University of Virginia Library

PROLOGVS.

Francis Guicchiardine.
Sent from the Christall Palace of true Fame,
And bright Starre-Chamber of eternall soules,
Seuerd from Angels fellowship awhile,
To dwell with mortall bodies here on earth:
I Francis Guicciardine a Florentine,
Am by the powerfull and commanding Muse,
(Which beareth domination in our soules)
Sent downe to let you see the Tragedie,
Of Roderigo Borgia lately Pope,
Calld the sixt Alexander, with his sonne
Proud Cæsar: to present vnto your eyes,
Their faithlesse, fearelesse, and ambitious liues:
And first by what vngodly meanes and Art,
Hee did attaine the Triple-Diadem,
This vision offerd to your eyes declares.

Hee with a siluer rod mooueth the ayre three times.
Enter, At one doore betwixt two other Cardinals, Roderigo in his purple habit close in conference with them, one of which hee guideth to a Tent, where a Table is furnished with diuers bagges of money, which that Cardinall beareth away: and to another Tent the other Cardinall, where hee deliuereth him a great quantity of rich Plate, imbraces, with ioyning of hands. Exeunt Card. Manet Roderigo To whome from an other place a Moncke with a magical booke and all, in priuate whispering with Roderick, whome the Monke draweth to a chaire on midst of the Stage which hee circleth, and before it another Circle, into which (after semblance of reading with exorcismes) appeare exhalations of lightning and sulphurous smoke in midst whereof a diuil in most vgly shape: from which Roderigo turneth his face, hee beeing coniured downe after more thunder and fire, ascends another diuill like a Sargeant with a mace vnder his girdle: Roderigo disliketh. Hee discendeth: after more thunder and fearefull fire, ascend in robes pontificall with a triple Crowne on his head, and Crosse keyes in his hand: a diuill him ensuing in blacke robes-like a pronotary, a cornerd Cappe on his head, a box of Lancets at his girdle, a little peece of fine parchment in his hand, who beeing brought vnto Alexander, hee willingly receiueth him; to whome hee deliuereth the wryting, which seeming to reade, presently the Pronotary strippeth vp Alexanders sleeue and letteth his arme bloud in a saucer, and hauing taken a peece from the Pronotary, subscribeth to the parchment; deliuereth it: the remainder of the bloud, the other diuill seemeth to suppe vp; and from him disroabed is put the rich Cap the Tunicle, and the triple Crowne set vpon Alexanders head, the Crosse-keyes deliuered into his hands; and withall a magicall booke: this donne with thunder and lightning the diuills descend: Alexander aduanceth himselfe, and departeth.
Guicchiardine.
Thus first with golden bribes he did corrupt
The purple conclaue: then by diuelish art
Sathan transfigur'd like a Pronotarie
To him makes offer of the triple Crowne
For certaine yeares agreed betwixt them two.
The life of action shall expresse the rest.