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

Author: Goffe, Thomas, 1591-1629.1631

THE RAGING TVRKE, OR, BAIAZET THE SECOND.

A Tragedie vvritten by THOMAS GOFFE, Master of Arts, and Student of Christ-Church in Oxford, and Acted by the Students of the same house.

Monstra fato, scelera moribus imputes

Det ille veniam facilè cui venia est opus.

LONDON: Printed by AVGVST. MATHEVVES, for RICHARD MEIGHEN. 1631.

[Page]

TO THE NO LESSE INGENIOVS THEN ZEALOVS fauourer of ingenuity, Sir RICHARD T [...]CHBOVRNE Knight, &c.

SIR:

THis Tragedy, a manuscript, with another of the same Authors, came lately to my hands; He that gaue them birth, because they were his Nugae, or rather recreations to his more serious and diuine studies, out of a nice modesty (as I haue learnt) allowed them [...]earce priuate fostering. But I, by the consent of his especiall friend▪ in that they shew him rather Omnium scenarum homo to his glory then disparagement: haue published them, and doe tender this to your most safe protection, le [...]t it w [...]nder a fatherlesse Orphan, which euery one in that respect will be apt to iniure with calumnious censure. Now if you vouchsafe to receiue and shelter it, you will not onely preserue vnblemish'd the euer-liuing fame of the dead Author, but assure me that you kindly accept this humble acknowledgement of

Your most obliged and ready reall Seruant▪ RICH, MEIGHEN.

[Page]

The Names of the Actors▪

Baiazet, Emperour. Zemes, Baiazets brother.
his Sonnes.
- Mahomates Tartarian King.
- Achomates Armenian King.
- Corcutus Asmehemedes, Mahomets followers.
- Selymus
- Thrizham Hamon Baiazets Physitian, Iewish Monk [...].
- Mahomet
Achmetes a Generall, Cherseogles Vizer [...]y of Greece. Herauld.
Dwar [...]e.
Bassaes.
- Isaack Nemesis.
- Mesithes Captaines.
- Mustapha Ambassadours.
Solyman Selymus sonne. Ianizaries.
Caiubus, Achmetes sonne. Souldiers.
Alexander Bishop of Rome. Nu [...]cius.

[Page]

THE RAGING TVRKE, Or the Tragedie of BAIAZET, the second of that name.

Actus Primi,

Scena Prima.Enter, Bassaes Isaack▪ with a Crowne in his hand, Mustapha with a Scepter, Mesithes with a Sword, they Crowne Corcutus youngest sonne to Baiazet.
Isaack.
LEt the world feele thee, and those Demigods,
Proud with the name of Kings, debase themselues
To honour thee, this Crowne commands as much
He crowns him.
Wherewith I doe invest thy happy brow,
Happy indeed if that succeeding times
Shall set vp vertue, so to lessen crimes.
Thus from the ashes of dead Solyman
Is raised another Phoenix great Corcutus;
Liue equally adored, when Princes bend
To better courses, all their subiects mend.
Must.
Crowns make not Kings, nor can that glittering shew
Perfect thine honour, take another signe
Giues him the Scepter.
Of thy Imperiall dignity, 'tis thine.
That addes a God-like grace vnto thy brow,
This binds due honour, that prostrates euery knee
Before thy throne, then liue, and may that arme
Secure thy subiects from all forraigne harme.
Mesith.
[Page]What seasoned knowledge, learnings prudent Queen
Hath blest thee with, must now initiate thee
In the pathes of warre, all studied Arts
Are but degrees vnto some wished end▪
And steps of hope whereby we doe ascend
Vnto the top; and leuell of our thoughts.
But Kings then proue most happy when they are
Watchfull in peace, and prouident in warre.
Those are their vtmost ends, which that they may
O're-take, Art, and the sword, make fairest way.
The Muses no [...]rc'd thee vp, and thou didst draw
The pleasant iuice of learning from their brests,
In thy first non-age; here then we bestow
The second helpe, to which good Princes owe
Much of their welfare; swords are the first ground
Of peace, and warre; they both defend and wound.
Thus are we vow'd to thee, let thy dread fame
Thunder amazement through the spatious world,
That when thou lifts thine arme, thy foes may say
Showts 3.
Not Ioue, but great Corcutus rules the day.
Corcut.
Which that applause hath crowned, and with it
Will euer spight of traytors ioying sit
As now we doe; nor shall my watchfull care
Be wanting to you, whilst this  [...]ubtill ayre
Feedes mine industrious spirits, I shall fill
The good with ioy, by cutting of the ill
Corrupted ragges of men; Ioue let me stand
An obiect in thine eye, when thy swift hand
Failes in the stroke of Iustice, vertue returne
From thy sad exile, I will purge the walls
From spotted vice, and make this Cittie free
To entertaine so faire a Queene as shee.
Then (Bassaes) I embrace what you haue throwne
Vpon me, and these signes of honour thus
Giues them ba [...]ke.
We re-bestow; their power still stayes with vs.
Could this vast body of the Common-wealth
Stand fast without a soule? each man should see
I am not greedy of this dignity:
[Page] This burdenous waight which some must vndergoe,
The gods are busied with diuiner things,
And put Earths care into the hands of Kings.

Actus Primi, Scena Secunda.After some clamors of applause Enter Ch [...]rsogl [...], and Ach­metes at seuerall doores.
Achmet.
And is Baiazet arriu'd?
Chers.
So fame report [...]
Yet how he doth digest Corcutus Raigne,
That euerie Bird sings not; but sure with paine.
A Turkish Baiazet, and suffer wrong,
May for a time conceale his griefe, not long.
Eagles soare high, and scorne that shorter Plumes
Should reach the cloudes, which their proud wings can touch,
Corcutus must not raigne, to keepe his fathers right
Due to his father, nor will he if he might,
E [...]nter Isaack▪
Hee's learned, therefore iust, Arts not allow
To were a Crowne due to anothers brow.
Isa.
Dar'st thou oppose his greatnesse? is not Gr [...]
Already wrackt enough? haue thy provd Towers
Reard vp their loftie spires? which steep'd in blood,
Threw a reflex of red backe to the clouds,
And blush' [...] at their owne ruines, are thy crude wounds
Already stopt, and is that day forgot,
In which the Turkish Mavors Ott [...]man,
Wielded a sword of death within thy Walles?
Charon grew weary with hurrying soules to  [...]ell,
When threescore thousand Greekes in one day fell.
Chers.
We know their force, and sad experience sayes,
Moue not againe, Greece welters still in blood
And euery crackling thunder of the heauens
Speakes the shrill eccho of the Turkish drummes,
Then are we drawne by you, so let it bee,
About these great affaires as you decree.
Achm.
[Page]This phrase becomes the Greekes, submissiue states
Must bend,  [...] Conqueror must rule the fates.
Chers.
And such are you, our vanquisht hearts must bend,
But bad beginnings haue a fatall end▪
Me thinkes I see great Baiazet in armes▪
Spreading his fearefull Ensignes in the ayre,
Like some prodigious Comet, wee may feare
Speedy revenge vulesse some quicke aduise
Worke a prevention of his future hate,
Tis he must sway the Scepter, or wee shall heare
A dreadfull defiance ratled in our eare,
Hees strong in friends, and power, vve must descend,
To our iust dutie, or our latest end.
Achm.
Renowned Vice-roy, thy perswading thoughts
Haue predeuin'd most truely these effects,
And we applaud thy Counsell, let vs three
Ioyne our best strength, that these ensuing  [...]arres
May be compos'd without the stroke of Warres:
Cor [...]te is wise, and milde, and being so,
He hates the rumour of a publike foe.
Chers.
Nobly resolu'd (Greece sings) if the event,
Proue but so happy, as honest the intent.
But stand aside, Baiazet is come.
Enter Baiazet.
Baia.
Am I not Emperor? hee that breaths a no,
Damnes in that negative  [...]illable his soule,
Durst any god gain-say it, he should feele
The strength of fiercest Gyants in mine armes,
Mine angers at the highest, and I could shake
The firme foundation of the earthly Globe:
Could I but graspe the Poles in these two handes,
I'de plucke the world asunder; droppe thou bright Sunne,
From thy transparant Spheare, thy course is done,
Great Baiazet is wrong'd not shall thine eye
Be witnesse to my hatefull misery.
Madnesse and anger makes my tongue betray,
The Chaos of my thoughts: vnder this brest,
An heape of indigested ca [...]es are prest.
What is it that I doubt? through every joynt
[Page] Daunces a trembling agve, this dull blood,
That courses through my veines devines no good.
shout [...] of ioy within.
Ha, shovts of ioy, at dead mens obsequies?
I'me in a maze of woes, what thou wilt throw
On me, Ioue, let it come, ile stand thy blow.
Chers.
Live happy Baiazet.
[Baia.
Happy in my feare,
That word sounds sweet in my distracted eare.
Happy in what?
[Ach.
In thy friends,
He turnes aside to them
That grieve to see thy wrongs.
[Ba.
My wrongs,
There sticks the string my thoughts did harpe vpon;
But who hath wrong'd me in this high content?
The fates doe sometime frowne, yet blesse th'event,
And sequell of our woes, it cannot be,
I should be thwarted in my jollity.
But if I can vnfold it—for the more,
I know them not the greater is my sore.
Chers.
In that read all thy woes, take there a briefe,
He giues him a paper
Contract of all thine ills, sad lines of griefe.
Baia.
How's this? my yongest sonne aduanced to my seate.
Corcutus Imperator, sure I dreame:
These are but  [...]mpty apparitions
Fain'd by the god of sleepe to vexe my soule,
Were they not so—ere this blacke night
Had throwne her sable mantle ore the heauens
To hide me from my shame; but is it so?
I doe but flatter vp my selfe, they are true
And reall griefes, my Passion sayes they are,
Isaack, Achmetes, are they not?
[Ach.
Too true
Great Baiazet:
[Baia.
Corcutus Imperator,
reades againe
Would I had seene thy name writ in the booke
Of darke damnation, rather then these lines.
Crackt not mine eye-strings when I viewed this text?
See how each letter spreads abroad in pompe,
As if they scorn'd my teares, how I could dwell
On these two words, Corcutus Imperator.
Hither repaire, the watchfull paper wormes
That scan old recordes ouer to a line:
Here in two wordes imprinted shall you see,
The modell of a dolefull historie;
[Page] Vertue dishonoured, breach of filiall love,
Right shouldered ovt by wrong, nor can you faine,
A crime, which these two words doe not containe,
But now I ray [...]e, not grieve. O nimble ayre,
Let my plaints vanish as they spoken are,
Off with this womanish mildnesse, I will finde
A shorter tricke then this to ease my mind,
Pluto beware, I come to raigne in hell,
about to ki [...] himselfe.
Fates bid me rule, and birth-right to excell.
Chers.
Stay Baiazet, that arme can breake a path
Vnto thy earthly Monarch, ere thou come
To blesse the bankes of sweete Elys [...]um,
With thy wisht presence: Mahomet forefend
That thou should'st seale a Kingdome to thy sonne,
By this vntimely death, Corcutus raignes,
But at thy better pleasure; when he shall heare
Thou art arrived, then hee'l twixt ioy and griefe,
Start from his throne, and nimbly runne to meete,
Thy pompe, and throw his Scepter at thy feete:
If hee but slacke that duty here are by,
Achmetes strong and bolde, Isaacke and I.
Devoted to your service, yet the world stands
On wavering doubts, ready to clappe their hands.
Baia.
My desires are crown'd,
And from the gate of Li [...]bo, where I sate,
I feele my spirits knocke against the heavens.
Achmetes? In that name I heare an ease
Of all my griefes pronounced, he shall suffice
To banish vsurpation from my throne,
Did furyes guard it round, hee's able well
To reach my Kingdomes from the gripes of hell.
Ach.
My sword, and life, both which are vow'd to thee,
Are still at thy command: walke but along,
Corcutus shall resigne, thou haue no wrong.
Exeunt Baiazet, Cherseogles, and Achmetes, Ma [...]nt Isaack, and Mustapha.

Actus Primi, Scena Tertia,

Isaack.

[Page]

Death, and the furies plunge the obsequious [...]laues,

Would he have joyn'd with vs? we would haue kept

Corcutus high, and honoured, where he sits

In spight of a whole hoast of Baiazets.

Musta.

Me thinkes your power might haue bin greater farre

Ouer Achmetes, one adict to you

By no lesse bond of dutie, then the sonne

Is to the father:

[Isa.

Mustapha Ile tell you

Had not my daughter beene espoused to him,

I had nam'd his death, and by some plot

Work't him a quicke destruction long e'r this;

Now let vs temporize with Baiazet;

Yet keepe thy nature ever, and be true

To thine owne profit; Fortune may aduance

Some other Prince, worth both thy loue and mine.

Musta.

Weele stay her leasure,

Isaack

See more Harpies gathered to catch a Crowne,

O tis a charming baite.

Exit vter (que).

Enter Mahomet [...], Achmetes, S [...]linus.

Mahom.

Me thinks these City walles smile on our entrance,

As if they knew great Baiazets three sonnes,

Were come to grace their beautie.

Sel.

But We should frowne

On them which harbor such blacke treasons, Well,

Were I great Baiazet, I'de ring a noyse

Of spightfull horrour, that should make the grovnd

Tremble beneath their weight at such a sound:

A younger sonne enthron'd an Emperour.

Achm.

Brother containe your selfe, come lets away,

To see the end that waits on this sad day.

Exeunt

As they goe Trizham and Mahomet, two other Sonnes of Baiazet goe to meete them.

Selin.

What Mahomet?

Achm.

And Trizham? heer [...] a sight

Of one mans issue, Noble Baiazet,

Brothers we haue iumpt together?

Sel.

All save one,

And hee's a great deale better so alone.

Triz.

Corcutus t'is you meane, who though he raigne,

Aboue vs now, yet must fall backe againe,

[Page] Into our rancke, t'is Baiazet must rise,

And hee descend, such a report there flyes.

Exeunt.

Actus Primi, Sccena Quarta.Enter Corcutus, Cherseogles, Mesithes.
Corcu.
Did he not frowne, and storme?
Chers.
It mooued him much,
And wrought strange passio [...]s in him, when he read
Your name, and found your name so intituled.
Corcu.
Cling to my temples thou blest ornament,
Be ever vnremoued, though all the gods
Chide me in thunder for this insolence,
Am I in heaven? in state placed on the spheare
Of eminence, but barely to appeare,
With faint, and borrowed luster, then descend,
Rankt with the vulgar heads, first let me feele,
The Titio [...] vulture, or Ixions wheele;
And the worst torture hell it selfe can bring,
To scourge my soule, ô let me dye a King;
But stay, I must bethinke me at what rate,
I purchase these faire trappings: ha? the curse
Of him that got mee: start my daunted spirits,
Shall I vsurpe a throne, and sit aboue my father,
Whilest the gaping pit of hell,
With wide stretcht iawes, yawnes for my fall,
O I am strucke with horror, and the slaves of stix,
Already sting my wounded soule.
Chers,
Will you faire Prince reiect all future hopes
Of just succession, and afflict your Sire,
By your vniust detainment of his Crowne.
Corcu.
I am distracted, and me thinkes I burne,
Vnder these robes of state, a boyling heate,
Runnes from them through my veines, Ioues hardy sonne,
When he bewrapt himselfe in Nessus shirt,
Felt not more bitter agonies, then I,
Cloath'd in the trappings of my Maiestie.
I am resolved; Bassaes, goe me [...]te our father,
[Page] Allure him home with this: I am begun
Exeunt Mesithes and Cherseogles.
To be no King, but a repentant sonne.
Pallas I aske thy pardon, I haue straied
A gracelesse trewant from thy happy schooles,
Whither I'le now returne; theres not a ranke,
Place, or degree, can sort vs out true blisse
Without thy Temple, there my dwellin [...]g is:
Amongst the Sacred monuments of wit,
Which Classique authors carefully haue writ
For our instruction, I will wast my time;
So to wash out the spots of this sad crime.
Court honors, and you shaddowes of true joy
That shine like starres, till but a greater light
Drowne your weake luster, I adjure your sight,
Even from my meditations, and my thoughts
I banish your entising vanities,
And closely kept within my studie walles,
As from a cave of rest, henceforth Ile see,
And smile, but neuer tast your misery.
I but as yet am floating on the waues,
Of stormy daunger, nor am sure to scape
The violent blast of angry Baiazet.
Blow faire my hopes and when I touch the shoare,
Ile venture forth on this rough surge no more.
Enter Baiazet, Cherseogles, Achmetes, Isaack, Mesithes, Musta­pha, Mahomet, Achomates, Selymus, Trizham, Mahomet [...] Zemes disguised.
See where he comes, oh how my guiltie blood
Starts to my face, and proues my cause not good.
Our dutie to our father,
kneeles.
Baia.
Ours to the Emperor.
kneeles
Cor,
Why kneeles great Baiazet? I am thy sonne
Thy slaue: and if thy wrath but frowne, vndone.
Why kneeles great Baiazet, heavens hide thy face,
From these preposterous doings.
Ba.
What, not asham'd
To circle in thy brow with that bright Crowne,
Yet blush to see mee kneele? though filiall rites,
And morrall precepts say the sonne must bend
[Page] Before the Father, yet your high degree
And powre bids you rise, commands my knee.
Core.
Those ornaments be thine, Here Baiazet
I Crowne thee Monarch of the spatious West,
Asia, and Affrica: if ought be mine,
Greater then these I here proclaime it thine.
Omnes.
Liue Baiazet our mighty Prince,
Liue, rule, and flourish.
Baia.
Is this your zeale? is it? did euery voyce
Breath out a willing suffrage? I am crowned,
My ioyes are fully perfect, and I feele
My lightned spirits caper in my brest.
Rise thou starre-bright mirrour of thine age,
To Corcutus kneeling.
By thee our iron dayes proue full as good,
As when old Saturne thundred in the clowds.
Be an example to succeeding times,
How sonnes should vse their Parents: and I vow
(When I shall faile) this honour to thy brow.
Attend vs Bassa [...]s, Ile lead on to ioy,
Neuer was Father blest with such a Boy.
Exeunt omnes manet Corcut.
Corcu.
Freed from a Princely burthen, I possess
A Kingly liberty, and am no lesse
Princely; obseruance wayte on him, on me
Thoughts vndisturb'd, I shall then happy be.
Exit.

Actus Primi, Scena Quinta.

Enter Zemes the brother of Baiazet alone.

Zemes.

Scarce had I set my foote within these walls

In expectation of a solemne hear [...]e,

Due to the wandring Ghost of Mahomet;

But lowd alarmes of abundant ioy

Ring in mine eares, and euery seruile groome

Congratulates the Coronation

A [...]s [...]owt within.

Of Baiazet: harke how they roare it out.

A cold disturbance like a gelid [...]ost

Settles my blood within me, and I hate

[Page] His cheerefull triumphes, more then mine owne Fa [...]e.

'Tis true indeede, I prou'd not the first fruites,

An elder off-spring of my Fathers breede,

Yet was it so that Baiazet and I

Both tumbled in one wombe, perhaps the Queene

Of womens labours doted at our birth,

And sent him first abroad, or else I slept,

And he before me stole into the world,

Must I then loose my glory, and be hurl'd

A slaue beneath his feete? no, I must be

An Emperour as full as great as he.

Exit.

Actus Primi, Scena Sexta.

Enter Isaack alone.

Iaack.

Deuorc'd my Daughter? fond and insolent man,

Ile crush thee into nothing, if I can

Endure the noyse of my disgrace I know

How to returne it; I am a flame of fire,

A chafing heat distempers all my blood.

Achmetes thou must coole it, when thy limbes

Are emptied of that moysture they sucke in,

And thy stain'd blood inchanted from thy veines,

Then shall I be appeased, meane while I liue

Thy mortall foe: But stay, let me containe

Mine anger vndiscouered. Friend how is't?

Enter Mesithes.

Mesith.

Know you not Isaack?

Isa.

What?

Mes.

The flight of Zemes

Hence to Armenia.

Isa.

O [...] Zemes?

Mes.

Yes [...]e walkt

About the Citie disguis'd, and vnseene

Till his escape.

Is.

Tis strange and full of feare.

Mes.

We meet him frequent in the vulgar mo [...]th.

Isaack.

Zemes is valiant, and Armenia strong,

Here's Baiazet, he must beware the wrong.

Enter Baiazet.

Baia.

VVhat is it thou murmurst, Baiazet and wrongd?

Something it is thou knowest concerning vs:

Take thee faire leaue, and speake it.

Isa.

Yes I know

Matter of weight, such as concerne thy life.

[Page] [...][Page] [...][Page] [...][Page] [...]

B [...]ia.

[Page]

Such as concerne my life? Speake out thy tale,

VVe are so flesht in ioy, bad newes proues strange,

And touch my sense too harshly.

Isa.

But you must heare.

