Boling. Tell me, what fates await the Duke of Suffolk?

Spirit. By Water shall he die, and take his end.

Boling. What fhall befal the Duke of Somerfet ?
Spirit. Let him fhun Castles,

Safer fhall he be on the fandy plains,

Than where Castles mounted stand.

Have done, for more I hardly can endure.

Boling. Defcend to darkness, and the burning lake:

Falle fiend, avoid!

[Thunder and Lightning. Spirit defcends. Enter the Duke of York, and the Duke of Buckingham, with their Guard, and break in.

York. Lay hands upon thefe traitors, and their trash : Beldame, I think, we watch'd you at an inch. What, Madam, are you there? the King and Realm Are deep indebted for this piece of pains; My lord Protector will, I doubt it not, See you well guerdon'd for thefe good deferts. Elean. Not half fo bad as thine to England's King, Injurious Duke, that threat'ft where is no caufe.

Buck. True, Madam, none at all: What call Away with them, let them be clap'd up close, And kept apart. You, Madam, fhall with us.. Stafford, take her to thee.

We'll fee your Trinkets here forth-coming all.

you

this?

[Exeunt Guards with Jordan, Southwel, &c.

York. Lord Buckingham, methinks, you watch'd her

A pretty Plot, well chofe to build upon.

Now, pray, my lord, let's fee the devil's Writ.

What have we here?

The Duke yet lives, that Henry hall depofe;

[well;

[Reads.

acida, Romanos vincere poffe.

But him out-live, and die a violent death.

Why, this is juft, Aio te,

Well, to the rest:

Tell me, what fate awaits the Duke of Suffolk?

By water fhall be die, and take his end.

What shall betide the Duke of Somerset ?

Let him fhun Castles,

Safer

Safer fhall be be on the fandy plains,

Than where caftles mounted ftand.

Come, come, my lords;

Thefe Oracles are hardily attain'd, (3)

And hardly understood.

The King is now in progress tow'rds St. Albans;
With him, the husband of this lovely lady:

Thither go these news, as faft as horfe can carry them ;
A forry breakfast for my lord Protector.

Buck. Your Grace hall give me leave, my lord of
York,

To be the Poft, in hope of his reward.
York. At your pleasure, my good lord.
Who's within there, ho?

Enter a Serving-man.

Invite my lords of Salisbury and Warwick,
To fup with me to morrow night. Away!

(4) Thefe Oracles are hardly attain'd,

[Exeunt.

And bardly understood.] Not only the Lameness of the Verfification, but the Imperfection of the Senfe too, made me suspect this paffage to be corrupt. The Meaning is very poor, as it ftands in all the printed Copies; but I have formerly, by the Addition of a fingle Letter, both help'd the Verfe and the Sentiment. York, seizing the Parties and their Papers, fays, he'll fee the Devil's Writ; and finding the Wizard's Answers intricate and ambiguous, he makes this general Comment upon fuch fort of Intelligence, as I have reftor'd the Text:

Thefe Oracles are hardily attain'd,

And hardly understood.

i. e. A great Rifque and Hazard is run to obtain them, (viz. going to the Devil for them, as 'twas pretended and suppos'd :) and likewife the incurring fevere Penalties by the Statute-Law against such Practices; and yet, after these bardy Steps taken, the Informations are fo perplex'd that they are hardly to ha understood,

3

ACT

A C T II.

SCENE, at St. Albans. Enter King Henry, Queen, Protector, Cardinal, and Suffolk, with Faulkners hallooing.

B

2. MARGARET.

ELIEVE me, lords, for flying at the brook,
I faw not better fport thefe fev'n years' day;
Yet, by your leave, the wind was very high,
And, ten to one, old Joan had not gone out.
K. Henry. But what a point, my lord,
made,

₹

your Faulcon And what a pitch fhe flew above the reft! To fee how God in all his creatures works! Yea, man and birds are fain of climbing high. Suf. No marvel, an it like your majelly, My lord Protector's Hawks do towre fo well; They know, their Master loves to be aloft, And bears his thoughts above his Faulcon's pitch, Glo. My lord, 'tis but a bafe ignoble mind, That mounts no higher than a bird can foar. -Car. I thought as much, he'd be above the clouds. Glo. Ay, my lord Card'nal, how think you by that? Were it not good, your Grace could fly to heav'n? K. Henry. The treasury of everlasting joy! Car. Thy heaven is on earth, thine eyes and thoughts Beat on a Crown, the treasure of thy heart: Pernicious Protector, dangerous Peer,

'That smooth'ft it fo with King and Common-weal!

