God and King Henry govern England's realm: As e'er thy father Henry made it mine; Farewel, good King; when I am dead and gone, This staff of honour raught, there let it stand, Suf. Thus droops this lofty pine, and hangs his fprayes; Thus Eleanor's pride dies in her younger days. York. Lords, let him go. Please it your Majesty, Q. Mar. Ay, good my lord; for purposely therefore Left I the court, to fee this quarrel try'd. K. Henry. A'God's name, fee the lifts and all things fit; Or more afraid to fight, than is th' apellant! Enter at one door the armourer and his neighbours, drink ing to him fo much, that he is drunk; and he enters with a drum before him, and his ftaff with a fand-bag faftned to it (6); and at the other door his man, with a drum and fand-bag, and prentices drinking to him. 1 Neigh. Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a cup (6) With a Sand-bag faften'd to it.] As, according to the Old Laws of Duels, Knights were to fight with the Lance and Sword; a cup of fack; and fear not, neighbour, you fhall do well enough. 2 Neigh. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of char neco. 3 Neigh. And here's a pot of good double beer, neighbour; drink, and fear not your man. Arm. Let it come, i'faith, and I'll pledge you all ; and a fig for Peter. Pren. Here, Peter, I drink to thee, and be not afraid. 2 Pren. Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy mafter; fight for the credit of the prentices. Peter. I thank you all; drink, and pray for me, I pray you; for, I think, I have taken my laft draught in this world. Here, Robin: if I die, I give thee my a pron; and, Will, thou fhalt have my hammer; and here, Tom, take all the mony that I have. O Lord, blefs me I pray God; for I am never able to deal with my mafter, he hath learn'd so much fence already. Sal. Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows. Sirrah, what's thy name? Peter. Peter, forfooth. Peter. Thump. Sal. Thump? Then fee thou thump thy mafter well. Arm. Mafters, I am come hither as it were upon my man's inftigation, to prove him a knave and myself an honest man: and touching the Duke of York, I will take my death I never meant him any ill, nor the King, nor the Queen; and therefore, Peter, have at thee with a downright blow. York. Difpatch: this knave's tongue begins to double. Sound trumpets; alarum to the combatants. [They fight, and Peter frikes him down. Sword; fo thofe of inferior Rank fought with an Ebon Staff or Battoon, to the farther End of which was fix'd a Bag cram'd hard with Sand. To this Cuftom Hudibras has alluded in these humourous Lines: Engag'd with Money-bags, as bold Mr, Warburton. Arm. Arm. Hold, Peter, hold; I confess, I confefs treafon. [Dies. York. Take away his weapon: fellow, thank God, and the good wine in thy master's way. Peter. O God, have I overcome mine enemy in this prefence? O Peter, thou haft prevail'd in right. K. Henry. Go, take hence that traitor from our fight,' For by his death we do perceive his guilt. And God in juftice hath reveal'd to us The truth and innocence of this poor fellow, Which he had thought to murder wrongfully. Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward. SCENE, the Street. [Exeunt Enter Duke Humphry and his Men, in Mourning Cloaks Glo. HUS fometimes hath the brightest day a cloud; THU And, after fummer, evermore fucceeds The barren winter with his nipping cold; Serv. Ten, my Lord. Glo. Ten is the hour that was appointed me, Enter Enter the Dutchess in a white Sheet, and a Taper burning in her hand, with Sir John Stanley, a Sheriff and Officers. Serv. So please your Grace, we'll take her from the Glo. No, ftir not for your lives, let her pass by. Elean. Come you, my lord, to see my open fhame ? Now thou doft penance too. Look, how they gaze ! See, how the giddy multitude de point, And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee! Ah! Humphry, can I bear this fhameful yoak? But be thou mild, and blush not at my fhame, With her, that hateth thee and hates us all) And fly thou, how thou canft, they'll tangle thee: Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear; thou aimest all awry.. Her. I fummon your Grace to his Majefty's parliament holden at Bury, the firft of this next month. Glo. And my confent ne'er ask'd herein before? This is close dealing. Well, I will be there; FExit Herald. My Nell, I take my leave: and, mafter Sheriff, Let not her penance exceed the King's commiffion. Sher. An't please your Grace, here my commiffion stays: And Sir John Stanley is appointed now, To take her with him to the Isle of Man. Glo. Muft you, Sir John, protect my lady here? Stan. So am I giv'n in charge, may't pleafe your Grace. Glo. Entreat her not the worse, in that I pray You use her well; the world may laugh again; And I may live to do you kindness, if You do it her and fo, Sir John, farewel. Elean. What gone, my lord, and bid me not farewel ? Gla |