Suffolk; York, Somerset, Buckingham, and Others, following.
Suf.
As by your high imperial majesty
I had in charge at my depart for France,
As procurator to your excellence,
To marry princess Margaret for your grace;
So, in the famous ancient city, Tours,—
In presence of the kings of France, and Sicile,
The dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretaigne, Alenson note,
Seven earls, twelve barons, twenty note reverend bishops,—
I have perform'd note my task, and was espous'd:
And humbly now upon my bended knee,
In sight of England and her lordly peers,
Deliver up my title in the queen
To your most gracious hand note, that are the substance
Of that great shadow I did represent; note
The happiest gift that ever marquess gave,
The fairest queen that ever king receiv'd.
-- 4 --
Kin.
Suffolk, arise.—Welcome, queen Margaret:
I can express no kinder sign of love,
Than this † kind kiss.—O Lord, that lends note note me life,
Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!
For thou hast given me, in this beauteous face,
A world of earthly blessings to my soul,
If sympathy of love unite our thoughts.
Que.
Great king of England, and my gracious lord;
The mutual conference that my mind hath had—
By day, by night; waking, and in my dreams;
In courtly company, or at my beads,—
With you mine alder-liefest sovereign,
Makes me the bolder to salute my king
With ruder terms; such as my wit affords,
And over-joy of heart doth minister.
Kin.
Her sight did ravish: but her grace in speech,
Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty,
Makes me, from wond'ring, fall to weeping joys;
Such is the fulness of my heart's content.—
Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love.
all.
Long live queen Margaret, England's happiness!
Que.
We thank you all.
[Flourish.
Suf.
My lord protector, so it please your grace,
Here are the &dagger2; articles of contracted peace,
Between our sovereign and the French king Charles,
For eighteen months concluded by consent.
Glo. [reads.]
Imprimis, it is agreed between the
French king, Charles, and William de la Poole, marquess
of Suffolk, embassador for Henry king of England,
—that the said Henry shall espouse the lady Margaret,
daughter to note Reignier king of Naples, Sicily, and Jerusalem;
and crown her queen of England, ere the thirtieth
-- 5 --
of May next ensuing. Item, note &lblank; that the dutchies14Q0793 of
Anjou and Maine shall be released and delivered to the
king her fa&wblank;
Kin.
Uncle, how now?
Glo.
Pardon me, gracious lord;
Some sudden qualm hath struck me at the heart,
And dim'd mine eyes, that I can read no further.
Kin.
Uncle of Winchester, I pray, read on.
Car. [taking the Paper from Glo. and reading.]
Item,
it is further agreed between them,—that the dutchies of
Anjou and Maine shall be released and delivered to the
king her father; and she sent over of the king of England's
own proper cost and charges, without having any
dowry.
Kin.
They please us well.—Lord marquess, kneel you down:
We here create thee the first duke of Suffolk,
And girt thee † with the sword.—
Cousin of York, we here discharge your grace
From being regent in the parts of France,
'Till term of eighteen months be full expir'd.—
Thanks, uncle Winchester, Gloster, York, and note Buckingham,
Somerset, Salisbury, and Warwick, thanks;
We thank you all for this great favour done,
In entertainment to my princely queen.
Come, let us in; and with all speed provide
To see her coronation be perform'd.
[Exeunt King, Queen, and Suffolk.
Glo.
Brave peers of England, pillars of the state,
To you duke Humphrey must unload his grief,
Your grief, the common grief of all the land.
What! did my brother Henry spend his youth,
His valour, coin, and people, in the wars?
-- 6 --
Did he so often lodge in open field,
In winter's cold, and summer's parching heat,
To conquer France, his true inheritance?
And did my brother Bedford toil his wits,
To keep by policy what Henry got?
Have you yourselves, Somerset, Buckingham,
Brave York, and Salisbury, note victorious Warwick,
Receiv'd deep scars in France and Normandy?
Or hath mine uncle Beaufort, and myself,
With all the learned counsel of the realm,
Study'd so long, sat in the council-house,
Early and late, debating to and fro
How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe?
Or hath his highness in his infancy
Been crown'd in Paris, in despight of foes;
And shall these labours, and these honours, die?
Shall Henry's conquest, Bedford's vigilance,
Your deeds of war, and all our counsel, die?
O peers of England, shameful is this league!
