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And that's not suddenly to be perform'd;
But with advice, and silent secrecy.
Do you, as I do, in these dangerous days,
Wink at the duke of Suffolk's insolence,
At Beaufort's pride, at Somerset's ambition,
At Buckingham, and all the crew of them,
'Till they have snar'd the shepherd of the flock,|
That virtuous prince, the good duke Humphrey;
'Tis that they seek; and they, in seeking that,
Shall find their deaths, if York can prophesy.
Sal. My lord, break we off; we know your
mind at full.
[wick
War. My heart assures me, that the earl of War-
Shall one day make the duke of York a king.
York. And, Nevil, this I do assure myself,-
Richard shall live to make the earl of Warwick
The greatest man in England, but the king.

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[Exeunt.

Sound Trumpets. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, Gloster, York, Suffolk, and Salisbury; the Dutchess, Mother Jourdain, Southwel, Hume, and Bolingbroke, undir guard.

K. Henry. Stand forth, dame Eleanor Cobham, Gloster's wife:

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And Humphrey duke of Gloster scarce himself, That bears so shrewd a maim; two pulls at once,15 His lady banish'd, and a limb lopp'd off.

[201

25

In sight of God, and us, your guilt is great;
Receive the sentence of the law, for sins
Such as by God's book are adjudg'd to death.-30|
You four, from hence to prison back again;
[To the other prisoners.
From thence, unto the place of execution:
The witch in Smithfield shall be burnt to ashes,
And you three shall be strangled on the gallows.-35
You, madam, for you are more nobly born,
Despoiled of your honour in your life,
Shall, after three days open penance done,
Live in your country here, in banishment,
With Sir John Stanley, in the isle of Man.
Elean. Welcome is banishment, welcome were
my death.

40

[thee; Glo. Eleanor, the law, thou seest, hath judged I cannot justify whom the law condemns.[Exeunt Eleanor, and the others, guarded. 45 Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief. Ah, Humphrey, this dishonour in thine Will bring thy head with sorrow to the ground!I beseech your majesty, give me leave to go; Sorrow would solace, and mine age would ease 1.50 K. Henry. Stay, Humphrey duke of Gloster: ere thou go,

age

Give up thy staff; Henry will to himself
Protector be; and God shall be my hope,
My stay, my guide, and lanthorn to
my feet:
And go in peace, Humphrey; no less belov'd,
Than when thou wert protector to thy king.

2. Mar. I see no reason, why a king of years Should be to be protected like a child.

This staff of honour raught:-There let it stand,
Where best it fits to be, in Henry's hand. [sprays;
Suf. Thus droops this lofty pine, and hangs his
Thus Eleanor's pride dies in her youngest days.
York. Lords, let him go.-Pleaseityourmajesty,
This is the day appointed for the combat;
And ready are the appellant and defendant,
The armourer and his man, to enter the lists,
So please your highness to behold the fight. [fore
2. Mar. Ay, good my lord; for purposely there-
Left I the court, to see this quarrel try'd.

K. Henry. O' God's name, see the lists and all
things fit;

Here let them end it, and God defend the right! York. I never saw a fellow worse bested *, Or more afraid to fight, than is the appellant, The servant of this armourer, my lords. Enter at one door the Armourer and his Neighbours, drinking to him so much, that he is drunk; and he enters with a drum before him, and his staff with a sand-bag' fastened to it; and at the other door enters his Man, with a drum and a sand-bag, and Prentices drinking to him.

1 Neigh, Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a cup of sack; And, fear not, neighbour, you shall do well enough.

2 Neigh. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of charneco.

3 Neigh. And here's a pot of good double beer, neighbour: drink, and fear not your man.

Arm. Let it come, i' faith, and I'll pledge you all; And a fig for Peter!

