Som. I humbly thanke your Royall Maiestie

Armorer. And I accept the Combat willingly

Peter. Alas, my Lord, I cannot fight; for Gods sake pitty my case: the spight of man preuayleth against me. O Lord haue mercy vpon me, I shall neuer be able to fight a blow: O Lord my heart

Humf. Sirrha, or you must fight, or else be hang'd

King. Away with them to Prison: and the day of Combat, shall be the last of the next moneth. Come Somerset, wee'le see thee sent away.

Flourish. Exeunt.

Enter the Witch, the two Priests, and Bullingbrooke.

Hume. Come my Masters, the Duchesse I tell you expects performance of your promises

Bulling. Master Hume, we are therefore prouided: will her Ladyship behold and heare our Exorcismes? Hume. I, what else? feare you not her courage

Bulling. I haue heard her reported to be a Woman of an inuincible spirit: but it shall be conuenient, Master Hume, that you be by her aloft, while wee be busie below; and so I pray you goe in Gods Name, and leaue vs.

Exit Hume.

Mother Iordan, be you prostrate, and grouell on the Earth; Iohn Southwell reade you, and let vs to our worke. Enter Elianor aloft.

Elianor. Well said my Masters, and welcome all: To this geere, the sooner the better

Bullin. Patience, good Lady, Wizards know their times: Deepe Night, darke Night, the silent of the Night, The time of Night when Troy was set on fire, The time when Screech-owles cry, and Bandogs howle, And Spirits walke, and Ghosts breake vp their Graues; That time best fits the worke we haue in hand. Madame, sit you, and feare not: whom wee rayse, Wee will make fast within a hallow'd Verge.

Here doe the Ceremonies belonging, and make the Circle, Bullingbrooke or Southwell reades, Coniuro te, &c. It Thunders and Lightens terribly: then the Spirit riseth.

Spirit. Ad sum

Witch. Asmath, by the eternall God, Whose name and power thou tremblest at, Answere that I shall aske: for till thou speake, Thou shalt not passe from hence

Spirit. Aske what thou wilt; that I had sayd, and done

Bulling. First of the King: What shall of him become? Spirit. The Duke yet liues, that Henry shall depose: But him out-liue, and dye a violent death

Bulling. What fates await the Duke of Suffolke? Spirit. By Water shall he dye, and take his end

Bulling. What shall befall the Duke of Somerset? Spirit. Let him shun Castles, Safer shall he be vpon the sandie Plaines, Then where Castles mounted stand. Haue done, for more I hardly can endure

Bulling. Discend to Darknesse, and the burning Lake: False Fiend auoide.

Thunder and Lightning. Exit Spirit.

Enter the Duke of Yorke and the Duke of Buckingham with their Guard, and breake in.

Yorke. Lay hands vpon these Traytors, and their trash: Beldam I thinke we watcht you at an ynch. What Madame, are you there? the King & Commonweale Are deepely indebted for this peece of paines; My Lord Protector will, I doubt it not, See you well guerdon'd for these good deserts

Elianor. Not halfe so bad as thine to Englands King, Iniurious Duke, that threatest where's no cause

Buck. True Madame, none at all: what call you this? Away with them, let them be clapt vp close, And kept asunder: you Madame shall with vs. Stafford take her to thee. Wee'le see your Trinkets here all forth-comming. All away. Enter.

William Shakespeare
Classic Literature Library

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