The tragedie of Chabot admirall of France as it vvas presented by her Majesties Servants, at the private house in Drury Lane. Written by George Chapman, and Iames Shirly. — Chabot

Author: Chapman, George, 1559?-1634.1639

THE TRAGEDIE OF CHABOT ADMIRALL OF FRANCE: As it vvas presented by her Majesties Servants, at the private House in Drury Lane.

Written by

George Chapman, and
James Shirly.

LONDON, Printed by Tho. Cotes, for Andrew Crooke, and William Cooke.

1639.

[Page]

Speakers.

ASall.
Allegre.
King.
Queene.
Treasuror.
Chancellor.
Admirall.
Father.
Generall.
Chabot.
Iudges.
Officers.
Secretary.
Ʋshers.
Constable.
Courtiers.
Porter.
Guard.

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THE TRAGEDIE OF PHILIP CHABOT, ADMIRALL of FRANCE.

Actus Primus.

Enter Asall, and Allegre.

Asall.

NOw Phillip Chabot, Admirall of France,

The great, and onely famous Favorite

To Francis first of that Imperiall name,

Hath found a fresh competitor in glory,

(Duke Montmorancie, Constable of France)

Who drinkes as deepe as he of the streame Royall,

And may in little time convert the strength

To raise his spring, and blow the others fall.

Al.

The world would wish it so, that will not patiently

Endure the due rise of a vertuous man.

As.

If he be vertuous, what is the reason

That men affect him not, why is he lost

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Toth' generall opinion, and become

Rather their hate than love?

Al.

I wonder you

Will question it, aske a ground or reason

Of men bred in this vile degenerate age;

The most men are not good, and it agrees not

With impious natures to allow whats honest,

Tis an offence enough to be exalted

To regall favours, great men are not safe

In their owne vice, where good men by the hand

Of Kings are planted to survey their workings;

What man was ever fixt 'ith Sphere of honour,

And precious to his Soveraigne, whose actions,

Nay very soule was not expos'd to every

Common and base dissection? and not onely

That which in Nature hath excuse, and in

Themselves is priviledg'd by name of frailtie,

But even Vertues are made crimes, and doom'd

Toth' fate of Treason.

As.

A bad age the while,

I aske your pardon Sir, but thinkes your judgement,

His love to Justice, and Corruptions hate

Are true and hearty?

Al.

Iudge your selfe by this

One argument, his hearty truth to all,

For in the heart hath anger his wisest seate,

And gainst unjust suites such brave anger fires him,

That when they seeke to passe his place and power,

Though mov'd, and urg'd by the other minion,

Or by his greatest friends, and even the King

Leade them to his allowance with his hand,

First given in Bill, assign'd, even then his spirit,

(In nature calme as any Summers evening)

Puts up his Whole powers like a Winters sea,

His bloud boyles over, and his heart even cracks

At the injustice, and he teares the Bill,

And would doe, were he for't to be torne in pe [...]ces.

As.

Tis brave I sweare.

Al.

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Nay it is worthy your wonder

That I must tell you further, there no Needle

In a Sunne Diall plac'd upon his steele

In such a tender posture, that doth tremble

The timely Diall being held amisse,

And will shake ever, till you hold it right

More tender than himsefe in any thing

That he concludes in Iustice for the State:

For as a fever held him, hee will shake

When he is signing any things of weight,

Least humane frailty should misguide his justice.

As.

You have declar'd him a most noble [...]usticer.

Al.

He truely weighes and feeles Sir, what a charge

The subjects livings are (being even their lives

Laid on the hand of power,) which abus'd

Though seene, blood flow not from the justice seate,

Tis in true sence as grievous, and horrid.

As.

It argues nothing lesse, but since your Lord

Is diversly reported for his parts,

Whats your true c [...]nsure of his generall worth,

Vertue and Iudgement.

Al.

As of a Picture wrought to opticke reason,

That to all passers by, seemes as they move

Now woman, now a Monster, now a Divell,

And till you stand, and in a right line view it,

You cannot well judge what the maine forme is,

So men that view him but in vulgar passes

Casting but laterall, or partiall glances,

At what he is, suppose him weake, unjust,

Bloody, and monstrous, but stand free and fast,

And judge him by no more than what you know

Ingenuously, and by the right laid line

Of truth, he truely, will all stiles deserve

Of wise, just, good, a man both soule and nerve.

As.

Sir, I must joyne in just beleefe with you,

But whats his rivall the Lord high Constable?

Al.

As just, and well inclin'd when hee's himselfe,

(Not wrought on with the counsells, and opinions

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Of other men) and the maine difference is,

The Admirall is not flexible nor wonne

To move one scruple, when he comprehends

The honest tract and justnesse of a cause,

The Constable explores not so sincerely

The course hee runnes, but takes the minde of others

(By name Iudiciall) for what his owne

Iudgement, and knowledge should conclude.

As.

A fault

In my apprehension, anothers knowledge

Applied to my instruction, cannot equall

My owne soules knowledge, how to informe Acts;

The Sunnes rich radiance shot through waves most faire,

Is but a shaddow to his beames ith' ayre,

His beames that in the ayre we so admire,

Is but a darkenesse to his flame in fire,

In fire his fervour but as vapour flies

To what his owne pure bosome rarifies:

And the Almighty wisedom, having given

Each man within himselfe an apter light

To guide his acts, than any light without him

(Creating nothing not in all things equall)

It seems a fault in any that depend

On others knowledge, and exile their owne.

Al.

Tis nobly argued, and exemplified,

But now I heare my Lord, and his young rivall

Are to be reconcil'd, and then one light

May serve to guide them both.

As.

I wish it may, the King being made first mover

To forme their reconcilement, and enflame it

With all the sweetnesse of his praise and honour.

Al.

See, tis dispatch'd I hope, the King doth grace it.

Loud Musicke, and Enter Vshers before, the Secretary, Tresuror, Chancellor, Admirall, Constable hand in hand, the King following, others attend.

Kin.

This doth expresse the noblest fruit of peace.

Cha.

Which when the great begin, the humble end

In joyfull imitation, all combining

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A gardian beyond the Thrigian knot

Past wit to lose it, or the sword, be still so.

Tre.

Tis certaine Sir, by concord least things grow

Most great, and flourishing like trees that wrap

Their forehead in the skies, may these doe so.

Kin.

You heare my Lord, all that is spoke contends

To celebrate with pious vote the attonement

So lately, and so nobly made betweene you.

Ad.

Which for it selfe Sir, resolve to keepe

Pure, and inviolable, needing none

To encourage or confirme it, but my owne

Love and allegiance to your sacred counsell.

Kin.

Tis good, and pleases, like my dearest health,

Stand you firme on that sweete simplicitie.

Con.

Past all earth pollicie that would infringe it.

Kin.

Tis well, and answers all the doubts suspected▪

Enter one that whispers with the Admirall.

And what moves this close message Phillip?

Adm.

My wives Father Sir, is closely come to Court.

King.

Is he come to the Court, whose aversation

So much affects him, that he shunnes and flies it,

What's the strange reason that he will not rise

Above the middle region he was borne in?

Adm.

He saith Sir, tis because the extreame of height

Makes a man lesse seeme to the imperfect eye

Then he is truely, his acts envied more,

And though he nothing cares for seeming, so

His being just stand firme twixt heaven and him,

Yet since in his soules jealousie, hee feares

That he himselfe advanced, would undervalue

Men placed beneath him, and their businesse with him,

Since height of place oft dazles height of judgement,

He takes his toppe▪ saile downe in such rough stormes,

And apts his sailes to ayres more temperate.

Kin.

A most wise soule he has, how long shall King [...]

Raise men that are not wise till they be high▪

You haue our leave, but tell him Phillip wee

Would have him neerer.

Con.

[Page]

Your desires attend you.

Enter another.

Kin.

We know from whence you come, say to the Queene▪

We were comming to her, tis a day of love

And she seales all perfection.

Exit

Tre.

My Lord,

We must beseech your stay.

Con.

My stay?

Cha.

Our Counsells

Have led you thus farre to your reconcilement,

And must remember you, to observe the end

At which in plaine I told you then wee aim'd at,

You know we all urg'd the attonement, rather

To enforce the broader difference betweene you,

Then to conclude your friendshippe, which wise men

Know to be fashionable, and priviledg'd pollicie▪

And will succeede betwixt you, and the Admirall

As sure as fate, if you please to get sign'd

A sute now to the King with all our hands,

Which will so much increase his precise justice,

That weighing not circumstances of politicke State,

He will instantly oppose it, and complaine,

And urge in passion, what the King will sooner

Punish than yeeld too, and so render you

In the Kings frowne on him, the onely darling▪

And mediate power of France.

Con.

My good Lord Chancellor,

Shall I so late atton'd, and by the Kings

Hearty and earnest motion, fall in peeces?

Cha.

Tis he, not you that breake.

Tre.

Ha not you patience

To let him burne himselfe in the Kings flame?

Cha.

Come, be not Sir infected with a spice

Of that too servile equitie, that renders

Men free borne slaves, and rid with bits like horses,

When you must know my Lord, that even in nature

A man is Animall politicum,

So that when he informes his actions simply

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He does in both 'gainst pollicie and nature,

And therefore our soule motion is affirm'd

To be like heavenly natures circular▪

And circles being call'd ambitious lines,

We must like them become ambitious ever,

And endles in our circumventions;

No tough hides limiting our cheverill mindes.

Tre.

Tis learnedly, and past all answer argued,

Yare great, and must grow greater still, and greater,

And not be like a dull and standing lake,

That settles, putrifies, and chokes with mudde,

But like a river gushing from the head,

That windes through the undervalles, what checkes ore flowing

Gets strength still of his course,

Till with the Ocean meeting, even with him

In sway, and title, his brave billowes move.

Con.

You speake a ra [...]e affection, and high soules,

But give me leave great Lords, still my just thankes

Remembred▪ [...]o your counsells and direction,

I seeking this way to confirme my selfe

I undermine the columnes that support

My hopefull glorious fortune, and at once

Provoke the tempest▪ though did drowne my envie,

With what assurance shall the King expect

My faith to him, that breake it for another,

He has engag'd our peace, and my revenge

Forfits my trust with him, whose narrow [...]ight

Will penetrate through all our mists, could we

Vaile our designe with clouds blacker than night;

But grant this danger over, with what Iustice,

Or satisfaction to the inward Iudge,

Shall I be gultie of this good mans ruine,

Though I may still the murmuring tongues without me,

Loud conscience has a voyce to shadder greatnesse▪

Secr.

A name to fright, and terrifie young statists,

There is necessitie my Lord, that you

Must lose your light, if you ecclipse not him,

Two starres so Lucide cannot shine at once

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In such a firmament, and better you

Extinguish his fires, then be made his fuell,

And in your ashes give his slame a Trophy.

Cha.

My Lord, the league that you have vow'd of friendship,

In a true understanding not confines you,

But makes you boundlesse, turne not edge at such

A liberty, but looke to your owne fortune;

Secure your honour, a Precisian,

In state, is a rideculous miracle

Friendship is but a visor, beneath which

A wise man laughes to see whole families

Ruinde, upon whose miserable pile

He mounts to glory, Sir you must resolve

To use any advantage.

Con.

Misery

Of rising Statesmen I must on, I see

That 'gainst the politicke, and priviledg'd f [...]shion,

All justice tasts but affectation.

Cha.

Why so? we shall do good on him ith' end.

Exeunt.

Enter Father and the Admirall.

Adm.

You are most welcome.

Fa.

I wish your Lordships safetie▪

Which whilst I pray for, I must not forget

To urge agen the wayes to fixe you where

No danger has accesse to threaten you.

Adm.

Still your old argument, I owe your love fort.

Fa.

But fortified with new and pregnant reasons,

That you should leave the Court.

Ad.

I dare not Sir.

Fa.

You dare be undone then.

Ad.

I should be ingratefull

To such a master, as no subject boasted

To leave his service when they exact

My chiefest dutie, and attendance Sir.

Fa.

Would thou we [...]t lesse degraded from thy titles,

And swelling offices, that will ith' end

Engulfe thee past a rescue, I had not come

So farre to trouble you at this time, but that

I doe not like the loud tongues o'the world,

[Page]

That say the King has tane another favorite,

The Constable a gay man, and a great,

With a hugh traine of faction too, the Queene,

Chancellor, Treasurer, Secretary, and

An army of state warriers▪ whose discipline

Is sure, and subtile to confusion,

I hope the rumour's false, thou art so calme.

Adm.

Report has not abus'd you Sir.

Fa.

It has not,

And you are pleas'd, then you doe meane to mixe

With unjust courses, the great Constable

And you combining, that no suite may passe

One of the graples of your eithers rape,

I that abhorr'd, must I now entertaine

A thought, that your so straight, and simple custome

To render Iustice, and the common good,

Should now be patch'd with pollicy, and wrested

From the ingenious step you tooke,

And hang

Vpon the shoulders of your enemy

To beare you out in what you shame to act▪

Adm.

