THE BATTLE OF ALCAZAR
	BY GEORGE PEELE
	First Published 1594
	The Battell of Alcazar, fovght in Barbarie, betweene Sebastian king of Portugall, and Abdelmelec king of Marocco. With the death of Captaine Stukeley.
	An it was sundrie times plaid by the Lord high Admirall his seruants.
	Imprinted at London by Edward Allde for Richard Bankworth, and are to be solde at his shoppe in Pauls Churchyard at the signe of the Sunne. 1 5 9 4.
	DRAMATIS PERSONS.
	The Usurper and His Supporters:
	The Moor, Muly Mahamet.
	Muly Mahamet, his son.
	Calipolis, wife of the Moor.
	Pisano, a Captain of the Moor.
	The Rightful Ruler and His Supporters:
	Abdelmelec, uncle of the Moor, and rightful ruler
	of Morocco.
	Muly Mahamet Seth, younger brother of Abdelmelec.
	Rubin Archis, widow of Abdelmunen.
	Son of Rubin Archis.
	Celybin, a follower of Abdelmelec.
	Zareo, a follower of Abdelmelec.
	Calsepius Bassa, a Turkish Captain.
	Abdil Rayes, a Queen.
	The Portuguese:
	Sebastian, King of Portugal.
	Duke of Avero, a follower of Sebastian.
	Duke of Barceles, a follower of Sebastian.
	Lord Lodowick, a follower of Sebastian.
	Lewes de Silva, a follower of Sebastian.
	Christophero de Tavera, a follower of Sebastian.
	Don Diego Lopez, Governor of Lisbon.
	Don de Menysis, Governor of Tangier.
	Other Christians:
	Tom Stukeley, Captain of the Papal fleet.
	Irish Bishop.
	Hercules, an Italian in Stukeley's service.
	Jonas, an Italian in Stukeley's service.
	Appearing in the Dumb Shows:
	The Presenter.
	Abdelmunen, oldest brother of Abdelmelec.
	Two young Brothers of the Moor, Muly Mahamet.
	Two Murderers.
	Fame.
	Moorish Ambassadors, Spanish Ambassadors and
	Legate, Boy, Soldiers, Messengers, &c.
	A Queen.
	Ladies.
	Settings, Scene Breaks and Stage Directions.
	The original 1594 quarto of The Battle of Alcazar was divided into five Acts and multiple scenes, which organization we follow. As was the usual case in printed plays of the 16th century, no scene settings are provided in the quarto; all scene locations in this edition of Alcazar are the suggestions of the editor. Finally, as is our normal practice, some stage directions have been added, and some modified, for purposes of clarity. Most of these minor changes are adopted from Dyce.
	ACT I.
	Enter the Presenter.
1	Honour, the spur that pricks the princely mind
2	To follow rule and climb the stately chair,
	With great desire inflames the Portingal,
4	An honourable and courageous king,
	To undertake a dangerous dreadful war,
6	And aid with Christian arms the barbarous Moor,
	The negro Muly Hamet, that withholds
8	The kingdom from his uncle Abdelmelec,
	Whom proud Abdallas wronged,
10	And in his throne installs his cruël son,
	That now usurps upon this prince,
12	This brave Barbarian lord, Muly Molocco.
	The passage to the crown by murder made,
14	Abdallas dies, and deigns this tyrant king;
	Of whom we treat, sprung from th' Arabian Moor,
16	Black in his look, and bloody in his deeds;
	And in his shirt, stained with a cloud of gore,
18	Presents himself, with naked sword in hand,
	Accompanied, as now you may behold,
20	With devils coated in the shapes of men.
22
	THE FIRST DUMB-SHOW.
24
	Enter the Moor Muly Mahamet, his Son, ‹ the
26	Moor's attendant, and Pages to attend the Moor.
	Enter to them the Moor's ›
28	two young Brethren: the Moor Muly Mahamet
	shows them the bed, and then takes his leave
30	of them, and they betake them to their rest.
32	And then the Presenter speaketh.
34	Like those that were by kind of murther mummed,
	Sit down and see what heinous stratagems
36	These damnèd wits contrive; and, lo, alas,
	How like poor lambs prepared for sacrifice,
38	This traitor-king hales to their longest home
	These tender lords, his younger brethren both!
40
42	THE SECOND DUMB-SHOW.
44	Enter the Moor [Muly Mahamet], and two
	Murderers, bringing in his uncle Abdelmunen:
46	then they draw the curtains,
	and smother the young Princes in the bed:
48	which done in sight of the uncle [Abdelmunen],
	they strangle him in his chair, and then go forth.
50
	And then the Presenter saith.
52
	His brethren thus in fatal bed behearsed,
54	His father's brother, of too light belief,
	This negro puts to death by proud command.
56	Say not these things are feigned, for true they are;
	And understand how, eager to enjoy
58	His father's crown, this unbelieving Moor,
	Murthering his uncle and his brethren,
60	Triumphs in his ambitious tyranny;
	Till Nemesis, high mistress of revenge,
62	That with her scourge keeps all the world in awe,
	With thundering drums awakes the God of War,
64	And calls the Furies from Avernus' crags,
	To range and rage, and vengeance to inflict,
66	Vengeance on this accursèd Moor for sin.
	And now behold how Abdelmelec comes,
68	Uncle to this unhappy traitor-king,
	Armed with great aid that Amurath had sent,
70	Great Amurath, Emperor of the East,
	For service done to Sultan Solimon,
72	Under whose colours he had served in field,
	Flying the fury of this negro's father,
74	That wronged his brethren to install his son.
	Sit you, and see this true and tragic war,
76	A modern matter full of blood and ruth,
	Where three bold kings, confounded in their height,
78	Fell to the earth, contending for a crown;
	And call this war the Battle of Alcazar.
80
	[Exit.]
	ACT I, SCENE I.
	The Frontier Between Morocco and Algeria.
	Sound drums and trumpets, and then enter
	Abdelmelec, Calsepius Bassa and his Guard,
	and Zareo, a Moor, with Soldiers.
1	Abdel. All hail, Argerd Zareo; and, ye Moors,
2	Salute the frontiers of your native home:
	Cease, rattling drums; and, Abdelmelec, here
4	Throw up thy trembling hands to heaven's throne,
	Pay to thy God due thanks, and thanks to him
6	That strengthens thee with mighty gracious arms
	Against the proud usurper of thy right,
8	The royal seat and crown of Barbary,
	Great Amurath, great Emperor of the East:
10	The world bear witness how I do adore
	The sacred name of Amurath the Great. −
12	Calsepius Bassa, Bassa Calsepius,
	To thee, and to thy trusty band of men
14	That carefully attend us in our camp,
	Picked soldiers, comparable to the guard
16	Of Myrmidons that kept Achilles' tent,
	Such thanks we give to thee and to them all,
18	As may concern a poor distressèd king,
	In honour and in princely courtesy.
20
	Cals. Courteous and honourable Abdelmelec,
22	We are not come, at Amurath's command,
	As mercenary men, to serve for pay,
24	But as sure friends, by our great master sent
	To gratify and to remunerate
26	Thy love, thy loyalty, and forwardness,
	Thy service in his father's dangerous war;
28	And to perform, in view of all the world,
	The true office of right and royalty:
30	To see thee in thy kingly chair enthroned,
	To settle and to seat thee in the same,
32	To make thee Emperor of this Barbary,
	Are come the viceroys and sturdy janizaries
34	Of Amurath, son to Sultan Solimon.
36	Enter Muly Mahamet Seth, Rubin Archis,
	Abdil Rayes, with others.
38
	Rayes. Long live my lord, the sovereign of my heart,
40	Lord Abdelmelec, whom the god of kings,
	The mighty Amurath hath happy made!
42	And long live Amurath for this good deed!
44	Seth. Our Moors have seen the silver moons to wave
	In banners bravely spreading over the plain,
46	And in these semicircles have descried,
	All in a golden field, a star to rise,
48	A glorious comet that begins to blaze,
	Promising happy sorting to us all.
50
	Rubin. Brave man-at-arms, whom Amurath hath sent
52	To sow the lawful true-succeeding seed
	In Barbary, that bows and groans withal
54	Under a proud usurping tyrant's mace,
	Right thou the wrongs this rightful king hath borne.
56
	Abdel. Distressèd ladies, and ye dames of Fesse,
58	Sprung from the true Arabian Muly Xarif,
	The loadstar and the honour of our line,
60	Now clear your watery eyes, wipe tears away,
	And cheerfully give welcome to these arms:
62	Amurath hath sent scourges by his men,
	To whip that tyrant traitor-king from hence,
64	That hath usurped from us, and maimed you all. −
	Soldiers, sith rightful quarrels' aid
66	Successful are, and men that manage them
	Fight not in fear as traitors and their feres,
68	That you may understand what arms we bear,
	What lawful arms against our brother's son,
70	In sight of heaven, even of mine honour's worth,
	Truly I will deliver and discourse
72	The sum of all. Descended from the line
	Of Mahomet, our grandsire Muly Xarif
74	With store of gold and treasure leaves Arabia,
	And strongly plants himself in Barbary;
76	And of the Moors that now with us do wend
	Our grandsire Muly Xarif was the first.
