University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

The King and Queen sat in State, Duke Humphry, Cardinal, Buckingham, York, Salisbury, Warwick, and the Duchess attending.
King.
For my own part, my Lords, I care not whether
Rules France, the Duke of Somerset, or York
All's one to me, they are both fitting Men.

York.
Sir, if I ill demean'd my self in France,
Then let me be deny'd the Regentship.

Som.
Sir, if I be unworthy of the place,
Then give the Duke of York the Regentship.

War.
Whether your Grace, my Lord, be worthy or not,
Dispute not that, the Duke of York is worthier.

Car.
Ambitious Warwick! let your betters speak.

War.
The Cardinal's not my betters in the Field.

Buck.
My Lord, all in this Presence are your betters.

War.
In Title, not in Fortune, or in Courage.

Sal.
Peace, Son!

King.
Oh! peace my Lords! Do not you know
What little pleasure I have in my Crown,
And Do you strive to make me wearier of it?
You take it ill if I refuse you Governments,
Yet you deny to let me Rule in quiet.
I wonder what you see in this vile World
Worth the contending for. Heaven has entrusted me
With Three Great Kingdoms, England, France and Ireland,
And I must give Account of 'em to Heaven,
And not throw up my Charge for my own ease,
Else I wou'd gladly give e'm all to buy
The holy Peace, any of you may have.
Yet you disturb your selves and me for Rule,
Which I account a Pennance for my sins.

Qu.
Is this a King that speaks? or some poor Pilgrim,
That having lost his way, seates himself ignorantly
Down in a Throne, and does not know 'tis one.
And falls a Preaching to the gaping Multitude.
Oh! What a Prince is this to sway three Kingdoms?
(Aside.
And what a Husband's this for a young Queen?

Yo.
Most Gratious Soveraign! our chief contention
Is to give you that ease which you delight in,
To lay the burden of your Government
On Men whose Loyalty and great Abilities
May bear e'm up, both to your ease and glory.

Sal.
And for the Government of France, my Lord
Of York, no Man so fitting as your self.
And pray my Lord of Buckingham, shew reason
Why you prefer the Duke of Somerset?

Qu.
Because 'tis the King's Will to have it so.

Glou.
Madam, the King is old enough himself
To speak his Mind; these are no Womens matters.

Qu.
If he be old enough, What needs your Grace
To be Protector of His Majesty?

Glou.
Madam, I am Protector of the Kingdom,
And at His pleasure will resign my Place.

Suff.
Resign it then, and leave your Insolence;
Since you were King, (As who is King but you?)
The Common-wealth has daily run to ruine.
The Dauphin seiz'd our Provinces in France,
And you our Liberties and Honors here.

Car.
The Commons you have Rack't, the Clergies Bags
Are lank and lean with your Extortions.

Som.
You spend the Publick Treasure most profusely
On Sumptuous Buildings for your Luxury,
And costly Attire for your Wive's Vanity.

Elia.
So! so! my Dress becomes a Crime of State;
Shortly I do believe you will Arraign
My Necklaces and Bodkins of High Treason;
You cannot do it by the Law of England,
Cause they have not their Equals here to try 'em by.

Buck.
We may extort the Law as oft your Husband
Has done, to punish beyond bounds of Law.

Qu.
And not content to waste the Publick Treasure,
Both on his own, and his Wive's foolish Pride.
He has, as the Suspition's very strong,
Made Sale of Offices and Towns in France,
Which if 'twere prov'd, shou'd make him lose his Head.

Glo.
How am I baited beyond Human sufferance?
I will go out and coole, lest I be tempted
To act or speak any thing
Unworthy of my self, and of this Presence

(Exit.
King.
My Lords, my Lords, I see, and grieve to see
Too much Ill-mindedness in all this Fury.
We oft by Lightning read in darkest Night,
And by your Passions I read all your Natures,
Though you at other times can keep e'm dark;
But I have Read e'm when you thought it not,
And I my self scarce minded what I did.
I, like the musing Hermit in the Desert,
Feel the cold nipping blasts of the rough Wind,
And hear the Howles of Wolves, and Yelpes of Foxes,
Though I regard e'm not, nor mind at all
To shun e'm, or to fortifie against e'm.

Card.
I hope the King rankes not among the Wolves
One of the Shepherds of the Sacred Flock.

King.
I shou'd be glad I had no cause at all.

