THE MASSACRE AT PARIS With the Death of the Duke of Guise As it was plaide by the right honourable the Lord high Admirall his Seruants Written by Christopher Marlow AT LONDON Printed by E. A. for Edward White dwelling neere the little North doore of S. Paules Church at the signe of the Gun THE MASSACRE AT PARIS VVith the Death of the Duke of Guise Enter Charles the French King the Queene Mother the King of Nauarre the Prince of Condye the Lord high Admirall and the Queene of Nauarre with others Charles Prince of Nauarre my honourable brother Prince Condy and my good Lord Admirall I Wishe this vnion and religious league Knit in these hands thus ioyn'd in nuptiall rites May not desolue till death desolue our liues And that the natiue sparkes of princely loue That kindled first this motion in our hearts May still be feweld in our progenye Nauar. The many fauours which your grace hath showne From time to time but specially in this Shall binde me euer to your highnes will In what Queen Mother or your grace commands Old Qu. Thanks sonne Nauarre you see we loue you well That linke you in mariage with our daughter heer And as you know our difference in Religion Might be a meanes to crosse you in your loue Charles Well Madam let that rest And now my Lords the mariage rites perfourm'd We think it good to goe and consumate the rest With hearing of a holy Masse Sister I think your selfe will beare vs company Q. Mar. I will my good Lord Charles The rest that will not goe my Lords may stay Come Mother let vs goe to honor this solemnitie Old Q. VVhich I le desolue with bloud and crueltie Exit the King Q Mother and the Q. of Nauar and manet Nauar the Prince of Condy and the Lord high Admirall Nauar. Prince Condy and my good L. Admiral Now Guise may storme but doe vs little hurt Hauing the King Qu. Mother on our sides To stop the mallice of his enuious heart That seekes to murder all the Protestants Haue you not heard of late how he decreed If that the King had giuen consent thereto That all the protestants that are in Paris Should haue been murdered the other night Ad. My Lord I meruaile that th' aspiring Guise Dares once aduenture without the Kings consent To meddle or attempt such dangerous things Con. My L. you need not meruaile at the Guise For what he doth the Pope will ratifie In murder mischeefe or in tiranny Na. But he that sits and rules aboue the clowdes Doth heare and see the praiers of the iust And will reuenge the bloud of innocents That Guise hath slaine by treason of his heart And brought by murder to their timeles ends Ad. My Lord but did you mark the Cardinall The Guises brother and the Duke Dumain How they did storme at these your nuptial rites Because the house of Burbon now comes in And ioynes your linnage to the crowne of France Na, And that 's the cause that Guise so frowns at vs And beates his braines to catch vs in his trap Which he hath pitcht within his deadly toyle Come my Lords le ts go to the Church and pray That God may still defend the right of France And make his Gospel flourish in this land Exeunt Enter the Duke of Guise Guise If euer Hymen lowr'd at marriage rites And had his alters deckt with duskie lightes If euer sunne stainde heauen with bloudy clowdes And made it look with terrour on the worlde If euer day were turned to vgly night And night made semblance of the hue of hell This day this houre this fatall night Shall fully shew the fury of them all Apothecarie Enter the Pothecarie Pothe. My Lord Guise Now shall I proue and guerdon to the ful The loue thou bear'st vnto the house of Guise Where are those perfumed gloues which I sent To be poysoned hast thou done them speake Will euery sauour breed a pangue of death Pothe. See where they be my good Lord And he that smelles but to them dyes Guise Then thou remainest resolute Pothe. I am my Lord in what your grace commaundes till death Guise Thankes my good freend I wil requite thy loue Goe then present them to the Queene Nauarre For she is that huge blemish in our eye That makes these vpstart heresies in Fraunce Be gone my freend present them to her straite Souldyer Exit Pothe. Enter a Souldier Soul My Lord Guise Now come thou forth and play thy tragick part Stand in some window opening neere the street And when thou seest the Admirall ride by Discharge thy musket and perfourme his death And then I le guerdon thee with store of crownes Soul I will my Lord Exit Souldi Guise Now Guise begins those deepe