That are tutors to him and the prince of Condé. ANJ. For that, let me alone; cousin, stay here, And when you see me in, then follow hard. He knocketh at the door, and enter the KING of NAVARRE, the PRINCE of CONDE, with their SCHOOLMASTERS. How now, my lords, how fare you? NAV. My lord, they say that all the Protestants are massacred. ANJ. Aye, so they are, but yet, what remedy? I have done all I could to stay the broil. NAV. But yet, my lord, the report doth run, That you were one that made the massacre. ANJ. Who, I? you are deceiv'd; I rose but now. GUISE. Murder the Hugonots! Take those pedants hence! NAV. Thou traitor, Guise! lay off thy bloody hands. COND. Come, let us go tell the king. [Exeunt Nav. and Condé. GUISE. Come, sirs, I'll whip you to death with my poignard's point. ANJ. Away with them both. [Stabs them. [Exit. GUISE. And now, sirs, for this night let our fury stay. Yet will we not the massacre shall end: Gonzago post you to Orleans, Retes to Dieppe, Mountsorrell unto Rouen, And spare not one that you suspect of heresy. And now, stay that bell, that to the devil's matins rings. Now ev'ry man put off his burgonet, And so convey him closely to his bed. [Exeunt. ACT THE SECOND. SCENE I. Enter ANJOU, with two LORDS of POLAND. ANJ. My lords of Poland, I must needs confess. The offer of your Prince Elector's far Beyond the reach of my deserts; For Poland is, as I have been inform'd, To lighten doubts, and frustrate subtle foes. Of Poland, it may prejudice their hope By due descent the regal seat is mine. With Poland, therefore, must I cov'nant thus,- Of France be cast on me, then, with your leaves, If your commission serve to warrant this, I thankfully shall undertake the charge Of you and yours; and carefully maintain 1 LORD. All this, and more your highness shall command, For Poland's crown and kingly diadem. ANJ. Then, come, my lords, let's go. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Enter two MEN, with the ADMIRAL's body. 1 MAN. Now, sirrah, what shall we do with the Admiral? 2 MAN. Why, let us burn him for a heretic. 1 MAN. Oh, no, his body will infect the fire, and the fire the air, and so we shall be poisoned with him. 2 MAN. What shall we do then? 1 MAN. Let's throw him into the river. 2 MAN. Oh! 'twill corrupt the water, and the water the fish, and the fish ourselves, when we eat them. 1 MAN. Then throw him into the ditch. me. 2 MAN. No, no; to decide all doubts, be ruled by Let's hang him upon this tree. 1 MAN. Agreed. [They hang him up, and exeunt. Enter GUISE, the QUEEN MOTHER, and the CAR- GUISE. Now, madam, how like you our lusty Q. Mo. Believe me, Guise, he becomes the place so well, That I could long ere this have wished him there. But come, let's walk aside; th' air's not very sweet. GUISE. No, by my faith, madam. Sirs, take him away, and throw him in some ditch. [The Attendants bear off the Admiral's body. And now, madam, as I understand, There are an hundred Hugonots and more, Q. Mo. Do so, sweet Guise; let us delay no time; For if these stragglers gather head again, And disperse themselves throughout the realm of France, It will be hard for us to work their deaths. GUISE. Madam, I go, as whirlwinds rage before storm. [Exit. Q. Mo. My lord of Lorraine, have you mark'd of late, How Charles, our son, begins for to lament For the late night's-work, which my lord of Guise. Did make in Paris 'mongst the Hugonots? CARD. Madam, I have heard him solemnly vow, With the rebellious King of Navarre, For to revenge their deaths upon us all. Q. Mo. Aye, but, my lord, let me alone for that, For Catherine must have her will in France. As I do live, so surely shall he die, And Henry then shall wear the diadem; And if he grudge or cross his mother's will, I'll disinherit him and all the rest; For I'll rule France, but they shall wear the crown: And if they storm, I then may pull them down. Come, my lord, let's go. SCENE III. [Exeunt. Enter five or six PROTESTANTS, with books, and kneel Tue! tue! tue! let none escape. [They kill them. [Exeunt. Enter KING CHARLES, supported by NAVARRE and EPERNOUNE; the QUEEN MOTHER, the CARDINAL, and PLESHE. CHAR. Oh! let me stay, and rest me here awhile; A griping pain hath seiz'd upon my heart; A sudden pain, the messenger of death. Q. Mo. Oh, say not so, thou kill'st thy mother's heart. |