Suff.
I hope there's none of us has spoken any thing
But from deep sence of Loyalty and Honor
Against a Traytor to the King and Kingdom.

King.
I'le Judge so honourably of you all,
To think, you only eccho Publick Rumor;
And Ecchoes that miscall the Passenger
Injure him not, but they that set e'm talking.
Publick Report then wrongs the Duke, not you;
For if you know him false, Why don't you prove it?
Then you do ill, to do no more then Talke.

Qu.
Sir, subtle Men don't use to act their Wickedness
In Roades, in Markets, or on Steeple tops;
But closely hid; so hid, that oft the Devil
Who did employ e'm, scarce knows what they mean.

Elia.
Come, Sir, all this is spoken out of envy,
Low crawling envy, envy that is chok'd
With the great Dust the Train of my Robes make.
Whence came this beggarly Spirit into England?
It never can be of the English growth.
The late great Conquerors of Towns and Provinces
Fallen to envy a Lady's Cloaths? Oh! beggarly!
Some poor French Pedler brought this Spirit hither,
'Mongst the small Wares, they sell so dear to us.

Qu.
Oh! how she taunts me!—this is meant to me!
(Aside.
I will take an occasion to affront her.
(Lets fall her Fan.
Give me my Fan!—What, Minion, Can you not?
She gives the Duchess a Box o'th' care.
I cry you Mercy, Madam, Was it you?

Elia.
Yes, it was I, proud Daughter of a Beggar.
Strike me thy betters, many times thy betters,
Bating the Dignity the King bestows on thee.
No mar'le thou look'st with envy on my Jewels;
Thy Father cou'd not give thee Gold enough
Only to Guild one of the Kings Prayer-Books.
The King was forc'd to give him two great Provinces,
That so it might not shamefully be said,
The Father of the Queen of England starves.

Qu.
So! so!

King.
Fye Madam! Fye! this is too much:
Pray Rule your self, it was against her will.

Elia.
Against her will? no! Sir! 'twas with her will,
And shortly she will do as much to you.
But she shall never strike me unreveng'd—

Exit. Elia.
Buck.
I will follow her my Lord Cardinal,
And listen after the Duke, how he proceeds.
The Duchess Fury now will need no spurs,
She'l gallop fast enough to her destruction.

Card.
And let her gallop, and the Devil speed her—

Ex. Buck.
Enter Duke Humphry.
Glo.
My Lords, I've walk'd away from all that passion,
Which your false spiteful Accusations
Had kindled in my breast; and now I come
In a cold candid temper to advise you
To spare your selves, for me you cannot hurt.
Bring any Proofs of what you have accused me,
And I lye open to the Law as any Man,
At least I will do so; for if you think
My Office fences me, I'le throw it down.
But to the matters that we have in hand,
I say the Duke of York's the fittest person
To be your Regent Sir in France.

Suff.
Before Election's made, let me shew reason why
The Duke of York is most unfit of any Man.

York.
My Lord of Suffolk, I will tell you why,
Because I scorn to be your Flatterer.
Next, if I be appointed for the place,
Such is my Lord of Somersets ambition
And hate to me, that he will keep me here,
Without Discharge, Money, or Furniture,
Till France be wonn; he had rather it were lost,
Than any one shou'd rule it but himself.
Last time I danc'd Attendance on his will,
Till Paris was besieg'd, famish'd, and lost.

War.
That I can witness, and a blacker Treason
Was ne'r committed—

Suff.
Peace, my Lord of Warwick!
Here's one shall silence you, and him you plead for.

Enter Armorer and his Man Peter.
York.
How? Silence me?

Suff.
Yes; here is a Man accused
Of Treason, that relates to you my Lord.

York.
Does any one accuse me for a Traytor?

King.
What do you mean, my Lord? What Men are these?

Suff.
An't please your Majesty, this is the Man
That does Accuse his Master of High Treason.
His words were these; That Richard Duke of York
Was the true lawful heir to the Crown of England:
And that your Majesty was an Usurper.

King.
Say Man, Were these thy words?

Arm.
An't please your Majesty,
I never said, nor thought any such matter:
Heaven is my witness I am falsely accus'd.

Pet.

By these ten bones, he spoke e'm to me one night, my Lord
in the Garret, when we were scow'ring the Duke of York's Armour.

York.
Base Villain! I will have thee hang'd for this
Most Trayt'rous Speech.
I do beseech your Majesty,
Let him find all the rigour of the Law.

