The Nevils are thy subjects to command.

York. Then thus:

Edward the third, my lords, had seven sons:
The first, Edward the Black Prince, prince of
Wales:

The second, William of Hatfield; and the third,
Lionel, duke of Clarence; next to whom,
Was John of Gaunt, the duke of Lancaster:
The fifth, was Edmond Langley, duke of York:
The sixth, was Thomas of Woodstock, duke of
Gloster:

William of Windsor was the seventh and last.
Edward, the Black Prince, died before his father;
And left behind him Richard, his only son, (king;
Who, after Edward the Thurd's death, reign'd as
Till Henry Boligbroke, duke of Lancaster,
The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt,
Crown'd by the name of Henry the Fourth,
Seiz'd on the re dm; depos'd the rightful king;
Sent his poor queen to France, from whence she

came,

And him to Pomfret; where, as all you know,
Harmless Richard was murder'd traitorously.

War. Father, the duke hath told the truth;
Thus got the house of Lancaster the crown.
York. Which now they hold by force, and not by
right:

For Richard, the first son's heir being dead,
The issue of the next son should have reign'd.
Sal. But William of Hatfield died without an
heir.

York. The third son, duke of Clarence, (from whose line,

I claim the crown, had issue-Philippe, a daughter,
Who married Edmund Mortimer, cart of March:
Edmund had issue-Roger, earl of March;
Roger had issue-Edmund, Anne, and Eleanor.
Sal. This Edmund, in the reign of Bolingbroke,
As I have read, laid claim unto the crown;
And, but for Owen Glendower, had been king,
Who kept him in captivity, till he died.
But to the rest.
York.

His eldest sister, Anne,

My mother, being heir unto the crown,
Married Richard, earl of Cambridge; who was son
To Edmund Langley, Edward the Third's fifth son.
By her I claim the kingdom: she was the son
Of Edmund Mortimer; who married Philippe,
Sole daughter unto Lionel, duke of Clarence:
So, if the issue of the elder son
Succeed before the younger, I am king.

War. What plain proceedings are more plain

than this?

Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt,
The fourth son; York claims it from the third.
Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign:

It fans not yet; but flourishes in thee,
And in tay sons, fair ships of such a stock.—
Then, father Salisbury, kneel we both together;
And in this private plot, be we the first,
Thit shall salute our rightful sovereign
With honour of his birthright to the crown.
Both. Long live our sovereign Richard, Eng-
Land's king!

[king

York. We thank you, lords. But I am not your
Till I be crown'd; and that my sword be stain d
With heart blood of the house of Lancaster ·
And that's not suddenly to be perform'd;
But with advice, and silent secrecy.
Do you, as do, in these dangerous days,

Wink at the duke of Siflolks insolence.
At Beaufort's pride, at Somerset's ambition,
At Buckingham, and all the crew of them,
Till they have snar'd the shepherd of the flock.
That virtuous prince, the good duke Humphrey :
'Tis that they seek; and they, in seeking that,
Shall find their deaths if York can prophesy.
Sal. My lord, break we off, we know your mind
at full.
Warwick
War. My heart assures me, that the earl of

|

Shall one day make the duke of York a king.
York. And, Nevil, this I do assure myself,-
Richard shall live to make the earl of Warwick
The greatest man in England, but the king. [Exeunt.
SCENE III.-The same. A Hall of Justice.
Trumpets sounded. Enter King HENRY, Queen
MARGARET, GLOSTER, YORK, SUFFOLK, and
SALISBURY, the Duchess of GLOSTER, MARGERY
JOURDAIN, SOUTHWELL, HUME, and BOLING
BROKE, under guard.

K. Hen. Stand forth, dame Eleanor Cobham,
Gloster's wife:

In sight of God, and us, your guilt is great;
Receive the sentence of the law, for sins
Such as by God's book are adjudg ́d to death.—
You four, from hence to prison back again;
(To Jourd, &c.)

From thence, unto the place of execution:
The witch in Smithfield shall be burn'd to ashes,
And you three shall be strangled on the gallows.-
You, madam, for you are more nobly born,
Despoiled of your honour in your life,
Shall, after three days' open penance done,
Live in your country here, in banishment,
With sir John Stanley, in the isle of Man.

Duck. Welcome is banishment, welcome were my death.

