Complete Dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker

by Thomas Dekker

  I’th’eyes of Heauen, as this day you are Great

  In Fames applause: Hye to your Honor’d Seate.

  THE FOURTH PRESENTATION IS CALLED BRITTANNIA’S WATCH-TOWER.

  THIS is a Magnificent Structure, Aduancing it selfe from the Platforme, or Ground-worke vpward, with the Bew•y of eight Antique Termes, By whose strength is supported a Foure square Building; The Toppe of which is a Watch-Tower, or Lanthorne, with eight Columnes of siluer: And, on the Highest poynt of this Watch-Tower, is Aduanced a Banner, bearing the Cullo•s of the Kingdome.

  At foure Corners of the vpper Square, stand foure Pendants; In which are the Armes of the foure Companies of which his Lordship is Free.

  At rach end of this Platforme, stands a great Corynthian Brazen Pillar, on a Pedestall of Marble.

  On the Capitals of those Pillars, stand two Angels, in Postures ready to flye: holding Garlands of Victory in one hand, stucke with White and Red Roses, and Branches of Palme in the other.

  The Capitals and Bases of the Pillars are Gold, and are Emblemes of the two Houses of Yorke and Lancaster; once diuided, but now Ioyned into One Glorious Building, to Support This Royal Kingdom, & Consequently This Citty.

  At Night, in place of the Angels, are set two Great Lights: and so is the Watch-Tower at that Time, Filld with lighted Tapers.

  Vpon the same Square, in foure seuerall Places, are Aduanced foure stately Pyramides, being Figures, of the foure Kingdomes Embellished with Escutcheons.

  In the vpper seate of all (fashioned into a Throne) is placed Britannia, Maiestically attirde, fitting to her Greatnesse.

  Beneath Her, and round about Her, are these Petsons: viz. Magnanimity with a drawne Sword.

  A Shipwright with a Mallet, holding a Scutcheon, in which is drawne a Ship vnder sayle. Then, A person representing Victory, with a Palme Tree. Prouidence with a Trumpet, ready to Foresee Dangers, and awaken Men to meete them.

  All These haue bene, and still are, Watch-Towers, and Lanthornes, in the Nighrs of Feare and Trouble, to Guard the Kingdome, and in the Kingdome, This Citty.

  In other Eminent places are seated some of those Kiuges of England(in Robes Ermynd) whose loues and Royall fauors, in former times were Watch-Towers to Grace London, stucke full with the Beames and Lights of Honors, Titles, Offices, Magistracies and Royalties, which they Bestowed vppon Her.

  Edward Confessor, called Londons Chiefe Ruler, a Port-reue. Richard 1. appointed two Bayliffes ouer London.

  King Iohn gaue the Citty a Lord Maior and two Sheriffes. Henry 3. added Aldermen.

  These were Tender ouer the Renowne of the Citty, and still heaped on her head, Royalties vpon Royalties.

  And albeit most of our Kinges, haue in most of all of the twelue Companies, Entred their Names, as Free of the Societies, thereby to Royallize their Brotherhoods: And that many of our Kinges likewise, besides Princes and Great Personages, haue bin Free of This Company, whose Names I forbeare to set downe, because they haue in former yeeres beene fully exprest: yet no Company, did euer, or can hereafter, receiue such Graces from Kinges, as This Antient, and Honord Corporation of Skinners, hath had, and still haue, In regard that All our Kinges and Princes, sit in their high Courts of Parliament in Robes Ermynd, (being the richest Furre) the workemanship of which goes through the Skinners fingers, wearing likewise vnder their Crownes, Royall Caps of Honor Ermynd.

  Three of such Crownes, beeing the rich Armes of This Company, thereby expressing as well their Honor, as Antiquity.

  Britannia deliuers thus much.

  SHALL the proud wife of Neptune, or shrill Fame,

  Or Troynouant her selfe, Ring out your Name:

  And I be Dumbe, or sparing, to Sound high,

  The Glories of This Day? No, They shall Fly

  Like Soaring Eagles, to That Curled Maine

  whose Head my Rocky Bridle, In does Reyne:

  The Great Britannia, Bred you in her Wombe,

  Heare then a Mothers Counsell; You are Come

  Aboard a Goodly Ship, where all your State,

  Fame, Honor and Renowne (Imbarqu’d) must waite

  The voyage of twelue Moones. High A•mirall

  You are to All That Fleete, which Thus you Call

  To s•yle in This vast Ocean. Nor must you

  Walke Heartlesse on the Hatches, I heres a New

  State-Nauigation, to be studied Now,

  With an High rear’d, Vndanted, Fixed Brow.

