Flourish of Trumpets:

then Hautboys. Enter,

on

one side, KING HENRY, DUKE of GLOUCESTER, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and CARDINAL BEAUFORT; on the other, QUEEN MARGARET, led in by SUFFOLK; YORK, SOMERSET, BUCKINGHAM, and others following.

SUF. As by your high imperial majesty

I had in charge at my depart for France, As procurator to your excellence,

To marry princess Margaret for your grace;

So, in the famous ancient city Tours,

In presence of the kings of France and Sicil,

The dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretaigns, and Alençon,

Seven earls, twelve barons, and twenty reverend bishops,

I have perform'd my task, and was espous'd;

And humbly now upon my bended knee, In sight of England and her lordly peers, Deliver up my title in the queen To your most gracious hands, that are the substance

Of that great shadow I did represent; The happiest gift that

ever marquess gave,

The fairest queen that ever king receiv'd. K. HEN. Suffolk, arise. Welcome, queen Margaret :

I can express no kinder

sign of love,

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

} of th

EARL of SALISBURY, of the Yorkist EARL of WARWICK, party. LORD SCALES, Governor of the Tower. LORD SAY.

Sir HUMPHREY STAFFORD, and his Brother.

Sir JOHN STANLEY.

A Sea-Captain, Master, and Master's Mate, and WALTER WHITMORE. Two Gentlemen, Prisoners with Suffolk.

VAUX.

BOLINGBROKE, a Conjurer.
A Spirit raised by him.
THOMAS HORNER, an Armourcy.
PETER, his man.
Clerk of Chatham.
Mayor of St. Alban's.
SIMPCOX, an Impostor.
Two Murderers.
JACK CADE, a Rebel.
GEORGE, JOHN, DICK, SMITH the
Weaver, MICHAEL, &c. his fol-
lowers.
[man.
ALEXANDER IDEN, a Kentish Gentle-

HUME and SOUTHWELL, two Priests.
SCENE,-Dispersedly in various parts of England.

life,

--

MARGARET, Queen to King Henry. ELEANOR, Duchess of Gloucester. MARGERY JOURDAIN, a Witch. Wife to Simpcox.

Lords, Ladies, and Attendants; Petitioners, Aldermen, a Herald, a Beadle, Sheriffs, and Officers; Citizens, Prentices, Falconers, Guards, Soldiers, Messengers, &c.

Makes me the bolder to salute my king With ruder terms, such as my wit affords And over-joy of heart doth minister. K. HEN. Her sight did ravish; but her grace in speech, Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty, Makes me, from wondering, fall to weeping, joys;

Such is the fulness of my

heart's content.

Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love.

ALL. Long live queen Margaret, England's happiness! Q. MAR. We thank you all. [Flourish. SUF. My lord protector, so it please your grace,

Here are the articles of
contracted peace,.
Between our sovereign
and the French king
Charles,

For eighteen months,
concluded by con-

sent.

GLO. [Reads.] Imprimis, It is agreed between the French king, Charles, and William de la Poole, marquess of Suffolk, ambassador for Henry king of England, --that the said Henry shall espouse the lady Margaret, daughter unto Reignier, king of Naples, Sicilia, and Jerusalem; and crown her queen of England, ere the thirtieth of May next ensuing. -Item,- That the duchy of Anjou and the county of Maine shall be released and delivered to the king her father

K. HEN. Uncle, how now!

them, that the duchies of Anjou and Maine shall be released and delivered over to the king her father; and she sent over of the king of England s own proper cost and charges, without having any dowry.

K. HEN. They please us well.-Lord marquess, kneel down;

We here create thee the first duke of Suffolk,
And girt thee with the sword.-Cousin of York,
We here discharge your grace from being regent
I' the parts of France, till term of eighteen months
Be full expir'd.-Thanks, uncle Winchester,
Gloster, York, Buckingham, Somerset,
Salisbury, and Warwick;

We thank you all for this great favour done,
In entertainment to my princely queen.
Come, let us in; and with all speed provide
To see her coronation be perform'd.

