt the danger of my foes. 
 
 And to be ten times worse iniured by friends! 
 415 Hath he no meanes to stayne my honest blood. 
 
 But to corrupt the author of my blood 
 
 To be his scandalous and vile soliciter? 
 
 No maruell though the braunches be then infected. 
 
 When poyson hath encompassed tlie roote: 
 420 No maruell though the leprous infant dye. 
 
 When the sterne dame inuennometh the Dug. 
 
 Why then, giue sinne a pasport to offend. 
 
 And youth the dangerous reine of liberty: 
 
 Blot out the strict forbidding of the law, 
 425 And cancell euery cannon that prescribes 
 
 A shame for shame or pennance for offence. 
 
 No, let me die, if his too boystrous will 
 
 402. vastnes conj. by Col. — 404. thy'\ their AB and Col.; corr. by Cap. 
 — ^O'^. portion A. — 4O9. Then Col. — 414. inuierA AB, in'alir'd Del.; 
 Elze, Notes on Elizabethan Dramatists, II. p. 2, thinks inuteyd to. be pos- 
 sibly abbreviated from environed, as Max Moltke prints. — 418. No marvel 
 then, though the branches ie infected Cap., Tyr. , and Del.; though the 
 branch be then inf. Col. ; branches may be read as a moilDSyUable , cp. 
 Abbgtt s> 471. — 423, r eigne h. 
 
H, I.] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 27 
 
 Will haue it so, before I will consent 
 To be an actor in his gracelesse lust. 
 
 War. Why, now thou speakst as I would haue thee speake: 430 
 And marke how I vnsaie my words againe. 
 An honorable graue is more esteemd 
 Then the polluted closet of a king: 
 The greater man, the greater is the thing, 
 
 Be it good or bad, that he shall vndeitake: 435 
 
 An vnreputed mote, flying in the Sunne, 
 Presents a greater substance then it is: 
 The freshest summers day doth soonest taint 
 The lothed carrion that it seemes to kisse: 
 
 Deepe are the blowes made with a mightie Axe: 440 
 
 That sinne doth ten times agreuate it selfe. 
 That is committed in a holie place: 
 An euill deed, done by authoritie, 
 Is sin and subbomation: Decke an Ape 
 
 In tissue, and the beautie of the robe 445 
 
 Adds but the greater scome vnto the beast. 
 A spatious field of reasons could I vrge 
 Betweene his glory, daughter, and thy shame: 
 That poyson steweth worst in a golden cup; 
 
 Darke night seemes darker by the lightning flash; 450 
 
 Lillies, that fester, smel far worse then weeds; 
 And euery glory that inclynes to sin. 
 The shame is treble by the opposite. 
 So leaue I with my blessing in thy bosome; 
 
 Which then conuert to a most heauie curse, 455 
 
 When thou conuertest from honors golden name 
 To the blacke faction of bed -blotting shame! 
 
 CounL He follow thee; and when my minde turnes so. 
 My body sinke my soule in endles woo ! [JExeuni. 
 
 448. glory] gloomie AB; corr. by Cap. — 453. shame] same Del. — 
 457, 459. Exit. Cap. and Del, 
 
28 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [II, 2. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 The Same. A Room in the Castle. 
 
 Enter at one doore Derby from Fraunce, at an other doore Audley 
 
 •with a Drum. 
 
 Der. Thrice noble Audley, well incountred heere! 
 How is it with our soueraigne and his peeres? 
 
 Aud. Tis full a fortnight, since I saw his highnes, 
 What time he sent me forth to muster men ; 
 5 Which I accordingly haue done, and bring them hither 
 In faire aray before his maiestie. 
 What newes, my . Lord of Derby, from the Emperor? 
 
 Der. hs, good as we desire : the Emperor 
 Hath yeelded to his highnes friendly ayd, 
 lo And makes our King leiuetenant-generall 
 In all his lands and large dominions: 
 ,Then via for the spacious bounds of Fraunce! 
 
 Aud. What, doth his highnes leap to heare these newes? 
 
 Der. I haue not yet found time to open them; 
 15 The king is in his closet, malcontent, 
 
 For what, I know not; but he gaue in charge, 
 Till after dinner none should interrupt him: 
 The Countesse Salisbury and her father Warwike, 
 Artoyes and all looke vnderneath the browes. 
 20 Aud. Vndoubtedly, then some thing is amisse. \Trumpet within, 
 
 Der. The Trumpets sound, the king is now abroad. 
 
 Enter the King. 
 
 Aud. Here comes his highnes. 
 
 Der. Befall my soueraigne all my soueraignes wish! 
 
 King. Ah, that thou wert a Witch to make it so! 
 25 Der. The Emperour greeteth you. [Presenting letters, 
 
 King. [Aside.) Would it were the Countesse! 
 
 Der. And hath accorded to your highnes suite. 
 Scene n. Stage - dir. add. by Cap.; Enter Derby and Audley, meeting. 
 D^'- — 5- hither om. Cap. and Tyr. — 7. Given to King Edw. in A. — 
 13. this news B and Edd., except Del. — 20. Stage -dir. added by Del. — 
 
 21. Enter the King after I. 20 in AB and Edd., set, aright by Del. — 
 
 22. Ar. Hhere A. — 25. Stage -dir. added by Del. — 26 and 28. Aside 
 not in Edd. 
 
II, ii] KING- EDWARD THE THIRD: 29 
 
 King, (Aside^ Thou lyest, she hath not ; but I would she had. 
 
 Aud. All loue and duety to my Lord the king! 
 
 Kiiig. Well, all but one is none: — What newes with you? 30 
 
 Aud. I haue, my liege, leUied those horsei and foote 
 According to your charge, and brought them hither. 
 
 King. Then let those foote trudge hence vpon those horse 
 According to our discharge, and be gone. — 
 Darby, 35 
 
 lie looke vpon the Countesse minde anone. 
 
 Dar. The Countesse minde, my liege? 
 
 King. I meane the Emperour: -^ leaue me alone. 
 
 Aud. What is in his mind? 
 
 Dar. ■ ■ Lets leaue him to his humor. \Exmnt. 
 
 King. Thus from the harts aboun dance speakes the tongue; 40 
 Countesse for Emperour: and indeed, why not? 
 She is as imperator ouer me 
 And I to her 
 
 Am as a kneeling vassaile, that obserues 
 The pleasure or displeasure of her eye. 45 
 
 Enter Lodwike. 
 
 What sales the more then Cleopatras match 
 To Caesar now? 
 
 Lod. That yet; my liege, ere night 
 
 She will resolue your maiestie. [Drum within. 
 
 King. What drum is this that thunders forth this march, 
 To start the tender Cupid in my bosome? 5° 
 
 Poore shipskin, how it braules with him thdt beateth it! 
 Go, breake the thundring parchment bottome out. 
 And I will teach it to' conduct sweet lynes 
 Vnto the bosome of a heauenly Nymph; 
 For I will vse it as my writing paper, 55 
 
 32. According as your A. — 35 , 36. One line in AB ; Cap. and 
 Edd. put anon in a line by itself. — 38- Emperor's Col. — 39^ W'hat is 
 his mind A; Exeunt. AB, Exeunt Derby and Audley. Del. — 40. ahoun- 
 dance"] aboundant AB, Cap. and Tyr., abundance Del. and Col. — 43, 44. One 
 line in AB and Col. — 47. Col. ends the line at Kege. — 48. Stage -dir. 
 added by Del. 
 
30 KING EDWARD THE, THIRD: [II, i. 
 
 And so reduce him from a scouldmg drum; > 
 
 To be the herald anddeare counsaile - bearer 
 
 Betwixt a goddesse and a mighty king. • 
 
 Go, bid the- drummer learne to touch the Lute, 
 60 Or hang him in the braces of his drum; 
 
 For now we thinke it an vnciuill things 
 
 To trouble heauen with such harsh resounds-: . , 
 
 Away! \_Exiii 
 
 The quarrell that I haue requires no armes 
 65 But these of myne: aad thfise shall meete my foe 
 
 In a deepe march of penytrable grones; 
 
 My eyes shall be my arrowes, and my sighes 
 
 S&ali serae roe as the vantage of the winde. 
 
 To wherie away my sweetest arijUfirie., 
 70 Ah but, alas, she winnes the sunne of me-. 
 
 For that is she her selfe; and thence it comes - 
 
 That Poets tearme the wanton warriour blinde; 
 
 But loue hath eyes as iudgement to his steps. 
 
 Till too much loued glory dazles them^ — 
 
 Enter LoDWiESb 
 7 5 How now ? 
 
 Lod. My liege, the drum that stroke the lusty march, 
 Stands with Prince Edward, your thrice valiant sonne. 
 
 Enter Prince Edward. 
 King. I see the boy; oh, how his mothers face, 
 Modeld in. his, corrects my straid desire, 
 80 And rates my heart, and chides my theeuish eie,, 
 Wl»o, being rich ennough in seeing, her, 
 , Yet seekes elsewhere: and basest theft is that 
 Which cannot cloke it selfe on pouertie. — 
 Now, boy, what newes? 
 
 6a, 63. Oneliile in AB; div.byCap. — 63. (St^e-dir.) Exit Lod, B4 
 — 68. ventage Del. — 74. two much A. — Stage -dir. after 1. 75 in AB; 
 set aright by Del. (ke-enter Lodowick). — 77. Enter Prince. Lodowick 
 retires to the door. Tte\. — 79. Molded B and Edd. — 83. cipke'] check 
 Cap. and Edd. , except Del. 
 
ll. 2.^1 KTKFG EDWARD THE THI6.D. 
 
 31 
 
 Pr. Edw, I hdiie assembled, my dWa-fe Lord* and fatheT, 85 
 The choysest buds of all our English blood 
 For our affaires in Fraunce; and heere we come 
 To take directiott from your maiestie. 
 
 King. Still do I see in him deliniate 
 His mothers visage; those his eies are hers^ go 
 
 Who, looking wistely on me, make me blush: 
 For faults against them selues giue euidence; 
 Lust is a fire, and men like lanthomes show 
 Light lust within them selues euen through them selues. 
 Away, loose silkes of wauering vanitiel 9^5. 
 
 Shall the large Dmmit of faire Brittanye 
 By me be ouerthrowne? and shall I not 
 Master this little mansion of my selfe? 
 Giue me an Armor of eternall Steele! 
 
 I go to conquer kings; and shall I then too 
 
 Subdue my selfe, and be my enimies friend ? 
 It must, not be. — Come, boy, forward, aduauncel 
 Lets with our coullours sweete the Aire of Fraunce. 
 
 Enter LoDwiKE. 
 
 Lod. My liege, the Countesse with a- smiling cheere 
 Desires accesse vnto your Maiestie., . 105 
 
 King. Why, there it gpesJ That verie smile of hers 
 Hath ransomed captiue Fraunce,, and set the King, 
 The Dolphin, and iJie Peeres at liberty.. — , ,,, 
 
 Goe, leaue me,. Ned, and, reuell with thy friends. [Exit Princei 
 Thy mother is but blacke,, and . thou, like her, /, no 
 
 Dost put it. in my minde how foule she is^, :— , ^ 
 
 Goe, fetch the Countesse hether in thy hand,. 
 And let her chase away those winter- cloudst; 
 For shee gjues.beautieboth to heauen and earth. [Exit'LopwiKE, 
 
 87. j«] to A and Del. — 91. make] made B and Edd., except Del. — 
 93. £ust ds a firei and' me like lanthorne show AB, corrected' by Gap. — 
 95^. of^ or AS; — 96; limiti'CfA.; Brittayne K. -^ loti. shall I not then' A!B; 
 not first om. by Cap. — ■ 10^'. sweeteY sweep Cap; and'Ty^., beat Jy'el\, sweat 
 GoK; sweet seems tb be =:^' #0 sweeten. -^ Enter Lodw^ Aitiancirig from' th'e 
 doiytr and whispering him Del. — III. it in] into Gap; and fidd-.' — ■ 
 113. these A. 
 
32 KING EDWARD THE, THIRD. [11, 2i 
 
 IJ5 The sin is more to hacke and hew, poore men, > 
 
 Then to embrace in an vnlawfull bed 
 The register of all varieties 
 Since Le theme Adam till this youngest howre. 
 
 Re-enter LODWIKB with the Countesse. 
 King. Goe, Lodwike, put thy hand into my purse, 
 126 Play, spend, giue, ryot, wast, do what thou wilt, 
 
 So thou wilt hence awhile and leaue me heere. [£"^2'/ LoDOWiCic. 
 Now, my soules plaiefellow, art thou come 
 To speake the more then heauenly word of yea 
 To my objection in thy beautious loue'? 
 125 Count. My father on his blessing hath commanded — 
 King. That thou shalt yeeld to me? ' 
 
 Count. I, deare my liege, your due. 
 King. And that, my dearest loue, can be no lesse 
 Then right for right and tender loue for loue. 
 130 Count. Then wrong for wrong and endles hate for hate. — 
 But, ■ — ■ sith I see your maiestie so bent, 
 That my vnwillingnes, my husbands loue. 
 Your high estate, nor no reSpect respected 
 Can be my helpe, but that your mightines 
 135 Will ouerbeare and awe these deare regards, 
 1 bynd my discontent to my content. 
 And, what I would not. He compell I will, 
 Prouided that your selfe remoue those lets 
 That stand betweene your highnes loue and mitie. 
 140 King. Name them, faire Countesse, and, by heauen, I will. 
 Count. It is their Hues that stand betweene our loue. 
 That I would haue chokt vp, my soueraigne. 
 King. Whose hues, my Lady? 
 Count. My thrice louing liegfe. 
 
 117. rarieties KS, varieties Del. and Col.; fair rarities Moltke. 
 
 lii.tai'] toQo\. — 119. Stage -dir. as given by Del.; Enter Countesse. AB. 
 — 119. thy purse kS, and Col. — 121. Stage-dir. add. by Cap. — 122. and 
 art Cap., Tyr., and Del. — 124. subjection Del., abjection Col. — 129. tender'\ 
 render AS and Col.; tender first in Cap. — 136. I bend my discontent to thy 
 content Col. — 140. them\ tfien AB; corr. by Cap. 
 
11; 2j KIN(Gr EDWARD THE THIRD.. 
 
 33 
 
 Your Queene and Salisbury, ipy wedded husband, .„ . ,,\ 
 
 Who lining haue that tytle in our loue, , , , 145 
 
 That we cannot bestow, but by their death. . i' - 
 
 King. Thy oppositjoii is beyond our Law. ' V 
 
 Count. So is your desire: If the law : , 
 
 Can hinder you to execute the one, 
 
 Let it forbid you to attempt the other., 150 
 
 I cannot thinke you loue me as you say, 
 Vnlesse you do make good w^t yo^i haue sworne.,^ 
 
 King. No more; thy husband and, the Queene shall dye. 
 Fairer thou art by farre then Hero was, , 
 
 Beardles Leander not so strong as I:, ice 
 
 He swome an easie curraunt for his loue, 
 But I will through a Hellespont of bloud, 
 To arryue at Cestus where my Hero lyes. 
 
 Count. Nay, youle do more; youle make the Ryuer too 
 With their hart-bloods that keepe our loue asunder, 160 
 
 Of which my husband and your wife are twayne. 
 
 King. Thy beauty makes them guilty of their death 
 And giues in euidence that they shall dye; 
 Vpon which verdict I, their ludge, condemne them. 
 
 Count. (Aside^ O periurde beautie, more corrupted ludge! 165 
 When to the great Starre - chamber ore our heads 
 The vniuersall Sessions cals to count 
 This pia cking euill, we both shall tremble for it. 
 
 King. What saies my faire loue? is she resolude? 
 
 Count. Resolude to be dissolude; and, therefore, this: 170 
 
 Keepe but thy word, great king, and I am thine. 
 Stand where thou dost, He part a little from thee, 
 And see how I will yeeld me to thy hands. 
 
 148. And so Cap. and Edd. — 153 seqq. Continued to CouN. in A; my queen 
 Col. — 156. for\ ta Col. — 157. through'] throng A; a hellie {helly) spout 
 of bloud AB , Cap. and Del. ; a Hellespont was first proposed by Tyr. and 
 corroborated by Col. (Athenaeum No. 2422, p. 426, March 28, 1874). — 
 158. Arrive that Sesios Cap., Tyr. and Col. — 160. heart's blood Col. — 
 165. (Aside.) not in Edd. — 167. session Cap. conj. — 168. packing ill Cap. 
 conj. — 169. resolute AB and Edd. — 170. Resolute AB; Resolv'd prop, 
 by Cap. and adopted by Del. 
 
34 
 
 KING EDWARD THE THlRiD'J [H, ^i 
 
 (Turning suddenly upon hirti, and sh&wiiig' iho daggers.) ' ' 
 Here by my side doth haiig my weddibg- knifes: ' _ 
 
 175 Take thou the one, and with it kill ' thy Qiieene, ' ' 
 
 And leame by me t6 fiiide her "where slie lies; 
 And with this other lie dispatch my loiie," 
 Which now lies fast asleepe within my hart: 
 When they are gone, then He ' consent to loue. 
 
 180 Stir not, lasciuious kingi to hinder 'ine; 
 
 My resolution is more nimbler far, ^ 
 
 Then thy preuention ckii'biiB in my rescue. 
 And if thou stir, I strike'; tlierefore stand' still, 
 And heare the choyce that 1 will put thee to: 
 
 185 Either sweare to leaue thy ' most vnholie sute 
 
 And neuer henceforth' to solicif me; ' \ 
 
 Or else, by heauen, this sharpe -pointed knyfe 
 Shall stairie thy earth with that which thoii wouldst staine, 
 My poore chast blood. {Kneeling.) Sweare, Edward, swear^, 
 
 190 Or I will strike atid die before thee heere. 
 
 King. ' £uen by that power I sweare, that giues me now 
 The power to be ashamed' of my selfe, 
 I neuer meane to part my lips agaihe 
 In any Words that tends to such a siite. 
 
 1 95 Arise, true English Ladi^; whoni' our lie ' 
 
 May better boast of, then euer Romaine might 
 Of her, whose rarisackt tfeasurie hath taskt 
 The vaine indeuor of so many pens: 
 Arise; and be my fault thy honors fame, 
 
 200 Which after -ageS shall enrich thee with; 
 I am awaked from this idle dreame; — 
 Warwike, my Sonne, Darby, Artoys, and Audley, 
 Braue warriours all, where are you all this while? 
 
 Enter all. 
 Warwike, I make thee Warden of the North: 
 205 Thou, Prince of' Wales, and Audley, straight to Sea; 
 
 173. Stage -dir. add. by Cap. — 174. dotK] do Cap. and Edd. — 
 177. this] the B and Edd. , except Del. — 184. /■ wiW] I'll Col. — 1 87. Cap. 
 and Edd. add the Stage -dir. kneeling- after heauen; it seems better to 
 put it after blood (1. 189). — x88. wouldsf] would A. — 1 94. word Cap. 
 and Edd. — 197. taske B. — 205. Tkou\ You Cap. and Edd. 
 
Ill, I.] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 35 
 
 Secure to New-hauen; some there staie fot me: 
 
 My selfe, Artoys, and Darby will through Flaiinders; " 
 
 To greete our friends there arid to craUe theit aide. 
 
 This night will scarce suffice me to discdUef 
 
 My follies seege against a faithfiill louer; 210 
 
 For, ere the Sunne shal guilde the easterne skie; ■ • . ■ :■ < 
 
 Weele wake him with our marshall harmOnie. [Exeunt. 
 
 ■ ACT III. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 ■■ ' i 
 
 Utiier King Iohn of Fraunce, his two sonnes, Charles of Nor- 
 
 MANDiE, and Phillip, and the Duke of Lorraine. 
 
 K. Iohn. Heere, till our Nauie of a thousand saile 
 Haue made a breakfast to our foe by Sea, 
 Let vs incampe, to wait their happie speede. — 
 Lorraine, what readines is Edward in? 
 
 How hast thou heard that he prouided is 5 
 
 Of marshiall furniture for this exployt? 
 
 Lor. To lay aside vnnecessary soothing, 
 And not to spend the time in circumstaunce, 
 Tis bruted for a certenty, my Lord, 
 
 That hees exceeding strongly fortified; 10 
 
 His subiects flocke as willingly to warre, 
 As if vnto a tryumph they were led. 
 
 Char. England was wont to harbour malcontents, 
 Blood-thirsty and seditious Catelynes, 
 
 Spend -thrifts, and such as gape for nothing else 15 
 
 But changing and alteration of the state; 
 And is it possible 
 That they are now so loyall in them selues? 
 
 211. guilde] guide AB; corr. by Cap. — 212. martiall B. 
 
 Act III. Scene I. — 2. at sea Col. — 6. martiall B. — 16. Read 
 alt'ration; change and Cap. and Edd. — 17, 18. One line in B; two lines 
 in Cap. and Edd., divided at now. 
 
 3* 
 
36 KINQ ED\VARD THETHIRD^ [111,1.: 
 
 Lor. AH but the Scot, vyhflsojlemnly; protests,/ 
 20 As heeretofore I.h^ue enformd:.his gfape^,,, ;:/ ,.; , :' 
 
 Neuer to sheath his Swprd ,pr;,take a,, truce. 
 
 K. John. Ah, thats the anchredgeipf some better hope!, J 
 , But, on the other side, to; thinks ; what friends . 
 
 King Edward hath retaynd in Netherland, ;- ' 
 
 25 Among those euer-bihbing Epicures,,,. 
 
 Those frothy Dutch men, puft with double -beer. 
 
 That drinke and swill in euery place they come, 
 
 Doth not a little aggrauate mine ire; 
 
 Besides, we heare, the Jlmperor conioynes, 
 30 And stalls him in his bwhe authoritie: 
 
 But, all the mightier that their; number is. 
 
 The greater glory reapes the victory. 
 
 Some friends haue we beside domesticke power; 
 
 The steme Pbloniaii, and the wariike Dane, 
 35 The King of Bohemia, and of Cycelie, 
 
 Are all become confederates with vs. 
 
 And, as I thinke, are inarching hither apace. [Drum within. 
 
 But soft, I heare the musicke of their drums. 
 
 By which I gesse that their approch is neare. 
 
 Enter the King of Bohemia, with Danes, and a Polonian Capiaine, 
 
 with other soldiers, another way. 
 40 King of Boh. King lohn of Fraimce, as league and neigh- 
 Requires, when friends are any way distrest, [borhood 
 I come to aide thee with my countries force. 
 
 Pol. Cap. And from great Musko, fearefuU to the Turke, 
 And lofty Poland, nurse of hardie men, 
 45 I bring these seruitors to fight for thee, 
 Who willingly will venture in thy cause. 
 
 K. John. Welcome, Bohemian King, and welcome all: 
 This your great kindnesse I will not forget. 
 
 20. his] your Col. — 33. drum stricke A , drumsiicke B, domesiick 
 Cap. and Edd. — 35. kings Col.; Boheme Cap., Tyr., and Col., but read 
 TA' king. — 37. hither apace] hither-ward Cap. and Tyr. , but hither 
 
 is Jused as a monosyllable; Stage -dir. Drum within added by Del. 
 
 40—43. Divided at league, \ any, \ force. \ in B. 
 
Ill, I.] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 37 
 
 Besides your plentiful rewards in Crownes,'' ;' 
 
 That from our Treasory ye shall receiue: / 1 i:' • " ' 50 
 
 There comes a hare- braind Nation, deckt in pridej i<.r '1' 
 
 The spoyle of whome will be a trebble gaine. 1 ; ' f ■< 
 
 And now my hope is full, my ioy 1 complete : • ; i- ;.!'i 
 
 At Sea, we are as puissant as the force- - 1 ,. ,:ii.. ,' 
 
 Of Agamemnon in the Hauen of Troy; : J ' . :' 55 
 
 By land, with Zerxes we compare of strength,! ' ' 
 
 Whose souldiers drancke vp riuers in their thirst : 
 
 Then, Bayardlikej blinde, ouerweaniiig Ned, 
 
 To reach at our imperiall dyadem , • 
 
 Is -either to be swallowed of the wanes, >h- 60 
 
 Or hackt a peeces when thou- comest ashore. ,' ,, : ', 
 
 1 : Enter Marriner. u i 
 
 Mar. Neere to the cost I haue discride, my Lord,{ 'i-i' 
 As I was busie in my watchfuU charge, .-A,' 
 
 The proud Armado of king Edwards ships: ■ 'i; • 
 
 Which, at the first, far off when I did ken,: '■ -■<}■■ 65 
 
 Seemd as it were a groue of withered pixies; •■ ■ 
 
 But, drawing neere, their glorious bright aspect, ' 
 
 Their streaming Ensignes, wrought of coulloured silke. 
 Like to a meddow full of sundry flowers, 
 
 Adomes the naked bosome of the earth: ,' 'i' 70 
 
 Maiesticall the order of their course. 
 
 Figuring the horned Circle of the Moone: ' 
 
 And on the top -gallant of the Admirall 
 And likewise all the handmaides of his trayne 
 The Armes of England and of Fraunce vnite 75 
 
 Are quartred equally by Heralds art: ' ■< 
 
 Thus, titely carried with a merrie gale, •'" 
 
 They plough the Ocean hitherward amayne; "'1= ' 
 
 Ki lohn. Dare he already drop the Flewer de Luce? 
 I hope, the hony being gathered thence, ' ' ■' 80 
 
 He, with the spider, afterward approcht, 
 
 49. Beside Cap. and Ed<5. — 52. game A and Del. — 62. Mar. om. 
 A; discribdi A. — 73. And om. Cap. and Edd. ; read th' top. — 75. united 
 Del. — 79. Continued to Mar. A. 
 
38 KING EDWARD' THE THIRD. [HI, ■ I. 
 
 Shall suckc forth deadly venom from the leaues. — 
 
 But wheres our Nauy? how are they prepared i - 
 
 To wing thtemselues against this' flight of Rauens? ■ 
 85 Mar. They, hauing knowledge^ brought them by the scouts, 
 
 Did breake from Anchor straight; arid, puft , with, rage 
 
 No otherwise then were their sailes with^ winde, 
 
 Made forth, as when the empty Eagle flies, 
 
 To satisfie his hungrie griping mawe. 
 QO K. lohn, Theres for thy newes, Returne vnto thy barke; 
 
 And if thou scape the bloody strooke of warre 
 
 And do suruiue the conflict, come againe, ' 
 
 And let vs heare the manner of the fight. [Exit Makriner. 
 
 Meane space, my Lords, tis best we be disperst 
 95 To seuerall places, least they chaunce to land: 
 
 First you, my Lord, with your Bohemian Troupes, 
 
 Shall pitch your battailes on the lower hand; 
 
 My eldest sonne, the Duke of Nonnandie, 
 
 Togeither with this aide of Muscouites, ; - 
 
 100 Shall clyme the higher ground another wayeji 
 
 Heere in the middle cost, betwixt you both, 
 
 Phillip, my yongest boy, and I will lodge. 
 
 So, Lords, be gon, and looke vnto your charge : 
 
 You stand for Fraunce, an Empire faire and large. [Exeunt. 
 105 Now tell me, Phillip, what is thy concept, ■. , 
 
 Touching the challenge that the English make? 
 
 Phil. I say, my Lord, clayme Edward what he can, 
 
 And bring he nere so playne a pedegreei, 
 
 Tis you are in possession of the Crowne, 
 no And thats the surest poynt of all the Law; , 
 
 But, were it not, yet ere he should ' preuaile, 
 
 lie make a Conduit of my dearest blood, 
 
 Or chase those stragling vpstarts home againe. ;i_;, ; 
 
 K. lohn. Well said, young Phillip! Call for bread and Wine, 
 115 That we may cheere our stomacks with repast,. 
 
 83. our'] out A. — 84. flis-hf] fleete B. — 89. satifie A. — 90. Thees A, 
 There's B. — 93. \_Exit.'\ A. — 104. \^Exeunt:\ after 1. 103 in Qq. — 
 105. thy concept] their concept A, thy conceite B and Edd. — lii. yet om. 
 B. — 114. Divided at bread in B. 
 
HI,! a.] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 39 
 
 To looke our foes more sternely in the face. ' 
 
 A Table and Provisions brought in; King and his Son sit down to it. 
 
 Ordinance afar off. 
 Now is begun the heauie dky at Sea: 
 
 Fight, Frenchmen, fight ; be like the fielde of Beates, ■' 
 
 When they defend their younglings in their Caues! ' 
 Steer, angry Nemesis^ the happie helmei 120 
 
 That, with the sulphur battels of your rage, ■ ' 
 
 The English Fleete inay be disperst and sunkfe. \Shot. 
 
 Phil. O Father, how this eckoing Cannon - sTiot, 
 Like sweetest hermonie, disgests my cates! ' 
 
 K. lohn. Now, boy, thou hearest what thundring terror tis, 125 
 To buckle for a kingdomes souerentie : ' ■ 
 
 The earth, with giddie trembling when it shakes,' 
 Or when the exalations of the aire 
 Breakcs in extremitie of lightning flash. 
 
 Affrights not more then kings, when they dispose 130 
 
 To shew the rancor of their high-swolne harts; [Retreaie. 
 
 Retreate is sounded; one side hath the worse: ' 
 
 O, if it be the French! Sweete fortune, turne; 
 And, in thy turning, change the forward winds, 
 That, with aduantage of a fauoring skie, ' ' i35 
 
 Our men may vanquish, and the other flie ! 
 
 Enter Marriner. 
 My heart misgiues: — say, mirror of pale death, 
 To whome belongs thfe honor of this day? 
 Relate, I pray thee, if thy breath will serue, ' 
 
 The sad discourse of this discomfiture. 140 
 
 Mar. I will, my Lord. 
 My gratious soueraigne, Fraunce hath tane the foyle,'. 
 
 116. Stage-dir. add. by Cap. ; The battel heard, afarre off AB (after!. 1 15). 
 120. 5^!'?- AB ; corr. by Cap. r— 121. sulphur' d Ca^.a.nA'B.iA.,, except Del. 
 
 — 124. sweete AB, sweetest first Cap. — 125. Div. at thundring in B. — 
 126. To battle CoL conj. — I2y. Brea]{ Cap. and Edd. — 131. \_Retreate:\ 
 after 1. 132 in Qq., corr. by Del. — 133- * *"=■ o™- ^- — '34- f reward 
 B and Edd. — 135. sauoring A. — 136. the other'\ thither A, th' other B. 
 
 — 138. the day Col. 
 
40 
 
 king: EDWARD THE THIRD. [HI, ' 1*. 
 
 And boasting Edward triumphs with suecessc ! ■ ' 
 
 These Iron-harted Nauies, 
 
 145 When last I was reporter to your grace, . 
 
 Both full of angry spleene^ of hope, and feare, 
 Hasting to meete each other in the face, n ..v: i /-. /. 
 At last conioynd; and by their 1 Admirall ; ,' .:.i-'. .niiJ i 
 Our Admirall encountred manie shot: :■- :• a i. / ■ i-r// 
 
 150 By this, the other, thg,t beheld tjiese itwaiiiev,, ./ m ,, ... ; j-- 
 Giue earnest peny of a further wracke, 1/, i v^ <ii: ! , V 
 Like fiery Dragons tooke their haughty; flight ;' : • '<' 
 
 And, likewise ,meetiiig, from, their smoky wombesi ' 
 Sent many grym Embassadors of death, ni"! 1; ; -ij-v,-/ , u ; 
 
 15s Then gan the day to tume to gloomy nighty..-' -y: , .\ 
 And darkenes did as .wel inclose the quicke ,, ;! . ' > ■ 
 
 As those that were but newly reft, of life. , ■:, , ,' 
 
 No leasure serud for friends to , bid farewell;, mI'! , .;!' ;' 1 
 And, if it had, the hideous noise, was such j,; .! ■ ■ .; ii .iH 
 
 160 As ech to other, seemed deafe and dombe. .1 , ;; i,!,i,'/' 
 Purple the Sea, whose channel fild as fast ■■v.; ii i 
 
 With streaming gore, that from the maymed' fell, :., m -A. 
 
 As did her gushing moysture breake into . i ., i - 
 
 The crannied cleftures of the through -shot planks. ' ' 
 
 ,165 Heere flew a head, disseuered from the tronke;' i ;■.; ■ . ;i I 
 There mangled armes and legs were tost aloft, .iiE n m;i -,:ti ' 
 As when a wherle-winde takes the Summer- dust 
 And scatters it in middle of the aire. 
 Then might ye see the reeling vessels split, 
 
 170 And tottering sink intp th^ ruthless^, flpud, ,; , ,.;, .,1 ,/ ' 
 Vntfll their lofty tops were seene no more., , ,, , , j ..;,;i , ; 
 
 , , All shifts were tried, both for. defence and hurt: ,, i^j-., ,.! ■ 
 And now the effect of vallor and of fear, ,, ; . vr 
 Of resolution and of cowardize, " ■ ,, i , ■■■ '.f 
 
 175 We liuely pictured; how the one for fame, 
 ' '' The other by compulsion laid about : 
 
 Much did the Nonpardlk, that braue ship; ' 
 
 164. cranny KR. — l6t). dissuuered A. ■ — iSg.j/oa Col'. ^— X']},. effects 
 Cap. and Edd. , except Del.; fear'\ force AB, corr. by Cap. — '174- of a- 
 cowardize A. — 175. We'\ Were Cap. and Edd., except Del. — 177. Norn 
 fer ilia AB, Nonpareille Cap., Tyr., and Del., Nonperillo CoL ■ 
 
m.;2.] KING lEDWARD THE THIRD. 
 
 4,1 
 
 So did the Wacke- snake of Bullen, then, which ' ' 
 
 A bonnier vessel neuer yet spred.sayle.ii . ;■!; ; i 
 
 But all in vaine; both Sunne, the Winde and tyde, i8o 
 
 Reuolted all vnto our foemens side, 
 
 That we perforce were fayne to giup them way, 
 
 And they are landed; — Thus my tale is donne: • , i 
 
 We haue vntimly lost, and they haue wobne.' :; ;-, ; / 
 
 K. lohn. Then rests there nothing, but with present speede 185 
 To ioyne our ;seueral forces al: in one, 
 And bid them battaile, ere they rainge too farre. 
 Come, gentle Phillip, let vs hence depart; ,,■■ 
 
 This souldiers words haue perst, thy fathers hart; ' [^Exeunt. 
 
 , ;;. SCENE n. 
 
 VlCkKD'^/ Fields near. CressL 
 Enter two Frenchmen, a Woman'' and two little' Children meet them, 
 and other Citizens. 
 
 Orii. Wei met, my masters: How now? whats the newes? 
 And wherefore are ye laden thus with stuffe? 
 What, is it quarter -daie thai you remoue, 
 And Carrie bag and tjaggage too ? 
 
 Two. Quarter-day?' I, and quartering day, I feare: 5 
 
 Haue ye not heard the newes that flies abroad? 
 
 One. What newes? " , 
 
 Three. How the French Nauy is destroyd at Sea, 
 And that the English Armie is arriued. 
 
 One. What then?' , ,, 10 
 
 Two. What then, quoth you? why, ist ilot time to flie, 
 When enuie and destruction is so nigh? 
 
 One. Content thee, man; they are farre enough from hence. 
 And will be met, I warrant ye, t6 their cost, 
 Before they breake : so far into the Realme. , 1 5 
 
 178. Boulogne Cap. and Edd. -^,180. Wine A. ■ — \%\. foeman's Col. 
 Scene II. Stage -dir. Picardy. Fields near Cressi. add. by Cap. 
 
 — 2. you B and Edd. — 5. quartering pay A, — II. why, is not Col. 
 
 — 12. eneniy prop, by Cap. and' adopted by Del.; are Col. — 14. you B 
 and Edd, ■ ■ ' ! r • • - . ,■,,•, . ,- ■ 
 
42 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [Ill, ■' ''i. 
 
 Two. I, so the Grashopper doth spend the time 
 In mirthfull iollitie, till Winter come; i 
 
 And then too late he would ledeeme his time, 
 When frozen cold hath nipt his carelesse head- 
 
 20 He, that no sooner will prouide a Cloake, ' 
 Then when he sees it doth begin to raignb, ' 
 May, peraduenture, for his negligence,; ' ' ' ' ■ 
 
 Be throughly washed, when he suspects it not.' ' 
 
 We that haue charge and such a trayne as this,' 
 
 25 Must looke in time, to looke for them and vs. 
 
 Least, when we would, we cannot be relieued.' > 
 
 One. Belike, you then dispaire of all successe. 
 And thinke your Country will be subiugate. 
 
 Three. We cannot tell; tis good to feare the worst. 
 
 30 One. Yet rather fight, then; like vnnaturall sonnes. 
 
 Forsake your louing parents in distresse. : i 
 
 Two. Tush, they that haue already taken armes, 
 Are manie fearefuU rnillions in respect 
 Of that small handfuU of our enimies : 
 
 35 But tis a rightfuU quarrell must preuaile; 
 Edward is sonne vnto our late kings sister, 
 Where lohn Valoys is three degrees remoued. 
 
 Woman. Besides, there goes a Prophesie abroad. 
 Published by one that was a Fryer once, 
 
 40 Whose Oracles haue many times prooued true; 
 And now he sayes, 'The tyme will shortly come, 
 Whenas a Lyon, rowsed in the west, , 
 
 Shall Carrie hence the fluer-de-luce of France': 
 These, I can tell yee, and such like surmises 
 
 45 Strike many french men cold vnto the heart. 
 
 Enter a Frenchman. 
 
 Four. Flie, countrymen and cytizens of France 1 
 Sweete-flowring peace, the roote of happie life. 
 Is quite abandoned and expulst the lande; 
 
 16. his time Col. — 23. thoroughly Tyr. and Col. — 27. then you Col.; 
 alii ill AB. — 37. When Col.; where = whereas, a; often in Shak. 
 
in, 2i] 
 
 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 
 
 43 
 
 Insted of whome ransack - constraining; warre 
 Syts like to Rauens vppon your houses topps; 
 Slaughter aud mischiefe walke within your streets, 
 And, vnrestrained, make hauock as they passe; 
 The forme whereof euen now my selfe beheld 
 Vpon this faire mountaine whence I came. 
 For so far off as I directed mine eieSj 
 I might perceaue five Cities all on fircj 
 Come-fieldes and vineyards, burning like an ouen'; 
 And, as the reaking vapour in the wind 
 Toumed but aside, I likewise might disSerhe 
 The poore inhabitants, escapt the flame. 
 Fall numberles vpon the souldiers pikes. 
 Three waies these dredfuU ministers of wrath 
 Do tread the measures of their tragicke march; 
 Vpon the right hand comes the conquering king, 
 Vpon the lefte his hot vnbridled sonne, 
 And in the midst our nations glittering hoast; 
 All which, though distant, yet conspire in one. 
 To leaue a desolation where they come. 
 Flie therefore. Citizens, if you be wise, 
 Seeke out som habitation further off: 
 Here if you staie, your wives will be abused, 
 Your treasure sharde before' your weeping eies; 
 Shelter your selues, for now the storme doth rise. 
 Away, away; me thinks, I heare their drums: — 
 Ah, wreched France, I greatly feare thy fall; 
 Thy glory shaketh like a tottering wall. - 
 
 50 
 
 55 
 
 60 
 
 65 
 
 70 
 
 75 
 
 \Exeunt. 
 
 49. which Cap. conj.; ransackt AB, corr. by Cap. — 50. raven -like 
 upon prop, by Cap. and ad. by Del. ; on Cap.' and Edd. ; Ravens is used as 
 a monosyllabe. — 54. Now, upon Cap., Tyr., and Del. ; fair is used as a disyl- 
 lable. — 55. far as I did direct Cap. and Edd.; direct Del.; directed to be 
 pron. direct'd. — 58. leaking AB, Cap., and Tyr. ; reeking prop, by Cap. 
 and adopted by Del. and Col. — 59. I tourned but aside AB, Turned aside 
 Cap. and Tyr., Ay turned but aside, I might Cap. conj.. Turned but aside 
 Del.' and Col. — 65. hisi is A. — 73. SheUer you your selues AB; /om 
 first struck out by Cap. — 76. \^Exeunt:\ om. A, 
 
44 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [Ill, 3. 
 
 SCENE lit. 
 The Same. Drums. 
 Enter King Edward, and the Erle of Darby, with Souldiors, ■ 
 and GoBiN de Graie. ; . , , , . . ( 
 
 King. Wheres the French man by whose cunning guidance 
 We found the shalow of this Riuer Some, 
 And had direction how to passe the sea? 
 Gobin. Here, my good Lord. 
 5 King. How art thou calde? tell me thy name. 
 