Your brother Zemes, when swift winged Fame

Tolde him your father Mahomet was dead,

Flew quickly hither first to celebrate

His funerall pompe, then to assume his State,

His Crowne, and Scepter: which he rightly knew,

Vnto your hand, and head, both to be due.

But when applausiue ioyes, and peales of mirth,

Sounded loud Mosique in his troubled eares,

Of you enthron'd; then he began too late

To brawle at heauen, and wrangle with his Fate.

So he went hence and cried; reuenge be mine:

Quake thou great Citie of proud Constantine

At my fierce anger, when I next returne,

VVith cloudes of misty powder, I shall choake

Thy breath, and dull thy beauty with it's smoake.

This posted he hence to Armenias King,

There to implore his ayde, which he will bring

To front thy power: nor doth he yet dispaire,

To dispossesse, and fright thee from thy chaire.

Baiacet.

First from my body shall he fright my soule,

And push me into dust. Isaack make hast

To muster vp our forces, strike vp our Drummes,

Let them proclaime destruction through the world.

Cleare vp your dusty armour, let it cast

Such an amazing lustre on the Foe,

As if Bellona danc'd on euery crest.

The bright sunne of my glory is eclipsed,

Till Zemes be extinct: he must not shine

To dull my beames, si [...]ce the whole heauen is mine.

Call forth Achmetes, his vnconquered arme,

Shall keepe vs safe from this intended harme.

Isaack.

My Liege, you haue forgot Archmetes [...]ath,

In which he vowed neuer to draw his sword

In your defence.

Baia.

I had forgot it,

But now I remember, such was the vaine

[Page] Heat of my youth, but I recall againe

VVhat euer I protested, tell him so.

Rash words must be dispensed with.

Isa.

Then Ile goe.

Exit.

Baia.

My Father once in ordering of a Campe,

Preferr'd me to be Captaine of a wing,

So when the Battailes ioyned, and life and death

VVhere strugling who should winne power of our breath,

Our Armies prou'd the stronger; onely my guide

Fail'd, and a base repulse fell on my side;

At which my Father storm'd, and in my place

Seated Achmetes, for which black disgrace,

I vow'd a swi [...]t reuenge, euen by his shame

That wore mine honour, to redeeme my fame▪

VVhich when Achmetes heard, he deepely swore,

Neuer with wit and strength to guide me more.

But now he must, see where he comes, and arm'd.

Enter Achm.

What strange deuice is plotting in his braine?

Honored Achmetes.

Ach.

Royall Emperor.

Giues him [...]sw [...]rd.

Baia.

Thine arme must then vphold my Royalty.

Why lyes thy valour, prostrate at our feete,

When like fierce lightnings it should runne and meete

My harmes like a rocke vnmou'd? oppose.

The course, and headlong torrent of my foes.

Achm.

I am a man of peace, mistake me not.

I made a vow, nor can it be forgot,

Till you reuoke your oath.

Baia.

Which here I doe,

Great Mahomet be witnesse, that I meane

Sincerely what I speake, Achmetes now

Giues him his sword againe.

VVe're friends, and thus I nullifie my vow;

Heauens on this concord lend a gracious smile.

Achmetes I haue plac'd thee in my bosome,

Gaue thee an honour'd title in my loue;

And of as lasting constancie, as is

The sunne which lookes so cheerefully on this.

Goe fit the Ianizaries to the warres,

Kindle new fire of valor in their breasts,

Thou art their Genius, euen the breath they draw,

Rayse then thy plumes, and keepe thy foes in awe.

Achm.

[Page]

Stood there a Pluto at thy citie walles,

And with a band of furies had besieg'd

Thy people, I would coniure them away,

And send them backe to hell: so thou shalt stand

As fast as in the skyes, vnder mine hand.

Baia,

I am Crown'd in thee, nor can I fall,

Whilest such a valour breathes within our wall,

Zemes depose me? hee must be more strong,

Then Mars, that can doe Baiazet that wrong.

Exe [...]

Actus Primi, Scena Septima.

Enter Zemes, and the King of Armemia,

Arm [...].

Wee hate thy brother, therefore lend thee ayde,

'Tis not our dutie to expostulate

Thy right vnto the Crowne, on to your warres,

Thriue in your proiects, I shall joy to see

A quarrell fought twixt Baiazet and mee.

Ile second thy encounters, and we two

Like the two Roman thunder-bolts of warre,

Will with the flashes of our fierie swordes

Keepe their composed rankes, that they shall stand

Agast, to see two Scipi [...]es in one band,

Zemes.

Thankes great Arme [...]ian King, and when I am

Wheel'd to that height, which now my brother holdes,

I shall require these benefits, and vow

That kindnesse, which I can but promise now.

Arm.

Come let's away, our armies are well set,

Ready to march, now tremble Baiazet.

Exeu [...]

Actus Primi, Scena Octaua.

Enter Achmetes in his Generalls coate, and Caigubus his sonne.

Achm.

Caigubus, publike dangers call me forth,

And I must leaue thee now vnto thy selfe

My sonne, thou seest vnto what height of fame

We are ascended, yet the sunne shines cleare,

And not one dusky cloude of discontent

Dimmes the vnspotted brightnesse of our ioyes,

Not Baiazet is more belou'd then I:

[Page] Such strict obseruance is there shew'd to mee,

By all that know my worth, and heare me nam'd,

As if I grasp't Ioues thunder in my hands:

By all my hopes, I feare some tragicke sceane

Will trouble our calme fortune▪ Sonne beware,

The top of honour is a narrow plot

Of ground, whither we haue already got,

'Tis brittle, and vncertaine, if thou tread

One carelesse [...]leppe aside, thou fall'st downe dead,

The shute from thence is deepe, and vnderneath,

Ruine gapes wide, thy body to receiue.

Stand firme Caigubus: though thou start'st not away

Yet blasts of envie often force aside

The weariest footsteppe: these where e'r they shall,

Blow strong▪ will make them stagger if not fall.

Caigu.

I shall forget to sleepe, to breath, to liue,

Sooner then these thy precepts, they are fixt,

And printed in my thoughts.

Ach.

Enough, no more,

That Isaack Bassa trust him not too much:

I haue divorc'd his daughter from my bed,

For her adulterate loosenesse, hence, hee hides

A masse of fretting ranchor in his brest,

Which he hath varnish't yet, and gilded o're

With coloured shewes of love, but he is false,

And subtile as a Serpent, that will winde

Into thy brest, stinging thee ere thou finde

Or o [...]ce suspect his hatred; I must away,

Trumpets soun [...].

Hasty alarmes call me hence, thus, and farewell,

Envie growes greater, as our states excell:

Exit.

Caigu.

Father, adiew.

Exit.

Actus Secundi,

Scena Prima.

A dum [...]e shew: Enter Zemes, and the Armenian King, Trumpets and Ensignes, Souldiers passe ouer the stage, and in a solemne march. Exeunt.

Actus Secundi, Scena Secunda.

Enter Baiazet and Trizham, and Mahomet his two sonnes.

Baia.

Alaready marcht so neere, Zemes make hast

[Page] To death, as if he long'd our wrath to tast.

Trizham, and Mahomet, it concernes you now,

To flie hence nimbly to your Provinces,

Zemes is come too neere vs to escape,

He cannot flye the ground whereon he treads,

But through your countreys, hast then, if the wars

Cracke not his threed of life, his flight will bee

When you may intercept it; if we presume

Only on bold Achmetes, and our selues,

In beds of downe supinely, sleepe at home,

Zemes may scape the tempest of our wrath.

Then we hope best, when each event we see,

Thwarted with their preventing policie.

Trizham.

Doubt not our hast and truth, he shall as soone

Breake through the fiery fabrick of the skies,

As through my Provinces:

Exit.

Maho.

Through hell as soone as mine.

Exit.

Baia.

Goe, I haue done my part; Mars and my fate

Give faire successe to my designed plot,

And Zemes is intrapt, already dead:

That hand secures me that strikes off his head.

Actus Secundi, Scena Tertia.

Enter Achmetes, Cherseogles, Mustapha, Mesithes, drummes and Trumpets.

Achm.

The battell will prove great and dangerous,

But were their number double more then ours,

The justice of our cause bids vs goe on,

And like a cheerefull drumme strikes panting feare

From euery brest. Father, lead you the vangard,

The reare-ward be your charge, the right wing yours,

My selfe will gui [...]e the left, this day shall crowne

Your valour in full pride, Zemes must downe.

Enter Zemes, Armenia, two Captaines.

Zem.

Time hath outstript our hast, our foes doe stand,

Wauing their golden plumes, as if the gods,

Were come to meete great Zemes in the field,

[Page] Their armies planted, and a distilling cloud,

Hovers aboue their heads, as if it wept,

At their approaching fate. Arm [...]nia's King

Leade you the vanguard, vnder your command

The reareward shall march on, the Phalance

Be your care braue Captaines, as we're inform'd,

Achmetes rules the left wing of our foe,

Ile rule the right wing of ours, so when I meete,

Him in his pride Ile prostrate at his feete.

Arme.

Our men are ordered, Zemes leade the way,

The skies looke duskie blacke on this sad day.

Exeu [...]

Trumpets sound to the battaile [...], dumbe shewes in skirmishes, one of Zemes Captaines and Cherseogles meete, Zemes Captaine preuailes, his second and Mesithes meete, Mesithes retires, [...]he King of Armenia and Mustapha meete, Armenia preuail [...]s, and pursues the battaile. Enter Achmetes with his sword.

Ach.

Great Queen of chance; but do I call on this

Vnconstant St [...]pdame? be thou propitious Mars,

Rough god of warre: steele vp this wearie arme,

And put a ten fold vigor in my bones;

What shall Achmetes fall, and in his losse,

Great Baiazet, be wrong'd? it cannot bee

Death comes to wound thee Zemes, I am hee.

As he goes out, the King of Armenia meetes him, they [...]ight, Achmetes makes him retire from the stage, and pursues him in his furie, enters againe at the one dore, Zemes at the other, they meete, drums and trumpets sounding.

Ach.

Zemes?

Zem.

Achmetes? Opportunelie met,

Here staggers all the fortune of the field,

This houre must blesse me, and a single fight

Purchase thee honor, and to mee my right:

Honour to thee, to die by Zemes hand,

My right to me, an Empire to command.

Achm.

Braue Prince, I more lament thy case then can thy selfe

That runnest with such madnesse on the edge

Of desperate ruine, thou art but young and weake,

Manhoods soft blossomes are not fully spread

[Page] Vpon thy downy chinne; but riper yeeres

Haue setled the compacture of my ioynts,

And they are strongly knit: 'twill vexe my soule

In the cleare morne of thine vp-rising hopes,

To wrap thee in a fatall cloude of death.

Submit thee to thy brother, thou shalt finde

Me thy true friend, him mercifull and kinde.

Zem.

Submit? had I a right to Io [...]es high Throne,

And stood in opposition of his power,

Should all the gods aduise me to submit,

I would reiect their counsell: much more thine.

Guard thee Achmetes, [...] thy stroke abide,

I cannot gore thy Prince but through thy side.

They fight and breath: fight againe. Achmetes takes away Zemes sword.

Zem.

The day be thine, and Zemes stand thy Fate;

Strike home, I' [...]e l [...]st the day, and life I hate.

Achm.

Haue at thee then.

Offers to run at him with both swords.

Not stirre? now by my sword

Thou shalt haue fayrer play before thy death:

Take backe thy sword, in that I recommit

My forfeit to thy charge, thy life with it.

They fight againe and Achmetes wounds him on the head. Zemes falls.

Zem.

Oh! hold thy conquering hand, and giue my soule

A quiet pas [...]age to her rest; my blood

Beginnes to wast, and a benuming cold,

Freezes my vitall spirits: Achmetes goe,

Tell Baiazet that thou hast slaine his [...]oe.

Ach.

Farewell, braue [...]onne of Mars, thy fame shall stay

With vs, although thy soule flit hence away.

Zemes

I haue not ly [...]d, Achmetes thou hast slaine,

My hopes, and therefore me, my woundes are shallow,

But my state desperate, Ha? what shall I doe?

Armenia's King is [...] acke to his home,

Cold enter [...]ainment will attend me there;

The field is emptie, euery man r [...]tir'd,

Onely a few dead ca [...]casses, and I,

[Page] Then whither shall I bend my steps? to Rome!

To Rome then let it bee: Bishop I come,

Th'art a religious thing, and I will trust,

My life to one so innocently just.

Exit.

Actus Secundi, Scena Quarta.

Enter Mahom [...]tes, Achomates, Selymus three of Baiazets sonnes.

Sely.

Indeed we may be thought vpon in time,

When there be Countries more then there be men,

We may get some preferment: sit at home

And proue good boyes, and please our father well.

My thoughts are two vnbridled, Baiazet,

aside

I neither can, nor will endure thy curbe,

My comprest valor like a strangled fire.

Breakes out in violent flames, and I must rule.

Trizham and Mahomet are slipt in hast

Each to their seuerall Prouince, we must stay,

That are their Elders for another day;

This Court will proue our scaffold where vve stand

Plac't in the eye of angry Baiazet:

Who thvvarts him in his fury is but dead,

And in that passio [...]s heate, off goes his head.

I must not line thus.

Maho.

I could bee content,

He feares not death, vvhose thoughts are innocent.

Sely.

I tha [...]ke you brother, then belike some crimes

Lye heauy on my conscience, and I feare,

Vnlesse I shift my station, 'twill be knowne;

You thinke well of me kind Mahometes.

Maho.

As well as of a brother I can thinke.

If by a rash applying to your selfe,

My words haue beene distastfull, blame not me.

Sely.

Can I applie them then vnto my selfe?

Am I so loose in manners? by heauen and earth,

Thou shalt repent this deepelie.

Ach.

Stop that oath,

Brothers agree, or walke hence but along

Into my garden, where each springing hearbe

Smiles on my faire content, there you shall see,

[Page] How flowers of one stocke, so twisted are,

One in the others twinings, that they shew,

One stands by th'others helpe, both ioyntly grow;

These shall suffice your quarrels to remooue,

And dumbe examples teach a liuely loue.

Maho.

Come let vs goe.

Exeunt Mahomates. and Achomates.

Sely.

Straight I will follow you.

Away fond wretches, ô that every breast

Were of so dull a temper as you two.

But who come's heere?

Enter Corcutus

Brother Corcutus whither are you bent▪

What from the Court so soone?

Corcu.

My father bids,

I goe to vndertake the charge, his loue

Hath throwne vpon me; That's rich Ionia.

Sely.

You goe to rule there?

Cor.

Yes:

Sel.

Heauens speede you well.

Cor.

Deare Selymus adiew.

Sel.

Brother farewel.

Exit Corcutus

Revenge and you, three furious twinnes of night,

Ascend vp to our theater of ill,

Plunge my black soule twice in your Stygian flood,

That by it's vertue it may be congeal'd,

And harden'd against remorse: Pluto enrich

My breast, with a diviner pollicie,

Then every trifling braine can reach vnto;

Ile fill the world with Treasons, and my wit

Shall put new tracts to death: Charon shall see,

His wa [...]tage still in vse by companie,

Sent thither by my care, [...] 'twill doe well,

To blast the earth with want, and furnish hell,

Exit

Actus Secundi, Scena Quinta,Enter Isaack Baiazet.
Isaack.
Tush, ver [...]ue makes men fooles, Isaack be wise,
Shake off the tender fetters of remorse,
And hugge that chance, that opens thee the way
To ruinate Achmetes: did he stand
[Page] On termes of conscience, neighbor-hood or loue,
When he cashierd my daughter from his house,
And to the worlds broad eye, opened her crime?
No: he was swift and bitter in his hate,
And so will I, he is but now return'd
In Triumph from the field, as full of pride
As I of envy, hence Ile ground my hate.
When fierce Bellona smil'd on Baiazet,
Amidst the fiery tumults of the Warre,
She offered Zemes to Achmetes hand,
They fought, Achmetes conquered at his foote,
Fell the proud rebell, wounded, but not slaine,
There might Achmetes with a blow of death
Cut off our feares, continued in his breath:
This shall incense the angry Emperor,
And crush Achmetes in his fairest hopes.
True polititians worke by others hands,
So I will by the Prince, my plot stands firme:
See where he comes, now sly Mercurius, whet
My tongue, to kindle hate in Baiazet,
Enter Baiazet▪
Baia.
Isaack how thriu'd Achmetes in his Warres,
Fame is of late growne dumbe of his renowne,
Surely vnwelcome newes clogs her swift wings,
Else had she now bin freqvent in our Court;
And we had fully knowne the chance of all.
Isa.
We had, yet could not the event,
Lie so conceal'd, but Isaac found it out,
Which when I first discovered, straight it wrought
Tempests of passions in me, joy and griefe
Raign'd at one instant in the selfe same breast.
Baiazet
As how?
Isa.
As thus. I joy'd that Zemes fell,
Was sorry he escap'd.
Baia,
Fell and yet escap'd?
Isa.
Beneath Achmetes feete the traytor fell.
Baia.
And yet escaped, good Io [...]e how may this bee.
Isa.
Thus it might be, and was so: when sad death
Was glutted with the ruine of each side,
When slaughtring Mars had stain'd the field with blood,
And cast a purple colour o'r the earth,
[Page] At length some milder providence desir'd,
An end of those hot tumults that were seene,
To last in Zemes breath; so that their fire
Would be extinct, when Zemes should expire
Then from the middle skirmish forth were brought
He and Achmetes, being met they fought,
Zemes was vanquish't by a violent blow,
Which strucke him trembling lower then his knees▪
Now whither flattering, or present gifts
Redeem'd him from his fate I cannot show
Something they plotted, what, none yet can know.
Baia.
Canst thou advise me Isaack how to sound
The depth of all his mischiefe.
Isa.
Thus you may,
He being come from Z [...]mes ouerthrow,
And yet luke-warme in blood, and full of ioy,
You may in way of honour and free mind,
Call him this night to banquet, then being se [...],
When the hot spirits of carroused healths,
Haue spoyl'd his wit of smooth and painted tales,
And wine vnlockt the passage for the truth,
Bid him relate the manner of his warre,
The chances and events; then when he comes
To Zemes, if he erre about his  [...]light,
His ends are bad, his bosome blacke as night.
Baia.
Thou art my good Angel, Isaack I applaud
Thy faithfull plot, Achmetes were thy soule
As darke as hell, and thy enclosed thoughts,
As subtill as a winding Laberinth,
By such a guide as can remoue each doubt,
And by a quill of threed  [...]'de tracke them out.
But Isaacke, if we trappe him in this wiles,
How shall we kill the traytor? We haue a tricke,
Already strange to catch him in the nicke.
Isac▪
Easily thus: our lawes allow a custome,
Not vs'd of late, yet firme still in effect,
And thus it is; when there doth breath a man,
Direfully hated of the Emperour,
And he in strickt seueritie of right
[Page] Cannot proceed against him, then he may
O [...]ewhelme him in a robe of mourning blacke,
Which we haue cal'd  [...]eaths mantle, that thing done,
The man thus v [...]'d, is for [...]et [...]ed to fate,
And a deuoted sacrifice to him
Whom he had er' [...]t offende [...], neither can
Strength or intr [...]atie, w [...]est him from his death,
Both which are treason, and inexpiable.
Thus then you may procee [...]e, vvhen banquets done,
And all their comicke merrim [...]nt runne on
To the last sceane, and euery man expects
A solemne gift, due to Achmetes vvorth,
Call for a robe therewith to decke your friend,
An [...] perfect all his glory, let that bee
This robe of fate, in which ready at hand,
You may intombe the traytor, and bewrappe
His pampered body in a vaile of death,
So let him dye, dreame not on the event,
Vice is rewarded in it's punishment.
Baia.
I will be fierce and sudden, Isaack inuite
Achmetes to a feast: he dies this n [...]ght.
Exit Baia.
Isa.
I shall: vvould not a private vvarning serue
But open penance must correct my child,
And a seuere divorcem [...]nt q [...]ite degrade
Her o [...]her honoured Matrimoniall rights?
Were he as strong, as steele-like joynted Mars,
As much applauded through our popular streetes,
As er'st Dictator F [...]bius was in Rome,
Or great Augustus, yet the slaue should feele
The wrath of an inflamed father light
Heauy vpon his soule, and that e'r the next sunne
Appeare, Achmetes all thy glorie's done.
Exit.

Actus Secundi, Scena Sexta.

Enter A [...]metes, and Caigubus his sonne.

Caigu.

I fear' [...] your sa [...]ety and [...]voutly prayed

[Page] The sword of justice, which your hand did swaye,

Might be of conquering force.

Ach.

Thy prayers were heard

And I am here as safe as I went forth,

Vntouch't by the rough hands of desperate warre,

Nor did I once spie danger in the field,

But when I fronted Zemes, then there met

Two streames of valor, sith on vs was set

The chance of the whole combat, others stood

Expecting which of vs should loose his blood:

But heaven was just, and to compose the strife,

This sword at one sad blow tooke thence his life.

Caig.

