HENRY THE THIRD OF FRANCE Stabb'd by a FRYER WITH THE Fall of the GUISE A TRAGEDY Acted at the THEATRE-ROYAL By THOMAS SHIPMAN Esquire Licensed Octob. 16. 1678. ROGER L'ESTRANGE Rege incolumi Mens omnibus una Virg. Georg. LONDON Printed by B. G. for Sam. Heyrick at Grayes-Inn-Gate in Holborn 1678. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY Lord Marquess of Dorchester Earl of Kingstone Viscount Newark Lord Pierrepont and Manvers and one of the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Counsel c. My Lord WIsdome is attain'd by an exact disquisition after Truth which seem'd once so difficult an attempt that in Greece the then knowing part of the World seven only were accounted to deserve the name of Wise. Such commendable researches gain'd 'em that prae-eminence and this made them prescribe to the rest of Mankind They declar'd Truth like precious Oar bury'd in a Pit not to be got thence but by a long deduction of Reason nor this Reason perfected without Study and Learning Now Learning is only the cultivating of Parts and Wit 'till we arrive at a thorough improvement of thoughts upon things and Men. My Lord all this being consider'd who can lay a juster claim to this Iewel than your Lordship Whose mind being animated by generous spirits always addresses it self unto noble ends Your inward sight sharper than that of Eagles can gaze upon the splendeur where Truth'sits thron'd and discern all the finesses of Policy and Prudence Ablessing not to be attain'd without a sagacity able to pierce into the deepest resorts of Nature and to extricate hidden forms from the Wombs of their Causes But these Perfections like th' Elixir of the Phylosophers are impossible or very difficult to be obtain'd without such a prosperous success as your Lordships that has run through the round of all Sciences with a perspicacity even to admiration You my Lord like the Eye of the World have not only visited but inlighten'd each Orb in the Heaven of Learning And those who hence forward shall pretend to knowledge must owe it to your Influence Wherever you past you left such tracks of light as may direct the inquisitive World into the most private recesses of knowledge Besides 't is as wonderful how your Lordship could arrive to this height to these miraculous improvements How could you break through those intangling blandishments of Fortune Those cumbersome imployments of Honour and State Those tediousnesses of Address that wait on and add to the tumults of Grandeur For Greatmen as th' incomparable Verulam observes have little freedome either in their times their actions or themselves Insomuch as prae-eminence would afford no Aitraits nor any pretences authorize the thirstings after Greatness unless a power to do good By such revelations of your merits and vertue you have added lustre to your Coronet and ennobled even Nobility it self Vulgar Fame applauds Majesty in such choices and that commonstream runs here into the Fountain of Honour If our Age had been unfortunate in wanting you as that of the Romans had been happy in injoying you Cicero might have spar'd his expectation as he smartly worded it to Caesar Quae miremur habemus quae laudemus expectamus In our late Deluge of Ignorance and Rebellion you stood up like one of Seth's Pillars and preserv'd Letters and Loyalty to this happy Age. You were tost indeed but not discompos'd with the humrous successes of Fortune You steer'd your Resolutions and kept a steady soul amidst those storms that shipwrackt three Kingdomes In that fatal 41th when those false Representatives of our Liberties like Robbers pretended to direct us into the right way and then intrapt us into streights to cut our Purses and our Throats when by a horrid Conspiracy like that of Corah they rebell'd both against Moses and Aaron when like the ingrateful Hebrews they wanten'd after impure Loves and worshipt false Gods of their own making Then you my Lord indeavour'd with all your might to rescue us from inhumanity and rapine and divert Iudgments from the People like Cicero in the Conspiracy of Catiline and with equal Eloquence you labour'd to save both Capitol and Common-wealth from ruin In testimony whereof those two incomparable Speeches of your Lordships to the House of Peers in Defence of the Hierarchy will be recorded in the Temple of Fame till Time shall be no more Nor is this all for tho these great Truths must eternize your Name and advantage the next Age with glorious examples yet to come nearer home my Lord the present time is as much oblig'd Your Hospitality and way of living is such as may instruct those of your Lordships rank to restore and uphold their ancient int'rest and grandeur too much and too long neglected Here is Plenty without Luxury and Intemperance Greatness without Noise and Disorder Entertainments are here be stowed both upon Mind and Body and 't is doubtful to which our Repasts are most oblig'd But I 'm fall'n upon