THE tragedy OF CHARLES Duke of BYRON.  
By GEORGE CHAPMAN.   

THE tragedy OF Charles Duke of Byron.  

ACTVS, I. SCENA, I.  Henry, Vidame, D'escures, Espernon, janin. Hen. 
BYron fallen in so traitorous a relapse,  
alleged for our ingratitude: what offices,  
Titles of honour, and what admiration,  
Could France afford him that it poured not on?  
When he was scarce arrived at forty years,  
He ran through all chief dignities of France.  
At fourteen years of age he was made Colonel  
To all the Swisses serving then in Flanders;  
Soon after he was marshal of the camp.  
And shortly after, marshal General:  
He was received high Admiral of France  
In that our Parliament we held at Tours;  
Marshal of France in that we held at Paris.  
And at the Siege of Amiens he acknowledged,  
None his Superior but ourself, the King;  
Though I had there, the Princes of the blood  
I made him my Lieutenant General,  
Declared him jointly the prime Peer of France,  
And raised his Barony into a Duchy,  Iani. 
And yet (my Lord) all this could not allay  
The fatal thirst of his ambition.  
For some have heard him say he would not die,  
Till on the wings of valour he had reached  
One degree higher; and had seen his head,  
Set on the royal Quarter of a crown;  
Yea at so unbelieved a pitch he aimed,  
That he hath said his heart would still complain,  
Till he aspired the style of Sovereign,  
And from what ground my Lord rise all the levies  
Now made in Italy? from whence should spring  
The warlike humour of the Count Fuentes?  
The restless stirrings of the Duke of Savoy?  
The discontent the Spaniard entertained,  
With such a threatening fury, when he heard  
The prejudicial conditions,  
Proposed him, in the treaty held at Vervins?  
And many other beaveries, this way aiming,  
But from some hope of inward aid from hence?  
And that, all this directly aims at you,  
Your highness hath by one intelligence,  
Good cause to think; which is your late advice,  
That the Sea army, now prepared at Naples,  
Hath an intended Enterprise on Provence?  
Although the cunning Spaniard gives it out,  
That all is for Algier.  Hen. 
I must believe,  
That without treason bred in our own breasts,  
Spain's, affairs are not in so good estate,  
To aim at any action against France:  
And if Byron should be their instrument,  
His altered disposition could not grow,  
So far wide in an instant; Nor resign,  
His valour to these lawless resolutions  
Upon the sudden; nor without some charms,  
Of foreign hopes and flatteries sung to him:  
But far it flies my thoughts, that such a spirit,  
So active, valiant, and vigilant;  
Can see itself transformed with such wild furies.  
And like a dream it shows to my conceits,  
That he who by himself hath won such honour:  
And he to whom his father left so much,  
He that still daily reaps so much from me,  
And knows he may increase it to more proof  
From me, than any other foreign King;  
Should quite against the stream of all religion,  
Honour, and reason, take a course so foul,  
And neither keep his Oath, nor save his Soul.  
Can the poor keeping of a Citadel  
Which I denied, to be at his disposure,  
Make him forego the whole strength of his honours?  
It is impossible, though the violence,  
Of his hot spirit made him make attempt  
Upon our person for denying him;  
Yet well I found his loyal judgement served,  
To keep it from effect: beside being offered,  
Two hundred thousand crowns in yearly pension,  
And to be General of all the forces  
The Spaniards had in France; they found him still,  
As an unmatched Achilles in the wars,  
So a most wise Ulysses to their words,  
Stopping his ears at their enchanted sounds;  
And plain he told them that although his blood  
(Being moved) by Nature, were a very fire  
And boiled in apprehension of a wrong;  
Yet should his mind hold such a sceptre there,  
As would contain it from all act and thought  
Of treachery or ingratitude to his Prince.  
Yet do I long, methinks, to see La Fin,  
Who hath his heart in keeping; since his state,  
(Grown to decay and he to discontent)  
Comes near the ambitious plight of Duke Byron,  
My Lord Vidame, when does your Lordship think,  
Your uncle of La Fin will be arrived.  Vid. 
I think (my Lord) he now is near arriving  
For his particular journey and devotion,  
vowed to the holy Lady of Loretto,  
Was long since past and he upon return.  Hen. 
In him, as in a crystal that is charmed,  
I shall discern by whom and what designs,  
My rule is threatened and that sacred power  
That hath enabled this defensive arm,  
(When I enjoyed but in an unequal Nook,  
Of that I now possess) to front a King  
Far my Superior: And from twelve set battles,  
March home a victor: ten of them obtained,  
Without my personal service; will not see  
A traitorous subject foil me, and so end  
What his hand hath with such success begun.  Enter a Lady, and a Nurse bringing the Daulphine. Esp. 
See the young dauphin brought to cheer your highness.  Hen. 
My royal blessing, and the King of heaven,  
Make thee an aged, and a happy King:  
Help Nurse to put my sword into his hand;  
Hold Boy, by this; and with it may thy arm  
Cut from thy tree of rule, all traitorous branches,  
That strive to shadow and eclipse thy glories;  
Have thy old father's angel for thy guide,  
Redoubled be his spirit in thy breast;  
Who when this State ran like a turbulent sea,  
In civil hates and bloody enmity,  
Their wraths and envies, like so many winds,  
Settled and burst: and like the halcyon's birth,  
Be thine to bring a calm upon the shore,  
In which the eyes of war may ever sleep,  
As overmatched with former massacres,  
When guilty, made Noblesse, feed on Noblesse;  
All the sweet plenty of the realm exhausted;  
When the naked merchant, was pursued for spoil,  
When the poor Peasants frighted neediest thieves  
With their pale leanness; nothing left on them  
But meager carcases sustained with air,  
wandering like Ghosts affrighted from their graves,  
When with the often and incessant sounds  
The very beasts knew the alarum bell,  
And (hearing it) ran bellowing to their home:  
From which unchristian broils and homicides,  
Let the religious sword of justice free  
Thee and thy kingdoms governed after me.  
O heaven! or if th'unsettled blood of France,  
With ease, and wealth, renew he civil furies:  
Let all my powers be emptied in my Son  
To curb, and end them all, as I have done.  
Let him by virtue, quite out of from fortune,  
Her feathered shoulders, and her winged shoes,  
And thrust from her light feet, her turning stone,  
That she may ever tarry by his throne.  
And of his worth, let after ages say,  
(He fighting for the land; and bringing home  
Just conquests, laden with his enemies spoils)  
His father past all France in martial deeds,  
But he, his father twenty times exceeds.  Enter the Duke of Byron, D'Avuergne and Laffin. Byr. 
My dear friends D'Auvergne and Laffin,  
We need no conjurations to conceal:  
Our close intendments, to advance our states  
Even with our merits; which are now neglected;  
Since Britain is reduced, and breathless war  
Hath sheathed his sword, and wrapped his Ensigns up;  
The King hath now no more use of my valour,  
And therefore I shall now no more enjoy  
The credit that my service held with him;  
My service that hath driven through all extremes,  
Through tempests, droughts, and through the deepest floods;  
Winter's of shot: and over rocks so high  
That birds could scarce aspire their ridgy tops;  
The world is quite inverted: virtue thrown  
At Vice's feet: and sensual peace confounds,  
Valour, and cowardice: Fame, and Infamy;  
The rude and terrible age is turned again:  
When the thick air hid heaven, and all the stars,  
Were drowned in humour, tough, and hard to pierce,  
When the red Sun held not his fixed place;  
Kept not his certain course, his rise and set  
Nor yet distinguished with his definite bounds;  
Nor in his firm conversions, were discerned  
The fruitful distances of time and place,  
In the well varied seasons of the year;  
When th'incomposed incursions of floods  
Wasted and eat the earth; and all things showed  
Wild and disordered: nought was worse than now;  
we must reform and have a new creation  
Of State and government; and on our Chaos  
Will I sit brooding up another world.  
I who through all the dangers that can siege  
The life of man, have forced my glorious way  
To the repairing of my country's ruins,  
Will ruin it again, to readvance it;  
Roman Camillus, saved the State of Rome  
With far less merit, than Byron hath France;  
And how short of this is my recompense.  
The king shall know, I will have better price  
Set on my services; in spite of whom  
I will proclaim and ring my discontents  
Into the farthest ear of all the world.  Laff: 
How great a spirit he breathes? how learned? how wise?  
But (worthy Prince) you must give temperate air,  
To your unmatched, and more than humane wind;  
Else will our plots be frost-bit, in the flower.  D'Au: 
Betwixt ourselves we may give liberal vent  
To all our fiery and displeased impressions;  
Which nature could not entertain with life,  
Without some exhalation; A wronged thought  
Will break a rib of steel.  Byr. 
My Princely friend,  
Enough of these eruptions; our grave Councillor  
Well knows that great affairs will not be forged  
But upon anvils that are lined with wool;  
We must ascend to our intentions top  
Like Clouds that be not seen till they be up?  Laff: 
O, you do too much ravish; And my soul  
Offer to Music in your numerous breath;  
Sententious, and so high, it wakens death;  
It is for these parts, that the Spanish King  
Hath sworn to win them to his side  
At any price or peril; That great Savoy,  
Offers his princely daughter, and a dowry,  
Amounting to five hundred thousand crowns;  
With full transport of all the Sovereign rights  
Belonging to the State of burgundy;  
Which marriage will be made, the only Cement  
T'effect and strengthen all our secret Treaties;  
Instruct me therefore, (my assured Prince)  
Now I am going to resolve the King  
Of his suspicions, how I shall behave me.  Byr: 
Go my most trusted friend, with happy feet:  
Make me a sound man with him; Go to Court  
But with a little train; and be prepared  
To hear, at first, terms of contempt and choler,  
Which you may easily calm, and turn to grace.  
If you beseech his highness to believe  
That your whole drift and course for Italy,  
(Where he hath heard you were) was only made  
Out of your long-well-known devotion  
To our right holy Lady of Lorretto,  
As you have told some of your friends in Court:  
And that in passing Mylan and Thurin,  
They charged you to propound my marriage  
With the third daughter of the Duke of Savoy;  
Which you have done, and I rejected it,  
Resolved to build upon his royal care  
For my bestowing, which he lately vowed.  Laff. 
O, you direct, as if the God of light  
Sat in each nook of you; and pointed out  
The path of Empire; Charming all the dangers  
On both sides armed, with his harmonious finger.  Byr: 
Besides let me entreat you to dismiss,  
All that have made the voyage with your Lordship,  
But specially the Curate: And to lock  
Your papers in some place of doubtless safety;  
Or sacrifice them to the God of fire;  
Considering worthily that in your hands  
I put my fortunes, honour, and my life.  Laff: 
Therein the bounty that your Grace hath shown me,  
I prize past life, and all things that are mine;  
And will undoubtedly preserve, and tender  
The merit of it, as my hope of heaven.  Byr: 
I make no question; farewell worthy friend. Exit.  Henry, Chancellor, Laffin, D'Escures, janin, Henry having many papers in his hand. Hen. 
Are these proofs of that purely catholic zeal  
That made him wish no other glorious title,  
Then to be called the scourge of Huguenots?  Chan: 
No question sir he was of no religion;  
But (upon false grounds, by some Courtiers laid)  
Hath oft been heard to mock and jest at all.  Hen: 
Are not his treasons heinous?  All: 
— Most abhorred;  Chan: 
All is confirmed that you have heard before,  
And amplified with many horrors more.  Hen: 
Good De'Laffin; you were our golden plummet,  
To sound this gulf of all ingratitude;  
In which you have with excellent desert  
Of loyalty and policy, expressed  
Your name in action; and with such appearance  
Have proved the parts of his ingrateful treasons,  
That I must credit, more than I desired,  Laff: 
I must confess my Lord, my voyages  
Made to the Duke of Savoy and to Milan;  
Were with endeavour, that the wars returned,  
Might breed some trouble to your Majesty;  
And profit those by whom they were procured;  
But since, in their designs, your sacred person  
Was not excepted (which I since have seen)  
It so abhorred me, that I was resolved  
To give you full intelligence thereof;  
And rather choosed to fail in promises,  
Made to the servant; then infringe my fealty  
Sworn to my royal Sovereign and Master;  Hen: 
I am extremely discontent to see,  
This most unnatural conspiracy;  
And would not have the Marshal of Byron,  
The first example or my forced justice;  
Nor that his death should be the worthy cause,  
That my calm reign, (which hitherto hath held  
A clear and cheerful sky above the heads  
Of my dear subjects) should so suddenly  
Be overcast with clouds of fire, and thunder;  
Yet on submission, I vow still his pardon.  Ian: 
And still our humble counsels, (for his service)  
Would so resolve you, if he will employ  
His honoured valour as effectually,  
To fortify the State, against your foes;  
As he hath practised bad intendments with them.  Hen: 
That vow shall stand; and we will now address,  
Some messengers to call him home to Court;  
Without the slenderest intimation,  
Of any ill we know; we will restrain  
(x forgiveness, if he will confess)  
His headlong course to ruin; and his taste,  
From the sweet poison of his friendlike foes:  
Treason hath blistered heels, dishonest Things  
Have bitter Rivers, though delicious Springs;  
Descures haste you unto him, and inform,  
That having heard by sure intelligence,  
Of the great levies made in italy,  
Of Arms and soldiers; I am resolute,  
Upon my frontiers to maintain an Army;  
The charge whereof I will impose on him;  
And to that end, expressly have commanded,  
De Vic, our Lord Ambassador in Suisse,  
To demand levy of six thousand men:  
Appointing them to march where Duke Byron  
Shall have directions; wherein I have followed.  