78	From him well wot ye Muly Mahamet Xeque,
	Who in his life-time made a perfect law,
80	Confirmed with general voice of all his peers,
	That in his kingdom should successively
82	His sons succeed. Abdallas was the first,
	Eldest of four, Abdelmunen the second,
84	And we the rest, my brother and myself.
	Abdallas reigned his time: but see the change!
86	He labours to invest his son in all,
	To disannul the law our father made,
88	And disinherit us his brethren;
	And in his life-time wrongfully proclaims
90	His son for king that now contends with us.
	Therefore I crave to re-obtain my right,
92	That Muly Mahamet the traitor holds,
	Traitor and bloody tyrant both at once,
94	That murtherèd his younger brethren both:
	But on this damnèd wretch, this traitor-king,
96	The gods shall pour down showers of sharp revenge.
	And thus a matter not to you unknown
98	I have delivered; yet for no distrust
	Of loyalty, my well-belovèd friends,
100	But that th' occasions fresh in memory
	Of these encumbers so may move your minds,
102	As for the lawful true-succeeding prince
	Ye neither think your lives nor honours dear,
104	Spent in a quarrel just and honourable.
106	Cals. Such and no other we repute the cause
	That forwardly for thee we undertake,
108	Thrice-puissant and renowmèd Abdelmelec,
	And for thine honour, safety, and crown,
110	Our lives and honours frankly to expose
	To all the daungers that our war attend,
112	As freely and as resolutely all
	As any Moor whom thou commandest most.
114
	Seth. And why is Abdelmelec, then, so slow
116	To chástise him with fury of the sword
	Whose pride doth swell to sway beyond his reach?
118	Follow this pride with fury of revenge.
120	Rubin. Of death, of blood, of wreak, and deep revenge,
	Shall Rubin Archis frame her tragic songs:
122	In blood, in death, in murther, and misdeed,
	This heaven's malice did begin and end.
124
	Abdel. Rubin, these rites to Abdelmunen's ghost
126	Have pierced by this to Pluto's grave below;
	The bells of Pluto ring revenge amain,
128	The Furies and the fiends conspire with thee;
	War bids me draw my weapons for revenge
130	Of my deep wrongs and my dear brother's death.
132	Seth. Sheath not your swords, you soldiers of Amurath,
	Sheath not your swords, you Moors of Barbary,
134	That fight in right of your anointed king,
	But follow to the gates of death and hell,
136	Pale death and hell, to entertain his soul;
	Follow, I say, to burning Phlegethon,
138	This traitor-tyrant and his companies.
140	Cals. Heave up your swords against these stony holds,
	Wherein these barbarous rebels are enclosed:
142	Called for is Abdelmelec by the gods
	To sit upon the throne of Barbary.
144
	Rayes. Bassa, great thanks, the honour of the Turks. −
146	Forward, brave lords, unto this rightful war!
	How can this battle but successful be,
148	Where courage meeteth with a rightful cause?
150	Rubin. Go in good time, my best-belovèd lord,
	Successful in thy work thou undertakes!
152
	[Exeunt.]
	ACT I, SCENE II.
	A Valley North of Fez
	Enter, in his chariot, the Moor [Muly Mahamet],
	[Calipolis,] and their son, ‹ Moors attendant
	on each side of the chariot. › Pisano, his captain,
	with the Moor's Guard and treasure.
1	Muly. Pisano, take a cornet of our horse,
2	As many argolets and armèd pikes,
	And with our carriage march away before
4	By Scyras, and those plots of ground
	That to Moroccus lead the lower way:
6	Our enemies keep upon the mountain-tops,
	And have encamped themselves not far from Fesse. −
8	Madam,
	Gold is the glue, sinews, and strength of war,
10	And we must see our treasure may go safe. −
	Away!
12
	[Exit Pisano with the treasure and some of the Guard.]
14
	Now, boy, what's the news?
16
	Muly Jr. The news, my lord, is war, war and revenge;
18	And, if I shall declare the circumstance,
	'Tis thus.
20	Rubin, our uncle's wife, that wrings her hands
	For Abdelmunen's death, accompanied
22	With many dames of Fesse in mourning weeds,
	Near to Argier encountered Abdelmelec,
24	That bends his force, puffed up with Amurath's aid,
	Against your holds and castles of defence.
26	The younger brother, Muly Mahamet Seth,
	Greets the great Bassa that the King of Turks
28	Sends to invade your right and royal realm;
	And basely beg revenge, arch-rebels all,
30	To be inflict upon our progeny.
32	Muly. Why, boy, is Amurath's Bassa such a bug
	That he is marked to do this doughty deed? −
34	Then, Bassa, lock the winds in wards of brass,
	Thunder from heaven, damn wretched men to death,
36	Bear all the offices of Saturn's sons,
	Be Pluto, then, in hell, and bar the fiends,
38	Take Neptune's force to thee and calm the seas,
	And execute Jove's justice on the world,
40	Convey Tamburlaine into our Afric here,
	To chastise and to menace lawful kings: −
42	Tamburlaine, triumph not, for thou must die,
	As Philip did, Caesar, and Caesar's peers.
44
	Muly, Jr. The Bassa grossly flattered to his face,
46	And Amurath's praise advanced above the sound
	Upon the plains, the soldiers being spread,
48	And that brave guard of sturdy janizaries
	That Amurath to Abdelmelec gave,
50	And bad him boldly be with them as safe
	As if he slept within a wallèd town;
52	Who take them to their weapons, threatening revenge,
	Bloody revenge, bloody revengeful war.
54
	Muly. Away, and let me hear no more of this.
56	Why, boy,
	Are we successor to the great Abdallas
58	Descended from th' Arabian Muly Xarif,
	And shall we be afraid of Bassas and of bugs,
60	Raw-head and bloody-bone?
	Boy, seest here this semitarie by my side?
62	Sith they begin to bathe in blood,
	Blood be the theme whereon our time shall tread;
64	Such slaughter with my weapon shall I make
	As through the stream and bloody channels deep
66	Our Moors shall sail in ships and pinnaces
	From Tanger-shore unto the gates of Fesse.
68
	Muly, Jr. And of those slaughtered bodies shall thy son
70	A huge tower erect like Nemrod's frame,
	To threaten those unjust and partial gods
72	That to Abdallas' lawful seed deny
	A long, a happy, and triumphant reign.
74
	An alarum within, and then enter a Messenger.
76
	Mess. Fly, King of Fesse, King of Moroccus, fly,
78	Fly with thy friends, Emperor of Barbary;
	O, fly the sword and fury of the foe,
80	That rageth as the ramping lioness
	In rescue of her younglings from the bear!
82	Thy towns and holds by numbers basely yield,
	Thy land to Abdelmelec's rule resigns,
84	Thy carriage and thy treasure taken is
	By Amurath's soldiers, that have sworn thy death:
86	Fly Amurath's power and Abdolmelec's threats,
	Or thou and thine look here to breathe your last.
88
	Muly. Villain, what dreadful sound of death and flight
90	Is this wherewith thou dost afflict our ears?
	But if there be no safety to abide
92	The favour, fortune, and success of war,
	Away in haste! roll on, my chariot-wheels,
94	Restless till I be safely set in shade
	Of some unhaunted place, some blasted grove
96	Of deadly hue or dismal cypress-tree,
	Far from the light or comfort of the sun,
98	There to curse heaven and he that heaves me hence;
	To seek as Envy at Cecropè's gate,
100	And pine with thought and terror of mishaps:
	Away!
102
	[Exeunt.]
	ACT II.
	Alarum within, and then enter the Presenter.
1	Now war begins his rage and ruthless reign,
2	And Nemesis, with bloody whip in hand,
	Thunders for vengeance on this Negro-Moor;
4
	‹ DUMB SHOW ›
6
	‹ Enter above Nemesis; enter Three Ghosts. ›
8
10	Nor may the silence of the speechless night,
	Dire architect of murthers and misdeeds,
12	Of tragedies and tragic tyrannies,
	Hide or contain this barbarous cruëlty
14	Of this usurper to his progeny.
16	[Three Ghosts cry "Vindicta!"]
18	Hark, lords, as in a hollow place afar,
	The dreadful shrieks and clamours that resound,
20	And sound revenge upon this traitor's soul,
	Traitor to kin and kind, to gods and men!
22	Now Nemesis upon her doubling drum,
	Moved with this ghastly moan, this sad complaint,
24	Larums aloud into Alecto's ears,
	And with her thundering wakes, whereas they lie
26	In cave as dark as hell and beds of steel,
	The Furies, just imps of dire revenge.
28	"Revenge," cries Abdelmunen's grievèd ghost,
30	‹ Lying down behind the Curtains, the three Furies,
	one with a whip, another with a bloody torch
32	and the third with a chopping knife. ›
34	And rouseth with the terror of this noise
	These nymphs of Erebus; "Wreak and revenge"
36	Ring out the souls of his unhappy brethren.
	And now start up these torments of the world,
38	Waked with the thunder of Rhamnusia's drum
	And fearful echoes of these grievèd ghosts, −
40	Alecto with her brand and bloody torch,
	Megaera with her whip and snaky hair,
42	Tisiphone with her fatal murdering iron:
	These three conspire, these three complain and moan. −
44	Thus, Muly Mahamet, is a council held
	To wreak the wrongs and murthers thou hast done. −
46	By this imagine was this barbarous Moor
	Chased from his dignity and his diadem,
48	And lives forlorn among the mountain-shrubs,
	And makes his food the flesh of savage beasts.
