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 yours? 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. M. 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. Away, base cullions!! Suffolk, let them go. All. Come, let's be gone. [Exeunt Petitioners. Q. M. My lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise, Is this the fashion in the court of England? Is this the government of Britain's isle, And this the royalty of Albion's king? What, shall king Henry be a pupil still, Under the surly Gloster's governance? Am I a queen in title and in style, And must be made a subject to a duke? I tell thee, Poole, when in the city Tours Thou ran'st a tilt in honour of my love, And stol'st away the ladies' hearts of France; I thought king Henry had resembled 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 saws of sacred writ; His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves Are brazen images of canonized saints. I would, the college of cardinals Would choose him pope, and carry him to Rome, And set the triple crown upon his head; 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 [ham,

we Beaufort,

The imperious churchman; Somerset, BuckingAnd 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.M. Not all these lords do vex me half so much, 1 Scoundrels. 2 Sayings, 8 Haughty.

As that proud dame, the lord protector's wife.
She sweeps it through the court with troops of
ladies,
[wife;
More like an empress than duke Humphrey's
Strangers in court do take her for the queen:
She bears a duke's revenues on her back,
And in her heart she scorns her poverty:
Shall I not live to be aveng'd on her?
Contemptuous base-born callat as she is,
She vaunted 'mongst her minions t'other day,
The very train of her worst wearing-gown
Was better worth than all my father's lands,
Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter.

Suf. Madam, myself have lim'd a bush for her;
And plac'd a quire of such enticing birds,
That she will light to listen to the lays,
And never mount to trouble you again.
So, let her rest: and, madam, list to me:
For I am bold to counsel you in this.
Although we fancy not the cardinal,
Yet must we join with him, and with the lords,
Till we have brought duke Humphreyin disgrace.
As for the duke of York, this late complaint
Will make but little for his benefit:
So, one by one, we'll weed them all at last,
And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.

Enter King Henry, York, and Somerset, conversing with him; Duke and Duchess of Gloster, Cardinal Beaufort, Buckingham, Salisbury, and Warwick.

K. Hen. For my part, noble lords, I care not Or Somerset, or York, all's one to me. (which; York. If York have ill demean'd himself in France,

Then let him be denay'd 2 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,
Dispute 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 presence, are thy betters,

Warwick.

Q. Mar. If he be old enough, what needs your To be protector of his excellence? [grace Glo. Madam, I am protector of the realm; And, at his pleasure, will resign my place.

Suf. Resign it then, and leave thine insolence. Since thou wert king, (as who is king but thou?) The commonwealth hath daily run to wreck: The dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the seas; And all the peers and nobles of the realm Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty. Car. The commons hast thou rack'd; the clergy's bags

Are lank and lean with thy extortions.

1 (Of Peter, the armourer's man.) 8 Judgment. 2 Denied.

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 deBut him outlive, and die a violent death. [pose; [As the Spirit speaks, Southwell writes the answer.

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 Somerset?
Spir. Let him shun castles;

Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains,
Than where castles mounted stand,
Have done! for more I hardly can endure.

Bol. Descend to darkness: False fiend, avoid! [Thunder and lightning. Spirit descends. Enter York 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.
Du. Not half so bad as thine to England's king.
Injurious duke; that threat'st where is no cause.
Buck. True, madam, none at all. What call
you this? [Showing her the papers.
Away with them; let them be clapp'd up close,
And kept asunder:-You, madam, shall with us:-
Stafford, take her to thee.-

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

[Exeunt Guards, with Southwell, Bolingbroke, &c. Y. 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.

What shall betide the duke of Somerset?
Let him shun castles;

Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains,
Than where castles mounted stand.
Come, come, my lords;

These oracles are hardily attain'd,
And hardly understood.
[Alban's,
The king is now in progress towards Sain
With him, the husband of this lovely lady:
Thither go these news, as fast as horse can carry
A sorry breakfast for my lord protector. [them;
Buck. Your grace shall give me leave, my
lord of York,

To be the post, in hope of his reward.

York. At your pleasure, my good lord.Who's within there, ho!

Enter a Servant.
Invite my lords of Salisbury, and Warwick,
To sup with me to-morrow night.-Away!

Act Second.

SCENE I. SAINT ALBAN'S.

[Exeunt.

Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, Gloster, Cardinal, and Suffolk, with Falconers hollaing.