 Gobin. Gobin de Graie, if please your excellence. 
 King. Then, Gobin, for the seruice thou hast done. 
 We here inlarge and giue thee: liberty ; 
 And, for a recompence, beside this good, 
 10 Thou shalt receiue fine hundred markes in golde. — il 
 
 I know not how, we should haue met our sonne,, ■ : / 
 
 Whom now in heart I wish I might behold. : / 
 
 Enter Artg^es. . ;,, , '■.! 
 
 Art. Good newes, my Lord; the prince is hard at hand,' 
 And with him comes Lord Awdley and the rest, 1 
 15 Whome since our landing we could neuer meet 
 
 Enter Prince Edward, IjOK^ Amui.wi, and Souldiers. . 
 K. Edw. Welcome, faire Prince ! How hast thou sped, my 
 Since thy arriual on the coaste of Fraunce? > [sonne,- 
 
 Pr. Edw. SuccesfuUie, I thanke the gratious heauens: 
 Some of their strongest , Cities we haue wbnne,. ! , 
 
 20 As Harflew, Lo, Crotaie, and Carentine, 
 And others wasted; leauing at our heeles 
 A wide apparent feild and beaten path. 
 For sollitarines to progresse in: 
 
 MS' 
 
 C \l~^li,r-U^^ Scene III. Stage -dir. TAe same. Drums, add. by Cap. — i, Where 
 C -2^ Irr. "■ Cap. and E4d. -^guide AB and Edd. ,1 guidance prop, by Cap. and adopted 
 
 rlM-^^^ by Del. — 2. riuer Sone AB, Somme moA. Edd. — 5. tell me om. Cap. 
 and Edd. — 6. if it please Col. — 9. for recomp. AB. — 13. Continued to 
 King in A. — 16. Two lines in B, divided at Prince. — 20. As Harslen, 
 Lie, Cratag, and Carentigne AB. As Harjleur, Lo, Crotage, and Carentan 
 Cap. and Edd. {Loo . . Charenton Col.). 
 
III, 3-3 KING EDWARD THE THIRD., ^ /c<_^ 45 {ic± l^ 0.. 
 
 Yet those that would subroit, we kindly pardned; '"•^-^Wt^-^— -^2<^ . 
 But who in scorne refused our proffered peace, 25 
 
 Indurde the penaltie of sharpe reuenge. 
 
 K. Edw. Ah, Fraunccy why shouldest thou be thus obstinate 
 Agaynst the kind imbracement of thy friends?: 
 How gently had we thought to touch thy brest • 
 And set our foot vpon thy tender mould, 30 
 
 But that, in froward and disdainfuU pride. 
 Thou, like a skittish and vntamed coult, 
 Dost start aside and strike vs with thy heeles? 
 But tel me, Ned, in all thy warlike course, 
 Hast thou not seene the vsurping king of Fraunce? 35 
 
 Pr. Edw. Yes, my good Lord, and not two howers ago,; 
 With full a hundred thousand fighting men 
 Vppon the one side of the riuers banke ; . 
 I on the other; with his multitudes 
 
 I feard he would haue cropt our smaller power: 40 
 
 But happily, perceiuing your approch, 
 He hath withdrawen himselfe to Cressey plaines ; 
 Where, as it seemeth by his good araie. 
 He meanes to byd vs battaile presently. 
 
 K. Edw. He shall be welcome; thats the thing we craue. 45 
 
 Enter King Iohn, Dukes of Normandy, and Lorraine, 
 King of Boheme, yong Phillip, and Souldiers. 
 
 K. Iohn. Edward, know, that Iohn, the true king of Fraunce, 
 Musing thou shouldst incroach vppon his land. 
 And, in thy tyranous proceeding, slay 
 His faithfull subiects, and subuert his Townes, 
 
 Spits in thy face; and in this manner folowing 50 
 
 Obraids thee with thine arrogant intrusion: 
 
 25. But^ For Edd. ; But prop, by Cap. and adopted by Del. ; poffered 
 A. — 27. this A. — 29. gentle B, Cap., and Tyr. — T^y . forward Tyr. — 
 37. an B and Edd. — 38. »/] with AB, of (o') Edd. — 39. And on the 
 other; both his AB, corr. by Cap.; And I on the other Col. — 40. coped 
 Col. conj. — 42. CressV Cap., Crecf Tyr., Cressi Del. — 46. Now, 
 Edward . . , Iohn, true Cap. and Tyr. Read th' true and cp. 1. 137. — 
 51. thy Col. 
 
46 • KING EDWARD THE ' THIRD. [Ill, 3 J 
 
 First, I condenme thee for a fugitiuej ' •■ 
 
 A theeuish pyrate, and a ' needie mate, : ' 
 
 One that hath either no abyding place, ' ' ' 
 
 55 Or else, inhabiting some ba,rraine soile, ' ' ' " 
 
 Where neither hearb or frilitfuU graine is had, ■ ' ' 
 
 Doest altogether Hue 'by pilfering: - ^ 
 
 Next, insomuch thou hast infringed thy faith. 
 
 Broke leage and solemne couenant made with meej 
 6o I hould thee for a falsfr pemitious wretch:- 
 
 And, last of all, although I scome to cope ■ 
 
 With one so much inferior to my selfe. 
 
 Yet, in respect thy thirst is all for golde, 
 
 Thy labour rather to be feared then loued, 
 65 To satisfie thy lust in either parte, ' 
 
 Heere am I come, and with me haue 1 brought 
 
 Exceding store of treasure, perle; and coyne. 
 
 Leaue therefore now to persecute the weake. 
 
 And, armed entring conflict with the armd, 
 70 Let it be seene, mongst other pettie thefts, 
 
 How thou canst win this pillage manfully. 
 
 K. Edw. If gall or wormwood haue a pleasant tast. 
 
 Then is thy sallutation hony-sweete; 
 
 But as the one hath no such propertie, 
 75 So is the other most satiricall. 
 
 Yet wot how I regarde thy worthies tants: 
 
 If thou haue vttred them, to foile m y fame 
 
 Or dym the reputation of my birth. 
 
 Know, that thy woluish barking cannot hurt; 
 80 If slylie to insinuate with the worlde, 
 
 And with a strumpets artifitiall line 
 
 To painte thy vitious and deformed cause. 
 
 Bee well assured, the counterfeit will fade, 
 
 And in the end thy fowle defects be seene; 
 85 But if thou didst it to prouoke me on, 
 
 60. false\ most B and Edd., except Del. ; Elze (I, p. 4) prop, perfidious 
 for pernicious. — 62. such inf. AB, such an inf. Del., so much inf. Cap. 
 and Tyr., with one such, [io] inf. Col. — 64. They A. — 66. / haue B and 
 Edd. — 77. thou hast Cap. conj.; soil prop, by Cap. and adopted by Del. 
 and Col. — 81. line'] hue Col. conj., lime Elze (I, p. 5) conj. 
 
in, 3.]; KING EDWARD THE THIRD.' 
 
 47 
 
 As who should sale, I were but timerovts 
 
 Or coldly negligent did need a spurre, 
 
 Bethinke- thy selfe, how slacke I was at sea; 
 
 How since my landing I haue wonn no townes', . 
 
 Entered no furthet but vpon the cdast, • go 
 
 And there haue euer since securelie slept. ■ 
 
 But if I haue bin otherwise imployd, ■ 
 
 Imagin, Valoys, whether I intende 
 
 To skirmish, not for pillage, but for the Crowne 
 
 Which thou dost weare j and that I vowe to haue, 95 
 
 Or one of vs shall fall into - his graue: 
 
 Pr. Edw. Looke not for crosse inuectiues at our hands, 
 Or rayling execrations of despight; 
 Let creeping serpents, hid iii hollow banckesj 
 Sting with theyr tongues; we haue remorseles swordes, ' ' 100 
 
 And they shall pleade for vs and our affaires. 
 Yet thus much, breefly, by my fathers leaue: 
 As all the immodest poyson of thy throat 
 Is scandalous and most notorious lyes. 
 
 And our pretdnded quarell is truly iust, 105 
 
 So end the battaile when we meet to daie: 
 May eyther of vs prosper and preuaile,' 
 Or, luckles curst, receiue etemall shame! 
 
 K. Edw. That needs no further question; and, I knowe, 
 His conscience witnesseth, it is my right. — - no 
 
 Therfore, Valoys, say, wilt thou yet resigne, 
 Before the sickle's thrust into the Come, 
 Or that inkindled fiiry tume to flame? 
 
 K. lohn. Edward, I know what right thou hast in France; 
 And ere I basely will resigne my Crowne, 1 1 5 
 
 This Champion -field shall be a poole of bloode. 
 And all our prospect as a slaughter-house. 
 
 Pr. Edw. I, that approues thee, tyrant, what thou art: 
 No father, king, or shepheard of thy realme, 
 
 89. Ncm AB. — 90. the\ thy B and Edd., except Del. — 92. other- 
 ■wayes B and Edd. — 94. but the Cap. and Tyr., read th' Crown. — 96. his\ 
 this A. — 99. hide A. — 105. is om. Cap., Tyr., and Del. — 108. crost 
 Col. conj. — 113. turned B and Edd., except Del. — 116. champain Col. 
 
48 THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. [V, 2. 
 
 Cham. Yes, sir; but M. Blague dwells ouer the way. 
 125 Sir Ar. Is not this the George? Before God, theres some 
 
 [villany in this. 
 Cham. S'foote, our signe's remoou'd; this is strange! 
 
 \Exeunt. 
 SCENE TI. 
 Enter Blague, trussing his points. 
 
 Host. Chamberlen, speake vp to the new lodgings, bid Nell 
 looke well to the bakt meats! 
 
 Enter Sir Arthur and Sir Raph. 
 How now, my old Ieneii§ bauke my house, my castle, lie in 
 Waltham all night, and not vnder the Canopie of your host 
 5 Blagues house? 
 
 Sir Ar. Mine host, mine host, we lay all night at the George 
 ''in Waltham; but whether the George be your fee-simple or no, 
 tis a doubtful! question. Looke vpon your signe! 
 
 Host. Body of Saint George, this is mine ouerthwart neigh- 
 10 hour hath done this to seduce my blind customers. He tickle 
 his catastrophe for this; if I do not indite him at next assises 
 for Burglary, let me die of the yellow es; for I see tis no 
 boote in these dayes to serue the good Duke of Norfolke. The 
 villanous world is turnd manger; one lade deceiues another, 
 15 and your Ostler playes his part commonly for the fourth share. 
 Haue wee Commedies in hand, you whorson, villanous male 
 London letcher? 
 
 Sir Ar. Mine host, we haue had the moylingst night of it 
 that euer we had in our liues. 
 20 Host. 1st certaine? 
 
 124. dwells on). B. — 125. before loue theres D and the rest. — 126. 
 Foote D and the rest. — Exeunt om. Edd. 
 
 Scene II. The scene is continued in Tieck. — i — 5. Divided at lodg- 
 ings I meats \ horse \ not \ house in Edd. — I. speake'\ speed L. — 2. meat 
 F and the rest; the stage-dir. Enter . . . added by the pres. Edd. — 3. my 
 old lennerts banke, my horse, my castle most Edd., old jennet's back, my 
 house [Zf] my castle L. house for horse first conj. by Steevens. — 8. doubt- 
 full om. BD and the rest. — 10, II. to seduce ...for this om. EFG. — 
 II. at the next D and the rest. — 12. see it is L. — 14. mangy L. — 
 1 7. London-lecther D, London leether E, London-leather FG. — 20. Is it F 
 and the rest. 
 
V, 2.] THE MEKRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON. 49 
 
 Sir Raph. We haue bin in the Forrest all night almost. 
 
 Host. S'foot, how did I misse you? Hart, I was a-stealing 
 a Bucke there. 
 
 Sir Ar. A. plague on you; we were stayed for you. 
 
 Host. Were you, my noble Romanes? Why, you shall share; 25 
 the venison is a footing. Sine Cerere &" Baccho friget Venus; 
 that is, theres a good breakfast prouided for a marriage thats 
 in my house this morning. 
 
 Sir Ar. A marriage, mine host? 
 
 Hasl. A coniunction copulatiue; a gallant match betweene 30 
 your daughter and M. Raymond Mountchensey, yong luuentus. 
 
 Sir Ar. How? 
 
 Host. Tis firme, tis done. Weele shew you a president i'th 
 
 Sir Raph. How? married? [ciuill law for't. 
 
 Host. Leaue trickes and admiration. Theres a cleanely paire 35 
 of sheetes in the bed in the Orchard chamber, and they shall lie 
 there. What? He doe it; He serue the good Duke of Norfolke. 
 
 Sir Ar. Thou shalt repent this, Blague. 
 
 Sir Raph. If any law in England will make thee smart for 
 this, expect it with all seucrity. 40 
 
 Host. I renounce your defiance, if you parle so roughly, 
 lie barracado my gates against you. Stand, faire bully; Priest, 
 come off from the reireward! What can you say now? Twas 
 done in my house; I haue shelter i'th Court for't. D'yee see yon 
 bay window? I serue the good Duke of Norfolk, and tis his lodg- 45 
 ing. Storm, I care not, seruing the good Duke of Norfolk. Thou 
 art an Actor in this, and thou shalt carry fire in thy face etemally.- 
 
 Enter Smug, Mountchensey, Harry Clare, and Milliscent. 
 
 Smug. Fire, s'blood, theres no fire in England like your 
 Trinidado sack. Is any man heere humorous ? We stole the 
 venison, and weele iustifie it: say you now! 50 
 
 21. Assigned to Sir Ar. in L. — 22. Foote D and the rest; was stealing 
 of a H and the rest. — 26. Venere BDEF. — 27. there is CFG and the rest; 
 that is CFG and the rest. — 31. A^ (i. e. Master) om. L; juvents FG. — 
 33. in the F and the rest. — 36. sheets on the bed D and the rest; bed on 
 the Orchard B, in Orchard Chamber A. — 37. I serue D and the rest. — 
 43. reward EF. — 44. in the F and the rest. — 44, 45. Dee see your bay 
 A, Doe see your bay B, Doe you see yon bay D and the rest. — 48. Fire, 
 nouns, ther's D and the rest. 
 
50 KING EDAVARD THE THIRD. [HI, 3- 
 
 That neuer base affections enter there : 
 
 Fight and be valiant, conquer where thou comst! 
 185 Now follow, Lords, and do him honor too. 
 
 Dar. Edward Plantagenet, prince of Wales, 
 
 As I do set this helmet on thy head, 
 
 Wherewith the chamber of- thy braine is fenst, 
 
 So may thy temples, with Bellonas hand, 
 1 90 Be still adomd with lawrell victorie : 
 
 Fight and be valiant, conquer where thou comst! 
 Aud. Edward Plantagenet, prince of Wales, 
 
 Receiue this lance into thy manly hand; 
 
 Vse it in fashion of a brasen pen, 
 195 To drawe forth bloudie stratagems in France, 
 
 And print thy valiant deeds in honors booke: 
 
 Fight and be valiant, conquer where thou comst! 
 Art. Edward Plantageilet, prince of Wales; 
 
 Hold, take this target, weare it on thy arme ; 
 200 And may the view thereof, like Perseus shield, 
 
 Astonish and transforme thy gazing foes 
 
 To senselesse images of meger death : 
 
 Fight and be valiant, conquer where thou comst! 
 
 K. Edw. Now wants there nought but knighthood, which 
 205 Wee leaue, till thou hast won it in the fielde. [deferd 
 
 Pr. Edw. My gratious father and yee forwarde peeres. 
 
 This, honor you haue done me, animates 
 
 And chears my greene yet scarse appearing strength 
 
 With comfortable good -presaging signes, 
 210 No otherwise then did ould lacobes wordes, 
 
 Whenas he breathed his blessings on his sonnes. 
 
 These hallowed giftes of yours when I prophane. 
 
 Or vse them not to glory of my God, 
 
 To patronage the fatherles and poore, 
 215 Or for the benefite of Englands peace, 
 
 Be numbe my ioynts, waxe feeble both mine armes. 
 
 188. thy] this AB; corr. by Cap. — 189. with'] by Cap. prop. — 
 193. manlike B and Edd, — 197. conquer] vanquish A. — 204. Two 
 lines in B, divided at nought. — 206. Prefix Pr. Edw. om. in A. — 216. Be- 
 numb Tyr. 
 
ni, 4.] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 51 
 
 Wither my hart, that, like a saples tree, 
 I may remayne the map of infamy. 
 
 K. Edit). Then thus our steelde Battailes shall be rainged : 
 The leading of the vawarde, Ned, is thyne; 220 
 
 To dignifie whose lusty spirit the more. 
 We temper it with Audleys grauitie. 
 That, courage and experience ioynd in one. 
 Your manage may be second vnto none: 
 
 For the mayne battells, I will guide my selfe; 225 
 
 And, Darby, in the rereward march behind. 
 That orderly disposd and set in ray, > 
 Let vs to horse; and God graunt vs the daye! \Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 The Same. 
 
 Alarum. Enter a many French men flying. 
 
 After them Prince Edward, running. Then enter 
 
 King Iohn and Duke of Loraine. 
 
 K. Iohn. Oh, Lorrain, say, what meane our men to fly? 
 Our nomber is far greater then our foes. 
 
 Lor. The garrison of Genoaes, my Lorde, 
 That came from Paris, weary with their march. 
 Grudging to be so soddenly imployd, 5 
 
 No sooner in the forefront tooke their place, , 
 But, straite retyring, so dismaide the rest. 
 As likewise they betook themselues to flight. 
 In which, for hast to make a safe escape. 
 
 More in the clustering throng are prest to death, 10 
 
 Then by the ennimie, a thousandfold. 
 
 K. John. O haplesse fortune! Let vs yet assay. 
 If we can counsell some of them to stay. [Exeunt. 
 
 219. thus] this A; battle Col. 
 
 Scene IV. Stage -dir. The same. add. by Cap. — 5. so add. by 
 Cap. — 10. throng-'] through B. — 13. Exeunt, om. A. 
 
52 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [Ill, 5. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 The Same. 
 Enter King Edward and Audley. 
 K, Edw. Lord Audley, whiles our sonne is in the chase. 
 Withdraw your powers vnto this little hill. 
 And heere a season let vs breath our selues. 
 
 Aud. I will, my Lord. \ExU. Sound Retreat. 
 
 5 K. Edw. lust dooming heauen, whose secret prouidence 
 
 To our grosse iudgement is inscrutable. 
 How are we bound to praise thy wondrous works. 
 That hast this day giuen way vnto the right, 
 And made the wicked stumble at them selues ! 
 
 Enter Artoys.. 
 10 Art. Rescue, King Edward! Rescue for thy sonne! 
 K. Edw. Rescue, Artoys? what, is he prisoner. 
 Or by violence fell beside his horse? 
 
 Art. Neither, my Lord; but narrowly beset 
 With turning Frenchmen, whom he did persue, 
 15 As tis impossible that he should scape, 
 Except yor highnes presently descend. 
 
 K. Edw. Tut, let him fight; we gaue him armes to day. 
 And he is laboring for a knighthood, man. 
 
 Enter Derby. 
 Dar. The Prince, my Lord, the Prince! oh, succour him! 
 20 Hees close incompast with a world of odds! 
 
 K. Edw. Then will he win a world of honor too, 
 If he by vallour can redeeme him thence; 
 If not, what remedy? we haue more sonnes 
 Then one, to comfort our declyning age. 
 
 Re-enter Audley. 
 25 Aud. Renowned Edward, giue me leaue, I pray. 
 
 To lead my souldiers where I may releeue 
 Your Graces sonne, in danger to be slayne. 
 
 Scene V. Stage -dir. The same. add. by Cap. — 2. our A; cp. 1. 26. 
 — ID. Art. om. in A. — 12. Or else Cap. and Edd. , but Or may be read 
 as a disyllabic ; fell'd AnonymMS conj. in Col. — 15. it is B. — 24. declying B. 
 
III. 5-] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 
 
 53 
 
 The snares of French, like Emmets on a banke, 
 
 Muster about him; whilst he, Lion- like, 
 
 Intangled in the net of their assaults, 30 
 
 Frantiquely wrends, and bytes the wouen toyle: 
 
 But all in vaine, he cannot free him selfe. 
 
 K. Edw. Audley, content; I will not haue a man, 
 On paine of death, sent forth to succour him: 
 This is the day, ordaynd by desteny, 35 
 
 To season his courage with those greeuous thoughts, 
 That, if he breaketh out, Nestors yeares on earth 
 Will, make him sauor still of this exployt. 
 
 Dar. Ah, but he shall not Hue to see those dayes. 
 
 K. Edw. Why, then his Epitaph is lasting prayse. 40 
 
 Aud. Yet, good my Lord, tis too much wilfulnes, 
 To let his blood be spilt, that may be saude. 
 
 K. Edw. Exclayme no more; for none of you can tell 
 Whether a borrowed aid will serue, or no; 
 
 Perhapps, he is already slayne or tane. 45 
 
 And dare a Falcon when shees in her flight, 
 And cuer after sheele be haggard - like : 
 Let Edward be deliuered by our hands. 
 And still, in danger, heele expect the like; 
 
 But if himselfe himselfe redeeme from thence, 50 
 
 He wil haue vanquisht cheerefuU death and feare, 
 And euer after dread their force no more. 
 Then if they were but babes or Captiue slaues. 
 
 Aud. O cruell Father! Farewell, Edward, then! 
 
 Dar. Farewell, sweete Prince, the hope of chiualry! 55 
 
 Art. O, would my life might ransome him from death! 
 
 K. Edw. But soft, me thinkes I heare \Sound Retreat. 
 
 The dismall charge of Trumpets loud retreat. 
 All are not slayne, 1 hope, that went with him; 
 Some will retume with tidings, good or bad. 60 
 
 36. his green courage with those thoughts Cap. and Edd., except Del. 
 — 37. if he breathe out Nestors yeares on earth, prop, by Cap. and 
 adopted by Del. and Col. — 41. my good Col. — 47. huggard A. — 
 56. Omitted by Col. — 57. Forbear, my lords ; — but soft Cap. and Tyr. ; 
 Stage - dir. added by Del. 
 
4 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. ' [111, 5. 
 
 Enter Prince Edward in tryumph, bearing in his hande his sMuered 
 
 Launce, and the King of Boheme, borne before, wrapt in the Collours. 
 
 They runne and imbrace him. 
 
 Aud. O ioyfull sight! victorious Edward Hues! 
 
 Dar. Welcome, braue Prince ! 
 
 K. Edw. Welcome, Plantagenet! 
 
 Pr. Edw. \kneele and kisse his fathers hand."] 
 
 ' First hauing donne my duety as beseemed, 
 65 Lords, I regreet you all 1 with harty thanksj' 
 And now, behold, after my winters toyle, 
 My paynefuU voyage on the boystrous sea 
 Of warres deuouring gulphes and steely rocks, 
 I bring my fraught vnto the wished port, 
 70 My Summers hopev my trauels sweet reward: 
 And heere, with humble duety, I present 
 This sacrifice, this first fruit of my sword, 
 Cropt and cut downe euen at the gate of death, 
 The king of Boheme, father, whome I slue ; 
 75 Whose thousands had intrencht me round about, 
 And laye as thicke vpon my battered crest. 
 As on an Anuell, with their ponderous glaues : 
 Yet marble courage still did vnderprop; 
 And when my weary armes, with often blowes, 
 80 Like the continuall laboring Wood -mans Axe 
 That is enioynd to fell a load of Oakes, 
 Began to faulter, straight I would remember 
 My gifts yoU' gaue me, and my zealous vow, 
 And then new courage made me fi-esh againe, 
 85 That, in despight, I carud my passage forth. 
 And put the multitude to speedy flyght. 
 Lo, thus hath Edwards hand fild your request, 
 And done, I hope* the duety of a knight. 
 
 72. the first Col. — 74. Bohemia B and Del. — 75. Whom you said 
 AB, Whose thousands Cap. and Edd., Who you said Col., Who you saw 
 Anonymus in Col. — 76. /aid Anon, in Col. — 82. remember] recouer AB, 
 corr. iby Cap. ; Col. prints the line : Would recover, straight I would remeinber. 
 — 85. craud A. — 87. this A ; has Col. 
 
HI, 5.] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 
 
 55 
 
 K. Edw. I, well thou hast deserud a knight -hood, Ned! 
 And, therefore, with thy sword, yet reaking warme 90 
 
 \His Sword borne by a Soldier. 
 With blood of those that sought to be thy bane. 
 Arise, Prince Edward, trusty knight at armes: 
 This day thou hast confounded me with ioy, 
 And proude thy selfe fit heire vnto a king. 
 
 Pr. Edw. Here is a note, my gratious Lord, of those 95 
 
 That in this conflict of our foes were slaine: 
 Eleuen Princes of esteeme, Foure score 
 Barons, a hundred and twenty knights, 
 And thirty thousand common souldiers'; 
 And, of our men, a thousand. 100 
 
 K. Edw. Our God be praised! Now, lohn of Fraunce, I hope. 
 Thou knowest King Edward for no wantonesse. 
 No loue-.sicke cockney, nor his souldiers iades. 
 But which way is the fearefuU king escapt? 
 
 Pr. Edw. Towards Poyctiers, noble father, and his sonnes. 105 
 
 K. Edw. Ned, thou and Audley shall pursue them still; 
 Myselfe and Derby will to Calice streight. 
 And there begyrt that Hauen - towne with seege. 
 Now lies it on an vpshot; therefore strike. 
 
 And wistlie follow, whiles the game's on foote. no 
 
 What Picture's this? 
 
 Pr. Edw. A Pellican, my Lord, 
 
 Wounding her bosome with her crooked beak, 
 That so her nest of young ones may be fed 
 With drops of blood that issue from her hart; 
 The motto Sic et vos, 'and so should you'. \Exeuni. ri5 
 
 90. wreaking B; Stage -dir. after 1. 86 in A. — 91. that"] who Col.; 
 fought] AB and Edd. , sought Tyr. and Col. — 92; in arms Col. — 
 97 — 100. Three lines in AB, div. at Barons \, thousand\, thousand\. — 
 98. Barons, and Earls; u. hundred twenty knights Cap., Tyr., and Col.; 
 and hundred Tyr. ; hundred used as a trisyllable. — 99. private souldiers B, 
 Cap. and Col. — loi. Prefix K. Edw. om. in A. — loi, 102. Div. at France 
 in B. — III. is this "B. — 113. might A. — 115. Exeunt om. B. 
 
56 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [IV, I. 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 Bretagne. Camp of the English. 
 
 Enter Lord Mountford with a Coronet in his hande; with him the 
 
 Earle of Salisbury. 
 
 Moun. My Lord of Salisbury, since by your aide 
 
 Mine ennemie Sir Charles of Bloys is slaine, 
 
 And I againe am quietly possest 
 
 In Brittaines Dukedome, knowe that I resolue, 
 5 For this kind furtherance of your king and you. 
 
 To sweare allegeance to his maiesty: 
 
 In signe whereof receiue this Coronet, 
 
 Beare it vnto him, and, withall, mine othe, 
 
 Neuer to be but Edwards faithful friend. 
 lO Sal. I take it, Mountfort: Thus, I hope, ere long 
 
 The whole Dominions of the Realme of Fraunce 
 
 Wilbe surrendred to his conquering hand. \Exit Mountford. 
 
 Now, if I knew but safely how to passe, 
 
 I would at Calice gladly meete his Grace, 
 15 Whether, I am by letters certified. 
 
 Yet he intends to haue his host remooude. 
 
 It shal be so, this pollicy will serue: — 
 
 Ho, whose within? Bring Villiers to me. 
 
 Enter Villiers. 
 Villiers, thou knowest, thou art my prisoner, 
 20 And that I might for ransome, if I would. 
 
 Require of thee a hundred thousand Francks, 
 Or else retayne and keepe thee captiue still : 
 But so it is, that for a smaller charge 
 Thou maist be quit, and if thou wilt thy selfe. 
 
 Act IV. Scene I. Stage -dir. Bretagne. Camp of the English. 
 add. by Cap. — i. our A. — 8. my B and Edd. — 12. Exii A, om. In 
 B, Exit Mountford Cap. — 14. af] to AB; corr. by Cap. — 16. Yet'\ That 
 Cap. and Edd. — 21. a] an B and Edd. — 24. an if Cap. and Edd. 
 
IV, 2.] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 
 
 57 
 
 And this it is: Procure me but a pasport 25 
 
 Of Charles, the Duke of Normandy, that I 
 
 Without restraint may haue recourse to Callis 
 
 Through all the Countries where he hath to do; 
 
 Which thou maist easely obtayne, I thinke. 
 
 By reason I haue often heard thee say, 30 
 
 He and thyself were students once together: 
 
 And then thou shalt be set at libertie. 
 
 How saiest thou? wilt thou vndertake to do it? 
 
 Vil. I will, my Lord; but I must speake with him. 
 
 Sal. Why, so thou shalt; take Horse, and post from hence: 35 
 Onely before thou goest, sweare by thy faith. 
 That, if thou canst not compasse my desire. 
 Thou wilt returne my prisoner backe againe; 
 And that shalbe sufficient warrant for thee^ 
 
 Vil. To that condition I agree, my Lord, 40 
 
 And will vnfaynedly performe the same. {^Exit. 
 
 Sal.- Farewell, Villiers. — • 
 This once I meane to trie a French mans faith. [^Exii. 
 
 SCENE IL 
 Picardy. The English Camp before Calais. 
 Enter King Edward and Derby, with Souldiers. 
 K. Edw. Since they refuse our profered league, my Lord, 
 And will not ope their gates, and let vs in. 
 We will intrench our selues on euery side. 
 That neither vituals nor supply of men 
 
 May come to succour this accursed towne: 5 
 
 Famine shall combate where our swords are stopt. 
 
 Enter sixe poore Frenchmen. 
 Der. The promised aid, that made them stand aloofe, 
 Is now retirde and gone an other way: 
 
 31. thyself^ thou AB, corr. by Cap.; That he and thou prop, by Cap.; 
 ■wert B. — 32. thou'] thyself Col. — 39. thee] mee AB; corr. by Cap. — 
 43. Thus AB and Edd., This prop, by Cap. and adopted by Del. 
 
 Scene II. Stage - dir. add. by Cap. — 2. their] the B and Edd. — 
 6. Stage -dir. behind 1. 9 in Cap. and Edd.; six] some Cap. and Edd. 
 
58 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [IV, 2. 
 
 It will repent them of their stubborne will. 
 10 But what are these poore ragged slaues, my Lord? 
 
 K. Edw. Aske what they are ; it seemes, they come from Callis. 
 Der. You wretched patterns of dispayre and woe, 
 What are you, lining men or glyding ghosts, 
 Crept from your graues to walke vpon the earth? 
 15 Poore. No ghosts, my Lord, but men that breath a life 
 
 Farre worse then is the quiet sleepe of death : 
 Wee are distressed poore inhabitants. 
 That long haue been deseased, sicke, and lame; 
 And now, because we are not fit to serue, 
 20 The Captayne of the towne hath thrust vs foorth. 
 That so expence of victuals may be saued. 
 
 K. Edw. A charitable deed, no doubt, and worthy praise ! 
 But how do you imagine then to speed? 
 We are your enemies ; in such a case 
 25 We can no lesse but put ye to the sword, 
 
 Since, when we proffered truce, it was refusde. 
 
 Poore. And if your grace no otherwise vouchsafe. 
 As welcome death is vnto vs as life. 
 
 K. Edw. Poore silly men, much wrongd and more distrest ! 
 30 Go, Derby, go, and see they be relieud; 
 Command that victuals be appoynted them, 
 And giue to euery one fine Crownes a peece : 
 
 \Exeunt Derby and Frenchmen. 
 The Lion scornes to touch the yeelding pray, 
 And Edwards sword must flesh it selfe in such 
 35 As wilfull stubbornnes hath made peruerse. 
 
 Enter Lord Pearsie. 
 Lord Persie! welcome: whats the newes in England? 
 
 Per. The Queene, ray Lord, commends her to your Grace, 
 And from hir highnesse and the Lord viceregent 
 
 II. Two 11. in B, div. at seemes. — 12. partners B. — 13. ^« B and 
 Edd. — 22. no doubt ora. Cap., Tyr., Del. — 25. you B and Edd. — 27. An 
 if Cap. and Edd. — 30. Good Derby Cap. prop. — 32. Stage - dir. add. 
 by Cap. — 34. fresh AB, flesh conj. by Del, and Col. — 37. comes heere 
 AB; corr. by Cap. — 38. vice-gerent Del. 
 
IV, 2.J KING KDWARD THE THIRB. 59 
 
 I bring this happie tidings of successe: 
 
 Dauid of Scotland, lately vp in armes, 40 
 
 Thinking, belike, he soonest should preuaile, 
 
 Your highnes being absent from the Realme, 
 
 Is, by the fruitfull seruice of your peeres 
 
 And painefuU trauell of the Queene her selfe, 
 
 That, big with child, was euery day in armes, 45 
 
 Vanquisht, subdude, and taken prisoner. 
 
 K. Edw. Thanks, Persie, for thy newes, with all my hart! 
 What was he, tooke him prisoner in the field? 
 
 Per. A Squire, my Lord; lohn Copland is his name: 
 Who since, intreated by her Maiestie, 50 
 
 Denies to make surrender of his prize 
 To anie but vnto your grace alone; 
 Whereat the Queene is greouously displeasd. 
 
 K. Edw. Well, then weele haue a Pursiuaunt dispatcht. 
 To summon Copland hither out of hand, 55 
 
 And with him he shall bring his prisoner king. 
 
 Per. The Queene's, my Lord, her selfe by this at Sea, 
 And purposeth, as soone as winde will serue. 
 To land at Callis, and to visit you. 
 
 K. Edw. She shall be welcome ; and, to wait her comming, 60 
 He pitch my tent neere to the sandy shore. 
 
 Enler a French Captayne. 
 
 Capt. The Burgesses of Callis, mighty king, 
 Haue by a counsell willingly decreed 
 To yeeld the towne and Castle to your hands, 
 Vpon condition, it will please your grace 65 
 
 To graunt them benefite of life and goods. 
 
 K. Edw. They wil so ! Then, belike, they may command. 
 Dispose, elect, and goueme as they list. 
 No, sirra, tell them, since they did refuse 
 Our princely clemencie at first proclaymed, 70 
 
 43. faithfull B and Edd. — 49. A Esquire A. — 54. dispatch A. — 
 57. Queene my Lord A; The queen, my lord, herself s by Cap. prop. — 
 61. Stage-dir. French add. by Del. — 62. Prefix Capt. om. in A. 
 
6o KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [IV, 3. 
 
 They shall not haue it now, although they would; 
 
 I will accept of nought but fire and sword. 
 
 Except, within these two daies, sixe of them. 
 
 That are the welthiest marchaunts in the towne, 
 75 Come naked, all but for their linnen shirts. 
 
 With each a halter hangd about his necke. 
 
 And prostrate yeeld themselues, vpon their knees. 
 
 To be afflicted, hanged, or what I please; 
 
 And so you may informe their masterships. 
 
 [Exeunt K. Edward and Percy. 
 80 Cap. Why, this it is to trust a broken stafFe: 
 
 Had we not been perswaded, lohn our king 
 
 Would with his armie haue releeud the towne. 
 
 We had not stood vpon defiance so: 
 
 Bu£ now tis past that no man can recall, 
 85 And better some do go to wrack then all. [Exit. 
 
 SCENE ni. 
 
 Poiiou. Fields near Poitiers. The French camp; Tent of the Duke 
 
 of Normandy. 
 Enter Charles of Normandy and Villiers. 
 
 Charles. I wounder, Villiers, thou shouldest importune me 
 For one that is our deadly ennemie. 
 
 Vil. Not for his sake, my gratious Lord, so much 
 Am I become an earnest aduocate, 
 5 As that thereby my ransome will be quit. 
 
 Charles. Thy ransome, man ? why, needest thou talke of that? 
 Art thou not free? and are not all occasions, 
 That happen for aduantage of our foes, 
 To be accepted of, and stood vpon? 
 10 Vil. No, good my Lord, except the same be iust; 
 
 For profit must with honor be comixt. 
 Or else our actions are but scandalous. 
 
 73. this B. — 79. (Stage-div.) K. Edwaed and Percy add. by Del. 
 Scene III. Stage - dir. as given by Cap. — 8. 0/] on prop, by Cap. 
 and adopted by Del.; of our'] over Col. conj, — 9. unstood upon Cap. prop. 
 
IV, 3-] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 6 1 
 
 But, letting passe these intricate obiections, 
 Wilt please your highnes to subscribe, or no? 
 
 Charles. Villiers, I will not, nor I cannot do it; 15 
 
 Salisbury shall not haue his will so much. 
 To clayme a pasport how it pleaseth himselfe. 
 
 Vil. Why, then I know the extremitie, my Lord; 
 I must returne to prison whence I came. 
 
 Charles. Retume? I hope thou wilt not; 20 
 
 What bird that hath escapt the fowlers gin, 
 Will not beware how shees insnard againe? 
 Or, what is he, so senceles and secure, 
 That, hauing hardely past a dangerous gulfe, 
 Will put him selfe in perill there againe? 25 
 
 Vil. Ah, but it is mine othe, my gratious Lord, 
 Which 1 in conscience may not violate, 
 Or else a kingdome should not draw me hence. 
 
 Charles. Thine othe? why, that doth bind thee to abide: 
 Hast thou not sworne obedience to thy Prince? 30 
 
 Vil. In all things that vprightly he commands: 
 But either to perswade or threaten me. 
 Not to performe the couenant of my word, 
 Is lawlesse, and I need not to obey. 
 
 Charles. Why, is it lawful! for a man to kill, 35 
 
 And not, to breake a promise with his foe? 
 
 Vil. To kill, my Lord, when warre is once procla)'md, 
 So that our quarrel be for wrongs receaude. 
 No doubt, is lawfully permitted vs: 
 
 But, in an othe, we must be well aduisd, 40 
 
 How we do sweare; and, when we once haue sworne. 
 Not to infringe it, though we die therefore: 
 Therefore, my Lord, as willing I returne. 
 As if I were to flie to paradise. 
 
 Charles. Stay, my Villiers; thine honorable minde 45 
 
 Deserues to be eternally admirde. 
 Thy sute shalbe no longer thus deferd; 
 
 17. please prop, by Cap. and adopted by Del. — 20. Villiers add. at 
 the end of the line by Cap. and Edd. — 22. be ware Cap. and Del. — 26. my 
 othe B and Edd. — 45. thy B and Edd. 
 
62 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [IV, 3. 
 
 Giue me the paper, lie subscribe to it: 
 
 And, where tofore 1 loued thee as Villiers, 
 50 Heereafter lie embrace thee as my selfe; 
 
 Stay, and be still in fauour with thy Lord. 
 
 Vil. I humbly thanke your grace; I must dispatch. 
 
 And send this pasport first vnto the Earle, 
 
 And then I will attend your highnes pleasure. 
 55 Charles, Do so, Villiers ; — and Charles, when he hath neede. 
 
 Be such his souldiers, howsoeuer he speed! \Exit Villiers. 
 
 Enter King Iohn. 
 K. Iohn. Come, Charles, and arme thee ; Edward is intrapt. 
 The Prince of Wales is falne into our hands, 
 And we haue compast him, he cannot scape. 
 60 Charles. But will your highnes fight to-day? 
 
 K. Iohn. What elsfe, my son? hees scarse eight thousand 
 And we are three score thousand at the least. [strong, 
 
 Charles. I haue a prophecy, my gratious Lord, 
 Wherein is written, what successe is like 
 65 To happen vs in this outragious warre ; 
 It was deliuered me at Cresses field 
 By one that is an aged Hermyt there. 
 
 \Reads'\ 'When fethered foul shal make thine army tremble, 
 And flint- stones rise and breake the battell-ray, 
 70 Then thinke on him that doth not now dissemble; 
 
 .For that shalbe the haples dreadfull day: 
 Yet, in the end, thy foot thou shalt aduance 
 As farre in England as thy foe in Fraunce.' 
 K. Iohn. By this it seemes we shalbe fortunate: 
 75 For as it is impossible that stones 
 
 Should euer rise and breake the battaile-ray. 
 Or airie foule make men in armes to quake. 
 So is it likej we shall not be subdudec 
 Or say this might be true, yet in the end, 
 80 Since he doth promise we shall driue him hence 
 
 58. has Col. — 61. Two 11. in B, div. at sonne ; Cap. prop. To day! 
 What else, my son. — 66. Crecy' Tyr., CressV Del. — 68. {Reads'^ add', 
 by Cap. 
 
iV, 4.] KING EDAVARD THE THIRD. 63 
 
 And forrage their Countrie as they haue don ours, 
 
 By this reuenge that losse will seeme the lesse. 
 
