SCENE VI.

Enter at one door the armourer and his neighbours, drinking to him fo much, that he is drunk; and he enters with a drum before him, and his staff, with a fand-bag faftened to it; and at the other door his man, with a drum and fand-bag, and prentices drinking to him.

1 Neigh. Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a cup of fack; and fear not, neighbour, you fhall do well enough.

2 Neigh. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of char

neco.

3 Neigh. And here's a pot of good double beer, neighbour; drink, and fear not your man.

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

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

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

Peter. I thank you all; drink and pray for me, I pray you; for I think I have taken my laft draught in this world. Here, Robin, 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, blefs me I pray God; for I am never able to deal with my mafter, he hath learn'd fo much to fence already.

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

Peter. Peter, forfooth.

Sal. Peter? what more?
Peter. Thump.

Sal. Thump? Then fee thou thump thy mafter well. Arm. Mafters, I am come hither as it were upon my man's inftigation, to prove him a knave, and myself an honeft man: and touching the Duke of York, I will take my death I never meant him any ill, nor the King, nor the Queen; and therefore, Peter, have at thee with

a

↑ As, according to the old laws of duels. Knights were to fight with the lance and fword; fo those of inferior rank fought with an ebon staff or batoon, to the farther end of which was fix'd a bag cramm'd hard with fand.

a downright blow, as Bevis of Southampton fell upon Afcapart.

York. Difpatch: this knave's tongue begins to double. Sound trumpets; alarum to the combatants.

[They fight, and Peter flrikes him down. Arm. Hold, Peter, hold; 1 confefs, I confefs treafon. [Dies. York. Take away his weapon: fellow, thank God, and the good wine in thy mafter's way.

*

Peter. O God, have I overcome mine enemy in this O Peter, thou haft prevail'd in right. [presence! K. Henry. Go, take hence that traitor from our fight, 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 murder wrongfully. Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward.

SCENE VII. The freet.

[Exeunt.

Enter Duke Humphry and his men, in mourning cloaks.

Glo. Thus fometimes hath the brightest day a cloud; And, after fummer, evermore fucceeds

The barren winter with his nipping cold:
So cares and joys abound, as feafons fleet.
Sirs, what's a clock?

Serv. Ten, my Lord.

Glo. Ten is the hour that was appointed me,
To watch the coming of my punish'd Dutchess:
Unneath may fhe endure the flinty streets,
To tread them with her tender-feeling feet.
Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind a-brook
The abject people gazing on thy face,
With envious looks ftill laughing at thy fhame,
That erft did follow thy proud chariot-wheels,
When thou didst ride in triumph thro' the streets.
But foft! I think fhe comes; and I'll prepare
My tear-ftain'd eyes to fee her miseries.

Enter

• Death, for defeat. Becaufe by the laws of duels, he that was defeated, was executed in confequence of it,

Enter the Dutchess in a white Sheet, and a taper burning in her hand, with Sir John Stanley, a Sheriff and Officers.

Serv. So pleafe your Grace, we'll take her from the

Sheriff.

Glo. No, ftir not for your lives, let her pafs by.
Elean. Come you, my Lord, to see my open fhame?
Now thou doft penance too. Look, how they gaze!
See how the giddy multitude do point,

And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee!
Ah, Glo'fter, hide thee from their hateful looks;
And in thy clofet pent up, rue my shame,
And ban our enemies, both mine and thine.

Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief.
Elean. Ah! Glo'fter, teach me to forget myself::
For whilst I think I am thy married wife,
And thou a prince, Protector of this land,
Methinks I fhould not thus be led along,
Mail'd up in fhame, with papers on my back;:
And follow'd with a rabble, that rejoice

To fee my tears, and hear my deep-fetch'd groans..
The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet;
And when I ftart, the cruel people laugh,
And bid me be advifed how I tread..

