The young admirall As it vvas presented by her Majesties Servants, at the private house in Drury Lane. Written by James Shirly.

The first Act.

Enter Prince, and Alberto.

ALberto.

My Lord y're sad.

Pr.

I am thinking, Alberto, Of many things, have I not cause?

Al.

You may Thinke on em with lesse trouble.

Pr.

But of all What dost imagine most afflicts me? ile Prevent thy answere, I am not troubled With the present threatnings of the Enemy, With all his preparations to invade us.

Al.

You have more confidence in Vittori, sent To meete the insulting King, he has heene fortunate In many warres.

Pr.

The warres consume Vittori, He has beene too fortunate.

Al.

Your wishes ere Against the common peace, if he prove not A happie Admirall we are lost.

Pr.

Be thou

And all thy name lost, and may no age Find it agen: how dare you interrupt us? When we do want your Councell, wel'e call for you.

Al.

I am gone sir.

Enter Iulio.

Pr.

My Iulio welcome, What speakes Cassandra yet?

Iu.

Nothing to encourage you, the same obstinate thing Victory has her heart, she much condemnes The roughnesse which you mix'd with your last courtship, She saies your Father may command her life, But you must be a stranger to her bosome.

Pr.

I was too rude at my last visit.

Iu.

Rather sir too tame.

Pr.

Have I for this drawne warre vpon my countrey, Neglected Sicilies Daughter, left a staine Vpon his Court, and paid his Entertainment With wounding one he lou'd?

Iu.

His favourite You had beene lesse sir, then your selfe to have suffered His insolence, nor was't an act becomming His Master, to send hither to negotiate A marriage for his Daughter, and when you So farre engag'd your selfe upon a visite, To permit any of his gaudy upstarts Affront your person.

Pr.

I acquit the King, Twas no state quarrell, high with wine he did Throw some disgrace on our Italian Ladies, Whilst he would magnifie some beauties there, This he did second with a pride, and rudenesse, My patience was not tame enough to suffer, And carelesse of all danger I did punish him.

Iu.

Twas home and hansome.

Pr.

I must owe to fortune.

Iu.

For your returne, she did but do her duty, To make it swift and happy.

Pr.

I confesse the princesse usd me nobly, though my fancy

Was not surpris'd, for here I kept the image Of faire Cassandra, whose divine beauty Doth scorne all competition.

Iu.

Did you love Cassandra before you went to Sicily?

Pr.

Yes but with too much silence, and that love Did make me apprehend more fiercely the Occasion to breake off all forraine treaty, Horatio's fall, and my quitting the Country, Vpon't the king interprets a disgrace To his daughter and himselfe, and in revenge Hath added this new tempest to the Sea, Mean't to our ruine Iulio.

Iu.

All their fury May soone be interrupted, if Vittory Mannage his businesse well.

Pr.

That's all my trouble.

Iu.

What?

Pr.

Vittory ther's the devill on't, he may Be fortunate and overcome.

Iu.

Can there Be ill in that?

Pr.

Ill? thou art shallow, I Made him not Admirall, but to engage His youth and spirit, apt to fly on dangers, To perish in his hot pursuit of honour, If he come home with victory, my Father And his wise state must give him thankes, the people Giddily runne, to meete the Conquerour, And owe their lives, and safety to his triumph. But where am I? what peace brings it to me? What blessing i'st to heare the generall voyce Shoot their wild joyes to heaven, and I in torment Certaine to lose my hopes in faire Cassandra?

Iu.

There may be waies at home to remove him, And plant you in your wishes.

Pr.

It would be Most happinesse to heare his death.

Ju.

That may Ruine a Kingdome.

Pr.

Ruine twenty more, So I enioy her first, nothing can be Too precious to forfeit, I am mad, And my desires by opposition grow More violent.

Iu.

I thought your masculine soule Lesse capable of vexation, shall a subject Whom with your breath you may blow out o'th'world Raise su h a storme within you?

Pr.

No he sha'not, I ha found my selfe againe, come ile be merry, But I will have Cassandra spight of fate?

Iu.

Resolve and have her.

Pr.

Stay, it were convenient We did know how to doe this Iulio.

Iu.

Y'are in the right sir, it were first indeed Convenient to know how.

Pr.

Thou knowst his Father.

Iu.

Sighnior Alphonso.

Pr.

A bold and daring Gentleman, all flame When he is mov'd, and carelesse of a danger To vindicate his honour.

Iu.

What of this?

Pr.

He shall beare the foundation of a plot, To make me Lord of my desires.

Iu.

