Have practised172 dangerously against your state,
Dealing with witches and with conjurers,
Whom we have apprehended in the fact174,
Raising up wicked spirits from under ground,
Demanding of176 King Henry's life and death,
And other of your highness' Privy Council,
As more at large178 your grace shall understand.
CARDINAL And so, my Lord Protector, by this means
Your lady is forthcoming yet180 at London.
This news, I think, hath turned181 your weapon's edge:
'Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour182.
GLOUCESTER Ambitious churchman, leave to afflict183 my heart:
Sorrow and grief have vanquished all my powers:
And, vanquished as I am, I yield to thee,
Or to the meanest groom186.
KING HENRY VI O God, what mischiefs work the wicked ones,
Heaping confusion188 on their own heads thereby!
QUEEN MARGARET Gloucester, see here the tainture189 of thy nest,
And look190 thyself be faultless, thou wert best.
GLOUCESTER Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal,
How I have loved my king and commonweal:
And for my wife, I know not how it stands193:
Sorry I am to hear what I have heard.
Noble she is: but if she have forgot
Honour and virtue and conversed196 with such
As, like to pitch197, defile nobility,
I banish her my bed and company
And give her as a prey to law and shame,
That hath dishonoured Gloucester's honest name.
KING HENRY VI Well, for this night we will repose us here:
Tomorrow toward London back again,
To look into this business thoroughly
And call these foul offenders to their answers,
And poise the cause205 in justice' equal scales,
Whose beam stands sure206, whose rightful cause prevails.
Flourish. Exeunt
[Act 2 Scene 2]
running scene 6
Enter York, Salisbury and Warwick
YORK Now, my good lords of Salisbury and Warwick,
Our simple supper ended, give me leave
In this close3 walk to satisfy myself
In craving your opinion of my title,
Which is infallible, to England's crown.
SALISBURY My lord, I long to hear it at full.
WARWICK Sweet York, begin: and if thy claim be good,
The Nevilles are thy subjects to command.
YORK Then thus:
Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons:
The first, Edward the Black Prince, Prince of Wales;
The second, William of Hatfield: and the third,
Lionel Duke of Clarence: next to whom
Was John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster;
The fifth was Edmund Langley, Duke of York;
The sixth was Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester;
William of Windsor was the seventh and last.
Edward the Black Prince died before his father,
And left behind him Richard19, his only son,
Who, after Edward the Third's death, reigned as king,
Till Henry Bullingbrook, Duke of Lancaster,
The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt,
Crowned by the name of Henry the Fourth,
Seized on the realm, deposed the rightful king,
Sent his poor queen to France, from whence she came,
And him to Pomfret26: where, as all you know,
Harmless Richard was murdered traitorously.
WARWICK 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 issue32 of the next son should have reigned.
SALISBURY But William of Hatfield died without an heir.
YORK The third son, Duke of Clarence, from whose line
I claim the crown, had issue Philippa, a daughter,
Who married Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March.
Edmund had issue, Roger Earl of March;
Roger had issue, Edmund38, Anne and Eleanor.
SALISBURY This Edmund39, in the reign of Bullingbrook,
As I have read, laid claim unto the crown,
And but for Owen Glendower, had been king,
Who kept him in captivity till he died42.
But to the rest.
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.
WARWICK What plain proceedings54 is 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 fails57, his should not reign.
It fails not yet, but flourishes in thee
And in thy sons, fair slips of such a stock59.
Then, father Salisbury, kneel we together,
And in this private plot61 be we the first
That shall salute our rightful sovereign
With honour of his birthright to the crown.
BOTH Long live our sovereign Richard, England's king!
YORK We65 thank you, lords: but I am not your king
Till I be crowned and that66 my sword be stained
With heart-blood of the house of Lancaster:
And that's not suddenly68 to be performed,
But with advice69 and silent secrecy.
Do you as I do in these dangerous days:
Wink at71 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 snared 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.
SALISBURY My lord, break we off: we know your mind at full.
WARWICK My heart assures me that the Earl of Warwick
Shall one day make the Duke of York a king.
YORK And, Neville81, this I do assure myself:
Richard shall live to make the Earl of Warwick
The greatest man in England but83 the king.