 But all are fryuolous fancies, toyes, and dreames: 
 
 Once we are sure we haue insnard the sonne, 
 
 Catch we the father after how we can. [Exeunt. 85 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 The same. The English Camp. 
 
 Enter Prince Edward, Audley, and others. 
 
 Pr. Edw. Audley, the armes of death embrace vs round, 
 And comfort haue we none, saue that to die; 
 We pay sower earnest for a sweeter life. 
 At Cressey field our Clouds of Warlike smoke 
 Chokt vp those French mouths and disseuered them: 5 
 
 But now their multitudes of millions hide, 
 Masking as twere, the beautious burning Sunne, 
 Leaning no hope to vs, but sullen darke 
 And eielesse terror of all -ending night. 
 
 And. This suddaine, mightie, and expedient head 10 
 
 That they haue made, faire Prince, is wonderfuU. 
 Before vs in the vallie lies the king, 
 Vantagd with all that heauen and earth can yeeld; 
 His partie stronger battaild then our whole: 
 
 His Sonne, the brauing Duke of Normandie, 15 
 
 Hath trimd the Mountaine on our right hand vp 
 In shining plate, that now the aspiring hill 
 Shewes like a siluer quarrie or an orbe. 
 Aloft the which the Banners, bannarets, 
 
 And new-replenisht pendants cuff the aire 20 
 
 And beat the windes, that for their gaudinesse 
 Struggles to kisse them: on our left hand lies 
 Phillip, the younger issue of the king, 
 Coting the other hill in such arraie. 
 
 81. Cap. prop, to strike out And. 
 
 Scene IV. Stage -dir. added by Cap. — 3. To pay Cap. and Tyr. 
 22. Struggle Col. 
 
64 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [IV, 4. 
 
 25 That all his guilded vpright pikes do seeme 
 
 Streight trees of gold, the pendants leaues; 
 
 And their deuice of Antique heraldry, 
 
 Quartred in coUours, seeming sundry fruits, 
 
 Makes it the Orchard of the Hesperides : 
 30 Behinde vs too the hill doth beare his height, 
 
 For like a halfe Moone, opening but one way, 
 
 It rounds vs in; there at our backs are lodgd 
 
 The fatall Crosbowes, and the battaile there 
 
 Is gouemd by the rough Chattillion. 
 35 Then thus it stands: the valleie for our flight 
 
 The king binds in; the hils on either hand 
 
 Are proudly royalized by his sonnes; 
 
 And on the Hill behind stands certaine death 
 
 In pay and seruice with Chattillion. 
 40 Pr. Edw. Deathes name is much more mightie then his deeds; 
 ■^ Thy parcelling this power hath made it more. 
 
 As many sands as these my hands can hold. 
 
 Are but my handful of so many sands; 
 
 Then, aH the world, and call it but a power, 
 45 Easely tane vp, and quickly throwne away: 
 — ^ But if I stand to count them sand by sand, 
 
 The number would confound my memorie. 
 
 And make a thousand millions of a taske. 
 
 Which briefelie is no more, indeed, then one. 
 50 These quarters, squadrons, and these regiments, 
 
 Before, behinde vs, and on either hand. 
 
 Are but a power: When we name a man, 
 
 His hand, his foote, his head hath seuerall strengthes; 
 
 And being al but one selfe instant strength, 
 55 Why, all this many, Audely, is but one. 
 
 And we can call it all but one mans strength. 
 
 He that hath farre to goe, tels it by miles; 
 
 If he should tell the steps, it kills his hart: 
 
 26. pendant AB; pendant streamers, leaves Cap., Tyr., and Del.; -with 
 pendant leaves Col. — 28. sundy A. — 30. t6o'\ two AB; beare"] rear Col. 
 conj. — II- fight Col. — 35—37. Two lines in B, divided at hinds in. — 
 44. but one Col. — 45. Is easily ta'en Cap. and Tyr. — 50. These quartered 
 squadrons Cap. and Tyr. — 53. have Cap. and Edd. — 56. all om. Tyr. 
 
ly, .4.ii KlINqr EDWARD THE THIRD.; 65 
 
 The drops are infinite, that make a floud, 
 
 And yet, thou knowest, we call it but a Raine. 60 
 
 There is but one Fraunce and onp King of Fraunce, 
 
 That Fraunce hath no, more kings; and that same kingj 
 
 Hath but the puissant legion of, one .king. 
 
 And we haue one : Then, apprehend, no pds, 1 
 
 For one to one is faire equalitie. . ,i . 65 
 
 Enter an Herald from King Iohn. 
 What tiding^, messeiiger? be playne and briefe. 
 
 Her. The king of Fraunce, my soueraigne Lord and master, 
 Greeteth by me his fo, the Prince of Wales: 
 If thou call forth a hundred men of name. 
 
 Of Lords, Knights', Squires, and English gentlemen, 70 
 
 And with thyselfe and those ' kneele' at his feete, 
 He straight will fold his bloody collburs vp. 
 And ransome shall redeenie Hues forfeited; 
 If not, this day shall drinke more English blood, 
 Then ere was buried in bur Bryttish earth. 75 
 
 What is the answere to his profered mercy? 
 
 Pr. Edw. This heauen, that coiiers Fraunce, containes the 
 That drawes from me submissiue ofizons; [mercy 
 
 That ^uch base breath' should vanish from rny lips, 
 To vrge the plea of mercie to a man, ' 86 
 
 The Lord forbid! Returne, and telLthy king,_ 
 
 My tongue is ifl'ade of Steele, and it shall beg 
 
 My mercie on his coward burgonetj 
 
 Tell him, my colours are as red as his, 
 
 My men as bold, our English armes as strong; 85 
 
 Returne him' my defiance in his face. 
 
 Her. I go. \Exit. 
 
 Enter another Herald. 
 Pr. Edw. What newes with thee? 
 
 Her. The Duke of Normandie, my Lord and master, 
 Pittying thy youth is so ingirt with peril!, 
 
 61. and first add. by Cap. — 68. Greets by me AB, Greets thus by 
 me Cap., Tyr., and Del., Greetetti by me Col. — 69. cull forth Col. coiij.j 
 an B and Edd. ; hundreth B. — 70. Esquires A. — 75. your conj. in Col. 
 — 81 iky'] the A. — 87. {Exit.l om. A; Herald (Stage -dir.) add. by Del, 
 
 5 
 
66 KIN(J EDWARD THE THIRD.' [IV, •4.' 
 
 90 By me hath sent a nitnble - ioynt'ed' fehnet, • 
 
 As swift as euef yet thoii didst bestride; '" '' ' ' 
 
 And therewitha;!!' lie counsels ' thee ■ to flie; ' 
 
 Else death himself hath sworne that thoU' shalt die:.'"- ' 
 Pr. Edw. Back with the' beSast vhto the bekst that ^ferit him!' 
 
 95 Tell him, I cannot' sit al cowards horse;' ■ ' "■ " ' '""' 
 Bid him to -dale bestride the iade ihimsel'fe; ' "" 
 
 For I will staine my horse quite ore with bloud. 
 And double guild my'spbrs, but I will catch him; 
 So tell the carping boy, anA g^t tliee gone. ' \_Exit Herald. 
 
 Enter another Herald. , , 
 
 100 Her. Edward of Wales, Phillip, the secoiid, sonne , ,, 
 
 To the most mightie phristian.king, of Fraiice,; ,, ., ,,, , r ,- 
 Seeing thy bodies liuing-date expird, ,;;;., ^i 
 
 All full of charitie and christian ,loue, , , . . .: 
 
 Commends this booke, full fraught with holy prayers, , , 
 
 105 To thy faire hand, and, for thy hpure of lyfe;, ; _. , ^.j , ,^ 
 Intreats thee that tjipu, meditate therein, , , _, , . . 
 
 And arme thy soulp for hir long iourpiey towards. 
 Thus haue I done his bidding, and returne. ,, .^, ,, 
 
 Pr. Edw, Herald of I?billip, greet thy. Lord from roe:, 
 
 no All good that he can send, 1 can receiue; , . , 
 
 But thinkst thou not, the vnaduised boy , ^,, ] ,1 
 
 Hath wrongd himselfe in thus far tendering ine? ,,, ., 
 Haply he cannot praie without th,e booke, . , , ^^ ,/ 
 
 — I thinke him no diuine extempprall — , , , , 
 
 115 Then render backe this common place of prayer, ,,_ , 
 
 To do himselfe good in aduersitie; ,,,, 
 
 Besides he knows not my sinnes qualitie, \^\^ 
 
 And therefore knowes no praiers for my auaile ; 
 Ere night his praier may be to praie to God, 
 
 120 To put it in my heart to heare his praier. 
 So tell the courtly wanton, and te gone. 
 
 Her. I go. \_Elxit Herald. 
 
 99. capring K\ \_Exit Herald.'] smA Herald after' another add. by Del. 
 — 104. holy add. by Cap. and Tyr. — 112. thus] this A; fdrre B: -^ 
 113^ Happily A. — 122. {Exit Heraldry om. A. 
 
IV, 4-] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 67 
 
 Pr. Edw. How confident their strength and number makes 
 Now, Audley, sound those siluer winges of thine, [them! — 
 And let those milke- white messengers of time 125 
 
 Shew thy times learning in this dangerous time. 
 Thyselfe art bruis'd and bit with many broiles, 
 And stratagems forepast with yron pens 
 Are texted in thine honorable face; 
 
 Thou art a married man in this distresse, 130 
 
 But danger wooes me as a blushing maide : 
 Teach me an answere to this perillous tirde. 
 
 Aud. To die is all as common as to liue: 
 The one in choice, the other holds in chase; 
 
 For, from the instant we begin to liue, 135 
 
 We do pursue and hunt the time to die: 
 First bud we, then we blow, and after seed, 
 Then, presently, we fall; and, as a shade 
 Followes the bodie, so we follow death. 
 
 If, then, we hunt for death, why do we feare it? 140 
 
 If we feare it, why do we follow it? 
 If we do feare, how can we shun it? 
 If we do feare, with feare we do but aide 
 The thing we feare, to seize on vs the sooner: 
 If wee feare not, then no resolued proffer 145 
 
 Can ouerthrow the limit of our fate; 
 For, whether ripe or rotten, drop we shall. 
 As we do drawe the lotterie of our doome. 
 
 Pr. Edw. Ah, good olde man, a thousand thousand armors 
 These words of thine haue buckled on my backe: 150 
 
 Ah, what an idiot hast thou made of lyfe. 
 To seeke the thing it feares! and how disgrast 
 The imperiall victorie of murdring death. 
 Since all the Hues, his conquering arrowes strike, 
 Seeke him, and he not them, to shame his glorie! 155 
 
 I will not giue a pennie for a lyfe. 
 Nor halfe a halfepenie to shun grim death. 
 
 124. strings Del. ■ — 1 27. brnis'd'\ busic AB, corr. by Cap.; bit\ bent 
 Cap. and Tyr. — 129. texed B, Cap., and Tyr. — 141. Or, if we Cap. and 
 Tyr. — 142. Om. in Cap. and Edd. — 151. thou hast made Col. 
 
 5* 
 
68 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [IV, 5. 
 
 Since for to livie is but to seeke to die, 
 And dying but beginning of new lyfe. 
 160 Let come the houre when he that rules it will! 
 
 To Hue or die I hold indifferent. [Exmni. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 The same. The French Camp. 
 
 Enter King Iohn and Charles. 
 
 K. Iohn. A sbdaine darkneS hath defast the skie, 
 The windes are crept into their caues for feare. 
 The leaues moue not, the world is husht and stil', 
 The birds cease singing, and the wandriug brookes 
 5 Murmure no wonted greeting to their shores; 
 Silence attends some wonder and expecteth 
 That heauen should pronounce some" prophecie : ' 
 Where or from whome proceeds this silence, Charles? 
 Charles. Our men, with open mouthes and staring eyes, 
 10 Looke on each other, as they did attend 
 
 Each others wordes, and yet no creature speakes; 
 A tongue-tied feare hath made a midnight houre. 
 And speeches sleepe through all the waking regions. 
 
 K. Iohn. But now the pompeous Sunne, in all his pride, 
 1 5 Lookt through his golden coach vpon the worldei 
 And, on a sodaine, hath he hid himselfe. 
 That now the vnder- earth is as a graue, 
 
 Darke, deadly, silent, and vncomfprtable. \A clamor of rauens. 
 Harke, what a deadly outcrie do I heare? 
 20 Charles. Here comes my brother Phillip. 
 
 K. Iohn. All dismaid: 
 
 Enter Phillip. 
 What fearefuU words are those thy lookes presage? 
 Phil. A flight, a flight! 
 
 Scene V. Stage -dir. added by Cap. — 3. wood prop, by Cap. and 
 adopted by Del. — 8. Whence prop, by Cap. and adopted by Del. — 19. a 
 om. B. — 20. {Enter Phillip.] add. by Del. — 20, 21. All dismaid . . . 
 presage one line in A, two lines in B, divided at words; All dismaid put 
 in a line by itself in mod. Edd. 
 
IV, 5-] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 69 
 
 K. John. Coward, what flight? thou liest, there needs no 
 Phil. A flight. [flight. 
 
 K. lohn. Awake thy crauen powers, and tell on 25 
 
 The substance of that verie feare indeed, 
 
 Which is so gastly printed in thy face: 
 
 What is the matter? 
 
 Phil. A flight of vgly rauens 
 
 Do croke and houer ore our souldiers heads. 
 
 And keepe in triangles and cornerd squares, 30 
 
 Right as our forces are imbatteled; 
 With their approach there came this sodain fog, 
 Which now hath hid the airie floor of heauen 
 And made at noone a night vnnaturall 
 
 Vpon the quaking and dismaied world: 35 
 
 In briefe, our souldiers haue let fall their armes. 
 And stand like metamorphosd images, 
 Bloudlesse and pale, one gazing on another. 
 
 K. lohn. I, now I call to mind the prophesie, 
 But I must giue no enterance to a feare. — 40 
 
 Returne, and harten vp those yeelding soulcs: 
 Tell them, the rauens, seeing them in armes. 
 So many faire against a famisht few. 
 Come but to dine vpon their handieworke 
 
 And praie vpon the carrion that they kill: 45 
 
 For when we see a horse laid downe to die, 
 Although he be not dead, the rauenous birds 
 Sit watching the departure of his life; 
 Euen so these rauens for the carcases 
 
 Of those poore English, that are markt to die, 50 
 
 Houer about, and, if they crie to vs, 
 Tis but for meate that we must kill for them. 
 Awate, and comfort vp my souldiers, 
 And sound the trumpets, and at once dispatch 
 This litle busines of a silly fraude. {Exit Philip. 55 
 
 26. The very substance of that feare prop, by Cap. and adopted by 
 Dei. — 11. ftoorl flower AB. — 41. these AB. — 47. he be add. by Cap., 
 Tyr. , and Del. — 50. these B. — 55. {^Exit Prince.^ A. 
 
yo KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [IV, 5- 
 
 Another noise. Salisbury brought in by a French Captaine. 
 
 Cap. Behold, my liege, this knight and fortie mo, 
 Of whom the better part are slaine and fled, , 
 With all indeuor sought to breake our rankes,, 
 And make their waie to the incompast prince: 
 60 Dispose of him as please your maiestie. 
 
 K. John. Go, and the next bough, souldier, that thou seest. 
 Disgrace it with his bodie presently; 
 For I do hold a tree in France too good 
 To be the gallowes of an English theefe. 
 65 Sal. My Lord of Normandie, I haue your passe 
 And warrant for my safetie through this land. 
 
 Charles. Villiers procurd it for thee, did he not?^ 
 Sal. He did. 
 
 Charles. And it is currant, thou shalt freely passe. 
 70 K. John. I, freely to the gallows to be hangd. 
 Without deniall or impediment: — 
 Awaie with him! 
 
 Charles. I hope your highnes will not so disgrace me. 
 And dash the vertue of my seale at armes: 
 75 He hath my neuer- broken name to shew, 
 Carectred with this princely hand of mine; 
 And rather let me leaue to be a prince 
 Than break the stable verdict of a prince: 
 I doo beseech you, let him passe in quiet. 
 80 K. lohn. Thou and thy word lie both in my command; 
 What canst thou promise that I cannot breake? 
 Which of these twaine is greater infamie, 
 To disobey thy father or thyselfe? 
 Thy word, nor no mans, may exceed his power; 
 85 Nor that same man doth neuer breake his worde, 
 That keepes it to the vtmost of his power. 
 The breach of faith dwels in the soules consent: 
 Which if thyselfe without consent doo breake. 
 Thou art not charged with the breach of faith, 
 go Go, hang him: for thy lisence lies in mee, 
 
 And my constraint stands the excuse for thee. 
 
 56. more mod. Edd. — 73 — 79. Given to VlL. in A. 
 
IV, 5-J KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 
 
 71 
 
 Charles. What, am I not a soldier in my word? 
 Then, armes, adieu, and let them fight that list! 
 Shall I not glue my girdle from my wast, 
 
 But with a gardion I shall be controld, 05 
 
 To saie, I may not giue my things awaie? 
 Vpon my soule, had Edward, prince of Wales, 
 Ingagde his word, writ downe his noble hand 
 For all your knights to passe his fathers land. 
 The roiall king, to grace his warlike sonne, 100 
 
 Would not alone safe conduct giue to them. 
 But with all bountie feasted them and theirs. 
 
 K. lohn. Dwelst thou on presidents ? Then be it so ! 
 Say, Englishman, of what degree thou art 
 
 Sal. An Earle in England, though a prisoner here, 105 
 
 And those that knowe me, call me Salisburie. 
 
 K. lohn. Then,. Salisburie, say whether thou art bound. 
 
 Sal. To Callice, where my liege. King Edward, is. 
 
 K. lohn. To Callice, Salisburie? Then to Callice packe, 
 And bid the king prepare a noble graue, no 
 
 To put his princely sonne, blacke Edward, in. 
 And as thou trauelst westward from this place, 
 Some two leagues hence there is a loftie hill, 
 Whose top seemes toplesse, for the imbracing skie 
 Doth hide his high head in her azure bosome ; 115 
 
 Vpon whose tall top when thy foot attaines, 
 Looke backe vpon the humble vale beneath, 
 Humble of late, but now made proud with armes, 
 And thence behold the wretched prince of Wales, 
 Hoopt with a band of yron round about. 120 
 
 After which sight, to Callice spurre amaine. 
 And saie, the prince was smoothered, and not slaine : 
 And tell the king, this is not all his ill; 
 
 102. Elze (Notes I, 10) suggests to read bounty'd = bounty had. But 
 see Shak. Cor. IV. 6. 35 : We should by this, to all our lamentation. If he 
 had gone forth consul, found it so, and Dekker, Shoemakers' Holiday III. 3. 61 : 
 The Ruling girle Would willingly accepted Hammons loue. — 10'] . ■whither '&. 
 
 — 112. westwards Tyr. — 116. Unto prop, by Cap. and adopted by Del. 
 
 — 117. below Cap. and Edd, — 120. bond A. 
 
72 KING EDWARD THE THIKD. [IV, 6'. 
 
 For I will greet him, ere he thinkes I will. 
 125 Awaie, be gone; the smoake but of our shot 
 
 Will choake our foes, though bullet^ hit them riot' \_Exii. 
 
 ' SCENE VL'.' ■-■• t ■ - ' ■- '':'■■ 
 The sanie. A Part of the Field of Battle. '' ' ' 
 Alarum. Enter Prince Edward and Artoys. ; 
 
 Art. How fares your ja^race? are you not shot, my Lord? 
 
 Pr. Edw. No, deare Artoys; but, choakt with dust and 
 And stept aside for breath and fresher aire. [smoake. 
 
 Art. Breath then, and too it againel The amazed ;Erench 
 5 Are quite distract with gazing on the crowes; ' 
 
 And, were our quiuers full of shafts againe,: I i 
 
 Your grace should see a glorious day of this: — ' 
 O, for more arrowesJ Lord,- that's our want. ' • 
 
 Pr. Edw. Courage, Artoys 1 a fig for feathered shafts, i 
 lo When feathered foules doo bandie on our side! il' : .!/' 
 What need we fight, and sweate, and keepe a coiie. 
 When railing crowes outscolde our aduersaries? 
 Vp, vp, Artoys ! The ground itselfe is armd 
 With fire -containing, flint; command our bowes 
 15 To hurle awaie their pretie - colored Ew, 
 And to it with stones : Awaie, Artoys, awaie ! 
 My soule doth prophesie we win the daie. \Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE VII. 
 
 The same. Another Part of the Field of Battle. 
 
 Alarum. Enter King Iohn. 
 
 K. Iohn. Our multitudes are in themselues confounded, 
 Dismayed, and distraught; swift -starting feare 
 
 126. [Exit.] om. B. 
 
 Scene VI. Stage -dir. add. by Cap. — 4. to't Cap. and Edd. — 
 8. that is Cap. and Edd. — 14. With ora. AB and Del. — 16. to't Cap. 
 and Edd. 
 
 Scene VII. No scene marked in Edd. — i. K. Iohn om. A. 
 
IV, 7-] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 73 
 
 Hath buzd a cold diSmaie through all our armie, 
 
 And euerie pettie disaduantage promp'tes 
 
 The feare- possessed abiect soul' to flie. 5 
 
 Myselfe, whose spirit is Steele to their dull lead, 
 
 What with recalling of the prophesie, 
 
 And that our natiue stones from English armes 
 
 Rebell against vs, finde myselfe attainted 
 
 With strong surprise of weake and yeelding feare., ,1 10 
 
 Enter Charles. 
 Charles. Fly, father, flie! the French do kill the French, 
 Some, that' would stand, let driue at some that flie ; 
 Our drums strike nothing but discouragement, 
 Our trumpets sound dishonor and retire; 
 
 The spirit of feare, that feareth nought but death, 15 
 
 Cowardly workes confusion on itselfe. 
 
 Enkr Phillip. 
 
 Phil. Plucke out your eies, and see not this dales shame! 
 An arme hath beate an armie ; one poore Dauid 
 Hath with a stone foild twentie stout Goliahs; 
 
 Some twentie naked staruelings, with small flints, 20 
 
 Hath driuen backe a puisant host of men, 
 Araid and fenst in all a ccoutrements. 
 
 K. John. Mordieu, they quoit at vs, and kill vs up; 
 No lesse than fortie thousand wicked e lders 
 Haue fortie leane slaues this dale stoned to death. 25 
 
 Charles. O, that I were some other countryman! 
 This dale hath set derision on the French, 
 And all the world will blurt and scorne at vs. 
 
 K. John. What, is there no hope left? 
 
 Phil. No hope, but death, to burie vp our shame. 30 
 
 K. John. Make vp once more with me; the twentieth part 
 Of those that Hue, are men inow to quaile 
 The feeble handful! on the aduerse part. 
 
 II. Charles om. A. — 17. Phil. om. A. — 2i. Haue B and Edd. — 
 
 22 f accomplementsf AB and Edd. — 23. quai^ AB. — 28. wilt A, 
 
 'H-^-^S i'/A 
 
74 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [IV, 8, 
 
 Charles. Then charge againe: if heaven be not opposd,- ' 
 35 We cannot loose the daie. 
 
 K. John. On, awaie ! [Exeunt 
 
 SCENE VIII. , 
 The same. Another Part of the Field of Battle. 
 Enter AuDLEY, wounded, and rescued by two squires. 
 
 Esq. How fares my Lord? 
 
 Aud. Euen as a man may 4o> 
 
 That dines at such a bloudie feast as this. 
 
 Esq. I hope, my Lord, that is no mortall scarre. 
 
 Aud. No matter, if it be; the count is cast, 
 5 And, in the worst, ends but a mortall raan. 
 
 Good friends, conuey me to the princely Edward, 
 That in the crimson br auerie of my bloud 
 I may become him with saluting him. 
 lie smile, and tell him, that this open scarre 
 lO Doth end the haruest of his Audleys warre. [Exeunt, 
 
 SCENE IX. 
 
 The same. The English Camp. 
 
 Enter Princk Edward, Kin& Iohn, Charles, and all, 
 
 with Ensignes spred. 
 
 Retreat sounded. 
 
 Pr. Edw. Now, Iohn in France, and lately Iohn of France, 
 Thy bloudie Ensignes are my captiue colours; 
 And you, high-vanting Charles of Normandie, 
 
 35. On, on, away Cap., Tyr., and Del. 
 
 Scene VIII. No new scene in Edd. (Stage -dir.) The same — Battle 
 not in Edd.; Esquires B. 
 
 Scene IX. Stage-dir. add. by Cap. 
 
IV, g.] KING EPWARD THE THIRD. 75 
 
 That once to-daie sent me a horse to flie, 
 
 Are now the subiects of my clemencie. 5 
 
 Fie, Lords, is it not a shame that English boies. 
 
 Whose early daies are yet not worth a beard, 
 
 Should in the bosome of your kingdome thus, 
 
 One against twentie, beate you vp together? 
 
 K. lohn. Thy fortune, not thy force, hath conquerd vs. lo 
 
 Pr. Edw. An argument that heauen aides the right. 
 
 Enter Artoys with Phillip. 
 See, see, Artoys doth bring with him along 
 The late good counsell-giuer to my soule! 
 Welcome, Artoys ; and welcome, Phillip, too : 
 
 Who now of you or I haue need to praie? 15 
 
 Now is the prouerbe verified in you, 
 'Too bright a morning breeds a louring daie.' 
 
 Sound Trumpets. Enter Audley. 
 But say, what grym discoragement comes heere! 
 Alas, what thousand armed men of Fraunce 
 
 Haue writ that note of death in Audley s face? 20 
 
 Speake, thou that wooest death with thy careles smile, 
 And lookst so merrily vpon thy graue. 
 As if thou wert enamored on thyne end, 
 What hungry sword hath so bereaud thy face. 
 And lopt a true friend from my louing soule? 25 
 
 Aud. O Prince, thy sweet bemoaning speech to me 
 Is as a morneful knell to one dead-sicke. 
 
 Pr. Edw. Deare Audley, if my tongue ring out thy end. 
 My armes shalbe thy graue: What may I do 
 
 To win thy life, or to reuenge thy death? 3° 
 
 If thou wilt drinke the blood of captyue kings, 
 Or that it were restoritiue, command 
 A Health of kings blood, and He drinke to thee; 
 
 6. isH not B and Edd. — 12. hring along with him Cap., Tyr., and 
 Col. — 23. thy B and Edd., except Del. — 24. bewreath'd Col, — 26. becom- 
 ing A. — 29. thy] the A. — 33. J^^eath AB. 
 
76 KING EDWARD THE. THIRD. [IV, g. 
 
 If honor may dispence for thee with death, 
 35 The neuer- dying honor of this daie 
 
 Share wholie, Audley, to thyselfe, and Hue. 
 
 Aud. Victorious Prince, — that thou art so, behold 
 
 A Caesars fame in kings captiuitie — , 
 
 If I could hold dym death but at a bay, 
 40 Till I did see my liege thy royall father. 
 
 My soule should yeeld this Castle of my flesh. 
 
 This mangled tribute, with all willingnes. 
 
 To darkenes, consummation, dust, and Wormes. 
 
 Pr. Edw. Cheerely, bold man! thy soule is all too proud 
 45 To yeeld her Citie for one little breach; 
 
 Should be diuorced from her earthly spouse 
 
 By the soft temper of a French man's sword? 
 
 Lo, to repaire thy life, I giue to thee 
 
 Three thousand Marks a yeere in English land. 
 50 And. I take thy gift, to pay the debts I owe: 
 
 These two poore Squires redeemd me from the French 
 
 With lusty and deer hazzard of their lines: 
 
 What thou hast giuen me, I giue to them; 
 
 And, as thou louest me, Prince, lay thy consent 
 55 To this bequeath in my last testament. 
 
 Pr. Edw. Renowned Audley, Hue, and haue from mee 
 
 This gift twise doubled to these Squires and thee: 
 
 But Hue or die, what thou hast giuen away 
 
 To these and theirs shall lasting freedome stay. 
 60 Come, gentlemen, I will see my friend bestowed 
 
 Within an easie Litter; then weele martch 
 
 Proudly toward Callis, with tryumphant pace, 
 
 Vnto my royall father, and there bring 
 
 The tribut of my wars, faire Fraunce his king. \Exeunt. 
 
 40. loyall AB. — 46. She' Id Del. — 51. Esquires AB. — 53. given 
 to me Cap. and Edd. — 57. Esquires AB. — 60. He see B and Edd. — 
 64. France's Hng Cap. and Edd. 
 
v.] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 77 
 
 ACT V. 
 
 Picardy. The English Camp before Calais. 
 
 Enter King Edward, Qijeen Phillip, Derby, soldiers. , 
 
 K. Edw. No more, Queene Phillip, pacifie yourselfe; 
 Copland, except he can excuse his fault, 
 Shall finde displeasure written in our lookes. 
 And now vnto this proud resisting towne! 
 
 Souldiers, assault; I will no longer stay, 5 
 
 To be deluded by their false delaies; 
 Put all to sword, and make the spoyle your owne. 
 
 Enter sixe Citizens in their shirts, hare-fooie, with halters about 
 
 their necks. 
 
 All. Mercy, King Edward! mercie, gratious Lord! 
 
 K. Edw. Contemptuous villaines, call ye now for truce? 
 Mine eares are stopt against your bootelesse cryes: — 10 
 
 Sound drums; \allarum'\ draw threatning swords! 
 
 I. at. Ah, noble Prince, take pittie on this towne, 
 And heare vs, mightie king! 
 We claime the promise that your highnes made; 
 The two dales respit is not yet expirde, 15 
 
 And we are come with willingnes to beare 
 What tortering death or punishment you please," 
 So that the trembling multitude be saued. 
 
 K. Edw. My promise? Well, I do confesse as much: 
 But I require the cheefest Citizens 20 
 
 And men of most account that should submit; 
 You, peraduenture, are but seruile groomes. 
 Or some fellonious robbers on the Sea, 
 Whome, apprehended, law would execute. 
 
 Albeit seuerity lay dead in vs: 25 
 
 No, no, ye cannot ouerreach vs thus. 
 
 Act V. Stage -dir. add. by Cap. — Enter sixe Citizens &'c. before 1. I 
 in B and Edd. — II. drums, allarum, draw AB, corr. by Cap. — 1 2 seqq. Given 
 to All in Edd. — 12, 13. Two 11. in modern Edd., divided at Prince. — 
 20. requir'd prop, by Cap. and adopted by Del. 
 
78 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [V. 
 
 2. Ctt. The Sun, dread Lord, that in the western fall 
 
 Beholds vs now low -brought through miserie. 
 
 Did in the Orient purple of the morne 
 30 Salute our comming forth, when we were knowne; 
 
 Or may our portion be witTi damned fiends. 
 
 K. E,dw.. If it, be so, then let our couenant stand 
 
 We take possession of thp towne in peaqe: 
 
 But, for yourselues, Ipoke you fqr no remorse; 
 35 But, as imperiall iustice hath decreed. 
 
 Your bodies shalbe dragd about these wals, , 
 
 And after feele the stroake of quartering Steele: 
 
 This is your dome; — go, souldiers, see it done. 
 
 Queen. Ah, be more milde vnto these yeelding men! 
 40 It is a glorious thing to stablish peace, 
 
 And kings approch the nearest vnto God 
 
 By giuing life and safety vnto men : 
 
 As thou intendest to be king of France, 
 
 So let her people Hue to call thee king; 
 45 For what the sword cuts down or fire hath spoyld, 
 
 Is held in reputation none of ours. 
 
 K. Edw. Although experience teach vs this is true, 
 
 That peacefull quietnes brings most delight. 
 
 When most of all abuses are controld, 
 50 Yet, insomuch it shalbe knowne that we 
 
 As well can master our affections 
 
 As conquer other by the dynt of sword, 
 
 Phillip, preuaile; we yeeld to thy request: 
 
 These men shall liue to boast of clemencie, 
 55 And, tyrannie, strike terror to thyselfe. 
 
 2. Cit. Long liue your highnes! happy be your reigne! 
 K. Edw. Go, get yqu hence, retume vnto the towne, 
 
 And if this kindnes hath deserud your loue, 
 
 Learne then to reuerence Eidward as your king. — [Exeunt Citizens. 
 60 Now, might we heare of our affaires abroad. 
 
 30. Elze (Notes &C. I, 11) supposes two verses to the following effect 
 to have dropped out : To be the chief est men of all our town ; Of this, my 
 sovereign lord, be well assured. — 31. friends Cap. — 33. of this town 
 Col. — ■ 38. doom B. — 44. herl thy B. — 52. others Col. 
 
v.] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 79 
 
 We would, till glomy Winter were ore -spent, 
 Dispose our men in garrison a while. 
 But who comes heere? 
 
 Enter Copland and King Dauid. 
 
 Der. Copland, my Lord, and Dauid, King of Scots. 
 
 K. Edw. Is this the proud presumtious Squire of the Noirth, 65 
 That would not yeeld his prisoner to my Queen? 
 
 Cop. I am, my liege, a Northern Squire indeed, 
 But neither proud nor insolent, I trust. 
 
 K. Edw. What moude thee then, to be so obstinate 
 To contradict our royall Queenes desire? 70 
 
 Cop. No wilfull disobedience, mightie Lord, 
 But my desert and publike law of armes: 
 I tooke the king myselfe in single fight. 
 And, like a souldier, would be loath to loose 
 
 The least preheminence that I had won. 75 
 
 And Copland straight vpon your highnes charge 
 Is come to Fraunce, and, with a lowly minde, 
 Doth vale the bonnet of his victory: 
 Receiue, dread Lord, the ciistome of my fraught, 
 The wealthie tribute of my laboring hands, - 80 
 
 Which should long since haue beeri surrendred vp. 
 Had but your gratious selfe bin there in place. 
 
 Queen. But, Copland, thoii didst scome the kings command. 
 Neglecting our commission in his name. 
 
 Cop. His name I reuerence , but his person more ; 85 
 
 His name shall keepe me in allegeahce still. 
 But to his person I will bend my knee. 
 
 K. Edw. I praie thee, Phillip, let displeasure passe; 
 This man doth please mee, and I like his words: 
 For what is he that will attempt great deeds, 90 
 
 And loose the glory that ensues the same? 
 All riuers haue recourse vhto the Sea, 
 And Coplands faith relation to his king. 
 
 62, 63. One line in B. — 64. Sots B. — 65. Esquire AB. — 67. Northen 
 A, Northren B; Esquire AB. - 69. K. Edw. om. B. — 72. of\ at A. — 
 78. vaile B. — 90. attmpt A; high Cap. and Edd. 
 
8o KING EDWARD THE THIRD., [V, 
 
 Kneele therefore downe: now rise, King Edwards knight; 
 95 And, to maintayne thy state; I freely giue ,,, . 
 
 Fiue hundred marks a yeere to thee and thine. ,:i 
 
 ; Enter Salisbury. >^ 
 
 Welcome, Lord Salisburie: what news from, Brittaine? ^ 
 Salf- This, mightie ,king: the Country we haue won. 
 
 And lohn de Mpuntfort, regent of that place, 
 lOO Presents your highnes with this pDronet, 
 
 Protesting true allegeaunce to your Grace. 
 
 K. Edw., We thanke the^ for thy seruice, valiant Earle; 
 
 Challenge our fauour, for we owe jt thee. 
 
 Sal. But now, my Lord, as this is ioyful newes, . 
 105 So must my voice be tragicall againe. 
 
 And I must sing of dolefuU accidents. 
 
 K. Edw. What, haue our men the ouerthrow at Poitiers? 
 
 Or is our sonne beset with too much odds? 
 
 Sal. He was, my Lord: and as my worthlesse selfe 
 1 10 With fortie other seruiceable knights, 
 
 Vnder safe conduct of the Dolphins seale, 
 
 Did trauaile that way, finding him distrest,. 
 
 A troupe of Launces met vs on the way, 
 
 Surprisd, and brought ys prisoners to the king, 
 1 1 5 Who, proud of this, and eager of reuenge, 
 
 Cornmanded straight to cut off all our heads : 
 
 And surely we had died, but that the Duke, 
 
 More full of honor then his angry syre, 
 
 Procurd our quicke deliuerance from thence ; 
 120 But, ere we went, 'Salute your king', quoth hee, 
 
 'Bid him prouide a funera.il for his sonne, 
 
 To day our sword shall cut his thred. of life; 
 
 And, sooner then he thinkes, weele be with him. 
 
 T o quittance those displeasures he hath done.' 
 125 This said, we past, not daring to reply; 
 
 Our harts were dead, our lookes diffusd and wan. 
 
 Wandring at last we clymd vnto a hill, 
 
 99. Charles AB, corr. by Cap. — 108. our] my Cap. and Edd. — 
 \'i\. prisoner Q.o\. — 117. had we Col. 
 
v.] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 8 1 
 
 From whence, although our griefe were much before, 
 
 Yet now to see the occasion with our eies 
 
 Did thrice so much increase our heauines. 130 
 
 For there, my Lord, oh, there we did descry 
 
 Downe in a vallie how both armies laie: 
 
 The French had cast their trenches like a ring,- 
 
 And euery Barricades open front 
 
 Was thicke imbost with brasen ordynaunce; 135 
 
 Heere stood a battaile of ten thousand horse, 
 
 There twise as many pikes in quadrant wise', 
 
 Here Crosbowes, arm'd with deadly - wounding darts: 
 
 And in the midst, like to a slender poynt 
 
 Within the compasse of the horison, 140 
 
 As twere a rising bubble in the sea, 
 
 A Hasle-wand amidst a wood of Pynes, 
 
 Or as a beare fast chaind vnto a stake. 
 
 Stood famous Edward, still expecting when 
 
 Those doggs of Fraunce would fasten on his flesh. 145 
 
 Anon the death - procuring knell begins: 
 
 Off goe the Cannons, that, with trembling noyse. 
 
 Did shake the very Mountayne where they stood ; 
 
 Then sound the Trumpets clangor in the aire. 
 
 The battailes ioyne: and, when we could no more 150 
 
 Discerne the difference twixt the friend and fo. 
 
 So intricate the darke confusion was, 
 
 Away we tumd our watrie eies with sighs, 
 
 As blacke as pouder fuming into smoke. 
 
 And thus, I feare, vnhappie haue I told i55 
 
 The most vntimely tale of Ewards fall. 
 
 Queen. Ah me! is this my welcome into Fraunce? 
 Is this the comfort that I lookt to haue. 
 When I should meete with my belooued sonne? 
 Sweete Ned, I would, thy mother in the sea _ 1 60 
 
 Had been preuented of this mortall griefe! 
 
 K. Edw. Content thee, Phillip; tis not teares will serue, 
 To call him backe, if he be taken hence: 
 
 138. Crosbowes and deadly AB, corr. by Cap.; armed, deadly Col. — 
 I<|8. we stood prop, by Cap. — 149- clangors Cap. and Edd. 
 
 6 
 
82 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [V. 
 
 Comfort thy selfe, as I do, gentle Queene, 
 165 With hope of sharpe, vnheard-of, dyre reuenge. — 
 
 He bids me to prouide his funerall, 
 
 And so I will ; but all the Peeres in Fraunce 
 
 Shall mourners be, and weepe out bloody teares, 
 
 Vntill their emptie vaines be drie and sere: 
 170 The piilers of his hearse shall be their bones; 
 
 The mould that couers him, their Cities ashes; 
 
 His knell, the groning cryes of dying men; 
 
 And, in the stead of tapers on his tombe. 
 
 An hundred fiftie towers shall burning blaze, 
 175 While we bewaile our valiant sonnes decease. 
 
 After a flourish, sounded wilhin, enter an Herald. 
 
 Her. Reioyce, my Lord ; ascend the imperial throne ! 
 The mightie and redoubted prince of Wales, 
 Great seruitor to bloudie Mars in armes,' 
 The Frenchmans terror, and his countries fame, 
 
 180 Triumphant rideth like a Romane peere, 
 And, lowly at his stirop, comes afoot 
 King lohn of France, together with his sonne, 
 In captiue bonds; whose diadem he brings 
 To crowne thee with, and to proclaime thee king. 
 
 185 K. Edw. Away with mourning, Phillip, wipe thine eies; — 
 Sound, Trumpets, welcome in Plantaginet! 
 
 Enter Prince Edward, King Iohn, PfiiLUP, Audley, Artoys. 
 
 K. Edw. As things, long lost, when they are found again, 
 So doth my sonne reioyce his fathers heart. 
 For whom euen now my soule was much perplext. 
 190 Queen. Be this a token to expresse my ioy, \Kisse him. 
 For inward passions will not let me speake. 
 
 Pr. Edw. My gracious father, here receiue the gift, 
 
 {Presenting him with K. John's crown. 
 
