Where are you there? Sir John! nay, fear not, man, We are alone; here's none but thee, and I.

Enver Hume.

Hume. Jesu 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;
And 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 Albans 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 buzz 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.

1 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!

Enter Suffolk, and Queen Margaret.

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? would'st any thing with me! ye for 1 Pet. I pray, my lord, pardon me! I took 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?

1° 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 is 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 mas. ter said, That he was; and that the king was an usur

per.

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 petitions.
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 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 Beau-

fort,

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 her poverty: Shall I not live to be aveng'd on her? Contemptuous base-born callat 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, conversing with him; Duke and Duchess of Gloster, 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 shew 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 protecctor 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.

Car. The commons hast thou rack'd; the clergy's bags

Are lank and lean with thy extortions.

Som. Thy sumptuous buildings, and thy wife's 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 Gloster. 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 Frenchwoman; 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,

Re-enter Gloster.

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.

Pet. By these ten bones, my lords, [Holding up his hands.] he did speak them to me in the garret one night, as we were scouring my lord of York's armour. York. Base dunghill villain, and mechanical, I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech:I do beseech your royal majesty, Let him have all the rigour of the law.

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, Because in York this breeds suspicion : And let these have a day appointed them For single combat in convenient place; For he hath witness of his servant's malice: This is the law, and this duke Humphrey's doom. K. Hen. Then be it so. My lord of Somerset, We make your grace lord regent o'er 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. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-The same. The Duke of Gloster's Gar den. Enter Margery Jourdain, Hame, Southwell, and Bolingbroke.

Hume. Come, my masters; the duchess, 1 tell you, expects performance of your promises.

Bol. Master Hume, we are therefore provided: Will her ladyship behold and hear our exorcisms?

Hume. Ay; What else? fear you not her courage. Bol. I have heard her reported to be a woman of an invincible spirit: But it shall be convenient, master Hume, that you be by her aloft, while we be busy be low; and so, I pray you, go in God's name, and leave us. [Exit Hume.] Mother Jourdain, be you prostrate, and grovel on the earth :-John Southwell, read you; and let us to our work.

Enter Duchess, above.

Duch. Well said, my masters; and welcome all. To this geer; the sooner the better.

Bol. 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. Jour. Asmath,

By the eternal God, whose name and power
Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask;
For, till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence.
Spir. Ask what thou wilt:-That I had said and
done!

Bol. 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. Bol. What fate awaits the duke of Suffolk ?

Spir. By water shall he die, and take his end.
Bol. What shall befall 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.
Bol. Descend to darkness, and the burning lake:
False fiend, avoid!

[Thunder and lightning. Spirit descends. Enter York and Buckingham, hastily, with their Guards, and others.

Fork. 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 common-
weal

Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains;
My lord protector will, I doubt it not,

See you well guerdon'd for these good deserts.
Duch. Not half so bad as thine to England's king,
Injurious duke; that threat'st where is no cause.
Buck. True, madam, none at all. What call you
this?
[Shewing 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. [Exit Duchess from above.
-We'll see your trinkets here all forth-coming;
All.-Away!

[Exeunt Guards, with Southwell, Bolingbroke, Ør. 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 out-live, and die a violent death.
Why, this is just,

Aio te, acida, Romanos, vincere posse.
Well, to the rest:

[Reads.

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.

The king is now in progress toward Saint Albans,
With him, the husband of this lovely lady:
Thither go 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!

made,

And what a pitch she flew above the rest!-
To see how God in all his creatures works!
Yea, man and birds, are fain of climbing high.
Suf. No marvel, an it like your majesty,
My lord protector's hawks do tower so well;
They know their master loves to be aloft,
And bears his thoughts above his falcon's pitch.
Glo. My lord, 'tis but a base ignoble mind
That mounts no higher than a bird can soar.
Car. I thought as much; he'd be above the clouds.
Glo. Ay, my lord cardinal; How think you by that?
Were it not good, your grace could fly to heaven?
K. Hen. The treasury of everlasting joy!

Car. Thy heaven is on earth; thine eyes and thoughts

Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart;
Pernicious protector, dangerous peer,

That smooth'st it so with king and commonweal!

Glo. What, cardinal, is your priesthood grown peremptory?

Tantæne animis cœlestibus iræ?

Churchmen so hot? good uncle, hide such malice; With such holiness can you do it?

Suf. No malice, sir; no more than well becomes So good a quarrel, and so bad a peer.

Gle. As who, my lord?

Suf.

Why, as you, my lord; An't like your lordly lord-protectorship.

Gle. Why, Suffolk, England knows thine insolence. Q.Mar. And thy ambition, Gloster. K. Hen. I pr'ythee, peace, Good queen; and whet not on these furious peers, For blessed are the peace-makers on earth.

Car. Let me be blessed for the peace I make, Against this proad protector, with my sword! Glo. Faith, holy uncle, 'would 'twere come to that! [Aside to the Cardinal.

Car. Marry, when thou dar'st. [Aside. Glo. Make up no factious numbers for the matter, In thine own person answer thy abuse. [Aside. Car. Ay, where thou dar'st not peep: an if thou dar'st,

This evening, on the east side of the grove.
K. Hen. How now, my lords?
Cer.

[Aside

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.

Gle. True, uncle.

Glo. Cardinal, I am with you.

[Aside to Gloster.

Car. Are you advis'd?-the east side of the grove?

[aside. K. Hen. Why, how now, uncle Gloster? Glo. Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord.Now, by God's mother, priest, I'll shave your crown

Gle. What means this noise?
Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim?
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 Saint Albans, and his Brethren and Spcox, 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.

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?

Simp. God knows, of pure devotion; being call'd A hundred times, and oftner, in my sleep By good Saint Alban; who said.-Simpen.x, 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!

venture so.

Simp. Alas, good master, my wife desir'd some damsons,

And made me climb, with danger of my life.

Glo. A subtle knave! but yet it shall not serve.— Let me see thine eyes:-wink now ;-now open them: -In my opinion yet thou see'st 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 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.

G. 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 thou there, the lyingest knave

In Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind,
Thou might'st as well have known our names, as thus
To name the several colours we do wear.
Sight may distinguish of colours; but suddenly