The counsel of my Constable his Gossip;  
Whose lik't advice, I made him him know by letters,  
Wishing to hear his own; from his own mouth,  
And by all means conjure, his speediest presence;  
Do this with utmost haste.  Desc. 
I will my Lord. Exit Desc.  Hen. 
My good Lord Chancellor, of many Pieces,  
More than is here, of his conspiracies  
Presented to us, by our friend, Laffin;  
You, only, shall reserve these seven and twenty,  
Which are not those that must conclude against him;  
But mention only him: since I am loath,  
To have the rest of the conspirators, known.  Chan. 
My Lord, my purpose is to guard all these,  
So safely from the sight of any other:  
That in my doublet I will have them sowed;  
Without discovering them to mine own eyes,  
Till need, or opportunity requires.  Hen. 
You shall do well my Lord, they are of weight;  
But I am doubtful; that his conscience  
Will make him so suspicious of the worst,  
That he will hardly be induced to come.  Ian. 
I much should doubt that to, but that I hope  
The strength of his conspiracy, as yet  
Is not so ready, that he dare presume,  
By his refusal to make known so much  
Of his disloyalty.  Hen. 
I yet conceive;  
His practises are turned to no bad end,  
And good Laffin, I pray you wright to him,  
To hasten his repair: and make him sure,  
That you have satisfied me to the full.  
For all his actions, and have uttered nought,  
But what might serve to banish bad impressions.  Laf. 
I will not fail my Lord.  Hen. 
Convey your letters;  
By some choice friend of his: or by his brother:  
And for a third excitement to his presence;  
janin, yourself shall go, and with the power  
That both the rest employ to make him come,  
Use you the strength of your persuasions.  Ian. 
I will my Lord, and hope I shall present him. Exit Ian.  Enter Esper. Soisson, Vitry, Pralin, &c. Espa. 
willt please your Majesty to take your place,  
The Mask is coming.  Hen. 
Room my Lords, stand close.  Music and a Song, above, and Cupid enters with a Table written, hung about his neck; after him two torchbearers; after them Mary, D'Entragues, and 4. Ladies more with their torchbearers, &c. Cupid speaks. Cup. 
My Lord, these nymphs, part of the scattered train,  
Of friendless virtue (living in the woods  
Of shady Arden: and of late not hearing  
The dreadful sounds of War; but that sweet Peace,  
Was by your valour lifted from her grave,  
Set on your royal right hand: and all virtues  
Summoned with honour, and with rich rewards,  
To be her handmaides): These I say, the virtues,  
Have put their heads out of their Caves and Coverts,  
To be her true attendants in your Court:  
In which desire, I must relate a tale,  
Of kind and worthy emulation,  
Twixt these two Virtues, leaders of the train.  
This on the right hand is Sophrosyne,  
Or Chastity: this other Dapsyle  
Or Liberality: their Emulation  
Begat a jar, which thus was reconciled.  
ay, (having left my Goddess mother's lap,  
To hawk, and shoot at Birds in Arden groves,)  
Beheld this Princely Nymph, with much affection,  
Left killing Birds, and turned into a Bird,  
Like which I flew betwixt her ivory breasts,  
As if I had been driven by some hawk,  
To sue to her for safety of my life;  
She smiled at first, and sweetly shadowed me,  
With soft protection of her silver hand;  
Sometimes she tied my legs in her rich hair,  
And made me (past my nature, liberty)  
Proud of my fetters: As I pertly sat,  
On the white pillows of her naked breasts,  
I sung for joy; she answered note for note,  
Relish for relish, with such ease and Art,  
In her divine division, that my tunes,  
Showed like the God of Shepherds to the Suns,  
Compared with hers: ashamed of which disgrace,  
I took my true shape, Bow, and all my shafts,  
And lighted all my torches at her eyes,  
Which (set about her, in a golden ring)  
I followed Birds again, from Tree to Tree,  
Killed, and presented, and she kindly took.  
But when she handled my triumphant Bow,  
And saw the beauty of my golden shafts,  
She begged them of me; ay, poor boy replied,  
I had no other Riches; yet was pleased  
To hazard all, and stake them 'gainst a kiss,  
At an old game I used, called Penny-prick.  
She privy to her own skill in the play,  
Answered my challenge, so, I lost my arms:  
And now my Shafts are headed with her looks,  
One of which Shafts she put into my Bow,  
And shot at this fair Nymph, with whom before  
I told your Majesty, she had some jar.  
The Nymph did instantly repent all parts  
She played in urging that effeminate war,  
Loved and submitted; which submission  
This took so well, that now they both are one:  
And as for your dear love, their discords grew,  
So for your love, they did their loves renew.  
And now to prove them capable of your court,  
In skill of such conceits, and qualities  
As here are practised; they will first submit  
Their grace in dancing to your highness doom,  
And pray the press to give their measures room,  Music, Dance, &c. which done Cupid speaks. 
If this suffice, for one Court complement,  
To make them gracious, and entertained;  
Behold another parcel of their Courtship,  
Which is a rare dexterity in riddles,  
Shown in one instance, which is here inscribed.  
Here is a Riddle, which if any Knight  
At first fight can resolve; he shall enjoy  
This jewel here annexed; which though it show  
To vulgar eyes, no richer than a Pebble;  
And that no lapidary, nor great man  
Will give a sou for it; 'tis worth a kingdom:  
For 'tis an artificial stone composed,  
By their great Mistress, Virtue: and will make  
Him that shall wear it, live with any little,  
sufficed, and more content than any king.  
If he that undertakes cannot resolve it;  
And that these nymphs can have no harbour here;  
(It being considered, that so many virtues  
Can never live in Court) he shall resolve  
To leave the Court, and live with them in Arden,  Esp. 
Pronounce the riddle: I will undertake it.  Cup. 
'Tis this sir.  
What's that a fair Lady, most of all likes,  
Yet ever makes show she least of all seeks?  
That's ever embraced and affected by her,  
Yet never is seen to please or come nigh her:  
Most served in her Nightweeds: does her good in a corner,  
But a poor man's thing yet doth richly adorn her:  
Most cheap, and most dear, above all worldly pelf,  
That is hard to get in, but comes out of itself.  Esp. 
Let me peruse it, Cupid.  Cup. 
Here it is.  Esp. 
Your Riddle is good Fame.  Cup. 
Good fame? how make you that good?  Esp. 
Good fame is that a good Lady most likes I am sure;  Cup. 
That's granted;  Esp. 
Yet ever makes show she least of all seeks: for she likes it only for the virtue, which is not glorious.  Hen. 
That holds well  Esp. 
'tis ever embraced and affected by her: for she must, persever in virtue or fame vanishes.  
Yet never is seen to please or come nigh her for fame is Invisible,  Cup. 
Exceeding right.  Esp. 
Most served in her night weeds: for Ladies that most wear their Nightweeds come left abroad, and they that come least abroad serve fame most; according to this; Non forma sed fama in publicum exire de bet.  Hen. 
'tis very substantial,  Esp. 
Does her good in a corner: that is in her most retreat from the world, comforts her; but a poor man's thing: for every poor man may purchase it, yet doth richly adorn a Lady.  Cup. 
That all must grant.  Esp. 
Most cheap for it costs nothing, and most dear, for gold can not buy it; above all worldly pelf; for that's transitory, and fame eternal. It is hard to get in; that is hard to get: But comes out of itself; for when it is virtuously deserved with the most inward retreat from the world, it comes out in spite of it, & so Cupid your jewel is mine.  Cup. 
It is: and be the virtue of it, yours.  
we'll now turn to our dance, and then attend,  
Your highness will, as touching our resort,  
If virtue may be entertained in Court,  Hen. 
This show hath pleased me well, for that it figures.  
The reconcilement of my Queen and Mistress:  
Come Let us in and thank them and prepare,  
To entertain our trusty friend Byron. Exeunt.  
Finis Actus Secundi.   

ACTVS 3. SCENA I.  Enter Byron. D'Auer. Byr. 
Dear friend, we must not be more true to kings,  
Than Kings are to their subjects, there are schools,  
Now broken ope in all parts of the world,  
First founded in ingenious Italy,  
Where some conclusions of estate are held,  
That for a day preserve a Prince, and ever,  
Destroy him after: from thence men are taught,  
To glide into degrees of height by craft,  
And then lock in themselves by villainy:  
But God, who knows kings are not made by art,  
But right of Nature, nor by treachery propped,  
But simple virtue, once let fall from heaven,  
A branch of that green tree, whose root is yet,  
Fast fixed above the stars: which sacred branch,  
we well may liken to that Laurel spray,  
That from the heavenly Eagles golden seres,  
Fell in the lap of great Augustus' wife:  
Which spray once set, grew up into a tree,  
Whereof were garlands made, and Emperors,  
Had their estates and foreheads crowned with them:  
And as the arms of that tree did decay,  
The race of great Augustus wore away,  
Nero being last of that imperial line,  
The tree and Emperor together died.  
Religion is a branch, first set and blessed  
By heavens high finger in the hearts of kings,  
Which whilom grew into a goodly tree,  
Bright Angels sat and sung upon the twigs,  
And royal branches for the heads of Kings,  
Were twisted of them but since squint-eyed envy:  
And pale suspicion, dashed the heads of kingdoms,  
One 'gainst another: two abhorred twins,  
With two foul tails: stern War and Liberty,  
Entered the world. The tree that grew from heaven.  
Is overrun with moss; the cheerful music,  
That heretofore hath sounded out of it,  
Begins to cease; and as she casts her leaves,  
(By small degrees) the kingdoms of the earth  
Decline and wither: and look whensoever  
That the pure sap in her, is dried up quite;  
The lamp of all authority goes out,  
And all the blaze of Princes is extinct;  
Thus as the Poet sends a messenger  
Out to the stage, to show the sum of all,  
That follows after: so are Kings revolts,  
And playing both ways with religion,  
Forerunners of afflictions imminent,  
Which (like a Chorus) subjects must lament.  D' Au. 
My Lord I stand not on these deep discourses,  
To settle my course to your fortunes; mine  
Are freely and inseparably linked:  
And to your love my life.  Byr. 
Thanks Princely friend,  
And whatsoever good shall come of me,  
Pursued by all the Catholic PRINCE's aids  
With whom I join, and whose whole states proposed,  
To win my valour, promise me a throne:  
All shall be equal with myself; thine own.  La Brun. 
My Lord here is D'escuris sent from the King,  
Desires access to you.  Enter D'escuris. Byr. 
Attend him in.  Desc. 
Health to my Lord the Duke:  Byr. 
Welcome D'escuris,  
In what health rests our royal Sovereign.  Desc. 
In good health of his body, but his mind,  
Is something troubled with the gathering storms,  
Of foreign powers; that as he is informed  
Address themselves into his frontier towns;  
And therefore his intent, is to maintain:  
The body of an army on those parts;  
And yield their worthy conduct to your valour.  Byr. 
From whence hears he that any storms are rising?  D'esc. 
From Italy; and his intelligence,  
No doubt is certain, that in all those parts  
Levies are hotly made; for which respect,  
He sent to his Ambassador De Vic,  
To make demand in Switzerland, for the raising  
With utmost diligence of six thousand men;  
All which shall be commanded to attend,  
On your direction; as the Constable  
Your honoured Gossip gave him in advice;  
And he sent you by wrighting: of which letters,  
He would have answer, and advice from you  
By your most speedy presence.  Byr. 
This is strange,  
That when the enemy is t'attempt his frontiers,  
He calls me from the frontiers; does he think,  
It is an action worthy of my valour  
To turn my back, to an approaching foe?  Desc. 
The foe is not so near, but you may come,  
And take more strict directions from his highness,  
Than he thinks fit his letters should contain,  
Without the least attainture of your valour;  
And therefore good my Lord, forbear excuse  
And bear yourself on his direction;  
Who well you know hath never made design  
For your most worthy service, where he saw  
That any thing but honour could succeed.  Byr. 
I will not come I swear:  Des. 
I know your grace,  
Will send no such unsavoury reply.  Byr. 
Tell him that I beseech his Majesty,  
To pardon my repair till th'end be known  
Of all these levies now in italy.  Des. 
My Lord I know that tale will never please him;  
And wish you as you love his love and pleasure  
To satisfy his summons speedily:  
And speedily I know he will return you;  Byr. 
