'I do beseech your royal majesty, 'Let him have all the rigour of the law. Hor. 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 have good witness of this; therefore, I beseech your majesty, do not cast away an honest man for a villain's accusation. K. Hen. 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. Hen. 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. 營 Hor. And I accept the combat willingly. Pet. Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; * for God's Isake, pity my case! the spite of 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. Hen. Away with them to prison: and the day · Of combat shall be the last of the next month. Come, Somerset, we'll see thee sent away. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The same. The Duke of Gloster's Garden. Enter MARGERY JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTHWELL, and BOLINGBROKE. * Hume. Come, my masters; the duchess, I tell you, expects performance of your promises. * Boling. Master Hume, we are therefore provided: Will her ladyship behold and hear our exor* cisms ?4 * Hume. Ay; What else? fear you not her courage. * Boling. I have heard her reported to be a woman * of an invincible spirit: But it shall be convenient, * master Hume, that you be by her aloft, while we * be busy below; and so, I pray you, go in God's name, and leave us. [Exit HUME.] Mother Jourdain, be you prostrate, and grovel on the earth :— * John Southwell, read you; and let us to our work. Enter Duchess, above. * Duch. Well said, my masters; and welcome all. * To this geer;' the sooner the better. * Boling. Patience, good lady; wizards know their times : Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night, 'The time of night when Troy was set on fire The time when screech-owls cry, and ban-dogs" howl, ; 4 By exorcise Shakspeare invariably means to raise spirits, and not to lay them. s Matter or business. 6 Village-dogs. And spirits walk, and ghosts break up their graves, 'That time best fits the work we have in hand. Madam, sit you, and fear not; whom we raise, 'We will make fast within a hallow'd verge. [Here they perform the Ceremonies appertaining, and make the Circle; Bolingbroke, or Southwell, reads, Conjuro te, &c. It thunders and lightens terribly; then the Spirit riseth. * Spir. Adsum. * M. Jourd. Asmath, * By the eternal God, whose name and power * Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask; * For, till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence. * Spir. Ask what thou wilt:-That I had said and done! come? Boling. First, of the king. What shall of him be[Reading out of a Paper. Spir. The duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose; But him outlive, and die a violent death. [As the Spirit speaks, SOUTHWELL writes the answer. Boling. What fate awaits the duke of Suffolk? Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains Than where castles mounted stand. 'Have done, for more I hardly can endure. Boling. Descend to darkness, and the burning lake: 'False fiend, avoid! [Thunder and Lightning. Spirit descends. Enter YORK and BUCKINGHAM, hastily, with their Guards, and Others. York. Lay hands upon these traitors, and their trash. 'Beldame, I think, we watch'd you at an inch.— 6 What, madam, are you there? the king and commonweal 'Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains; My lord protector will, I doubt it not, • See you well guerdon'd' for these good deserts. *Duch. Not half so bad as thine to England's king, * Injurious duke; that threat'st where is no cause. * Buck. True, madam, none at all. What call you [Shewing her the papers. this? < Away with them; let them be clapp'd up close, And kept asunder :-You, madam, shall with us :Stafford, take her to thee. [Exit Duchess from above. 'We'll see your trinkets here all forth-coming; All.-Away! [Exeunt Guards, with SOUTH. BOLING. &c. York. Lord Buckingham, methinks, you watch'd her well : * A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon! Now, pray, my lord, let's see the devil's writ. The duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose; *Why, this is just, * Aio te acida, Romanos vincere posse. 7 Rewarded. [Reads. Well, to the rest: Tell me, what fate awaits the duke of Suffolk? Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains, * These oracles are hardily attain'd, * And hardly understood. 'The king is now in progress toward Saint Albans, 'With him, the husband of this lovely lady : 'Thither go these news, as fast as horse can carry them; A sorry breakfast for my lord protector. Buck. Your grace shall give me leave, my lord of York, 'To be the post, in hope of his reward. 'York. At your pleasure, my good lord.-Who's 'within there, ho! Enter a Servant. 'Invite my lords of Salisbury, and Warwick, 'To sup with me to-morrow night.-Away! [Exeunt. |