Scene I. SECOND PART OF KING HENRY VI. Bead. I will, my lord.-Come on, sirrah; off with your doublet quickly. Simp. Alas, master, what shall I do? I am not able to stand. [After the Beadle hath hit him once, he leaps *Q. Mar. It made me laugh, to see the villain run. * Glo. Follow the knave; and take this drab away *Wife. Alas, sir, we did it for pure need. Glo. Let them be whipped through every market town, till they come to Berwick, whence they [Exeunt Mayor, Beadle, Wife, &c. 'Car. Duke Humphrey has done a miracle to-day. Suff. True; made the lame to leap, and fly came. away. Glo. But you have done more miracles than I; You made, in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly. Enter Buckingham. K. Hen. What tidings with our cousin Buckingham? 'Buck. Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold. "Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour. *Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my powers: *K. Hen. O God, what mischiefs work the wicked ones; *Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby! Q. Mar Gloster, see here the tainture of thy nest; * And, look, thyself be faultless, thou wert best. Sorry I am to hear what I have heard: 'Noble she is; but if she have forgot 'I banish her, my bed, and company; 'To-morrow, toward London, back again, (1) A company. VOL. 17. SCENE II.-London. The duke of York's gar Our simple supper ended, give me leave, York. Then thus:- Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons: The second, William of Hatfield; and the third, Was John of Gaunt, the duke of Lancaster: William of Windsor was the seventh, and last. Till Henry Bolingbroke, duke of Lancaster, came, And him to Pomfret; where, as all you know, * War. Father, the duke hath told the truth; by right; For Richard, the first son's heir, being dead, *The issue of the next son should have reign'd. *Sal. But William of Hatfield died without an heir. * York. The third son, duke of Clarence (from whose line *I claim the crown,) had issue--Philippe, a daughter, *Who married Edmund Mortimer, earl of March: *Edmund had issue-Roger, earl of March: Roger had issue-Edmund, Anne, and Eleanor. And, but for Owen Glendower, had been king, York. His eldest sister, Anne, Married Richard, earl of Cambridge; who was son By her I claim the kingdom: she was heir To Roger, carl of March; who was the son Of Edmund Mortimer; who married Philippe, Sole daughter unto Lionel, duke of Clarence: Succeed before the younger, I am king, than this? Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt, (3) i. e. Your lady is in custody. (4) Weigh. Then, father Salisbury, kneel we both together; York. We thank you, lords. But I am not your 'Till I be crown'd; and that my sword be stain'd : War. My heart assures me, that the earl of Shall one day make the duke of York a king. York. And, Nevil, this do I assure myself,Richard shall live to make the earl of Warwick The greatest man in England but the king. [Exe. SCENE III.-The same. A hall of justice. Trumpets sounded. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, Gloster, York, Suffolk, and Salisbury; the Duchess of Gloster, Margery Jourdain, Southwell, Hume, and Bolingbroke, under guard. K. Hen. Stand forth, dame Eleanor Cobham, Gloster's wife: "In sight of God, and us, your guilt is great; "Receive the sentence of the law, for sins *Should be to be protected like a child.- As ere thy father Henry made it mine; garet queen; And Humphrey, duke of Gloster, scarce himself, *That bears so shrewd a maim; two pulls at once,*His lady banish'd, and a limb lopp'd off; *This staff of honour raught :3--There let it stand, Where it best fits to be, in Henry's hand. * Suff. Thus droops this lofty pine, and hangs his sprays; *Thus Eleanor's pride dies in her youngest days. This is the day appointed for the combat; therefore *Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried. Here let them end it, and God defend the right! Such as by God's book are adjudg'd to death.*You four, from hence to prison back again; [To Jourd. &c. * From thence, unto the place of execution: *The witch in Smithfield shall be burn'd to ashes, * And you three shall be strangled on the gallows.—you shall do well enough. 'You, madam, for you are more nobly born, 'Despoiled of your honour in your life, 1 Neigh. Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a cup of sack; And fear not, neighbour, Shall, after three days' open penance done, * Glo. Eleanor, the law, thou seest, hath judged *I cannot justify whom the law condemns.- Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief. 2 Neigh. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of charneco.5 3 Neigh. And here's a pot of good double beer, neighbour: drink, and fear not your man. Hor. Let it come, i'faith, and I'll pledge you all; And a fig for Peter! 1 Pren. Here, Peter, I drink to thee; and be not afraid. 2 Pren. Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master; fight for credit of the prentices. Peter. I thank you all: * drink, and pray for me, I pray you; for, I think, I have taken my last *draught in this world.