1 Pren. Here, Peter, I drink to thee; and be not afraid.

2 Pren. Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master: fight for credit of the prentices.

Peter. I thank you all: drink, and pray for me, I pray you; for I think I have taken my last draught in this world. Here, Robin, an if I die, I 55 give thee my apron; and, Will, thou shalt have my hammer; and here,Tom, take all the money that I have.-O Lord, bless me, I pray God! for I am never able to deal with my master, he hath learn'd so much fence already,"

'That is, sorrow requires solace, and age requires ease. yerb reach. i. e. let him pass out of your thoughts.

Raught is the ancient preterite of the i. e. in a worse plight, perhaps worse betyd. "As, according to the old laws of duels, knights were to fight with the lance and sword; so those of inferior rank fought with an ebon staff or battoon, to the farther end of which was fixed a bag cramm'd hard with sand. ⚫ A naine for a sort of sweet wine, probably much in use in our author's time.

Pp3

Sal.

Sal. Peter! what more?

Peter. Thump.

Sal. Thump! then see thou thump thy master well.

Arm. Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon my man's instigation, to prove him a knave, and myself an honest man: and touching the duke 10 of York, I will take my death, I never meant him any ill, nor the king, nor the queen; And therefore, Peter, have at thee with a downright blow, as Bevis of Southampton fell upon Ascapart'. York. Dispatch:-this knave's tongee begins to

double.

Sound, trumpets, alarum to the combatants.

[They fight, and Peter strikes him down. Arm. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason.

15

[Dies. 20

York. Take away his weapon:-Fellow, thank God, and the good wine in thy master's way. Peter. O God! have I overcome mine enemy in this presence?

O Peter, thou hast prevailed in right!

[sight;25

li

And nod their heads, and
Ah, Gloster, hide thee f
5 And, in thy closet pent
And ban thine eneinies
Glo. Be patient, gentle
Elean. Ah, Gloster, te
And thou a prince, prot
For, whilst I think I am
Methinks, I should not
Mail'd up in shame, w
And follow'd with a rab
The ruthless flint doth o
To see my tears, and he
And, when I start, the
And bid me be advised
Ah, Humphrey, can I b
Trow'st 'thou, that e'er
Or count them happy, t
No; dark shall be
To think upon my pom
my
Sometime I'll say, I am
And he a prince, and ru
Yet so he rul'd, and suc
That he stood by, whilst
Was made a wonder, an
To every idle rascal foll
Nor stir at nothing, 'till t
But be thou mild, and bl
Hang over thee, as, sure
For Suffolk,-he that ca
With her, that hateth the
Have all lini'd bushes to
And York, and impious I
And, fly thou how thou c
But fear not thou, until t
Nor never seek preventio
Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear:
40I must offend, before I b
And had I twenty times s
And each of them had tw
All these could not procu
So long as I am loyal, tru
45 Would'st have me rescue
Why, yet thy scandal we
But I in danger for the b
Thy greatest help is quiet
50 These few-days' wonder y
I
pray thee, sort thy hear
Enter a H

[graphic]

K. Henry. Go, take hence that traitor from our
For, by his death, we do perceive his guilt 2:
And God, in justice, hath reveal'd to us
The truth and innocence of this poor fellow,
Which he had thought to have murder'd wrong-30
fully.

Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward. [Exeunt.
SCENE
The Street.

IV.

Enter Duke Humphrey, and his men, in mourning 35

cloaks.

Glo. Thus, sometimes, hath the brightest day a
And, after summer, evermore succeeds [cloud;
Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold:
So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet'.
Sirs, what's o'clock?

Serv. Ten, my lord,

Glo. Ten is the hour that was appointed me,
To watch the coming of my punish'd dutchess:
Uneath may she endure the flinty streets,
To tread them with her tender-feeling feet!
Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook
The abject people, gazing on thy face,
With envious looks still laughing at thy shame;
That erst did follow thy proud chariot-wheels,
When thou didst ride in triumph thro' the streets.
But, soft! I think, she comes; and I'll prepare
My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries.
Enter the Dutchess in a white sheet, her feet bare,and
ataper burning in her hand, with Sir John Stan- 55
ley, a Sheriff, and Officers.

