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 the cardinal; And on the pieces of the broken wand Were plac'd the heads of Edmund, duke of Somerset, But list to me, my Humphrey, my sweet duke: In the cathedral church of Westminster, And in that chair where kings and queens are crown'd; Glo. Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright: Duch. What, what, my lord! are you so choleric Glo. Nay, be not angry, I am pleas'd again. Enter a Messenger. Mess. 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? Duch. Yes, my good lord, I'll follow presently. [Exeunt Gloster and Messenger. Follow I must, I cannot go before, While Gloster bears this base and humble mind. I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks, 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. grace. Hume. Jesu preserve your royal majesty! Duch. What say'st thou, majesty! I am but 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 conWith Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch; And Roger Bolingbroke, the conjurer? And will they undertake to do me good? [ferr'd Hume. This they have promised,-to show your highness A spirit rais'd from depth of under ground, Duch. It is enough; I'll think upon the questions: gold; Marry, and shall. But, how now, sir John Hume? . Dame Eleanor gives gold, to bring the witch: And from the great and new-made duke of Suffolk; They, knowing dame Eleanor's aspiring humour, [Exit. SCENE 111. 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. Suff. How now, fellow? wouldst any thing with me? 1 Pet. I pray, my lord, pardon me! I took ye for 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. Suff. 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 master said, That he was; and that the king was an usurper. Suff. 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 Petition. Away, base cullions!-Suffolk, let them go. [Exeunt Petitioners. Q. Mar. My lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise, His champions are-the prophets, and apostles; Would choose him pope, and carry him to Rome, Suff Madam, be patient: as I was cause Q. Mar. Beside the haught protector, have we Beaufort, The imperious churchman; Somerset, Buckingham, Suff. And he of these, that can do most of all, 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, Yet must we join with him, and with the lords, So, one by one, we'll weed them all at last, |