50	Amurath's soldiers have by this installed
	Good Abdelmelec in his royal seat.
52	The dames of Fesse and ladies of the land,
	In honour of the son of Solimon,
54	Erect a statue made of beaten gold,
	And sing to Amurath songs of lasting praise.
56	Muly Mahamet's fury over-ruled,
	His cruëlty controlled, and pride rebuked,
58	Now at last when sober thoughts renewed
	Care of his kingdom and desirèd crown,
60	The aid that once was offered and refused,
	By messengers he furiously implores
62	Sebastian's aid, brave King of Portugal.
	He, forward in all arms and chivalry,
64	Hearkens to his ambassadors, and grants
	What they in letters and by words entreat.
66	Now listen, lordings, now begins the game,
	Sebastian's tragedy in this tragic war.
68
	[Exit.]
	ACT II, SCENE I.
	A battlefield Near Fez.
	Alarum within, and then enter Abdelmelec,
	Muly Mahamet Seth, Calsepius Bassa,
	with Moors and Janizaries.
1	Abdel. Now hath the sun displayed his golden beams,
2	And, dusky clouds dispersed, the welkin clears,
	Wherein the twenty-coloured rainbow shews.
4	After this fight happy and fortunate,
	Wherein our Moors have lost the day,
6	And Victory, adorned with Fortune's plumes,
	Alights on Abdelmelec's glorious crest,
8	Here find we time to breathe, and now begin
	To pay thy due and duties thou dost owe
10	To heaven and earth, to gods and Amurath.
12	[Sound trumpets.]
14	And now draw near, and heaven and earth give ear,
	Give ear and record, heaven and earth, with me;
16	Ye lords of Barbary, hearken and attend,
	Hark to the words I speak, and vow I make
18	To plant the true succession of the crown:
	Lo, lords, in our seat royal to succeed
20	Our only brother here we do install,
	And by the name of Muly Mahamet Seth
22	lntitle him true heir unto the crown.
	Ye gods of heaven gratulate this deed,
24	That men on earth may therewith stand content!
	Lo, thus my due and duties do I pay
26	To heaven and earth, to gods and Amurath!
28	[Sound trumpets.]
30	Seth. Renowmèd Bassa, to remunerate
	Thy worthiness and magnanimity,
32	Behold, the noblest ladies of the land
	Bring present tokens of their gratitude.
34
	Enter Rubin Archis, her Son, Abdil Rayes, and Ladies.
36
	Rubin. Rubin, that breathes but for revenge,
38	Bassa, by this commends herself to thee;
	Receive the token of her thankfulness:
40	To Amurath the god of earthly kings
	Doth Rubin give and sacrifice her son:
42	Not with sweet smoke of fire or sweet perfume,
	But with his father's sword, his mother's thanks,
44	Doth Rubin give her son to Amurath.
46	Rayes. As Rubin gives her son, so we ourselves
	To Amurath give, and fall before his face.
48	Bassa, wear thou the gold of Barbary,
	And glister like the palace of the Sun,
50	In honour of the deed that thou hast done.
52	Cals. Well worthy of the aid of Amurath
	Is Abdelmelec, and these noble dames. −
54	Rubin, thy son I shall ere long bestow,
	Where thou dost him bequeath in honour's fee,
56	On Amurath mighty Emperor of the East,
	That shall receive the imp of royal race
58	With cheerful looks and gleams of princely grace. −
	This chosen guard of Amurath's janizaries
60	I leave to honour and attend on thee,
	King of Morocco, conqueror of thy foes,
62	True King of Fesse, Emperor of Barbary;
	Muly Molocco, live and keep thy seat,
64	In spite of fortune's spite or enemies' threats. −
	Ride, Bassa, now, bold Bassa, homeward ride,
66	As glorious as great Pompey in his pride.
68	[Exeunt.]
	ACT II, SCENE II.
	Lisbon.
	Enter Don Diego Lopez, the Irish Bishop,
	Stukeley, Jonas, Hercules, and other.
1	Lopez. Welcome to Lisborne, valiant Catholics,
2	Welcome, brave Englishmen, to Portugal:
	Most reverent primate of the Irish church,
4	And, noble Stukeley, famous by thy name,
	Welcome, thrice welcome to Sebastian's town;
6	And welcome, English captains, to you all:
	It joyeth us to see his Holiness' fleet
8	Cast anchor happily upon our coast.
10	Bish. These welcomes, worthy governor of Lisbon,
	Argue an honourable mind in thee,
12	But treat of our misfortune therewithal.
	To Ireland by Pope Gregory's command
14	Were we all bound, and therefore thus embarked,
	To land our forces there at unawares,
16	Conquering the island for his Holiness,
	And so restore it to the Roman faith:
18	This was the cause of our expedition,
	And Ireland long ere this had been subdued,
20	Had not foul weather brought us to this bay.
22	Lopez. Under correction, are ye not all English-men,
	And 'longs not Ireland to that kingdom, lords?
24	Then, may I speak my conscience in the cause
	Sans scandal to the holy see of Rome,
26	Unhonourable is this expedition,
	And misbeseeming you to meddle in.
28
	Stuk. Lord governor of Lisbon, understand,
30	As we are Englishmen, so are we men,
	And I am Stukeley so resolved in all
32	To follow rule, honour, and empery,
	Not to be bent so strictly to the place
34	Wherein at first I blew the fire of life,
	But that I may at liberty make choice
36	Of all the continents that bound the world;
	For why I make it not so great desert
38	To be begot or born in any place,
	Sith that's a thing of pleasure and of ease
40	That might have been performed elsewhere as well.
42	Lopez. Follow what your good pleasure will,
	Good Captain Stukeley: be it far from me
44	To take exceptions beyond my privilege.
46	Bish. Yet, captain, give me leave to speak;
	We must affect our country as our parents,
48	And if at any time we alienate
	Our love or industry from doing it honour,
50	It must respect effects and touch the soul,
	Matter of conscience and religiön,
52	And not desire of rule or benefit.
54	Stuk. Well said, bishop! spoken like yourself,
	The reverent, lordly Bishop of Saint Asses.
56
	Herc. The bishop talks according to his coat,
58	And takes not measure of it by his mind:
	You see he hath it made thus large and wide,
60	Because he may convert it, as he list,
	To any form may fit the fashion best.
62
	Bish. Captain, you do me wrong to déscant thus
64	Upon my coat or double consciënce,
	And cannot answer it in another place.
66
	Lopez. 'Tis but in jest, lord bishop; put it up:
68	And all as friends deign to be entertained
	As my ability here can make provision.
70	Shortly shall I conduct you to the king,
	Whose welcomes evermore to strangers are
72	Princely and honourable, as his state becomes.
74	Stuk. Thanks, worthy governor. − Come, bishop, come,
	Will you shew fruits of quarrel and of wrath?
76	Come, let's in with my Lord of Lisbon here,
	And put all conscience into one carouse,
78	Letting it out again as we may live.
80	[Exeunt all except Stukeley.]
82	There shall no action pass my hand or sword,
	That cannot make a step to gain a crown;
84	No word shall pass the office of my tongue,
	That sounds not of affection to a crown;
86	No thought have being in my lordly breast,
	That works not every way to win a crown:
88	Deeds, words, and thoughts, shall all be as a king's;
	My chiefest company shall be with kings;
90	And my deserts shall counterpoise a king's:
	Why should not I, then, look to be a king?
92	I am the Marquis now of Ireland made,
	And will be shortly King of Ireland:
94	King of a mole-hill had I rather be,
	Than the richest subject of a monarchy. −
96	Huff it, brave mind, and never cease t'aspire,
	Before thou reign sole king of thy desire.
98
	[Exit.]
	ACT II, SCENE III.
	The Mountains of Northern Morocco.
	Enter the Moor Muly Mahamet, Calipolis,
	their Son, Zareo, and another.
1	Muly. Where art thou, boy? Where is Calipolis?
2	O deadly wound that passeth by mine eye,
	The fatal prison of my swelling heart!
4	O fortune constant in unconstancy!
	Fight earthquakes in the entrails of the earth,
6	And eastern whirlwinds in the hellish shades!
	Some foul contagion of th' infected heaven
8	Blast all the trees, and in their cursèd tops
	The dismal night-raven and tragic owl
10	Breed, and become fore-tellers of my fall,
	The fatal ruin of my name and me!
12	Adders and serpents hiss at my disgrace,
	And wound the earth with anguish of their stings!
14	Now, Abdelmelec, now triúmph in Fesse;
	Fortune hath made thee King of Barbary.
16
	Calip. Alas, my lord, what boot these huge exclaims
18	To advantage us in this distressed estate?
	O, pity our perplexed estate, my lord,
20	And turn all curses to submiss complaints,
	And those complaints to actions of relief!
22	I faint, my lord; and naught may cursing plaints
	Refresh the fading substance of my life.
24
	Muly. Faint all the world, consume and be accursed,
26	Since my state faints and is accursed.
28	Calip. Yet patience, lord, to conquer sorrows so.
30	Muly. What patience is for him that lacks his crown?
	There is no patience where the loss is such:
32	The shame of my disgrace hath put on wings,
	And swiftly flies about this earthly ball.
34	Car'st thou to live, then, fond Calipolis,
	When he that should give essence to thy soul,
36	He on whose glory all thy joy should stay,
	Is soul-less, glory-less, and desperate,
38	Crying for battle, famine, sword, and fire,
	Rather than calling for relief or life?
