WOLFORT, usurper of the Earldom of Flanders.
GERRARD, disguised under the name of CLAUSE,
King of the Beggars, Father to FLOREZ.
HUBERT, an honest Lord, a Friend to Gerrard.
FLOREZ, under the name of Goswin, a rich Mer-
chant of Bruges.

HEMPSKIRKE, a Captain under WOLFORT.

HERMAN, a Courtier,

A Merchant,

Inhabitants of Ghent.

VANDUNKE, Burgomaster of Bruges, a Drunken Merchant, Friend to GERRARD, falsely called Father to BERTHA.

ARNOLD, of Benthuysen, disguised as a Beggar under the name of GINKS.

LORD COSTIN, disguised as a Beggar.

VANLOCK, and four other Merchants of Bruges.

SCENE,

SCENE I.-GHENT.-The Street.

Enter a Merchant and HERMAN.

Mer. Is he then taken?

Her. And brought back even now, sir.
Mer. He was not in disgrace?
Her. No man more lov'd,

Nor more deserv'd it, being the only man
That durst be honest in this court.

Mer. Indeed

We've heard abroad, sir, that the state hath suffer'd

A great change, since the countess' death.

Her. It hath, sir.

Mer. My five years absence hath kept me a

stranger

So much to all th' occurrents of my country,
As you shall bind me for some short relation,
To make me understand the present times.

Her. I must begin then with a war was made,
And seven years with all cruelty continued
Upon our Flanders by the duke of Brabant.
The cause grew thus: During our earl's minority,
Wolfort, who now usurps, was employ'd thither,
To treat about a match between our earl
And the daughter and heir of Brabant: During
which treaty,

The Brabander pretends, this daughter was
Stol'n from his court, by practice of our state;
Tho' we are all confirm'd, 'twas a sought quarrel,
To lay an unjust gripe upon this earldom;
It being here believ'd the duke of Brabant
Had no such loss. This war upon't proclaim'd,
Our earl being then a child, altho' his father
Good Gerrard liv'd yet (in respect he was

Chosen by the countess' favour for her husband,
And but a gentleman, and Florez holding
His right unto this country from his mother)
The state thought fit, in this defensive war,
Wolfort being then the only man of mark,
To make him general.

Mer. Which place we've heard
He did discharge with honour.

Her. Ay, so long,

And with so bless'd successes, that the Brabander
Was forc'd (his treasures wasted, and the choice
Of his best men of arms tir'd, or cut off)
To leave the field, and sound a base retreat
Back to his country: But so broken, both
In mind and means, e'er to make head again,
That hitherto he sits down by his loss;
Not daring, or for honour or revenge,
Again to tempt his fortune. But this victory
More broke our state, and made a deeper hurt
In Flanders, than the greatest overthrow
She e'er received: For Wolfort, now beholding
Himself and actions in the flattering glass
Of self deservings, and that cherish'd by
The strong assurance of his pow'r (for then
All captains of the army were his creatures,
The common soldier too at his devotion,
Made so by full indulgence to their rapines,
And secret bounties ;) this strength too well known,
And what it could effect, soon put in practice,
As further'd by the childhood of the earl,
And their improvidence that might have pierc'd
The heart of his designs, gave him occasion
To seize the whole: And in that plight you find it.
Mer. Sir, I receive the knowledge of thus much,
As a choice favour from you.

You bade me sit, and promis'd you would hear,
Which I now say you shall! Not a sound more!
For I, that am contemner of mine own,
Am master of your life! Then here's a sword

[Draws. Between you and all aids, sir. Though you blind The credulous beast, the multitude, you pass not These gross untruths on me.

Wol. How? gross untruths?

Hub. Ay, and it is favourable language; They had been in a mean man lies, and foul ones. Wol. You take strange licence.

Hub. Yes; were not those rumours, Of being call'd unto your answer, spread

I am best guarded with it in your hand;

I've seen you use it nobly.

