"Rome's malice and Spaine's practice still concurs,
To vexe and trouble blest Elizabeth :

With Stukeley they combine to raise new stirs,
And Ireland bragging Stukeley promiseth
To give unto the Popes brave Bastard sonne
James Boncampagno, an ambitious boy,
And Stukely from the Pope a prize hath wonne,
A holy Peacocks Taile (a proper Toy)
But Stukely was in Mauritania slaine,

In that great battell at Alcazor fought.

Whereby we see his power doth still defend
His Church, which on his mercy doth depend."

Taylor's (the Water Poet's) Churches Deliverances,
Works, p. 143, ed. 1630.

A ballad called The Life & Death of the famous Lord Stukely, an English gallant, in the time of Queen Elizabeth, who ended his days in a Battle of three Kings of Barbary, is in Evans's Collection, vol. iii. p. 148. ed. 1810.

He is the hero of another play, acted* long before it was printed, entitled The Famous Historye of the life and death of Captaine Thomas Stukely. With his marriage to Alderman Curteis daughter, and valiant ending of his life at the Battaile of Alcazar. As it hath beene acted. Printed for Thomas Pauyer, and are to be sold at his shop at the entrance into the Exchange. 1605.-4to. black letter.

I believe it is to the Battle of Alcazar, not to the Famous History of Stukeley, that Peele himself alludes in his Farewell to Norris and Drake :

"Bid Mahomet's Poo, and mighty Tamburlaine,
King Charlemagne, Tom Stukeley and the rest
Adieu."

(Malone's Shakespeare by Boswell, vol. iii. p. 307.)

THE

TRAGICAL BATTLE OF ALCAZAR IN BARBARY, WITH THE DEATH OF THREE KINGS, AND CAPTAIN STUKELEY, AN ENGLISHMAN.

ACTUS I.*

Enter the PRESENTER.

HONOUR, the spur that pricks the princely mind
To follow rule and climb the stately chair,
With great desire inflames the Portingal,
An honourable and courageous king,
To undertake a dangerous dreadful war,

And aid with Christian arms the barbarous Moor,
The negro Muly Hamet, that withholds

The kingdom from his uncle Abdilmelec,
Whom proud Abdallas wrong'd,

And in his throne installs his cruel son,
That now usurps upon this prince,
This brave barbarian lord Muly Molocco.
The passage to the crown by murder made,
Abdallas dies, and leaves† this tyrant king;

* In the old copy the Act is not marked here.

+ leaves] Old copy "deisnes." Something seems to be wanting in this passage.

Of whom we treat, sprung from th' Arabian Moor,
Black in his look, and bloody in his deeds;
And in his shirt stain'd with a cloud of gore,
Presents himself, with naked sword in hand,
Accompanied, as now you may behold,
With devils coated in the shapes of men.

Enter MULY MAHAMET and his son, and his two young brethren; the Moor showeth them the bed, and then takes his leave of them, and they betake them to their rest. And then the Presenter speaketh.

Like those that were by kind of murder mumm'd,*
Sit down and see what heinous stratagems
These damned wits contrive. And lo, alas!
How like poor lambs prepar'd for sacrifice,
This traitor king hales to their longest home
These tender lords, his younger brethren both.

THE SECOND DUMB-SHOW.

Enter the Moor, and two murderers, bringing in his uncle Abdelmunen, then they draw the curtains and smother the young princes in the bed: which done in sight of the uncle, they strangle him in his chair, and then go forth. And then the Presenter saith.

His brethren thus in fatal bed behearst,

His father's brother of too light belief

mumm'd] Old copy "mumd:" if it be not a misprint, it must mean-made silent.

This Negro puts to death by proud command.

Say not these things are feign'd, for true they are ;
And understand how eager to enjoy

His father's crown this unbelieving Moor,
Murdering his uncle and his brethren,
Triumphs in his ambitious tyranny:
Till Nemesis, high mistress of revenge,

That with her scourge keeps all the world in awe,
With thundering drums awakes the god of war,
And calls the Furies from Avernus' crags,
Το range and rage, and vengeance to inflict,
Vengeance on this accursed Moor for sin.
And now, behold, how Abdilmelec comes,
Uncle to this unhappy traitor king,
Arm'd with great aid that Amurath had sent,
Great Amurath Emperor of the East,
For service done to Sultan Solimon,
Under whose colours he had serv'd in field,
Flying the fury of this Negro's father,
That wrong'd his brethren to install his son.
Sit you, and see this true and tragic war,
A modern matter full of blood and ruth,
Where three bold kings confounded in their height,
Fell to the earth, contending for a crown;

And call this war, The battle of Alcazar. [Exit.

Sound drums and trumpets, and enter ABDILMELEC, with CALSEPIUS BASSA and his guard, and ZAREO a Moor, with soldiers.

ABDILM. All hail, Argerd Zareo; and, ye Moors, Salute the frontiers of your native home: