foreward, and them shortly discomfited. Then came the Duke of Somerset and all the other lords with the king's power, which fought a sore and cruel battle, in the which many a tall man lost his life but the Duke of York sent ever fresh men to succour the weary, and put new men in the places of the hurt persons, by which policy the king's army was profligate and dispersed, and all the chieftains of the field almost slain and brought to confusion. For there died, under the sign of the Castle, Edmund Duke of Somerset, who long before was warned to eschew all castles; and beside him lay Henry the second Earl of Northumberland, Humphrey Earl of Stafford, son to the Duke of

Buckingham, John Lord Clifford, and viii M men and more.* Humphrey Duke of Buckingham, being wounded, and James Butler Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond, seeing fortune's lowering chance, left the king post aloue, and with a great number fled away. This was the end of the first battle at S. Albans, which was fought on the Thursday before the feast of Pentecost, being the xxiii day of May. In this xxxiii year of the king's reign, the bodies of the noble men were buried in the monastery, and the mean people in other places."

• Holinshed suggests this is an error for 800. The Paston Letters say some six score" were slain.

Enter at one door, KING HENRY the Sixth, and Humphrey Duke of GLOSTER, the Duke of SOMERSET, the Duke of BUCKINGHAM, CARDINAL BEAUFORT, and others.

Enter at the other door, the Duke of YORK, and the Marquess of SUFFOLK, and Queen MARGARET, and the Earls of SALISBURY and WARWICK.

Suf. As by your high imperial majesty's command, I had in charge at my depart for France,

As procurator for your excellence,

To marry princess Margaret for your grace;
So in the ancient famous city Tours,

In presence of the kings of France and Sicil,

The dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretaigne, and Alençon, Seven earls, twelve barons, and twenty reverend

Welcome queen Margaret to English Henry's court:
The greatest show of kindness yet we can bestow,
Is this kind kiss: O gracious God of heaven,
Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness,
For in this beauteous face thou hast bestow'd
A world of pleasures to my perplex'd soul.

Queen. Th excessive love I bear unto your grace
Forbids me to be lavish of my tongue,
Lest I should speak more than beseems a woman:
Let this suffice, my bliss is in your liking;
And nothing can make poor Margaret miserable,
Unless the frown of mighty England's king.

King. Her looks did wound, but now her speech doth pierce.

Lovely queen Margaret, sit down by my side:

And uncle Gloster, and you lordly peers,
With one voice welcome my beloved queen.
All. Long live queen Margaret, England's happi-

ness.

Queen. We thank you all.

[Sound trumpets. Suf. My lord protector, so it please your grace, Here are the articles confirm'd, of peace Between our sovereign and the French king Charles, Till term of eighteen months be full expir'd.

Hum. Imprimis, it is agreed between the French king. Charles, and William de la Pole, marquess of Suffolk, ambassador for Henry king of England, that the said Henry shall wed and espouse the lady Margaret, daughter to Reignier king of Naples, Sicil, and Jerusalem, and crown her queen of England, ere the thirtieth day of the next month.

Item. It is further agreed between them, that the duchies of Anjou and of Maine shall be released and delivered over to the king her fa—————

[Duke HUMPHREY lets it fall. King. How now uncle, what's the matter that you stay so suddenly?

Hum. Pardon my lord, a sudden qualm came o'er my heart,

Which dims mine eyes that I can read no more.
My lord of York, I pray do you read on.

York. Item, It is further agreed between them, that the duchies of Anjou and of Maine shall be released and delivered over to the king her father, and she sent over of the king of England's own proper cost and charges, without dowry.

King. They please us well, lord marquess kneel down:

We here create thee first duke of Suffolk,
And girt thee with the sword. Cousin of York,
We here discharge your grace from being regent
In the parts of France, till term of eighteen months
Be full expir'd. Thanks uncle Winchester,
Gloster, York, and Buckingham, Somerset,
Salisbury, and Warwick.

We thank you for all this great favour done,
In entertainment to my princely queen.

Come let us in, and with all speed provide
To see her coronation be perform`d.