40	But be content, thy hunger shall have end;
	Famine shall pine to death, and thou shalt live:
42	I will go hunt these cursèd solitaries,
	And make the sword and target here my hound[s]
44	To pull down lions and untamèd beasts.
46	[Exit.]
48	Muly, Jr. Tush, mother, cherish your unhearty soul,
	And feed with hope of happiness and ease;
50	For if by valour or by policy
	My kingly father can be fortunate,
52	We shall be Jove's commanders once again,
	And flourish in a three-fold happiness.
54
	Zareo. His majesty hath sent Sebastiän,
56	The good and harmless King of Portugal,
	A promise to resign the royalty
58	And kingdom of Morocco to his hands;
	And when this haughty offer takes effect,
60	And works affiance in Sebastiän,
	My gracious lord, warned wisely to advise,
62	I doubt not but will watch occasion,
	And take her fore-top by the slenderest hair,
64	To rid us of this miserable life.
66	Muly, Jr. Good madam, cheer yourself: my father's wise;
	He can submit himself and live below,
68	Make shew of friendship, promise, vow, and swear,
	Till, by the virtue of his fair pretence,
70	Sebastian trusting his integrity,
	He makes himself possessor of such fruits
72	As grow upon such great advantages.
74	Calip. But more dishonour hangs on such misdeeds
	Than all the profit their return can bear:
76	Such secret judgments have the heavens imposed
	Upon the drooping state of Barbary,
78	As public merits in such lewd attempts
	Have drawn with violence upon our heads.
80
	Re-enter Muly Mahamet, with a piece of flesh
82	upon his sword.
84	Muly. Hold thee, Calipolis, feed, and faint no more;
	This flesh I forcèd from a lioness,
86	Meat of a princess, for a princess meet:
	Learn by her noble stomach to esteem
88	Penury plenty in extremest dearth;
	Who, when she saw her foragement bereft,
90	Pined not in melancholy or childish fear,
	But as brave minds are strongest in extremes,
92	So she, redoubling her former force,
	Ranged through the woods, and rent the breeding vaults
94	Of proudest savages to save herself.
	Feed, then, and faint not, fair Calipolis;
96	For rather than fierce famine shall prevail
	To gnaw thy entrails with her thorny teeth,
98	The conquering lioness shall attend on thee,
	And lay huge heaps of slaughtered carcasses,
100	As bulwarks in her way, to keep her back.
	I will provide thee of a princely osprey,
102	That as she flieth over fish in pools,
	The fish shall turn their glistering bellies up,
104	And thou shalt take thy liberal choice of all:
	Jove's stately bird with wide-commanding wings
106	Shall hover still about thy princely head.
	And beat down fowl by shoals into thy lap.
108	Feed, then, and faint not, fair Calipolis.
110	Calip. Thanks, good my lord, and though my stomach be
	Too queasy to disgest such bloody meat,
112	Yet, strength I it with virtue of my mind,
	I doubt no whit but I shall live, my lord.
114
	Muly. Into the shades, then, fair Calipolis,
116	And make thy son and negroes here good cheer:
	Feed and be fat, that we may meet the foe
118	With strength and terror, to revenge our wrong.
	[Exeunt.]
	ACT II, SCENE IV.
	Lisbon, the Royal Palace.
	Enter King Sebastian, the Duke of Avero,
	the Duke of Barceles, Lewes de Silva,
	Christophero de Tavera, and Attendants.
1	K. Seb. Call forth those Moors, those men of Barbary,
2	That came with letters from the King of Fesse.
4	Exit one, ‹ who brings in the Moorish Ambassadors
	with two Moorish Attendants. ›
6
	Ye warlike lords, and men of chivalry,
8	Honourable ambassadors of this high regent,
	Hark to Sebastian King of Portugal.
10	These letters sent from your distressèd lord,
	Torn from his throne by Abdelmelec's hand,
12	Strengthened and raised by furious Amurath,
	Import a kingly favour at our hands,
14	For aid to re-obtain his royal seat,
	And place his fortunes in their former height.
16	For quital of which honourable arms,
	By these his letters he doth firmly vow
18	Wholly to yield and to surrender up
	The kingdom of Moroccus to our hands,
20	And to become to us contributary;
	And to content himself with the realm of Fesse.
22	These lines, my lords, writ in extremity,
	Contain therefore but during fortune's date;
24	How shall Sebastian, then, believe the same?
26	1st Amb. Viceroys, and most Christian king of Portugal,
	To satisfy thy doubtful mind herein,
28	Command forthwith a blazing brand of fire
	Be brought in presence of thy majesty:
30	Then shalt thou see, by our religious vows
	And ceremonies most inviolate,
32	How firm our sovereign's protestations are.
34	A brand is brought in by an Attendant.
36	Behold, my lord, this binds our faith to thee:
	In token that great Muly Mahamet's hand
38	Hath writ no more than his stout heart allows,
	And will perform to thee and to thine heirs,
40	We offer here our hands into this flame;
	And as this flame doth fasten on this flesh,
42	So from our souls we wish it may consume
	The heart of our great lord and sovereign,
44	Muly Mahamet King of Barbary,
	If his intent agree not with his words!
46
	K. Seb. These ceremonies and protestations
48	Sufficeth us, ye lords of Barbary,
	Therefore return this answer to your king:
50	Assure him by the honour of my crown,
	And by Sebastian's true unfeignèd faith,
52	He shall have aid and succour to recover,
	And seat him in, his former empery.
54	Let him rely upon our princely word:
	Tell him by August we will come to him
56	With such a power of brave impatient minds,
	As Abdelmelec and great Amurath
58	Shall tremble at the strength of Portugal.
60	1st Amb. Thanks to the renowmèd King of Portugal,
	On whose stout promises our state depend.
62
	K. Seb. Barbarians, go glad your distressèd king,
64	And say Sebastian lives to right his wrong.
66	[Exeunt Ambassadors and their Attendants.]
68	Duke of Avero, call in those Englishmen,
	Don Stukeley, and those captains of the fleet,
70	That lately landed in our bay of Lisbon. −
	Now breathe, Sebastian, and in breathing blow
72	Some gentle gale of thy new-formèd joys. −
	Duke of Avero, it shall be your charge
74	To take the muster of the Portugals,
	And bravest bloods of all our country. −
76
	[Exit Duke of Avero.]
78
	Lewes de Silva, you shall be despatched
80	With letters unto Philip King of Spain:
	Tell him we crave his aid in this behalf;
82	I know our brother Philip nill deny
	His futherance in this holy Christian war. −
84	Duke of Barceles, as thy ancestors
	Have always loyal been to Portugal,
86	So now, in honour of thy toward youth,
	Thy charge shall be to Antwerp speedily,
88	To hire us mercenary men-at-arms:
	Promise them princely pay; and be thou sure
90	Thy word is ours, − Sebastian speaks the word.
92	Chris. I beseech your majesty, employ me in this war.
94	K. Seb. Christopher de Tavera, next unto myself,
	My good Hephaestion, and my bedfellow,
96	Thy cares and mine shall be alike in this,
	And thou and I will live and die together.
98
	Re-enter the Duke of Avero, with the Irish Bishop,
100	Stukeley, Jonas, Hercules, and others.
102	And now, brave Englishmen, to you
	Whom angry storms have put into our bay;
104	Hold not your fortune e’er the worse in this:
	We hold our strangers' honours in our hand,
106	And for distressèd frank and free relief.
	Tell me, then, Stukeley, for that's thy name I trow,
108	Wilt thou, in honour of thy country's fame,
	Hazard thy person in this brave exploit,
110	And follow us to fruitful Barbary,
	With these six thousand soldiers thou hast brought,
112	And choicely picked through wanton Italy?
	Thou art a man of gallant personage,
114	Proud in thy looks, and famous every way:
	Frankly tell me, wilt thou go with me?
116
	Stuk. Courageous king, the wonder of my thoughts,
118	And yet, my lord, with pardon understand,
	Myself and these whom weather hath enforced
120	To lie at road upon thy gracious coast,
	Did bend our course and made amain for Ireland.
122
	K. Seb. For Ireland, Stukeley, (thou mistak'st me wonderous much,)
124	With seven ships, two pinnaces, and six thousand men?
	I tell thee, Stukeley, they are far too weak
126	To violate the Queen of Ireland's right;
	For Ireland's Queen commandeth England's force.
128	Were every ship ten thousand on the seas,
	Manned with the strength of all the eastern kings,
130	Conveying all the monarchs of the world,
	To invade the island where her highness reigns,
132	'Twere all in vain, for heavens and destinies
	Attend and wait upon her majesty.
134	Sacred, imperial, and holy is her seat,
	Shining with wisdom, love, and mightiness:
136	Nature that every thing imperfect made,
	Fortune that never yet was constant found,
138	Time that defaceth every golden show,
	Dare not decay, remove, or her impair;
140	Both nature, time, and fortune, all agree,
	To bless and serve her royal majesty.