Glo. Eleanor, the law, thou seest, hath judged thee; I cannot justify whom the law condemns.

[Exeunt the Duchess and the other Prisoners,

Give up thy staff: Henry will to himself
Protector be: and God shall be my hope,
My stay, my guide, and lantern to my feet;
And go in peace, Humphrey; no less belov'd,
Than when thou wert protector to thy king.

my staff

Q. Mar. I see no reason, why a king of years Should be to be protected like a child.— God and king Henry govern England's helm. Give up your stall, sir, and the king his realm. Glo. My staff-here, noble Henry, As willingly do I the same resign, As ere thy father Henry made it mine; And even as willingly at thy feet I leave it, As others would ambitiously receive it. Farewell, good king: When I am dead and gone, May honourable peace attend thy throne! Exit. Q. Mar. Why, now is Henry king, and Margaret

Enter, on one side, HORNER, and his Neighbours, drinking to him so much that he is drunk; and he enters bearing his staff with a sand-bag fastened to it; a drum before him: at the other side, PETER, with a drum and a similar staff; accompanied by Prentices drinking to him.

1 Neigh. Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you sa cup of sack; And fear not, neighbour, you shall is well enough.

? Neigh. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of

charneco.

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

Her. 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 bot afraid.

Pren. Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master: fight for credit of the prentices.

Peter. I thank you all: drink, and pray for me, I pray you; for, I think, I have taken my last daght in this world.-Here, Robin, an if I die, Iave thee my apron; and, Will, thou shalt have By bammer:-and here, Tom, take all the money Bat I have.-O Lord, bless me, I pray God! for I in never able to deal with my master, he hath learnt mach fence already.

Sal. Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows.
Srrah, what's thy name?
Peter. Peter, forsooth.
Sal. Peter! what more?
Peter. Thump.

[well.

Sal. Thump! then see thou thump thy master Hor. Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon my man's instigation, to prove him a knave, and myself an honest man and touching the duke of York-will take my death, I never meant him any nor the king, nor the queen: And therefore, Peter, have at thee with a downright blow, as Bevis of Southampton fell upon Ascapart.

York. Despatch:-this knave's tongue begins to double.

Sound trumpets, alaram to the combatants.

Alarum. They fight, and Peter strikes down his master.

Hor. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess (Dies.) York. Take away his weapon:-Fellow, thank God, and the good wine in thy master's way. Peter. O God! have I overcome mine enemies in this presence? O Peter, thou hast prevailed in [sight; K. Hen. Go, take hence that traitor from our fe, 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, Wach he had thought to have murder'd wrongfully.

Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-The same. A Street.

[cloud;

Enter GLOSTER and Servants, in mourning cloaks.
Gia. Thus, sometimes, hath the brightest day a
Lad, after sommer, evermore succeeds
Laren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold:
cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet.
Sex what's o'clock?
Sert

Ten, my lord.

Gia Ten is the hour that was appointed me, watch the coming of my punish'd duchess: Lath may she endure the flinty streets, Tread them with her tender-feeling feet.

et Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook 7 abject peuple, gazing on thy face,

th envious looks still laughing at thy shame; That erst did follow thy proud chariot wheels,

en thou didst ride in triumph through the streets. But, soft! I think, she comes; and I'll prepare My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries.

Now thou dost penance too. Look, how they gaze!
See, how the giddy multitude do point,

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

Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief.
Duch. Ah, Gloster, teach me to forget myself.
For, whilst I think I am thy married wife,
And thou a prince, protector of this land,
Methinks, I should not thus be led along,
Mail'd up in shame, with papers on my back;
And follow'd with a rabble, that rejoice
To see my tears, and hear my deep-fet groans.
The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet;
And, when I start, the envious people laugh,
Aud bid me be advised how I tread.
Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke
Trow'st thou, that e'er I'll look upon the world;
Or count them happy, that enjoy the sun?
No; dark shall be my light, and night my day;
To think upon my pomp, shall be my hell.
Sometime I'll say, I am duke Humphrey's wife;
And he a prince, and ruler of the land:
Yet so he rul'd, and such a prince he was,
As he stood by, whilst I, his forlorn duchess,
Was made a wonder, and a pointing-stock,
To every idle rascal follower.
But be thou mild, and blush not at my
Nor stir at nothing, till the axe of death
Hang over thee, as, sure, it shortly 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 canst, they'll tangle thee:
But fear not thou, until thy foot be snar'd,
Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.

shame ;

Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear; thou aimest all awry; I must offend, before I be attainted: And had I twenty times so many foes, And each of them had twenty times their power, All these could not procure me any scathe, So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless. Wouldst have me rescue thee from this reproach? Why, yet thy scandal were not wip'd away, But I in danger for the breach of law. Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell: I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience; These few days' wonder will be quickly worn.

