_Enter_[366] GUISE, ANJOU, DUMAINE, GONZAGO, RETES,
MOUNTSORRELL, _and_ Soldiers, _to the massacre_.
_Guise._ Anjou, Dumaine, Gonzago, Retes, swear,
By the argent crosses in your burgonets,
To kill all that you suspect of heresy.
_Dum._ I swear by this, to be unmerciful.
_Anj._ I am disguis'd, and none knows who I am,
And therefore mean to murder all I meet.
_Gon._ And so will I.
_Retes._ And I.
_Guise._ Away, then! break into the Admiral's house.
_Retes._ I, let the Admiral be first despatch'd.
_Guise._ The Admiral, 10
Chief standard-bearer to the Lutherans,
Shall in the entrance[367] of this massacre
Be murder'd in his bed.
Gonzago, conduct them thither; and then
Beset his house, that not a man may live.
_Anj._ That charge is mine.--Switzers, keep you the streets;
And at each corner shall the king's guard stand.
_Gon._ Come, sirs, follow me.
[_Exit_ GONZAGO _with others_.
_Anj._ Cousin, the captain of the Admiral's guard,
Plac'd by my brother, will betray his lord. 20
Now, Guise, shall Catholics flourish once again;
The head being off, the members cannot stand.
_Retes._ But look, my lord, there's some in the Admiral's house.
GONZAGO _and others enter the_ ADMIRAL'S
_house; the_ ADMIRAL _discovered in bed_.
_Anj._ In lucky time: come, let us keep this lane,
And slay his servants that shall issue out.
_Gon._ Where is the Admiral?
_Adm._ O let me pray before I die!
_Gon._ Then pray unto our Lady; kiss this cross. [_Stabs him._
_Adm._ O God, forgive my sins! [_Dies._
_Guise._ Gonzago, what, is he dead?
_Gon._ I, my lord. 30
_Guise._ Then throw him down.[368]
[_The body of the_ ADMIRAL _is thrown down._
_Anj._ Now, cousin, view him well:
It maybe 'tis some other, and he escap'd.
_Guise._ Cousin, 'tis he; I know him by his look:
See where my soldier shot him through the arm;
He miss'd him near, but we have struck him now.--
Ah, base Chatillon and degenerate,
Chief Standard-bearer to the Lutherans,
Thus, in despite of thy religion,
The Duke of Guise stamps on thy lifeless bulk!
_Anj._ Away with him! cut off his head and hands, 40
And send them for a present to the Pope;[369]
And, when this just revenge is finishèd,
Unto Mount Falcon[370] will we drag his corse;
And he, that living hated so the Cross,
Shall, being dead, be hanged thereon in chains.
_Guise._ Anjou, Gonzago, Retes, if that you three
Will be as resolute as I and Dumaine,
There shall not a Huguenot breathe in France.
_Anj._ I swear by this cross, we'll not be partial,
But slay as many as we can come near. 50
_Guise._ Mountsorrell, go shoot the ordnance off,
That they, which have already set the street,
May know their watchword; then toll the bell,
And so let's forward to the massacre.
_Mount._ I will, my lord. [_Exit._
_Guise._ And now, my lords, let's closely to our business.
_Anj._ Anjou will follow thee.
_Dum._ And so will Dumaine.
[_The ordnance being shot off, the bell tolls_.
_Guise._ Come, then, let's away.
[_Exeunt_.