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London. The palace

Flourish of trumpets; then hautboys. Enter the KING, DUKE
HUMPHREY
OF GLOUCESTER, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and CARDINAL BEAUFORT, on the
one side;
the QUEEN, SUFFOLK, YORK, SOMERSET, and BUCKINGHAM, on the other

聽聽SUFFOLK. As by your high imperial Majesty
聽聽聽聽I had in charge at my depart for France,
聽聽聽聽As procurator to your Excellence,
聽聽聽聽To marry Princess Margaret for your Grace;
聽聽聽聽So, in the famous ancient city Tours,
聽聽聽聽In presence of the Kings of France and Sicil,
聽聽聽聽The Dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretagne, and Alencon,
聽聽聽聽Seven earls, twelve barons, and twenty reverend bishops,
聽聽聽聽I have perform'd my task, and was espous'd;
聽聽聽聽And humbly now upon my bended knee,
聽聽聽聽In sight of England and her lordly peers,
聽聽聽聽Deliver up my title in the Queen
聽聽聽聽To your most gracious hands, that are the substance
聽聽聽聽Of that great shadow I did represent:
聽聽聽聽The happiest gift that ever marquis gave,
聽聽聽聽The fairest queen that ever king receiv'd.
聽聽KING HENRY. Suffolk, arise. Welcome, Queen Margaret:
聽聽聽聽I can express no kinder sign of love
聽聽聽聽Than this kind kiss. O Lord, that lends me life,
聽聽聽聽Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!
聽聽聽聽For thou hast given me in this beauteous face
聽聽聽聽A world of earthly blessings to my soul,
聽聽聽聽If sympathy of love unite our thoughts.
聽聽QUEEN. Great King of England, and my gracious lord,
聽聽聽聽The mutual conference that my mind hath had,
聽聽聽聽By day, by night, waking and in my dreams,
聽聽聽聽In courtly company or at my beads,
聽聽聽聽With you, mine alder-liefest sovereign,
聽聽聽聽Makes me the bolder to salute my king
聽聽聽聽With ruder terms, such as my wit affords
聽聽聽聽And over-joy of heart doth minister.
聽聽KING HENRY. Her sight did ravish, but her grace in speech,
聽聽聽聽Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty,
聽聽聽聽Makes me from wond'ring fall to weeping joys,
聽聽聽聽Such is the fulness of my heart's content.
聽聽聽聽Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love.
聽聽ALL. [Kneeling] Long live Queen Margaret, England's happiness!
聽聽QUEEN. We thank you all. [Flourish]
聽聽SUFFOLK. My Lord Protector, so it please your Grace,
聽聽聽聽Here are the articles of contracted peace
聽聽聽聽Between our sovereign and the French King Charles,
聽聽聽聽For eighteen months concluded by consent.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. [Reads] 'Imprimis: It is agreed between the French
King
聽聽聽聽Charles and William de la Pole, Marquess of Suffolk,
ambassador
聽聽聽聽for Henry King of England, that the said Henry shall espouse
the
聽聽聽聽Lady Margaret, daughter unto Reignier King of Naples,
Sicilia,
聽聽聽聽and Jerusalem, and crown her Queen of England ere the
thirtieth
聽聽聽聽of May next ensuing.
聽聽聽聽聽聽Item: That the duchy of Anjou and the county of Maine shall
be
聽聽聽聽released and delivered to the King her father'-
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Lets the paper fall]
聽聽KING HENRY. Uncle, how now!
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Pardon me, gracious lord;
聽聽聽聽Some sudden qualm hath struck me at the heart,
聽聽聽聽And dimm'd mine eyes, that I can read no further.
聽聽KING HENRY. Uncle of Winchester, I pray read on.
聽聽CARDINAL. [Reads] 'Item: It is further agreed between them that
the
聽聽聽聽duchies of Anjou and Maine shall be released and delivered
over
聽聽聽聽to the King her father, and she sent over of the King of
聽聽聽聽England's own proper cost and charges, without having any
dowry.'
聽聽KING HENRY. They please us well. Lord Marquess, kneel down.
聽聽聽聽We here create thee the first Duke of Suffolk,
聽聽聽聽And girt thee with the sword. Cousin of York,
聽聽聽聽We here discharge your Grace from being Regent
聽聽聽聽I' th' parts of France, till term of eighteen months
聽聽聽聽Be full expir'd. Thanks, uncle Winchester,
聽聽聽聽Gloucester, York, Buckingham, Somerset,
聽聽聽聽Salisbury, and Warwick;
聽聽聽聽We thank you all for this great favour done
聽聽聽聽In entertainment to my princely queen.
聽聽聽聽Come, let us in, and with all speed provide
聽聽聽聽To see her coronation be perform'd.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Exeunt KING, QUEEN, and SUFFOLK
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Brave peers of England, pillars of the state,
聽聽聽聽To you Duke Humphrey must unload his grief
聽聽聽聽Your grief, the common grief of all the land.
聽聽聽聽What! did my brother Henry spend his youth,
聽聽聽聽His valour, coin, and people, in the wars?
聽聽聽聽Did he so often lodge in open field,
聽聽聽聽In winter's cold and summer's parching heat,
聽聽聽聽To conquer France, his true inheritance?
聽聽聽聽And did my brother Bedford toil his wits
聽聽聽聽To keep by policy what Henry got?
聽聽聽聽Have you yourselves, Somerset, Buckingham,
聽聽聽聽Brave York, Salisbury, and victorious Warwick,
聽聽聽聽Receiv'd deep scars in France and Normandy?
聽聽聽聽Or hath mine uncle Beaufort and myself,
聽聽聽聽With all the learned Council of the realm,
聽聽聽聽Studied so long, sat in the Council House
聽聽聽聽Early and late, debating to and fro
聽聽聽聽How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe?
聽聽聽聽And had his Highness in his infancy
聽聽聽聽Crowned in Paris, in despite of foes?
聽聽聽聽And shall these labours and these honours die?
聽聽聽聽Shall Henry's conquest, Bedford's vigilance,
聽聽聽聽Your deeds of war, and all our counsel die?
聽聽聽聽O peers of England, shameful is this league!
聽聽聽聽Fatal this marriage, cancelling your fame,
聽聽聽聽Blotting your names from books of memory,
聽聽聽聽Razing the characters of your renown,
聽聽聽聽Defacing monuments of conquer'd France,
聽聽聽聽Undoing all, as all had never been!
聽聽CARDINAL. Nephew, what means this passionate discourse,
聽聽聽聽This peroration with such circumstance?
聽聽聽聽For France, 'tis ours; and we will keep it still.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Ay, uncle, we will keep it if we can;
聽聽聽聽But now it is impossible we should.
聽聽聽聽Suffolk, the new-made duke that rules the roast,
聽聽聽聽Hath given the duchy of Anjou and Maine
聽聽聽聽Unto the poor King Reignier, whose large style
聽聽聽聽Agrees not with the leanness of his purse.
聽聽SALISBURY. Now, by the death of Him that died for all,
聽聽聽聽These counties were the keys of Normandy!
聽聽聽聽But wherefore weeps Warwick, my valiant son?
聽聽WARWICK. For grief that they are past recovery;
聽聽聽聽For were there hope to conquer them again
聽聽聽聽My sword should shed hot blood, mine eyes no tears.
聽聽聽聽Anjou and Maine! myself did win them both;
聽聽聽聽Those provinces these arms of mine did conquer;
聽聽聽聽And are the cities that I got with wounds
聽聽聽聽Deliver'd up again with peaceful words?
聽聽聽聽Mort Dieu!
聽聽YORK. For Suffolk's duke, may he be suffocate,
聽聽聽聽That dims the honour of this warlike isle!
聽聽聽聽France should have torn and rent my very heart
聽聽聽聽Before I would have yielded to this league.
聽聽聽聽I never read but England's kings have had
聽聽聽聽Large sums of gold and dowries with their wives;
聽聽聽聽And our King Henry gives away his own
聽聽聽聽To match with her that brings no vantages.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. A proper jest, and never heard before,
聽聽聽聽That Suffolk should demand a whole fifteenth
聽聽聽聽For costs and charges in transporting her!
聽聽聽聽She should have stay'd in France, and starv'd in France,
听听听听叠别蹿辞谤别-
聽聽CARDINAL. My Lord of Gloucester, now ye grow too hot:
聽聽聽聽It was the pleasure of my lord the King.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. My Lord of Winchester, I know your mind;
聽聽聽聽'Tis not my speeches that you do mislike,
聽聽聽聽But 'tis my presence that doth trouble ye.
聽聽聽聽Rancour will out: proud prelate, in thy face
聽聽聽聽I see thy fury; if I longer stay
聽聽聽聽We shall begin our ancient bickerings.
聽聽聽聽Lordings, farewell; and say, when I am gone,
聽聽聽聽I prophesied France will be lost ere long. Exit
聽聽CARDINAL. So, there goes our Protector in a rage.
聽聽聽聽'Tis known to you he is mine enemy;
聽聽聽聽Nay, more, an enemy unto you all,
聽聽聽聽And no great friend, I fear me, to the King.
聽聽聽聽Consider, lords, he is the next of blood
聽聽聽聽And heir apparent to the English crown.
聽聽聽聽Had Henry got an empire by his marriage
聽聽聽聽And all the wealthy kingdoms of the west,
聽聽聽聽There's reason he should be displeas'd at it.
聽聽聽聽Look to it, lords; let not his smoothing words
聽聽聽聽Bewitch your hearts; be wise and circumspect.
聽聽聽聽What though the common people favour him,
聽聽聽聽Calling him 'Humphrey, the good Duke of Gloucester,'
聽聽聽聽Clapping their hands, and crying with loud voice
聽聽聽聽'Jesu maintain your royal excellence!'
聽聽聽聽With 'God preserve the good Duke Humphrey!'
聽聽聽聽I fear me, lords, for all this flattering gloss,
聽聽聽聽He will be found a dangerous Protector.
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. Why should he then protect our sovereign,
聽聽聽聽He being of age to govern of himself?
聽聽聽聽Cousin of Somerset, join you with me,
聽聽聽聽And all together, with the Duke of Suffolk,
聽聽聽聽We'll quickly hoise Duke Humphrey from his seat.
聽聽CARDINAL. This weighty business will not brook delay;
聽聽聽聽I'll to the Duke of Suffolk presently. Exit
聽聽SOMERSET. Cousin of Buckingham, though Humphrey's pride
聽聽聽聽And greatness of his place be grief to us,
聽聽聽聽Yet let us watch the haughty cardinal;
聽聽聽聽His insolence is more intolerable
聽聽聽聽Than all the princes in the land beside;
聽聽聽聽If Gloucester be displac'd, he'll be Protector.
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. Or thou or I, Somerset, will be Protector,
聽聽聽聽Despite Duke Humphrey or the Cardinal.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Exeunt BUCKINGHAM and SOMERSET
聽聽SALISBURY. Pride went before, ambition follows him.
聽聽聽聽While these do labour for their own preferment,
聽聽聽聽Behoves it us to labour for the realm.
聽聽聽聽I never saw but Humphrey Duke of Gloucester
聽聽聽聽Did bear him like a noble gentleman.
聽聽聽聽Oft have I seen the haughty Cardinal-
聽聽聽聽More like a soldier than a man o' th' church,
聽聽聽聽As stout and proud as he were lord of all-
聽聽聽聽Swear like a ruffian and demean himself
聽聽聽聽Unlike the ruler of a commonweal.
聽聽聽聽Warwick my son, the comfort of my age,
聽聽聽聽Thy deeds, thy plainness, and thy housekeeping,
聽聽聽聽Hath won the greatest favour of the commons,
聽聽聽聽Excepting none but good Duke Humphrey.
聽聽聽聽And, brother York, thy acts in Ireland,
聽聽聽聽In bringing them to civil discipline,
聽聽聽聽Thy late exploits done in the heart of France
聽聽聽聽When thou wert Regent for our sovereign,
聽聽聽聽Have made thee fear'd and honour'd of the people:
聽聽聽聽Join we together for the public good,
聽聽聽聽In what we can, to bridle and suppress
聽聽聽聽The pride of Suffolk and the Cardinal,
聽聽聽聽With Somerset's and Buckingham's ambition;
聽聽聽聽And, as we may, cherish Duke Humphrey's deeds
聽聽聽聽While they do tend the profit of the land.
聽聽WARWICK. So God help Warwick, as he loves the land
聽聽聽聽And common profit of his country!
聽聽YORK. And so says York- [Aside] for he hath greatest cause.
聽聽SALISBURY. Then let's make haste away and look unto the main.
聽聽WARWICK. Unto the main! O father, Maine is lost-
聽聽聽聽That Maine which by main force Warwick did win,
聽聽聽聽And would have kept so long as breath did last.
聽聽聽聽Main chance, father, you meant; but I meant Maine,
聽聽聽聽Which I will win from France, or else be slain.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Exeunt WARWICK and SALISBURY

聽聽YORK. Anjou and Maine are given to the French;
聽聽聽聽Paris is lost; the state of Normandy
聽聽聽聽Stands on a tickle point now they are gone.
聽聽聽聽Suffolk concluded on the articles;
聽聽聽聽The peers agreed; and Henry was well pleas'd
聽聽聽聽To changes two dukedoms for a duke's fair daughter.
聽聽聽聽I cannot blame them all: what is't to them?
聽聽聽聽'Tis thine they give away, and not their own.
聽聽聽聽Pirates may make cheap pennyworths of their pillage,
聽聽聽聽And purchase friends, and give to courtezans,
聽聽聽聽Still revelling like lords till all be gone;
聽聽聽聽While as the silly owner of the goods
聽聽聽聽Weeps over them and wrings his hapless hands
聽聽聽聽And shakes his head and trembling stands aloof,
聽聽聽聽While all is shar'd and all is borne away,
聽聽聽聽Ready to starve and dare not touch his own.
聽聽聽聽So York must sit and fret and bite his tongue,
聽聽聽聽While his own lands are bargain'd for and sold.
聽聽聽聽Methinks the realms of England, France, and Ireland,
聽聽聽聽Bear that proportion to my flesh and blood
聽聽聽聽As did the fatal brand Althaea burnt
聽聽聽聽Unto the prince's heart of Calydon.
聽聽聽聽Anjou and Maine both given unto the French!
聽聽聽聽Cold news for me, for I had hope of France,
聽聽聽聽Even as I have of fertile England's soil.
聽聽聽聽A day will come when York shall claim his own;
聽聽聽聽And therefore I will take the Nevils' parts,
聽聽聽聽And make a show of love to proud Duke Humphrey,
聽聽聽聽And when I spy advantage, claim the crown,
聽聽聽聽For that's the golden mark I seek to hit.
聽聽聽聽Nor shall proud Lancaster usurp my right,
聽聽聽聽Nor hold the sceptre in his childish fist,
聽聽聽聽Nor wear the diadem upon his head,
聽聽聽聽Whose church-like humours fits not for a crown.
聽聽聽聽Then, York, be still awhile, till time do serve;
聽聽聽聽Watch thou and wake, when others be asleep,
聽聽聽聽To pry into the secrets of the state;
聽聽聽聽Till Henry, surfeiting in joys of love
聽聽聽聽With his new bride and England's dear-bought queen,
聽聽聽聽And Humphrey with the peers be fall'n at jars;
聽聽聽聽Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose,
聽聽聽聽With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfum'd,
聽聽聽聽And in my standard bear the arms of York,
聽聽聽聽To grapple with the house of Lancaster;
聽聽聽聽And force perforce I'll make him yield the crown,
聽聽聽聽Whose bookish rule hath pull'd fair England down. Exit

The DUKE OF GLOUCESTER'S house

Enter DUKE and his wife ELEANOR

聽聽DUCHESS. Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd corn
聽聽聽聽Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load?
聽聽聽聽Why doth the great Duke Humphrey knit his brows,
聽聽聽聽As frowning at the favours of the world?
聽聽聽聽Why are thine eyes fix'd to the sullen earth,
聽聽聽聽Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight?
聽聽聽聽What see'st thou there? King Henry's diadem,
聽聽聽聽Enchas'd with all the honours of the world?
聽聽聽聽If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face
聽聽聽聽Until thy head be circled with the same.
聽聽聽聽Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious gold.
聽聽聽聽What, is't too short? I'll lengthen it with mine;
聽聽聽聽And having both together heav'd it up,
聽聽聽聽We'll both together lift our heads to heaven,
聽聽聽聽And never more abase our sight so low
聽聽聽聽As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. O Nell, sweet Nell, if thou dost love thy lord,
聽聽聽聽Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts!
聽聽聽聽And may that thought, when I imagine ill
聽聽聽聽Against my king and nephew, virtuous Henry,
聽聽聽聽Be my last breathing in this mortal world!
聽聽聽聽My troublous dreams this night doth make me sad.
聽聽DUCHESS. What dream'd my lord? Tell me, and I'll requite it
聽聽聽聽With sweet rehearsal of my morning's dream.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Methought this staff, mine office-badge in court,
聽聽聽聽Was broke in twain; by whom I have forgot,
聽聽聽聽But, as I think, it was by th' Cardinal;
聽聽聽聽And on the pieces of the broken wand
聽聽聽聽Were plac'd the heads of Edmund Duke of Somerset
聽聽聽聽And William de la Pole, first Duke of Suffolk.
聽聽聽聽This was my dream; what it doth bode God knows.
聽聽DUCHESS. Tut, this was nothing but an argument
聽聽聽聽That he that breaks a stick of Gloucester's grove
聽聽聽聽Shall lose his head for his presumption.
聽聽聽聽But list to me, my Humphrey, my sweet Duke:
聽聽聽聽Methought I sat in seat of majesty
聽聽聽聽In the cathedral church of Westminster,
聽聽聽聽And in that chair where kings and queens were crown'd;
聽聽聽聽Where Henry and Dame Margaret kneel'd to me,
聽聽聽聽And on my head did set the diadem.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright.
聽聽聽聽Presumptuous dame, ill-nurtur'd Eleanor!
聽聽聽聽Art thou not second woman in the realm,
聽聽聽聽And the Protector's wife, belov'd of him?
聽聽聽聽Hast thou not worldly pleasure at command
聽聽聽聽Above the reach or compass of thy thought?
聽聽聽聽And wilt thou still be hammering treachery
聽聽聽聽To tumble down thy husband and thyself
聽聽聽聽From top of honour to disgrace's feet?
聽聽聽聽Away from me, and let me hear no more!
聽聽DUCHESS. What, what, my lord! Are you so choleric
聽聽聽聽With Eleanor for telling but her dream?
聽聽聽聽Next time I'll keep my dreams unto myself
聽聽聽聽And not be check'd.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Nay, be not angry; I am pleas'd again.

Enter a MESSENGER

聽聽MESSENGER. My Lord Protector, 'tis his Highness' pleasure
聽聽聽聽You do prepare to ride unto Saint Albans,
聽聽聽聽Where as the King and Queen do mean to hawk.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. I go. Come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us?
聽聽DUCHESS. Yes, my good lord, I'll follow presently.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Exeunt GLOUCESTER and MESSENGER
聽聽聽聽Follow I must; I cannot go before,
聽聽聽聽While Gloucester bears this base and humble mind.
聽聽聽聽Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood,
聽聽聽聽I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks
聽聽聽聽And smooth my way upon their headless necks;
聽聽聽聽And, being a woman, I will not be slack
聽聽聽聽To play my part in Fortune's pageant.
聽聽聽聽Where are you there, Sir John? Nay, fear not, man,
聽聽聽聽We are alone; here's none but thee and I.

Enter HUME

聽聽HUME. Jesus preserve your royal Majesty!
聽聽DUCHESS. What say'st thou? Majesty! I am but Grace.
聽聽HUME. But, by the grace of God and Hume's advice,
聽聽聽聽Your Grace's title shall be multiplied.
聽聽DUCHESS. What say'st thou, man? Hast thou as yet conferr'd
聽聽聽聽With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch of Eie,
聽聽聽聽With Roger Bolingbroke, the conjurer?
聽聽聽聽And will they undertake to do me good?
聽聽HUME. This they have promised, to show your Highness
聽聽聽聽A spirit rais'd from depth of underground
聽聽聽聽That shall make answer to such questions
聽聽聽聽As by your Grace shall be propounded him
聽聽DUCHESS. It is enough; I'll think upon the questions;
聽聽聽聽When from Saint Albans we do make return
聽聽聽聽We'll see these things effected to the full.
聽聽聽聽Here, Hume, take this reward; make merry, man,
聽聽聽聽With thy confederates in this weighty cause. Exit
聽聽HUME. Hume must make merry with the Duchess' gold;
聽聽聽聽Marry, and shall. But, how now, Sir John Hume!
聽聽聽聽Seal up your lips and give no words but mum:
聽聽聽聽The business asketh silent secrecy.
聽聽聽聽Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch:
聽聽聽聽Gold cannot come amiss were she a devil.
聽聽聽聽Yet have I gold flies from another coast-
聽聽聽聽I dare not say from the rich Cardinal,
聽聽聽聽And from the great and new-made Duke of Suffolk;
聽聽聽聽Yet I do find it so; for, to be plain,
聽聽聽聽They, knowing Dame Eleanor's aspiring humour,
聽聽聽聽Have hired me to undermine the Duchess,
聽聽聽聽And buzz these conjurations in her brain.
聽聽聽聽They say 'A crafty knave does need no broker';
聽聽聽聽Yet am I Suffolk and the Cardinal's broker.
聽聽聽聽Hume, if you take not heed, you shall go near
聽聽聽聽To call them both a pair of crafty knaves.
聽聽聽聽Well, so its stands; and thus, I fear, at last
聽聽聽聽Hume's knavery will be the Duchess' wreck,
聽聽聽聽And her attainture will be Humphrey's fall
聽聽聽聽Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all. Exit

London. The palace

Enter three or four PETITIONERS, PETER, the Armourer's man, being one

聽聽FIRST PETITIONER. My masters, let's stand close; my Lord
Protector
聽聽聽聽will come this way by and by, and then we may deliver our
聽聽聽聽supplications in the quill.
聽聽SECOND PETITIONER. Marry, the Lord protect him, for he's a good
聽聽聽聽man, Jesu bless him!