Ar.
Hang me, my Lord, if ever I spoke these words;
My Accuser is my Prentice, and I correcting him
For his Fault the other day, he Vow'd on's knees
He'd be reveng'd on me, I have good witness;
Therefore I beseech your Majesty, cast not away
An Honest Man, for a Rogues Accusation.
One that has been a Rogue, Sir, all his Life,
A most notorious Rogue, Sir, I beseech you.

King.
Unckle, What shall we say to this in Law?

Glo.
If I may Judge, Sir, let the Duke of Somerset
Be Regent o'r the French, because the Duke
Of York lies under violent suspition.
And let these have a day appointed e'm
For single Combate, 'cause the Armourer
Has Witness of his Servants Threats and Malice.
This is the Law, and this is, Sir, my Sentence.

King.
Let it be so.

Som.
I humbly thank your Majesty.

Armo.
And I accept the Combat willingly.

Pet.
Alass! my Lord, I cannot fight! oh! pity me!
Oh Heaven have mercy on me! I shall never
Be able to strike a blow!—oh! Lord! my heart! Why the
Devil must I fight? Is this my Reward for Witnessing? I cannot fight.

Glo.
Sirrah! you must fight, or be hang'd.

King.
Away with e'm to Prison! till the Combat.
Come, my Lord Duke, I will dispatch you to France.

All go out but the Cardinal.
Card.
I will not rest till I've the Blood of Glocester:
He must be Lord Protector of the Kingdom,
And Lord it over me. He thinks he is
A better Man, 'cause he is a King's Son,
And I but Son of the Duke of Lancaster.
He is the Son of Henry the Fourth,
And I of Henry's Father John of Gaunt.
But at my making there it seems did want
Some Holy Ceremonies, for want of which
I'm that the Rude Ill-manar'd Law calls Bastard.
And 'cause the Law has thrust me from Succession
To the great Temporal Glories of my Father,
They wrap'd me up in a Priest's Robe, and lay me
Out of the World; and in the way of Heaven.
They shou'd have drest poor Henry in this Child's Coat,
And laid him in the Cradle of the Church,
And hum'd him fast asleep with Holy Stories;
His little Soul was fitter for those things.
Well, I will go to Heaven; but in my way
I at the Lord Protectorship will bayt,
Or I will lye abroad in stormes of Blood.
My Cosins themselves Legitimate may call;
Their Souls compar'd with mine are Bastards all.

Exit.
Enter Elianor, Humes; the Scene a Room in the Conjurer's House.
Elia.
Where are your Instruments?

Humes.
They are both ready,
Preparing their dire Charms and Exorcisms.

Elia.
Call e'm.

Enter Bullingbrook and the Witch.
Humes.
Come in; this, Madam, is Roger Bullingbrook,
A Man of wonderful and dreadful Art;
He has a Key to the Infernal deep,
And let's abroad what Spirit he will, and when:
And when he will he Chains him up again.
This Woman equals him in Power and Art,
Her Name is Jordan.

Elia.
Come, begin your Charmes.

Bull.
Dare you be present, Madam?

Elia.
Dare the Devil
Come in my presence? for I dare meet him.

Bull.
Madam, you may, for Heaven fetters him,
And gives us Mortal Creatures Power to do so:
I gain'd my Art by Prayer, and profound Study;
Then nothing fear.

Elia.
I ne'r knew what fear was.

Bull.
Go, Mother Jordan, get the Incense ready.

(The Witch goes out.
Elia.
Well said, my Masters, come, begin, begin.

Bull.
Pray Patience, Madam, for we know our times.
Our time is in the Deep, and Silent Night;
The time when Cities oft are set on fire;
When Robberies and Murders are committed;
When Bandogs Howle, and Shreich-Owles Warn the Dying;
When Spirits Walk, and Ghosts break up their Graves;
Then Devils come abroad to meet their Friends,
And that's the time best fit's our present Work:
But, Madam, sit, and fear not, whom we raise
We will make fast within a hallowed Verge.

Enter the Witch with a Pan of Coales.
Bull.
Fling Incense in, then grovel on the Earth.

The Witch fling's something on the Coales, and then the Conjurer immediately falls, prostrate, makes a Circle with his Ward, then takes a Book and Reades.
Bull.
Thou mighty Spirit, one of the chief Powers
And Potentates in the Infernal Kingdom,
Whose Empire extends wide in Night and Chaos,
Whose Provinces are Peopled thick with damn'd;
By that Authority he gives me o'r thee,
Who hurl'd thee down into these doleful Regions,
I chargee thee to obey my dread Commands,
And at my calling to appear—Appear!—
Asmath appear!

