IO

First Warder. Who's there that knocks so im

periously? First Servant. It is the noble Duke of Gloucester. Second Warder. Whoe'er he be, you may not be

let in. First Servant. Villains, answer you so the Lord

Protector?
First Warder. The Lord protect him !

So we
answer him.
We do no otherwise than we are willed.
Gloucester. Who willèd you? or whose will stands

but mine? There's none protector of the realm but I. -Break up the gates! I'll be your warrantize. Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms? [Gloucester's men rush at the Tower Gates, and

Woodvile the Lieutenant speaks within Woodvile. What noise is this? what traitors have

we here? Gloucester. Lieutenant, is it you whose voice I

hear? Open the gates; here's Gloucester that would enter. Woodvile. Have patience, noble duke! I may not

open;
The Cardinal of Winchester forbids.
From him I have express commandement
That thou nor none of thine shall be let in.

Gloucester. Faint-hearted Woodvile, prizest him

20

'fore me,

Arrogant Winchester, that haughty prelate, Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could brook?

13. warrantize, authority.

30

Thou art no friend to God or to the king.
Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly.
Serving-men. Open the gates unto the Lord

Protector,
We'll burst them open, if you come not quickly.

Enter to the Protector at the Tower Gates WINCHESTER and his men in tawny coats. Winchester. How now, ambitious Humphrey!

what means this? Gloucester. Peeled priest, dost thou command me

to be shut out? Winchester. I do, thou most usurping proditor, And not protector, of the king or realm.

Gloucester. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator, Thou that contrivedst to murder our dead lord, Thou that givest whores indulgences to sin. I'll canvass thee in thy broad cardinal's hat, If thou proceed in this thy insolence. Winchester. Nay, stand thou back; I will not

budge a foot. This be Damascus, be thou cursëd Cain, To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt. Gloucester. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee

back. Thy scarlet robes as a child's bearing-cloth I'll use to carry thee out of this place.

Winchester. Do what thou darest; I beard thee to

40

thy face.

Gloucester. What! am I dared and bearded to my

face?

30. peeled, tonsured.

31. proditor, betrayer (Lat.). 36. canvass,

shake up and down. 38. budge, move.

Draw, men, for all this privileged place,
Blue coats to tawny coats. — Priest, beware your

beard!
I mean to tug it and to cuff you soundly;
Under

my feet I'll stamp thy cardinal's hat; In spite of Pope or dignities of church,

50 Here by the cheeks I 'll drag thee up and down. Winchester, Gloucester, thou wilt answer this

before the Pope.
Gloucester. Winchester goose! I cry, "A rope!

a rope!'
--Now beat them hence; why do you let them stay?
-Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array.
Out, tawny coats! out, scarlet hypocrite!
Here Gloucester's men beat out the Cardinals men,

and enter in the hurly-burly the Mayor of Lon

don and his officers. Mayor. Fie, lords! that you, being supreme

magistrates, Thus contumeliously should break the peace! Gloucester. Peace, Mayor! thou knowest little of

my wrongs. Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king, 60 Hath here distrained the Tower to his use.

Winchester. Here's Gloucester too, a foe to citizens, One that still motions war, and never peace, O'ercharging your free purses with large fines, That seeks to overthrow religion, Because he is protector of the realm, And would have armour here out of the Tower, To crown himself king, and suppress

the prince.

61. distrained, seized.

(B 816)

3

Gloucester. I will not answer thee with words,

but blows.

[Here they skirmish again.

Mayor. Nought rests for me in this tumultuous strife,

But to make open proclamation.

Come, officer! as loud as e'er thou canst, cry!

Officer. [Reads.] All manner of men assembled here in arms this day against God's peace and the king's, we charge and command you, in his highness' name, to repair to your several dwelling-places, and not to wear, handle, or use any sword, weapon, or dagger, henceforward, upon pain of death.

Gloucester. Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law; But we shall meet, and break our minds at large. Winchester. Gloucester, we'll meet; to thy dear cost, be sure.

Thy heart-blood I will have for this day's work. Mayor. I'll call for clubs, if you will not away. This cardinal's more haughty than the devil. Gloucester. Mayor, farewell! thou dost but what thou mayst.

Winchester. Abominable Gloucester, guard thy head;

For I intend to have it ere long.

[Exeunt. Manent Mayor and Officers.

Mayor. See the coast cleared, and then we will depart.

Good God, these nobles should such stomachs bear! I myself fight not once in forty year.

89. stomachs, passions.

70

80

[Exeunt. 90

SCENE IV. France. Orleans.

IO

Enter the Master Gunner and his Boy. Master Gunner. Sirrah, thou knowest how Orleans

is besieged, And how the English have the suburbs won. Boy. Father, I know; and oft have shot at

them, Howe'er, unfortunate, I missed my aim. Master Gunner. But now thou shalt not. Be thou

ruled by me!
Chief master-gunner am I of this town;
Something I must do to procure me grace.
The prince's espials have informed me
How the English, in the suburbs close intrenched,
Wont through a secret grate of iron bars
In yonder tower, to o’erpeer the city;
And thence discover how with most advantage
They may vex us with shot or with assault.
To intercept this inconvenience,
A piece of ordnance ʼgainst it I have placed;
And even for these three days have I watched,
If I could see them.
Now do thou watch, for I can stay no longer.
If thou spiest any, run and bring me word;
And thou shalt find me at the governor's.

[Exit. 20 Boy. Father, I warrant you; take you no care; I'll never trouble

you,
if I
may spy them.

[Exit.
8. espials, spies.
15. ordnance, artillery.