SCENE I.

_THE WORKS_

OF

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

[Illustration]

THE WORKS

OF

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

EDITED BY

WILLIAM GEORGE CLARK, M.A.

FELLOW AND TUTOR OF TRINITY

COLLEGE, AND PUBLIC ORATOR IN

THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE;

AND WILLIAM ALDIS WRIGHT, M.A.

LIBRARIAN OF TRINITY COLLEGE,

CAMBRIDGE.

_VOLUME V_.

Cambridge and London:

MACMILLAN AND CO.

1864.

CAMBRIDGE:

PRINTED BY C. J. CLAY, M.A.

AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

CONTENTS.

THE Preface. . . .  vii

THE FIRST PART OF KING HENRY VI. . . .  3

Notes to The First Part of King Henry VI. . . .  103

THE SECOND PART OF KING HENRY VI. . . . 109

Notes to The Second Part of King Henry VI. . . .  223

THE THIRD PART OF KING HENRY VI. . . . 229

Notes to The Third Part of King Henry VI. . . .  339

THE FIRST PART OF THE CONTENTION, &c. . . .  343

Notes to The First Part of the Contention,

&c. . . .  405

THE TRUE TRAGEDIE OF RICHARD DUKE

OF YORKE, AND THE GOOD KING HENRY THE SIXT. . . .  407

Notes to The True Tragedie of Richard Duke of

Yorke. . . .  469

KING RICHARD III. . . .  473

Notes to King Richard III. . . .  637

PREFACE.

_The First Part of King Henry the Sixth_ was printed for the first

time, so far as we know, in the Folio of 1623. The same edition

contained also for the first time in their present form, ‘The second

Part of King Henry the Sixt, with the death of the Good Duke Humfrey,’

and ‘The third Part of King Henry the Sixt, with the death of the Duke

of Yorke.’

The play upon which the Second part of Henry the Sixth was founded was

first printed in quarto (Q1), in 1594, with the following title:

The | First part of the Con- tention betwixt the two famous houses of

Yorke | and Lancaster, with the death of the good | Duke Humphrey:

| And the banishment and death of the Duke of | _Suffolke_, and the

Tragicall end of the proud Cardinall | of _Winchester_, with the

notable Rebellion | of _Iacke Cade:_ | _And the Duke of Yorkes first

claime vnto the_ | _Crowne_. | LONDON | Printed by Thomas Creed, for

Thomas Millington, | and are to be sold at his shop vnder Saint Peters

| Church in Cornwall. | 1594. |

The only copy known of this edition is in the Bodleian Library (Malone,

Add. 870), and is probably the same which was once in Malone’s

possession, and which he collated with the second Quarto printed in

1600. Mr Halliwell, in the preface to ‘The first sketches of the

second and third parts of King Henry the Sixth,’ edited by him for the

Shakespeare Society, is inclined to doubt this, on the ground that

Malone quotes, from the copy in his possession, a reading which does

not exist in that now in the Bodleian. The passage in question is in

Scene IX. line 12, p. 370 of the present volume, ‘Honouring him as

if he were their king:’ on which Mr Halliwell in his note observes,

‘Malone, who has collated his copy of the edition of 1600, “printed by

W. W.,” with a copy of the 1594 edition formerly in his possession,

distinctly writes--

“_Thinking_ him as if he were their king,”

as the reading of his copy of the first edition. If so, it must have

been a different copy from that now in the Bodleian, from which

the present text is reprinted, and another instance of the curious

variations in different copies of the same editions, which were first

discovered by Steevens (Boswell’s _Malone_, Vol. X. p. 73), and

recently applied to good use by Mr Collier.’ Mr Halliwell has here

inadvertently fallen into error. Malone’s collation is made in a copy

of the edition of 1600, in which the line stands thus:

‘Honouring him as if he were _a king_.’

At the foot of the page he wrote ‘their king,’ which is the reading

of the edition of 1594 for the two last words, but which Mr Halliwell

misread ‘thinking’ and regarded as a various reading for ‘Honouring.’

It is still possible, therefore, that Malone’s copy and that at present

in the Bodleian may be identical.

The second edition (Q2) of the First Part of the Contention appeared

in quarto in 1600, with the following title:

The | First part of the Con-|tention betwixt the two famous hou-|_ses

of Yorke and Lancaster, with the_ | death of the good Duke | Humphrey:

| And the banishment and death of the Duke of | Suffolke, and the

Tragical end of the prowd Cardinall | _of Winchester, with the notable

Rebellion of_ | _Iacke Cade_: | _And the Duke of Yorkes first clayme

to the_ | _Crowne_. | LONDON | Printed by Valentine Simmes for Thomas

Millington, and | are to be sold at his shop vnder S. Peters church |

in Cornewall. | 1600. |

Copies with this title are in the Library of the Duke of Devonshire,

and in the Bodleian (Malone, 867). An imperfect copy, wanting the last

seven leaves, is in the Capell collection. Another impression bearing

the same date, ‘Printed by W. W. for Thomas Millington,’ is said to

exist, but we have been unable to find it. The MS. title quoted by Mr

Halliwell from a copy in the Bodleian (Malone, 36) is prefixed to what

appears to us unquestionably the same edition as the above. The minute

correspondence of misplaced and defective letters between this copy and

Capell’s, with which, as well as with the other copy in the Bodleian,

we have compared it, proves beyond question that all three must have

been printed from the same form, and that the MS. title inserted in

Malone’s copy is out of place. So far therefore from Capell’s imperfect

copy of this edition being unique, as Mr Halliwell states, there are

at least two other perfect copies in existence, besides one which only

wants the title-page. In Lowndes’s _Bibliographer’s Manual_ (ed. Bohn,

p. 2281), another is said to be in the possession of Mr Tite. The late

Mr George Daniel is stated, on the same authority, to have had the

editions printed by Valentine Simmes and by W. W. in one volume, but

they were not sold at his sale, and we have been unable to trace them.

In 1619, a third edition (Q3) without date, printed by Isaac Jaggard,

and including also ‘The True Tragedy of Richard Duke of York,’ appeared

with the following title:

The | Whole Contention | betweene the two Famous Houses, LANCASTER

and | YORKE. | _With the Tragicall ends of the good Duke_ | Humfrey,

Richard Duke of Yorke, | _and King Henrie the_ | _sixt_. | Diuided

into two Parts: And newly corrected and | enlarged. Written by

_William Shake-_|_speare_, Gent. | Printed at LONDON, for T. P. |

On the title-page of his copy of this edition, Capell has added in MS.

the date ‘1619.--at the same time with the Pericles that follows;

as appears by the continuation of the signatures.’ The signatures of

‘The whole Contention’ are from A to Q in fours, while in _Pericles_,

‘Printed for T. P. 1619,’ the first page has signature R, which shows

that the two must have formed part of the same volume.

‘The True Tragedy of Richard Duke of York,’ which formed the

ground-work of The Third part of King Henry the Sixth, was first

printed in small 8vo. in 1595, with the following title:

The | true Tragedie of Richard | _Duke of Yorke, and the death of_ |

good King Henrie the Sixt, | _With the whole contention betweene_ |

the two Houses Lancaster | and Yorke, as it was sundrie times | acted

by the Right Honoura-|ble the Earle of Pem-|brooke his seruants. |

Printed at London by P. S. for Thomas Milling-|_ton, and are to be

sold at his shoppe vnder_ | _Saint Peters Church in_ | _Cornwal_,

1595. |

A unique copy of this edition is in the Bodleian Library (Malone, 876).

Although printed in 8vo. we have quoted it as Q1, in order to avoid

introducing a new notation.

The second edition (Q2) was printed in 1600, with the following title:

The | True Tragedie of | Richarde Duke of | Yorke, and the death of

good | King Henrie the sixt: | With the whole contention betweene the

two | Houses, Lancaster and Yorke; as it was | sundry times acted by

the Right | Honourable the Earle | of Pembrooke his | seruantes. |

Printed at London by _W. W._ for _Thomas Millington_, | and are to be

sold at his shoppe vnder Saint | Peters Church in Cornewall. | 1600. |

Copies of this edition are in the Duke of Devonshire’s Library, the

Bodleian (Malone, 36), and the British Museum. In Malone’s Shakespeare

(ed. 1790, Vol. I. Pt. I. p. 235), among the ‘Dramatick Pieces on which

plays were formed by Shakespeare,’ an edition of The True Tragedy is

mentioned, bearing date ‘1600, V. S. for Thomas Millington,’ but in

a note to the ‘Third Part of King Henry VI.’ (Vol. VI. p. 261) he

confesses, ‘I have never seen the quarto copy of the _Second_ part of

The whole Contention, &c. printed by _Valentine Simmes_ for Thomas

Millington, 1600;’ and it is extremely doubtful whether such a one

exists. A copy of The True Tragedy, and not, as stated in Bohn’s

Lowndes, of The First Part of the Contention, printed by W. W. 1600,

was sold at Rhodes’s sale in 1825 (No. 2113). The only authority

therefore for the existence of an edition of The First Part of the

Contention, printed by W. W. in 1600, is the MS. title-page of Malone’s

copy in the Bodleian Library. Capell merely quotes it on the authority

of Pope, and all that Pope says in the Table at the end of his first

edition, after giving the title of The Whole Contention printed in

1619, is, ‘Since Printed under the same Title by _W. W._ for _Tho.

Millington_, with the true Tragedy of _Richard_ D. of _York_, and the

Death of good King _Henry_ the 6th, acted by the Earl of Pembroke his

servants 1600.’ This clearly refers to the second Quarto of The True

Tragedy, not to that of The First Part of the Contention, and appears

to us to be the origin of the error†.

──────────

† This view is further confirmed by a manuscript note at the back

of the title-page of Steevens’s copy of The True Tragedy, ed. 1600,

now in the British Museum. It shews that Pope is the only authority

for the statement, and is as follows: ‘This is only the _third_ part

of K. Henry VI. The _second_ part, according to Pope, was likewise

printed in 1600, by W. W. for Thos. Millington. MALONE.’

The third edition (Q3) of The True Tragedy formed the second part of

The Whole Contention described above. It has no separate title-page,

but merely the heading:

The Second Part. | Containing the Tragedie of | Richard Duke of Yorke,

and the | _good King Henrie the_ | Sixt. |

We have reprinted the text of The First Part of the Contention and

of The True Tragedy from the first edition of each, giving in notes

at the foot of the page the various readings of the second and third

editions. For this purpose we collated Mr Halliwell’s reprint for the

Shakespeare Society with the originals in the Bodleian Library. The

accuracy of Mr Halliwell’s work materially facilitated our labours,

and we can only hope that the errors of our own reprint may be as

few and as unimportant as those we have discovered in his. For the

readings of the second Quartos of The First Part of the Contention and

The True Tragedy we collated the copies in the Bodleian and the Duke

of Devonshire’s Library, using also for the former the imperfect copy

in the Capell collection. The readings of The Whole Contention (Q3)

have been given from Capell’s copy verified by reference to that in the

Devonshire Library.

With regard to the authorship of The First Part of the Contention and

The True Tragedy, while we cannot agree with Malone on the one hand

that they contain nothing of Shakespeare’s, nor with Mr Knight on the

other that they are entirely his work, there are so many internal

proofs of his having had a considerable share in their composition,

that, in accordance with our principle, we have reprinted them in a

smaller type.

The first edition of KING RICHARD is a Quarto printed in 1597, with the

following title-page:

The Tragedy of | King Richard the third. | Containing, | His

treacherous Plots against his brother Clarence: | the pittiefull

murther of his innocent nephewes: | his tyrannicall vsurpation: with

the whole course | of his detested life, and most deserued death.

| As it hath beene lately Acted by the | Right honourable the Lord

Chamber-|laine his seruants. | AT LONDON | Printed by Valentine Sims,

for Andrew Wise, | dwelling in Paules Church-yard, at the | Sign of

the Angell. | 1597. |

This edition is referred to, in our notes, as Q1.

We have collated a complete copy belonging to the Duke of Devonshire

and also an imperfect copy formerly belonging to Malone and now in

the Bodleian. Malone had supplied the missing leaves by the insertion

of some from the second Quarto†. There is no copy in the Capell

collection.

──────────

† He says in a MS. note: ‘This copy of the original edition of King

Richard III. was imperfect, when I purchased it, wanting signat.

C 1 and 2, D 4, L 4, and M 1, 2, and 3. These seven leaves I have

supplied from a later copy (that of 1598), and have collated with

the edition of 1597. The variations are set down in the margin.’ He

adds: ‘Mr Penn Ashton Curzon and Mr Kemble are possessed of copies

of this original edition of this play: I know of no other, except

that in this volume.’ Mr Kemble’s copy is now in the Devonshire

Library, and Mr Curzon’s is probably the same which was sold at

Mr Daniel’s sale and is now in the possession of Mr Huth. Besides

the leaves of Malone’s copy which are missing, signatures C 3 and

C 4 are imperfect, the upper half of each being supplied from the

edition of 1598.

The second edition, also in Quarto, which we call Q2, was published

in the following year, with the name of the author. It is in other

respects a reprint of the first. The title-page is as follows:

THE | TRAGEDIE | of King Richard | the third. | Conteining his

treacherous Plots against his | brother _Clarence_: the pitiful

murther of his innocent | Nephewes: his tyrannicall vsurpation: with

| the whole course of his detested life, and most | _deserued death_.

| _As it hath beene lately Acted by the Right honourable_| _the Lord

Chamberlaine his seruants_. | _By_ William Shakespeare.| LONDON |

Printed by Thomas Creede, for Andrew Wise, | dwelling in Paules

Church-yard, at the signe | of the Angell. 1598. |

The third Quarto, our Q3, has the following title-page:

THE | TRAGEDIE | of King Richard | the third. | _Conteining his

treacherous Plots against his brother_ | _Clarence_: the pittifull

murther of his innocent Ne-|phewes: his tyrannicall vsurpation: with

the | whole course of his detested life, and | most deserued death.

| _As it hath bene lately Acted by the Right Honourable_ | _the

Lord Chamberlaine his seruants_. | Newly augmented,| By _William

Shakespeare_. | LONDON | Printed by Thomas Creede, for Andrew Wise,

dwelling | in Paules Churchyard, at the signe of the | Angell. 1602.|

Notwithstanding the words ‘newly augmented,’ this edition contains

nothing that is not found in the second Quarto, from which it is

reprinted, except some additional errors of the press.

The fourth Quarto, our Q4, was printed from the third, by the same

printer for a different bookseller, as appears by the title-page:

THE | TRAGEDIE | of King Richard | the third. | _Conteining his

treacherous Plots against his brother | Clarence_: the pittifull

murther of his innocent Ne-|phewes: his tyrannicall vsurpation:

with the | whole course of his detested life, and | most deserued

death. | _As it hath bin lately Acted by the Right Honourable | the

Lord Chamberlaine his seruants_. | Newly augmented, | By _William

Shake-speare_. | LONDON, | Printed by Thomas Creede, and are to be

sold by _Mathew | Lawe_, dwelling in Paules Church-yard, at the Signe

| of the Foxe, neare S. Austins gate, 1605. |

There is no copy of Q4 in the Capell collection. We have collated one

in the Bodleian which formerly belonged to Malone. It is numbered 880.

The fifth Quarto, Q5, was printed in 1612, not from its immediate

predecessor, but from the Quarto of 1602, although it was printed by

the same printer and for the same bookseller as that of 1605. The

title-page of Q5 is as follows:

THE | TRAGEDIE | of King Richard | the third. | _Containing his

treacherous Plots against his brother | Clarence_: the pittifull

murther of his innocent Ne-phewes: his tyrannicall vsurpation: with

the | whole course of his detested life, and | most deserued death. |

_As it hath beene lately Acted by the Kings Maiesties | seruants_. |

Newly augmented, | By _William Shake-speare_. | LONDON, | Printed by

Thomas Creede, and are to be sold by Mathew | Lawe, dwelling in Pauls

Church-yard, at the Signe | of the Foxe, neare S. Austins gate, 1612. |

The edition of 1622 is so rare that its very existence has been called

in question†. There is however a copy in the Capell collection, of

which the title-page is as follows:

──────────

† ‘An impression of 1622 is mentioned in some lists, but the

existence of a copy of that date is more than doubtful.’ Collier,

Ed. 2, Vol. iv. p. 217.

THE | TRAGEDIE | _OF_ | KING | RICHARD | _THE THIRD_. | Contayning his

treacherous Plots against | _his brother_ Clarence: _The pittifull

murder of his innocent_ | Nephewes: his tyrannicall Vsurpation: with

the whole | course of his detested life, and most | _deserued death_.

| As it hath been lately Acted by the Kings Maiesties | _Seruants_.

| Newly augmented. By _William Shake-speare_. | LONDON, | Printed by

_Thomas Purfoot_, and are to be sold by _Mathew Law_, dwelling | in

_Pauls_ Church-yard, at the Signe of the _Foxe_, neere | _S. Austines_

gate, 1622.

This edition we call Q6. It is printed from Q5.

Another edition in Quarto was printed in 1629, not from the first

Folio, but from the sixth Quarto. It was printed by Iohn Norton for

Matthew Law. Except in the name of the printer and the substitution of

the word ‘tiranous’ for ‘tyrannicall’ the title-page does not differ

from that of Q6. We call it Q7.

The eighth and last Quarto, our Q8, copied from the seventh, was

printed by Iohn Norton in 1634. There is no bookseller’s name on the

title-page, if we may trust that which Capell has supplied in MS. ‘from

a copy in the possession of Messrs Tonsons and Draper.’

* * * * *

In quoting the readings of the Quartos and Folios, we have, in all

cases where the spelling is unimportant, given that of the earliest

copy.

* * * * *

In 1766 Steevens published a reprint of the Quarto of 1612,

‘collated’--to use his own words--‘with the following editions.’

1598. _Thomas Creede_, for _Andrew Wise_.

1602. Ditto.

1624. _Thomas Purfoot, Thomas Purfoot_, &c.

1629. _John Norton_, &c.

1634. _John Norton_, &c. and another imperfect Copy, differing from the

rest, but without a Title Page.

The date 1624 is probably a mistake for 1622. At the foot of each page

he gives various readings, but without specifying the editions to which

they respectively belong. Several of these are not found in any of the

Quartos with which we are acquainted. We have therefore recorded them

as ‘quoted in Steevens’s reprint.’ So many of the other readings which

he gives are found only in the first Quarto that we have no doubt that

the imperfect copy which he mentions was of that edition.

We have made, and, as we believe, for the first time, a complete

collation of all the extant Quartos. Those of 1597 and 1605 were

unknown to Capell when he collated the other six.

The respective origin and authority of the first Quarto and first Folio

texts of _Richard III_. is perhaps the most difficult question which

presents itself to an editor of Shakespeare. In the case of most of the

plays a brief survey leads him to form a definite judgement; in this,

the most attentive examination scarcely enables him to propose with

confidence a hypothetical conclusion.

The Quarto, Q1, contains passages not found in the Folio, F1, which

are essential to the understanding of the context: the Folio, on the

other hand, contains passages equally essential, which are not found in

the Quarto.

Again, passages which in the Quarto are complete and consecutive, are

amplified in the Folio, the expanded text being quite in the manner

of Shakespeare. The Folio, too, contains passages not in the Quartos,

which though not necessary to the sense yet harmonize so well, in

sense and tone, with the context that we can have no hesitation in

attributing them to the author himself.

On the other hand, we find in the Folio some insertions and many

alterations which we may with equal certainty affirm not to be due

to Shakespeare. Sometimes the alterations seem merely arbitrary,

but more frequently they appear to have been made in order to avoid

the recurrence of the same word, even where the recurrence adds to

the force of the passage, or to correct a supposed defect of metre,

although the metre cannot be amended except by spoiling the sense.

Occasionally we seem to find indications that certain turns of phrase,

uses of words or metrical licences, familiar enough to Shakespeare and

his earlier contemporaries, had become obsolete in the time of the

corrector, and the passages modified accordingly. In short, _Richard

III._ seems even before the publication of the Folio to have been

tampered with by a nameless transcriber who worked in the spirit,

though not with the audacity, of Colley Cibber.

The following scheme will best explain the theory which we submit as a

not impossible way of accounting for the phenomena of the text:

A1 A2

│ │

│ │

│ │

B1 B2

│ │

│ │

│ │

Q1 F1

A1 is the Author’s original MS.

B1 is a transcript by another hand with some accidental omissions

and, of course, slips of the pen. From this transcript was printed the

Quarto of 1597, Q1.

A2 is the Author’s original MS. revised by himself, with corrections

and additions, interlinear, marginal, and on inserted leaves.

B2 is a copy of this revised MS., made by another hand, probably after

the death of the Author and perhaps a very short time before 1623. As

the stage directions of the Folio, which was printed from B2, are more

precise and ample as a rule than those of the Quarto, we may infer that

the transcript, B2, was made for the library of the theatre, perhaps

to take the place of the original which had become worn by use, for

_Richard III._ continued to be a popular acting play. Some curious,

though not frequent, coincidences between the text of the Folio and

that of the Quarto of 1602, Q3, lead us to suppose that the writer of

B2 had occasionally recourse to that Quarto to supplement passages

which, by its being frayed or stained, had become illegible in A2.

Assuming the truth of this hypothesis, the object of an Editor must

be to give in the text as near an approximation as possible to A,

rejecting from F1 all that is due to the unknown writer of B2 and

supplying its place from Q1, which, errors of pen and press apart,

certainly came from the hand of Shakespeare. In the construction of our

text we have steadily borne this principle in mind, only deviating from

it in a few instances where we have retained the expanded version of

the Folio in preference to the briefer version of the Quarto, even when

we incline to think that the earlier form is more terse and therefore

not likely to have been altered by its Author. Our reason is this: as

the Folio version contains substantially that of the Quarto and as the

question does not admit of a positive decision we prefer the risk of

putting in something which Shakespeare did not to that of leaving out

something which he did write. Cæteris paribus, we have adopted the

reading of the Quarto.

In conclusion we commend a study of the text of _Richard III._ to

those, if such there be, who imagine that it is possible by the

exercise of critical skill to restore with certainty what Shakespeare

actually wrote.

We have great pleasure in repeating our thanks to the curators of the

British Museum and of the Bodleian Library and in adding to the number

of those who have laid us under obligation the names of the Rev. Joseph

Power, Fellow of Clare College, Mr Huth, and Mr Lilly.

It is only right to add that it is the constant kindness of the Duke

of Devonshire which enables us to publish this volume without further

delay and with such an approach to completeness as it may be found to

possess.

W. G. C.

W. A. W.

ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA.

_First Part of Henry VI._

I. 1. 43. For _Except it to be_ read _Except it be_.

_Second Part of Henry VI_.

I. 3. 115. Add note, _his_] _this_ F4.

I. 3. 144. Add note, _master_] _masters_ Halliwell conj.

I. 3. 146. Add note, _I will_] _I’ll_ Pope.

II. 1. 130. Add note, _and_] om. Hanmer.

III. 1. 222. Add to stage direction, _Somerset remains apart_.

IV. 2. 176. For _tis_ read _’tis_.

_Third Part of Henry VI_.

V. 4. 36. Dele _the_.

_Richard III_.

I. 4. 167. Add note, _To, to, to--_] _To, to, to, to--_ Capell conj.

THE FIRST PART OF KING HENRY THE SIXTH.

DRAMATIS PERSONƆ.

KING HENRY the Sixth.

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, uncle to the King, and Protector.

DUKE OF BEDFORD, uncle to the King, and Regent of

France.

THOMAS BEAUFORT, Duke of Exeter, great-uncle to the

King.

HENRY BEAUFORT, great-uncle to the King, Bishop of

Winchester, and afterwards Cardinal.

JOHN BEAUFORT, Earl, afterwards Duke, of Somerset.

RICHARD PLANTAGENET, son of Richard late Earl of

Cambridge, afterwards Duke of York.

EARL OF WARWICK.

EARL OF SALISBURY.

EARL OF SUFFOLK.

LORD TALBOT, afterwards Earl of Shrewsbury.

JOHN TALBOT, his son.

EDMUND MORTIMER, Earl of March.

SIR JOHN FASTOLFE.

SIR WILLIAM LUCY.

SIR WILLIAM GLANSDALE.

SIR THOMAS GARGRAVE.

Mayor of London.

WOODVILE, Lieutenant of the Tower.

VERNON, of the White-rose or York Faction.

BASSET, of the Red-Rose or Lancaster faction.

A Lawyer. Mortimer’s Keepers.

CHARLES, Dauphin, and afterwards King, of France.

REIGNIER, Duke of Anjou, and titular King of Naples.

DUKE OF BURGUNDY.

DUKE OF ALENÇON.

BASTARD OF ORLEANS.

Governor of Paris.

Master-Gunner of Orleans, and his Son.

General of the French forces in Bourdeaux.

A French Sergeant. A Porter.

An old Shepherd, father to Joan la Pucelle.

MARGARET, daughter to Reignier, afterwards married to

King Henry.

COUNTESS OF AUVERGNE.

JOAN LA PUCELLE, commonly called Joan of Arc.

Lords, Warders of the Tower, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers, Messengers,

and Attendants.

Fiends appearing to La Pucelle.

SCENE: Partly in England, and partly in France.

──────────

† First given, imperfectly, by Rowe. See note (I).

THE FIRST PART OF KING HENRY VI.

ACT I.

SCENE I. _Westminster Abbey_.

_Dead March. Enter the Funeral of_ KING HENRY the Fifth, _attended

on by the_ DUKE of BEDFORD, _Regent of France; the_ DUKE of

GLOUCESTER, _Protector; the_ DUKE of EXETER, _the_ EARL of

WARWICK, _the_ BISHOP of WINCHESTER, Heralds, _&c._

_Bed._ Hung be the heavens with black, yield day to night!   [aaa001]

Comets, importing change of times and states,

Brandish your crystal tresses in the sky,   [aaa003]

And with them scourge the bad revolting stars

That have consented unto Henry’s death!   [aaa005]

King Henry the Fifth, too famous to live long!   [aaa006]

England ne’er lost a king of so much worth.

_Glou_. England ne’er had a king until his time.

Virtue he had, deserving to command:

His brandish’d sword did blind men with his beams:   [aaa010]

His arms spread wider than a dragon’s wings;

His sparkling eyes, replete with wrathful fire,   [aaa012]

More dazzled and drove back his enemies

Than mid-day sun fierce bent against their faces.

What should I say? his deeds exceed all speech:   ·aaa015·

He ne’er lift up his hand but conquered.   [aaa016]

_Exe._ We mourn in black: why mourn we not in blood?

Henry is dead and never shall revive:

Upon a wooden coffin we attend,

And death’s dishonourable victory   ·aaa020·

We with our stately presence glorify,

Like captives bound to a triumphant car.

What! shall we curse the planets of mishap

That plotted thus our glory’s overthrow?

Or shall we think the subtle-witted French   ·aaa025·

Conjurers and sorcerers, that afraid of him

By magic verses have contrived his end?   [aaa027]

_Win._ He was a king bless’d of the King of kings.

Unto the French the dreadful judgement-day

So dreadful will not be as was his sight.   ·aaa030·

The battles of the Lord of hosts he fought:

The church’s prayers made him so prosperous.   [aaa032]

_Glou._ The church! where is it? Had not churchmen pray’d,   [aaa033]

His thread of life had not so soon decay’d:

None do you like but an effeminate prince,   ·aaa035·

Whom, like a school-boy, you may over-awe.

_Win._ Gloucester, whate’er we like, thou art Protector

And lookest to command the prince and realm.

Thy wife is proud; she holdeth thee in awe,

More than God or religious churchmen may.   ·aaa040·

_Glou._ Name not religion, for thou lovest the flesh,

And ne’er throughout the year to church thou go’st

Except it be to pray against thy foes.

_Bed._ Cease, cease these jars and rest your minds in peace:

Let’s to the altar: heralds, wait on us:   ·aaa045·

Instead of gold, we’ll offer up our arms;

Since arms avail not now that Henry’s dead.

Posterity, await for wretched years,

When at their mothers’ moist eyes babes shall suck,   [aaa049]

Our isle be made a nourish of salt tears,   [aaa050]

And none but women left to wail the dead.

Henry the Fifth, thy ghost I invocate:

Prosper this realm, keep it from civil broils,

Combat with adverse planets in the heavens!

A far more glorious star thy soul will make   ·aaa055·

Than Julius Cæsar or bright ——   [aaa056]

_Enter a_ Messenger.

_Mess._ My honourable lords, health to you all!   [aaa057]

Sad tidings bring I to you out of France,

Of loss, of slaughter and discomfiture:

Guienne, Champagne, Rheims, Orleans,   [aaa060]

Paris, Guysors, Poictiers, are all quite lost.

_Bed._ What say’st thou, man, before dead Henry’s corse?   [aaa062]

Speak softly; or the loss of those great towns

Will make him burst his lead and rise from death.

_Glou._ Is Paris lost? is Rouen yielded up?   [aaa065]

If Henry were recall’d to life again,

These news would cause him once more yield the ghost.

_Exe._ How were they lost? what treachery was used?

_Mess._ No treachery; but want of men and money.

Amongst the soldiers this is muttered,   ·aaa070·

That here you maintain several factions,

And whilst a field should be dispatch’d and fought,

You are disputing of your generals:

One would have lingering wars with little cost;

Another would fly swift, but wanteth wings;   ·aaa075·

A third thinks, without expense at all,   [aaa076]

By guileful fair words peace may be obtain’d.

Awake, awake, English nobility!   [aaa078]

Let not sloth dim your honours new-begot:

Cropp’d are the flower-de-luces in your arms;   [aaa080]

Of England’s coat one half is cut away.

_Exe._ Were our tears wanting to this funeral,

These tidings would call forth their flowing tides.   [aaa083]

_Bed._ Me they concern; Regent I am of France.

Give me my steeled coat. I’ll fight for France.   [aaa085]

Away with these disgraceful wailing robes!

Wounds will I lend the French instead of eyes,   [aaa087]

To weep their intermissive miseries.

_Enter to them another_ Messenger.

_Mess._ Lords, view these letters full of bad mischance.   [aaa089]

France is revolted from the English quite,   ·aaa090·

Except some petty towns of no import:

The Dauphin Charles is crowned king in Rheims;

The Bastard of Orleans with him is join’d;   [aaa093]

Reignier, Duke of Anjou, doth take his part;   [aaa094]

The Duke of Alençon flieth to his side.   [aaa095]

_Exe._ The Dauphin crowned king! all fly to him!   [aaa096]

O, whither shall we fly from this reproach?

_Glou._ We will not fly, but to our enemies’ throats.

Bedford, if thou be slack, I’ll fight it out.

_Bed._ Gloucester, why doubt’st thou of my forwardness?   ·aaa100·

An army have I muster’d in my thoughts,

Wherewith already France is overrun.

_Enter another_ Messenger.

_Mess._ My gracious lords, to add to your laments,   [aaa103]

Wherewith you now bedew King Henry’s hearse,

I must inform you of a dismal fight   ·aaa105·

Betwixt the stout Lord Talbot and the French.

_Win._ What! wherein Talbot overcame? is’t so?

_Mess._ O, no; wherein Lord Talbot was o’erthrown:   [aaa108]

The circumstance I’ll tell you more at large.

The tenth of August last this dreadful lord,   ·aaa110·

Retiring from the siege of Orleans,

Having full scarce six thousand in his troop,   [aaa112]

By three and twenty thousand of the French

Was round encompassed and set upon.

No leisure had he to enrank his men;   ·aaa115·

He wanted pikes to set before his archers;

Instead whereof sharp stakes pluck’d out of hedges

They pitched in the ground confusedly,

To keep the horsemen off from breaking in.

More than three hours the fight continued;   ·aaa120·

Where valiant Talbot above human thought

Enacted wonders with his sword and lance:

Hundreds he sent to hell, and none durst stand him;

Here, there, and every where, enraged he flew:   [aaa124]

The French exclaim’d, the devil was in arms;   ·aaa125·

All the whole army stood agazed on him:   [aaa126]

His soldiers spying his undaunted spirit

A Talbot! a Talbot! cried out amain   [aaa128]

And rush’d into the bowels of the battle.

Here had the conquest fully been seal’d up,   ·aaa130·

If Sir John Fastolfe had not play’d the coward:   [aaa131]

He, being in the vaward, placed behind   [aaa132]

With purpose to relieve and follow them,

Cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke.

Hence grew the general wreck and massacre;   ·aaa135·

Enclosed were they with their enemies:

A base Walloon, to win the Dauphin’s grace,   [aaa137]

Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back,

Whom all France with their chief assembled strength   [aaa139]

Durst not presume to look once in the face.   ·aaa140·

_Bed._ Is Talbot slain? then I will slay myself,   [aaa141]

For living idly here in pomp and ease,

Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid,

Unto his dastard foemen is betray’d.

_Mess._ O no, he lives; but is took prisoner,   ·aaa145·

And Lord Scales with him and Lord Hungerford:

Most of the rest slaughter’d or took likewise.

_Bed._ His ransom there is none but I shall pay:

I’ll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne:

His crown shall be the ransom of my friend;   ·aaa150·

Four of their lords I’ll change for one of ours.

Farewell, my masters; to my task will I;

Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make,

To keep our great Saint George’s feast withal:

Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take,   ·aaa155·

Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake.   [aaa156]

_Mess._ So you had need; for Orleans is besieged;   [aaa157]

The English army is grown weak and faint:

The Earl of Salisbury craveth supply,

And hardly keeps his men from mutiny,   ·aaa160·

Since they, so few, watch such a multitude.

_Exe._ Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry sworn,   [aaa162]

Either to quell the Dauphin utterly,

Or bring him in obedience to your yoke.

_Bed._ I do remember it; and here take my leave,   [aaa165]

To go about my preparation. [_Exit_.   [aaa166]

_Glou._ I’ll to the Tower with all the haste I can,

To view the artillery and munition;   [aaa168]

And then I will proclaim young Henry king. [_Exit_.   [aaa169]

_Exe._ To Eltham will I, where the young king is,   ·aaa170·

Being ordain’d his special governor,

And for his safety there I’ll best devise. [_Exit_.

_Win._ Each hath his place and function to attend:

I am left out; for me nothing remains.

But long I will not be Jack out of office:   [aaa175]

The king from Eltham I intend to steal   [aaa176]

And sit at chiefest stern of public weal. [_Exeunt_.   [aaa177]

SCENE II. _France. Before Orleans_.

_Sound a Flourish. Enter_ CHARLES, ALENÇON, _and_ REIGNIER,

_marching with Drum and Soldiers_.

_Char._ Mars his true moving, even as in the heavens   [aab001]

So in the earth, to this day is not known:

Late did he shine upon the English side;

Now we are victors; upon us he smiles.

What towns of any moment but we have?   ·aab005·

At pleasure here we lie near Orleans;

Otherwhiles the famish’d English, like pale ghosts,   [aab007]

Faintly besiege us one hour in a month.

_Alen._ They want their porridge and their fat bull-beeves:

Either they must be dieted like mules   ·aab010·

And have their provender tied to their mouths   [aab011]

Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice.

_Reig._ Let’s raise the siege: why live we idly here?   [aab013]

Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear:

Remaineth none but mad-brain’d Salisbury;   ·aab015·

And he may well in fretting spend his gall,

Nor men nor money hath he to make war.

_Char._ Sound, sound alarum! we will rush on them.

Now for the honour of the forlorn French!   [aab019]

Him I forgive my death that killeth me   ·aab020·

When he sees me go back one foot or fly. [_Exeunt_.   [aab021]

_Here Alarum; they are beaten back by the English with great loss.

Re-enter_ CHARLES, ALENÇON, _and_ REIGNIER.

_Char._ Who ever saw the like? what men have I!

Dogs! cowards! dastards! I would ne’er have fled,

But that they left me ’midst my enemies.

_Reig._ Salisbury is a desperate homicide;   ·aab025·

He fighteth as one weary of his life.

The other lords, like lions wanting food,   [aab027]

Do rush upon us as their hungry prey.   [aab028]

_Alen._ Froissart, a countryman of ours, records,   [aab029]

England all Olivers and Rowlands bred   [aab030]

During the time Edward the Third did reign.

More truly now may this be verified;

For none but Samsons and Goliases   [aab033]

It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten!

Lean raw-boned rascals! who would e’er suppose   ·aab035·

They had such courage and audacity?

_Char._ Let’s leave this town; for they are hare-brain’d

slaves,   [aab037]

And hunger will enforce them to be more eager:   [aab038]

Of old I know them; rather with their teeth

The walls they’ll tear down than forsake the siege.   ·aab040·

_Reig._ I think, by some odd gimmors or device   [aab041]

Their arms are set like clocks, still to strike on;

Else ne’er could they hold out so as they do.

By my consent, we’ll even let them alone.

_Alen._ Be it so.   ·aab045·

_Enter the_ BASTARD of Orleans.

_Bast._ Where’s the Prince Dauphin? I have news for him.

_Char._ Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us.

_Bast._ Methinks your looks are sad, your cheer appall’d:

Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence?

Be not dismay’d, for succour is at hand:   ·aab050·

A holy maid hither with me I bring,

Which by a vision sent to her from heaven

Ordained is to raise this tedious siege

And drive the English forth the bounds of France.

The spirit of deep prophecy she hath,   ·aab055·

Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome:

What’s past and what’s to come she can descry.

Speak, shall I call her in? Believe my words,   [aab058]

For they are certain and unfallible.   [aab059]

_Char._ Go, call her in. [_Exit Bastard._] But first, to try her

skill,   [aab060]

Reignier, stand thou as Dauphin in my place:

Question her proudly; let thy looks be stern:

By this means shall we sound what skill she hath.   [aab063]

_Re-enter the_ BASTARD of Orleans, _with_ JOAN LA PUCELLE.

_Reig._ Fair maid, is’t thou wilt do these wondrous feats?   [aab064]

_Puc._ Reignier, is’t thou that thinkest to beguile me?   ·aab065·

Where is the Dauphin? Come, come from behind;

I know thee well, though never seen before.

Be not amazed, there’s nothing hid from me:

In private will I talk with thee apart.

Stand back, you lords, and give us leave awhile.   ·aab070·

_Reig._ She takes upon her bravely at first dash.

_Puc._ Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd’s daughter,

My wit untrain’d in any kind of art.

Heaven and our Lady gracious hath it pleased   [aab074]

To shine on my contemptible estate:   ·aab075·

Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs,

And to sun’s parching heat display’d my cheeks,

God’s mother deigned to appear to me

And in a vision full of majesty

Will’d me to leave my base vocation   ·aab080·

And free my country from calamity:

Her aid she promised and assured success:

In complete glory she reveal’d herself;

And, whereas I was black and swart before,

With those clear rays which she infused on me   ·aab085·

That beauty am I bless’d with which you see.   [aab086]

Ask me what question thou canst possible,

And I will answer unpremeditated:

My courage try by combat, if thou darest,

And thou shalt find that I exceed my sex.   [aab090]

Resolve on this, thou shalt be fortunate,

If thou receive me for thy warlike mate.

_Char._ Thou hast astonish’d me with thy high terms:

Only this proof I’ll of thy valour make,

In single combat thou shalt buckle with me,   ·aab095·

And if thou vanquishest, thy words are true;

Otherwise I renounce all confidence.   [aab097]

_Puc._ I am prepared: here is my keen-edged sword,

Deck’d with five flower-de-luces on each side;   [aab099]

The which at Touraine, in Saint Katharine’s churchyard,   [aab100]

Out of a great deal of old iron I chose forth.   [aab101]

_Char._ Then come, o’ God’s name; I fear no woman.   [aab102]

_Puc._ And while I live, I’ll ne’er fly from a man.   [aab103]

[_Here they fight, and Joan La Pucelle overcomes._

_Char._ Stay, stay thy hands! thou art an Amazon,

And fightest with the sword of Deborah.   ·aab105·

_Puc._ Christ’s mother helps me, else I were too weak.

_Char._ Whoe’er helps thee, ’tis thou that must help me:

Impatiently I burn with thy desire;

My heart and hands thou hast at once subdued.

Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so,   ·aab110·

Let me thy servant and not sovereign be:

’Tis the French Dauphin sueth to thee thus.   [aab112]

_Puc._ I must not yield to any rites of love,   [aab113]

For my profession’s sacred from above:

When I have chased all thy foes from hence,   ·aab115·

Then will I think upon a recompense.

_Char._ Meantime look gracious on thy prostrate thrall.

_Reig._ My lord, methinks, is very long in talk.

_Alen._ Doubtless he shrives this woman to her smock;

Else ne’er could he so long protract his speech.   ·aab120·

_Reig._ Shall we disturb him, since he keeps no mean?

_Alen._ He may mean more than we poor men do know:

These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues.

_Reig._ My lord, where are you? what devise you on?

Shall we give over Orleans, or no?   [aab125]

_Puc._ Why, no, I say, distrustful recreants!

Fight till the last gasp; I will be your guard.   [aab127]

_Char._ What she says I’ll confirm: we’ll fight it out.

_Puc._ Assign’d am I to be the English scourge.   [aab129]

This night the siege assuredly I’ll raise:   ·aab130·

Expect Saint Martin’s summer, halcyon days,   [aab131]

Since I have entered into these wars.   [aab132]

Glory is like a circle in the water,

Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself

Till by broad spreading it disperse to nought.   ·aab135·

With Henry’s death the English circle ends;

Dispersed are the glories it included.

Now am I like that proud insulting ship   [aab138]

Which Cæsar and his fortune bare at once.   [aab139]

_Char._ Was Mahomet inspired with a dove?   ·aab140·

Thou with an eagle art inspired then.

Helen, the mother of great Constantine,

Nor yet Saint Philip’s daughters, were like thee.

Bright star of Venus, fall’n down on the earth,   [aab144]

How may I reverently worship thee enough?   [aab145]

_Alen._ Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege.

_Reig._ Woman, do what thou canst to save our honours;

Drive them from Orleans and be immortalized.   [aab148]

_Char._ Presently we’ll try: come, let’s away about it:   [aab149]

No prophet will I trust, if she prove false. [_Exeunt._   [aab150]

SCENE III. _London. Before the Tower_.

_Enter the_ DUKE of GLOUCESTER, _with his_ Serving-men _in blue

coats_.

_Glou._ I am come to survey the Tower this day:   [aac001]

Since Henry’s death, I fear, there is conveyance.

Where be these warders, that they wait not here?

Open the gates; ’tis Gloucester that calls.   [aac004]

_First Warder._ [_Within_] Who’s there that knocks so

imperiously?   [aac005]

_First Serv._ It is the noble Duke of Gloucester.   [aac006]

_Second Warder._ [_Within_] Whoe’er he be, you may not be let

in.   [aac007]

_First Serv._ Villains, answer you so the lord protector?   [aac008]

_First Warder._ [_Within_] The Lord protect him! so we answer him:

We do no otherwise than we are will’d.   ·aac010·

_Glou._ Who willed you? or whose will stands but mine?   [aac011]

There’s none protector of the realm but I.

Break up the gates, I’ll be your warrantize:   [aac013]

Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms?

[_Gloucester’s men rush at the Tower Gates, and

Woodvile the Lieutenant speaks within._

_Woodv._ What noise is this? what traitors have we here?   ·aac015·

_Glou._ Lieutenant, is it you whose voice I hear?

Open the gates; here’s Gloucester that would enter.

_Woodv._ Have patience, noble duke; I may not open;

The Cardinal of Winchester forbids:

From him I have express commandment   [aac020]

That thou nor none of thine shall be let in.

_Glou._ Faint-hearted Woodvile, prizest him ’fore me?

Arrogant Winchester, that haughty prelate,   [aac023]

Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne’er could brook?

Thou art no friend to God or to the king:   ·aac025·

Open the gates, or I’ll shut thee out shortly.

_Serving-men._ Open the gates unto the lord protector,   [aac027]

Or we’ll burst them open, if that you come not quickly.   [aac028]

_Enter to the Protector at the Tower Gates_ WINCHESTER _and his

men in tawny coats_.

_Win._ How now, ambitious Humphry! what means this?   [aac029]

_Glou._ Peel’d priest, dost thou command me to be shut out?   [aac030]

_Win._ I do, thou most usurping proditor,

And not protector, of the king or realm.

_Glou._ Stand back, thou manifest conspirator,

Thou that contrivedst to murder our dead lord;   [aac034]

Thou that givest whores indulgences to sin:   [aac035]

I’ll canvass thee in thy broad cardinal’s hat,

If thou proceed in this thy insolence.

_Win._ Nay, stand thou back; I will not budge a foot:

This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain,

To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.   ·aac040·

_Glou._ I will not slay thee, but I’ll drive thee back:   [aac041]

Thy scarlet robes as a child’s bearing-cloth

I’ll use to carry thee out of this place.

_Win._ Do what thou darest; I beard thee to thy face.

_Glou._ What! am I dared and bearded to my face?   ·aac045·

Draw, men, for all this privileged place;   [aac046]

Blue coats to tawny coats. Priest, beware your beard;   [aac047]

I mean to tug it and to cuff you soundly:

Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal’s hat:   [aac049]

In spite of pope or dignities of church,   ·aac050·

Here by the cheeks I’ll drag thee up and down.

_Win._ Gloucester, thou wilt answer this before the pope.   [aac052]

_Glou._ Winchester goose, I cry, a rope! a rope!

Now beat them hence; why do you let them stay?

Thee I’ll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep’s array.   ·aac055·

Out, tawny coats! out, scarlet hypocrite!   [aac056]

_Here Gloucester’s men beat out the Cardinal’s men, and enter in

the hurly-burly the_ Mayor of London _and his_ Officers.

_May._ Fie, lords! that you, being supreme magistrates,

Thus contumeliously should break the peace!

_Glou._ Peace, mayor! thou know’st little of my wrongs:   [aac059]

Here’s Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king,   [aac060]

Hath here distrain’d the Tower to his use.

_Win._ Here’s Gloucester, a foe to citizens,   [aac062]

One that still motions war and never peace,

O’ercharging your free purses with large fines,

That seeks to overthrow religion,   ·aac065·

Because he is protector of the realm,

And would have armour here out of the Tower,

To crown himself king and suppress the prince.

_Glou._ I will not answer thee with words, but blows.

[_Here they skirmish again._

_May._ Nought rests for me in this tumultuous strife   ·aac070·

But to make open proclamation:

Come, officer; as loud as e’er thou canst:   [aac072]

Cry.

_Off._ All manner of men assembled here in arms this day against

[aac074] God’s peace and the king’s, we charge and command you, in his

highness’ ·aac075· name, to repair to your several dwelling-places;

and not to wear, handle, or use any sword, weapon, or dagger,

henceforward, upon pain of death.

_Glou._ Cardinal, I’ll be no breaker of the law:

But we shall meet, and break our minds at large.   [aac080]

_Win._ Gloucester, we will meet; to thy cost, be sure:   [aac081]

Thy heart-blood I will have for this day’s work.

_May._ I’ll call for clubs, if you will not away.

This cardinal’s more haughty than the devil.   [aac084]

_Glou._ Mayor, farewell: thou dost but what thou mayst.   [aac085]

_Win._ Abominable Gloucester, guard thy head;

For I intend to have it ere long.   [aac087]

[_Exeunt, severally, Gloucester and Winchester with

their Serving-men._

_May._ See the coast clear’d, and then we will depart.

Good God, these nobles should such stomachs bear!   [aac089]

I myself fight not once in forty year. [_Exeunt._   ·aac090·

SCENE IV. _Orleans_.

_Enter, on the walls, a_ Master Gunner _and his_ Boy.

_M. Gun._ Sirrah, thou know’st how Orleans is besieged,   [aad001]

And how the English have the suburbs won.

_Boy._ Father, I know; and oft have shot at them,

Howe’er unfortunate I miss’d my aim.

_M. Gun._ But now thou shalt not. Be thou ruled by me:   ·aad005·

Chief master-gunner am I of this town;

Something I must do to procure me grace.

The prince’s espials have informed me   [aad008]

How the English, in the suburbs close intrench’d,   [aad009]

Wont through a secret grate of iron bars   [aad010]

In yonder tower to overpeer the city

And thence discover how with most advantage

They may vex us with shot or with assault.

To intercept this inconvenience,

A piece of ordnance ’gainst it I have placed;   ·aad015·

And even these three days have I watch’d,   [aad016]

If I could see them.

Now do thou watch, for I can stay no longer.   [aad018]

If thou spy’st any, run and bring me word;

And thou shalt find me at the governor’s. [_Exit._   ·aad020·

_Boy._ Father, I warrant you; take you no care;

I’ll never trouble you, if I may spy them. [_Exit._   [aad022]

_Enter, on the turrets, the_ LORDS SALISBURY _and_ TALBOT,

SIR WILLIAM GLANSDALE, SIR THOMAS GARGRAVE, _and

others_.

_Sal._ Talbot, my life, my joy, again return’d!   [aad023]

How wert thou handled being prisoner?

Or by what means got’st thou to be released?   [aad025]

Discourse, I prithee, on this turret’s top.

_Tal._ The Duke of Bedford had a prisoner   [aad027]

Call’d the brave Lord Ponton de Santrailles;   [aad028]

For him was I exchanged and ransomed.   [aad029]

But with a baser man of arms by far   ·aad030·

Once in contempt they would have barter’d me:

Which I disdaining scorn’d and craved death

Rather than I would be so vile-esteem’d.   [aad033]

In fine, redeem’d I was as I desired.

But, O! the treacherous Fastolfe wounds my heart,   [aad035]

Whom with my bare fists I would execute,

If I now had him brought into my power.

_Sal._ Yet tell’st thou not how thou wert entertain’d.

_Tal._ With scoffs and scorns and contumelious taunts.

In open market-place produced they me,   ·aad040·

To be a public spectacle to all:

Here, said they, is the terror of the French,

The scarecrow that affrights our children so.   [aad043]

Then broke I from the officers that led me,

And with my nails digg’d stones out of the ground,   ·aad045·

To hurl at the beholders of my shame:

My grisly countenance made others fly;

None durst come near for fear of sudden death.

In iron walls they deem’d me not secure;

So great fear of my name ’mongst them was spread   [aad050]

That they supposed I could rend bars of steel

And spurn in pieces posts of adamant:

Wherefore a guard of chosen shot I had

That walked about me every minute while;   [aad054]

And if I did but stir out of my bed,   ·aad055·

Ready they were to shoot me to the heart.   [aad056]

_Enter the_ Boy _with a linstock_.