Enter a Herald.

Her. I summon your grace to his majesty's parlia ment, holden at Bury the first of this next month. Glo. And my consent ne'er ask'd herein before! This is close dealing.-Well, I will be there.

[Exit Herald. My Nell, I take my leave :-and, master sheriff, Let not her penance exceed the king's commission. Sher. An't please your grace, here my commission stays:

And sir John Stanley is appointed now
To take her with him to the isle of Man.

Glo. Must you, sir John, protect my lady here?
Stan. So am I given in charge, may't please your

Duch. What, gone, my lord; and bid me not farewell?

Glo. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak. [Exeunt Gloster and Servants.

Duch. Art thou gone too? All comfort go with thee!

For none abides with me; my joy is-death;
Death, at whose name I oft have been afeard,
Because I wish'd this world's eternity.-
Stanley, I prythee 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 isle of Man;
There to be used according to your state.

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

Stan. Like to a duchess, and duke Humphrey's lady,

According to that state you shall be used.

Duch Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare; Although thou hast been conduct of my shame!

Sher. It is my office; and, madam, pardon me. Duch. Ay, ay, farewell; thy oflice is discharg'd.Come, Stauley, shall we go?

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

And go we to attire you for our journey.

Duch. My shame will not be shifted with my sheet:

No, it will hang upon my richest robes,
And shew itself, attire me how I can.

Go, lead the way; I long to see my prison. [Exeunt.

ACT III.

SCENE I.-The Abbey at Bury.

Enter to the Parliament King HENRY, Queen MARGARET, Cardinal BEAUFORT, SUFFOLK, YORK, BUCKINGHAM, and others.

K. Hen. I muse, my lord of Gloster is not come : 'Tis not his wont to be the hindmost man, Whate'er occasion keeps him from us now.

Q. Mar. Can you not see? or will you not observe
The strangeness of his alter'd countenance?
With what a majesty he bears himself;
How insolent of late he is become.
How proud, peremptory, and unlike himself?
We know the time, since he was mild and affable;
And, if we did but glance a far-otl' look,
Immediately he was upon his knee,

That all the court admir'd him for submission:
But meet him now, and, be it in the morn,
When every one will give the time of day,
He knits his brow, and shews an angry eye,
And passeth by with stiff unbowed knee,
Disdaining duty that to us belongs.

Small curs are not regarded when they grin;
But great men tremble when the lion roars;
And Humphrey is no little man in England.
First, note, that he is near you in descent;
Aud should you fall, he is the next will mount.
Me seemeth then, it is no policy,-

Respecting what a rancorous mind he bears,
And his advantage following your decease,—
That he should come about your royal person,
Or be admitted to your highness' council.
By flattery bath he won the commons' hearts;
And, when he please to make commotion,
'Tis to be fear'd, they all will follow him.

Now 'tis the spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted;
Suffer them now, and the y'll o'ergrow the garden,
And choke the herbs for want of husbandry.
The reverent care, I bear unto my lord,
Made me collect these dangers in the duke.
If it be fond, call it a woman's fear;
Which fear if better reasons can supplant,

I will subscribe and say-I wrong'd the duke.

My lord of Suffolk,-Buckingham.—and York, — Reprove my allegation, if you can;

Or else conclude ray words effectual.

Suf. Well hath your highness seen into this duke, And, had I first been put to speak my mind. I think, I should have told your grace's tale. The duchess, by his subornation, Upon my life began her devilish practices; Or if he were not privy to those faults, Yet, by reputing of his high descent, (As next the king, he was successive heir,) And such high vaunts of his nobility, Did instigate the bedlam brain-sick duchess, By wicked means to frame our sovereign's fall. Sinooth runs the water where the brook is deep; And in his simple shew he harbours treason. The fox barks not, when he would steal the lamb No, no, my sovereign; Gloster is a mau Unsounded yet, and full of deep deceit.

