With my Cavagnes Ant. I am commanded Sir Yet for the safety of your innocent Babes Beware my Lord be cautious O prevent Exit Antramont Adm. Fear not Farewel be gone I will beware Why should I fear Cavagnes when the King Inclines his heart to the Reform'd Religion When the whole management of Home-affairs With all Confederacies made abroad Are left to me as Judge and Arbitrator The Genius and the Oracle of France But if the Will of Heav'n has set it down That all this trust is deep dissimulation That there 's no Faith nor Credit to be given To the inviolable Royal Word O my Cavagnes if 't is possible If this be so I yield I yield to die I am contented for the Protestant Faith Here to be hewn into a thousand pieces And made the Martyr of so good a Cause Lang. My Lord I take my leave and am resolv'd To leave the Court Adm. Cavagnes prethee speak It is not worth our smile But why Langoiran Why dost thou leave the Maker of thy Fortune Is it not worth the hazard Lang. No my Lord. I 'm sorry Sir to see you made so much of And so Farewel For my part I 'm content To save my self with Fools rather than perish With those that are too wise Exit Enter a Servant Serv. My Lord the Duke of Guise Enter Guise Exeunt Cavag Serv. and all Gui. The King my Lord commanded me to wait you And bid you welcome to the Court Adm. The King Still loads me with new Honours but none greater Than this the last Gui. There is one greater yet Your high Commission for the War with Spain I and my Family are charg'd to serve you And 't will be glorious work Adm. If you are there There must be Action Gui. O your pardon Sir I 'm but a Stripling in the Trade of War But you whose life is one continu'd Battel What will not your Triumphant Arms accomplish Who as your self confess'd or Fame is false Have quite out-gone the memory of the Ancients Of Alexander and of Iulius Caesar For they in all their Actions had success But you in spite of your malicious Fortune After the loss of four most signal Battels Still rose more fierce and dreadful to your Foes And last when all men thought you had no way To save your life but wander through the World You forc'd the King to grant your own Conditions More proper for a Conquerour than one That was o'recome Adm. No more of that my Lord. Gui. But Sir since I must make a little one In this great Business let me understand What 't is you mean and why you put the King Upon so dangerous an Expedition Adm. Know I intend the Greatness of the King The Greatness of all France whom it imports To make their Arms their Aim and Occupation Since then the Genius of the Kingdom 's rouz'd I 'll turn the Fever of those Civil Broils To wholesom Exercise to war with Strangers Gui. Stor'd Arsenals and Armories and Fields of Horse Ordnance Ammunition and the Nerve of War Sound Infantry not harrass'd and diseas'd To meet a Veteran Army should be thought of Nor ought you to rely on Protestants Those Mercenaries that must come for he Who thus resolv'd depends on such shall spread His Feathers now but mew 'em all to morrow Adm. I find my Lord the Argument grows warm Therefore thus much and I have done The King Intends to send an Army into Flanders A powerful one and under my Command First then altho' the Wars of later Ages Are in respect of former made i' th' dark Chastillon will not steal a Victory Gui. The Phrase of Alexander at Arbela Adm. No place of Honour Office or Command Through the whole Series of this glorious War For Profit Favour or for Interest Not of the greatest shall be bought or sold Whereas too for th' incouragement of Fighters There are degrees promiscuously conferr'd On Souldiers and no Souldiers this man Knighted Because he charg'd a Troop before his dinner And sculk'd behind a hedge in th' afternoon I will have strict Examination made Betwixt the meritorious and the base And since I am entrusted as I wish I 'll spoil the Traffick of this Brandy Court And vye Rewards for Merit with old Rome Gui. You will my good Lord Admiral Adm. Sir I will Upon the very Spot of Victory For Gallant Men Erect their Tropies Funeral Laudatives And Monuments for those that dy'd in War Crowns of distinction Garland Personal All but the Stile of Emperour which the King Of the whole Universe did after borrow That for my Master and perhaps for me The Triumph of their Generals on return Gui. You have mouth'd it bravely and there is no doubt Your deeds would answer well such haughty words Yet let me tell you Sir there was a man Curse on the hand that sped him that would better Better than you or all the bragging Generals That when he shone in Arms and sun'd the Field That better would become the great Battallion Mov'd spoke and fought and was himself a War Adm. The Noble Guise your Father Sir you mean But yet my Lord Gui. No yet my Lord no yet By Arms I bar you that For never was his like nor shall again Till murder'd by Poltrot curs'd damn'd Poltrot Whose Soul now gluts the Maw of Lucifer Adm. Speak with more Charity Gui. Ha! Charity Damnation on the Soul that harbours it Were I in Heav'n and saw him scorch'd in Flames I would not spit my Indignation down Lest I should cool his Tongue For Beza too That set him on with the Rewards of Heav'n To act so black so deep so damn'd a Murder O why will Charles thus sheath the Sword of Justice Till he has rooted up this Sect of Villains And collar'd to the Stake that canting Slave That preach'd my God-like Father from the World Adm. Come come my Lord hear with a little patience And you shall find 't is not the Protestant way To stab and beat the Brains out in the dark Look home my Lord go to the Vatican See if in all those Politick Discourses There be not one Red-letter'd Page for killing Gui. Ha Admiral then dur'st thou justify The Villain whom my Vengeance marks for death Adm. My Lord I will not justify a Villain More than your self But if you thus proceed If that a great Man's breath can puff away On every Pet the Lives of Free-born People What need that awful General Convocation Th' Assembly of the States nay let me urge If thus you threat the Venerable Beza What may the rest expect Gui. What if I could They should be certain of whole Piles of Fire Adm. 'T is very well my Lord I know your mind Which without fear or flatt'ry to your Person I 'll tell the King and then with his Permission Proclaim it for a Warning to our People Gui. Come you 're a Murd'rer your self Adm. Away Gui. You were Complotter with that Villian Beza
