Extract from: Lodowick Carlell, ARVIRAGVS AND PHILICIA (1639).
Acted at the Blackfriars Theatre by the King’s Men.
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Hans Burkmaier's witch with a devil, from his 'Weisskunig' pictorial biography of Maximilian I)
The overall plot of this interminable 10 act play need not concern us much. The hero Arviragus is virtuous, and in love with the King’s daughter, Philicia. But the King secretly hates him, and uses the cowardly and evil Adrastus to conspire against him. The hero’s other antagonist in the envious Guimantes, the King’s own son, eager to inherit the throne. In the following extracts, a witch is consulted, Macbeth-style, and her predictions are abruptly verified by Adrastus. The scenes demonstrate the regular use of witch-scenes to animate the action (and heavens knows, in this play, it needs animating) with a frisson of horror. The fate of the witch is rather a surprise too. Consulting sorcerers of all kinds about matters of state (the death of the monarch or the succession of the state) was specifically forbidden in statutes of the period. These scenes effectively illustrate the kind of fears the state authorities might have had about the effect of political prophecies on those who seek them.
The first extract is from Act V of the first part of the play (there are no scene divisions). The text has been lightly edited for the sake of clarity.
ADRASTUS.
Now brother we are at the Cave where th' old Beldam lives, and well this uncouth dismall place becomes the company shee keeps, spirits and goblins.
CRATUS.
I doe confesse it looks as if it confin'd upon hell, but doe ye thinke it possible that she can satisfie the King’s desires, by th'foretelling of his present fate in battle, and his end?
ADRASTUS.
The many proofes that shee hath given of her great knowledge, hath made her famous through this Iland; especially th'King hath cause to trust her prediction, since she foretold his conquest o're the Picts, and before that, his being King, tho then three brothers stood betwixt him, and the throne: come let's enter.
WITCH.
No, ye shall not need, speake why ye come?
ADRASTUS.
Doe not you know?
WITCH.
It matters not, speake or returne.
ADRASTUS.
Be not so angry, we come from th' King, that honor you, and justly, for your predictions touching him, both hitherto been true and happy.
WITCH.
Be briefe, or else I leave you; what is't he demands?
ADRASTUS.
The issue of the present warre he hath in hand.
WITCH.
Is that all?
ADRASTUS.
No, he desires likewise to know, when, and what shall be his end?
WITCH.
His army shall the battle gaine.
ADRASTUS.
That's good, but what shall be his end?
WITCH.
Within few dayes he shall be slaine.
ADRASTUS.
How? but say by whose hand shall it be?
WITCH.
Traytor, in thy despight, by thee.
ADRASTUS.
Out Hag, by me? thou shalt first be burnt, or goe to hell quick ere I act such wickednesse: sure all th' Iland hath been cosen'd in this woman hitherto, or now she doats, and the divel whom she hath so long commanded makes a foole of her.
CRATUS.
I am sure we should prove such, did we returne no other answer to the King, let’s in after her, and aske some other.
ADRASTUS.
Agreed---Fire flashes out of the Cave, and hideous noyse. Fly, we shall be torne in pieces else, there's no forcing of the Divell to speake.
ADRASTUS.
‘Traytor, in thy despight, by thee’ ---So said the witch, that I should kill the King; 'twas a strange answer, and will appeare as strange for me to tell him; there's danger in't---true, if it were the insinuation of another, but when I my selfe shall tell him; I whom a loves, whom he hath trusted with many bloody secrets, --- secrets, and bloody ones; his character being rightly weighed, reason does tell mee, that rather should increase, than lessen feare; to tell him that I do know his secrets, is but to prompt him to his safety, in my ruin, the dead can tell no tales without a miracle; besides all the large promises that he hath made me, in my death are cancel'd, and he stands free to worke another to his end by blasts of aire, for such his promises have prov'd to me---but stay, what should I tell him? what she said? no, rather frame another answer - that will not doe, my brother heard it, and who in such a cause dare trust a brother? or should the King not like the answer, misdoubt, send or goe himselfe, or the damn'd witch informe him by a spirit, what death with torments were I then to looke for? I tremble but to think on them, horror invades me every way.
CRATUS.
How now brother, what troubles you?
ADRASTUS.
What I shall ne're be free from.
GUIMANTES.
Me Lord, what is the King my father doing? is he ready yet?
LORD.
Yea Sir, he hath been talking with Eugenius this halfe houre.
GUIMANTES.
Of what?
LORD.
Trying to draw out of him by wily circumstances the maner of Arviragus ordering his men in battle, what part he fights in himselfe, and all questions touching these points.
GUIMANTES.
Sure he doats, will my father trust the counsells of the person of a man so discontented nee'r himselfe?
LORD.
For his person he could not hurt the King, unlesse with his eyes: he hath no weapons; and for his counsells - that the King was not oblig'd to credit more then he found likely, in reason.
GUIMANTES.
Goe see when th' King's at leasure, and bring me word here or in th' gallery.
LORD.
I will Sir.
GUIMANTES.
