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Title: Henry VI, Part 2 (published 1591)
Author: William Shakespeare (died 1616)
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Summary
Henry VI, Part 2 (often written as 2 Henry VI) is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1591 and set during the lifetime of King Henry VI of England. Whereas Henry VI, Part 1 deals primarily with the loss of England's French territories and the political machinations leading up to the Wars of the Roses, and Henry VI, Part 3 deals with the horrors of that conflict, 2 Henry VI focuses on the King's inability to quell the bickering of his nobles, the death of his trusted adviser Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, the rise of the Duke of York and the inevitability of armed conflict. As such, the play culminates with the opening battle of the War, the First Battle of St Albans (1455).
Source: Wikipedia
Dramatis Personæ
Dramatis Personæ
King Henry VI
Queen Margaret
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, the king’s uncle, and Lord Protector
Duchess of Gloucester, Dame Eleanor Cobham
Cardinal Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester, the king’s great-uncle
Duke of Somerset
Duke of Suffolk, William de la Pole, earlier Marquess of Suffolk
Buckingham
Lord Clifford
Young Clifford, his son
Duke of York, Richard Plantagenet
Earl of Salisbury
Earl of Warwick, Salisbury’s son
Edward, Earl of March
Richard
Jack Cade, leader of the Kentish rebellion
Bevis
John Holland
Dick the butcher
Smith the weaver
Michael
George
Lord Scales
Lord Saye
Sir Humphrey Stafford
His Brother, William Stafford
King Henry’s supporters against Cade
Sir John Hume, a priest
John Southwell, a priest
Margery Jourdain, a witch
Roger Bolingbroke, a conjurer
Spirit
custodians of the Duchess of Gloucester
Thomas Horner, the Duke of York’s armorer
Peter Thump, Horner the armorer’s man or prentice
Two or Three Petitioners
Three Neighbors of Horner’s
Three Prentices, friends of Thump
A Man of Saint Albans
Sander Simpcox, supposed recipient of a miracle
His Wife
Mayor of Saint Albans
A Beadle of Saint Albans
Lieutenant, captain of a ship
Ship’s Master
Master’s Mate
Walter Whitmore, a ship’s officer
Two Gentlemen, prisoners
Messengers
Servants
A Herald
Post, or messenger
Two or Three Murderers of Gloucester
Vaux
Clerk of Chartham
Two or Three Citizens
Alexander Iden, a gentleman of Kent
Servants, Guards, Falconers, Attendants, Townsmen of Saint Albans, Bearers, Drummers, Commoners, Rebels, a Sawyer, Soldiers, Officers, Matthew Gough, and Others
ACT 1
Scene 1
Flourish of trumpets, then hautboys. Enter King Henry, Duke Humphrey of Gloucester, Salisbury, Warwick, and Cardinal Beaufort, on the one side; Queen Margaret, Suffolk, York, Somerset, and Buckingham, on the other.
SUFFOLK
line 0001As by your high imperial Majesty
line 0002I had in charge at my depart for France,
line 0003As procurator to your Excellence,
line 0004To marry Princess Margaret for your Grace,
5line 0005So, in the famous ancient city Tours,
line 0006In presence of the Kings of France and Sicil,
line 0007The Dukes of Orleance, Calaber, Britaigne, and
line 0008Alanson,
line 0009Seven earls, twelve barons, and twenty reverend
10line 0010bishops,
line 0011I have performed my task and was espoused;
He kneels.
line 0012And humbly now upon my bended knee,
line 0013In sight of England and her lordly peers,
line 0014Deliver up my title in the Queen
15line 0015To your most gracious hands, that are the substance
line 0016Of that great shadow I did represent:
line 0017The happiest gift that ever marquess gave,
line 0018The fairest queen that ever king received.
Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 9
KING HENRY
line 0019Suffolk, arise.—Welcome, Queen Margaret.
Suffolk rises.
20line 0020I can express no kinder sign of love
line 0021Than this kind kiss.He kisses her.
line 0022O Lord, that lends me life,
line 0023Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!
line 0024For Thou hast given me in this beauteous face
25line 0025A world of earthly blessings to my soul,
line 0026If sympathy of love unite our thoughts.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 0027Great king of England and my gracious lord,
line 0028The mutual conference that my mind hath had
line 0029By day, by night, waking and in my dreams,
30line 0030In courtly company or at my beads,
line 0031With you, mine alderliefest sovereign,
line 0032Makes me the bolder to salute my king
line 0033With ruder terms, such as my wit affords
line 0034And overjoy of heart doth minister.
KING HENRY
35line 0035Her sight did ravish, but her grace in speech,
line 0036Her words yclad with wisdom’s majesty,
line 0037Makes me from wond’ring fall to weeping joys,
line 0038Such is the fullness of my heart’s content.
line 0039Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love.
ALLkneel.
40line 0040Long live Queen Margaret, England’s happiness!
line 0041QUEEN MARGARETWe thank you all.
Flourish. All rise.
SUFFOLKto Gloucester
line 0042My Lord Protector, so it please your Grace,
line 0043Here are the articles of contracted peace
line 0044Between our sovereign and the French king Charles,
45line 0045For eighteen months concluded by consent.
He hands Gloucester a paper.
Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 11
line 0046GLOUCESTERreads Imprimis, it is agreed between the
line 0047French king Charles and William de la Pole, Marquess
line 0048of Suffolk, ambassador for Henry, King of England,
line 0049that the said Henry shall espouse the Lady
50line 0050Margaret, daughter unto Reignier, King of Naples,
line 0051Sicilia, and Jerusalem, and crown her Queen of England
line 0052ere the thirtieth of May next ensuing. Item,
line 0053that the duchy of Anjou and the county of Maine
line 0054shall be released and delivered to the King her
55line 0055father—He drops the paper.
KING HENRY
line 0056Uncle, how now?
line 0057GLOUCESTERPardon me, gracious lord.
line 0058Some sudden qualm hath struck me at the heart
line 0059And dimmed mine eyes, that I can read no further.
KING HENRY
60line 0060Uncle of Winchester, I pray read on.
line 0061CARDINALpicks up the paper and reads Item, it is further
line 0062agreed between them that the duchies of
line 0063Anjou and Maine shall be released and delivered to
line 0064the King her father, and she sent over of the King of
65line 0065England’s own proper cost and charges, without
line 0066having any dowry.
KING HENRY
line 0067They please us well.—Lord Marquess, kneel down.
Suffolk kneels.
line 0068We here create thee the first Duke of Suffolk
line 0069And girt thee with the sword. Suffolk rises. Cousin
70line 0070of York,
line 0071We here discharge your Grace from being regent
line 0072I’ th’ parts of France till term of eighteen months
line 0073Be full expired.—Thanks, Uncle Winchester,
line 0074Gloucester, York, Buckingham, Somerset,
75line 0075Salisbury, and Warwick;
line 0076We thank you all for this great favor done
line 0077In entertainment to my princely queen.
Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 13
line 0078Come, let us in, and with all speed provide
line 0079To see her coronation be performed.
King, Queen, and Suffolk exit. The rest remain.
GLOUCESTER
80line 0080Brave peers of England, pillars of the state,
line 0081To you Duke Humphrey must unload his grief,
line 0082Your grief, the common grief of all the land.
line 0083What, did my brother Henry spend his youth,
line 0084His valor, coin, and people in the wars?
85line 0085Did he so often lodge in open field,
line 0086In winter’s cold and summer’s parching heat,
line 0087To conquer France, his true inheritance?
line 0088And did my brother Bedford toil his wits
line 0089To keep by policy what Henry got?
90line 0090Have you yourselves, Somerset, Buckingham,
line 0091Brave York, Salisbury, and victorious Warwick,
line 0092Received deep scars in France and Normandy?
line 0093Or hath mine uncle Beaufort and myself,
line 0094With all the learnèd council of the realm,
95line 0095Studied so long, sat in the Council House,
line 0096Early and late, debating to and fro
line 0097How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe,
line 0098And had his Highness in his infancy
line 0099Crowned in Paris in despite of foes?
100line 0100And shall these labors and these honors die?
line 0101Shall Henry’s conquest, Bedford’s vigilance,
line 0102Your deeds of war, and all our counsel die?
line 0103O peers of England, shameful is this league,
line 0104Fatal this marriage, cancelling your fame,
105line 0105Blotting your names from books of memory,
line 0106Razing the characters of your renown,
line 0107Defacing monuments of conquered France,
line 0108Undoing all, as all had never been!
CARDINAL
line 0109Nephew, what means this passionate discourse,
Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 15
110line 0110This peroration with such circumstance?
line 0111For France, ’tis ours, and we will keep it still.
GLOUCESTER
line 0112Ay, uncle, we will keep it if we can,
line 0113But now it is impossible we should.
line 0114Suffolk, the new-made duke that rules the roast,
115line 0115Hath given the duchy of Anjou and Maine
line 0116Unto the poor King Reignier, whose large style
line 0117Agrees not with the leanness of his purse.
SALISBURY
line 0118Now, by the death of Him that died for all,
line 0119These counties were the keys of Normandy.
120line 0120But wherefore weeps Warwick, my valiant son?
WARWICK
line 0121For grief that they are past recovery;
line 0122For, were there hope to conquer them again,
line 0123My sword should shed hot blood, mine eyes no
line 0124tears.
125line 0125Anjou and Maine? Myself did win them both!
line 0126Those provinces these arms of mine did conquer.
line 0127And are the cities that I got with wounds
line 0128Delivered up again with peaceful words?
line 0129Mort Dieu!
YORK
130line 0130For Suffolk’s duke, may he be suffocate
line 0131That dims the honor of this warlike isle!
line 0132France should have torn and rent my very heart
line 0133Before I would have yielded to this league.
line 0134I never read but England’s kings have had
135line 0135Large sums of gold and dowries with their wives;
line 0136And our King Henry gives away his own
line 0137To match with her that brings no vantages.
GLOUCESTER
line 0138A proper jest, and never heard before,
line 0139That Suffolk should demand a whole fifteenth
140line 0140For costs and charges in transporting her!
Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 17
line 0141She should have stayed in France and starved in
line 0142France
line 0143Before—
CARDINAL
line 0144My lord of Gloucester, now you grow too hot.
145line 0145It was the pleasure of my lord the King.
GLOUCESTER
line 0146My lord of Winchester, I know your mind.
line 0147’Tis not my speeches that you do mislike,
line 0148But ’tis my presence that doth trouble you.
line 0149Rancor will out. Proud prelate, in thy face
150line 0150I see thy fury. If I longer stay,
line 0151We shall begin our ancient bickerings.—
line 0152Lordings, farewell; and say, when I am gone,
line 0153I prophesied France will be lost ere long.
Gloucester exits.
CARDINAL
line 0154So, there goes our Protector in a rage.
155line 0155’Tis known to you he is mine enemy,
line 0156Nay, more, an enemy unto you all,
line 0157And no great friend, I fear me, to the King.
line 0158Consider, lords, he is the next of blood
line 0159And heir apparent to the English crown.
160line 0160Had Henry got an empire by his marriage,
line 0161And all the wealthy kingdoms of the West,
line 0162There’s reason he should be displeased at it.
line 0163Look to it, lords. Let not his smoothing words
line 0164Bewitch your hearts; be wise and circumspect.
165line 0165What though the common people favor him,
line 0166Calling him “Humphrey, the good Duke of
line 0167Gloucester,”
line 0168Clapping their hands and crying with loud voice
line 0169“Jesu maintain your royal Excellence!”
170line 0170With “God preserve the good Duke Humphrey!”
line 0171I fear me, lords, for all this flattering gloss,
line 0172He will be found a dangerous Protector.
Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 19
BUCKINGHAM
line 0173Why should he, then, protect our sovereign,
line 0174He being of age to govern of himself?—
175line 0175Cousin of Somerset, join you with me,
line 0176And all together, with the Duke of Suffolk,
line 0177We’ll quickly hoise Duke Humphrey from his seat.
CARDINAL
line 0178This weighty business will not brook delay.
line 0179I’ll to the Duke of Suffolk presently.Cardinal exits.
SOMERSET
180line 0180Cousin of Buckingham, though Humphrey’s pride
line 0181And greatness of his place be grief to us,
line 0182Yet let us watch the haughty cardinal.
line 0183His insolence is more intolerable
line 0184Than all the princes’ in the land besides.
185line 0185If Gloucester be displaced, he’ll be Protector.
BUCKINGHAM
line 0186Or thou or I, Somerset, will be Protector,
line 0187Despite Duke Humphrey or the Cardinal.
Buckingham and Somerset exit.
SALISBURY
line 0188Pride went before; Ambition follows him.
line 0189While these do labor for their own preferment,
190line 0190Behooves it us to labor for the realm.
line 0191I never saw but Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester,
line 0192Did bear him like a noble gentleman.
line 0193Oft have I seen the haughty cardinal,
line 0194More like a soldier than a man o’ th’ Church,
195line 0195As stout and proud as he were lord of all,
line 0196Swear like a ruffian and demean himself
line 0197Unlike the ruler of a commonweal.—
line 0198Warwick, my son, the comfort of my age,
line 0199Thy deeds, thy plainness, and thy housekeeping
200line 0200Hath won the greatest favor of the Commons,
line 0201Excepting none but good Duke Humphrey.—
line 0202And, brother York, thy acts in Ireland,
Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 21
line 0203In bringing them to civil discipline,
line 0204Thy late exploits done in the heart of France,
205line 0205When thou wert regent for our sovereign,
line 0206Have made thee feared and honored of the people.
line 0207Join we together for the public good
line 0208In what we can to bridle and suppress
line 0209The pride of Suffolk and the Cardinal,
210line 0210With Somerset’s and Buckingham’s ambition;
line 0211And, as we may, cherish Duke Humphrey’s deeds
line 0212While they do tend the profit of the land.
WARWICK
line 0213So God help Warwick, as he loves the land
line 0214And common profit of his country!
YORK
215line 0215And so says York—aside for he hath greatest
line 0216cause.
SALISBURY
line 0217Then let’s make haste away and look unto the main.
WARWICK
line 0218Unto the main? O father, Maine is lost!
line 0219That Maine which by main force Warwick did win
220line 0220And would have kept so long as breath did last!
line 0221Main chance, father, you meant; but I meant Maine,
line 0222Which I will win from France or else be slain.
Warwick and Salisbury exit. York remains.
YORK
line 0223Anjou and Maine are given to the French;
line 0224Paris is lost; the state of Normandy
225line 0225Stands on a tickle point now they are gone.
line 0226Suffolk concluded on the articles,
line 0227The peers agreed, and Henry was well pleased
line 0228To change two dukedoms for a duke’s fair daughter.
line 0229I cannot blame them all. What is ’t to them?
230line 0230’Tis thine they give away, and not their own.
line 0231Pirates may make cheap pennyworths of their
line 0232pillage,
Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 23
line 0233And purchase friends, and give to courtesans,
line 0234Still reveling like lords till all be gone;
235line 0235Whileas the silly owner of the goods
line 0236Weeps over them, and wrings his hapless hands,
line 0237And shakes his head, and trembling stands aloof,
line 0238While all is shared and all is borne away,
line 0239Ready to starve, and dare not touch his own.
240line 0240So York must sit and fret and bite his tongue
line 0241While his own lands are bargained for and sold.
line 0242Methinks the realms of England, France, and
line 0243Ireland
line 0244Bear that proportion to my flesh and blood
245line 0245As did the fatal brand Althaea burnt
line 0246Unto the Prince’s heart of Calydon.
line 0247Anjou and Maine both given unto the French!
line 0248Cold news for me, for I had hope of France,
line 0249Even as I have of fertile England’s soil.
250line 0250A day will come when York shall claim his own;
line 0251And therefore I will take the Nevilles’ parts
line 0252And make a show of love to proud Duke Humphrey,
line 0253And, when I spy advantage, claim the crown,
line 0254For that’s the golden mark I seek to hit.
255line 0255Nor shall proud Lancaster usurp my right,
line 0256Nor hold the scepter in his childish fist,
line 0257Nor wear the diadem upon his head,
line 0258Whose churchlike humors fits not for a crown.
line 0259Then, York, be still awhile till time do serve.
260line 0260Watch thou and wake, when others be asleep,
line 0261To pry into the secrets of the state
line 0262Till Henry, surfeiting in joys of love
line 0263With his new bride and England’s dear-bought
line 0264queen,
265line 0265And Humphrey with the peers be fall’n at jars.
line 0266Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose,
line 0267With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfumed,
line 0268And in my standard bear the arms of York,
line 0269To grapple with the house of Lancaster;
Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 25
270line 0270And force perforce I’ll make him yield the crown,
line 0271Whose bookish rule hath pulled fair England down.
York exits.
Scene 2
Enter Duke Humphrey of Gloucester and his wife the Duchess Eleanor.
DUCHESS
line 0272Why droops my lord like over-ripened corn
line 0273Hanging the head at Ceres’ plenteous load?
line 0274Why doth the great Duke Humphrey knit his brows,
line 0275As frowning at the favors of the world?
5line 0276Why are thine eyes fixed to the sullen earth,
line 0277Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight?
line 0278What seest thou there? King Henry’s diadem,
line 0279Enchased with all the honors of the world?
line 0280If so, gaze on and grovel on thy face
10line 0281Until thy head be circled with the same.
line 0282Put forth thy hand; reach at the glorious gold.
line 0283What, is ’t too short? I’ll lengthen it with mine;
line 0284And, having both together heaved it up,
line 0285We’ll both together lift our heads to heaven
15line 0286And never more abase our sight so low
line 0287As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground.
GLOUCESTER
line 0288O Nell, sweet Nell, if thou dost love thy lord,
line 0289Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts!
line 0290And may that hour when I imagine ill
20line 0291Against my king and nephew, virtuous Henry,
line 0292Be my last breathing in this mortal world!
line 0293My troublous dreams this night doth make me sad.
DUCHESS
line 0294What dreamed my lord? Tell me, and I’ll requite it
line 0295With sweet rehearsal of my morning’s dream.
Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 27
GLOUCESTER
25line 0296Methought this staff, mine office badge in court,
line 0297Was broke in twain—by whom I have forgot,
line 0298But, as I think, it was by th’ Cardinal—
line 0299And on the pieces of the broken wand
line 0300Were placed the heads of Edmund, Duke of
30line 0301Somerset,
line 0302And William de la Pole, first Duke of Suffolk.
line 0303This was my dream. What it doth bode God knows.
DUCHESS
line 0304Tut, this was nothing but an argument
line 0305That he that breaks a stick of Gloucester’s grove
35line 0306Shall lose his head for his presumption.
line 0307But list to me, my Humphrey, my sweet duke:
line 0308Methought I sat in seat of majesty,
line 0309In the cathedral church of Westminster
line 0310And in that chair where kings and queens were
40line 0311crowned,
line 0312Where Henry and Dame Margaret kneeled to me
line 0313And on my head did set the diadem.
GLOUCESTER
line 0314Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright.
line 0315Presumptuous dame, ill-nurtured Eleanor,
45line 0316Art thou not second woman in the realm
line 0317And the Protector’s wife, beloved of him?
line 0318Hast thou not worldly pleasure at command,
line 0319Above the reach or compass of thy thought?
line 0320And wilt thou still be hammering treachery
50line 0321To tumble down thy husband and thyself
line 0322From top of honor to disgrace’s feet?
line 0323Away from me, and let me hear no more!
DUCHESS
line 0324What, what, my lord? Are you so choleric
line 0325With Eleanor for telling but her dream?
55line 0326Next time I’ll keep my dreams unto myself
line 0327And not be checked.
Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 29
GLOUCESTER
line 0328Nay, be not angry. I am pleased again.
Enter Messenger.
MESSENGER
line 0329My Lord Protector, ’tis his Highness’ pleasure
line 0330You do prepare to ride unto Saint Albans,
60line 0331Whereas the King and Queen do mean to hawk.
GLOUCESTER
line 0332I go.—Come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us?
DUCHESS
line 0333Yes, my good lord. I’ll follow presently.
Gloucester exits, with Messenger.
line 0334Follow I must; I cannot go before
line 0335While Gloucester bears this base and humble mind.
65line 0336Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood,
line 0337I would remove these tedious stumbling blocks
line 0338And smooth my way upon their headless necks;
line 0339And, being a woman, I will not be slack
line 0340To play my part in Fortune’s pageant.—
70line 0341Where are you there? Sir John! Nay, fear not, man.
line 0342We are alone; here’s none but thee and I.
Enter Sir John Hume.
HUME
line 0343Jesus preserve your royal Majesty!
DUCHESS
line 0344What sayst thou? “Majesty”? I am but “Grace.”
HUME
line 0345But by the grace of God and Hume’s advice,
75line 0346Your Grace’s title shall be multiplied.
DUCHESS
line 0347What sayst thou, man? Hast thou as yet conferred
line 0348With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch,
line 0349With Roger Bolingbroke, the conjurer?
line 0350And will they undertake to do me good?
Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 31
HUME
80line 0351This they have promisèd: to show your Highness
line 0352A spirit raised from depth of underground
line 0353That shall make answer to such questions
line 0354As by your Grace shall be propounded him.
DUCHESS
line 0355It is enough. I’ll think upon the questions.
85line 0356When from Saint Albans we do make return,
line 0357We’ll see these things effected to the full.
line 0358Here, Hume, take this reward.
She gives him money.
line 0359Make merry, man,
line 0360With thy confederates in this weighty cause.
Duchess exits.
HUME
90line 0361Hume must make merry with the Duchess’ gold.
line 0362Marry, and shall! But, how now, Sir John Hume?
line 0363Seal up your lips, and give no words but “mum”;
line 0364The business asketh silent secrecy.
line 0365Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch;
95line 0366Gold cannot come amiss, were she a devil.
line 0367Yet have I gold flies from another coast—
line 0368I dare not say, from the rich cardinal
line 0369And from the great and new-made Duke of Suffolk,
line 0370Yet I do find it so. For, to be plain,
100line 0371They, knowing Dame Eleanor’s aspiring humor,
line 0372Have hirèd me to undermine the Duchess
line 0373And buzz these conjurations in her brain.
line 0374They say a crafty knave does need no broker,
line 0375Yet am I Suffolk and the Cardinal’s broker.
105line 0376Hume, if you take not heed, you shall go near
line 0377To call them both a pair of crafty knaves.
line 0378Well, so it stands; and thus I fear at last
line 0379Hume’s knavery will be the Duchess’ wrack,
line 0380And her attainture will be Humphrey’s fall.
110line 0381Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all.
He exits.
Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 33
Scene 3
Enter three or four Petitioners, Peter, the Armorer’s man, being one.
line 0382FIRST PETITIONERMy masters, let’s stand close. My
line 0383Lord Protector will come this way by and by, and
line 0384then we may deliver our supplications in the quill.
line 0385SECOND PETITIONERMarry, the Lord protect him, for
5line 0386he’s a good man! Jesu bless him!
Enter Suffolk, wearing the red rose, and Queen Margaret.
line 0387FIRST PETITIONERHere he comes, methinks, and the
line 0388Queen with him. I’ll be the first, sure.
He steps forward.
line 0389SECOND PETITIONERCome back, fool! This is the Duke
line 0390of Suffolk, and not my Lord Protector.
10line 0391SUFFOLKHow now, fellow? Wouldst anything with
line 0392me?
line 0393FIRST PETITIONERI pray, my lord, pardon me. I took
line 0394you for my Lord Protector.
line 0395QUEEN MARGARETtakes a petition and reads. To my
15line 0396Lord Protector. Are your supplications to his Lordship?
line 0397Let me see them.—What is thine?
line 0398FIRST PETITIONERMine is, an ’t please your Grace,
line 0399against John Goodman, my Lord Cardinal’s man,
line 0400for keeping my house, and lands, and wife and all,
20line 0401from me.
line 0402SUFFOLKThy wife too? That’s some wrong indeed.—
line 0403What’s yours? Taking a petition. What’s here?
line 0404 Reads. Against the Duke of Suffolk for enclosing
line 0405the commons of Melford. How now, sir knave?
25line 0406SECOND PETITIONERAlas, sir, I am but a poor petitioner
line 0407of our whole township.
line 0408PETERshowing his petition Against my master,
Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 35
line 0409Thomas Horner, for saying that the Duke of York
line 0410was rightful heir to the crown.
30line 0411QUEEN MARGARETWhat sayst thou? Did the Duke of
line 0412York say he was rightful heir to the crown?
line 0413PETERThat my master was? No, forsooth. My master
line 0414said that he was and that the King was an
line 0415usurper.
35line 0416SUFFOLKcalling Who is there?
Enter Servant.
line 0417Take this fellow in, and send for his master with a
line 0418pursuivant presently.—We’ll hear more of your
line 0419matter before the King.
Peter exits with Servant.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 0420And as for you that love to be protected
40line 0421Under the wings of our Protector’s grace,
line 0422Begin your suits anew, and sue to him.
Tear the supplication.
line 0423Away, base cullions.—Suffolk, let them go.
line 0424ALLCome, let’s be gone.They exit.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 0425My lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise,
45line 0426Is this the fashions in the court of England?
line 0427Is this the government of Britain’s isle
line 0428And this the royalty of Albion’s king?
line 0429What, shall King Henry be a pupil still
line 0430Under the surly Gloucester’s governance?
50line 0431Am I a queen in title and in style,
line 0432And must be made a subject to a duke?
line 0433I tell thee, Pole, when in the city Tours
line 0434Thou rann’st atilt in honor of my love
line 0435And stol’st away the ladies’ hearts of France,
55line 0436I thought King Henry had resembled thee
line 0437In courage, courtship, and proportion.
line 0438But all his mind is bent to holiness,
Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 37
line 0439To number Ave Marys on his beads;
line 0440His champions are the prophets and apostles,
60line 0441His weapons holy saws of sacred writ,
line 0442His study is his tiltyard, and his loves
line 0443Are brazen images of canonized saints.
line 0444I would the College of the Cardinals
line 0445Would choose him pope and carry him to Rome
65line 0446And set the triple crown upon his head!
line 0447That were a state fit for his holiness.
SUFFOLK
line 0448Madam, be patient. As I was cause
line 0449Your Highness came to England, so will I
line 0450In England work your Grace’s full content.
QUEEN MARGARET
70line 0451Besides the haughty Protector, have we Beaufort
line 0452The imperious churchman, Somerset, Buckingham,
line 0453And grumbling York; and not the least of these
line 0454But can do more in England than the King.
SUFFOLK
line 0455And he of these that can do most of all
75line 0456Cannot do more in England than the Nevilles;
line 0457Salisbury and Warwick are no simple peers.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 0458Not all these lords do vex me half so much
line 0459As that proud dame, the Lord Protector’s wife.
line 0460She sweeps it through the court with troops of
80line 0461ladies,
line 0462More like an empress than Duke Humphrey’s wife.
line 0463Strangers in court do take her for the Queen.
line 0464She bears a duke’s revenues on her back,
line 0465And in her heart she scorns our poverty.
85line 0466Shall I not live to be avenged on her?
line 0467Contemptuous baseborn callet as she is,
line 0468She vaunted ’mongst her minions t’ other day
line 0469The very train of her worst wearing gown
Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 39
line 0470Was better worth than all my father’s lands
90line 0471Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter.
SUFFOLK
line 0472Madam, myself have limed a bush for her
line 0473And placed a choir of such enticing birds
line 0474That she will light to listen to the lays
line 0475And never mount to trouble you again.
95line 0476So let her rest. And, madam, list to me,
line 0477For I am bold to counsel you in this:
line 0478Although we fancy not the Cardinal,
line 0479Yet must we join with him and with the lords
line 0480Till we have brought Duke Humphrey in disgrace.
100line 0481As for the Duke of York, this late complaint
line 0482Will make but little for his benefit.
line 0483So, one by one, we’ll weed them all at last,
line 0484And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.
Sound a sennet. Enter King Henry, Duke Humphrey of Gloucester, Cardinal, Somerset, wearing the red rose, Buckingham, Salisbury; York and Warwick, both wearing the white rose; and the Duchess of Gloucester.
KING HENRY
line 0485For my part, noble lords, I care not which;
105line 0486Or Somerset or York, all’s one to me.
YORK
line 0487If York have ill demeaned himself in France,
line 0488Then let him be denied the regentship.
SOMERSET
line 0489If Somerset be unworthy of the place,
line 0490Let York be regent; I will yield to him.
WARWICK
110line 0491Whether your Grace be worthy, yea or no,
line 0492Dispute not that. York is the worthier.
CARDINAL
line 0493Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak.
Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 41
WARWICK
line 0494The Cardinal’s not my better in the field.
BUCKINGHAM
line 0495All in this presence are thy betters, Warwick.
WARWICK
115line 0496Warwick may live to be the best of all.
SALISBURY
line 0497Peace, son.—And show some reason, Buckingham,
line 0498Why Somerset should be preferred in this.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 0499Because the King, forsooth, will have it so.
GLOUCESTER
line 0500Madam, the King is old enough himself
120line 0501To give his censure. These are no women’s matters.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 0502If he be old enough, what needs your Grace
line 0503To be Protector of his Excellence?
GLOUCESTER
line 0504Madam, I am Protector of the realm,
line 0505And at his pleasure will resign my place.
SUFFOLK
125line 0506Resign it, then, and leave thine insolence.
line 0507Since thou wert king—as who is king but thou?—
line 0508The commonwealth hath daily run to wrack,
line 0509The Dauphin hath prevailed beyond the seas,
line 0510And all the peers and nobles of the realm
130line 0511Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty.
CARDINALto Gloucester
line 0512The Commons hast thou racked; the clergy’s bags
line 0513Are lank and lean with thy extortions.
SOMERSETto Gloucester
line 0514Thy sumptuous buildings and thy wife’s attire
line 0515Have cost a mass of public treasury.
BUCKINGHAMto Gloucester
135line 0516Thy cruelty in execution
line 0517Upon offenders hath exceeded law
line 0518And left thee to the mercy of the law.
Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 43
QUEEN MARGARETto Gloucester
line 0519Thy sale of offices and towns in France,
line 0520If they were known, as the suspect is great,
140line 0521Would make thee quickly hop without thy head.
Gloucester exits.
Queen Margaret drops her fan.
line 0522To Duchess. Give me my fan. What, minion, can
line 0523you not?She gives the Duchess a box on the ear.
line 0524I cry you mercy, madam. Was it you?
DUCHESS
line 0525Was ’t I? Yea, I it was, proud Frenchwoman.
145line 0526Could I come near your beauty with my nails,
line 0527I’d set my ten commandments in your face.
KING HENRY
line 0528Sweet aunt, be quiet. ’Twas against her will.
DUCHESS
line 0529Against her will, good king? Look to ’t in time.
line 0530She’ll hamper thee and dandle thee like a baby.
150line 0531Though in this place most master wear no breeches,
line 0532She shall not strike Dame Eleanor unrevenged.
Eleanor, the Duchess, exits.
BUCKINGHAMaside to Cardinal
line 0533Lord Cardinal, I will follow Eleanor
line 0534And listen after Humphrey how he proceeds.
line 0535She’s tickled now; her fume needs no spurs;
155line 0536She’ll gallop far enough to her destruction.
Buckingham exits.
Enter Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester.
GLOUCESTER
line 0537Now, lords, my choler being overblown
line 0538With walking once about the quadrangle,
line 0539I come to talk of commonwealth affairs.
line 0540As for your spiteful false objections,
160line 0541Prove them, and I lie open to the law;
line 0542But God in mercy so deal with my soul
Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 45
line 0543As I in duty love my king and country!
line 0544But, to the matter that we have in hand:
line 0545I say, my sovereign, York is meetest man
165line 0546To be your regent in the realm of France.
SUFFOLK
line 0547Before we make election, give me leave
line 0548To show some reason, of no little force,
line 0549That York is most unmeet of any man.
YORK
line 0550I’ll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet:
170line 0551First, for I cannot flatter thee in pride;
line 0552Next, if I be appointed for the place,
line 0553My lord of Somerset will keep me here
line 0554Without discharge, money, or furniture
line 0555Till France be won into the Dauphin’s hands.
175line 0556Last time I danced attendance on his will
line 0557Till Paris was besieged, famished, and lost.
WARWICK
line 0558That can I witness, and a fouler fact
line 0559Did never traitor in the land commit.
line 0560SUFFOLKPeace, headstrong Warwick!
WARWICK
180line 0561Image of pride, why should I hold my peace?
Enter Horner, the Armorer, and his Man Peter, under guard.
SUFFOLK
line 0562Because here is a man accused of treason.
line 0563Pray God the Duke of York excuse himself!
YORK
line 0564Doth anyone accuse York for a traitor?
KING HENRY
line 0565What mean’st thou, Suffolk? Tell me, what are
185line 0566these?
Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 47
SUFFOLK
line 0567Please it your Majesty, this is the man
line 0568That doth accuse his master of high treason.
line 0569His words were these: that Richard, Duke of York,
line 0570Was rightful heir unto the English crown,
190line 0571And that your Majesty was an usurper.
line 0572KING HENRYSay, man, were these thy words?
line 0573HORNERAn ’t shall please your Majesty, I never said
line 0574nor thought any such matter. God is my witness, I
line 0575am falsely accused by the villain.
195line 0576PETERBy these ten bones, my lords, he did speak
line 0577them to me in the garret one night as we were
line 0578scouring my lord of York’s armor.
YORKto Horner
line 0579Base dunghill villain and mechanical,
line 0580I’ll have thy head for this thy traitor’s speech!—
200line 0581I do beseech your royal Majesty,
line 0582Let him have all the rigor of the law.
line 0583HORNERAlas, my lord, hang me if ever I spake the
line 0584words. My accuser is my prentice; and when I did
line 0585correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow
205line 0586upon his knees he would be even with me. I have
line 0587good witness of this. Therefore I beseech your
line 0588Majesty, do not cast away an honest man for a
line 0589villain’s accusation!
KING HENRY
line 0590Uncle, what shall we say to this in law?
GLOUCESTER
210line 0591This doom, my lord, if I may judge:
line 0592Let Somerset be regent o’er the French,
line 0593Because in York this breeds suspicion;
line 0594And let these have a day appointed them
line 0595For single combat in convenient place,
215line 0596For he hath witness of his servant’s malice.
line 0597This is the law, and this Duke Humphrey’s doom.
Act 1 Scene 4 - Pg 49
SOMERSET
line 0598I humbly thank your royal Majesty.
HORNER
line 0599And I accept the combat willingly.
line 0600PETERAlas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God’s sake pity
220line 0601my case! The spite of man prevaileth against me. O
line 0602Lord, have mercy upon me! I shall never be able to
line 0603fight a blow. O Lord, my heart!
GLOUCESTER
line 0604Sirrah, or you must fight or else be hanged.
line 0605KING HENRYAway with them to prison; and the day of
225line 0606combat shall be the last of the next month.—
line 0607Come, Somerset, we’ll see thee sent away.
Flourish. They exit.
Scene 4
Enter the Witch Margery Jourdain, the two Priests Hume and Southwell, and Bolingbroke, a conjurer.
line 0608HUMECome, my masters. The Duchess, I tell you,
line 0609expects performance of your promises.
line 0610BOLINGBROKEMaster Hume, we are therefore provided.
line 0611Will her Ladyship behold and hear our
5line 0612exorcisms?
line 0613HUMEAy, what else? Fear you not her courage.
line 0614BOLINGBROKEI have heard her reported to be a
line 0615woman of an invincible spirit. But it shall be convenient,
line 0616Master Hume, that you be by her aloft
10line 0617while we be busy below; and so, I pray you, go, in
line 0618God’s name, and leave us.Hume exits.
line 0619Mother Jourdain, be you prostrate and grovel on
line 0620the earth. She lies face downward. John Southwell,
line 0621read you; and let us to our work.
Act 1 Scene 4 - Pg 51
Enter Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester, with Hume, aloft.
15line 0622DUCHESSWell said, my masters, and welcome all. To
line 0623this gear, the sooner the better.
BOLINGBROKE
line 0624Patience, good lady. Wizards know their times.
line 0625Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night,
line 0626The time of night when Troy was set on fire,
20line 0627The time when screech owls cry and bandogs howl,
line 0628And spirits walk, and ghosts break up their graves—
line 0629That time best fits the work we have in hand.
line 0630Madam, sit you, and fear not. Whom we raise
line 0631We will make fast within a hallowed verge.
Here they do the ceremonies belonging, and make the circle. Bolingbroke or Southwell reads “Conjuro te, etc.” It thunders and lightens terribly; then the Spirit riseth.
25line 0632SPIRITAdsum.
line 0633JOURDAINAsmath,
line 0634By the eternal God, whose name and power
line 0635Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask,
line 0636For till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence.
SPIRIT
30line 0637Ask what thou wilt. That I had said and done!
BOLINGBROKEreading from a paper, while Southwell writes
line 0638First of the King: What shall of him become?
SPIRIT
line 0639The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose,
line 0640But him outlive and die a violent death.
BOLINGBROKEreads
line 0641What fates await the Duke of Suffolk?
SPIRIT
35line 0642By water shall he die and take his end.
BOLINGBROKEreads
line 0643What shall befall the Duke of Somerset?
Act 1 Scene 4 - Pg 53
line 0644SPIRITLet him shun castles.
line 0645Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains
line 0646Than where castles mounted stand.
40line 0647Have done, for more I hardly can endure.
BOLINGBROKE
line 0648Descend to darkness and the burning lake!
line 0649False fiend, avoid!
Thunder and lightning. Spirit exits, descending.
Enter the Duke of York and the Duke of Buckingham with their Guard and Sir Humphrey Stafford, and break in.
YORK
line 0650Lay hands upon these traitors and their trash.
The Guard arrest Margery Jourdain and her accomplices and seize their papers.
line 0651To Jourdain. Beldam, I think we watched you at an
45line 0652inch.
line 0653To the Duchess, aloft. What, madam, are you
line 0654there? The King and commonweal
line 0655Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains.
line 0656My Lord Protector will, I doubt it not,
50line 0657See you well guerdoned for these good deserts.
DUCHESS
line 0658Not half so bad as thine to England’s king,
line 0659Injurious duke, that threatest where’s no cause.
BUCKINGHAM
line 0660True, madam, none at all. What call you this?
He holds up the papers seized.
line 0661Away with them! Let them be clapped up close
55line 0662And kept asunder.—You, madam, shall with us.—
line 0663Stafford, take her to thee.Stafford exits.
line 0664We’ll see your trinkets here all forthcoming.
line 0665All away!Jourdain, Southwell, and Bolingbroke exit under guard, below; Duchess and Hume exit, under guard, aloft.
Act 1 Scene 4 - Pg 55
YORK
line 0666Lord Buckingham, methinks you watched her well.
60line 0667A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon!
line 0668Now, pray, my lord, let’s see the devil’s writ.
Buckingham hands him the papers.
line 0669What have we here?
line 0670Reads. The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose,
line 0671But him outlive and die a violent death.
65line 0672Why, this is just Aio te, Aeacida,
line 0673Romanos vincere posse. Well, to the rest:
line 0674Reads. Tell me what fate awaits the Duke of
line 0675Suffolk?
line 0676By water shall he die and take his end.
70line 0677What shall betide the Duke of Somerset?
line 0678Let him shun castles;
line 0679Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains
line 0680Than where castles mounted stand.
line 0681Come, come, my lord, these oracles
75line 0682Are hardly attained and hardly understood.
line 0683The King is now in progress towards Saint Albans;
line 0684With him the husband of this lovely lady.
line 0685Thither goes these news as fast as horse can carry
line 0686them—
80line 0687A sorry breakfast for my Lord Protector.
BUCKINGHAM
line 0688Your Grace shall give me leave, my lord of York,
line 0689To be the post, in hope of his reward.
line 0690YORKAt your pleasure, my good lord.
Buckingham exits.
line 0691Who’s within there, ho!
Enter a Servingman.
85line 0692Invite my lords of Salisbury and Warwick
line 0693To sup with me tomorrow night. Away!
They exit.
ACT 2
Scene 1
Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, Gloucester the Lord Protector, Cardinal, and Suffolk, and Attendants, with Falconers hallowing.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 0694Believe me, lords, for flying at the brook
line 0695I saw not better sport these seven years’ day.
line 0696Yet, by your leave, the wind was very high,
line 0697And, ten to one, old Joan had not gone out.
KING HENRYto Gloucester
5line 0698But what a point, my lord, your falcon made,
line 0699And what a pitch she flew above the rest!
line 0700To see how God in all his creatures works!
line 0701Yea, man and birds are fain of climbing high.
SUFFOLK
line 0702No marvel, an it like your Majesty,
10line 0703My Lord Protector’s hawks do tower so well;
line 0704They know their master loves to be aloft
line 0705And bears his thoughts above his falcon’s pitch.
GLOUCESTER
line 0706My lord, ’tis but a base ignoble mind
line 0707That mounts no higher than a bird can soar.
CARDINAL
15line 0708I thought as much. He would be above the clouds.
GLOUCESTER
line 0709Ay, my Lord Cardinal, how think you by that?
line 0710Were it not good your Grace could fly to heaven?
Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 61
KING HENRY
line 0711The treasury of everlasting joy.
CARDINALto Gloucester
line 0712Thy heaven is on Earth; thine eyes and thoughts
20line 0713Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart.
line 0714Pernicious Protector, dangerous peer,
line 0715That smooth’st it so with king and commonweal!
GLOUCESTER
line 0716What, cardinal, is your priesthood grown
line 0717peremptory?
25line 0718Tantaene animis caelestibus irae?
line 0719Churchmen so hot? Good uncle, hide such malice.
line 0720With such holiness, can you do it?
SUFFOLK
line 0721No malice, sir, no more than well becomes
line 0722So good a quarrel and so bad a peer.
GLOUCESTER
30line 0723As who, my lord?
line 0724SUFFOLKWhy, as you, my lord,
line 0725An ’t like your lordly Lord Protectorship.
GLOUCESTER
line 0726Why, Suffolk, England knows thine insolence.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 0727And thy ambition, Gloucester.
35line 0728KING HENRYI prithee peace,
line 0729Good queen, and whet not on these furious peers,
line 0730For blessèd are the peacemakers on Earth.
CARDINAL
line 0731Let me be blessèd for the peace I make
line 0732Against this proud Protector with my sword!
GLOUCESTERaside to Cardinal
40line 0733Faith, holy uncle, would ’t were come to that!
line 0734CARDINALaside to Gloucester Marry, when thou
line 0735dar’st!
GLOUCESTERaside to Cardinal
line 0736Make up no factious numbers for the matter.
line 0737In thine own person answer thy abuse.
Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 63
CARDINALaside to Gloucester
45line 0738Ay, where thou dar’st not peep. An if thou dar’st,
line 0739This evening, on the east side of the grove.
KING HENRY
line 0740How now, my lords?
line 0741CARDINALBelieve me, cousin Gloucester,
line 0742Had not your man put up the fowl so suddenly,
50line 0743We had had more sport. Aside to Gloucester.
line 0744Come with thy two-hand sword.
GLOUCESTER
line 0745True, uncle. Aside to Cardinal. Are you advised?
line 0746The east side of the grove.
CARDINALaside to Gloucester
line 0747I am with you.
55line 0748KING HENRYWhy, how now, uncle Gloucester?
GLOUCESTER
line 0749Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord.
line 0750Aside to Cardinal. Now, by God’s mother, priest,
line 0751I’ll shave your crown for this,
line 0752Or all my fence shall fail.
60line 0753CARDINALaside to Gloucester Medice, teipsum;
line 0754Protector, see to ’t well; protect yourself.
KING HENRY
line 0755The winds grow high; so do your stomachs, lords.
line 0756How irksome is this music to my heart!
line 0757When such strings jar, what hope of harmony?
65line 0758I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife.
Enter a man from St. Albans crying “A miracle!”
line 0759GLOUCESTERWhat means this noise?—
line 0760Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim?
line 0761MANA miracle, a miracle!
SUFFOLK
line 0762Come to the King, and tell him what miracle.
MAN
70line 0763Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban’s shrine
Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 65
line 0764Within this half hour hath received his sight,
line 0765A man that ne’er saw in his life before.
KING HENRY
line 0766Now, God be praised, that to believing souls
line 0767Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair.
Enter the Mayor of Saint Albans, and his brethren, bearing the man Simpcox between two in a chair, followed by Simpcox’s Wife and Others.
CARDINAL
75line 0768Here comes the townsmen on procession
line 0769To present your Highness with the man.
KING HENRY
line 0770Great is his comfort in this earthly vale,
line 0771Although by his sight his sin be multiplied.
GLOUCESTER
line 0772Stand by, my masters.—Bring him near the King.
80line 0773His Highness’ pleasure is to talk with him.
The two bearers bring the chair forward.
KING HENRY
line 0774Good fellow, tell us here the circumstance,
line 0775That we for thee may glorify the Lord.
line 0776What, hast thou been long blind and now restored?
line 0777SIMPCOXBorn blind, an ’t please your Grace.
