Obrázky na stránke
PDF
ePub

master, Thomas Horner, for saying, That the duke | of York was rightful heir to the crown.

Q. Mar. What say'st thou? Did the duke of 'York say, he was rightful heir to the crown? 'Peter. That my master was? No, forsooth: my 'master said, That he was; and that the king was an usurper.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

*Yet must we join with him, and with the lords,
Till we have brought duke Humphrey in disgrace.
As for the duke of York,-this late complaint*
Will make but little for his benefit:

Suff. Who is there? [Enter Servants.]-Take this fellow in, and send for his master with a pursuivant presently:-we'll hear more of your matter before the king [Exeunt Servants, with Peter. 'Q. Mar. And as for you, that love to be pro-* tected

"Under the wings of our protector's grace, Begin your suits anew, and sue to him.

[Tears the petition. Away, base cullions!-Suffolk, let them go. *All. Come, let's be gone. [Exeunt Petitioners. Q. Mar. My lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise,

Is this the fashion in the court of England?
Is this the government of Britain's isle,
*And this the royalty of Albion's king
*What, shall king Henry be a pupil still,
* Under the surly Gloster's governance?"
* Am I a queen in title and in style,

* And must be made a subject to a duke?
'I tell thee, Poole, when in the city Tours
'Thou ran'st a tilt in honour of my love,
And stol'st away the ladies' hearts of France;
I thought king Henry had resembled thee,
In courage, courtship, and proportion:
'But all his mind is bent to holiness,
* To number Ave-Maries on his beads:

His champions are-the prophets and apostles;
His weapons, holy saws of sacred writ;
His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves
* Are brazen images of canoniz'd saints.
* I would, the college of cardinals

* Would choose him pope, and carry him to Rome, *And set the triple crown upon his head;

That were a state fit for his holiness.

Su Madam, be patient: as I was cause "Your highness came to England, so will I "In England work your grace's full content.

* Q. Mar. Beside the haught protector, have we Beaufort,

The imperious churchman; Somerset, Buckingham,

So, one by one, we'll weed them all at last,
And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.
Enter King Henry, York, and Somerset, convers-
ing with him; Duke and Duchess of Gloster,
Cardinal Beaufort, Buckingham, Salisbury, and
Warwick.

K. Hen. For my part, noble lords, I care not
which;

Or Somerset, or York, all's one to me.

York. If York have ill demean'd himself in
France,

Then let him be denay'd' the regentship.

Som. If Somerset be unworthy of the place,
Let York be regent, I will yield to him.
War. Whether your grace be worthy, yea, or no,
Dispute not that: York is the worthier.

Car. Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak.
War. The cardinal's not my better in the field.
Buck. All in this presence are thy betters, War
wick.

War. Warwick may live to be the best of all.
* Sal. Peace, son;- -and show some reason,
Buckingham,

*Why Somerset should be preferr'd in this.

* Q. Mar. Because the king, forsooth, will have

it so.

'Glo. Madam, the king is old enough himself 'To give his censure: these are no women's mat

ters.

Q. Mar. If he be old enough, what need your grace

To be protector of his excellence?

'Glo. Madam, I am protector of the realm; And, at his pleasure, will resign my place.

Suff. Resign it then, and leave thine insolence. 'Since thou wert king, (as who is king, but

thou?)

'The commonwealth hath daily run to wreck:
The dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the seas;
*And all the peers and nobles of the realm
Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty.
*Car. The commons hast thou rack'd; the
clergy's bags

And grumbling York; and not the least of these, But can do more in England than the king. *Suff. And he of these, that can do most of all,* Cannot do more in England than the Nevils: *Salisbury, and Warwick, are no simple peers. 'Q. Mar. Not all these lords do vex me half so much,

As that proud dame, the lord protector's wife. 'She sweeps it through the court with troops of* ladies,

More like an empress than duke Humphrey's wife;
Strangers in court do take her for the queen:
* She bears a duke's revenues on her back,
And in her heart she scorns her poverty:
✦ Shall I not live to be aveng'd on her?
* Contemptuous base-born callat as she is,
'She vaunted 'mongst her minions t'other day,
The very train of her worst wearing-gown
Was better worth than all my father's lands,

Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter.
Suff. Madam, myself have lim'd a bush for her;

Scoundrels. (2) Savings. (3) Drab, trull. (4) i. e. The complaint of Peter the armourer's man against his master.

