The raging Turke, or, Baiazet the Second A tragedie vvritten by Thomas Goffe, Master of Arts, and student of Christ-Church in Oxford, and acted by the students of the same house.

Actus Tertij,

Scena Prima,

Enter Selymus alone,

Selym.

Am I so poore in worth? still kept so low? Was I ••egot only to liue and dye, To fill a place, moue idlely to and fro Like other naturalls? vnmanly life, The world shall take more notice of my fame, Els will I with the venom'd sting of warre, Deface the beauty, of the vniuerse. Po••teritie shall know, once there did breath A Selymus, a mortall diety, A man at whose blest birth the planets smil'd, And spent their influence to create a boy, As braue as Greece e'r hatcht, or Rome, or Troy.

Enter Isaack

Heer's Isaack Bassa, hee's already mine, He courts my father, but intends for mee, And furthers all my counsells; Noble friend▪ How stand our hopes?

Isaacke

Great Sir, most happily, The Bassaes murmure at Achmetes wrong: Seize on their wauering loue, their breasts are ope, To him that first will enter ther's free scope; Drop downe thy franke affection in their hands, To bribe is lawfull, and 'tis strongly prou'd By good examples, Otho ne'r was lou'd, Till he had bought the souldiers, that once done,

Gal••a grew out of fashion•• so must wee Addict them to vs by a gaine-full fee: Giue freely, and speake fairely I'le be gone▪ Stay, here, the Bassae•• will be here anon.

Exit. Enter Mesithes.

Sely.

I shall obserue thy precepts, Mesithes welcome, How fare you in these dayes of discontent? My dutie bids me aske, and wish you well; I haue beene long a barren debtor to you, At length I may proue thankfull: weare my loue, 'Tis yours without refusal, a sleight gift,

giues him a ring aside

Yet your lookes tels me, 'twill helpe out my drift.

Mesi.

This courtesie exceeds my weake deserts Sweet Prince but when occasion calls me forth, To helpe you, I'me deuoted to your worth.

Sely.

Your kind acceptance of that recompence, Binds me more strictly to you.

Mesith.

Sir, farewell,

Exit. and enter Mustupha

Sely.

So one hath tooke, see where another comes: All health to Mustapha.

Musta.

Thankes gracious Prince, Your gentle pardon for my boldnesse Sir.

Sely.

Command my pardon, and commend my lo••e To thy bright daughter: tell her I admire Her vertuous perfection; let that chaine

giues him a chaine

Make me remembred often in her mind.

Must.

When my weak strength, or wealth shall stretch so far, As to continue—

Sely.

No Cynicke complement, good Mustapha.

Musta.

Then I returne you thankes

Exit

Sely.

Health follow you, And honour me; here is a third at hand.

Enter Asmehemides.

Selym.

Continuance to your health Sir.

Asme.

Thankes gentle Prince▪ Please you to vse my seruice?

Sely.

Yes, thus farre Spend me that purse of gold.

giues him a purse.

Asme.

What meanes your Highnesse?

Selym.

But to deserue your kindnesse, and avoid

The hated censure of ingratitude,

Asme.

This is your liberall vertue not my deeds, But you shall find me thankefull.

Exit▪

Selymus.

So I hope; Three steps are trod already to a Throne, And I am rich in friends, these pr••fferd gifts Conjure observance from their servile breasts: Oh powerfull gold, whose influence doth winne Men with desire for to engender sinne. Isaacke Bassa?

Isaacke

Euen the man you wisht; What did the golden 〈◊〉〈◊〉 worke good effect? And make the Bassaes stoupe vnto your minde?

Sely.

Words are but empty shaddowes, but if deeds Answere their words, we cannot doubt their faith, They stoupe beneath my feete, I seeme to be As true as Ioue, but slye as Mercurie,

Enter M••sithes

Here comes Mesithes muttering backe againe, But step aside and we shall know his mind.

Mesith.

But he is cruell, bloody, and his pride Vnsufferable great—

Selymus

Ha?