_Sal._ I grieve to hear what torments you endured,

But we will be revenged sufficiently.

Now it is supper-time in Orleans:

Here, through this grate, I count each one   [aad060]

And view the Frenchmen how they fortify:

Let us look in; the sight will much delight thee.

Sir Thomas Gargrave, and Sir William Glansdale,

Let me have your express opinions

Where is best place to make our battery next.   [aad065]

_Gar._ I think, at the north gate; for there stand lords.   [aad066]

_Glan._ And I, here, at the bulwark of the bridge.

_Tal._ For aught I see, this city must be famish’d,

Or with light skirmishes enfeebled.   [aad069]

[_Here they shoot. Salisbury and Gargrave fall._

_Sal._ O Lord, have mercy on us, wretched sinners!   ·aad070·

_Gar._ O Lord, have mercy on me, woful man!

_Tal._ What chance is this that suddenly hath cross’d us?

Speak, Salisbury; at least, if thou canst speak:   [aad073]

How farest thou, mirror of all martial men?

One of thy eyes and thy cheek’s side struck off!   [aad075]

Accursed tower! accursed fatal hand

That hath contrived this woful tragedy!

In thirteen battles Salisbury o’ercame;   [aad078]

Henry the Fifth he first train’d to the wars;

Whilst any trump did sound, or drum struck up,   ·aad080·

His sword did ne’er leave striking in the field.

Yet livest thou, Salisbury? though thy speech doth fail,

One eye thou hast, to look to heaven for grace:

The sun with one eye vieweth all the world.   [aad084]

Heaven, be thou gracious to none alive,   ·aad085·

If Salisbury wants mercy at thy hands!

Bear hence his body; I will help to bury it.

Sir Thomas Gargrave, hast thou any life?

Speak unto Talbot; nay, look up to him.

Salisbury, cheer thy spirit with this comfort;   [aad090]

Thou shalt not die whiles--   [aad091]

He beckons with his hand and smiles on me,

As who should say ‘When I am dead and gone,

Remember to avenge me on the French.’

Plantagenet, I will; and like thee, Nero,   [aad095]

Play on the lute, beholding the towns burn:

Wretched shall France be only in my name.   [aad097]

[_Here an alarum, and it thunders and lightens._

What stir is this? what tumult’s in the heavens?

Whence cometh this alarum, and the noise?   [aad099]

_Enter a_ Messenger.

_Mess._ My lord, my lord, the French have gather’d head:   ·aad100·

The Dauphin, with one Joan la Pucelle join’d,   [aad101]

A holy prophetess new risen up,

Is come with a great power to raise the siege.

[_Here Salisbury lifteth himself up and groans._

_Tal._ Hear, hear how dying Salisbury doth groan!

It irks his heart he cannot be revenged.   ·aad105·

Frenchmen, I’ll be a Salisbury to you:

Pucelle or puzzel, dolphin or dogfish,   [aad107]

Your hearts I’ll stamp out with my horse’s heels,

And make a quagmire of your mingled brains.

Convey me Salisbury into his tent,   [aad110]

And then we’ll try what these dastard Frenchmen dare.   [aad111]

[_Alarum. Exeunt._

SCENE V. _The same_.

_Here an Alarum again: and_ TALBOT _pursueth the_ DAUPHIN, _and

driveth him: then enter_ JOAN LA PUCELLE, _driving Englishmen

before her, and exit after them: then re-enter_ TALBOT.

_Tal._ Where is my strength, my valour, and my force?   [aae001]

Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them;

A woman clad in armour chaseth them.   [aae003]

_Re-enter_ LA PUCELLE.

Here, here she comes. I’ll have a bout with thee;

Devil or devil’s dam, I’ll conjure thee:   ·aae005·

Blood will I draw on thee, thou art a witch,

And straightway give thy soul to him thou servest.

_Puc._ Come, come, ’tis only I that must disgrace thee.

[_Here they fight._

_Tal._ Heavens, can you suffer hell so to prevail?   [aae009]

My breast I’ll burst with straining of my courage   ·aae010·

And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder,

But I will chastise this high-minded strumpet.

[_They fight again._

_Puc._ Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet come:

I must go victual Orleans forthwith.   [aae014]

[_A short alarum: then enter the town with soldiers._

O’ertake me, if thou canst; I scorn thy strength.   ·aae015·

Go, go, cheer up thy hungry-starved men;   [aae016]

Help Salisbury to make his testament:

This day is ours, as many more shall be. [_Exit._

_Tal._ My thoughts are whirled like a potter’s wheel;

I know not where I am, nor what I do:   ·aae020·

A witch, by fear, not force, like Hannibal,

Drives back our troops and conquers as she lists:

So bees with smoke and doves with noisome stench

Are from their hives and houses driven away.

They call’d us for our fierceness English dogs;   ·aae025·

Now, like to whelps, we crying run away.   [aae026]

[_A short alarum._

Hark, countrymen! either renew the fight,

Or tear the lions out of England’s coat;

Renounce your soil, give sheep in lions’ stead:

Sheep run not half so treacherous from the wolf,   [aae030]

Or horse or oxen from the leopard,

As you fly from your oft-subdued slaves.

[_Alarum. Here another skirmish._

It will not be: retire into your trenches:

You all consented unto Salisbury’s death,

For none would strike a stroke in his revenge.   ·aae035·

Pucelle is enter’d into Orleans,

In spite of us or aught that we could do.

O, would I were to die with Salisbury!

The shame hereof will make me hide my head.

[_Exit Talbot. Alarum; retreat; flourish._

SCENE VI. _The same_.

_Enter, on the walls_, LA PUCELLE, CHARLES, REIGNIER,

ALENÇON, _and Soldiers_.

_Puc._ Advance our waving colours on the walls;   [aaf001]

Rescued is Orleans from the English:   [aaf002]

Thus Joan la Pucelle hath perform’d her word.

_Char._ Divinest creature, Astræa’s daughter,   [aaf004]

How shall I honour thee for this success?   ·aaf005·

Thy promises are like Adonis’ gardens   [aaf006]

That one day bloom’d and fruitful were the next.

France, triumph in thy glorious prophetess!

Recover’d is the town of Orleans:

More blessed hap did ne’er befall our state.   ·aaf010·

_Reig._ Why ring not out the bells aloud throughout the

town?   [aaf011]

Dauphin, command the citizens make bonfires

And feast and banquet in the open streets,

To celebrate the joy that God hath given us.

_Alen._ All France will be replete with mirth and joy,   ·aaf015·

When they shall hear how we have play’d the men.

_Char._ ’Tis Joan, not we, by whom the day is won;

For which I will divide my crown with her,

And all the priests and friars in my realm

Shall in procession sing her endless praise.   ·aaf020·

A statelier pyramis to her I’ll rear   [aaf021]

Than Rhodope’s or Memphis’ ever was:   [aaf022]

In memory of her when she is dead,   [aaf023]

Her ashes, in an urn more precious   [aaf024]

Than the rich-jewel’d coffer of Darius,   [aaf025]

Transported shall be at high festivals

Before the kings and queens of France.   [aaf027]

No longer on Saint Denis will we cry,

But Joan la Pucelle shall be France’s saint.

Come in, and let us banquet royally,   ·aaf030·

After this golden day of victory. [_Flourish. Exeunt._

ACT II.

SCENE I. _Before Orleans_.

_Enter a_ Sergeant _of a band, with two_ Sentinels.

_Serg._ Sirs, take your places and be vigilant:   [aba001]

If any noise or soldier you perceive

Near to the walls, by some apparent sign

Let us have knowledge at the court of guard.

_First Sent._ Sergeant, you shall. [_Exit Sergeant_.] Thus are poor

servitors,   ·aba005·

When others sleep upon their quiet beds,

Constrain’d to watch in darkness, rain and cold.   [aba007]

_Enter_ TALBOT, BEDFORD, BURGUNDY, _and forces, with

scaling-ladders, their drums beating a dead march_.

_Tal._ Lord Regent, and redoubted Burgundy,

By whose approach the regions of Artois,

Wallon and Picardy are friends to us,   ·aba010·

This happy night the Frenchmen are secure,

Having all day caroused and banqueted:

Embrace we then this opportunity

As fitting best to quittance their deceit

Contrived by art and baleful sorcery.   ·aba015·

_Bed._ Coward of France! how much he wrongs his fame,

Despairing of his own arm’s fortitude,

To join with witches and the help of hell!

_Bur._ Traitors have never other company.

But what’s that Pucelle whom they term so pure?   ·aba020·

_Tal._ A maid, they say.

_Bed._ A maid! and be so martial!

_Bur._ Pray God she prove not masculine ere long,

If underneath the standard of the French

She carry armour as she hath begun.

_Tal._ Well, let them practise and converse with spirits:   ·aba025·

God is our fortress, in whose conquering name

Let us resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks.

_Bed._ Ascend, brave Talbot; we will follow thee.

_Tal._ Not all together: better far, I guess,   [aba029]

That we do make our entrance several ways;   ·aba030·

That, if it chance the one of us do fail,

The other yet may rise against their force.

_Bed._ Agreed: I’ll to yond corner.

_Bur._ And I to this.   [aba033]

_Tal._ And here will Talbot mount, or make his grave.

Now, Salisbury, for thee, and for the right   ·aba035·

Of English Henry, shall this night appear

How much in duty I am bound to both.   [aba037]

_Sent._ Arm! arm! the enemy doth make assault!   [aba038]

[_Cry: ‘St George,’ ‘A Talbot.’_

_The French leap over the walls in their shirts. Enter, several

ways, the_ BASTARD of Orleans, ALENÇON, _and_ REIGNIER, _half

ready, and half unready_.

_Alen._ How now, my lords! what, all unready so?   [aba039]

_Bast._ Unready! ay, and glad we ’scaped so well.   [aba040]

_Reig._ ’Twas time, I trow, to wake and leave our beds,

Hearing alarums at our chamber-doors.

_Alen._ Of all exploits since first I follow’d arms,

Ne’er heard I of a warlike enterprise

More venturous or desperate than this.   ·aba045·

_Bast._ I think this Talbot be a fiend of hell.   [aba046]

_Reig._ If not of hell, the heavens, sure, favour him.

_Alen._ Here cometh Charles: I marvel how he sped.

_Bast._ Tut, holy Joan was his defensive guard.   [aba049]

_Enter_ CHARLES _and_ LA PUCELLE.

_Char._ Is this thy cunning, thou deceitful dame?   ·aba050·

Didst thou at first, to flatter us withal,

Make us partakers of a little gain,

That now our loss might be ten times so much?

_Puc._ Wherefore is Charles impatient with his friend?

At all times will you have my power alike?   ·aba055·

Sleeping or waking must I still prevail,

Or will you blame and lay the fault on me?

Improvident soldiers! had your watch been good,

This sudden mischief never could have fall’n.

_Char._ Duke of Alençon, this was your default,   ·aba060·

That, being captain of the watch to-night,

Did look no better to that weighty charge.

_Alen._ Had all your quarters been as safely kept   [aba063]

As that whereof I had the government,

We had not been thus shamefully surprised.   ·aba065·

_Bast._ Mine was secure.

_Reig._ And so was mine, my lord.

_Char._ And, for myself, most part of all this night,

Within her quarter and mine own precinct

I was employ’d in passing to and fro,

About relieving of the sentinels:   ·aba070·

Then how or which way should they first break in?

_Puc._ Question, my lords, no further of the case,

How or which way: ’tis sure they found some place

But weakly guarded, where the breach was made.

And now there rests no other shift but this;   ·aba075·

To gather our soldiers, scatter’d and dispersed,   [aba076]

And lay new platforms to endamage them.   [aba077]

_Alarum. Enter an_ English Soldier, _crying ‘A Talbot! a Talbot!’

They fly, leaving their clothes behind_.

_Sold._ I’ll be so bold to take what they have left.   [aba078]

The cry of Talbot serves me for a sword;

For I have loaden me with many spoils,   ·aba080·

Using no other weapon but his name. [_Exit._

SCENE II. _Orleans. Within the town_.

_Enter_ TALBOT, BEDFORD, BURGUNDY, _a_ Captain, _and others_.

_Bed._ The day begins to break, and night is fled,   [abb001]

Whose pitchy mantle over-veil’d the earth.

Here sound retreat, and cease our hot pursuit.   [abb003]

[_Retreat sounded._

_Tal._ Bring forth the body of old Salisbury,

And here advance it in the market-place,   ·abb005·

The middle centre of this cursed town.   [abb006]

Now have I paid my vow unto his soul;

For every drop of blood was drawn from him

There hath at least five Frenchmen died to-night.

And that hereafter ages may behold   ·abb010·

What ruin happen’d in revenge of him,

Within their chiefest temple I’ll erect

A tomb, wherein his corpse shall be interr’d:

Upon the which, that every one may read,

Shall be engraved the sack of Orleans,   ·abb015·

The treacherous manner of his mournful death

And what a terror he had been to France.

But, lords, in all our bloody massacre,

I muse we met not with the Dauphin’s grace,

His new-come champion, virtuous Joan of Arc,   [abb020]

Nor any of his false confederates.

_Bed._ ’Tis thought, Lord Talbot, when the fight began,

Roused on the sudden from their drowsy beds,

They did amongst the troops of armed men

Leap o’er the walls for refuge in the field.   ·abb025·

_Bur._ Myself, as far as I could well discern

For smoke and dusky vapours of the night,   [abb027]

Am sure I scared the Dauphin and his trull,

When arm in arm they both came swiftly running,

Like to a pair of loving turtle-doves   ·abb030·

That could not live asunder day or night.

After that things are set in order here,

We’ll follow them with all the power we have.

_Enter a_ Messenger.

_Mess._ All hail, my lords! Which of this princely train   [abb034]

Call ye the warlike Talbot, for his acts   ·abb035·

So much applauded through the realm of France?

_Tal._ Here is the Talbot: who would speak with him?

_Mess._ The virtuous lady, Countess of Auvergne,   [abb038]

With modesty admiring thy renown,

By me entreats, great lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe   [abb040]

To visit her poor castle where she lies,

That she may boast she hath beheld the man

Whose glory fills the world with loud report.

_Bur._ Is it even so? Nay, then, I see our wars

Will turn unto a peaceful comic sport,   [abb045]

When ladies crave to be encounter’d with.

You may not, my lord, despise her gentle suit.   [abb047]

_Tal._ Ne’er trust me then; for when a world of men   [abb048]

Could not prevail with all their oratory,

Yet hath a woman’s kindness over-ruled:   ·abb050·

And therefore tell her I return great thanks,

And in submission will attend on her.

Will not your honours bear me company?

_Bed._ No, truly; it is more than manners will:   [abb054]

And I have heard it said, unbidden guests   ·abb055·

Are often welcomest when they are gone.

_Tal._ Well then, alone, since there’s no remedy,

I mean to prove this lady’s courtesy.

Come hither, captain. [_Whispers._] You perceive my mind?   [abb059]

_Capt._ I do, my lord, and mean accordingly.   ·abb060·

[_Exeunt._

SCENE III. _Auvergne. The Countess’s castle_.

_Enter the_ COUNTESS _and her_ Porter.

_Count._ Porter, remember what I gave in charge;   [abc001]

And when you have done so, bring the keys to me.   [abc002]

_Port._ Madam, I will. [_Exit._

_Count._ The plot is laid: if all things fall out right,

I shall as famous be by this exploit   ·abc005·

As Scythian Tomyris by Cyrus’ death.

Great is the rumour of this dreadful knight,

And his achievements of no less account:

Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears,

To give their censure of these rare reports.   ·abc010·

_Enter_ Messenger _and_ TALBOT.

_Mess._ Madam,   [abc011]

According as your ladyship desired,   [abc012]

By message craved, so is Lord Talbot come.

_Count._ And he is welcome. What! is this the man?

_Mess._ Madam, it is.

_Count._ Is this the scourge of France?   ·abc015·

Is this the Talbot, so much fear’d abroad

That with his name the mothers still their babes?

I see report is fabulous and false:

I thought I should have seen some Hercules,

A second Hector, for his grim aspect,   ·abc020·

And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs.

Alas, this is a child, a silly dwarf!

It cannot be this weak and writhled shrimp   [abc023]

Should strike such terror to his enemies.   [abc024]

_Tal._ Madam, I have been bold to trouble you;   ·abc025·

But since your ladyship is not at leisure,

I’ll sort some other time to visit you.   [abc027]

_Count._ What means he now? Go ask him whither he goes.   [abc028]

_Mess._ Stay, my Lord Talbot; for my lady craves

To know the cause of your abrupt departure.   ·abc030·

_Tal._ Marry, for that she’s in a wrong belief,

I go to certify her Talbot’s here.   [abc032]

_Re-enter_ Porter _with keys_.

_Count._ If thou be he, then art thou prisoner.

_Tal._ Prisoner! to whom?

_Count._ To me, blood-thirsty lord;

And for that cause I train’d thee to my house.   ·abc035·

Long time thy shadow hath been thrall to me,

For in my gallery thy picture hangs:

But now the substance shall endure the like,

And I will chain these legs and arms of thine,

That hast by tyranny these many years   ·abc040·

Wasted our country, slain our citizens

And sent our sons and husbands captivate.

_Tal._ Ha, ha, ha!

_Count._ Laughest thou, wretch? thy mirth shall turn to

moan.   [abc044]

_Tal._ I laugh to see your ladyship so fond   ·abc045·

To think that you have aught but Talbot’s shadow

Whereon to practise your severity.

_Count._ Why, art not thou the man?   [abc048]

_Tal._ I am indeed.

_Count._ Then have I substance too.

_Tal._ No, no, I am but shadow of myself:   ·abc050·

You are deceived, my substance is not here;

For what you see is but the smallest part

And least proportion of humanity:

I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here,

It is of such a spacious lofty pitch,   ·abc055·

Your roof were not sufficient to contain ’t.

_Count._ This is a riddling merchant for the nonce;

He will be here, and yet he is not here:

How can these contrarieties agree?

_Tal._ That will I show you presently.   [abc060]

[_Winds his horn. Drums strike up: a peal

of ordnance. Enter Soldiers._

How say you, madam? are you now persuaded

That Talbot is but shadow of himself?

These are his substance, sinews, arms and strength,

With which he yoketh your rebellious necks,

Razeth your cities and subverts your towns   ·abc065·

And in a moment makes them desolate.

_Count._ Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse:

I find thou art no less than fame hath bruited

And more than may be gather’d by thy shape.   [abc069]

Let my presumption not provoke thy wrath;   ·abc070·

For I am sorry that with reverence

I did not entertain thee as thou art.

_Tal._ Be not dismay’d, fair lady; nor misconstrue   [abc073]

The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake

The outward composition of his body.   ·abc075·

What you have done hath not offended me;

Nor other satisfaction do I crave,

But only, with your patience, that we may   [abc078]

Taste of your wine and see what cates you have;

For soldiers’ stomachs always serve them well.   ·abc080·

_Count._ With all my heart, and think me honoured

To feast so great a warrior in my house. [_Exeunt._

SCENE IV. _London. The Temple-garden_.

_Enter the_ EARLS of SOMERSET, SUFFOLK, _and_ WARWICK;

RICHARD PLANTAGENET, VERNON, _and another_ Lawyer.

_Plan._ Great lords and gentlemen, what means this silence?   [abd001]

Dare no man answer in a case of truth?

_Suf._ Within the Temple-hall we were too loud;

The garden here is more convenient.

_Plan._ Then say at once if I maintain’d the truth;   ·abd005·

Or else was wrangling Somerset in the error?   [abd006]

_Suf._ Faith, I have been a truant in the law,

And never yet could frame my will to it;   [abd008]

And therefore frame the law unto my will.

_Som._ Judge you, my lord of Warwick, then, between us.   ·abd010·

_War._ Between two hawks, which flies the higher pitch;

Between two dogs, which hath the deeper mouth;

Between two blades, which bears the better temper:   [abd013]

Between two horses, which doth bear him best;

Between two girls, which hath the merriest eye;   ·abd015·

I have perhaps some shallow spirit of judgement:

But in these nice sharp quillets of the law,

Good faith, I am no wiser than a daw.

_Plan._ Tut, tut, here is a mannerly forbearance:

The truth appears so naked on my side   ·abd020·

That any purblind eye may find it out.

_Som._ And on my side it is so well apparell’d,

So clear, so shining and so evident

That it will glimmer through a blind man’s eye.   [abd024]

_Plan._ Since you are tongue-tied and so loath to speak,   ·abd025·

In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts:   [abd026]

Let him that is a true-born gentleman,

And stands upon the honour of his birth,

If he suppose that I have pleaded truth,

From off this brier pluck a white rose with me.   ·abd030·

_Som._ Let him that is no coward nor no flatterer,   [abd031]

But dare maintain the party of the truth,

Pluck a red rose from off this thorn with me.

_War._ I love no colours, and without all colour

Of base insinuating flattery   [abd035]

I pluck this white rose with Plantagenet.

_Suf._ I pluck this red rose with young Somerset

And say withal I think he held the right.

_Ver._ Stay, lords and gentlemen, and pluck no more,

Till you conclude that he upon whose side   ·abd040·

The fewest roses are cropp’d from the tree

Shall yield the other in the right opinion.

_Som._ Good Master Vernon, it is well objected:

If I have fewest, I subscribe in silence.

_Plan._ And I.   ·abd045·

_Ver._ Then for the truth and plainness of the case,

I pluck this pale and maiden blossom here,

Giving my verdict on the white rose side.

_Som._ Prick not your finger as you pluck it off,   [abd049]

Lest bleeding you do paint the white rose red   ·abd050·

And fall on my side so, against your will.

_Ver._ If I, my lord, for my opinion bleed,

Opinion shall be surgeon to my hurt

And keep me on the side where still I am.

_Som._ Well, well, come on: who else?   ·abd055·

_Law._ Unless my study and my books be false,

The argument you held was wrong in you; [_To Somerset._   [abd057]

In sign whereof I pluck a white rose too.

_Plan._ Now, Somerset, where is your argument?

_Som._ Here in my scabbard, meditating that   ·abd060·

Shall dye your white rose in a bloody red.   [abd061]

_Plan._ Meantime your cheeks do counterfeit our roses;   [abd062]

For pale they look with fear, as witnessing

The truth on our side.

_Som._ No, Plantagenet,

’Tis not for fear but anger that thy cheeks   [abd065]

Blush for pure shame to counterfeit our roses,

And yet thy tongue will not confess thy error.

_Plan._ Hath not thy rose a canker, Somerset?

_Som._ Hath not thy rose a thorn, Plantagenet?

_Plan._ Ay, sharp and piercing, to maintain his truth;   ·abd070·

Whiles thy consuming canker eats his falsehood.

_Som._ Well, I’ll find friends to wear my bleeding roses,

That shall maintain what I have said is true,

Where false Plantagenet dare not be seen.

_Plan._ Now, by this maiden blossom in my hand,   ·abd075·

I scorn thee and thy fashion, peevish boy.   [abd076]

_Suf._ Turn not thy scorns this way, Plantagenet.

_Plan._ Proud Pole, I will, and scorn both him and thee.

_Suf._ I’ll turn my part thereof into thy throat.

_Som._ Away, away, good William de la Pole!   ·abd080·

We grace the yeoman by conversing with him.

_War._ Now, by God’s will, thou wrong’st him, Somerset;

His grandfather was Lionel Duke of Clarence,

Third son to the third Edward King of England:

Spring crestless yeomen from so deep a root?   ·abd085·

_Plan._ He bears him on the place’s privilege,   [abd086]

Or durst not, for his craven heart, say thus.

_Som._ By him that made me, I’ll maintain my words

On any plot of ground in Christendom.

Was not thy father, Richard Earl of Cambridge,   ·abd090·

For treason executed in our late king’s days?   [abd091]

And, by his treason, stand’st not thou attainted,

Corrupted, and exempt from ancient gentry?

His trespass yet lives guilty in thy blood;

And, till thou be restored, thou art a yeoman.   ·abd095·

_Plan._ My father was attached, not attainted,

Condemn’d to die for treason, but no traitor;

And that I’ll prove on better men than Somerset,

Were growing time once ripen’d to my will.   [abd099]

For your partaker Pole and you yourself,   ·abd100·

I’ll note you in my book of memory,

To scourge you for this apprehension:   [abd102]

Look to it well and say you are well warn’d.

_Som._ Ah, thou shalt find us ready for thee still;

And know us by these colours for thy foes,   ·abd105·

For these my friends in spite of thee shall wear.

_Plan._ And, by my soul, this pale and angry rose,

As cognizance of my blood-drinking hate,

Will I for ever and my faction wear,

Until it wither with me to my grave   [abd110]

Or flourish to the height of my degree.

_Suf._ Go forward and be choked with thy ambition!

And so farewell until I meet thee next. [_Exit._

_Som._ Have with thee, Pole. Farewell, ambitious Richard.

[_Exit._

_Plan._ How I am braved and must perforce endure it!   ·abd115·

_War._ This blot that they object against your house

Shall be wiped out in the next parliament   [abd117]

Call’d for the truce of Winchester and Gloucester;

And if thou be not then created York,

I will not live to be accounted Warwick.   ·abd120·

Meantime, in signal of my love to thee,

Against proud Somerset and William Pole,

Will I upon thy party wear this rose:

And here I prophesy: this brawl to-day,

Grown to this faction in the Temple-garden,   ·abd125·

Shall send between the red rose and the white

A thousand souls to death and deadly night.   [abd127]

_Plan._ Good Master Vernon, I am bound to you,   [abd128]

That you on my behalf would pluck a flower.

_Ver._ In your behalf still will I wear the same.   ·abd130·

_Law._ And so will I.

_Plan._ Thanks, gentle sir.   [abd132]

Come, let us four to dinner: I dare say

This quarrel will drink blood another day. [_Exeunt._

SCENE V. _The Tower of London_.

_Enter_ MORTIMER, _brought in a chair, and_ Gaolers.

_Mor._ Kind keepers of my weak decaying age,   [abe001]

Let dying Mortimer here rest himself.

Even like a man new haled from the rack,   [abe003]

So fare my limbs with long imprisonment;

And these grey locks, the pursuivants of death,   ·abe005·

Nestor-like aged in an age of care,   [abe006]

Argue the end of Edmund Mortimer.

These eyes, like lamps whose wasting oil is spent,

Wax dim, as drawing to their exigent;

Weak shoulders, overborne with burthening grief,   ·abe010·

And pithless arms, like to a wither’d vine   [abe011]

That droops his sapless branches to the ground:

Yet are these feet, whose strengthless stay is numb,

Unable to support this lump of clay,

Swift-winged with desire to get a grave,   ·abe015·

As witting I no other comfort have.   [abe016]

But tell me, keeper, will my nephew come?

_First Gaol._ Richard Plantagenet, my lord, will come:   [abe018]

We sent unto the Temple, unto his chamber;   [abe019]

And answer was return’d that he will come.   ·abe020·

_Mor._ Enough: my soul shall then be satisfied.   [abe021]

Poor gentleman! his wrong doth equal mine.

Since Henry Monmouth first began to reign,

Before whose glory I was great in arms,

This loathsome sequestration have I had;   ·abe025·

And even since then hath Richard been obscured,

Deprived of honour and inheritance.

But now the arbitrator of despairs,

Just death, kind umpire of men’s miseries,

With sweet enlargement doth dismiss me hence:   ·abe030·

I would his troubles likewise were expired,

That so he might recover what was lost.   [abe032]

_Enter_ RICHARD PLANTAGENET.

_First Gaol._ My lord, your loving nephew now is come.

_Mor._ Richard Plantagenet, my friend, is he come?   [abe034]

_Plan._ Ay, noble uncle, thus ignobly used,   [abe035]

Your nephew, late despised Richard, comes.

_Mor._ Direct mine arms I may embrace his neck,

And in his bosom spend my latter gasp:   [abe038]

O, tell me when my lips do touch his cheeks,

That I may kindly give one fainting kiss.   ·abe040·

And now declare, sweet stem from York’s great stock,

Why didst thou say, of late thou wert despised?

_Plan._ First, lean thine aged back against mine arm;

And, in that ease, I’ll tell thee my disease.   [abe044]

This day, in argument upon a case,   ·abe045·

Some words there grew ’twixt Somerset and me;

Among which terms he used his lavish tongue   [abe047]

And did upbraid me with my father’s death:

Which obloquy set bars before my tongue,

Else with the like I had requited him.   ·abe050·

Therefore, good uncle, for my father’s sake,

In honour of a true Plantagenet

And for alliance sake, declare the cause

My father, Earl of Cambridge, lost his head.

_Mor._ That cause, fair nephew, that imprison’d me   [abe055]

And hath detain’d me all my flowering youth

Within a loathsome dungeon, there to pine,

Was cursed instrument of his decease.

_Plan._ Discover more at large what cause that was,

For I am ignorant and cannot guess.   ·abe060·

_Mor._ I will, if that my fading breath permit   [abe061]

And death approach not ere my tale be done.

Henry the Fourth, grandfather to this king,

Deposed his nephew Richard, Edward’s son,   [abe064]

The first-begotten and the lawful heir   ·abe065·

Of Edward king, the third of that descent:   [abe066]

During whose reign the Percies of the north,

Finding his usurpation most unjust,

Endeavour’d my advancement to the throne:

The reason moved these warlike lords to this   ·abe070·

Was, for that--young King Richard thus removed,   [abe071]

Leaving no heir begotten of his body--

I was the next by birth and parentage;

For by my mother I derived am

From Lionel Duke of Clarence, the third son   [abe075]

To King Edward the Third; whereas he   [abe076]

From John of Gaunt doth bring his pedigree,

Being but fourth of that heroic line.   [abe078]

But mark: as in this haughty great attempt   [abe079]

They laboured to plant the rightful heir,   ·abe080·

I lost my liberty and they their lives.

Long after this, when Henry the Fifth,   [abe082]

Succeeding his father Bolingbroke, did reign,   [abe083]

Thy father, Earl of Cambridge, then derived

From famous Edmund Langley, Duke of York,   ·abe085·

Marrying my sister that thy mother was,

Again in pity of my hard distress

Levied an army, weening to redeem

And have install’d me in the diadem:   [abe089]

But, as the rest, so fell that noble earl   ·abe090·

And was beheaded. Thus the Mortimers,

In whom the title rested, were suppress’d.

_Plan._ Of which, my lord, your honour is the last.   [abe093]

_Mor._ True; and them seest that I no issue have

And that my fainting words do warrant death:   ·abe095·

Thou art my heir; the rest I wish thee gather:

But yet be wary in thy studious care.

_Plan._ Thy grave admonishments prevail with me:

But yet, methinks, my father’s execution

Was nothing less than bloody tyranny.   ·abe100·

_Mor._ With silence, nephew, be thou politic:

Strong-fixed is the house of Lancaster   [abe102]

And like a mountain, not to be removed.

But now thy uncle is removing hence;

As princes do their courts, when they are cloy’d   [abe105]

With long continuance in a settled place.

_Plan._ O, uncle, would some part of my young years

Might but redeem the passage of your age!

_Mor._ Thou dost then wrong me, as that slaughterer doth   [abe109]

Which giveth many wounds when one will kill.   ·abe110·

Mourn not, except thou sorrow for my good;

Only give order for my funeral:

And so farewell, and fair be all thy hopes   [abe113]

And prosperous be thy life in peace and war! [_Dies._

_Plan._ And peace, no war, befall thy parting soul!   ·abe115·

In prison hast thou spent a pilgrimage

And like a hermit overpass’d thy days.

Well, I will lock his counsel in my breast;

And what I do imagine let that rest.

Keepers, convey him hence, and I myself   ·abe120·

Will see his burial better than his life.   [abe121]

[_Exeunt Gaolers, bearing out the body of Mortimer._

Here dies the dusky torch of Mortimer,   [abe122]

Choked with ambition of the meaner sort:   [abe123]

And for those wrongs, those bitter injuries,

Which Somerset hath offer’d to my house,   ·abe125·

I doubt not but with honour to redress;   [abe126]

And therefore haste I to the parliament,

Either to be restored to my blood,

Or make my ill the advantage of my good. [_Exit._   [abe129]

ACT III.

SCENE I. _London. The Parliament-house_.

_Flourish. Enter_ KING, EXETER, GLOUCESTER, WARWICK,

SOMERSET, _and_ SUFFOLK; _the_ BISHOP of WINCHESTER, RICHARD

PLANTAGENET, _and others._ GLOUCESTER _offers to put up a bill;_

WINCHESTER _snatches it, tears it_.

_Win._ Comest thou with deep premeditated lines,   [aca001]

With written pamphlets studiously devised,

Humphrey of Gloucester? If thou canst accuse,

Or aught intend’st to lay unto my charge,

Do it without invention, suddenly;   ·aca005·

As I with sudden and extemporal speech

Purpose to answer what thou canst object.

_Glou._ Presumptuous priest! this place commands my patience,

Or thou shouldst find thou hast dishonour’d me.

Think not, although in writing I preferr’d   ·aca010·

The manner of thy vile outrageous crimes,

That therefore I have forged, or am not able

Verbatim to rehearse the method of my pen:

No, prelate; such is thy audacious wickedness,

Thy lewd, pestiferous and dissentious pranks,   ·aca015·

As very infants prattle of thy pride.

Thou art a most pernicious usurer,

Froward by nature, enemy to peace;

Lascivious, wanton, more than well beseems

A man of thy profession and degree;   ·aca020·

And for thy treachery, what’s more manifest?

In that thou laid’st a trap to take my life,

As well at London-bridge as at the Tower.

Beside, I fear me, if thy thoughts were sifted,

The king, thy sovereign, is not quite exempt   ·aca025·

From envious malice of thy swelling heart.

_Win._ Gloucester, I do defy thee. Lords, vouchsafe   [aca027]

To give me hearing what I shall reply.

If I were covetous, ambitious or perverse,   [aca029]

As he will have me, how am I so poor?   ·aca030·

Or how haps it I seek not to advance   [aca031]

Or raise myself, but keep my wonted calling?

And for dissension, who preferreth peace   [aca033]

More than I do?--except I be provoked.

No, my good lords, it is not that offends;   ·aca035·

It is not that that hath incensed the duke:   [aca036]

It is, because no one should sway but he;

No one but he should be about the king;

And that engenders thunder in his breast

And makes him roar these accusations forth.   ·aca040·

But he shall know I am as good--   [aca041]

_Glou._ As good!

Thou bastard of my grandfather!

_Win._ Ay, lordly sir; for what are you, I pray,

But one imperious in another’s throne?

_Glou._ Am I not protector, saucy priest?   [aca045]

_Win._ And am not I a prelate of the church?

_Glou._ Yes, as an outlaw in a castle keeps

And useth it to patronage his theft.

_Win._ Unreverent Gloster!

_Glou._ Thou art reverent   [aca049]

Touching thy spiritual function, not thy life.   ·aca050·

_Win._ Rome shall remedy this.

_War._ Roam thither, then.   [aca051]

_Som._ My lord, it were your duty to forbear.

_War._ Ay, see the bishop be not overborne.   [aca053]

_Som._ Methinks my lord should be religious

And know the office that belongs to such.   ·aca055·

_War._ Methinks his lordship should be humbler;   [aca056]

It fitteth not a prelate so to plead.

_Som._ Yes, when his holy state is touch’d so near.

_War._ State holy or unhallow’d, what of that?

Is not his grace protector to the king?   ·aca060·

_Plan._ [_Aside_] Plantagenet, I see, must hold his tongue,   [aca061]

Lest it be said ‘Speak, sirrah, when you should;

Must your bold verdict enter talk with lords?’

Else would I have a fling at Winchester.

_King._ Uncles of Gloucester and of Winchester,   [aca065]

The special watchmen of our English weal,

I would prevail, if prayers might prevail,

To join your hearts in love and amity.

O, what a scandal is it to our crown,

That two such noble peers as ye should jar!   ·aca070·

Believe me, lords, my tender years can tell

Civil dissension is a viperous worm

That gnaws the bowels of the commonwealth.

[_A noise within,_ ‘Down with the tawny-coats!’

What tumult’s this?

_War._ An uproar, I dare warrant,

Begun through malice of the bishop’s men.   ·aca075·

[_A noise again,_ ‘Stones! stones!’

_Enter Mayor_.

_May._ O, my good lords, and virtuous Henry,   [aca076]

Pity the city of London, pity us!   [aca077]

The bishop and the Duke of Gloucester’s men,   [aca078]

Forbidden late to carry any weapon,

Have fill’d their pockets full of pebble stones   [aca080]

And banding themselves in contrary parts   [aca081]

Do pelt so fast at one another’s pate   [aca082]

That many have their giddy brains knock’d out:

Our windows are broke down in every street

And we for fear compell’d to shut our shops.   [aca085]

_Enter_ Serving-men, _in skirmish, with bloody pates_.

_King._ We charge you, on allegiance to ourself,   [aca086]

To hold your slaughtering hands and keep the peace.

Pray, uncle Gloucester, mitigate this strife.

_First Serv._ Nay, if we be forbidden stones, we’ll fall   [aca089]

to it with our teeth.   ·aca090·

_Sec. Serv._ Do what ye dare, we are as resolute.

[_Skirmish again._

_Glou._ You of my household, leave this peevish broil

And set this unaccustom’d fight aside.

_Third Serv._ My lord, we know your grace to be a man

Just and upright; and, for your royal birth,   ·aca095·

Inferior to none but to his majesty:   [aca096]

And ere that we will suffer such a prince,

So kind a father of the commonweal,

To be disgraced by an inkhorn mate,

We and our wives and children all will fight   [aca100]

And have our bodies slaughter’d by thy foes.   [aca101]

_First Serv._ Ay, and the very parings of our nails

Shall pitch a field when we are dead. [_Begin again._

_Glou._ Stay, stay, I say!   [aca103]

And if you love me, as you say you do,   [aca104]

Let me persuade you to forbear awhile.   ·aca105·

_King._ O, how this discord doth afflict my soul!

Can you, my Lord of Winchester, behold

My sighs and tears and will not once relent?

Who should be pitiful, if you be not?

Or who should study to prefer a peace,   [aca110]

If holy churchmen take delight in broils?

_War._ Yield, my lord protector; yield, Winchester;   [aca112]

Except you mean with obstinate repulse

To slay your sovereign and destroy the realm.

You see what mischief and what murder too   ·aca115·

Hath been enacted through your enmity;

Then be at peace, except ye thirst for blood.

_Win._ He shall submit, or I will never yield.

_Glou._ Compassion on the king commands me stoop;

Or I would see his heart out, ere the priest   ·aca120·

Should ever get that privilege of me.

_War._ Behold, my Lord of Winchester, the duke

Hath banish’d moody discontented fury,

As by his smoothed brows it doth appear:   [aca124]

Why look you still so stern and tragical?   ·aca125·

_Glou._ Here, Winchester, I offer thee my hand.

_King._ Fie, uncle Beaufort! I have heard you preach

That malice was a great and grievous sin;

And will not you maintain the thing you teach,   [aca129]

But prove a chief offender in the same?   ·aca130·

_War._ Sweet king! the bishop hath a kindly gird.   [aca131]

For shame, my lord of Winchester, relent!

What, shall a child instruct you what to do?

_Win._ Well, Duke of Gloucester, I will yield to thee;

Love for thy love and hand for hand I give.   ·aca135·

_Glou._ [_Aside_] Ay, but, I fear me, with a hollow heart.   [aca136]

See here, my friends and loving countrymen;

This token serveth for a flag of truce

Betwixt ourselves and all our followers:

So help me God, as I dissemble not!   ·aca140·

_Win._ [_Aside_] So help me God, as I intend it not!   [aca141]

_King._ O loving uncle, kind Duke of Gloucester,   [aca142]

How joyful am I made by this contract!

Away, my masters! trouble us no more;

But join in friendship, as your lords have done.   ·aca145·

_First Serv._ Content: I’ll to the surgeon’s.

_Sec. Serv._ And so will I.   [aca146]

_Third Serv._ And I will see what physic the tavern   [aca147]

affords. [_Exeunt Serving-men, Mayor, &c._   [aca148]

_War._ Accept this scroll, most gracious sovereign,   [aca149]

Which in the right of Richard Plantagenet   [aca150]

We do exhibit to your majesty.

_Glou._ Well urged, my Lord of Warwick: for, sweet prince,

An if your grace mark every circumstance,   [aca153]

You have great reason to do Richard right;

Especially for those occasions   ·aca155·

At Eltham Place I told your majesty.

_King._ And those occasions, uncle, were of force:

Therefore, my loving lords, our pleasure is

That Richard be restored to his blood.

_War._ Let Richard be restored to his blood;   ·aca160·

So shall his father’s wrongs be recompensed.

_Win._ As will the rest, so willeth Winchester.

_King._ If Richard will be true, not that alone   [aca163]

But all the whole inheritance I give

That doth belong unto the house of York,   ·aca165·

From whence you spring by lineal descent.

_Plan._ Thy humble servant vows obedience   [aca167]

And humble service till the point of death.   [aca168]

_King._ Stoop then and set your knee against my foot;

And, in reguerdon of that duty done,   ·aca170·

I gird thee with the valiant sword of York:   [aca171]

Rise, Richard, like a true Plantagenet,

And rise created princely Duke of York.

_Plan._ And so thrive Richard as thy foes may fall!

And as my duty springs, so perish they   [aca175]

That grudge one thought against your majesty!

_All._ Welcome, high prince, the mighty Duke of York!

_Som._ [_Aside_] Perish, base prince, ignoble Duke of York!   [aca178]

_Glou._ Now will it best avail your majesty

To cross the seas and to be crown’d in France:   ·aca180·

The presence of a king engenders love

Amongst his subjects and his loyal friends,

As it disanimates his enemies.

_King._ When Gloucester says the word, King Henry goes;

For friendly counsel cuts off many foes.   ·aca185·

_Glou._ Your ships already are in readiness.   [aca186]

[_Sennet. Flourish. Exeunt all but Exeter._

_Exe._ Ay, we may march in England or in France,   [aca187]

Not seeing what is likely to ensue.

This late dissension grown betwixt the peers

Burns under feigned ashes of forged love   ·aca190·

And will at last break out into a flame:

As fester’d members rot but by degree,   [aca192]

Till bones and flesh and sinews fall away,

So will this base and envious discord breed.

And now I fear that fatal prophecy   ·aca195·

Which in the time of Henry named the fifth

Was in the mouth of every sucking babe;

That Henry born at Monmouth should win all

And Henry born at Windsor lose all:   [aca199]

Which is so plain that Exeter doth wish   ·aca200·

His days may finish ere that hapless time. [_Exit._

SCENE II. _France. Before Rouen_.

_Enter_ LA PUCELLE _disguised, with four_ Soldiers _with sacks upon

their backs_.

_Puc._ These are the city gates, the gates of Rouen,

Through which our policy must make a breach:

Take heed, be wary how you place your words;

Talk like the vulgar sort of market men

That come to gather money for their corn.   ·acb005·

If we have entrance, as I hope we shall,

And that we find the slothful watch but weak,

I’ll by a sign give notice to our friends,

That Charles the Dauphin may encounter them.

_First Sol._ Our sacks shall be a mean to sack the city,   ·acb010·

And we be lords and rulers over Rouen;

Therefore we’ll knock.   [acb012]

[_Knocks._

_Watch._ [_Within_] Qui est là?   [acb013]

_Puc._ Paysans, pauvres gens de France;   [acb014]

Poor market folks that come to sell their corn.   ·acb015·

_Watch._ Enter, go in; the market bell is rung.   [acb016]

_Puc._ Now, Rouen, I’ll shake thy bulwarks to the ground.   [acb017]

[_Exeunt._

_Enter_ CHARLES, _the_ BASTARD _of Orleans_, ALENÇON,

REIGNIER, _and forces_.

_Char._ Saint Denis bless this happy stratagem!

And once again we’ll sleep secuere in Rouen.

_Bast._ Here enter’d Pucelle und her practisants;   [acb020]

Now she is there, how will she specify   [acb021]

Where is the best and safes passage in?

_Reign._ By thrusting out a torch from yonder tower;   [acb023]

Which, once discern’d, shows that her meaning is,

No way to that, for weakness, which she enter’d.   [acb025]

_Enter_ LA PUCELLE _on the top, thrusting out a torch burning_.

_Puc._ Behold, this is the happy wedding torch

That joineth Rouen unto her countrymen,

But burning fatal to the Talbotites!   [acb028]

[_Exit._

_Bast._ See, noble Charles, the beacon of our friend;

The burning torch in yonder turret stands.   ·acb030·

_Char._ Now shine it like a comet of revenge,   [acb031]

A prophet to the fall of all our foes!

_Reign._ Defer no time, delays have dangerous ends;

Enter, and cry ‘The Dauphin!’ presently,

And then do execution on the watch. [_Alarum. Exeunt._   [acb035]

_An alarum. Enter_ TALBOT _in an excursion_.

_Tal._ France, thou shalt rue this treason with thy tears,   [acb036]

If Talbot but survive thy treachery.

Pucelle, that witch, that damned sorceress,

Hath wrought this hellish mischief unawares,

That hardly we escaped the pride of France. [_Exit._   [acb040]

_An alarum: excursions._ BEDFORD, _brought in sick in a chair.

Enter_ TALBOT _and_ BURGUNDY _without: within_ LA PUCELLE,

CHARLES, BASTARD, ALENÇON, _and_ REIGNIER, _on the walls_.

_Puc._ Good morrow, gallants! want ye corn for bread?   [acb041]

I think the Duke of Burgundy will fast   [acb042]

Before he’ll buy again at such a rate:

’Twas full of darnel; do you like the taste?

_Bur._ Scoff on, vile fiend and shameless courtezan!   ·acb045·

I trust ere long to choke thee with thine own

And make thee curse the harvest of that corn.

_Char._ Your grace may starve perhaps before that time.

_Bed._ O, let no words, but deeds, revenge this treason!

_Puc._ What will you do, good grey-beard? break a lance,   [acb050]

And run a tilt at death within a chair?

_Tal._ Foul fiend of France, and hag of all despite,   [acb052]

Encompass’d with thy lustful paramours!

Becomes it thee to taunt his valiant age,

And twit with cowardice a man half dead?   ·acb055·

Damsel, I’ll have a bout with you again,

Or else let Talbot perish with this shame.   [acb057]

_Puc._ Are ye so hot, sir? yet, Pucelle, hold thy peace;   [acb058]

If Talbot do but thunder, rain will follow.   [acb059]

[_The English whisper together in council._

God speed the parliament! who shall be the speaker?   [acb060]

_Tal._ Dare ye come forth and meet us in the field?

_Puc._ Belike your lordship takes us then for fools,

To try if that our own be ours or no.

_Tal._ I speak not to that railing Hecate,

But unto thee, Alençon, and the rest;   ·acb065·

Will ye, like soldiers, come and fight it out?

_Alen._ Signior, no.

_Tal._ Signior, hang! base muleters of France!   [acb068]

Like peasant foot-boys do they keep the walls

And dare not take up arms like gentlemen.   ·acb070·

_Puc._ Away, captains! let’s get us from the walls;   [acb071]

For Talbot means no goodness by his looks.

God be wi’ you, my lord! we came but to tell you   [acb073]

That we are here. [_Exeunt from the walls._

_Tal._ And there will we be too, ere it be long,   ·acb075·

Or else reproach be Talbot’s greatest fame!

Vow, Burgundy, by honour of thy house,

Prick’d on by public wrongs sustain’d in France,

Either to get the town again or die:

And I, as sure as English Henry lives   ·acb080·

And as his father here was conqueror,

As sure as in this late-betrayed town

Great Cœur-de-lion’s heart was buried,

So sure I swear to get the town or die.

_Bur._ My vows are equal partners with thy vows.   ·acb085·

_Tal._ But, ere we go, regard this dying prince,

The valiant Duke of Bedford. Come, my lord,

We will bestow you in some better place,

Fitter for sickness and for crazy age.

_Bed._ Lord Talbot, do not so dishonour me:   ·acb090·

Here will I sit before the walls of Rouen

And will be partner of your weal or woe.   [acb092]

_Bur._ Courageous Bedford, let us now persuade you.

_Bed._ Not to be gone from hence; for once I read

That stout Pendragon in his litter sick   ·acb095·

Came to the field and vanquished his foes:

Methinks I should revive the soldiers’ hearts,

Because I ever found them as myself.

_Tal._ Undaunted spirit in a dying breast!   [acb099]

Then be it so: heavens keep old Bedford safe!   ·acb100·

And now no more ado, brave Burgundy,

But gather we our forces out of hand

And set upon our boasting enemy.   [acb103]

[_Exeunt all but Bedford and Attendants._

_An alarum: excursions. Enter_ SIR JOHN FASTOLFE _and a_

Captain.

_Cap._ Whither away, Sir John Fastolfe, in such haste?   [acb104]

_Fast._ Whither away! to save myself by flight:   ·acb105·

We are like to have the overthrow again.

_Cap._ What! will you fly, and leave Lord Talbot?

_Fast._ Ay,   [acb107]

All the Talbots in the world, to save my life. [_Exit_

_Cap._ Cowardly knight! ill fortune follow thee! [_Exit._

_Retreat: excursions._ LA PUCELLE, ALENÇON _and_ CHARLES

_fly_.

_Bed._ Now, quiet soul, depart when heaven please,   ·acb110·

For I have seen our enemies’ overthrow.

What is the trust or strength of foolish man?

They that of late were daring with their scoffs

Are glad and fain by flight to save themselves.

[_Bedford dies, and is carried in by two in his chair._

_An alarum. Re-enter_ TALBOT, BURGUNDY, _and the rest_.

_Tal._ Lost, and recover’d in a day again!   [acb115]

This is a double honour, Burgundy:

Yet heavens have glory for this victory!   [acb117]

_Bur._ Warlike and martial Talbot, Burgundy   [acb118]

Enshrines thee in his heart and there erects

Thy noble deeds as valour’s monuments.   ·acb120·

_Tal._ Thanks, gentle duke. But where is Pucelle now?

