Come, my masters. The duchess, I tell you, expects performance of your
promises.
Come on, everyone. The duchess, I'm telling you, expects you all to follow through on your promises.
Come on, guys. Listen, the duchess is expecting you to actually deliver on what you promised.
the duchess expects you to follow through get it done
Bolingbroke, the conjurer, speaks with theatrical authority — elaborate, rhythmic, built for effect. His invocation of night and time is genuinely atmospheric. Watch for how professional his performance is, even as a trap is being set around him.
Master Hume, we are therefore provided. Will her ladyship behold and
hear our exorcisms?
Master Hume, we are therefore prepared and equipped. Will her ladyship watch and listen to our ritual incantations?
Master Hume, we've got everything we need. Is the lady going to watch us perform this ritual?
we're all set will she watch?
Ay, what else? Fear you not her courage.
Yes, of course. Don't worry about her bravery.
Yeah, obviously. She's not going to chicken out, trust me.
yeah shes brave enough no worries
I have heard her reported to be a woman of an invincible spirit. But it
shall be convenient, 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.
I've heard she's a woman of unbreakable spirit and courage. But it will be better, Master Hume, if you stay with her upstairs while we perform the ritual below. So please go with her, in God's name, and leave us to work.
I heard she's got nerves of steel. But look, it's better if you stay upstairs with her while we're down here doing the work. So please go with her and let us handle this.
stay with her upstairs we'll work down here let us do this
Mother Jourdain, be you prostrate and grovel on the earth. John
Southwell, read you; and let us to our work.
Mother Jourdain, lie flat on the ground and grovel. John Southwell, you read from the text, and let us begin our work.
Mother Jourdain, lie down on the ground and grovel. John Southwell, you read. Let's start.
mother jourdain get on ground john read lets start work
Well said, my masters; and welcome all. To this gear, the sooner the
better.
Well spoken, everyone. Welcome, all of you. As for this business, the sooner we do it the better.
Good, everyone understands. Welcome. Let's just get this done as fast as we can.
let's do this now the sooner the better
Patience, good lady; wizards know their times.
Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night,
The time of night when Troy was set on fire,
The time when screech-owls cry and ban-dogs howl,
And spirits walk and ghosts break up their graves;
That time best fits the work we have in hand.
Madam, sit you and fear not. Whom we raise
We will make fast within a hallowed verge.
Be patient, good lady; wizards know the best times for their work. Deep night, dark night, the silent night, the time when Troy was set on fire, the time when screech-owls cry and ban-dogs howl, and spirits walk and ghosts rise from their graves—that time is best for the work we have in hand. Madam, sit down and do not fear. Whomever we summon we will keep safely within a sacred circle.
Be patient, lady. We wizards know when the magic works best. The best time is deep in the night, when owls scream and dogs howl, when ghosts are walking around. That's the right time for this kind of work. Just sit down and don't be afraid. Whatever spirit we call up, we'll keep it trapped in a sacred circle.
magic works best at night owls & ghosts out then ill keep it contained
York's aside quoting the Latin oracle given to Pyrrhus — 'Aio te, Aeacida, Romanos vincere posse' — points to the oldest problem with prophecy: the grammar can be reversed. 'You can conquer the Romans' and 'the Romans can conquer you' are identical in Latin word order. Shakespeare knew this tradition well and used it throughout his history plays. The spirit's prophecy about Henry and the duke is exactly this kind of oracle: whether Henry deposes the duke or the duke deposes Henry depends entirely on where you place the emphasis. Eleanor hears hope; a more suspicious reader hears doom. This ambiguity is not a bug in the supernatural machinery — it's the entire point. Prophecy in Shakespeare almost always comes true, but never quite the way the listener expected.
_Adsum_.
I am here.
I'm here.
i'm here
Asnath,
By the eternal God, whose name and power
Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask;
For till thou speak thou shalt not pass from hence.
Spirit Asnath, by the eternal God whose name and power makes you tremble, answer the questions I ask you. You will not pass from here until you speak.
Asnath, by the God whose power terrifies you, you have to answer what I ask. You're not going anywhere until you talk.
answer my questions you can't leave till you talk
Ask what thou wilt. That I had said and done!
Ask what you want. I wish I had already said and done everything you would ask!
