The Millers daughter

For if you should but stoope to take vp the tole difh
You will haue the crampe in your finger
At least ten weekes after.

Miller. Ah well said Trotter, teach her to play the good hufwifc
And thou shalt haue her to thy wife, if thou canst get her good will.

Trotter. Ah words wherein I see Matrimonie come loaden
With kiffes to salute me: Now let me alone to pick the mill,
To fill the hopper, to take the tole, to mend the failles,
Yea, and to make the mill to goe with the verie force of my loue.

Here they must call for their grift within.

Trotter. I come, I come, yfaith now you shall haue your grift
Or else Trotter Will trot and amble himselfe to death.

They call him againe. Exit.

Enter king of Denmark, with some attendant, Blanch his
daughter, Mariana, Marques Lubeck, William
disgnifed.

King of Denmark. Lord Marques Lubeck welcome home,
Welcome braue Knight vnto the Denmarke King:

For Williams false the noble Norman Duke,
So famous for his fortunes and succeſſe,
That graceth him with name of Conqueror:
Right double welcome muſt thou be to vs.

Rob. Windsor. And to my Lord the King shall I recount
Your graces courteous entertainment,
That for his false vouchſaſe to honour me
A simple Knight attendant on his grace.

King Den. But say Sir Knight, what may I call your name?

Robert Windsor. Robert Windsor and like your maiestie.

King Den. I tell thee Robert, I so admire the man,
As that I count it hainous guilt in him
That honours not Duke William with his heart.

Blanch. Bid this ftraunger welcome, good my girle.

Blanch. Sir, should I neglect your highnes charge herein,
It might be thought of bare discourteſe.

Welcome Sir Knight to Denmarke heartily.

Robert.

of Manchester.

Ro. Winds. Thanks gentle Ladie. Lord Marques, what is die?

Lubeck. That fame is Blanch daughter to the King,
The substance of the shadow that you ſaw.

Rob. Windsor. May this be ſhee, for whom I croſt the Seas ?
I am aſham'd to think I was ſo fond,

In whom there's nothing that contents my minde,
Ill head, worse ſeaturde, vncomly, nothing courtly,
Swart and ill ſauoured, a Colliers ſanguine skin.

I neuer ſaw a harder ſabour'd Slut.
Loue her ? for what ? I can no whit abide her.

King of Denmark. Mariana, I haue this day receiued letters
From Swethia, that lets me vnderstand,
Your ransome is collecting there with ſpeed,
And shortly shall be hither ſent to vs.

Mariana. Not that I finde occasion of miſlike
My entertainment in your graces court,
But that I long to see my native home.

King Den. And reaſon haue you Madam for the fame :
Lord Marques I commit vnto your charge
The entertainment of Sir Robert here,
Let him remaine with you within the Court
In ſolace and diſport, to ſpend the time.

Exit King of Denmark.

Robert Wind. I thank you highnes, whose bounden I remaine.

Blanch ſpeaketh this secretly at one end of the ſtage.

Vnhappie Blanch, what ſtrange effects are these
That workes within my thoughts confusedly ?

That still me thinkes affection draws me on
To take, to like, may more to loue this knight.

Robert. Wind. A modeſt countenance, no heauie ſullen looke,
Not very faire, but richly deckt with ſabour :

A sweet ſace, an exceeding daintie hand:

A body were it framed of wax

By all the cunning Artifts of the world
It could not better be proportioned.

Lubeck. How now Sir Robert ? in a ſtudie man?

B

Here

The Millers daughter

Here is no time for contemplation.

Robert Windsor. My Lord there is a certaine odd conceit,

Which on the sudden greatly troubles me.

Lubeck. How like you Blaunch ? I partly do perceiue

The little boy hath played the wag with you.

Sir Robert. The more I look the more I loue to looke.

Who sayes that ?
Astriana is not faire ?

Ile gage my gauntlet gainst the enuiou man,

That dares auow there liueth her compare.

Lubeck. Sir Robert, you mistake your counterfeit.

This is the Lady which you came to see.

Sir Robert. Yea my Lord: She is counterfeit in deed:

For there is the substance that beſt contents me.

Lubeck. That is my loue. Sir, Robert, you do wrong me.

Robert. The better for you Sir, she is your Loue,

As for the wrong, I fee not how it growes.

Lubeck. In seeking that which is anothers right.

Robert. As who should say your loue were priuileged

That none might looke vpon her but your selfe.

Lubeck. These iarres becomes not our familiaritie.

Nor will I stand on termes to moue your patience.

Robert. Why my lord, am not I of flesh & bloud as well as you?

Then giue me leaue to loue as well as you.

Lubeck. To loue Sir Robert ? but whom ? not she I loue ?

Nor flands it with the honour of my flate,

To brooke corriuals with me in my loue.

Robert. So Sir, we are thorough for that L.

Ladies farewell. Lord Marques, will you go ?

I will finde a time to speake with her I trow ?

Lubeck. With all my heart. Come Ladies wil you walke? Exit.

Enter Manuile alone disguised.

Manuile. Ah Em the ſubject of my restleſſe thoughts,
The Anuyle whereupon my heart doth beat,

Framing thy ſtate to thy desert,

Full ill this life becomes thy heauenly looke,

Wherein sweet loue and vertue fits enthroned.

Bad

of Manchester.

Bad world, where riches is esteemed aboue them both,
In whose base eyes nought else is bountifuil.

A Millers daughter faies the multitude,
Should not be loued of a gentleman.

But let them breath their ſoules into the ayre :

Yet will I ſtill affect thee as my ſelfe.

So thou be constant in thy plighted vow,

But here comes one, I will listen to his talke,

Enter Valing ford at another dore, disguised.

Valing ford. Goe William Conqueror and seeke thy loue.

Seekethou a mynion in a forren land

Whileſt I draw backe and court my loue at home,

The Millers daughter of faire Manchester

Hath bound my feet to this delight ſome ſoyle :

And from her eyes do dart such golden beames,

That holds my heart in her ſubjeſtion.

Manuile, He ruminates on my beloved choyce :

God grant he come not to preuent my hope.

But here's another, him yle listen to.

Enter Mountney disguised at another dore.

L. Mountney. Nature vnioſt, in vtterance of thy art,

To grace a peſant with a Princes fame:

Peſant am I to miſ-terme my loue

Although a Millers daughter by her birth :

Yet may her beautitie and her vertues well ſuffice

To hide the blemiſh of her birth in hell,

Where neither enuious eyes nor thought can pierce,

But endleſſe darkneſſe euer ſinother it.

Goe William Conqueror and seeke thy loue,

Whileſt I draw backe and court mine owne the whiles

Decking her body with such coſtly robes

As may become her beautities worthineſſe,

That to thy labours may be laughed to ſcorne,

And she thou seekeſt in forraine regions,

Be darkned and eclipſt when she arrives,

By one that I haue choſen neerer home.

B-2

Manuile staies
hiding him-
ſelfe.

Manuile.

The Millers daughter

Manuile. What comes he to, to intercept my loue?

Then hye thee Manuile to forestall such foes.

Exit Manuile.

Mountney. What now Lord Valingford are you behind?

The king had chosen you to goe with him.

Valingford. So chose he you, therefore I maruell much

That both of vs should linger in this fort.

What may the king imagine of our ftay ?

Mountney. The king may justly think we are to blame :

But I imagin'd I might well be spared

And that no other man had borne my minde.

Valingford. The like did I: in friendship then resolve

What is the cause of your vnlookt for ftay ?

Mountney. Lord Valingford I tell thee as a friend,

Loue is the cause why I haue stayed behind.

Valingford. Loue my Lord ? of whom?

Mountney. Em the millers daughter of Manchester.

Valingford. But may this be?

Mountney. Why not my Lord ? I hope full well you know

That loue respects no difference of state

So beautitie ferue to stir affection.

Valingford. But this it is that makes me wonder moft,

That you and I should be of one conceit

In such a strange vnlikely passion.

