If those, that care to keep your royal person
From treason's fecret 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 fovereign lady here,
With ignominious words, though clerkly couch'd,
As if the had fuborned fome to swear
Falfe allegations to o'erthrow his state?
With forrow fnares relenting paffengers;
Or as the fnake, roll'd on a flowering bank,
With shining checker'd flough, doth fting a child,
That, for the beauty, thinks it excellent.
5 Believe me, lords, were none more wife than I,
(And yet, herein, I judge my own wit good)
This Glofter fhould be quickly rid the world,
To rid us from the fear we have of him.
Car. That he fhould die, is worthy policy;
2. Mar. But I can give the lofer leave to chide. 10 But yet we want à colour for his death:
Glo. Far truer fpoke, than meant: I lofe, in-
Belhrew the winners, for they play me false!—
And well fuch lofers may have leave to speak.
'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 fave his life,
The commons haply rife to fave his life;
Buck. He'll wreft the fense, and hold us here all 15 And yet we have but trivial argument,
[Exit guarded.
your wifdom 25
Do, or undo, as if ourfelf were here.
2. Mar. What, will your highnefs leave the
[with grief,
More than miftruft, that fhews him worthy death.
York. So that, by this, you would not have him die.
Suf. Ah, York, no man alive so fain as I.
York. 'Tis York that hath more reafon for his
death 2.-
But, my lord cardinal, and you, my lord of Suffolk,-
Say as you think, and speak it from your fouls,
Wer't not all one, an empty eagle were fet
To guard the chicken from a hungry kite,
As place duke Humphrey for the king's protector?
2. Mar. So the poor chicken fhould be sure of
death.
[then,
Suf. Madam, 'tis true; Andwer't not madness,
To make the fox furveyor of the fold?
Who being accus'd a crafty murderer,
His guilt fhould be but idly pofted over,
Because his purpofe 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 ftain'd with crimson blood;
As Humphrey prov'd by reasons to my liege.
And do not stand on quillets, how to flay him:
Be it by gins, by fnares, by fubtilty,
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 refolutely
spoke.
K. Henry. Ay, Margaret: my heart is drown'd 30
Whofe flood begins to flow within mine eyes;
My body round engirt with mifery;
For what's more miferable than difcontent?-
Ah, uncle Humphrey! in thy face I fee
The map of honour, truth, and loyalty;
And yet, good Humphrey, is the hour to come,
That e'er I prov'd thee falfe, or fear'd thy faith.
What low'ring ftar now envies thy estate,
That thefe great lords, and Margaret our queen,
Do seek fubverfion of thy harmless life?
Thou never didit 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 flaughter-house ;
Even fo, remorfelefs, have they borne him 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 lofs;
Even fo myself bewail good Glofter's cafe,
Suf. Not refolute, except fo much were done;
45 For things are often fpoke, and seldom meant:
But, that my heart accordeth with my tongue,
Seeing the deed is meritorious,
And to preferve my fovereign from his foe,-"
Say but the word, and I will be his priest 4.
With fad unhelpful tears; and with dimm'd eyes 50 Car. But I would have him dead, my lord of
Look after him, and cannot do him good;
So mighty are his vowed enemies.
His fortunes I will weep; and, 'twixt each groan,
Say-Who's a traitor? Glofter he is none.
2. Mar. Free lords, cold fnow melts with 55
the fun's hot beams.
