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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.

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.

583

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:
5 And shall I then be us'd reproachfully?
Stan. Like to a dutchess, and duke Humphrey's
[lady,
According to that state you shall be us'd.

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

20

Elean. Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare;
Although thou hast been conduct of my shame.
Sher. It is my office; and, madam, pardon ine.
Elean.Ay,ay,farewell; thy officeisdischarg'd.-
Come, Stanley, shall we go?
Stan. Madam, your penance done, throw off
[this sheet,
And go we to attire you for our journey.

Elean. My shaine will not be shifted with my

sheet:

No, it will hang upon my richest robes,
And shew itself, attire me how I can.

Go, lead the way; I long to see my prison.

[Exeunt.

SCENE I.

The Abbey at Bury.

АСТ

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

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,
30'Tis 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,
If it be fond, call it a woman's fear;
35 Made me collect these dangers in the duke.

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;
55 The fox barks not, when he would steal the lamb.
And in his simple shew he harbours treason.
No, no, my sovereign; Gloster is a man
Unsounded yet, and full of deep deceit.

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

1i.e. the world may look again favourably upon me.

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

king James the First.

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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. 5
Which time will bring to light in sinooth 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? 10
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.Heary.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.

Gio. 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.

¡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, 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.

30

K.Hen.My lord of Gloster,'tis my special hope,
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,

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 eyesblabbisheart'smalice,
And Suffolk's cloudy brow his stortny 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,
Myself had notice of your conventicles,
And all to make away my guiltless life:

And, being protector, stay'd the soldiers' pay;
By means whereof, his highness hath lost France. 55
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 ine 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,

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

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Easy here means slight, inconsi lerable.

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;-

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

Car. That he should die, is worthy policy; But yet we want a colour for his death: 'Tis meet, 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 201 death 2. [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,

Beshrew the winners, for they play me false !→→→
And well such losers may have leave to speak.
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.
Ab, that my fear were false! ah, that it were!
For, good king Henry, thy decay I fear.

[Exit guarded. K. Henry. My lords, what to your wisdom seemeth best,

25

Do, or undo, as if ourself were here.
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;

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' him first, that first intends deceit.
2. Mar. Thrice-noble Suffolk, 'tis resolutely
spoke.

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.

6

'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

Enter a Post.

Post. Great lords, from Ireland am I come amain,
To signify that rebels there are up,
And put the Englishmen unto the sword:
Send succours, lords, and stop the rage betime,
Before the wound do grow incurable:
For, being green, there is great hope of help.
Car. A breach,that craves a quick expedient stop!
What counsel give you in this weighty cause?

York. That Somerset be sent a regent thither: "Tis meet, that lucky ruler be employ'd; Witness the fortune he hath had in France.

Som. If York, with all his far-fet policy,
Had been the regent there instead of me,
He never would have staid in France so long.
York. No, not to lose it all, as thou hast done;
I rather would have lost my life betimes,
Than bring a burden of dishonour home,
By staying there so long, 'till all were lost.
Shew me one scar character'd on thy skin:
Men's flesh preserv'd so whole, do seldom win.
2. Mar. Nay then, this spark will prove a
raging fire,

My brain, more busy than the labouring spider, Weaves tedious snares to trap mine enemies. Well, nobles, well; 'tis politickly done, To send me packing with an host of men: 5 I fear me, you but warm the starved snake, Who, cherish'd in your breasts, will sting your hearts.

'Twas men I lack'd, and you will give them me : I take it kindly; yet, be well assur'd 10 You put sharp weapons in a mad-man's hands. Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band, I will stir up in England some black storm, Shall blow ten thousand souls to heaven, or hell: And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage 15 Until the golden circuit on my head, Like to the glorious sun's transparent beams, Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw1, And, for a minister of my intent,

I have seduc'd a head-strong Kentishman, 20 John Cade of Ashford,

If wind and fuel be brought to feed it with :-
No more,good York; sweet Somerset, bestill;-25
Thy fortune, York, hadst thou been regent there,
Might happily have prov'd far worse than his.
York. What, worse than nought? nay, then a
shame take all!
[shame!
Som. And, in the number, thee, that wishest 30
Car. My lord of York, try what your fortune is.
The uncivil kerns of Ireland are in arms,
And temper clay with blood of Englishmen :
To Ireland will you lead a band of men,
Collected choicely, from each county some,
And try your hap against the Irishmen?

