_Duch._ Yes, my good lord, I’ll follow presently.   [bab060] [_Exeunt Gloucester and Messenger._ Follow I must; I cannot go before, While Gloucester bears this base and humble mind. Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood, I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks And smooth my way upon their headless necks;   ·bab065· And, being a woman, I will not be slack To play my part in Fortune’s pageant. Where are you there? Sir John! nay, fear not, man,   [bab068] We are alone; here’s none but thee and I.   [bab069] _Enter_ HUME. _Hume._ Jesus preserve your royal majesty!   ·bab070· _Duch._ What say’st thou? majesty! I am but grace.   [bab071] _Hume._ But, by the grace of God, and Hume’s advice, Your grace’s title shall be multiplied. _Duch._ What say’st thou, man? hast thou as yet conferr’d With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch,   [bab075] With Roger Bolingbroke, the conjurer? And will they undertake to do me good? _Hume._ This they have promised, to show your highness A spirit raised from depth of under-ground, That shall make answer to such questions   ·bab080· As by your grace shall be propounded him. _Duch._ It is enough; I’ll think upon the questions: When from Saint Alban’s we do make return, We’ll see these things effected to the full. Here, Hume, take this reward; make merry, man,   ·bab085· With thy confederates in this weighty cause. [_Exit._ _Hume._ Hume must make merry with the duchess’ gold; Marry, and shall. But, how now, Sir John Hume! Seal up your lips, and give no words but mum:   [bab089] The business asketh silent secrecy.   ·bab090· Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch: Gold cannot come amiss, were she a devil. Yet have I gold flies from another coast; I dare not say, from the rich cardinal And from the great and new-made Duke of Suffolk,   ·bab095· Yet I do find it so; for, to be plain, They, knowing Dame Eleanor’s aspiring humour,   [bab097] Have hired me to undermine the duchess And buz these conjurations in her brain. They say ‘A crafty knave does need no broker;’   ·bab100· Yet am I Suffolk and the cardinal’s broker.   [bab101] Hume, if you take not heed, you shall go near To call them both a pair of crafty knaves. Well, so it stands; and thus, I fear, at last Hume’s knavery will be the duchess’ wreck,   [bab105] And her attainture will be Humphrey’s fall: Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all. [_Exit._ SCENE III. _The palace_. _Enter three or four Petitioners,_ PETER, _the Armourer’s man, being one_. _First Petit._ My masters, let’s stand close: my lord   [bac001] protector will come this way by and by, and then we may deliver our supplications in the quill.   [bac003] _Sec. Petit._ Marry, the Lord protect him, for he’s a good man! Jesu bless him!   ·bac005· _Enter_ SUFFOLK _and_ QUEEN. _Peter._ Here a’ comes, methinks, and the queen with   [bac006] him. I’ll be the first, sure.