The heavens were iust indeed, but who comes heere▪

Isaack, Mesithes, and Baiazets three sonnes,

Enter Isaack, Mesithes, Mahometes, Achomates, Selymus.

Ach.

They come to gratulate my late successe,

I see their errand [...]oulded in their smiles,

How cheerefully they looke vpon my ioyes,

Omnes.

All happines attend Achmetes.

Ach.

Thankes Noble friends, how fares the Emperor.

Isaack.

Well by your guard, and he hath sent vs now,

All to invite your presence to a feast,

We must be frolike, and this following night,

Shall Crowne your joy with revels and delight,

Or else deprive thy soule of that good light.

aside

Ach.

We must be frolicke Captaines, thinke not then

On my loud drummes, and staring trumpeters,

Such whose strong [...]gs roare out a bellowing voyce,

Would make a man daunce Antick in the fire,

Weele haue a choicer musique, and my feete,

Shall tread a neater march, then such harsh straines

Can teach them, with more pleasure, and lesse paines.

Since it hath pleas'd the E [...]peror to grace

Our slender merrits thus: we shall be there,

To taste his bountie.

Mes.

Weele lead on before.

Ach.

Ile follow you.

Isa.

Ne'r to returne more,

aside

Exeunt omnes, Ma [...]nt, Achmetes, and Caig [...]bus.

Ach.

I am happy aboue envie, and my state,

Not to be thwarted with [...] [...]ate,

[Page] I could disburden all my jealous thoughts,

And shake that currish vice supition, off

From my sincere affection, I haue wrong'd

Sure I haue wrong'd thee Isack thy chast loue,

Cloakes not intended mischiefe, blacke deceit

Cannot lie hid vnder so pure a white,

But it would cast a coloured shadow out,

Through such a slender vayle, thy generous thoughts,

Nourish no base detraction; thy free loue

Thy profest actions, say t'were no just fate

That good mens deedes should die by ill mens hate.

Caig.

Pray heaven they doe not.

Ach.

feare not, I am guest

To Baiazet, expected at the feast,

Exeunt

Actus Secundi, Scena Septima.

Enter Baiazet, and Cherseogles.

Baia.

The day's farre spent, is not Achmetes come?

Chers.

Not yet great Emperor.

Baia.

Vice-roy of Greece, say now there were a man

Whom my mind honored, and I should command,

To cloath his body in a suite of gold,

Studded with gems, worth all the Indian snore,

D [...]rst any tongue gainsay it:

Chers.

Surely no.

Baia.

What if I hated him, and should command

To wrappe him in a sable coloured blacke,

And sentence him to death?

Chers.

Then he must die.

Baia.

My thoughts are troubled.

Chers.

What should these questions meane,

Abrupt demands, one to confound the other?

My liege, your guests are come.

Enter Achmetes, Isaack, Mahometes, Achomates, Selymus, Mesithes, Caigubus.

Baia.

Blest be the houre in which I see Achmetes safe return'd

Bring in our banquet souldiers: boyes kneele round,

Enter a banquet, all kneele.

A ring of brauer lads nere blest the ground,

Supplie vs here with nectar, giue it me,

takes the cup

[Page] Achmetes, noble warriour, heer's to thee,

A health to thy blest fortunes, it shall runne

A compleate circle ere the course be done.

Ach.

My dutie bids me pledge it. I returne

Good health to Isaack, and in this wee' [...] drownd

All conceal'd enmities.

drinkes

Isa.

Ioue split me with his thunder, if my brest

Harbour one bad thought, when this draught is past.

And so I greet thy sonne? health to Caigubus.

drinkes

Caigu.

Mahometes the turne lights next on you.

drinkes

Mah [...].

Ile pledget freely, Viceroy her's to you.

drinkes

Chers.

Ach [...]mates, to you I must commend

The welfare of Achmetes in this cup.

drinks

Ach [...].

To you Mesithes, thus I proue my loue.

drinks

Mes.

Yong Prince I doe commit this health to you.

drinks

Sely.

I am the last▪ be prodigallin wine,

Fill vp my bowle with Nectar, let it rise

Aboue the goblets side, and may it like

A swelling Ocean flow aboue the banckes,

I will exhaust it greedily, 'tis my due.

drinkes

Omnes.

Weele drinke with Bacchus and his roaring crew.

Baia.

Already done, so quickly runne about,

One health to me, faith sith you are set too't,

Heer's a carouse to all,

Omnes.

Weele pledge it round.

As they drinke round, Baiazet riseth and speakes aside.

Baia.

'Tis the last draught to some, or I shall faile,

In mine intendments▪ let a [...]oe escape?

When he was trampled downe beneath his feete,

There must be treason in it; how my blood

Boyles in my breast, with anger, not the wine

Could worke such strong effect; my soule is vext,

A chafing heat distempers all my blood,

Achmetes thou must coole it when thy limbes

Are emptied of that moisture they sucke in,

And thy stain'd blood vnchannel'd from thy veines,

Then shall I be secure, a quiet rest

Shall rocke my soule asleepe, 'tis thy last howre,

Must set a period to my restlesse feares.

[Page] What are you merry friends? drinke on your course,

Then all arise: and now to consummate

Our happy meeting, and shut vp our joyes,

Discourse Achmetes of your finish't warres;

After an age of woes it proues at last

A sweete content to tell of dangers past.

Let' [...] know your whole events.

Ach.

Great Emperor

Scarce had the rosie day-starre through the East,

Display'd her silver colours through the heauen,

But all the watchfull souldiers ready arm'd,

Dim'd her pale cheekes, with their transparent steele,

And added lustre to the dull sight morne,

So stood we in full pride till the bright Sunne

Climing the glasse pauement of the skies,

Rouz'd the slow spirits of the backward foe,

And vrg'd them to the field; at length stept forth

Zemes, in all the trappings of his state:

And like a well-taught H [...]ctor, rang'd his troupes,

Into their seuerall orders, all prepar'd

Titan being fearefull stept behind a cloud,

Lest when he saw our limbs bath'd all in blood,

And purple streames gush't from our wounded breasts,

Like vvater from their springs; he in a feare

Should be eclips'd, or startle from his spheare,

The ayre was thicke and dimme, our armies joyn'd,

The skirmishes grew hot, and angry Mars

Inthron'd vpon the battlements of heauen,

Left either side to tugge with their owne strength,

Till their oppressing multitude bore downe,

The justice of our cause, and our whole side,

Not daring to withstand, scorning to flye,

Stood trembling on the vtmost brinke of hope,

Then the propitious Gods singled me out

Zemes, the life and spirit of our foes:

We met and fought, such was my happy fate,

That at the first encounter Zemes fell,

And I disarm'd him, when in proud contempt,

He spit defiance in the face of death,

[Page] Open'd his brest, and dard me to the stroake,

Whereby I might hane sent him hence to hell,

But I in admiration of his worth,

Arm'd his right hand once more and bad him fight,

Chance did direct my sword vpon his head,

He fell before me, and cry'd, Achmetes hold▪

I'me wounded to the death, and Captaine goe

Tell Baiazet that thou hast slaine his foe.

I left the dying Prince, our warres were done

And ceas'd with him, by whom they were begunne.

Isaacke.

The plot has tooke.

aside

Baia.

Treason by Mahomet.

I left the dying Prince.

Isaack.

Pursue the proiect.

Baia.

Worthy Achmetes,

Well we may giue, but not reward by gifts,

And thanke, but not requite thee, I would hate

That liberality which would ab [...]te

The worth of the receiuer▪ thy true fame,

Outstrips the length of titles, and a name

Of weightie honour, is a slender price,

To grace thy merits with, as for a voice,

To crowne thee after death, thou art the choice,

Of euerliuing glory, on thy crest,

Is her abode, and when the latest rest

Of nature, hath betrayd thee to thy graue,

Then shall she print in characters of gold

How braue a man thou wast, how great, how bold;

Though we be dumb, yet shall the world vplift,

Thy name, and thou shalt liue without our gift.

Yet thy blest fates, haue not created thee

So clearely Godlike, but some other chance,

May crosse thy greatnesse, and thy high renowne

The envie of some God may shoulder downe,

Then thus weele make thee happy, future events

Ne'r shall oppresse thy worth nor enuious chance

Blot thy ensuing fame, Ach [...]tes know,

Death an immortall gift, we [...]

He casts a gowne of black [...] [...] vpon him, called th [...] [...] of death.

Caigub.

[Page]

Treason, treason. O my Father treason,

Helpe lanizaries.

Excur [...].

Baia.

Stop the furious youth.

Exeunt Bass [...].

Bring in an Heads-man. Traytor, Zemes dead?

He liues to see this hand vntwine thy thread.

Enter seuen or eight lanizaries with swords [...].

What meanes this outrage?

Ianiza. 1.

Cruell homicide.

Vngrate [...]ull wr [...]tch.

Tyrant.

Meete hilts in's guts.

Circle him.

First let his owne hands take that Mantle off.

Baia.

Helpe! Treason! I am slaine.

Helpe? why? From whom?

Is not thy Guard about thee.

Baia.

Hemn'd in with death? My friends beset me round

Not to preserue my life, but murder me.

B [...]ush you pale heauens at this abhorred fact,

That they may see their crimes, and be asham'd

Of this vnheard offence: Valiant Ianizaries,

Sheath vp these weapons of rebellion,

Print not that vgly sinne vpon your brow,

Let my tree pardon woe you to submit.

Keepe your alleagiance firme.

Omnes.

Ha, ha, ha, ha.

One word more damnes thee.

How pretily he began to talke

Of sinne and pardon. Baiazet behold

Here stands a man milde, honour'd, gracious,

Valiant, and faithfull; gentle in command,

At home belou'd, and fear'd amongst our [...]oes,

Yet hath thy hand of cruelty assay'd

The hated murder of so de re a friend:

Blush you pale heauens at this abhorred fact,

That he may see his crimes, and be asham'd

Of this new bloudinesse. Wicked Baiazet

These admonitions fit the teacher well.

Baia.

But heare me speake.

[Page]

First set Achmetes free, then speake thy fill.

Baia.

What shall I be compell'd?

And quickly too.

We cannot brooke to see him stand thus cloath'd.

Baia.

Your anger will haue way. Achmetes goe.

Takes off the Mantle.

There take him. They haue sau'd thee from this woe.

Ex [...]unt showting and leaping.

Pernicious villaines, they haue crost my plot,

'Twas intercepted eu'n in the last deede:

What should Achmetes meane thus to ingrosse

The best affections of my Ianizaries?

Will he defrand me of my Crowne and life?

My life I weigh not: but to loose my Crowne

Were to be sentenc'd to a hell of woes.

I am full stuft with choller. Slauish Peasants

Held I a sword of power in mine hand,

I would disioynt them peece-meale; can I not?

Am I not Emperour? men call me so:

A reuerend title, empty attributes,

And a long page of words follow my name,

But no substantiall true prerogatiue.

Enter Isaack.

Isaack.

Good health to Baiazet.

Baiaz.

Indeed that's nothing, since your counsell fail'd.

Isaack.

Vse your best patience it may be regain'd.

Affection in your stubborne multitude

Is a prone torrent not to be withstood.

Were you as sacred as their houshold gods,

Yet when you thwart the current of their will,

They'le breake the bands of duty, and prophane

That holinesse to which they bound their thoughts.

Mine eyes are witnesse with what liuely ioy

They bore him through the streetes vpon their necks,

Offering the vse of their best strength.

Baia.

No more.

I am already gone. Why did not then

His proud ambitious tongue bid them goe fetch

My Crowne, and with quick speede disrobe a wretch?

'Twas in his power: we are distracted Isaack▪

[Page]Lend vs thy wholsome counsell to preuent

My ruine, and their dangerous intent.

Isaack.

Mine is a blunt aduice, and deepe in bloud

To cut off those base Peasants that withstood

The force of your decree.

Baiaz.

To cut them off?

Me thinkes I see my selfe yet circled in

With their reuengefull swords, ha? cut them off?

Could I but curse the Traytors from the earth,

Or were my doome pronounc'd but of effect,

I'de rattle such new torments in their eares,

Should stagger their high courage; but my feares

Strangle my furies, and my enuious fate

Forc [...]th my tongue to flatter, where I hate.

Isaack.

Here lyes the safest course, to rid these griefes

Giue out, you'le goe to warre, so to enlarge your territories,

And to this end fetch home,

Those warlike Souldiers plac'd in Garrison.

Let them remaine without the walls; at last,

When things shall fit your purpose, leade them all

By night into the Citie, and in one stroke

Strike off so many thousand periur'd heads,

As shall amaze posterity to heare,

How many liues redeem'd thee from thy feare.

Baiaz.

The waight of all mine honour leanes on thee,

That or some neerer course shall quell the pride

Of strong Achmetes, and confound his side.

Actus Secundi, Scena Ostaua.

Enter Zemes and Alexander Bishop of Rome.

Bishop.

If your intents be vertuous, and desire

Of eminent place quite banisht from your thoughts,

My house shall be your Cast [...]e: that I denie

My men and Armes to ayde you in your broyles,

Thinke it kinde vsage: should my Holinesle

Feede your ambition, and make strong your hand

[Page] Against your brother 'twere too light a brand

Of flaming hot discention, and to set

The world in a combustion: all would then

Quarrell by my example: No sweet Prince

Romes holy Bishop must not so transgresse.

If you will dwell within my sacred roofe

Sett [...]e irregular Passions, and begin

A quiet life, repentance wipes out sin.

Zemes.

My waxen wings are melted, I will soare

Against the sunne, through such thick cloudes no more.

The middle Region shall containe my flight,

Your counsaile swayes my wishes, my late deedes

Were full of sinne: now let my brother know

Zemes repents; (and that's the greatest woe.)

Exit.

Bish.

To mans aspiring thoughts, how sweet is hope

Which makes them (like Camelions) liue on ayre

And hugge their slender plots: till coo [...]e dispayre

Doth so benumme his thoughts, that he falls dead

From his sublime height, and his lofty head

Which leueld at the skies, doth drop below

His humble feete, this hath experience taught

In that mans head-long ruine, whose proud thoughts

Aym'd at the Turkish Diademe; but now crosse Fates

Haue forc'd his stubborne Fates to bow.

Enter a Messenger.

What speakes your entrance?

Messen.

Health to Romes Bishop.

And Peace from Baiazet, who commends his loue

With this his Letter, and expects from you

Giues him a letter.

A gracious answere. He reades the Letter.

Bish.

Let Zemes die by an vn [...]imely death,

Else for our loue you shall prouoke our hate.

Hee's not our brother, but our hated foe:

And in his death you shall preuent our woe.

Returne our seruice back: tell Baiazet

What he hath giuen in charge; shall by my hand

Be carefully dispatcht.

Messen.

Good peace attend you.

Exit.

Bish.

Imperious Turke,

Am I not Gods Vize-gerent here on earth,

[Page] And dar'st thou send thy letters of command?

Or speake to me in threatning menaces?

It grates my patience to obey this monster,

Yet must I murder Zemes, what doe I know

Whether my fathers [...]oule did trans-migrate

Into his breast or no? be dumbe remorse,

The Turke is great and powerfull, if I winne

His loue by this, t'will proue a happy sinne.

Actus Tertij,

Scena Prima,

Enter Selymus alone,

Selym.

Am I so poore in worth? still kept so low?

Was I [...]egot only to liue and dye,

To fill a place, moue idlely to and fro

Like other naturalls? vnmanly life,

The world shall take more notice of my fame,

Els will I with the venom'd sting of warre,

Deface the beauty, of the vniuerse.

Po [...]teritie shall know, once there did breath

A Selymus, a mortall diety,

A man at whose blest birth the planets smil'd,

And spent their influence to create a boy,

As braue as Greece e'r hatcht, or Rome, or Troy.

Enter Isaack

Heer's Isaack Bassa, hee's already mine,

He courts my father, but intends for mee,

And furthers all my counsells; Noble friend▪

How stand our hopes?

Isaacke

Great Sir, most happily,

The Bassaes murmure at Achmetes wrong:

Seize on their wauering loue, their breasts are ope,

To him that first will enter ther's free scope;

Drop downe thy franke affection in their hands,

To bribe is lawfull, and 'tis strongly prou'd

By good examples, Otho ne'r was lou'd,

Till he had bought the souldiers, that once done,

[Page] Gal [...]a grew out of fashion [...] so must wee

Addict them to vs by a gaine-full fee:

Giue freely, and speake fairely I'le be gone▪

Stay, here, the Bassae [...] will be here anon.

Exit. Enter Mesithes.

Sely.

I shall obserue thy precepts, Mesithes welcome,

How fare you in these dayes of discontent?

My dutie bids me aske, and wish you well;

I haue beene long a barren debtor to you,

At length I may proue thankfull: weare my loue,

'Tis yours without refusal, a sleight gift,

giues him a ring aside

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

Mesi.

This courtesie exceeds my weake deserts

Sweet Prince but when occasion calls me forth,

To helpe you, I'me deuoted to your worth.

Sely.

Your kind acceptance of that recompence,

Binds me more strictly to you.

Mesith.

Sir, farewell,

Exit. and enter Mustupha

Sely.

So one hath tooke, see where another comes:

All health to Mustapha.

Musta.

Thankes gracious Prince,

Your gentle pardon for my boldnesse Sir.

Sely.

Command my pardon, and commend my lo [...]e

To thy bright daughter: tell her I admire

Her vertuous perfection; let that chaine

giues him a chaine

Make me remembred often in her mind.

Must.

When my weak strength, or wealth shall stretch so far,

As to continue—

Sely.

No Cynicke complement, good Mustapha.

Musta.

Then I returne you thankes

Exit

Sely.

Health follow you,

And honour me; here is a third at hand.

Enter Asmehemides.

Selym.

Continuance to your health Sir.

Asme.

Thankes gentle Prince▪

Please you to vse my seruice?

Sely.

Yes, thus farre

Spend me that purse of gold.

giues him a purse.

Asme.

What meanes your Highnesse?

Selym.

But to deserue your kindnesse, and avoid

[Page] The hated censure of ingratitude,

Asme.

This is your liberall vertue not my deeds,

But you shall find me thankefull.

Exit▪

Selymus.

So I hope;

Three steps are trod already to a Throne,

And I am rich in friends, these pr [...]fferd gifts

Conjure observance from their servile breasts:

Oh powerfull gold, whose influence doth winne

Men with desire for to engender sinne.

Isaacke Bassa?

Isaacke

Euen the man you wisht;

What did the golden [...] worke good effect?

And make the Bassaes stoupe vnto your minde?

Sely.

Words are but empty shaddowes, but if deeds

Answere their words, we cannot doubt their faith,

They stoupe beneath my feete, I seeme to be

As true as Ioue, but slye as Mercurie,

Enter M [...]sithes

Here comes Mesithes muttering backe againe,

But step aside and we shall know his mind.

Mesith.

But he is cruell, bloody, and his pride

Vnsufferable great—

Selymus

Ha?

Mesithes

Proud Baiazet,

Thou hast vsurp'd a title, thy defcent

Could neuer reach vnto, thou wrongst the world

Since thou detain'st the Crowne, which heavens decree

Due to a better brow, thou art defam'd

With Tyranny and wrong, but Selymus

Is voyd of blemishes as trueth of lyes;

Bad stocks must be cut downe, the good must rise.

Sely.

He davnted me at first, but now I find

The golds bright lustre made his judgement blind,

Mustapha comes.

Enter Mustapha

Musta.

Fortune hath wheel'd me vp aboue the starres,

Vnder a Monarch Ile not sell my hopes:

Bold Selymus Ile second thy designes,

And thou shalt Queene my daughter, that being done

With mine owne splendor Ile eclipse the Sunne.

Sely.

[Page]

I'st so? a while Ile feede thy ayrie hopes

Then dash thee into nothing.

Heer's a third.

Enter Asmehemides

Asm.

A purse of gold? I can vntie the knot,

The close aengima say's, I would be King.

Braue Selymus I like thy mounting thoughts,

Worke out thy proiects, thou canst neuer need

Or aske my helpe, but thou art sure to speed.

Exit

Sely.

What we resolu'd, stands firme, but the euent

Be scan'd when leasure serues, weele now preuent

My brothers hopes, and by a sudden [...]ate

Vnto their liues and dayes giue equall date,

To compasse a blest end: now we beginne

Ioue hath offended if it be a sinne

To throw a father downe: Saturne did dwell

Once in the heauens, Iou [...] threw him downe to hell.

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

Sely.

But stay. Achmetes, and our fathers friends?

Baia.

Achmetes I haue iniur'd thy deserts,

Subbornd accusers, wrong'd my credulous eares,

And my rash censure vndervalued much

Thy noble spirits, when it first condemnd

Then of intended treason, rense thy soule

In the dull riuer of obliuion,

We halt beneath the burthen of thy hate,

Thinke my mou'd anger made me hot and wild▪

I cannot sleepe till we be reconcil'd.

Achm.

