The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare

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.

Suf. Before we make election, give me leave
To show some reason, of no little force,
That York is most unineet of any man.

York. I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am un-
meet.

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, head-strong Warwick!

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 Somer-
set,

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.

[Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The same.-The duke of GLOSTER'S Garden.

Enter MARGERY JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTH-
WELL, and BOLINGBROKE.

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

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

Hume. Ay; What else? fear you not her cou

rage.

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, while we be busy below; and so, I pray you, go in God's name, and leave us. [Exit HUMB.] Mother Jourdain, be you prostrate, and grovel on us to our work.

War. Image of pride, why should I hold my the earth :-John Southwell, read you; and let

peace ?

Enter Servants of SUFFOLK, bringing in HOR

NER and PETER.

tor ?

K. Hen. What mean'st thou, Suffolk ? tell me:
What are these?

Suf. 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.

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 witness, I am falsely accused by the villain.

Pet. 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 mechani-
cal,

I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech :-
I do beseech your royal majesty,
Let him have all the rigour of the law.

Hor. Alas, my lord, hang me, if ever I 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 a villain's accusation.

K. Hen. Uncle, what shall we say to this in law !

Glo. This doom, my lord, if I may judge.

Enter DUCHESS, above.

To this geer: the sooner the better. Duch. Well said, my masters; and welcome 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 bandogs 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
raise,
We will make fast within a hallow'd verge.

Spir. The duke yet 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 Sufjolk?

Spir. By water shall be die, and take his

end.

Boling. What shall befall the duke of So-I

[Thunder and Lightning. SPIRIT descends.

ACT II.

SCENE 1.-Saint Alban's.

Enter King HENRY, Queen MARGARET, GLOS TER, CARDINAL, and SUFFOLK, with Fal moners, hollaing.

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

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 falcon made,

And what a pitch she flew above the rest!—
To see how God in all his creatures works!
Yea, man and birds, are faint of climbing
high.

Suf. No, marvel, an it like your majesty,
My lord protector's hawks do tower so well;

Enter YORK and BUCKINGHAM, hastily, with They know their master loves to be aloft,

their Guards, and others.

York. Lay hands upon these traitors, and their

The duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose;

But him outlive, and die a violent death.
Why, this is just,

Aio te, Eacida, Romanos vincere posse.
Well, to the rest :

Tell me what fate awaits the duke of Suffolk?

By water shall he die, and take his end.—
What shall betide the duke of Somerset ?
Let him shun castles;

Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains,
Than where castles mounted stand.
Come, come, my lords;

These oracles are hardily attain'd,
And hardly understood.

The king is now in progress toward Saint
Alban's.

With him, the husband of this lovely lady: Thither go these news, as fast as horse can carry them :

A sorry breakfast for my lord protector.
Buck. Your grace shall give me leave, my lord

of York,

To be the post, in hope of his reward.

York. At your pleasure, my good lord.— Who's within there, ho!

And bears his thoughts above his falcon's

pitch.

Glo. My lord, 'tis but a base ignoble mind That mounts no higher than a bird can soar. Car. I thought as much; he'd be above the

clouds.

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,
That smooth'st it so with king and common-
weal!

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

Tantane animis calestibus iræ? Churchmen so hot? good uncle, hide such ma lice ;

With such holiness can you do it?

Suf. No malice, Sir; no more than well be

K. Hen. Why, how now, uncle Gloster? Glo. Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord.

• The falconer's term for hawking at water fowl. + Fond.

I. e. Thy mind is working on a crown.

[Aside.

K. Hen. The winds grow high; so do your stomachs, lords.

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

Enter an INHABITANT of Saint Alban's crying, A Miracle !

Glo. What means this noise ?

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

Suf. 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 believ ing souls

Gives light in darkness comfort in despair!

Enter the MAYOR of Saint Alban's, 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 circumstance,

That we for thee may glorify the Lord.
What, hast thou been long blind, and now re-
stor'd?

Simp. Born blind, an't please your grace.
Wife. Ay, indeed, was he.

Su. 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

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?

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

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

To name the several colours we do wear.
Sight may distinguish of colours; but suddenly
To nominate them all's impossible.--
My lords, Saint Alban here hath done a mi-
racle ;

And would ye not think that cunning to be great,

That could restore this cripple to his legs?
Simp. O master, that you could!

