Nimph.  What, arm’d against your Maiestie?

Nero.  Our lieutenant of the Province, Julius Vindex.

Tigell.  Who? that guiddy French-man?

Nimph.  His Province is disarm’d, my Lord; he hath No legion nor a souldier under him.

Epaphr.  One that by blood and rapine would repaire His state consum’d in vanities and lust.

    Enter another Roman.

Tigell.  He would not find out three to follow him.

A Mess.  More newes, my Lord.

Nero.  Is it of Vindex that thou hast to say?

Mess. Vindex is up and with him France in Armes;
The Noblemen and people throng to th’cause;
Money and Armour Cities doe conferre;
The countrey doth send in provision;
Young men bring bodies, old men lead them forth;
Ladies doe coine their Iewels into pay;
The sickle now is fram’d into a sword
And drawing horses are to manage taught;
France nothing doth but warre and fury breath.

Nero.  All this fierce talk’s but “Vindex doth rebell”; And I will hang him.

Tigell.  How long came you forth after the other messenger?

Mess.  Foure dayes, but by the benefit of sea and Weather am arrivd with him.

Nimph.  How strong was Vindex at your setting forth?

Mess.  He was esteem’d a hundred thousand.

Tigell.  Men enough.

Nimph.  And souldiers few enough;
Tumultuary troops, undisciplin’d,
Untrain’d in service; to wast victuals good,
But when they come to look on warres black wounds,
And but afarre off see the face of death—­

Nero.  It falles out for my empty coffers well, The spoyle of such a large and goodly Province Enricht with trade and long enioyed peace.

Tigell.  What order will your Maiestie have taken For levying forces to suppresse this stirre?

Nero.  What order should we take? weele laugh and drinke. 
Thinkst thou it fit my pleasures be disturb’d
When any French-man list to breake his necke! 
They have not heard of Pisoes fortune yet;
Let that Tale fight with them.

Nimph.  What order needs?  Your Maiestie shal finde This French heat quickly of it selfe grow cold.

Nero.  Come away:  Nothing shall come that this nights sport shall stay.

[Ex.  Ner.  Nimph.  Tig. and attendants.

Mane[n]t Neophilus, Epaphroditus.

Neoph.  I wonder what makes him so confident
In this revolt now growne unto a warre,
And ensignes in the field; when in the other,
Being but a plot of a conspiracie,
He shew’d himselfe so wretchedly dismaid?

Epaphr.  Faith, the right nature of a coward to set light
Dangers that seeme farre off. Piso was here,
Ready to enter at the Presence doore
And dragge him out of his abused chaire;
And then he trembled. Vindex is in France,
And many woods and seas and hills betweene.