  Be su•e to haue Braue Ordnance, and chargd well;

  In this your S•ip, Trust None, For Officers Sell

  Their Captaines Trust; let None but your owne Eyes,

  Rule Chart and Compasse, There your Safety lyes.

  Your Owne Hands steere the Helme, But strongly Steere,

  And spite of stormes, be stoute when you stand There.

  Embleme of Mercy! Your Keene sword does sleepe,

  But why a Sword, if not to Kul, and Keepe

  Vices (like Slaues) in Awe? Fulnesse of Wine

  Is a Fowle Dropsie, That and Lust Entwine:

  Pride a swolne Timpany, Sloth, the Beggars Goute,

  (In Tradesmens Hands and Feete, It runnes about,)

  No Cure for this! Oathes thicke as Small-shot flye

  From Children, No Defence to Put this by!

  You May, you Must. I Counsell not, but Reade

  A Lesson of my loue; By which Loue led

  Ile on, and Bring you to your Honord Chaire,

  Whi•st Aues (Round about you) Dance i’th’ Aire.

  THE LAST PRESENTATION IS CALLED THE SUN’S BOWER.

  The vpper part of this, is adorned with seuerall Flowers, which in•erwou•n together, dresse vp a comely Greene Arbor, in which the Sunne si•s, with golden Beames about his Face; an Attire glittering like gold; and a mantle bright as his garment, fringed with gold, his haire curled and yellow. About him are placed, Spring, Summer, Autumne, and Winter, in proper Habiliments. Beneath these, is a WILDERNESSE, in which are many sorts of such Beasts, whose rich Skinnes serue for Furres: As the Reare, Wolfe, Leopard, Luzerne, Cat- A-Mountaine, Foxes, Sables, Connies, Ferrets, Squirrels, &c. Of these Beasts, some are climbing, some standing, some grinning, with liuely, naturall postures. In a Scrole, hanging on a Bough, This is written in Capitall letters.

  Deus ecce Furentibus obstat.

  See, for all some Beasts are fell,

  There’s one, that can their curstnesse quell.

  Sol is the Speaker.

  HEAUENS bright Orientall Gates I op’d this Morne,

  And Hither wheeld my Chariot to adorne

  These splendors with my Beames: nere did the Sun

  In his Caelestiall Circle faster runne

  Than Now, to see these Sight•s: O how I ioy

  To view a Kingdome, and a New-built Troy

  So flourishing so full, so faire, so deare

  To th’ Gods. they leaue Ioue’s Court to reuell here.

  All o’re the WORLD, I trauell in one Day,

  Yet oft am forc’d to leaue my beaten way,

  Frighted with Vproares, Battailes, Massacres,

  Famines, and all that Hellish brood of warres:

  I meete no Peace but here. O blessed Land!

  That seest fires kindling round, and yet canst stand

  Vnburnt for all their flames; O Nation blest!

  WHEN all thy Neighbours shrike, none wound thy brest.

  To Crowne these ioyes, with me are come along,

  The foure Lords of the yeare, who by a strong

  Knit Charme, bring in this goodly Russian prize,

  As earnest of a more rich Merchandize:

  Halfe of our Race, Time, and my Houres haue runne,

  Nor shall they giue o’re till the Goale be wonne.

  The Sunne at Night being couered with a vaile of Darknesse: The Person, representing London, thus takes leaue.

  THE Sunne is mantled in thicke Clouds of Blacke,

  And by his hidden Beames, threatens the wracke

  Of all the
se Glories: Euery pleasure dyes

  WHEN Rauen-winged Night, from her Caue flyes;

  None but these Artificiall Starres keepe fire

  To Light you Home, these burne with a desire

  To lengthen your braue Triumphes; but their heate

  Must coole, and dye at length, tho ne’re so Great.

  Peace therefore guide you on: Rest, charme your eyes,

  And Honors waite to cheere you when you Rise.

  Let it be no Ostentation in Me the Inuentor, to speak thus much in praise of the workes, that for many yeares, none haue beene able to Match them for curiosity: They are not Vast, but Neate, and Comprehend as much Arte for Architecture, as can be bestowed vpon such little Bodies. The commendations of which must liue vppon Mr. Gerard Chrismas the Father, and Mr. Iohn Chrismas the Sonne.

  FINIS.

  WARRES, WARRES, WARRES

  ARMA VIRUM{QUE} CANO.

  Into the Field I bring,

  Souldiers and Battailes:

  Boeth their Fames I sing.