that all the City-Gates be shut Except but two for bringing in Provisions And these my Lord of Rhetz see strictly Guarded Left that the Murderer escape Q. M. You bear it bravely Now to the wounded Admiral be there As you are now seem soft and pitiful Fond him with tears cry out with your impatience To be reveng'd upon the Murderer King You that are made of Artifice instruct me Exeunt SCENE II. The Admiral Dressing with all the Hugonots about him Adm. A finger and an arm what all this noise About the shattering of a Limb Away And in a Cause so great so glorious too Nay let 'em burn the other to the shoulder Or let that Badger Queen grind every Bone Betwixt her teeth and grin to hear 'em crack Cav Let 's instantly resolve to bear him forth Adm. No with this mangled flesh held to Heav'n This horrid mash of Blood and Bone and Marrow Upon my knees I beg the Power Divine T' establish thus the Protestant Religion To plant it in the Blood of lost Coligni If that Alas may satisfy their Fury Cav Take heart Sir hope one day for full Revenge Enter Antramont Ant. 'T is well my Lord 't is well my Cato well You call'd this Paris Vtica at first The Stars of Great men have a cast Divine And when they mould with second thought the Spirit The Air the Life the Golden Vapour 's gone Langoiran O Langoiran Adm. Fate my Martia There is a Providence that over-rules Therefore submit haste for thy life away I beg thee fly my Martia to Geneva My little ones shall with Teligny follow Ant. What Sir is 't possible Is a planck in this great Vessel rived Is 't necessary that a Wreck should follow Adm. O Antramont there is no going forth If the King be not in th' Assassination Fear not I shall have Justice If he be Farewel for ever I 'll ne're see thee more Ant. You shall you shall why burst you not away There are at least ten thousand your Adherents Will clear your passage to Chastillon Why do you drag then when your Fate cryes on Adm. Once more I say my Fate is in the King Therefore away If things go right you come To me again if not there 's one preserv'd T'embalm my Bowels O my Antramont I mean my Babes that thus have force to thaw me That Power whose most unsearchable Decree Thus dooms our parting give thee strength to bear it To bear my Death perhaps thou 'lt hear it shortly Yet thou shalt hear nothing unworthy me Nothing that 's faint and flagging at the Goal But my last Gasp like my first start of Glory Ant. What leave thee Gaspar e're I kiss thy wound O let we touch the Batt'ry of his Arm Forgive me thus far I will be a Roman There 's Virtue here in this most Sacred Relict I swear I think there is to save a Soul Adm. Be gone I say I cannot bear thy Kindness Force her away and bear her to St. Germain Ant. I go For thee this Prayer I leave behind me When-e're thou dy'st the Arms of Angels wast thee To those smooth Joys that have no gritty moments For her that brought thee to this barbarous end The Whips of Conscience drive her to Despair Conscience Sh' has none why then the stings of Pleasure Sores and Diseases Disappointments plague her May all her Life be one continu'd Torment And that more Racking than a Mother's labour In meeting Death may her least trouble be As great as now my parting is with thee Exit Enter Alberto Gondi Alb. My Lord his Majesty the Queen his Mother Approach to mourn your Chance and give you Justice Enter King Queen Anjou Lorrain King My Lord I come to pour the Balm of Tears Into your Wound I come to threaten death To that bold Villain who durst act this outrage And by my Soul I swear my Father shall Have such Revenge as if a King were kill'd Adm. I thank your Majesty and humbly crave Your leave Sir to retire home to Chastillon Where from these tumultuous Parisians I may my Lord recover this Misfortune Q. M. What take a Journey Sir in this condition Your Death must follow but alas I fear I fear the truth with tears I must avow it My Lord you dare not trust the King and Me. Adm. O do not tax me with the least Suspicion I must believe the Royal Majesty But all my fear is for my dear Companions And these lov'd Princes whom the Heav'ns defend King Therefore my Brother Streight shall draw the Guards Within the City while for present Safety I order Monsieur Cosen's Company To keep your Quarters from all fear of Tumult O Father Father do not wound my Soul By a distrust unworthy of us both Q. M. Ah my Lord Admiral can you imagine That we are past all fear or hope of Mercy That there 's no Conscience no regard of Vows No Grace no Reverence fear of Heav'n nor Hell Nor common Care of Fame ev'n in this World King To Bed to Bed let me intreat you rest Q. M. Nay you shall go my Lord supported thus Betwixt your Bosom-Friends believe me Sir This is not seign'd there are not two alive That love you more than those that now sustain you Adm. Is 't possible Why if it were dissembled The very Counterfeit of such a Friendship Were worth a dying for Alas my Lord O Madam Why why must this trouble be But lead me lead your poor old Admiral Blind with his Tears and faint with his Blood If I do well again I 'll thank you Sir I 'll thank you in the Field O grant it Heav'n That I may end where no Assassins are And fall a Victim in the Glorious War Exeunt SCENE III. Guise Aumale Elbeuf Angolesme with Parisians Gui. Look you my Lords this is this is the Royal Order The Dukes of Nevers and Monpensier Must wait to guard the Person of the King With all the Royal Regiment in Arms Haste for the day begins to wear apace An. El. We obey Exeunt ambo Gui. President Charton Provost de Marchand The Head of the Parisians Pros. Here my Lord. Gui. Provide two thousand men compleatly arm'd Let each particular man on his left arm Wear a Shirt-sleeve and a white Cross in 's Hat That upon notice given all may be ready To execute his Majesty's Commands The Eschevins of every several Ward See in just order and precisely set That upon ringing the Palace-bell Lights may be put directly on the instant In every Window all throughout the Town Pros. It shall be done Exit Gui. My Lord Grand Prior With what Commanders we can rise be ready To take the Admiral 's life But see the Queen Enter Queen Mother Cardinal Anjou Q. M. Come come my Lords let 's lose no longer time The Hugonots proceed not to a Tumult But only vent their Fury in high words Therefore away My Lord of Guise your Father Looks from the Clouds
Majesty He sharp and short Retorted thus He did not need my Service Car. 'T is plain you must resolve my Lord to quit her For I am charg'd to tell you she 's design'd To be the Wife of Henry OF Navarre 'T is the main Beam in all that Mighty Engin Which now begins to move so dreadfully Against the Heads of the Rebellious Faction Gui. I have it and methinks it looks like D'Alva I see the very motion of his Beard His opening Nostrils and his dropping Lids I hear him Croak too to the King and Queen In Biscays Bay at Bayonne Fish for the Great fish take no care for Frogs Cut off the Poppy-heads lay the Winds fast And streight the Waves the People will be still Car. Then you will leave her Gui. Hurl her to the Sea The Air the Earth or Elemental fire So I may see Chastilion in the Net Oh that Whale-Admiral might I but view him After his thousand Fetches Plots and Plunges Struck on those Scouring Shallows which await him Furies and Hell and I stand by to gall him Were Marguerite all one World of Pleasure I 'de sell her and my Soul for such Revenge Car. Speak lower Gui. What upon my Father's Death O glorious Guise be calm upon thy Murder No I will hollow my Revenge so loud That his great Ghost shall hear me up to Heav'n In height of Honours oh to fall so basely When Orleance was blockt up and Conquest Crown'd thee By damn'd Poltrot so villainously slain Poltrot by Beza and this curs'd Admiral Set on with hopes of Infinite Rewards Here and hereafter so to blast thy Glory O I could pull my bursting Eye-balls forth But that they may one