PUR. What, will you resist me then? well, the council, fellow, shall know of your insolency. [Exit. AND. Tell them what thou wilt, and eat that I can best spare from my back parts, and get you gone with a vengeance.

Enter ATEUKIN.*
*

ATEU. Andrew.

AND. Sir.

ATEU. Where be my writings I put in my pocket last night?

AND. Which, sir? your annotations upón Machiavel?

ATEU. No, sir; the letters patents for East Spring. AND. Why, sir, you talk wonders to me, if you ask that question.

ATEU. Yea, sir, and will work wonders too with t you, unless you find them out: villain, search me them out, and bring them me, or thou art but dead.

AND. A terrible word in the latter end of a sessions. Master, were you in your right wits yesternight? ATEU. Doest thou doubt it?

AND. Ay, and why not, sir? for the greatest clerks are not the wisest, and a fool may dance in a hood, as well as a wise man in a bare frock: besides, such as give themselves to Plulantia, as you do, master, are so cholerick of complexion that that which they burn in fire over night, they seek for with fury the next morning. Ah, I take care of your worship! this commonweal should have a great loss of so good a member as you are.

ATEU. Thou flatterest me.

AND. Is it flattery in me, sir, to speak you fair? what is it then in you to dally with the king? ATEU. Are you prating, knave? I will teach you

ATEUKIN] The 4to. "GNATO." See note ‡ p. 105, and + p. 108. f with] The 4to. "which."

give] The 4to. "

gives."

better nurture. Is this the care you have of my wardrobe, of my accounts, and matters of trust? AND. Why, alas, sir, in times past your garments have been so well inhabited, as your tenants would give no place to a moth to mangle them; but since you are grown greater, and your garments more fine and gay, if your garments are not fit for hospitality, blame your pride and commend my cleanliness: as for your writings, I am not for them, nor they for

me.

ATEU. Villain, go, fly, find them out: if thou losest them, thou losest my credit.

AND. Alas, sir, can I lose that you never had? ATEU. Say you so? then hold, feel you that you never felt.

Enter JAQUES.

JAQ. O monsieur, ayez patience; pardon your pauvre valet me be at your commandment.

ATEU. Signior Jaques, well met; you shall command me. Sirrah, go cause my writings be proclaimed in the market place; promise a great reward to them that find them; look where I supped, and every where.

*

AND. I will, sir. Now are two knaves well met, and three well parted: if you conceive mine enigma, gentlemen, what shall I be then? faith, a plain harp shilling.+

find] The 4to. "findes."

[Exit.

+harp shilling] So called from having a harp on it, was coined for the use of Ireland, and was not worth more than nine-pence English money:

"Lyke to an other Orpheus can she play

Vpon her treble Harpe, whose siluer sound
Inchaunts the eare, and steales the hart away:
Nor hardly can deceit therein be found.
Although such musique some a Shilling cost,
Yet is it worth but Nine-pence at the most."

Barnfield's Encomion of the Lady Pecunia, 1598, Sig. C 2.

ATEU. Sieur Jaques, this our happy meeting hinders*
Your friends and me of care and grievous toil,
For I that look into deserts of men,

And see among the soldiers in this court
A noble forward mind, and judge thereof,
Cannot but seek the means to raise them up
Who merit credit in the commonweal.

To this intent, friend Jaques, I have found
A means to make you great and well esteem'd
Both with the king and with the best in court;
For I espy in you a valiant mind,

Which makes me love, admire, and honour you.
To this intent, if so your trust, and faith,
Your secrecy be equal with your force,

I will impart a service to thyself,
Which if thou dost effect, the king, myself,
And what or he, and I with him, can work,
Shall be employ'd in what thou wilt desire.

JAQ. Me sweara by my ten bones, my signior, to be loyal to your lordship's intents, affairs: yea, my monsignieur que non ferai-je pour your pleasure? + By my sword, me be no baby, lord. I

ATEU. Then hoping on thy truth, I prithee see How kind Ateukin is to forward thee.§ Hold, take this earnest-penny of my love, And mark my words; the king, by me, requires No slender service, Jaques, at thy hands. Thou must by privy practice make away The queen, fair Dorothea, as she sleeps, Or how thou wilt, so she be done to death: Thou shalt not want promotion here in court.

JAQ. Stabba the woman! par ma foi, monsignieur, me thrusta my weapon into her belly, so me may be

*hinders] The 4to. " hides."

yea, my monsignieur, que non ferai-je pour your pleasure] The 4to."ye my monsignieur, qui non fera ic pour. Yea pleasure?" lord] The 4to. "lords." S thee] The 4to. "me."

guard par le roy. Me de your service: but me no be hanged pour my labour?

ATEU. Thou shalt have warrant, Jaques, from the king:

None shall outface, gainsay, and wrong my friend.
Do not I love thee, Jaques? fear not then:

I tell thee, whoso toucheth thee in ought,
Shall injure me: I love, I tender thee:
Thou art a subject fit to serve his Grace.
Jaques, I had a written warrant once,
But that by great misfortune late is lost.
Come, wend we to St. Andrews, where his Grace
Is now in progress, where he shall assure
Thy safety, and confirm thee to the act.
JAQ. We will attend your nobleness.

[Exeunt.

Enter DOROTHEA the Queen, SIR BARTRAM, NANO, LORD ROSS, LADIES, ATTENDANTS.

DOR. Thy credit, Bartram, in the Scottish court,
Thy reverend years, the strictness of thy vows,
All these are means sufficient to persuade;
But love, the faithful link of loyal hearts,
That hath possession of my constant mind,
Exiles all dread, subdueth vain suspect.

Methinks no craft should harbour in that breast,
Where majesty and virtue are
* install'd :

Methinks+ my beauty should not cause my death.
SIR BAR. How gladly, sovereign princess, would
And bind my shame to save your royal life! [I err,
'Tis princely in yourself to think the best,

To hope his Grace is guiltless of this crime :
But if in due prevention you default,

How blind are you that were forewarn'd before!
DOR. Suspicion without cause deserveth blame.

SIR BAR. Who see,* and shun not, harms, deserve Behold the tenor of this traitorous plot. [the same.

DOR. What should I read? perhaps he wrote it not. SIR BAR. Here is his warrant, under seal and sign, To Jaques, born in France, to murder you.

DOR. Ah careless king, would God this were not thine!

What, though I read? ah, should I think it true? Ross. The hand and seal confirm+ the deed is his. DOR. What know I though, if now he thinketh this?

NANO. Madam, Lucretius saith that to repent Is childish, wisdom to prevent.

DOR. What tho?‡

[you, NANO. Then cease your tears that have dismay'd And cross the foe before he have betray'd you. SIR BAR. What need these§ long suggestions in this cause,

When every circumstance confirmeth truth?
First, let the hidden mercy from above

Confirm your Grace, since by a wondrous means
The practice of your dangers came to light:
Next, let the tokens of approved truth

Govern and stay your thoughts too much seduc'd,
And mark the sooth and listen the intent.
Your Highness knows, and these my noble lords
Can witness this, that whilst your husband's sire
In happy peace possess'd the Scottish crown,
I was his sworn attendant here in court;

In dangerous fight I never fail'd my lord,

And since his death, and this your husband's reign,

No labour, duty, have I left undone,

To testify my zeal unto the crown.

豪 see] The 4to. "sees."

+ confirm] The 4to. " confirms."

tho] See note *

p. 101.

Sneed these] The 4to. "needes this."