a Panegyrick where I intended a Dedication and in both alike presumptuous yet it may be the more excusable in that I have sacrific'd to Duty and Truth in acknowledging your Lordships favours and my great obligations and in yielding a Testimony to the merits of so eminent a Person And after my Reader is confirm'd of all these great qualities and hears how your Lordships pleas'd to countenance this Tragaedy I need not fear his acceptation You my Lord alone are a sufficient Theater and your single praise more to be valu'd than the loudest Plaudite I humbly beg that your Lordship will vouchsafe to pardon all its falours and accept of that devotion wherewith I offer it which will be an infinite honour to My Lord Your Lordships most Humble and most Devoted Servant August 30th 1678. Tho. Shipman TO ROGER L'ESTRANGE Esq SIR Since this Tragedy has gain'd your approbation I ought to shew the care I took in 't I alter'd not the Story nor made the Guises speak or act worse than really they did I branded not that damn'd League with such characters as I might have done and they deserv'd I fited the Parts to the Persons and kept 'em as like themselves as the Story would let me I made both the Kings Amorous Generous and Valiant and so indeed they were and endeavour'd they should not suffer upon a particular Stage when they had triumpht upon that of the World If Grillon seem'd overbold and rough sometimes in some places I do but keep my self to that character which Mounsieur Girard and D'Avila with others have bestow'd upon him Nay his frequent Oath of Death was not my fancy neither For there 's a Story in the Life of Espernon enough to justifie me and fright our Gallants from that profane humour As for the rest it was my aim they should not speak above themselves and I suited as well as I could their Parts to their Callings Yet after all this I am not ignorant that I lie open to the Critick's in transferring
Passions ought now to retreat And I by his example must be great Enter Navar putting up his Sword and Plessis and Guards Nav. Sir here I come humbly to beg of you T' accept those services which were your due And tho with that great honour they are grac'd They 'l but attone for my offences pass'd King Sir I was passionate as well as you Gril. Death who can tell the faultiest of the too Nav. Nature in all our souls sows precious seeds Vertues are flowers and Vices are the Weeds Gril. Your souls those curious Gardens are not free But you your passions have as well as we King We were not men else Sir to let you know That I can be as generous as you Of your three Presents here I thus dispose My life and Grillon I will only chuse This third so rich a recompence will be Points to Gab. and gives her That with one favour here I pay for three Nav. This royal gift contains so vast a sum It pays for all my services to come King Dear Chateneuf thou formerly we'rt given To acts of mercy imitate then Heaven Forgiveness without crimes had never been As Sun-beams after Clouds more chearful seen My roving Heart neglectful of its rest Forsook the lovely Palace of your breast Then Idly for another rang'd about And found one there but justly was shut out Points at Gab. Th' afflicted Prodigal does home retire Stript from all vanities of loose desire Half-starv'd it begs refreshment at your fire Chat. 'T is only Pitty now that can me move King Let me gain Pitty and I 'l merit Love Nor can you doubt my Passion to be true Since I leave Gabriel and return to you Gril. In all my Love designs yet I am crost To Bonneval Bon. I scorn a Gamster that to all has lost Gril. My Title 's forfeit then to womankind Yet I a nobler Mistress hope to find 'T is Madam Honour she delights in War She is a Mistress worth contending for This Leaguer-Lady for in Camps she 's bred Does all the Beauties of the Court exceed She asks no Riches but those gain'd in Wars Wounds for her Ioynter for her Iewels Scars Vict'ry and Fame she does for Portion yield At last her Marriage bed some well fought Field And then to prove her Virgin vertue good Her Mayden-head is alwayes got in Blood Nav. Such a description and so drawn to th' Life Plainly declares th' hast gain'd her to thy Wife Now I 've more hopes than e're I had before Since Grillon thou wilt rival me no more Gril. Not Sir in Love troth 't is not worth the while Love's favours are but like an April smile Clouded each day or wept away in showers King But Sir you better know to use your hours To Navar. It is a maxime amongst Lovers known All time is lost but when they are alone Takes out Chateauneus Exeunt omnes praeter Navar and Gabriel Nav. 