Glo. What, Card'nal! Is your priesthood grown so peremptory? Tantene animis Caeleftibus ira?

Churchmen fo hot? good uncle, hide fuch malice.
With fuch Holiness can you do it?

Suf. No malice, Sir, no more than well becomes
So good a quarrel, and fo bad a Peer.
VOL. V.

B

Gle

Glo. As who, my lord?

Suf. Why, as yourself, my lord;

An't like your lordly, lord Protectorship.

Glo. Why, Suffolk, England knows thine infolence. Q. Mar. And thy ambition, Glofter.

K. Henry. I pr'ythee, peace, good Queen; And whet not on thefe too too furious Peers, For bleffed are the peace-makers on earth.

Car. Let me be blessed for the peace I make, Against this proud Protector, with my fword! Glo. Faith, holy uncle, 'would 'twere come to that.

Car. Marry, when thou dar'ft.

Glo. Make up no factious numbers for the

matter,

In thine own person answer thy abuse.
Car. Ay, where thou dar'ft not peep: and
if thou dar'ft,

This Ev'ning on the eaft fide of the grove.
K. Henry. How now, my lords?

Car. Believe me, coufin Glofter,

Had not your man put up the fowl so fuddenly,

We'd had more fport

fword. (4)

Glo. True, uncle.

Afide

Come with thy two-hand

[Afide to Glo.

Car. Are you advis'd?—The east fide of the Grove. Glo. Cardinal, I am with you.

K. Henry. Why, how now, uncle Gla'fter?

[Afide.

Glo. Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord.

(4)⋅

·Come with thy two-band Sword.

Glo. True. Uncle, are ye advis'd? The Eaft-fide of the Grove. Cardinal, I am with You.] Thus is the whole Speech plac'd to Gloucefter, in all the Editions: but furely, with great Inadvertence. It is the Cardinal, who first appoints the Eaft-fide of the Grove for the place of Duel: and how finely does it exprefs the Rancour and Impetuofity of the Cardinal, for fear Glonefter fhould mistake, to repeat the Appointment, and ask his Antagonist if he takes him right! So I have ventur'd to regulate the Speeches; as it improves a Beauty, and avoids an Abfurdity.

Now,

Now, by God's mother, Prieft, I'll fhave your crown

for this,

Or all my fence fhall fail.

Car. [Afide.] Medice, teipfum.

Protector, fee to't well, protect yourself.

[Afide.

[lords.

K. Henry. The winds grow high, fo do your ftomachs,

How irkfome is this mufick to my heart!

When fuch ftrings jar, what hopes of harmony?
I pray, my lords, let me compound this ftrife.
Enter One, crying, A Miracle!

Gle. What means this noise ?

Fellow, what miracle doft thou proclaim?
One. A miracle, a miracle!

Suf. Come to the King, and tell him what miracle.
One. Forfooth, a blind man at St. Alban's fhrine,
Within this half hour hath receiv'd his fight;
A man, that ne'er faw in his life before.

K. Henry. Now God be prais'd, that to believing fouls Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair !

Enter the Mayor of St. Albans, and his brethren, bearing Simpcox between two in a chair, Simpcox's wife following.

Car. Here come the townsmen on proceffion, Before your Highness to prefent the man.

K. Henry. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale, Though by his fight his fin be multiply'd.

Glo. Stand by, my mafters, bring him near the King, His Highness' pleasure is to talk with him.

K. Henry. Good fellow, tell us here the circumftance, That we, for thee, may glorify the Lord,

What, haft thou been long blind, and now reftor'd?
Simp. Born blind, an't please your Grace.

Wife. Ay, indeed, was he.

Suf. What woman is this?

Wife. His wife, an't like your worship.

Glo. Had'st thou been his mother, thou couldst have better told.

K. Henry. Where wert thou born?

Simp. At Berwick in the north, an't like your Grace.

B 2

K. Henry.