2. Neighb. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of charneco.

3. Neighb. And here's á pot of good double beer, neighbour: drink, and fear not your man.

Hor. Let it come, i'faith, and I'll pledge you all; And a fig for Peter!

I. Pren. Here, Peter, I drink to thee; and be not afraid.

2. Pren. Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master: fight for credit of the prentices.

Pet. I thank you all : * drink, and pray for me, *I pray you; for, I think, I have taken my last *draught in this world.* — Here, Robin, an if I die, I give thee my apron; and, Will, thou shalt have my

hammer: and here, Tom, take all the money that I have.

O Lord, bless me, I pray God! for I am never able to deal with

my master, he hath learnt so much fence already.

Sal. Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows. Sirral, what's thy name?

Pet. Peter, forsooth.
Sal. Peter! what more?
Pet. Thump:

Sal. Thump! then see thou thump thy master well.

Hor. Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon my man's instigation, to prove him a knave, and myself an honest man: *and touching the *duke of York, will take my death, I never *meant him any ill, nor the king, nor the queen; And therefore, Peter, have at thee with a down. right blow, as Bevis of Southampton fell upon Ascapart. * York. Dispatch: -- this knave's tongue begins

to double. * Sound trumpets, alarum to the combatants. [Alarum. They fight, and Peter strikes down

Hor. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason.

(Dies. * York. Take away his weapon: Fellow, * thank God, and the good wine in thy master's way.

· Pet. O God! have I overcome mine enemies in this presence ? O Peter, thou hast prevailed in right! K. Hen. Go, take hence that traitor from our

sight; For, by his death, we do perceive his guilt: And God, in justice, hath reveal'd to us The truth and innocence of this poor fellow, Which he had thought to have murder'd wrong

fully. Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward.

(Exeunt.

Enter GLOSTER and Servants, in mourning cloaks. * Glo. Thus, sometimes, hath the brightest day

a cloud; * And, after summer, evermore succeeds * Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold: * So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet. Sirs, what's o'clock ?

Serv. Ten, my lord.

· Glo. Ten is the hour that was appointed me, "To watch the coming of my punish'a dutchess : • Uneath may she endure the flinty streets, “To tread them with her tender - feeling feet. Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook The abject people, gazing on thy face,

With envious looks still laughing at thy shame; That erst did follow thy proud chariot wheels, When thou didst ride in triumph through the

streets. * But, soft! I think, she comes; and I'll prepare My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries. Enter the Dutchess of Glostin, in a white sheet,

with papers pini'd upon her back, her feet barc, and a taper burning in her hand; Sir John Stanley, a sheriff, and officers. Serv. So please your grace, we'll take her

from the sheriff. "Glo. No, stir not for your lives; let her

pass by. Dutch. Come you, my lord, to see my open

shame? Now thou do'st penance too. Look, how they

gaze! •See, how the giddy multitude do point, • And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on

thee! Ah, Gloster, hide thee from their hateful looks; • And, in thy closet pent up, rue my shame, And ban thine enemies, both mine and thine.

Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief.
Dutch. Ah, Gloster, teach me to forget my.

self: For, whilst I think I am thy marry'd wife, And thou a prince, protector of this land, • Methinks, I should not thus be led along, Maild up in shame, with papers on my back; * And follow'd with a rabble, that rejoice * To see my tears, and hear my deep-fet groans. The ruthless Aint dot cut my tender feet; And, when I start, the envious people laugh, And bid me be advised how I tread. • Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke?

6

they

*Trow'st thou, that e'er I'll look upon the

world;
* Or count them happy, that enjoy the sun ?
* No; dark shall be my light, and night my

day;
* To think upon my pomp, shall be my

hell.
Sometime I'll say, I am duke Humphrey's wife;
And he a prince, and ruler of the land:
Yet so he ruld, and such a prince he was,
As he stood by, whilst I, his forlorn dutchess,
Was made a wonder, and a pointing-stock,
To
every

idle rascal follower.
But be, thou mild, and blush not at my shame ;-
Nor stir at nothing, till the axe of death
Hang over thee, as, sure, it shortly will.
For Suffolk, he that can do all in all
With her, that hateth thee, and hates us

all,
And York, and impious Beaufort, that false

priest,
Have all limb'd bushes to betray thy wings,
And, fly thou how thou canst, they'll tangle

thee:
* But fear not thou, until thy foot be snar'd,
* Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.
* Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear; thou aimest all

awry;
*I must offend, before I be attainted:
* And bad I twenty times so many foes,
* And each of them had twenty times their

power,
* All these could not procure me any scathe,
* So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless.
• Would'st have me rescue thee from this re-

proach?
"Why, yet thy scandal were not wip'd away,
• But I in danger for the breach of law.
*Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell:

ns.

7

e?

'I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience;
• These few days' wonder will be quickly worn:

Enter a Herald.

Her. I summon your grace to his majesty's par. liament,, holden at Bury the first of this next month. Glo. And my consent ne'er ask'd herein. be.

fore! This is close dealing. Well, I will be there.

[Exit Herald. My Nell, I take my leaye : and, master

sheriff,
Let not her penance exceed the king's com-

mission.
Sher. An't please your grace, here my com:

mission stays :
"And sir John Stanley is appointed now
* To take her with himn to the isle of Man.
"Glo. Must you, sir John, protect my lady

here? Stan. So am I given in charge, may't please

your grace.
Glo. Entreat her not the worse, in that I

pray
You use her well: the world inay laugh again;
And I may live to do you kindness, if
You do it her. And so, sir John, farewel.
Dutch. What gone, my lord; and bid me not

farewel?
Glo. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to

speak.

(Exeunt Gloster and Servants. · Dutch. Art thou gone too?

*All comfort go with thee! * For none abides with me: my joy is death; * Death, at whose name I oft have been afear'd,

#Because