1 Ser. It is the noble duke of Gloster.

2 War. [within.] Whoe'er he be, you may not be let in.

1 Ser. Answer you so the lord protector, villains? 1 War. [within.] The Lord protect him! so we answer him:

We do no otherwise than we are will'd.

Glos. Who willed you? or whose will stands but mine ?

There's none protector of the realm but I.
Break up the gates, I'll be your warrantise :
Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms?

Servants rush at the Tower gates. Enter, to the gates, WOODVILLE, the lieutenant.

Wood. [within.] What noise is this? what traitors have we here?

Glos. Lieutenant, is it you, whose voice I hear? Open the gates; here's Gloster, that would enter. Wood. [within.] Have patience, noble duke; I may not open :

The cardinal of Winchester forbids.

From him I have express commandement,
That thou, nor none of thine, shall be let in.

Glos. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore me?

Arrogant Winchester, that haughty prelate,

Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could

brook?

Thou art no friend to God or to the king:

Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly.

1 Ser. Open the gates unto the lord protector; Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not

quickly.

Enter WINCHESTER, attended by a train of Servants in tawny coats.

Win. How now, ambitious Humphrey? what means this?

Glos. Peel'd priest,1 dost thou command me to be shut out?

Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor,2
And not protector of the king or realm.

Glos. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator;
Thou, that contrivedst to murder our dead lord;
Thou, that givest whores indulgences to sin:
I'll canvas3 thee in thy broad cardinal's hat,
If thou proceed in this thy insolence.

Win. Nay, stand thou back; I will not budge a foot:

This be Damascus: be thou cursed Cain,

To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.

Glos. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee

back:

Thy scarlet robes, as a child's bearing-cloth,

I'll use, to carry thee out of this place.

Win. Do what thou darest; I beard thee to thy

face.

In allusion to his shaven crown.

2 Traitor.

3 Sift.

Glos. What? am I dared, and bearded to my

face?

Draw, men, for all this privileged place;

Blue coats to tawny coats. Priest, beware your beard;

[Gloster and his men attack the Bishop.

I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly:
Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat.
In spite of pope, or dignities of church,

Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down.
Win. Gloster, thou 'lt answer this before the

pope.

Glos. Winchester goose, I cry-a rope! a rope!— Now beat them hence. Why do you let them stay?—

Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array!Out, tawny coats!-out, scarlet1 hypocrite!

Here a great tumult in the midst of it, enter MAYOR OF LONDON and Officers.

Mayor. Fie, lords! that you, being supreme magistrates,

Thus contumeliously should break the peace!

Glos. Peace, mayor; thou know'st little of my

wrongs.

Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king,
Hath here distrain'd the Tower to his use.

Win. Here's Gloster too, a foe to citizens;

In allusion to the bishop's habit.

One that still motions war, and never peace,
O'ercharging your free purses with large fines;
That seeks to overthrow religion,

Because he is protector of the realm;

And would have armour here out of the Tower, To crown himself king, and suppress the prince. Glos. I will not answer thee with words, but [here they skirmish again. Mayor. Naught rests for me, in this tumultuous strife,

blows.

But to make open proclamation.

Come, officer; as loud as e'er thou canst.

Off. All manner of men, assembled here in arms this day against God's peace and the king's, we charge and command you, in his highness' name, to repair to your several dwelling-places; and not to wear, handle, or use any sword, weapon, or dagger henceforward, upon pain of death.'

Glos. Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law: But we shall meet, and break our minds at large. Win. Gloster, we'll meet; to thy dear cost, be

sure:

Thy heart-blood I will have for this day's work.

Mayor. I'll call for clubs,1 if you will not

away.

This cardinal is more haughty than the devil.

i. e. peace officers armed with clubs or staves.

Glos. Mayor, farewell: thou dost but what thou

mayst.

Win. Abominable Gloster! guard thy head; For I intend to have it, ere long.

[Exeunt.

Mayor. See the coast clear'd, and then we will

Enter, on the walls, the MASTER-GUNNER and his son.

M. Gun. Sirrah, thou know'st how Orleans is be

sieged,

And how the English have the suburbs won.

Son. Father, I know; and oft have shot at them, Howe'er, unfortunate, I miss'd my aim.

M. Gun. But now thou shalt not: be thou ruled

by me.

Chief master-gunner am I of this town;
Something I must do to procure me grace.

2

The prince's espials have informed me,

How the English, in the suburbs close entrench'd, Wont, through a secret grate of iron bars,

In yonder tower, to overpeer the city;

Pride, spirit of resentment.

2 Spies.