 170. their'\ tiis AB and Edd., except Del. — 171, Citie AB, Cap. and 
 Tyr. , city^s Col., cities' Del. — \-]/if. fiftie\ lofty Col. — 192. [Presenting 
 him fr-c] add. by Del. 
 
v.] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 83 
 
 This wreath of conquest and reward of warre, 
 
 Got with as mickle perill of our Hues, 
 
 As ere was thing of price before this daie; 195 
 
 Install your highnes in your proper right: 
 
 And, herewithall, I render to your hands 
 
 These prisoners, chiefe occasion of our strife. 
 
 K. Edw. So, lohn of France, I see you keepe your word ; 
 You promist to be sooner with our selfe 200 
 
 Then we did thinke for, and tis so indeed: 
 But, had you done at first as now you do. 
 How many ciuill townes had stoode vntoucht. 
 That now are tumd to ragged heaps of stones! 
 How many peoples lines mightst thou haue saud, 205 
 
 That are vntimeiy sunke into their graues! 
 
 K. lohn. Edward, recount not things irreuocable ; 
 
 Tell me what ransome thou requirest to haue. 
 
 K. Edw. Thy ransome, lohn, hereafter shall be known: 
 
 But first to England thou must crosse the seas, 210 
 
 To see what intertainment it affords; 
 
 Howere it fals, it cannot be so bad, 
 
 As ours hath bin since we ariude in France. 
 K. lohn. Accursed man! of this I was fortolde, 
 
 But did misconster what the prophet told. 215 
 
 Pr. Edw. Now, father, this petition Edward makes 
 
 To thee, whose grace hath bin his strongest shield, 
 
 That, as -thy pleasure chose me for the man 
 
 To be the instrument to shew thy power. 
 
 So thou wilt grant that many princes more, 220 
 
 Bred and brought vp within that little Isle, 
 
 Way still be famous for lyke victories! 
 
 And, for my part, the bloudie scars I beare, 
 
 The wearie nights that I haue watcht in field. 
 
 The dangerous conflicts I haue often had, 225 
 
 The fearefuU menaces, were proflfered me, 
 
 The heate and cold and what else might displease, 
 
 I wish were now redoubled twentiefold ; 
 
 So that hereafter ages, when they reade 
 
 202. ye B (Iwicf). — 205. might you B' and Edd. - 22r. this Co!. 
 
 6* 
 
84 KING EDWARD THE THIRD. [V. 
 
 230 The painfull traffike of my tender youth, 
 Might thereby be inflamd with such resolue, 
 As not the territories of France alone, 
 But likewise Spain, Turkie, and what countries els 
 That iustly would prouoke faire Englands ire, 
 
 235 Might, at their presence, tremble and retire. 
 
 K. Edw. Here, English Lordes, we do proclaime a rest, 
 An interceasing of our painfull armes: 
 Sheath vp your swords, refresh your weary lims, 
 Peruse your spoiles; and, after we haue brealhd 
 
 240 A dale or two within this hauen-towne, 
 
 God willing, then for England weele be shipt; 
 Where, in a happie houre, I trust, we shall 
 Arriue, three kings, two princes, and a queene. 
 
 \Flourish. Exeunt omnes. 
 
 232. territory Cap. prop. — 237. ^«] And Del. ; intercession A. — 
 243. Flourish. Exeunt omnes, add. by Del. 
 
 The End. 
 
NOTES. 
 
 ACT L 
 
 I, 12. Grammar seems to require daughter; cp. thou art all 
 my child, i. e. my only child, All's III. 2. 71. 
 
 •/ I, 36. lyneal, directly descending, hereditary, as often in- 
 Shakespeare. 
 
 I, 41. Read th' true. Capell was doubtless induced by the 
 metre to strike out And (1. 41); the construction, however, is: 
 stryuing to rebate and [/o] place . . ., the participle stryuing referring 
 to our (1. 39) : when may we show our duty more than in striving &c. 
 — As to place, establish in an office, cp. this yellow slave will place 
 thieves and give them title Tim. IV. 3. 35 ; if I can place thee, I will 
 Per. IV. 6. 204. 
 
 y~ I, 46. rakt, i. e. rackt, tormented; cp. racked with deep despair 
 Milton (quoted by Webster). 
 
 y- \, lb. lafne, cp. lame of sense Oth. I. 3. 63, 7nost lame and 
 impotent conclusion ib. II. I. 162. 
 
 I, 85. Cp. we'll pull his plumes I H. VI., III. 3. 7, Ajax 
 employed plucks down Achilles' plumes Troil. I. 3. 386. 
 
 1, go. Cp. until it had returned These terms of treason doubled 
 down Ms throat Rich. II., I. i. 57. 
 
 •y \, 98. Lyons case, the lion's skin. This passage corroborates 
 Wint. IV. 4. 844 : though my case be a pitiful one, I hope I shall not 
 be flayed out of it. Cp., besides. The man that once did sell the lion's 
 skin While the beast lived, was killed wit\hunting him. H. V., IV. 3. 93. 
 
 i/ I, 134. plant, to install, to invest. Cp. Anointed, crowned, 
 planted many years Rich. II., IV. 127; to plant unrightful kings 
 ib. V. I. 63. 
 
 i/^ I, 159 vre, i. e. inure (not Shak.) The French soldiers have from 
 their youth been practised and ured in feats of arms. Sir Th. More 
 (quoted by Webster). 
 
 2, 7. scornefull, in a passive sense, as Lucr. 520 So thy surviving 
 husband shall remain The scornful mark of every open eye. 
 
86 ' NOTES. [-'f/ II- 
 
 y 2, 12. skipping, wanton. Cp. so skipping a dialogue Tw. I. 5. 
 214, thy skipping spirit Merch. 11. 2. 196. 
 
 y^ 2, 23. to make fair weather, to conciliate oneself, Ado I. 3. 25, 
 K. John V. I. 21, 2 I-I VI., V. I. 30. 
 
 2, 29. Gymould, consisting of links or rings: And in their pale 
 •^ diitl mouths the gimmaVd (Old Edd. Jymold) bit Lies foul with chewed 
 grass H. V., IV. 2. 49. 
 
 2, 33. whinyard, a sword or hanger. Nares • quotes, besides 
 ^ our passage, The Wits, O. PI. VIII. 412 This deboshed whinyard I 
 will reclaim to comely bow and arrow. 
 
 2, 75, 76. Scot . . . they. Cp. Troil. V. 3. 40 — 42 When 
 many times the captive Grecian falls. Even in the fan and wind of 
 your fair sword, You bid them rise and live. 
 
 2, 81. O Sommers day, o lucky hit. Cp. the common phrase 
 as one shall see in a summer's day, Mids. I. 2. 89, H. V., III. 6. 67, 
 ■ ib. IV. 8. 23. 
 
 2, 96. Constr.: As a May-blossom [is sullied'\ with pernitious 
 winds. 
 
 2, 104 seq. The sense is: to take piercing majesty from my 
 eyes and to make them gaze on her with doting admiration. 
 
 2, 125. no near, i. e. no nearer. The old form of the com- 
 parative is often to be met with in Shakespeare. 
 
 2, 131. Cp. Light seeking light doth light of light beguile L. L. 
 L., I. 1. 77, by light we lose light ib. V. 2. 376. 
 ,/^ 2, 153. pide perficmes, cp. daisies pied L. L. L., V. 2. 904. — 
 
 cost, ornament, pomp. 
 
 ACT n. 
 
 I, 2. to dj-inke. The infinitive with to is often put in the 
 second of two clauses {and to) after verbs which, according to 
 modern grammar, would reject to. Cp. Makes both my body pine, 
 and soul to languish Per. I. 2. 31, And let them all encircle him about, 
 And, fairy -like, to pinch the unclean knight M. Wiv. IV. 4. 56. (Abbott, 
 s. 250). On the other hand, cp. still losing when I saw myself to 
 win Sonn. 119, 4; To see great Hercules whipping a gig. And pro- 
 found Solomon to tune (some Edd. tuning) a jig. And Nestor play at 
 push-pin with the beys L. L. L., IV. 3. 167 — 9. 
 ^ I, 4. The verb belonging to rack, floating vapour, cloud, is 
 
 ^ only once used by Shakespeare in an intransive sense, the racking 
 clouds, i. e. the fleeting clouds 3 H VI., II. i. 27. 
 
 I, 29. It seems doubtful whether the poet intended a con- 
 trast between spake and spoke, both forms being very common in 
 Elizabethan writers. Perhaps spoke is a mere misprint for spake (B). 
 
Acl II.] NOTES. 87 
 
 I, 57. queen of qtceens L. L. L., IV. 3. 41 ; H. VIII., 11. 4. 141 ; 
 III. 2. 95. The reading of AB guee7t for queens is a misprint, f 
 having dropped out before .r in shall. 
 
 1,68. ready grone. Cp. K. John II. 211 ready mounted are they 
 
 '^ (i. e. the cannons); Webster quotes: we ourselves will go ready armed 
 
 before the children of Isaac Num. XXXII, 17. In both these instances, 
 
 it is true, ready (adv.) is added to a participle, not to an infinitive. 
 
 1 , 71. Tarter s. As in Marlowe's Tamburlaine the word always 
 appears in the form Tarter, we have thought Torter to be a 
 misprint for Tarter. 
 
 y^ I, "jz. flynt-heart, i.e. flint-hearted. 
 
 I, 107. sommer -leaping, to leap, to be desirous, to rejoice; cp. 
 / below II. 2. 13 What, doth his highnes leap to heare these news. As 
 to the composition of the word, cp. the summer - swelling flower, 
 i. e. growing up in summer, Gent. II. 4. 162. 
 
 / I, 122. voluniarie, spontaneous; cp. voluntaiy dotage of some 
 
 mistress 0th. IV. i. 27. » 
 
 I, 127. Cp. the hollow of thine ear Rorn. III. 5. 3. 
 
 I, i43seqq. Cp. Rom. II. 2. 4: 
 
 Arise, fair sun, atid kill the envious moon, 
 
 Who is already sick atid pale with grief 
 
 That thou, her ?naid, art far more fair than she. 
 
 I, 179 — 181. These lines are not in conformity either with J 
 the preceding or the following lines. ' 
 
 I, 184. treasurer (A). Painter, p. i86''': to you that like a faith- 
 full keeper and only treasurer of my heart, you may by some shining 
 blame of pitte bring &c. treasure was apparently introduced by B 
 only for the sake of metre. 
 
 I, 186. We have not thought it necessary to alter flankars 
 (AB), because the form flankar'd , though in another signification, 
 also occurs. 
 V I, 187. discipline, military skill, as often in Shak. 
 
 I, 235. Cp. nun indued ivith intellectual sense and souls. Err. 
 II. I. 22. 
 
 I, 255seqq. Cp. Meas. II. 4. 43. 
 
 // were as good 
 To pardon him, that hath from nature stolen 
 A man already made, as to remit 
 Their saucy sweetness, that do coin Heaven s image 
 In stamps that are forbid. 
 
 I, 281. The reading bewties (twice) seems to be corroborated 
 by passages as : one that composed your beauties Mids. I. i . 48, I 
 might in virtues, beauties . . . exceed account Mcrch, 111. 2. 158. 
 
 l-4jtr 
 
88 NOTES. [Ac/ II. 
 
 I, 284. Cp. /hj' spiders that suck up thy venom. Rich. II., 
 UI. 2. 14. 
 
 I, 2q6. Constr. 1/ I may .... ajid that {= if) my old endeuor &c. 
 As to the use of that cp. Sonn. 39, 13 Were it not thy sour leisure 
 "ave sweet leave To entertain the time . . . And that thou teachest how 
 to make one twain. 
 
 I. 353- It would be better not to keep the oath rendered by 
 my right hand {prophane the Idoll) than to have my hand cut of! 
 (than confound ii). 
 
 I, 361. She would indeed do a favour to the love of the 
 king, but would not bear true love to her husband. 
 
 I, 392. Cp. 2 H. VI., V. I. ggseqq: 
 these brows of mine, 
 Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles' spear, 
 Is able with the change to kill and cure. 
 ('alluding to Telephus cured by the dust scraped from Achilles' 
 spear, by which he had been wounded.' Al. Schmidt.). 
 
 I, 396. Cp. And he (the lion) from forage will incline to play. 
 L. L. L., IV. I. 93. 
 
 ^ I, 402. Though vastures may be a misprint for vastness (Collier), 
 yet it may be an English form like verdure, ordure. 
 
 I, 404. thy misdeeds. Though the reading of the old editions 
 their misdeeds is not devoid of sense, we have adopted Capell's 
 conjecture on account of 1. 398, which contains the same idea. 
 
 /~ I, 412. We are unable to quote another passage in which 
 
 besiege is used as a noun. 
 
 I, 414. Pron. infrid. We think it impossible that itiuierd 
 should be an abbreviation from environed, which, besides, would be 
 much too weak an expression to be used here by the Countess. 
 inwired, prop, by Delius, is not to be found in any dictionary, and 
 can therefore not be introduced into the text. 
 
 1, 438. Cp. Haml. II. 2. 181: For if the su?i breeds magots in 
 a dead dog, being a good kissing carrion . . . 
 
 /' I, 451. The same line occurs Shak. Sonn. 94, 14. See 
 
 Introduction, p. xxx. 
 
 2, 10. The spelling leiuetenant is not to be altered, as it proves 
 the pronunciation of the word. 
 
 /■ 2, 13. to leap, to be desirous; cp. our master will leap to be 
 
 ^ his friend Ant. lU. 13. 51 and Per. V. 3. 45 my heart leaps to be 
 gone into nty mother's bosom. 
 
Aci II.] NOTES. 89 
 
 2, 42 — 43. These lines are possibly to be printed as one line 
 (AB) and to be read : S/ie's as \ imp'ra \ ior \ ver me | and I \ to 
 her Cp. supra I. 5, and II. i. 417. 
 
 2, 56. hivi i. e. him that beats the drum. 
 
 2, 64. The same quibble perhaps Gentl. V. 4. 57: Pll woo you 
 like a soldier, at amis' end. " 
 
 2, 83. 'which cannot use poverty as a pretext.' 
 ^ 2, 117. rarieties, the reading of the old editions, is quite an 
 incongruous formation and probably only a misprint for varieties, 
 which in our passage agrees very well with the preceding 
 register. Shakespeare uses vat-iety in a similar sense when speaking 
 of Cleopatra, Ant. II. 2. 240: Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale 
 Her infinite variety. 
 
 ^^ 2, 118. Letherne Adam. Elze, Notes 11, p. 3, thinks lethertie to 
 be O. E. leper, liper, leperand = nequam, malus, vile, hateful. But 
 as lether in this signification is not to be met with in Elizabethan 
 English, and as, besides, Adam, in our context at least, can hardly 
 be called nequam, malus, we incline to adopt Mr. Furnivall's expla- 
 nation (Transactions of the New Shakspere Society Dec. g, 188 1, 
 p. 10; Academy, July 22, 1882) who supposes the expression to 
 be equivalent to 'Adam clad in skins.' This explanation is supported 
 by Genesis III. 21 : 'Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord 
 God make coats of skin and clothed them', and particularly by Shak. 
 .Err. IV. 3. 13 the picture of old Adam ('meaning the bailiff because 
 the buff he wore resembled the native buff of Adam' Al. Schmidt, s. v.) 
 ^ 2, 124. objection, suit, request. 
 
 2, 136. 'I render my discontent subject to my submission, 
 to my resignation.' As to content, cp. Rich. II., V. 2. 38 To whose 
 high will we bound our calm contents. 
 
 2, 137. The sense of the somewhat irregular construction is: 
 'I will compel myself willingly to do what I would not like to do.' 
 
 2, 143. There is no reason to read with Elze my thrice loved 
 lord, the present participle (gerund) often having the meaning of a 
 passive participle. See Abbott, s. 372, and cp. Ant. III. 13. 77: his 
 all -obeying breath, i. e. obeyed by all, Lucr. 993: his unrecalling 
 /^ crime, loving = beloved, kind, affectionate, friendly, very often 
 occurs in Shakespeare : my loving subjects K. John II. 203, my friends 
 and loving countrymen I H VI., III. i. 137, most loving liege Rich. 11., 
 I. I. 21. See Al. Schmidt, s. v. unrecalling and love. 
 
 ^ 2, 168. packin g, deceitful. Cp. here's packing to deceive us all 
 Shr. V. I. 121. 
 
 2, 169, 170. As a quibble is doubtless intended between 
 Resolude and dissolude, we have adopted Capell's conjecture (1. 170), 
 and have, besides, introduced the same word in I. i6g. The error 
 
go NOTES. [Aa III. 
 
 is easily to be accounted for, as the printer or corrector tried to give 
 the first line the regular number of syllables , and consequently 
 wrote Resolute also in 1. 170. 
 
 2, 197. Commonly taken for an allusion to Shakespeare's 
 Lucrece (p. in 1594). The story of Lucrece was also in Painter's 
 Palace of Pleasure, and there seems to have existed a drama about 
 the same subject. 
 
 ACT m. 
 
 I, igseqq. These lines are addressed to Charles; Collier's 
 proposal to read your for his I. 20 is therefore unnecessary. 
 
 y^ I, 27. swill, to drink greedily; cp. Rich. 111., V. 2. 9 The boar 
 that swills your warm blood like wash. 
 
 y" I, 30. stall, install, invest; cp. Rich. III., I. 3. 206 decked in 
 thy rights as thou art stalled in mine. 
 
 I, 97. on the lower hand; cp. on the upper hand R. III., 
 IV. 4. 37. 
 
 ^ I, I2t. to buckle, to join in close fight, as often in Shak. 
 
 ^1, 176. lay about, to fall to work with might and main, to do 
 one's best, especially in fighting. Troil. I. 2. 58: he'll lay about him 
 to - day. 
 
 y^ 2, 12. envy, malice, ill-will, as often in Shakespeare, L\. you 
 turn the good we offer into envy H. VIII., III. i. 113. 
 y 3> !• As we don't know any other instance in which guide 
 is = guiding, guidance, we have thought it best to adopt Cap.'s 
 proposal. 
 
 3, 6. In Holinshed's Chronicle the French guide is called Gobin 
 de Grace. 
 
 3, 20. We have printed the names as given by Holinshed. 
 
 {/ 3i 77' ''" foile my fame. Cp. And 7nust not foil the precious note 
 
 of it (the crown) with a base slave Cymb. II. 3. 126 (M. Edd. W/). 
 
 / 3, 81. Elze (Notes I, 5) proposes to read lime f. line, but he 
 
 gives no instance for the use of lime == paint. As to line, cp. 
 
 As III. 2. 97 all the pictures fairest lined are but black to Rosalind. 
 
 3, 113. that supplies the place of Before (1. 112) and turne 
 is the subjunctive mood. The construction was not understood 
 and consequently altered by B. 
 
 v/ 3, 155- wantoness (= wanton) occurs again III. 5. 102 (not 
 Shak.). 
 
 Y 3, 161. resly-stiffe, stiff with too much rest, cp. Cymb. III. 6. 34: 
 zvhen resty sloth finds the down pillow hard. 
 
 V^ 3) 175- i'^P^' distinguishing mark, sign, badge; H. VIIL, I. 3. 
 
 3 1 : tall stockings, short blistered breeches, and those types of travel. 
 
Ac/ IV.] NOTES. 
 
 91 
 
 v^ 3, 190. laivrel, adjectively used also by Shakespeare, laurel 
 victory Art. I. 3. 100. 
 
 v^" 3, 214. to patronage twice in Shakespeare i H. VI. , III. 1.^8 
 and III. 4. 32. 
 
 \< 5, 12. fell = fallen. Tit. II. 4. 50, Tim. IV. 3. 265, Lear IV. 
 6. 54. 
 
 5, 36. those = such. 
 
 •^ 5. 37- hreaketh out, forces his way. Cp. K. John V. 6. 24: broke 
 out to acquaint you with this evil. The construction of 1. 38, in 
 Capell's reading, is quite unintelligible. 
 
 '>--^' 5. 79- often, adjectively used; cp. niy often rumination As IV. I. ig. 
 o/^ 5, 109. vpshot, final issue, conclusion Tw. IV. 2. 76: / caniiot 
 pursue this sport to the upshot. 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 •^ I, 16. Yet = now, by this time (Germ, jetzt); cp. H. V., 
 III. 3. I : How yet resolves the governor of the town. 
 
 2, 34. Cp. I H. IV., V. 4. 133: full bravely hast thou fleshed thy 
 maiden sword, i H. VI., IV. 7. 36: did flesh his puny sword in French- 
 men's blood. 
 
 3, 8. As Shakespeare uses much more frequently to male [lake) 
 advantage of than to take advantage on, it seems unnecessary to alter 
 with Capell and Delius of into 07i. 
 
 1^4, 5. nwuths, i. e. moths. 
 
 4, 44, 45. Cp. So Beauty blemished once {is') for ever lost P. P. 
 13. See Abbott, s. 403. 
 
 4, 75. in our Bryttish earth, in Britanny (?). in your Brittish 
 earth, as proposed in Collier, seems to be too gross a hyperbole. 
 ^ 4, 83. burgonet, close fitting helmet, used by Shakespeare only 
 2. H. VI., V. I. 200, 204, 208; Ant. I. 5. 24. 
 
 4, 124. siluer wings. "Perhaps the writer was thinking of the 
 Homeric ejrfa jinqbiVTa. Silver refers to the sweetness of Aud- 
 ley's eloquence. Milk-white messengers are his grey locks which 
 have brought with them experience." W. G. S. (i. e. W. G. Stone, 
 Leopold-Shakspere, Introd., p. C). 
 
 4, 134. 'Whichsoever we may choose, either life or death, the 
 one holds the other in chase: for life hunts after death, and death 
 prosecutes life.' 
 
 4, I40seqq. Cp. Jul. Caesar II. 2. 32: 
 
 Cowards die many times before their deaths. 
 
 The valiant never taste of death but once. 
 
 Of all the wonders that I yet have heard. 
 
 It seems to me most strange that men should fear. 
 
92 NOTES. [Ad V. 
 
 Seeing that death, a necessary end, 
 , Will come when it will come. 
 
 / 7, 2 2. As accomplements is not given in the dictionaries, we 
 have preferred to read accoutrements. 
 
 • 7, 24. elders, unusually = old soldiers. 
 i^ 8, 7. brauery, splendor, finery; cp. with scarp and fans and 
 double change of bravery Shr. IV. 3. 57. 
 
 9, 5. Are. The construction is not quite exact, but the sense 
 is clear. 
 
 9, 26. The reading of A becoming might perhaps quite as 
 well have been retained. 
 
 9, 32. that = if; cp. note ad II. i. 296. 
 
 9i 37> 3^' The captivity of the king will- procure thee a 
 Caesar's fame. 
 
 ACT V. 
 
 39. Cp. Shak. Merch. IV. i. 192: 
 
 But mercy is above this sceptred sway; 
 It is enthroned in the hearts of Kings, 
 It is an attribute to God himself; 
 And earthly power doth then show likest God's, 
 When mercy seasons justice. 
 •/ 124. to quittance occurs in Shakespeare only I H. VI., II. i. 14. 
 154. Cp. black despair 2 H. VI., lU. 3. 23, R. UL, II. 2. 36., 
 and saw sighs reek from you L. L. L., IV. 3. 140, he furnaces the 
 thick sighs from him Cymb. I. 6. 67, love is a smoke raised with the 
 fume of sighs Rom. I. i. 196. 
 
 Ehuhardt Karras, Printer, Halle. 
 
f 
 
 PSEUDO-SHAKESPEARIAN PLAYS. 
 
 EDITED 
 
 KAKL WAKME, ph. d. 
 
 LDDWIG PKOESOHOLDT, ph.d. 
 
 IV. THE BIRTH OF MERLIN 
 
 HALLE : 
 
 Max Niemeyer. 
 1887. 
 
THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 
 
 REVISED AND EDITED '' 
 
 WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES 
 
 BY 
 
 KARL WARNKE, ph. d. 
 
 LUDWIG PROESOHOLDT, ph. d. 
 
 HALLE: 
 
 Max Niemeyer. 
 
 1887. 
 6 
 
 L 
 
A>2.51^S% 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
In 1662 Kirkman the bookseller published a drama with the 
 title 'The Birth of Merlin: Or, the Childe hath found his Father: 
 As it hath been several times Acted with great applause. Written by 
 William Shakespear, and William Rowley. Placere cupio. London : 
 Printed by Tho : fohnson for Francis Kirkman, and Henry Marsh, 
 and are to be sold at the Princes Arms in Chancery Lane. 1662.' 
 [London, British Museum, C. 34. 1. 7]. As the play seems not to 
 have been mentioned before, and as Kirkman gives us no notice 
 of the copy from which he had it printed, we neither know when 
 The Birth of Merlin was first performed, nor on what authority 
 the publisher attributed it to Shakespeare and Rowley. In all 
 appearance Kirkman simply reprinted the play from an old edition. 
 Grammar and versification bear distinctly the stamp of the age of 
 Queen Elizabeth or King James I. Besides, if Kirkman had chosen 
 to alter the text, he would certainly not have printed the whole 
 of the play as prose, but would have tried to re-establish the 
 verse-lines, in which the play originally must have been written. 
 
 The play was edited again by H. Tyrrell (The Doubtful Plays 
 of Shakespeare, London, 185 1, pp.411 — 443), and, somewhat 
 later, quite independently of Tyrrell's edition, by Delias (Pseudo- 
 shakspearesche Dramen, vol. II., Elberfeld, 1856).') Both editors 
 took pains to correct the text which, though not so corrupt as 
 that of many other contemporary plays , yet exhibits a certain 
 number of passages to which the critic's knife must be applied. 
 Both editors, however, overshot their mark by modernizing the 
 grammar of the play and by introducing into it a great many 
 alterations which for the most part are quite uncalled for. Tyrrell, 
 besides, gives no various readings at all ; the list of various readings 
 
 >) Delius' edition was without any corrections or additions reprinted by 
 Max Moltke, Tauchnitz-edition, vol. 1041, p. 279—352. 
 
VIII INTRODUCTION. 
 
 exhibited by Delius, is far from being exhaustive. Thus, we hope, 
 a new edition of the interesting play will be welcomed by all the 
 friends of Elizabethan literature. 
 
 Professor Elze has devoted some of his Notes on Elizabethan 
 Dramatists (Halle, 1880— 1886) to our play, viz. vol. I., No. II — VI, 
 and vol. 11., No. CI. These emendations as well as the corrections 
 and alterations of the precedent editors have been carefully pointed 
 out by us in the footnotes of our edition. 
 
 The title-page of The Birth of Merlin bears the names of 
 Shakespeare and Rowley. All that is known about the life of W. 
 Rowley, is summed up by A. W. Ward, History of English Dra- 
 matic Literature, vol. II., p. 134 seq. 'William Rowley (who has 
 been confounded not only with his namesake Samuel, but with 
 another Rowley of the name of Ralph) is mentioned as an actor 
 of the Duke of York's company in the year 1610, but already in 
 1607 he had pjoduced, together with Day and Wilkins, a play 
 The Travailes of the Three English Brothers (the brothers Shirley)'). 
 In 161 3 he was a leading member in the same (noAv the Prince 
 of Wales') company; in 1637 he married; and nothing further is 
 known of his life (except that he acted in one of his plays and 
 in a mask by Middleton). A tradition handed down by Langbaine 
 records that he was 'beloved by those great men, Skakespeare, 
 Fletcher, and Jonson'.' W. Rowley's extant plays are A New 
 Wonder, A Woman Never Vext (a comedy, pr. 1632), AlVs Lost by 
 Lust (a tragedy, pr. 1633), A Match at Midnight (a comedy, pr. 
 1633), A Shoemaker a Gentleman (a comedy, pr. 1638). Besides 
 Rowley wrote together with Massinger The Parliament of Love 
 (licensed for the stage 1624); together with Fletcher The Maid in 
 the Mill (first acted 1623), also, according to Dyce, The Queen of 
 Corinth (produced between 16 16 and 1619) and The Bloody Bro- 
 ther (written after 1624); together with Middleton A Fair Quarrel 
 (pr. 161 7), The World tossed at Tennis (pr. 1 620), The Changeling 
 (acted 1623), The Spanish Gipsey (pr. 1653); together with Dekker 
 and Ford The Witch of Edmonton (pr. 1658); together with Web- 
 
 ') Considering the dates of Rowley's other compositions, it must be 
 doubtful whether Tlie Old Law, the title-page of which bears the names of 
 Rowley, Middleton, and Massinger, was in fact composed as early as 1599, 
 as Steevens, on the evidence of a passage in the play, feels inclined to 
 suppose. 
 
INTRODUCTION. IX 
 
 ster A Cure for a Cuckold (pr. 1661, by Kirkman), and The Thra- 
 cian Wonder (pr. 1661, by Kirkman)!). As after all this W. Rowley 
 ■was a favorite and well-known author of the age, it may well be 
 that Kirkman, who attributed several plays to him, is right to say 
 that he was also the author of The Birth of Merlin. But whe_ther 
 Shakespeare had a hand in the composition of this play, is an 
 assertion which seems far less plausible. 
 
 Kirkman's intimation has, as far as we see, only been adopted 
 by Tieck; all other critics, particularly Ulrici (Shakespeare's 
 Dramatische Kunst vol. III., p. 109 seq.) and A. W. Ward (1. c, vol. I., 
 p. 468 seq.) are of opinion that Shakespeare cannot be supposed 
 to have had any share in our play. The Birth of Merlin was the 
 first play read and copied by Tieck, when he first came to Lon- 
 don in 18 1 7. Twelve years afterwards he made the drama, to- 
 gether with other plays, known to his own countrymen by publishing 
 a translation of it in his Shakespeare's Vorschule, Leipzig, 1829, 
 vol. IL, p. 2ig — 3662). In the introductory pages preceding his 
 translation, Tieck gives an analysis of the play, in which he 
 sets forth all that may be said in favour of it. And indeed , it 
 must be allowed that the author of the play, whoever he may 
 have been, had some of the qualities requisite to a dramatic poet. 
 The plot is on the whole well conducted; the scenes are full of 
 action and dramatic life; the characters, particularly Prince Uter 
 and Jane the Mother of Merlin, are somewhat skilfully shadowed 
 forth. All those quahties, however, may be freely allowed to a 
 great number of anonymous plays of the age, without entitling us 
 to ascribe them to Shakespeare. And we are, it will seem, the 
 less permitted to attribute even part of The Birth of Merlin to 
 England's great poet, as the play shows deficiencies not to be met 
 with in Shakespeare's genuine works. 
 
 In The Birth of Merlin, as in many other plays of the period, 
 two stories form the groundwork on which the action of the drama 
 is raised. But far from being skilfully intertwined with each other 
 and melted into one, these two plots are not even externally con- 
 nected with each other; the tragical fate of King Aurelius and 
 
 ') Cp. Delius, 1. t., p. VI. seq. 
 
 ") The play was again translated into German by H. Doring (Gotha, 
 1833; 2n<i ed. 1840), and by E. Ortlepp, Nachtrage zu Shakespeare, vol. I., 
 pp. 177—290. 
 
X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the accession of his brother Uter Pendragon have no relation what- 
 ever to the episode in which the two daughters of the Earl of 
 Chester play the principal part. It is hardly to be supposed that 
 Shakespeare, who in his own works most harmoniously blended 
 two or more stories into one, should not have been aware of the 
 chasm gaping between the two plots of the play. 
 
 Likewise the characters in The Birth of Merlin would have 
 taken quite a different turn, if touched up by Shakespeare's pen. 
 At the time at which apparently our play was written, Shakespeare 
 was composing his most consummate works, such as Lear, Macbeth, 
 and Coriolanus. At that epoch he would certainly not have been 
 contented with such poor and shallow characters as the Hermit 
 and Earl Edol are in our play. Nor would he, as A. W. Ward 
 rightly points out, have omitted the opportunity of revealing more 
 psychological depth in the conflict of the Prince between duty 
 and passion. And, last, not least, Shakespeare would certainly 
 have succeeded in forming out of the renowned Merlin a figure 
 more dramatic and more interesting than the Merlin of our play. 
 Though it is true that the character of the marvellous boy-prophet 
 is not destitute of a certain genuine freshness and briskness, yet 
 the author of the play seems to have made use of him for no 
 higher purpose than the gratification of the groundlings. Even ad- 
 mitting that the scenes grouped around Merlin, his hell-born father, 
 and the Clown are due to Rowley's pen, it is quite improbable 
 that in a play, written, though only in part, by Shakespeare, the 
 character from which the whole play is named, should take so very 
 little part in the action of it, as Merlin does. All that Merlin per- 
 forms is to foretell their fate to the King, to Vortiger, and the 
 Prince. And he foretells it invariably in the same manner, always 
 conjuring up more or less frightful apparitions and shows of 
 demons, dragons, and kings. 'The design of our dramatist', to 
 use the words of A. W. Ward, 'seems to have fallen short of the 
 poetic conception of a poetic theme, while his execution, though 
 vigorous, is so coarse as to give a burlesque air to much of his 
 drama. Shakspere at least would never have taken part in a work 
 iVU^^c/^ after so rude and coarse a fashion ventured on the same kind of 
 ground as that familiar to his own airy step ' (1. c, vol. I., p. 469). 
 In most of the so-called Pseudo-Shakespearian Plays, parti- 
 cularly in The Two Noble Kinstnen and King Edward III., the editors 
 
INTRODUCTION. Xl 
 
 and commentators have been able to point out a number of pas- 
 sages and phrases which remind the reader of Shakespeare. 
 Nothing of the kind is to be found in The Birth of Merlin. 
 Throughout the play the language is either rough and homebred, 
 or stilted and artificial; the verse, too, is uneven and far from 
 showing Shakespeare's happy hand. Surely, no unbiassed reader 
 will, in the absence of all external arguments, be disposed only 
 from internal evidence to ascribe the play to Shakespeare. And 
 indeed, Tieck himself seems to have been of opinion that the 
 play, as it is, is not quite worthy of Shakespeare's genius, since 
 he concludes his essay with the words: 'Had Shakespeare com- 
 pleted the play by himself, it is not to be doubted that we 
 should be indebted to him for a production far superior to The 
 Birth of Merlin.' 
 
 We are sorry to have to state that in spite of our researches 
 we have not succeeded in discovering the special source from 
 which the contents, especially the comic scenes, of our play have 
 been taken. Let us hope that we are more successful, when we have 
 the opportunity of consulting again the rich collections of the 
 British Museum. 
 
THE BIRTH OF MERLIN: 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE CHILDE HATH FOUND HIS FATHER. 
 
DRAMATIS PERSONS. 
 
 AuRELius, King of BriUain. 
 
 VoRTiGER, King of the Welsh 
 Britlains. 
 
 Vter Pendragon the Prince, 
 Brother to AuRELlUS. 
 
 DONOBERT,a Nobleman, and Father 
 to CONSTANTIA and MODESTIA. 
 
 The Earl o/Gloster, and Father 
 to Edwyn. 
 
 Edoll, Earl of Chester, and Gene- 
 ral to King Aurelius. 
 
 Cador, Earl of Cornwal, and 
 Suitor to CONSTANTIA. 
 
 Edwyn, Son to the Earl o/Gloster, 
 and Suitor to Modestia. 
 
 TocLio and Oswold, two Noble- 
 men. 
 
 Merlin the Prophet. 
 
 Anselme the Hermit, after Bishop 
 of Winchester. 
 
 Clown, brother to Zone, mother of 
 Merlin. 
 
 Sir Nichodemus Nothing, a 
 
 Courtier. 
 The Devil, father of Merlin. 
 OSTORIUS, the Saxon General. 
 OcTA, a Saxon Nobleman. 
 Proximus, a Saxon Magician. 
 Two Bishops. 
 Two Saxon Lords. 
 Two of Edols Captains. 
 Two Gentlemen. 
 A little Antick Spirit. 
 
 Artesia, Sister to Ostorius the 
 
 Saxon General. 
 
 CONSTANTIA | _, 
 
 I Daughters to 
 
 [ Donobert. 
 Modestia J 
 
 Ione Goe-too't, Mother of 
 
 Merlin. 
 
 A Waiting-woman to Artesia. 
 
 LuciNA, Queen of the Shades. 
 
 The Scene: Brittain. 
 
 Dramatis Personse. Vortiger, King of Brittain A and Del., Vortiger, 
 King of Wales Tyr. ; cp. IV. I. Vortiger, King of the Welsh Brittains. 
 
ACT I. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 A Room in the Castle of Lord Donobert. 
 
 Enter Donobert, Gloster, Cador, Edwin, Constantia, 
 
 and MODESTIA. 
 
 Cador. You teach me language, sir, as one that knows 
 The Debt of Love I owe unto her Vertues; 
 Wherein like a true Courtier I have fed 
 My self with hope of fair Success, and now 
 Attend your wisht consent to my long Suit. 5 
 
 Dona. Believe me, youthful Lord, 
 Time could not give an opportunity 
 More fitting your desires, always provided. 
 My Daughters love be suited with my Grant. 
 
 Cador. 'Tis the condition, sir, her Promise seal'd. 10 
 
 Dono. 1st so, Constantia? 
 
 Const. I was content to give him words for oathes; 
 He swore so oft he lov'd me — 
 
 Dono. That thou believest him? 
 
 Const. He is a man, I hope. 15 
 
 Dono. That's in the trial. Girl. 
 
 Const. However, I am a woman, sir. 
 
 Dono. The Law's on thy side then: sha't have a Husband, 
 I, and a worthy one. Take her, brave Cornwal, 
 And make your happiness great as our wishes. 20 
 
 The whole of the play, the rhyme-couplets only excepted, being printed 
 as prose in A, we shall only indicate the passages in which we differ from 
 the division of lines as adopted by Delius. 
 
 Act I. Scene I. Stage - dir. add. by Tyr. — 2. their Vertues A and 
 Edd. — 13. me — ] me. A and Edd. — 20. your'\ our A and Edd. Tieck: 
 So schon set euer Gliick wie unsre Wunsche. 
 
4 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [I, I- 
 
 Cador. Sir, I thank you. 
 
 Glosl. Double the fortunes of the day, my Lord, 
 And crown my wishes too: I have a son here. 
 Who in my absence would protest no less 
 25 Unto your other Daughter. 
 
 Dono. Ha, Gloster, is it so? what says Lord Edwin? 
 Will she protest as much to thee? 
 
 Edwin. Else must she want some of her Sisters faith, Sir. 
 
 Modest. Of her credulity much rather. Sir: 
 30 My Lord, you are a Soldier, and methinks 
 The height of that Profession should diminish 
 All heat of Loves desires. 
 Being so late employ'd in blood and ruine. 
 
 Edwin. The more my Conscience tyes me to repair 
 35 The worlds losses in a new succession. 
 
 Modest. Necessity, it seems, ties your aflfections then. 
 And at that rate I would unwillingly 
 Be thrust upon you; a wife is a dish soon cloys, sir. 
 
 Edwin. Weak and diseased appetites it may. 
 40 Modest. Most of your making have dull stomacks, sir. 
 
 Dono. If that be all. Girl, thou shalt quicken him; 
 Be kinde to him, Modestia: Noble Edwin, 
 Let it suffice, what's mine in her, s peaks ji Qurs; 
 For her consent, let your fair suit go on, 
 45 She is a woman, sir, and will be won. 
 
 Edwin. You give me comfort, sir. 
 
 Enter ToCLlO. 
 Dono. Now, Toclio? 
 
 Toclio. The King, my honor'd Lords, requires your presence. 
 And calls a Councel for return of answer 
 Unto the parling enemy, whose Embassadors 
 50 Are on the way to Court. 
 
 Dono. So suddenly? 
 
 Chester, it seems, has ply'd them hard at war, 
 They sue so fast for peace, which by my advice 
 
 35. worlds may be read as a disyllable. — 42. Modesta A. — 46. Enter 
 Toclio after 1. 45 in A. 
 
I' !•] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 5 
 
 They ne're shall have, unless they leave the Realm. 
 
 Come, noble Gloster, let's attend the King. 
 
 It lies, sir, in your Son to do me pleasure, 55 
 
 And save the charges of a Wedding-Dinner; 
 
 If you'l make haste to end your Love-affairs, 
 
 One cost may give discharge to both my cares. \Exit Dong., 
 
 Edwin, rie do my best. Glostek. 
 
 Cador. Now, Toclio, what stirring news at Court? 60 
 
 Toclio. Oh, my Lord, the Court's all fill'd with rumor, the 
 City with news, and the Country with wonder, and all the 
 bells i'th' Kingdom must proclaim it, we have a new Holy-day 
 a coming. 
 