Henry my lord is cold in great affairs,
Too full of foolish pity: and Glofter's fhew
Beguiles him, as the mournful crocodile
By this the means (as may be seen by the fequel) you, who are not bound up to fuch precife regards of religion as is the king; but are men of the world, and know how to live. 2 Becaufe duke Humphrey stood between York and the crown. 3 Mates him means-that firft puts an end to his moving. To mate is a term in chefs, ufed when the king is ftopped from moving, and an end put to the game. 4 i. e. I will be the attendant on his laft fcene. 5. e. judge the deed good. 6 i. c. is
Poft. Great lords, from Ireland am I come amain, To fignify that rebels there are up, And put the Englishmen unto the sword: Send fuccours, 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 fent 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 fo long. York. No, not to lose it all, as thou hast done : I rather would have loft my life betimes, Than bring a burden of dishonour home, By staying there fo long, 'till all were loft. Shew me one scar character'd on thy skin: Men's flesh preferv'd so whole, do seldom win. 2. Mar. Nay then, this spark will prove raging fire,
My brain, more bufy than the labouring spider, Weaves tedious fnares to trap mine enemies. Well, nobles, well; 'tis politickly done,
To fend me packing with an host of men:
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 affur'd
10 You put fharp weapons in a mad-man's hands.
Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band,
I will ftir up in England some black storm,
Shall blow ten thousand fouls 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 fun's tranfparent beams,
Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw1.
And, for a minister of my intent,
I have feduc'd a head-strong Kentishman, 20 John Cade of Ashford,
If wind and fuel be brought to feed it with :-
No more, good York;-fweet Somerset, be ftill;-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
[fhame!
Som. And, in the number, thee, that wifheft 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 fome,
And try your hap against the Irishmen?
York. I will, my lord, so please his majesty.
Suf. Why, our authority is his confent;
And, what we do establish, he confirms:
Then, noble York, take thou this task in hand.
York, I am content: Provide me foldiers, lords,
Whiles I take order for mine own affairs.
Suf. A charge, lord York, that I will fee
perform'd.
But now return we to the falfe duke Humphrey.
Car. No more of him; for I will deal with him,
That, henceforth, he shall trouble us no more.
And fo 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 feen this stubborn Cade
Oppofe himself against a troop of kerns;
And fought fo long, 'till that his thighs with darts
Were almost like a fharp-quill'd porcupine:
And, in the end being refcu'd, I have seen him
Caper upright like to a wild Morisco2,
Shaking the bloody darts, as he his bells.
Full often, like a fhag-hair'd crafty kern,
Hath he converfed with the enemy;
And undiscover'd come to me again,
And given me notice of their villainies.
This devil here fhall be my fubftitute:
35 For that John Mortimer, which now is dead,
In face, in gait, in fpeech he doth resemble :
By this I fall perceive the commons' minds,
How they affect the house and claim of York.
Say, he be taken, rack'd, and tortured;
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.
York. My lord of Suffolk, within fourteen days, 50 Enter two or three, running over the stage, from the At Bristol I expect my foldiers;
For there I'll ship them all for Ireland.
Suf. I'll fee it truly done, my lord of York.
York. Now, York, or never, fteel thy fearful 55
And change misdoubt to refolution: [thoughts,
Be that thou hop'ft to be; or what thou art
Refign 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
Fafter than spring-time showers, comes thought on
And not a thought, but thinks on dignity.
murder of duke Humphrey.
First M. Run to my lord of Suffolk; let him
Flar is a fudden violent gust of wind. * A Moor in a military dance, now called Morris, that is, a Moorish dance.
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?
Firft M. Yes, my good lord.
Suf. Away, be gone!
Enter King Henry, the Queen, Cardinal, Somerfet, with Attendants.
K. Henry. Go call our uncle to our prefence Say, we intend to try bis grace to-day, [straight: If he be guilty, as 'tis published.
Saf. I'll call him presently, my noble lord.
K. Henry. Lords, take your places ;—And I
pray you all,
Proceed no ftraiter 'gainst our uncle Glofter,
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, thefe words
content me much.-
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-confuming fighs recall his life,
I would be blind with weeping, fick with groans,
Look pale as primrose with blood-drinking fighs,
And all to have the noble duke alive.
What know I how the world may deem of me?
10 For it is known, we were but hollow friends;
It may be judg'd, I made the duke away :
So fhall my name with flander's tongue be wounded,
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 Glofter, wretched
man!
[he is.
2. Mar. Be woe for me, more wretched than
What, doft thou turn away, and hide thy face?