I think her old familiar is asleep:

Now where’s the Bastard’s braves, and Charles his gleeks?   [acb123]

What, all amort? Rouen hangs her head for grief

That such a valiant company are fled.   ·acb125·

Now will we take some order in the town,

Placing therein some expert officers,

And then depart to Paris to the king,

For there young Henry with his nobles lie.   [acb129]

_Bur._ What wills Lord Talbot pleaseth Burgundy.   ·acb130·

_Tal._ But yet, before we go, let’s not forget

The noble Duke of Bedford late deceased,

But see his exequies fulfill’d in Rouen:

A braver soldier never couched lance,

A gentler heart did never sway in court;   ·acb135·

But kings and mightiest potentates must die,

For that’s the end of human misery. [_Exeunt._

SCENE III. _The plains near Rouen_.

_Enter_ CHARLES, _the_ BASTARD _of Orleans,_ ALENÇON, LA

PUCELLE, _and forces_.

_Puc._ Dismay not, princes, at this accident,   [acc001]

Nor grieve that Rouen is so recovered:

Care is no cure, but rather corrosive,   [acc003]

For things that are not to be remedied.

Let frantic Talbot triumph for a while   ·acc005·

And like a peacock sweep along his tail;

We’ll pull his plumes and take away his train,

If Dauphin and the rest will be but ruled.

_Char._ We have been guided by thee hitherto

And of thy cunning had no diffidence:   ·acc010·

One sudden foil shall never breed distrust.

_Bast._ Search out thy wit for secret policies,

And we will make thee famous through the world.

_Alen._ We’ll set thy statue in some holy place,

And have thee reverenced like a blessed saint:   ·acc015·

Employ thee then, sweet virgin, for our good.

_Puc._ Then thus it must be; this doth Joan devise:

By fair persuasions mix’d with sugar’d words

We will entice the Duke of Burgundy

To leave the Talbot and to follow us.   ·acc020·

_Char._ Ay, marry, sweeting, if we could do that,

France were no place for Henry’s warriors;

Nor should that nation boast it so with us,   [acc023]

But be extirped from our provinces.

_Alen._ For ever should they be expulsed from France   ·acc025·

And not have title of an earldom here.

_Puc._ Your honours shall perceive how I will work

To bring this matter to the wished end.

[_Drum sounds afar off._

Hark! by the sound of drum you may perceive

Their powers are marching unto Paris-ward.   [acc030]

_Here sound an English march. Enter, and pass over

at a distance,_ TALBOT _and his forces._

There goes the Talbot, with his colours spread,

And all the troops of English after him.   [acc032]

_French march. Enter the_ DUKE OF BURGUNDY _and forces._

Now in the rearward comes the duke and his:

Fortune in favour makes him lag behind.   [acc036]

Summon a parley; we will talk with him.   ·acc035·

[_Trumpets sound a parley._

_Char._ A parley with the Duke of Burgundy!

_Bur._ Who craves a parley with the Burgundy?

_Puc._ The princely Charles of France, thy countryman.

_Bur._ What say’st thou, Charles? for I am marching hence.

_Char._ Speak, Pucelle, and enchant him with thy words.   ·acc040·

_Puc._ Brave Burgundy, undoubted hope of France!

Stay, let thy humble handmaid speak to thee.

_Bur._ Speak on; but be not over-tedious.

_Puc._ Look on thy country, look on fertile France,

And see the cities and the towns defaced   [acc045]

By wasting ruin of the cruel foe.

As looks the mother on her lowly babe   [acc047]

When death doth close his tender dying eyes,   [acc048]

See, see the pining malady of France;

Behold the wounds, the most unnatural wounds,   ·acc050·

Which thou thyself hast given her woful breast.

O, turn thy edged sword another way;

Strike those that hurt, and hurt not those that help.

One drop of blood drawn from thy country’s bosom

Should grieve thee more than streams of foreign gore:   [acc055]

Return thee therefore with a flood of tears,

And wash away thy country’s stained spots.

_Bur._ Either she hath bewitch’d me with her words,

Or nature makes me suddenly relent.

_Puc._ Besides, all French and France exclaims on thee,   [acc060]

Doubting thy birth and lawful progeny.

Who join’st thou with but with a lordly nation   [acc062]

That will not trust thee but for profit’s sake?

When Talbot hath set footing once in France

And fashion’d thee that instrument of ill,   ·acc065·

Who then but English Henry will be lord

And thou be thrust out like a fugitive?

Call we to mind, and mark but this for proof,

Was not the Duke of Orleans thy foe?

And was he not in England prisoner?   ·acc070·

But when they heard he was thine enemy,

They set him free without his ransom paid,

In spite of Burgundy and all his friends.

See, then, thou fight’st against thy countrymen

And join’st with them will be thy slaughter-men.   ·acc075·

Come, come, return; return, thou wandering lord;

Charles and the rest will take thee in their arms.

_Bur._ I am vanquished; these haughty words of hers   [acc078]

Have batter’d me like roaring cannon-shot,

And made me almost yield upon my knees.   ·acc080·

Forgive me, country, and sweet countrymen,

And, lords, accept this hearty kind embrace:

My forces and my power of men are yours:

So farewell, Talbot; I’ll no longer trust thee.

_Puc._ [_Aside_] Done like a Frenchman: turn, and turn

again!   [acc085]

_Char._ Welcome, brave duke! thy friendship makes us fresh.

_Bast._ And doth beget new courage in our breasts.

_Alen._ Pucelle hath bravely play’d her part in this,

And doth deserve a coronet of gold.

_Char._ Now let us on, my lords, and join our powers,   [acc090]

And seek how we may prejudice the foe. [_Exeunt._

SCENE IV. _Paris. The Palace_.

_Enter the_ KING, GLOUCESTER, BISHOP OF WINCHESTER, YORK,

SUFFOLK, SOMERSET, WARWICK, EXETER: VERNON, BASSET, _and

others. To them with his_ Soldiers, TALBOT.

_Tal._ My gracious prince, and honourable peers,   [acd001]

Hearing of your arrival in this realm,

I have awhile given truce unto my wars,

To do my duty to my sovereign:

In sign whereof, this arm, that hath reclaim’d   ·acd005·

To your obedience fifty fortresses,

Twelve cities and seven walled towns of strength,

Beside five hundred prisoners of esteem,   [acd008]

Lets fall his sword before your highness’ feet,

And with submissive loyalty of heart   ·acd010·

Ascribes the glory of his conquest got

First to my God and next unto your grace.   [acd012]

[_Kneels._

_King._ Is this the Lord Talbot, uncle Gloucester,   [acd013]

That hath so long been resident in France?

_Glou._ Yes, if it please your majesty, my liege.   ·acd015·

_King._ Welcome, brave captain and victorious lord!

When I was young, as yet I am not old,

I do remember how my father said

A stouter champion never handled sword.

Long since we were resolved of your truth,   [acd020]

Your faithful service and your toil in war;

Yet never have you tasted our reward,   [acd022]

Or been reguerdon’d with so much as thanks,

Because till now we never saw your face:

Therefore, stand up; and, for these good deserts,   ·acd025·

We here create you Earl of Shrewsbury;

And in our coronation take your place.

[_Sennet. Flourish. Exeunt all but Vernon and Basset._

_Ver._ Now, sir, to you, that were so hot at sea,

Disgracing of these colours that I wear

In honour of my noble Lord of York:--   ·acd030·

Darest thou maintain the former words thou spakest?

_Bas._ Yes, sir; as well as you dare patronage

The envious barking of your saucy tongue

Against my lord the Duke of Somerset.   [acd034]

_Ver._ Sirrah, thy lord I honour as he is.   ·acd035·

_Bas._ Why, what is he? as good a man as York.

_Ver_. Hark ye; not so: in witness, take ye that.   [acd037]

[_Strikes him._

_Bas._ Villain, thou know’st the law of arms is such   [acd038]

That whoso draws a sword, ’tis present death,   [acd039]

Or else this blow should broach thy dearest blood.   ·acd040·

But I’ll unto his majesty, and crave

I may have liberty to venge this wrong;

When thou shalt see I’ll meet thee to thy cost.

_Ver._ Well, miscreant, I’ll be there as soon as you;

And, after, meet you sooner than you would.   ·acd045·

[_Exeunt._

ACT IV.

SCENE I. _Paris. A hall of state_.

_Enter the_ KING, GLOUCESTER, BISHOP OF WINCHESTER, YORK,

SUFFOLK, SOMERSET, WARWICK, TALBOT, EXETER, _the_ Governor of

Paris, _and others_.

_Glou._ Lord bishop, set the crown upon his head.   [ada001]

_Win._ God save King Henry, of that name the sixth!

_Glou._ Now, governor of Paris, take your oath,   [ada003]

That you elect no other king but him;

Esteem none friends but such as are his friends,   ·ada005·

And none your foes but such as shall pretend

Malicious practices against his state:

This shall ye do, so help you righteous God!   [ada008]

_Enter_ SIR JOHN FASTOLFE.

_Fast._ My gracious sovereign, as I rode from Calais,

To haste unto your coronation,   ·ada010·

A letter was deliver’d to my hands,

Writ to your grace from the Duke of Burgundy.

_Tal._ Shame to the Duke of Burgundy and thee!

I vow’d, base knight, when I did meet thee next,   [ada014]

To tear the garter from thy craven’s leg,   [ada015]

[_Plucking it off._

Which I have done, because unworthily

Thou wast installed in that high degree.

Pardon me, princely Henry, and the rest:   [ada018]

This dastard, at the battle of Patay,   [ada019]

When but in all I was six thousand strong   ·ada020·

And that the French were almost ten to one,

Before we met or that a stroke was given,

Like to a trusty squire did run away:

In which assault we lost twelve hundred men:

Myself and divers gentlemen beside   ·ada025·

Were there surprised and taken prisoners.

Then judge, great lords, if I have done amiss;

Or whether that such cowards ought to wear

This ornament of knighthood, yea or no.

_Glou_. To say the truth, this fact was infamous   ·ada030·

And ill beseeming any common man,

Much more a knight, a captain and a leader.

_Tal_. When first this order was ordain’d, my lords,

Knights of the garter were of noble birth,

Valiant and virtuous, full of haughty courage,   ·ada035·

Such as were grown to credit by the wars;

Not fearing death, nor shrinking for distress,

But always resolute in most extremes.   [ada038]

He then that is not furnish’d in this sort

Doth but usurp the sacred name of knight,   ·ada040·

Profaning this most honourable order,

And should, if I were worthy to be judge,

Be quite degraded, like a hedge-born swain

That doth presume to boast of gentle blood.

_King_. Stain to thy countrymen, thou hear’st thy doom!   ·ada045·

Be packing, therefore, thou that wast a knight:

Henceforth we banish thee, on pain of death.   [ada047]

[_Exit Fastolfe._

And now, my lord protector, view the letter   [ada048]

Sent from our uncle Duke of Burgundy.

_Glou._ What means his grace, that he hath changed his

style?   ·ada050·

No more but, plain and bluntly, ‘To the king!’   [ada051]

Hath he forgot he is his sovereign?

Or doth this churlish superscription

Pretend some alteration in good will?   [ada054]

What’s here? [_Reads_] ‘I have, upon especial cause,   [ada055]

Moved with compassion of my country’s wreck,   [ada056]

Together with the pitiful complaints

Of such as your oppression feeds upon,

Forsaken your pernicious faction

And join’d with Charles, the rightful King of France.’   ·ada060·

O monstrous treachery! can this be so,

That in alliance, amity and oaths,

There should be found such false dissembling guile?

_King._ What! doth my uncle Burgundy revolt?

_Glou._ He doth, my lord, and is become your foe.   [ada065]

_King._ Is that the worst this letter doth contain?

_Glou._ It is the worst, and all, my lord, he writes.

_King._ Why, then, Lord Talbot there shall talk with him

And give him chastisement for this abuse.

How say you, my lord? are you not content?   [ada070]

_Tal._ Content, my liege! yes, but that I am prevented,   [ada071]

I should have begg’d I might have been employ’d.

_King._ Then gather strength, and march unto him straight:

Let him perceive how ill we brook his treason

And what offence it is to flout his friends.   ·ada075·

_Tal._ I go, my lord, in heart desiring still

You may behold confusion of your foes. [_Exit._   [ada077]

_Enter_ VERNON _and_ BASSET.

_Ver._ Grant me the combat, gracious sovereign.   [ada078]

_Bas._ And me, my lord, grant me the combat too.

_York._ This is my servant: hear him, noble prince.   ·ada080·

_Som._ And this is mine: sweet Henry, favour him.

_K. Hen._ Be patient, lords; and give them leave to speak.

Say, gentlemen, what makes you thus exclaim?

And wherefore crave you combat? or with whom?

_Ver._ With him, my lord; for he hath done me wrong.   ·ada085·

_Bas._ And I with him; for he hath done me wrong.

_K. Hen._ What is that wrong whereof you both complain?   [ada087]

First let me know, and then I’ll answer you.

_Bas._ Crossing the sea from England into France,

This fellow here, with envious carping tongue,   [ada090]

Upbraided me about the rose I wear;

Saying, the sanguine colour of the leaves

Did represent my master’s blushing cheeks,   [ada093]

When stubbornly he did repugn the truth

About a certain question in the law   ·ada095·

Argued betwixt the Duke of York and him;

With other vile and ignominious terms:

In confutation of which rude reproach

And in defence of my lord’s worthiness,

I crave the benefit of law of arms.   ·ada100·

_Ver._ And that is my petition, noble lord:   [ada101]

For though he seem with forged quaint conceit

To set a gloss upon his bold intent,

Yet know, my lord, I was provoked by him;

And he first took exceptions at this badge,   ·ada105·

Pronouncing that the paleness of this flower

Bewray’d the faintness of my master’s heart.

_York._ Will not this malice, Somerset, be left?

_Som._ Your private grudge, my Lord of York, will out,

Though ne’er so cunningly you smother it.   ·ada110·

_K. Hen._ Good Lord, what madness rules in brainsick men,

When for so slight and frivolous a cause

Such factious emulations shall arise!   [ada113]

Good cousins both, of York and Somerset,

Quiet yourselves, I pray, and be at peace.   [ada115]

_York._ Let this dissension first be tried by fight,

And then your highness shall command a peace.

_Som._ The quarrel toucheth none but us alone;

Betwixt ourselves let us decide it then.

_York._ There is my pledge; accept it, Somerset.   ·ada120·

_Ver._ Nay, let it rest where it began at first.

_Bas._ Confirm it so, mine honourable lord.

_Glou._ Confirm it so! Confounded be your strife!

And perish ye, with your audacious prate!

Presumptuous vassals, are you not ashamed   ·ada125·

With this immodest clamorous outrage

To trouble and disturb the king and us?

And you, my lords, methinks you do not well

To bear with their perverse objections;

Much less to take occasion from their mouths   ·ada130·

To raise a mutiny betwixt yourselves:

Let me persuade you take a better course.

_Exe._ It grieves his highness: good my lords, be friends.   [ada133]

_K. Hen._ Come hither, you that would be combatants:

Henceforth I charge you, as you love our favour,   ·ada135·

Quite to forget this quarrel and the cause.

And you, my lords, remember where we are;

In France, amongst a fickle wavering nation:

If they perceive dissension in our looks

And that within ourselves we disagree,   ·ada140·

How will their grudging stomachs be provoked

To wilful disobedience, and rebel!

Beside, what infamy will there arise,

When foreign princes shall be certified

That for a toy, a thing of no regard,   ·ada145·

King Henry’s peers and chief nobility

Destroy’d themselves, and lost the realm of France!

O, think upon the conquest of my father,

My tender years, and let us not forego

That for a trifle that was bought with blood!   [ada150]

Let me be umpire in this doubtful strife.   [ada151]

I see no reason, if I wear this rose,   [ada152]

[_Putting on a red rose._

That any one should therefore be suspicious

I more incline to Somerset than York:

Both are my kinsmen, and I love them both:   ·ada155·

As well they may upbraid me with my crown,

Because, forsooth, the king of Scots is crown’d.

But your discretions better can persuade

Than I am able to instruct or teach:

And therefore, as we hither came in peace,   ·ada160·

So let us still continue peace and love.

Cousin of York, we institute your grace

To be our regent in these parts of France:

And, good my Lord of Somerset, unite

Your troops of horsemen with his bands of foot;   ·ada165·

And, like true subjects, sons of your progenitors,

Go cheerfully together and digest   [ada167]

Your angry choler on your enemies.

Ourself, my lord protector and the rest

After some respite will return to Calais;   ·ada170·

From thence to England; where I hope ere long

To be presented, by your victories,

With Charles, Alençon and that traitorous rout.   [ada173]

[_Flourish. Exeunt all but York, Warwick, Exeter

and Vernon._

_War._ My Lord of York, I promise you, the king

Prettily, methought, did play the orator.   [ada175]

_York._ And so he did; but yet I like it not,

In that he wears the badge of Somerset.

_War._ Tush, that was but his fancy, blame him not;

I dare presume, sweet prince, he thought no harm.

_York._ An if I wist he did,--but let it rest;   [ada180]

Other affairs must now be managed.   [ada181]

[_Exeunt all but Exeter._

_Exe._ Well didst thou, Richard, to suppress thy voice;

For, had the passions of thy heart burst out,

I fear we should have seen decipher’d there

More rancorous spite, more furious raging broils,   ·ada185·

Than yet can be imagined or supposed.

But howsoe’er, no simple man that sees

This jarring discord of nobility,

This shouldering of each other in the court,

This factious bandying of their favourites,   ·ada190·

But that it doth presage some ill event.   [ada191]

’Tis much when sceptres are in children’s hands;

But more when envy breeds unkind division;   [ada193]

There comes the ruin, there begins confusion.   [ada194]

[_Exit._

SCENE II. _Before Bourdeaux_.

_Enter_ TALBOT, _with trump and drum_.

_Tal._ Go to the gates of Bourdeaux, trumpeter;   [adb001]

Summon their general unto the wall.   [adb002]

_Trumpet sounds. Enter_ General _and others, aloft._

English John Talbot, captains, calls you forth,   [adb003]

Servant in arms to Harry King of England;

And thus he would: Open your city-gates;   ·adb005·

Be humble to us; call my sovereign yours,   [adb006]

And do him homage as obedient subjects;

And I’ll withdraw me and my bloody power:

But, if you frown upon this proffer’d peace,

You tempt the fury of my three attendants,   ·adb010·

Lean famine, quartering steel, and climbing fire;

Who in a moment even with the earth

Shall lay your stately and air-braving towers,

If you forsake the offer of their love.   [adb014]

_Gen._ Thou ominous and fearful owl of death,   ·adb015·

Our nation’s terror and their bloody scourge!

The period of thy tyranny approacheth.

On us thou canst not enter but by death;

For, I protest, we are well fortified

And strong enough to issue out and fight:   ·adb020·

If thou retire, the Dauphin, well appointed,

Stands with the snares of war to tangle thee:   [adb022]

On either hand thee there are squadrons pitch’d,

To wall thee from the liberty of flight;

And no way canst thou turn thee for redress,   ·adb025·

But death doth front thee with apparent spoil

And pale destruction meets thee in the face.

Ten thousand French have ta’en the sacrament   [adb028]

To rive their dangerous artillery   [adb029]

Upon no Christian soul but English Talbot.   ·adb030·

Lo, there thou stand’st, a breathing valiant man,

Of an invincible unconquer’d spirit!

This is the latest glory of thy praise

That I, thy enemy, due thee withal;   [adb034]

For ere the glass, that now begins to run,   ·adb035·

Finish the process of his sandy hour,

These eyes, that see thee now well coloured,

Shall see thee wither’d, bloody, pale and dead.   [adb038]

[_Drum afar off._

Hark! hark! the Dauphin’s drum, a warning bell,

Sings heavy music to thy timorous soul;   ·adb040·

And mine shall ring thy dire departure out.   [adb041]

[_Exeunt General, &c._

_Tal._ He fables not; I hear the enemy:

Out, some light horsemen, and peruse their wings.

O, negligent and heedless discipline!

How are we park’d and bounded in a pale,   ·adb045·

A little herd of England’s timorous deer,

Mazed with a yelping kennel of French curs!

If we be English deer, be then in blood;

Not rascal-like, to fall down with a pinch,

But rather, moody-mad and desperate stags,   [adb050]

Turn on the bloody hounds with heads of steel

And make the cowards stand aloof at bay:

Sell every man his life as dear as mine,   [adb053]

And they shall find dear deer of us, my friends.

God and Saint George, Talbot and England’s right,   ·adb055·

Prosper our colours in this dangerous fight!   [adb056]

[_Exeunt._

SCENE III. _Plains in Gascony_.

_Enter a_ Messenger _that meets_ YORK. _Enter_ YORK _with trumpet

and many_ Soldiers.

_York._ Are not the speedy scouts return’d again,   [adc001]

That dogg’d the mighty army of the Dauphin?

_Mess_. They are return’d, my lord, and give it out

That he is march’d to Bourdeaux with his power,

To fight with Talbot: as he march’d along,   [adc005]

By your espials were discovered

Two mightier troops than that the Dauphin led,

Which join’d with him and made their march for Bourdeaux.

_York._ A plague upon that villain Somerset,

That thus delays my promised supply   ·adc010·

Of horsemen, that were levied for this siege!   [adc011]

Renowned Talbot doth expect my aid,

And I am lowted by a traitor villain   [adc013]

And cannot help the noble chevalier:

God comfort him in this necessity!   ·adc015·

If he miscarry, farewell wars in France.   [adc016]

_Enter_ Sir WILLIAM LUCY.

_Lucy._ Thou princely leader of our English strength,   [adc017]

Never so needful on the earth of France,

Spur to the rescue of the noble Talbot,

Who now is girdled with a waist of iron   [adc020]

And hemm’d about with grim destruction:

To Bourdeaux, warlike duke! to Bourdeaux, York!

Else, farewell Talbot, France, and England’s honour.

_York._ O God, that Somerset, who in proud heart

Doth stop my cornets, were in Talbot’s place!   ·adc025·

So should we save a valiant gentleman

By forfeiting a traitor and a coward.

Mad ire and wrathful fury makes me weep,

That thus we die, while remiss traitors sleep.

_Lucy._ O, send some succour to the distress’d lord!   [adc030]

_York._ He dies, we lose; I break my warlike word;

We mourn, France smiles; we lose, they daily get;

All ’long of this vile traitor Somerset.   [adc033]

_Lucy._ Then God take mercy on brave Talbot’s soul;

And on his son young John, who two hours since   ·adc035·

I met in travel toward his warlike father!   [adc036]

This seven years did not Talbot see his son;

And now they meet where both their lives are done.

_York._ Alas, what joy shall noble Talbot have

To bid his young son welcome to his grave?   [adc040]

Away! vexation almost stops my breath,

That sunder’d friends greet in the hour of death.   [adc042]

Lucy, farewell: no more my fortune can,

But curse the cause I cannot aid the man.

Maine, Blois, Poictiers, and Tours, are won away,   ·adc045·

’Long all of Somerset and his delay.   [adc046]

[_Exit, with his soldiers._

_Lucy._ Thus, while the vulture of sedition

Feeds in the bosom of such great commanders,

Sleeping neglection doth betray to loss   [adc049]

The conquest of our scarce cold conqueror,   [adc050]

That ever living man of memory,

Henry the Fifth: whiles they each other cross,   [adc052]

Lives, honours, lands and all hurry to loss.   [adc053]

[_Exit._

SCENE IV. _Other plains in Gascony_.

_Enter_ SOMERSET, _with his army; a_ Captain _of_ TALBOT’S _with him_.

_Som._ It is too late; I cannot send them now:   [add001]

This expedition was by York and Talbot

Too rashly plotted: all our general force

Might with a sally of the very town

Be buckled with: the over-daring Talbot   ·add005·

Hath sullied all his gloss of former honour

By this unheedful, desperate, wild adventure:

York set him on to fight and die in shame,

That, Talbot dead, great York might bear the name.

_Cap._ Here is Sir William Lucy, who with me   ·add010·

Set from our o’er-match’d forces forth for aid.   [add011]

_Enter_ Sir William Lucy.

_Som._ How now, Sir William! whither were you sent?   [add012]

_Lucy._ Whither, my lord? from bought and sold Lord Talbot;   [add013]

Who, ring’d about with bold adversity,

Cries out for noble York and Somerset,   ·add015·

To beat assailing death from his weak legions:   [add016]

And whiles the honourable captain there   [add017]

Drops bloody sweat from his war-wearied limbs,

And, in advantage lingering, looks for rescue,   [add019]

You, his false hopes, the trust of England’s honour,   ·add020·

Keep off aloof with worthless emulation.

Let not your private discord keep away

The levied succours that should lend him aid,   [add023]

While he, renowned noble gentleman,

Yields up his life unto a world of odds:   [add025]

Orleans the Bastard, Charles, Burgundy,   [add026]

Alençon, Reignier, compass him about,   [add027]

And Talbot perisheth by your default.

_Som._ York set him on; York should have sent him aid.

_Lucy._ And York as fast upon your grace exclaims;   ·add030·

Swearing that you withhold his levied host,   [add031]

Collected for this expedition.

_Som._ York lies; he might have sent and had the horse:

I owe him little duty, and less love;

And take foul scorn to fawn on him by sending.   ·add035·

_Lucy._ The fraud of England, not the force of France,

Hath now entrapp’d the noble-minded Talbot:

Never to England shall he bear his life;

But dies, betray’d to fortune by your strife.

_Som._ Come, go; I will dispatch the horsemen straight:   ·add040·

Within six hours they will be at his aid.

_Lucy._ Too late comes rescue: he is ta’en or slain;   [add042]

For fly he could not, if he would have fled;

And fly would Talbot never, though he might.   [add044]

_Som._ If he be dead, brave Talbot, then adieu!   ·add045·

_Lucy._ His fame lives in the world, his shame in you.

[_Exeunt._

SCENE V. _The English camp near Bourdeaux_.

_Enter_ TALBOT _and_ JOHN _his son_.

_Tal._ O young John Talbot! I did send for thee   [ade001]

To tutor thee in stratagems of war,

That Talbot’s name might be in thee revived

When sapless age and weak unable limbs

Should bring thy father to his drooping chair.   ·ade005·

But, O malignant and ill-boding stars!

Now thou art come unto a feast of death,   [ade007]

A terrible and unavoided danger:

Therefore, dear boy, mount on my swiftest horse;   [ade009]

And I’ll direct thee how thou shalt escape   ·ade010·

By sudden flight: come, dally not, be gone.

_John._ Is my name Talbot? and am I your son?

And shall I fly? O, if you love my mother,   [ade013]

Dishonour not her honourable name,

To make a bastard and a slave of me!   ·ade015·

The world will say, he is not Talbot’s blood,

That basely fled when noble Talbot stood.

_Tal._ Fly, to revenge my death, if I be slain.

_John._ He that flies so will ne’er return again.

_Tal._ If we both stay, we both are sure to die.   ·ade020·

_John._ Then let me stay; and, father, do you fly:

Your loss is great, so your regard should be;

My worth unknown, no loss is known in me.

Upon my death the French can little boast;

In yours they will, in you all hopes are lost.   ·ade025·

Flight cannot stain the honour you have won;

But mine it will, that no exploit have done:

You fled for vantage, every one will swear;

But, if I bow, they’ll say it was for fear.   [ade029]

There is no hope that ever I will stay,   ·ade030·

If the first hour I shrink and run away.

Here on my knee I beg mortality,

Rather than life preserved with infamy.

_Tal._ Shall all thy mother’s hopes lie in one tomb?

_John._ Ay, rather than I’ll shame my mother’s womb.   ·ade035·

_Tal._ Upon my blessing, I command thee go.

_John._ To fight I will, but not to fly the foe.   [ade037]

_Tal._ Part of thy father may be saved in thee.

_John._ No part of him but will be shame in me.   [ade039]

_Tal._ Thou never hadst renown, nor canst not lose it.   [ade040]

_John._ Yes, your renowned name: shall flight abuse it?

_Tal._ Thy father’s charge shall clear thee from that stain.   [ade042]

_John._ You cannot witness for me, being slain.

If death be so apparent, then both fly.

_Tal._ And leave my followers here to fight and die?   ·ade045·

My age was never tainted with such shame.

_John._ And shall my youth be guilty of such blame?

No more can I be sever’d from your side,   [ade048]

Than can yourself yourself in twain divide:

Stay, go, do what you will, the like do I;   ·ade050·

For live I will not, if my father die.

_Tal._ Then here I take my leave of thee, fair son,   [ade052]

Born to eclipse thy life this afternoon.

Come, side by side together live and die;

And soul with soul from France to heaven fly. [_Exeunt._   [ade055]

SCENE VI. _A field of battle_.

_Alarum: excursions, wherein_ TALBOT’S Son _is hemmed about,

and_ TALBOT _rescues him_.

_Tal._ Saint George and victory! fight, soldiers, fight:   [adf001]

The regent hath with Talbot broke his word

And left us to the rage of France his sword.   [adf003]

Where is John Talbot? Pause, and take thy breath;

I gave thee life and rescued thee from death.   ·adf005·

_John._ O, twice my father, twice am I thy son!   [adf006]

The life thou gavest me first was lost and done,

Till with thy warlike sword, despite of fate,

To my determined time thou gavest new date.

_Tal._ When from the Dauphin’s crest thy sword struck fire,   ·adf010·

It warm’d thy father’s heart with proud desire

Of bold-faced victory. Then leaden age,

Quicken’d with youthful spleen and warlike rage,

Beat down Alençon, Orleans, Burgundy,

And from the pride of Gallia rescued thee.   ·adf015·

The ireful bastard Orleans, that drew blood

From thee, my boy, and had the maidenhood

Of thy first fight, I soon encountered,

And interchanging blows I quickly shed

Some of his bastard blood; and in disgrace   [adf020]

Bespoke him thus; ‘Contaminated base

And misbegotten blood I spill of thine,

Mean and right poor, for that pure blood of mine

Which thou didst force from Talbot, my brave boy:’

Here, purposing the Bastard to destroy,   ·adf025·

Came in strong rescue. Speak, thy father’s care,

Art thou not weary, John? how dost thou fare?

Wilt thou yet leave the battle, boy, and fly,

Now thou art seal’d the son of chivalry?

Fly, to revenge my death when I am dead:   ·adf030·

The help of one stands me in little stead.

O, too much folly is it, well I wot,

To hazard all our lives in one small boat!

If I to-day die not with Frenchmen’s rage,

To-morrow I shall die with mickle age:   [adf035]

By me they nothing gain an if I stay;   [adf036]

’Tis but the shortening of my life one day:

In thee thy mother dies, our household’s name,

My death’s revenge, thy youth, and England’s fame:

All these and more we hazard by thy stay;   ·adf040·

All these are saved if thou wilt fly away.

_John._ The sword of Orleans hath not made me smart;

These words of yours draw life-blood from my heart:

On that advantage, bought with such a shame,   [adf044]

To save a paltry life and slay bright fame,   ·adf045·

Before young Talbot from old Talbot fly,

The coward horse that bears me fall and die!

And like me to the peasant boys of France,   [adf048]

To be shame’s scorn and subject of mischance!

Surely, by all the glory you have won,   ·adf050·

An if I fly, I am not Talbot’s son:   [adf051]

Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot;

If son to Talbot, die at Talbot’s foot.

_Tal._ Then follow thou thy desperate sire of Crete,

Thou Icarus; thy life to me is sweet:   ·adf055·

If thou wilt fight, fight by thy father’s side;

And, commendable proved, let’s die in pride. [_Exeunt._   [adf057]

SCENE VII. _Another part of the field_.

_Alarum: excursions. Enter old_ TALBOT _led by a_ Servant.

_Tal._ Where is my other life? mine own is gone;   [adg001]

O, where’s young Talbot? where is valiant John?

Triumphant death, smear’d with captivity,   [adg003]

Young Talbot’s valour makes me smile at thee:

When he perceived me shrink and on my knee,   ·adg005·

His bloody sword he brandish’d over me,

And, like a hungry lion, did commence

Rough deeds of rage and stern impatience;

But when my angry guardant stood alone,

Tendering my ruin and assail’d of none,   [adg010]

Dizzy-eyed fury and great rage of heart

Suddenly made him from my side to start

Into the clustering battle of the French;

And in that sea of blood my boy did drench

His over-mounting spirit, and there died,   ·adg015·

My Icarus, my blossom, in his pride.

_Serv._ O my dear lord, lo, where your son is borne!   [adg017]

_Enter_ Soldiers, _with the body of young_ TALBOT.

_Tal._ Thou antic death, which laugh’st us here to scorn,

Anon, from thy insulting tyranny,

Coupled in bonds of perpetuity,   ·adg020·

Two Talbots, winged through the lither sky,   [adg021]

In thy despite shall ’scape mortality.

O thou, whose wounds become hard-favour’d death,   [adg023]

Speak to thy father ere thou yield thy breath!

Brave death by speaking, whether he will or no;   [adg025]

Imagine him a Frenchman and thy foe.

Poor boy! he smiles, methinks, as who should say,

Had death been French, then death had died to-day.

Come, come and lay him in his father’s arms:

My spirit can no longer bear these harms.   ·adg030·

Soldiers, adieu! I have what I would have,

Now my old arms are young John Talbot’s grave. [_Dies._   [adg032]

_Enter_ CHARLES, ALENÇON, BURGUNDY, Bastard, LA PUCELLE,

_and forces_.

_Char._ Had York and Somerset brought rescue in,   [adg033]

We should have found a bloody day of this.

_Bast._ How the young whelp of Talbot’s, raging-wood,   [adg035]

Did flesh his puny sword in Frenchmen’s blood!

_Puc._ Once I encounter’d him, and thus I said:

‘Thou maiden youth, be vanquish’d by a maid:’

But, with a proud majestical high scorn,   [adg039]

He answer’d thus: ‘Young Talbot was not born   ·adg040·

To be the pillage of a giglot wench:’

So, rushing in the bowels of the French,   [adg042]

He left me proudly, as unworthy fight.

_Bur._ Doubtless he would have made a noble knight:

See, where he lies inhearsed in the arms   ·adg045·

Of the most bloody nurser of his harms!   [adg046]

_Bast._ Hew them to pieces, hack their bones asunder,

Whose life was England’s glory, Gallia’s wonder.

_Char._ O, no, forbear! for that which we have fled

During the life, let us not wrong it dead.   [adg050]

_Enter_ Sir WILLIAM LUCY, _attended;_ Herald _of the_

French _preceding_.

_Lucy._ Herald, conduct me to the Dauphin’s tent,   [adg051]

To know who hath obtain’d the glory of the day.   [adg052]

_Char._ On what submissive message art thou sent?

_Lucy._ Submission, Dauphin! ’tis a mere French word;

We English warriors wot not what it means.   ·adg055·

I come to know what prisoners thou hast ta’en

And to survey the bodies of the dead.

_Char._ For prisoners ask’st thou? hell our prison is.

But tell me whom thou seek’st.   [adg059]

_Lucy._ But where’s the great Alcides of the field,   [adg060]

Valiant Lord Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury,   [adg061]

Created, for his rare success in arms,

Great Earl of Washford, Waterford and Valence;

Lord Talbot of Goodrig and Urchinfield,

Lord Strange of Blackmere, Lord Verdun of Alton,   ·adg065·

Lord Cromwell of Wingfield, Lord Furnival of Sheffield,   [adg066]

The thrice-victorious Lord of Falconbridge;

Knight of the noble order of Saint George,

Worthy Saint Michael and the Golden Fleece;

Great marshal to Henry the Sixth   [adg070]

Of all his wars within the realm of France?

_Puc._ Here is a silly stately style indeed!   [adg072]

The Turk, that two and fifty kingdoms hath,

Writes not so tedious a style as this.

Him that thou magnifiest with all these titles   [adg075]

Stinking and fly-blown lies here at our feet.

_Lucy._ Is Talbot slain, the Frenchmen’s only scourge,

Your kingdom’s terror and black Nemesis?

O, were mine eye-balls into bullets turn’d,

That I in rage might shoot them at your faces!   ·adg080·

O, that I could but call these dead to life!

It were enough to fright the realm of France:

Were but his picture left amongst you here,   [adg083]

It would amaze the proudest of you all.

Give me their bodies, that I may bear them hence   [adg085]

And give them burial as beseems their worth.

_Puc._ I think this upstart is old Talbot’s ghost,

He speaks with such a proud commanding spirit.   [adg088]

For God’s sake, let him have ’em; to keep them here,   [adg089]

They would but stink, and putrefy the air.   ·adg090·

_Char._ Go, take their bodies hence.

_Lucy._ I’ll bear them hence; but from their ashes shall be

rear’d   [adg092]

A phœnix that shall make all France afeard.

_Char._ So we be rid of them, do with ’em what thou wilt.   [adg094]

And now to Paris, in this conquering vein:   ·adg095·

All will be ours, now bloody Talbot’s slain.   [adg096]

[_Exeunt._

ACT V.

SCENE I. _London. The palace_.

_Sennet. Enter_ KING, GLOUCESTER, _and_ EXETER.

_King._ Have you perused the letters from the pope,   [aea001]

The emperor and the Earl of Armagnac?   [aea002]

_Glou._ I have, my lord: and their intent is this:

They humbly sue unto your excellence

To have a godly peace concluded of   ·aea005·

Between the realms of England and of France.

_King._ How doth your grace affect their motion?   [aea007]

_Glou._ Well, my good lord; and as the only means

To stop effusion of our Christian blood   [aea009]

And stablish quietness on every side.   ·aea010·

_King._ Ay, marry, uncle; for I always thought

It was both impious and unnatural

That such immanity and bloody strife

Should reign among professors of one faith.

_Glou._ Beside, my lord, the sooner to effect   ·aea015·

And surer bind this knot of amity,   [aea016]

The Earl of Armagnac, near knit to Charles,   [aea017]

A man of great authority in France,

Proffers his only daughter to your grace

In marriage, with a large and sumptuous dowry.   [aea020]

_King._ Marriage, uncle! alas, my years are young!   [aea021]

And fitter is my study and my books

Than wanton dalliance with a paramour.

Yet call the ambassadors; and, as you please,

So let them have their answers every one:   ·aea025·

I shall be well content with any choice

Tends to God’s glory and my country’s weal.   [aea027]

_Enter_ WINCHESTER _in Cardinal’s habit, a_ Legate _and two_

Ambassadors.

_Exe._ What! is my Lord of Winchester install’d,

And call’d unto a cardinal’s degree?

Then I perceive that will be verified   ·aea030·

Henry the Fifth did sometime prophesy,

‘If once he come to be a cardinal,

He’ll make his cap co-equal with the crown.’

_King._ My lords ambassadors, your several suits

Have been consider’d and debated on.   ·aea035·

Your purpose is both good and reasonable;

And therefore are we certainly resolved

To draw conditions of a friendly peace;

Which by my Lord of Winchester we mean   [aea039]

Shall be transported presently to France.   ·aea040·

_Glou._ And for the proffer of my lord your master,

I have inform’d his highness so at large

As liking of the lady’s virtuous gifts,

Her beauty and the value of her dower,

He doth intend she shall be England’s queen.   ·aea045·

_King._ In argument and proof of which contract,   [aea046]

Bear her this jewel, pledge of my affection.

And so, my lord protector, see them guarded

And safely brought to Dover; where inshipp’d   [aea049]

Commit them to the fortune of the sea.   [aea050]

[_Exeunt all but Winchester and Legate._

_Win._ Stay, my lord legate: you shall first receive

The sum of money which I promised

Should be deliver’d to his holiness   [aea053]

For clothing me in these grave ornaments.   [aea054]

_Leg._ I will attend upon your lordship’s leisure.   [aea055]

_Win._ [_Aside_] Now Winchester will not submit, I trow,   [aea056]

Or be inferior to the proudest peer.

Humphrey of Gloucester, thou shalt well perceive

That, neither in birth or for authority,   [aea059]

The bishop will be overborne by thee:   [aea060]

I’ll either make thee stoop and bend thy knee,

Or sack this country with a mutiny. [_Exeunt._   [aea062]

SCENE II. _France._ _Plains in Anjou_.

_Enter_ CHARLES, BURGUNDY, ALENÇON, BASTARD, REIGNIER,

LA PUCELLE, _and Forces_.

_Char._ These news, my lords, may cheer our drooping

spirits:   [aeb001]

’Tis said the stout Parisians do revolt

And turn again unto the warlike French.   [aeb003]

_Alen._ Then march to Paris, royal Charles of France,

And keep not back your powers in dalliance.   [aeb005]

_Puc._ Peace be amongst them, if they turn to us;

Else, ruin combat with their palaces!   [aeb007]

_Enter_ Scout.

_Scout._ Success unto our valiant general,

And happiness to his accomplices!

_Char._ What tidings send our scouts? I prithee, speak.   ·aeb010·

_Scout._ The English army, that divided was

Into two parties, is now conjoin’d in one,   [aeb012]

And means to give you battle presently.

_Char._ Somewhat too sudden, sirs, the warning is;

But we will presently provide for them.   ·aeb015·

_Bur._ I trust the ghost of Talbot is not there:

Now he is gone, my lord, you need not fear.

_Puc._ Of all base passions, fear is most accursed.

Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be thine,

Let Henry fret and all the world repine.   ·aeb020·

_Char._ Then on, my lords; and France be fortunate! [_Exeunt._

SCENE III. _Before Angiers_.

_Alarum. Excursions. Enter_ LA PUCELLE.

_Puc._ The regent conquers, and the Frenchmen fly.   [aec001]

Now help, ye charming spells and periapts;

And ye choice spirits that admonish me

And give me signs of future accidents. [_Thunder._   [aec004]

You speedy helpers, that are substitutes   ·aec005·

Under the lordly monarch of the north,

Appear and aid me in this enterprise.   [aec007]

_Enter_ Fiends.

This speedy and quick appearance argues proof   [aec008]

Of your accustom’d diligence to me.

Now, ye familiar spirits, that are cull’d   [aec010]

Out of the powerful regions under earth,   [aec011]

Help me this once, that France may get the field.

[_They walk, and speak not._

O, hold me not with silence over-long!

Where I was wont to feed you with my blood,

I’ll lop a member off and give it you   ·aec015·

In earnest of a further benefit,

So you do condescend to help me now.

[_They hang their heads._

No hope to have redress? My body shall

Pay recompense, if you will grant my suit.

[_They shake their heads._

Cannot my body nor blood-sacrifice   ·aec020·

Entreat you to your wonted furtherance?

Then take my soul, my body, soul and all,

Before that England give the French the foil. [_They depart._

See, they forsake me! Now the time is come

That France must vail her lofty-plumed crest   [aec025]

And let her head fall into England’s lap.

My ancient incantations are too weak,

And hell too strong for me to buckle with:

Now, France, thy glory droopeth to the dust. [_Exit._

_Excursions. Re-enter_ LA PUCELLE _fighting hand to hand with_

YORK: LA PUCELLE _is taken. The French fly_.

_York._ Damsel of France, I think I have you fast:   [aec030]

Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms

And try if they can gain your liberty.   [aec032]

A goodly prize, fit for the devil’s grace!

See, how the ugly wench doth bend her brows,

As if with Circe she would change my shape!   ·aec035·

_Puc._ Changed to a worser shape thou canst not be.

_York._ O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man;

No shape but his can please your dainty eye.

_Puc._ A plaguing mischief light on Charles and thee!

And may ye both be suddenly surprised   ·aec040·

By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds!

_York._ Fell banning hag, enchantress, hold thy tongue!

_Puc._ I prithee, give me leave to curse awhile.

_York._ Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the stake.   [aec044]

[_Exeunt._

_Alarum. Enter_ SUFFOLK, _with_ MARGARET _in his hand_.

_Suf._ Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner.   [aec045]

[_Gazes on her._

O fairest beauty, do not fear nor fly!

For I will touch thee but with reverent hands;   [aec047]

I kiss these fingers for eternal peace,   [aec048]

And lay them gently on thy tender side.

Who art thou? say, that I may honour thee.   [aec050]

_Mar._ Margaret my name, and daughter to a king,

The King of Naples, whosoe’er thou art.

_Suf._ An earl I am, and Suffolk am I call’d.   [aec053]

Be not offended, nature’s miracle,

Thou art allotted to be ta’en by me:   ·aec055·

So doth the swan her downy cygnets save,   [aec056]

Keeping them prisoner underneath her wings.   [aec057]

Yet, if this servile usage once offend,

Go and be free again as Suffolk’s friend.   [aec059]

[_She is going._

O, stay! I have no power to let her pass;   [aec060]

My hand would free her, but my heart says no.

As plays the sun upon the glassy streams,   [aec062]

Twinkling another counterfeited beam,

So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes.

Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak:   ·aec065·

I’ll call for pen and ink, and write my mind.

Fie, de la Pole! disable not thyself;

Hast not a tongue? is she not here?   [aec068]

Wilt thou be daunted at a woman’s sight?

Ay, beauty’s princely majesty is such,   [aec070]

Confounds the tongue and makes the senses rough.   [aec071]

_Mar._ Say, Earl of Suffolk,--if thy name be so--

What ransom must I pay before I pass?

For I perceive I am thy prisoner.

_Suf._ How canst thou tell she will deny thy suit,   [aec075]

Before thou make a trial of her love?

_Mar._ Why speak’st thou not? what ransom must I pay?   [aec077]

_Suf._ She’s beautiful and therefore to be woo’d;

She is a woman, therefore to be won.

_Mar._ Wilt thou accept of ransom? yea, or no.

_Suf._ Fond man, remember that thou hast a wife;   ·aec080·

Then how can Margaret be thy paramour?

_Mar._ I were best to leave him, for he will not hear.

_Suf._ There all is marr’d; there lies a cooling card.   [aec083]

_Mar._ He talks at random; sure, the man is mad.

_Suf._ And yet a dispensation may be had.   [aec085]

_Mar._ And yet I would that you would answer me.

_Suf._ I’ll win this Lady Margaret. For whom?

Why, for my king: tush, that’s a wooden thing!   [aec089]

_Mar._ He talks of wood: it is some carpenter.   ·aec090·

_Suf._ Yet so my fancy may be satisfied,

And peace established between these realms.

But there remains a scruple in that too;

For though her father be the King of Naples,

Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet is he poor,   [aec095]

And our nobility will scorn the match.

_Mar._ Hear ye, captain, are you not at leisure?   [aec097]

_Suf._ It shall be so, disdain they ne’er so much:

Henry is youthful and will quickly yield.

Madam, I have a secret to reveal.   ·aec100·

_Mar._ What though I be enthrall’d? he seems a knight,

And will not any way dishonour me.

_Suf._ Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.

_Mar._ Perhaps I shall be rescued by the French;

And then I need not crave his courtesy.   ·aec105·

_Suf._ Sweet madam, give me hearing in a cause--   [aec106]

_Mar._ Tush, women have been captivate ere now.

_Suf._ Lady, wherefore talk you so?   [aec108]

_Mar._ I cry you mercy, ’tis but Quid for Quo.

_Suf._ Say, gentle princess, would you not suppose   [aec110]

Your bondage happy, to be made a queen?

_Mar._ To be a queen in bondage is more vile   [aec112]

Than is a slave in base servility;

For princes should be free.

_Suf._ And so shall you,

If happy England’s royal king be free.   [aec115]

_Mar._ Why, what concerns his freedom unto me?

_Suf._ I’ll undertake to make thee Henry’s queen,

To put a golden sceptre in thy hand

And set a precious crown upon thy head,

If thou wilt condescend to be my--

_Mar._ What?   [aec120]

_Suf._ His love.

_Mar._ I am unworthy to be Henry’s wife.

_Suf._ No, gentle madam; I unworthy am

To woo so fair a dame to be his wife

And have no portion in the choice myself.   [aec125]

How say you, madam, are ye so content?   [aec126]

_Mar._ An if my father please, I am content.   [aec127]

_Suf._ Then call our captains and our colours forth.   [aec128]

And, madam, at your father’s castle walls

We’ll crave a parley, to confer with him.   [aec130]

_A parley sounded. Enter_ REIGNIER _on the walls._

See, Reignier, see, thy daughter prisoner!   [aec131]

_Reig._ To whom?

_Suf._ To me.

_Reig._ Suffolk, what remedy?

I am a soldier and unapt to weep

Or to exclaim on fortune’s fickleness.

_Suf._ Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord:   ·aec135·

Consent, and for thy honour give consent,

Thy daughter shall be wedded to my king;

Whom I with pain have woo’d and won thereto;

And this her easy-held imprisonment   [aec139]

Hath gain’d thy daughter princely liberty.   ·aec140·

_Reig._ Speaks Suffolk as he thinks?

_Suf._ Fair Margaret knows

That Suffolk doth not flatter, face, or feign.   [aec142]

_Reig._ Upon thy princely warrant, I descend

To give thee answer of thy just demand.   [aec144]

[_Exit from the walls._

_Suf._ And here I will expect thy coming.   [aec145]

_Trumpets sound. Enter_ REIGNIER, _below_.

_Reig._ Welcome, brave earl, into our territories:

Command in Anjou what your honour pleases.

_Suf._ Thanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a child,   [aec148]

Fit to be made companion with a king:   [aec149]

What answer makes your grace unto my suit?   ·aec150·

_Reig._ Since thou dost deign to woo her little worth

To be the princely bride of such a lord;

Upon condition I may quietly

Enjoy mine own, the country Maine and Anjou,   [aec154]

Free from oppression or the stroke of war,   ·aec155·

My daughter shall be Henry’s, if he please.

_Suf._ That is her ransom; I deliver her;

And those two counties I will undertake   [aec158]

Your grace shall well and quietly enjoy.

_Reig._ And I again, in Henry’s royal name,   ·aec160·

As deputy unto that gracious king,

Give thee her hand, for sign of plighted faith.

_Suf._ Reignier of France, I give thee kingly thanks,

Because this is in traffic of a king.

[_Aside_] And yet, methinks, I could be well content   [aec165]

To be mine own attorney in this case.

I’ll over then to England with this news,

And make this marriage to be solemnized.

So farewell, Reignier: set this diamond safe

In golden palaces, as it becomes.   ·aec170·

_Reig._ I do embrace thee, as I would embrace

The Christian prince, King Henry, were he here.   [aec172]

_Mar._ Farewell, my lord: good wishes, praise and prayers

Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret. [_Going._   [aec174]

_Suf._ Farewell, sweet madam: but hark you, Margaret;   [aec175]

No princely commendations to my king?