Serv. So please your grace, we'll take her from
the sheriff.

Glo. No, stir not for your lives; let her pass by.
Elean.Come you, my lord, to seemy openshame?(60

Her. I summon your gra
liament, holden at Bury the

This is close dealing.--We
Glo. And my consent ne

My Nell, I take my leave
Let not her penance exceed
Sher. An't please your
mission stays:

2

According to th

Ascapart-the giant of the story-was a name familiar to our ancestors. Th batants are still preserved on the gates of Southampton. duel, the vanquished person not only lost his life but his reputation, and his deat as a certain evidence of his guilt. Uneath, therefore, implies uneasily or painfully. i. e. wrapped up in disgrace; a To fleet is to change. 4 Eath is the a penance. Think'st. Scathe is harm or mischief.

And Sir John Stanley is appointed now
To take her with him to the isle of Man.
Glo. Must you, Sir John, protect my lady here?
Stan.So am I given in charge,may't please your

grace.

tI

5

Glo. Entreat her not the worse, in that I pray
You use her well: the world may laugh' again;
And I may live to do you kindness, if
You do it her. And so, Sir John, farewell.
Elean. What, gone, my lord; and bid me not 10
farewell?

Glo. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak.
[Exit Gloster.

Elean. Art thou gone too? All comfort go with
thee!

For none abides with me: my joy is—death;
Death, at whose name I oft have been afear'd,
Because I wish'd this world's eternity.—
Stanley, I pr'ythee, go, and take me hence;
I care not whither, for I beg no favour,

15

Only convey me where thou art commanded.
Stan. Why, madam, that is to the isle of Man;
There to be us'd according to your state.
Elean. That's bad enough, for I am but reproach:
And shall I then be us'd reproachfully? [lady,
Stan. Like to a dutchess, and duke Humphrey's
According to that state you shall be us'd.

Elean. Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare;
Although thou hast been conduct of my shame.
Sher. It is my office; and, madam, pardon me.
Elean. Ay,ay,farewell; thy ofliceisdischarg'd.-
Come, Stanley, shall we go?
[this sheet,
Stan. Madain, your penance done, throw off
And go we to attire you for our journey.
Elean. My shane will not be shifted with my

sheet:

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SCENE I.

The Abbey at Bury.

ACT

Enter King Henry, Queen, Cardinal, Suffolk, York,{
and Buckingham, &c. to the Parliament.

K. Hen. I
MUSE, my lord of Gloster is notcome:
'Tis not his wont to be the hindmost
man,

Whate'er occasion keeps him from us now. [serve
2. Mar. Can you not see? or will you not ob-
The strangeness of his alter'd countenance?
With what a majesty he bears himself;
How insolent of late he is become,
How proud, how peremptory, and unlike himself!
We know the time, since he was mild and affable;
And, if we did but glance a far-off look,
Immediately he was upon his knee,
That all the court admir'd him for submission:
But meet him now, and, be it in the morn,
When every one will give the time of day,
He knits his brow, and shews an angry eye,
And passeth by with stiff unbowed knee,
Disdaining duty that to us belongs.
Small curs are not regarded, when they grin:
But great men tremble, when the lion roars;
And Humphrey is no little man in England.
First, note, that he is near you in descent;
And, should you fall, he is the next will mount.
Me seemeththen, it is no policy,
Respecting what a rancorous mind he bears,
And his advantage following your decease,--
That he should come about your royal person,
Or be admitted to your highness' council.

III.

