(SCENE 2.)

Enter Pike in shackles, nightcap, playsters on his face; a Jaylor.

Pike. The fleete is gone & I have now no hope of liberty; yet I am well refreshd in the care hath bene taken for my cure. But was ever English horse thus Spanish bitted & bossd![26]

Jay. Sir, the care of your keeper, by whom this ease hath been procured, requires remuneration.

Pike. Here's for you, my frend.

Jay. I assure you, the best Surgeons this part of Spaine affoords, through my care taken of you; & you may thanke me.

Pike. What an arrogant rascall's this!—Sir, I thought my thankes herein had chiefly appertaind to the humanity of the Governour, & that your especiall care had bene in providing these necessary shackles to keepe me from running into further danger: these I tooke to be the strong bonds of your frendship.

Jay. Sir, I hope they fitt you as well as if they had bene made for you. Oh, I am so much your servant that I doe wish 'em stronger for your sake.

Pike. 'Tis overwell as it is, sir.

Jay. You are most curteous. [Exit.

Pike. A precious rogue! If the Jaylors be so pregnant what is the hangman, troe? By the time my misery hath brought me to climbe to his acquaintance I shall find a frend to the last gaspe. What's here? a Lady? are the weomen so cruell here to insult ore Captive wretches.

Enter Catelyna & Jaylor.

Cat. Is this the English prisoner?

Jay. Yes, madam.

Cat. Trust me, a goodly person.

Pike. She eyes me wistly; sure she comes not to instruct her selfe in the art of painting by the patternes of my face!

Cat. Sir, shall I speake with you?

Pike. Yes, Lady, so you will not mock mee.

Cat. Indeed I cannot, but must needs acknowledge Myselfe beholding to you.

Pike. This I must beare; I will doe soe & call't my sweet affliction.

Cat. Will you heare me, sir? I am the Lady—

Pike. Yes, I doe heare you say you are the Lady; but let me tell you, madam, that Ladyes, though they should have tenderest sence of honour & all vertuous goodnesse, & so resemble Goddesses as well in soule as feature, doe often prove dissemblers & in their seemely breasts beare cruelty & mischiefe. If you be one of those, oh, be converted; returne from whence you came & know 'tis irreligious, nay divelish to tread & triumph over misery.

Cat. How well he speakes, yet in the sence bewraying A sence distracted: sure his captivity, His wounds, & hard entreaty make him franticke! Pray heare me, sir, & in two words Ile tell you Enough to win beleeife: I am the Lady Of the Knight vanquished by you, Don John.

Pike. Y'have said enough, indeed: pitty of heaven, What new invented cruelty is this! Was't not enough that by his ruthlesse basenes I had these wounds inflicted, but I must Be tortured with his wifes uniust reioycings! 'Twas well his politicke feare, which durst not come To glory in his handy worke himselfe, Could send your priviledg'd Ladyship.

Cat. Indeed, you much mistake me; as I live, As I hope mercy & for after life, I come for nothing but to offer thankes Unto your goodnes, by whose manly temper My lord and husband reassum'd his life; And aske your Christian pardon for the wrong Which by your suffering now pleads him guilty. Good sir, let no mistrust of my iust purpose Crosse your affection: did you know my love To honour and to honest actions, You would not then reiect my gratulations. And since that deeds doe best declare our meaning, I pray accept of this, This money and these clothes and my request Unto your keeper for best meats and wines That are agreable to your health and taste. And, honest frend, thou knowst and darest, I hope, Believe me I will see thee payd for all.

Jay. Yes, my good Lady.—Loe you, sir, you see Still how my care provides your good: you may Suppose the Governours humanity Takes care for you in this, too.

Pike. Excellent Ladye I doe now beleive Virtue and weomen are growne frends againe.

Enter Don John.

Jo. What magicall Illusion's this? 'tis she! Confusion seize your charitable blindnesse! Are you a prison visiter for this, To cherish my dishonour for your merit?

Cat. My lord, I hope my Charity workes for your honour, Releiving him whose mercy spard your life.

Jo. But that I'me subiect to the law & know My blowes are mortall, I would strike thee dead. Ignoble & degenerate from Spanish bloud, Darst thou maintaine this to be charity? Thy strumpett itch & treason to my bed Thou seekst to act in cherishing this villaine.

Cat. Saints be my witnesses you doe me wrong!

Jo. Thou robbst my honour.

Pike. You wound her honour and you robb yourselfe, And me and all good Christians, by this outrage.

Jo. Doe you prate, sir?

Pike. Sir, I may speake; my tongue's unshackled yet, And, were my hands and feete so, on free ground I would mayntayne the honour of this Lady Against an Hoast of such ignoble husbands.

Jo. You are condemnd allready by the Law I make no doubt; and therefore speake your pleasure. —And here come those fore whom my rage is silent.

Enter Ferdinando, Teniente, Guard.

Fer. Deliver up your prisoner to the Teniente. I need not, sir, instruct you in your place To beare him with a guard as is appointed Unto the publicke tryall held at Sherrys.

Ten. It shalbe done.

Fer. How long hath he bene your prisoner?

Jay. 18 days.

Fer. You & the Surgeons out of the Kings pay Ile see dischargd.—You have, according to the Order, Conveyd already Bustamente thither To yeild account for yeilding up the Castle?

Ten. 'Tis done, my Lord.

Fer. Don John, you likewise in his Maiesties name Stand chargd to make your personall appearance To give in evidence against this prisoner.

Jo. I shall be ready there, my Lord.

Pike. To Sherrys? they say the best sackes there. I meane to take one draught of dying comfort.

Cat. I hope you'le not deny my company To waite on you to Sherris?

Jo. No, you shall goe to see your frend there totter.[27]

Pike. I have a suite, my Lord; to see an Englishman, A merchant, prisoner here, before I goe.

Fer. Call him; that done, you know your charge.

[Exit Jaylor.

Ten. And shall performe it.

[Ex. Fer., John, Catalina.

Enter Jaylor & Woodrow.

Pike. Oh, Mr. Woodrow, I must now take leave Of prison fellowship with you. Your fortunes May call you into England, after payment Of some few money debts; but I am calld Unto a further tryall: my debt is life, Which if they take not by extortion, I meane by tortures, I shall gladly pay it.

Wo. I have heard, & thought you by what I had heard Free from feares passion: still continue soe, Depending on heavens mercy.

Pike. You doe instruct me well; but, worthy Countryman, Once more let me give you this to remember, And tis my last request:—that when your better stars Shall guide you into England, youle be pleasd To take my Country Devonshire in your way; Wheir you may find in Taverstoke (whom I left) My wife & children, wretched in my misfortunes. Commend me to them, tell them & my frends That if I be, as I suspect I shalbe, At Sherris putt to death, I dyed a Christian soldier, No way, I hope, offending my iust King Nor my religion, but the Spanish lawes.

[Exeunt.