ears 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 defensive War,
_Wolfort_ being then the only man of mark,
To make him General.

_Mer_. Which place we have heard
He did discharge with ho[n]our.

_Her_. I, so long,
And with so blest successes, that the _Brabander_
Was forc't (his treasures wasted, and the choice
Of his best men of Armes tyr'd, or cut off)
To leave the field, and sound a base retreat
Back to his Country: but so broken both
In mind and means, er'e to make head again,
That hitherto he sits down by his loss,
Not daring, or for honour, or revenge
Again to tempt his fortune. But this Victory
More broke our State, and made a deeper hurt
In _Flanders_, than the greatest overthrow
She ever receiv'd: For _Wolfort_, now beholding
Himself, and actions, in the flattering glass
Of self-deservings, and that cherish't by
The strong assurance of his power, for then
All Captains of the Army were his creatures,
The common Souldier too at his devotion,
Made so by full indulgence to their rapines
And secret bounties, this strength too well known
And what it could effect, soon put in practice,
As further'd by the Child-hood of the Earl:
And their improvidence, that might have pierc't
The heart of his designs, gave him occasion
To seize the whole, and in that plight you find it.

_Mer_. Sir, I receive the knowledge of thus much,
As a choice favour from you.

_Her_. Only I must add,
_Bruges_ holds out.

_Mer_. Whither, Sir, I am going,
For there last night I had a ship put in,
And my Horse waits me. [_Exit_.

_Her_. I wish you a good journey.

_Enter_ Wolfort, Hubert.

_Wol_. What? _Hubert_ stealing from me? who disarm'd him?
It was more th