Hub. And will turn it

On mine own bosom, ere it shall be drawn
Unworthily or rudely.

Wol. Would you leave me

Without a farewell, Hubert? Fly a friend
Unwearied in his study to advance you?

What have I e'er possess'd which was not yours?
Or rather did not court you to command it?
Who ever yet arriv'd to any grace,
Reward, or trust from me, but his approaches
Were by your fair reports of him preferr'd?
And what is more, I made myself your servant,
In making you the master of those secrets

Which not the rack of conscience could draw from me,

Nor I, when I ask'd mercy, trust my prayers with;
Yet, after these assurances of love,
These ties and bonds of friendship, to forsake me!
Forsake me as an enemy! Come, you must
Give me a reason.

Hub. Sir, and so I will;

If I may do't in private, and you hear it.

Wol. All leave the room.--You have your will;

sit down, [Exeunt all but WOL. and HUB. And use the liberty of our first friendship.

(But by your cunning practice,) to believe
That you were dangerous; yet not to be
Punish'd by any formal course of law,

But first to be made sure, and have your crimes
Laid open after? which your quaint train taking,
You fled unto the camp, and there crav'd humbly
Protection for your innocent life, and that,
Since you had 'scap'd the fury of the war,
You might not fall by treason: And for proof
You did not for your own ends make this danger,
Some that had been before by you suborn'd,
Came forth and took their oaths they had been
hir'd

By Gerrard to your murder. This once heard,
And easily believ'd, th' enraged soldier,
Seeing no further than the outward man,
Snatch'd hastily his arms, ran to the court,
Kill'd all that made resistance, cut in pieces
Such as
were servants, or thought friends to
Vowing the like to him.
[Gerrard,

[earl,

that vanish'd;

Nor do I owe you any thought but hate.

I know my flight hath forfeited my head;
And so I may make you first understand

What a strange monster you have made yourself,

I welcome it.

Wol. To me this is strange language.
Hub. To you? why, what are you?
Wol. Your prince and master,

The earl of Flanders.

Hub. By a proper title?

Rais'd to it by cunning, circumvention, force,
Blood, and proscriptions!

Wol. And in all this wisdom,

Had I not reason, when, by Gerrard's plots,

I should have first been call'd to a strict account,
How, and which way I had consum'd that mass
Of money, as they term it, in the war;
Who under-hand had by his ministers
Detracted my great actions, made my faith
And loyalty suspected; in which failing,
He sought my life by practice.

Hub. With what forehead

Do you speak this to me, who (as I know't)
Must and will say 'tis false?

Wol. My guard there!
Hub. Sir,

p

So far transcend your former bloody ills,
As if, compar'd, they only would appear
Essays of mischief. Do not stop your ears;
More are behind yet!

Wol. Oh, repeat them not:

'Tis hell to hear them nam'd!

Hub. You should have thought,

That hell would be your punishment when you

did them!

A prince in nothing but your princely lusts

And boundless rapines!

Wol. No more, I beseech you.

Hub. Who was the lord of house or land, that

stood

Within the prospect of your covetous eye? Wol. You are in this to me a greater tyrant, Than e'er I was to any.

Hub. I end thus

The general grief. Now to my private wrong,
The loss of Gerrard's daughter Jaculin,
The hop'd-for partner of my lawful bed,
Your cruelty hath frighted from mine arms;
And her I now was wand'ring to recover.
Think you that I had reason now to leave you,
When you are grown so justly odious,

That e'en my stay here, with your grace and favour,
Makes my life irksome? Here, surely take it!

