Servants rush at the Tower gates. Enter, to the gates, Woodville, the Lieutenant. Wood. [Within.] What noise is this? what traitors have we here? Glo. Lieutenant, is it you, whose voice I hear? Open the gates; here's Glo'ster, that would enter. Wood. [Within.] Have patience, noble duke; I may not open; The cardinal of Winchester forbids: From him I have express commandment, Arrogant Winchester? that haughty prelate, Thou art no friend to God, or to the king: 1 Serv. Open the gates unto the lord protector; Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not quickly. Enter Winchester, attended by a train of Servants in tawny coats. Win. How now, ambitious Humphry? what means this? Glo. Piel'd priest, dost thou command me to be shut out? Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor, And not protector of the king or realm. Glo. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator; Thou, that contriv'dst to murder our dead lord; Win. Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge a foot; This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain, To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt. Glo. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back: Thy scarlet robes, as a child's bearing-cloth Win. Do what thou dar'st; I beard thee to thy face. Glo. What? am I dar'd, and bearded to my face?Draw, men, for all this privileged place; Blue-coats to tawny-coats. Priest, beware your beard; [Glo'ster and his men attack the Bishop. I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly: Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat; In spite of pope, or dignities of church, Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down. Win. Glo'ster, thou'lt answer this before the pope. Glo. Winchester goose, I cry-a rope! a rope!— Now beat them hence, Why do you let them stay?— Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array.— Out, tawny-coats!-out, scarlet hypocrite! Here a great tumult. In the midst of it, Enter the Mayor of London, and Officers. May. Fie, lords! that you, being supreme magistrates, Thus contumeliously should break the peace! wrongs: Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king, Hath here distrain'd the Tower to his use. Win. Here's Glo'ster too, a foe to citizens; One that still motions war, and never peace, O'ercharging your free purses with large fines; That seeks to overthrow religion, Because he is protector of the realm; And would have armour here out of the Tower, To crown himself king, and suppress the prince. Glo. I will not answer thee with words, but [Here they skirmish again. May. Nought rests for me, in this tumultuous strife, blows. But to make open proclamation: Come, officer; as loud as e'er thou canst. Off. All manner of men, assembled here in arms this day, against God's peace and the king's, we charge and command you, in his highness' name, to repair to your several dwelling-places; and not to wear, handle, or use, any sword, weapon, or dagger, henceforward, upon pain of death. Glo. Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law: But we shall meet, and break our minds at large. C Win. Glo'ster, we'll meet; to thy dear cost, be sure: Thy heart-blood I will have, for this day's work. Win. Abominable Glo'ster! guard thy head; [Exeunt. May. See the coast clear'd, and then we will depart. Good God! that nobles should such stomachs bear! I myself fight not once in forty year. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. FRANCE. BEFORE ORLEANS. Enter, on the walls, the Master-Gunner and his Son. M. Gun. Sirrah, thou know'st how Orleans is besieg'd; And how the English have the suburbs won. Son. Father, I know; and oft have shot at them, Howe'er, unfortunate, I miss'd my aim. M. Gun. But now thou shalt not. Be thou rul'd by me: Chief master-gunner am I of this town; How the English, in the suburbs close intrench'd, Wont, through a secret grate of iron bars In yonder tower, to overpeer the city; And thence discover, how, with most advantage, A piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have plac'd; If thou spy'st any, run and bring me word; [Exit. Son. Father, I warrant you; take you no care; I'll never trouble you, if I may spy them. Enter, in an upper chamber of a Tower, the Lords Sal. Talbot, my life, my joy, again return'd! Tal. The duke of Bedford had a prisoner, Once, in contempt, they would have barter'd me: In fine, redeem'd I was as I desir'd. But, O! the treacherous Fastolfe wounds my heart! Whom with my bare fists I would execute, |