Mountney. But is that true ? my Lord : I hope you do but

Valingford. I would I did : then were my griefe the leffe.

Mountney. Nay neuer grieue : for if the cause be such

To ioyne our thoughts in such a Sympathy :

All enuie set aside : let vs agree

To yeeld to either's fortune in this choyce.

Valingford. Content say I, and what so ere befall,

Shake hands my Lord and fortune thriue at all.

Exeunt.

Enter Em, and Trotter the Millers man with a kerchief in his head, and an Vrinall in his hand.

Em. Trotter where haue you beene?

Trotter. Where haue I beene ? why, what signifies this?

Em. A kerchiefe, doth it not?

Trotter.

of Manchester.

Trotter. What call you this I pray?

Em. I say it is an Vrinall.

Trotter. Then this is mytically to giue you to vnderstand
I haue beene at the Phismicaries house.

Em. How long haft thou beene sicke ?

Trotter. Yfaith, euen as long as I haue not beene halfe well,
And that hath beene a long time.

Em. A loytering time I rather imagine.

'(help me.)

Trot. It may be so : but the Phismicarys tels mee that you can

Em. Why, any thing I can doe for recouerie of thy health

Be right well affured of.

Trot. Then giue me your hand.

Em. To what end.

Trot. That the ending of an old indenture

Is the beginning of a new bargaine.

Em. What bargaine ?

Trot. That you promised to doe any thing to recouer my health.

Em. On that condition I giue thee my hand,

Trot. Ah sweet Em.

Here he offers to kisse her.

Em. How now Trot ? your masters daughter?

Trot. Yfaith I aime at the fairest,

Ah Em. sweet Em, fresh as the flower :

That hath power to wound my hart.

And eafe my smart, of me poore theefe,

In prison bound.

Em. So all your rime lies on the ground.

But what meanes this ?

Trot. Ah marke the deuife,

For thee my loue full sicke I was, in hazard of my life

Thy promise was to make me whole, and for to be my wife,

Let mee inioy my loue my deere,

And thou poſſeſſe thy Trotter here.

Em. But I meant no ſuch matter.

Trot. Yes woos but you did, Ile goe to our Parſon Sir Iohn,

And he ſhall mumble vp the marriage out of hand.

Em. But here comes one that will forbid the Banes.

B-3

Hirs.

The Millers daughter

Here Enters Manuile to them.

Trotter. Ah Sir you come too late.

Mannile. What remedie Trotter.

Em. Goe Trotter, my father calles.

Trotter. Would you haue me goe in, and leaue you two here?

Em. Why, dareft thou not trust me?

Trotter. Yes faith, euen as long as I see you.

Em. Goe thy waies I pray thee hartily.

Trotter. That fame word (hartily) is of great force.

I will goe : but I pray fir, beware you
Come not too neere the wench.

Exit Trotter.

Manuile. I am greatly beholding to you.

Ah Maistres, sometime I mitgh haue said my loue,
But time and fortune hath bereaued me of that,
And I am abieſt in those gratious eyes

That with remorse earſt law into my griefe,
May ſit and ſight the ſorrowes of my heart.

Em. In deed my Manuile hath ſame cauſe to doubt,
When ſuch a ſwaine is riuall in his loue,

Manuile. Ah Em, were he the man that cauſeth this miſtruſt,
I should eſteme me of thee as at thee firſt.

Em. But is my loue in earneſt all this while?

Manuile. Belecue me Em, it is not time to ieſt

When others ioyes, what lately I poſſeſt.

Em. Iſtouching loue my Manuile charge me thus?

Vnkindly muſt I take it at his hands,
For that my conscience cleeres me of offence.

Manuile. Ah impudent and ſhamleſſe in thy ill,
That with thy cunning and defraudfull tongue
Seeks to delude the honest meaning minde:

Was neuer heard in Manchester before,
Of truer loue then hath been betwixt vs twaine :

And for my part how I haue hazarded
Displeasure of my father and my friends

Thy ſelſe can witnes, yet not withſtanding this:

Two gentlemen attending on Duke William

Mountney and Valingford, as I heard them named,

Oſt

of Manchester.

Oſt times refort to ſee and to beſeene,
Walking the ſtreet ſaſt by thy fathers dore,
Whose glauncing eyes vp to windowes caſt,
Giuſe teſties of their Maifters amorous heart.
This Em is noted and too much talked on,
Some ſee it without miſtruſt of ill.

Others there are that ſcorning grin therear,
And faith, there goes the Millers daughters wooers.

Ah me, whom chieſly and moſt of all it doth concerne
To ſpend my time in grieſe and vex my ſoule,
To thinke my loue ſhould be rewarded thus,
And for thy ſake abhorre all women kind,

Em. May not a maid looke vpon a man
Without ſuſpicious iudgement of the world?

Manuile. If ſight doe moue offence, it is the better not to ſee.
But thou didſt more vnconſtant as thou art,
For with them thou hadſt talke and conference.

Em. May not a maid talke with a man without miſtruſt?

Manuile. Not with ſuch men ſuſpected amorous.

Em. I grieue to ſee my Manuiles ielouſe

Manuile. Ah Em, faithfull loue is full of ielouſe,
So did I loue thee true and faithfully,
For which I am rewarded moſt vnthankfully.

Exit in a rage, Manet Em.

And to away ? what in diſpleasure gone?

And left me ſuch a bitter ſweert to gna vpon?

Ah Manuile, little worſer ſt thou,

How more this parting goeth to my heart.

Vncourteous loue whose ſollowers reaps ſteward,
Of hate diſdaine, reproach and inſamie,
The fruit of ſtranticke, bedlame ielouſe.

Here enters Mountney to Em.

But here comes one of these ſuſpicious men:

Witnes my God without deſert of me :

For only Manuile honor I in heart:

Nor ſhall vnkindneſſe cauſe me from him to ſtart.

p. 11

For

The Millers daughter

Mountney. For this good fortune, Venus be thou blest,
To meet my loue, the mifres of my heart,
Where time and place giues opportunitie
At full to let her ynderstand my loue.
He turnes to Em & offers to take her by the hand, & she goes from him.
Faire miftres, since my fortune forts so well:
Heare you a word. What meaneth this?
Nay ftay faire Em.

Em. I am going homewards, Sir :
Mountney. Yet stay (sweet loue) to whom I muft discloſe
The hidden ſecrets of a louers thoughts,
Not doubting but to finde ſuch kinde remorſe
As naturally you are enclined to.

Em. The Gentleman your friend Sir,
I haue not ſene him this ſoure dayes at the leaſt.
Mountney. what's that to mee? I ſpeake not (sweet) in perſon of
But for my ſelfe, whom if that loue deferue
To haue regard being honourable loue :
Not bafe aſfects of loose laſciuious loue,
Whom youthfull Wantons play and dally With :
But that Voites in honourable bands of holy rytes,
And knits the sacred Kuot that Gods. Here Em cuts him off.
Em What meane you fir to keefe me here ſo long?

I cannot vnderstand you by your ſignes,
You keefe a pratling with your lips,
But neuer a word you ſpeake that I can heare.
Mountney. What is the deafe? a great impediment.

Yet remedies there are for ſuch deſeſts.
Sweet Em, it is no little grieſe to mee,
To ſee where nature in her pride of Art
Hath wrought perfections rich and admirable.

Em. Speake you to me Sir?
Mountney. To thee my onely ioy.
Em. I cannot heare you.
Mountney. Oh plague of fortune: Oh hell without compare.
What boots it vs to gaze and not enioy?

Em.

of Manchester.

Em. Fare you Well Sir.
Mountney. Fare well my loue Nay farewell life and all,
Could I procure redreſſe for this infirmitie,
It might be meanes ſhce would regard my ſuit.
I am acquainted with the Kings Phyſitions:
Amongſt the which there's one mine honest friend,
Seignior Alberto, a very learned man,
His judgment will I haue to help this ill.

Ah Em, faire Em, if art can make thee whole :
Ile Buy that ſenſe for thee, although it coſt me deare.

