1171Glost. Thus sometimes hath the brightest day a Cloud:

1172And after Summer, euermore succeedes

1173Barren Winter, with his wrathfull nipping Cold;

1174So Cares and Ioyes abound, as Seasons fleet.

1175Sirs, what's a Clock?

1176Seru. Tenne, my Lord.

1177Glost. Tenne is the houre that was appointed me,

1178To watch the comming of my punisht Duchesse:

1179Vnneath may shee endure the Flintie Streets,

1180To treade them with her tender-feeling feet.

1181Sweet Nell, ill can thy Noble Minde abrooke

1182The abiect People, gazing on thy face,

1183With enuious Lookes laughing at thy shame,

1184That erst did follow thy prowd Chariot-Wheeles,

1185When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets.

1186But soft, I thinke she comes, and Ile prepare

1187My teare-stayn'd eyes, to see her Miseries.

1191Seru. So please your Grace, wee'le take her from the

1192Sherife.

1193Gloster. No, stirre not for your liues, let her passe

1194by.

1195Elianor. Come you, my Lord, to see my open shame?

1196Now thou do'st Penance too. Looke how they gaze,

1197See how the giddy multitude doe point,

1198And nodde their heads, and throw their eyes on thee.

1199Ah Gloster, hide thee from their hatefull lookes,

1200And in thy Closet pent vp, rue my shame,

1201And banne thine Enemies, both mine and thine.

1202Glost. Be patient, gentle Nell, forget this griefe.

1203Elianor. Ah Gloster, teach me to forget my selfe:

1204For whilest I thinke I am thy married Wife,

1205And thou a Prince, Protector of this Land;

1206Me thinkes I should not thus be led along,

1207Mayl'd vp in shame, with Papers on my back,

1208And follow'd with a Rabble, that reioyce

1209To see my teares, and heare my deepe-set groanes.

1210The ruthlesse Flint doth cut my tender feet,

1211And when I start, the enuious people laugh,

1212And bid me be aduised how I treade.

1213Ah Humfrey, can I beare this shamefull yoake?

1214Trowest thou, that ere Ile looke vpon the World,

1215Or count them happy, that enioyes the Sunne?

1216No: Darke shall be my Light, and Night my Day.

1217To thinke vpon my Pompe, shall be my Hell.

1218Sometime Ile say, I am Duke Humfreyes Wife,

1219And he a Prince, and Ruler of the Land:

1220Yet so he rul'd, and such a Prince he was,

1221As he stood by, whilest I, his forlorne Duchesse,

1222Was made a wonder, and a pointing stock

1223To euery idle Rascall follower.

1224But be thou milde, and blush not at my shame,

1225Nor stirre at nothing, till the Axe of Death

1226Hang ouer thee, as sure it shortly will.

1227For Suffolke, he that can doe all in all

1228With her, that hateth thee and hates vs all,

1229And Yorke, and impious Beauford, that false Priest,

1230Haue all lym'd Bushes to betray thy Wings,

1231And flye thou how thou canst, they'le tangle thee.

1232But feare not thou, vntill thy foot be snar'd,

1233Nor neuer seeke preuention of thy foes.

1234Glost. Ah Nell, forbeare: thou aymest all awry.

1235I must offend, before I be attainted:

1236And had I twentie times so many foes,

1237And each of them had twentie times their power,

1238All these could not procure me any scathe,

1239So long as I am loyall, true, and crimelesse.

1240Would'st haue me rescue thee from this reproach?

n Why

1241Why yet thy scandall were not wipt away,

1242But I in danger for the breach of Law.

1243Thy greatest helpe is quiet, gentle Nell:

1244I pray thee sort thy heart to patience,

1245These few dayes wonder will be quickly worne.

1247Her. I summon your Grace to his Maiesties Parliament,

1248Holden at Bury, the first of this next Moneth.

1249Glost. And my consent ne're ask'd herein before?

1250This is close dealing. Well, I will be there.

1251My Nell, I take my leaue: and Master Sherife,

1252Let not her Penance exceede the Kings Commission.

1253Sh. And't please your Grace, here my Commission stayes:

1254And Sir Iohn Stanly is appointed now,

1255To take her with him to the Ile of Man.

1256Glost. Must you, Sir Iohn, protect my Lady here?

1257Stanly. So am I giuen in charge, may't please your

1258Grace.

1259Glost. Entreat her not the worse, in that I pray

1260You vse her well: the World may laugh againe,

1261And I may liue to doe you kindnesse, if you doe it her.

1262And so Sir Iohn, farewell.

1263Elianor. What, gone my Lord, and bid me not fare-

1264well?

1265Glost. Witnesse my teares, I cannot stay to speake.

1267Elianor. Art thou gone to? all comfort goe with thee,

1268For none abides with me: my Ioy, is Death;

1269Death, at whose Name I oft haue beene afear'd,

1270Because I wish'd this Worlds eternitie.

1271Stanley, I prethee goe, and take me hence,

1272I care not whither, for I begge no fauor;

1273Onely conuey me where thou art commanded.

1274Stanley. Why, Madame, that is to the Ile of Man,

1275There to be vs'd according to your State.

1276Elianor. That's bad enough, for I am but reproach:

1277And shall I then be vs'd reproachfully?

1278Stanley. Like to a Duchesse, and Duke Humfreyes Lady,

1279According to that State you shall be vs'd.

1280Elianor. Sherife farewell, and better then I fare,

1281Although thou hast beene Conduct of my shame.

1282Sherife. It is my Office, and Madame pardon me.

1283Elianor. I, I, farewell, thy Office is discharg'd:

1284Come Stanley, shall we goe?

1285Stanley. Madame, your Penance done,

1286Throw off this Sheet,

1287And goe we to attyre you for our Iourney.

1288Elianor. My shame will not be shifted with my Sheet:

1289No, it will hang vpon my richest Robes,

1290And shew it selfe, attyre me how I can.

1291Goe, leade the way, I long to see my Prison. Exeunt