And do me but this fruit of all your friendship, That I may die by you, and not your hangman. Wol. Oh, Hubert, these your words and reasons have

As well drawn drops of blood from my griev'd heart,

As these tears from mine eyes: Despise them not!
By all that's sacred, I am serious, Hubert.
You now have made me sensible, what furies,
Whips, hangmen, and tormentors, a bad man
Does ever bear about him! Let the good
That you this day have done be ever number'd
The first of your best actions. Can you think
Where Florez is, or Gerrard, or your love,
Or any else, or all, that are proscrib'd?
I will resign what I usurp, or have
Unjustly forc'd. The days I have to live
Are too, too few, to make them satisfaction
With any penitence: Yet I vow to practise
All of a man.

Hub. Oh, that your heart and tongue
Did not now differ!

Wol. By my griefs, they do not!

Take the good pains to search them out; 'tis

worth it.

You have made clean a leper; trust me you have, And made me once more fit for the society,

I hope, of good men.

Hub. Sir, do not abuse

My aptness to believe.

Wol. Suspect not you

A faith that's built upon so true a sorrow:
Make your own safeties; ask them all the ties
Humanity can give! Hempskirke too shall
Along with you, to this so-wish'd discovery,
And in my name profess all that you promise:
And I will give you this help to't; I have
Of late receiv'd certain intelligence,
That some of them are in or about Bruges
To be found out; which I did then interpret
The cause of that town's standing out against me;
But now am glad, it may direct your purpose
Of giving them their safety, and me peace.
Hub. Be constant to your goodness, and you
[Exeunt.

have it.

3 Mer. Yet he still Continues a good man.

2 Mer. So good, that but

To doubt him, would be held an injury,
Or rather malice, with the best that traffic.
But this is nothing; a great stock and fortune,
Crowning his judgment in his undertakings,
May keep him upright that way: But that wealth
Should want the pow'r to make him doat on it,
Or youth teach him to wrong it, best commends
His constant temper. For his outward habit,
'Tis suitable to his present course of life;
His table furnish'd well, but not with dainties
That please the appetite only for their rareness,
Or their dear price; nor given to wine or women,
Beyond his health, or warrant of a man,

I mean a good one; and so loves his state,
He will not hazard it at play, nor lend
Upon the assurance of a well-penn❜d letter,
Although a challenge second the denial,

From such as make the opinion of their valour
Their means of feeding.

1 Mer. These are ways to thrive,

And the means not curs'd.

2 Mer. What follows, this

Makes many venturers with him in their wishes
For his prosperity: For when desert

Or reason leads him to be liberal,
His noble mind and ready hand contend

Which can add most to his free courtesies,

Or in their worth, or speed, to make them so.
Is there a virgin of good fame wants dower,
He is a father to her; or a soldier,

That in his country's service, from the war
Hath brought home only scars and want, his house
Receives him, and relieves him, with that care
As if what he possess'd had been laid up
For such good uses, and he steward of it.
But I should lose myself to speak him further;
And stale, in my relation, the much good
You may be witness of, if your remove
From Bruges be not speedy.

1 Mer. This report,

I do assure you, will not hasten it;

Nor would I wish a better man to deal with

For what I am to part with.

3 Mer. Never doubt it,

He is your man and ours; only I wish

His too-much forwardness to embrace all bargains Sink him not in the end.

2 Mer. Have better hopes;

For my part, I am confident. Here he comes.

Enter GosWIN and the fourth Merchant.

Gos. I take it at your own rates, your wine of

Cyprus ;

But, for your Candy sugars, they have met With such foul weather, and are priz'd so high,

I cannot save in them.

4 Mer. I am unwilling

To seek another chapman. Make me offer
Of something near my price, that may assure me
You can deal for them.

Gos. I both can, and will,

But not with too much loss: Your bill of lading
Speaks of two hundred chests, valued by you
At thirty thousand guilders; I will have them
At twenty-eight; so, in the payment of
Three thousand sterling, you fall only in
Two hundred pound.

4 Mer. You know, they are so cheap-
Gos. Why, look you, I'll deal fairly; there's in
prison,

And at your suit, a pirate, but unable
To make you satisfaction, and past hope
To live a week, if you should prosecute

What you can prove against him: Set him free,
And you shall have your money to a stiver,
And present payment.