Sir, We both are reconciled.

Fa.

It followes then that both the acts must beare

Like reconcilement, and if hee will now

Maligne and mallice you for crossing him

Or any of his faction in their suites,

Being now atton'd, you must be one in all,

One in corruption, and twixt you two millstones

New pickt, and put together, must the graine

Of good mens needfull meanes to live, be ground

Into your choking superfluities;

You both too rich, they ruinde.

Adm.

I conceive Sir

Wee both may be enrich'd, and raise our fortunes

Even with our places in our Soveraignes favour:

Though past the height of others, yet within

The rules of Law and Iustice, and approove

Our actions white and innocent.

Fa.

[Page]

I doubt it

While inforc'd shew perhaps, which will I feare

Prove in true substance but a Millers whitenesse,

More sticking in your clothes then conscience.

Adm.

Your censure herein tasts some passion Sir,

And I beseech you nourish better thoughts,

Then to imagine that the Kings meere grace

Sustaines such prejudice by those it honours;

That of necessitie we must pervert it

With passionate enemies, and ambitious boundlesse

Avarice, and every licence incident

To fortunate greatnesse, and that all abuse it

For the most impious avarice of some.

Fa.

As if the totall summe of favorites frailties

Affected not the full rule of their Kings

In their owne partially disposed ambitions,

And that Kings doe no hazard infinitely

In their free realties of rights and honours,

Where they leave much for favourites powers to order.

Adm.

But wee have such a master of our King

In the Imperiall art, that no power flies

Out of his favour, but his policie ties

A criance to it, to containe it still;

And for the reconcilement of us Sir,

Never were two in favour, that were more,

One in all love of Iustice, and true honour,

Though in the act and pro [...]ecution

Pehaps we differ. Howsoever yet

One beame us both creating, what should let

That both our soules should both one met [...]le beare,

And that one stampe, one word, one character.

Fa.

I could almost be won to be a Courtier,

Theres some thing more in's composition,

Then ever yet was favourites.

Enter a Courtier.

Whats hee?

Cour.

I bring your Lordship a sign'd bill, to [...]ave

The addition of your honor'd hand, the counsell

[Page]

Have all before subscribed, and full prepar'd it.

Ad.

It seemes then they have weigh'd the importance of it,

And know the grant is just.

Cour.

No doubt my Lord,

Or else they take therein the Constables word,

It being his suite, and his power having wrought

The King already to appose his hand.

Adm.

I doe not like his working of the King,

For if it be a suite made knowne to him,

And fit to passe, he wrought himselfe to it,

However my hand goes to no such grant,

But first I'le know and censure it my selfe.

Cour.

A he, if thou beest goddesse of contention▪

That Iove tooke by the haire, and hurl'd from heaven

Assume in earth thy empire, and this bill

Thy firebrand make to turne his love, thus tempted

Into a hate, as horrid as thy furies.

Adm.

Does this beare title of his Lordships suite?

Cour.

It does my Lord, and therefore he beseech'd

The rather your dispatch.

Adm.

No thought the rather,

But now the rather all powers against it,

The suite being most injust, and he pretending

In all his actions justice, on the sudden

After his so late vow not to violate it,

Is strange and vile, and if the King himselfe

Should owne and urge it, I would stay▪ and crosse it,

For tis within the free power of my office,

And I should straine his kingdome if I past it,

I see their poore attempts, and giddy malice;

Is this the reconcilement that so lately

He vow'd in sacred witnesse of the King?

Assuring me, he never more would offer

To passe a suite unjust, which I well know

This is, above all, and have often beene urg'd

To give it passage, be you Sir the Judge.

Fa.

I wonot meddle

With any thing of state, you knew long since.

Adm.

[Page]

Yet you may heare it Sir.

Fa.

You wonot urge

My opinion then, go to.

Adm.

An honest merchant

Presuming on our league of France with Spaine,

Brought into Spaine a wealthy ship, to vent

Her fit commodities to serve the country,

Which, in the place of suffering their saile

Were seas'd to recompence a Spanish ship

Priz'd by a French man, ere the league was made,

No suites, no letters of our Kings could gaine

Our merchants first right in it, but his letters

Vnreverently received, the Kings selfe scandall,

Beside the leagues breach, and the foule injustice

Done to our honest merchant, who endured all,

Till some small time since (authoris'd by our counsell,

Though not in open Court▪) he made a ship out,

And tooke a Spaniard, brings all home, and sues

To gaine his full prov'd losse, full recompence

Of his just prize, his prize is staid and ceaz'd,

Yet for the Kings disposure, and the Spaniard

Makes suite to be restor'd her, which this bill

Would f [...]ine get granted, faining (as they hop'd)

With my allowance, and way given to make

Our Countrey mans in Spaine their absolute prize.

Fa.

I were absolute injustice.

Adm.

Should I passe it.

Fa.

Passe life, and state before.

Adm.

If this would seeme

His Lordships suite, his love to me, and justice

Including plots upon me, while my simplenesse

Is seriously vow'd to reconcilement;

Love him good vulgars, and abhorre me still,

For if I court your slatterie with my crimes,

Heavens love before me fly, till in my tombe

I sticke pursuing it, and for this bill,

Thus say twas shiver'd, blesse us equall heaven!

Exit.

Fa.

This could I cherish, now above his losse,

[Page]

You may report as much, the bill discharg'd Sir.

Exeunt.

Actus Secundus.

Enter King and Queen, Secretary with the Torne bill.

Kin.

IS it en [...] ▪so.

Que.

Good heaven how tame you are?

Doe Kings of France reward foule Traitors thus?

Kin.

No Traitor, y'are too loude▪ Chabots no Traitor,

He has the passions of a man about him,

And multiplicitie of cares may make

Wise men forget themselves, come be you patient.

Qu.

Can you be so, and see your selfe thus torne.

Kin.

Our selfe.

Qu.

There is some left, if yo [...] dare owne,

Your royall character, is not this your name?

Kin.

Tis Francis I confesse.

Qu.

Be but a name

If this staine live upon't, affronted, by

Your subject, shall the sacred name of King,

A word to make your nation bow and tremble,

Be thus profain'd, are lawes establish'd

To punish the defacers of your image,

But dully set by the rude hand of others

Vpon your coine, and shall the character

That doth include the blessing of all France,

Your name, thus written by your royall hand

Design'd for Justice, and your Kingdomes honour,

Not call up equall anger to reward it?

Your Counsellors of state contemn'd, and slighted

As in this braine more circumscrib'd all wisedome,

And pollicy of Empire, and your power,

Subordinate and subject to his passion.

Kin.

Come, it concernes you not.

Qu.

Is this the consequence

Of an attonement made so lately betweene▪

[Page]

The hopefull Mountmorencie, and his Lordship

Vrge by your selfe with such a precious sanction;

Come, he that dares doe this, wants not a heart,

But opportunitie.

Kin.

To doe what?

Qu.

To teare your crowne off.

Kin.

Come your language doth taste more

Of rage and womanish flame than solid reason

Against the Admirall, what commands of yours

Not to your expectation▪ obey'd

By him, is ground of your so keene displeasure?

Qu.

Commands of mine? he is too great, and powerfull

To stoope to my employment, a Colossus,

And can stride from one Province to another

By the assistance o [...] those offices

You have most confidently impos'd upon him,

Tis he, not you take up the peoples eyes

And admiration, while his Princely wise.

Kin.

Nay then I reach the spring of your distaste,

He has a wife,—

Enter Chancellor, Treasurer, and whisper with the King.

Qu.

Whom for her pride I love not,

And I but in her husbands ruine

Can triumph ore her greatnesse.

King.

Well, well, Ile thinke on't?

Exit.

Cha.

He beginnes to incline,

Madam you are the soule of our great worke.

Qu.

Ile follow, and imploy my powers upon him.

Tre.

We are confident you will prevaile at last,

And for the pious worke oblige the King to you.

Cha,

And us your humblest creatures.

Que.

Presse no further.

Exit. Que.

Cha.

Lets seeke out my Lord Constable.

Tre.

And inflame him.

Cha.

To expostulate with Chabot, something may

Arise from thence, ▪to pull more weight upon him.

Exeunt.

Enter Father and Allegre.

Fa.

How sorts the businesse? how tooke the King

[Page]

The tearing of his bill?

Al.

Exceeding well,

And seem'd to smile at all their grimme complaints,

Gainst all that outrage to his highnesse hand,

And said in plaine, he sign'd it but to try

My Lords firme Iustice

Fa.

What a sweete King tis?

Al.

But how his rivall the Lord Constable

Is labour'd by the Chancellor, and others to retort

His wrong with ten parts more upon my Lord,

Is monstrous?

Fa.

Neede hee their spurres?

Al.

I Sir, for hees afraid

To beare himselfe too boldly in his braves

Vpon the King (being newly entred Mynion)

Since tis but patience sometime they thinke;

Because the favor spending in two streames,

One must runne low at length, till when he dare

Take fire in such flame, as his faction wishes,

But with wise feare containes himselfe, and so

Like a greene faggot in his kindling smoakes,

And where the Chancellor his chiefe Cyclops findes

The fire within him apt to take, he blowes,

And then the faggot flames, as never more

The bellowes needed, till the too soft greenenesse

Of his state habit, shewes his sappe still flowes,

Above the solid timber, with which, then

His blaze shrinkes head, he cooles, and smoakes agen.

Fa.

Good man he would be, wod the bad not spoile him.

Al.

True sir, but they still ply him with their arts,

And as I heard have wrought him, personally

To question my Lord with all the bitternesse

The galls of all their faction can powre in,

And such an expectation hangs upon't,

Though all the Court as twere with child, and long'd

To make a mirror of my Lords cleare blood,

And therein see the full ebbe of his flood,

And therefore if you please to counsell him

[Page]

You shall performe a fathers part.

Fa.

Nay since

Hees gone so farre, I wod not have him feare

But dare e'm, and yet ile not meddle int.

Enter Admirall.

Hoes here, if he have wit to like his cause,

His spiri [...] wonot be asham'd to die int.

Exit.

Al.

My Lord retire, y'are way-laid in your walkes,

Your friendes are all fallen from you, all your servants

Suborn'd by all advantage to report

Each word you whisper out, and to serve you

With hat and knee, while other have their hearts.

Adm.

Much profit may my foes make of such servants,

I love no enemy I have so well,

To take so ill a bargaine from his hands.

Al.

Their other oddes yet shun, all being combinde,

And lodg'd in ambush ariv'd to doe you mischiefe

By any meanes past feare of law, or soveraigne.

Adm.

I wa [...]ke no desart, yet goe arm'd with that,

That would give wildest beasts instincts to rescue,

Rather then offer any force to hurt me;

My innocence is, which is a conquering justice,

As weares a shield, that both defends and fights.

All.

One against all the world.

Adm.

The more the oddes,

The lesse the conquest, or if all the world

Be thought an army fit to employ gainst one,

That one is argued fit to fight gainst all;

If I fall under them, this breast shall beare

Their heape digested in my sepulchre,

Death is the life of good men, let e'm come.

Enter Constable, Chancellor, Treasurer, Secretary.

Con.

I thought my Lord our reconcilement perfect,

You have exprest what sea of gall flow'd in you,

In tearing of the bill I sent to allow.

Adm.

Dare you confesse the sending of that bill.

Con.

Dare, why not?

Adm.

Because it breake your oath

[Page]

Made in our reconcilement, and betrayes

The honour, and the chiefe life of the King

Which is his justice.

Con.

Betraies?

Adm.

No lesse, and that Ile prove to him.

Omnes

You cannot.

Trea.

I would not wish you offer at an action

So most impossibly, and much against

The judgement, and favour of the King.

Adm.

His judgement nor his favour I respect,

So I preserve his Iustice.

Cha.

Tis not Iustice,

Which I'le prove by law, and absolute learning.

Adm.

All your great law, and learning are but words,

When I plead plainely, naked truth, and deedes,

Which though you seeke to fray with state, and glory,

I'le shoote a shaft at all your globe of light,

If lightning split it, yet twas high and right.

Exit:

Con.

Brave resolution so his acts be just,

He cares for gaine not honour.

Chan.

How came he then

By all his infinite honour and his gaine?

Tre.

Well said my Lord.

Sec.

Answer but onely that.

Con.

By doing justice still in all his actions.

Sec

But if this action prove unjust, will you

Say all his other may be so as well,

And thinke your owne course fitter farre than his.

Con,

I will—

Exit.

Cha.

He cooles, we must not leave him, we have no

Such engine to remove the Admirall.

Exeunt.

Enter King and the Admirall.

Kin.

I prethee Philip be not so severe

To him I favour, tis an argument

That may serve one day to availe your selfe,

Nor Does it square with your so gentle nature,

To give such fires of envie to your bloud;

For howsoeuer out of love to Iustice,

[Page]

Your Iealousie of that doth so incense you,

Yet they that censure it will say tis envy.

Adm.

