Nouall se. Ile be mine owne guide. Passion, nor example
Shall be my leaders. I haue lost a sonne,
A sonne, graue Iudges, I require his blood [130]
From his accursed homicide.
Charmi. What reply you
In your defence for this?
Cha. I but attended
Your Lordships pleasure. For the fact, as of
The former, I confesse it, but with what
Base wrongs I was vnwillingly drawne to it, [135]
To my few wordes there are some other proofes
To witnesse this for truth, when I was married:
For there I must begin. The slayne Nouall
Was to my wife, in way of our French courtship,
A most deuoted seruant, but yet aym’d at [140]
Nothing but meanes to quench his wanton heate,
His heart being neuer warm’d by lawfull fires
As mine was (Lords:) and though on these presumptions,
Ioyn’d to the hate betweene his house and mine,
I might with opportunity and ease [145]
Haue found a way for my reuenge, I did not;
But still he had the freedome as before
When all was mine, and told that he abus’d it
With some vnseemely licence, by my friend
My appou’d friend Romont, I gaue no credit [150]
To the reporter, but reprou’d him for it
As one vncourtly and malicious to him.
What could I more, my Lords? yet after this
He did continue in his first pursute
Hoter then euer, and at length obtaind it; [155]
But how it came to my most certaine knowledge,
For the dignity of the court and my owne honour
I dare not say.
Nou. se. If all may be beleeu’d
A passionate prisoner speakes, who is so foolish
That durst be wicked, that will appeare guilty? [160]
No, my graue Lords: in his impunity
But giue example vnto iealous men
To cut the throats they hate, and they will neuer
Want matter or pretence for their bad ends.
Charmi. You must find other proofes to strengthen these [165]
But more presumptions.
Du Croy. Or we shall hardly
Allow your innocence.
Cha. All your attempts
Shall fall on me, like brittle shafts on armour,
That breake themselues; or like waues against a rocke,
That leaue no signe of their ridiculous fury [170]
But foame and splinters, my innocence like these
Shall stand triumphant, and your malice serue
But for a trumpet; to proclaime my conquest
Nor shall you, though you doe the worst fate can,
How ere condemne, affright an honest man. [175]
Rom. May it please the Court, I may be heard.
Nou. se. You come not
To raile againe? but doe, you shall not finde,
Another Rochfort.
Rom. In Nouall I cannot.
But I come furnished with what will stop
The mouth of his conspiracy against the life [180]
Of innocent Charaloys. Doe you know this Character?