[Exeunt KING, QUEEN, and SUFFOLK.
GLO. Brave peers of England, pillars of the state,
Το
you duke Humphrey must unload his grief,---
Your grief, the common grief of all the land.
What! did my brother Henry spend his youth,
His valour, coin, and people, in the wars?
Did he so often lodge in open field,

In winter's cold and summer's parching heat,
To conquer France, his true inheritance?
And did my brother Bedford toil his wits,
To keep by policy what Henry got?
Have you yourselves, Somerset, Buckingham,
Brave York, Salisbury, and victorious Warwick,
Receiv'd deep scars in France and Normandy?
Or hath mine uncle Beaufort, and myself,
With all the learned council of the realm,
Studied so long, sat in the council-house

Early and late, debating to and fro

'Tis known to you he is mine enemy;
Nay, more, an enemy unto you all,
And no great friend, I fear me, to the king.
Consider, lords, he is the next of blood,
And heir-apparent to the English crown;
Had Henry got an empire by his marriage,
And all the wealthy kingdoms of the west,
There's reason he should be displeas'd at it.
Look to it, lords; let not his smoothing words
Bewitch your hearts; be wise and circumspect.
What though the common people favour him,
Calling him-Humphrey, the good duke of Gloster;
Clapping their hands, and crying with loud voice-
Jesu maintain your royal excellence!
With-God preserve the good duke Humphrey!
I fear me, lords, for all this flattering gloss,
He will be found a dangerous protector.
BUCK. Why should he, then, protect our sovereign,
He being of age to govern of himself?—
Cousin of Somerset, join you with me,
And all together, with the duke of Suffolk,
We'll quickly hoise duke Humphrey from his seat.
CAR. This weighty business will not brook delay;
I'll to the duke of Suffolk presently.
[Exit.
SOM. Cousin of Buckingham, though Humphrey's
pride

And greatness of his place be grief to us,
Yet let us watch the haughty cardinal;
His insolence is more intolerable
Than all the princes in the land beside :
If Gloster be displac'd, he'll be protector.
BUCK. Or thou, or I, Somerset, will be protector,
Despite duke Humphrey or the cardinal.

[Exeunt BUCKINGHAM and SOMERSET. SAL. Pride went before, ambition follows him.

Behoves it us to labour for the realm.

I never saw but Humphrey duke of Gloster
Did bear him like a noble gentleman.
Oft have I seen the haughty cardinal-
More like a soldier than a man o' the church,
As stout and proud as he were lord of all-
Swear like a ruffian, and demean himself
Unlike the ruler of a commonweal.-
Warwick, my son, the comfort of my age!
Thy deeds, thy plainness, and thy housekeeping,
Hath won the greatest favour of the commons,

course,

This peroration with such circumstance?

For France, 'tis ours; and we will keep it still.
GLO. Ay, uncle, we will keep it, if we can ;
But now it is impossible we should:
Suffolk, the new-made duke that rules the roast,
Hath given the duchy of Anjou and Maine
Unto the poor king Reignier, whose large style
Agrees not with the leanness of his purse.

SAL. Now, by the death of Him that died for all,
These counties were the keys of Normandy !—
But wherefore weeps Warwick, my valiant son?
WAR. For grief that they are past recovery;
For, were there hope to conquer them again,
My sword should shed hot blood, mine eyes no tears.
Anjou and Maine! myself did win them both;
Those provinces these arms of mine did conquer:
And are the cities, that I got with wounds,
Deliver'd up again with peaceful words?
Mort Dieu!

YORK. For Suffolk's duke, may he be suffocate, That dims the honour of this warlike isle ! France should have torn and rent my very heart, Before I would have yielded to this league. I never read but England's kings have had Large sums of gold, and dowries with their wives; And our king Henry gives away his To match with her that brings no vantages. GLO. A proper jest, and never heard before, That Suffolk should demand a whole fifteenth For costs and charges in transporting her! She should have stay'd in France, and starv'd France,

Before

own,

CAR. My lord of Gloster, now ye grow too hot It was the pleasure of my lord the king.

And, brother York, thy acts in Ireland,
In bringing them to civil discipline;
Thy late exploits done in the heart of France,
When thou wert regent for our sovereign;
Have made thee fear'd and honour'd of the people:-
Join we together, for the public good,
In what we can to bridle and suppress
The pride of Suffolk and the cardinal,
With Somerset's and Buckingham's ambition;
And, as we may, cherish duke Humphrey's deeds,
While they do tend the profit of the land.
WAR. So God help Warwick, as he loves the land,
And common profit of his country!
YORK. And so says York, for he hath greatest

cause.

GLO. My lord of Winchester, I know your mind; 'Tis not my speeches that you do mislike, But 'tis my presence that doth trouble ye. Rancour will out: proud prelate, in thy face I see thy fury if I longer stay,

:

We shall begin our ancient bickerings.Lordings, farewell; and say, when I am gone, I prophesied-France will be lost ere long. CAR. So, there goes our protector in a rage.