By heaven it is not fit: if all my service  
Makes me know any thing: beseech him therefore,  
To trust my judgement in these doubtful charges,  
Since in assured assaults it hath not failed him.  Des. 
I would your Lordship now, would trust his judgement.  Byr. 
God's precious, you're importunate past measure,  
And (I know) further, than your charge extends,  
I'll satisfy his highness, let that serve;  
For by this flesh and blood, you shall not bear,  
Any reply to him, but this from me.  Des. 
'tis nought to me my Lord, I wish your good,  
And for that cause have been importunate. Exit Desc:  Brunel. 
By no means go my Lord; but with distrust,  
Of all that hath been said or can be sent;  
Collect your friends, and stand upon your guard,  
The Kings fair letters, and his messages  
Are only Golden Pills, and comprehend  
Horrible purgatives.  Byr. 
I will not go,  
For now I see th'instructions lately sent me,  
That something is discovered, are too true,  
And my head rules none of those neighbour Nobles,  
That every pursuivant brings beneath the axe:  
If they bring me out, they shall see I'll hatch  
Like to the Blackthorn, that puts forth his leaf,  
Not with the golden fawnings of the Sun,  
But sharpest showers of hail, and blackest frosts:  
Blows, batteries, breaches, showers of steel and blood,  
Must be his downright messengers for me,  
And not the misling breath of policy:  
He, he himself, made passage to his Crown  
Through no more armies, battles, massacres,  
Than I will ask him to arrive at me;  
He takes on him, my executions,  
And on the demolitions, that this arm,  
Hath shaken out of forts and Citadels,  
Hath he advanced the Trophies of his valour;  
Where I, in those assumptions may scorn,  
And speak contemptuously of all the world,  
For any equal yet, I ever found;  
And in my rising, not the Syrian Star  
That in the lions mouth, undaunted shines,  
And makes his brave ascension with the Sun,  
Was of th' Egyptians, with more zeal beheld,  
And made a rule to know the circuit  
And compass of the year; then I was held  
When I appeared from battle; the whole sphere,  
And full sustainer of the state we bear;  
I have Alcides-like gone under th' earth  
And on these shoulders borne the weight of France:  
And (for the fortunes of the thankless King)  
My father (all know) set him in his throne,  
And if he urge me, I may pluck him out. Enter Mess:  Mes. 
Here is the precedent janin, my Lord;  
Sent from the King, and urgeth quick access.  Byr. 
Another Pursuivant? and one so quick?  
He takes next course with me, to make him stay:  
But, let him in, let's here what he importunes. Enter janin.  janin. 
Honour, and loyal hopes to Duke Byron.  Byr. 
No other touch me: say how fares the King?  Ian. 
Farely my Lord; the cloud is yet far off  
That aims at his obscuring, and his will,  
Would gladly give the motion to your powers  
That should disperse it; but the means, himself,  
Would personally relate in your direction.  Byr. 
Still on that haunt?  Ian. 
Upon my life, my Lord,  
He much desires to see you, and your sight  
Is now grown necessary to suppress  
(As with the glorious splendour of the Sun)  
The rude winds that report breaths in his ears,  
Endeavouring to blast your loyalty.  Byr. 
Sir, if my loyalty, stick in him no faster  
But that the light breath of report may lose it,  
(So I rest still unmoved) let him be shaken.  Ian. 
But these aloof abodes, my Lord bewray,  
That there is rather firmness in your breath.  
Then in your heart; Truth is not made of glass,  
That with a small touch, it should fear to break,  
And therefore should not shun it; believe me  
His arm is long, and strong; and it can fetch  
Any within his will, that will not come:  
Not he that surfeits in his mines of gold,  
And for the pride thereof, compares with God,  
Calling (with almost nothing different)  
His powers invincible, for omnipotent,  
Can back your boldest Fort 'gainst his assaults;  
It is his pride, and vain ambition,  
That hath but two stairs in his high designs;  
(The lowest envy, and the highest blood)  
That doth abuse you; and gives minds too high,  
Rather a will by giddiness to fall,  
Than to descend by judgement.  Byr. 
I rely  
On no man's back nor belly; but the King  
Must think that merit, by ingratitude cracked,  
Requires a firmer cementing than words.  
And he shall find it a much harder work  
To solder broken hearts, than shivered glasses.  Ian. 
My Lord, 'tis better hold a sovereign's love  
By bearing injuries; then by laying out  
Stir his displeasure; PRINCE's discontents  
(Being once incensed) are like the flames of Aetna,  
Not to be quenched, nor lessened: and be sure,  
A subjects confidence in any merit,  
Against his Sovereign, that makes him presume  
To fly too high; approves him like a cloud,  
That makes a show as it did hawk at kingdoms,  
And could command, all raised beneath his vapour:  
When suddenly, the fowl that hawlkt so fair,  
Stoops in a puddle, or consumes in air.  Byr. 
I fly with no such aim, nor am opposed,  
Against my Sovereign; but the worthy height  
I have wrought by my service, I will hold,  
Which if I come away, I cannot do;  
For if the enemy should invade the Frontier,  
Whose charge to guard, is mine, with any spoil,  
(Although the King in placing of another  
Might well excuse me) Yet all foreign Kings  
That can take note of no such secret quittance,  
Will lay the weakness here, upon my wants;  
And therefore my abode is resolute.  Ian: 
I sorrow for your resolution,  
And fear your dissolution, will succeed.  Byr: 
I must endure it;  Ian: 
Fare you well my Lord;  Byr: 
Farewell to you; Enter Brun.  
Captain what other news?  Bru: 
La Fin salutes you;  Byr: 
Welcome good friend; I hope your wished arrival,  
Will give some certain end to our designs;  Bru: 
I know not that, my Lord; reports are raised so doubtful and so different, that the truth of any one can hardly be assured.  Byr: 
Good news, D'Auvergne; our trusty friend La Fin,  
Hath cleared all scruple with his Majesty,  
And uttered nothing but what served to clear  
All bad Suggestions.  Bru: 
So he says, my Lord  
But others say, La Fin's assurances  
Are mere deceits; and wish you to believe;  
That when the Vidame, nephew to La Fin,  
Met you at autumn, to assure your doubts,  
His uncle had said nothing to the King  
That might offend you; all the journeys charge,  
The King defrayed; beside, your truest friends  
Willed me to make you certain that your place  
Of government is otherwise disposed;  
And all advise you, for your latest hope,  
To make retreat into the French County.  Byr: 
I thank them all, but they touch not the depth,  
Of the affairs, betwixt La Fin and me.  
Who is returned contented to his house,  
Quite freed, of all displeasure or distrust;  
And therefore, worthy friends we'll now to Court.  D' Au 
My Lord, I like your other friends advices,  
Much better than Laffin's; and on my life  
You can not come to Court with any safety.  Byr. 
Who shall infringe it? I know, all the Court,  
Have better apprehension of my valour;  
Then that they dare lay violent hands on me;  
If I have only means to draw this sword,  
I shall have power enough to set me free,  
From seizure, by my proudest enemy. Exit.  Esper: Vyt: Pralin: Esp. 
He will not come I dare engage my hand.  Vyt. 
He will be fetched then, I'll engage my head.  Pra. 
Come, or be fetched, he quite hath lost his honour,  
In giving these suspicions of revolt  
From his allegiance: that which he hath won,  
With sundry wounds, and peril of his life;  
With wonder of his wisdom, and his valour,  
He loseth with a most enchanted glory:  
And admiration of his pride, and folly.  Vit. 
Why did you never see a fortunate man,  
Suddenly raised to heaps of wealth and honour?  
Nor any rarely great in gifts of nature,  
As valour, wit, and smooth use of the tongue,  
Set strangely to the pitch of popular likings?  
But with as sudden falls the rich and honoured,  
Were overwhelmed by poverty, and shame  
Or had no use of both above the wretched.  Esp. 
Men never are satisfied with that they have;  
But as a man, matched with a lovely wife,  
When his most heavenly Theory of her beauties,  
Is dulled and quite exhausted with his practice:  
He brings her forth to feasts, where he alas,  
Falls to his viands with no thought like others,  
That think him blessed in her, and they (poor men)  
Court, and make faces, offer service, sweat,  
With their desires contention, break their brains  
For jests, and tales: sit mute, and lose their looks,  
(Far out of wit, and out of countenance)  
So all men else, do what they have transplant,  
And place their wealth in thirst of that they want.  Enter Henry, Chanc: Vyd: Desc: janin. Hen. 
He will not come; I must both grieve and wonder,  
That all my care to win my subjects love  
And in one cup of friendship to comix,  
Our lives and fortunes: should leave out so many  
As give a man (contemptuous of my love,  
And of his own good, in the kingdoms Peace)  
Hope, in a continuance so ungrateful,  
To bear out his designs in spite of me;  
How should I better please all, than I do?  
When they supposed, I would have given some,  
Insolent garrisons; others Citadels,  
And to all sorts, increase of miseries;  
Province by Province, I did visit all  
Whom those injurious rumours had diswaide;  
And show'd them how, I never sought to build,  
More forts for me, then were within their hearts;  
Nor use more stern constraints then their good wills,  
To succour the necessities of my crown,  
That I desired to add to their contents  
By all occasions, rather than subtract;  
Nor wished I, that my treasury should flow,  
With gold that swum in, in my subjects tears;  
And than I found no man, that did not bless,  
My few years reign, and their triumphant peace,  
And do they now so soon, complain of ease?  Hen. 
He will not come? Enter Byron, D' Auuergne; brother, with others.  Esp. 
O madness? he is come.  Chan. 
The duke is come my Lord:  Hen. 
Oh Sir, you're welcome,  
And fitly, to conduct me to my house;  Byr. 
I must beseech your majesties excuse,  
That (jealous of mine honour) I have used,  
Some of mine own commandment in my stay,  
And came not with your highness soonest summons.  Hen: 
The faithful servant right in holy writ;  
That said he would not come and yet he came:  
But come you hither; I must tell you now,  
Not the contempt you stood to in your stay,  
But the bad ground that bore up your contempt,  
Makes you arrive at no port, but repentance,  
Despair, and ruin;  Byr. 
Be what port it will,  
At which your will, will make me be arrived,  
I am not come to justify myself,  
To ask you pardon nor accuse my friends,  Hen. 
If you conceal my enemies you are one,  
And then my pardon shall be worth your asking,  
Or else your head be worth my cutting of.  Byr. 
Being friend and worthy fautor of myself,  
I am no foe of yours, nor no impairer,  
Since he can no way worthily maintain  
His PRINCE's honour that neglects his own:  
And if your will have been to my true reason,  
(Maintaining still the truth of loyalty)  
A check to my free nature and mine honour,  
And that on your free justice I presumed  
To cross your will a little, I conceive,  
You will not think this forfeit worth my head;  Hen. 
Have you maintained your truth of loyalty?  
When since I pardoned foul intentions,  
Resolving to forget eternally, What they appeared in,  
And had welcomed you as the kind father doth his riotous son.  
I can approve facts fouler than th' intents,  
Of deep disloyalty and highest treason;  Byr. 
May this right hand be thunder to my breast,  
If I stand guilty of the slenderest fact,  
Wherein the left of those two can be proved,  
For could my tender conscience but have touched,  
At any such unnatural relapse;  
I would not with this confidence have run,  
Thus headlong in the furnace of a wrath,  
Blown, and thrice kindled: having way enough,  
In my election both to shun and sleight it.  Hen. 
You're grossly and vain gloriously abused,  
There is no way in Savoy nor in Spain,  
To give a fool that hope of your escape,  
And had you not (even when you did) arrived.  
(With horror to the proudest hope you had)  
I would have fetched you.  Byr. 
You must then have used.  
A power beyond my knowledge, and a will,  
Beyond your justice. For a little stay  
More than I used would hardly have been worthy,  
Of such an open expedition;  
In which to all the censures of the world,  
My faith and Innocence had been foully foiled;  
Which (I protest) by heavens bright witnesses  
That shine far, far, from mixture with our fears.  
Retain as perfect roundness as their spheres;  Hen 
'tis well my Lord, I thought I could have frighted  
Your firmest confidence: some other time,  
We will (as now in private) sift your actions.  
And pour more than you think into the side,  
Always reserving clemency and pardon  
Upon confession, be you near so foul,  
Come let's clear up our brows shall we to tennis.  Byr. 
I my Lord if I may make the match.  
The Duke Espernon and myself will play,  
With you and Count Soissons;  Esp. 
I know my Lord.  
You play well but you make your matches ill.  Hen. 
Come 'tis a match. Exit.  Byr. 
How like you my arrival?  Esp. 
I'll tell you as your friend in your ear.  
You have given more preferment to your courage,  
Then to the provident counsels of your friends.  WORSER Au. 
I told him so my Lord, and much was grieved  
To see his bold approach, so full of will.  Byr. 
Well I must bear it now, though but with th'head,  
The shoulders bearing nothing.  Esp. 
