The tragedie of Gorboduc, whereof three actes were wrytten by Thomas Nortone, and the two laste by Thomas Sackuyle. Sett forthe as the same was shewed before the Quenes most excellent Maiestie, in her highnes court of Whitehall, the. xviij. day of Ianuary, anno Domini. 1561. By the Gentlemen of thynner Temple in London

❧THE TRAGEDIE OF GORBODVC, whereof three Actes were wrytten by Thomas Nortone, and the two laſte by Thomas Sackuyle. ¶Sett forthe as the ſame was ſhewed before the QVENES moſt excellent Maieſtie, in her highnes Court of VVhitehall, the .xviij. day of Ianuary, Anno Domini. 1561. By the Gentlemen of Thynner Temple in London.

❧IMPRYNTED AT LONDON in Fleteſtrete, at the Signe of the Faucon by William Griffith: And are to be ſold at his Shop in Saincte Dunſtones Churchyarde in the VVeſt of London. Anno. 1565. Septemb. 22.

¶Thargument of the Tragedie.

GORBODVC, king of Brittaine, deuided his Realme in his lyfe time to his Sōnes, Ferrex and Porrex. The Sonnes fell to dyuiſion and diſcention. The yonger kylled the elder. The Mother that more dearely loued thelder, for reuenge kylled the yonger. The people moued with the Crueltie of the facte, roſe in Rebellion and ſlewe both father and mother. The Nobilitie aſſembled and moſt terribly deſtroyed the Rebelles. And afterwardes for want of Iſſue of the Prince wherby the Succeſſion of the Crowne became vncertayne. They fell to Ciuill warre in whiche both they and many of their Iſſues were ſlayne, and the Lande for a longe tyme almoſte deſolate and myſerablye waſted.

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¶The names of the Speakers. Gorboduc, kynge of great Brittayne. Videna, Queene and wife to kynge Gorboduc. Ferrex, Elder Sonne to kynge Gorboduc. Porrex, Yonger Sonne to kynge Gorboduc. Clotyn, Duke of Cornewall. Fergus, Duke of Albanye. Mandud, Duke of Leagre. Gwenard, Duke of Cumperlande. Eubulus, Secretarie to the kynge Gorboduc. Arostus, A Counſellour of kynge Gorboduc. Dordan, A Counſellour aſſigned by the kynge to his Eldeſt Sonne Fcrrex. Philander, A Counſellour aſſigned by the kynge to his yonger Sonne Porrex. (Both beynge of the olde (kynges Counſell before. Hermon, A Paraſyte remaynyng with Ferrex. Tyndar, A Paraſyte remaynyng with Porrex. Nuntius, A Meſſenger of thelder Brothers deth Nuntius, A Meſſenger of Duke Fergus ryſynge in Armes. Marcella, A Ladye of the Queenes priuie Chamber. Chorus, Foure auncient and Sage men of Brittayne.

¶The Order of the dōme ſhewe before the firſte Acte, and the Signification therof.

¶Firſte the Muſicke of Violenze began to playe, durynge whiche came in vppon the Stage ſixe wilde men clothed in leaues. Of whom the firſt bare in his necke a Fagot of ſmal ſtickes, whiche thei all both ſeuerallie and togither aſſaied with all their ſtrengthes to breake, but it could not be broken by them. At the length one of them plucked out one of the ſtickes and brake it: And the reſt pluckinge oute all the other ſtickes one after an other did eaſelie breake, the ſame beynge ſeuered: which beyng conioyned they had before attempted in vayne. After they had this done, they departed the Stage, and the Muſicke ceaſed Hereby was ſignified, that a ſtate knit in vnytie doth continue ſtronge againſt all force. But beynge deuyded, is eaſely deſtroied. As befell vpon Duke Gorboduc deuidinge his Lande to his two ſonnes which he before held in Monarchie. And vpon the diſcention of the Brethrene to whome it was deuided.

Of Gorboduc. Actus primus. Scena prima. Viden. Ferrex. Viden. THE ſilent night that bringes the quiet pawſe, From painefull trauailes of the wearie Daie: Prolonges my carefull thoughtes and makes me blame The ſlowe Aurore that ſo for loue or ſhame Doth longe delaye to ſhewe her bluſſhing face, And nowe the Daie renewes my griefull plainte. Ferrex. My gracious Lady and mother deare, Pardon my griefe, for your ſo grieued minde To aſke what cauſe tormenteth ſo your harte. Viden. So great a wronge and ſo vniuſt deſpite, Without all cauſe againſt all courſe of kinde. Ferrex. Suche cauſeles wronge and ſo vniuſt deſpite, Maye haue redreſſe, or at the leaſt reuenge. Viden. Neither my Sonne, ſuche is the frowarde will, The perſon ſuche, ſuche my miſhap and thyne. Fer • ex. Myne know I none, but griefe for your diſtreſſe: Viden. Yes: myne for thyne my ſonne: A father? no: In kynde a Father, but not in kyndlynes. Ferrex. My Father: whie? I knowe nothynge at all, Wherin I haue miſdone vnto his Grace. Viden. Therfore, the more vnkinde to thee and mee. For knowynge well (my ſonne) the tendre loue▪ That I haue euer borne and beare to thee, He greued therat, is not content alone, To ſpoyle thee of my ſight my chiefeſt Ioye, But thee, of the birth, right and Heritage Cauſeles, vnkindly and in wrongfull wiſe, Againſt all Lawe and right he will bereaue, Halfe of his kyngdome he will geue awaye. Ferrex. To whome? Viden. Euen to Porrex his younger ſonne Whoſe growinge Pride I do ſo ſore ſuſpecte, That beynge rayſed to equall Rule with thee, Mee thinkes I ſee his enuious harte to ſwell Fyllde with Diſdaine and with ambicious Pride The ende the Goddes do know, whoſe Aulters I Full oft haue made in vaine of Cattell ſlayne, To ſende the ſacred ſmoke to Heauens Throne, For thee my ſonne if thinges ſo ſuccede, As nowe my Ielious minde miſdemeth ſore. Ferrex. Madame leaue care and carefull plaint for me. Iuſt hath my Father ben to euery wight, His firſte vniuſtice he will not extende To me I truſte, that geue no cauſe therof. My brothers pride ſhall hurt him ſelfe, not mee. Viden. So graunt the Goddes: But yet thy father ſo Hath firmely fixed his vnmoued mynde That plaints & praiers can no whit auaile, For thoſe haue I aſſaied, but euen this daie, He wyll endeuour to procure aſſent Of all his Counſell to his fonde deuiſe. Ferrex. Their Aunceſtours from race to race haue borne True fayth to my forefathers and their ſeede, I truſte thei eke wyll beare the lyke to me. Viden. There reſteth all, but if they fayle therof, And if the ende bringe forth an euyll ſucceſſe On them and theirs the miſchiefe ſhall befall, And ſo I praie the Goddes requite it them, And ſo they will, for ſo is wont to bee When Lordes and truſted Rulers vnder kynges To pleaſe the preſent fancie of the Prince, With wrong tranſpoſe the courſe of gouernaunce Murders, miſchiefe, or ciuyll ſworde at length, Or mutuall treaſon, or a iuſt reuenge, When right ſuccedinge Line returnes againe By Ioues iuſt Iudgement and deſerued wrathe Bringes them to ciuill and reprochefull death, And rootes their names & kindredes frō the earth. Ferrex. Mother content you, you ſhall ſee the ende. Viden. The ende? thie ende I feare, Ioue ende me firſt.

