Mrs Frances, _a frow Daughter to_ Vanlock.
_The Scene_ Flanders.
_ACTUS PRIMUS. SCENA PRIMA_.
_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 man
That 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.
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