85line 0778WIFEAy, indeed, was he.
line 0779SUFFOLKWhat woman is this?
line 0780WIFEHis wife, an ’t like your Worship.
line 0781GLOUCESTERHadst thou been his mother, thou couldst
line 0782have better told.
90line 0783KING HENRYWhere wert thou born?
SIMPCOX
line 0784At Berwick in the North, an ’t like your Grace.
KING HENRY
line 0785Poor soul, God’s goodness hath been great to thee.
line 0786Let never day nor night unhallowed pass,
line 0787But still remember what the Lord hath done.
Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 67
QUEEN MARGARET
95line 0788Tell me, good fellow, cam’st thou here by chance,
line 0789Or of devotion to this holy shrine?
SIMPCOX
line 0790God knows, of pure devotion, being called
line 0791A hundred times and oftener in my sleep
line 0792By good Saint Alban, who said “Simon, come,
100line 0793Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help thee.”
WIFE
line 0794Most true, forsooth, and many time and oft
line 0795Myself have heard a voice to call him so.
line 0796CARDINALWhat, art thou lame?
line 0797SIMPCOXAy, God Almighty help me!
105line 0798SUFFOLKHow cam’st thou so?
line 0799SIMPCOXA fall off of a tree.
line 0800WIFEA plum tree, master.
line 0801GLOUCESTERHow long hast thou been blind?
line 0802SIMPCOXO, born so, master.
110line 0803GLOUCESTERWhat, and wouldst climb a tree?
line 0804SIMPCOXBut that in all my life, when I was a youth.
line 0805WIFEToo true, and bought his climbing very dear.
line 0806GLOUCESTERMass, thou lov’dst plums well, that
line 0807wouldst venture so.
115line 0808SIMPCOXAlas, good master, my wife desired some
line 0809damsons, and made me climb, with danger of my
line 0810life.
GLOUCESTER
line 0811A subtle knave, but yet it shall not serve.—
line 0812Let me see thine eyes. Wink now. Now open them.
120line 0813In my opinion, yet thou seest not well.
line 0814SIMPCOXYes, master, clear as day, I thank God and
line 0815Saint Alban.
GLOUCESTER
line 0816Sayst thou me so? What color is this cloak of?
line 0817SIMPCOXRed, master, red as blood.
Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 69
GLOUCESTER
125line 0818Why, that’s well said. What color is my gown of?
line 0819SIMPCOXBlack, forsooth, coal-black as jet.
KING HENRY
line 0820Why, then, thou know’st what color jet is of.
SUFFOLK
line 0821And yet, I think, jet did he never see.
GLOUCESTER
line 0822But cloaks and gowns, before this day, a many.
WIFE
130line 0823Never, before this day, in all his life.
line 0824GLOUCESTERTell me, sirrah, what’s my name?
line 0825SIMPCOXAlas, master, I know not.
line 0826GLOUCESTERpointing What’s his name?
line 0827SIMPCOXI know not.
135line 0828GLOUCESTERpointing to someone else Nor his?
line 0829SIMPCOXNo, indeed, master.
line 0830GLOUCESTERWhat’s thine own name?
line 0831SIMPCOXSander Simpcox, an if it please you, master.
line 0832GLOUCESTERThen, Sander, sit there, the lying’st knave
140line 0833in Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind,
line 0834thou mightst as well have known all our names as
line 0835thus to name the several colors we do wear. Sight
line 0836may distinguish of colors; but suddenly to nominate
line 0837them all, it is impossible.—My lords, Saint
145line 0838Alban here hath done a miracle; and would you
line 0839not think his cunning to be great that could
line 0840restore this cripple to his legs again?
line 0841SIMPCOXO master, that you could!
line 0842GLOUCESTERMy masters of Saint Albans, have you not
150line 0843beadles in your town and things called whips?
line 0844MAYORYes, my lord, if it please your Grace.
line 0845GLOUCESTERThen send for one presently.
line 0846MAYORSirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight.
A man exits.
Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 71
line 0847GLOUCESTERNow fetch me a stool hither by and by.
155line 0848One brings a stool. Now, sirrah, if you mean to
line 0849save yourself from whipping, leap me over this
line 0850stool, and run away.
line 0851SIMPCOXAlas, master, I am not able to stand alone.
line 0852You go about to torture me in vain.
Enter a Beadle with whips.
160line 0853GLOUCESTERWell, sir, we must have you find your
line 0854legs.—Sirrah beadle, whip him till he leap over
line 0855that same stool.
line 0856BEADLEI will, my lord.—Come on, sirrah, off with
line 0857your doublet quickly.
165line 0858SIMPCOXAlas, master, what shall I do? I am not able to
line 0859stand.
After the Beadle hath hit him once, he leaps over the stool and runs away; and they follow and cry “A miracle!”
KING HENRY
line 0860O God, seest Thou this, and bearest so long?
QUEEN MARGARET
line 0861It made me laugh to see the villain run.
GLOUCESTERto the Beadle
line 0862Follow the knave, and take this drab away.
170line 0863WIFEAlas, sir, we did it for pure need.
GLOUCESTER
line 0864Let them be whipped through every market town
line 0865Till they come to Berwick, from whence they came.
The Beadle, Mayor, Wife, and the others from Saint Albans exit.
CARDINAL
line 0866Duke Humphrey has done a miracle today.
SUFFOLK
line 0867True, made the lame to leap and fly away.
GLOUCESTER
175line 0868But you have done more miracles than I.
line 0869You made in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly.
Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 73
Enter Buckingham.
KING HENRY
line 0870What tidings with our cousin Buckingham?
BUCKINGHAM
line 0871Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold:
line 0872A sort of naughty persons, lewdly bent,
180line 0873Under the countenance and confederacy
line 0874Of Lady Eleanor, the Protector’s wife,
line 0875The ringleader and head of all this rout,
line 0876Have practiced dangerously against your state,
line 0877Dealing with witches and with conjurers,
185line 0878Whom we have apprehended in the fact,
line 0879Raising up wicked spirits from under ground,
line 0880Demanding of King Henry’s life and death
line 0881And other of your Highness’ Privy Council,
line 0882As more at large your Grace shall understand.
CARDINAL
190line 0883And so, my Lord Protector, by this means
line 0884Your lady is forthcoming yet at London.
line 0885Aside to Gloucester. This news, I think, hath turned
line 0886your weapon’s edge;
line 0887’Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour.
GLOUCESTER
195line 0888Ambitious churchman, leave to afflict my heart.
line 0889Sorrow and grief have vanquished all my powers,
line 0890And, vanquished as I am, I yield to thee,
line 0891Or to the meanest groom.
KING HENRY
line 0892O God, what mischiefs work the wicked ones,
200line 0893Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby!
QUEEN MARGARET
line 0894Gloucester, see here the tainture of thy nest,
line 0895And look thyself be faultless, thou wert best.
GLOUCESTER
line 0896Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal
Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 75
line 0897How I have loved my king and commonweal;
205line 0898And, for my wife, I know not how it stands.
line 0899Sorry I am to hear what I have heard.
line 0900Noble she is; but if she have forgot
line 0901Honor and virtue, and conversed with such
line 0902As, like to pitch, defile nobility,
210line 0903I banish her my bed and company
line 0904And give her as a prey to law and shame
line 0905That hath dishonored Gloucester’s honest name.
KING HENRY
line 0906Well, for this night we will repose us here.
line 0907Tomorrow toward London back again,
215line 0908To look into this business thoroughly,
line 0909And call these foul offenders to their answers,
line 0910And poise the cause in Justice’ equal scales,
line 0911Whose beam stands sure, whose rightful cause
line 0912prevails.
Flourish. They exit.
Scene 2
Enter York, Salisbury, and Warwick.
YORK
line 0913Now, my good lords of Salisbury and Warwick,
line 0914Our simple supper ended, give me leave,
line 0915In this close walk, to satisfy myself
line 0916In craving your opinion of my title,
5line 0917Which is infallible, to England’s crown.
SALISBURY
line 0918My lord, I long to hear it at full.
WARWICK
line 0919Sweet York, begin; and if thy claim be good,
line 0920The Nevilles are thy subjects to command.
line 0921YORKThen thus:
10line 0922Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons:
Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 77
line 0923The first, Edward the Black Prince, Prince of Wales;
line 0924The second, William of Hatfield; and the third,
line 0925Lionel, Duke of Clarence; next to whom
line 0926Was John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster;
15line 0927The fifth was Edmund Langley, Duke of York;
line 0928The sixth was Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of
line 0929Gloucester;
line 0930William of Windsor was the seventh and last.
line 0931Edward the Black Prince died before his father
20line 0932And left behind him Richard, his only son,
line 0933Who, after Edward the Third’s death, reigned as
line 0934king
line 0935Till Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster,
line 0936The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt,
25line 0937Crowned by the name of Henry the Fourth,
line 0938Seized on the realm, deposed the rightful king,
line 0939Sent his poor queen to France, from whence she
line 0940came,
line 0941And him to Pomfret; where, as all you know,
30line 0942Harmless Richard was murdered traitorously.
line 0943WARWICKFather, the Duke hath told the truth.
line 0944Thus got the house of Lancaster the crown.
YORK
line 0945Which now they hold by force and not by right;
line 0946For Richard, the first son’s heir, being dead,
35line 0947The issue of the next son should have reigned.
SALISBURY
line 0948But William of Hatfield died without an heir.
YORK
line 0949The third son, Duke of Clarence, from whose line
line 0950I claim the crown, had issue, Philippa, a daughter,
line 0951Who married Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March.
40line 0952Edmund had issue, Roger, Earl of March;
line 0953Roger had issue: Edmund, Anne, and Eleanor.
SALISBURY
line 0954This Edmund, in the reign of Bolingbroke,
Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 79
line 0955As I have read, laid claim unto the crown
line 0956And, but for Owen Glendower, had been king,
45line 0957Who kept him in captivity till he died.
line 0958But to the rest.
line 0959YORKHis eldest sister, Anne,
line 0960My mother, being heir unto the crown,
line 0961Married Richard, Earl of Cambridge, who was son
50line 0962To Edmund Langley, Edward the Third’s fifth son.
line 0963By her I claim the kingdom. She was heir
line 0964To Roger, Earl of March, who was the son
line 0965Of Edmund Mortimer, who married Philippa,
line 0966Sole daughter unto Lionel, Duke of Clarence.
55line 0967So, if the issue of the elder son
line 0968Succeed before the younger, I am king.
WARWICK
line 0969What plain proceedings is more plain than this?
line 0970Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt,
line 0971The fourth son; York claims it from the third.
60line 0972Till Lionel’s issue fails, his should not reign.
line 0973It fails not yet, but flourishes in thee
line 0974And in thy sons, fair slips of such a stock.
line 0975Then, father Salisbury, kneel we together,
line 0976And in this private plot be we the first
65line 0977That shall salute our rightful sovereign
line 0978With honor of his birthright to the crown.
SALISBURY, WARWICKkneeling
line 0979Long live our sovereign Richard, England’s king!
YORK
line 0980We thank you, lords. They rise. But I am not your
line 0981king
70line 0982Till I be crowned, and that my sword be stained
line 0983With heart-blood of the house of Lancaster;
line 0984And that’s not suddenly to be performed,
line 0985But with advice and silent secrecy.
line 0986Do you as I do in these dangerous days:
75line 0987Wink at the Duke of Suffolk’s insolence,
Act 2 Scene 3 - Pg 81
line 0988At Beaufort’s pride, at Somerset’s ambition,
line 0989At Buckingham, and all the crew of them,
line 0990Till they have snared the shepherd of the flock,
line 0991That virtuous prince, the good Duke Humphrey.
80line 0992’Tis that they seek; and they, in seeking that,
line 0993Shall find their deaths, if York can prophesy.
SALISBURY
line 0994My lord, break we off. We know your mind at full.
WARWICK
line 0995My heart assures me that the Earl of Warwick
line 0996Shall one day make the Duke of York a king.
YORK
85line 0997And, Neville, this I do assure myself:
line 0998Richard shall live to make the Earl of Warwick
line 0999The greatest man in England but the King.
They exit.
Scene 3
Sound trumpets. Enter King Henry and State (Queen Margaret, Gloucester, York, Salisbury, Suffolk, and Others) with Guard, to banish the Duchess of Gloucester, who is accompanied by Margery Jourdain, Southwell, Hume, and Bolingbroke, all guarded.
KING HENRY
line 1000Stand forth, Dame Eleanor Cobham, Gloucester’s
line 1001wife.
line 1002In sight of God and us, your guilt is great.
line 1003Receive the sentence of the law for sins
5line 1004Such as by God’s book are adjudged to death.
To Jourdain, Southwell, Hume, and Bolingbroke.
line 1005You four, from hence to prison back again;
line 1006From thence unto the place of execution:
line 1007The witch in Smithfield shall be burnt to ashes,
line 1008And you three shall be strangled on the gallows.
Act 2 Scene 3 - Pg 83
10line 1009To Duchess You, madam, for you are more nobly
line 1010born,
line 1011Despoilèd of your honor in your life,
line 1012Shall, after three days’ open penance done,
line 1013Live in your country here in banishment
15line 1014With Sir John Stanley in the Isle of Man.
DUCHESS
line 1015Welcome is banishment. Welcome were my death.
GLOUCESTER
line 1016Eleanor, the law, thou seest, hath judged thee.
line 1017I cannot justify whom the law condemns.
Duchess and the other prisoners exit under guard.
line 1018Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief.
20line 1019Ah, Humphrey, this dishonor in thine age
line 1020Will bring thy head with sorrow to the ground.—
line 1021I beseech your Majesty give me leave to go;
line 1022Sorrow would solace, and mine age would ease.
KING HENRY
line 1023Stay, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. Ere thou go,
25line 1024Give up thy staff. Henry will to himself
line 1025Protector be; and God shall be my hope,
line 1026My stay, my guide, and lantern to my feet.
line 1027And go in peace, Humphrey, no less beloved
line 1028Than when thou wert Protector to thy king.
QUEEN MARGARET
30line 1029I see no reason why a king of years
line 1030Should be to be protected like a child.
line 1031God and King Henry govern England’s realm!—
line 1032Give up your staff, sir, and the King his realm.
GLOUCESTER
line 1033My staff?—Here, noble Henry, is my staff.
He puts down his staff before Henry.
35line 1034As willingly do I the same resign
line 1035As e’er thy father Henry made it mine;
line 1036And even as willingly at thy feet I leave it
line 1037As others would ambitiously receive it.
Act 2 Scene 3 - Pg 85
line 1038Farewell, good king. When I am dead and gone,
40line 1039May honorable peace attend thy throne.
Gloucester exits.
Henry picks up the staff.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1040Why, now is Henry king and Margaret queen,
line 1041And Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, scarce himself,
line 1042That bears so shrewd a maim. Two pulls at once:
line 1043His lady banished and a limb lopped off.
45line 1044This staff of honor raught, there let it stand
line 1045Where it best fits to be, in Henry’s hand.
SUFFOLK
line 1046Thus droops this lofty pine and hangs his sprays;
line 1047Thus Eleanor’s pride dies in her youngest days.
YORK
line 1048Lords, let him go.—Please it your Majesty,
50line 1049This is the day appointed for the combat,
line 1050And ready are the appellant and defendant—
line 1051The armorer and his man—to enter the lists,
line 1052So please your Highness to behold the fight.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1053Ay, good my lord, for purposely therefor
55line 1054Left I the court to see this quarrel tried.
KING HENRY
line 1055I’ God’s name, see the lists and all things fit.
line 1056Here let them end it, and God defend the right!
YORK
line 1057I never saw a fellow worse bestead
line 1058Or more afraid to fight than is the appellant,
60line 1059The servant of this armorer, my lords.
Enter at one door the Armorer Horner and his Neighbors, drinking to him so much that he is drunk; and he enters with a Drum before him and his staff with a sandbag fastened to it; and at the other door his man Peter, with a Drum and sandbag, and Prentices drinking to him.
Act 2 Scene 3 - Pg 87
line 1060FIRST NEIGHBORHere, neighbor Horner, I drink to you
line 1061in a cup of sack; and fear not, neighbor, you shall
line 1062do well enough.
line 1063SECOND NEIGHBORAnd here, neighbor, here’s a cup of
65line 1064charneco.
line 1065THIRD NEIGHBORAnd here’s a pot of good double beer,
line 1066neighbor. Drink, and fear not your man.
line 1067HORNERLet it come, i’ faith, and I’ll pledge you all.
line 1068And a fig for Peter!They drink.
70line 1069FIRST PRENTICEHere, Peter, I drink to thee, and be not
line 1070afraid.
line 1071SECOND PRENTICEBe merry, Peter, and fear not thy
line 1072master. Fight for credit of the prentices.
line 1073PETERI thank you all. Drink, and pray for me, I pray
75line 1074you, for I think I have taken my last draft in this
line 1075world. Here, Robin, an if I die, I give thee my
line 1076apron.—And, Will, thou shalt have my hammer.—
line 1077And here, Tom, take all the money that I have.
line 1078He distributes his possessions. O Lord, bless me, I
80line 1079pray God, for I am never able to deal with my
line 1080master. He hath learnt so much fence already.
line 1081SALISBURYCome, leave your drinking, and fall to
line 1082blows. Sirrah, what’s thy name?
line 1083PETERPeter, forsooth.
85line 1084SALISBURYPeter? What more?
line 1085PETERThump.
line 1086SALISBURYThump? Then see thou thump thy master
line 1087well.
line 1088HORNERMasters, I am come hither, as it were, upon
90line 1089my man’s instigation, to prove him a knave and
line 1090myself an honest man; and touching the Duke of
line 1091York, I will take my death I never meant him any
line 1092ill, nor the King, nor the Queen.—And therefore,
line 1093Peter, have at thee with a downright blow!
95line 1094YORKDispatch. This knave’s tongue begins to double.
line 1095Sound, trumpets. Alarum to the combatants!
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 89
Trumpet sounds.
They fight, and Peter strikes him down.
line 1096HORNERHold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason.
He dies.
line 1097YORKTake away his weapon.—Fellow, thank God and
line 1098the good wine in thy master’s way.
100line 1099PETERO God, have I overcome mine enemies in this
line 1100presence? O Peter, thou hast prevailed in right!
KING HENRY
line 1101Go, take hence that traitor from our sight;
line 1102For by his death we do perceive his guilt.
line 1103And God in justice hath revealed to us
105line 1104The truth and innocence of this poor fellow,
line 1105Which he had thought to have murdered
line 1106wrongfully.—
line 1107Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward.
Sound a flourish. They exit, bearing Horner’s body.
Scene 4
Enter Duke Humphrey of Gloucester and his Men, in mourning cloaks.
GLOUCESTER
line 1108Thus sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud,
line 1109And after summer evermore succeeds
line 1110Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold;
line 1111So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet.
5line 1112Sirs, what’s o’clock?
line 1113SERVANTTen, my lord.
GLOUCESTER
line 1114Ten is the hour that was appointed me
line 1115To watch the coming of my punished duchess.
line 1116Uneath may she endure the flinty streets,
10line 1117To tread them with her tender-feeling feet.
line 1118Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 91
line 1119The abject people gazing on thy face
line 1120With envious looks laughing at thy shame,
line 1121That erst did follow thy proud chariot wheels
15line 1122When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets.
line 1123But, soft! I think she comes, and I’ll prepare
line 1124My tearstained eyes to see her miseries.
Enter the Duchess of Gloucester, barefoot, and in a white sheet, with papers pinned to her back and a taper burning in her hand, with Sir John Stanley, the Sheriff, and Officers.
SERVANT
line 1125So please your Grace, we’ll take her from the Sheriff.
GLOUCESTER
line 1126No, stir not for your lives. Let her pass by.
DUCHESS
20line 1127Come you, my lord, to see my open shame?
line 1128Now thou dost penance too. Look how they gaze!
line 1129See how the giddy multitude do point,
line 1130And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee.
line 1131Ah, Gloucester, hide thee from their hateful looks,
25line 1132And, in thy closet pent up, rue my shame,
line 1133And ban thine enemies, both mine and thine.
GLOUCESTER
line 1134Be patient, gentle Nell. Forget this grief.
DUCHESS
line 1135Ah, Gloucester, teach me to forget myself!
line 1136For whilst I think I am thy married wife
30line 1137And thou a prince, Protector of this land,
line 1138Methinks I should not thus be led along,
line 1139Mailed up in shame, with papers on my back,
line 1140And followed with a rabble that rejoice
line 1141To see my tears and hear my deep-fet groans.
35line 1142The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet,
line 1143And when I start, the envious people laugh
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 93
line 1144And bid me be advisèd how I tread.
line 1145Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke?
line 1146Trowest thou that e’er I’ll look upon the world
40line 1147Or count them happy that enjoys the sun?
line 1148No, dark shall be my light, and night my day.
line 1149To think upon my pomp shall be my hell.
line 1150Sometimes I’ll say I am Duke Humphrey’s wife
line 1151And he a prince and ruler of the land;
45line 1152Yet so he ruled and such a prince he was
line 1153As he stood by whilst I, his forlorn duchess,
line 1154Was made a wonder and a pointing-stock
line 1155To every idle rascal follower.
line 1156But be thou mild, and blush not at my shame,
50line 1157Nor stir at nothing till the ax of death
line 1158Hang over thee, as, sure, it shortly will.
line 1159For Suffolk, he that can do all in all
line 1160With her that hateth thee and hates us all,
line 1161And York and impious Beaufort, that false priest,
55line 1162Have all limed bushes to betray thy wings;
line 1163And fly thou how thou canst, they’ll tangle thee.
line 1164But fear not thou until thy foot be snared,
line 1165Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.
GLOUCESTER
line 1166Ah, Nell, forbear. Thou aimest all awry.
60line 1167I must offend before I be attainted;
line 1168And had I twenty times so many foes,
line 1169And each of them had twenty times their power,
line 1170All these could not procure me any scathe
line 1171So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless.
65line 1172Wouldst have me rescue thee from this reproach?
line 1173Why, yet thy scandal were not wiped away,
line 1174But I in danger for the breach of law.
line 1175Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell.
line 1176I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience;
70line 1177These few days’ wonder will be quickly worn.
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 95
Enter a Herald.
HERALD
line 1178I summon your Grace to his Majesty’s Parliament
line 1179Holden at Bury the first of this next month.
GLOUCESTER
line 1180And my consent ne’er asked herein before?
line 1181This is close dealing. Well, I will be there.
Herald exits.