But Mountney: stay, this may be but deceit,
A matter ſained onely to delude thee.
And not ynlike, perhaps by Valingford,
He loues faire Em as well as I.

As well as I? ah no, not halſe ſo well.

Put caſe, yet may he be thine enemie,
And giue her counſell to diſſemble thus.

Ile try the event and if it fall out ſo,

Friendſhip farewell: Loue makes me now a ſoe. Exit Mountney.

Enter Marques Lubeck, and Mariana.

Mariana. Truſt me my Lord, I am ſorry for your hurt.
Lubeck, Gramercie Madam: but it is not great:
Onely a truſt, prickt with a Rapiers point.

Mariana. How grew the quarrell my Lord?
Lubeck, Sweet Ladie, for thy ſake.

There was this laſt night two maskes in one company.
My ſelfe the formoſt: The other ſtrangers were:

(fures,
Amongſt the which, when the Muſicke began to ſound the Mea-
Each Masker made choice of his Ladie:

And one more forward then the reſt ſtept towards thee:
Which I perceiuing truſt him aſide, and tooke thee my ſelfe.

But this was taken in ſo ill part,
That at my comming out of the court gate, with iuſtling together,
It was my chance to be truſt into the armes.

The doer thereof becauſe he was the original cauſe of the disorder
At that inconuenient time, was preſently committed,

And

C

The Millers daughter

Here enters
Sir Robert of
Windfor with
a Gaylor.

And is this morning sent for to answer the matter:

And I think here he comes. What Sir Robert of Windsor how now
Sir Robert. I faith my Lord a prisoner: but what ailes your arm?

Lubeck. Hurt the last night by mischance.

Sir Robert. What, not in the maske at the Court gate?

Lubeck. Yes trust me there.

Sir Rob. Why then my Lord I thank you for my nights lodging
Lubeck. And I you for my hurt, if it were so;

Keeper awaie, I discharge you of your prisoner.

Exit the Kent.

Sir Rob. Lord Marques, you offer me disgrace to shoulder me
Lubeck. Sir I knew you not, and therefore you must pardon

And the rather it might be alleged to me of

Meere simplicitie, to see another dance with my Mirlis

Disguised, and I my selfe in presence : but seeing it
Was our hap to damnifie each other vnwillingly,

Let vs be content with our harmes,

And lay the fault where it was, and so become friends.

Sir Robert. Yfaith I am content with my nights lodging.

If you be content with your hurt.

Lubeck. Not content that I haue it, but content

To forget how I came by it.

Sir Robert. My Lord, here comes Ladie Blanch, lets away.

Enter Blanch.

Lubeck. With good will, Ladie you will stay?

Exit Lubeck and Sir Robert.

Mariana. Madam.

Blanch. Mariana, as I am grieued with thy presence :

So am I not offended for thy absence,

And were it not a breach to modeltie,

Thou shouldst know before I left thee.

Mariana. How neare is this humor to madneſſe.

If you hold on as you begin, you
are in a pretty way to ſcolding.

Blanch. To ſcolding huſwife ?

Mariana. Madam here comes one.

Here enters one with a letter.

Blanch.

of Manchester.

Blaunch. There doth indeed. Fellow wouldeſt thou haue any
Thing with any body here?

Meffenger. I haue a letter to deliuer to the Ladie Mariana.

Blaunch. Giue it me.

Meffen. There muſt none but ſhée haue it.

Blaunch. ſnatcheth the letter from him, Et exit meſſenger.

Go to foolish fellow.

And therefore to eafe the anger I ſuſtaine,

Ile be so bold to open it, whars here?

Sir Robert greets you well?

Your Mailtries, his loue, his life; Oh amorous man,

How he entertaines his new Maifres;

And beſtowes on Lubeck his odde friend

A horne night cap to keepe in his wit.

Mariana. Madam though you haue discourteouſly

Read my letter, yet I pray you giue it me.

Blaunch. Then take it there, and there, and there.

She teares it Et exit Blaunch.

Mariana. How far doth this differ from modeltie :

Yet will I gather vp the pieces, which haply

May ſhew to me the intent thereof

Though not the meaning.

She gathers vp the pieces and joyneth them.

Mariana. Your ſeruant and loue fir Robert of Windsor

Alius William the Conqueror, wiſheth long health and happinesſe,
Is this William the Conqueror, ſhrouded vnder

The name of fir Robert of Windsor?

Were he the Monarch of the world.

He ſhould not dispoſſe Lubeck of his loue.

Therefore I will to the Court, and there if I can

Close to be freinds with Ladie Blaunch,

And thereby keepe Lubeck my lone for my ſelfe:

And further the Ladie Blanch in her ſute as much as I may.
Exit.

Enter Em. solus.

Em. Ielouſe that ſharps the louers fight,
And makes him conceive and confer his intent,

Hath

C 2

The Millers daughter

Hath so be witched my louely *Manuils* fences,
That he mildoubts his *Em* that loues his foule,
He doth suspect corriuals in his loue :

Which how vntrue it is to be iudge my God.

But now no more: Here commeth Valingford :

Shift him off now, as thou haft done the other. Enter Valingford.
Valing. See how Fortune preſents me with the hope I lookt for.

Faire Em!

Em. Who is that?

Valing. I am Valingford thy loue and friend.

Em. I cry you mercie Sir: I thought so by your ſpeech.

Valing. What aileth thine eyes ?

Em. Oh blinde Sir, blind, striken blinde by mishap on a ſudden.

Valing. But is it poffible you should be taken on ſuch a ſudden,
Infortunate Valingford to be thus croſt in thy loue.

Faire Em, I am not a little forrie to ſee this thy hard hap:

Yet neuertheleſſe, I am acquainted with a learned Phyſitian,
That will do any thing for thee at my requeſt.

To him will I reſort, and enquire his iudgement,

As concerning the recoverie of ſo excellent a ſence.

Em. O Lord Sir: and of all things I cannot abide Phyſicke:
The yerie name thereof to me is odious.

Valingford. No; not the thing will doe thee so much good ?

Sweet Em, hither I came to parley of loue,

Hoping to haue found thee in thy woonted proſperitie.

And haue the gods so vnmercifully tawarted my expectation ?

By dealing so finiſterly with thee ſweet Em?

Em. Good ſir, no more, it fits not me

To haue reſpect to ſuch vaine ſantasies

As idle loue preſents my eares withall,

More reaſon I should ghouſly giue my ſelfe,

To ſacred prayers, for this my former ſinne.

For which this plague is iuſtly fallen vpon me,

Than to harken to the vanities of loue.

Valingford. Yet ſweet Em accept this iewel at my hand,

Which I beſtow on thee in token of my loue.

Em

of Manchester.

Em. A jewell ſir, what pleaſure can I haue

In jewels, treaſure, or any worldly thing

That want my ſight that ſhould diſcerne thereof?

Ah ſir I muſt leaue you :

The paine of mine eyes is ſo extreame

I cannot long stay in a place. I take my leaue.

Exit Em.

Valingford. Zounds, what a croſſe is this to my conceit;
But Valingford, ſearch the depth of this deuilce.

Why may not this be ſained ſubtiltie,

By Mountneyes inuention, to the intent

That I ſeeing ſuch occaſion ſhould leaue off my ſuit,

And not any more perſiſt to ſolicite her of loue ?

Ile trie the euent, if I can by any meaneſe perceiue

The effect of this deceptiune to be procured by his meaneſe,

Friend Mountney the one of vs is like to repent our bargain.

Exit.

Enter Mariana and Marques Lubeck.

Lubeck. Ladie, ſince that occaſion forward in our good Preſenteth place and opportunitie :

Let me intreat your woonted kind conſent

And freindly furtherance in a ſuit I haue.

Mariana. My Lord you know you need not to intreat,
But may command Mariana to her power

Be it no impeachment to my honoſt fame.