I serve not you for them, but for your selfe,

And that good in your Rule, that Iustice does you,

And care not this what others say, so you

Please but to doe me right for what you know.

King.

You will not doe your selfe right, why should I

Exceede you to your selfe?

Adm.

My selfe am nothing

Compar'd to what I seeke, tis justice onely

The fount and flood, both of your strength and kingdomes.

King.

But who knowes not, that extreame justice is

(by all ruld lawes) the extreame of injurie,

And must to you be so, the persons that

Your passionate heate calls into question

Are great, and many, and may wrong in you

Your rights of kinde, and dignities of fortune,

And I advanc'd you not to heape on you

Honours, and fortunes, that by strong hand now

Held up, and over you, when heaven takes off

That powerfull hand' should thunder on your head,

And after you crush your surviving seedes.

Adm.

Sir, your regards to both are great, and sacred,

But if the innocence, and right that rais'd me

And meanes for mine, can finde no friend hereafter

Of him that ever lives, and ever seconds

All Kings just bounties with defence, and refuge

In just mens races, let my fabricke ruine,

My stocke want sap, my branches by the roote

Be [...]orne to death, and swept with whirlewindes out.

King.

For my love no relenting.

Adm.

No my leige,

Tis for your love, and right that I stand out.

King.

Be better yet advis'd.

Adm.

I cannot Sir

Should any Oracle become my counsell,

For that I stand not out, thus of set will,

Or pride of any singular conceite,

[Page]

My ēnēmies, and the world may clearely know,

I taste no sweetes to drowne in others gall,

And to affect in that which makes me lothed,

To leave my selfe and mine expos'd to all

The dangers you propos'd, my purchas'd honours,

And all my fortunes in an instant lost,

That mony, cares, and paines, and yeares have gather'd,

How mad were I to rave thus in my wounds,

Vnlesse my knowne health felt in these forc'd issues

Were sound, and fit, and that I did not know

By most true proofes, that to become sincere

With all mens hates, doth farre excëede their loves,

To be as they are, mixtures of corruption?

And that those envies that I see pursue me

Of all true actions are the naturall consequents

Which being my object, and my resolute choise

Not for my good but yours, I will have justice.

King.

You will have justice, is your will so strong

Now against mine? your power being so weake

Before my favour gave them both their forces

Of all that ever shar'd in my free graces,

You Philip Chabot a meane Gentleman

Have not I-rais'd you to a supremest Lord,

And given you greater dignities than any?

Adm.

You have so.

King.

Well sed, and to spurre your dulinesse

With the particulars to which I rais'd you,

Have not I made you first a Knight of the Order [...]

Then Admirall of France, then Count Byzanges,

Lord, and Livetenant generall of all

My country, and command of Burgady;

Livetenant generall likewise of my sonne

Daulphine, and heire, and of all Normandy,

And of my chiefely honor'd privy Counsell,

And cannot all these powers weigh downe your will?

Adm.

No Sir, they were not given me to that end,

But to uphold my will, my will being just.

King.

And who shall judge that Justice, you or I?

Adm.

[Page]

I Sir, in this case your royall thoughts are fitly

Exempt from every curious search of one,

You have the generall charge with care of all.

Kin.

And doe not generalls include particulars?

May not I Iudge of any thing compriz'd

In your particular as well as you?

Adm.

Farre be the misery from you, that you may,

My cares, paines, broken sleepe therein made more

Then yours should make me see more, and my forces

Render of better judgement.

King.

Well Sir, grant

Your force in this my odds in benefits

Paid for your paines, put in the other scale,

And any equall holder of the ballance

Will shew my merits hoist up yours to aire

In rule of any doubt or deed betwixt us.

Adm.

You merit not of me for benefits

More than my selfe of you for services.

King.

Ist possible.

Adm.

Tis true.

King.

Stand you on that?

Adm.

I to the death and will approve to all men.

Kin.

I am deceiv'd, but I shall finde good Judges

That will finde difference.

Adm.

Finde them being good.

King.

Still so? what if conferring

My bounties, and your services to sound them,

We fall foule on some licences of yours,

Nay, give me therein some advantage of you.

Adm.

They cannot.

King.

Not in sisting their severe discharges

Of all your offices?

Adm.

The more you sift

The more you shall refine mee.

King.

What if I

Grant out against you a commission

Ioyn'd with an extraordinary processe

To arrest, and put you in lawes hands for triall.

Adm.

[Page]

Not with lawes uttermost.

King.

Ile throw the dice.

Adm.

And Ile endure the chance,

The dice being square.

Adm.

Repos'd in dreadlesse confidence, and conscience,

That all your most extreames shall never reach,

Or to my life, my goodes or honours breach.

King.

Was ever heard so fine a confidence?

Must it not p [...]ove presumption, and can that

Scape brack [...]s and errors in your search of law,

I prethee weigh yet, with more soule than danger,

And some lesse passion.

Adm.

Witnesse heaven, I cannot.

Were I dissolv'd, and nothing else but soule.

King.

Be shrew my blood, but his resolves amaze me;

Was ever such a Iustice in a subject▪

Of so much office left to his owne swinge

That left to law thus, and his Soveraignes wrath,

Could stand cleare spight of both? let reason rule it

Before it come at law, a man so rare

In one thing cannot in the rest be vulgar,

And who sees you not in the broad high-way

The common dust up in your owne eyes, beating

In quest of riches, honours, offices,

As heartily in shew as most beleeve,

And he that can use actions with the vulgar,

Must needes embrace the same effects & cannot informe him

Whatsoever he pretends, use them with such

Free equitie, as fits one just and reall▪

Even in the eyes of men, nor stand at all parts

So truly circular, so sound, and solid,

But have his swellings out, his crackes and crannies,

And therefore in this reason, before law

Take you to h [...]r, least you affect and flatter

Your selfe with mad opinions.

Adm.

I were mad

Directly Sir, if I were yet to know

Not the sure danger, but the certaine ruine

[Page]

Of men shot into law from Kings bent brow,

There being no dreame from the most muddie braine

Vpon the foulest fa [...]cie, that can forge

More horrour in the shaddowes of meere fame,

Then can some Lawyer in a man expos'd

To his interpretation by the King,

But these grave toyes I shall despise in death,

And while I live will lay them open so

(My inocence laid by them) that like foiles

They shall sticke of my merits tenne times more,

And make your bounties nothing, for who gives

And hits ith teeth, himselfe payes with the glory

For which he gave, as being his end of giving,

Not to crowne merits, or doe any good,

And so no thankes is due but to his glory.

King.

Tis brave I sweare.

Adm.

No Sir, tis plaine, and rude

But true, and spotlesse, and where you object

My hearty, and grosse vulgar love of riches,

Titles, and honours, I did never seeke them

For any love to them, but to that justice

You ought to use in their due gift to merits,

To shew you royall, and most open handed,

Not using for hands talons, pincers, grapples;

In whose gripes, and upon whose gord point,

Deserts hang sprawling out their vertuous limbs,

King.

Better and better.

Adm.

This your glory is

My deserts wrought upon no wretched matter,

But shew'd your royall palmes as free, and moist,

As Ida, all enchast with silver springs,

And yet my merit still their equall sings.

King.

Sing till thou sigh thy soule out hence, and leave us.

Adm.

My person shall, my love and faith shall never.

King.

Perish thy love, and faith, and thee for ever;

Whose there?

Enter Asall.

Let one goe for the Chancellor.

Asa.

[Page]

He's here in Court Sir.

King.

Haste and send him hither,

This is an insolence I never met with,

Can one so high as his degrees ascend,

Clime all so free, and without staine?

My Lord

Enter Chancellor.

Chancellor, I send for you about a service

Of equall price to me, as if againe

My ransome came to me from Pavian thraldome,

And more, as if from forth a subjects fetters,

The worst of servitudes my life were rescued.

Cha.

You fright me with a Prologue of much trouble▪

King.

Me thinkes it might be, tell me out of all

Your famous learning, was there ever subject

Rais'd by his Soveraignes free hand from the dust,

Vp to a height above Ayres upper region,

That might compare with him in any merit

That so advanc'd him? and not shew in that

Grosse over-weening worthy cause to thinke

There might be other over-sights excepted

Of capitall nature in his sifted greatnesse.

Chan.

And past question Sir, for one absur'd thing granted,

A thousand follow.

King.

You must then employ

Your most exact, and curious art to explore

A man in place of greatest trust, and charge,

Whom I suspect to have abus'd them all,

And in whom you may give such proud veines vent,

As will bewray their boyling bloud corrupted

Both gainst my crowne and life.

Cha.

And may my life

Be crust in every act,

If I explore him not to every finer.

King.

It is my Admirall.

Cha.

Oh my good Leige

You tempt, not charge me with such search of him.

King.

Doubt not my heartiest meaning, all the troubles

That ever mov'd in a distracted King,

[Page]

Put in just feare of his assaulted life

Are not above my sufferings for Chabot.

Cha.

Then I am glad, and proud that I can cure you,

For he's a man that I am studied in,

And all his offices, and if you please

To give authoritie.

King.

You shall not want it.

Cha.

If I discharge you not of that disease,

About your necke growne, by your strange trust in him,

With full discovery of the foulest treasons.

King.

But I must have all prov'd with that free justice.

Cha.

Beseech your Majestie doe not question it.

King.

About it instantly, and take me wholly

Vpon your selfe.

Cha.

How much you grace your servant?

King.

Let it be fiery quicke.

Cha.

It shall have wings,

And every feather shew the slight of Kings.

Actus Tertius.

Enter Chancellor attended, the Proctor generall whispering in his eare. Two Iudges following. They past.

Enter Chabot in his gowne, a gaurd about him, his father and his wife on each side, Allegre.

Adm.

ANd have they put my faithfull servant to the racke,

Heaven arme the honest man.

Fa.

Allegre feeles the malice of the Chancellor.

Adm.

Many upon the torture have confest

Things against truth, and yet his paine sits neerer

Than all my other feares, come don't weepe.

Wife

My Lord, I doe not grive out of a thought,

Or poore suspition, they with all their malice

Can staine your honour, but it troubles me,

The King should grant this licence to your enemies,

As he were willing to heare Chabot guilty.

Adm.

[Page]

No more, the King is just, and by exposing me

To this triall, meanes to render me

More happy to his subjects, and himselfe

His sacred will be obey'd, take thy owne spirit,

And let no thought in fringe thy peace for me,

I goe to have my honours all confirm'd;

Farewell thy lip, my cause has so much innocence,

It shanot neede thy prayer, I leave her yours

Till my returne; oh let me be a sonne

Still in your thoughts, now Gentlemen set forward.

Exit.

Manente Father and Wife.

Fa.

See you that trust in greatnesse, what sustaines you,

These hazards you must looke for, you that thrust

Your heads into a cloud, where lie in ambush

The souldiers of state in privy armes

Of yellow fire jealous, and mad at all

That shoote their foreheads up into their forges,

And pry into their gloomy Cabbinets;

You like vaine Citizens that must goe see

Those ever burning furnaces, wherein

Your brittle glasses of estate are blowne;

Who knowes not you are all but puffe, and bubble

Of breath, and fume forg'd, your vile brittle natures

Cause of your dearenesse? were you tough and lasting,

You would be cheape, and not worth halfe your face,

Now daughter Plannet strooke.

Wif.

I am considering

What forme I shall put on, as best agreeing

With my Lords fortune.

Fa.

Habit doe you meane,

Of minde or body?

Wif.

Both wod be apparell'd.

Fa.

In neither you have reason yet to mourne.

Wif.

Ile not accuse my heart of so much weakenesse▪

Twere a confession gainst my Lord. The Queene!

Enter Queene, Constable, Treasurer, Secretary.

She has exprest 'gainst me some displeasure.

Fa.

Lets this way through the Gallery.

Qu.

[Page]

Tis she,

Doe you my Lord say I wo [...] speake with her?

And has Allegre, one of chiefest trust with him

Suff [...]red the racke▪ the Chancellor is violent;

And whats c [...]nfest?

Tre.

Nothing, he contemn'd all

That could with any cruelst paine explore him,

As if his mind▪ had rob'd his nerves of sence,

And through them diffusd fiery spirits above

All flesh and blood; for as his limbs were stretch'd,

His contempts too extended.

Qu.

A strange fortitude▪

Tre.

But we shall lose th' arraignement.

Qu.

The successe

Will soone arrive.

Tre.

Youle not appeare, my Lord then?

Con.

I desire

Your Lordship wod excuse me.

Tre.

We are your servants.

Exiunt. Tre. & Sec.

Con.

She attends you Madam.

Qu.

This humblenesse proceedes not from your heart,

Why, you are a Queene your selfe in your owne thoughts,

The Admiralls wife of France cannot be lesse,

You have not state enough, you shold not move

Without a traine of friends and servants.

Wif.

There is some mystery

Within your language Madam, I woud hope

You have more charitie than to imagine

My present condition worth your triumph,

In which I am not so lost, but I have

Some friends and servants with proportion

To my Lords fortune, but none within the list

Of those that obey mee can be more ready

To expresse their duties, than my heart to serve

Your just commands.