75line 1182My Nell, I take my leave.—And, master sheriff,
line 1183Let not her penance exceed the King’s commission.
SHERIFF
line 1184An ’t please your Grace, here my commission stays,
line 1185And Sir John Stanley is appointed now
line 1186To take her with him to the Isle of Man.
GLOUCESTER
80line 1187Must you, Sir John, protect my lady here?
STANLEY
line 1188So am I given in charge, may ’t please your Grace.
GLOUCESTER
line 1189Entreat her not the worse in that I pray
line 1190You use her well. The world may laugh again,
line 1191And I may live to do you kindness, if
85line 1192You do it her. And so, Sir John, farewell.
DUCHESS
line 1193What, gone, my lord, and bid me not farewell?
GLOUCESTER
line 1194Witness my tears. I cannot stay to speak.
Gloucester exits with his Men.
DUCHESS
line 1195Art thou gone too? All comfort go with thee,
line 1196For none abides with me. My joy is death—
90line 1197Death, at whose name I oft have been afeard,
line 1198Because I wished this world’s eternity.—
line 1199Stanley, I prithee, go, and take me hence.
line 1200I care not whither, for I beg no favor;
line 1201Only convey me where thou art commanded.
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 97
STANLEY
95line 1202Why, madam, that is to the Isle of Man,
line 1203There to be used according to your state.
DUCHESS
line 1204That’s bad enough, for I am but reproach.
line 1205And shall I, then, be used reproachfully?
STANLEY
line 1206Like to a duchess and Duke Humphrey’s lady;
100line 1207According to that state you shall be used.
DUCHESS
line 1208Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare,
line 1209Although thou hast been conduct of my shame.
SHERIFF
line 1210It is my office; and, madam, pardon me.
DUCHESS
line 1211Ay, ay, farewell. Thy office is discharged.
The Sheriff and Officers exit.
105line 1212Come, Stanley, shall we go?
STANLEY
line 1213Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet,
line 1214And go we to attire you for our journey.
DUCHESS
line 1215My shame will not be shifted with my sheet.
line 1216No, it will hang upon my richest robes
110line 1217And show itself, attire me how I can.
line 1218Go, lead the way. I long to see my prison.
They exit.
ACT 3
Scene 1
Sound a sennet. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, Cardinal, Suffolk, York, Buckingham, Salisbury, and Warwick, and Others to the Parliament.
KING HENRY
line 1219I muse my lord of Gloucester is not come.
line 1220’Tis not his wont to be the hindmost man,
line 1221Whate’er occasion keeps him from us now.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1222Can you not see, or will you not observe,
5line 1223The strangeness of his altered countenance?
line 1224With what a majesty he bears himself,
line 1225How insolent of late he is become,
line 1226How proud, how peremptory, and unlike himself?
line 1227We know the time since he was mild and affable;
10line 1228And if we did but glance a far-off look,
line 1229Immediately he was upon his knee,
line 1230That all the court admired him for submission.
line 1231But meet him now, and, be it in the morn
line 1232When everyone will give the time of day,
15line 1233He knits his brow and shows an angry eye
line 1234And passeth by with stiff unbowèd knee,
line 1235Disdaining duty that to us belongs.
line 1236Small curs are not regarded when they grin,
line 1237But great men tremble when the lion roars—
20line 1238And Humphrey is no little man in England.
Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 103
line 1239First, note that he is near you in descent,
line 1240And, should you fall, he is the next will mount.
line 1241Meseemeth then it is no policy,
line 1242Respecting what a rancorous mind he bears
25line 1243And his advantage following your decease,
line 1244That he should come about your royal person
line 1245Or be admitted to your Highness’ Council.
line 1246By flattery hath he won the Commons’ hearts;
line 1247And when he please to make commotion,
30line 1248’Tis to be feared they all will follow him.
line 1249Now ’tis the spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted;
line 1250Suffer them now, and they’ll o’ergrow the garden
line 1251And choke the herbs for want of husbandry.
line 1252The reverent care I bear unto my lord
35line 1253Made me collect these dangers in the Duke.
line 1254If it be fond, call it a woman’s fear,
line 1255Which fear, if better reasons can supplant,
line 1256I will subscribe and say I wronged the Duke.
line 1257My lords of Suffolk, Buckingham, and York,
40line 1258Reprove my allegation if you can,
line 1259Or else conclude my words effectual.
SUFFOLK
line 1260Well hath your Highness seen into this duke,
line 1261And, had I first been put to speak my mind,
line 1262I think I should have told your Grace’s tale.
45line 1263The Duchess by his subornation,
line 1264Upon my life, began her devilish practices;
line 1265Or if he were not privy to those faults,
line 1266Yet, by reputing of his high descent—
line 1267As next the King he was successive heir,
50line 1268And such high vaunts of his nobility—
line 1269Did instigate the bedlam brainsick duchess
line 1270By wicked means to frame our sovereign’s fall.
line 1271Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep,
line 1272And in his simple show he harbors treason.
55line 1273The fox barks not when he would steal the lamb.
Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 105
line 1274No, no, my sovereign, Gloucester is a man
line 1275Unsounded yet and full of deep deceit.
CARDINAL
line 1276Did he not, contrary to form of law,
line 1277Devise strange deaths for small offenses done?
YORK
60line 1278And did he not, in his protectorship,
line 1279Levy great sums of money through the realm
line 1280For soldiers’ pay in France, and never sent it,
line 1281By means whereof the towns each day revolted?
BUCKINGHAM
line 1282Tut, these are petty faults to faults unknown,
65line 1283Which time will bring to light in smooth Duke
line 1284Humphrey.
KING HENRY
line 1285My lords, at once: the care you have of us
line 1286To mow down thorns that would annoy our foot
line 1287Is worthy praise; but, shall I speak my conscience,
70line 1288Our kinsman Gloucester is as innocent
line 1289From meaning treason to our royal person
line 1290As is the sucking lamb or harmless dove.
line 1291The Duke is virtuous, mild, and too well given
line 1292To dream on evil or to work my downfall.
QUEEN MARGARET
75line 1293Ah, what’s more dangerous than this fond affiance?
line 1294Seems he a dove? His feathers are but borrowed,
line 1295For he’s disposèd as the hateful raven.
line 1296Is he a lamb? His skin is surely lent him,
line 1297For he’s inclined as is the ravenous wolves.
80line 1298Who cannot steal a shape that means deceit?
line 1299Take heed, my lord; the welfare of us all
line 1300Hangs on the cutting short that fraudful man.
Enter Somerset.
SOMERSET
line 1301All health unto my gracious sovereign!
Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 107
KING HENRY
line 1302Welcome, Lord Somerset. What news from France?
SOMERSET
85line 1303That all your interest in those territories
line 1304Is utterly bereft you. All is lost.
KING HENRY
line 1305Cold news, Lord Somerset; but God’s will be done.
YORKaside
line 1306Cold news for me, for I had hope of France
line 1307As firmly as I hope for fertile England.
90line 1308Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bud,
line 1309And caterpillars eat my leaves away.
line 1310But I will remedy this gear ere long,
line 1311Or sell my title for a glorious grave.
Enter Gloucester.
GLOUCESTER
line 1312All happiness unto my lord the King!
95line 1313Pardon, my liege, that I have stayed so long.
SUFFOLK
line 1314Nay, Gloucester, know that thou art come too soon,
line 1315Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art.
line 1316I do arrest thee of high treason here.
GLOUCESTER
line 1317Well, Suffolk, thou shalt not see me blush
100line 1318Nor change my countenance for this arrest.
line 1319A heart unspotted is not easily daunted.
line 1320The purest spring is not so free from mud
line 1321As I am clear from treason to my sovereign.
line 1322Who can accuse me? Wherein am I guilty?
YORK
105line 1323’Tis thought, my lord, that you took bribes of France
line 1324And, being Protector, stayed the soldiers’ pay,
line 1325By means whereof his Highness hath lost France.
GLOUCESTER
line 1326Is it but thought so? What are they that think it?
Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 109
line 1327I never robbed the soldiers of their pay
110line 1328Nor ever had one penny bribe from France.
line 1329So help me God as I have watched the night—
line 1330Ay, night by night—in studying good for England!
line 1331That doit that e’er I wrested from the King,
line 1332Or any groat I hoarded to my use,
115line 1333Be brought against me at my trial day!
line 1334No, many a pound of mine own proper store,
line 1335Because I would not tax the needy Commons,
line 1336Have I dispursèd to the garrisons
line 1337And never asked for restitution.
CARDINAL
120line 1338It serves you well, my lord, to say so much.
GLOUCESTER
line 1339I say no more than truth, so help me God.
YORK
line 1340In your protectorship, you did devise
line 1341Strange tortures for offenders, never heard of,
line 1342That England was defamed by tyranny.
GLOUCESTER
125line 1343Why, ’tis well known that whiles I was Protector,
line 1344Pity was all the fault that was in me;
line 1345For I should melt at an offender’s tears,
line 1346And lowly words were ransom for their fault.
line 1347Unless it were a bloody murderer
130line 1348Or foul felonious thief that fleeced poor passengers,
line 1349I never gave them condign punishment.
line 1350Murder indeed, that bloody sin, I tortured
line 1351Above the felon or what trespass else.
SUFFOLK
line 1352My lord, these faults are easy, quickly answered;
135line 1353But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge
line 1354Whereof you cannot easily purge yourself.
line 1355I do arrest you in his Highness’ name,
line 1356And here commit you to my Lord Cardinal
line 1357To keep until your further time of trial.
Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 111
KING HENRY
140line 1358My lord of Gloucester, ’tis my special hope
line 1359That you will clear yourself from all suspense.
line 1360My conscience tells me you are innocent.
GLOUCESTER
line 1361Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous.
line 1362Virtue is choked with foul ambition,
145line 1363And charity chased hence by rancor’s hand;
line 1364Foul subornation is predominant,
line 1365And equity exiled your Highness’ land.
line 1366I know their complot is to have my life;
line 1367And if my death might make this island happy
150line 1368And prove the period of their tyranny,
line 1369I would expend it with all willingness.
line 1370But mine is made the prologue to their play;
line 1371For thousands more, that yet suspect no peril,
line 1372Will not conclude their plotted tragedy.
155line 1373Beaufort’s red sparkling eyes blab his heart’s malice,
line 1374And Suffolk’s cloudy brow his stormy hate;
line 1375Sharp Buckingham unburdens with his tongue
line 1376The envious load that lies upon his heart;
line 1377And dogged York, that reaches at the moon,
160line 1378Whose overweening arm I have plucked back,
line 1379By false accuse doth level at my life.—
line 1380And you, my sovereign lady, with the rest,
line 1381Causeless have laid disgraces on my head
line 1382And with your best endeavor have stirred up
165line 1383My liefest liege to be mine enemy.
line 1384Ay, all of you have laid your heads together—
line 1385Myself had notice of your conventicles—
line 1386And all to make away my guiltless life.
line 1387I shall not want false witness to condemn me
170line 1388Nor store of treasons to augment my guilt.
line 1389The ancient proverb will be well effected:
line 1390“A staff is quickly found to beat a dog.”
Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 113
CARDINAL
line 1391My liege, his railing is intolerable.
line 1392If those that care to keep your royal person
175line 1393From treason’s secret knife and traitor’s rage
line 1394Be thus upbraided, chid, and rated at,
line 1395And the offender granted scope of speech,
line 1396’Twill make them cool in zeal unto your Grace.
SUFFOLK
line 1397Hath he not twit our sovereign lady here
180line 1398With ignominious words, though clerkly couched,
line 1399As if she had subornèd some to swear
line 1400False allegations to o’erthrow his state?
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1401But I can give the loser leave to chide.
GLOUCESTER
line 1402Far truer spoke than meant. I lose, indeed;
185line 1403Beshrew the winners, for they played me false!
line 1404And well such losers may have leave to speak.
BUCKINGHAM
line 1405He’ll wrest the sense and hold us here all day.
line 1406Lord Cardinal, he is your prisoner.
CARDINALto his Men
line 1407Sirs, take away the Duke, and guard him sure.
GLOUCESTER
190line 1408Ah, thus King Henry throws away his crutch
line 1409Before his legs be firm to bear his body.—
line 1410Thus is the shepherd beaten from thy side,
line 1411And wolves are gnarling who shall gnaw thee first.
line 1412Ah, that my fear were false; ah, that it were!
195line 1413For, good King Henry, thy decay I fear.
Gloucester exits, guarded by Cardinal’s Men.
KING HENRY
line 1414My lords, what to your wisdoms seemeth best
line 1415Do, or undo, as if ourself were here.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1416What, will your Highness leave the Parliament?
Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 115
KING HENRY
line 1417Ay, Margaret. My heart is drowned with grief,
200line 1418Whose flood begins to flow within mine eyes,
line 1419My body round engirt with misery;
line 1420For what’s more miserable than discontent?
line 1421Ah, uncle Humphrey, in thy face I see
line 1422The map of honor, truth, and loyalty;
205line 1423And yet, good Humphrey, is the hour to come
line 1424That e’er I proved thee false or feared thy faith.
line 1425What louring star now envies thy estate
line 1426That these great lords and Margaret our queen
line 1427Do seek subversion of thy harmless life?
210line 1428Thou never didst them wrong nor no man wrong.
line 1429And as the butcher takes away the calf
line 1430And binds the wretch and beats it when it strains,
line 1431Bearing it to the bloody slaughterhouse,
line 1432Even so remorseless have they borne him hence;
215line 1433And as the dam runs lowing up and down,
line 1434Looking the way her harmless young one went,
line 1435And can do naught but wail her darling’s loss,
line 1436Even so myself bewails good Gloucester’s case
line 1437With sad unhelpful tears, and with dimmed eyes
220line 1438Look after him and cannot do him good,
line 1439So mighty are his vowèd enemies.
line 1440His fortunes I will weep and, ’twixt each groan,
line 1441Say “Who’s a traitor, Gloucester he is none.”
He exits, with Buckingham, Salisbury, Warwick, and Others. Somerset steps aside.
QUEEN MARGARETto Cardinal, Suffolk, and York
line 1442Free lords, cold snow melts with the sun’s hot
225line 1443beams.
line 1444Henry my lord is cold in great affairs,
line 1445Too full of foolish pity; and Gloucester’s show
line 1446Beguiles him, as the mournful crocodile
line 1447With sorrow snares relenting passengers,
230line 1448Or as the snake, rolled in a flow’ring bank,
Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 117
line 1449With shining checkered slough, doth sting a child
line 1450That for the beauty thinks it excellent.
line 1451Believe me, lords, were none more wise than I—
line 1452And yet herein I judge mine own wit good—
235line 1453This Gloucester should be quickly rid the world,
line 1454To rid us from the fear we have of him.
CARDINAL
line 1455That he should die is worthy policy,
line 1456But yet we want a color for his death.
line 1457’Tis meet he be condemned by course of law.
SUFFOLK
240line 1458But, in my mind, that were no policy.
line 1459The King will labor still to save his life,
line 1460The Commons haply rise to save his life,
line 1461And yet we have but trivial argument,
line 1462More than mistrust, that shows him worthy death.
YORK
245line 1463So that, by this, you would not have him die.
SUFFOLK
line 1464Ah, York, no man alive so fain as I!
YORK
line 1465’Tis York that hath more reason for his death.
line 1466But, my Lord Cardinal, and you, my lord of Suffolk,
line 1467Say as you think, and speak it from your souls:
250line 1468Were ’t not all one an empty eagle were set
line 1469To guard the chicken from a hungry kite
line 1470As place Duke Humphrey for the King’s Protector?
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1471So the poor chicken should be sure of death.
SUFFOLK
line 1472Madam, ’tis true; and were ’t not madness then
255line 1473To make the fox surveyor of the fold—
line 1474Who, being accused a crafty murderer,
line 1475His guilt should be but idly posted over
line 1476Because his purpose is not executed?
line 1477No, let him die in that he is a fox,
Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 119
260line 1478By nature proved an enemy to the flock,
line 1479Before his chaps be stained with crimson blood,
line 1480As Humphrey, proved by reasons, to my liege.
line 1481And do not stand on quillets how to slay him—
line 1482Be it by gins, by snares, by subtlety,
265line 1483Sleeping or waking. ’Tis no matter how,
line 1484So he be dead; for that is good deceit
line 1485Which mates him first that first intends deceit.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1486Thrice noble Suffolk, ’tis resolutely spoke.
SUFFOLK
line 1487Not resolute, except so much were done,
270line 1488For things are often spoke and seldom meant;
line 1489But that my heart accordeth with my tongue,
line 1490Seeing the deed is meritorious,
line 1491And to preserve my sovereign from his foe,
line 1492Say but the word and I will be his priest.
CARDINAL
275line 1493But I would have him dead, my lord of Suffolk,
line 1494Ere you can take due orders for a priest.
line 1495Say you consent and censure well the deed,
line 1496And I’ll provide his executioner.
line 1497I tender so the safety of my liege.
SUFFOLK
280line 1498Here is my hand. The deed is worthy doing.
line 1499QUEEN MARGARETAnd so say I.
YORK
line 1500And I. And now we three have spoke it,
line 1501It skills not greatly who impugns our doom.
Enter a Post.
POST
line 1502Great lords, from Ireland am I come amain
285line 1503To signify that rebels there are up
line 1504And put the Englishmen unto the sword.
line 1505Send succors, lords, and stop the rage betime,
Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 121
line 1506Before the wound do grow uncurable;
line 1507For, being green, there is great hope of help.
He exits.
CARDINAL
290line 1508A breach that craves a quick expedient stop!
line 1509What counsel give you in this weighty cause?
YORK
line 1510That Somerset be sent as regent thither.
line 1511’Tis meet that lucky ruler be employed—
line 1512Witness the fortune he hath had in France.
SOMERSETadvancing
295line 1513If York, with all his far-fet policy,
line 1514Had been the regent there instead of me,
line 1515He never would have stayed in France so long.
YORK
line 1516No, not to lose it all, as thou hast done.
line 1517I rather would have lost my life betimes
300line 1518Than bring a burden of dishonor home
line 1519By staying there so long till all were lost.
line 1520Show me one scar charactered on thy skin.
line 1521Men’s flesh preserved so whole do seldom win.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1522Nay, then, this spark will prove a raging fire
305line 1523If wind and fuel be brought to feed it with.—
line 1524No more, good York.—Sweet Somerset, be still.—
line 1525Thy fortune, York, hadst thou been regent there,
line 1526Might happily have proved far worse than his.
YORK
line 1527What, worse than naught? Nay, then, a shame take
310line 1528all!
SOMERSET
line 1529And, in the number, thee that wishest shame!
CARDINAL
line 1530My lord of York, try what your fortune is.
line 1531Th’ uncivil kerns of Ireland are in arms
line 1532And temper clay with blood of Englishmen.
Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 123
315line 1533To Ireland will you lead a band of men,
line 1534Collected choicely, from each county some,
line 1535And try your hap against the Irishmen?
YORK
line 1536I will, my lord, so please his Majesty.
SUFFOLK
line 1537Why, our authority is his consent,
320line 1538And what we do establish he confirms.
line 1539Then, noble York, take thou this task in hand.
YORK
line 1540I am content. Provide me soldiers, lords,
line 1541Whiles I take order for mine own affairs.
SUFFOLK
line 1542A charge, Lord York, that I will see performed.
325line 1543But now return we to the false Duke Humphrey.
CARDINAL
line 1544No more of him, for I will deal with him,
line 1545That henceforth he shall trouble us no more.
line 1546And so break off; the day is almost spent.
line 1547Lord Suffolk, you and I must talk of that event.
YORK
330line 1548My lord of Suffolk, within fourteen days
line 1549At Bristow I expect my soldiers,
line 1550For there I’ll ship them all for Ireland.
SUFFOLK
line 1551I’ll see it truly done, my lord of York.
All but York exit.
YORK
line 1552Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful thoughts
335line 1553And change misdoubt to resolution.
line 1554Be that thou hop’st to be, or what thou art
line 1555Resign to death; it is not worth th’ enjoying.
line 1556Let pale-faced fear keep with the mean-born man
line 1557And find no harbor in a royal heart.
340line 1558Faster than springtime showers comes thought on
line 1559thought,
Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 125
line 1560And not a thought but thinks on dignity.
line 1561My brain, more busy than the laboring spider,
line 1562Weaves tedious snares to trap mine enemies.
345line 1563Well, nobles, well, ’tis politicly done
line 1564To send me packing with an host of men.
line 1565I fear me you but warm the starvèd snake,
line 1566Who, cherished in your breasts, will sting your
line 1567hearts.
350line 1568’Twas men I lacked, and you will give them me;
line 1569I take it kindly. Yet be well assured
line 1570You put sharp weapons in a madman’s hands.
line 1571Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band,
line 1572I will stir up in England some black storm
355line 1573Shall blow ten thousand souls to heaven or hell;
line 1574And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage
line 1575Until the golden circuit on my head,
line 1576Like to the glorious sun’s transparent beams,
line 1577Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw.
360line 1578And for a minister of my intent,
line 1579I have seduced a headstrong Kentishman,
line 1580John Cade of Ashford,
line 1581To make commotion, as full well he can,
line 1582Under the title of John Mortimer.
365line 1583In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade
line 1584Oppose himself against a troop of kerns,
line 1585And fought so long till that his thighs with darts
line 1586Were almost like a sharp-quilled porpentine;
line 1587And in the end being rescued, I have seen
370line 1588Him caper upright like a wild Morisco,
line 1589Shaking the bloody darts as he his bells.
line 1590Full often, like a shag-haired crafty kern,
line 1591Hath he conversèd with the enemy,
line 1592And undiscovered come to me again
375line 1593And given me notice of their villainies.
line 1594This devil here shall be my substitute;
line 1595For that John Mortimer, which now is dead,
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 127
line 1596In face, in gait, in speech he doth resemble.
line 1597By this, I shall perceive the Commons’ mind,
380line 1598How they affect the house and claim of York.
line 1599Say he be taken, racked, and torturèd,
line 1600I know no pain they can inflict upon him
line 1601Will make him say I moved him to those arms.
line 1602Say that he thrive, as ’tis great like he will,
385line 1603Why then from Ireland come I with my strength
line 1604And reap the harvest which that rascal sowed.
line 1605For, Humphrey being dead, as he shall be,
line 1606And Henry put apart, the next for me.
He exits.
Scene 2
Enter two or three running over the stage, from the murder of Duke Humphrey.
FIRST MURDERER
line 1607Run to my lord of Suffolk. Let him know
line 1608We have dispatched the Duke as he commanded.
