Shall I not live to be aveng'd on her? Yet must we join with him and with the lords, So, one by one, we'll weed them all at laft; K. Henry. For my part, noble Lords, I care not which, Or Somerset, or York, all's one to me. York. If York have ill demean'd himself in France, Then let him be deny'd the Regentship. Som. If Somer fet be unworthy of the Place, Let York be Regent, I will yield to him. War. Whether your Grace be worthy, yea or no, Difpute not that; York is the worthier. Ĉar. Ambitious Warwick, let thy Betters speak. War. The Cardinal's not my better in the field. Buck. All in this Presence are thy betters, Warwick War. Warwick may live to be the best of all. Sal. Peace, Son; and fhew fome reafon, Buckingham, Why Somerset fhould be preferr'd in this.. Q. Mar. Because the King, forfooth, will have it fo. Glo. Madam, the King is old enough himself To give his Cenfure: these are no woman's matters. Q. Mar. Q. Mar. If he be old enough, what needs your Grace To be Protector of his Excellence? Glo. Madam, I am Protector of the Realm; Suf. Refign it then, and leave thine infolence. Car. The Commons haft thou rack'd: the Clergy's bags Are lank and lean with thy extortions. Som. Thy fumptuous buildings, and thy wife's attire, Have coft a mass of publick treasury. Buck. Thy cruelty in execution Upon offenders hath exceeded law; And left thee to the mercy of the law. Q. Mar. Thy fale of offices and towns in France, If they were known, as the fufpect is great, Would make thee quickly hop without thy head. [Exit Glo. Give me my fan: what, minion? can ye not? [She gives the Dutchess a box on the ear. I cry you mercy, Madam, was it you? Elean. Was't I? yea, I it was, proud French woman : Could I come near your beauty with my nails, I'd fet my ten commandments in your face. K. Henry. Sweet aunt, be quiet; 'twas against her will. Elean. Againft her will, good King? look to't in time, She'll hamper thee and dandle thee like a baby: [Exit Eleanor. [Exit Buckingham. Re-enter Re-enter Duke Humphry. Glo. Now, lords, my choler being over-blown York. I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet: War. That I can witness, and a fouler fact Suf. Peace, head ftrong Warwick. War. Image of pride, why fhould I hold my peace? Enter Horner the Armourer, and his Man Peter, guarded. Suf. Because here is a man accus'd of treafon: Pray God, the Duke of York excufe himself! York. Doth any one accufe York for a traitor? K. Henry. What mean'ft thou, Suffolk? tell me, what are these? Suf. Please it your Majefty, this is the man, K. Henry. Say, man; were these thy words? thought any fuch matter: God is my witness, I am fallly accus'd by the villain. Pet. By these ten bones, my lord, he did fpeak them to me in the garret one night, as we were fcow'r ing my lord of York's armour, York. Bafe dunghil villain, and mechanical, I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech: I do beseech your royal Majefty, Let him have all the rigor of the Law. Arm. Alas, my lord, hang me, if ever I fpake the words. My accufer 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 Majefty, do not caft away an honeft man for a villain's accufation. K. Henry. Uncle, what shall we fay to this in Law? Glo. This doom, my lord, if I may judge: Let Somerfet be Regent o'er the French, Because in York this breeds fufpicion. And let thefe have a day appointed them For fingle Combat in convenient place; For he hath witness of his fervant's malice. This is the law, and this Duke Humphry's doom. K. Henry. Then be it fo: My Lord of Somerfet, (2) We make your Grace Regent over the French. Som. I humbly thank your royal Majefty. Arm. And I accept the Combat willingly. Peter. Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God's fake, pity my cafe; the fpight of Man prevaileth againft me. O lord, have mercy upon me! I fhall never be able to fight a blow: O lord, my heart! Glo. Sirrah, or you must fight, or elfe be hang'd. K. Henry. Away with them to prifon; and the day of Combat fhall be the laft of the next month. Come, Somerset, we'll fee thee fent away. [Flour. Exeunt. (2) K. Henry. Then be it fo, &c.] Thefe two Lines I have inferted from the Old Quarto; and, as I think, very neceffarily. For, without them, the King has not declar'd his Affent to Gloucefter's Opinion: and the Duke of Somerset is made to thank him for the Regency, before the King has deputed him to it. SCENE, SCENE, the Witch's Cave. Enter Mother Jordan, Hume, Southwel, and Bolingbrook. Hume. OME, my mafters; the Dutchess, I tell you, expects performance of your promifes. Boling. Mafter Hume, we are therefore provided: will hef ladyship behold and hear our exorcifms? R Hume. Ay, what else? fear not her courage. Boling. I have heard her reported to be a woman of an invincible spirit; but it fhall be convenient, Mafter Hume, that you be by her aloft, while we be bufy below; and fo I pray you, go in God's name, and leave us. [Exit Hume.] Mother Jordan, be proftrate and grovel on the earth; John Southwel, read you, and let us to our work. Enter Eleanor, above. Elean. Well faid, my mafters, and welcome to all: to this geer, the fooner the better. Boling. Patience, good lady: wizards know their times. Deep night, dark night, the filent of the night, The time of night when Troy was fet on fire, The time, when fcreech-owls cry, and ban-dogs howl; [Here they perform the Ceremonies, and make the circle; Bolingbrook or Southwel reads, Conjuro te, &c. It thunders and lightens terribly; then the Spirit rifeth. Spirit. Adfum. M. Jord. Afmuth, by the eternal God, whofe name And power thou trembleft at, tell what I ask; For till thou speak, thou shalt not pafs from hence. Spirit. Ask what thou wilt.That I had faid, and done ! Boling. First, of the King: What fhall of him become? Spirit. The Duke yet lives, that Henry shall depofe: But him out-live, and die a violent death. [As the Spirit fpeaks, they write the answer. Boling. |