Qu.

Then pride will ebbe I see,

There is no constant flood of state, and greatnesse,

The prodigie is ceasing when your Lord

[Page]

Comes to the ballance, hee whose blazing fires,

Shot wonders through the Kingdome, will discover

What slying and corrupted matter sed him.

Wif.

My Lord?

Qu.

Your high and mighty Justicer,

The man of conscience, the Oracle

Of State, whose honorable titles

Would cracke an Elephants backe, is now turn'd mortall,

Must passe examination, and the test

Of Law, have all his offices rip▪d up,

And his corrupt soule laid open to the subjects,

His bribes, oppressions, and close sinnes that made

So many grone, and curse him, now shall finde

Their just reward, and all that love their country,

Blesse heaven, and the Kings Iustice, for removing

Such a devouring monster.

Fa.

Sir your pardon

Madam you are the Queene, she is my daughter,

And he that you have character'd so monstrous,

My sonne in Law, now gon to be arraign'd,

The King is just, and a good man, but't does not

Adde to the graces of your royall person

To tread upon a Lady thus dejected

By her owne griefe, her Lord's not yet found guilty,

Much lesse condemn'd, though you have pleas'd to execute him.

Qu.

What saw [...]y fellow's this?

Fa.

I must confesse

I am a man out of this element

No Courtier, yet I am a gentleman

That dare speake honest truth to the Queenes care,

(A duty every subject wonot pay you)

And justifie it to all the world, there's nothing

Doth more ecclipse the honours of our soule,

Than an ill grounded, and ill followed passion,

Let slie with noise, and license against those▪

Whose hearts before are bleeding.

Con.

Brave old man.

Fa.

Cause▪ you are a Queene to trample ore a woman,

[Page]

[...] tongue and faculties are all tied up,

[...] out a Lyons teeth, and pare his clawes,

And then a dwarfe may plucke him by the beard,

Tis a gay victory.

Qu,

Did you hëare my Lord?

Fa.

I ha done.

Wif.

And it concernes me to beginne,

I have not made this pause through servile feare

Or guiltie apprehension of your rage,

But with just wonder of the heates, and wildnesse

Has prepossest your nature gainst our innocence,

You are my Queene, unto that title bowes

The humblest knee in France, my heart made lower

With my obedience, and prostrate duty,

Nor have I powers created for my use,

When just commands of you expect their service;

But were you Queene of all the world, or something

To be thought greater, betwixt heaven and us

That I could reach you with my eyes and voyce,

I would shoote both up in defence of my

Abused honour, and stand all your lightning.

Qu.

So brave.

Wif.

So just and boldly innocent,

I cannot feare arm'd with a noble conscience

The tempest of your frowne, were it more frightfull

Then every fury made a womans anger,

Prepar'd to kill with deaths most horrid ceremony,

Yet with what freedome of my soule I can

Forgive your accusation of my pride.

Qu.

Forgive? what insolence is like this language?

Can any action of ours be capable

Of thy forgivenesse? dust! how I dispise thee?

Can we sinne to be object of thy mercie?

Wif.

Yes, and have dont already, and no staine

To your greatnesse Madam, tis my charity

I can remit, when soveraigne Princes dare

Doe injury to those that live beneath them,

They turne worth pitty, and their pray [...]rs, and tis

[Page]

In the free power of those whom they oppresse

To pardon e'm, each soule has a prerogative,

And priviledge royall that was sign'd by heaven,

But though ith knowledge of my disposition

Stranger to pride, and what you charge me with,

I can forgive the injustice done to me,

And striking at my person, I have no

Commission from my Lord to cleere you for

The wrongs you have done him, and still he pardon

The wounding of his loyaltie, with which life

Can hold no ballance, I must talke just boldnesse

To say—

No more, now I must tell you daughter

Least you forget your selfe, she is the Queene,

And it becomes not you to vie with her

Passion for passion, if your Lord stand fast

To the full search of Law, Heaven will revenge him,

And give him up precious to good mens loves

If you attempt by these unruly wayes

To vindicate his justice, I me against you,

Deere as I wish your husbands life and fame,

Suffer are bound to suffer, not contest

With Princes, since their Will and Acts must be

Accounted one day to a Judge supreme.

Wif.

I ha done, if the devotion to my Lord,

Or pietie to his innocence have led me

Beyond the awfull limits to be observ'd

By one so much beneath your sacred person,

I thus low crave your royall pardon Madam;

I know you will remember in your goodnesse,

My life blood is concern'd while his least veine

Shall runne blacke and polluted, my heart fed

With what keepes him alive, nor can there be

A greater wound than that which strikes the life

Of our good name, so much above the bleeding

Of this rude pile wee carry, as the soule

Hath excellence above this earth-borne frailty:

My Lord, by the Kings will is lead already

[Page]

To a severe arraignement, and to Iudges,

Will make no tender search into his tract

Of life and state, stay but a little while,

And [...]ranc [...] shall [...]ho to his shame or innocence,

This suit I begge with teares, I shall have sorrow

Enough to heare him censur'd foule and monstrous,

Should you forbeare to antidate my sufferings.

Qu.

Your conscience comes about, and you incline

To feare he may be worth the lawes condemning.

Wif.

I sooner will suspect the starres may lose

Their way, and cristall heaven returne to Chaos;

Truth [...]its not on her square more firme than he;

Yet let me tell you Madam, were his life

And action so foule as you have character'd,

And the bad world expects, though as a wife

Twere duty I should weepe my selfe to death,

To know him falne from vertue, yet so much

I a fraile woman love my King and Country,

I should condemne him too, and think [...] all honours

The price of his lost faith more fatall to me,

Than Cleopatra's aspes warme in my bosome,

And as much boast their killing.

Qu.

This declares

Another soule than was deliver'd me,

My anger melts, and I beginne to pitty her,

How much a Princes eare may be abus'd?

Enjoy your happie confidence, at more leasure

You may heare from us.

Wif.

Heaven preserve the Queene,

And may her heart be charitable.

Fa.

You blesse and honour your unworthy servant.

Qu.

My Lord, did you observe this?

Con.

Yes great Madam,

And read a noble spirit, which becomes

The wife of Chabot, their great ti [...] of m [...]rriage

I [...] not more strong upon em, than their vertues.

Qu.

That your opinion? I thought your judgement

Against the Admi [...]all, doe you thinke him honest?

Con.

[Page]

Religiously, a true, most zealous Patrior,

And worth all royall favour.

Qu.

You amaze me,

Can you be just your selfe then, and advance

Your powers against him?

Con.

Such a will be farre

From Montmoranzie, Pioners of state

Have left no art to gaine me to their faction,

And tis my misery to be plac'd in such

A sphere where I am whirl'd by violence

Of a fierce raging motion, and not what

My owne will would encline me. I shall make

This appeare Madam, if you please to second

My free speech with the King.

Qu.

Good heaven protect all,

Haste to the King, Iustice her swift wing needes,

Tis high time to be good, when vertue bleedes.

Exeunt.

Enter Officers before the Chancellor, Iudges, the Proctor generall, whispering with the Chancellor, they take their places.

To them

Enter Treasures and Secretary who take their places prepared on one side of the Court.

To them

The Captaine of the Guard, the Admirall following, who is plac'd at the barre.

Cha.

Good Mr. Proctor generall begin.

Pro,

It is not unknowne to you my very good Lords the Iudges, and indeed to all the world, for I will make short worke, since your honourable eares neede not to be enlarged, I speake by a figure with prolixe ennumeration how infinitly the King hath favoured this ill favoured Traitor; and yet I may worthily too insist and prove that no grace hath beene so large and voluminous, as this, that he hath appointed such upright Iudges at this time, and the chiefe of this Triumvirie, our Chancellor by name Poyet, which deriveth from the Greeke his Etymology from Poyeni, which is to make, to create, to invent matter that was never extant in nature, from [Page] whence also is the name and dignitie of Poeta, which I will not insist upon, in this place, although I am confident his Lordshippe wanteth no facultie in making of Verses: but what addition I say is it to the honour of this Delinquent, that he hath such a Iudge, a man so learned, so full of equity, so noble, so notable in the progresse of his life, so innocent, in the manage of his office so incorrupt; in the passages of State so wise, in affection to his country so religious, in all his services to the King so fortunate, and exploring, as envie it selfe cannot accuse, or malice vitiate, whom all lippes will open to commend, but those of Philip; and in their hearts will erect Altars, and Statues, Columnes, and Obelishes, Pillars and Pyramids, to the perpetuitie of his name and memory. What shall I say [...] but conclude for his so great and sacred service, both to our King and Kingdome, and for their everlasting benefit, there may everlastingly be left here one of his loynes, one of his loynes ever remaine I say, and stay upon this Bench, to be the example of all Iustice, even while the North and South Starre shall continue.

Cha.

You expresse your Oratory Mr. Proctor,

I ray come presen [...]ly to the matter.

Pro.

Thus with your Lordships pardon, I proceede; and the first thing I shall glance at, will be worth your Lordships reflection, his ingratitude, and to whom? to no lesse person than a King, and to what King, his owne, and our generall Soveraigne Proh deum atque hominum fidem; a King, and such a King, the health, life, and soule of us all, whose very mention drawes this s [...]lt water from my eyes; for hee indeede is our eye, who wakes and watches for us when we sleepe, and who will not sleep [...] for him, I meane not sleepe, which the Philosophers call, a naturall c [...]ssation of the common and consequently▪ of all the exterior sences, caused first and immediatly by a detension of spirits, which can have no communication, since the way is obstructed, by which thēse spirits should commearce, by vapours ascending from the stomacke to the head, by which evaporation the rootes of the nerves are filled, through which the annuall spirits, to be powred into the dwellings of the externall sences; but sleepe [Page] I takē for death, which all know to be Ʋltima linea, who will not sleepe eternally for such a King as wee enjoy? If therefore in generall as hee is King of us all, all sharing and dividing the benefits of this our Soveraigne: none should be so ingratefull as once to murm [...]re against him, what shall be said of the ingratitude more monstrous in this Chabot, for our Francis hath loved, not in generall in the croud with other subjects, but particularly this Ph [...]l [...]p advanc'd him to the supreme dignitie of a Statsman, lodg'd him in his very heart, yet Monstrum horrendum; even to this Francis hath Philip beene ingratefull. Brutus the loved sonne hath stabbed Caesar with a Bodkin: Oh what brute may be compared to him? and in what particulars may this crime be exemplified; hee hath, as wee say, chopt Logicke with the King, nay to the very teeth of his Soveraigne advance his owne Gnat-like merits, and justified with Luciferous pride, that his services have deserved more than all the bounty of our Munificent King hath paid him.

Cha.

O [...]serve that my Lords.

Pro.

Nay he hath gone further, and most traitaerously hath commitred outrage and impiety to the Kings owne hand, and royall character, which presented to him in a bill from the whole counsell, hee most violently did teare in peeces, and will doe the very body and person of your King, if our Justice make no timely prevention, and strike out the Serpentine teeth of th [...] high and more than ho [...]rible monster.

Tr.

This was e [...]forced home.

Pro.

In the next place I will relate to your honours his most cruell exactions upon the subject, the old vantcurriers of rebellions. In the yeare 15. 6. and 37. This oppressour, and this extortioner, under pretext of his due taxation, being Admirall impo [...]'d upon certaine Fishermen, (observe I beseech you the circumstance of their persons, Fishermen) who poore Iohns were embarqued upon the cost of Normandy, and fishing there for Herrings (which some s [...]y is the king of Fishes) he impos'd I say twenty souse, and upon every boate sixe liuers, oh intollerable exaction! enough not onely to alienate the hearts of these miserable people from their King, which Ipso facto is high treason, but an occasion of a greater inconvenience, [Page] for want of due provision of fish among the subjects, for by this might ensue a necessitie of mortall sins, by breaking the religious fast upon Vigils, Embers, and other dayes commanded by sacred authority, besides the miserable rut that would follow, and perhaps contagion, when feasting and flesh should be licenced for every carnall appetite.—I could urge many more particulars of his dangerous insatiate and boundlesse Avarice, but the improvement of his estate in so few yeares, from a private Gentlemans fortune, to a great Dukes revenewes, might save our soveraigne therein an Orator to enforce and prove faulty even to gyantisme against heaven.

Iudg.

This is but a noise of words.

Pro.

To the foule outrages so violent, let us adde his Commissions granted out of his owne presum'd authoritie, his Majestie neither infround or respected his disloyalties, infidelities, contempts, oppressions, extortions, with innumerable abuses, offences, and forfeits, both to his Majesties most royall person, crowne, and dignitie, yet notwithstanding all these injustices, this unmatchable, u [...]just delinquent affecteth to be thought inculpable, and incomparable just; but alas my most learned Lord, none knowes better than your selves, how easie the sinceritie of Iustice is pretended, how hard it is to be performed, and how common it is for him that hath least colour of title to it, to be thought the very substance and soule of it, he that was never true scholler in the least degree, longs as a woman with child to be great with scholler she that was never with child longs Omnibus vijs modis to be got with child, and will weare a cushion to seeme with child, and hee that was never just, will fly in the Kings face to be counted just, though for all he be nothing, but just, a Traytor.