SECOND MURDERER
line 1609O, that it were to do! What have we done?
line 1610Didst ever hear a man so penitent?
Enter Suffolk.
5line 1611FIRST MURDERERHere comes my lord.
line 1612SUFFOLKNow, sirs, have you dispatched this thing?
line 1613FIRST MURDERERAy, my good lord, he’s dead.
SUFFOLK
line 1614Why, that’s well said. Go, get you to my house;
line 1615I will reward you for this venturous deed.
10line 1616The King and all the peers are here at hand.
line 1617Have you laid fair the bed? Is all things well,
line 1618According as I gave directions?
line 1619FIRST MURDERER’Tis, my good lord.
line 1620SUFFOLKAway, be gone.The Murderers exit.
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 129
Sound trumpets. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, Cardinal, Somerset, with Attendants.
KING HENRY
15line 1621Go, call our uncle to our presence straight.
line 1622Say we intend to try his Grace today
line 1623If he be guilty, as ’tis publishèd.
SUFFOLK
line 1624I’ll call him presently, my noble lord.He exits.
KING HENRY
line 1625Lords, take your places; and, I pray you all,
20line 1626Proceed no straiter ’gainst our uncle Gloucester
line 1627Than from true evidence of good esteem
line 1628He be approved in practice culpable.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1629God forbid any malice should prevail
line 1630That faultless may condemn a nobleman!
25line 1631Pray God he may acquit him of suspicion!
KING HENRY
line 1632I thank thee, Meg. These words content me much.
Enter Suffolk.
line 1633How now? Why look’st thou pale? Why tremblest
line 1634thou?
line 1635Where is our uncle? What’s the matter, Suffolk?
SUFFOLK
30line 1636Dead in his bed, my lord. Gloucester is dead.
line 1637QUEEN MARGARETMarry, God forfend!
CARDINAL
line 1638God’s secret judgment. I did dream tonight
line 1639The Duke was dumb and could not speak a word.
King Henry swoons.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1640How fares my lord? Help, lords, the King is dead!
SOMERSET
35line 1641Rear up his body. Wring him by the nose.
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 131
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1642Run, go, help, help! O Henry, ope thine eyes!
King Henry stirs.
SUFFOLK
line 1643He doth revive again. Madam, be patient.
KING HENRY
line 1644O heavenly God!
line 1645QUEEN MARGARETHow fares my gracious lord?
SUFFOLK
40line 1646Comfort, my sovereign! Gracious Henry, comfort!
KING HENRY
line 1647What, doth my lord of Suffolk comfort me?
line 1648Came he right now to sing a raven’s note,
line 1649Whose dismal tune bereft my vital powers,
line 1650And thinks he that the chirping of a wren,
45line 1651By crying comfort from a hollow breast,
line 1652Can chase away the first-conceivèd sound?
line 1653Hide not thy poison with such sugared words.
line 1654Lay not thy hands on me. Forbear, I say!
line 1655Their touch affrights me as a serpent’s sting.
50line 1656Thou baleful messenger, out of my sight!
line 1657Upon thy eyeballs, murderous Tyranny
line 1658Sits in grim majesty to fright the world.
line 1659Look not upon me, for thine eyes are wounding.
line 1660Yet do not go away. Come, basilisk,
55line 1661And kill the innocent gazer with thy sight;
line 1662For in the shade of death I shall find joy,
line 1663In life but double death, now Gloucester’s dead.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1664Why do you rate my lord of Suffolk thus?
line 1665Although the Duke was enemy to him,
60line 1666Yet he most Christian-like laments his death.
line 1667And for myself, foe as he was to me,
line 1668Might liquid tears or heart-offending groans
line 1669Or blood-consuming sighs recall his life,
line 1670I would be blind with weeping, sick with groans,
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 133
65line 1671Look pale as primrose with blood-drinking sighs,
line 1672And all to have the noble duke alive.
line 1673What know I how the world may deem of me?
line 1674For it is known we were but hollow friends.
line 1675It may be judged I made the Duke away;
70line 1676So shall my name with slander’s tongue be wounded
line 1677And princes’ courts be filled with my reproach.
line 1678This get I by his death. Ay me, unhappy,
line 1679To be a queen and crowned with infamy!
KING HENRY
line 1680Ah, woe is me for Gloucester, wretched man!
QUEEN MARGARET
75line 1681Be woe for me, more wretched than he is.
line 1682What, dost thou turn away and hide thy face?
line 1683I am no loathsome leper. Look on me.
line 1684What, art thou, like the adder, waxen deaf?
line 1685Be poisonous too, and kill thy forlorn queen.
80line 1686Is all thy comfort shut in Gloucester’s tomb?
line 1687Why, then, Dame Margaret was ne’er thy joy.
line 1688Erect his statue and worship it,
line 1689And make my image but an alehouse sign.
line 1690Was I for this nigh-wracked upon the sea
85line 1691And twice by awkward wind from England’s bank
line 1692Drove back again unto my native clime?
line 1693What boded this, but well forewarning wind
line 1694Did seem to say “Seek not a scorpion’s nest,
line 1695Nor set no footing on this unkind shore”?
90line 1696What did I then but cursed the gentle gusts
line 1697And he that loosed them forth their brazen caves
line 1698And bid them blow towards England’s blessèd shore
line 1699Or turn our stern upon a dreadful rock?
line 1700Yet Aeolus would not be a murderer,
95line 1701But left that hateful office unto thee.
line 1702The pretty-vaulting sea refused to drown me,
line 1703Knowing that thou wouldst have me drowned on
line 1704shore
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 135
line 1705With tears as salt as sea, through thy unkindness.
100line 1706The splitting rocks cow’red in the sinking sands
line 1707And would not dash me with their ragged sides
line 1708Because thy flinty heart, more hard than they,
line 1709Might in thy palace perish Margaret.
line 1710As far as I could ken thy chalky cliffs,
105line 1711When from thy shore the tempest beat us back,
line 1712I stood upon the hatches in the storm,
line 1713And when the dusky sky began to rob
line 1714My earnest-gaping sight of thy land’s view,
line 1715I took a costly jewel from my neck—
110line 1716A heart it was, bound in with diamonds—
line 1717And threw it towards thy land. The sea received it,
line 1718And so I wished thy body might my heart.
line 1719And even with this I lost fair England’s view,
line 1720And bid mine eyes be packing with my heart,
115line 1721And called them blind and dusky spectacles
line 1722For losing ken of Albion’s wishèd coast.
line 1723How often have I tempted Suffolk’s tongue,
line 1724The agent of thy foul inconstancy,
line 1725To sit and watch me, as Ascanius did
120line 1726When he to madding Dido would unfold
line 1727His father’s acts commenced in burning Troy!
line 1728Am I not witched like her, or thou not false like
line 1729him?
line 1730Ay me, I can no more. Die, Margaret,
125line 1731For Henry weeps that thou dost live so long.
Noise within. Enter Warwick and Salisbury,and many Commons.
WARWICK
line 1732It is reported, mighty sovereign,
line 1733That good Duke Humphrey traitorously is murdered
line 1734By Suffolk and the Cardinal Beaufort’s means.
line 1735The Commons, like an angry hive of bees
130line 1736That want their leader, scatter up and down
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 137
line 1737And care not who they sting in his revenge.
line 1738Myself have calmed their spleenful mutiny,
line 1739Until they hear the order of his death.
KING HENRY
line 1740That he is dead, good Warwick, ’tis too true;
135line 1741But how he died God knows, not Henry.
line 1742Enter his chamber, view his breathless corpse,
line 1743And comment then upon his sudden death.
WARWICK
line 1744That shall I do, my liege.—Stay, Salisbury,
line 1745With the rude multitude till I return.
Warwick exits through one door; Salisbury and Commons exit through another.
KING HENRY
140line 1746O Thou that judgest all things, stay my thoughts,
line 1747My thoughts that labor to persuade my soul
line 1748Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey’s life.
line 1749If my suspect be false, forgive me, God,
line 1750For judgment only doth belong to Thee.
145line 1751Fain would I go to chafe his paly lips
line 1752With twenty thousand kisses, and to drain
line 1753Upon his face an ocean of salt tears,
line 1754To tell my love unto his dumb deaf trunk
line 1755And with my fingers feel his hand unfeeling;
150line 1756But all in vain are these mean obsequies.
line 1757And to survey his dead and earthy image,
line 1758What were it but to make my sorrow greater?
Bed put forth, bearing Gloucester’s body. Enter Warwick.
WARWICK
line 1759Come hither, gracious sovereign. View this body.
KING HENRY
line 1760That is to see how deep my grave is made,
155line 1761For with his soul fled all my worldly solace;
line 1762For seeing him, I see my life in death.
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 139
WARWICK
line 1763As surely as my soul intends to live
line 1764With that dread King that took our state upon Him
line 1765To free us from His Father’s wrathful curse,
160line 1766I do believe that violent hands were laid
line 1767Upon the life of this thrice-famèd duke.
SUFFOLK
line 1768A dreadful oath, sworn with a solemn tongue!
line 1769What instance gives Lord Warwick for his vow?
WARWICK
line 1770See how the blood is settled in his face.
165line 1771Oft have I seen a timely-parted ghost,
line 1772Of ashy semblance, meager, pale, and bloodless,
line 1773Being all descended to the laboring heart,
line 1774Who, in the conflict that it holds with death,
line 1775Attracts the same for aidance ’gainst the enemy,
170line 1776Which with the heart there cools and ne’er
line 1777returneth
line 1778To blush and beautify the cheek again.
line 1779But see, his face is black and full of blood;
line 1780His eyeballs further out than when he lived,
175line 1781Staring full ghastly, like a strangled man;
line 1782His hair upreared, his nostrils stretched with
line 1783struggling;
line 1784His hands abroad displayed, as one that grasped
line 1785And tugged for life and was by strength subdued.
180line 1786Look, on the sheets his hair, you see, is sticking;
line 1787His well-proportioned beard made rough and
line 1788rugged,
line 1789Like to the summer’s corn by tempest lodged.
line 1790It cannot be but he was murdered here.
185line 1791The least of all these signs were probable.
The bed is removed.
SUFFOLK
line 1792Why, Warwick, who should do the Duke to death?
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 141
line 1793Myself and Beaufort had him in protection,
line 1794And we, I hope, sir, are no murderers.
WARWICK
line 1795But both of you were vowed Duke Humphrey’s foes,
190line 1796To Cardinal. And you, forsooth, had the good duke
line 1797to keep.
line 1798’Tis like you would not feast him like a friend,
line 1799And ’tis well seen he found an enemy.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1800Then you, belike, suspect these noblemen
195line 1801As guilty of Duke Humphrey’s timeless death.
WARWICK
line 1802Who finds the heifer dead and bleeding fresh,
line 1803And sees fast by a butcher with an ax,
line 1804But will suspect ’twas he that made the slaughter?
line 1805Who finds the partridge in the puttock’s nest
200line 1806But may imagine how the bird was dead,
line 1807Although the kite soar with unbloodied beak?
line 1808Even so suspicious is this tragedy.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1809Are you the butcher, Suffolk? Where’s your knife?
line 1810Is Beaufort termed a kite? Where are his talons?
SUFFOLK
205line 1811I wear no knife to slaughter sleeping men,
line 1812But here’s a vengeful sword, rusted with ease,
line 1813That shall be scoured in his rancorous heart
line 1814That slanders me with murder’s crimson badge.—
line 1815Say, if thou dar’st, proud lord of Warwickshire,
210line 1816That I am faulty in Duke Humphrey’s death.
WARWICK
line 1817What dares not Warwick, if false Suffolk dare him?
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1818He dares not calm his contumelious spirit
line 1819Nor cease to be an arrogant controller,
line 1820Though Suffolk dare him twenty thousand times.
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 143
WARWICK
215line 1821Madam, be still—with reverence may I say—
line 1822For every word you speak in his behalf
line 1823Is slander to your royal dignity.
SUFFOLK
line 1824Blunt-witted lord, ignoble in demeanor!
line 1825If ever lady wronged her lord so much,
220line 1826Thy mother took into her blameful bed
line 1827Some stern untutored churl, and noble stock
line 1828Was graft with crab-tree slip, whose fruit thou art
line 1829And never of the Nevilles’ noble race.
WARWICK
line 1830But that the guilt of murder bucklers thee
225line 1831And I should rob the deathsman of his fee,
line 1832Quitting thee thereby of ten thousand shames,
line 1833And that my sovereign’s presence makes me mild,
line 1834I would, false murd’rous coward, on thy knee
line 1835Make thee beg pardon for thy passèd speech
230line 1836And say it was thy mother that thou meant’st,
line 1837That thou thyself wast born in bastardy;
line 1838And after all this fearful homage done,
line 1839Give thee thy hire and send thy soul to hell,
line 1840Pernicious bloodsucker of sleeping men!
SUFFOLK
235line 1841Thou shalt be waking while I shed thy blood,
line 1842If from this presence thou dar’st go with me.
WARWICK
line 1843Away even now, or I will drag thee hence!
line 1844Unworthy though thou art, I’ll cope with thee
line 1845And do some service to Duke Humphrey’s ghost.
Warwick and Suffolk exit.
KING HENRY
240line 1846What stronger breastplate than a heart untainted?
line 1847Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just,
line 1848And he but naked, though locked up in steel,
line 1849Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted.
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 145
A noise within.
line 1850QUEEN MARGARETWhat noise is this?
Enter Suffolk and Warwick, with their weapons drawn.
KING HENRY
245line 1851Why, how now, lords? Your wrathful weapons
line 1852drawn
line 1853Here in our presence? Dare you be so bold?
line 1854Why, what tumultuous clamor have we here?
SUFFOLK
line 1855The trait’rous Warwick, with the men of Bury,
250line 1856Set all upon me, mighty sovereign.
Enter Salisbury.
SALISBURYto the offstage Commons
line 1857Sirs, stand apart. The King shall know your mind.—
line 1858Dread lord, the Commons send you word by me,
line 1859Unless Lord Suffolk straight be done to death
line 1860Or banishèd fair England’s territories,
255line 1861They will by violence tear him from your palace
line 1862And torture him with grievous ling’ring death.
line 1863They say, by him the good duke Humphrey died;
line 1864They say, in him they fear your Highness’ death;
line 1865And mere instinct of love and loyalty,
260line 1866Free from a stubborn opposite intent,
line 1867As being thought to contradict your liking,
line 1868Makes them thus forward in his banishment.
line 1869They say, in care of your most royal person,
line 1870That if your Highness should intend to sleep,
265line 1871And charge that no man should disturb your rest,
line 1872In pain of your dislike or pain of death,
line 1873Yet, notwithstanding such a strait edict,
line 1874Were there a serpent seen with forkèd tongue
line 1875That slyly glided towards your Majesty,
270line 1876It were but necessary you were waked,
line 1877Lest, being suffered in that harmful slumber,
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 147
line 1878The mortal worm might make the sleep eternal.
line 1879And therefore do they cry, though you forbid,
line 1880That they will guard you, whe’er you will or no,
275line 1881From such fell serpents as false Suffolk is,
line 1882With whose envenomèd and fatal sting
line 1883Your loving uncle, twenty times his worth,
line 1884They say, is shamefully bereft of life.
COMMONSwithin
line 1885An answer from the King, my lord of Salisbury!
SUFFOLK
280line 1886’Tis like the Commons, rude unpolished hinds,
line 1887Could send such message to their sovereign!
line 1888To Salisbury. But you, my lord, were glad to be
line 1889employed,
line 1890To show how quaint an orator you are.
285line 1891But all the honor Salisbury hath won
line 1892Is that he was the lord ambassador
line 1893Sent from a sort of tinkers to the King.
COMMONS, within
line 1894An answer from the King, or we will all break in.
KING HENRY
line 1895Go, Salisbury, and tell them all from me,
290line 1896I thank them for their tender loving care;
line 1897And, had I not been cited so by them,
line 1898Yet did I purpose as they do entreat.
line 1899For, sure, my thoughts do hourly prophesy
line 1900Mischance unto my state by Suffolk’s means.
295line 1901And therefore, by His Majesty I swear,
line 1902Whose far unworthy deputy I am,
line 1903He shall not breathe infection in this air
line 1904But three days longer, on the pain of death.
Salisbury exits.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1905O Henry, let me plead for gentle Suffolk!
KING HENRY
300line 1906Ungentle queen to call him gentle Suffolk!
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 149
line 1907No more, I say. If thou dost plead for him,
line 1908Thou wilt but add increase unto my wrath.
line 1909Had I but said, I would have kept my word;
line 1910But when I swear, it is irrevocable.
305line 1911To Suffolk. If, after three days’ space, thou here
line 1912be’st found
line 1913On any ground that I am ruler of,
line 1914The world shall not be ransom for thy life.—
line 1915Come, Warwick, come, good Warwick, go with me.
310line 1916I have great matters to impart to thee.
All but the Queen and Suffolk exit.
QUEEN MARGARETcalling after King Henry and Warwick
line 1917Mischance and sorrow go along with you!
line 1918Heart’s discontent and sour affliction
line 1919Be playfellows to keep you company!
line 1920There’s two of you; the devil make a third,
315line 1921And threefold vengeance tend upon your steps!
SUFFOLK
line 1922Cease, gentle queen, these execrations,
line 1923And let thy Suffolk take his heavy leave.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1924Fie, coward woman and soft-hearted wretch!
line 1925Hast thou not spirit to curse thine enemies?
SUFFOLK
320line 1926A plague upon them! Wherefore should I curse
line 1927them?
line 1928Could curses kill, as doth the mandrake’s groan,
line 1929I would invent as bitter searching terms,
line 1930As curst, as harsh, and horrible to hear,
325line 1931Delivered strongly through my fixèd teeth,
line 1932With full as many signs of deadly hate,
line 1933As lean-faced Envy in her loathsome cave.
line 1934My tongue should stumble in mine earnest words;
line 1935Mine eyes should sparkle like the beaten flint;
330line 1936Mine hair be fixed on end, as one distract;
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 151
line 1937Ay, every joint should seem to curse and ban;
line 1938And even now my burdened heart would break
line 1939Should I not curse them. Poison be their drink!
line 1940Gall, worse than gall, the daintiest that they taste;
335line 1941Their sweetest shade, a grove of cypress trees;
line 1942Their chiefest prospect, murd’ring basilisks;
line 1943Their softest touch, as smart as lizards’ stings!
line 1944Their music, frightful as the serpent’s hiss,
line 1945And boding screech owls make the consort full!
340line 1946All the foul terrors in dark-seated hell—
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1947Enough, sweet Suffolk, thou torment’st thyself,
line 1948And these dread curses, like the sun ’gainst glass,
line 1949Or like an over-chargèd gun, recoil
line 1950And turn the force of them upon thyself.
SUFFOLK
345line 1951You bade me ban, and will you bid me leave?
line 1952Now, by the ground that I am banished from,
line 1953Well could I curse away a winter’s night,
line 1954Though standing naked on a mountain top
line 1955Where biting cold would never let grass grow,
350line 1956And think it but a minute spent in sport.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1957O, let me entreat thee cease! Give me thy hand,
line 1958That I may dew it with my mournful tears;
line 1959Nor let the rain of heaven wet this place
line 1960To wash away my woeful monuments.
She kisses his hand.
355line 1961O, could this kiss be printed in thy hand,
line 1962That thou mightst think upon these by the seal,
line 1963Through whom a thousand sighs are breathed for
line 1964thee!
line 1965So, get thee gone, that I may know my grief;
360line 1966’Tis but surmised whiles thou art standing by,
line 1967As one that surfeits thinking on a want.
line 1968I will repeal thee, or, be well assured,
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 153
line 1969Adventure to be banishèd myself;
line 1970And banishèd I am, if but from thee.
365line 1971Go, speak not to me. Even now be gone!
line 1972O, go not yet! Even thus two friends condemned
line 1973Embrace and kiss and take ten thousand leaves,
line 1974Loather a hundred times to part than die.
They embrace.
line 1975Yet now farewell, and farewell life with thee.
SUFFOLK
370line 1976Thus is poor Suffolk ten times banishèd,
line 1977Once by the King, and three times thrice by thee.
line 1978’Tis not the land I care for, wert thou thence.
line 1979A wilderness is populous enough,
line 1980So Suffolk had thy heavenly company;
375line 1981For where thou art, there is the world itself,
line 1982With every several pleasure in the world;
line 1983And where thou art not, desolation.
line 1984I can no more. Live thou to joy thy life;
line 1985Myself no joy in naught but that thou liv’st.
Enter Vaux.
QUEEN MARGARET
380line 1986Whither goes Vaux so fast? What news, I prithee?
line 1987VAUXTo signify unto his Majesty,
line 1988That Cardinal Beaufort is at point of death;
line 1989For suddenly a grievous sickness took him
line 1990That makes him gasp and stare and catch the air,
385line 1991Blaspheming God and cursing men on Earth.
line 1992Sometimes he talks as if Duke Humphrey’s ghost
line 1993Were by his side; sometimes he calls the King
line 1994And whispers to his pillow, as to him,
line 1995The secrets of his overchargèd soul.
390line 1996And I am sent to tell his Majesty
line 1997That even now he cries aloud for him.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 1998Go, tell this heavy message to the King.Vaux exits.
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 155
line 1999Ay me! What is this world? What news are these!
line 2000But wherefore grieve I at an hour’s poor loss,
395line 2001Omitting Suffolk’s exile, my soul’s treasure?
line 2002Why only, Suffolk, mourn I not for thee,
line 2003And with the southern clouds contend in tears—
line 2004Theirs for the earth’s increase, mine for my
line 2005sorrows’?
400line 2006Now get thee hence. The King, thou know’st, is
line 2007coming;
line 2008If thou be found by me, thou art but dead.
SUFFOLK
line 2009If I depart from thee, I cannot live;
line 2010And in thy sight to die, what were it else
405line 2011But like a pleasant slumber in thy lap?
line 2012Here could I breathe my soul into the air,
line 2013As mild and gentle as the cradle babe
line 2014Dying with mother’s dug between its lips;
line 2015Where, from thy sight, I should be raging mad
410line 2016And cry out for thee to close up mine eyes,
line 2017To have thee with thy lips to stop my mouth.
line 2018So shouldst thou either turn my flying soul,
line 2019Or I should breathe it so into thy body,
line 2020And then it lived in sweet Elysium.
415line 2021To die by thee were but to die in jest;
line 2022From thee to die were torture more than death.
line 2023O, let me stay, befall what may befall!
QUEEN MARGARET
line 2024Away! Though parting be a fretful corrosive,
line 2025It is applièd to a deathful wound.