The gods neglect my welfare here on earth,

And when I shall put off this mor [...]all load,

Let me be out-law'd from the Court of heauen,

If in this bosome there lye [...]id one thought

That doth not honour Baiazet.

Baia▪

Wee know—

Thy vertues make vs happy: [...]liant Sir,

Thy feete once more m [...]st [...]ead [...] warlike ma [...]ch▪

Vnder our feare [...]ull banner, thou [...]halt pace

[Page] Euen to the walles of Rome, there dwels our foe,

Where our halfe Moone rear'd in the middle camp,

Like a distempred Meteor in the ayre,

Shall strike amazement in the cloistred monkes

And shake the prelates Miter from his head,

Till he yeeld Zemes vp aliue or dead.

When we haue mou'd thee from thy Ianuzaries,

Thou shalt not trauell farre.

aside

Isaack

A subtile tricke

And well pretended, I admire thy wit.

aside

Achm.

Let me march hence, and Baiazet shall know,

How little I befriend my Princes foe,

Ile cast a ring of souldiers round [...]

The walles of Rome, if Zemes scape thence out,

Cut of my breath: he that's deepe in blame,

Must hazard boldly to regaine his fame.

Triz.

What meanes our father, noble Baiazet,

To worke vntimely horrors through the world,

Desolate ruine, publike discontent

Haue printed deepe impressions in our path,

Danger and feare scare emptied from our towne,

The shaken members of our common wealth,

Yet staggers with their wounds, when discord shall

Make but a second breach, they faint and fall.

Mah.

Short peace hath charm'd your subiects all asleepe,

And throwne a quiet slumber ore their eyes,

Whilest with a sweete restoratiue she heales

Their Ma [...]tyr'd joynts, and wipeth out their scarres

Writ on their bosomes by the hand of warres,

Zemes is safely cloystred vp at Rome,

The prelate dares not ayde h [...]m, all the gods

Smile on the entrance of triumphant peace,

War lies fast bound, nor can she worke our paines

Vnlesse we loose the fury from her chaines.

Baia.

Our sonnes instruct vs? must your pregnant wits,

Crosse my command? Bassae [...] prepare for warre,

An [...] since your graue discourse argues a will,

To stay at home▪ you shall; weele lay you vp,

[Page]Where no loud ecchoing drums shall breake your [...]leepe,

Euen in the bowels of your mother earth

I will intombe you: Put them both to death.

Omnes.

What meanes great Baiazet?

Baia.

To murder you, vnlesse you strangle them.

Ambo.

But heare vs speake.

Baia.

Stop vp the damned passage of their throat,

Or you are all but ghosts. what; stare you friends?

Isaacke and Selymus, a garter;

Twist me that fatall string about his necke,

And either pull and an end,

strangle Trizham.

Mesithes come

Ioyne force with me, by [...] [...]were best make hast,

Or thou art shorter liu'd then is that bratte.

Tugge strongly at it.

strangle Mahome [...].

So; let the bastard droppe,

We haue out-liud our tutors: dunghill sl [...]ues,

Durst they breath out their Stoicke [...]entences

In opposition of our strickt command?

Selym.

So: things run well along, and now I find

Io [...]e heares my prayers, and the gods grow kind.

Baia.

Did not I send these to their Provinees

To hinder Zemes flight? and did not they

Dejected bastards giue him open way?

Mine anger hath beene just.

Cherseo.

None doth deny't;

You may proceed in your edict for warres,

And make Achmetes generall of the campe.

Baia.

It is enough: Achmetes goe to hell,

stabs him

The deuils haue rung out thy passing bell,

And looke for thine arrivall.

Shend me slaues.

Exeunt omnes.

They fly before my breath like mists of ayre,

And are of lesse resistance, Ile pursue.

Exit

Achme.

Oh! I am slaine, Tyrant thy violent hand,

Hath done me pleasure, though against thy will,

Had I as many liues as drops of blood,

I'de not outliue this houre: flye hence vaine soule,

[Page]Climbe yonder [...]acred mount, striue vpwards, there,

There where a guard of starres shall hemme thee round,

Build thee a safe tribunall—I am gone—

Oh tragique cruelty—behold—the end

Of two right Noble sonnes—one faithfull friend

[...]

Re-enter Baiazet in fury.

Baia.

Haue all forsaken me? and am I left

A pray vnto my selfe; did all their breath

Passe through his organs? and in his sad death,

Haue I abruptly crackt the vitall threed

Of all my Bassaes?

Achmetes groanes.

Ha? where am I now?

In some Gehenna, or some hollow vault,

Where dead mens ghosts sigh out their heavy groanes:

Resolue me Mahomet, and ridde me hence,

Or I will spoyle the fabricke of thy tombe,

And beate away the title of a God.

Do'st thou not moue? a trunke? a stocke? to die,

Is to put on your nature, so will I.

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

Omnes.

Hold, hold, and liue.

Baia.

How come these bodies dead?

Fili [...].

Father, it was your selfe.

Baia.

Let me reuoke

My wandring sence, Oh what a streame of blood

Hath purg'd me of my blacke suspition,

Two sonnes, one valiant Captaine hence are wrought

By mine owne hand, to cure one iealous thought,

As 'tis, they are the happier, I out-liue,

Them whom I wisht to fall: onely to graue,

Beare foorth their bodies; Bassaes carry them out,

We were curst in this,

And shall intombe with them much of our blisse,

[...]ndeed wee had resolu'd to spend this day

In things of more solem [...]itie, lesse woe.

Now our more wished councell shall beginne

[Page]And bitter deedes waigh vp the scales of sinne.

Ama [...]ia is a province rich and strong,

Mahomates it is thine, keepe it as long

As I haue power to giue it go, prou [...]de

For thy conveyance, at the next fayre tide.

Mahom.

Farewell deare father.

Baia.

Worthy sonne adiew.

The loue my dead sonnes wanted, fals to you,

As an hereditary good.

Selymus

Then we

aside

May vaile our heads in blacke, no mourners be.

Baia.

Mahomates, thy worth

Deserues some trophies of our loue,

Which to let slip vnmention'd, were to adde

To this blacke day, a fourth offence as bad;

Gouerne Man [...]sia, now the people stand

Disfurnisht of an head, let thy command,

Be great amongst them, so; make speedy hast.

Honour ayes for thee.

Selym.

Now the stormes are past.

Mahom.

Father adiew;

Exit.

Baia.

Mahomates, farewell.

Selym.

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

aside

Baia.

Now Selymus, wee know thy hop̄es are great,

And thine ambition gapes with open jawes,

To swallow a whole Dukedome: but young Sir,

We dare not trust the raines of gouernment

Into the hands of Phacton. Desire,

Rashly fullfild, may set the world on fire;

Greene youth, and raw experience are not fit,

To shoulder vp a Kingdomes heauie weight,

Mixe wit with stay'd discretion, and spend

Wild yeares in study, then we doe intend

To settle more preferment on thy head

Then thou can'st hope for.

Selymus

Wilt thou enuious dotard

Strangle my greatnesse in a miching hole?

The world's my study Baiazet, my name,

[Page]Shall fill each angle of this round-built frame.

Exit.

Baiaz.

I know he grumbled at it; but 'tis good

To calme the rebell heat of youthfull blood

With sharpe rebukes.

Enter a [...] ▪

Messen.

Health to the Emperour.

Baiaz.

What will your message?

Messen.

Duty first from Rome,

Commended by the Bishop to your seruice,

With a firme promise to dispatch your will

What euer it imployd, and would but stay

Till [...]imes [...]wift circle should bring forth a day

Secure for the performance.

Baiaz.

'Tis enough.

Exit.

Thanks for your care. This was to murder Zemes.

Wa [...]re with the Bishop? 'thad beene pretty sport,

I knew my powerfull word was strong enough

To make him do [...] my pleasure: simple Priest,

Onely I vs'd it as a trick, to send

Achmet [...]s from the Citie and his friends;

But Fate to smil'd vpon me, that I found

A shorter me [...]n [...]s his life and hopes to wound

With my sententious sonnes, that when my foe [...]

Fled through their Prouince, finely let him goe;

Which being wholy finish'd, straight to please

My friends, I play'd raging Hercules;

Then to shut vp the Scene, neatly put on

A passionate humour, and the worst was done.

But who comes here?

A dumbe show.

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

I like not this. Mahomat [...]s belou'd

So dearely of the Comminalty: ha?

Hee's wise, faire-spoken, gently q [...]alified,

Powerfull of tongue; why hee's the better sonne,

Not to supplant his Father. I mislike

The prodigall affection throwne on him

By all my [...]ubiects. I belyed my hopes

When I presum'd this day had freely rid

[Page] Me of my worst vexation: I was borne

To be a Iade to Fate, and Fortu [...]es scoffe,

My cares grow double-great by cutting off.

Exit.

Actus Tertij, Scena Tertia.Enter Caigubus Achmetes sonne.
Caigub.
If euer man lou'd sorrow wisht to grieue
Father I doe for thee. Could I depriue
My senses of each object, but thy death,
Then should I ioy to sigh away my breath:
Be Godhead to my griefe, then shall these eyes
With tributary teares bedeck thy shrine:
And thus I doe invoke thee: nimble Ghost
What euer  [...]rbe of Heauen, what euer coast
Affords thee present mansion, quickly thence
Flit hither, and present vnto my sense
Thy selfe a feeling substance, let me see,
Acknowledge and admire thy Maiesty.
Put off that ayry thinnesse which denies
Me to behold thee with these duller eyes,
Then shall they sending downe a powerfull floud,
Rence thy colde members from each drop of bloud,
And so returne thee back, that thou may'st soare
Vp to the skies, much purer then before.
Had the iust course of nature wrought thee hence,
I would haue made the gods know their offence,
And backe restore thy soule: but thou art dead,
And 'twas a fiercer hand that clipt thy thread.
Fiercer, and bolder, which did euer thriue
By mischiefe, and once coffinde thee aliue
Vp in deaths mantle, but then would not vse
Such open violence, nor durst abuse
One of such sacred worth, till fury st [...]uck
His reason dead, and made his treacherous hand
Creepingly stab thee, both vnseene and foule,
As if he would haue  [...]tolne away thy soule.
Enter Isaack.
But oh!
Isaack.
[Page]But of indeede!
Caigub.
Why what?
Isaack.
As bad
A stroke attends thee as thy Father had▪
Princes suspition is a flame of fire,
Exhal'd first from our manners, and by desire
Of rule is nourish'd, fed, and rores about
Till the whole matter dye, and then goes out.
Caigub.
Vnfold a Scene of murders: Fates worke on,
Wee'le make a path to Heauen, and being gone
Downe from the lofty towers of the skies
Throw thunder at the Tyrant; will he presse
The earth with waight of slaught'red carcasses?
Let him grow vp in mischiefe, still shall her wombe
Gaping, reserue for him an empty tombe.
We doe but tread his path; and Bassa since
It stands vpon thee, now to cure thy Prince
Of his distemper'd lunacie, goe fetch
The instrument of death, whilst I a wretch
Expect thy sad returne.
Isaack.
I goe; and could
It stand with mine alleageance, sure I should
Imploy my seruice to a better end,
Then to disrobe the Court of such a friend.
Exit.
Caigub.
He that is iudg'd, downe from a steepy hill
To drop vnto his death, and trembling still
Expects one thence to push him, such a slaue
Doth not deserue to liue, nor's worth a graue.
Then Lachisi [...], thou that deuid'st the threed
Of breath, since this dayes Sun must see me dead,
Thus I'le preuent thy paine, thus I'le out-runne
My Fate; and in this stroke thy worke is done.
Stabs  [...].
Eternall mouer, thou that whirl'st about
The skies  [...]n circular motion heare me out
What I command, see that without controule
Thou make Heauen cleare, to entertaine my soule,
And let the nimble spirits of the ayre
Print me a passage hence vp to thy chaire,
[Page] There will I sit, and from the Azure sky,
Laugh at obsequious base mortality.
Vanish my soule, enioy, embrace thy Fate
Stabs him­selfe. dyes.
Enter Isaack with executioners.
Isaack.
We are preuented; see the fates command
False deedes, must dye though by the Actors hand.
Returne to Baiazet, and beare that corpes.
Exeunt.
So now I am alone, nor need I feare
To breath my thoughts out to the silent ayre;
My conscience will not heare me, that being deafe
I may ioy freely: first thy hated breath
Achmetes vanisht, next Caigub [...] fell,
Thus we clime Thrones, whilst they drop downe to hell.
The glorious eye of the all-seeing sunne,
Shall not behold (when all our plots are done)
A greater Prince then Selymus; 'tis hee
Must share with Ioue an equall Maiesty.
But for my selfe his Enginer I'le stand
Aboue mortality, and with a hand
Of power, dash all beneath me into dust,
If they but crosse the current of my lust.
What I but speake, 'tis Oracle and Law,
Thus I will rule and keepe the world in awe.
Selym.
Noble assistant.
Enter Selymus, M [...]sithes, Mustapha, Asmehemedes.
Isaack.
Happy Selymus.
Selym.
'Tis thou must make me so, for should I stay
Wayting my Fathers pleasure, I might stand
Gazing with enuie at my Brothers pride,
My selfe lying prostrate, euen beneath their feete.
Townes, Cities, Countries, and what ere so euer
Can giue high thoughts content, are freely theirs,
I onely like a spend thrift of my yeares
Idle my time away, as if some god
Had raz'd my name out of the roule of Kings,
Which if he haue, then Isaack be thy hand
As great as his, to print it in againe
Though Baiazet say nay.
Isaack.
[Page]No more: I will;
An Empire be our hopes; that to obtaine
Wee'le watch, plot, fight, sweat, and be colde againe.
 [...].

Actus Tertii, Scena Quarta.Enter Zemes, and Alexander Bishop of Rome.
Bishop.
Cannot my words add solace to your thoughts?
Oh! you are gulft too deepe in a desire
Of soueraigne pompe, and your high thoughts aspire.
All the vnshadowed plainen [...]sse of my life
Doth but contract thick wrinckles of mislike
In your Majestick brow, and you distast
Morall receipts, which I haue ministred
To coole Ambitions Feauer.
Zemes.
Pardon Sir,
Your Holinesse mistakes my malady,
Another sicknesse grates my tender breast,
And I am ill at heart: alas, I stand
An abject now as well in Natures eye,
As erst I did in Fortunes: is my health
Fled with mine honour? and the common rest
Of man, growne stranger to me in my griefe?
Some vnknowne cause hath bred through all my bloud
A colder operation, then the juice
Of Hemlock can produce: O wretched man:
Looke downe propitious Godheads on my woes:
Ph [...]bus infuse into me the sweet breath
Of cheerefull health, or else infectious death.
If there an Angell be whom I haue crost
In my tormented boldnesse? and these griefes
Are expiatory punishments of sinne?
Now, now repentance strike quite through my heart,
Enough of paines, enough of bitter smart
Haue tyed me to't. I haue already bin
Bolted from ioy, content can enter in,
Not at the open passage of my heart,
[Page] I neither heare, nor see, nor feele, nor touch
With pleasure; my vexation is so much.
My graue can onely quit me of annoy;
That preuents mischiefe, which can bring no ioy.
Exit.
Bish.
Now I could curse what mine owne hand hath done,
And wish that he would vomit out the draught
Of direfull poyson, which infects his bloud.
Ambitious fire? why 'tis as cleane extinct,
As if his heart were set beneath his feet,
Griefe hath boil'd out the humours of vaine pride,
And he was meere contrition.
What's the newes?
Enter a Messenger.
Messen.
Zemes as now he left you, pale and wan,
Dragging his weake legges after him, did fall
Dead on the stony pauement of the Hall,
Not by vnhappy chance, but as he walkt,
Fold [...]ng his armes vp in a pensiue knot,
And rayling at his Fate, as if he staged
The wounded Priam, or some falling King,
So he, oft lifting vp his closing eye,
Sunke faintly downe, groan'd out, I dye, I dye.
Bish
It grieues my soule: let Baiazet know this
Could our owne shortned life, but lengthen his
By often sighes I would transfuse my breath
Into his breast, and call him back from death.
Exit.

Actus Tert [...]i, Scena Quinta.

Enter Selymus, Mesithes, Mustapha.

Selym.

Let not my absence steale away my loue,

Or locall distance weaken the respect

Which you haue euer borne me: I must fly

To shake the yoake of bondage from my necke:

My Fathers eyes shall not scan out my life

In euery action; then when I am gone,

Our loue like pretious mettall shall not cracke

In the protraction, but be gently fram'd

[Page] Into a subtler thinnesse, which shall reach

From either part, not craz'd by any breach.

Mesith.

Returne with ruine painted in thy brow,

Pale death triumphant in thy horrid crest,

Danger limm'd out vpon thy threatning sword,

The Turkish thraldome pourtrai'd on thy shield,

Wee'le meete thee in thy horror, and vnfold

Our armes as wide as heauen to take thee in.

Selym.

We trust you: if there lie vnspoken loue

Hid in your bosomes? we must bury it

In silent Farewells.

Mustaph.

Noble Prince adiew,

Since thy franke deeds haue printed in our hearts

So true a patterne of thee, we will feed

Our contemplation with thy memory.

VVhen thou art really departed, thus

A better part of thee shall stay with vs.

[...].

Selym.

So the swift wings of flight shall mount me vp

Aboue these walls into the open ayre,

And I will towre aboue thee Baiazet.

Farewell soft Court; I haue beene kept too long

VVithin thy narrow walls, and am new borne

To golden liberty; now stretch out you heauens,

Spread forth the dewy mantle of the cloudes

Thou powerfull Sunne of Saturne, and remoue

The terminating Poles of the fixt earth

To entertaine me in my second birth.

Enter Isaack Bassa.

Isaack

Not yet rid from our warrs? Faire Prince take heed,

Treason's a Race that must be runne with speed:

Aelus beckons, and the flattering windes

Ioyne all to helpe our proiect: quickly hence:

All's full of d [...]nger. Did your Father know

Hee'd stop your flight, and breath at one deaths blow.

Selym.

Friend I am gone: thou hoary God of Seas,

Exit.

Smooth the rough bosome of thy wrinckled tide,

That my wing'd Boat may gently on it glide.

[Page]

[...]

[Page]

[...]

[Page]

Actus Quarti,

Scena Prima.

Enter Bajazet solus.

Baia.

How the obsequious duty of the world

Hangs shiuer [...]ng on the skirts of Majestie,

An [...] mells out all her footsteps: I could yet

Neuer steale leasure reforme my thoughts,

S [...]nce my pale brow was first hoop'd in with gold

Till this b [...]est houre: and now great Baiazet

Empty thy breast of her imprison'd ioyes,

Which like the smothring windes, could with a blast

Rip vp a passage. I am crown'd in blisse,

Plac'd on the rockes of strong s [...]curity,

Without the reach of Fate. Envie shall gnash

And pine at my full pleasures; the soft feete

Of labouring Ambition, shall quite tire

Ere touch the starry-height on which I stand.

Achmotes and his sonne with my two boyes

Are falne, to cleare the sun-shine of my joyes,

Achomates I feare not, Selymus

L [...]ues cag'd within the compasse of mine eye,

All that I doubt is of Mahomates,

That blazing starre once darkned, I will throw

The lustre of my pompe from me, as cleare

As if three Sunnes were orb'd all in one Spheare.

What news brings Isaack?

Enter Isaack Bassa.

Isaack.

Vnwelcome newes.

Baia.

Be quick in the deliuery.

Isaack.

Then thus.

Young Selymus is fled.

Baia.

Fled?

Isaack.

Fled this night to the Tartarian King.

Baia.

VVould he had sunke

To the Tartarian deepe. Isaack, th'art false,

And euery haire dependant from thy head

Is a twin'd serpent. Isaack I say th'art false,

[Page] I read it in thy brow.

Isaack.

By heauen I am not.

Baia.

Come; answere my demands, first, at what time

Let he the Court?

Isaack.

I know not.

Baia.

Know he is fledde,

And know not when he fledde, how can this be?

Isaack

After our strickt enquiry, 'twas our chance

To light on one that saw him take a ship,

At the next hauen.

Baia.

On one; bring foorth that one,

Exit Isaack

Ile sound the depth of these villanies.

Enter Isaacke with a dwar [...]e.

What's here?

A barrell rear'd an end vpon two feete?

Sirrah, you guts and garbage—did you see

Selymus leaue the Court?

Dwarffe

So please it your—

Baia.

Please it? thou monster, are you now so pleasing.

Isaack

My Liege hold in your fury: spend not one drop

Of your fierce anger, on so base a worme,

Keepe it entire and whole, within your breast,

That with it's vigor it may crush the bulke

Of him whose treasons moue it.

Baia.

So it shall,

Neptune reine backe thy swelling Ocean,

Invert the current of thy guilty streames

Which further trecherous plots, mild Aeolus,

(That when a peevish goddesse did intreat,

Scattredst a Trojan Navy through the seas)

Now Baiazet a Turkish Emperor

Bids thee send forth thy jarring prisoners,

Into the seas deepe bowels, let them raise

Tempests shall dash against the firmament

Of the vast heavens, and in their stormy rage,

Either confound or force the vessell backe,

In which the traytor sayles; now, now beginne

Or I shall thinke thee conscious of this sinne.

