110 _loves_. A, eies.

113 _old_. A, rude.

117 _be wise_. A, be rul'd.

122-125 _Like . . . ignorant_. A omits.

126 _To fit his seed-land soyl_. A, But hee's no husband heere.

130 _for_. A, with.

153 After this line B inserts: Table, Chesbord & Tapers behind the Arras. This relates not to the present Scene, but to Scene 2, where the King and Guise play chess (cf. I, 2, 184). Either it has been inserted, by a printer's error, prematurely; or, more probably, it may be an instruction to the "prompter" to see that the properties needed in the next Scene are ready, which has crept from an acting version of the play into the Quartos.

156 _His pa.s.se_. A, A pa.s.se.

157 _respect_. A, good fashion.

167 _your great masters goodnesse_. A, his wise excellencie.

170 _rude_. A, bad.

180 _Graces_. A, highnes.

192 _bounteous Grace_. A, excellence.

193 _and to you of long ones_. A has:--

And to your deserts The reverend vertues of a faithfull steward.

196 _pleasant_. A, merrie.

197 _berlady_. A, beleeve it.

199 _his Grace_. A, my Lord.

208-210. _How . . . D'Amboys_. A omits.

212 _If you be thriftie, and_. A, Serve G.o.d.

[SCENA SECUNDA.

_A room in the Court._]

_Henry, Guise, Montsurry, Elenor, Tamyra, Beaupre, Pero, Charlotte, Pyra, Annable._

_Henry._ d.u.c.h.esse of Guise, your Grace is much enricht In the attendance of that English virgin, That will initiate her prime of youth, (Dispos'd to Court conditions) under the hand Of your prefer'd instructions and command, 5 Rather than any in the English Court, Whose ladies are not matcht in Christendome For gracefull and confirm'd behaviours, More than the Court, where they are bred, is equall'd.

_Guise._ I like not their Court-fashion; it is too crestfalne 10 In all observance, making demi-G.o.ds Of their great n.o.bles; and of their old Queene An ever-yong and most immortall G.o.ddesse.

_Montsurry._ No question shee's the rarest Queene in Europe.

_Guis._ But what's that to her immortality? 15

_Henr._ a.s.sure you, cosen Guise, so great a courtier, So full of majestic and roiall parts, No Queene in Christendome may vaunt her selfe.

Her Court approves it: that's a Court indeed, Not mixt with clowneries us'd in common houses; 20 But, as Courts should be th'abstracts of their Kingdomes, In all the beautie, state, and worth they hold, So is hers, amplie, and by her inform'd.

The world is not contracted in a man, With more proportion and expression, 25 Than in her Court, her kingdome. Our French Court Is a meere mirror of confusion to it: The king and subject, lord and every slave, Dance a continuall haie; our roomes of state Kept like our stables; no place more observ'd 30 Than a rude market-place: and though our custome Keepe this a.s.sur'd confusion from our eyes, 'Tis nere the lesse essentially unsightly, Which they would soone see, would they change their forme To this of ours, and then compare them both; 35 Which we must not affect, because in kingdomes, Where the Kings change doth breed the subjects terror, Pure innovation is more grosse than error.

_Mont._ No question we shall see them imitate (Though a farre off) the fashions of our Courts, 40 As they have ever ap't us in attire; Never were men so weary of their skins, And apt to leape out of themselves as they; Who, when they travell to bring forth rare men, Come home delivered of a fine French suit: 45 Their braines lie with their tailors, and get babies For their most compleat issue; hee's sole heire To all the morall vertues that first greetes The light with a new fashion, which becomes them Like apes, disfigur'd with the attires of men. 50

_Henr._ No question they much wrong their reall worth In affectation of outlandish sc.u.mme; But they have faults, and we more: they foolish-proud To jet in others plumes so haughtely; We proud that they are proud of foolerie, 55 Holding our worthes more compleat for their vaunts.

_Enter Monsieur, D'Ambois._

_Monsieur._ Come, mine owne sweet heart, I will enter thee.

Sir, I have brought a gentleman to court; And pray, you would vouchsafe to doe him grace.

_Henr._ D'Ambois, I thinke.

_Bussy._ That's still my name, my lord, 60 Though I be something altered in attire.

_Henr._ We like your alteration, and must tell you, We have expected th'offer of your service; For we (in feare to make mild vertue proud) Use not to seeke her out in any man. 65

_Buss._ Nor doth she use to seeke out any man: He that will winne, must wooe her: she's not shameless.

_Mons._ I urg'd her modestie in him, my lord, And gave her those rites that he sayes shee merits.

_Henr._ If you have woo'd and won, then, brother, weare him. 70

_Mons._ Th'art mine, sweet heart! See, here's the Guises d.u.c.h.es; The Countesse of Mountsurreaue, Beaupre.

Come, I'le enseame thee. Ladies, y'are too many To be in counsell: I have here a friend That I would gladly enter in your graces. 75

_Buss._ 'Save you, ladyes!

_d.u.c.h.ess._ If you enter him in our graces, my lord, me thinkes, by his blunt behaviour he should come out of himselfe.

_Tamyra._ Has he never beene courtier, my 80 lord?

_Mons._ Never, my lady.

_Beaupre._ And why did the toy take him inth'

head now?

_Buss._ Tis leape yeare, lady, and therefore very 85 good to enter a courtier.

_Henr._ Marke, d.u.c.h.esse of Guise, there is one is not bashfull.