day prove Basilisks To that detested Head of all these Brolls Then Tortures Racks and Death shall close thy wound Kill him in Riots Pride and Lust of Pleasures That I may add Damnation to the rest And foil his Soul and Body both together Car. Behold your Brother and the Duke Delbeuf Mercour too comes this outrage will undo us Gui. No not at all for 't is in general terms O my good Lords what if the Admiral Stood here before you should he scope our Justice I see by each man's laying of his hand Upon his Sword you vow the like Revenge For me I wish that both mine may rot off Car. No more away my Lords the King calls for you Gui. I go That Vermin may devour my limbs That I may dy like the late puling King Under the Barber's hands Imposthumes choak me If while alive I cease to chew his ruin To hang him in Effigie nay to tread Drag stamp and grind him after he is dead Exeunt SCENE II. The Cabinet Council Table with Lights on it A Chamber beyond it Queen Mother Anjou asleep Q. M. O my Anjou the Wheels of this New Ruin Go wrong for want of one that knows to drive He sits too light upon the whirling Throne And totters with the dismal prospect down Young Charles a smart suspicious doubtful Boy But Charles you must be rul'd in this dark Road Or with the Lightning of my Fatal Power Which never cracks nor claps I 'le melt thee down For ever lost amongst the Mass of Things That thou the Darling of my doating Soul The Price of my Eternal thought may'st mount Like Nero tho' at Agrippina's Ruin But see the King with the new Count of Rhetz Let us withdraw it may be worth our hearing Enter King with Alberto Gondi King Alberto Gondi Alb. Sir King I think thou lov'st me Alb. More than my life King That 's much yet I believe thee My Mother has the Judgment of the World And all things move by that but my Alberto She has cruel Wit and let me tell thee Thus to destroy the Souldiers of the Kingdom Famous as ever fought for Rome or Greece Under a shadow of a thousand Oaths 'T is Barbarous Alberto is it not And seems to me unworthy of a King Alb. The Provocation Sir King I know it well But it thou d'st have my heart within thy hand I swear Conspiracies of that foul Nature For ever blot the Memory of Kings What Honours Interest with the World to buy him Shall make a brave Man smile and do a Murder Therefore I hate the Treachery of Brutus I mean the latter so cry'd up in Story Whom none but Cowards and White-Liver'd-Knaves Would dare commend lagging behind his Fellows His Dagger in his Stab'd his Father This is a Blot the Ciceronian Stile Could ne're wipe off tho' the Man Mistaken in his Love for Brutus scorn'd him Makes bold to call those Traytors Men Divine Alb. Tully was Wise but wanted Constancy King He did Alberto Heark but one thing more For much I love thee and would fain unburden My Soul of half her Cares on such a Man So good Alb. My ever Dear and Honour'd Master King No more of that I 'le tell thee then last night As I lay tossing in a Feverish Dream I call'd for Drink when streight my Mother brought it But as she reach'd it to my trembling Lips Methought her Eyes roll'd gastly upon me A Palsey shook her hand yet I resolv'd Took off the Draught when streight a fainting seiz'd me My Eyes wept Blood my Ears my Nose and Mouth Pour'd forth whole Streams and all my Sweat was Blood My Hair and Nails dropt off as Autumn Leaves When Tempests rise fall from the wither'd Trees But oh the Fancy seems so much unnatural I 'll think no more on 't yet I thought to tell thee Because she is a Woman whom no Art Nor Wisdom of the World can ever fathom Alb. O my Gracious Lord Judge not the Queen by Dreams and vain Chimaera's Remember Sir how often in your Nonage She manag'd with her Wit the weight of Empire Contending with th' Effects of blind Religion The Contumacy of Rebellious Subjects The deep dissimulation of the Court The want of Treasure bassling with her Prudence The utmost strength Ambition rais'd to gain her King O Count of Rhetz thou lead'st me through the Garden Of every Grace but darest not point her Weeds Is she not of a most deceitful Soul Perfidious even to violating Vows Is she not greedy too of Human Blood A Wit wasteful in destroying Lives That she will turn a City to a Wild Qu. M. Good Morrow Sir 'T is just the time you order'd I think the second Watch and we are met To wait on your Decrees King O Mother Mother You have imbark'd me in a Sea of Blood And sure so damnable an Enterprise Was never form'd by Man Qu. M. If Sir you fear it Why give it o're and let the Admiral Reign Call in the Hugonots and drive your Friends Banish your Blood and the Establish'd Peers Forget the long Succession of your Fathers The Throne of Kings forget the Laws Religion Cut off the Noble Spirits from your Council And from the Dregs of this Heretical Faction Compose a Bastard Cabinet-Election Let
King of France Adm. reads MAdam as you demanded you have power o're all the County suddenly of Armagnac Tell the great Admiral I seek his Friendship Ask of Lorrain the rest who knows my heart Perhaps my Friends it may be thus indeed That quite tir'd out with infinite Distractions He may at last resolve to Rule alone Come from his Page-ship and put off the Mother Not lose his Youth the pleasure of his Bloom Among grey Senators and withering Councils If it were so but hold there 's something here Forbids that thought it rises like a Vapor A strange misgiving such as Women swoon at And Men themselves may fear But see the Queen Enter the Queen of Navarre Prince of Navarre and Prince of Conde Q. Navarr I come Sir to forestall the Cardinal Who from the King offers these terms of Peace He adds to what Count Lodowick brought before His Mothers Policy shall sway no longer That He 'll submit his Genius to your conduct Confirms your being Captain General In that most glorius Enterprize on Spain Allows you fifty for your Person 's Guard Therefore for sealing this Eternal Bond And for the former weighty Consultations He begs you instantly to come to Court Adm. What has your Majesty resolv'd to do Q. M. To go with both the Princes streight to Paris And see the Nuptials of my young Navarre I know not what your Lordship does intend But I have sent already to the King My Answer by Byron and will attend him Adm. Then 't is too late to think of going back You have lanch'd me now indeed and I must plunge In this Abiss tho' it be deep as Hell No Madam spite of all the Augurs here Since you are thus resolv'd I 'le go to the foremost 'T was for your sake and in the Prince's cause For Liberty of Conscience and Religion That I thus long did propagate the War And shall I now not follow where you lead me Lan. Why should you if it goes against your mind Adm. Peace peace Langoiran since the Main's produc'd I mean the Resolution of the Queen My Fate cries out we must we must away Therefore my Friend go gather my Dependants Bid 'em prepare for Paris Tell my Wife My dearest Martia we must bid farewell Tell her I 'm forc'd to swim against the Stream Say that her Cato's bound for Vtica From whence perhaps he never shall return Enter Cardinal of Lorrain Car. Conquest prosperity and smooth success Be ever strow'd before our General 