Enter MUSGROVE and CUDDY, and Master My sovereign! long and happy be his days! King James at Meddellom-castle gave me this, Edw. Godamercy, Musgrove, for this friendly And for thou feld'st a king with this same weapon, am poor. Edw. 38 To mend thy living, take thou Meddellom-castle, The hold of both; and if thou want living, complain, this, Grime? Grime. Marry, my lord, I think this boy hath Edw. Now, George, it rests I gratify thy worth; Geo. What will your majesty do? Geo. I beseech your grace, grant me one thing. Geo. Then let me live and die a yeoman still: James. I beseech your grace dispatch with me, 38 To mend thy living, take thou Meddellom-castle.-Mr Grose, who has given two views of this Castle, and a very accurate history of the several changes of its owners, in his Antiquities of England and Wales, vol. iv. supposes, that this play hath little or no foundation in history." The king," says he, "here is simply named Edward, without any other distinction; but as the Scots King is called James, and mention is made of Edward's son, it can only be Edward the Fourth, he being the first of that name contemporary with a James, and the last that had issue. "Having thus ascertained the king, the next step is to see, whether the other circumstances accord with the events of that reign; but in these there is very little similarity; for although there was a war with the Scots, no decisive battle was fought near Middleham, neither was the King of Scotland taken prisoner. It is true, there was an insurrection in Yorkshire towards the latter end of this reign, on acCount of a contribution demanded for the maintenance of an hospital at York; but this was terminated by the defeat of the rebels at Banbury. I will not object to the anachronism of introducing here Robin Hood, who lived in the reign of Richard the First. The introduction of imaginary characters was a liberty then frequently taken in old historical Plays, in order to divert the audience, and enliven the representation-a compliment to the upper galleries of those times. It may also be objected, that the Castle of Middleham was, about that period, the property of Richard, Duke of Gloucester. To this it may be answered, That a man of the age old Musgrove is here described to be, would not, in all probabi lity, hold it above a year or two, after which it might be granted to Richard.'. 3 M VOL. I. And set down my ransom: Put in pledge for these things to your grace, Edw. George a Greene, set down the king of And so return. King James, are you contes Scots James. I am content, and like your majesty Edw. I crave no more. Now George a Gree Those towns which he hath burnt upon the bor- And for the ancient custom of Vail staff, ders; Give a small pension to the fatherless, Keep it still, claim privilege from me. Whose fathers he caused murthered in those wars; Say, English Edward vail'd his staff to you. (Exc EDITION. A pleasant conceyted Comedie of George a Greene the Pinner of Wakefield. As it sundry times acted by the Servants of the Right Honourable the Earl of Sussex. Imprinted at L don, by Simon Stafford, for Cuthbert Burby; and are to be sold at his Shop neare the Royal I change, 1599, 4to. From Heywood's" Apology for Actors," it appears, that Thomas Kyd was the author of the "Spa tish Tragedy, or Hieronimo is Mad again." But whether he likewise wrote this " First Part of Jeonimo" does not appear. This "First Part of Jeronimo" is so scarce, that many have doubted whether it ever existed; and Mr Coxeter and the author of the "Playhouse Dictionary" were of opinion, that what is called the Spanish Tragedy, or Hieronimo is Mad again," was only the old play altered and new named.— Ben Jonson has a passage in the induction to" Cynthia's Revels," 1600, that seems to favour that opi ion: "Another swears down all that sit about him, that the old Hieronimo, as it was first acted, vas the only best and judiciously pen'd play of Europe." They were, however, two distinct plays, as appears from this copy of the First Part, which is printed from one in the valuable collection of David Garrick, Esq. From another passage in the induction to" Cynthia's Revels," acted in 1600, it may be conjectured, that "Jeronimo" first appeared on the stage about the year 1588. "They say (says one of the children of the Queen's Chapel) the ghosts of some three or four plays, departed a dozen years since, have been seen walking on your stage here." Sound a Signet, and pass over the Stage. Enter | That done, enter all again Marshal of Spain, by all the dues Jer. My knee sings thanks unto your highness' Come hither, boy Horatio; fold thy joints; Hor. O, my leege, I have a heart thrice stronger than my years, And that shall answer gratefully for me. Let not my youthful blush impare my valour : If ever you have foes, or red field scars, Spain. Frolick, Jeronimo! thou art now con- I'll empty all my veins to serve your wars; firmed I'll bleed for you; and more, what speech affords, Sound a signet-This word, which is variously spelt, as senet, cynet, sennet, sinet, signate, synnet, signet, &c. I believe to be no more than a corruption of sonata, Ital. See a note on Julius Cæsar, Vol. VIII. p. 9. and another on King Henry VIII. Vol. VII. p. 236. S. 2 Lorenzo puts on his spurs.