ingendred thoughts To burst abroad those neuer dying flames Which cannot be extinguisht but by bloud Oft haue I leueld and at last haue learnd That perill is the cheefest way to happines And resolution honors fairest aime What glory is there in a common good That hanges for euery peasant to atchiue That like I best that flyes beyond my reach Set me to scale the high Peramides And thereon set the Dradem of Fraunce I le either rend it with my nayles to naught Or mount the top with my aspiring winges Although my downfall be the deepest hell For this I wake when others think I sleepe For this I waite that scornes attendance else For this my quenchles thirst whereon I builde Hath often pleaded kindred to the King For this this head this heart this hand and sworde Contriues imagines and fully executes Matters of importe aimde at by many Yet vnderstoode by none For this hath heauen engendred me of earth For this this earth sustaines my bodies waight And with this wiat I le counterpoise a Crowne Or with seditions weary all the worlde For this from Spaine the stately Catholickes Sends Indian golde to coyne me French ecues For this haue I a largesse from the Pope A pension and a dispensation too And by that priuiledge to worke vpon My policye hath framde religion Religion O Diabole Fye I am ashamde how euer that I seeme To think a word of such a simple sound Of so great matter should be made the ground The gentle King whose pleasure vncontrolde Weakneth his body and will waste his Realme If I repaire not what he ruinates Him as a childe I dayly winne with words So that for proofe he barely beares the name I execute and he sustaines the blame The Mother Queene workes wonders for my sake And in my loue entombes the hope of Fraunce Rifling the bowels of her treasurie To supply my wants and necessitie Paris hath full fiue hundred Colledges As Monestaries Priories Abbyes and halles Wherein are thirtie thousand able men Besides a thousand sturdy student Catholicks And more of my knowledge in one cloyster keeps Fiue hundred fatte Franciscan Fryers and priestes All this and more if more may be
murdered in his bed Gonzago conduct them thither And then beset his house that not a man may liue Anioy. That charge is mine Swizers keepe you the streetes And at ech corner shall the Kings garde stand Gonzago Come sirs follow me Exit Gonzago and others with him Anioy. Cosin the Captaine of the Admirals guarde Plac'd by my brother will betray his Lord Now Guise shall catholiques flourish once againe The head being of the members cannot stand Retes. But look my Lord ther 's some in the Admirals house Enter into the Admirals house and he in his bed Anioy. In lucky time come let vs keep this lane And slay his seruants that shall issue out Gonza, Where is the Admirall Admi. O let me pray before I dye Gonza. Then pray vnto our Ladye kisse this crosse Stab him Admi. O God forgiue my sins Guise Gonzago what is he dead Gonza. I my Lord Guise Then throw him down Anioy. Now cosin view him well it may be it is some other and he escapte Guise Cosin t is he I know him by his look See where my Souldier shot him through the arm He mist him neer but we haue strook him now Ah base Shatillian and degenerate cheef standard bearer to the Lutheranes Thus in despite of thy Religion The Duke of Guise stampes on thy liueles bulke Anioy. A way with him cut of his head and handes And send them for a present to the Pope And when this iust reuenge is finished Vnto mount Faucon will we dragge his coarse And he that liuing hated so the crosse Shall being dead be hangd thereon in chaines Guise Anioy Gonzago Retes if that you three Will be as resolute as I and Dumaine There shall not a Hugonet breath in France Anioy. I sweare by this crosse wee 'l not be partiall But slay as many as we can come neer Guise Mountsorrell goe shoote the ordinance of That they which haue already set the street May know their watchword then tole the bell And so le ts forward to the Massacre Mount I will my Lord Exit Mount Guise And now my Lords let vs closely to our busines Anioy. Anioy will follow thee Du. And so will Dumaine The ordinance being shot of the bell tolles Guise Come then le ts away Exeunt The Guise enters againe with all the rest with their Swords drawne chasing the Protestants Guise Tue tue tue let none escape murder the Hugonets Anioy. Kill them kill them Exeunt Enter Loreine running the Guise and the rest pursuing him Guise Loreine Loreine