Would make thee quickly hop without thy head. [Exit Glou. Give me my fan; what, minion? can ye not? [She gives the Dutchefs a box on the ear. was it you? I cry you mercy, Madam Elean. Was't I? yea, I it was, proud French-woman : Could I come near your beauty with my nails, I'd fet my ten commandments in your face. K. Henry. Sweet aunt, be quiet; 'twas against her will. And liften after Humphry, how he proceeds: [Exit Buckingham. York, I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet: War. War. That I can witnefs, and a fouler fact Did never traitor in the land commit. Suf. Peace, head-ftrong Warwick! War. Image of pride, why fhould I hold my peace? Enter Horner the Armorer, and his Man Peter, guarded. Suf. Because here is a man accus'd of treason. Pray God the Duke of York excuse himself. York. Doth any one accufe York for a traitor ? K. Henry. What mean'ft thou, Suffolk? tell me, what are these? Suf. Please it your Majefty, this is the man And that your Majefty was an ufurper. K. Henry. Say, man, were these thy words? Arm. An't fhall please your Majefty, I never faid nor thought any fuch matter; God is my witness, I am falfly accus'd by the villain. Peter. By these ten bones, my Lord, he did speak them to me in the garret one night, as we were fcow'ring my Lord of York's armour. York. Bafe dunghil villain, and mechanical, I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech : Let him have all the rigour of the law. Arm. Alas, my Lord, hang me if ever I fpake the words. My accufer is my prentice, and when I did correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow upon his knees he would be even with me. I have good witness of this; therefore I beseech your Majefty, do not caft away an honeft man for a villain's accufation. K. Henry. Uncle, what fhall we fay to this in law? Because in York this breeds fufpicion. K. Henry. K. Henry. Then be it fo: my Lord of Somerset, Arm. And I accept the combat willingly. Peter. Alas, my Lord, I cannot fight; for God's fake pity my case; the spight of man prevaileth against me. O Lord, have mercy upon me! I fhall never be able to fight a blow: O Lord, my heart! Glou. Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd. K. Henry. Away with them to prifon; and the day of combat fhall be the laft of the next month. Come, Somerfet, we'll fee thee fent away. [Flourish. Exeunt. SCENE VIII. A Room prepared for the pretended Inchantments. Enter Mother Jordan, Hume, Southwel, and Bolingbrook. Hume. Come, my masters; the Dutchess, I tell you, expects performance of your promifes. Boling. Mafter Hume, we are therefore provided: will her Ladyship behold and hear our exorcisms ? Hume. Ay, what else? fear not her courage. Boling. I have heard her reported to be a woman of an invincible fpirit; but it fhall be convenient, Mafter Hume, that you be by her aloft, while we be bufie below; and fo I pray you, go in God's name and leave us. [Exit Hume.] Mother Jordan, be proftrate and grovel on the earth; John Southwel, read you, and let us to our work. Enter Eleanor above. Elean. Well faid, my masters, and welcome to all! to this geer, the fooner the better. Boling. Patience, good Lady, wizards know their times : Deep night, dark night, the filent of the night, The time of night when Troy was fet on fire, The time when screech-owls cry, and ban-dogs howl, When fpirits walk, and ghofts break up their graves; That time beft fits the work we have in hand. Madam, fit you and fear not; whom we raise We will make faft within a hallow'd verge. [Here they perform the ceremonies and make the circle; Bolinbrook or Southwel reads, Conjuro te, &c. It tbunders and lightens terribly; then the Spirit rifeth. Spirit. Spirit. Adfum. M. Ford. Afmuth, by the eternal God, whose name For 'till thou fpeak, thou fhalt not pass from hence. [As the Spirit fpeaks they write the answer. Safer fhall he be on the plains, Than where a castle mounted ftands. Have done, for more I hardly can endure. Boling. Defcend to darkness, and the burning lake : False fiend, avoid! [Thunder and lightning. Spirit defcends. Enter the Duke of York, and the Duke of Buckingham, with their Guard, and break in. York. Lay hands upon these traitors and their trash: Elean. Not half fo bad as thine to England's King, Buck. True, Madam, none at all: What call you this? Away with them, let them be clap'd up close, And kept apart. You, Madam, fhall with us, Stafford, take her to thee. We'll fee your Trinkets here forth-coming all. [Exeunt Guard with Jordan, Southwel, &c.* Southwel, &c. York Lord Buckingham, methinks you watch'd her well; A pretty plot, well chofe to build upon. Now, pray, my Lord, let's fee the devil's writ. The What have we here? [Reads. Why, The King is now in progrefs tow'rds St. Albans, Thither go these news, as fast as horfe can carry them: A forry breakfast for my Lord Protector. Buck. Your Grace fhall give me leave, my Lord of York, To be the poft, in hope of his reward. York. My Lord, at your good pleasure. Who's within there? Enter a Serving-man. Invite my Lords of Salisbury and Warwick, ACT II. SCENE I. At St. Albans. [Exeunt. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, Protector, Cardinal, and Suffolk, with Faulconers ballowing. Q.Mar. Elieve me, Lords, for flying at the brook, I faw no better fport these seven years day ;. Yet by your leave, the wind was very high, And ten to one old Joan had not gone out. K. Henry. But what a point, my Lord, your Faulcon made, Why, this is just, Aio te Æacidem Romanos vincere posse. Tell me what fate awaits the Duke of Suffolk? By water fhall be die and take bis end. What fhall betide the Duke of Somerset? Let him fbun caftles. Safer fhall be be on the plains, Than where a caftle mounted ftands. Come, come, my Lords, Thefe oracles are hardly attain'd, And hardly understood. The King is now, &t. This repetition of the prophecies, which is altogether unneceffary after what the fpectators have heard in the Scene immediately preceding, is not to be found in the first editions of this Play. Glou |