K. Henry.
What tidings with our cousin Buckingham?

Buck.
Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold.
A sort of naughty persons, lewdly bent,
Under the countenance and confederacy
Of lady Eleanor, the Protector's wife,
The ring-leader and head of all this rout,
Have practis'd dangerously against your state,
Dealing with witches and with Conjurers,
Whom we have apprehended in the fact,
Raising up wicked Spirits from under ground,
Demanding of King Henry's life and death,
And other of your Highness' Privy-council,

As more at large your Grace shall understand.

Car.
And so, my Lord Protector, by this means
^{9 note}Your Lady is forth coming yet at London.
This news, I think, hath turn'd your weapon's edge.
'Tis like, my Lord, you will not keep your hour. [Aside to Glo'ster.

Glo.
Ambitious Church-man! leave t'afflict my heart!
Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my powers;
And vanquish'd as I am, I yield to thee,
Or to the meanest groom.

K. Henry.
O God, what mischiefs work the wicked ones,
Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby!

Queen.
Glo'ster, see here the tainture of thy nest,
And look, thyself be faultless, thou wert best.

Glo.
Madam, for myself, to heav'n I do appeal,
How I have lov'd my King and common-weal;
And for my wife, I know not how it stands.
Sorry am I to hear what I have heard;
Noble she is; but if she have forgot
Honour and Virtue, and convers'd with such
As, like to pitch, defile Nobility,
I banish her my bed and company,
And give her as a prey to law and shame,
That hath dishonour'd Glo'ster's honest name.

K. Henry.
Well, for this night we will repose us here;
To morrow toward London back again,
To look into this business thoroughly.
And call these foul offenders to their answers;
^{1 note}


And poise the Cause in Justice' equal scales,
Whose beam stands sure, whose rightful cause prevails. [Flourish. Exeunt.

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