Imatges de pàgina
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Glo. 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,
Be my last breathing in this mortal world!
My troublous dream this night doth make me
sad.

Duch. What dream'd my lord? tell me, and
I'll requite it

With sweet rehearsal of my morning's dream.
Glo. Methought, this staff, mine office-badge
in court,

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 plac'd the heads of Edmond duke of
Somerset,

And William de la Poole first duke of Suffolk.
This was my dream; what it doth bode, God
knows.

Duch. Tut, this was nothing but an argu-
ment,

That he that breaks a stick of Gloster's grove,
Shall lose his head for his presumption.
But list to me, my Humphrey, my sweet duke:
Methought, I sat in seat of majesty,
In the cathedral church of Westminster,
And in that chair where kings and queens are
crown'd;
[me,
Where Henry, and dame Margaret, kneel'd to
And on my head did set the diadem.

Glo. Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide out.
right:

Presumptuous dame, ill-nurtur'd* Eleanor !
Art thou not second woman in the realm;
And the protector's wife, belov'd of him?
Hast thou not worldly pleasure at command,
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.
Duch. What, what, my lord! are you so cho-

leric

With Eleanor, for telling but her dream?
Next time, I'll keep my dreams unto myself,
And not be check'd.

Glo. Nay, be not angry, I am pleas'd again.
Enter a MESSENGER.

Mess. My lord protector, 'tis his highness'
pleasure,

You do prepare to ride unto Saint Albans,
Whereast the king and queen do mean to

hawk.

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sently.

[Exeunt GLOSTER and Messenger.
Follow I must, I cannot go before,
While Gloster bears this base and humble mind.
Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood,
I would remove these tedious stumbling-
blocks,
[necks:
And smooth my way upon their headless
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,

We are alone; here none but thee, and I.
Enter HUME.

Hume. Jesu preserve your royal majesty!
+ For where.
† A title frequently bestowed on the clergy.

* Ill-educated.

Duch. What say'st thou, majesty! I am but grace.

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;
And Roger Bolingbroke, the conjurer?
And will they undertake to do me good?

Hume. This they have promised,-to show
your highness

A spirit rais'd from depth of under ground,
That shall make answer to such questions,
As by your grace shall be propounded him.
Duch. It is enough; I'll think upon the ques-

tions:

When from Saint Albans we do make return,
We'll see these things effected to the full.
Here, Hume, take this reward; make merry,
With thy confederates in this weighty cause.
man,
[Exit DUCHESS.

Hume. Hume must make merry with the du-
chess' gold;
Marry, and shall. But how now, Sir John
[Hume?
Seal up your lips, and give no words but-
The business asketh silent secrecy.
Dame Eleanor gives gold, to bring the witch:
[mum!
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;

Yet I do find it so: for, to be plain, [mour,
They, knowing dame Eleanor's aspiring hu-
Have hired me to undermine the duchess,
And buz these conjurations in her brain.
They say, A crafty knave does need no broker;
Yet am I Suffolk and the cardinal's broker.
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;
And her attainture will be Humphrey's fall:
Sort how it will,* I shall have gold for all.

[Exit.

SCENE III.-The same.-A Room in the
Palace.

Enter PETER, and others, with Petitions.
1 Pet. My masters, let's stand close; my lord
protector will come this way by and by, and
then we may deliver our supplications in the
quill. +

2 Pet. Marry, the Lord protect him, for he's a good man! Jesu bless him!

Enter SUFFOLK, and Queen MARGARET.

1 Pet. Here 'a comes, methinks, and the queen with him: I'll be the first, sure.

2 Pet. Come back, fool; this is the duke of Suffolk, and not my lord protector.

Suf. How now, fellow? would'st any thing with me?

1 Pet. I pray, 7, my lord, pardon me! I took ye for my ford protector.

Q. Mar. [Reading the superscription.] To my lord protector! are your supplications to his lordship? Let me see them: What is thine?

1 Pet. Mine is, an't please your grace, against John Goodman, my lord cardinal's man, for keeping my house, and lands, and wife, and all, from me.

* Let the issue be what it will.

+ With great exactness and observance of form.

Suf. Thy wife too? that is some wrong, in- | deed.-What's yours?-What's here! [Reads.] Against the duke of Suffolk, for enclosing the commons of Melford.-How now, sir knave?

2 Pet. Alas, Sir, I am but a poor petitioner of our whole township.

Peter. [Presenting his petition.] Against my master, Thomas Horner, for saying, That the duke of York was rightful heir to the crown. Q. Mar. What say'st thou? Did the duke of York say, he was rightful heir to the crown? Peter. That my master was? No, forsooth: my master said, That he was; and that the king was an usurper.

Suf. Who is there? [Enter Servants.]-Take this fellow in, and send for his master with a pursuivant presently:-we'll hear more of your matter before the king.

[Exeunt Servants, with PETER. Q. Mar. And as for you, that love to be protected Under the wings of our protector's grace, Begin your suits anew, and sue to him.

[Tears the Petition. Away, base cullions!*-Suffolk, let them go. All. Come, let's be gone. [Exeunt PETITIONERS.

