University of Virginia Library

SCÆN. 1.

Enter marching after drummes & trumpets at two seuerall places, King Charles of France, Gilbert Mompanseir, Cardinall of Saint Peter ad Vincula: soldiers: encountring them Lodowik Sforza, Charles Balbiano, the King of France and Lodowike embrace.
Char.
Renouned Lodowik our warlike Couzen,
Auspiciously encountred on the skirtes
Of Piedmont, we greete you ioyfully.

Lodo.
Thrise and foreuer most renowned Charles,
A faithfull tongue from an vnfained heart
As a iust herrold full of truth and honor
On the behalfe of forlorne Italie
Needing and crauing at your Princely hands,
The patronage and true protection
Of such a Potent and victorious King
Humbly salutes your royall Maiesty.
The shippe of which some-time well guided state,
Is through tempestious times malignity
By worthlesse Pilots, foolish Gouerners
Mutually factious, like to sinck through Schisme.
Into the bottome of the blacke abisme
Through th'imposition of necessity.
Do not! oh do not then (most Christian Charles)
Do not forsake hir holding vp hir hands
For succor to your royall Clemency:
Hir sayles are rent, mastes spent and rudder brooke
And vnder water such wide open leakes
As vnder water soone will make her sinke.
Hauing beene bilg'd vpon so many shelues,
So torne, so rotten and so long vnrig'd,
And playing with the waues to and againe
As one not gouerned with helpe of helme.
One then whome nature in his vowes to God,
Hath tied to tender her forlone estate
With eyes fore-seeing and compassionate.
Retenders her to your high Maiestie,
A Christian Prince so wise so valiant:
Vndoubted heire vnto the Crowne of Naples,
By lawfull right of that greate house of Aniou:
Of which your grace is well knowne lawfull heire,
By th'issues of that Charles the first, that first
Of the bloud royall of the Crowne of France,
Obtain'd that Kingdome ages manie past.
These reasons weare with Lodowik Sforza mou'd,
To moue your Maiesty with martiall force
To passe these mountaines to possesse your owne.
March then most Christian and renowned Prince,
Aduance thy lilly standard potent King:
And since all skandalls are remou'd and cleer'd,
Strike vp your cheerefull drummes and march along
In Gods name; with good auspices of Saint Denys,
I know you doubt not mine integrity:
Can more grosse error rest in pollicy.
Then first to raise a turbulent sharpe storme,
And vnaduisedly to leaue defence
To doubtfull chance and possibilities.
To broach strong poyson is too dangerous,
And not be certeine of the present vertue
Which is contained in his Antidot.
Wilde fire permitted without limmit burnes,
Euen to consume them that first kindled it:
I did aduise you, I inducted you,
And Lodowike, which brought you on with honor,
Will bring you of with triumph and renowne.

Char.
Embrace me Couzen Sforza: by the soules
Of my forefathers I reioyce as much
In thy deare friendship and wise industrie,
As in the more parteof my patrimonie:
Courage togither let vs share all one,
In life, in death, in purchase or in none.
Enter a Messenger with letters to Charles.
These newes are fortunate for Daubigny,
Aduertiseth how that the Coloneses,
(Although Alfonso did accord with them,)
Declared haue them-selues for France and vs,
Without dissembling or hypocrisie.

Lodo.
Why this was it I did expect great Charles,
Our armies and our friends haue beene long sowne,
The ground well plowed, the blade is full come vp,
And doubt not we shall haue a ioyfull haruest.

Char.
Coosen Montpansier
March with your regiments to Pontremolt.
Expect vs, or from vs directions,
To meete our forces, when wee come neere Florence,
There shall you finde the Swisse with their Artillerie,
Newly by sea brought vnto Spetia,
Come Coosen march we cheerefully together,
Faire is the way, faire fortune, and faire wether,

Mompansier with some souldiers and Ensignes before. King Charles with Lodowike and his soldiers after.