's feet Thus Sir the King salutes you with Commission To turn the Torrent of your Arms on Spain Adm. My Lord I glory in the great Employ I hear beside the King will rule alone For Sir what e're the Wit of Women be From War and Councils let 'em be remov'd I say again with my old bluntness Sir To have a Female finger in the State Is blasting to the Prince's Memory Let him but be sincere and leave the Mother Old as I am I will put on my Arms And with this hand not wither'd yet in War Bear to th' Escurial his Imperial Standard Car. My Lord for the sincerity of the King That he intends his Dear and Great Chastillon The very words that did express his love All Honours Titles Greatness all Advancement Nay to the curbing of his Mother's Will For the performance of each Article Without a pious catch or trick of State Without the smallest Mental Reservation Equivocation or the least Reserve In the King's Name as I am Priest profess'd As I am sent from Heav'n to teach Salvation I pawn the truth of my immortal Soul Adm. He then to whom our hearts are free and open Be judge betwixt his Majesty and me Car. O Sir O Madam oh you make me weep Viewing by this the frailty of the World For if the Mind of Man be so suspicious On such clear Demonstration of Affection How can you e're believe the Love Divine Q. M. My Lord you may return with our obedience And tell the King the Admiral the Princes My self and all his humble faithful Subjects Will haste to throw our Bodies at his feet Adm. My Lord farewell I must not doubt your Oaths But with implicite Faith believe the King At whose Tribunal I must shortly kneel For Pardon and Forgiveness Admiral returns with Cavagnes Adm. Hark my Cavagnes write to count Lodowic The Seirs de Genlis and La-Nove to haste And suddenly to make surprise of Mons. Cav My Lord Adm. Nay write I say I 'le have it done On my Parisian entrance I 'm resolv'd To see into the heart of this young Charles And force him thus upon a War with Spain For tho' this Cardinal Swear and damn his Soul As deep as Heaven's high yet if his bowels Be like the rest of that Blood-colour'd Robe And laughs at Ghosts where 's then the Admiral Caught by this perjur'd jugling man of God! What for the Cabinet Murderers to play with To toss Chastillon's Fate from one to t'other And grin my Life and Honour from the World But now for Paris Call Colombier The Count la Rochfoucalt Marquis de Renel Piles Pluviah Pardillan and Lavardine Bandine and all my Gallants of the War For Paris bid 'em haste Enter Antramont with Langoiran Ant. Stay stay My Lord I charge you stay for Martia does Arrest you And saies you shall not go to Vtica Martia resolves to hinder this Self-Murder Adm. Self-Murder Martia Ant. Yes you turn the Sword Upon your self which Charles and that false Queen Brandish against you going thus to Court Against your will for so you sent me word Is not this running it in your own Bowels Is it not Cato but you shall not leave me You 're now Betroth'd and in this sad Condition Thus fraught with your clear Image like a Bark Too Richly laden with an over Ballast Leave me not Gaspar to a stood of Tears A Sea of Passion and a Storm of Sorrow Adm. Beg me not Martia 't is impossible To stay me now my Honour is engag'd My Word is past Ant. Yet stay Sir stay so long So long at least as may preserve your Likeness For if I yield you now to those Court-Murderers My boding Fears will blast it e're 't is Born For sure as Caesar's Butchery was perform'd At Rome your Murder is contriv'd at Paris Calphurnia's bloody Dream and Scent of Slaughter Are nothing Sir to my Prophetick Spirit Which not by Visions Fantoms of the Night But by day Arguments and certain Reason Will give such Evidence for your undoing As you your self being Judge shall say are true Adm. O Antramont away why dost thou thus Unman me with thy Tears Tho' certain Death With all the Dagger'd Council stood to wait me Ev'n in my view I swear I would among ' em Ant. Then you are caught indeed they hate you Sir Your Wife with this poor Innocent unborn With all your other Orphans are undone The Glory of the Earth is laid along I see
the Vine that spreads his Arms to Heav'n With all his Clusters rotting on the ground Blasted with Lightning from a clouded Council By her that is the Iuno of your Fate That Murd'ring Sorceress that dry Hag of Florence That Midnight Hecate of ten thousand forms That varies with all Shapes that tryes all Spirits Selling her Soul to each and all together To make your Fate inevitable sure Adm. Give me your hand and take this farewel Kiss If thou would'st have me think thou lov'st old Gaspar Reply no more but leave me and be dumb Ant. I 'm all Obedience let me speak but once And whisper 't in your Ear By all my hopes Of Earth and Heav'n you shall not dye alone I 'll gather all the Branches of your Body The little Arms the Sprouts of him that was Yes with that precious Fardel bound together By Cords of Hair Cemented with my Tears And wreath'd about till Death with my Embraces I 'll follow you to Court I will my Lord And since you 'l have it so we 'll burn together Exit Enter Commander Adm. O my brave Friends my dear la Rochfaucalt Your hand and yours my rough Colombiere My Gallant Piles and thine my plain Langoiran But say how stand you to this Expedition This new Exploit this dangerous Court Adventure Lang. My Lord I 'll answer for 'em there 's not one But has resolv'd to follow tho' they had rather Run the most violent Shock of Glorious War Than stand one Complemental Death at Court Adm. Then our Opinions jump But to the purpose Since 't is resolv'd that we must go to Paris Because you 're Strangers to the King and Queen I would instruct you in the Royal Tempers Draw the Queen Mother's Face in Minature For there the watch and ward of all our Caution Must lye if possible to wave the Ruin Lang. Fore-warn'd fore-arm'd fear not we shall remember Adm. Imagin then the King like Adam laid Among the Sweets of Paradise to rest While to his listning Soul this Second Eve Full of the Devil and design'd to damn us Thus breathes her Counsels fatal to the World What ever Paths you trod before your Reign 'T is Blood and Terror must your Throne maintain Scorn then thy Slaves nor to thy Vassals bow Fix the Gold Circle to thy bended Brow By Murders Massacres no matter how For Conscience and Heav'ns Fear Religion's Rules They 're all State-Bells to toll in pious Fools Exeunt ACT III. SCENE I Enter Queen Mother and Marguerite Mar. IS Guise then false or do you try me Madam And search my Heart to know how much I love him If it be so I will resolve you quickly I 'll swear to you by Heav'n by all things Sacred By all that 's great and lovely upon Earth By him by Guise by all the blessed Moments Of that dear Life which single I prefer To Millions of my own I love him more Than you love Glory Vengeance and Ambition Qu. M. Then thou art lost a Wretch an out-cast Fool Not worthy of my Care nor worth my seeking For by my best Desires I know he scorns thee And to my certain Knowledge is betroth'd To Catharine Cleve the Prince of Porcien's Widow Mar. 