Dryden certainly appears to have had the old play in his memory
though he has far excelled it.

21.  On the evening previous to the assassination, the Seigneur de
   Larchant accosted the duke as he passed from his own lodging to the
   king’s, accompanied by a body of soldiers, who, he pretended, were
   petitioners for the duke’s interest, to obtain payment of their
   arrears, and would attend at the door of the council next day, to
   remind him of their case.  This pretext was to account for the
   unusual number of guards, which might otherwise have excited G
   uise’s suspicion.

22. Intanto il Duca entrato nel consiglio, e pustosi in una sedia
   vicina al fuoco si senti un poco di svenimento, o che allora, gli
   sovcenisse il pericolo, net quale si ritrovava, separato e diviso
   da tutti i suoi, o che natura, come bene spesso avviene, presaga
   del mal futuro da se medesima allora si risentizze, o come dissero
   i suoi malevoli, per essere stato la medesima notte con Madama di
   Marmoutiere amata grandemente da lui, e essersi soverchiamente
   debilitato. Davila, Lib. ix.]

23.  The murder of Guise was perpetrated in the Anti-chamber, before
   the door of the king’s cabinet.  Lognac, a gentleman of the king’s
   chamber, and a creature of the late duke de Joyeuse, commanded the
   assassins, who were eight in number.  The duke never was able to
   unsheath his sword, being slain with many wounds as he grappled
   with Lognac.  The king himself was in the cabinet, and listened to
   the murderous scuffle, till the noise of Guise’s fall announced its
   termination.  The cardinal of Guise, and the archbishop of Lyons
   were also within hearing, and were arrested, while they were
   endeavouring to call their attendants to Guise’s assistance.  The
   cardinal was next day murdered by Da Gast, to whose custody he had
   been commuted.]

24.  Literally from Davila:  "Ora comparse il Re, le dimanda egli
   primo, come ella stava; al quale avendo risposto che si sentisse
   meglio, egli ripiglio:  Ancor io mi trovo ora molto meglio, perche
   questa mattina son fatto Re di Francia avendo fatto morire il Re di
   Parigi.  Alle quali parole, replico la Reina:  Voi avete fatto morire
   il Duca di Guisa, ma Dio voglia che non siate ora fatto Re da
   niente; avete tagliato bene, non so, se cucirete cosi bene.  Avete
   voi preveduti i mali, che sono per succedere?  Provvedetevi
   diligentemente.  Due cose sono necessarie, prestezza e
   risoluzione." Lib. ix.]

EPILOGUE.

WRITTEN BY MR DRYDEN[1].

SPOKEN BY MRS COOK.