with a drum and a similar staff; accompanied by Prentices drinking to him.

1 Neigh. Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a cup of sack; And fear not, neighbour, you shall do well enough.

2 Neigh. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of charneco.9

3 Neigh. And here's a pot of good double beer, neighbour: drink, and fear not your man.

Hor. Let it come, i'faith, and I'll pledge you all; And a fig for Peter!

1 Pren. Here, Peter, I drink to thee; and be not afraid.

2 Pren. Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master; fight for credit of the prentices.

*

for me,

Peter. I thank you all : * drink, and pray * I pray you; for, I think, I have taken my last draught in this world.*-Here, Robin, an if I die, I give thee my apron; and, Will, thou shalt have my hammer:-and here, Tom, take all the money that I have.-O Lord, bless me, I pray God! for I am never able to deal with my master, he hath learnt so much fence already.

Sal. Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows. -Sirrah, what's thy name?

Peter. Peter, forsooth.

Sal. Peter! what more?
Peter. Thump.

Sal. Thump! then see thou thump thy master well. Hor. Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon

9 A sort of sweet wine.

my man's instigation, to prove him a knave, and myself an honest man: * and touching the duke of * York, 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.

*York. Despatch:-this knave's tongue begins to double.

Sound trumpets, alarum to the combatants.

[Alarum. They fight, and Peter strikes down his Master.

Hor. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason. [Dies. *York. Take away his weapon :-Fellow, thank *God, and the good wine in thy master's way.

'Peter. O God! have I overcome mine enemies ' in this presence? O Peter, thou hast prevailed in ⚫ right!

K. Hen. 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 wrong

Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward.

[Exeunt.

The death of the vanguished person was always regarded

as certain evidence of his guilt.

SCENE IV.

The same. A Street.

Enter GLOSTER and Servants, 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.2Sirs, 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 duchess: · Uneath 3 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,

With envious 4 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 Duchess of GLOSTER, in a white sheet, with papers pinn'd upon her back, her feet bare, and a taper burning in her hand; Sir John Stanley, a Sheriff, and Officers.

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

2 Change.

3 Not easily.

4 Malicious.

Glo. No, stir not, for your lives; let her pass by. Duch. 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,

"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.
Duch. Ah, Gloster, teach me to forget myself:
For, whilst I think I am thy married wife,
And, thou a prince, protector of this land,
"Methinks, I should not thus be led along,
Mail'd up in shame,5 with papers on my
* And follow'd with a rabble, that rejoice
*To see my tears, and hear my deep-fet 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.

back;

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, As he stood by, whilst I, his forlorn duchess, Was made a wonder, and a pointing-stock,

4 Curse.

5 Wrapped up in disgrace; alluding to the sheet of penance. Deep-fetched.

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.
For Suffolk,-he that can do all in all

'With her, that hateth thee, and hates us all,

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, * 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 parliament, holden at Bury the first of this next month. Glo. And my consent ne'er ask'd herein before! This is close dealing.-Well, I will be there. [Exit Herald. My Nell, I take my leave:-and, master sheriff,

7 Harm, mischief.