_Mar._ Such commendations as becomes a maid,   [aec177]

A virgin and his servant, say to him.

_Suf._ Words sweetly placed and modestly directed.   [aec179]

But, madam, I must trouble you again;   ·aec180·

No loving token to his majesty?

_Mar._ Yes, my good lord, a pure unspotted heart,

Never yet taint with love, I send the king.

_Suf._ And this withal. [_Kisses her._   [aec184]

_Mar._ That for thyself: I will not so presume   [aec185]

To send such peevish tokens to a king.   [aec186]

[_Exeunt Reignier and Margaret._

_Suf._ O, wert thou for myself! But, Suffolk, stay;

Thou mayst not wander in that labyrinth;

There Minotaurs and ugly treasons lurk.

Solicit Henry with her wondrous praise:   ·aec190·

Bethink thee on her virtues that surmount,

And natural graces that extinguish art;   [aec192]

Repeat their semblance often on the seas,

That, when thou comest to kneel at Henry’s feet,

Thou mayst bereave him of his wits with wonder. [_Exit._   [aec195]

SCENE IV. _Camp of the_ DUKE OF YORK _in Anjou_.

_Enter_ YORK, WARWICK, _and others_.

_York._ Bring forth that sorceress condemn’d to burn.   [aed001]

_Enter_ LA PUCELLE, _guarded, and a_ Shepherd.

_Shep._ Ah, Joan, this kills thy father’s heart outright!

Have I sought every country far and near,

And, now it is my chance to find thee out,

Must I behold thy timeless cruel death?   [aed005]

Ah, Joan, sweet daughter Joan, I’ll die with thee!   [aed006]

_Puc._ Decrepit miser! base ignoble wretch!

I am descended of a gentler blood:

Thou art no father nor no friend of mine.

_Shep._ Out, out! My lords, an please you, ’tis not so;   [aed010]

I did beget her, all the parish knows:

Her mother liveth yet, can testify

She was the first fruit of my bachelorship.   [aed013]

_War._ Graceless! wilt thou deny thy parentage?

_York._ This argues what her kind of life hath been,   ·aed015·

Wicked and vile; and so her death concludes.

_Shep._ Fie, Joan, that thou wilt be so obstacle!   [aed017]

God knows thou art a collop of my flesh;

And for thy sake have I shed many a tear:

Deny me not, I prithee, gentle Joan.   [aed020]

_Puc._ Peasant, avaunt! You have suborn’d this man,

Of purpose to obscure my noble birth.

_Shep._ ’Tis true, I gave a noble to the priest

The morn that I was wedded to her mother.

Kneel down and take my blessing, good my girl.   ·aed025·

Wilt thou not stoop? Now cursed be the time

Of thy nativity! I would the milk

Thy mother gave thee when thou suck’dst her breast,   [aed028]

Had been a little ratsbane for thy sake!

Or else, when thou didst keep my lambs a-field,   [aed030]

I wish some ravenous wolf had eaten thee!

Dost thou deny thy father, cursed drab?

O, burn her, burn her! hanging is too good. [_Exit._

_York._ Take her away; for she hath lived too long,

To fill the world with vicious qualities.   ·aed035·

_Puc._ First, let me tell you whom you have condemn’d:

Not me begotten of a shepherd swain,   [aed037]

But issued from the progeny of kings;

Virtuous and holy; chosen from above,

By inspiration of celestial grace,   ·aed040·

To work exceeding miracles on earth.

I never had to do with wicked spirits:

But you, that are polluted with your lusts,

Stain’d with the guiltless blood of innocents,

Corrupt and tainted with a thousand vices,   ·aed045·

Because you want the grace that others have,

You judge it straight a thing impossible

To compass wonders but by help of devils.

No, misconceived! Joan of Arc hath been   [aed049]

A virgin from her tender infancy,   ·aed050·

Chaste and immaculate in very thought;

Whose maiden blood, thus rigorously effused,

Will cry for vengeance at the gates of heaven.

_York._ Ay, ay: away with her to execution!   [aed054]

_War._ And hark ye, sirs; because she is a maid,   ·aed055·

Spare for no faggots, let there be enow:

Place barrels of pitch upon the fatal stake,

That so her torture may be shortened.

_Puc._ Will nothing turn your unrelenting hearts?

Then, Joan, discover thine infirmity,   [aed060]

That warranteth by law to be thy privilege.   [aed061]

I am with child, ye bloody homicides:

Murder not then the fruit within my womb,

Although ye hale me to a violent death.

_York._ Now heaven forfend! the holy maid with child!   ·aed065·

_War._ The greatest miracle that e’er ye wrought:   [aed066]

Is all your strict preciseness come to this?

_York._ She and the Dauphin have been juggling:

I did imagine what would be her refuge.

_War._ Well, go to; we’ll have no bastards live;   [aed070]

Especially since Charles must father it.

_Puc._ You are deceived; my child is none of his:

It was Alençon that enjoy’d my love.

_York._ Alençon! that notorious Machiavel!   [aed074]

It dies, an if it had a thousand lives.   [aed075]

_Puc._ O, give me leave, I have deluded you:

’Twas neither Charles nor yet the duke I named,

But Reignier, king of Naples, that prevail’d.

_War._ A married man! that’s most intolerable.

_York._ Why, here’s a girl! I think she knows not well,   ·aed080·

There were so many, whom she may accuse.

_War._ It’s sign she hath been liberal and free.   [aed082]

_York._ And yet, forsooth, she is a virgin pure.

Strumpet, thy words condemn thy brat and thee:

Use no entreaty, for it is in vain.   ·aed085·

_Puc._ Then lead me hence; with whom I leave my curse:

May never glorious sun reflex his beams   [aed087]

Upon the country where you make abode;

But darkness and the gloomy shade of death

Environ you, till mischief and despair   ·aed090·

Drive you to break your necks or hang yourselves!   [aed091]

[_Exit, guarded._

_York._ Break thou in pieces and consume to ashes,

Thou foul accursed minister of hell!   [aed093]

_Enter_ CARDINAL BEAUFORT, Bishop of Winchester, _attended_.

_Car._ Lord regent, I do greet your excellence   [aed094]

With letters of commission from the king.   ·aed095·

For know, my lords, the states of Christendom,

Moved with remorse of these outrageous broils,

Have earnestly implored a general peace

Betwixt our nation and the aspiring French;   [aed099]

And here at hand the Dauphin and his train   [aed100]

Approacheth, to confer about some matter.   [aed101]

_York._ Is all our travail turn’d to this effect?   [aed102]

After the slaughter of so many peers,

So many captains, gentlemen and soldiers,

That in this quarrel have been overthrown   ·aed105·

And sold their bodies for their country’s benefit,

Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace?

Have we not lost most part of all the towns,

By treason, falsehood and by treachery,

Our great progenitors had conquered?   ·aed110·

O, Warwick, Warwick! I foresee with grief

The utter loss of all the realm of France.

_War._ Be patient, York: if we conclude a peace,

It shall be with such strict and severe covenants

As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby.   [aed115]

_Enter_ CHARLES, ALENÇON, Bastard, REIGNIER, _and others_.

_Char._ Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed

That peaceful truce shall be proclaim’d in France,

We come to be informed by yourselves   [aed118]

What the conditions of that league must be.

_York._ Speak, Winchester; for boiling choler chokes   ·aed120·

The hollow passage of my poison’d voice,   [aed121]

By sight of these our baleful enemies.

_Car._ Charles, and the rest, it is enacted thus:

That, in regard King Henry gives consent,

Of mere compassion and of lenity,   ·aed125·

To ease your country of distressful war,

And suffer you to breathe in fruitful peace,

You shall become true liegemen to his crown:

And, Charles, upon condition thou wilt swear

To pay him tribute, and submit thyself,   ·aed130·

Thou shalt be placed as viceroy under him,

And still enjoy thy regal dignity.

_Alen._ Must he be then as shadow of himself?   [aed133]

Adorn his temples with a coronet,

And yet, in substance and authority,   ·aed135·

Retain but privilege of a private man?

This proffer is absurd and reasonless.

_Char._ ’Tis known already that I am possess’d

With more than half the Gallian territories,   [aed139]

And therein reverenced for their lawful king:   ·aed140·

Shall I, for lucre of the rest unvanquish’d,

Detract so much from that prerogative,

As to be call’d but viceroy of the whole?

No, lord ambassador, I’ll rather keep

That which I have than, coveting for more,   ·aed145·

Be cast from possibility of all.

_York._ Insulting Charles! hast thou by secret means

Used intercession to obtain a league,

And, now the matter grows to compromise,   [aed149]

Stand’st thou aloof upon comparison?   [aed150]

Either accept the title thou usurp’st,

Of benefit proceeding from our king

And not of any challenge of desert,

Or we will plague thee with incessant wars.

_Reig._ My lord, you do not well in obstinacy   [aed155]

To cavil in the course of this contract:

If once it be neglected, ten to one

We shall not find like opportunity.

_Alen._ To say the truth, it is your policy   [aed159]

To save your subjects from such massacre   ·aed160·

And ruthless slaughters as are daily seen

By our proceeding in hostility;

And therefore take this compact of a truce,

Although you break it when your pleasure serves.

_War._ How say’st thou, Charles? shall our condition stand?   [aed165]

_Char._ It shall;

Only reserved, you claim no interest

In any of our towns of garrison.

_York._ Then swear allegiance to his majesty,

As thou art knight, never to disobey   ·aed170·

Nor be rebellious to the crown of England,

Thou, nor thy nobles, to the crown of England.   [aed172]

So, now dismiss your army when ye please;   [aed173]

Hang up your ensigns, let your drums be still,

For here we entertain a solemn peace. [_Exeunt._   [aed175]

SCENE V. _London. The royal palace_.

_Enter_ SUFFOLK _in conference with the_ KING, GLOUCESTER

_and_ EXETER.

_King._ Your wondrous rare description, noble earl,   [aee001]

Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish’d me:

Her virtues graced with external gifts

Do breed love’s settled passions in my heart:

And like as rigour of tempestuous gusts   ·aee005·

Provokes the mightiest hulk against the tide,

So am I driven by breath of her renown

Either to suffer shipwreck or arrive

Where I may have fruition of her love.

_Suf._ Tush, my good lord, this superficial tale   ·aee010·

Is but a preface of her worthy praise;   [aee011]

The chief perfections of that lovely dame,

Had I sufficient skill to utter them,

Would make a volume of enticing lines,

Able to ravish any dull conceit:   ·aee015·

And, which is more, she is not so divine,

So full-replete with choice of all delights,

But with as humble lowliness of mind

She is content to be at your command;

Command, I mean, of virtuous chaste intents,   ·aee020·

To love and honour Henry as her lord.

_King._ And otherwise will Henry ne’er presume.

Therefore, my lord protector, give consent

That Margaret may be England’s royal queen.

_Glou._ So should I give consent to flatter sin.   ·aee025·

You know, my lord, your highness is betroth’d

Unto another lady of esteem:

How shall we then dispense with that contract,   [aee028]

And not deface your honour with reproach?

_Suf._ As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths;   ·aee030·

Or one that, at a triumph having vow’d

To try his strength, forsaketh yet the lists

By reason of his adversary’s odds:

A poor earl’s daughter is unequal odds:

And therefore may be broke without offence.   ·aee035·

_Glou._ Why, what, I pray, is Margaret more than that?

Her father is no better than an earl,

Although in glorious titles he excel.

_Suf._ Yes, my lord, her father is a king,   [aee039]

The King of Naples and Jerusalem;   ·aee040·

And of such great authority in France

As his alliance will confirm our peace   [aee042]

And keep the Frenchmen in allegiance.

_Glou._ And so the Earl of Armagnac may do,

Because he is near kinsman unto Charles.   ·aee045·

_Exe._ Beside, his wealth doth warrant a liberal dower,   [aee046]

Where Reignier sooner will receive than give.   [aee047]

_Suf._ A dower, my lords! disgrace not so your king,

That he should be so abject, base and poor,

To choose for wealth and not for perfect love.   ·aee050·

Henry is able to enrich his queen

And not to seek a queen to make him rich:

So worthless peasants bargain for their wives,

As market-men for oxen, sheep, or horse.

Marriage is a matter of more worth   [aee055]

Than to be dealt in by attorneyship;

Not whom we will, but whom his grace affects,

Must be companion of his nuptial bed:

And therefore, lords, since he affects her most,

It most of all these reasons bindeth us,   [aee060]

In our opinions she should be preferr’d.

For what is wedlock forced but a hell,

An age of discord and continual strife?

Whereas the contrary bringeth bliss,   [aee064]

And is a pattern of celestial peace.   ·aee065·

Whom should we match with Henry, being a king,

But Margaret, that is daughter to a king?

Her peerless feature, joined with her birth,

Approves her fit for none but for a king:

Her valiant courage and undaunted spirit,   ·aee070·

More than in women commonly is seen,   [aee071]

Will answer our hope in issue of a king;   [aee072]

For Henry, son unto a conqueror,

Is likely to beget more conquerors,

If with a lady of so high resolve   ·aee075·

As is fair Margaret he be link’d in love.

Then yield, my lords; and here conclude with me

That Margaret shall be queen, and none but she.

_King._ Whether it be through force of your report,

My noble Lord of Suffolk, or for that   ·aee080·

My tender youth was never yet attaint

With any passion of inflaming love,

I cannot tell; but this I am assured,

I feel such sharp dissension in my breast,

Such fierce alarums both of hope and fear,   ·aee085·

As I am sick with working of my thoughts.

Take, therefore, shipping; post, my lord, to France;

Agree to any covenants, and procure

That Lady Margaret do vouchsafe to come

To cross the seas to England and be crown’d   [aee090]

King Henry’s faithful and anointed queen:

For your expenses and sufficient charge,

Among the people gather up a tenth.

Be gone, I say; for, till you do return,

I rest perplexed with a thousand cares.   ·aee095·

And you, good uncle, banish all offence:

If you do censure me by what you were,

Not what you are, I know it will excuse

This sudden execution of my will.

And so, conduct me where, from company,   ·aee100·

I may revolve and ruminate my grief. [_Exit._

_Glou._ Ay, grief, I fear me, both at first and last.   [aee102]

[_Exeunt Gloucester and Exeter._

_Suf._ Thus Suffolk hath prevail’d; and thus he goes,

As did the youthful Paris once to Greece,

With hope to find the like event in love,   ·aee105·

But prosper better than the Trojan did.   [aee106]

Margaret shall now be queen, and rule the king;

But I will rule both her, the king and realm. [_Exit._

LINENOTES TO I KING HENRY VI.

[aaa001] Westminster Abbey.] Theobald. ¶ the Earl of Warwick,]

Warwicke, Ff. ¶ Heralds, &c.] Malone. and the Duke of Somerset. Ff.

[aaa003] _crystal_] _crisped_ Hanmer. _cristed_ or _crested_ Warburton

conj. ¶ _crystal...sky_] _tristful tresses in the sky_ or _tresses in

the crystal sky_ Roderick conj.

[aaa005] _consented_] _concented_ Steevens conj. ¶ _Henry’s_] _Harry’s_

Johnson.

[aaa006] _King_] om. Pope.

[aaa010] _his_ _its_ Pope.

[aaa012] _wrathful_] _awful_ Rowe.

[aaa016] _ne’er lift......conquered_] _never lifted...conquer’d_ Pope.

[aaa027] _verses have_] F1. _verse have_ F2 F3 F4. _verse have

thus_ Pope. _verse they have_ Long MS.

[aaa032] _church’s_] _Churches_ Ff.

[aaa033] _The church!......pray’d_] So Pope. As two lines in Ff.

[aaa049] _moist_] F2 F3 F4. _moistned_ F1.

[aaa050] _nourish_] _marish_ Pope. _nourice_ Theobald.

[aaa056] _or bright_--] Ff. _or bright Francis Drake_. Pope conj.

Omitted by Hanmer. _or bright Cassiopeia_. Theobald conj. _or bright

Berenice_. Johnson conj. _or bright Alexander_. Capell conj. _bright_.

Jackson conj. _or bright Cassiopé_. Collier (Collier MS.). _or bright

Orion_. Mitford conj. _or great Alexander_. Bullock conj. _or bright

Cephéus_. Keightley conj. _or bright Charlemagne_. Anon. conj. ¶

_Cæsar or bright_--Mess. _My honourable] Cæsar’s orb_. Mess. _Right

honourable_ Anon. apud Fras. Mag. conj.

[aaa057] SCENE II. Pope.

[aaa060] _Rheims_] _Rheimes_ Ff. _and Rheims and_ Pope. _Rheims, Roan_,

Capell. See note (II).

[aaa062], aaa063: _man,...corse? Speak_] _man!...corse Speak_ Staunton.

[aaa065] _is Rouen_] _is Roan_ F1. _and is Roan_ F2 F3 F4. _and

Roan_ Pope. _and Orleans_ Hanmer.

[aaa076] _A third thinks_] _A third thinkes_ F1. _A third man thinks_

F2 F3 F4. _A third one thinks_ S. Walker conj. _A third thinketh_

Delius conj. _A third thinks that_ Keightley conj. _While a third

thinks_ Anon. conj.

[aaa078] _Awake, awake_] F1 F3 F4. _Awake, away_ F2.

[aaa080], aaa081: _arms; Of...coat_] _arms, Of...coat_ Pope. arms

Of...coat, Ff.

[aaa083] _their_] Theobald. _her_ Ff.

[aaa085] _steeled_] _stealed_ F2.

[aaa087] _will I_] _I will_ Pope.

[aaa089] SCENE III. Pope.

[aaa093] _of_] om. Pope.

[aaa094] _Reignier_] Rowe. _Reynold_ Ff. _doth take_] F1. _doth_ F2

F3 F4. _takes_ Hanmer.

[aaa095] _flieth to_] _flyeth to_ F1 F2. _flieth on_ F3 F4. _flies

to_ Pope. ¶ _side._] Capell. _side._ Exit. Ff.

[aaa096] _crowned_] Rowe. _crown’d_ Ff.

[aaa103] SCENE IV. Pope.

[aaa108], aaa145, aaa157: Mess.] 3. Mes. or 3. Mess. Ff.

[aaa112] _full scarce_] Ff. _scarce full_ Rowe.

[aaa124] _flew_] Rowe (ed. 2). _slew_ Ff.

[aaa126] _the_] _their_ Capell conj.

[aaa128] _A Talbot! a Talbot! cried_] _A Talbot! Talbot! cried_ Pope.

_A Talbot! cried, a Talbot_ Seymour conj.

[aaa131] _Fastolfe_] Theobald. _Falstaffe_ F1 F2 F3. _Falstaff_ F4.

[aaa132] _vaward_] _Vauward_ Ff. _rereward_ Hanmer (Theobald conj.). ¶

_in...behind_] _in aidance, placed behind the vaward_ Singer conj.

[aaa137] _Walloon_] F3 F4. _Wallon_ F1 F2.

[aaa139] _their chief_] _their chiefe_ F1 F2. _their_ F3 F4. _her

chief_ Pope (ed. 2).

[aaa141] _slain? then_] Johnson. _slain then_? Ff.

[aaa156] _make_] _cause_ Collier MS.

[aaa157] _for Orleans is besieged;_] _’fore Orleans besieg’d_ Hanmer.

[aaa162] _oaths_] _oath_ S. Walker conj.

[aaa165] _it_] om. Anon. conj. ¶ _my_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[aaa166] [Exit.] Exit Bedford. Ff.

[aaa168] _munition_] _amunition_ Pope.

[aaa169] [Exit.] Exit Gloster. Ff.

[aaa175] _Jack_] _thus_ Pope.

[aaa176] _steal_] Singer (Mason conj.). _send_ Ff.

[aaa177] [Exeunt] Edd. Exit. Ff. Exit. Scene closes. Capell.

[aab001] SCENE II.] SCENE V. Pope. ¶ France. Before Orleans.]

Before Orleans in France. Theobald. France. Pope.   France. The English

Posts before Orleans. Capell. ¶ Sound a Flourish.] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[aab007] _Otherwhiles_] _Tho’ still_ Pope. _The whiles_ Capell.

[aab011], aab12: _And have...mice_] Misplaced in F2 F3 F4 after line

13.

[aab013] Reig. _Let’s...here?_] Omitted by Rowe, Pope, and Hanmer. ¶

_live_] _sit_ Capell. _lie_ S. Walker conj.

[aab019] _forlorn_] _forborne_ Collier MS.

[aab021] _or fly_] _to fly_ Hanmer. _or flee_ Dyce (Collier MS.). ¶

Here...loss.] Ff. ¶ Re-enter...] Enter... Ff. ¶ and Reignier] Reignier

and the rest. Capell.

[aab027] _The_] F1. _To_ F2 F3 F4. _Two_ Rowe.

[aab028] _hungry_] _hungred_ Johnson conj.

[aab029] _Froissart_] _Froysard_ Ff.

[aab030] _bred_] Rowe. _breed_ Ff.

[aab033] _Goliases_] _Goliahs now_ Hanmer.

[aab037] _Let’s...slaves_] Pope. As two lines in Ff.

[aab038] _to_] om. Pope.

[aab041] _gimmors_] F1. _gimmalls_ F2 F3. _gimmals_ F4.

[aab058] _my_] _her_ Johnson conj.

[aab059] _unfallible_] _infallible_ Rowe.

[aab060] [Exit Bastard.] Capell. om. Ff.

[aab063] [Retires. Capell. ¶ Re-enter...Joan La Pucelle.] Re-enter...La

Pucelle. Dyce. Enter La Pucelle, usher’d. Capell. Enter Ioane Puzel. Ff.

[aab064] SCENE VI. Pope. ¶ _Fair...feats?_] As prose in Ff. ¶

_wilt_] _will_ Capell conj.

[aab074] _Lady gracious_] _gracious Lady_ Collier (Collier MS. and S.

Walker conj.).

[aab086] _which you see_] F2 F3 F4. _which you may see_ F1. _you

may see_ Anon. conj.

[aab090] _my_] _thy_ Anon. conj.

[aab097] _Otherwise...confidence_] _Or...confidence in you_ Collier MS.

¶ _Otherwise I_] _I otherwise_ Seymour conj.

[aab099] _five_] Steevens (from Holinshed). _fine_ Ff.

[aab100] _churchyard_] _church_ Pope.

[aab101] _Out of a great deal of_] _Out a deal of_ Steevens conj. _Out

of ordeal’d_ Jackson conj. ¶ _great_] om. Pope. ¶ _forth_] om. Capell.

[aab102] _come_] _come on_ Keightley. ¶ _o’_] Theobald. _a_ Ff. ¶ _I

fear_] _for I fear_ Pope. _I do fear_ S. Walker conj.

[aab103] _ne’er fly from a man_] F1. _ne’re flye no man_ F2 F3 F4

(_flie_ F3 F4). _never fly no man_ Capell. _ne’er fly from no man_

Collier MS. ¶ [Here...Joan La Pucelle...] Here...Ioane de Puzel... Ff.

[aab112] _to thee thus_] _thus to thee_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[aab113] _rites_] Pope. _rights_ Ff.

[aab125] _over_] Rowe. o’re Ff. _o’er this_ Capell.

[aab127] _I will_] Capell. _Ile_ F1. _for Ile_ F2 F3 F4.

[aab129] _am I_] F1 F2. _I am_ F3 F4.

[aab131] _halcyon_] F3 F4. _halcyons_ F1 F2.

[aab132] _entered_] _entred_ F1. _entred thus_ F2 F3 F4.

[aab138] _proud insulting_] _proud-insulting_ S. Walker conj.

[aab139] _fortune_] _fortunes_ Collier MS. ¶ _bare_] _bore_ Rowe.

[aab144] _fallen_] _falne_ F1. _faine_ F2. _fal’n_ F3. _faln_ F4.

[aab145] _reverently_] _ever_ Capell. _reverence_, Steevens conj.

_reverent_ Collier MS. ¶ aab145, aab146: _thee enough?_ Alen.] _thee?_

Alen. Pope. _thee?_ Alen. _Enough:_ Anon. conj.

[aab148] _Orleans_] _Orleance_ Ff. _hence_ Capell.

[aab149] _we’ll_] om. Pope.

[aab150] _prove_] _proves_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[aac001] Scene III: SCENE III.] SCENE VII. Pope. ¶ London...]

The Tower-gates in London. Theobald. ¶ in blue coats] in blue. Capell.

om. Ff. ¶ _I am...day_] _I am this day come to survey the Tower_ Pope.

_I am come here...day_ Seymour conj.

[aac004] _’tis Gloucester_] Pope, _’tis Gloster_ Ff. _it is Gloster_

Steevens. _Gloster it is_ Reed (1803). ¶ _calls_] _now calls_ Collier

MS. ¶ [Servants knock at the gates. Capell.]

[aac005], aac007, aac009: [Within] Malone. ¶ aac005: _Who’s_] _Who is_

Malone. ¶ _knocks_] _knocketh_ Theobald. ¶ _knocks so imperiously_] _so

imperiously doth knock_ Seymour conj.

[aac006], aac017, &c: _Gloucester_] Pope. _Gloster_ Ff. ¶ aac006: First

Serv.] Glost. 1. Man. Ff.

[aac007] _you_] _he_ Capell.

[aac008] First Serv.] 1. Man. Ff. ¶ _Villains, answer....protector?_]

_Answer......protector, villains?_ Reed (1803).

[aac011] _willed you_] _will’d you so_ Collier MS.

[aac013] _Break up_] _Break ope_ Grey conj.

[aac020] _commandment_] F4. _commandement_ F1 F2 F3.

[aac023] _that_] the Rowe (ed. 2).

[aac027] _unto_] F1 F2. _to_ F3 F4. _there to_ Pope.

[aac028] _Or we’ll...if that_] _We’ll...if_ Pope. ¶ [Servants rush at

the Gates again. Capell.

[aac029] _Humphry_] Theobald. _Umpheir_ F1. Umpire F2 F3 F4.

[aac030] _Peel’d_] _Piel’d_ Ff. _Pied_ Grey conj. ¶ _to be_] _be_ Pope.

[aac034] _dead_] F1 F3 F4. _dread_ F2.

[aac035] _indulgences_] _indulgencies_ Pope.

[aac041]–aac056: Glou. _I will...hypocrite!_] Put in the margin by Pope.

[aac046] _privileged_] _is a privileg’d_ Collier MS.

[aac047] _tawny coats_] _tawny_ Pope.

[aac049] _I_] F1. _Ile_ F2 F3 F4. _ay,_ Anon. conj.

[aac052] _thou wilt_] _thou’lt_ Pope.

[aac056] Mayor] F2 F3 F4. Maior F1.

[aac059] _mayor,_] _Maior,_ F1. _Mayor, for_ F2 F3 F4. See note

(III).

[aac060] _nor God_] F1 F2. _not God_ F3 F4.

[aac062] _Gloucester_] _Gloster_ F1. _Gloster too_ F2 F3 F4.

[aac072], aac073: _as e’er...canst: Cry._] Edd. _as e’re thou canst,

cry:_ Ff. _as e’er...canst._ Pope. _as thou canst cry._ Collier

(Collier MS.). _as ever...cry._ Staunton. ¶ aac072–aac074: _canst:

Cry._ Off. _All..._] _canst._ Crier. _All..._ Anon. conj.

[aac074] Off.] Hanmer. om. Ff.

[aac080] _break_] _tell_ Pope.

[aac081] _we will_] Edd. (S. Walker conj.). _wee’le_ F1. _we’ll_ F2

F3 F4. ¶ _cost_] F1. _deare cost_ F2 F3 F4.

[aac084] _’s_] F1. _is_ F2 F3 F4.

[aac085] _Mayor_] F4. _Maior_ F1. _Major_ F2 F3.

[aac087] _it ere long_] F1 F2. _it e’re be long_ F3 F4. _it, ere’t

be long_ Capell. _it off, ere long_ Collier (Collier MS.). _’t ere

long_ Staunton. ¶ [Exeunt...] Exeunt either Party, severally. Capell.

Exeunt. Ff.

[aac089] _these] that_ Rowe.

[aad001] SCENE IV.] SCENE VIII. Pope. ¶ Orleans.] Orleans in

France. Pope. Under Orleans. Capell. ¶ Enter...] Enter the Master

Gunner of Orleance, and his Boy. Ff. Enter, upon the Walls, above, a

Gunner and his Son. Capell.

[aad008] _espials] ’spials_ Pope.

[aad009] _How the] The_ Pope.

[aad010] _Wont_] Steevens, 1793 (Tyrwhitt conj.). _Went_ Ff. _Watch_

Hanmer. _View_ Roderick conj. _Are wont_ Heath conj.

[aad016]–18: _And even...longer._] See note (IV).

[aad018] _longer.] longer on my post._ Collier MS.

[aad022] [Exit.] Ff. om. Rowe.

[aad023] Enter...] Enter Salisbury and Talbot on the Turrets, with

others. Ff. Enter, in an upper chamber of a tower... Malone.

[aad025] _got’st_] F4. _got’s_ F1 F2 F3.

[aad027] _Duke_] Theobald. _Earle_ Ff.

[aad028] _Call’d_] _Called_ Pope. ¶ _Lord_] _Lord of_ Collier MS. ¶

_Santrailles_] _Santrayle_ F1. _Santraile_ F2 F3 F4.

[aad029] _ransomed_] Pope. _ransom’d_ Ff.

[aad033] _so vile-esteem’d_] _so vilde esteem’d_ Pope. _so pil’d

esteem’d_ Ff. _so pill’d esteem’d_ Capell. _so ill-esteemed_ Mason

conj. _so pile-esteem’d_ Malone conj. _so philistin’d_ Steevens conj.

_sop-oil’d esteem’d_ Jackson conj.

[aad035] _Fastolfe_] Theobald. _Falstaffe_ or _Falstaff_ Ff.

[aad043] _scarecrow_] _Scar-crow_ F1 F2.

[aad050] _So...spread_] _So great a fear my name amongst them spread_

Pope. ¶ _was_] Rowe. _were_ Ff.

[aad054] _That_] _They_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[aad056] Enter...] Ff. Omitted by Pope.

[aad060] _through_] Ff. _thorough_ Malone. ¶ _grate_] _secret grate_

Dyce conj. ¶ _count each one_] F1. _can count every one_ F2 F3 F4.

_count each enemy_ Anon. conj.

[aad065] _next._] Capell. _next?_ Ff.

[aad066] _stand_] F2 F3 F4. _stands_ F1.

[aad069] [Here...fall.] Here they shot, and Salisbury falls downe. Ff.

¶ shoot] Rowe. ¶ Gargrave] Capell. ¶ fall] Capell.

[aad073] _canst speak_] Pope. _canst, speak_ Ff.

[aad075] _thy eyes_] _thine eyes_ Collier MS.

[aad078]–aad086: _In......hands!_] Erased in Collier MS.

[aad084] _The sun...world_] Put in the margin by Pope.

[aad090] _Salisbury, cheer_] _O Salisb’ry, cheer_ Pope. _Cheer,

Salisbury_ Seymour conj.

[aad091] _whiles_--] Ff. _while_--Pope.

[aad095] _like thee, Nero,_] Malone. _like thee_, F1. _Nero like

will_, F2. _Nero like, will_ F3 F4. _Nero-like_, Pope. _like the

Roman_, S. Walker conj.

[aad097] _my name_] _thy name_ S. Walker conj.

[aad099] _the noise_] _this noise_ Pope.

[aad101] _la Pucelle_] de Puzel Ff.

[aad107] _Pucelle or puzzel_] _Puzel or Pussel_ Ff. ¶ aad107–aad109:

_Pucelle...brains._] Put in the margin by Pope.

[aad110] _me_] _brave_ Pope.

[aad111] _And then we’ll try_] _Then we’ll try_ Long MS. _Then try we_

Steevens conj. _And then try_ S. Walker conj. ¶ _these_] om. Pope.

¶ [Alarum.] om. Capell. ¶ Exeunt.] F1 F2. Exit. F3 F4. Exeunt,

bearing Salisbury and Sir Thomas Gargrave out. Theobald.

[aae001] SCENE V.] SCENE X. Pope. ¶ The same.] The same. Before

one of the Gates. Capell. ¶ Here...Joan La Pucelle...re-enter...]

Here...Joane de Puzel...enter... Ff. ¶ and exit after them] Dyce. om.

Ff.

[aae003] Re-enter La Pucelle.] Enter Puzel. Ff. ¶ _a bout_] _about_ F2.

[aae009]–aae012: Tal. _Heavens...strumpet_] Put in the margin by Pope.

[aae014] _forthwith_] _forwith_ F2. ¶ [A short...enter...] Ff. A

short...enters... Johnson. Quitting him to head some troops. Capell.

[aae016] _hungry-starved_] F1 F3 F4. _hongry-starved_ F2.

_hunger-starved_ Rowe. _hungry, starved_ Boswell conj. _hungry staid_

Jackson conj.

[aae026] _like to_] F1. _like the_ F2 F3 F4. _like their_ Pope.

[aae030] _treacherous from the_] F3 F4. _trecherous from the_ F1

F2. _tim’rous from the_ Pope. _from the treacherous_ Mitford conj.

[aaf001] SCENE VI.] Capell. SCENE XI. Pope. om. Ff. Dyce and

Staunton continue the scene.

[aaf002] _Rescued_] _For rescu’d_ Keightley conj. ¶ _English_] F1.

_English wolves_ F2 F3 F4. _English dogs_ Staunton conj.

[aaf004] _Astræa’s_] F1. _bright Astræa’s_ F2 F3 F4.

[aaf006] _gardens_] Hanmer. _garden_ Ff.

[aaf011] _Why...town?_] As two lines, the first ending _aloud,_ in Ff.

¶ _out the_] om. Steevens conj. ¶ _aloud_] om. Pope.

[aaf021] _pyramis_] Ff. _pyramid_ Rowe.

[aaf022] _or Memphis’_] Hanmer. _or Memphis_ Ff. _of Memphis_ Dyce

(Capell conj.).

[aaf023] _when_] _wen_ F2.

[aaf024] _precious_] _gracious_ Rowe.

[aaf025] _rich-jewel’d coffer_] Ff. _rich jewel’d coffer_ Pope. _rich

jewel-coffer_ Steevens conj. ¶ aaf025, aaf026: _Darius, Transported_]

_Darius Transported,_ Capell.

[aaf027] _Before_] _Ever before_ Hanmer. _And borne before_ Anon. conj.

¶ _queens_] _queens and peers_ Dyce conj. ¶ _France_] _France up-born_

Capell. _France for ever_ Keightley conj.

[aba001] ACT II. SCENE I.] Actus Secundus. Scæna Prima. Ff. ¶

Before Orleans.] Theobald. Continues in Orleans. Pope. ¶ Enter...] Ff.

Enter a French Serjeant, and Sentinels, to the Gate. Capell.

[aba007] and forces] Capell. om. Ff.

[aba029] _all together_] Rowe. _altogether_ Ff.

[aba033] _And_] om. Pope.

[aba037] [The English, scaling the Walls, Cry St George! A Talbot!

Theobald.

[aba038] [Cry...] om. Theobald. ¶ over] ore Ff. ¶ the...Orleans,]

Bastard, Ff.

[aba039] SCENE II. Pope.

[aba040] _ay, and glad_] _I and glad_ Ff. _I am glad_ Pope.

[aba046] _be_] _is_ Pope.

[aba049] Enter...] Enter...Joane. Ff (after line 48).

[aba063] _your_] F1. _our_ F2 F3 F4. ¶ _quarters_] F1 F2 F3.

_quarter_ F4.

[aba076] _our_] om. Pope.

[aba077] [Exeunt. Ff. Omitted first by Capell. ¶ an English Soldier]

Capell. a Souldier Ff.

[aba078] SCENE III. Within the walls of Orleans. Pope.

[abb001] SCENE II.] Capell. om. Ff. ¶ Orleans...] The same...

Theobald (after line 77 of Scene I.). ¶ a Captain, and others.]

Capell. om. Ff.

[abb003] [Retreat sounded.] Capell. Retreat. Ff.

[abb006] _centre_] F3 F4. _centure_ F1. _center_ F2.

[abb020] _Arc_] Rowe. _Acre_ Ff.

[abb027] _dusky_] _dusty_ Rowe.

[abb034] _of this_] _of his_ F2.

[abb038] _Auvergne_] Rowe. _Ouergne_ F1. _Auergne_ F2 F3 _Avergne_

F4.

[abb040] _great lord_] _good lord_ Reed (1803, 1813, 1821).

[abb045] _unto_] _into_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[abb047] _may not_] _can’t_ Pope. ¶ _my_] om. Capell.

[abb048] _Ne’er trust me then_] _Nay, trust me there_ Hanmer.

[abb054] _it is_] Steevens. _’tis_ Ff. _that is_ Pope.

[abb059] [Whispers.] So Johnson. After the line, in Ff.

[abc001] SCENE III.] Capell. SCENE IV. Pope. om. Ff. ¶

Auvergne...] The Countess of Auvergne’s Castle. Pope. Auvergne. Court

of the Castle. Capell.

[abc002] _you have_] _you’ve_ Pope.

[abc011], abc012: As in Steevens (1793). As one line in Ff.

[abc012] _desired,_] om. Pope, reading _Madam...ladyship_ as one line.

[abc023] _writhled] wrizled_ Hanmer.

[abc024] _to_] _in_ Pope.

[abc027] [Going. Capell.

[abc028] _What...goes._] As two lines in Ff. As one (omitting _him_) in

Pope.

[abc032] Re-enter...] Enter... Ff.

[abc044] _Laughest...moan_] One line in Pope: two in Ff.

[abc048] _Why,_] _Why?_ Ff.

[abc060] _That_] _That, madam,_ Steevens conj. _Lady, that_ Keightley

conj. ¶ _presently_] _lady, presently_ Collier (S. Walker conj.). ¶

Enter Soldiers.] The Gates are forced; and enter certain of his Troops.

Capell.

[abc069] _gather’d_] Pope. _gathered_ Ff.

[abc073] _misconstrue_] Rowe. _misconster_ Ff.

[abc078] _your_] F1. _our_ F2 F3 F4.

[abd001] SCENE IV.] Capell. SCENE V. Pope. om. Ff. ¶

London...] Pope. ¶ Enter...] Capell. Enter Richard Plantagenet,

Warwick, Somerset, Poole, and others. Ff. ¶ another Lawyer.] a Lawyer.

Ritson conj. ¶ Plan.] Rowe. Yorke. Ff (and throughout the scene). ¶

_Great......silence?_] One line in Pope: two in Ff.

[abd006] _or else was_] _And was not_ Hanmer. ¶ _in the error_] _i’ the

right_ Capell (Johnson conj.).

[abd008] _And never_] _I never_ Pope.

[abd013] _bears_] _wears_ or _hath_ Anon. conj.

[abd024] _blind man’s_] F4. _blind-mans_ F1 F2. _blind-man’s_ F3.

[abd026] _significants_] _significance_ Pope.

[abd031] _nor no_] _and no_ Pope.

[abd035] _base insinuating_] _base-insinuating_ S. Walker conj.

[abd049]–abd054: _Prick not...I am._] Put in the margin by Pope.

[abd057] _in you_] _in law_ Anon. conj. ¶ [To Somerset.] Rowe.

[abd061] _in a_] _to a_ Pope.

[abd062]–abd074: _Meantime...be seen._] Put in the margin by Pope.

[abd065] _that_] _but_ Long MS. _and_ Collier MS. ¶ _anger_] _anger--_

Capell. ¶ _thy_] F1 F2. _my_ F3 F4.

[abd076] _fashion_] _passion_ Pope. _faction_ Theobald.

[abd086] _bears_] _braves_ Collier MS.

[abd091] _executed_] _headed_ Pope. _execute_ Steevens conj.

[abd099] _ripen’d_] Pope. _ripened_ Ff.

[abd102] _apprehension_] _reprehension_ Theobald.

[abd110] _to my grave_] _in my grave_ Collier MS.

[abd117] _wiped_] _wip’t_ F2 F3 F4. _whipt_ F1.

[abd127] _A thousand_] _Ten thousand_ Collier MS.

[abd128]–abd134: _Good...day._] Put in the margin by Pope.

[abd132] _Thanks_] _I thank you_ Collier conj. ¶ _gentle sir._] F2

F3 F4. _gentle._ F1. _gentle sir; thanks, both._ Steevens conj.

_gentlemen._ Anon. conj.

[abe001] SCENE V.] Capell. SCENE VI. Pope. om. Ff. ¶

The......London.] A Prison. Theobald. A Room in the Tower. Capell. ¶

and Gaolers.] and Jaylors. Ff. supported by two of his Keepers. Capell.

[abe003] _man_] _man’s_ Capell conj.

[abe006] _an age_] _a cage_ Collier MS.

[abe011] _wither’d_] Pope. _withered_ Ff.

[abe016] _comfort_] _comfere_ F2.

[abe018], abe033. First Gaol.] 1. K. Capell. Keeper. Ff.

[abe019] _unto his_] F1. _his_ F2 F3 F4. _to his_ Rowe.

[abe021] _shall then_] F1. _then shall_ F2 F3 F4.

[abe032] Enter Richard Plantagenet.] Enter Richard. Ff.

[abe034] _my_] om. Hanmer.

[abe035] Plan.] Rich. Ff (and throughout the scene).

[abe038] _latter_] _later_ F4. _latest_ Pope.

[abe044] _disease_] _displeasure_ Pope.

[abe047] _Among_] F1. _Amongst_ F2 F3 F4. ¶ _used_] _loos’d_

Warburton conj.

[abe055] _That cause_] _This cause_ Rowe.

[abe061] _fading_] _failing_ S. Walker conj.

[abe064] _nephew_] _cousin_ Rowe.

[abe066] _the third_] _third_ F2.

[abe071] _that--young_] _that (young_ Ff. _that young_ Pope. ¶ _King_]

F2 F3 F4. om. F1.

[abe075] _the third_] F2 F3 F4. _third_ F1.

[abe076] _To King...he_] _To the third Edward; whereas Bolingbroke_

Pope. ¶ _he_] _he, Bolingbroke_ Capell.

[abe078] _fourth_] F1. _the fourth_ F2 F3 F4.

[abe079] _haughty great_] _haughty-great_ S. Walker conj.

[abe082] _the Fifth_] _nam’d the fifth_ Seymour conj.

[abe083] _Succeeding_] _After_ Pope.

[abe089] _have install’d_] _re-instal_ Pope.

[abe093] _Of which_] _Of whom_ Capell conj.

[abe102] _Strong-fixed_] Theobald. _Strong fixed_ Ff.

[abe105] _do_] _from_ Hanmer.

[abe109] _that slaughterer_] F3 F4. _y^t slaughterer_ F1 F2. _that

slaughter_ Rowe (ed. 2). _the slaughterer_ Capell.

[abe113] _be all_] _befall_ Theobald.

[abe121] [Exeunt...Mortimer.] Exeunt Keepers, bearing out Mortimer.

Capell. Exit. Ff. om. Rowe.

[abe122] _dies_] _lies_ Warburton.

[abe123] _ambition of the_] _th’ ambition of a_ Hanmer.

[abe126] _redress_] _redress ’em_ Keightley conj.

[abe129] _ill_] Theobald. _will_ Ff. ¶ _ill the advantage_] _will the

advancer_ Collier MS.

[aca001] ACT III. SCENE I.] Actus Tertius. Scena Prima. Ff.

¶ London.] The same. Capell. ¶ The Parliament-house.] Capell. The

Parliament. Pope. ¶ the Bishop of Winchester,] Capell. Winchester,

Ff. ¶ and others.] and many others attending. Capell. om. Ff. ¶ _deep

premeditated_] _deep-premeditated_ Dyce (S. Walker conj.).

[aca027] _vouchsafe_] _vouchsake_ F2.

[aca029] _If I were...perverse_] _Were I...perverse_ Steevens conj.

_Were I ambitious, covetous, or perverse_ Seymour conj. ¶ _ambitious or

perverse_] _perverse, ambitious_ Pope. _ambitious, proud_ Collier MS.

[aca031] _Or how haps it_] _How haps it then_ Pope.

[aca033] _preferreth_] _preserveth_ Collier MS.

[aca036] _that that_] _that which_ Pope.

[aca041] _good_--] F2 F3 F4. _good._ F1.

[aca045] _Am I not_] F1 F2. _Am not I_ F3 F4. _Am not I then_ Pope.

_And am I not_ Capell. _Am I not the_ Steevens. _Am I not lord_ S.

Walker conj. ¶ _saucy_] _thou saucy_ Anon. conj.

[aca049] _Unreverent_] _Unreverend_ F4. ¶ _reverent_] _reverend_ F3

F4.

[aca051] _Rome...this_] _This Rome shall remedy_ Pope. ¶ _Roam_]

_Go_ Pope. ¶ aca051–aca055: War. _Roam_...Som. _Mylord_...War. _Ay,

see_...Som. _Methinks my lord...such._] Arranged as by Theobald. Warw.

_Roame...forbeare._ Som. _I, see... such._ Ff. Glou. _Go...then._

War. [to Win.] _My lord_... Som. _I’ll see...such._ Hanmer. Glo.

_Roam_...Som. [to Glo.] _My lord_...War. _Ay, see_...Som. _Methinks my

lord...such._ Capell.

[aca053] _Ay,_] Rowe. _I,_ Ff. _I’ll_ Hanmer.

[aca056] _humbler_] _humbler then_ Pope.

[aca061]–aca064: First marked as ‘Aside’ by Hanmer.

[aca065] [Coming from his Throne. Capell.

[aca076] SCENE II. Pope.

[aca077] _of_] om. Pope.

[aca078] _bishop_] _bishop’s_ Hanmer.

[aca080] _pebble_] _peeble_ F1 F2. _peble_ F3 F4.

[aca081] _banding themselves_] _themselves banding_ Capell.

[aca082] _pate_] _pates_ Pope.

[aca085] Serving-men] om. Ff.

[aca086] _ourself_] _our selfe_ F1. _our selves_ F2 F3 F4.

[aca089], aca090: _Nay...teeth_] As prose in Ff. As two lines in

Capell, the first ending _be_.

[aca096] _Inferior...majesty_] _To none inferior, but his majesty_

Steevens conj. ¶ _to his_] _his_ Hanmer.

[aca100] _children_] _our children_ Boswell.

[aca101] _have_] _leave_ S. Walker conj.

[aca103] _I say_] om. Hanmer.

[aca104] _And if_] _An if_ Dyce (S. Walker conj.).

[aca110] _prefer_] _preserve_ Collier MS.

[aca112] _Yield, my lord protector; yield_] _My lord protector yield:

yield_ Pope. _Yield, lord protector, and yield_ Collier MS.

[aca124] _As_] _And_ Rowe (ed. 2). ¶ _smoothed_] _smother’d_ Pope.

[aca129] _not you_] _you not_ Capell conj.

[aca131] _king!_] Pope. _king:_ Ff.

[aca136] Marked as ‘Aside’ first by Collier.

[aca141] Marked as ‘Aside’ first by Pope.

[aca142] _kind_] _gentle_ Pope. _kind, kind_ Capell. _most kind_

Steevens conj. _and kind_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[aca146] _And so_] _So_ Pope.

[aca147] _I will_] _I’ll_ Pope.

[aca148] [Exeunt Serving-men...] Exeunt Servants... Capell. Exeunt. Ff.

[aca149] SCENE III. Pope.

[aca150] _the right_] _right_ Hanmer.

[aca153] _An if_] Theobald. _And if_ Ff.

[aca163] _alone_] F2 F3 F4. _all alone_ F1.

[aca167] _humble_] _honour’d_ Collier MS.

[aca168] _humble_] _faithful_ Pope.

[aca171] _gird_] F4. _gyrt_ F1 F2. _girt_ F3.

[aca175] _springs_] _springs_ [rising. Capell.

[aca178] Marked as ‘Aside’ first by Rowe.

[aca186] [Sennet.] Senet. F1. om. F2 F3 F4. ¶ Exeunt all...]

Capell. Exeunt. Manet Exeter. Ff.

[aca187]–aca201: _Ay...time_] Erased in Collier MS.

[aca192] _degree_] Ff. _degrees_ Rowe.

[aca199] _lose] loose_ F1. _should lose_ F2 F3 F4. ¶ SCENE II.]

Scæna Secunda. Ff. SCENE IV. Pope. ¶ France. Before Rouen.] Changes

to Roan in France. Pope. ¶ Enter La Pucelle...] Enter Pucell... Ff (and

throughout the scene). Enter Pucelle, and Soldiers, disguis’d like

Countrymen,... Capell.

[acb012] [Knocks.] Knock. Ff.

[acb013] Watch. [Within] Watch. Ff. Gua. [Within. Capell. ¶ _Qui est

là?_] Malone. _Che la._ Ff. _Qui va là?_ Rowe.

[acb014] _Paysans, pauvres_] Rowe. _Peasauns la pouure_ Ff.

[acb016] _is rung_] _has rung_ Capell conj.

[acb017] [Exeunt.] Ff. Guard open; and Pucelle, and her soldiers, enter

the city. Capell. ¶ the Bastard of Orleans] Bastard Ff. ¶ Reignier]

Edd. om. Ff. See note (V). ¶ and forces] Capell.

[acb020] _practisants_] _partizans_ Hanmer.

[acb021], acb022: _specify Where...in?_] _specifie, Where......in?_

Rowe. _specifie? Here...in._ Ff.

[acb023], acb033: Reign.] Ff. Ale. Capell.

[acb025] _No_] _Our_ Nicholson conj. ¶ _weakness_] _waxness_ F3. ¶ on

the top,] Ff. on a battlement, Capell.

[acb028] _Talbotites_] Theobald. _Talbonites_ Ff. _Talbotines_ Hanmer.

¶ [Exit.] Edd. om. Ff.

[acb031] _shine_] F1 F2. _shines_ F3 F4.

[acb035] [Alarum. Exeunt.] Edd. Alarum. Ff. They shout; Force open the

Gate, and enter. Capell.

[acb036] Enter Talbot......] Talbot...... Ff. Enter Talbot, and certain

English. Capell.

[acb040] _the pride_] _the prize_ Theobald. _being prize_ Hanmer. _the

bride_ Jackson conj. ¶ [Exit.] Ff. Enters the City again. Capell.

