* As for your spightful false objections,
* Prove them, and I lis open to the law:
*But God in mercy so deal with my soul,
* As I in duty love my king and country!
* But, to the matter that we have in hand:
* I say, my sovereign, York is meetest man
* To be your regent in the realm of France.

*Suf. Before we make election, give me leave • To shew some reason of no little force, “That York is most unmeet of any man.

York. I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am un

meet.

*First, for I cannot flatter thee in pride: * Next, if I be appointed for the place, *My lord of Somerset will keep me here, * Without discharge, money, or furniture, * Till France be won into the Daupbin's hands. * Last time, I danc'd attendance on his will, *Till Paris was besieg'd, famish'd, and lost.

* War. That I can witness; and a fouler face * Did never traitor in the land commit:

Suf. Peace, head-strong Warwick!
War. Image of pride, why should I hold my

peace?

Enter Servants of SUFFOLK, bringing in HORNER

and PETER.

Suf. Because here is a man accus'd of trea

son :

Pray God, the duke of York excuse himself! * York. Doth any one accuse York for a

traitor? *K. Hen. What mean'st thou, Suffolk? Tell

me: What are these? Suf. Please it your majesty, this is the man "That doth accuse his master of high treason:

• His words were these: that Richard, duke

of York, "Was rightful heir unto the English crown; And that your majesty was an usurper.

• K. Hen. Say, man, were these thy words ?

Hor. An't shall please your majesty, I never said nor thought any such matter: God is my witness, I am falsely accus'd by the villain.

• Pet. By these ten bones, my lords, (holding up his hands.] he did speak them to me in the garret one night, as we were scouring my lord of "York's armour.

* York. Base dunghill-villain, and mechanical, *I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's

speech: *I do beseech your royal majesty, •Let him have all the rigour of the law.

Hor. Alas, my lord, hang me, if ever I spake the words. My accuser is my prentice; and when I did correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow upon his knees he would bo even with me: I have good witness of this; therefore, I beseech your majesty, do not cast away an honest man for a pillain's accusation. K. Hen. Uncle, what shall we say 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 suspicion:
And let these have a day appointed them
• For single combat, in convenient place;
For he hath witness of his servant's malice:
“This is the law, and this duke Humphrey's

doom.
Som. I humbly thank your royal majesty.
Hor. And I accept the combat willingly.

Pet. Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; * for God's * sake, pity my case! the spight of man prevaileth

1

* against me. O Lord, have mercy upon me! I * shall never be able to fight a blow: O Lord, *my heart! Glo. Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be

hang'd. “K. Hen. Away with them to prison: , and

the day Of combat shall be the last of the

month. * Come, Somerset, we'll see thee sent away.

[Exeunt.

next

S CE N E

IV.

The same.

The Duke of Gloster's Garden.

*

Enter MARGERY JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTHWELL, and

BOLINOBROKE. * Hume. Come, my masters; the dutchess, I * tell you, expects performance of your promises.

* Boling. Master Hume, we are therefore pro* vided : Will ber ladyship behold and hear our * exorcisms?

* Fume. Ay; What else ? Fear you not her *courage.

Boling. I have heard her reported to be a woman of an invincible spirit: But it shall be con* venient, master Hume, that you be by her aloft, * while we be busy below; and so, I pray you, go in God's name, and leave us. [Exit Hume.] "Mother Jourdain, be you prostrate, and grovel on the earth; - * John Southwell, read you;

: * and let us to our work.

Enter Dutchess, above. * Dutch. Well said, my masters; and welcome *all. To this geer; the sooner the better.

*

* Boling. Patience, good lady; wizards know

their times : Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night, • The time of night when Troy was set on fire; • The time when scritch-owls cry, and ban-dogs

howl, • And spirits walk, and ghosts break

up

their graves, • That time best fits the work we have in hand. “Madam, sit you, and fear not; whom we raise, "We will make fast within a hallow'd verge. [Here they perform the ceremonies appartaining,

and make the circle; Bolingbroke, or South. well, reads, Conjuro te, etc. It thunders and

lightens terribly; then the spirit riseth. * Spir. Adsum.

*M. Jourd. Asmath, * By the eternal God, whose name and power * Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask; * For, till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from

hence. * Spir. Ask what thou wilt: That I had

said and done! Boling. First, of the king. What shall of him

become? [Reading out of a paper. . Spir. The duke yet lives, that Henry shall

depose; But him out-live, and die a violent death.

[As the Spirit speaks, Southwell writes the Boling. What fate awaits the duke of Suffolk? Spir. By Water shall he die, and take his

end.
Boling. What shall befall the duke of Somer-

set?
Spir. Let him shun castles;
Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains,
Than where castles mounted stand.

answer.

• Have done, for more I hardly can endure. Boling. Descend to darkness, and the burning

lake: False fiend, avoid !

[Thunder and lightning. Spirit descends. Enter Y OR K, and BUCKINGHAM, hastily, with

their guards, and others.

York. Lay hands upon these traitors, and

their trash. Beldame, I think, we watch'd you at an inch. •What, madam, are you there? the king and

commonweal Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains; *My lord protector will, I doubt it not, "See you well guerdon'd for these good deserts. ** Dutch. Not half so bad as thine to Eng.

land's king, * Injurious duke; that threat'st where is no

cause.

* Buck. True, madam, none at all. What call

you this ? [Shewing her the papers. Away with them; let them be clapp'd up

close, And kept asunder: - You, madam, shall with

Stafford, take her to thee.

[Exit Dutchess from above. "We'll see your trinkets here all forth - coming; • All. Away!

[Exeunt guards, with South. Boling. etc. * York. Lord Buckingham, methinks, you

watch'd her well: *A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon! Now, pray, my lord, let's see the devil's writ. What have we here?

[Reads.