Cannot do more in England than the Nevils: 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; 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 So, one by one, we'll weed them all at last, Enter King HENRY, YORK, and SOMERSET, K. Hen. For my part, noble lords, I care not which; 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 Are lank and lean with thy extortions. Som. Thy sumptuous buildings, and thy wife's attire, Have cost a mass of public treasury. Buck. Thy cruelty in execution, Q. Mar. Thy sale of offices, and towns in If they were known, as the suspect is great,— [Exit Gloster. The Queen drops her fan. Give me my fan: What, minion! can you not? [Gives the Duchess a box on the ear. I cry you mercy, madam; Was it you? 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, Or Somerset, or York, all's one to me. She shall not strike Dame Eleanor unreveng’d. [Exit Duchess. Buck. Lord Cardinal, I will follow Eleanor, 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 overblown, 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 here, Without discharge, money, or furniture, Enter Servants of SUFFOLK, bringing in HOR- Saf. 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. Hen. What mean'st thou, Suffolk ? tell me : What are these? Suf. Please it your majesty, this is the man Was rightful heir unto the English crown; K. Hen. Say, man, were these thy words? Hor. An't shall please your majesty, I never 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. 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. 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, the silent 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 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 3 then the Spirit riseth. Spir. Adsum. M. Jourd. Asmath, By the eternal God, whose name and power 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 ? [Thunder and lightning. Spirit descends. Enter YORK and BUCKINGHAM, hastily, with their Guards, and Others. York. Lay hands upon these traitors, and their trash. Beldame, I think, we watch'd you at an inch.- Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains; Injurious duke; that threat'st where is no cause. us: Stafford, take her to thee. [Exit Duchess from above. We'll see your trinkets here all forthcoming; 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 ! Aio te, Eacida Romanos vincere posse. Tell me, what fate awaits the duke of Suffolk? Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains, These oracles are hardily attain'd, The king is now in progress toward Saint Al- With him the husband of this lovely lady: A sorry breakfast for my lord protector. To be the post, in hope of his reward. Enter a Servant. Invite my lords of Salisbury, and Warwick, SCENE I.-Saint Albans. ACT II. Enter King HENRY, Queen MARGARET, GLOSTER, Cardinal, and SUFFOLK, with Falconers hollaing. Q. Mar. Believe me, lords, for flying at the I saw not better sport these seven years' day: K. Hen. But what a point, my lord, your fal- And what a pitch she flew above the rest!- Suf. No marvel, an it like your majesty, K. Hen. Why, how now, uncle Gloster? Glo. Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord. Now, by God's mother, priest, I'll shave your crown for this, Or all my fence shall fail. Aside. Car. Medice teipsum ; How irksome is this music to my heart! Enter an Inhabitant of Saint Albans, crying, Glo. What means this noise? Suf. Come to the king, and tell him what miracle. Inhab. Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Albans' shrine, Within this half hour, hath receiv'd his sight; A man, that ne'er saw in his life before. K. Hen. Now, God be prais'd! that to believing souls Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair! Enter the Mayor of SAINT ALBANS, and his Brethren; and SIMPCOX, borne between two persons in a chair; his wife and a great multitude following. Car. Here come the townsmen in procession, To present your highness with the man. K. Hen. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale, Although by his sight his sin be multiplied. Glo. Stand by, my masters, bring him near the king, His highness' pleasure is to talk with him. K. Hen. Good fellow, tell us here the circumstance, That we for thee may glorify the Lord. Simp. Born blind, an't please your grace. Suf. What woman is this? Wife. His wife, an't like your worship. K. Hen. Where wert thou born? grace. K. Hen. Poor soul! God's goodness hath been great to thee: Let never day nor night unhallow'd pass, Or of devotion, to this holy shrine ? Simp. God knows, of pure devotion; being call'd A hundred times, and oftener, in my sleep By good Saint Alban; who said,-Simpcox, come; Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help thee. Wife. Most true, forscoth; and many timę and oft Myself have heard a voice to call him so. Glo. How long hast thou been blind? Glo. What, and would'st climb a tree? Wife. Too true; and bought his climbing very dear. Glo. Mass, thou lov'dst plums well, that would'st venture so. Simp. Alas, good master, my wife desir'd some damsons, Glo. Then, Saunder, sit thou there, the lyingest knave In Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, Thou might'st as well have known our names, as thus To name the several colours we do wear. Simp. O, master, that you could! Glo. My masters of Saint Albans, have you not beadles in your town, and things called whips? May. Yes, my lord, if it please your grace. Glo. Then send for one presently. May. Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight. [Exit an Attendant. Glo. Now fetch me a stool hither by and by. A stool brought out. Now, sirrah, if you mean to save yourself from whipping, leap me over this stool, and run away. Simp. Alas, master, I am not able to stand alone: You go about to torture me in vain. Re-enter Attendant, with the Beadle. Glo. Well, sir, we must have you find your legs. Sirrah beadle, whip him till he leap over that same stool. Bead. I will, my lord.-Come on, sirrah; off with your doublet quickly. Simp. Alas, master, what shall I do? I am not able to stand. [After the Beadle hath hit him once, he leaps over the stool, and runs away; and the People follow, and cry, A Miracle! K. Hen. O God, see'st thou this, and bear'st so long? Q. Mar. It made me laugh, to see the villain Glo. But you have done more miracles than I; You made, in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly. Enter BUCKINGHAM. K. Hen. What tidings with our cousin Buckingham? Buck. Such as my heart doth tremble to un- A sort of naughty persons, lewdly bent,- 'Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour. [Aside to Gloster. Glo. Ambitious churchman, leave to afflict my heart! Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my powers: K. Hen. O God, what mischiefs work the wicked ones; Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby Q. Mar. Gloster, see here the tainture of thy nest; And, look, thyself be faultless, thou wert best. Glo. Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal, I banish her my bed, and company; To-morrow, toward London, back again, SCENE II.-London. The Duke of YORK'S garden. Enter YORK, SALISBURY, and WARWICK. Our simple supper ended, give me leave, |