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 pennyworths of their pillage, And purchase friends, and give to courtesans, Still revelling, like lords, till all be gone: While-as the silly owner of the goods Weeps over them, and wrings his hapless hands, Bear that proportion to my flesh and blood, 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, Even as I have of fertile England's soil. A day will come, when York shall claim his own; And, when I spy advantage, claim the crown, Whose church-like humours fit not for a crown. Till Henry, surfeiting in joys 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 per fum'd; And in my standard bear the arms of York, To grapple with the house of Lancaster; crown, Whose bookish rule hath pull'd fair England down. SCENE II. The same. [Exit. A Room in the Duke of Gloster's House. Enter GLOSTER and the Duchess. Duch. 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? Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts: 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, 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. Duch. 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; Where Henry, and dame Margaret, kneel'd to me, And on my head did set the diadem. Glo. Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide out- Presumptuous dame, ill nurtur'd Eleanor! With Eleanor, for telling but her dream? Glo. Nay, be not angry, I am pleas'd again. Enter a Messenger. Mess. My lord protector, 'tis his highness' pleasure, You do prepare to ride unto Saint Albans, While Gloster bears this base and humble mind, 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. Enter HUME. Hume. Jesu preserve your royal majesty ! Duch. What say'st thou, majesty! I am but grace. Hume. But, by the grace of God, and Hume's advice, Your grace's title shall be multiplied. Duch. What say'st thou, man? hast thou as yet conferr❜d With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch; A spirit rais'd from depth of under ground, When from Saint Albans we do make return, man, With thy confederates in this weighty cause. [Exit Duchess. Hume. Hume must make merry with the duchess' gold; Marry, and shall. But how now, Sir John Hume? Seal up your lips, and give no words but-mum ! Dame Eleanor gives gold, to bring the witch: Yet I do find it so: for, to be plain, They, knowing dame Eleanor's aspiring hu mour, Have hired me to undermine the duchess, And buz these conjurations in her brain. [Exit. SCENE III. The same. A Room in the Palace. Enter PETER, and Others, with Petitions. 1 Pet. 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 Pet. Marry, the Lord protect him, for he's a good man! Jesu bless him! Enter SUFFOLK, and QUEEN MARGARET. 1 Pet. Here 'a comes, methinks, and the queen with him: I'll be the first, sure. 2 Pet. Come back, fool; this is the duke of Suffolk, and not my lord protector. Suff. How now, fellow? would'st any thing with me? 1 Pet. I pray, my lord, pardon me! I took ye for my lord protector. Q. Mar. [Reading the superscription.] To my lord protector! are your supplications to his lordship? Let me see them: What is thine? 1 Pet. 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. Suff. Thy wife too? that is some wrong indeed. -What's yours?-What's here? [Reads.] Against the duke of Suffolk, for enclosing the commons of Melford.-How now, sir knave? 2 Pet. Alas, sir, I am but a poor petitioner of our whole township. Peter. [Presenting his petition.] Against my master, Thomas Horner, for saying, That the duke of York was rightful heir to the crown. Q. Mar. What say'st thou? Did the Duke of York say, he was rightful heir to the crown? |