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

Elean. What, gone, my lord; and bid me not 10 Sher. It is my office; and, madain, pardon ine.

That all the court admir'd him for submission; 45 The dutchess, by his subornation,

50 And such high vaunts of his nobility,

And, should you fall, he is the next will mount. 55 The fox barks not, when he would steal the lamb.

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

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 Have I disbursed to the garrisons,
And never ask'd for restitution.

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,

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,

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

That England was defam'd by tyranny.

Is worthy praise: but shall I speak my conscience? 10 Strange tortures for offenders, never heard of, 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.

will be done!

K. Heary. Cold news, lord Somerset: but God's [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 gear1 ere long,
Or sell my title for a glorious grave.

[Aside.

Enter Gloster.

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.

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 easy2, 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,
40 I would expend it with all willingness:

But mine is made the prologue to their play;
For thousands more, that yet suspect no peril,
Will not conclude their plotted tragedy.
Beaufort'sred sparkling eyesblabhisheart'smalice,

[blush, 45 And Suffolk's cloudy brow his storny 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,

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?

By

York. "Tis thought, my lord, that you took bribes of France,

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 :-

And, being protector, stay'd the soldiers' pay;
means whereof, his highness hath lost France. 55 Ay, all of you have laid your heads together,
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, - 60 The ancient proverb will be well effected,

Myself had notice of your conventicles,
And all to make away my guiltless life:
I shall not want false witness to condemn me,
Nor store of treasons to augment my guilt;

Ay, night bynight, -in studying good for England!
That doit that e'er I wrested from the king,

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, Pi. e. de et liege.

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 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.

Car. That he should die, is worthy policy;

10 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;

Buck. He'll wrest the sense, and hold us here all 15 And yet we have but trivial argument,

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

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
death2.-
[Suffolk,-
But, my lord cardinal, and you, my lord of
Say as you think, and speak it from your souls,一
Wer't not all one, an empty eagle were set
To guard the chicken from a hungry kite,

K. Henry. My lords, what to your wisdom 25 As place duke Humphrey for the king's protector? seemeth best, Do, or undo, as if ourself were here. 2. Mar. What, will your highness leave the parliament? [with grief,

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? K. Henry. Ay, Margaret: my heart is drown'd 30 Who being accus'd a crafty murderer, 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;

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

Even so, remorseless, have they borne hinı hence. 45 For things are often spoke, and seldom meant:

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

Suf. Not resolute, except so much were done;

And as the dam runs lowing up and down,

Looking the way her harmless young one went,

But, that my heart accordeth with my tongue,-
Seeing the deed is meritorious,

And can do nought but wail her darling's loss;

And to preserve my sovereign from his foe,—

Even so myself bewail good Gloster's case,

Say but the word, and I will be his priest *.

Suffolk,

So mighty are his vowed enemies.

Ere you can take due orders for a priest:

With sad 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;

His fortunes I will weep; and, 'twixt each groan,

Say-Who's a traitor? Gloster he is none. [Exit.

Say, you consent, and censure well the deed,

And I'll provide his executioner,

2. Mar. Free lords, cold snow melts with the 55 1 tender so the safety of my liege.

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. 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. * 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. i. e. judge the deed good. i. e. is of no importance,

4

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 su

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?

5

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:
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

York. That Somerset be sent a regent thither: 10 You put sharp weapons in a mad-man's hands.

'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,

If wind and fuel be brought to feed it with :

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,

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;

No more, good York; sweet Somerset, bestill; - 25 And fought so long, 'till that his thighs with darts

shame take all!

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.

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!
Som. And, in the number, thee, that wishest 30 Full often, like a shag-hair'd crafty kern,
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.

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;
401 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:
[Exit,

But now return we to the false duke Humphrey. 45 For, Humphrey being dead, as he shall be,

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,

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

At Bristol I expect my soldiers;

For there I'll ship them all for Ireland.

the murder of duke Humphrey.

First M. Run to my lord of Suffolk; let him

know,

[Exeunt all but York.

Suf. I'll see it truly done, my lord of York.

We have dispatch'd the duke, as he commanded.

York. Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful 55 Second M. O, that it were to do!-What have

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 royal heart. [thought; 60

a

Faster than spring-time showers, comes thought on
And not a thought, but thinks on dignity.

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

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!

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,

[Exeunt Murderers. 5 Or blood-consuming sighs recall his life,

Enter King Henry, the Queen, Cardinal, Somerset, with Attendants.

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?

K. Henry. Go call our uncle to our presence
Say, we intend to try his grace to-day, [straight: 10 For it is known, we were but hollow friends;
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 esteen,
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 these words

content me much,

Re-enter Suffolk.

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!

man!

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

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 thís, nigh wreck'd upon the sea;
And twice by awkward wind from England's

bank

Car, God's secret judgment:-I did dream 30 Drove back again unto my native clime?
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.
Som. Rear up his body; wring him by the nose.
2. Mar. Run, go, help, help!-Oh, Henry,
ope thine eyes!

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 Æolus 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

Suf. He doth revive again;-Madam, be pa-
K. Henry. O heavenly God!
2. Mar. How fares my gracious lord?
Suf. Comfort, my sovereign! gracious Henry,
[fort me?

comfort!

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?

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,

Hide not thy poison with such sugard words. 50 I stood upon the hatches in the storm:

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

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,-

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;

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 them blind and dusky spectacles,

In life, but double death, now Gloster's dead. 60 For losing ken of Albion's wished coast.

2. Mar. Why do you rate my lord of Suffolk