'T is false he 's not he shall not nor he cannot You hate me Madam and you forge this Matter To make me dye to kill your Marguerite For if you did respect me as your Blood Why should you tear my Heart in thousand pieces Why should you make me rave with Jealousie For oh I love beyond all former Passion Dye for him that 's too little I could burn Piece Meal away or bleed to Death by drops Be stead alive then broke upon the Wheel Yet with a Smile endure it all for Guise And when let loose from Torments all one wound Run with my mangled Arms and crush him dead Qu. M. Farewel thou' rt mad indeed I 'le find the King And send him to convince you of the Truth Mar. The Truth O Heav'n nay stay and I 'le believe you But is he false is 't possible in Nature Is Guise then like his Kindred Savages True Man an Upright Bold and Hearty Villain Q. M. I tell thee as I love thy Life and Honour Tho' much I fear the latter is past hope Their Marriage will be solemniz'd to morrow The Cardinal of Lorrain must joyn their hands Mar. What he that keeps the Tye the sacred Contract I 'le warrant too he 'll be a Witness for him Why then for ever throw off Modesty If thus Religion cheats us let us haste With Messalina to the common Stews Where Bauds are honester than Roman Church-men Q. M. Think no more on 't but with a generous Fury Resolve to cast him from your Soul for ever Prepare your self for what the King commands Without delay to wed the young Navarre Mar. To wed my Tomb to dwell in dust below Where we shall see no more deceitful Men Hear no more flattery nor no damning Vows Where I shall never start from my cold Bed Nor walk with folded Arms about the Room With Eyes like Rivers ever running down While with my over-watching I mistake The rustling Wind and every little noise For Guise's coming which not finding true I weep again till all my face is drown'd And groan as if there were no end of sorrow Q. M. Then I must find some other Instruments That have the power to rule you So farewel Exit Mar. Stay Madam stay She 's gone and leaves me here To do a mischief on my Life False Guise Pefsideous Guise but I will find thee out And wreck the Miseries of my Soul upon thee Nay I 'le alarm that Priest that makes thee wicked Priests that like Devils laugh at humane pains And Souls ne're reckon so they count their gains Exit SCENE II. Palace Duke of Gulse and Cardinal of Lorrain Gui. But are you sure he 'll come Car. Most certain Sir Gui. Why then I will not eat till I behold him O I could pine my self into a Ghost So I at last might thrust my hungry Sword In the curs'd Carcass of this Admiral And glut my greedy Vengeance with his Heart Car. The Queen too of Navarre the Heretick Princess Gentlemen and Commanders Knights Barons Counts With all the Combination of the Rebels Come to the Wedding of the young Bearnois Gui. Why what an Oglio will the Devil have A Feast for Hell to cram it to the mouth A Massacre to Souls methinks I see The glutton Death gorg'd with devouring Lives And stretching o're the City his swoln bulk As he would vomit up the Dead Car. My Lord How brooks your Heart the Marriage of Navarre Gui. Why faith Sir as we must necessity The King resolves it urging to my face The Man that dar'd to contradict his pleasure Should make that opposition with his ruine On this I turn'd my Court to Porcien's Widow But O Lorrain Love mourn'd at the mistake As conscious of the cruel
my Body But till I hear thee say thy self Thou' rt false Death shall not force my Soul to wed Navarre Exit Marguerite Enter Anjou and Ligneroles Guise I 'll stand the shock of this Imperious Duke This Anjou that has got a Name in War I know not how because his Horse was shot At Moncontour you see by what ensu'd Nature design'd him for a Reveller Anj. O. Ligneroles thou Partner of my Soul Be secret for if once the King should know What I have told thee through excess of Love The World could not redeem thee from the Grave Ha! Guise But soft my Soul My Lord Lorrain 'T is said the Admiral and Hugenot Princes Are scarce a League from Paris Car. Yes My Lord I hear so too the Duke of Guise was going Anj. I hope he will not move for fear of me Guise You 're right my Lord nor will not stay for love Anj. What not a Woman's Love Love of a Princess Guise No nor a Boy 's your Sister may do much Anj. Haste Ligneroles go bear the King this Packet My Lord of Guise 't is not impossible Exit Ligneroles But Anjou one day may be King of France Mark me if then I find Valois dishonour'd I will not leave a Guise to gape at pow'r Exit Guise 'T is so by all the Mysteries of Empire By the Eternal Fates his Mother's Poison Boils in the Brains of the young drooping King And speeds him to make way for curs'd Anjou Charles his Religion which she wonders at And scarce believes him hers laughs at his pity Calls his Remorse the Colick of the Mind His starts and fears the gripes and checks of Conscience Enter King Queen Mother Ligneroles But see the King mark mark my dear Lorrain Mark how she tempers him betwixt her hands He has it in his Veins the lingring draught That moulders him away Let 's tell him of it By my Ambition and my vow'd Revenge I 'll do 't Car. Away you shall not are you mad Where is your temper Walk a little off And lay these Fumes Gui. Lead then the blind away Yet if I meet him in the dark I 'le crush him Ex. Lor. and Gul. King Was ever such an Insolence Read there My Brother has Intelligence from Rochel The Admiral has order'd his Adherents To seize on Mons as he arrives at Paris So to assure the kindling of a War O Mother now I feel thy flames inspire me Yes by the injur'd Majesty of Kings I 'le fetch this soaring Rebel from his height Traytor Imperious Saucy Arrogant Slave Lig. Why should your Majesty thus shock your Peace With needless Fury since the time draws on When He and all those Rebel Hugonots Shall never grieve you more King Your meaning Sir Lig. When as your Royal Justice has decreed They shall be Massacred King A vain Surmise Go Sir and bid the Count of Rhets attend me Ex. Lig. Q. M. Well Sir what think you now King Death and Destruction We 're all undone the Secret of the World Th' eternal Care of my contriving Soul Which has so many Moons with constant watching Reduc'd me to this state is blab'd by you Divulg'd and made the Prattle of a Boy Q. M. No no my Lord I am not to be taught By you to keep a Secret Look at home Collect if in your late tempestuous Passion You did not give suspicion of the truth King Suspicion no 't is more we are betray'd He told me to my face he knew the matter How that the Admiral and the Hugonots Should streight be Massacred O I could rave Our hearts are Rebels to our Bosom-Councils Enter Alberto Gondi But see perhaps this Villain gave it Air. Ah Traitor Ah perfidious false Alberto Have I not rais'd thee from the dregs of baseness And lodg'd thee in the bosom of thy Master Nay rise and speak where didst thou get the daring T'unravel the close web of my sworn Councils And trust 'em to the giddy Ligneroles Confess nay hide not what thou hast reveal'd Or Racks Blood Blood and Fire and lasting Torments Shall force thee speak Alb. Then let the Rack be brought Methinks I long to give a noble proof How much I can endure in such a Cause King I know not what to say whom to accuse Or where to turn my self Call hither Guise And Cardinal of Lorrain But see my Brother Enter Anjou It must be so 't is he 't is he false man I had forgot this Boy 's his only Minion The very turn-key of his Cabinet-thoughts But speak Anjou how didst thou dare to trust So strong a Secret such important Counsels That from the Book of Fate must wipe for ever A hundred thousand Lives or quash the Throne O I 'm not able to contain the Transport Why did'st thou trust a business of such weight To Ligneroles Enter Cardinal and Guise Anj. 