SC. II. dab
Elnor. Why droopes my Lord like ouer ripened corne,
[♦] Hanging the head at Cearies plentious loade,
What seest thou Duke Humphrey King Henries Crowne?
Reach at it, and if thine arme be too short,
[5] Mine shall lengthen it. Art not thou a Prince,
Vnckle to the King, and his Protector?
[♦] Then what shouldst thou lacke that might content thy minde.
Humph. My louely Nell, far be it from my heart,
To thinke of Treasons gainst my soueraigne Lord,
10 But I was troubled with a dreame to night,
[♦] And God I pray, it do betide no ill.
[♦] Elnor. What drempt my Lord. Good Humphrey tell it me,
And ile interpret it, and when thats done,
Ile tell thee then, what I did dreame to night.
[15] Humphrey. This night when I was laid in bed, I dreampt that
This my staffe mine Office badge in Court,
[♦] Was broke in two, and on the ends were plac’d,
[♦] The heads of the Cardinall of Winchester,
[♦] And William de la Poule first Duke of Suffolke.
20 Elnor. Tush my Lord, this signifies nought but this,
That he that breakes a sticke of Glosters groue,
Shall for th’ offence, make forfeit of his head.
But now my Lord, Ile tell you what I dreampt,
Me thought I was in the Cathedrall Church
25 At Westminster, and seated in the chaire
[♦] Where Kings and Queenes are crownde, and at my feete
Henry and Margaret with a Crowne of gold
Stood readie to set it on my Princely head.
Humphrey. Fie Nell. Ambitious woman as thou art,
30 Art thou not second woman in this land,
[♦] And the Protectors wife belou’d of him,
[♦] And wilt thou still be hammering treason thus,
Away I say, and let me heare no more.
Elnor. How now my Lord. What angry with your Nell,
[35] For telling but her dreame. The next I haue
[♦] Ile keepe to my selfe, and not be rated thus.
Humphrey. Nay Nell, Ile giue no credit to a dreame,
[♦] But I would haue thee to thinke on no such things.
Enters a Messenger.
Messenger. And it please your grace, the King and Queene to [40] morrow morning will ride a hawking to Saint Albones, and craues your company along with them.
Humphrey. With all my heart, I will attend his grace:
Come Nell, thou wilt go with vs vs I am sure. [♦] Exet Humphrey.
Elnor. Ile come after you, for I cannot go before,
[45] But ere it be long, Ile go before them all,
Despight of all that seeke to crosse me thus,
Who is within there?
Enter sir Iohn Hum.
What sir Iohn Hum, what newes with you?
Sir Iohn. Iesus preserue your Maiestie.
50 Elnor. My Maiestie. Why man I am but grace.
[♦] Ser Iohn. I, but by the grace of God & Hums aduise,
Your graces state shall be aduanst ere long.
Elnor. What hast thou conferd with Margery Iordaine, the [♦] cunning Witch of Ely, with Roger Bullingbrooke and the [55] rest, and will they vndertake to do me good?
Sir Iohn. I haue Madame, and they haue promised me to raise a [♦] Spirite from depth of vnder grounde, that shall tell your grace all questions you demaund.
[♦] Elnor. Thanks good sir Iohn. Some two daies hence I gesse
60 Will fit our time, then see that they be here:
For now the King is ryding to Saint Albones,
And all the Dukes and Earles along with him,
[♦] When they be gone, then safely they may come,
And on the backside of my Orchard heere,
65 There cast their Spelles in silence of the night,
[♦] And so resolue vs of the thing we wish,
Till when, drinke that for my sake, And so farwell. Exet Elnor.
Sir Iohn. Now sir Iohn Hum, No words but mum.
Seale vp your lips, for you must silent be,
70 These gifts ere long will make me mightie rich.
The Duches she thinks now that all is well,
But I haue gold comes from another place,
From one that hyred me to set her on,
To plot these Treasons gainst the King and Peeres,
75 And that is the mightie Duke of Suffolke.
For he it is, but I must not say so,
That by my meanes must worke the Duches fall,
[♦] Who now by Cuniurations thinkes to rise.
[♦] But whist sir Iohn, no more of that I trow,
80 For feare you lose your head before you goe. Exet.
SC. III. dac
[♦] 1. Peti. Come sirs let vs linger here abouts a while,
Vntil my Lord Protector come this way,
That we may show his grace our seuerall causes.