 Const. A holy-day! for whom? for thee? 65 
 
 Toclio. Me, Madam! 'sfoot! I'de be loath that any man 
 should make a holy-day for me yet: 
 In brief, 'tis thus: There's here arriv'd at Court, 
 Sent by the Earl of Chester to the King, 
 
 A man of rare esteem for holyness, 70 
 
 A reverent Heremit, that by miracle 
 Not onely saved our army, 
 But without aid of man o'rethrew 
 The pagan Host, and with such wonder, sir. 
 As might confirm a Kingdom to his faith. 75 
 
 Edwin. This is strange news, indeed; where is he? 
 
 Toclio. In conference with the King, that much respects him. 
 
 Modest. Trust me, I long to see him. 
 
 Toclio. Faith, you will find no great pleasure in him, for 
 
 66 — 67. Elze, Notes on Elizabethan Dramatists, vol. i., Halle, 1880, p. 2. 
 considers these two lines as verse, dividing them at man, and proposing to read 
 for my sake instead of for me. It may however well be that Toclio only 
 delivers the account about the Hermit in verse. A similar case occurs 
 II. I. 9 seqq. — 72seqq. Elze, 1. c, regulates the lines: Not only saved our 
 army, but without \ The aid of man o'erthrew the pagan host \ And with 
 such -wonder, sir, as might confirm | A kingdom, to his faith. But as Shak. 
 says with aid of s. b. (3 H. VI., II. 1. 147, 2 H. VI., IV. 5. 4, Haml. IV. I. 33), 
 we seem not to be permitted to add the in the phrase without aid of j. b. ; 
 besides the separation of without from the aid, and of confirm from kingdom 
 sounds at any rate harsh to the ear. As to without, cp. Cor. III. 3. 133 
 That won you without blows. In 1. 73 a foot is wanting, as in many other 
 lines of our play. 
 
6 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [I, I- 
 
 80 ought that I can see, Lady. They say he is half a Prophet 
 too: would he could tell me any news of the lost Prince, 
 there's twenty Talents offer'd to him that finds him. 
 
 Cador. Such news was breeding in the morning. 
 
 Toclio. And now it has birth and life, sir. If fortune bless 
 
 85 me, rie once more search those woods where then we lost 
 
 him; I know not yet what fate may follow me. \Exit. 
 
 Cador, Fortune go with you, sir. Come, fair Mistriss, 
 Your Sister and Lord Edwin are in game. 
 And all their wits at stake to win the Set. , 
 90 Const. My sister has the hand yet; we had best leave them: 
 She will be out anon as well as I, 
 He wants but cunning to put in a Dye. \Exit Cadok, Const. 
 
 Edwin. You are a cunning Gamester, Madam. 
 
 Modest. It is a desperate Game, indeed, this Marriage, 
 95 Where there's no winning without loss to either. 
 
 Edwin. Why, what but your perfection, noble Lady, 
 Can bar the worthiness of this my suit? 
 If so you please I count my happiness 
 From difficult obtaining, you shall see 
 100 My duty and observance. 
 
 Modest. There shall be place to neither, noble sir; 
 I do beseech you, let this mild Reply 
 Give answer to your suit: for here I vow. 
 If e're I change my Virgin-name, by you 
 105 It gains or looses. 
 
 Edwin. My wishes have their crown. 
 
 Modest. Let them confine you then. 
 As to my promise you give faith and credence. 
 
 Edwin. In your command my willing absence speaks it. \Exit. 
 
 Modest. Noble and vertuous: could I dream of Marriage, 
 no I should affect thee, Edwin. Oh, my soul, 
 
 Here's something tells me that these best of creatures. 
 These models of the world, weak man and woman, 
 Should have their souls, their makings life, and being. 
 To some more excellent use: if what the sense 
 
 104. name by you, \ It A and Edd. — 105. theircr own A, their own 
 Tyr. — 107. As to my promise, you give faith and credence A and Edd. 
 
I. 2.J THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 7 
 
 Calls pleasure were our ends, we might justly blame 115 
 
 Great natures wisdom, who rear'd a building 
 
 Of so much art and beauty to entertain 
 
 A guest so far incertain, so imperfect: 
 
 If onely speech distinguish us from beasts. 
 
 Who know no inequality of birth or place, 120 
 
 But still to fly from goodness: oh, how base 
 
 Were life at such a rate! No, no, that power 
 
 That gave to man his being, speech and wisdom, 
 
 Gave it for thankfulness. To him alone 
 
 That made me thus, may I thence truly know, 125 
 
 rie pay to him, not man, the love I owe. [Exit. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 The British Court. 
 
 Flourish Cornets. Enter Aurelius King of Britlain, Donobekt, 
 Glostek, Cador, Edwin, Toclio, Oswold, and Attendants. 
 
 Aur. No tiding of our brother yet? 'Tis strange. 
 So ne're the Court, and in our own Land too. 
 And yet no news of him: oh, this loss 
 Tempers the sweetness of our happy conquests 
 With much untimely sorrow. 5 
 
 Dona. Royal sir, 
 
 His safety being unquestion'd, you should to time 
 Leave the redress of sorrow. Were he dead, 
 Or taken by the foe, our fatal loss 
 Had wanled no quick Herald to disclose it. 
 
 Aur. That hope alone sustains me, 10 
 
 Nor will we be so ingrateful unto heaven 
 To question what we fear with what we enjoy. 
 Is answer of our message yet return'd 
 From that religious man, the holy Hermit, 
 Sent by the Earl of Chester to confirm us 15 
 
 116. A so-called syllable -pause -line. — 125. whence A and Tyr., 
 thence Del. 
 
 EcENE II. The British Court add. by Tyr. — 6. you wanting in A 
 
 and Edd, i,jL/r 5--J,/ I i.^f-7wL»^ <^ if-^-Ml l^Y,^. 
 
8 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [I, 2. 
 
 In that miraculous act? For 'twas no less: 
 Our Army being in rout, nay, quite o'rethrown, 
 As Chester writes, even then this holy man, 
 Arm'd with his cross and staff, went smiling on, 
 20 And boldly fronts the foe; at sight of whom 
 
 The Saxo.is stood amaz'd: for, to their seeming. 
 Above the Hermit's head appear'd such brightness, 
 Such clear and glorious beams, as if our men 
 March't all in fire; wherewith the Pagans fled, 
 25 And by our troops were all to death pursu'd. 
 
 Glost. 'Tis full of wonder, sir. 
 
 Aurel. Oh, Gloster, he's a jewel worth a Kingdom. 
 Where's Oswold with his answer? 
 
 Oswald. 'Tis here, my Royal Lord. 
 30 Aurel. In writing? will he not sit with us? 
 
 Oswold. His Orizons perform'd, he bad me say. 
 He would attend with all submission. 
 
 Aurel. Proceed to councel then; and let some give order. 
 The Embassadors being come to take our answer, 
 35 They have admittance. Oswold, Toclio, 
 
 Be it your charge ! — [Exeunt Oswold and Toclio] And now. 
 The holy councel of this reverend Hermit: [my Lords, observe 
 [Reads'] 'As you respect your safety, limit not 
 That onely power that hath protected you; 
 40 Trust not an open enemy too far. 
 
 He's yet a looser, and knows you have won; 
 Mischiefs not ended are but then begun. 
 
 Anselme the Hermit.' 
 
 Dono. Powerful and pithie, which my advice confirms: 
 No man leaves physick when his sickness slakes, 
 45 But doubles the receipts: the word of Peace 
 
 Seems fair to blood-shot eyes, but being appli'd 
 With such a medicine as blinds all the sight 
 Argues desire of Cure, but not of Art. 
 
 Aurel. You argue from defects; if both the name 
 
 22. Hermit head A. — 30. Two lines in Del., div. at writing. — 
 36. Stage-dir. add. by Tyr. — 42. then but Tyr. — 48. not knowledge of 
 Art Tyr. 
 
I, 2.] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. Q 
 
 And the condition of the Peace be one, 50 
 
 It is to be prefer'd, and in the offer, 
 
 Made by the Saxon, I see nought repugnant. 
 
 Glost. The time of truce requir'd for thirty days, 
 Carries suspicion in it, since half that space 
 Will serve to strength their weakned Regiments. 55 
 
 Cador. We in less time will undertake to free 
 Our Country from them. 
 
 Edwin. Leave that unto our fortune. 
 
 Dono. Is not our bold and hopeful General 
 Still Master of the field, their Legions fain. 
 
 The rest intrencht for fear, half starv'd, and wounded, 60 
 
 And shall we now give o're our fair advantage? 
 'Fore heaven, my Lord, the danger is far more 
 In trusting to their words then to their weapons. 
 
 Enter Oswold. 
 
 Oswald. The embassadors are come, sir. 
 
 Aurel. Conduct them in! 
 
 We are resolv'd, my Lords: since policy fail'd 65 
 
 In the beginning, it shall have no hand 
 In the conclusion. 
 
 That heavenly power that hath so well begun 
 Their fatal overthrow, I know, can end it: 
 From which fair hope my self will give them answer. 70 
 
 Flourish Cornets. Enter Aktesia with the Saxon Lords. 
 
 Dono. What's here? a woman Orator? 
 
 Aurel. Peace, Donobert! — Speak, what are you. Lady? 
 
 Artes. The sister of the Saxon General, 
 Warlike Ostorius the East Angles King; 
 
 My name Artesia, who in terms of love 75 
 
 Brings peace and health to great Aurelius, 
 Wishing she may return as fair a present 
 As she makes tender of. 
 
 55. Regiment A, Regiments Tyr. — 56. We"] Who A and Edd. — 
 62. Force heaven A, corr. by Tyr. — 74. Anglese A. — 77. she'] the army Tyr. 
 
lO THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [I, 2. 
 
 Aurel. The fairest present e're mine eyes were blest with ! — 
 80 Command a chair there for this Saxon Beauty: — 
 Sit, Lady, we'l confer: your warlike brother 
 Sues for a peace, you say? 
 
 Artes. With eiidless love unto your State and Person. 
 
 Aurel. Ha's sent a moving Orator, believe me. — 
 85 What thinkst thou, Donobert? 
 
 Bono. Believe me, sir, were I but young agen. 
 This gilded pill might take my stomack quickly. 
 
 Aurel. True, thou art old: how soon we do forget 
 Our own defects! Fair damsel, — oh, my tongue 
 90 Turns Traitor, and will betray my heart — sister to 
 Our enemy: — 'sdeath, her beauty mazes me, 
 I cannot speak if 1 but look On her. — 
 What's that we did conclude? 
 
 Bono. This, Royal Lord — 
 
 Aurel. Pish, thou canst not utter it: — 
 
 95 Fair'st of creatures, tell the King your Brother, 
 
 That we, in love — ha! — and honor to our Country, 
 Command his Armies to depart our Realm. 
 But if you please, fair soul — Lord Donobert, 
 Deliver you our pleasure. 
 
 Bono. I shall, sir: 
 
 100 Lady, return, and certifie your brother — 
 
 Aurel. Thou art too blunt and rude! return so soon? 
 Fie, let her stay, and -send some messenger 
 To certifie our pleasure. 
 
 Bono. What meanes your Grace? 
 
 Aurel. To give her time of rest to her long Journey; 
 105 We would not willingly be thought uncivil. 
 
 Artes. Great King of Brittain, let it not seem strange, 
 To embrace the Princely Offers of a friend. 
 Whose vertues with thine own, in fairest merit, 
 Both States in Peace and Love may now inherit. 
 no Aurel. She speakes of Love agen! 
 
 Sure, 'tis my fear, she knows I do not hate her. 
 
 Artes. Be, then, thy self, most great Aurelius, 
 
 79. presence Tyr. 
 
I, 2.] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. ii 
 
 And let not envy nor a deeper sin 
 
 In these thy Councellors deprive thy goodness 
 
 Of that fair honor, we in seeking peace 1 1 5 
 
 Give first to thee, who never used to sue 
 
 But force our wishes. Yet, if this seem light, 
 
 Oh, let my sex, though worthless your respect, 
 
 Take the report of thy humanity. 
 
 Whose mild and vertuous life loud fame displayes, 120 
 
 As being o'recome by one so worthy praise. 
 
 Aurel. She has an Angels tongue. — Speak still. 
 
 Dono. This flattery is gross, sir; hear no more on't. — 
 Lady, these childish complements are needless; 
 You have your answer, and believe it. Madam, 125 
 
 His Grace, though yong, doth wear within his breast 
 Too grave a Councellor to be seduc't 
 By smoothing flattery or oyly words. 
 
 Aries. I come not, sir, to wooe him. 
 
 Dono. 'Twere folly, if you should ; you must not wed him. 1 30 
 
 Aurel. Shame take thy tongue ! Being old and weak thy self. 
 Thou doat'st, and looking on thine own defects, 
 Speak'st what thou'dst wish in me. Do I command 
 The deeds of others, mine own act not free? 
 
 Be pleas'd to smile or frown, we respect neither: 135 
 
 My will and rule shall stand and fall together. 
 Most fair Artesia, see the King descends 
 To give thee welcome with these warlike Saxons, 
 And now on equal terms both sues and grants: 
 Instead of Truce, let a perpetual League 140 
 
 Seal our united bloods in holy marriage; 
 Send the East Angels King this happy news. 
 That thou with me hast made a League for ever. 
 And added to his state a friend and brother. 
 Speak, dearest Love, dare you confirm this Title? 145 
 
 Aries. I were no woman to deny a good 
 So high and noble to my fame and Country. 
 
 115. honor. We Del. — 1 16. use A and Del, used Tyr. — 131 seqq. added 
 to DoNO.'s words {1. 130) A. Tyr. puts Shame take thy tongue twice: wed him. 
 Shame take thy tongue. AUR. Shame take thy tongue! Bring &c. — 132. thy 
 Tyr. — 146. to deny so high and noble a proposal to my fame and country Tyr. 
 
12 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [I, 2. 
 
 Aurel. Live, then, a Queen in Brittain. 
 Glost. He raeanes to marry her. 
 150 Dono. Death! he shall marry the devil first! 
 Marry a Pagan, an Idolater? 
 
 Cador. He has won her quickly. 
 Edwin. She was woo'd afore she came, sure, 
 Or came of purpose to conclude the Match. 
 155 Aurel. Who dares oppose our will? My Lord of Gloster, 
 Be you Embassador unto our Brother, 
 The Brother of our Queen Artesia; 
 Tell him, for such our entertainment looks him, 
 Our marriage adding to the happiness 
 160 Of our intended joys; mans good or ill 
 In this like waves agree, come double still. 
 
 Enter Hermit. 
 Who's this? the Hermit? Welcome, my happiness! 
 Our Gentries hope, most reverent holy man, 
 1 wanted but thy blessing to make perfect 
 165 The infinite sum of my felicity. 
 
 Hermit. Alack, sweet Prince, that happiness is yonder. 
 Felicity and thou art far asunder; 
 This world can never give it. 
 
 Aurel. Thou art deceiv'd: see here what 1 have found, 
 170 Beauty, Alliance, Peace, and strength of Friends, 
 All in this all exceeding excellence: 
 The League's confirm'd. 
 
 Hermit. With whom, dear Lord? 
 
 Aurel. With the great Brother of this Beauteous woman, 
 175 The Royal Saxon King. 
 
 Hermit. Oh, then I see. 
 
 And fear thou art too near thy misery. 
 What magick could so linck thee to this mischief? 
 By all the good that thou hast reapt by me. 
 Stand further from destruction. 
 180 Aurel. Speak as a man, and I shall hope to obey thee. 
 
 158. Tell him as such our entertainment looks for him Tyr. 
 
I. 2.] THE BIRTH OT MERLIN. 
 
 13 
 
 Hermit. Idolatress, get hence! fond King, let go: 
 Thou hugst thy ruine and thy Countries woe. 
 
 Dono. Well spoke, old Father; too him, bait him soundly. 
 Now, by heavens blest Lady, I can scarce keep patience. 
 
 1. Saxon Lord. What devil is this? 185 
 
 2. Saxon Lord. That cursed Christian, by whose hellish charmes 
 Our army was o'rethrown. 
 
 Hermit. Why do you dally, sir? Oh, tempt not heaven; 
 Warm not a serpent in your naked bosom: 
 Discharge them from your Court. igo 
 
 Aurel. Thou speak'st like madness! 
 
 Command the frozen shepherd to the shade. 
 When he sits warm i'th' Sun; the fever-sick 
 To add more heat unto his burning pain: 
 These may obey, 'tis less extremity 
 
 Then thou enjoynst to me. Cast but thine eye 195 
 
 Upon this beauty, do it, I'le forgive thee, 
 Though jealousie in others findes no pardon; 
 Then say thou dost not love; I shall then swear 
 Th'art immortal and no earthly man. 
 Oh, blame then my mortallity, not me. 200 
 
 Hermit. It is thy weakness brings thy misery. 
 Unhappy Prince. 
 
 Aurel. Be milder in thy doom. 
 
 Hermit. 'Tis you that must indure heavens doom, which fain ^ 
 Remembers just 
 
 Artes. Thou shalt not live to see it. — How fares my Lord? 205 
 If my poor presence breed dislike, great Prince, 
 I am no such neglected soul, will seek 
 To tie you to your word. 
 
 Aurel. My word, dear Love! may my Religion, 
 Crown, State, and Kingdom fail, when I fail thee. 210 
 
 Command Earl Chester to break up the camp 
 Without disturbance to our Saxon friends; 
 Send every hour swift posts to hasten on 
 The King her Brother, to conclude this League, 
 
 181. Idolaters A. — 195. eyes Tyr. — 198. love me A, love like me 
 Tyr., love Del. — 206. breeds Tyr. 
 
14 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [I, 2. 
 
 215 This endless happy Peace of Love and Marriage; 
 Till when provide for Revels, and give charge 
 That nought be wanting which may make our triumphs 
 Sportful and free to all. If such fair blood 
 Ingender ill, man must not look for good. [£x. all but 
 
 Heremit. Florish. 
 
 Enter Modestia, reading in a book. 
 220 Mod. How much the oft report of this blest Hermit 
 Hath won on my desires; I must behold him: 
 And sure this should be he. Oh, the world's folly, 
 Proud earth and dust, how low a price bears goodness! 
 All that should make man absolute, shines in him. 
 225 Much reverent Sir, may I without offence 
 Give interruption to your holy thoughts? 
 Hermit. What would you. Lady? 
 
 Mod. That which till now ne're found a language in me: 
 I am in love. 
 
 Her. In love? with what? 
 
 Mod. With vertue. 
 
 230 Her. There's no blame in that. 
 
 Mod. Nay, sir, with you, with your Religious Life, 
 Your Vertue, Goodness, if there be a name 
 To express affection greater, that. 
 That would I leam and utter: Reverent Sir, 
 235 If there be any thing to bar my suit. 
 
 Be charitable and expose it; your prayers 
 Are the same Orizons which I will number. 
 Holy Sir, 
 
 Keep not instruction back from willingness, 
 240 Possess me of that knowledge leads you on 
 To this humility; for welll know, 
 Were greatness good, you would not live so low. 
 Her. Are you a Virgin? 
 Mod. Yes, Sir. 
 245 Her. Your name? 
 Mod. Modestia. 
 
 217. malie A, will make Tyr., may make Del. — 219. men Tyr. — 
 233. that] than that word Del. — 246. Modesto A. 
 
JI. I-J THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 
 
 15 
 
 Her. Your name and vertues meet, a Modest Virgin: 
 Live ever in the sanctimonious way 
 To Heaven and Happiness. There's goodness in you, 
 I must instruct you further. Come, look up, 250 
 
 Behold yon firmament: there sits a power. 
 Whose foot-stool is this earth. Oh, learn this lesson. 
 And practise it: he that will climb so high. 
 Must leave no joy beneath to move his eye. 
 
 Mod. I apprehend you, sir: on Heaven I fix my love, 255 
 
 Earth gives us grief, our joys are all above; 
 For this was man in innocence naked born. 
 To show us wealth hinders our sweet return. \Exeunt. 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 A Forest. 
 
 Enter Clown and his sister great with childe. 
 
 Clown. Away ! follow me no further, I am none of thy brother. 
 What, with Childe? great with Childe, and knows not whose 
 the Father on't! I am asham'd to call thee Sister. 
 
 Joan. Believe me. Brother, he was a Gentleman. 
 
 Clown. Nay, I believe that; he gives arms, and legs too, 5 
 and has made you the Herald to blaze 'em. But, Joan, 
 Joan, sister Joan, can you tell me his name that did it? 
 how shall we call my Cousin, your bastard, when we have it? 
 
 Joan. Alas, I know not the Gentlemans name. Brother! 
 I met him in these woods, the last great hunting; 10 
 
 He was so kinde and proffer'd me so much. 
 As I had not the heart to ask him more. 
 
 Clown. Not his name? why, this showes your Country 
 -breeding now; had you been brought up i'th' City, you'd 
 
 254. leave"] let Tyr.; but leave is often almost = to let, to suffer, 
 cp. you barely leave our thorns to prick ourselves All's IV. 2. 19, and see 
 Al. Schmidt, Sh.-L., s. v. leave 8). — 254 and 258. Exit] corr. by Tyr. 
 
 Act n. Scene I. A Forest, add. by Tyr. — 2. hnow Tyr. — 8. name 
 Del. — 9 — 12. Not printed as verse in A and Edd., cp. ad X. i. 66. — 
 14. breeding. Now, had Del. 
 
1 6 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [H, I. 
 
 15 have got a Father first, and the childe afterwards: Hast 
 thou no markes to know him by? 
 
 Joan. He had most rich Attire, a fair Hat and Feather, 
 a gilt Sword, and most excellent Hangers. 
 
 Clown. Pox on his Hangers, would he had bin gelt for his labor. 
 20 Joan. Had you but heard him swear, you would have thought — 
 Clown. I, as you did. Swearing and lying goes together 
 still. Did his Oathes get you with Childe, we shall have a 
 roaring Boy then, yfaith. Well, sister, I must leave you. 
 Joan. Dear brother, stay, help me to finde him out, 
 25 rie ask no further. 
 
 Clown. 'Sfoot, who should I finde? who should I ask for? 
 Joan. Alas, I know not, he uses in these woods, 
 And these are witness of his oathes and promise. 
 
 Clown. We are like to have a hot suit on't, when our 
 30 best witness's but a Knight a'th' Post. 
 
 Joan. Do but enquire this Forrest, I'le go with you; 
 Some happy fate may guide us till we meet him. 
 
 Clown. Meet him? and what name shall we have for him, 
 
 when we meet him? 'Sfoot, thou neither knowst him nor 
 
 35 canst tell what to call him. Was ever man tyr'd with such a 
 
 business, to have a sister got with childe, and know not who 
 
 did it? Well, you shall see him, I'le do my best for you. 
 
 He make Proclamation; if these Woods and Trees, as you say, 
 
 will bear any witness, let them answer. Oh yes: If there be 
 
 40 any man that wants a name, will come in for conscience sake, 
 
 and acknowledge hirnself to be a Whore-Master, he shall have 
 
 that laid to his charge in an hour, he shall not be rid on in 
 
 an age; if he have Lands, he shall have an heir; if he have 
 
 patience, he shall have a wife; if he have neither Lands nor 
 
 45 patience, he shall have a Whore. So ho, boy, so ho, so, so. 
 
 [ Wiihin\ Prince Vter. So ho, boy, so ho, illo ho, illo ho. 
 
 Clown. Hark, hark, sister, there's one hollows to us; what 
 
 a wicked world's this, a man cannot so soon name a whore, 
 
 but a knave comes presently: and see where he is; stand 
 
 50 close a while, sister. 
 
 35. tied Tyr. — 39. Oyes Del. — 46. hoy'\ by A, corr. by Tyr. 
 
n I.] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 17 
 
 Enter Prince Vter. 
 Prince. How like a voice that Eccho spake, but oh, 
 My thoughts are lost for ever in amazement. 
 Could I but meet a man to tell her beauties. 
 These trees would bend their tops to kiss the air 
 That from my lips should give her praises up. 55 
 
 Clown. He talks of a woman, sister. 
 Joan. This may be he, brother. 
 
 Clown. View him well; you see, he has a fair Sword, but 
 his Hangers are fain. 
 
 Prince. Here did I see her first, here view her beauty: 60 
 
 Oh, had I known her name, I had been happy. 
 
 Clown. Sister, this is he, sure; he knows not thy name 
 neither. A couple of wise fools yfaith, to get children, and 
 know not one another. 
 
 Prince. You weeping leaves, upon whose tender cheeks 65 
 Doth stand a flood of tears at my complaint. 
 And heard my vows and oathes — 
 
 Clown. Law, Law, he has been a great swearer too; tis he. 
 Prince. For having overtook her. [sister. 
 
 As I have seen a forward blood-hound strip 70 
 
 The swiftest of the cry, ready to seize 
 His wished hopes, upon the sudden view. 
 Struck with astonishment, at his arriv'd prey. 
 Instead of seizure stands at fearful bay; 
 
 Or like to Marius soldiers, who, o'retook, 75 
 
 The eye-sight killing Gorgon at one look 
 Made everlasting stand: so fear'd my power, 
 Whose cloud aspir'd the Sun, dissolv'd a shower. 
 Pigmalion, then I tasted thy sad fate, 
 
 Whose Ivory picture and my fair were one : 80 
 
 Our dotage past imagination, 
 I saw and felt desire — 
 
 Clown. Pox a your fingering! did he feel, sister? 
 Prince. But enjoy'd not. 
 
 51. spoke, but ah Tyr. — 63. either Del. — 64. not know Tyr. 
 67. And'l You Del. — 71. swifter A and Edd. — 75. whom overtook Del. 
 82. «o/] now A, corr. by Tyr. and Del. 
 
 2 
 
1 8 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [H, I. 
 
 Oh fate, thou hadst thy days and nights to feed 
 85 On calm affection; one poor sight was all, 
 Converts my pleasure to perpetual thrall: 
 Imbracing thine, thou lostest breath and desire. 
 So I, relating mine, will here expire. 
 For here I vow to you, mournful plants, 
 90 Who were the first, made happy by her fame, 
 Never to part hence, till I know her name. 
 
 Clown. Give me thy hand, sister, The Childe has found 
 his Father. This is he, sure, as I am a man; had I been a 
 woman, these kind words would have won me, I should have 
 95 had a great belly too, that's certain. Well, I'le speak to him. 
 — Most honest and fleshly-minded Gentleman, give me your 
 hand, sir. 
 
 Prince. Ha, what art thou, that thus rude and boldly darest 
 Take notice of a wretch so much ally'd * 
 100 To misery as I am? 
 
 Clown. Nay, Sir, for our aliance, I shall be found to be a 
 poor brother-in-Law of your worships. The Gentlewoman you 
 spake on, is my sister: you see what a clew she spreads; her 
 name is Joan Go-too't, I am her elder, but she has been at 
 105 it before me; 'tis a woman's fault. — Pox a this bashfulness! 
 come forward. Jug, prethee, speak to him. 
 
 Prince. Have you e're seen me, Lady? 
 
 Clown. Seen ye? ha, ha! It seems she has felt you too. 
 Here's a young Go-too't a coming, sir; she is my sister; we 
 1 10 all love to Go-too't, as well as your worship. She's a Maid 
 yet, but you may make her a wife, when you please, sir. 
 
 Prince. I am amaz'd with wonder : Tell me, woman. 
 What sin have I comitted worthy this? 
 
 Joan. Do you not know me, sir? 
 1 1 5 Prince. Know thee 1 as I do thunder, hell, and mischief; 
 Witch, scullion, hag! 
 
 Clown. I see, he will marry her; he speaks so like a 
 husband. 
 
 87. losest Tyr. — 89. you, ye mournful Tyr. and Del. Read mournful 
 as three syllables. — 98. rudely Tyr. — Div. at boldly \ wretch \ am by Del. 
 — 110. she's scarce a Tyr. — 1 13. l"] you A and Del., corr. by Tyr. — 
 116. wicth A; stallion A, scullion Del. The same misprint occurs in Q 2 (1604) of 
 Hml. 11,2.616. 
 
11, I.] THE BIRTH OP MERLIN. IQ 
 
 Prince. Death ! I will cut their tongues out for this blasphemy. 
 Strumpet, villain, where have you ever seen me? 120 
 
 Clown. Speak for your self, with a pox to ye. 
 
 Prince. Slaves, lie make you curse your selves for this temp- 
 
 Joan. Oh, sir, if ever you did speak to me, [tation. 
 
 It was in smoother phrase, in fairer language. 
 
 Prince. Lightning consume me, if I ever saw thee. 125 
 
 My rage o'reflowes my blood, all patience flies me. \Beats her.] 
 
 Clown. Hold, I beseech you, sir, I have nothing to say to you. 
 
 Joan. Help, help ! murder, murder ! 
 
 Enter TOCLIO and OSWOLD. 
 
 Toclio. Make haste. Sir, this way the sound came, it was a wood. 
 
 Oswald. See where she is, and the Prince, the price of all 1 30 
 our wishes. 
 
 Clown. The prince, say ye? ha's made a poor Subject of 
 me, I am sure. 
 
 Toclio. Sweet Prince, noble Vter, speak, how fare you, sir? 
 
 Oswold. Dear sir, recal your self; your fearful absence 135 
 
 Hath won too much already on the grief 
 Of our sad King, from whom our laboring search 
 Hath had this fair success in meeting you. 
 
 Toclio. His silence and his looks argue distraction. 
 
 Clown. Nay, he's mad, sure, he will not acknowledge my 140 
 sister, nor the childe neither. 
 
 Oswold. Let us entreat your Grace along with us; 
 Your sight will bring new life to the King your Brother. 
 
 Toclio. Will you go, sir? 
 
 Prince. Yes, any whether; guide me, all's hell, I see; 145 
 
 Man may change air, but not his misery. [Exit Prince, 
 
 Joan. Lend me one word with you, sir. Toclio. 
 
 Clown. Well said, sister, he has a Feather, and fair Hangers 
 too, this may be he. 
 
 Oswold. What would you, fair one? 150 
 
 Joan. Sure, 1 have seen you in these woods ere this. 
 
 1 19— 20. Div. at tongues \ villain \ me by Del. — 1 19. cut out their Tyr. ; 
 but read V II cut &c. — 122. Slaves put in a line by itself by Del. — 1 29. i'the 
 wood Dei. — 145. all's hell; I see, Del. — 151. Given to Clown in A. 
 
 2* 
 
20 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [II, I. 
 
 Oswald. Trust me, never; I never saw this place, 
 Till at this time my friend conducted me. 
 
 Joan. The more's my sorrow then. 
 155 Oswald. Would I could comfort you. 
 I am a Bachelor, but it seems you have 
 A husband, you have been fouly o'reshot else. 
 
 Clown. A woman's fault, we are all subject to go to't, sir. 
 
 Enter TocLio. 
 Toclia. Oswold, away; the Prince will not stir a foot without 
 160 Oswold. I am coming. Farewell, woman. [you. 
 
 Toclio. Prithee, make haste. {Exit Oswold. 
 
 Joan. Good sir, but one word with you, ere you leave us. 
 Toclio. With me, fair soul? 
 
 Clown. Shee'l have a fling at him too; the Childe must 
 165 have a Father. 
 
 Jaan. Have you ne'er seen me, sir? 
 
 Toclio. Seen thee? 'Sfoot, I have seen many fair faces in 
 
 my time. Prithee, look up, and do not weep so. Sure, pretty 
 
 wanton, I have seen this face before. 
 
 1 70 Joan. It is enough, though you ne're see me more. [Sinks down. 
 
 Toclio. 'Sfoot, she's fain. This place is inchanted, sure; 
 
 look to the woman, fellow. [Exit. 
 
 Clown. Oh, she's dead, she's dead! As you are a man, 
 
 stay and help, sir. — Joan, Joan, sister Joan, why, Joan Go 
 
 175 -too't, I say; will you cast away your self, and your childe, 
 
 and me too? what do you mean, sister? 
 
 Joan. Oh, give me pardon, sir; 'twas too much joy 
 Opprest my loving thoughts; I know you were 
 Too noble to deny me — ha! Where is he? 
 180 Clown. Who, the Gentleman? he's gone, sister. 
 
 Joan. Oh! I am undone then! Run, tell him I did 
 But faint for joy; dear brother, haste, why dost thou stay? 
 Oh, never cease, till he give answer to thee. 
 
 Clown. He: which he? what do you call him, tro? 
 
 161. Stage-dir. not in A and Edd. — i68seqq. Printed as verse, div. 
 at thee | time \ so | be/ore. Del. — 1 70. your, corr. by Tyr. and Del. — 
 171. Div. M. fallen Del. — 178. thought Del. — 181. run and tell Tyr. 
 
U, 2. J THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 2 1 
 
 Joan. Unnatural brother! 185 
 
 Shew me the path he took, why dost thou dally? 
 Speak, oh, which way went he? 
 
 Clown. This way, that way, through the bushes there. 
 
 Joan. Were it through fire. 
 The Journey's easie, winged with sweet desire. \Exit. igo 
 
 Cloivn. Hey day, there's some hope of this yet. He follow 
 her for kindreds sake; if she miss of her purpose now, she'l 
 challenge all she findes, I see; for if ever we meet with a 
 two-legd creature in the whole Kingdom, the Childe shall 
 have a Father, that's certain. \Exit. 195 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 An Ante-chamber al the British Court. 
 
 Loud Musick. Enter two with the Sword and Mace, Cadok, Edwin, 
 
 two Bishops, AuKELius, O.storius, leading Artesia Crown'd, Con- 
 
 STANCIA, MODESTIA, OCTA, PkOXIMUS a Magician, DONOBEKT, 
 
 GlostER, Oswold, Toclio; all pass over the Stage. Manet DotfOBEKT, 
 Gloster, Edwin, Cador. 
 
 Dono. Come, Gloster, I do not like this hasty Marriage. 
 
 Gloster. She was quickly wooed and won : not six days since 
 Arrived an enemy to sue for Peace, 
 And now crown'd Queen of Brittain; this is strange. 
 
 Bono. Her brother too made as quick speed in coming, 5 
 
 Leaving his Saxons and his starved Troops, 
 To take the advantage, whilst 'twas offer'd. 
 'Fore heaven, I fear the King's too credulous; 
 Our Army is discharg'd too. 
 
 Gloster. Yes, and our General commanded home. 10 
 
 Son Edwin, have you seen him since? 
 
 Edwin. He's come to Court, but will not view the pr esen ce. 
 Nor speak unto the King; he 's so discontent 
 At this so strange aliance with the Saxon, 
 As nothing can perswade his patience. 15 
 
 186 — 187. Div. at tooti by Del. — 192. she'd Del. 
 
 Scene II. An Antechamber at the British Court add. by Tyr. — 
 I. Come, Gloster put in a line by itself Del. 
 
2 2 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [H, 2. 
 
 Cador. You know, his humor will indure no check, 
 No, if the King oppose it: 
 
 All crosses feeds both his spleen and his impatience; 
 Those affections are in him like powder, 
 20 Apt to inflame with every little spark. 
 And blow up all his reason. 
 
 Gloster. Edol of Chester is a noble Soldier. 
 
 Dono. So is he, by the Rood, ever most faithful 
 To the King and Kingdom, how e're his passions guide him. 
 
 Enter Edoll with Captains. 
 25 Cador. See where he comes, my Lord. 
 
 Omnes. Welcome to Court, brave Earl. 
 Edol. Do not deceive me by your flatteries: 
 
 Is not the Saxon here? the Legue confirm'd? 
 
 The Marriage ratifi'd? the Court divided 
 30 With Pagan Infidels? the least part Christians, 
 
 At least in their Commands? Oh, the gods! 
 
 It is a thought that takes away my sleep. 
 
 And dulls my senses so I scarcely know you: 
 
 Prepare my horses. He away to Chester. 
 35 Capt. What shall we do with our Companies, my Lord? 
 Edol. Keep them at home to increase Cuckolds, 
 
 And get some Cases for your Captainships; 
 
 Smooth up your brows, the wars has spoil'd your faces, 
 
 And few will now regard you. 
 40 Dono. Preserve your patience, Sir. 
 
 Edol. Preserve your Honors, Lords, your Countries Safety, 
 
 Your Lives and Lands from strangers. What black devil 
 
 Could so bewitch the King, so to discharge 
 
 A Royal Army in the height of conquest, 
 45 Nay, even already made victorious. 
 
 To give such credit to an enemy, 
 
 A starved foe, a stragling fugitive, 
 
 Beaten beneath our feet, so low dejected, 
 
 17. ? Not even if. — 18. crosses used as a monosyllable; feed Tyr. 
 and Del. ; ioth'\ but Del. — 36. ? Cuckolds with. — 38. have Tyr. — 48. love 
 dejected A, corr. by Tyr. and Del. 
 
n, 2. J THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 23 
 
 So servile, and so base, as hope of life 
 
 Had won them all to leave the Land for ever? 50 
 
 Dono. It was the Kings will. 
 
 EdoL It was your want of wisdom, 
 That should have laid before his tender youth 
 The dangers of a State, where forain Powers 
 
 Bandy for Soveraignty with Lawful Kings; 55 
 
 Who being settled once, to assure themselves. 
 Will never fail to seek the blood and life 
 Of all competitors. 
 
 Dono. Your words sound well, my Lord, and point at safety. 
 Both for the Realm and us; but why did you, 60 
 
 Within whose power it lay, as General, 
 With full Commission to dispose the war. 
 Lend ear to parly with the weakned foe? 
 
 Edol. Oh, the good Gods! 
 
 Cador. And on that parly came this Embassie. 65 
 
 Edol. You will hear me? 
 
 Edwin. Your letters did declare it to the King, 
 Both of the Peace, and all Conditions, 
 Brought by this Saxon Lady, whose fond love 
 Has thus bewitched him. 70 
 
 Edol. I will curse you all as black as hell. 
 Unless you hear me; your gross mistake would make 
 Wisdom herself run madding through the streets. 
 And quarrel with her shadow. Death! 
 Why kill'd ye not that woman? 75 
 
 Dono. Glosi. Oh, my Lord! 
 
 Edol. The great devil take me quick, had I been by. 
 And all the women of the world were barren. 
 She should have died, ere he had married her 
 On these conditions. 
 
 Cador. It is not reason that directs you thus. 80 
 
 Edol. Then have I none, for all I have directs me. 
 Never was man so palpably abus'd, 
 So basely marted, bought and sold to scorn. 
 My Honor, Fame, and hopeful Victories, 
 
 63. the'] your Tyr. — 81. then I have Tyr. 
 
24 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. P, 2. 
 
 85 The loss of Time, Expences, Blood, and Fortunes, 
 AH vanisht into nothing. 
 
 Edwin. This rage is vain, my Lord: 
 What the King does, nor they nor you can help. 
 Edol. My Sword must fail me then. 
 90 Cador. 'Gainst whom will you expose it? 
 
 Edol. What's that to you? 'gainst all the devils in hell, 
 To guard my country. 
 
 Edwin. These are airy words. 
 
 Edol. Sir, you tread too hard upon my patience. 
 Edivin. I speak the duty of a Subjects faith, 
 95 And say agen, had you been here in presence, 
 What the king did, you had not dar'd to cross it. 
 
 Edol. I will trample on his Life and Soul that says it. 
 Cador. My Lord! 
 Edwin. Come, come. 
 
 Edol. Now, before heaven — 
 
 Cador. Dear Sir! 
 
 Edol. Not dare? thou liest beneath thy lungs. 
 100 Gloster. No more, son Edwin. 
 
 Edwin. I have done, sir; I take my leave. 
 Edol. But thou shalt not, you shall take no leave of me. Sir. 
 Dono. For wisdoms sake, my Lord — 
 Edol. Sir, I'le leave him, and you, and all of you, 
 105 The Court and King, and let my Sword and friends 
 Shuffle for Edols safety: stay you here, 
 And hug the Saxons, till they cut your throats, 
 Or bring the Land to servile slavery. 
 Such yokes of baseness Chester must not suffer! 
 no Go, and repent betimes these foul misdeeds. 
 
 For in this League all our whole Kingdome bleeds, 
 Which lie prevent, or perish. \Exit Edol, Capt. 
 
 Glost. See how his rage transports him! 
 Cador. These passions set apart, a braver soldier 
 115 Breathes not i'th' world this day. 
 
 Dono. I wish his own worth do not court his ruine. 
 The King must Rule, and we must learn to obay. 
 True vertue still directs the noble way. 
 
 90. oppose Del. (expose = to lay bare). — 102. thou shall A. 
 
II, 3-] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 25 
 
 SCENE lU. 
 
 Hall of stale in the Palace. 
 
 Loud Mustek. Enter Aurelius, Artesia, Ostokius, Octa, 
 
 Proximus, Toclio, Oswold, Herviit. 
 