How tedious is it to expect a Crowne? how servile? for I am forc't to curbe my nature, dare not expresse my hate or love, unless it please my father: thus like a school-boy, doe I spend my best of time my youth, wherein we onely can taste true happinesse; had I the Scepter in my hand, I rather would adventure losing it, then any pleasure that my youth desired, whereas my cautelous and wary father scarcely ever yet enjoyed a pleasure worthy of a King, doubt still attends his desires, nere once irregular: so fooling himselfe out of his joyes by being too apprehensive of th' ensuing danger. He truly doth enjoy pleasures that boldly acts sins, and else are only shares in the facts.
Enter KING, SINATUS, EUGENIUS, ADRASTUS, CRATUS, and others.
KING.
Adrastus most welcome, yet I know nor, thou hast something in thy looke dismayes me, I feare thy message.
ADRASTUS.
Ye have no cause, in private ye shall know't.
KING.
All leave us, Sinatus, and Eugenius only may stay two roomes off, we must have further conference with them anon, but let not any presume to disturbe us till we call.
SINATUS.
We shall be carefull, Sir.
ADRASTUS.
Remember what I told you.
CRATUS.
Feare not.
KING.
Now Adrastus we are alone, speake boldly.
ADRASTUS.
Sir, I shall.
KING.
And truly on thy life what e're it be, yet Adrastus thou art to me as fate, and what thou shalt deliver is like the sentence of the gods, inevitable: therefore if it tend to ill give me some little pause, that so my spirits recollected I may meet it like a King.
ADRASTUS.
Why should yee feare Sir? she you sent me to inquire of did ever yet foretell things happy.
KING.
'Tis true, and thou doest rayse me much with that remembrance, speake then and joyfull things.
ADRASTUS.
My brother Sir, and I, according to your Majesties command, found out the Beldame’s Cave; at the mouth of which she met us, denyed us entrance, ask't our businesse and from whom, we told her all that you desired to know---she answerd for th' first your Army should the Battell gain.
KING.
O happy newes blest Adrastus!
ADRASTUS.
Not so, for in few dayes you must be slaine.
KING.
Ha! Slayne! By whom?
ADRASTUS.
Looke backe and see!
KING.
Traytors!
ADRASTUS.
And 'tis true, now I am he, and fear in my despite hath made me do't.
KING
Oh, oh, Treason, traytors!
ADRASTUS.
Dispatch, dispatch, so now 'tis don, he's dead and all my feares in him.
CRATUS.
We have been too hasty, my soule trembles at the object: he was our King.
ADRASTUS.
Ha? relenting? this must not be.
CRATUS.
O brother your persuasions have made me miserable!
ADRASTUS.
There's no disputing now, our safety and reward lies in our flight to Arviragus, had we not kil'd him, we had been sure to have died our selves.
CRATUS.
It had been better so, then beare the guilt I feele.
ADRASTUS.
So conscience take thy wish.
CRATUS.
Oh, Villaine, Traytor.
ADRASTUS.
Yes, I am so, but who knowes it now?
CRATUS.
O th' gods.
ADRASTUS.
Ha, what noyse was that? I'le shut this doore; Eugenius, and Sinatus may have heard my brother or the King when they call'd out: now can I but passe the port I am secure, that doore opens out of this Chamber, towards the gallery, so to the garden, how ever I am past retiring.
Come backe Adrastus, whether so fast? Why doest thou looke so ghastly? where's my Father? speake slave, what cloud is that upon thy Clothes?
ADRASTUS.
What shall I say?
GUIMANTES.
Speake.
ADRASTUS.
O me deare Lord! I am so much amazed, horror ties up my tongue, your father’s murthered.
GUIMANTES.
Ha, speake that againe!
ADRASTUS.
Your father's murthered.
GUIMANTES
By whom?
ADRASTUS.
Eugenius, and Sinatus, whom I have lock't in the next roome, and in the Kings rescue kil'd my own brother, who was assistant with them. O see Sir, where your royall Maister lies stucke full of wounds, would the fates had tane my life a sacrifice for his.
GUIMANTES.
(Aside) This sight doth more amaze then grieve mee (To him) Call for th'guard, or stay heere rather. (Aside) This Lord altho a coward ever may be an actor in this Tragedy himselfe, I'le shut him fast. (Exit)
ADRASTUS.
Ha, shut in: what means the Prince? sure he suspects, 'tis so and I am caught in my own train, utterly lost; what death with studyed torments shall I suffer? no passage out? O horror to remaine here! no living men cou'd more affright me, 'tis paine above what justice can inflict; O conscience, conscience, dead so long, why dost thou quicken now? must I feele hell here, in this life?
GUIMANTES.
Make sure th' doores th' other way, and rather kill then suffer them to scape.
ADRASTUS.
There's comfort yet; I feare Sir, they are fled out at the other doore, they tried all means to breake this open.
GUIMANTES.
Unlocke th' doores, and stand upon your guard, search all.
(Re-enter Guards)
There's none Sir, in this Chamber, if they be not hid, the further doore is open.
ADRASTUS.
Then they are fled.
LORD.
Where's the Prince?
GUIMANTES.
Here.
LORD.
