SCENE III.

The same. A Room in the Palace.

Enter PETER, and Others, with Petitions. 1. Pet. My Masters, let's stand close; my lord Protector will come this way by and by, and then we may deliver our supplications in the quill.

2. Pet. Marry, the Lord protect him, for he's a good man! Jesu bless him!

Enter SUFFOLK, and Queen Margaret.

1. Pet. Here 'a comes, methinks, and the * Queen with him; I'll be the first, sure.

• 2. Pet. Come back, fool; this is the Duke of Suffolk, and not my lord Protector..

Suf. How now, fellow? would'st any thing with me?

Pet. I pray, my Lord, pardon me! I took ye I for my lord Protector.

Q. ̊ Mar. [reading the superscription.] To my Lord Protector! are your supplications to his lordship? Let me see them: What is thine?

1. Pet. 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 is some wrong, indeed. What's your's? What's here! [reads.] Against the Duke of Suffolk, for enclosing the commons of Melford. How now, sir knave?

2. Pet. Alas, Sir, I am but a poor petitioner of our whole township.

Peter. [presenting his petition.] Against my master, Thomas Horner, for saying, That the Duke of York was rightful heir to the crown.

Q. Mar. 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 Servants.] Take this fellow in, and send for his master with a Pursuivant presently: we'll hear more of your

matter before the King.

[Exeunt Servants, with Peter. 'Q. Mar. And as you that love to be protected Under the wings of our Protector's grace, Begin your suits anew, and sue to him.

[tears the petitions: Away, base cullions! Suffolk, let them go.. * All. Come, let's be gone. [Exeunt Petitioners. ⭑ Q. Mar. My Lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise, *Is this the fashion in the court of England?, *Is this the government of Britain's isle, And this the royalty of Albion's King? What, shall King Henry be a pupil still, Under the surly Gloster's governance? * Am I a Queen in title and in style,

And must be made a subject to a Duke? 'I tell thee, Poole, when in the city Tours 'Thou ran'st a tilt in honour of my love, 'And stol'st away the ladies' hearts of France I thought, King Henry had resembled thee, In courage, courtship, and proportion: But all his mind is bent to holiness,

To number Ave-Maries on his heads:

His champions are the prophets, and apostles;

*His weapons, holy saws of sacred writ;
*His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves
Are brazen images of canoniz'd saints.

*

* I would, the college of the Cardinals

* Would choose him Pope, and carry him to Rome, * And set the triple crown upon his head;

* That were a state fit for his Holiness.

Suf. Madam, be patient: as I was cause • Your Highness came to England, so will I In England work your Grace's full content. Q. Mar. Beside the haught Protector, have me Beaufort,

* The imperious churchman; Somerset, Buckingham,

*

And grumbling York: and not the least of these, * But can do more in England than the King. Suf. And he of these, than can do most of all, * Cannot do more in England than the Nevils : Salisbury, and Warwick, are no simple Peers. Q. Mur. 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,

'More like an Empress, than Duke Humphrey's wife;

Strangers in court do take her for the Queen :
* She bears a Duke's revenues on her back,
*And in her heart she scorns our poverty:
Shall I not live to be aveng'd on her?

Contemptuous base-born callat as she is, 'She vaunted 'mongst her minions t'other day, The very train of her worst wearing-gown Was better worth than all my father's lands, * Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter. Suf. Madam, myself have lim'd a bush for her;

* And plac'd a quire of such enticing birds,
That she will light to listen to the lays,
*And never mount to trouble you again.
So, let her rest: And, Madam, list to me;.
For I am bold to counsel you in this.

Although we fancy not the Cardinal,

Yet must we join with him, and with the lords, Till we have brought Duke Humphrey in disgrace. As for the Duke of York,· this late complaint Will make but little for his benefit:

So, one by one, we'll weed them all at last,
And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.

Enter King HENRY, YORK, and SOMERSET, conversing with him; Duke and Duchess of GLOSTER, Cardinal BEAUFORT, BUCKINGHAM, SALISBURY, and WARWICK,

K. Hen. 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,

Then let him be denay'd the regentship.
Som. If Somerset be unworthy of the place,
Let York be regent, I will yield to him.
War. Whether your Grace be worthy, yea,

or no,

Dispute not that; York is the worthier.

Car. Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak. War. The Cardinal's not my better in the field. Buck. All in this presence are thy betters, Warwick.

War. Warwick may live to be the best of all.

and show some reason, Buckingham,

*Sal. Peace, son; --~

Why Somerset should be preferr'd in this. Q. Mar. Because the King, forsooth, will have it so.

Glo. Madam, the King is old enough himself To give his censure: these are no women's

matters.

Q. Mar. If he be old enough, what needs your Grace

To be Protector of his Excellence?

Glo. Madam, I am Protector of the realm; And, at his pleasure, will resign my place.

Suf. Resign it then, and leave thine insolence, Since thou wert King, (as who is King, but thou?) The commonwealth hath daily run to wreck : The Dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the seas; *And all the Peers and Nobles of the realm * Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty. * 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 publick. treasury.
* Buck. Thy cruelty in execution,
Upon offenders, hath exceeded law,
And left thee to the mercy of the law.

Q. Mar. 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. [Exit GLOSTER. The Queen drops her fan. Give me my fan: What, minion! can you not? [gives the Duchess a box on the ear. I cry you, mercy; Madam, Was it you?