SC. VIII. dah
[♦] Humph. Sirrha, whats a clocke?
Seruing. Almost ten my Lord.
Humph. Then is that wofull houre hard at hand,
That my poore Lady should come by this way,
5 In shamefull penance wandring in the streetes,
Sweete Nell, ill can thy noble minde abrooke,
The abiect people gazing on thy face,
With enuious lookes laughing at thy shame,
That earst did follow thy proud Chariot wheeles,
10 When thou didst ride in tryumph through the streetes.
Enter Dame Elnor Cobham, bare-foote, and a white sheete about her, with a waxe candle in her hand, and verses written on her backe and pind on, and accompanied with the Sheriffes of London, and Sir Iohn Standly, and Officers, with billes and holbards.
Seruing. My gratious Lord, see where my Lady comes,
Please it your grace, weele take her from the Sheriffes?
Humph. I charge you for your liues stir not a foote,
Nor offer once to draw a weapon here,
15 But let them do their office as they should.
Elnor. Come you my Lord to see my open shame?
[♦] Ah Gloster, now thou doest penance too,
See how the giddie people looke at thee,
Shaking their heads, and pointing at thee heere,
20 Go get thee gone, and hide thee from their sights,
And in thy pent vp studie rue my shame,
And ban thine enemies. Ah mine and thine.
Hum. Ah Nell, sweet Nell, forget this extreme grief,
And beare it patiently to ease thy heart.
25 Elnor. Ah Gloster teach me to forget my selfe,
For whilst I thinke I am thy wedded wife,
[♦] Then thought of this, doth kill my wofull heart.
The ruthlesse flints do cut my tender feete,
And when I start the cruell people laugh,
30 And bids me be aduised how I tread,
And thus with burning Taper in my hand,
Malde vp in shame with papers on my backe,
[♦] Ah, Gloster, can I endure this and liue.
Sometime ile say I am Duke Humphreys wife,
35 And he a Prince, Protector of the land,
But so he rulde, and such a Prince he was,
As he stood by, whilst I his forelorne Duches
Was led with shame, and made a laughing stocke,
[♦] To euery idle rascald follower.
40 Humphrey. My louely Nell, what wouldst thou haue me do?
Should I attempt to rescue thee from hence,
I should incurre the danger of the law,
And thy disgrace would not be shadowed so.
Elnor. Be thou milde, and stir not at my disgrace,
[45] Vntill the axe of death hang ouer thy head,
As shortly sure it will. For Suffolke he,
The new made Duke, that may do all in all
With her that loues him so, and hates vs all,
And impious Yorke and Bewford that false Priest,
50 Haue all lymde bushes to betraie thy wings,
[♦] And flie thou how thou can they will intangle thee.
Enter a Herald of Armes.
Herald. I summon your Grace, vnto his highnesse Parlament [♦] holden at saint Edmunds-Bury, the first of the next month.
Humphrey. A Parlament and our consent neuer craude
[55] Therein before. This is sodeine.
Well, we will be there. Exet. Herald.
Maister Sheriffe, I pray proceede no further against my Lady, then the course of law extendes.
Sheriffe. Please it your grace, my office here doth end,
[60] And I must deliuer her to sir Iohn Standly,
To be conducted into the Ile of Man.
Humphrey. Must you sir Iohn conduct my Lady?
[♦] Standly. I my gratious Lord, for so it is decreede,
And I am so commanded by the King.
[65] Humph. I pray you sir Iohn, vse her neare the worse,
In that I intreat you to vse her well.
The world may smile againe and I may liue,
To do you fauour if you do it her,
And so sir Iohn farewell.
[70] Elnor. What gone my Lord, and bid me not farwell?
Humph. Witnesse my bleeding heart, I cannot stay to speake. Exet Hnmphrey and his men.
Elnor. Then is he gone, is noble Gloster gone,
And doth Duke Humphrey now forsake me too?
Then let me haste from out faire Englands boundes,
75 Come Standly come, and let vs haste away.
[♦] Standly. Madam lets go vnto some house hereby,
Where you may shift your selfe before we go.
Elnor. Ah good sir Iohn, my shame cannot be hid,
Nor put away with casting off my sheete:
80 But come let vs go, maister Sheriffe farewell,
[♦] Thou hast but done thy office as thou shoulst. Exet omnes.