Heele rather Meet torture•…•… then consent, his arme is not Yet withered, and while he can lift a sword, He will employ it to revenge Vittori.

Pr.

Thou art no Polititian Iulio.

Enter Fabio.

How now? what newes with you?

Fa.

And please your grace An humble creature of yours, proud of the least Occasion to expresse how faithfully My heart is fixt to serve you.

Pr.

Whats your businesse?

In.

I have businesse of some consequence,

I had not beene so bold else to disturbe Your Princely conference, for I durst never Assume that impudent garbe, that other courtiers Are knowne by, my devotion has beene still To appeare in modest services.

Pr.

To'th point.

Fa.

It were a point of deepe neglect to keepe Your 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in expectation, yet delaies Make ioyes the sweeter, arrowes that fly compasse, Arrive with as much happinesse to the marke, As those are shot pointblanke?

Pr.

This Courtier loves To heare himselfe talke, be not so impertinent, We know your care.

Fa.

And cost my Lord sometimes, For they that hold intelligence abroad To benefit their countrey, must not make Idolls of their estates, and tis a happinesse To sell their fortunes for their Princes smile, Which I am confident you will vouchsafe, When you have heard my newes.

Pr.

Woud you would vouchsafe To let us heare?

Fa.

Vouchsafe my Lord, alas! You may command my tongue, my hands, my feete, My head, I should account that limbe superfluous That would not be cut off to do you service.

Pr.

I do command thee silence, dost heare, silence,

Fa.

It is a verture my good Lord I know, But where the tongue has something to deliver, That may delight a Princes care, and so forth.

Iu.

Now theres some hope, he's come to his, and so forth.

Fa.

The newes concernes the Admirall Vittori.

Pr.

What of him, is he slaine?

Fa.

The starres forbid, he is return'd my Lord, Triumphant, brave, and glorious—

Pr.

Be dumbe. Another syllable, •…•…le ha thy tongue out,

And leave no roote, lest there grow out another, Was all your circumstance for this?

•…•…u.

My Lord! You are too open brested, let this fellow See into your heart, wisemen disguise their counsels Till things are ripe.

Pr.

Begon, pox o'your legges And the curse ha'not beene before, yet stay, Give order that no man goe forth to meete him Vntill our pleasure further knowne, command The Governour oth City place a guard About the gates, let no mans face appeare Without the walls, the King our father meanes To salute him first in person, dee stand.

Fa.

Give order that no man goe forth to meete him, I shall my Lord.

Pr.

He shall be entertain'd, I feele new armies in my brest, His father

Enter Alphonso.

Thine care Iulio.

Iu.

I shall attend you straight My honorable Lord.

Al.

Your servant Iulio Where is the Prince? I beg your graces pardon.

Pr.

Oh my good Lord, your sonne I heare's return'd With honour, has defeated the Sicilian Bravely.

Al.

He has and please your highnesse, heaven Has smild upon his undertaking, it renewes my youth to heare it.

Pr.

He had good souldiers, But all their valour still conspires to make The generall a garland, he must weare The conquering bayes, whose blood soever pay's for't.

Al.

My Lord.

Pr.

Nay, nay I envie not his victory.

Al.

You envie him, it was your cause he fought, And for his Country.

Pr.

Right, and tis the cause That often prospers, that without his valour Would ha defen•…•…'d it selfe.

Al.

If all vertue Were left to her owne protection, my Lord, Vnarm'd with strength and policie, best states Would finde shrew'd innovations.

Pr.

You had best Tell me I lie.

Al.

I dare not thinke so foulely.

Pr.

Y'are a traitor,

Enter Iulio with a Guard.

Lay hands on him.

Al.

He that shall dare to say Alphonso is A traytor, let his veines partake no blood Of yours, and he shall curse he had a tongue.

Pr.

Disarme the rebell, and to prison with him.

Al.

Ingratefull Prince.

Exit.

Pr.

Ile tame your ruffian spirit. So, so, ile now acquaint my father Iulio, Who must allow my act, diseases that Are desperate require a rugged handling, This is for thee Cassandra!

Exit.

Enter Vittori, Mauricion, Captaine and Souldiers.

Vi.

Stand.

1. Stand. 2 Stand. 3 Stand.

Vi.

The King received intelligence!

Ma.

Our ships Must needes report that loud enough.

Vi.

Tis strange, Is it not possible we have mistooke The shore, transported with our navall victory, Speake gentlemen! or doe we dreame?

Ma.

Those walls Are certainely the same, and that the City Peopled when we launch'd forth, and full of prayers For our successe.