'T is true my Lord I did But I 'le ingage my life he 'll ne're divulge it King No Sir I pass my word he never shall Anj. My Lord I beg King Speak not stir not hence My Lord of Guise I must engage your Service Q. M. Think no more of him lest the violent King Whom yet I never saw so strangely mov'd Should turn his rage on you Gui. My Lord 't is done Two of my Train there are that bear him grudge King When he 's dispatch'd let your Friends go to Prison To put a little varnish on his blood Then you or some that have the seeming Power Beg for their Pardon and it shall be sign'd Enter Alberto Alb. My Lord the Admiral 's arriv'd King O Madam Give me your hand and yours and yours To prop me Now we must shew a Master-piece indeed To meet the Man whom we would make an end of Ev'n at that time when mortal Wars within When the blood boils and flushes to be at him Yet then to shew the signs of heartiest Love To cringe to fawn to smile to weep and swear Are Masks for women not for men to wear Exeunt SCENE III. Enter Admiral Queen of Navarre the Princes Commanders Gentlemen c. Adm. Cavagnes would'st thou think it possible I scarce have breath to tell thee I 'm not well Cav Why should you fear Adam Because it goes against me Upon the way my sad presaging heart At the first view of Paris sunk within me I stopt and start and answer'd without thought Like one that breaks his sleep with his own brawl As if my Genius shock'd me with a question And ask'd me whither I was bound for Death But it must be Cavagnes nay what 's more Than Death it self confess my self a Traytor Ev'n in the Theatre of all the Kingdom Do Penance for the glorious Wars I made In view of those that have so bravely back'd me Enter the King Queen Mother Anjou Alberto Gondi Cardinal of Lorrain All the Hugonots kneel King Madam you 're welcome this the Prince your Son Most welcome this the Prince of Conde welcome
of Guise must first be torn And then presented her Gui. Excuse me Sir King If Prayers or threats can bend her Sir you shall not But if those fail my Lord without more words I charge you for your Honour and my own To act as I command or by my blood Nor you nor I shall ever see her more Gui. That 's a home thrust indeed Sir I obey And wait your farther order King My Lord Lorrain Attend the Duke while I examine Marguerite Wait till I stamp and when thy trouble 's over Make to the Admiral and I will follow Enter Alberto with Marguerite How Marguerite weeping all in tears Sure then the Count of Rhets mistook the Message I sent to give thee Joy to tell my Sister She must be marry'd Mar. And I come my Lord To shew my heart before your Majesty To beg your favour mercy and your pardon For O my Lord I cannot if I would Be marry'd to Navarre King You cannot Rise And tell me why I 'le hear you out with patience Mar. Ah Sir how shall I speak your Sister's Frailty How shall I but thus drown'd with tears and blushes Confess the fault of Duty I am marry'd Betroth'd my Lord. King To whom Mar. Alas you 're angry But I must own the truth tho' on your brow A thousand deaths sat menacing my Soul Yes Sir I 'm marry'd to the Duke of Guise King Not marry'd Marguerite but contracted And so far I 'le forgive thy heedless Youth But on condition that without more noise Thou raze the haughty Guise from thy remembrance Or by the violation of our Name I will not spare to drain thy tainted blood Till I have mounted thee by death a Victim To the great memory of the wrong'd Valois Mar. Call then my Lord call forth your fierce Tormentors Propose to Marguerite flames and wounds And all the cruel Arts of thoughtful Fury See your poor Sister's Spirit parch'd away By lingring fires to make my death more dreadful Yet Sir with my last breath I must avow My Love to Guise and hatred to Navarre King No I have thought on 't better I 'll proclaim thee A Prostitute thou shalt no more be Royal Poor and abandon'd with thy shame upon thee I 'll turn thee forth a Beggar to the World Mar. Do do my Lord rather than wed Navarre And make it death for any to relieve me Set the mad multitude like Dogs upon me To tear to worry me like common flesh To drag me to a Ditch and leave me gasping Yet with my last sighs I will groan to Heav'n 'T is easier this than to be false to Guise King But Marguerite was there ever Love Without brave Revenge on Provocation Yet Wretch thou lov'st without being lov'd again Since in my presence Guise now past his word To leave thee and to wed the Widow Porcien Mar. No no my Lord that Art was us'd before Yet Sir you make me tremble for methinks There 's something more resolv'd more stern in you Than in my Mother yet my heart 's confirm'd Not to believe ev'n you O therefore cease Or rather execute your former rage And give me up to those Tormentors hands That wait your Call King But if I bring the Duke Before thy face that Contract in his hand Which past betwixt you and he tears it here Openly in the presence of us all Wilt thou then quit him with resolv'd revenge And wed Navarre Mar. Why should you ask me Sir Prove me but half as much but half that falshood That Impudence that Treason to the Throne Of our crown'd Loves and I will wed a Slave There 's not a thing so loath'd upon the Earth But you shall bind me to it for my life To Age Deformity to all that 's hateful Blasting and deadly Ha! what 's this he tears The Contract O it is the cursed Contract Then I 'll tear too Death Furies Hell and Devils But call him Sir call back the perjur'd Traytor Let your Guards hold him you shall see my Lord How well I hate him Give me but a Dagger And I will gore his heart with thousand wounds Nay if 't were possible I 'de stab his Soul Fill it so full brimful of Womans Gall That tho' he were an Angel it should damn him But he 's a Devil Devil Devil Devil King Give me your hand you shall along with me To a young King that will be proud to serve you Mar. O Sir I know not what to say or do But fling this load of misery at your feet You have my promise but with all my blood I would retrieve it for since Guise is false Whom I believ'd the worthiest of the World Since he has prov'd himself so damn'd a Villain O give me leave Sir give me leave to shun To hate to loath to curse all Humane Kind King I 'le have no more delay I claim your Promise Come then or by my Crown I 'le have thee drag'd What hoa without there Enter Attendants Mar. Mother pity me Have patience Sir a little time my Lord To vent these bursting sighs and I will go Let me but dry my Eyes and I will go This remnant of a wretched Royal woman This stain to all your Blood O cruel Heav'n This curs'd forlorn unhappy Bride shall go Thus to the Altar