 Aurel. Why is the Court so dull? me thinks, each room 
 And angle of our Palace should appear 
 Stuck full of objects fit for mirth and triumphs. 
 To show our high content. Oswold, fill wine! 
 Must we begin the Revels? Be it so, then! 5 
 
 Reach me the cup: He now begin a Health 
 To our lov'd Queen, the bright Artesia, 
 The Royal Saxon King, our warlike brother. 
 Go and command all the whole Court to pledge it. 
 Fill to the Hermit there! Most reverent Anselme, 10 
 
 Wee'l do thee Honor first, to pledge my Queen. 
 
 Her. I drink no healths, great King, and if I did, 
 I would be loath to part witli health to those 
 That have no power to give it back agen. 
 
 Aurel. Mistake not, it is the argument of Love 15 
 
 And Duty to our Queen and us. 
 
 Artes. But he ows none, it seems. 
 
 Her. I do to vertue, Madame. Temperate minds 
 Covets that health to drink, which nature gives 
 In every spring to man; he that doth hold 20 
 
 His body but a Tenement at will. 
 Bestows no cost, but to repair what's ill: 
 Yet if your healths or heat of Wine, fair Princess, 
 Could this old frame or these cras'd limbes restore. 
 Or keep out death or sickness, then fill more, 25 
 
 rie make fresh way for appetite; if no. 
 On such a prodigal who would wealth bestow? 
 
 Ostorius. He speaks not like a guest to grace a wedding. 
 
 Enter ToCLio. 
 Artes. No, sir, but like an envious imposter. 
 Octa. A Christian slave, a Cinick. 3° 
 
 Scene III. No new scene in Del. — Hall of State in the Palace add. 
 by Tyr. — 8. And the Tyr. — 11. thee the Honor Tyr. — 19. Covet Tyr. 
 and Del. — 23. Princes A, 
 
\ljk 
 
 26 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [U, 3. 
 
 Ostor. What vertue could decline your Kingly spirit 
 To such respect of him whose magick spells 
 Met with your vanquisht Troops, and turn'd your Arms 
 To that necessity of fight, which, through dispair 
 35 Of any hope to stand but by his charms. 
 Had been defeated in a bloody conquest? 
 
 Octa. 'Twas magick, hellbred magick did it, sir, 
 And that's a course, my Lord, which we esteem 
 In all our Saxon Wars unto the last 
 40 And lowest ebbe of servile treachery. 
 
 Aurel. Sure, you are deceiv'd, it was the hand of heaven 
 That in his vertue gave us victory. 
 Is there a power in man that can strike fear 
 Thorough a general camp, or create spirits 
 45 In recreant bosoms above present sense? 
 
 Ostor. To blind the sense there may, with apparition 
 Of well arm'd troops, which in themselves are air, 
 Form'd into humane shapes, and such that day 
 Were by that Sorcerer rais'd to cross our fortunes. 
 50 Aurel. There is a law tells us that words want force 
 To make deeds void ; examples must be shown 
 By instances alike, ere I believe it. 
 
 Ostor. 'Tis easily perform'd, believe me, sir: 
 Propose your own desires, and give but way 
 55 To what our Magick here shall straight perform. 
 And then let his or our deserts be censur'd. 
 
 Aurel. We could not wish a greater happiness 
 Then what this satisfaction brings with it. 
 Let him proceed, fair brother. 
 
 Ostor. He shall, sir. 
 
 60 Come, learned Proximus, this task be thine: 
 Let thy great charms confound the opinion 
 This Christian by his spells hath falsly won. 
 
 Prox. Great King, propound your wishes, then, 
 
 34. which through^ which the A, which hut for the Tyr., when the 
 Del. As to the use o{through, cp. iH. IV., III. 2. 124 thou art like enough, 
 through vassal fear, to fight against me, and Cyrab. V. 3. 61 some falling 
 merely through fear. — 47. which in\ within A, corr. by Tyr., but not 
 by Del. 
 
n, 3. J THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 27 
 
 What persons, of what State, what numbers, or how arm'd, 
 Please your own thoughts; they shall appear before you. 65 
 
 Aurel. Strange art! What thinkst thou, reverent Hermit? 
 
 Her. Let him go on, sir. 
 
 Aurel. Wilt thou behold his cunning? 
 
 Her. Right gladly, sir; it will be my joy to tell. 
 That I was here to laugh at him and hell. 70 
 
 Aurel. 1 like thy confidence. 
 
 Aries, His sawcy impudence! — Proceed to th'trial. 
 
 Prox. Speak your desires, my Lord, and be it placed 
 In any angle underneath the Moon, 
 
 The center of the Earth, the Sea, the Air, 75 
 
 The region of the fire, nay, hell itself. 
 And I'le present it 
 
 Aurel. Wee'l have no sight so fearful, onely this: 
 If all thy art can reach it, show me here 
 
 The two great Champions of the Trojan War, 80 
 
 Achilles and brave Hector, our great Ancestor, 
 Both in their warlike habits. Armor, Shields, 
 And Weapons then in use for fight. 
 
 Prox. 'Tis done, my Lord, command a halt and silence. 
 As each man will respect his life or danger. 85 
 
 Armel, Plesgeth! 
 
 Enter Spirits. 
 Spirits. Quid vis? 
 Prox. Attend me ! 
 
 Aurel. The Apparition comes; on our displeasure. 
 Let all keep place and silence. [ Within Drums beat Marches, go 
 Enter Pkoximus , bringing in Hector , attir'd and arm'd 
 after the Trojan manner, with Target, Sword, and Battel-ax, a 
 Trumpet before him, and a Spirit in flame colours with a Torch; 
 at the other door Achilles with his Spear and Falchon, a Trumpet, 
 and a Spirit in black before him ; Trumpets sound alarm, and they 
 manage their weapons to begin the Fight: and after some Charges, 
 the Hermit steps between them, at which seeming amaz'd the spirits 
 tremble. [Thunder within. 
 
 65. your thoughts Tyr. — 73. place't A. — 74. beneath Xyr. — 
 86. (Stage-dir.) Spirit A. — 90. (Stage- dir.) and tremble A. 
 
2 8 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [H, 3- 
 
 Prox. What -means this stay, bright Armel, Plesgeth? 
 Why fear you and fall back? 
 Renew the Alarums, and enforce the Combat, 
 Or hell or darkness circles you for ever. 
 95 Arm. We dare not. 
 
 Prox. Ha ! 
 
 Plesgelh. Our charms are all dissolv'd: Armel, away! 
 'Tis worse then hell to us, whitest here we stay. \Exit all. 
 
 Herm. What! at a Non-plus, sir? command them back, 
 
 [for shame ! 
 loo Prox. What power o're-aws my Spells? Return, you 
 Armel, Plesgeth, double damnation seize you! [Hell-hounds! 
 By all the Infernal powers, the prince of devils 
 Is in this Hermits habit: what else could force 
 My Spirits quake or tremble thus? 
 105 Her. Weak argument to hide your want of skill : 
 Does the devil fear the devil, or war with hell? 
 They have not been acquainted long, it seems. 
 Know, misbelieving Pagan, even that Power, 
 That overthrew your Forces, still lets you see, 
 no He onely can controul both hell and thee. 
 
 Prox. Disgrace and mischief! He enforce new charms. 
 New spells, and spirits rais'd from the low Abyss 
 Of hells unbottom'd depths. 
 
 Aurel. We have enough, sir; 
 
 Give o're your charms, wee'l finde some other time 
 115 To praise your Art. I dare not but acknowledge 
 That heavenly Power my heart stands witness to: 
 Be not dismaid, my Lords, at this disaster, 
 Nor thou, my fairest Queen: we'l change the Scene 
 To some more pleasing sports. Lead to our Chamber. — 
 1 20 How ere in this thy pleasures finde a cross, 
 Our joy's too fixed here to suffer loss. 
 
 Toclio. Which 1 shall adde to, sir, with news I bring: 
 The Prince, your Brother, lives. 
 
 Aurel. Ha ! 
 
 93. Alarms A, xorr. by Del. — 98. while Tyr. — Exeunt Spirits 
 Tyr. and Del. — 119. our"] your A and Edd. 
 
[II, 3- THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 29 
 
 Toclio. And comes to grace this high and heaven-knit Mar- 125 
 Aurel. Why dost thou flatter me, to make me think [riage. 
 Such happiness attends me? 
 
 Enter Pkince Vter and OswOLD. 
 
 Toclio. His presence speaks my truth, sir. 
 
 Dono. 'Fore me, 'tis he: look, Gloster. 
 
 Glost. A blessing beyond hope, sir. 130 
 
 Aurel. Ha, 'tis he : welcome, my second Comfort. 
 Artesia, Dearest Love, it is my Brother, 
 My Princely Brother, all my Kingdom's hope: 
 Oh, give him welcome, as thou lov'st my health. 
 
 Artes. You have so free a welcome, sir, from me, 135 
 
 As this your presence has such power, I swear, 
 O're me, a stranger, that I must forget 
 My Countrey, Name, and Friends, and count this place 
 My Joy and Birthright. 
 
 Prince. 'Tis she ! 'tis she, I swear ! oh, ye good gods, 'tis she ! 1 40 
 That face within those woods where first I saw her, 
 Captived my senses, and thus many months 
 Bar'd me from all society of men. 
 How came she to this place? 
 
 Brother Aurelius, speak that Angel's name, 145 
 
 Her heaven-blest name, oh, speak it quickly, sir. 
 
 Aurel. It is Artesia, the Royal Saxon Princess. 
 
 Prince. A woman, and no Deity, no feigned shape. 
 To mock the reason of admiring sense. 
 
 On whom a hope as low as mine may live, 150 
 
 Love, and enjoy, dear Brother, may it not? 
 
 Aurel. She is all the Good or Vertue thou canst name. 
 My Wife, my Queen. 
 
 Prince. Ha! your wife! 
 
 Artes. Which you shall finde, sir, if that time and fortune 155 
 May make my love but worthy of your tryal. 
 
 Prince. Oh! 
 
 Aurel. What troubles you, dear Brother? 
 
 I2g. Force me A, corr. by Tyr. and Del. — 140. 'Tis she put in a 
 line by itself by Del. 
 
30 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [H, 3- 
 
 Why with so strange and fixt an eye dost thou 
 1 60 Behold my Joys? 
 
 Arks. You are not well, sir. 
 Prince. Yes, yes. — Oh, you immortal powers, 
 Why has poor man so many entrances 
 For sorrow to creep in at, when our sense 
 165 Is much too weak to hold his happiness? 
 
 Oh, say, 1 was born deaf: and let your silence 
 Confirm in me the knowing my defect; 
 At least be charitable to conceal my sin. 
 For hearing is no less in me, dear Brother. 
 170 Aurel. No more! 
 
 I see thou art a Rival in the Joys 
 Of my high Bliss. Come, my Artesia; 
 The Day's most prais'd when 'tis ecclipst by Night, 
 Great Good must have as great 111 opposite. 
 175 Prince. Stay, hear but a word; yet now I think on't. 
 This is your Wedding-night, and were it mine, 
 I should be angry with least loss of time. 
 
 Artes. Envy speaks no such words, has no such looks. 
 Prince. Sweet rest unto you both. 
 1 80 Aurel. Lights to our Nuptial Chamber. 
 
 Artes. Could you speak so, 
 
 I would not fear how much my grief did grow. 
 Aurel. Lights to our Chamber; on, on, set on! 
 
 \Exeunt. Manet Prince. 
 Prince. ' Could you speak so, 
 I would not fear how much my grief did grow.' 
 185 Those were her very words; sure, I am waking. 
 
 She wrung me by the hand, and spake them to me 
 With a most passionate affection. 
 Perhaps she loves, and now repents her choice, 
 In marriage with my brother. Oh, fond man, 
 IQO How darest thou trust thy Traitorous thoughts, thus to 
 Betray thy self? 'twas but a waking dream. 
 Wherein thou madest thy wishes speak, not her. 
 
 183. Exeunt all except the Prince Tyr. — -184. griefs A, corr. by Del. — 
 190. Traitors A. 
 
II. 3 -J THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 
 
 31 
 
 In which thy foolish hopes strives to prolong 
 
 A wretched being. So sickly children play 
 
 With health-lov'd toys, which for a time delay, 195 
 
 But do^noTcurfe the fit Be, then, a man. 
 
 Meet that destruction which thou canst not flie. 
 
 From not to live, make it thy best to die. 
 
 And call her now, whom thou didst hope to wed. 
 
 Thy brothers wife. Thou art too nere akin, 200 
 
 And such an act above all name's a sin 
 
 Not to be blotted out; heaven pardon me! 
 
 She's banisht from my bosom now for ever. 
 
 To lowest ebbes men justly hope a flood; 
 
 When vice grows barren, all desires are good. 205 
 
 Enter Waiting Gentlewoman with a Jewel. 
 
 Gent. The noble Prince, I take it, sir? 
 
 Prince, You speak me, what I should be. Lady. 
 
 Gent. Know, by that name, sir, Queen Artesia greets you. 
 
 Prince. Alas, good vertue, how is she mistaken! 
 
 Gent. Commending her affection in this Jewel, sir. 210 
 
 Prince. She binds my service to her: ha! a Jewel, 'tis 
 A fair one, trust me, and methinks, it much 
 Resembles something I have seen with her. 
 
 Gent. It is an artificial crab. Sir. 
 
 Prince. A creature that goes backward. 215 
 
 Gent. True, from the way it looks. 
 
 Prince. There is no moral in it aludes to her self? 
 
 Gent. 'Tis your construction gives you that, sir; 
 She's a woman. 
 
 Prince. And, like this, may use her legs and eyes 220 
 
 Two several ways. 
 
 Gent. Just like the Sea-crab, 
 
 Which on the Mussd prayes, whilst he bills at a stone. 
 
 Prince. Pretty in troth. Prithee, tell me, art thou honest? 
 
 Gent. I hope I seem no other, sir. 
 
 Prince. And those that seem so, are sometimes bad enough. 225 
 
 193. strive Tyr. and Del. — 197. No stop behind Flie (flie from) in 
 Del. — 222. mistU Del. — 221 — 2, 226—30, 232—3, 237—38 are printed as 
 prose by Del. 
 
32 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [II, $. 
 
 Gent. If they will accuse themselves for want of witness, 
 Let them, I am not so foolish. 
 
 Prince. I see th'art wise. 
 
 Come, speak me truly: What is the greatest sin? 
 
 Gent. That which man never acted; what has been done 
 230 Is as the least, common to all as one. 
 
 Prince. Dost think thy Lady is of thy opinion? 
 
 Gent. She's a bad Scholar else ; I have brought her up, 
 And she dares owe me still. 
 
 Prince. I, 'tis a fault in greatness, they dare owe 
 235 Many, ere they pay one. But darest thou 
 Expose thy scholar to my examining? 
 
 Gent. Yes, in good troth, sir, and pray put her to't too; 
 'Tis a hard lesson, if she answer it not. 
 
 Prince. Thou know'st the hardest. 
 240 Gent. As far as a woman may, sir. 
 
 Prince. I commend thy plainness. 
 When wilt thou bring me to thy Lady? 
 
 Gent. Next opportunity I attend you, sir. 
 
 Prince. Thanks, take this, and commend me to her. 
 245 Gent. Think of your Sea-crab, sir, I pray. \Exit. 
 
 Prince. Oh, by any means. Lady. — 
 What should all this tend to? 
 If it be Love or Lust that thus incites her, - 
 The sin is horrid and incestuous; 
 250 If to betray my life, what hopes she by it? 
 Yes, it may be a practice 'twixt themselves. 
 To expel the Brittains and ensure the State 
 Through our destructions; all this may be 
 Veil'd with a deeper reach in villany, 
 255 Then all my thoughts can guess at; — however, 
 I will confer with her, and if I finde 
 Lust hath given Life to Envy in her minde, 
 I may prevent the danger: so men wise 
 By the same step by which they fell, may rise; 
 260 Vices are Vertues, if so thought and seen. 
 
 And Trees with foulest roots branch soonest green. \Exit. 
 
 247. shall Tyr. — 253. destruction Tyr. — 254. ■valid A, veiVd Del. 
 
in, I-] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 33 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 Before the Palace of King Aurelius. 
 
 Enter Clown and his Sister. 
 
 Clown. Come, sister, thou that art all fool, all mad woman. 
 
 foan. Prithee, have patience, we are now at Court. 
 
 Clown. At Court! ha, ha, that proves thy madness: was 
 there ever any woman in thy taking travel'd to Court fof a 
 husband? 'Slid, 'tis enough for them to get children, and 5 
 the City to keep 'em, and the Countrey to finde Nurses: 
 every thing must be done in his due place, sister. 
 
 Joan. Be but content a while; for, sure, I know 
 This Journey will be happy. Oh, dear brother. 
 This night my sweet Friend came to comfort me; 10 
 
 I saw him and embrac't him in mine arms. 
 
 Clown. Why did you not hold him, and call me to help you? 
 
 foan. Alas, I thought I had been with him still. 
 But when I wak't — 
 
 Clown. A pox of all Loger-heads! then you were but in 15 
 a Dream all this while, and we may still go look him. Well, 
 since we are come to Court, cast your Cats eyes about you, 
 and either finde him out you dreamt on, or some other, for 
 He trouble my self no further. 
 
 Enter Donobert, Cador, Edwin, and Toclio. 
 
 See, see, here comes more Courtiers; look about you, come; 20 
 pray, view 'em all well; the old man has none of the marks 
 about him, the other have both Swords and Feathers: what 
 thinkest thou of that tall yong Gentleman? 
 
 foan. He much resembles him; but, sure, my friend. 
 Brother, was not so high of stature. 25 
 
 Clown. Oh, beast, wast thou got a childe with a short thing too? 
 
 Dona. Come, come, He hear no more on't: Go, Lord Edwin, 
 Tell her, this day her sister shall be married 
 
 Act m. Scene I. Before the Palace of King Aurelius add. by Tyr. — 
 I. that om. by Tyr. and Del. — \^. Ah pox A. — 22. bothl but Del. — 
 26. got with child Tyr. 
 
 3 
 
54 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [HI, I. 
 
 To Cador, Earl of Cornwal; so shall she 
 30 To thee, brave Edwin, if she'l have my blessing. 
 Edwin. She is addicted to a single Life, 
 She will not hear of Marriage. 
 
 Dono. Tush, fear it not: go you from me to her. 
 Use your best skill, my Lord, and if you fail, 
 35 1 have a trick shall do it: haste, haste about it. 
 Edwin. Sir, I am gone; 
 My hope is in your help more then my own. 
 
 Dono. And worthy Toclio, to your care I must 
 Commend this business 
 40 For Lights and Musick, and what else is needful. 
 Toclio. I shall, my Lord. 
 
 Clown. We would intreat a word, sir. Come forward, sister. 
 
 \_Exit Dono., Toe, Cador. 
 Edwin. What lackst thou, fellow? 
 Clown. I lack a father for a childe, sir. 
 45 Edwin. How! a God-father? 
 
 Clown. No, sir, we mean the own father: it may be you, 
 sir, for any thing we know; 1 think the childe is like you. 
 Edwin. Like me! prithee, where is it? 
 Clown. Nay, 'tis not born yet, sir, 'tis forth coming; you 
 50 see, the childe must have a father: what do you think of 
 my sister? 
 
 Edwin. Why, I think, if she ne're had husband, she's a 
 
 whore, and thou a fool. Farewell. ]_Exit. 
 
 Clown. I thank you, sir. Well, pull up thy heart, sister; 
 
 55 if there be any Law i'th' Court, this fellow shall father it, 
 
 'cause he uses me so scurvily. There's a great Wedding 
 
 towards, they say; we'l amongst them for a husband for thee. 
 
 Enter Sir Nicodemds with a letter. 
 If we miss there. He have another bout with him that abus'd 
 me. See, look, there comes another Hat and Feather, this 
 60 should be a close Letcher, he's reading of a Love-letter. 
 
 Sir Nic. Earl Cador's Marriage, and a Masque to grace it. 
 So, so! 
 
 57. among Tyr. 
 
Ill, I.] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 35 
 
 « 
 This night shall make me famous for Presentments. — 
 
 How now, what are you? 
 
 Clown. A couple of Great-Brittains, you may see by our 65 
 
 bellies, sir. 
 
 Sir Nic. And what of this, sir? 
 
 Clown. Why, thus the matter stands, sir: There's one of your 
 
 Courtiers Hunting Nags has made a Gap through another 
 
 mans Inclosure. Now, sir, here's the question, who should be 70 
 
 at charge of a Fur-bush to stop it? 
 
 Sir Nic. Ha, ha, this is out of my element: the Law must end it. 
 
 Clown. Your worship says well; for, surely, I think some 
 
 Lawyer had a hand in the business, we have such a trouble- 
 
 som Issue. 75 
 
 Sir Nic. But what's thy business with me now? 
 
 Clown. Nay, sir, the business is done already, you may 
 
 see by my sisters belly. 
 
 Sir Nic. Oh, now I finde thee. This Gentlewoman, it 
 
 seems, has been humbled. 80 
 
 Clown. As low as the ground would give her leave, sir, 
 
 and your Worship knows this: though there be many fathers 
 
 without children, yet to have a childe without a father, were 
 
 most unnatural. 
 
 Sir Nic. That's true, ifaith, 1 never heard of a childe yet 85 
 
 that e're begot his father. 
 
 Clown. Why, true, you say wisely, sir. 
 
 Sir Nic. And therefore I conclude, that he that got the 
 
 childe, is without all question the father of it. 
 
 Clown. I, now you come to the matter, sir; and our suit 90 
 
 is to your Worship for the discovery of this father. 
 
 Sir Nic. Why, lives he in the Court here? 
 
 Joan. Yes, sir, and I desire but Marriage. 
 
 Sir Nic. And does the knave refuse it? Come, come, be 
 
 merry, wench; he shall marry thee, and keep the childe too, 95 
 
 jf my Knighthood can do any thing. I am bound by mine 
 
 Orders to help distressed Ladies, and can there be a greater 
 
 injury to a woman with childe, then to lack a father for't? 
 
 I am asham'd of your simpleness. Come, come, give me a 
 
 99. your om. Del. 
 
36 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [Ill, I. 
 
 » 
 lOO Courtiers Fee for my pains, and He be thy Advocate my 
 
 self, and justice shall be found; nay. He sue the Law for it; 
 
 but give me my Fee first. 
 
 Clown. If ail the money I have i'th' world will do it, you 
 shall have it, sir. 
 105 Sir Nic. An Angel does it. 
 
 Clown. Nay, there's two, for your better eyesight, sir. 
 
 Sir Nic. Why, well said! Give me thy hand, wench, He 
 teach thee a trick for all this, shall get a father for thy 
 childe presently, and this it is, mark now : You meet a man, 
 no as you meet me now, thou claimest Marriage of me, and 
 layest the childe to my charge; I deny it: pish, that's 
 nothing, hold thy Claim fast, thy word carries it, and no Law 
 can withstand it. 
 
 Clown. 1st possible? 
 115 Sir Nic. Past all opposition; her own word carries it. Let 
 her challenge any man, the childe shall call him Father; 
 there's a trick for your money now. 
 
 Clown. Troth, Sir, we thank you, we'l make use of your 
 trick, and go no further to seek the childe a Father, for 
 120 we challenge you, Sir: sister, lay it to him, he shall marry 
 thee, I shall have a worshipful old man to my brother. 
 
 Sir Nic. Ha, ha, I like thy pleasantness. 
 
 Joan. Nay, indeed, Sir, I do challenge you. 
 
 Clown. You think we jest, sir? 
 125 Sir Nic. I, by my troth, do I. I like thy wit yfaith, thou 
 shalt live at Court with me; didst never here of Nicodemus 
 Nothing? I am the man. 
 
 Clown. Nothing? 'slid, we are out agen. Thou wast never 
 got with childe with nothing, sure? 
 130 Joan. I know not what to say. 
 
 Sir Nic. Never grieve, wench, show me the man, and pro- 
 cess shall fly out. 
 
 Cloivn. 'Tis enough for us to fiinde the children, we look 
 that you should finde the Father, and therefore either do us 
 135 justice, or we'l stand to our first challenge. 
 
 106. better sight Tyr. — iii. push A, corr. by Tyr. and Del. — 
 112. words carries A, words carry Tyr., word carries Del. — 119. the 
 childe om. Tyr. — 128. wert Tyr. 
 
in, I.] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 37 
 
 Sir Nic. Would you have justice without an Adversary ? 
 Unless you can show me the man, I can do you no good in it. 
 
 Clown. Why, then I hope you'l do us no harm, sir; you'l restore 
 
 Sir Nic. What, my Fee ? marry. Law forbid it ! [my money. 
 Finde out the party, and you shall have justice, 140 
 
 Your fault clos'd up, and all shall be amended, 
 The Childe his Father, and the Law-suit ended. [Exit. 
 
 Clown. Well, he has deserv'd his Fee, indeed, for he has 
 brought our suit to a quick end, I promise you, and yet the 
 Childe has never a Father; nor we have no more mony to 145 
 seek after him. A shame of all lecherous placcats! Now you 
 look like a Cat had newly kitten'd; what will you do now, 
 tro? Follow me no further, lest 1 beat your brains out. 
 
 Joan. Impose upon me any punishment. 
 Rather then leave me now. 150 
 
 Clown. Well, I think I am bewitched with thee; I cannot 
 finde in my heart to forsake her. There was never sister 
 would have abus'd a poor brother as thou hast done ; I am 
 even pin'd away with fretting, there's nothing but flesh and 
 bones about me. Well, and I had my money agen, it were 155 
 some comfort. Hark, sister, does it not thunder? [Thunder. 
 
 Joan. Oh yes, most fearfully: What shall we do, brother? 
 
 Clow7i. Marry, e'en get some shelter, ere the storm catch us : 
 away, let's away, I prithee. 
 
 Enter the Devil in mans habit, richly attird, his feet and his 
 
 head horrid. 
 Joan. Ha, 'tis he! Stay, brother, dear brother, stay. 160 
 
 Clown. What's the matter now? 
 
 Joan. My love, my friend is come; yonder he goes. 
 Clown. Where, where? show me where; lie stop him, if 
 the devil be not in him. 
 
 Joan. Look there, look yonder! 165 
 
 Oh, dear friend, pity my distress, 
 
 137. do no Tyr. — 140—41. Find out . . clos'd up om. by Del. — 
 142. Child find his Del.; Law ended A and Edd. - 145. nor haue we more 
 money Tyr. — 147. now ora. Tyr. — 151- iewitch A, corr. by Tyr. and Del. — 
 153. / have Tyr. — 158. e'ene A. — 165-66. One line in Del. 
 
38 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [Ill, 2. 
 
 For heaven and goodness, do but speak to me. 
 
 Devil. She calls me, and yet drives me headlong from her. 
 
 Poor mortal, thou and I are much uneven, 
 170 Thou must not speak of goodness nor of heaven, 
 
 If I confer with thee; but be of comfort: 
 
 Whilst men do breath, and Britains name be known, 
 
 The fatal fruit thou bear'st within thy womb, 
 
 Shall here be famous till the day of doom. 
 175 Clown. 'Slid, who's that talks so? I can see nobody. 
 
 Joan. Then art thou blind or mad. See where he goes. 
 
 And beckons me to come; oh, lead me forth, 
 
 I'le follow thee in spight of fear or death. \Exit. 
 
 Clown. Oh brave! she'l run to the devil for a husband; 
 
 180 she's stark mad, sure, and talks to a shaddow, for I could 
 
 see no substance : Well , I'le after her ; the childe was got by 
 
 chance, and the father must be found at all adventure. \Exit. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 The. Porch of a Church. 
 
 Enter Hermit, Modestia, and Edwin. 
 
 Mod. Oh, reverent sir, by you my heart hath reacht 
 At the large hopes of holy Piety, 
 And for this have I craved your company, 
 Here in your sight religiously to vow 
 5 My chaste thoughts up to heaven, and make you now 
 The witness of my faith. 
 
 Her. Angels assist thy hopes. 
 
 Edwin. What meanes my Love? thou art my promis'd wife. 
 
 Mod. To part with willingly what friends and life 
 10 Can make no good assurance of. 
 
 Edwin. Oh, finde remorse, fair soul, to love and merit, 
 And yet recant thy vow. 
 
 Alod. Never : 
 This world and I are parted now for ever. 
 15 Her. To finde the way to bliss, oh, happy woman, 
 
 '73- frm(\ print Del. — 176. thou art Tyr. 
 
 Scene II. The Porch of a Church add. by Tyr. — 3. have add. by Del. 
 
in, 2.J THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 
 
 39 
 
 Th'ast learn'd the hardest Lesson, well I see. 
 
 Now show thy fortitude and constancy: 
 
 Let these thy friends thy sad departure weep. 
 
 Thou shalt but loose the wealth thou couldst not keep. 
 
 My contemplation calls me, I must leave ye. 20 
 
 Edwin. O, reverent Sir, perswade not her to leave me. 
 
 Her. My Lord, I do not, nor to cease to love ye; 
 I onely pray her faith may fixed stand; 
 Marriage was blest, I know, with heavens own hand. \_Exii. 
 
 Edwin. You hear him, Lady, 'tis not a virgins state, 25 
 
 But sanctity of life, must make you happy. 
 
 Mod. Good sir, you say you love me; gentle Edwin, 
 Even by that love I do beseech you, leave me. 
 
 Edwin. Think of your fathers tears, your weeping friends. 
 Whom cruel grief makes pale and bloodless for you. 30 
 
 Mod. Would I were dead to all. 
 
 Edwin. Why do you weep? 
 
 Mod. Oh, who would live to see 
 How men with care and cost seek misery? 
 
 Edwin. Why do you seek it then? What joy, what pleasure 
 Can give you comfort in a single life? 35 
 
 Mod. The contemplation of a happy death. 
 Which is to me so pleasing that I think 
 No torture could divert me: What's this world, 
 Wherein you'd have me walk, but a sad passage 
 To a dread Judgement-Seat, from whence even now 40 
 
 We are but bail'd, upon our good abearing. 
 Till that great Sessions come, when Death, the Cryer, 
 Will surely summon us and all to appear, 
 To plead us guilty or our bail to clear? 
 What musick's this? \Sofl Mtisick. 45 
 
 Enter two Bishops, Donobert, Gloster, Cador, Constancia, 
 
 OSWOLD, TOCLIO. 
 
 Edwin. Oh, now resolve, and think upon my love! 
 This sounds the Marriage of your beauteous sister, 
 
 16. lesson well, I see Del. — 21. her not Tyr. — 25. virgin state Tyr. — 
 30. bloodless all for Tyr. — 42. that'] those Tyr. — 45. Stage-dir. Bishops, Ed- 
 win, Don. corr. by Tyr. 
 
40 
 
 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [UIi 2. 
 
 Vertuous Constancia, with the noble Cador. 
 Look, and behold this pleasure. 
 50 Alod. Cover me with night, 
 
 It is a vanity not worth the sight. 
 
 Dono. See, see, she's yonder. 
 Pass on! Son Cador, Daughter Constancia, 
 1 beseech you all, unless she first move speech, 
 55 Salute her not. — Edwin, what good success? 
 
 Edwin. Nothing as yet, unless this object take her. 
 Dono. See, see, her eye is fixt upon her sister; 
 Seem careless all, and take no notice of her: — 
 On afore there; come, my Constancia. 
 60 Mod. Not speak to me, nor dain to cast an eye 
 
 To look on my despised poverty? 
 I must be more charitable; — pray, stay. Lady, 
 Are not you she whom I did once call sister? 
 Const. 1 did acknowledge such a name to one, 
 65 Whilst she was worthy of it, in whose folly, 
 
 Since you neglect your fame and friends together. 
 In you I drown'd a sisters name for ever. 
 Mod. Your looks did speak no less. 
 Glost. It now begins to work, this sight has moved her. 
 70 Dono. I knew this trick would take, or nothing. 
 Mod. Though you disdain in me a sister's name. 
 Yet charity, me thinks, should be so strong 
 To instruct ere you reject. I am a wretch, 
 Even follies instance, who perhaps have er'd, 
 75 Not having known the goodness bears so high 
 And fair a show in you; which being exprest, 
 I may recant this low despised life. 
 And please those friends whom I have mov'd to grief. 
 Cador. She is coming, yfaith; be merry, Edwin. 
 80 Const. Since you desire instruction, you shall have it. 
 
 What is 't should make you thus desire to live 
 Vow'd to a single life? 
 
 Mod. Because I know I cannot flie from death. 
 
 53. Pass on son Cador. Daughter A and Edd. — 59. on there afore 
 Tyr. — 70. know A and Del., knew Tyr. — 78 have add. by Del. 
 
Ill, 2.] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 4 1 
 
 Oh, my good sister, I beseech you, hear me : 
 
 This world is but a Masque, catching weak eyes 85 
 
 With what is not our selves but our disguise, 
 
 A Vizard that falls off, the Dance being done. 
 
 And leaves Deaths Glass for all to look upon; 
 
 Our best happiness here lasts but a night, 
 
 Whose burning Tapers makes false Ware seem right. 90 
 
 Who knows not this, and will not now provide 
 
 Some better shift before his shame be spy'd, 
 
 And knowing this vain world at last will leave him, 
 
 Shake off these robes that help but to deceive him! 
 
 Const. Her words are powerful, I am amaz'd to hear her! 95 
 
 Dono. Her soul's inchanted with infected Spells. 
 Leave her, best Girl; for now in thee 
 He seek the fruits of Age, Posterity. — 
 Out o' my sight! sure, I was half asleep 
 Or drunk, when I begot thee. 100 
 
 Const. Good sir, forbear. What say you to that, sister? 
 The joy of children, a blest Mothers Name? 
 Oh, who without much grief can loose such Fame? 
 
 Mod. Who can enjoy it without sorrow rather? 
 And that most certain where the joy's unsure, 105 
 
 Seeing the fruit that we beget, endure 
 So many miseries, that oft we pray 
 The Heavens to shut up their afflicted day; 
 At best we do but bring forth Heirs to die, 
 And fill the Coffins of our enemy. 1 10 
 
 Const. Oh, my soul! 
 
 Dono. Hear her no more, Constantia, 
 
 She's sure bewitcht with Error; leave her, Girl. 
 
 Const. Then must I leave all goodness, sir: away. 
 Stand off, I say. 
 
 Dono. How's this? 115 
 
 Const. I have no father, friend, no husband now; 
 All are but borrowed robes, in which we masque 
 To waste and spend the time, when all our Life 
 Is but one good betwixt two Ague-days, 
 
 90. make Tyr. — 1 19. between Tyr. 
 
42 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [HI, 2. 
 
 1 20 Which from the first ere we have time to praise, 
 A second Fever takes us: Oh, my best sister, 
 My souls eternal friend, forgive the rashness 
 Of my distemper'd tongue; for how could she, 
 Knew not her self, know thy felicity, 
 125 From which worlds cannot now remove me?. 
 
 Dono. Art thou mad too, fond woman? What's thy meaning? 
 
 Const. To seek eternal happiness in heaven, 
 Which all this world affords not. 
 
 Cador. Think of thy Vow, thou art my promis'd Wife. 
 130 Const. Pray, trouble me no further. 
 
 Omnes. Strange alteration! 
 
 Cador. Why do you stand at gaze, you sacred Priests? 
 You holy men, be equal to the Gods, 
 And consummate my Marriage with this woman. 
 
 Bishop. Her self gives barr, my Lord, to your desires 
 135 And our performance; 'tis against the Law 
 
 And Orders of the Church to force a Marriage. 
 
 Cador. How am I wrong'dl Was this your trick, my Lord? 
 
 Dono. I am abus'd past sufferance; 
 Grief and amazement strive which Sense of mine 
 140 Shall loose her being first. Yet let me call thee Daughter. 
 
 Cador. Me, Wife. 
 
 Const. Your words are air, you speak of want to wealth, 
 And wish her sickness, newly rais'd to health. 
 
 Dono. Bewitched Girls, tempt not an old mans fury, 
 145 That hath no strength to uphold his feeble age. 
 But what your sights give life to. Oh, beware. 
 And do not make me curse you. 
 
 [Kneel.] Mod. Dear father. 
 Here at your feet we kneel, grant us but this, 
 150 That, in your sight and hearing, the good Hermit 
 May plead our Cause; which, if it shall not give 
 Such satisfaction as your Age desires, 
 We will submit to you. 
 
 Const. You gave us life; 
 
 Save not our bodies, but our souls, from death. 
 
 124. Who knew Tyr. 
 
Ill, 3-J THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 43 
 
 Dono. This gives some comfort yet: Rise with my blessings. — 155 
 Have patience, noble Cador, worthy Edwin; 
 Send for the Hermit that we may confer. 
 For, sure, religion tyes you not to leave 
 Your careful Father thus; if so it be, 
 Take your contetit, and give all grief to me. \_Exeunt. 160 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 A cave in the Forest. 
 
 Thunder and Lightnittg; Enter Devil. 
 
 Devil. Mix light and darkness; earth and heaven dissolve, 
 Be of one piece agen, and turn to Chaos; 
 Break all your works, you powers, and spoil the world, 
 Or, if you will maintain earth still, give way 
 
 And life to this abortive birth now coming, 5 
 
 Whose fame shall add unto your Oracles. 
 Lucina, Hecate, dreadful Queen of Night, 
 Bright Proserpine, be pleas'd for Ceres love. 
 From Stigian darkness summon up the Fates, 
 
 And in a moment bring them quickly hither, 10 
 
 Lest death do vent^ her birth and her together. \Thunder. 
 
 Assist, you spirits of infernal deeps, 
 Squint-ey'd Erictho, midnight Incubus, 
 Rise, rise to aid this birth prodigious. 
 
 Enter Lucina and the three Fates. 
 Thanks, Hecate; hail, sister to the Gods! 15 
 
 There lies your way, haste with the Fates, and help. 
 Give quick dispatch unto her laboring throws, 
 To bring this mixture of infernal seed 
 
 To humane being; \Exeunt Fates. 
 
 And to beguile her pains, till back you come, 20 
 
 Anticks shall dance and Musick fill the room. — \pance. 
 
 Thanks, Queen of Shades. 
 
 160. Take you content Del. 
 
 Scene III. A Cave in the Forest add. by Tyr. — 8. from Ceres Tyr. — 
 20. ieguil A. 
 
44 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [HI, 4- 
 
 Lucina. Farewel, great servant to th'infernal King. 
 
 In honor of this childe, the Fates shall bring 
 25 All their assisting powers of Knowledge, Arts, 
 
 Learning, and Wisdom, all the hidden parts 
 
 Of all-admiring Prophecy, to fore-see 
 
 The event of times to come. His Art shall stand 
 
 A wall of brass to guard the Brittain Land. 
 30 Even from this minute, all his Arts appears 
 
 Manlike in Judgement, Person, State, and years. 
 
 Upon his brest the Fates have fixt his name. 
 
 And since his birthplace was this forrest here, 
 
 They now have nam'd him Merlin Silvester. 
 35 Devil. And Merlin's name in Brittany shall live. 
 
 Whilst men inhabit here or Fates can give 
 
 Power to amazing wonder ; envy shall weep, 
 
 And mischief sit and shake her ebbone wings. 
 
 Whilst all the world of Merlins magick sings. [Exit. 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 The Forest. 
 Enter Clown. 
 Clown. Well, I wonder how my poor sister does, after 
 all this thundering; I think she's dead, for I can hear no 
 tidings of her. Those woods yields small comfort for 
 her; I could meet nothing but a swinherds wife, keeping 
 5 hogs by the Forestside, but neither she nor none of her sowes 
 would stir a foot to help us; indeed, I think she durst not 
 trust her self amongst the trees with me, for I must needs 
 confess I offer'd some kindness to her. Well, I would fain 
 know what's become of my sister. If she have brought me 
 10 a yong Cousin, his face may be a picture to finde his 
 Father by. So ho! sister Joan, Joan Go-too't, where art 
 thou? 
 
 Joan, {within). Here, here, brother, stay but a while, I 
 come to thee. 
 
 26. and add. by Del. — 30. Art Tyr. — 35. Brittain A. 
 Scene IV. The Forest add. by Tyr. — 3. These Tyr.; yield Tyr. and 
 Del.; for'] to Tyr. — 7. amongst'] under Tyr. — \l. so oh A. 
 
in, 4.] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 
 
 45 
 
 Clown. O brave! she's alive still, 1 know her voice, she 15 
 speaks, and speaks cherfuUy, methinks. How now, what 
 Moon-calf has she got with her? 
 
 Enter Joan and Merlin with a Book. 
 
 Joan. Come, my dear Merlin, why dost thou fix thine eye 
 So deeply on that book? 
 
 Merlin. To sound the depth 
 
 Of Arts, of Learning, Wisdom, Knowledge. 20 
 
 Joan. Oh, my dear, dear son. 
 Those studies fits thee when thou art a man. 
 