Actus primus. Scena ſecunda. Gorboduc. Arostus. Philander. Eubulus. Gorboduc. MY Lordes whoſe graue aduiſe & faithfull aide Haue long vpheld my Honour & my Realme And brought me from this age from tender yeres. Guidynge ſo great eſtate with great renowme: Nowe more importeth mee the erſt to vſe Your faith and wiſdome wherby yet I reigne, That when by death my liefe and rule ſhall ceaſe, The kingdome yet maye with vnbroken courſe, Haue certayne Prince, by whoſe vndoubted right, Your wealth and peace, may ſtand in quiet ſtaie, And eke that thei whome Nature hath preparde, In time to take my place in Princelie Seate, While in their Fathers tyme their pliant youth Yeldes to the frame of ſkilfull gouernaunce Maye ſo be taught and trayned in noble Artes, As what their fathers whiche haue reigned before Haue with great fame deriued downe to them With honour they maye leaue vnto their ſeede: And not be taught for their vnworthie life, And for their Laweles ſwaruynge out of kinde, Worthie to loſe what Lawe aud kind them gaue But that they may preſerue the cōmon peace, The cauſe that firſt began and ſtill mainteines The Lyneall courſe of kinges inheritaunce, For me, for myne, for you, and for the ſtate Wherof both I and you haue charge and care. Thus do I meane to vſe your wonted fayth To me and myne, and to your natyue Lande, My Lordes be playne without all wrie reſpect Or poyſonous crafte to ſpeake in pleaſyng wiſe, Leſt as the blame of yll ſuccedynge thinges Shall light on you, ſo light the harmes alſo. Arostus. Your good acceptaunce ſo (moſt noble kinge) Of ſuche your faithfulnes as heretofore We haue employed in dueties to your Grace, And to this Realme whoſe worthie head you are, Well proues that neyther you miſtruſte at all, Nor we ſhall nede no boaſting wiſe to ſhewe, Our trueth to you, nor yet our wakefull care For you, for yours, and for our natiue Lande, Wherfore (O kynge) I ſpeake for one as all, Sithe all as one do beare you egall faith: Doubt not to vſe their Counſelles and their aides Whoſe honours, goods & lyues are whole auowed To ſerue, to ayde, and to defende your Grace. Gorboduc. My Lordes I thanke you all. This is the caſe Ye know, the Gods, who haue the ſoueraigne care For kings, for kingdomes, and for cōmen weales, Gaue me two ſonnes in my more luſtie Age, Who nowe in my deceyuynge yeres are growen Well towardes ryper ſtate of minde and ſtrength, To take in hande ſome greater Princely charge, As yet they lyue and ſpende their hopefull daies, With me and with their Mother here in Courts Their age nowe aſketh other place and trade, And myne alſo doth aſke an other chaunge, Theirs to more trauaile, myne to greater eaſe: Whan fatall death ſhall ende my mortall lyfe, My purpoſe is to leaue vnto them twaine The Realme deuided into two ſandrie partes: The one Ferrex myne elder ſonne ſhall haue, The other ſhall the other Porrex rule That both my purpoſe may more framelie ſtande, And eke that they may better rule their charge, I meane forthwith to place them in the ſame: That in my life they maye both learne to rule, And I may Ioye to ſee their rulynge well. This is in ſōme, what I woulde haue ye wey: Firſte whether ye allowe my whole deuiſe, And thinke it good for me, for them, for you, And for our Countrey, mother of vs all: And if ye lyke it and allowe it well, Than for their guydinge and their gouernaunce, Shewe ſorthe ſuche meanes of circumſtaunce, As ye thinke meete to be both knowne and kept: Lot, this is all, nowe tell me your aduiſe. Arostus. And this is muche, and aſketh great aduiſe, But for my parte my Soueraigne Lord and kyng This do I thinke your Maieſtie doth knowe, Howe vnder you in Iuſtice and in peace, Great wealth and Honour, long we haue enioyed So as we can not ſeeme with gredie mindes To wiſſhe for chaunge of Prince or gouernaunce, But if ye lyke your purpoſe and deuiſe, Our lykynge muſt be deemed to procede, Of rightfull reaſon, and of heedefull care, Not for our ſelues, but for our cōmen ſtate: Sithe our owne ſtate doth nede no better chaunge I thinke in all as erſt your Grace hath ſaide: Firſte when you ſhall vnlode your aged mynde, Of heuye care and troubles manyfolde, And laye the ſame vpon my Lordes your ſonnes Whoſe growing yeres may bere the burden long And longe I praye the Goddes to graunt it ſo: And in your lyfe while you ſhall ſo beholde Their rule, their vertues and their noble deedes, Suche as their kinde behighteth to vs all, Great be the profites that ſhall growe therof, Your age in quiet ſhall the longer laſt, Your laſtynge age ſhalbe their longer ſtaie, For cares of kynges, that rule as you haue rulde For publique wealth and not for priuate ioye, Do waſt mannes lyfe and haſten crooked age, With furrowed face and with enfeebled lymmes, To drawe on creepynge Death a ſwifter pace. They two yet yonge ſhall beare the partie reigne With greater eaſe, than one nowe olde alone Can welde the whole, for whom muche harder is with leſſened ſtrength the double weight to beare Your eye, your Counſell, and the graue regarde Of Fathers, yea of ſuche a fathers name, Nowe at beginning of their ſondred reigne, When it is hazarde of their whole ſucceſſe, Shall bridle ſo their force of youthfull heates, And ſo reſtreine the rage of inſolence, Whiche moſt aſſailes the yonge and noble minds, And ſo ſhall guide and traine in tempred ſtaie Their yet greene bending wittes wt reuerent awe And now inured with vertues at the firſt. Cuſtome (O king) ſhall bringe delightfulnes By vſe of Vertue, Vice ſhall growe in hate, But if you ſo diſpoſe it, that the daye, Which endes your life, ſhal firſt begin their reign Great is the perill, what will be the ende, When ſuche beginning of ſuche liberties Voide of ſuche ſtates as in your liefe do lye, Shall leaue them to free randon of their will An open praie to traiterous flatterie, The greateſt peſtilence of noble youthe: Whiche perill ſhalbe paſt, if in your life, Their tempred youthe with aged fathers awe Be brought in vre of ſkilfull ſtaidnes And in your life, their liues diſpoſed ſo, Shall length your noble liefe in ioyfulnes. Thus thinke I yt your grace hath wiſelie thought And that your tender care of cōmen weale, Hath bred this thought, ſo to deuide your Lande And plant your ſonnes to beare the preſent rule While you yet liue to ſee their rulynge well, That you may longer lyue by ioye therein. What furder meanes behouefull are and meete At great leiſure maye your Grace deuiſe, When all haue ſaide, and when we be agreed If this be beſt to parte the Realme in twaine, And place your ſonnes in preſent gouernement Whereof as I haue plamely ſaide my mynde, So woulde I here the reſt of all my Lordes. Philander. In parte I thinke as haue ben ſaide before, In parte againe my minde is otherwiſe As for deuiding of this Realme in twaine And lotting out the ſame in egall partes, To either of my Lordes your Graces ſonnes, That thinke I beſt for this your Realmes behoſf, For profite and aduauncement of your ſonnes, And for your comforte and your honour eke: But ſo to place them while your life do laſt, To yelde to them your Royall gouernaunce, To be aboue them onely in the name Of father, not in kingly ſtate alſo, I thinke not good for you, for them, nor vs, This kingdome ſince the bloodie ciuill fielde Where Morgan ſlaine did yeld his conquered parte Vnto his Coſyns ſworde in Camberlande Conteineth all that whilome did ſuffice, Three noble ſonnes of your forefather Brute, So your two ſonnes, it maye alſo ſuffice, The moe the ſtronger, if thei gree in one: The ſmaller compaſſe that the Realme doth holde The eaſier is the ſwey therof to welde, The nearer Iuſtice to the wronged poore, The ſmaller charge, and yet ynoughe for one. And whan the Region is deuided ſo That Brethrene be the Lordes of either parte, Such ſtrength doth nature knit betwene the both. In ſondrie bodies by conioyned loue That not as two, but one of doubled force, Eche is to other as a ſure defence, The Noblenes and glorie of the one Doth ſharpe the courage of the others mynde With vertuous enuie to contende for praiſe, And ſuche an egalnes hath nature made, Betwene the Brethren of one Fathers ſeede, As an vnkindlie wronge it ſeemes to bee, To throwe the other Subiect vnder feete Of him, whoſe Peere he is by courſe of kinde, And nature that did make this egalnes, Ofte ſo repineth at ſo great a wronge, That ofte ſhe rayſeth vp a grudgynge griefe, In yonger Brethren at the elders ſtate: Wherby both townes & kingdomes haue be raſed And famous ſtockes of Royall blood diſtroied: The Brother that ſhould be the Brothers aide And haue a wakefull care for his defence, Gapes for his death, & blames the lyngering yeres That brings not forth his ende with faſter courſe And oft impacient of ſo longe delayes, With hatefull ſlaughter he preſentes the fates And keepes a iuſt rewarde for Brothers bloode, With endles vengeaunce on his ſtocke for aye: Suche miſchiefes here are wiſely mette withall: If egall ſtate maye nouriſhe egall loue, Where none hath cauſe to grudge at others good, But nowe the head to ſtoupe beneth them bothe, Ne kinde, ne reaſon, ne good ordre beares, And oft it hath ben ſeene, that where Nature Hath ben preuerted in diſordered wiſe, When Fathers ceaſe to know that thei ſhuld rule And Children ceaſe to knowe they ſhould obey, And often our vnkindly tendrenes, As Mother of vnkindly Stubbornes: I ſpeake not this in enuie or reproche, As if I grudged the glorie of your ſonnes, Whoſe honour I beſeche the Goddes to encreaſe: Nor yet as if I thought there did remaine, So filthie Cankers in their noble breſtes, Whome I eſteme (whiche is their greateſt praiſe, Vndoubted children of ſo good a kynge. Onelie I meane to ſhewe my certeine Rules, Whiche kinde hath graft within the mind of man That Nature hath her ordre and her courſe, Whiche (being broken) doth corrupt the ſtate Of myndes and thinges euen in the beſt of all My Lordes your ſonnes may learne to rule of you Your owne example in your noble Courte Is fitteſt Guyder of their youthfull yeares, If you deſire to ſeeke ſome preſent Ioye By ſight of their well rulynge in your lyfe, See them obey, ſo ſhall you ſee them rule, Who ſo obeyeth not with humblenes Will rule without rage and with inſolence Longe maye they rule I do beſeche the Goddes, But longe may they learne ere they begyn to rule If kinde and fates woulde ſuffre I would wiſſhe Them aged Princes and immortall kinges: Wherfore moſt noble kynge I well aſſent, Betwene your ſonnes y• you deuide your Realme. And as in kinde, ſo matche them in degree But while the Goddes prolongue your Royal life Prolongue your reigne, for therto lyue you here, And therfore haue the Goddes ſo longe forborne To ioyne you to them ſelues, that ſtill you might Be Prince and father of our cōmon weale: They when they ſe your children ripe to rule Will make them roume, & will remoue you hence, That yours in right enſuynge of your life Maye rightlie honour your mortall name. Eubulus. Your wonted true regarde of faithfull hartes, Makes me (O kinge) the bolder to preſume To ſpeake what I conceiue within my breſt, Althoughe the ſame do not agree at all With that whiche other here my Lords haue ſaid Nor whiche your ſelfe haue ſeemed beſt to lyke, Pardon I craue and that my wordes be deemde To flowe from hartie zeale vnto your Grace, And to the ſafetie of your cōmon weale: To parte your Realme vnto my Lords your ſōnes I thinke not good for you, ne yet for them, But worſte of all, for this our Natiue Lande: For with one Lande, one ſingle rule is beſt: Deuided Reignes do make deuided hartes. But Peace preſerues the Countrey & the Prince. Suche is in man the gredie minde to reigne, So great is his deſire to climbe alofte, In worldly Stage the ſtatelieſt partes to beare, That faith and Iuſtice and all kindly loue, Do yelde vnto deſire of Soueraigntie: Where egall ſtate doth raiſe an egall hope To winne the thing that either wold attaine Your grace remembreth howe in paſſed yeres The mightie Brute, firſt Prince of all this Lande Poſſeſſed the ſame and ruled it well in one, He thinking that the compaſſe did ſuffice For his three ſonnes, three kingdoms eke to make Cut it in three, as you would nowe in twaine: But how much Brutiſh blod hath ſithence bē ſpilt To ioyne againe the ſondred vnitie? What Princes ſlaine before their timely honour? What waſt of townes and people in the Lande? What Treaſons heaped on murders & on ſpoiles? Whoſe iuſt reuenge euen yet is ſcarcely ceaſed, Ruthefull remembraunce is yet had in minde: The Gods forbyd the like to chaunce againe And you (O king) geue not the cauſe therof: My Lorde Ferrex your elder ſonne, perhappes Whome kinde and cuſtome geues a rightfull hope To be your Heire and to ſuccede your Reigne, Shall thinke that he doth ſuffre greater wronge Than he perchaunce will beare, if power ſerue Porrex the younger ſo vnpaiſed in ſtate, Perhappes in courage will be raiſed alſo, If Flatterie then whiche ſayles not to aſſaile▪ The tendre mindes of yet vnſkilfull Youthe, In one ſhall kindle and encreaſe diſdaine: And Enuie in the others harte enflame, This fire ſhall waſte their loue, their liues, their land, And rutheful ruine ſhal deſtroy them both, A wiſſhe not this (O kyng) ſo to befall But feare the thing, that I do moſt abhorre Geue no beginning to ſo dreadfull ende, Kepe them in order and obedience: And let them both by nowe obeyinge you, Learne ſuche behauiour as beſeemes their ſtate. The Older, myldenes in his gouernaunce, The younger, a yeldyng contentednes: And kepe them neare vnto your preſence ſtill, That they reſtreined by the awe of you, Maye liue in compaſſe of well tempred ſtaie, And paſſe the perilles of their youthfull yeares, Your aged life drawes on to febler tyme, Wherin you ſhall leſſe able be to beare The trauailes that in youth you haue ſuſteined Both in your perſons and your Realmes defence If planting nowe your ſonnes in furder partes, You ſende them furder from your preſent reache Leſſe ſhal you know how they thē ſelues demaund Traiterous corrupters of their pliant youthe, Shall haue vnſpied a muche more free acceſſe, And of ambition and inflamed diſdaine Shall arme the one, the other, or them bothe To ryuill warre, or to vſurpinge pride. Late ſhall you rue, that you ne recked before: Good is I graunt of all to hope the beſt, But not to liue ſtill dreadles of the worſt, So truſte the one, that the other be forſene, Arme not vnſkilfulnes with princely power But you that longe haue wiſely ruled the reignes Of royaltie within your noble Realme So holde them, while the Gods for our auayles Shall ſtretche the threde of your prolonged dales To ſoone he clāme, into the flamyng Carte Whoſe want of ſkyll did ſet the earth on fire, Time and example of your noble Grace, Shall teache your ſonnes both to obey and rule▪ Whan time hath taught thē, time ſhall make thē pace The place that nowe is full: and ſo I praie Longe it remaine, to comforte of vs all. Gorboduc. I take your faithfull hartes in thankfull parte But ſithe I ſee no cauſe to drawe my minde, To feare the nature of my louyng ſonnes, Or to miſdeme that Enuie or diſdaine, Can there worke hate, where nature planteth loue In one ſelfe purpoſe do I ſtill abide, My loue extendeth egally to bothe, My Lande ſuffiſeth for them bothe alſo: Humber ſhall parte the Marches of their Realmes: The Sotherne parte the elder ſhall poſſeſſe, The Northerne ſhall Porrex the yonger rule, In quiet I will paſſe mine aged daies, Free from the trauaile and the painefull cares That haſten age vpon the worthieſt kinges. But leſt the fraude that ye do ſeeme to feare Of flatteryng tongues, corrupt their tender youth And wrieth them to the waies of youthfull luſt, To climyng pride, or to reuengyng hate Or to neglecting of their carefull charge Lewdely to lyue in wanton reckleneſſe, Or to oppreſſinge of the rightfull cauſe Or not to wreke the wronges done to the poore To treade downe trueth, or fauour falſe deceite I meane to ioyne to eyther of my ſonnes Some one of thoſe whoſe longe approued faith And wiſdome tryed may well aſſure my harte: That mynyng fraude ſhall finde no way to crepee Into their fenſed eares with graue aduiſe: This is the ende, and ſo I praye you all To beare my ſonnes the loue and loyaltie That I haue founde within your faithful breaſts. Arostus. You, nor your ſonnes, our ſoueraigne Lord ſhall want Our faith & ſeruice while our liues do laſt. Chorus. When ſettled ſtaie doth holde the royall throne, In ſtedfaſt place by knowen and doubtles right: And chiefely whan diſcent on one alone Make ſingle and vnparted reigne to light. Eche chaunge of courſe vnioynts the whole eſtate And yeldes it thrall to r • yne by debate. The ſtrength that knit by laſte accorde in one Againſt all forrein power of mightie foes, Could of it ſelfe defende it ſelfe alone, Diſioyned once, the former force doth loſe The ſtickes, that ſondred brake ſo ſoone in twaine In faggot bounde attempted were in vaine. Oft tender minde that leades the perciall eye Of erringe parentes in their childrens loue, Deſtroies the wrongfull loued childe therby: This doth the proude ſonne of Appollo proue, Who raſſhely ſet in Chariot of his ſire: Inflamed the perched earth with heauens fire. And this great king, that doth deuide his land, And chaunged the courſe of his diſcending crowne And yeldes the reigne into his childrens hande From bliſfull ſtate of ioye and great renowne, A Myrrour ſhall become to Princes all To learne to ſhunne the cauſe of ſuche a fall.