420line 2026To France, sweet Suffolk. Let me hear from thee,
line 2027For wheresoe’er thou art in this world’s globe,
line 2028I’ll have an Iris that shall find thee out.
line 2029SUFFOLKI go.
line 2030QUEEN MARGARETAnd take my heart with thee.
SUFFOLK
425line 2031A jewel locked into the woefull’st cask
Act 3 Scene 3 - Pg 157
line 2032That ever did contain a thing of worth!
line 2033Even as a splitted bark, so sunder we.
line 2034This way fall I to death.
line 2035QUEEN MARGARETThis way for me.
They exit through different doors.
Scene 3
Enter King Henry, Salisbury and Warwick, to the Cardinal in bed, raving and staring.
KING HENRY
line 2036How fares my lord? Speak, Beaufort, to thy sovereign.
CARDINAL
line 2037If thou be’st Death, I’ll give thee England’s treasure,
line 2038Enough to purchase such another island,
line 2039So thou wilt let me live and feel no pain.
KING HENRY
5line 2040Ah, what a sign it is of evil life,
line 2041Where Death’s approach is seen so terrible!
WARWICK
line 2042Beaufort, it is thy sovereign speaks to thee.
CARDINAL
line 2043Bring me unto my trial when you will.
line 2044Died he not in his bed? Where should he die?
10line 2045Can I make men live, whe’er they will or no?
line 2046O, torture me no more! I will confess.
line 2047Alive again? Then show me where he is.
line 2048I’ll give a thousand pound to look upon him.
line 2049He hath no eyes! The dust hath blinded them.
15line 2050Comb down his hair. Look, look. It stands upright,
line 2051Like lime-twigs set to catch my wingèd soul.
line 2052Give me some drink, and bid the apothecary
line 2053Bring the strong poison that I bought of him.
KING HENRY
line 2054O, Thou eternal mover of the heavens,
Act 3 Scene 3 - Pg 159
20line 2055Look with a gentle eye upon this wretch!
line 2056O, beat away the busy meddling fiend
line 2057That lays strong siege unto this wretch’s soul,
line 2058And from his bosom purge this black despair!
WARWICK
line 2059See how the pangs of death do make him grin!
SALISBURY
25line 2060Disturb him not. Let him pass peaceably.
KING HENRY
line 2061Peace to his soul, if God’s good pleasure be!—
line 2062Lord Card’nal, if thou think’st on heaven’s bliss,
line 2063Hold up thy hand; make signal of thy hope.
The Cardinal dies.
line 2064He dies and makes no sign. O, God forgive him!
WARWICK
30line 2065So bad a death argues a monstrous life.
KING HENRY
line 2066Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all.
line 2067Close up his eyes, and draw the curtain close,
line 2068And let us all to meditation.
After the curtains are closed around the bed, they exit. The bed is removed.
ACT 4
Scene 1
Alarum. Offstage fight at sea. Ordnance goes off. Enter Lieutenant, Suffolk, captive and in disguise, and Others, including a Master, a Master’s Mate, Walter Whitmore, and Prisoners.
LIEUTENANT
line 2069The gaudy, blabbing, and remorseful day
line 2070Is crept into the bosom of the sea,
line 2071And now loud-howling wolves arouse the jades
line 2072That drag the tragic melancholy night,
5line 2073Who, with their drowsy, slow, and flagging wings
line 2074Clip dead men’s graves, and from their misty jaws
line 2075Breathe foul contagious darkness in the air.
line 2076Therefore bring forth the soldiers of our prize;
line 2077For, whilst our pinnace anchors in the Downs,
10line 2078Here shall they make their ransom on the sand,
line 2079Or with their blood stain this discolored shore.—
line 2080Master, this prisoner freely give I thee.—
line 2081And, thou that art his mate, make boot of this.—
line 2082The other, Walter Whitmore, is thy share.
Three gentlemen prisoners, including Suffolk, are handed over.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
15line 2083What is my ransom, master? Let me know.
Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 165
MASTER
line 2084A thousand crowns, or else lay down your head.
MATEto the Second Gentleman
line 2085And so much shall you give, or off goes yours.
LIEUTENANT
line 2086What, think you much to pay two thousand crowns,
line 2087And bear the name and port of gentlemen?—
20line 2088Cut both the villains’ throats—for die you shall;
line 2089The lives of those which we have lost in fight
line 2090Be counterpoised with such a petty sum!
FIRST GENTLEMAN
line 2091I’ll give it, sir, and therefore spare my life.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
line 2092And so will I, and write home for it straight.
WHITMOREto Suffolk
25line 2093I lost mine eye in laying the prize aboard,
line 2094And therefore to revenge it shalt thou die;
line 2095And so should these, if I might have my will.
LIEUTENANT
line 2096Be not so rash. Take ransom; let him live.
SUFFOLK
line 2097Look on my George; I am a gentleman.
30line 2098Rate me at what thou wilt, thou shalt be paid.
WHITMORE
line 2099And so am I. My name is Walter Whitmore.
Suffolk starts.
line 2100How now, why starts thou? What, doth death
line 2101affright?
SUFFOLK
line 2102Thy name affrights me, in whose sound is death.
35line 2103A cunning man did calculate my birth
line 2104And told me that by water I should die.
line 2105Yet let not this make thee be bloody-minded;
line 2106Thy name is Gualtier, being rightly sounded.
WHITMORE
line 2107Gualtier or Walter, which it is, I care not.
Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 167
40line 2108Never yet did base dishonor blur our name
line 2109But with our sword we wiped away the blot.
line 2110Therefore, when merchantlike I sell revenge,
line 2111Broke be my sword, my arms torn and defaced,
line 2112And I proclaimed a coward through the world!
SUFFOLK
45line 2113Stay, Whitmore, for thy prisoner is a prince,
line 2114The Duke of Suffolk, William de la Pole.
WHITMORE
line 2115The Duke of Suffolk muffled up in rags?
SUFFOLK
line 2116Ay, but these rags are no part of the Duke.
line 2117Jove sometimes went disguised, and why not I?
LIEUTENANT
50line 2118But Jove was never slain, as thou shalt be.
SUFFOLK
line 2119Obscure and lousy swain, King Henry’s blood,
line 2120The honorable blood of Lancaster,
line 2121Must not be shed by such a jaded groom.
line 2122Hast thou not kissed thy hand and held my stirrup?
55line 2123Bareheaded plodded by my footcloth mule,
line 2124And thought thee happy when I shook my head?
line 2125How often hast thou waited at my cup,
line 2126Fed from my trencher, kneeled down at the board,
line 2127When I have feasted with Queen Margaret?
60line 2128Remember it, and let it make thee crestfall’n,
line 2129Ay, and allay this thy abortive pride.
line 2130How in our voiding lobby hast thou stood
line 2131And duly waited for my coming forth?
line 2132This hand of mine hath writ in thy behalf,
65line 2133And therefore shall it charm thy riotous tongue.
WHITMORE
line 2134Speak, captain, shall I stab the forlorn swain?
LIEUTENANT
line 2135First let my words stab him as he hath me.
Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 169
SUFFOLK
line 2136Base slave, thy words are blunt, and so art thou.
LIEUTENANT
line 2137Convey him hence, and on our longboat’s side,
70line 2138Strike off his head.
line 2139SUFFOLKThou dar’st not for thy own.
LIEUTENANT
line 2140Yes, Pole.
line 2141SUFFOLKPole!
line 2142LIEUTENANTPole! Sir Pole! Lord!
75line 2143Ay, kennel, puddle, sink, whose filth and dirt
line 2144Troubles the silver spring where England drinks!
line 2145Now will I dam up this thy yawning mouth
line 2146For swallowing the treasure of the realm.
line 2147Thy lips that kissed the Queen shall sweep the
80line 2148ground,
line 2149And thou that smiledst at good Duke Humphrey’s
line 2150death
line 2151Against the senseless winds shall grin in vain,
line 2152Who in contempt shall hiss at thee again.
85line 2153And wedded be thou to the hags of hell
line 2154For daring to affy a mighty lord
line 2155Unto the daughter of a worthless king,
line 2156Having neither subject, wealth, nor diadem.
line 2157By devilish policy art thou grown great,
90line 2158And, like ambitious Sylla, overgorged
line 2159With gobbets of thy mother’s bleeding heart.
line 2160By thee Anjou and Maine were sold to France.
line 2161The false revolting Normans thorough thee
line 2162Disdain to call us lord, and Picardy
95line 2163Hath slain their governors, surprised our forts,
line 2164And sent the ragged soldiers wounded home.
line 2165The princely Warwick, and the Nevilles all,
line 2166Whose dreadful swords were never drawn in vain,
line 2167As hating thee, are rising up in arms.
100line 2168And now the house of York, thrust from the crown
Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 171
line 2169By shameful murder of a guiltless king
line 2170And lofty, proud, encroaching tyranny,
line 2171Burns with revenging fire, whose hopeful colors
line 2172Advance our half-faced sun, striving to shine,
105line 2173Under the which is writ “Invitis nubibus.”
line 2174The commons here in Kent are up in arms,
line 2175And, to conclude, reproach and beggary
line 2176Is crept into the palace of our king,
line 2177And all by thee.—Away! Convey him hence.
SUFFOLK
110line 2178O, that I were a god, to shoot forth thunder
line 2179Upon these paltry, servile, abject drudges!
line 2180Small things make base men proud. This villain
line 2181here,
line 2182Being captain of a pinnace, threatens more
115line 2183Than Bargulus, the strong Illyrian pirate.
line 2184Drones suck not eagles’ blood, but rob beehives.
line 2185It is impossible that I should die
line 2186By such a lowly vassal as thyself.
line 2187Thy words move rage and not remorse in me.
120line 2188I go of message from the Queen to France.
line 2189I charge thee waft me safely cross the Channel.
line 2190LIEUTENANTWalter.
WHITMORE
line 2191Come, Suffolk, I must waft thee to thy death.
SUFFOLK
line 2192Paene gelidus timor occupat artus.
125line 2193It is thee I fear.
WHITMORE
line 2194Thou shalt have cause to fear before I leave thee.
line 2195What, are you daunted now? Now will you stoop?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
line 2196My gracious lord, entreat him; speak him fair.
SUFFOLK
line 2197Suffolk’s imperial tongue is stern and rough,
130line 2198Used to command, untaught to plead for favor.
Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 173
line 2199Far be it we should honor such as these
line 2200With humble suit. No, rather let my head
line 2201Stoop to the block than these knees bow to any
line 2202Save to the God of heaven and to my king;
135line 2203And sooner dance upon a bloody pole
line 2204Than stand uncovered to the vulgar groom.
line 2205True nobility is exempt from fear.—
line 2206More can I bear than you dare execute.
LIEUTENANT
line 2207Hale him away, and let him talk no more.
SUFFOLK
140line 2208Come, soldiers, show what cruelty you can,
line 2209That this my death may never be forgot!
line 2210Great men oft die by vile bezonians:
line 2211A Roman sworder and banditto slave
line 2212Murdered sweet Tully; Brutus’ bastard hand
145line 2213Stabbed Julius Caesar; savage islanders
line 2214Pompey the Great, and Suffolk dies by pirates.
Walter Whitmore exits with Suffolk and Others.
LIEUTENANT
line 2215And as for these whose ransom we have set,
line 2216It is our pleasure one of them depart.
line 2217To Second Gentleman. Therefore come you with us,
150line 2218and let him go.Lieutenant and the rest exit. The First Gentleman remains.
Enter Walter Whitmore with the body and severed head of Suffolk.
WHITMORE
line 2219There let his head and lifeless body lie,
line 2220Until the Queen his mistress bury it.
Walter Whitmore exits.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
line 2221O, barbarous and bloody spectacle!
line 2222His body will I bear unto the King.
Act 4 Scene 2 - Pg 175
155line 2223If he revenge it not, yet will his friends.
line 2224So will the Queen, that living held him dear.
He exits with the head and body.
Scene 2
Enter Bevis and John Holland with staves.
line 2225BEVISCome, and get thee a sword, though made of a
line 2226lath. They have been up these two days.
line 2227HOLLANDThey have the more need to sleep now, then.
line 2228BEVISI tell thee, Jack Cade the clothier means to dress
5line 2229the commonwealth, and turn it, and set a new nap
line 2230upon it.
line 2231HOLLANDSo he had need, for ’tis threadbare. Well, I
line 2232say, it was never merry world in England since
line 2233gentlemen came up.
10line 2234BEVISO miserable age! Virtue is not regarded in
line 2235handicraftsmen.
line 2236HOLLANDThe nobility think scorn to go in leather
line 2237aprons.
line 2238BEVISNay, more, the King’s Council are no good
15line 2239workmen.
line 2240HOLLANDTrue, and yet it is said “Labor in thy vocation,”
line 2241which is as much to say as “Let the magistrates
line 2242be laboring men.” And therefore should we
line 2243be magistrates.
20line 2244BEVISThou hast hit it, for there’s no better sign of a
line 2245brave mind than a hard hand.
line 2246HOLLANDI see them, I see them! There’s Best’s son, the
line 2247tanner of Wingham—
line 2248BEVISHe shall have the skins of our enemies to make
25line 2249dog’s leather of.
line 2250HOLLANDAnd Dick the butcher—
line 2251BEVISThen is sin struck down like an ox, and iniquity’s
line 2252throat cut like a calf.
Act 4 Scene 2 - Pg 177
line 2253HOLLANDAnd Smith the weaver.
30line 2254BEVISArgo, their thread of life is spun.
line 2255HOLLANDCome, come, let’s fall in with them.
Drum. Enter Cade, Dick the butcher, Smith the weaver, and a Sawyer, with infinite numbers, all with staves.
line 2256CADEWe, John Cade, so termed of our supposed
line 2257father—
line 2258DICKaside Or rather of stealing a cade of herrings.
35line 2259CADEFor our enemies shall fall before us, inspired
line 2260with the spirit of putting down kings and princes—
line 2261command silence.
line 2262DICKSilence!
line 2263CADEMy father was a Mortimer—
40line 2264DICKaside He was an honest man and a good
line 2265bricklayer.
line 2266CADEMy mother a Plantagenet—
line 2267DICKaside I knew her well; she was a midwife.
line 2268CADEMy wife descended of the Lacys.
45line 2269DICKaside She was indeed a peddler’s daughter, and
line 2270sold many laces.
line 2271SMITHaside But now of late, not able to travel with
line 2272her furred pack, she washes bucks here at home.
line 2273CADETherefore am I of an honorable house.
50line 2274DICKaside Ay, by my faith, the field is honorable;
line 2275and there was he born, under a hedge, for his
line 2276father had never a house but the cage.
line 2277CADEValiant I am—
line 2278SMITHaside He must needs, for beggary is valiant.
55line 2279CADEI am able to endure much—
line 2280DICKaside No question of that; for I have seen him
line 2281whipped three market-days together.
line 2282CADEI fear neither sword nor fire.
line 2283SMITHaside He need not fear the sword, for his coat
60line 2284is of proof.
Act 4 Scene 2 - Pg 179
line 2285DICKaside But methinks he should stand in fear of
line 2286fire, being burnt i’ th’ hand for stealing of sheep.
line 2287CADEBe brave, then, for your captain is brave and
line 2288vows reformation. There shall be in England seven
65line 2289halfpenny loaves sold for a penny. The three-hooped
line 2290pot shall have ten hoops, and I will make it
line 2291felony to drink small beer. All the realm shall be in
line 2292common, and in Cheapside shall my palfrey go to
line 2293grass. And when I am king, as king I will be—
70line 2294ALLGod save your Majesty!
line 2295CADEI thank you, good people.—There shall be no
line 2296money; all shall eat and drink on my score; and I
line 2297will apparel them all in one livery, that they may
line 2298agree like brothers and worship me their lord.
75line 2299DICKThe first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.
line 2300CADENay, that I mean to do. Is not this a lamentable
line 2301thing, that of the skin of an innocent lamb should
line 2302be made parchment? That parchment, being scribbled
line 2303o’er, should undo a man? Some say the bee
80line 2304stings, but I say, ’tis the beeswax; for I did but seal
line 2305once to a thing, and I was never mine own man
line 2306since. How now? Who’s there?
Enter a Clerk of Chartham, under guard.
line 2307SMITHThe clerk of Chartham. He can write and read
line 2308and cast account.
85line 2309CADEO, monstrous!
line 2310SMITHWe took him setting of boys’ copies.
line 2311CADEHere’s a villain!
line 2312SMITHH’as a book in his pocket with red letters in ’t.
line 2313CADENay, then, he is a conjurer.
90line 2314DICKNay, he can make obligations and write court
line 2315hand.
line 2316CADEI am sorry for ’t. The man is a proper man, of
line 2317mine honor. Unless I find him guilty, he shall not
Act 4 Scene 2 - Pg 181
line 2318die.—Come hither, sirrah; I must examine thee.
95line 2319What is thy name?
line 2320CLERKEmmanuel.
line 2321DICKThey use to write it on the top of letters.—’Twill
line 2322go hard with you.
line 2323CADELet me alone.—Dost thou use to write thy
100line 2324name? Or hast thou a mark to thyself, like an
line 2325honest, plain-dealing man?
line 2326CLERKSir, I thank God, I have been so well brought
line 2327up that I can write my name.
line 2328ALLHe hath confessed. Away with him! He’s a villain
105line 2329and a traitor.
line 2330CADEAway with him, I say! Hang him with his pen
line 2331and inkhorn about his neck.
One exits with the Clerk.
Enter Michael.
line 2332MICHAELWhere’s our general?
line 2333CADEHere I am, thou particular fellow.
110line 2334MICHAELFly, fly, fly! Sir Humphrey Stafford and his
line 2335brother are hard by, with the King’s forces.
line 2336CADEStand, villain, stand, or I’ll fell thee down. He
line 2337shall be encountered with a man as good as himself.
line 2338He is but a knight, is he?
115line 2339MICHAELNo.
line 2340CADETo equal him I will make myself a knight
line 2341presently. He kneels. Rise up Sir John Mortimer.
line 2342He rises. Now have at him!
Enter Sir Humphrey Stafford and his Brother, with a Herald, Drum, and Soldiers.
STAFFORD
line 2343Rebellious hinds, the filth and scum of Kent,
120line 2344Marked for the gallows, lay your weapons down!
line 2345Home to your cottages; forsake this groom.
line 2346The King is merciful, if you revolt.
Act 4 Scene 2 - Pg 183
BROTHER
line 2347But angry, wrathful, and inclined to blood,
line 2348If you go forward. Therefore yield, or die.
CADE
125line 2349As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not.
line 2350It is to you, good people, that I speak,
line 2351Over whom, in time to come, I hope to reign,
line 2352For I am rightful heir unto the crown.
STAFFORD
line 2353Villain, thy father was a plasterer,
130line 2354And thou thyself a shearman, art thou not?
CADE
line 2355And Adam was a gardener.
line 2356BROTHERAnd what of that?
CADE
line 2357Marry, this: Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March,
line 2358Married the Duke of Clarence’ daughter, did he not?
135line 2359STAFFORDAy, sir.
CADE
line 2360By her he had two children at one birth.
line 2361BROTHERThat’s false.
CADE
line 2362Ay, there’s the question. But I say ’tis true.
line 2363The elder of them, being put to nurse,
140line 2364Was by a beggar-woman stol’n away,
line 2365And, ignorant of his birth and parentage,
line 2366Became a bricklayer when he came to age.
line 2367His son am I. Deny it if you can.
DICK
line 2368Nay, ’tis too true. Therefore he shall be king.
145line 2369SMITHSir, he made a chimney in my father’s house,
line 2370and the bricks are alive at this day to testify it.
line 2371Therefore deny it not.
STAFFORD
line 2372And will you credit this base drudge’s words,
line 2373That speaks he knows not what?
Act 4 Scene 2 - Pg 185
ALL
150line 2374Ay, marry, will we. Therefore get you gone.
BROTHER
line 2375Jack Cade, the Duke of York hath taught you this.
line 2376CADEHe lies, aside for I invented it myself.—Go to,
line 2377sirrah. Tell the King from me that, for his father’s
line 2378sake, Henry the Fifth, in whose time boys went to
155line 2379span-counter for French crowns, I am content he
line 2380shall reign, but I’ll be Protector over him.
line 2381DICKAnd, furthermore, we’ll have the Lord Saye’s
line 2382head for selling the dukedom of Maine.
line 2383CADEAnd good reason: for thereby is England mained
160line 2384and fain to go with a staff, but that my puissance
line 2385holds it up. Fellow kings, I tell you that that Lord
line 2386Saye hath gelded the commonwealth and made it
line 2387an eunuch; and, more than that, he can speak
line 2388French, and therefore he is a traitor.
STAFFORD
165line 2389O, gross and miserable ignorance!
line 2390CADENay, answer if you can. The Frenchmen are our
line 2391enemies. Go to, then, I ask but this: can he that
line 2392speaks with the tongue of an enemy be a good
line 2393counselor, or no?
170line 2394ALLNo, no, and therefore we’ll have his head!
BROTHERto Stafford
line 2395Well, seeing gentle words will not prevail,
line 2396Assail them with the army of the King.
STAFFORD
line 2397Herald, away, and throughout every town
line 2398Proclaim them traitors that are up with Cade,
175line 2399That those which fly before the battle ends
line 2400May, even in their wives’ and children’s sight
line 2401Be hanged up for example at their doors.—
line 2402And you that be the King’s friends, follow me.
The Staffords, Soldiers, and Herald exit.
Act 4 Scene 3 - Pg 187
CADE
line 2403And you that love the Commons, follow me.
180line 2404Now show yourselves men. ’Tis for liberty!
line 2405We will not leave one lord, one gentleman;
line 2406Spare none but such as go in clouted shoon,
line 2407For they are thrifty, honest men and such
line 2408As would, but that they dare not, take our parts.
185line 2409DICKThey are all in order and march toward us.
line 2410CADEBut then are we in order when we are most out
line 2411of order. Come, march forward.
They exit.
Scene 3
Alarums to the fight, wherein both the Staffords are slain. Enter Cade and the rest.
line 2412CADEWhere’s Dick, the butcher of Ashford?
line 2413DICKHere, sir.
line 2414CADEThey fell before thee like sheep and oxen, and
line 2415thou behaved’st thyself as if thou hadst been in
5line 2416thine own slaughterhouse. Therefore, thus will I
line 2417reward thee: the Lent shall be as long again as it is,
line 2418and thou shalt have a license to kill for a hundred
line 2419lacking one.
line 2420DICKI desire no more.