York. I will, my lord, so please his majesty.
Suf. Why, our authority is his consent;
And, what we do establish, he confirms:
Then, noble York, take thou this task in hand.
York. I am content: Provide me soldiers, lords,
Whiles I take order for mine own affairs.

Suf. A charge, lord York, that I will see per-
form'd.

But now return we to the false duke Humphrey.

Car. No more of him; for I will deal with him, That, henceforth, he shall trouble us no more. And so break off; the day is almost spent:Lord Suffolk, you and I must talk of that event.

To make commotion, as full well he can,
Under the title of John Mortimer.

In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade
Oppose himself against a troop of kerns;
And fought so long, 'till that his thighs with darts
Were almost like a sharp-quill'd porcupine:
And, in the end being rescu'd, I have seen him
Caper upright like to a wild Morisco,
Shaking the bloody darts, as he his bells.
Full often, like a shag-hair'd crafty kern,
Hath he conversed with the enemy;
And undiscover'd come to me again,
And given me notice of their villainies,
This devil here shall be my substitute:
35 For that John Mortimer, which now is dead,
In face, in gait, in speech he doth resemble:
By this I shall perceive the commons' minds,
How they affect the house and claim of York,
Say, he be taken, rack'd, and tortur'd;
40I know, no pain, they can inflict upon him,
Will make him say I mov'd him to those arms.
Say, that he thrive, (as 'tis great like he will)
Why, then from Ireland come I with my strength,
And reap the harvest which that rascal sow'd:
45 For, Humphrey being dead, as he shall be,
And Henry put apart, the next for me.

SCENE II.
An Apartment in the Palace,

[Exit,

York. My lord of Suffolk, within fourteen days, 50 Enter two or three, running over the stage, from At Bristol I expect my soldiers;

For there I'll ship them all for Ireland.
Suf. I'll see it truly done, my lord of York.
[Exeunt all but York.

York. Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful 55
And change misdoubt to resolution: [thoughts,
Be that thou hop'st to be; or what thou art
Resign to death, it is not worth the enjoying:
Let pale-fac'd fear keep with the mean-born man,
And find no harbour in a royal heart. [thought; 60
Faster than spring-time showers, comes thought on
And not a thought, but thinks on dignity.

1 Flaw is a sudden violent gust of wind, that is, a Moorish dance.

the murder of duke Humphrey. First M. Run to my lord of Suffolk; let him

know,

We have dispatch'd the duke, as he commanded.
Second M. O, that it were to do!-What have
Didst ever hear a man so penitent? [we done?
Euter Suffolk.

First M. Here comes my lord.
Suf. Now, sirs, have you dispatch'd this thing?
First M. Ay, my good lord, he's dead. [house;
Suf. Why, that's well said. Go, get you to my
I will reward you for this venturous deed.

A Moor in a military dance, now called Morris,

The

The king and all the peers are here at hand :-
Have you laid fair the bed? are all things well,
According as I gave directions?

First M. Yes, my good lord.
Suf. Away, be gone!

[Exeunt Murderers. Enter King Henry, the Queen, Cardinal, Somerset, with Attendants.

5

K. Henry. Go call our uncle to our presence Say, we intend to try his grace to-day, [straight: 10 If he be guilty, as 'tis published.

Suf. I'll call him presently, my noble lord.

[Exit.

K. Henry. Lords, take your places;-And I
pray you all,

Proceed no straiter 'gainst our uncle Gloster,
Than from true evidence, of good esteem,
He be approv'd in practice culpable.

2.Mar. God forbid, any malice should prevail,
That faultless may condemn a nobleman!
Pray God, he may acquit him of suspicion!
K. Henry. I thank thee: Well, these words
content me much,-

Re-enter Suffolk.