¶The order and ſignification of the dōme ſhewe before the ſecond Acte.

¶Firſt the Muſicke of Cornettes began to playe, during whiche came in vpon the Stage a kinge accompanied with a nombre of his Nobylytie & Gentlemen. And after he had placed him ſelfe in a Chaire of eſtate prepared for him: there came and kneled before him a graue and aged Gentilman and offred vp a Cuppe vnto hym of Wyne in a glaſſe, whiche the kynge refuſed. After him cōmes, a braue and luſtie yong Gentleman and preſentes the king with a Cup of Golde filled wt poiſon, which the king accepted, & drinkinge the ſame, immediatly fell down dead vpon ye ſtage, & ſo was carried thence awaye by his Lordes and Gentlemen, & then the Muſicke ceaſed. Hereby was ſignified, that as Glaſſe by nature holdeth no payſon, but is clere and maye eaſely be ſeene throughe, ne boweth by any Arte: So a faithfull Counſellour holdeth no treaſon, but is playne & open, ne yeldeth to any vndiſcrete affection, but geueth holſome Counſell, whiche the yll aduiſed Prince refuſeth. The delightfull golde filled wt poyſon betokeneth Flattery, whiche vnder faire ſeeming of pleaſaunt words beareth deadly poyſon, which deſtroieth the Prince yt receiueth it. As befell in the two brethrene Ferrex and Porrex who refuſing the holſome aduiſe of graue Counſellours, credited theſe yonge Paracites, & brought to them ſelues death and deſtruction therby.

Actus ſecundus. Scena prima. Ferrex. Hermon. Dordan. Ferrex. I Meruaile muche what reaſon leade the kynge My father thus without all my deſarte To reue me halfe y• kingdome which by courſe Of lawe and nature ſhuld remayne to me. Hermon. If you with ſtubborne and vntamed pryde Had ſtood againſt him in rebellious wiſe, Or if with grudging minde you had enuied So ſlowe a ſlidynge of his aged yeres, Or ſought before your time to haſte the courſe Of fatall death vpon his Royall head, Or ſtained your Stocke with murder of your kyn: Some face of reaſon might perhaps haue ſeemed To yelde ſome likely cauſe to ſpoile ye thus. Ferrex. The wrekefull Gods powre on my curſed head, Eternall plagues and neuer dyinge woes, The Helliſh Prince, adiudge my dampned ghoſte To Tantalus thirſte, or proude Ixims wheele Or cruell Gripe to gnawe my growing harte To durynge tormentes and vnquenched flames If euer I conceiued ſo foule a thought, To wiſſhe his ende of life, or yet of reigne. Dordan. Ne yet your father (O moſt noble Prince) Did euer thinke ſo fowle a thing of you For he with more than fathers tendre loue While yet the fates do lende him life to rule, (Who long might lyue to ſo your rulynge well) To you my Lorde, and to his other ſonne Lo he reſignes his Realme and Royaltie Whiche neuer would ſo wiſe a Prince haue done If he had ones miſdemed that in your harte There euer lodged ſo vnkinde a thought. But tendre loue (my Lorde) and ſetled truſte Of your good nature, and your nable minde Made him to place you thus in Royall throne And now to geue you half his realme to guide Yea and that halfe within abounding ſtore Of things that ſerue to make a welthie Realme In ſtatelie Cities and in frutefull ſoyle, In temperate breathing of the milder heauen, In thinges of nedefull vſe, whiche frendlie Sea Tranſportes by traffike from the forreine Portes, In flowing wealth, in honour and in force, Doth paſſe the double value of the parte That Porrex hath alloted to his reigne, Suche is your eaſe, ſuche is your fathers loue. Ferrex. Ah loue, my frendes, loue wrongs not whom he loues. Dordan. Ne yet he wrongeth you that geueth you So large a reigne ere that the courſe of tyme Bringe you to kingdome by diſcended right, Which time perhaps might end your time before. Ferrex. Is this no wrong, ſaie you, to reaue from me My natiue right to halfe ſo great a realme, And thus to matche his yonger ſonne with me In egall power, and in as great degree: Yea & what ſonne? ye ſonne whoſe ſwellyng pryde Woulde neuer yelde one poinct of reuerence, Whan I the Elder and apparaunt heire Stoode in the likelyhode to poſſeſſe the whole Yea and that ſonne whiche from his childiſhe age Enuieth myne honour, and doth hate my life, What will he nowe do? when his pride, his rage, The mindefull malice of his grudging harte Is armed with force, with wealth and kingly ſtate Hermon. Was this not wrong? yea yll aduiſed wrong To giue ſo mad a man ſo ſharpe a ſworde, To ſo great perill of ſo great miſhappe, Wide open thus to ſet ſo large a waye. Dordan. Alas my Lorde, what griefull thing is this? That of your brother you can thinke ſo ill I neuer ſawe him vtter likelie ſigne Whereby a man might ſee or once miſdeme Suche hate of you, ne ſuche vnyeldinge pride Ill is their counſell, ſhamefull be their ende, That raiſing ſuche miſtruſtfull feare in you, Sowing the ſeede of ſuche vnkindly hate, Trauaile by reaſon to deſtroy you both:) Wiſe is your brother and of noble hope, Worthie to welde a large and mightie Realme So muche a ſtronger frende haue you therby, Whoſe ſtrēgth is your ſtrēgth, if you gree in one. Hermon. If nature and the Goddes had pinched ſo Their flowing bountie and their noble giftes Of Princelie qualyties from you my Lorde And powrde them all at ones in waſtfull wiſe Vpon your fathers younger ſonne alone: Perhappes there be that in your preiudice Would ſaie that birth ſhuld yeld to worthines: But ſithe in eche good gift and Princelie Acte Ye are his matche, and in the chiefe of all In mildenes and in ſobre gouernauce Ye farre ſurmount: And ſithe there is in you Sufficing ſkill and hopefull towardnes To weld the whole, and match you Elders praiſe I ſee no cauſe whie ye ſhould looſe the halfe, Ne wold I wiſſhe you yelde to ſuche a loſſe: Leſt your milde ſufferaunce of ſo great a wronge Be deemed cowardiſhe and ſimple dreade: Whiche ſhall geue courage to the fierie head Of your yonge Brother to inuade the whole, Whiles yet therfore ſtickes in the peoples mynde The lothed wronge of your diſheritaunce, And ere your Brother haue by ſettled power, By guyle full cloke of an allurynge ſhowe, Got him ſome force and fauour in this Realme And while the noble Queene your mother lyues, To worke and practice all for your auaile Attempt redreſſe by Armes, and wreake your ſelfe Vpon his life, that gaineth by your loſſe, Who nowe to ſhame of you, and griefe of vs In your owne kingdome triumphes ouer you: Shew now your courage meete for kingly eſtate That thei which haue auowed to ſpēd their goods Their landes, their liues & honours in your cauſe, Maye be the bolder to mainteine your parte Iohan thei do ſee that cowarde feare in you, Shall not betraye ne ſaile their faithfull hartes. If ones the death of Porrex ende the ſtrife, And paie the price of his vſurped Reigne, Your Mother ſhall perſwade the angry kynge, The Lords your frends eke ſhall appeaſe his rage For thei be wiſe, and well thei can forſee, That ere longe time your aged fathers death will brynge a time when you ſhall well requite Their frendlie fauour, or their hatefull ſpite. Yea, or their ſlackenes to auaunce your cauſe Wiſe men do not ſo hange on paſſyng ſtate Of preſent Princes, chiefely in their age. But they will further caſt their reachinge eye To viewe and weigh the times & reignes to come Ne is it lykely thoughe the kinge be wrothe That he yet will, or that the Realme will beare Extreme reuenge vpon his onelye ſonne: Or if he woulde, what one is he that dare Be miniſtre to ſuche an enterpriſe. And here you be nowe placed in your owne Amyd your frendes, your vaſſalles & your ſtrength We ſhall defende and kepe your perſon ſafe Tyll either counſell turne his tender minde Or age, or ſorowe ende his werie daies But if the feare of Goddes and ſecrete grudge Of Natures Lawe, repynynge at the facte, Withholde your courage from ſo great attempt: Knowe ye that luſt of kingdomes hath no Lawe The Goddes do beare and well allowe in kinges The thinges they abhorre in raſcall routes. When kinges on ſclender quarrels ron to warres And than in cruell and vnkindely wiſe, Cōmaunde theftes, rapes, murder of Innocentes To ſpoile of townes, & reignes of mighty realmes Thinke you ſuch Princes do ſuppreſſe them ſelues Subiect to Lawes of kinde and feare of Gods, Yet none offence, but decked with glorious name Of noble Conqueſtes in the handes of kinges, Murders and violent theftes in priuate men Are heynous crymes and full of foule reproche: But if you like not yet ſo hote deuiſe, Ne liſt to take ſuche vauntage of the time. But thoughe with great perill of your ſtate You wil not be the firſt that ſhall inuade, Aſſemble yet your force for your defence, And for your ſafetie ſtande vpon your garde. Dordan. O heauen was there euer harde or knowen, So wicked Counſell to a noble Prince? Let me (my Lorde) diſcloſe vnto your grace This heynous tale, what miſchiefe it conteynes: Your fathers death, your brothers and your owns your preſent murder and eternall ſhame: Heare me (O king) and ſuffre not to ſinke So highe a treaſon in your Princelie breſt. Ferrex. The mightie Goddes forbyd that euer I Shuld once conceiue ſuche miſchiefe in my harte Althoughe my Brother hath bereft my Realme And beare perhappes to me and hatefull minde. Shall I reuenge it, with his death therfore? Or ſhall I ſo deſtroy my fathers lyfe That gaue me life? the Gods forbyd I ſaye, Ceaſe you to ſpeake ſo any more to me Ne you my friende with Aunſwere once repeate So foule a tale, in ſcilence let in die: What Lorde or Subiect ſhall haue hope at all That vnder me they ſafely ſhall enioye Their goods, their honours, landes and liberties, With whome, neither one onely brother deare Ne father dearer, coulde enioye their lyues? But ſithe, I feare my younger brothers rage, And ſithe perhappes ſome other man may gyue Some like aduiſe, to moue his grudging head At mine eſtate: whiche counſell may perchaunce Take greater force with him, than this with me, I will in ſecrete ſo prepare my ſelfe, As if his malice or his luſt to reigne Breake forth with Armes or ſodeine violence I may withſtande his rage and kepe myns owne. Dordan. I feare the fatall time now draweth on When ciuyll hate ſhall ende the noble lyne Of famouſe Brute and of his Royall ſeede Great Ioue defende the miſchiefes nowe at hande O that the Secretaries wiſe aduiſe Had erſt ben harde whan he beſought the kynge Not to deuide his lande, nor ſende his ſonnes To further partes from preſence of his Courte Ne yet to yelde to them his gouernaunce Lo ſuche are they nowe in the Royall throne As was raſhe Phaeton in Phebus Carre Ne then the fiery ſtedes did drawe the flame With wilder randon through the kindled ſkies Then traiterous councell now will wherle about The youthfull heads of theſe vnſkilfull kinges, But I hereof their father will enforeme The reuerence of him perhappes ſhall ſtaye The growing miſchiefes, while thei yet are grene If this helpe not, then wo vnto them ſelues, The Prince, the people, the deuided lande.