Lubeck. Free are my thoughts from ſuch bare villanie
As may in queſtion, Ladie, call your name :

Yet is the matter of ſuch conſequence,

Standing vpon my honorable credit,

To be effected with ſuch zeale and ſecreſiſe,

As should I ſpeake and ſaile my expeſtation.

It would redound greatly to my preiudice.

Mariana. My Lord wherein hath Mariana giuen you occaſion
That you ſhould miſtruſt or else be iealous of my ſecreſiſe ?

Lubeck. Mariana, do not miſconſter of me:

I not miſtruſt thee, nor thy ſecreſiſe,

Nor let my loue miſconſter my intent,

Nor thinke thereof but well and honourable

C 3

Thus

The Millers daughter

Thus hands the caſe: Thou knowest from England
Hither came with me Robert of Windsor, a noble man at Arms,
Lustie and valiant, in spring time of his yeares,
No marvell then though he proue amorous.

Mariana. true my Lord, he came to see faire Blanch.
Lubeck. No Mariana, that is not it.

His loue to Blanch was then extinct

When firſt he saw thy face

Tis thee he loues: yea, thou art onely ſhee

That is ma. ſtris and commander of his thoughts.

Mariana. Well, well, my Lord, I like you, for such drifts
Put fully Ladies often to their shifts,
Oft haue I heard you ſay, you loued me well:
Yea, ſworn to the fame, and I beleeued you to.
Can this be found an action of good faith,
Thus to disſemble where you found true loue?

Lubeck. Mariana, I not diſſemble on mine honor:
Nor failes my faith to thee. But for my friend,
For princely William, by whom thou haſt poſſeſſe
The title of eſtate and Maieſtie,

Fitting thy loue and vertues of thy minde,
For him I ſpeake, for him do I intreat,
And with thy ſauour fully do refigne

To him the claime and interest of my loue.
Sweet Mariana then denie mee nor.

Loue William, loue my friend and honour mee

Who else is cleane diſhonoured by thy meanes.

Mariana, Borne to miſhap, my ſelfe am onely ſhee,
On whom the Sunne of fortune neuer ſhined:
But Planets rulde by retrogarde aspect,
Foretold mine ill in my na ziuitie.

Lubeck. Sweet Ladie caſe, let my intreatie ſerue
To paciſe the paſſion of thy griefe,
Which well I know proceeds of ardent loue.

Mariana. But Lubeck now regards not Mariana.

Lubeck. Even as my life, so loue I Mariana.

Mariana

of Manchester.

Mariana. Why do you poſt mee to another then?

Lubeck. He is my friend, and I do loue the man.

Mariana. Then will Duke William rob me of my loue?

Lubeck. No as his life Mariana he doth loue.

Mariana. Speake for your ſelfe my Lord let him alone.

Lubeck. So do I Madam, for he and I am one.

Mariana. Then louing you I do content you both.

Lubeck. In louing him you shall content vs both.

Me, for I craue that ſauour at your hands:

He for hopes that comfort at your hands.

Mariana. Leaue of my lord, here comes the Ladie Blanch.

Enter Blanch to them.

Lubeck. Hard hap to breake vs of our talke so soone,
Sweet Mariana, doe remember me.

Exit Lubeck.

Mariana. Thy Mariana cannot chufe but remember thee.

Blanch. Mariana well met, you are verie forward in your loue?

Mariana. Madam be it in ſecret ſpoken to your ſelfe,
If you will but follow the complot I haue inuenged
You will not think me so forward

As your ſelfe shall proue fortunate.

Blanch. As how?

Mariana. Madam as thus: It is not vnknowne to you
That Sir Robert of Windsor,

A man that you do not little eſteeme,

Hath long importuned me of loue:

But rather then I will be found false

Or vniuſt to the Marques Lubeck,

I will as did the conſtant ladie Penelope

Vndertake to effect ſome great taske.

Blanch. What of all this?

Mariana. The next time that Sir Robert shall come
In his woonted ſort to ſolicit me with loue,
I will ſee me to agree and like of any thing

That the Knight shall demaund, so far forth

As it be no impeachment to my chaſticie:

And to conclude, point ſome place for to meet them; so

For

The Millers daughter

For my tonneyance from the *Denmarke* Court :
Which determined vpon, he will appoynt some certaine time
For our departure : whereof you hauing intelligence,
You may soone set downe a plot to weare the English Crowne.
And then :

Blanch. What then ?

Mariana. If Sir Robert proue a King and you his Queene
How then ?

Blanch. Were I affured of the one, as I am perſwaded
Of the other, there were some poffibilitie in it.
But here comes the man.

Mariana. Madam begon and you ſhall see
I will worke to your deſire and my content.

Exit Blanch.

William. Con. Lady this is well and happily met,
Fortune hetherto hath beene my foe,

And though I haue oft sought to speake with you,
Yet ſtil I have beene croſt with ſinifter haps.

I cannot Madam tell a louing tale

Or court my Maiftres with fabulous diſcourses,
That am a ſouldier ſworne to follow armes :

But this I bluntly let you vnderſtand,
I honour you with ſuch religious zeale
As may become an honorable minde.

Nor may I make my loue the ſiege of Troy
That am a ſtanger in this Countrie.

First what I am, I know you are refolued,

For that my friend hath let you that to vnderſtand,
The Marques Lubeck, to whom I am ſo bouud,

That whileſt I liue I count me onely his.

Mariana. Surely you are beholding to the Marques.
For he hath beene an earneſt ſpokeſ-man in your cauſe.

William. And ycelds my Ladie then at his requeſt
To grace Duke Williams with her gratious loue;

Mariana. My Lord I am a prifoner, and hard it were
To get me from the Court.

William. An easie matter to get you from the Court.

If

of Manchester.

If caſe that you will thereto giue consent.

Mariana. Put caſe I ſhould, how would you vſe me then ?

William. Not otherwife but well and honorably.

I haue at Sea a ſhip that doth attend,
Which ſhall forthwith conduct vs into England ;
Where when we are, I ſtraight will marrie thee.

We may not ſlay deliberating long
Leaſ that ſuſpition, enuious of our weale

Set in a foot to hinder our pretence.

Mariana. But this I thinke were moſt conuenient
To maske my face the better to ſcape vnknowne.

William. A good deuife : till then, Farwell faire loue.

Mariana. But this I muſt intreat your grace,
You would not ſeeke by luſt vnlawfully

To wrong my chaſt determinations.

William. I hold that man moſt chameleſſe in his ſinne
That ſeekes to wrong an honest ladies name

Whom he thinkes worthy of his marriage bed.

Mariana. In hope your oath is true,
I leaue your grace till the appointed time.

Exit Mariana.

William. O happie William, bleſſed in thy loue :
Moſt fortunate in Marianaes loue :

Well Lubeck well, this courteſie of thine

I will requite if God permit me life.

Exit.

Enter Valingford and Mountney at two ſundrie dores, looking
angerly each on other with Rapiers drawen.

Mountney. Valingford, ſo hardlie I diſgeſt an iniurie
Thou haſt profered me, as wer't not that I deteſt to do what stands

Not with the honor of my name,
Thy death ſhould paie thy ranſome of thy fault.

Valingford. And Mountney, had not my reuenging wrath,
Incenſt with more than ordinarie loue
Beene ſuch for to depriue thee of thy life,
Thou hadſt not liued to braue me as thou diſeſt; wretch as thou art,
Wherein hath Valingford oſſended thee?

D

That

## The Millers daughter

That honourable bond which late we did confirme
In prefence of the gods,

When with the Conqueror we arrived here

For my part hath been kept inviolably
Till now too much abused by thy villanie,
I am inforced to cancell all those bands,
By hating him which I so well did loue.

Mountney. Subtrill thou art, and cunning in thy fraud,
That giuing me occasion of offence,
Thou pickit a quarrell to excuse thy shame.
Why Valingford, was it not enough for thee

To be a riuall twist me and my loue,
But counsell her to my no small disgrace,
That when I came to talke with her of loue,

Shee should seeme deafe, as faining not to heare?

Valingford. But hath shee Mountney vsed thee as thou sayest?

