_

_Tam._ They come.

_First Murderer._ Come, all at once!

_[Umbra] Friar._ Back, coward murtherers, back!

_Omnes._ Defend us heaven!
_Exeunt all but the first._

_First Murd._ Come ye not on?

_Buss._ No, slave! nor goest thou off.
Stand you so firme?

[_Strikes at him with his sword._]

Will it not enter here? 45
You have a face yet. So! in thy lifes flame
I burne the first rites to my mistresse fame.

_Umb. Fri._ Breath thee, brave sonne, against the other charge.

_Buss._ O is it true, then, that my sense first told me?
Is my kind father dead?

_Tam._ He is, my love; 50
'Twas the Earle, my husband, in his weed that brought thee.

_Buss._ That was a speeding sleight, and well resembled.
Where is that angry Earle? My lord! come forth,
And shew your owne face in your owne affaire;
Take not into your noble veines the blood 55
Of these base villaines, nor the light reports
Of blister'd tongues for cleare and weighty truth:
But me against the world, in pure defence
Of your rare lady, to whose spotlesse name
I stand here as a bulwark, and project 60
A life to her renowne that ever yet
Hath been untainted, even in envies eye,
And, where it would protect, a sanctuarie.
Brave Earle, come forth, and keep your scandall in!
'Tis not our fault, if you enforce the spot; 65
Nor the wreak yours, if you performe it not.

_Enter Mont[surry] with all the murtherers._

_Montsurry._ Cowards! a fiend or spirit beat ye off!
They are your owne faint spirits that have forg'd
The fearefull shadowes that your eyes deluded:
The fiend was in you; cast him out, then, thus! 70

[_Montsurry fights with D'Ambois._] _D'Ambois hath
Montsurry downe._

_Tam._ Favour my lord, my love, O, favour him!

_Buss._ I will not touch him. Take your life, my lord,
And be appeas'd. _Pistolls shot within._
O then the coward Fates
Have maim'd themselves, and ever lost their honour!

_Umb. Fri._ What have ye done, slaves! irreligious lord! 75