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

Queen. 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. 140 [Exit Gloucester. The Queen drops her fan. Give me my fan: what, minion! can ye not?

[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

160

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:

170

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 danced attendance on his will
Till Paris was besieged, famish'd, and lost.
War. That can I witness; and a fouler
fact

Did never traitor in the land commit.
Suf. Peace, headstrong Warwick !
War. Image of pride, why should I hold
my peace?

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

Suf. Because here is a man accused of treason: 180

Pray God the Duke of York excuse himself! York. Doth any one accuse York for a

traitor?

King. What mean'st thou, Suffolk tell me, what are these? [man Suf. Please it your majesty, this is the 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 a usurper.

King. 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, he did speak them to me in the garret one night, as we were scouring my Lord of York's armor. 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 rigor of the law.

199

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.

King. 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 : 210 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!

221

Glou. Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd,

King. 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. GLOUCESTER's garden. Enter MARGERY JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTHWELL, and BOLINGBROKE.

Hume. Come, my masters; the duchess, 1 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 aloft, while we be busy below; and so, I pray you, go, in God's name, and leave us. [Erit Hume. Mother Jourdain, be you prostrate and grovel on the earth; John Southwell, read you; and let us to our work.

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; The time when screech-owls cry and ban-dogs howl,

And spirits walk and ghosts break up their

Stafford, take her to thee.

[Exeunt above Duchess and Hume, guarded. We'll see your trinkets here all forthcoming. All, away!

[Exeunt guard with Jourdain, Southwell, &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?
[Reads. 61
The duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose;
But him outlive, and die a violent death.'
Why, this is just

Aio te, Facida, 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.'

Come, come, my lords;

These oracles are hardly attain'd,

And hardly understood.

70

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,

80

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

Enter a Servingman.

Invite my Lords of Salisbury and Warwick To sup with me to-morrow night. Away! [Exeunt.

Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains Than where castles mounted stand.

40

Have done, for more I hardly can endure. Boling. Descend to darkness and the burning lake!

False fiend, avoid!

[Thunder and lightning. Exit Spirit. 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.

ACT II.

SCENE I. Saint Alban's.

Enter the KING, QUEEN, GLOUCESTER, CARDINAL, and SUFFOLK, with Falconers halloing.

Queen. 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. King. 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.
Sf. No marvel, an it like your majesty,
My lord protector's hawks do tower so well; 10
They know their master loves to be aloft,
And bears his thoughts above his falcon's
pitch.

Glo. My lord, 'tis but a base ignoble mind That mounts no higher than a bird can soar.

Cor. I thought as much; he would be above the clouds.

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

Were it not good your grace could fly to heaven?

King. The treasury of everlasting joy.

Car Thy heaven is on earth; thine eyes and thoughts

Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart; 20 Pernicious protector, dangerous peer,

That smooth'st it so with king and commonweal!

Giou. What, cardinal, is your priesthood grown peremptory?

Tanta ne animis cœlestibus iræ ?

Churchmen so hot? good uncle, hide such malice:

With such holiness can you do it?

Saf. No malice, sir; no more than well be

comes

So good a quarrel and so bad a peer.
Glo. As who, my lord?
Suf
Why, as you, my lord,
An't like your lordly lord-protectorship.
Glou. Why, Suffolk, England knows thine
insolence.

30

Queen. And thy ambition, Gloucester. King. 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! Gou. [Aside to Car.] Faith, holy uncle, would 'twere come to that!

Car [Aside to Glou.] Marry, when thou darest.

Glou. [Aside to Car.] Make up no factious numbers for the matter;

In thine own person answer thy abuse.

40

Cur. [Aside to Glou.] Ay, where thou darest not peep: an if thou darest, This evening, on the east side of the grove. Kog. How now, my lords!

Cur. Believe me, cousin Gloucester, Had not your man put up the fowl so suddenly, We had had more sport. Aside to Glou.] Come with thy two-hand sword. Glou. True, uncle.

Car. [Aside to Glou.] Are ye advised? the east side of the grove?

[you. Glo. [Aside to Car.] Cardinal, I am with

King.

50

Why, how now, uncle Gloucester ! Glou. Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord. [Aside to Car.] Now, by God's mother, priest, I'll shave your crown for this,

Or all my fence shall fail.