Enter SUFFOLK and QUEEN

聽聽FIRST PETITIONER. Here 'a comes, methinks, and the Queen with
him.
聽聽聽聽I'll be the first, sure.
聽聽SECOND PETITIONER. Come back, fool; this is the Duke of Suffolk
and
聽聽聽聽not my Lord Protector.
聽聽SUFFOLK. How now, fellow! Wouldst anything with me?
聽聽FIRST PETITIONER. I pray, my lord, pardon me; I took ye for my
Lord
听听听听笔谤辞迟别肠迟辞谤.
聽聽QUEEN. [Reads] 'To my Lord Protector!' Are your supplications
to
聽聽聽聽his lordship? Let me see them. What is thine?
聽聽FIRST PETITIONER. Mine is, an't please your Grace, against John
聽聽聽聽Goodman, my Lord Cardinal's man, for keeping my house and
lands,
聽聽聽聽and wife and all, from me.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Thy wife too! That's some wrong indeed. What's yours?
聽聽聽聽What's here! [Reads] 'Against the Duke of Suffolk, for
enclosing
聽聽聽聽the commons of Melford.' How now, sir knave!
聽聽SECOND PETITIONER. Alas, sir, I am but a poor petitioner of our
聽聽聽聽whole township.
聽聽PETER. [Presenting his petition] Against my master, Thomas
Horner,
聽聽聽聽for saying that the Duke of York was rightful heir to the
crown.
聽聽QUEEN. What say'st thou? Did the Duke of York say he was
rightful
聽聽聽聽heir to the crown?
聽聽PETER. That my master was? No, forsooth. My master said that he
聽聽聽聽was, and that the King was an usurper.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Who is there? [Enter servant] Take this fellow in, and
聽聽聽聽send for his master with a pursuivant presently. We'll hear
more
聽聽聽聽of your matter before the King.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽听贰虫颈迟 servant with PETER
聽聽QUEEN. And as for you, that love to be protected
聽聽聽聽Under the wings of our Protector's grace,
聽聽聽聽Begin your suits anew, and sue to him.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Tears the supplications]
聽聽聽聽Away, base cullions! Suffolk, let them go.
聽聽ALL. Come, let's be gone. Exeunt
聽聽QUEEN. My Lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise,
聽聽聽聽Is this the fashions in the court of England?
聽聽聽聽Is this the government of Britain's isle,
聽聽聽聽And this the royalty of Albion's king?
聽聽聽聽What, shall King Henry be a pupil still,
聽聽聽聽Under the surly Gloucester's governance?
聽聽聽聽Am I a queen in title and in style,
聽聽聽聽And must be made a subject to a duke?
聽聽聽聽I tell thee, Pole, when in the city Tours
聽聽聽聽Thou ran'st a tilt in honour of my love
聽聽聽聽And stol'st away the ladies' hearts of France,
聽聽聽聽I thought King Henry had resembled thee
聽聽聽聽In courage, courtship, and proportion;
聽聽聽聽But all his mind is bent to holiness,
聽聽聽聽To number Ave-Maries on his beads;
聽聽聽聽His champions are the prophets and apostles;
聽聽聽聽His weapons, holy saws of sacred writ;
聽聽聽聽His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves
聽聽聽聽Are brazen images of canonized saints.
聽聽聽聽I would the college of the Cardinals
聽聽聽聽Would choose him Pope, and carry him to Rome,
聽聽聽聽And set the triple crown upon his head;
聽聽聽聽That were a state fit for his holiness.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Madam, be patient. As I was cause
聽聽聽聽Your Highness came to England, so will I
聽聽聽聽In England work your Grace's full content.
聽聽QUEEN. Beside the haughty Protector, have we Beaufort
聽聽聽聽The imperious churchman; Somerset, Buckingham,
聽聽聽聽And grumbling York; and not the least of these
聽聽聽聽But can do more in England than the King.
聽聽SUFFOLK. And he of these that can do most of all
聽聽聽聽Cannot do more in England than the Nevils;
聽聽聽聽Salisbury and Warwick are no simple peers.
聽聽QUEEN. Not all these lords do vex me half so much
聽聽聽聽As that proud dame, the Lord Protector's wife.
聽聽聽聽She sweeps it through the court with troops of ladies,
聽聽聽聽More like an empress than Duke Humphrey's wife.
聽聽聽聽Strangers in court do take her for the Queen.
聽聽聽聽She bears a duke's revenues on her back,
聽聽聽聽And in her heart she scorns our poverty;
聽聽聽聽Shall I not live to be aveng'd on her?
聽聽聽聽Contemptuous base-born callet as she is,
聽聽聽聽She vaunted 'mongst her minions t' other day
聽聽聽聽The very train of her worst wearing gown
聽聽聽聽Was better worth than all my father's lands,
聽聽聽聽Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Madam, myself have lim'd a bush for her,
聽聽聽聽And plac'd a quire of such enticing birds
聽聽聽聽That she will light to listen to the lays,
聽聽聽聽And never mount to trouble you again.
聽聽聽聽So, let her rest. And, madam, list to me,
聽聽聽聽For I am bold to counsel you in this:
聽聽聽聽Although we fancy not the Cardinal,
聽聽聽聽Yet must we join with him and with the lords,
聽聽聽聽Till we have brought Duke Humphrey in disgrace.
聽聽聽聽As for the Duke of York, this late complaint
聽聽聽聽Will make but little for his benefit.
聽聽聽聽So one by one we'll weed them all at last,
聽聽聽聽And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Sound a sennet. Enter the KING, DUKE HUMPHREY,
聽聽聽聽聽CARDINAL BEAUFORT, BUCKINGHAM, YORK, SOMERSET, SALISBURY,
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽WARWICK, and the DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER

聽聽KING HENRY. For my part, noble lords, I care not which:
聽聽聽聽Or Somerset or York, all's one to me.
聽聽YORK. If York have ill demean'd himself in France,
聽聽聽聽Then let him be denay'd the regentship.
聽聽SOMERSET. If Somerset be unworthy of the place,
聽聽聽聽Let York be Regent; I will yield to him.
聽聽WARWICK. Whether your Grace be worthy, yea or no,
聽聽聽聽Dispute not that; York is the worthier.
聽聽CARDINAL. Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak.
聽聽WARWICK. The Cardinal's not my better in the field.
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. All in this presence are thy betters, Warwick.
聽聽WARWICK. Warwick may live to be the best of all.
聽聽SALISBURY. Peace, son! And show some reason, Buckingham,
聽聽聽聽Why Somerset should be preferr'd in this.
聽聽QUEEN. Because the King, forsooth, will have it so.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Madam, the King is old enough himself
聽聽聽聽To give his censure. These are no women's matters.
聽聽QUEEN. If he be old enough, what needs your Grace
聽聽聽聽To be Protector of his Excellence?
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Madam, I am Protector of the realm;
聽聽聽聽And at his pleasure will resign my place.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Resign it then, and leave thine insolence.
聽聽聽聽Since thou wert king- as who is king but thou?-
聽聽聽聽The commonwealth hath daily run to wrack,
聽聽聽聽The Dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the seas,
聽聽聽聽And all the peers and nobles of the realm
聽聽聽聽Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty.
聽聽CARDINAL. The commons hast thou rack'd; the clergy's bags
聽聽聽聽Are lank and lean with thy extortions.
聽聽SOMERSET. Thy sumptuous buildings and thy wife's attire
聽聽聽聽Have cost a mass of public treasury.
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. Thy cruelty in execution
聽聽聽聽Upon offenders hath exceeded law,
聽聽聽聽And left thee to the mercy of the law.
聽聽QUEEN. Thy sale of offices and towns in France,
聽聽聽聽If they were known, as the suspect is great,
聽聽聽聽Would make thee quickly hop without thy head.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽听贰虫颈迟 GLOUCESTER. The QUEEN drops QUEEN her fan
聽聽聽聽Give me my fan. What, minion, can ye not?
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[She gives the DUCHESS a box on the ear]
聽聽聽聽I cry your mercy, madam; was it you?
聽聽DUCHESS. Was't I? Yea, I it was, proud Frenchwoman.
聽聽聽聽Could I come near your beauty with my nails,
聽聽聽聽I could set my ten commandments in your face.
聽聽KING HENRY. Sweet aunt, be quiet; 'twas against her will.
聽聽DUCHESS. Against her will, good King? Look to 't in time;
聽聽聽聽She'll hamper thee and dandle thee like a baby.
聽聽聽聽Though in this place most master wear no breeches,
聽聽聽聽She shall not strike Dame Eleanor unreveng'd. Exit
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. Lord Cardinal, I will follow Eleanor,
聽聽聽聽And listen after Humphrey, how he proceeds.
聽聽聽聽She's tickled now; her fume needs no spurs,
聽聽聽聽She'll gallop far enough to her destruction. Exit

Re-enter GLOUCESTER

聽聽GLOUCESTER. Now, lords, my choler being overblown
聽聽聽聽With walking once about the quadrangle,
聽聽聽聽I come to talk of commonwealth affairs.
聽聽聽聽As for your spiteful false objections,
聽聽聽聽Prove them, and I lie open to the law;
聽聽聽聽But God in mercy so deal with my soul
聽聽聽聽As I in duty love my king and country!
聽聽聽聽But to the matter that we have in hand:
聽聽聽聽I say, my sovereign, York is meetest man
聽聽聽聽To be your Regent in the realm of France.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Before we make election, give me leave
聽聽聽聽To show some reason, of no little force,
聽聽聽聽That York is most unmeet of any man.
聽聽YORK. I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet:
聽聽聽聽First, for I cannot flatter thee in pride;
聽聽聽聽Next, if I be appointed for the place,
聽聽聽聽My Lord of Somerset will keep me here
聽聽聽聽Without discharge, money, or furniture,
聽聽聽聽Till France be won into the Dauphin's hands.
聽聽聽聽Last time I danc'd attendance on his will
聽聽聽聽Till Paris was besieg'd, famish'd, and lost.
聽聽WARWICK. That can I witness; and a fouler fact
聽聽聽聽Did never traitor in the land commit.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Peace, headstrong Warwick!
聽聽WARWICK. Image of pride, why should I hold my peace?

Enter HORNER, the Armourer, and his man PETER, guarded

聽聽SUFFOLK. Because here is a man accus'd of treason:
聽聽聽聽Pray God the Duke of York excuse himself!
聽聽YORK. Doth any one accuse York for a traitor?
聽聽KING HENRY. What mean'st thou, Suffolk? Tell me, what are
these?
聽聽SUFFOLK. Please it your Majesty, this is the man
聽聽聽聽That doth accuse his master of high treason;
聽聽聽聽His words were these: that Richard Duke of York
聽聽聽聽Was rightful heir unto the English crown,
聽聽聽聽And that your Majesty was an usurper.
聽聽KING HENRY. Say, man, were these thy words?
聽聽HORNER. An't shall please your Majesty, I never said nor
thought
聽聽聽聽any such matter. God is my witness, I am falsely accus'd by
the
听听听听惫颈濒濒补颈苍.
聽聽PETER. [Holding up his hands] By these ten bones, my lords, he
did
聽聽聽聽speak them to me in the garret one night, as we were scouring
my
聽聽聽聽Lord of York's armour.
聽聽YORK. Base dunghill villain and mechanical,
聽聽聽聽I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech.
聽聽聽聽I do beseech your royal Majesty,
聽聽聽聽Let him have all the rigour of the law.
聽聽HORNER`. Alas, my lord, hang me if ever I spake the words. My
聽聽聽聽accuser is my prentice; and when I did correct him for his
fault
聽聽聽聽the other day, he did vow upon his knees he would be even
with
聽聽聽聽me. I have good witness of this; therefore I beseech your
聽聽聽聽Majesty, do not cast away an honest man for a villain's
听听听听补肠肠耻蝉补迟颈辞苍.
聽聽KING HENRY. Uncle, what shall we say to this in law?
聽聽GLOUCESTER. This doom, my lord, if I may judge:
聽聽聽聽Let Somerset be Regent o'er the French,
聽聽聽聽Because in York this breeds suspicion;
聽聽聽聽And let these have a day appointed them
聽聽聽聽For single combat in convenient place,
聽聽聽聽For he hath witness of his servant's malice.
聽聽聽聽This is the law, and this Duke Humphrey's doom.
聽聽SOMERSET. I humbly thank your royal Majesty.
聽聽HORNER. And I accept the combat willingly.
聽聽PETER. Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God's sake, pity my
case!
聽聽聽聽The spite of man prevaileth against me. O Lord, have mercy
upon
聽聽聽聽me, I shall never be able to fight a blow! O Lord, my heart!
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Sirrah, or you must fight or else be hang'd.
聽聽KING HENRY. Away with them to prison; and the day of combat
shall
聽聽聽聽be the last of the next month.
聽聽聽聽Come, Somerset, we'll see thee sent away. Flourish. Exeunt

London. The DUKE OF GLOUCESTER'S garden

Enter MARGERY JOURDAIN, the witch; the two priests, HUME and SOUTHWELL; and BOLINGBROKE

聽聽HUME. Come, my masters; the Duchess, I tell you, expects
聽聽聽聽performance of your promises.
聽聽BOLINGBROKE. Master Hume, we are therefore provided; will her
聽聽聽聽ladyship behold and hear our exorcisms?
聽聽HUME. Ay, what else? Fear you not her courage.
聽聽BOLINGBROKE. I have heard her reported to be a woman of an
聽聽聽聽invincible spirit; but it shall be convenient, Master Hume,
that
聽聽聽聽you be by her aloft while we be busy below; and so I pray you
go,
聽聽聽聽in God's name, and leave us. [Exit HUME] Mother Jourdain, be
you
聽聽聽聽prostrate and grovel on the earth; John Southwell, read you;
and
聽聽聽聽let us to our work.

Enter DUCHESS aloft, followed by HUME

聽聽DUCHESS. Well said, my masters; and welcome all. To this gear,
the
聽聽聽聽sooner the better.
聽聽BOLINGBROKE. Patience, good lady; wizards know their times:
聽聽聽聽Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night,
聽聽聽聽The time of night when Troy was set on fire;
聽聽聽聽The time when screech-owls cry and ban-dogs howl,
聽聽聽聽And spirits walk and ghosts break up their graves-
聽聽聽聽That time best fits the work we have in hand.
聽聽聽聽Madam, sit you, and fear not: whom we raise
聽聽聽聽We will make fast within a hallow'd verge.

聽聽聽聽聽[Here they do the ceremonies belonging, and make the circle;
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽BOLINGBROKE or SOUTHWELL reads: 'Conjuro te,' &c.
聽聽聽聽聽It thunders and lightens terribly; then the SPIRIT riseth]

聽聽SPIRIT. Adsum.
聽聽MARGERY JOURDAIN. Asmath,
聽聽聽聽By the eternal God, whose name and power
聽聽聽聽Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask;
聽聽聽聽For till thou speak thou shalt not pass from hence.
聽聽SPIRIT. Ask what thou wilt; that I had said and done.
聽聽BOLINGBROKE. [Reads] 'First of the king: what shall of him
become?'
聽聽SPIRIT. The Duke yet lives that Henry shall depose;
聽聽聽聽But him outlive, and die a violent death.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[As the SPIRIT speaks, SOUTHWELL writes the answer]
聽聽BOLINGBROKE. 'What fates await the Duke of Suffolk?'
聽聽SPIRIT. By water shall he die and take his end.
聽聽BOLINGBROKE. 'What shall befall the Duke of Somerset?'
聽聽SPIRIT. Let him shun castles:
聽聽聽聽Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains
聽聽聽聽Than where castles mounted stand.
聽聽聽聽Have done, for more I hardly can endure.
聽聽BOLINGBROKE. Descend to darkness and the burning lake;
聽聽聽聽False fiend, avoid! Thunder and lightning. Exit SPIRIT

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Enter the DUKE OF YORK and the DUKE OF
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽BUCKINGHAM with guard, and break in

聽聽YORK. Lay hands upon these traitors and their trash.
聽聽聽聽Beldam, I think we watch'd you at an inch.
聽聽聽聽What, madam, are you there? The King and commonweal
聽聽聽聽Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains;
聽聽聽聽My Lord Protector will, I doubt it not,
聽聽聽聽See you well guerdon'd for these good deserts.
聽聽DUCHESS. Not half so bad as thine to England's king,
聽聽聽聽Injurious Duke, that threatest where's no cause.
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. True, madam, none at all. What can you this?
聽聽聽聽Away with them! let them be clapp'd up close,
聽聽聽聽And kept asunder. You, madam, shall with us.
聽聽聽聽Stafford, take her to thee.
聽聽聽聽We'll see your trinkets here all forthcoming.
聽聽聽聽All, away!
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Exeunt, above, DUCHESS and HUME, guarded; below,
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽WITCH, SOUTHWELL and BOLINGBROKE, guarded
聽聽YORK. Lord Buckingham, methinks you watch'd her well.
聽聽聽聽A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon!
聽聽聽聽Now, pray, my lord, let's see the devil's writ.
聽聽聽聽What have we here? [Reads]
聽聽聽聽'The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose;
聽聽聽聽But him outlive, and die a violent death.'
聽聽聽聽Why, this is just
聽聽聽聽'Aio te, Aeacida, Romanos vincere posse.'
聽聽聽聽Well, to the rest:
聽聽聽聽'Tell me what fate awaits the Duke of Suffolk?'
聽聽聽聽'By water shall he die and take his end.'
聽聽聽聽'What shall betide the Duke of Somerset?'
聽聽聽聽'Let him shun castles;
聽聽聽聽Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains
聽聽聽聽Than where castles mounted stand.'
聽聽聽聽Come, come, my lords;
聽聽聽聽These oracles are hardly attain'd,
聽聽聽聽And hardly understood.
聽聽聽聽The King is now in progress towards Saint Albans,
聽聽聽聽With him the husband of this lovely lady;
聽聽聽聽Thither go these news as fast as horse can carry them-
聽聽聽聽A sorry breakfast for my Lord Protector.
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. Your Grace shall give me leave, my Lord of York,
聽聽聽聽To be the post, in hope of his reward.
聽聽YORK. At your pleasure, my good lord.
聽聽聽聽Who's within there, ho?

Enter a serving-man

聽聽聽聽Invite my Lords of Salisbury and Warwick
聽聽聽聽To sup with me to-morrow night. Away! Exeunt

Saint Albans

Enter the KING, QUEEN, GLOUCESTER, CARDINAL, and SUFFOLK, with Falconers halloing

聽聽QUEEN. Believe me, lords, for flying at the brook,
聽聽聽聽I saw not better sport these seven years' day;
聽聽聽聽Yet, by your leave, the wind was very high,
聽聽聽聽And ten to one old Joan had not gone out.
聽聽KING HENRY. But what a point, my lord, your falcon made,
聽聽聽聽And what a pitch she flew above the rest!
聽聽聽聽To see how God in all His creatures works!
聽聽聽聽Yea, man and birds are fain of climbing high.
聽聽SUFFOLK. No marvel, an it like your Majesty,
聽聽聽聽My Lord Protector's hawks do tow'r so well;
聽聽聽聽They know their master loves to be aloft,
聽聽聽聽And bears his thoughts above his falcon's pitch.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. My lord, 'tis but a base ignoble mind
聽聽聽聽That mounts no higher than a bird can soar.
聽聽CARDINAL. I thought as much; he would be above the clouds.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Ay, my lord Cardinal, how think you by that?
聽聽聽聽Were it not good your Grace could fly to heaven?
聽聽KING HENRY. The treasury of everlasting joy!
聽聽CARDINAL. Thy heaven is on earth; thine eyes and thoughts
聽聽聽聽Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart;
聽聽聽聽Pernicious Protector, dangerous peer,
聽聽聽聽That smooth'st it so with King and commonweal.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. What, Cardinal, is your priesthood grown
peremptory?
聽聽聽聽Tantaene animis coelestibus irae?
聽聽聽聽Churchmen so hot? Good uncle, hide such malice;
聽聽聽聽With such holiness can you do it?
聽聽SUFFOLK. No malice, sir; no more than well becomes
聽聽聽聽So good a quarrel and so bad a peer.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. As who, my lord?
聽聽SUFFOLK. Why, as you, my lord,
聽聽聽聽An't like your lordly Lord's Protectorship.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Why, Suffolk, England knows thine insolence.
聽聽QUEEN. And thy ambition, Gloucester.
聽聽KING HENRY. I prithee, peace,
聽聽聽聽Good Queen, and whet not on these furious peers;
聽聽聽聽For blessed are the peacemakers on earth.
聽聽CARDINAL. Let me be blessed for the peace I make
聽聽聽聽Against this proud Protector with my sword!
聽聽GLOUCESTER. [Aside to CARDINAL] Faith, holy uncle, would 'twere
聽聽聽聽come to that!
聽聽CARDINAL. [Aside to GLOUCESTER] Marry, when thou dar'st.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. [Aside to CARDINAL] Make up no factious numbers for
the
听听听听听听尘补迟迟别谤;
聽聽聽聽In thine own person answer thy abuse.
聽聽CARDINAL. [Aside to GLOUCESTER] Ay, where thou dar'st not peep;
an
聽聽聽聽聽聽if thou dar'st,
聽聽聽聽This evening on the east side of the grove.
聽聽KING HENRY. How now, my lords!
聽聽CARDINAL. Believe me, cousin Gloucester,
聽聽聽聽Had not your man put up the fowl so suddenly,
聽聽聽聽We had had more sport. [Aside to GLOUCESTER] Come with thy
聽聽聽聽聽聽two-hand sword.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. True, uncle.
聽聽CARDINAL. [Aside to GLOUCESTER] Are ye advis'd? The east side
of
聽聽聽聽the grove?
聽聽GLOUCESTER. [Aside to CARDINAL] Cardinal, I am with you.
聽聽KING HENRY. Why, how now, uncle Gloucester!
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord.
聽聽聽聽[Aside to CARDINAL] Now, by God's Mother, priest,
聽聽聽聽I'll shave your crown for this,
聽聽聽聽Or all my fence shall fail.
聽聽CARDINAL. [Aside to GLOUCESTER] Medice, teipsum;
聽聽聽聽Protector, see to't well; protect yourself.
聽聽KING HENRY. The winds grow high; so do your stomachs, lords.
聽聽聽聽How irksome is this music to my heart!
聽聽聽聽When such strings jar, what hope of harmony?
聽聽聽聽I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife.

Enter a TOWNSMAN of Saint Albans, crying 'A miracle!'

聽聽GLOUCESTER. What means this noise?
聽聽聽聽Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim?
聽聽TOWNSMAN. A miracle! A miracle!
聽聽SUFFOLK. Come to the King, and tell him what miracle.
聽聽TOWNSMAN. Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Albans shrine
聽聽聽聽Within this half hour hath receiv'd his sight;
聽聽聽聽A man that ne'er saw in his life before.
聽聽KING HENRY. Now God be prais'd that to believing souls
聽聽聽聽Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair!

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Enter the MAYOR OF SAINT ALBANS and his brethren,
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽bearing Simpcox between two in a chair;
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽his WIFE and a multitude following

聽聽CARDINAL. Here comes the townsmen on procession
聽聽聽聽To present your Highness with the man.
聽聽KING HENRY. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale,
聽聽聽聽Although by his sight his sin be multiplied.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Stand by, my masters; bring him near the King;
聽聽聽聽His Highness' pleasure is to talk with him.
聽聽KING HENRY. Good fellow, tell us here the circumstance,
聽聽聽聽That we for thee may glorify the Lord.
聽聽聽聽What, hast thou been long blind and now restor'd?
聽聽SIMPCOX. Born blind, an't please your Grace.
聽聽WIFE. Ay indeed was he.
聽聽SUFFOLK. What woman is this?
聽聽WIFE. His wife, an't like your worship.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Hadst thou been his mother, thou couldst have
better
听听听听迟辞濒诲.
聽聽KING HENRY. Where wert thou born?
聽聽SIMPCOX. At Berwick in the north, an't like your Grace.
聽聽KING HENRY. Poor soul, God's goodness hath been great to thee.
聽聽聽聽Let never day nor night unhallowed pass,
聽聽聽聽But still remember what the Lord hath done.
聽聽QUEEN. Tell me, good fellow, cam'st thou here by chance,
聽聽聽聽Or of devotion, to this holy shrine?
聽聽SIMPCOX. God knows, of pure devotion; being call'd
聽聽聽聽A hundred times and oft'ner, in my sleep,
聽聽聽聽By good Saint Alban, who said 'Simpcox, come,
聽聽聽聽Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help thee.'
聽聽WIFE. Most true, forsooth; and many time and oft
聽聽聽聽Myself have heard a voice to call him so.
聽聽CARDINAL. What, art thou lame?
聽聽SIMPCOX. Ay, God Almighty help me!
聽聽SUFFOLK. How cam'st thou so?
聽聽SIMPCOX. A fall off of a tree.
聽聽WIFE. A plum tree, master.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. How long hast thou been blind?
聽聽SIMPCOX. O, born so, master!
聽聽GLOUCESTER. What, and wouldst climb a tree?
聽聽SIMPCOX. But that in all my life, when I was a youth.
聽聽WIFE. Too true; and bought his climbing very dear.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Mass, thou lov'dst plums well, that wouldst venture
so.
聽聽SIMPCOX. Alas, good master, my wife desir'd some damsons
聽聽聽聽And made me climb, With danger of my life.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. A subtle knave! But yet it shall not serve:
聽聽聽聽Let me see thine eyes; wink now; now open them;
聽聽聽聽In my opinion yet thou seest not well.
聽聽SIMPCOX. Yes, master, clear as day, I thank God and Saint
Alban.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Say'st thou me so? What colour is this cloak of?
聽聽SIMPCOX. Red, master; red as blood.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Why, that's well said. What colour is my gown of?
聽聽SIMPCOX. Black, forsooth; coal-black as jet.
聽聽KING HENRY. Why, then, thou know'st what colour jet is of?
聽聽SUFFOLK. And yet, I think, jet did he never see.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. But cloaks and gowns before this day a many.
聽聽WIFE. Never before this day in all his life.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Tell me, sirrah, what's my name?
聽聽SIMPCOX. Alas, master, I know not.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. What's his name?
聽聽SIMPCOX. I know not.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Nor his?
聽聽SIMPCOX. No, indeed, master.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. What's thine own name?
聽聽SIMPCOX. Saunder Simpcox, an if it please you, master.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Then, Saunder, sit there, the lying'st knave in
聽聽聽聽Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, thou mightst as
well
聽聽聽聽have known all our names as thus to name the several colours
we
聽聽聽聽do wear. Sight may distinguish of colours; but suddenly to
聽聽聽聽nominate them all, it is impossible. My lords, Saint Alban
here
聽聽聽聽hath done a miracle; and would ye not think his cunning to be
聽聽聽聽great that could restore this cripple to his legs again?
聽聽SIMPCOX. O master, that you could!
聽聽GLOUCESTER. My masters of Saint Albans, have you not beadles in
聽聽聽聽your town, and things call'd whips?
聽聽MAYOR. Yes, my lord, if it please your Grace.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Then send for one presently.
聽聽MAYOR. Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽听贰虫颈迟 an attendant
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Now fetch me a stool hither by and by. [A stool
聽聽聽聽brought] Now, sirrah, if you mean to save yourself from
whipping,
聽聽聽聽leap me over this stool and run away.
聽聽SIMPCOX. Alas, master, I am not able to stand alone!
聽聽聽聽You go about to torture me in vain.

