bis hands] he did speak them to me in the garret One night, as we were fcouring my lord of York's armour. York. Bafe dunghill villain, and mechanical, I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's fpeech :I do befeech your royal majefty, Let him have all the rigour of the law. Arm. Alas, my lord, hang me, if ever I spake the words. My accufer is my prentice; and when I did correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow upon his knees he would be even with me: I have good witnefs of this; therefore, I befeech your majesty, do not caft away an honeft man for a villain's accufation. K. Henry. Uncle, what fhall we fay to this in law? Gio. This doom, my lord, if I may judge. Let Somerset be regent o'er the French, Because in York this breeds fufpicion : And let these have a day appointed them For fingle combat, in convenient place; For he hath witnefs of his fervant's malice: This is the law, and this duke Humphrey's doom. K. Henry. Then be it fo. My lord of Somerset, We make your grace lord regent o'er the French. Som. I humbly thank your royal majesty. Arm. And I accept the combat willingly. Peter. Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God's fake, pity my cafe! the fpight of a man prevaileth against me. O, Lord have mercy upon me! I fhall never be able to fight a blow: O Lord, my heart! Glo. Sirrah, or you must fight, or elfe be hang'd., K. Henry. Away with them to prifon: and the day Of combat fhall be the laft of the next month.Come, Somerfet, we'll fee thee fent away. [Flourish. Exeunt. SCENE IV. Duke Humphrey's Garden. Enter Mother Jourdain, Hume, Southwel and Bolingbroke. Hume. Come, my masters; the dutchefs, I tell you, expects performance of your promifes. Boling. Mafter Hume, we are therefore provided: Will her ladyship behold and hear our exorcifms? Hume. Ay; What elfe? fear you not her cou rage. Boling. I have heard her reported to be a woman of an invincible fpirit: But it fhall be convenient, mafter Hume, that you be by her aloft, while we be bufy below; and fo, pray you, go in God's name, and leave us [Exit Hume.]. Mother Jourdain, be you proftrate, and grovel on the earth-John Southwel, read you; and let us to our work. Enter Eleanor, above. Boling. Patience, good lady; wizards know their times : Deep night, dark night, the filent of the night, The time of night when Troy was fet on fire; The time when fcritch-owis cry, and ban-dogs 2 howl, When fpirits walk, and ghosts break up their graves, That time beft fits the work we have in hand. Madam, fit you, and fear not; whom we raife, We will make faft within a hallow'd verge. [Here they perform the ceremonies, and make the circle; Bolingbroke, or Southwel reads, Conjuro te, &c. It thunders and lightens terribly; then the fpirit rifeth. Spirit. Adfum. M. Jourd. Afmath, By the eternal God, whose name and power Boling. First, of the king. come? What shall of him be[Reading out of a paper. Spirit. The duke yet lives, that Henry thall depofe; But him out-live, and die a violent death. [As the Spirit fpeaks, they write the answer. Boling. What fates await the duke of Suffolk? Spirit. By water fhall he die, and take his end. Boling. What fhall befall the duke of Somerfet? Spirit. Let him shun caftles ; Safer shall he be upon the fandy plains, [Thunder and lightning. Spirit descends. Enter the Duke of York, and the Duke of Buckingbam, with their guard, and break in. 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 Elean. Well faid, my masters; and welcome all. We'll fee your trinkets here forth-coming all ; To this geer; the fooner the better. Away! [Exeunt guards with fourdain, Scuthwel, &c. ✰ Silent for filence. 2 Mr. Steevens fays, that the etymology of the word ba-dogs is unfettled. They feem, however, to have been defigned by poets to fignity fome terrific beings whofe office it was to make night hideous. 3 i. e. rewarded. York. Lord Buckingham, methinks, you watch'd Come, come, my lords: Thefe oracles are hardily attain'd, The king is now in progrefs towards Saint Albans York. At your pleasure, my good lord. Enter a Serving-man. Invite my lords of Salisbury, and Warwick, I faw not better sport these seven years' day : K. Henry. But what a point, my lord, your falcon And what a pitch she flew above the rest !-- [that? Beat 4 on a crown, the treasure of thy heart; Suf. No malice, fir; no more than well becomes Suf. Why, as yourself, my lord; An't like your lordly lord-protectorship. [lence: Glo. Why, Suffolk, England knows thine info- K. Henry. I pr'ythee, peace, good queen ; Car. Let me be bleffed for the peace I make, come to that! This is the falconer's term for hawking at water-fowl. 2 The meaning, according to Dr. Johnfon, is, that the wind being high, it was ten to one that the old hawk had flown quite away; a trick which hawks often play their masters in windy weather; while Dr. Percy fays, that the parfage fignifics, that the wind was fo high, it was ten to one that old Joan would not have taken her flight at the game. "Utrum herum mavis 'accipe. 