By Saint john,  
'tis a good headless resolution. Exeunt.   

ACTVS. 4. SCEN. 1.  Byron, D'Avuergne. Byr. 
O the most base fruits of a settled peace!  
In men, I mean; worse than their dirty fields,  
Which they manure much better themselves:  
For them they plant, and sow, and ere they grow,  
Weedy, and choked with thorns, they grub and prune,  
And make them better, than when cruel war,  
Frighted from thence the sweaty labourer:  
But men themselves, instead of bearing fruits,  
Grow rude, and foggy, overgrown with weeds,  
Their spirits, and freedoms smothered in their ease;  
And as their tyrants and their ministers,  
Grow wild in prosecution of their lusts,  
So they grow prostitute, and lie (like whores)  
Down and take up, to their abhorred dishonours:  
The friendless may be injured and oppressed;  
The guiltless led to slaughter, the deserver  
Given to the beggar; right be wholly wronged,  
And wrong be only honoured; till the strings  
Of every man's heart, crack; and who will stir,  
To tell authority, that it doth err.  
All men cling to it, though they see their bloods  
In their most dear associates and Allies,  
Poured into kennels by it: and who dares  
But look well in the breast, whom that impairs?  
How all the Court now looks askew on me?  
Go by without saluting, shun my sight,  
Which (like a march sun) agues breeds in them,  
From whence of late, 'twas health to have a beam.  D'Au. 
Now none will speak to us, we thrust ourselves  
Into men's companies, and offer speech,  
As if not made, for their diverted ears,  
Their backs turned to us, and their words to others,  
And we must like obsequious Parasites,  
Follow their faces, wind about their persons,  
For looks and answers: or be cast behind,  
No more viewed than the wallet of their faults.  Enter Soisson. Byr. 
Yet here's one views me, and I think will speak.  Soiss. 
My Lord, if you respect your name and race,  
The preservation of your former honours,  
Merits and virtues; humbly cast them all,  
At the king's mercy; for beyond all doubt,  
Your acts have thither driven them: he hath proofs  
So pregnant, and so horrid, that to hear them,  
Would make your valour in your very looks,  
Give up your forces, miserably guilty:  
But he is most loath (for his ancient love  
To your rare virtues:) and in their impair,  
The full discouragement of all that live,  
To trust or favour any gifts in Nature)  
T'expose them to the light; when darkness may  
Cover her own brood, and keep still in day,  
Nothing of you but that may brook her brightness:  
You know what horrors these high strokes do bring,  
Raised in the arm of an incensed King.  Byr. 
My Lord, be sure the King cannot complain  
Of any thing in me, but my true service,  
Which in so many dangers of my death,  
May so approve my spotless loyalty;  
That those quite opposite horrors you assure,  
Must look out of his own ingratitude;  
Or the malignant envies of my foes,  
Who power me out in such a Stygian flood,  
To drown me in myself, since their deserts  
Are far from such a deluge; and in me  
Hid like so many rivers in the Sea.  Soiss: 
You think I come to found you; fare you well, Exit.  Enter Chancellor, Espernon, janin, Vidame, Vytry, Pralin, whispering by couples, &c. D' Au: 
See see, not one of them will cast a glance  
At our eclipsed faces;  Byr: 
They keep all to cast in admiration on the King:  
For from his face are all their faces moulded.  D' Au: 
But when a change comes; we shall see them all  
Changed into water, that will instantly  
Give look for look, as if it watched to greet us;  
Or else for one, they'll give us twenty faces,  
Like to the little specks on sides of glasses;  Byr: 
Is't not an easy loss to lose their looks,  
Whose hearts so soon are melted?  D'Au: 
But methinks,  
(Being Courtiers) they should cast best looks on men,  
When they thought worst of them.  Byr: 
O no my Lord,  
They ne'er dissemble but for some advantage;  
They sell their looks, and shadows; which they rate  
After their markets, kept beneath the State;  
Lord what foul weather their aspects do threaten?  
See in how grave a Brake he sets his vizard:  
Passion of nothing; See, an excellent gesture:  
Now Courtship goes a ditching in their foreheads;  
And we are fallen into those dismal ditches;  
Why even thus dreadfully would they be rapt,  
If the Kings buttered eggs, were only spilled.  Enter Henry. Hen: 
Lord Chancellor;  Cha:: 
I my Lord;  Hen: 
And lord Vidame: Exit.  Byr: 
And not Byron? here's a prodigious change;  D'Au: 
He cast no Beam on you;  Byr: 
Why now you see  
From whence their countenances were copied.  Enter the captain of Byron's guard with a letter. D'Au. 
See, here comes some news, I believe my Lord.  Byr. 
What says the honest captain of my guard?  Cap. 
I bring a letter from a friend of yours.  Byr. 
'tis welcome then:  D'Au. 
Have we yet any friends?  Cap. 
More than ye would I think: I never saw,  
Men in their right minds so unrighteous  
In their own causes.  Byr. 
See what thou hast brought,  
He will us to retire ourselves my Lord,  
And makes as if it were almost too late,  
What says my captain; shall we go or no?  Cap. 
I would your dagger's point had kissed my heart,  
When you resolved to come.  Byr. 
I pray the why?  Cap. 
Yet, doth that senseless apoplexy dull you?  
The devil or your wicked angel blinds you,  
Bereaving all your reason of a man  
And leaves you but the spirit of a horse,  
In your brute nostrils: only power to dare.  Byr. 
Why, dost thou think, my coming here hath brought me  
To such an unrecoverable danger?  Cap. 
Judge by the strange Ostents that have succeeded,  
Since your arrival: the kind fowl, the wild duck,  
That came into your cabinet, so beyond  
The sight of all your servants, or yourself:  
That flew about, and on your shoulder sat  
And which you had so fed, and so attended;  
For that dumb love she show'd you; just as soon,  
As you were parted, on the sudden died.  
And to make this no less than an Ostent;  
Another that hath fortuned since, confirms it:  
Your goodly horse Pastrana, which the Archduke,  
Gave you at Brussels; in the very hour,  
You left your strength, fel-mad, and killed himself;  
●●e like chanced to the horse the great duke sent you:  
and, with both these, the horse the duke of Lorraine,  
Sent you at, Vinsie made a third presage,  
Of some Inevitable fate that touched you,  
Who like the other pined away and died,  Byr. 
All these together are indeed oftentful,  
Which by another like, I can confirm:  
The matchless Earl of Essex who some make,  
(In their most sure divinings of my death)  
A parallel with me in life and fortune,  
Had one horse likewise that the very hour,  
He suffered death, (being well the night before)  
Died in his pasture. Noble happy beasts,  
That die, not having to their wills to live:  
They use no deprecations, nor complaints.  
Nor suit for mercy: amongst them the Lion,  
Serves not the Lion; nor the horse the horse,  
As man serves man: when men show most their spirits,  
In valour and their utmost dares to do;  
They are compared to Lions, Wolves, and Boars,  
But by conversion; None will say a Lion,  
Fights as he had the spirit of a man.  
Let me then in my danger now give cause,  
For all men to begin that Simile.  
For all my huge engagement, I provide me,  
This short sword only; which if I have time,  
To show my apprehendor, he shall use,  
Power of ten Lions if I get not lose.  Enter Henry, Chancellor, Vidame, janin, Vitry, Pralin. Hen. 
What shall we do with this unthankful man?  
Would he (of one thing) but reveal the truth,  
Which I have proof of, underneath his hand,  
He should not taste my justice. I would give,  
Two hundred thousand crowns, that he would yield,  
But such means for my pardon, as he should;  
I never loved man like him: would have trusted,  
My Son in his protection, and my Realm:  
He hath deserved my love with worthy service,  
Yet can he not deny, but I have thrice,  
Saved him from death: I drew him of the foe.  
At Fountain Francoise where he was engaged,  
So wounded and so much amazed with blows,  
That (as I played the soldier in his rescue,)  
I was enforced to play the Marshal,  
To order the retreat: because he said,  
He was not fit to do it nor to serve me,  Cha. 
Your majesty hath used your utmost means,  
Both by your own persuasions, and his friends  
To bring him to submission, and confess  
(With some sign of repentance) his foul fault:  
Yet still he stands prefract and insolent.  
You have in love and care of his recovery  
Been half in labour to produce a course,  
And resolution, what were fit for him.  
And since so amply it concerns your crown,  
You must by law cut of, what by your grace,  
You cannot bring into the state of safety,  Ian. 
Begin at th' end my Lord and execute,  
Like Alexander with Parmenio.  
Princes (you know) are Masters of their laws,  
And may resolve them to what forms they please,  
So all conclude in justice; in whose stroke,  
There is one sort of manage for the Great;  
Another for inferior: The great Mother,  
Of all productions (grave Necessity)  
Commands the variation: And the profit,  
So certainly foreseen, commends the example.  Hen. 
I like not executions so informal,  
For which my predecessors have been blamed:  
My Subjects and the world shall know; my power,  
And my authority by laws usual course  
Dares punish; not the devilish heads of treason,  
But there confederates be they near so dreadful.  
The decent ceremonies of my laws,  
And their solemnities shall be observed,  
With all their Sternness and Severity.  Vit: 
Where will your highness have him apprehended?  Hen: 
Not in the Castle (as some have advised)  
But in his chamber;  Pral: 
Rather in your own,  
Or coming out of it; for 'tis assured  
That any other place of apprehension,  
Will make the hard performance, end in blood.  Vit: 
To shun this likelihood, my Lord 'tis best  
To make the apprehension near your chamber;  
For all respect and reverence given the place,  
More than is needful, to chastise the person,  
And save the opening of to many veins;  
Is vain and dangerous.  Hen: 
Gather you your guard,  
And I will find fit time to give the word,  
When you shall seize on him and on D'Auvergne;  Vit: 
we will be ready to the death; (my Lord) Exeunt.  Hen: 
O thou that governest the keen swords of Kings,  
Direct my arm in this important stroke,  
Or hold it being advanced; the weight of blood,  
Even in the basest subject, doth exact  
Deep consultation, in the highest King;  
For in one subject, deaths unjust affrights,  
Passions, and pains, (though he be ne'er so poor)  
Ask more remorse, than the voluptuous spleens  
Of all Kings in the world, deserve respect;  
He should be borne grey-headed that will bear  
The sword of Empire; judgement of the life,  
Free state, and reputation of a man,  
(If it be just and worthy) dwells so dark  
That it denies access to Sun and Moon;  
The soul's eye sharpened with that sacred light,  
Of whom the Sun itself is but a beam,  
Must only give that judgement; O how much  
Err those Kings then, that play with life and death,  
And nothing put into their serious States,  
But humour and their lusts! For which alone  
Men long for kingdoms; whose huge counterpoise  
In cares and dangers, could a fool comprise,  
He would not be a King but would be wise;  Enter Byron talking with the Queen: Esp: D' Entragues, D' Av: with another Lady, others attending. Hen: 
Here comes the man, with whose ambitious head  
(Cast in the way of Treason) we must stay  
His full chase of our ruin and our Realm;  
This hour shall take upon her shady wings  
His latest liberty and life to Hell.  D'Av: 
We are undone?  Queen: 
What's that?  Byr: 
I heard him not;  Hen: 
Madam you're honoured much, that Duke Byron  
Is so observant; Some, to cards with him,  
You four, as now you come, sit to Primero;  
And I will fight a battle at the Chess;  Byr. 
A good safe fight believe me; Other war  
Thirsts blood, and wounds, and his thirst quenched, is thankless;  Esp: 
Lift, and then cut;  Byr: 
'tis right the end of lifting,  
When men are lifted to their highest pitch,  
They cut of those that lifted them so high.  Qu: 
Apply you all these sports so seriously?  Byr: 
They first were from our serious acts devised,  
The best of which, are to the best but sports;  
(I mean by best, the greatest) for their ends,  
In men that serve them best, are their own pleasures.  Qu: 
So, in those best men's services, their ends  
Are their own pleasures; pass.  Byr: 
I vy't;  Hen: 
I see't;  
And wonder at his frontless impudence; Exit Hen:  Chan: 
How speeds your Majesty?  Qu: 
Well; the Duke instructs me  
With such grave lessons of mortality  
Forced out of our light sport; that if I lose,  
I cannot but speed well.  Byr. 
Some idle talk.  
For courtship's sake, you know does not amiss.  Chan. 
Would we might hear some of it.  Byr. 
That you shall,  
I cast away a card now, makes me think,  
Of the deceased worthy King of Spain.  Chan. 
What card was that?  Byr. 
The King of hearts (my Lord)  
Whose name yields well the memory of that King,  
Who was indeed the worthy King of hearts,  
And had, both of his subjects hearts, and strangers,  
Much more than all the Kings of Christendom.  Chan. 
He won them with his gold.  Byr. 