By flattery hath he won the commons' hearts;
And, when he please to make commotion,
30Tis to be fear'd, they all will follow him.
Now,'tis the spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted;
Suffer them now, and they'll o'er-grow the garden,
And choak the herbs for want of husbandry.
The reverent care I bear unto my lord,
35 Made me collect these dangers in the duke.
If it be fond, call it a woman's fear;
Which fear if better reasons can supplant,
I will subscribe, and say-I wrong'd the duke.
MylordsofSuffolk,-Buckingham,-and York,-

40 Reprove my allegation if you can;
Or else conclude my words effectual.
Suf. Well hath your highness seen into this duke;
And, had I first been put to speak my mind.
I think, I should have told your grace's 'tale.
45 The dutchess, by his subornation,

Upon my life, began her devilish practices:
Or, if he were not privy to those faults,
Yet, by reputing of his high descent,
(As, next the king, he was successive heir)
50 And such high vaunts of his nobility,

Did instigate the bedlam brain-sick dutchess,
By wicked means to frame our sovereign's fall.
Simooth runs the water, where the brook is deepest;
And in his simple shew he harbours treason.
55 The fox barks not, when he would steal the lamb.
No, no, my sovereign; Gloster is a man
Unsounded yet, and full of deep deceit.

60

Car. Did he not, contrary to form of law, Devise strange deaths for small offences done? York, And did he not, in his protectorship,

i. e. the world may look again favourably upon me.

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ases highness and grace promiscuously to the queen. Majesty was not the settled title till the time of King James the First. * Reputing of his high descent, means, valuing himself upon it.

Pp4

Levy

Levy great sums of money through the realm,
For soldiers' pay in France, and never sent it?
By means whereof, the towns each day revolted.]
Buck. Tut! these are petty faults to faults un-
known,
[Humphrey.
Which time will bring to light in smooth duke
K. Henry. My lords, at once: the care you have

of us,

To mow down thorns, that would annoy our foot,
Is worthy praise: but shall I speak my conscience:
Our kinsman Gloster is as innocent
From meaning treason to our royal person
As is the sucking lamb, or harmless dove:
The duke is virtuous, mild; and too well given,
To dream on evil, or to work my downfall.

2. Mar. Ah, what's more dangerous than this
fond affiance!

Seems he a dove? his feathers are but borrow'd,
For he's disposed as the hateful raven.
Is he a lamb? his skin is surely lent him,
For he's inclin'd as is the ravenous wolf.
Who cannot steal a shape, that means deceit ?
Take heed, my lord; the welfare of us all.
Hangs on the cutting short that fraudful man.
Enter Somerset.

Som. All health unto my gracious sovereign!
K. Henry. Welcome, lord Somerset. What news
from France?

Som. That all your interest in those territories Is utterly bereft you; all is lost.

K. Henry.Coldnews, lord Somerset: but God's will be done! [France, "York. Cold news for me; for I had hope of As firmly as I hope for fertile England. Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bud, And caterpillars eat my leaves away; But I will remedy this gear 'ere long, Or sell my title for a glorious grave. Enter Gloster.

[Aside.

Glo. All happiness unto my lord the king!
Pardon, my liege, that I have staid so long.
Suf. Nay, Gloster, know, that thou art come

too soon,

Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art;
I do arrest thee of high treason here.

5

10

Or any groat I hoarded to my use,

Be brought against me at my trial day!
No; many a pound of mine own proper store,
Because I would not tax the needy commons,
Have I disbursed to the garrisons,

And never ask'd for restitution.

Car. It serves you well, my lord, to say so much. Glo. I say no more than truth, so help me God! York. In your protectorship, you did devise Strange tortures for offenders, never heard of, That England was defam'd by tyranny.

Glo. Why, 'tis well known, that, whiles I was protector,

Pity was all the fault that was in me;

15 For I should melt at an offender's tears,
And lowly words were ransom for their fault:
Unless it were a bloody murderer,

Or foul felonious thief, that fleec'd poor passengers,
I never gave them condign punishment:
20 Murder, indeed, that bloody sin, I tortur'd
Above the felon, or what trespass else.

