Chapter XII: Appendix: B

HISTORICAL SOURCES OF THE REVENGE OF BUSSY D'AMBOIS

I

PIERRE MATTHIEU'S NARRATIVE OF THE ARREST OF THE COUNT D'AUVERGNE, INCORPORATED BY EDWARD GRIMESTON IN HIS TRANSLATION OF JEAN DE SERRES'S INVENTAIRE GÉNÉRAL DE L'HISTOIRE DE FRANCE

(1046.)[313:1] "The King offended with the practises of the Count of Auvergne, commanded him to come unto him, and to trust unto his clemency, the which was not unknowne unto him. Descures made some jorneys unto him, from whome he brought nothing but delaies and excuses. . . .

(1047.) "The King, therefore, seeing that he would not come but with conditions that did not agree with a perfect obedience, resolved to have him by one means or other. . . . The King's intention was imparted to the Vicont of Pont du Chasteau, to D'Eurre, Lieutenant of the Duke of Vandosmes company, to the Baron of Camilac, to La Boulaye, Lieutenant to the company of the Marquis of Verneuil, to Nerestan, Colonell of a Regiment of foote, and to so many others as it is a wonder it was not divulged being in so many heads. In this action all shewed the duties and affections of good men which respected their honours. Many means were attempted but they were incountred with great difficulties and crosses. . . . The surest meanes (& that wherein there was least trouble and scandall) was the mustring of the Duke of Vandosmes company. . . . D'Eurre who prest Murat (Treasorer extraordinary of the warres) to paie his company a muster, intreated the count of Auvergne to see it, to the ende hee might assure the King that hee had gallant men and good horses, and that all his companions should be wonderfully honored with the presence of their coronell. 'I will part to morrowe' sayd the Count of Auvergne 'to hunt at Alezou, and will returne againe on Monday at night; I pray you bee heere at super, and lodge your company at Normain, to the ende that the next day, after that wee have dronke, runne at the ring, and dined, we may see it.'

(1048.) "This was done as he had appointed. . . . D'Eurre came to Clermont on Monday at night, and goes unto him where he supped in one of their houses that managed this businesse. . . . The next day, the ninth of November, the morning was spent in running at the ring. . . . They went to dinner, and it was well observed that the Count of Auvergne had some distrust. He hath since confest that hee was ready to call the two brothers of Murat into his cabinet, and to cause them to be searcht, for that he was well advertised that they alwayes carryed the Kings letters and his commandments. But a great resolution, thinking that there is no more harme in fearing then in the thing that causeth feare, feares extremely to make shewe that hee hath any feare. After dinner D'Eurre asked, 'If it pleased him to go to horse to see the musters.' He answered him; 'That it should be presently, and that he should use speed.' He retyred himselfe soone after into his cabinet and went downe . . . mounted upon a Scottish horse (which Vitry had given him) the which would have outrunne all the horses of France. He would not attend the other noblemen for that he distrusted them, having an intent to passe on, if he found them not ready. But beeing come to the place, he found the company in battell. This great diligence made him somewhat jealous, and they might perceive him, that, pulling up his cloake, he drewe his sword foure fingers out, yet without any amazement. D'Eurre, seeing him make even the reynes of his horse, came to him trotting, with his hat in his hand, and hearing him sweare with a great oath that he had been very dilligent, 'You may see, my lord' (answered he) 'I have caused my companions to advance, for that I would not trouble you with attendance.' 'Monsieur D'Eurre' (replyed the Earle) 'you are one of my friends, I cannot make any long stay here.' To whome D'Eurre said: 'All my companions are not yet here, but, if it please you, you shall see this troupe, and judge of the whole by a part.' Hereupon he sees some horsemen come and demands what they were. D'Eurre told him: 'That it was Nerestan, who had beene at Rion about a sute of his daughters.' He beleeved it, for he knewe that Nerestan had stayd some dayes at Rion and yet his heart began to suspect more. But it was too late, hee was environed on every side, and hardly can one resist many. Nerestan lighted to salute him, and having entertayned him with some discourse uppon the occasion of his staye at Rion, or of his returne to Court, he went presently to horse-back, and thrust on one of the lackquaies with his foote, for a signe and token of the beginning of the execution.

