University of Virginia Library

ACT. 2.

SCÆ. 1.

Enter Alexander with a Lintstock in his hand; with him Cæsar Borgia, Caraffa, Bernardo Piccolomini, the Castilian, Gassper de fois Mr. of the ordinance.
Alex.
Castillian take fiue hundred harguebusse,
Two hundred Arbalastes, and fortifie,
Vpon the tower of Saint Sebastian,
Affronting that port where prowd Charles should enter,
Calld Santa Maria di Popolo.

Pic.
Our souldiers ready be with match in cocke,
T'attend this seruice, and our scurriers,
Are now return'd hauing discryd King Charles,
His ensigns and his Cornets proudly mand,
With plumed regiments, and troopes of horse,
Marching in glory to the gates of Rome.
Exit Piccolo.

Alex.
Brauely bring on your companies bold hearts,
Gaspar de Fois are those two Basiliskes,
Already mounted on their carriages?

Gasp.
They bee.

Alex.
We make you maister of our Ordinance,
He deliuereth his Linstock.
And on the Turret of Saint Adrian.
Plant six more Cannon, and foure Culuerings,
Foure Lizards, and eight Sacres, with all speed,
Take Gunners with you to the Cittadell,
Powder and shot, with Ladles for their charge,
See none be wanting; set them to their taske.
Haue a good care your Pyoners worke hard,
To further your fortifications.

Exit Gasper.
Cæs.
Pleaseth your Holinesse to giue me leaue,
It fitteth well with our owne purposes,
To giue Charles entrance, and without restraint,
Least he by rigor should vsurpe that leaue,
Which to resist were vaine and dangerous.
Beleeue me Father we must temporize.

Caraff.
Besides you see how the Calabrian Duke,
Out of the Port of Saint Sabastian,
Not one houre past, hath issued and left Rome.
Now though you do suspect, conceale all doubts:
For you shall finde this sure and commonly,
Dangers accompany suspition,

Alex.
We will embrace that course, but with your leaue,
In Castle Angelo Capitulate:
Standing (as best befits vs) on our guarde.

Enter Piccolomini, Gasper de Fois, with small shot Ensigne, Drummes and Trumpets.
Piccol.
Tis time your Holinesse tooke to your guard,
For Potent Charles (like one that conquereth)
Arm'd at all peeces, in his plumed caske,
And with a Launce resting vpon his thigh,
Already with his forces hath possest
The suberbs, and is now come to the gates.

Ale.
We are resolued: Gasper de fois take heed,
On paine of death no souldier be so bould
As to dischardge one peece or arbalast,
Before th'alarme being giuen from them,
Wee with a culuering from Castle Angelo,
Proclame hostility: troope on a pace,
Take we what fortune peace or warre affords,
The worst of resolution is with swords.

Exeunt with drums and trumpet
Enter with drums and trumpets: King Charles, Cardinall Saint Peter ad vincula, and Ascanio, Lodwick Sforza: Mompansier ensignes souldiers.
Charles.
Thus far with much applause in ioyfull martch,
With good successe and hopefull augurie,
We marched haue within the walls of Rome,
Not litle wondering that his Holines,
Doth giue such slender welcome to our troups.

Lod.
Your maiesty may well perceaue how feare,
And iealeous iudgement of a wounded conscience,
Workes hard in Alexander.

Asc.
And how foxe-like.
(Houlding newtrality the surest gard)
He coopes himselfe in Castle Angelo.

Mon.
Pleaseth your maistie to giue a summons,
Vnto the Castle for some parliance,
Vpon such articles as were set downe,

Char.
Come we wil touch him, summon forth a parle.
sound drum answer a trumpet.
Enter Piccolomini vpon the walls.
What office beare you marching on those walls,
We made no summons to confer with you.

Pic.
Most Christian prince pleaseth your mightines,
I am Castillian of Saint Angelo, Vnder his Holines.

Char.
To bid defiance to our forces?

Pic.
Noe most gracious Lord.
But to salute you from his Holines.