Enter a BEADLE with whips

聽聽GLOUCESTER. Well, sir, we must have you find your legs.
聽聽聽聽Sirrah beadle, whip him till he leap over that same stool.
聽聽BEADLE. I will, my lord. Come on, sirrah; off with your doublet
听听听听辩耻颈肠办濒测.
聽聽SIMPCOX. Alas, master, what shall I do? I am not able to stand.

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽After the BEADLE hath hit him once, he leaps over
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽the stool and runs away; and they follow and cry
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽'A miracle!'

聽聽KING HENRY. O God, seest Thou this, and bearest so long?
聽聽QUEEN. It made me laugh to see the villain run.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Follow the knave, and take this drab away.
聽聽WIFE. Alas, sir, we did it for pure need!
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Let them be whipp'd through every market town till
they
聽聽聽聽come to Berwick, from whence they came.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Exeunt MAYOR, BEADLE, WIFE, &c.
聽聽CARDINAL. Duke Humphrey has done a miracle to-day.
聽聽SUFFOLK. True; made the lame to leap and fly away.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. But you have done more miracles than I:
聽聽聽聽You made in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly.

Enter BUCKINGHAM

聽聽KING HENRY. What tidings with our cousin Buckingham?
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold:
聽聽聽聽A sort of naughty persons, lewdly bent,
聽聽聽聽Under the countenance and confederacy
聽聽聽聽Of Lady Eleanor, the Protector's wife,
聽聽聽聽The ringleader and head of all this rout,
聽聽聽聽Have practis'd dangerously against your state,
聽聽聽聽Dealing with witches and with conjurers,
聽聽聽聽Whom we have apprehended in the fact,
聽聽聽聽Raising up wicked spirits from under ground,
聽聽聽聽Demanding of King Henry's life and death
聽聽聽聽And other of your Highness' Privy Council,
聽聽聽聽As more at large your Grace shall understand.
聽聽CARDINAL. And so, my Lord Protector, by this means
聽聽聽聽Your lady is forthcoming yet at London.
聽聽聽聽This news, I think, hath turn'd your weapon's edge;
聽聽聽聽'Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Ambitious churchman, leave to afflict my heart.
聽聽聽聽Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my powers;
聽聽聽聽And, vanquish'd as I am, I yield to the
聽聽聽聽Or to the meanest groom.
聽聽KING HENRY. O God, what mischiefs work the wicked ones,
聽聽聽聽Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby!
聽聽QUEEN. Gloucester, see here the tainture of thy nest;
聽聽聽聽And look thyself be faultless, thou wert best.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal
聽聽聽聽How I have lov'd my King and commonweal;
聽聽聽聽And for my wife I know not how it stands.
聽聽聽聽Sorry I am to hear what I have heard.
聽聽聽聽Noble she is; but if she have forgot
聽聽聽聽Honour and virtue, and convers'd with such
聽聽聽聽As, like to pitch, defile nobility,
聽聽聽聽I banish her my bed and company
聽聽聽聽And give her as a prey to law and shame,
聽聽聽聽That hath dishonoured Gloucester's honest name.
聽聽KING HENRY. Well, for this night we will repose us here.
聽聽聽聽To-morrow toward London back again
聽聽聽聽To look into this business thoroughly
聽聽聽聽And call these foul offenders to their answers,
聽聽聽聽And poise the cause in justice' equal scales,
聽聽聽聽Whose beam stands sure, whose rightful cause prevails.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Flourish. Exeunt

London. The DUKE OF YORK'S garden

Enter YORK, SALISBURY, and WARWICK

聽聽YORK. Now, my good Lords of Salisbury and Warwick,
聽聽聽聽Our simple supper ended, give me leave
聽聽聽聽In this close walk to satisfy myself
聽聽聽聽In craving your opinion of my tide,
聽聽聽聽Which is infallible, to England's crown.
聽聽SALISBURY. My lord, I long to hear it at full.
聽聽WARWICK. Sweet York, begin; and if thy claim be good,
聽聽聽聽The Nevils are thy subjects to command.
聽聽YORK. Then thus:
聽聽聽聽Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons;
聽聽聽聽The first, Edward the Black Prince, Prince of Wales;
聽聽聽聽The second, William of Hatfield; and the third,
聽聽聽聽Lionel Duke of Clarence; next to whom
聽聽聽聽Was John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster;
聽聽聽聽The fifth was Edmund Langley, Duke of York;
聽聽聽聽The sixth was Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester;
聽聽聽聽William of Windsor was the seventh and last.
聽聽聽聽Edward the Black Prince died before his father
聽聽聽聽And left behind him Richard, his only son,
聽聽聽聽Who, after Edward the Third's death, reign'd as king
聽聽聽聽Till Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster,
聽聽聽聽The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt,
聽聽聽聽Crown'd by the name of Henry the Fourth,
聽聽聽聽Seiz'd on the realm, depos'd the rightful king,
聽聽聽聽Sent his poor queen to France, from whence she came.
聽聽聽聽And him to Pomfret, where, as all you know,
聽聽聽聽Harmless Richard was murdered traitorously.
聽聽WARWICK. Father, the Duke hath told the truth;
聽聽聽聽Thus got the house of Lancaster the crown.
聽聽YORK. Which now they hold by force, and not by right;
聽聽聽聽For Richard, the first son's heir, being dead,
聽聽聽聽The issue of the next son should have reign'd.
聽聽SALISBURY. But William of Hatfield died without an heir.
聽聽YORK. The third son, Duke of Clarence, from whose line
聽聽聽聽I claim the crown, had issue Philippe, a daughter,
聽聽聽聽Who married Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March;
聽聽聽聽Edmund had issue, Roger Earl of March;
聽聽聽聽Roger had issue, Edmund, Anne, and Eleanor.
聽聽SALISBURY. This Edmund, in the reign of Bolingbroke,
聽聽聽聽As I have read, laid claim unto the crown;
聽聽聽聽And, but for Owen Glendower, had been king,
聽聽聽聽Who kept him in captivity till he died.
聽聽聽聽But, to the rest.
聽聽YORK. His eldest sister, Anne,
聽聽聽聽My mother, being heir unto the crown,
聽聽聽聽Married Richard Earl of Cambridge, who was
聽聽聽聽To Edmund Langley, Edward the Third's fifth son, son.
聽聽聽聽By her I claim the kingdom: she was heir
聽聽聽聽To Roger Earl of March, who was the son
聽聽聽聽Of Edmund Mortimer, who married Philippe,
聽聽聽聽Sole daughter unto Lionel Duke of Clarence;
聽聽聽聽So, if the issue of the elder son
聽聽聽聽Succeed before the younger, I am King.
聽聽WARWICK. What plain proceedings is more plain than this?
聽聽聽聽Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt,
聽聽聽聽The fourth son: York claims it from the third.
聽聽聽聽Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign.
聽聽聽聽It fails not yet, but flourishes in thee
聽聽聽聽And in thy sons, fair slips of such a stock.
聽聽聽聽Then, father Salisbury, kneel we together,
聽聽聽聽And in this private plot be we the first
聽聽聽聽That shall salute our rightful sovereign
聽聽聽聽With honour of his birthright to the crown.
聽聽BOTH. Long live our sovereign Richard, England's King!
聽聽YORK. We thank you, lords. But I am not your king
聽聽聽聽Till I be crown'd, and that my sword be stain'd
聽聽聽聽With heart-blood of the house of Lancaster;
聽聽聽聽And that's not suddenly to be perform'd,
聽聽聽聽But with advice and silent secrecy.
聽聽聽聽Do you as I do in these dangerous days:
聽聽聽聽Wink at the Duke of Suffolk's insolence,
聽聽聽聽At Beaufort's pride, at Somerset's ambition,
聽聽聽聽At Buckingham, and all the crew of them,
聽聽聽聽Till they have snar'd the shepherd of the flock,
聽聽聽聽That virtuous prince, the good Duke Humphrey;
聽聽聽聽'Tis that they seek; and they, in seeking that,
聽聽聽聽Shall find their deaths, if York can prophesy.
聽聽SALISBURY. My lord, break we off; we know your mind at full.
聽聽WARWICK. My heart assures me that the Earl of Warwick
聽聽聽聽Shall one day make the Duke of York a king.
聽聽YORK. And, Nevil, this I do assure myself,
聽聽聽聽Richard shall live to make the Earl of Warwick
聽聽聽聽The greatest man in England but the King. Exeunt

London. A hall of justice

Sound trumpets. Enter the KING and State: the QUEEN, GLOUCESTER,
YORK,
SUFFOLK, and SALISBURY, with guard, to banish the DUCHESS. Enter,
guarded,
the DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER, MARGERY JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTHWELL, and
BOLINGBROKE

聽聽KING HENRY. Stand forth, Dame Eleanor Cobham, Gloucester's
wife:
聽聽聽聽In sight of God and us, your guilt is great;
聽聽聽聽Receive the sentence of the law for sins
聽聽聽聽Such as by God's book are adjudg'd to death.
聽聽聽聽You four, from hence to prison back again;
聽聽聽聽From thence unto the place of execution:
聽聽聽聽The witch in Smithfield shall be burnt to ashes,
聽聽聽聽And you three shall be strangled on the gallows.
聽聽聽聽You, madam, for you are more nobly born,
聽聽聽聽Despoiled of your honour in your life,
聽聽聽聽Shall, after three days' open penance done,
聽聽聽聽Live in your country here in banishment
聽聽聽聽With Sir John Stanley in the Isle of Man.
聽聽DUCHESS. Welcome is banishment; welcome were my death.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Eleanor, the law, thou seest, hath judged thee.
聽聽聽聽I cannot justify whom the law condemns.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Exeunt the DUCHESS and the other prisoners, guarded
聽聽聽聽Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief.
聽聽聽聽Ah, Humphrey, this dishonour in thine age
聽聽聽聽Will bring thy head with sorrow to the ground!
聽聽聽聽I beseech your Majesty give me leave to go;
聽聽聽聽Sorrow would solace, and mine age would ease.
聽聽KING HENRY. Stay, Humphrey Duke of Gloucester; ere thou go,
聽聽聽聽Give up thy staff; Henry will to himself
聽聽聽聽Protector be; and God shall be my hope,
聽聽聽聽My stay, my guide, and lantern to my feet.
聽聽聽聽And go in peace, Humphrey, no less belov'd
聽聽聽聽Than when thou wert Protector to thy King.
聽聽QUEEN. I see no reason why a king of years
聽聽聽聽Should be to be protected like a child.
聽聽聽聽God and King Henry govern England's realm!
聽聽聽聽Give up your staff, sir, and the King his realm.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. My staff! Here, noble Henry, is my staff.
聽聽聽聽As willingly do I the same resign
聽聽聽聽As ere thy father Henry made it mine;
聽聽聽聽And even as willingly at thy feet I leave it
聽聽聽聽As others would ambitiously receive it.
聽聽聽聽Farewell, good King; when I am dead and gone,
聽聽聽聽May honourable peace attend thy throne! Exit
聽聽QUEEN. Why, now is Henry King, and Margaret Queen,
聽聽聽聽And Humphrey Duke of Gloucester scarce himself,
聽聽聽聽That bears so shrewd a maim: two pulls at once-
聽聽聽聽His lady banish'd and a limb lopp'd off.
聽聽聽聽This staff of honour raught, there let it stand
聽聽聽聽Where it best fits to be, in Henry's hand.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Thus droops this lofty pine and hangs his sprays;
聽聽聽聽Thus Eleanor's pride dies in her youngest days.
聽聽YORK. Lords, let him go. Please it your Majesty,
聽聽聽聽This is the day appointed for the combat;
聽聽聽聽And ready are the appellant and defendant,
聽聽聽聽The armourer and his man, to enter the lists,
聽聽聽聽So please your Highness to behold the fight.
聽聽QUEEN. Ay, good my lord; for purposely therefore
聽聽聽聽Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried.
聽聽KING HENRY. A God's name, see the lists and all things fit;
聽聽聽聽Here let them end it, and God defend the right!
聽聽YORK. I never saw a fellow worse bested,
聽聽聽聽Or more afraid to fight, than is the appellant,
聽聽聽聽The servant of his armourer, my lords.

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Enter at one door, HORNER, the Armourer, and his
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽NEIGHBOURS, drinking to him so much that he is
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽drunk; and he enters with a drum before him and
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽his staff with a sand-bag fastened to it; and at the
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽other door PETER, his man, with a drum and sandbag,
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽and PRENTICES drinking to him

聽聽FIRST NEIGHBOUR. Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a
cup of
聽聽聽聽sack; and fear not, neighbour, you shall do well enough.
聽聽SECOND NEIGHBOUR. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of
charneco.
聽聽THIRD NEIGHBOUR. And here's a pot of good double beer,
neighbour;
聽聽聽聽drink, and fear not your man.
聽聽HORNER. Let it come, i' faith, and I'll pledge you all; and a
fig
聽聽聽聽for Peter!
聽聽FIRST PRENTICE. Here, Peter, I drink to thee; and be not
afraid.
聽聽SECOND PRENTICE. Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master:
fight
聽聽聽聽for credit of the prentices.
聽聽PETER. I thank you all. Drink, and pray for me, I pray you; for
I
聽聽聽聽think I have taken my last draught in this world. Here,
Robin, an
聽聽聽聽if I die, I give thee my apron; and, Will, thou shalt have my
聽聽聽聽hammer; and here, Tom, take all the money that I have. O Lord
聽聽聽聽bless me, I pray God! for I am never able to deal with my
master,
聽聽聽聽he hath learnt so much fence already.
聽聽SALISBURY. Come, leave your drinking and fall to blows.
聽聽聽聽Sirrah, what's thy name?
聽聽PETER. Peter, forsooth.
聽聽SALISBURY. Peter? What more?
聽聽PETER. Thump.
聽聽SALISBURY. Thump? Then see thou thump thy master well.
聽聽HORNER. Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon my man's
聽聽聽聽instigation, to prove him a knave and myself an honest man;
and
聽聽聽聽touching the Duke of York, I will take my death I never meant
him
聽聽聽聽any ill, nor the King, nor the Queen; and therefore, Peter,
have
聽聽聽聽at thee with a down right blow!
聽聽YORK. Dispatch- this knave's tongue begins to double.
聽聽聽聽Sound, trumpets, alarum to the combatants!
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Alarum. They fight and PETER strikes him down]
聽聽HORNER. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听摆顿颈别蝉闭
聽聽YORK. Take away his weapon. Fellow, thank God, and the good
wine in
聽聽聽聽thy master's way.
聽聽PETER. O God, have I overcome mine enemies in this presence? O
聽聽聽聽Peter, thou hast prevail'd in right!
聽聽KING HENRY. Go, take hence that traitor from our sight,
聽聽聽聽For by his death we do perceive his guilt;
聽聽聽聽And God in justice hath reveal'd to us
聽聽聽聽The truth and innocence of this poor fellow,
聽聽聽聽Which he had thought to have murder'd wrongfully.
聽聽聽聽Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Sound a flourish. Exeunt

London. A street

Enter DUKE HUMPHREY and his men, in mourning cloaks

聽聽GLOUCESTER. Thus sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud,
聽聽聽聽And after summer evermore succeeds
聽聽聽聽Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold;
聽聽聽聽So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet.
聽聽聽聽Sirs, what's o'clock?
聽聽SERVING-MAN. Ten, my lord.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Ten is the hour that was appointed me
聽聽聽聽To watch the coming of my punish'd duchess.
聽聽聽聽Uneath may she endure the flinty streets
聽聽聽聽To tread them with her tender-feeling feet.
聽聽聽聽Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook
聽聽聽聽The abject people gazing on thy face,
聽聽聽聽With envious looks, laughing at thy shame,
聽聽聽聽That erst did follow thy proud chariot wheels
聽聽聽聽When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets.
聽聽聽聽But, soft! I think she comes, and I'll prepare
聽聽聽聽My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries.

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Enter the DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER in a white sheet,
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽and a taper burning in her hand, with SIR JOHN
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽STANLEY, the SHERIFF, and OFFICERS

聽聽SERVING-MAN. So please your Grace, we'll take her from the
sheriff.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. No, stir not for your lives; let her pass by.
聽聽DUCHESS. Come you, my lord, to see my open shame?
聽聽聽聽Now thou dost penance too. Look how they gaze!
聽聽聽聽See how the giddy multitude do point
聽聽聽聽And nod their heads and throw their eyes on thee;
聽聽聽聽Ah, Gloucester, hide thee from their hateful looks,
聽聽聽聽And, in thy closet pent up, rue my shame
聽聽聽聽And ban thine enemies, both mine and thine!
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief.
聽聽DUCHESS. Ah, Gloucester, teach me to forget myself!
聽聽聽聽For whilst I think I am thy married wife
聽聽聽聽And thou a prince, Protector of this land,
聽聽聽聽Methinks I should not thus be led along,
聽聽聽聽Mail'd up in shame, with papers on my back,
聽聽聽聽And follow'd with a rabble that rejoice
聽聽聽聽To see my tears and hear my deep-fet groans.
聽聽聽聽The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet,
聽聽聽聽And when I start, the envious people laugh
聽聽聽聽And bid me be advised how I tread.
聽聽聽聽Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke?
聽聽聽聽Trowest thou that e'er I'll look upon the world
聽聽聽聽Or count them happy that enjoy the sun?
聽聽聽聽No; dark shall be my light and night my day;
聽聽聽聽To think upon my pomp shall be my hell.
聽聽聽聽Sometimes I'll say I am Duke Humphrey's wife,
聽聽聽聽And he a prince, and ruler of the land;
聽聽聽聽Yet so he rul'd, and such a prince he was,
聽聽聽聽As he stood by whilst I, his forlorn duchess,
聽聽聽聽Was made a wonder and a pointing-stock
聽聽聽聽To every idle rascal follower.
聽聽聽聽But be thou mild, and blush not at my shame,
聽聽聽聽Nor stir at nothing till the axe of death
聽聽聽聽Hang over thee, as sure it shortly will.
聽聽聽聽For Suffolk- he that can do all in all
聽聽聽聽With her that hateth thee and hates us all-
聽聽聽聽And York, and impious Beaufort, that false priest,
聽聽聽聽Have all lim'd bushes to betray thy wings,
聽聽聽聽And, fly thou how thou canst, they'll tangle thee.
聽聽聽聽But fear not thou until thy foot be snar'd,
聽聽聽聽Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Ah, Nell, forbear! Thou aimest all awry.
聽聽聽聽I must offend before I be attainted;
聽聽聽聽And had I twenty times so many foes,
聽聽聽聽And each of them had twenty times their power,
聽聽聽聽All these could not procure me any scathe
聽聽聽聽So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless.
聽聽聽聽Wouldst have me rescue thee from this reproach?
聽聽聽聽Why, yet thy scandal were not wip'd away,
聽聽聽聽But I in danger for the breach of law.
聽聽聽聽Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell.
聽聽聽聽I pray thee sort thy heart to patience;
聽聽聽聽These few days' wonder will be quickly worn.