"One of Nerestans three lackquaies takes holde of his horse by the bridle. D'Eurre, seeing that Nerestan had taken the right side to salute the Count of Auvergne, went unto the left, and laying hold with his hand uppon the hilt of his sword, he sayd unto him that hee had commandement from the King to take him. The other two laquais pulled him so roughly from his horse, as he had like to have fallen to the ground; hee was mooved to see himselfe so intreated by laquais, intreating D'Eurre to cause two of his companions to light, and that hee might not see those rascalls any more. Nerestan sayd unto him that they were soldiars so attyred to serve the King in this action. A peece shott into the ayre by chance made him to doubt worse measure, so as hee intreated D'Eurre that he would not use his pistolet. D'Eurre freed him from these apprehensions, intreating him to resolve upon the Kings will, and not to force them to intreat him otherwise than they desired. 'Well,' said hee, 'I yeeld, what will you have mee to doe?' 'That you mount upon the trompets horse,' sayd D'Eurre. It was feared that he would not have suffered himselfe to bee taken so easily nor so quietly, as wee have seene many great courages choose rather to be cut in peeces then to see themselves reserved for some shamefull end, and others that have willingly dyed, for that they would not die by force. When as he sees himselfe in the toyles invironed on al sides . . . hee sayd, 'Ah! in the Divels name, I doubted all this.' Being mounted upon the trompets nagg, they conduct him presently to Aigueperse. Before hee had gone a hundred paces, he intreated D'Eurre to lend him one of his troupe, to carry some message of his remembrance, and of his miserie, to a ladie that attended him. De Pleche had the charge. Shee who had not prepared her heart to withstand the assaults of a most extreame and sensible griefe, tooke D'Eurre for the object, against whome shee poured forth the furie of her passions. 'If I knew' (sayd shee unto this gentleman) 'that I might save him in forcing through your troupe, I would willingly doe it, and if I had but tenne men of my courage and resolution, you should not carrie him where you thinke. But I will never die till I have given D'Eurre a hundred shott with a pistoll, and to Murat a hundred blowes with a sword.' These were the passions of her love, transported with a resolution beyond her sexe, and which did participate of a man, of a troubled mind, and of love. This last makes miracles of marvells and marvells of miracles, in wills that are equally toucht with his inspirations. . . . Shee loved him well, and was well beloved: for the Count of Auvergne hath been heard say, that if the King did set him at libertie, and send him back to his house, uppon condition that hee should not see this ladie, hee would rather desire to die. Shee presently ordered the affaires of her house, the disposition of her furniture, and the retreat of her servants. This passion going from the memorie to the thought, from the thought to the heart, from the heart to the eyes, made her to powre forth so many teares, as shee lost the sight of one eye for a tyme. . . .

"All the way hee seemed no more afflicted, then when hee was at libertie. He tould youthfull and idle tales of his love, and the deceiving of ladies. Hee shott in a harquebuse at birds, wherein hee was so perfect and excellent, as hee did kill larkes as they were flying. . . .

(1050.) "We may observe in this apprehension many things that may breed admiration and amazement, and which shewe that men do in vaine furnish themselves with wisedome against Heaven and with intelligences against the King. The Count of Auvergne had advertisements from all places that they should take him, and that the Kings pensioners were in the field to that effect. His most inward and neerest friends and, among others Florac, knewe it, and said nothing unto him, preferring his duty to his Prince before all affection. The Constable was also as well informed thereof as any other and yet he made no shewe thereof. . . . His duty prescribed him a law to all the bounds of nature; so there is not any one but is more bound to the service of the King and his country then to his owne health, or to that of his children. A gentleman, being at his table, speaking of this taking, said, 'Sir, if the King should command mee to take you, I would doe it, although I bee your most humble servant, that you march in the first rankes of greatnesse in the realm, and that all things touching armes, depend upon your commandments.' 'I beleeve it' (answered the Constable) 'else you should do ill, for the King is both your King and mine. I am your friend.' There is no love nor affection to dispence any one from the Kings commandments."

