SCENE ONE
Enter the DUCHESS OF GUISE and her MAID . DUCHESS OF GUISE :
Go fetch me pen and ink, ÔÇô MAID :
I will, madam. DUCHESS OF GUISE :
That I may write unto my dearest lord.
Exit MAID .
Sweet Mugeroun, 'tis he that hath my heart,
And Guise usurps it 'cause I am his wife.
Fain would I find some means to speak with him,
But cannot, and therefore am enforc'd to write,
That he may come and meet me in some place,
Where we may one enjoy the other's sight.
Re-enter the MAID , with pen, ink, and paper .
So, set it down, and leave me to myself.
Exit MAID . The DUCHESS writes .
O, would to God this quill that here doth write,
Had late been pluck'd from out fair Cupid's wing,
That it might print these lines within his heart!
Enter GUISE . GUISE :
What, all alone, my love? and writing too?
I prithee, say to whom thou writes. DUCHESS OF GUISE :
To such
A one, my lord, as when she reads my lines
Will laugh, I fear me, at their good array. GUISE :
I pray thee, let me see. DUCHESS OF GUISE :
O, no, my lord; a woman only must
Partake the secrets of my heart. GUISE :
But, madam, I must see.
Seizes the paper .
Are these your secrets that no man must know? DUCHESS OF GUISE :
O, pardon me, my lord! GUISE :
Thou trothless and unjust! What lines are these?
Am I grown old, or is thy lust grown young?
Or hath my love been so obscur'd in thee,
That others need to comment on my text?
Is all my love forgot, which held thee dear,
Ay, dearer than the apple of mine eye?
Is Guise's glory but a cloudy mist,
In sight and judgment of thy lustful eye?
Mort Dieu! wert not the fruit within thy womb,
Of whose increase I set some longing hope,
This wrathful hand should strike thee to the heart.
Hence, strumpet! hide thy head for shame,
And fly my presence, if thou look to live!
Exit DUCHESS .
O wicked sex, perjured and unjust!
Now do I see that from the very first
Her eyes and looks sow'd seeds of perjury.
But villain, he, to whom these lines should go,
Shall buy her love even with his dearest blood.
Exit .
SCENE TWO
Enter the KING OF NAVARRE , PLESHÉ , BARTUS , and TRAIN , with drums and trumpets . NAVARRE :
My lords, sith in a quarrel just and right
We undertake to manage these our wars
Against the proud disturbers of the faith,
(I mean the Guise, the Pope, and king of Spain,
Who set themselves to tread us under foot,
And rent our true religion from this land;
But for you know our quarrel is no more
But to defend their strange inventions,
Which they will put us to with sword and fire,)
We must with resolute minds resolve to fight,
In honour of our God, and country's good.
Spain is the council-chamber of the Pope,
Spain is the place where he makes peace and war;
And Guise for Spain hath now incens'd the king
To send his power to meet us in the field. BARTUS :
Then in this bloody brunt they may behold
The sole endeavour of your princely care,
To plant the true succession of the faith,
In spite of Spain and all his heresies. NAVARRE :
The power of vengeance now encamps itself
Upon the haughty mountains of my breast;
Plays with her gory colours of revenge,
Whom I respect as leaves of boasting green,
That change their colour when the winter comes,
When I shall vaunt as victor in revenge.
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 muster'd in the land,
And means to meet your highness in the field. NAVARRE :
In God's name, let them come!
This is the Guise that hath incens'd 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 plans, I hope.
I would the Guise in his stead might have come!
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 THREE
Enter KING HENRY , GUISE , EPERNOUN , and 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 :
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?
Makes borns at GUISE . GUISE :
How now, my lord! Faith, this is more than need.
Am I thus to be jested at and scorn'd?
'Tis more than kingly or emperious:
And, sure, if all the proudest kings
In Christendom should bear me such derision,
They should know how I scorn'd 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 incens'd me so,
Shall buy that strumpet's favour with his blood!
Whether he have dishonour'd me or no,
Par la mort Dieu, il mourra!
Exit . HENRY :
Believe me, this jest bites sore. EPERNOUN :
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 stabb'd, and live till he be dead.
