My head shall be my council; they are false;
And, Epernoune, I will be ruled by thee.

EPER. My lord, I think, for safety of your person,
It would be good the Guise were made away,
And so to quit your grace of all suspect.

KING. First let us set our hand and seal to this, And then I'll tell thee what I mean to do.

So, convey this to the council presently.

[Writes.

[Exit Attendant.

And, Epernoune, though I seem mild and calm,
Think not but I am tragical within.
I'll secretly convey me unto Blois ;

For now that Paris takes the Guise's part,
Here is not staying for the king of France,

Unless he means to be betray'd and die;
But, as I live, so sure the Guise shall die. [Exeunt.

ACT THE THIRD.

SCENE I.

Enter NAVARRE, reading a letter, and BARTUS.
NAV. My lord, I am advertised from France,
That Guise hath taken arms against the king,
And that Paris is revolted from his grace.

BAR. Then hath your grace fit opportunity,
To show your love unto the king of France,
Off'ring him aid against his enemies,
Which cannot but be thankfully receiv'd.

NAV. Bartus, it shall be so; post then to France, And there salute his highness in our name; Assure him all the aid we can provide, Against the Guisians and their complices. Bartus, begone; commend me to his grace, And tell him, ere't be long, I'll visit him. BAR. I will, my lord,

NAV. Pleshe.

Enter PLESHE.

PLESHE. My lord.

[Exit.

NAV. Pleshe, go muster up our men with speed, And let them march away to France amain, For we must aid the king against the Guise. Begone, I say, 'tis time that we were there. PLESHE. I go, my lord.

[Exit.

NAV. That wicked Guise, I fear me much, will be

The ruin of that famous realm of France;

For his aspiring thoughts aim at the crown,

He takes his vantage on religion,

To plant the Pope and popelings in the realm,
And bind it wholly to the see of Rome:
But if that God do prosper mine attempts,
And send us safely to arrive in France,

We'll beat him back, and drive him to his death,
That basely seeks the ruin of his realm.

SCENE II.

[Exit.

Enter the CAPTAIN of the GUARD, and three
MURDERERS.

CAP. Come on, sirs; what, are you resolutely bent,

Hating the life and honour of the Guise? What, will you not fear, when you see him come? 1 MURD. Fear him, said you? tush! were he here, we would kill him presently.

2 MURD. Oh, that his heart were leaping in my hand!

1 MURD. But when will he come, that we may murther him?

CAP. Well then, I see you are resolute. 1 MURD. Let us alone, I warrant you.

CAP. Then, sirs, take your standings within this chamber; for anon the Guise will come.

All three MURDERERS. You'll give us our money? CAP. Aye, aye, fear not; stand close; be resolute. [Exeunt Murderers.

Now falls the star whose influence governs France,
Whose light was deadly to the protestants.

Now must he fall, and perish in his height.
Enter the KING and EPERNOUNE.

KING. Now, captain of my guard, are these murderers ready?

CAP. They be, my good lord.

KING. But are they resolute, and arm'd to kill, Hating the life and honour of the Guise?

CAP. I warrant you, my lord.

[Exit.

KING.Then come, proud Guise, and here disgorge thy breast,

Surcharg'd with surfeit of ambitious thoughts;
Breathe out that life, wherein my death was hid;
And end thy endless treasons with thy death.

GUISE knocks without.

GUISE. Holloa, varlet, hey! Epernoune, where's the king?

EPER. Mounted his royal cabinet.

GUISE. I pr'ythee tell him that the Guise is here.

EPER. An't please your grace, the duke of Guise

doth crave

Access unto your highness.

KING. Let him come in.

Come Guise, and see thy trait'rous guile outreach'd,

And perish in the pit thou mad'st for me.

Enter GUISE.

GUISE. Good morrow to your majesty.

KING.

[Aside.

Good morrow to my loving cousin of Guise:

How fares it this morning with your excellence? GUISE. I heard your majesty was scarcely pleas'd, That in the court I bear so great a train.

KING. They were to blame, that said I was displeas'd;

And you, good cousin, to imagine it.

"Twere hard with me, if I should doubt my kin,
Or be suspicious of my dearest friends.

Cousin, assure you I am resolute,
Whatever any whisper in mine ears,
Not to suspect disloyalty in thee;
And so, sweet coz, farewell.

GUISE. SO!

[Exeunt King and Epernoune.,

Now sues the king for favour to the Guise,
And all his minions stoop when I command:
Why, this 'tis to have an army in the field.
Now, by the holy sacrament, I swear,
As ancient Romans o'er their captive lords,
So will I triumph o'er this wanton king;
And he shall follow my proud chariot's wheels.
Now do I but begin to look about,

And all my former time was spent in vain.
Hold, sword, for in thee is the Guise's hope.
Enter one of the MURDERERS.

Villain, why dost thou look so ghastly? speak!
MURD. O pardon me, my lord of Guise.

GUISE. Pardon thee! why, what hast thou don MURD. O my lord, I am one of them that is set to murder you.

GUISE. To murder me, villain?

MURD. Aye, my lord; the rest have ta'en their standings in the next room; therefore, good my lord, go not forth.

GUISE. Yet Cæsar shall go forth.

Let mean conceits, and baser men fear death:
Tut, they are peasants; I am duke of Guise;
And princes with their looks engender fear.

2 MURD. [Without.] Stand close; he's coming; I know him by his voice.

GUISE. As pale as ashes! nay, then 'tis time to

look about.

[Murderers enter.

ALL. Down with him! Down with him!

[They stab him.