Spain is the council-chamber of the Pope,
Spain is the place where he makes peace and war,
And Guise for Spain bath now incens'd the king,
To send his power to meet us in the field.

BAR. Then in this bloody brunt they may behold
The sole endeavour of your princely care,
To plant the true succession of the faith,
In spite of Spain and all his heresies.

Nav. The pow'r of vengeance now implants itself Upon the haughty mountains of my breast; * Plays with her gory colours of revenge, Whom I respect as leaves of boasting green, That change their colour when the winter comes, When I shall vaunt as victor in revenge.

Enter a MESSENGER. How now, sirrab, what news?

Mes. My lord, as by our scouts we understand,
A mighty army comes from France with speed;
Which is already muster'd in the land,
And means to meet your highness in the field.

Nav. In God's name let them come.
This is the Guise that hath incens'd the king
To levy arms, and make these civil broils.
But canst thou tell me who's their general ?

Mes. Not yet, my lord, for thereon do they stay;
But, as report doth go, the duke Joyeux
Hath made great suit unto the king therefore.

Nav. It will not countervail his pains, I hope. I would the Guise in his stead might have come ; But he doth lurk within his drowsy couch,

And makes his footstool on security:
So he be safe, he cares not what becomes
Of king or country; no, not for them both.
But come, my lords, let us away with speed,
And place ourselves in order for the fight. (Creunt.
Enter the King of France, Guise, EPERNOUNE

and DUKE JOYEUX.
King. My sweet Joyeux, I make thee general
Of all my army, now in readiness
To march against the rebellious king, Navarre ;
At thy request I am content thou go'st,
Although my love to thee can hardly sufferit,
Regarding still the danger of thy life,
Joyeux. Thanks to your majesty; and so I take
my

leave. Farewell, my lord of Guise, and Epernoune. Guise. Health and hearty farewell to my lord Joyeux.

[Exit Joyeur. King. How kindly, cousin Guise, you and your

wife
Do both salute our lovely minions.
Remember you the letter, gentle sir,
Which your wife writ
To my dear minion, and her chosen friend?

(Makes horns at Guise. Guise. How now, my lord ? faith, this is more

than need. Am I to be thus jested at and scorn'd? 'Tis more than kingly or imperious. And, sure, if all the proudest kings beside

In Christendom should bear me such derision,
They should know I scorn'd them and their mocks.
I love your minions! doat on them yourself;
I know none else but holds them in disgrace.
And here, by all the saints in heav'n, I swear
That villain for whom I bear this deep disgrace,
E'en for your words that have incens’d me so,
Shall buy that strumpet's favour with his blood.
Whether he have dishonour'd me or no,
Par la mort de Dieu il mourra !

[Exit. King. Believe mé, Epernoune, this jest bites sore.

Erer, My lord, 'twere good to make them friends, For his oaths are seldom spent in vain.

Enter MUGERON.
King. How now, Mugeron, inet'st thou not the

Guise at the door?
Muge. Not I, my lord; what if I had ?
King. Marry, if thou had'st, thou might'st have

had the stab,
For be had solemnly sworn thy death.

Mugik. I may be stabb’d, and live till he be dead. But wherefore bears he me such deadly hate ?

King. Because his wife bears thee such kindly love.

Muge. If that be all, the next time that I meet her, I'll make her shake off love with her heels. But which way is he gone ? I'll go take a walk on purpose from the court to meet with him.

[Erit. · King. I like not this; come, Epernoune, let's go seek the duke, and make them friends. [Ereunt.

21

VOL. I.

SCENE VI. Alarums, and a cry within—" The Duke Joyeux is

slain."
Bnter NAVARRE and his train.
Nav. The duke is slain, and all his power dispers'd,
And we are grac'd with wreaths of victory.
Thus God we see doth ever guide the right,
To make his glory great upon the earth.

BAR. The terror of this happy victory,
I hope will make the king surcease his hate;
And either never manage army more,
Or else employ them in some better cause.

Nav. How many noble men have lost their lives,
In prosecution of these cruel arms,
Is ruth and almost death to call to mind.
But God we know will always put them down,
That lift themselves against the perfect truth,
Which I'll maintain as long as life doth last;
And with the Queen of England join my force
To beat the papal monarch from our lands,
And keep those relics from our countries' coasts.
Come, my lords, now that the storm is overpast,
Let us away with triumph to our tents. (Exeunt.

Enter a SOLDIER. Sol. Sir, to you, sir, that dare make the duke a cuckold, and use a counterfeit key to his privy. chamber door. And although you take out nothing but your own, yet you put in that which displeaseth him; and so forestall his market, and set up your

and fly:

standing where you should not. And whereas he is your landlord, you would take upon you to be his; and till the ground that he himself should occupy, which is his own free land. If it be not too freethere's the question. And though I come not to take possession, (as I would I might) yet I mean to keep you out; which I will, if this

gear

hold. Enter MUGERON. What! are ye come so soon ? have at

ye,

sir. [Shoots at Mugeron and kills him. Enter Guise and ATTENDANTS. Guise. Hold thee, tall soldier, take thou this,

[Erit Soldier. Lie there, the king's delight, and Guise's scorn; Revenge it, Henry, as thou list'st or dar'st, I did it only in despite of thee.

The attendants bear off Mugeron's body.

Enter the King and EPERNOUNE. King. My lord of Guise, we understand that you Have gathered a power of men; What your intent is yet we cannot learn, But we presume it is not for our good. Guise. Why, I'm no traitor to the crown of

France;
What I have done 'tis for the Gospel's sake.
EPER. Nay, for the Pope's sake, and thine own

benefit.
What peer in France but thou, aspiring Guise,
Durst be in arms without the king's consent ?
I challenge thee for treason in the cause.