The dramatic works of William Shakspere, from the text of Johnson, Stevens [sic] & Reed, with glossarial notes, his life, etc. by N. Rowe

Suf. Thy wife too? that is some wrong, in- |
deed. 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?
Peter. That my master 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.
Q. 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.

Away, base cullions!*-Suffolk, let them go.
[Tears the Petition.
All. Come, let's be gone.
[Exeunt PETITIONERS.

Q. Mar. My lord of Suffolk, say, is this the
guise,

Is this the fashion 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, 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,
In courage, courtship, and proportion:
But all his mind is bent to holiness,
To number Are-Maries on his beads:
His champions are-the prophets and apostles;
His weapons, holy sawst of sacred writ;
His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves
Are brazen images of canoniz'd saints.
I would, the college of cardinals
Would choose him pope, and carry him to
And set the triple crown upon his head;
That were a state fit for his holiness.

[Rome,

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. Mur. Beside the haught protector, have
we Beaufort,

The imperious churchman; Somerset, Buck-
ingham,
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 her poverty:
Shall I not live to be aveng'd on her?
Contemptuous base-born callatt as she is,
+ Sayings. + Drab, trull

Scoundrels.

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 daugh-

ter.

Suf. Madam, myself have lim'd a bush for
And plac'd a quire of such enticing birds,
her;
And never mount to trouble you again.
That she will fight to listen to the lays,
For I am bold to counsel you in this.
So, let her rest: And, madam, list to me;
Although we fancy not the cardinal,
Till we have brought duke Humphrey in dis-
Yet must we join with him, and with the lords,
As for the duke of York,-this late complaint*
grace.
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,
conversing with him; Duke and Duchess of
GLOSTER, Cardinal BEAUFORT, BUCKINGHAM,
SALISBURY, and WARWICK.

K. Hen. 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 denay'd+ 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.

Buck. All in this presence are thy betters,

Warwick.

War. Warwick may live to be the best of
all.

Sal. Peace, son;-and show some reason,
Buckingham,

Why Somerset should be preferr'd in this.
Q. Mar. 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.

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; And, at his pleasure, will resign my place. Suf. Resign it then, and leave thine inso

lence.

Since thou wert king, (as who is king, but
[thou?
The commonwealth hath daily run to wreck:
And all the peers and nobles of the realm
The Dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the seas;
Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty.

Cur. The commons hast thou rack'd; the
Are rank and lean with thy extortions.
clergy's bags
Som. Thy sumptuous buildings, and thy
wife's attire,

Have cost a mass of public treasury.
Buck. Thy cruelty in execution,

1. e. The complaint of Peter the armourer's man against his master.

+ Denay is frequently used instead of deny among the old writers

+ Censure here means simply judgement or opinion.

Tpon offenders, hath exceeded law,
And left thee to the mercy of the law.

Q. Mar. 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. The Queen drops her Fan. Give me my fan: What, minion! can you not? [Gives the DUCHESS a box on the Eur. 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; 'twas 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. [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 un

meet.

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 I can 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 HORNER

and PETER.

said nor thought any such matter: God is my witness, I am falsely accused by the villain.

Pet. By these ten bones, my lords, [Holding up 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:I do beseech your royal majesty, Let him have all the rigour of the law.

Hor. 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 cast away an honest man for a villain's accusation. K. Hen. Uncle, what shall we say to this in law?

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. Hen. 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. Hor. And I accept the combat willingly. Pet. Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God's sake, pity my case! the spite of man prevaileth 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.

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 sume.-The duke of GLOSTER'S Garden.

Enter MARGERY JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTH WELL, 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?*

Suf. Thy wife too? that is some wrong, in- | deed. 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? Peter. That my master 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. Q. 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 Petition. Away, base cullions!*-Suffolk, let them go. All. Come, let's be gone, [Exeunt PETITIONERS. Q. Mar. My lord of Suffolk, say, is this the

guise,

His champions are-the prophets and apostles;
His weapons, holy sawst of sacred writ;
His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves
Are brazen images of canoniz'd saints.
I would, the college of cardinals
Would choose him pope, and carry him to
And set the triple crown upon his head;
That were a state fit for his holiness.