Enter a [...]onke

What would this monke?

Monke

[Page]

Only your blessed almes.

Baiazet

I'me in a liberall vaine—

[...] of a dagge at Baiazet, Mesithes, and Isaack kil [...]he Monke

Trait [...]r I'me slaine,

I feele the bullet run quite through my sides,

Isaack.

Great Mahomet hath kept you safe from harme,

It neuer toucht you.

Baia.

Oh—I am slaine,

Open the gates of sweet Elysium,

Take in my wounded soule: Bring foorth that Monke,

Ile make him my soules harbinger, he shall

Fore-runne my comming and provide a place

Amongst the gloomy banks of Acheron,

Then shall he dwell with me in those blacke shades

And it shall be my blisse to torture him.

Isa.

Hee's gone already, I haue sent him hence.

Baia.

Fly then my soule, and nimbly follow him,

He must not scape my vengeance: Char [...]n stay,

One waftage will serue both, I come, away.

Isa.

Let not conceit thus steale away your life.

Baia.

Me thinkes I feele no blood ebbe from my heart,

My spirits faint but slowly.

Isaack

Heare me Sir,

You are not wounded.

Baia.

Ha? not wounded.

Isaack.

Vntoucht as yet;

His quaking hand deceiu'd him of his aime,

And he quite mist your body, here behold

The bullet yet vnstain'd with blood.

Baia.

Now I beleeue thee: oh the balefull fate

Of Princes, and each eminent estate!

How euery precious jewell in a Crowne,

Charmes mad ambition, and makes envy doate

On the bewitching Beauty of it's shine;

Indeede proud Majesty is vsher'd in

By superstitious awfull reverence,

But cursed mischiefs follow; and those are

Treasons in peace, blacke stratagems in warre.

But wher's the dwarffe? Isaack goe send him in▪

[Page] Bid bold Mesithes, and sage Mustapha

Quickly attend vs;goe.

Exit Isaack [...]

Isaacke

I shall.

Bai [...]zet

This houre,

Hath hatcht a richer project in my braine,

Whose wisht event, shall strangle envies breath,

And strike ambition dead in euery breast.

Sirrah, draw hence the body to the ditch,

[...]

Whither the filth of the whole Citie runs,

There ouerwhelm't in blood;goe, quickly doo't;

What doost thou grin thou visage of an ape?

be strikes [...]

Dwarfe

Ile rather hang my selfe then endure this.

Baia.

Nay, come; be patient and Ile vse thee well,

Why—'twas a Scepter strooke thee, and 'twill worke

Diviner operation in thy blood

Then thou canst dreame of.

Dwar.

I'de rather be strucke erosse the teeth with a pudding

Then crosse the backe with a scepter.

Baia.

A man would guesse so, that ouer-viewes the dimensions

But to thy businesse.

he carries [...]ut the [...]

Enter Bassaes.

Bassa [...]s stand yee round,

Stay: who comes here? sure I should know that sature,

Obserue him neerely.

Enter Mah [...]m [...]tes disguised.

Bas [...]aes.

Tis no Courtier.

Mahom.

Mahometes 'tis time to looke about,

Selymus fledde? Achomates ador'd?

My name scarce heard of through the popular [...] reets?

Had that vnhappy arme of that dam'nd Monke,

Not staggerd from the Marke at which he aym'd,

Who euer sent him hither, I had leapt

Into the emptie throne, and cropt the fruit

Budding from treasons roote; but Ile returne

Backe to my Province, this vnknowne disguise,

Shall search my Fathers closest policies.

Isaack

Mahometes disguis'd.

Baia.

By heauen 'twas he

He pryes [...]nto my counsells: let it bee.

Wee'le forward in our businesse, which beeing done,

[Page] Weele coole the hot ambition of each sonne,

As mine alreadie is, quicke mouing time

Hath cast a snowy whitenesse on my haires,

And frosty age hath quel'd the heate of youth,

Mine intellectuall eyes, which euer yet

Gaz'd on the worlds rich gilded vanities,

Are now turn'd inward, and behold within,

Dismall confusion of vnpardoned [...]inne▪

E'r since I first was setled on this Throne,

My cares haue clog'd the swiftnesse of the houres,

And wrought a tedious irkesomne [...]se of life,

Murders haue mask'd the forehead of the Sunne

With purple-coloured clouds, and he hath blusht

At the blood-sucking cruelty of state.

Ther's not one little angle of this Court,

Whose guiltie walls haue not conceal'd a knot

Of traitors, squaring out some hideous plot,

Against my safety; now at last I spie

The dangers of perplexed Maiestie.

And were it not for a religious feare

Of after-harmes, which wretchedly might teare

And spoyle the body of this Monarchy,

Here at this [...]nstant would I strike the sayle,

And proud top-gallant of mine eminence,

Hurle vp my scepter, dis-inthrone my selfe,

And let the greene heads scramble for the Crowne.

Age hath taught me a stayder prouidence

Then my rash youth could reach to; I intend

To place this glittering bable, on the head

Of some successour, e'r I yet am dead,

So giue it out; thereby [...] le try the loue

And fauour of the people: whom they seeme

Most to affect [...]'le raise to that esteeme,

How doe you like the counsell?

Chers.

As we could like

A voice of health sent from the carefull gods.

This newes will lay the [...]ury of your sonnes,

And breed low dutie in them all in hope

[Page] Of the reward propos'd.

Exeunt Baiazet, Ch [...]rseogles, Ma [...]ent M [...]stapha, Isaa [...]k [...], Mesithes, Asmehemides:

Isaacke

Awake preventions eyes, we must not sleepe

If we would see proud Baiazet displac't,

And Selymus elated to his height.

Name him the people favours;—heeaffects

Achomates: and knowes the multitude

Wrapt with his heauenly wisedome, cry for him,

We must be quicke and wary, here are keyes

Left, and lay'd vp by Selym [...]s, that store

Shall visit emptie purses, and inchaunt

The needy sort of men, that the ones wealth,

Shall weigh vp 'tothers wisedome in the scale

Of their light judgement; lend your best endeavors

Wee'le crosse thee Baiazet, and thy hopes shall dye

By thine owne ill-contriued policy.

Exeunt.

Actus Quarti, Scena Secunda.

Enter Baiazet, takes Asmehemides by the hand, a Courtier belonging to [...]

Baia.

Leaue vs; Wee would be priuate with our friend,

'Tis thou must doo't sweet Asmehemides,

Mahomates and thou are two neere friends;

He will suspect in others close deceit,

Thee, for thy generous vertues he will stand

With obuious embracements to receiue

Into his bosome; whither when thou art

Wound in, be sure to strike him through the heart.

I am offended, 'tis just piety

To sacrifice his body at the shrine

Of my displeasure, doe it, I am thine.

Asmehem.

Were he as deare to mee, as the halfe part

Of mine owne bodie, as the breath I draw;

I'de doe this charge: wee mortalls must obey

[Page] When Gods command, and Emperors are they.

Exit

Baia.

So willing to be damn'd? had I adjoyn'd

Some vertuous office, surely he would then

Haue said, that good deedes are not deedes of men.

But let them goe; Maho [...]etes must dye,

And for my other boy fierce Sely [...]s

The boysterous hand of warre must snatch him hence,

My other sonne Corcutus liuesimmur'd

Within Mineru [...]'s cloister, thus I cleare,

A path through which Achomat [...]s shall runne

Vp to my throne when all their hopes are done.

Exit.

Act [...]s Quarti, Scena Tert [...]

Enter Achomates.

Acho.

The promise was direct and absolute,

To blesse my [...]emples with a sacred Crowne,

VVith protestations of a quicke dispatch,

Ere his owne right were cancelled by fate,

So to cut off all rivals in my joyes.

VVhat intercedent chance hath made his care

So slacke in the performance? by heaven I feare,

Delayes willproue delusions of my hopes

And that homebred Mercurian Selymus,

VVill split the expectation of my blisse,

Forefend it Mahomet, or I shall be

A sad revenger of indignitie.

How now? vvhat speakes this bold intrusion?

Enter a Messenger.

Messen.

Health to Achomates from Baiazet.

Acho.

From [...]? vnfold thy welcome newes,

How fares our Noble Father?

Messen.

In full health;

And wils you thus by mee: to muster vp

Your surest forces, and with moderate hast,

Repaire vnto the Court, where you shall find

Employments worthy of a valorous mind.

Achem.

[Page]

To muster armes? can'st thou surmise the cause?

Messen.

VVith confidence I dare not; but tis sayd,

Against that haughtie Noble Selymus.

VVho of the Tartar King implored ayd,

To an vncertaine end: himselfe giues out

To fight with Hungary, and stretch the bounds

Of the old Turkish regiment▪ But [...]ame

With panting voice, bids Baiazet beware,

And whispers in his eare, he is the foe,

Proud Selymus intends to overthrow.

A [...]ho.

Enough, regreet our Father with our love

Tell him wee shall not sleepe to his command;

Exit.

Fly nimbly backe▪ dares the audacious boy,

Trouble the world with his tempestuous armes?

Ile chastise him with yron whips of warre,

If either strength or stratagems shall serue,

To spoyle the gavvdy plumes of his high crest,

I'le vse the strongest violence of both;

I am swolne big with hate, and I could breake

Vntimely passage with a wholesome [...]tabbe

To vent the monster strangled in my wombe.

Father I come, he that detaines a Crowne

Bequeath'd to me, must thunder-strike me downe.

Enter Corcutus.

Corcu.

Buzzing reports haue pier't my sluddy walles,

And clog'd my meditations ayry wings,

By which I mount aboue the mouing spheares

And search the hidden closets of the heauen,

I cannot liue retir'd, but I must heare

Mine owne wrongs sounded in my troubled eare:

VVhat? will my father falsifye that oath;

In which he vowd successions right to mee,

VVhen I resign'd my honors vp to him,

He deepely swore; when the vprising Sunne

Of his bright-shining royallty had runne

It's compleat course through the whole heauen of state,

And fainting dropt into the VVesterne lapse;

My brightnesse next should throw it's golden beames,

[Page] Vpon the worlds wide face, and ouer-peere

The duskie clouds of hidden privacie,

And shall Acho [...]ates succeed? Shall hee

Shine in the spangled robes of Majesty?

Then Baiazet is false, let it be so

I am secur'd from a huge masse of woe.

Yet Ile toth'Court, that when Achomates

Shall spie mee, and rememb [...] but my due

'Twill staine his lustre with a blushing hue,

Enter Baiazet, [...].

Baia.

My cares are growne to great to be compri [...]'d,

Within the narrow compasse of my breast,

Vice-roy of Greece, Ile powre into thy heart

Part of my secrets; which being entred in,

Locke them as close vp, as thou wouldst a sinne

Committed, yet not knowne: I must impart

Things worth thy faithfull [...]lence.

Chers.

Worthy Sir,

By the inclosure of my soule I sweare—

Baia.

Ile not heare out [...]hine oth, in briefe 'tis thus

The Bassaes are all false a [...]d loue not vs;

Nor doth my [...] prompt [...] thus,

I read it in their gestures, [...],

Actions, and counsells, my suspitious eye

Hath found a great breach in their loyalty.

Chers.

Surely this ca [...]ot bee.

Baiazet

By heauen 'tis true,

Each man that guards mine honour is my foe,

Ile shake these splendant robes of Majesty

From my ore-burden'd shoulders, and to ease

My selfe, bequeath them to [...].

Cherse.

Achomates?

Baia.

Euen he, vnle [...]e the voyce

Of the whole Citie interdict my choice.

Enter [...], Mesithes, [...].

Cherse.

Heere comes the [...],

Sure I see bad newes

[Page] Pourtrai'd on the Index of their fronts.

Baia.

Bad newes? We haue out-liu'd good dayes too long,

We can expect no other, come vnclaspe

Volumes of mischiefes, and make deafe my eares

With an infused multitude of cares.

Bassaes.

Young Selymus hath crost Danubius floud,

And seiz'd vpon the Provinces of Thrace,

And with a Navie plow'd the Euxine Sea.

Baia.

Peace bellowing night-rauens, with how cheerefull noise

Their pussing lungs croke out the balefull note,

Are these the warres 'gainst Hungary? you powers

Of heauen, brush off your cloddy patience,

If you but winke at these notorious crimes,

I'le say you dare not check our stubborne times.

Well as yet, I'le make vse of his pretence

Vize-roy of Greece, beare you this Embassie

To that suspected Traytor Selymus,

Tell him the warres 'gainst th' Hungarian foe,

Are full of dangers and approued harmes,

Never attempted by our Ancestors,

Without repulse or damage bid him dismisse

His rough Tartarian youth, then if he stand

Vnmou'd and stiff [...], feigne vengeance is at hand.

Make thy best speed.

Cherse.

I shall, 'twill be well done

To reconcile a Father and a Sonne.

Baia.

Though he tumultuous vprores could deserue

The favour of his Prince: h'as troad awry,

And mist the path that leades to Majestie.

These bright Imperious ornaments shall grace

No rebell-monster nor base runne-away.

My resolution's firme, it shall not be;

Bassaes, this day an Herauld shall proclaime

In the worlds eare, my great successours name.

Are you c [...]ntent?

Exit.

Mustapha calls in an Herauld.

Bassaes.

We are.

Baiaz.

Call forth an Herrauld.

Isaack.

As our alleagea [...]ce bindes vs wee'le obey.

[Page] But what we graunt, the Souldiers will gaine-say.

[...].

Thou shalt not thriue in this: I dare be bold

My golden hookes haue ta'ne a faster hold.

Baia.

Herauld,

Be my loud Eccho, ratifie my deede,

And say Achomates shall next succeede.

Herauld.

Baiazet the second by the appointment of our great Prophet Mahomet, the onely Monarch of the World, a mighty God on earth, an inuincible Casar, King of all Kings, from the East vnto the West, Gouernour of Greec [...], Sultan of Babylon, Soueraigne of Persia and Armenia, triumphant Tutor of [...], Lord possessour of the Sepulcher of the Crucified God, subuerter and sworne enemie of the Christians, and of all that call vpon Christ; proclaimeth Achomates his second sonne next and immediate successour.

An alarum of Trumpets

Within.

None but Baiazet, none but Baiazet.

Baiaz.

By heauen they are corrupted: none but I?

'Tis no loue borne to me that moues this cry.

Mesith.

Great Baiaz [...]t the cause why they deny

This iust proposall, riseth from an vse

And customary licence long obseru'd;

To wit, when their crown'd Emperour is dead,

The interpos'd vacation is a time

Of lawlesse freedome: then they dare to spoile

The Iewish Marchants of their traffick wares,

And prey vpon all strangers: so that should

Your Honour be conferr'd vpon your sonne

Whilst you your selfe yet breath, then should they loose

The long expected gaines; therefore refuse

What you propos'd.

Baiaz.

If that be all the cause,

Wee'le giue them such a Kingly donatiue,

As doubly shall buy out those ill-got spoiles

Fiue hundred thousand Duckets, if they please

With my free choise to crowne Achomates,

Proclaim'd to be their due.

A flourish of Trumpets.

Herauld.

[Page]

Baiazet the second by appointment of our great Pr [...] phet

Mahomet, &c. proclaimeth that hee'le attribute 500.

Thousand Duckats if you yeeld alleageance

To Achomates his successour.

Trumpets sound [...].

Within.

None but Baiazet, none but Baiazet.

Baia.

Achomates I sent for, how hee'le disgest

These grosse illusions, I may iustly feare:

By this I had discourag'd Selymus,

And kill'd his hopes; by this I had cut off

The growth of hate, and choked discords seed.

Exit.

Enter Mustapha with a Messenger to the other Bassaes.

Mustaph.

Beare this to Selymus with thy best care.

Mesith.

And this.

Giue him Letters.

Isaack.

And this: fly, let thy winged speed

Returne a suddaine answere, elie we bleed.

Exe [...]nt.

Actus Quarti, Scena Quinta.

Enter Selymus, Tartarian King. Attendants.

Tartar.

Goe on braue Prince; Lead on thy marshal'd tro [...]pes,

Degrade the Turkish Monarch, let him faint

At the deepe wounds, which thy reuengefull hand

Shall print vpon the bosome of his land.

Goe on; Me thinks I see Victoria sit

Triumphant on thy steely Burganet.

Exit [...] King.

Selym.

Farewell; now I will meete thee Baiazet

With a careere as free as if Heauens Ioue

Had bid me goe: bespeake the stoutest gods

To take thy part; tell them that thou must meete

A Sely [...], who when the warres are done,

Will scale the Forts and Castles of the Sunne,

Breake vp the brazen gates of Acheron,

And bury Nature with the world together.

Captaines leade on; Now shall the sword and fire

By publique ruines crowne my iust desire.

[Page] Sleepe H [...]ngary, I'le not breake off thy rest

With the vnwelcome Musick of my Drummes;

I'le turne the edge of my reuengefull sword

Vpon the bosome of my natiue soyle;

There dwels the motiue of my Tragick warres,

Whose ruthlesse sad Catastrophe shall wound

Posterity in vs: Infants shall mourne

Ouer their Fathers' tombs as yet vnborne.

But who comes here? I'le meete him.

Noble Vize-roy.

Enter Cherseo [...]gles.

Cherseo.

Peace and health to Selymus.

Selym.

Health, but not peace, whilst yonder light can see

Mortalls, whom Turkish force could ne're subdue.

Cherseo.

Yet what if Baiaz [...]t our honour'd Lord

Bid you roule vp those flaxen signes of warre,

And sheath the sword drawne forth against his foe?

When duty sayes obey, what shall say no.

Selym

My courage and a proud contempt of all

Corriuall Nations, could send back a no,

Able to fright a Parliament of gods.

It could so: but if Baiazet gaine-say

My plumy valour flags, my thoughts gaue way.

Cherseo.

Then thus he wills you to discard your force,

And send the black Tartarians to their home,

Withall averring the Hungarian foe

(Against whose power, you haue summon'd Armes)

Is full of strength and power, ne're oppos'd

Without the bitter downefall of our side.

Nor would the worlds great Monarch [...]

Empaire his fame so much, as to be sayd,

He tam'd a Foe by Tartars borrowed ayd.

Selym.

Ha: I am vilely non-plust. Courteous Vize-roy

Returne our duty back to Baiazet,

Euen in the humblest termes wit can inuent,

Tell him [...] ha [...]h a sonne of that high spirit,

As doth detest a cowardly retreat.

Were all the dead Heroes of our foes

All that are now, and all that are to come

[Page] Met in one age, I'de face them drum to drum.

Bid our deare Father be secure of me

And my proceedings: then true valour shines

Most bright, when busied in the great'st designes.

Is not this answere faire?

Cherseo.

Most true: and yet

'Twill proue distastfull.

S [...]lym.

No, it cannot be:

If there be too much valour in this breast,

Blame him that plac't it there, euen Ba [...]azet.

My vertues and my bloud, are both deriu'd

From his first i [...]fluence, and I must either hate

Disgracefull calum [...]'s, or degenerate.

Ch [...]rseo.

All this I'le tell your Father, yet hee'le rest

As much vnsatisfied as at the first,

He will expect the head-strong pride of youth

Should strike low sayle to his graue providence.

Selym.

And so it shall: sage Vize-roy I obey,

And reuerence his counsell more, then feare

An host of armed foes: tell him I'le come

To his Court gates with neither man nor drum.

Cherseo.

I'le tell it him with ioy, which when he heares,

Hee'le be disburden'd of a thousand feares.

Selym.

Remember my just duty: 'tis no matter,

I will retaine that till I come my selfe.

I am not out-reach'd yet by all these trickes,

My hopes are farther strong, I'le to the Court

With a close martch, in no submissiue sort,

And steale vpon them: Instantly I goe

To meete my Fa [...]h [...]r, but a subtill foe.

As he goes out, a Messenger meetes hi [...], giues him the Letters.

Messen.

Good health to Selymus.

Selym

Good health: From whom?

Messen.

I [...]aack, Mesithes, Mustapha salute you.

Selym.

Those good Trinm v [...]i what is't they, speake?

Opens the Letters.

(To feede on hopes is but a slender dyet)

[Page] 'Tis short, but full of weight: to feede on hope

Is but a slender diet. Let it be.

Descants.

I'le mend my table though no feast with me.

(Faire oportunity is bald behind)

Reades second.

'Tis true indeede Mes [...]thes. Neuer feare

I'le twist my fingers in her golden haire.

What speakes the third? This writes more at large,

And comments on the prefixt principalls.

(Your Father did proclaime who should succeede

Reads.

Publique denialls nullified his deede,

Your hast will be conuenient; things concurre

To blesse your hopes, Fate bids you not demurre)

Yours Isaack Bassa.

Isaack

I am thine,

And come to finish vp our great designe.

Exit.