follow Loreine Sirra Are you a preacher of these heresies Loreine I am a preacher of the word of God And thou a traitor to thy soule and him Guise Dearely beloued brother thus t is written he stabs him Anioy. Stay my Lord let me begin the psalme Guise Come dragge him away and throw him in a ditch Exeunt Enter Mountsorrell and knocks at Serouns doore Serouns wife Who is that which knocks there Mount Mountsorrell from the Duke of Guise Wife Husband come down heer 's one would speak with you from the Duke of Guise Enter Seroune Seroune To speek with me from such a man as he Mount I I for this Seroune and thou shalt hate shewing his dagger Seroune O let me pray before I take my death Mount Despatch then quickly Seronne O Christ my Sauiour Mount Christ villaine why darst thou presume to call on Christ without the intercession of some Saint Sancta Iacobus hee was my Saint pray to him Seronne O let me pray vnto my God Mount Then take this with you Stab him Exit Enter Ramus in his studie Ramus What fearfull cries comes from the riuer Sene That frightes poore Ramus sitting at his book I feare the Guisians haue past the bridge And meane once more to menace me Enter Taleus Taleus Flye Ramus flye if thou wilt saue thy life Ramus Tell me Taleus wherfore should I flye Taleus The Guisians are hard at thy doore and meane to murder vs harke harke they come I le leap out at the window Ramus Sweet Taleus stay Enter Gonzago and Retes. Gonzago Who goes there Retes. T is Taleus Ramas bedfellow Gonza. What art thou Tal. I am as Ramus is a Christian Ret. O let him goe he is a catholick Enter Ramus Exit Taleus Gon. Come Ramus more golde or thou shalt haue the stabbe Ramus Alas I am a scholler how should I haue golde All that I haue is but my stipend from the King Which is no sooner receiu'd but it is spent Enter the Guise and Anioy. Anioy. Who haue you there Ret. T is Ramus the Kings professor of Logick Guise Stab him Ramus O good my Lord wherein hath Ramus been so offencious Guise Marry sir in hauing a smack in all And yet didst neuer sound any thing to the depth Was it not thou that scoftes the Organon And said it was a heape of vanities He that will be a flat decotamest And seen in nothing but Epetomies Is in your iudgment thought a learned man And he forsooth must goe and preach in Germany Excepting against Doctors actions And ipsi dixi with this quidditie Argumentum testimonis est in arte fetialis To contradict which I say Ramus shall dye How answere you that your nego argumentum cannot serue sirra kill him Ra. O good my Lord let me but speak a word Anioy. Well say on Ramus Not for my life doe I desire this pause But in my latter houre to purge my selfe In that I know the things that I haue wrote Which as I heare one Shekins takes it ill Because my places being but three contains all his I knew the Organon to be confusde And I reduc'd it into better forme And this for Aristotle will I say That he that despiseth him can nere Be good in Logick or Philosophie And that 's because the blockish thorbonest Attribute as much vnto their workes As to the seruice of the eternall God Guise Why suffer you that peasant to declaime Stab him I say and send him to his freends in hell Anioy. Nere was there Colliars sonne so full of pride kill him Guise My Lord of Anioy there are a hundred Protestants Which we haue chaste into the riuer Sene That swim about and so preserue their liues How may we doe I feare me they will liue Dumaine Goe place some men vpon the bridge With bowes and dartes to shoot at them they see And sinke them in the riuer as they swim Guise T is well aduisde Dumain goe see it strait be done And in the mean time my Lord could we deuise To get those pedantes from the King Nauarre that are tutors to him and the prince of Condy Anioy. For that let me alone Cousin stay you heer And when you see me in then follow hard He knocketh and enter the King of Nauarre and Prince of Condy with their scholmaisters How now my Lords how fare you Nauar. My Lord they say that all the protestants are massacred Anioy I so
