Let me see thine eyes :--wink now ;-now open 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. Then, Saunder, sit there, the lyingest knave in Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, thou might'st as well have known all our names, as thus to name the several colours we do wear. Sight may distinguish of colours; but suddenly to nominate them all, it is impossible.-My lords, Saint Alban here hath done a miracle; and would ye not think that cunning to be great, that could restore this cripple to his legs again? Simp. O, master, that you could! Glo. My masters of Saint Albans, 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. Erit 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. Re-enter Attendant, and a Beadle with a whip. Glo. Well, sir, we must have you find your legs. Sirrah beadle, whip him till he leap over that same stool. Bead. I will, my lord. Come on, sirrah; off with your doublet quickly. Simp. Alas! master, what shall I do? I am not able to stand. [After the Beadle hath hit him once, he leaps over the stool, and runs away; and the People follow and cry, "A miracle!" K. Hen. O God! seest thou this, and bearest so long? Q. Mar. It made me laugh to see the villain run. Glo. Follow the knave; and take this drab away. Wife. Alas! sir, we did it for pure need. Glo. Let them be whipp'd through every market town, Till they come to Berwick, from whence they came.. [Exeunt Mayor, Beadle, Wife, &c. Car. Duke Humphrey has done a miracle to-day. Suf. True; made the lame to leap, and fly away. Glo. But you have done more miracles than I; You made in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly. Enter BUCKINGHAM. K. Hen. What tidings with our cousin Buckingham? Buck. Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold. A sort of naughty persons, lewdly bent, Under the countenance and confederacy Of lady Eleanor, the protector's wife, The ringleader and head of all this rout, Have practis'd dangerously against your state, Dealing with witches, and with conjurers: Whom we have apprehended in the fact; Raising up, wicked spirits from under ground, Demanding of king Henry's life and death, And other of your highness' privy council, As more at large your grace shall understand. Car. And so, my lord protector, by this means Your lady is forthcoming yet at London. This news, I think, hath turn'd your weapon's edge; 'Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour. Glo. Ambitious churchman, leave to afflict my heart. Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my powers; K. Hen. O God! what mischiefs work the wicked ones; Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby. Glo. Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal, I banish her, my bed, and company, To-morrow, toward London, back again, SCENE II.-London. The Duke of YORK'S Garden. Enter YORK, SALISBURY, and WARWICK. York. Now, my good lords of Salisbury and Warwick, Our simple supper ended, give me leave, The Nevils are thy subjects to command. Edward the third, my lords, had seven song: The second, William of Hatfield; and the third, Lionel, duke of Clarence; next to whom, William of Windsor was the seventh, and last. came, And him to Pomfret; where, as all you know, For Richard, the first son's heir being dead, 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, York. His eldest sister, Anne, My mother, being heir unto the crown, son. By her I claim the kingdom: she was heir Succeed before the younger, I am king. War. What plain proceeding is more plain than Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt, York. We thank you, lords! But I am not your Till I be crown'd, and that my sword be stain'd 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 BoLINGBROKE, under guard. K. Hen. Stand forth, dame Eleanor Cobham, In sight of God, and us, your guilt is great: From thence, unto the place of execution : Duch. 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, Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief. Give up thy staff: Henry will to himself Q. Mar. I see no reason why a king of years Glo. My staff?-here, noble Henry, is my staff; As willingly do I the same resign, As e'er 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. [Erit. Q. Mar. Why, now is Henry king, and Marga Suf. Thus droops this lofty pine, and hangs his sprays; Thus Eleanor's pride dies in her youngest days. York. Lords, let him go.-Please it your majesty, This is the day appointed for the combat; And ready are the appellant and defendant, The armourer and his man, to enter the lists, So please your highness to behold the fight. Q. Mar. Ay, good my lord; for purposely, therefore, Left I the court to see this quarrel tried. K. Hen. O' God's name, see the lists and all things fit: Here let them end it, and God defend the right! York. I never saw a fellow worse bestead, Or more afraid to fight, than is the appellant, The servant of this armourer, my lords. 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 in a cup of sack. And fear not, neighbour, you shall do well enough. 2 Neigh. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of charneco. 3 Neigh. And here's a pot of good double beer, neighbour: drink, and fear not your man. Hor. 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 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 draught in this world. Here, Robin, an 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, bless me! I pray God, for I am never able to deal with my master, he hath learnt so much fence already. Sal. Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows. Sirrah, what's thy name? Peter. Peter, forsooth. Sal. Peter! what more? Sal. Thump! then see thou thump thy master well. 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, I will take my death, I never meant him Peter, have at thee with a downright blow. any ill, nor the king, nor the queen: and therefore, York. Despatch: this knave's tongue begins to double. Sound, trumpets, alarum to the combatants. [Alarum. They fight, and PETER strikes down his Master. Hor. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason. [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 right. K. Hen. Go, take hence that traitor from our sight; For, by his death, we do perceive his guilt: Come, fellow; follow us for thy reward. [Exeunt. 19 With envious looks, laughing at thy shame, streets. But, soft! I think, she comes; and I'll prepare My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries. Enter the Duchess of GLOSTER, in a white sheet, with verses written upon her back, her feet bare, and a taper burning in her hand; Sir JOHN STANLEY, a Sheriff, and Officers. Serv. So please your grace, we'll take her from the sheriff. Glo. No, stir not, for your lives: let her pass by. Duch. Come you, my lord, to see my open .shame ? Now thou dost penance too. Look, how they | To think upon my pomp, shall be my hell. gaze: See, how the giddy multitude do point, And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee. Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell: forget this grief. Ah, Humphrey! can I bear this shameful yoke? Sometime I'll say I am duke Humphrey's wife, But be thou mild, and blush not at my shame: Glo. Ah, Nell! forbear; thou aimest all awry: So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless. Her. I summon your grace to his majesty's parliament, 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 Glo. Must you, sir John, protect my lady here? Stan. So am I given in charge, may't please your grace. Glo. Entreat her not the worse, in that I The world may laugh again; and I may live pray Duch. What! gone, my lord, and bid me not farewell! Glo. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak. For none abides with me: my joy is-death; 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 office is discharg'd.Come, Stanley, shall we go? Stan. Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet, And go we to attire you for our journey. No; it will hang upon my richest robes, 21 [Exeunt. |