Exeunt
[Act 2 Scene 3]
running scene 7
Sound trumpets. Enter the King [Henry VI] and state [Queen Margaret, Gloucester, Suffolk, Buckingham and Cardinal], with Guard, to banish the Duchess [Eleanor, with Margaret Jordan, Southwell, Hume and Bullingbrook, all guarded. Enter to them York, Salisbury and Warwick]
KING HENRY VI Stand forth, Dame Eleanor Cobham, Gloucester'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 adjudged to4 death.--
You four, from hence to prison back again:
From thence unto the place of execution:
The witch in Smithfield7 shall be burned to ashes,
And you three shall be strangled8 on the gallows.
You, madam, for9 you are more nobly born,
Despoiled of your honour in10 your life,
Shall, after three days' open11 penance done,
Live in your country here in banishment,
With Sir John Stanley, in the Isle of Man13.
ELEANOR Welcome is b
anishment, welcome were14 my death.
GLOUCESTER Eleanor, the law, thou see'st, hath judged thee:
I cannot justify16 whom the law condemns.--
[Exeunt Eleanor and other prisoners, guarded]
Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief.
Ah, Humphrey, this dishonour in thine age
Will bring thy head with sorrow to the ground.
I beseech your majesty, give me leave to go:
Sorrow would21 solace and mine age would ease.
KING HENRY VI Stay22, Humphrey Duke of Gloucester: ere thou go,
Give up thy staff23: Henry will to himself
Protector be, and God shall be my hope,
My stay, my guide, and lantern to my feet25:
And go in peace, Humphrey, no less beloved
Than when thou wert Protector to thy king.
QUEEN MARGARET I see no reason why a king of years28
Should be to be29 protected like a child:
God and King Henry govern England's realm:
Give up your staff, sir, and the king his31 realm.
GLOUCESTER My staff? Here, noble Henry, is my staff:
As willingly do I the same resign
As e'er thy father Henry made it mine:
And even as willingly at thy feet I leave it
He lays the staff at Henry's feet
As others would ambitiously receive it.
Farewell, good king: when I am dead and gone,
May honourable peace attend thy throne!
Exit Gloucester
QUEEN MARGARET Why, now is Henry king, and Margaret queen,
And Humphrey Duke of Gloucester scarce himself,
That bears so shrewd a maim: two pulls41 at once:
She picks up the staff
His lady banished, and a limb lopped off.
This staff of honour raught43, there let it stand
She gives the staff to Henry
Where it best fits to be, in Henry's hand.
SUFFOLK Thus droops this lofty pine and hangs his sprays45:
Thus Eleanor's pride dies in her youngest days46.
YORK Lords, let him go47.-- Please it your majesty,
This is the day appointed for the combat,
And ready are the appellant49 and defendant,
The armourer and his man, to enter the lists50,
So please your highness to behold the fight.
QUEEN MARGARET Ay, good my lord: for purposely therefore52
Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried.
KING HENRY VI A God's name, see the lists and all things fit54:
Here let them end it, and God defend the right.
YORK I never saw a fellow worse bestead56,
Or more afraid to fight, than is the appellant,
The servant of this armourer, my lords.
Enter at one door [Horner] the armourer and his [three] Neighbours, drinking to him so much that he is drunk: and he enters with a Drum before him and his staff with a sandbag fastened to it: and at the other door [Peter] his man, with a drum and sandbag, and Prentices drinking to him
FIRST NEIGHBOUR Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in
a cup of sack60: and fear not, neighbour, you shall do well
enough.
SECOND NEIGHBOUR And here, neighbour, here's a cup of
charneco63.
THIRD NEIGHBOUR And here's a pot of good double64 beer,
neighbour: drink, and fear not your man.
HORNER Let it come, i'faith, and I'll pledge you all, and a fig66
Horner drinks with them
for Peter!
FIRST PRENTICE Here, Peter, I drink to thee, and be not afraid.
SECOND PRENTICE Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master: fight
Peter rejects their offers of drinks
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 my hammer: and here, Tom, take all the
money 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 fence76
already.
SALISBURY Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows. Sirrah,
what's thy name?
PETER Peter, forsooth.
SALISBURY Peter! What more?
PETER Thump.
SALISBURY Thump? Then see thou thump thy master well.