II

GRIMESTON'S TRANSLATION OF J. DE SERRES'S NARRATIVE OF THE MURDER OF THE DUKE OF GUISE IN HIS INVENTAIRE GENERAL

The King determines to get rid of Guise, "this newe starre in the East whom the people worshipped already." (722.) "Hee hath caused bookes to bee printed in favour of the lawfull succession of the House of Lorraine to the Crowne. At the Barricades this voice was heard: 'It is no longer time to dally, let us lead my lord to Reimes.' He hath suffered himselfe to be saluted by the people, with cries and acclamations which belong only to the Soveraigne Prince."

The Duke, scenting danger, thinks of absenting himself from the meetings of the Estates, but is dissuaded.

(723.) "The Archbishop of Lion, attending a Cardinals hatt within a few dayes from Rome, 'Retyring your selfe from the Estates' (said he unto him) 'you shall beare the blame to have abandoned France in so important an occasion, and your enemies, making their profit of your absence, wil sone overthrowe al that which you have with so much paine effected for the assurance of religion.'

"Man doth often loose his judgement upon the point of his fal. Advertisements were come to him from all parts, both within and without the realme, from Rome, Spaine, Lorraine and Savoye, that a bloodie catastrophe would dissolve the assemblie. The almanakes had well observed it: it was generally bruted in the Estates, that the execution should be on Saint Thomas day. The eve before his death, the Duke himselfe sitting downe to dinner, found a scroule under his napkin, advertising him of this secret ambush. But (as ambition blinds those whome shee hath raised up to the pies nest, and the furie of Gods judgements confounds such as trust in their authoritie) he writ underneath, with his owne hand 'They dare not'; and threw it under the table.

"The Duke of Guise, following the councell of the Cardinall Morosin, had the one and twentith of December incensed the King a new by some bold and presumptous speeches. . . . The King had the two and twentith day following prepared seven of his five and fortie (they were gentlemen whome hee had appointed to be neere his person, besides the ordinarie archers of his gard) to execute his will, and by many dispatches had assured those townes which hee held to bee most mutinous. The three and twentith he assembles his Councell somewhat more early in the morning then was usuall, having a devotion to go after dinner, and to spend the holidayes at our Ladie of Clery. . . . The Duke of Guise comes, and attending the beginning of the councell sends for a handkercher: (the groome of [724] his chamber had forgotten to put one into his hose.) Pericart, his secretarie, not daring to commit this new advertisement to any mans report, ties a note to one of the corners thereof, saying, 'Come forth and save your selfe, else you are but a dead man.' But they stay the page that carried it. Larchant, captaine of the Kings gard, causeth an other to be given unto him with all speed by Saint Prix, the chiefe grome of the Kings chamber. The Castle gates are shutt, and the Councell sits about eight of the clocke.

"The spirit of man doth often prophecie of the mischeefe that doth pursue him. So whilest they dispute of a matter propounded by Petremolle, the Duke feeles strange alterations, and extraordinary distemperatures, and, amidest his distrust, a great fainting of his heart. Saint Prix presents unto him some prunes of Brignolles and raisins of the sunne. Hee eats, and thereupon the King calls him into his Cabinet by Revoll, one of the secretaries of his Estate, as it were to confer with him about some secret of importance. The Duke leaves the Councell to passe unto the Cabinet: and as he did lift up the tapistrie with one hand to enter, they charge him with their swords, daggers, and pertuisans: yet not with so great violence, but he shewed the murtherers the last endeavours of an invincible valour and courage.

"Thus lived and thus died Henry of Lorraine, Duke of Guise: a Prince worthie to be in the first rankes of Princes, goodly, great, tall of proportion, amiable of countenance, great of courage, readie in the execution of his enterprises, popular, dissembling, but covering the secrets of his minde with his outward behaviour, imbracing all times and occasions, politike in stratagems, making much of his souldiars, and honouring his captaines. But a Prince who hath blemished the greatest beautie of his practises by extreame ambition; factious, a great bragger, vaine in beleeving of soothsayers who assured him of his greatnes, and of the change of his familie into a royaltie, proud, not able to submit his hopes, even to those from whome hee should hope for his advancement, giving men to understand by his inclination, that he was not borne to obey, but to commaund, and with this dessein, he framed the minds of the French, by his first actions, to beleeve that he had partes fit to make a strange alteration in a realme."