Are lank and lean with thy extortions.
Som. Thy sumptuous buildings, and thy wife's
attire,

[ocr errors]

Have cost a mass of public treasury. * Buck. Thy cruelty in execution, Upon offenders, hath exceeded law, *And left thee to the mercy of the law. * Q. Mar. Thy sale of offices and towns in France,

If they were known, as the suspect is great,Would make thee quickly hop without thy head. [Exit Gloster. The queen drops her fan. 'Give me my fan: What, minion! can you not? [Gives the Duchess a box on the ear. I cry you mercy, madam; Was it you?

(5) Denay is frequently used instead of deny among the old writers.

(6) Censure here means simply judgment or opinion.

'Duch. Was't I? yea, I it was, proud French-I do beseech your majesty,

woman;

Could I come near your beauty with my nails, I'd set my ten commandments in your face.'

K. Hen. Sweet aunt, be quiet; 'twas against her will.

'Duch. Against her will! Good king, look to't in time;

'She'll hamper thee, and dandle thee like a baby:
Though in this place most master wear no
breeches,

She shall not strike dame Eleanor unreveng'd.
[Exit Duchess.
Buck. Lord cardinal, I will follow Eleanor,
* And listen after Humphrey, how he proceeds:
*She's tickled now; her fume can need no spurs,
*She'll gallop fast enough to her destruction.
[Exit Buckingham.

Re-enter Gloster.

*Glo. Now, lords, my choler being over-blown, *With walking once about the quadrangle, I come to talk of commonwealth affairs. As for your spiteful false objections, *Prove them, and I lie open to the law: *But God in mercy so deal with my soul, * As I in duty love my king and country! *But, to the matter that we have in hand :*I say, my sovereign, York is meetest man *To be your regent in the realm of France.

[ocr errors]

Suff. Before we make election, give me leave 'To show some reason, of no little force, "That York is most unmeet of any man.

York. I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet. 'First, for I cannot flatter thee in pride;

Next, if I be appointed for the place, *My lord of Somerset will keep me here, *Without discharge, money, or furniture, * Till France be won into the dauphin's hands. *Last time, I danc'd attendance on his will, Till Paris was besieg'd, famish'd, and lost.

* War. That I can witness; and a fouler fact Did never traitor in the land commit.

Suf. Peace, headstrong Warwick!

Let him have all the rigour of the law.

Hor. Alas, my lord, hang me if I ever spake the words. My accuser is my prentice; and when I did correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow upon his knees he would be even with me: I have good witness of this: therefore, I beseech your majesty, do not cast away an honest man for villain's accusation.

a

K. Hen. Uncle, what shall we say to this in law? 'Glo. This doom, my lord, if I may judge. 'Let Somerset be regent o'er the French, Because in York this breeds suspicion: And let these have a day appointed them For single combat in convenient place; ̧ For he hath witness of his servant's malice: This is the law, and this duke Humphrey's doom. K. Hen. Then be it so. My lord of Somerset, We make your grace lord regent o'er the French. Som. I humbly thank your royal majesty. Hor. And I accept the combat willingly. Pet. Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God's sake, pity my case! the spite of man prevaileth * against me. O, Lord have mercy upon me! I *shall never be able to fight a blow: O Lord, my * heart!

Glo. Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd.
'K. Hen. Away with them to prison: and the day
'Of combat shall be the last of the next month.
*Come, Somerset, we'll see thee sent away. [Exe.
SCENE IV.-The same. The duke of Gloster's

Garden. Enter Margery Jourdain, Hume,
Southwell, and Bolingbroke.

*Hume. Come, my masters; the duchess, I tell
you, expects performance of your promises.

Boling. Master Hume, we are therefore pro*vided: Will her ladyship behold and hear our *exorcisms ??

Hume. Ay; What else? fear you not her * courage.

*Boling. I have heard her reported to be a woman of an invincible spirit: But it shall be convenient, master Hume, that you be by her aloft,

War. Image of pride, why should I hold my while we be busy below; and so, I pray you, go

peace?

[blocks in formation]

Suff. Because here is a man accus'd of treason: Pray God, the duke of York excuse himself!

*York. Doth any one accuse York for a traitor?
*K. Hen. What mean'st thou, Suffolk ? tell me :
What are these?

Suff. Please it your majesty, this is the man
"That doth accuse his master of high treason:
His words were these ;-that Richard, duke of
York,

"Was rightful heir unto the English crown;
And that your majesty was an usurper.

*in God's name, and leave us. [Exit Hume.] the earth:-* John Southwell, read you; and let Mother Jourdain, be you prostrate, and grovel on * us to our work.

Enter Duchess, above.

