Anjou and Maine, both giv'n unto the French !
Cold news for me, for I had hope of France,
Ev'n as I have of fertile England's foil.
A day will come, when York shall claim his own ;
And therefore I will take the Nevills'

parts,
And make a lhew of love to proud Duke Humphry,
And, when I spy advantage, claim the Crown,
For that's the golden mark I seek to hit.
Nor shall proud Lancaster ulurp my right,
Nor hold the scepter in his childish fiit,
Nor wear the diadem upon his head,
Whofe church-like humour fits not for a Crown,
Then, York, be still a while, till time do ferve;
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 Humphry with the Peers be falln at jars.
Then will I raise aloft the milk-white Rose,
With whose sweet smell the air fhall be perfum’d;
And in my standard bear the Arms of York,
To grapple with the house of Lancaster;
And, force perforce, l'll make him yield the Crown,
Whose bookish Rule hath pulld fair England down.

[Exit York,

WHY

corn

Hanging the head with Ceres' plenteous load?
Why doth the great Duke Humphry knit his brows,
As frowning at the favours of the world?
Why are thine eyes fixt to the fullen earth,

Gazing at that which seems to dim thy sight?
What feeft thou there? King Henry's Diadem,
Inchas'd with all the honours of the world?
If fo, gaze on, and grove on the 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 fo low,
As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground.

Glo. O Nell, fweet Nell, if thou doft love thy Lord,
Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts;
And may that thought, when I imagine III
Against my King and nephew, virtuous Henry,
Be my last Breathing in this mortal world !
- My troublous dreams this night do make me fad.
Elean. What dream'd my Lord; tell me, and I'll

requite it With fweet 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 thCardinal; And, on the pieces of the broken wand, Were placed 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,

Eleak. Tut, this was nothing but an argument, That he, that breaks a stick of Glo'ster's grove, Shall lofe his head for his Presumption. But lift to me, my Humphry, my sweet Duke ; Methought, I fat in feat of Majesty, In the Cathedral church of Wesiminster, And in thatchair where Kings and Queens were crown'd, Where Henry and Merg'ret kneeld to me, And on my head did set the Diadem. Glo. Nay, Eleanor, then muft I chide outright.

Pre

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.

Elean. What, what, my Lord! are you so cholerick
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 Messenger.

Mes. 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? Elean. Yes, my good Lord, I'll follow presently.

[Exit Gloucester, Follow I must, I cannot go before, While Gloʻster 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 Nack 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? Majesty ? I am but Grace
Hume. But by the grace of God, and Hume's advice,

Your

1

Your Grace's title shall be multiply'd.
Elean. What fay's thou, man? haft thou as yet

conferr'd
With Margery 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 sħall make'answer to fuch queftions,
As by your Grace shall be propounded him.

Elean. It is enough, I'll think upon the questions.
When from St. Albans we do make return,
We'll see thofe things effected to the full.
Here, Hume, take this reward. Make merry, man,
With thy confederates in this weighty cause.

[Exit Eleanor. Hum. Hume must make merry with the Dutchess'

gold;
Marry, and shall. But how now, Sir Fobn Humé ?
Seal up your lips, and give no words, but mam!
The business asketh silent secrecy.
Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch,
Gold cannot come amiss, were sħe 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 fo: for to be plain,
They, knowing Dame Eleanor's aspiring humour,
Have hired me to undermine the Dutchefs ;
And buz these conjurations in her brain.
They say, a crafty knave does need no broker ;
Yet am I Suffolk's, 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 dutchess' wreck,

And

And her Attainture will be Humpbry's Fall : 7 Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all.

(Exit.

SCENE

VII.

Changes to an Apartment in the Palace.

Enter three or four Petitioners, Peter the Armourer's man

being one.

MY

1 Pet. Y masters, let's stand close; my Lord

Protector will come this way by and by, and then we may deliver our fupplications & in quill.

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

Enter Suffolk, and Queen. 1 Pet. Here a'comes, methinks, and the Queen with him, I'll be the first, sure.

2 Pet. Come back, fool, this is the Duke of Suffolk, and not my Lord Protector.

Suf. How now, fellow, wouldft 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 see them; what is chine?

1 Pet. Mine is, an't pleafe your Grace, against Jokin 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 inclosing the Commons of Long Melford. How now, Sir Knave?