SCENE IV. Gloucester’s Garden

Enter the Witch Margery Jourdain , the two Priests, Hume, 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, Hume following.

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.

[ Here they do the ceremonies belonging, and make the circle; Bolingbroke or Southwell reads “Conjuro te”, etc. It thunders and lightens terribly; then the Spirit riseth. ]

SPIRIT. Adsum .

M. JOURDAIN. Asnath, By the eternal God, whose name and power Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask; For till thou speak thou shalt not pass from hence.

SPIRIT. Ask what thou wilt. That I had said and done!

BOLINGBROKE. [ Reads .] 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.

[ As the Spirit speaks, Southwell writes the answer. ]

BOLINGBROKE. [ Reads .] What fates await the Duke of Suffolk?

SPIRIT. By water shall he die and take his end.

BOLINGBROKE. [ Reads .] 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!

[ Thunder and lightning. Exit Spirit . ]

Enter the Duke of York and the Duke of Buckingham with their Guard, and Sir Humphrey Stafford , and break in.

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 thine 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 thee.

[ Exit Stafford . ]

[ Exeunt above, Duchess and Hume , guarded. ]

We’ll see your trinkets here all forthcoming. All, away!

[ Exeunt guard with Jourdain, Southwell, Bolingbroke , etc. ]

YORK. Lord Buckingham, methinks 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? [ Reads .] 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. Thither 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.

[ Exit Buckingham . ]

Who’s within there, ho!

Enter a Servingman .

Invite my Lords of Salisbury and Warwick To sup with me tomorrow night. Away!

[ Exeunt. ]