Enter two Petitioners, and _Peter_ the Armourers man.
_1. Peti._ Come sirs let vs linger here abouts a while, [dac001]
Vntil my Lord Protector come this way,
That we may show his grace our seuerall causes.
_2. Peti._ I pray God saue the good Duke _Humphries_ life, [dac004]
For but for him a many were vndone, ·dac005·
That cannot get no succour in the Court, [dac006]
But see where he comes with the Oueene.
Enter the Duke of _Suffolke_ with the Queene, and they take him for
Duke _Humphrey_, and giues him their writings.
_1. Peti._ Oh we are vndone, this is the Duke of _Suffolke_.
_Queene._ Now good-fellowes, whom would you speak withall?
_2. Peti._ If it please your Maiestie, with my Lord Protectors ·dac010·
Grace.
_Queene._ Are your sutes to his grace. Let vs see them first, [dac012]
Looke on them my Lord of _Suffolke_.
_Suffolke._ A complaint against the Cardinals man,
What hath he done? ·dac015·
_2. Peti._ Marry my Lord, he hath stole away my wife, [dac016]
And th’ are gone togither, and I know not where to finde them.
_Suffolke._ Hath he stole thy wife, thats some iniury indeed. [dac018]
But what say you?
_Peter Thump._ Marry sir I come to tel you that my maister said,
·dac020· that the Duke of _Yor_k_e_ was true heire vnto the Crowne,
and [dac021] that the King was an vsurer.
_Queene._ An vsurper thou wouldst say.
_Peter._ I forsooth an vsurper. [dac024]
_Queene._ Didst thou say the King was an vsurper? ·dac025·
_Peter._ No forsooth, I saide my maister saide so, th’ other day, when
we were scowring the Duke of _Yorks_ Armour in our garret.
_Suffolke._ I marry this is something like,
Whose within there? [dac030]
Enter one or two.
Sirra take in this fellow and keepe him close, [dac031]
And send out a Purseuant for his maister straight,
Weele here more of this before the King. [dac033]
_Exet_ with the Armourers man.
Now sir what yours? Let me see it, [dac034]
Whats here? [dac035]
A complaint against the Duke of _Suffolke_ for enclosing the commons
of long Melford.
How now sir knaue. [dac038]
_1. Peti._ I beseech your grace to pardon me, me, I am but a [dac039]
Messenger for the whole town-ship. ·dac040·
He teares the papers.
_Suffolke._ So now show your petitions to Duke _Humphrey_. [dac041]
Villaines get you gone and come not neare the Court, [dac042]
Dare these pesants write against me thus. [dac043]
_Exet_ Petitioners.
_Queene._ My Lord of _Suffolke_, you may see by this,
The Commons loues vnto that haughtie Duke, ·dac045·
That seekes to him more then to King _Henry_:
Whose eyes are alwaies poring on his booke,
And nere regards the honour of his name, [dac048]
But still must be protected like a childe,
And gouerned by that ambitious Duke, ·dac050·
That scarse will moue his cap nor speake to vs, [dac051]
And his proud wife, high minded _Elanor_,
That ruffles it with such a troupe of Ladies,
As strangers in the Court takes her for the Queene. [dac054]
The other day she vanted to her maides, ·dac055·
That the very traine of her worst gowne,
Was worth more wealth then all my fathers lands,
Can any griefe of minde be like to this. [dac058]
I tell thee _Poull_, when thou didst runne at Tilt, [dac059]
And stolst away our Ladaies hearts in _France_, [dac060]
I thought King _Henry_ had bene like to thee,
Or else thou hadst not brought me out of _France_.
_Suffolke._ Madame content your selfe a litle while,
As I was cause of your comming to England, [dac064]
So will I in England worke your full content: ·dac065·
And as for proud Duke _Humphrey_ and his wife,
I haue set lime-twigs that will intangle them,
As that your grace ere long shall vnderstand.
But staie Madame, here comes the King. [dac069]
Enter King _Henry_, and the Duke of _Yorke_ and the Duke of
_Somerset_ on both sides of the King, whispering with him, and
enter Duke _Humphrey_, Dame _Elnor_, the Duke of _Buckingham_, the
Earle of _Salsbury_, the Earle of _Warwicke_, and the Cardinall of
_Winchester_.
_King._ My Lords I care not who be Regent in _France_, or _York_,
·dac070· or Somerset, alls wonne to me. [dac071]
_Yorke_ My Lord, if _Yorke_ haue ill demeande himselfe,
Let _Somerset_ enioy his place and go to _France_.
_Somerset._ Then whom your grace thinke worthie, let him go, [dac074]
And there be made the Regent ouer the French. ·dac075·
_Warwicke._ Whom soeuer you account worthie,
_Yorke_ is the worthiest.
_Cardinall._ Pease _Warwicke_. Giue thy betters leaue to
speake. [dac078]
_War._ The Cardinals not my better in the field. [dac079]
_Buc._ All in this place are thy betters farre. ·dac080·
_War._ And _Warwicke_ may liue to be the best of all. [dac081]
_Queene._ My Lord in mine opinion, it were best that _Somerset_ were
Regent ouer _France_.
