ir As did the fatal brand Althea burnt, 17 1 1 Till Henry, furfeiting in joys of love, To grapple with the house of Lancaster; 1 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 Elean. Houfe. Enter Duke Humphry, and bis Wife Eleanor. W Hang HY droops my Lord, like over-ripen'd corn, the headwith Ceres' plenteous load? Why doth the great Duke Humphry knit his brows; As frowning at the favours of the worldsb Lan Why are thine eyes fixt to the fullen earthjois Gazing at that which feems to dim thy fight? SA What feeft thou there? King Henry's Diadem, Inchas'd with all the honours of the world? If If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face, 17 Glo. O Nell, sweet 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 laft 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 sweet rehearsal of my morning's dream. Glo. Methought, this staff, mine office-badge in Court, Was broke in twain; by whom I have forgot; But, as I think, it was by the Cardinal; And, on the pieces of the broken wand, Were plac'd the heads of Edmund Duke of Somerset, And William de la Pole first 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 lose his head for his Presumption. But lift to me, my Humphry, my sweet Duke: Methought, I fat in feat of Majefty, In the cathedral church of Westminster, 12 And in that chair where Kings and Queens were crown'd; Where Henry and Marg'ret kneel'd to me, And on my head did fet the diadem. Glo. Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright; : f : 1 A From From top of honour to disgrace's feet? Away from me, and let me hear no more. Elean. What, what, my Lord! are you so cholerick With Eleanor, for telling but her dream ? Glo. Nay, be not angry, I am pleas'd again. Enter Messenger. Meff. My Lord Protector, 'tis his Highness' 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 must, I cannot go before, While Glo'ster bears this bafe and humble mind. Were I a man, a Duke, and next of blood, I would remove these tedious stumbling-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. Jesus preserve your Royal Majesty! Elean. What say'st thou ? Majefty? I am but Grace. Hume. But by the grace of God, and Hume's advice, Your Grace's title shall be multiply'd. Ele. What say'st thou, man? haft thou as yet conferr'd With Marjery Jordan, the cunning witch; And Roger Bolingbrook the conjurer, And will they undertake to do me good? Hume. This they have promised, to shew your Highness A Spirit rais'd from depth of under-ground, That shall make answer to fuch questions, As by your Grace shall 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. Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch: ; They (knowing Dame Eleanor's afpiring humour) [Exit. SCENE changes to an Apartment in the Palace. Enter three or four Petitioners, Peter the Armourer's man being one. 1 Pet. M 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 him; I'll be the first, sure.d 2 Pet. Come back, fool, this is the Duke of Suffolk, and not my Lord Protector. Suf. How now, fellow, wouldst any thing with me? 1 Pet. I pray, my Lord, pardon me; I took ye for my Lord Protector. Q. Mar. To my Lord Protector. [reading.] Are your fupplications to his lordship? let me fee them; what is thine? I Pet. 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. Suf. Thy wife too? that's fome wrong, indeed. What's yours? what's here? (Reads.] Against the Duke of Suffolk, for inclosing 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 Master, Thomas Horner, for Saying that the Duke of York was rightful heir to the Crown. : Q. Mar. What! did the Duke of York fay, he was rightful heir to the Crown? Peter. That my mistress was? no, 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 master with a pursuivant, presently; 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. 1 [Tears the fupplications. Away, base cullions: Suffolk, let them go. All. Come, let's be gone. [Exeunt Petitioners. Q. Mar. |