Bull., Witch.
Asmath—Appear!—appear!—

Thunder and Lightning, a Sprit rises.
Spirit.
I'm here!—

Bull.
I charge thee by th'eternal being,
Whose name and power thou ever tremblest at:
To Answer that I Ask; for till thou speak
Thou shalt not stir from hence.

Spirit.
Ask what thou wilt—
But prethee do not keep me with thee long.

Bull.
First of the King: What shall become of him?

Spirit.
The Duke now lives, that Henry shall Depose;
But him out-live, and dye a violent Death.

Bull.
Now say, What fate attends the Duke of Suffolk?

Spirit.
By Water shall he meet his latest Breath.

Bull.
What shall befall the Duke of Somerset?

Spirit.
Let him shun Castles;
Safer shall he be on the Sandy Plains,
Then where Castles mounted stand.
H'a done, for more I hardly can endure.

Bull.
Descend to darkness, and the Burning Lake.
Be gon! be gon!—

The Spirit descends with Thunder and Lightning.
Enter the Dukes of York and Buckingham with a Guard, and seize e'm.
Yo.
Lay hands upon these Traytors, and their Trash.

Elia.
Ha!

Yo.
Madam, yes, I think we have watch'd you narrowly;
The King and Kingdom are indebted to you
For this fine piece of Work: my Lord Protector,
Who, no doubt, set you a Work, will see you rewarded.

Elia.
What mighty Mischief have I done, my Lords?
Talked with a Devil? I every day converse
With worse then Devils with your selves, my Lords.
But I've it seems disturb'd the Peace of Hell;
What, you have Interest there? and many Friends!
Forgive me, Lords, but yet you can disturb
The King and Kingdom's Peace; Is that no Crime?

Buck.
You have commited, Madam, then no crime
It seems—away with those, and Guard e'm close;
Keep e'm asunder; see that all their Trinkets
Be forth-coming—Madam, you must with us.

Guard lead out Elia. Witch and Conjurer.
Yo.
This was an excellent Plot, well chose t'build on.
Now pray my Lord let's see the Devil's Writ.
The Duke yet lives, that Henry shall Depose;
(Reads.
But him outlive, and dye a violent death.

Buck.
This is just Aio te Æacida Romanos vincere posse.

Yo.
The Devil still keeps to his old trade of Quibling.

Buck.
He is the Father of all Lyers and Quiblers.

Yo.
Well to the rest.
What Fate attends the Duke of Suffolk?
(Reads.
By Water shall he meet his latest breath.
What shall befall the Duke of Somerset?
Let him shun Castles:
Safer shall he be on Sandy Plains,
Then where Castles mounted stand.
Fine stuff—The Devil I see is grown old and dull.
The King is now in Progress towards St. Albans,
With him the Husband of this lowly Lady.
Whether go all these Cloudy Oracles
As fast as Horse can carry e'm—
A sorry Breakfast for my Lord Protector.

Buck.
Your Grace shall give me leave my Lord of York
To be the Post.

Yo.
My Lord, at your own pleasure.
Within there ho!
Enter a Servant.
Intreat my Lords of Salisbury and Warwick
To take a short Collation at my House
This Afternoon, away: My Lord your Servant—

Ex.
Enter the King, Queen, Protector, Cardinal, Suffolk, as from Hawking. Attendants, Somerset, Salisbury, Warwick.
Qu.
Believe me, Lords, for flying at the Brook.
I ne'r had better sport in all my life.
Yet by your leave the Wind was very high.

King.
But what a Point, my Lord, your Falcon made?
And what a pitch she flew above the rest.

Suff.
My Lord Protector's Hawks towre like their Master,
Above their Fellows.

Glo.
'Tis an humble Mind
That mounts, my Lord, no higher than a Bird.

Card.
I thought he soon wou'd be above the Clouds.

Gl.
Ay, my Lord Cardinal, how think you by that?
Wou'd not your Grace be glad to mount towards Heaven?

K.
The Treasury of Everlasting Joy.

Card.
Your Heaven is on Earth, your eyes and thoughts
Beat on a Crown, the Treasure of your Heart,
Pernitious, haughty, treacherous Protector!
Who smooth it thus both with the King and Kingdom.

