Till, by broad spreading, it disperse to nought.
With Henry's death, the English circle ends;
Dispersed are the glories it included.
Now am I like that proud insulting ship,
Which Cæsar and his fortune bare at once.
Char. Was Mahomet inspired with a dove?
Thou with an eagle art inspired then.
Helen, the mother of great Constantine,

Nor yet Saint Philip's daughters*, were like thee.
Bright star of Venus, fall'n down on the earth,
How may I reverently worship thee enough?

Alen. Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege. Reig. Woman, do what thou canst to save our honours;

Drive them from Orleans, and be immortaliz'd. Char. Presently we'll try:- - Come, let's away

about it:

No prophet will I trust, if she prove false.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

London. Hill before the Tower.

Enter, at the gates, the Duke of Gloster, with his serving-men, in blue coats.

Glo. I am come to survey the Tower this day; Since Henry's death, I fear, there is conveyancet.Where be these warders, that they wait not here? Open the gates; Gloster it is that calls.

[Servants knock. 1 Ward. [Within]: Who is there that knocks so imperiously?

* Meaning the four daughters of Philip, mention. ed in Acts xxi. 9.

+ Theft.

1 Serv. It is the noble duke of Gloster.

2 Ward. [Within]. Whoe'er he be, you may not be let in.

1 Serv. Answer you so the lord protector, villains? 1 Ward. [Within]. The Lord protect him! so we answer him:

We do no otherwise than we are will'd.

Glo. Who willed 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?

Servants rush at the Tower gates. Enter, to the gates, Woodville, the lieutenant.

Wood. [Within]. What noise is this? what traitors have we here?

Glo. Lieutenant, is it you, whose voice I hear? Open the gates; here's Gloster, that would enter. Wood. [Within]. 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.
Glo. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore
me?

Arrogant Winchester? that haughty prelate,
Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could brook?
Thou art no friend to God, or to the king:
Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly.

1 Serv. Open the gates unto the lord protector; Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not quickly.

* Break open.

Enter Winchester, attended by a train of servants, in tawny coats.

Win. How now, ambitious Humphry? what means this?

Glo. Piel'd priest, dost thou command me to be shut out?

Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor t,
And not protector of the king, or realm.

Glo. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator;
Thou, that contriv'dst to murder our dead lord;
Thou, that giv'st whores indulgences to sin:
I'll canvass thee in thy broad cardinal's hat,
If thou proceed in this thy insolence.

Win. Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge a foot;

This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain,

To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.

Glo. 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.

Win. Do what thou dar'st; I beard thee to thy

face.

Glo. What? am I dar'd, and bearded to my face?— Draw, men, for all this privileged place; Blue-coats to tawny-coats.

beard;

Priest, beware your

[Gloster and his men attack the bishop.

I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly:
Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat;
In spite of pope or dignities of church,
Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down.
Win. Gloster, thou'lt answer this before the pope.
Glo. Winchester goose §, I cry-a rope! a rope!-

* Alluding to his shaven crown.
Sift.
A strumpet.

+ Traitor.

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 a great tumult. In the midst of it, enter the Mayor of London, and officers.

May. Fy, lords! that you, being supreme magistrates,

Thus contumeliously should break the peace!

Glo. Peace, mayor; thou know'st little of my wrongs:

Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king,
Hath here distrain'd the Tower to his use.

Win. Here's Gloster 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.
Glo. I will not answer thee with words, but blows.
[Here they skirmish again.

May. Nought rests for me, in this tumultuous strife,

But to make open proclamation:

Come, officer; as loud as e'er thou canst.

Off. 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. Glo. Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law: But we shall meet, and break our minds at large. Win. Gloster, we'll meet; to thy dear cost, be

sure:

* An allusion to the bishop's habit.

Thy heart-blood I will have, for this day's work. May. I'll call for clubs*, if you will not away:— This cardinal is more haughty than the devil.

Glo. Mayor, farewell: thou dost but what thou

may'st.

Win. Abominable Gloster! guard thy head; For I intend to have it, ere long.

[Exeunt. May. See the coast clear'd, and then we will de

part.

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

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

France. Before Orleans.

Enter, on the walls, the Master-Gunner and his Son.

M.-Gun. Sirrah, thou know'st how Orleans is be

sieg'd;

And how the English have the suburbs won.

Son. Father, I know; and oft have shot at them, Howe'er, unfortunate, I miss'd my aim.

M.-Gun. But now thou shalt not. Be thou rul'd by me:

Chief master-gunner am I of this town;

Something I must do, to procure me grace ‡:

The prince's espials § have inform'd me,

How the English, in the suburbs close intrench'd,
Wont, through a secret grate of iron bars
In yonder tower, to overpeer the city;

And thence discover, how, with most advantage,
They may vex us, with shot, or with assault.
To intercept this inconvenience,

That is, for peace-officers armed with clubs or

staves.

+ Pride.

+ Favour.

Spies.