Enter a HERALD

聽聽HERALD. I summon your Grace to his Majesty's Parliament,
聽聽聽聽Holden at Bury the first of this next month.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. And my consent ne'er ask'd herein before!
聽聽聽聽This is close dealing. Well, I will be there. Exit HERALD
聽聽聽聽My Nell, I take my leave- and, master sheriff,
聽聽聽聽Let not her penance exceed the King's commission.
聽聽SHERIFF. An't please your Grace, here my commission stays;
聽聽聽聽And Sir John Stanley is appointed now
聽聽聽聽To take her with him to the Isle of Man.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Must you, Sir John, protect my lady here?
聽聽STANLEY. So am I given in charge, may't please your Grace.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Entreat her not the worse in that I pray
聽聽聽聽You use her well; the world may laugh again,
聽聽聽聽And I may live to do you kindness if
聽聽聽聽You do it her. And so, Sir John, farewell.
聽聽DUCHESS. What, gone, my lord, and bid me not farewell!
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Exeunt GLOUCESTER and servants
聽聽DUCHESS. Art thou gone too? All comfort go with thee!
聽聽聽聽For none abides with me. My joy is death-
聽聽聽聽Death, at whose name I oft have been afeard,
聽聽聽聽Because I wish'd this world's eternity.
聽聽聽聽Stanley, I prithee go, and take me hence;
聽聽聽聽I care not whither, for I beg no favour,
聽聽聽聽Only convey me where thou art commanded.
聽聽STANLEY. Why, madam, that is to the Isle of Man,
聽聽聽聽There to be us'd according to your state.
聽聽DUCHESS. That's bad enough, for I am but reproach-
聽聽聽聽And shall I then be us'd reproachfully?
聽聽STANLEY. Like to a duchess and Duke Humphrey's lady;
聽聽聽聽According to that state you shall be us'd.
聽聽DUCHESS. Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare,
聽聽聽聽Although thou hast been conduct of my shame.
聽聽SHERIFF. It is my office; and, madam, pardon me.
聽聽DUCHESS. Ay, ay, farewell; thy office is discharg'd.
聽聽聽聽Come, Stanley, shall we go?
聽聽STANLEY. Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet,
聽聽聽聽And go we to attire you for our journey.
聽聽DUCHESS. My shame will not be shifted with my sheet.
聽聽聽聽No, it will hang upon my richest robes
聽聽聽聽And show itself, attire me how I can.
聽聽聽聽Go, lead the way; I long to see my prison. Exeunt

The Abbey at Bury St. Edmunds

Sound a sennet. Enter the KING, the QUEEN, CARDINAL, SUFFOLK,
YORK,
BUCKINGHAM, SALISBURY, and WARWICK, to the Parliament

聽聽KING HENRY. I muse my Lord of Gloucester is not come.
聽聽聽聽'Tis not his wont to be the hindmost man,
聽聽聽聽Whate'er occasion keeps him from us now.
聽聽QUEEN. Can you not see, or will ye not observe
聽聽聽聽The strangeness of his alter'd countenance?
聽聽聽聽With what a majesty he bears himself;
聽聽聽聽How insolent of late he is become,
聽聽聽聽How proud, how peremptory, and unlike himself?
聽聽聽聽We know the time since he was mild and affable,
聽聽聽聽And if we did but glance a far-off look
聽聽聽聽Immediately he was upon his knee,
聽聽聽聽That all the court admir'd him for submission.
聽聽聽聽But meet him now and be it in the morn,
聽聽聽聽When every one will give the time of day,
聽聽聽聽He knits his brow and shows an angry eye
聽聽聽聽And passeth by with stiff unbowed knee,
聽聽聽聽Disdaining duty that to us belongs.
聽聽聽聽Small curs are not regarded when they grin,
聽聽聽聽But great men tremble when the lion roars,
聽聽聽聽And Humphrey is no little man in England.
聽聽聽聽First note that he is near you in descent,
聽聽聽聽And should you fall he is the next will mount;
聽聽聽聽Me seemeth, then, it is no policy-
聽聽聽聽Respecting what a rancorous mind he bears,
聽聽聽聽And his advantage following your decease-
聽聽聽聽That he should come about your royal person
聽聽聽聽Or be admitted to your Highness' Council.
聽聽聽聽By flattery hath he won the commons' hearts;
聽聽聽聽And when he please to make commotion,
聽聽聽聽'Tis to be fear'd they all will follow him.
聽聽聽聽Now 'tis the spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted;
聽聽聽聽Suffer them now, and they'll o'ergrow the garden
聽聽聽聽And choke the herbs for want of husbandry.
聽聽聽聽The reverent care I bear unto my lord
聽聽聽聽Made me collect these dangers in the Duke.
聽聽聽聽If it be fond, can it a woman's fear;
聽聽聽聽Which fear if better reasons can supplant,
聽聽聽聽I will subscribe, and say I wrong'd the Duke.
聽聽聽聽My Lord of Suffolk, Buckingham, and York,
聽聽聽聽Reprove my allegation if you can,
聽聽聽聽Or else conclude my words effectual.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Well hath your Highness seen into this duke;
聽聽聽聽And had I first been put to speak my mind,
聽聽聽聽I think I should have told your Grace's tale.
聽聽聽聽The Duchess, by his subornation,
聽聽聽聽Upon my life, began her devilish practices;
聽聽聽聽Or if he were not privy to those faults,
聽聽聽聽Yet by reputing of his high descent-
聽聽聽聽As next the King he was successive heir-
聽聽聽聽And such high vaunts of his nobility,
聽聽聽聽Did instigate the bedlam brainsick Duchess
聽聽聽聽By wicked means to frame our sovereign's fall.
聽聽聽聽Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep,
聽聽聽聽And in his simple show he harbours treason.
聽聽聽聽The fox barks not when he would steal the lamb.
聽聽聽聽No, no, my sovereign, Gloucester is a man
聽聽聽聽Unsounded yet, and full of deep deceit.
聽聽CARDINAL. Did he not, contrary to form of law,
聽聽聽聽Devise strange deaths for small offences done?
聽聽YORK. And did he not, in his protectorship,
聽聽聽聽Levy great sums of money through the realm
聽聽聽聽For soldiers' pay in France, and never sent it?
聽聽聽聽By means whereof the towns each day revolted.
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. Tut, these are petty faults to faults unknown
聽聽聽聽Which time will bring to light in smooth Duke Humphrey.
聽聽KING HENRY. My lords, at once: the care you have of us,
聽聽聽聽To mow down thorns that would annoy our foot,
聽聽聽聽Is worthy praise; but shall I speak my conscience?
聽聽聽聽Our kinsman Gloucester is as innocent
聽聽聽聽From meaning treason to our royal person
聽聽聽聽As is the sucking lamb or harmless dove:
聽聽聽聽The Duke is virtuous, mild, and too well given
聽聽聽聽To dream on evil or to work my downfall.
聽聽QUEEN. Ah, what's more dangerous than this fond affiance?
聽聽聽聽Seems he a dove? His feathers are but borrow'd,
聽聽聽聽For he's disposed as the hateful raven.
聽聽聽聽Is he a lamb? His skin is surely lent him,
聽聽聽聽For he's inclin'd as is the ravenous wolf.
聽聽聽聽Who cannot steal a shape that means deceit?
聽聽聽聽Take heed, my lord; the welfare of us all
聽聽聽聽Hangs on the cutting short that fraudful man.

Enter SOMERSET

聽聽SOMERSET. All health unto my gracious sovereign!
聽聽KING HENRY. Welcome, Lord Somerset. What news from France?
聽聽SOMERSET. That all your interest in those territories
聽聽聽聽Is utterly bereft you; all is lost.
聽聽KING HENRY. Cold news, Lord Somerset; but God's will be done!
聽聽YORK. [Aside] Cold news for me; for I had hope of France
聽聽聽聽As firmly as I hope for fertile England.
聽聽聽聽Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bud,
聽聽聽聽And caterpillars eat my leaves away;
聽聽聽聽But I will remedy this gear ere long,
聽聽聽聽Or sell my title for a glorious grave.

Enter GLOUCESTER

聽聽GLOUCESTER. All happiness unto my lord the King!
聽聽聽聽Pardon, my liege, that I have stay'd so long.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Nay, Gloucester, know that thou art come too soon,
聽聽聽聽Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art.
聽聽聽聽I do arrest thee of high treason here.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Well, Suffolk, thou shalt not see me blush
聽聽聽聽Nor change my countenance for this arrest:
聽聽聽聽A heart unspotted is not easily daunted.
聽聽聽聽The purest spring is not so free from mud
聽聽聽聽As I am clear from treason to my sovereign.
聽聽聽聽Who can accuse me? Wherein am I guilty?
聽聽YORK. 'Tis thought, my lord, that you took bribes of France
聽聽聽聽And, being Protector, stay'd the soldiers' pay;
聽聽聽聽By means whereof his Highness hath lost France.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Is it but thought so? What are they that think it?
聽聽聽聽I never robb'd the soldiers of their pay
聽聽聽聽Nor ever had one penny bribe from France.
聽聽聽聽So help me God, as I have watch'd the night-
聽聽聽聽Ay, night by night- in studying good for England!
聽聽聽聽That doit that e'er I wrested from the King,
聽聽聽聽Or any groat I hoarded to my use,
聽聽聽聽Be brought against me at my trial-day!
聽聽聽聽No; many a pound of mine own proper store,
聽聽聽聽Because I would not tax the needy commons,
聽聽聽聽Have I dispursed to the garrisons,
聽聽聽聽And never ask'd for restitution.
聽聽CARDINAL. It serves you well, my lord, to say so much.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. I say no more than truth, so help me God!
聽聽YORK. In your protectorship you did devise
聽聽聽聽Strange tortures for offenders, never heard of,
聽聽聽聽That England was defam'd by tyranny.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Why, 'tis well known that whiles I was Protector
聽聽聽聽Pity was all the fault that was in me;
聽聽聽聽For I should melt at an offender's tears,
聽聽聽聽And lowly words were ransom for their fault.
聽聽聽聽Unless it were a bloody murderer,
聽聽聽聽Or foul felonious thief that fleec'd poor passengers,
聽聽聽聽I never gave them condign punishment.
聽聽聽聽Murder indeed, that bloody sin, I tortur'd
聽聽聽聽Above the felon or what trespass else.
聽聽SUFFOLK. My lord, these faults are easy, quickly answer'd;
聽聽聽聽But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge,
聽聽聽聽Whereof you cannot easily purge yourself.
聽聽聽聽I do arrest you in His Highness' name,
聽聽聽聽And here commit you to my Lord Cardinal
聽聽聽聽To keep until your further time of trial.
聽聽KING HENRY. My Lord of Gloucester, 'tis my special hope
聽聽聽聽That you will clear yourself from all suspense.
聽聽聽聽My conscience tells me you are innocent.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous!
聽聽聽聽Virtue is chok'd with foul ambition,
聽聽聽聽And charity chas'd hence by rancour's hand;
聽聽聽聽Foul subornation is predominant,
聽聽聽聽And equity exil'd your Highness' land.
聽聽聽聽I know their complot is to have my life;
聽聽聽聽And if my death might make this island happy
聽聽聽聽And prove the period of their tyranny,
聽聽聽聽I would expend it with all willingness.
聽聽聽聽But mine is made the prologue to their play;
聽聽聽聽For thousands more that yet suspect no peril
聽聽聽聽Will not conclude their plotted tragedy.
聽聽聽聽Beaufort's red sparkling eyes blab his heart's malice,
聽聽聽聽And Suffolk's cloudy brow his stormy hate;
聽聽聽聽Sharp Buckingham unburdens with his tongue
聽聽聽聽The envious load that lies upon his heart;
聽聽聽聽And dogged York, that reaches at the moon,
聽聽聽聽Whose overweening arm I have pluck'd back,
聽聽聽聽By false accuse doth level at my life.
聽聽聽聽And you, my sovereign lady, with the rest,
聽聽聽聽Causeless have laid disgraces on my head,
聽聽聽聽And with your best endeavour have stirr'd up
聽聽聽聽My liefest liege to be mine enemy;
聽聽聽聽Ay, all of you have laid your heads together-
聽聽聽聽Myself had notice of your conventicles-
聽聽聽聽And all to make away my guiltless life.
聽聽聽聽I shall not want false witness to condemn me
聽聽聽聽Nor store of treasons to augment my guilt.
聽聽聽聽The ancient proverb will be well effected:
聽聽聽聽'A staff is quickly found to beat a dog.'
聽聽CARDINAL. My liege, his railing is intolerable.
聽聽聽聽If those that care to keep your royal person
聽聽聽聽From treason's secret knife and traitor's rage
聽聽聽聽Be thus upbraided, chid, and rated at,
聽聽聽聽And the offender granted scope of speech,
聽聽聽聽'Twill make them cool in zeal unto your Grace.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Hath he not twit our sovereign lady here
聽聽聽聽With ignominious words, though clerkly couch'd,
聽聽聽聽As if she had suborned some to swear
聽聽聽聽False allegations to o'erthrow his state?
聽聽QUEEN. But I can give the loser leave to chide.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Far truer spoke than meant: I lose indeed.
聽聽聽聽Beshrew the winners, for they play'd me false!
聽聽聽聽And well such losers may have leave to speak.
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. He'll wrest the sense, and hold us here all day.
聽聽聽聽Lord Cardinal, he is your prisoner.
聽聽CARDINAL. Sirs, take away the Duke, and guard him sure.
聽聽GLOUCESTER. Ah, thus King Henry throws away his crutch
聽聽聽聽Before his legs be firm to bear his body!
聽聽聽聽Thus is the shepherd beaten from thy side,
聽聽聽聽And wolves are gnarling who shall gnaw thee first.
聽聽聽聽Ah, that my fear were false! ah, that it were!
聽聽聽聽For, good King Henry, thy decay I fear. Exit, guarded
聽聽KING HENRY. My lords, what to your wisdoms seemeth best
聽聽聽聽Do or undo, as if ourself were here.
聽聽QUEEN. What, will your Highness leave the Parliament?
聽聽KING HENRY. Ay, Margaret; my heart is drown'd with grief,
聽聽聽聽Whose flood begins to flow within mine eyes;
聽聽聽聽My body round engirt with misery-
聽聽聽聽For what's more miserable than discontent?
聽聽聽聽Ah, uncle Humphrey, in thy face I see
聽聽聽聽The map of honour, truth, and loyalty!
聽聽聽聽And yet, good Humphrey, is the hour to come
聽聽聽聽That e'er I prov'd thee false or fear'd thy faith.
聽聽聽聽What louring star now envies thy estate
聽聽聽聽That these great lords, and Margaret our Queen,
聽聽聽聽Do seek subversion of thy harmless life?
聽聽聽聽Thou never didst them wrong, nor no man wrong;
聽聽聽聽And as the butcher takes away the calf,
聽聽聽聽And binds the wretch, and beats it when it strays,
聽聽聽聽Bearing it to the bloody slaughter-house,
聽聽聽聽Even so, remorseless, have they borne him hence;
聽聽聽聽And as the dam runs lowing up and down,
聽聽聽聽Looking the way her harmless young one went,
聽聽聽聽And can do nought but wail her darling's loss,
聽聽聽聽Even so myself bewails good Gloucester's case
聽聽聽聽With sad unhelpful tears, and with dimm'd eyes
聽聽聽聽Look after him, and cannot do him good,
聽聽聽聽So mighty are his vowed enemies.
聽聽聽聽His fortunes I will weep, and 'twixt each groan
聽聽聽聽Say 'Who's a traitor? Gloucester he is none.' Exit
聽聽QUEEN. Free lords, cold snow melts with the sun's hot beams:
聽聽聽聽Henry my lord is cold in great affairs,
聽聽聽聽Too full of foolish pity; and Gloucester's show
聽聽聽聽Beguiles him as the mournful crocodile
聽聽聽聽With sorrow snares relenting passengers;
聽聽聽聽Or as the snake, roll'd in a flow'ring bank,
聽聽聽聽With shining checker'd slough, doth sting a child
聽聽聽聽That for the beauty thinks it excellent.
聽聽聽聽Believe me, lords, were none more wise than I-
聽聽聽聽And yet herein I judge mine own wit good-
聽聽聽聽This Gloucester should be quickly rid the world
聽聽聽聽To rid us from the fear we have of him.
聽聽CARDINAL. That he should die is worthy policy;
聽聽聽聽But yet we want a colour for his death.
聽聽聽聽'Tis meet he be condemn'd by course of law.
聽聽SUFFOLK. But, in my mind, that were no policy:
聽聽聽聽The King will labour still to save his life;
聽聽聽聽The commons haply rise to save his life;
聽聽聽聽And yet we have but trivial argument,
聽聽聽聽More than mistrust, that shows him worthy death.
聽聽YORK. So that, by this, you would not have him die.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Ah, York, no man alive so fain as I!
聽聽YORK. 'Tis York that hath more reason for his death.
聽聽聽聽But, my Lord Cardinal, and you, my Lord of Suffolk,
聽聽聽聽Say as you think, and speak it from your souls:
聽聽聽聽Were't not all one an empty eagle were set
聽聽聽聽To guard the chicken from a hungry kite
聽聽聽聽As place Duke Humphrey for the King's Protector?
聽聽QUEEN. So the poor chicken should be sure of death.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Madam, 'tis true; and were't not madness then
聽聽聽聽To make the fox surveyor of the fold?
聽聽聽聽Who being accus'd a crafty murderer,
聽聽聽聽His guilt should be but idly posted over,
聽聽聽聽Because his purpose is not executed.
聽聽聽聽No; let him die, in that he is a fox,
聽聽聽聽By nature prov'd an enemy to the flock,
聽聽聽聽Before his chaps be stain'd with crimson blood,
聽聽聽聽As Humphrey, prov'd by reasons, to my liege.
聽聽聽聽And do not stand on quillets how to slay him;
聽聽聽聽Be it by gins, by snares, by subtlety,
聽聽聽聽Sleeping or waking, 'tis no matter how,
聽聽聽聽So he be dead; for that is good deceit
聽聽聽聽Which mates him first that first intends deceit.
聽聽QUEEN. Thrice-noble Suffolk, 'tis resolutely spoke.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Not resolute, except so much were done,
聽聽聽聽For things are often spoke and seldom meant;
聽聽聽聽But that my heart accordeth with my tongue,
聽聽聽聽Seeing the deed is meritorious,
聽聽聽聽And to preserve my sovereign from his foe,
聽聽聽聽Say but the word, and I will be his priest.
聽聽CARDINAL. But I would have him dead, my Lord of Suffolk,
聽聽聽聽Ere you can take due orders for a priest;
聽聽聽聽Say you consent and censure well the deed,
聽聽聽聽And I'll provide his executioner-
聽聽聽聽I tender so the safety of my liege.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Here is my hand the deed is worthy doing.
聽聽QUEEN. And so say I.
聽聽YORK. And I. And now we three have spoke it,
聽聽聽聽It skills not greatly who impugns our doom.

Enter a POST

聽聽POST. Great lords, from Ireland am I come amain
聽聽聽聽To signify that rebels there are up
聽聽聽聽And put the Englishmen unto the sword.
聽聽聽聽Send succours, lords, and stop the rage betime,
聽聽聽聽Before the wound do grow uncurable;
聽聽聽聽For, being green, there is great hope of help.
聽聽CARDINAL. A breach that craves a quick expedient stop!
聽聽聽聽What counsel give you in this weighty cause?
聽聽YORK. That Somerset be sent as Regent thither;
聽聽聽聽'Tis meet that lucky ruler be employ'd,
聽聽聽聽Witness the fortune he hath had in France.
聽聽SOMERSET. If York, with all his far-fet policy,
聽聽聽聽Had been the Regent there instead of me,
聽聽聽聽He never would have stay'd in France so long.
聽聽YORK. No, not to lose it all as thou hast done.
聽聽聽聽I rather would have lost my life betimes
聽聽聽聽Than bring a burden of dishonour home
聽聽聽聽By staying there so long till all were lost.
聽聽聽聽Show me one scar character'd on thy skin:
聽聽聽聽Men's flesh preserv'd so whole do seldom win.
聽聽QUEEN. Nay then, this spark will prove a raging fire,
聽聽聽聽If wind and fuel be brought to feed it with;
聽聽聽聽No more, good York; sweet Somerset, be still.
聽聽聽聽Thy fortune, York, hadst thou been Regent there,
聽聽聽聽Might happily have prov'd far worse than his.
聽聽YORK. What, worse than nought? Nay, then a shame take all!
聽聽SOMERSET. And in the number, thee that wishest shame!
聽聽CARDINAL. My Lord of York, try what your fortune is.
聽聽聽聽Th' uncivil kerns of Ireland are in arms
聽聽聽聽And temper clay with blood of Englishmen;
聽聽聽聽To Ireland will you lead a band of men,
聽聽聽聽Collected choicely, from each county some,
聽聽聽聽And try your hap against the Irishmen?
聽聽YORK. I will, my lord, so please his Majesty.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Why, our authority is his consent,
聽聽聽聽And what we do establish he confirms;
聽聽聽聽Then, noble York, take thou this task in hand.
聽聽YORK. I am content; provide me soldiers, lords,
聽聽聽聽Whiles I take order for mine own affairs.
聽聽SUFFOLK. A charge, Lord York, that I will see perform'd.
聽聽聽聽But now return we to the false Duke Humphrey.
聽聽CARDINAL. No more of him; for I will deal with him
聽聽聽聽That henceforth he shall trouble us no more.
聽聽聽聽And so break off; the day is almost spent.
聽聽聽聽Lord Suffolk, you and I must talk of that event.
聽聽YORK. My Lord of Suffolk, within fourteen days
聽聽聽聽At Bristol I expect my soldiers;
聽聽聽聽For there I'll ship them all for Ireland.
聽聽SUFFOLK. I'll see it truly done, my Lord of York.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Exeunt all but YORK
聽聽YORK. Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful thoughts
聽聽聽聽And change misdoubt to resolution;
聽聽聽聽Be that thou hop'st to be; or what thou art
聽聽聽聽Resign to death- it is not worth th' enjoying.
聽聽聽聽Let pale-fac'd fear keep with the mean-born man
聽聽聽聽And find no harbour in a royal heart.
聽聽聽聽Faster than spring-time show'rs comes thought on thought,
聽聽聽聽And not a thought but thinks on dignity.
聽聽聽聽My brain, more busy than the labouring spider,
聽聽聽聽Weaves tedious snares to trap mine enemies.
聽聽聽聽Well, nobles, well, 'tis politicly done
聽聽聽聽To send me packing with an host of men.
聽聽聽聽I fear me you but warm the starved snake,
聽聽聽聽Who, cherish'd in your breasts, will sting your hearts.
聽聽聽聽'Twas men I lack'd, and you will give them me;
聽聽聽聽I take it kindly. Yet be well assur'd
聽聽聽聽You put sharp weapons in a madman's hands.
聽聽聽聽Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band,
聽聽聽聽I will stir up in England some black storm
聽聽聽聽Shall blow ten thousand souls to heaven or hell;
聽聽聽聽And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage
聽聽聽聽Until the golden circuit on my head,
聽聽聽聽Like to the glorious sun's transparent beams,
聽聽聽聽Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw.
聽聽聽聽And for a minister of my intent
聽聽聽聽I have seduc'd a headstrong Kentishman,
聽聽聽聽John Cade of Ashford,
聽聽聽聽To make commotion, as full well he can,
聽聽聽聽Under the tide of John Mortimer.
聽聽聽聽In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade
聽聽聽聽Oppose himself against a troop of kerns,
聽聽聽聽And fought so long tiff that his thighs with darts
聽聽聽聽Were almost like a sharp-quill'd porpentine;
聽聽聽聽And in the end being rescu'd, I have seen
聽聽聽聽Him caper upright like a wild Morisco,
聽聽聽聽Shaking the bloody darts as he his bells.
聽聽聽聽Full often, like a shag-hair'd crafty kern,
聽聽聽聽Hath he conversed with the enemy,
聽聽聽聽And undiscover'd come to me again
聽聽聽聽And given me notice of their villainies.
聽聽聽聽This devil here shall be my substitute;
聽聽聽聽For that John Mortimer, which now is dead,
聽聽聽聽In face, in gait, in speech, he doth resemble.
聽聽聽聽By this I shall perceive the commons' mind,
聽聽聽聽How they affect the house and claim of York.
聽聽聽聽Say he be taken, rack'd, and tortured;
聽聽聽聽I know no pain they can inflict upon him
聽聽聽聽Will make him say I mov'd him to those arms.
聽聽聽聽Say that he thrive, as 'tis great like he will,
聽聽聽聽Why, then from Ireland come I with my strength,
聽聽聽聽And reap the harvest which that rascal sow'd;
聽聽聽聽For Humphrey being dead, as he shall be,
聽聽聽聽And Henry put apart, the next for me. Exit

Bury St. Edmunds. A room of state

Enter two or three MURDERERS running over the stage, from the murder of DUKE HUMPHREY

聽聽FIRST MURDERER. Run to my Lord of Suffolk; let him know
聽聽聽聽We have dispatch'd the Duke, as he commanded.
聽聽SECOND MURDERER. O that it were to do! What have we done?
聽聽聽聽Didst ever hear a man so penitent?

Enter SUFFOLK

聽聽FIRST MURDERER. Here comes my lord.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Now, sirs, have you dispatch'd this thing?
聽聽FIRST MURDERER. Ay, my good lord, he's dead.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Why, that's well said. Go, get you to my house;
聽聽聽聽I will reward you for this venturous deed.
聽聽聽聽The King and all the peers are here at hand.
聽聽聽聽Have you laid fair the bed? Is all things well,
聽聽聽聽According as I gave directions?
聽聽FIRST MURDERER. 'Tis, my good lord.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Away! be gone. Exeunt MURDERERS

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Sound trumpets. Enter the KING, the QUEEN,
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽CARDINAL, SOMERSET, with attendants

聽聽KING HENRY. Go call our uncle to our presence straight;
聽聽聽聽Say we intend to try his Grace to-day,
聽聽聽聽If he be guilty, as 'tis published.
聽聽SUFFOLK. I'll call him presently, my noble lord. Exit
聽聽KING HENRY. Lords, take your places; and, I pray you all,
聽聽聽聽Proceed no straiter 'gainst our uncle Gloucester
聽聽聽聽Than from true evidence, of good esteem,
聽聽聽聽He be approv'd in practice culpable.
聽聽QUEEN. God forbid any malice should prevail
聽聽聽聽That faultless may condemn a nobleman!
聽聽聽聽Pray God he may acquit him of suspicion!
聽聽KING HENRY. I thank thee, Meg; these words content me much.