Gl.
How, Cardinal!
Tantæve animis Cælestibus iræ! Church-Men so hot?
Uncle, for shame let your Robe hide your Malice.

Suff.
No Malice, my Lord, but Zeal, that which becomes
So good a Quarrel, with so bad a Lord.

Gl.
As who?

Suff.
Why, as your Self, my Lord Protector.

Gl.
My Lord of Suffolk, England knows your Insolence.

Qu.
And your Ambition, my Lord of Glocester.

K.
How, Madam! You a Stirrer of Debate?
These are the pleasant Sounds that follow me
Where-e'er I go: I'm an Inchanted Isle,
Surrounded with Eternal raging Storms,
Whoe'er approaches me, hazards a Wreck:
These Winds and Waves beat on my Lord Protector,
Because he is a Rock that Guards my Coast.

Card.
Good Heaven, what Arts has the Protector us'd
To charm you, Sir, that you can see all Loyalty
In him who means you hurt? and none in us,
Who shew our Loyal Zeal to guard you from him?
Were it but one of us that shewed this Zeal,
It might be thought an Envy to his Greatness,
And a design to get into his Office:
But since we all unite our Accusations,
We can have no design but Loyalty,
Since all of us cannot be Lord Protectors.

K.
But all may hope, though only one can be so.
But come, my Lords, do not I know you all?
I mind you often, when you think I do not.
You think I'm fast asleep to all this World,
I wou'd be so, but you disturb my rest,
And break my slumbers with your furious Broils,
And make me mind you whether I will or no.
Alas, I pity you, you wrong your selves
Much more than me; and yet you trouble me,
Trouble my Counsels, trouble my Devotions,
Trouble my Sports; but, Sirs, I thank you for it,
For by these Tempests you stir up the Mud
That lodges in the bottom of this World,
And make all Pleasures here a Puddle to me,
And make me long for the pure Joys above,
To do me good, though you design me none.

Qu.
Here I am tir'd with everlasting Preaching.

(Aside.
Card.
The King and I ought to change Offices,
(Aside.
He is more fit to be a Priest than I,
And I'm more fit to be a King than he:
Thus Crowns and Mitres are at random thrown,
And very seldom light on Heads that fit 'em.

Enter one crying a Miracle.
Gl.
What means this noise?

One.
A Miracle! A Miracle!

Car.
What Miracle? An Usurer made charitable?
A Lawyer honest, or a Courtier faithful,
A Woman constant, or a Souldier godly?

Suff.
Come to the King, and tell him, Friend, what Miracle.

One.
Forsooth a Blind Man at St. Albans Shrine,
Within this half hour has receiv'd his sight,
A Man that ne'er saw in his life before.

Suff.
That's a strange Miracle indeed, my Friend.

K.
Th'Eternal Goodness, and Omnipotence,
Be prais'd, for all thy wondrous Works to Men;
He has not only given this poor man sight,
But by this miracle given light to truth.

Card.
I will be hang'd, if this be not some damn'd cheat
(Aside.
Plaid by the Fryars: I who wait at the Altar,
Know well what tricks are plaid behind the Altar,
Yet I must countenance it with a grave look,
But 'tis strange truth that stands in need of lyes.
Well, Heaven be prais'd, Sir, for this miracle;
(To the K.
Here come the Fryars and Townsmen on Procession,
To present your Majesty with the man.

Enter Abbot, Fryars, Mayor of St. Albans, and his Brethren, bearing the Man in a Chair, his Wife with him.
Gl.
Stand by, my Masters, bring him near the King,
It is his Majesties pleasure to talk with him.

K.
Good Fellow, tell us all the circumstances,
That all of us may glorifie Heaven for thee.
Wert thou born blind?

Simp.
Born blind, an't please your Grace.

Wife.
I indeed was he forsooth.

Suff.
What Woman's this?

Wife.
His Wife, an't like your Worship.

Gl.
If thou hadst been his Mother, thou cou'dst better
Have told.

Suff.
What thinks your Majesty of this?

(To the Qu.
Qu.
Some trick o' the Fryars to cheat the silly people:
(Aside.
They are all a pack o' Rogues.

Suff.
Oh! damn'd Rogues all.

(Aside.
K.
Where wert thou born?

Simp.
At Berwick, an't please your Grace.

Suff.
So far in the North, and come hither for Cure?
What, was there ne'er a Northern Saint to help thee?
No Saint in Scotland?