[Exeunt KING, QUEEN, and SUFFOLK, and Duke
HUMPHREY stays all the rest.
Hum. Brave peers of England, pillars of the state,
To you duke Humphrey must unfold his grief;
What, did my brother Henry toil himself,

And waste his subjects for to conquer France?
And did my brother Bedford spend his time,
To keep in awe that stout unruly realm?

And have not I and mine uncle Beaufort here,
Done all we could to keep that land in peace?
And are all our labours then spent quite in vain?
For Suffolk he, the new-made duke that rules the
roast,

Hath given away for our king Henry's queen,
The duchies of Anjou and Maine unto her father.
Ah lords, fatal is this marriage, cancelling our states,
Reversing monuments of conquer'd France,
Undoing all, as none had ne'er been done."

Card. Why how now cousin Gloster, what needs this;

As if our king were bound unto your will,
And might not do his will without your leave?
Proud protector, envy in thine eyes I see,
The big swoll'n venom of thy hateful heart,
That dares presume 'gainst that thy sovereign likes.
Hum. Nay, my lord, 'tis not my words that trouble

you,

But my presence, proud prelate as thou art:
But I'll begone, and give thee leave to speak.
Farewell my lords, and say when I am gone,
I prophesied France would be lost ere long.

[Exit Duke HUMPHREY.
Card. There goes our protector in a rage.
My lords, you know he 's my great enemy,
And though he be protector of the land,
And thereby covers his deceitful thoughts.
For you well see, if he but walk the streets,
The common people swarm about him straight,
Crying, Jesus bless your royal excellence,
With God preserve the good duke Humphrey,
And many things besides that are not known,
Which time will bring to light in smooth duke

Humphrey.

But I will after him, and if I can,

I'll lay a plot to heave him from his seat.

[Erit CARDINAL. Buck. But let us watch this haughty Cardinal. Cousin of Somerset, be ruled by me, We'll watch duke Humphrey and the Cardinal too, And put them from the mark they fain would hit.

Som. Thanks, cousin Buckingham, join thou with

me,

And both of us with the duke of Suffolk,
We'll quickly heave duke Humphrey from his seat.
Buck. Content, come then let us about it straight,
For either thou or I will be protector.

[Exeunt BUCKINGHAM and SOMERSET.
Sal. Pride went before, ambition follows after.
Whilst these do seek their own preferments thus,
My lords, let us seek for our country's good:
Oft have I seen this haughty Cardinal

Swear, and forswear himself, and brave it out,
More like a ruffian than a man of the church.
Cousin York, the victories thou hast won,
In Ireland, Normandy, and in France,
Hath won thee immortal praise in England:
And thou brave Warwick, my thrice valiant son,
Thy simple plainness and thy house-keeping

Hath won thee credit amongst the common sort: The reverence of mine age, and Nevil's name, Is of no little force if I command. Then let us join all three in one for this, That good duke Humphrey may his state possess. But wherefore weeps Warwick, my noble son? War. For grief that all is lost that Warwick won. Sons. Anjou and Maine, both given away at once, why Warwick did win them! and must that then which we won with our swords, be given away with words?

York. As I have read, our kings of England were wont to have large dowries with their wives, but our king Henry gives away his own.

Sal. Come sons, away, and look unto the main. War. Unto the Main! O father, Maine is lost, Which Warwick by main force did win from France: Main chance, father, you meant, but I meant Maine, Which I will win from France, or else be slain.

[Exeunt SALISBURY and WARWICK, York. Anjou and Maine both given unto the French!

Cold news for me, for I had hope of France,
Even as I have of fertile England.

A day will come when York shall claim his own,
And therefore I will take the Nevils' parts,
And make a show of love to proud duke Humphrey:
And, when I spy advantage claim the crown,
For that's the golden mark I seek to hit,
Nor shall proud Lancaster usurp my right,
Nor hold the sceptre in his childish fist,
Nor wear the diadem upon his head,

Whose church-like humours fit not for a crown;
Then, York, be still awhile till time do serve:
Watch thou, and wake, when others be asleep,
To pry into the secrets of the state;

Till Henry, surfeiting in joys of love

With his new bride and England's dear-bought queen,
And Humphrey with the peers be fall'n at jars.
Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose,
With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfum'd,
And in my standard bear the arms of York,
To grapple with the house of Lancaster:
And, force perforce, I'll make him yield the crown,
Whose bookish rule hath pull'd fair England down.

