Enter a MESSENGER.
How now, sirrah, what news?
MESSENGER
My lord, as by our scouts we understand,
A mighty army comes from France with speed,
Which are already mustered in the land,
30 And means to meet your highness in the field.
NAVARRE
In God’s name, let them come!
This is the Guise that hath incensed the king
To levy arms and make these civil broils.
But canst thou tell who is their general?
MESSENGER
Not yet, my lord, for thereon do they stay;
But, as report doth go, the duke of Joyeux
Hath made great suit unto the king therefore.
NAVARRE
It will not countervail his pains, I hope.
I would the Guise in his stead might have come,
40 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.
Exeunt.
[Scene 17]
Enter the KING OF FRANCE, DUKE OF GUISE, EPERNOUN and DUKE JOYEUX.
HENRY
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,
Although my love to thee can hardly suffer’t,
Regarding still the danger of thy life.
JOYEUX
Thanks to your majesty, and so I take my leave.
Farewell to my lord of Guise and Epernoun.
GUISE
Health and hearty farewell to my lord Joyeux.
Exit JOYEUX.
HENRY
10 So kindly, cousin of 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?
He makes horns at the GUISE.
GUISE
How now, my lord? Faith, this is more than need.
Am I thus to be jested at and scorned?
’Tis more than kingly or imperious;
And sure, if all the proudest kings in Christendom
Should bear me such derision, they should
20 Know how I scorned them and their mocks.
I love your minions? Dote on them yourself!
I know none else but holds them in disgrace.
And here by all the saints in heaven I swear,
That villain for whom I bear this deep disgrace –
Even for your words that have incensed me so –
Shall buy that strumpet’s favour with his blood,
Whether he have dishonoured me or no!
Par la mort Dieu, il mourra!
Exit.
HENRY
Believe me, this jest bites sore.
EPERNOUN
30 My lord, ’twere good to make them friends,
For his oaths are seldom spent in vain.
Enter MUGEROUN.
HENRY How now, Mugeroun? Met’st thou not the Guise at the door?
MUGEROUN Not I, my lord; what if I had?
HENRY
Marry, if thou hadst, thou mightst have had the stab,
For he hath solemnly sworn thy death.
MUGEROUN
I may be stabbed and live till he be dead.
But wherefore bears he me such deadly hate?
HENRY
Because his wife bears thee such kindly love.
MUGEROUN
40 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 make a walk
On purpose from the court to meet with him.
Exit.
HENRY
I like not this. Come, Epernoun,
Let’s go seek the duke and make them friends.
Exeunt.
[Scene 18]
Alarums, within. The DUKE JOYEUX slain. Enter the KING
OF NAVARRE, [with BARTUS,] and his train.
NAVARRE
The duke is slain and all his power dispersed,
And we are graced with wreaths of victory.
Thus God, we see, doth ever guide the right
To make his glory great upon the earth.
BARTUS
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.
NAVARRE
How many noble men have lost their lives
10 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 so 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 this storm is overpast,
Let us away with triumph to our tents.
Exeunt.
[Scene 19]
Enter a SOLDIER [with a musket]
SOLDIER Sir, to you, sir, that dares 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 will 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 free, there’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. What, are ye
10 come so soon? Have at ye, sir!
Enter MUGEROUN. He shoots at him and kills him. Enter
the GUISE [and ATTENDANTS].
GUISE
Hold thee, tall soldier, take thee this and fly.
Exit SOLDIER.
Lie there, the king’s delight and Guise’s scorn.
Revenge it, Henry, as thou list or dare,
I did it only in despite of thee.
[ATTENDANTS] take him away.
Enter the KING [HENRY] and EPERNOUN.
HENRY
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
20 Why, I am no traitor to the crown of France;
What I have done, ’tis for the Gospel sake.
EPERNOUN
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
Ah, base Epernoun, were not his highness here,
Thou shouldst perceive the duke of Guise is moved.
HENRY
Be patient, Guise, and threat not Epernoun,
Lest thou perceive the King of France be moved.
GUISE
30 Why, I am a prince of the Valois’ 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 u
pon my guard?
And, being able, I’ll keep a host in pay.
EPERNOUN
Thou able to maintain a 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.
HENRY
40 Ay, 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 sectious Puritans.
And know, my lord, the Pope will sell his triple crown,
Ay, and the catholic Philip, King of Spain,
Ere I shall want, will cause his Indians
To rip the golden bowels of America.
50 Navarre, that cloaks them underneath his wings,
Shall feel the house of Lorraine is his foe.
Your highness needs not fear mine army’s force;
’Tis for your safety, and your enemies’ wrack.
HENRY
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 proclaimed a traitor throughout France.
GUISE [aside]
60 The choice is hard, I must dissemble.
[To KING HENRY]
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.
HENRY
Then farewell, Guise, the king and thou are friends.
Exit GUISE.
EPERNOUN
But trust him not, my lord, for had your highness
Seen with what a pomp he entered Paris,
And how the citizens with gifts and shows
Did entertain him,
70 And promised to be at his command –
Nay, they feared not to speak in the streets
That the Guise durst stand in arms against the king
For not effecting of His Holiness’ will.
HENRY
Did they of Paris entertain him so?
Then means he present treason to our state.
Well, let me alone. Who’s within there?
Enter one with a pen and ink.
