King Henry VI, Part 2 | Page 8

have in hand:?I say, my sovereign, York is meetest man?To be your regent in the realm of France.
SUFFOLK.?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 danc'd attendance on his will?Till Paris was besieg'd, famish'd, and lost.
WARWICK.?That can I witness; and a fouler fact?Did never traitor in the land commit.
SUFFOLK.?Peace, headstrong Warwick!
WARWICK.?Image of pride, why should I hold my peace?
[Enter HORNER and his man PETER, guarded.]
SUFFOLK.?Because here is a man accus'd of treason.?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?
SUFFOLK.?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?
HORNER.?An 't shall please your majesty, I never said nor?thought any such matter; God is my witness, I am?falsely accused by the villain.
PETER.?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.
HORNER.?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.
KING.?Uncle, what shall we say to this in law?
GLOSTER.?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.
SOMERSET.?I humbly thank your royal Majesty.
HORNER.?And I accept the combat willingly.
PETER.?Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God's sake, 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!
GLOSTER.?Sirrah, or you must fight or else be hang'd.
KING.?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.
[Flourish. Exeunt.]
SCENE IV. Gloster's Garden
[Enter MARGERY JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTHWELL, and BOLINGBROKE.]
HUME.?Come, my masters; the duchess, I tell you, expects?performance of your promises.
BOLINGBROKE.?Master Hume, we are therefore provided;?will her ladyship behold and hear our exorcisms?
HUME.?Ay, what else? fear you not her courage.
BOLINGBROKE.?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 aloft, HUME following.]
DUCHESS.?Well said, my masters; and welcome all. To this gear?the sooner the better.
BOLINGBROKE.?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?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 do the ceremonies belonging, and make the circle; Bolingbroke or Southwell reads, Conjuro te, etc.?It thunders and lightens terribly; then the Spirit riseth.]
SPIRIT.?Adsum.
M. JOURDAIN.?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.
SPIRIT.?Ask what thou wilt. That I had said and done!
BOLINGBROKE.?[Reads] 'First of the king: what shall?of him become?'
SPIRIT.?The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose,?But him outlive and die a violent death.
[As the Spirit speaks, Southwell writes the answer.]
BOLINGBROKE.?'What fates await the Duke of Suffolk?'
SPIRIT.?By water shall he die and take his end.
BOLINGBROKE.?[Reads] 'What shall befall the Duke of Somerset?'
SPIRIT.?Let him shun castles;?Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains?Than where castles mounted stand.?Have done, for more I hardly can endure.
BOLINGBROKE.?Descend to darkness and the burning lake!?False fiend, avoid!
[Thunder and lightning. Exit Spirit.]
[Enter the DUKE OF YORK and the DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM?with their Guard and break in YORK.]
Lay hands upon these traitors and their trash.--?Beldam, I think we watch'd you at an inch.?What, madam, are you there? the king and