'T is a great truth of which we make small use Why should we such a precious treasure lose We are not yet alone Gab. Here 's no one by Nav. Too many Madam since there 's you and I. Gab. I 'l then withdraw and leave you here alone Nav. You 'l leave but half of me when you are gone Gab. I understand you not Nav. Ah! this does prove You are unknowing in the rules of Love We talk we look we touch yet still are poor And ' midst of such enjoyments long for more There is a thing we know not call'd delight Nor never shall until our Souls unite Love is in Union plac'd And whilst we 're two We Love not we alass but only woo Gab. I know not then how Lover's souls can joyn Unless when mine is yours and yours is mine Nav. How can we at this distance gain such blisses Unless we breath 'em mutually in chast kisses Madam when Heav'n does Soul and Body joyn O! that is Love And that Love is divine Gab. But whilst our souls alternately rejoyce And rest contented in their purer choice Why should our Bodies with their sensu'l weight Retard our Souls in their more active flight Nav. Madam 't is true our glorious souls praeside Our Bodies and our greatest actions guide No Love within the Body can begin Without assistance from that God within Yet both must act whilst they on Earth reside Their faculties are vainly else imploy'd Gab. My Love as lasting as my soul receive For I no mortal thing to you would give You more oblig'd me than the World can do And by that rule I would be thankful too Nav. You in your nice distinctions cruel prove To keep the Body and bestow your Love Like those who rich Estates and Iewels give Yet will not yield possession whilst they live Gab. To the most precious gist I was inclin'd Because 'till Death Love cannot be refin'd Nav. That credit Love has lost let us restore A d by our Loves show what it was before Love and the World together did begin And did out-shine the Sun Before it clouded was with sin Such pure such unmixt joyes our souls shall swell As Virgins guess and Saints can only tell Exeunt SCENE IV. The Presence Chamber Enter King Revol Grillon Larchant Guards Gril. WHat makes you sad Sir King O! A dream last night Methought the Room was silver'd o'r with Light But such a light as darted gentle beams As clear and cool as those that glide o'r streams The Roof seem'd open and so seem'd the sky From whence a shining light did more than fly It hover'd o'r my Head when soon there came This Apparition through a door of flame The Chariot was less bright than his Attire His Lips were bloody and his Eyes like fire He in his right hand held a flaming Blade Threatning me thus he thundred out and said My name is Vengeance and I must be paid Rev. To look for truth from Dreams is full as vain As to hope counsel from a crazy brain Sleep is the Stage and Fancy makes the Play The thoughts at night act what they conn'd by day A Dream 's a Play Sir and a Play 's a dream Both aëry Descents of an idle Theme King What e're this Vision may to thee appear I 'm sure it makes a Deep impression here The threats of Vengeance most to those belong Who use that pow'r Heav'n gave 'em to do wrong One I committed which wounds deeply here Points to 's breast I mean the bus'ness of the Massacre 'T was in this Room where we did it conclude I well remember in this place I stood I hate it since methinks it smells of blood Enter Guesile Gues A youth Sir seiz'd by Guards I now have brought But his chief bus'ness I have vainly sought I took him for a spy and all means try'd To trap him but he all things well apply'd He has Instructions which he 'l tell to none Unless unto your Majesty alone King Bring him in Larchant Exit Larchant Gues Sir he says
he 's sent By divers Friends and the first President Who if your Majesty appoint a day Thorough a Port your Forces will convey Enter Larchant Clement pressing to the King Larch Stay Fellow where you are why do you thrust Gues Speak out here 's none but whom the King will trust Clem. Pardon me Sir my bus'ness is more great Than either he or you imagine yet King Let him come near He comes to th' King Gril. I know not what I doubt King Now thy chief bus'ness speak but speak more out Clem. This is my bus'ness Sir As the King leans to him he stabs him King O! I am slain Takes the Knife out of his wound and stabs him Take thy Knife Villain thus and thus again Rev. Run for the Surgeons soon Gril. Damn'd Rogue Take that Runs him through he falls Gues How kill'd Rev. O! You have done you know not what We ne'r shall know th' Abettors of the Plot. Clem. Your hands have seal'd the bargain now and given Me just possession of my purchast Heaven Dies Gril. How feel you Sir your self Is the danger past Gues Where are these Surgeons They make little hast King I feel no pain but hold it least it bleed Rev. O more than hellish execrable deed Exeunt Confus'd running over the Stage by Chirurgions c. and Guards marching after Grillon Enter Guesile Plessis Gues All will be well I hope if he get rest The Surgeons say all danger then is past They have great hopes it is a slanting stroak Then his small pain Makes 'em to hope his Bowels are not broke Ples May Heav'n confirm it Whilst we here attend Methinks the time we cannot better spend Than to observe what I did lately hear