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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,

We shall begin our ancient bickerings".
Farewell, my lords; and say, when I am gone,
I prophesy'd-France will be 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.
Buck.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, with the duke of Suffolk,-
We'll quickly hoise 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, though Hum-
phrey's pride,

And greatness of his place, be grief to us,
Yet let us watch the haughty cardinal;
His insolence is more intolerable
Than all the princes in the land beside;
If Gloster be displac'd, he'll be protector.
Buck. Thou, or I, Somerset, will be protector,
Despight duke Humphrey, or the cardinal.

[Exeunt Buckingham and Somerset.

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20

Which I will win from France, or else be slain.
[Exeunt Warwick and Salisbury.
York. 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,
25 Tochange two dukedoms fora duke'sfairdaughter.
I cannot blame them all: What is't to them?
"Tis thine they give away, and not their own.
Pirates maymake cheappennyworthoftheirpillage,
And purchase friends, and give to courtezans,
Still revelling, like lords, 'till all be gone:
While as the silly owner of the goods

30

35

Weeps over them, and wrings his hapless hands,
And shakes his head, and trembling stands aloof,
While all is shar'd, and all is borne away;
Ready to starve, and dares 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 Ire-
Bear that proportion to my flesh and blood, [land,
40 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,
Even as I have of fertile England's soil.

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 Hum-
phrey,

And, when I spy advantage, claim the crown,
50 For that's the golden mark Í seek to hit:
Nor shall proud Lancaster usurp my right,
Nor hold the sceptre in his childish fist,
Nor wear the diadem upon his head,

Sal. Pride went before, ambition follows him. While these do labour for their own preferment, 45 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 cardinalMore 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 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, [ple : Have made thee fear'd, and honour'd, of the peoi. e. direct to.

To bicker is to skirmish.

Whose church-like humour fits not for a crown. 55 Then, York, be still a while, 'till time do serves Watch thou, and wake, when others be asleep, into the secrets of the state;

To pry

Till Henry, surfeiting in joys of love, [queen, With his new bride, and England's dear-bought 60 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; i. e. Meleager.

Tickle for ticklish.

And

And in 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 York.

SCENE II.

The Duke of Gloster's House.

Enter Duke Humphrey and his wife Eleanor.
Elean. Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd

corn,

Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load?
Why doth the great duke Humphreyknit hisbrows,
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,
Inchas'd with all the honours of the world?
If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face,
Until thy head be circled 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
Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts: [lord,
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 this night doth make me sad.
Elean. 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,

5

10

Elean. What, what, my lord! are you so choleric
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.Mylordprotector, 'tis his highness'pleasure,
You do prepare to ride unto Saint Albans,
Whereas the king and queen do mean to hawk.
Glo. I go.-Come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us?
Elean. Yes, my good lord, I'll follow presently.
[Exit Gloster.
Follow I must, I cannot go before,
While Gloster bears this base and humble mind.
15 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. [man,
20 Where are you there? Sir John! nay, fear not,
We are alone; here's none but thee and I.

25

30

35

[set, 40

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 Edmund duke of Somer-
And William de la Poole first duke of Suffolk.
This was my dreain; what it doth bode, God knows.
Elean. 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,

45

Enter Hume.

Hume. Jesu preserve your royal majesty!
Elean. My majesty! why, man, I am but grace.
Hume. But, by the grace of God, and Hume's
advice,

Your grace's title shall be multiply'd.

Elean. What say'st thou, man? hast thou as
yet conferr'd

With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch;
And Roger Bolingbroke, the conjurer?
And will they undertake to do me good?
Hume. 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.
Elean. It is enough; 'I'I think upon the
questions:

When from Saint Albans we do make return,
We'll see those things effected to the full.
Here,Hume, take this reward: make merry, man,
With thy confederates in this weighty cause.
[Exit Eleanor.

Hume. 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!

And in that chair where kings and queens are 50 The business asketh silent secrecy.

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 outright:
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 hainmering 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.

! Whereas is the same as where.

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,

55 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.