*-Here, Robin, an if I die, I give thee my apron; and, Will, thou shalt have Will bring thy head with sorrow to the ground!-my hammer:-and here, Tom, take all the money 'I beseech your majesty, give me leave to go; 'Sorrow would solace, and mine age would ease.2 'K. Hen. Stay, Humphrey duke of Gloster: ere thou go, 'Give up thy staff; Henry will to himself Protector be: and God shall be my hope, that I have.-O Lord, bless me, I pray God! for I Sal. Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows. Sal. Thump! then see thou thump thy master well. Hor. Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon my man's instigation, to prove him a knave, (3) Reached. (4) In a worse plight. (5) A sort of sweet wine. and myself an honest man : * and touching the || And follow'd with a rabble, that rejoice * duke of York,-will take my death, I never* To see my tears, and hear my deep-fet7 groans. meant him any ill, nor the king, nor the queen: The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet; *And, therefore, Peter, have at thee with a down-And, when I start, the envious people laugh, right blow, as Bevis of Southampton fell upon And bid me be advised how I tread. Ascapart. * York. Despatch:-this knave's tongue begins * Sound trumpets, alarum to the combatants. treason. Hor. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess [Dies. * York. Take away his weapon :- -Fellow, * thank God, and the good wine in thy master's way. Peter. O God! have I overcome mine enemies in this presence? O Peter, thou hast prevailed in ' right! K. Hen. Go, take hence that traitor from our sight; Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke? With her, that hateth thee, and hates us all,- Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward. [Exeunt. * And, after summer, evermore succeeds Serv. Ten, my lord. Glo. Ten is the hour that was appointed me, Serv. So please your grace, we'll take her from 'Glo. No, stir not, for your lives; let her pass by. Now thou dost penance too. Look, how they gaze! And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee! Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief. (1) The death of the vanquished person was * Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear; thou aimest all awry; *I must offend, before I be attainted: *And had I twenty times so many foes, *And each of them had twenty times their power, *All these could not procure me any scathe,8 *So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless. Would'st have me rescue thee from this reproach? Enter a Herald. Her. I summon your grace to his majesty's parliament, holden at Bury the first of this next month. Glo. And my consent ne'er ask'd herein before! This is close dealing.-Well, I will be there. [Exit Herald. My Nell, I take my leave:--and, master sheriff, mission stays: And sir John Stanley is appointed now your grace. Glo. Entreat her not the worse, in that I pray Duch. What gone, my lord; and bid me not 'Glo. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak. [Exeunt Gloster and Servants. 'Duch. Art thou gone too? * All comfort go with thee! *For none abides with me: my joy is-death; *Death, at whose name I oft have been afeard, *Because I wish'd this world's eternity. Stanley, I pr'ythee, go, and take me hence; (6) Wrapped up in disgrace; alluding to the sheet of penance. (7) Deep-fetched. (8) Harm, mischief. (9) i. e. The world may look again favourably on me. 'I care not whither, for I beg no favour, * Duch. That's bad enough, for I am but re- * And shall I then be us'd reproachfully? * Stan. Like to a duchess and duke Humphrey's lady, 'If it be fond,4 call it a woman's fear; Or else conclude my words effectual. Suff. Well hath your highness seen into this duke; And, had I first been put to speak my mind, *According to that state you shall be used. charg'd. 'Come, Stanley, shall we go? Stan. Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet, And go we to attire you for our journey. *(As next the king, he was successive heir,) * Did instigate the bedlam brain-sick duchess, Duch. My shame will not be shifted with my And in his simple show he harbours treason. sheet: "The strangeness of his alter'd countenance? With what a majesty he bears himself; • How insolent of late he is become, How proud, peremptory, and unlike himself? That all the court admir'd him for submission: Small curs are not regarded, when they grin: • But great men tremble, when the lion roars; And Humphrey is no little man in England. First, note, that he is near you in descent; And should you fall, he is the next will mount. Me seemeth then, it is no policy, Respecting what a rancorous mind he bears, By flattery hath he won the commons' hearts; The fox barks not, when he would steal the lamb. * Car. Did he not, contrary to form of law, Buck. Tut! these are petty faults to faults unknown, *Which time will bring to light in smooth duke Humphrey. *K. Hen. My lords, at once: The care you bave of us, *To mow down thorns that would annoy our foot, Is worthy praise: But shall I speak my