3 i. c. glad. 4 To bait or beat (bathe) is ą, term in falconry. 5 Fence is the art of defence, Protector, Protector, fee to't well, protect yourself. K. Henry. The winds grow high; so do your How irkfome is this mufic to my heart! Glo. What means this noife? One. A miracle! a miracle! Suf. Come to the king, and tell him what miracle. One. Forfooth, a blind man at faint Alban's fhrine, Within this half-hour, hath receiv'd his fight; A man, that ne'er faw in his life before. [fouls K. Henry. Now, God be prais'd! that to believing Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair! Enter the Mayor of Saint Albans, and his brethren, bearing Simpcox between two in a chair, Simpcox's wife following. Car. Here come the townfmen on proceffion, To prefent your highness with the man. K. Henry. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale, Though by his fight his fin be multiply'd. [king, Glo. Stand by, my mafters, bring him near the His highness' pleasure is to talk with him. [ftance, K. Henry. Good fellow, tell us here the circumThat we for thee may glorify the Lord. What, haft thou been long blind, and now restor'd? Simp. Born blind, an't please your grace. Wife. Ay, indeed was he. Sf. What woman is this? Wife. His wife, an't like your worship. Glo. Had'ft thou been his mother, thou could'ft have better told. K. Henry. Where wert thou born? [grace. Let never day nor night unhallow'd pafs, Queen. Tell me, good fellow, cam'it thou here Simp. Yes, mafter, clear as day; I thank God, and faint Alban. [cloak of Glo. Say'ft thou me fo? What colour is this Simp. Red, mafter; red as blood. [gown of? Glo. Why, that's well faid: what colour is my Simp. Black, forfooth; coal-black, as jet. K. Henry. Why then, thou know'ft what colour jet is of ? Suf. And yet, I think, jet did he never fee. Wife. Never, before this day, in all his life. Glo. What's his name? Simp. I know not. Glo. Nor his ? Simp. No, indeed, master. Gl. What's thine own name ? Simp. Saunder Simpcox, an if it please you, mafter. Glo. Then, Saunder, fit there, the lyingest knave In Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, Thou might'ft as well have known all our names, as thus To name the feveral colours we do wear. Glo. My mafters of faint Alban's, Mayor. Yes, my lord, if it please your grace. Glo. Now fetch me a ftool hither by and by. Now, firrah, if you mean to fave yourself from whipping, leap me over this fool, and run away. Simp. Alas, mafter, I am notable to stand alone; You go about to torture me in vain. Enter a Beadle, with whips. Glo. Well, fir, we must have you find your legs. Wife. Most true, forfooth; and many time and oft Sirrah beadle, whip him 'till he leap over that fame Myfelf have heard a voice to call him fo. Car. What, art thou lame? ftool. Glo. But you have done more miracles than I; The firft, Edward the Black Prince, prince of You made, in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly. Enter Buckingham. K. Henry. What tidings with our coufin Buckingham? Buck. Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold. A fort of naughty perfons, lewdly bent,Under the countenance and confederacy Of Lady Eleanor, the protector's wife, The ring-leader and head of all this rout,Have practis'd dangeroufly against your state, Dealing with witches, and with conjurers: Whom we have apprehended in the fa&t; Raifing 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 fhall understand. Cur. And fo, my lord protector, by this means Your lady is forth-coming yet at London 2. This news, I think, hath turn'd your weapon's edge; "Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour. [Afide to Glafter. Glo. Ambitious churchman, leave to afflict my Sorrow and grief have vanquifh'd all my powers; [ed ones; K. Henry, O God, what mifchiefs work the wick-) Heaping confufion on their own heads thereby! Queen. Glofter, fee here the tainture of thy neft; And, look, thyfelf be faultless, thou wert beit. Glo. Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal, How I have lov'd my king, and common-weal: And, for my wife, I know not how it stands; Sorry I am to hear what I have heard : Noble fhe is; but, if the have forgot Honour, and virtue, and convers'd with fuch As, like to pitch, defile nobility, I banith her my bed and company; And give her, as a prey, to law, and shame, That hath dishonour'd Glofter's honett name. K. Henry. Well, for this night, we will repofe us here: To-morrow, toward London, back again, The Duke of York's Garden. Enter York, Salisbury, and Warwick. Wales; The fecond, William of Hatfield; and the third, William of Windfor was the feventh, and last. came, And him to Pomfret; where, as both you know, Harmless Richard was murder'd traitoroufly. War. Father, the duke hath told the truth; For Richard, the first fon's heir, being dead, [whole line heir. York. The third fon, duke of Clarence, (fron I claim the crown) had iffue-Philippe, a daughter, Who married Edmund Mortimer, earl of March. Edmund had ufue-Roger, earl of March: Roger had flue-Edmund, Anne, and Eleanor. Sal. This Edmund, in the reign of Bolingbroke, As I have read, laid claim unto the crown; And, but for Owen Glendower, had been king, Who kept him in captivity, 'till he dy 'd. But, to the reft. York. His eldest sister, Anne, My mother, being heir unto the crown, [this? War. What plain proceeding is more plain than Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt, The fourth fon; York claimeth it from the third. 'Till Lionel's itlue fails, his fhould not reign: Tori. Now, my good lords of Saltbury and It fails not yet; but flourishes in thee, And in thy fons, fair flips of fuch a stock. 2 That is, your lady is in cuftody. And And that's not fuddenly to be perform'd ; But with advice, and filent fecrecy. Do you, as I do, in thefe dangerous days, Wink at the duke of Suffolk's infolence, At Beaufort's pride, at Somerfets ambition, At Buckingham, and all the crew of them, 'Till they have fnar'd the thepherd of the flock, That virtuous prince, the good duke Humphrey : 'Tis that they feek; and they, in fecking that, Shall find their deaths, if York can prophety. Sal. My lord, break we off; we know your mind at full. [wick War. My heart affures me, that the earl of WarShall one day make the duke of York a king. York. And, Nevil, this I do affure myfelf,-Richard fhall live to make the earl of Warwick The greatest man in England, but the king. SCEN E III. A Hall of Fuffice. [Exeunt. Sound trumpets. K. Henry. Stand forth, dame Eleanor Cobham, In fight of God, and us, your guilt is great; God and king Henry govern England's realm: As e'er thy father Henry made it mine; [Exit Glofler. 2. Mar. Why, now is Henry king, and Margaret queen; And Humphrey duke of Gloster scarce himself, Suf. Thus droops this lofty pine, and hangs his K. Henry. O' God's name, fee the lifts and all things fit; Here let them end it, and God defend the right! York. I never faw a fellow worse bested 4, Or more afraid to fight, than is the appellant, The fervant of this armourer, my lords. Enter at one door the Armourer and his Neighbours, drinking to him fo much that he is drunk; and be enters with a drum before Lim, and his staff with` jand-bag 5 faftened to it; and at the other door enters bis Max, with a drum and fand-bag, and. Prentices drinking to him. a 1 Neigh. Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a cup of fack; And, fear not, neighbour, you fhall do well enough. [thee; 2 Neigh. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of charneco". Glo. Eleanor, the law, thou feeft, hath judged I cannot justify whom the law condemns. [Exeunt Eleanor, and the others, guarded. Give up thy staff; Henry will to himself 9. Mar. I fee no reafon, why a king of years Should be to be protected like a child. 3 Neigh. And here's a pot of good double beer, neighbour: drink, and fear not your man. Arm. Let it come, i' faith, and I'll pledge you all; And a fig for Peter! 1 Pren. Here, Peter, I drink to thee; and be not afraid. 2 Pron. Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy ma ter: fight for credit of the prentices. Peter. I thank you sil: drink, and pray for me, I pray you; for I think I have taken my last draught in this world. Here, Robin, an if I die, I give thee my apron ;-and, Will, thou fhalt have my hammer ;--and here, Tum, take all the money that I have.-O Lord, blefs me, I pray God! for I am never able to deal with my mafter, he hath learn'd fo much fence already. That is, forrow requires folace, and age requires cafe. 2 Raught is the ancient preterite of the verb reich. 3 i. e. let him pafs out of your thoughts. 4 i. e. in a worse plight. 5 As, ac-. cording to the old laws of ducis, knights were to fight with the lance and fword; fo thofe of inferior rank fought with an ebon tail or battoon, to the farther end of which was fixed a bag cramm'd hard with land. A name for a fort of Tweet wine, probably much in ufc in our author's time. PP 3 Sal. |