60 They say, A crafty knave does need no broker';
Yet am I Suffolk's and the cardinal's broker.
Hume, if you take not heed, you shall go near
To call them both a pair of crafty knaves,

This is a proverbial expression.

Well,

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Away, base cullions!--Suffolk, let them go.
All. Come, let's be gone. [Exeunt Petitioners.
2. Mar. My lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise,
Is this the fashion in the court of England?
5 Is this the govrenment 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, Poole, when in the city Tours
Thou ran'st a tilt in honour of my love,
And stol'st away the ladies' hearts of France;
I thought, king Henry had resembled thee,
15 In courage, courtship, and proportion:
But all his mind is bent to holiness,

10

Suf. How now, fellow? wouldst any thing 20

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2 Pet. Alas, sir, I am but a poor petitioner of 35 our whole township.

Peter. Against my master, Thomas Horner, for saying, That the duke of York was rightful heir to the crown.

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 college of the cardinals
Would chuse 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.
2. Mar. Beside the haught protector, have we
Beaufort,

Theimperiouschurchman; 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.
2. Mar. Not all these lords do vex me half so
much,

As that proud dame, the lord protector's wife. 2. Mar. What say'st thou? Did the duke of 40 She sweeps it through the court with troops of York say, he was rightful heir to the crown?

Peter. That my mistress was? No, forsooth: my master said, That he was; and that the king was an usurper.

Suf. Who is there?-Take this fellow in, and
send for his master with a poursuivant presently:-
we'll hear more of your matter before the king.
[Exit Peter guarded.
2. Mar. And as for you, that love to be pro-
tected

Under the wings of our protector's grace,
Begin your suits anew, and sue to him.

[Tears the petitions.

45

ladies,

More like an empress, thanduke 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
50 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,

1i. e. happen. 2 Mr. Steevens thinks, that the phrase in the quill, or in quill, implies no more than our written or penn'd supplications. Mr. Tollet supposes it may mean, with great exactness and observance of form, or with the utmost punctilio of ceremony; that it seems to be taken from part of the dress of our ancestors, whose ruffs were quilled; and that while these were worn, it might be the, vogue to say, such a thing is in the quill, i. e. in the reigning mode of taste, as it has been since customary to use the similar phrase of a thing being in print, to express the same circumstance of exactness. Another critic and commentator, however, conjectures, that this may be supposed to have been a phrase formerly in use, and the same with the French en quille, which is said of a man when he stands upright upon his feet without stirring from the place. The proper sense of quille in French is a nine-pin, and in some parts of England nine-pins are still called cayls. Quelle in the old British language also signifies any piece of wood set upright.

That

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 Humphreyin disgrace.
As for the duke of York, this late complaint1
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.

To them enter King Henry, Duke Humphrey, Car-
dinal Beaufort, Buckingham, York, Salisbury,
Warwick, and the Dutchess of Gloster.

K. Henry. For my part, noble lords, I care
not which;

Or Somerset, or York, all's one to me. [France,
York. If York have ill demean'd himself in
Then let him be deny'd the regentship.

5

Elean. 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. Henry. Sweet aunt, be quiet; 'twas against her will. [in time; Elean. Against her will!-Good king, look to't She'll hamper thee, and dandle thee like a baby : Tho' in this place most master wears no breeches, 10 She shall not strike dame Eleanor unreveng'd. [Exit Eleanor.

Buck. Lord cardinal, I will follow Eleanor, And listen after Humphrey, how he proceeds: She's tickled now; her fume can need no spurs, 15 She'll gallop fast enough to her destruction. [Exit Buckingham.

Re-enter Duke Humphrey.

Glo. Now, lords, my choler being over-blown
With walking once about the quadrangle,
20I come to talk of commonwealth affairs.
As for your spightful false objections,
Prove them, and I lie open to the law:
But God in mercy deal so with my soul,
As I in duty love my king and country!
But, to the matter that we have in hand:-
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.

