William Shakespeare: King Henry VI, Second Part

ACT I 3. SCENE III. London. The palace.

[Enter PETER and other PETITIONERS.]

1 PETITIONER.
My masters, let's stand close; my lord protector
will come this way by and by, and then we may deliver our
supplications in the quill.

2 PETITIONER.
Marry, the Lord protect him, for he's a good
man! Jesu bless him!

[Enter SUFFOLK and QUEEN.]

PETER.
Here 'a comes, methinks, and the queen with him.
I'll be the first, sure.

2 PETITIONER.
Come back, fool; this is the Duke of Suffolk and
not my lord protector.

SUFFOLK.
How now, fellow! wouldst any thing with me?

1 PETITIONER.
I pray, my lord, pardon me; I took ye for my lord
protector.

QUEEN.
[Reading] 'To my Lord Protector!' Are your supplications
to his lordship? Let me see them; what is thine?

1 PETITIONER.
Mine is, an 't please your grace, against John
Goodman, my lord cardinal's man, for keeping my house and lands,
and wife and all, from me.

SUFFOLK.
Thy wife too! that's some wrong, indeed.--What's
yours?--What's here! [Reads] 'Against the Duke of Suffolk for
enclosing
the commons of Melford.'--How now, sir knave!

2 PETITIONER.
Alas, sir, I am but a poor petitioner of our
whole township.

PETER.
[Giving his petition] Against my master, Thomas Horner,
for saying that the Duke of York was rightful heir to the crown.

QUEEN.
What say'st thou? did the Duke of York say he was
rightful heir to the crown?

PETER.
That my master was? no, forsooth; my master said that he
was, and that the king was an usurper.

SUFFOLK.
Who is there? [Enter Servant.] Take this fellow in, and
send for his master with a pursuivant presently.--We'll hear more
of your matter before the king.