FOOTNOTES:

[313:1] The numbers refer to the pages of Grimeston's volume.

Bibliography

_The place of publication is London unless otherwise indicated._

I. TEXTS

=1607=, 4o. BUSSY D'AMBOIS: A TRAGEDIE: As it hath been often presented at Paules. London, Printed for William Aspley, [B. M. C. 34. c. 12.]

=1608=, 4o. BUSSY D'AMBOIS: [&c. A reissue of the 1607 edition, with the date altered. B. M. 644. d. 41.]

=1613=, 4o. THE REVENGE OF BUSSY D'AMBOIS. A TRAGEDIE. As it hath beene often presented at the private Play-house in the White-Fryers. Written by George Chapman, Gentleman. London. Printed by T. S. and are to be solde by Iohn Helme, at his Shop in S. Dunstones Church-yard, in Fleetstreet. [B. M. C. 34. c. 16.]

=1641=, 4o. BUSSY D'AMBOIS: A TRAGEDIE: As it hath been often Acted with great Applause. Being much corrected and amended by the Author before his death. London. Printed by A. N. for Robert Lunne. [B. M. 644. d. 42.]

=1646=, 4o. BUSSY D'AMBOIS: [A . . . London, as in 1641 edition.] Printed by T. W. for Robert Lunne and are to be sold at his house next doore to the signe of the Crane on Lambeth Hill at the end of old Fishstreet. [B. M. 644. d. 43. A reissue of the 1641 edition with the imprint altered.]

=1657=, 4o. BUSSY D'AMBOIS: A TRAGEDIE: As it hath been often Acted with great applause. Being much corrected and amended by the Author, George Chapman, Gent. Before his death. London, Printed, for Joshua Kirton, at his Shop in St. Pauls Church-yard, at the sign of the Kings-Arms. [B. M. 644. d. 44. Another reissue of the 1641 edition, with a new title-page.]

[Baker in his _Biographia Dramatica_ (1812) II, 73, mentions an edition of Bussy D'Ambois in 1616, but no copy of such an edition has been traced, and Dilke, _Old English Plays_ (1814) vol. III, p. 228, is probably right in considering that the entry is an error for that of 1646, which Baker does not mention.]

=1691=, 4o. BUSSY D'AMBOIS OR THE HUSBANDS REVENGE. A TRAGEDY. As it is Acted at the Theatre Royal. Newly Revised by Mr. D'Urfey [quotation from the Satires of Horace]. London. Printed for R. Bently in Covent Garden, Jo. Hindmarsh over against the Royal Exchange, and Abel Roper at the Mitre near Temple Bar.

=1814=, 8o. OLD ENGLISH PLAYS; being a selection from the early dramatic writers. [Volume III contains _Bussy D'Ambois_, together with _Monsieur D'Olive_, and Dekker's _The Wonder of a Kingdom_ and _Old Fortunatus_. A short life of Chapman is prefixed to _Bussy D'Ambois_. The text is that of the edition of 1641, in modernised spelling. The notes contain some of the variants in the Q of 1607, and explanations of many difficult phrases. The editor, though his name does not appear, was C. W. Dilke, afterwards editor of the _Athenæum_, and grandfather of the present Sir C. W. Dilke.]

=1873=, 8o. THE COMEDIES AND TRAGEDIES OF GEORGE CHAPMAN. Now first collected, with illustrative notes and a memoir of the author. In three volumes. London. John Pearson York Street Covent Garden. [Vol. II contains _Bussy D'Ambois_ and _The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois_, together with _Byron's Conspiracie and Tragedie_ and _May-Day_. The text of _Bussy D'Ambois_ is, where differences of reading occur, that of the edition of 1641, the variants of 1607 being given (with some inaccuracies) at the foot of the page. Otherwise the spelling of 1607 is followed, and the title-page of the 1607 Quarto is faultily reproduced. _The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois_ is reprinted from the 1613 Quarto, in the original spelling, and with a faulty reproduction of the title-page. The explanatory notes to both plays are very slight, but there is a valuable introductory memoir to vol. I, giving extracts from previous criticisms of Chapman.]

