And will they undertake to do me good? Hume. This they have promised,-to show your high ness A spirit rais'd from depth of under ground, Duch. It is enough; I'll think upon the questions: [Exit Duchess. Hume. Hume must make merry with the duchess' gold; Marry, and shall. But how now, Sir John Hume? Dame Eleanor gives gold, to bring the witch: I dare not say, from the rich cardinal, And from the great and new-made duke of Suffolk ; They, knowing dame Eleanor's aspiring humour, And buz these conjurations in her brain. And her attainture will be Humphrey's fall: [Exit. SCENE III.-The same. A Room in the Palace. Enter PETER, and Others, with Petitions. 1 Pet. My masters, let's stand close; my lord protector will come this way by and by, and then we may deliver our supplications in the quill. 2 Pet. Marry, the Lord protect him, for he is a good man! Jesu bless him! Enter SUFFOLK, and Queen MARGARET. 1 Pet. Here 'a comes, methinks, and the queen with him I'll be the first, sure. : 2 Pet. Come back, fool; this is the duke of Suffolk, and not my lord protector. Suf. How now, fellow? would'st any thing with me? 1 Pet. I pray, my lord, pardon me! I took ye for my lord protector. Q. Mar. [Reading the superscription.] To my lord protector! are your supplications to his lordship? Let me see them: What is thine? 1 Pet. Mine is, an'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 is some wrong, indeed.— What's your's?-What's here! [Reads.] Against the duke of Suffolk, for enclosing the commons of Melford.How now, sir knave? 2 Pet. Alas, sir, I am but a poor petitioner of our whole township. Peter. [Presenting his petition.] Against my master, Thomas Horner, for saying, That the duke of York was rightful heir to the crown. Q. Mar. What say'st thou? Did the duke of York say, he was rightful heir to the crown? Peter. That my master was? No, forsooth: my master said, That he was; and that the king was an usurper. Suf. Who is there? [Enter Servants.]-Take this fellow in, and send for his master with a pursuivant presently:-we'll hear more of your matter before the king. [Exeunt Servants, with PETER. Q. Mar. And as for you, that love to be protected Under the wings of our protector's grace, Begin your suits anew, and sue to him. [Tears the Petition. [Exeunt Petitioners. Away, base cullions!-Suffolk, let them go. All. Come, let's begone. Q. Mar. My lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise, Is this the fashion in the court of England? But all his mind is bent to holiness, To number Ave-Maries on his beads: His champions are the prophets and apostles, His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves Are brazen images of canoniz'd saints. Would choose him pope, and carry him to Rome, That were a state fit for his holiness. Suf. Madam, be patient; as I was cause Your highness came to England, so will I In England work your grace's full content. Q. Mar. Beside the haught protector, have we Beau fort, The imperious churchman; Somerset, Buckingham, And grumbling York: and not the least of these, But can do more in England than the king. Suf. And he of these, that can do most of all, Cannot do more in England than the Nevils: Salisbury, and Warwick, are no simple peers. Q. Mar. Not all these lords do vex me half so much, She bears a duke's revenues on her back, Was better worth than all my father's lands, And never mount to trouble you again. Yet must we join with him, and with the lords, Will make but little for his benefit: So, one by one, we'll weed them all at last, Enter King HENRY, YORK, and SOMERSET, conversing with him; Duke and Duchess of GLOSTER, Cardinal BEAUFORT, BUCKINGHAM, SALISBURY, and WAR WICK. K. Hen. For my part, noble lords, I care not which; Or Somerset, or York, all's one to me. York. If York have ill demean'd himself in France, Then let him be denay'd the regentship. Som. If Somerset be unworthy of the place, Let York be regent, I will yield to him. War. Whether your grace be worthy, yea, or no, Car. Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak. |