Enter the Duchefs of GLOSTER, in a white sheet, with papers pinn'd 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, ftir not, for your lives; let her pass by.
Duch. Come you, my lord, to see my open shame?
Now thou doft penance too. Look, how they gaze!
• See, how the giddy multitude do point,

And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee!
Ah, Glofter, 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, Glofter, 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, And bid me be advised how I tread.

Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this fhameful yoke? "Trow'ft thou, that e'er I'll look upon the world; "Or count them happy, that enjoy the fun? "No; dark shall be my light, and night my day; "To think upon my pomp, fhall be my hell. Sometime I'll fay, I am duke Humphrey's wife ; And he a prince, and ruler of the land : Yet fo he rul'd, and fuch a prince he was,

D 4

As

As he stood by, whilst I, his forlorn duchess,
Was made a wonder, and a pointing-stock,
To every idle rafcal follower.

But be thou mild, and blufh not at my fhame;
Nor ftir at nothing, till the axe of death
Hang over thee, as, fure, it fhortly 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 fnar'd,
"Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.

"Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear; thou aimest all awry;
"I must offend, before I be attainted:
"And had I twenty times fo 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.
Would't have me refcue 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, fort thy heart to patience;

These few days' wonder will be quickly worn.

Enter a Herald.

Her. I fummon your grace to his majefty's parliament, holden at Bury the first of this next month.

Glo. And my confent 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

Let not her penance exceed the king's commission.

• Sher. An't please your grace, here my commiffion ftays:

And fir John Stanley is appointed now

To take her with him to the ifle of Man.

• Glo. Must you, fir 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 pray

You ufe her well: the world may laugh again;

And I may live to do you kindness, if

You do it her. And fo, fir John, farewell.

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 whofe name I oft have been afear'd,
"Because I wifh'd this world's eternity.-
Stanley, I pr'ythee, 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 us'd according to your state.

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

"Stan. Like to a duchefs, and duke Humphrey's lady, "According to that ftate you fhall be us'd.

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, fhall we go?

• Stan.

Stan. Madam, your penance done, throw off this

fheet,

And go we to attire you for our journey.

Duch. My fhame will not be fhifted with my sheet: "No, it will hang upon my richest robes,

"And fhow itself, attire me how I can.

"Go, lead the way; I long to fee my prifon. [Exeunt.

ACT

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 mufe, my lord of Glofter is not come : ''Tis not his wont to be the hindmoft man,

Whate'er occafion keeps him from us now.

2. Mar. Can you not fee? or will you not observe. The ftrangeness of his alter'd countenance?

• With what a majesty he bears himself;

How infolent of late he is become,

How proud, peremptory, and unlike himself?
We know the time, fince he was mild and affable;
And, if we did but glance a far-off look,
Immediately he was upon his knee,

That all the court admir'd him for fubmiffion :
• But meet him now, and, be it in the morn,
• When every one will give the time of day,
He knits his brow, and shows an angry eye,
And paffeth by with ftiff unbowed knee,
• Difdaining 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 defcent;
And, fhould you fall, he is the next will mount,
Me feemeth then, it is no policy,-

Refpecting what a rancorous mind he bears,

· And