¶ Burgundy] Burgonie Ff. ¶ Alençon, and Reignier...] Collier. and

Reigneir... Ff. Alanson... Hanmer.

[acb041] SCENE V. Pope. ¶ _Good_] F3 F4. _God_ F1 F2.

[acb042] _Burgundy_] Rowe. _Burgonie_ Ff (and passim).

[acb050], acb051: _What...chair?_] As in Pope. As three lines in Ff,

ending _gray-beard...death...chayre?_

[acb052] _all_] _hell’s_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[acb057] _this_] _his_ Rowe.

[acb058] _sir_] om. Pope.

[acb059] [The English...] They... Ff.

[acb060] _the speaker_] _speaker_ Collier MS.

[acb068] _hang!_] _hang then:_ Hanmer. ¶ _muleters_] _muleteers_ Rowe.

[acb071] _Away, captains!_] _Captains away,_ Rowe.

[acb073] _God be wi’ you_] Rowe. _God b’uy_ Ff. ¶ _came_] F1. _came

sir_ F2 F3 F4.

[acb092] _or woe_] _and woe_ Pope.

[acb099] _Undaunted_] _Undaunting_ F2.

[acb103] [Exeunt...] Exit. Ff. ¶ Fastolfe] Theobald. Falstaffe Ff.

[acb104] _Fastolfe_] Theobald. _Falstaffe_ Ff.

[acb107], acb108: _Ay...life_] As in Hanmer. As one line in Ff.

[acb115] Re-enter...] Enter... Ff. ¶ SCENE VI. Pope. Scene, within

the walls of Roan. Theobald. ¶ _recover’d_] Pope. _recovered_ Ff.

[acb117] _Yet_] _Let_ Dyce conj. _Ye_ Anon. conj.

[acb118] _martial_] _matchless_ Collier MS.

[acb123] _gleeks_] Hanmer. _glikes_ Ff.

[acb129] _lie_] _lyes_ Pope.

[acc001] SCENE III.] Scæna Tertia. Ff. SCENE VII. Pope. ¶ The

plains near Rouen.] The same. Plains near the city. Capell. om. Ff. ¶

and forces.] Capell. om. Ff.

[acc003] _corrosive_] F1 F4. _corrasive_ F2 F3. _a corrosive_

Boswell conj.

[acc023] _should_] _shall_ F4.

[acc030] Here...march.] Ff. ¶ Enter...] Capell. om. Ff.

[acc032] French march.] Ff. ¶ Enter...] Capell. om. Ff.

[acc036] SCENE VIII. Pope. ¶ [Enter the Duke of Burgundy, marching.

Rowe.

[acc045] _the...the_] _her...her_ Collier MS.

[acc047] _lowly_] _lovely_ Warburton.

[acc048] _tender dying_] Pope. _tender-dying_ Ff.

[acc055] _foreign_] _forraine_ F1 F2. _common_ F3 F4.

[acc060] _exclaims_] _exclaim_ Pope.

[acc062] _Who_] F1. _Whom_ F2 F3 F4.

[acc078] _I am...hers_] As one line in Rowe. As two in Ff. ¶ _I am_]

_I’m_ Pope.

[acc085] Marked as ‘Aside’ by Capell.

[acc090] _New...powers_] One line in Rowe: two in Ff.

[acd001] SCENE IV.] Scæna Quarta. Ff. SCENE IX. Pope. ¶

Paris.] Pope. ¶ The palace.] A Room in the Palace. Capell. ¶ Bishop of

Winchester,] Winchester, Ff. ¶ Vernon, Basset, and others.] Vernon, and

Bassett, in the Train. Capell. om. Ff. ¶ with his soldiers, Talbot.]

Ff. Talbot, and some of his Officers. Capell.

[acd008] _Beside_] _Besides_ Knight.

[acd012] _my God_] _his God_ Collier MS. ¶ [Kneels.] Edd.

[acd013] _the_] _the fam’d_ Rowe. ¶ _the Lord_] _the_ Capell. _Lord_

Anon. conj.

[acd020] _were_] F1 F2. _have_ F3 F4. ¶ _your truth_] _that truth_

Collier (Collier MS.).

[acd022] _our_] _your_ Warburton. ¶ [Sennet. Flourish.] Senet.

Flourish. F1. om. F2 F3 F4. ¶ Exeunt all but...] Exeunt. Manet...

F1. Exeunt. Manent... F2 F3 F4.

[acd034] _my lord_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[acd037] _ye_] F1 F2. _you_ F3 F4.

[acd038] _Villain...such_] One line in Rowe: two in Ff. ¶ _know’st_]

Pope. _knowest_ Ff.

[acd039] _whoso draws_] Rowe. _who so draws_ Ff. ¶ _’tis present

death_] _in th’ presence, ’tis death_ Warburton.

[ada001] ACT IV. SCENE I.] Actus Quartus. Scena Prima. Ff. ¶

Paris.] Pope. ¶ A hall...] Capell. ¶ Exeter, the Governor of Paris and

others.] Exeter and Governor of Paris. Pope. and Governor Exeter. Ff.

[ada003] [Governor kneels. Capell.

[ada008] [Exeunt Gov. and Train. The King comes from his Throne.

Enter... Capell. ¶ Enter...] Enter Fastolfe. Theobald. Enter Falstaffe.

Ff.

[ada014] _thee_] _the_ Ff.

[ada015] _craven’s_] _craven_ Theobald. ¶ [Plucking it off.] Capell.

om. Ff.

[ada018] _me, princely_] _me Princely_ F1 F2. _my Princely_ F3 F4.

[ada019] _Patay_] Malone (Capell conj.). _Poictiers_ Ff.

[ada038] _most_] _worst_ Hanmer.

[ada047] [Exit Fast.] Exit. Ff.

[ada048] _my lord_] _lord_ F1.

[ada051] [Reading. Rowe. Viewing the Superscription. Capell.

[ada054] _Pretend_] _Portend_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[ada055] [Reads.] Rowe. Opens the Letter. Capell.

[ada056] _of_] _of of_ F2.

[ada065] _your_] F1. my F2 F3 F4. _our_ Pope.

[ada070] _How say you, my lord_] _My lord, how say you_ Pope.

[ada071] _yes_] om. Capell conj.

[ada077] [Exit.] Rowe. om. Ff.

[ada078] SCENE II. Pope.

[ada087] _whereof_] _wherof_ F1. _whereon_ F2 F3 F4.

[ada090] _envious_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4. _sharp and_ Rowe.

[ada093] _represent_] F1. _present_ F2 F3 F4.

[ada101] _noble_] _royal_ Collier MS.

[ada113] _factious_] _factions_ F2.

[ada115] _I pray, and be_] F1 _and be_ F2 F3 F4. _and be again_

Pope.

[ada133] _It...friends_] One line in Pope: two in Ff.

[ada150] _that was_] _which was_ Pope.

[ada151] _umpire_] _Umper_ F1 F2. _Umpier_ F3 F4.

[ada152] [Putting...rose.] Johnson. om. Ff.

[ada167] _digest_] _disgest_ F2.

[ada173] [Flourish.] Ff (after line 181). ¶ Exeunt all but...] Exeunt.

Manet... F1 F2. Exeunt. Manent... F3 F4.

[ada175] _Prettily_] _Most prettily_ Pope.

[ada180] _An if I wist he did,--_] Capell. _And if I wish he did._

Ff. _And if I wish he did.--_ Rowe. _An if I wis, he did.--_ Theobald

(in text). _And if I wis, he did.--_ Theobald (in note). _And if--I

wish--he did--_ or _And if he did, I wish--_ Johnson conj. _And, if I

wist, he did,--_ Steevens.

[ada181] [Exeunt...] Flourish. Exeunt. Manet Exeter. Ff.

[ada191] _But that it_] F1 F2. _By that it_ F3 F4. _But that he_

Rowe. _But saith it_ Capell conj. _But thinks it_ Anon. conj.

[ada193] _more when_] om. Roderick conj.

[ada194] _There comes_] F1. _Then comes_ F2 F3 F4. _Thence comes_

S. Walker conj.

[adb001] SCENE II.] Capell. SCENE III. Pope. om. Ff. ¶

Before...drum.] Enter Talbot with Trumpe and Drumme, before Burdeaux.

Ff. (Trumpet F2 F3. Trumpets F4).

[adb002] Trumpet sounds.] Sounds. Ff. ¶ and others,] Malone. om. Ff.

[adb003] _calls_] _call_ F1.

[adb006] _humble_] F1. _humbled_ F2 F3 F4.

[adb014] _their_] _our_ Hanmer.

[adb022] _war_] _death_ Capell.

[adb028] _Ten...sacrament_] This line is placed before line 25, _And no

way..._ in F2 F3 F4.

[adb029] _rive_] F3 F4. _ryue_ F1 F2. _drive_ Johnson conj.

[adb034] _due_] Theobald. _dew_ Ff. _’due_ Collier.

[adb038] _wither’d_] Rowe (ed. 2). _withered_ Ff.

[adb041] Exeunt...] Malone. Exit. Ff.

[adb050] _moody-mad and_] Capell. _moodie mad: And_ F1 F2 F3.

_moodie mad and_ F4.

[adb053], adb054: _Sell...friends._] Put in the margin by Pope.

[adb056] [Exeunt.] om. F1.

[adc001] SCENE III.] Capell. SCENE IV. Pope. om. Ff. ¶

Plains......] Capell. Another part of France. Theobald.

[adc005] _Talbot: as...along,_] F2 F3 F4. _Talbot as...along._ F1.

[adc011] _this_] _the_ F4.

[adc013] _lowted_] Ff. _flouted_ Grey conj. _loiter’d_ Nicholson conj.

¶ _by a_] _by at_ F2.

[adc016] Enter Sir William Lucy.] Theobald. Enter another Messenger. Ff.

[adc017] Lucy.] 2. Mes. Ff.

[adc020] _waist_] Steevens. _waste_ Ff.

[adc030] Lucy.] Mes. Ff (and throughout the scene).

[adc033] _’long_] Johnson. _long_ Ff.

[adc036] _toward_] F1. _towards_ F2 F3 F4.

[adc040] _grave?_] Capell. _grave:_ Ff. _grave!_ Rowe.

[adc042] _sunder’d_] _sundry_ Rowe (ed. 1).

[adc046] _’Long_] Johnson. _Long_ Ff. ¶ [Exit...] Exit. Ff.

[adc049] _loss_] Pope. _losse:_ F1 F2 F3. _loss,_ F4.

[adc050] _conquest_] _conquests_ F4.

[adc052] _whiles_] _while_ Pope.

[adc053] [Exit.] om. F1.

[add001] SCENE IV.] Capell. SCENE V. Pope. ¶ Other plains...]

Capell. Another part of France. Theobald. ¶ a Captain...] an Officer...

Capell. om. Ff.

[add011] Enter...] Theobald. om. Ff.

[add012] _whither_] _whether_ F1. ¶ _were you_] _were thou_ F4.

_werst thou_ Rowe (ed. 1).

[add013] _Whither, my lord?_] Rowe. _Whither my lord_, F2 F3 F4.

_Whether my lord_, F1. _Hither, my lord_; Pope.

[add016] _legions_] Rowe. _regions_ Ff.

[add017] _whiles_] _while_ Pope.

[add019] _advantage lingering_] _disadvantage ling’ring_ Staunton conj.

[add023] _should_] F1. _shall_ F2 F3 F4.

[add025] _Yields_] _Yeeld_ F1.

[add026] _Burgundy_] _Burgundie_ F1. _and Burgundie_ F2 F3 F4.

[add027] _Reignier_] Rowe. _Reignard_ Ff.

[add031] _host_] F3 F4. _hoast_ F1 F2. _horse_ Hanmer (Theobald

conj.).

[add042] _rescue: he is_] _rescue, he is_ F1 F2. _rescue, if he is_

F3 F4. _rescue, if he’s_ Rowe (ed. 1). _rescue, he’s_ Id. (ed. 2).

_rescue now, he’s_ Pope.

[add044] _though_] _if_ Capell.

[ade001] SCENE V.] Capell. SCENE VI. Pope. ¶ The English

camp...] Malone. A Field of Battle near Bourdeaux. Theobald. Camp near

Bourdeaux. Capell. ¶ John his son.] his Son. Ff.

[ade007] _thou art_] _art thou_ F3 F4.

[ade009] _my_] _thy_ Rowe.

[ade013] _mother_] F1 F2. _mothers_ F3. _mother’s_ F4.

[ade029] _bow, they’ll_] _fly, they’ll_ Collier MS. _go, they’ll_ Long

MS. _flew, they’d_ Singer (Anon. conj. MS.).

[ade037] _to fly_] _flye_ F3 F4.

[ade039] _shame_] _sham’d_ S. Walker conj.

[ade040] _nor_] _and_ Pope.

[ade042] _that_] y^t F1. y^e F2. _the_ F3 F4.

[ade048] _sever’d_] Pope. _severed_ Ff.

[ade052] [embracing him. Capell.

[ade055] _heaven fly_] _heav’n shall fly_ Pope.

[adf001] SCENE VI.] Capell. Pope continues the scene. ¶ A field of

battle.] Capell.

[adf003] _France his_] _France’s_ Rowe.

[adf006] _am I_] _I am_ Rowe (ed. 1).

[adf020] _and_] _then_ Pope.

[adf035] _mickle_] _milky_ Theobald conj.

[adf036] _an if_] Capell. _and if_ Ff.

[adf044], adf045: _On that advantage...fame,_] Ff. _On that bad

vantage...fame,_ Theobald conj. _Out on that vantage...fame!_ Theobald.

_Oh! what advantage...fame!_ Hanmer. _On that advantage... (To

save...fame,)_ Mason conj.

[adf048] _like_] _leave_ Hanmer.

[adf051] _An if_] Theobald. _And if_ Ff.

[adf057] [Exeunt.] Rowe. Exit. Ff.

[adg001] SCENE VII.] Pope. SCENE VI. Capell (a misprint). ¶

Another...] Malone. Another part of the same. Capell. ¶ Enter...led by

a servant.] Enter...led. Ff. Enter...led by the French. Johnson.

[adg003] _death,...captivity,_] Ff. _death,...captivity!_ Pope.

_death!...captivity,_ Malone conj.

[adg010] _Tendering_] _Tending_ Tyrwhitt conj. _Fending_ Becket conj.

[adg017] Enter...] Capell. Enter with John Talbot, borne. Ff. (born.

F3 F4), after line 17.

[adg021] _lither_] _hither_ S. Walker conj.

[adg023] _hard-favour’d_] Theobald. _hard favoured_ Ff.

[adg025]–adg028: _Brave......to-day._] Put in the margin by Pope. ¶

adg025: _whether_] F3 F4. _whither_ F1 F2.

[adg032] [Alarums. Exeunt Sol. and Ser. leaving the two Bodies. Drums.

Capell. ¶ Enter...and forces.] Enter...and Pucell. Ff. ¶ Alençon] om.

Capell.

[adg033] Actus Quintus. Scæna Prima. F2 F3 F4. om. F1. Capell first

continued the scene.

[adg035] _Talbot’s, raging-wood,_] Capell. _Talbots raging wood,_ Ff.

_Talbot’s raging brood,_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[adg039] _proud_] _prood_ F2.

[adg042] _So...French_] F1. Omitted in F2 F3 F4. ¶ adg042, adg043:

_So, rushing...He left_] _So left_ Pope.

[adg046] _most bloody_] _still-bleeding_ Collier MS. ¶ _his_] _our_

Staunton conj.

[adg050] Enter...] Capell. Enter Lucie. Ff.

[adg051], adg052: _Herald...day_] Arranged as in Ff. As three lines,

ending _Herald...know...day_ by Malone. ¶ _Herald_] om. Pope, ending

the line at know.

[adg052] _To know_] om. Hanmer. ¶ _obtain’d_] om. Capell conj.

[adg059] _whom thou seek’st_] _briefly whom thou seekest now_ Collier

(Collier MS.).

[adg060] _But where’s_] Ff. _Where is_ Rowe.

[adg061], adg062: _Earl...arms_] _for his rare success In arms, created

Earl of Shrewsbury_ Anon. conj.

[adg066] _Lord Cromwell...Lord Furnival_] _Cromwell...Furnival_ Capell

conj.

[adg070] _marshal_] _marishal_ Capell. Corrected to _mareshal_ in

Errata. ¶ _Henry_] F1. _Our king Henry_ F2 F3 F4.

[adg072] _Here is_] Pope. _Heere’s_ F1 F2. _Here’s_ F3 F4. ¶ _silly

stately_] _silly-stately_ Dyce (S. Walker conj.).

[adg075] _Him that_] _He that_ Hanmer. _He, whom_ Capell.

[adg083] _amongst_] _among_ F4.

[adg085] _may bear them hence_] _bear them forth_ Collier MS.

[adg088] _proud commanding_] _proud-commanding_ S. Walker conj.

[adg089] _’em_] Theobald. _him_ Ff. _them_ Collier (Theobald conj.).

[adg092] _I’ll...rear’d_] As in Ff. Pope, reading _ashes Dauphin_, ends

the first line at _hence;_ Steevens at _bear_. ¶ _ashes_] _very ashes_

Collier (Collier MS.). ¶ [Att. take up the Bodies. Capell.

[adg094] _rid...what_] Malone. _rid of them, do with him what_ F1.

_rid of them, do with them what_ F2 F3 F4. _rid of them, do what_

Pope. _rid, do with them what_ Capell. ¶ [Exeunt Luc. and Att. bearing

out the Bodies. Capell.

[adg096] [Exeunt.] Rowe. Exit. F1 F2 F3. om. F4.

[aea001] ACT V. SCENE I.] Capell. Scena Secunda. Ff. ¶

London...] Changes to England. Pope. London. A Room in the Palace.

Capell. ¶ Sennet.] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[aea002] _Armagnac_] _Arminack_ Ff.

[aea007] _their_] _this_ F4.

[aea009] _our_] _much_ Collier MS.

[aea016] _this_] _his_ F4.

[aea017] _knit_] Ff. _kin_ Pope. See note (VI).

[aea020] _dowry_] _dower_ S. Walker conj.

[aea021] _Marriage...young!_] _Marriage, alas! my years are yet too

young:_ Pope. _Marriage, good uncle! alas, my years are young;_ Capell.

¶ _uncle! alas,_] _alas! uncle,_ Anon. conj.

[aea027] _my_] F1 F3 F4. om. F2. ¶ Enter...] Enter Winchester, and

three Ambassadors. Ff. Enter a Legate, and two Embassadors, usher’d;

Winchester with them, habited as a Cardinal. Capell.

[aea039] _of_] om. F2.

[aea046] [To the Emb. Capell.

[aea049] _where inshipp’d_] F4. _wherein ship’d_ F1 F2. _wherein

shipp’d_ F3.

[aea050] [Exeunt...] Exeunt. Ff.

[aea053] _deliver’d_] Pope. _delivered_ Ff.

[aea054] _grave_] _brave_ Collier conj.

[aea055] [Exit. Dyce and Staunton.

[aea056] Win. [Aside] Edd. Win. Ff.

[aea059] _neither...or for_] _nor...or for_ Pope. _nor...nor for_

Hanmer. _nor for birth, or for_ Johnson conj.

[aea060] _be overborne_] _not be o’erborn_ Capell.

[aea062] [Exeunt.] Ff. Exit. Dyce and Staunton.

[aeb001] SCENE II.] Capell. Scæna Tertia. Ff. ¶ France.] Pope. ¶

Plains in Anjou.] Capell. ¶ Enter...] Enter...and Jone. Ff. ¶ Bastard,

Reignier] om. Capell. ¶ and forces] and forces, marching. Capell. om.

Ff. ¶ _These_] F1 F2. _This_ F3 F4.

[aeb003] _turn_] _turne_ F1. _returne_ F2. _return_ F3 F4.

[aeb005] _powers_] F1. _power_ F2 F3 F4.

[aeb007] Scout] Ff. a Messenger. Capell.

[aeb012] _parties_] _parts_ Pope. ¶ _conjon’d_] _join’d_ Anon. conj.

[aec001] SCENE III.] Capell. Ff continue the scene. ¶ Before

Angiers.] Under Angiers. Capell.

[aec004] _accidents._] _accidents_, Dyce.

[aec007] [Thunder again. Capell.

[aec008] _speedy and quick_] _speedy quick_ Pope. _speed and quick_ S.

Walker conj.

[aec010] _cull’d_] _call’d_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[aec011] _regions_] _Regions_ Ff. _legions_ Singer (Warburton conj.).

[aec025] _vail_] F3 F4. _vale_ F1 F2. ¶ _lofty-plumed_] Capell.

_lofty plumed_ Ff.

[aec030] Re-enter La Pucelle...] Burgundie and Yorke fight hand to

hand. French flye. Ff.

[aec032] _your_] _you_ Anon. conj.

[aec044] _comest_] Rowe. _comst_ F1 F2. _com’st_ F3 F4.

[aec045] SCENE IV. Pope.

[aec047] _reverent_] Hanmer. _reverend_ Ff.

[aec048], aec049: _I kiss...side._] As in Ff. Capell transposed the

lines, thus: _And lay...side. I kiss..._[Kissing her Hand.]_...peace_.

[aec050] _thou? say,_] _thou? say;_ Pope. _thou, say?_ Ff.

[aec053] _An_] F1 F4. _And_ F2 F3.

[aec056] _cygnets_] Hanmer. _signets_ F1. _cignets_ F2 F3 F4.

[aec057] _prisoner_] F1 F2. _prisoners_ F3 F4. ¶ _her wings_] F3

F4. _his wings_ F1. _hir wings_ F2.

[aec059] [She is going.] Ff. She turns from him, as going. Capell.

[aec060] _pass_] _go_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[aec062] _streams_] _stream_ Singer (Collier MS.).

[aec068] _tongue?_] _tongue to speak?_ Anon. conj. ¶ _here?_] _heere?_

F1. _heere thy prisoner?_ F2 F3 F4. _here alone?_ Keightley conj.

[aec070] _Ay,_] Oh, Pope.

[aec071] _Confounds_] _’Confounds_ F1. ¶ _makes the senses rough_] Ff.

_makes the senses crouch_ Hanmer. _make...crouch_ Capell. _makes the

senses touch_ Jackson conj. _wakes the sense’s touch_ Anon. MS. apud

Singer. _mocks the sense of touch_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[aec075] See note (VII).

[aec077] _pay_] _pray_ F2.

[aec083] _I were best to leave_] Ff. _’Twere best to leave_ Pope. _I

were best leave_ Capell.

[aec085] _random_] F4. _randon_ F1 F2. _randome_ F3.

[aec089], aec090: _tush...carpenter._] Put in the margin by Pope.

[aec095] _is he_] _he is_ F4.

[aec097] _ye_] _ye me_ Pope. ¶ _you_] _ye_ Pope.

[aec106] _cause--_] Capell. _cause_ Ff.

[aec108], aec109: Suf. _Lady...Quo_] Put in the margin by Pope. ¶

aec108: _Lady_] _Nay, hear we, lady_ Capell. _Lady, pray tell me_

Collier (Collier MS.).

[aec110] _suppose_] _then ween_ Collier MS.

[aec112] _To be a queen...vile_] _A queen in bondage is more vile to

me_ Collier MS.

[aec115] _free_] _true_ Collier MS.

[aec120] _to be my--_] F1 F2 F3. _to my--_ F4. _to--_ Steevens conj.

[aec125] _And...myself_] [Aside] _And...thyself_ Delius conj.

[aec126] _are ye_] F1 F2. _are you_ F3 F4.

[aec127] _An if_] Theobald. _And if_ Ff. ¶ _am content_] _give consent_

Collier MS.

[aec128] [To his troops; who come forward. Capell.

[aec130] A parley sounded.] Trumpet sounds a parley. Capell. Sound Ff.

¶ Enter...] Ff.

[aec131] SCENE V. Pope.

[aec139] _easy-held_] _easie-held_ Rowe (ed. 2). _easie held_ Ff.

[aec142] _or feign_] _nor feign_ Capell conj.

[aec144] [Exit...] Capell. om. Ff.

[aec145] _coming_] F4. _comming_ F1 F2 F3. _coming, Reignier_

Capell. _coming down_ Collier (Collier MS.). _coming, king_ Anon

conj. _communing_ Anon. conj. ¶ Enter Reignier, below.] Capell. Enter

Reignier. Ff.

[aec148] _for_] _in_ Pope.

[aec149] _with_] _of_ Pope.

[aec154] _country_] Ff. _counties_ Theobald conj. _countries_ Capell.

_county_ Malone.

[aec158] _counties_] _countries_ Rowe (ed. 1).

[aec165], aec166: Marked ‘Aside’ by Rowe.

[aec172] [Exit. Anon. conj.

[aec174] [Going.] Shee is going. Ff.

[aec175] _but_] om. Pope. ¶ [calling her back. Capell.

[aec177] _becomes_] Ff. _become_ Rowe.

[aec179] _modestly_] _modestie_ F1.

[aec184] [Kisses her.] F4. Kisse her. F1 F2 F3.

[aec185] Mar.] Wark. F4.

[aec186] [Exeunt...] Capell. om. Ff. Exit. Anon. conj.

[aec192] _And_] Capell. _Mad_ F1. _Made_ F2 F3 F4. _Her_ Pope.

_’Mid_ Collier ed. 2 (Collier conj.). _Man:_ Jackson conj.

[aec195] [Exit.] Ff. Exeunt. Rowe.

[aed001] SCENE IV.] Capell. SCENE VI. Pope. om. Ff. ¶

Camp...Anjou.] Capell. ¶ Enter...] Capell. Enter Yorke, Warwicke,

Shepheard, Pucell. Ff. ¶ Enter La Pucelle...] Enter Pucelle, guarded;

Shepherd, her Father, with her. Capell.

[aed005] _timeless cruel_] _timeless-cruel_ S. Walker conj.

[aed006] _Joan, I’ll_] _Jone, Ile_ F1. _Ile_ F2. _I’le_ F3 F4. _I

will_ Rowe.

[aed010] _an_] Pope. _and_ Ff. _an’t_ Anon. conj.

[aed013] _first fruit_] _first-fruits_ Capell conj.

[aed017] _obstacle_] _obstinate_ S. Walker conj.

[aed020] _prithee_] _prythee_ F1 F2. _pray thee_ F3 F4. _pray_

Johnson.

[aed028] _suck’dst_] _suck’st_ F1.

[aed030] _my_] _thy_ F4. ¶ _a-field_] F1. _a field_ F2 F3. _afield_

F4.

[aed037] _Not me_] _Me, not_ Anon. conj. ¶ _me begotten_] _one

begotten_ Collier (Malone conj.). _mean-begotten_ Anon. conj.

[aed049] _No, misconceived!_] Steevens. _No misconceyued,_ F1. _No

misconceived,_ F2 F3. _No, misconceived_ F4. _No, misconceivers_;

Capell. ¶ _Are_] Rowe. Aire Ff.

[aed054] _Ay...execution!_] As two lines, S. Walker conj.

[aed060] _discover_] F3 F4. _discovet_ F1 F2.

[aed061] _to be_] om. Hanmer.

[aed066] _ye_] _you_ Rowe.

[aed070] _Well_] _Well, well_ Capell. ¶ _we’ll_] F1. we will F2 F3

F4.

[aed074] _Alençon...Machiavel_] Put in the margin by Pope. ¶

_Machiavel_] Pope. _Machevile_ F1 F2 F3. _Matchevile_ F4.

[aed075] _an if_] Theobald. _and if_ Ff.

[aed082] _hath_] F1. _had_ F2 F3 F4.

[aed087] _reflex_] _reflect_ Warburton.

[aed091] [Exit, guarded.] Theobald. Exit. Ff.

[aed093] Enter Cardinal...] Enter Cardinall. Ff (after line 91). Enter

Cardinal Beaufort, attended. Capell.

[aed094] SCENE VII. Pope.

[aed099] _aspiring_] _respiring_ Warburton.

[aed100], aed101: _here...Approacheth_] _see...Approaching_ Pope.

[aed101] _matter_] F1. _matters_ F2 F3 F4.

[aed102] _travail_] _travell_ F1 F2 F3. _travel_ F4.

[aed115]...Bastard...] Ff. om. Capell. ¶...and others] Capell. om. Ff.

[aed118] _We_] _I_ Capell.

[aed121] _poison’d_] _prison’d_ Theobald. See note (VIII).

[aed133] _as_] _a_ F4.

[aed139] _With_] _Of_ Rowe.

[aed149] _compromise_] Rowe. _compremize_ Ff.

[aed150] _comparison_] _comparisons_ Collier MS.

[aed155]–aed158: [To the Dauphin aside. Hanmer.

[aed159]–aed164: [Aside to the Dauphin. Pope.

[aed165] _How...stand?_] One line in Pope: two in Ff.

[aed172] [Charles and the rest give tokens of fealty. Johnson.

[aed173] _ye please_] _you please_ F4.

[aed175] _entertain_] _interchange_ Collier MS.

[aee001] SCENE V.] Capell. SCENE VIII. Pope. Actus Quintus.

F1. om. F2 F3 F4. ¶ London. The royal palace.] Changes to England.

Pope. London. A room in the palace. Capell. ¶ Enter...] Ff. Enter King

Henry, and Suffolk, conferring; Gloster, and Exeter, after them. Capell.

[aee011] _of her_] F1 F2. _to her_ F3 F4.

[aee028] _that contract_] _the contract_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[aee039] _Yes, my lord_] F1. _Yes my good lord_ F2 F3 F4. _Yes,

yes, my lord_ or _Why, yes, my lord_ Anon. conj.

[aee042] _As_] _That_ Rowe.

[aee046] _warrant a_] F1. _warrant_ F2 F3 F4.

[aee047] _Where_] _While_ Pope.

[aee055] _Marriage_] F1. _But marriage;_ F2 F3 F4.

[aee060] _It most_] Rowe. _Most_ Ff. _The most_ Collier MS.

[aee064] _bringeth_] F1. _bringeth forth_ F2 F3 F4.

[aee071] _women_] _woman_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[aee072] _Will answer_] Ff. _Answer_ Pope. _will Answer_ Capell. ¶

_our_] om. Steevens conj.

[aee090] _To cross_] _Across_ S. Walker conj.

[aee102] [Exeunt......] Capell. Exit Glocester. Ff.

[aee106] _Trojan_] _Troian_ F1.

NOTES TO I KING HENRY VI.

NOTE I.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. Mr G. R. French writes to us: ‘In 1 Henry VI., it

is generally said of the Duke of York: “Richard Plantagenet, _eldest_

son of Richard, late Earl of Cambridge.” But he was an _only_ son.

“Eldest” should therefore be left out.’

We have made other changes in the ‘Dramatis Personæ’ of the following

plays, in accordance with suggestions from Mr French, to whom we beg to

repeat our acknowledgements.

NOTE II.

I. 1. 60. The word Rheims, spelt ‘Rheimes’ in the Folios, must be

pronounced as a dissyllable, otherwise the metre halts. Capell’s

interpolation, the credit of which is claimed as usual by Steevens

derives some support from the fact that _Roan_, i.e. _Rouen_, is

mentioned by Gloucester in line 65. Possibly we should read _Rheimes_

for _Roan_ in the latter passage.

NOTE III.

I. 3. 59. The insertion made by the Editor of the second Folio for

the sake of the metre shows that a change had already taken place in

the pronunciation of the word ‘Mayor,’ which in Shakespeare’s day was

sometimes written and pronounced ‘Major.’ See _1 Henry IV_. II. 4.

473: ‘I deny your major; if you will deny the Sheriff, so; let him

enter.’ In line 84 of the present scene, however, the ‘Maior’ of the

first Folio becomes ‘Major’ in the second--probably from inadvertence.

NOTE IV.

I. 4. 16–18. We leave this corrupt passage as it stands in the first

Folio. In the second Folio, which is followed as usual by the third and

fourth, it is thus given:

‘And fully even these three dayes have I watcht,

If I could see them. Now Boy doe thou watch,

For I can stay no longer.’

Pope omits the words ‘For...longer.’

Malone has:

‘And even these three days have I watched,

If I could see them.

Now do thou watch, for I can stay no longer.’

Mr Collier:

‘And even these three days have I watch’d, if I

Could see them.

Now, do thou watch, for I can stay no longer.’

NOTE V.

III. 2. 17. All editors previous to Capell, except Hanmer, follow

the Folios in making Reignier speak without having brought him on the

stage, and all subsequent editors follow Capell in giving Reignier’s

speeches to Alençon, without noting that he had made any change. Hanmer

altered Alençon to Reignier in the stage-direction, line 16, and

Reignier to Alençon in the stage-direction, line 40.

NOTE VI.

V. 1. 17. However plausible the emendation _kin_ may seem, we leave

_knit_, the reading of the Folios, as the conceit suggested by the

‘knot of amity,’ in the preceding line, is not alien from the author’s

manner. Mr Collier, in a note to his second edition, says: “Mr Singer

is obliged to admit that it has been proposed to read ‘near _kin_ to

Charles.’ Where has it been so proposed? In the corrected Folio, 1632,

which Mr Singer has always such a wish to ignore. The emendation was

never suggested (not even in Mr Singer’s corrected Folio, 1632) until

it appeared in our volume of ‘Notes and emendations,’ p. 277.”

In fact, it was first suggested by Pope, and adopted by Theobald,

Hanmer, Warburton, and Johnson. Capell restored _knit_, in which he was

followed by Steevens and Malone.

NOTE VII.

V. III. 75. This and other speeches which follow are marked by Pope

and subsequent editors as spoken aside, but this is so obvious that

we have not thought it necessary to encumber our pages with marginal

directions.

NOTE VIII.

V. 4. 121. Malone, followed by Singer, Mr Collier, and Herr Delius,

attributes the emendation ‘prison’d’ for ‘poison’d’ to Pope. Mr

Staunton rightly assigns it to Theobald.

THE SECOND PART OF KING HENRY THE SIXTH.

DRAMATIS PERSONƆ.

KING HENRY the Sixth.

HUMPHREY, Duke of Gloucester, his uncle.

CARDINAL BEAUFORT, Bishop of Winchester, great-uncle

to the King.

RICHARD PLANTAGENET, Duke of York.

EDWARD and RICHARD, his sons.

DUKE OF SOMERSET.

DUKE OF SUFFOLK.

DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

LORD CLIFFORD.

Young CLIFFORD, his son.

EARL OF SALISBURY.

EARL OF WARWICK.

LORD SCALES.

LORD SAY.

SIR HUMPHREY STAFFORD, and WILLIAM STAFFORD, his

brother.

SIR JOHN STANLEY.

VAUX.

MATTHEW GOFFE‡.

A Sea-captain, Master, and Master’s-Mate, and WALTER

WHITMORE.

Two Gentlemen, prisoners with Suffolk.

JOHN HUME and JOHN SOUTHWELL, priests.

BOLINGBROKE, a conjurer.

THOMAS HORNER, an armourer. PETER, his man.

Clerk of Chatham. Mayor of Saint Alban’s.

SIMPCOX, an impostor.

ALEXANDER IDEN, a Kentish gentleman.

JACK CADE, a rebel.

GEORGE BEVIS, JOHN HOLLAND, DICK the butcher,

SMITH the weaver, MICHAEL, &c., followers of Cade.

Two Murderers.

MARGARET, Queen to King Henry.

ELEANOR, Duchess of Gloucester.

MARGARET JOURDAIN, a witch.

Wife to Simpcox.

Lords, Ladies, and Attendants, Petitioners, Aldermen, a Herald, a

Beadle, Sheriff, and Officers, Citizens, ’Prentices, Falconers,

Guards, Soldiers, Messengers, &c.

A Spirit.

SCENE: _England_.

──────────

† DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.] First given imperfectly by Rowe.

‡ MATTHEW GOFFE.] Edd. (French conj.). om. Rowe.

THE SECOND PART OF KING HENRY VI.

ACT I.

SCENE I. _London. The palace_.

_Flourish of trumpets: then hautboys. Enter,_ THE KING, HUMPHREY, Duke

of Gloucester, SALISBURY, WARWICK, _and_ CARDINAL BEAUFORT, _on the one

side;_ THE QUEEN, SUFFOLK, YORK, SOMERSET, _and_ BUCKINGHAM, _on the

other_.

_Suf._ As by your high imperial majesty   [baa001]

I had in charge at my depart for France,   [baa002]

As procurator to your excellence,

To marry Princess Margaret for your grace,

So, in the famous ancient city Tours,   ·baa005·

In presence of the Kings of France and Sicil,

The Dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretagne and Alençon,   [baa007]

Seven earls, twelve barons and twenty reverend bishops,

I have perform’d my task and was espoused:

And humbly now upon my bended knee,   ·baa010·

In sight of England and her lordly peers,

Deliver up my title in the queen

To your most gracious hands, that are the substance   [baa013]

Of that great shadow I did represent;

The happiest gift that ever marquess gave,   ·baa015·

The fairest queen that ever king received.

_King._ Suffolk, arise. Welcome, Queen Margaret:

I can express no kinder sign of love

Than this kind kiss. O Lord, that lends me life,   [baa019]

Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!   ·baa020·

For thou hast given me in this beauteous face

A world of earthly blessings to my soul,

If sympathy of love unite our thoughts.

_Queen._ Great King of England and my gracious lord,

The mutual conference that my mind hath had,   ·baa025·

By day, by night, waking and in my dreams,

In courtly company or at my beads,

With you, mine alder-liefest sovereign,   [baa028]

Makes me the bolder to salute my king

With ruder terms, such as my wit affords   ·baa030·

And over-joy of heart doth minister.

_King._ Her sight did ravish; but her grace in speech,

Her words y-clad with wisdom’s majesty,

Makes me from wondering fall to weeping joys;   [baa034]

Such is the fulness of my heart’s content.   ·baa035·

Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love.

_All_ [_kneeling_]. Long live Queen Margaret, England’s

happiness!   [baa037]

_Queen._ We thank you all. [_Flourish._

_Suff._ My lord protector, so it please your grace,

Here are the articles of contracted peace   ·baa040·

Between our sovereign and the French king Charles,

For eighteen months concluded by consent.

_Glou._ [_Reads_] ‘Imprimis, it is agreed between the French king

Charles, and William de la Pole, Marquess of Suffolk, ambassador

for Henry King of England, that the said Henry shall espouse the

Lady ·baa045· Margaret, daughter unto Reignier King of Naples, Sicilia

and Jerusalem, and crown her Oueen of England ere the thirtieth of May

next [baa047] ensuing. Item, that the duchy of Anjou and the county

of Maine [baa048] shall be released and delivered to the king her

father’-- [baa049]

[_Lets the paper fall._

_King._ Uncle, how now!

_Glou._ Pardon me, gracious lord;   ·baa050·

Some sudden qualm hath struck me at the heart   [baa051]

And dimm’d mine eyes, that I can read no further.

_King._ Uncle of Winchester, I pray, read on.

_Car._ [_Reads_] ‘Item, It is further agreed between them, that

the [baa054] duchies of Anjou and Maine shall be released and

delivered over to [baa055] the king her father, and she sent over of

the King of England’s own proper cost and charges, without having any

dowry.’   [baa057]

_King._ They please us well. Lord marquess, kneel down:   [baa058]

We here create thee the first duke of Suffolk,

And gird thee with the sword. Cousin of York,   [baa060]

We here discharge your grace from being regent

I’ the parts of France, till term of eighteen months   [baa062]

Be full expired. Thanks, uncle Winchester,

Gloucester, York, Buckingham, Somerset,   [baa064]

Salisbury, and Warwick;   ·baa065·

We thank you all for this great favour done,   [baa066]

In entertainment to my princely queen.

Come, let us in, and with all speed provide

To see her coronation be perform’d.   [baa069]

[_Exeunt King, Queen, and Suffolk._

_Glou._ Brave peers of England, pillars of the state,   [baa070]

To you Duke Humphrey must unload his grief,

Your grief, the common grief of all the land.

What! did my brother Henry spend his youth,

His valour, coin and people, in the wars?

Did he so often lodge in open field,   ·baa075·

In winter’s cold and summer’s parching heat,

To conquer France, his true inheritance?

And did my brother Bedford toil his wits,

To keep by policy what Henry got?

Have you yourselves, Somerset, Buckingham,   ·baa080·

Brave York, Salisbury, and victorious Warwick,

Received deep scars in France and Normandy?

Or hath mine uncle Beaufort and myself,   [baa083]

With all the learned council of the realm,

Studied so long, sat in the council-house   ·baa085·

Early and late, debating to and fro

How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe,

And had his highness in his infancy   [baa088]

Crowned in Paris in despite of foes?

And shall these labours and these honours die?   ·baa090·

Shall Henry’s conquest, Bedford’s vigilance,

Your deeds of war and all our counsel die?

O peers of England, shameful is this league!

Fatal this marriage, cancelling your fame,

Blotting your names from books of memory,   ·baa095·

Razing the characters of your renown,

Defacing monuments of conquer’d France,

Undoing all, as all had never been!

_Car._ Nephew, what means this passionate discourse,

This peroration with such circumstance?   [baa100]

For France, ’tis ours; and we will keep it still.

_Glou._ Ay, uncle, we will keep it, if we can;

But now it is impossible we should:

Suffolk, the new-made duke that rules the roast,   [baa104]

Hath given the duchy of Anjou and Maine   [baa105]

Unto the poor King Reignier, whose large style

Agrees not with the leanness of his purse.

_Sal._ Now, by the death of Him that died for all,

These counties were the keys of Normandy.

But wherefore weeps Warwick, my valiant son?   ·baa110·

_War._ For grief that they are past recovery:

For, were there hope to conquer them again,

My sword should shed hot blood, mine eyes no tears.

Anjou and Maine! myself did win them both;

Those provinces these arms of mine did conquer:   ·baa115·

And are the cities, that I got with wounds,   [baa116]

Deliver’d up again with peaceful words?

Mort Dieu!   [baa118]

_York._ For Suffolk’s duke, may he be suffocate,   [baa119]

That dims the honour of this warlike isle!   ·baa120·

France should have torn and rent my very heart,

Before I would have yielded to this league.

I never read but England’s kings have had

Large sums of gold and dowries with their wives;

And our King Henry gives away his own,   ·baa125·

To match with her that brings no vantages.

_Glou._ A proper jest, and never heard before,

That Suffolk should demand a whole fifteenth

For costs and charges in transporting her!

She should have stayed in France and starved in France,   [baa130]

Before--

_Car._ My lord of Gloucester, now ye grow too hot:

It was the pleasure of my lord the king.

_Glou._ My lord of Winchester, I know your mind;

’Tis not my speeches that you do mislike,   ·baa135·

But ’tis my presence that doth trouble ye.

Rancour will out: proud prelate, in thy face

I see thy fury: if I longer stay.

We shall begin our ancient bickerings.

Lordings, farewell; and say, when I am gone,   ·baa140·

I prophesied France will be lost ere long. [_Exit._

_Car._ So, there goes our protector in a rage.

Tis known to you he is mine enemy,

Nay, more, an enemy unto you all,

And no great friend, I fear me, to the king.   ·baa145·

Consider, lords, he is the next of blood,

And heir apparent to the English crown:

Had Henry got an empire by his marriage,

And all the wealthy kingdoms of the west,   [baa149]

There’s reason he should be displeased at it.   ·baa150·

Look to it, lords; let not his smoothing words

Bewitch your hearts; be wise and circumspect.

What though the common people favour him,

Calling him ‘Humphrey, the good Duke of Gloucester,’

Clapping their hands, and crying with loud voice,   ·baa155·

‘Jesu maintain your royal excellence!’

With ‘God preserve the good Duke Humphrey!’

I fear me, lords, for all this flattering gloss,

He will be found a dangerous protector.

_Buck._ Why should he, then, protect our sovereign,   ·baa160·

He being of age to govern of himself?

Cousin of Somerset, join you with me,

And all together, with the Duke of Suffolk,   [baa163]

We’ll quickly hoise Duke Humphrey from his seat.   [baa164]

_Car._ This weighty business will not brook delay;   ·baa165·

I’ll to the Duke of Suffolk presently. [_Exit._

_Som._ Cousin of Buckingham, though Humphrey’s pride

And greatness of his place be grief to us,

Yet let us watch the haughty cardinal:

His insolence is more intolerable   ·baa170·

Than all the princes in the land beside:

If Gloucester be displaced, he’ll be protector.

_Buck._ Or thou or I, Somerset, will be protector,   [baa173]

Despite Duke Humphrey or the cardinal.   [baa174]

[_Exeunt Buckingham and Somerset._

_Sal._ Pride went before, ambition follows him.   [baa175]

While these do labour for their own preferment,

Behoves it us to labour for the realm.

I never saw but Humphrey Duke of Gloucester

Did bear him like a noble gentleman.

Oft have I seen the haughty cardinal,   ·baa180·

More like a soldier than a man o’ the church,

As stout and proud as he were lord of all,

Swear like a ruffian and demean himself

Unlike the ruler of a commonweal.

Warwick, my son, the comfort of my age,   ·baa185·

Thy deeds, thy plainness and thy housekeeping,

Hath won the greatest favour of the commons,   [baa187]

Excepting none but good Duke Humphrey:

And, brother York, thy acts in Ireland,   [baa189]

In bringing them to civil discipline,   ·baa190·

Thy late exploits done in the heart of France,

When thou wert regent for our sovereign,

Have made thee fear’d and honour’d of the people:

Join we together, for the public good,

In what we can, to bridle and suppress   ·baa195·

The pride of Suffolk and the cardinal,

With Somerset’s and Buckingham’s ambition;

And, as we may, cherish Duke Humphrey’s deeds,

While they do tend the profit of the land.   [baa199]

_War._ So God help Warwick, as he loves the land,   ·baa200·

And common profit of his country!   [baa201]

_York._ [_Aside_] And so says York, for he hath greatest

cause.   [baa202]

_Sal._ Then let’s make haste away, and look unto the main.   [baa203]

_War._ Unto the main! O father, Maine is lost;   [baa204]

That Maine which by main force Warwick did win,   [baa205]

And would have kept so long as breath did last!

Main chance, father, you meant; but I meant Maine,

Which I will win from France, or else be slain.   [baa208]

[_Exeunt Warwick and Salisbury._

_York._ Anjou and Maine are given to the French;   [baa209]

Paris is lost; the state of Normandy   ·baa210·

Stands on a tickle point, now they are gone:

Suffolk concluded on the articles,

The peers agreed, and Henry was well pleased

To change two dukedoms for a duke’s fair daughter.

I cannot blame them all: what is’t to them?   ·baa215·

’Tis thine they give away, and not their own.   [baa216]

Pirates may make cheap pennyworths of their pillage   [baa217]

And purchase friends and give to courtezans,

Still revelling like lords till all be gone;

While as the silly owner of the goods   ·baa220·

Weeps over them and wrings his hapless hands   [baa221]

And shakes his head and trembling stands aloof.

While all is shared and all is borne away,

Ready to starve and dare not touch his own:   [baa224]

So York must sit and fret and bite his tongue,   ·baa225·

While his own lands are bargain’d for and sold.

Methinks the realms of England, France and Ireland

Bear that proportion to my flesh and blood

As did the fatal brand Althæa burn’d

Unto the prince’s heart of Calydon.   ·baa230·

Anjou and Maine both given unto the French!

Cold news for me, for I had hope of France,

Even as I have of fertile England’s soil.   [baa233]

A day will come when York shall claim his own;

And therefore I will take the Nevils’ parts   ·baa235·

And make a show of love to proud Duke Humphrey,

And, when I spy advantage, claim the crown,

For that’s the golden mark I seek to hit:

Nor shall proud Lancaster usurp my right,

Nor hold the sceptre in his childish fist,   ·baa240·

Nor wear the diadem upon his head,

Whose church-like humours fits not for a crown.   [baa242]

Then, York, be still awhile, till time do serve:

Watch thou and wake when others be asleep,

To pry into the secrets of the state;   ·baa245·

Till Henry, surfeiting in joys of love,   [baa246]

With his new bride and England’s dear-bought queen.   [baa247]

And Humphrey with the peers be fall’n at jars:

Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose,

With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfumed;   ·baa250·

And in my standard bear the arms of York,   [baa251]

To grapple with the house of Lancaster;

And, force perforce, I’ll make him yield the crown,

Whose bookish rule hath pull’d fair England down. [_Exit._

SCENE II. _The_ DUKE OF GLOUCESTER’S _house_.

_Enter_ DUKE HUMPHREY _and his wife_ ELEANOR.

_Duch._ Why droops my lord, like over-ripen’d corn,   [bab001]

Hanging the head at Ceres’ plenteous load?   [bab002]

Why doth the great Duke Humphrey knit his brows,

As frowning at the favours of the world?

Why are thine eyes fix’d to the sullen earth,   ·bab005·

Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight?

What seest thou there? King Henry’s diadem,

Enchased with all the honours of the world?

If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face,

Until thy head be circled with the same.   ·bab010·

Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious gold.

What, is’t too short? I’ll lengthen it with mine;

And, having both together heaved it up,

We’ll both together lift our heads to heaven,

And never more abase our sight so low   ·bab015·

As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground.

_Glou._ O Nell, sweet Nell, if thou dost love thy lord,

Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts.

And may that thought, when I imagine ill

Against my king and nephew, virtuous Henry,   ·bab020·

Be my last breathing in this mortal world!

My troublous dream this night doth make me sad.   [bab022]

_Duch._ What dream’d my lord? tell me, and I’ll requite it

With sweet rehearsal of my morning’s dream.

_Glou._ Methought this staff, mine office-badge in court,   [bab025]

Was broke in twain; by whom I have forgot,

But, as I think, it was by the cardinal;

And on the pieces of the broken wand

Were placed the heads of Edmund Duke of Somerset,

And William de la Pole, first duke of Suffolk.   ·bab030·

This was my dream: what it doth bode, God knows.   [bab031]

_Duch._ Tut, this was nothing but an argument

That he that breaks a stick of Gloucester’s grove

Shall lose his head for his presumption.

But list to me, my Humphrey, my sweet duke:   ·bab035·

Methought I sat in seat of majesty

In the cathedral church of Westminster,

And in that chair where kings and queens are crown’d;   [bab038]

Where Henry and dame Margaret kneel’d to me   [bab039]

And on my head did set the diadem.   ·bab040·

_Glou._ Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright:

Presumptuous dame, ill-nurtured Eleanor,   [bab042]

Art thou not second woman in the realm,

And the protector’s wife, beloved of him?

