First Petit. 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. 20

Suf. Thy wife too! that's some wrong indeed. What's yours? What's here! Against the Duke of Suffolk, for enclosing the commons of Melford. How now, sir knave!

Second Petit. Alas! sir, I am but a poor petitioner of our whole township.

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

Q. Mar. What sayest thou? did the Duke of York say he was rightful heir to the crown? 31 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 protected

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

40

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,

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 Gloucester's governance?
Am I a queen in title and in style,

And must be made a subject to a duke?
I tell thee, Pole, when in the city Tours
Thou rann'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 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.

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
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
That she will light 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 lords
Till we have brought Duke Humphrey in disgrace.
As for the Duke of York, this late complaint
Will make but little for his benefit:

91

110

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

Have cost a mass of public treasury.
Buck. Thy cruelty in execution
Upon offenders bath exceeded law,
And left thee to the mercy of the law.
Q. Mar. Thy sale of oflices and towns in France,
If they were known, as the suspect is great,
Would make thee quickly hop without thy head.
Exit GLOUCESTER. The QUEEN drops
her fan.
Give me my fan: what, minion! can ye not? 140
She gives the DUCHESS a box on the ear.
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. Buck. Lord cardinal, I will follow Eleanor, 150 And listen after Humphrey, how he proceeds: She's tickled now; her fume needs no spurs, She'll gallop far enough to her destruction.

Re-enter GLOUCESTER.

Exit.

Suf. Before we make election, give me leave To show some reason, of no little force, That York is most unmeet of any man.

170

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 Did never traitor in the land commit. Suf. Peace, headstrong Warwick!

And that your majesty was an usurper.

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. 191

Pet. By these ten bones, my lords, 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.

llor. 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.

210

K. Hen. Uncle, what shall we say to this in law? Glou. 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. 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.

220

Glou. 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. Flourish. Exeunt.

SCENE IV. The Same. The Duke of GLOUCESTER'S Garden.

Enter MARGERY JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTHWELL, 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?

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

Boling. I have heard her reported to be a woman of an invincible spirit: but it shall be convenient, Master Hume, that you be by her

12.

Enter HORNER the Armourer, and his man
PETER, guarded.

Suf. Because here is a man accus'd of treason:
Pray God the Duke of York excuse himself! 180
York. Doth any one accuse York for a traitor?
K. Hen. What mean'st thou, Suffolk?
me, what are these?

Tell

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,

Enter DUCHESS aloft, HUME following. Duch. Well said, my masters, and welcome all. To this gear 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; 20

Spir. Adsum.

M. Jourd. Asmath!

Injurious duke, that threatest where's no cause. Buck. True, madam, none at all. What call you this?

Away with them! let them be clapp'd up close, And kept asunder. You, madam, shall with us: Stafford, take her to thee.

Exeunt above DUCHESS and HUME, guarded. We'll see your trinkets here all forthcoming. All, away! Exeunt Guard, with SOUTHWELL, BOLINGBROKE, etc. 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. 60
What have we here?

The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose;
But him outlive, and die a violent death.

Aio te, Eacida, Romanos vincere posse. Well, to the rest :

Tell me what fate awaits the Duke of Suffolk?
By water shall he die and take his end.
What shall betide the Duke of Somerset ?
Let him shun castles:

Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains

Than where castles mounted stand.

73

Come, come, my lords; these oracles
Are hardly attain'd, and hardly understood.
The king is now in progress towards Saint
Alban's;

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
Lord of York,

8)

To be the post, in hope of his reward. York. At your pleasure, my good lord. Who's within there, ho!

Enter King HENRY, Queen MARGARET, GLOUCESTER, Cardinal BEAUFORT, and SUFFOLK, with Falconers hollainy.

Q. Mar. Believe me, lords, for flying at the brook, I saw not better sport these seven years' day: Yet, by your leave, the wind was very high, And, ten to one, old Joan had not gone out.

K. Hen. But what a point, my lord, your falcon made,

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

Suf. No marvel, an it like your majesty,
My lord protector's hawks do tower so well; 11
They know their master loves to be aloft,
And bears his thoughts above his falcon's pitch.
Glou. My lord, 'tis but a base ignoble mind
That mounts no higher than a bird can soar.
Car. I thought as much; he'd be above the
clouds.

Glou. Ay, my lord cardinal? how think you by that?

Were it not good your grace could fly to heaven?
K. Hen. The treasury of everlasting joy.
Car. Thy heaven is on earth; thine eyes and
thoughts

Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart;
Pernicious protector, dangerous peer,
That smooth'st it so with king and commonweal!
Glou. What! cardinal, is your priesthood
grown peremptory?

Tantæne animis cœlestibus iræ ?

Churchmen so hot? good uncle, hide such malice; With such holiness can you do it?

Suf. No malice, sir; no more than well becomes So good a quarrel and so bad a peer, Glow. As who, my lord?

Suf.

30

Why, as you, my lord; An't like your lordly lord-protectorship. Glou. Why, Suffolk, England knows thine insolence.