Actus ſecundus, Scena ſecunda. Porrex. Tyndar. Philander. 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉 Porrex ANd is it thus? And doth he ſo prepare Againſt his Brother as his mortall foe? And nowe whyle yet his aged father lyues: Neither regardes be him? nor feares he me? Warre would he haue? and he ſhall haue it ſo. Tyndar. I ſawe my ſelfe the great prepared ſtore Of Horſe, of Armours and of weapons there, Ne brynge I to my Lorde reported tales Without the ground of ſeene and ſerched trouthe Loe ſecrete quarrelles ronne about his Courte To bringe the name of you my Lorde in hate Eche man almoſt can nowe debate the cauſe And aſke a reaſon of ſo great a wronge, While he ſo noble and ſo wiſe a Prince, Is as vnworthie reſt his Heritage. And whie the kinge miſlead by craftie meanes Deuided thus his lande from courſe of right. The wiſer ſorte holde downe their griefull heades Eche man withdrawes from talke and companie, Of thoſe that haue ben knowen to fauour you, To hide the miſchiefe of their meaninge there. Rumours are ſpred of your preparynge here. The Raſcall nombres of the vnſkilfull ſorts Are filled with monſterous tales of you and yours In ſecrete I was counſailed by my friendes To haſt me thence, and brought you as you know Letters from thoſe, that both can truely tell And would not write vnleſſe they knewe it well. Philander. My Lorde, yet ere you nowe vnkindely warre, Sende to your Brother to demaunde the cauſe. Perhappes ſome trayterous tales haue filled his eares wt falſe reports againſt your noble grace: Which once diſcloſed ſhal ende the growing ſtrife That els not ſtaied with wiſe foreſight in time Shall hazarde both your kingdomes & your lyues: Sende to your father eke, he ſhall appeale Your kindled mindes, and rid you of this feare. Porrex. Ridde me of feare? I feare him not at all: Ne will to him, ne to my father ſende If daunger were for one to tarye there Thinke ye it ſafely to retourne againe. In miſchiefes ſuche as Ferrex nowe intendes The wanted courteous Lawes to Meſſengeres Are not obſerued, whiche in iuſt warre they vſe, Shall I ſo hazarde any one of myne? Shall I betraie my truſtie friende to hym? That hath diſcloſed his treaſon vnto me? Let him entreate that feares, I feare him not: Or ſhall I to the kinge my father ſende? Yea and ſende nowe while ſuche a mother lyues That loues my Brother and that hateth mee? Shall I geue leaſure by my fonde delayes To Forrex to oppreſſe me at vnware? I will not, but I will inuade his Realme And ſeeke the Traitour Prince within his Court Miſchiefe for miſchiefe is a due rewarde. His wretched head ſhall paie the worthie pryce Of this his Treaſon and his hate to me Shall I abide, entreate and ſende and praie? And holde my yelden throate to Traitours knife? While I with valiaunt minde & conquering force Might rid my ſelfe of foes: and winne a Realme, Yet rather when I haue the wretches head, Than to the king my father will I ſende, The booteles caſe may yet appeaſe his wrath: If not I will defend me as I maye. Philander. Loe here the ende of theſe two youthfull kings The fathers deth, the reigne of their two realmes O moſt vnhappy ſtate of Counſellours That light on ſo vnhappy Lordes and times That neither can their good aduiſe be harde, Yet muſt thei beare the blames of yll ſucceſſe But I will to the king their father haſte Ere this miſchiefe come to that likely ende, That if the mindefull wrath of wrekefull Gods Since mightie Ilions fall not yet appeaſed With theſe poore remnant of the Troians name Haue not determinedlie vnmoued fate Out of this Realme to raſe the Brutiſh Line By good aduiſe, by awe of fathers name By force of wiſer Lordes, this kindled hate Maye yet be quentched, ere it conſume vs all. Chorus. Whan youth not bridled with a guyding ſtaie fraie, Is left to randon of their owne delight And welds whole Realmes, by force of ſoueraigne Great is the daunger of vnmaiſtred might Leſt ſkilles rage throwe downe with headlong fal Their lands, their ſtates, their liues, them ſelues & all. When growing pride doth fil the ſwelling breſt And gredy luſt doth raiſe the clymbynge minde Oh hardlie maye the perill be repreſt, Ne feare of angrie Goddes, ne Lawes kinde, Ne Countrie care can fiered hartes reſtrayne Whan force hath armed Enuie and diſdaine. VVhan kinges of foreſet wyll neglecte the rede, Of beſt aduiſe, and yelde to pleaſinge tales That do their fanſies noyſome humour feede He reaſon, nor regarde of right auailes Succedinge heapes of plagues ſhall teache to late To learne the miſchiefes of miſguydinge ſtate. Fowle fall the Traitour falſe that vndermines The loue of Brethrene to deſtroye them bothe Wo to the Prince, that pliant eare enclynes, And yeldes his minde to poyſonous tale, yt floweth From flatterynge mouth, & wo to wretched lande That waſts it ſelfe with ciuyll ſworde in hande. Loe, thus it is poyſon in golde to take, And holſome drinke in homely Cuppe forſake.

¶The order and ſignification of the dōme ſhewe before the thirde Act.

¶Firſte the Muſicke of Fluites began to plare, during which came in vpon the Stage a companye of Mourners all clad in blacke betokeninge Death and ſorowe to enſue vpon the yll aduiſed miſgouernement and diſcention of Bretherne, as befel vpon the Murder of Ferrex by his yonger Brother. After the Mourners had paſſed thryſe about the ſtage, thei departed, and than the Muſicke ceaſed.