  Imprinted at London

  1628.

  TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE HVGH HAMERSLEY, LORD MAIOR OF THIS RENOWNED CITY OF LONDON: AND COLONELL OF THE ARTILLERY GARDEN. THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL, AND WORTHY GENTLE-MEN, SR MAVRICE ABBOT, KNIGHT; AND MR HENRY GARRAWAY, SHRIEFES OF THE SAME CITTY.

  Honourable Praetor: Worthy Consuls.

  THOSE Titles (taking both Descension and Deriuation from the Ancient Roman, Praetorian, and Consular Dignities) are happy Honors, in that they are lent vnto you, from the noblest Nation, that euer carried Armes in the World. Your Places are High, Offices Great; yet giue me leaue to sit at the Roote of your Glories, (like a Passenger on the way) and to lift vp mine eyes to your spreading Branches, leauing this poore Tablet hid amongst your Leaues, containing nothing but an Inscription of my Loue.

  It was some ioy to me, to bee imployed in the Praesentation of your Triumphs, on the day of your Lordships Inauguration; and it shalbe as great a happinesse to me now, if this my second Praesentation, may from your Hands receiue a free entertainment.

  What I offred vp then, was a Sacrifice Ex officio: Custome tooke my Bond for the Performance: And on the Day of Ceremony, I hope the Debt was fully discharged. This Oblation is voluntary, and shall prosper well enough, if it meete acceptance. A braue Company of Gentlemen in Armes, were Additions of much splendor, to that Day, (which of it selfe was bright enough) to grace your Lordship, being at this Time their Sole and Worthy Colonell: I come to you now, speaking still in their Warlike Language. Drums, Fifes, Ensignes, Pikes, and Shot, Marched before you, to your Gates: Drums, Fifes, Ensignes, Pikes, and Shot, doe now come Marching into your Parlors: I know not how to handle either; yet I handle all. Trumpets here sound a Charge, yet no noise heard: A Battaile is fought, but without Bloud shed: I am no Herald, yet I Crye, Warres, Warres, Warres: No Souldier, yet my Pen playes the Captayne, and Drils a Company of Verses on Foote, in a Field of white Paper. The Discipline I teach them, is so Printed in their Memories, that vnlesse their Limbes be torne in peeces, the World cannot chuse but take notice of their Postures. What scorne, other men (out of Malice, rather than Iudgement) shall throw vpon these my Martiall darings, I will put by, with an Odi prophanum Vulgus, and not care what Canons they Plant against mee, so I may lye safely Intrenched, Sub Triplici Clipeo, Of your Three noble Defences. To which I prostrate, my Loue, Labour, and Seruice:

  Resting, Deuoted euer To your Lordship, And Worships. THO. DEKKER.

  TO ALL NOBLE SOULDIERS.

  IF (noble Spirits) as well you may, you wonder

  How I, who ne’re fir’d Cannon, speake in Thunder;

  Your pardon easly thus vnties my Charmes.

  He that wants legges, may be in loue, with Armes.

  WARRES, WARRES, WARRES.

  ARMA VIRUM{QUE} CANO.

  BRAUE Musicke! harke: The ratling Drum beates high,

  And with the scolding Fife, deaffens the skye,

  The Brazen Herald in a shrill Tone, tels

  We shall haue Warres, (ring out for ioy, your Bels:)

  We shall haue Warres, when Kingdoms are at odds,

  Pitch’d Fields those Theaters are, at which the Gods

  Look downe from their high Galleries of Heauen,

  Where Battailes, Tragedies are, to which are giuen

  Plaudits from Cannons, Buskind Actors tread

  Knee deep in blood, and trample on the Dead:

  Death, the graue •••ame, of which is writ the story,

  Keene Swords the Pens, texting (at large) the glory

  Of Generals, Colonels; Captaines, and Commanders,

  With common fighting Men, (the hardy standers

  Against all Hellish Horrors.) Souldiers all,

  And Fellowes (in that name,) to’th Generall.

  O Warre! thou Shoole where honor takes degrees

  (Nobler then those are bought for Heralds Fees,)

  Thou Hiue of Bees industrious, bringing

  Thighes laden with rich spoiles, which may become

  The King of Bees to carry: Thou Refiner

  Of drossie states; Mischiefes rare vnderminer!

  Thou great Magi••••, whose inchanted rounds

  Haue spirits, can bind Ambition within bounds.

  Thou souereigne Chymist that art sent from heauen,

  To cleanse the rancke-world, for to thee is giuen

  The skill of Minerals, (lead, iron and steele,)

  Which can set Realmes vpright when they do reele.

