SCENE I.--_The Council of Sixteen seated; an empty Chair prepared for the Duke of Guise._ BUSSY _and_ POLIN, _two of the Sixteen._ _Buss._ Lights there! more lights! What, burn the tapers dim, When glorious Guise, the Moses, Gideon, David, The saviour of the nation, makes approach? _Pol._ And therefore are we met; the whole sixteen, That sway the crowd of Paris, guide their votes, Manage their purses, persons, fortunes, lives, To mount the Guise, where merit calls him, high, And give him a whole heaven for room to shine. _Enter Curate of St_ EUSTACE. _Buss._ The curate of St Eustace comes at last: But, father, why so late? _Cur._ I have been taking godly pains to satisfy some scruples raised amongst weak brothers of our party, that were staggering in the cause. _Pol._ What could they find to object? _Cur._ They thought, to arm against the king was treason. _Buss._ I hope you set them right? _Cur._ Yes; and for answer, I produced this book. A Calvinist minister of Orleans Writ this, to justify the admiral For taking arms against the king deceased; Wherein he proves, that irreligious kings May justly be deposed, and put to death. _Buss._ To borrow arguments from heretic books, Methinks, was not so prudent. _Cur._ Yes; from the devil, if it would help our cause. The author was indeed a heretic; The matter of the book is good and pious. _Pol._ But one prime article of our Holy League Is to preserve the king, his power, and person. _Cur._ That must be said, you know, for decency; A pretty blind to make the shoot secure. _Buss._ But did the primitive Christians e'er rebel, When under heathen lords? I hope they did. _Cur._ No sure, they did not; for they had not power; The conscience of a people is their power. _Pol._ Well; the next article in our solemn covenant Has cleared the point again. _Buss._ What is't? I should be glad to find the king No safer than needs must. _Pol._ That, in case of opposition from any person whatsoever-- _Cur._ That's well, that well; then the king is not excepted, if he oppose us.-- _Pol._ We are obliged to join as one, to punish All, who attempt to hinder or disturb us. _Buss._ 'Tis a plain case; the king's included in the punishment, in case he rebel against the people. _Pol._ But how can he rebel? _Cur._ I'll make it out: Rebellion is an insurrection against the government; but they that have the power are actually the government; therefore, if the people have the power, the rebellion is in the king. _Buss._ A most convincing argument for faction. _Cur._ For arming, if you please, but not for faction: For still the faction is the fewest number: So what they call the lawful government, Is now the faction; for the most are ours. _Pol._ Since we are proved to be above the king, I would gladly understand whom we are to obey, or, whether we are to be all kings together?