She bears a duke’s revenues on her back,

And in her heart she scorns our poverty.

Shall I not live to be avenged on her?

Contemptuous base-born callet as she is,

She vaunted ‘mongst her minions t’other day

The very train of her worst-wearing gown

Was better worth than all my father’s lands,

Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter.

SUFFOLK

Madam, myself have limed a bush for her,

And placed a choir of such enticing birds

That she will light to listen to their lays,

And never mount to trouble you again.

So let her rest; and, madam, list to me,

For I am bold to counsel you in this:

Although we fancy not the Cardinal,

Yet must we join with him and with the lords

Till we have brought Duke Humphrey in disgrace.

As for the Duke of York, this late complaint

Will make but little for his benefit.

So one by one we’ll weed them all at last,

And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.

Sound a sennet. ⌈Enter King Henry with the Duke

of York and the Duke of Somerset on either side of

him whispering with him. Also enter Duke

Humphrey of Gloucester, Dame Eleanor the

Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Buckingham, the

Earls of Salisbury and Warwick, and Cardinal

Beaufort Bishop of Winchesteri ⌉

KING HENRY

For my part, noble lords, I care not which:

Or Somerset or York, all’s one to me.

YORK

If York have ill demeaned himself in France

Then let him be denied the regentship.

SOMERSET

If Somerset be unworthy of the place,

Let York be regent—I will yield to him.

WARWICK

Whether your grace be worthy, yea or no,

Dispute not that: York is the worthier.

CARDINAL BEAUFORT

Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak.

WARWICK

The Cardinal’s not my better in the field.

BUCKINGHAM

All in this presence are thy betters, Warwick.

WARWICK

Warwick may live to be the best of all.

SALISBURY

Peace, son; (to Buckingham) and show some reason, Buckingham,

Why Somerset should be preferred in this.

QUEEN MARGARET

Because the King, forsooth, will have it so.

GLOUCESTER

Madam, the King is old enough himself

To give his censure. These are no women’s matters.

QUEEN MARGARET

If he be old enough, what needs your grace

To be Protector of his excellence?

GLOUCESTER

Madam, I am Protector of the realm,

And at his pleasure will resign my place.

SUFFOLK

Resign it then, and leave thine insolence.

Since thou wert king—as who is king but thou?—

The commonwealth hath daily run to wrack,

The Dauphin hath prevailed beyond the seas,

And all the peers and nobles of the realm

Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty.

CARDINAL BEAUFORT (to Gloucester)

The commons hast thou racked, the clergy’s bags

Are lank and lean with thy extortions.

SOMERSET (to Gloucester)

Thy sumptuous buildings and thy wife’s attire

Have cost a mass of public treasury.

BUCKINGHAM (to Gloucester)

Thy cruelty in execution

Upon offenders hath exceeded law

And left thee to the mercy of the law.

QUEEN MARGARET (to Gloucester)

Thy sale of offices and towns in France—

If they were known, as the suspect is great—

Would make thee quickly hop without thy head.

Exit Gloucester

Queen Margaret lets fall her fan

(To the Duchess)

Give me my fan—what, minion, can ye not?

She gives the Duchess a box on the ear

I cry you mercy, madam! Was it you ?

DUCHESS

Was’t I? Yea, I it was, proud Frenchwoman!

Could I come near your beauty with my nails,

I’d set my ten commandments in your face.

KING HENRY

Sweet aunt, be quiet—’twas against her will.

DUCHESS

Against her will? Good King, look to’t in time!

She’ll pamper thee and dandle thee like a baby.

Though in this place most master wear no breeches,

She shall not strike Dame Eleanor unrevenged ! Exit

BUCKINGHAM (aside to Cardinal Beaufort)

Lord Cardinal, I will follow Eleanor

And listen after Humphrey how he proceeds.

She’s tickled now, her fury needs no spurs—

She’ll gallop far enough to her destruction. Exit

Enter Duke Humphrey of Gloucester

GLOUCESTER

Now, lords, my choler being overblown

With walking once about the quadrangle,

I come to talk of commonwealth affairs.

As for your spiteful false objections,

Prove them, and I lie open to the law.

But God in mercy so deal with my soul

As I in duty love my King and country.

But to the matter that we 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 danced attendance on his will

Till Paris was besieged, famished, and lost.

WARWICK

That can I witness, and a fouler fact