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The Works of Christopher Marlowe

The Massacre at Paris

Act: 1 Scene: 4- -- -

Enter [Charles] the King, [Catherine] the Queene Mother, Duke of Guise, Duke Anjou, Duke Demayne [and Cossin, Captain of the Kings Guard].

QUEENE MOTHER.

My noble sonne, and princely Duke of Guise,

Now have we got the fatall stragling deere,

Within the compasse of a deadly toyle,

And as we late decreed we may perfourme.

CHARLES.

Madam, it wilbe noted through the world,

An action bloudy and tirannicall:

Cheefely since under safetie of our word,

They justly challenge their protection:

Besides my heart relentes that noble men,

Onely corrupted in religion,

Ladies of honor, Knightes and Gentlemen,

Should for their conscience taste such rutheles ends.

ANJOY.

Though gentle minces should pittie others paines,

Yet will the wisest note their proper greefes:

And rather seeke to scourge their enemies,

Then be themselves base subjects to the whip.

GUISE.

Me thinkes my Lord, Anjoy hath well advisde

Your highnes to consider of the thing,

And rather chuse to seek your countries good,

Then pittie or releeve these upstart hereticks.

QUEENE MOTHER.

I hope these reasons mayserve my princely, Sonne,

To have some care for feare of enemies.

CHARLES.

Well Madam, I referre it to your Majestie,

And to my Nephew heere the Duke of Guise:

What you determine, I will ratifie.

QUEENE MOTHER.

Thankes to my princely sonne, then tell me Guise,

What order wil you set downe for the Massacre?

GUISE.

Thus Madame.

They that shalbe actors in this Massacre,

Shall weare white crosses on their Burgonets,

And tye white linnen scarfes about their armes.

He that wantes these, and is suspect of heresie,

Shall dye, or be he King or Emperour.

Then Ile have a peale of ordinance shot from the tower,

At which they all shall issue out and set the streetes.

And then the watchword being given, a bell shall ring,

Which when they heare, they shall begin to kill:

And never cease untill that bell shall cease,

Then breath a while.

Enter the Admirals man.

CHARLES.

How now fellow, what newes?

MAN.

And it please your grace the Lord high Admirall,

Riding the streetes was traiterously shot,

And most humbly intreates your Majestie

To visite him sick in his bed.

CHARLES.

Messenger, tell him I will see him straite.

Exit Messenger.

What shall we doe now with the Admirall?

QUEENE MOTHER.

Your Majesty had best goe visite him,

And make a shew as if all were well.

CHARLES.

Content, I will goe visite the Admirall.

GUISE.

And I will goe take order for his death.

Exit Guise.

Enter the Admirall in his bed.

CHARLES.

How fares it with my Lord high Admiral,

Hath he been hurt with villaines in the street?

I vow and sweare as I am King of France,

To finde and to repay the man with death:

With death delay'd and torments never usde,

That durst presume for hope of any gaine,

To hurt the noble man his sovereign loves.

ADMIRALL.

Ah my good Lord, these are the Guisians,

That seeke to massacre our guiltles lives.

CHARLES.

Assure your selfe my good Lord Admirall,

I deepely sorrow for your trecherous wrong:

And that I am not more secure my selfe,

Then I am carefull you should be preserved.

Cossin, take twenty of our strongest guarde,

And under your direction see they keep

All trecherous violence from our noble freend,

Repaying all attempts with present death,

Upon the cursed breakers of our peace.

And so be pacient good Lord Admirall,

And every hower I will visite you.

Exeunt omnes.

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