Car. Did he not, contrary to form of law, Devise strange deaths, for small offences done? York. And did he not, in his protectorship, Levy great sums of money through the realm, For soldiers' pay in France, and never sent it? By means whereof, the towns each day revolted. Buck. Tut! these are petty faults to faults known,

Which time will bring to light in smooth duke Humphrey.

K. Hen. My lords, at once: The care you have

of us,

To mow down thorns that would annoy our foot,
Is worthy praise: But shall I speak my conscience?
Our kinsman Gloster is as innocent
From meaning treason to our royal person,
As is the suckling lamb, or harmless dove:
The Duke is virtuous, mild; and too well given,
To dream on evil, or to work my downfall.

Q. Mar. Ah, what's more dangerous than this fond afhance!

Seems he a dove? his feathers are but borrow'd,
For he's disposed as the hateful raven.
Is he a lamb? his skin is surely lent him,
For he's inclin'd, as are the ravenous wolves,
Who cannot steal a shape, that means deceit?
Take heed, my lord; the welfare of us all
Hangs on the cutting short that fraudful man.
Enter SOMERSET.

Som. All health unto my gracious sovereign!
K. Hen. Welcome, lord Somerset. What Dews
from France ?

Som. That all your interest in those territories Is utterly bereft you; all is lost.

K. Hen, Cold news, lord Somerset: but God's will be done.

York. Cold news for me; for I had hope of France, As firmly as I hope for fertile England. Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bod, And caterpillars eat my leaves away But I will remedy thus gear ere long, Or sell my title for a glorious grave.

Enter GLOSTer.

(Aside.)

I never robb'd the soldiers of their pay,
Nor ever had one penny bribe from France.
So help me God, as I have watch'd the night.-
Ay, night by night, in studying good for England!
That doit, that e'er I wrested from the king,
Or any groat I hoarded to my use,
Be brought against me at my trial day!

No many a pound of mine own proper store,
Because I would not tax the needy commons,
Have I dispersed to the garrisons,
And never ask'd for restitution.

Car. It serves you well, my lord, to say so much.
Glo. I say no more than truth, so help me God!
York. In your protectorship, you did devise
Strange tortures for offenders, never heard of,
That England was defam'd by tyranny.

Glo. Why, 'tis well known, that whiles I was protector,

Pity was all the fault that was in me;

For I should melt at an offender's tears,
And lowly words were ransom for their fault.
Unless it were a bloody murderer,

Ur foul felonious thief, that fleec'd poor passengers,
I never gave them condign punishment:
Murder, indeed, that bloody sin, I tortur'd
Above the felon, or what trespass else.

Suf. My lord, these faults are easy, quickly answer'd:

Bat mightier crimes are laid unto your charge,
Whereof you cannot easily purge yourself.
I do arrest you in his highness' name;
And here commit you to my lord cardinal
To keep, until your further time of trial.

K. Hen. My lord of Gloster, 'tis my special hope,
That you will clear yourself from all suspects;
My conscience tells me, you are innocent.

Gla. Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous! Virtue is chok'd with foul ambition,

And charity chas'd hence by rancour's hand;
Foul subornation is predominant,

Aad equity exil'd your highness' land.
kow, their complot is to have my life;

Ard, if my death might make this island happy,
And prove the period of their tyranny,
I would expend it with all willingness:
Bot mine is made the prologue to their play;
for thousands more, that yet suspect no peril,
Will not conclude their plotted tragedy.
Beaufort's red sparkling eyes blab his heart's malice,
And Suffolk's clondy brow his stormy hate;
Starp Buckingham unburdens with his tongue,
The envious load that lays upon his heart;
And dogged York, that reaches at the moon,
Whese overweening arm I have pluck'd back,
By false accuse doth level at my life:-
And you, my sovereign lady with the rest,
Caseless have laid disgraces on my head;
And, with your best endeavour, have stirr'd up
My befest liege to be mine enemy :-
Ar all of you have laid your heads together,
Myself had notice of your conventicles,
And all to make away my guiltless life:

I shall not want false witness to condemn me,
Nur store of treasons to augment my guilt;
The ancient proverb will be well effected,—
A staff is quickly found to beat a dog.