Eugenius and Sinatus Sir, are taken by th'guard, as they were passing downe into the Court.
Enter EUGENIUS, SINATUS, with a guard, bound.
In this second extract, from the second part of the play, the Witch reaches the end of her period of power. Her spirit, Eglon, tries to lift her mood with a masque, but her forebodings prove true, as Adrastus kills her too.
ACT II.
WITCH.
How dull and heavy are my spirits! the mischiefe that I doe, yields not the sweet delight, that I had wont to feele, how can they, being done by halfes? my power grows lesse, some Planet governs now that checks my Art, and why? the number of my yeeres cannot set limites to my Master’s power, great Lucifer must raigne for ever, and unto me whilst I have being on the earth, he hath promist me power by vertue of our contract, Ile question with my spirit ---Ho, Eglon.
EGLON.
Here dread Mistris, what's your will?
WITCH.
Tell me why all the mischiefes I designe of late move slowly, or when effected, yields me no pleasure as they had wont.
EGLON.
It onely growes from the distemper of your mind, sadnesse possesses you of late.
WITCH.
It is not that my power is lessened? I am not obeyed.
EGLON.
How, not obeyed? ye are our Prince’s favourite, and hee is onely thought a happy Devill whom you employ, your power is without limite, speake but your wish, and in an instant 'tis performed.
WITCH.
Remove this sadnesse from me.
EGLON.
The peace of soule growes not within our Region, for great minds scorne such calme poore things, proper for Hinds: tempests of soule befits those that have power.
WITCH.
I grant this true, but I would have a present calme, to set the glory of those tempests off the better, let me have pleasing objects, Musicke, let every sence be glutted with delight, all that the world can yield, to please humanity.
Masque.
WITCH.
Away, all these at once are troublesome, variety can onely please, that gives the soule to all we can possesse, begone and leave me wholly to my selfe.
ADRASTUS.
Yonder she sits, although I feare to speake to her, a greater feare compels me hither.
WITCH.
Ha, who art thou?
ADRASTUS.
Grave Matron doe you not know me?
WITCH.
Now I doe, what would you with me? speake your will.
ADRASTUS.
She's gentle.--- I come not now to know great Prophets, or Kings, but my owne fate.
WITCH.
Let me behold thee well, ha thou hast a dreadfull looke, that does portend mischeefe to me, and so thy selfe.
ADRASTUS.
To you?
WITCH.
Leave me, I doe beseech thee.
ADRASTUS.
Be pleas'd to tell me first my fortune.
WITCH.
I dare not.
ADRASTUS.
Dare not? how she trembles!
WITCH.
Be gone, or to the King I will discover you killed his father.
ADRASTUS.
Thou badst me doe it, so shal't appeare as guilty.
WITCH.
I did not villaine! (Aside) There's horror in his looke, Ile call my spirits to defend mee from him. (she conjures) Feare takes away my power, nor can I speake a charme.
ADRASTUS.
Are ye conjuring? sure I shall be torne in pieces, speake, name my fate.
WITCH.
I will not---cannot.
ADRASTUS.
No, take thine owne then.
WITCH.
Oh Lucifer, false Lucifer, thou hast deceived me---(Dies).
ADRASTUS.
Ha, can she be dead, she stirres, so now sure she is, and by her death I reape a greater benefit, then what I came for, the knowledge of my end, no creature now can say, I killed the King, vanish all idle feare: since I had power to kill this witch, I will contemne all danger.
1 Soldier.
O My Lord, you are well found, We followed you with all the haste we could.
ADRASTUS.
What would you with me?
Soldier(s).
The King commands to seize your person.
ADRASTUS.
(Aside) Ha---How suddenly my naturall feare returnes! Sure I am lost.
(To them) My noble friends, 'tis true, his Majesty is for the present incenst against me, on a mistake: which, when I shall have time to cleare, my power will be greater than ever: I dare engage my life, his Majesty himselfe will give you thanks; in the meane time, accept these trifles from your servant, and say you could not find me.
Soldier(s).
O my Lord, we dare not, so we may answer for you with our heads.
ADRASTUS.
Will you not oblige me?
Soldier(s).
Not at so deare a rate, believe it, your Honour much mistakes, to thinke to Bribe us from our Duty.
ADRASTUS.
Well, I will follow you.
Soldier.
O your Lordship is much the better man, pray lead the way.
ADRASTUS.
I will not, I suspect you come to murther mee here in this Wood.
Soldier.
Does your owne aptnesse to doe mischiefe make you suspect us? come along my Lord.
ADRASTUS.
I will not, by what authority can you compell me? you have no warrant.
Soldier.
Yes---this seal'd by the King’s command, and this shall force you to his Presence, dead or alive.
ADRASTUS.
(Aside) There is no remedy---, I dare not fight with both;
Honest Captaines, I doe commend your Faith; my innocence from any crime, and the King’s Justice, armes me with confidence, howere I made a shew of feare; and what I offered as a Bribe, I now reward your truth and Noblenesse withall,
Two officers, and neither will take bribes,
Shewes slander, and not truth doth brand your Tribes.