Q. Mar. And thy ambition, Gloucester. K. Hen. I prithee, peace, Good queen, and whet not on these furious peers; For blessed are the peacemakers on earth. Car. Let me be blessed for the peace I make Against this proud protector with my sword. Glou. Aside to the Cardinal. Faith, holy uncle, would 'twere come to that!

Car. Aside to GLOUCESTER. Marry, when thou darest.

Glou. Aside to the Cardinal. Make up no factious numbers for the matter;

In thine own person answer thy abuse.

40

Car. Aside to GLOUCESTER. Ay, where thou dar'st not peep: an if thou dar'st, This evening on the east side of the grove. K. Hen. How now, my lords! Car. Believe me, cousin Gloucester, Had not your man put up the fowl so suddenly, We had had more sport. Aside to GLOUCESTER. Come with thy two-hand sword.

Glou. True, uncle.

K. Hen. Where wert thou born? Simp. At Berwick in the north, an 't like your grace.

K. Hen. Poor soul! God's goodness hath been great to thee:

Let never day nor night unhallow'd pass.
But still remember what the Lord hath done.
Q. Mar. Tell me, good fellow, cam'st thou here
by chance,

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;

Glou. Aside to the Cardinal. Cardinal, I am with you.

K. Hen. Why, how now, uncle Gloucester ! Glou. Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord.

Aside to the Cardinal. Now, by God's mother, priest, I'll shave your crown

For this, or all my fence shall fail.

50

Car. Aside to GLOUCESTER. Medice, teipsum--Protector, see to 't well, protect yourself.

K. Hen. The winds grow high; so do your stomachs, lords.

How irksome is this music to my heart!
When such strings jar, what hope of harmony?
I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife.

Enter One, crying ‘A miracle!'

Glou. What means this noise?
Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim?
One. A miracle! a miracle!

60

Suf. Come to the king and tell him what

miracle.

One. Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban's 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 Alban's and his Brethren;

and SIMPCOX, borne between two persons in a chair; his Wife and a great multitude following. Car. Here comes the townsmen on 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. 70 Glou. Stand by, my masters; bring him near the king:

His highness' pleasure is to talk with him,

90

Wife. Most true, forsooth; and many time and oft

Myself have heard a voice to call him so.
Car. What! art thou lame?

Glou. Then, Saunder, sit there, the lyingest knave in Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, thou might'st as well have known all our hames as thus to name the several colours we do wear. Sight may distinguish of colours, but suddenly to nominate them all, it is impossible. My lords, Saint Alban here hath done a miracle; and would ye not think his cunning to be great, that could restore this cripple to his legs again? Simp. O master, that you could!

132

Glou. My masters of Saint Alban's, have you not beadles in your town, and things called whips?

May. Yes, my lord, if it please your grace. Glou. Then send for one presently. May. Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight. Exit an Attendant. Glou. Now fetch me a stool hither by and by. 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.

143

Wife. Alas! sir, we did it for pure need. Glou. Let them be whipped through every market-town till they come to Berwick, from whence they came. Exeunt Mayor, Beadle, Wife, etc. Car. Duke Humphrey has done a miracle to-day.

159

Suf. True; made the lame to leap and fly away. Glou. But you have done more miracles than Ï; You made in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly. Enter BUCKINGHAM.

K. Hon. What tidings with our cousin Buckingham?

Buck. Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold. A sort of naughty persons, lewdly bent, Under the countenance and confederacy Of Lady Eleanor, the protector's wife, The ringleader and head of all this rout, Have practis'd dangerously against your state, Dealing with witches and with conjurers: Whom we have apprehended in the fact; Raising up wicked spirits from underground, Demanding of King Henry's life and death,

170

Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my powers;
And, vanquish'd as I am, I yield to thee,
Or to the meanest groom.

K. Hen. O God! what mischiefs work the wicked ones,

Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby. Q. Mar. Gloucester, see here the tainture of thy nest,

And look thyself be faultless, thou wert best.
Glou. Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal,
How I have lov'd my king and commonweal;
And, for my wife, I know not how it stands. 199
Sorry I am to hear what I have heard:
Noble she is, but if she have forgot
Honour and virtue, and convers'd with such
As, like to pitch, defile nobility,

I banish her my bed and company,
And give her as a prey to law and shame,
That hath dishonour'd Gloucester's honest name.
K. Hen. Well, for this night we will repose us
here:

SCENE II.-London. The Duke of YoRK'S Garden.

Enter YORK, SALISBURY, and WARWICK
York. Now, my good Lords of Salisbury and
Warwick,

Our simple supper ended, give me leave
In this close walk to satisfy myself,
In craving your opinion of my title,
Which is infallible, to England's crown.
Sal. My lord, I long to hear it at fall.
War. Sweet York, begin; and if thy claim
be good,

The Nevils are thy subjects to command.
York. Then thus:

Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons: 1
The first, Edward the Black Prince, Prince of
Wales;

The second, William of Hatfield; and the third,
Lionel Duke of Clarence; next to whom
Was John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster:
The fifth was Edmund Langley, Duke of York;
The sixth was Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of
Gloucester;

William of Windsor was the seventh and last.
Edward the Black Prince died before his father,
And left behind him Richard, his only son,
Who, after Edward the Third's death, reign'd