Bussy D'Ambois:

A
TRAGEDIE:

Not out of confidence that none but wee

Are able to present this tragedie,

Nor out of envie at the grace of late

It did receive, nor yet to derogate

From their deserts, who give out boldly that5

They move with equall feet on the same flat;

Neither for all, nor any of such ends,

We offer it, gracious and noble friends,

To your review; wee, farre from emulation,

And (charitably judge) from imitation,10

With this work entertaine you, a peece knowne,

And still beleev'd, in Court to be our owne.

To quit our claime, doubting our right or merit,

Would argue in us poverty of spirit

Which we must not subscribe to: Field is gone,15

Whose action first did give it name, and one

Who came the neerest to him, is denide

By his gray beard to shew the height and pride

Of D'Ambois youth and braverie; yet to hold

Our title still a foot, and not grow cold20

By giving it o're, a third man with his best

Of care and paines defends our interest;

As Richard he was lik'd, nor doe wee feare,

In personating D'Ambois, hee'le appeare

To faint, or goe lesse, so your free consent,25

As heretofore, give him encouragement.

[Bussy.] Fortune, not Reason, rules the state of things,

Reward goes backwards, Honor on his head,

Who is not poore is monstrous; only Need

Gives forme and worth to every humane seed.

As cedars beaten with continuall stormes,5

So great men flourish; and doe imitate

Unskilfull statuaries, who suppose

(In forming a Colossus) if they make him

Stroddle enough, stroot, and look bigg, and gape,

Their work is goodly: so men meerely great10

In their affected gravity of voice,

Sowrnesse of countenance, manners cruelty,

Authority, wealth, and all the spawne of Fortune,

Think they beare all the Kingdomes worth before them;

Yet differ not from those colossick statues,15

Which, with heroique formes without o're-spread,

Within are nought but morter, flint and lead.

Man is a torch borne in the winde; a dreame

But of a shadow, summ'd with all his substance;

And as great seamen using all their wealth20

And skills in Neptunes deepe invisible pathes,

In tall ships richly built and ribd with brasse,

To put a girdle round about the world,

When they have done it (comming neere their haven)

Are faine to give a warning peece, and call25

A poore staid fisher-man, that never past

His countries sight, to waft and guide them in:

So when we wander furthest through the waves

Of glassie Glory, and the gulfes of State,

Topt with all titles, spreading all our reaches,30

As if each private arme would sphere the earth,

Wee must to vertue for her guide resort,

Or wee shall shipwrack in our safest port. Procumbit.

[Monsieur.] There is no second place in numerous state

That holds more than a cypher: in a King35

All places are contain'd. His words and looks

Are like the flashes and the bolts of Jove;

His deeds inimitable, like the sea

That shuts still as it opes, and leaves no tracts,

Nor prints of president for meane mens facts:40

There's but a thred betwixt me and a crowne;

I would not wish it cut, unlesse by nature;

Yet to prepare me for that possible fortune,

'Tis good to get resolved spirits about mee.

I follow'd D'Ambois to this greene retreat;45

A man of spirit beyond the reach of feare,

Who (discontent with his neglected worth)

Neglects the light, and loves obscure abodes;

But hee is young and haughty, apt to take

Fire at advancement, to beare state, and flourish;50

In his rise therefore shall my bounties shine:

None lothes the world so much, nor loves to scoffe it,

But gold and grace will make him surfet of it.

What, D'Ambois!—

Buss.He, sir.

Mons.Turn'd to earth, alive!

Up man, the sunne shines on thee.

Buss.Let it shine:55

I am no mote to play in't, as great men are.

Mons. Callest thou men great in state, motes in the sunne?

They say so that would have thee freeze in shades,

That (like the grosse Sicilian gurmundist)

Empty their noses in the cates they love,60

That none may eat but they. Do thou but bring

Light to the banquet Fortune sets before thee

And thou wilt loath leane darknesse like thy death.

Who would beleeve thy mettall could let sloth

Rust and consume it? If Themistocles65

Had liv'd obscur'd thus in th'Athenian State,

Xerxes had made both him and it his slaves.

If brave Camillus had lurckt so in Rome,

He had not five times beene Dictator there,

Nor foure times triumpht. If Epaminondas70

(Who liv'd twice twenty yeeres obscur'd in Thebs)

Had liv'd so still, he had beene still unnam'd,

And paid his country nor himselfe their right:

But putting forth his strength he rescu'd both

From imminent ruine; and, like burnisht steele,75

After long use he shin'd; for as the light

Not only serves to shew, but render us

Mutually profitable, so our lives

In acts exemplarie not only winne

Our selves good names, but doe to others give80

Matter for vertuous deeds, by which wee live.

Buss. What would you wish me?

Mons.Leave the troubled streames,

And live where thrivers doe, at the well head.