conscience? *Our kinsman Gloster is as innocent From meaning treason to our royal person, *As is the sucking lamb, or harmless dove: *The duke is virtuous, mild; and too well given, *To dream on evil, or to work my downfall. *Q. Mar. Ah, what's more dangerous than this fond affiance? Seems he a dove? his feathers are but borrow'd, * For he's disposed as the hateful raven. *Is he a lamb? his skin is surely lent him, *For he's inclin'd as are the ravenous wolves. *Who cannot steal a shape, that means deceit ? * Take heed, my lord; the welfare of us all *Hangs on the cutting short that fraudful man. Enter Somerset. *Som. All health unto my gracious sovereign! K. Hen. Welcome, lord Somerset. What news from France? Som. That all your interest in those territories Is utterly bereft you; all is lost. K. Hen. Cold news, lord Somerset: But God's York. Cold news for me; for I had hopes of As firmly as I hope for fertile England. Enter Gloster. [Aside. *Glo. All happiness unto my lord the king! Pardon, my liege, that I have staid so long. (5) i. e. Valuing himself on his high descent. (3) i. e. Assemble by observation. (4) Foolish.(6) Gear was a general word for things or matters. Suff. Nay, Gloster, know, that thou art come too soon, Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art: I do arrest thee of high treason here. Glo. Well, Suffolk, yet thou shalt not see me blush, Nor change my countenance for this arrest; * The purest spring is not so free from mud, York. 'Tis thought, my lord, that you took bribes And, being protector, stayed the soldiers' pay; 'I never robb'd the soldiers of their pay, That doit that e'er I wrested from the king, "Or any groat I hoarded to my use, 'Be brought against me at my trial day! No! many a pound of mine own proper store, 'And never ask'd for restitution. * Car. It serves you well, my lord, to say so much. * Glo. I say no more than truth, so help me God! York. In your protectorship, you did devise Strange tortures for offenders, never heard of, That England was defam'd by tyranny. Glo. Why, 'tis well known, that whiles I was protector, Pity was all the fault that was in me; For I should melt at an offender's tears, * And lowly words were ransom for their fault. Unless it were a bloody murderer, Or foul felonious thief that fleec'd poor passengers, 'I never gave them condign punishment: 'Murder, indeed, that bloody sin, I tortur'd Above the felon, or what trespass else. 'Suff. My lord, these faults are easy, quickly 'But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge, K. Hen. My lord of Gloster, 'tis my special hope, 'That you will clear yourself from all suspects; My conscience tells me, you are innocent. Glo. Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous! *Virtue is chok'd with foul ambition, *And charity chas'd hence by rancour's hand; * Foul subornation is predominant, And equity exíl'd your highness' land. I know, their complot is to have my life; By false accuse2 doth level at my life: Ay, all of you have laid your heads together, *Myself had notice of your conventicles. I shall not want false witness to condemn me, Nor store of treasons to augment my guilt: The ancient proverb will be well effected,-A staff is quickly found to beat a dog. *Car. My liege, his railing is intolerable: *If those that care to keep your royal person *From treason's secret knife, and traitor's rage, *Be thus upbraided, chid, and rated at, And the oilender granted scope of speech, False allegations to o'erthrow his state? Q. Mar. But I can give the loser leave to chide. Glo. Far truer spoke, than meant: I lose indeed; Beshrew the winners, for they play'd me false ! *And well such losers may have leave to speak. Buck. He'll wrest the sense, and hold us here all day Lord cardinal, he is your prisoner. 'Car. Sirs, take away the duke, and guard him sure. Glo. Ah, thus king Henry throws away his crutch, Exeunt Attendants, with Gloster. K. Hen. My lords, what to your wisdoms seemeth best, Do, or undo, as if ourself were here. Q. Mar. What, will your highness leave the parliament ? K. Hen. Ay, Margaret; my heart is drown'd with grief, *Whose flood begins to flow within mine eyes; * My body round engirt with misery; For what's more miserable than discontent?— *Ah, uncle Humphrey ! in thy face I see *The map of honour, truth, and loyalty; And yet, good Humphrey, is the hour to come, *That e'er I prov'd thee false, or fear'd thy faith. *What low'ring star now envies thy estate, That these great lords, and Margaret our queen, *Do seek subversion of thy harmless life? * Thou never didst them wrong, nor no man wrong; And, if my death might make this island happy,* Even so, remorseless, have they borne him hence. And prove the period of their tyranny, I would expend it with all willingness: 'But mine is made the prologue to their play: For thousands more, that yet suspect no peril, Will not conclude their plotted tragedy. 'Beaufort's red sparkling eyes blab his heart's malice, 'And Suffolk's cloudy brow his stormy hate; *And as the dam runs lowing up and down, Henry my lord is cold in great affairs, |