John Fletcher - Beggars Bush - A Comedy

Mer. Is he then taken?

Her. And brought back even now, Sir.

Mer . He was not in disgrace?

Her . No man more lov'd,
Nor more deserv'd it, being the only man
That durst be honest in this Court.

Mer . Indeed
We have heard abroad, Sir, that the State hath suffered
A great change, since the Countesses death.

Her . It hath, Sir.

Mer . My five years absence hath kept me a stranger
So much to all the occurents of my Country,
As you shall bind me for some short relation
To make me understand the present times.

Her . I must begin then with a War was made
And seven years with all cruelty continued
Upon our Flanders by the Duke of Brabant ,
The cause grew thus: during our Earls minority,

Wolfort , (who now usurps) was employed thither
To treat about a match between our Earl
And the Daughter and Heir of Brabant : during which treaty
The Brabander pretends, this Daughter was
Stoln from his Court, by practice of our State,
Though we are all confirm'd, 'twas a sought quarrel
To lay an unjust gripe upon this Earldom,
It being here believ'd the Duke of Brabant
Had no such loss. This War upon't proclaimed,
Our Earl, being then a Child, although his Father
Good Gerrard liv'd, yet in respect he was
Chosen by the Countesses favour, for her Husband,
And but a Gentleman, and Florez holding
His right unto this Country from his Mother,
The State thought fit in this defensive War,
Wolfort being then the only man of mark,
To make him General.

Mer . Which place we have heard
He did discharge with ho[n]our.

Her . I, so long,
And with so blest successes, that the Brabander
Was forc't (his treasures wasted, and the choice
Of his best men of Armes tyr'd, or cut off)
To leave the field, and sound a base retreat
Back to his Country: but so broken both
In mind and means, er'e to make head again,
That hitherto he sits down by his loss,
Not daring, or for honour, or revenge
Again to tempt his fortune. But this Victory
More broke our State, and made a deeper hurt
In Flanders , than the greatest overthrow
She ever receiv'd: For Wolfort , now beholding
Himself, and actions, in the flattering glass
Of self-deservings, and that cherish't by
The strong assurance of his power, for then
All Captains of the Army were his creatures,
The common Souldier too at his devotion,
Made so by full indulgence to their rapines
And secret bounties, this strength too well known
And what it could effect, soon put in practice,
As further'd by the Child-hood of the Earl:
And their improvidence, that might have pierc't
The heart of his designs, gave him occasion
To seize the whole, and in that plight you find it.

Mer . Sir, I receive the knowledge of thus much,
As a choice favour from you.

Her . Only I must add, Bruges holds out.

Mer . Whither, Sir, I am going,
For there last night I had a ship put in,
And my Horse waits me. [ Exit .

Her . I wish you a good journey.

Wol . What? Hubert stealing from me? who disarm'd him?
It was more than I commanded; take your sword,
I am best guarded with it in your hand,
I have seen you use it nobly.

Hub . And will turn it
On my own bosom, ere it shall be drawn
Unworthily or rudely.

Wol . Would you leave me
Without a farewel, Hubert ? flie a friend
Unwearied in his study to advance you?
What have I e're possess'd which was not yours?
Or either did not court you to command it?
Who ever yet arriv'd to any grace,
Reward or trust from me, but his approaches
Were by your fair reports of him prefer'd?
And what is more I made my self your Servant,
In making you the Master of those secrets
Which not the rack of Conscience could draw from me,
Nor I, when I askt mercy, trust my prayers with;
Yet after these assurances of love,
These tyes and bonds of friendship, to forsake me?
Forsake me as an enemy? come you must
Give me a reason.

Hub . Sir, and so I will, If I may do't in private: and you hear it.

Wol . All leave the room: you have your will, sit down
And use the liberty of our first friendship.

Hub . Friendship? when you prov'd Traitor first, that vanish'd,
Nor do I owe you any thought, but hate,
I know my flight hath forfeited my head;
And so I may make you first understand
What a strange monster you have made your self,
I welcome it.

Wol . To me this is strange language.

Hub . To you? why what are you?

Wol . Your Prince and Master, The Earl of Flanders .
Hub. By a proper title!
Rais'd to it by cunning, circumvention, force,
Blood, and proscriptions.

Wol . And in all this wisdom,
Had I not reason? when by Gerrards plots
I should have first been call'd to a strict accompt
How, and which way I had consum'd that mass
Of money, as they term it, in the War,
Who underhand had by his Ministers
Detracted my great action, made my faith
And loyalty suspected, in which failing
He sought my life by practice.

Hub . With what fore-head
Do you speak this to me? who (as I know't)
Must, and will say 'tis false.