He won them chiefly,  
With his so general Piety and justice:  
And as the little, yet great Macedon,  
Was said with his human philosophy,  
To teach the rapeful Hyrcans, marriage;  
And bring the barbarous Sogdians, to nourish,  
Not kill their aged Parents; as before,  
Th' incestuous Persians to reverence  
Their mothers, not to use them as their wives;  
The Indians to adore the Grecian Gods,  
The Scythians to inter, not eat their Parents;  
So he, with his divine Philosophy,  
(Which I may call his, since he chiefly used it)  
In Turkey, India, and through all the world,  
Expelled profane idolatry; and from earth,  
Raised temples to the highest: whom with the word,  
He could not win, he justly put to sword,  Chan. 
He sought for gold, and Empire.  Byr. 
'twas Religion,  
And her full propagation that he sought;  
If gold had been his end, it had been hoardward,  
When he had fetched it in so many fleets:  
Which he spent not on Median Luxury,  
Banquets, and women; Calidonian wine,  
Nor dear Hyrcanian fishes, but employed it,  
To propagate his Empire; and his Empire  
Desired t'extend so, that he might withal,  
Extend Religion through it, and all nations,  
Reduce to one firm constitution,  
Of Piety, justice, and one public weal;  
To which end he made all his matchless subjects  
Make tents their castles, and their garrisons;  
True Catholics countrymen; and their allies,  
Heretics, strangers, and their enemies.  
There was in him the magnanimity.  Montig. 
To temper your extreme applause (my Lord)  
Shorten, and answer all things in a word,  
The greatest commendation we can give  
To the remembrance of that King deceased;  
Is, that he spared not his own eldest son,  
But put him justly to a violent death,  
Because, he sought to trouble his estates.  Byr. 
be't so?  Chan. 
That bit (my Lord) upon my life,  
'twas bitterly replied, and doth amaze him.  The King suddenly enters having determined what to do. Hen. 
It is resolved,  
A work shall now be done,  
Which, (while learned Atlas shall with stars be crowned,  
While th' Ocean walks in storms his wavy round,  
While Moons at full, repair their broken rings:  
While Lucifer foreshows Aurora's springs,  
And Arctos sticks above the Earth unmoved,  
Shall make my realm be blessed, and me beloved;  
Call in the count D' Awergne. Enter D'Au.  
A word my Lord.  
Will you become as wilful as your friend?  
And draw a mortal justice on your heads,  
That hangs so black and is so loath to strike?  
If you would utter what I know you know,  
Of his inhuman treason; on Strong Bar,  
Betwixt his will, and duty were dissolved.  
For then I know he would submit himself;  
Think you it not as strong a point of faith,  
To rectify your loyalties to me,  
As to be trusty in each others wrong?  
Trust that deceives ourselves in treachery,  
And Truth that truth conceals an open lie;  D'Au. 
My Lord if I could utter any thought,  
Instructed with disloyalty to you,  
And might light any safety to my friend;  
Though mine own heart came after it should out;  Hen. 
I know you may, and that your faith's affected  
To one another, are so vain and false,  
That your own Strengths will ruin you: ye contend,  
To cast up rampires to you in the sea,  
And strive to stop the waves that run before you,  D'Au. 
All this my Lord to me is misery.  Hen. 
It is; I'll make it plain enough. Believe me.  
Come my Lord Chancellor let us end our mate.  Enter Varennes, whispering to Byron. Var. 
You are undone my Lord; Exit.  Byr: 
Is it possible?  Que. 
Play good my Lord: whom look you for?  Esp. 
Your mind,  
Is not upon your Game,  Byr. 
Play, pray you play,  Hen. 
Enough, 'tis late, and time to leave our play,  
On all hands; all forbear the room, my Lord?  
Stay you with me; yet is your will resolved,  
To duty, and the main bond of your life?  
I swear (of all th' Intrusions I have made,  
Upon your own good, and continued fortunes)  
This is the last; inform me yet the truth,  
And here I vow to you, (by all my love;  
By all means shown you, even to this extreme,  
When all men else forsake you) you are safe.  
What passages have slipped twixt count Fuentes,  
You, and the Duke of Savoy?  Byr. 
Good my Lord.  
This nail is driven already past the head,  
You much have overcharged, an honest man:  
And I beseech you yield my innocence justice,  
(But with my single valour) 'gainst them all,  
That thus have poisoned your opinion of me,  
And let me take my vengeance by my sword:  
For I protest, I never thought an Action,  
More than my tongue hath uttered.  Hen. 
Would 'twere true.  
And that your thoughts and deeds, had fell no fouler.  
But you disdain submission, not remembering,  
That (in intentes urged for the common good)  
He that shall hold his peace being charged to speak:  
Doth all the peace and nerves of Empire break  
Which on your conscience lie, adieu, good night. Exit.  Byr. 
king's hate to hear what they command men speak,  
Ask life, and to desert of death ye yield.  
Where Medicines loath, it irks men to be healed,  Enter Vitry, with two or three of the Guard, Esper, Vidame, following. Vytry lays hand on Byron's sword. Vyt. 
Resign your sword (my Lord) the King commands it.  Byr. 
Me to resign my sword? what king is he,  
Hath used it better for the realm than I?  
My sword, that all the wars within the length,  
Breadth and the whole dimensions of great France,  
Hath sheathed betwixt his hilt and horrid point?  
And fixed ye all in such a flourishing Peace?  
My sword that never enemy could enforce,  
Bereft me by my friends? Now, good my Lord,  
Beseech the King, I may resign my sword,  
To his hand only.  Enter janin. janin: 
You must do your office,  
The King commands you;  Vit: 
'tis in vain to strive,  
For I must force it;  Byron: 
Have I near a friend,  
That bears another for me? All the Guard?  
What will you kill me? will you smother here  
His life that can command, and save in field,  
A hundred thousand lives? For manhood sake;  
Lend something to this poor forsaken hand;  
For all my service, let me have the honour  
To die defending of my innocent self,  
And have some little space to pray to God.  Enter Henry. Hen: 
Come, you are an Atheist Byron, and a Traitor,  
Both foul and damnable; Thy innocent self?  
No Leper is so buried quick in ulcers  
As thy corrupted soul: Thou end the war?  
And settle peace in France? what war hath raged,  
Into whose fury I have not exposed,  
My person; which is as free a spirit as thine?  
Thy worthy Father, and thyself, combined,  
And armed in all the merits of your valours;  
(Your bodies thrust amidst the thickest fight;)  
Never were bristled with so many battles,  
Nor on the foe have broke such woods of Lances  
As grew upon my thigh; and I have Marshalled;  
I am ashamed to brag thus; where envy  
And arrogance, their opposite Bulwark raise;  
Men are allowed to use their proper praise;  
Away with him; Exit Henry.  Byr: 
Away with him? live I?  
And here my life thus slighted? cursed man,  
That ever the intelligencing lights  
Betrayed me to men's whorish fellowships;  
To PRINCE's Moorish slaveries; To be made  
The anvil, on which only blows, and wounds  
Were made the seed, and wombs of others honours;  
A property for a Tyrant, to set up,  
And puff down, with the vapour of his breath;  
Will you not kill me?  Vit: 
No; we will not hurt you,  
We are commanded only to conduct you  
Into your lodging;  Byr: 
To my lodging? where?  Vit: 
Within the cabinet of Arms my Lord:  Byr: 
What to a prison? Death; I will not go;  Vit: 
we'll force you then;  Byr: 
And take away my sword;  
A proper point of force; ye had as good,  
Have robbed me of my soul; Slaves of my Stars,  
Partial and bloody; O that in mine eyes  
Were all the Sorcerous poison of my woes,  
That I might witch ye headlong from your height,  
And trample on't, your execrable light.  Vit: 
Come will you go my Lord? this rage is vain;  Byr: 
And so is all your grave authority;  
And that all France shall feel before I Die;  
Ye see all how they use good Catholics;  Esp. 
Farewell for ever; so have I deserved  
An exhalation that would be a Star  
Fall when the Sun forsook it, in a sink.  
Shoes ever overthrow that are too large,  
And hugest canons, burst with overcharge.  D'Avuergne, Pralin, following with a Guard. Pra: 
My Lord I have commandment from the King,  
To charge you go with me, and ask your sword;  D' Au: 
My sword, who fears it? it was ne'er the death  
Of any but wild Boars; I prithee take it;  
Hadst thou advertised this when last we met,  
I had been in my bed, and fast asleep  
Two hours ago; lead; I'll go where thou wilt: Exit.  Vid: 
See how he bears his cross, with his small strength,  
On easier shoulders than the other Atlas.  Esp: 
Strength to aspire, is still accompanied  
With weakness to endure; All popular gifts,  
Are colours, it will bear no vinegar;  
And rather to adverse affairs, betray;  
Thine arm against them; his State still his best  
That hath most inward worth; and that's best tried,  
That neither glories, nor is glorified.   

Actus. 5. Scaena. 1.  Henry, Soissons, janin, Descures, cum aliis. Hen: 
What shall we think (my Lords) of these new forces  
That (from the King of Spain) hath passed the Alps?  
For which (I think) his Lord Ambassador,  
Is come to Court, to get their pass for Flanders?  Ian: 
I think (my Lord) they have no end for Flanders;  
Cont Maurice being already entered Brabant  
To pass to Flanders, to relieve Ostend,  
And th'archduke full prepared to hinder him;  
And sure it is that they must measure forces,  
Which (ere this new force could have passed the Alps)  
Of force must be encountered.  Soiss: 
'tis unlikely,  
That their march hath so large an aim as Flanders;  Desc: 
As these times sort, they may have shorter reaches;  
That would pierce further;  Hen: 
I have been advertised,  
That Cont Fuentes (by whose means this army  
Was lately levied; And whose hand was strong,  
In thrusting on Byron's conspiracy)  
Hath caused these cunning forces to advance,  
With colour only to set down in Flanders;  
But hath intentional respect to favour  
And countenance his false Partisans in Bresse,  
And friends in burgundy; to give them heart  
For the full taking of their hearts from me;  
Be as it will; we shall prevent their worst,  
And therefore call in Spain's Ambassador,  Enter Ambassador with others. 
What would the Lord Ambassador of Spain?  Amba: 
First (in my masters name) I would beseech  
Your highness hearty thought; That his true hand,  
(Held in your vowed amities) hath not touched,  
At any least point in Byron's offence;  
Nor once had notice of a crime so foul;  
Whereof, since he doubts not, you stand resolved,  
He prays your Leagues continuance in this favour;  
That the army he hath raised to march for Flanders,  
May have safe passage by your frontier towns,  
And find the River free, that runs by Rhone.  Hen: 
My Lord my frontiers shall not be disarmed,  
Till, by arraignment of the Duke of Byron,  
My scruples are resolved; and I may know  
In what account to hold your masters faith,  
For his observance of the League betwixt us;  
You wish me to believe that he is clear  
From all the projects caused by Cont Fuentes,  
His special Agent; But where, deeds, pull down,  
Words, may repair, no faith; I scarce can think  
That his gold was so bounteously employed,  
Without his special counsel, and command:  
These faint proceedings in our Royal faiths,  
Make subjects prove so faithless: If because,  
We sit above the danger of the laws,  
We likewise lift our Arms above their justice;  
And that our heavenly Sovereign, bounds not us  
In those religious confines; out of which  
Our justice and our true laws are informed;  
In vain have we expectance that our subjects,  
Should not as well presume to offend their Earthly,  
As we our Heavenly Sovereign? And this breach  
Made in the Forts of all Society;  
Of all celestial, and human respects,  
Makes no strengths of our bounties, counsels arms,  
Hold out against their treasons; and the rapes  
Made of humanity, and religion,  
In all men's more than Pagan liberties,  
atheisms, and slaveries, will derive their springs  
From their base precedents, copied out of kings.  
But all this, shall not make me break the commerce,  
Authorised by our treaties; let your Army  
Take the directest pass, it shall go safe.  Amb. 
So rest your highness ever; and assured  
That my true Sovereign, loathes all opposite thoughts.  Hen. 
Are our dispatches made to all the kings,  
Princes, and Potentates, of Christendom?  
Ambassadors and Province governors,  
T'inform the truth of this conspiracy?  Ian. 
They all are made my Lord, and some give out,  
That 'tis a blow given to religion,  
To weaken it, in ruining of him,  
That said, he never wished more glorious title,  
Then to be called the scourge of Huguenots.  Soiss. 
Others that are like favourers of the fault,  
Said 'tis a politic advise from England,  
To break the feared javelins, both together.  Hen. 
Such shut their eyes to truth, we can but set  
His lights before them, and his trumpet sound  
Close to their ears; their partial wilfulness,  
In resting blind, and deaf, or in perverting,  
What their most certain senses apprehend,  
Shall nought discomfort our impartial justice.  
Nor clear the desperate fault that doth enforce it. Enter Vyt.  Vyt. 
The Peers of France (my Lord) refuse t'appear,  
At the arraignment of the Duke Byron.  Hen. 
The Court may yet proceed; and so command it,  
'Tis not their slackness to appear shall serve,  
To let my will t'appear in any fact.  