142	The wallowing ocean hems her round about;
	Whose raging floods do swallow up her foes,
144	And on the rocks their ships in pieces split,
	And even in Spain, where all the traitors dance
146	And play themselves upon a sunny day,
	Securely guard the west part of her isle;
148	The south the narrow Britain-sea begirts,
	Where Neptune sits in triumph to direct
150	Their course to hell that aim at her disgrace;
	The German seas alongst the east do run,
152	Where Venus banquets all her water-nymphs,
	That with her beauty glancing on the waves
154	Disdains the check of fair Proserpina.
	Advise thee, then, proud Stukeley, ere thou pass
156	To wrong the wonder of the highest God;
	Sith danger, death, and hell do follow thee,
158	Thee, and them all, that seek to danger her.
	If honour be the mark whereat thou aim'st,
160	Then follow me in holy Christian wars,
	And leave to seek thy country's overthrow.
162
	Stuk. Rather, my lord, let me admire these words
164	Than answer to your firm objectiöns.
	His Holiness Pope Gregory the Seventh
166	Hath made us four the leaders of the rest:
	Amongst the rest, my lord, I am but one;
168	If they agree, Stukeley will be the first
	To die with honour for Sebastiän.
170
	K. Seb. Tell me, lord bishop, captains, tell me, all,
172	Are you content to leave this enterprise
	Against your country and your countrymen,
174	To aid Mahamet King of Barbary?
176	Bish. To aid Mahamet King of Barbary,
	'Tis 'gainst our vows, great King of Portugal.
178
	K. Seb. Then, captains, what say you?
180
	Jonas. I say, my lord, as the bishop said,
182	We may not turn from conquering Ireland.
184	Herc. Our country and our countrymen will condemn
	Us worthy of death, if we neglect our vows.
186
	K. Seb. Consider, lords, you are now in Portugal,
188	And I may now dispose of you and yours:
	Hath not the wind and weather given you up,
190	And made you captives at our royal will?
192	Jonas. It hath, my lord, and willingly we yield
	To be commanded by your majesty;
194	But if you make us voluntary men,
	Our course is then direct for Ireland.
196
	K. Seb. That course will we direct for Barbary. −
198	Follow me, lords: Sebastian leads the way
	To plant the Christian faith in Africa.
200
	Stuk. Saint George for England! and Ireland now adieu,
202	For here Tom Stukeley shapes his course anew.
204	[Exeunt.]
	ACT III.
	Enter the Presenter.
1	Lo, thus into a lake of blood and gore
2	The brave courageous King of Portugal
	Hath drenched himself, and now prepares amain
4	With sails and oars to cross the swelling seas,
	With men and ships, courage and cannon-shot,
6	To plant this cursèd Moor in fatal hour;
	And in this Catholic case the King of Spain
8	Is called upon by sweet Sebastiän,
	Who surfeiting in prime time of his youth
10	Upon ambitious poison, dies thereon.
	By this time is the Moor to Tanger come,
12	A city 'longing to the Portugal;
	And now doth Spain promise with holy face,
14	As favouring the honour of the cause,
	His aid of arms, and levies men apace:
16	But nothing less than King Sebastian's good
	He means; yet at Sucor de Tupeä
18	He met, some say, in person with the Portugal,
	And treateth of a marriage with the king:
20	But 'ware ambitious wiles and poisoned eyes!
	There was nor aid of arms nor marriäge,
22	For on his way without those Spaniards King Sebastian went.
24	[Exit.]
	ACT III, SCENE I.
	Lisbon, the Royal Palace.
	Enter King Sebastian, Lords, Lewes de Silva,
	and the Ambassadors and Legate of Spain.
1	K. Seb. Honourable lords, ambassadors of Spain,
2	The many favours by our meetings done
	From our belovèd and renowmèd brother,
4	Philip the Catholic King of Spain,
	Say therefore, good my lord ambassador,
6	Say how your mighty master minded is
	To propagate the fame of Portugal.
8
	1st Amb. To propagate the fame of Portugal,
10	And plant religious truth in Africa,
	Philip the great and puissant king of Spain,
12	For love and honour of Sebastian's name,
	Promiseth aid of arms, and swears by us
14	To do your majesty all the good he can,
	With men, munition, and supply of war,
16	Of Spaniards proud, in king Sebastian's aid,
	To spend their bloods in honour of their Christ.
18
	Legate. And farther, to manifest unto your majesty
20	How much the Catholic king of Spain affects
	This war with Moors and men of little faith,
22	The honour of your everlasting praise,
	Behold, to honour and enlarge thy name,
24	He maketh offer of his daughter Isabel
	To link in marriage with the brave Sebastian;
26	And to enrich Sebastian's noble wife,
	His majesty doth promise to resign
28	The titles of the Islands of Moloccus,
	That by his royalty in India he commands.
30	These favours with unfeignèd love and zeal
	Voweth King Philip to King Sebastian.
32
	K. Seb. And God so deal with King Sebastian’s soul
34	As justly he intends to fight for Christ!
	Nobles of Spain, sith our renowmèd brother,
36	Philip the king of honour and of zeal,
	By you the chosen orators of Spain
38	The offer of the holds he makes
	Are not so preciöus in our account,
40	As is the peerless dame whom we adore,
	His daughter, in whose loyalty consists
42	The life and honour of Sebastiän.
	As for the aid of arms he promiseth,
44	We will expect and thankfully receive,
	At Cardis, as we sail alongst the coast. −
46	Sebastian, clap thy hands for joy,
	Honourèd by this meeting and this match. −
48	Go, lords, and follow to the famous war
	Your king; and be his fortune such in all
50	As he intends to manage arms in right.
52	[Exeunt all except Stukeley and Another.]
54	Stuk. Sit fast, Sebastiän, and in this work
	God and good men labour for Portugal!
56	For Spain, disguising with a double face,
	Flatters thy youth and forwardness, good king. −
58	Philip, whom some call the Catholic king,
	I fear me much thy faith will not be firm,
60	But disagree with thy profession.
62	The Other. What, then, shall of those men of war become,
	Those numbers that do multiply in Spain?
64
	Stuk. Spain hath a vent for them and their supplies:
66	The Spaniard ready to embark himself,
	Here gathers to a head; but all too sure
68	Flanders, I fear, shall feel the force of Spain.
	Let Portugal fare as he may or can,
70	Spain means to spend no powder on the Moors.
72	The Other. If kings do dally so with holy oaths,
	The heavens will right the wrongs that they sustain. −
74	Philip, if these forgeries be in thee,
	Assure thee, king, 'twill light on thee at last;
76	And when proud Spain hopes soundly to prevail,
	The time may come that thou and thine shall fail.
78
	[Exeunt.]
	ACT III, SCENE II.
	Fez, the Moroccan Captital.
	Enter Abdelmelec, Muly Mahamet Seth,
	Zareo, and train.
1	Abdel. The Portugal, led with deceiving hope,
2	Hath raised his power, and received our foe
	With honourable welcomes and regard,
4	And left his country-bounds, and hether bends
	In hope to help Mahamet to a crown,
6	And chase us hence, and plant this Negro-Moor,
	That clads himself in coat of hammered steel
8	To heave us from the honour we possess.
	But, for I have myself a soldier been,
10	I have, in pity to the Portugal,
	Sent secret messengers to counsel him.
12	As for the aid of Spain, whereof they hoped,
	We have despatched our letters to their prince,
14	To crave that in a quarrel so unjust,
	He that entitled is the Catholic king,
16	Would not assist a careless Christian prince.
	And, as by letters we are let to know,
18	Our offer of the seven holds we made
	He thankfully receives with all conditions,
20	Differing in mind [as] far from all his words
	And promises to King Sebastiän,
22	As we would wish, or you, my lords, desire.
24	Zareo. What resteth, then, but Abdelmelec may
	Beat back this proud invading Portugal,
26	And chastise this ambitious Negro-Moor
	With thousand deaths for thousand damnèd deeds!
28
	Abdel. Forward, Zareo, and ye manly Moors! −
30	Sebastian, see in time unto thyself:
	If thou and thine misled do thrive amiss,
32	Guiltless is Abdelmelec of thy blood.
34	[Exeunt.]
	ACT III, SCENE III.
	The Portuguese-held Fortress at Tangier.
	Enter Don de Menysis, with Captains and others.
1	Menys. Captain[s],
2	We have receivèd letters from the king,
	That with such signs and arguments of love
4	We entertain the King of Barbary,
	That marcheth toward Tanger with his men,
6	The poor remainders of those that fled from Fesse,
	When Abdelmelec got the glorious day,
8	And stalled himself in his imperial throne.
10	1st Capt. Lord governor, we are in readiness
	To welcome and receive this hapless king,
12	Chased from his land by angry Amurath;
	And if the right rest in this lusty Moor,
14	Bearing a princely heart unvanquishable,
	A noble resolution then it is
16	In brave Sebastiän our Christian king,
	To aid this Moor with his victorious arms,
18	Thereby to propagate religious truth,
	And plant his springing praise in Africa.
20
	2nd Capt. But when arrives this brave Sebastiän,
22	To knit his forces with this manly Moor,
	That both in one, and one in both, may join
24	In this attempt of noble consequence?
	Our men of Tanger long to see their king,
26	Whose princely face, that like the summer's sun,
	Glads all these hether parts of Barbary.
28
	Menys. Captains, he cometh hetherward amain,
30	Top and top-gallant, all in brave array:
	The sixth-and-twentieth day of June he left
32	The bay of Lisborne, and with all his fleet
	At Cardis happily he arrived in Spain
34	The eighth of July, tarrying for the aid
	That Philip King of Spain had promisèd:
36	And fifteen days he there remained aboard,
	Expecting when this Spanish force would come,
38	Nor stept ashore, as he were going still.
	But Spain, that meant and minded nothing less,
40	Pretends a sudden fear and care to keep
	His own from Amurath's fierce invasion,
42	And to excuse his promise to our king;
	For which he storms as great Achilles erst
44	Lying for want of wind in Aulis' gulf,
	And hoiseth up his sails and anchors weighs,
46	And hetherward he comes, and looks to meet
	This manly Moor whose case he undertakes.
