The mutual conference that my mind hath | Or hath my uncle Beaufort, and myself, had. By day, by night, waking, and in my dreams, In courtly company, or at my beads, With you mine alder-liefest + sovereign, K. Hen. Her sight did ravish: but her grace in speech, Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty, Makes me, from wondering fall to weeping joys, Such is the fulness of my heart's content.-Lords, with one cheerful voice, welcome my love. All. Long live queen Margaret, England's happiness! [Flourish. Q. Mar. We thank you all. Suf. My lord protector, so it please your grace, Here are the articles of contracted peace, Between our sovereign and the French king Charles, For eighteen months concluded by consent. Glo. [Reads.] Imprimis, It is agreed between the French King, Charles, and William de la Poole, marquis of Suffolk, ambassador for Henry king of England, that the said Henry shall espouse the lady Margaret, daughter unto Reignier king of Naples, Sicilia, and Jerusalem; and crown her queen of England, ere the thirtieth of May next ensuing.Item,-That the dutchy of Anjou and the county of Maine, shall be released and delivered to the king her fatherK. Hen. Uncle, how now? Glo. Pardon me, gracious lord; Some sudden qualm hath struck me at heart, And dimm'd mine eyes, that I can read further. the no K. Hen. Uncle of Winchester, I pray, read on. Win. Item,-It is further agreed between them, that the dutchies of Anjou and 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 having dowry. K. Hen. They please us well.-Lord marquis, kneel down; We here create thee the first duke of Suffolk, Cousin of York, we here discharge your grace Somerset, Salisbury, and Warwick: We thank you all for this great favour done, [Exeunt KING QUEEN, and SUFFOLK. Glo. Brave peers of England, pillars of the state, To you duke Humphrey must unload his grief, In winter's cold, and summer's parching heat, Receiv'd deep scars in France and Normandy? I am the bolder to address you, having already fa muliarized you to my imagination. † Beloved above all things. With all the learned council of the realm, Studied so long, sat in the council-house, Early and late, debating to and fro How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe ? And hath his highness in his infancy Shall Henry's conquest, Bedford's vigilance, Car. Nephew, what means this passionate discourse? This peroration with such circumstance? * Hath given the dutchies of Anjou and Maine Sal. Now, by the death of him that died for War. For grief, that they are past recovery: For, were there hope to conquer them again, My sword should shed hot blood, mine eyes no tears. Anjou and Maine ! myself did win them both; Those provinces these arms of mine did conquer: And are the cities, that I got with wounds, York. For Suffolk's duke-may he be suffocate, That dims the honour of this warlike isle ! France should have torn and rent my very heart, Before I would have yielded to this league. Behoves it us to labour for the realm. While they do tend the profit of the land. Paris is lost; the state of Normandy I cannot blame them all; what is't to them? And purchase friends, and give to courtezans, And shakes his head, and trembling stands aloof, sold. While all is shar'd, and all is borne away; A day will come, when York shall claim his And, when I spy advantage, claim the crown; SCENE 11.-The same.—A Room in the Duke of GLOSTER's House. Enter GLOSTER and the DUCHESS. Duch. Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd corn, Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load? War. So God help Warwick, as he loves the Why doth the great duke Humphrey knit his land, brows, As frowning at the favours of the world? What, is't too short? I'll lengthen it with mine: And never more abase our sight so low, Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts: Duch. What dream'd my lord? tell me, and With sweet rehearsal of my morning's dream. Glo. Methought this staff, mine office-badge in court, Was broke in twain, by whom, I have forgot, And William de la Poole first duke of Suffolk. And on my head did set the diadem. to Glo. Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright: Presumptuous dame, ill-nutur'd Eleanor! With Eleanor, for telling but her dream? Hume. But, by the grace of God, and Hume's advice, Your grace's title shall be multiplied. With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch; A spirit rais'd from depth of under ground, When from Saint Alban's we do make return, With thy confederates in this weighty cause. Hume? Seal up your lips and give no words butmum ! The business asketh silent secrecy. Dame Eleanor gives gold, to bring the witch: Yet I do find it so: for, to be plain, mour, Have hired me to undermine the duchess, And buz these conjurations in her brain. They say, a crafty knave does need no broker; Yet am I Suffolk and, the cardinal's broker. Hume, if you take not heed, you shall go near To call them both-a pair of crafty knaves, Well, so it stands: And thus, I fear, at last, Hume's knavery will be the duchess' wreck And her attainture will be Humphrey's fall: so Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all. [Exit. Glo. Nay, be not angry, I am pleas'd again. Enter a MESSENGER. Mess. My lord protector, 'tis his highness' pleasure, You do prepare to ride unto Saint Alban's, Whereas the king and queen do mean to hawk. Glo. I go.-Come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us ? Duch. Yes, good my lord, I'll follow presently. [Exeunt GLOSTER and MESSENGER. Follow I must, I cannot go before, While Gloster bears this base and humble Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood, And, being a woman, I will not be slack not, man, We are alone; here none but thee, and I. • SCENE III.-The same.-A Room in the Palace. Enter PETER, and others, with Petitions. 1 Pet. My masters, let's stand close; my lord protector will come this way by and by, and then we may deliver our supplications in the quill. + 2 Pet. Marry, the Lord protect him, for he's a good man! Jesu bless him! Enter SUFFOLK and Queen MARGARET. 1 Pet. Here 'a comes, methinks, and the queen with him: I'll be the first, sure. 2 Pet. Come back, fool; this is the duke of Suffolk, and not my lord protector. Suf. How now, fellow would'st any thing with me? 1 Pet. I pray, my lord, pardon me! I took ye for my lord protector. Q. Mar. [Reading the superscription.] To my lord protector are your supplications to his lordship? Let me see them: What is thine? John Goodman, my lord cardinal's man, for 1 Pet. Mine is, an't please your grace, against keeping my house, and lands, and wife, and all, from me. Suf. Thy wife too? that is some wrong, indeed.-What's your's?-What's here! [Reads.] Against the duke of Suffolk for enclosing the commons of Meljord.-How now, sir knave? Let the issue be what it will. † With great exactness and observance of form, Peter. [Presenting his Petition.] Against my master, Thomas Horner, for saying, That the duke of York was 1ightful heir to the 2 Pet. Alas, Sir, I am but a poor petitioner | And plac'd a quire of such enticing birds, of our whole township. That she will light to listen to the lays, And never mount to trouble you again. So, let her rest: Aud, 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 Humphrey in disgrace. 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 Under the wings of our protector's grace, [Exeunt PETITIONERS. Q. Mar. My lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise, Is this the fashion in the court of England? His champions are the prophets and apostles; I would the college of cardinals Would choose him pope, and carry him to And set the triple crown upon his head; Suf. Madam, be patient: as I was cause As for the duke of York, this late complaint K. Hen. For my part, noble lords, I care Or Somerset or York, all's one to me. Then let him be denay'd + the regentship. Buckingham, Why Somerset should be preferr'd in this. Q. Mar. Because the king, forsooth, will have it so. Glo. Madam, the king is old enough himself To give his censure: these are no women's matters. Q. Mar. If he be old enough, what needs your grace To be protector of his excellence ? Glo. Madam, I am protector of the realm; Q. Mar. Beside the haught protector, have Since thou wert king, (as who is king, but we Beaufort, thou ?) The imperious churchman; Somerset, Buck-The commonwealth hath daily run to wreck : ingham, these, And grumbling York: and not the least But can do more in England than the king. Suf. And he of these that can do most all, The Dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the seas; of 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 of Cannot do more in England than the Nevils: As that proud dame, the lord protector's wife. More like an empress than duke Humphrey's Strangers in court do take her for the queen ; ter. Are lank and lean with thy extortions. Have cost a mass of public treasury. Q. Mar. Thy sale of offices, and towns in If they were known, as the suspect is great, head. [Exit GLOSTER. The Queen drops her Fan. Give me my fan; What, minion! can you not? [Gives the DUCHESS a box on the Ear. I cry you mercy, madam; Was it you? woman: Could I come near your beauty with my nails, I. e. The complaint of Peter the armourer's man |