Suf. My lord, these faults are easy 2, quickly
answer'd:

But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge,
25 Whereof you cannot easily purge yourself.
I do arrest you in his highness' name;
And here commit you to my lord cardinal
To keep until your further time of trial.

K.Hen.My lord of Gloster,'tis my special hope, 30 That you will clear yourself from all suspicion; My conscience tells me, you are innocent. [ous!

Glo. Ah, gracious lord, these days are danger-
Virtue is choak'd with foul ambition,
And charity chas'd hence by rancour's hand;
35 Foul subornation is predominant,

And equity exil'd your highness' land.

I know, their complot is to have my life;
And, if my death might make this island happy,
And prove the period of their tyranny,
40I would expend it with all willingness:

[blush, 45

Glo. Well, Suffolk, yet thou shalt not see me
Nor change my countenance for this arrest;
A heart unspotted is not easily daunted.
The purest spring is not so free from mud,
As I am clear from treason to my sovereign:
Who can accuse me? wherein am I guilty?
York. 'Tis thought, my lord, that you took
bribes of France,

And, being protector, stay'd the soldiers' pay;
By means whereof, his highness hath lost France.
Glo. Is it but thought so? What are they, that
think it?

I never robb'd the soldiers of their pay,
Nor ever had one penny bribe from France.
So help me God, as I have watch'd the night,-
Ay,night bynight,-in studying good for England!
That doit that e'er I wrested from the king,

But mine is made the prologue to their play
For thousands more, that yet suspect no peril,
Will not conclude their plotted tragedy.
Beaufort's red sparkling eyesblabhisheart'smalice,
And Suffolk's cloudy brow his stormy hate;
Sharp Buckingham unburdens with his tongue
The envious load that lies upon his heart;
And dogged York, that reaches at the moon,
Whose over-weening arm I have pluck'd back,
50 By false accuse doth level at my life:-
And you, my sovereign lady, with the rest,
Causeless have laid disgraces on my head;
And, with your best endeavour, have stirr'd up
My liefest 'liege to be mine enemy:-
Ay, all of you have laid your heads together,
My self had notice of your conventicles,
And all to make away my guiltless life;

55

I shall not want false witness to condemn me,
Nor store of treasons to augment my guilt;
60 The ancient proverb will be well effected,
A staff is quickly found to beat a dog.
Car. My liege, his railing is intolerable:

Gear was a general word for things or matters. i. e. dearest liege.

Easy here means slight, inconsiderable.

If those, that care to keep your royal person
From treason's secret knife, and traitors' rage,
Be thus upbraided, chid, and rated at,
And the offender granted scope of speech,
"Twill make them cool in zeal unto your grace.
Suf. Hath he not twit our sovereign lady here,
With ignominious words, though clerkly couch'd,
As if she had suborned some to swear
False allegations to o'erthrow his state?

2. Mar. But I can give the loser leave to chide.
Glo. Far truer spoke, than meant: I lose, in-
deed;-

Beshrew the winners, for they play me false !-
And well such losers may have leave to speak.

With sorrow snares relenting passengers;
Or as the snake, roll'd on a flowering bank,
With shining checker'd slough, doth sting a child,
That, for the beauty, thinks it excellent.

5 Believe me, lords, were none more wise than I,
(And yet, herein, I judge my own wit good)
This Gloster should be quickly rid the world,
To rid us from the fear we have of him.

10

Buck. He'll wrest the sense, and hold us here all 15
Lord cardinal, he is your prisoner. [day:-
Car, Sirs,take away the duke, and guard him sure.
Glo. Ah, thus king Henry throws away his crutch,
Before his legs be firm to bear his body:
Thus is the shepherd beaten from thy side,
And wolves are gnarling who shall gnaw thee first.
Ah, that my fear were false! ah, that it were!
For, good king Henry, thy decay I fear.

[Exit guarded.

20

K. Henry. My lords, what to your wisdom 25 seemeth best,

Do, or undo, as if ourself were here.

