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;

Here let them end it, and God guard the right!
York. I never faw a fellow worfe beftead,

Or more afraid to fight, than is th' appellant!
The fervant of the armourer, my lords.

Enter at one door the armourer and his neighbours, drinking to him fo much, that he is drunk; and he enters with a drum before him, and his staff with a fand-bag fafined to it; 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 a cup of fack; and fear not, neigh

bour, you shall do well enough.

2 Neigh. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of

charneco.

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.

1 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 apron; and, Will, thou fhalt have my hammer; and here, Tom, take all the money that I have. O Lord, bless me I pray God; for I am never able to deal with my mafter, he hath learn'd fo much fence already. Sal. Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows. Sirrah, what's thy name?

Peter. Peter, forfooth.

Sal. Peter? what more?

Peter. Thump.

Sal. Thump? Then fee thou thump thy mafter well. Arm. Malters, I am come hither as it were upon my man's inftigation, to prove him a knave and myfelf an honeft 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, as Bevis of Southampton fell upon Afcapart.

York. Difpatch: this knave's tongue begins to double. Sound trumpets; alarum to the combatants.

[They fight, and Peter ftrikes him down. Arm. Hold, Peter, hold; I confefs, I confess trea[Dies.

fon.

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.

[Exeunt.

Enter Duke Humphry and his Men, in Mourning Cloaks.
Glo. Tand, after fummer, evermore fucceeds
HUS fometimes hath the brighteft day a cloud;
The barren winter with his nipping cold;
So cares and joys abound, as feafons fleet.
Sirs, what's a-clock?

Serv. Ten, my Lord.

Glo. Ten is the hour that was appointed me, To watch the coming of my punish'd dutchefs: *Unncath may fhe endure the flinty streets, To tread them with her tender-feeling feet. Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind a-brook The abject people gazing on thy face, With envious looks ftill laughing at thy fhame; That erft did follow thy proud chariot-wheels, When thou didst ride in triumph thro' the streets. But foft! I think, fhe comes; and I'll prepare My tear ftain'd eyes to fee her miferies.

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 Sheriff.

Glo. No, ftir not for your lives, let her pafs by. Elean. Come you, my lord, to fee my open fhame? Now thou doft penance too. Look, how they gaze! See, how the giddy multitude do point,

And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee!
Ah, Glofter, hide thee from their hateful looks;
And in thy closet pent up, rue my fhame,
And ban our enemies, both mine and thine.
Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief.
Elean. Ah! Glofter, teach me to forget myfelf:
For whilft I think I am thy married wife,
And thou a prince, protector of this land;
Methinks, I fhould not thus be led along,
Mail'd up in fhame, with papers on my back;
And follow'd with a rabble, that rejoice

To fee my tears, and hear my deep-fetch'd groans.
The ruthlefs flint doth cut my tender feet;
And when I start, the cruel people laugh:

And bid me be advised how I tread.

Unneath] i. e. fcarcely.

Mr. Pope.

Ah!

Ah! Humphry, can I bear this fhameful yoke?
Trow'ft thou, that e'er I'll look upon the world,
Or count them happy, that enjoy the fun?
No dark fhall be my light, and night my day.
To think upon my pomp, fhall be my hell.
Sometime I'll fay, I am Duke Humphry's wife,
And he a prince, and ruler of the land:
Yet fo he rul'd, and fuch a prince he was,
That he ftood by, whilst I, his forlorn dutchess,
Was made a wonder and a pointing-flock
To every idle, rafcal follower.

But be thou mild, and blush not at my fhame,
Nor ftir at nothing, till the axe of death
Hang over thee, as, fure, it fhortly will.
For Suffolk, (he that can do all in all

With her, that hateth thee and hates us all)
And York, and impious Beauford, that falfe prieft,
Have all lim'd bufhes to betray thy wings;
And fly thou, how thou canft, they'll tangle thee:
But fear not thou, until thy foot be fnar'd,
Nor never feek prevention of thy foes.

Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear; thou aimeft all awry.
I must offend, before I be attainted:

And, had I twenty times fo many foes,

And each of them had twenty times their power,
All these could not procure me any feathe,
So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless.
Wouldft have me refcue thee from this reproach?
Why, yet thy fcandal were not wip'd away;
But I in danger for the breach of law,
Thy greatelt help is quiet, gentle Nell :
I pray thee, fort thy heart to patience;
Thefe few days' wonder will be quickly worn.

Enter a Herald.

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 afk'd herein before?..

This is close dealing. Well, I will be there; [Exit 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
ftays:

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 please 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 kindnefs, if

You do it her: and fo, Sir John, farewel.

Elean. What gone, my lord, and bid me not farewel?

Glo. Witness my tears, I cannot ftay to speak. [Exit Gloucefter. Elean. Art thou gone too? all comfort go with thee! For none abides with me; my joy is death; Death, at whofe name I oft have been afraid, Because I wish'd this world's eternity. Stanley, I pr'ythee, go and take me hence, I care not whither, for I beg no favour; Only convey me where thou art commanded. Stan. Why, Madam, that is to the Isle of Man; There to be us'd according to your ftaté.

Elean. That's bad enough, for I am but reproach: And fhall I then be us'd reproachfully?

Stan. No; like a Dutchefs, and Duke Humphry's lady,

According to that ftate you shall be us'd.

Elean. Sheriff, farewel, and better than I fare; Although thou haft been conduct of my fhame. Sher. It is my office; madam, pardon me. Elean. Ay, ay, farewel; thy office is difcharg'd. Come, Stanley, thall we go?

Stan.