Re-enter SUFFOLK

聽聽聽聽How now! Why look'st thou pale? Why tremblest thou?
聽聽聽聽Where is our uncle? What's the matter, Suffolk?
聽聽SUFFOLK. Dead in his bed, my lord; Gloucester is dead.
聽聽QUEEN. Marry, God forfend!
聽聽CARDINAL. God's secret judgment! I did dream to-night
聽聽聽聽The Duke was dumb and could not speak a word.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[The KING swoons]
聽聽QUEEN. How fares my lord? Help, lords! The King is dead.
聽聽SOMERSET. Rear up his body; wring him by the nose.
聽聽QUEEN. Run, go, help, help! O Henry, ope thine eyes!
聽聽SUFFOLK. He doth revive again; madam, be patient.
聽聽KING. O heavenly God!
聽聽QUEEN. How fares my gracious lord?
聽聽SUFFOLK. Comfort, my sovereign! Gracious Henry, comfort!
聽聽KING HENRY. What, doth my Lord of Suffolk comfort me?
聽聽聽聽Came he right now to sing a raven's note,
聽聽聽聽Whose dismal tune bereft my vital pow'rs;
聽聽聽聽And thinks he that the chirping of a wren,
聽聽聽聽By crying comfort from a hollow breast,
聽聽聽聽Can chase away the first conceived sound?
聽聽聽聽Hide not thy poison with such sug'red words;
聽聽聽聽Lay not thy hands on me; forbear, I say,
聽聽聽聽Their touch affrights me as a serpent's sting.
聽聽聽聽Thou baleful messenger, out of my sight!
聽聽聽聽Upon thy eye-balls murderous tyranny
聽聽聽聽Sits in grim majesty to fright the world.
聽聽聽聽Look not upon me, for thine eyes are wounding;
聽聽聽聽Yet do not go away; come, basilisk,
聽聽聽聽And kill the innocent gazer with thy sight;
聽聽聽聽For in the shade of death I shall find joy-
聽聽聽聽In life but double death,'now Gloucester's dead.
聽聽QUEEN. Why do you rate my Lord of Suffolk thus?
聽聽聽聽Although the Duke was enemy to him,
聽聽聽聽Yet he most Christian-like laments his death;
聽聽聽聽And for myself- foe as he was to me-
聽聽聽聽Might liquid tears, or heart-offending groans,
聽聽聽聽Or blood-consuming sighs, recall his life,
聽聽聽聽I would be blind with weeping, sick with groans,
聽聽聽聽Look pale as primrose with blood-drinking sighs,
聽聽聽聽And all to have the noble Duke alive.
聽聽聽聽What know I how the world may deem of me?
聽聽聽聽For it is known we were but hollow friends:
聽聽聽聽It may be judg'd I made the Duke away;
聽聽聽聽So shall my name with slander's tongue be wounded,
聽聽聽聽And princes' courts be fill'd with my reproach.
聽聽聽聽This get I by his death. Ay me, unhappy!
聽聽聽聽To be a queen and crown'd with infamy!
聽聽KING HENRY. Ah, woe is me for Gloucester, wretched man!
聽聽QUEEN. Be woe for me, more wretched than he is.
聽聽聽聽What, dost thou turn away, and hide thy face?
聽聽聽聽I am no loathsome leper- look on me.
聽聽聽聽What, art thou like the adder waxen deaf?
聽聽聽聽Be poisonous too, and kill thy forlorn Queen.
聽聽聽聽Is all thy comfort shut in Gloucester's tomb?
聽聽聽聽Why, then Dame Margaret was ne'er thy joy.
聽聽聽聽Erect his statue and worship it,
聽聽聽聽And make my image but an alehouse sign.
聽聽聽聽Was I for this nigh wreck'd upon the sea,
聽聽聽聽And twice by awkward wind from England's bank
聽聽聽聽Drove back again unto my native clime?
聽聽聽聽What boded this but well-forewarning wind
聽聽聽聽Did seem to say 'Seek not a scorpion's nest,
聽聽聽聽Nor set no footing on this unkind shore'?
聽聽聽聽What did I then but curs'd the gentle gusts,
聽聽聽聽And he that loos'd them forth their brazen caves;
聽聽聽聽And bid them blow towards England's blessed shore,
聽聽聽聽Or turn our stern upon a dreadful rock?
聽聽聽聽Yet Aeolus would not be a murderer,
聽聽聽聽But left that hateful office unto thee.
聽聽聽聽The pretty-vaulting sea refus'd to drown me,
聽聽聽聽Knowing that thou wouldst have me drown'd on shore
聽聽聽聽With tears as salt as sea through thy unkindness;
聽聽聽聽The splitting rocks cow'r'd in the sinking sands
聽聽聽聽And would not dash me with their ragged sides,
聽聽聽聽Because thy flinty heart, more hard than they,
聽聽聽聽Might in thy palace perish Margaret.
聽聽聽聽As far as I could ken thy chalky cliffs,
聽聽聽聽When from thy shore the tempest beat us back,
聽聽聽聽I stood upon the hatches in the storm;
聽聽聽聽And when the dusky sky began to rob
聽聽聽聽My earnest-gaping sight of thy land's view,
聽聽聽聽I took a costly jewel from my neck-
聽聽聽聽A heart it was, bound in with diamonds-
聽聽聽聽And threw it towards thy land. The sea receiv'd it;
聽聽聽聽And so I wish'd thy body might my heart.
聽聽聽聽And even with this I lost fair England's view,
聽聽聽聽And bid mine eyes be packing with my heart,
聽聽聽聽And call'd them blind and dusky spectacles
聽聽聽聽For losing ken of Albion's wished coast.
聽聽聽聽How often have I tempted Suffolk's tongue-
聽聽聽聽The agent of thy foul inconstancy-
聽聽聽聽To sit and witch me, as Ascanius did
聽聽聽聽When he to madding Dido would unfold
聽聽聽聽His father's acts commenc'd in burning Troy!
聽聽聽聽Am I not witch'd like her? Or thou not false like him?
聽聽聽聽Ay me, I can no more! Die, Margaret,
聽聽聽聽For Henry weeps that thou dost live so long.

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Noise within. Enter WARWICK, SALISBURY,
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽and many commons

聽聽WARWICK. It is reported, mighty sovereign,
聽聽聽聽That good Duke Humphrey traitorously is murd'red
聽聽聽聽By Suffolk and the Cardinal Beaufort's means.
聽聽聽聽The commons, like an angry hive of bees
聽聽聽聽That want their leader, scatter up and down
聽聽聽聽And care not who they sting in his revenge.
聽聽聽聽Myself have calm'd their spleenful mutiny
聽聽聽聽Until they hear the order of his death.
聽聽KING HENRY. That he is dead, good Warwick, 'tis too true;
聽聽聽聽But how he died God knows, not Henry.
聽聽聽聽Enter his chamber, view his breathless corpse,
聽聽聽聽And comment then upon his sudden death.
聽聽WARWICK. That shall I do, my liege. Stay, Salisbury,
聽聽聽聽With the rude multitude till I return. Exit
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽听贰虫颈迟 SALISBURY with the
commons
聽聽KING HENRY. O Thou that judgest all things, stay my thoughts-
聽聽聽聽My thoughts that labour to persuade my soul
聽聽聽聽Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey's life!
聽聽聽聽If my suspect be false, forgive me, God;
聽聽聽聽For judgment only doth belong to Thee.
聽聽聽聽Fain would I go to chafe his paly lips
聽聽聽聽With twenty thousand kisses and to drain
聽聽聽聽Upon his face an ocean of salt tears
聽聽聽聽To tell my love unto his dumb deaf trunk;
聽聽聽聽And with my fingers feel his hand un-feeling;
聽聽聽聽But all in vain are these mean obsequies;
聽聽聽聽And to survey his dead and earthy image,
聽聽聽聽What were it but to make my sorrow greater?

Bed put forth with the body. Enter WARWICK

聽聽WARWICK. Come hither, gracious sovereign, view this body.
聽聽KING HENRY. That is to see how deep my grave is made;
聽聽聽聽For with his soul fled all my worldly solace,
聽聽聽聽For, seeing him, I see my life in death.
聽聽WARWICK. As surely as my soul intends to live
聽聽聽聽With that dread King that took our state upon Him
聽聽聽聽To free us from his Father's wrathful curse,
聽聽聽聽I do believe that violent hands were laid
聽聽聽聽Upon the life of this thrice-famed Duke.
聽聽SUFFOLK. A dreadful oath, sworn with a solemn tongue!
聽聽聽聽What instance gives Lord Warwick for his vow?
聽聽WARWICK. See how the blood is settled in his face.
聽聽聽聽Oft have I seen a timely-parted ghost,
聽聽聽聽Of ashy semblance, meagre, pale, and bloodless,
聽聽聽聽Being all descended to the labouring heart,
聽聽聽聽Who, in the conflict that it holds with death,
聽聽聽聽Attracts the same for aidance 'gainst the enemy,
聽聽聽聽Which with the heart there cools, and ne'er returneth
聽聽聽聽To blush and beautify the cheek again.
聽聽聽聽But see, his face is black and full of blood;
聽聽聽聽His eye-balls further out than when he liv'd,
聽聽聽聽Staring full ghastly like a strangled man;
聽聽聽聽His hair uprear'd, his nostrils stretch'd with struggling;
聽聽聽聽His hands abroad display'd, as one that grasp'd
聽聽聽聽And tugg'd for life, and was by strength subdu'd.
聽聽聽聽Look, on the sheets his hair, you see, is sticking;
聽聽聽聽His well-proportion'd beard made rough and rugged,
聽聽聽聽Like to the summer's corn by tempest lodged.
聽聽聽聽It cannot be but he was murd'red here:
聽聽聽聽The least of all these signs were probable.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Why, Warwick, who should do the Duke to death?
聽聽聽聽Myself and Beaufort had him in protection;
聽聽聽聽And we, I hope, sir, are no murderers.
聽聽WARWICK. But both of you were vow'd Duke Humphrey's foes;
聽聽聽聽And you, forsooth, had the good Duke to keep.
聽聽聽聽'Tis like you would not feast him like a friend;
聽聽聽聽And 'tis well seen he found an enemy.
聽聽QUEEN. Then you, belike, suspect these noblemen
聽聽聽聽As guilty of Duke Humphrey's timeless death.
聽聽WARWICK. Who finds the heifer dead and bleeding fresh,
聽聽聽聽And sees fast by a butcher with an axe,
聽聽聽聽But will suspect 'twas he that made the slaughter?
聽聽聽聽Who finds the partridge in the puttock's nest
聽聽聽聽But may imagine how the bird was dead,
聽聽聽聽Although the kite soar with unbloodied beak?
聽聽聽聽Even so suspicious is this tragedy.
聽聽QUEEN. Are you the butcher, Suffolk? Where's your knife?
聽聽聽聽Is Beaufort term'd a kite? Where are his talons?
聽聽SUFFOLK. I wear no knife to slaughter sleeping men;
聽聽聽聽But here's a vengeful sword, rusted with ease,
聽聽聽聽That shall be scoured in his rancorous heart
聽聽聽聽That slanders me with murder's crimson badge.
聽聽聽聽Say if thou dar'st, proud Lord of Warwickshire,
聽聽聽聽That I am faulty in Duke Humphrey's death.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Exeunt CARDINAL, SOMERSET, and others
聽聽WARWICK. What dares not Warwick, if false Suffolk dare him?
聽聽QUEEN. He dares not calm his contumelious spirit,
聽聽聽聽Nor cease to be an arrogant controller,
聽聽聽聽Though Suffolk dare him twenty thousand times.
聽聽WARWICK. Madam, be still- with reverence may I say;
聽聽聽聽For every word you speak in his behalf
聽聽聽聽Is slander to your royal dignity.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Blunt-witted lord, ignoble in demeanour,
聽聽聽聽If ever lady wrong'd her lord so much,
聽聽聽聽Thy mother took into her blameful bed
聽聽聽聽Some stern untutor'd churl, and noble stock
聽聽聽聽Was graft with crab-tree slip, whose fruit thou art,
聽聽聽聽And never of the Nevils' noble race.
聽聽WARWICK. But that the guilt of murder bucklers thee,
聽聽聽聽And I should rob the deathsman of his fee,
聽聽聽聽Quitting thee thereby of ten thousand shames,
聽聽聽聽And that my sovereign's presence makes me mild,
聽聽聽聽I would, false murd'rous coward, on thy knee
聽聽聽聽Make thee beg pardon for thy passed speech
聽聽聽聽And say it was thy mother that thou meant'st,
聽聽聽聽That thou thyself was born in bastardy;
聽聽聽聽And, after all this fearful homage done,
聽聽聽聽Give thee thy hire and send thy soul to hell,
聽聽聽聽Pernicious blood-sucker of sleeping men.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Thou shalt be waking while I shed thy blood,
聽聽聽聽If from this presence thou dar'st go with me.
聽聽WARWICK. Away even now, or I will drag thee hence.
聽聽聽聽Unworthy though thou art, I'll cope with thee,
聽聽聽聽And do some service to Duke Humphrey's ghost.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Exeunt SUFFOLK and WARWICK
聽聽KING HENRY. What stronger breastplate than a heart untainted?
聽聽聽聽Thrice is he arm'd that hath his quarrel just;
聽聽聽聽And he but naked, though lock'd up in steel,
聽聽聽聽Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[A noise within]
聽聽QUEEN. What noise is this?

Re-enter SUFFOLK and WARWICK, with their weapons drawn

聽聽KING. Why, how now, lords, your wrathful weapons drawn
聽聽聽聽Here in our presence! Dare you be so bold?
聽聽聽聽Why, what tumultuous clamour have we here?
聽聽SUFFOLK. The trait'rous Warwick, with the men of Bury,
聽聽聽聽Set all upon me, mighty sovereign.

Re-enter SALISBURY

聽聽SALISBURY. [To the Commons within] Sirs, stand apart, the King
聽聽聽聽聽聽shall know your mind.
聽聽聽聽Dread lord, the commons send you word by me
聽聽聽聽Unless Lord Suffolk straight be done to death,
聽聽聽聽Or banished fair England's territories,
聽聽聽聽They will by violence tear him from your palace
聽聽聽聽And torture him with grievous ling'ring death.
聽聽聽聽They say by him the good Duke Humphrey died;
聽聽聽聽They say in him they fear your Highness' death;
聽聽聽聽And mere instinct of love and loyalty,
聽聽聽聽Free from a stubborn opposite intent,
聽聽聽聽As being thought to contradict your liking,
聽聽聽聽Makes them thus forward in his banishment.
聽聽聽聽They say, in care of your most royal person,
聽聽聽聽That if your Highness should intend to sleep
聽聽聽聽And charge that no man should disturb your rest,
聽聽聽聽In pain of your dislike or pain of death,
聽聽聽聽Yet, notwithstanding such a strait edict,
聽聽聽聽Were there a serpent seen with forked tongue
聽聽聽聽That slily glided towards your Majesty,
聽聽聽聽It were but necessary you were wak'd,
聽聽聽聽Lest, being suffer'd in that harmful slumber,
聽聽聽聽The mortal worm might make the sleep eternal.
聽聽聽聽And therefore do they cry, though you forbid,
聽聽聽聽That they will guard you, whe'er you will or no,
聽聽聽聽From such fell serpents as false Suffolk is;
聽聽聽聽With whose envenomed and fatal sting
聽聽聽聽Your loving uncle, twenty times his worth,
聽聽聽聽They say, is shamefully bereft of life.
聽聽COMMONS. [Within] An answer from the King, my Lord of
Salisbury!
聽聽SUFFOLK. 'Tis like the commons, rude unpolish'd hinds,
聽聽聽聽Could send such message to their sovereign;
聽聽聽聽But you, my lord, were glad to be employ'd,
聽聽聽聽To show how quaint an orator you are.
聽聽聽聽But all the honour Salisbury hath won
聽聽聽聽Is that he was the lord ambassador
聽聽聽聽Sent from a sort of tinkers to the King.
聽聽COMMONS. [Within] An answer from the King, or we will all break
in!
聽聽KING HENRY. Go, Salisbury, and tell them all from me
聽聽聽聽I thank them for their tender loving care;
聽聽聽聽And had I not been cited so by them,
聽聽聽聽Yet did I purpose as they do entreat;
聽聽聽聽For sure my thoughts do hourly prophesy
聽聽聽聽Mischance unto my state by Suffolk's means.
聽聽聽聽And therefore by His Majesty I swear,
聽聽聽聽Whose far unworthy deputy I am,
聽聽聽聽He shall not breathe infection in this air
聽聽聽聽But three days longer, on the pain of death.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽听贰虫颈迟 SALISBURY
聽聽QUEEN. O Henry, let me plead for gentle Suffolk!
聽聽KING HENRY. Ungentle Queen, to call him gentle Suffolk!
聽聽聽聽No more, I say; if thou dost plead for him,
聽聽聽聽Thou wilt but add increase unto my wrath.
聽聽聽聽Had I but said, I would have kept my word;
聽聽聽聽But when I swear, it is irrevocable.
聽聽聽聽If after three days' space thou here be'st found
聽聽聽聽On any ground that I am ruler of,
聽聽聽聽The world shall not be ransom for thy life.
聽聽聽聽Come, Warwick, come, good Warwick, go with me;
聽聽聽聽I have great matters to impart to thee.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Exeunt all but QUEEN and SUFFOLK
聽聽QUEEN. Mischance and sorrow go along with you!
聽聽聽聽Heart's discontent and sour affliction
聽聽聽聽Be playfellows to keep you company!
聽聽聽聽There's two of you; the devil make a third,
聽聽聽聽And threefold vengeance tend upon your steps!
聽聽SUFFOLK. Cease, gentle Queen, these execrations,
聽聽聽聽And let thy Suffolk take his heavy leave.
聽聽QUEEN. Fie, coward woman and soft-hearted wretch,
聽聽聽聽Has thou not spirit to curse thine enemy?
聽聽SUFFOLK. A plague upon them! Wherefore should I curse them?
聽聽聽聽Would curses kill as doth the mandrake's groan,
聽聽聽聽I would invent as bitter searching terms,
聽聽聽聽As curst, as harsh, and horrible to hear,
聽聽聽聽Deliver'd strongly through my fixed teeth,
聽聽聽聽With full as many signs of deadly hate,
聽聽聽聽As lean-fac'd Envy in her loathsome cave.
聽聽聽聽My tongue should stumble in mine earnest words,
聽聽聽聽Mine eyes should sparkle like the beaten flint,
聽聽聽聽Mine hair be fix'd an end, as one distract;
聽聽聽聽Ay, every joint should seem to curse and ban;
聽聽聽聽And even now my burden'd heart would break,
聽聽聽聽Should I not curse them. Poison be their drink!
聽聽聽聽Gall, worse than gall, the daintiest that they taste!
聽聽聽聽Their sweetest shade a grove of cypress trees!
聽聽聽聽Their chiefest prospect murd'ring basilisks!
聽聽聽聽Their softest touch as smart as lizards' stings!
聽聽聽聽Their music frightful as the serpent's hiss,
聽聽聽聽And boding screech-owls make the consort full!
聽聽聽聽all the foul terrors in dark-seated hell-
聽聽QUEEN. Enough, sweet Suffolk, thou torment'st thyself;
聽聽聽聽And these dread curses, like the sun 'gainst glass,
聽聽聽聽Or like an overcharged gun, recoil,
聽聽聽聽And turns the force of them upon thyself.
聽聽SUFFOLK. You bade me ban, and will you bid me leave?
聽聽聽聽Now, by the ground that I am banish'd from,
聽聽聽聽Well could I curse away a winter's night,
聽聽聽聽Though standing naked on a mountain top
聽聽聽聽Where biting cold would never let grass grow,
聽聽聽聽And think it but a minute spent in sport.
聽聽QUEEN. O, let me entreat thee cease! Give me thy hand,
聽聽聽聽That I may dew it with my mournful tears;
聽聽聽聽Nor let the rain of heaven wet this place
聽聽聽聽To wash away my woeful monuments.
聽聽聽聽O, could this kiss be printed in thy hand,
聽聽聽聽That thou might'st think upon these by the seal,
聽聽聽聽Through whom a thousand sighs are breath'd for thee!
聽聽聽聽So, get thee gone, that I may know my grief;
聽聽聽聽'Tis but surmis'd whiles thou art standing by,
聽聽聽聽As one that surfeits thinking on a want.
聽聽聽聽I will repeal thee or, be well assur'd,
聽聽聽聽Adventure to be banished myself;
聽聽聽聽And banished I am, if but from thee.
聽聽聽聽Go, speak not to me; even now be gone.
聽聽聽聽O, go not yet! Even thus two friends condemn'd
聽聽聽聽Embrace, and kiss, and take ten thousand leaves,
聽聽聽聽Loather a hundred times to part than die.
聽聽聽聽Yet now, farewell; and farewell life with thee!
聽聽SUFFOLK. Thus is poor Suffolk ten times banished,
聽聽聽聽Once by the King and three times thrice by thee,
聽聽聽聽'Tis not the land I care for, wert thou thence;
聽聽聽聽A wilderness is populous enough,
聽聽聽聽So Suffolk had thy heavenly company;
聽聽聽聽For where thou art, there is the world itself,
聽聽聽聽With every several pleasure in the world;
聽聽聽聽And where thou art not, desolation.
聽聽聽聽I can no more: Live thou to joy thy life;
聽聽聽聽Myself no joy in nought but that thou liv'st.