[Exit.

Ready to starve, and dare not touch his own:
So York must sit, and fret, and bite his tongue,
While his own lands are bargain'd for and sold.
Methinks the realms of England, France, and Ire-
land,
Bear that proportion to my flesh and blood,

As did the fatal brand Althea burn'd,
Unto the prince's heart of Calydon.
Anjou and Maine, both given unto the French !
Cold news for me; for I had hope of France,
Even as I have of fertile England's soil.

A day will come when York shall claim his own;
And therefore I will take the Nevils' parts,
And make a show of love to proud duke Humphrey,
And, when I spy advantage, claim the crown,
For that's the golden mark I seek to hit :
Nor shall proud Lancaster usurp my right,
Nor hold the sceptre in his childish fist,
Nor wear the diadem upon his head,
Whose church-like humours fit not for a crown.
Then, York, be still awhile, till time do serve:
Watch thou and wake, when others be asleep,
To pry into the secrets of the state;
Till Henry, surfeiting in joys of love,
With his new bride and England's dear-bought
queen,

And Humphrey with the peers be fall'n at jars :
Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose,
With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfum'd;
And in my standard bear the arms of York,
To grapple with the house of Lancaster;
And, force perforce, I'll make him yield the crown,
Whose bookish rule hath pull'd fair England down.
[Exit.

SCENE II.-The same. A Room in the Duke of Gloucester's House.

Enter GLOUCESTER and the DUCHESS. DUCH. Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd

corn,

Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load?
Why doth the great duke Humphrey knit his brows,
As frowning at the favours of the world?
Why are thine eyes fix'd to the sulien earth,
Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight?
What seest thou there? king Henry's diadem,
Enchas'd with all the honours of the world?
If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face,
Until thy head be circled with the same.
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 our heads to heaven,
And never more abase our sight, so low,
As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground.
GLO. O Nell, sweet Nell, if thou dost 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 last breathing in this mortal world!
My troublous dream this night doth make me sad.
DUCH. 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 Poole, first duke of Suffolk.
This was my dream; what it doth bode, God knows.
DUCH. Tut, this was nothing but an argument
That he that breaks a stick of Gloster's grove
Shall lose his head for his presumption.
But list to me, my Humphrey, my sweet duke :
Methought I sat in seat of majesty,

In the cathedral church of Westminster,
And in that chair where kings and queens are
crown'd;

Where Henry and dame Margaret kneel'd to me,
And on my head did set the diadem.

GLO. Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright :
Presumptuous dame ! ill-nurtur'd Eleanor !
Art thou not second woman in the realm;
And the protector's wife, belov'd of him?
Hast thou not worldly pleasure at command,
Above the reach or compass of thy thought?
And wilt thou still be hammering treachery,
To tumble down thy husband and thyself
From top of honour to disgrace's feet?
Away from me, and let me hear no more!

DUCH. What, what, my lord! are you so choleric 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 a Messenger.

MESS. My lord protector, 'tis his highness'

pleasure,

You do prepare to ride unto Saint Alban's,
Whereas the king and queen do mean to hawk.
GLO. I go.-Come, Nell,-thou wilt ride with
us?

DUCH. Yes, my good lord, I'll follow presently. [Exeunt GLOUCESTER and Messenger. Follow I must; I cannot go before,

While Gloster bears this base and humble mind.
Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood,

I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks,
And smooth my way upon their headless necks:
And, being a woman, I will not be slack

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 !

DUCH. What say'st thou? majesty! I am but

grace.

HUME. But, by the grace of God, and Hume's

advice,

Your grace's title shall be multiplied.

DUCH. What say'st thou, man? hast thou as yet

conferr'd

With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch;

With Roger Bolingbroke, the conjurer?

And will they undertake to do me good?

HUME. This they have promised to show your highness,

A spirit rais'd from depth of under ground,
That shall make answer to such questions,

As by your grace shall be propounded him.

DUCH. It is enough; I'll think upon the questions: When from Saint Alban's we do make return, We'll see these things effected to the full. Here, Hume, take this reward; make merry, man, With thy confederates in this weighty cause.

[Exit.

HUME. Hume must make merry with the duchess'

gold?

Marry, and shall. But, how now, sir John Hume! Seal up your lips, and give no words but-mum; The business asketh silent secrecy.

Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch:

Gold cannot come amiss, were she a devil.

Yet have I gold flies from another coast;

I dare not say, from the rich cardinal,

And from the great and new-made duke of Suffolk;

Yet I do find it so: for, to be plain,

They, knowing dame Eleanor's aspiring humour,
Have hired me to undermine the duchess,
And buz these conjurations in her brain.
They say,-a crafty knave does need no broker;
Yet am I Suffolk 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, so it stands; and thus I fear, at last,
Hume's knavery will be the duchess' wreck,
And her attainture will be Humphrey's fall:
Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all.

[Exit.

SCENE III.-The same. A Room in the Palace.

Enter PETER, and others, with petitions.

I PET. My masters, let's stand close; my lord protector will come this way by and by, and then we may deliver our supplications in the quill.

2 PET. Marry, the Lord protect him, for he's a good man! Jesu bless him!

I PET. Here a' comes, methinks, and the queen with him I'll be the first, sure.

Enter SUFFOLK and QUEEN MARGARET. 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?

I PET. I pray, my lord, pardon me! I took ye for my lord protector.

Q. MAR. [Reading the superscription.] To my lord protector! Are your supplications to his lordship? Let me see 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 some wrong, indeed.

What's yours? What's here! [Reads.] Against the duke of Suffolk, for enclosing the commons of Melford. -How now, sir knave?

2. PET. Alas, sir, I am but a poor petitioner of our whole township.

PETER. [Presenting his petition.] Against my master, Thomas Horner, for saying, that the duke of York was rightful heir to the crown.

Q. MAR. What say'st thou? did the duke of York say he was rightful heir to the crown? PETER. That my master was? no, forsooth: my master said, that he was; and that the king was an usurper.

SUF. Who is there? [Enter Servants.]-Take this fellow in, and send for his master with a pursuivant presently:-we'll hear more of your matter before the king. [Exeunt Servants with PETER. Q. MAR. And as for you, that love to be protected

Under the wings of our protector's grace,
Begin your suits anew, and sue to him.

[Tears the petition.
Away, base cullions !-Suffolk, let them go.
ALL. Come, let's be gone. [Exeunt Petitioners.
Q. MAR. My lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise,
Is this the fashion in the court of England?
Is this the government of Britain's isle,
And this the royalty of Albion's king?
What, shall king Henry be a pupil still,
Under the surly Gloster's governance ?
Am I a queen in title and in style,
And must be made a subject to a duke?
I tell thee, Poole, when in the city Tours
Thou ran'st a tilt in honour of my love,
And stol'st away the ladies' hearts of France;

I thought king Henry had resembled thee
In courage, courtship, and proportion:
But all his mind is bent to holiness,
To number Ave-Maries on his beads:
His champions are, the prophets and apostles;
His weapons, holy saws of sacred writ ;
His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves
Are brazen images of canoniz'd saints.
I would the college of the cardinals
Would choose him pope, and carry him to Rome,
And set the triple crown upon his head ;-
That were a state fit for his holiness.

SUF. Madam, be patient: as I was cause
Your highness came to England, so will I
In England work your grace's full content.

Q. MAR. Beside the haught protector, have we
Beaufort,

The imperious churchman; Somerset, Buckingham,
And grumbling York: and not the least of these
But can do more in England than the king.

SUF. And he of these, that can do most of all,
Cannot do more in England than the Nevils :
Salisbury and Warwick are no simple peers.
Q. MAR. Not all these lords do vex me half so

much

As that proud dame, the lord protector's wife.
She sweeps it through the court with troops of ladies,
More like an empress than duke Humphrey's wife.
Strangers in court do take her for the queen :
She bears a duke's revenues on her back,
And in her heart she scorns our poverty.
Shall I not live to be aveng'd on her?
Contemptuous base-born callet as she is,
She vaunted 'mongst her minions t'other day,
The very train of her worst wearing-gown

Was better worth than all my father's lands;
Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter.
SUF. Madam, myself have lim'd a bush for her,
And plac'd a quire of such enticing birds,
That she will light to listen to the lays,
And never mount to trouble you again.
So let her rest: and, madam, list to me;
For I am bold to counsel you in this.
Although we fancy not the cardinal,

Yet must we join with him and with the lords,
Till we have brought duke Humphrey in disgrace.
As for the duke of York,-this late complaint
Will make but little for his benefit:
So, one by one, we'll weed them all at last,
And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.
Enter KING HENRY, YORK and Somerset ; DUKE
and DUCHESS of GLOUCESTER, CARDINAL
BEAUFORT, BUCKINGHAM, SALISBURY, and
WARWICK.