10line 2421CADEAnd to speak truth, thou deserv’st no less. This
line 2422monument of the victory will I bear.
He puts on Sir Humphrey Stafford’s armor and helmet, or sallet.
line 2423And the bodies shall be dragged at my horse
line 2424heels till I do come to London, where we will have
line 2425the Mayor’s sword borne before us.
15line 2426DICKIf we mean to thrive and do good, break open
line 2427the jails and let out the prisoners.
line 2428CADEFear not that, I warrant thee. Come, let’s march
line 2429towards London.
They exit with the bodies of the Staffords.
Act 4 Scene 4 - Pg 189
Scene 4
Enter King Henry, with a supplication, and Queen Margaret with Suffolk’s head, the Duke of Buckingham, and the Lord Saye.
QUEEN MARGARETaside
line 2430Oft have I heard that grief softens the mind
line 2431And makes it fearful and degenerate.
line 2432Think therefore on revenge, and cease to weep.
line 2433But who can cease to weep and look on this?
5line 2434Here may his head lie on my throbbing breast,
line 2435But where’s the body that I should embrace?
BUCKINGHAMto King Henry
line 2436What answer makes your Grace to the rebels’
line 2437supplication?
KING HENRY
line 2438I’ll send some holy bishop to entreat,
10line 2439For God forbid so many simple souls
line 2440Should perish by the sword! And I myself,
line 2441Rather than bloody war shall cut them short,
line 2442Will parley with Jack Cade, their general.
line 2443But stay, I’ll read it over once again.He reads.
QUEEN MARGARETaside
15line 2444Ah, barbarous villains! Hath this lovely face
line 2445Ruled, like a wandering planet, over me,
line 2446And could it not enforce them to relent
line 2447That were unworthy to behold the same?
KING HENRY
line 2448Lord Saye, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head.
SAYE
20line 2449Ay, but I hope your Highness shall have his.
line 2450KING HENRYHow now, madam?
line 2451Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolk’s death?
line 2452I fear me, love, if that I had been dead,
line 2453Thou wouldst not have mourned so much for me.
Act 4 Scene 4 - Pg 191
QUEEN MARGARET
25line 2454No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for thee.
Enter a Messenger.
KING HENRY
line 2455How now, what news? Why com’st thou in such
line 2456haste?
MESSENGER
line 2457The rebels are in Southwark. Fly, my lord!
line 2458Jack Cade proclaims himself Lord Mortimer,
30line 2459Descended from the Duke of Clarence’ house,
line 2460And calls your Grace usurper, openly,
line 2461And vows to crown himself in Westminster.
line 2462His army is a ragged multitude
line 2463Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless.
35line 2464Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother’s death
line 2465Hath given them heart and courage to proceed.
line 2466All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen
line 2467They call false caterpillars and intend their death.
KING HENRY
line 2468O, graceless men, they know not what they do!
BUCKINGHAM
40line 2469My gracious lord, retire to Killingworth
line 2470Until a power be raised to put them down.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 2471Ah, were the Duke of Suffolk now alive,
line 2472These Kentish rebels would be soon appeased!
line 2473KING HENRYLord Saye, the traitors hateth thee;
45line 2474Therefore away with us to Killingworth.
SAYE
line 2475So might your Grace’s person be in danger.
line 2476The sight of me is odious in their eyes;
line 2477And therefore in this city will I stay
line 2478And live alone as secret as I may.
Enter another Messenger.
Act 4 Scene 5 - Pg 193
SECOND MESSENGER
50line 2479Jack Cade hath gotten London Bridge.
line 2480The citizens fly and forsake their houses.
line 2481The rascal people, thirsting after prey,
line 2482Join with the traitor, and they jointly swear
line 2483To spoil the city and your royal court.
BUCKINGHAM
55line 2484Then linger not, my lord. Away! Take horse!
KING HENRY
line 2485Come, Margaret. God, our hope, will succor us.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 2486My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceased.
KING HENRYto Saye
line 2487Farewell, my lord. Trust not the Kentish rebels.
BUCKINGHAM
line 2488Trust nobody, for fear you be betrayed.
SAYE
60line 2489The trust I have is in mine innocence,
line 2490And therefore am I bold and resolute.
They exit.
Scene 5
Enter Lord Scales upon the Tower, walking. Then enters two or three Citizens below.
line 2491SCALESHow now? Is Jack Cade slain?
line 2492FIRST CITIZENNo, my lord, nor likely to be slain; for
line 2493they have won the Bridge, killing all those that
line 2494withstand them. The Lord Mayor craves aid of
5line 2495your Honor from the Tower to defend the city
line 2496from the rebels.
SCALES
line 2497Such aid as I can spare you shall command;
line 2498But I am troubled here with them myself:
line 2499The rebels have essayed to win the Tower.
Act 4 Scene 6 - Pg 195
10line 2500But get you to Smithfield and gather head,
line 2501And thither I will send you Matthew Gough.
line 2502Fight for your king, your country, and your lives.
line 2503And so farewell, for I must hence again.
They exit.
Scene 6
Enter Jack Cade and the rest, and strikes his staff on London Stone.
line 2504CADENow is Mortimer lord of this city. And here, sitting
line 2505upon London Stone, I charge and command
line 2506that, of the city’s cost, the Pissing Conduit run
line 2507nothing but claret wine this first year of our reign.
5line 2508And now henceforward it shall be treason for any
line 2509that calls me other than Lord Mortimer.
Enter a Soldier running.
line 2510SOLDIERJack Cade, Jack Cade!
line 2511CADEKnock him down there.They kill him.
line 2512DICKIf this fellow be wise, he’ll never call you Jack
10line 2513Cade more. I think he hath a very fair warning.
Takes a paper from the dead Soldier and reads the message.
line 2514My lord, there’s an army gathered together in
line 2515Smithfield.
line 2516CADECome, then, let’s go fight with them. But first, go
line 2517and set London Bridge on fire, and, if you can,
15line 2518burn down the Tower too. Come, let’s away.
All exit.
Act 4 Scene 7 - Pg 197
Scene 7
Alarums. Matthew Gough is slain, and all the rest. Then enter Jack Cade with his company.
line 2519CADESo, sirs. Now go some and pull down the Savoy;
line 2520others to th’ Inns of Court. Down with them all!
line 2521DICKI have a suit unto your Lordship.
line 2522CADEBe it a lordship, thou shalt have it for that word.
5line 2523DICKOnly that the laws of England may come out of
line 2524your mouth.
line 2525HOLLANDaside Mass, ’twill be sore law, then, for he
line 2526was thrust in the mouth with a spear, and ’tis not
line 2527whole yet.
10line 2528SMITHaside Nay, John, it will be stinking law, for
line 2529his breath stinks with eating toasted cheese.
line 2530CADEI have thought upon it; it shall be so. Away!
line 2531Burn all the records of the realm. My mouth shall
line 2532be the Parliament of England.
15line 2533HOLLANDaside Then we are like to have biting
line 2534statutes—unless his teeth be pulled out.
line 2535CADEAnd henceforward all things shall be in
line 2536common.
Enter a Messenger.
line 2537MESSENGERMy lord, a prize, a prize! Here’s the Lord
20line 2538Saye, which sold the towns in France, he that
line 2539made us pay one-and-twenty fifteens, and one
line 2540shilling to the pound, the last subsidy.
Enter George with the Lord Saye.
line 2541CADEWell, he shall be beheaded for it ten times.—Ah,
line 2542thou say, thou serge, nay, thou buckram lord, now
25line 2543art thou within point-blank of our jurisdiction
line 2544regal. What canst thou answer to my Majesty for
line 2545giving up of Normandy unto Monsieur Basimecu,
line 2546the Dauphin of France? Be it known unto thee by
Act 4 Scene 7 - Pg 199
line 2547these presence, even the presence of Lord Mortimer,
30line 2548that I am the besom that must sweep the
line 2549court clean of such filth as thou art. Thou hast
line 2550most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm
line 2551in erecting a grammar school; and whereas,
line 2552before, our forefathers had no other books but the
35line 2553score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be
line 2554used, and, contrary to the King his crown and dignity,
line 2555thou hast built a paper mill. It will be proved
line 2556to thy face that thou hast men about thee that usually
line 2557talk of a noun and a verb and such abominable
40line 2558words as no Christian ear can endure to hear.
line 2559Thou hast appointed justices of peace to call poor
line 2560men before them about matters they were not able
line 2561to answer. Moreover, thou hast put them in prison;
line 2562and, because they could not read, thou hast
45line 2563hanged them, when indeed only for that cause
line 2564they have been most worthy to live. Thou dost ride
line 2565on a footcloth, dost thou not?
line 2566SAYEWhat of that?
line 2567CADEMarry, thou oughtst not to let thy horse wear a
50line 2568cloak when honester men than thou go in their
line 2569hose and doublets.
line 2570DICKAnd work in their shirt too—as myself, for example,
line 2571that am a butcher.
line 2572SAYEYou men of Kent—
55line 2573DICKWhat say you of Kent?
line 2574SAYENothing but this: ’tis bona terra, mala gens.
line 2575CADEAway with him, away with him! He speaks
line 2576Latin.
SAYE
line 2577Hear me but speak, and bear me where you will.
60line 2578Kent, in the commentaries Caesar writ,
line 2579Is termed the civil’st place of all this isle.
line 2580Sweet is the country, because full of riches;
line 2581The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy;
Act 4 Scene 7 - Pg 201
line 2582Which makes me hope you are not void of pity.
65line 2583I sold not Maine; I lost not Normandy;
line 2584Yet to recover them would lose my life.
line 2585Justice with favor have I always done;
line 2586Prayers and tears have moved me; gifts could never.
line 2587When have I aught exacted at your hands
70line 2588Kent to maintain, the King, the realm, and you?
line 2589Large gifts have I bestowed on learnèd clerks,
line 2590Because my book preferred me to the King.
line 2591And seeing ignorance is the curse of God,
line 2592Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven,
75line 2593Unless you be possessed with devilish spirits,
line 2594You cannot but forbear to murder me.
line 2595This tongue hath parleyed unto foreign kings
line 2596For your behoof—
line 2597CADETut, when struck’st thou one blow in the field?
SAYE
80line 2598Great men have reaching hands. Oft have I struck
line 2599Those that I never saw, and struck them dead.
line 2600GEORGEO monstrous coward! What, to come behind
line 2601folks?
SAYE
line 2602These cheeks are pale for watching for your good.
85line 2603CADEGive him a box o’ th’ ear, and that will make ’em
line 2604red again.
SAYE
line 2605Long sitting to determine poor men’s causes
line 2606Hath made me full of sickness and diseases.
line 2607CADEYou shall have a hempen caudle, then, and
90line 2608the help of hatchet.
line 2609DICKWhy dost thou quiver, man?
line 2610SAYEThe palsy, and not fear, provokes me.
line 2611CADENay, he nods at us, as who should say “I’ll be
line 2612even with you.” I’ll see if his head will stand steadier
95line 2613on a pole, or no. Take him away, and behead
line 2614him.
Act 4 Scene 7 - Pg 203
SAYE
line 2615Tell me, wherein have I offended most?
line 2616Have I affected wealth or honor? Speak.
line 2617Are my chests filled up with extorted gold?
100line 2618Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?
line 2619Whom have I injured, that you seek my death?
line 2620These hands are free from guiltless blood-shedding,
line 2621This breast from harboring foul deceitful thoughts.
line 2622O, let me live!
105line 2623CADEI feel remorse in myself with his words, but I’ll
line 2624bridle it. He shall die, an it be but for pleading so
line 2625well for his life. Away with him! He has a familiar
line 2626under his tongue; he speaks not i’ God’s name. Go,
line 2627take him away, I say, and strike off his head
110line 2628presently; and then break into his son-in-law’s
line 2629house, Sir James Cromer, and strike off his head;
line 2630and bring them both upon two poles hither.
line 2631ALLIt shall be done.
SAYE
line 2632Ah, countrymen, if when you make your prayers,
115line 2633God should be so obdurate as yourselves,
line 2634How would it fare with your departed souls?
line 2635And therefore yet relent, and save my life.
line 2636CADEAway with him, and do as I command you.
Some exit with Lord Saye.
line 2637The proudest peer in the realm shall not wear a
120line 2638head on his shoulders unless he pay me tribute.
line 2639There shall not a maid be married but she shall
line 2640pay to me her maidenhead ere they have it. Men
line 2641shall hold of me in capite; and we charge and command
line 2642that their wives be as free as heart can wish
125line 2643or tongue can tell.
line 2644DICKMy lord, when shall we go to Cheapside and take
line 2645up commodities upon our bills?
line 2646CADEMarry, presently.
line 2647ALLO, brave!
Act 4 Scene 8 - Pg 205
Enter one with the heads of Lord Saye and Sir James Cromer on poles.
130line 2648CADEBut is not this braver? Let them kiss one another,
line 2649for they loved well when they were alive.
line 2650The heads are brought together. Now part them again,
line 2651lest they consult about the giving up of some more
line 2652towns in France. Soldiers, defer the spoil of the
135line 2653city until night, for, with these borne before us
line 2654instead of maces, will we ride through the streets
line 2655and at every corner have them kiss. Away!
He exits with his company.
Scene 8
Alarum, and retreat. Enter again Cade and all his rabblement.
line 2656CADEUp Fish Street! Down Saint Magnus’ Corner!
line 2657Kill and knock down! Throw them into Thames!
Sound a parley.
line 2658What noise is this I hear? Dare any be so bold to
line 2659sound retreat or parley when I command them
5line 2660kill?
Enter Buckingham and old Clifford with Attendants.
BUCKINGHAM
line 2661Ay, here they be that dare and will disturb thee.
line 2662Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the King
line 2663Unto the Commons, whom thou hast misled,
line 2664And here pronounce free pardon to them all
10line 2665That will forsake thee and go home in peace.
CLIFFORD
line 2666What say you, countrymen? Will you relent
line 2667And yield to mercy whil’st ’tis offered you,
line 2668Or let a rabble lead you to your deaths?
Act 4 Scene 8 - Pg 207
line 2669Who loves the King and will embrace his pardon,
15line 2670Fling up his cap and say “God save his Majesty!”
line 2671Who hateth him and honors not his father,
line 2672Henry the Fifth, that made all France to quake,
line 2673Shake he his weapon at us and pass by.
line 2674ALLGod save the King! God save the King!
They fling their caps in the air.
20line 2675CADEWhat, Buckingham and Clifford, are you so
line 2676brave?—And, you base peasants, do you believe
line 2677him? Will you needs be hanged with your pardons
line 2678about your necks? Hath my sword therefore broke
line 2679through London gates, that you should leave me at
25line 2680the White Hart in Southwark? I thought you
line 2681would never have given out these arms till you had
line 2682recovered your ancient freedom. But you are all
line 2683recreants and dastards, and delight to live in slavery
line 2684to the nobility. Let them break your backs with
30line 2685burdens, take your houses over your heads, ravish
line 2686your wives and daughters before your faces. For
line 2687me, I will make shift for one, and so God’s curse
line 2688light upon you all!
line 2689ALLWe’ll follow Cade! We’ll follow Cade!
35line 2690CLIFFORDIs Cade the son of Henry the Fifth,
line 2691That thus you do exclaim you’ll go with him?
line 2692Will he conduct you through the heart of France
line 2693And make the meanest of you earls and dukes?
line 2694Alas, he hath no home, no place to fly to,
40line 2695Nor knows he how to live but by the spoil,
line 2696Unless by robbing of your friends and us.
line 2697Were ’t not a shame that, whilst you live at jar,
line 2698The fearful French, whom you late vanquishèd,
line 2699Should make a start o’er seas and vanquish you?
45line 2700Methinks already in this civil broil
line 2701I see them lording it in London streets,
line 2702Crying “Villiago!” unto all they meet.
line 2703Better ten thousand baseborn Cades miscarry
Act 4 Scene 9 - Pg 209
line 2704Than you should stoop unto a Frenchman’s mercy.
50line 2705To France, to France, and get what you have lost!
line 2706Spare England, for it is your native coast.
line 2707Henry hath money; you are strong and manly.
line 2708God on our side, doubt not of victory.
ALL
line 2709À Clifford! À Clifford! We’ll follow the King and
55line 2710Clifford!
line 2711CADEaside Was ever feather so lightly blown to and
line 2712fro as this multitude? The name of Henry the Fifth
line 2713hales them to an hundred mischiefs and makes
line 2714them leave me desolate. I see them lay their heads
60line 2715together to surprise me. My sword make way for
line 2716me, for here is no staying!—In despite of the devils
line 2717and hell, have through the very middest of you!
line 2718And heavens and honor be witness that no want of
line 2719resolution in me, but only my followers’ base and
65line 2720ignominious treasons, makes me betake me to my
line 2721heels.He exits, running.
BUCKINGHAM
line 2722What, is he fled? Go, some, and follow him;
line 2723And he that brings his head unto the King
line 2724Shall have a thousand crowns for his reward.
Some of them exit.
70line 2725Follow me, soldiers. We’ll devise a means
line 2726To reconcile you all unto the King.
All exit.
Scene 9
Sound trumpets. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, and Somerset on the terrace, aloft.
KING HENRY
line 2727Was ever king that joyed an earthly throne
line 2728And could command no more content than I?
Act 4 Scene 9 - Pg 211
line 2729No sooner was I crept out of my cradle
line 2730But I was made a king at nine months old.
5line 2731Was never subject longed to be a king
line 2732As I do long and wish to be a subject!
Enter Buckingham and old Clifford.
BUCKINGHAM
line 2733Health and glad tidings to your Majesty!
KING HENRY
line 2734Why, Buckingham, is the traitor Cade surprised,
line 2735Or is he but retired to make him strong?
Enter below multitudes with halters about their necks.
CLIFFORD
10line 2736He is fled, my lord, and all his powers do yield
line 2737And, humbly thus, with halters on their necks,
line 2738Expect your Highness’ doom of life or death.
KING HENRY
line 2739Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting gates
line 2740To entertain my vows of thanks and praise!
15line 2741Soldiers, this day have you redeemed your lives
line 2742And showed how well you love your prince and
line 2743country.
line 2744Continue still in this so good a mind,
line 2745And Henry, though he be infortunate,
20line 2746Assure yourselves, will never be unkind.
line 2747And so with thanks and pardon to you all,
line 2748I do dismiss you to your several countries.
line 2749ALLGod save the King! God save the King!
The multitudes exit.
Enter a Messenger.
MESSENGER
line 2750Please it your Grace to be advertisèd
25line 2751The Duke of York is newly come from Ireland
line 2752And, with a puissant and a mighty power
Act 4 Scene 9 - Pg 213
line 2753Of gallowglasses and stout kerns,
line 2754Is marching hitherward in proud array,
line 2755And still proclaimeth, as he comes along,
30line 2756His arms are only to remove from thee
line 2757The Duke of Somerset, whom he terms a traitor.
KING HENRY
line 2758Thus stands my state, ’twixt Cade and York
line 2759distressed,
line 2760Like to a ship that, having scaped a tempest,
35line 2761Is straightway calmed and boarded with a pirate.
line 2762But now is Cade driven back, his men dispersed,
line 2763And now is York in arms to second him.
line 2764I pray thee, Buckingham, go and meet him,
line 2765And ask him what’s the reason of these arms.
40line 2766Tell him I’ll send Duke Edmund to the Tower.—
line 2767And, Somerset, we will commit thee thither
line 2768Until his army be dismissed from him.
line 2769SOMERSETMy lord,
line 2770I’ll yield myself to prison willingly,
45line 2771Or unto death, to do my country good.
KING HENRYto Buckingham
line 2772In any case, be not too rough in terms,
line 2773For he is fierce and cannot brook hard language.
BUCKINGHAM
line 2774I will, my lord, and doubt not so to deal
line 2775As all things shall redound unto your good.
KING HENRY
50line 2776Come, wife, let’s in, and learn to govern better,
line 2777For yet may England curse my wretched reign.
Flourish. They exit.
Act 4 Scene 10 - Pg 215
Scene 10
Enter Cade.
line 2778CADEFie on ambitions! Fie on myself, that have a
line 2779sword and yet am ready to famish! These five days
line 2780have I hid me in these woods and durst not peep
line 2781out, for all the country is laid for me. But now am
5line 2782I so hungry that, if I might have a lease of my life
line 2783for a thousand years, I could stay no longer.
line 2784Wherefore, o’er a brick wall have I climbed into
line 2785this garden, to see if I can eat grass, or pick a sallet
line 2786another while, which is not amiss to cool a man’s
10line 2787stomach this hot weather. And I think this word
line 2788sallet was born to do me good; for many a time,
line 2789but for a sallet, my brainpan had been cleft with a
line 2790brown bill; and many a time, when I have been dry
line 2791and bravely marching, it hath served me instead of
15line 2792a quart pot to drink in; and now the word sallet
line 2793must serve me to feed on.
Enter Iden and his Men.
IDEN
line 2794Lord, who would live turmoilèd in the court
line 2795And may enjoy such quiet walks as these?
line 2796This small inheritance my father left me
20line 2797Contenteth me, and worth a monarchy.
line 2798I seek not to wax great by others’ waning,
line 2799Or gather wealth, I care not with what envy.
line 2800Sufficeth that I have maintains my state
line 2801And sends the poor well pleasèd from my gate.
25line 2802CADEaside Here’s the lord of the soil come to seize
line 2803me for a stray, for entering his fee-simple without
line 2804leave.—Ah, villain, thou wilt betray me and get a
line 2805thousand crowns of the King by carrying my head
line 2806to him; but I’ll make thee eat iron like an ostrich
Act 4 Scene 10 - Pg 217
30line 2807and swallow my sword like a great pin, ere thou
line 2808and I part.He draws his sword.
IDEN
line 2809Why, rude companion, whatsoe’er thou be,
line 2810I know thee not. Why, then, should I betray thee?
line 2811Is ’t not enough to break into my garden
35line 2812And, like a thief, to come to rob my grounds,
line 2813Climbing my walls in spite of me the owner,
line 2814But thou wilt brave me with these saucy terms?
line 2815CADEBrave thee? Ay, by the best blood that ever was
line 2816broached, and beard thee too. Look on me well: I
40line 2817have eat no meat these five days, yet come thou
line 2818and thy five men, and if I do not leave you all as
line 2819dead as a doornail, I pray God I may never eat
line 2820grass more.