But wherefore bears he me such deadly hate? HENRY :
Because his wife bears thee such kindly love. MUGEROUN :
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 take 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 FOUR
Alarums, within, and a cry ÔÇô 'The Duke Joyeux is slain.' Enter the KING OF NAVARRE , BARTUS , and TRAIN . NAVARRE :
The duke is slain, and all his power dispers'd,
And we are grac'd 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 noblemen have lost their lives
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 FIVE
Enter a SOLDIER . 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 ÔÇô 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.
Enter MUGEROUN .
What, are ye come so soon? Have at ye, sir!
Shoots at MUGEROUN and kills him .
Enter GUISE and ATTENDANTS . GUISE ( giving a purse ):
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 bear off MUGEROUN'S body .
Enter 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 :
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 mov'd. HENRY :
Be patient, Guise, and threat not Epernoun,
Lest thou perceive the king of France be mov'd. GUISE :
Why, I am a prince of the Valoyses line,
Therefore an enemy of the Bourbonites.
I am a juror in the holy league,
And therefore hated of the Protestants.
What should I do but stand upon my guard?
And, being able, I'll keep an host in pay. EPERNOUN :
Thou able to maintain an host in pay,
That liv'st by foreign exhibition!
The Pope and King of Spain are thy good friends;
Else all France knows how poor a duke thou art. HENRY :
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 factious 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.
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 proclaim'd a traitor throughout France, GUISE ( aside ):
The choice is hard; I must dissemble.
( Aloud ) 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 enter'd Paris,
And how the citizens with gifts and shows
Did entertain him,
And promised to be at his command ÔÇô
Nay, they fear'd 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 ATTENDANT with a pen and ink .
Make a discharge of all my council straight,
And I'll subscribe my name, and seal it straight.
ATTENDANT writes .
My head shall be my council; they are false;
And, Epernoun, I will be rul'd 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.
Writes .
So, convey this to the council presently.
Exit ATTENDANT .
And, Epernoun, 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 no staying for the king of France,
Unless he mean to be betray'd and die.
But, as I live, so sure the Guise shall die.
Exeunt .
Enter the DUCHESS OF GUISE and her MAID . DUCHESS OF GUISE :
Go fetch me pen and ink, ÔÇô MAID :
I will, madam. DUCHESS OF GUISE :
That I may write unto my dearest lord.
Exit MAID .
Sweet Mugeroun, 'tis he that hath my heart,
And Guise usurps it 'cause I am his wife.
Fain would I find some means to speak with him,
But cannot, and therefore am enforc'd to write,
That he may come and meet me in some place,
Where we may one enjoy the other's sight.
Re-enter the MAID , with pen, ink, and paper .
So, set it down, and leave me to myself.
Exit MAID . The DUCHESS writes .
O, would to God this quill that here doth write,
Had late been pluck'd from out fair Cupid's wing,
That it might print these lines within his heart!
Enter GUISE . GUISE :
What, all alone, my love? and writing too?
I prithee, say to whom thou writes. DUCHESS OF GUISE :
To such
A one, my lord, as when she reads my lines
Will laugh, I fear me, at their good array. GUISE :
I pray thee, let me see. DUCHESS OF GUISE :
O, no, my lord; a woman only must
Partake the secrets of my heart. GUISE :
But, madam, I must see.
Seizes the paper .
Are these your secrets that no man must know? DUCHESS OF GUISE :
O, pardon me, my lord! GUISE :
Thou trothless and unjust! What lines are these?
Am I grown old, or is thy lust grown young?
Or hath my love been so obscur'd in thee,
That others need to comment on my text?
Is all my love forgot, which held thee dear,
Ay, dearer than the apple of mine eye?
Is Guise's glory but a cloudy mist,
In sight and judgment of thy lustful eye?
Mort Dieu! wert not the fruit within thy womb,
Of whose increase I set some longing hope,
This wrathful hand should strike thee to the heart.
Hence, strumpet! hide thy head for shame,
And fly my presence, if thou look to live!
Exit DUCHESS .
O wicked sex, perjured and unjust!
Now do I see that from the very first
Her eyes and looks sow'd seeds of perjury.
