The Works of Christopher Marlowe

The Massacre at Paris

Act: 1 Scene: 5- - <>- -
Enter Guise, Anjoy, Dumaine, Gonzago, Retes, Montsorrell, and Souldiers to the massacre.
GUISE.
Anjoy, Dumaine, Gonzago, Retes, sweare by
The argent crosses on your burgonets,
To kill all that you suspect of heresie.
DUMAINE.
I sweare by this to be unmercifull.
ANJOY.
I am disguisde and none nows who I am,
And therfore meane to murder all I meet.
GONZAGO.
And so will I.
RETES.
And I.
GUISE.
Away then, break into the Admirals house.
GETES.
I let the Admirall be first dispatcht.
GUISE.
The Admirall,
Cheefe standard bearer to the Lutheranes,
Shall in the entrance of this Massacre,
Be murdered in his bed.
Gonzago conduct them hither, and then
Beset his house that not a man may live.
ANJOY.
That charge is mine. Swizers keepe you the streetes,
And at ech corner shall the Kings garde stand.
GONZAGO.
Come sirs follow me.
Exit Gonzago and others with him.
ANJOY.
Cossin, the Captaine of the Admirals guarde,
Plac'd by my brother, will betray his Lord:
Now Guise shall catholiques flourish once againe,
The head being of, the members cannot stand.
RETES.
But look my Lord, ther's some in the Admirals house.
Enter [above Gonzago and others] into the Admirals house, and he in his bed.
ANJOY.
In lucky time, come let us keep this lane,
And slay his servants that shall issue out.
GONZAGO.
Where is the Admirall?
ADMIRALL.
O let me pray before I dye.
GONZAGO.
Then pray unto our Ladye, kisse this crosse.
Stab him. ????????????????
ADMIRALL.
O God forgive my sins.
GUISE.
What, is he dead Gonzago?
GONZAGO.
I my Lord.
GUISE.
Then throw him down.
[The body is thrown down. Exeunt Gonzago and rest above.]
ANJOY.
Now cosin view him well,
It may be it is some other, and he escapte.
GUISE.
Cosin tis he, I know him by his look.
See where my Souldier shot him through the arm.
He mist him neer, but we have strook him now.
Ah base Shatillian and degenerate,
Cheef standard bearer to the Lutheranes,
Thus in despite of thy Religion,
The Duke of Guise stampes on thy liveles bulke.
Away with him, cut of his head and handes,
And send them for a present to the Pope:
And when this just revenge is finished,
Unto mount Faucon will we dragge his coarse:
And he that living hated so the crosse,
Shall being dead, be hangd thereon in chaines.
GUISE.
Anjoy, Gonzago, Retes, if that you three,
Will be as resolute as I and Dumaine:
There shall not a Hugonet breath in France.
ANJOY.
I sweare by this crosse, wee'l not be partiall,
But slay as many as we can come neer.
GUISE.
Mountsorrett, go and shoote the ordinance of,
That they which have already set the street
May know their watchword, and then tole the bell,
And so lets forward to the Massacre.
MOUNTSORRELL.
I will my Lord.
Exit Mountsorrell.
GUISE.
And now my Lords let us closely to our busines.
ANJOY.
Anjoy will follow thee.
DUMAINE.
And so will Dumaine.
The ordinance being shot of, the bell tolles.
GUISE.
Come then, lets away.
Exeunt.
The Guise enters againe, with all the rest, with their Swords drawne, chasing the Protestants.
GUISE.
Tue, tue, tue,
Let none escape, murder the Hugonets.
ANJOY.
Kill them, kill them.
Exeunt.
Enter Loreine running, the Guise and the rest pursuing him.
GUISE.
Loreine, Loreine, follow Loreine.. Sirra, Are you a preacher of these heresies?
LOREINE.
I am a preacher of the word of God, And thou a traitor to thy soule and him.
GUISE.
Dearely beloved brother, thus tis written.
He stabs him.
ANJOY.
Stay my Lord, let me begin the psalme.
GUISE.
Come dragge him away and throw him in a ditch.
Exeunt [omnes].
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