_Humphrey._ Madame onr King is old inough himselfe, [dac084]
To giue his answere without your consent. ·dac085·
_Queene._ If he be old inough, what needs your grace [dac086]
To be Protector ouer him so long.
_Humphrey._ Madame I am but Protector ouer the land, [dac088]
And when it please his grace, I will resigne my charge.
_Suffolke._ Resigne it then, for since that thou wast King, [dac090]
As who is King but thee. The common state [dac091]
Doth as we see, all wholly go to wracke,
And Millions of treasure hath bene spent,
And as for the Regentship of _France_,
I say _Somerset_ is more worthie then _Yorke_. [dac095]
_Yorke._ Ile tell thee _Suffolke_ why I am not worthie,
Because I cannot flatter as thou canst.
_War._ And yet the worthie deeds that _York_ hath done,
Should make him worthie to be honoured here.
_Suffolke._ Peace headstrong _Warwicke_. ·dac100·
_War._ Image of pride, wherefore should I peace?
_Suffolke._ Because here is a man accusde of Treason,
Pray God the Duke of _Yorke_ do cleare himselfe.
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 maister of
·dac105· high Treason, And his words were these.
That the Duke of _Yorke_ was lawfull heire vnto the Crowne, and
that your grace was an vsurper.
_Yorke._ I beseech your grace let him haue what punishment the
law will afford, for his villany. ·dac110·
_King._ Come hether fellow, didst thou speake these words?
_Armour._ Ant shall please your Maiestie, I neuer said any such
[dac112] matter, God is my witnesse, I am falsly accused by this
villain (here.
_Peter._ Tis no matter for that, you did say so. ·dac115·
_Yorke._ I beseech your grace, let him haue the law.
_Armour._ Alasse my Lord, hang me if euer I spake the words, [dac117]
my accuser is my prentise, & when I did correct him for his
fault the other day, he did vow upon his knees that he would
be euen with me, I haue good witnesse of this, and therefore ·dac120·
I beseech your Maiestie do not cast away an honest man for [dac121]
a villaines accusation.
_King._ Vnckle _Gloster_, what do you thinke of this?
_Humphrey._ The law my Lord is this by case, it rests suspitious,
That a day of combat be appointed, ·dac125·
And there to trie each others right or wrong,
Which shall be on the thirtith of this month, [dac127]
With _Eben_ staues, and _Standbags_ combatting [dac128]
In Smythfield, before your Royall Maiestie. _Exet Humphrey._
_Armour._ And I accept the Combat willingly. ·dac130·
_Peter._ Alasse my Lord, I am not able to fight. [dac131]
_Suffolke._ You must either fight sirra or else be hangde:
Go take them hence againe to prison. _Exet_ with them. [dac133]
The Queene lets fall her gloue, and hits the Duches of
_Gloster_, a boxe on the eare.
_Queene._ Giue me my gloue. Why Minion can you not see?
She strikes her.
I cry you mercy Madame, I did mistake, ·dac135·
_I_ did not thinke it had bene you.
_Elnor._ Did you not proud French-woman, [dac137]
Could _I_ come neare your daintie vissage with my nayles,
Ide set my ten commandments in your face.
_King._ Be patient gentle Aunt. ·dac140·
It was against her will.
_Elnor._ Against her will. Good King sheele dandle thee, [dac142]
If thou wilt alwaies thus be rulde by her.
But let it rest. As sure as _I_ do liue,
She shall not strike dame _Elnor_ vnreuengde. ·dac145·
_Exet Elnor._
_King._ Beleeue me my loue, thou wart much to blame, [dac146]
I would not for a thousand pounds of gold,
My noble vnckle had bene here in place.
Enter Duke _Humphrey_.
But see where he comes, _I_ am glad he met her not.
Vnckle _Gloster_, what answere makes your grace ·dac150·
Concerning our Regent for the Realme of _France_,
Whom thinks your grace is meetest for to send.
_Humphrey._ My gratious Lord, then this is my resolue,
For that these words the Armourer should speake, [dac154]
Doth breed suspition on the part of _Yorke_, ·dac155·
Let _Somerset_ be Regent ouer the French, [dac156]
Till trials made, and _Yorke_ may cleare himselfe. [dac157]
_King._ Then be it so my Lord of _Somerset_.
We make your grace Regent ouer the French,
And to defend our rights gainst forraine foes, [dac160]
And so do good vnto the Realme of _France_.
Make hast my Lord, tis time that you were gone,
The time of Truse I thinke is full expirde.
_Somerset._ I humbly thanke your royall Maiestie,
And take my leaue to poste with speed to _France_. ·dac165·
_Exet Somerset._
_King._ Come vnckle _Gloster_, now lets haue our horse, [dac166]
For we will to Saint Albones presently,
Madame your Hawke they say, is swift of flight,
And we will trie how she will flie to day. [dac169]
_Exet omnes._