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, Enter Hume. Hume. Jefus preferve your Royal Majesty! Elean. What fay'ft thou? Majesty? I am but Grace. Hume. But by the grace of God, and Hume's advice, You Grace's title fhall be multiply'd. Elean. What fay'st thou, man? haft thou as yet conferr'd With Margery Jordan the cunning witch, And Roger Bolingbrook the conjurer? And will they undertake to do me good? Hume. This they have promised, to fhew your Highness Elean. It is enough, I'll think upon the questions: Here, Hume, take this reward, make merry, man, Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch: And from the great and new-made Duke of Suffolk; They (knowing Eleanor's afpiring humour) They fay, a crafty knave does need no broker; G4 Hume, Hume, if you take not heed, you shall go near [Exit. SCENE V. The PALACE. Enter three or four Petitioners, the Armorer's man being one. 1 Pet.MY mafters, let's ftand clofe; my Lord Protector will come this way by and by, and then we may deliver our fupplications 5'in 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'ft any thing with me? 1 Pet. I pray, my Lord, pardon me; I took ye for my Lord Protector. Q. Mar. To my Lord Protector? [Reading.] Are your fupplications to his Lordship? let me fee them; what is thine? I 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's fome wrong indeed. What's yours? what's here? [Reads.] Against the Duke of Suf 5 in the quill. folk, folk, for inclofing the Commons of Melford. How now, Sir Knave? 2 Pet. Alas, Sir, I am but a poor petitioner of our whole township. 3 Pet. Against my mafter, Thomas Horner, for faying, that the Duke of York was rightful heir to the crown. Q. Mar. What! did the Duke of York fay he was rightful heir to the crown? 3 Pet. That my mistress was? no, forfooth? my master faid that he was; and that the King was an ufurper. 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 Servant. 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, base cullions: Suffolk, let them go. [Exeunt. 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 Iñe? And this the royalty of Albion's King? What, fhall King Henry be a pupil still, Under the furly Glo'fter's governance? Am I a Queen in title and in ftyle, And must be made a subject to a Duke? I tell thee, Pole, when in the city Tours Thou ran'ft 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 apostles, His weapons holy faws of facred writ, His ftudy is his tilt-yard, and his loves Are brazen images of canoniz'd faints. I would I would the college of the Cardinals Would chufe him Pope, and carry him to Rome, Suf. Madam, be patient; as I was the caufe Q. Mar. Befide the proud Protector, have we Beaufort Suf. And he of these that can do most of all, Cannot do more in England than the Nevills; Salisb'ry and Warwick are no fimple Peers. Q. Mar. Not all thefe Lords do vex me half fo much, Yet must we join with him and with the Lords, So So one by one we'll weed them all at last, And you your self shall steer the happy helm. To them enter King Henry, Duke Humphry, Cardinal, Buckingham, York, Somerfet, Salisbury, Warwick, and the Dutchefs. K. Henry. 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 deny'd the Regentship. Som. If Somerfet be unworthy of the place, Let York be Regent, I will yield to him. War. Whether your Grace be worthy, yea or no, Difpute not that; York is the worthier. Car. Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak. War. The Cardinal's not my better in the field. Buck. All in this prefence are thy betters, Warwick. War. Warwick may live to be the best of all. Sal. Peace, fon; and fhew fome reason, Buckingham, Why Somerfet fhould be preferr'd in this. Q. Mar. Because the King forfooth will have it fo. Glou. Madam, the King is old enough himself To give his cenfure: thefe are no woman's matters. Q. Mar. If he be old enough, what needs your Grace To be Protector of his Excellence? Glou. Madam, I am Protector of the Realm, Suf. Refign it then, and leave thine infolence. Car. The Commons haft thou rack'd, the Clergy's bags Are lank and lean with thy extortions. Som. |