Mountney. Thou knowest too well shee hath : Wherein thou couldst not do me greater iniurie.

Valingford. Then I perceiue we are deluded both:
For when I offered many gifts of Gold and jewels

To entreat for loue, shee hath refused them with a coy disdaine,
Alleging that shee could not see the funne.

The fame coniected I to be thy drift,
That fayning so shee might be rid of mee.

Mountney, The like did I by thee. But are not these naturall im-
Valingford. In my coniecture merely counterfeit : (pediments)
Therefore lets joyne hands in friendship once againe,

Since that the iarre grew only by coniecture.

Mountney. With all my heart: Yet lets trye the truth thereof.
Vals, g. With right good will. We will straight vnto her father,
And there to learne whether it be so or no.
Exeunt.

Enter William and Blanch disguised, with a maske
over her face.

William. Come on my loue the comfort of my life : Disguised thus we may remaine vnknowne,

And

## of Manchester.

And get we once to Seas, I force not then,
We quickly shall attaine the English shore.

Blanch. But this I vge you with your former oath.
You shall not seeke to violate mine honour,
Vntill our marriage rights be all performed.

William. Mariana, here I sweare to thee by heauen,
And by the honour that I beare to Armes,
Neuer to seeke or craue at hands of thee
The Spoyle of honourable chaftitie
Vntill we do attaine the English coast,
Where thou shall be my right espoused Queene.

Blanch. In hope your oath proceedeth from your heart,
Lets leaue the Court, and betake vs to his power
That gouernes all things to his mightie will,
And will reward the iust with endlesse ioye,
And plague the bad with most extreme annoy.

William. Lady as little tarriance as we may,
Least some misfortune happen by the way.

Exit Blanch and William.

Enter the Miller, his man Trotter, & Manuile.

Miller. I tell you fir it is no little gretfe to mee,
You should so hardly conceit of my daughter,
Whose honest report, though I faie it,
Was neuer blotted with any title of defamation.

Manuile. Father Miller, the repaire of those gentlemen to your
Hath giuen me great occasion to mislike.
(house,

Miller. As for those gentlemen, I neuer law in them
Any euill intreatie. But should they haue profered it,
Her chafte minde hath provee enough to prevent it.

Trotter. Those gentlemen are as honest as euer I saw:
For yfaith one of them gaue me fix pence
To fetch a quart of Seck. See master here they come.

Enter Mountney and Valing ford.

Miller. Trotter, call Em, now they are here together,
Ile haue this matter throughly debated,
Exit Trotter,

Mountney. Father, well met. We are come to confer with you.
Manuile

D 2

The Millers daughter

Manuile. Nay; with his daughter rather.

Valing f. Thus it is father, we are come to craue your friend ship

Miller. Gentlemen as you are strangers to me,

(in a matter.

Yet by the way of courteſe you ſhall demand

Any reasonable thing at my hands.

Manuile. What is the matter so forward?

They come to craue his good will ?

Valing ford. It is giuen vs to vnderstand that your daughter

Is ſandenly become both blinde and deafe.

Miller. Mary God forbid : I haue ſent for her, in deed.

She hath kept her chamber this three daies.

It were no little grieſe to me if it should be so.

Manuile. This is God's iudgement for her trecherie.

Enter Trotter leading Em.

Miller. Gentlemen I feare your words are two true :

See where Trotter comes leading of her.

What ayles my Em, not blinde I hope ?

Em. Mountney and Valing ford both together?

And Manuile, to whom I haue faithfully vowed my loue ?

Now Em suddenly helpe thy ſelſe.

Mountney. This is no defenſing Valing ford.

Valing ford. If it be ; it is cunningly contriued of all ſides.

Em. Trotter lend me thy hand,

And as thou loueſt me keep my counſell

And iuſtifie what ſo euer I ſaie, and Ile largely requite thee.

Trotter. Ah, that is as much as to ſaie you would tell a monſtrous,
Terrible, horrible, outragious lie,

And I ſhall ſooth it, no berlady.

Em. My preſent extremitie wills me, if thou loue me Trotter ?

Trotter. That fame word loue makes me to doe any thing.

Em. Trotter wheres my father ?

He thruſts Em upon her father.

Trotter. Why what a blinde dunce are you, can you not ſee ?

He ſtandeth right before you,

Em. Is this my father ?

Good father, giue me leaue to ſie

Where

of Manchester.

Where I may not be diſturbed,

Sith God hath viſited me both of my fight and hearing,

Miller. Tell me what Em how came this blindneſ.

Thy eyes are louely to looke on,

And yet haue they loſt the benefit of their fight.

What a grieſe is this to thy poore father ?

Em. Good father let me not stand as an open gazing ſtock to

But in a place alone as fits a creature ſo miſerable.

(cuerie one,

Miller. Trotter, lead her in, the vitter ouerthrow

Of poore Goddards ioy and onely ſolace.

Exit the Miller, Trotter and Em.

Manuile. Both blinde and deafe, then is ſhe no wife for me;

And glad am I ſo good occasion is hapned :

Now will I away to Manchester,

And leaue theſe gentlemen to their blinde fortune. Exit Manuile.

Mountney. Since fortune hath thus ſpitefully croſt our hope,

Let vs leaue this gueſt and harken after our King,

Who is at this day landed at Lirpoole.¹

Exit Mountney.

Valing ford. Goe my Lord, Ile follow you.

Well, now Mountney is gone

Ile ſtaie behind to ſolicit my loue,

For I imagine that I ſhall find this but a ſained inuention

Thereby to haue vs leaue off our ſuits.

Enter Marques Lubeck, and the King of Denmark

Angerly with ſome attendant.

Zweno. K. Well Lubeck, well, it is not poffible.

But you muſt be conſenting to this act ;

Is this the man ſo highly you extold ?

And play a part ſo hatefull with his friend ?

Since firſt he came with thee into the court

What entertainement and what countenance

He hath receiued, none better knoweſ than thou.

In recompence whereof, he quites me well,

To ſteale a way faire Mariana my prisoner,

Whose ranſome being lately greed vpon,

I am deluded of by this eſcape.

D 3

Belides

The Millers daughter

Besides, I know nor how to answer it

When shee shall be demanded home to Swethia.

Lubeck. My gracious Lord coniccture not I pray
Worfer of Lubeck than he doth deferue:
Your highnes knowes Mariana was my loue,
Sole paragon and miftres of my thoughts.
Is it likely I should know of her departure,
Wherein there is no man iniured more than I?

Zweno. That carries reason Marques I confesse.
Call forth my daughter, yet I am perfwaded
That shee poore foule suspected not her going :
For as I heare : shee likewise loued the man,
Which he to blame did not at all regard.

Rocilia. My Lord here is the Princeſſe Mariana:
It is your daughter is conueyed away.

Zweno. What, my daughter gone ?
Now Marques your villanie breaks foorth.
This match is of your making, gentle fir :
And you shall dearly know the price thereof.

Lubeck. Knew I thereof, or that there was intent
In Robert thusto ſteale your highnes daughter
Let heauens in inſtice p[re]ſently confound me.

Zweno. Not all the proteſtations thou canſt vſe,
Shall ſuethy life. Away with him to prifon.
And minion, otherwife it cannot be,
But you are an agent in this trecherie.

I will reuenge it throughly on you both.
Away with her to prifon. Heres ſtuffe indeed ?

My daughter ſtolen away ?
It booteth not thus to diſturbe my ſelſe,

But p[re]ſently to ſend to English William,
To ſend me that proud knight of W[ind]ſor hither,
Here in my Court to ſuffer for his ſhame :
Or at my pleaſure to be p[u]nſhed there

Withall, that Blanch be ſent me home againe,
Or I ſhall fetch her vnto W[inds]orſs coſt,

Yea,

of Manchester.

Yea, and Williamstoo if he denie her mee ?

Exit Zweno.

Enter William taken with ſouldiers.