[♦] 2. Peti. I pray God saue the good Duke Humphries life,
5 For but for him a many were vndone,
[♦] That cannot get no succour in the Court,
But see where he comes with the Oueene.
Enter the Duke of Suffolke with the Queene, and they take him for Duke Humphrey, and giues him their writings.
1. Peti. Oh we are vndone, this is the Duke of Suffolke.
Queene. Now good-fellowes, whom would you speak withall?
10 2. Peti. If it please your Maiestie, with my Lord Protectors
Grace.
[♦] Queene. Are your sutes to his grace. Let vs see them first,
Looke on them my Lord of Suffolke.
Suffolke. A complaint against the Cardinals man,
15 What hath he done?
[♦] 2. Peti. Marry my Lord, he hath stole away my wife,
And th’ are gone togither, and I know not where to finde them.
[♦] Suffolke. Hath he stole thy wife, thats some iniury indeed.
But what say you?
20 Peter Thump. Marry sir I come to tel you that my maister said, [♦] that the Duke of Yorke was true heire vnto the Crowne, and that the King was an vsurer.
Queene. An vsurper thou wouldst say.
[♦] Peter. I forsooth an vsurper.
25 Queene. Didst thou say the King was an vsurper?
Peter. No forsooth, I saide my maister saide so, th’ other day, when we were scowring the Duke of Yorks Armour in our garret.
Suffolke. I marry this is something like,
[30] Whose within there?
Enter one or two.
[♦] Sirra take in this fellow and keepe him close,
And send out a Purseuant for his maister straight,
[♦] Weele here more of this before the King. Exet with the Armourers man.
[♦] Now sir what yours? Let me see it,
[35] Whats here?
A complaint against the Duke of Suffolke for enclosing the commons of long Melford.
[♦] How now sir knaue.
[♦] 1. Peti. I beseech your grace to pardon me, me, I am but a 40 Messenger for the whole town-ship. He teares the papers.
[♦] Suffolke. So now show your petitions to Duke Humphrey.
[♦] Villaines get you gone and come not neare the Court,
[♦] Dare these pesants write against me thus. Exet Petitioners.
Queene. My Lord of Suffolke, you may see by this,
45 The Commons loues vnto that haughtie Duke,
That seekes to him more then to King Henry:
Whose eyes are alwaies poring on his booke,
[♦] And nere regards the honour of his name,
But still must be protected like a childe,
50 And gouerned by that ambitious Duke,
[♦] That scarse will moue his cap nor speake to vs,
And his proud wife, high minded Elanor,
That ruffles it with such a troupe of Ladies,
[♦] As strangers in the Court takes her for the Queene.
55 The other day she vanted to her maides,
That the very traine of her worst gowne,
Was worth more wealth then all my fathers lands,
[♦] Can any griefe of minde be like to this.
[♦] I tell thee Poull, when thou didst runne at Tilt,
[60] And stolst away our Ladaies hearts in France,
I thought King Henry had bene like to thee,
Or else thou hadst not brought me out of France.
Suffolke. Madame content your selfe a litle while,
[♦] As I was cause of your comming to England,
65 So will I in England worke your full content:
And as for proud Duke Humphrey and his wife,
I haue set lime-twigs that will intangle them,
As that your grace ere long shall vnderstand.
[♦] But staie Madame, here comes the King.
Enter King Henry, and the Duke of Yorke and the Duke of Somerset on both sides of the King, whispering with him, and enter Duke Humphrey, Dame Elnor, the Duke of Buckingham, the Earle of Salsbury, the Earle of Warwicke, and the Cardinall of Winchester.
70 King. My Lords I care not who be Regent in France, or York, [♦] or Somerset, alls wonne to me.
Yorke My Lord, if Yorke haue ill demeande himselfe,
Let Somerset enioy his place and go to France.
[♦] Somerset. Then whom your grace thinke worthie, let him go,
75 And there be made the Regent ouer the French.
Warwicke. Whom soeuer you account worthie,
Yorke is the worthiest.
[♦] Cardinall. Pease Warwicke. Giue thy betters leaue to speake.
[♦] War. The Cardinals not my better in the field.
80 Buc. All in this place are thy betters farre.
[♦] War. And Warwicke may liue to be the best of all.
Queene. My Lord in mine opinion, it were best that Somerset were Regent ouer France.