Hast thou not worldly pleasure at command,   ·bab045·

Above the reach or compass of thy thought?

And wilt thou still be hammering treachery,

To tumble down thy husband and thyself

From top of honour to disgrace’s feet?

Away from me, and let me hear no more!   ·bab050·

_Duch._ What, what, my lord! are you so choleric

With Eleanor, for telling but her dream?

Next time I’ll keep my dreams unto myself,

And not be check’d.

_Glou._ Nay, be not angry; I am pleased again.   ·bab055·

_Enter_ Messenger.

_Mess._ My lord protector, ’tis his highness’ pleasure

You do prepare to ride unto Saint Alban’s,   [bab057]

Where as the king and queen do mean to hawk.   [bab058]

_Glou._ I go. Come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us?   [bab059]

_Duch._ Yes, my good lord, I’ll follow presently.   [bab060]

[_Exeunt Gloucester and Messenger._

Follow I must; I cannot go before,

While Gloucester bears this base and humble mind.

Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood,

I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks

And smooth my way upon their headless necks;   ·bab065·

And, being a woman, I will not be slack

To play my part in Fortune’s pageant.

Where are you there? Sir John! nay, fear not, man,   [bab068]

We are alone; here’s none but thee and I.   [bab069]

_Enter_ HUME.

_Hume._ Jesus preserve your royal majesty!   ·bab070·

_Duch._ What say’st thou? majesty! I am but grace.   [bab071]

_Hume._ But, by the grace of God, and Hume’s advice,

Your grace’s title shall be multiplied.

_Duch._ What say’st thou, man? hast thou as yet conferr’d

With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch,   [bab075]

With Roger Bolingbroke, the conjurer?

And will they undertake to do me good?

_Hume._ This they have promised, to show your highness

A spirit raised from depth of under-ground,

That shall make answer to such questions   ·bab080·

As by your grace shall be propounded him.

_Duch._ It is enough; I’ll think upon the questions:

When from Saint Alban’s we do make return,

We’ll see these things effected to the full.

Here, Hume, take this reward; make merry, man,   ·bab085·

With thy confederates in this weighty cause. [_Exit._

_Hume._ Hume must make merry with the duchess’ gold;

Marry, and shall. But, how now, Sir John Hume!

Seal up your lips, and give no words but mum:   [bab089]

The business asketh silent secrecy.   ·bab090·

Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch:

Gold cannot come amiss, were she a devil.

Yet have I gold flies from another coast;

I dare not say, from the rich cardinal

And from the great and new-made Duke of Suffolk,   ·bab095·

Yet I do find it so; for, to be plain,

They, knowing Dame Eleanor’s aspiring humour,   [bab097]

Have hired me to undermine the duchess

And buz these conjurations in her brain.

They say ‘A crafty knave does need no broker;’   ·bab100·

Yet am I Suffolk and the cardinal’s broker.   [bab101]

Hume, if you take not heed, you shall go near

To call them both a pair of crafty knaves.

Well, so it stands; and thus, I fear, at last

Hume’s knavery will be the duchess’ wreck,   [bab105]

And her attainture will be Humphrey’s fall:

Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all. [_Exit._

SCENE III. _The palace_.

_Enter three or four Petitioners,_ PETER, _the Armourer’s man,

being one_.

_First Petit._ My masters, let’s stand close: my lord   [bac001]

protector will come this way by and by, and then we may

deliver our supplications in the quill.   [bac003]

_Sec. Petit._ Marry, the Lord protect him, for he’s a

good man! Jesu bless him!   ·bac005·

_Enter_ SUFFOLK _and_ QUEEN.

_Peter._ Here a’ comes, methinks, and the queen with   [bac006]

him. I’ll be the first, sure.

_Sec. Petit._ Come back, fool; this is the Duke of Suffolk,

and not my lord protector.

_Suf._ How now, fellow! wouldst any thing with me?   ·bac010·

_First Petit._ I pray, my lord, pardon me; I took ye

for my lord protector.

_Queen._ [_Reading_] ‘To my Lord Protector!’ Are your   [bac013]

supplications to his lordship? Let me see them: what is

thine?   ·bac015·

_First Petit._ Mine is, an’t please your grace, against   [bac016]

John Goodman, my lord cardinal’s man, for keeping my

house, and lands, and wife and all, from me.

_Suf._ Thy wife too! that’s some wrong, indeed.

What’s yours? What’s here! [_Reads_] ‘Against the Duke   [bac020]

of Suffolk, for enclosing the commons of Melford.’ How   [bac021]

now, sir knave!

_Sec. Petit._ Alas, sir, I am but a poor petitioner of our

whole township.

_Peter_ [_giving his petition_]. Against my master, Thomas   [bac025]

Horner, for saying that the Duke of York was rightful

heir to the crown.

_Queen._ What say’st thou? did the Duke of York say   [bac028]

he was rightful heir to the crown?

_Peter._ That my master was? no, forsooth: my master   [bac030]

said that he was, and that the king was an usurper.

_Suf._ Who is there? [_Enter Servant._] Take this fellow   [bac032]

in, and send for his master with a pursuivant presently:

we’ll hear more of your matter before the king.

[_Exit Servant with Peter._   [bac034]

_Queen._ And as for you, that love to be protected   ·bac035·

Under the wings of our protector’s grace,

Begin your suits anew, and sue to him.

[_Tears the supplications._   [bac037]

Away, base cullions! Suffolk, let them go.

_All._ Come, let’s be gone. [_Exeunt._   [bac039]

_Queen._ My Lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise,   ·bac040·

Is this the fashion in the court of England?   [bac041]

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 Gloucester’s governance?   ·bac045·

Am I a queen in title and in style,

And must be made a subject to a duke?

I tell thee, Pole, when in the city Tours

Thou ran’st a tilt in honour of my love   [bac049]

And stolest away the ladies’ hearts of France,   ·bac050·

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,   ·bac055·

His weapons holy saws of sacred writ,

His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves

Are brazen images of canonized saints.   [bac058]

I would the college of the cardinals   [bac059]

Would choose him pope and carry him to Rome,   ·bac060·

And set the triple crown upon his head:

That were a state fit for his holiness.

_Suf._ Madam, be patient: as I was cause   [bac063]

Your highness came to England, so will I

In England work your grace’s full content.   ·bac065·

_Queen._ Beside the haughty protector, have we Beaufort   [bac066]

The imperious churchman, Somerset, Buckingham,

And grumbling York; and not the least of these

But can do more in England than the king.

_Suf._ And he of these that can do most of all   ·bac070·

Cannot do more in England than the Nevils:

Salisbury and Warwick are no simple peers.

_Queen._ 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,   [bac075]

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 our poverty:   [bac079]

Shall I not live to be avenged on her?   ·bac080·

Contemptuous base-born callet 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.   ·bac085·

_Suf._ Madam, myself have limed a bush for her,

And placed a quire of such enticing birds,

That she will light to listen to the lays,   [bac088]

And never mount to trouble you again.

So, let her rest: and, madam, list to me;   ·bac090·

For I am bold to counsel you in this.

Although we fancy not the cardinal,   [bac092]

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   ·bac095·

Will make but little for his benefit.

So, one by one, we’ll weed them all at last,   [bac097]

And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.   [bac098]

_Sound a Sennet. Enter the_ KING, DUKE HUMPHREY of

Gloucester, CARDINAL BEAUFORT, BUCKINGHAM, YORK,

SOMERSET, SALISBURY, WARWICK, _and the_ DUCHESS OF

GLOUCESTER.

_King._ For my part, noble lords, I care not which;   [bac099]

Or Somerset or York, all’s one to me.   ·bac100·

_York._ If York have ill demean’d himself in France,

Then let him be denay’d the regentship.   [bac102]

_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,   ·bac105·

Dispute not that: York is the worthier.

_Car._ Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak.

_War._ The cardinal’s not my better in the field.   [bac108]

_Buck._ All in this presence are thy betters, Warwick.

_War._ Warwick may live to be the best of all.   ·bac110·

_Sal._ Peace, son! and show some reason, Buckingham,

Why Somerset should be preferred in this.

_Queen._ Because the king, forsooth, will have it so.

_Glou._ Madam, the king is old enough himself

To give his censure: these are no women’s matters.   [bac115]

_Queen._ If he be old enough, what needs your grace

To be protector of his excellence?

_Glou._ Madam, I am protector of the realm;

And, at his pleasure, will resign my place.

_Suf._ Resign it then and leave thine insolence.   ·bac120·

Since thou wert king--as who is king but thou?--

The commonwealth hath daily run to wreck;   [bac122]

The Dauphin hath prevail’d beyond the seas;

And all the peers and nobles of the realm

Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty.   ·bac125·

_Car._ The commons hast thou rack’d; the clergy’s bags

Are lank and lean with thy extortions.

_Som._ Thy sumptuous buildings and thy wife’s attire

Have cost a mass of public treasury.   [bac129]

_Buck._ Thy cruelty in execution   ·bac130·

Upon offenders hath exceeded law

And left thee to the mercy of the law.

_Queen._ 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.   [bac135]

[_Exit Gloucester. The Queen drops her fan._

Give me my fan: what, minion! can ye not?

[_She gives the Duchess a box on the ear._

I cry you mercy, madam; was it you?

_Duch._ Was’t I! yea, I it was, proud Frenchwoman:

Could I come near your beauty with my nails,

I’ld set my ten commandments in your face.   [bac140]

_King._ 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,   [bac144]

She shall not strike Dame Eleanor unrevenged. [_Exit._ ·bac145·

_Buck._ Lord cardinal, I will follow Eleanor,   [bac146]

And listen after Humphrey, how he proceeds:

She’s tickled now; her fume needs no spurs,   [bac148]

She’ll gallop far enough to her destruction.   [bac149]

[_Exit._

_Re-enter_ GLOUCESTER.

_Glou._ Now, lords, my choler being over-blown   [bac150]

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,   [bac155]

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   ·bac160·

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,   ·bac165·

My Lord of Somerset will keep me here,   [bac166]

Without discharge, money, or furniture,

Till France be won into the Dauphin’s hands:

Last time, I danced attendance on his will

Till Paris was besieged, famish’d, and lost.   ·bac170·

_War._ That can I witness; and a fouler fact

Did never traitor in the land commit.

_Suf._ Peace, headstrong Warwick!

_War._ Image of pride, why should I hold my peace?   [bac174]

_Enter_ HORNER, _the Armourer, and his man_ PETER, _guarded_.

_Suf._ Because here is a man accused of treason:   ·bac175·

Pray God the Duke of York excuse himself!

_York._ Doth any one accuse York for a traitor?

_King._ 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:   ·bac180·

His words were these: that Richard Duke of York

Was rightful heir unto the English crown

And that your majesty was an usurper.

_King._ Say, man, were these thy words?

_Hor._ An’t shall please your majesty, I never said nor   [bac185]

thought any such matter: God is my witness, I am falsely

accused by the villain.

_Pet._ By these ten bones, my lords, he did speak them

to me in the garret one night, as we were scouring my

Lord of York’s armour.   ·bac190·

_York._ Base dunghill villain and mechanical,

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   ·bac195·

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.   ·bac200·

_King._ Uncle, what shall we say to this in law?

_Glou._ This doom, my lord, if I may judge:   [bac202]

Let Somerset be regent o’er the French,

Because in York this breeds suspicion:

And let these have a day appointed them   ·bac205·

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.   [bac208]

_Som._ I humbly thank your royal majesty.

_Hor._ And I accept the combat willingly.   ·bac210·

_Pet._ Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God’s sake, pity

my case. The spite of man prevaileth against me. O   [bac212]

Lord, have mercy upon me! I shall never be able to fight

a blow. O Lord, my heart!

_Glou._ Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang’d.   ·bac215·

_King._ Away with them to prison; and the day of   [bac216]

combat shall be the last of the next month. Come, Somerset,

we’ll see thee sent away. [_Flourish. Exeunt._

SCENE IV. GLOUCESTER’S _garden_.

_Enter_ MARGERY JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTHWELL, _and_ BOLINGBROKE.

_Hume._ Come, my masters; the duchess, I tell you, expects   [bad001]

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 courage.   [bad005]

_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 Hume._] Mother Jourdain, be you prostrate and

grovel on the earth; [bad010] John Southwell, read you; and let us to

our work. [bad011]

_Enter_ Duchess _aloft_, HUME _following_.

_Duch._ Well said, my masters; and welcome all. To [bad012] this gear

the sooner the better.

_Boling._ Patience, good lady; wizards know their times:

Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night,   [bad015]

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,   [bad018]

That time best fits the work we have in hand.

Madam, sit you and fear not: whom we raise,   ·bad020·

We will make fast within a hallow’d verge.   [bad021]

[_Here they do the ceremonies belonging, and make

the circle; Bolingbroke or Southwell reads_, Conjuro

te, &c. _It thunders and lightens terribly; then the

Spirit riseth._

_Spir._ Adsum.   [bad022]

_M. Jourd._ Asmath,   [bad023]

By the eternal God, whose name and power

Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask;   [bad025]

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

_Spir._ Ask what thou wilt. That I had said and done!   [bad027]

_Boling._ ‘First of the king: what shall of him become?’   [bad028]

[_Reading out of a paper._

_Spir._ The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose;

But him outlive, and die a violent death.   [bad030]

[_As the Spirit speaks, Southwell writes the answer._

_Boling._ ‘What fates await the Duke of Suffolk?’   [bad031]

_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   [bad035]

Than where castles mounted stand.   [bad036]

Have done, for more I hardly can endure.

_Boling._ Descend to darkness and the burning lake!

False fiend, avoid!   [bad039]

[_Thunder and lightning. Exit Spirit._

_Enter the_ DUKE OF YORK _and the_ DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM

_with their_ Guard _and break in_.

_York._ Lay hands upon these traitors and their trash.   ·bad040·

Beldam, I think we watch’d you at an inch.

What, madam, are you there? the king and commonweal   [bad042]

Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains:   [bad043]

My lord protector will, I doubt it not,

See you well guerdon’d for these good deserts.   ·bad045·

_Duch._ Not half so bad as thine to England’s king,

Injurious duke, that threatest where’s no cause.   [bad047]

_Buck._ True, madam, none at all: what call you this?   [bad048]

Away with them! let them be clapp’d up close,

And kept asunder. You, madam, shall with us.   [bad050]

Stafford, take her to thee.   [bad051]

[_Exeunt above Duchess and Hume, guarded._

We’ll see your trinkets here all forthcoming.   [bad052]

All, away! [bad053]

[_Exeunt guard with Jourdain, Southwell, &c._

_York._ Lord Buckingham, methinks, you watch’d her well:   [bad054]

A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon!   [bad055]

Now, pray, my lord, let’s see the devil’s writ.

What have we here? [_Reads._

‘The duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose;

But him outlive, and die a violent death.’

Why, this is just   ·bad060·

‘Aio te, Æacida, Romanos vincere posse.’   [bad061]

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?   [bad065]

Let him shun castles;

Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains

Than where castles mounted stand.’

Come, come, my lords;   [bad069]

These oracles are hardly attain’d,   [bad070]

And hardly understood.

The king is now in progress towards Saint Alban’s,

With him the husband of this lovely lady:

Thither go these news, as fast as horse can carry them:   [bad074]

A sorry breakfast for my lord protector.   ·bad075·

_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!   [bad078]

_Enter a_ Servingman.

Invite my Lords of Salisbury and Warwick

To sup with me to-morrow night. Away! [_Exeunt._   ·bad080·

ACT II.

SCENE I. _Saint Alban’s_.

_Enter the_ KING, QUEEN, GLOUCESTER, CARDINAL, _and_ SUFFOLK,

_with_ Falconers _halloing_.

_Queen._ Believe me, lords, for flying at the brook,   [bba001]

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.

_King._ But what a point, my lord, your falcon made,   ·bba005·

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.

_Suf._ No marvel, an it like your majesty,   [bba009]

My lord protector’s hawks do tower so well;   ·bba010·

They know their master loves to be aloft

And bears his thoughts above his falcon’s pitch.

_Glou._ My lord, ’tis but a base ignoble mind

That mounts no higher than a bird can soar.

_Car._ I thought as much; he would be above the clouds.   [bba015]

_Glou._ Ay, my lord cardinal? how think you by that?

Were it not good your grace could fly to heaven?

_King._ The treasury of everlasting joy.

_Car._ Thy heaven is on earth; thine eyes and thoughts

Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart;   [bba020]

Pernicious protector, dangerous peer,

That smooth’st it so with king and commonweal!

_Glou._ What, cardinal, is your priesthood grown peremptory?   [bba023]

Tantæne animis cœlestibus iræ?   [bba024]

Churchmen so hot? good uncle, hide such malice;   [bba025]

With such holiness can you do it?   [bba026]

_Suf._ No malice, sir; no more than well becomes

So good a quarrel and so bad a peer.

_Glou._ As who, my lord?

_Suf._ Why, as you, my lord,   [bba029]

An’t like your lordly lord-protectorship.   [bba030]

_Glou._ Why, Suffolk, England knows thine insolence.

_Queen._ And thy ambition, Gloucester.

_King._ I prithee, peace, good queen,   [bba033]

And whet not on these furious peers;   [bba034]

For blessed are the peacemakers on earth.   ·bba035·

_Car._ Let me be blessed for the peace I make,

Against this proud protector, with my sword!

_Glou._ [_Aside to Car._] Faith, holy uncle, would ’twere come to

that!   [bba038]

_Car._ [_Aside to Glou._] Marry, when thou darest.

_Glou._ [_Aside to Car._] Make up no factious numbers for the

matter;   [bba040]

In thine own person answer thy abuse.

_Car._ [_Aside to Glou._] Ay, where thou darest not peep: an if thou

darest,   [bba042]

This evening, on the east side of the grove.

_King._ How now, my lords!

_Car._ Believe me, cousin Gloucester,

Had not your man put up the fowl so suddenly,   ·bba045·

We had had more sport. [_Aside to Glou._] Come with thy two-hand

sword.   [bba046]

_Glou._ True, uncle.   [bba047]

_Car._ [_Aside to Glou._] Are ye advised? the east side of the

grove?   [bba048]

_Glou._ [_Aside to Car._] Cardinal, I am with you.

_King._ Why, how now, uncle

Gloucester!

_Glou._ Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord.   ·bba050·

[_Aside to Car._] Now, by God’s mother, priest, I’ll shave your crown

for this.   [bba051]

Or all my fence shall fail.

_Car._ [_Aside to Glou._] Medice, teipsum--   [bba053]

Protector, see to’t well, protect yourself.

_King._ The winds grow high; so do your stomachs, lords.   [bba055]

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 a_ Townsman _of Saint Alban’s crying_ ‘A miracle!’

_Glou._ What means this noise?   [bba059]

Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim?   ·bba060·

_Towns._ A miracle! a miracle!   [bba061]

_Suf._ Come to the king and tell him what miracle.   [bba062]

_Towns._ Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban’s shrine,

Within this half-hour, hath received his sight;

A man that ne’er saw in his life before.   ·bba065·

_King._ Now, God be praised, that to believing souls

Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair!   [bba067]

_Enter the_ Mayor _of Saint Alban’s and his brethren, bearing_

SIMPCOX, _between two in a chair_, SIMPCOX’S Wife _following_.

_Car._ Here comes the townsmen on procession,   [bba068]

To present your highness with the man.   [bba069]

_King._ Great is his comfort in this earthly vale,   ·bba070·

Although by his sight his sin be multiplied.   [bba071]

_Glou._ Stand by, my masters: bring him near the king;

His highness’ pleasure is to talk with him.

_King._ Good fellow, tell us here the circumstance,

That we for thee may glorify the Lord.   ·bba075·

What, hast thou been long blind and now restored?

_Simp._ Born blind, an’t please your grace.   [bba077]

_Wife._ Ay, indeed, was he.

_Suf._ What woman is this?

_Wife._ His wife, an’t like your worship.   ·bba080·

_Glou._ Hadst thou been his mother, thou couldst have better

told. [bba081]

_King._ Where wert thou born?

_Simp._ At Berwick in the north, an’t like your grace.   [bba083]

_King._ Poor soul, God’s goodness hath been great to thee:   [bba084]

Let never day nor night unhallow’d pass,   [bba085]

But still remember what the Lord hath done.

_Queen._ Tell me, good fellow, camest 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,   ·bba090·

By good Saint Alban; who said, ‘Simpcox, come,   [bba091]

Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help thee.’   [bba092]

_Wife._ Most true, forsooth; and many time and oft   [bba093]

Myself have heard a voice to call him so.

_Car._ What, art thou lame?

_Simp._ Ay, God Almighty help me!   ·bba095·

_Suf._ How earnest thou so?

_Simp._ A fall off of a tree.   [bba096]

_Wife._ A plum-tree, master.

_Glou._ How long hast thou been blind?

_Simp._ O, born so, master.

_Glou._ What, and wouldst climb a tree?

_Simp._ But that in all my life, when I was a youth.   [bba099]

_Wife._ Too true; and bought his climbing very dear.   ·bba100·

_Glou._ Mass, thou lovedst plums well, that wouldst venture so.

_Simp._ Alas, good master, my wife desired some damsons,   [bba102]

And made me climb, with danger of my life.

_Glou._ A subtle knave! but yet it shall not serve.

Let me see thine eyes: wink now: now open them:   [bba105]

In my opinion yet thou see’st not well.

_Simp._ Yes, master, clear as day, I thank God and   [bba107]

Saint Alban.   [bba108]

_Glou._ Say’st thou me so? What colour is this cloak of?

_Simp._ Red, master; red as blood.   ·bba110·

_Glou._ Why, that’s well said. What colour is my gown of?

_Simp._ Black, forsooth: coal-black as jet.

_King._ Why, then, thou know’st what colour jet is of?

_Suf._ And yet, I think, jet did he never see.   [bba114]

_Glou._ But cloaks and gowns, before this day, a many.   ·bba115·

_Wife._ Never, before this day, in all his life.

_Glou._ Tell me, sirrah, what’s my name?

_Simp._ Alas, master, I know not.

_Glou._ What’s his name?

_Simp._ I know not.   ·bba120·

_Glou._ Nor his?

_Simp._ No, indeed, master.

_Glou._ What’s thine own name?

_Simp._ Saunder Simpcox, an if it please you, master.   [bba124]

_Glou._ Then, Saunder, sit there, the lyingest knave in   [bba125]

Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, thou mightst

as well have known all our names as thus to name the   [bba127]

several colours we do wear. Sight may distinguish of colours,

but suddenly to nominate them all, it is impossible. My   [bba129]

lords, Saint Alban here hath done a miracle; and would   [bba130]

ye not think his cunning to be great, that could restore this [bba131]

cripple to his legs again?   [bba132]

_Simp._ O master, that you could!

_Glou._ My masters of Saint Albans, have you not beadles

in your town, and things called whips?   ·bba135·

_May._ Yes, my lord, if it please your grace.   [bba136]

_Glou._ Then send for one presently.

_May._ Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight.   [bba138]

[_Exit an Attendant._

_Glou._ Now fetch me a stool hither by and by. Now,   [bba139]

sirrah, if you mean to save yourself from whipping, leap   ·bba140·

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.

_Enter a_ Beadle _with whips_.

_Glou._ Well, sir, we must have you find your legs.

Sirrah beadle, whip him till he leap over that same stool.   ·bba145·

_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 they follow and cry_, ‘A

miracle!’

_King._ O God, seest Thou this, and bearest so long?   [bba150]

_Queen._ It made me laugh to see the villain run.

_Glou._ Follow the knave; and take this drab away.   [bba152]

_Wife._ Alas, sir, we did it for pure need.   [bba153]

_Glou._ Let them be whipped through every market-town,   [bba154]

till they come to Berwick, from whence they came.   [bba155]

[_Exeunt Wife, Beadle, Mayor, &c._

_Car._ Duke Humphrey has done a miracle to-day.   [bba156]

_Suf._ True; made the lame to leap and fly away.

_Glou._ But you have done more miracles than I;

You made in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly.   [bba159]

_Enter_ BUCKINGHAM.

_King._ What tidings with our cousin Buckingham?   [bba160]

_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,   ·bba165·

Have practised 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,   ·bba170·

And other of your highness’ privy-council;

As more at large your grace shall understand.

_Car._ [_Aside to Glou._] And so, my lord protector, by this

means   [bba173]

Your lady is forthcoming yet at London.

This news, I think, hath turn’d your weapon’s edge;   ·bba175·

’Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour.

_Glou._ 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,   [bba179]

Or to the meanest groom.   ·bba180·

_King._ O God, what mischiefs work the wicked ones,

Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby!   [bba182]

_Queen._ Gloucester, see here the tainture of thy nest,

And look thyself be faultless, thou wert best.

_Glou._ Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal,   ·bba185·

How I have loved my king and commonweal:   [bba186]

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 conversed with such   ·bba190·

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 Gloucester’s honest name.

_King._ Well, for this night we will repose us here:   ·bba195·

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,   [bba199]

Whose beam stands sure, whose rightful cause prevails.   [bba200]

[_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.   ·bbb005·

_Sal._ My lord, I long to hear it at full.   [bbb006]

_War._ Sweet York, begin: and if thy claim be good,   [bbb007]

The Nevils are thy subjects to command.

_York._ Then thus:

Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons:   ·bbb010·

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;   [bbb015]

The sixth was Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester;   [bbb016]

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;   [bbb020]

Till Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster,

The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt,

Crown’d 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,   ·bbb025·

And him to Pomfret; where, as all you know,   [bbb026]

Harmless Richard was murder’d traitorously.   [bbb027]

_War._ Father, the duke hath told the truth;   [bbb028]

Thus got the house of Lancaster the crown.

_York._ Which now they hold by force and not by right;   ·bbb030·

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   [bbb034]

I claim the crown, had issue, Philippe, a daughter,   [bbb035]

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;   ·bbb040·

And, but for Owen Glendower, had been king,

Who kept him in captivity till he died.

But to the rest.

_York._ His eldest sister, Anne,   [bbb043]

My mother, being heir unto the crown,

Married Richard Earl of Cambridge; who was son   ·bbb045·

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:   ·bbb050·

So, if the issue of the elder son   [bbb051]

Succeed before the younger, I am king.

_War._ What plain proceeding is more plain than this?   [bbb053]

Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt,

The fourth son; York claims it from the third.   [bbb055]

Till Lionel’s issue fails, his should not reign:   [bbb056]

It fails not yet, but flourishes in thee   [bbb057]

And in thy sons, fair slips of such a stock.

Then, father Salisbury, kneel we together;

And in this private plot be we the first   ·bbb060·

That shall salute our rightful sovereign

With honour of his birthright to the crown.

_Both._ Long live our sovereign Richard, England’s king!

_York._ We thank you, lords. But I am not your king   [bbb064]

Till I be crown’d and that my sword be stain’d   ·bbb065·

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,   ·bbb070·

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   ·bbb075·

Shall find their deaths, if York can prophesy.

_Sal._ My lord, break we off; we know your mind at full.   [bbb077]

_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:   ·bbb080·

Richard shall live to make the Earl of Warwick

The greatest man in England but the king. [_Exeunt._

SCENE III. _A hall of justice_.

_Sound trumpets. Enter the King, the_ QUEEN, GLOUCESTER, YORK, SUFFOLK,

_and_ SALISBURY; _the_ DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER, MARGERY JOURDAIN,

SOUTHWELL, HUME, _and_ BOLINGBROKE, _under guard_.

_King._ Stand forth, Dame Eleanor Cobham, Gloucester’s wife:   [bbc001]

In sight of God and us, your guilt is great:

Receive the sentence of the law for sins   [bbc003]

Such as by God’s book are adjudged to death.

You four, from hence to prison back again;   ·bbc005·

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 gallows.

You, madam, for you are more nobly born,

Despoiled of your honour in your life,   ·bbc010·

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.   [bbc014]

_Glou._ Eleanor, the law, thou see’st, hath judged thee:   ·bbc015·

I cannot justify whom the law condemns.   [bbc016]

[_Exeunt Duchess 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;   [bbc020]

Sorrow would solace and mine age would ease.   [bbc021]

_King._ Stay, Humphrey Duke of Gloucester: ere thou go,   [bbc022]

Give up thy staff: Henry will to himself

Protector be; and God shall be my hope,

My stay, my guide and lanthorn to my feet:   ·bbc025·

And go in peace, Humphrey, no less beloved

Than when thou wert protector to thy king.

_Queen._ I see no reason why a king of years

Should be to be protected like a child.   [bbc029]

God and King Henry govern England’s realm.   [bbc030]

Give up your staff, sir, and the king his realm.   [bbc031]

_Glou._ My staff? here, noble Henry, is my staff:   [bbc032]

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   [bbc035]

As others would ambitiously receive it.

Farewell, good king: when I am dead and gone,

May honourable peace attend thy throne! [_Exit._

_Queen._ Why, now is Henry king, and Margaret queen;

And Humphrey Duke of Gloucester scarce himself,   ·bbc040·

That bears so shrewd a maim; two pulls at once;

His lady banish’d, and a limb lopp’d off.   [bbc042]

This staff of honour raught, there let it stand

Where it best fits to be, in Henry’s hand.   [bbc044]

_Suf._ Thus droops this lofty pine and hangs his sprays;   ·bbc045·

Thus Eleanor’s pride dies in her youngest days.   [bbc046]

_York._ Lords, let him go. Please it your majesty,

This is the day appointed for the combat;

And ready are the appellant and defendant,

The armourer and his man, to enter the lists,   [bbc050]

So please your highness to behold the fight.

_Queen._ Ay, good my lord; for purposely therefore

Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried.

_King._ O’ God’s name, see the lists and all things fit:   [bbc054]

Here let them end it; and God defend the right!   [bbc055]

_York._ I never saw a fellow worse bested,

Or more afraid to fight, than is the appellant,

The servant of this armourer, my lords.   [bbc058]

_Enter at one door_, HORNER, _the Armourer, and his_ Neighbours,

_drinking to him so much that he is drunk; and he enters with a

drum before him and his staff with a sand-bag fastened to it; and

at the other door_ PETER, _his man, with a drum and sand-bag,

and_ ’Prentices _drinking to him_.

_First Neigh._ Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you   [bbc059]

in a cup of sack: and fear not, neighbour, you shall do well   ·bbc060·

enough.

_Sec. Neigh._ And here, neighbour, here’s a cup of

charneco.

_Third Neigh._ And here’s a pot of good double beer,

neighbour: drink, and fear not your man.   ·bbc065·

_Hor._ Let it come, i’ faith, and I’ll pledge you all; and

a fig for Peter!

_First ’Pren._ Here, Peter, I drink to thee: and be not

afraid.

_Sec. ’Pren._ Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master:   ·bbc070·

fight for credit of the ’prentices.   [bbc071]

_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,   [bbc074]

thou shalt have my hammer: and here, Tom, take all the   ·bbc075·

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.   [bbc078]

_Sal._ Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows.   [bbc079]

Sirrah, what’s thy name?   ·bbc080·

_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   ·bbc085·

man’s instigation, to prove him a knave and myself an honest

man: and touching the Duke of York, I will take my death,   [bbc087]

I never meant him any ill, nor the king, nor the queen: and

therefore, Peter, have at thee with a downright blow!   [bbc089]

_York._ Dispatch: this knave’s tongue begins to double.   ·bbc090·

Sound, trumpets, alarum to the combatants!   [bbc091]

[_Alarum. They fight, and Peter strikes him down._

_Hor._ Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason.

[_Dies._   [bbc092]

_York._ Take away his weapon. Fellow, thank God,

and the good wine in thy master’s way.

_Peter._ O God, have I overcome mine enemy in this   [bbc095]

presence? O Peter, thou hast prevailed in right!   [bbc096]

_King._ Go, take hence that traitor from our sight;   [bbc097]

For by his death we do perceive his guilt:

And God in justice hath reveal’d to us

The truth and innocence of this poor fellow,   ·bbc100·

Which he had thought to have murder’d wrongfully.   [bbc101]

Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward.

[_Sound a flourish. Exeunt._   [bbc102]

SCENE IV. _A street_.

_Enter_ GLOUCESTER _and his Serving-men, in mourning cloaks_.

_Glou._ Thus sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud;

And after summer evermore succeeds

Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold:   [bbd003]

So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet.   [bbd004]

Sirs, what’s o’clock?

_Serv._ Ten, my lord.   [bbd005]

_Glou._ Ten is the hour that was appointed me

To watch the coming of my punish’d duchess:

Uneath may she endure the flinty streets,

To tread them with her tender-feeling feet.

Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook   ·bbd010·

The abject people gazing on thy face,   [bbd011]

With envious looks, laughing at thy shame,   [bbd012]

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   ·bbd015·

My tear-stain’d eyes to see her miseries.   [bbd016]

_Enter the_ DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER _in a white sheet, and

a taper burning in her hand; with_ SIR JOHN STANLEY, _the_

Sheriff, _and_ Officers.

_Serv._ So please your grace, we’ll take her from the sheriff.

_Glou._ No, stir not, for your lives; let her pass by.

_Duch._ Come you, my lord, to see my open shame?

Now thou dost penance too. Look how they gaze!   ·bbd020·

See how the giddy multitude do point,

And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee!

Ah, Gloucester, hide thee from their hateful looks,

And, in thy closet pent up, rue my shame,

And ban thine enemies, both mine and thine!   [bbd025]

_Glou._ Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief.

_Duch._ 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,   ·bbd030·

Mail’d up in shame, with papers on my back,

And follow’d with a rabble that rejoice

To see my tears and hear my deep-fet groans.   [bbd033]

The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet,

And when I start, the envious people laugh   ·bbd035·

And bid me be advised how I tread.

Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke?

Trow’st thou that e’er I’ll look upon the world,

Or count them happy that enjoy the sun?   [bbd039]

No; dark shall be my light and night my day;   ·bbd040·

To think upon my pomp 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

As he stood by whilst I, his forlorn duchess,   [bbd045]

Was made a wonder and a pointing-stock

To every idle rascal follower.

But be thou mild and blush not at my shame,

Nor stir at nothing till the axe of death

Hang over thee, as, sure, it shortly will;   ·bbd050·

For Suffolk--he that can do all in all

With her that hateth thee and hates us all--

And York and impious Beaufort, that false priest,

Have all limed bushes to betray thy wings,   [bbd054]

And, fly thou how thou canst, they’ll tangle thee:   ·bbd055·

But fear not thou, until thy foot be snared,

Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.

_Glou._ Ah, Nell, forbear! thou aimest all awry;

I must offend before I be attainted;

And had I twenty times so many foes,   ·bbd060·

And each of them had twenty times their power,

All these could not procure me any scathe,

So long as I am loyal, true and crimeless.

Wouldst have me rescue thee from this reproach?

Why, yet thy scandal were not wiped away,   ·bbd065·

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.   [bbd069]

_Enter a_ Herald.

_Her._ I summon your grace to his majesty’s parliament,   [bbd070]

Holden at Bury the first of this next month.

_Glou._ And my consent ne’er ask’d herein before!

This is close dealing. Well, I will be there.   [bbd073]

[_Exit Herald._

My Nell, I take my leave: and, master sheriff,

Let not her penance exceed the king’s commission.   [bbd075]

_Sher._ An’t please your grace, here my commission stays,   [bbd076]

And Sir John Stanley is appointed now

To take her with him to the Isle of Man.

_Glou._ Must you, Sir John, protect my lady here?   [bbd079]

_Stan._ So am I given in charge, may’t please your grace.   ·bbd080·

_Glou._ Entreat her not the worse in that I pray

You use her well: the world may laugh again;

And I may live to do you kindness if   [bbd083]

You do it her: and so, Sir John, farewell!

_Duch._ What, gone, my lord, and bid me not farewell!   ·bbd085·

_Glou._ Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak.   [bbd086]

[_Exeunt Gloucester and Serving-men._

_Duch._ Art thou gone too? all comfort go with thee!   [bbd087]

For none abides with me: my joy is death,--

Death, at whose name I oft have been afear’d,   [bbd089]

Because I wish’d this world’s eternity.   ·bbd090·

Stanley, I prithee, go, and take me hence;

I care not whither, for I beg no favour,

Only convey me where thou art commanded.

_Stan._ Why, madam, that is to the Isle of Man;

There to be used according to your state.   ·bbd095·

_Duch._ That’s bad enough, for I am but reproach:

And shall I then be used reproachfully?

_Stan._ Like to a duchess, and Duke Humphrey’s lady;   [bbd098]

According to that state you shall be used.

_Duch._ Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare,   ·bbd100·

Although thou hast been conduct of my shame.

_Sher._ It is my office; and, madam, pardon me.

_Duch._ Ay, ay, farewell; thy office is discharged.

Come, Stanley, shall we go?

_Stan._ Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet,   [bbd105]

And go we to attire you for our journey.   [bbd106]

_Duch._ My shame will not be shifted with my sheet:

No, it will hang upon my richest robes

And show itself, attire me how I can.

Go, lead the way; I long to see my prison. [_Exeunt._   ·bbd110·

ACT III.

SCENE I. _The Abbey at Bury St Edmund’s_.

_Sound a Sennet. Enter_ KING, QUEEN, CARDINAL BEAUFORT,

SUFFOLK, YORK, BUCKINGHAM, SALISBURY _and_ WARWICK _to the

Parliament_.

_King._ I muse my Lord of Gloucester is not come:   [bca001]

’Tis not his wont to be the hindmost man,

Whate’er occasion keeps him from us now:

_Queen._ Can you not see? or will ye not observe   [bca004]

The strangeness of his alter’d countenance?   ·bca005·

With what a majesty he bears himself,

How insolent of late he is become,

How proud, how peremptory, and unlike himself?   [bca008]

We know the time since he was mild and affable,

And if we did but glance a far-off look,   [bca010]

Immediately he was upon his knee,

That all the court admired him for submission:

But meet him now, and, be it in the morn,

When every one will give the time of day,

He knits his brow and shows an angry eye   ·bca015·

And passeth by with stiff unbowed knee,

Disdaining duty that to us belongs.

Small curs are not regarded when they grin;

But great men tremble when the lion roars;

And Humphrey is no little man in England.   ·bca020·

First note that he is near you in descent,

And should you fall, he as the next will mount.

Me seemeth then it is no policy,

Respecting what a rancorous mind he bears

And his advantage following your decease,   ·bca025·

That he should come about your royal person

Or be admitted to your highness’ council.

By flattery hath he won the commons’ hearts,   [bca028]

And when he please to make commotion,

’Tis to be fear’d they all will follow him.   ·bca030·

Now ’tis the spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted;

Suffer them now, and they’ll o’ergrow the garden

And choke the herbs for want of husbandry.

The reverent care I bear unto my lord

Made me collect these dangers in the duke.   [bca035]

If it be fond, call it a woman’s fear;

Which fear if better reasons can supplant,

I will subscribe and say I wrong’d the duke.

My lord of Suffolk, Buckingham, and York,   [bca039]

Reprove my allegation, if you can;   [bca040]

Or else conclude my words effectual.

_Suf._ Well hath your highness seen into this duke;

And, had I first been put to speak my mind,

I think I should have told your grace’s tale.

The duchess by his subornation,   ·bca045·

Upon my life, began her devilish practices:   [bca046]

Or, if he were not privy to those faults,

Yet, by reputing of his high descent,   [bca048]

As next the king he was successive heir,

And such high vaunts of his nobility,   ·bca050·

Did instigate the bedlam brain-sick duchess

By wicked means to frame our sovereign’s fall.

Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep;   [bca053]

And in his simple show he harbours treason.

The fox barks not when he would steal the lamb.   ·bca055·

No, no, my sovereign; Gloucester 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,   ·bca060·

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 unknown,

Which time will bring to light in smooth Duke Humphrey.   ·bca065·

_King._ My lords, at once: the care you have of us,

To mow down thorns that would annoy our foot,

Is worthy praise: but, shall I speak my conscience,   [bca068]

Our kinsman Gloucester is as innocent

From meaning treason to our royal person   ·bca070·

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.

_Queen._ Ah, what’s more dangerous than this fond affiance!

Seems he a dove? his feathers are but borrow’d,   ·bca075·

For he’s disposed as the hateful raven:

Is he a lamb? his skin is surely lent him,

For he’s inclined as is the ravenous wolf.   [bca078]

Who cannot steal a shape that means deceit?

Take heed, my lord; the welfare of us all   ·bca080·

Hangs on the cutting short that fraudful man.

_Enter_ SOMERSET.

_Som._ All health unto my gracious sovereign!

_King._ Welcome, Lord Somerset. What news from France?

_Som._ That all your interest in those territories   [bca084]

Is utterly bereft you; all is lost.   ·bca085·

_King._ Cold news, Lord Somerset: but God’s will be done!

_York._ [_Aside_] Cold news for me; for I had hope of France   [bca087]

As firmly as I hope for fertile England.   [bca088]

Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bud

And caterpillars eat my leaves away;   ·bca090·

But I will remedy this gear ere long,

Or sell my title for a glorious grave.

_Enter_ GLOUCESTER.

_Glou._ All happiness unto my lord the king!   [bca093]

Pardon, my liege, that I have stay’d so long.

_Suf._ Nay, Gloucester, know that thou art come too soon,   ·bca095·

Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art:

I do arrest thee of high treason here.

_Glou._ Well, Suffolk, thou shalt not see me blush   [bca098]

Nor change my countenance for this arrest:

A heart unspotted is not easily daunted.   ·bca100·

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?

_York._ ’Tis thought, my lord, that you took bribes of France,   [bca104]

And, being protector, stayed the soldiers’ pay;   ·bca105·

By means whereof his highness hath lost France.

_Glou._ Is it but thought so? what are they that think it?   [bca107]

I never robb’d the soldiers of their pay,

Nor ever had one penny bribe from France.   [bca109]

So help me God, as I have watch’d the night,   ·bca110·

Ay, night by night, in studying good for England!

That doit that e’er I wrested from the king,

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,   [bca115]

Because I would not tax the needy commons,

Have I dispursed to the garrisons,   [bca117]

And never ask’d for restitution.

_Car._ It serves you well, my lord, to say so much.

_Glou._ I say no more than truth, so help me God!   ·bca120·

_York._ In your protectorship you did devise

Strange tortures for offenders never heard of,

That England was defamed by tyranny.

_Glou._ Why, ’tis well known that, whiles I was protector,   [bca124]

Pity was all the fault that was in me;   ·bca125·

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 fleeced poor passengers,

I never gave them condign punishment:   ·bca130·

Murder indeed, that bloody sin, I tortured

Above the felon or what trespass else.

_Suf._ My lord, these faults are easy, quickly answered:   [bca133]

But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge,   [bca134]

Whereof you cannot easily purge yourself.   ·bca135·

I do arrest you in his highness’ name;

And here commit you to my lord cardinal   [bca137]

To keep, until your further time of trial.

_King._ My lord of Gloucester, ’tis my special hope

That you will clear yourself from all suspect:   [bca140]

My conscience tells me you are innocent.

_Glou._ Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous:

Virtue is choked with foul ambition

And charity chased hence by rancour’s hand;

Foul subornation is predominant   ·bca145·

And equity exiled 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:   ·bca150·

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;   ·bca155·

Sharp Buckingham unburthens with his tongue

The envious load that lies upon his heart;

And dogged York, that reaches at the moon,

Whose overweening arm I have pluck’d back,

By false accuse doth level at my life:   ·bca160·

And you, my sovereign lady, with the rest,

Causeless have laid disgraces on my head

And with your best endeavour have stirr’d up   [bca163]

My liefest liege to be mine enemy:

Ay, all of you have laid your heads together--   ·bca165·

Myself had notice of your conventicles--   [bca166]

And all to make away my guiltless life.   [bca167]

I shall not want false witness to condemn me,

Nor store of treasons to augment my guilt;   [bca169]

The ancient proverb will be well effected:   [bca170]

‘A staff is quickly found to beat a dog.’

_Car._ My liege, his railing is intolerable:   [bca172]

If those that care to keep your royal person

From treason’s secret knife and traitors’ rage   [bca174]

Be thus upbraided, chid and rated at,   ·bca175·

And the 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   ·bca180·

False allegations to o’erthrow his state?

_Queen._ But I can give the loser leave to chide.

_Glou._ Far truer spoke than meant: I lose, indeed;

Beshrew the winners, for they play’d me false!   [bca184]

And well such losers may have leave to speak.   ·bca185·

_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.   [bca188]

_Glou._ Ah! thus King Henry throws away his crutch

Before his legs be firm to bear his body.   ·bca190·

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!   [bca193]

For, good King Henry, thy decay I fear. [_Exit, guarded._   [bca194]

_King._ My lords, what to your wisdoms seemeth best,   [bca195]

Do or undo, as if ourself were here.

_Queen._ What, will your highness leave the parliament?

_King._ Ay, Margaret; my heart is drown’d with grief,

Whose flood begins to flow within mine eyes,

My body round engirt with misery,   ·bca200·

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 proved thee false or fear’d thy faith.   ·bca205·

What louring 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;   [bca209]

And as the butcher takes away the calf   ·bca210·

And binds the wretch and beats it when it strays,   [bca211]

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,   ·bca215·

And can do nought but wail her darling’s loss,

Even so myself bewails good Gloucester’s case   [bca217]

With sad unhelpful tears, and with dimm’d eyes   [bca218]

Look after him and cannot do him good,

So mighty are his vowed enemies.   ·bca220·

His fortunes I will weep and ’twixt each groan

Say ‘Who’s a traitor? Gloucester he is none.’   [bca222]

[_Exeunt all but Queen, Cardinal Beaufort, Suffolk, and

York. Somerset remains apart._

_Queen._ Free lords, cold snow melts with the sun’s hot

beams.   [bca223]

Henry my lord is cold in great affairs,

Too full of foolish pity, and Gloucester’s show   [bca225]

Beguiles him as the mournful crocodile

With sorrow snares relenting passengers,

Or as the snake roll’d in a flowering bank,   [bca228]

With shining checker’d slough, doth sting a child

That for the beauty thinks it excellent.   ·bca230·

Believe me, lords, were none more wise than I--

And yet herein I judge mine own wit good--   [bca232]

This Gloucester should be quickly rid the world,

To rid us from the fear we have of him.

_Car._ That he should die is worthy policy;   ·bca235·

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;   ·bca240·

And yet we have but trivial argument,   [bca241]

More than mistrust, that shows him worthy death.

_York._ So that, by this, you would not have him die.

_Suf._ Ah, York, no man alive so fain as I!

_York._ ’Tis York that hath more reason for his death.   [bca245]

But, my lord cardinal, and you, my lord of Suffolk,   [bca246]

Say as you think, and speak it from your souls,

Were’t not all one, an empty eagle were set

To guard the chicken from a hungry kite,   [bca249]

As place Duke Humphrey for the king’s protector?   ·bca250·

_Queen._ So the poor chicken should be sure of death.

_Suf._ Madam, ’tis true; and were’t not madness, then,

To make the fox surveyor of the fold?

Who being accused a crafty murderer,

His guilt should be but idly posted over,   ·bca255·

Because his purpose is not executed.

No; let him die, in that he is a fox,

By nature proved an enemy to the flock,

Before his chaps be stain’d with crimson blood,

As Humphrey, proved by reasons, to my liege.   [bca260]

And do not stand on quillets how to slay him:

Be it by gins, by snares, by subtlety,

Sleeping or waking, ’tis no matter how,

So he be dead; for that is good deceit   [bca264]

Which mates him first that first intends deceit.   ·bca265·

_Queen._ Thrice-noble Suffolk, ’tis resolutely spoke.   [bca266]

_Suf._ Not resolute, except so much were done;

For things are often spoke and seldom meant:

But that my heart accordeth with my tongue,

Seeing the deed is meritorious,   ·bca270·

And to preserve my sovereign from his foe,

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

_Car._ But I would have him dead, my Lord of Suffolk,

Ere you can take due orders for a priest:

Say you consent and censure well the deed,   ·bca275·

And I’ll provide his executioner,

I tender so the safety of my liege.

_Suf._ Here is my hand, the deed is worthy doing.

_Queen._ And so say I.

_York._ And I: and now we three have spoke it,   [bca280]

It skills not greatly who impugns our doom.

_Enter a_ Post.

_Post._ Great lords, from Ireland am I come amain,   [bca282]

To signify that rebels there are up

And put the Englishmen unto the sword:

Send succours, lords, and stop the rage betime,   ·bca285·

Before the wound do grow uncurable;   [bca286]

For, being green, there is great hope of help.

_Car._ A breach that craves a quick expedient stop!   [bca288]

What counsel give you in this weighty cause?

_York._ That Somerset be sent as regent thither:   [bca290]

’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,   [bca293]

Had been the regent there instead of me,

He never would have stay’d in France so long.   ·bca295·

_York._ No, not to lose it all, as thou hast done:

I rather would have lost my life betimes

Than bring a burthen of dishonour home

By staying there so long till all were lost.

Show me one scar character’d on thy skin:   ·bca300·

Men’s flesh preserved so whole do seldom win.   [bca301]

_Queen._ Nay, then, this spark will prove a raging fire,

If wind and fuel be brought to feed it with:

No more, good York; sweet Somerset, be still:

Thy fortune, York, hadst thou been regent there,   ·bca305·

Might happily have proved far worse than his.   [bca306]

_York._ What, worse than nought? nay, then, a shame take all!   [bca307]

_Som._ And, in the number, thee that wishest shame!

_Car._ My Lord of York, try what your fortune is.

The uncivil kernes of Ireland are in arms   ·bca310·

And temper clay with blood of Englishmen:

To Ireland will you lead a band of men,

Collected choicely, from each county some,   [bca313]

And try your hap against the Irishmen?

_York._ I will, my lord, so please his majesty.   ·bca315·

_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.   ·bca320·

_Suf._ A charge, Lord York, that I will see perform’d.

But now return we to the false Duke Humphrey.

_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:   ·bca325·

Lord Suffolk, you and I must talk of that event.   [bca326]

_York._ My Lord of Suffolk, within fourteen days

At Bristol I expect my soldiers;   [bca328]

For there I’ll ship them all for Ireland.