20 I am no loathfome leper, look on me.
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 :
How now? why look'st thou pale? why trembleft 25 Erect his statue then, and worship it,
Where is our uncle? what is the matter, Suffolk? Suf. Dead in his bed, my lord; Glofter is dead. 2. Mar. Marry, God forefend !
And make my image but an ale-house fign.
Was I, for this, nigh wreck'd upon the sea;
And twice by awkward wind from England's
bank
Car. God's fecret judgment:-I did dream to-30 Drove back again unto my native clime?
The duke was dumb, and could not speak a word. [The King froons. 2. Mar. How fares my lord?—Help, lords! the king is dead.
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 patient.
K. Henry. O heavenly God!
2. Mar. How fares my gracious lord?
Suf. Comfort, my fovereign! gracious Henry,
comfort!
[fort me?
K. Henry. What, doth my lord of Suffolk com-
Came he right now to fing a raven's note,
Whofe difmal tune bereft my vital powers;
And thinks he, that the chirping of a wren,
By crying comfort from a hollow breast,
Can chafe away the first-conceived found?
Hide not thy poison with such sugar'd words.
Lay not thy hands on me; forbear, I fay;
Their touch affrights me, as a ferpent's fting.
Thou baleful meffenger, out of my fight!
Upon thy eye-balls murderous tyranny
Sits, in grim majefty, to fright the world.
Look not upon me, for thine eyes are wounding :-
Yet do not go away;-Come, bafilisk,
And kill the innocent gazer with thy fight:
For in the fhade 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
What boded this, but well-fore-warning wind
Did feem to fay,-Seek not a fcorpion's neft,
Nor fet no footing on this unkind shore ?
What did I then, but curs'd the gentle gufts,
35 And he that loos'd them from their brazen caves
And bid them blow towards England's blessed shore,
Or turn our stern upon a dreadful rock?
Yet Eolus would not be a murderer,
But left that hateful office unto thee:
40 The pretty vaulting sea refus'd to drown me;
Knowing, that thou would't have me drown'd
on fhore
With tears as falt as sea through thy unkindness:
The splitting rocks cowr'd in the finking fands,
45 And would not dash me with their ragged fides;
Because thy flinty heart, more hard than they,
Might in thy palace perish 3 Margaret.
As far as I could ken thy chalky cliffs,
When from thy fhore the tempest beat us back,
50I ftood upon the hatches in the storm:
And when the dusky sky began to rob
My earneft-gaping fight of thy land's view,
I took a coftly jewel from my neck,-
A heart it was, bound in with diamonds,➡
55 And threw it towards thy land; the sea received it;
And, fo, I wish'd, thy body might my heart:
And even with this, I loft fair England's view,
And bid mine eyes be packing with my heart;
And call'd them blind and dusky spectacles,
60 For lofing ken of Albion's wifhed coaft.
How often have I tempted Suffolk's tongue
[(The agent of thy foul inconftancy)
i. e. just now, even now. 2 i, e. adverse.
War. It is reported, mighty fovereign, That good duke Humphrey traiterously is murder'd By Suffolk's and the cardinal Beaufort's means. The commons, like an angry hive of bees, That want their leader, fcatter up and down, And care not who they fting in his revenge. Myfelf have calm'd their fpleenful mutiny, Until they hear the order of his death.
K. Henry. That he is dead, good Warwick, 'tis too true;
But how he died, God knows, not Henry:
Enter his chamber, view his breathless corpse,
And comment then upon his fudden death.
War. That Ifhall do, my liege :-Stay, Salisbury,]
With the rude multitude, 'till I return.
[Warwick goes in. K. Henry. O Thou that judget an his.
Which with the heart there cools, and ne'er
To blush and beautify the cheek again.