48	Therefore go we to welcome and receive,
	With cannon-shot and shouts of young and old,
50	This fleet of Portugals and troop of Moors.
52	[Exeunt.]
	ACT III, SCENE IV.
	Tangier.
	Trumpets sound, and chambers are discharged.
	Then enter King Sebastian, the Duke or Avero,
	Lord Lodowick, Stukeley, &c.;
	the Moor Muly Mahamet, Calipolis, their Son, &c.
1	K. Seb. Muly Mahamet, King of Barbary,
2	Well met, and welcome to our town of Tanger,
	After this sudden shock and hapless war. −
4	Welcome, brave Queen of Moors: repose thee here,
	Thou and thy noble son. − And, soldiers all,
6	Repose you here in King Sebastian's town. −
	Thus far in honour of thy name and aid,
8	Lord Mahamet, we have adventurèd,
	To win for thee a kingdom, for ourselves
10	Fame, and performance of those promises
	That in thy faith and royalty thou hast
12	Sworn to Sebastian King of Portugal;
	And thrive it so with thee as thou dost mean,
14	And mean thou so as thou dost wish to thrive!
	And if our Christ, for whom in chief we fight,
16	Hereby t' enlarge the bounds of Christendom,
	Favour this war, and, as I do not doubt,
18	Send victory to light upon my crest,
	Brave Moor, I will advance thy kingly son,
20	And with a diadem of pearl and gold
	Adorn thy temples and enrich thy head.
22
	Muly. O brave Sebastian, noble Portugal,
24	Renowmed and honoured ever mayst thou be,
	Triúmpher over those that menace thee!
26	The hellish prince, grim Pluto, with his mace
	Ding down my soul to hell, and with this soul
28	This son of mine, the honour of my house,
	But I perform religiously to thee
30	That I have holily erst underta'en!
	And that thy lords and captains may perceive
32	My mind in this single and pure to be, −
	As pure as is the water of the brook, −
34	My dearest son to thee I do engage:
	Receive him, lord, in hostage of my vow;
36	For even my mind presageth to myself,
	That in some slavish sort I shall behold
38	Him dragged along this running river shore,
	A spectacle to daunt the pride of those
40	That climb aloft by force, and not by right.
42	Muly, Jr. Nor can it otherwise befall the man
	That keeps his seat and sceptre all in fear;
44	That wears his crown in eye of all the world,
	Reputed theft and not inheritance.
46	What title, then, hath Abdelmelec here
	To bar our father or his progeny?
48	Right royal prince, hereof you make no doubt,
	Agreeing with your wholesome Christian laws:
50	Help, then, courageous lord, with hand and sword,
	To clear his way, whose lets are lawless men;
52	And for this deed ye all shall be renowmed,
	Renowmed and chronicled in books of fame,
54	In books of fame, and characters of brass,
	Of brass, nay, beaten gold: fight, then, for fame,
56	And find th' Arabian Muly Hamet here
	Adventurous, bold, and full of rich reward.
58
	Stuk. Brave boy, how plain this princely mind in thee
60	Argues the height and honour of thy birth!
	And well have I observed thy forwardness; −
62	Which being tendered by your majesty,
	No doubt the quarrel, opened by the mouth
64	Of this young prince unpartially to us,
	May animate and hearten all the host
66	To fight against the devil for Lord Mahamet.
68	K. Seb. True, Stukeley; and so freshly to my mind
	Hath this young prince reduced his father's wrong,
70	That in good time I hope this honour's fire,
	Kindled already with regard of right,
72	Bursts into open flames, and calls for wars,
	Wars, wars, to plant the true-succeeding prince. −
74	Lord Mahamet, I take thy noble son
	A pledge of honour, and shall use him so. −
76	Lord Lodowick, and my good Lord of Avero,
	See this young prince conveyed safe to Messegon,
78	And there accompanied as him fitteth best:
	And to this war prepare ye more and less,
80	This rightful war, that Christians' God will bless.
82	[Exeunt.]
	ACT IV.
	Enter the Presenter.
1	Now hardened is this hapless heathen prince,
2	And strengthened by the arms of Portugal,
	This Moor, this murtherer of his progeny;
4	And war and weapons now, and blood and death,
	Wait on the counsels of this cursèd king;
6	And to a bloody banquet he invites
	The brave Sebastian and his noble peers.
8
10	DUMB-SHOW.
12	Enter to the bloody banquet.
14	In fatal hour arrived this peerless prince,
	To lose his life, his life, and many lives
16	Of lusty men, courageous Portugals,
	Drawen by ambitious golden looks.
18	Let fame of him no wrongful censure sound;
	Honour was object of his thoughts, ambition was his ground.
20
	[Exit.]
	ACT IV, SCENE I.
	Town of Alcazar.
	Enter Abdelmelec, Celybin, Zareo, and others.
1	Abdel. Now tell me, Celybin, what doth the enemy?
2
	Cely. The enemy, dread lord, hath left the town
4	Of Arzil with a thousand soldiers armed,
	To guard his fleet of thirteen hundred sail;
6	And mustering of his men before the walls,
	He found he had two thousand armèd horse,
8	And fourteen thousand men that serve on foot,
	Three thousand pioners, and a thousand coachmen,
10	Besides a number almost numberless
	Of drudges, negroes, slaves, and muleters,
12	Horse-boys, landresses, and courtezans,
	And fifteen hundred wagons full of stuff
14	For noblemen brought up in delicate.
16	Abdel. Alas, good king, thy foresight hath been small,
	To come with women into Barbary,
18	With landresses, with baggage, and with trash,
	Numbers unfit to multiply thy host.
20
	Cely. Their payment in the camp is passing slow,
22	And victuals scarce, that many faint and die.
24	Abdel. But whether marcheth he in all this haste?
26	Cely. Some thinks he marcheth hetherward,
	And means to take this city of Alcazar.
28
	Abdel. Unto Alcazar? O unconstant chance!
30
	Cely. The brave and valiant King of Portugal
32	Quarters his power in four battalions,
	Afront the which, to welcome us withal,
34	Are six and thirty roaring-pieces placed:
	The first, consisting of light-armèd horse
36	And of the garrisons from Tanger brought,
	Is led by Alvaro Peres de Tavero;
38	The left or middle battle, of Italians
	And German horsemen, Stukeley doth command,
40	A warlike Englishman sent by the Pope,
	That vainly calls himself Marquis of Ireland;
42	Alonso Aquilaz conducts the third, −
	That wing of German soldiers most consists;
44	The fourth legion is none but Portugals,
	Of whom Lodevico Caesar hath the chiefest charge:
46	Besides there stand six thousand horse
	Bravely attirèd, prest where need requires.
48	Thus have I told your royal majesty
	How he is placed to brave the fight.
50
	Abdel. But where's our nephew, Muly Mahamet?
52
	Cely. He marcheth in the middle, guarded about
54	With full five hundred hargubuze on foot,
	And twice three thousand needless armèd pikes.
56
	Zareo. Great sovereign, vouchsafe to hear me speak,
58	And let Zareo's counsel now prevail:
	Whilst time doth serve, and that these Christians dare
60	Approach the field with warlike ensigns spread,
	Let us in haste with all our forces meet,
62	And hem them in, that not a man escape;
	So will they be advised another time
64	How they do touch the shore of Barbary.
66	Abdel. Zareo, hear our resolutiön:
	And thus our forces we will first dispose.
68	Hamet, my brother, with a thousand shot
	On horse-back, and choice harguebuziers all,
70	Having ten thousand [foot] with spear and shield,
	Shall make the right wing of the battle up;
72	Zareo, you shall have in charge the left,
	Two thousand argolets and ten thousand horse;
74	The main battle of harquebuze on foot,
	And twenty thousand horsemen in their troops,
76	Myself, environed with my trusty guard
	Of janizaries, fortunate in war;
78	And toward Arzil will we take our way.
	If, then, our enemy will balk our force,
80	In God's name let him, it will be his best;
	But if he level at Alcazar walls,
82	Then beat him back with bullets as thick as hail,
	And make him know and rue his oversight,
84	That rashly seeks the ruin of this land.
86	[Exeunt.]
	ACT IV, SCENE II.
	The Portuguese Camp North of the Town of Alcazar.
	Enter King Sebastian, the Duke of Avero,
	Stukeley, and others.
1	K. Seb. Why, tell me, lords, why left ye Portugal,
2	And crossed the seas with us to Barbary?
	Was it to see the country and no more,
4	Or else to fly before ye were assailed?
	I am ashamed to think that such as you,
6	Whose deeds have been renowmèd heretofore,
	Should slack in such an act of consequence:
8	We come to fight, and fighting vow to die,
	Or else to win the thing for which we came.
10	Because Abdelmelec, as pitying us,
	Sends messages to counsel quietness,
12	You stand amazed, and think it sound advice,
	As if our enemy would wish us any good:
14	No, let him know we scorn his courtesy,
	And will resist his forces whatsoe'er.