K. HEN. For my part, noble lords, I care not which ;

Or Somerset or York, all's one to me.

YORK. If York have ill demean'd himself in France,

Then let him be denay'd the regentship.

SOM. If Somerset be unworthy of the place, Let York be regent; I will yield to him.

WAR. Whether your grace be worthy, yea or no, Dispute not that York is the worthier.

CAR. Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak.
WAR. The cardinal's not my better in the field.
BUCK. All in this presence are thy betters,
Warwick.

WAR. Warwick may live to be the best of all.
SAL. Peace, son!- and show some reason,
Buckingham,

Why Somerset should be preferr'd in this.

Q. MAR. Because the king, forsooth, will have it so. GLO. Madam, the king is old enough himself To give his censure: these are no women's matters. Q. MAR. If he be old enough, what needs your grace

To be protector of his excellence?

GLO. Madam, I am protector of the realm;
And, at his pleasure, will resign my place.

SUF. Resign it, then, and leave thine insolence.
Since thou wert king, (as who is king but thou ?)
The commonwealth hath daily run to wreck :
The Dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the seas;
And all the peers and nobles of the realm
Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty.

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 unmeet. 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 danc'd attendance on his will Till Paris was besieg'd, famish'd, and lost. WAR. That I can witness; and a fouler fact Did never traitor in the land commit. SUF. Peace, head-strong Warwick !

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 graves,— That time best fits the work we have in hand. Madam, sit you, and fear not; whom we raise, We will make fast within a hallow'd verge. [Here they perform the ceremonies appertaining, and make the circle; BOLINGBROKE or SOUTHWELL reads, Conjuro te, &c. It thunders and lightens terribly; then the Spirit riseth.

SPIR. Adsum.

M. JOURD. Asmath!

By the eternal God, whose name and power

peace?

Enter Servants of SUFFOLK, bringing in HORNER and PETER.

SUF. Because here is a man accus'd of treason; Pray God the duke of York excuse himself! YORK. Doth any one accuse York for a traitor? K. HEN. What mean'st thou, Suffolk? tell me, what are these?

SUF. Please it your majesty, this is the man 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 an usurper.

K. HEN. 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.

For, till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence. SPIR. Ask what thou wilt :-that I had said and done!

BOLING. First, of the king: what shall of him become? [Reading out of a paper. SPIR. The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose; But him outlive, and die a violent death.

[As the Spirit speaks, SOUTHWELL writes the

answer.

BOLING. What fates await the duke of Suffolk?
SPIR. By water shall he die, and take his end.
BOLING. What shall befal the duke of Somerset?
SPIR. Let him shun castles;

Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains,
Than where castles mounted stand.-
Have done, for more I hardly can endure.
BOLING. Descend to darkness and the burning lake:
False fiend, avoid!

Guards, and others.

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.

K. HEN. Uncle, what shall we say to this in law?
GLO. This doom, my lord, if I may judge.
Let Somerset be regent o'er the French,

CAR. The commons hast thou rack'd; the clergy's Because in York this breeds suspicion ;

bags

Are lank and lean with thy extortions.

And let these have a day appointed them For single combat in convenient place;

SOM. Thy sumptuous buildings, and thy wife's For he hath witness of his servant's malice:

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.

Q. MAR. 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.
[Exit GLOUCester. The QUEEN drops her fan.
Give me my fan: what, minion! can you not?

[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-

woman:

Could I come near your beauty with my nails
I'd set my ten commandments in your face.

K. HEN. Sweet aunt, be quiet; 'twas against her will.

DUCH. Against her will! good king, look to't in

time; She'll hamper thee, and dandle thee like a baby. Though in this place most master wear no breeches, She shall not strike dame Eleanor unreveng'd. [Exit. BUCK. Lord cardinal, I will follow Eleanor, And listen after Humphrey, how he proceeds: She's tickled now; her fume can need no spurs, She'll gallop fast enough to her destruction.

Re-enter GLOucester.

[Exit.

GLO. Now, lords, my choler being over-blown, 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 :-

This is the law, and this duke Humphrey's doom.
K. HEN. Then be it so.-My lord of Somerset,
We make your grace regent over the French.
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!
GLO. Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd.
K. HEN. 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. [Excunt.