*Duch. Well said, my masters; and welcome
* all. To this geer; the sooner the better.
*Boling. Patience, good lady; wizards know
their times:

Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night,
The time of night when Troy was set on fire;
"The time when screech-owls cry, and ban-dogs⭑

howl,

And spirits walk, and ghosts break up their graves, "That time best fits the work we have in hand. Madam, sit you, and fear not; whom we raise,

'K. Hen. Say, man, were these thy words? Hor. An't shall please your majesty, I never said nor thought any such matter: God is my wit-We will make fast within a hallow'd verge. ness, I am falsely accused by the villain.

Pel. By these ten bones, my lords, [Holding up his hands.] he did speak them to me in the 'garret one night as we were scouring my lord of 'York's armour.

York. Base dunghill villain, and mechanical, *I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech :

:

(1) The marks of her fingers and thumbs. (2) By exorcise Shakspeare invariably means to raise spirits, and not to lay them.

[Here they perform the ceremonics appertaining, and make the circle; Bolingbroke, or Southwell, reads, Conjuro te, &c. It thunders and lightens terribly; then the Spirit riseth.

*Spir. Adsum.

*M. Jourd. Asmath,

By the eternal God, whose name and power
Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask;

[blocks in formation]

*For, till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence.

* Spir. Ask what thou wilt:-That I had said

and done!

become?

Boling. First, of the king. What shall of him
[Reading out of a paper.
Spir. The duke vet lives, that Henry shall depose;
But him outlive, and die a violent death.
[As the Spirit speaks, Southwell writes the answer.
Boling. What fate awaits the duke of Suffolk?
Spir. By water shall he die, and take his end.
Boling. What shall befall the duke of Somerset ?
Spir. Let him shun castles;

Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains,

Than where castles mounted stand.

'Have done, for more I hardly can endure.
Boling. Descend to darkness, and the burning
lake:

'False fiend, avoid!

[Thunder and lightning. Spirit descends. Enter York and Buckingham, hastily, with their guards, and others.

'York. Lay hands upon these traitors, and their trash.

'Beldame, I think, we watch'd you at an inch.'What, madam, are you there? the king and monweal

Enter a Servant.

Invite my lords of Salisbury, and Warwick,
To sup with me to-morrow night.-Away! [Exe.

ACT II.

SCENE I-Saint Albans. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, Gloster, Cardinal, and Suffolk, with Falconers hollaing.

'Q. Mar. Believe me, lords, for flying at the brook,2

I saw not better sport these seven years' day:
Yet, by your leave, the wind was very high;
And, ten to one, old Joan had not gone out.
'K. Hen. But, what a point, my lord, your fal-
con made,

'And what a pitch she flew above the rest!-
To see how God in all his creatures works!
Yea, man and birds, are fain' of climbing high.
Suff. No marvel, an it like your majesty,
My lord protector's hawks do tower so well;
They know their master loves to be aloft,

And bears his thoughts above his faleon's pitch.
'Glos. My lord, 'tis but a base ignoble mind
com-That mounts no higher than a bird can soar.
'Car. I thought as much; he'd be above the
clouds.

'Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains;
'My lord protector will, I doubt it not,
'See you well guerdon'd' for these good deserts.
* Duch. Not half so bad as thine to England's
king,

'Glo. Ay, my lord cardinal; How think you by
that?

Were it not good, your grace could fly to heaven?
K. Hen. The treasury of everlasting joy!
'Car. Thy heaven is on earth; thine eyes and
thoughts

Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart;
Pernicious protector, dangerous peer,

* Injurious duke; that threat'st where is no cause. * Buck. True, madam, none at all. What call you this? [Showing her the papers. Away with them; let them be clapp'd up close, And kept asunder:-You, madam, shall with us:-That smooth'st it so with king and commonweal! 'Stafford, take her to thee. [Ex. Duch. from above. 'We'll see vour trinkets here all forth-coming; 'All.-Away!

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

'Glo. What, cardinal, is your priesthood grown peremptory?

*Tantæne animis cœlestibus iræ ?

Churchmen so hot? good uncle, hide such malice; 'With such holiness can you do it?

'Suff. No malice, sir; no more than well be

comes

[blocks in formation]

Q. Mar. And thy ambition, Gloster.

K. Hen.
I pr'ythee, peace,
Good queen; and whet not on these furious peers,
For blessed are the peace-makers on earth.

Car. Let me be blessed for the peace I make,
Against this proud protector, with my sword!
Glo. 'Faith, holy uncle, 'would 'twere come to
that!
[Aside to the Cardinal.
'Car. Marry, when thou dar'st.
[Aside.
'Glo. Make up no factious numbers for the

[blocks in formation]

This evening, on the east side of the grove. [Aside. 'K. Hen. How now, my lords?