Som. If Somerset be unworthy of the place,
Let York be regent, I will yield to him. [no,
War. Whether your grace be worthy, yea, or
Dispute not that; York is the worthier.
Car. Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak. 25
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 shew some reason, 30
Buckingham,

Why Somerset should be preferr'd in this. [so.
2. Mar. Because the king, forsooth, will have it
Glo. Madam, the king is old enough himself
To give his censure: these are no women's

matters.

[grace
your

2. Mar. If he be old enough, what needs 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

[attire,

35

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 here, 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 40 Did never traitor in the land commit. Suf. Peace, head-strong Warwick! War. Image of pride, why should I hold peace? Enter Horner the Armourer, and his Man Peter, 45 guarded.

Are lank and lean with thy extortions.
Som. Thy sumptuous buildings, and thy wife's 50
Have cost a mass of publick treasury.

Buck. Thy cruelty in execution,
Upon offenders, hath exceeded law,
And left thee to the mercy of the law. [France,

55

2. Mar. Thy sale of offices, and towns in If they were known, as the suspect is great,Would make thee quickly hop without thy head. [Exit Gloster. The Queen drops her fan. Give me my fan: What, minion! can you not? [Gives the Dutchess a box on the ear. 60

I cry you mercy, madam; Was it you?

my

Suf. Because here is a man accus'd of treason:
Pray God, the duke of York excuse himself!
York. Doth any one accuse York for a traitor?
K. Henry. 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.

K. Henry. 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.

Peter. By these ten bones, my lord, [holding up

1i. e. the complaint of Peter the armourer's man against his master, for saying that York was the rightful king. i. e. judgement or opinion.

his

his hands] he did speak them to me in the garret one night, as we were scouring my lord of York's

armour.

York. Base dunghill villain, and mechanical, I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech:-5 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 10 yow upon his knees he would be even with me: I have good witness of this; therefore, I beseech your majesty, do not cast away an honest man for a villain's accusation.

Boling. Patience, good la ly; wizards know

their times:

Deep night, dark night, the silent' of the night, The time of night when Troy was set on fire; The time when scritch-owls cry, and ban-dogs2 howl,

When spirits walk, andghosts break up theirgraves, 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; 20 For, 'till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence. Spirit. Ask what thou wilt:-That I had said and done!

K.Henry.Uncle, what shall we say to this in law: 15 Glo. This doom, my lord, if I may 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. K. Henry. Then be it so. My lord of Somerset, We make your grace lord regent o'er the French. Som. I humbly thank your royal majesty. Arm. And I accept the combat willingly. Peter. Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God's sake, pity my case! the spight of a man prevaileth against ine. O Lord, have mercy upon me! I shall never be able to fight a blow: O Lord, my 30

heart!

Glo. Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd. K. Henry. Away with them to prison: and the day

25

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Hume. Ay; what else? fear you not her courage.

come?

Boling. First, of the king. What shall of him be[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,
Than where castles mounted stand.
Have done, for more I hardly can endure. [lake:
Boling. Descend to darkness, and the burning
False fiend, avoid!

[Thunder and lightning. Spirit descends. Enter the Duke of York, and the Duke of Buckingham, with their guard, and break in. 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,

Boling. I have heard her reported to be a woman of an invincible spirit: But it shall be con-50 venient, master Hume, that you be by her aloft, Injurious duke; that threat'st where is no cause. while we be busy below; and so, I pray you, go Buck. True,madam, none at all. What call you in God's name, and leave us [Exit Hume]. Mother this? [Shewing her the papers. Jourdain, be you prostrate, and grovel on the Away with them; let them be clapp'd up close, earth: John Southwel, read you; and let us to 55 And kept asunder:-You, madain, shall with our work.

Enter Eleanor, above.

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

us:

Stafford, take her to thee.

We'll see your trinkets here forth-coming all; Away! [Exeunt guardswithJourdain, Southwel, &c.

Silent for silence. Mr. Steevens says, that the etymology of the word ban-dogs is unsettled. They seem, however, to have been designed by poets to signify some terrific beings whose office it was to make night hideous.

3 i. e. rewarded.

PP

York.

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