Sec.

The Admirall smil [...]s.

Jud.

Answer your selfe my Lord.

Adm.

I shall, and briefely,

The furious eloquence of my accuser hath

Branch'd my offences hainous to the King,

And then his subject, a most vast indictment,

That to the King I have justified my merit,

And services; which conscience of that truth,

[Page]

That gave my actions life when they are questioned,

I ought to urge agen, and doe without

The least part of injustice; for the Bill

A foule, and most unjust one, and prefer'd

Gainst the Kings honour, and his subjects priviledge,

And with a policie to betray my office,

And faith to both, I doe confesse I tore it,

It being prest immodestly, but without

A thought of disobedience to his name,

To whose mention I bow, with humble reverence,

And dare appeale to the Kings knowledge of me,

How farre I am in soule from such a rebell,

For the rest my Lord, and you my honour'd Iudges,

Since all this mountaine all this time in labour

With more than mortall fury gainst my life,

Hath brought forth nought but some ridiculous vermine,

I will not wrong my right, and innocence,

With any serious plea in my reply,

To frustrate breath, and fight with terrible shaddow

That have beene forg'd, and forc'd against my state,

But leave all, with my life to your free censures;

Onely beseeching all your learned judgements

Equall and pious conscience to weigh.

Pro.

And how this great and mighty fortune hath exalted him to pride is apparant, not onely in his b [...]aves and bearings to the King, the fountaine of all this increase, but in his contempt and scorne of the subject, his vast expences in buildings, his private bounties, above royall to souldiers and schollers, that he may be the Generall and Patron, and protector of armes and arts; the number of domesticke attendants, an army of Grashoppers and gay Butterflies able to devoure the Spring; his glorious wardrobes, his stable of horses that are prick'd with provender, and will enforce us to weede up our Vineyards to sow Oates for supply of their provision, his caroches shining with gold, and more bright than the chariot of the Sunne, wearing out the pavements; nay, he is of late so transcendently proud, that men must be his Mules, and carry him up and downe as it were in a Procession for men to gaze [Page] at him till their chines crackes with the weight of his insupportable pride, and who knowes but this may prove a fashion? But who grones for this? the subject, who murmure, and are ready to beginne a rebellion, but the tumultuous saylers, and water-rats, who tunne up and downe the citie, like an overbearing tempest, cursing the Admirall, who in duty ought to undoe himself for the generall satisfaction of his countrymen.

Adm.

The varietie, and wonder now presented

To your most noble notice, and the worlds,

That all my life and actions, and offices,

Explor'd with all the hundred eyes of Law

Lighted with lightning, shot out of the wrath

Of an incenst, and commanding King,

And blowne with foes, with farre more bitter windes,

Then Winter from his Easterne cave exhailes,

Yeh nothing found, but what you all have heard,

And then consider if a peere of State,

Should be expos'd to such a wild arraignement

For poore complaints, his fame, faith, life, and honours

Rackt for no more.

Cha.

No more? good heaven, what say

My learned assistants.

1 Iu.

My Lord, the crimes urg'd here for us to censure

As capitall, and worth this high arraignement

To me seeme strange, because they doe not fall

In force of Law, to arraigne a Peere of State,

For all that Law can take into her power

To sentence, is the exaction of the Fishermen.

2 Iu.

Here is no majesty violated, I consent to what my Brother has exprest.

Cha.

Breake then in wonder,

My frighted words out of their forming powers,

That you no more collect, from all these forfeits

That Mr. Proctor generall hath opened,

With so apparant, and impulsive learning,

Against the rage and madnesse of the offender,

And violate Majestie (my learned assistants)

When Majesties affronted and desied,

[Page]

It being compar'd with? and in such an onset

As leap'd into his throate? his life affrighting?

Be justified in all insolence, all subjects

If this be so considered, and insult

Vpon your priviledg'd malice, is not Majestie

Poyson'd in this wonder! and no felony set

Where royaltie is rob'd, and

Fie how it fights with Law, and grates upon

Her braine and soule, and all the powers of Reason,

Reporter of the processe, shew the sedule.

No.

Here my good Lord.

1. No altering it in us.

2. Farre be it from us Sir.

Cha.

Heres silken Iustice,

It might be altered, mend your sentences.

Both.

Not wee my Lord.

Cha.

Not you? The King shall know

You slight a duty to his will, and safety,

Give me your pen, it must be capitall.

1. Make what you please my Lord, our doome shall stand.

Cha.

Thus I subscribe, now at your perills follow.

Both.

Perills my Lord? threates in the Kings free justice?

Tre,

I am amaz'd they can be so remisse.

Sec.

Mercifull men, pittifull Iudges certaine.

1. Subscribe, it matters nothing being constrain'd

On this side, and on this side, this capitall I,

Both which together put, import plaine Vi;

And witnesse we are forc'd.

2. Enough,

It will acquit us when we make it knowne,

Our names are forc'd.

Cha.

If traiterous pride

Vpon the royall person of a King

Were sentenc'd unfelloniously before,

Ile burne my Bookes and be a Iudge no more.

Both.

Here are our hands subscrib'd.

Cha.

Why so, it joyes me,

You have reform'd your justice and your judgement,

[Page]

Now have you done like Iudges and learned Lawyers,

The King shall thanke, and honour you for this.

Notary read.

No.

We by his sacred Majestie appointed

Judges, upon due triall, and examination

Of Philip Chabot Admirall of France

Declare him guiltie of high treasons, &c.

Cha.

Now Captaine of the gaurd, secure his person,

Till the King signifie

His pleasure for his death, this day is happy

To France, thus reskued from the vile devourer.

A shoute within.

Harke how the votes applaud their blest deliverance,

You that so late did right and conscience boast,

Heavens mercy now implore, the Kings is lost.

Exeunt.

Actus Quartus.

Enter King, Queene, and Constable.

Kin.

YOu raise my thoughrs to wonder, that you Madam,

And you my Lord, unite your force to pleade

Ith' Admiralls behalfe, this is not that

Language you did expresse, when the torne Bill

Was late pretended to us, it was then

Defiance to our high prerogative,

The act of him whose proud heart would rebell

And arm'd with faction, too soone attempt

To teare my crowne off.

Qu.

I was ignorant

Then of his worth, and heard but the report

Of his accusers, and his enemies,

Who never mention in his character

Shadowes of any vertue in those men,

They would depresse like Crowes, and carrion birds,

They sly ore slowrie Meades, cleare Springs, faire Gardens,

And stoope at carcasses; for your owne honour

[Page]

Pitty poore Chabot.

King.

Poore and a Colossus?

What could so lately straddle ore a Province,

Can he be fallen so low, and miserable,

To want my pitty, who breakes forth like day,

Takes up all peoples eyes, and admiration?

It cannot be, he hath a Princely wife too.

Qu.

I interpose not often Sir, or presse you

With unbecomming importunitie,

To serve the profitable ends of others

Conscience, and duty to your selfe inforce

My present mediation, you have given

The health of your owne state away, unlesse

Wisedome in time recover him.

King.

If he proove

No adulterate gold, triall confirmes his value.

Qu.

Although it hold in mettle gracious Sir,

Such fiery examination, and the furnace

May wast a heart thats faithfull, and together

With that you call the feces, something of

The precious substance may be hazarded.

King.

Why, you are the chiefe engine rais'd against him,

And in the worlds Creede labour most to sinke him,

That in his fall, and absence every beame

May shine on you, and onely guild your fortune,

Your difference is the ground of his arraignement,

Nor were we unsollicited by you,

To have your bill confirm'd, from that that spring

Came all these mighty and impetuous waves,

With which he now must wrastle, if the strength

Of his owne innocence can breake the storme,

Truth wonot lose her servant, her wings cover him,

He must obey his fate.

Con.

I would not have

It lie upon my fame, that I should be

Mentioned in Story his unjust supplanter

For your whole Kingdome, I have beene abused,

And made beleeve my suite was just and necessary,

[Page]

My walkes have not beene safe, my closet prayers,

But some plot has pursued me, by some great ones

Against your noble Admirall, they have frighted

My fancy into my dreames with their close whispers,

How to uncement your affections,

And re [...]der him the fable, and the scorne

Of France.

Qu.

Brave Montmorancie.

King.

Are you serious.

Con.

Have I a soule? or gratitude, to acknowledge

My selfe your creature, dignified and honor'd

By your high favours with an equall truth,

I must declare the justice of your Admirall

(In what my thoughts are conscious) and will rather

Give up my claime to birth, title, and offices,

Be throwne from your warme smile, the top and crowne

Of subjects happinesse, then be brib'd with all

Their glories to the guilt of Chabots ruine.

King.

Come, come, you over act this passion,

And if it be not pollicie it tasts

Too greene, and wants some counsell to mature it,

His fall prepares your triumph.

Con.

It confirmes

My shame alive, and buried will corrupt

My very dust, make our house-genious grone,

And fright the honest marble from my ashes:

His fall prepare my triumph? turne me first

A naked exile to the world.

King.

No more,

Take heede you banish not your selfe, be wise,

And let not too much zeale devoure your reason,

Enter Asall.

As.

Your Admirall

Is condemn'd Sir?

King.

Ha? strange! no matter,

Leave us, a great man I see may be

As soone dispatch'd, as a common subject▪

Qu.

No mercy then for Chabot.

[Page]Enter Wife and Father.

Wif.

From whence came

That sound of Chabot? then we are all undone:

Oh doe not heare the Queene, she is no friend

To my poore Lord, but made against his life,

Which hath too many enemies already.

Con.

Poore soule, shee thinkes the Queene is still against him,

Who employeth all her powers to preserve him.

Fa.

Say you so my Lord? daughter the Queen's our friend.

Wif.

Why doe you mocke my sorrow! can you flatter

Your owne griefe so, be just, and heare me sir,

And doe not sacrifice a subjects blood

To appease a wrathfull Queene, let mercy shine

Vpon your brow, and heaven will pay it backe

Vpon your soule, be deafe to all her prayers.

King.

Poore heart, she knowes not what she has desir'd.

Wif.

I begge my Chab [...]ts life, my sorrowes yet

Have not destroid my reason.

King.

He is in the power of my Lawes, not mine.

Wif.

Then you have no power,

And are but the emptie shadow of a King,

To whom is it resign'd? where shall I begge

The forfeit life of one condemn [...]d by Lawes

To partiall doome?

King.

You heare he is condemn'd then?

Fa.

My sonne is condemn'd fit.

King.

You know for what too.

Fa.

What the Iudges please to call it,

But they have given t [...] a name, Treason they say.

Qu.

I must not be denied.

King.

I must deny you.

Wif.

Be [...]lest for ever fort.

Qu.

Grant then to her.

King.

Chabot condemn'd by law?

Fa.

But you have power

To change the rigor, in [...]our breast there is

A Chancellor above it, I nere had

A suite before, but my knees joyne with hers

[Page]

To implore your royall mercy to her Lord,

And take his cause to your examination,

It cannot wrong your Iudges, if they have

Beene steer'd by conscience.

Con.

It will fame your Iustice.

King.

I cannot be prescrib'd, you kneele in vaine,

You labour to betray me with your teares

To a treason above his, gainst my owne Lawes,

Looke to the Lady—

Exeunt.

Enter Asall.

As.

Sir the Chancellor.

King.

Admit him, leave us all.

Enter Chancellor.

How now my Lord?

You have lost no time, and how thrive the proceedings.

Cha.

Twas sit my gracious Soveraigne, time should leave

His motion made in all affaires beside,

And spend his wings onely in speed of this.

King.

You have shew'd diligence, and whats become

Of our most curious Iusticer, the Admirall?

Cha.

Condemn'd sir utterly, and all hands set

To his conviction.

King.

And for faults most foule?

Cha.

More than most impious, but the applausive issue

Strooke by the concourse of your ravish'd subjects

For joy of your free Iustice, if there were

No other cause to assure the sentence just

Were proofe convincing.

King.

Now then he sees cleerely

That men perceive how vaine his Iustice was,

And scorne him for the foolish net he wore

To hide his nakednesse; ist not a wonder

That mens ambitions should so blinde their reason

To affect shapes of honesty, and take pride

Rather in seeming, then in being just.

Cha.

Seeming has better fortune to attend it

Then being sound at heart, and vertuous.

King.

Professe all? nothing doe, like those that live

[Page]

By looking to the Lamps of holy Temples,

Who still are busie taking off their snuffes,

But for their profit sake will adde no oyle;

So these will checke and sentence every fame,

The blaze of riotous blood doth cast in others,

And in themselves leave the sume most offensive,

But he to doe this? more deceives my judgement

Than all the rest whose nature I have sounded.

