To them enter King HENRY, Duke HUMPHREY, Cardinal BEAUFORT, BUCKINGHAM, YORK, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and the Dutchess of GLOSTER.

K. Henry. For my part, noble lords, I care not which;

Or Somerset, or York, all's one to me.

York. If York have ill demean'd himself in France, Then let him be deny'd the regentship.

Som. If Somerset be unworthy of the place, Let York be regent, I will yield to him.

470

War. Whether your grace be worthy, yea, or no, Dispute not that; York is the worthier.

Car. Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak.
War. The cardinal's not my better in the field.
Buck. All in this presence are thy betters, War-
wick.

War. Warwick may live to be the best of all.
Sal. Peace, son;-and shew some reason, Buck-
ingham,

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 480 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;

And,

And, at his pleasure, will resign my place.

Suf. Resign it then, and leave thine insolence.
Since thou wert king (as who is king, but thou?)
The common-wealth hath daily run to wreck :
The dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the seas;
And all the peers and nobles of the realm
Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty.

490

Car. The commons hast thou rack'd; the clergy's

bags

Are lank and lean with thy extortions.

Som. Thy sumptuous buildings, and thy wife's attire,

Have cost a mass of public treasury.
Buck. Thy cruelty in execution,
Upon offenders, hath exceeded law,
And left thee to the mercy of the law.

Q. Mar. Thy sale of offices, and towns in France--
If they were known, as the suspect is great-
Would make thee quickly hop without thy head.

500

[Exit GLOSTER. The Queen drops her Fan. Give me my fan: What, minion! can you not?

[Gives the Dutchess a Box on the Ear.

I cry you mercy, madam; Was it you?

Elean. Was't I? yea, I it was, proud French

woman:

Could I come near your beauty with my nails,

I'd set my ten commandments in your face.

K. Henry. Sweet aunt, be quiet; 'twas against her

will.

Elean.

Elean. Against her will !-Good king, look to't in

time;

She'll hamper thee, and dandle thee like a baby : Though in this place most master wears no breeches, She shall not strike dame Eleanor unreveng'd. 511 [Exit ELEANOR.

Buck. Lord cardinal, I will follow Eleanor, And listen after Humphrey, how he proceeds: She's tickled now: her fume can need no spurs, She'll gallop fast enough to her destruction.

[Exit BUCKINGHAM.

Re-enter Duke HUMPHREY.

Glo. Now, lords, my choler being over-blown
With walking once about the quadrangle,
I come to talk of common-wealth affairs.
As for your spiteful false objections,
Prove them, and I lie open to the law:
But God in mercy deal so with my soul,
As I in duty love my king and country!
But, to the matter that we have in hand :----
I say, my sovereign, York is meetest man
To be your regent in the realm of France.
Suf. Before we make election, give me leave
To shew some reason, of no little force,
That York is most unmeet of any man.

York. I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet.
First, for I cannot flatter thee in pride :
Next, if I be appointed for the place,
My lord of Somerset will keep me here,

520

530

Without

Without discharge, money, or furniture,
'Till France be won into the dauphin's hands.
Last time, I danc'd attendance on his will,
'Till Paris was besieg'd famish'd, and lost.
War. That can I witness; and a fouler fact
Did never traitor in the land commit.

Suf. Peace, head-strong Warwick !

War, Image of pride, why should I hold my

Enter HORNER the Armourer, and his Man PETER,

guarded.

Suf. Because here is a man accus'd of treason: Pray God, the duke of York excuse himself! York. Doth any one accuse York for a traitor ? K. Henry. What mean'st thou, Suffolk ? tell me : What are these?

Suf. Please it your majesty, this is the man That doth accuse his master of high treason: His words were these;-that Richard, duke of York, Was rightful heir unto the English crown ;

And that your majesty was an usurper.

550

K. Henry. Say, man, were these thy words? Arm. An't shall please your majesty, I never said nor thought any such matter: God is my witness, I am falsely accus'd by the villain.

Peter. By these ten bones, my lords [holding up his Hands], he did speak them to me in the garret one night, as we were scouring my lord of York's

armour.

York.

York. Base dunghill villain, and mechanical,

I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech :-
I do beseech your royal majesty,

Let him have all the rigour of the law.

560

Arm. Alas, my lord, 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 he would be even with me: I havę good witness of this; therefore, I beseech your majesty, do not cast away an honest man for a villain's

accusation.

570

K. Henry. Uncle, what shall we say to this in law ? Glo. This doom, my lord, if I may judge. Let Somerset be regent o'er the French, Because in York this breeds suspicion ? And let these have a day appointed them For single combat, in convenient place; For he hath witness of his servant's malice: This is the law, and this duke Humphrey's doom. K. Henry. Then be it so. 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.

580

Peter. Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God's sake, pity my case! the spite of a man prevaileth against me. O Lord, have mercy upon me! I shall never be able to fight a blow: O Lord, my heart!— Glo. Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd. K. Henry. Away with them to prison: and the day