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.

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.

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.

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

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,

〈◊〉〈◊〉 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

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—

Fa

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

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.

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 up∣right 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

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 ser∣vice, both to our King and Kingdome, and for their everla∣sting 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 So∣veraigne 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

I takē for death, which all know to be Ʋltima linea, who will not sleepe eternally for such a King as wee enjoy? If there∣fore in generall as hee is King of us all, all sharing and divi∣ding the benefits of this our Soveraigne: none should be so in∣gratefull 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 dig∣nitie 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 parti∣culars 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 Ad∣mirall 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 inconveni∣ence,

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 comman∣ded 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 ma∣ny 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 reve∣newes, might save our soveraigne therein an Orator to en∣force 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 Com∣missions granted out of his owne presum'd authoritie, his Majestie neither infround or respected his disloyalties, infide∣lities, 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 per∣formed, 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 ne∣ver 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,

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 con∣tempt and scorne of the subject, his vast expences in buil∣dings, his private bounties, above royall to souldiers and schollers, that he may be the Generall and Patron, and prote∣ctor 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

at him till their chines crackes with the weight of his insup∣portable 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 over∣bearing 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,

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,

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.