Sec. Petit. Come back, fool; this is the Duke of Suffolk, and not my Lord Protector. 10 Suf. How now, fellow! wouldst any thing with me? First Petit. I pray, my lord, pardon me; I took ye for my Lord Protector. Queen. For my Lord Protector! Are your supplications to his lordship? Let me see them: what is thine? First Petit. 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's 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! 21 Sec. Petit. Alas, sir, I am but a poor petitioner of our whole township. Peter. [Giving his petition.] Against my master, Thomas Horner, for saying that the Duke of York was rightful heir to the crown. Queen. 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. Suf. Who is there? [Enter Servant.] Take this fellow in. and send for his master with a pursuivant presently: we'll hear more of your matter before the King. [Exit Servant with Peter. Queen. And as for you, that love to be protected [Tears the supplications. Queen. My Lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise, [Exeunt 50 His champions are the prophets and apostles, Would choose him Pope and carry him to Rome, Suf. Madam, be patient: as I was cause Queen. Beside the haughty Protector, have we Beaufort And grumbling York; and not the least of these But can do more in England than the King. Queen. 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, The Was better worth than all my father's lands, Yet must we join with him and with the lords, 80 calleta scolding trull, бо 70 80 90 Sound a sennet. Enter the KING, DUKE HUMPHREY of Gloucester, CARDINAL BEAUFORT, BUCKINGHAM, YORK, SOMERSET, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and the DUCHESS OF GLOUCES TER. King. 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, Som. If Somerset be unworthy of the place, 100 Car. Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak. Queen. Because the King, forsooth, will have it so. Glou. Madam, I am Protector of the realm; 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 Queen. 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. Give me my fan: what, minion! I 120 130 [Exit Gloucester. The Queen drops her fan. can ye not? [She gives the Duchess a box on the car. cry you mercy, madam; was it you? Duch. Was 't I yea, I it was, proud Frenchwoman: 133 suspect: recklessly used instead of suspicion for rhymth's sake. King. Sweet aunt, be quiet; 't was against her will. Re-enter GLOUCESTER. Glou. Now, lords, my choler being over-blown I York. I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet: Did never traitor in the land commit. Suf. Peace, headstrong Warwick! War. Image of pride, why should I hold my peace? Enter HORNER, the Armourer, and his man PETER, guarded. Suf. Because here is a man accused of treason: Pray God the Duke of York excuse himself! 140 [Exit. [Exit. 150 160 170 King. What mean'st thou, Suffolk; tell me, what are these? His words were these: that Richard Duke of York 180 Hor. An't shall please your majesty, I never said nor thought any such matter: God is my witness, I am falsely accus'd 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. Let him have all the rigour of the law. 190 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 ever 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. King. Uncle, what shall we say to this in law? This is the law, and this Duke Humphrey's doom. 200 200 O Lord, have Pet. Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God's sake, pity my case. The spite of man prevaileth against me. mercy upon me! I shall never be able to fight a blow. O Lord, my heart! Glou. Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd. King. 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. SCENE IV. GLOUCESTER'S garden. [Flourish. Exeunt. Enter MARGERY JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTHWELL, and BOLINGBROKE Hume. Come, my masters; the Duchess, I tell you, expects performance of your promises. Boling. Master Hume, we are therefore provided: will her ladyship behold and hear our exorcisms? Hume. Ay, what else? fear you not her courage. Boling. 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 below; and so, I pray |