Mesithes

Proud Baiazet, Thou hast vsurp'd a title, thy defcent Could neuer reach vnto, thou wrongst the world Since thou detain'st the Crowne, which heavens decree Due to a better brow, thou art defam'd With Tyranny and wrong, but Selymus Is voyd of blemishes as trueth of lyes; Bad stocks must be cut downe, the good must rise.

Sely.

He davnted me at first, but now I find The golds bright lustre made his judgement blind, Mustapha comes.

Enter Mustapha

Musta.

Fortune hath wheel'd me vp aboue the starres, Vnder a Monarch Ile not sell my hopes: Bold Selymus Ile second thy designes, And thou shalt Queene my daughter, that being done With mine owne splendor Ile eclipse the Sunne.

Sely.

I'st so? a while Ile feede thy ayrie hopes Then dash thee into nothing. Heer's a third.

Enter Asmehemides

Asm.

A purse of gold? I can vntie the knot, The close aengima say's, I would be King. Braue Selymus I like thy mounting thoughts, Worke out thy proiects, thou canst neuer need Or aske my helpe, but thou art sure to speed.

Exit

Sely.

What we resolu'd, stands firme, but the euent Be scan'd when leasure serues, weele now preuent My brothers hopes, and by a sudden ••ate Vnto their liues and dayes giue equall date, To compasse a blest end: now we beginne Ioue hath offended if it be a sinne To throw a father downe: Saturne did dwell Once in the heauens, Iou•• threw him downe to hell.

Enter Baiazet and Achmetes, hand in hand, Cherseogles, Mesithes, Mustapha, Mahometes, Achomates, Trizham, Mahomet, Asmehemides.

Sely.

But stay. Achmetes, and our fathers friends?

Baia.

Achmetes I haue iniur'd thy deserts, Subbornd accusers, wrong'd my credulous eares, And my rash censure vndervalued much Thy noble spirits, when it first condemnd Then of intended treason, rense thy soule In the dull riuer of obliuion, We halt beneath the burthen of thy hate, Thinke my mou'd anger made me hot and wild▪ I cannot sleepe till we be reconcil'd.

Achm.

The gods neglect my welfare here on earth, And when I shall put off this mor••all load, Let me be out-law'd from the Court of heauen, If in this bosome there lye ••id one thought That doth not honour Baiazet.

Baia▪

Wee know— Thy vertues make vs happy: ••••liant Sir, Thy feete once more m••st ••••ead •• warlike ma••ch▪ Vnder our feare••ull banner, thou ••halt pace

Euen to the walles of Rome, there dwels our foe, Where our halfe Moone rear'd in the middle camp, Like a distempred Meteor in the ayre, Shall strike amazement in the cloistred monkes And shake the prelates Miter from his head, Till he yeeld Zemes vp aliue or dead. When we haue mou'd thee from thy Ianuzaries, Thou shalt not trauell farre.

aside

Isaack

A subtile tricke And well pretended, I admire thy wit.

aside

Achm.

Let me march hence, and Baiazet shall know, How little I befriend my Princes foe, Ile cast a ring of souldiers round 〈◊〉〈◊〉 The walles of Rome, if Zemes scape thence out, Cut of my breath: he that's deepe in blame, Must hazard boldly to regaine his fame.

Triz.

What meanes our father, noble Baiazet, To worke vntimely horrors through the world, Desolate ruine, publike discontent Haue printed deepe impressions in our path, Danger and feare scare emptied from our towne, The shaken members of our common wealth, Yet staggers with their wounds, when discord shall Make but a second breach, they faint and fall.

Mah.

Short peace hath charm'd your subiects all asleepe, And throwne a quiet slumber ore their eyes, Whilest with a sweete restoratiue she heales Their Ma••tyr'd joynts, and wipeth out their scarres Writ on their bosomes by the hand of warres, Zemes is safely cloystred vp at Rome, The prelate dares not ayde h••m, all the gods Smile on the entrance of triumphant peace, War lies fast bound, nor can she worke our paines Vnlesse we loose the fury from her chaines.

Baia.