Actus Qu [...]rti, Scena Sexta.Enter Achomates  [...].
Achom.
Vnquiet anguishments and iealous feare
Fly from any thoughts, like night before the Sunne:
I'me lifted to the highest Spheare of ioy,
My top inuelopt in the azure cloud,
And starry rich habiliments: my feete
Set rampant on the face of Natures pride,
The rarest worke weau'd by her handmayd Art
Cloathes my soft pleasures, I'me as great as Ioue.
Onely I rule below, he raignes aboue.
Oh! the vnspoken beauty of a Crowne,
Whose empty speculation mounts my soule
Vp to an heauenly Paradise of thoughts.
Father, I come that thou may'st crowne my head,
Whilst apprehensiue reason stands amaz'd,
Amidst the blisfull shades of sweet conceit.
Then I'le call back my wandring intellect
From dreames, and those imaginary ioyes,
I'le teach my soule to twine about a Crowne
[Page] To sweat in raptures, to fill vp a Throne
With the bigge-swelling lookes of Majestie,
I'leamble through a pleasures Labyrinth,
And wander in the path of happinesse,
As the true obiect of that faculty.
Great Baiazet I come. Thou must descend
From Honours high Throne, and put off thy right
To build me vp an heauen of choyse delight.
Exit.

Actus Quarti, Scena Septima.

Enter Mes [...]thes, Mustapha, Isaack.

Mesith.

The Emperour begins to smell de [...]eit.

I know by his ill lookes and sparkling eye

That he affects vs not.

Musta.

I doubt as much.

Young Selymus ha's wrong'd our loyalty

In his so slack proceedings; we were rash

And indiscreetly-forward in consent,

When we ioyn'd on to raise his gouernment.

Isaack.

Peace, 'tis too late to chide at what is done,

We haue so deepely waded in the streames

Of those procellous plots, nor can reuoke

Repentant footsteps, or securely creepe

Back to the Throne of safety, 'tis now good

To venture on, and swim quite through the flood.

Here comes the Emperou [...].

Enter Bajazet and Asmehemedes.

Baia.

Attend vs Bassaes.

Ar't sure hee's dead?

Asm.

Mahometes is dead.

There's nothing mouing of him but his soule,

And that robd of his body by this hand.

Baia.

Enough. That soule reuiues to see him dead

That wrong'd the body; Oh! my bloudy heart,

Must in his frenzy act an horrid part.

Follow thy Prince to hell.

Stabs him.

Asmeh.

To death! Oh deuillish ingratitude:

[Page] I'me slaine. I dye.

Moritur.

Baia.

And iustly: would each foe

And Traytor to my state were thwarted so.

Bassaes conuay this hated body hence,

The sight of that damn'd villaine moues offence:

They carry him out.

Now pause a while my soule, and reckon vp

What obstacl [...] are yet to be remou'd

Acho [...]ates must stay the peoples leasure.

Corcutus dally with Minor [...]aes Nimphes.

The last and worst, proud Selymus shall dye.

Thus I'le compose a firme security.

Enter Bassaes with Cherseogles.

Baia.

Arriu'd already noble Cherseogles?

You'r carefull in our cause: but speake the newes

From our pert Souldier. What meanes Selymus?

Cherseo.

To track the path backward from whence he came,

To strip himselfe of martiall ornaments,

And to fill vp the duty of a Sonne,

Come visite you in low submission.

Baia.

These are too fairely promis'd, to be meant,

Ambition hath already chain'd his soule

Too surely in the captiue bonds of pride,

Then that he now should cloath his stately hopes

In the pla [...]ne sordid weedes of penitence,

He doth but varnish o're some treacherous plot

In this smooth answere: come, wee' [...]e leade along

To our Imperiall seat of [...],

That strongly fortified, we need not feare

The weake attempts an home-bred foe can dare.

Excunt Bajazet and Cherseogle [...].

Mesith.

Ha! we are sweetly plung'd, if cold despaire

Benumme his youthfull courage, and he faint,

Mustaph.

VVould I were fairly rid of all these cares,

Isaack.

Dejected Cowards: are you not asham'd

Thus to giue vp the goale of dignity

To heartlesse feare? Here comes the Messenger.

VVhat newes from Selymus?

Messen.

Euen nothing certaine:

[Page] Ambiguously he promis'd to be here

As soone as I.

Mesith.

I'st euen so?

Mu [...]ta.

We are quite dash't—vndone.

Isaacke

Lift vp your downe-cast spirits—who comes here?

Mesith.

Who? Selymus?

Enter Selymus.

Musta.

Where? sweete Isaack doe not tell him,

That we were sending forth faith's latest breath.

Isaac.

Enough, I will not—happy Selymus.

Bassaes

Long liue great Sely [...]us.

Sely.

We thanke you friends:

Your care hath fostered vp our infant hopes

Beyond the pitch of expectation.

We heare that Baiazet is going now

From hence to Constantinople; my men

Lie closely ambusht in the middle way,

Close by a ruinous city, there expect

A sudden on-set, but till then farewell.

When we meete next, our ensignes wau'd on high,

Shall shine like Meteors blazing in the skie.

Exit.

Isaac

Fortunes best care goe with thee.

Mesith.

Braue boy y'faith.

Musta.

I shall adore him whilest I breath for this.

Isaac

Againe in heart?

Let's follow Baiazet, come lads away,

The sunne of all his glory sets this day.

Exeunt.

Enter Selymus with souldiers.

Selym.

Come on the honored youth of Tartary,

My brothers and joynt sharers of my woe,

Draw forth the weapons of inflam'd reuenge,

Against this horrid monsters Tyranny;

I [...]eeme like Romes great Caesar, when opprest

With Pompeys grating malice he led forth

His noble French-men through the snowy Alpes,

I haue my Curio Isaacke in the Court,

And Cherseogles like grim Catoes ghost,

Soothes the rough humour of fierce Baiazet,

These mens examples, were we faint and loath [Page] [...] [Page] [...]

[Page]Would set sharpe spurs vnto ourslow pac'd wrath,

And whet our dull-eged anger▪ but I see

In your smooth brow perfect alacrity;

We stand to thwart the passage of a feind,

Through whose wide yawning throat hath coasted downe.

The blood of Princes, in continuall streames,

Ha's fed and pampered vp his appetite

With the abhor'd destruction of his owne,

And glutted on the blood of jnnocents.

Stood wee like marble statues in his way,

And had no vse of policy and wit,

Our Irefull Prophet Mahomet would send

Sence, life, and valour through our stony joynts,

That we might ruinate this gastly bore,

Made by some hellish fury to confound

The order of this wondred Vniuerse.

Ile grapple with the monster, hee's at hand,

If you stand firme▪ the Common Wealth may bee,

A slaue to Baiazet, but Ile liue free.

Enter Baiazet, Cherseogles, Isaack, Mesithes, Mustapha.

Baia.

No Drumme nor Trumpet hath disturb'd the ayre,

Within the reach of mine attention.

Isaac.

And I admire it, ' [...]were a miracle

If that ambitious boy intend no harme.

Omnes.

What noyse is that?

A confused noyse of exclamation within, arme, arme, arme.

Soldiers

Helpe Baiazet, the vauntgard's almost slaine,

The Tartars lay in ambush.

Baia.

What? so neere?

Set vp our standard, Ile giue battell here,

Hang out defiance, scorne, and proud contempt,

Write in the blood-red colours of your plumes,

Summon our Army

Enter a drum

From these skirmishes,

Speake out the traitors doome in thine alarmes.

[Page] Thought he to daunt our courage?

Drum sounds. Enter [...]ouldiers se [...]erally, dropping in sweating, as from fight.

Valiant souldiers;

When I behold the manner of this warre

Then treason copes with awfull Majestie,

A gracelesse sonne, with his owne aged Sire,

Me thinks to bid you fight, were full as vaine

As to bid heauy clouds fall downe in raine:

But when I view the Chaos of the field,

And wild confusion striking valour dead,

I cald you, not (as Captaines doe to boyes)

To read a lecture of encouragement,

But that your auncient vertue may be showne

In this my last defence: I wish to dye

Reueng'd, that death sorts best with Majesty,

Drums sounding, A confused noyse, with clashing of armour. Ex [...]urrunt Baiazet, and Selymus.

Baia.

Selymus?

Selym.

Baiazet?

Baiaz.

Ioue lend me but a minutes patience.

Vnnaturall sonne.

Selymus.

Vencharitable Father.

Baia.

Father? My sword shall hew that title off.

And cut in twaine kindreds continued line,

By which thou canst deriue thy blood from mine.

Abortiue monster—thou first breath of sinne,

We had but slender shaddowes of offence,

Till thou crep [...]st forth to the offended light,

The very masse, and stocke of villanie.

Crimes in all others, are but thy influence.

Nature ha's planted viprous crueltie,

In thy darke breast, the scandall of her workes

Her error, and extract perfection

Of vices; the first well-head of bad things

From whence the world of ills draw their weake springs,

Selym

[Page]

Then heare me speaketoo: you haue bin to me

No Father, but a sowre Pedanticke wretch,

One that with frosty precepts, striu'd to kill

The flaming heate of my ambitious youth,

As vainely as to strangle fire with straw:

You sit so dayly houering on your Throne,

As if you'd hatch new Monarchies to feed

The hungry gulfe of your vnbridled pride,

Y'aue surfettted on titles, y'aue ingrost

Honor, you are the moth of eminence,

And liberall fortunes answered your desires;

You had deflow'rd th'infinitie of Crownes,

With your adulterate ambition,

Y'are Soveraignties horse-leach, and haue spild

The blood of State, to haue your owne veines fild.

Baia.

Hold, hold thy venom'd tongue, if there be hid

More of this kind vn-vttred, I le rip vp

Thy full fraught bosome, and to saue mine eare

Mine eyes shall ouerview what I'le not heare.

Darst thou fight Traitor?

Selym.

Dare I [...] be eal'd a King?

Dare I vnsheath my sword, or gather might?

If I dare ought of these, I dare to fight.

Baia.

Guard thee, I'de not omit the sweete desire

And pleasure of revenge, were heauen my hyre.

They fight, Selymus is beaten off, Baziazet pursues, reenters at another doore.

The slaue has scapt the power of my wrath,

Midst the disseur'd troups of scattered foes

I lost him in a smoky cloud of dust,

So thicke as if the tende [...] Queene of loue,

Had wrapt her brat Aeneas from my sight.

Enter Isaacke, Mesithes, Mustapha.

Isaack

Ioy to my Liege, of his last victory.

Mesith.

The bold Tartarians flew like fearefull Harts

Before the hu [...]ters rage.

Baia.

[Page]

So let them fly;

Heaven raine downe vengeance on their cursed heads;

It is our honour that the frighted slaues

Enter a [...]

Owe their liues deerest safeties to their heeles.

How now, whence come you?

Dwar.

From yonder hayricke Sir.

Baia.

Didst thou see Selymus when he fled the field?

Dwar.

No indeed, I was two farre crept in.

Baia.

O you are braue attendants.

Let's forward in our journey; these affaires

Achomates must know, his golden wish,

The people haue delayd, perhaps heele frowne,

And trample filiall duty vnder feete

As this hath done: but let them storme their fill

Vertu's not shipwrackt in a sea of ill.

Actus Quinti,

Scena Prima.Enter Achomates alone, with a bloody sword in his hand.
Achom.
An honour'd Legate? an Ambassadour?
As if that title like Meda [...]s charme
Could stay the vntam'd spirit of my wrath,
Had he bin sent a messenger from heauen,
And spoke in thunder to the slauish world;
If he had roar'd one voice, one sillable
Crosse to my humour, I'de a searcht the depth
Of his vnhallowed bosome, and turne out
His heart, the prophane seate of sawcy pride.
Slaine an Ambassador? no lesse: 'tis done,
And ' [...]was a noble slaughter, I conceiue
A joy ineffable to see my sword
Bath'd in a blood so rare, so pr [...]cious,
As an Ambassadour s; must we be tolde
Of times delayes, and opportunities?
That the basesoldier hath gaine-sayd our blisse?
Thought Baiazet, his son so cold, so dull,
So  [...]nnocently blockish, as to heare
[Page] An Embassie most harsh and grossely bad
The people to deny me? we contemne
With strange defiance Baiazet, and them.

Actus Quinti, Scena Secunda.

Enter [...], Mesithes, Mustapha.

M [...]sith.

Mischiefe on mischiefe, all our hopes are dead,

Slaine in the haplesse fall of Selymus.

Mustapha

I thinke the deuills fought for Baiazet

And all the infernall haggs; how could he else

With a confused army, and halfe slaine,

Breake the well-ordered rancks of a strong foe?

Mesith.

And vnexpected to—now Isaacke! what

Sadly repenting for thy last misdeeds.

Plots and conspiracies against thy Prince?

Faith we must hang together—

Isaacke

Good Mes [...]thes

'Tis nothing so: they say [...]

Disdaining to be mockt out of his hopes,

And most desired possession of the Crowne,

Ha's in contempt of Baiazet and all,

Slaine the Ambassador, and vowes revenge

On euery guilty agent in his wrong.

Mustaph.

I lookt for that; and therefore first shranke back,

VVhen Baiazet made choyce of one to send

On such a thankelesse errand as that was.

Mesith.

Grant the report be true: what's that to vs?

Isaack

Fame in mine eare nere blab'd a sweeter tale,

This shall redeeme our low dejected hopes,

To their full height. no more; be it my charge,

To chase out the event—whats this comes here?

Mustaph.

Vpon my life, the body of the slaine

Ambassador.

Enter the Ambassadors followers with the dead body

Mesith.

'Tis so.

Isaacke

VVe greet you friends,

And your sad spectacle.

Followers

[Page]

Tis sad enough

To banish peace and patience, from each breast

That owes true loyalty to Baiazet.

Isaacke

And so it shall; lay downe the iniur'd corps.

Achomates ha's wrong'd his Fathers loue,

To grosly, in the murder euen of him

That bore his sacred person, and should stand

Inviolably honor'd by the law

Of men and nations,

But here comes Baiazet.

Enter Baiazet and Cherseogles.

Baia.

A tragicke spectacle? whose trunke is this?

Follow.

The body of your slaine Ambassador.

Baia.

Slaine? by what cursed violence? what slaue

Durst touch the man that represented me?

Follow.

Achomates.

Baia.

Achomotes?

Follow.

The same

Highly displeas'd with the vnexpected newes

Of a deniall from the peoples mouth,

His reason slipt in fury, and contempt

Hath thus abus'd your gracious Majesty.

Withall, he threatned to maintaine this sinne

With force of armes, and so resolu'd to winne

Your Crowne, without such tarriance—

Baia.

Oh! no more,

I am vnfortunate in all my blood.

Hath he thus guerdon'd my faire promises,

My dayly sweat and care, to further him,

And fix him in the paradise of joy?

Nations cry out for vengeance of this fact,

I'le scourge this blacke impiety to hell.

Muster our forces to the vtmost man,

Once more I'le bury this my aged corps

In steely armour, and my coloured crest

Like a bright starre shall sparkle out reuenge

Before the rebels faint amazed eyes.

Loose not a minute, Bassaes hence, be gone

[Page] Muster our men, stay not; that from the tide

Of our fierce wrath, no drop may [...]bbe away

By causelesse lingering.

Musta.

Whom speake you Generall?

Baia.

Whom but my selfe? whom doth the cause concerne

More neerely then my selfe?

Isaak [...]

My honored Liedge,

Beare your best care about you; 'tis a time

Of double danger, but remoue the one,

The other straight cald forward, Sely [...]s

Great in the fauour of Tartaria's King,

Is man'd afresh with souldiers; his assault

Threatnes as much as fierce [...],

And must be borne off with your ablest forces,

Then if you leaue the Citie to subdue,

One of these two, expect e're you returne

Tother possest, and seated on your throne.

Baia.

Distraction rends my soule: what shall I do?

Isaack.

Force out one nayle with tother of these two,

Chuse him you most affect, and best dare trust,

Allure him fairely home, winke at his crimes,

And then create him you [...] high Generall,

To leade against his brother, since your selfe

Cannot at once oppresse two foes so stout

Trie if one heate can driue another out.

B [...]i [...].

Isaack we like thy counsell: but of these

Which can we pardon? either so deboyst,

So guiltie of rebellion, so [...]

From pious loyalty, that my soule euen both

With bitter hatred equally may loath.

Isaack

First weigh their f [...]ults, the one a brain-sick youth,

Endeauor'd to supplant your Majestie,

The other in defiance, and contempt,

Of God and man prophan'd the holy rights

Of an Ambassador.

Mesi.

For which dire fact,

Should it slip vp vnpunished, the name,

The fearefull name of [...] would pro [...]e

[Page] The subiect of each libell, and the scoffe

Of petty Princes.

Baia.

Enough, we haue decreed

Achomates shall quake beneath the stroke

Of our fierce anger. Isaack speed away

To Selymus, he shall con [...]ront the slaue

The best of two so bad, goe—stay—yet goe,

'Tis hard when we begge succour of a foe:

Begge? stay againe—first will I drop before

The sword of proud Achomates—goe—tell him,

Vpon his low submission we will daigne

To make him Champion to his soueraigne.

Enter Co [...]cutus to his Father.

Exit Isaack.

My deare Corcutus welcome.

Corcu.

Royall Father.

[...].

Baia.

Arise thou onely solace of mine age,

It was a night of harmlesse innocence,

Of peace and rest, in which kinde nature laid

Thee in thy mothers wombe: Right vertuous boy,

How hast thou liu'd vnta [...]nted with the breath

Of that infectious vice Rebellion,

Corcut.

Right noble Father, 'tis a faithfull rule

In morall rites, that who desires a good,

And most suspects his right to it, is bold

And turbulent, and eager in pursuit,

Whereas the man to whom this good is due,

Rests happily contented; till time fit

Crowne him in the possession of his wish.

Baia.

VVell moraliz'd: I vnderstand thee Boy,

My grant shall melt thy prayers in full ioy.

Exe [...]nt.

Actus Quinti, Scena Tertia.

Enter Selymus and souldiers.

Selym.

Once more (in hope to gaine, and feare to lose

A Crowne and Kingdome) we haue march'd thus neere

The seat of a dread Emperour, to try

[Page] The chance of warre, or resolutely die.

Feare no crosse blow, for with this hand I mou [...]

The wheele of Fate: and each successe shall runne

Euen with our pleasures, till our hopes are spun

Vp to their full perfection, this dayes light

That lookes so cheerefully, shall see as bright

As it, my crowne and glory.

Makes a stand. As they march on, enter Isaack Bassa.

What stranger's this? my blessed Genius haunts me.

Isaack I take thee in with open loue.

What speakes they Presence?

Isaack.

Good newes to Selym [...]s.

Selym.

From whom?

Isaack.

From Baiazet.

Selym.

'Tis strange if good.

Isaack.

And full as good as strange March quickly hence.

I'le tell you as we walke; if constant Chance

Smile on our project e're this Sunne goe downe,

We may salute you with a glorious Crowne.

Selym.

I follow euen to death. Grand M [...]rs to thee

I'le build an Altar if thou prosper me.

Exeunt.

Actus quinti, Scena quarta.

Enter Achomates and So [...]ldiers.

Achom.

Revenge my black impiety; each brow

Seemes with a scornfull laughter to deride

Those empty Menaces of [...].

And Baiazet is not our Father now,

Sith he hath wrong'd the duty of a Sonne,

But a scorn'd Enemy whose prostrate soule

Shall make a step by which I will ascend

Vp to the heauenly throne of heauenly state,

If you but lend your helpe and free consent.

Souldiers.

Leade vs along the misty bankes of hell

Through Seas of danger, and the house of death,

We are resolu'd to follow, and by one

[Page] To second each step of Achomates.

Achom.

This resolution is as great as iust,

Continue it braue spirits: he's a slaue

That hauing sinn'd, dares not defend his sinne,

The world shall know I dare: For though our cause

Be wrong, yet we'le make good the breach of lawes.

[...].

Actus quinti, Scena quinta.

Enter Baiazet and Corcutus.

Corcut.

Would I had slept with Trizham, and that hand

That strangled Mahomet, had stopt my breath,

Rather then liue to see my selfe thus wrong'd.

Baia.

Despaire not sweet Corcutus, what I promis'd

I'le keepe most true, and here againe I vow

When I am dead, this honour to thy brow.

I haue call'd home that rebell Selymus,

Onely to tame a Traytor: And that done,

We haue no other heire, no other sonne

Beside Corcutus, to whose free command

VVe doe bequeath the duty of this land.

Enter Mesithes and Mustapha.

Is Isaack not return'd?

Mesith.

My Liege he is.

Mustaph.

And Sely [...]s with him.

Enter Selymus and Isaack, as they enter speake.

Baia.

Let them approach.

Isa.

Let your high sp [...]rit shrink below it selfe

In a diss [...]mbled she [...] of penitence.

Selym.

Tush I can bow, as if my ioynts were old,

And tumble at his feet.

Isaack.

Practise your skill.