4 Mer. This is above wonder,

A merchant of your rank, that have at sea
So many bottoms in the danger of

These water-thieves, should be a means to save 'em!
It more importing you, for your own safety,
To be at charge to scour the sea of them,
Than stay the sword of justice, that is ready
To fall on one so conscious of his guilt
That he dares not deny it.

Gos. You mistake me,

If you think I would cherish in this captain
The wrong he did to you or any man.

I was lately with him (having first, from others'
True testimony, been assur'd a man

Of more desert never put from the shore)

I read his letters of mart from this state granted
For the recov'ry of such losses, as

He had receiv'd in Spain; 'twas that he aim'd at,
Not at three tuns of wine, biscuit or beef,
Which his necessity made him take from you.
If he had pillag'd you near, or sunk your ship,
Or thrown your men o'erboard, then he deserv'd
The law's extremest rigour. But since want
Of what he could not live without, compell'd him
To that he did (which yet our state calls death)
I pity his misfortunes, and to work you
To some compassion of them, I come up
To your own price: Save him, the goods are mine;
If not, seek elsewhere, I'll not deal for them.

4 Mer. Well, sir, for your love, I will once be

To change my purpose.

Gos. For your profit rather.

[led

Clause. Bless my good master!

The prayers of your poor beadsman ever shall
Be sent up for you.

Gos. God 'a mercy, Clause!

There's something to put thee in mind hereafter To think of me.

Clause. May he that gave it you

Reward you for it, with increase, good master!
Gos. I thrive the better for thy pray'rs.
Clause. I hope so.

These three years have I fed upon your bounties,
And by the fire of your bless'd charity warm'd me;
And yet, good master, pardon me, that must,
Tho' I have now receiv'd your alms, presume
To make one suit more to you.

Gos. What is't, Clause?

Clause. Yet do not think me impudent, I beseech Since hitherto your charity hath prevented [you, My begging your relief; 'tis not for money,

Nor clothes, good master, but your good word for

me.

Gos. That thou shalt have, Clause; for I think thee honest.

Clause. To-morrow, then, dear master, take the trouble

Of walking early unto Beggars' Bush;
And, as you see me, among others, brethren
In my affliction, when you are demanded
Which you like best among us, point out me,
And then pass by, as if you knew me not.

Gos. But what will that advantage thee?
Clause. Oh, much, sir.

'Twill give me the pre-eminence of the rest,
Make me a king among 'em, and protect me
From all abuse such as are stronger might
Offer my age. Sir, at your better leisure,
I will inform you further of the good
It may do to me.

Gos. "Troth, thou mak'st me wonder!
Have you a king and commonwealth among you?
Clause. We have, and there are states are go-
Gos. Ambition among beggars? [vern'd worse.
Clause. Many great ones

Would part with half their states, to have the place, And credit, to beg in the first file, master.

But shall I be so much bound to your furtherance
In my petition?

Gos. That thou shalt not miss of,
Nor any worldly care make me forget it:

SCENE I.-The Beggars' Bush near BRUGES. Enter HIGGEN, FERRET, PRIGG, CLAUSE, JACULIN, SNAP, GINKS, and other Beggars.

Hig. Come, princes of the ragged regiment;
You of the blood, Prigg, my most upright lord,
And these, what name or title e'er they bear,
Jarkman, or patrico, cranke, or clapperdudgeon,
Frater, or abram-man; I speak to all
That stand in fair election for the title

Of King of Beggars, with the command adjoining;
Higgen, your orator, in this inter-regnum,
That whilom was your dommerer, doth beseech you
All to stand fair, and put yourselves in rank,
That the first comer may, at his first view,
Make a free choice, to say up the question.
Fer. Prigg. 'Tis done, Lord Higgen.

