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.

Q. Mar. Beside the haught 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.

Q. Mar. Not all these lords do vex me half so much, As that proud dame, the lord protector's wife:

She sweeps it through 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 callat' as she is,
She vaunted 'mongst her minions t' other day,
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 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 will weed all the realm,*
And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.

1 A common abusive epithet applied to women. 2 we'll weed them all at last in f. e.

Give me my fan: what, minion! can you not?

[Giving the Duchess a box on the ear.

I cry you mercy, madam: was it you?

Duch. Was 't I? yea, I it was, proud French-woman: Could I come near your beauty with my nails, I'd set my ten commandments in your face.

K. Hen. Sweet aunt, be quiet: 't was against her will. Duch. 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 wear no breeches, She shall not strike dame Eleanor unreveng'd. [Aside. [Exit Duchess.

Buck. Lord Cardinal, I will follow Eleanor, And listen after Humphrey, how he proceeds: She's tickled now; her fume can need no spurs, She'll gallop fast' enough to her destruction.

[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 lie 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 show some reason, of no little force,
That York is most unmeet of any man.

York. 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 there,
Without discharge, money, or furniture,
Till France be won into the Dauphin's hands.
Last time I danc'd attendance on his will,
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, headstrong Warwick !

War. Image of pride, why should I hold my peace? 1 far in f. e. Pope also reads fast.

Glo. Sirrah, or you must fight or else be hang'd. K. Hen. 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. The Duke of GLOSTER'S

Garden.

Enter MARGERY JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTHWELL, and BOLINGBROKE.

Hume. Come, my masters: the duchess, 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 Southwell, read you, and let us to our work.

Enter Duchess above.

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

Boling. Patience, good lady; wizards know their times, Deep night, dark night, and silence' of the night, The time of night when Troy was set on fire; The time when screech-owls cry, and ban-dogs howl,, And spirits walk, and ghosts break ope2 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 belonging, and make the Circle: BOLINGBROKE, reads, Conjuro, te, &c. It thunders and lightens terribly; then the Spirit riseth.

Spir. 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.
Spir. Ask what thou wilt.-That I had said and done!
Boling. First of the king: what shall of him become?
1 silent in f. e. 2 up: in f. e.