Wherein the boldest of them tempts my justice.  
I am resolved, and will no more endure,  
To have my subjects make what I command,  
The subject of their oppositions,  
Who evermore slack their allegiance,  
As kings forbear their penance; how sustain  
Your prisoners their strange durance?  Vit. 
One of them,  
(Which is the Count D'Auvergne) hath merry spirits,  
Eats well, and sleeps: and never can imagine,  
That any place where he is, is a prison;  
Where on the other part, the Duke Byron,  
Entered his prison, as into his grave,  
Rejects all food, sleeps not, nor once lies down:  
Fury hath armed his thoughts so thick with thorns,  
That rest can have no entry: he disdains  
To grace the prison with the slenderest show,  
Of any patience, least men should conceive,  
He thought his sufferance in the best sort fit;  
And holds his bands so worthless of his worth,  
That he impairs it, to vouchsafe to them,  
The best part of the peace, that freedom owes it:  
That patience therein, is a willing slavery.  
And (like the Camel) stoops to take the load:  
So still he walks: or rather as a Bird,  
Entered a Closet, which unwares is made,  
His desperate prison (being pursued) amazed,  
And wrathful beats his breast from wall to wall,  
Assaults the light strikes down himself, not our,  
And being taken, struggles, gaps, and bites,  
Takes all his takers strokings, to be strokes,  
Abhorreth food, and with a savage will,  
Frets, pines, and dies, for former liberty.  
So fares the wrathful Duke; and when the strength  
Of these dumb rages, break out into sounds,  
He breathes defiance, to the world, and bids us,  
Make ourselves drunk, with the remaining blood  
Of five and thirty wounds received in fight,  
For us and ours; for we shall never brag,  
That we have made his spirits check at death:  
This rage in walks and words; but in his looks  
He cements all: and prints a world of books,  Hen. 
Let others learn by him to curb their spleens,  
Before they be curbed; and to cease their grudges:  
Now I am settled in my Sun of height,  
The circular splendour, and full Sphere of State.  
Take all place up from envy: as the sun,  
At height, and passive o'er the crowns of men,  
His beams diffused, and downright poured on them,  
Cast but a little or no shade at all,  
So he that is advanced above the heads,  
Of all his Emulators, with high light,  
Prevents their envies, and deprives them quite, Exeunt.  Enter the Chancellor, Harlay, Potiers, Fleury, in scarlet gowns, Laffin, Descures, with other officers of state. Cha. 
I wonder at the prisoners so long stay,  Har: 
I think it may be made a question,  
If his impatience will let him come.  Pot. 
Yes, he is now well stayed: Time and his judgement,  
Have cast his passion and his fever of.  Fleu. 
His fever may be passed, but for his passions,  
I fear me we shall find it spiced to hotly,  
With his old powder.  Des. 
He is sure come forth;  
The Carosse of the Marquis of Rhosny  
Conducted him along to th' Arsenal,  
Close to the Riverside: and there I saw him,  
Enter a barge covered with Tapestry,  
In which the king's guards waited and received him.  
Stand by there clear the place,  Cha. 
The prisoner comes.  
My Lord Laffin forbear your sight a while,  
It may incense the prisoner: who will know,  
By your attendance near us, that your hand,  
Was chief in his discovery; which as yet,  
I think he doth not doubt,  Laf. 
I will forbear,  
Till your good pleasures call me, Exit Laf.  Hen. 
When he knows  
And sees Laffin, accuse him to his face,  
The Court I think will shake with his distemper.  Enter Vitry, Byron, with others and a guard. Vit. 
You see my Lord, 'tis in the golden chamber.  Byr. 
The golden chamber? where the greatest Kings  
Have thought them honoured to receive a place:  
And I have had it; am I come to stand  
In rank and habit here of men arraigned,  
Where I have sat assistant, and been honoured,  
With glorious title of the chiefest virtuous,  
Where the Kings chief Solicitor hath said,  
There was in France, no man that ever lived,  
Whose parts were worth my imitation;  
That, but mine own worth; I could imitate none:  
And that I made myself inimitable,  
To all that could come after; whom this Court  
Hath seen to sit upon the Flower de Lice  
In recompense of my renowned service.  
Must I be sat on now, by petty judges?  
These Scarlet robes, that come to sit and fight  
Against my life; dismay my valour more,  
Than all the bloody Cassocks Spain hath brought  
To field against it.  Vit. 
To the bar my Lord. He salutes, and stands to the bar.  Har. 
Read the indictment.  Chan. 
Stay, I will invert  
(For shortness sake) the form of our proceedings,  
And out of all the points, the process holds,  
Collect five principal, with which we charge you.  1. 
First you conferred with one, called Picote,  
At Orleans borne, and into Flanders fled,  
To hold intelligence by him with the Archduke,  
And for two voyages to that effect,  
Bestowed on him, five hundred, fifty crowns.  2. 
Next you held treaty with the Duke of Savoy,  
Without the king's permission; offering him  
All service and assistance 'gainst all men,  
In hope to have in marriage, his third daughter.  3. 
Thirdly you held intelligence with the Duke,  
At taking in of Bourge, and other Forts;  
Advising him, with all your prejudice,  
'gainst the king's army, and his royal person.  4. 
The fourth is; that you would have brought the King,  
Before Saint Katherine's Fort, to be there slain:  
And to that end writ to the Governor,  
In which you gave him notes to know his highness.  5. 
Fiftly, you sent Laffin to treat with Savoy,  
And with the Count Fuentes, of more plots,  
Touching the ruin of the King and realm.  Byr. 
All this (my Lord) I answer, and deny:  
And first for Picoté; he was my prisoner,  
And therefore I might well confer with him:  
But that our conference tended to the Archduke,  
Is nothing so; I only did employ him  
To Captain La Fortune, for the reduction  
Of Seurre, to the service of the King.  
Who used such speedy diligence therein,  
That shortly 'twas assured his Majesty,  2. 
Next, for my treaties with the Duke of Savoy,  
Roncas his Secretary, having made  
A motion to me, for the Duke's third daughter,  
I told it to the King; who having since,  
Given me the understanding by La Force  
Of his dislike; I never dreamt of it.  3. 
Thirdly, for my intelligence with the Duke,  
Advising him against his highness army:  
Had this been true, I had not undertaken  
Th'assault of Bourg, against the king's opinion,  
Having assistance but by them about me:  
And (having won it for him) had not been  
Put out of such a government so easily.  4. 
Fourthly, for my advise to kill the King;  
I would beseech his highness memory,  
Not to let slip, that I alone dissuaded  
His viewing of that Fort; informing him,  
It had good marksmen; and he could not go,  
But in exceeding danger, which advise  
Diverted him; the rather, since I said,  
That if he had desire to see the place  
He should receive from me a Plot of it;  
Offering to take it with five hundred men,  
And I myself would go to the assault.  5. 
And lastly, for intelligences held,  
With Savoy and Fuentes: I confess,  
That being denied to keep the citadel,  
Which with incredible peril I had got,  
And seeing another, honoured with my spoils,  
I grw so desperate that I found my spirit,  
Enraged to any act, and wished myself,  
Covered with blood.  Chan. 
With whose blood?  Byr. 
With mine own;  
Wishing to live no longer, being denied,  
With such suspicion of me, and set will,  
To rack my furious humour into blood.  
And for two months space, I did speak, and wright,  
More than I ought; but have done ever well,  
And therefore your informers have been false.  
And (with intent to tyrannize) suborned.  Flen. 
What if our witnesses come face to face,  
And justify much more than we allege?  Byr. 
They must be hirelings then, and men corrupted.  Pot. 
What think you of La Fin?  Byr. 
I hold La Fin,  
An honoured Gentleman, my friend and kinsman.  Har. 
If he then aggravate, what we affirm,  
With greater accusations to your face,  
What will you say?  Byr. 
I know it cannot be.  Chan. 
Call in my Lord La Fin.  Byr. 
Is he so near?  
And kept so close from me? can all the world,  
Make him a treacher. Enter La Fin.  Chan. 
I suppose my Lord,  
You have not stood within; without the ear  
Of what hath here been urged against the Duke;  
If you have heard it, and upon your knowledge  
Can witness all is true, upon your soul;  
Utter your knowledge.  Laffi 
I have heard my Lord,  
All that hath passed here; and upon my soul,  
(Being charged so urgently in such a Court)  
Upon my knowledge I affirm all true;  
And so much more: as had the prisoner lives  
As many as his years, would make all forfeit.  Byr. 
O all ye virtuous powers, in earth and heaven,  
That have not put on hellish flesh and blood,  
From whence these monstrous issues are produced,  
That cannot bear in execrable concord,  
And one prodigious subject; contraries;  
Nor (as the I'll that of the world admire)  
Is severed from the world) can cut yourselves  
From the consent and sacred harmony  
Of life, yet live; of honour, yet be honoured;  
As this extravagant, and errant rogue,  
From all your fair Decorums, and just laws,  
Finds power to do: and like a loathsome wen,  
Sticks to the face of nature, and this Court;  
Thicken this air, and turn your plaguy rage,  
Into a shape as dismal as his sin.  
And with some equal horror tear him of  
From sight and memory: let not such a court,  
To whose fame all the Kings of Christendom,  
Now laid their ears; so crack her royal Trump,  
As to sound through it, that here vaunted justice  
Was got in such an incest: is it justice  
To tempt, and witch a man, to break the law,  
And by that witch condemn him? let me draw  
Poison into me with this cursed air,  
If he bewitched me, and transformed me not;  
He bit me by the ear, and made me drink  
Enchanted waters; let me see an Image  
That uttered these distinct words; Thou shalt die,  
O wicked King; and if the devil gave him  
Such power upon an Image; upon me  
How might he tyrannize? that by his vows  
And oaths so Stygian, had my Nerves and will,  
In more awe than his own: what man is he  
That is so high, but he would higher be?  
So roundly sighted, but he may be found,  
To have a blind side, which by craft, pursued,  
Confederacy, and simply trusted treason,  
May wrest him past his Angel, and his reason?  Chan. 
Witchcraft can never taint an honest mind.  Harl. 
True gold, will any trial stand, untouched.  Pot. 
For colours that will stain when they are tried,  
The cloth itself is ever cast aside.  Byr. 
Sometimes, the very Gloss in any thing,  
Will seem a stain; the fault not in the light,  
Nor in the guilty object, but our sight.  
My gloss, raised from the richness of my stuff,  
Had too much splendour for the Owly eye,  
Of politic and thankless royalty:  
I did deserve too much; a pleurisy  
Of that blood in me is the cause I die.  
Virtue in great men must be small and sleight:  
For poor stars rule, where she is exquisite,  
'tis tyrannous, and impious policy,  
To put to death by fraud and treachery;  
Sleight is then royal, when it makes men live,  
And if it urge faults, urgeth to forgive.  
He must be guiltless, that condemns the guilty,  
Like things, do nourish like, and not destroy them:  
Minds must be sound, that judge affairs of weight,  
And seeing hands, cut corrosives from your sight.  
A Lord intelligencer? hangman-like,  
Thrust him from humane fellowship, to the deserts  
Blow him with curses; shall your justice call  
Treachery her Father? would you wish her weigh  
My valour with the hiss of such a viper?  
What I have done to shun the mortal shame,  
Of so unjust an opposition;  
My envious stars cannot deny me this,  
That I may make my judges witnesses;  
And that my wretched fortunes have reserved  
For my last comfort; ye all know (my Lords)  
This body gashed with five and thirty wounds,  
Whose life and death you have in your award,  
Holds not a vein that hath not opened been,  
And which I would not open yet again,  
For you and yours; this hand that writ the lines  
alleged against me; hath enacted still,  
More good than there it only talked of ill.  
I must confess my choler hath transferred  
My tender spleen to all intemperate speech:  
But reason ever did my deeds attend.  
In worth of praise, and imitation,  
Had I borne any will to let them lose,  
I could have fleshed them with bad services,  
In England lately, and in Switzerland:  
There are a hundred Gentlemen by name,  
Can witness my demeanour in the first;  
And in the last embassage I adjure  
No other testimonies than the Seigneurs  
De Vio, and Sillerie; who amply know,  
In what sort, and with what fidelity  
I bore myself; to reconcile and knit,  
In one desire so many wills disjoined,  
And from the king's allegiance quite withdrawn.  
My acts ask many men, though done by one.  
And I were but one, I stood for thousands,  
And still I hold my worth, though not my place:  
Nor sleight me, judges, though I be but one,  
One man, in one sole expedition,  
Reduced into th'imperial power of Rome,  
Armenia, Pontus, and Arabia, Syria, Albania, and Iberia,  
Conquered th'Hyrcanians; and to Caucasus,  
His arm extended; the Numidians  
And Afrique to the shores Meridional,  
His power subjecteth; and that part of Spain  
Which stood from those parts that Sertorius ruled,  
Even to the Atlantic Sea he conquered.  