-This ceremony is still retained in the creation of a Knight of the Bath, and is generally performed by some person of eminence. See Ansti's Historical Essay upon the Knighthood of the Bath, 4to, 1725. Lord Herbert of Cherbury's Life, p. 54. bute returned? Emb. Tribute in words, my leege, but not in Spain. Ha! dare he still procrastinate with Not tribute paid! not three years paid! But his slack homage, that we most repine. Spain. Marshal, our kingdom calls thee father; Therefore speak free. Thy counsel I'll embrace, as I do thee. Jer. I thank your highness. Then, my gracious lecge, I hold it meet, by way of embassage, Here must be kind words, which doth oft besiege Med. Only, with pardon, mighty sovereign, Rog. Oh, no; not me, my lords, I am war's champion, and my fees are swords. Pray, king, pray, peers, let it be Don Andrea; He's a worthy limb, Loves wars and soldiers, therefore I love him. Jer. And I love him and thee, valiant Roger Noble spirits, gallant bloods; You are no wise, insinuating lords, You ha' no tricks, you ha' none of all their sleight And. My approved leege. Spain. We make thee our lord high embassador I still discharge the weight of your command Let them keep coin, pay tribute with their blood [Exeunt omnes, prater LORENZ When villains sit not in the highest state! Severe authority has dashed with justice; Ambition's plumes, that flourished in our court, Aud policy and pride walk like two exiles, Giving attendance, that were once attended; And we rejected, that were once high honoured. If friendly phrases, bonied speech, bewitching ac-I hate Andrea; 'cause he aims at honour, when cent, Well-tuned melody, and all sweet gifts Would shake the king's high court three handfuls down. My purest thoughts work in a pitchy vale, bold: Him with a golden bait will I allure, Enter HORATIO at one door, ANDREA at Hor. Whither in such haste, my second self? And. I'faith, my dear bosom, to take solemn leave Of a most weeping creature. Hor. That's a woman. Enter BELLIMPERIA, And. That's Bellimperia. Hor. See, see, she meets you here: And what is it to love, and be loved dear! Bel. I have heard of your honour, gentle breast, I do not like it now so well methinks. And. What! not to have honour bestowed on me? Bel. O, yes; but not a wandering honour, dear; I could afford well didst thou stay here. Could honour melt itself into thy veins, And thou the fountain, I could wish it so, If thou would'st remain here with me, and not go. And. 'Tis but to Portugal. Hor. But to demand the tribute, lady. Bel. Tribute! alas, that Spain cannot of peace Forbear a little coin, the Indies being so near. And yet this is not all: I know you are too hot, Too full of spleen for an embassador, And will lean much to honour. And. Push! Bel. Nay, hear me, dear! I know you will be rough And violent; and Portingal hath a tempestuous son, Stampt with the mark of fury, and you too. And. Sweet Bellimperia! Bel. You'll meet like thunder, each imperious Over other's spleen; you have both proud spirits, And both will strive to aspire. When two vexed clouds justle, they strike out fire: And. Respective dear! O, my life's happiness! Bel. But will you, indeed, Andrea ? And. By this. Bel. By this lip-blushing kiss. Hor. O you swear sweetly. Bel. I'll keep your oath for you till you return, Then I'll be sure you shall not be forsworn. Enter PEDRINGANO. And. Ho, Pedringano! And. Are all things aboard? And. Then, Bellimperia, I take leave; Horatio Bel. Farewell, my lord: Be mindful of my love, and of your word. And. 'Tis fixed upon my heart; adieu, soul's friend! Hor. All honour on Andrea's steps attend. Bel. Yet he is in sight, and yet but now he's vanished. [Exit ANDREA. Hor. Nay, lady, if you stoop so much to passion, I'll call him back again. Bel. O, good Horatio, no; it is for honour. Pr'ythee let him go. Hor. Then, madam, be composed, as you were wont, To music and delight; the time being comic, will And, madam, in this circle let your heart move; Enter LORENZO and LAZAROTTO, a discontented Courtier. Lor. Come, my soul's spaniel, my life's jetty substance, What's thy name? Laz. My name's an honest name, a courtier's name: 'Tis Lazarotto. Lor. What, Lazarotto! Laz. Or rather rotting in this lazy age That yields me no employments: I have mischief Within my breast, more than my 3 bulk can hold: I want a midwife to deliver it. Lor. I'll be the he-one then, and rid thee soon 3 Bulk-One of the significations affixed to this word by Skinner, in his Etymologicon, is "Venter, hinc Hisp. Buche, Ventriculus animalis, Belg. Bulcke, Thorax." So, in The Nice Valour, by Beaumont and Fletcher, Vol. X. p. 355, edition 1778: "My maintenance, rascals! my bulk, my exhibition!" |