Our sonnes instruct vs? must your pregnant wits, Crosse my command? Bassae•• prepare for warre, An•• since your graue discourse argues a will, To stay at home▪ you shall; weele lay you vp,

Where no loud ecchoing drums shall breake your ••leepe, Euen in the bowels of your mother earth I will intombe you: Put them both to death.

Omnes.

What meanes great Baiazet?

Baia.

To murder you, vnlesse you strangle them.

Ambo.

But heare vs speake.

Baia.

Stop vp the damned passage of their throat, Or you are all but ghosts. what; stare you friends? Isaacke and Selymus, a garter; Twist me that fatall string about his necke, And either pull and an end,

strangle Trizham.

Mesithes come Ioyne force with me, by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••were best make hast, Or thou art shorter liu'd then is that bratte. Tugge strongly at it.

strangle Mahome••.

So; let the bastard droppe, We haue out-liud our tutors: dunghill sl••ues, Durst they breath out their Stoicke ••entences In opposition of our strickt command?

Selym.

So: things run well along, and now I find Io••e heares my prayers, and the gods grow kind.

Baia.

Did not I send these to their Provinees To hinder Zemes flight? and did not they Dejected bastards giue him open way? Mine anger hath beene just.

Cherseo.

None doth deny't; You may proceed in your edict for warres, And make Achmetes generall of the campe.

Baia.

It is enough: Achmetes goe to hell,

stabs him

The deuils haue rung out thy passing bell, And looke for thine arrivall. Shend me slaues.

Exeunt omnes.

They fly before my breath like mists of ayre, And are of lesse resistance, Ile pursue.

Exit

Achme.

Oh! I am slaine, Tyrant thy violent hand, Hath done me pleasure, though against thy will, Had I as many liues as drops of blood, I'de not outliue this houre: flye hence vaine soule,

Climbe yonder ••acred mount, striue vpwards, there, There where a guard of starres shall hemme thee round, Build thee a safe tribunall—I am gone— Oh tragique cruelty—behold—the end Of two right Noble sonnes—one faithfull friend

〈◊〉〈◊〉

Re-enter Baiazet in fury.

Baia.

Haue all forsaken me? and am I left A pray vnto my selfe; did all their breath Passe through his organs? and in his sad death, Haue I abruptly crackt the vitall threed Of all my Bassaes?

Achmetes groanes.

Ha? where am I now? In some Gehenna, or some hollow vault, Where dead mens ghosts sigh out their heavy groanes: Resolue me Mahomet, and ridde me hence, Or I will spoyle the fabricke of thy tombe, And beate away the title of a God. Do'st thou not moue? a trunke? a stocke? to die, Is to put on your nature, so will I.

Offering to stab himselfe, Cherseo••les, Mesithes, Mustapha, Mahomates, Achomates, Selymus, Asmehemides, i••∣terrupt him.

Omnes.

Hold, hold, and liue.

Baia.

How come these bodies dead?

Fili••.

Father, it was your selfe.

Baia.

Let me reuoke My wandring sence, Oh what a streame of blood Hath purg'd me of my blacke suspition, Two sonnes, one valiant Captaine hence are wrought By mine owne hand, to cure one iealous thought, As 'tis, they are the happier, I out-liue, Them whom I wisht to fall: onely to graue, Beare foorth their bodies; Bassaes carry them out, We were curst in this, And shall intombe with them much of our blisse, ••ndeed wee had resolu'd to spend this day In things of more solem••itie, lesse woe. Now our more wished councell shall beginne

And bitter deedes waigh vp the scales of sinne. Ama••ia is a province rich and strong, Mahomates it is thine, keepe it as long As I haue power to giue it go, prou••de For thy conveyance, at the next fayre tide.

Mahom.

Farewell deare father.

Baia.

Worthy sonne adiew. The loue my dead sonnes wanted, fals to you, As an hereditary good.

Selymus

Then we

aside

May vaile our heads in blacke, no mourners be.

Baia.