Ca.

It may be they reserve Their welcome till we march into the City.

Ma.

They may have some conceit.

Vi.

A generall silence Like night dwels round about us, and no signe That men inhabite, have we wonne at Sea To lose our selves upon the Land? or in Our absence hath some monster landed here And made it desolate, devour'd the Natives, And made em creepe into the earth agen?

Ma.

They might salute us with one peece of ordnance.

Vi.

They cannot take us for their enemies, Captaine enquire the cause, let none else move; Yet stay, unlesse it be some strange mortality, And yet that cannot be, have we brought home Their safety purchas'd through so many horrours, And is this all the payment for our conquest? To shut the gates upon us.

Cap.

Force them open With the Canon, shake their walls about their eares, They are asleepe.

Vi.

For such another rashnesse Thy head shall be the bullet of that Canon, And shot into the towne; go to! be temperate, As I grudge none the merit of their valour, I must heare none so bold.

Cap.

I ha done sir.

Vi.

Subjects are bound to fight for princes, they Not bound to the reward of every service, I looke upon thee now fighting at sea, And have forgot this error, give no breath To such a thought hereafter▪ Honour payes Double where Kings neglect, and he is valiant Truely that dares forget to be rewarded.

1. So.

This is but cold comfort for a knapsacke man.

Vi.

And yet tis strange the King should thus neglect us, This is cheape entertainement for a conquerour Ist not Mauritio? misery of Souldiers When they have sweat blood for their Countries honour, They stand at others mercy.

Ma.

They have slept since And dream't not of our sufferings.

Vi.

Is the Prince Alive, to whom we owe our Countries quarrell The difference of both Kingdomes? Our warre and fortunes justifie his act Can he be guilty of this shame? no more, There's something would faine mutinie within me, Strangle the snakes betime Vittori—so This was a way to forfeit all our fames; Fold up your Ensignes throw off all the pride That may expresse a triumph, well march on As we had over bought our victory.

Ma.

The gates are opend now, and we discover A woman by her veile, in mourning habit, Comming this way

Vi.

Alone? more strange and fatall, It may be tis my genius come to give A melancholy warning of my death, As Brutus had from his, Ile stand my destiny, Yet bearing the resemblance of a woman It will lesse terrifie, who should this be?

Enter Cassandra veild in mourning.

Lady your garment speakes you a sad woman, Greefes should salute no neerer, if it were In poore Vittories power to dispossesse you Of any sorrow.

Cass.

Oh my deare Vittori•…•… My wishes ayme at none beside.

Vi.

Cassandra? We are rewarded, had Vittori taken Into his body a thousand wounds, this kisse Had made me well againe, or but one droppe Of this rich balsome, for I know thy teares Are joy to see Vittori safe, the King With all the glories of his Province cannot Doe halfe this honour to his Admirall, I have a place above all happinesse,

And meete a greater empire in thy love Then fame or victorie hath ever boasted, My owne my best Cassandra!

Cas.

Call agen That temper, which hath made Vittori honour'd And if my teares which carry something more Then joy to welcome home, my best lov'd Lord Affect you with no sadnesse, which I wish not, Yet looke upon this mourning not put on To counterfeit a griefe, and that will tell you There is necessity for you to know Somewhat to checke the current of your triumph.

Ma.

What prodigies are these?

Vi.

I was too carelesse Of this sad habit, joy to see thy face Made me distinguish nothing else, proceed And punish my too prodigall embraces, It is not fit I be in one thought blest And thou in such a Livery.

Ca.

When you say You have strength enough to entertaine the knowledge Of such an injury.

Vi.

If it onely point At me, speake it at once, I am collected, Shat see I will be conqueror at home, If it concerne thy selfe, let it not flow Too fast, but rather let my eare receive it By such degrees as may not kill too soone, But leave me some life onely to revenge it.

Ca.

The Prince whose cause engag'd your warre abroad, Hath ill rewarded you at home.

Vi.

He cannot!

Ca.

Sir in your absence I have suffered for you, Hourely sollicited to my dishonour.

Vi.

Ha!

Ca.

For though he cald it love; I might suspect it, His personall visits, messengers, rich presents Left me not quiet to enjoy my selfe.

I told him I had given my faith already, Contracted yours, impatient of my answers, He urg'd his greatnesse, sweare he would enjoy me, Or be no Prince in Naples, I am yet Preserv'd, and welcome home my deerest safety.

Vi.

The Prince doe this!

Ca.