Car. My lege, his railing is intolerable:
If those, that care to keep your royal person
From treason's secret knife, and traitors' rage,
Be thus apbraided, chid, and rated at,
And the offender granted scope of speech,
Twil make them cool in zeal anto your grace.
Suf. Hath he not twit our sovereign lady here
With ignominious words, though clerkly couch'd,

As if she had suborned some to swear
Faise allegations, to o'erthrow his state?

Q. Mar. But I can give the loser leave to chide.
Gio. Far truer spoke than meant: I lose, indeed ;-
Beshrew the winners, for they played me false !
And well such losers may have leave to speak.

Buc. He'll wrest the sense, and hold us here all day:

Lord cardinal, he is your prisoner.

[sure. Car. Sirs, take away the duke, and guard him Glo. Ah, thus king Henry throws away his crutch, Before his legs be firm to bear his body: Thus is the shepherd beaten from thy side, And wolves are gnarling who shall gnaw thee first. Ah, that my fear were false ! ah, that it were! For, good king Henry, thy decay I fear.

[Exeunt Attendants, with Gloster. K. Hen. My lords what to your wisdom seemeth best,

Do, or undo, as if ourself were here.

Q. Mar. What, will your highness leave the parliament?

K. Hen. Ay, Margaret; my heart is drown'd with grief,

Whose flood begins to flow within mine eyes;
My body round engirt with misery;

For what's more miserable than discontent?
Ah, uncle Humphrey ! in thy face I see
The map of honour, truth, and loyalty;
And yet, good Humphrey, is the hour to come,
That e'er I prov'd thee false, or fear'd thy faith.
What low'ring star now envies thy estate,
That these great lords, and Margaret our queen,
Do seek subversion of thy harmless life?
Thou never didst them wrong, nor no man wrong:
And as the butcher takes away the calf,
And binds the wretch, and beats it when it strays,
Bearing it to the bloody slaughter-house;
Even so, remorseless, have they borne him hence.
And as the dam runs lowing up and down,
Looking the way her harmless young one went,
And can do nought but wail her darling's loss;
Even so myself bewails good Gloster's case
With sad unhelpful tears; and with dimm'd eyes
Look after him, and cannot do him good;
So mighty are his vowed enemies.

His fortunes I will weep; and, 'twixt each groan,
Say-Who's a traitor? Gloster he is none. [Exit.
Q. Mar. Free lords, cold snow melts with the
sun's hot beams.

Henry, my lord, is cold in great affairs,
Too full of foolish pity: and Gloster's shew
Beguiles him, as the mournful crocodile
With sorrow snares relenting passengers;
Or as the snake, roll d in a flowering bank,
With shining chequer'd slough, doth sting a child,
That, for the beauty, thinks it excellent.

Believe me, lords, were none more wise than I,
(And yet, herein, I judge mine own wit good,)
This Gloster should be quickly rid the world,
To rid us from the fear we have of him.

Car. That he should die is worthy policy:
But yet we want a colour for his death:
"Tis meet he be condemn'd by course of law.
Suf. But, in my mind, that were no policy:
The king will labour still to save his life,
The commons haply rise to save his life;
And yet we have but trivial argument,
More than mistrust, that shews him worthy death.
York. So that by this, you would not have him die.
Suf. Ah, York, no man alive so fain as I.
York. "Tis York, that hath more reason for his

By nature prov'd an enemy to the flock,
Before his chaps be stain'd with crimson blood;
As Humprey, prov'd by reasons, to my liege.
And do not stand on quillets, how to slay him:
Be it by gins, by snares, by subtilty,
Sleeping, or waking, tis no matter how,
So he be dead; for that is good deceit
Which mates him first, that first intends deceit.

Q. Mar. Thrice noble Suffolk, 'tis resolutely spoke.
Suf. Not resolute, except so much were done;
For things are often spoke, and seldom meant:
But, that my heart accordeth with my tongue,—
Seeing the deed is meritorious,

And to preserve my sovereign from his foc,-
Say but the word, and I will be his priest.

Car. But I would have him dead, my lord of
Suffolk,

Ere you can take due orders for a priest:
Say, you consent, and censure well the deed,
And I'll provide his executioner,

I tender so the safety of my liege.

Suf. Here is my hand, the deed is worthy doing. Q. Mar. And so say I.