Actus tertius. Scena prima. Gorboduc. Eubulus. Arostus. Philander. Nuntius. Gorboduc. O Cruell fates, O mindfull wrath of Goddes▪ whoſe vēgeaūice neither Simois ſtreined ſtreames. Flowing wt blood of Troian Princes ſlaine Nor Phrygian fieldes made rancke wt Corpſes dead Of Aſian kynges and Lordes can yet appeaſe, He ſlaughter of vnhappie Pryams race Nor Ilions fall made leuell with the ſoile, Can yet ſuffice: but ſtill continued rage, Purſue our lyues, and from the fartheſt Seas Doth chaſt the iſſues of diſtroyed Troye: Oh no man happie, tyll his ende be ſeene, If any flowyng wealth and ſeemynge Ioye In preſent yeresmight make a happy wight, Happie was Hecuba the wofulleſt wretche That euer lyued to make a Myrrour of And happie Pryam with his noble ſonnes, And happie I till nowe, Alas, I ſee And feele my moſt vnhappie wretchednes: Beholde my Lordes, reade ye this Letter here Loe it conteines the ruyne of our Realme If timelie ſpeede prouide not haſtle helpe Yet (O ye Goddes) if euer wofull kynge Might moue you kings of kinges, wreke it on me And on my Sonnes, not on this gilties Realme. Sende down your waſting flames from wrathful ſkies To reue me & my ſōnes the hateful breath Reade, reade my Lordes: this is the matter whie I called ye nowe to haue your good aduyſe. ¶The Letter from Dordan the Counſellour of the elder Prince. Eubulus readeth the Letter. MY Soueraigne Lord, what I am loth to write But lotheſt am to ſee, that I am forced By Letters nowe to make you vnderſtande My Lord Ferrex your eldeſt ſonne miſlead By Traitours framde of yong vntempred wittes Aſſembleth force againſt your yonger ſonne, Ne can my Counſell yet withdrawe the heate And furyous panges of his enflamed head: Diſoaine (ſaieth he) of his inheritaunce Armes him to wreke the great pretended wronge With ciuyll ſword vpon his Brothers life, If preſent helpe do not reſtraine this rage This flame will waſt your ſōnes, your land & you. Your Maieſties faithfull and moſt humble Subiecte Dordan. Arestus. O King, appeaſe your griefe & ſtaie your plaint Great is the matter and a wofull caſe But timely knowledge maye bringe timely help Sende for thē both vnto your preſence here The reuerence of your honour age and ſtate Your graue aduiſe, the awe of fathers name Shall quickelie knit againe this broken peece: And if in either of my Lordes your ſonnes Be ſuche vntamed and vnyelding pride As will not bende vnto your noble Heſtes. If Ferrex the elder ſonne can beare no peere. Or Porrex not content, aſpires to more Then you him gaue, aboue his Natiue right: Ioyne with the iuſter ſide, ſo ſhall you force Them to agree: and bolde the Lande in ſtate. Eubulus. What meaneth this? Loe yonder cōmes in haſt Philander from my Lord your younger ſonne. Gorboduc. The Goddes ſende ioyfull newes. Philander. The mightie Ioue Preſerue your Maieſtie, O noble kinge. Gorboduc. Philander, welcome: But how doth my ſonne? Philander. Your ſonne, ſir, lyues and healthie I him left: But yet (O kinge) this want of luſtfull health Could not be half ſo griefefull to your Grace, As theſe moſt wretched tidynges that I brynge. Gorboduc. O heauens yet more? no ende of woes to 〈◊〉 ? Philander. Tyndar, O kyng, came lately from the Courte Of Ferrex, to my Lorde your yonger ſonne, And made reporte of great prepared ſtore Of warre, and ſaith that it is whollic ment Againſt Porrex for highe diſdaine that he Lyues nowe a kynge and egall in degree With him, that claimeth to ſuccede the whole. As by due title of diſcedinge right Porrex is nowe ſo ſet on flamynge fire, Partely with kindled rage of cruell wrathe, Partely with hope to gaine a Realme therby, That he in haſte prepareth to inuade His Brothers Lande, and with vnkindely warre Threatens the murder of your elder ſonne, Ne coulde I him perſwade that firſt he ſhould Sende to his Brother to demaunde the cauſe, Nor yet to you to ſtaie his hatefull ſtrife. Wherfore ſithe there no more I can be harde. I come my ſelfe nowe to enforme your Grace: And to beſeche you, as you loue the liefe And ſafetie of your Children and your Realme. Nowe to emploie your wiſdome and your force To ſtaie this miſchiefe ere it be to late. Gorboduc. Are thei in Armes? would he not ſende for me▪ Is this the honour of a Fathers name? In vaine we trauaile to aſſwage their mindes As if their hartes whome neither Brothers loue Nor Fathers awe, nor kingdomes care can moue Our Coūſels could withdrawe from ragyng heat Ioue ſlaye them both, and ende the curſed Lyne For though perhappes feare of ſuch mightie force As I my Lords, ioyned with your noble Aides Maye yet raiſe, ſhall repreſſe their preſent heate, The ſecrete grudge and malyce will remayne The fire not quentched, but kept in cloſe reſtraint Fead ſtil within, breakes forth with double flame Their death and mine muſt peaze the angrie gods Philander. Yelde not, O king, ſo muche to weake diſpaier Your ſonnes yet lyue, and long I truſt, they ſhall: Yf fates had taken you from earthly life Before begynning of this ciuyll ſtrife: Perhaps your ſonnes in their vnmaiſtered youth, Loſe from regarde of any lyuyng wight, Wolde ronne on headlonge, with vnbridled Race To their owne death and ruine of this Realme. But ſith the God that haue the care for kinges, Of thinges and times diſpoſe the order ſo That in your life this kindled flame breakes forth While yet your lyfe, your wiſdome & your power, Maye ſtaie the growing miſchiefe, and repreſſe The fierie blaze of their inkindled heate It ſeemes, and ſo ye ought to deeme therof, That louyng Ioue hath tempred ſo the time Of this debate to happen in your daies That you yet lyuynge maye the ſame appeaze. And adde it to the glorie of your latter age And they your ſonnes maye learne to liue in peace Beware (O kynge) the greateſt harme of all, Leſt by your wayleful plaints your haſtened death Yelde larger roume vnto their growyng rage: Preſerue your lyfe, the onely hope of ſtaie: And if your highnes herein liſt to vſe Wiſdome or force, Counſell or knightly aide: Loe we our perſons, powers and lyues are yours. Vſe vs tyll Death, O king, we are your owne. Eubulus. Loe here the perill that was erſt forſene When you, (O king) did firſt deuide your Lande And yelde your preſent raigne vnto your ſonnes. But nowe (O noble Prince) nowe is no time To wayle and plaine, and waſt your wofull lyfe, Nowe is the time for preſent good aduiſe, Sorowe doth darke the Iudgement of the wytte The Hart vnbroken and the courage free From feble faintnes of booteles diſpaier Doth either ryſe to ſafetie or renowme By noble valure of vnuanquiſſhed minde Or yet doth periſhe in more happie ſorte Your Grace maye ſende to either of your ſonnes Some one both wiſe and noble perſonage, Which with good counſel & with weightie name Of father ſhall preſent before their eyes Your heſt, your liefe, your ſafetie and their owne The preſent miſchiefe of their deadlie ſtrife And in the while, aſſemble you the force Whiche your Cōmaundement and the ſpedie haſt Of all my Lordes here preſent can prepare: The terrour of your mightie power ſhall ſteye The rage of bothe, or yet one at leſt. Nuntius. O King the greateſt griefe that euer Prince dyd here The euer wofull Meſſenger did tell, That euer wretched Lande hath ſene before I brynge to you. Porrex your yonger ſonne With ſoden force, inuaded hath the lande That you to Ferrex did allotte to rule: And with his owne moſt bloudie hande he hath His Brother ſlaine, and doth poſſeſſe his Realme. Gorboduc. O Heauēs ſend down the flames of your reuenge, Deſtroie I ſaie wt flaſſhe of wrekefull fier The Traitour ſonne, and than the wretched ſire: But let vs go, that yet perhappes I maye Die with reuenge, and peaze the hatefull gods. Chorus. The luſt of kingdomes knowes no ſacred faithe No rule of Reaſon, no regarde of right No kindlie loue, no feare of heauens wrathe: But with contempt of Goddes, and mans deſpite, Through blodie ſlaughter doth prepare the waies To fatall Scepter and accurſed reigne. The ſonne ſo lothes the fathers lingerynge daies. Ne dreades his hand in Brothers blode to ſtaine O wretched Prince, ne doeſt thou yet recorde The yet freſſhe Murthers done within the Lande Of thie forefathers, when the cruell ſworde Bereft Morgan his liefe with Coſyns hande? Thus fatall plagues purſue the giltie race Whoſe murderous hand imbrued wt giltles blood Aſkes venge aunce before the heauens face, With endles miſchiefes on the curſed broode. The wicked childe this bringes to wofull Sier The mournefull plaintes to waſt his wery life: Thus do the cruell flames of Ciuyll fier Deſtroye the parted reigne with hatefull ſtrife And hence doth ſpring the well frō which doth ſlo: The dead black ſtreames of mournings, plaints & woe.

¶The order and ſignification of the dōme ſhewe before the fourth Acte.

¶Firſt the Muſick of Howeboies began to plaie. duringe whiche there came forth from vnder the Stage, as thoughe out of Hell three Furies. Alecto, Megera & Cteſiphone clad in blacke garments ſprinkled with bloud & flames, their bodies girt with ſnakes, their heds ſpread with Serpents in ſteade of heare, the one bearinge in her hande a Snake, the other a whip, & the thirde a burning Firebrande: eche driuynge before them a kynge and a Queene, whiche moued by Furies vnnaturallye bad ſlaine their owne Children. The names of the kinges & Queenes were theſe. Tantalus, Medea, Athamas, Ino, Cambiſes, Althea, after that the Furies and theſe had paſſed aboute the Stage thriſe, they departed & than the Muſicke ceaſed: hereby was ſignified the vnnaturall Murders to followe, that is to ſaie. Porrex ſlaine by his owne Mother. And of king Gorboduc and Queene Viden. killed by their owne Subiectes.

Actus quartus. Scena prima. Videnſola. Viden. VVhy ſould I lyue and lynger forth my tune In longer liefe to double my diſtreſſe? O me moſt wofull wight whome no miſhap Long ere this daie could haue bereued hence. Mought not theſe handes by fortune or by fate, Haue perſt this breſt and life with Iron reft, Or in this Pallaice here where I ſo longe Haue ſpent my daies, could not that happie houre▪ Ones, ones haue hapt I which theſe hugie frames With death by fall might haue oppreſſed me Or ſhould not this moſt hard and cruell ſoile, So eft where I haue preſt my wretched ſteps Somtyme had ruthe of myne accurſed liefe, To rende in twaine and ſwallowe me therin, So had my bones poſſeſſed nowe in peace Their happie graue within the cloſed grounde And greadie wormes had gnawen this pyned hart Without my feelyinge paine: So ſhulde not nowe This lyuynge breſt remayne the ruthefull tombe Wherin my hart yelden to death is graued: Nor driery thoughts with panges of pining griefe My dolefull minde had not afflicted thus, O my beloued ſonne: O my ſwete childe, My teare Ferrex, my Ioye, my lyues delyght. Is my welbeloued ſonne, is my ſweete childe, My deare Perrex, my Ioye, my lyues delight Murdered with cruell death? O hatefull wretche, O heynous Traytour bothe to heauen and earth, Thou Porrex, thou this damned dede haſt wrought Thou Porrex, thou ſhalt dearely abye the ſame, Traitour to kinne and kinde, to Sire and me, To thyne owne fleſſhe, and Traitour to thy ſelfe The Gods on the in hell ſhall wreke their wrath, And here in earth this hand ſhall take reuenge On the Porrex, thou falſe and caytife wighte, If after blode, ſo eigre were thy thirſt And Murderous minde had ſo poſſeſſed thee, If ſuche hard hart of Rocke and ſtonie Flint Lyued in thy breſt, that nothing elles could like Thy cruell Tyrantes thought but death & bloode Wild ſauage beaſts mought not y• ſlaughter ſerue To fede thy gredie will, and in the myddeſt Of their entrailes to ſtaine thy deadlie handes With blode deſerued, and drinke therof thy fyll: Or if nought els but death and bloud of man Mought pleaſe thy luſt, could none in Bryttain land Whoſe hart be torne out of his louyng breſt With thine owne hand, or work what death thou woldeſt Suffice to make a Sacrifice to appeaze woldeſt That deadlie minde & murderous thought in the? But he who in the ſelf ſame wombe was wrapped Where thou in diſmall hower receiuedſt life? Or if nedes, nedes thi • hand muſt ſlaughter make Moughiſt thou not haue reached a mortall wound And wt thy ſworde haue perſed this curſed womb? That the accurſed Porrex brought to lyght? And geuen me a iuſt rewarde therfore. So Ferrex, if ſwete life mought haue enioyed And to his aged father comfort brought, wt ſome yong ſonne in whom thei both might liue But wherevnto waſt I this ruthefull ſpeche? To the that haſt thy brothers bloud thus ſhed Shall I ſtil think yt from this womb thou ſprong? That I thee bare? or take thee for my ſonne? No Traytour, no: I the refuſe for mine, Murderer I thee renounce, thou art not mine: Neuer, O wretche, this wombe conceued thee, Nor neuer bode I painefull throwes for thee: Changeling to me thou art, and not my childe Nor to no wight, that ſparke of pytie knewe, Rutheles, vnkind, Monſter of Natures worke. Thou neuer ſuckte the milke of womans breaſte But from thy birth the cruell Tigres teates Haue nurſed, nor yet of fleſſhe and bloud Formed is thy hart, but of hard Iron wrought. And wilde and deſert woods breade thee to lyfe: But canſt thou hope to ſcape my iuſt reuenge? Or that theſe handes will not be wrooke on thee? Doeſt thou not knowe that Ferrex mother lyues That loued him more dearelie then her ſelfe? And doth ſhe lyue, and is not venged on thee?