(SCENE II.)

Enter Duke HUMPHREY, and Dame ELEANOR
COBHAM, his Wife.

Eleanor. Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd

corn,

Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load?

What, see 'st thou, duke Humphrey, king Henry's

crown?

Reach at it, and if thine arm be too short,
Mine shall lengthen it. Art thou not a prince?
Uncle to the king? and his protector?

Then what shouldst thou lack that might content thy

mind?

Hum. My lovely Nell, far be it from my heart,
To think of treasons 'gainst my sovereign lord;
But I was troubled with a dream to-night,
And God I pray it do betide none ill.
Eleanor. What dreamt my lord? Good Humphrey
tell it me,

And I'll interpret it: and when that's done,
I'll tell thee then what I did dream to-night.

Hum. This night when I was laid in bed, I dreamt That this my staff, mine office-badge in court,

Was broke in twain; by whom I cannot guess;
But, as I think, by the Cardinal. What it bedes
God knows; and on the ends were placed
The heads of Edmund duke of Somerset,
And William de la Pole first duke of Suffolk.
Eleanor. Tush my lord, this signifies nought but
this,-

That he that breaks a stick of Gloster's grove
Shall for the offence make forfeit of his head.
But now, my lord, I'll tell you what I dreamt:
Methought I was in the cathedral church
At Westminster, and seated in the chair
Where kings and queens are crown'd, and at my feet
Henry and Margaret with a crown of gold
Stood ready to set it on my princely head.

Hum, Fie, Nell. Ambitious woman as thou art,
Art thou not second woman in this land,
And the protector's wife? belov'd of him?
And wilt thou still be hammering treason thus?
Away I say, and let me hear no more.

Eleanor. How now, my lord, what angry with your
Nell

For telling but her dream? The next I have
I'll keep it to myself, and not be rated thus.

Hum, Nay, Nell, I'll give no credit to a dream, But I would have thee to think on no such things.

What, sir John Hume, what news with you?
Sir John. Jesus preserve your majesty.
Eleanor. My majesty: why, man, I am but grace.
Sir John. Ay, but by the grace of God, and Hume's
advice,

Your grace's state shall be advanc'd ere long.

Eleanor. What, hast thou conferr'd with Margery Jourdain the cunning witch of Eye, with Roger Bolingbroke, and the rest? and will they undertake to do me good?

Sir John. I have, madam; and they have promised me to raise a spirit from depth of under ground, that shall tell your grace all questions you demand. Eleanor. Thanks, good sir John.

Some two days hence I guess will fit our time,
Then see that they be here:

For now the king is riding to Saint Alban's,
And all the dukes and earls along with him.
When they be gone, then safely may they come,
And on the back side of my orchard here,
There cast their spells in silence of the night,
And so resolve us of the thing we wish;

Till when, drink that for my sake, and so farewell.
[Exit ELEANOR.

Sir John. Now, sir John Hume, no words but mum. Seal up your lips, for you must silent be:

These gifts ere long will make me mighty rich.
The duchess she thinks now that all is well,
But I have gold comes from another place,
From one that hired me to set her on,
To plot these treasons 'gainst the king and peers;
And that is the mighty duke of Suffolk.
For he it is, but I must not say so,

That by my means must work the duchess' fall,
Who now by conjurations thinks to rise.
But wist, sir John, no more of that I trow,
For fear you lose your head before you go.

(SCENE III.)

Enter two Petitioners, and PETER the Armourer's man. 1 Pet. Come sirs let 's linger hereabout a while, Until my lord protector come this way,

That we may show his grace our several causes.

2 Pet. I pray God save the good duke Humphrey's life,

For but for him a many were undone,
They cannot get no succour in the court.
But see where he comes with the queen.

Enter the Duke of SUFFOLK with the QUEEN, and they take him for Duke HUMPHREY, and give him their writings.

1 Pet. Oh, we are undone, this is the duke of Suffolk.

Queen. Now good fellows, whom would you speak withal?

2 Pet. If it please your majesty, with my lord protector's grace.

Queen. Are your suits to his grace? Let us see them first.