Enter VAUX

聽聽QUEEN. Whither goes Vaux so fast? What news, I prithee?
听听痴础鲍齿. To signify unto his Majesty
聽聽聽聽That Cardinal Beaufort is at point of death;
聽聽聽聽For suddenly a grievous sickness took him
聽聽聽聽That makes him gasp, and stare, and catch the air,
聽聽聽聽Blaspheming God, and cursing men on earth.
聽聽聽聽Sometime he talks as if Duke Humphrey's ghost
聽聽聽聽Were by his side; sometime he calls the King
聽聽聽聽And whispers to his pillow, as to him,
聽聽聽聽The secrets of his overcharged soul;
聽聽聽聽And I am sent to tell his Majesty
聽聽聽聽That even now he cries aloud for him.
聽聽QUEEN. Go tell this heavy message to the King. Exit VAUX
聽聽聽聽Ay me! What is this world! What news are these!
聽聽聽聽But wherefore grieve I at an hour's poor loss,
聽聽聽聽Omitting Suffolk's exile, my soul's treasure?
聽聽聽聽Why only, Suffolk, mourn I not for thee,
聽聽聽聽And with the southern clouds contend in tears-
聽聽聽聽Theirs for the earth's increase, mine for my sorrows?
聽聽聽聽Now get thee hence: the King, thou know'st, is coming;
聽聽聽聽If thou be found by me; thou art but dead.
聽聽SUFFOLK. If I depart from thee I cannot live;
聽聽聽聽And in thy sight to die, what were it else
聽聽聽聽But like a pleasant slumber in thy lap?
聽聽聽聽Here could I breathe my soul into the air,
聽聽聽聽As mild and gentle as the cradle-babe
聽聽聽聽Dying with mother's dug between its lips;
聽聽聽聽Where, from thy sight, I should be raging mad
聽聽聽聽And cry out for thee to close up mine eyes,
聽聽聽聽To have thee with thy lips to stop my mouth;
聽聽聽聽So shouldst thou either turn my flying soul,
聽聽聽聽Or I should breathe it so into thy body,
聽聽聽聽And then it liv'd in sweet Elysium.
聽聽聽聽To die by thee were but to die in jest:
聽聽聽聽From thee to die were torture more than death.
聽聽聽聽O, let me stay, befall what may befall!
聽聽QUEEN. Away! Though parting be a fretful corrosive,
聽聽聽聽It is applied to a deathful wound.
聽聽聽聽To France, sweet Suffolk. Let me hear from thee;
聽聽聽聽For whereso'er thou art in this world's globe
聽聽聽聽I'll have an Iris that shall find thee out.
聽聽SUFFOLK. I go.
聽聽QUEEN. And take my heart with thee. [She kisses him]
聽聽SUFFOLK. A jewel, lock'd into the woefull'st cask
聽聽聽聽That ever did contain a thing of worth.
聽聽聽聽Even as a splitted bark, so sunder we:
聽聽聽聽This way fall I to death.
聽聽QUEEN. This way for me. Exeunt severally

London. CARDINAL BEAUFORT'S bedchamber

Enter the KING, SALISBURY, and WARWICK, to the CARDINAL in bed

聽聽KING HENRY. How fares my lord? Speak, Beaufort, to thy
sovereign.
聽聽CARDINAL. If thou be'st Death I'll give thee England's
treasure,
聽聽聽聽Enough to purchase such another island,
聽聽聽聽So thou wilt let me live and feel no pain.
聽聽KING HENRY. Ah, what a sign it is of evil life
聽聽聽聽Where death's approach is seen so terrible!
聽聽WARWICK. Beaufort, it is thy sovereign speaks to thee.
聽聽CARDINAL. Bring me unto my trial when you will.
聽聽聽聽Died he not in his bed? Where should he die?
聽聽聽聽Can I make men live, whe'er they will or no?
聽聽聽聽O, torture me no more! I will confess.
聽聽聽聽Alive again? Then show me where he is;
聽聽聽聽I'll give a thousand pound to look upon him.
聽聽聽聽He hath no eyes, the dust hath blinded them.
聽聽聽聽Comb down his hair; look, look! it stands upright,
聽聽聽聽Like lime-twigs set to catch my winged soul!
聽聽聽聽Give me some drink; and bid the apothecary
聽聽聽聽Bring the strong poison that I bought of him.
聽聽KING HENRY. O Thou eternal Mover of the heavens,
聽聽聽聽Look with a gentle eye upon this wretch!
聽聽聽聽O, beat away the busy meddling fiend
聽聽聽聽That lays strong siege unto this wretch's soul,
聽聽聽聽And from his bosom purge this black despair!
聽聽WARWICK. See how the pangs of death do make him grin
聽聽SALISBURY. Disturb him not, let him pass peaceably.
聽聽KING HENRY. Peace to his soul, if God's good pleasure be!
聽聽聽聽Lord Card'nal, if thou think'st on heaven's bliss,
聽聽聽聽Hold up thy hand, make signal of thy hope.
聽聽聽聽He dies, and makes no sign: O God, forgive him!
聽聽WARWICK. So bad a death argues a monstrous life.
聽聽KING HENRY. Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all.
聽聽聽聽Close up his eyes, and draw the curtain close;
聽聽聽聽And let us all to meditation. Exeunt

The coast of Kent

Alarum. Fight at sea. Ordnance goes off. Enter a LIEUTENANT, a SHIPMASTER and his MATE, and WALTER WHITMORE, with sailors; SUFFOLK and other GENTLEMEN, as prisoners

聽聽LIEUTENANT. The gaudy, blabbing, and remorseful day
聽聽聽聽Is crept into the bosom of the sea;
聽聽聽聽And now loud-howling wolves arouse the jades
聽聽聽聽That drag the tragic melancholy night;
聽聽聽聽Who with their drowsy, slow, and flagging wings
聽聽聽聽Clip dead men's graves, and from their misty jaws
聽聽聽聽Breathe foul contagious darkness in the air.
聽聽聽聽Therefore bring forth the soldiers of our prize;
聽聽聽聽For, whilst our pinnace anchors in the Downs,
聽聽聽聽Here shall they make their ransom on the sand,
聽聽聽聽Or with their blood stain this discoloured shore.
聽聽聽聽Master, this prisoner freely give I thee;
聽聽聽聽And thou that art his mate make boot of this;
聽聽聽聽The other, Walter Whitmore, is thy share.
聽聽FIRST GENTLEMAN. What is my ransom, master, let me know?
聽聽MASTER. A thousand crowns, or else lay down your head.
聽聽MATE. And so much shall you give, or off goes yours.
聽聽LIEUTENANT. What, think you much to pay two thousand crowns,
聽聽聽聽And bear the name and port of gentlemen?
聽聽聽聽Cut both the villains' throats- for die you shall;
聽聽聽聽The lives of those which we have lost in fight
聽聽聽聽Be counterpois'd with such a petty sum!
聽聽FIRST GENTLEMAN. I'll give it, sir: and therefore spare my
life.
聽聽SECOND GENTLEMAN. And so will I, and write home for it
straight.
聽聽WHITMORE. I lost mine eye in laying the prize aboard,
聽聽聽聽[To SUFFOLK] And therefore, to revenge it, shalt thou die;
聽聽聽聽And so should these, if I might have my will.
聽聽LIEUTENANT. Be not so rash; take ransom, let him live.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Look on my George, I am a gentleman:
聽聽聽聽Rate me at what thou wilt, thou shalt be paid.
聽聽WHITMORE. And so am I: my name is Walter Whitmore.
聽聽聽聽How now! Why start'st thou? What, doth death affright?
聽聽SUFFOLK. Thy name affrights me, in whose sound is death.
聽聽聽聽A cunning man did calculate my birth
聽聽聽聽And told me that by water I should die;
聽聽聽聽Yet let not this make thee be bloody-minded;
聽聽聽聽Thy name is Gualtier, being rightly sounded.
聽聽WHITMORE. Gualtier or Walter, which it is I care not:
聽聽聽聽Never yet did base dishonour blur our name
聽聽聽聽But with our sword we wip'd away the blot;
聽聽聽聽Therefore, when merchant-like I sell revenge,
聽聽聽聽Broke be my sword, my arms torn and defac'd,
聽聽聽聽And I proclaim'd a coward through the world.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Stay, Whitmore, for thy prisoner is a prince,
聽聽聽聽The Duke of Suffolk, William de la Pole.
聽聽WHITMORE. The Duke of Suffolk muffled up in rags?
聽聽SUFFOLK. Ay, but these rags are no part of the Duke:
聽聽聽聽Jove sometime went disguis'd, and why not I?
聽聽LIEUTENANT. But Jove was never slain, as thou shalt be.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Obscure and lowly swain, King Henry's blood,
聽聽聽聽The honourable blood of Lancaster,
聽聽聽聽Must not be shed by such a jaded groom.
聽聽聽聽Hast thou not kiss'd thy hand and held my stirrup,
聽聽聽聽Bareheaded plodded by my foot-cloth mule,
聽聽聽聽And thought thee happy when I shook my head?
聽聽聽聽How often hast thou waited at my cup,
聽聽聽聽Fed from my trencher, kneel'd down at the board,
聽聽聽聽When I have feasted with Queen Margaret?
聽聽聽聽Remember it, and let it make thee crestfall'n,
聽聽聽聽Ay, and allay thus thy abortive pride,
聽聽聽聽How in our voiding-lobby hast thou stood
聽聽聽聽And duly waited for my coming forth.
聽聽聽聽This hand of mine hath writ in thy behalf,
聽聽聽聽And therefore shall it charm thy riotous tongue.
聽聽WHITMORE. Speak, Captain, shall I stab the forlorn swain?
聽聽LIEUTENANT. First let my words stab him, as he hath me.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Base slave, thy words are blunt, and so art thou.
聽聽LIEUTENANT. Convey him hence, and on our longboat's side
聽聽聽聽Strike off his head.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Thou dar'st not, for thy own.
聽聽LIEUTENANT. Poole!
聽聽SUFFOLK. Poole?
聽聽LIEUTENANT. Ay, kennel, puddle, sink, whose filth and dirt
聽聽聽聽Troubles the silver spring where England drinks;
聽聽聽聽Now will I dam up this thy yawning mouth
聽聽聽聽For swallowing the treasure of the realm.
聽聽聽聽Thy lips, that kiss'd the Queen, shall sweep the ground;
聽聽聽聽And thou that smil'dst at good Duke Humphrey's death
聽聽聽聽Against the senseless winds shalt grin in vain,
聽聽聽聽Who in contempt shall hiss at thee again;
聽聽聽聽And wedded be thou to the hags of hell
聽聽聽聽For daring to affy a mighty lord
聽聽聽聽Unto the daughter of a worthless king,
聽聽聽聽Having neither subject, wealth, nor diadem.
聽聽聽聽By devilish policy art thou grown great,
聽聽聽聽And, like ambitious Sylla, overgorg'd
聽聽聽聽With gobbets of thy mother's bleeding heart.
聽聽聽聽By thee Anjou and Maine were sold to France;
聽聽聽聽The false revolting Normans thorough thee
聽聽聽聽Disdain to call us lord; and Picardy
聽聽聽聽Hath slain their governors, surpris'd our forts,
聽聽聽聽And sent the ragged soldiers wounded home.
聽聽聽聽The princely Warwick, and the Nevils all,
聽聽聽聽Whose dreadful swords were never drawn in vain,
聽聽聽聽As hating thee, are rising up in arms;
聽聽聽聽And now the house of York- thrust from the crown
聽聽聽聽By shameful murder of a guiltless king
聽聽聽聽And lofty proud encroaching tyranny-
聽聽聽聽Burns with revenging fire, whose hopeful colours
聽聽聽聽Advance our half-fac'd sun, striving to shine,
聽聽聽聽Under the which is writ 'Invitis nubibus.'
聽聽聽聽The commons here in Kent are up in arms;
聽聽聽聽And to conclude, reproach and beggary
聽聽聽聽Is crept into the palace of our King,
聽聽聽聽And all by thee. Away! convey him hence.
聽聽SUFFOLK. O that I were a god, to shoot forth thunder
聽聽聽聽Upon these paltry, servile, abject drudges!
聽聽聽聽Small things make base men proud: this villain here,
聽聽聽聽Being captain of a pinnace, threatens more
聽聽聽聽Than Bargulus, the strong Illyrian pirate.
聽聽聽聽Drones suck not eagles' blood but rob beehives.
聽聽聽聽It is impossible that I should die
聽聽聽聽By such a lowly vassal as thyself.
聽聽聽聽Thy words move rage and not remorse in me.
聽聽聽聽I go of message from the Queen to France:
聽聽聽聽I charge thee waft me safely cross the Channel.
聽聽LIEUTENANT. Walter-
聽聽WHITMORE. Come, Suffolk, I must waft thee to thy death.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Gelidus timor occupat artus: it is thee I fear.
聽聽WHITMORE. Thou shalt have cause to fear before I leave thee.
聽聽聽聽What, are ye daunted now? Now will ye stoop?
聽聽FIRST GENTLEMAN. My gracious lord, entreat him, speak him fair.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Suffolk's imperial tongue is stem and rough,
聽聽聽聽Us'd to command, untaught to plead for favour.
聽聽聽聽Far be it we should honour such as these
聽聽聽聽With humble suit: no, rather let my head
聽聽聽聽Stoop to the block than these knees bow to any
聽聽聽聽Save to the God of heaven and to my king;
聽聽聽聽And sooner dance upon a bloody pole
聽聽聽聽Than stand uncover'd to the vulgar groom.
聽聽聽聽True nobility is exempt from fear:
聽聽聽聽More can I bear than you dare execute.
聽聽LIEUTENANT. Hale him away, and let him talk no more.
聽聽SUFFOLK. Come, soldiers, show what cruelty ye can,
聽聽聽聽That this my death may never be forgot-
聽聽聽聽Great men oft die by vile bezonians:
聽聽聽聽A Roman sworder and banditto slave
聽聽聽聽Murder'd sweet Tully; Brutus' bastard hand
聽聽聽聽Stabb'd Julius Caesar; savage islanders
聽聽聽聽Pompey the Great; and Suffolk dies by pirates.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽听贰虫颈迟 WALTER with SUFFOLK
聽聽LIEUTENANT. And as for these, whose ransom we have set,
聽聽聽聽It is our pleasure one of them depart;
聽聽聽聽Therefore come you with us, and let him go.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Exeunt all but the FIRST GENTLEMAN

Re-enter WHITMORE with SUFFOLK'S body

聽聽WHITMORE. There let his head and lifeless body lie,
聽聽聽聽Until the Queen his mistress bury it. Exit
聽聽FIRST GENTLEMAN. O barbarous and bloody spectacle!
聽聽聽聽His body will I bear unto the King.
聽聽聽聽If he revenge it not, yet will his friends;
聽聽聽聽So will the Queen, that living held him dear.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽听贰虫颈迟 with the body

Blackheath

Enter GEORGE BEVIS and JOHN HOLLAND

聽聽GEORGE. Come and get thee a sword, though made of a lath; they
have
聽聽聽聽been up these two days.
聽聽JOHN. They have the more need to sleep now, then.
聽聽GEORGE. I tell thee Jack Cade the clothier means to dress the
聽聽聽聽commonwealth, and turn it, and set a new nap upon it.
聽聽JOHN. So he had need, for 'tis threadbare. Well, I say it was
never
聽聽聽聽merry world in England since gentlemen came up.
聽聽GEORGE. O miserable age! Virtue is not regarded in
handicraftsmen.
聽聽JOHN. The nobility think scorn to go in leather aprons.
聽聽GEORGE. Nay, more, the King's Council are no good workmen.
聽聽JOHN. True; and yet it is said 'Labour in thy vocation'; which
is
聽聽聽聽as much to say as 'Let the magistrates be labouring men'; and
聽聽聽聽therefore should we be magistrates.
聽聽GEORGE. Thou hast hit it; for there's no better sign of a brave
聽聽聽聽mind than a hard hand.
聽聽JOHN. I see them! I see them! There's Best's son, the tanner of
听听听听奥颈苍驳丑补尘-
聽聽GEORGE. He shall have the skins of our enemies to make dog's
聽聽聽聽leather of.
聽聽JOHN. And Dick the butcher-
聽聽GEORGE. Then is sin struck down, like an ox, and iniquity's
throat
聽聽聽聽cut like a calf.
聽聽JOHN. And Smith the weaver-
聽聽GEORGE. Argo, their thread of life is spun.
聽聽JOHN. Come, come, let's fall in with them.

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Drum. Enter CADE, DICK THE BUTCHER, SMITH
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽THE WEAVER, and a SAWYER, with infinite numbers

聽聽CADE. We John Cade, so term'd of our supposed father-
聽聽DICK. [Aside] Or rather, of stealing a cade of herrings.
聽聽CADE. For our enemies shall fall before us, inspired with the
聽聽聽聽spirit of putting down kings and princes- command silence.
聽聽DICK. Silence!
聽聽CADE. My father was a Mortimer-
聽聽DICK. [Aside] He was an honest man and a good bricklayer.
聽聽CADE. My mother a Plantagenet-
聽聽DICK. [Aside] I knew her well; she was a midwife.
聽聽CADE. My wife descended of the Lacies-
聽聽DICK. [Aside] She was, indeed, a pedlar's daughter, and sold
many
听听听听濒补肠别蝉.
聽聽SMITH. [Aside] But now of late, not able to travel with her
furr'd
聽聽聽聽pack, she washes bucks here at home.
聽聽CADE. Therefore am I of an honourable house.
聽聽DICK. [Aside] Ay, by my faith, the field is honourable, and
there
聽聽聽聽was he born, under a hedge, for his father had never a house
but
聽聽聽聽the cage.
聽聽CADE. Valiant I am.
聽聽SMITH. [Aside] 'A must needs; for beggary is valiant.
聽聽CADE. I am able to endure much.
聽聽DICK. [Aside] No question of that; for I have seen him whipt
three
聽聽聽聽market days together.
聽聽CADE. I fear neither sword nor fire.
聽聽SMITH. [Aside] He need not fear the sword, for his coat is of
听听听听辫谤辞辞蹿.
聽聽DICK. [Aside] But methinks he should stand in fear of fire,
being
聽聽聽聽burnt i' th' hand for stealing of sheep.
聽聽CADE. Be brave, then, for your captain is brave, and vows
聽聽聽聽reformation. There shall be in England seven halfpenny loaves
聽聽聽聽sold for a penny; the three-hoop'd pot shall have ten hoops;
and
聽聽聽聽I will make it felony to drink small beer. All the realm
shall be
聽聽聽聽in common, and in Cheapside shall my palfrey go to grass. And
聽聽聽聽when I am king- as king I will be
聽聽ALL. God save your Majesty!
聽聽CADE. I thank you, good people- there shall be no money; all
shall
聽聽聽聽eat and drink on my score, and I will apparel them all in one
聽聽聽聽livery, that they may agree like brothers and worship me
their
听听听听濒辞谤诲.
聽聽DICK. The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.
聽聽CADE. Nay, that I mean to do. Is not this a lamentable thing,
that
聽聽聽聽of the skin of an innocent lamb should be made parchment?
That
聽聽聽聽parchment, being scribbl'd o'er, should undo a man? Some say
the
聽聽聽聽bee stings; but I say 'tis the bee's wax; for I did but seal
once
聽聽聽聽to a thing, and I was never mine own man since. How now!
Who's
听听听听迟丑别谤别?

Enter some, bringing in the CLERK OF CHATHAM

聽聽SMITH. The clerk of Chatham. He can write and read and cast
听听听听补肠肠辞尘辫迟.
聽聽CADE. O monstrous!
聽聽SMITH. We took him setting of boys' copies.
聽聽CADE. Here's a villain!
聽聽SMITH. Has a book in his pocket with red letters in't.
聽聽CADE. Nay, then he is a conjurer.
聽聽DICK. Nay, he can make obligations and write court-hand.
聽聽CADE. I am sorry for't; the man is a proper man, of mine
honour;
聽聽聽聽unless I find him guilty, he shall not die. Come hither,
sirrah,
聽聽聽聽I must examine thee. What is thy name?
聽聽CLERK. Emmanuel.
聽聽DICK. They use to write it on the top of letters; 'twill go
hard
聽聽聽聽with you.
聽聽CADE. Let me alone. Dost thou use to write thy name, or hast
thou a
聽聽聽聽mark to thyself, like a honest plain-dealing man?
聽聽CLERK. Sir, I thank God, I have been so well brought up that I
can
聽聽聽聽write my name.
聽聽ALL. He hath confess'd. Away with him! He's a villain and a
听听听听迟谤补颈迟辞谤.
聽聽CADE. Away with him, I say! Hang him with his pen and inkhorn
about
聽聽聽聽his neck. Exit one with the CLERK

Enter MICHAEL

聽聽MICHAEL. Where's our General?
聽聽CADE. Here I am, thou particular fellow.
聽聽MICHAEL. Fly, fly, fly! Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother
are
聽聽聽聽hard by, with the King's forces.
聽聽CADE. Stand, villain, stand, or I'll fell thee down. He shall
be
聽聽聽聽encount'red with a man as good as himself. He is but a
knight,
聽聽聽聽is 'a?
聽聽MICHAEL. No.
聽聽CADE. To equal him, I will make myself a knight presently.
聽聽聽聽[Kneels] Rise up, Sir John Mortimer. [Rises] Now have at him!

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Enter SIR HUMPHREY STAFFORD and WILLIAM
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽his brother, with drum and soldiers

聽聽STAFFORD. Rebellious hinds, the filth and scum of Kent,
聽聽聽聽Mark'd for the gallows, lay your weapons down;
聽聽聽聽Home to your cottages, forsake this groom;
聽聽聽聽The King is merciful if you revolt.
聽聽WILLIAM STAFFORD. But angry, wrathful, and inclin'd to blood,
聽聽聽聽If you go forward; therefore yield or die.
聽聽CADE. As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not;
聽聽聽聽It is to you, good people, that I speak,
聽聽聽聽O'er whom, in time to come, I hope to reign;
聽聽聽聽For I am rightful heir unto the crown.
聽聽STAFFORD. Villain, thy father was a plasterer;
聽聽聽聽And thou thyself a shearman, art thou not?
聽聽CADE. And Adam was a gardener.
聽聽WILLIAM STAFFORD. And what of that?
聽聽CADE. Marry, this: Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March,
聽聽聽聽Married the Duke of Clarence' daughter, did he not?
聽聽STAFFORD. Ay, sir.
聽聽CADE. By her he had two children at one birth.
聽聽WILLIAM STAFFORD. That's false.
聽聽CADE. Ay, there's the question; but I say 'tis true.
聽聽聽聽The elder of them being put to nurse,
聽聽聽聽Was by a beggar-woman stol'n away,
聽聽聽聽And, ignorant of his birth and parentage,
聽聽聽聽Became a bricklayer when he came to age.
聽聽聽聽His son am I; deny it if you can.
聽聽DICK. Nay, 'tis too true; therefore he shall be king.
聽聽SMITH. Sir, he made a chimney in my father's house, and the
bricks
聽聽聽聽are alive at this day to testify it; therefore deny it not.
聽聽STAFFORD. And will you credit this base drudge's words
聽聽聽聽That speaks he knows not what?
聽聽ALL. Ay, marry, will we; therefore get ye gone.
聽聽WILLIAM STAFFORD. Jack Cade, the Duke of York hath taught you
this.
聽聽CADE. [Aside] He lies, for I invented it myself- Go to, sirrah,
聽聽聽聽tell the King from me that for his father's sake, Henry the
聽聽聽聽Fifth, in whose time boys went to span-counter for French
crowns,
聽聽聽聽I am content he shall reign; but I'll be Protector over him.
聽聽DICK. And furthermore, we'll have the Lord Say's head for
selling
聽聽聽聽the dukedom of Maine.
聽聽CADE. And good reason; for thereby is England main'd and fain
to go
聽聽聽聽with a staff, but that my puissance holds it up. Fellow
kings, I
聽聽聽聽tell you that that Lord Say hath gelded the commonwealth and
made
聽聽聽聽it an eunuch; and more than that, he can speak French, and
聽聽聽聽therefore he is a traitor.
聽聽STAFFORD. O gross and miserable ignorance!
聽聽CADE. Nay, answer if you can; the Frenchmen are our enemies. Go
to,
聽聽聽聽then, I ask but this: can he that speaks with the tongue of
an
聽聽聽聽enemy be a good counsellor, or no?
聽聽ALL. No, no; and therefore we'll have his head.
聽聽WILLIAM STAFFORD. Well, seeing gentle words will not prevail,
聽聽聽聽Assail them with the army of the King.
聽聽STAFFORD. Herald, away; and throughout every town
聽聽聽聽Proclaim them traitors that are up with Cade;
聽聽聽聽That those which fly before the battle ends
聽聽聽聽May, even in their wives'and children's sight,
聽聽聽聽Be hang'd up for example at their doors.
聽聽聽聽And you that be the King's friends, follow me.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Exeunt the TWO STAFFORDS and soldiers
聽聽CADE. And you that love the commons follow me.
聽聽聽聽Now show yourselves men; 'tis for liberty.
聽聽聽聽We will not leave one lord, one gentleman;
聽聽聽聽Spare none but such as go in clouted shoon,
聽聽聽聽For they are thrifty honest men and such
聽聽聽聽As would- but that they dare not- take our parts.
聽聽DICK. They are all in order, and march toward us.
聽聽CADE. But then are we in order when we are most out of order.
Come,
聽聽聽聽march forward. Exeunt

Another part of Blackheath

Alarums to the fight, wherein both the STAFFORDS are slain.
Enter CADE and the rest

聽聽CADE. Where's Dick, the butcher of Ashford?
聽聽DICK. Here, sir.
聽聽CADE. They fell before thee like sheep and oxen, and thou
behavedst
聽聽聽聽thyself as if thou hadst been in thine own slaughter-house;
聽聽聽聽therefore thus will I reward thee- the Lent shall be as long
聽聽聽聽again as it is, and thou shalt have a licence to kill for a
聽聽聽聽hundred lacking one.
聽聽DICK. I desire no more.
聽聽CADE. And, to speak truth, thou deserv'st no less. [Putting on
SIR
聽聽聽聽HUMPHREY'S brigandine] This monument of the victory will I
bear,
聽聽聽聽and the bodies shall be dragged at my horse heels till I do
come
聽聽聽聽to London, where we will have the mayor's sword borne before
us.
聽聽DICK. If we mean to thrive and do good, break open the gaols
and
聽聽聽聽let out the prisoners.
聽聽CADE. Fear not that, I warrant thee. Come, let's march towards
聽聽聽聽London. Exeunt

London. The palace

Enter the KING with a supplication, and the QUEEN with SUFFOLK'S head; the DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM, and the LORD SAY

聽聽QUEEN. Oft have I heard that grief softens the mind
聽聽聽聽And makes it fearful and degenerate;
聽聽聽聽Think therefore on revenge and cease to weep.
聽聽聽聽But who can cease to weep, and look on this?
聽聽聽聽Here may his head lie on my throbbing breast;
聽聽聽聽But where's the body that I should embrace?
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. What answer makes your Grace to the rebels'
听听听听蝉耻辫辫濒颈肠补迟颈辞苍?
聽聽KING HENRY. I'll send some holy bishop to entreat;
聽聽聽聽For God forbid so many simple souls
聽聽聽聽Should perish by the sword! And I myself,
聽聽聽聽Rather than bloody war shall cut them short,
聽聽聽聽Will parley with Jack Cade their general.
聽聽聽聽But stay, I'll read it over once again.
聽聽QUEEN. Ah, barbarous villains! Hath this lovely face
聽聽聽聽Rul'd like a wandering planet over me,
聽聽聽聽And could it not enforce them to relent
聽聽聽聽That were unworthy to behold the same?
聽聽KING HENRY. Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head.
聽聽SAY. Ay, but I hope your Highness shall have his.
聽聽KING HENRY. How now, madam!
聽聽聽聽Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolk's death?
聽聽聽聽I fear me, love, if that I had been dead,
聽聽聽聽Thou wouldst not have mourn'd so much for me.
聽聽QUEEN. No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for thee.