Actus quartus. Scena ſecunda. Gorboduc. Arostus Eubulus. Porrex. Marccilla. Gorboduc. WE marueyle muche wherto this lingeryng ſtaie Falles out ſo longe: Porrex vnto our Courte By order of our Letters is retourned And Eubulus receyued from vs by heſt At his arriuale here to geue him charge Before our preſence ſtreight to make repaire And yet we haue no worde wherof he ſtaies. Arostus Loe where he cōmes and Eubulus with hym. Eubulus. Accordynge to your highnes heſt to me Here haue I Porrex brought euen in ſuche ſort As from his weried Horſe he did alighte, For that your Grace did will ſuche haſte therein. Gorboduc. We like and praiſe this ſpedie wyll in you To worke the thing that to your charge we gaue Porrex, if we ſo farre ſhulde ſwarue from kinde, And frō theſe bounds which lawes of Nature ſets As thou haſt done by vile and wretched deede In cruell murder of thy Brothers life, Our preſent hande coulde ſtaie no lenger tyme, But ſtreight ſhould bathe this blade in bloud of the As iuſt reuenge of thy deteſted cryme. No. we ſhuld not offende the lawe of kinde, If nowe this ſworde of ours did ſlaie thee here: For thou haſt murdered him whoſe heinous death Euen Natures force doth moue vs to reuenge By bloud againe: But Iuſtice forceth vs To meaſure Death for Death, thy due deſerte, Yet ſithens thou art our childe, and ſithe as yet In this harde caſe what worde thou canſt alledge For thy defence, by vs hath not ben harde We are content to ſtaie our wyll for that Whiche Iuſtice biddes vs preſently to worke: And geue the leaue to vſe thie ſpeache at full If ought thou haue to laye for thine excuſe. Porrex. Neither O kyng, I can or wyll denie But that this hande from Ferrex lyfe hath reft: Which fact how much my doleful hart doth waile Oh would it mought as full appeare to ſight As inwarde griefe doth powre it forth to me, So yet perhappes if euer ruthefull hart Melting in teares within a manlie breaſt Throughe depe repentaunce of his bloudie facte If euer griefe, if euer wofull man Might moue regreite with ſorowe of his fault, I thinke the torment of my mournefull caſe Knowen to your grace, as I do feele the ſame, Woulde force euen wrath her ſelfe to pytie mee. But as the water troubled with the mudde Shewes not the face whiche els the eye ſhulde ſee, Euen ſo your Irefull minde with ſtirred thought, Can not ſo perfectly diſcerne my cauſe. But this vnhappe, emongſt ſo many heapes I muſt content me with, moſt wretched man, That to my ſelfe I muſt referre my woe In pynynge thoughts of myne accurſed facte: Sithens I may not ſhewe here my ſmalleſt griefe Suche as it is, and as my breaſt endures, Whiche I eſteme the greateſt myſerie Of all miſhappes that Fortune nowe can ſende. Not that I reſt in hope with plaints and teares Should purchaſe life: for to the Goddes I clepe For true recorde of this my faithfull ſpeache, Neuer this harte ſhall haue the thoughtfull dreade To die the death that by your Graces dome By iuſt deſarte, ſhalbe pronounced to mee: Nor neuer ſhal this tongue ones ſpend this ſpeche Pardon to craue, or ſeeke by ſute to lyue: I meane not this as though I were not touchde With care of dreadfull death, or that I helde Lyfe in contempt: but that I knowe, the mynde Stoupes to no dreade, although the fleſh be fraile, And for my gilt, I yelde the ſame ſo great As in my ſelfe I finde a feare to ſue For graunte of lyfe. Gorboduc. In vayne, O wretche thou ſhewe • A wofull harte, Ferrex nowe lyes in graue, Slaine by thy hande. Porrex. Yet this, O father, heare; And than I ende: Your Maieſtie well knowes, That whan my Brother Ferrex and my ſelfe By your owne heſt were ioyned in gouernaunce Of this your Graces Realme of Brittayne Lande I neuer ſought nor trauaylled for the ſame, Nor by my ſelfe, or by no ſcende I wrought▪ But from your highnes will alone it ſpronge, Of your moſt gracious goodnes bent to me, But howe my Brothers hart euen than re • med With ſwollen diſdaine againſt mine egali rule Seing that Realme, which by diſcent ſhuld grow Whollie to him, allotted halfe to me? Euen in your highnes Court he nowe remaynes, And with my Brother than in neareſt place Who can recorde, what proofe therof was ſhewde And how my brothers enuious hart appearde Yet I that iudged it my parte to ſeeke His fauour and good will, and lothe to make Your highnes knowe, the thing which ſhuld haue brought Grief to your grace, & your offēce to him Hopyng by earneſt ſuite ſhuld ſoone haue wonne A louynge hart within a Brothers breſt Wrought in that ſorte that for a pleadge of loue And faithfull hart, he gaue to me his hande. This made me thinke, that he had baniſſhed quite All rancour from his thought and bare to me Suche hartie loue, as I did owe to him: But after once we left your Graces Court And from your highnes preſence liued aparte This egall rule ſtill, ſtill did grudge him ſo That nowe thoſe Enuious ſparkes which erſt lay raked In lyuing cinders of diſſemblynge breſt, Kindled ſo farre within his hates diſdaine That longer could he not refraine from proofe Of ſecrete practiſe to depriue me life By Poyſons force, and had bereft me ſo. If myne owne Seruaunt hired to this fact And moued by trouthe wt hate to worke the ſame, In time had not bewraied it vnto mee: Whan thus I ſawe the knot of loue vnknitte All honeſt League and faithfull promiſe broke The Lawe of kind and trothe thus rent in twaine His hart on miſchiefe ſet, and in his breſt Blacke treaſon hid then, then did I diſpaier That euer tyme coulde wynne him frende to me Than ſawe I howe he ſmyled with ſlaying knife Wrapped vnder cloke, then ſawe I depe deceite Lurke in his face and death prepared for mee: Euen nature moued me than to holde my lyfe More deare to me than his, and bad this hande Since by his lyfe my death muſt nedes enſue, And by his death my lyfe to be preſerued: To ſhed his bloud, and ſeeke my ſafetie ſo. And wiſdome willed me without protracte In ſpedie wiſe to put the ſame in vre. Thus haue I tolde the cauſe that moued me To worke my Brothers death and ſo I yelde My lyfe, my death to iudgement of your grace. Gorboduc. Oh cruell wight, ſhulde any cauſe preuaile To make the ſtaine thy hands with brothers blod But what of thee we will reſolue to doe Shal yet remaine vnknowen: Thou in the meane Shalt from our royall preſence banyſhed be Vntill our Princely pleaſure furder ſhall To the be ſhewed, departe therfore our ſight Accurſed childe. What cruell deſtenie What frowarde fate hath ſorted vs this chaunce That euen in thoſe, where we ſhuld comfort find Where our delight nowe in our aged daies Shulde reſt and be, euen there our onelie griefe And depeſt ſorrowes to abridge our liefe, Moſt pynyng cares and deadlie thoughts do graue yours Arostus. Your Grace ſhuld now in theſe graue yeres of Haue founde ere this the price of mortall Ioyes, Howe ſhorte they be, howe fadyng heare in earth Howe full of chaunge, howe Brittle our eſtate, Of nothynge ſure, ſaue onely of the Death, To whome both man and all the worlde doth owe Their ende at laſt, neither ſhall natures power In other ſorte againſt your harte preuayle, Than as the naked hande whoſe ſtroke aſſayes The Armed breaſt where force doth light in vaine Gorboduc. Many can yelde right graue and ſage aduiſe Of pacient ſprite to others wrapped in woe, And can in ſpeache both rule and conquere kinde, Who if by proofe, they might feele natures force, Wold ſhewe them ſelues men as thei are in dede, which now wil nedes be gods: but what doth meane The ſory chere of her that here doth come? Marcella. Oh where is ruthe? or where is pytie nowe? Whether is gentle harte and mercie fled? Are they exiled out of our ſtony breaſts Neuer to make retourne? is all the worlde Drowned in bloode, and ſoncke in crueltie? If not in women mercie maye be founde If not (alas) within the mothers breſt To her owne childe, to her owne fleſſhe and blood If ruthe be baniſſhed thence, if pytie there Maye haue no place, if there no gentle harte Do lyue and dwell, where ſhuld we ſeeke it than? Gorboduc. Madame (alas) what meanes your woful tale? Marcella. O ſillie woman I, why to this howre, Haue kinde and fortune thus deferred my breathe That I ſhuld lyue to ſee this dolefull daye Will euer wight beleue that ſuche harde harte Coulde reſt within the cruell mothers breaſte, With her owne hande to ſlaye her onely ſonne? But out (alas) theſe eyes behelde the ſame, They ſawe the driery ſight, and are become Moſt ruthfull recordes of the bloodie facte. Porrex, (alas) is by his mother ſlayne, And with her hand a wofull thynge to tell, While ſlomberinge on his carefull bed he reſtes His hart ſtalde in with kniefe is reft of life. Gorboduc. O Eubulus, oh drawe this ſworde of ours, And perce this hart with ſpeede, O hatefull light, O lothſome liefe, O ſweete and welcome Death, Dere Eubulus worke this we thee beſeche. Eubulus. Patient your Grace, perhappes he liueth yet. With wounde receued, but not of certayne death. Gorboduc. O let vs than repaier, vnto the place, And ſee if that Porrex, or thus be ſlame. Marcella. Alas he liueth not, it is to true, That with theſe eies of him a pereles Prince, Sonne to a King, and in the flower of youth, Euen with a twinke a cenſeles ſtocke I ſawe. Arostus O dampned deed. Marcella. But heare this ruthefull ende. The noble Prince perſt with the ſodeine wounde Out of his wretched ſlombre haſtelie ſtarte Whole ſtrēgth now failyng ſtreight he ouerthrew When in the fall his eyes euen newe vncloſed Behelde the Quene and cryed to her for helpe We then, alas, the Ladies whiche that tyme Did there attende, ſeynge that heynous deede And hearing him oft call the wretched name Of mother, and to crie to her for Aide Whoſe direfull hand gaue him the mortal wound Pitieng, (alas, for nought els could we do) His ruthefull ende, ranne to the wofull bedde Diſpoyled ſtreight his breſt, and all we might wyped in vaine with napkyns next at hande, The ſodeine ſtreames of blood that fluſſhed faſt Out of the gaping wounde: O what a looke, O what a ruthefull ſtedfaſt eye me thought He fixed vpon my face, whiche to my deathe Will neuer parte fro me, when with a braide Adeepe ſet ſigne he gaue and therewith all Claſpinge his handes, to heauen he caſt his ſight▪ And ſtreight pale death preſſyng within his face The flyinge ghoſte his mortall corps forſooke. Arostus. Neuer did age bring forth ſo vile a facte. Marcella. O harde and cruell happe, that thus aſſigned Vnto ſo worthie a wighte ſo wretched ende But moſt harde cruell harte, that coulde conſent To lende the hatefnll deſtenies that hande By whiche, alas, ſo heynous cryme was wrought, O Queene of Adamante, O Marble breaſte If not the fauour of his comelie face, If not his Princelie chere and counten • unce, His valiant Actiue Armes, his manlie breaſte. If not his faier and ſemelie perſonage His noble Lymmes in ſuche preparacion caſte As would haue wrapped a ſillie womans thought If this mought not haue moued the bloodie harte And that moſt cruell hande the wretched weapon Euen to let fall, and kiſte him in the face, With teares for ruthe to reaue ſuche one by death Should nature yet conſent to ſlaye her ſonne O mother, thou to murder thus thie childe Euen Ioue with Iuſtice muſt wt lightening flames From heauen ſend down ſome ſtrange reuenge on thee. Ah noble Prince, how oft haue I beheld Thee mounted on thy fierce and traumpling ſtede Shyning in Armour bright before the Tylte And with thy Miſtreſſe Sleaue tied on thy Helme And charge thy ſtaffe to pleaſe thy Ladies eie That howed the head peece of thy frendly foe, Howe oft in Armes on horſe to bende the Mace Howe oft in Armes on foote to breake the ſworde, Whiche neuer nowe theſe eyes men 〈◊〉 againe. Arostus. Madame, alas, in vaine theſe plaints are ſhed. Rather with me departe and helpe to aſſwage, The thoughtfull griefes that in the aged kings Muſt nedes by nature growe by death of this His onelie ſonne, whome he did holde ſo deare. Marcella. What wight is that whiche ſawe that I did ſee And could refraine to waile with plainte & teares Not I, alas, that harte is not in me, But let vs goe, for I am greued anewe, To call to minde the wretched fathers woe. Chorus. Whan gredie luſt in Royall ſeate to reigne Hath reft all care of goddes and eke of men, And cruell hart, wrathe, Treaſon and diſdaine Within the ambicious breaſt are lodged then Beholde howe miſchiefe wide her ſelfe diſplaies And with the brothers hande the brother ſlaies. When blood thus ſhed, doth ſtaine this heauens face Crying to Ioue for vengeaunce of the deede, The mightie God euen moueth from his place With wrathe to wreke, then ſendes he forth with ſpede The dreadful furies, daughters of ye night With Serpents girt, carying the whip of Ire, With heare of ſtinging ſnakes and ſhining bright With flames and blood, and with a brande of fire: Theſe for reuenge of wretched Murder done Do make the Mother kill her onelie ſonne. Blood aſketh blood, & death muſt death requite Ioue by his iuſt and euerlaſting dome Iuſtly hath euer ſo requited it Theſe times before recorde, and tymes to come, Shall finde it true, and ſo doth preſent proofe, Preſent before our eies for our behoofe. O happie wight that ſuffres not the ſnare Of murderous minde to tangle him in bloode▪ And happie he that can in time beware By others harmes and tourne it to his goode But wo to him that fearing not to offende Doth ſerue his luſt, and will not ſee the ende.