Mahomates, thy worth Deserues some trophies of our loue, Which to let slip vnmention'd, were to adde To this blacke day, a fourth offence as bad; Gouerne Man••sia, now the people stand Disfurnisht of an head, let thy command, Be great amongst them, so; make speedy hast. Honour ayes for thee.

Selym.

Now the stormes are past.

Mahom.

Father adiew;

Exit.

Baia.

Mahomates, farewell.

Selym.

Now to my lot, I thought 'twould ne'r a fell,

aside

Baia.

Now Selymus, wee know thy hop̄es are great, And thine ambition gapes with open jawes, To swallow a whole Dukedome: but young Sir, We dare not trust the raines of gouernment Into the hands of Phacton. Desire, Rashly fullfild, may set the world on fire; Greene youth, and raw experience are not fit, To shoulder vp a Kingdomes heauie weight, Mixe wit with stay'd discretion, and spend Wild yeares in study, then we doe intend To settle more preferment on thy head Then thou can'st hope for.

Selymus

Wilt thou enuious dotard Strangle my greatnesse in a miching hole? The world's my study Baiazet, my name,

Shall fill each angle of this round-built frame.

Exit.

Baiaz.

I know he grumbled at it; but 'tis good To calme the rebell heat of youthfull blood With sharpe rebukes.

Enter a 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪

Messen.

Health to the Emperour.

Baiaz.

What will your message?

Messen.

Duty first from Rome, Commended by the Bishop to your seruice, With a firme promise to dispatch your will What euer it imployd, and would but stay Till ••imes ••wift circle should bring forth a day Secure for the performance.

Baiaz.

'Tis enough.

Exit.

Thanks for your care. This was to murder Zemes. Wa••re with the Bishop? 'thad beene pretty sport, I knew my powerfull word was strong enough To make him do•• my pleasure: simple Priest, Onely I vs'd it as a trick, to send Achmet••s from the Citie and his friends; But Fate to smil'd vpon me, that I found A shorter me••n••s his life and hopes to wound With my sententious sonnes, that when my foe•• Fled through their Prouince, finely let him goe; Which being wholy finish'd, straight to please My friends, I play'd raging Hercules; Then to shut vp the Scene, neatly put on A passionate humour, and the worst was done. But who comes here?

A dumbe show.

Enter Mahomee••es with store of Turks he as taking his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, they as coremonio••sly with great humblenes••e, taking thei•• leaues, depart at seuerall dores.

I like not this. Mahomat••s belou'd So dearely of the Comminalty: ha? Hee's wise, faire-spoken, gently q••alified, Powerfull of tongue; why hee's the better sonne, Not to supplant his Father. I mislike The prodigall affection throwne on him By all my ••ubiects. I belyed my hopes When I presum'd this day had freely rid

Me of my worst vexation: I was borne To be a Iade to Fate, and Fortu••es scoffe, My cares grow double-great by cutting off.

Exit.

Actus Tertij, Scena Tertia.

Enter Caigubus Achmetes sonne.

Caigub.

If euer man lou'd sorrow wisht to grieue Father I doe for thee. Could I depriue My senses of each object, but thy death, Then should I ioy to sigh away my breath: Be Godhead to my griefe, then shall these eyes With tributary teares bedeck thy shrine: And thus I doe invoke thee: nimble Ghost What euer ••rbe of Heauen, what euer coast Affords thee present mansion, quickly thence Flit hither, and present vnto my sense Thy selfe a feeling substance, let me see, Acknowledge and admire thy Maiesty. Put off that ayry thinnesse which denies Me to behold thee with these duller eyes, Then shall they sending downe a powerfull floud, Rence thy colde members from each drop of bloud, And so returne thee back, that thou may'st soare Vp to the skies, much purer then before. Had the iust course of nature wrought thee hence, I would haue made the gods know their offence, And backe restore thy soule: but thou art dead, And 'twas a fiercer hand that clipt thy thread. Fiercer, and bolder, which did euer thriue By mischiefe, and once coffinde thee aliue Vp in deaths mantle, but then would not vse Such open violence, nor durst abuse One of such sacred worth, till fury st••uck His reason dead, and made his treacherous hand Creepingly stab thee, both vnseene and foule, As if he would haue ••tolne away thy soule.

