English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Boy_. Doe all theis, father, wayt on you?
_Leid_. Yes, Boy.
_Boy_. Indeed I doe not like their Countenaunces;
They looke as if they meant you litle good.
Pray you, put them away.
_Leid_. Alas, poore inocent,
It is for thee I suffer; for my self
I have set up my rest.
_Or_. Now, Mounseiur _Leidenberch_,
We send not for you, though your fault deserve it,
To load you with reproofe, but to advise you
To make use of the way we have found out
To save your life and honour. You already,
In free confession of your fault, have made
A part of satisfaction; goe on in it,
And you shall find a faire discovery
Of youre fowle purposes and th'agents in 'em
Will wyn more favour from theyr lordships to you
Then any obstinate deniall can doe.
_Leid_. All that I know I will deliver to you,
And beyond that your Excellence nor their Lordships
Will not, I hope, perswade me.
_Vand_. In the meane time
You are a prisoner.
_Boy_. Who? my father?
_Bred_. Yes, Boy.
_Boy_. Then I will be a prisoner, too. For heaven sake
Let me goe with him, for theis naughtie men
Will nere wayt on him well. I am usd to undresse him
When he's to goe to bed, and then read to him
Untill he be a sleepe, and then pray by him:
I will not leave him.
_Bred_. Why, thou shalt not, Boy.
Goe with thy father.
_Boy_. You are a good Lord,
Indeed I love you for't and will pray for you.
Come, father; now I must goe too, I care not.
While I am with you, you shall have no hurt,
Ile be your warrant.
_Leid_. I have lost myself,
But something I shall doe.
[_Exeunt Leid., Boy, Guard_.
_Or_. 'Tis time to rise;
And, if your Lordshipps please, we will defer
Our other busines to an other sitting.
_Vand_. In the meane time wee'll use all honest meanes
To sound the depth of this Confederacie,
In which Heaven's hand direct us and assist us.
[_Exeunt_.
SCAENA 3.
_Enter 2 Captaines_.[172]
1 _Cap_. This is a strange cutting time.
2 _Cap_. Let 'em cutt deep enough,
They will doe no great cure els. I wonder strangely
They carry such a gentle hand on _Leidenberch_
That any frends come to him.
1 _Cap_. 'Has confest much,
Beleeve it, and so far they feare him not,
They would be els more circumspect.
2 _Cap_. Pray ye, tell me,
Is there no further newes of those are fledd,--
I meane those fellow Instruments?
1 _Cap_. None as yet,--
At least divulgd abroad. But certenly
The wise States are not idle, neither at this time
Do's it concerne their safeties. We shall heare shortly
More of theis monsters.
2 _Cap_. Let's to dynner, Sir;
There we shall heare more newes.
1 _Cap_. Ile beare ye companie.
[_Exeunt_.
SCAENA 4.
_Enter Barnavelt & Provost_.
_Bar_. And how doth he take his imprisonment, _Mr. Provost_?
_Pro_. A litle discontent, and't please your Lordship,
And sad as men confind.
_Bar_. He does not talke much?
_Pro_. Litle or nothing, Sir.
_Bar_. Nor wrighte?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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