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Elean. Ah Glo'fter, teach me to forget my felf:
For whilft 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 fhame, with papers on my back,
And follow'd with a rabble, that rejoice
To fee my tears, and hear my deep-fetch'd groans.
The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet,
And when I start the a cruel people laugh,
And bid me be advised how I tread.

Ah Humphry, can I bear this fhameful yoak?
Trow'st thou that e'er I'll look upon the world,
Or count them happy that enjoy the fun?
No: dark fhall be my light, and night my day.
To think upon my pomp, fhall be my hell.
Sometime I'll fay, I am Duke Humphry's wife,
And he a Prince and ruler of the land:
Yet fo he rul'd, and fuch a Prince he was,
That he stood by, whilft I his forlorn Dutchefs
Was made a wonder and a pointing stock
To every idle, rafcal follower.

But be thou mild, and blush not at my fhame,
Nor ftir at nothing, till the ax of death
Hang over thee, as fure it fhortly will.
For Suffolk, (he that can do all in all
With her that hateth thee and hates us all)
And York, and impious Beauford that false priest,
Have all lim'd bushes to betray thy wings;
And fly thou how thou can't they'll tangle thee:
But fear thou not until thy foot be fnar'd,
Nor ever seek prevention of thy foes.

Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear; thou aimeft all awry.
I must offend, before I be attainted:
And had I twenty times fo many foes,
And each of them had twenty times their power,
All these could not procure me any † fcathe,
So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless.
Would't have me refcue thee from this reproach?

F 4

Why

Why yet thy fcandal were not wip'd away,
But I in danger for the breach of law.
Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell:
thee fort thy heart to patience,

pray

Thefe few days wonder will be quickly worn.

Enter a Herald.

Her. I fummon your grace to his Majefty's parliament holden at Bury, the firft of this next month.

Glo. And my consent ne'er ask'd herein before? This is clofe dealing. Well, I will be there; My Nell, I take my leave: and master Sheriff, Let not her penance exceed the King's commission. Sher. And't please your grace, here my commission ftays:

And Sir John Stanley is appointed now,

To take her with him to the Isle of Man.

Glo. Muft you, Sir John, protect my lady here Stan. So am I giv'n in charge, may't please your grace. Glo. Entreat her not the worfe, in that I pray You ufe 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. Witnefs my tears, I cannot ftay to fpeak.

[Exit Gloucefter. Elean. Art thou gone too? all comfort go with thee,

For none abides with me; iny joy is death;

Death, at whofe name I oft have been afraid,
Because I wifh'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.
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 fhall I then be us'd reproachfully?

Stan. No; like a Dutchefs, and Duke Humphry's lady, According to that ftate you fhall be us'd.

Elean

Elean. Sheriff fare well, and better than I fare, Although thou haft been conduct of my shame. Sher. It is my office, madam, pardon me. Elean. Ay, ay, farewel, thy office is discharg❜d. Come Stanley, shall we go?

Stan. Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet, And go we to attire you for our journey.

Elean. My fhame will not be shifted with my sheet: No, it will hang upon my richest robes, And fhew itfelf, attire me how I can,

Go, lead the way, I long to see my prifon.

[Exeunt.

ACT III. SCENE I.

Enter King Henry, Queen, Cardinal, Suffolk, York, Buckingham, Salisbury and Warwick, to the Parliament.

K. HENRY.

Mufe my lord of Glo'fter is not come:
'Tis not his wont to be the hindmoft man,
Whate'er occafion keeps him from us now.
Q Mar. Can you not fee? or will ye not
obferve

The ftrangeness of his alter'd countenance?
With what a majesty he bears himself,
How infolent of late he is become,
How peremptory and unlike himself!

We know the time fince he was mild and affable,
And if we did but glance a far-off look,
Immediately he was upon his knee,

That all the court admir'd him for fubmiffion.
But meet him now, and be it in the morn
When ev'ry one will give the time of day,
He knits his brow and shews an angry eye,
And paffeth by with ftiff unbowed knee,
Difdaining duty that to us belongs.

Small

Small curs are not regarded when they grin,
But great men tremble when the Lion roars,
And Humphry is no little man in England.
First note, that he is near you in defcent,
And fhould you fall, he is the next will mount.
Me feemeth then, it is no policy,

(Refpecting what a ranc'rous mind he bears,
And his advantage following your decease)
That he should come about your royal perfon,
Or be admitted to your highness' council.
By flatt'ry hath he won the common hearts:
And when he'll pleafe to make commotion,
'Tis to be fear'd they all will follow him.
Now 'tis the fpring, and weeds are fhallow-rooted,
< Suffer them now, and they'll o'er-grow the garden,
And choak the herbs for want of husbandry.
The reverent care I bear unto my lord
Made me collect these dangers in the Duke.
If it be fond, call it a woman's fear:
Which fear, if better reafons can fupplant,
I will fubfcribe, and fay I wrong'd the Duke.
My lords of Suffolk, Buckingham, and York,
Reprove my allegation if you can,

Or elfe conclude my words effectual.

Suf. Well hath your highnefs feen into this Duke. And had I first been put to speak my mind, I think I fhould have told your grace's tale. The Dutchefs, by his fubornation, Upon my life, began her devilish practices: Or if he were not privy to thofe faults, Yet by repeating of his high defcent As next the King he was fucceffive heir, And fuch high vaunts of his nobility, Did inftigate the bedlam brain-fick Dutchefs, By wicked means to frame our Sov'raign's fall. Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep, And in his fimple fhew he harbours treafon. The Fox barks not when he would fteal the Lamb. No, no, my Soveraign, Glo'fter is a man Unfounded yet, and full of deep deceit.

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Car.

Gar. Did he not, contrary to form of law,
Devise strange deaths for small offences done?
York. And did he not, in his Protectorship
Levy great fums of mony through the realm
For foldiers pay in France, and never fent it?
By means whereof the towns each day revolted.

Buck. Tut, thefe are petty faults, to faults unknown, Which time will bring to light in smooth Duke Humphry. K. Henry. My lords at once; the care you have of us,

To mow down thorns that would annoy our foot,
Is worthy praife; but fhall I fpeak my confcience?
Our kinfman Glo'fter is as innocent

From meaning treafon to our royal perfon,
As is the fucking Lamb or harmless Dove:
The Duke is virtuous, mild, and too well given
To dream on evil, or to work my downfal.

Q. Mar. Ah! what's more dang'rous than this fond affiance?

Seems he a Dove his feathers are but borrow'd,
For he's difpofed as the hateful Raven.

Is he a Lamb? his skin is furely lent him,
For he's inclin'd as is the ravenous Wolf.
Who cannot steal a shape, that means deceit ?
Take heed, my lord, the welfare of us all
Hangs on the cutting short that fraudful man.

Enter Somerfet.

Som. All health unto my gracious Sovereign.
K. Henry. Welcome, lord Somerfet; what news from
France ?

Som. That all our int'reft in those territories

Is utterly bereft you; all is loft.

K. Henry. Cold news, lord Somerfet; but God's will

be done.

York. Cold news for me: for I had hope of France, As firmly as I hope for fertile England.

Thus are my bloffoms blafted in the bud,

And caterpillars eat my leaves away.

Bub