This is but halfe the story, By his command none dare salute your victory, Or powre their glad hearts forth at your returne, To these he hath newly added the dishonour of Your father, whom he hath commanded close Prisoner ith Castle, upon some pretence Of treason, in my eyes you may behold How people shed their sorrow, as the guard Led him to prison, none so bold to aske The cause that made him suffer in his miserie.

Vi.

Will the King suffer this?

Ca.

Alas his age Hath made him tame, a too indulgent father To such a sonne, whose will is all the law, Controlling what he pleases in this fall Of justice; which way will Vittori take?

Vi.

Mauricio didst heare this? we must aske Forgivenesse that we have beene valiant, Repent our duties, and that victory We bought so deere, we shud have dyed at sea, And then perhaps beene talk'd on in the croud Of honest men, for giving up our lives, Which for our service they may now take from us, We are not yet i▪th snare, and we have power To stis•…•…e their designes, and prevent our Dishonourable fall.

Ma.

The souldiers hearts Are yours.

Vi.

No Mauricio let em be the Kings, If such as they forget their office, we Must keepe our thoughts unstain'd, ile to the King, But without any traine.

Ma.

In this you do not Consult your safety.

Vi.

Safety is a lecture To be read to Children, I doe alwayes carry My owne security within, Mauricio, Yet doe not thinke I am desperate, ile take No knowledge of the Princes action But give account of my engagement, thats Not much amisse, the King I know is gracious And the Prince too, how ever passion play This rebell in our soule.

Ma.

You shannot neede sir, The King is comming hither,

Vi.

And the Prince, Lets all looke smooth, the King is come himselfe To gratulate our successe.

Enter King of Naples, Prince, Iulio, Fabio, Alberto.

You too much honour The poore Vittori, who at your feete layes His heart and victory, and that which gave Him power to doe you service.

King.

We receive it, And here discharge your souldiers, who shall tast Of our particular bounty.

Omnes Sol.

Heaven preserve the King.

Exit. Sol.

Pr.

Sirra did not I give strict charge That none should passe the gates, how came she hither?

Fab.

No man and like your grace, I did remember And durst not prevaricate in one syllable Of my Commission, she is a Lady sir.

Pr.

You wood be an officious hangman I perceive, Ile finde you understanding.

Vi.

Let me prostrate My duty to your highnesse, and be honour'd To kisse your hand.

Pr.

Vittori ile not flatter I have no grace for him, whose father durst

Attempt an insolence upon my person, Which the sonne may be guilty of in his blood.

Vi.

My father insolent, and I guilty sir, Because I share his blood? oh that I knew In what part of my veines to finde those drops, That I might sacrifice to your anger▪ And expiate my Fathers sinne!

Pr.

I came not to expostulate.

Vi.

Is this all my reward?

Pr.

Your valour has Beene payd in the successe, what you have done Was duty, if you have not mixed our cause With private and particular revenge.

Vi.

You speake not this to me sir.

Pr.

Yes to you, We doe not feare the bugbeares in your forehead, You will heare more.

Exeunt Prince, Iulio.

Vi.

Sir you have mercy in you.

Kin.

You have displeas'd our sonne Vittori.

Vi.

I? witnesse the Angels.

Ki.

I must tell you too, Your father has transgrest beyond example.

Vi.

Good heaven forgive him, is this all, All my reward?

Ki.

What would you aske.

Vi.

Aske—why—I aske my father.

Ki.

Your father?

Exit King, Alb. Fab.

Vi.

Goodnesse leave me not the wonder Of all mankind; gentlemen all gone.

Ca.

Alas Vittori.

Vi.

I that commanded thousands This morning am not owner of one servant. Dost thou stay with me?

Ca.

My prophetick soule Knew this before.

Enter King, Alberto, Fabio.

Vi.

The King returnes, Cassandra.

Ki.

We ha thought upon't Vittori, and without The Councell of our sonne, will condiscend

To your Fathers liberty, he is yours upon Condition, you and he, and this your Mistresse Go into present banishment.

Vi.

How •…•… banishment?

Ki.

I runne my sonnes distast There is no time for study, he affects That Lady, if you stay something may follow, To ▪th generall repentance, troth I pitty thee, Here take our signet, time and absence may Correct all.

Exit King cum caeteris suis.

Ca.

Oh embrace it deere Vittori, We shall meete safely every where but here, Enlarge your Father, and we cannot misse A happier fate.

Vi.

Can my Cassandra thinke so? That word shall▪make me live a little longer, But these are strange turnes Madam, Naples hath No dwellings for us, when we are quit of these, Wee'le with our griefe make tame some wildernesse.

Exit.