The Massacre at Paris by Christopher Marlowe, Arthur Henry Bullen
Scene Xiv
Trumpets sound within, and a cry of "Vive le Roi" two or three times. Enter Anjou crowned as King Henry the Third; Catherine the Queen Mother, the Cardinal of Lorraine, Guise, Epernoun, Mugeroun, the Cutpurse, and others.
ALL. Vive le Roi, Vive le Roi! [A flourish of trumpets.
CATH Welcome from Poland, Henry, once again! Welcome to France, thy father's royal seat! Here hast thou a country void of fears, A warlike people to maintain thy right, A watchful senate for ordaining laws, A loving mother to preserve thy state, And all things that a king may wish besides; All this, and more, hath Henry with his crown.
CARD And long may Henry enjoy all this, and more!
ALL Vive le Roi, Vive le Roi! [A flourish of trumpets.
HENRY Thanks to you all. The guider of all crowns Grant that our deeds may well deserve your loves! And so they shall if fortune speed my will, And yield your thoughts to height of my deserts. What say our minions? think they Henry's heart Will not both harbour love and majesty? Put off that fear, they are already join'd: No person, place, or time, or circumstance, Shall slack my love's affection from his bent: As now you are, so shall you still persist, Removeless from the favours of your king.
MUG We know that noble minds change not their thoughts For wearing of a crown, in that your grace Hath worn the Poland diadem before You were invested in the crown of France.
HENRY I tell thee, Mugeroun, we will be friends, And fellows too, whatever storms arise.
MUG Then may it please your majesty to give me leave To punish those that do profane this holy feast.
HENRY How mean'st thou that? [Mugeroun cuts off the Cutpurse's ear, for cutting the gold buttons off his cloak.
CUTP O Lord, mine ear!
MUG Come, sir, give me my buttons, and here's your ear.
GUISE Sirrah, take him away.
HENRY Hands off, good fellow; I will be his bail For this offence.—Go, sirrah, work no more Till this our coronation day be past.— And now, Our solemn rites of coronation done, What now remains but for a while to feast, And spend some days in barriers, tourney, tilt, And like disports, such as do fit the court? Let's go, my lords; our dinner stays for us. [Exeunt all except Catherine the Queen Mother and the Cardinal of Lorraine.
CATH My Lord Cardinal of Lorraine, tell me, How likes your grace my son's pleasantness? His mind, you see, runs on his minions, And all his heaven is to delight himself; And, whilst he sleeps securely thus in ease, Thy brother Guise and we may now provide To plant ourselves with such authority As not a man may live without our leaves. Then shall the Catholic faith of Rome Flourish in France, and none deny the same.
CARD Madam, as in secrecy I was told, My brother Guise hath gather'd a power of men, Which are, he saith, to kill the Puritans; But 'tis the house of Bourbon that he means. Now, madam, must you insinuate with the king, And tell him that 'tis for his country's good, And common profit of religion.
CATH Tush, man, let me alone with him, To work the way to bring this thing to pass; And, if he do deny what I do say, I'll despatch him with his brother presently, And then shall Monsieur wear the diadem. Tush, all shall die unless I have my will; For, while she lives, Catherine will be queen. Come, my lord, let us go seek the Guise, And then determine of this enterprise. [Exeunt.