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's fome wrong, indeed. What's yours? what's here? [Reads.] Against the Duke of Suffolk, for inclofing the Commons of Long Melford. How now, Sir Knave? 2 Pet. Alas, Sir, I am but a poor petitioner of our whole Township. Suf. [reads.] Against my mafter, Thomas Horner, for faying, that the Duke of York was rightful heir to the Crown. Q. Mar. What! did the Duke of York fay, he was rightful heir to the Crown? Peter. That my mafter was? no, forfooth; my mafter faid, that he was; and that the King was an ufurper. Suf. Who is there?Take this fellow in, and fend for his master with a pursuivant, presently; we'll hear more of your matter before the King. [Exit Peter guarded. Q. Mar. And as for you, that love to be protected. Under the wings of our Protector's Grace, Begin your fuits anew, and fue to him. [Tears the fupplications. Away, base cullions: Suffolk, let them go. Exeunt Petitioners. Q. Mar. My lord of Suffolk, fay, is this the guife? Is this the fafhion in the Court of England? I I thought, King Henry had resembled thee Suf. Madam, be patient; as I was the caufe Q. Mar. Befide the proud Protector, have we Beauford Suf. And he of these, that can do most of all, Cannot do more in England than the Nevills; Salifb'ry and Warwick are no fimple Peers. Q. Mar. Not all these lords do vex me half fo much, As that proud Dame, the lord Protector's wife : She fweeps it through the Court with troops of ladies, More like an Emprefs than Duke Humphry's wife. Strangers in Court do take her for the Queen; She bears a Duke's revenues on her back, And in her heart fhe fcorns our poverty. Shall I not live to be aveng'd on her? Contemptuous, bafe-born, Callot as fhe 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 fuch enticing birds, That he will light to liften to their lays; And And never mount to trouble you again. Yet muft we join with him and with the lords, So, one by one, we'll weed them all at last; To them enter King Henry, Duke Humphry, Cardinal, Buckingham, York, Salisbury, Warwick, and the Dutchess of Gloucester. K. Henry. FOR my part, noble Lords, I care not which, Or Somerfet, or York, all's one to me. York. If York have ill demcan'd himfelf in France, Then let him be deny'd the Regentship. Som. If Somerfet 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 Prefence are thy betters, Warwick. War. Warwick may live to be the best of all. Sal. Peace, Son; and fhew fome reason, Buckingham, Why Somerfet fhould be preferr'd in this. Q. Mar. Because the King, forfooth, will have it so. Glo. Madam, the King is old enough himself To give his Cenfure: thefe are no woman's matters, Q. Mar. If he be old enough, what needs your Grace To be Protector of his Excellence? Glo. Glo. Madam, I am Protector of the Realm, And, at his Pleasure, will refign my Place. Suf. Refign it then, and leave thine infolence. Since thou wert King, (as who is King, but thou ?) The Common-wealth hath daily run to wreck. The Dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the feas, And all the Peers, and Nobles of the Realm, Have been as bond- men to thy fov'reignty. Car. The Commons haft thou rack'd; the Clergy's bags Are lank and lean with thy extortions. Som. Thy fumptuous buildings, and thy wife's attire, Have coft a mafs of public treafury. Q. Mar. Thy fale of offices and towns in France, Give me my fan; what, minion? can ye not? [She gives the Dutchess a box on the ear. I cry you mercy, Madam; was it you? 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. Elean. Against her will, good King? look to't in time, She'll hamper thee and dandle thee like a baby : Though in this place moft Mafter wears no breeches, She fhall not flrike Dame Eleanor unrevenged. [Exit Eleanor. Buck. Lord Cardinal, I'll follow Eleanor, And liften after Humphry, how he proceeds: She's She's tickled now, her fume can need no spurs; Glo. SCENE NOW [Exit Buckingham. VII. Re-enter Duke Humphry. OW, lords, my choler being over-blown I come to talk of commonwealth affairs. I fay, my Sovereign, York is meetest man York. I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet: War. Image of pride, why fhould I hold my peace! Suf. |