Enter HORNER,the Armourer,and his man PETER,guarded SUFFOLK.Because here is a man accus'd of treason:Pray God the
Duke of York excuse himself!YORK.Doth any one accuse York for a traitor?KING HENRY.What mean'st thou,Suffolk?Tell me,what are these?SUFFOLK.Please it your Majesty,this is the man That doth accuse his master of high treason;His words were these:that Richard Duke of York Was rightful heir unto the English crown,And that your Majesty was an usurper.KING HENRY.Say,man,were these thy words?HORNER.An't shall please your Majesty,I never said nor thought any such matter.God is my witness,I am falsely accus'd by the villain.PETER.[Holding up his hands]By these ten bones,my lords,he did speak them to me in the garret one night,as we were scouring my Lord of York's armour.YORK.Base dunghill villain and mechanical,I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech.I do beseech your royal Majesty,Let him have all the rigour of the law.HORNER`.Alas,my lord,hang me if ever I spake the words.My accuser is my prentice;and when I did correct him for his fault the other day,he did vow upon his knees he would be even with me.I have good witness of this;therefore I beseech your Majesty,do not cast away an honest man for a villain's accusation.KING HENRY.Uncle,what shall we say to this in law?GLOUCESTER.This doom,my lord,if I may judge:Let Somerset be Regent o'er the French,Because in York this breeds suspicion;And let these have a day appointed them For single combat in convenient place,For he hath witness of his servant's malice.This is the law,and this Duke Humphrey's doom.SOMERSET.I humbly thank your royal Majesty.HORNER.And I accept the combat willingly.PETER.Alas,my lord,I cannot fight;for God's sake,pity my case!The spite of man prevaileth against me.O Lord,have mercy upon me,I shall never be able to fight a blow!O Lord,my heart!GLOUCESTER.Sirrah,or you must fight or else be hang'd.KING HENRY.Away with them to prison;and the day of combat shall be the last of the next month.Come,Somerset,we'll see thee sent away.Flourish.Exeunt
SCENE IV.London.The DUKE OF GLOUCESTER'S garden
Enter MARGERY JOURDAIN,the witch;the two priests,HUME and SOUTHWELL;and BOLINGBROKE
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.[Exit HUME]Mother Jourdain,be you prostrate and grovel on the earth;John Southwell,read you;and let us to our work.
Enter DUCHESS aloft,followed by HUME
DUCHESS.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 hallow'd verge.