¶The order and ſignification of the dōme ſhewe before the fifthe Acte.

¶Firſte the Drommes and Fluites, beganne to ſounde, durynge whiche there came foorth vpon the Stage a companie of Hargabuſiers and of Armed men all in order of Battaile. Theſe after their Peeces diſcharged, and that the Armed men had three tymes marched aboute the Stage, departed, and then the Drommes and Fluits did ceaſe. Hereby was ſignified tumults, rebellions, Armes and ciuyll warres to folowe▪ as fel in the Realme of great Brittayne, which by the ſpace of fiftie yeares and more continued in ciuyll warre betwene the Nobylytie after the death of king Gorboduc, & of his Iſſues, for wante

of certayne lymitacion in the Succeſſion of the Crowne, till the time of Dunwalle Molmutius, who reduced the Lande to Monarche.

Actus quintus. Scena prima. Clotyn. Mandud. Gwenard. Fergus. Eubulus. Clotyn. DId euer age bring forth ſuch Tirants hartes The Brother hath bereft the Brothers lyfe, The Mother ſhe hath died her cruell handes In bloud of her owne ſonne, and nowe at laſt The people loe forgettyng trouthe and loue, Contemnynge quite both Lawe and loyall harte Euen they haue ſlayne their ſoueraigne Lord and Quene. Mandud. Shall this their trayterous crime vnpuniſhed reſt Euen yet they ceaſe not, caryed out with rage, In their rebellious routes, to threaten ſtil A newe bloode ſhedde vnto the Princes kinne To ſlaie them all, and to vproote the race Both of the kyng and Queene, ſo are they moued With Porrex deathe, wherin they falſely charge The giltles kinge without deſarte at all And traiterouſlie haue murdered him therfore, And eke the Queene. Gwenard. Shall Subiectes dare with force To worke reuenge vpon their Princes facte? Admyt the worſt that maye: as ſure in this The dede was fowle, the Quene to ſlaie her ſonne Shall yet the Subiecte ſeeke to take the ſworde? Ariſe agaynſt his Lorde, and ſlaie his kynge? O wretched ſtate, where thoſe rebellious hartes Are not rent out euen from their lyuynge breaſts And with the bodie throwen vnto the Fowles As Carrion foode, for terrour of the reſt. Fergus. There can no puniſſhement be thought to greate For this ſo greuous cryme: let ſpede therfore Be vſed therin for it behoueth ſo. Eubulus. Ye all my Lordes I ſee conſent in one And I as one conſent with ye in all: I holde it more than nede with the ſharpeſt Lawe To puniſſhe the tumultuous bloodie rage For nothynge more maye ſhake the cōmen ſtate Than ſufferaunce of Vproares without redreſſe Wherby how ſome kingdomes of mightie power After great Conqueſtes made, and flooriſhing In fame and wealth haue ben to ruyne brought I praie to Ioue that we may rather wayle Suche happe in them than witnes in our ſelues Eke fullie with the Duke my minde agrees That no cauſe ſerues, wherby the Subiect maye Call to accompt the doynges of his Prince. Muche leſſe in bloode by ſworde to worke reuenge No more then maye the hande cut of the heade, In Acte nor ſpeache, no: not in ſecrete thoughte The Subiect maye rebell againſt his Lorde Or Iudge of him that ſittes in Ceaſars Seate. With grudging mind do damne thoſe Hemiſlikes Though kinges forget to gouerne as they ought, Yet Subiectes muſt obey as they are bounde: But nowe my Lordes before ye farder wade Or ſpend your ſpeach, what ſharp reuenge ſhal fal By iuſtice plague on theſe rebellious wights Me thinkes ye rather ſhould firſt ſearche the waye By whiche in time the rage of this vproare Mought be repreſſed, & theſe great tumults ceaſed Euen yet the life of Brittayne Lande doth hange. In Traitours Balaunce of vnegall weight Thinke not my Lords the death of Gorboduc Nor yet Videnaes bloode will ceaſe their rage: Euen our owne lyues, our wiues and children, Our Countrey deareſt of all in daunger ſtandes, Nowe to be ſpoiled, nowe, nowe made deſolate, And by our ſelues a conqueſt too enſue: For geue ones ſweye vnto the peoples luſts, To ruſſhe forth on, and ſtaye them not in time, And as the ſtreame that rowleth downe the hyll, So wil thei headlong ronne wt raging thoughtes From bloode to bloode, from miſchiefe vnto moe, To ruyne of the Realme, them ſelues and all So giddle are the cōmon peoples mindes, So glad of chaunge, more waueryng than the Sea Ye ſee (my Lordes) what ſtrength theſe Rebelles haue, What hugie nombre is aſſembled ſtill, For though the traiterous fact, for which their roſe Be wrought and done, yet lodge thei ſtill in fielde So that howe farre their furies yet wyll ſtretche Great cauſe we haue to dreade, that we may ſeeke By preſent Battaile to repreſſe their power. Speede muſt we vſe to leuie force therfore, For either they forthwith will miſchiefe worke Or their rebellious roares forthwith will ceaſe: Theſe violent thinges may haue no laſting loude Let vs therfore vſe this for preſent helpe Perſwade by gentle ſpeache, and offre grace With gifte of pardon ſaue vnto the chiefe, And that vpon condicion that forthewith They yelde the Captaines of their enterpryſe To beare ſuche querdon of their traiterous facte As may be both due vengeaunce to them ſelues, And holſome terrour to poſteritie. This ſhall I thinke: flatter the greateſt parte That nowe are holden with deſire of home, Weried in fielde with could of Winters nightes, And ſome (no doubt) ſtriken with dread of Lawe Whan this is ones proclaymed, it ſhall make The Captaines to miſtruſte the multitude Whoſe ſafetie biddes them to betraye their heads And ſo muche more bycauſe the raſcall routes, In thinges of great and perillous attemptes, Are neuer truſtie to the noble race. And while we treate & ſcande on termes of grace, We ſhal both ſtaie their furies rage the while, And eke gaine time, whoſe onely helpe ſufficeth Withouten warre to vanquiſſhe Rebelles power In the meane while, make you in redynes Suche bande of Horſemen as ye maye prepare: Horſemen (you know) are not the Comons ſtrēgth But are the force and ſtore of noble men Wherby the vnchoſen and vnarmed ſorte Of ſk ••• ſhe Rebelles, whome none other power But nombre makes to be of dreadfull force With ſodeyne brunt maye quickely be oppreſte And if this gentle meane of proffered grace With ſtubborne hartes cannot ſo farre auayle As to aſſwage their deſperate courages. Than do I wiſſhe ſuche ſlaughter to be made, As preſent age and eke poſteritie Maye be adrad with horrour of reuenge, That iuſtly than ſhall on theſe rebelles fall: This is my Lordes the ſōme of mine aduiſe. Clotyn. Neyther this caſe admittes debate at large, And though it did: this ſpeache that hath ben ſaide Hath wel abridged the tale I would haue tolde: Fullie with Eubulus do I conſente In all that he hath ſaide: and if the ſame To you my Lordes, may ſeeme for beſt aduiſe, I wiſſhe that it ſhoulde ſtreight be put in vre. Mandud. My Lordes than let vs preſentlie departe And folowe this that lyketh vs ſo well. Fergus. If euer time to gaine a kingdome here Were offred man, nowe it is offred mee: The Realme is reft bothe of their kyng & Quene The ofſpringe of the Prince is ſlaine and dead No iſſue nowe remaines, the Heire vnknowen, The people are in Armes and mutynies The Nobles thei are buſied howe to ceaſe Theſe great rebellious tumultes and vproars And Brittayne Lande nowe deſerte left alone Amyd theſe broyles vncertaine where to reſt Offers her ſelfe vnto that noble harte That wyll or dare purſue to beare her Crowne: Shall I that am the Duke of Albanye Diſcended from that Lyne of noble bloode. Whiche hath ſo longe flooriſſhed in worthie fame Of valiaunt hartes, ſuche as in noble Breaſts Of right ſhulde reſt aboue the baſer ſorte, Refuſe to aduenture liefe to winne a Crowne, Whome ſhall I finde enemies that will wtſtande My facte herein, if I attempte by Armes To ſeeke the Fame nowe in theſe times of broyle Theſe Dukes power can hardlie well appeaſe The people that alredie are in Armes. But if perhappes my force be ones in fielde Is not my ſtrength in power aboue the beſt Of all theſe Lordes nowe left in Brittaine Lande. And though they ſhuld match me wt power of men Yet doubtfull is the chaunce of Battailles ioyned If Victors of the fielde we may departe, Ours is the Scepter than of great Brittayne, If ſlayne amid the playne this body be Mine enemies yet ſhall not deny me this, But that I died gyuynge the noble charge To hazarde life for conqueſt of a Crowne. Forthwith therfore will I in poſte depart To Albanye and raiſe in Armour there All power I can: and here my ſecrete friendes, By ſecrete practiſe ſhall ſollicite ſtill, To ſeeke to wynne to me the peoples hartes.

