Page:Henry VI Part 2 (1923) Yale.djvu/33

King Henry the Sixth, I. iii

Suf. 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. Say, man, were these thy words?

Arm. An 't shall please your majesty, I never

said nor thought any such matter: God is my

witness, I am falsely accused by the villain.

Pet. 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.

Arm. 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. Uncle, what shall we say to this in law?

Hum. 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.

[King. Then be it so. My Lord of Somerset,

We make your Grace lord regent o'er the French.]

 193 bones: fingers

196 mechanical: plebeian

208 doom: judgment

210 in: in regard to

215, 216 Cf. n. 