_Suf._ I’ll see it truly done, my Lord of York.   [bca330]

[_Exeunt all but York._

_York._ Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful thoughts,   [bca331]

And change misdoubt to resolution:

Be that thou hopest to be, or what thou art   [bca333]

Resign to death; it is not worth the enjoying:

Let pale-faced fear keep with the mean-born man,   ·bca335·

And find no harbour in a royal heart.

Faster than spring-time showers comes thought on thought,

And not a thought but thinks on dignity.

My brain more busy than the labouring spider   [bca339]

Weaves tedious snares to trap mine enemies.   ·bca340·

Well, nobles, well, ’tis politicly 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:   ·bca345·

I take it kindly; yet be well assured

You put sharp weapons in a madman’s hands.

Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band,   [bca348]

I will stir up in England some black storm

Shall blow ten thousand souls to heaven or hell;   ·bca350·

And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage

Until the golden circuit on my head,

Like to the glorious sun’s transparent beams,

Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw.   [bca354]

And, for a minister of my intent,   ·bca355·

I have seduced a headstrong Kentishman,

John Cade of Ashford,   [bca357]

To make commotion, as full well he can,

Under the title of John Mortimer.

In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade   ·bca360·

Oppose himself against a troop of kernes,

And fought so long, till that his thighs with darts   [bca362]

Were almost like a sharp-quill’d porpentine;   [bca363]

And, in the end being rescued, I have seen   [bca364]

Him caper upright like a wild Morisco,   ·bca365·

Shaking the bloody darts as he his bells.

Full often, like a shag-hair’d crafty kerne,

Hath he conversed with the enemy,

And undiscover’d come to me again

And given me notice of their villanies.   ·bca370·

This devil here shall be my substitute;

For that John Mortimer, which now is dead,

In face, in gait, in speech, he doth resemble:

By this I shall perceive the commons’ mind,

How they affect the house and claim of York.   ·bca375·

Say he be taken, rack’d and tortured,

I know no pain they can inflict upon him

Will make him say I moved him to those arms.   [bca378]

Say that he thrive, as ’tis great like he will,

Why, then from Ireland come I with my strength   ·bca380·

And reap the harvest which that rascal sow’d;

For Humphrey being dead, as he shall be,

And Henry put apart, the next for me.   [bca383] [_Exit._

SCENE II. _Bury St Edmund’s. A room of state_.

_Enter certain_ Murderers, _hastily_.

_First Mur._ Run to my Lord of Suffolk; let him know   [bcb001]

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

_Sec. Mur._ O that it were to do! What have we done?

Didst ever hear a man so penitent?   [bcb004]

_Enter_ SUFFOLK.

_First Mur._ Here comes my lord.   [bcb005]

_Suf._ Now, sirs, have you dispatch’d this thing?

_First Mur._ Ay, my good lord, he’s dead.

_Suf._ Why, that’s well said. Go, get you to my house;

I will reward you for this venturous deed.

The king and all the peers are here at hand.   ·bcb010·

Have you laid fair the bed? Is all things well,   [bcb011]

According as I gave directions?

_First Mur._ ’Tis, my good lord.   [bcb013]

_Suf._ Away! be gone. [_Exeunt Murderers._   [bcb014]

_Sound trumpets. Enter the_ KING, _the_ QUEEN, CARDINAL

BEAUFORT, SOMERSET, _with Attendants_.

_King._ Go, call our uncle to our presence straight;   ·bcb015·

Say we intend to try his grace to-day,

If he be guilty, as ’tis published.

_Suf._ I’ll call him presently, my noble lord. [_Exit._

_King._ Lords, take your places; and, I pray you all,

Proceed no straiter ’gainst our uncle Gloucester   ·bcb020·

Than from true evidence of good esteem

He be approved in practice culpable.

_Queen._ God forbid any malice should prevail,

That faultless may condemn a nobleman!

Pray God he may acquit him of suspicion!   ·bcb025·

_King._ I thank thee, Nell; these words content me much.   [bcb026]

_Re-enter_ SUFFOLK.

How now! why look’st thou pale? why tremblest thou?

Where is our uncle? what’s the matter, Suffolk?

_Suf._ Dead in his bed, my lord; Gloucester is dead.

_Queen._ Marry, God forfend!   ·bcb030·

_Car._ God’s secret judgement: I did dream to-night

The duke was dumb and could not speak a word.   [bcb032]

[_The King swoons._

_Queen._ How fares my lord? Help, lords! the king is dead.

_Som._ Rear up his body; wring him by the nose.

_Queen._ Run, go, help, help! O Henry, ope thine eyes!   ·bcb035·

_Suf._ He doth revive again: madam, be patient.

_King._ O heavenly God!

_Queen._ How fares my gracious lord?

_Suf._ Comfort, my sovereign! gracious Henry, comfort!   [bcb038]

_King._ What, doth my Lord of Suffolk comfort me?

Came he right now to sing a raven’s note,   ·bcb040·

Whose dismal tune bereft my vital powers;   [bcb041]

And thinks he that the chirping of a wren,

By crying comfort from a hollow breast,

Can chase away the first-conceived sound?

Hide not thy poison with such sugar’d words;   ·bcb045·

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

Sits in grim majesty, to fright the world.   ·bcb050·

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;

In life but double death, now Gloucester’s dead.   ·bcb055·

_Queen._ Why do you rate my Lord of Suffolk thus?

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   ·bcb060·

Or blood-consuming sighs recall his life,

I would be blind with weeping, sick with groans,

Look pale as primrose with blood-drinking sighs,   [bcb063]

And all to have the noble duke alive.

What know I how the world may deem of me?   ·bcb065·

For it is known we were but hollow friends:

It may be judged I made the duke away;

So shall my name with slander’s tongue be wounded,

And princes’ courts be fill’d with my reproach.   [bcb069]

This get I by his death: ay me, unhappy!   [bcb070]

To be a queen, and crown’d with infamy!

_King._ Ah, woe is me for Gloucester, wretched man!

_Queen._ Be woe for me, more wretched than he is.

What, dost thou turn away and hide thy face?

I am no loathsome leper; look on me.   ·bcb075·

What! art thou, like the adder, waxen deaf?   [bcb076]

Be poisonous too and kill thy forlorn queen.

Is all thy comfort shut in Gloucester’s tomb?   [bcb078]

Why, then, dame Eleanor was ne’er thy joy.   [bcb079]

Erect his statua and worship it,   [bcb080]

And make my image but an alehouse sign.

Was I for this nigh wreck’d upon the sea

And twice by awkward wind from England’s bank   [bcb083]

Drove back again unto my native clime?

What boded this, but well forewarning wind   [bcb085]

Did seem to say ‘Seek not a scorpion’s nest,

Nor set no footing on this unkind shore?’   [bcb087]

What did I then, but cursed the gentle gusts   [bcb088]

And he that loosed them forth their brazen caves;   [bcb089]

And bid them blow towards England’s blessed shore,   ·bcb090·

Or turn our stern upon a dreadful rock?

Yet Æolus would not be a murderer,

But left that hateful office unto thee:   [bcb093]

The pretty-vaulting sea refused to drown me,   [bcb094]

Knowing that thou wouldst have me drown’d on shore,   ·bcb095·

With tears as salt as sea, through thy unkindness:

The splitting rocks cower’d in the sinking sands   [bcb097]

And would not dash me with their ragged sides,

Because thy flinty heart, more hard than they,

Might in thy palace perish Eleanor.   ·bcb100·

As far as I could ken thy chalky cliffs,   [bcb101]

When from thy shore the tempest beat us back,

I stood upon the hatches in the storm,

And when the dusky sky began to rob

My earnest-gaping sight of thy land’s view,   [bcb105]

I took a costly jewel from my neck--

A heart it was, bound in with diamonds--

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   ·bcb110·

And bid mine eyes be packing with my heart

And call’d them blind and dusky spectacles,

For losing ken of Albion’s wished coast.

How often have I tempted Suffolk’s tongue,

The agent of thy foul inconstancy,   ·bcb115·

To sit and witch me, as Ascanius did   [bcb116]

When he to madding Dido would unfold

His father’s acts commenced in burning Troy!

Am I not witch’d like her? or thou not false like him?   [bcb119]

Ay me, I can no more! die, Eleanor!   [bcb120]

For Henry weeps that thou dost live so long.   [bcb121]

_Noise within. Enter_ WARWICK, SALISBURY _and many_ Commons.

_War._ It is reported, mighty sovereign,

That good Duke Humphrey traitorously is murder’d

By Suffolk and the Cardinal Beaufort’s means.   [bcb124]

The commons, like an angry hive of bees   ·bcb125·

That want their leader, scatter up and down

And care not who they sting in his revenge.   [bcb127]

Myself have calm’d their spleenful mutiny,

Until they hear the order of his death.

_King._ That he is dead, good Warwick, ’tis too true;   ·bcb130·

But how he died God knows, not Henry:

Enter his chamber, view his breathless corpse,

And comment then upon his sudden death.

_War._ That shall I do, my liege. Stay, Salisbury,   [bcb134]

With the rude multitude till I return. [_Exit._   [bcb135]

_King._ O Thou that judgest all things, stay my thoughts,

My thoughts, that labour to persuade my soul

Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey’s life!

If my suspect be false, forgive me, God,

For judgement only doth belong to thee.   ·bcb140·

Fain would I go to chafe his paly lips

With twenty thousand kisses and to drain   [bcb142]

Upon his face an ocean of salt tears,

To tell my love unto his dumb deaf trunk

And with my fingers feel his hand unfeeling:   ·bcb145·

But all in vain are these mean obsequies;

And to survey his dead and earthy image,   [bcb147]

What were it but to make my sorrow greater?   [bcb148]

_Re-enter_ WARWICK _and others, bearing_ GLOUCESTER’S _body on

a bed_.

_War._ Come hither, gracious sovereign, view this body.

_King._ That is to see how deep my grave is made;   ·bcb150·

For with his soul fled all my worldly solace,

For seeing him I see my life in death.   [bcb152]

_War._ As surely as my soul intends to live

With that dread King that took our state upon him

To free us from his father’s wrathful curse,   ·bcb155·

I do believe that violent hands were laid

Upon the life of this thrice-famed duke.

_Suf._ A dreadful oath, sworn with a solemn tongue!

What instance gives Lord Warwick for his vow?   [bcb159]

_War._ See how the blood is settled in his face.   ·bcb160·

Oft have I seen a timely-parted ghost,   [bcb161]

Of ashy semblance, meagre, pale and bloodless,   [bcb162]

Being all descended to the labouring heart;

Who, in the conflict that it holds with death,

Attracts the same for aidance ’gainst the enemy;   ·bcb165·

Which with the heart there cools and ne’er returneth

To blush and beautify the cheek again.

But see, his face is black and full of blood,

His eye-balls further out than when he lived,

Staring full ghastly like a strangled man;   ·bcb170·

His hair uprear’d, his nostrils stretch’d with struggling;   [bcb171]

His hands abroad display’d, as one that grasp’d

And tugg’d for life and was by strength subdued:

Look, on the sheets his hair, you see, is sticking;   [bcb174]

His well-proportion’d beard made rough and rugged,   [bcb175]

Like to the summer’s corn by tempest lodged.

It cannot be but he was murder’d here;   [bcb177]

The least of all these signs were probable.

_Suf._ Why, Warwick, who should do the duke to death?   [bcb179]

Myself and Beaufort had him in protection;   ·bcb180·

And we, I hope, sir, are no murderers.   [bcb181]

_War._ But both of you were vow’d Duke Humphrey’s foes,   [bcb182]

And you, forsooth, had the good duke to keep:

’Tis like you would not feast him like a friend;

And ’tis well seen he found an enemy.   ·bcb185·

_Queen._ Then you, belike, suspect these noblemen   [bcb186]

As guilty of Duke Humphrey’s timeless death.

_War._ Who finds the heifer dead and bleeding fresh

And sees fast by a butcher with an axe,

But will suspect ’twas he that made the slaughter?   ·bcb190·

Who finds the partridge in the puttock’s nest,

But may imagine how the bird was dead,

Although the kite soar with unbloodied beak?

Even so suspicious is this tragedy.

_Queen._ Are you the butcher, Suffolk? Where’s your knife?   [bcb195]

Is Beaufort term’d a kite? Where are his talons?

_Suf._ I wear no knife to slaughter sleeping men;

But here’s a vengeful sword, rusted with ease,

That shall be scoured in his rancorous heart

That slanders me with murder’s crimson badge.   ·bcb200·

Say, if thou darest, proud Lord of Warwickshire,

That I am faulty in Duke Humphrey’s death.   [bcb202]

[_Exeunt Cardinal, Somerset, and others._

_War._ What dares not Warwick, if false Suffolk dare him?

_Queen._ He dares not calm his contumelious spirit   [bcb204]

Nor cease to be an arrogant controller,   ·bcb205·

Though Suffolk dare him twenty thousand times.

_War._ Madam, be still; with reverence may I say;   [bcb207]

For every word you speak in his behalf

Is slander to your royal dignity.

_Suf._ Blunt-witted lord, ignoble in demeanour!   ·bcb210·

If ever lady wrong’d her lord so much,

Thy mother took into her blameful bed

Some stern untutor’d churl, and noble stock

Was graft with crab-tree slip; whose fruit thou art

And never of the Nevils’ noble race.   ·bcb215·

_War._ But that the guilt of murder bucklers thee

And I should rob the deathsman of his fee,

Quitting thee thereby of ten thousand shames,

And that my sovereign’s presence makes me mild,

I would, false murderous coward, on thy knee   ·bcb220·

Make thee beg pardon for thy passed speech

And say it was thy mother that thou meant’st,

That thou thyself wast born in bastardy;

And after all this fearful homage done,

Give thee thy hire and send thy soul to hell,   [bcb225]

Pernicious blood-sucker of sleeping men!

_Suf._ Thou shalt be waking while I shed thy blood,

If from this presence thou darest go with me.

_War._ Away even now, or I will drag thee hence:

Unworthy though thou art, I’ll cope with thee   ·bcb230·

And do some service to Duke Humphrey’s ghost.   [bcb231]

[_Exeunt Suffolk and Warwick._

_King._ What stronger breastplate than a heart untainted!   [bcb232]

Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just,

And he but naked, though lock’d up in steel,

Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted.   ·bcb235·

[_A noise within._

_Queen._ What noise is this?   [bcb236]

_Re-enter_ SUFFOLK _and_ WARWICK, _with their weapons drawn_.

_King._ Why, how now, lords! your wrathful weapons drawn   [bcb237]

Here in our presence! dare you be so bold?

Why, what tumultuous clamour have we here?

_Suf._ The traitorous Warwick with the men of Bury   ·bcb240·

Set all upon me, mighty sovereign.   [bcb241]

_Sal._ [_to the Commons, entering_] Sirs, stand apart; the king

shall know your mind.

Dread Lord, the commons send you word by me,

Unless Lord Suffolk straight be done to death,   [bcb244]

Or banished fair England’s territories,   ·bcb245·

They will by violence tear him from your palace

And torture him with grievous lingering death.

They say, by him the good duke Humphrey died;

They say, in him they fear your highness’ death;

And mere instinct of love and loyalty,   ·bcb250·

Free from a stubborn opposite intent,

As being thought to contradict your liking,

Makes them thus forward in his banishment.

They say, in care of your most royal person,

That if your highness should intend to sleep   ·bcb255·

And charge that no man should disturb your rest

In pain of your dislike or pain of death,   [bcb257]

Yet, notwithstanding such a strait edict,   [bcb258]

Were there a serpent seen, with forked tongue,

That slily glided towards your majesty,   ·bcb260·

It were but necessary you were waked,

Lest, being suffer’d in that harmful slumber,   [bcb262]

The mortal worm might make the sleep eternal;

And therefore do they cry, though you forbid,

That they will guard you, whether you will or no,   [bcb265]

From such fell serpents as false Suffolk is,

With whose envenomed and fatal sting,

Your loving uncle, twenty times his worth,

They say, is shamefully bereft of life.

_Commons_ [_within_]. An answer from the king, my Lord of

Salisbury!   ·bcb270·

_Suf._ ’Tis like the commons, rude unpolish’d hinds,

Could send such message to their sovereign:

But you, my lord, were glad to be employ’d,

To show how quaint an orator you are:

But all the honour Salisbury hath won   ·bcb275·

Is, that he was the lord ambassador

Sent from a sort of tinkers to the king.

_Commons_ [_within_] An answer from the king, or we will all

break in!   [bcb278]

_King._ Go, Salisbury, and tell them all from me,

I thank them for their tender loving care;   ·bcb280·

And had I not been cited so by them,

Yet did I purpose as they do entreat;

For, sure, my thoughts do hourly prophesy

Mischance unto my state by Suffolk’s means:

And therefore, by His majesty I swear,   ·bcb285·

Whose far unworthy deputy I am,

He shall not breathe infection in this air

But three days longer, on the pain of death.   [bcb288]

[_Exit Salisbury._

_Queen._ O Henry, let me plead for gentle Suffolk!

_King._ Ungentle queen, to call him gentle Suffolk!   ·bcb290·

No more, I say: if thou dost plead for him,

Thou wilt but add increase unto my wrath.

Had I but said, I would have kept my word,

But when I swear, it is irrevocable.

If, after three days’ space, thou here be’st found   ·bcb295·

On any ground that I am ruler of,

The world shall not be ransom for thy life.

Come, Warwick, come, good Warwick, go with me;

I have great matters to impart to thee.   [bcb299]

[_Exeunt all but Queen and Suffolk._

_Queen._ Mischance and sorrow go along with you!   [bcb300]

Heart’s discontent and sour affliction

Be playfellows to keep you company!

There’s two of you; the devil make a third!   [bcb303]

And threefold vengeance tend upon your steps!

_Suf._ Cease, gentle queen, these execrations   ·bcb305·

And let thy Suffolk take his heavy leave.

_Queen._ Fie, coward woman and soft-hearted wretch!   [bcb307]

Hast thou not spirit to curse thine enemy?   [bcb308]

_Suf._ A plague upon them! wherefore should I curse them?

Would curses kill, as doth the mandrake’s groan,   ·bcb310·

I would invent as bitter-searching terms,   [bcb311]

As curst, as harsh and horrible to hear,

Deliver’d strongly through my fixed teeth,

With full as many signs of deadly hate,

As lean-faced Envy in her loathsome cave:   ·bcb315·

My tongue should stumble in mine earnest words;

Mine eyes should sparkle like the beaten flint;

Mine hair be fix’d on end, as one distract;   [bcb318]

Ay, every joint should seem to curse and ban:

And even now my burthen’d heart would break,   ·bcb320·

Should I not curse them. Poison be their drink!

Gall, worse than gall, the daintiest that they taste!   [bcb322]

Their sweetest shade a grove of cypress trees!

Their chiefest prospect murdering basilisks!

Their softest touch as smart as lizards’ stings!   [bcb325]

Their music frightful as the serpent’s hiss,

And boding screech-owls make the concert full!   [bcb327]

All the foul terrors in dark-seated hell--   [bcb328]

_Queen._ Enough, sweet Suffolk; thou torment’st thyself;

And these dread curses, like the sun ’gainst glass,   ·bcb330·

Or like an overcharged gun, recoil,   [bcb331]

And turn the force of them upon thyself.   [bcb332]

_Suf._ You bade me ban, and will you bid me leave?

Now, by the ground that I am banish’d from,

Well could I curse away a winter’s night,   ·bcb335·

Though standing naked on a mountain top,

Where biting cold would never let grass grow,

And think it but a minute spent in sport.

_Queen._ O, let me entreat thee cease. Give me thy hand,

That I may dew it with my mournful tears;   ·bcb340·

Nor let the rain of heaven wet this place,

To wash away my woful monuments.   [bcb342]

O, could this kiss be printed in thy hand,

That thou mightst think upon these by the seal,   [bcb344]

Through whom a thousand sighs are breathed for thee!   [bcb345]

So, get thee gone, that I may know my grief;

’Tis but surmised whiles thou art standing by,   [bcb347]

As one that surfeits thinking on a want.

I will repeal thee, or, be well assured,

Adventure to be banished myself:   ·bcb350·

And banished I am, if but from thee.

Go; speak not to me; even now be gone.

O, go not yet! Even thus two friends condemn’d

Embrace and kiss and take ten thousand leaves,

Loather a hundred times to part than die.   ·bcb355·

Yet now farewell; and farewell life with thee!

_Suf._ Thus is poor Suffolk ten times banished;

Once by the king, and three times thrice by thee.

’Tis not the land I care for, wert thou thence;   [bcb359]

A wilderness is populous enough,   ·bcb360·

So Suffolk had thy heavenly company:

For where thou art, there is the world itself,

With every several pleasure in the world,

And where thou art not, desolation.

I can no more: live thou to joy thy life;   ·bcb365·

Myself no joy in nought but that thou livest.   [bcb366]

_Enter_ VAUX.

_Queen._ Whither goes Vaux so fast? what news, I prithee?   [bcb367]

_Vaux._ To signify unto his majesty

That Cardinal Beaufort is at point of death;   [bcb369]

For suddenly a grievous sickness took him,   ·bcb370·

That makes him gasp and stare and catch the air,

Blaspheming God and cursing men on earth.

Sometime he talks as if Duke Humphrey’s ghost   [bcb373]

Were by his side; sometime he calls the king

And whispers to his pillow as to him   ·bcb375·

The secrets of his overcharged soul:

And I am sent to tell his majesty

That even now he cries aloud for him.

_Queen._ Go tell this heavy message to the king.   [bcb379]

[_Exit Vaux._

Ay me! what is this world! what news are these!   ·bcb380·

But wherefore grieve I at an hour’s poor loss,   [bcb381]

Omitting Suffolk’s exile, my soul’s treasure?

Why only, Suffolk, mourn I not for thee,

And with the southern clouds contend in tears,

Theirs for the earth’s increase, mine for my sorrows?   ·bcb385·

Now get thee hence: the king, thou know’st, is coming;

If thou be found by me, thou art but dead.

_Suf._ If I depart from thee, I cannot live;

And in thy sight to die, what were it else

But like a pleasant slumber in thy lap?   ·bcb390·

Here could I breathe my soul into the air,

As mild and gentle as the cradle-babe

Dying with mother’s dug between its lips:   [bcb393]

Where, from thy sight, I should be raging mad

And cry out for thee to close up mine eyes,   ·bcb395·

To have thee with thy lips to stop my mouth;

So shouldst thou either turn my flying soul,   [bcb397]

Or I should breathe it so into thy body,

And then it lived in sweet Elysium.   [bcb399]

To die by thee were but to die in jest;   ·bcb400·

From thee to die were torture more than death:

O, let me stay, befall what may befall!

_Queen._ Away! though parting be a fretful corrosive,   [bcb403]

It is applied to a deathful wound.

To France, sweet Suffolk: let me hear from thee;   ·bcb405·

For wheresoe’er thou art in this world’s globe,   [bcb406]

I’ll have an Iris that shall find thee out.

_Suf._ I go.

_Queen._ And take my heart with thee.   [bcb408]

_Suf._ A jewel, lock’d into the wofull’st cask   [bcb409]

That ever did contain a thing of worth.   ·bcb410·

Even as a splitted bark, so sunder we:

This way fall I to death.

_Queen._ This way for me.   [bcb412]

[_Exeunt severally._

SCENE III. _A bedchamber_.

_Enter the_ KING, SALISBURY, WARWICK, _to the_ CARDINAL _in

bed_.

_King._ How fares my lord? speak, Beaufort, to thy

sovereign.   [bcc001]

_Car._ If thou be’st death, I’ll give thee England’s treasure,

Enough to purchase such another island,

So thou wilt let me live, and feel no pain.   [bcc004]

_King._ Ah, what a sign it is of evil life,   ·bcc005·

Where death’s approach is seen so terrible!

_War._ Beaufort, it is thy sovereign speaks to thee.

_Car._ Bring me unto my trial when you will.

Died he not in his bed? where should he die?   [bcc009]

Can I make men live, whether they will or no?   [bcc010]

O, torture me no more! I will confess.

Alive again? then show me where he is:

I’ll give a thousand pound to look upon him.

He hath no eyes, the dust hath blinded them.

Comb down his hair; look, look! it stands upright,   ·bcc015·

Like lime-twigs set to catch my winged soul.

Give me some drink; and bid the apothecary

Bring the strong poison that I bought of him.

_King._ O thou eternal Mover of the heavens,

Look with a gentle eye upon this wretch!   ·bcc020·

O, beat away the busy meddling fiend   [bcc021]

That lays strong siege unto this wretch’s soul   [bcc022]

And from his bosom purge this black despair!

_War._ See, how the pangs of death do make him grin!

_Sal._ Disturb him not; let him pass peaceably.   ·bcc025·

_King._ Peace to his soul, if God’s good pleasure be!   [bcc026]

Lord cardinal, if thou think’st on heaven’s bliss,

Hold up thy hand, make signal of thy hope.   [bcc028]

He dies, and makes no sign. O God, forgive him!

_War._ So bad a death argues a monstrous life.   ·bcc030·

_King._ Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all.

Close up his eyes and draw the curtain close;

And let us all to meditation. [_Exeunt._

ACT IV.

SCENE I. _The coast of Kent_.

_Alarum. Fight at Sea. Ordnance goes off. Enter a_ Captain, _a_

Master, _a_ Master’s-Mate, WALTER WHITMORE, _and others; with

them_ SUFFOLK, _and others, prisoners_.

_Cap._ The gaudy, blabbing and remorseful day   [bda001]

Is crept into the bosom of the sea;

And now loud-howling wolves arouse the jades

That drag the tragic melancholy night;

Who, with their drowsy, slow and flagging wings,   ·bda005·

Clip dead men’s graves and from their misty jaws   [bda006]

Breathe foul contagious darkness in the air.

Therefore bring forth the soldiers of our prize;

For, whilst our pinnace anchors in the Downs,

Here shall they make their ransom on the sand,   ·bda010·

Or with their blood stain this discoloured shore.   [bda011]

Master, this prisoner freely give I thee;

And thou that art his mate, make boot of this;

The other, Walter Whitmore, is thy share.   [bda014]

_First Gent._ What is my ransom, master? let me know.   ·bda015·

_Mast._ A thousand crowns, or else lay down your head.

_Mate._ And so much shall you give, or off goes yours.   [bda018]

_Cap._ What, think you much to pay two thousand crowns,

And bear the name and port of gentlemen?

Cut both the villains’ throats; for die you shall:   [bda020]

The lives of those which we have lost in fight   [bda021]

Be counterpoised with such a petty sum!

_First Gent._ I’ll give it, sir; and therefore spare my life.

_Sec. Gent._ And so will I and write home for it straight.

_Whit._ I lost mine eye in laying the prize aboard   ·bda025·

And therefore to revenge it, shalt thou die; [_To Suf._   [bda026]

And so should these, if I might have my will.

_Cap._ Be not so rash; take ransom, let him live.

_Suf._ Look on my George; I am a gentleman:   [bda029]

Rate me at what thou wilt, thou shalt be paid.   ·bda030·

_Whit._ And so am I; my name is Walter Whitmore.

How now! why start’st thou? what, doth death affright?   [bda032]

_Suf._ Thy name affrights me, in whose sound is death.

A cunning man did calculate my birth

And told me that by water I should die:   ·bda035·

Yet let not this make thee be bloody-minded;

Thy name is Gaultier, being rightly sounded.

_Whit._ Gaultier or Walter, which it is, I care not:

Never yet did base dishonour blur our name,   [bda039]

But with our sword we wiped away the blot;   ·bda040·

Therefore, when merchant-like I sell revenge,

Broke be my sword, my arms torn and defaced,

And I proclaim’d a coward through the world!   [bda043]

_Suf._ Stay, Whitmore; for thy prisoner is a prince,

The Duke of Suffolk, William de la Pole.   ·bda045·

_Whit._ The Duke of Suffolk muffled up in rags!   [bda046]

_Suf._ Ay, but these rags are no part of the duke:

Jove sometime went disguised, and why not I?   [bda048]

_Cap._ But Jove was never slain, as thou shalt be.

_Suf._ Obscure and lowly swain, King Henry’s blood,   [bda050]

The honourable blood of Lancaster,   [bda051]

Must not be shed by such a jaded groom.   [bda052]

Hast thou not kiss’d thy hand and held my stirrup?

Bare-headed plodded by my foot-cloth mule   [bda054]

And thought thee happy when I shook my head?   ·bda055·

How often hast thou waited at my cup,

Fed from my trencher, kneel’d down at the board,

When I have feasted with Queen Margaret?

Remember it and let it make thee crest-fall’n,

Ay, and allay this thy abortive pride;   ·bda060·

How in our voiding lobby hast thou stood

And duly waited for my coming forth?

This hand of mine hath writ in thy behalf   [bda063]

And therefore shall it charm thy riotous tongue.

_Whit._ Speak, captain, shall I stab the forlorn swain?   [bda065]

_Cap._ First let my words stab him, as he hath me.

_Suf._ Base slave, thy words are blunt and so art thou.

_Cap._ Convey him hence and on our long-boat’s side

Strike off his head.

_Suf._ Thou darest not, for thy own.   [bda069]

_Cap._ Yes, Pole.

_Suf._ Pole!

_Cap._ Pool! Sir Pool! lord!   [bda070]

Ay, kennel, puddle, sink; whose filth and dirt   [bda071]

Troubles the silver spring where England drinks.

Now will I dam up this thy yawning mouth

For swallowing the treasure of the realm:   [bda074]

Thy lips that kiss’d the queen shall sweep the ground;   ·bda075·

And thou that smiledst at good Duke Humphrey’s death

Against the senseless winds shalt grin in vain,   [bda077]

Who in contempt shall hiss at thee again:

And wedded be thou to the hags of hell,

For daring to affy a mighty lord   ·bda080·

Unto the daughter of a worthless king,

Having neither subject, wealth, nor diadem.   [bda082]

By devilish policy art thou grown great

And, like ambitious Sylla, overgorged   [bda084]

With gobbets of thy mother’s bleeding heart.   [bda085]

By thee Anjou and Maine were sold to France,

The false revolting Normans thorough thee

Disdain to call us lord, and Picardy

Hath slain their governors, surprised our forts

And sent the ragged soldiers wounded home.   ·bda090·

The princely Warwick, and the Nevils all,

Whose dreadful swords were never drawn in vain,

As hating thee, are rising up in arms:   [bda093]

And now the house of York, thrust from the crown

By shameful murder of a guiltless king   ·bda095·

And lofty proud encroaching tyranny,   [bda096]

Burns with revenging fire; whose hopeful colours

Advance our half-faced sun, striving to shine,   [bda098]

Under the which is writ ‘Invitis nubibus.’

The commons here in Kent are up in arms:   ·bda100·

And, to conclude, reproach and beggary

Is crept into the palace of our king,   [bda102]

And all by thee. Away! convey him hence.

_Suf._ O that I were a god, to shoot forth thunder

Upon these paltry, servile, abject drudges!   ·bda105·

Small things make base men proud: this villain here,

Being captain of a pinnace, threatens more   [bda107]

Than Bargulus the strong Illyrian pirate.   [bda108]

Drones suck not eagles’ blood but rob bee-hives:

It is impossible that I should die   [bda110]

By such a lowly vassal as thyself.

Thy words move rage and not remorse in me:

I go of message from the queen to France;

I charge thee waft me safely cross the Channel.

_Cap._ Walter,--   [bda115]

_Whit._ Come, Suffolk, I must waft thee to thy death.

_Suf._ Gelidus timor occupat artus: it is thee I fear.   [bda117]

_Whit._ Thou shalt have cause to fear before I leave thee.   [bda118]

What, are ye daunted now? now will ye stoop?

_First Gent._ My gracious lord, entreat him, speak him fair.   ·bda120·

_Suf._ Suffolk’s imperial tongue is stern and rough,

Used to command, untaught to plead for favour.

Far be it we should honour such as these

With humble suit: no, rather let my head

Stoop to the block than these knees bow to any   ·bda125·

Save to the God of heaven and to my king;

And sooner dance upon a bloody pole

Than stand uncover’d to the vulgar groom.   [bda128]

True nobility is exempt from fear:   [bda129]

More can I bear than you dare execute.   ·bda130·

_Cap._ Hale him away, and let him talk no more.

_Suf._ Come, soldiers, show what cruelty ye can,   [bda132]

That this my death may never be forgot!

Great men oft die by vile bezonians:

A Roman sworder and banditto slave   [bda135]

Murder’d sweet Tully; Brutus’ bastard hand   [bda136]

Stabb’d Julius Cæsar; savage islanders   [bda137]

Pompey the Great; and Suffolk dies by pirates.   [bda138]

[_Exeunt Whitmore and others with Suffolk._

_Cap._ And as for these whose ransom we have set,

It is our pleasure one of them depart:   ·bda140·

Therefore come you with us and let him go.   [bda141]

[_Exeunt all but the First Gentleman._

_Re-enter_ WHITMORE _with_ SUFFOLK’S _body_.

_Whit._ There let his head and lifeless body lie,   [bda142]

Until the queen his mistress bury it. [_Exit._   [bda143]

_First Gent._ O barbarous and bloody spectacle!

His body will I bear unto the king:   ·bda145·

If he revenge it not, yet will his friends;

So will the queen, that living held him dear.   [bda147]

[_Exit with the body._

SCENE II. _Blackheath_.

_Enter_ GEORGE BEVIS _and_ JOHN HOLLAND.

_Bevis._ Come, and get thee a sword, though made of a   [bdb001]

lath: they have been up these two days.

_Holl._ They have the more need to sleep now, then.   [bdb003]

_Bevis._ I tell thee, Jack Cade the clothier means to

dress the commonwealth, and turn it, and set a new nap   ·bdb005·

upon it.

_Holl._ So he had need, for ’tis threadbare. Well, I say it   [bdb007]

was never merry world in England since gentlemen came up.   [bdb008]

_Bevis._ O miserable age! virtue is not regarded in

handicrafts-men.   ·bdb010·

_Holl._ The nobility think scorn to go in leather aprons.

_Bevis._ Nay, more, the king’s council are no good

workmen.

_Holl._ True; and yet it is said, labour in thy vocation;

which is as much to say as, let the magistrates be labouring   [bdb015]

men; and therefore should we be magistrates.

_Bevis._ Thou hast hit it; for there’s no better sign of a

brave mind than a hard hand.

_Holl._ I see them! I see them! There’s Best’s son,

the tanner of Wingham,--   ·bdb020·

_Bevis._ He shall have the skin of our enemies, to make

dog’s-leather of.

_Holl._ And Dick the butcher,--

_Bevis._ Then is sin struck down like an ox, and iniquity’s

throat cut like a calf.   ·bdb025·

_Holl._ And Smith the weaver,--   [bdb026]

_Bevis._ Argo, their thread of life is spun.

_Holl._ Come, come, let’s fall in with them.   [bdb028]

_Drum. Enter_ CADE, DICK Butcher, SMITH _the Weaver, and a

Sawyer, with infinite numbers_.

_Cade._ We John Cade, so termed of our supposed

father,--   [bdb030]

_Dick._ [_Aside_] Or rather, of stealing a cade of herrings.   [bdb031]

_Cade._ For our enemies shall fall before us, inspired   [bdb032]

with the spirit of putting down kings and princes,--Command   [bdb033]

silence.

_Dick._ Silence!   ·bdb035·

_Cade._ My father was a Mortimer,--

_Dick._ [_Aside_] He was an honest man, and a good

bricklayer.

_Cade._ My mother a Plantagenet,--

_Dick._ [_Aside_] I knew her well; she was a midwife.   ·bdb040·

_Cade._ My wife descended of the Lacies,--

_Dick._ [_Aside_] She was, indeed, a pedler’s daughter,

and sold many laces.

_Smith._ [_Aside_] But now of late, not able to travel with   [bdb044]

her furred pack, she washes bucks here at home.   ·bdb045·

_Cade._ Therefore am I of an honourable house.

_Dick._ [_Aside_] Ay, by my faith, the field is honourable;

and there was he born, under a hedge, for his father had

never a house but the cage.

_Cade._ Valiant I am.   ·bdb050·

_Smith._ [_Aside_] A’ must needs; for beggary is valiant.

_Cade._ I am able to endure much.

_Dick._ [_Aside_] No question of that; for I have seen

him whipped three market-days together.

_Cade._ I fear neither sword nor fire.   ·bdb055·

_Smith._ [_Aside_] He need not fear the sword; for his

coat is of proof.   [bdb057]

_Dick._ [_Aside_] But methinks he should stand in fear of

fire, being burnt i’ the hand for stealing of sheep.

_Cade._ Be brave, then; for your captain is brave, and   ·bdb060·

vows reformation. There shall be in England seven half-penny

loaves sold for a penny: the three-hooped pot shall

have ten hoops; and I will make it felony to drink small

beer: all the realm shall be in common; and in Cheapside

shall my palfry go to grass: and when I am king, as king I   ·bdb065·

will be,--   [bdb066]

_All._ God save your majesty!

_Cade._ I thank you, good people: there shall be no

money; all shall eat and drink on my score; and I will   [bdb069]

apparel them all in one livery, that they may agree like   ·bdb070·

brothers and worship me their lord.

_Dick._ The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.

_Cade._ Nay, that I mean to do. Is not this a lamentable

thing, that of the skin of an innocent lamb should be

made parchment? that parchment, being scribbled o’er,   [bdb075]

should undo a man? Some say the bee stings: but I say,

’tis the bee’s wax; for I did but seal once to a thing, and I  [bdb077]

was never mine own man since. How now! who’s there?   [bdb078]

_Enter some, bringing forward the_ Clerk of Chatham.

_Smith._ The clerk of Chatham: he can write and read   [bdb079]

and cast accompt.   ·bdb080·

_Cade._ O monstrous!

_Smith._ We took him setting of boys’ copies.

_Cade._ Here’s a villain!

_Smith._ Has a book in his pocket with red letters in’t.   [bdb084]

_Cade._ Nay, then, he is a conjuror.   [bdb085]

_Dick._ Nay, he can make obligations, and write

court-hand.

_Cade._ I am sorry for’t: the man is a proper man, of

mine honour; unless I find him guilty, he shall not die.

Come hither, sirrah, I must examine thee: what is thy   ·bdb090·

name?

_Clerk._ Emmanuel.

_Dick._ They use to write it on the top of letters: ’twill

go hard with you.

_Cade._ Let me alone. Dost thou use to write thy ·bdb095· name? or

hast thou a mark to thyself, like an honest plain-dealing [bdb096] man?

_Clerk._ Sir, I thank God, I have been so well brought

up that I can write my name.

_All._ He hath confessed: away with him! he’s a villain   [bdb100]

and a traitor.

_Cade._ Away with him, I say! hang him with his pen

and ink-horn about his neck. [_Exit one with the Clerk._   [bdb103]

_Enter_ MICHAEL.

_Mich._ Where’s our general?   [bdb104]

_Cade._ Here I am, thou particular fellow.   ·bdb105·

_Mich._ Fly, fly, fly! Sir Humphrey Stafford and his

brother are hard by, with the king’s forces.

_Cade._ Stand, villain, stand, or I’ll fell thee down. He

shall be encountered with a man as good as himself: he is

but a knight, is a’?   ·bdb110·

_Mich._ No.

_Cade._ To equal him, I will make myself a knight presently.   [bdb112]

[_Kneels_] Rise up Sir John Mortimer. [_Rises_] Now   [bdb113]

have at him!   [bdb114]

_Enter_ SIR HUMPHREY STAFFORD _and his Brother, with drum

and soldiers_.

_Staf._ Rebellious hinds, the filth and scum of Kent,   [bdb115]

Mark’d for the gallows, lay your weapons down;

Home to your cottages, forsake this groom:

The king is merciful, if you revolt.   [bdb118]

_Bro._ But angry, wrathful, and inclined to blood,   [bdb119]

If you go forward; therefore yield, or die.   ·bdb120·

_Cade._ As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not:   [bdb121]

It is to you, good people, that I speak,

Over whom, in time to come, I hope to reign;

For I am rightful heir unto the crown.

_Staf._ Villain, thy father was a plasterer;   ·bdb125·

And thou thyself a shearman, art thou not?

_Cade._ And Adam was a gardener.

_Bro._ And what of that?

_Cade._ Marry, this: Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March,   [bdb129]

Married the Duke of Clarence’ daughter, did he not?   [bdb130]

_Staf._ Ay, sir.

_Cade._ By her he had two children at one birth.

_Bro._ That’s false.

_Cade._ Ay, there’s the question; but I say, ’tis true:

The elder of them, being put to nurse,   ·bdb135·

Was by a beggar-woman stolen away;

And, ignorant of his birth and parentage,

Became a bricklayer when he came to age:

His son am I; deny it, if you can.

_Dick._ Nay, ’tis too true; therefore he shall be king.   ·bdb140·

_Smith._ Sir, he made a chimney in my father’s house,

and the bricks are alive at this day to testify it; therefore

deny it not.

_Staf._ And will you credit this base drudge’s words,

That speaks he knows not what?   ·bdb145·

_All._ Ay, marry, will we; therefore get ye gone.   [bdb146]

_Bro._ Jack Cade, the Duke of York hath taught you this.

_Cade._ [_Aside_] He lies, for I invented it myself.   [bdb148]

Go to, sirrah, tell the king from me, that, for his father’s

sake, Henry the fifth, in whose time boys went to span-counter ·bdb150·

for French crowns, I am content he shall reign;

but I’ll be protector over him.

_Dick._ And furthermore, we’ll have the Lord Say’s

head for selling the dukedom of Maine.

_Cade._ And good reason; for thereby is England   ·bdb155·

mained, and fain to go with a staff, but that my puissance   [bdb156]

holds it up. Fellow kings, I tell you that that Lord Say   [bdb157]

hath gelded the commonwealth, and made it an eunuch:

and more than that, he can speak French; and therefore

he is a traitor.   ·bdb160·

_Staf._ O gross and miserable ignorance!

_Cade._ Nay, answer, if you can: the Frenchmen are

our enemies; go to, then, I ask but this: can he that

speaks with the tongue of an enemy be a good counsellor,   [bdb164]

or no?   ·bdb165·

_All._ No, no; and therefore we’ll have his head.

_Bro._ Well, seeing gentle words will not prevail,

Assail them with the army of the king.

_Staf._ Herald, away; and throughout every town

Proclaim them traitors that are up with Cade;   ·bdb170·

That those which fly before the battle ends

May, even in their wives’ and children’s sight,

Be hang’d up for example at their doors:

And you that be the king’s friends, follow me.   [bdb174]

[_Exeunt the two Staffords, and soldiers._

_Cade._ And you that love the commons, follow me.   ·bdb175·

Now show yourselves men; ’tis for liberty.

We will not leave one lord, one gentleman:   [bdb177]

Spare none but such as go in clouted shoon;   [bdb178]

For they are thrifty honest men and such

As would, but that they dare not, take our parts.   ·bdb180·

_Dick._ They are all in order and march toward us.   [bdb181]

_Cade._ But then are we in order when we are most out

of order. Come, march forward. [_Exeunt._   [bdb183]

SCENE III. _Another part of Blackheath_.

_Alarums to the fight, wherein both the_ STAFFORDS _are slain. Enter_

CADE _and the rest_.

_Cade._ Where’s Dick, the butcher of Ashford?   [bdc001]

_Dick._ Here, sir.

_Cade._ They fell before thee like sheep and oxen, and

thou behavedst thyself as if thou hadst been in thine own

slaughter-house: therefore thus will I reward thee, the Lent   [bdc005]

shall be as long again as it is; and thou shalt have a license [bdc006]

to kill for a hundred lacking one.   [bdc007]

_Dick._ I desire no more.

_Cade._ And, to speak truth, thou deservest no less. This

monument of the victory will I bear [_putting on Sir Humphrey’s [bdc010]

brigandine_]; and the bodies shall be dragged at my

horse heels till I do come to London, where we will have   [bdc012]

the mayor’s sword borne before us.

_Dick._ If we mean to thrive and do good, break open   [bdc014]

the gaols and let out the prisoners.   [bdc015]

_Cade._ Fear not that, I warrant thee. Come, let’s

march towards London. [_Exeunt._

SCENE IV. _London. The palace_.

_Enter the_ KING _with a supplication, and the_ QUEEN _with

Suffolk’s head, the_ DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM _and the_ LORD SAY.

_Queen._ Oft have I heard that grief softens the mind   [bdd001]

And makes it fearful and degenerate;

Think therefore on revenge and cease to weep.

But who can cease to weep and look on this?

Here may his head lie on my throbbing breast:   ·bdd005·

But where’s the body that I should embrace?

_Buck._ What answer makes your grace to the rebels’

supplication?

_King._ I’ll send some holy bishop to entreat;

For God forbid so many simple souls   ·bdd010·

Should perish by the sword! And I myself,

Rather than bloody war shall cut them short,   [bdd012]

Will parley with Jack Cade their general:

But stay, I’ll read it over once again.

_Queen._ Ah, barbarous villains! hath this lovely face   ·bdd015·

Ruled, like a wandering planet, over me,

And could it not enforce them to relent,

That were unworthy to behold the same?

_King._ Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head.

_Say._ Ay, but I hope your highness shall have his.   ·bdd020·

_King._ How now, madam!

Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolk’s death?   [bdd022]

I fear me, love, if that I had been dead,   [bdd023]

Thou wouldest not have mourn’d so much for me.   [bdd024]

_Queen._ No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for thee.   [bdd025]

_Enter a_ Messenger.

_King._ How now! what news? why comest thou in such haste?

_Mess._ The rebels are in Southwark; fly, my lord!

Jack Cade proclaims himself Lord Mortimer,

Descended from the Duke of Clarence’ house,   [bdd029]

And calls your grace usurper openly   ·bdd030·

And vows to crown himself in Westminster.

His army is a ragged multitude

Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless:

Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother’s death

Hath given them heart and courage to proceed:   ·bdd035·

All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen,

They call false caterpillars and intend their death.

_King._ O graceless men! they know not what they do.

_Buck._ My gracious lord, retire to Killingworth,   [bdd039]

Until a power be raised to put them down.   ·bdd040·

_Queen._ Ah, were the Duke of Suffolk now alive,

These Kentish rebels would be soon appeased!   [bdd042]

_King._ Lord Say, the traitors hate thee;   [bdd043]

Therefore away with us to Killingworth.

_Say._ So might your grace’s person be in danger.   ·bdd045·

The sight of me is odious in their eyes;

And therefore in this city will I stay

And live alone as secret as I may.   [bdd048]

_Enter another_ Messenger.

_Mess._ Jack Cade hath gotten London bridge:   [bdd049]

The citizens fly and forsake their houses:   [bdd050]

The rascal people, thirsting after prey,

Join with the traitor, and they jointly swear

To spoil the city and your royal court.

_Buck._ Then linger not, my lord; away, take horse.

_King._ Come, Margaret; God, our hope, will succour us.   ·bdd055·

_Queen._ My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceased.

_King._ Farewell, my lord: trust not the Kentish rebels.   [bdd057]

_Buck._ Trust nobody, for fear you be betray’d.   [bdd058]

_Say._ The trust I have is in mine innocence,

And therefore am I bold and resolute. [_Exeunt._   ·bdd060·

SCENE V. _London. The Tower_.

_Enter_ LORD SCALES _upon the Tower, walking. Then enter two or

three_ Citizens _below_.

_Scales._ How now! is Jack Cade slain?   [bde001]

_First Cit._ No, my lord, nor likely to be slain; for they   [bde002]

have won the bridge, killing all those that withstand them:

the lord mayor craves aid of your honour from the Tower

to defend the city from the rebels.   ·bde005·

_Scales._ Such aid as I can spare you shall command;

But I am troubled here with them myself;

The rebels have assay’d to win the Tower.

But get you to Smithfield and gather head,   [bde009]

And thither I will send you Matthew Goffe;   [bde010]

Fight for your king, your country and your lives;

And so, farewell, for I must hence again. [_Exeunt._   [bde012]

SCENE VI. _London. Cannon Street_.

_Enter_ JACK CADE _and the rest, and strikes his staff on

London-stone_.

_Cade._ Now is Mortimer lord of this city. And here,   [bdf001]

sitting upon London-stone, I charge and command that, of

the city’s cost, the pissing-conduit run nothing but claret

wine this first year of our reign. And now henceforward   [bdf004]

it shall be treason for any that calls me other than Lord   ·bdf005·

Mortimer.

_Enter a_ Soldier, _running_.

_Sold._ Jack Cade! Jack Cade!

_Cade._ Knock him down there. [_They kill him._

_Smith._ If this fellow be wise, he’ll never call ye Jack   [bdf009]

Cade more: I think he hath a very fair warning.   ·bdf010·

_Dick._ My lord, there’s an army gathered together in

Smithfield.

_Cade._ Come, then, let’s go fight with them: but first,   [bdf013]

go and set London bridge on fire; and, if you can, burn

down the Tower too. Come, let’s away. [_Exeunt._   [bdf015]

SCENE VII. _London. Smithfield_.

_Alarums._ MATTHEW GOFFE _is slain, and all the rest. Then enter_

JACK CADE, _with his company_.

_Cade._ So, sirs: now go some and pull down the Savoy;   [bdg001]

others to the inns of court; down with them all.   [bdg002]

_Dick._ I have a suit unto your lordship.

_Cade._ Be it a lordship, thou shalt have it for that word.

_Dick._ Only that the laws of England may come out   ·bdg005·

of your mouth.

_Holl._ [_Aside_] Mass, ’twill be sore law, then; for he was   [bdg007]

thrust in the mouth with a spear, and ’tis not whole yet.

_Smith._ [_Aside_] Nay, John, it will be stinking law; for

his breath stinks with eating toasted cheese.   [bdg010]

_Cade._ I have thought upon it, it shall be so. Away,

burn all the records of the realm: my mouth shall be the

parliament of England.

_Holl._ [_Aside_] Then we are like to have biting statutes,   [bdg014]

unless his teeth be pulled out.   ·bdg015·

_Cade._ And henceforward all things shall be in common.

_Enter a_ Messenger.

_Mess._ My lord, a prize, a prize! here’s the Lord Say, [bdg017]

which sold the towns in France; he that made us pay one and [bdg018]

twenty fifteens, and one shilling to the pound, the last

subsidy. [bdg019]

_Enter_ GEORGE BEVIS, _with the_ LORD SAY.