Q. M. Believe me, lords, for flying at the brook, 1 I saw not better sport these seven years' day: Yet, by your leave the wind was very high; And, ten to one, old Joan had not gone out. K. Hen. But what a point, my lord, your falcon made,

And what a pitch she flew above the rest!To see how God in all his creatures works! Yea, man and birds are fain2 of climbing high.

Suf. No marvel, an it like your majesty, My lord protector's hawks do tower so well; They know their master loves to be aloft, And bears his thoughts above his falcon's pitch.

Glo. My lord, 'tis but a base ignoble mind That mounts no higher than a bird can soar. C. I thought as much; he'd be above the clouds. G. Ay, my lord cardinal; How think you by that? Were it not good, your grace could fly to heaven? K. Hen. The treasury of everlasting joy! Car. Thy heaven is on earth; thine eyes and

thoughts

Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart;
Pernicious protector, dangerous peer,
That smooth'st it so with king and commonweal!

Glo. What, cardinal, is your priesthood grown Tantæne animis cœlestibus ira? [peremptory? Churchmen so hot? good uncle, hide such malice; With such holiness can you do it?

Suf. No malice, sir; no more than well becomes

So good a quarrel, and so bad a peer.

Glo. As who, my lord?
Suf.

Why, as you, my lord;

An't like your lordly lord-protectorship.
G. Why, Suffolk, England knows thine inso-
Q. Mar. And thy ambition, Gloster. (lence.
K. Hen.
I pr'ythee, peace,
Good queen; and whet not on these furious peers,
For blessed are the peacemakers on earth.

stomachs, lords.

How irksome is this musick to my heart! When such strings jar, what hope of harmony? I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife.

Enter an Inhabitant of Saint Alban's, crying, A Miracle!

Glo. What means this noise?

Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim?
Inhab. A miracle! a miracle!

Suf. Come to the king, and tell him what miracle. I. Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban's shrine, Within this half-hour hath receiv'd his sight; A man, that ne'er saw in his life before.

K. Hen. Now, God be prais'd! that to believing Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair! [souls Enter the Mayor of Saint Alban's, and his Brethren; and Simpcox, borne between two Persons in a Chair: his Wife, and a great Multitude following.

:Car. Here come the townsmen on procession, To present your highness with the man.

K. H. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale, Although by his sight his sin be multiplied. Glo. Stand by, my masters, bring him near the king,

His highness' pleasure is to talk with him.
K. Hen. Good fellow, tell us here the circum-
stance,

That we for thee may glorify the Lord. [stor'd?
What, hast thou been long blind, and now re-
Simp. Born blind, an't please your grace.
Wife. Ay, indeed was he.
Suf. What woman is this?

A

Wife. His wife, an't like your worship. Glo. Hadst thou been his mother, thou couldst have better told.

K. Hen. Where wert thou born? [grace. Simp. At Berwick in the north, an't like your K. Hen. Poor soul! God's goodness hath been

great to thee:

[call'd

Simp. Heaven knows, of pure devotion; being A hundred times, and oft'ner, in my sleep By good Saint Alban; who said, -Simpcox come; Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help thee. Wife. Most true, forsooth; and many time and Myself have heard a voice to call him so、[oft Car. What, art thou lame? Simp.

Ay, God Almighty help me!

Suf. How cam'st thou so? Simp.

A fall off a tree.

Wife. A plum-tree, master.

Glo... How long hast thou been blind? Simp. O, born so, master.

youth.

Glo. What, and wouldst climb a tree? Simp. But that in all my life, when I was a [dear. Wife. Too true; and bought his climbing very Glo. 'Mass, thou lov'dst plums well, that

wouldst venture so.

Simp. Alas, good master, my wife desir'd some damsons,

serve.

And made me climb, with danger of my life. Glo. A subtle knave! but yet it shall not [them:Let me see thine eyes:--wink now;-now open In my opinion yet thou seest not well. Simp. Yes, master, clearas day; I thank God, and Saint Alban.

Glo. Say'st thou me so? What colour is this

cloak of?

G. Then, Saunder, sit thou there, the lyingest knave

In Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, Thou mightst as well have known our names, as thus

To name the several colours we do wear.
Sight may distinguish of colours; but suddenly
To nominate them all 's impossible.

