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Methought I sat in seat of majesty

In the cathedral church of Westminster

And in that chair where kings and queens are crown'd,

Where Henry and Dame Margaret kneel'd to me

And on my head did set the diadem.

GLOUCESTER.

Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright.

Presumptuous dame, ill-nurtur'd Eleanor,

Art thou not second woman in the realm,

And the protector's wife, belov'd of him?

Hast thou not worldly pleasure at command,

Above the reach or compass of thy thought?

And wilt thou still be hammering treachery,

To tumble down thy husband and thyself

From top of honour to disgrace's feet?

Away from me, and let me hear no more!

DUCHESS.

What, what, my lord! are you so choleric

With Eleanor for telling but her dream?

Next time I'll keep my dreams unto myself,

And not be check'd.

GLOUCESTER.

Nay, be not angry; I am pleas'd again.

[Enter Messenger.]

MESSENGER.

My lord protector, 't is his highness' pleasure

You do prepare to ride unto Saint Alban's,

Whereas the king and queen do mean to hawk.

GLOUCESTER.

I go.—Come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us?

DUCHESS.

Yes, my good lord, I'll follow presently.

[Exeunt Gloucester and Messenger.]

Follow I must; I cannot go before

While Gloucester bears this base and humble mind.

Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood,

I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks

And smooth my way upon their headless necks;

And, being a woman, I will not be slack

To play my part in Fortune's pageant.—

Where are you there? Sir John! nay, fear not, man,

We are alone; here's none but thee and I.

[Enter HUME.]

HUME.

Jesus preserve your royal majesty!

DUCHESS.

What say'st thou? majesty! I am but grace.

HUME.

But, by the grace of God, and Hume's advice,

Your grace's title shall be multiplied.

DUCHESS.

What say'st thou, man? hast thou as yet conferr'd

With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch,

With Roger Bolingbroke, the conjurer?

And will they undertake to do me good?

HUME.

This they have promised,—to show your highness

A spirit rais'd from depth of underground,

That shall make answer to such questions

As by your Grace shall be propounded him.

DUCHESS.

It is enough; I'll think upon the questions.

When from Saint Alban's we do make return,

We'll see these things effected to the full.

Here, Hume, take this reward; make merry, man,

With thy confederates in this weighty cause.

[Exit.]

HUME.

Hume must make merry with the duchess' gold,

Marry, and shall. But, how now, Sir John Hume!

Seal up your lips, and give no words but mum;

The business asketh silent secrecy.

Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch;

Gold cannot come amiss, were she a devil.

Yet have I gold flies from another coast.

I dare not say, from the rich cardinal

And from the great and new-made Duke of Suffolk,

Yet I do find it so; for, to be plain,

They, knowing Dame Eleanor's aspiring humour,

Have hired me to undermine the duchess

And buzz these conjurations in her brain.

They say ' A crafty knave does need no broker;'

Yet am I Suffolk and the cardinal's broker.

Hume, if you take not heed, you shall go near

To call them both a pair of crafty knaves.

Well, so its stands; and thus, I fear, at last

Hume's knavery will be the duchess' wrack,

And her attainture will be Humphrey's fall.

Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all.

[Exit.]

SCENE III. London. The palace.

[Enter PETER and other PETITIONERS.]

1 PETITIONER. My masters, let's stand close; my lord protector will come this way by and by, and then we may deliver our supplications in the quill.

2 PETITIONER. Marry, the Lord protect him, for he's a good man! Jesu bless him!

[Enter SUFFOLK and QUEEN.]

PETER.

Here 'a comes, methinks, and the queen with him.

I'll be the first, sure.

2 PETITIONER. Come back, fool; this is the Duke of Suffolk and not my lord protector.

SUFFOLK.

How now, fellow! wouldst any thing with me?

1 PETITIONER. I pray, my lord, pardon me; I took ye for my lord protector.

QUEEN.

[Reading] 'To my Lord Protector!' Are