Selymus falls at Bajazets feet.

Baiaz

Lesse shew, and more good meaning Selymus.

Arise: these crouching feates, giue slender proofes

Of inward loyalty.

Selym.

Right noble Father,

Mine expedition to auenge your cause

Vpon the head of proud Achomates,

[Page] Be my iust triall.

Baia.

Hast then: May thy arme

By breathlesse treason raise vp a full ioy,

And turne that monster back vnto the earth

From whence it leapt, a most prodigious birth.

Selym.

VVe flie to the performance; who both dare

And will correct his boldnesse: now we tread

The path to honour, and me thinkes I heare

The peoples Viua, [...] Eccho in mine eare.

Exit Selymus with the Bassaes.

Baia.

New insolence: The Bassaes slipt away,

How the obsequious villaines

As if he were their Godhead.

Cherseo.

I suspect

Some plotted mischiefe, else they durst not leaue

Your person thus vnguarded.

Baia.

Plot and hang.

We weigh not all their treasons at a straw,

One must not rule too long, 'tis subiects law.

Exeunt.

P [...]sse ouer the stage Bassaes and Souldi [...]rs carrying Selymus aloft, and crying out

Long liue S [...]lymus, Viuat Selymus,

Magnificent Emperour of the Turkes.

Exeunt.

Enter Bajazet and Cherseogles.

Baia.

Hell and the furies vex their damned soules.

What people? Hah? what Nation is't we liue in?

Is't our State and Monarchy? good gods

Two Emperours at once. Liue Selymus?

Can slauish vassailes thus supplant their Prince?

What's this enshrines my head? a type for fooles

To fleare at a diuided ornament:

Faile not my sense and courage, let me liue

To finde my selfe againe. Vize-roy of Greece,

Didst thou not see a Baiazet withdraw

And vanish hence? tell thou most faithfull man,

What is become of that forgetfull name?

Or who hath stole it from me? Selymus!

Oh that damn'd villaine with his treacherous plot,

[Page] Hath rob'd me of that glory. Death a sense

If t'haue a soule of Adamant or Steele,

Else had that hated n [...]ise reft it in twaine:

What are thou? or whence com'st thou?

Enter Me [...]ithes.

Mesith.

From a Prince.

Baia.

Yet I beleeue thee.

Mesith.

From thine enemie.

Baia.

Yet I beleeue thee.

Mesith.

From the Emperour.

Baiaz.

And I beleeue thee still; yet slaue thou liest,

These parts must know no Emperour but me,

Vnle [...]se base vsurpation hath stept-vp

Vnto my chaire of honour. Right, 'tis so:

'Tis so indeede. Well then, what will your Emperour?

Mesith.

That by my hand you yeeld him vp his crowne!

Baiaz.

Traytor his crowne? so: now I am resolu'd.

I haue forgone my selfe, else had this hand

Tore out thy spotted heart, and that one word

Of yeelding had beene cause enough to spoyle

Thee and thy generation. Heartlesse slaue,

Why sneak'st thou from our presence? stay, behold

Here I commend this gorgeous ornament,

These trappings to thy Emperour, as full

Bestead with curses as my heart with woes,

That it may clogge his eares, and vex his head

With daily terrours. Hence thy Prince is sped.

Exit Mesith.

Vize-roy of Greece, to thee our last farewell,

Thou worthiest truest best deseruing man,

That euer made vs happy: if thy faith

Respect me, not my fortune, Doe this charge,

Fly to Achomates, and rather ayde

Him then this faithlesse Bastard Selymus,

The scandall of our race, the marke for heauen

To shoote reuenge. But all in vaine,

I striue to word away my inward paine.

Cherseo.

Nor this nor that I'le fauour, may I [...]

Baiaz [...]t shall liue to see both bleed.

Exit.

Baia.,

[Page]

Maske vp thy brightnesse Phabus, louely night,

Hurle thy thick mantle ouer all the heauens,

Let this black day for euer be forgot

In the eternall registers of time:

Which of you sacred powers are not asham'd

To see a Prince so sinfully abus'd

By his owne issue and vnreueng'd.

E [...]ter Selymus and B [...]ssa [...]s.

But stand we, who comes here? a face of brasse.

Else would it blush: now thou Saturnine Ioue,

Thou God of great men, thunder that the world

Drench'd all in sinne, may shake and feare the noyse

That horrid scourge of villanies.

Selym.

Father?

Baia.

Slaue

Auaunt: [...] feele a strong Antipathy

T'wixt thee and me, thy sight makes my dead heart

Distill fresh drops of bloud, and worke new smart.

Exit.

Selym.

What furious Baiaz [...]t, and raging hot?

I hugge the amorous pleasure that I feele

Creepe through [...]y ioynts: obserue our Father,

Exeunt Bessaes.

Else by some wilfull murder hee'le preuent

My purpos'd proiect, I'de not loose the guilt

Of his destruction for a crowne: heauen knowes

I loue him better then to let him digge

Himselfe a graue, whilst I may take the paines.

Now mount my soule, and let my soaring plumes

Brush the smooth surface of the Azure skie.

Crowne in his hand.

With this I charme obeyfance from the world:

Thou golden counterfeit of all the heauens:

See how the shining starres in car [...]l [...]sse ranks

Grace the composure; and the beauteous Moone

Holds her irregular motion at the height

Of the foure poles; this is a compleat heauen,

And thus I weare it: but me thinks 'tis fixt

But weakely on my brow, whilst there yet breath

Any whose enuie once reflect on it,

And those are three: the angry Baiazet,

Puling Corcutus, proud Achomates:

[Page] One of these three is car'd for, that's Corcutus

Who ere the blushing morne salutes the Sunne,

Shall be dispatcht by two most hideous slaues,

Whom I haue bred a purpose to the fact:

The other riuall, wise Achomates,

I'le beare aside by force of men and armes,

Which ready Mustred, but attend the stroke,

Then attend our Fathers.

Enter Hamon.

Here's one deales for him,

Shall send him quick to hell. It is decreed.

He that makes lesser greatnesse soone shall bleed,

Hamon draw neere, most welcome my deare Hamon,

What guesse of your patient Baiazet?

Is he all healthfull?

Hamon.

No my gracious Prince.

Neither his body nor his minde is free

From miserable anguish.

Selym.

A sad case.

Hamon I loue him, and would rid him from't.

Were I so skil [...]'d in naturalls as you.

Hamon.

All that my art can worke to cure his griefe

Shall be applied.

Selym.

Vnapprehending foole:

I must speake broader. Hamon is he ill

In minde and body both?

Hamon.

Exceeding ill.

Selym.

Then should I thinke him happier in his death,

Then in so hatefull life and so weake breath.

Hamon.

And that's the readier way to cure his ill.

Selym.

(H'as found me now) but Hamon can thy Art

Reach to the cure?

Hamon.

With easie diligence.

Selym.

Then let it.

Haman.

I'me yours.

Exit Hamon.

Selym.

Walke, and thy paines,

Shall be rewarded highly, with the like

As thou bestowest on Baiazet: the Court

Makes it a fashion now first to bring the event

About, and then hang vp the instrument.

[Page]

Actus Quinti, Scena Sexta.

Enter Cherseogles aboue disguised like a common Souldier.

Cherseog.

Thus Cherseogles hast thou wound thy selfe,

Out of thy selfe to act some fearefull plot,

By which the Authors of this publique woe,

Shall skip into their graues, it is confirm'd

A deede of lawfull valour to defeat

Those of their liues, that rob'd the world of peace.

On this side the false hearted Selymus

With his confederate Bassaes lie incampt

Iust opposite the proud Achomates;

The Sunne now sunke into the Westerne lap,

Bids either part, vnlace their warlike helmes

Vntill to morrow light where both intend

The hazard of a battell: but you powers

That with propitious cares, tender the world

And vs fraile mortals, helpe me to pre [...]ent

A generall enemie by the fall of some;

Assist my spirits in a deed of blood,

Cruell, yet honest and austeerely good.

Who? Selymus? as I expected.

Enter Selymus.

Selym.

What?

A souldier thus licentious in his walkes,

A stranger? Ha? What art thou?

Chersee.

A sworne friend, a seruant to thy greatnesse.

Selym.

Then returne

Backe into thy rankes and orders, no edict

From me hath ratified this liberty,

To scout at randome from the standing campe.

Cherseo.

'Tis true my honour'd Lord, nor haue I dared

For some poore triuiall prey thus to remoue

My selfe, but for a cause of greater weight

The ruine of our enemies.

Selym.

How's that?

The ruine of our enemies?

Cher.

[Page]

No lesse;

The quicke fall of great Achomat [...]

Can worke it.

Sely.

Soldier as thou hop'st to liue,

Mocke not my thoughts with false and painted tales,

Of a supposed stratagem.

Cherse.

I sweare—

Sely.

What wilt thou sweare?

Cherse.

By all the heauenly powers

I speake the trueth, and if I faile in ought,

Grind mine accursed bodie into dust.

Sely.

Enough, vnfold the meaning and the way

By which this happy project must be wrought.

Cher.

'Tis thus; at the twelfth houre of this blacke night.

Achomates I haue induc'd to walke

Foorth to this valley weapon'd, but vnmand,

In expectation of your presence there,

Where being met, heele vrge a single fight,

Twixt you and him: after a stroake or two,

I haue ingag'd my selfe closely to start

From ambush, and against you take his part.

Selym.

Then thou art a traytor?

Chers.

Worse then a deuill, should my heart

Haue made that promise with my tongue;

But heauen beare witnesse that my inward thoughts

Labour his welfare only, whom you powers

Haue prou'd most worthy, therefore onely yours.

Meete but this foe, whom I haue flattered thus,

To his destruction: and great Selymus

Shall see my strength imployed to offend

Achomates, and stand thy faithfull friend.

Sely.

Oh were thou faithfull—

Cherse.

If I [...]hrinke in ought

That I professe, death shall strike me to the grave.

So thriue all falshood, and each perjur'd slaue.

Sely,

Th'ast wonne our credit, beare a noble mind

About thee, then to find me forward trust

This night when sleepe triumphant hath subdu'd

[Page] Her wakefull subjects, and the midnight clocke

Sounded full twelue, in this appointed place,

Expect my presence, and till then adiew

Our next shall be a tragicke enterview.

Enter Acho [...]ates.

Cherseo.

The first is car'd for—here a second comes,

Assist me thou quicke jssue of Ioues braine,

And this one night shall make their labors vaine.

Achom.

It shal be so, my feares are too to great,

To joyne all in one on-set: a strong band

Shall with a circle hem the traytor round,

And intercept the passage of their flight;

How now? from whence com'st thou? what at thou?

Cher.

A Lieg-man to Achomates.

Achom.

To mee?

Cher.

Yet noble Prince, and one whose life is vowd

To further your desert, and therefore yours.

Achom.

We thanke you, and pray you leaue vs.

Cher.

I can vnfold an easie stra [...]agem,

Would crowne the hopes of great Achomates.

Achom.

What means the fellow?

Cher.

To secure your state

By Selymus his fall.

Achom.

What i'st thou breath'st?

Speake it againe, for many carefull thoughts

Possesse my soule, that euery blessed voice,

Steales in the passage twixt my eare and hast,

By Selymus his fall, to secure my state?

Cherse.

I can:

Achom.

Delude me not, and I will raine

Such [...]n vnmeasured plenty in thy lap,

Heape such continuall honors on thy head

That thou shouldst snrinke, and stagger with the weight.

Cherse.

Iudge of the meanes; this night I haue induc'd

Young Selymus to walke foorth in this groue,

At the twelfe houre, in hope to meete you here▪

Where hauing vrg'd a combat, and both met

[Page] In [...]ager conflict I haue pawn'd my vow.

To rush from yonder thicket, and with him

Ioyne against you.

Acho.

Villaine.

Cher.

And deuils had,

My heart made promise with my tongue,

But heauen beare witnesse that my soule affects

None but Achomates, try but my faith,

And meete this foe, whom I haue bayted thus,

With golden hopes, and you will [...]ind my deed

In your defence all promise shall succeed.

Acho.

I'm resolu'd souldier, when day is past▪

And the full fancies of mortalitie

Busie [...]n dreames and playing visions,

At the sad melancholly houre of twelue,

Ile meete thee in this plaine.

Cher.

And you shall find

Me here before you.

Achom.

Be so; Who denyes

To strike in time, can seldome hope to rise,

Exit

Chers.

These two will meete, and I must take both parts.

Now for a tricke to send them both to hell,

In the full growth of expectation;

Heauens know they haue deseru'd it then 'twould be

An happy murder: and behold the men

Enter Bass [...]

Whom [...] haue decreed should doe it, once againe

I must betake me to my former note;

Health to the friends of our great Emperor,

The three strong pillars that vphold true worth.

Isaacke

Sir, your intrusion is vnseasonable.

Musta.

And your salute, impardonably bold.

Cher.

Perhaps the newes I bring, may frame excuse

For both these faults.

Mesith.

Speake out thy mind in briefe.

Cher.

Then thus: to night here present on this plaine,

You may encounter two fierce enemies,

Achomates, and Cherseogles, both at the full stroake of twelue.

Isaack

How (Mesithes) we're blest.

Musta.

This night at twelue of the clocke?

Cher.

[Page]

Vpon my life—

Omnes

What shall we doe?

Chers.

But meete mee on this plaine

At the appointed houre, and I will place

You three aside, from whence you shall oppresse

Your foes at vnawares.

Mesi [...]h.

Is it a match?

Isaac.

'Tis done at twelue a clocke.

Mustap.

See thou proue faithfull.

Chers.

If I shrinke in ought

That I professe, death strike me to the graue.

So thriue all falshood and each perjur'd slaue.

Exeunt Bassaes

How easily base minds are drawue to strike

Their foes at least aduantage—beauteous morne,

Pale witnesse to a thousand deeds of sinne

Vaile vp thy light, that darkenesse may helpe on

These blacke stratagems, and vnhallowed hands

Strike in mistaken bodies, euen th [...] soule

Themselues adore, and cheerefully defend,

But time growes fast vpon me, hit all right

Two Princes, and three Bassaes dye this night.

Actus Quinti, Scena Septima.Enter Corcut [...]s with his Lute.
Corcu.
Heauen whither run these projects? is the thought
Of man so sencelesse, void of wit, yet fraught
With threatning ambition? to what end
Doth this di [...]tempered madnesse headlong bend?
Blesse me my Genius from these hated toyles
Of murdering warfare, and these sweating broyles,
Of watchfull policy; Phoebus let it be
That I may know no other god but thee.
Learned experience sayes, ambiguous fates
Vexe eminent fortunes, and he onely sta [...]s
Without the beames of enuy, whom the hands
Of some propitious power, hath ranckt below
[Page] Those short delights that troubled thoughts doe know;
A Crown's a golden marke, which being hit,
Falls not alone, but off the head with it:
Honors are smoakie, nothing, then let the Queene
Of learning, great Minerua, and the nine
Chast sisters, that adorne the Grecian hill,
Devote me to themselues, but let me still
Within Apollos sacred Temple sit,
And spend my body to encrease my wit;
Raigne Selymus, for I shall ne're thee hate,
Thy supreame power, nor enuy thy state,
Corcutus stands diuorced from a life,
Engag'd to vaine ambition factious state,
And emptie power of Kings; Hee's great in fame
Not who seekes after, but neglects the same.
Since thou hast grieu'd me Phoebus, free my wit,
That I my ease my griefe by speaking it;
If thou deny'st fond god, twill be in vaine,
Sorrow can sing, though thou not tune the straine.
Sings to his L [...]te.
Then thou sweete Muse from whence there flowes,
words able to expresse our ill,
Teach me to warble out my woes,
and with a sigh each accent fill:
Infuse my breast with dolefull straines,
Whose heauy note may speake my paines,
O let me sigh, and sighing weepe,
Till night depriue my woes with sleepe.
The pleasing murmurers of the ayre,
that gently fanne each mouing thing,
I being heard, straight doe repayre,
and beare a burden whilst I sing,
An heauy burden dolefull song,
The fathers griefe the subiects wrong,
O let me sigh, and sighing weepe,
Till night beguiles my woes with sleepe.
[Page] The grie [...]ed Flora hangs the head
Of euery youthfull plant and tree
And flowry pleasures are starke dead,
at my lamenting melody,
Then all you Muses he [...]pe my straine
To reach the depth of bitter paine.
Oh let me sigh, and  [...]ighing weepe
Till night beguiles my woes with sleepe.
Me thinkes I heare the singing spheares,
tune their melodious straines to mine,
The deawie clouds dissolue in teares,
as if they grieu'd to see me pine;
Thus each thing ioynes to helpe my moane,
Thus seldome come true sighs alone;
Then let me sigh, and sighing weepe,
Till night beguil [...] my woes with sleepe.
He sleepes: Then enter two murther [...]s
Who slaying him,  [...]eare him away.
Exeun [...]

Actus Quinti, Scena Octaua.

Enter Ch [...]rseogles.

Chers.

A darke and heauy night, as if the gods

Winckt at our projects, and had clad the heauens

In a propitious blacke, to blesse my plot;

Reuenge, to thee I dedicate this worke,

And I will pamper thy wild appetite

With blood and murther, thy dull slow pac' [...] feet

Shall caper to behold our fea [...]efull sceanes

Drencht in a scarlet Ocean,

Tis full twelue—

I heare a quiet foot pace, and it beates

Directly towards. 'Tis Selymus,

Ioy of expectation.

Enter Selymus

Selym.

Thou Queene of shades;

Bright Cynthia, and you starry lampes of heauen,

[Page] What spheare hath told you? oh y'are enuious all,

And therefore hate to grace the time, in which

I ruinate my latest foe; this is the sand

On which I am to wrestle for a Crowne,

And I am entred full of greedie lust,

To m [...]et my adverse champion; here's my god,

Whom I adore with greater confidence

Then all those beauties, Sunne, or Moone, or Starres

That with malicious absence haue disrob'd,

This gracious houre of i'ts due respect.

Oh thou the silent darkenesse of the night,

Arme me with desperate courage and contempt,

Of gods—lou'd men, now I applaud the guile,

Of our braue roarers which select this time,

To drink and swagger, and spurne at all the powers

Of either world, blest mortals, had that mother

Strangled her other infant, white fac't day,

And brought forth onely night, my limbs are stiffe,

And I must bath them in my brothers blood,

Ile steepe this grasse in a red purple goare,

Scatter the carcasse peecemeale, and that done

Ile reare a lasting monument, Ile signe

A trophie, which inscrib'd, shall speake my deede [...]

To after ages, that's my chiefe intent,

Hee's coldly prays'd that's written innocent;

VVhose there? my souldier?

Cher.

Souldier and slaue, great Prince at your command,

Sely.

I will jnoble thee place thee my second selfe

In all my power for thy rare faith.

VVhere's our Achomates?

Cher.

I heard one softly tracke full hitherwards,

And thinke tis he; 'tis needfull that I meete him,

And giue some proofe that I continue his,

Else jealous of my faith, he will returne,

And we be both deluded; when y'are met,

Parley before you fight, till I prepare

My selfe to runne vpon him vnawares,

Meane while Ile goe to meete him.

Exit

Selymus.

[Page]

Goe, make hast,

But if this base raskall should deceiue

My trust? a trifle—my nerues are plumped vp

And fil'd with vigor, strong enough to fright,

A million of such big backt, drowfie [...]laues;

I heare them both approach.

Enter Cherseogles and Achomates.

Cherse.

See where he stands, I shall not be flow

To second your encounter being met,

Parley before ye fight, till I prepare

My selfe, to runne vpon him vnaware,

Meane while I'le withdraw—now for my Bassaes,

Exit

Achom.

A time of dismall blacknes, and my soule

Is dull and heauy, as if enuious night,

Striu'd to subdue my fatall watch fullnesse.

But I haue rush'd vpon my foe: whose there?

Sely.

Answere thy Prince first I say, what art thou?

Acho.

He that vsurp's the title of a villaine.

Sely.

But he that weares it is a Saint, and such am I.

Achom.

Th'art a treacherous slaue.

Sely.

Achomates thou lyest, this night shall proue

I shrinke not to vnmake what I haue done.

Achom.

Oh heauens so jmpu [...]ently bad?

Selymus.

Good brother we know your vertues, one that

Gayn country, gods, and men,

Slew an Ambassadour which here we must reuenge.

Achom.

Hearke in thine eare,

Ile whisper forth thy mise [...], least the heauens

Should teare and snatch them hence from my reue [...]ge,

In greedinesse of wrath—they whisper.

E [...]ter Cherseogles, Isaacke, Mesithes, Mustapha.

Cherse.

See where they stand.

Isaacke

Achomates and Selymus?

Cher.

Both:

They are two, we foure, lets runne vpon them,

'Tis very darke, be certaine in your aime,

And all strike home.

Omnes.

[Page]

A match.

Mes.

Isa [...]ck, and I will take the neerest.

Must.

And we the other.

Cher.

Strike home, and sure, and here's at them.