Ah! Humphry, can I bear this fhameful yoke?
Trow'st thou that e'er I'll look upon the world,..
Or count them happy that enjoy the fun?

hell.

No: dark, fhall be my light; and night my day.
To think upon my pomp, fhall be my l
Sometime I'll fay, I am Duke Humphry's wife,.
And he a prince, and ruler of the land:
Yet fo he rul'd, and fuch a prince he was,
That he stood by, whilft I, his forlorn Dutchefs,
Was made a wonder and a pointing-stock

To every idle, rafcal follower.

But be thou mild, and blush not at my shame,
Nor ftir at nothing, till the ax of death
Hang over thee, as, fure, it fhortly 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 lim'd bushes to betray thy wings;

And fly thou, how thou can't, they'll tangle thee:
But fear not thou until thy foot be snar'd,
Nor never feek prevention of thy foes.

awry.

Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear; thou aimeft all
I muft offend before 1 be attainted:
And had I twenty times fo many foes,
And each of them had twenty times their power,
All these could not procure me any fkaith,
So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless.
Wouldst have me refcue thee from this reproach?
Why, yet thy fcandal were not wip'd away;
But I in danger for the breach of law.
Thy greateft help is quiet, gentle NeH:
I pray thee, fort thy heart to patience;
Thefe few days' wonder will be quickly worn.

Enter a Herald.

Her. I fummon your Grace to his Majesty's parliament holden at Bury, the firft of this next month.

Glo. And my confent ne'er ask'd herein before? This is close dealing. Well, I will be there.

[Exit Herald. My Nell, I take my leave; and, Mafter Sheriff, Let not her penance exceed the King's commiffion. Sher. An't pleafe your Grace, here my commiffion ftays:And Sir John Stanley is appointed now,

To take her with him to the isle of Man.

Glo. Muft you, Sir John, protect my Lady here? Stan. So am I giv'n in charge, may't please your Grace. Glo. Intreat her not the worse, in that I pray You ufe her well; the world may laugh again; And I may live to do you kindness, if

You do it her: and fo, Sir John, farewell.

Elean. What gone, my Lord, and bid me not farewell? Glo. Witnefs my tears, I cannot ftay to speak.

[Exit Gloucefter. Elean. Art thou gone too? all comfort go with thee! For none abides with me; my joy is death; Death, at whofe name I oft have been afraid, Because I wish'd this world's eternity.

Stanley,

Stanley, I pr'ythee, go and take me hence,

I care not whither, for I beg no favour;
Only convey me where thou art commanded.

Stan. Why, Madam, that is to the ifle of Man;
There to be us❜d according to your fate.

Elean. That's bad enough, for I am but reproach: And fhall I then be us'd reproachfully?

Stan. No; like a Dutchefs, and Duke Humphry's lady, According to that ftate you fhall be us'd.

Elean. Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare;
Although thou haft been conduct of my fhame.
Sher. It is my office; Madam, pardon me.
Elean. Ay, ay, farewell: thy office is discharg'd.
Come, Stanley, fhall we go?

Stan. Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet,.

And go we to attire you for our journey.

Elean. My fhame will not be shifted with my sheet:

No, it will hang upon my richest robes,.

And fhew itself, attire me how I can.

Go, lead the way, I long to fee my prifon.

[Exeunt:

Enter King Henry, Queen, Cardinal, Suffolk, York, Buck ingham, Salisbury, and Warwick, to the parliament.

K. Henry.

I Mufe

my

Lord of Glo'fter is not come:

"Tis not his wont to be the hindmoft man,

Whate'er occafion keeps him from us now.

2. Mar. Can you not fee? or will you not obferve The ftrangeness of his alter'd countenance?

With what a majefty he bears himself,
How infolent of late he is become,

How peremptory and unlike himfelf!

We know the time fince he was mild and affable:
And if we did but glance a far-off look,

Immediately he was upon his knee;

That all the court admir'd him for fubmiffion.

But meet him now, and be it in the morn,

When: