Boling. First, of the king. What shall of him Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains, 'Have done, for more I hardly can endure. 'False fiend, avoid! [Thunder and lightning. Spirit descends. Enter York and Buckingham, hastily, with their guards, and others. 'York. Lay hands upon these traitors, and their trash. Enter a Servant. To sup with me to-morrow night.-Away! [Exe. ACT II. And what a pitch she flew above the rest!- And bears his thoughts above his falcon's pitch. 'Beldame, I think, we watch'd you at an inch.'What, madam, are you there? the king and monweal Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains; * Injurious duke; that threat'st where is no cause. [Exeunt guards, with South. Boling. &c. *York. Lord Buckingham, methinks, you watch'd her well: * A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon! The duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose; Aio te, acida, Romanos vincere posse. Well, to the rest: [Reads. Tell me, what fate awaits the duke of Suffolk? What shall betide the duke of Somerset ? Let him shun castles; Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains, Than where castles mounted stand. * Come, come, my lords; *These oracles are hardily attain'd, "The king is now in progress toward Saint Albans, them; 'A sorry breakfast for my lord protector. of York, "To be the post, in hope of his reward. Rewarded. The falconer's term for hawking at water-fowl. 6 'Glo. Ay, my lord cardinal; How think you by Were it not good, your grace could fly to heaven? thoughts Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart; Pernicious protector, dangerous peer, That smooth'st it so with king and commonweal! 'Glo. What, cardinal, is your priesthood grown peremptory? *Tantæne animis cœlestibus iræ ? Churchmen so hot? good uncle, hide such malice; 'Suff. No malice, sir; no more than well be Q. Mar. And thy ambition, Gloster. K. Hen. Car. Let me be blessed for the peace I make, *Or all my fence' shall fail. *Car. Medice, teipsum; [Aside. "Protector, see to't well, protect yourself. [Aside. * How irksome is this music to my heart! Enter an Inhabitant of Saint Albans, crying, Glo. What means this noise? Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim? Suff. Come to the king, and tell him what Inhab. Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban's, Within this half hour, hath receiv'd his sight; 'K. Hen. Now, God be prais'd! that to believing 'Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair! *Car. Here come the townsmen on procession, *K. Hen. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale, *Although by his sight his sin be multiplied. * Glo. Stand by, my masters, bring him near the king, * His highness' pleasure is to talk with him. *K. Hen. Good fellow, tell us here the circum stance, That we for thee may glorify the Lord. Suff. What woman is this? Wife. His wife, an't like your worship. Glo. Had'st thou been his mother, thou could'st have better told. K. Hen. Where wert thou born? Simp. At Berwick in the north, an't like your grace. 'K. Hen. Poor soul! God's goodness hath been 'Let never day nor night unhallow'd pass, * Q. Mar. Tell me, good fellow, cam'st thou *Or of devotion, to this holy shrine? " Simp. God knows, of pure devotion; being A hundred times, and oftener, in my sleep Wife. Most true, forsooth; and many time (1) Fence is the art of defence. 'Let me see thine eyes:-wink now, now open them : 'In my opinion yet thou see'st not well. Simp. Yes, master, clear as day; I thank God, and Saint Alban. Glo. Say'st thou me so? What colour is this cloak of ? Simp. Red, master; red as blood. Glo. Why, that's well said: What colour is my Simp. Black, forsooth; coal-black, as jet. Suff. And yet, I think, jet did he never see. many. To name the several colours we do wear. Simp. O, master, that you could! Glo. My masters of Saint Albans have you not beadles in vour town, and things called whips? May. Yes, my lord, if it please your grace. Glo. Then send for one presently. May. Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight. [Exit an attendant. Glo. Now fetch me a stool hither by and by. [A stool brought out.] Now, sirrah, if you mean to save yourself from whipping, leap me over this stool, and run away. Simp. Alas, master, I am not able to stand alone. You go about to torture me in vain. Re-enter Attendant, with the Beadle. Glo. Well, sir, we must have you find your legs. Sirrah beadle, whip him till he leap over that same 1stool. Bead. I will, my lord.-Come on, sirrah; off SCENE_II.-London. The Duke of York's garwith your doublet quickly. den. Enter York, Salisbury, and Warwick." Simp. Alas, master, what shall I do? I am not able to stand. [After the Beadle hath hit him once, he leaps over the stool, and runs away; and the people follow, and cry, miracle! *K. Hen. O God, seest thou this, and bear'st so long? * Q. Mar. It made me laugh to see the villain run. *Glo. Follow the knave; and take this drab away. *Wife. Alas, sir, we did it for pure need. Glo. Let them be whipped through every market town, till they come to Berwick, whence they [Exeunt Mayor, Beadle, Wife, &c. 'Car. Duke Humphrey has done a miracle to-day. 'Suff. True; made the lame to leap, and fly came. away. Glo. But you have done more miracles than I; • You made, in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly. Enter Buckingham. 'K. Hen. What tidings with our cousin ingham? "York. Now, my good lords of Salisbury and Warwick, Our simple supper ended, give me leave, The Nevils are thy subjects to command. Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons: The second, William of Hatfield; and the third, Buck-William of Windsor was the seventh, and last. 'Buck. Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold. 'A sort of naughty persons, lewdly bent,"Under the countenance and confederacy 'Of lady Eleanor, the protector's wife, "The ringleader and head of all this rout,'Have practis'd dangerously against your state, 'Dealing with witches, and with conjurors: 'Whom we have apprehended in the fact; 'Raising up wicked spirits from under ground, 'Demanding of king Henry's life and death, 'And other of your highness' privy council, 'As more at large your grace shall understand. Car. And so, my lord protector, by this means "Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour. *Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my powers: *K. Hen. O God, what mischiefs work the *Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby! Q. Mar. Gloster, see here the tainture of thy nest; Till Henry Bolingbroke, duke of Lancaster, 'The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt, ་ Crown'd by the name of Henry the Fourth, 'Seiz'd on the realm; depos'd the rightful king; 'Sent his poor queen to France, from whence she came, And him to Pomfret; where, as all you know, 'Harmless Richard was murder'd traitorously." * War. Father, the duke hath told the truth; Thus got the house of Lancaster the crown. *York. Which now they hold by force, and not by right; For Richard, the first son's heir, being dead, *The issue of the next son should have reign'd. *Sal. But William of Hatfield died without an heir. *York. The third son, duke of Clarence (from . whose line I claim the crown,) had issue-Philippe, a *Who married Edmund Mortimer, earl of March: * And, look, thyself be faultless, thou wert best. "To-morrow, toward London, back again, 'And call these foul offenders to their answers; And poise the cause in justice' equal scales, 'Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt, Whose beam stands sure, whose rightful causeIt fails not yet; but flourishes in thee, prevails. And in thy sons, fair slips of such a stock.- S "Then, father Salisbury, kneel we both together; 'And, in this private plot,' be we the first, "That shall salute our rightful sovereign 'With honour of his birthright to the crown. Both. Long live our sovereign Richard, England's king! 'York. We thank you, lords. But I am not your king, 'Till I be crown'd; and that my sword be stain'd 'With heart-blood of the house of Lancaster: *And that's not suddenly to be perform'd; * But with advice, and silent secrecy. *Do you, as I do, in these dangerous days, *Wink at the duke of Suffolk's insolence, * At Beaufort's pride, at Somerset's ambition, At Buckingham, and all the crew of them, *Till they have snar'd the shepherd of the flock, *That virtuous prince, the good duke Humphrey : 'Tis that they seek; and they, in seeking that, *Shall find their deaths, if York can prophesy. *Sal. My lord, break we off; we know your mind at full. 'War. My heart assures me, that the earl of Warwick 'Shall one day make the duke of York a king. *Should be to be protected like a child.- Glo. My staff?-here, noble Henry, is my staff. As willingly do I the same resign, 'As ere thy father Henry made it mine; And even as willingly at thy feet I leave it As others would ambitiously receive it. Farewell, good king: When I am dead and gone, May honourable peace attend thy throne! [Exit. *Q. Mar. Why, now is Henry king, and Margaret queen; *And Humphrey, duke of Gloster, scarce himself, *That bears so shrewd a maim; two pulls at once,— His lady banish'd, and a limb lopp'd off; *This staff of honour raught:-There let it stand, 'Where it best fits to be, in Henry's hand. * Suff. Thus droops this lofty pine, and hangs his sprays; *Thus Eleanor's pride dies in her youngest days, 'York. Lords, let him go.-Please it your ma jesty, 'This is the day appointed for the combat; And ready are the apellant, and defendant, The armourer and his man, to enter the lists, 'So please your highness to behold the fight. Q. Mar. Ay, good my lord; for purposely therefore Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried. 'K. Hen. O' God's name, see the lists and all things fit: York. And, Nevil, this do I assure myself,'Richard shall live to make the earl of Warwick 'The greatest man in England but the king. [Exe. SCENE III.-The same. A hall of justice. Trumpets sounded. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, Gloster, York, Suffolk, and Salisbury; Here let them end it, and God defend the right! the Duchess of Gloster, Margery Jourdain, *York. I never saw a fellow worse bested, Southwell, Hume, and Bolingbroke, underOr more afraid to fight, than is the appellant, guard. K. Hen. Stand forth, dame Eleanor Cobham, Gloster's wife: Despoiled of your honour in your life, 'Shall, after three days' open penance done, 'Live in your country here, in banishment, With sir John Stanley, in the Isle of Man. 'Duch. Welcome is banishment, welcome were my death. * Glo. Eleanor, the law, thou seest, hath judged thee; I cannot justify whom the law condemns.[Exeunt the Duchess, and the other prisoners, guarded. *The servant of this armourer, my lords. Enter on one side, Horner, and his Neighbours, drinking to him so much that he is drunk; and he enters bearing his staff with a sand-bag fastened to it; a drum before him; at the other side, Peter, with a drum and a similar staff; accompanied by Prentices drinking to him. 1 Neigh. Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a cup of sack; And fear not, neighbour, you shall do well enough. 2 Neigh. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of charneco. 3 Neigh. And here's a pot of good double beer, neighbour drink, and fear not your man. 、 Hor. Let it come, i'faith, and I'll pledge you all; And a fig for Peter! 1 Pren. Here, Peter, I drink to thee; and be not afraid. 2 Pren. Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master; fight for credit of the prentices. Peter. I thank you all: drink, and pray for me, I pray you; for, I think, I have taken my last draught in this world.*-Here, Robin, an if I die, I give thee my apron; and, Will, thou shalt have 'Will bring thy head with sorrow to the ground!-my hammer :-and here, Tom, take all the money 'Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief. Ah, Humphrey, this dishonour in thine age I beseech your majesty, give me leave to go; 'Sorrow would solace, and mine age would ease.2 'K. Hen. Stay, Humphrey duke of Gloster: ere thou go, 'Give up thy staff; Henry will to himself 'Protector be: and God shall be my hope, My stay, my guide, and lantern to my feet; And go in peace, Humphrey; no less belov'd, "Than when thou wert protector to thy king. *Q. Mar. I see no reason, why a king of years that I have.-O Lord, bless me, I pray God! for I am never able to deal with my master, he hath learnt so much fence already. Sal. Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows. -Sirrah, what's thy name? and myself an honest man: * and touching the] * duke of York,-will take my death, I never meant him any ill, nor the king, nor the queen: * And, therefore, Peter, have at thee with a downright blow, as Bevis of Southampton fell upon Ascapart. *York. Despatch :-this knave's tongue begins * Sound trumpets, alarum to the combatants. down his master. And follow'd with a rabble, that rejoice To see my tears, and hear my deep-fet' groans. The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet; And, when I start, the envious people laugh, 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 stin? *No; dark shall be my light, and night my day; To think upon my pomp, shall be my hell. Sometime I'll say, I am duke Humphrey's wife; Hor. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess And he a prince, and ruler of the land: treason. *York. Take away his weapon : [Dies. Yet so he rul'd, and such a prince he was, -Fellow, As he stood by, whilst I, his forlorn duchess, Was made a wonder, and a pointing-stock, To every idle rascal follower." * thank God, and the good wine in thy master's way. Peter. O God! have I overcome mine enemies ' in this presence? O Peter, thou hast prevailed in 'right! But be thou mild, and blush not at my shame ; K. Hen. Go, take hence that traitor from our sight; Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward. * Glo. Thus, sometimes, hath the brightest day a cloud; * And, after summer, ever more succeeds * Barren winter, with his rathful nipping cold; * So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet." Sirs, what's o'clock ? Serv. Ten, my lord. Glo. Ten is the hour that was appointed me, To watch the coming of my punish'd duchess : 'Uneath' may she endure the flinty streets, "To tread them with her tender-feeling feet. Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook The abject people, gazing on thy face, With envious looks, still laughing at thy shame; That erst did follow thy proud chariot-wheels, When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets. But, soft! I think, she comes; and I'll prepare * My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries." Enter the Duchess of Gloster, in a white sheet, with papers pinned upon her back, her feet bare, and a taper burning in her hand; Sir John Stanley, a Sheriff, and Officers. Serv. So please your grace, we'll take her from the sheriff. 'Glo. 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! 'See, how the giddy multitude do point, 'And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee! 'Ah, Gloster, hide thee from their hateful looks; 'And, in thy closet pent up, rue my shame, And ban' thine enemies, both mine and thine. Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief. Duch. Ah, Gloster, 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, Mail'd up in shame, with papers on my back ; 6 (1) The death of the vanquished person was always regarded as certain evidence of his guilt. (2) Change. (3) Not easily. (4) Malicious. Curse *Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear; thou aimest all awry; I must offend, before I be attainted: *And had I twenty times so many foes, * And each of them had twenty times their power, *All these could not procure me any scathe,* So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless. Would'st have me rescue thee from this reproach? "Why, yet thy scandal were not wip'd away, But I in danger for the breach of law. Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell: I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience; 'These few days' wonder will be quickly worn. Enter a Herald. Her. I summon your grace to his majesty's parliament, holden at Bury the first of this next month. Glo. And my consent ne'er ask'd herein before! This is close dealing.-Well, I will be there. [Exit Herald. My Nell, I take my leave :-and, master sheriff, Let not her penance exceed the king's commission. Sher. An't please your grace, here my com mission stays: And sir John Stanley is appointed now To take her with him to the Isle of Man. 'Glo. Must you, sir John, protect my lady here? 'Stan. So am I given in charge, may't please your grace. Glo. 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 You do it her. And so, sir John, farewell. Duch. What gone, my lord; and bid me not farewell? 'Glo. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak. [Exeunt Gloster and Servants. "Duch. Art thou gone too? *All comfort go with thee! For none abides with me my joy is-death; *Death, at whose name I oft have been afeard, Because I wish'd this world's eternity.'Stanley, I pr'ythee, go, and take me hence; (6) Wrapped up in disgrace; alluding to the sheet of penance. ¡ on me. Deep-fetched. (8) Harm, mischief. i. e. The world may look again favourably |