William. Could any croſſe, could any plague be worse ?
Could heauen or hell did both confispire in one
To aſſict my ſoule, inuent a greater ſcourge
Than p[re]ſently I am rormented with ?

Ah Mariana cause of my lament :
Ioy of my heart, and comfort of my life
For thee I breath my ſorrowes in the ayre,

And tire my ſelſe : for ſilently I ſigh,
My ſorrowes aſſiets my ſoule with equall p[a]ſſion.

Souldier. Go to ſirrah, put vp, it is to small purpose.

William. Hence villaines hence, dare you lay your hands
Vpon your Soueraigne ?

Souldier. Well fir, we will deale for that,
But here comes one to remedie all this.

Enter Demarch.

Souldier. My Lord, watching this night in the campe,
VVetooke this man, and know not what he is:
And in his compaine was a gallant dame,
A woman faire in outward ſhewe shee ſcend,
But that her face was mask'd we could not ſee
The grace and fauour of her countenance.

Demarch. Tell me good fellow of whence and what thou art.

Souldier. Why do you not anſwer my Lord ?

He takes ſcorne to anſwer.

Demarch. And takeſt thou ſcorne to anſwer my demand ?
Thy proud behaviour very well deferues
This miſdemeanour at the workt be conſtrued.

Why doeſt thou neither know, nor haſt thou heard ?
That in the absence of the Saxon Duke,

Demarch is his eſpeciall Subſtitute
To p[u]nish those that shall oſſend the lawes.

William. In knowing this, I know thou art a traytor,
A rebell, and mutenous conſpirator.

Why Demarch, knoweſt thou who I am?

Demarch.

The Millers daughter

Demarch. Punardon my dread Lord the error of my fence,
And miſdemeanor to your princely excellencie.

Will. Why Demarch, What is the cauſe my ſubjeſts are in armes?

Demarch. Free are my thoughts my dread and gratious Lord
From treaſon to your ſtate and common weale,

Only reuengement of a priuate grudge,

By Lord Dirot lately proſered me,

That ſtands not with the honor of my name,

Is cauſe I haue affembl'd for my guard

Some men in armes that may withſtand his force,

Wholeſet malice aymeth at my life.

William. Where is Lord Dirot?

Demarch. In armes, my gratious Lord,

Not paſt two miles from hence,

As credibly I am aſſertained.

William. Well, come, let vs goe,

I ſeare I ſhall find traytors of you both.

Exit.

Enter the Citizen of Manchester, and his daughter Elner,
and Mannile.

Citizen. Indeed fir it would do verie well

If you could intreat your father to come hither :

But if you thinke it be too far,

I care not much to take horſe and ride to Manchester.

I am ſure my daughter is content with either :

How ſayeſt thou Elner art thou not?

Elner. As you ſhall think beſt I muſt be contented.

Manuile, Well Elner, farewell, only thus much,

I pray make all things in a readines,

Either to ſerue here or to carry thither with vs.

Citizen. As for that fir take you no care,

And ſo I betake you to your iournie.

Enter Valingford,

But ſoſt, what gentleman is this?

Valingford. God ſpeed fir, might a man craue a word or two with you?

Citizen. God forbid eſſe fir, I pray you ſpeake your pleafure.

Valingford. The gentleman that parted from you was he not

Of

of Manchester.

Of Manchester, his father liuing there of good acconunt.

Citizen. Yes mary is he fir : why doe you aske ?

Belike you haue had ſome acquaintance with him.

Valingford. I haue been acquainted in times paſt,
But through his double dealing,

I am growen werie of his companie.

For be it ſpoken to you :

He hath been acquainted with a poore millers daughter,
And diuerſ times hath promiſt her marriage.

But what with his delayes and flouts,
He hath brought her into ſuch a taking,
That I ſeare me it will coſt her her life.

Citizen. To be plaine with you fir :
His father and I haue been of old acquaintance,
And a motion was made,

Betweene my daughter and his ſonne,
VWhich is now throughly agreed vpon

Saue onely the place appoynted for the marriage,
Whether it ſhall be kept here or at Manchester,
And for no other occasion he is now ridden.

Elner. What hath he done to you ?
That you should ſpeake so ill of the man.

Valingford. Oh gerſtlewoman I crye you mercie,
He is your huſand that ſhalbe.

Elner. If I knew this to be true ?
He should not be my huſand were he neuer so good:

And therefore, good father,
I would deſire you to take the paines

To beare this gentleman companie to Manchester
To know whether this be true or no.

Citizen. Now eruſt mee gentleman hee deales with mee verie
Knowing how well I meant to him.
But I care not much to ride to Manchester

(hardly,

To know whether his fathers will be
He ſhould deale with me so badly.

Will it please you fir to go in, we will preſently take horſe & away.

Valingford.

E

The Millers daughter

Valingford. If it please you to go in
Ile follow you presently.
Now shall I be reuenged on Manuile,
And by this means get Em to my wife :
And therefore I will straight to her fathers
And informe them both of all that is hapned.
Exit.

Enter William, the Ambassador of Denmark,
Demarch, and other attendants.

William. What newes with the Denmark Embassador?
Embassador. Mary thus, the King of Denmark & my Soueraigne
Doth send to know of thee what is the caufe
That iniuiously againft the law of armes,
Thou haft stollen away his onely daughter Blanch,
The onely stay and comfort of his life.
Therefore by me he willeth thee to send his daughter Blanch:
Or else forthwith he will leuy such an holt,
As soone shall fetch her in despite of thee.
William. Embassador, this answer I returne thy King.

He willeth me to send his daughter Blanch :
Saying I conuaid her from the Danish court,
That neuer yet did once as think thereof.
As for his menacing and daunting threats
I neill regard him nor his Danish power:
For if he come to fetch her forth my Realme,
I will prouide him such a banquet here.
That he shall haue small caufe to giue me thanks.

Embassador. Is this your answer then ?

William. It is, and so be gone.

Embassidor. I goe : but to your coft. Exit Ambassador.

William. Demarch, our subiccts earſt leuied in ciuill broyles,
Muſtred forth with ſor to defend the Realme,
In hope whereof that we ſhall finde you true,
We freely pardon this thy late offence.

Demarch, Moſt humble thanks I render to your grace.

Exeunt.

Enter

of Manchester.

Enter the Miller and Valingford.

Mill, Alas aſgleman, why ſhould you trouble your ſelſe ſo much,
Conſidering the imperfections of my daughter,
Which is able to with-draw the loue of any man from her,
As already it hath done in her firſt choyce.
Maſter Manuile, hath forſaken her,

And at Chetſter ſhall be married to a man's daughter of no little

But if my daughter knew ſo much : (wealth.
It would goe veriencere her heart I ſcare me.

Valingſ. Father miller : ſuch is the entire affection to your
As no miſfortune whatſoever can alter. (daughter,

My fellow Mountney thou ſeelt gaue quickly ouer,

But I by reaſon of my good meaning

Am not ſo ſoon to be changed

Although I am borne off with ſcornes and deniall.

Enter Em to them.

Miller. Truſt me fir I know not what to ſaie,
My daughter is not to be compelled by me,
But here ſhe comes her ſelſe : ſpeake to her and ſpare not :
For I neuer was troubled with loue matters ſo much before.

Em. Good Lord ! shall I neuer be rid of this importunateman?
Now muſt I diſſemble blindneſſe againe.
Once more for thy ſake Manuile thus am I inſorced,
Because I ſhall complete my ſull reſolued minde to thee.
Father where are you ?

Miller. Here ſweet Em, anſwer this gentleman
That would ſo ſaine enioy thy loue.

Em. Where are you fir ? will you neuer leaue
This idle and vaine purſuit of loue ?
Is not England ſtor'd enough to content you ?
But you muſt ſtill trouble the poore
Contemptible maid of Manchester.

Valingſ. None can content me but the faire maid of Manchester.

Em. I perceiue loue is vainly described,

That being blinde himſelſe,

E 2

VWould

The Millers daughter

VVould haue you likewise troubled with a blinde wife,
Hauing the benefit of your eyes,

But neither follow him so much in follie,

But loue one, in whom you may bette: delight.