IDEN
line 2821Nay, it shall ne’er be said, while England stands,
45line 2822That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent,
line 2823Took odds to combat a poor famished man.
line 2824Oppose thy steadfast gazing eyes to mine;
line 2825See if thou canst outface me with thy looks.
line 2826Set limb to limb, and thou art far the lesser;
50line 2827Thy hand is but a finger to my fist,
line 2828Thy leg a stick comparèd with this truncheon.
line 2829My foot shall fight with all the strength thou hast;
line 2830And if mine arm be heavèd in the air,
line 2831Thy grave is digged already in the earth.
55line 2832As for words, whose greatness answers words,
line 2833Let this my sword report what speech forbears.
He draws his sword.
line 2834CADEBy my valor, the most complete champion that
line 2835ever I heard! Steel, if thou turn the edge or cut not
line 2836out the burly-boned clown in chines of beef ere
60line 2837thou sleep in thy sheath, I beseech God on my
line 2838knees thou mayst be turned to hobnails.
(Here they fight, and Cade falls.)
Act 4 Scene 10 - Pg 219
line 2839O, I am slain! Famine, and no other, hath slain me.
line 2840Let ten thousand devils come against me, and give
line 2841me but the ten meals I have lost, and I’d defy them
65line 2842all. Wither, garden, and be henceforth a burying
line 2843place to all that do dwell in this house, because the
line 2844unconquered soul of Cade is fled.
IDEN
line 2845Is ’t Cade that I have slain, that monstrous traitor?
line 2846Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed,
70line 2847And hang thee o’er my tomb when I am dead.
line 2848Ne’er shall this blood be wipèd from thy point,
line 2849But thou shalt wear it as a herald’s coat
line 2850To emblaze the honor that thy master got.
line 2851CADEIden, farewell, and be proud of thy victory. Tell
75line 2852Kent from me she hath lost her best man, and
line 2853exhort all the world to be cowards; for I, that never
line 2854feared any, am vanquished by famine, not by valor.
Dies.
IDEN
line 2855How much thou wrong’st me, heaven be my judge!
line 2856Die, damnèd wretch, the curse of her that bare thee!
80line 2857And as I thrust thy body in with my sword,
line 2858So wish I, I might thrust thy soul to hell.
line 2859Hence will I drag thee headlong by the heels
line 2860Unto a dunghill, which shall be thy grave,
line 2861And there cut off thy most ungracious head,
85line 2862Which I will bear in triumph to the King,
line 2863Leaving thy trunk for crows to feed upon.
He exits with his Men, dragging Cade’s body.
ACT 5
Scene 1
Enter York, wearing the white rose, and his army of Irish, with Attendants, Drum and Colors.
YORK
line 2864From Ireland thus comes York to claim his right
line 2865And pluck the crown from feeble Henry’s head.
line 2866Ring, bells, aloud! Burn, bonfires, clear and bright
line 2867To entertain great England’s lawful king!
5line 2868Ah, sancta maiestas, who would not buy thee dear?
line 2869Let them obey that knows not how to rule.
line 2870This hand was made to handle naught but gold.
line 2871I cannot give due action to my words
line 2872Except a sword or scepter balance it.
10line 2873A scepter shall it have, have I a soul,
line 2874On which I’ll toss the fleur-de-luce of France.
Enter Buckingham, wearing the red rose.
line 2875Aside. Whom have we here? Buckingham, to
line 2876disturb me?
line 2877The King hath sent him, sure. I must dissemble.
BUCKINGHAM
15line 2878York, if thou meanest well, I greet thee well.
YORK
line 2879Humphrey of Buckingham, I accept thy greeting.
line 2880Art thou a messenger, or come of pleasure?
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 225
BUCKINGHAM
line 2881A messenger from Henry, our dread liege,
line 2882To know the reason of these arms in peace;
20line 2883Or why thou, being a subject as I am,
line 2884Against thy oath and true allegiance sworn,
line 2885Should raise so great a power without his leave,
line 2886Or dare to bring thy force so near the court.
YORKaside
line 2887Scarce can I speak, my choler is so great.
25line 2888O, I could hew up rocks and fight with flint,
line 2889I am so angry at these abject terms!
line 2890And now, like Ajax Telamonius,
line 2891On sheep or oxen could I spend my fury.
line 2892I am far better born than is the King,
30line 2893More like a king, more kingly in my thoughts.
line 2894But I must make fair weather yet awhile,
line 2895Till Henry be more weak and I more strong.—
line 2896Buckingham, I prithee, pardon me,
line 2897That I have given no answer all this while.
35line 2898My mind was troubled with deep melancholy.
line 2899The cause why I have brought this army hither
line 2900Is to remove proud Somerset from the King,
line 2901Seditious to his Grace and to the state.
BUCKINGHAM
line 2902That is too much presumption on thy part.
40line 2903But if thy arms be to no other end,
line 2904The King hath yielded unto thy demand:
line 2905The Duke of Somerset is in the Tower.
YORK
line 2906Upon thine honor, is he prisoner?
BUCKINGHAM
line 2907Upon mine honor, he is prisoner.
YORK
45line 2908Then, Buckingham, I do dismiss my powers.—
line 2909Soldiers, I thank you all. Disperse yourselves.
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 227
line 2910Meet me tomorrow in Saint George’s field;
line 2911You shall have pay and everything you wish.
Soldiers exit.
line 2912And let my sovereign, virtuous Henry,
50line 2913Command my eldest son, nay, all my sons,
line 2914As pledges of my fealty and love;
line 2915I’ll send them all as willing as I live.
line 2916Lands, goods, horse, armor, anything I have
line 2917Is his to use, so Somerset may die.
BUCKINGHAM
55line 2918York, I commend this kind submission.
line 2919We twain will go into his Highness’ tent.
They walk arm in arm.
Enter King Henry and Attendants.
KING HENRY
line 2920Buckingham, doth York intend no harm to us
line 2921That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm?
YORK
line 2922In all submission and humility
60line 2923York doth present himself unto your Highness.
KING HENRY
line 2924Then what intends these forces thou dost bring?
YORK
line 2925To heave the traitor Somerset from hence
line 2926And fight against that monstrous rebel Cade,
line 2927Who since I heard to be discomfited.
Enter Iden, with Cade’s head.
IDEN
65line 2928If one so rude and of so mean condition
line 2929May pass into the presence of a king,
line 2930Lo, I present your Grace a traitor’s head,
line 2931The head of Cade, whom I in combat slew.
KING HENRY
line 2932The head of Cade? Great God, how just art Thou!
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 229
70line 2933O, let me view his visage, being dead,
line 2934That living wrought me such exceeding trouble.
line 2935Tell me, my friend, art thou the man that slew him?
line 2936IDENI was, an ’t like your Majesty.
KING HENRY
line 2937How art thou called? And what is thy degree?
IDEN
75line 2938Alexander Iden, that’s my name,
line 2939A poor esquire of Kent that loves his king.
BUCKINGHAM
line 2940So please it you, my lord, ’twere not amiss
line 2941He were created knight for his good service.
KING HENRY
line 2942Iden, kneel down. He kneels. Rise up a knight. He rises.
80line 2943We give thee for reward a thousand marks,
line 2944And will that thou henceforth attend on us.
IDEN
line 2945May Iden live to merit such a bounty,
line 2946And never live but true unto his liege!
Enter Queen Margaret and Somerset, wearing the red rose.
KING HENRYaside to Buckingham
line 2947See, Buckingham, Somerset comes with th’ Queen.
85line 2948Go bid her hide him quickly from the Duke.
Buckingham whispers to the Queen.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 2949For thousand Yorks he shall not hide his head,
line 2950But boldly stand and front him to his face.
YORKaside
line 2951How now? Is Somerset at liberty?
line 2952Then, York, unloose thy long-imprisoned thoughts,
90line 2953And let thy tongue be equal with thy heart.
line 2954Shall I endure the sight of Somerset?—
line 2955False king, why hast thou broken faith with me,
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 231
line 2956Knowing how hardly I can brook abuse?
line 2957“King” did I call thee? No, thou art not king,
95line 2958Not fit to govern and rule multitudes,
line 2959Which dar’st not—no, nor canst not—rule a traitor.
line 2960That head of thine doth not become a crown;
line 2961Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer’s staff,
line 2962And not to grace an awful princely scepter.
100line 2963That gold must round engirt these brows of mine,
line 2964Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles’ spear,
line 2965Is able with the change to kill and cure.
line 2966Here is a hand to hold a scepter up
line 2967And with the same to act controlling laws.
105line 2968Give place. By heaven, thou shalt rule no more
line 2969O’er him whom heaven created for thy ruler.
SOMERSET
line 2970O monstrous traitor! I arrest thee, York,
line 2971Of capital treason ’gainst the King and crown.
line 2972Obey, audacious traitor. Kneel for grace.
YORK
110line 2973Wouldst have me kneel? First let me ask of these
line 2974If they can brook I bow a knee to man.
line 2975To an Attendant. Sirrah, call in my sons to be my
line 2976bail.Attendant exits.
line 2977I know, ere they will have me go to ward,
115line 2978They’ll pawn their swords for my enfranchisement.
QUEEN MARGARETto Buckingham
line 2979Call hither Clifford; bid him come amain,
line 2980To say if that the bastard boys of York
line 2981Shall be the surety for their traitor father.
Buckingham exits.
YORKto Queen Margaret
line 2982O, blood-bespotted Neapolitan,
120line 2983Outcast of Naples, England’s bloody scourge!
line 2984The sons of York, thy betters in their birth,
line 2985Shall be their father’s bail, and bane to those
line 2986That for my surety will refuse the boys.
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 233
Enter York’s sons Edward and Richard, wearing the white rose.
line 2987See where they come; I’ll warrant they’ll make it
125line 2988good.
Enter old Clifford and his Son, wearing the red rose.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 2989And here comes Clifford to deny their bail.
CLIFFORDkneeling before King Henry
line 2990Health and all happiness to my lord the King.
He rises.
YORK
line 2991I thank thee, Clifford. Say, what news with thee?
line 2992Nay, do not fright us with an angry look.
130line 2993We are thy sovereign, Clifford; kneel again.
line 2994For thy mistaking so, we pardon thee.
CLIFFORD
line 2995This is my king, York; I do not mistake,
line 2996But thou mistakes me much to think I do.—
line 2997To Bedlam with him! Is the man grown mad?
KING HENRY
135line 2998Ay, Clifford, a bedlam and ambitious humor
line 2999Makes him oppose himself against his king.
CLIFFORD
line 3000He is a traitor. Let him to the Tower,
line 3001And chop away that factious pate of his.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 3002He is arrested, but will not obey.
140line 3003His sons, he says, shall give their words for him.
line 3004YORKWill you not, sons?
EDWARD
line 3005Ay, noble father, if our words will serve.
RICHARD
line 3006And if words will not, then our weapons shall.
CLIFFORD
line 3007Why, what a brood of traitors have we here!
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 235
YORK
145line 3008Look in a glass, and call thy image so.
line 3009I am thy king and thou a false-heart traitor.
line 3010Call hither to the stake my two brave bears,
line 3011That, with the very shaking of their chains,
line 3012They may astonish these fell-lurking curs.
150line 3013To an Attendant. Bid Salisbury and Warwick come
line 3014to me.Attendant exits.
Enter the Earls of Warwick and Salisbury, wearing the white rose.
CLIFFORD
line 3015Are these thy bears? We’ll bait thy bears to death
line 3016And manacle the bearherd in their chains,
line 3017If thou dar’st bring them to the baiting place.
RICHARD
155line 3018Oft have I seen a hot o’erweening cur
line 3019Run back and bite because he was withheld,
line 3020Who, being suffered with the bear’s fell paw,
line 3021Hath clapped his tail between his legs and cried;
line 3022And such a piece of service will you do
160line 3023If you oppose yourselves to match Lord Warwick.
CLIFFORD
line 3024Hence, heap of wrath, foul indigested lump,
line 3025As crooked in thy manners as thy shape!
YORK
line 3026Nay, we shall heat you thoroughly anon.
CLIFFORD
line 3027Take heed, lest by your heat you burn yourselves.
KING HENRY
165line 3028Why, Warwick, hath thy knee forgot to bow?—
line 3029Old Salisbury, shame to thy silver hair,
line 3030Thou mad misleader of thy brainsick son!
line 3031What, wilt thou on thy deathbed play the ruffian
line 3032And seek for sorrow with thy spectacles?
170line 3033O, where is faith? O, where is loyalty?
Page 237 - Henry VI, Part 2 -
line 3034If it be banished from the frosty head,
line 3035Where shall it find a harbor in the earth?
line 3036Wilt thou go dig a grave to find out war,
line 3037And shame thine honorable age with blood?
175line 3038Why art thou old and want’st experience?
line 3039Or wherefore dost abuse it, if thou hast it?
line 3040For shame! In duty bend thy knee to me
line 3041That bows unto the grave with mickle age.
SALISBURY
line 3042My lord, I have considered with myself
180line 3043The title of this most renownèd duke,
line 3044And in my conscience do repute his Grace
line 3045The rightful heir to England’s royal seat.
KING HENRY
line 3046Hast thou not sworn allegiance unto me?
line 3047SALISBURYI have.
KING HENRY
185line 3048Canst thou dispense with heaven for such an oath?
SALISBURY
line 3049It is great sin to swear unto a sin,
line 3050But greater sin to keep a sinful oath.
line 3051Who can be bound by any solemn vow
line 3052To do a murd’rous deed, to rob a man,
190line 3053To force a spotless virgin’s chastity,
line 3054To reave the orphan of his patrimony,
line 3055To wring the widow from her customed right,
line 3056And have no other reason for this wrong
line 3057But that he was bound by a solemn oath?
QUEEN MARGARET
195line 3058A subtle traitor needs no sophister.
KING HENRYto an Attendant
line 3059Call Buckingham, and bid him arm himself.
Attendant exits.
YORKto King Henry
line 3060Call Buckingham and all the friends thou hast,
line 3061I am resolved for death or dignity.
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 239
CLIFFORD
line 3062The first, I warrant thee, if dreams prove true.
WARWICK
200line 3063You were best to go to bed and dream again,
line 3064To keep thee from the tempest of the field.
CLIFFORD
line 3065I am resolved to bear a greater storm
line 3066Than any thou canst conjure up today;
line 3067And that I’ll write upon thy burgonet,
205line 3068Might I but know thee by thy house’s badge.
WARWICK
line 3069Now, by my father’s badge, old Neville’s crest,
line 3070The rampant bear chained to the ragged staff,
line 3071This day I’ll wear aloft my burgonet—
line 3072As on a mountaintop the cedar shows
210line 3073That keeps his leaves in spite of any storm—
line 3074Even to affright thee with the view thereof.
CLIFFORD
line 3075And from thy burgonet I’ll rend thy bear
line 3076And tread it under foot with all contempt,
line 3077Despite the bearherd that protects the bear.
YOUNG CLIFFORD
215line 3078And so to arms, victorious father,
line 3079To quell the rebels and their complices.
RICHARD
line 3080Fie! Charity, for shame! Speak not in spite,
line 3081For you shall sup with Jesu Christ tonight.
YOUNG CLIFFORD
line 3082Foul stigmatic, that’s more than thou canst tell!
RICHARD
220line 3083If not in heaven, you’ll surely sup in hell.
They exit separately.
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 241
Scene 2
The sign of the Castle Inn is displayed. Alarms. Enter Warwick, wearing the white rose.
WARWICK
line 3084Clifford of Cumberland, ’tis Warwick calls!
line 3085An if thou dost not hide thee from the bear,
line 3086Now, when the angry trumpet sounds alarum
line 3087And dead men’s cries do fill the empty air,
5line 3088Clifford, I say, come forth and fight with me;
line 3089Proud northern lord, Clifford of Cumberland,
line 3090Warwick is hoarse with calling thee to arms.
Enter York, wearing the white rose.
line 3091How now, my noble lord? What, all afoot?
YORK
line 3092The deadly-handed Clifford slew my steed,
10line 3093But match to match I have encountered him
line 3094And made a prey for carrion kites and crows
line 3095Even of the bonny beast he loved so well.
Enter old Clifford, wearing the red rose.
WARWICK
line 3096Of one or both of us the time is come.
YORK
line 3097Hold, Warwick! Seek thee out some other chase,
15line 3098For I myself must hunt this deer to death.
WARWICK
line 3099Then, nobly, York! ’Tis for a crown thou fight’st.—
line 3100As I intend, Clifford, to thrive today,
line 3101It grieves my soul to leave thee unassailed.
Warwick exits.
CLIFFORD
line 3102What seest thou in me, York? Why dost thou pause?
YORK
20line 3103With thy brave bearing should I be in love,
line 3104But that thou art so fast mine enemy.
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 243
CLIFFORD
line 3105Nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem,
line 3106But that ’tis shown ignobly and in treason.
YORK
line 3107So let it help me now against thy sword
25line 3108As I in justice and true right express it!
CLIFFORD
line 3109My soul and body on the action both!
YORK
line 3110A dreadful lay! Address thee instantly.
They fight and Clifford falls.
CLIFFORD
line 3111La fin courrone les oeuvres.He dies.
YORK
line 3112Thus war hath given thee peace, for thou art still.
30line 3113Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will!
He exits.
Enter young Clifford, wearing the red rose.
YOUNG CLIFFORD
line 3114Shame and confusion! All is on the rout.
line 3115Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds
line 3116Where it should guard. O war, thou son of hell,
line 3117Whom angry heavens do make their minister,
35line 3118Throw in the frozen bosoms of our part
line 3119Hot coals of vengeance! Let no soldier fly.
line 3120He that is truly dedicate to war
line 3121Hath no self-love; nor he that loves himself
line 3122Hath not essentially, but by circumstance,
40line 3123The name of valor. He sees his father, lying dead. O,
line 3124let the vile world end
line 3125And the premised flames of the last day
line 3126Knit Earth and heaven together!
line 3127Now let the general trumpet blow his blast,
45line 3128Particularities and petty sounds
line 3129To cease! Wast thou ordained, dear father,
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 245
line 3130To lose thy youth in peace, and to achieve
line 3131The silver livery of advisèd age,
line 3132And, in thy reverence and thy chair-days, thus
50line 3133To die in ruffian battle? Even at this sight
line 3134My heart is turned to stone, and while ’tis mine,
line 3135It shall be stony. York not our old men spares;
line 3136No more will I their babes. Tears virginal
line 3137Shall be to me even as the dew to fire;
55line 3138And beauty, that the tyrant oft reclaims,
line 3139Shall to my flaming wrath be oil and flax.
line 3140Henceforth I will not have to do with pity.
line 3141Meet I an infant of the house of York,
line 3142Into as many gobbets will I cut it
60line 3143As wild Medea young Absyrtis did.
line 3144In cruelty will I seek out my fame.
He takes his father’s body onto his back.
line 3145Come, thou new ruin of old Clifford’s house;
line 3146As did Aeneas old Anchises bear,
line 3147So bear I thee upon my manly shoulders.
65line 3148But then Aeneas bare a living load,
line 3149Nothing so heavy as these woes of mine.He exits.
Enter Richard, wearing the white rose, and Somerset, wearing the red rose, to fight.
Richard kills Somerset under the sign of Castle Inn.
line 3150RICHARDSo lie thou there.
line 3151For underneath an alehouse’ paltry sign,
line 3152The Castle in Saint Albans, Somerset
70line 3153Hath made the wizard famous in his death.
line 3154Sword, hold thy temper! Heart, be wrathful still!
line 3155Priests pray for enemies, but princes kill.He exits.
Fight. Excursions. Enter King Henry, QueenMargaret, both wearing the red rose, and Others.
QUEEN MARGARET
line 3156Away, my lord! You are slow. For shame, away!
Act 5 Scene 3 - Pg 247
KING HENRY
line 3157Can we outrun the heavens? Good Margaret, stay!
QUEEN MARGARET
75line 3158What are you made of? You’ll nor fight nor fly.
line 3159Now is it manhood, wisdom, and defense
line 3160To give the enemy way, and to secure us
line 3161By what we can, which can no more but fly.
Alarum afar off.
line 3162If you be ta’en, we then should see the bottom
80line 3163Of all our fortunes; but if we haply scape,
line 3164As well we may—if not through your neglect—
line 3165We shall to London get, where you are loved
line 3166And where this breach now in our fortunes made
line 3167May readily be stopped.
Enter Young Clifford, wearing the red rose.
YOUNG CLIFFORD
85line 3168But that my heart’s on future mischief set,
line 3169I would speak blasphemy ere bid you fly;
line 3170But fly you must. Uncurable discomfit
line 3171Reigns in the hearts of all our present parts.
line 3172Away, for your relief! And we will live
90line 3173To see their day and them our fortune give.
line 3174Away, my lord, away!
They exit.
Scene 3
Alarum. Retreat. Enter York, Edward, Richard, Warwick, and Soldiers, all wearing the white rose, with Drum and Colors.
YORK
line 3175Of Salisbury, who can report of him,
line 3176That winter lion, who in rage forgets
line 3177Agèd contusions and all brush of time,
line 3178And, like a gallant in the brow of youth,
Act 5 Scene 3 - Pg 249
5line 3179Repairs him with occasion? This happy day
line 3180Is not itself, nor have we won one foot,
line 3181If Salisbury be lost.
line 3182RICHARDMy noble father,
line 3183Three times today I holp him to his horse,
10line 3184Three times bestrid him. Thrice I led him off,
line 3185Persuaded him from any further act;
line 3186But still, where danger was, still there I met him,
line 3187And, like rich hangings in a homely house,
line 3188So was his will in his old feeble body.
15line 3189But, noble as he is, look where he comes.
Enter Salisbury, wearing the white rose.
line 3190Now, by my sword, well hast thou fought today!
SALISBURY
line 3191By th’ Mass, so did we all. I thank you, Richard.
line 3192God knows how long it is I have to live,
line 3193And it hath pleased Him that three times today
20line 3194You have defended me from imminent death.
line 3195Well, lords, we have not got that which we have;
line 3196’Tis not enough our foes are this time fled,
line 3197Being opposites of such repairing nature.
YORK
line 3198I know our safety is to follow them;
25line 3199For, as I hear, the King is fled to London
line 3200To call a present court of Parliament.
line 3201Let us pursue him ere the writs go forth.—
line 3202What says Lord Warwick? Shall we after them?
WARWICK
line 3203After them? Nay, before them, if we can.
30line 3204Now, by my hand, lords, ’twas a glorious day.
line 3205Saint Albans battle won by famous York
line 3206Shall be eternized in all age to come.—
line 3207Sound drum and trumpets, and to London all;
line 3208And more such days as these to us befall!
Flourish. They exit.