York. And I and now we three have spoke it, It skills not greatly who impugns our doom

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. Great lords, from Ireland am I come amain, To signify-that rebels there are up, And put the Englishmen unto the sword: Send succours, lords, and stop the rage betime, Before the wound do grow incurable; For being green, there is great hope of help. Car. A breach, that craves a quick expedient stop! What counsel give you in this weighty cause?

York. That Somerset be sent as regent thither: 'Tis meet, that lucky ruler be employ'd; Witness the fortune he hath had in France.

Som. If York, with all his far-fet policy,
Had been the regent there instead of me,
He never would have staid in France so long.

York. No, not to lose it all, as thou hast done :
I rather would have lost my life betimes,
Than bring a burden of dishonour home,
By staying there so long, till all were lost.
Shew me one scar character'd on thy skin:
Men's flesh preserv'd so whole, do seldom win.
Q. Mar. Nay then, this spark will prove a raging

fire.

If wind and fuel be brought to feed it with:-
No more, good York ;-sweet Somerset, be still;-
Thy fortune, York, hadst thou been regent there,
Might happily have prov'd far worse than his.
York. What, worse than naught? nay, then a
shame take all!

Som. And, in the number, thee, that wishest shame!

Car. My lord of York, try what your fortune is.
The uncivil Kernes of Ireland are in arms,
And temper clay with blood of Englishmen :
To Ireland will you lead a band of men,
Collected choicely, from each county some,
And try your hap against the Irishmen?

York. I will, my lord, so please his majesty.
Suf. Why, our authority is his consent;
And, what we do establish, he confirms:
Then, noble York, take thon this task in hand.

York. I am content: Provide me soldiers, lords, Whiles I take order for mine own affairs.

Suf. A charge, lord York, that I will see perform'd. But now return we to the false duke Humphrey. Car. No more of him; for I will deal with him, That, henceforth, he shall trouble us no more. And so break off, the day is almost spent: Lord Suffolk, you and I must talk of that event. York. My lord of Suffolk, within fourteen days, At Bristol I expect my soldiers;

For there I'll ship them all for Ireland. Suf I'll see it truly done, my lord of York. [Exeunt all but York.

York. Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful thought,

And change misdoubt to resolution :

Be that thou hop'st to be; or what thou art
Resign to death, it is not worth the enjoying:
Let pale fac'd fear keep with the mean-born man,
And find no harbour in a royal heart.

Faster than spring time showers, comes thought on thought;

And not a thought, but thinks on dignity.
My brain, more busy than the labouring spider,
Weaves tedions suares to trap mine enemies.
Well, nobles, well, 'tis polticly done,

To send me packing with an host of men :
I fear me, you but warm the starved snake,
Who, cherish'd in your breasts, will sting your

hearts.

'Twas men I lack'd, and you will give them me :
I take it kindly; yet, be well assur'd
You put sharp weapons in a madman's hands
Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band,
I will stir up in England some black storm,
Shall blow ten thousand souls to heaven, or hell:
And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage
Until the golden circuit on my head,
Lake to the glorious sun's transparent beams,
Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw.
And, for a minister of my intent,

I have seduc'd a headstrong Kentishman,
John Cade of Ashford,

To make commotion, as full well he can,
Under the title of John Mortimer.

In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade
Oppose himself against a troop of Kernes;
And fought so long, till that his thighs with darts
Were almost like a sharp-quill'd porcupine:
And, in the end being resca'd, I have seen him
Caper upright like a wild Morisco,

Shaking the bloody darts, as he his bells.
Full often, like a shag hair'd crafty Kerne,
Hath he conversed with the enemy;

And undiscover'd come to me again,
And given me notice of their villanies.
This devil here shall be my substitute;
For that John Mortimer, whien now is dead,
In face, in gait, in speech, he doth resemble:
By this I shall perceive the commons' mind,
How they affect the house and claim of York.
Say, he be taken, rack'd, and tortured ;
I know no pain they can inflict upon him,
Will make him say-I mov'd him to those arms.
Say, that he thrive (as 'tis great like he will.)
Why, then from Ireland come I with my strength,
And
reap the harvest which that rascal sow'd:
For, Humphrey being dead, as he shall be,
And Heury put apart, the next for me.

[Exit.