16	Cast fear aside: myself will lead the way,
	And make a passage with my conquering sword,
18	Knee-deep in blood of these accursèd Moors;
	And they that love my honour, follow me.
20	Were you as resolute as is your king,
	Alcazar walls should fall before your face,
22	And all the force of this Barbarian lord
	Should be confounded, were it ten times more.
24
	Avero. So well become these words a kingly mouth,
26	That are of force to make a coward fight;
	But when advice and prudent foresight
28	Is joinèd with such magnanimity,
	Trophes of victory and kingly spoils
30	Adorn his crown, his kingdom, and his fame.
32	Enter Christopher de Tavora, Don de Menysis
	and Hercules.
34
	Herc. We have descried upon the mountain-tops
36	A hugy company of invading Moors;
	And they, my lord, as thick as winter's hail,
38	Will fall upon our heads at unawares:
	Best, then, betimes t' avoid this gloomy storm;
40	It is in vain to strive with such a stream.
42	Enter the Moor.
44	Muly. Behold, thrice-noble lord, uncalled I come
	To counsel where necessity commands;
46	And honour of undoubted victory
	Makes me exclaim upon this dastard flight.
48	Why, King Sebastian, wilt thou now foreslow,
	And let so great a glory slip thy hands?
50	Say you do march unto Larissa now,
	The forces of the foe are come so nigh,
52	That he will let the passage of the river;
	So unawares you will be forced to fight.
54	But know, O king, and you, thrice-valiant lords,
	Few blows will serve. I ask but only this,
56	That with your power you march into the field;
	For now is all the army resolute
58	To leave the traitor helpless in the fight,
	And fly to me as to their rightful prince.
60	Some horsemen have already led the way,
	And vow the like for their companiöns:
62	The host is full of tumult and of fear.
	Then as you come to plant me in my seat,
64	And to enlarge your fame in Africa,
	Now, now or never, bravely execute
66	Your resolution sound and honourable,
	And end this war together with his life
68	That doth usurp the crown with tyranny.
70	K. Seb. Captains, you hear the reasons of the king,
	Which so effectually have pierced mine ears,
72	That I am fully resolute to fight;
	And who refuseth now to follow me,
74	Let him be ever counted cowardly.
76	Avero. Shame be his share that flies when kings do fight!
	Avero lays his life before your feet.
78
	Stuk. For my part, lords, I cannot sell my blood
80	Dearer than in the company of kings.
82	[Exeunt all except the Moor.]
84	Muly. Now have I set these Portugals awork
	To hew a way for me unto the crown,
86	Or with their weapons here to dig their graves.
	You bastards of the Night and Erebus,
88	Fiends, Furies, hags that fight in beds of steel,
	Range through this army with your iron whips,
90	Drive forward to this deed this Christian crew,
	And let me triumph in the tragedy,
92	Though it be sealed and honoured with the blood
	Both of the Portugal and barbarous Moor.
94	Ride, Nemesis, ride in thy fiery cart,
	And sprinkle gore amongst these men of war,
96	That either party, eager of revenge,
	May honour thee with sacrifice of death;
98	And having bathed thy chariot-wheels in blood,
	Descend and take to thy tormenting hell
100	The mangled body of that traitor-king
	That scorns the power and force of Portugal:
102	Then let the earth discover to his ghost
	Such tortures as usurpers feel below;
104	Racked let him be in proud Ixion's wheel,
	Pined let him be with Tantalus' endless thirst,
106	Prey let him be to Tityus' greedy bird,
	Wearied with Sisyphus' immortal toil:
108	And lastly for revenge, for deep revenge,
	Whereof thou goddess and deviser art,
110	Damned let him be, damned, and condemned to bear
	All torments, tortures, plagues, and pains of hell.
112
	[Exit.]
	ACT V.
	Enter the Presenter.
1	Ill be to him that so much ill bethinks;
2	And ill betide this foul ambitious Moor,
	Whose wily trains with smoothest course of speech
4	Have tied and tangled in a dangerous war
	The fierce and manly King of Portugal.
6
	[Lightning and thunder.]
8
	Now throw the heavens forth their lightning-flames,
10	And thunder over Afric's fatal fields:
	Blood will have blood, foul murther scape no scourge.
12
	Enter Fame, like an angel,
14	and hangs the crowns upon a tree.
16	At last descendeth Fame, as Iris
	To finish fainting Dido's dying life;
18	Fame from her stately bower doth descend,
	And on the tree, as fruit new-ripe to fall,
20	Placeth the crowns of these unhappy kings,
	That erst she kept in eye of all the world.
22
	[Here the blazing star.]
24
	Now fiery stars, and streaming comets blaze,
26	That threat the earth and princes of the same.
28	[Fireworks.]
30	Fire, fire about the axletree of heaven
	Whirls round, and from the foot of Cassiope,
32	In fatal hour, consumes these fatal crowns.
34	[One crown falls.]
36	Down falls the diadem of Portugal.
38	[The other crown falls.]
40	The crowns of Barbary and kingdoms fall;
	Ay me, that kingdoms may not stable stand!
42	And now approaching near the dismal day,
	The bloody day wherein the battles join,
44	Monday the fourth of August, seventy-eight,
	The sun shines wholly on the parchèd earth,
46	The brightest planet in the highest heaven.
	The heathens, eager bent against their foe,
48	Give onset with great ordnance to the war;
	The Christians with great noise of cannon-shot
50	Send angry onsets to the enemy.
	Give ear, and hear how war begins his song
52	With dreadful clamours, noise, and trumpets' sound.
54	[Exit.]
	ACT V, SCENE I.
	The Battlefield at Alcazar.
	Alarums, and chambers discharged, within;
	then enter to the battle;
	and the Moors, who form Abdelmelec's army, fly.
	Skirmish still; then enter Abdelmelec
	in his chair, Zareo, and train.
1	Abdel. Say on, Zareo, tell me all the news,
2	Tell me what Fury rangeth in our camp,
	That hath enforced our Moors to turn their backs;
4	Zareo, say what chance did bode this ill,
	What ill enforced this dastard cowardice?
6
	Zareo. My lord, such chance as wilful war affords;
8	Such chances and misfortunes as attend
	On him, the god of battle and of arms.
10	My lord, when with our ordnance fierce we sent
	Our Moors with smaller shot, as thick as hail
12	Follows apace, to charge the Portugal;
	The valiant duke, the devil of Avero,
14	The bane of Barbary, fraughted full of ire,
	Breaks through the ranks, and with five hundred horse,
16	All men-at-arms, forward and full of might,
	Assaults the middle wing, and puts to flight
18	Eight thousand harquebuze that served on foot,
	And twenty thousand Moors with spear and shield,
20	And therewithal the honour of the day.
22	Abdel. Ah, Abdelmelec, dost thou live to hear
	This bitter process of this first attempt? −
24	Labour, my lords, to renew our force
	Of fainting Moors, and fight it to the last. −
26	My horse, Zareo! − O, the goal is lost,
	The goal is lost! − Thou King of Portugal,
28	Thrice-happy chance it is for thee and thine
	That heaven abates my strength and calls me hence. −
30	My sight doth fail; my soul, my feeble soul
	Shall be released from prison on this earth:
32	Farewell, vain world! for I have played my part.
34	[Dies.]
36	A long skirmish;
	and then enter Muly Mahamet Seth.
38
	Seth. Brave Abdelmelec, thou thrice-noble lord!
40	Not such a wound was given to Barbary,
	Had twenty hosts of men been put to sword,
42	As death, pale death, with fatal shaft hath given.
	Lo, dead is he, my brother and my king,
44	Whom I might have revived with news I bring.
46	Zareo. His honours and his types he hath resigned
	Unto the world, and of a manly man,
48	Lo, in a twinkling, a senseless stock we see!
50	Seth. You trusty soldiers of this warlike king,
	Be counselled now by us in this advice;
52	Let not his death be bruited in the camp,
	Lest with the sudden sorrow of the news
54	The army wholly be discomfited. −
	My Lord Zareo, thus I comfort you;
56	Our Moors have bravely borne themselves in fight,
	Likely to get the honour of the day,
58	If aught may gotten be where loss is such.
	Therefore, in this apparel as he died,
60	My noble brother will we here advance,
	And set him in his chair with cunning props,
62	That our Barbarians may behold their king,
	And think he doth repose him in his tent.
64
	Zareo. Right politic and good is your advice.
66
	Seth. Go, then, to see it speedily performed. –
68
	[The body of Abdelmelec is propped up in his chair.]
70
	Brave lord, if Barbary recover this,
72	Thy soul with joy will sit and see the fight.
74	[Exeunt.]
76	Alarums within: enter to the battle;
	and the Christians fly: the Duke of Avero is slain.
78
	Enter King Sebastian and Stukeley.
80
	K. Seb. Seest thou not, Stukeley, O Stukeley, seest thou not
82	The great dishonour done to Christendom?
	Our cheerful onset crossed in springing hope;
84	The brave and mighty prince, Duke of Avero,
	Slain in my sight: now joy betide his ghost,
86	For like a lion did he bear himself!
	Our battles are all now disorderèd,
88	And by our horses' strange retiring-back
	Our middle wing of foot-men over-rode.
90	Stukeley, alas, I see my oversight!
	False-hearted Mahamet, now, to my cost,
92	I see thy treachery, warned to beware
	A face so full of fraud and villany.
