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.
BOLINGBROKE
Mother Jourdain, be you prostrate and grovel on the earth. John Southwell, read you; and let us to our work.
ELEANOR
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 hallowed verge.
SPIRIT
Adsum.
M. JOURDAIN
Asnath,
By the eternal God, whose name and power
tremblest at, answer that I shall ask;
For till speak not pass from .
SPIRIT
Ask what wilt. That I had said and done!
BOLINGBROKE
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.
BOLINGBROKE
What fates await the Duke of Suffolk?
SPIRIT
By water shall he die and take his end.
BOLINGBROKE
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!
YORK
Lay hands upon these traitors and their trash.
Beldam, I think we watched you at an inch.
What, madam, are you there? The King and commonweal
Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains.
My Lord Protector will, I doubt it not,
See you well guerdoned for these good deserts.
ELEANOR
Not half so bad as to England’s king,
Injurious duke, that threatest where’s no cause.
BUCKINGHAM
True, madam, none at all. What call you this?
Away with them! Let them be clapped up close
And kept asunder.—You, madam, shall with us.—
Stafford, take her to .
BUCKINGHAM
We’ll see your trinkets here all forthcoming.
All, away!
YORK
Lord Buckingham, you watched her well.
A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon!
Now, pray, my lord, let’s see the devil’s writ.
What have we here?
The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose.
But him outlive and die a violent death.
Why, this is just
Aio te, Aeacida, Romanos vincere posse.
Well, to the rest:
Tell me what fate awaits the Duke of Suffolk?
By water shall he die and take his end.
What shall betide the Duke of Somerset?
Let him shun castles;
Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains
Than where castles mounted stand.
Come, come, my lords, these oracles
Are hardly attained, and hardly understood.
The King is now in progress towards Saint Albans,
With him the husband of this lovely lady.
go these news as fast as horse can carry them.
A sorry breakfast for my Lord Protector.
BUCKINGHAM
Your Grace shall give me leave, my Lord of York,
To be the post, in hope of his reward.
YORK
At your pleasure, my good lord.
YORK
Who’s within there, ho!
YORK
Invite my Lords of Salisbury and Warwick
To sup with me tomorrow night. Away!