But villain, he, to whom these lines should go,
Shall buy her love even with his dearest blood.
Exit .
SCENE TWO
Enter the KING OF NAVARRE , PLESHÉ , BARTUS , and TRAIN , with drums and trumpets . NAVARRE :
My lords, sith in a quarrel just and right
We undertake to manage these our wars
Against the proud disturbers of the faith,
(I mean the Guise, the Pope, and king of Spain,
Who set themselves to tread us under foot,
And rent our true religion from this land;
But for you know our quarrel is no more
But to defend their strange inventions,
Which they will put us to with sword and fire,)
We must with resolute minds resolve to fight,
In honour of our God, and country's good.
Spain is the council-chamber of the Pope,
Spain is the place where he makes peace and war;
And Guise for Spain hath now incens'd the king
To send his power to meet us in the field. BARTUS :
Then in this bloody brunt they may behold
The sole endeavour of your princely care,
To plant the true succession of the faith,
In spite of Spain and all his heresies. NAVARRE :
The power of vengeance now encamps itself
Upon the haughty mountains of my breast;
Plays with her gory colours of revenge,
Whom I respect as leaves of boasting green,
That change their colour when the winter comes,
When I shall vaunt as victor in revenge.
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 muster'd in the land,
And means to meet your highness in the field. NAVARRE :
In God's name, let them come!
This is the Guise that hath incens'd 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 plans, I hope.
I would the Guise in his stead might have come!
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 THREE
Enter KING HENRY , GUISE , EPERNOUN , and 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 :
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?
Makes borns at GUISE . GUISE :
How now, my lord! Faith, this is more than need.
Am I thus to be jested at and scorn'd?
'Tis more than kingly or emperious:
And, sure, if all the proudest kings
In Christendom should bear me such derision,
They should know how I scorn'd 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 incens'd me so,
Shall buy that strumpet's favour with his blood!
Whether he have dishonour'd me or no,
Par la mort Dieu, il mourra!
Exit . HENRY :
Believe me, this jest bites sore. EPERNOUN :
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 stabb'd, and live till he be dead.
But wherefore bears he me such deadly hate? HENRY :
Because his wife bears thee such kindly love. MUGEROUN :
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 take 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 FOUR
Alarums, within, and a cry ÔÇô 'The Duke Joyeux is slain.' Enter the KING OF NAVARRE , BARTUS , and TRAIN . NAVARRE :
The duke is slain, and all his power dispers'd,
And we are grac'd 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 noblemen have lost their lives
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 FIVE
Enter a SOLDIER . 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 ÔÇô 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.
Enter MUGEROUN .
What, are ye come so soon? Have at ye, sir!
Shoots at MUGEROUN and kills him .
Enter GUISE and ATTENDANTS . GUISE ( giving a purse ):
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 bear off MUGEROUN'S body .
Enter 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 :
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 mov'd. HENRY :
Be patient, Guise, and threat not Epernoun,
Lest thou perceive the king of France be mov'd. GUISE :
Why, I am a prince of the Valoyses line,
Therefore an enemy of the Bourbonites.
I am a juror in the holy league,
And therefore hated of the Protestants.
What should I do but stand upon my guard?
And, being able, I'll keep an host in pay. EPERNOUN :
Thou able to maintain an host in pay,
That liv'st by foreign exhibition!
The Pope and King of Spain are thy good friends;
Else all France knows how poor a duke thou art. HENRY :
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 factious 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.
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 proclaim'd a traitor throughout France, GUISE ( aside ):
The choice is hard; I must dissemble.
( Aloud ) 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 enter'd Paris,
And how the citizens with gifts and shows
Did entertain him,
And promised to be at his command ÔÇô
Nay, they fear'd 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 ATTENDANT with a pen and ink .
Make a discharge of all my council straight,
And I'll subscribe my name, and seal it straight.
ATTENDANT writes .
My head shall be my council; they are false;
And, Epernoun, I will be rul'd 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.
Writes .
So, convey this to the council presently.
Exit ATTENDANT .
And, Epernoun, 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 no staying for the king of France,
Unless he mean to be betray'd and die.
But, as I live, so sure the Guise shall die.
Exeunt .