York. The third son, Duke of Clarence,from whose line

I claim the crown, had issue, Philippe, a daughter,

Who married Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March:

Edmund had issue, Roger Earl of March;
Roger had issue, Edmund, Anne and Eleanor.
Sal. This Edmund, in the reign of Boling-
broke,

As I have read, laid claim unto the crown; 40
And, but for Owen Glendower, had been king,
Who kept him in captivity till he died.
But to the rest.

Henry doth claim the crown from John of { Gaunt,

The fourth son; while York claims it from the third.

Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign:
It fails not yet, but flourishes in thee,
And in thy sons, fair slips of such a stock.—
Then, father Salisbury, kneel we together;
And, in this private plot,1 be we the first 60
That shall salute our rightful sovereign
With honour of his birthright to the crown.
Both. Long live our sovereign Richard, Eng-
land's king!

York. We thank you, lords. But I am not
your king

Till I be crown'd, and that my sword be stain'd

1 Private plot, i.e. sequestered spot.

Shall one day make the Duke of York a king. York. And, Nevil, this I do assure myself,Richard shall live to make the Earl of War-2 wick

The greatest man in England but the king. [Exeunt.]

SCENE III. London. A hall of justice.

Sound trumpets. Enter KING HENRY, QUEEN MARGARET, GLOSTER, YORK, SUFFOLK, SALISBURY, and Attendants; the DUCHESS OF GLOSTER, MARGERY JOURDAIN, SOUTHWELL, HUME, and BOLINGBROKE, under guard.

King. Stand forth, Dame Eleanor Cobham,
Gloster's wife:

In sight of God and us, your guilt is great:
Receive the sentence of the law, for sins
Such as by God's book are adjudg`d to death.
You four, from hence to prison back again;
From thence unto the place of execution:
The witch in Smithfield shall be burn'd to
ashes,

And you three shall be strangled on the gallows.

You, madam, for3 you are more nobly born,
Despoiled of your honour in your life,
Shall, after three days' open penance done,
Live in your country here, in banishment,
With Sir John Stanley, in the Isle of Man.

10

Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried. King. O' God's name, see the lists and all things fit:

Here let them end it; God defend the right! York. I never saw a fellow worse bested, Or more afraid to fight, than is the appellant, The servant of this armourer, my lords.

Enter on one side, HORNER, the Armourer, bearing his staff with a sand-bag fastened to it, and a drum before him; he is accompanied by his Neighbours, who drink with him, till he becomes drunk: enter on the other side PETER, his man, with a similar staff, and a drum before him; he is accompanied by Prentices drinking to him.

First Neigh. Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a cup of sack: and fear not,. neighbour, you shall do well enough.

61

And after summer evermore succeeds
Bare winter, with his wrathful nipping cold:
So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet.
Sirs, what's o'clock?

Serv.
'Tis almost ten, my lord.
Glo. Ten is the hour that was appointed me
To watch the coming of my punish'd duchess:
Uneath may she endure the flinty streets,
To tread them with her tender-feeling feet.
Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook
The abject people gazing on thy face,
With envious looks, still laughing at thy
shame,

11

That erst did follow thy proud chariot-wheels When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets.

But, soft! I think she comes; and I'll prepare My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries.

Enter the DUCHESS OF GLOSTER in a white

sheet, with papers pinned upon her back, her feet bare, and a taper burning in her hand; SIR JOHN STANLEY, the Sheriff, and Officers. Serv. So please your grace, we'll take her from the sheriff.

Glo. No, stir not, for your lives; let her pass by.

Duch. Come you, my lord, to see my open

Ah, Gloster, hide thee from their hateful looks, And, in thy closet pent up, rue my shame, And ban thine enemies, both mine and thine! Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief.

Duch. Ah,Gloster, teach me to forget myself! For whilst I think I am thy married wife, And thou a prince, protector of this land, Methinks I should not thus be led along, 30 Mail'd up in shame, with papers on my back, And follow'd with a rabble that rejoice To see my tears and hear my deep-fet groans.

50

Hang over thee, as, sure, it shortly will;
For Suffolk, he that can do all in all
With her that hateth thee and hates us all,-
And York and impious Beaufort, that false
priest,

Have all lim'd' bushes to betray thy wings, And, fly thou how thou canst, they'll tangle thee:

But fear not thou, until thy foot be snar'd,
Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.

Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear! thou aimest all awry;

I must offend before I be attainted:

Glo. Entreat her not the worse in that I pray You use her well: the world may laugh again;2 And I may live to do you kindness, if You do it her: and so, Sir John, farewell! Duch. What, gone, my lord, and bid me not farewell!

Glo. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak. [Exeunt Gloster and Servingmen. Duch. Art thou gone too? all comfort go with thee!

For none abides with me: my joy is death;

90

Death, at whose name I oft have been afear'd,
Because I wish'd this world's eternity.
Stanley, I prithee, go, and take me hence;
I care not whither, for I beg no favour,
Only convey me where thou art commanded.
Stan. Why, madam, that is to the Isle of
Man;

There to be us'd according to your state.
Duch. That's bad enough, for I am but re-
proach,--

And shall I then be us'd reproachfully? Stan. Like to a duchess, and Duke Humphrey's lady;

According to that state you shall be us'd.

100

Duch. Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare, Although thou hast been conduct of my shame.

Sher. It is my office; madam, pardon me. Duch. Ay, ay, farewell; thy office is discharg'd

Come, Stanley, shall we go?

Stan. Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet,

And go we to attire you for our journey.

Duch. My shame will not be shifted with my sheet:

109

No, it will hang upon my richest robes
And show itself, attire me how I can.
Go, lead the way; I long to see my prison.
[Exeunt.