Mon.
What is he sicke?

Pic.
Not very well dispos'd,

S. Pe. ad vin.
Nor euer was, nor will be well dispos'd.

Cha.
An other summons for his Holines,

Exit Piccol, Sound drums, answere trumpet.
Alexander vpon the walls in his pontificalls betwixt Cæsar Borgia and Caraffa Cardinalls, before him the Duke of Candie bearing a sword after them Piccolomini Gasperdefois.
Ale.
Most Christian Charles, here I salute your grace,
Bidding you peaceably welcome to Rome,
If you bring peace along with you to Rome.

Char.
In filiall Loue I thanke your Holines,
We litle thought it our most holy father,
That our alegeance to the Church of Rome,
Which we with all our predecessors tendred,
Should haue enforc'd you to take sanctuary.

Alex.
Sonne Charles know then we tooke not to this place,
In feare as to some refuge or asyle:
But for asmuch as news were brought in post,
That you with all your forces did approch.
Arm'd and in hostile manner to this Citty,
The Conclaue thought it fit tendring the safty,
Of holy Church, and sacred priuiledge,
To know your meaning first, and then with pomp,
To make your welcome in Saint Peters pallace,
In the best fashion with due ceremonies.

Char.
Know then most holy father what we would,
Hauing in tedious marcht from France thus far,
Past with our forces God stil guiding vs,
(As we be deepely bound by lawes of nature.
And reason to worke surely for our right)
We left noe busie doubts, nor obstacles,
Which might preuent vs in our iust imprease,
Hence was it that we did Capitulate,
So strictly with the crafty Florentines,
Whome we well knew fauour'd Alphonsoes part.
And this made Venice ioyne in league with vs.
Yet hauing notice that your Holines.
Both with Alphonso (that vsurpes my Crowne)
And his sonne Ferdinand drue deeper in
Vpon considerations of more weight;
We thought it good to take France in our way.

Lod.
And there to craue some certaine Cautions
Of your indifferency to his iust title
Had in the Crowne of Naples: therefore first
We do require (if you these parties tender,
(As your late letters did importe) yeeld vp
In Caution of your good intent to France;
This Castle which you now retaine against vs.

Can.
Why Lodowick? the wethercocke is turnd,
The winde stands faire, but how long will that hold?
So may we put in hazard our whole Church
The deere estate of Christes flock militant
And bring confusion vnto Christendome.

Alex.
So may you seaze vpon the Churches rights,
If that we should referre all to your trust.

Can.
This is Saint Peters bul-warke; for my parte
Here I will die ere I surrender it.

Cha.
Now find I true which cōmon bruite proclameth
Of your bad meanings and hypochrisie:
But I referre your conscience to that Iudge
Whom (if my conscience harber any thought
To wrong the Church of God, in any thing)
I call in iustice to reuenge on me.

Cæ.
Renowned Charles, suppose we should surrender?
How may we be secured that you will
Restore it, after your imprease at Naples.

Char.
The faith and honour of a Christian King.

Ale.
Your faith & honor? stay most Christian Charles
Men will not yeeld vp Castels vpon wordes
Vnles their states, and liues grow desperate.

Mount.
Why make we longer parlee with this Pope
Whose false-hood is so much that neither oth,
Nor honesty can purchase place with him.

Lodo.
Who neuer yet in cause of consequence
Hath kept his promise.

Char.
Tell vs, will yee graunt?

Alex.
What should we graunt most Christian King of France
And tell me truly (were it your owne case)
Whether you would (on such slight promises)
Accord to such vneuen conditions?

Char.
We did not thinke our royall promises
Had beene so slightly censur'd in your heart:
But since we finde your infidelities
We must requite it with extremity,
Couzen Mountpanseir.

Mount.
My Lord.

Char.
Forthwith cause ten brasse peeces with their shot
And powder to be drawne out of Saint Markes;
Such as you finde most fit for battery.
You will not here vs now, we speake so low:
Standing aloft you proudly scorne inferiors;
Weele send our mindes, written in firy notes.

