Queen.
At last, my Lord of Winchester, the King
Will not have Gloucester, longer, bear the Title,
Nor derogating Office, of Protectour:
And, if a Woman be allow'd to judge,
The Speech is well-adapted to our Purpose.

Beauf.
But, Madam; That is not Sufficient, Now.

Suff.
Yet, is it not a Matter to be slighted.

Beauf.
I slight it not.—But, Suffolk, we must take,
Yet bolder Measures; and, with Speed: Or, all
Our past Endeavours—

Queen.
What new Obstacles?

Beauf.
Our Enemies are alarm'd for the Protectour.—
This Night, do Gloucester, Salisbury, Warwick, York,
(With many more of their Cabal) assemble,
At Warwick's, to contrive—

Queen.
What can they, There,
Contrive?—The King is Ours.

Buckin.
What Favourites dread:—
The never-failing Means to curb their Power.

Suff.
What Mischief?

Beauf.
An Attainder.

Queen.
Against Whom?—
What Favourites dread!—Speak, Buckingham; Speak, Beaufort:
Who are to fall the Victims to their Rage?

Beauf.
My Self;—and Suffolk.

Queen.
Suffolk!—did'st thou say?

Beauf.
It may be,—Buckingham will not escape.

Queen.
But, answer as to Suffolk!

Beauf.
Chiefly Him!

Queen.
Pernicious Prelate!—Medling, hoary Traitour!
Attempting all Things; and, performing Nothing!
Is This the Fruit of thy malicious Counsels?—
Were we not prompted on, by Thee?—Did'st Thou
Not forge the Crime? Did'st Thou not, basely, hire
False, perjur'd Witnesses?—The King shall know it:
Gloucester shall be Protectour, still: The Dutchess
Shall have ample Recompence,—from Thee;
And double all her Sufferings, on Thy Head!—

Suff.
Let me intreat your Majesty—

Queen.
No, Suffolk!—
I see my Errour;—Thy Ruin, and my Own!—
I know the formidable Power, against us:
I know, My Marriage, and the giving up
Of Maine and Anjou, will be urg'd, to Morrow,
To Thy Destruction.—We must join with Gloucester;
Ask his Forgiveness:—And, renounce this Cardinal;
This wily,—this most inauspicious, Priest.—
But; 'Tis the Curse of busy, ambitious Churchmen,
Ever to plot; and, Never, to succeed!

Beauf.
Now, give an injur'd Prelate leave to Speak;
But, not in Words of Bitterness.—Your Majesty,
And Suffolk, may renounce me:—Yet, is Beaufort
Not destitute of Friends.—The Mitred Powers,
Bishops and Abbots, and the Holy See,
Protect My Innocency.—Let Others seek
For Shelter, where they may!—

Suff.
Lord Cardinal,
Too hastily you take Offence.—Blame not
The Queen's Surprize.

Beauf.
I shall not intermeddle:—
Nor, will I, vainly, sue for Humfrey's Favour.
The Queen (who knows him, better than his Uncle)
May find Acceptance, for her try'd Affection
To Eleanor:—

Queen.
Most insolent Seducer!—

Beauf.
And Suffolk's Services are so notorious,
He cannot fear Injustice from the Parliament.

Suff.
My Lord of Winchester; you know, the People,
Incens'd by our Proceedings,—

Queen.
Fear not, Suffolk!
  This moody Parliament shall be prorogued;
Month, after Month.—Or, if They, never, meet:
It is a Form, the King may, well, dispense with.

Suff.
That, were to ruin Him; your Self; and, Me.

Buck.
Alas, your Majesty is, yet, a Stranger
To the free, stubborn, Spirits of the English!—
Tenacious of their ancient Rights and Customs,
They will not be controll'd, but by their Laws:
Nor, is the King, without his Parliament, secure.

Queen.
What can be done!—

Suff.
Your Eminency sees,
The Queen would be advis'd.

Beauf.
Not I.—Let Those
Advise, who covet an unthankfull Office.
  Let them attaint:—We shall appeal to Rome.

Queen.
Beaufort, excuse a Woman's weak Alarms.
It is Affection, What you construe Rage:
It is a Dread, a Terrour, for my Friends!
  Fain, would I turn aside the impending Mischief;
And, want not Resolution, to attempt:
But, let me know, What is to be attempted!
  Say then, my Lord; advise us, yet, once more;
And finish That, you have so well begun.

Beauf.
There is but one Expedient, now to extricate
The King from Tutelage, and save your Friends:
And You, alone, are equal to the Task.

Queen.
Then, count it done, my Lords!—And, count my Will,
In all Attempts, superiour to my Power.

Beauf.
Thus, then:—The King must be prevail'd upon

To grant an Order for the immediate Seisure
Of Gloucester;—And his Servants.—

Suff.
The Protectour!—

Beauf.
Is Suffolk startled, then?—

Queen.
Beaufort, proceed.

Beauf.
I stand reprov'd.

Queen.
An Order, you were saying,
To Seise the Lord Protectour, and his Servants:—
I like it well.

Beauf.
Only upon Suspicion
(I mean) of Treason, to confine my Nephew
To his Apartment;—For a Day, at most.

Queen.
His Exclusion from the King will Countenance
This Order:—

Beauf.
And, his Party, seeing that Stroke
Pursued, will be Confounded with Surmises.
Beside;—It does prevent their Meeting Him,
At Warwick's:—And, we gain a Day, to vote
His Office, void.—That Difficulty, conquer'd;
The Parliament may be dissolv'd, at Pleasure.

Queen.
Suffolk, and Buckingham;—How say you, Now;

Suff.
The Advice is bold: And, it may prove successfull.

Buckin.
It tallies, well, with what is done already.

Queen.
I answer for the King:—

Beauf.
And I, for Gloucester;
That We shall never dread his Anger, more.

Queen.
My Lord of Winchester; You must with Me.—
The King shall thank you.

Beauf.
I decline, in Years.
When I am dead; your Majesties will lose
An humble, faithful, unambitious, Servant.

Previous section

Next section