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Queen. Beside the haught protector, have we
Beaufort

The imperious churchman, Somerset, Buckingham,
And grumbling York; and not the least of these
But can do more in England than the king.

Suf. And he of these that can do most of all
Cannot do more in England than the Nevils:
Salisbury and Warwick are no simple peers.

Queen. Not all these lords do vex me half so much

As that proud dame, the lord protector's wife.
She sweeps it through the court with troops of
ladies,

More like an empress than Duke Humphrey's wife :
Strangers in court do take her for the queen :
She bears a duke's revenues on her back,
And in her heart she scorns our poverty:
Shall I not live to be avenged on her?
Contemptuous base-born callet as she is,
She vaunted 'mongst her minions t' other day,
The very train of her worst wearing gown
Was better worth than all my father's lands,
Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter.
Suf. Madam, myself have limed a bush for her,

And placed a quire of such enticing birds,
That she will light to listen to the lays,
And never mount to trouble you again.
So, let her rest: and, 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.
As for the Duke of York, this late complaint

Will make but little for his benefit.

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72. churchman, ecclesiastic. 86. callet, jade.

So, one by one, we 'll weed them all at last,
And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.

Sound a sennet.

Enter the KING, DUKE HUMPHREY of Gloucester, CARDINAL BEAUFORT, BUCKINGHAM, York, SomeRSET, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and the DUCHESS Of Gloucester. King. 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 denay'd the regentship.

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

War. Whether your grace be worthy, yea or no, 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,
Warwick.

War. Warwick may live to be the best of all.
Sal. Peace, son and show some reason,
Buckingham,

Why Somerset should be preferred in this.

Queen. Because the king, forsooth, will have

it so.

Glou. Madam, the king is old enough himself To give his censure: these are no women's matters. 120 Queen. If he be old enough, what needs your grace

To be protector of his excellence ?

Glou. Madam, I am protector of the realm;

And, at his pleasure, will resign my place.

107. denay'd, denied.

120. censure, judgment.

Suf. Resign it then and leave thine insolence.
Since thou wert king-as who is king but thou ?—
The commonwealth 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.

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.

Queen. 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.

[Exit Gloucester. The Queen drops her fan. Give me my fan: what, minion! can ye not?

[She gives the Duchess a box on the ear. I cry you mercy, madam; was it you?

Duch. Was 't I! yea, I it was, proud French

woman:

Could I come near your beauty with my nails,
I'ld set my ten commandments in your face.

King. Sweet aunt, be quiet; 'twas against her will.

Duch. Against her will! good king, look to't in time;

She'll hamper thee, and dandle thee like a

baby :

134. treasury, treasure.

135 f. Holinshed states this accusation thus: That he had caused men adjudged to die, to

130

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be put to other execution than the law of the land assigned.'

145. ten commandments, ten fingers; a cant phrase of the time.

Though in this place most master wear no breeches,
She shall not strike Dame Eleanor unrevenged.

[Exit.

Buck. Lord cardinal, I will follow Eleanor, And listen after Humphrey, how he proceeds: She's tickled now; her fury needs no spurs, She'll gallop far enough to her destruction. [Exit.

Re-enter GLOUCESTER.

Glou. Now, lords, my choler being over-blown
With walking once about the quadrangle,
I come to talk of commonwealth affairs.
As for your spiteful false objections,
Prove them, and I lie open to the law:
But God in mercy so deal 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 show 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,
Without discharge, money, or furniture,
Till France be won into the Dauphin's hands:
Last time, I danced attendance on his will
Till Paris was besieged, famish'd, and lost.
War. That can I witness; and a fouler fact

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of necessary preliminaries to his assumption of office (such as transfer of troops).

172. furniture, equipment. 176. fact, crime.

Did never traitor in the land commit.

Suf. Peace, headstrong Warwick!

War. Image of pride, why should I hold my peace ?

Enter HORNER, the Armourer, and his
man PETER, guarded.

Suf. Because here is a man accused of treason: 180 Pray God the Duke of York excuse himself!

York. Doth any one accuse York for a traitor ?

King. 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.

King. Say, man, were these thy words?

Hor. An't shall please your majesty, I never 190 said nor thought any such matter: God is my witness, I am falsely accused by the villain.

Pet. By these ten bones, my lords, he did speak them to me in the garret one night, as we were scouring my Lord of York's armour.

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.

Hor. Alas, my lord, hang me, if ever I spake 200 the words. My accuser is my 'prentice; and when I did correct him for his fault the other

181. excuse, exculpate.
193. bones, fingers.
196. mechanical, mechanic.

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