Simp.
Not that I e'er heard of:
I never heard of any Saint in Scotland,
An't like your Worship.

Suff.
Truly nor I neither.

Qu.
There is a Saint in Wales, Saint Winifrid,
Many miles nearer Berwick than Saint Albans,
Why didst not go to her? She's a good Saint,
And does abundance of good Offices.

Simp.
She is so, an't please you forsooth Madam,
I've heard of her, but she is so full of business,
Does so many Cures for English, Welsh, and Irish,
That I was loath to trouble the good Lady:
Besides, I was afraid she wou'd not be
At leisure a great while to look to me,
And I did long to get a little sight forsooth.

K.
Poor Soul, Heaven's goodness has been great to thee,
Heaven has open'd a new gate of comforts to thee,
Shewed thee the richest brightest half of time,
Turn'd o'er the guilded leaves of Natures Book,
Where thou shalt read things thou cou'dst ne'er imagine,
Coyn all this golden time in praise and prayer,
And thou shalt find too at this gate of sight,
Armies of new temptations enter in,
Therefore stand more than ever upon thy Watch.

Card.
How this tale sinks into the King's soft Soul!
(Aside.
A Cannon cou'd not shoot it into mine;
Yet I must face this fable with my Scarlet,
To make it pass for the Honour of the Church.
Upon such Legs as these the poor Church halts,
Though we conceive it's halting with our Robes.

Qu.
Tell me, good Fellow, cam'st thou here by chance,
Or out of pure Devotion to this Shrine?

Simp.
Indeed forsooth out of most pure Devotion,
Being call'd I'm confident a hundred times,
And oftner in my sleep by good Saint Albans.

Suff.
How didst thou know it was Saint Albans call'd thee?

Simp.
He said he was Saint Albans, if it please you.

Suff.
He told thee in thy sleep so?

Simp.
Yes, an't please you.

Suff.
What said Saint Albans?

Simp.
He said, Saunder, an't please your Worship,
Come, offer at my Shrine, and I will help thee:
Come, Saunder, come.

Wife.
Indeed 'tis true forsooth,
For many a time and oft my self have heard
A voice to call him so.

Suff.
What in thy sleep?

Wife.
No forsooth, waking, as I'm now forsooth.

Suff.
Friend, thou wert much in good Saint Albans favour.

Simp.
I truly, I am much beholding to him.

Card.
What, art thou lame?

Simp.
Yes, Heaven help me, Sir.

Suff.
How cam'st thou so?

Simp.
By a fall from a Tree.

Wife.
Yes, he fell down from a high Plum-tree, Master.

Gl.
Wert thou born blind, and yet wouldst climb a tree?

Simp.
Never but once, and then my Wife desired me
To get some Damsons for her, and I cou'd not
Deny her any thing, I lov'd her dearly, she's a good Wife forsooth.

Card.
Alas, good Couple.

Gl.
This is a Rogue, and I'll discover him:
(Aside.
Let me see thine eyes:—wink now, now open 'em:
In my opinion yet thou seest not well.

Simp.
Yes, Master, clear as day, I thank St. Albans.

Gl.
Sayst thou me so? What colour is that Gown?

Simp.
Red, Master, Red as Blood.

Gl.
Why, that's well said.
What colour is my Hat?

Simp.
Black, Black forsooth, Coal-black as Jet forsooth.

K.
Why, then thou know'st what colour Jet is of?

Suff.
And yet he ne'er saw Jet in all his life.

Gl.
But Gowns and Hats before this day good store.

Wife.
Never before this day in all his life.

Gl.
What's my Name, Sirrah?

Simp.
Master, I know not.

Gl.
What is his Name?

Simp.
Indeed I know not, Master.

Glo.
No?

Simp.
No indeed.

Glo.
Nor his?

Simp.
No truly Master.

Glo.
What's thy own Name? Can'st thou tell that?

Simp.
My Name is Saunder Sympcox, if it please you Master.

Glo.

Simp.
Oh! Master! that you cou'd.

Suff.
How came St. Albans did not cure thy Lameness
As well as Blindness?

Simp.
Nay, I know not, Master.

Suff.
Has he not Skill in Legs as well as eyes?

Simp.
Yes, surely, Master, they are all one to him.

Suff.
What he forgot e'm then?

Simp.
I know not, Master;
If it had pleas'd him to have Cur'd my Legs,
I shou'd ha' been most mightily beholden to him.