Fatal this marriage! cancelling your fame;
Blotting your names from books of memory;
Rasing the characters of your renown;
Reversing note monuments of conquer'd France;
Undoing all, as all had never been!
Car.
Nephew, what means this passionate discourse?
This peroration with such circumstance?
For France, 'tis ours; and we will keep it still.
Glo.
Ay, uncle, we will keep it, if we can;
But now it is impossible we should:
Suffolk, the new-made duke that rules the roast,
Hath given the dutchies note of Anjou and Maine
Unto the poor king Reignier, whose large style
-- 7 --
Agrees not with the leanness of his purse.
Sal.
Now, by the death of him that dy'd for all,
These counties were the keys of Normandy:—
But wherefore weeps Warwick, my valiant son?
War.
For grief that they are past recovery:
For, were there hope to conquer them again,
My sword should shed hot blood, mine eyes no tears.
Anjou and Maine! myself did win them both;
Those provinces these arms of mine did conquer:
And are the cities, that I got with wounds,
Deliver'd up again with peaceful words?
Mort Dieu!
Yor.
For Suffolk's duke—may he be suffocate,
That dims the honour of this warlike isle!
France should have torn and rent my very heart,
Before I would have yielded to this league.
I never read but England's kings have had
Large sums of gold, and dowries, with their wives:
And our king Henry gives away his own,
To match with her that brings no vantages.
Glo.
A proper jest, and never heard before,
That Suffolk should demand a whole fifteenth,
For costs and charges in transporting her!
She should have stay'd in France, and starv'd in France,
Before—
Car.
My lord of Gloster, now you grow too hot;
It was the pleasure of my lord the king.
Glo.
My lord of Winchester, I know your mind;
'Tis not my speeches that you do mislike,
But 'tis my presence that doth trouble you.
Rancour will out, proud prelate; in thy face
I see thy fury: if I longer stay,
-- 8 --
We shall begin our ancient bickerings:—
Lordings, farewel note; and say, when I am gone,
I prophesy'd—France will be note lost ere long.
[Exit.
Car.
So, there goes our protector in a rage.
'Tis known to you, he is mine enemy:
Nay, more, an enemy unto you all;
And no great friend, I fear me, to the king.
Consider, lords,—he is the next of blood,
And heir apparent to the English crown;
Had Henry got an empire by his marriage,
And all the wealthy kingdoms of the west,
There's reason he should be displeas'd at it:
Look to it, lords; let not his smoothing words
Bewitch your hearts; be wise, and circumspect.
What though the common people favour him,
Calling him—Humphrey, the good duke of Gloster;
Clapping their hands, and crying with loud voice—
Jesu maintain your royal excellence!
With—God preserve the good duke Humphrey!
I fear me, lords, for all this flattering gloss,
He will be found a dangerous protector.
Buc.
Why should he then protect our sovereign,
He being of age to govern of himself?—
Cousin of Somerset, join you with me,
And, all together note,14Q0794—with the duke of Suffolk,—
We quickly note hoise note duke Humphrey from his seat.
Car.
This weighty business will not brook delay;
I'll to the duke of Suffolk presently.
[Exit.
Som.
Cousin of Buckingham, tho' Humphrey's pride,
And greatness of his place be grief to us,
Yet let us watch the haughty cardinal;
His insolence is more intolerable
-- 6 --
Than all the princes in the land beside;
If Gloster be displac'd, he'll be protector.
Buc.
Thou, or note I, Somerset, will be protector, note
Despight duke Humphrey, or the cardinal.
[Exeunt Buc. and Som.
Sal.
Pride goes before, ambition follows him.
While these do labour for their own preferment,
Behoves it us to labour for the realm.
I never saw but Humphrey duke of Gloster
Did bear him like a noble gentleman:
Oft have I seen the haughty cardinal—
More like a soldier, than a man o'the church;
As stout, and proud, as he were lord of all,—
Swear like a ruffian, and demean himself
Unlike the ruler of a common-weal.—
Warwick my son, the comfort of my age,
Thy deeds, thy plainness, and thy house-keeping,
Hath won note the greatest favour of the commons,
Excepting none but good duke Humphrey:—
And, brother York, thy acts in Ireland,
In bringing them to civil discipline;
Thy late exploits done in the heart of France,
When thou wert regent for our sovereign,
Have made thee fear'd, and honour'd, of the people:—
Join we together, for the publick good;
In what we can, to bridle and suppress
The pride of Suffolk, and the cardinal,
With Somerset's and Buckingham's ambition;
And, as we may, cherish duke Humphrey's deeds,
While they do tend to profit note of the land.
