That are tutors to him and the prince of Condé. He knocketh at the door, and enter the KING of How now, my lords, how fare you? NAV. My lord, they say that all the Protestants are massacred. ANJ. Aye, so they are, but yet, what remedy? I have done all I could to stay the broil. NAV. But yet, my lord, the report doth run, That you were one that made the massacre. ANJ. Who, I? you are deceiv'd; I rose but now. GUISE. Murder the Hugonots! Take those pedants hence ! NAV. Thou traitor, Guise! lay off thy bloody hands. COND. Come, let us go tell the king. [Exeunt Nav. and Condé. GUISE. Come, sirs, I'll whip you to death with my poignard's point. ANJ. Away with them both. [Stabs them. [Exit. GUISE. And now, sirs, for this night let our fury stay. Yet will we not the massacre shall end: Gonzago post you to Orleans, Retes to Dieppe, Mountsorrell unto Rouen, And spare not one that you suspect of heresy. And now, stay that bell, that to the devil's natins ́Enter ANJOU, with two LORDS of POLAND. ANJ. My lords of Poland, I must needs confess. The offer of your Prince Elector's far Beyond the reach of my deserts; For Poland is, as I have been inform'd, A martial people worthy such a king To lighten doubts, and frustrate subtle foes. By due descent the regal seat is mine. Of France be cast on me, then, with your leaves, I If your commission serve to warrant this, I thankfully shall undertake the charge Of you and yours; and carefully maintain The wealth and safety of your kingdom's right. 1 LORD. All this, and more your highness shall command, For Poland's crown and kingly diadem. ANJ. Then, come, my lords, let's go. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Enter two MEN, with the ADMIRAL's body. 1 MAN. Now, sirrah, what shall we do with the Admiral? 2 MAN. Why, let us burn him for a heretic. 1 MAN. Oh, no, his body will infect the fire, and the fire the air, and so we shall be poisoned with him. 2 MAN. What shall we do then? 1 MAN. Let's throw him into the river. 2 MAN. Oh! 'twill corrupt the water, and the water the fish, and the fish ourselves, when we eat them. 1 MAN. Then throw him into the ditch. 2 MAN. No, no; to decide all doubts, be ruled by me. Let's hang him upon this tree. 1 MAN. Agreed. [They hang him up, and exeunt. Enter GUISE, the QUEEN MOTHER, and the CARDINAL, with ATTENDANTS. GUISE. Now, madam, how like you our lusty Admiral ? Q. Mo. Believe me, Guise, he becomes the place so well, That I could long ere this have wished him there. But come, let's walk aside; th' air's not very sweet. GUISE. No, by my faith, madam. Sirs, take him away, and throw him in some ditch. [The Attendants bear off the Admiral's body. And now, madam, as I understand, There are an hundred Hugonots and more, Q. Mo. Do so, sweet Guise; let us delay no time; For if these stragglers gather head again, And disperse themselves throughout the realm of France, It will be hard for us to work their deaths. GUISE. Madam, I go, as whirlwinds rage before a storm. [Exit. Q. Mo. My lord of Lorraine, have you mark'd of late, How Charles, our son, begins for to lament For the late night's-work, which my lord of Guise Did make in Paris 'mongst the Hugonots? CARD. Madam, I have heard him solemnly vow, With the rebellious King of Navarre, Q. Mo, Aye, but, my lord, let me alone for that, For Catherine must have her will in France. As I do live, so surely shall he die, And Henry then shall wear the diadem ; And if he grudge or cross his mother's will, For I'll rule France, but they shall wear the crown: SCENE III. [Exeunt. Enter five or six PROTESTANTS, with books, and kneel Tue! tue! tue! let none escape. [They kill them. [Exeunt. Enter KING CHARLES, supported by NAVARRE and EPERNOUNE; the QUEEN MOTHER, the CARDINAL, and PLESIE. CHAR. Oh! let me stay, and rest me here awhile; A griping pain hath seiz'd upon my heart; A sudden pain, the messenger of death. Q. Mo. Oh, say not so, thou kill'st thy mother's heart. |