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 publick treasury.

Buck. Thy cruelty in execution

Upon Offenders hath exceeded law;
And left thee to the mercy of the law.

Q. Mar. Thy fale of offices and towns in France,
If they were known, as the fufpect is great,
Would make thee quickly hop without thy head.

[Exit Glo'fter. The Queen drops her fan. Give me my fan, what, minion? can ye not?

[Gives the Dutchefs 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 most Master wears no breeches, She fhall not ftrike Dame Eleanor unreveng'd.

[Exit Eleanor Buck. Lord Cardinal, I'll follow Eleanor, And liften after Humphry, how he proceeds. She's tickled now, her fume can need no fpurs; She'll gallop faft enough to her deftruction.

C 2

[Exit Buckingham.

SCENE

Glo. Now, Lords, my choler being over-blown
With walking once about the Quadrangle,
I come to talk of commonwealth affairs.
As for your fpightful falfe objections,
Prove them, and I lie open to the law.
But God in mercy deal fo with my foul,
As I in duty love my King and Country!
-But to the matter that we have in hand.
I fay, my Sovereign, York is meetest man
To be your Regent in the Realm of France.
Suf. Before we make election, give me leave
To fhew fome reason of no little force,
That York is moft unmeet of any man.

York. I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet.
Firft, for I cannot flatter thee in pride;
Next, if I be appointed for the Place,
My Lord of Somerfet will keep me here
Without discharge, mony or furniture,
Till France be won into the Dauphin's hands.
Laft time, I danc'd attendance on his will,
Till Paris was befieg'd, famifh'd and loft.
War. That I can witnefs; and a fouler fact
Did never traitor in the land commit.
Suf. Peace, head-ftrong Warwick.

War. Image of pride, why fhould I hold my peace.

Enter Horner the Armourer, and bis Man Peter,
guarded.

Suf. Because here is a man accus'd of treafon. Pray God, the Duke of York excufe himself! York. Doth any one accufe York for a traitor?

K. Henry.

K. Henry. What mean'ft thou, Suffolk? tell me,

what are these?

Suf. Please it your Majefty, this is the man, That doth accufe his mafter of high treason. His words were thefe; "that Richard Duke of York "Was rightful heir unto the English Crown; "And that your Majefty was an ufurper."

K. Henry. Say, man; were these thy words? Arm. An't fhall please your Majefty, I never faid nor thought any fuch matter. God is my witness, I am falfly accus'd by the villain.

Peter. By these ten bones, my Lord, [holding up his bands] he did fpeak them to me in the garret one night, as we were scow'ring my Lord of York's armour. York. Bafe dunghill villain, and mechanical, I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech. I do befeech your royal Majefty,

Let him have all the rigour of the Law.

Arm. Alas, my Lord, hang me, if ever I fpake the words. My accufer is my 'prentice, and when I did correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow upon his knees he would be even with me. I have good witness of this; therefore, I befeech your Majefty, do not caft away an honeft man for a villain's accufation.

K. Henry. Uncle, what fhall we fay to this in Law? Glo. This doom, my Lord, if I may judge. Let Somerset be Regent o'er the French, Because in York this breeds fufpicion. And let thefe have a day appointed them For fingle Combat in convenient place; For he hath witness of his fervant's malice. This is the law, and this Duke Humphry's doom. K. Henry. Then be it fo. My Lord of Somerset, We

9 K. Henry. Then be it fo, &c.] Thefe two Lines I have inferted from the old Quarto; and, as I

think, very neceffarily. For, without them, the King has not declared his Affent to Gloucester's C 3 Opinion:

We make your Grace Lord Regent over the French,
Som. I humbly thank your royal Majesty.
Arm. And I accept the Combat willingly.

Peter. Alas, my Lord, I cannot fight. For God's fake, pity my cafe; the fpight of Man prevaileth against me. O Lord, have mercy upon me! I fhall never be able to fight a blow. O Lord, my heart!—

Glo. Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd, K. Henry. Away with them to prifon; and the day of Combat fhall be the laft of the next month. Come, Somerset, we'll fee thee fent away.

SCENE

[Flourish. Exeunt.

VIII.

The Witch's Cave.

Enter Mother Jordan, Hume, Southwel, and

Hume.

Bolingbrook.

OME, my mafters; the Dutchefs, I tell you, expects performance of your promises. Boling. Mafter Hume, we are therefore provided, Will her ladyship behold and hear our exorcifms? Hume. Ay, what elfe? fear not her courage.

Boling. I have heard her reported to be a woman of an invincible spirit; but it fhall be convenient, Master Hume, that you be by her aloft, while we be bufy below; and fo I pray you, go in God's name, and leave us. [Exit. Hume.] Mother Jordan, be proftrate and grovel on the earth; John Southwel, read you, and let us to our work.

Enter Eleanor, above.

Elean. Well faid, my mafters, and welcome to all, To this geer, the fooner the better.

Opinion and the Duke of Somrfet is made to thank him for

the Regency, before the King has deputed him to it. THEOBALD

Boling,

Boling. Patience, good lady.

times.

Wizards know their

*Deep night, dark night, the filent of the night,
The time of night when Troy was fet on fire,

The time, when fcreech-owls cry, and ban-dogs howl,
When fpirits walk, and ghofts break up their graves,
That time beft fits the work we have in hand.
Madam, fit you, and fear not; whom we raise,
We will make faft within a hallow'd verge.

Here they perform the Ceremonies, and make the circle;
Bolingbrook or Southwel reads, Conjuro te, &c.
It thunders and lightens terribly; then the Spirit
rifeth.

Spirit. Adfum.

M. Jord. Afmuth, by the eternal God, whofe name And power thou trembleft at, tell what I ask; For till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence. Spirit. Afk what thou wilt.That I had faid, and done!

Boling. First, of the King. What fhall of him become?

Spirit. The Duke yet lives, that Henry fhall depofe, But him out-live, and die a violent death.

[As the Spirit fpeaks, they write the answer. Boling. Tell me, what fates await the Duke of Suffolk?

Spirit. By water fhall he die, and take his end.
Boling. What fhall befal the Duke of Somerfet?
Spirit. Let him fhun Caftles.

Safer fhall he be on the fandy plains,