  By a strang Powders helpe, which strikes it dead,

  What e’re the Soare be, or how euer Bred.

  O teach me (all vnskilfull) how to sing

  Some of thy Wonders on my vn-tun’d string:

  For, my heart danceth sprightly, when I see

  (Old as I am) our English Gallantry

  (Albeit no silken Downe playes with their Chin,

  Being fa•d• like women, yet all man within,)

  With new bloom’d Roses blushing on each cheeke,

  To Plough vp seas, bright Fame (abroad) to seeke,

  And (found) neuer to leaue her, till she sets)

  Plumes, rich and glorious in their Burgonets;

  Whose actes, the¯ breaking forth in generous flames.

  Mongst Turks or Spanish, each his worth proclaimes,

  Else writes his faire deserts with his owne hands,

  In bloudy letters ‘mongst the Netherlands,

  So folly, that their Stories shalbee read,

  Whilst the proud Germaine Eagle reares a Head.

  These men I loue, O these! who high Preferre

  Before all stiles, the name of Souldier:

  Which Title in a Diadem beeing set,

  Addes glittring Dyamonds to the Coronet.

  O see• the Armies glorious body mooues,

  In whose proud front match vp so many Ioues:

  As there are Leaders: How the Sunne, enuies

  That from bright armors, and mens sparkling eyes,

  Beames farre more dazling through the ayre are throwne

  Than all those golden Rayes, which are his owne.

  What sight ith’ world (but Nauies on proud Seas,

  Is so stupendious rare? or can so please?

  Had Memphis cloz’d her wonders, all in One,

  Las! they had lack’d that sweet Proportion,

  Which a maine Army carries, that can fall

  Into all Figures, Geometricall,

  At turning of a Hand, to checke all stormes,

  And yet, not Order breake, nor loose their Formes.

  Faces about, the Captaine cryes; they doo’t

  In an eyes twinkling, changing scarce a Foote:

  Then, as you were; tis done; double your Files,

  To note the quicknesse, Time himselfe beguiles.

  Come vp in maine Battalia; vp they come

  In a proud dance, to’th Musicke of the Drum:

  Diuide your selues in Squadrons; flye out in wings;

  Now a
halfe Moone; the word (but spoken) brings

  Men into decent Postures, fit to fight

  Gainst horse or foote; the left hand, or the Right:

  All mooue like wheeles in clockes, some great, some lesse,

  And numerous strings, do but one tune expresse.

  But this is nothing, did they (but thus) still•

  O harke! the Fight begins, for loud shoutes fill

  Heauen with rebounding Ecchoes. Trumpets sound

  A charge; Drums rattle, noise doth noise counfound,

  Yet ’tis all-musicall: Barb’d Horses beate

  Their hoofes through madnes, & their Riders sweat

  With rage, because That moouing wall (of Pikes)

  They cannot enter, for it guards and strikes,

  Yet groues of Pikes, by groues of Pikes are shiuerd

  Ten thousand Bullets from iron wombes deliuer d,

  Flye whurrying in the Ayre: steele Targets clatter,

  Swords clash, whilst Battle-axes, Helmets batter,

  The Cannon roares; by thousands, men dye groning,

  But Drums so cheere the rest; none minds their moning:

  Gold lacde Buffe-ierkins drop; Feathers look pale,

  Whilst tottred de sperue•wes, all stormes of Haile

  Stand like tough Briers: Heads are for foot-bals tost:

  Armes flye to seeke their Maisters, yet both lost,

  Whose mangled Carcases (besmeet’d in gore;)

  Troupes of Carbines in Tryumph trample o’re.

  Here may you see, hot spirits as fiercely meete,

  As Whirle-winds do, whilst rocks or oakes they greet;

  Yet by strong tugging when their Flames are spent,

  Lye like deere friends (tho into wounds all rent,)

  Whose streames gush out so fast, they o•• are found

  Suffring two deaths, and are both kild and drown’d.

  A thousand windings, and a thousand wayes

  The General beates (euen whilst the ordnance plaies)

  To winne the Wind, the Sun, the Wood, the Hell,

  None know what cares the noble Souldier fill.

  Blacke fate! there’s drop’d a Leader to the ground,

  Courage he cryes yet (Souldiers) slights the wound;

  And though death stare in’s face, death him doth feare,

  To fall (saith he) is Fortune de la Guerre.

  As when a Ph••nix, to her death-bed comes,

  She buildes a nest of spice, and odorous gummes,