War.
So God help Warwick, as he loves the land,
And common profit of his country.
-- 10 --
Yor.
And so says York, for he hath greatest cause.
Sal.
Then let's make haste, and note look unto the main.
War.
Unto the main! O, father, Maine is lost;
That Maine, which by main force Warwick did win,
And would have kept, so long as breath did last:
Main chance, father, you meant; but I meant note, Maine;
Which I will win from France, or else be slain.
[Exeunt War. and Sal.
Yor.
Anjou, and Maine, are given to the French;
Paris is lost; the state of Normandy
Stands on a tickle point, now they are gone:
Suffolk concluded on the articles;
The peers agreed; and Henry was well pleas'd,
To change two dukedoms for a duke's fair daughter.
I cannot blame them all; What is't to them?
'Tis thine they give away, and not their own.
Pirates may make cheap penn'worth of their pillage,
And purchase friends, and give to courtezans,
Still revelling, like lords, 'till all be gone:
While as the silly owner of the goods
Weeps over them, and wrings his hapless hands,
And shakes his head, and trembling stands aloof,
While all is shar'd, and all is born away;
Ready to starve, and dares note not touch his own.
So York must sit, and fret, and bite his tongue,
While his own lands are bargain'd for, and sold.
Methinks, the realms of England, France, and Ireland,
Bear that proportion to my flesh and blood,
As did the fatal brand Althea burnt,
Unto the prince's heart of Calydon.
Anjou and Maine, both given unto the French!
Cold news for me; for I had hope of France,
-- 11 --
Even as I have of fertile England's soil note.
A day will come, when York shall claim his own;
And therefore I will take the Nevils' parts,
And make a shew of love to proud duke Humphrey,
And, when I spy advantage, claim the crown,
For that's the golden mark I seek to hit:
Nor shall proud Lancaster usurp my right,
Nor hold the scepter in his childish fist,
Nor wear the diadem upon his head,
Whose church-like humour note fits not for a crown.
Then, York, be still a while, 'till time do serve:
Watch thou, and wake, when others be asleep,
To pry into the secrets of the state;
'Till Henry,14Q0795 surfeiting in joys note of love,
With his new bride, and England's dear-bought queen,
And Humphrey with the peers be fall'n at jars:
Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose,
With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfum'd;
And in note my standard bear the arms of York,
To grapple with the house of Lancaster;
And, force perforce, I'll make him yield the crown,
Whose bookish rule hath pull'd fair England down.
[Exit.
SCENE II.
The same. A Room in Gloster's House.
Enter Gloster, and his Dutchess.
Dut.
Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd corn,
Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load?
Why doth the great duke Humphrey knit his brows,
As frowning at the favours of the world?
Why are thine eyes fix'd to the sullen earth,
Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight?
What see'st thou there? king Henry's diadem,
-- 12 --
Inchas'd with all the honours of the world?
If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face,
Until thy head be circl'd with the same.
Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious gold:
What, is't too short? I'll lengthen it with mine:
And, having both together heav'd it up,
We'll both together lift our heads to heaven;
And never more abase our sight so low,
As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground.
Glo.
O Nell, sweet Nell, if thou dost love thy lord,
Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts:
And may that thought, when I imagine ill
Against my king and nephew, virtuous Henry,
Be my last breathing in this mortal world!
My troublous dream note this night doth make me sad.
Dut.
What dream'd my lord? tell me, and I'll requite it
With sweet rehearsal of my morning's dream.
Glo.
Methought, this staff, mine office-badge in court,
Was broke in twain; by whom, I have forgot,
But, as I think, it was by the cardinal;
And on the pieces of the broken wand
Were plac'd the heads of Edmond duke of Somerset,
And William de la Poole first duke of Suffolk.
This was my dream; what it doth bode, God knows.
Dut.
Tut, this was nothing but an argument,
That he, that breaks a stick of Gloster's grove,
Shall lose his head for his presumption.
But list to me, my Humphrey, my sweet duke:
Methought, I sat in seat of majesty,
In the cathedral church of Westminster,
And in that chair where kings and queens are crown'd note;
Where Henry, and dame Margaret, kneel'd to me,
-- 13 --
And on my head did set the diadem.