94
	Alarums within, and they run out,
96	and two set upon Stukeley, and he drives them in.
98	Then enter the Moor and his Boy, flying.
100	Muly. Villain, a horse!
102	Boy. O, my lord, if you return, you die!
104	Muly. Villain, I say, give me a horse to fly,
	To swim the river, villain, and to fly.
106
	[Exit Boy.]
108
	Where shall I find some unfrequented place,
110	Some uncouth walk, where I may curse my fill,
	My stars, my dam, my planets, and my nurse,
112	The fire, the air, the water, and the earth,
	All causes that have thus conspired in one,
114	To nourish and preserve me to this shame? −
	Thou that wert at my birth predominate,
116	Thou fatal star, what planet e'er thou be,
	Spit out thy poison bad, and all the ill
118	That fortune, fate, or heaven, may bode a man. −
	Thou nurse infortunate, guilty of all,
120	Thou mother of my life, that brought'st me forth,
	Cursed mayst thou be for such a cursèd son!
122	Cursed be thy son with every curse thou hast! −
	Ye elements of whom consists this clay,
124	This mass of flesh, this cursèd crazèd corpse,
	Destroy, dissolve, disturb, and dissipate,
126	What water, [fire,] earth, and air congealed.
128	Alarums within, and re-enter the Boy.
130	Boy. O, my lord,
	These ruthless Moors pursue you at the heels,
132	And come amain to put you to the sword!
134	Muly. A horse, a horse, villain, a horse!
	That I may take the river straight and fly.
136
	Boy. Here is a horse, my lord,
138	As swiftly paced as Pegasus;
	Mount thee thereon, and save thyself by flight.
140
	Muly. Mount me I will: but may I never pass
142	The river, till I be revenged
	Upon thy soul, accursèd Abdelmelec!
144	If not on earth, yet when we meet in hell,
	Before grim Minos, Rhadamanth, and Æacus,
146	The combat will I crave upon thy ghost,
	And drag thee through the loathsome pools
148	Of Lethès, Styx, and fiery Phlegethon.
150	[Exeunt.]
152	Alarums within: re-enter Stukeley wounded,
	followed by Hercules and Jonas.
154
	Herc. Stand, traitor, stand, ambitious English-man,
156	Proud Stukeley, stand, and stir not ere thou die.
	Thy forwardness to follow wrongful arms,
158	And leave our famous expedition erst
	Intended by his Holiness for Ireland,
160	Foully hath here betrayed and tied us all
	To ruthless fury of our heathen foe;
162	For which, as we are sure to die,
	Thou shalt pay satisfaction with thy blood.
164
	Stuk. Avaunt, base villains! twit ye me with shame
166	Or infamy of this injurious war?
	When he that is the judge of right and wrong
168	Determines battle as him pleaseth best.
	But sith my stars bode me this tragic end,
170	That I must perish by these barbarous Moors,
	Whose weapons have made passage for my soul
172	That breaks from out the prison of my breast;
	Ye proud malicious dogs of Italy,
174	Strike on, strike down this body to the earth,
	Whose mounting mind stoops to no feeble stroke.
176
	Jonas. Why suffer we this Englishman to live –
178
	[They stab Stukeley.]
180
	Villain, bleed on; thy blood in channels run,
182	And meet with those whom thou to death hast done.
184	[Exeunt Hercules and Jonas.]
186	Stuk. Thus Stukeley, slain with many a deadly stab,
	Dies in these desert fields of Africa.
188	Hark, friends; and with the story of my life
	Let me beguile the torment of my death.
190	In England's London, lordings, was I born,
	On that brave bridge, the bar that thwarts the Thames.
192	My golden days, my younger careless years,
	Were when I touched the height of Fortune's wheel,
194	And lived in affluence of wealth and ease.
	Thus in my country carried long aloft,
196	A discontented humour drave me thence
	To cross the seas to Ireland, then to Spain.
198	There had I welcome and right royal pay
	Of Philip, whom some call the Catholic King:
200	There did Tom Stukeley glitter all in gold,
	Mounted upon his jennet white as snow,
202	Shining as Phoebus in King Philip's court:
	There, like a lord, famous Don Stukeley lived,
204	For so they called me in the court of Spain,
	Till, for a blow I gave a bishop's man,
206	A strife gan rise between his lord and me,
	For which we both were banished by the king.
208	From thence to Rome rides Stukeley all aflaunt:
	Received with royal welcomes of the Pope,
210	There was I graced by Gregory the Great,
	That then created me Marquis of Ireland.
212	Short be my tale, because my life is short.
	The coast of Italy and Rome I left:
214	Then was I made lieutenant general
	Of those small forces that for Ireland went,
216	And with my companies embarked at Ostia.
	My sails I spread, and with these men of war
218	In fatal hour at Lisbon we arrived.
	From thence to this, to this hard exigent,
220	Was Stukeley driven, to fight or else to die,
	Dared to the field, that never could endure
222	To hear God Mars his drum but he must march. −
	Ah, sweet Sebastian, hadst thou been well advised,
224	Thou mightst have managed arms successfully!
	But from our cradles we were markèd all
226	And destinate to die in Afric here.
	Stukeley, the story of thy life is told;
228	Here breathe thy last, and bid thy friends farewell:
	And if thy country's kindness be so much,
230	Then let thy country kindly ring thy knell.
	Now go and in that bed of honour die,
232	Where brave Sebastian's breathless corse doth lie.
	Here endeth Fortune, rule, and bitter rage;
234	Here ends Tom Stukeley's pilgrimage.
236	[Dies.]
238	Re-enter Muly Mahamet Seth, Zareo,
	and train, with drums and trumpets.
240
	Seth. Retreat is sounded through our camp, and now
242	From battle's fury cease our conquering Moors.
	Pay thanks to heaven with sacrificing fire,
244	Alcazar, and ye towns of Barbary. −
	Now hast thou sit as in a trance, and seen,
246	To thy soul's joy and honour of thy house,
	The trophies and the triumphs of thy men,
248	Great Abdelmelec; and the god of kings
	Hath made thy war successful by thy right,
250	His friends, whom death and fates have ta'en from thee.
	Lo, this was he that was the people's pride,
252	And cheerful sunshine to his subjects all!
	Now have him hence, that royally he may
254	Be buried and embalmèd as is meet. −
	Zareo, have you through the camp proclaimed
256	As erst we gave in charge?
258	Zareo. We have, my lord, and rich rewards proposed
	For them that find the body of the king;
260	For by those guard[s] that had him in their charge
	We understand that he was done to death,
262	And for his search two prisoners, Portugals,
	Are set at large to find their royal king.
264
	Seth. But of the traitorous Moor you hear no news
266	That fled the field and sought to swim the ford?
268	Zareo. Not yet, my lord; but doubtless God will tell
	And with his finger point out where he hants.
270
	Seth. So let it rest, and on this earth bestow
272	This princely corse,
	Till further for his funerals we provide.
274
	Zareo. From him to thee as true-succeeding prince,
276	With all allegiance and with honour's types,
	In name of all thy people and thy land,
278	We give this kingly crown and diadem.
280	Seth. We thank you all, and as my lawful right,
	With God's defence and yours, shall I [it] keep.
282
	Enter two Portugals with the body of King Sebastian.
284
	1st Port. As gave your grace in charge, right royal prince,
286	The fields and sandy plains we have surveyed,
	And even among the thickest of his lords
288	The noble King of Portugal we found,
	Wrapt in his colours coldly on the earth,
290	And done to death with many a mortal wound.
292	Seth. Lo, here, my lords, this is the earth and clay
	Of him that erst was mighty King of Portugal! −
294	There let him lie, and you for this be free
	To make return from hence to Christendom.
296
	Enter two, with the body of the Moor.
298
	1st Person. Long live the mighty King of Barbary!
300
	Seth. Welcome, my friend: what body hast thou there?
302
	1st Person. The body of th' ambitious enemy
304	That squandered all this blood in Africa,
	Whose malice sent so many souls to hell,
306	The traitor Muly Mahamet do I bring,
	And for thy slave I throw him at thy feet.
308
	Seth. Zareo, give this man a rich reward;
310	And thankèd be the god of just revenge,
	That he hath given our foe into our hands,
312	Beastly, unarmèd, slavish, full of shame. −
	But say, how came this traitor to his end?
314
	1st Person. Seeking to save his life by shameful flight,
316	He mounteth on a hot Barbarian horse,
	And so in purpose to have passed the stream,
318	His headstrong steed throws him from out his seat;
	Where, diving oft for lack of skill to swim,
320	It was my chance alone to see him drowned,
	Whom by the heels I dragged from out the pool,
322	And hether have him brought thus filed with mud.
324	Seth. A death too good for such a damnèd wretch:
	But sith our rage and rigour of revenge
326	By violence of his end prevented is,
	That all the world may learn by him t' avoid
328	To hale on princes to injurious war,
	His skin we will be parted from his flesh,
330	And being stiffened out and stuffed with straw,
	So to deter and fear the lookers-on
332	From any such foul fact or bad attempt:
	Away with him!
334
	[Exeunt some with the body of the Moor.]
336
	And now, my lords, for this Christian king:
338	My Lord Zareo, let it be your charge
	To see the soldiers tread a solemn march,
340	Trailing their pikes and ensigns on the ground,
	So to perform the prince's funerals.
342
	Here endeth the tragical battle of Alcazar.