But fee, his face is black, and full of blood;
5 His eye-balls further out than when he liv`d,
Staring full ghaftly like a strangled man:
His hair up-rear'd, his noftrils stretch'd with ftruggling;
His hands abroad difplay'd, as one that grafp'd 10 And tugg'd for life, and was by ftrength fubdu'd. Look on the fheets, his hair, you see, is sticking; His well proportion'd beard made rough and rugged, Like to the fummer's corn by tempest lodg'd. it cannot be, but he was murder'd here; 15 The leaft of all these figns were probable. Suf. Why, Warwick, who fhould do the duke
Myfelf, and Beaufort, had him in protection;
And we, I hope, fir, are no murderers.
War. But both of you were vow'd duke Hume
phrey's foes;
And you, forfooth, had the good duke to keep:
'Tis like, you would not feast him like a friend;
And 'tis well feen, he found an enemy.
2. Mar. Then vou. & his thig hefe no-
e a tharo-quill'd porcupine:
And, in the end being Humphrey's timeless death.
who finds the heifer dead, and bleeding
frem,
my thoughts; may, then al e
My thoughts, that labour to perfuade my foul,
Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey's life! 30 And fees faft by a butcher with an axe,
If my fufpect be falfe, forgive me, God;
For judgment only doth belong to thee!
Fain would I go to chafe his paly lips
With twenty thousand kiffes, and to drain
Upon his face an ocean of falt tears;
To tell my love unto his dumb deaf trunk,
And with my fingers feel his hand unfeeling:
But all in vain are these mean obfequies;
And, to fui vey his dead and earthy image,
What were it but to make my forrow greater?
[A bed, with Glofter's body, put forth.
War. Come hither, gracious fovereign, view
'this body.
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But will fufpect, 'twas he that made the slaughter? Who finds the partridge in the puttock's 2 nest, But may imagine how the bird was dead, Although the kite foar with unbloody'd beak?" 35 Even fo fufpicious is this tragedy. [your knife? 2. Mar. Are you the butcher, Suffolk? where's Is Beaufort term'd a kite? where are his talons ? Suf. I wear no knife, to flaughter fleeping men; But here's a vengeful fword, rusted with ease, 40 That fhall be scoured in his rancorous heart, That flanders me with murder's crimson badge:Say, if thou dar'ít, proud lord of Warwickshire, That I am faulty in duke Humphrey's death. [Exit Cardinal. War. What dares not Warwick, if falfe Suffolk dare him?
2. Mar. He dares not calm his contumelious spirit, Nor ceafe to be an arrogant controller,
Though Suffolk dare him twenty thousand times. War. Madam, be ftill; with reverence may I fay it ;
For every word, you speak in his behalf,
Is flander to your royal dignity.
Suf. Blunt-witted lord, ignoble in demeanour ! 55 If ever lady wrong'd her lord fo much, Thy mother took into her blameful bed Some ftern untutor'd churl, and noble stock Was graft with crab-tree flip; whofe fruit thou art, And never of the Nevils' noble race.
1 i. e. I fee my life destroyed or endangered by his death. 2 The puttock is the kite.
Quitting thee thereby of ten thousand shames,
And that my fovereign's prefence makes me mild,
I would, falfe murderous coward, on thy knee
Make thee beg pardon for thy passed speech,
And fay-it was thy mother that thou meant'ft,
That thou thyfelf wast born in bastardy:
And, after all this fearful homage done,
Give thee thy hire, and fend thy foul to hell,
Pernicious blood-fucker of sleeping men! [blood,
Suf. Thou shalt be waking, while I fhed thy 10
If from this prefence thou dar'ft go with me.
War. Away even now, or I will drag thee hence:
Unworthy though thou art, I'll cope with thee,
And do some service to duke Humphrey's ghost.
K. Henry. What stronger breaft-plate than a heart untainted!
Thrice is he arm'd, that hath his quarrel juft;
And he but naked, though lock'd up in steel,
Whose conscience with injuftice is corrupted.
[A noife within.
