English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Gyr_. What makes _Don John_ here? Oh, now I remember:
You come against the _Englishman_.
_Jo_. Yes, my Lord.
_Enter his Lady and a Gentlewoman above_.
_Mac_. Give me the Note there of the _English_ advertisements.
[_They all conferre_.
_Lady_. Here may we see & heare: poore _Englishman_!
Sadnes! I cast on thee a noble pitty,
A pitty mixt with sorrow that my Husband
Has drawne him to this misery, to whom
The soldier gave life being at his mercy.
_Gent_. Twas bravely done, no doubt he'le speed the better
For his mind.
_Lady_. I visited him in prison,
And did with much adoe win from _Don John_
This journey, for I vowd to see th'event
How they will deale with him.
_Gent_. I hope most fairely.
_Enter 2 drums, Teniente, divers musketts, Fernando
with Pike (without band, an Iron about his necke, 2
Chaines manackling his wrists, a great chaine at his
heeles); Jaylour, 3 or 4 halberts. A Barre sett out_.
_Clarke_. Silence!
_Mac_. You see how much our _Spanish_ soldiers love you
To give this brave attendance; though your Nation
Fought us & came to hunt us to our deathes.
_Pike_. My Lords, this, which in shew is brave attendance
And love to me, is the worldes posture right,
Where one man's falling downe setts up another.
My sorrowes are their triumphes; so in kings courts,
When officers are thrust out of their roomes,
Others leape laughing in while they doe mourne.
I am at your mercy.
_Mac_. Sirra _Englishman_,
Know you that weapon?--reach it him.
_Pike_. Yes, it
Was once mine; and drawes teares from me to think
How 'twas forced from me.
_Mac_. How many _Spanyards_
Killd you with that sword?
_Pike_. Had I killd one
This Barre had nere bene guilty of my pleading
Before such Princely Judges: there stands the man.
_Gyr_. _Don John_, sett he on you or you on him?
_Jo_. He upon me first.
_Pike_. Let me then be torne
Into a thousand pieces.
_Lady_. My Husband speaks untruth.
_Alq_. Sett he on you first? more coward you to suffer an enemy be
aforehand.
_Pike_. Indeed in _England_ my countrymen are good at bidding stand; but
I was not now upon a robbery but a defence, sett round with a thousand
dangers. He sett upon me; I had him at my feete, sav'd him, and for my
labour was after basely hurt by him.
_Fer_. This was examined by me, my Lords;
And _Don John_, thus accusd, was much ashamd
Of his unmanly dealing.
_Gyr_. He may be now soe.
_Lady_. I blush for him my selfe.
_Alq_. Disgrace to _Spanyards_!
_Mac_. Sirra, you _English_, what was the ship you came in?
_Pike_. The _Convertine_.
_Mac_. What Ordnance did she carry?
_Pike_. 40 peeces.
_Gyr_. No, sir, but 38; see here, my Lord.
_Alq_. Right, no more then 38.
_Mac_. Your fort at _Plymouth_ strong?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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