Glo.
Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide out-right:
Presumptuous dame, ill-nurtur'd Eleanor!
Art thou not second woman in the realm;
And the protector's wife, belov'd of him?
Hast thou not worldly pleasure at command,
Above the reach or compass of thy thought?
And wilt thou still be hammering treachery,
To tumble down thy husband, and thyself,
From top of honour to disgrace's feet?
Away from me, and let me hear no more.
Dut.
What, what, my lord! are you so cholerick
With Eleanor, for telling but her dream?
Next time, I'll keep my dreams unto myself,
And not be check'd.
Glo.
Nay, be not angry, I am pleas'd again.
Enter a Messenger.
Mes.
My lord protector, 'tis his highness' pleasure,
You do prepare to ride unto Saint Alban's,
Whereas the king and queen do mean to hawk.
Glo.
I go.—Come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us too?
Dut.
Yes, my good lord, I'll follow presently.—
[Exeunt Glo. and Mes.
Follow I must, I cannot go before,
While Gloster bears this base and humble mind.
Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood,
I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks,
And smooth my way upon their headless necks:
And, being a woman, I will not be slack
To play my part in fortune's pageant.
Where are you there? Sir John! nay, fear not, man,
We are alone; here's none but thee, and I.
-- 14 --
Enter Hume.
Hum.
Jesu preserve your royal majesty!
Dut.
My majesty! why, man, I am note but grace.
Hum.
But, by the grace of God, and Hume's advice,
Your grace's title shall be multiply'd.
Dut.
What say'st thou, man? hast thou as yet confer'd
With Margery Jourdain note, the cunning witch;
With Roger Bolingbrook, the conjurer?
And will they undertake to do me good?
Hum.
This they have promised,—to shew your highness
A spirit rais'd from depth of under ground,
That shall make answer to such questions,
As by your grace shall be propounded him.
Dut.
It is enough, I'll think upon the questions:
When from Saint Alban's we do make return,
We'll see those things effected to the full.
Here, Hume, take this &dagger2; reward; make merry, man,
With thy confederates in this weighty cause.
[Exit Dutchess.
Hum.
Hume must make merry with the dutchess' gold;
Marry, and shall. But, how now, sir John Hume?
Seal up your lips, and give no words but—mum;
The business asketh silent secresy.
Dame Eleanor gives gold, to bring the witch:
Gold cannot come amiss, were she a devil.
Yet have I gold, flies from another coast:
I dare not say, from the rich cardinal,
And from the great and new-made duke of Suffolk;
Yet I do find it so: for, to be plain,
They, knowing dame Eleanor's aspiring humour,
Have hired me to undermine the dutchess,
And buz these conjurations in her brain.
-- 15 --
They say, A crafty knave does need no broker;
Yet am I Suffolk note and the cardinal's broker:
Hume, if you take not heed, you shall go near
To call them both—a pair of crafty knaves.
Well, so it stands: And thus, I fear, at last,
Hume's knavery will be the dutchess' wreck;
And her attainture will be Humphrey's fall:
Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all.
[Exit.
SCENE III.
The same. A Room in the Palace.
Enter Peter, and Others,14Q0796 with Petitions.
1 P.
My masters, let's stand close; my lord protector
will come this way by and by, and then we may deliver
our supplications in the quill.
2 P.
Marry, the Lord protect him, for he's a good
man! Jesu bless him!
Enter Suffolk, and Queen.
Pet.
Here 'a comes, methinks, and the queen with
him: I'll be the first, sure.
2 P.
Come back, fool; this is the duke of Suffolk,
and not my lord protector.
Suf.
How now, fellow? would'st any thing with me?
1 P.
I pray, my lord, pardon me! I took ye for my
lord protector.
Que.
For my note lord protector! are your supplications
to his lordship? Let me see them: What is thine?
[taking a Petition.
1 P.
Mine is, an't please your grace, against John
Goodman, my lord cardinal's man, for keeping my house,
and lands, and wife and all, from me.
Suf.
Thy wife too? that is some wrong, indeed.—
What's yours?—[taking another.] What's here!
[reads.]
-- 16 --
Against the duke of Suffolk, for enclosing the commons of
Melford.—How now, sir knave?