Cha.

I know Sir, and have prov'd it.

King.

Well my Lord

To omit circumstance, I highly thanke you

For this late service you have done me here,

Which is so great and meritorious

That with my ablest power I scarce can quit you.

Cha.

Your sole acceptance (my dread soveraigne)

I more rejoyce in, than in all the fortunes

That ever chanc'd me, but when may it please

Your Highnesse to order the execution?

The haste thus farre hath spar'd no pinions.

King.

No my Lord, your care

Hath therein much deserv'd.

Cha.

But where proportion

Is kept toth' end in things, at start so happy

That end set on the crowne.

King.

Ile speede it therefore.

Cha.

Your thoughts direct it, they are wing'd.

Exit.

King.

I joy this boldnesse is condemn'd, that I may pardon,

And t [...]erein get some ground in his opinion

By so much bounty as save his life,

And me thinks that weigh'd more, should sway the ballance

Twixt me and him, held by his owne free Iustice,

For I could never finde him obstinate

In any minde he held, when once he saw

Th' error with which he laboured, and since now

He needs must feele it, I admit no doubt,

But that his alteration will beget

Another sence of things twixt him and me;

Whose there?

[Page]

Goe to the Captaine of my [...]uard, and will him

To attend his condemn'd prisoner to me instantly.

As.

I shall sir

Ewer Treasurer & Secretary

King.

My Lords, you were spectators of our Admirall.

Tre.

And hearers too of his most just conviction,

In which we witnest over-weight enough

In your great bounties, and as they there were weigh'd

With all the feathers of his boasted merits.

King.

Has felt a scorching triall, and the test

(That holds fires utmost force) we must give mettalls

That will not with the hammer, and the melting

Confesse their truth, and this same sence of feeling

(Being ground to all the sences) hath one key

More than the rest to let in through them all

The mindes true apprehension, that thence takes

Her first convey'd intelligence. I long

To see this man of considence agen:

How thinke you Lords, will Chabot looke on mee,

Now sp [...]ild of the integrity, he boasted?

Sec.

It were too much honour to vouchsafe your sight.

Tr.

No doubt my Leigh, but he that hath offended

In such a height against your crowne and person,

Will want no impudence to looke upon you.

Enter As [...]ll, Captaine, Admirall.

Cap.

Sir, I had charge given me by this Gentleman

To bring your condemn'd prisoner to your presence.

King.

You have done well, and tell the Queene, and our

Lord Constable we desire their presence, bid

Our Admiralls Lady, and her father too

Attend us here, they are but new withdrawne.

As.

I shall sir!

Tre.

Doe you [...]serve this confidence?

He stands as all his triall were a dreame.

S [...]c.

Hele finde the horrour waking the King's troubled;

Now for [...] thu [...]der-clap: the Queene and Constable.

Enter Queene, Constable, Wise and Father.

Tr.

I doe not like their mixtu [...]e.

King,

My Lo [...]d Admirall,

[Page]

You made it your desire to have this triall

That late hath past upon you;

And now you feele how vaine is too much faith

And flattery of your selfe, as if your brest

Were proofe gainst all invasion, tis so slight

You see it lets in death, whats past, hath beene

To satisfie your insolence, there remaines

That now we serve our owne free pleasure, therefore

By th [...]t most absolute power, with which all right

Puts in my hands, these issues turnes, and changes,

I here in eare of all these, pardon all

Your faults and forfeits, whatsoever sensur'd,

Againe advancing, and establishing

Your person in all fulnesse of that state

That ever you enjoy'd before th' attainder▪

Tre.

Wonderfull, pardon'd!

Wif.

Heaven preserve the King.

Qu.

Who for this will deserve all time to honour him.

Con.

And live Kings best example.

Fa.

Sonne yare pardon'd,

Be sure you looke hereafter well about you.

Adm.

Vouchsafe great Sir to assure me what you said,

You nam'd my pardon.

King.

And agen declare it,

For all crimes past, of what nature soever.

Adm.

You cannot pardon me Sir.

King.

How's that Philip?

Adm.

It is a word carries too much relation

To an offence, of which I am not guilty,

And I must still be bold where truth still armes,

In spight of all those frownes that would deject me

To say I neede no pardon.

King.

Ha, howes this?

Fa.

Hees mad with over-joy, and answers nonsence.

King.

Why, tell me Chabot, are not you condemn'd?

Adm.

Yes, and that justifies me much the more,

For whatsoever false report hath brought you,

I was condemn'd for nothing that could reach

[Page]

To prejudice my life, my goods or honour,

As first in firmenesse of my conscience,

I confidently told you, not alas

Presuming on your slender thred of favour,

Or pride of fortunate and courtly boldnesse,

But what my faith and justice bade me trust too,

For none of all your learned assistant Judges,

With all the malice of my crimes could urge,

Or fel [...]ny or hurt of sacred power.

King.

Doe any heare this, but my selfe? My Lords,

This man still justifies his innocence,

What prodigies are these? have not our Lawes

Past on his actions, have not equall Iudges

Certified his arraignement, and him guilty

Of capitall Treason? and yet doe I heare

Chabot accuse all these, and quit himselfe.

Tr.

It does appeare distraction sir.

King.

Did we

Seeme so indulgent to propose our free

And royall pardon without suite or prayer,

To meete with his contempt?

Sec.

Vnhea [...]'d of impudence!

Ad.

I were malicious to my selfe, and desperate

To force untruths upon my soule, and when

Tis cleare, to confesse a shame to exercise

Your pardon sir, were I so foule and monstrous

As I am given to you, you would commit

A sinne next mine, by wronging your owne mercy

To let me draw out impious breath, it will

Release your wonder, if you give command

To see your processe, and if it prove other

Tha [...] I presume to Informe, teare me in peeces.

King.

Goe for the Processe, and the Chancellor,

With the assistant Iudges. I thanke heaven

Exit As.

That with all these inforcements of distraction

My reason stayes so cleare to heare, and answer,

And [...] direct a message. This inversion

Of all the loyalties, and true deserts

[Page]

That I beleev'd I govern'd with, till now

In my choice Lawyers, and chiefe Counsellors

Is able to shake all my frame of reason.

Adm.

I am much griv'd.

King.

No more, I doe incline

To thinke I am abus'd, my Lawes betrai'd

And wrested to the purpose of my Judges,

This confidence in Chabot turnes my judgement,

This was too wilde away▪ to make his merits

Stoope and acknowledge my superior bounties,

That it doth raise, and sixe e'm past my art,

To shadow all the shame and forfeits mine.

Enter Asall, Chancellor, Iudges.

As.

The Chancellor and Judges Sir.

Tre.

I like not

This passion in the King, the Queene and Constable

Are of that side.

King.

My Lord, you dare appeare then?

Cha.

Dare Sir, I hope.

King.

Well done, hope still, and tell me,

Is not this man condemn'd?

Cha.

Strange question Sir,

The processe will declare it, sign'd with all

These my assistant brothers reverend hands

To his conviction in a publike triall.

King.

You said for foule and monstrous facts prov'd by [...]

Cha.

The very words are there sir.

King.

But the deedes

I looke for sir, name me but one thats monstrous?

Cha.

His foule comparisons, and affronts of you,

To me seem'd monstrous.

King.

I told you them sir,

Nor were they any that your so vast knowledge,

Being a man studied in him, could produce

And prove as cleare as heaven, you warranted

To make appeare such treasons in the Admirall,

As never all Lawes, Volumes yet had sentenc'd,

And France should looke on, having scap'd with wonder

[Page]

What in this nature hath beene cleerely prov'd

In his arraignement.

1. Nothing that we heard

In slendrest touch urg'd by your Advocate.

King.

Dare you affirme this too?

2. Most considently.

King.

No base corruptions charg'd upon him.

1. None sir.

Tr.

This argues Chabot has corrupted him.

Se [...].

I doe not like this.

1. The summe of all

Was urg'd to prove your Admirall corrupt,

Was an exaction of his officers,

Of twenty souse taken from the Fishermen

For every boate, and that fish'd the Normand coast.

King.

And was this all

The mountaines, and the marvells promist me,

To be in cleere proofe made against the life.

Of our so hated Admirall.

Iud.

All sir,

Vpon our lives and consciences.

Cha.

I am blasted.

King.

How durst you then subscribe to his conviction.

1. For threats by my Lord Chancellor on the Bench,

Affirming that your Majestie would have it

Made capitall treason, or account us traitors.

2. Yet sir, we did put to our names with this

Interposition of a note in secret

In these two letters Ʋ, and I, to shew

Wee were enforc'd to what we did, which then

In Law is nothing.

Fa.

How doe you feele your Lordship,

Did you not finde some stuffing in your head,

Your braine should have beene purg'd,

Cha.

I fall to peeces,

Would they had rotted on the Bench.

King.

And so you sav'd the peace of that high Court.

Which otherwise his impious rage had broken,

But thus am I by his malicious arts

[Page]

A parly rendred, and most tyrannous spurre

To all the open course of his base envies,

A forcer of my Iudges, and a thirst

Of my nobilities blood, and all by one,

I trusted to make cleere my love of Iustice.

Cha.

I beseech your Majestie, let all my zeale

To serve your vertues, with a sacred value

Made of your royall state, to which each least

But shade of violence in any subject

Doth provoke certaine death.

King.

Death on thy name

And memory for ever, one command

Our Advocate attend us presently.

As.

He waites here.

King.

But single death shall not excuse, thy skinne

Torne ore thine eares, and what else can be inflicted [...]

If thy life with the same severity

Dissected cannot stand so many fires.

Sec.

Tre. Be mercifull great Sir.

King.

Yet more amaze?

Is there a knee in all the world beside

That any humane conscience can let bow

For him, yare traitors all that pitty him.

Tr.

This is no time to move.

King.

Yet twas my fault

To trust this wretch, whom I knew fierce and proud

With formes of tongue and learning, what a prisoner

Is pride of the whole slood of man? for as

A humane seede is said to be a mixture

And faire contemperature extracted from

All our best faculties, so the seede of all

Mans sensuall frailty, may be said to abide,

And have their confluence in onely pride,

It stupifies mans reason so, and dulls

True sence of any thing, but what may fall

In his owne glory, quenches all the spirits

That light a man to honour and true goodnesse.

As.

Your Advocate.

Enter Advocate.

King.

[Page]

Come hither.

Adv.

My most gracious Soveraigne.

Adm.

Madam you infinitely oblige our duty.

Qu.

I was too long ignorant of your worth my Lord,

And this sweete Ladies vertue.

W [...]f.

Both your servants.

Adm

I never had a feare of the Kings Iustice,

And yet I Know not what creepes ore my heart,

And leaves an ice beneath it, my Lord Chancellor,

You have my forgivenesse, but implore heavens pardon

For wrongs to equall justice, you shall want

No charitie of mine to mediate

To the King for you.

Cha.

Horrour of my soule

Confounds my gratitude.

Con.

To me now most welcome.

Adv.

It was my allegiance sir, I did enforce,

But by directions of your Chancellor,

It was my office to advance your cause

Gainst all the world, which when I leave to execute,

Flea me, and turne me out a most raw Advocate.

King.

You see my Chancellor.

Adv.

He has an ill looke with him.

King.

It shall be your province now, on our behalfe

To urge what can in justice be against him,

His riot on our Lawes, and corrupt actions

Will give you scope and field enough.

Adv.

And I

Will play my law prize, never feare it sir.

He shall be guilty of what you please, I am studied

In him sir, I will squeeze his villan [...]es,

And urge his acts so whom into his bowells,

The force of it shall make him hang himselfe,

And save the Lawes a labour.

King.

Iudges, for all

The poisonous outrage, that this viper spile

On all my royall freedome and my Empire,

As making all but servants to his malice,

[Page]

I will have you revise the late arraignement,

And for those worthy reasons, that already

Affect you for my Admiralls acquitall

Employ your justice on this Chancellor, away with him,

Arrest him Captaine of my guard to answer

All that due course of Law against him can

Charge both his Acts and life.

Cap.

I doe arrest thee

Poyet

Lord Chancellor in his Highnesse name,

To answer all that equall course of Law

Can charge thy acts and life with.

Cha.

I Obey.

King.

How false a heart corruption has, how base

Without true worth are all these earth-bred glories?

Oh blessed justice, by which all things stand,

That stills the thunder, and makes lightning finke

Twixt earth and heaven amaz'd, and cannot strike,

Being prov'd so now in wonder of this man,

The object of mens hate, and heavens bright love;

And as in cloudy dayes, we see the Sunne

Glide over turrets, temples, richest fields,

All those left darke, and slighted in his way,

And on the wretched plight of some poore shed,

Powres all the glories of his golden head;

So heavenly vertue, on this envied Lord,

Points all his graces, that I may dinstinguish

Him better from the world.

Tre.

You doe him right.

King.

But away Iudges, and pursue the afraignement

Of this polluted Chancellor with that swiftnesse,

His fury wing'd against my Admirall,

And be you all, that sate on him compurgators

Of me against this false Iudge.