=1874-5=, 8o. THE WORKS OF GEORGE CHAPMAN: edited with notes, by Richard Herne Shepherd. [Vol. I, Plays, vol. II, Homer's _Iliad_ and _Odyssey_, vol. III, Poems and Minor Translations, Chatto and Windus. An edition in modernised spelling, and with merely a sprinkling of notes. To vol. III is prefixed Mr. A. C. Swinburne's _Essay on the Poetical and Dramatic Works of George Chapman_, the finest and most comprehensive study of Chapman's writings.]

=1895=, 8o. GEORGE CHAPMAN edited, with an Introduction and Notes, by William Lyon Phelps, M.A. Ph.D. London: T. Fisher Unwin. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. [This volume of the _Mermaid Series_ contains _Bussy D'Ambois_ and _The Revenge_, together with _Byron's Conspiracie and Tragedie_ and _All Fools_. The text is reprinted from the edition of 1873, but with the spelling modernised. There is an introductory memoir containing an "appreciation" of Chapman as a dramatist, and brief explanatory notes are added at the foot of the text.]

II. WORKS AND ARTICLES USEFUL FOR STUDY OF THE PLAYS

=1681.= DEDICATION OF THE SPANISH FRIAR, J. Dryden. Reprinted in W. P. Ker's _Essays of John Dryden_, vol. I, pp. 244-50, Oxford, 1900.

=1691.= THE LIVES AND CHARACTERS OF THE ENGLISH DRAMATICK POETS, G. Langbaine. Oxford.

=1691.= ATHENÆ OXONIENSES, Anthony à Wood: vol. II, pp. 575-81 (edition continued by Ph. Bliss, 1815). Short life of Chapman.

=1808.= SPECIMENS OF ENGLISH DRAMATIC POETS, Charles Lamb. Lamb quotes the following passages from _Bussy D'Ambois_: II, 1, 33-135; I, 1, 5-17; I, 1, 20-23; I, 1, 134-9; I, 2, 10-33. Further extracts, together with several from _The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois_, were added in 1827.

=1818.= LECTURES ON THE DRAMATIC LITERATURE OF THE AGE OF ELIZABETH. W. Hazlitt. Lecture III, _On Marston, Chapman, Decker, and Webster_.

=1821.= THE RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW, vol. IV: Article on _Chapman's Plays_. This Article deals with the Tragedies and gives long extracts from _Bussy D'Ambois_ and the two "Byron" plays. It concludes: "_The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois_ we regret to say we have never seen. The rarity of the old plays is such, that they are only to be found in some public libraries, and in the extensive hoards of private collectors; and in such applications as we have reluctantly caused to be made, we confess, we have rather found the exclusive spirit of the monopolist, than the liberality of the enlightened lover of literature." A second Article, on the Comedies, is contained in vol. V.

=1841.= THE EDINBURGH REVIEW, April: Article on _Beaumont and Fletcher and their Contemporaries_.

=1865.= CHAPMAN IN SEINEM VERHÄLTNISS ZU SHAKESPEARE, F. Bodenstedt. _Shakspere Jahrbuch_, I, Berlin.

=1874.= THE CORNHILL MAGAZINE, July: article on _Chapman's Dramatic Works_.

=1875.= GEORGE CHAPMAN: A CRITICAL ESSAY, A. C. Swinburne. A reprint of the Introductory Essay to vol. II of the Edition of Chapman's works edited by R. H. Shepherd. Chatto & Windus.

=1887.= THE DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY, vol. X, Article on _George Chapman_ by A. H. Bullen.

=1891.= A BIOGRAPHICAL CHRONICLE OF THE ENGLISH DRAMA, F. G. Fleay, vol. I, pp. 50-66. Reeves and Turner.

=1899.= A HISTORY OF ENGLISH DRAMATIC LITERATURE TO THE DEATH OF QUEEN ANNE, A. W. Ward. New and Revised Edition, vol. II, chap. vi, 408-450. Macmillan.

