Scene XIX

Enter the Captaine of the guarde, and three murtherers.

CAPTAINE
Come on sirs, what, are you resolutely bent,
Hating the life and honour of the Guise?
What, will you not feare when you see him come?

1
Feare him said you? tush, were he heere, we would kill hin
presently.

2
O that his heart were leaping in my hand.

3
But when will he come that we may murther him?

CAPTAINE
Well then, I see you are resolute.

1
Let us alone, I warrant you.

CAPTAINE
Then sirs take your standings within this Chamber,
For anon the Guise will come.

ALL
You will give us our money?

CAPTAINE
I, I, feare not: stand close, be resolute:

[The murtherers go aside as if in the next room.]

Now fals the star whose influence governes 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 guarde, are these murtherers ready?

CAPTAINE
They be my good Lord.

KING
But are they resolute and armde to kill,
Hating the life and honour of the Guise?

CAPTAINE
I warrant you my Lord.

[Exit.]

KING
Then come proud Guise and heere disgordge thy brest,
Surchargde with surfet of ambitious thoughts:
Breath out that life wherein my death was hid,
And end thy endles treasons with thy death.

Enter the Guise [within] and knocketh.

GUISE
Holla varlet, hey: Epernoune, where is the King?

EPERNOUNE
Mounted his royall Cabonet.

GUISE
I prethee tell him that the Guise is heere.

EPERNOUNE
And please your grace the Duke of Guise doth crave
Accesse unto your highnes.

KING
Let him come in.
Come Guise and see thy traiterous guile outreacht,
And perish in the pit thou mad'st for me.

The Guise comes to the King.

GUISE
Good morrow to your Majestie.

KING
Good morrow to my loving Cousin of Guise.
How fares it this morning with your excellence?

GUISE
I heard your Majestie was scarcely pleasde,
That in the Court I bear so great a traine.

KING
They were to blame that said I was displeasde,
And you good Cosin to imagine it.
Twere hard with me if I should doubt my kinne,
Or be suspicious of my deerest freends:
Cousin, assure you I am resolute,
Whatever any whisper in mine eares,
Not to suspect disloyaltye in thee,
And so sweet Cuz farwell.

Exit King [and Epernoune].

GUISE
So,
Now sues the King for favour to the Guise,
And all his Minions stoup when I commaund:
Why this tis to have an army in the fielde.
Now by the holy sacrament I sweare,
As ancient Romanes over