Stab him, stab him. vterque meritur.

Selym.

I haue the Crowne, and I will, Oh, oh, oh.

Achom.

Oh, òò, O villaine I am slaine.

Cher.

It is not Cherseogles we haue slaine.

Isa.

Not Cherseogles villaine, whom then? speak.

They confer.

Cher.

Achomates and Selymus.

Isaack.

Ha.

Cher.

None other.

Isaack.

Hast thou betray'd vs so?

Cher.

Be silent, heare me.

There lie the Captaines of both Armies dead,

Breathlesse, and so stupid to neglect

The vse of oportunities.

Isaack.

What vse?

Cher.

Are you not rich, wealthie in powerfull gold,

Goe whilst the Souldiers lye thus destitute

Of any Leader, frankly bribe both parts

Buy their vnsetled loue at any rate,

And creepe into their bosome, then in this

Dead wa [...]t and dearth of Princes, they will

Cleaue to Isaack, and at length salute

Isaack.

Me Emperour?

Cher.

You apprehend it right.

Isa.

What blessed angell art thou?

Cher.

'Tis no time for id [...]e complement.

Isaack.

Thy counsel's good.

I would not let slip this sweet occasion,

For all the pretious plenty of the world.

Come let's away.

Cher.

First make some quick dispatch with these now riualls.

Isa.

True, they'le not endure my Soueraignty.

Hast no suddaine wits how to remoue them both?

Cher.

No wile but strength; are not we two?

They are no more; we must encounter them, 'tis man to man:

The match no whit vnequall.

Isa.

I am thine:

I hate to haue co-partners in my state:

There shall not breath a man whose enuious eye

[Page] Dares looke a squint on my dread Maiestie.

Mes.

They that bring newes first, are still most welcome.

Musta.

Experience speakes it true.

Mes.

Let vs hast, now Selymus we come to gratulate

Isaack.

Stay—

Cherse [...].

Stand.

Mes.

How?

Mustaph.

What meanes this?

Isaacke

Fate to your liues.

They fight, Isaack is slaine.

Musta.

Sweet doings.

Isaack.

'Tis no lesse, Sir witnesse this,

Traytor I'me slaine.

Moritur.

Cherseog.

Crosse fortune, wicked chance:

But I must make the best of it. Is he dead?

Mes.

Villaine he is, and thy bad turne is next:

What deuill did incite thee, to incite

Isaack 'gainst friends? Iniurious slaue.

Musta.

Vrge him to no confession, till the rack

Force from his closest thought vnwilling truth,

He shall be doom'd for this notorious fact

Vnto continuall paines,

Hunger, oppression, want and slauery.

Mes.

That struck me full.—Haue at thee:

Hold thou art victor. I haue met the price

Of treason death, and as I hop'd to raise

By blood, I fall, so haue I mist my scope;

D [...]lusion is the end of lawlesse hope.

Moritur.

Cherse.

Mesithes stay one moment, art thou gone,

I am not farre behinde, I feele the blood

By slow degrees ebb, from my fainting breast,

I am heart struck, and wounded euen to death,

A Sceane of slaughterthis.—O iust heauens

Still I plighted faith to each of these,

I wi [...]ht that if I fail'd in one, I vow'd

Death would thus strike me, I haue gain'd my wish,

Then you imperiall Fates that intercept

The brittle courses of fraile mortality,

Continue this firme iustice, and enact

A constant law, that all [...]alse meaning hearts

That thinke of oathes as of a puffe of winde,

May as I doe, thus sinke into the graue

[Page] My dying wish: so thriue each periur'd knaue.

M [...]ritur.

Enter Souldiers.

Sould. 1.

The [...]ight ouerblowne, and fiue a clocke,

I wonder at their absence; what are these

Our Generalls murdered, our deere Selymus,

With his three Bassaes, and Achoma [...]es,

Whose bloody hand is guilty of this fact?

Sould. 2.

A trembling shakes me, 'twas some power

That frown'd at our proceedings.

Sould. 3.

Baiazet is new bor [...]e to his Soueraignty.

Sould 4.

Let's take their bodies, beare them hence in pompe

Vnto their greatnesse, and aduise the foe

Of their slaine Generall sterne A [...]homates,

Sound peacefull rumours; we must resubmit

To Baiazet, so heauen hath thought it fit.

Exe [...].

Actus Quinti, Scena Nona.Enter Bajazet and Haman with a Booke and Candle.
Baiaz.
Set downe the Booke and Candle, goe and pr [...]uide
The Potion to preuent my Feauer-fit,
Till when I meane to study: goe make ha [...].
Exit Haman.
Fortune I thanke thee, thou'rt a gracious Whore.
Thy happy anger hath immur'd a Prince
Within the wal [...]s of base security.
Farewell thou swelling sea of Gouernment,
On whose bright christall bosome  [...]l [...]ates along
The grauelled v [...]ssell of proud Maiestie.
Ambition empty all thy bagge of breath,
Send forth thy blast among the quiet waues,
And worke huge tempests to confound the Art
Of the vsurping Pila [...]e Selymu [...]s.
Treason and enuie like to bickering windes,
Shake the vnsetled abrick of his State,
That from my study windowes I may laugh,
To see his broken fortune swallowed vp
In the quick sands of danger, and the sayle
Puft with the calme breath of slattering Chance,
[Page] By furious whirle-windes rended into ragges,
And peece-meale scattred through the Ocean:
But peace my chiding spirit; Come thou man
Of rare instinct, blest Author of a booke
Takes the book [...].
Worthy the studies of a reading God,
Thou do'st present before my wearied eyes,
Tiberius sweating in his policies,
Dull Claudius gaged by dull flattery,
Ner [...] vnbowelling Nobility,
Galba vndone by seruants hardly good,
Otho o're-whelm'd in loue, and drencht in blood,
Vittelli [...]s sleeping in the chayre of State,
Vespatian call'd to gouernment by Fate,
Still as thy Muse doth trauell o're their age,
A Princes care is writ in euery Page.
Thus I vnfold the volume of thy wit,
The chiefest sol [...]ce of my mouing wit,
Caedes eo fuit nobilior, quia filius
He read [...].
Patrem interfecit. Tacit. Hist. lib. 20.
Auaunt thou damn'd wizard, did thy god
Apollo teach thee to diuine my fall?
What hath thy cursed Genius tract my steps
Throught the Meanders of darke Priuacie,
And will he dwell with me in these close shades
To vex my banisht soule, banisht from ioy,
Remoued from the worlds eye? I am accurs'd,
And hated by the Synode of the gods,
A knot of enuious deceites, the day will be
When they shall smart for this indignity.
Enter solemne Musicke, the Ghost of Mahometes, Zemes, Trizham, Mahomet, Achmetes, Caiubus, Asmehemides, with each a sword and burning Tapers, led in by Nemsis, with a sword, they encompasse Bajaze [...] in his bed.
Nem.
Triumph my Plantiffes, Nemesis your Queene
Is Pierc'd quite through with your continuall groanes.
See, see, the prostrate body of a King,
Clad in the weedes of pining discontent,
Lyeth open to your wrath, and dolefull hate:
But I coniure you not to touch his skinne,
[Page] Nor hurt his sacred person, those three Fates
(Those srightfull sisters) told me they decree
For Baiazet another destinie:
But vex his soule with your deluding blowes,
And let him dreame of direfull anguishments,
Each in the proper order of his Fate,
Vent the comprest con [...]usion of his hate.
One after another strike at Bajazet with their swords, Ne­mesis puts by their blowes. Exeunt in a solemne dance.
Nemes.
Awake, awake thou tortured Emperour,
Looke with the eye of fury on the heauens,
Threaten a downefall to this mortall stage,
And let it cracke with thee, thy life is runne
To the last Scene, thy Tragick part is done.
Exit.
Bajazet awakes in fury, ariseth.
You meager deuils, and infernall hagges,
Where are you? Ha? what vanisht? am I found?
Did I not feele them teare and rack my flesh,
And foreamble it amongst them? heauen and earth
I am deluded, what thin ayrie shapes
Durst fright my soule, I'le hunt about the world,
Search the remotest angles of the earth,
Till l'ue found out the climate hold sthese fiends,
Or build a bridge by Geometrick skill,
Whom lineall extension shall reach forth
To the declining borders of the skie,
On which I'le lea [...]e mortality along,
And breake a passage through those brazen walls,
From whence Ioue triumphs o're this lower world:
Then hauing got beyond the vtmost sphere,
Besiege the concaue of this vniuerse:
And hunger-starue the gods till they confesse
What furies did my sleeping soule oppresse.
Ha? did it lighten? or what  [...]imble flame
Ha's crept into my blood? me thinkes it steales
Through my distemper'd ioynts, as if it fear'd
To vrge m [...] to i [...]n [...]atience.
Hamon, accursed Hamon stan [...] my soule
Aboue the power of these inu [...]nom'd drugges:
[Page] Am I in hell aliue? the Stygian flames
Could not produce an heat so violent
As burnes within my body: Oh I feele
My heart drop into cindars, I am dust;
Ioue for thine own [...] sake Ioue, confine my soule
Within these walls of earth: for in the skie
VVhen I am there, none shall be Ioue but I.
Still, still I boyle, and the continued flames
Are aggrauated: He is done, subdu'd
(By the base Art of a damn'd Emperick)
VVhose empty name sent terrour through the world:
Is not the heauen bespangl'd all with starres,
And blazing Meteors, whose bright glimmering flames
Like ceremoniall Tapers should adorne
My solemne Hearse? what doth the golden Sunne
Ride with it's wonted motion? are the waues
Bridled within their narrow Continent
No deluge? not an earthquake? Shall a Prince,
An Emperour, a Batazet decease
And make no breach in nature? fright the world
With no prodigeous birth? Are you asleepe
You thundring beggards that so awe the world?
I'le hasten to reuenge this strong neglect
Of my deceasing spirits, mount my soule,
Brush off this cloddy heauy element:
So Ioue I come excorporate, diuine,
Immortall as thy selfe, I must contest
With thee proud god, with thee to arme my minde,
Onely my soule ascends earth stayes behinde.
Moritur.
Enter the Ghosts as before him, and beare him out.

Actus Quinti, Scena Decima.Enter Solyman as newly Crowned. Souldiers, Attendants, warlike Musick.
Solym.
Is Selym [...]s deceased?
Sould.
He is my Lord.
Solym.
Who Solymus? what Fate durst be so bold:
[Page] Oh, I could act an holy frenzy now
Selymus deceas'd? What did not Atlas tremble
At such a burden? Can he support the Orbe
That holds vp Selymus? is not yet the Pole
Crackt with his weight? doe not the heauens preparr
His funerall Exequies? Ioue I inuol [...]e thee now,
Command the heauens that the prone Chandler shops
Command that idle Phaebus, that he exhale
Matter from earth to make thy  [...]unerall Tapers:
Or I'le make Torches of the vniuerse
In stead of Comets; flaming Countries, Cities
Shall be thy cer [...]moniall Tapers:
Or if not this; I'le ransack Christendome,
Kings Daughters I'le embowell for a Sacrifice,
Their fat with vestall fire will I refine,
And offer virg [...]s ware vnto thy shrine.
Start back bright Phaebus, let thy firie Steedes
Keepe Holiday for Selymus. tell thy host
Proud Neptune now expects anothers deluge,
That all the earth may weepe for Selymus.
What doe you smile you Heauens? are ye conscious,
And guilty of this execrable treason?
What dare the fields to laugh when I doe mourne?
I'le dye your motly colour'd weedes in scarlet,
And cloath the world in black destruction.
Nemesis, I'le naile thee to my greedy sword,
Destruction shall serue vnder me a Prentiship.
Courage braue Sel [...]xie, with thy Princely boat
Through Styx euen all mortality shall float;
I'le leauie Souldiers through the Vniuerse,
With which thou shalt beguirt Elizeum;
Thus barren Nature shall repent thy fall,
Grieuing that shee did not the euent fore-stall;
Death I will hate thee: the world shall weare
Thy sable liuerie embroydered with feare:
Thy Trophies euery where the world shall gaze on:
Thy Armes in sable and in gules I blazon.
Sould.
My Lord this Crowne ent [...]eates you leaue off these
Ground-creeping meditations, and to thinke
[Page] Of Majestie, wherefore we inuest your browe
With this rich robe of glory, and doe vowe
To it our due alleageance: thus you shall
Mount vp aloft aboue your Fathers fall.
Solym.
Thus our deare Father, those bright robes of state,
For which so lately thou hast sweat in blood,
Thou wearest vpon my shoulders in thy stead:
Thus are we crown'd, and thus our labours bee,
Made gainefull vnto thine, though not to thee.
Sould.
Liue then, and raigne most mighty Emperour,
Whilst that our care and watchfull prou [...]dence,
Shall fence thy safety, and keepe Sentinell
Ouer thy sacred person, were black treasons,
Hatcht in the Center of the darkest earth,
The massie element should be prospectiue
For all our piercing eyes; should Pluto send
His black Apparator to summon thee
To appeare before him, by that Mahomet
We would confront him boldly, and excuse
Thy absence vnto Pluto, by our presence;
Death we'le disarme thee, if thou dar'starrest
Thy fury on our Solyman, or we'le bale his person
With our imprisonment.
By our death thou shalt liue; our Citie walls
May with warlike ruine be battered,
But our alleageance, that European Bull,
Shall neuer push from vs, with his golden hornes;
Nor shall his guilded showers quench our loues:
No golden Enginer shall vndermine
The Castles of our faith, nor blow them vp
VVith blasts of hop'd preferment, were thy walls▪
But paper, were they made of brittle glasse,
Our faiths should make them marble, and as firme
As Admant: not walls, but subiects loue,
Doe to a Prince the strongest Castle proue.
Behold great Prince alleageance mixt with loue
Lock'd in our breasts: thou art the liuing key
To shut, and to vnlock them at thy pleasure:
No golden pick-lock shall e're s [...]rue it selfe
[Page] Into these faithfull locks, whose onely springs
Can be no other then our owne heart strings,
Our greedy swords which erst imbru'd in blood,
Did seeme to blush at their owne Masters acts,
And vpbraid vs with our bloody facts
Though peace hath now cond [...]mn'd to pleasing rust,
Yet at thy beck we'le sheath them in the breast
Of daring Christians, thus in warre we'le fight
For thee, whil'st thou dost striue for victory:
Here to describe such Princely vertues, which
Should more adorne thy Crowne then Orient pearles,
Were but to shew a glasse, and to commend
Thy selfe vnto thy selfe. Be gracious,
Magnificent, couragious, or milde,
Or more compendiously, be more thy selfe,
Raigne then, and Mahomet grant that thou may'st passe
Nestor in yeares, as much as now thou dost
In wisedome and in valour; Herauld proclaime
To the world his title, and let swift-winged Fame
Second thy trumpet.
Her.
Long liue Solymon, &c.
Solym.
We thanke you friendly Actors of our blisse,
Our patience hath at length tired out the gods;
Our Empire hath beene rackt enough with treasons,
And black seditions, as if no Christians
Were left to conquer, wee yeeld our Turkish blades
Against our selues, imbowelling the State
With bloudy discord, by our strength we fall
A scorne to Christians, with our hands we shed
That bloud which might haue conqu [...]red Christendome;
Thus while we hate our selues we loue our enemies,
And heale them with our sores, whil'st we lye weltring
 [...]n bloudy peace: the dy of the publique safety
Hath beene already cast by th'hand of warre,
Treasons haue made a blot, which may prouoke
The enemie to enter, and beare our men
To darke Auernus, Enuie might haue blusht,
Though alwayes pale at all our projects: now
This bloudy deluge is quite past, returne
Sweet Peace with th'Oliue branch, enough of warres,
[Page] 'Tis thou must powre oyle into our scarres.
Fly hence Hereditary hate, discords dead,
Let not succeeding omnities and hatred liue.
Let none presume to couer p [...]iuate sores
With publique ruines, nor let black discord
Make an Anatomie of our too leane
Empire, let it w [...] sat againe; when peace
Hath knit her knots, then shall the wanton sounds
Of Bells giue place to thundring Bo [...]bardes,
And blood wash out the smoothing oyle of Peace,
Euery Souldier I'le ordaine a Priest
To ring a fatall knell to Christians,
And euery minute vnto earths wide wombe,
Shall sacrifice a Chrisitians Hecatombe:
Then shall we make a league with Aeolus,
The windes shall striue to further our proceedings,
Then will we loade the Seas, and fetter Neptune
With chaines that hold our Anchors; he shall quake
Lest he to Pa [...] resigne his watry Empire,
And three fork'd-mace vnto my awfull Scepter;
The Whales and Dolphins shall amazed stand,
That they shall yeeld their place to Beares and Lyon [...],
Sylla shall howle for feare when she shall see
The Sea become a Forrest, and her selfe
Mountanie, then let Syrens quake
For feare of Satyres, then let the Christians thinke,
Not that our Nauie, but the Country it selfe
Is come to moue them from the growing earth;
Comets, fiery swords shall be my Heraulds,
Threatning to th'world suddaine combustion:
Let our armes be steely bowes, our arrowes
Thunderbolts, and in stead of warlike Drumme [...],
Thunder shall proclaime black destruction;
Vulcan I'le tax thee, exercise thy Forge,
Prepare to me for all the world a scourge,
The Fates to me their powers shall resig [...]e,
Which with this hand will rend the strongest twine
Of humane breath, first for the I'le of Rhodes
Destruction there shall keepe his mo [...]rnf [...]ll Stage:
[Page] Th'inhabitants shall act a bloody Tragedy,
And personate themselues; Then for Nayos Ile
Death there shall keepe her Court, then I will make
Vienna all a Shambles; yea gaping Famine
Euer deuouring, alwayes wanting foode,
Shall gnaw their bowels, and shall leane them nothing
Besides themselues to feede on; their dead corpes
Shall be entombed in their neighbours bellies.
There euery one shall be a li [...]ing Sepulcher,
An vnhallowed Churchyard; famine shall feede it selfe,
Then shall they enuie beasts, and wish to be
Our Iades, our Mules, Matrons shall striue to bring
Into the hatefull light abortiue Brats;
The Infants shall returne, and the leane wombe
Shall be vnto the Babes a suddaine tombe.
Then shall they hoard carcasses, and striue
Onely to be rich in Funerals; I'de reioyce
To see them stand like Screech-Owles, gaping when
Their Parents should expire, and bequeath
To hell their wretched soules, to them their death.
All.
Long liue great Solymon our noble Emperour.
Soly.
All this, and more then this I'le doe, when peace
Hath glutted our new greedy appetites,
VVhen it hath fill'd the veines of the Empire full
With vigour, then lest too much blood should cause
Armies of vices, not of men to kill vs,
And strength breed weaknesse in our too great Empire,
Then, then, and onely then we shall thinke good,
With warre to let the body politick blood,
Meane time we'le thinke on our Fathers Funerall:
Oh, I could be an holy Epicure,
In teares, and pleasing sighes, Oh I could now
Refresh my selfe with sorrow, I could emblame
Thy corpes with holy groanes from putrifaction:
Oh, I could powder vp thy thirsty corpes
With brinish teares, and wipe them off with kisses,
And that I might more freely speake my griefe,
These eyes should be still silent Orators,
Till blindnesse shut them vp were I a woman:
[Page] But I am Solyman, Emperour, the Turke,
Blood shall be my teares, I'le thinke thee slaine
Amongst the Christians, and translate my griefe
To fury, euery member of my body
Shall execute the office of a weeping sonne.
Thus in my teares an Argus will I bee,
My head, heart, hands, and all shall weepe  [...] or thee.
Oh that the cruell Fates were halfe so milde
As to driue streames of teares from forth the springs,
Great sorrowes haue no leasure to complaine,
Least ills vent forth, great griefes within remaine:
See Selymus, sometimes a fore-string instrument
Feeding his Souldiers w [...]th sweet Harmony,
Doth now tune nought to vs but Lacrymy,
Could n' Aesculapius be found to tune
His disagreeing elements treasons crackt
The string which else an headach would vntune.
Euery disease is a ragged fort
To weare these strings asunder, treason did lend
Death, which both age, and sicknesse did intend;
What then remaines, but that his Funerall rites
With our Grandfather, Vncles be solemnized,
That so black discord may be with them buried:
But noble Selymus what Tombe shall I prepare
For thy memoriall? shall a heauy stone
Presse thy innocent ashes? Shall I confine
Thy wandring ghost in some high marble prison?
Or shall I hither fetch the flying I  [...]mbe
Of proud Mausolus the rich Carian King?
No; Religion shall cloake no such iniurie,
No hired Rhethorick shall adorne thy coarse,
No pratling stone shall trumpet forth thy praise,
The world's thy tombe, thy Epitaph I'le ca [...]ue
In Funerals, destruction is the booke
In which we'le write thy annalls, blood's the Inke,
Our sword the Pen; A Tragedy I intend,
Which with a Plangity, no Plaudity shall end.
FINIS.
[Page]

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