Enter A MESSENGER

聽聽KING HENRY. How now! What news? Why com'st thou in such haste?
聽聽MESSENGER. The rebels are in Southwark; fly, my lord!
聽聽聽聽Jack Cade proclaims himself Lord Mortimer,
聽聽聽聽Descended from the Duke of Clarence' house,
聽聽聽聽And calls your Grace usurper, openly,
聽聽聽聽And vows to crown himself in Westminster.
聽聽聽聽His army is a ragged multitude
聽聽聽聽Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless;
聽聽聽聽Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother's death
聽聽聽聽Hath given them heart and courage to proceed.
聽聽聽聽All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen,
聽聽聽聽They call false caterpillars and intend their death.
聽聽KING HENRY. O graceless men! they know not what they do.
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. My gracious lord, retire to Killingworth
聽聽聽聽Until a power be rais'd to put them down.
聽聽QUEEN. Ah, were the Duke of Suffolk now alive,
聽聽聽聽These Kentish rebels would be soon appeas'd!
聽聽KING HENRY. Lord Say, the traitors hate thee;
聽聽聽聽Therefore away with us to Killingworth.
聽聽SAY. So might your Grace's person be in danger.
聽聽聽聽The sight of me is odious in their eyes;
聽聽聽聽And therefore in this city will I stay
聽聽聽聽And live alone as secret as I may.

Enter another MESSENGER

聽聽SECOND MESSENGER. Jack Cade hath gotten London Bridge.
聽聽聽聽The citizens fly and forsake their houses;
聽聽聽聽The rascal people, thirsting after prey,
聽聽聽聽Join with the traitor; and they jointly swear
聽聽聽聽To spoil the city and your royal court.
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. Then linger not, my lord; away, take horse.
聽聽KING HENRY. Come Margaret; God, our hope, will succour us.
聽聽QUEEN. My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceas'd.
聽聽KING HENRY. [To LORD SAY] Farewell, my lord, trust not the
Kentish
听听听听谤别产别濒蝉.
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. Trust nobody, for fear you be betray'd.
聽聽SAY. The trust I have is in mine innocence,
聽聽聽聽And therefore am I bold and resolute. Exeunt

London. The Tower

Enter LORD SCALES Upon the Tower, walking. Then enter two or three CITIZENS, below

聽聽SCALES. How now! Is Jack Cade slain?
聽聽FIRST CITIZEN. No, my lord, nor likely to be slain; for they
have
聽聽聽聽won the bridge, killing all those that withstand them.
聽聽聽聽The Lord Mayor craves aid of your honour from the
聽聽聽聽Tower, to defend the city from the rebels.
聽聽SCALES. Such aid as I can spare you shall command,
聽聽聽聽But I am troubled here with them myself;
聽聽聽聽The rebels have assay'd to win the Tower.
聽聽聽聽But get you to Smithfield, and gather head,
聽聽聽聽And thither I will send you Matthew Goffe;
聽聽聽聽Fight for your King, your country, and your lives;
聽聽聽聽And so, farewell, for I must hence again. Exeunt

London. Cannon street

Enter JACK CADE and the rest, and strikes his staff on London
Stone

聽聽CADE. Now is Mortimer lord of this city. And here, sitting upon
聽聽聽聽London Stone, I charge and command that, of the city's cost,
the
聽聽聽聽pissing conduit run nothing but claret wine this first year
of
聽聽聽聽our reign. And now henceforward it shall be treason for any
that
聽聽聽聽calls me other than Lord Mortimer.

Enter a SOLDIER, running

聽聽SOLDIER. Jack Cade! Jack Cade!
聽聽CADE. Knock him down there. [They kill him]
聽聽SMITH. If this fellow be wise, he'll never call ye Jack Cade
more;
聽聽聽聽I think he hath a very fair warning.
聽聽DICK. My lord, there's an army gathered together in Smithfield.
聽聽CADE. Come then, let's go fight with them. But first go and set
聽聽聽聽London Bridge on fire; and, if you can, burn down the Tower
too.
聽聽聽聽Come, let's away. Exeunt

London. Smithfield

Alarums. MATTHEW GOFFE is slain, and all the rest. Then enter JACK CADE, with his company

聽聽CADE. So, sirs. Now go some and pull down the Savoy; others to
th'
聽聽聽聽Inns of Court; down with them all.
聽聽DICK. I have a suit unto your lordship.
聽聽CADE. Be it a lordship, thou shalt have it for that word.
聽聽DICK. Only that the laws of England may come out of your mouth.
聽聽JOHN. [Aside] Mass, 'twill be sore law then; for he was thrust
in
聽聽聽聽the mouth with a spear, and 'tis not whole yet.
聽聽SMITH. [Aside] Nay, John, it will be stinking law; for his
breath
聽聽聽聽stinks with eating toasted cheese.
聽聽CADE. I have thought upon it; it shall be so. Away, burn all
the
聽聽聽聽records of the realm. My mouth shall be the Parliament of
听听听听贰苍驳濒补苍诲.
聽聽JOHN. [Aside] Then we are like to have biting statutes, unless
his
聽聽聽聽teeth be pull'd out.
聽聽CADE. And henceforward all things shall be in common.

Enter a MESSENGER

聽聽MESSENGER. My lord, a prize, a prize! Here's the Lord Say,
which
聽聽聽聽sold the towns in France; he that made us pay one and twenty
聽聽聽聽fifteens, and one shining to the pound, the last subsidy.

Enter GEORGE BEVIS, with the LORD SAY

聽聽CADE. Well, he shall be beheaded for it ten times. Ah, thou
say,
聽聽聽聽thou serge, nay, thou buckram lord! Now art thou within point
聽聽聽聽blank of our jurisdiction regal. What canst thou answer to my
聽聽聽聽Majesty for giving up of Normandy unto Mounsieur Basimecu the
聽聽聽聽Dauphin of France? Be it known unto thee by these presence,
even
聽聽聽聽the presence of Lord Mortimer, that I am the besom that must
聽聽聽聽sweep the court clean of such filth as thou art. Thou hast
most
聽聽聽聽traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm in erecting a
聽聽聽聽grammar school; and whereas, before, our forefathers had no
other
聽聽聽聽books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing
to
聽聽聽聽be us'd, and, contrary to the King, his crown, and dignity,
thou
聽聽聽聽hast built a paper-mill. It will be proved to thy face that
thou
聽聽聽聽hast men about thee that usually talk of a noun and a verb,
and
聽聽聽聽such abominable words as no Christian ear can endure to hear.
聽聽聽聽Thou hast appointed justices of peace, to call poor men
before
聽聽聽聽them about matters they were not able to answer. Moreover,
thou
聽聽聽聽hast put them in prison, and because they could not read,
thou
聽聽聽聽hast hang'd them, when, indeed, only for that cause they have
聽聽聽聽been most worthy to live. Thou dost ride in a foot-cloth,
dost
聽聽聽聽thou not?
聽聽SAY. What of that?
聽聽CADE. Marry, thou ought'st not to let thy horse wear a cloak,
when
聽聽聽聽honester men than thou go in their hose and doublets.
聽聽DICK. And work in their shirt too, as myself, for example, that
am
聽聽聽聽a butcher.
聽聽SAY. You men of Kent-
聽聽DICK. What say you of Kent?
聽聽SAY. Nothing but this: 'tis 'bona terra, mala gens.'
聽聽CADE. Away with him, away with him! He speaks Latin.
聽聽SAY. Hear me but speak, and bear me where you will.
聽聽聽聽Kent, in the Commentaries Caesar writ,
聽聽聽聽Is term'd the civil'st place of all this isle.
聽聽聽聽Sweet is the country, because full of riches;
聽聽聽聽The people liberal valiant, active, wealthy;
聽聽聽聽Which makes me hope you are not void of pity.
聽聽聽聽I sold not Maine, I lost not Normandy;
聽聽聽聽Yet, to recover them, would lose my life.
聽聽聽聽Justice with favour have I always done;
聽聽聽聽Pray'rs and tears have mov'd me, gifts could never.
聽聽聽聽When have I aught exacted at your hands,
聽聽聽聽But to maintain the King, the realm, and you?
聽聽聽聽Large gifts have I bestow'd on learned clerks,
聽聽聽聽Because my book preferr'd me to the King,
聽聽聽聽And seeing ignorance is the curse of God,
聽聽聽聽Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven,
聽聽聽聽Unless you be possess'd with devilish spirits
聽聽聽聽You cannot but forbear to murder me.
聽聽聽聽This tongue hath parley'd unto foreign kings
聽聽聽聽For your behoof.
聽聽CADE. Tut, when struck'st thou one blow in the field?
聽聽SAY. Great men have reaching hands. Oft have I struck
聽聽聽聽Those that I never saw, and struck them dead.
聽聽GEORGE. O monstrous coward! What, to come behind folks?
聽聽SAY. These cheeks are pale for watching for your good.
聽聽CADE. Give him a box o' th' ear, and that will make 'em red
again.
聽聽SAY. Long sitting to determine poor men's causes
聽聽聽聽Hath made me full of sickness and diseases.
聽聽CADE. Ye shall have a hempen caudle then, and the help of
hatchet.
聽聽DICK. Why dost thou quiver, man?
聽聽SAY. The palsy, and not fear, provokes me.
聽聽CADE. Nay, he nods at us, as who should say 'I'll be even with
聽聽聽聽you'; I'll see if his head will stand steadier on a pole, or
no.
聽聽聽聽Take him away, and behead him.
聽聽SAY. Tell me: wherein have I offended most?
聽聽聽聽Have I affected wealth or honour? Speak.
聽聽聽聽Are my chests fill'd up with extorted gold?
聽聽聽聽Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?
聽聽聽聽Whom have I injur'd, that ye seek my death?
聽聽聽聽These hands are free from guiltless bloodshedding,
聽聽聽聽This breast from harbouring foul deceitful thoughts.
聽聽聽聽O, let me live!
聽聽CADE. [Aside] I feel remorse in myself with his words; but I'll

聽聽聽聽bridle it. He shall die, an it be but for pleading so well
for
聽聽聽聽his life.- Away with him! He has a familiar under his tongue;
he
聽聽聽聽speaks not o' God's name. Go, take him away, I say, and
strike
聽聽聽聽off his head presently, and then break into his son-in-law's
聽聽聽聽house, Sir James Cromer, and strike off his head, and bring
them
聽聽聽聽both upon two poles hither.
聽聽ALL. It shall be done.
聽聽SAY. Ah, countrymen! if when you make your pray'rs,
聽聽聽聽God should be so obdurate as yourselves,
聽聽聽聽How would it fare with your departed souls?
聽聽聽聽And therefore yet relent and save my life.
聽聽CADE. Away with him, and do as I command ye. [Exeunt some with
聽聽聽聽LORD SAY] The proudest peer in the realm shall not wear a
head
聽聽聽聽on his shoulders, unless he pay me tribute; there shall not a
聽聽聽聽maid be married, but she shall pay to me her maidenhead ere
they
聽聽聽聽have it. Men shall hold of me in capite; and we charge and
聽聽聽聽command that their wives be as free as heart can wish or
tongue
聽聽聽聽can tell.
聽聽DICK. My lord, when shall we go to Cheapside, and take up
聽聽聽聽commodities upon our bills?
聽聽CADE. Marry, presently.
聽聽ALL. O, brave!

Re-enter one with the heads

聽聽CADE. But is not this braver? Let them kiss one another, for
they
聽聽聽聽lov'd well when they were alive. Now part them again, lest
they
聽聽聽聽consult about the giving up of some more towns in France.
聽聽聽聽Soldiers, defer the spoil of the city until night; for with
these
聽聽聽聽borne before us instead of maces will we ride through the
聽聽聽聽streets, and at every corner have them kiss. Away! Exeunt

Southwark

Alarum and retreat. Enter again CADE and all his rabblement

聽聽CADE. Up Fish Street! down Saint Magnus' Corner! Kill and knock
聽聽聽聽down! Throw them into Thames! [Sound a parley]
聽聽聽聽What noise is this I hear? Dare any be so bold to sound
retreat
聽聽聽聽or parley when I command them kill?

Enter BUCKINGHAM and old CLIFFORD, attended

聽聽BUCKINGHAM. Ay, here they be that dare and will disturb thee.
聽聽聽聽And therefore yet relent, and save my life.
聽聽聽聽Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the King
聽聽聽聽Unto the commons whom thou hast misled;
聽聽聽聽And here pronounce free pardon to them all
聽聽聽聽That will forsake thee and go home in peace.
聽聽CLIFFORD. What say ye, countrymen? Will ye relent
聽聽聽聽And yield to mercy whilst 'tis offer'd you,
聽聽聽聽Or let a rebel lead you to your deaths?
聽聽聽聽Who loves the King, and will embrace his pardon,
聽聽聽聽Fling up his cap and say 'God save his Majesty!'
聽聽聽聽Who hateth him and honours not his father,
聽聽聽聽Henry the Fifth, that made all France to quake,
聽聽聽聽Shake he his weapon at us and pass by.
聽聽ALL. God save the King! God save the King!
聽聽CADE. What, Buckingham and Clifford, are ye so brave?
聽聽聽聽And you, base peasants, do ye believe him? Will you needs be
聽聽聽聽hang'd with your about your necks? Hath my sword therefore
broke
聽聽聽聽through London gates, that you should leave me at the White
Hart
聽聽聽聽in Southwark? I thought ye would never have given out these
arms
聽聽聽聽till you had recovered your ancient freedom. But you are all
聽聽聽聽recreants and dastards, and delight to live in slavery to the
聽聽聽聽nobility. Let them break your backs with burdens, take your
聽聽聽聽houses over your heads, ravish your wives and daughters
before
聽聽聽聽your faces. For me, I will make shift for one; and so God's
curse
聽聽聽聽light upon you all!
聽聽ALL. We'll follow Cade, we'll follow Cade!
聽聽CLIFFORD. Is Cade the son of Henry the Fifth,
聽聽聽聽That thus you do exclaim you'll go with him?
聽聽聽聽Will he conduct you through the heart of France,
聽聽聽聽And make the meanest of you earls and dukes?
聽聽聽聽Alas, he hath no home, no place to fly to;
聽聽聽聽Nor knows he how to live but by the spoil,
聽聽聽聽Unless by robbing of your friends and us.
聽聽聽聽Were't not a shame that whilst you live at jar
聽聽聽聽The fearful French, whom you late vanquished,
聽聽聽聽Should make a start o'er seas and vanquish you?
聽聽聽聽Methinks already in this civil broil
聽聽聽聽I see them lording it in London streets,
聽聽聽聽Crying 'Villiago!' unto all they meet.
聽聽聽聽Better ten thousand base-born Cades miscarry
聽聽聽聽Than you should stoop unto a Frenchman's mercy.
聽聽聽聽To France, to France, and get what you have lost;
聽聽聽聽Spare England, for it is your native coast.
聽聽聽聽Henry hath money; you are strong and manly.
聽聽聽聽God on our side, doubt not of victory.
聽聽ALL. A Clifford! a Clifford! We'll follow the King and
Clifford.
聽聽CADE. Was ever feather so lightly blown to and fro as this
聽聽聽聽multitude? The name of Henry the Fifth hales them to an
hundred
聽聽聽聽mischiefs, and makes them leave me desolate. I see them lay
their
聽聽聽聽heads together to surprise me. My sword make way for me for
here
聽聽聽聽is no staying. In despite of the devils and hell, have
through
聽聽聽聽the very middest of you! and heavens and honour be witness
that
聽聽聽聽no want of resolution in me, but only my followers' base and
聽聽聽聽ignominious treasons, makes me betake me to my heels.
听贰虫颈迟
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. What, is he fled? Go some, and follow him;
聽聽聽聽And he that brings his head unto the King
聽聽聽聽Shall have a thousand crowns for his reward.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Exeunt some of them
聽聽聽聽Follow me, soldiers; we'll devise a mean
聽聽聽聽To reconcile you all unto the King. Exeunt

Killingworth Castle

Sound trumpets. Enter KING, QUEEN, and SOMERSET, on the terrace

聽聽KING HENRY. Was ever king that joy'd an earthly throne
聽聽聽聽And could command no more content than I?
聽聽聽聽No sooner was I crept out of my cradle
聽聽聽聽But I was made a king, at nine months old.
聽聽聽聽Was never subject long'd to be a King
聽聽聽聽As I do long and wish to be a subject.

Enter BUCKINGHAM and old CLIFFORD

聽聽BUCKINGHAM. Health and glad tidings to your Majesty!
聽聽KING HENRY. Why, Buckingham, is the traitor Cade surpris'd?
聽聽聽聽Or is he but retir'd to make him strong?

Enter, below, multitudes, with halters about their necks

聽聽CLIFFORD. He is fled, my lord, and all his powers do yield,
聽聽聽聽And humbly thus, with halters on their necks,
聽聽聽聽Expect your Highness' doom of life or death.
聽聽KING HENRY. Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting gates,
聽聽聽聽To entertain my vows of thanks and praise!
聽聽聽聽Soldiers, this day have you redeem'd your lives,
聽聽聽聽And show'd how well you love your Prince and country.
聽聽聽聽Continue still in this so good a mind,
聽聽聽聽And Henry, though he be infortunate,
聽聽聽聽Assure yourselves, will never be unkind.
聽聽聽聽And so, with thanks and pardon to you all,
聽聽聽聽I do dismiss you to your several countries.
聽聽ALL. God save the King! God save the King!

Enter a MESSENGER

聽聽MESSENGER. Please it your Grace to be advertised
聽聽聽聽The Duke of York is newly come from Ireland
聽聽聽聽And with a puissant and a mighty power
聽聽聽聽Of gallowglasses and stout kerns
聽聽聽聽Is marching hitherward in proud array,
聽聽聽聽And still proclaimeth, as he comes along,
聽聽聽聽His arms are only to remove from thee
聽聽聽聽The Duke of Somerset, whom he terms a traitor.
聽聽KING HENRY. Thus stands my state, 'twixt Cade and York
distress'd;
聽聽聽聽Like to a ship that, having scap'd a tempest,
聽聽聽聽Is straightway calm'd, and boarded with a pirate;
聽聽聽聽But now is Cade driven back, his men dispers'd,
聽聽聽聽And now is York in arms to second him.
聽聽聽聽I pray thee, Buckingham, go and meet him
聽聽聽聽And ask him what's the reason of these arms.
聽聽聽聽Tell him I'll send Duke Edmund to the Tower-
聽聽聽聽And Somerset, we will commit thee thither
聽聽聽聽Until his army be dismiss'd from him.
聽聽SOMERSET. My lord,
聽聽聽聽I'll yield myself to prison willingly,
聽聽聽聽Or unto death, to do my country good.
聽聽KING HENRY. In any case be not too rough in terms,
聽聽聽聽For he is fierce and cannot brook hard language.
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. I will, my lord, and doubt not so to deal
聽聽聽聽As all things shall redound unto your good.
聽聽KING HENRY. Come, wife, let's in, and learn to govern better;
聽聽聽聽For yet may England curse my wretched reign.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Flourish. Exeunt

Kent. Iden's garden

Enter CADE

聽聽CADE. Fie on ambitions! Fie on myself, that have a sword and
yet am
聽聽聽聽ready to famish! These five days have I hid me in these woods
and
聽聽聽聽durst not peep out, for all the country is laid for me; but
now
聽聽聽聽am I so hungry that, if I might have a lease of my life for a
聽聽聽聽thousand years, I could stay no longer. Wherefore, on a brick
聽聽聽聽wall have I climb'd into this garden, to see if I can eat
grass
聽聽聽聽or pick a sallet another while, which is not amiss to cool a
聽聽聽聽man's stomach this hot weather. And I think this word
'sallet'
聽聽聽聽was born to do me good; for many a time, but for a sallet, my
聽聽聽聽brain-pain had been cleft with a brown bill; and many a time,
聽聽聽聽when I have been dry, and bravely marching, it hath serv'd me
聽聽聽聽instead of a quart-pot to drink in; and now the word 'sallet'
聽聽聽聽must serve me to feed on.