Iud.

We are so.

King.

Be you two joyn'd in the commission,

And nothing urg'd but justly, of me learning

This one more lesson out of the events

Of these affaires now past, that whatsoever

[Page]

Charge or Commission Iudges have from us,

They ever make their ayme ingenuous Iustice,

Not partiall for reward, or swelling favour,

To which if your King steere you, spare to obey;

For when his troubled blood is cleere, and calme,

He will repent that he pursued his rage,

Before his pious Law, and hold that Iudge

Vnworthy of his place, that lets his censure

Flote in the waves of an imagin'd favour,

This shipwracks in the haven, and but wounds

Their consciences that sooth the soone ebb'd humours

Of their incensed King.

Con. Tre.

Royall and sacred.

King.

Come Philip, shine thy honour now for ever,

For this short temporall ecclipse it suffer'd

By th' interpos'd desire I had to try thee,

Nor let the thought of what is past afflict thee,

For my unkindnesse, live still circled here,

The bright intelligence of our royall spheere.

Exeunt.

Actus Quintus.

Enter Queene, Constable, Father.

Qu.

THe Admirall sicke?

Fa. With danger at the h [...]rt,

I came to tell the King.

Con.

He never had

More reason in his soule, to entertaine

All the delights of health.

Fa.

I feare my Lord,

Some apprehension of the Kings unkindnesse,

By giving up his person, and his offices

To the Lawes gripe and search, is ground of his

Sad change, the greatest foules are thus oft wounded,

If he vouchsafe his presence, it may quicken

His fast decaying spirits, and prevent

[Page]

The hasty ebbe of life.

Qu.

The King is now

Fraught with the joy of his fresh preservation,

The newes so violent, let into his eare,

May have some dangerous effect in him,

I wod not counsell sir to that.

Fa.

With greater reason

I may suspect they'le spread my Lord, and as

A river left his curl'd and impetuous waves

Over the bankes, by confluence of streames

That fill and swell her channell, for by this time

He has the addition of Allegres suffering,

His honest servant, whom I met though feeble

And worne with torture, going to congratulatë

His Masters safetie.

Qu.

It seemes he much

Affected that Allegre.

Con.

There will be

But a sad interview and dialogue.

Qu.

Does he keepe his bed?

Fa.

In that alone

He shewes a fortitude, he will move, and walke

He sayes while his owne strength or others can

Support him, wishing he might stand and looke

His destiny in the face at the last summon,

Not sluggishly exhaile his soule in bed,

With indulgence, and nice flattery of his limbs.

Qu.

Can he in this shew spirit, and want force

To wrastle with a thought?

Fa.

Oh Madam, Madam,

We may have proofe against thë sword, and tyranny

Of boysterous warre that threatens us, but when

Kings froune, a Cannon mounted in each eye,

Shoote death to apprehension, ere their fire

And force approach us.

Enter King.

Con.

Here's the King.

Qu.

No words

To interrupt his quiet,

Fa.

[Page]

Ile begon then.

King.

Our Admiralls father! call him backe.

Qu.

I w [...]not stay to heare e'm.

Exit.

Con.

Sir, be prudent,

And doe not for your sonne fright the Kings health.

Exit.

King.

What, ha they left us? how does my Admirall?

Fa.

I am forbid to tell you sir.

King.

By whom.

Fa.

The Queene and my Lord Constable.

King.

Are there

Remaining seedes of faction? have they soules

Not yet convinc'd ith truth of Chabots honour,

Cleare as the christall heaven, and bove the reach

Of imitation.

Fa.

Tis their care of you,

And no thought prejudiciall to my sonne.

King.

Their care of me?

How can the knowledge of my Admiralls state

Concerne their feares of me, I see their envie

Of Chabots happinesse, whose joy to be

Rendr'd so pure and genuine to the world

Doth grate upon their conscience and affright 'em;

But let 'em vexe, and bid my Chabot still

Exalt his heart, and triumph, he shall havë

The accesse of ours, the kingdome shall put on

Such joyes for him as she would bost to celebratë

Her owne escape from ruine.

Fa.

He is not in state to heare my sad newes

I perceive.

King.

That countenance is not right, it does not answë [...]

What I expect,

Say, how is my Admirall?

The truth upon thy life.

Fa.

To secure his, I would you had.

King

Ha? Who durst oppose him?

Fa.

One that hath power enough hath practised on him

And made his great heart stoope.

King.

I will revenge it

[Page]

With crushing, crushing that rebellious power to nothing.

Name him.

Fa.

He was his friend.

King.

A friend to malice, his owne blacke impostume

Burne his blood up, what mischiefe hath ingendred

New stormes?

Fa.

Tis the old tempest.

King.

Did not we

Appease all horrors that look'd wilde upon him?

Fa.

You drest his wounds I must confesse, but made

No cure, they bleede a fresh, pardon me sir,

Although your conscience have clos'd too soone,

He is in danger, and doth want new surgerie

Though he be right in fame, and your opinion,

He thinkes you were unkinde.

King.

Alas poore Chabot,

Doth that afflict him.

Fa.

So much, though he strive

With most resolv'd and Adamantine nerves,

As ever humane fire in flesh and blood,

Forg'd for example, to beare all, so killing

The arrowes that you shot were (still your pardon)

No Centaures blood could rancle so.

King.

If this

Be all, ile cure him, Kings retaine

More Balsome in their soule them hurt in anger.

Fa.

Farre short sir, with one breath they uncreate,

And Kings with onely words more wounds can make

Then all their kingdome made in balme can heale,

Tis dangerous to play to wilde a descant

On numerous vertue, though it become Princes

To assure their adventures made in every thing,

Goodnesse confin'd within poore flesh and blood,

Hath but a queazie and still sickly state,

A musicall hand should onely play on her

Fluent as ayre, yet every touch command.

King.

No more,

Commend us to the Admirall, and say,

[Page]

The King will visite him, and bring health.

Fa.

I will not doubt that blessing, and shall move

Nimbly with this command.

Exeunt.

Enter Officers before, Treasurer, Secretary, and Iudges, attended by Petitioners, the Advocate also with many papers in his hand, they take their places. The Chancellor with a guard, and plac'd at the Barre.

Tre.

Did you beleeve the Chancellor had beene

So foule?

Sec.

Hee's lost toth' people, what contempts

They throw upon him? but we must be wise.

1 Iud.

Were there no other guilt, his malice shëw'd

Vpon the Admirall, in orebearing justice,

Would well deserve a sentence.

Tre.

And a deepe one.

2 Iud.

If please your Lordships to remember that

Was specially commended by the King,

As being most blemish to his royall person,

And the free justice of his state.

Tre.

Already

He has confest upon his examinations

Enough for sensure, yet to obey forme—

Mr. Advocate if you please—

Adv.

I am ready for your Lordships: It hath beene said, and will be said agen, and may truely be justified, Omnia ex lite fieri. It was the position of Philosophers, and now proved by a more Phylosophycall sect, the Lawyers, that Omnia ex lite fiant, we are all made by Law, made I say, and worthily if we be just, if we be un just, marr'd, though in marring some, there is necessitie of making others, for if one sall by the Law, tenne to one but another is exalted by the execution of the Law, since the corruption of one must conclude the generation of another, though not alwayes in the same profession; the corruption of an Apothecary, may be the generation of a Doctor of Physicke; the corruption of a Citizen may beget a Courtier, & a Courtier may very well beget an Alderman, the corruption of an Alderman may be the generation of a Country Iustice, whose corrupt ignorance easily may beget a tumult, [Page] a tumult may beget a Captaine, and the corruption of a Captaine may beget a Gentleman-Vsher, and a Gentleman-Vsher may beget a Lord, whose wit may beget a Poet, and a Poet may get a thousand pound a yeare, but nothing without corruption.

Tre.

Good Mr. Advocate be pleased to leave all digressions, and speake of the Chancellor.

Adv.

Your Lordship doth very seasonably premonish, and I shall not neede to leave my subject corruption, while I discourse of him, who is the very fenne and stigian abisse of it, five thousand and odde hundred foule and impious corruptions, for I will be briefe; have beene found by severall examinations, and by oathes prov'd against this odious and polluted Chancelor, a man of so tainted, and contagious a life, that it is a miracle any man enjoyeth his nostrills, that hath lived within the sent of his offices; he was borne with teeth in his head, by an affidavit of his Midwife, to note his devouring, and hath one toe on his left foote crooked, and in the forme of an Eagles talon, to foretell his rapacitie: What shall I say? branded, mark'd, and design'd in his birth for shame and obloquie, which appeareth further by a mole under his right eare, with only three Witches haires int, strange and ominous predictions of nature.

Tre.

You have acquainted your selfe but very lately

With this intelligence, for as I remember

Your tongue was guilty of no such character,

When hee sat Iudge upon the Admirall,

A pious incorrupt man, a faithfull and fortunate

Servant to his King, and one of the greatest

Honours that ever the Admirall received, was

That he had so noble and just a Iudge, this must

Imply a strange volubilitie in your tongue, or

Conscience, I speake not to discountenance any

Evidence for the King, but to put you in minde,

Mr. Advocate that you had then a better opinion

Of my Lord Chancellor.

Adv.

Your Lordship hath most aptly interpos'd, and with a word I shall easily satisfie all your judgements; He was then [Page] a Judge, and in Cathedra, in which he could not erre; it may be your Lordships cases, out of the chaire and seate of Iustice, he hath his frailties, is loos'ed and expos'd to the conditions of other humane natures; so every Iudge, your Lordships are not ignorant hath a kinde of priviledge while he is in his state, office and being, and although hee may quoad se, internally and privately be guilty of bribery of Iustice, yet quoad nos, and in publike he is an upright and innocent Iudge, we are to take no notice, nay, we deserved to suffer, if wee should detect or staine him; for in that we disparage the Office, which is the Kings, and may be our owne, but once remov'd from his place by just dishonour of the King, he is no more a Iudge but a common person, whom the law takes hold on, and wee are then to forget what hee hath beene, and without partialitie to strip and lay him open to the world, a counterfeit and corrupt Iudge, as for example, hee may and ought to flourish in his greatnesse, and breake any mans necke, with as much facilitie as a jeast, but the case being altered, and hee downe, every subject shall be heard, a Wolfe may be appareld in a Lambskinne; and if every man should be afraid to speake truth, nay and more than truth, if the good of the subject which are clients sometime require it, there would be no remove of Officers, if no remove no motions▪ if no motion in Court no heate, and by consequence but cold Termes; take away this moving, this removing of Iudges, the Law may bury it selfe in Buckram, and the kingdome suffer for want of a due execution; and now I hope your Lordships are satisfied.

Tre.

Most learnedly concluded to acquity our selfe.

1 Iud.

Mr. Advocate, please you to urge for satisfaction

Of the world, and clearing the Kings honour, how

In justly he proceeded against the Admirall.

Adv.

I shall obey your Lordship—So v [...]st so infinite hath beene the impudence of this Chancellor▪ not onely toward the subject, but even the sacred person of the King, that I tremble as with a Palsie to remember it. This man, or rather this monster, having power and commission trusted for the examination of the Lord Admirall, a man perfect in all honour and justice; indeede the very ornament and second [Page] flower of France, for the Flower de lis, is sacred and above all flowers, and indeede the best flower in our garden. Having used all wayes to circumvent his innocence by suborning and promising rewards to his betrayers, by compelling others by the cruelty of tortures, as namely Mounsieur Allegre a most honest and faithfull servant to his Lord, tearing and extending his sinewes upon the [...]acke to force a confession to his purpose, and finding nothing prevaile upon the invincible vertue of the Admirall.

Sec.

How he would flatter him?

Adv.

Yet most maliciously proceeded to arraigne him; to be short against all colour of Iustice condemn'd him of high treasons; oh thinke what the life of man is, that can never be recompenced; but the life of a just man, a man that is the vigour and glory of our life and nation to be torne to death, and sacrifis'd beyond the mallice of common persecution. What Tiger of Hercanian breede could have beene so cruell? but this is not all? he was not guilty onely of murder, guilty I may say In foro cōsctieniae, though our good Admirall was miraculously preserv'd, but unto this he added a most prodigious & fearefull rape, a rape even upon Iustice it self, the very soule of our state, for the rest of the Iudges upon the Bench, venerable images of Austria, he most tyranously compel'd to set their hands to his most unjust sentence; did ever story remember the like outr [...]ge and injustice; what forfeit, what penalty can be enough to satisfie this transcendent offence? and yet my good Lords, this is but veniall to the sacriledge which now followes, and by him committed, not content with this sentence, not satisfied with horrid violence upon the sacred Tribunall, but hee proceedes and blasphemes the very name and honour of the King himselfe, observe that, making him the author and impulsive cause of all these rapines, justifying that he mov'd onely by his speciall command to the death, nay the murder of his most faithfull subject, translating all his owne blacke and damnable guilt upon the Kings heires, a traytor to his Country, first, he conspires the death of one whom the King loves, and whom every subject ought to honour, and then makes it no conscience to proclaime it the Kings act, & by consequ [...]nce declares him a [Page] murderer of his owne, and of his best subjects.