_Cade._ Well, he shall be beheaded for it ten times. Ah,   ·bdg020·

thou say, thou serge, nay, thou buckram lord! now art thou

within point-blank of our jurisdiction regal. What canst   [bdg022]

thou answer to my majesty for giving up of Normandy unto   [bdg023]

Mounsieur Basimecu, the dauphin of France? Be it known [bdg024] unto

thee by these presence, even the presence of Lord Mortimer, [bdg025]

that I am the besom that must sweep the court clean

of such filth as thou art. Thou hast most traitorously corrupted

the youth of the realm in erecting a grammar school:

and whereas, before, our forefathers had no other books but

the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used, ·bdg030·

and, contrary to the king, his crown and dignity, thou hast

built a paper-mill. It will be proved to thy face that thou

hast men about thee that usually talk of a noun and a verb,

and such abominable words as no Christian ear can endure

to hear. Thou hast appointed justices of peace, to call poor   [bdg035]

men before them about matters they were not able to answer.

Moreover, thou hast put them in prison; and because they   [bdg037]

could not read, thou hast hanged them; when, indeed, only

for that cause they have been most worthy to live. Thou

dost ride in a foot-cloth, dost thou not?   [bdg040]

_Say._ What of that?

_Cade._ Marry, thou oughtest not to let thy horse wear a

cloak, when honester men than thou go in their hose and

doublets.

_Dick._ And work in their shirt too; as myself, for example,   ·bdg045·

that am a butcher.

_Say._ You men of Kent,--

_Dick._ What say you of Kent?   [bdg048]

_Say._ Nothing but this; ’tis ‘bona terra, mala gens.’   [bdg049]

_Cade._ Away with him, away with him! he speaks Latin.   ·bdg050·

_Say._ Hear me but speak, and bear me where you will.   [bdg051]

Kent, in the Commentaries Cæsar writ,

Is term’d the civil’st place of all this isle:

Sweet is the country, because full of riches;   [bdg054]

The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy;   [bdg055]

Which makes me hope you are not void of pity.   [bdg056]

I sold not Maine, I lost not Normandy,

Yet, to recover them, would lose my life.   [bdg058]

Justice with favour have I always done;

Prayers and tears have moved me, gifts could never.   ·bdg060·

When have I aught exacted at your hands,   [bdg061]

But to maintain the king, the realm and you?

Large gifts have I bestow’d on learned clerks,

Because my book preferr’d me to the king,   [bdg064]

And seeing ignorance is the curse of God,   ·bdg065·

Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven,

Unless you be possess’d with devilish spirits,

You cannot but forbear to murder me:   [bdg068]

This tongue hath parley’d unto foreign kings

For your behoof,--   [bdg070]

_Cade._ Tut, when struck’st thou one blow in the field?   [bdg071]

_Say._ Great men have reaching hands: oft have I struck

Those that I never saw and struck them dead.   [bdg073]

_Geo._ O monstrous coward! what, to come behind folks?

_Say._ These cheeks are pale for watching for your good.   [bdg075]

_Cade._ Give him a box o’ the ear and that will make

’em red again.

_Say._ Long sitting to determine poor men’s causes

Hath made me full of sickness and diseases.

_Cade._ Ye shall have a hempen caudle then and the   [bdg080]

help of hatchet.

_Dick._ Why dost thou quiver, man?

_Say._ The palsy, and not fear, provokes me.   [bdg083]

_Cade._ Nay, he nods at us, as who should say, I’ll be

even with you: I’ll see if his head will stand steadier on a   ·bdg085·

pole, or no. Take him away, and behead him.

_Say._ Tell me wherein have I offended most?

Have I affected wealth or honour? speak.

Are my chests fill’d up with extorted gold?

Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?   ·bdg090·

Whom have I injured, that ye seek my death?

These hands are free from guiltless blood-shedding,

This breast from harbouring foul deceitful thoughts.

O, let me live!

_Cade._ [_Aside_] I feel remorse in myself with his words;   [bdg095]

but I’ll bridle it: he shall die, an it be but for pleading so [bdg096]

well for his life. Away with him! he has a familiar under his

tongue; he speaks not o’ God’s name. Go, take him away,   [bdg098]

I say, and strike off his head presently; and then break

into his son-in-law’s house, Sir James Cromer, and strike   [bdg100]

off his head, and bring them both upon two poles hither.

_All._ It shall be done.

_Say._ Ah, countrymen! if when you make your prayers,

God should be so obdurate as yourselves,

How would it fare with your departed souls?   ·bdg105·

And therefore yet relent, and save my life.

_Cade._ Away with him! and do as I command ye.   [bdg107]

[_Exeunt some with Lord Say._

The proudest peer in the realm shall not wear a head on [bdg108] his

shoulders, unless he pay me tribute; there shall not a maid be married,

but she shall pay to me her maidenhead [bdg110] ere they have it: men

shall hold of me in capite; and we charge and command that their wives

be as free as heart can wish or tongue can tell.

_Dick._ My lord, when shall we go to Cheapside and

take up commodities upon our bills?   ·bdg115·

_Cade._ Marry, presently.

_All._ O, brave!   [bdg117]

_Re-enter one with the heads._

_Cade._ But is not this braver? Let them kiss one another,   [bdg118]

for they loved well when they were alive. Now part   [bdg119]

them again, lest they consult about the giving up of some   ·bdg120·

more towns in France. Soldiers, defer the spoil of the city

until night: for with these borne before us, instead of

maces, will we ride through the streets; and at every corner

have them kiss. Away!   [_Exeunt._   [bdg124]

SCENE VIII. _Southwark_.

_Alarum and retreat. Enter_ CADE _and all his rabblement_.

_Cade._ Up Fish Street! down Saint Magnus’ Corner! [bdh001] kill and

knock down! throw them into Thames! [_Sound [bdh002] a parley._] What

noise is this I hear? Dare any be so bold [bdh003] to sound retreat or

parley, when I command them kill?   [bdh004]

_Enter_ BUCKINGHAM _and old_ CLIFFORD, _attended_.

_Buck._ Ay, here they be that dare and will disturb thee:   [bdh005]

Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the king

Unto the commons whom thou hast misled;

And here pronounce free pardon to them all

That will forsake thee and go home in peace.

_Clif._ What say ye, countrymen? will ye relent,   [bdh010]

And yield to mercy whilst ’tis offer’d you;

Or let a rebel lead you to your deaths?   [bdh012]

Who loves the king and will embrace his pardon,

Fling up his cap, and say ‘God save his majesty!’

Who hateth him and honours not his father,   ·bdh015·

Henry the fifth, that made all France to quake,

Shake he his weapon at us and pass by.

_All._ God save the king! God save the king!

_Cade._ What, Buckingham and Clifford, are ye so brave?

And you, base peasants, do ye believe him? will you needs   [bdh020]

be hanged with your pardons about your necks? Hath my

sword therefore broke through London gates, that you

should leave me at the White Hart in Southwark? I   [bdh023]

thought ye would never have given out these arms till you   [bdh024]

had recovered your ancient freedom: but you are all recreants ·bdh025·

and dastards, and delight to live in slavery to the

nobility. Let them break your backs with burthens, take

your houses over your heads, ravish your wives and daughters

before your faces: for me, I will make shift for one;

and so, God’s curse light upon you all!   ·bdh030·

_All._ We’ll follow Cade, we’ll follow Cade!   [bdh031]

_Clif._ Is Cade the son of Henry the Fifth,

That thus you do exclaim you’ll go with him?

Will he conduct you through the heart of France,

And make the meanest of you earls and dukes?   ·bdh035·

Alas, he hath no home, no place to fly to;

Nor knows he how to live but by the spoil,

Unless by robbing of your friends and us.

Were’t not a shame, that whilst you live at jar,

The fearful French, whom you late vanquished,   ·bdh040·

Should make a start o’er seas and vanquish you?

Methinks already in this civil broil

I see them lording it in London streets,

Crying ‘Villiago!’ unto all they meet.   [bdh044]

Better ten thousand base-born Cades miscarry   ·bdh045·

Than you should stoop unto a Frenchman’s mercy.

To France, to France, and get what you have lost;

Spare England, for it is your native coast:

Henry hath money, you are strong and manly;   [bdh049]

God on our side, doubt not of victory.   ·bdh050·

_All._ A Clifford! a Clifford! we’ll follow the king and

Clifford.

_Cade._ Was ever feather so lightly blown to and fro as   [bdh053]

this multitude? The name of Henry the Fifth hales them to

an hundred mischiefs and makes them leave me desolate.   ·bdh055·

I see them lay their heads together to surprise me. My

sword make way for me, for here is no staying. In despite

of the devils and hell, have through the very middest of   [bdh058]

you! and heavens and honour be witness that no want of

resolution in me, but only my followers’ base and ignominious ·bdh060·

treasons, makes me betake me to my heels. [_Exit._   [bdh061]

_Buck._ What, is he fled? Go some, and follow him;

And he that brings his head unto the king

Shall have a thousand crowns for his reward.

[_Exeunt some of them._

Follow me, soldiers: we’ll devise a mean   ·bdh065·

To reconcile you all unto the king. [_Exeunt._   [bdh066]

SCENE IX. _Kenilworth Castle_.

_Sound trumpets. Enter_ KING, QUEEN, _and_ SOMERSET, _on

the terrace_.

_King._ Was ever king that joy’d an earthly throne,   [bdi001]

And could command no more content than I?

No sooner was I crept out of my cradle

But I was made a king, at nine months old.

Was never subject long’d to be a king   ·bdi005·

As I do long and wish to be a subject.   [bdi006]

_Enter_ BUCKINGHAM _and old_ CLIFFORD.

_Buck._ Health and glad tidings to your majesty!

_King._ Why, Buckingham, is the traitor Cade surprised?

Or is he but retired to make him strong?   [bdi009]

_Enter, below, multitudes, with halters about their necks_.

_Clif._ He is fled, my lord, and all his powers do yield;   [bdi010]

And humbly thus, with halters on their necks,

Expect your highness’ doom, of life or death.

_King._ Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting gates,

To entertain my vows of thanks and praise!

Soldiers, this day have you redeem’d your lives   ·bdi015·

And show’d how well you love your prince and country:

Continue still in this so good a mind,

And Henry, though he be infortunate,   [bdi018]

Assure yourselves, will never be unkind:

And so, with thanks and pardon to you all,   ·bdi020·

I do dismiss you to your several countries.   [bdi021]

_All._ God save the king! God save the king!   [bdi022]

_Enter a Messenger_.

_Mess._ Please it your grace to be advertised

The Duke of York is newly come from Ireland,

And with a puissant and a mighty power   [bdi025]

Of gallowglasses and stout kernes   [bdi026]

Is marching hitherward in proud array,

And still proclaimeth, as he comes along,

His arms are only to remove from thee   [bdi029]

The Duke of Somerset, whom he terms a traitor.   ·bdi030·

_King._ Thus stands my state, ’twixt Cade and York distress’d;

Like to a ship that, having ’scaped a tempest

Is straightway calm’d and boarded with a pirate:   [bdi033]

But now is Cade driven back, his men dispersed;   [bdi034]

And now is York in arms to second him.   ·bdi035·

I pray thee, Buckingham, go and meet him,   [bdi036]

And ask him what’s the reason of these arms.

Tell him I’ll send Duke Edmund to the Tower;

And, Somerset, we will commit thee hither,

Until his army be dismiss’d from him.   ·bdi040·

_Som._ My lord,

I’ll yield myself to prison willingly,

Or unto death, to do my country good.

_King._ In any case, be not too rough in terms;

For he is fierce and cannot brook hard language.   ·bdi045·

_Buck._ I will, my lord; and doubt not so to deal

As all things shall redound unto your good.

_King._ Come, wife, let’s in, and learn to govern better;

For yet may England curse my wretched reign.   [bdi049]

[_Flourish. Exeunt._

SCENE X. _Kent. Iden’s garden_.

_Enter_ CADE.

_Cade._ Fie on ambition! fie on myself, that have a   [bdj001]

sword, and yet am ready to famish! These five days have I

hid me in these woods and durst not peep out, for all the   [bdj003]

country is laid for me; but now am I so hungry that if I   [bdj004]

might have a lease of my life for a thousand years I could   ·bdj005·

stay no longer. Wherefore, on a brick wall have I climbed   [bdj006]

into this garden, to see if I can eat grass, or pick a sallet

another while, which is not amiss to cool a man’s stomach

this hot weather. And I think this word ‘sallet’ was born

to do me good: for many a time, but for a sallet, my brain-pan [bdj010]

had been cleft with a brown bill; and many a time,

when I have been dry and bravely marching, it hath served   [bdj012]

me instead of a quart pot to drink in; and now the word

‘sallet’ must serve me to feed on.   [bdj014]

_Enter_ IDEN.

_Iden._ Lord, who would live turmoiled in the court,   ·bdj015·

And may enjoy such quiet walks as these?

This small inheritance my father left me

Contenteth me, and worth a monarchy.   [bdj018]

I seek not to wax great by others’ waning,   [bdj019]

Or gather wealth, I care not, with what envy:   ·bdj020·

Sufficeth that I have maintains my state

And sends the poor well pleased from my gate.

_Cade._ Here’s the lord of the soil come to seize me for   [bdj023]

a stray, for entering his fee-simple without leave. Ah,   [bdj024]

villain, thou wilt betray me, and get a thousand crowns of   [bdj025]

the king by carrying my head to him: but I’ll make thee

eat iron like an ostrich, and swallow my sword like a great

pin, ere thou and I part.

_Iden._ Why, rude companion, whatsoe’er thou be,

I know thee not; why, then, should I betray thee?   ·bdj030·

Is’t not enough to break into my garden,

And, like a thief, to come to rob my grounds,

Climbing my walls in spite of me the owner.

But thou wilt brave me with these saucy terms?   [bdj034]

_Cade._ Brave thee! ay, by the best blood that ever was   [bdj035]

broached, and beard thee too. Look on me well: I have

eat no meat these five days; yet, come thou and thy five   [bdj037]

men, and if I do not leave you all as dead as a door-nail, I   [bdj038]

pray God I may never eat grass more.

_Iden._ Nay, it shall ne’er be said, while England stands,   ·bdj040·

That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent,   [bdj041]

Took odds to combat a poor famish’d man.

Oppose thy steadfast-gazing eyes to mine,   [bdj043]

See if thou canst outface me with thy looks:

Set limb to limb, and thou art far the lesser;   ·bdj045·

Thy hand is but a finger to my fist,

Thy leg a stick compared with this truncheon;

My foot shall fight with all the strength thou hast;

And if mine arm be heaved in the air,

Thy grave is digg’d already in the earth.   ·bdj050·

As for words, whose greatness answers words,   [bdj051]

Let this my sword report what speech forbears.

_Cade._ By my valour, the most complete champion that

ever I heard! Steel, if thou turn the edge, or cut not out   [bdj054]

the burly-boned clown in chines of beef ere thou sleep in   [bdj055]

thy sheath, I beseech God on my knees thou mayst be   [bdj056]

turned to hobnails.   [_Here they fight. Cade falls._   [bdj057]

O, I am slain! famine and no other hath slain me: let

ten thousand devils come against me, and give me but the

ten meals I have lost, and I’ld defy them all. Wither,   ·bdj060·

garden; and be henceforth a burying-place to all that do

dwell in this house, because the unconquered soul of Cade

is fled.

_Iden._ Is’t Cade that I have slain, that monstrous traitor?

Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed,   [bdj065]

And hang thee o’er my tomb when I am dead:

Ne’er shall this blood be wiped from thy point;

But thou shalt wear it as a herald’s coat,

To emblaze the honour that thy master got.   [bdj069]

_Cade._ Iden, farewell, and be proud of thy victory. Tell   ·bdj070·

Kent from me, she hath lost her best man, and exhort all

the world to be cowards; for I, that never feared any, am

vanquished by famine, not by valour. [_Dies._

_Iden._ How much thou wrong’st me, heaven be my judge.

Die, damned wretch, the curse of her that bare thee;   ·bdj075·

And as I thrust thy body in with my sword,   [bdj076]

So wish I, I might thrust thy soul to hell.

Hence will I drag thee headlong by the heels

Unto a dunghill which shall be thy grave,

And there cut off thy most ungracious head;   [bdj080]

Which I will bear in triumph to the king,

Leaving thy trunk for crows to feed upon.   [_Exit._   [bdj082]

ACT V.

SCENE I. _Fields between Dartford and Blackheath_.

_Enter_ YORK, _and his army of Irish, with drum and colours_.

_York._ From Ireland thus comes York to claim his right,   [bea001]

And pluck the crown from feeble Henry’s head:

Ring, bells, aloud; burn, bonfires, clear and bright,

To entertain great England’s lawful king.

Ah! sancta majestas, who would not buy thee dear?   [bea005]

Let them obey that know not how to rule;   [bea006]

This hand was made to handle nought but gold.

I cannot give due action to my words,   [bea008]

Except a sword or sceptre balance it:

A sceptre shall it have, have I a soul,   [bea010]

On which I’ll toss the flower-de-luce of France.   [bea011]

_Enter_ BUCKINGHAM.

Whom have we here? Buckingham, to disturb me?

The king hath sent him, sure: I must dissemble.

_Buck._ York, if thou meanest well, I greet thee well.

_York._ Humphrey of Buckingham, I accept thy greeting.   ·bea015·

Art thou a messenger, or come of pleasure?

_Buck._ A messenger from Henry, our dread liege,

To know the reason of these arms in peace;

Or why thou, being a subject as I am,

Against thy oath and true allegiance sworn,   ·bea020·

Should raise so great a power without his leave,   [bea021]

Or dare to bring thy force so near the court.

_York._ [_Aside_] Scarce can I speak, my choler is so great:   [bea023]

O, I could hew up rocks and fight with flint,

I am so angry at these abject terms;   ·bea025·

And now, like Ajax Telamonius,

On sheep or oxen could I spend my fury.   [bea027]

I am far better born than is the king,

More like a king, more kingly in my thoughts:

But I must make fair weather yet a while,   ·bea030·

Till Henry be more weak and I more strong.--

Buckingham, I prithee, pardon me,   [bea032]

That I have given no answer all this while;

My mind was troubled with deep melancholy.

The cause why I have brought this army hither   ·bea035·

Is to remove proud Somerset from the king,

Seditious to his grace and to the state.

_Buck._ That is too much presumption on thy part:

But if thy arms be to no other end,   [bea039]

The king hath yielded unto thy demand:   ·bea040·

The Duke of Somerset is in the Tower.

_York._ Upon thine honour, is he prisoner?

_Buck._ Upon mine honour, he is prisoner.   [bea043]

_York._ Then, Buckingham, I do dismiss my powers.

Soldiers, I thank you all; disperse yourselves;   ·bea045·

Meet me to-morrow in Saint George’s field,

You shall have pay and every thing you wish.

And let my sovereign, virtuous Henry,

Command my eldest son, nay, all my sons,

As pledges of my fealty and love;   ·bea050·

I’ll send them all as willing as I live:

Lands, goods, horse, armour, any thing I have,

Is his to use, so Somerset may die.

_Buck._ York, I commend this kind submission:

We twain will go into his highness’ tent.   [bea055]

_Enter_ KING _and_ Attendants.

_King._ Buckingham, doth York intend no harm to us,   [bea056]

That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm?

_York._ In all submission and humility

York doth present himself unto your highness.

_King._ Then what intends these forces thou dost bring?   [bea060]

_York._ To heave the traitor Somerset from hence,   [bea061]

And fight against that monstrous rebel Cade,

Who since I heard to be discomfited.   [bea063]

_Enter_ IDEN, _with_ CADE’S _head_.

_Iden._ If one so rude and of so mean condition

May pass into the presence of a king,   [bea065]

Lo, I present your grace a traitor’s head,

The head of Cade, whom I in combat slew.

_King._ The head of Cade! Great God, how just art Thou!

O, let me view his visage, being dead,

That living wrought me such exceeding trouble.   ·bea070·

Tell me, my friend, art thou the man that slew him?   [bea071]

_Iden._ I was, an’t like your majesty.   [bea072]

_King._ How art thou call’d? and what is thy degree?

_Iden._ Alexander Iden, that’s my name;   [bea074]

A poor esquire of Kent, that loves his king.   [bea075]

_Buck._ So please it you, my lord, ’twere not amiss   [bea076]

He were created knight for his good service.   [bea077]

_King._ Iden, kneel down. [_He kneels._] Rise up a knight.   [bea078]

We give thee for reward a thousand marks,

And will that thou henceforth attend on us.   ·bea080·

_Iden._ May Iden live to merit such a bounty,

And never live but true unto his liege!   [_Rises._   [bea082]

_Enter_ QUEEN _and_ SOMERSET.

_King._ See, Buckingham, Somerset comes with the queen:   [bea083]

Go, bid her hide him quickly from the duke.

_Queen._ For thousand Yorks he shall not hide his head,   ·bea085·

But boldly stand and front him to his face.

_York._ How now! is Somerset at liberty?

Then, York, unloose thy long-imprison’d thoughts,

And let thy tongue be equal with thy heart.

Shall I endure the sight of Somerset?   ·bea090·

False king! why hast thou broken faith with me,

Knowing how hardly I can brook abuse?

King did I call thee? no, thou art not king,   [bea093]

Not fit to govern and rule multitudes,   [bea094]

Which darest not, no, nor canst not rule a traitor.   [bea095]

That head of thine doth not become a crown;

Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer’s staff,

And not to grace an awful princely sceptre.

That gold must round engirt these brows of mine,   [bea099]

Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles’ spear,   [bea100]

Is able with the change to kill and cure.

Here is a hand to hold a sceptre up

And with the same to act controlling laws.   [bea103]

Give place: by heaven, thou shalt rule no more

O’er him whom heaven created for thy ruler.   ·bea105·

_Som._ O monstrous traitor! I arrest thee, York,

Of capital treason ’gainst the king and crown:

Obey, audacious traitor; kneel for grace.

_York._ Wouldst have me kneel? first let me ask of these,   [bea109]

If they can brook I bow a knee to man.   ·bea110·

Sirrah, call in my sons to be my bail:   [_Exit Attendant._   [bea111]

I know, ere they will have me go to ward,

They’ll pawn their swords for my enfranchisement.   [bea113]

_Queen._ Call hither Clifford; bid him come amain.

To say if that the bastard boys of York   ·bea115·

Shall be the surety for their traitor father.   [bea116]

[_Exit Buckingham._

_York._ O blood-bespotted Neapolitan,

Outcast of Naples, England’s bloody scourge!

The sons of York, thy betters in their birth,

Shall be their father’s bail; and bane to those   [bea120]

That for my surety will refuse the boys!   [bea121]

_Enter_ EDWARD _and_ RICHARD.

See where they come: I’ll warrant they’ll make it good.   [bea122]

_Enter old_ CLIFFORD _and his_ Son.

_Queen._ And here comes Clifford to deny their bail.

_Clif._ Health and all happiness to my lord the king!   [bea124]

[_Kneels_.

_York._ I thank thee, Clifford: say, what news with thee?   [bea125]

Nay, do not fright us with an angry look:   [bea126]

We are thy sovereign, Clifford, kneel again;

For thy mistaking so, we pardon thee.

_Clif._ This is my king, York, I do not mistake;

But thou mistakest me much to think I do:   [bea130]

To Bedlam with him! is the man grown mad?

_King._ Ay, Clifford; a bedlam and ambitious humour

Makes him oppose himself against his king.

_Clif._ He is a traitor; let him to the Tower,

And chop away that factious pate of his.   [bea135]

_Queen._ He is arrested, but will not obey;

His sons, he says, shall give their words for him.

_York._ Will you not, sons?

_Edw._ Ay, noble father, if our words will serve.   [bea139]

_Rich._ And if words will not, then our weapons shall.   ·bea140·

_Clif._ Why, what a brood of traitors have we here!

_York._ Look in a glass, and call thy image so:

I am thy king, and thou a false-heart traitor.   [bea143]

Call hither to the stake my two brave bears,

That with the very shaking of their chains   ·bea145·

They may astonish these fell-lurking curs:   [bea146]

Bid Salisbury and Warwick come to me.   [bea147]

_Enter the_ EARLS OF WARWICK _and_ SALISBURY.

_Clif._ Are these thy bears? we’ll bait thy bears to death,   [bea148]

And manacle the bear-ward in their chains,   [bea149]

If thou darest bring them to the baiting place.   [bea150]

_Rich._ Oft have I seen a hot o’erweening cur

Run back and bite, because he was withheld;   [bea152]

Who, being suffer’d with the bear’s fell paw,   [bea153]

Hath clapp’d his tail between his legs and cried:   [bea154]

And such a piece of service will you do,   ·bea155·

If you oppose yourselves to match Lord Warwick.   [bea156]

_Clif._ Hence, heap of wrath, foul indigested lump,   [bea157]

As crooked in thy manners as thy shape!

_York._ Nay, we shall heat you thoroughly anon.

_Clif._ Take heed, lest by your heat you burn yourselves.   ·bea160·

_King._ Why, Warwick, hath thy knee forgot to bow?

Old Salisbury, shame to thy silver hair,

Thou mad misleader of thy brain-sick son!

What, wilt thou on thy death-bed play the ruffian,

And seek for sorrow with thy spectacles?   ·bea165·

O, where is faith? O, where is loyalty?

If it be banish’d from the frosty head,

Where shall it find a harbour in the earth?

Wilt thou go dig a grave to find out war,   [bea169]

And shame thine honourable age with blood?   [bea170]

Why art thou old, and want’st experience?

Or wherefore dost abuse it, if thou hast it?

For shame! in duty bend thy knee to me

That bows unto the grave with mickle age.   [bea174]

_Sal._ My lord, I have consider’d with myself   [bea175]

The title of this most renowned duke;

And in my conscience do repute his grace

The rightful heir to England’s royal seat.

_King._ Hast thou not sworn allegiance unto me?

_Sal._ I have.   ·bea180·

_King._ Canst thou dispense with heaven for such an oath?   [bea181]

_Sal._ It is great sin to swear unto a sin,

But greater sin to keep a sinful oath.

Who can be bound by any solemn vow

To do a murderous deed, to rob a man,   ·bea185·

To force a spotless virgin’s chastity,

To reave the orphan of his patrimony,

To wring the widow from her custom’d right,

And have no other reason for this wrong   [bea189]

But that he was bound by a solemn oath?   ·bea190·

_Queen._ A subtle traitor needs no sophister.

_King._ Call Buckingham, and bid him arm himself.

_York._ Call Buckingham, and all the friends thou hast,

I am resolved for death or dignity.   [bea194]

_Clif._ The first I warrant thee, if dreams prove true.   [bea195]

_War._ You were best to go to bed and dream again,   [bea196]

To keep thee from the tempest of the field.

_Clif._ I am resolved to bear a greater storm

Than any thou canst conjure up to-day;

And that I’ll write upon thy burgonet,   ·bea200·

Might I but know thee by thy household badge.   [bea201]

_War._ Now, by my father’s badge, old Nevil’s crest,   [bea202]

The rampant bear chain’d to the ragged staff,   [bea203]

This day I’ll wear aloft my burgonet,

As on a mountain top the cedar shows   ·bea205·

That keeps his leaves in spite of any storm,

Even to affright thee with the view thereof.   [bea207]

_Clif._ And from thy burgonet I’ll rend thy bear

And tread it under foot with all contempt,

Despite the bear-ward that protects the bear.   [bea210]

_Y. Clif._ And so to arms, victorious father,   [bea211]

To quell the rebels and their complices.   [bea212]

_Rich._ Fie! charity, for shame! speak not in spite,

For you shall sup with Jesu Christ to-night.

_Y. Clif._ Foul stigmatic, that’s more than thou canst tell.   ·bea215·

_Rich._ If not in heaven, you’ll surely sup in hell.   [bea216]

[_Exeunt severally._

SCENE II. _Saint Alban’s_.

_Alarums to the battle. Enter_ WARWICK.

_War._ Clifford of Cumberland, ’tis Warwick calls:

And if thou dost not hide thee from the bear,   [beb002]

Now, when the angry trumpet sounds alarum

And dead men’s cries do fill the empty air,   [beb004]

Clifford, I say, come forth and fight with me:   ·beb005·

Proud northern lord, Clifford of Cumberland,

Warwick is hoarse with calling thee to arms.

_Enter_ YORK.

How now, my noble lord! what, all a-foot?   [beb008]

_York._ The deadly-handed Clifford slew my steed,

But match to match I have encounter’d him   ·beb010·

And made a prey for carrion kites and crows   [beb011]

Even of the bonny beast he loved so well.   [beb012]

_Enter old_ CLIFFORD.

_War._ Of one or both of us the time is come.

_York._ Hold, Warwick, seek thee out some other chase,

For I myself must hunt this deer to death.   ·beb015·

_War._ Then, nobly, York; ’tis for a crown thou fight’st.

As I intend, Clifford, to thrive to-day,

It grieves my soul to leave thee unassail’d. [_Exit._

_Clif._ What seest thou in me, York? why dost thou pause?   [beb019]

_York._ With thy brave bearing should I be in love,   ·beb020·

But that thou art so fast mine enemy.

_Clif._ Nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem,

But that ’tis shown ignobly and in treason.

_York._ So let it help me now against thy sword   [beb024]

As I in justice and true right express it.   ·beb025·

_Clif._ My soul and body on the action both!

_York._ A dreadful lay! Address thee instantly.   [beb027]

[_They fight, and Clifford falls._

_Clif._ La fin couronne les œuvres.    [_Dies._   [beb028]

_York._ Thus war hath given thee peace, for thou art still.

Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will!   [_Exit._   ·beb030·

_Enter young_ CLIFFORD.

_Y. Clif._ Shame and confusion! all is on the rout;   [beb031]

Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds

Where it should guard. O war, thou son of hell,

Whom angry heavens do make their minister,

Throw in the frozen bosoms of our part   ·beb035·

Hot coals of vengeance! Let no soldier fly.   [beb036]

He that is truly dedicate to war

Hath no self-love, nor he that loves himself   [beb038]

Hath not essentially but by circumstance

The name of valour. [_Seeing his dead father_] O, let the vile

world end,   [beb040]

And the premised flames of the last day   [beb041]

Knit earth and heaven together!   [beb042]

Now let the general trumpet blow his blast,

Particularities and petty sounds

To cease! Wast thou ordain’d, dear father,   [beb045]

To lose thy youth in peace, and to achieve

The silver livery of advised age,

And, in thy reverence and thy chair-days, thus

To die in ruffian battle? Even at this sight

My heart is turn’d to stone: and while ’tis mine,   ·beb050·

It shall be stony. York not our old men spares;

No more will I their babes: tears virginal

Shall be to me even as the dew to fire,

And beauty that the tyrant oft reclaims

Shall to my flaming wrath be oil and flax.   ·beb055·

Henceforth I will not have to do with pity:

Meet I an infant of the house of York,

Into as many gobbets will I cut it

As wild Medea young Absyrtus did:   [beb059]

In cruelty will I seek out my fame.   ·beb060·

Come, thou new ruin of old Clifford’s house:

As did Æneas old Anchises bear,

So bear I thee upon my manly shoulders;

But then Æneas bare a living load,

Nothing so heavy as these woes of mine.   [beb065]

[_Exit, bearing off his father._

_Enter_ RICHARD _and_ SOMERSET _to fight._ SOMERSET _is

killed_.

_Rich._ So, lie thou there;   [beb066]

For underneath an alehouse’ paltry sign,   [beb067]

The Castle in Saint Alban’s, Somerset

Hath made the wizard famous in his death.

Sword, hold thy temper; heart, be wrathful still:   ·beb070·

Priests pray for enemies, but princes kill. [_Exit._   [beb071]

_Fight: excursions. Enter_ KING, QUEEN, _and others_.

_Queen._ Away, my lord! you are slow; for shame, away!   [beb072]

_King._ Can we outrun the heavens? good Margaret, stay.

_Queen._ What are you made of? you’ll nor fight nor fly:   [beb074]

Now is it manhood, wisdom and defence,   ·beb075·

To give the enemy way, and to secure us

By what we can, which can no more but fly.

[_Alarum afar off._

If you be ta’en, we then should see the bottom   [beb078]

Of all our fortunes: but if we haply scape,

As well we may, if not through your neglect,   [beb080]

We shall to London get, where you are loved

And where this breach now in our fortunes made   [beb082]

May readily be stopp’d.   [beb083]

_Re-enter young_ CLIFFORD.

_Y. Clif._ But that my heart’s on future mischief set,   [beb084]

I would speak blasphemy ere bid you fly:   ·beb085·

But fly you must; uncurable discomfit   [beb086]

Reigns in the hearts of all our present parts.   [beb087]

Away, for your relief! and we will live

To see their day and them our fortune give:

Away, my lord, away! [_Exeunt._   ·beb090·

SCENE III. _Fields near St Alban’s_.

_Alarum. Retreat. Enter_ YORK, RICHARD, WARWICK, _and_ Soldiers,

_with drum and colours_.

_York._ Of Salisbury, who can report of him,   [bec001]

That winter lion, who in rage forgets

Aged contusions and all brush of time,   [bec003]

And, like a gallant in the brow of youth,   [bec004]

Repairs him with occasion? This happy day   ·bec005·

Is not itself, nor have we won one foot,

If Salisbury be lost.

_Rich._ My noble father,

Three times to-day I holp him to his horse,   [bec008]

Three times bestrid him; thrice I led him off,

Persuaded him from any further act:   ·bec010·

But still, where danger was, still there I met him;

And like rich hangings in a homely house,   [bec012]

So was his will in his old feeble body.

But, noble as he is, look where he comes.   [bec014]

_Enter_ SALISBURY.

_Sal._ Now, by my sword, well hast thou fought to-day;   ·bec015·

By the mass, so did we all. I thank you, Richard:   [bec016]

God knows how long it is I have to live;

And it hath pleased him that three times to-day

You have defended me from imminent death.   [bec019]

Well, lords, we have not got that which we have:   ·bec020·

’Tis not enough our foes are this time fled,

Being opposites of such repairing nature.

_York._ I know our safety is to follow them;

For, as I hear, the king is fled to London,

To call a present court of parliament.   ·bec025·

Let us pursue him ere the writs go forth.

What says Lord Warwick? shall we after them?   [bec027]

_War._ After them! nay, before them, if we can.

Now, by my faith, lords, ’twas a glorious day:   [bec029]

Saint Alban’s battle won by famous York   ·bec030·

Shall be eternized in all age to come.

Sound drums and trumpets, and to London all:   [bec032]

And more such days as these to us befall! [_Exeunt._   [bec033]

LINENOTES TO II KING HENRY VI.

[baa001] London.] Capell. ¶ The Palace.] Scene, the Palace. Theobald.

[baa002] _for_] F1 F2. _from_ F3 F4.

[baa007] _Calaber, Bretagne and_] _Bretagne_ Hanmer. ¶ _and_] F1. om.

F2 F3 F4.

[baa013] _hands_] F1. _hand_ F2 F3 F4.

[baa019] _lends_] _lend’st_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[baa028] _alder-liefest_] _Alder liefest_ (in italics) Ff.

_aller-liefest_ Malone conj.

[baa034] _Makes_] F1 F2. _Make_ F3 F4. ¶ _wondering fall to

weeping_] _Wondring, fall to Weeping_ F1 F2. _wondring, fall to

weeping_ F3 F4.

[baa037] All [kneeling]. All kneel. Ff.

[baa047] _thirtieth_] _thirteenth_ Rowe.

[baa048] _duchy......county of Maine_] _dutchies of Anjou and Maine_

Capell, from (Qq).

[baa049] _father--_] Malone. _father._ Ff. _fa._ (Q1 Q2). _fa--_

(Q3) Capell. ¶ [Lets...fall] Duke Humphrey lets it fall (Qq). om. Ff.

[baa051] _at_] _to_ F4.

[baa054] [Reads] om. Ff. [taking the paper from Glo. and reading.

Capell. ¶ _It is...them,_] Omitted by Pope.

[baa055] _duchies_] _Dutchesse_ F1 F2 F3. _Dutchess_ F4.

[baa057] _any_] om. Malone.

[baa058] _kneel_] _kneel you_ Pope. _kneel thee_ Collier MS.

[baa060] _gird_] _girt_ (Qq) Ff.

[baa062] _I’ the_] _I’ th_ F1 F2 F3. _I’ th’_ F4. _In the_ (Qq)

Capell. See note (I).

[baa064] _Somerset_] F1. _and Somerset_ F2 F3 F4.

[baa066] _all for_] _for all_ (Q3) and Warburton.

[baa069] [Exeunt...] F2 F3 F4. Exit.... F1. Manet the rest. F1.

Manent the rest. F2 F3 F4.

[baa070] SCENE II. Pope.

[baa083] _Beaufort_] _Beauford_ Ff. _Bedford_ Rowe.

[baa088], baa089: _And had...Crowned_] Grant White. _And

hath...Crowned_ F1 F2 F3. _And hath...Crown’d_ F4. _And

was...Crowned_ Rowe. _Or hath......Been crown’d_ Capell. _And

hath...Been crown’d_ Malone.

[baa100] _peroration_] _preroration_ F1.

[baa104] _roast_] Pope. _rost_ Ff. _roost_ Grant White.

[baa105] _duchy_] _dutchies_ Capell.

[baa116] _wounds_] _swords_ Collier conj., from (Qq).

[baa118] _Mort Dieu!_] om. Pope.

[baa119], baa120: _For...isle!_] Put in the margin by Pope.

[baa130] _starved_] _sterv’d_ F1 F2. _starv’d_ F3 F4.

[baa149] _west_] _east_ Warburton.

[baa163] _all together_] Rowe. _altogether_ Ff.

[baa164] _hoise_] _hoyse_ Ff. _heave_ (Qq). _hoist_ Theobald.

[baa173] _Or thou or I, Somerset,_] _Or Somerset or I_ Pope. _Thou, or

I, Somerset,_ Capell. ¶ _protector_] F2 F3 F4. _protectors_ F1.

[baa174] [Exeunt...] Exit... Ff.

[baa175] _went_] _goes_ Capell. ¶ _follows him_] _follows after_ Anon.

conj., from (Qq).

[baa187] _Hath_] _Have_ Rove.

[baa189] _brother_] _cousin_ Anon, conj., from (Qq).

[baa199] _tend the_] _tend to_ Capell. _’tend the_ Steevens conj.

[baa201] _And_] _The good and_ Seymour conj.

[baa202] [Aside] Theobald. ¶ _And so...cause._] As two lines in Ff.

[baa203] _Then...main._] As two lines, the first ending _away,_ in Ff.

¶ _make haste_] om. Seymour conj. ¶ _away_] om. Pope.

[baa204] _Unto...lost_] As two lines, the first ending _maine?_, in

Ff.] ¶ baa204–baa208: _Unto...slain_] Put in the margin by Pope.

[baa205] _Warwick did_] _did Warwick_ Collier MS.

[baa208] [Exeunt W. and S.] Exit W. and S. Manet Yorke. Ff.

[baa209] SCENE III. Pope.

[baa216] _thine_] _mine_ Grant White.

[baa217] _pennyworths_] _penn’orths_ Pope. _penn’worth_ Capell.

_pennyworth_ Steevens.

[baa221] _hapless_] _helpless_ Collier MS.

[baa224] _starve_] F3 F4. _sterve_ F1 F2. ¶ _dare_] _dares_

Theobald.

[baa233] _England’s soil_] _England_ Anon. conj., from (Qq).

[baa242] _humours fits_] (Qq) Ff. _humour fits_ Rowe. _humours fit_

Malone.

[baa246] _surfeiting in_] _surfeit in the_ Hanmer.

[baa247] After this Capell conjectures that a line is lost.

[baa251] _in_] _in in_ F1.

[bab001] SCENE II.] Capell. SCENE IV. Pope om. Ff. ¶

The...house.] Theobald.

[bab002] _at_] _with_ Pope.

[bab022] _dream...doth_] Capell. _dreames...doth_ Ff. _dreams...do_

Rowe.

[bab025] _office-badge_] _office’ badge_ S. Walker conj.

[bab031] _my_] _the_ F3 F4.

[bab038] _are_] (Qq) Hanmer. _wer_ F1 F2. _were_ F3 F4.

[bab039] _Where_] _There_ Staunton conj. ¶ _dame_] om. F4.

[bab042] _ill-nurtured_] _ill-nurtur’d_ F3. _ill-nurter’d_ F1 F2.

_ill-natur’d_ F4.

[bab057] _Saint_] _S._ F1 F2 F3. _St._ F4.

[bab058] _Where as_] F1 F2. _Whereas_ F3 F4.

[bab059] _thou_] _thou too_ Hanmer.

[bab060] [Exeunt...] Capell. Ex. Hum. F1 (after line 59). Ex. Hu. F2

F3 F4 (after line 59).

[bab068] _there? Sir John!_] Hanmer. _there? Sir John;_ Ff.

[bab069] _thee_] _thou_ Seymour conj.

[bab071] _What...majesty!_] _My majesty! why, man,_ Capell, from (Qq).

[bab075] _Jourdain_] Capell (and passim). _Jordane_ F1 F2. _Jordan_

F3 F4.

[bab089] _words but_] _words, but_ Rowe.

[bab097] _Dame Eleanor’s aspiring_] F1 F2. _Dame Elianor’s_ F3 F4.

_Eleanor’s aspiring_ Pope.

[bab101] _Suffolk_] F3. _Suffolke_ F1 F2. Suffolk’s F4.

[bab105] _wreck_] Hanmer. _wracke_ F1 F2. _wrack_ F3 F4.

[bac001] SCENE III.] Capell. SCENE V. Pope. SCENE VII.

Johnson (a misprint). ¶ The Palace.] Hanmer. An apartment in the

palace. Theobald. ¶...Peter...] Theobald. om. Ff.

[bac003] _in the quill_] _in quill_ Hanmer. _in quiet_ Jackson conj.

_in the coil_ Singer conj. _in sequel_ Collier (Collier MS.). _in the

quile_ Jervis conj. _in the pend_ Bullock conj.

[bac006] Peter.] F1 F2. 1 Peter. F3. 1 Pet. F4.

[bac013] [Reading] Rowe (ed. 2). om. Ff. ¶ _To_] _For_ Capell.

[bac016] _an’t_] Hanmer. _and’t_ Ff.

[bac020] [Reads] Rowe. om. Ff.

[bac021] _Melford_] _Long Melford_ Theobald, from (Qq).

[bac025] Peter] F1. Pet. F2 F3 F4. 3 Pet. Rowe. Suff. [reads].

Theobald. ¶ [giving his petition] Capell. om. Ff.

[bac028] _What say’st thou? did_] _What did_ Pope. _What! did_ Theobald.

[bac030] _master_] Warburton. _Mistresse_ F1 F2 F3. _mistress_ F4.

[bac032] [Enter Servant.] Ff. om. Pope. Enter Servants. Capell.

[bac034] [Exit...] Exit. Ff. Exit Peter, guarded. Theobald.

[bac037] [Tears the supplications.] Rowe. Teare the supplication. Ff.

[bac039] All.] 1 P. Capell. ¶ [Exeunt.] Exit. Ff.

[bac041] _fashion in_] Rowe (ed. 2). _fashions in_ F1 F2 F3.

_fashion_ of F4.

[bac049] _a tilt_] F3 F4. _a-tilt_ F1 F2.

[bac058] _images_] _image_ S. Walker conj.

[bac059] _of the cardinals_] _of cardinals_ Reed (1803). _now of

cardinals_ Seymour conj.

[bac063] _cause_] _the cause_ Rowe.

[bac066] _haughty_] _haughtie_ F1. _haught_ F2 F3 F4. _proud_ Pope.

[bac075] _through_] _though_ F2.

[bac079] _our_] _her_ Reed (1803).

[bac088] _the lays_] _their lays_ Rowe.

[bac092] _not_] _nor_ F2.

[bac097] _we’ll...last_] _we will weed all the realm_ Collier MS.

[bac098] _helm_] _helme._ Exit. Ff. _realm_ Theobald. ¶ Sound a

Sennet.] F1. om. F2 F3 F4. ¶ Duke Humphrey of Gloucester,] Duke

Humfrey, Ff. ¶ Cardinal Beaufort] Cardinall. Ff. ¶ Somerset] Hanmer.

om. Ff. ¶ the Duchess of Gloucester.] the Duchesse. Ff.

[bac099] SCENE VI. Pope.

[bac102] _denay’d_] F1 F2 F3. _deny’d_ F4.

[bac108] _The_] _A_ Collier MS.

[bac115] _women’s_] _womens_ F1 F2 F3. _womans_ F4. ¶ _his_] this F4.

[bac122] _wreck_] Hanmer. _wrack_ Ff.

[bac129] _treasury_] _treasurie_ F1. _treasure_ F2 F3 F4.

[bac135] [Exit Gloucester]. Exit Humfrey. Ff. ¶ The Queen...] Johnson.

om. Ff.

[bac140] _I’ld_] _I’d_ Pope, from (Qq). _I could_ Ff.

[bac144] _wear_] _weare_ F1. _weares_ F2. _wears_ F3 F4.

¶ _master_] _masters_ Halliwell Conj.

[bac146] _I will_] _I’ll_ Pope.

[bac148] _fume_] _fury_ Grant White (Dyce and S. Walker conj.).

¶ _needs_] F1. _can neede_ F2. _can need_ F3 F4. _now needs_

Keightley conj.

[bac149] _far_] F3 F4. _farre_ F1 F2. _fast_ Pope. ¶ Re-enter G.]

Enter Humfrey. Ff.

[bac150] SCENE VII. Pope.

[bac155] _so deal_] _deal so_ Rowe.

[bac166] _here_] _there_ Collier (Collier MS. and Long MS.).

[bac174] Enter...] Theobald. Enter Armorer and his Man. Ff. Enter

Horner the Armour and his Man Peter. Rowe.

[bac185] _An’t_] Rowe (ed. 2). _And’t_ Ff.

[bac202] _This...judge_] _This do, my lord, if I may be the judge_

Capell. ¶ _my lord_] _my gracious lord_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[bac208] See note (II).

[bac212] _spite of man_] _sight of my master_ Capell. ¶ _man_] F1. _my

man_ F2 F3. _my master_ F4. _this man_ Collier MS. _a man_ Steevens.

[bac216]–bac218: _Away...away._] As in Ff. As three lines in Capell,

ending _day...month...away_.

[bad001] SCENE IV.] Capell. SCENE VIII. Pope. ¶ Gloucester’s

garden.] Capell. The Witch’s cave. Theobald. A room prepared for the

pretended inchantments. Hanmer. See note (III). ¶ Enter...] Enter

Mother Jordan, Hume, Southwell, and Bullingbrook. Rowe. Enter the

Witch, the two Priests, and Bullingbrooke. Ff.

[bad005] _you_] om. Pope.

[bad010] _you_] om. Rowe.

[bad011] Enter...] Enter Duchess above; and presently Hume. Dyce. Enter

Elianor aloft. Ff.

[bad012] _all_] _to all_ F4. ¶ _To_] _Come, to_ Capell.

[bad015] _silent_] _silence_ Collier (Collier MS.), from (Qq).

[bad018] _up_] _ope_ Collier MS.

[bad021]...they do...]...doe... Ff.

[bad022] _Adsum_] _Ad sum_ F1.

[bad023]–bad026: _Asmath...hence_] Arranged as by Capell; as four lines

in Ff, ending _God...at...speake...hence_. ¶ _Asmath_] _Asmuth_ Pope.

[bad025] _answer...ask_] F1. _answer that I aske_ F2 F3 F4. _tell

what I ask_ Pope, ending the lines _name...ask...hence_.

[bad027] _Ask...done!_] As one line in F4; as prose in F1 F2 F3. ¶

_wilt. That......done!_] Rowe. _wilt; that...done._ Ff.

[bad028] ‘_First......become?’_] Rowe; as prose in Ff. ¶ _of him

become_] _become of him_ Capell. ¶ [Reading...] Capell.

[bad030] As the Spirit...] Capell. As the spirit speaks, they write the

answer. Rowe. om. Ff.

[bad031] _What fates await_] Ff. _Tell me what fates await_ Pope. _What

fate awaits_ Capell.

[bad035] _be_] om. F2. ¶ bad035, bad067: _upon the sandy plains_]

_upon sandy plains_ Rowe (ed. 1). _on the sandy plains_ Pope. _on the

plains_ Hanmer. _on sand_ Capell.

[bad036], 68: _castles mounted stand_] _a castle mounted stands_ Hanmer.

[bad039] _False_] _Foul_ Collier MS. ¶ Exit Spirit.] Ff. Spirit

descends. Rowe.

[bad042] _commonweal_] _realm_ Pope.

[bad043] _deeply_] _deep_ Rowe.

[bad047] _threatest Where’s_] F1 F2. _threaten’st where’s_ F3 F4.

_threat’st where is_ Pope.

[bad048] [Showing her the Papers. Capell.

[bad050] _asunder_] _apart_ Pope.

[bad051] Exeunt...] Dyce. Exit Duchess from above. Malone. Exeunt some

to the Dut. Capell. om. Ff.

[bad052] _all forthcoming_] _forth-coming all_ Rowe. _are all

forth-coming_ Collier MS.

[bad053] _All, away!_] Knight. _All away._ Ff. _Away._ Rowe. om. Pope.

_All.--Away!_ Malone. ¶ Exeunt...] Rowe. Exit. Ff.

[bad054]–bad071: _Lord...understood._] Put in the margin by Pope,

following (Qq).

[bad055] _chosen_] _chose_ Pope.

[bad061] _te, Æacida,_] Warburton. _te Æacida_ Theobald. _Æacida_ F1

F2. _Æacide_ F3 F4. _te Æacidem_ Rowe.

[bad065] _betide_] _befal_ Capell.

[bad069] _Come, come_] _Come, come away_ Capell, reading lines 69–71

as two lines of verse, the first ending _oracles_. ¶ _Come,...lords;_]

Transfer to end line 71. Anon. conj.

[bad070] _hardly_] _hardily_ Theobald.

[bad074] _Thither...them_] As in Pope; as two lines in Ff. ¶ _go_]

Rowe. _goes_ Ff. ¶ _them_] _’em_ S. Walker conj.

[bad078] _At...lord._] _My lord, at your good pleasure._ Hanmer. ¶