Actus quintus. Scena ſecunda. Eubulus. Clotyn. Mandud. Gwenard. Arostus Nuntius. Eubulus. O Ioue, Howe are theſe peoples hartes abuſde what blind Furie, thus headlong caries thē? That though ſo many bokes, ſo many rolles Of Auncient time recorde what greuous plagues, Light on theſe Rebelles aye and thoughe ſo ofte Their eares haue hard their aged fathers tell What iuſt rewarde theſe Traitours ſtill receyue. Yea though them ſelues haue ſene depe death and blod By ſtrangling cord & ſlaughter of the ſword To ſuche aſſigned, yet can they not beware: Yet can they not ſtaie their rebellious handes, But ſuffring to fowle treaſon to diſtaine Their wretched myndes, forget their loyall harte, Reiecte all trueth and riſe againſt their Prince, A ruthefull caſe that thoſe, whome duties bounde Whome grafted Lawe by nature trueth and faith Bounde to preſerue their Coūtrey and their king Borne to defende their Cōmon wealth & Prince, Euen they ſhulde geue conſent thus to ſubuerte The Brittaine Land, & from the wombeſhuld bring (O natyue ſoile) thoſe, that will nedes deſtroye And ruyne thee and eke them ſelues in fine: For lo, when ones the Duke had offred Grace Of pardon ſweete (the multitude miſlead By traiterous fraude of their vngracious heades) One ſorte that ſawe the daungerous ſucceſſe Of ſtubborne ſtandynge in rebellious warre And knewe the difference of Princes power From headles nombre of tumultuous routes, Whom cōmen Countreies care and priuate feare Taught to repent the terrour of their rage Laide handes vpon the Capatines of their bande, And brought them bound vnto the mightie Dukes An other ſorte not truſting yet ſo well The trueth of Pardon or miſtruſting more Their owne offence than that thei could conceiue Suche hope of pardon for ſo foule miſdede: Or for that they their Captaines could not yeld Who fearinge to be yelded, flead before, Stale home by ſcilence of the ſecrete night, The thirde vnhappie and vnraged ſorte Of deſperate harts, who ſtained in Princes blood From trayterous furour could not be withdrawen By loue, by lawe, by grace, ne yet by feare, By proffered lyfe, ne yet by threatened Death, With mindes hopeles of liefe, dreadles of Deathe, Careles of Countrey, and aweles of God: Stoode bente to fighte as Furies did them moue With violent death to cloſe their traiterous lyfe: Theſe all by power of Horſemen were oppreſt And with reuenging ſworde ſlayne in the fielde, Or with the ſtrangling Cord hanged on the trees Where yet the carryen Carcaſes do proche The fruites that Rebelles reape of their vproars, And of the murder of their ſacred Prince, But loe, where do approche the noble Dukes, By whom theſe tumults haue ben thus appeaſde. Clotyn. I thinke the worlde wyll now at length beware▪ And feare to put on armes agaynſt their Prince. Mandud. If not: thoſe trayterous hartes that dare rebell Let them beholde the wide and hugie fieldes With bloode & bodie ſpread with rebelles ſlayne, The luſtie trees clothed with corpſes dead That ſtrangled with the corde do hange therin. Arostus. A iuſt rewarde ſuche as all tymes before Haue euer lotted to thoſe wretched folkes. Gwenard. But what meanes he that cōmeth here ſo faſt. Nuntius. My Lords, as duetie and my trouth doth moue And of my Countrey worke and care in mee That if the ſpendynge of my breath auaile To do the Seruice that my harte deſires, I would not ſhunne to imbrace a preſent death, So haue I nowe in that wherein I thought My trauayle mought perfourme ſome good effect • Ventred my liefe to bringe theſe tydinges here. Fergus the mightie Duke of Albanye Is nowe in Armes and lodgeth in the fielde With twentie thouſand men, hether he bendes His ſpedie marcke, & minds to inuade the Crowne Dayly he gathereth ſtrength and ſpreads abrode That to this Realme no certeine Heire remaines, That Brittayne Lande is left without a guyde, That he the Scepter ſeekes, for nothing els But to preſerue the people and the Lande Whiche now remaine as ſhip without a Sterne Loe this is that whiche I haue hereto ſaide. Clotyn. Is this his fayth? and ſhall he falſely thus Abuſe the vauntage of vnhappie times? O wretched Lande, if his outragious pride, His cruell and vntempred wilfulnes His deepe diſſemblinge ſhewes of falſe pretence Should once attaine the Crowne of Brittayn lande Let vs my Lords, with tymely force reſiſt The newe attempt of this our cōmon foe As we would quenche the flames of cōmen fire. Mandud. Though we remaine without a certayn Prince To weld the Realme or guide the wandring rule Yet nowe the cōmen Mother of vs all, Our Natiue Lande, our Countrey that conteines Our wiues, children, kyndred, our ſelues and all That euer is or maye be deare to man Cries vnto vs to helpe our ſelues and her: Let vs aduaunce our powers to repreſſe This growynge foe of all our liberties. Gwenard. Yea let vs ſo my Lordes with haſtie ſpede, And ye (O Goddes) ſende vs the welcome death, To ſhed our bloode in fielde and leaue vs not, In lothe ſome life to lenger out our lyues To ſee the hugie heapes of theſe vnhappes, That nowe roll downe vpon the wretched Lande Where emptie place of Princelie gouernaunce No certayne ſtaie nowe left of doubtles heire, Thus leaue this guideleſſe Realme an open pray, To endleſſe ſtormes and waſt of ciuyll warre. Arostus. That ye (my Lordes) do ſo agree in one To ſaue your Countrey from the violent reigne And wrongfullie vſurped Tirrannie O • him that threatens conqueſt of you all To ſaue your realme, & in this realme your ſelues From forreyne thraldome of ſo proude a Prince, Muche do I praiſe, and I beſeche the Goddes, With happie honour to requite it you. But (O my Lords) ſithe now the Heauens wrath Hath reft this Lande the iſſue of their Prince: Sithe of the body of our late Soueraine Lorde Remaines no mo, ſince the yong kinges be ſlaine And of the Title of the diſcended Crowne, Vncerteynly the diuerſe mindes do thinke Euen of the Learned ſorte, and more vncertainlye Will perciall fancie and affection deeme: But moſt vncertenlye wyll clymbynge pride And hope of Reigne withdrawe frō ſondrie partes The doubtfull right and hopefull luſt to reigne. When ones this noble ſeruice is atchieued For Brittayne Lande the Mother of ye all, When ones ye haue with armed force repreſt, The proude attemptes of this Albanyan Prince, That threatens thraldome to your Natiue Lande, When ye ſhall vanquiſhers retourne from fielde And finde the Princely ſtate an open praye. To gredie luſt and to vſurping power, Then, then (my Lordes) if euer kindely care Of auncient Honour of your aunceſtoures, Of preſent wealth and nobleſſe of your ſtockes: Yea of the lyues and ſafetie yet to come Of your deare wyues, your children & your ſelues, Might moue your noble hactes with gentle ruthe, Then, then haue pytie on the torne eſtate, Then helpe to ſalue the well neare hopeles ſore Whiche ye ſhall do, if ye your ſelues with holde The ſleayng knife from your own mothers throte Her ſhall you ſaue, and you, and yours in her If ye ſhall all with one aſſent forbeare Ones to laye hande or take vnto your ſelues The Crowne by colour of ••• tended right, Or by what other meanes ſo euer it be Tyll firſt by cōmen counſell of you all In Parliament the Regall Diademe Be ſet in certayne place of gouernaunce, In whiche your Parliament and in your choiſe, Preſerve the right (my Lordes,) without reſpecte Of ſtrenght of frendes, or what ſo euer cauſe That maye ſet forwarde any others parte, For right will laſt, and wrong can not endure, Right meane I his or hers, vpon whoſe name The people reſt by meane of Native lyne, Or by the vertue of ſome former Lawe, Alreadie made their title to aduaunce: Suche one (my Lordes) let be your choſen kynge Suche one ſo borne within your Natyue Lande Suche one preferre, and in no wiſe adinitte. The heauie yoke of forreine gouernaunce, Let forreine Titles yelde to Publike wealthe, And with that hart wherewith ye nowe prepare Thus to withſtande the proude inuadynge foe, With that ſame harte (my Lordes) kepe out alſo Vnnaturall thraldome of ſtraungers reigne, Ne ſuffre you againſt the rules of kinde Your Mother Lande to ſerue a Forreine Prince. Eubulus. ¶Loe here the ende of Brutus royall Lyne, And loe the entrie to the wofull wracke And vtter ruyne of this noble Realme. The royall kinge, and eke his ſonnes are ſlaine, No Ruler reſtes within the Regall Seate: The Heire, to whō the Scepter longs, vnknowen That to eche force of Forreine Princes power Whome vauntage of your wretched ſtate By ſodaine Armes to gaine ſo riche a Realme And to the proude and gredie minde at home Whom blinded luſt to reigne leades to aſpire. Loe Brittaiue Realme is left an open praye, A preſent ſpoile by Conqueſt to enſue, Who ſeeth not nowe howe many riſyng mindes Do feede their thoughts, wt hope to reach a Realm And who will not by force attempt to winne So great a gaine that hope perſwades to haue: A ſimple colour ſhall for title ſerue. Who winnes the Royal crown wil want no right Nor ſuche as ſhall diſplaye by longe diſcent A lyneall race to proue him ſelfe a kynge, In the meane while theſe ciuyll armes ſhall rage, And thus a thouſande miſchiefes ſhall vnfolde And farre & neare ſpread thee (O Brittayne Lande) All right and Lawe ſhall ceaſe, and he that had Nothyng to daye, to morowe ſhall enioye Great heapes of good, & he that flowed in wealth, Leo he ſhall be reft of lyfe and all, And happieſt he that than poſſeſſeth leaſt. The wyues ſhall ſuffre rape, the maydes defloured And children fatherles ſhall weepe and wayle: With fire & ſworde thy Natiue folke ſhal periſſhe. One kinſman ſhall bereaue an other life, The father ſhall vnwittynge ſlaye the ſonne, The ſonne ſhall ſlea the ſire and knowe it not: Women and maides the cruell Souldiours ſword Shall perſe to death, and ſillie children loe That playinge in the ſtrea • es & fieldes are founde By violent hande ſhall cloſe their latter daye. Whome ſhall the ferce and bloudie Souldiour Reſerue to liefe, whome ſhall he ſpace from death Euen thou (O wretched mother) half alyue Thou ſhalt beholde thy deare and onely childe Slaine wt the ſworde while he yet ſuckes thy breſt: Loe, giltles bloode ſhall thus eche where be ſhed: Thus ſhall the waſted ſoile yelde forth no fruite But derth and famyne ſhal poſſeſſe the Lande. The Townes ſhal be conſumed & brent with fire, The peopled Cities ſhall ware deſolate, And thou (O Brittaine Land) whilom in renowme Whilome in wealth and fame ſhalt thus be torne, Diſmembred thus, and thus be rent in twayne, Thus waſted and defaced, ſpoiled and deſtroied: Theſe be the fruits your ciuill warres wil bring. Heretoſt cōmes when kinges will not conſent, To graue aduiſe, but folow wilfull wyll: This is the ende, when in yonge Princes hartes Flattery preuayles, and ſage rede hath no place: Theſe are the plages, when murder is the meane To make newe Heires vnto the Royall Crowne. Thus wreke the Gods, whē ye the mothers wrath Nought but y• blood of her owne child may ſwage. Theſe miſchiefes ſprings whē Rebelles wil ariſe, To worke reuenge and iudge their Princes facte: This, this enſues when noble men do faile In loyall trouthe, and ſubiectes will be kinges. And this doth growe when loe vnto the Prince, Whome death or ſodene happe of liefe bereaues, No certayne Heire remaines, ſuche certentie As not all onely is the rightfull Heire, But to the Realme is ſo made vnknowen to be And trouth therby veſted in Subiectes hartes, To owe faith there, where right is knowen to reſt Alas, in Parliament what hope can bee, When is of Parliament no hope at all, Whiche thoughe it be aſſembled by conſent, Yet is it not likely with conſent to ende: While eche one for him ſelfe, or for his frende Againſt his foe, ſhall trauaile what he maye, While nowe the ſtate left open to the man, That ſhall with greateſt force inuade the ſame, Shall fill ambicious minds with gapynge hope: When will they ones with yelding harts agree? Or in the while, howe ſhall the Realme he vſed? No, no: then Parliament ſhould haue ben holden And certaine Heires appoynted to the Crowne To ſtaie their title of eſtabliſſhed righte: And plant the people in obedience While yet the Prince did liue, whoſe name and power By lawfull Sōmons and auctorytie Might make a Parliament to be of force, And might haue ſet the ſtate in quiet ſtaye: But nowe (O happie man) whome ſpedie death Depriues of lyfe, ne is enforced to ſee Theſe hugie miſchiefes and theſe miſeries, Theſe ciuyll wars, theſe murders & theſe wrongs Of Iuſtice, yet muſt Ioue in fyne reſtore This noble Crowne vnto the lawfull Heire: For right will alwayes liue, and riſe at lengthe, But wronge can neuer take deepe roote to laſt.

¶The ende of the Tagedie of Kynge Gorboduc.