closes, are as convincing in their swing and melody as the poet's autograph :

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.

Source. It is not probable that Marlowe derived the subject-matter of his play from any one book. The period of the action covers seventeen years (1572-89), and while the earlier events, such as the Massacre of St. Bartholomew, had already found their way into historical chronicles when the play was written, the later incidents must still have been matter for rumour and journalistic report. Mr. Bullen has pointed out several parallels between Marlowe's treatment of the massacre and that found in Book X of The Three Partes of Commentaries containing the whole and perfect discourse of the Civil Wars of France, &c. (1574). Much of Marlowe's information concerning the later occurrences, which are lightly treated in the play, must have been picked up from broadsides or word of mouth gossip.

THE

MASSACRE

AT PARIS:

With the Death of the Duke
of Guile.

As it was plaide by the right honourable the
Lord high Admirall his Seruants.

Written by Chriftopher Marlow.

the Gun.

The undated octavo.

Robinson's edition of Marlowe, 1826.
Dyce's first edition of Marlowe, 1850.
Dyce's revised edition of Marlowe, 1858, etc.
Cunn. = Cunningham's edition of Marlowe, 1870, etc.
Bullen's edition of Marlowe, 1885.

Conjectures by J. L. G. B., Anglia, Beiblatt, xvi. 206.
Conjectures by J. P. Collier (Brit. Mus. 11771 bbb 6).
MS. corrections, probably by M., in Bodleian copy
of O.

Conjectures by J. M., quoted by Dyce.

THE

MASSACRE

AT PARIS.

With 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.

5

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.

IO

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 :

Heading Act the First. Bull.

15

Scene I. add. Rob., Cunn.: Scene I.

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.

20

Charles. The rest that will not goe (my Lords) may stay: Come Mother,

Let vs goe to honor this solemnitie.

25

Old Q. Which Ile 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 Lord) Admiral, Now Guise may storme but doe vs little hurt : Hauing the King, Qu(een) 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.

30

35

Con. My Lord) you need not meruaile at the Guise, For what he doth the Pope will ratifie : In murder, mischeefe, or in tiranny.

40

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.

45

Ad. My Lord, but did you mark the Cardinall,
The Guises brother and the Duke Dumain :
How they did storme at these your nuptiall rites,
Because the house of Burbon now comes in,
And ioynes your linnage to the crowne of France ?
Na. And thats 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.

19 Ends rest 0: corr. Dyce 24, 25 One line O: div. Dyce King, Qu. Mother O: king, Queen Mother Cunn.

50