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 me, Epernoune, this jest bites sore. EPER, My lord, 'twere good to make them friends, For his oaths are seldom spent in vain.

Enter MUGERON.

KING. How now, Mugeron, met'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 he had solemnly sworn thy death.

MUGE. 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.

[Exit.

KING. I like not this; come, Epernoune, let's go seek the duke, and make them friends.

VOL. I.

[Exeunt.

21

SCENE VI.

Alarums, and a cry within-" The Duke Joyeux is slain."

Enter 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.

Enter a SOLDIER.

[Exeunt.

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

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,

and fly.

[Exit 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.

GUISE. Oh! base Epernoune, were not his high

ness here,

Thou should'st perceive the duke of Guise is mov'd. KING. Be patient, Guise, and threat not Epernoune Lest thou perceive the king of France be mov'd. GUISE. Why, I am a prince of the Valois's line, Therefore an enemy to the Bourbonites.

I am a juror in the holy league,

And therefore hated of the Protestants.
What should I do but stand upon my guard?
And being able, I'll keep an host in pay.

EPER. Thou able to maintain an host in pay,
That livest by foreign exhibition!

The Pope and king of Spain are thy good friends, Else all France knows how poor a duke thou art. KING. Aye, those are they that feed him with their gold,

To countermand our will, and check our friends. GUISE. My lord, to speak more plainly, thus it is.— Being animated by religious zeal,

I mean to muster all the power I can,

To overthrow those factious puritans.

And know, my lord the Pope will sell his triple crown;
Aye, and the catholic Philip, king of Spain,
Ere I shall want, will cause his Indians
To rip the golden bowels of America.

Navarre, that cloaks them underneath his wings,
Shall feel the house of Lorraine is his foe.
Your highness need not fear mine army's force,
"Tis for your safety, and your enemies' wreck.

KING. Guise, wear our crown, and be thou king

of France,

And, as dictator, make or war, or peace,
Whilst I cry placet, like a senator.

I cannot brook thy haughty insolence.
Dismiss thy camp, or else by our edict,

Be thou proclaim'd a traitor throughout France.
GUISE. The choice is hard, I must dissemble.

My lord, in token of my true humility;
And simple meaning to your majesty,

I kiss your grace's hand, and take my leave,
Intending to dislodge my camp with speed.

[Aside.

KING. Then farewell, Guise, the king and thou

are friends.

[Exit Guise.

EPER. But trust him not, my lord, for had your

highness

Seen with what a pomp he enter❜d Paris,

And how the citizens with gifts and shows

Did entertain him, and promised to be at his com

mand

Nay, they fear'd not to speak in the streets,
That Guise durst stand in arms against the king,
For not effecting of his holiness' will.

KING. Did they of Paris entertain him so?
Then means he present treason to our state.
Well, let me alone.-Who's within there?
Enter an ATTENDANT.

Make a discharge of all my council straight,
And I'll subscribe my name, and seal it straight.