* * Look to it, lords; let not his smoothing words ter; Clapping their hands, and crying with a loud voice* Jesu maintain your royal excellence! "With-God preserve the good duke Humphrey ! 'I fear me, lords, for all this flattering gloss, He will be found a dangerous protector. * Buck. Why should he then protect our reign, *The peers agreed; and Henry is well pleas'd, I cannot blame them all; What is't to them? *And purchase friends, and give to courtczans, He being of age to govern of himself?'Cousin of Somerset, join you with me, And all together-with the duke of Suffolk,We'll quickly hoise duke Humphrey from his seat. * Car. This weighty business will not brook de-* lay; I'll to the duke of Suffolk presently. [Exit. Som. Cousin of Buckingham, though Humphrey's pride, And greatness of his place be grief to us, Yet let us watch the haughty cardinal; 'His insolence is more intolerable "Than all the princes in the land beside; 'If Gloster be displac'd, he'll be protector. Buck. Or thou, or I, Somerset, will be protector, * Despite duke Humphrey, or the cardinal. [Exeunt Buckingham and Somerset. Sal. Pride went before, ambition follows him. "While these do labour for their own preferment, 'Behoves it us to labour for the realm. 'I never saw but Humphrey duke of Gloster 'Did bear him like a noble gentleman. 'Oft have I seen the haughty cardinal More like a soldier, than a man o'the church, 'Join we together, for the public good; * War. So God help Warwick, as he loves the And common profit of his country! York. And so says York, for he hath greatest cause. Sal. Then let's make haste away, and look unto the main. Bear that proportion to my flesh and blood, Το pry into the secrets of the state; Till Henry, surfeiting in joys of love, With his new bride, and England's dear-bought queen, And Humphrey with the peers be fall'n at jars: SCENE II-The same. A room in the duke Duch. Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd corn, Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load? As frowning at the favours of the world? *Why are thine eyes fix'd to the sullen earth, Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight? What see'st thou there? King Henry's diadem, * Enchas'd with all the honours of the wond? *If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face, *Until thy head be circled with the same. Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious gold :What, ist too short? I'll lengthen it with mine: *And, having both together benv'd it up, *We'll both for other lift our beads to heaven. [Exeunt Warwick and Salisbury.* And never more abase our sight so low, York. Anjou and Malue are chin to the French; * As to vouchafe one glance unto the ground. Paris is lost; the state of Normandy War. Unto the main! O father, Maine is lost ; That Muite, which by main force Warwick did win,' ·And mould have kept, so long as broth, d'd last : Main chaune, facher, von meant; let I meant Maine; Which I will win from France, or else be slain. * Stands on a tickle' point, now they are gone : *Suffolk concluded on the articles; (1) For ticklish. 'Glo. O Nell, sweet Nell, if thou dost love thy Your grace's title shall be multiplied. lord, Duch. What say'st thou, man? hast thou as yet conferr'd "When from Saint Albans we do make return, of Here Hume, take this reward: make merry, mar, And William de la Poole first duke of Suffolk. This was my dream; what it doth bode, God knows. 'Duch. Tut, this was nothing but an argument, That he that breaks a stick of Gloster's grove, 'Shall lose his head for his presumption. But list to me, my Humphrey, my sweet duke: Methought, I sat in seat of majesty, In the cathedral church of Westminster, And in that chair where kings and queens are crown'd; Where Heury, and dame Margaret, kneel'd to me, 'And on my head did set the diadem. Glo. Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright: * Presumptuous damne, ill-nurtur'd' Eleanor! Art thou not second woman in the realm; And the protector's wife, belov'd of him?' * Hast thou not worldly pleasure at command, * Above the reach or compass of thy thought? With Eleanor, for telling but her dream? 'Glo. Nay, be not angry, I am pleas'd again. * Hume. Hume must make merry with the duchess' gold; Marry, and shall. But how now, sir John Hume? *Dame Eleanor gives gold, to bring the witch: They knowing dame Eleanor's aspiring humour, 'Have hired me to undermine the duchess, And buzz these conjurations in her brain. *They say, A crafty knave does need no broker; *Yet am I Suffolk and the cardinal's broker. * Hume, if you take not heed, you shall go near *To call them both-a pair of crafty knaves. *Well, so it stands. And thus, I fear, at last, * Hume's knavery will be the duchess' wreck; And her attainture will be Humphrey's fall: so* Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all. [Exit. SCENE III.-The same. A room in the palace. Enter Peter, and others, with petitions. 'Mess. My lord protector, 'tis his highness' pleasure, You do prepare to ride unto Saint Albans, I would re nove these tedious stumbling-blocks, 1 Pet. My masters, let's stand close; my lord protector will come this way by and by, and then we may deliver our supplications in the quill. 