Caraf.
Giue doubtfull answers, bee not peremptory
Least through your heate, his rage exsaperate.

Cæs.
Offer vnto him on his Princely word,
The strength of Terracina for a pledge.

Alex.
Victorious Charles, such is my trust and loue
That neither feare of force nor violence
Could any wayes induce me to suspect you.
Hence came it that the portes of Rome were opened
(At our behests) to giue you guestning.
Accept vs therefore with our promises,
Which we shall vnder hand and seale confirme
Not any way to Crosse your action.

Char.
If you will yeeld vp Castell Angelo
Resolue vs presently without delaies?

Cæs.
Because it is Saint Peeters Cittadell
The conclaue is in doubt to make surrender.

Char.
You will not yeeld then?

Can.
We cannot, nor wee will not yeeld it vp.

Char.
Why then a parle with our ordinance.

Sound drummes and trumpets: Alexander with his companie of the walles, ordinance goeing of (after a little skirmish within) hee summons from the Castell with a trumpet; answere to it below; Enter Alexander vpon the walls as before.
Alex.
What come yee to make pillage of the Church,
Which held you deere as her chiefe Champion?
For beare your violence in the name of God:
Fearing the scourge, and thunder from aboue,
Our offers are both iust and reasonable:

Cæs.
Peeces which are of more validity
We meane to tender to your Maiesty.

Char.
What are those peeces you would tender vs.

Alex.
To render presently the Cittadells
Of Terracina, Ciuita Vecchia, and Spoleto.

Char.
And we receiue them very thankfully.

S. Pad vin.
Our voices of the cōclaue passe, that Charles
Shalbe possest of Castell Angelo.

As.
And if your meaning with your words accord
We dare ingage our soules for resurrender.

Ale.
Your soules? foh foh they stinck in sight of God & man,
Your soules? why they be sould to Lucifer,
Your consciences are of so large a last
That you would sell Saint Peters Patrimony,
As Esau did his heritage for broath.

S. Pee. ad Vi.
Thou most prophaine & impious Moabite;
So full of vices and abominable,
No Pope but Lucifer in Peters Chaire.

As.
Renowned Charles pull downe this Antichrist;
Aduance some worthy father in his place.
Your fame shall liue with all posterities
VVho from a wicked Bishops tiranny
Infranchised the Church of God misguided;
Euen as (in this worlds worthy memories)
The names of Pepin and King Charlemaine
Your predecessors, were eternized
For helping good Popes, Saints of Holy life,
Out of vngodly persecutions.

Lodo.
A Pope by nature full of fraud, and pride;
Ambitious, auaritious, shameles, diuilish,
And that and which your experience testifies)
One that with mortall malice hates the French:
By whome this reconcilation made
Was more in feare, and hard necessity
Then faithfull inclination, or good will.

Alex.
Iscraiot, reprobate apostata,
I charge thee to desist and make submission
VVith pennance to the Mother Church of Rome
On paine of euerlasting reprobation.

Asca.
Blasphemous exorsist, heere are no diuills
VVhich thou canst coniure, with thy diuilish spirit.
We charge thee render vp that triple Crowne
Which most vngodly man thou dost vsurp.
Those robes pontificall which thou prophanest,
Saint Peters Chaire wherein (like Antichrist)
Thou doest aduance thy selfe thou man of sinne.

Sa. P. ad Ui.
Saint Peeter doth make challenge to those keyes,
Which (in those hands defil'd with bloud and bribes)
Thou like a prophane deputy dost hold.

Ascan.
That sword (with which thou sholdst strike Antichrist)
Thou like proud Antichrist, conuerted hast
Vpon the members of Christes chosen flocke;
Saint Paule demaundes his sword, Peter his keyes:

Alex.
Forbeare your blasphemies, what know yee not
Christes Vicar generall chosen on earth?
Haue not I power to binde and loose mens sinnes,
And soules, on earth, in hell, and purgatory?
Come take Saint Peters Chaire proud heretiks;
Here take this triple Crowne, oh you would take it:
But he, that made it, did not for you make it.
Ascanio thou wouldst haue these Golden keies;
Here take them with my vengeance on thy head,
He throwes his keies.
And Pseudo Paulus would haue Saint Paules sword,
Ordained for his decollation.
Sonne Charles (since we capitulato with you)
Me thinkes you should not suffer these t'affront vs.