Valingford. Father Miller, thy daughter shall haue honour

By granting mee her love:

I am a Gentleman of king Williams Court,

And no meane man in king Williams fauour.

Em. If you be a Lord fir, as you say :

You offer both your selfe and mee great wrong :

Yours, as apparant in limiting your loue so vnorderly,

For which you rafhly endure reprochement :

Mine, as open and evident,

VVhen being shut from the vanities of this world,

You would haue me as an open gazing stock to all the world:

For luft, not loue leades you into this error:

But from the one I will keepe me as well as I can,

And yeeld the other to none but to my father,

As I am bound by dutie.

Valingford. VVhy faire Em, Mannile hath forsaken thee,

And muft at Chefter be married, which,

If I speake otherwise than true,

Let thy father speake what credibly he hath heard.

Em. But can it be Mannile will deale so vakindly,

To reward my iustice with such monſtrous vngentlenes.

Hae I diſſembled for thy ſake?

And doeſt thou now thus requite it?

In deed these many daies I hauen not seen him,

Which hath made me maruell at his long abſence.

But father, are you affured of the words he ſpake,

VVere concerning Mannile ?

Miller. In footh daughter, now it is forth,

I muſt needs confirme it.

Maſter Mannile hath forsaken thee,

And at Chefter muſt be married

To a mans daughter of no little wealth.

His

of Manchester.

His owne father procures it,

And therefore I dare credit it,

And doe thou becleuc it,

For trust me daughter it is so.

Em. Then good father pardon the iniurie,

That I haue done to you only cauſing your griefe,

By ouer-fond affecting a man so trorhleſſe.

And you likewise fir, I pray hold mee excused,

As I hope this cauſe will allow ſufficiently for mee :

My loue to Mannile, thinking he would requite it,

Hath made me double with my father and you,

And many more besides,

Which I will no longer hide from you.

That inticing ſpeeches should not beguile mee,

I haue made my ſelfe deafe to any but to him.

And left any mans perſon ſhould please mee more than his,

I haue diſembled the want of my fight:

Both which ſhaddowes of my irreuocable affections,

I haue not ſpar'd to confirme before him.

My father, and all other amorous ſoliciters:

VVhere with not made acquainted, I perceive.

My true intent hath wrought mine owne ſorrow

And seeking by loue to be regarded,

Am cut off with contempt, and deſpited.

Mill. Tell me sweet Em, haſt thou but fained all this while for

That hath ſo diſcourteouſly forsaken thee.

(his loue,

Em. Credit me father I haue told you the troth,

Where with I desire you and Lord Valingford not to be diſpleased

For ought else I ſhall faile,

Let my preſent griefe hold me excused.

But may Iliu to ſee that vngratefull man

Iuſtly rewarded for his trecherie,

Poore Em would think her ſelfe not a little happie.

Fauour my departing at this instant,

For my troubled thought deſires to meditate alone in ſilence.

Exit Em.

Valing.

E 3

The Millers daughter

Valingford. Will not Emshew one cheerefull looke on Valingford?
Miller Alas fir, blame her not, you see fhee hath good cause,
Being so handled by this gentleman:
And so Ile leaue you, and go comfort my poore wench
Exit the Miller.
As well as I may.
Valingford. Farewell good father.
Exit Valingford.

Enter Zweno King of Denmark with Rofilio,
and other attendants.

Zweno. Rofilio, Is this the place whereas the Duke William should meet mee?

Rofilio. It is, and like your grace.
Zweno. Goe captaine away, regard the charge I gaue:
See all our men be martialed for the fight.
Dispoſe the wards as lately was deuifed,
And let the prisoners vnder feueral gards
Be kept apart vntill you heare from vs.
Let this ſuffice, you know my reſolution,
If William Duke of Saxon be the man,
That by his anſwer ſent vs, he would ſend
Not words but wounds : not parleis but alarms,
Muft be decider of this controuerſie.
Rofilio, ſtay with mee, the rest begone.
Exeunt.

Enter William, and Demarch with other attendants

William. All but Demarch go shroud you out of fight,
For I will goe parley with the Prince my ſelfe.
Demarch. Should Zweno by this parley call you forth,
Vpon intent iniuriously to deale:
This offereth too much opportunitie.
William. No, no, Demarch, that were a breach
Againſt the Law of Armes : therefore begone,
And leaue vs here alone.
Exeunt.

I feethat Zweno is maſter of his word.
Zweno, William of Saxonie greecth thee

Either

of Manchester.

Either well or ill, according to thy intent.
If well thou wifh to him and Saxonie,
He bids thee friendly welcome as he can :
If ill thou wifh to him and Saxonie,
He muſt withſtand thy malice as he may.
Zweno. William, for other name and title giue I none
To him, who were he worthie of thofe honours
That Fortune and his predeceſſors left,
I ought by right and humaine courteſie
To grace his ſtyle with duke of Saxonie.
But for I finde a base degenerate minde,
I frame my ſpeech according to the man,
And not the ſtate that he vnworthie holds.

William. Herein Zweno doſt thou abaſe thy ſtate,
To breake the peace which by our auicesters
Hath heretofore been honourably kept.
Zweno. And should that peace foruer haue been kept,
Had not thy ſelfe been author of the breach :
Nor ſtands it with the honour of my ſtate,
Or nature of a father to his childe,
That I should so be robbed of my daughter,
And not vnto the vmoſt of my power
Reuenge so intolerable an iniurie.

William. Is this the colour of your quarrell Zweno?
I well perceiue the wifſt mea may erre.
And thinke you I conueied away your daughter Blanch?
Zweno. Art thou so impudent to deny thou didſt
When that the proofe thereof is maniſeſt ;

William. What proofe is there ?
Zweno. Thine owne confession is ſufficient proofe.

William. Did I confesse I ſtole your daughter Blanch?

Zweno. Thou didſt confesse thou hadſt a Ladie hence.

William. I haue and do.

Zweno. Why that was Blanch my daughter,

William. Nay that was Mariana,

VWho wrongfully thou detainſt prſoner.

Zweno

## The Millers daughter

Zweno. Shamelesse perfisting in thy ill,
Thou doest maintaine a manifeſt vntroth,
As ſhee shall iuſtify vato thy teeth.
Rofilio, fetch her and the Marques hither.
Exit Rofilio for Mariana.

William. It cannot be I should be so deceiued.
Demarch. I heare this night among the ſouldiers,
That in their watch they tooke a penſiue Ladie:
Who at the appoyntment of the Lord Dirot is yet in keeping:
What ſhee is I know not,
Onely thus much I ouer-hard by chance.
William. And what of this?
Demarch. It may be Blanch the King of Denmarkes daughter.
William. It may be so: but on my life it is not;
Yet Demarch, goe and fetch her straight.

### Enter Rofilio with the Marques.
Rofilio. Pleaſeth your highnes, here is the Marques and Mariana.
Zweno. See here Duke VVilliam, your competitors,
That were conſenting to my daughters ſcape :
Let them reſolue you of the truth herein,
And here I vow and ſolemnely protest,
That in thy prefence they ſhall lose their heads,
Vnleſſe I heare where as my daughter is.
VVilliam. O Marques Lubeck how it grieueth me,
That for my ſake thou shouldest indure these bondes.
Be iudge my ſoule that feeles the martirdome.
Marques. Duke VVilliam, you know it is for your cauſe,
It pleaſeth thus the King to miſconceiue of me,
And for his pleaſure doth me iniurie.

### Enter Demarch with the Ladie Blanch.
Demarch. May it please your highneſſe.
Here is the Ladie you ſent me for.
VVilliam. Away Demarch, what telleſt thou me of Ladies?

I so

## of Manchester.

I so deteft the dealing of their ſex,
As that I count a louers ſtate to be the base
And vildeſt ſlauerie in the world.
Demarch. VVhat humors are theſe? here's a ſtrange alteration.
Zweno. See Duke William, is this Blanch or no?