'Car. Believe me, cousin Gloster, 'Had not your man put up the fowl so suddenly, We had had more sport.-Come with thy twohand sword. [Aside to Gloster.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

How irksome is this music to
* When such strings jar, what hope of harmony?
* I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife.

Enter an Inhabitant of Saint Albans, crying,
A miracle!

Glo. What means this noise?

Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim?
Inhab. A miracle! a miracle!

Suff. Come to the king, and tell him what
miracle.

Inhab. Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban's

shrine,

Within this half hour, hath receiv'd his sight;
A man, that ne'er saw in his life before.

'K. Hen. Now, God be prais'd! that to believing
souls

'Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair!

Enter the Mayor of Saint Albans, and his brethren; and Simpcox, borne between two persons in a chair; his Wife, and a great multitude, following.

* Car. Here come the townsmen on procession, To present your highness with the man.

*K. Hen. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale,

Although by his sight his sin be multiplied.

* Glo. Stand by, my masters, bring him near the king,

*His highness' pleasure is to talk with him.

*K. Hen. Good fellow, tell us here the circum-
stance,

*That we for thee may glorify the Lord.
What, has thou been born blind, and now restor'd?
Simp. Born blind, an't please your grace.
Wife. Av, indeed, was he.
Suff. What woman is this?

Wife. His wife, an't like your worship.

Glo. Had'st thou been his mother, thou could'st have better told.

K. Hen. Where wert thou born?

Simp. At Berwick in the north, an't like your grace.

'K. Hen. Poor soul! God's goodness hath been
great to thee:

'Let never day nor night unhallow'd pass,
'But still remember what the Lord hath done.

Q. Mar. Tell me, good fellow, cam'st thou
here by chance,

*Or of devotion, to this holy shrine?

Simp. God knows, of pure devotion; being call'd

A hundred times, and oftener, in my sleep By good Saint Alban; who said,-Simpcox, come; " Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help thee. Wife. Most true, forsooth; and many time and oft

(1) Fence is the art of defence.

[blocks in formation]

Act II.

Ay, God Almighty help me!

Suff. How cam'st thou so?
Simp.

A fall off of a tree.

Wife. A plum-tree, master.
Glo.
How long hast thou been blind?
Simp. O, born so, master.

Glo.
What, and would'st climb a tree?
Simp. But that in all my life, when I was a youth.
*Wife. Too true; and bought his climbing very

dear.

Glo. 'Mass, thou lov'dst plums well, that would'st venture so.

'Simp. Alas, good master, my wife desir'd some
damsons

'And made me climb, with danger of my life.
*Glo. A subtle knave! but yet it shall not

servc.

'Let me see thine eyes:-wink now, now open them :

In my opinion yet thou see'st not well.

Simp. Yes, master, clear as day; I thank God, and Saint Alban.

Glo. Say'st thou me so? What colour is this cloak of?

Simp. Red, master; red as blood.

Glo. Why, that's well said: What colour is my
gown of?

Simp. Black, forsooth; coal-black, as jet.
K. Hen. Why then, thou know'st what colour
jet is of ?

Suff. And yet, I think, jet did he never see.
Glo. But cloaks and gowns, before this day, a

many.

*Wife. Never before this day, in all his life.
Glo. Tell me, sirrah, what's my name?
Simp. Alas, master I know not.

Glo. What's his name?

Simp. I know not.

Glo. Nor his?

Simp. No, indeed, master.

Glo. What's thine own name?

Simp. Saunder Simpcox, an if it please you,

master.

Glo. Then, Saunder, sit thou there, the lyingest

knave

Thou might'st as well have known our names, as
In Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind,
thus

To name the several colours we do wear.
Sight may distinguish of colours; but suddenly
My lords, Saint Alban here hath done a miracle ;
To nominate them all, 's impossible.--
And would ye not think that cunning to be great,
That could restore this cripple to his legs?

Simp. O, master, that you could!

beadles in your town, and things called whips?
Glo. My masters of Saint Albans have you not
May. Yes, my lord, if it please your grace.
Glo. Then send for one presently.
May. Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight.
[Exit an attendant.

Glo. Now fetch me a stool hither by and by. [A save yourself from whipping, leap me over this stool brought out.] Now, sirrah, if you mean to stool, and run away.

You go about to torture me in vain.
Simp. Alas, master, I am not able to stand alone.

Re-enter Attendant, with the Beadle.

Glo. Well, sir, we must have you find your legs. Sirrah beadle, whip him till he leap over that same stool.

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
people follow, and cry, A miracle!
*K. Hen, O God, seest thou this, and bear'st so
long?

run.

