Enter to the Protector at the Tower gates Winchester and his men in tawny coats.
WINCHESTER.
How now, ambitious Humphrey! What means this?
GLOUCESTER.
Peel’d priest, dost thou command me to be shut out?
WINCHESTER.
I do, thou most usurping proditor,
And not Protector, of the King or realm.
GLOUCESTER.
Stand back, thou manifest conspirator,
Thou that contrived’st to murder our dead lord;
Thou that giv’st whores indulgences to sin:
I’ll canvass thee in thy broad cardinal’s hat,
If thou proceed in this thy insolence.
WINCHESTER.
Nay, stand thou back; I will not budge a foot.
This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain,
To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.
GLOUCESTER.
I will not slay thee, but I’ll drive thee back.
Thy scarlet robes, as a child’s bearing-cloth,
I’ll use to carry thee out of this place.
WINCHESTER.
Do what thou dar’st, I beard thee to thy face.
GLOUCESTER.
What, am I dared and bearded to my face?
Draw, men, for all this privileged place.
Blue coats to tawny coats. Priest, beware your beard;
I mean to tug it and to cuff you soundly.
Under my feet I’ll stamp thy cardinal’s hat;
In spite of Pope or dignities of church,
Here by the cheeks I’ll drag thee up and down.
WINCHESTER.
Gloucester, thou wilt answer this before the Pope.