Understanding Reader, I present this to your view which has received applause in Action.  The Poet might conceive a compleat satisfaction upon the Stages approbation.  But the Printer rests not there, knowing that that which was acted and approved upon the Stage might be no less acceptable in Print.  It is now communicated to you whose leisure and knowledge admits of reading and reason:  Your Judgment now this Posthumus assures himself will well attest his predecessors endevours to give content to men of the ablest quality, such as intelligent readers are here conceived to be.  I could have troubled you with a longer epistle, but I feare to stay you from the booke, which affords better words and matter than I can.  So, the work modestly depending in the skale of your Judgment, the Printer for his part craves your pardon, hoping by his promptness to doe you greater service as conveniency shall enable him to give you more or better testimony of his entirenesse towards you.  N.V.

Dramatis Personae.

King of Spaine. 
Cardinall. 
Duke of Medina.

Marquesse Daenia,  |
Alba,               |
Roderigo,           |  Dons of Spayne. 
Valasco,            |
Lopez.             |

Queene, A Florentine. Onaelia, Neece to Medina, the Contracted Lady. Sebastian, Her Sounne. Malateste, A Florentine. Baltazar, The Souldier. A Poet. Cockadillio, A foolish Courtier. A Fryer.

[To make the list complete we should add—­

Cornego. 
Carlo. 
Alanzo. 
Signer No.]

THE NOBLE SPANISH SOULDIER.

Actus Primus.

SCAENA PRIMA.

Enter in Magnificent state, to the sound of lowd musicke, the King and Queene as from Church, attended by the Cardinall, Count Malateste, Daenia, Roderigo, Valasco, Alba, Carlo, and some waiting Ladies.  The King and Queen with Courtly Complements salute and part; she with one halfe attending her; King, Cardinall and th’other halfe stay, the King seeming angry and desirous to be rid of them too.—­King, Cardinal, Daenia, &c.

King.  Give us what no man here is master of,
Breath; leave us, pray:  my father Cardinall
Can by the Physicke of Philosophy
Set al agen in order.  Leave us, pray.

[Exeunt.

Card.  How is it with you, Sir?

King.  As with a Shippe
Now beat with stormes, now safe the stormes are vanisht;
And having you my Pylot I not onely
See shore but harbour.  I to you will open
The booke of a blacke sinne deepe-printed in me. 
Oh, father, my disease lyes in my soule.

Card.  The old wound, Sir?

King.  Yes, that; it festers inward: 
For though I have a beauty to my bed
That even Creation envies at, as wanting
Stuffe to make such another, yet on her pillow
I lye by her but an Adulterer
And she as an Adulteresse.  Shee’s my Queene
And wife, yet but my strumpet, tho the Church
Set on the seale of Mariage:  good Onaelia,
Neece to our Lord high Constable of Spaine,
Was precontracted mine.