My lords, Saint Alban here hath done a miracle;
And would ye not think that cunning to be great
That could restore this cripple to his legs?
Simp. O, master, that you could!
Glo. My masters of Saint Alban's, have you
not beadles in your town, and things called whips?

You go about to torture me in vain.

Re-enter Attendant, with the Beadle. Glo. Well, sir, we must have you find your legs. Sirrah beadle, whip him till he leap over that same stool.

Bead. I will, my lord. Come on, sirrah; off with your doublet quickly.

Simp. Alas, master, what shall I do? I am not able to stand.

[After the Beadle hath hit him once, he leaps over the stool, and runs away; and the People follow and cry, A Miracle!

K. Hen. O God, seest thou this, and bear'st so long?

Q. Mar. It made me laugh to see the villain

run.

G. Follow the knave; and take this drab away. Wife. Alas, sir, we did it for pure need.

G. Let them be whipped through every market town, till they come to Berwick, whence they came. [Exeunt Mayor, Beadle, Wife, &c. Car. Duke Humphrey has done a miracle today.

S. True; made the lame to leap, and fly away. Glo. But you have done more miracles than I; You made, in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly. Enter Buckingham.

K. Hen. What tidings with our cousin Buck-
ingham?
Buck. Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold.
A sort1 of naughty persons, vilely bent,-
Under the countenance and confederacy
Of lady Eleanor, the protector's wife,

The ringleader and head of all this rout,-
Have practis'd dangerously against your state,
Dealing with witches; and with conjurers:
Whom we have apprehended in the fact;
Raising up wicked spirits from under ground,
Demanding of king Henry's life and death,
And other of your highness' privy council,
As more at large your grace shall understand.
Car. And so, my lord protector, by this means
Your lady is forthcoming yet at London. [edge:
This news, I think, hath turn'd your weapon's
"Tis like, my lord you will not keep your hour.
[Aside to Gloster.

Glo. Ambitious churchman, leave to afflict my heart!

Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my powers:
And, vanquish'd as I am, I yield to thee,
Or to the meanest groom.

K. Hen. Alas, what mischiefs work the wicked

Q. Mar. Gloster, see here the tainture of thy nest;

And, look, thyself be faultless, thou wert best.
Glo. Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal,
How I have lov'd my king, and commonweal;
And, for my wife, I know not how it stands,
Sorry I am to hear what I have heard:
Noble she is; but if she have forgot
Honour, and virtue, and convers'd with such
As, like to pitch, defile nobility,
I banish her my bed and company;
And give her, as a prey, to law, and shame,
That hath dishonour'd Gloster's honest name.

K. Hen. Well, for this night, we will repose us here:

To-morrow, toward London, back again, To look into this business thoroughly, And call these foul offenders to their answers; And poise1 the cause in justice' equal scales, Whose beam stands sure, whose rightful cause prevails. [Flourish. Exeunt.

SCENE II.

LONDON. THE DUKE OF YORK'S GARDEN.
Enter York, Salisbury, and Warwick.

York. Now, my good lords of Salisbury and
Warwick,

Our simple supper ended, give me leave,
In this close walk, to satisfy myself,
In craving your opinion of my title,
Which is infallible to England's crown.
Sal. My lord, I long to hear it at full.
War. Sweet York, begin: and if thy claim

be good,

The Nevils are thy subjects to command.
York. Then thus:-

Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons:
The first, Edward the Black Prince, prince of
Wales;

The second, William of Hatfield; and the third,
Lionel, duke of Clarence; next to whom,
Was John of Gaunt, the duke of Lancaster:
The fifth, was Edmund Langley, duke of York;
The sixth, was Thomas of Woodstock, duke of
Gloster;

William of Windsor was the seventh, and last.
Edward, the Black Prince, died before his father;
And left behind him Richard, his only son,
Who, after Edward the Third's death, reign'd
as king;

Till Henry Bolingbroke, duke of Lancaster, The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt, Crown'd by the name of Henry the Fourth, Seiz'd on the realm; depos'd the rightful king; Sent his poor queen to France, from whence she came,

And him to Pomfret; where, as all you know, Harmless Richard was murder'd traitorously. War. Father, the duke hath told the truth; Thus got the house of Lancaster the crown. York. Which now they hold by force, and not by right;

For Richard, the first son's heir being dead, The issue of the next son should have reign'd. Sal. But William of Hatfield died without an heir.

1 Weigh.