Char.
Forbeare your idle velletations,
Angring and rubbing vp the festred scarres
Of wrath inueterate, and mortall quarrels,
We come not here to foster factions,
All are in one accorded, all are friends.
But yet most Holy-Father, let me craue,
Two fauours more, both very reasonable;
First that you pardon both these Cardinalls,
And other Barons which pertake with me.
Then that the brother of great Baiaset,
That fled from Rhodes to France, and last to Rome,
With the protection of Pope Innocent
Call'd Gemen Ottoman, may be deliuer'd
Into my hands, when after-time shall serue
For my best vantage in those holy warres,
Which we pretend against the Turkes here-after.

Alex.
The sunne shall neuer set vpon my wrath;
That Oylie Lampe of blessed Charitie
Shall not extinguish in my zealous heart:
He that knowes all, knowes this I cannot falter
With any brother, all are faithfull friends:
Be but submissiue, milde, and penitent,
And all is past, as all had beene well ment.
Now touching Gemen Ottoman, sonne Charles,
When you shall vndertake those godly warres,
I will deliuer him as willingly
As you demaund: and with a cheerefull heart,
Praising your godly zeale on Christs behalfe,
And praying for your good successe in warre.

Char.
I thanke your Holynesse.

Lodw:
These quarrels are as happily determined
As we could wish: call for an Actuarie,
And let a Charter Bipartite be drawne
Betwixt you: to confirme this amity.
And now most blessed Father I beseech,
That I may shew the duty which belongs
Vnto this place, and see Apostolick.

Alex.
We will regreete your presence presently.

Drums and Trumpets: Charles and his company make a garde, Gasper de Fois, Piccolominy, Cæsar, Caraffa, Cardinals, a Frior with a holy water-pot casting water; the Duke of Candie with a sword, Astor Manfredy supporting Alexanders traine, all bow as the Pope marcheth solemnly through, who crosseth them with his fingers. Alexander being set in state, Cæsar Borgia, and Caraffa aduance to fetch King Charles, who being presented vnto the Pope, kisseth his foote, & then aduancing two degrees higher, kisseth his cheeke: then Charles bringeth S. Peter ad Vincula, and Ascanio, which with all reuerence kisse his feete, one of them humbly deliuering vp his Crosse-keyes, which hee receiueth, blessing them and the rest of Charles his company: The Drum and Fife still sounding.
Alex.
Sonne Charles, your welcome is as acceptable,
As euer was Kings presence into Rome:
To morrow we will with the power of heauen,
Together celebrate a solemne Masse:
After the Senior, Bishop, Cardinall,
You must take place: and as our custome is,
Shall giue vs water when we celebrate:
This done, we will bestow some time in pleasures.

A garde for the Cardinals, French King, Frier and Pope: Enter with a solemne flourish of Trumpets, after whom the garde troopeth, with Drums and Fife.
Enter Guicchiardine.
Heere leaue we Charles with pompous ceremonies,
Feasting within the Vaticane at Rome:
From thence to Naples, where the peoples hatred
Conceiu'd against the former Kings, made way
For him, without resistance to the crowne.
This done, he marcheth back againe for France,
And Ferdinand doth repossesse his state.
Meane while King Charles sick of an Apoplexie,
Dyes at Ambois: the Duke of Orleance,
Lewis the twelfth conioyntly knitting force,
Doth march in armes with Ferdinand of Spaine,
These regaine Naples and deuide that realme,
But this breedes mortall warre betwixt them both,
The wily Pope dissembles at all hands,
The sequell onely concernes him and Cæsar.

Exit.