Although the duke was enemy to him,

Yet he, most christian-like, laments his death:
And for myself,-foe as he was to me,
Might liquid tears, or heart-offending groans,
Or blood-consuming sighs recall his life,

I would be blind with weeping, sick with groans,
Look pale as primrose with blood-drinking sighs,
And all to have the noble duke alive.
What know I how the world may deem of me?
For it is known, we were but hollow friends;
It may be judg'd, I made the duke away: [ed,
So shall my name with slander's tongue bewound-
And princes' courts be fill'd with my reproach.
This get I by his death: Ah me, unhappy!
15 To be a queen, and crown'd with infamy!

K. Henry. Ah, woe is me for Gloster, wretched

man!

[he is. 2. Mar. Be woe for me, more wretched than What, dost thou turn away, and hide thy face? 20 I am no loathsome leper, look on me.

How now? why look'st thou pale? why trem-25
blest thou?

Where is our uncle? what is the matter, Suffolk?
Suf. Dead in his bed, my lord; Gloster is dead.
2. Mar. Marry, God forefend!
Car, God's secret judgment:-I did dream 30
to-night,

The duke was dumb, and could not speak a word.
[The King swoons.
2. Mar. How fares my lord?-Help, lords!
the king is dead.

What, art thou, like the adder, waxen deaf?
Be poisonous too, and kill thy forlorn queen.
Is all thy comfort shut in Gloster's tomb?
Why, then dame Margaret was ne'er thy joy:
Erect his statue then, and worship it,
And make my image but an ale-house sign.
Was I, for this, nigh wreck'd upon the sea;
And twice by awkward wind from England's
bank

Drove back again unto my native clime?
What boded this, but well-fore-warning wind
Did seem to say,-Seek not a scorpion's nest,
Nor set no footing on this unkind shore?
What did I then, but curs'd the gentle gusts,
35 And he that loos'd them from their brazen caves:
And bid them blow towards England's blessed
Or turn our stern upon a dreadful rock? [shore,
Yet Eolus would not be a murderer,
But left that hateful office unto thee:
[tient. 40 The pretty vaulting sea refus'd to drown me;
Knowing, that thou would'st have me drown'd
on shore

Som. Rear up his body; wring him by the nose.
2. Mar. Run, go, help, help!-Oh, Henry,
ope thine eyes!

Suf. He doth revive again;-Madam, be pa-
K. Henry. O heavenly God!

comfort!

2. Mar. How fares my gracious lord?
Suf. Comfort, my sovereign! gracious Henry,
[fort me?
K. Henry. What, doth my lord of Suffolk com-
Came he right now' to sing a raven's note,
Whose dismal tune bereft my vital powers;
And thinks he, that the chirping of a wren,
By crying comfort from a hollow breast,
Can chase away the first-conceived sound?
Hide not thy poison with such sugar'd words.
Lay not thy hands on me; forbear, I say;
Their touch affrights me, as a serpent's sting.
Thou baleful messenger, out of my sight!
Upon thy eye-balls murderous tyranny
Sits, in grim majesty, to fright the world,
Look not upon me, for thine eyes are wounding:
Yet do not go away;-Come, basilisk,
And kill the innocent gazer with thy sight:
For in the shade of death I shall find joy;
In life, but double death, now Gloster's dead.
2. Mar. Why do you rate my lord, of Suffolk
thus?

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With tears as salt as sea through thy unkindness:
The splitting rocks cowr'd in the sinking sands,
45 And would not dash me with their ragged sides;
Because thy flinty heart, more hard than they,
Might in thy palace perish Margaret.
As far as I could ken thy chalky cliffs,
When from thy shore the tempest beat us back,
50 I stood upon the hatches in the storm:
And when the dusky sky began to rob
My earnest-gaping sight of thy land's view,
I took a costly jewel from my neck,-
A heart it was, bound in with diamonds,-

55 And threw it towards thy land; the sea received it;
And, so, I wish'd, thy body might my heart:
And even with this, I lost fair England's view,
And bid mine eyes be packing with my heart;
And call'd then blind and dusky spectacles,
60 For losing ken of Albion's wished coast.
How often have I tempted Suffolk's tongue
(The agent of thy foul inconstancy)

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