Note 436 — ACT III. SCENE I.

In the act-time, &c.] i. e. while the music plays before the commencement of the act, &c. This circumstance is taken from the “history,” where the murder of Alonzo (there called Alfonso) is thus narrated: “Whiles Piracquo is at dinner with Vermandero, De Flores is providing of a bloody banquet in the East Casemate; where of purpose he goes and hides a naked Sword and Ponyard behind the door. Now dinner being ended, Piracquo finds out De Flores, and summons him of his promise; who tells him he is ready to wait on him: so away they go from the Walls to the Ravelins, Sconces, and Bulwarks, and from thence by a Postern to the Ditches; and so, in again to the Casemates, whereof they have already viewed three, and are now going to the last, which is the Theater whereon we shall presently see acted a mournful and bloody Tragedy. At the descent hereof De Flores puts off his Rapier, and leaves it behind him; treacherously informing Piracquo that the descent is narrow and craggy. See here the Policy and Villany of this devillish and treacherous Miscreant. Piracquo, not doubting nor dreaming of any Treason, follows his example, and so casts off his Rapier: De Flores leads the way, and he follows him; but alas! poor Gentleman, he shall never return with his life. They enter the Vault of the Casemate, De Flores opens the door, and throws it back, thereby to hide his Sword and Ponyard: he stoops and looks thorow a Port-hole, and tells him that that Peece doth thorowly scour the Ditch. Piracquo stoops likewise down to view it, when (O grief to think thereon) De Flores steps for his Weapons, and with his Ponyard stabs him thorow the back, and swiftly redoubling blow upon blow kills him dead at his feet, and without going farther, buries him there, right under the ruins of an old wall, whereof that Casemate was built.” Reynolds’s Triumphs of God’s Revenge against Murther, p. 40, ed. 1726.