Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Jonathan Ingram, Charles M. Bidwell and
the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
Persons Represented in the Play.
Wolfort, an usurper of the Earldom of Flanders.
Gerrard, falsely called Clause, King of the Beggars, Father in Law to
Florez.
Hubert, an honest Lord, a friend to Gerrard.
Florez, falsely called Goswin, a rich Merchant of Bruges.
Hempskirke, a Captain under Wolford.
Herman a Courtier,} inhabitants ofA Merchant, } Flanders.
Vandunke, a drunken Merchant friend to Gerrard, falsely called Fatherto Bertha.
Vanlock, and 4 Merchants, of Bruges.
Higgen, }
Prigg, }Three Knavish Beggars.
Snapp, }
Ferret, }Two Gentlemen disguised under those
Ginkes, } names of Gerrard's party.
Clown.
Boores.
Servants.
Guard.
A Sailor.
Jaculin, Daughter to Gerrard, beloved of Hubert.
Bertha called Gertrude, Daughter to the Duke of Brabant, Mistress to
Florez.
Margaret, Wife to Vandunke.
Mrs Frances, a frow Daughter to Vanlock.
The Scene Flanders.
Enter a Merchant and Herman.
Mer. Is he then taken?
Her. And brought back even now, Sir.
Mer. He was not in disgrace?
Her. No man more lov'd,Nor more deserv'd it, being the only manThat durst be honest in this Court.
Mer. Indeed
We have heard abroad, Sir, that the State hath suffered
A great change, since the Countesses death.
Her. It hath, Sir.
Mer. My five years absence hath kept me a stranger
So much to all the occurents of my Country,
As you shall bind me for some short relation
To make me understand the present times.
Her. I must begin then with a War was made
And seven years with all cruelty continued
Upon our Flanders by the Duke of Brabant,
The cause grew thus: during our Earls minority,
Wolfort, (who now usurps) was employed thither
To treat about a match between our Earl
And the Daughter and Heir of Brabant: during which treaty
The Brabander pretends, this Daughter was
Stoln from his Court, by practice of our State,
Though we are all confirm'd, 'twas a sought quarrel
To lay an unjust gripe upon this Earldom,
It being here believ'd the Duke of Brabant
Had no such loss. This War upon't proclaimed,
Our Earl, being then a Child, although his Father
Good Gerrard liv'd, yet in respect he was
Chosen by the Countesses favour, for her Husband,
And but a Gentleman, and Florez holding
His right unto this Country from his Mother,
The State thought fit in this de