[Rome,

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. Mur. Beside the haught protector, have we Beaufort,

The imperious churchman; Somerset, Buckingham,

Suf. Madam, myself have lim'd a bush. her;

And plac'd a quire of such enticing birds,
That she will fight to listen to the 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
Till we have brought duke Humphrey
grace.

As for the duke of York, this late conj
Will make but little for his benefit:
So, one by one, we'll weed them all
And you yourself shall steer the hap

[these,

And, at h
Suf. F

And grumbling York: and not the least of But can do more in England than the king. Suf. And he of these, that can do n

all,

If they were known, as the
Would make thee quickly b
[Exit GLOSTER. The pu
Give me my fan: What
[Gives the Dre

I cry you mercy, madan;
Duck. Wash Itys. In

Could I

T'd set many

E. Ben Sm

Be shal

- наш ть

The time when screech-owls cry, and bandogs 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 perform the Ceremonies appertaining, and make the Circle; BOLINGBROKE, or SOUTHWELL, 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? [Reading out of a Paper. Spir. The duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose;

But him outlive, and die a violent death. [As the SPIRIT speaks, SOUTHWELL writes the

answer.

Boling. What fate awaits the duke of Suffolk? Spir. By water shall he die, and take his end.

Boling. What shall befall the duke of Somerset?

Spir. 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.
Boling. Descend to darkness, and the burn-
ing lake:

False fiend, avoid!

[Thunder and Lightning. SPIRIT descends. Enter YORK and BUCKINGHAM, hastily, with their Guards, and others.

their trash.

York. Lay hands upon these traitors, and Beldame, I think, we watch'd you at an [inch.What, madam, are you there? the king and

commonweal

Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains;
My lord protector will, I doubt it not,
See you well guerdon'dt for these good deserts.
Duch. Not half so bad as thine to England's
king,

Injurious duke; that threat'st where is no

cause.

Buck. True madam, none at all. What call you this? Away with them; let them be clapp'd up close, [Showing her the papers. And kept asunder:-You, madam, shall with

us:

Stafford, take her to thee.

We'll see your trinkets here all forth-coming; [Exit DUCHESS from above. All.-Away!

[Exeunt Guards, with SOUTH. BOLING. &c. York. Lord Buckingham, methinks, you watch'd her well:

A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon!
Now, pray, my lord, let's see the devil's writ.
What have we here?
The duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose;
[Reuds.
But him outlive, and die a violent death.
Why, this is just,

acida, Romanos vincere posse.

Aio te,

* Village-dogs.

Well, to the rest:

By water shall he die, and take his end.—
Tell me what fate awaits the duke of Suffolk?
What shall betide the duke of Somerset?
Safer shall he be upon the sundy plains,
Let him shun castles;
Than where castles mounted stand.
These oracles are hardily attain'd,
Come, come, my lords;
The king is now in progress toward Saint
And hardly understood.
[Albans.
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.
Buck. Your grace shall give me leave, my
To be the post, in hope of his reward.
lord of York,
Who's within there, ho!
York. At your pleasure, my good lord.—

And what a pitch she flew above the rest!— To see how God in all his creatures works! Yea, man and birds, are faint of climbing high.

Suf. No marvel, an it like your majesty, My lord protector's hawks do tower so well; They know their master loves to be aloft, And bears his thoughts above his falcon's pitch.

That mounts no higher than a bird can soar. Glo. My lord, 'tis but a base ignoble mind Car. I thought as much; he'd be above the

+ Rewarded.

+ Fond

↑ I. e. Thy mind is working on a crown

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The dramatic works of William Shakspere, from the text of Johnson, Stevens ...