Glo.
I'le ease him of that trouble, I will Cure thee.

Simpl.
Ah, Master, that you cou'd.

Glo.
I'le do't I say:
Have you no Beadles Mr. Mayor? and things call'd Whips?

Mayor.
Here is the Beadle, please your Grace.

Glo.
I see a Stool there, bring it hither quickly.
Now, Sirrah, if you mean to save your self
From Whipping, leap o'r this Stool and run away.

Simp.
Alass! Master, I am not able to stand alone;
You go about to Torture me in vain.

Glo.
Well, Sirrah, I must have you find your Legs:
Whip him till he leap o'r that same Stool.

Simp.
Master, What shall I do? I cannot stand:

Glo.
Leap Sirrah! Leap!

Simp.
Oh! oh!—

Beadle Whips him, he leaps over the Stool, and runs away, and they cry a Miracle, follow.
King.
Do'st thou behold thir Heaven? and bear thus long?

Glo.
Bring back the Rogue, and take this Drabbe away.

Wife.
Alass! we did it for pure need, forsooth.

Glo.
Let e'm be Whipt through every Market Town,
Till they come to Berwick, from whence they came.

Car.
Heark you, Are not you a Company of Damn'd Fools
To employ such a Silly Rogue as this?
(Softly to a Fryer.
That has shewn all your Cheats to the whole World?

Fry.
My Lord, they were known to all Wise Men before,
And such a Fool will serve to Couzen Fools:
And Fools are those that we must hope to stand by.

(Exit.
Enter Buckingham.
King.
What Tidings brings my Lord of Buckingham?

Buc.
Such as my heart does tremble to relate:
My Lord Protector's Wife has practis'd horridly,
And dangerously against your Majesties Life—
H'as dealt with Hellish Conjurers and Witches
To raise up wicked Spirits from under Ground
To acquaint her with your destiny, and Councel her
How she may ayd your Fate, and hasten it.
She's enquir'd too of the Infernal Oracle
The Fates of several of your Majesties Council;
We apprehended e'm all in the Fact.

Car.
Ha! Is she fallen into our Trap? that's well!—
(Aside.
And she shall soon pluck her Duke Humphrey after.
My Lord Protector, your good Lady finding
She governs you, thinks she can rule the Devil,
And have th'infernal Powers at her Command.
Heaven be Prais'd, England's Protected well.
Your Grace is Lord Protector of the Kingdom,
Your Wife rules you, the Devil is her Protector,
And so the Devil is England's Lord Protector;
I hope we shall displace his Devilship.

Glo.
And put a worse Devil in if you succeed.
But these good Churchmen are the heavenly comforts
You give your Kinsman in affliction.
You may insult, for sorrow has so vanquisht me,
The basest Groom may trample on me now.

King.
What horrid things are practis'd in this World?
How vile ones heap confusion on their heads?

Qu.
My Lord, my Lord, you see your nest is tainted;
Look that your self be faultless you had best.

Glo.
Madam, I will not answer for a Woman:
For my own self, to heaven I appeal,
Who knowes how I have lov'd my King and Country.
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
Honor and Vertue, I will forget her,
And banish her my Bed, and my Acquaintance;
And give her up to the just punishment
Which she deserves for so much wickedness,
And so dishonouring my honest Name.

King.
I will to London with what haste I can,
To look into this business thoroughly,
And call these foul offenders to their Answers.

(Ex. Om. præ. Suff. and the Qu.
Qu.
My dear, dear Suffolk, how thou every moment
Heap'st new delights on me? when thou didst get for me
The English Crown, thou didst not please me more,
Then now in getting me revenge on Elianor.
Treading on her, methinks I walk in Triumph
To a second and more pleasing Coronation.

Suff.
I told you, Madam, I had snares for her.
You were impatient and cou'd not stay
Till things cou'd ripen.

Qu.
Oh! thou art my Sun:
My joyes and glories ripen, grow and flourish
Under thy beautiful and glorious beams.
Come lets go see Dame Elianor in her shame,
The pleasing'st sight in the whole World, next thee.

Suff.
Next sight I'le shew you, shall be Gloster's fall;
The good fond Husband will be loth to stay
Behind his Wife, though she goes to destruction.

Qu.
Sure thou wert made o' purpose for my Love;
Had heaven bid me ask for some great Merit,
A Gift that might have shewed bounty divine,
I wou'd have said, Let Suffolk heaven be mine.—

Ex.