I am a friar of the Order of the Jacobines, That for my conscience' sake will kill the king. DUM. But what doth move thee, above the rest, to do the deed. FRI. O, my lord, I have been a great sinner in my days; and the deed is meritorious. DUM. But how wilt thou get opportunity? FRI. Tush, my lord, let me alone for that. DUM. Friar, come with me; We will go talk more of this within. SCENE IV. [Exeunt. Enter the KING of FRANCE and NAVARRE, EPERNOUNE, BARTUS, PLESHE, and SOLDIERS. Drums and Trumpets. KING. Brother of Navarre, I sorrow much, That ever I was prov'd your enemy; And that the sweet and princely mind you bear, I vow, as I am lawful king of France, KING. Thanks to my kingly brother of Navarre! Then there he'll lie before Lutetia's walls, Girting this strumpet city with our siege, Till surfeiting with our afflicting arms, 337 She cast her hateful stomach to the earth. Enter a MESSENGER. MES. An it please your majesty, here is a friar of the Order of the Jacobins, sent from the President of Paris, that craves access unto your grace. KING. Let him come in. Enter the FRIAR, with a letter. EPER. I like not this friar's look; 'Twere not amiss, my lord, if he were search'd. KING. Sweet Epernoune, our friars are holy men, And will not offer violence to their king, For all the wealth and treasure of the world. Friar, thou dost acknowledge me thy king! FRI. Aye, my good lord, and will die therein. KING. Then come thou near, and tell what news thou bring'st. FRI. My lord, The president of Paris greets your grace, And sends his duty by these speedy lines. Humbly craving your gracious reply. KING. I'll read them, friar, and then I'll answer thee. FRI. Sancte Jacobus, now have mercy on me! [He stabs the king with a knife, as he reads the letter; and then the king gets the knife, and kills him. EPER. O, my lord let him live awhile! KING. No, let the villain die, and feel in hell Just torments for his treachery. VOL. I. 22 NAV. What, is your highness hurt? KING. Yes, Navarre, but not to death, I hope. NAV. God shield your grace from such a sudden death! Go, call a surgeon hither straight. KING. What irreligious Pagans' parts be these, I'll send my sister England news of this, NAV. Pleaseth your grace to let the surgeon search your wound? KING. The wound, I warrant you, is deep, my lord: Search, surgeon, and resolve me what thou see'st. [The surgeon searches. Enter the ENGLISH AGENT. Agent for England, send thy mistress word What this detested Jacobin hath done. Tell her, for all this, that I hope to live; These bloody hands shall tear his triple crown, NAV. These words revive my thoughts, and com fort me, To see your highness in this virtuous mind. KING. Tell me, surgeon, shall I live? SURG. Alas, my lord, the wound is dangerous, For you are stricken with a poison'd knife. KING. A poison'd knife!-What, shall the French king die, Wounded and poison'd both at once? EPER. Oh! that that damned villain were alive again, That we might torture him with some new-found death! BAR. He died a death too good; The devil of hell torture his wicked soul! KING. Oh! curse him not, since he is dead. O, the fatal poison works within my breast. Tell me, surgeon, and flatter not-may I live! SURG. Alas! my lord, your highness cannot live. NAV. Surgeon, why say'st thou so? The king may live. KING. O, no, Navarre, thou must be king of France. NAV. Long may you live, and still be king of France. EPER. Or else, die Epernoune. KING. Sweet Epernoune, thy king must die. My lords, Fight in the quarrel of this valiant prince, For he's your lawful king, and my next heir; Now let the House of Bourbon wear the crowu, Henry, thy king, wipes off these childish tears, And tell her Henry dies her faithful friend. [Dies. NAV. Come, lords, take up the body of the king, That we may see it honourably interr'd: And then I vow so to revenge his death, |