Bead. I will, my lord.-Come on, sirrah; off || SCENE II.-London. The duke of York's gar with your doublet quickly. den. Enter York, Salisbury, and Warwick. Simp. Alas, master, what shall I do? I am not able to stand. [After the Beadle hath hit him once, he leaps over the stool, and runs away; and the *K. Hen. O God, seest thou this, and bear'st so * Q. Mar. It made me laugh, to see the villain, run. York. Now, my good lords of Salisbury and Our simple supper ended, give me leave, In craving your opinion of my title, York. Then thus: * Glo. Follow the knave; and take this drab away. Edward the Third, iny lords, had seven sons: came. away. Glo. But you have done more miracles than I; You made, in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly. Enter Buckingham. 'K. Hen. What tidings with our cousin Buck- 'Buck. Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold. Car. And so, my lord protector, by this means "Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour. Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my powers: *K. Hen. O God, what mischiefs work the Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby! nest; And, look, thyself be faultless, thou wert best. Noble she is; but if she have forgot Honour and virtue, and convers'd with such As, like to pitch, defile nobility, I banish her, my bed, and company; And give her, as a prey, to law, and shame, • That hath dishonour'd Gloster's honest name. To-morrow, toward London, back again, • To look into this business thoroughly, ⚫ And call these foul offenders to their answers; prevails. (1) A company. VOL. II. 6 Wales; The second, William of Hatfield; and the third, Was John of Gaunt, the duke of Lancaster: William of Windsor was the seventh, and last. Till Henry Bolingbroke, duke of Lancaster, Then, father Salisbury, kneel we both together; And, in this private plot, be we the first, York. We thank you, lords. But I am not your Till I be crown'd; and that my sword be stain'd With heart-blood of the house of Lancaster: * 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. ་ War. My heart assures me, that the earl of Shall one day make the duke of York a king. K. Hen. Stand forth, dame Eleanor Cobham, Gloster's wife : 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.*You four, from hence to prison back again; [To Jourd. &c. *From thence, unto the place of execution: *The witch in Smithfield shall be burn'd to ashes, *Should be to be protected like a child.— As ere thy father Henry made it mine; *And Humphrey, duke of Gloster, scarce himself, *Suff. Thus droops this lofty pine, and hangs his sprays; *Thus Eleanor's pride dies in her youngest days. 'York. Lords, let him go.-Please it your ma jesty, This is the day appointed for the combat; And ready are the appellant and defendant, Q. Mar. Ay, good my lord; for purposely * Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried. * York. I never saw a fellow worse bested,4 1 Neigh. Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a cup of sack; And fear not, neighbour, * And you three shall be strangled on the gallows.-you shall do well enough. 2 Neigh. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of charmeco.5 * Glo. Eleanor, the law, thou seest, hath judged thee: I cannot justify whom the law condemns.— [Exeunt the Duchess, and the other prisoners, guarded. 'Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief. Ah, Humphrey, this dishonour in thine age 3 Neigh. And here's a pot of good double beer, neighbour: drink, and fear not your man. Hor. 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 give thee my apron; and, Will, thou shalt have 案 Will bring thy head with sorrow to the ground!-my hammer :-and here, Tom, take all the money "I beseech your majesty, give me leave to go; thou go, that I have-O Lord, bless me, I pray God! for I am never able to deal with my master, he hath learnt so much fence already. Sal. Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows. -Sirrah, what's thy name? Peter. Peter, forsooth. Sal. Thump! then see thou thump thy master well. Hor. Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon my man's instigation, to prove him a knave, (3) Reached. (4) In a worse plight. (5) A sort of sweet wine. and myself an honest man: and touching the duke of York, 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. Despatch:-this knave's tongue begins to double. *Sound trumpets, alarum to the combatants. treason. [Alarum. They fight, and Peter strikes down his master. Hor. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess [Dies. * York. Take away his weapon :— -Fellow, * thank God, and the good wine in thy master's way. Peter. O God! have I overcome mine enemies in this presence? O Peter, thou hast prevailed in ' right! K. Hen. Go, take hence that traitor from our sight; For, by his death, we do perceive his guilt:1 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 wrongfully.- Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The same. A street. Enter Gloster and Servants, in mourning cloaks. * Glo. Thus, sometimes, hath the brightest day a cloud; * And, after summer, evermore succeeds * Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold: *So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet.2 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 duchess: • Uneath3 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 through the streets. *But, soft! I think, she comes; and I'll prepare * My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries. Enter the Duchess of Gloster, in a white sheet, with papers pinned upon her back, her feet bare, and a taper burning in her hand; Sir John Stanley, a Sheriff, and Officers. Serv. So please your grace, we'll take her from Now thou dost penance too. Look, how they gaze! Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief. Mail'd up in shame,6 with papers on my back; (1) The death of the vanquished person was always regarded as certain evidence of his guilt. (2) Change. (3) Not easily. (4) Malicious. (5) Curse. * And follow'd with a rabble, that rejoice With her, that hateth thee, and hates us all,- *Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear; thou aimest all awry; I must offend, before I be attainted: *And had I twenty times so many foes, *And each of them had twenty times their power, *All these could not procure me any scathe,8 So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless. Would'st have me rescue thee from this reproach? Why, yet thy scandal were not wip'd away, But I in danger for the breach of law. Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell: I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience; These few days' wonder will be quickly worn. Enter a Herald. Her. I summon your grace to his majesty's parliament, holden at Bury the first of this next month. Glo. And my consent ne'er ask'd herein before! This is close dealing.-Well, I will be there. [Exit Herald. My Nell, I take my leave:-and, master sheriff, Let not her penance exceed the king's commission. 'Sher. An't please your grace, here my com mission stays: 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 'I care not whither, for I beg no favour, Stan. Why, madam, that is to the Isle of Man ; * And shall I then be us'd reproachfully? * Stan. Like to a duchess and duke Humphrey's *According to that state you shall be used. Come, Stanley, shall we go? Yet, by reputing of his high descents *(As next the king, he was successive heir,) *And such high vaunts of his nobility, 'Stan. Madam, your penance done, throw off Did instigate the bedlam brain-sick duchess, Immediately he was upon his knee, That all the court adair'd him for submission: Small curs are not regarded, when they grin: By flattery hath he won the commons' hearts; (1) For conductor. (2) Wonder. * By wicked means to frame our sovereign's fall. Smooth runs the water, where the brook is deep; * And in his simple show he harbours treason. 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. * Car. Did he not, contrary to form of law, Devise strange deaths for small offences done? York. And did he not, in his protectorship, *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 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, * Seems he a dove? his feathers are but borrow'd, Enter Somerset. *Som. All health unto my gracious sovereign! K. Hen. Welcome, lord Somerset. What news from France? Som. That all your interest in those territories Is utterly bereft you; all is lost. K. Hen. Cold news, lord Somerset: But God's York. Cold news for me; for I had hopes of As firmly as I hope for fertile England. Enter Gloster. [Aside. *Glo. All happiness unto my lord the king! Pardon, my liege, that I have staid so long. (5) i. e. Valuing himself on his high descent. (3) i. e. Assemble by observation. (4) Foolish.||(6) Gear was a general word for things or matters Suff. 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. Well, Suffolk, yet thou shalt not see me blush, Nor change my countenance for this arrest; And, being protector, stayed the soldiers' pay; 'I never robb'd the soldiers of their pay, No! many a pound of mine own proper store, Because I would not tax the needy commons, "Have I dispursed 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; * For I should melt at an offender's tears, Or foul felonious thief that fleec'd poor passengers, I never gave them condign punishment: 'Murder, indeed, that bloody sin, I tortur'd • Above the felon, or what trespass else. Suff. My lord, these faults are easy,1 quickly answer'd: But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge, 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, That you will clear yourself from all suspects; My conscience tells me, you are innocent. Glo. Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous! * Virtue is chok'd with foul ambition, By false accuse2 doth level at my life: Ay, all of you have laid your heads together, *Myself had notice of your conventicles. I shall not want false witness to condemn me, Nor store of treasons to augment my guilt: The ancient proverb will be well effected,— A staff is quickly found to beat a dog. *Car. My liege, his railing is intolerable: *If those that care to keep your royal person *From treason's secret knife, and traitor's rage, *Be thus upbraided, chid, and rated at, * And the offender granted scope of speech, * 'Twill make them cool in zeal unto your grace. Suff. 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? 'Q. Mar. But I can give the loser leave to chide. Glo. Far truer spoke, than meant: I lose indeed ; Beshrew the winners, for they play'd me false! And well such losers may have leave to speak. Buck. He'll wrest the sense, and hold us here all, day Lord cardinal, he is your prisoner. '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 fit.. Ah, that my fear were false! ah, that it were! For, good king Henry, thy decay I fear. Exeunt Attendants, with Gloster. K. Hen. My lords, what to your wisdoms seemeth best, Do, or undo, as if ourself were here. Q. Mar. What, will your highness leave the parliament ? K. Hen. Ay, Margaret; my heart is drown'd with grief, *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 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 loss; *Even so myself bewails good Gloster's case, *With sad unhelpful tears; and with dimm'd eyes Look after him, and cannot do him good; And charity chas'd hence by rancour's hand; * Foul subornation is predominant, And equity exíl'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, 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's red sparkling eyes blab his heart's malice, And Suffolk's cloudy brow his stormy hate; (1) For easily. (2) For accusation. (3) Dearest. Il So mighty are his vowed enemies. His fortunes I will weep; and, 'twixt each groan. 'Say-Who's a traitor, Gloster he is none. [Exit Q. Mar. Free lords, cold snow melts with the Henry my lord is cold in great affairs, |