Sirrah, what's thy name?

Peter. Peter, forsooth.

Sal. Peter! what more?

Peter. Thump.

Sal. Thump! then see thou thump thy master well. Arm. Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon my man's instigation, to prove him a knave, and myself an honest man: and touching the duke of YorkI will take my death, I never meant him any ill, nor the king, nor the queen; And therefore, Peter, have at thee with a downright blow, as Bevis of Southampton fell upon Ascapart.

384 York. Dispatch:-this knave's tongue begins to double.

Sound trumpets, alarum to the combatants.

[They fight, and PETER strikes him down. Arm. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess trea

son.

[Dies. York. Take away his weapon :-Fellow, thank God, and the good wine in thy master's way.

390 Peter. O God! have I overcome mine enemy in this presence?

O Peter, thou hast prevailed in right!

K. Henry. Go, take hence that traitor from our

sight;

For, by his death, we do perceive his guilt:

And God, in justice, hath reveal'd to us

The truth and innocence of this poor fellow,

Which he had thought to have murder'd wrongfully
Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward.

[Exeunt.

SCENE

SCENE IV.

The Street. Enter Duke HUMPHREY, and his Men, in Mourning Cloaks.

Glo. Thus, sometimes, hath the brightest day a

cloud;

And, after summer, evermore succeeds

Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold :
So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet.—
Sirs, what's o' clock ?

Serv. Ten, my lord.

Glo. Ten is the hour that was appointed me,
To watch the coming of my punish'd dutchess:
Uneath may she endure the flinty streets,
To tread them with her tender-feeling feet.
Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook
The abject people, gazing on thy face,

400

410

With envious looks still laughing at thy shame ;
That erst did follow thy proud chariot wheels,
When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets.
But, soft! I think, she comes
and I'll prepare
My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries.

Enter the Dutchess in a white Sheet, her Feet bare, and a Taper burning in her Hand, with Sir JOHN STANLEY, a Sheriff, and Officers.

Serv. So please your grace, we'll take her from the sheriff.

Glo. No, stir not for your lives; let her pass by. Elean. Come you, my lord, to see my open shame? Now thou dost penance too. Look, how they gaze!

See, how the giddy multitude do point,

420

And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee!
Ah, Gloster, hide thee from their hateful looks
And, in thy closet pent up, rue my shame,
And ban thine enemies, both mine and thine.
Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief.
Elean. Ah, Gloster, teach me to forget myself:
For, whilst I think I am thy marry'd wife,
And thou a prince, protector of this land,
Methinks, I should not thus be led along,
Mail'd up
in shame, with papers on my back; 430
And follow'd with a rabble, that rejoice
To see my tears, and hear my deep-felt groans.
The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet;
And, when I start, the envious people laugh,
And bid me be advised how I tread.

Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke ?
Trow'st thou, that e'er I'll look upon the world;
Or count them happy, that enjoy the sun ?
No; dark shall be my light, and night my day;
To think upon my pomp, shall be my hell.
Sometime I'll say, I am duke Humphrey's wife;
And he a prince, and ruler of the land;
Yet so he rul❜d, and such a prince he was,
That he stood by, whilst I, his forlorn dutchess,
Was made a wonder, and a pointing-stock,
To every idle rascal follower.

But be thou mild, and blush not at my shame;
Nor stir at nothing, 'till the axe of death
Hang over thee, as, sure, it shortly will.

440

For

For Suffolk-he that can do all in all

With her, that hateth thee, and hates us all

450

And York, and impious Beaufort, that false priest,
Have all lim'd bushes to betray thy wings,

And, fly thou how thou canst, they'll tangle thee:
But fear not thou, until thy foot be snar'd,
Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.

Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear; thou aimest all awry;
I must offend, before I be attainted:

And had I twenty times so many foes,

And each of them had twenty times their power, 460
All these could not procure me any scathe,
So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless.
Would'st have me rescue thee from this reproach?
Why, yet thy scandal were not wip'd away,
But I in danger for the breach of law,
Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell;
I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience;
These few days' wonder will be quickly worn.

Enter a Herald.

Her. I summon your grace to his majesty's parlia. ment, holden at Bury the first of this next month. Glo. And my consent ne'er ask'd herein before! 471 This is close dealing.-Well, I will be there.

[Exit Herald.

My Nell, I take my leave:-and, master sheriff,
Let not her penance exceed the king's commission.
Sher. An't please your grace, here my commission

stays:

Eij

And

And Sir John Stanley is appointed now

To take her with him to the Isle of Man.

Glo. Must you, Sir John, protect my lady here? Stan. So am I given in charge, may't please your

grace.

Glo. Entreat her not the worse, in that I pray 480 You use her well: the world may laugh again; And I may live to do you kindness, if

You do it her. And so, Sir John, farewel.

Elean. What gone, my lord; and bid me not farewel? Glo. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak.

[Exit GLOSTER. Elean. Art thou gone too? All comfort go with

thee!

For none abides with me: my joy is-death;
Death, at whose name I oft have been afear'd,
Because I wish'd this world's eternity.-
Stanley, I pr'ythee, go, and take me hence;
I care not whither, for I beg no favour,
Only convey me where thou art commanded.

490

Stan. Why, madam, that is to the Isle of Man ;

There to be us'd according to your state.

Elean. That's bad enough, for I am but reproach: And shall I then be us'd reproachfully?

Stan. Like to a dutchess, and duke Humphrey's lady, According to that state you shall be us'd.

Elean. Sheriff, farewel, and better than I fare; Although thou hast been conduct of my shame. 500 Sher. It is my office; and, madam, pardon me. Elean. Ay, ay, farewel; thy office is discharg’d.—

Come,