Buss. At the well head? Alas! what should I doe

With that enchanted glasse? See devils there?85

Or (like a strumpet) learne to set my looks

In an eternall brake, or practise jugling,

To keep my face still fast, my heart still loose;

Or beare (like dames schoolmistresses their riddles)

Two tongues, and be good only for a shift;90

Flatter great lords, to put them still in minde

Why they were made lords; or please humorous ladies

With a good carriage, tell them idle tales,

To make their physick work; spend a man's life

In sights and visitations, that will make95

His eyes as hollow as his mistresse heart:

To doe none good, but those that have no need;

To gaine being forward, though you break for haste

All the commandements ere you break your fast;

But beleeve backwards, make your period100

And creeds last article, "I beleeve in God":

And (hearing villanies preacht) t'unfold their art,

Learne to commit them? Tis a great mans part.

Shall I learne this there?

Mons.No, thou needst not learne;

Thou hast the theorie; now goe there and practise.105

Buss. I, in a thrid-bare suit; when men come there,

They must have high naps, and goe from thence bare:

A man may drowne the parts of ten rich men

In one poore suit; brave barks, and outward glosse

Attract Court loves, be in parts ne're so grosse.110

Mons. Thou shalt have glosse enough, and all things fit

T'enchase in all shew thy long smothered spirit:

Be rul'd by me then. The old Scythians

Painted blinde Fortunes powerfull hands with wings,

To shew her gifts come swift and suddenly,115

Which if her favorite be not swift to take,

He loses them for ever. Then be wise;

Stay but a while here, and I'le send to thee.

Buss. What will he send? some crowns? It is to sow them

Upon my spirit, and make them spring a crowne120

Worth millions of the seed crownes he will send.

Like to disparking noble husbandmen,

Hee'll put his plow into me, plow me up;

But his unsweating thrift is policie,

And learning-hating policie is ignorant125

To fit his seed-land soyl; a smooth plain ground

Will never nourish any politick seed.

I am for honest actions, not for great:

If I may bring up a new fashion,

And rise in Court for vertue, speed his plow!130

The King hath knowne me long as well as hee,

Yet could my fortune never fit the length

Of both their understandings till this houre.

There is a deepe nicke in Times restlesse wheele

For each mans good, when which nicke comes, it strikes;135

As rhetorick yet workes not perswasion,

But only is a meane to make it worke:

So no man riseth by his reall merit,

But when it cries "clincke" in his raisers spirit.

Many will say, that cannot rise at all,140

Mans first houres rise is first step to his fall.

I'le venture that; men that fall low must die,

As well as men cast headlong from the skie.

[Maffe.] Humor of Princes! Is this wretch indu'd

With any merit worth a thousand crownes?145

Will my lord have me be so ill a steward

Of his revenue, to dispose a summe

So great, with so small cause as shewes in him?

I must examine this. Is your name D'Ambois?

Buss. Sir?

Maff. Is your name D'Ambois?

Buss. Who have we here?150

Serve you the Monsieur?

Maff. How?

Buss. Serve you the Monsieur?

Maff. Sir, y'are very hot. I doe serve the Monsieur;

But in such place as gives me the command

Of all his other servants: and because

His Graces pleasure is to give your good155

His passe through my command, me thinks you might

Use me with more respect.

Buss. Crie you mercy!

Now you have opened my dull eies, I see you,

And would be glad to see the good you speake of:

What might I call your name?

Maff. Monsieur Maffe.160

Buss. Monsieur Maffe? Then, good Monsieur Maffe,

Pray let me know you better.

Maff. Pray doe so,

That you may use me better. For your selfe,

By your no better outside, I would judge you

To be some poet. Have you given my lord165

Some pamphlet?

Buss. Pamphlet!

Maff. Pamphlet, sir, I say.

Buss. Did your great masters goodnesse leave the good,

That is to passe your charge to my poore use,

To your discretion?

Maff. Though he did not, sir,

I hope 'tis no rude office to aske reason170

How that his Grace gives me in charge, goes from me?

Buss. That's very perfect, sir.

Maff. Why, very good, sir;

I pray, then, give me leave. If for no pamphlet,

May I not know what other merit in you

Makes his compunction willing to relieve you?175

Buss. No merit in the world, sir.

Maff. That is strange.

Y'are a poore souldier, are you?

Buss. That I am, sir.

Maff. And have commanded?

Buss. I, and gone without, sir.

Maff. I see the man: a hundred crownes will make him

Swagger, and drinke healths to his Graces bountie,180

And sweare he could not be more bountifull;

So there's nine hundred crounes sav'd. Here, tall souldier,

His Grace hath sent you a whole hundred crownes.

Buss. A hundred, sir! Nay, doe his Highnesse right;

I know his hand is larger, and perhaps185

I may deserve more than my outside shewes.

I am a poet as I am a souldier,

And I can poetise; and (being well encourag'd)

May sing his fame for giving; yours for delivering

(Like a most faithfull steward) what he gives.190

Maff. What shall your subject be?

Buss. I care not much

If to his bounteous Grace I sing the praise

Of faire great noses, and to you of long ones.

What qualities have you, sir, (beside your chaine

And velvet jacket)? Can your Worship dance?195

Maff. A pleasant fellow, faith; it seemes my lord

Will have him for his jester; and, berlady,

Such men are now no fooles; 'tis a knights place.