Within

An Advocate, an Advocate, teare him in peeces,

Teare the Chancellor in peeces.

Tre.

The people have deepe sence of the Chancellors injustice.

Sec.

We must be carefull to prevent their mutiny.

[...] Iud.

It will become our wisedomes to secure the court

And prisoner.

Tre.

Captaine of the guard.

2. What can you say for your selfe Lord Chancellor.

Cha.

Againe, I confesse all, and humbly fly to

The royall mercy of the King.

Tre.

And this submission is the way to purchase it.

Cha.

Heare me great Iudges, if you have not lost

For my sake all your charities, I beseech you,

Let the King know my heart is full of penitence,

Calme his high-going sea, or in that tempest

I ruine to eternitie, oh my Lords,

Consider your owne places, and the helmes

You sit at, while with all your providence

You steere, looke forth and see devouring quicksands,

My ambition now is punish'd, and my pride

Of state and greatnesse falling into nothing,

I that had never time through vast employments

To thinke of heaven, feele his revengefull wrath,

Boyling my blood, and scorching up my entrills,

There doomesday is my conscience blacke and horrid,

For my abuse of Iustice, but no stings

Prickt with that terrour as the wounds I made

Vpon the pious Admirall, some good man

Beare my repentance thither, he is mercifull,

And may encline the King to stay his lightning

Which threatens my confusion, that my free

Resigne of title, office, and what else

My pride look'd at, would buy my poore lives safety,

For ever banish me the court, and let

Me waste my life farre off in some Village.

Adv.

How? Did your Lordships note his request to you, he would direct your sentence to punish him with confining [Page] him to live in the country, like the Mouse in the Fable, that having offended to deserve death, beg'd he might be banished into a Parmisan. I hope your Lordships will be more just to the nature of his offences.

Sec.

I could have wish'd him fall on softer ground

For his good parts.

Tre.

My Lord, this is your sentence for you high misdemeanours against his Majesties Iudges, for your unjust sentence of the most equall Lord Admirall, for many and foule corruptions and abuse of your office, and that infinite staine of the Kings person, and honour, we in his Majesties name, deprive you of your estate of Chancellor, & declare you uncapeable of any judiciall office, & besides condemne you in the sum of two hundred thousand crownes; whereof one hundred thousand to the King, and one hundred thousand to the Lord Admirall, and what remaineth of your estate to goe to the restitution of those you have injur'd, and to suffer perpetuall imprisonment in the Castle, so take him to your custody. Your Lordships have beene mercifull in his sentence.

Exit.

They have spar'd my life then, that some cure may bring,

I spend it in my prayers for the King.

Exeunt▪

Enter Admirall in his Gowne and Cap, his Wife.

Adm.

Allegre I am glad he hath so much strength,

I prethee let me see him.

Wif.

It will but

Enlarge a passion—my Lord hee'le come

Another time and tender you his service.

Adm.

Nay then—

Wif.

Although I like it not, I must obey.

Exit.

Enter Allegre supported.

Adm.

Welcome my injur'd servant, what a misery

Ha they made on thee?

Al.

Though some change appeare

Vpon my body, whose severe affliction

Hath brought it thus to be sustained by others,

My hurt is still the same in faith to you,

Not broken with their rage.

Adm.

Alas poore man!

[Page]

Were all my joyes essentiall, and so mighty

As the affected world beleeves I taste,

This object were enough to unsweeten all,

Though in thy absence I had suffering,

And felt within me a strong sympathy,

While for my sake their cruelty did vexe,

And fright thy nerves with horrour of thy sence,

Yet in this spectacle I apprehend

More griefe than all my imagination

Could let before into me; didst not curse me

Vpon the torture?

Al.

Good my Lord, let not

The thought of what I suffer'd dwell upon

Your memory, they could not punish more

Then what my duty did oblige to beare

For you and Iustice, but theres some thing in

Your lookes, presents more feare than all the mallice

Of my tormentors could affect my soule with,

That palenesse, and the other formes you weare,

Would well become a guilty Admirall, and one

Lost to his hopes and honour, not the man

Vpon whose life the fury of unjustice

Arm'd with fierce lightning, and the power of thunder,

Can make no breach, I was not rack'd till now,

Theres more death in that falling eye, than all

Rage ever yet brought forth, what accident sir can blast,

Can be so blacke and fatall to distract

The calme? the triumph that should sit upon

Your noble brow, mi [...]fortune could have no

Time to conspire with fate, since you were rescued

By the great arme of providence, nor can

Those garlands that now grow about your forehead

With all the poyson of the world be blasted.

Adm.

Allegre, thou dost beare thy wounds upon thee,

In wide and spacious characters, but in

The volumne of my sadnesse thou dost want

An eye to reade an open force, hath torne

Thy manly sinewes which sometime may cure

[Page]

The engine is not seene that wounds thy Master,

Past all the remedy of art or time,

The flatteries of Court, of fame or honours,

Thus in the Sommer a tall flourishing tree,

Transplanted by strong hand, with all her leaves

And blooming pride upon her makes a shew

Of Spring, tempting the eye with wanton blossome,

But not the Sunne with all her amorous smiles,

The dewes of mornings, or the teares of night,

Can roote her fibers in the earth agen,

Or make her bosome kinde, to growth and bearing,

But the tree withers, and those very beames

That once were naturall warmth to her soft verdure

Dry up her sap and shoote a feaver through

The barke and rinde, till she becomes a burthen

To that which gave her life: so Chabot, Chabot.

Al.

Wonder in apprehension, I must

Suspect your health indeede.

Adm.

No no, thou shanot

Be troubled, I but stirr'd thee with a morrall,

Thats empty containes nothing, I am well,

See I can walke poore man, thou hast not strength yet.

Al.

What accident is ground of this distraction?

Enter Admirall.

Adm.

Thou hast not heard yet whats become oth' Chancellor?

Al.

Not yet my Lord.

Adm.

Poore gentleman, when I thinke

Vpon the King, I've balme enough to cure

A thousand wounds, have I not Allegre?

Was ever bountious mercy read in story,

Like his upon my life, condemn'd for sacrifice

By Law, and snatch'd out of the flame unlooked for,

And unpetitioned? but his justice then

That wod not spare whom his owne love made great,

But give me up to the most cruell test

Of Iudges, for some boldnesse in defence

Of my owne merits, and my honest faith to him

Was rare, past example.

[Page]Enter Father.

Fa.

Sir, the King

Is comming hither.

Al.

It will

Become my duty sir to leave you now.

Adm,

Stay by all meanes Allegre, 'tshall concernē you,

I'me infinitely honor'd in his presence.

Enter King, Queene, Constable, and Wife.

King.

Madam be comforted, Ile be his Phisitian.

Wif.

Pray heaven you may.

King.

No ceremoniall knees,

Give me thy heart, my deare, my honest Chabot,

And yet in vaine I chalenge that tis here

Already in my owne, and shall be cherish'd

With care of my best life, violence

Shall ravish it from my possession,

Not those distempers that infirme my blood

And spirits shall betray it to a feare,

When time and nature joyne to dispossesse

My body of a cold and languishing breath,

No stroake in all my arteries, but silence

In every faculty, yet dissect me then,

And in my heart, the world shall read thee living,

And by the vertue of thy name write there,

That part of me shall never putrifie,

When I am lost in all my other dust.

Adm.

You too much honour your poore servant sir,

My heart dispares so rich a monument;

But when it dies—

King.

I wonot heare a sound

Of any thing that trenched upon death,

He speakes the funerall of my crowne that prophesies

So unkinde a fate, weele live and die together,

And by that duty which hath taught you hitherto,

All loyall and just services I charge thee,

Preserve thy heart for me and thy reward,

Which now shall crowne thy merits.

Adm.

I have found

[Page]

A glorious harvest in your savour sir,

And by this overslow of royall grace,

All my deserts are shadowes and slie from mee,

I have not in the wealth of my desires,

Enough to pay you now, yet you encourage me

To make one suite.

King.

So soone as nam'd possesse it.

Adm.

You would be pleas'd take notice of this Gentleman,

A Secretary of mine.

Con.

Mounsieur Allegre,

He that was rack'd sir for your Admirall.

Adm.

His limbs want strength to tender their full duty,

An honest man that suffers for my sake.

King.

He shall be deare to us, for what has past sir

By the unjustice of our Chancellors power,

Weele study to recompence, ith' meane time that office

You exercis'd for Chabot we translate

To our selfe, you shall be our Secretary.

Al.

This is

An honour above my weake desert, and shall

Oblige the service of my life to satisfie it.

Adm.

You are gracious, and in this act have put

All our complaints to silence, you Allegre,

Enter Tresuror, Secretary.

Cherish your health, and feeble limbs which cannot

Without much prejudice be thus employ'd;

All my best wishes with thee.

Al.

All my prayers

Are duties to your Lordship—

Exit.

King.

Tis too little,

Can forfeit of his place, wealth, and a lasting

Imprisonment purge his offences to

Our honest Admirall, had our person beene

Exempted from his mallice, he did persecute

The life of Chabot with an equall wrath,

You should have powr'd death on his treacherous head,

I revoke all your sentences, and make

Him that was wrong'd full Master of his destiny,

[Page]

Be thou his judge.

Adm.

O farre be such injustice,

I know his doome is heavie, and I begge

Where mercy may be let into his sentence

For my sake you would soften it, I have

Glory enough to be set right in yours,

And my deare countries thought, and by an act

With such apparent notice to the world.

King.

Expresse it in some joy then.

Adm.

I will strive

To shew that pious gratitude to you but—

Kng.

But what

Adm.

My frame hath lately sir beene tane a peec [...]s,

And but now put together, the least force

Of mirth will shake and unjoynt all my reason,

Your patience royall sir.

King.

Ile have no patience,

If thou forget the courage of a man.

Adm.

My strength would [...]latter me.

King.

Phisitian [...]

Now I begin to feare his apprehension,

Why how is Chabots spirit falne?

Qu.

Twere best

He were conveid to his bed.

Wif.

How soone turn'd widdow.

Adm.

Who would not wish to live to serve your goodnes.

Stand from me, you betray me with your feares,

The plummets may fall off that hang upon

My heart, they were but thoughts at first, or if

They weigh me downe to death let not my eyes

Close with another object then the King,

Let him be last I looke on.

King.

I would not have him lost for my whole Kingdome.

Con.

He may recover sir.

King.

I see it fall,

For Iustice being the proppe of every Kingdome

And mine broke, violating him that was

The knot and contract of it all in him,

It already falling in my eate,

[Page]

Pompey could heare it thunder, when the Senate

And Capitoll were deafe, so heavens loud chiding,

Ile have another sentence for my Chancellor,

Vnlesse my Chabot live,

In a Prince

What a swift executioner is a frowne,

Especially of great and noble soules;

How is it with my Philip?

Adm.

I must begge

One other boone.

King.

Vpon condition

My Chabot will collect his scatter'd spirits,

And be himselfe agen, he shall divide

My Kingdome with me.

Fa.

Sweete King.

Adm.

I observe

A fierce and killing wrath engendred in you;

For my sake, as you wish me strength to serve you,

Forgive your Chancellor, let not the story

Of Philip Chabot read hereafter draw

A teare from any family, I beseech

Your royall mercy on his life, and free

Remission of all seasure upon his state,

I have no comfort else.

King.

Endeavour

But thy owne health, and pronounce generall pardon

To all through France.

Adm.

Sir I must kneele to thanke you,

It is not seal'd else, your blest hand live happy,

May all you trust have no lesse faith then Chabot,

Oh.

Wif.

His heart is broken.

Fa.

And kneeling sir,

As his ambition were in death to shew

The truth of his obedience.

Con.

I feard this issue.

Tre.

Hees past hope.

King.

He has a victory ins death, this world

[Page]

Deserv'd him not, how soone he was translated

To glorious eternitie, tis too late

To fright the ayre with words, my teare [...] embalme him.

Wif.

What can become of me?

Qu.

Ile be your husband Madam, and with care

Supply your childrens father, to your father

Ile be a sonne, in what ou [...] love or power

Can serve his friends, Chabot shall nere be wanting,

The greatest losse is mine, past scale or recompence,

We will proceede no further gainst the Chancellor,

To the charitie of our Admirall he owes

His life which ever banish'd to a prison,

Shall not beget in us, or in the subject

N [...]w feares of his injustice, for his fortunes

Great and acquir'd corruptly, tis our will

They make just restitution for all wrongs

That shall within a yeare be prov'd against him;

O Chabot that shall boast as many monuments

As there be hearts in France, which as they grow,

Shall with more love enshrine thee, Kings they say,

Die not, or starve succession, oh why

Should that stand firme, and Kings themselves despaire,

To finde their subject still in the next heire▪

Exeunt.

FINIS.

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