Ask me whatever you want. I just want to get through this!
ask whatever just get it over with
[_Reads_.] _First of the King: what shall of him become?_
First, about the King: what will happen to him?
So, first question: what is going to happen to the King?
first about the king what will become of him?
The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose,
But him outlive and die a violent death.
The duke who Henry will depose still lives, but he will outlive the king and die a violent death.
There's a duke that Henry is going to overthrow. But he'll survive longer than Henry and die violently.
the duke lives he'll outlive henry but dies violent
[_Reads_.] _What fates await the Duke of Suffolk?_
What fate awaits the Duke of Suffolk?
Now, what is going to happen to Suffolk?
what about suffolk what is his fate?
By water shall he die and take his end.
He will die by water and meet his end there.
He's going to die by water, by drowning.
he drowns dies by water
The Globe Theatre had trapdoors in the stage floor that allowed actors to appear and disappear — the 'hellmouth' through which spirits could ascend. Thunder effects were achieved by rolling cannonballs backstage or beating drums. The conjuring scene in 1-4 would have deployed all of these: Margery Jourdain prostrate on the stage, a circle drawn in chalk, thunder cracking, and then the Spirit rising through the trap. Eleanor watching from above in the gallery added a visual dimension — a woman looking down on her own doom, literally elevated above the action she's caused. Then the doors burst open and the whole theatrical apparatus collapses into farce. It's one of the most technically complex scenes in the play.
[_Reads_.] _What shall befall the Duke of Somerset?_
What will happen to the Duke of Somerset?
What about Somerset? What is in his future?
and somerset what will happen to him?
Let him shun castles.
Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains
Than where castles mounted stand.
Have done, for more I hardly can endure.
Let him avoid castles. He will be safer on the open sandy plains than where castles stand fortified. I've said enough—I can barely endure much more.
He should stay away from castles. He's safer out on the open plains than near them. That's all I got—this is exhausting me.
avoid castles safe in open plains i'm done talking
Descend to darkness and the burning lake!
False fiend, avoid!
Go down to darkness and the burning fires! False demon, get out of here!
Go back to the darkness and the flames! Get out, you fake demon!
go to hell get out of here
Sir Humphrey Stafford, and break in.
Sir Humphrey Stafford, break down the door!
Stafford, get your men in there and force the door open!
stafford break in now
Lay hands upon these traitors and their trash.
Beldam, I think we watched you at an inch.
What, madam, are you there? The King and commonweal
Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains.
My Lord Protector will, I doubt it not,
See you well guerdoned for these good deserts.
Seize these traitors and their worthless belongings. Old woman, I think we caught you red-handed. So, madam, are you present? The King and the state are deeply grateful for this trouble you've taken. My Lord Protector will, I have no doubt, reward you well for these good deeds.
Get these traitors and all their stuff. We caught you in the act, you old woman. You're here? The King and the country owe you big for what you just did. The Lord Protector is going to reward you really well.
you're caught the king owes you he'll reward you good
Not half so bad as thine to England’s king,
Injurious duke, that threatest where’s no cause.
Not nearly as bad as your crimes against England's king, you destructive duke, who threatens people without any just cause.
That's nothing compared to what you've done to England's king, you dangerous duke, just threatening people for no reason.
your crimes are worse you threatened the king for nothing
True, madam, none at all. What call you this?
Away with them! Let them be clapped up close
And kept asunder.—You, madam, shall with us.—
Stafford, take her to thee.
True, madam, none at all. What is this? Take them away! Lock them up in separate cells and keep them apart. You, madam, will come with us. Stafford, take her into custody.
Right, madam, nothing at all. What is this? Get them out of here! Lock them in separate cells. You come with us. Stafford, watch her.
take them away lock them up you come with me
The historical Eleanor Cobham was tried for witchcraft, treason, and necromancy in 1441 — all charges directly mirrored in the play. Margery Jourdain (the 'witch of Eye') was burned at Smithfield. Roger Bolingbroke was hanged, drawn, and quartered. Two priests, Thomas Southwell and John Home, were imprisoned; Southwell died in the Tower. Eleanor herself was sentenced to public penance on three consecutive days — walking barefoot in a white sheet through London's streets, carrying a candle — then imprisoned for the rest of her life, first on the Isle of Man, then in Wales. She died in 1452. Shakespeare compresses the timeline and sharpens the irony, but the historical facts are nearly as dramatic as the play.
