A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 78

POLICY.

Right thankfully those favours we'll receive.

_Enter_ DILIGENCE _in haste_.

DILIGENCE.

My lords, if your affairs in present be not great, Greater than any, save regard of life, Yea, even the greatest of the commonwealth, Prepare ye to withstand a stratagem, Such as this land nor London ever knew.

The Spanish forces[265], lordings, are prepar'd In bravery and boast beyond all bounds, T'invade, to win, to conquer all this land.

They chiefly aim at London's stately Pomp, At London's Pleasure, Wealth, and Policy, Intending to despoil her of them all, And over all these lovely ladies three, Love, Lucre, Conscience, of the rarest price[266], To tyrannise and carry hardest hand.

From Spain they come with engine and intent To slay, subdue, to triumph and torment: Myself (so heaven would) espial of them had, And Diligence, dear lords, they call my name.

If you vouchsafe to credit my report, You do me right, and to yourselves no wrong, Provided that you arm you, being warn'd.

POLICY.

Diligence, thy service shall be knowen, And well rewarded. Nemo, for a time Conceal this dame, and live secure, unseen; Let us alone, whom most it doth concern, To meet and match our overweening foes.

POMP.

Nemo, keep close, and Conscience, pray for us.

Begone, and recommend us to our G.o.d.

CONSCIENCE.

My lords, if ever, show your honours now.

Those proud, usurping Spanish tyrants come, To reave from you what most you do regard: To take away your credit and your fame: To raze and spoil our right-renowned town; And if you Love or Lucre do regard, Or have of Conscience any kind of care, The world shall witness by this action; And of the love that you to us pretend, In this your valour shall a.s.surance give.

More would I speak, but danger's in delay: You know my mind, and heavens record my thoughts, Which[267] I with prayers for you will penetrate, And will in heart be present in your fight.

Now, Pleasure, show what you will do for me.

PLEASURE.

I will be turn'd to Pain for thy sweet sake.

POLICY.

Fair Conscience, fear not, but a.s.sure thyself, What kind affection we soever bear To Love and Lucre in this action, Chiefly for thee our service shall be done.

POMP.

For Conscience' sake more than for Lucre now.

POLICY.

For Love and Conscience, not despising Lucre.

PLEASURE.

Only for Conscience will I hazard all.

NEMO.

And I from hence will her convey a s.p.a.ce, Till you return with happy victory.

CONSCIENCE.

Farewell, my lords: for me, my lords, for me!

[_Exeunt_ NEMO _and_ CONSCIENCE.

POLICY.

Diligence, what number may there be?

DILIGENCE.

A mighty host, and chiefly led by three, Who brave it out in show, as men a.s.sured Of victory, sans venture or repulse.

POLICY.

How near be they?

DILIGENCE.

So near, my lords, that each delay is death.

Stand on your guard: they come as challengers To bruise your s.h.i.+elds and bear away your prize, Mounting the seas, and measuring the land With strong imaginations of success.

POLICY.

Well, Diligence, go get in readiness Men and munition: bid our pages ply, To see that all our furniture be well: Wit, Wealth, and Will to further wars be fit.

[_Exit_ DILIGENCE.

My lords, I would I might advise ye now To Carry, as it were, a careless regard Of these Castilians and their accustomed bravado.

Lord Pomp, let nothing that's magnifical, Or that may tend to London's graceful state, Be unperform'd; as shows and solemn feasts, Watches in armour, triumphs, cresset-lights[268], Bonfires, bells, and peals of ordnance.

And, Pleasure, see that plays be published, May-games and masques, with mirth and minstrelsy, Pageants and school-feasts, bears and puppet plays.

Myself will muster upon Mile-end Green, As though we saw, and fear'd not to be seen; Which will their spies in such a wonder set, To see us reck so little such a foe, Whom all the world admires, save only we.

And we respect our sport more than his spite.

That John the Spaniard will in rage run mad, To see us bend like oaks with his vain breath.

POMP.

In this device such liking I conceive, As London shall not lack what Pomp can do.

And well I know that worthy citizens Do carry minds so frank and bountiful, As for their honour they will spare no cost: Especially to let their enemy know, Honour in England, not in Spain, doth grow.

PLEASURE.

And for the time that they in pleasure spend, 'Tis limited to such an honest end, Namely, for recreation of the mind, With no great cost, yet liberal in that kind, That Pleasure vows with all delights he can To do them good--till death to be their man.

POLICY.

Of Policy they trial have at large.

POMP.

Then, let us go, and each man to his charge.

[_Exeunt the three Lords_.

_Enter_ SIMPLICITY _led by_ USURY.

SIMPLICITY.

I, sir? Why, alas! I bought them of a stranger, an old Frenchman, for good gold, and to be worth ten pound, for so he told me. I have good witness, for my own wife was by, and lent me part of the money.

USURY.

And what did they cost you?

SIMPLICITY.

Ten s.h.i.+llings, every penny.

USURY.

That argues you are guilty. Why, could ye buy so many rings and b.u.t.tons of gold, think ye, for ten s.h.i.+llings? Of whom did ye buy them?