2 P.
Alas, sir, I am but a poor petitioner of our
whole township.
Pet. [giving his Petition.]
Against my master, Thomas
Horner, for saying, That the duke of York was
rightful heir to the crown.
Que.
What say'st thou? Did the duke of York say,
he was rightful heir to the crown?
Pet.
That my mistress was? No, forsooth: my master
said, That he was; and that the king was an usurper.
Suf.
Who is there?—[Enter Servants.] Take this
fellow in, and send for his master with a pursuivant
presently:—we'll hear more of your matter before the
king.
[Exeunt Servants, with Peter.
Que.
And as for you, that love to be protected
Under the wings of our protector's grace,
Begin your suits anew, and sue to him.
[tears the Petitions.
Away, base cullions!—Suffolk, let them go.
1 P.
Come, let's be gone.
[Exeunt Petitioners.
Que.
My lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise,
Is this the fashion note in the court of England?
Is this the government of Britain's isle,
And this the royalty of Albion's king?
What, shall king Henry be a pupil still,
Under the surly Gloster's governance?
Am I a queen in title and in style,
And must be made a subject to a duke?
I tell thee, Pole, when in the city Tours
Thou ran'st a tilt in honour of my love,
And stol'st away the ladies' hearts of France;
-- 17 --
I thought, king Henry had resembl'd thee,
In courage, courtship, and proportion:
But all his mind is bent to holiness,
To number Ave-Maries on his beads:
His champions are—the prophets, and apostles;
His weapons, holy saws of sacred writ;
His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves
Are brazen images of canoniz'd saints.
I would, the colledge of the cardinals
Would choose him pope, and carry him to Rome,
And set the triple crown upon his head;
That were a state fit for his holiness.
Suf.
Madam, be patient: as I was cause
Your highness came to England, so will I
In England work your grace's full content.
Que.
Beside the haught note protector, have we Beaufort,
The imperious churchman; Somerset, Buckingham,
And grumbling York: and not the least of these,
But can do more in England than the king.
Suf.
And he of these, that can do most of all,
Cannot do more in England than the Nevils:
Salisbury, and Warwick, are no simple peers.
Que.
Not all these lords do vex me half so much,
As that proud dame, the lord protector's wife.
She sweeps it through note the court with troops of ladies,
More like an empress, than duke Humphrey's wife;
Strangers in court do take her for the queen:
She bears a duke's revenues on her back,
And in her heart she scorns our poverty:
Shall I not live to be aveng'd on her?
Contemptuous base-born callot as she is,
She vaunted 'mongst her minions t'other day,
-- 18 --
The very train of her worst wearing-gown
Was better worth than all my father's lands,
'Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter.
Suf.
Madam, myself have lim'd a bush for her;
And plac'd a quire of such enticing birds,
That she will light to listen to their lays,
And never mount to trouble you again.
So, let her rest: And, madam, list to me;
For I am bold to counsel you in this.
Although we fancy not note the cardinal,
Yet must we join with him, and with the lords,
'Till we have brought duke Humphrey in disgrace:
As for the duke of York,—this late complaint
Will make but little for his benefit:
So, one by one, we'll weed them all at last,
And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.
Enter King Henry; York, and Somerset,
talking with him, Duke of Gloster, and Dutchess,
Cardinal Beaufort, Buckingham, Salisbury, and Warwick.
Kin.
For my part, noble lords, I care not which;
Or Somerset, or York, all's one to me.
Yor.
If York have ill demean'd himself in France,
Then let him be denay'd note the regentship.
Som.
If Somerset be unworthy of the place,
Let York be regent, I will yield to him.
War.
Whether your grace be worthy, yea, or no,
Dispute not that; York is the worthier.
Car.
Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak.
War.
The cardinal's not my better in the field.
Buc.
All in this presence are thy betters, Warwick.
War.
Warwick may live to be the best of all.
-- 19 --
Sal.
Peace, son;—and shew some reason, Buckingham,
Why Somerset should be prefer'd in this.
Que.
Because the king, forsooth, will have it so.
Glo.
Madam, the king is old enough himself
To give his censure: these are no women's matters.
Que.
If he be old enough, what needs your grace
To be protector of his excellence?
Glo.
Madam, I am protector of the realm;
And, at his pleasure, will resign my place.
Suf.
Resign it then, and leave thine insolence.