Q. Mar. It made me laugh to see the villain

*Glo. Follow the knave; and take this drab away. *Wife. Alas, sir, we did it for pure need. Glo. Let them be whipped through every market town, till they come to Berwick, whence they

came.

"York. Now, my good lords of Salisbury and
Warwick,

Our simple supper ended, give me leave,
"In this close walk, to satisfy myself,
'In craving your opinion of my title,
Which is infallible to England's crown.

Sal. My lord, I long to hear it at full.
War. Sweet York, begin: and if thy claim be
good,

The Nevils are thy subjects to command.
York. Then thus:-

Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons: [Exeunt Mayor, Beadle, Wife, &c.The first, Edward the Black Prince, prince of 'Car. Duke Humphrey has done a miracle to-day. Suff. True; made the lame to leap, and fly

away.

Wales;

The second, William of Hatfield; and the third, 'Lionel, duke of Clarence; next to whom, Glo. But you have done more miracles than I;Was John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster: You made, in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly. The fifth, was Edmund Langley, duke of York; 'The sixth, was Thomas of Woodstock, duke of Enter Buckingham. Gloster;

'K. Hen. What tidings with our cousin

ingham?

[ocr errors]

Buck-William of Windsor was the seventh, and last.
Edward, the Black Prince, died before his father;
And left behind him Richard, his only son,
'Who, after Edward the Third's death, reign'd
as king;

Buck. Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold. 'A sort' of naughty persons, lewdly2 bent,— "Under the countenance and confederacy 'Of lady Eleanor, the protector's wife, "The ringleader and head of all this rout,'Have practis'd dangerously against your state, Dealing with witches, and with conjurors: Whom we have apprehended in the fact; 'Raising up wicked spirits from under ground, Demanding of king Henry's life and death, And other of your highness' privy council, 'As more at large your grace shall understand.

Car. And so, my lord protector, by this means
'Your lady is forthcoming yet at London.
"This news, I think, hath turn'd your weapon's
edge;

"Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour.
[Aside to Gloster.
'Glo. Ambitious churchman, leave to afflict my
heart!

*Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my powers:
* And, vanquish'd as I am, I yield to thee,
*Or to the meanest groom.

*K. Hen. O God, what mischiefs work the
wicked ones;

*Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby ! * Q. Mar. Gloster, see here the tainture of thy nest;

Till Henry Bolingbroke, duke of Lancaster, 'The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt, 'Crown'd by the name of Henry the Fourth, Seiz'd on the realm; depos'd the rightful king; Sent his poor queen to France, from whence she

came,

And him to Pomfret; where, as all you know, 'Harmless Richard was murder'd traitorously.

*War. Father, the duke hath told the truth;
Thus got the house of Lancaster the crown.
*York. Which now they hold by force, and not
by right;

*For Richard, the first son's heir, being dead,
*The issue of the next son should have reign'd.
*Sal. But William of Hatfield died without an heir.
*York. The third son, duke of Clarence (from

whose line

I claim the crown,) had issue-Philippe, a
daughter,

Who married Edmund Mortimer, earl of March:
Edmund had issue-Roger, earl of March:
*Roger had issue-Edmund, Anne, and Eleanor..
Sal. This Edmund, in the reign of Bolingbroke,
As I have read, laid claim unto the crown;
And, but for Owen Glendower, had been king,
Who kept him in captivity, till he died.
But, to the rest.

And, look, thyself be faultless, thou wert best.
Glo. Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal,*
How I have lov'd my king, and commonweal:
And, for my wife, I know not how it stands;
'Sorry I am to hear what I have heard:
'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.
K. Hen. Well, for this night, we will repose
us here:

"To-morrow, toward London, back again,
To look into this business thoroughly,
And call these foul offenders to their answers;
And poise the cause in justice' equal scales,
Whose beam stands sure, whose rightful cause
prevails.

[blocks in formation]

York. His eldest sister, Anne, My mother being heir unto the crown, Married Richard, earl of Cambridge; who was son To Edmund Langley, Edward the Third's fifth son. By her I claim the kingdom she was heir 'To Roger, earl of March; who was the son 'Of Edmund Mortimer; who married Philippe, 'Sole daughter unto Lionel, duke of Clarence: 'So, if the issue of the elder son 'Succeed before the younger, I am king.

[ocr errors]

War. What plain proceedings are more plain than this?

'Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt, The fourth son; York claims it from the third, 'Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign: 'It fails not yet; but flourishes in thee, [Flourish. Exeunt.And in thy sons, fair slips of such a stock.(2) Wickedly. (3) i. e. Your lady is in custody. (4) Weigh.

S

« PredošláPokračovať »