Car. That he should die, is worthy policy;
But yet we want a colour for his death:
'Tis ineet, he be condemn'd by course of law.
Suf. But, in my mind, that were no policy:
The king will labour still to save his life,
The commons haply rise to save his life;
And yet we have but trivial argument,
More than mistrust, that shews him worthy death.
York. So that, by this, you would not have him
Suf. Ah, York, no man alive so fain as I. [die.
York. "Tis York that hath more reason for his
death'.
[Suffolk,-
But, my lord cardinal, and you, my lord of
Say as you think, and speak it from your souls,-
Wer't not all one, an empty eagle were set
To guard the chicken from a hungry kite,
As place duke Humphrey for the king's protector?
2. Mar. So the poor chicken should be sure of
death.
[then,

Suf. Madam, 'tis true; And wer't not madness,
To make the fox surveyor of the fold?
Who being accus'd a crafty murderer,
His guilt should be but idly posted over,
Because his purpose is not executed.
No; let him die, in that he is a fox,
By nature prov'd an enemy to the flock,
35 Before his chaps be stain'd with crimson blood;
As Humphrey prov'd by reasons to my liege.
And do not stand on quillets, how to slay him:
Be it by gins, by snares, by subtilty,
Sleeping, or waking, 'tis no matter how,
40 So he be dead; for that is good deceit
Which mates 3 him first, that first intends deceit.
2. Mar. Thrice-noble Suffolk, 'tis resolutely
spoke.

2. Mar. What, will your highness leave the
parliament ?
[with grief,
K. Henry. Ay, Margaret: my heart is drown'd 30
Whose flood begins to flow within mine eyes;
My body round engirt with misery;
For what's more miserable than discontent?-
Ah, uncle Humphrey in thy face I see
The map of honour, truth, and loyalty;
And yet, good Humphrey, is the hour to come,
That e'er I prov'd thee false, or fear'd thy faith.
What low'ring star now envies thy estate,
That these great lords, and Margaret our queen,
Do seek subversion of thy harmless life?
Thou never didst them wrong, nor no man wrong:
And as the butcher takes away the calf,
And binds the wretch, and beats it when it strays,
Bearing it to the bloody slaughter-house;
Even so, remorseless, have they borne hini hence.
And as the dam runs lowing up and down,
Looking the way her harmless young one went,
And can do nought but wail her darling's loss;
Even so myself bewail good Gloster's case,
With sad unhelpful tears; and with dimm'd eyes 50
Look after him, and cannot do him good;
So mighty are his vowed enemies.

45

His fortunes I will weep; and, 'twixt each groan,
Say—Who's a traitor? Gloster he is none. [Exit.
2. Mar. Free lords, cold snow melts with the 55
sun's hot beams.

Henry my lord is cold in great affairs,
Too full of foolish pity: and Gloster's shew
Beguiles him, as the mournful crocodile

Suf. Not resolute, except so much were done;
For things are often spoke, and seldom meant :
But, that my heart accordeth with my tongue,-
Seeing the deed is meritorious,

And to preserve my sovereign from his foe,—
Say but the word, and I will be his priest*.

Car. But I would have him dead, my lord of

Suffolk,

Ere you can take due orders for a priest:
Say, you consent, and censure well the deed,
And I'll provide his executioner,

I tender so the safety of my liege.

Suf. Here is my hand, the deed is worthy doing. 2. Mar, And so say I.

York. And I and now we three have spoke it, It skills not greatly who impugns our doom.

By this she means (as may be seen by the sequel) you, who are not bound up to such precise regards of religion as is the king; but are men of the world, and know how to live. 2 Because duke Humphrey stood between York and the crown. 3 Mates him means-that first puts an end to his moving. To mate is a term in chess, used when the king is stopped from moving, and an end put to the game. i. e. I will be the attendant on his last scene. 5. e. judge the deed good, i. e. is of no importance.

Enter

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