2. Mar. What noise is this? Re-enter Suffolk and Warwick, with their weapons drawn.
K. Henry. Why, how now, lords? your wrathful weapons drawn
Here in our prefence? dare you be so bold?Why, what tumultuous clamour have we here? Suf. The traiterous Warwick, with the men of Bury,
Set all upon me, mighty sovereign.
Noife of a crowd within. Enter Salisbury. Sal Sirs, ftand apart; the king fhall know your mind.
Dread lord, the commons fend you word by me,
Unless lord Suffolk straight be done to death,
Or banished fair England's territories,
They will by violence tear him from your palace,
And torture him with grievous ling'ring death.
They fay, by him the good dake Humphrey died
They fay, in him they fear your highness' death;
And mere inftin&t of love and loyalty,-
Free from a stubborn oppofite intent,
As being thought to contradict your liking,-
Makes them thus forward in his banishment.
They fay, in care of your most royal person,
That, if your highness should intend to sleep,
And charge-that no man should disturb your rest,
In pain of your dislike, or pain of death;
Yet, notwithstanding such a strait edict,
Were there a ferpent feen, with forked tongue,
That flily glided towards your majesty,
It were but necessary you were wak'd;
Left, being fuffer'd in that harmful flumber,
The mortal worm 4 might make the sleep eternal:
And therefore do they cry, though you forbid,
That they will guard you, whe'r you will, or no,
1 Serpents in general are called worms.
From fuch fell ferpents as falfe Suffolk is; With whofe envenomed and fatal sting, Your loving uncle, twenty times his worth, They fay, is fhamefully bereft of life.
Commons [within] An anfwer from the king, my
lord of Salisbury.
Suf. 'Tis like, the commons, rude unpolish'd hinds,
Could fend fuch meffage to their sovereign:
But you, my lord, were glad to be employ'd,
To fhew how quaint an orator you are:
But all the honour Salisbury hath won,
Is-that he was the lord ambassador,
Sent from a fort 2 of tinkers to the king.
Within. An answer from the king, or we will
all break in..
K. Hen. Go, Salisbury, and tell them all from me,
I thank them for their tender loving care:
And had I not been cited fo by them,
Yet did I purpose as they do entreat;
20 For, fure, my thoughts do hourly prophefy
Mifchance unto my ftate by Suffolk's means.
And therefore,-by His majesty I swear,
Whofe far unworthy deputy I am,-
He fhall not breathe infection in this air But three days longer, on the pain of death. [Exit Salisbury. 2. Maruh Henry, let me plead for gentle by Tolk! [Suffolk. K. Hennkungentle queen, to call him gentle No more, I fay; if thou doft plead for him, Thou wilt but add encrease unto my wrath. Had I but faid, I would have kept my word; But, when I fwear, it is irrevocable :-
If, after three days space, thou here be'ft found
35 On any ground that I am ruler of,
The world thall not be ranfom for thy life.Come, Warwick, come, good Warwick, go with me;
I have great matters to impart to thee.
[Exeunt all but Suffolk, and the Queen. 2. Mar. Mifchance, and forrow, go along with you!
Heart's difcontent, and four affliction,
Be play-fellows to keep you company!
There's two of you; the devil make a third!
And three-fold vengeance tend upon your steps!
Suf. Ceafe, gentle queen, these execrations;
And let thy Suffolk take his heavy leave.
2. Mar. Fie, coward woman, and foft-hearted
wretch !
Haft thou not fpirit to curfe thine enemies? Suf. A plague upon them! wherefore should I curse them?
Would curfes kill, as doth the mandrake's groan 3, 55I would invent as bitter searching terms, As curft, as harsh, and horrible to hear, Deliver'd ftrongly through my fixed teeth, With full as many figns of deadly hate,
3 The fabulous accounts of the plant called a mandrake give it an inferior degree of animal life, and relate, that when it is torn from the ground it groans, and that this groan being certainly fatal to him that is offering fuch unwelcome violence, the practice of those who gather mandrakes is to tie one end of a string to the plant, and the other to a dog, upon whom the fatal groan discharges its malignity.
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