where my Fate 's decreed But like a Victim that is doom to bleed Exeunt SCENE II. Admiral Antramont Cavagnes Langoiran Ant. Poison'd the Royal dead Navarre was poison'd 'T is the first Thunder-clap of that vast Storm That seems already breaking o're your head Why are you senseless then and deaf to warning When wherefoe're you cast your Eyes the storm Looks blacker yet Why stays the Duke of Guise Why does he summon all his Blood to Court With Barons Knights that hold the Catholick Party With Foreign Gentry living on his Pensions And therefore ready upon all occasion With hazard of their lives to act his pleasure Adm. Peace Antramont Ant. Alas my Lord I cannot Why should the Visdam Chartres Count Mongomery Resolve to lodge themselves beyond the Sein Unless their minds presage some dreadful mischief 'T is coming O with deeper Policies The King and Queen delude your easie Soul With fatal Praises and undoing Honours O they have caught you my Prophetick Soul Sees the red Tempest thunder down in blood In blood of you of me of all about you Adm. O Antramont you foil me now indeed Yet I shall answer if your Passion please First for the Queen I saw her Body open'd The parts whereof were sound untouch'd by Poison And by our own Physicians 't was concluded She dy'd a natural Death Then for the Guises Some little satisfaction must be given As to permit their Presence at the Marriage But for the management of State-affairs Or Favour from the King they 're lost for ever Nor shall it keep my dauntless Powers awake Tho' Chartres and Mongomery will not come But to forbear the Subject leave me here
The black Abetter of my Father's Murder Adm. This wou'd sound well my Lord in Front-Battle But here upon a Visit from the King It looks not like the Guise Gui. My Father's Murder bid me not stand on points When that 's remember'd But track me to the Forest with thy Sword Thus Man to Man bark'd with all thy People Follow me or I will proclaim thee Traytor Coward Adm. O King King King still let me sound thy Name Lest this Fool-hardy-Boy this knotty Trifler This Spawn of Words this Urchin of the War Should raise my Anger past the pulling down Enter King Queen Mother Alberto Anjou and Morvile But see He 's here I scorn to ruine thee Therefore go tell him tell him thy own Story King What now my Lord of Guise Is this your Visit I charge you on your life without reserve Tell me the truth how hapned this disorder Those rusted hands red looks and port of Fury Gui. I told him Sir since you resolve to have it He was the Murderer of my Noble Father Therefore a Traytor Villain and a Coward King Is 't possible Adm. No matter Sir no matter The Old Man rouz'd and shook himself my Lord A few hot words no more upon my life So if your Majesty will do me Honour I do beseech you let the business dye King Guise go submit your self and ask his pardon Gui. My Lord I cannot speak King Where are our Guards Adm. Hold there Come Sir I will interpret for you My Lord this close embrace makes up the breach We will be sorry Sir for one another Gui. You have out-done me Sir but you 'l excuse me 'T was a great Rack that screw'd me to this Folly Adm. More than enough we 're riveted the faster King My Lord of Guise Q. M. My good Lord Admiral Now use your Power and quite oblige the Court Villandry has provok'd the King at Play In such a nature that he 's doom'd to die My Son refus'd my Intercession for him Therefore when he has done his Check to Guise For your affront pray my good Lord intreat him King The Marriage stays within which past resolve His Execution sudden as you can Gui. Marvile Mar. My Lord Gui. I by the King's Commission have Command To take the Admiral 's life Mar. I 'le shoot him Gui. Right As he returns from Court Mar. From some Out-Lodging I 'le watch him till I execute your Order Adm. I am a Suitor to your Majesty For poor Villandry's life King Haste bring him forth I think my Lord if you should ask my heart My yielding breast would open to your hand But Father let 's away the Cardinal Stays for Navarre Adm. We 'll wait your Majesty Exit King with the Court O my Cavagnes where 's Langorian now Where 's Antramont but haste and tell her all Tell her th' extravagant kindness of the King Tell her but stay why such repeated Oaths That 's to be thought on Hollow was his aspect Graves in his smiles Death in his bloodless hands O Antramont I 'le haste to meet thy Eyes The Face of Beauty on these rising horrours Looks like the Midnight-Moon upon a Murder It drives the Shades that thicken from the State And gilds the dark design that 's ripe for Fate Exeunt ACT V. SCENE I. The King rises from a Couch FRom Amber shrouds I see the morning rise Her Rosy hand begins to paint the Skies And now the City Emets leave their Hive And rouzing Hinds to chearful labour drive High Cliffs and Rocks are pleasing objects now And Nature smiles upon the Mountains brow The Joyful Birds falute the Sun's approach The Sun too laughs and mounts his gaudy Coach While from his Car the dropping Gems distil And all the Earth and all the Heaven does smile But Charles still wrapt in Shades like Night appears His sighs the Vapors and the Dews his Tears Yet O Just Power with pity O behold The wretch whose fault is in your Book inroll'd Behold these streams with which his Soul aspires To slake your wrath and quench your angry fires Enter Genius Gen. Thy Genius lo from his sweet Bed of rest Adorn'd with Jassamin and with Roses drest The Pow'r Divine has rais'd to stop thy Fate A true Repentance never comes too late So soon as born she made her self a Shroud The weeping Mantle of a Fleecy Cloud And swift as thought her Airy Journy took Her hand Heav'ns Azure Gate with trembling strook The Stars did with amazement on her look She told thy Story in so sad a Tone The Angels start from Bliss and gave a groan But Charles beware oh dally not with Heav'n For after this no Pardon shall be giv'n Exit Enter the Queen Mother Cardinal of Lorrain Anjou Alberto Gondi Car. The King upon the Earth O rise my Lord. Q. M. He has of late been troubled with such Faintings And see he bleeds at Mouth King Stand from me all O Mother Mother Whither will you lead me Through what a Vault of Monuments and Sculls And dead Men's Bones And you my Lord Lorrain Must I still journey through this Vale of Death And never reach the Paradise you promis'd I must not let the Massacre go forward I 'm warn'd from Heav'n I swear I think from Heav'n Q. M. Some Scar-crow of a Dream So far from Sin Or ought that 's damnable is our Design That my Lord Cardinal will tell you Sir 'T is meritorious and when e're we strike The Church shall bless it as a blow from Heav'n Car. Therefore my Lord I wish you to suspect Whatever thwarts you in your holy purpose However veil'd tho' in an Angel's form Conclude it the suggestion of the Devil Q. M. So now I hope these Qualms are at an end And we may close pursue the main intention Supposed the Admiral kill'd on this the Hugonots Fall on the House of Guise the City rises And cuts 'em all to pieces now imagine Which I am apt to think the Hereticks Are more discreet and only sue for Justice Without a Tumult shall the business stand Car. No. If we find they do not run to Uproar Our only hope to colour o're their ruine Proceed to instant Slaughter or they 'l find Some means for flight and kindle up the War More dreadfully than ever Anj. Is 't determin'd That with the rest the Princes too shall bleed Q. M. My Judgment is most positive in this Let not one Soul of all be left alive For 't is ridiculous in such Extreams i th' mid'st of Slaughter Ruine Blood and Death To think of ever being prais'd for Mercy Nor can a mean be us'd the Duke of Guise Meddles not in it if a man escape And says in such a desperate Purge of Humours If any Relick of the great Distemper Be left behind it runs to a Relapse More dangerous than before King As I remember Madam it has been oft your Oracle In this late Civil Wars to avoid a Battel That limbs tho'