Make a discharge of all my council straight,
And I’ll subscribe my name and seal it straight.
My head shall be my council, they are false;
80 And, Epernoun, I will be ruled by thee.
EPERNOUN
My lord, I think for safety of your royal person,
It would be good the Guise were made away,
And so to quite your grace of all suspect.
HENRY
First, let us set our hand and seal to this,
And then I’ll tell thee what I mean to do.
He writes.
So, convey this to the council presently;
Exit one.
And Epernoun, though I seem mild and calm,
Think not but I am tragical within.
I’ll secretly convey me unto Blois;
90 For, now that Paris takes the Guise’s part,
Here is no staying for the King of France,
Unless he mean to be betrayed and die.
But, as I live, so sure the Guise shall die.
Exeunt.
[Scene 20]
Enter the KING OF NAVARRE, reading of a letter, and BARTUS.
NAVARRE
My lord, I am advertisèd from France
That the Guise hath taken arms against the king,
And that Paris is revolted from his grace.
BARTUS
Then hath your grace fit opportunity
To show your love unto the King of France,
Offering him aid against his enemies,
Which cannot but be thankfully received.
NAVARRE
Bartus, it shall be so; post then to France,
And there salute his highness in our name;
10 Assure him all the aid we can provide
Against the Guisians and their complices.
Bartus, be gone; commend me to his grace,
And tell him, ere it be long, I’ll visit him.
BARTUS
I will, my lord.
Exit.
NAVARRE [calling out]
Pleshé!
Enter PLESHÉ.
PLESHÉ My lord.
NAVARRE
Pleshé, go muster up our men with speed,
And let them march away to France amain,
For we must aid the king against the Guise.
Be gone, I say, ’tis time that we were there.
PLESHÉ I go, my lord.
[Exit PLESHÉ.]
NAVARRE
20 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,
And 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.
Exit.
[Scene 21]
Enter the CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD, and three MURDERERS.
CAPTAIN
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?
FIRST MURDERER Fear him, said you? Tush, were he here, we would kill him presently.
SECOND MURDERER O that his heart were leaping in my hand!
THIRD MURDERER But when will he come, that we may murder him?
CAPTAIN Well, then, I see you are resolute.
10 FIRST MURDERER Let us alone, I warrant you.
CAPTAINThen, sirs, take your standings within this chamber, for anon the Guise will come.
ALL THREE MURDERERS You will give us our money?
CAPTAIN
Ay, ay, fear not. Stand close. So, be resolute.
[The MURDERERS hide.]
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 [HENRY] and EPERNOUN.
HENRY Now, captain of my guard, are these murderers ready?
CAPTAIN They be, my good lord.
HENRY
20 But are they resolute and armed to kill,
Hating the life and honour of the Guise?
CAPTAIN I warrant ye, my lord.
HENRY
Then come, proud Guise, and here disgorge thy breast
Surcharged with surfeit of ambitious thoughts;
Breathe out that life wherein my death was hid,
And end thy endless treasons with thy death.
Enter the GUISE [within] and knocketh.
GUISE
Holà, varlet, hé! [EPERNOUN goes to the door.]
Epernoun, where is the king?
EPERNOUN
Mounted his royal cabinet.
GUISE [within]
I prithee tell him that the Guise is here.
EPERNOUN
30 An please your grace, the duke of Guise doth crave
Access unto your highness.
HENRY Let him come in.
[Aside]
Come, Guise, and see thy traitorous guile outreached,
And perish in the pit thou mad’st for me.<
br />
The GUISE comes to the KING.
GUISE
Good morrow to your majesty.
HENRY
Good morrow to my loving cousin of Guise.
How fares it this morning with your excellence?
GUISE
I heard your majesty was scarcely pleased
That in the court I bare so great a train.
HENRY
They were to blame that said I was displeased,
40 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 –
Whatsoever any whisper in mine ears –
Not to suspect disloyalty in thee,
And so, sweet coz, farewell.
Exit KING [with EPERNOUN and CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD].
GUISE
So, 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.
50 Now by the holy sacrament I swear,
As ancient Romans over their captive lords,
So will I triumph over 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 duke of Guise’s hope.
Enter one of the MURDERERS.
Villain, why dost thou look so ghastly? Speak!
THIRD MURDERER O pardon me, my lord of Guise!
GUISE Pardon thee? Why, what hast thou done?
60 THIRD MURDERER O my lord, I am one of them that is set to murder you.
GUISE To murder me, villain?
THIRD MURDERER Ay, my lord; the rest have ta’en their standings in the next room; therefore, good my lord, go not forth.
GUISE
Yet Caesar 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.
[Enter two MURDERERS.]
FIRST MURDERER [within] Stand close, he is coming; I know
70 him by his voice.
GUISE As pale as ashes! Nay, then ’tis time to look about.
ALL Down with him, down with him!
They stab him.
GUISE O, I have my death’s wound! Give me leave to speak.
SECOND MURDERER Then pray to God, and ask forgiveness of the king.
GUISE
Trouble me not, I ne’er offended him,
Nor will I ask forgiveness of the king.
O, that I have not power to stay my life,
Nor immortality to be revenged!
80 To die by peasants, what a grief is this!
Ah, Sixtus, be revenged upon the king;
Philip and Parma, I am slain for you.
The Complete Plays Page 51