Som. I humbly thank your royal majesty.
Arm. And I accept the combat willingly.
Pet. Alas! my lord, I cannot fight: for God's
sake, pity my case! the spite of man prevaileth 220
against me. O Lord, have mercy upon me! I
shall never be able to fight a blow. O Lord, my
heart!
Hum. Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd.
King. Away with them to prison; and the day 225
of combat shall be the last of the next month.
Come, Somerset, we'll see thee sent away.
Scene Four
[The Same. The Duke of Gloucester's Garden]
Enter the Witch [Margery Jordan], the two Priests [Hume and Southwell], and Bolingbroke.
Hume. Come, my masters; the duchess, I
tell you, expects performance of your promises.
Boling. Master Hume, we are therefore pro-
vided. Will her ladyship behold and hear our 4
exorcisms?
Hume. Ay; what else? fear you not her
courage.
Boling. I have heard her reported to be a 8
woman of an invincible spirit: but it shall be con-
venient, Master Hume, that you be by her aloft
while we be busy below; and so, I pray you,
go in God's name, and leave us. Exit Hume.
Mother Jordan, be you prostrate, and grovel 13
on the earth; John Southwell, read you; and
let us to our work.
10 aloft: i.e. on the balcony of the stage