HORNER Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon my
man's instigation, to prove him a knave and myself an
honest man: and touching the Duke of York, I will take my86
death I never meant him any ill, nor the king, nor the queen:
and therefore, Peter, have at thee with a downright88 blow.
YORK Dispatch: this knave's tongue begins to double89.
Sound, trumpets, alarum90 to the combatants!
[Alarum.] They fight, and Peter strikes him [Horner] down
Dies
HORNER Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason.
YORK Take away his weapon.-- Fellow, thank God, and
the good wine in thy master's way93.
PETER O God, have I overcome mine enemies in this
presence95? O Peter, thou hast prevailed in right.
KING HENRY VI Go, take hence that traitor from our sight,
For by his death we do perceive his guilt,
And God in justice hath revealed to us
The truth and innocence of this poor fellow,
Which he100 had thought to have murdered wrongfully.
Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward.
Sound a flourish. Exeunt
[Act 2 Scene 4]
running scene 8
Enter Duke Humphrey [Gloucester] and his Men in mourning cloaks
GLOUCESTER Thus sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud:
And after summer evermore succeeds2
Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold:
So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet4.
Sirs, what's o'clock?
SERVANT Ten, my lord.
GLOUCESTER Ten is the hour that was appointed me
To watch the coming of my punished duchess:
Uneath may she endure the flinty9 streets,
To tread them with her tender-feeling feet.
Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook11
The abject12 people gazing on thy face,
With envious13 looks laughing at thy shame,
That erst did follow thy proud chariot-wheels
When thou didst ride in triumph14 through the streets.
But soft, I think she comes: and I'll prepare
My tear-stained eyes to see her miseries.
Enter the Duchess [Eleanor barefoot] in a white sheet, [with verses pinned on her back] and a taper burning in her hand, with [Sir John Stanley,] the Sheriff and Officers
SERVANT So please your grace, we'll take her from the sheriff.
GLOUCESTER No, stir not for your lives, let her pass by.
ELEANOR Come you, my lord, to see my open shame?
Now thou dost penance too. Look how they gaze,
See how the giddy22 multitude do point,
And nod their heads, and throw23 their eyes on thee.
Ah, Gloucester, hide thee from their hateful24 looks,
And, in thy closet pent up, rue25 my shame,
And ban26 thine enemies, both mine and thine.
GLOUCESTER Be patient, gentle Nell: forget this grief.
ELEANOR Ah, Gloucester, teach me to forget myself,
For whilst I think I am thy married wife
And thou a prince, Protector of this land,
Methinks I should not thus be led along,
Mailed up32 in shame, with papers on my back,
And followed with
a rabble that rejoice
To see my tears and hear my deep-fet34 groans.
The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet,
And when I start36, the envious people laugh
And bid me be advised37 how I tread.
Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke?
Trowest thou39 that e'er I'll look upon the world,
Or count them happy that enjoys the sun?
No: dark shall be my light, and night my day.
To think upon my pomp42 shall be my hell.
Sometime I'll say, I am Duke Humphrey's wife,
And he a prince and ruler of the land:
Yet so he ruled and such a prince he was,
As46 he stood by, whilst I, his forlorn duchess,
Was made a wonder and a pointing-stock47
To every idle rascal48 follower.
But be thou mild49 and blush not at my shame,
Nor stir at nothing till the axe of death
Hang over thee, as sure it shortly will.
For Suffolk, he that can do all in all
With her53 that hateth thee and hates us all,
And York and impious Beaufort, that false priest,
Have all limed55 bushes to betray thy wings,
And fly thou how thou canst56, they'll tangle thee.
But fear not thou, until thy foot be snared,
Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.
GLOUCESTER Ah, Nell, forbear: thou aimest all awry59.
I must offend before I be attainted60:
And had I twenty times so many foes,
And each of them had twenty times their power,
All these could not procure me any scathe63,
So long as I am loyal, true and crimeless.
Wouldst have me rescue thee from this reproach?
Why yet thy scandal were not66 wiped away
But I in danger for the breach of law.
Thy greatest help is quiet68, gentle Nell:
I pray thee sort69 thy heart to patience,
These few days' wonder will be quickly worn70.
Enter a Herald
HERALD I summon your grace to his majesty's parliament,