Hume.

Come, my masters; the dutchess, I tell you, expects performance of your promises.

Boling.

Master Hume, we are therefore provided: Will her ladyship behold and hear our exorcisms?

Hume.

Ay; What else? fear you not her courage.

Boling.

I have heard her reported to be a woman of an invincible spirit: But it shall be convenient, master Hume, that you be by her aloft, while we be busy below; and so, I pray you, go in God's name, and leave us. [Exit Hume.] Mother Jourdain, be you prostrate,

and grovel on the earth:—John Southwel, read you; and let us to our work.

Elean.
Well said, my masters; and welcome all.
To this geer; the sooner the better.

Boling.
Patience, good lady; wizards know their times:
^{2 note}

The time when scritch-owls cry, and ban-dogs howl^{3 note}

,
When spirits walk, and ghosts break up their graves,
That time best fits the work we have in hand.
Madam, sit you, and fear not; whom we raise,
We will make fast within a hallow'd verge. [Here they perform the ceremonies, and make the circle; Bolingbroke, or Southwel reads, Conjuro te, &c. It thunders and lightens terribly; then the spirit riseth.

Spirit.
Adsum.

M. Jourd.
Asmath,
By the eternal God, whose name and power
Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask;
For, 'till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence.

Spirit.
Ask what thou wilt:—That I had said and done^{4 note}!

Boling.
First, of the king. What shall of him become? [Reading out of a paper.

Spirit.
The duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose;
But him out-live, and die a violent death. [As the Spirit speaks, they write the answer.

Boling.
What fates await the duke of Suffolk?

Spirit.
By Water shall he die, and take his end.

Boling.
What shall befall the duke of Somerset?

Spirit.
Let him shun castles;
Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains,
^{5 note}

Have done, for more I hardly can endure.

Boling.
Descend to darkness, and the burning lake:
^{6 note}

York.
Lay hands upon these traitors, and their trash.—
Beldame, I think, we watch'd you at an inch.—
What, madam, are you there? the king and commonweal
Are deep indebted for this piece of pains;
My lord protector will, I doubt it not,
See you well guerdon'd for these good deserts.

Elean.
Not half so bad as thine to England's king,
Injurious duke; that threat'st where is no cause.

Buck.
True, madam, none at all. What call you this? [Shewing her the papers.
Away with them; let them be clapp'd up close,

And kept asunder:—You, madam, shall with us:—
Stafford, take her to thee.—
We'll see your trinkets here forth-coming all;
Away! [Exeunt guards with Jourdain, Southwell, &c.

York.
^{7 note}Lord Buckingham, methinks, you watch'd her well:
A pretty plot, well chose to build upon!
Now, pray, my lord, let's see the devil's writ.
What have we here? [Reads.
The duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose;
But him out-live, and die a violent death.
Why, this is just, Aio te, Æacida, Romanos vincere posse.
Well, to the rest:
Tell me what fate awaits the duke of Suffolk?
By Water shall he die, and take his end.
What shall betide the duke of Somerset?
Let him shun castles;
Safer shall he be on the sandy plains,
Than where castles mounted stand.
Come, come, my lords:
^{8 note}

The king is now in progress towards saint Albans;
With him, the husband of this lovely lady:
Thither go these news, as fast as horse can carry them;
A sorry breakfast for my lord protector.

Buck.
Your grace shall give me leave, my lord of York,
To be the post, in hope of his reward.

York.
At your pleasure, my good lord.
Who's within there, ho! Enter a Serving-man.
Invite my lords of Salisbury, and Warwick,
To sup with me to-morrow night.—Away! [Exeunt.

Previous section