Enter Isaack.

But oh!

Isaack.

But of indeede!

Caigub.

Why what?

Isaack.

As bad A stroke attends thee as thy Father had▪ Princes suspition is a flame of fire, Exhal'd first from our manners, and by desire Of rule is nourish'd, fed, and rores about Till the whole matter dye, and then goes out.

Caigub.

Vnfold a Scene of murders: Fates worke on, Wee'le make a path to Heauen, and being gone Downe from the lofty towers of the skies Throw thunder at the Tyrant; will he presse The earth with waight of slaught'red carcasses? Let him grow vp in mischiefe, still shall her wombe Gaping, reserue for him an empty tombe. We doe but tread his path; and Bassa since It stands vpon thee, now to cure thy Prince Of his distemper'd lunacie, goe fetch The instrument of death, whilst I a wretch Expect thy sad returne.

Isaack.

I goe; and could It stand with mine alleageance, sure I should Imploy my seruice to a better end, Then to disrobe the Court of such a friend.

Exit.

Caigub.

He that is iudg'd, downe from a steepy hill To drop vnto his death, and trembling still Expects one thence to push him, such a slaue Doth not deserue to liue, nor's worth a graue. Then Lachisi••, thou that deuid'st the threed Of breath, since this dayes Sun must see me dead, Thus I'le preuent thy paine, thus I'le out-runne My Fate; and in this stroke thy worke is done.

Stabs 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Eternall mouer, thou that whirl'st about The skies ••n circular motion heare me out What I command, see that without controule Thou make Heauen cleare, to entertaine my soule, And let the nimble spirits of the ayre Print me a passage hence vp to thy chaire,

There will I sit, and from the Azure sky, Laugh at obsequious base mortality. Vanish my soule, enioy, embrace thy Fate

Stabs him∣selfe. dyes.

Enter Isaack with executioners.

Isaack.

We are preuented; see the fates command False deedes, must dye though by the Actors hand. Returne to Baiazet, and beare that corpes.

Exeunt.

So now I am alone, nor need I feare To breath my thoughts out to the silent ayre; My conscience will not heare me, that being deafe I may ioy freely: first thy hated breath Achmetes vanisht, next Caigub•••• fell, Thus we clime Thrones, whilst they drop downe to hell. The glorious eye of the all-seeing sunne, Shall not behold (when all our plots are done) A greater Prince then Selymus; 'tis hee Must share with Ioue an equall Maiesty. But for my selfe his Enginer I'le stand Aboue mortality, and with a hand Of power, dash all beneath me into dust, If they but crosse the current of my lust. What I but speake, 'tis Oracle and Law, Thus I will rule and keepe the world in awe.

Selym.

Noble assistant.

Enter Selymus, M••sithes, Mustapha, Asmehemedes.

Isaack.

Happy Selymus.

Selym.

'Tis thou must make me so, for should I stay Wayting my Fathers pleasure, I might stand Gazing with enuie at my Brothers pride, My selfe lying prostrate, euen beneath their feete. Townes, Cities, Countries, and what ere so euer Can giue high thoughts content, are freely theirs, I onely like a spend thrift of my yeares Idle my time away, as if some god Had raz'd my name out of the roule of Kings, Which if he haue, then Isaack be thy hand As great as his, to print it in againe Though Baiazet say nay.

Isaack.

No more: I will; An Empire be our hopes; that to obtaine Wee'le watch, plot, fight, sweat, and be colde againe.

〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Actus Tertii, Scena Quarta.

Enter Zemes, and Alexander Bishop of Rome.

Bishop.

Cannot my words add solace to your thoughts? Oh! you are gulft too deepe in a desire Of soueraigne pompe, and your high thoughts aspire. All the vnshadowed plainen••sse of my life Doth but contract thick wrinckles of mislike In your Majestick brow, and you distast Morall receipts, which I haue ministred To coole Ambitions Feauer.