Gues What was 't about Ples About the Massacre Viz. King Charls and 's Mother for 't was in their Reign The Cardinal of Guise and of Lorrain The Duke of Anjou who is now our King Whom Guise into the horrid Plot did bring Those six consulted and pronounc'd the doom And pray observe it in this very Room Vengeance is terrible but 't is divine You know by whom 't is said Vengeance is mine First Charls began cut off in 's very prime And by a judgement suited to the crime He dy'd in blood who living shed such store And then was plung'd nay drown'd in his own Gore The fire of Vengeance which none can restrain Did melt the Glue that cimented each vain Those little Channels quickly made their way To th'Brooks those to the River those to th' Sea Which overflow'd like an impetuous Tide And did thro' th' sluices of his Body glide Gues Then follow'd next the old Priest of Lorrain Who Christians had for Sacrifices slain Ples His punishment was also in his blood Not by an overflowing of the flood But heated by some mistick fire within It boil'd away i' th' Caldron of his skin Pale Ghosts before his dying Eyes did swim They first accus'd and then distracted him He raging dy'd His last breath like a storm fro's breast did fly And met a greater tempest in the sky Gues Then for the Duke and Cardinal of Guise We lately saw their bloody Tragedies Ples The old Queen's soul most servilly did wait First on the Guise's crime then on their fate And tho one punishment they could not have They had one guilt and might have had one Grave Her shrivel'd veins for such crimes could not quit But in her childrens blood she paid for it Gues Ther 's none alive now but our wounded Prince Whom doubtless Heav'n has pardon'd long time since And who I hope has many years to live Ples Yet future Ages will this judgement give 'T was just that in the place where once he stood Condemning Innocents he lost his blood Gues Great were the Iudgements Ples But more great the crime I think he was in Poland at that time Gues True Plessis and I waited on him there Ples Strange that no Ghosts o' th' murder'd did appear And with loud shriekings strike his tingling Ear O! 'T was a dismal night Gues Which to declare Will shortenth ' time of our attendance here Ples I need not aggravate the crime nor tell The murd'rous design 't is known too well Marg'ret of Valois marri'd to Navar That sacred tye of Love they made their snare Thus Marriage is their Sacrament they Sign Their horrid Plot and then instead of Wine They quench their thirst's with blood like Catiline No State no Sex ' scap'd their unmanly rage They neither pitty'd Youth nor rev'renc'd Age. The Cross which Heav'n gave as a glorious sign Of Victory to the great Constantine This Ensign first display'd i' th' Starry-Field To which The Persian Sun and Turkish Moon did yield Nay which The Blood of God himself did more than guild This sacred Badge's function they invade The Cross they upon ev'ry hat displaid Ten thousand Souls were forc't that fatal night From Bodies pale to take an untim'd flight Lovers in midst of soft imbraces die Their Souls t' each other in their last breaths fly Then joyn i' th' vapours of a dying sigh Babes nuzling on stab'd Mothers breasts awake And gushing blood alas for milk they take Thin Ghosts those airy Chariots of our Souls Hover'd all o'r the Town in num'rous Shoals Attending Guides that might their wayes prepare Thorough the pathless Regions of the Air. Now cryes of dying Persons ' wake the Sun As Indians with loud clamours call the Moon Now horrid Scenes were offer'd to our Eyes The ground was pav'd with Carkasses the Skies Were hid with Clouds which from spilt blood did rise Gues Loud is the cry of blood 't is louder far Than peals of Thunder when they rend the Air. Their dying groans eccho'd to Poland soon Where we with scorn and hate were look'd upon The very Tartars who their Children fill With blood of slaves whom purposely they kill Whose Bodies are first kneaded up with blood Which is as much their substance as their food They ev'n did those Murd'rers condemn Of such a crime as ne'r was known to them Enter a Chyrurgion Chyr The King inquires for you Gues Are all things well Chyr 'Till th'wound is open'd Sir we cannot tell SCENA ultima The Royal Bed-Chamber The King on 's Couch Navar seated by him Grillon Revol Larchant Gabriel Chateauneuf and Chyrurgions Guessle Plessis at the other door Attendants King Grieve not my Friends I feel but little pain A sign they say I may be well again Strange was my dream and th' event too soon Gril. But Sir the work of Vengeance is not done He hovers there Sir or if gone he be H' has his Commission left and Sword with me Nav. Grillon thy vengeance shall have its desire We 'l purge that treach'rous Town with sword and fire Gril. May I but kindle 't tho i' th' midst I fry Then like the Phoenix I 'le triumphant die King My thanks Sir for your love and care I give And shall requite