Th'Albanian kings, he from the kingdoms chased,  
And at the Caspian Sea, their dwellings placed:  
Of all the Earth's globe, by power and his advice,  
The round-eyed Ocean saw him victor thrice:  
And what shall let me (but your cruel doom,)  
To add as much to France, as he to Rome,  
And to leave justice neither Sword nor word,  
To use against my life; this Senate knows,  
That what with one victorious hand I took,  
I gave to all your uses, with another:  
With this I took, and propped the falling kingdom,  
And gave it to the King: I have kept  
Your laws of state from fire; and you yourselves,  
Fixed in this high Tribunal; from whose height  
The vengeful Saturnals of the League  
Had hurled ye headlong; do ye then return  
This retribution? can the cruel King,  
The kingdom, laws, and you, (all saved by me)  
Destroy their saver? what (ay me) I did  
Adverse to this; this damned Enchanter did,  
That took into his will, my motion;  
And being bankrupt both of wealth and worth,  
Pursued with quarrels, and with suits in law;  
Feared by the kingdom; threatened by the king;  
Would raise the loathed dunghill of his ruins,  
Upon the monumental heap of mine:  
Torn with possessed whirlwinds may he die,  
And dogs bark at his murderous memory,  Chan 
My Lord, our liberal sufferance of your speech,  
Hath made it late; and for this Session,  
We will dismiss you; take him back my Lord. Exit Vit. & Byron.  Har 
You likewise may depart. Exit Laffin.  Chan. 
What resteth now  
To be decreed 'gainst this great prisoner?  
A mighty merit, and a monstrous crime,  
Are here concurrent; what by witnesses;  
His letters and instructions, we have proved  
Himself confesseth, and excuseth all  
With witchcraft, and the only act of thought.  
For witchcraft I esteem it a mere strength  
Of rage in him conceived 'gainst his accuser;  
Who being examined hath denied it all;  
Suppose it true, it made him false; But wills  
And worthy minds, witchcraft can never force.  
And for his thoughts that broke not into deeds;  
Time was the cause, not will; the minds free act  
In treason still is judged as th'outward fact.  
If his deserts have had a wealthy share,  
In saving of our land from civil furies:  
Manlius had so that fast the Capitol;  
Yet for his after traitorous factions,  
They threw him headlong from the place he saved.  
My definite sentence then, doth this import:  
That we must quench the wildfire with his blood,  
In which it was so traitorously inflamed;  
Unless with it, we seek to incense the land,  
The King can have no refuge for his life,  
If his be quitted: this was it that made  
Lewis th'eleventh renounce his countrymen,  
And call the valiant Scots out of their kingdom,  
To use their greater virtues, and their faiths,  
Than his own subjects, in his royal guard:  
What then conclude your censures?  Omnes. 
He must die.  Chan 
Draw then his sentence, formally, and send him;  
And so all treasons in his death attend him. Exeunt.  Enter Byron, Espernon, Soisson janin, Vidame, Descures. Vit. 
I joy you had so good a day my Lord.  Byr. 
I won it from them all: the Chancellor  
I answered to his uttermost improvements:  
I moved my other judges to lament  
My insolent misfortunes; and to loath  
The pocky soul, and state-bawd, my accuser,  
I made reply to all that could be said,  
So eloquently, and with such a charm,  
Of grave enforcements, that methought I sat,  
Like Orpheus casting reigns on savage beasts;  
At the arms end (as 'twere) I took my bar  
And set it far above the high tribunal,  
Where like a Cedar on Mount Lebanon,  
I Grew, and made my judges show like Boxtrees,  
And Boxtrees right, their wishes would have made them,  
Whence boxes should have grown, till they had struck  
My head into the budget: but alas,  
I held their bloody arms, with such strong reasons;  
And (by your leave) with such a firk of wit:  
That I fetched blood upon the chancellors cheeks,  
methinks I see his countenance as he sat;  
And the most lawyerly delivery  
Of his set speeches: shall I play his part? Enter Soiss: Espa  Esp: 
For heavens sake, good my Lord.  Byr. 
I will i'faith,  
Behold a wicked man: A man debauched,  
A man, contesting with his King; A man,  
On whom (my Lords) we are not to connive,  
Though we may condole: A man:  
That Laesa Maiestate sought a lease,  
Of Plus quam satis. A man that vi et armis  
Assailed the King; and would per fas et nefas,  
Aspire the kingdom: here was lawyers learning.  Esp: 
He said not this my Lord, that I have heard.  Byr. 
This or the like, I swear. I pen no speeches.  Soiss. 
Then there is good hope of your wished acquittal.  Byr. 
Acquittal? they have reason; were I dead  
I know they can not all supply my place;  
be't possible the King should be so vain,  
To think he can shake me with fear of death?  
Or make me apprehend that he intends it?  
Thinks he to make his firmest men, his clouds?  
The clouds (observing their Aerial natures)  
Are borne aloft, and then to moisture hanged,  
Fall to the earth; where being made thick, and cold,  
They lose both all their heat, and levity;  
Yet then again recovering heat and lightness,  
Again they are advanced: and by the Sun  
Made fresh and glorious; and since clouds are rapt  
With these uncertainties: now up, now down,  
Am I to flit so with his smile, or frown?  Esp. 
I wish your comforts, and encouragements,  
May spring out of your safety; but I hear  
The King hath reasoned so against your life,  
And made your most friends yield so to his reasons,  
That your estate is fearful.  Byr. 
Yield t' his reasons?  
O how friends reasons, and their freedoms stretch,  
When power sets his wide tenters to their sides!  
How, like a cure, by mere opinion,  
It works upon our blood? like th' ancient Gods  
Are Modern Kings, that lived past bounds themselves,  
Yet set a measure down, to wretched men:  
By many Sophisms, they made good, deceit;  
And, since they passed in power, surpassed, in right:  
When Kings wills pass; the stars wink, and the Sun,  
Suffers eclipse: rude thunder yields to them  
His horrid wings: sits smooth as glass engazd,  
And lightning sticks twixt heaven and earth amazed:  
Men's faiths are shaken: and the pit of truth  
o'erflows with darkness, in which justice sits,  
And keeps her vengeance tied to make it fierce;  
And when it comes, th' increased horrors show,  
heavens plague is sure, though full of state, and slow.  Sist. 
O my dear Lord and brother,  
O the Duke?  Byr. 
What sounds are these my Lord? hark, hark, methinks  
I hear the cries of people.  Esp. 
'tis for one,  
Wounded in fight here at Saint Anthony's Gate:  Byr. 
'sfoot, one cried the Duke. I pray hearken,  
Again, or burst yourselves with silence, no:  
What countryman's the common headsman here?  Soiss. 
He's a Bourgonian.  Byr. 
The great devil he is,  
The bitter wizard told me, a Burgonian,  
Should be my headsman; strange concurrences:  
'Sdeath whose's here? Enter 4. ushers bare, Chanc: Har: Pol: Fleur: Vit: Pralin, with others.  
O then I am but dead,  
Now, now ye come all to pronounce my sentence.  
I am condemned unjustly: tell my kinsfolks,  
I die an innocent:  
If any friend pity the ruin of the state's sustainer  
Proclaim my innocence; ah Lord Chancellor,  
Is there no pardon? will there come no mercy?  
ay, put your hat on, and let me stand bare,  
Show yourself right a Lawyer.  Chan. 
I am bare,  
What would you have me do?  Byr. 
You have not done,  
Like a good justice; and one that knew  
He sat upon the precious blood of virtue;  
Y'ave pleased the cruel King, and have not borne,  
As great regard to save as to condemn;  
You have condemned me, my Lord Chancellor,  
But God acquits me; he will open lay  
All your close treasons against him, to colour  
Treasons laid to his truest images;  
And you my Lord shall answer this injustice,  
Before his judgement seat: to which I summon  
In one year and a day your hot appearance;  
I go before, by men's corrupted domes;  
But they that caused my death, shall after come  
By the immaculate justice of the highest.  Chan. 
Well, good my Lord, commend your soul to him,  
And to his mercy, think of that, I pray.  Byr. 
Sir, I have thought of it, and every hour,  
Since my affliction, asked on naked knees  
Patience to bear your unbelieved Injustice:  
But you, nor none of you have thought of him,  
In my eviction: you're come to your benches,  
With plotted judgements; your linked ears so loud,  
Sing with prejudicate winds, that nought is heard,  
Of all, poor prisoners urge 'gainst your award;  Har. 
Passion, my Lord, transports your bitterness,  
Beyond all colour; and your proper judgement:  
No man hath known your merits more than I;  
And would to God your great misdeeds had been,  
As much undone, as they have been concealed;  
The cries of them for justice (in desert)  
Have been so loud and piercing; that they deafened  
The ears of mercy; and have laboured more,  
Your judges to compress then to enforce them.  Pot. 
We bring you here your sentence, will you read it.  Byr. 
For heavens sake, shame to use me with such rigor;  
I know what it imports, and will not have,  
Mine ear blown into flames with hearing it;  
Have you been one of them that have condemned me?  Flen. 
My Lord I am your Orator: God comfort you.  Byr. 
Good Sir, my father loved you so entirely,  
That if you have been one, my soul forgives you;  
It is the King (most childish that he is  
That takes what he hath given) that injures me:  
He gave grace in the first draft of my fault,  
And now restains it: grace again I ask;  
Let him again vouchsafe it: send to him,  
A post will soon return: the Queen of England,  
Told me that if the wilful Earl of Essex,  
Had used submission, and but asked her mercy,  
She would have given it, past resumption;  
She (like a gracious Princess) did desire  
To pardon him: even as she prayed to God,  
He would let down a pardon unto her;  
He yet was guilty, I am innocent:  
He still refused grace, I importune it.  Chan. 
This asked in time (my Lord) while he besought it,  
And ere he had made his severity known,  
Had (with much joy to him) I know been granted;  Byr. 
No, no, his bounty, then was misery,  
To offer when he knew 'twould be refused;  
He treads the vulgar path of all advantage,  
And loves men, for his vices, nor for their virtues;  
My service would have quickened gratitude,  
In his own death, had he been truly royal;  
It would have stirred the image of a King,  
Into perpetual motion; to have stood  
Near the conspiracy restrained at Nantes;  
And in a danger, that had then the Wolf,  
To fly upon his bosom, had I only held  
Intelligence with the conspirators;  
Who stuck at no check but my loyalty,  
Nor kept life in their hopes, but in my death;  
The siege of Amiens, would have softened rocks,  
Where covered all in showers of shot and fire,  
I seemed to all men's eyes a fighting flame  
With bullets cut, in fashion of a man;  
A sacrifice to valour (impious King)  
Which he will needs extinguish, with my blood;  
Let him beware, justice will fall from heaven,  
In the same form I served in that siege,  
And by the light of that, he shall decern,  
What good, my ill hath brought him; it will nothing,  
Assure his State: the same quench he hath cast  
Upon my life, shall quite put out his fame;  
This day he loseth, what he shall not find,  
By all days he survives; so good a servant,  
Nor Spain so great a foe; with whom, alas,  
Because I treated am I put to death?  
'tis put a politic gloze: my courage raised me,  
For the dear price of five and thirty scars,  
And that hath ruined me, I thank my Stars:  
Come I'll go where ye will, ye shall not lead me.  Chan. 
I fear his frenzy,  
Never saw I man of such a spirit so amazed at death.  Har. 
He altars every minute: what a vapour?  
The strongest mind is to a storm of crosses. Exeunt.  Manent Esper: Soisson: janin: Vidame, D'escures. Esp: 
O of what contraries consists a man!  
Of what impossible mixtures? vice and virtue,  
Corruption, and eternness, at one time,  
And in one subject, let together, lose?  
We have not any strength but weakens us,  
No greatness but doth crush us into air.  
Our knowledges, do light us but to err,  
Our Ornaments are Burdens: Our delights  
Are our tormentors; fiends that (raised in fears)  
At parting shake our Roofs about our ears.  Soi. 
O virtue, thou art now far worse than Fortune!  
Her gifts stuck by the Duke, when thine are vanished,  
Thou brav'st thy friend in Need: Necessity,  
That used to keep thy wealth, contempt, thy love,  
Have both abandoned thee in his extremes,  
Thy powers are shadows, and thy comfort, dreams,  Vid. 
O real goodness if thou be a power!  
And not a word alone, in humane uses,  
Appear out of this angry conflagration,  
Where this great Captain (thy late Temple) burns,  
And turn his vicious fury to thy flame,  
From all earth's hopes mere guilded with thy fame:  
Let piety enter with her willing cross,  
And take him on it; open his breast and arms,  
To all the Storms, Necessity can breathe,  
And burst them all with his embraced death,  Ian, 
Yet are the civil tumults of his spirits,  
Hot and outrageous: not resolved, alas,  
(Being but one man) render the kingdoms doom;  
He doubts storms, threatens, rues, complains, implores,  
Grief hath brought all his forces to his looks,  
And nought is left to strengthen him within,  
Nor lasts one habit of those grieved aspects:  
Blood expels paleness, paleness Blood doth chase,  
And sorrow errs through all forms in his face,  Des. 