Glo. My masters of Saint Albans, have you not beadles in your town, and things called whips ?

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 Stool brought out.] Now, sirrah, if you mean to save yourself from whipping, leap me over this stool, and run away.

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

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 with your doublet quickly.

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 mi

racle !

K Hen. O God, see'st thou this, and bear'st so long!

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

run.

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.

[Exeunt MAYOR, BEADLE, WIFE, &c.

K. Hen. What tidings with our cousin Buckingham ?

Buck. Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold.

A sort of naughty persons, lewdly + 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 conjurers;
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;

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 bath 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.
[Flourish. Exeunt.
SCENE II.-London.-The Duke of YORK'S
Garden.

Enter YORK, SALISBURY, and WARWICK.
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:-

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
Gloster ;
William of Windsor was the seventh, and last.
Edward, the Black Prince, died before his
father;

Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons: The first Edward the Black Prince, prince of Wales;

And left behind him Richard, his only son,
Who, after Edmund the Third's death, reign'd
as king;

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

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."

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,
And in thy sons, fair slips of such a stock.-
Then, father Salisbury, kneel we both toge.
ther;

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 Hum
phrey :

• Sequestered spot.

'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
Warwick

Shall one day make the Duke of York a king.
York. And, Nevil, this I do assure myself,-
Richard shall live to make the earl of War-
wick

The greatest man in England, but the king.

[Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same.-A Hall of Justice. Trumpets sounded. Enter King HENRY, Queen MARGARET, GLOSTER, YORK, SUFFOLK, and SALISBURY; the Duchess of GLOSTER, MARGERY JOURDAIN, SOUTHWELL, HUME, and BOLINGBROKE, under guard.

majesty,

This is the day appointed for the combat ;
And ready are the appellaut and defendant,
The armourer and his man, to enter the lists
So please your highness to behold the fight.
Q. Mar. Ay, good my lord: for purposely
therefore

Left I the court to see this quarrel tried.

K. Hen. O' God's name, see the lists and all things fit;

Here let them end it, and God defend the right!

York. I never saw a fellow worse bested,

Or more afraid to fight, than is the appellant,

K. Hen. Stand forth, dame Eleanor Cob-The servant of this armourer, my lords.
ham, 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 deatn.-
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,

And you three shall be strangled on the
lows.

gal

You, madam, for you are more nobly born,
Despoiled of your honour in your life,
Shall, after three days' open penance done,
Live in your country here, in banishment,
With Sir John Stanley, in the isle of Man.
Duch. Welcome is banishment, welcome
were my death.

Glo.

Eleanor, the law, thou seest, hath
judg'd thee;

I cannot justify whom the law condemns.

Enter on one side, HORNER and his neighbours, drinking to him so much that he is drunk; and he enters bearing his staff with a sand-bag fastened to it; a drum before him at the other side, PETER, with a drum and a similar staff; accompanied by 'Prentices drinking to him.

1 Neigh. Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a cup of sack; and fear not, neighbour, you shall do well enough.

2 Neigh. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of charneco. +

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

[Exeunt the DUCHESS, and the other priso-master; fight for credit of the 'prentices.

ners, 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

ground!

the

I beseech your majesty, give me leave to go; Sorrow would solace, and mine age would ease..

K. Hen. Stay, Humphrey duke of Gloster:
ere thou go,

Give up thy staff; Henry will to himself
Protector be; and God shall be my hope,
My stay, my guide, and lantern to my feet;
And go in peace, Humphrey; no less belov❜d,
Than when thou wert protector to thy king.
Q. Mar. I see no reason, why a king
years

Should be to be protected like a child.
God and king Henry govern England's helm:
Give up your staff, Sir, and the king
realm.

Glo. My staff?-here, noble Henry, is

staff:

his

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 bammer: 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 fence already.

Sal. Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows.-Sirrab, what's thy name? Peter. Peter, forsooth.

Sal. Peter! what more?

Peter. Thump.

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 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 be-
gins to double.

Sound trumpets, alarum to the combatants.
[Alarum. They fight, and PETER strikes
down his Master.

Hor. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess
treason.
[Dies.

York. Take away his weapon :-Fellow,
Thank God, and the good wine in thy master's

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare, Band 9