Enter IDEN

聽聽IDEN. Lord, who would live turmoiled in the court
聽聽聽聽And may enjoy such quiet walks as these?
聽聽聽聽This small inheritance my father left me
聽聽聽聽Contenteth me, and worth a monarchy.
聽聽聽聽I seek not to wax great by others' waning
聽聽聽聽Or gather wealth I care not with what envy;
聽聽聽聽Sufficeth that I have maintains my state,
聽聽聽聽And sends the poor well pleased from my gate.
聽聽CADE. Here's the lord of the soil come to seize me for a stray,
for
聽聽聽聽entering his fee-simple without leave. Ah, villain, thou wilt
聽聽聽聽betray me, and get a thousand crowns of the King by carrying
my
聽聽聽聽head to him; but I'll make thee eat iron like an ostrich and
聽聽聽聽swallow my sword like a great pin ere thou and I part.
聽聽IDEN. Why, rude companion, whatsoe'er thou be,
聽聽聽聽I know thee not; why then should I betray thee?
聽聽聽聽Is't not enough to break into my garden
聽聽聽聽And like a thief to come to rob my grounds,
聽聽聽聽Climbing my walls in spite of me the owner,
聽聽聽聽But thou wilt brave me with these saucy terms?
聽聽CADE. Brave thee? Ay, by the best blood that ever was broach'd,
and
聽聽聽聽beard thee too. Look on me well: I have eat no meat these
five
聽聽聽聽days, yet come thou and thy five men and if I do not leave
you
聽聽聽聽all as dead as a door-nail, I pray God I may never eat grass
听听听听尘辞谤别.
聽聽IDEN. Nay, it shall ne'er be said, while England stands,
聽聽聽聽That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent,
聽聽聽聽Took odds to combat a poor famish'd man.
聽聽聽聽Oppose thy steadfast-gazing eyes to mine;
聽聽聽聽See if thou canst outface me with thy looks;
聽聽聽聽Set limb to limb, and thou art far the lesser;
聽聽聽聽Thy hand is but a finger to my fist,
聽聽聽聽Thy leg a stick compared with this truncheon;
聽聽聽聽My foot shall fight with all the strength thou hast,
聽聽聽聽And if mine arm be heaved in the air,
聽聽聽聽Thy grave is digg'd already in the earth.
聽聽聽聽As for words, whose greatness answers words,
聽聽聽聽Let this my sword report what speech forbears.
聽聽CADE. By my valour, the most complete champion that ever I
heard!
聽聽聽聽Steel, if thou turn the edge, or cut not out the burly bon'd
聽聽聽聽clown in chines of beef ere thou sleep in thy sheath, I
beseech
聽聽聽聽God on my knees thou mayst be turn'd to hobnails. [Here they

聽聽聽聽fight; CADE falls] O, I am slain! famine and no other hath
slain
聽聽聽聽me. Let ten thousand devils come against me, and give me but
the
聽聽聽聽ten meals I have lost, and I'd defy them all. Wither, garden,
and
聽聽聽聽be henceforth a burying place to all that do dwell in this
house,
聽聽聽聽because the unconquered soul of Cade is fled.
聽聽IDEN. Is't Cade that I have slain, that monstrous traitor?
聽聽聽聽Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed
聽聽聽聽And hang thee o'er my tomb when I am dead.
聽聽聽聽Ne'er shall this blood be wiped from thy point,
聽聽聽聽But thou shalt wear it as a herald's coat
聽聽聽聽To emblaze the honour that thy master got.
聽聽CADE. Iden, farewell; and be proud of thy victory. Tell Kent
from
聽聽聽聽me she hath lost her best man, and exhort all the world to be
聽聽聽聽cowards; for I, that never feared any, am vanquished by
famine,
聽聽聽聽not by valour. [Dies]
聽聽IDEN. How much thou wrong'st me, heaven be my judge.
聽聽聽聽Die, damned wretch, the curse of her that bare thee!
聽聽聽聽And as I thrust thy body in with my sword,
聽聽聽聽So wish I, I might thrust thy soul to hell.
聽聽聽聽Hence will I drag thee headlong by the heels
聽聽聽聽Unto a dunghill, which shall be thy grave,
聽聽聽聽And there cut off thy most ungracious head,
聽聽聽聽Which I will bear in triumph to the King,
聽聽聽聽Leaving thy trunk for crows to feed upon. Exit

Fields between Dartford and Blackheath

Enter YORK, and his army of Irish, with drum and colours

聽聽YORK. From Ireland thus comes York to claim his right
聽聽聽聽And pluck the crown from feeble Henry's head:
聽聽聽聽Ring bells aloud, burn bonfires clear and bright,
聽聽聽聽To entertain great England's lawful king.
聽聽聽聽Ah, sancta majestas! who would not buy thee dear?
聽聽聽聽Let them obey that knows not how to rule;
聽聽聽聽This hand was made to handle nought but gold.
聽聽聽聽I cannot give due action to my words
聽聽聽聽Except a sword or sceptre balance it.
聽聽聽聽A sceptre shall it have, have I a soul
聽聽聽聽On which I'll toss the flower-de-luce of France.

Enter BUCKINGHAM

聽聽聽聽[Aside] Whom have we here? Buckingham, to disturb me?
聽聽聽聽The King hath sent him, sure: I must dissemble.
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. York, if thou meanest well I greet thee well.
聽聽YORK. Humphrey of Buckingham, I accept thy greeting.
聽聽聽聽Art thou a messenger, or come of pleasure?
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. A messenger from Henry, our dread liege,
聽聽聽聽To know the reason of these arms in peace;
聽聽聽聽Or why thou, being a subject as I am,
聽聽聽聽Against thy oath and true allegiance sworn,
聽聽聽聽Should raise so great a power without his leave,
聽聽聽聽Or dare to bring thy force so near the court.
聽聽YORK. [Aside] Scarce can I speak, my choler is so great.
聽聽聽聽O, I could hew up rocks and fight with flint,
聽聽聽聽I am so angry at these abject terms;
聽聽聽聽And now, like Ajax Telamonius,
聽聽聽聽On sheep or oxen could I spend my fury.
聽聽聽聽I am far better born than is the King,
聽聽聽聽More like a king, more kingly in my thoughts;
聽聽聽聽But I must make fair weather yet awhile,
聽聽聽聽Till Henry be more weak and I more strong.-
聽聽聽聽Buckingham, I prithee, pardon me
聽聽聽聽That I have given no answer all this while;
聽聽聽聽My mind was troubled with deep melancholy.
聽聽聽聽The cause why I have brought this army hither
聽聽聽聽Is to remove proud Somerset from the King,
聽聽聽聽Seditious to his Grace and to the state.
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. That is too much presumption on thy part;
聽聽聽聽But if thy arms be to no other end,
聽聽聽聽The King hath yielded unto thy demand:
聽聽聽聽The Duke of Somerset is in the Tower.
聽聽YORK. Upon thine honour, is he prisoner?
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. Upon mine honour, he is prisoner.
聽聽YORK. Then, Buckingham, I do dismiss my pow'rs.
聽聽聽聽Soldiers, I thank you all; disperse yourselves;
聽聽聽聽Meet me to-morrow in Saint George's field,
聽聽聽聽You shall have pay and everything you wish.
聽聽聽聽And let my sovereign, virtuous Henry,
聽聽聽聽Command my eldest son, nay, all my sons,
聽聽聽聽As pledges of my fealty and love.
聽聽聽聽I'll send them all as willing as I live:
聽聽聽聽Lands, goods, horse, armour, anything I have,
聽聽聽聽Is his to use, so Somerset may die.
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. York, I commend this kind submission.
聽聽聽聽We twain will go into his Highness' tent.

Enter the KING, and attendants

聽聽KING HENRY. Buckingham, doth York intend no harm to us,
聽聽聽聽That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm?
聽聽YORK. In all submission and humility
聽聽聽聽York doth present himself unto your Highness.
聽聽KING HENRY. Then what intends these forces thou dost bring?
聽聽YORK. To heave the traitor Somerset from hence,
聽聽聽聽And fight against that monstrous rebel Cade,
聽聽聽聽Who since I heard to be discomfited.

Enter IDEN, with CADE's head

聽聽IDEN. If one so rude and of so mean condition
聽聽聽聽May pass into the presence of a king,
聽聽聽聽Lo, I present your Grace a traitor's head,
聽聽聽聽The head of Cade, whom I in combat slew.
聽聽KING HENRY. The head of Cade! Great God, how just art Thou!
聽聽聽聽O, let me view his visage, being dead,
聽聽聽聽That living wrought me such exceeding trouble.
聽聽聽聽Tell me, my friend, art thou the man that slew him?
聽聽IDEN. I was, an't like your Majesty.
聽聽KING HENRY. How art thou call'd? And what is thy degree?
聽聽IDEN. Alexander Iden, that's my name;
聽聽聽聽A poor esquire of Kent that loves his king.
聽聽BUCKINGHAM. So please it you, my lord, 'twere not amiss
聽聽聽聽He were created knight for his good service.
聽聽KING HENRY. Iden, kneel down. [He kneels] Rise up a knight.
聽聽聽聽We give thee for reward a thousand marks,
聽聽聽聽And will that thou thenceforth attend on us.
聽聽IDEN. May Iden live to merit such a bounty,
聽聽聽聽And never live but true unto his liege!

Enter the QUEEN and SOMERSET

聽聽KING HENRY. See, Buckingham! Somerset comes with th' Queen:
聽聽聽聽Go, bid her hide him quickly from the Duke.
聽聽QUEEN. For thousand Yorks he shall not hide his head,
聽聽聽聽But boldly stand and front him to his face.
聽聽YORK. How now! Is Somerset at liberty?
聽聽聽聽Then, York, unloose thy long-imprisoned thoughts
聽聽聽聽And let thy tongue be equal with thy heart.
聽聽聽聽Shall I endure the sight of Somerset?
聽聽聽聽False king, why hast thou broken faith with me,
聽聽聽聽Knowing how hardly I can brook abuse?
聽聽聽聽King did I call thee? No, thou art not king;
聽聽聽聽Not fit to govern and rule multitudes,
聽聽聽聽Which dar'st not, no, nor canst not rule a traitor.
聽聽聽聽That head of thine doth not become a crown;
聽聽聽聽Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer's staff,
聽聽聽聽And not to grace an awful princely sceptre.
聽聽聽聽That gold must round engirt these brows of mine,
聽聽聽聽Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles' spear,
聽聽聽聽Is able with the change to kill and cure.
聽聽聽聽Here is a hand to hold a sceptre up,
聽聽聽聽And with the same to act controlling laws.
聽聽聽聽Give place. By heaven, thou shalt rule no more
聽聽聽聽O'er him whom heaven created for thy ruler.
聽聽SOMERSET. O monstrous traitor! I arrest thee, York,
聽聽聽聽Of capital treason 'gainst the King and crown.
聽聽聽聽Obey, audacious traitor; kneel for grace.
聽聽YORK. Wouldst have me kneel? First let me ask of these,
聽聽聽聽If they can brook I bow a knee to man.
聽聽聽聽Sirrah, call in my sons to be my bail: Exit attendant
聽聽聽聽I know, ere thy will have me go to ward,
聽聽聽聽They'll pawn their swords for my enfranchisement.
聽聽QUEEN. Call hither Clifford; bid him come amain,
聽聽聽聽To say if that the bastard boys of York
聽聽聽聽Shall be the surety for their traitor father.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽听贰虫颈迟 BUCKINGHAM
聽聽YORK. O blood-bespotted Neapolitan,
聽聽聽聽Outcast of Naples, England's bloody scourge!
聽聽聽聽The sons of York, thy betters in their birth,
聽聽聽聽Shall be their father's bail; and bane to those
聽聽聽聽That for my surety will refuse the boys!

Enter EDWARD and RICHARD PLANTAGENET

See where they come: I'll warrant they'll make it good.

Enter CLIFFORD and his SON

聽聽QUEEN. And here comes Clifford to deny their bail.
聽聽CLIFFORD. Health and all happiness to my lord the King!
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听摆碍苍别别濒蝉闭
聽聽YORK. I thank thee, Clifford. Say, what news with thee?
聽聽聽聽Nay, do not fright us with an angry look.
聽聽聽聽We are thy sovereign, Clifford, kneel again;
聽聽聽聽For thy mistaking so, we pardon thee.
聽聽CLIFFORD. This is my King, York, I do not mistake;
聽聽聽聽But thou mistakes me much to think I do.
聽聽聽聽To Bedlam with him! Is the man grown mad?
聽聽KING HENRY. Ay, Clifford; a bedlam and ambitious humour
聽聽聽聽Makes him oppose himself against his king.
聽聽CLIFFORD. He is a traitor; let him to the Tower,
聽聽聽聽And chop away that factious pate of his.
聽聽QUEEN. He is arrested, but will not obey;
聽聽聽聽His sons, he says, shall give their words for him.
聽聽YORK. Will you not, sons?
聽聽EDWARD. Ay, noble father, if our words will serve.
聽聽RICHARD. And if words will not, then our weapons shall.
聽聽CLIFFORD. Why, what a brood of traitors have we here!
聽聽YORK. Look in a glass, and call thy image so:
聽聽聽聽I am thy king, and thou a false-heart traitor.
聽聽聽聽Call hither to the stake my two brave bears,
聽聽聽聽That with the very shaking of their chains
聽聽聽聽They may astonish these fell-lurking curs.
聽聽聽聽Bid Salisbury and Warwick come to me.

Enter the EARLS OF WARWICK and SALISBURY

聽聽CLIFFORD. Are these thy bears? We'll bait thy bears to death,
聽聽聽聽And manacle the berard in their chains,
聽聽聽聽If thou dar'st bring them to the baiting-place.
聽聽RICHARD. Oft have I seen a hot o'er weening cur
聽聽聽聽Run back and bite, because he was withheld;
聽聽聽聽Who, being suffer'd, with the bear's fell paw,
聽聽聽聽Hath clapp'd his tail between his legs and cried;
聽聽聽聽And such a piece of service will you do,
聽聽聽聽If you oppose yourselves to match Lord Warwick.
聽聽CLIFFORD. Hence, heap of wrath, foul indigested lump,
聽聽聽聽As crooked in thy manners as thy shape!
聽聽YORK. Nay, we shall heat you thoroughly anon.
聽聽CLIFFORD. Take heed, lest by your heat you burn yourselves.
聽聽KING HENRY. Why, Warwick, hath thy knee forgot to bow?
聽聽聽聽Old Salisbury, shame to thy silver hair,
聽聽聽聽Thou mad misleader of thy brainsick son!
聽聽聽聽What, wilt thou on thy death-bed play the ruffian
聽聽聽聽And seek for sorrow with thy spectacles?
聽聽聽聽O, where is faith? O, where is loyalty?
聽聽聽聽If it be banish'd from the frosty head,
聽聽聽聽Where shall it find a harbour in the earth?
聽聽聽聽Wilt thou go dig a grave to find out war
聽聽聽聽And shame thine honourable age with blood?
聽聽聽聽Why art thou old, and want'st experience?
聽聽聽聽Or wherefore dost abuse it, if thou hast it?
聽聽聽聽For shame! In duty bend thy knee to me,
聽聽聽聽That bows unto the grave with mickle age.
聽聽SALISBURY. My lord, I have considered with myself
聽聽聽聽The tide of this most renowned duke,
聽聽聽聽And in my conscience do repute his Grace
聽聽聽聽The rightful heir to England's royal seat.
聽聽KING HENRY. Hast thou not sworn allegiance unto me?
聽聽SALISBURY. I have.
聽聽KING HENRY. Canst thou dispense with heaven for such an oath?
聽聽SALISBURY. It is great sin to swear unto a sin;
聽聽聽聽But greater sin to keep a sinful oath.
聽聽聽聽Who can be bound by any solemn vow
聽聽聽聽To do a murd'rous deed, to rob a man,
聽聽聽聽To force a spotless virgin's chastity,
聽聽聽聽To reave the orphan of his patrimony,
聽聽聽聽To wring the widow from her custom'd right,
聽聽聽聽And have no other reason for this wrong
聽聽聽聽But that he was bound by a solemn oath?
聽聽QUEEN. A subtle traitor needs no sophister.
聽聽KING HENRY. Call Buckingham, and bid him arm himself.
聽聽YORK. Call Buckingham, and all the friends thou hast,
聽聽聽聽I am resolv'd for death or dignity.
聽聽CLIFFORD. The first I warrant thee, if dreams prove true.
聽聽WARWICK. You were best to go to bed and dream again
聽聽聽聽To keep thee from the tempest of the field.
聽聽CLIFFORD. I am resolv'd to bear a greater storm
聽聽聽聽Than any thou canst conjure up to-day;
聽聽聽聽And that I'll write upon thy burgonet,
聽聽聽聽Might I but know thee by thy household badge.
聽聽WARWICK. Now, by my father's badge, old Nevil's crest,
聽聽聽聽The rampant bear chain'd to the ragged staff,
聽聽聽聽This day I'll wear aloft my burgonet,
聽聽聽聽As on a mountain-top the cedar shows,
聽聽聽聽That keeps his leaves in spite of any storm,
聽聽聽聽Even to affright thee with the view thereof.
聽聽CLIFFORD. And from thy burgonet I'll rend thy bear
聽聽聽聽And tread it under foot with all contempt,
聽聽聽聽Despite the berard that protects the bear.
聽聽YOUNG CLIFFORD. And so to arms, victorious father,
聽聽聽聽To quell the rebels and their complices.
聽聽RICHARD. Fie! charity, for shame! Speak not in spite,
聽聽聽聽For you shall sup with Jesu Christ to-night.
聽聽YOUNG CLIFFORD. Foul stigmatic, that's more than thou canst
tell.
聽聽RICHARD. If not in heaven, you'll surely sup in hell.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Exeunt severally

Saint Albans

Alarums to the battle. Enter WARWICK

聽聽WARWICK. Clifford of Cumberland, 'tis Warwick calls;
聽聽聽聽And if thou dost not hide thee from the bear,
聽聽聽聽Now, when the angry trumpet sounds alarum
聽聽聽聽And dead men's cries do fill the empty air,
聽聽聽聽Clifford, I say, come forth and fight with me.
聽聽聽聽Proud northern lord, Clifford of Cumberland,
聽聽WARWICK is hoarse with calling thee to arms.

Enter YORK

聽聽聽聽How now, my noble lord! what, all a-foot?
聽聽YORK. The deadly-handed Clifford slew my steed;
聽聽聽聽But match to match I have encount'red him,
聽聽聽聽And made a prey for carrion kites and crows
聽聽聽聽Even of the bonny beast he lov'd so well.

Enter OLD CLIFFORD

聽聽WARWICK. Of one or both of us the time is come.
聽聽YORK. Hold, Warwick, seek thee out some other chase,
聽聽聽聽For I myself must hunt this deer to death.
聽聽WARWICK. Then, nobly, York; 'tis for a crown thou fight'st.
聽聽聽聽As I intend, Clifford, to thrive to-day,
聽聽聽聽It grieves my soul to leave thee unassail'd. Exit
聽聽CLIFFORD. What seest thou in me, York? Why dost thou pause?
聽聽YORK. With thy brave bearing should I be in love
聽聽聽聽But that thou art so fast mine enemy.
聽聽CLIFFORD. Nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem
聽聽聽聽But that 'tis shown ignobly and in treason.
聽聽YORK. So let it help me now against thy sword,
聽聽聽聽As I in justice and true right express it!
聽聽CLIFFORD. My soul and body on the action both!
聽聽YORK. A dreadful lay! Address thee instantly.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[They fight and CLIFFORD falls]
聽聽CLIFFORD. La fin couronne les oeuvres. [Dies]
聽聽YORK. Thus war hath given thee peace, for thou art still.
聽聽聽聽Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will! Exit

Enter YOUNG CLIFFORD

聽聽YOUNG CLIFFORD. Shame and confusion! All is on the rout;
聽聽聽聽Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds
聽聽聽聽Where it should guard. O war, thou son of hell,
聽聽聽聽Whom angry heavens do make their minister,
聽聽聽聽Throw in the frozen bosoms of our part
聽聽聽聽Hot coals of vengeance! Let no soldier fly.
聽聽聽聽He that is truly dedicate to war
聽聽聽聽Hath no self-love; nor he that loves himself
聽聽聽聽Hath not essentially, but by circumstance,
聽聽聽聽The name of valour. [Sees his father's body]
聽聽聽聽O, let the vile world end
聽聽聽聽And the premised flames of the last day
聽聽聽聽Knit earth and heaven together!
聽聽聽聽Now let the general trumpet blow his blast,
聽聽聽聽Particularities and petty sounds
聽聽聽聽To cease! Wast thou ordain'd, dear father,
聽聽聽聽To lose thy youth in peace and to achieve
聽聽聽聽The silver livery of advised age,
聽聽聽聽And in thy reverence and thy chair-days thus
聽聽聽聽To die in ruffian battle? Even at this sight
聽聽聽聽My heart is turn'd to stone; and while 'tis mine
聽聽聽聽It shall be stony. York not our old men spares;
聽聽聽聽No more will I their babes. Tears virginal
聽聽聽聽Shall be to me even as the dew to fire;
聽聽聽聽And beauty, that the tyrant oft reclaims,
聽聽聽聽Shall to my flaming wrath be oil and flax.
聽聽聽聽Henceforth I will not have to do with pity:
聽聽聽聽Meet I an infant of the house of York,
聽聽聽聽Into as many gobbets will I cut it
聽聽聽聽As wild Medea young Absyrtus did;
聽聽聽聽In cruelty will I seek out my fame.
聽聽聽聽Come, thou new ruin of old Clifford's house;
聽聽聽聽As did Aeneas old Anchises bear,
聽聽聽聽So bear I thee upon my manly shoulders;
聽聽聽聽But then Aeneas bare a living load,
聽聽聽聽Nothing so heavy as these woes of mine.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽听贰虫颈迟 with the body

Enter RICHARD and SOMERSET to fight. SOMERSET is killed

聽聽RICHARD. So, lie thou there;
聽聽聽聽For underneath an alehouse' paltry sign,
聽聽聽聽The Castle in Saint Albans, Somerset
聽聽聽聽Hath made the wizard famous in his death.
聽聽聽聽Sword, hold thy temper; heart, be wrathful still:
聽聽聽聽Priests pray for enemies, but princes kill. Exit

Fight. Excursions. Enter KING, QUEEN, and others

聽聽QUEEN. Away, my lord! You are slow; for shame, away!
聽聽KING HENRY. Can we outrun the heavens? Good Margaret, stay.
聽聽QUEEN. What are you made of? You'll nor fight nor fly.
聽聽聽聽Now is it manhood, wisdom, and defence,
聽聽聽聽To give the enemy way, and to secure us
聽聽聽聽By what we can, which can no more but fly.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Alarum afar off]
聽聽聽聽If you be ta'en, we then should see the bottom
聽聽聽聽Of all our fortunes; but if we haply scape-
聽聽聽聽As well we may, if not through your neglect-
聽聽聽聽We shall to London get, where you are lov'd,
聽聽聽聽And where this breach now in our fortunes made
聽聽聽聽May readily be stopp'd.

Re-enter YOUNG CLIFFORD

聽聽YOUNG CLIFFORD. But that my heart's on future mischief set,
聽聽聽聽I would speak blasphemy ere bid you fly;
聽聽聽聽But fly you must; uncurable discomfit
聽聽聽聽Reigns in the hearts of all our present parts.
聽聽聽聽Away, for your relief! and we will live
聽聽聽聽To see their day and them our fortune give.
聽聽聽聽Away, my lord, away! Exeunt

Fields near Saint Albans

Alarum. Retreat. Enter YORK, RICHARD, WARWICK, and soldiers, with drum and colours

聽聽YORK. Of Salisbury, who can report of him,
聽聽聽聽That winter lion, who in rage forgets
聽聽聽聽Aged contusions and all brush of time
聽聽聽聽And, like a gallant in the brow of youth,
聽聽聽聽Repairs him with occasion? This happy day
聽聽聽聽Is not itself, nor have we won one foot,
聽聽聽聽If Salisbury be lost.
聽聽RICHARD. My noble father,
聽聽聽聽Three times to-day I holp him to his horse,
聽聽聽聽Three times bestrid him, thrice I led him off,
聽聽聽聽Persuaded him from any further act;
聽聽聽聽But still where danger was, still there I met him;
聽聽聽聽And like rich hangings in a homely house,
聽聽聽聽So was his will in his old feeble body.
聽聽聽聽But, noble as he is, look where he comes.

Enter SALISBURY

聽聽SALISBURY. Now, by my sword, well hast thou fought to-day!
聽聽聽聽By th' mass, so did we all. I thank you, Richard:
聽聽聽聽God knows how long it is I have to live,
聽聽聽聽And it hath pleas'd Him that three times to-day
聽聽聽聽You have defended me from imminent death.
聽聽聽聽Well, lords, we have not got that which we have;
聽聽聽聽'Tis not enough our foes are this time fled,
聽聽聽聽Being opposites of such repairing nature.
聽聽YORK. I know our safety is to follow them;
聽聽聽聽For, as I hear, the King is fled to London
聽聽聽聽To call a present court of Parliament.
聽聽聽聽Let us pursue him ere the writs go forth.
聽聽聽聽What says Lord Warwick? Shall we after them?
聽聽WARWICK. After them? Nay, before them, if we can.
聽聽聽聽Now, by my faith, lords, 'twas a glorious day:
聽聽聽聽Saint Albans' battle, won by famous York,
聽聽聽聽Shall be eterniz'd in all age to come.
聽聽聽聽Sound drum and trumpets and to London all;
聽聽聽聽And more such days as these to us befall! Exeunt