As did the fatal brand Althea burnt,
Unto the prince's heart of Calydon!

Anjou and Maine, both giv'n unto the French!
Cold news for me: for I had hope of France,
Ev'n as I have of fertile England's foil.

A day will come, when York fhall claim his own;
And therefore I will take the Nevills' parts,"
And make a fhew of love to proud Duke Humphry;
And, when I fpy advantage, claim the Crown;
For that's the golden mark I feek to hit.
Nor fhall proud Lancaster ufurp my right,
Nor hold the fcepter in his childim fift,
Nor wear the diadem upon his head,

Then, York, be

Whofe church-like humour fits not for a Crown,
ftill a while, till time do ferve
Watch thou, and wake when others be afleep,
To pry into the fecrets of the State;

Till Henry, furfeiting in joys of love,

With his new bride, and England's dear-bought Queen,

And Humphry with the Peers be fall'n at jars."

Then will I raife aloft the milk-white rofe,

With whose sweet smell the air fhall be perfum'd;
And in my Standard bear the arms of York,
To grapple with the houfe of Lancaster;

And, force perforce, I'll make him yield the crown,
Whose bookish Rule hath pull'd fair England down.
[Exit York.
SCENE changes to the Duke of Gloucester's

Houfe

Enter Duke Humphry, and bis Wife Eleanor.

Elean. W Hanging the head with Ceres plenteous load

HY droops my Lord, like over-ripen'd corn,

Why doth the great Duke Humphry knit his brows,
As frowning at the favours of the world of shi Lan
Why are thine eyes fixt to the fullen earthjoa Lo
Gazing at that which feems to dim thy fight?
What feeft thou there? King Henry's Diadem, a
Inchas'd with all the honours of the world?

If

If fo, gaze on, and grovel on thy face,
Until thy head be circled with the fame,

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 up our heads to heaven;
And never more abase our fight fo low
As to vouchfafe one glance unto the ground.

Glo. O Nell, fweet Nell, if thou doft love thy Lord, Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts: And may that thought, when I imagine Ill Against my King and nephew, virtuous Henry, Be my lafl breathing in this mortal world! My troublous dreams this night do make me fad. Ele. What dream'd my Lord? tell me, and I'll requite it With fweet rehearfal of my morning's dream.

Glo. Methought, this ftaff, mine office-badge in Court,
Was broke in twain; by whom I have forgot;
But, as I think, it was by th' Cardinal;
And, on the pieces of the broken wand,
Were plac'd the heads of Edmund Duke of Somerset,
And William de la Pole firft Duke of Suffolk.

This was the dream; what it doth bode, God knows.
Elean. Tut, this was nothing but an argument,
That he, that breaks a stick of Gle'fter's grove,
Shall lofe his head for his Prefumption.

But lift to me, my Humphry, my fweet Duke;
Methought, I fat in feat of Majesty,

In the cathedral church of Westminster,

And in that chair whereKings and Queens were crown'd; Where Henry and Margret kneel'd to me,

And on my head did fet the diadem.

Glo. Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright;
Prefumptuous. Dame, ill-nurtur'd Eleanor,
Art thou not fecond woman in the realm,
And the Protector's wife, belov'd of him?
Haft thou not worldly pleasure at command,
Above the reach or compafs of thy thought?
And wilt thou ftill be hammering treachery,
To tumble down thy husband, and thyfelf,

From

From top of honour to difgrace's feet?

Away from me, and let me hear no more.

Elean. What, what, my Lord! are you fo cholerick 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 Messenger.

1

Meff. My Lord Protector, 'tis his Highnefs' pleasure,
You do prepare to ride unto St. Albans,
Whereas the King and Queen do mean to hawk.
Glo. I go come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us ?
[Exit Gloucester.
Elean. Yes, my good Lord, I'll follow presently.
Follow I muft, I cannot go before,

While Glo'fter bears this bafe and humble mind.
Were I a man, a Duke, and next of blood,
I would remove thefe tedious ftumbling-blocks;
And fmooth my way upon their headless necks.
And being a woman, I will not be flack
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. Jefus preferve your Royal Majefty! Elean. What fay'ft thou? Majefty? I am but Grace. Hume. But by the grace of God, and Hume's advice, Your Grace's title fhall be multiply'd."

Ele. What fay'ft thou, man? haft thou as yet conferr'd With Marjory Jordan, the cunning witch;

And Roger Bolingbrook the conjurer,.

And will they undertake to do me good?

Hume. This they have promised, to fhew your Highness A Spirit rais'd from depth of under-ground, That fhall make anfwer to fuch questions, As by your Grace fhall be propounded him.

Elean,

Elean. It is enough, I'll think upon the queftions: When from St. Albans we do make return, We'll fee thofe things effected to the full. Here, Hume, take this reward; make merry, man, With thy confederates in this weighty caufe.

[Exit Eleanor.
Hume. Hume must make merry with the Dutchefs' gold;
Marry, and fhall; but how now, Sir John Hume?
Seal up your lips, and give no words, but mum !
The bufinefs afketh filent fecrecy.

Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch:
Gold cannot come amifs, were the a devil.
Yet have I gold, flies from another coaft:
I dare not fay from the rich Cardinal,

And from the great and new-made Duke of Suffolk;
Yet I do find it fo: for to be plain,

They (knowing Dame Eleanor's afpiring humour)
Have hired me to undermine the Dutchefs;
And buz these conjurations in her brain.
They fay, 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.
Well, fo it ftands; and thus I fear at last,
Hume's knavery will be the Dutchess' wreck,
And her attainture will be Humphry's fall:
Sort how it will, I fhall have gold for all.

[Exit. SCENE changes to an Apartment in the Palace.

4

Enter three or four Petitioners, Peter the Armourer's man

1 Pet.

M

being one.

Y mafters, let's ftand clofe; my Lord Protector will come this way by and by, and then we may deliver our fupplications in the quill. 2 Pet. Marry, the Lord protect him, for he's a good man, Jefu blefs him!

Enter

Enter Suffolk, and Queen.

1 Pet. Here a' comes, methinks, and the Queen with I'll be the firft, fure.›.

him;

2 Pet. Come back, fool, this is the Duke of Suffolk, and not my Lord Protector.

for

Suf. How now, fellow, wouldft any thing with me? 1 Pet. I pray, my Lord, pardon me; I took my Lord Protector.

ye

Q. Mar. To my Lord Protector. [reading.] Are your fupplications to his lordship? let me fee them; what

is thine?

1 Pet. Mine is, an't pleafe your Grace, against John Goodman, my Lord Cardinal's man, for keeping my house and lands, and wife, and all from me.

Suf. Thy wife too? that's fome wrong, indeed. What's yours? what's here? [Reads.] Against the Duke of Suffolk, for inclofing the Commons of Long Melford. How now, Sir Knave?

2 Pet. Alas, Sir, I am but a poor petitioner of our whole Township.

Suf. reads.] Against my Mafter, Thomas Horner, for faying that the Duke of York was rightful heir to the

Crown.

Q. Mar. What did the Duke of York fay, he rightful heir to the Crown ?

was

Peter. That my miftrefs was? no, 2 forfooth ; my mafter faid, that he was; and that the King was an ufurper.

Suf Who is there ?-Take this fellow in, and fend for his mafter with a purfuivant, prefently; we'll hear more of your matter before the King.

[Exit Peter guarded. Q. Mar. And as for you, that love to be protected Under the wings of our Protector's grace,

Begin your fuits anew, and fue to him.

[Tears the fupplications. Away, bafe cullions: Suffolk, let them go. All. Come, let's be gone.

[Exeunt Petitioners. Q. Mar.