2 Pet. Marry, the Lord .otect him, for he's a good man! Jesu bless him! Enter Suffolk, and Queen Margaret. * 1 Pet. Here 'a comes, methinks, and the queen with him: I'll be the first, sure. 2 Pet. Come back, fool; this is the duke of Suffolk, and not my lord protector. Suff. How now, fellow? would'st any thing ' with me? 1 Pet. I pray, my lord, pardon me! I took ye for my lord protector. Q. Mar. Reading the superscription.] To my lord protector! are your supplications to his lord'ship? Let me see them: What is thine? 1 Pet. Mine is, an't please your grace, against John Goodman, my lord cardinal's man, for keeping my house and lands, and wife and all, from me. Suff. Thy wife too? that is some wrong indeed.What's yours?-What's here! [Reals.] Against the duke of Suffolk, for enclosing the commons of Melford.-How now, sir knave? 2 Pet. Alas, sir, I am but a poor petitioner of our whole township. Peter. [Presenting his petition] Against my (4) Let the issue be what it will. (5) With great exactness and observance of form master, Thomas Horner, for saying, That the duke* And plac'd a quire of such enticing birds, of York was rightful heir to the crown. Q. Mar. What say'st thou? Did the duke of 'York say, he was rightful heir to the crown? 'Peter. That my master was? No, forsooth: my master said, That he was; and that the king was an usurper. Suff. Who is there? [Enter Servants.]-Take this fellow in, and send for his master with a pursuivant presently:-we'll hear more of your matter before the king. [Exeunt Servants, with Peter. 'Q. Mar. And as for you, that love to be protected Under the wings of our protector's grace, 'Begin your suits anew, and sue to him. [Tears the petition. Away, base cullions !'-Suffolk, let them go. *All. Come, let's be gone. [Exeunt Petitioners. Q. Mar. My lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise, Is this the fashion in the court of England? Is this the government of Britain's isle, And this the royalty of Albion's king? *What, shall king Henry be a pupil still, Under the surly Gloster's governance? * Am I a queen in title and in style, *And must be made a subject to a duke? 'I tell thee, Poole, when in the city Tours 'Thou ran'st a tilt in honour of my love, And stol'st away the ladies' hearts of France; 'I thought king Henry had resembled thee, In courage, courtship, and proportion: 'But all his mind is bent to holiness, *To number Are-Maries on his beads: His champions are-the prophets and apostles; * His weapons, holy saws of sacred writ; His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves * Are brazen images of canoniz'd saints. I would, the college of cardinals Would choose him pope, and carry him to Rome, And set the triple crown upon his head; * That were a state fit for his holiness. Suff. Madam, be patient: as I was cause 'Your highness came to England, so will I 'In England work your grace's full content. * Q. Mar. Beside the haught protector, have we Beaufort, *The imperious churchman; Somerset, Buckingham, And grumbling York; and not the least of these, But can do more in England than the king. *That she will light to listen to the lays, And never mount to trouble you again. *So, let her rest: And, madam, list to me; For I am bold to counsel you in this. Although we fancy not the cardinal, Yet must we join with him, and with the lords, Till we have brought duke Humphrey in disgrace. As for the duke of York,-this late complaint* Will make but little for his benefit: So, one by one, we'll weed them all at last, And you yourself shall steer the happy helm. Enter King Henry, York, and Somerset, conversing with him; Duke and Duchess of Gloster, Cardinal Beaufort, Buckingham, Salisbury, and Warwick. K. Hen. For my part, noble lords, I care not which ; Or Somerset, or York, all's one to me. York. If York have ill demean'd himself in France, Then let him be denay'd' the regentship. Som. If Somerset be unworthy of the place, Let York be regent, I will yield to him. War. Whether your grace be worthy, yea, or no. Dispute not that: York is the worthier. Car. Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak. War. The cardinal's not my better in the field. Buck. All in this presence are thy betters, War wick. War. Warwick may live to be the best of all. Sal. Peace, son; and show some reason, Buckingham, *Why Somerset should be preferr'd in this. * Q. Mar. Because the king, forsooth, will have it so. 'Glo. Madam, the king is old enough himself 'To give his censure: these are no women's mat ters. Q. Mar. If he be old enough, what need your grace 'To be protector of his excellence? 'Glo. Madam, I am protector of the realm, And, at his pleasure, will resign my place. Suff. Resign it then, and leave thine insolence. 'Since thou wert king, (as who is king, but thou?) The commonwealth hath daily run to wreck: The dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the seas; *And all the peers and nobles of the realm Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty. *Car. The commons hast thou rack'd; the clergy's bags Suff. And he of these, that can do most of all,* 'As that proud dame, the lord protector's wife. Are lank and lean with thy extortions. Som. Thy sumptuous buildings, and thy wife's attire, Have cost a mass of public treasury. *Buck. Thy cruelty in execution, Upon offenders, hath exceeded law, *And left thee to the mercy of the law. More like an empress than duke Humphrey's wife;* * She bears a duke's revenues on her back, Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter. (1) Scoundrels. (2) Savings. (3) Drab, trull. (4) i. e. The complaint of Peter the armourer's man against his master. Q. Mar. Thy sale of offices and towns in *If they were known, as the suspect is great,- (5) Denay is frequently used instead of deny among the old writers. (6) Censure here means simply judgment of opinion. 