Zemes.

Pardon Sir, Your Holinesse mistakes my malady, Another sicknesse grates my tender breast, And I am ill at heart: alas, I stand An abject now as well in Natures eye, As erst I did in Fortunes: is my health Fled with mine honour? and the common rest Of man, growne stranger to me in my griefe? Some vnknowne cause hath bred through all my bloud A colder operation, then the juice Of Hemlock can produce: O wretched man: Looke downe propitious Godheads on my woes: Ph••••bus infuse into me the sweet breath Of cheerefull health, or else infectious death. If there an Angell be whom I haue crost In my tormented boldnesse? and these griefes Are expiatory punishments of sinne? Now, now repentance strike quite through my heart, Enough of paines, enough of bitter smart Haue tyed me to't. I haue already bin Bolted from ioy, content can enter in, Not at the open passage of my heart,

I neither heare, nor see, nor feele, nor touch With pleasure; my vexation is so much. My graue can onely quit me of annoy; That preuents mischiefe, which can bring no ioy.

Exit.

Bish.

Now I could curse what mine owne hand hath done, And wish that he would vomit out the draught Of direfull poyson, which infects his bloud. Ambitious fire? why 'tis as cleane extinct, As if his heart were set beneath his feet, Griefe hath boil'd out the humours of vaine pride, And he was meere contrition. What's the newes?

Enter a Messenger.

Messen.

Zemes as now he left you, pale and wan, Dragging his weake legges after him, did fall Dead on the stony pauement of the Hall, Not by vnhappy chance, but as he walkt, Fold••ng his armes vp in a pensiue knot, And rayling at his Fate, as if he staged The wounded Priam, or some falling King, So he, oft lifting vp his closing eye, Sunke faintly downe, groan'd out, I dye, I dye.

Bish

It grieues my soule: let Baiazet know this Could our owne shortned life, but lengthen his By often sighes I would transfuse my breath Into his breast, and call him back from death.

Exit.

Actus Tert••i, Scena Quinta.

Enter Selymus, Mesithes, Mustapha.

Selym.

Let not my absence steale away my loue, Or locall distance weaken the respect Which you haue euer borne me: I must fly To shake the yoake of bondage from my necke: My Fathers eyes shall not scan out my life In euery action; then when I am gone, Our loue like pretious mettall shall not cracke In the protraction, but be gently fram'd

Into a subtler thinnesse, which shall reach From either part, not craz'd by any breach.

Mesith.

Returne with ruine painted in thy brow, Pale death triumphant in thy horrid crest, Danger limm'd out vpon thy threatning sword, The Turkish thraldome pourtrai'd on thy shield, Wee'le meete thee in thy horror, and vnfold Our armes as wide as heauen to take thee in.

Selym.

We trust you: if there lie vnspoken loue Hid in your bosomes? we must bury it In silent Farewells.

Mustaph.

Noble Prince adiew, Since thy franke deeds haue printed in our hearts So true a patterne of thee, we will feed Our contemplation with thy memory. VVhen thou art really departed, thus A better part of thee shall stay with vs.

〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Selym.

So the swift wings of flight shall mount me vp Aboue these walls into the open ayre, And I will towre aboue thee Baiazet. Farewell soft Court; I haue beene kept too long VVithin thy narrow walls, and am new borne To golden liberty; now stretch out you heauens, Spread forth the dewy mantle of the cloudes Thou powerfull Sunne of Saturne, and remoue The terminating Poles of the fixt earth To entertaine me in my second birth.

Enter Isaack Bassa.

Isaack

Not yet rid from our warrs? Faire Prince take heed, Treason's a Race that must be runne with speed: Aelus beckons, and the flattering windes Ioyne all to helpe our proiect: quickly hence: All's full of d••nger. Did your Father know Hee'd stop your flight, and breath at one deaths blow.

Selym.

Friend I am gone: thou hoary God of Seas,

Exit.

Smooth the rough bosome of thy wrinckled tide, That my wing'd Boat may gently on it glide.

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