VVelcome to Paris welcome to the Court The heart of Charles bids welcome to you all VVho 's that upon the Earth the great Chastillon The glorious Admiral the fam'd Coligni The scourge of Kingdoms O my Father rise Or by the Majesty of Age the Reverence Due to these hairs the King himself shall kneel Adam O Sir is 't possible can this be real Can you forgive this Out-law this Offender VVho has so often turn'd your Subjects Arms Against their Lawful Soveraign made whole wilds Of populous Towns and brav'd the Lions fury Now you have drawn me quite unarm'd to Court Can you so far be Master of your temper As not to hew me in a thousand pieces King Can you who had the power to make me tremble Can you my awful Subject be so good To kneel before my feet and ask my Pardon And shall I be so barbarous to refuse it No mighty VVarrior in the heat of Broils VVhen thou so terribly becam'st the Field Had'st thou thus sought me by those Saints we worship I had receiv'd thee with a breast of Mercy Adm Forgive me Sir my heart so rises in me I cannot speak King Let then the VVorld be witness All that is Honest Sacred Good and Just Be witnesses the powers of Heav'n and Earth VVith this embrace I pardon thee thy Er I bid thee welcome as my better Angel Thou shalt direct in all my bosom Councils My Genius O! and while I hold thee thus Methinks I press my Father in my Arms. Adm. O! Sir what have you done you 've burst the heart Of your old Gasper with this Flood of Goodness And see it gushes from my Aged Eyes King No more Adm. I must I must make way my Lord For this dear Load that makes me fore within But haste employ my Arm Let Fortune raise Some Fo that 's worthy of Chastillon's Sword Nay I shall quarrel with the Fates themselves Unless they rouze me up some brave occasion To signalize my Loyalty my Conduct And constant Zeal for your Immortal Glory King Your Friendship to the Queen who courts it too VVill more oblige me than your VVars abroad Adm. For all past Faults thus low I ask her Pardon Q. M. Rise rise my Lord let us forgive each other May I when dying miss the Throne of Mercy If when I saw the King and you embrace My wounded heart did not weep blood for joy King Come come my Lord since you 're so fierce to Serve me I 'll find your Sword Employment Rest a while And then for Flanders where the Duke of Alva Will hold you to 't Adm. I long my Lord to try him He who so curses the Reform'd Religion I wish that with some thousands I could raise Of those poor Protestants whom he disdains I could but face him on the dusty Plain Tho' to his Aid he call'd his Catholick Master With thousand Arms held up to thousand Saints Ev'n with this handful of my old Commanders Heading the well truss'd Body of our Men We'd on to make the Mytred Armies yield And drive the trembling Crosiers from the Field Exeunt ACT IV. SCENE I. The Scene draws the King the Queen Mother the Duke of Anjou Duke of Guise Cardinal of Lorrain The Body of Ligneroles held up all bloody Anj. AH Traytor Guise but I will have thy life Gui. Let go your hand or by the Majesty That Governs here I 'll send you to your Boy King Tear 'em asunder Anj. I 'le have Satisfaction King Remove the Body You my Lord of Guise Say how this murder hapned Gui. Thus my Lord. Charles Count of Mansfeild and the Count of Guerchy When with this Mornings hunt the Hills and Groves The Skies and Fountains seem'd one mutual cry Riding in company with this bold Spirit On siery Coursers chanc'd to discompose him He frown'd they laugh'd and so the beaten road Of Quarrels hot words rose then Blows and Thrusts The Youth betwixt 'em fell I know not how And there 's an end of him Anj. Traytor thou ly'st thou know'st the cause King No Sir it was my Order Now as you have respect to your own Safety No more of this Had you not blush'd in Blood In the Heart-blood of him you dearest lov'd By my dead Father's Soul by my Revenge You should your self have mourn'd so gross a failing Q. M. Sir he repents King He does but what he ought Now to the Business Since then the Cloud that holds our horrid Vengeance Comes nearer racking o're the Hugonots heads Let 's help the fall and stir not from this place Till we have fixt the Plat-form of their Ruine First for the Queen Iane Albert of Navarre Because a Woman and of Royal Blood My Mother judg'd that she should dye by Poison Q. M. Dispatch'd with Sweets Pass to the rest she 's dead King Yet not without suspicion of the Princes Who therefore by my Order were desir'd To see her Body open'd which was done Before the chief of all the Hugonots Only her Head was spar'd as I appointed Out of a seeming Reverence but indeed Left that the Poison tho' it pass'd unseen Like a close Murderer through the Lanes of Life Might yet at last be taken where it lodg'd With this in part I satisfy'd their Murmurs Qu. M. Therefore you must confer more favours still Upon the Admiral lull him with Honours Strike him but in the throat of his Ambition You have him sure yet let him play a while And roll at random down the stream of Glory My Lord of Guise you have not yet convers'd him Therefore while this suspicion on the death Of the late Queen flies warm about his ears Visit him as commanded by the King But so as if enforc'd and by degrees Proceed to half a Quarrel that the King Being made the Judge as coming there by chance May give it quite against you in appearance And force you to submit your self for Pardon Gui. It shall be so And fear not I 'le provoke him 'T will ease my Heart a little with keen words To right my Father's wrongs and shed the Venom That swells me all within King On this proceed To the intended Marriage of Navarre Which once perform'd as if that were the Lightning To the sure Peal of Horrour that must follow Begin our Vengeance with the Admiral 's Death Anj. First Sir it would be known how Guise approves The Marriage of Navarre with Marguerite King I know the Duke approves what I resolve And on so great a push would forfeit both A Ligneroles and Marguerite too Qu. M. Come come it 's monstrous but to make a Scruple To stand on Pets Intrigues and foolish Passions When such a Fate is now upon the Bolt As ne're perhaps yet Thunder'd with Success Since first the World began Gui. My Lord I yield And take Prince Porcien's Widow for my Wife King I sent the Count of Rhets to bring her hither My Lord Lorrain pray let me view the Contract This by the hand