YORK. Lay hands upon these traitors and their trash.Beldame, I think we watch'd you at an inch.-What, madam, are you there? The king and com

Injurious duke, that threatest where's no cause.
BUCK. True, madam, none at all: what call you
this?
[Showing her the papers.
Away with them! let them be clapp'd up close,
And kept asunder. -You, madam, shall with us :—
Stafford, take her to thee.-

We'll see your trinkets here all forthcoming ;-
All, away!

[Exit DUCHESS, from above. Exeunt Guards, with HUME, SOUTHWELL, BOLINGBROKE, &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?

The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose;
But him outlive, and die a violent death.
Why, this is just

Aio te, acida, 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 hardily attain'd,
And hardly understood.

[Reads.

The king is now in progress towards Saint Alban's,
With him the husband of this lovely lady:
Thither goes 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,

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

Enter a Servant.

Invite my lords of Salisbury and Warwick

[Exeunt.

clouds.

GLO. Ay, my lord cardinal,-how think you by

that?

[Aside to GLO.

K. HEN. How now, my lords! CAR. Believe me, cousin Gloster, Had not your man put up the fowl so suddenly, We had had more sport.-- Come with thy two-hand sword. [Aside to GLO.

GLO. True, uncle.
CAR. Are ye advis'd ?—the east side of the grove?
[Aside to GLO.
[Aside to CAR.
Why, how now, uncle Gloster !
GLO. Talking of hawking; nothing else, my

GLO. Cardinal, I am with you.
K. HEN.

lord.

SCENE I.-Saint Alban's. INHAB. A miracle! a miracle!

SUF. Come to the king, and tell him what miracle. INHAB. Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban's shrine,

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

K. HEN. Now, God be prais'd! that to believing souls

Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair! Enter the Mayor of St. Alban's and his Brethren; and SIMPCOX, borne between two persons in a chair; his Wife and a great multitude following. CAR. Here come the townsmen on procession, To present your highness with the man.

K. HEN. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale, Although by his sight his sin be multiplied.

GLO. Stand by, my masters, bring him near the king;

His highness' pleasure is to talk with him.

K. HEN. Good fellow, tell us here the circumstance,

That we for thee may glorify the Lord.

What, hast thou been long blind, and now restor❜d?

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.

them :

In my opinion, yet thou seest not well.

SIMP. Yes, master, clear as day; I thank God, and Saint Alban.

GLO. Say'st thou me so? What colour is this cloak of?

SIMP. Red, master; red as blood.

GLO. Why, that's well said: what colour is my gown of?

SIMP. Black, forsooth; coal-black as jet.
K. HEN. Why, then, thou know'st what colour
jet is of?

SUF. And yet, I think, jet did he never see.
GLO. But cloaks and gowns, before this day, a

"A Miracle!"

GLO. Hadst thou been his mother, thou couldst have better told.

K. HEN. Where wert thou born?

SIMP. At Berwick, in the north, an't like your
grace.
K. HEN. 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.
Q. MAR. Tell me, good fellow, cam'st thou here
by chance,

Or of devotion to this holy shrine?

many.

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

GLO. What's his name?

SIMP. I know not.

GLO. Nor his?

SIMP. No, indeed, master.

GLO. What's thine own name?

SIMP. Saunder Simpcox, an if it please you,

master.

GLO. Then, Saunder, sit there, the lyingest knave In Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, Thou mightst as well have known all our names, as thus

To name the several colours we do wear.
Sight may distinguish of colours; but suddenly
SIMP. God knows, of pure devotion: being To nominate them all, it is impossible.—
call'd

A hundred times and oft'ner, in my sleep
By good Saint Alban; who said,--Simpcox, come;
Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help thee.
WIFE. Most true, forsooth; and many time and oft
Myself have heard a voice to call him so.
CAR. What, art thou lame?
SIMP.

Ay, God Almighty help me!
SUF. How cam'st thou so?
SIMP.
A fall off of a tree.
WIFE. A plum-tree, master.
GLO.
How long hast thou been blind?
SIMP. O, born so, master.
GLO.
What, and wouldst climb a tree?
SIMP. But that in all my life, when I was a
youth.

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! GLO. My masters of St. Alban's, have you not beadles in your town, and things called whips? MAY. Yes, my lord, if it please your grace. GLO. Then send for one presently. MAY. Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight. [Exit an Attendant. GLO. Now fetch me a stool hither by and by. [A stool brought out.] 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.