=1892.= DER BLANKVERS IN DEN DRAMEN GEORGE CHAPMANS, Emil Elste. Halle.

=1897.= QUELLEN-STUDIEN ZU DEN DRAMEN GEORGE CHAPMAN'S, PHILIP MASSINGER'S UND JOHN FORD'S, Emil Koeppel. An account of this important monograph, which is the 82d volume of the Strassburg _Quellen und Forschungen_ is given in the Introduction, p. xxxi.

=1900.= GEORGE CHAPMAN UND DAS ITALIENISCHE DRAMA, A. L. Stiefel. _Shakspere Jahrbuch_, XXXV. Deals chiefly with the relation between Chapman's _May-Day_ and A. Piccolomini's _Alessandro_.

=1901.= LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS BY GEORGE CHAPMAN, BEN JONSON, etc., Bertram Dobell, printed in _The Athenæum_, Nos. 3830-3833. These "letters and documents" form part of a small quarto MS. volume of about 90 leaves, containing "copies of letters, petitions, or other documents dating from about 1580 to 1613." Mr. Dobell, to whom their publication is due, considers "that the writer or collector of the documents can have been no other than George Chapman." Six of these letters are reprinted in Prof. Schelling's edition of _Eastward Hoe_ and _The Alchemist_, 1903.

=1903.= THE SOURCE OF CHAPMAN'S "THE CONSPIRACIE AND TRAGEDIE OF CHARLES, DUKE OF BYRON" AND "THE REVENGE OF BUSSY D'AMBOIS," F. S. Boas, in _The Athenæum_, No. 3924, Jan. 10th.

=1903.= SHAKESPEARE AND THE RIVAL POET, Arthur Acheson. John Lane. An attempt to identify Chapman with "the rival poet" alluded to in Shakespeare's Sonnets.

=MS.= CHORUS VATUM, Joseph Hunter, British Museum Addit. MSS. 24488, vol. v, pp. 61-66. Article on _George Chapman_.

III. HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WORKS RELATING TO BUSSY D'AMBOIS

=1604-20.= HISTORIÆ SUI TEMPORIS, J. A. De Thou. The earliest editions, published in 1604, do not mention Bussy. That of 1609, which carries on the narrative to the year 1584, only mentions (lib. LII, p. 132) his proceedings during the Massacre of St. Bartholomew. It is the edition of 1620, published at Geneva, and embracing events till 1607 that includes (lib. LXVIII, p. 330 ff.) the narrative of Bussy's murder, in printed Appendix A, and (lib. CXIII, p. 558) of Renée D'Ambois's meditated revenge (cf. Introduction, p. xxxvi). The most convenient edition of De Thou's History is that published by S. Buckley in 1733.

=1615.= LES HISTOIRES TRAGIQUES DE NOSTRE TEMPS, François de Rosset. The story of Bussy's love for the Countess of Montsoreau, and his murder forms the subject of the 17th Histoire, _De la mort pitoyable du valeureux Lysis_, the most important parts of which are printed in Appendix A.

=1621.= JOURNAL DE HENRI III, P. de L'Estoile. Paris.

=1628.= MEMOIRES ET LETTRES, Marguerite de Valois. Paris. The edition published by F. Guessard for _La Societe de l'Histoire de France_ (1842) is the most convenient.

=1666.= DISCOURS SUR LES COURONNELS DE L'INFANTERIE DE FRANCE, Pierre de Bourdeille, Seigneur de Brantôme. Leyden.

=1722.= DISCOURS SUR LES DUELS, Pierre de Bourdeille, etc. Leyden.

=1877.= LE MAINE, L'ANJOU ET BUSSY D'AMBOISE, Arthur Bertrand. Le Mans.

=1885.= LOUIS DE CLERMONT, SIEUR DE BUSSY D'AMBOISE, GOUVERNEUR D'ANJOU, André Joubert. Angers and Paris. A full and interesting study of Bussy's career based upon first-hand materials.

=1888.= BUSSY D'AMBOISE, Leon Marlet. Paris. A sketchy memoir.

IV. HISTORICAL WORKS RELATING TO EPISODES IN THE REVENGE OF BUSSY D'AMBOIS

=1597.= INVENTAIRE GÉNÉRAL DE L'HISTOIRE DE FRANCE, Jean de Serres. A later edition in 1603 continues the narrative to the peace of Vervins in 1598. Paris.

=1605.= HISTOIRE DE FRANCE DURANT SEPT ANNÉES DE PAIX DU REGNE DE HENRY IV, Pierre Matthieu. Paris.

=1605.= CHRONOLOGIE SEPTENAIRE DE L'HISTOIRE DE LA PAIX ENTRE LES ROYS DE FRANCE ET D'ESPAGNE, P. V. Cayet. Paris.

=1607.= A GENERAL INVENTORIE OF THE HISTORY OF FRANCE, Edward Grimeston. From the beginning of that monarchie unto the treatie of Vervins, in the yeare 1598. Written by Jhon de Serres, And continued unto these times, out of the best Authors which have written of that subject. Translated out of French into English. [A second edition, in 1611, continues the narrative till 1610.] Upon this volume see Introduction, pp. xxxii-xxxv.

Glossary

=absolute=, perfect.

=abus'd=, deceived.

=additions=, titles.

=admiration=, wonder.

=advis'd=, cautious, wary.

=affect=, desire.

=allow=, =allow'd=, approve, approved.

=amazes=, bewilders.

=annoy=, injure.

=antickes=, buffoons.

=apishnesse=, ridiculous imitation.

=approves=, proves.

=Argosea=, a large trading vessel.

=arguments=, proofs.

=auchthor=, be the agent of.

=autenticall=, legally valid.

=avise=, intelligence.

=bare=, bareheaded.

=barks=, outer coverings.

=basilisks=, fabulous reptiles, whose glance was supposed to be fatal.

=battailia=, order of battle.

=belly-gods=, gluttons.

=brack=, breach.

=brave=, =braverie=, fine, finery.

=bumbast=, _n._, padding.

=bumbasts=, _vb._, stuffs out.

=case=, skin.

=cast=, (1) _p. p._, cast off, disused; (2) _vb._, conjecture.

=censure=, judge.

=challenge=, claim.

=characters=, outward symbols.

=check(e) at=, (1) take offence at; (2) go in pursuit of. _Used
technically of a hawk which turns aside from its proper quarry to
follow inferior game._

=clear=, pure, innocent.

=close=, secret.

=coast=, travel in circuitous fashion.

=colour=, pretence.

=comfortable=, comforting.

=companion=, base fellow.

=conceit=, conception, thought.

=confirm'd=, well-regulated.

=consent=, sympathy.

=contemptfull=, contemptible.

=cries clinke=, strikes the favourable hour.

=curious=, careful, scrupulous.

=decent=, appropriate.

=denizond=, naturalized.

=designements=, arrangements.

=discover=, reveal.

=disparking=, turning park-land into plough-land.

=emply=, imply.

=encompast=, taken at a disadvantage.

=enseame=, bring together, introduce. Cf. _Spens._ F. Q. IV, II, 35-6,
_where the word_ = "includes," "contains together."

=errant=, productive of wandering.

=events=, issues.

=exhale=, draw up, raise.

=exhalations=, meteors (cf. _Jul. Cæsar_, II, i, 44).

=explicate=, unfold.

=expugn'd=, taken by storm.

=exquire=, find out.

=facts=, deeds.

=fautor=, patron.

=fivers=, _variant of_ fibres.

=fleerings=, sneers.

=forfeit=, fault.

=foutre=, an exclamation of contempt.

=fray=, frighten.

=giddinesse=, foolhardiness.

=glorious=, swelling, boastful.

=Gordian=, Gordian knot.

=graduate=, rise by steps.

=grasse=, graze.

=hackster=, a prostitute's gallant or protector.

=haie=, a boisterous country dance.

=heartlesse=, cowardly.

=humourous=, full of humours, variable in temper.

=idols=, images, counterfeits.

=ill-favour'd=, of unpleasant appearance.

=impe=, piece out. _Used, originally, in hawking, of the process of
grafting new feathers on a maimed wing._

=implide=, _variant of_ employed.