honors and affections That euer I vouchsafte my dearest freends Nauarre It is enough if that Nauarre may be Esteemed faithfull to the King of France Whose seruice he may still commaund till death King Thankes to my Kingly Brother of Nauarre Then heere wee 'l lye before Lutetia walles Girting this strumpet Cittie with our siege Till surfeiting with our afflicting armes She cast her hatefull stomack to the earth Enter a Messenger Messenger And it please your Maiestie heere is a Frier of the order of the Iacobins sent from the President of Paris that craues accesse vnto your grace King Let him come in Enter Frier with a Letter Epernoune I like not this Friers look T were not amisse my Lord if he were searcht King Sweete Epernoune our Friers are holy men And will not offer violence to their King For all the wealth and treasure of the world Frier thou dost acknowledge me thy King Frier I my good Lord and will dye therein King Then come thou neer and tell what newes thou bringst Frier My Lord the President of Paris greetes your grace and sends his dutie by these speedye lines humblye crauing your gracious reply King I le read them Frier and then I le answere thee Frier Sancte Iacobus now haue mercye vpon me He stabs the King with a knife as he readeth the letter and then the King getteth the knife and killes him Epernoune O my Lord let him liue a while King No let the villaine dye and feele in hell iust torments for his trechery Nauarre What is your highnes hurt King Yes Nauarre but not to death I hope Nauarre God shield your grace from such a sodaine death Goe call a surgeon hether strait King What irreligeous Pagans partes be these Of such as holde them of the holy church Take hence that damned villaine from my sight Eper. Ah had your highnes let him liue We might haue punisht him to his deserts King Sweet Epernoune all Rebels vnder heauen shall take example by their punishment how they beare armes against their soueraigne Goe call the English Agent hether strait I le send my sister England newes of this And giue her warning of her trecherous foes Nauarre Pleaseth your grace to let the Surgeon search your wound King The wound I warrant ye is deepe my Lord Search Surgeon and resolue me what thou seest The Surgeon searcheth Enter the English Agent Agent for England send thy mistres word What this detested Iacobin hath done Tell her for all this that I hope to liue Which if I doe the Papall Monarck goes to wrack And antechristian kingdome falles These bloudy hands shall teare his triple Crowne And fire accursed Rome about his eares He fire his I le buildings and incense The papall towers to kisse the holy earth Nauarre giue me thy hand I heere do sweare To ruinate that wicked Church of Rome That hatcheth vp such bloudy practises And heere protest eternall loue to thee And to the Queene of England specially Whom God hath blest for hating Papestry Nauarre These words reuiue my thoughts and comforts me To see your highnes in this vertuous minde King Tell me Surgeon shall I liue Sur. Alas my Lord the wound is dangerous for you are stricken with a poysoned knife King A poysoned knife what shall the French king dye Wounded and poysoned both at once Eper. O that that damned villaine were aliue againe That we might torture him with some new found death Bar. He died a death too good the deuill of hell torture his wicked soule King Ah curse him not sith he is dead O the fatall poyson workes within my brest tell me Surgeon and flatter not may I liue Sur. Alas my Lord your highnes cannot liue Nauarre Surgeon why saist thou so the King may liue King Oh no Nauarre thou must be King of France Nauarre Long may you liue and still be King of France Eper. Or else dye Epernoune King Sweet Epernoune thy King must dye My Lords fight in the quarrell of this valiant Prince For he is your lawfull King and my next heire Valoyses lyne ends in my tragedie Now let the house of Bourbon weare the crowne And may it neuer end in bloud as mine hath done Weep not sweet Nauarre but reuenge my death Ah Epernoune is this thy loue to me Henry thy King wipes of these childish teares And bids thee whet thy sword on Sextus bones That it may keenly slice the Catholicks He loues me not that sheds most teares But he that makes most lauish of his bloud Fire Paris where these trecherous rebels lurke I dye Nauarre come beare me to my Sepulchre Salute the Queene of England in my name And tell her Henry dyes her faithfull freend He dyes Nauarre Come Lords take vp the body of the King That we may see it honourably interde And then I vow for to reuenge his death As Rome and all those popish Prelates there Shall curse the time that ere Nauarre was King And rulde in France by Henries fatall death They march out with the body of the King lying on foure mens shoulders with a dead march drawing weapons on the ground FINIS