Car. Aside to Glou.] Medice, teipsumProtector, see to't well, protect yourself. King. 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 a Townsman of Saint Alban's, crying 'A miracle!'

Glou. What means this noise ? Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim? 60 Towns. A miracle! a miracle!

Suf. Come to the king and tell him what miracle.

Towns. Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban's shrine,

Within this half-hour, hath received his sight; A man that ne'er saw in his life before.

King. Now, God be praised, that to believing souls

Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair! Enter the Mayor of Saint Alban's and his brethren, bearing SIMPCOX, between two in a chair, SIMPCOx's Wife following.

Car. Here comes the townsmen on procession,

To present your highness with the man. King. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale, 70 Although by his sight his sin be multiplied. Glou. Stand by, my masters: bring him near the king;

His highness' pleasure is to talk with him. King. Good fellow, tell us here the circum

stance,

That we for thee may glorify the Lord. What, hast thou been long blind and now restored ?

Simp. Born blind, an't please your grace. Wife. Ay, indeed, was he.

Suf. What woman is this?

Wife. His wife, an't like your worship. 80 Glou. Hadst thou been his mother, thou couldst have better told.

King. Where wert thou born?

Simp. At Berwick in the north, an't like your grace.

King. 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.
Queen. Tell me, good fellow, camest thou
here by chance,

Or of devotion, to this holy shrine ? [call'd
Simp. God knows, of pure devotion; "being
A hundred times and oftener, in my sleep, 90
By good Saint Alban; who said, 'Simpcox,

come,

Simp.

Red, master; red as blood.

110

Glou. Why, that's well said. What color is my gown of ?

Simp. Black, forsooth: coal-black as jet. King. Why, then, thou know'st what color jet is of ?

Suf. And yet, I think, jet did he never see. Glou. But cloaks and gowns, before this day, a many.

Wife. Never, before this day, in all his life. Glou. Tell me, sirrah, what's my name? Simp. Alas, master, I know not.

Glou. What's his name?

Glou. Nor his ?

Simp. I know not.

120

Simp. Saunder Simpcox, an if it please you, master

Glou. Then, Saunder, sit there, the lyingest knave in Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, thou mightest as well have known all our names as thus to name the several colors we do wear. Sight may distinguish of colors, 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!

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

140

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.
Enter a Beadle with whips.

Glou. Well, sir, we must have you find your legs. Sirrah beadle, whip him till he 150 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 they follow and cry, 'A miracle!'

King. O God, seest Thou this, and bearest so long?

Queen. It made me laugh to see the villain

You made in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly.

Enter BUCKINGHAM.

King. What tidings with our cousin Buckingham?

Buck. Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold.

170

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 practised dangerously against your state,
Dealing with witches and with conjurers.
Whom we have apprehended in the fact;
Raising up wicked spirits from under ground.
Demanding of King Henry's life and death,
And other of your highness' privy-council;
As more at large your grace shall understand.
Car. [Aside to Glou.] And so, my lord pro-
tector, by this means

Your lady is forthcoming yet at London.
This news, I think, hath turn'd your weapon's
edge;
180

'Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour. Glou. Ambitious churchman, leave to afflict my heart:

Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my pow

ers;

And, vanquish'd as I am, I yield to thee,

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 full.

War. Sweet York, begin : and if thy claim be good,

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

Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons :
The first, Edward the Black Prince, Prince of
Wales;
11

The second, William of Hatfield, and the third, Lionel Duke of Clarence: next to whom

Was John of Gannt, 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 as king;

20

Till Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster, The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt, Crown'd by the name of Henry the Fourth, Seized on the realm, deposed the rightful king, Seat his poor queen to France, from whence

she came,

And him to Pomfret; where, as all you know, Harmless Richard was murder'd traitorously.

War. Father, the duke hath told the truth;

York. The third son, Duke of Clarence, from whose line

I claim the crown, had issue, Philippe, a daughter,

Who married Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March:

Edmund had issue, Roger Earl of March;
Roger had issue, Edmund, Anne and Eleanor.
Sal. This Edmund, in the reign of Boling-
broke,

As I have read, laid claim unto the crown; 40
And, but for Owen Glendower, had been king,
Who kept him in captivity till he died.
But to the rest.

York.

His eldest sister, Anne, My mother, being heir unto the crown, Married Richard Earl of Cambridge; who was