Hig. Thanks to Prince Prigg, Prince Ferret.
Fer. Well, pray, my masters all, Ferret be chosen;
Ye're like to have a merciful mild prince of me.
Prigg. A very tyrant I, an arrant tyrant,
If e'er I come to reign (therefore look to't!)
Except you do provide me hum enough,

And lour to bouze with! I must have my capons
And turkies brought me in, with my green geese,
And ducklings in the season; fine fat chickens ;
Or, if you chance where an eye of tame pheasants
Or partridges are kept, see they be mine:
Or straight I seize on all your privilege,
Places, revenues, offices, as forfeit,

Call in your crutches, wooden legs, false bellies, Forc'd eyes and teeth, with your dead arms; not leave you

A dirty clout to beg with on your heads,
Or an old rag with butter, frankincense,
Brimstone and resin, birdlime, blood, and cream,
To make you an old sore; not so much soap
As you may foam with i' the falling-sickness;
The very bag you bear, and the brown dish,
Shall be escheated. All your daintiest dells too
I will deflower, and take your dearest dories
From your warm sides; and then some one cold
night

I'll watch you what old barn you go to roost in,
And there I'll smother you all i' the musty hay.
Hig. This is tyrant-like indeed: But what would
Ginks,

Or Clause be here, if either of them should reign?

Clause. Best ask an ass, if he were made a camel, What he would be; or a dog, an he were a lion! Ginks. I care not what you are, sirs, I shall be A beggar still, I'm sure ;-I find myself there.

Enter GosWIN.

Snap. Oh, here a judge comes.
Hig. Cry, a judge, a judge!

Gos. What ail you, sirs? what means this outcry?
Hig. Master,

A sort of poor souls met; God's fools, good master; Have had some little variance 'mongst ourselves Who should be honestest of us, and which lives Uprightest in his call: Now, 'cause we thought We ne'er should 'gree on't ourselves, because indeed 'Tis hard to say; we all dissolv'd to put it

To him that should come next, and that's your mastership,

Who, I hope, will 'termine it as your mind serves Right, and no otherwise we ask it: Which, [you,

King Clause, I bid God save thee first, first, Clause, After this golden token of a crown.

Where's orator Higgen with his gratuling speech In all our names?

Fer. Here he is, pumping for it.

[now,

Ginks. He has cough'd the second time; tis And then it comes. [but once more,

Fer. So, out with all! Expect nowHig. That thou art chosen, venerable Clause, Our king and sovereign, monarch o' the maunders, Thus we throw up our nab-cheats, first for joy, And then our filches; last, we clap our fambles, Three subject signs, we do it without envy; For who is he here did not wish thee chosen, Now thou art chosen? Ask 'em; all will say so, Nay swear't; 'tis for the king; but let that pass. When last in conference at the bouzing-ken, This other day we sat about our dead prince, Of famous memory, (rest go with his rags!) And that I saw thee at the table's end Rise mov'd, and gravely leaning on one crutch, Lift the other like a sceptre at my head, I then presag'd thou shortly wouldst be king, And now thou art so. But what need presage To us, that might have read it in thy beard, As well as he that chose thee? By that beard Oh, happy beard! but happier prince, whose beard Thou wert found out, and mark'd for sovereignty. Was so remark'd, as marked out our prince, Not bating us a hair. Long may it grow, And thick, and fair, that who lives under it May live as safe as under Beggars' Bush, Of which this is the thing, that but the type. All. Excellent, excellent orator! Forward, good Higgen!

Give him leave to spit. The fine well-spoken Higgen!

Hig. This is the beard, the bush, or bushy-beard, Under whose gold and silver reign, 'twas said, So many ages since, we all should smile. No impositions, taxes, grievances, Knots in a state, and whips unto a subject, Lie lurking in this beard, but all kem'd out: If now the beard be such, what is the prince That owes the beard? A father? no, a grandfather, Nay, the great-grandfather of you his people! He will not force away your hens, your bacon,