Since thou wert king, (as who is king, but thou?)
The commonwealth hath daily run to wreck:
The dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the seas;
And all the peers and nobles of the realm
Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty.
Car.
The commons hast thou rack'd; the clergy's bags note,
Are lank and lean with thy extortions.
Som.
Thy sumptuous buildings, and thy wife's attire,
Have cost a mass of publick treasury note.
Buc.
Thy cruelty in execution,
Upon offenders, hath exceeded law,
And left thee to the mercy of the law.
Que.
Thy sale of offices, and towns in France,—
If they were known, as the suspect is great,—
Would make thee quickly hop without thy head.
[Exit Gloster.
Give me my fan note;14Q0797 What, minion, can you not?
[gives the Dutchess a Box on the Ear.
I cry you mercy, madam; Was it you?
Dut.
Was't I? yea, I it was, proud Frenchwoman:
Could I come near your beauty with my nails,
I'd set note my ten commandments in your face.
-- 20 --
Kin.
Sweet aunt, be quiet; 'twas against her will.
Dut.
Against her will, good king? look to't in time;
She'll hamper thee, and dandle thee like a baby:
Though in this place most master wears note no breeches,
She shall not strike dame Eleanor unreveng'd.
[Exit Dutchess.
&clquo;Buc.
&clquo;Lord cardinal, I will follow Eleanor;&crquo;
&clquo;And listen after Humphrey, how he proceeds:&crquo;
&clquo;She's tickl'd now; her fume can note need no spurs,&crquo;
&clquo;She'll gallop fast enough note to her destruction.&crquo;
[Exit Buckingham.
Re-enter Gloster.
Glo.
Now, lords, my choler being over-blown
With walking once about the quadrangle,
I come to talk of commonwealth affairs.
As for your spiteful false objections,
Prove them, and I lye open to the law:
But God in mercy so deal with my soul,
As I in duty love my king and country!
But, to the matter that we have in hand:—
I say, my sovereign, York is meetest man
To be your regent in the realm of France.
Suf.
Before we make election, give me leave
To shew some reason, of no little force,
That York is most unmeet of any man.
Yor.
I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet.
First, for I cannot flatter thee in pride:
Next, if I be appointed for the place,
My lord of Somerset will keep me here,
Without discharge, money, or furniture,
'Till France be won into the dauphin's hands:
Last time, I danc'd attendance on his will,
-- 21 --
'Till Paris was besieg'd, famish'd, and lost.
War.
That can I witness; and a fouler fact
Did never traitor in the land commit.
Suf.
Peace, head-strong Warwick!
War.
Image of pride, why should I hold my peace?
Enter Servants of Suffolk, bringing in the Armorer, and his Man.
Suf.
Because here is a man accus'd of treason:
Pray God, the duke of York excuse himself.
Yor.
Doth any one accuse York for a traitor?
Kin.
What mean'st thou, Suffolk; tell me? What are these?
Suf.
Please it your majesty, this is the man
That doth accuse his master of high treason:
His words were these;—that Richard, duke of York,
Was rightful heir unto the English crown;
And that your majesty was an usurper.
Kin.
Say, man, were these thy words?
Arm.
An't shall please your majesty, I never said
nor thought any such matter: God is my witness, I am
falsely accus'd by the villain.
Pet.
By these ten bones, my lords, he did speak
them to me in the garret one night, as we were scouring
my lord of York's armour.
Yor.
Base dunghil villain, and mechanical,
I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech:—
I do beseech your royal majesty,
Let him have all the rigour of the law.
Arm.
Alas, my lord, hang me, if ever I spake the
words. My accuser is my prentice; and when I did
correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow upon
his knees he would be even with me: I have good witness
of this; therefore, I beseech your majesty, do not
-- 22 --
cast away an honest man for a villain's accusation.
Kin.
Uncle, what shall we say to this in law?
Glo.
This do, my note lord, if I may be the judge.
Let Somerset be regent o'er the French,
Because in York this breeds suspicion:
And let these have a day appointed them
For single combat, in convenient place;
For he hath witness of his servant's malice:
This is the law, and this duke Humphrey's doom.
Som.
I humbly thank your royal majesty.
Arm.
And I accept the combat willingly.
Pet.
Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God's sake,
pity my case! the sight of my master14Q0798 prevaileth note note against
me. O, Lord have mercy upon me! I shall never be
able to fight a blow: O Lord, my heart!