So furious is he, that the Politic law,  
Is much to seek, how to enact her sentence:  
Authority backed with arms, (though he unarmed)  
Abhors his fury, and with doubtful eyes,  
Views on what ground it should sustain his ruins,  
And as a Savage Boar that (hunted long,  
Assailed and set up) with his only eyes,  
Swimming in fire keeps of the baying hounds,  
Though sunk himself, yet holds his anger up,  
And snows it forth in foam; holds firm his stand,  
Of Battalous Bristles: feeds his hate to die,  
And whets his tusks with wrathful majesty.  
So fares the furious Duke, and with his looks,  
Doth teach death horrors; makes the hangman learn  
New habits for his bloody impudence;  
Which now habitual horror from him drives,  
Who for his life shuns death, by which he lives,  Enter Chancellor, Harlay, Potier, Fleury, Vitry. Vit. 
Will not your Lordship have the Duke distinguished  
From other prisoners? where the order is,  
To give up men condemned into the hands  
Of th' executioner; he would be the death,  
Of him that he should die by, ere he suffered,  
Such an abjection,  Cha. 
But to bind his hands,  
I hold it passing needful,  Har. 
'tis my Lord,  
And very dangerous to bring him lose.  Pra: 
You will in all despair and fury plunge him,  
If you but offer it.  Pot. 
My Lord by this,  
The prisoner's Spirit is something pacified,  
And 'tis a fear that th'offer of those bands,  
Would breed fresh furies in him, and disturb,  
The entry of his soul into her peace,  Cha. 
I would not that, for any possible danger,  
That can be wrought, by his unarmed hands,  
And therefore in his own form bring him in,  Enter Byron, a Bishop or two; with all the guards, soldiers with muskets. Byr. 
Where shall this weight fall? on what region,  
Must this declining prominent pour his load?  
I'll break my bloods high billows 'gainst my stars,  
Before this will be shook into a flat,  
All France shall feel an earthquake; with what murmur,  
This world shrinks into Chaos?  Arch. 
Good my Lord,  
forego it willingly; and now resign,  
Your sensual powers entirely to your soul.  Byr. 
Horror of death, let me alone in peace,  
And leave my soul to me, whom it concerns;  
You have no charge of it; I feel her free,  
How she doth rouse, and like a Falcon stretch  
Her silver wings; as threatening death, with death;  
At whom I joyfully will cast her off:  
I know this body but a sink of folly,  
The groundwork, and raised frame of woe and frailty.  
The bond, and bundle of corruption;  
A quick corpse, only sensible of grief,  
A walking sepulchre, or household thief:  
A glass of air, broken with less than breath,  
A slave bound face to face, to death, till death:  
And what said all you more? I know, besides  
That life is but a dark and stormy night,  
Of senseless dreams, terrors, and broken sleeps;  
A Tyranny, devising pains to plague  
And make man long in dying, racks his death;  
And death is nothing, what can you say more?  
I bring a long Globe, and a little earth,  
Am seated like earth betwixt both the heavens:  
That if I rise; to heaven I rise; if fall  
I likewise fall to heaven; what stronger faith,  
Hath any of your souls? what say you more?  
Why lose I time in these things? talk of knowledge,  
It serves for inward use. I will not die  
Like to a Clergy man; but like the Captain,  
That prayed on horseback and with sword in hand,  
threatened the Sun, commanding it to stand;  
These are but ropes of sand.  Chan. 
Desire you then,  
To speak with any man?  Byr. 
I would speak with La Force, and Saint Blancart.  Byr. 
Do they fly me?  
Where is Provost, controller of my house?  Pra. 
Gone to his house i'th' country three days since.  Byr. 
He should have stayed here, he keeps all my blanks;  
O all the world forsakes me! wretched world,  
Consisting most of parts, that fly each other:  
A firmness, breeding all inconstancy,  
A bond of all disjunction; like a man  
Long buried, is a man that long hath lived;  
Touch him, he falls to ashes; for one fault,  
I forfeit all the fashion of a man;  
Why should I keep my soul in this dark light?  
Whose black beams lighted me to lose myself.  
When I have lost my arms, my fame, my wind,  
Friends, brother, hopes, fortunes, and even my fury?  
O happy were the man, could live alone,  
To know no man, nor be of any known!  Har. 
My Lord, it is the manner once again  
To read the sentence?  Byr. 
Yet more sentences?  
How often will ye make me suffer death?  
As ye were proud to hear your powreful domes?  
I know and feel you were the men that gave it,  
And die most cruelly to hear so often  
My crimes and bitter condemnation urged:  
Suffice it, I am brought here; and obey,  
And that all here are privy to the crimes.  Chan. 
It must be read my Lord, no remedy.  Byr. 
read, if it must be, then, and I must talk.  Harl. 
The process being extraordinarily made and examined by the Court, and chambers assembled—  Byr. 
Condemned for depositions of a witch?  
The common deposition, and her whore  
To all whorish perjuries and treacheries.  
Sure he called up the devil in my spirits,  
And made him to usurp my faculties:  
Shall I be cast away now he's cast out?  
What justice is in this? dear countrymen,  
Take this true evidence, betwixt heaven and you.  
And quit me in your hearts.  Cha. 
Go on.  Har. 
Against Charles Gentalt of Byron: knight of both the orders; Duke of Byron, peer and marshal of France; Governor of Burgundy, accused of treason in a sentence was given the 22. of this month, condemning the said Duke of Byron of heigh treason, for his direct conspiracies against the king's person; enterprises against his state.—  Byr. 
That is most false; let me for ever be,  
Deprived of heaven, as I shall be of earth,  
If it be true: know worthy countrymen.  
These two and twenty months I have been clear,  
Of all attempts against the king and state.  Har. 
Treaties and treacheries with his Enemies, being marshal of the king's army, for reparation of which crimes they deprived him of all his estates, honours and dignities, and condemned him to lose his head upon a Scaffold at the Greave  Byr. 
The Greave? had that place stood for my dispatch  
I had not yielded; all your forces should not,  
Stir me one foot; wild horses should have drawn,  
My body piece-meal, ere you all had brought me.  Har. 
Declaring all his goods movable and immoveable whatsoever to be confiscate to the King: the Signory of Byron to lose the title of Duchy and Peer for ever.  Byr. 
Now is your form contented,  Cha. 
I my Lord  
And I must now entreat you to deliver,  
Your order up, the king demands it of you.  Byr. 
And I restore it, with my vow of safety,  
In that world, where both he and I are one,  
I never broke the oath I took to take it,  Cha. 
We'll now my Lord we'll take our latest leaves,  
Beseeching heaven to take as clear from you,  
All sense of torment in your willing death:  
All love and thought of what you must leave here,  
As when you shall aspire heavens highest sphere,  Byr. 
Thanks to your Lordship and let me pray to,  
That you will hold good censure of my life,  
By the clear witness of my soul in death,  
That I have never passed act 'gainst the King,  
Which if my faith had let me undertake,  
They had been three years since, amongst the dead;  Harl: 
Your soul shall find his safety in her own,  
Call the executioner;  Byr: 
Good sir I pray,  
Go after and beseech the Chancellor  
That he will let my body be interred,  
Amongst my predecessors at Byron:  Desc: 
I go my Lord: Exit.  Byr: 
Go, go? can all go thus?  
And no man come with comfort? farewell world:  
He is at no end of his actions blessed,  
Whose ends will make him greatest, and not best;  
They tread no ground, but ride in air on storms,  
That follow State, and hunt their empty forms;  
Who see not that the Valleys of the world,  
Make even right with the Mountains? that they grow  
Green, and lie warmer; and ever peaceful are,  
When Clouds spit fire as Hills, and burn them bare?  
Not Valleys part, but we should imitate Streams,  
That run below the Valleys, and do yield  
To every Molehill; every Bank embrace  
That checks their Currants; and when Torrents come,  
That swell and raise them past their natural height,  
How mad they are, and troubled? like low strains  
With Torrents crowned, are men with Diadems;  Vit: 
My Lord 'tis late; wilt please you to go up?  Byr. 
Up? 'tis a fair preferment, ha ha ha,  
There should go shouts to up-shots; not a breath  
Of any mercy, yet? come, since we must;  
whose's this?  Pral: 
The executioner, my Lord;  Byr: 
Death slave, down, or by the blood that moves me  
I'll pluck thy throat out; go, I'll call you straight,  
Hold boy; and this,  Hang: 
Soft boy I'll bar you that  Byr: 
Take this then, yet I pray thee, that again  
I do not joy in sight of such a Pageant  
As presents death; Though this life have a curse;  
'tis better than another, that is worse;  Arch: 
My Lord, now you are blind to this world's sight,  
Look upward to a world of endless light;  Byr: 
ay, ay, you talk of upward still to others,  
And downwards look, with headlong eyes yourselves.  
Now come you up sir; But not touch me yet;  
Where shall I be now?  Hang: 
Here my Lord;  Byr: 
Where's that?  Hang: 
There, there, my Lord;  Byr: 
And where, slave, is that there?  
Thou seest I see not? yet I speak as I saw;  
Well, now be't fit?  Hang: 
Kneel, I beseech your Grace,  
That I may do mine office with most order;  Byr: 
Do it, and if at one blow thou art short,  
Give one and thirty, I'll endure them all.  
Hold; stay a little; comes there yet no mercy?  
High Heaven curse these exemplary proceedings,  
When justice fails, they sacrifice our example;  Hang: 
Let me beseech you, I may cut your hair;  Byr: 
Out ugly Image of my cruel justice;  
Yet wilt thou be before me, stay my will,  
Or by the will of Heaven I'll strangle thee;  Vit: 
My Lord you make too much of this your body,  
Which is no more your own;  Byr: 
Nor is it yours;  
I'll take my death, with all the horrid rites  
And representments, of the dread it merits;  
Let tame Nobility, and numbed fools  
That apprehend not what they undergo,  
Be such exemplary, and formal sheep;  
I will not have him touch me, till I will;  
If you will needs rack me beyond my reason,  
Hell take me, but I'll strangle half that's here,  
And force the rest to kill me. I'll leap down  
If but once more they tempt me to despair;  
You wish my quiet, yet give cause of fury:  
Think you to set rude winds upon the Sea,  
Yet keep it calm? or cast me in a sleep,  
With shaking of my chains about mine ears?  
O honest Soldiers, you have seen me free,  
From any care, of many thousand deaths!  
Yet, of this one, the manner doth amaze me.  
View, view, this wounded bosom, how much bound  
Should that man make me, that would shoot it through;  
Is it not pity I should lose my life,  
By such a bloody and infamous stroke?  Soldi: 
Now by thy spirit, and thy better Angel,  
If thou wert clear, the Continent of France,  
Would shrink beneath the burden of thy death,  
Ere it would bear are it;  Vit: 
whose's that?  Soldi: 
I say well:  
And clear your justice, here is no ground shrinks,  
If he were clear it would: And I say more,  
clear, or not clear, If he with all his foulness,  
Stood here in one Scale, and the Kings chief Minion,  
Stood in another, here: Put here a pardon,  
Here lay a royal gift, this, this, in merit,  
Should hoist the other Minion into air:  Vit: 
Hence with that frantic:  Byr: 
This is some poor witness  
That my desert, might have outweighed my forfeit:  
But danger, haunts desert, when he is Greatest;  
His hearty ills, are proved out of his glances,  
And Kings suspicions, needs no Balances;  
So her's a most decretal end of me:  
Which I desire, in me, may end my wrongs;  
Commend my love, I charge you, to my brothers,  
And by my love, and misery command them,  
To keep their faiths that bind them to the King,  
And prove no stomachers of my misfortunes;  
Nor come to Court, till time hath eaten out,  
The blots, and scars of my opprobrious death;  
And tell the Earl, my dear friend of D'Auvergne,  
That my death utterly were free from grief,  
But for the sad loss of his worthy friendship;  
And if I had been made for longer life,  
I would have more deserved him in my service,  
Beseeching him to know I have not used  
One word in my arraignment; that might touch him,  
Had I no other want then so ill meaning:  
And so farewell for ever: never more  
Shall any hope of my revival see me;  
Such is the endless exile of dead men.  
Summer succeeds the spring; Autumn the Summer,  
The Frosts of Winter, the fallen leaves of Autumn:  
All these, and all fruits in them yearly fade,  
And every year return: but cursed man,  
Shall never more renew, his vanished face;  
Fall on your knees, than Statists ere ye fall,  
That you may rise again: knees bent too late,  
Stick you in earth like statues: see in me  
How you are poured down from your clearest heavens;  
Fall lower yet: mixed with th' unmoved centre,  
That your own shadows may no longer mock ye.  
strick, strike, O strike;  
Fly, fly commanding soul,  
And on thy wings for this thy Body's breath,  
Bear the eternal victory of death.   
FINIS.