You know her, if you ſee her I am ſure.
William. Zweno. I was deceiued, yea vnterly deceiued,
Yet this is ſhce: this ſame is Ladie Blanch.
And for mine error, here I am content
To do whatſoever Zweno ſhall ſet downe.
Ah cruel! Mariana, thus to vſe
The man which loued and honoured thee with his heart.
Mariana. VVhen firſt I came into your highneſſe court,
And William often importing me of loue:
I did deuife to eſaſe the griete your daughter did ſuſtain:
Shee should meete Sir William masked as it were.
This put in proofe, did take so good effect,
As yet it ſeemes his grace is not reſolued,
But it was I which he conueied away.

William. May this be true? It cannot be but true.
Was it Ladie Blanch which I conueied away?
Vnconstant Mariana,
Thus to deale with him which meant to thee hought but faith.
Blanch. Pardon deere father my follies that are paſt,
Wherein I haue neglected my dutie
Which I in reverence ought to ſhew your grace,
For led by loue I thus haue gone astray,
And now repent the errors I was in.
Zweno. Stand vp deare daughter, though thy fault deferues
For to be puniſht in the extremest fort;
Yet loue that couers multitude of fins
Makes loue in parents winke at childrens faults..
Sufficeth Blanch thy father loues thee so,
Thy follies paſt he knowes, but will not know.
And here Duke William take my daughter to thy wife.
For well I am affured ſhce loues thee well.

F

William.

The Millers daughter

William. A proper coniunction: as who should say,
Lately come out of the fire,
I would goe thrust my selfe into the flame.
Let Maitres nice go Saint it where shee lift,
And coyly quaint it with dissembling face,
I hold in icor ne the fooleries that they vse,
I being free will neuer subiect my selfe
To any such as shee is vnderneath the sunne.

Zweno. Refuselt thou to take my daughter to thy wife?
I tell thee Duke, this rash deniall

May bring more mischiefe on thee then thou canst avoyd :

William. Conceit hath wrought such generall dislike
Through the false dealing of Mariana,
That vitterly I doe abhor their sex.

They are all disloyall, vnconstant, all vnniust:

Who tries as I haue tried,
And findes as I haue found,

Will say there's no such creatures on the ground.

Blanch. Vnconstant Knight, though some deferue no trust,
Thers others faithfull, louing, loyall, & iust.

Enter to them Valingford with Em and the Miller,
And Mounney, and Manuile, and Elner.

William. How now L. Valingford, what makes these women here?
Valingf. Here be two women, may it please your grace,
That are contracted to one man,

And are initrife whether shall have him to their husband.

William. Stand forth women and faie,
To whether of you did he first giue his faith?

Em. To me forsooth.

Elner. To me my gratious Lord.

William. Speake Manuile, to whether didst thou give thy faith?

Manuile. To faie the troth: this maide had first my love.

Elner. Yea Manuile, but there was no witness by.

Em. Thy conscience Manuile is a hundred witnesses.

Elner.

of Manchester.

Elner. Shee hath stolne a conscience to serve her owne turne:
But you are deceiued, y faith he will none of you.

Manuile. Indeed, dread Lord, so deere I held her love,
As in the fame I put my whole delight.

But some impediments which at that instant hapned,
Made me forfake her quite,

For which I had her fathers franke consent.

William. What were the impediments ?

Manuile. Why shee could neither heare nor see.

William. Now shee doth both. Mayden how were you cured?

Em. Pardon my Lord, I tell your grace the troth,
Be it not imputed to me as discredit.

I loued this Manuile so much, that still me thought

When he was absent did present to mee

The forme and feature of that countenance

Which I did staine an Idol in my heart:

And neuer could I see a man me thought

That equald Manuile in my partiall eye.

Nor was there any loue betweene vs loft,

But that I held the fame in high regard,

Vntill repaire of some vnto our house,

Of whom my Manuile grew thus ialeous:

As if he tooke exception I vouchsafed

To heare them speake, or saw them when they came:

On which I straight tooke order with my felie

To voyde the scruple of his conscience,

By counterfaiting that I neither saw nor heard,

Any wayes to rid my hands of them.

All this I did to keepe my Manuiles loue,

Which he vukindly seekes for to reward.

Manuile. And did my Em to keepe her faith with mee:
Diffemble that shee neither heard nor sawe.

Pardon me sweet Em, for I am only thine.

Em. Lay off thy hands, disloyall as thou art,

Nor shall thou haue posseſion of my loue,

That canst so finely shift thy matTERS off.

F 2

Put

The Millers daughter

Put caſe I had been blind and could not ſee,
As often times ſuch visitations falles
That pleafeth God which all things doth diſpofe :
Shoulddeſt thou forſake me in regard of that ?
I tell thee Manuile, hadſt thou been blinde,
Or deaſe, or dumbe, or eſſe what impediments
Might befall to man, Em would haue loued, and kept,
And honoured thee : yea, begg'd if wealth had fail'd
For thy relceſe.

Manuile. Forgiue mee ſweet Em.

Em. I do forgiue thee with my heart,
And will forget thee too if caſe I can :
But neuer ſpeake to mee, nor ſeeme to know mee.

Manuile. Then fare well froſt :
Well fare a wench that will.

Now Elner, I am thine owne my girle.

Elner. Mine Manuile? thou neuer ſhalt be mine.

I ſo deteft thy villanie,
That whileſt I liue I will abhor thy company.

Manuile. Is it come to this? of late, I had choyce of twaine
On either ſide to haue me to her husband,
And now am vttterly reſected of them both.

Valingford. My Lord this gentleman when time was
Stodd ſome-thing in ourlight,
And now I thinke it not aniffe
To laugh at him that sometime ſcorned at vs.

Mountney. Content my Lord, inuent the forme.

Valingford. Then thus.

Williams. I ſee that women are not generall cuils,
Blanch is faire : Me thinkes I ſee in her,
A modest countenance, a heauenly blush.

Zweno, receiue a reconciled foe,
Not as thy friend, but as thy ſonne in law,
If that thou be thus content.

Zweno, I joy to ſee your grace ſo tractable.
Here take my daughter Blanch,

And

of Manchester.

And after my deceaſe the Denmark Crowne.

William. Now fir, how ſtands the caſe with you?

Manuile. I partly am perſwaded as your grace is,
My Lord, he is beſt at eafe that medleth leaſt.

Valingford. Sir, may a man be so bold
As to craue a word with you ?

Manuile. Yea two or three : what are they?

Valingford. I ſay, this maid will haue thee to her husband.

Mountney. And I ſay this : & thereof will I lay an hundred pound.

Valings. And I ſay this : whereon I willay as much.

Manuile. And I ſay neither : what ſay you to that?

Mountney. If that be true : then are we both deceiued.

Manuile. Why it is true, and you are both deceiued.

Marques. In mine eyes, this is the propreſt wench.

*Might I aduife thee, take her vnto thy wife.*

Zweno. It ſeemes to me, ſhee hath refused him.

Marques. Why thereſs the ſpite.

Zweno. If one ſeue him, yet may he haue the other.

Marques. He will aske but her good will, and all her friends.

Zweno. Might I aduife thee, let them both alone.

Manuile. Yea, that's the course, and thereon will I ſtand,
Such idle loue henceforth I will deteft.

Valingford. The foxe will eat no grapes and why?

Mountney. I know full well, because they hang too high.

William. And may it be a Millers daughter by her birth?

I cannot thinke but ſhee is better borne.

Valingford. Sir Thomas Goddard hight this reuerent man,
Famed for his vertues and his good ſucceſſe :
Whose fame hath been renowmed through the world.

William. Sir Thomas Goddard welcome to thy Prince,
And faire Em, ſroſlike with thy good father.

As glad am I to find Sir Thomas Goddard.

As good Sir Edmund Treford on the planeſs :

He like a ſhepherd, and thou our countrie Miller,

Miller. And longer let not Goddard liue a day,
Than he in honour loues his ſoueraigne.

F 3

William.