'Duch. Was't I? yea, I it was, proud French-I do beseech your majesty, woman; 'Could I come near your beauty with my nails, I'd set my ten commandments in your face.1 K. Hen. Sweet aunt, be quiet; 'twas against her will. 'Duch. Against her will! Good king, look to't "She'll hamper thee, and dandle thee like a baby: She shall not strike dame Eleanor unreveng'd. Re-enter Gloster. * Glo. Now, lords, my choler being over-blown, * I come to talk of commonwealth affairs. But God in mercy so deal with my soul, York. I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet. * War. That I can witness; and a fouler fact Let him have all the rigour of the law. Hor. Alas, my lord, hang me if I ever spike the words. My accuser is my prentice; and when I did correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow upon his knees he would be even with me: I have good witness of this: therefore, I beseech your majesty, do not cast away an honest man for a villain's accusation. K. Hen. Uncle, what shall we say to this in law? Pet. Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God's sake, pity my case! the spite of man prevaileth *against me. O, Lord have mercy upon me!. *shall never be able to fight a blow: O Lord, my * heart! Glo. Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd. Garden. Enter Margery Jourdain, Hume, *Hume. Come, my masters; the duchess, I tell Boling. Master Hume, we are therefore pro*vided: Will her ladyship behold and hear our exorcisms ?2 *Boling. I have heard her reported to be a woman of an invincible spirit: But it shall be convenient, master Hume, that you be by her aloft, War. Image of pride, why should I hold my while we be busy below; and so, I pray you, go peace? in God's name, and leave us. [Exit Hume.] the earth:-* John Southwell, read you; and let Mother Jourdain, be you prostrate, and grovel on * us to our work. Suff. Because here is a man accus'd of treason: Suff. Please it your majesty, this is the man "Was rightful heir unto the English crown; Enter Duchess, above. *Duch. Well said, my masters; and welcome Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night, howl, And spirits walk, and ghosts break up their graves, 'That time best fits the work we have in hand. Madam, sit you, and fear not; whom we raise, K. Hen. Say, man, were these thy words? Hor. An't shall please your majesty, I never said nor thought any such matter: God is my wit-We will make fast within a hallow'd verge. ness, I am falsely accused by the villain. Pet. By these ten bones, my lords, [Holding up his hands.] he did speak them to me in the 'garret one night as we were scouring my lord of York's armour. *York. Base dunghill villain, and mechanical, I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech: The marks of her fingers and thumbs. By exorcise Shakspeare invariably means to raise spirits, and not to lay them. [Here they perform the ceremonics appertaining, and make the circle; Bolingbroke, or Southwell, reads, Conjuro te, &c. It thunders and lightens terribly; then the Spirit riseth. *Spir. Adsum. *M. Jourd. Asmath, By the eternal God, whose name and power *Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask; (3) Matter or business. (4) Village-dogs. Boling. First, of the king. What shall of him Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains, "Have done, for more I hardly can endure. 'False fiend, avoid! [Thunder and lightning. Spirit descends. Enter York and Buckingham, hastily, with their guards, and others. 'York. Lay hands upon these traitors, and their trash. Enter a Servant. To sup with me to-morrow night.-Away! [Ex. ACT II. SCENE I-Saint Albans. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, Gloster, Cardinal, and Suf folk, with Falconers hollaing. 'Q. Mar. Believe me, lords, for flying at the 'I saw not better sport these seven years' day: And what a pitch she flew above the rest!— And bears his thoughts above his falcon's pitch. Beldame, I think, we watch'd you at an inch.'What, madam, are you there? the king and monweal 'Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains; Were it not good, your grace could fly to heaven? 4 Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart; Injurious duke; that threat'st where is no cause. Buck. True, madam, none at all. What call you this? [Showing her the papers. 'Away with them; let them be clapp'd up close, 'And kept asunder:-You, madam, shall with us:-That smooth'st it so with king and commonweal! 'Stafford, take her to thee. [Ex. Duch. from above. "We'll see your trinkets here all forth-coming; All-Away! 'Glo. What, cardinal, is your priesthood grown peremptory? *Tantæne animis cœlestibus iræ ? Churchmen so hot? good uncle, hide such malice, you'With such holiness can you do it? [Exeunt guards, with South. Boling. &c. *York. Lord Buckingham, methinks, watch'd her well: A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon! The duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose; Aio te, Eacuda, Romanos vincere posse. Well, to the rest: [Reads. (1) Rewarded. 'Suff. No malice, sir; no more than well be Q. Mar. And thy ambition, Gloster. K. Hen. Car. Let me be blessed for the peace I make, (2) The falconer's term for hawking at water-fowl. (4) i. e. Thy mind is working on a crown. |