Look on them my lord of Suffolk.

Suff. A complaint against the Cardinal's man. What hath he done?

2 Pet. Marry my lord, he hath stole away my wife, and they are gone together, and I know not where to find them.

Suff. Hath he stole thy wife? that's some injury indeed. But what say you?

Peter. Marry, sir, I come to tell you, that my master said that the duke of York was true heir to the crown, and that the king was an usurer.

Queen. An usurper thou would'st say.
Peter. Ay, forsooth, an usurper.

Queen. Didst thou say the king was an usurper? Peter. No, forsooth, I said my master said so, th' other day when we were scouring the duke of York's armour in our garret.

Suff. Ay marry, this is something like, Who's within there?

Villains get you gone, and come not near the court. Dare these peasants write against me thus?

[Exeunt Petitioners. Queen. My lord of Suffolk, you may see by this The commons' loves unto that haughty duke, That seek to him more than to king Henry: Whose eyes are always poring on his book, And ne'er regards the honour of his name, But still must be protected like a child, And governed by that ambitious duke, That scarce will move his cap to speak to us ; And his proud wife, high-minded Eleanor, That ruffles it with such a troop of ladies, As strangers in the court take her for queen: She bears a duke's whole revenues on her back. The other day she vaunted to her maids, That the very train of her worst gown

Was worth more wealth than all my father's lands.

Can any grief of mind be like to this?

I tell thee Pole, when thou didst run at tilt,
And stol'st away our ladies' hearts in France,
I thought king Henry had been like to thee,
Or else thou hadst not brought me out of France.
Suff. Madam, content yourself a little while,
As I was cause of your coming into England,
So will I in England work your full content:
And as for proud duke Humphrey and his wife,
I have set lime-twigs that will entangle them,
As that your grace ere long shall understand.
But stay, madam, here comes the king.

Enter KING HENRY, and the Duke of YORK and the Duke of SOMERSET on both sides of the KING, whispering with him: Then entereth Duke HUMPHREY, Dame ELEANOR, the Duke of BUCKINGHAM, the Earl of SALISBURY, the Earl of WARWICK, and the Cardinal of WINCHESTER.

King. My lords, I care not who be regent in France, Or York or Somerset, all 's one to me.

York. My lord, if York have ill demean'd himself,
Let Somerset enjoy his place, and go to France.
Som. Then whom your grace thinks worthy, let

him go,
And there be made the regent over the French.
War. Whomsoever you account worthy,
York is the worthiest.

Card. Peace, Warwick, give thy betters leave to
speak.

War. The Cardinal's not my better in the field.
Buck. All in this place are thy betters far.

War. And Warwick may live to be best of all.
Queen. My lord in mine opinion, it were best
That Somerset were regent over France.

Hum. Madam, our king is old enough himself, To give his answer without your consent.

Queen. If he be old enough, what needs your grace To be protector over him so long?

Hum. Madam, I am but protector o'er the land, And when it please his grace, I will resign my charge. Suf. Resign it then, for since thou wast a king (As who is king but thee?) the common state Doth as we see, all wholly go to wrack, And millions of treasure hath been spent. And as for the regentship of France,

I say Somerset is more worthy than York.

York. I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am not worthy, Because I cannot flatter as thou canst.

War. And yet the worthy deeds that York hath done

Should make him worthy to be honour'd here.

Suf. Peace, headstrong Warwick.

War. Image of pride, wherefore should I peace? Suf. Because here is a man accus'd of treason; Pray God the duke of York do clear himself. Ho, bring hither the armourer and his man.

Enter the Armourer and his man.

If it please your grace, this fellow here hath accused his master of high treason, and his words were these: That the duke of York was lawful heir unto the crown, and that your grace was an usurper.

York. I beseech your grace let him have what punishment the law will afford for his villainy.

King. Come hither fellow, didst thou speak these words?

Arm. An't shall please your worship, I never said any such matter, God is my witness; I am falsely accused by this villain here.

Peter. T is no matter for that, you did say so.

York. I beseech your grace let him have the law. Arm. Alas, master, 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 that he would be even with me: I have good witness of this, and therefore I beseech your worship do not cast away an honest man for a villain's ac