SCENE changes to the Duke of Gloucester's House.

Enter Duke Humphry, and his wife Eleanor.
HY droops my Lord, like over-ripen'd corn

Elean. W Hanging the head with Ceres' plenteous load

Why doth the great Duke Humphry knit his brows,
As frowning at the favours of the world?
Why are thine eyes fixt to the fullen earth,
Gazing at that which feems to dim thy fight?
What feeft thou there? King Henry's diadem,
Inchas'd with all the honours of the world?
If fo, gaze on, and grovel on thy face,
Until thy head be circled with the fame.
Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious gold:
What! is't too fhort? I'll lengthen it with mine..
And, having both together heav'd it up,
We'll both together lift our heads to heaven;
And never more abafe our fight fo low,

As to vouchfafe one glance unto the ground.

Glo. O Nell, fweet Nell, if thou doft love thy Lord, Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts: And may that thought, when I imagine ill Against my King and nephew, virtuous Henry, Be my last breathing in this mortal world!

My troublous dreams this night do make me fad.

Elean. What dream'd my Lord? tell me, and I'll requite it With fweet rehearfal of my morning's dream.

Glo. Methought, this ftaff, mine office-badge in court, Was broke in twain; by whom, I have forgot; But, as I think, it was by th' Cardinal;

And, on the pieces of the broken wand,

Were plac'd the heads of Edmund Duke of Somerfet,
And William de la Pole first Duke of Suffolk.

This was the dream; what it doth bode, God knows..
Elean. Tut, this was nothing but an argument,
That he, that breaks a stick of Gio'ster's grove,
Shall lofe his head for his prefumption.

But lift to me, my Humphry, my fweet Duke:

Methought

Methought, I fat in seat of majesty,

In the cathedral church of Westminster,

And in that chair where Kings and Queens were crown'd; Where Henry and Marg'ret kneel'd to me,

And on my head did fet the diadem.

Glo. Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright:
Prefumptuous dame, ill-nurtur'd Eleanor,

Art thou not fecond woman in the realm,
And the Protector's wife, belov'd of him?
Haft thou not worldly pleafure at command,
Above the reach or compafs of thy thought?
And wilt thou ftill be hammering treachery,
To tumble down thy hufband, and thyself,
From top of honour to difgrace's feet?
Away from me, and let me hear no more.

Elean. What, what, my Lord! are you so cholerick
With Eleanor, for telling but her dream?
Next time, I'll keep my dreams unto myself,

And not be check'd.

Glo. Nay, be not angry, I am pleas'd again.

Enter Messenger.

Mef. My Lord Protector, 'tis his Highnefs' pleafure,, You do prepare to ride unto St. Albans,

Whereas the King and Queen do mean to hawk.
Glo. I go: come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us?
[Exit Gloucefter..
Elean. Yes, my good Lord,. I'll follow presently.
Follow I muft, I cannot go before,

While Glofter bears this bafe and humble mind..
Were I a man, a Duke, and next of blood,
I would remove these tedious ftumbling-blocks
And smooth my way upon their headless necks.
And being a woman, I will not be flack
To play my part in fortune's pageant..

Where are you there? Sir John; nay, fear not, man,
We are alone; here's none but thee and I.

Enter Hume..

Hume. Jefus preferve your royal majesty !.

Elean

Elean. What fay'ft thou? majefty? I am but grace. Hume. But by the grace of God, and Hume's advice, Your grace's title fhall be multiply'd.

Elean. What fay'ft thou man ? haft thou as yet conferr'd With Margery Jordan, the cunning witch: And Roger Bolingbroke the conjurer,

And will they undertake to do me good?

Hume. This they have promis'd, to fhew your highness A fpirit rais'd from depth of under-ground, That shall make anfwer to fuch questions, As by your grace fhall be propounded him.

Elean. It is enough, I'll think upon the questions:
When from St. Albans we do make return,
We'll fee thofe things effected to the full.

Here, Hume, take this reward; make merry, man,
With thy confederates in this weighty caufe.

[Exit Eleanor.
Hume. Hume must make merry with the Dutchefs' gold:
Marry, and fhall; but how now, Sir John Hume ?
Seal up your lips, and give no words but mum!
The business afketh filent fecrecy.

Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch...
Gold cannot come amifs, were the a devil.
Yet have I gold, flies from another coaft:
I dare not fay from the rich Cardinal,

And from the great and new-made Duke of Suffolk ;
Yet I do find it fo: for to be plain,

They (knowing Dame Eleanor's afpiring humour),
Have hired me to undermine the Dutchefs;
And buz these conjurations in her brain.
They fay, a crafty knave does need no broker;
Yet am I Suffolk's, and the Cardinal's, broker.
Hume, if you take not heed, you fhall go near
To call them both a pair of crafty knaves.
Well, fo it ftands; and thus I fear at laft,
Hume's knavery will be the Dutchefs' wrack,
And her attainture will be Humphry's fall:
Sort how it will, I fhall have gold for all..

[Exit.

SCENE changes to an Apartment in the Palace.

Enter three or four Petitioners, Peter the armourer's man

1 Pet.

MY

being one.

Y mafters, let's ftand clofe; my Lord Protector will come this way by and by, and then we may deliver our fupplications in the quill. 2 Pet. Marry, the Lord protect him, for he's a good man, Jefu blefs him!

Enter Suffolk, and Queen.

1 Pet. Here a'comes, methinks, and the Queen with him: I'll be the first, fure.

2 Pet. Come back, fool, this is the Duke of Suffolk, and not my Lord Protector.

Suf. How now, fellow, would't any thing with me? 1 Pet. I pray, my Lord, pardon me; I took ye for my Lord Protector.

2. Mar. To my Lord Protector? [reading] Are your fupplications to his Lordship? let me fee them; what

is thine?

1 Pet. Mine is, and'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 master, Thomas Horner, for faying, that the Duke of York was rightful heir to the

crown.

2. Mar. What! did the Duke of York fay, he was rightful heir to the crown?

Peter. That my mistress was? no, forfooth; my maiter faid, that he was; and that the King was an ufurper.

Suf

Suf. Who is there?-Take this fellow in, and fend for his master with a purfuivant, prefently; 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, bafe cullions: Suffolk, let them go.
All. Come, let's be gone.

[Exeunt Petitioners.
Q. Mar. My Lord of Suffolk, fay, is this the guife?
Is this the fashion in the court of England?
Is this the government of Britain's ille?
And this the royalty of Albion's King?
What! fhall King Henry be a pupil ftill,
Under the furly Glo'fter's governance?
Am I a Queen in title and in ftyle,
And must be made a fubject to a Duke?
I tell thee, Pole, when in the city Tours
Thou ran'st a-tilt in honour of my love,
And ftol'ft away the Ladies hearts of France;
I thought King Henry had refembled thee
In courage, courtship, and proportion :
But all his mind is bent to holiness,
To number Ave Maries on his beads;
His champions are the prophets and apoftles;
His weapons holy faws of facred writ;
His study is his tilt-yard; and his loves
Are brazen images of canoniz'd faints.
I would, the college of the Cardinals
Would chufe him Pope, and carry him to Rome,
And fet the triple crown upon his head;
That were a ftate fit for his holiness!

Suf. Madam, be patient; as I was the caufe
Your highness came to England, fo will I
In England work your grace's full content.

Q Mar. Befides the proud Protector, have we Beauford
Th' imperious churchman; Somerfet, Buckingham,
And grumbling York; and not the leaft of thefe

But