[♦] Humphrey. Madame onr King is old inough himselfe,
85 To giue his answere without your consent.
[♦] Queene. If he be old inough, what needs your grace
To be Protector ouer him so long.
[♦] Humphrey. Madame I am but Protector ouer the land,
And when it please his grace, I will resigne my charge.
[90] Suffolke. Resigne it then, for since that thou wast King,
[♦] As who is King but thee. The common state
Doth as we see, all wholly go to wracke,
And Millions of treasure hath bene spent,
And as for the Regentship of France,
[95] I say Somerset is more worthie then Yorke.
Yorke. Ile tell thee Suffolke why I am not worthie,
Because I cannot flatter as thou canst.
War. And yet the worthie deeds that York hath done,
Should make him worthie to be honoured here.
100 Suffolke. Peace headstrong Warwicke.
War. Image of pride, wherefore should I peace?
Suffolke. Because here is a man accusde of Treason,
Pray God the Duke of Yorke do cleare himselfe.
Ho, bring hither the Armourer and his man.
Enter the Armourer and his man.
105 If it please your grace, this fellow here, hath accused his maister of high Treason, And his words were these.
That the Duke of Yorke was lawfull heire vnto the Crowne, and that your grace was an vsurper.
Yorke. I beseech your grace let him haue what punishment the 110 law will afford, for his villany.
King. Come hether fellow, didst thou speake these words?
[♦] Armour. Ant shall please your Maiestie, I neuer said any such matter, God is my witnesse, I am falsly accused by this villain (here.
115 Peter. Tis no matter for that, you did say so.
Yorke. I beseech your grace, let him haue the law.
[♦] Armour. Alasse my Lord, hang me if euer I spake the words, my accuser is my prentise, & when I did correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow upon his knees that he would 120 be euen with me, I haue good witnesse of this, and therefore [♦] I beseech your Maiestie do not cast away an honest man for a villaines accusation.
King. Vnckle Gloster, what do you thinke of this?
Humphrey. The law my Lord is this by case, it rests suspitious,
125 That a day of combat be appointed,
And there to trie each others right or wrong,
[♦] Which shall be on the thirtith of this month,
[♦] With Eben staues, and Standbags combatting
In Smythfield, before your Royall Maiestie. Exet Humphrey.
130 Armour. And I accept the Combat willingly.
[♦] Peter. Alasse my Lord, I am not able to fight.
Suffolke. You must either fight sirra or else be hangde:
[♦] Go take them hence againe to prison. Exet with them. The Queene lets fall her gloue, and hits the Duches of Gloster, a boxe on the eare.
Queene. Giue me my gloue. Why Minion can you not see? She strikes her.
135 I cry you mercy Madame, I did mistake,
I did not thinke it had bene you.
[♦] Elnor. Did you not proud French-woman,
Could I come neare your daintie vissage with my nayles,
Ide set my ten commandments in your face.
140 King. Be patient gentle Aunt.
It was against her will.
[♦] Elnor. Against her will. Good King sheele dandle thee,
If thou wilt alwaies thus be rulde by her.
But let it rest. As sure as I do liue,
145 She shall not strike dame Elnor vnreuengde. Exet Elnor.
[♦] King. Beleeue me my loue, thou wart much to blame,
I would not for a thousand pounds of gold,
My noble vnckle had bene here in place.
Enter Duke Humphrey.
But see where he comes, I am glad he met her not.
150 Vnckle Gloster, what answere makes your grace
Concerning our Regent for the Realme of France,
Whom thinks your grace is meetest for to send.
Humphrey. My gratious Lord, then this is my resolue,
[♦] For that these words the Armourer should speake,
155 Doth breed suspition on the part of Yorke,
[♦] Let Somerset be Regent ouer the French,
[♦] Till trials made, and Yorke may cleare himselfe.
King. Then be it so my Lord of Somerset.
We make your grace Regent ouer the French,
[160] And to defend our rights gainst forraine foes,
And so do good vnto the Realme of France.
Make hast my Lord, tis time that you were gone,
The time of Truse I thinke is full expirde.
Somerset. I humbly thanke your royall Maiestie,
And take my leaue to poste with speed to France. 165 Exet Somerset.
[♦] King. Come vnckle Gloster, now lets haue our horse,
For we will to Saint Albones presently,
Madame your Hawke they say, is swift of flight,
[♦] And we will trie how she will flie to day. Exet omnes.