 Merlin. Why, mother, I can be but half a man at best, 
 And that is your mortality; the rest 
 
 In me is spirit; 'tis not meat, nor time, 25 
 
 That gives this growth and bigness; no, my years 
 Shall be more strange then yet my birth appears. 
 Look, mother, there's my Uncle. 
 
 Joan. How doest thou know him, son? thou never sawst him. 
 
 Merlin. Yet I know him, and know the pains he has taken 30 
 for ye, to finde out my Father. — Give me your hand, good Uncle. 
 
 Clown. Ha, ha, I'de laugh at that, y faith. Do you know me, sir? 
 
 Merlin. Yes, by the same token that even now you kist the 
 swinherds wife i'th' woods, and would have done more, if she 
 would have let you. Uncle. 35 
 
 Clown. A witch, a witch, a witch, sister! Rid him out of 
 your company, he is either a witch or a conjurer; he could 
 never have known this else. 
 
 Joan. Pray, love him, brother, he is my son. 
 
 Clown. Ha, ha, this is worse then all the rest yfaith; by 40 
 his beard, he is more like your husband. Let me see, is your 
 great belly gone? 
 
 Joan. Yes, and this the happy fruit. 
 
 Clown. What, this Hartichoke? A Childe born with a beard 
 on his face? 45 
 
 Merlin. Yes, and strong legs to go, and teeth to eat. 
 
 19. depths of art Tyr. — 22. fit Tyr. and Del. — 30. Yef\ Yes Del. 
 
46 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [Ill, 4- 
 
 Clown. You can nurse up your self, then ? There's some 
 charges sav'd for Soap and Candle. 'Slid, I have heard of 
 some that has been born with teeth, but never none with 
 50 such a talking tongue before. 
 
 Joan. Come, come, you must use him kindly, brother; 
 Did you but know his worth, you would make much of him. 
 Clown. Make much of a Moncky? This is worse then Tom 
 Thumb, that let a fart in his Mothers belly; a Childe to 
 55 speak, eat, and go the first hour of his birth, nay, such a 
 Baby as had need of a Barber before he was born too, 
 why, sister, this is monstrous, and shames all our kindred. 
 Joan. That thus 'gainst nature and our common births 
 He comes thus furnisht to salute the world, 
 60 Is power of Fates, and gift of his great father. 
 
 Clown. Why, of what profession is your father, sir? 
 Merlin. He keeps a Hot-house i'th' Low-Countries; will 
 you see him, sir? 
 
 Clown. See him? why, sister, has the childe found his father? 
 65 Mer. Yes, and He fetch him. Uncle. [Exit. 
 
 Clown. Do not Uncle me, till I know your kindred. Fore 
 my conscience, some Baboon begot thee. — Surely, thou art 
 horribly deceived, sister, this Urchin cannot be of thy breed- 
 ing; I shall be asham'd to call him cousin, though his father 
 70 be a Gentleman. 
 
 Enter Merlin and Devil. 
 
 Merlin. Now, my kinde Uncle, see: 
 The Childe has found his Father, this is he. 
 
 Clown. The devil it is; ha, ha, is this your sweet-heart, 
 sister? have we run through the Countrey, haunted the City, 
 75 and examin'd the Court to finde out a Gallant with a Hat 
 and Feather, and a silken Sword, and golden Hangers, and 
 do you now bring me to a Ragamuffin with a face like a 
 Frying-pan? 
 
 Joan. Fie, brother, you mistake, behold him better. 
 
 49. have been Tyr. — 54. that . . . belly om. Tyr. — 66. for A and 
 Del., fore Tyr. 
 
Missing Page 
 
Missing Page 
 
Ill, 6.] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 49 
 
 To meet bold Edol, their stern General, 
 
 That now, contrary to the Kings command, 25 
 
 Hath re-united all his cashier'd Troops, 
 
 And this way beats his drums to threaten us. 
 
 Oda. Then our Plot is discover'd. 
 
 Osior. Come, th'art a fool, his Army and his life 
 Is given unto us: where is the Queen my sister? 30 
 
 Ocla. In conference with the Prince. 
 
 Osior. Bring the Guards nearer, all is fair and good; 
 Their Conference, I hope, shall end in blood. \Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 
 A Room in the Palace. 
 
 Enter Prince and Artesia. 
 
 Aries. Come, come, you do but flatter; 
 What you term Love, is but a Dream of blood. 
 Wakes with injoying, and with open eyes 
 Forgot, contemn'd, and lost. 
 
 Prince. 1 must be wary, her words are dangerous. — 5 
 
 True, we'l speak of Love no more, then. 
 
 Aries. Nay, if you will, you may; 
 'Tis but in jest, and yet so children play 
 With fiery flames, and covet what is bright. 
 
 But, feeling his effects, abhor the light. 10 
 
 Pleasure is like a Building, the more high. 
 The narrower still it grows; Cedars do dye 
 Soonest at top. 
 
 Prince. How does your instance suit? 
 
 Aries. From Art and Nature to make sure the root, 15 
 
 And lay a fast foundation, ere I try 
 The incertain Changes of a wavering Skie. 
 Make your example thus. — You have a kiss, — 
 Was it not pleasing? 
 
 Prince. Above all name to express it. 
 
 28. Plot's A. 
 
 Scene VI. No new scene in Edd. — 14. instanced A, corr. by Tyr. 
 and Del. 
 
50 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [Ill, 6' 
 
 20 Aries. Yet now the pleasure's gone, 
 And you have lost your joys possession. 
 
 Prince. Yet when you please, this flood may ebb again. 
 Aries. But where it never ebbs, there runs the main. 
 Prince. Who can attain such hopes? 
 25 Aries. He show the way to it, give you 
 
 A taste once more of what you may enjoy. [Kiss. 
 
 Prince. Impudent whore! — 
 I were more false than Atheism can be, 
 Should 1 not call this high felicity. 
 30 Aries. If I should trust your faith, alas, I fear. 
 You soon would change belief. 
 
 Prince. I would covet Martyrdom to make't confirm'd. 
 Aries. Give me your hand on that you'l keep your word? 
 Prince. 1 will. 
 35 Aries. Enough: Help, husband, king Aurelius, help! 
 Rescue betraid Artesia! 
 
 Prince. Nay, then 'tis I that am betraid, I see; 
 Yet with thy blood He end thy Treachery. 
 
 Aries. How now? what troubles you? Is this you, sir, 
 40 That but even now would suffer Martyrdom 
 
 To win your hopes, and is there now such terror 
 In names of men to fright you? nay, then I see 
 What mettle you are made on. 
 
 Prince. Ha! was it but tryal? then I ask your pardon: 
 45 What a dull slave was I to be so fearful! — 
 
 He trust her now no more, yet try the utmost. — 
 I am resolved, no brother, no man breathing. 
 Were he my bloods begetter, should withhold 
 Me from your love; I 'd leap into his bosom, 
 50 And from his brest pull forth that happiness 
 Heaven had reserved in you for my enjoying. 
 
 Aries. I, now you speak a Lover like a Prince! — 
 Treason, treason! 
 Prince. Agen? 
 55 Aries. Help, Saxon Princes: Treason! 
 
 25. you] me A and Edd. — 32. make it Tyr., but read I'd. — 51. Om. 
 by Tyr. 
 
in, 6.] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 5 1 
 
 Enier Ostorius, Octa 6°f. 
 Osior. Rescue the Queen: strike down the Villain. 
 
 Enier Edol, Aureuus, Donobert, Cador, Edwin, Toclio, 
 OswoLD, at the other door. 
 
 Edol. Call in the Guards: the Prince in danger! — 
 Fall back, dear Sir, my brest shall buckler you. 
 
 Aurel. Beat down their weapons! 
 
 Edol. Slave, wert thou made of brass, my sword shall bite thee. 6o 
 
 Aurel. Withdraw, on pain of death! Where is the Traitor? 
 
 Artes. Oh, save your life, my Lord; let it suffice, 
 My beauty forc't mine own captivity. 
 
 Aurel. Who did attempt to wrong thee? 
 
 Prince. Hear me. Sir. 
 
 Aurel. Oh, my sad soul! wast thou? 65 
 
 Artes. Oh, do not stand to speak; one minutes stay 
 Prevents a second speech for ever. 
 
 Aurel. Make our Guards strong: 
 My dear Artesia, let us know thy wrongs 
 And our own dangers. 70 
 
 Artes. The Prince your brother, with these Brittain Lords, 
 Have all agreed to take me hence by force 
 And marry me to him. 
 
 Prifice. The Devil shall wed thee first: 
 Thy baseness and thy lust confound and rot thee! 75 
 
 Artes. He courted me even now, and in mine ear 
 Sham'd not to plead his most dishonest love 
 And their attempts to seize your sacred person. 
 Either to shut you up within some prison, 
 Or, which is worse, I fear, to murther you. 80 
 
 Omnes Brittains. 'Tis all as false as hell. 
 
 Edol. And as foul as she is. 
 
 Artes. You know me, Sir? 
 
 Edol. Yes, Deadly Sin, we know you, 
 
 And shall discover all your villany. 
 
 Aurel. Chester, forbear! 85 
 
 66. not stay Tyr. — 81. 'lis false as Tyr. 
 
52 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [Ill, 6. 
 
 Osior. Their treasons, sir, are plain: 
 Why are their Souldiers lodg'd so near the Court? 
 
 Oda. Nay, why came he in arms so suddenly? 
 
 Edol. You fleering Anticks, do not wake my fury. 
 90 Oda. Fury? 
 
 Edol. Ratsbane, do not urge me. 
 
 Aries. Good sir, keep farther from them. 
 
 Prince. Oh, my sick heart! 
 She is a witch by nature, devil by art. 
 95 Aurel. Bite thine own slanderous tongue; 'tis thou art false, 
 I have observ'd your passions long ere this. 
 
 Osior. Stand on your guard, my Lord, we are your friends. 
 And all our Force is yours. 
 
 Edol. To spoil and rob the Kingdom. 
 
 Aurel. Sir, be silent. 
 
 100 Edol. Silent! how long? till Doomsday? shall I stand by. 
 And hear mine Honor blasted with foul Treason, 
 The State half lost, your life endangered. 
 And yet be silent? 
 
 Aries. Yes, my blunt Lord, unless you speak your Treasons. 
 105 Sir, let your Guards, as Traitors, seize them all, 
 And then let tortures and devulsive racks 
 Force a confession from them. 
 
 Edol, Wilde-fire and Brimstone eat thee! Hear me, sir! 
 
 Aurel. Sir, He not hear you. 
 
 Edol. But you shall! Not hear me? 
 
 no Were the worlds Monarch, Cesar, living; he should hear me. 
 1 tell you, Sir, these serpents have betraid 
 Your Life and Kingdom: does not every day 
 Bring tidings of more swarms of lowsie slaves. 
 The offal fugitives of barren Germany, 
 1 1 5 That land upon our Coasts, and by our neglect 
 Settled in Norfolk and Northumberland? 
 
 Osior. They come as Aids and Safeguards to the King. 
 
 Oda. Has he not need, when Vortiger's in arms. 
 And you raise Powers, 'tis thought, to joyn with him? 
 
 102. and your life endangered, yet A and Edd. — no. Two lines in 
 Del., div. at he. — 113. knaves Tyr. — 115. and have by Tyr. 
 
m, 6.] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 
 
 53 
 
 Edol. Peace, you pernicious Rat. 120 
 
 Dono. Prithee, forbear. 
 
 Edol. Away, suffer a gilded rascal, 
 A low-bred despicable creeper, an insulting Toad, 
 To spit his poison'd venome in my face! 
 
 Oda. Sir, sir! 
 
 Edol. Do not reply, you Cur; for, by the Gods, 125 
 
 Tho' the Kings presence guard thee, I shall break all patience, 
 And, like a Lion rous'd to spoil, shall run 
 Foul-mouth'd upon thee, and devour thee quick. — 
 Speak, sir, will you forsake these scorpions, 
 Or stay till they have stung you to the heart? 130 
 
 Aurel. Y'are traitors all. This is our wife, our Queen: 
 Brother Ostorius, troop your Saxons up, 
 We'l hence to Winchester, and raise more powers. 
 To man with strength the Castle Camilot. — 
 
 Go hence, false men, joyn you with Vortiger, . 135 
 
 The murderer of our brother Constantine: 
 We'l hunt both him and you with dreadful vengeance. 
 Since Brittain fails, we'l trust to forrain friends, 
 And guard our person from your traitorous ends. 
 
 \JExeunt Aurel.; Ostor., Octa, Artes., Toe, Osw. / 
 
 Edwin. He's sure bewitch't 
 
 Glost. What counsel now for safety? 140 
 
 Dono. Onely this, sir: with all the speed we can. 
 Preserve the person of the King and Kingdom. 
 
 Cador. Which to effect, 'tis best march hence to Wales, 
 And set on Vortiger before he joyn 
 His Forces with the Saxons. 145 
 
 Edwin. On, then, with speed for Wales and Vortiger! 
 That tempest once o'reblown, we come, Ostorius, 
 To meet thy traiterous Saxons, thee and them. 
 That with advantage thus have won the King, 
 To back your factions and to work our ruines. 150 
 
 This, by the Gods and my good Sword, Tie set 
 In bloody lines upon thy Burgonet. [^Exeunt. 
 
 133. and not in A and Edd. — 137. vengance A. — 140. bewitch A, 
 corr. by Tyr. and Del. — 1^1^. joins Tyr. — 150. ruin Tyr. 
 
54 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. flV, I. 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 Before a Ruined Castle in Wales. 
 
 Enter Clown, Merlin, and a little antick Spirit. 
 
 Mer. How now, Uncle? Why do you search your pockets so? 
 Do you miss any thing? 
 
 Clmvn. Ha! Cousin Merlin, I hope your beard does not 
 overgrow your honesty; I pray, remember, you are made up 
 5 of sisters thread, 1 am your mothers brother, whosoever was 
 your father. 
 
 Mer. Why, wherein can you task my duty, Uncle? 
 
 Clown. Your self or your page it must be, I have kept 
 
 no other company, since your mother bound your head to my 
 
 lO Protectorship; I do feel a fault of one side; either it was that 
 
 Spar rowhawk , or a Cast of Merlins, for I finde a Covey of 
 
 Cardecu s sprung out of my pocket. 
 
 Mer. Why, do you want any money. Uncle? Sirrah, had 
 you any from him? 
 1 5 Clown. Deny it not, for my pockets are witness against you. 
 
 Spirit. Yes, I had, to teach you better wit to look to it. 
 
 Clown. Pray, use your fingers better, and my wit may serve 
 as it is, sir. 
 
 Mer. Well, restore it. 
 20 Spirit. There it is. 
 
 Clown. I, there's some honesty in this; 'twas a token from 
 your invisible Father, Cousin, which I would not have to go 
 invisibly from me agen. 
 
 Mer. Well, you are sure you have it now, Uncle? 
 25 Clown. Yes, and mean to keep it now from your pages 
 
 filching fingers too. 
 
 Spirit. If you have it so sure, pray show it me agen. 
 
 Clown. Yes, my little juggler, I dare show it. Ha, cleanly 
 c onveyance agen! Ye have no invisible fingers, have ye? 'Tis 
 30 gone, certainly. 
 
 Spirit. Why, sir, I toucht you not. 
 
 Act IV. Scene I. Before a Ruined Castle in Wales, add. by Tyr. — 
 5. of my sisters Del.; whoever Tyr. — 11. Cony A ard Tyr., corr. by Del. 
 
IV, I.J 
 
 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 
 
 Mer. Why, look you, Uncle, I have it now. How ill do 
 you look to it. Here, keep it safer. 
 
 Clown. Ha, ha, this is fine, yfaith. I must keep some other 
 company, if you have these slights of hand. 
 
 Mer. Come, come, Uncle, 'tis all my Art which shall not 
 oifend you, sir, onely I give you a taste of it to show you 
 sport. 
 
 Clown. Oh, but 'tis ill jesting with a mans pocket, tho'. 
 But I am glad to see your cunning. Cousin, for now will I 
 warrant thee a living till thou diest. You have heard the 
 news in Wales here? 
 
 Mer. Uncle, let me prevent your care and counsel, 
 'Twill give you better knowledge of my cunning. 
 You would prefer me now, in hope of gain, 
 To Vortiger, King of the Welsh Brittains, 
 To whom are all the Artists summon'd now. 
 That seeks the secrets of futurity. 
 The Bards, the Druids, Wizards, Conjurers, 
 Not an Aruspex with his whisling spells. 
 No Capnomancer with his musty fumes. 
 No Witch or Juggler, but is thither sent. 
 To calculate the strange and fear'd event 
 Of his prodigious Castle, now in building. 
 Where all the labors of the painful day 
 Are ruin'd still i'th' night, and to this place 
 You would have me go. 
 
 Clown. Well, if thy mother were not my sister, I would 
 say she was a witch that begot thee; but this is thy father, 
 not thy mother wit. Thou hast taken my tale into thy mouth, 
 and spake my thoughts before me; therefore away, shuffle thy 
 self amongst the Conjurers, and be a made man before thou 
 comest to age. 
 
 Mer. Nay, but stay, Uncle, you overslip my dangers: 
 The Prophecies and all the cunning Wizards 
 Have certifi'd the king that this his Castle 
 
 55 
 
 35 
 
 40 
 
 45 
 
 50 
 
 55 
 
 60 
 
 65 
 
 40. you A. — 40. I will Tyr. — 48. seek Tyr. and Del. — 50. Aura- 
 spex A. — 51. Capuomanster A. — 54. this\ his Tyr. — 59. theel this A. — 
 60. taien away my Tyr. — 61. thoughts'] words Del. — 66. this om. Tyr. 
 
56 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [IV, I 
 
 Can never stand, till the foundation's laid 
 With Mortar temper'd with the fatal blood 
 Of such a childe whose father was no mortal. 
 
 70 Clown. What's this to thee? If the devil were thy father, 
 was not thy mother born at Carmarden? I giggon for that, 
 then; and then it must be a childes . blood, and who will 
 take thee for a childe with such a beard of thy face? Is 
 there not diggon for that too. Cousin? 
 
 75 Mer. I must not go: lend me your ear a while,, 
 rie give you reasons to the contrary. 
 
 Enter two Gentlemen. 
 
 1. Gent. Sure, this is an endless piece of work the king has 
 sent us about! 
 
 2. Gent. Kings may do it, man; the like has been done to 
 80 finde out the Unicorn. 
 
 1. Gent. Which will be sooner found, I think, then this 
 fiend-begotten childe we seek for. 
 
 2. Gent. Pox of those Conjurers that would speak of such 
 a one, and yet all their cunning could not tell us where to 
 
 85 finde him. 
 
 1. Gent. In Wales they say assuredly he lives; come, let's 
 enquire further. ' 
 
 Mer. Uncle, your perswasions must not prevail with me: 
 I know mine enemies better then you do. 
 
 go Clown. I say, th'art a bastard then, if thou disobey thine 
 Uncle. Was not Joan Go-too't, thy mother, my sister? If 
 the devil were thy father, what kin art thou to any man 
 alive, but Bailys and Brokers? and they are but brothers in 
 Law to thee neither. 
 
 95 I. Gent. How's this? I think we shall speed here. 
 
 2. Gent. I, and unlook't for too. Go near and listen to them. 
 Clown. Hast thou a beard to hide it? Wilt thou show 
 
 thy self a childe? Wilt thou have more hair then wit? Wilt 
 thou deny thy mother, because no body knows thy father? 
 100 Or shall thine Uncle be an ass? 
 
 86. said Tyr. — 96. ne're A. — 97. Wilt then Del. . 
 
IV, I.] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 57 
 
 1. Gent. Bless ye, friend: pray, what call you this small 
 Gentlemans name? 
 
 Clown. Small, sir? a small man may be a great Gentleman; 
 his father may be of an ancient house, for ought we know, sir. 
 
 2. Gent. Why, do you not know his father? 105 
 Clown. No, nor you neither, I think, unless the devil be in ye. 
 
 1 . Gent. What is his name, sir ? 
 
 Clown. His name is my Cousin, sir; his education is my 
 
 sisters son, but his maners are his own. 
 
 Mer. Why ask ye. Gentlemen? my name is Merlin. 110 
 
 Clown. Yes, and a Goshawk was his father, for ought we 
 
 know; for I am sure his mother was a Wind-sucker. 
 
 2. Gent. He has a mother, then? 
 Clown. As sure as I have a sister, sir. 
 
 I. Gent. But his father you leave doubtful. 115 
 
 Clown. Well, Sir, as wise men as you doubt, whether he 
 had a father or no? 
 
 1. Gent. Sure, this is he we seek for. 
 
 2. Gent. I think no less: and, sir, we let you know the 
 King hath sent for you. 120 
 
 Clown. The more childe he; and he had bin rul'd by me, 
 he should have gone before he was sent for. 
 
 1. Gent. May we not see his mother? 
 
 Clown. Yes, and feel her too, if you anger her; a devilish 
 thing, I can tell ye, she has been. He go fetch her to ye. \Exit. 125 
 
 2. Gent. Sir, it were fit you did resolve for speed, 
 You must unto the King. 
 
 Mer. My service, sir. 
 
 Shall need no strickt command, it shall obey 
 Most peaceably; but needless 'tis to fetch 
 
 What is brought home. My journey may be staid, 130 
 
 The King is coming hither 
 
 With the same quest you bore before him; hark. 
 This drum will tell ye. [ Within Drums beat a low March. 
 
 I. Gent. This is some cunning indeed, sir. 
 
 108. sir om. Tyr. — 125. /cm Tyr. — 133. [Stage-dir.] a slow March Tyr. 
 
58 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [IV, r. 
 
 Florish. Enter Vortiger, reading a letter, Pkoximus, 
 with Drum and Soldiers, 6°f. 
 135 Vort. Still in our eye your message, Proximus, 
 
 We keep to spur our speed: 
 
 Ostorius and Octa we shall salute 
 
 With succor against Prince Vter and Aurelius, 
 
 Whom now we hear incamps at Winchester. 
 140 There's nothing interrupts our way so much 
 
 As doth the errection of this fatal Castle, 
 
 That spite of all our Art and daily labor 
 
 The night still ruines. 
 
 Prox. As erst I did affirm, still I maintain, 
 145 The fiend-begotten childe must be found out. 
 
 Whose blood gives strength to the foundation; 
 
 It cannot stand else. 
 
 Enter Clown and Joan, joining Merlin. 
 Vort. Ha! Is't so? 
 
 Then, Proximus, by this intelligence 
 He should be found: speak, is this he you tell of? 
 150 Clown. Yes, Sir, and I his Uncle, and she his mother. 
 Vort. And who is his father? 
 
 Clown. Why, she his mother can best tell you that, and 
 yet I thinke the childe be wise enough, for he has found his 
 father. 
 155 Vort. Woman, is this thy son? 
 Joan. It is, my Lord. 
 
 Vort. What was his father? Or where lives he? 
 Mer. Mother, speak freely and unastonisht; 
 That which you dar'd to act, dread not to name. 
 160 Joan. In which I shall betray my sin and shame. 
 But since it must be so, then, know, great King, 
 All that my self yet knows of him is this: 
 In pride of blood and beauty I did live. 
 My glass the Altar was, my face the Idol; 
 165 Such was my peevish love unto my self, 
 That I did hate all other; such disdain 
 
 139. encamfd Del. — 141. famous Castle Tyr. — 147. Enter Clown 
 and Joan, Merlin A. 
 
IV, I.J THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 5g 
 
 Was in my scornful eye that I suppos'd 
 
 No mortal creature worthy to enjoy me. 
 
 Thus with the Peacock I beheld my train, 
 
 But never saw the blackness of my feet; 170 
 
 Oft have I chid the winds for breathing on me. 
 
 And curst the Sun, fearing to blast my beauty. 
 
 In midst of this most leaprous disease, 
 
 A seeming fair young man appear'd unto me. 
 
 In alt things suiting my aspiring pride, 175 
 
 And with him brought along a conquering pdwer, 
 
 To which my frailty yielded; from whose embraces 
 
 This issue came; what more he is, I know not. 
 
 Vori. Some Incubus or Spirit of the night 
 Begot him then, for, sure, no mortal did it. 180 
 
 3fer. No matter who, my Lord; leave further quest. 
 Since 'tis as hurtful as unnecessary 
 More to enquire: Go to the cause, my Lord, 
 Why you have sought me thus? 
 
 Vort. 1 doubt not but thou knowst; yet, to be plain, 185 
 
 I sought thee for thy blood. 
 
 Mer. By whose direction? 
 
 Prox. By mine; 
 My art infallible instructed me. 
 
 Upon thy blood must the foundation rise 190 
 
 Of the Kings building, it cannot stand else. 
 
 Mer. Hast thou such leisure to enquire my Fate, 
 And let thine own hang careless over thee? 
 Knowst thou what penddous mischief roofs thy head, 
 How fatal, and how sudden? I95 
 
 Prox. Pish ! 
 Bearded abortive, thou foretel my danger? — 
 My Lord, he trifles to delay his own. 
 
 Mer. No, I yield my self: and here before the King 
 Make good thine Augury, as I shall mine. 200 
 
 If thy fate* fall not, thou hast spoke all truth. 
 And let my blood satisfie the Kings desires: 
 If thou thy self wilt write thine Epitaph, 
 
 185. / have no doubt Del. — 189. infalable A, 
 
6o THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [IV, I. 
 
 Dispatch it quickly, there's not a minutes time 
 205 Betwixt thee and thy death. [A stone falls and kills Proximus. 
 Prox. Ha, ha, ha! 
 Mer. I, so thou mayest die laughing. 
 
 Vort. Ha! This is above admiration. Look, is he dead? 
 
 Clown. Yes, sir, here's brains to make morter on, if you'l 
 
 210 use them. — Cousin Merlin, there's no more of this stone fruit 
 
 ready to fall, is there? I pray, give your Uncle a little fair 
 
 warning. 
 
 Mer. Remove that shape of death. And now, my Lord, 
 For clear satisfaction of your doubts, Merlin will show 
 215 The fatal cause that keeps your Castle down, 
 And hinders your proceedings. 
 Stand there, and by an apparition see 
 The labor and the end of all your destiny. 
 Mother and Uncle, you must be absent. 
 220 Clown. Is your father coming, Cousin? 
 Mer. Nay, you must be gone. 
 Joan. Come, you'l offend him, brother. 
 Clown. I would fain see my brother i'law; if you were 
 married, I might lawfully call him so. 
 
 [Exeunt Joan and Clown. Mkrlin strikes his wand. 
 Thunder and Lightning; two Dragons appear, a 
 White and a Read; they fight a while, and pause. 
 225 Vort. What means this stay? 
 
 Mer. Be not amaz'd, my Lord, for on the victory. 
 Of loss or Gain, as these two Champions ends, 
 Your fate, your life, and kingdom, all depends; 
 Therefore observe it well. 
 230 Vort. I shall. Heaven be auspicious to us. 
 
 [Thunder: The two Dragons fight agen, and the White 
 Dragon drives off' the Red. 
 
 204. time] space Tyr. — 205. 'twixt A ; af-d death Tyr. Elze, Notes, 
 Vol.11, p. I supposes 11. 209 and 210 to form one verse; but we must not 
 forget that lines with three or four feet very often occur in our play. — 
 215. your fatal Castle A, corr. by Tyr. and Del. — 218. and end A and 
 Edd. — 224. Exeunt Joan and Clown, om. A. — 225. Om. by Tyr.; stay. 
 Elze, 1. c. II, p. 2 proposes to read play, but stay directly refers to the 
 preceding stage-dir. and pause. 
 
IV, I. THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 6 1 
 
 Vort. The conquest is on the white Dragons part. 
 Now, Merlin, faithfully expound the meaning. 
 
 Mer. Your Grace must then not be offended with me. 
 
 Vor/. It is the weakest part I found in thee. 
 To doubt of me so slightly. Shall I blame 235 
 
 My prophet that foretells me of my dangers? 
 Thy cunning I approve most excellent. 
 
 Mer. Then know, my Lord, there is a dampish Cave, 
 The nightly habitation of these Dragons, 
 
 Vaulted beneath where you would build your Castle, 240 
 
 Whose enmity and nightly combats there 
 Maintain a constant ruine of your labors. 
 To make it more plain, the Dragons, then. 
 Your self betoken and the Saxon King; 
 The vanquisht Red is, sir, your dreadful Emblem. 245 
 
 Fori. Oh, my fate! 
 
 Mer. Nay, you must hear with patience. Royal sir. 
 You slew the lawful King Constantius : 
 'Twas a red deed, your Crown his blood did cement. 
 The English Saxon, first brought in by you 250 
 
 For aid against Constantius brethren. 
 Is the white horror who now, knit together, 
 Have driven and shut you up in these wilde mountains; . 
 And though they now seek to unite with friendship. 
 It is to wound your bosom, not embrace it, 255 
 
 And with an utter exstirpation 
 To rout the Brittains out, and plant the English. 
 Seek for your safety, Sir, and spend no time 
 To build the airy Castles; for Prince Vter, 
 
 Armed with vengeance for his brothers blood, 260 
 
 Is hard upon you. If you mistrust me. 
 And to my words crave witness, sir, then know. 
 Here comes a messenger to tell you so. [Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Messenger. 
 Mes. My Lord! Prince Vter! 
 Vort. And who else, sir? 265 
 
 234. Is it Del.; / have found Tyr. — 242. of our labour Tyr. — • 
 257. To rout'] Drive Tyr. — 262. craves A, corr. by Tyr. and Del. 
 
62 THE BIRTH OF MEKLIN. [IV, 2. 
 
 Mes. Edol, the great General. 
 
 Vort. The great Devil! They are Coming to meet us. 
 
 Mes. With a full power, my Lord. 
 
 Vort. With a full vengeance 
 
 They mean to meet us; so we are ready 
 270 To their confront. At full march, double foo ting, 
 
 We'l loose no ground, nor shall their numbers fright us: 
 
 If it be Fate, it cannot be withstood; 
 
 We got our Crown so, be it lost in blood. \Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 Open Country in Wales. 
 
 Enter Prince Vter, Edol, Cador, Edwin, Toclio, 
 
 with Drum and Soldiers. 
 Prince. Stay, and advice; hold, drum! 
 Edol. Beat, slave! Why do you pause? 
 Why make a stand? where are our enemies? 
 Or do you mean we fight amongst our selves? 
 5 Prince. Nay, noble Edol, 
 
 Let us here take counsel, it cannot hurt, 
 It is the surest Garison to safety. 
 
 Edol. Fie on such slow delays! So fearful men. 
 That are to pass over a flowing river, 
 10 Stand on the bank to parly of the danger. 
 Till the tide rise, and then be swallowed. 
 Is not the King in field? 
 
 Cador. Proud Vortiger, the Traitor, is in field. 
 Edwin. The Murderer and Usurper. 
 15 Edol. Let him be the devil, so I may fight with him. 
 
 For heavens love, sir, march on! 
 Oh, my patience! will you delay, 
 
 Untill the Saxons come to aid his party? \_A Tucket. 
 
 Prince. There's no such fear: prithee, be calm a while. 
 
 270. As full A and Tyr. ; confront, at full march double footing. Del. 
 
 Scene II. Open Country in Wales, add. by Tyr. — 5 — 6. One line 
 In Del. — 6. Read Let's here \ take coun \ sel. It \ can't hurt, or coun \ set, 
 — I it can I not hurt |. Elze, Notes I, p. 2. proposes to read Let us take 
 counsel here. — II. thet{\ they Tyr. — 15 — 16. Div. at devil Del. 
 
rV, 3.] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 63 
 
 Hark! It seems by this, he comes or sends to us. 20 
 
 Edol. If it be for parly, I will drown the summons. 
 If all our drums and hoarseness choke me not. 
 
 Enter Captain. 
 
 Prince. Nay, prithee, hear. — From whence art thou? 
 
 Cap. From the King Vortiger. 
 
 Edol. Traitor, there's none such: Alarum, drum, strike, slave, 25 
 Or, by mine honor, I will break thy head, 
 And beat thy drumsticks both about thine ears. 
 
 Prince. Hold, noble Edol, 
 Let's hear what Articles he can inforce. 
 
 Edol. What articles or what conditions 30 
 
 Can you expect to value half your wrong. 
 Unless he kill himself by thousand tortures, 
 And send his carcase to appease your vengeance 
 For the foul murder of Constantius, 
 And that 's not a tenth part neither. 35 
 
 Prince. 'Tis true, 
 My brothers blood is crying to me now, 
 
 I do applaud thy counsel: hence, be gone! — [Exit Captain. 
 We'l hear no parly now but by our swords. 
 
 Edol. And those shall speak home in death-killing words: 40 
 Alarum to the fight; sound, sound the Alarum. [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 A Field of Battle. 
 
 Alarum. Enter Edol, driving all Vortigers Force before him, 
 then exit. Enter Prince Vter pursuing Vortiger. 
 
 Vort. Dost follow me? 
 
 Prince. Yes, to thy death I will. 
 
 Vort. Stay, be advis'd; 
 I would not be the onely fall of Princes, 
 I slew thy brother. 
 
 22. me twice in A and Tyr. — 25 — 27. Div. at such \ honor \ both \ 
 ears Del. — 27. drums heads A, corr. by Del. — 38. your counsenyx,, thy 
 counsels Del. 
 
 Scene in. A Field of Battle add. by Tyr. — l. the death Tyr. — 
 3. It would Del. 
 
64 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [IV, 4. 
 
 5 Prince. Thou didst, 
 
 Black Traitor, and in that vengeance I pursue thee. 
 
 Vort. Take mercy for thy self, and flie my sword, 
 Save thine own life as satisfaction, 
 Which here I give thee for thy brothers death. 
 
 10 Prince. Give what's thine own: a Traitors heart and head. 
 That 's all thou art right Lord of. The Kingdom 
 Which thou usurp'st, thou most unhappy Tyrant, 
 Is leaving thee; the Saxons which thou broughtst 
 To back thy usurpations, are grown great, 
 
 15 And where they seat themselves, do hourly seek 
 To blot the Records of old Brute and Brittains 
 From memory of men, calling themselves 
 Hingest-men, and Brittain Hingest-land, that no more 
 Tlie Brittain name be known: all this by thee, 
 
 20 Thou base destroyer of thy Native Countrey. 
 
 Enter Edgl. 
 Edol. What, stand you talking? Fight! 
 Prince. Hold, Edol. 
 Edol. Hold out, my sword. 
 And listen not to King or Princes word; 
 25 There's work enough abroad, this task is mine. [A/arum. 
 
 Prince. Prosper thy Valour, as thy Vertues shine. \Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 Another Part of the Field of Battle. 
 Enter Cador and Edwin. 
 Cador. Bright Victory her self fights on our part, 
 And, buckled in a golden Beaver, rides 
 Triumphantly before us. 
 Edw. Justice is with her, 
 5 Who ever takes the true and rightful cause. 
 Let us not lag behinde them. 
 
 7. Jlee Tyr. — 18. Brittain om. in A and Edd. — 21. are you 
 Tyr. ; Fight printed as stage-dir. in A; Tyr. omitting fight adds \He 
 attaclis Vort.']. , 
 
 Scene IV. No new scene in Tyr. 
 
IV, 5-] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 65 
 
 Enter Prince. 
 
 Cador. Here comes the Prince. How goes our fortunes, Sir? 
 
 Prince. Hopeful and fair, brave Cador. 
 Proud Vortiger, beat down by Edols sword, 
 
 Was rescu'd by the following multitudes, 10 
 
 And now for safety's fled unto a Castle 
 Here standing on the hill: but I have sent 
 A cry of hounds as violent as hunger. 
 To break his stony walls; or, if they fail, 
 
 We'I send in wilde fire to dislodge him thence, 15 
 
 Or burn them all with flaming violence. \Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 Another Part of the Field. 
 
 Blazing Star appears. 
 
 Florish Trumpets. Enter Prince Vter, Edol, Cador, Edwin, 
 
 TocLio, with Drum and Soldiers. 
 
 Prince. Look, Edol : still this fiery exalation shoots 
 His frightful horors on th'amazed world; 
 See, in the beam that's 'bout his flaming ring, 
 A Dragons head appears, from out whose mouth 
 Two flaming flake s of fire stretch East and West. 5 
 
 Edol. And see, from forth the body of the Star 
 Seven smaller blazing streams directly point 
 On this affrighted kingdom. 
 
 Cador. 'Tis a dreadful Meteor. 
 
 Edwin. And doth portend strange fears. 10 
 
 Prince. This is no Crown of Peace; this angry fire 
 Hath something more to burn then Vortiger; 
 If it alone, were pointed at his fall. 
 It would pull in his biasing Piramids 
 And be appeas'd, for Vortiger is dead. 15 
 
 Edol. These never come without their large effects. 
 
 7. go Del. — 14. strong' walls Tyr. — 16. with all Tyr. 
 
 Scene V. Another Part of the Field, add. by Tyr. — i. Look, Edol 
 put by Elze (Notes I., p. 3) in a line by itself. — 3. that 'bout A and Del., 
 corr. by T^yi. — ^. flames^ snakes Tyr. — 14. his"] its Tyr. 
 
 5 
 
66 KING EDWARD THE THIRD.' pV, 4J 
 
 QO By me hath sent a nimble - ioynted iennet, 1 ■ ' 
 
 As swift as euer yet thou didst bestride, 
 
 And therewithal!' he counsels thee to flie; ' 
 
 Else death hirtiself hath sworne' that thoil' shalt die.- ' 
 
 Pr. Edw. Back with the' beast vtito the bealst that ^tti't hitri!' 
 
 95 Tell him, I cannot sit i cowards horse ; ' ' ' ■' ■ '"' 
 Bid him to-daie bestride the iade himselfe; ' ' ' 
 
 For 1 will staine my horse quite ore with bloud. 
 And double guild my spurs, but I will catch him; 
 So tell the carping boy, and gdt ihee gone. \Exit Herald. 
 
 Enter another Herald. 
 100 Her. Edward of Wales, Phillip, the, second sonne 
 
 To the most mightie christian king of France, . 
 
 Seeing thy bodies liuing-date expird, . , , 
 
 All full of charitie and christian [loue. 
 
 Commends this booke, full fraught wit^ holy prayers, ., 
 105 To thy faire hand, and, for thy hpure of lyfe, 
 
 Intreats thee that thpu meditate therein, , 
 
 And arme thy soule for hir long iourney towards. 
 
 Thus haue I done his bidding, and returne. ,. 
 
 Fr. Edw, He;ral4 of Phillip, greet thy Lord from rne: 
 110 All good that he can send, I can receiue; 
 
 But thinkst thou not, the vnaduised boy 
 
 Hath wrongd himselfe in thus far tendering nie ? 
 
 Haply he cannot praie without the bpo^e, 
 
 — I thinke him no diuine extempprall — , 
 1 15 Then render backe this common place of prayer. 
 
 To do himselfe good in aduersitie; . 
 
 Besides he knows not my sinnes qualitie, ^ 
 
 And therefore knowes no praiers for my auaile ; 
 
 Ere night his praier may be to praie to God, 
 120 To put it in my heart to heare his piraier. 
 
 So tell the courtly wanton, and "be gone. 
 
 Her. I go. [Exit Herald. 
 
 gg. cafring K; \Exit Herald^ and Herald aXisx' another add. by Eel. 
 — 104. holy add. by Cap. and Tyr. — 112. iJius\ this A; fdrre BJ ^- 
 113'. Happily Al — 122. \_Exit Herald^ om. A. 
 
JV, 4.] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 67 
 
 Pr. Edw. How confident their strength and' number makes 
 Now, Audley, sound those siluer winges of thine, [themi!— 
 And let those milke- white messengers of time 125 
 
 Shew thy times learning in this dangerous time. 
 Thyselfe art bruis'd and bit with many broiles. 
 And stratagems forepast with yron pens 
 Are texted in thine honorable face; 
 
 Thou art a married man in this distresse, 130 
 
 But danger wooes me as a biiishirig maide: 
 Teach me an answere to' this perillous time. 
 
 Aud. To die is all as common as to line: 
 The one in choice, the other holds in chase; 
 
 For, from the instant we begin to liue, 135 
 
 We do pursue and hunt the time to die: 
 First bud we, then we Wow, and after seed. 
 Then, presently, we fall; and, as a shade 
 FoUowes the bodie, so we follow death. 
 
 If, then, we hunt for death, why do we feare it? 140 
 
 If we feare it, why do we follow it? 
 If we do feare, how can we shun it? 
 If we do feare, with feare we do but aide 
 The thing we feare, to seize on vs the sooner: 
 If wee feare not, then no resolued proffer 145 
 
 Can ouerthrow the limit of our fate ; 
 For, whether ripe or rotten, drop we shall, 
 As we do drawe the lotterie of our doome. 
 