We’ll see your trinkets here all forthcoming.
All, away!
We'll make sure all your magical trinkets are brought out. Everyone, let's go!
Let's see all your magical stuff. Everyone out!
show us all your stuff everyone out
Lord Buckingham, methinks you watched her well.
A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon!
Now, pray, my lord, let’s see the devil’s writ.
What have we here?
Lord Buckingham, I think you did an excellent job watching her. A clever plot, very well constructed! Now, my lord, let's look at the demon's letter. What do we have here?
Buckingham, you really handled watching her perfectly. This is a solid plan, nicely set up! Now let's see this devil's message. What are we looking at?
good job watching her solid plan let's see the letter
[_Reads_.] _The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose.
But him outlive and die a violent death._
Why, this is just
_Aio te, Aeacida, Romanos vincere posse._
Well, to the rest:
_Tell me what fate awaits the Duke of Suffolk?
By water shall he die and take his end.
What shall betide the Duke of Somerset?
Let him shun castles;
Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains
Than where castles mounted stand._
Come, come, my lords, these oracles
Are hardly attained, and hardly understood.
The King is now in progress towards Saint Albans,
With him the husband of this lovely lady.
Thither go these news as fast as horse can carry them.
A sorry breakfast for my Lord Protector.
The prophecies say: There is a duke still living that Henry will depose, but he will outlive Henry and die a violent death. Why, this is exactly like an ancient oracle saying "you can conquer" when it means something else entirely - it can mean anything. Well, moving on: the Duke of Suffolk will die by water and find his end. As for the Duke of Somerset: let him avoid castles; he will be safer on open sandy plains than anywhere castles are built. These prophecies, my lords, are barely obtained and barely understood. The King is traveling now toward Saint Albans, with Margaret's husband alongside him. I will send these prophecies ahead as fast as horses can carry them. This will be bad news for Gloucester.
So the prophecies say: There is a duke still living who will overthrow Henry, but then outlive him and die violently. That is just like an old oracle - you get an answer that seems clear but could mean anything. So here is the rest: Suffolk is going to die by water. Somerset should stay away from castles - he is much safer in open fields than near any fortified place. Look, my lords, these cryptic prophecies are hard to get and hard to make sense of. The King is headed to Saint Albans right now, and Margaret's husband is with him. I will get this news to them as fast as I can ride. This is going to be bad news for Gloucester.
a duke will overthrow henry but outlive him die violently suffolk dies by water somerset avoid castles these oracles are tricky i will send this news to the king at saint albans bad news for gloucester
Your Grace shall give me leave, my Lord of York,
To be the post, in hope of his reward.
Your Grace, please allow me, Lord of York, to be the messenger myself, hoping for his reward.
Your Grace, let me deliver the message myself—I'm hoping for a reward.
let me do it for a reward
At your pleasure, my good lord.
As you wish, my good lord.
Whatever you say.
cool with me
Who’s within there, ho!
Who's in there? Hello!
Hey! Is anyone there?
hello whos home
Invite my Lords of Salisbury and Warwick
To sup with me tomorrow night. Away!
Invite the Lords of Salisbury and Warwick to dine with me tomorrow night. Go!
Tell Salisbury and Warwick to come have dinner with me tomorrow night. Go!
invite salisbury warwick to dinner tomorrow night go
The Reckoning
The scene has the atmosphere of a trap closing, because it is. The prophecies themselves are genuinely oracular — deliberately ambiguous — and York immediately recognizes them as useless to the conspirators while valuable as evidence against Eleanor. What the scene does brilliantly is make the spirit's words land differently depending on who is listening: to Eleanor they are hope; to us they are doom; to York they are a gift. The darkness and thunder effects on the Elizabethan stage would have been visually spectacular — and then immediately collapsed into farce as officers burst in.
If this happened today…
An executive's spouse hires a 'corporate intelligence' firm to do a séance-equivalent: consult a dark-web oracle about what's going to happen to the CEO, the company's chief rival, and the CFO. She pays a fortune for deliberately vague AI-generated predictions. The whole session is being recorded by agents working for the rivals who hired the intelligence firm in the first place. The moment she asks her final question, the door gets kicked in and everyone's arrested. The recordings go straight to the board.