=inennerable=, indescribable.

=informed=, moulded, fashioned.

=ingenuous=, discerning; _used mistakenly for_ ingenious.

=injurious=, insulting.

=innative=, native.

=intelligencers=, spies.

=jealousie=, suspicion.

=jet=, strut.

=jiggs=, farces, jocular performances.

=last=, a certain weight or quantity of goods. _In the case of powder,
it represented twenty-four barrels._

=let=, hinder, prevent.

=limit=, limitation.

=lucerns=, hunting dogs. _Used in the same sense by Chapman in trans.
of_ Iliad, XI, 417. _The usual meaning of the word is lynx._

=mall'd=, beaten with a mall or mallet, crushed.

=manlessly=, inhumanly.

=maritorious=, over-fond of a husband.

=mate=, match oneself against.

=meane=, moderation.

=mezel'd=, leprous, fr. M. E. _mesel_, < O. F. _mesel_, _mezel_, leper,
< M. L. _misellus_, a wretched person.

=mere=, complete.

=misers=, wretched persons.

=moon-calves=, false conceptions.

=naps=, glossy surfaces on cloth.

=naturalls=, idiots.

=nice=, dainty, scrupulous.

=nick=, notch.

=novation=, revolution.

=openarses=, medlars.

=ostents=, manifestations.

=part=, depart.

=pedisequus=, (Lat.) lackey.

=peece=, firearm, gun.

=period=, conclusion.

=politicall=, scheming.

=pide=, dressed in motley.

=prevented=, anticipated.

=pricksong=, music written down with points.

=proof=, firmness, impenetrability.

=put-ofs=, excuses.

=queich=, thicket.

=quicke=, alive.

=randon=, _earlier and more correct form of_ random, _O. F._ _randon_ f.
_randir_, to run fast.

=ready=, dressed.

=rebating=, blunting.

=rebatoes=, ruffs.

=rebutters=, rejoinders.

=reminiscion=, remembrance.

=remission=, forgiveness.

=resolv'd=, informed.

=revoke=, call back.

=rivality=, rivalry.

=scapes=, escapades.

=secureness=, carelessness.

=seres=, claws.

=sensive=, endowed with sensation.

=servant=, lover.

=several=, separate.

=shadowes=, sunshades, or broad-brimmed hats.

=shifters=, tricksters, rogues.

=skittish=, changeable, capricious.

=sooth=, confirm, approve of.

=spice=, piece, kind.

=spinners=, spiders.

=splinted=, supported.

=standish=, inkstand.

=stillado=, _rare variant of_ stiletto.

=still'd=, distilled.

=strappl'd=, strapped.

=successe=, result.

=surcharg'd=, overladen, vanquished.

=swindge=, _n._, sway.

=swindging=, swinging to and fro.

=tall=, excellent, brave.

=temper=, regulate.

=touch=, censure.

=toy=, whim.

=tracts=, tracks, traces.

=train=, stratagem.

=triumphs=, pageants.

=troe=, an exclamation of surprise, added after a question.

=trumpet=, trumpeter.

=trusse=, seize (_used specially of birds of prey_).

=warning peece=, a shot discharged as a signal.

=weather=, tempestuous commotion.

=weed=, garment.

=witty=, intelligent.

=wrack=, wreck.

=wreak=, revenge.

=unready=, undressed.

=vennie=, bout at fencing.

Transcriber's Note:

No changes have been made to spelling or punctuation in the plays.

The following corrections have been made to notes and commentary:

page xxxiv--"sequel to his most popular[original has popuular]
play"

page xxxvii--"et Monsorellum transactum fuit."[original is
missing ending quotation mark]

page xl--"well-known passage (II, i[original has 1], 205 ff.)"

page 298--added missing ending quotation mark in note =188=,
335-42.

The following words used an oe ligature in the original:

Noevius Oetaeus
oeil Phoenician
Oeta

Superscripted letters have been ignored.

The following words were hyphenated across line breaks. They have been rejoined and moved to the upper line. A dash indicates where the word was broken in the original.

Act I. Sc. II., lines 106-7: mis-tresse