Glo.
Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd.
Kin.
Away with them to prison: and the day
Of combat shall be the last of the next month.—
Come, Somerset, we'll see thee sent away.
[Exeunt.
SCENE IV.
The same. Gloster's Garden. A Table set out, and Things proper for the Incantation.
Enter Hume,14Q0799 Bolingbrook, Southwel, and Mother Jourdain.
Hum.
Come, my masters; the dutchess, I tell you,
expects performance of your promises.
Bol.
Master Hume, we are therefore provided: Will
her ladyship behold and hear our exorcisms?
Hum.
Ay; What else? fear you not her courage.
Bol.
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 be note busy below;
-- 23 --
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.
Enter Dutchess, at a Window, above.
Dut.
Well said, my masters; and welcome all. Come,
to this geer; the sooner the better.
Bol.
Patience, good lady; wizards know their times:
Deep night, dark night, the silent of note the night,
The time of night when Troy was set on fire;
The time when scritch-owls cry, and ban dogs note howl,
And 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 do the Ceremonies belonging, and
make the Circle: Bolingbrook, or Southwel, reads,
Conjuro te, &c. It thunders and lightens terribly;
then the Spirit riseth.
Spi.
Adsum.
Jou.
Asmath,
By the eternal God, whose name and power
Thou trembl'st at, answer that I shall note ask;
For, 'till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence.
Spi.
Ask what thou wilt:—That I had said and done!
Bol.
First, of the king; [reading out of a Paper.] What shall become of him note?
Spi.
The duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose;
But him note out-live, and die a violent death.
[Southwel writes the Answer.
Bol.
What fate awaits note the duke of Suffolk?
Spi.
By Water shall he die, and take his end.
-- 24 --
Bol.
What shall befal the duke of Somerset?
Spi.
Let him shun castles;
Safer shall he be note on sand,14Q0800
Than where castles mounted stand.
Have done, for more I hardly can endure.
Bol.
Descend to darkness, and the burning lake;
False fiend, avoid!
[Thunder. Spirit descends.
A Noise of breaking in.
Enter York, and Buckingham, hastily; Guard, and Others, with them.
Yor.
Lay hands upon these traitors, and their trash.—
Beldame, I think, we watch'd you to an inch.—
What, madam, are you there? the king and commonweal
Are deep indebted note for this piece of pains;
My lord protector will, I doubt it not,
See you well guerdon'd for these good deserts.
Dut.
Not half so bad as thine to England's king,
Injurious duke; that threat'st where is no cause.
Buc.
True, madam, none at all. What call you this?
[shewing her the Papers.
Away with them; let them be clap'd up close,
And kept asunder:—You, madam, shall with us;—
Stafford, take her to thee.
[Exeunt some to the Dut.
We'll see your trinkets here forth-coming all;
Away.
[Exeunt others, with Bol. Sou. &c.
Yor.
Lord Buckingham, methinks, you watch'd her well:
A pretty plot, well chose note to build upon!
Now, pray, my lord, let's see the devil's writ.
What have we here?
[taking the Papers, and reading,
The duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose;
But him out-live, and die a violent death.
Why, this is just,—
-- 25 --
Aio te, Æacida, Romanos vincere posse.
Well, to the rest:
Q. What note fate awaits the duke of Suffolk?
A. By Water shall he die, and take his end.
Q. What shall befal the duke of Somerset?
A. Let him shun castles;
Safer shall he be on sand,
Than where castles mounted stand.
Come, come away, my lords: these oracles
Are hardily attain'd, and hardly note understood.
The king is now in progress towards Saint Alban's;
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.
Buc.
Your grace shall give me leave, my lord of York,
To be the post, in hope of his reward.
Yor.
At your pleasure, my good lord.—Who's within there, ho!
Enter a Servant.
Invite my lords of Salisbury, and Warwick,
To sup with me to-morrow night—Away.
[Exeunt.
Edward Capell [1767], Mr William Shakespeare his comedies, histories, and tragedies, set out by himself in quarto, or by the Players his Fellows in folio, and now faithfully republish'd from those Editions in ten Volumes octavo; with an introduction: Whereunto will be added, in some other Volumes, notes, critical and explanatory, and a Body of Various Readings entire (Printed by Dryden Leach, for J. and R. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S10601].