 Pr. Edw. Ah, good olde man, a thousand thousand armors 
 These words of thine haue buckled on my backe: 150 
 
 Ah, what an idiot hast thou made of lyfe, 
 To seeke the thing it feares! and how disgrast 
 The imperiall victorie of murdring death. 
 Since all the Hues, his conquering arrowes strike, 
 Seeke him, and he not them, to shame his glorie! 155 
 
 I will not giue a pennie for a lyfe, 
 Nor halfe a halfepenie to shun grim death. 
 
 124. strings Del. — 127. bruis'd'\ busie AB, coir, by Cap.; bif\ bent 
 Cap. and Tyr. — 129. texed B, Cap., and Tyr. — 141. Or, if we Cap. and 
 Tyr. — 142. Om. in Cap. and Edd. — 151. thou hast made Col. 
 
68 KING EDWARD' THE THIRD. [IV, 5. 
 
 Since for to liiie is but to seeke to die, 
 And dying but beginning of new lyfe. 
 160 Let come the houre when he that rules it will! 
 
 To Hue or die I hold indifferent. [Extuni. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 The same. The French Camp- 
 Enter King John and Charles. 
 
 K. John. A sodaine darkneS hath defast the skie. 
 The windes are crept into their caues for feare. 
 The leaues moue not, the world is husht and stil'. 
 The birds cease singing, and the wandiing brookes • 
 5 Murmure no wonted greisting to their shores; 
 Silence attends some wonder and expecteth 
 That heauen should pronounce some" prophecie : 
 Where or from whome proceeds this silence, Charles? 
 Charles. Our men, with open mouthes and staring eyes, 
 10 Looke on each other, as they did attend 
 
 Each others wordes, and yet no creature speakes; 
 A tongue-tied feare hath made a midnight houre. 
 And speeches sleepe through all the waking regjions. 
 
 K. lohn. But now the pompeous Sunne, iii all his pride, 
 15 Lookt through his golden coach vpbn the worlde, 
 And, on a sodaine, hath he hid himselfe. 
 That now the vnder- earth is as a graue, 
 Darke, deadly, silent, and vncornfortable. [A clamor of rauens. 
 Harke, what a deadly outcrie do I heare? 
 20 Charles. Here comes my brother Phillip. 
 
 K. lohn. All dismaid: 
 
 Enter Phillip. 
 What fearefull words are those thy lookes presage? 
 Phil. A flight, a flight! 
 
 Scene V. Stage -dir. added by Cap. • — 3. wood prop, by Cap. and 
 adopted by Del. — 8. Whence prop, by Cap. and adopted by Del. — 19. u 
 om. B. — 20. {£nter Phillip.] add. by Del. — 20, 21. All dismaid . . . 
 presage one line in A, two lines in B, divided at words ; All dismaid put 
 in a line by itself in mod. Edd. 
 
IV, 5-] KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 6g 
 
 K. lohn. Coward, what flight? thou liesl, there needs no 
 Phil. A flight. [flight. 
 
 K. lohn. Awake thy crauen powers', and tell on 25 
 
 The substance of that verie feare indeed, 
 
 Which is so gastly printed in thy face : 
 
 What is the matter? 
 
 Phil. A flight! of vgly rauens 
 
 Do croke and houer ore our souldiers heads, 
 
 And keepe in triangles and cornerd squares, 30 
 
 Right as our forces are imbatteled ;, 
 With their approach there came this'sodain fog. 
 Which now hath hid the airie floor of heauen 
 And made at noone a night vnnaturall 
 
 Vpon the quaking and dismaied world: 35 
 
 In briefe, our souldiers haue let fall their armes, 
 And stand like metamorphosd images, 
 Bloudlesse and pale, one gazing on another. 
 
 K. lohn. I, now I call to mind the prophesie. 
 But 1 must giue no enterance to a feare. — 40 
 
 Returne, and harten vp those yeelding soulcs: 
 Tell them, the rauens, seeing them in armes, 
 So many faire against a famisht few, 
 Come but to dine vpon their handieworke 
 
 And praie vpon the carrion that they kill: 45 
 
 For when we see a horse laid downe to die, 
 Although he be not dead, the rauenous birds 
 Sit watching the departure of his life; 
 Euen so these rauens for the carcases 
 
 Of those poore English, that are markt to die, 50 
 
 Houer about, and, if they crie to vs, 
 Tis but for meate that we must kill for them. 
 Awate, and comfort vp my souldiers. 
 And sound the trumpets, and at once dispatch 
 This litle busines of a silly fraude. \_Exil Philip. 55 
 
 26. The very substance of that feare prop, by Cap. and adopted by 
 Del. — i-^. floor'] flower AB. — 41. these AB. — 47. he be add. by Cap., 
 Tyr., and Del. — 50. these B. — 55. \_Exit Prince.'] A. 
 
70 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [V, I. 
 
 Prince. Thanks, Edol, we imbrace the name and title, 
 And in our Sheild and Standard shall the figure 
 Of a Red Dragon still be born before us, 
 To fright the bloody Saxons. Oh, my Aurelius, 
 1 60 Sweet rest thy soul; let thy disturbed spirit 
 Expect revenge, think what it would, it hath: 
 The Dragon's coming in his fiery wrath. \Exeunt. 
 
 ACT V. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 A barren Waste, a huge Rock appearing. 
 Thunder, then Musick. 
 Enter Joan fearfully, the Devil, following her. 
 foan. Hence, thou black horror! Is thy lustful fire 
 Kindled agen? Not thy loud-throated thunder 
 Nor thy adulterate infernal Musick 
 Shall e're bewitch me more. Oh, .too too much 
 5 Is past already! 
 
 Devil. Why dost thou fly me? 
 I come a Lover to thee to imbrace 
 And gently twine thy body in mine arms. 
 foan. Out, thou Hell-hound! 
 10 Devil. What hound so e're I be, 
 
 Fawning and sporting as I would with thee. 
 Why should I not be stroakt and plaid withal? 
 Willt thou not thank the Lion might devour thee. 
 If he shall let thee pass? 
 
 foan. Yes, thou art he; 
 
 15 Free me, and He thank thee. 
 
 Devil. Why, whither wouldst? 
 
 1 am at home with thee, thou art mine own. 
 Have we not charge of family together? 
 Where is your son? 
 
 foan. Oh, darknesse cover me! 
 
 Devil. There is a pride which thou hast won by me, 
 
 Act V. Scene I. A barren . . . appearing, add. by Tyr. — 3. adul- 
 terous Tyr. — g. thou om. Tyr. — 12. not I Tyr. 
 
V, I.] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 71 
 
 The mother of a fame, shall never die. 20 
 
 Kings shall have need of written Chronicles 
 
 To keep their names alive, but Merlin none; 
 
 Ages to ages shall like Satellites 
 
 Report the wonders of his name and glory, 
 
 While there are tongues and times to tell his story. 25 
 
 Joan. Oh, rot my memory before my flesh. 
 Let him be called some hell- or earth-bred monster, 
 That ne're had hapless woman for a mother! 
 Sweet death, deliver me! Hence from my sight! 
 Why shouldst thou now appear? 1 had no pride 30 
 
 Nor lustful thought about me, to conjure 
 And call thee to my mine, whenas at first 
 Thy cursed person became visible. 
 
 Devil. I am the same I was. 
 
 Joa7i. But I am chang'd. 
 
 Devil. Agen lie change thee to the same thou wert, 35 
 
 To quench my lust. — Come forth, by thunder led, 
 My Coajutors in the spoils of mortals. [Thunder. 
 
 Enter Spirits. 
 Claspe in your Ebon arms that prize of mine, 
 Mount her as high as palled Hecate; 
 
 And on this rock He stand to cast up fumes 40 
 
 And darkness o're the blew-fac'd firmament: 
 From Brittain and from Merlin He remove her. 
 They ne're shall meet agen. 
 
 Joan. Help me some saving hand! 
 If not too late, I cry: Let mercy come! 45 
 
 Enter Merlin. 
 Mer. Stay, you black slaves of night, let loose your hold, 
 Set her down safe, or by th'infernal Stix, 
 He binde you up with exorcisms so strong, 
 That all the black pentagoron of hell 
 
 Shall ne're release you. Save your selves and vanish! 50 
 
 [Exeunt Spirits. 
 
 22. name Tyr. — 23. Sabalists A and Tyr., corr. by Del. — 28. for 
 his mother Tyr. — 36. quench to A. — 37. spoil Tyr. — 38. (Stage-dir.) 
 Spirit A. —50. you A, corr. by Tyr. and Del. 
 
72 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [V, I- 
 
 Devil. Ha! What's he? 
 
 Mer. The Childe has found his Father. Do you not know me? 
 Devil. Merlin ! 
 
 Joan. Oh, help me, gentle son! 
 55 Mer. Fear not, they shall not hurt you. 
 
 Devil. Relievest thou her to disobey thy father? 
 Mer. Obedience is no lesson in your school; 
 Nature and kind to her commands my duty; 
 The part that you begot was against kinde, 
 60 So all I ow to you, is to be unkind. 
 
 Devil. lie blast thee, slave, to death, and on this rock 
 Stick thee as an eternal Monument. 
 
 Mer. Ha, ha, thy power's too weak; what art thou, devil, 
 But an inferior lustful Incubus, 
 65 Taking advantage of the wanton flesh. 
 
 Wherewith thou dost beguile the ignorant? 
 Put off the form of thy humanity. 
 And cral upon thy speckled belly, serpent. 
 Or lie unclasp the jaws of Acheron, 
 70 And fix thee ever in the Jocal fire. , 
 
 Devil. Traitor to hell! Curse that I e're begot thee! 
 Mer. Thou didst beget thy scourge. Storm not, nor stir. 
 The power of Merlins Art is all confirm'd 
 In the Fates decretals.^ He ransack hell, 
 75 And make thy masters bow unto my spells. 
 
 Thou first shalt taste it, — [Thunder and Lightning in the Rock. 
 Tenibrariim precis, devitiarum et infirorwji Deus, hunc Incu- 
 bum in ignis eterni ahisum accipite, aut in hoc carcere tenehroso 
 - in sempiiernum astringere mando. 
 
 \The Rock incloses him. 
 80 So! there beget earthquakes or some noisom damps. 
 For never shalt thou touch a woman more. — 
 How chear you, mother? 
 
 Joan. Oh, now my son is my deliverer. 
 Yet I must name him with my deepest sorrow. 
 
 \Alarum ajar off. 
 
 51. What is Del. — 52. Two lines in Del. — 62. as add. by Del. — 
 75. master Tyr. ; spell Del. — 76. shall K. — 77. precis'] princeps prop, 
 by Elzc, Notes I., p. 3. — 80. some oni. Del. 
 
V, 2.] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 73 
 
 Mer. Take comfort now: past times are ne're recal'd, 85 
 
 1 did forsee your mischief, and prevent it. 
 Hark, how the sounds of war now call me hence 
 To aid Pendragon that in battail stands 
 Against the Saxons, from whose aid 
 
 Merlin must not be absent. Leave this soyl, 90 
 
 And He conduct you to a place retir'd. 
 Which 1 by art have rais'd, call'd Merlins Bower. 
 There shall you dwell with solitary sighs. 
 With grones and passions, your companions, 
 
 To weep away this flesh you have offended with, 95 
 
 And leave all bare unto your aierial soul. 
 And when you die, I will erect a Monument 
 Upon the verdant Plains of Salisbury, 
 No King shall have so high a sepulchre. 
 
 With pendulous stones that I will hang by art, 100 
 
 Where neither Lime nor Morter shalbe us'd, 
 A dark Enigma to the memory. 
 For none shall have the power to number them, 
 A place that I will hallow for your rest, 
 
 Where no Night-hag shall walk, nor Ware-wolf tread: 105 
 
 There Merlins Mother shall be sepulcher'd. \_Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 The British Camp. 
 Enter Dgnobert, Gloster, and Hermit. 
 Do7io. Sincerely, Gloster, I have told you all: 
 My Daughters are both vow'd to Single Life, 
 And this day gone unto the Nunnery, 
 Though I begot them to another end. 
 
 And fairly promis'd them in Marriage, 5 
 
 One to Earl Cador, t'other to your son, 
 My worthy friend, the Earl of Gloster. 
 Those lost, I am lost: they are lost, all's lost. 
 Answer me this, then: Is't a sin to marry? 
 
 102. thy memory Tyr.,? men's memory. — 104. hollow A. — 106. Where 
 A, corr. by Del. 
 
 Scene II. The British Camp. add. by Tyr. — 3. into Tyr. 
 
74 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [V, 2. 
 
 lO Hermit. Oh no, my Lord. 
 
 Dono. Go to, then, He go no further with you; 
 I perswade you to no ill, perswade you, then, 
 That I perswade you well. 
 
 Gloster. 'Twill be a good Office in you, sir. 
 
 Enter Cador and Edwin. 
 15 Dono. Which since they thus neglect, 
 
 My memory shall lose them now for ever. — 
 
 See, see, the Noble Lords, their promis'd Husbands! 
 
 Had Fate so pleas'd. you might have call'd me Father. 
 
 Edwin. Those hopes are past, my Lord; for even this minute 
 20 We saw them both enter the Monastery, 
 
 Secluded from the world and men for ever. 
 
 Cador. 'Tis both our griefs we cannot. Sir. 
 But from the King take you the Times joy from us: 
 The Saxon King Ostorius slain and Octa fled, 
 25 That Woman-fury, Queen Artesia, 
 
 Is fast in hold, and forc't to re-deliver 
 London and Winchester, which she had fortifi'd. 
 To Princely Vter, lately slyl'd Pendragon, 
 Who now triumphantly is marching hither 
 30 To be invested with the Brittain Crown. 
 
 Dono. The joy of this shall banish from my breast 
 All thought that I was Father to two Children, 
 Two stubborn Daughters, that have left me thus. 
 Let my old arms embrace, and call you Sons; 
 35 For, by the Honor of my Fathers House, 
 
 rie part my estate most equally betwixt you. 
 Edwin, Cador. Sir, y'are most noble. 
 
 Flor. Tromp. Enter Edol with Drum and Colours, 
 OswOLD bearing the Standard, Toclio the Shield, ivith 
 the Red Dragon pictur'd itt'em, two Bishops with the 
 Crown, Pkince Vter, Merlin, Artesia bound. Guard, 
 and Clow^n. 
 Prince. Set up our Sheild and Standard, noble Soldiers. 
 
 II. / will Del. — ig. past, my Lord, for ever; this Tyr. — 23. ? talie the. 
 — 30. British Crown Tyr. — 37. you are Tyr. and Del. 
 
V, 2.] tSe birth of merlin. 75 
 
 We have firm hope that, tho' our Dragon sleep, 
 
 Merlin will us and our fair Kingdom keep. 40 
 
 Cloivn. As his Uncle lives, I warrant you. 
 
 Glosl. Happy Restorer of the Brittains fame, 
 Uprising Sun, let us salute thy glory: 
 Ride in a day perpetual about us. 
 
 And no night be in thy thrones zodiack. 45 
 
 Why do we stay to binde those Princely browes 
 With this Imperial Honor? 
 
 Prince. Stay, noble Gloster! 
 
 That monster first must be expel'd our eye. 
 Or we shall take no joy in it. 
 
 Dono. If that be hindrance, give her quick Judgement, 50 
 
 And send her hence to death ; she has long deserv'd it. 
 
 Edol. Let my Sentence stand for all: take her hence. 
 And stake her carcase in the burning Sun, 
 Till it be parcht and dry, and then fley oif 
 
 Her wicked skin, and stuff the pelt with straw 55 
 
 To be shown up and down at Fairs and Markets, 
 Two pence a piece to see so foul a Monster, 
 'Twill be a fair monopoly, and worth the begging. 
 
 Aries. Ha, ha, ha! 
 
 Edol. Dost laugh, Erictho? 60 
 
 Aries. Yes, at thy poor invention, 
 
 Is there no better torturemonger? 
 
 Dono. Burn her to dust. 
 
 Aries. That's a Phoenix death, and glorious. 
 
 Edol. I, that's too good for her. 
 
 Prince. Alive she shall be buried, circled in a wall, 65 
 
 Thou murdress of a King, there starve to death. 
 
 Aries. Then He starve death when he comes for his prey, 
 ' And i'th' mean time He live upon your curses. 
 
 Edol. I, 'tis diet good enough; away with her! 
 
 Aries. With joy, my best of wishes is before, 70 
 
 Thy brother's poison'd, but I wanted more. {Exit. 
 
 39, fair hope Tyr. — 49. Or else -we take Tyr. — 57. piece. To see 
 Del. — 58. 'Twill'] will A and Edd.; and worth the begging om. Tyr. — 
 64. to A. — 65. Ali-ve put in a line by itself by Del, — 69. diet ora. Del.. 
 
76 THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. [V, 2. 
 
 Prince. Why does our Prophet Merlin stand apart, 
 
 Sadly observing these our Ceremonies, 
 
 And not applaud our joys with thy hid knowledge? 
 75 Let thy divining Art now satisfie 
 
 Some part of my desires; for well I know, 
 
 'Tis in thy power to show the full event. 
 
 That shall both end our Reign and Chronicle. 
 
 Speak, learned Merlin, and resolve my fears, 
 8o Whether by war we shal expel the Saxons, 
 
 Or govern what we hold with beauteous peace 
 
 In Wales and Brittain? 
 
 Mer. Long happiness attend Pendragons Reign! 
 
 What Heaven decrees, fate hath no power to alter: 
 85 The Saxons, sir, will keep the ground they have. 
 
 And by supplying numbers still increase. 
 
 Till Brittain be no more. So please your Grace, 
 
 I will in visible apparitions 
 
 Present you Prophecies which shall concern 
 go Succeeding Princes which my Art shall raise. 
 
 Till men shall call these times the latter days. 
 Prince. Do it, my Merlin, 
 
 And Crown me with much joy and wonder. 
 
 Merlin strikes. Hoehoys. Enter a King in Armour, his 
 Sheild quartered with thirteen Crowns. At the other door 
 enter divers Princes who present their Crowns to him at 
 his feet, and do him homage; then enters Death and striltes 
 
 him; he, groiving sick. Crowns Constantine. [Exeunt. 
 Mer. This King, my Lord, presents your Royal Son, 
 95 Who in his prime of years shall be so fortunate, 
 That thirteen several Princes shall present 
 Their several Crowns unto him, and all Kings else 
 Shall so admire his fame and victories, 
 That they shall all be glad, 
 100 Either through fear or love, to do him homage; 
 But death, who neither favors the weak nor valiant, 
 In the middest of all his glories soon shall seize him, 
 
 97. unto] to Tyr. — 10 1, favours neither Tyr. 
 
V, 2.] THE BIRTH OF MERLIN. 77 
 
 Scarcely permitting him to appoint one 
 
 In all his purchased Kingdoms to succeed hira. 
 
 Prince. Thanks to our Prophet 105 
 
 For this so wish'd for satisfaction ; 
 And hereby now we learn that always Fate 
 Must be observ'd, what ever that decree: 
 All future times shall still record this Story, 
 
 Of Merlin's learned worth and Arthur's glory. 1 1 o 
 
 \_Exeunt Omnes- 
 
 The End. 
 
NOTE S. 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 I, lO. Her promise already ratified this condition, 
 j/ I, 24. protest, i.e. declare his love; cp. Wiv. III. 5. 75: after 
 we had embraced, kissed and protested, and Caes. I. 2. 74: to stale 
 with ordinary oaths my love to every new protester. 
 
 I, 40. dull stomachs, i. e. weak appetite. Tieck: ' Viel eurer 
 Art sind nur von schwachem Hunger.' 
 
 •^ I, 43. speaks yours, i. e. declares itself yours. Cp. Wint. I. 2. 
 178: ive are yours in the garden, i. e. we are at your service. 
 
 I, 44, 45. Cp. Tit. Andr. II. i. 82, 83: 
 
 She is a woman, therefore may lie wood 
 She is a wovian, therefore may be won. 
 
 I, 90 seqq. Tieck: 
 
 'Die Schwester ist im Vorteil noch; kommt, lasst sie, 
 Sie wird nicht minder schnell als ich verlieren, 
 Ihm fehlt nur Kunst die Wiirfel zu regieren.' 
 
 1, 106. Your wishes must put some restraint on you, if you 
 give faith and credence to my promise. The punctuation of A 
 {then, as to my promise, you give faith and promise?), adopted by 
 Edd., is void of all sense. 
 
 '^ 2, I. Though the form tiding does not occur in Shake- 
 
 speare, we have not altered it, as it is not uncommon in Middle 
 English; cp. Skeat, Etym. Diet., s. v. 
 
 2> 38, 39. The only Power, i. e. God, who has discomfited 
 the enemy, should not be limited ; you should pursue your victory, 
 and not treat with the enemy. 
 
 2, 42. If mischiefs are not quite uprooted and destroyed, 
 they will soon reappear with new vigour ; if the vanquished enemy 
 is spared by the conqueror, he will soon grow mischievous again. 
 Tieck : 
 
^'^^ ^ NOTES. 
 
 79 
 
 'Beschrankt nicht, liehi ihr eure Sicherheit, 
 Die hohe Macht, die euch allein beschirmte, 
 Traut einem offenen Feinde nicht zu sehr, 
 Noch ist er im Verlust, ihr habi gewonnen, 
 Sonsi endet Uiiheil nicht, ist nur begonnen.' 
 
 2, 45. Tieck: 'das Wort des Friedens 
 
 Ist blut'gen Augen scMn, dock angewendet 
 Mit Pflastern, durch die das Gesicht erblindet, 
 Zeigt wen'ge Kunst, wain auch der Heilung Wunsch.' 
 
 2, 56. Tieck: 'Matt kann gewiss in wen'ger Zeit von ihien 
 Das Land befrein' 
 But it would perhaps be better to give II. 56 and 57 (Who (not 
 We) in less time ivill undertake to free Our country from them ?) to 
 Aurelius and not to Cador. 
 
 2, 7g. Aurelius evidently repeats the expression used by 
 Artesia; Tyrrell's conjecture is, therefore, to be rejected. 
 1/'^ 2, 86. If I were but young again, I am sure this gilded pill 
 would take my appetite quickly, I should have no appetite to taste 
 it; whereupon the king replies: To be sure, you are old, and you 
 have quite forgotten the defects of your own youth. As for to take 
 one's stomach, cp. i H. IV., II. 3. 44 : what isH that takes from thee 
 thy stomach? Tieck seems to be mistaken in translating: 
 
 ' War' ich nur wieder jung, die gold'ite Pille 
 Begehrte wohl mein Magen leicht.' 
 
 2, 118. Tieck: 
 
 'Lass mich als Weih, so unwert ich auch bin, 
 Die Nachricht bringen deiner Menschlichkeit, 
 Des milde Tugend Fama laut verkiindet, 
 Und der die V oilier sich in Liebe hindet.' 
 
 2, 121. As being &c is loosely annexed to Take the report of 
 thy humanity-\. iig, = that we are overcome &c. 
 
 2, 134. And do I act mine own (deeds) not free. As to free 
 y = freely, cp. H. VIIL, II. l. 82: / as free forgive you as I would 
 be forgiven; and Mcb. II. l. 19: ivhich else should free have 
 wrought. 
 
 2, 158 seqq. The sense of the passage, which is perhaps some- 
 what corrupt, seems to be : Tell him that our entertainment expects 
 him as such (i. e. as brother), and that our marriage will add to 
 our joys and happiness; the good or evil qualities of man and 
 woman, like two waves, get united and doubled by marriage (in 
 this). Tieck : 
 
 'Sagt ihn welch' grosse Freud' ihn hier erwartet, 
 Und wie mein Glilck der Ehebund vermehrt. 
 
^r 
 
 80 NOTES. Ad II.] 
 
 Wie jede Freude mir nun doppelt helle 
 Im Spiegel dieser wollustreichen Welle! 
 y^ 2, VsS. sweet often applied to heaven and celestial things. 
 Cp. IV. 5. 160: Siveet rest thy soul. 
 
 ACT n. 
 
 I, 5. Tieck: 'Denn er armiert und beint auch dazu, und braucht 
 di'ch zuTii Herold, seine Armaiur kund zu geben.' As to blaze = 
 proclaim like a herald, cp. 2 H. VI., IV. 10. 76: thou shall wear 
 it (the blood) as a herald's coat, to emblaze the honour that thy 
 master got. 
 
 /- I, 27. uses, i. e. is accustomed to go, frequents. He useth every 
 day to a merchant's house where I serve water. B. Jonson (Quoted 
 by Webster.). 
 
 I, 30. Knight of the Post, a man who gained his living by 
 giving false evidence on trials or false bail (Nares, s. v.), is here 
 comically applied by the Clown to the trees of the forest which 
 his sister had called to witness. 
 
 I, 3Q. Oh yes, i.e. qyez, hear ye, give attention, the usual 
 introduction of a publication of the public crier. (Al. Schmidt, 
 Shakespeare-Lexicon, s. v.). 
 
 I, 53. i. e. to relate her beauties to him (Fdnd' ich hier wen, 
 die Schon' ihm zu beschreiben. Tieck.). 
 
 I, 67. Though the construction is somewhat inexact, it does 
 not seem necessary to read you for and. 
 
 I, 69. Tieck: 'Weil ich sie fand und doch verlor' 
 
 I, 75 seqq. These lines seem to refer to one of two adventures 
 related by Plutarch, Life of Marius, ch. 39 and ch. 45. A soldier 
 was sent by the magistrates of the town of Mintumae into Marius' 
 bedroom, in order to kill him. But on seeing Marius' face, and 
 on hearing his voice, the soldier, frightened out of his wits, threw 
 away his sword and fled from the house. — In ch. 45 Plutarch 
 relates that Marius once sent some warriors with the order to kill 
 Anthony the orator. When the soldiers found Anthony in his 
 chamber, 'they beganne to encorage one another to kill him, not one 
 of them having the harte to laye handes uppon him. For Anthonyes 
 tongue was as sweete as a Sirene , and had such an excellent 
 grace in speaking that when he begann to speake vnto the souldiers, 
 and to pray them to saue his life : there was not one of them so 
 hard hearted, as once to touch him, no not onely to looke him 
 in the face, but looking downewardes, fell a weeping.' See North's 
 Plutarch, ed. 1579, p. 477. 
 
 I, 78. Tieck: 'Zur Sonne sirebt der Dunst, wird Regenflut^ 
 
 I, 98. rude and boldly == rudely and boldly, as often in Shak. 
 
Aci II.] NOTES. 8 1 
 
 -/ I, 103. Cp. All's I. 3. i&S: you have wound a goodly clew. 
 v^ 1, 106. Jug, a diminutive of Joan, also occurs Lr. I. 4. 245: 
 Whoop, Jug, I love thee. 
 
 I, 1 10. As maid is = girl {is there a maid with child by him? 
 Meas. I. 2. 92), Tyrrell's conjecture is quite uncalled for. 
 
 1, 127. We are to suppose that the Prince turns to the Clown, 
 in order to beat him too. 
 
 \/\. 157. overshot, exceeded in shooting, blundering. Cp. H. V., 
 III. 7. 134: His not the first time you were overshot. 
 ^ 2. 12. the presence, i.e. the court. Cp. H. VIII., IV. 2. 37 : { 
 the presence he would say untruths, i. e. before the king and his court_ 
 
 2, 13, discontent, i. e. discontented. 
 
 yT 2, 15. perswade his patience. Cp. Hml. IV. 5. 168: hadst thou 
 thy wits and didst persuade revenge? and 3 H. VI., III. 3. 176: sends 
 me a paper to persuade me patience. 
 
 2, 31. It would perhaps be better to write With Pagan Infidels, 
 the least part Christians, for the sense seems to be : The court is 
 divided with pagan Infidels, who are equal to the christians, if 
 not in number, at least in authority and influenc (in their commands). 
 
 2, 37. Your commissions are not worth anything, you may 
 inclose and keep them. Tieck: 'Schlajmiitzen schafft euch an anstatt 
 der Helme! 
 
 2, 49. They had already resolved to leave the country, hoping 
 by that means to preserve their lives. 
 
 2, 51, 52. These two lines may be considered as a blank-verse 
 (1. 52 'Twas). 
 
 2, 71, as black as hell. Cp. John IV. 3. 121: thou rt damned as 
 black, nay, nothing is so black. 
 
 2, 83. For the proverbial phrase bought and sold (our German 
 verraten und verkauft) cp. Err. III. I. 72, John V. 4. 10, i H. VI., 
 IV. 4. 13, Rich. III., V. 3. 305, Troil. IL i. 51. 
 
 2, 90. Cp. to be exposed against the warring winds Lr. IV. 7. 
 32, where Ff and modern Edd. read opposed. 
 
 2, III. all our whole King dome, cp. II. 3. 9: all the whole Court. 
 
 3, 30. Cp. Cses. IV. 3. 133: how vilely doth this cynic rhyme. 
 
 3, 45. above present sense, i. e. without their perceiving any 
 thing directly by the eye. 
 
 3, 46. there may, scil. be such a power. 
 
 3, 86. We have not been able to discover the names of the 
 two spirits elsewhere. 
 
 v/3, 139. birthright, i. e. patrimony, inheritance. 
 3, 150. on whom refers to woman, 1. 148. 
 
 6 
 
82 NOTES. [Ac/ III. 
 
 (/"3, 195. healih-loved, i. e. loved when they were in a state of health. 
 
 3, 198. Tieck: 'Du kamisl nicht leben, siirb mil keckein Mut.' 
 The use of the infinitive with to after a preposition is very surprising; 
 it may be compared with passages as For lo have this absolute 
 power of Dictator they added never to be afraid to be deposed, i. e. 
 for to to have&c. North's Plutarch 611 (Quoted by Abbott, § 355). 
 
 3, 205. If we see our vicious thoughts and actions miscarry, 
 we turn from vice, and only endeavour to do what is good. 
 ^ 3, 222. Mussel, i. e muscle, a bivalvular shell-fish (Cp. Tp. I. 
 2. 463). 
 ^^ 3, 257, Envy = malice, as often in Shak. 
 
 ACT in. 
 
 1/1, 146. placcats. 'Placket, probably a stomacher (according 
 to some a petticoat, or the opening in it.' A. Schmidt, Shak.-Lex., 
 s. V. Cp. LLL. III. 186: Dread prince of plackets and Lr. III. 4. 100: 
 keep thy hand out of plackets. 
 
 2, 22. nor to cease, i. e. nor do I persuade you to cease. 
 2, 42. Cp. Wint. III. 2. i: this sessions even pishes against our 
 heart. 
 
 2, 65. The regular construction being interrupted by 1. 66 
 in you (1. 67) takes up again in whose folly. 
 
 y/'z, 75. goodness, i. e. happiness, good fortune. 
 2, 84seqq. Tieck: 
 
 ' Ich bitte, theure Schwester, hSr' mich an: 
 Die Welt ist Maskenspiel, nicht was ich bin, 
 Nur meine Larve tduscht den schwachen Sinn. 
 Die Larve fdllt, sohald der Tanz vollbracht, 
 Und alle schaun dann in des Todes Nacht. 
 Das Gliick, es iiberlebt den Abend nicht. 
 Wo Falsches dcht scheint bei der Kerzen Lichi. 
 Wer dies erkennt, sucht edlere Gewande, 
 Die ihn bedecken vor der Blosse Schande. 
 Er weiss, die Welt flieht ihn in kurzer Zeit, 
 Und wirfi es ab, dies tduschend bunte Kleid.' 
 
 2, 104. Tieck: 
 
 '1st dies ein Quell nicht ewig neuer Sorgen? 
 Wie ungewiss sind diese Mutter freuden I 
 Die rvir geboren, sehn voir oftmals leiden 
 So manche Not, dass wir zum Himviel flehfi, 
 Er mog' ihr friihes End' uns lassen sehn. 
 Auch glilcklich, raubt der Tod doch, was uns freute. 
 So steucrn wir zu unsers Feindes Beute! 
 
Act III.] NOTES. 83 
 
 2, 1 1 6. Tieck: 
 
 'Nicht Freunde, Vaier, Gatlen hab' ich nun. 
 Gehorgte Maskenkleider sind es niir, 
 Worm wir schwarmen ; unser Leben ist 
 Ein freier Tag nitr zwischen Fi'eberbrennen, 
 Und eh' [wir] diesen nur geniessen kunnen, 
 Rafft uns ein zweites Fieber hin. O Schwester! 
 Du meiner Seek Trost, vergieb den Hohn. 
 Wie konnie die, (ich muss dick Vorbild nennen) 
 Die sich nicht kannte, wohl dein Gliick erkennen? 
 Von ihm soil nun die Welt mich nicht niehr trennen' 
 
 2, 120. Which refers to one good (1. 119). The construction 
 is: Ere we-, away from the ague-day, have time to praise the 
 good day. 
 
 ,^ ' 3, II. vent, apparently == scent. This passage seems to 
 corroborate the explanation of it (war) is sprightly walking, audible, . 
 and full of vent. Cor. IV. 5. 238, as given in Edinb. Rev., Oct. 1872. 
 vent, in both the passages, is a technical term of sportsmen for 
 scent, and full of scent means full of eager excitement, as a dog 
 scenting any thing, full of pluck and courage. S. Al. Schmidt, 
 . Shak.-Lex., s. v. vent 5. 
 
 U-/ \, 80. Or are mine eyes matches? The sense seems to be : or 
 
 / are my eyes indeed equal to each other, so that both of them 
 ^ always see the same thing? Cp. Spens. F. Q,, IV. i. 28: 
 Als as she double spake, so heard she double. 
 With matchlesse eares, deformed and distort. 
 
 \ 103. Tieck: 'Von Seiten der Mutter stammt sie von den 
 Willigs in Suffolk ab, aber unser eigentliches Stammschloss ist Brings- 
 herein und Lassnichtlos.' Lay ton -Buzzard, i. e. Lay it on, Buzzard, 
 was perhaps a technical term of hunting. 
 
 5^ 107. Tieck: 'Seine Ahnherrn stammen aus Hollenbrodel in 
 WalesT 
 
 5, 18. Upon such a hazardous sea that the least miscarriage 
 shall ruin me. 
 
 5, 25. For contrary, cp. Wint. V. i. 45, John IV. 2. 198, Tim. 
 IV. 3. 144, Hml. III. 2. 221. 
 
 i/^ 6, 3. Wakes ivith injoying, i. e. that awakes, that ceases to be 
 as soon as we will enjoy it. Tieck: 
 
 ' Was ihr Liebe nennt, 
 1st nur ein Traum, der beim Genuss entschwindet.' 
 
 V 6, 60. Cp. Wiv. U. I. 136: I have a sword, and it shall bite thee, 
 and Rich. II., I. 3. 30^, Lr. V. 3. 276. 
 
84 NOTES. [Aci IV. 
 
 6, 63. My own beauty made me as it were his prisoner. Tieck: 
 'Die eigne Schonheit brachte mir Gefahr.' 
 
 6, 65. O my sad soul. Tieck: '0 meine Ahnung.' Cp. LLL. V. 
 
 2. 741: entreat out 0/ a new-sad soul and Ado V. I. 42: my soul 
 dolh tell me Hero is belied. 
 
 6, 95. Cp. 3 H. VI., I. 4. 4 1 : view this face, and lite thy tongue 
 that slanders him with cowardice. 
 
 6, 108. Cp. fire and brimstone! Tw. II. 5. 56, 0th. III. i. 245. 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 y^i, II. sparrow-hawk, i.e. the little Antick Spirit. 
 j^ I, 12. Cardecu. 'Quart d'6cu, the quarter of a crown, i. e. fifteen 
 pence, or thereabouts.' Nares, s. v. 
 
 y'x, 29. conveyance, dishonest practice, trickery; cp. 3 H. VI., III. 
 
 3. 160: Till 1 make King Lewis behold thy sly conveyance and thy 
 Lord's false love. 
 
 ^ I, 47. Artist, scholar, as also sometimes in Shakespeare. 
 /■ I, 71. Diggon. P^^^dig on. Tieck: ' Darauf berufe dich nur. 
 Dann soil es ja auch eines Kindes Blut sein, und wer wird dich mit 
 deinem langen Bart wol fiir ein Kind halten? 1st das nicht Grund 
 genug, VetterV 
 
 I, 94. neither follows but by way of enforcing it. Cp. Merch. 
 I III. 5. 9 : and that is but a kind of bastard hope neither. 
 
 / I. 112. Wind-sucker (the name of the kestrel, a species of 
 
 / kite) seems to have been a denomination for a wanton woman. 
 
 As to the tropical use of the word, cp. Ben Jonson, Silent Woman, 
 
 Act I.: Did you ever hear such a wind-sucker as this? Or such a 
 
 rook as the other? (Quoted by Nares, J. w.) 
 
 I, 139. As to the construction, which is altered by Delius, cp:_ 
 John IV. 2, 165: whom they say is killed to-night, Cymb. I. 4, 137 
 whom in constancy you think stands so safe. 
 
 ./ ^, 174. a seeming fair young man, i. e. he who was in appea- 
 rance a fair young man. 
 
 1 , 1 94. Cp. Lr. III. 4, 6g : All the plagues that in the pendulous 
 air hang fated o'er metis faults. 
 
 I, 227. 'There is no doubt some corruption in [this] line, but 
 it baffles my endeavours to detect and mend it.' Elze, Notes I, 
 p. 2. It seems to be best to consider Of as a corruption of on, 
 -i^Zj/-^ ^s it often occurs; cp. such a beard of thy face, supra IV. i, 73, 
 Pox of those Conjurers, ib. 83. Also Tieck seems to have under- 
 stood the passage in this way: // vl 9 ii— ~ 
 
Act v.] NOTES. 85 
 
 'an diesem Kampf, 
 Am Sieg und Fall, der diesem wird gegeben, 
 Hangt euer Schicksal, euer Reich und Leben.' 
 
 / I, 270. double footing, i. e. taking double steps; another ex- 
 
 pression for at full march. 
 
 2, 16. These lines might also be divided: 
 
 For heavens love, sir, march on I — Oh, my patience! 
 Will you delay uniill the Saxons come 
 To aid his party? 
 
 3, 3. The sense is: I should not like to be the only man that 
 brings princes to fall. Tieck: 'Nicht alter FUrsien Blut will ich 
 vergiessenj 
 
 ^ 5, 5. As to the use oi flakes, cp. Lr. IV. 7, 30: these white flakes, 
 i. e. this white hair. 
 
 ^ 5, 10. fears, i. e. fearful objects, as Rom. IV. 3, 50: environed 
 with all these hideous fears. 
 ^5, 18. Pilhon, i. e. Pythian. 
 
 5, 50. 51. The construction is inexact, /« // being pleonastic 
 after from which: we gather from thy tears that there is much 
 sorrow in it, or, that much sorrow will come from it. 
 
 5, 112. The sense is: with the title of Monarch of the West. 
 
 5, 161. think it hath, i. e. shall have the revenge which it 
 would like to have. 
 
 ACT V. 
 
 y I, 49- Pentagoron &r\d local fire, (1. 70) cabalistic expressions, the 
 exact meaning of which is not intelligible to us. 
 
 I, 77. precis. We have not adopted Elze's conjecture, because 
 precis, in cabalistic language, seems to have been an expression 
 for God; cp. Doctoris lohannis Fausti Magicae Naturalis et Inna- 
 turalis Erster Theil. Passau 1505, p. 1 1 : Adonay, precis, Christe, 
 Ahischca; p. 54: apraecis Diabolam. [precis from prex, preces = 
 deprecation?]. 
 
 s/- I, 94. passion, i. e. sorrow. 
 
 1, 96. Tieck: 'Und deinen Geist vom Ird'schen zu befrein.' to 
 leave s. t. bare to, i. e. to abandon, to surrender to. Cp. left me 
 bare to weather Cymb. III. 3. 64, left me naked to mine enemies H. 
 VIIL, III. 2. 458. 
 
 v/i, 100. pendulous, cp. supra IV. I. 194. 
 
 2, 1 1 seqq. The difficult passage seems to be an exclamation 
 addressed to the daughters: Go to, then; I shall live without you 
 
86 NOTES. [Aa V. 
 
 (Cp. Merch. I. 2. 97: / ska// make shif/ /o go without him). But you 
 may be persuaded that I only persuaded you well. Tieck: 
 '.S";; set's! Ich sehe sie nicht wieder, 
 Zum Uebe/ iiberred' ich nicht, sagt ihnen 
 Dass ich ja nur das Gute steis begehrte. 
 GL. Ihr thut daran ein gutes Werk.' 
 2, 22. sell, to ca// you father. 
 / 2, 70. is before, i. e. goes before, is performed before. 
 
 Ehrhardt Karras, Printer, Halle. 
 
Principien der Sprachgeschichte von Hermann Paul. 2. Aufl. 
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