If I (to save his Grace some crounes) should urge him

T'abate his bountie, I should not be heard;200

I would to heaven I were an errant asse,

For then I should be sure to have the eares

Of these great men, where now their jesters have them.

Tis good to please him, yet Ile take no notice

Of his preferment, but in policie205

Will still be grave and serious, lest he thinke

I feare his woodden dagger. Here, Sir Ambo!

Buss. How, Ambo, Sir?

Maff. I, is not your name Ambo?

Buss. You call'd me lately D'Amboys; has your Worship

So short a head?

Maff. I cry thee mercy, D'Amboys.210

A thousand crownes I bring you from my lord;

If you be thriftie, and play the good husband, you may make

This a good standing living; 'tis a bountie,

His Highnesse might perhaps have bestow'd better.

Buss. Goe, y'are a rascall; hence, away, you rogue! [Strikes him.]215

Maff. What meane you, sir?

Buss. Hence! prate no more!

Or, by thy villans bloud, thou prat'st thy last!

A barbarous groome grudge at his masters bountie!

But since I know he would as much abhorre

His hinde should argue what he gives his friend,220

Take that, Sir, for your aptnesse to dispute. Exit.

Maff. These crownes are set in bloud; bloud be their fruit! Exit.

Guise. I like not their Court-fashion; it is too crestfalne10

In all observance, making demi-gods

Of their great nobles; and of their old Queene

An ever-yong and most immortall goddesse.

Montsurry. No question shee's the rarest Queene in Europe.

Guis. But what's that to her immortality?15

Henr. Assure you, cosen Guise, so great a courtier,

So full of majestic and roiall parts,

No Queene in Christendome may vaunt her selfe.

Her Court approves it: that's a Court indeed,

Not mixt with clowneries us'd in common houses;20

But, as Courts should be th'abstracts of their Kingdomes,

In all the beautie, state, and worth they hold,

So is hers, amplie, and by her inform'd.

The world is not contracted in a man,

With more proportion and expression,25

Than in her Court, her kingdome. Our French Court

Is a meere mirror of confusion to it:

The king and subject, lord and every slave,

Dance a continuall haie; our roomes of state

Kept like our stables; no place more observ'd30

Than a rude market-place: and though our custome

Keepe this assur'd confusion from our eyes,

'Tis nere the lesse essentially unsightly,

Which they would soone see, would they change their forme

To this of ours, and then compare them both;35

Which we must not affect, because in kingdomes,

Where the Kings change doth breed the subjects terror,

Pure innovation is more grosse than error.

Mont. No question we shall see them imitate

(Though a farre off) the fashions of our Courts,40

As they have ever ap't us in attire;

Never were men so weary of their skins,

And apt to leape out of themselves as they;

Who, when they travell to bring forth rare men,

Come home delivered of a fine French suit:45

Their braines lie with their tailors, and get babies

For their most compleat issue; hee's sole heire

To all the morall vertues that first greetes

The light with a new fashion, which becomes them

Like apes, disfigur'd with the attires of men.50

Henr. No question they much wrong their reall worth

In affectation of outlandish scumme;

But they have faults, and we more: they foolish-proud

To jet in others plumes so haughtely;

We proud that they are proud of foolerie,55

Holding our worthes more compleat for their vaunts.

Monsieur. Come, mine owne sweet heart, I will enter thee.

Sir, I have brought a gentleman to court;

And pray, you would vouchsafe to doe him grace.

Henr. D'Ambois, I thinke.

Bussy. That's still my name, my lord,60

Though I be something altered in attire.

Henr. We like your alteration, and must tell you,

We have expected th'offer of your service;

For we (in feare to make mild vertue proud)

Use not to seeke her out in any man.65

Buss. Nor doth she use to seeke out any man:

He that will winne, must wooe her: she's not shameless.

Mons. I urg'd her modestie in him, my lord,

And gave her those rites that he sayes shee merits.

Henr. If you have woo'd and won, then, brother, weare him.70

Mons. Th'art mine, sweet heart! See, here's the Guises Duches;

The Countesse of Mountsurreaue, Beaupre.

Come, I'le enseame thee. Ladies, y'are too many

To be in counsell: I have here a friend

That I would gladly enter in your graces.75

Buss. 'Save you, ladyes!

Duchess. If you enter him in our graces, my

lord, me thinkes, by his blunt behaviour he should

come out of himselfe.

Tamyra. Has he never beene courtier, my80

lord?

Mons. Never, my lady.

Beaupre. And why did the toy take him inth'

head now?

Buss. Tis leape yeare, lady, and therefore very85

good to enter a courtier.

Henr. Marke, Duchesse of Guise, there is

one is not bashfull.

Duch. No my lord, he is much guilty of the

bold extremity.90

Tam. The man's a courtier at first sight.

Buss. I can sing pricksong, lady, at first

sight; and why not be a courtier as suddenly?

Beaup. Here's a courtier rotten before he be

ripe.95

Buss. Thinke me not impudent, lady; I am

yet no courtier; I desire to be one and would

gladly take entrance, madam, under your

princely colours.