Q. Mar. My lord of Suffolk, say, is this the
guise,

Is this the fashion in the court of England?
Is this the government of Britain's isle,
And this the royalty of Albion's king?
What, shall king Henry be a pupil still,
Under the surly Gloster's governance?
Am I a queen in title and in style,
And must be made a subject to a duke?
I tell thee, Poole, when in the city Tours
Thou ran'st a tilt in honour of my love,
And stol'st away the ladies' hearts of France;
I thought king Henry had resembled thee,
In courage, courtship, and proportion:
But all his mind is bent to holiness,
To number Ave-Maries on his beads:
His champions are-the prophets and apostles;
His weapons, holy sawst of sacred writ;
His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves
Are brazen images of canoniz'd saints.
[Rome,
I would, the college of cardinals
Would choose him pope, and carry him to
And set the triple crown upon his head;
That were a state fit for his holiness.

Suf. Madam, be patient: as I was cause
Your highness came to England, so will I
In England work your grace's full content.
Q. Mur. Beside the haught protector, have
we Beaufort,

The imperious churchman; Somerset, Buck-
ingham,
[these,
And grumbling York: and not the least of
But can do more in England than the king.
Suf. And he of these, that can do most of
all,

Cannot do more in England than the Nevils:
Salisbury, and Warwick, are no simple peers.
Q. Mar. Not all these lords do vex me half
so much,

As that proud dame, the lord protector's wife.
She sweeps it through the court with troops of
ladies,
[wife;
More like an empress than duke Humphrey's
Strangers in court do take her for the queen:
She bears a duke's revenues on her back,
And in her heart she scorns her poverty:
Shall I not live to be aveng'd on her?
Contemptuous base-born callat; as she is,

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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 daugh-

ter.

Suf. Madam, myself have lim'd a bush for
her;

And plac'd a quire of such enticing birds,
That she will fight to listen to the lays,
And never mount to trouble you again.
So, let her rest: And, madam, list to me;
For I am bold to counsel you in this.
Although we fancy not the cardinal,
Yet must we join with him, and with the lords,
Till we have brought duke Humphrey in dis-
grace.

As for the duke of York,-this late complaint
Will make but little for his benefit:
So, one by one, we'll weed them all at last,
And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.

Enter King HENRY, YORK, and SOMERSET,
conversing with him; Duke and Duchess of
GLOSTER, Cardinal BEAUFORT, BUCKINGHAM,
SALISBURY, and WARWICK.

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

Or Somerset, or York, all's one to me.
York. If York have ill demean'd himself in
France,

Then let him be denay'd+ the regentship.
Som. If Somerset he unworthy of the place,
Let York be regent, I will yield to him.
War. Whether your grace be worthy, yea,

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

To be protector of his excellence?

Glo. Madam, I am protector of the realm; And, at his pleasure, will resign my place. Suf. Resign it then, and leave thine inso

lence.

[thou?) Since thou wert king, (as who is king, but The commonwealth hath daily run to wreck: The Dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the seas; And all the peers and nobles of the realm Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty.

Car. The commons hast thou rack'd; the
clergy's bags

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

Have cost a mass of public treasury.
Buck. Thy cruelty in execution,

1. e. The complaint of Peter the armourer's man
against his master.
+ Denay is frequently used instead of deny among the
old writers.

Censure here means simply judgement or opinion.

1

Upon offenders, hath exceeded law,
And left thee to the mercy of the law.

Q. Mar. Thy sale of offices, and towns in
France,-

If they were known, as the suspect is great, Would make thee quickly hop without thy head. [Exit GLOSTER. The Queen drops her Fan. Give me my fan: What, minion! can you not? [Gives the DUCHESS a box on the Ear. I cry you mercy, madam; Was it you? Duch. Was't I? yea, I it was, proud French

woman:

Could I come near your beauty with my nails,
I'd set my ten commandments in your face."
K. Hen. Sweet aunt, be quiet; 'twas against
her will.

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

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

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

Re-enter GLOSTER.

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

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

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

meet.

First, for I cannot flatter thee in pride:
Next, if I be appointed for the place,
My lord of Somerset will keep me here,
Without discharge, money, or furniture,
Till France be won into the Dauphin's hands.
Last time, I danc'd attendance on his will,
Till Paris was besieg'd, famish'd, and lost.

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

Suf. Peace, head-strong Warwick! War. Image of pride, why should I hold my peace?

Enter Servants of SUFFOLK, bringing in HORNER and PETER.

Suf. Because here is a man accus'd of trea

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said nor thought any such matter: God is my witness, I am falsely accused by the villain.

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

York. Base dunghill villain, and 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 words. My accuser is my prentice; and when I did correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow upon his knees he would be even with me: I have good witness of this; therefore, I beseech your majesty, do not cast away an honest man for a villain's accusation. K. Hen. Uncle, what shall we say to this in law?

Glo. This doom, my lord, if I may judge. Let Somerset be regent o'er the French, Because in York this breeds suspicion: And let these have a day appointed them For single combat in convenient place; For he hath witness of his servant's malice: This is the law, and this duke Humphrey's doom.

K. Hen. Then be it so. My lord of Somerset, We make your grace lord regent o'er the French.

Som. I humbly thank your royal majesty.
Hor. And I accept the combat willingly.

Pet. Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God's sake, pity my case! the spite of man prevaileth against me. O, Lord, have mercy upon me! I shall never be able to fight a blow: O Lord, my heart!

Glo. Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd.

K. Hen. Away with them to prison: and the

day

Of combat shall be the last of the next month. Come, Somerset, we'll see thee sent away.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-The sume.-The duke of GLOSTER'S Garden.

Enter MARGERY JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTHWELL, and BOLINGBROKE.

Hume. Come, my masters; the duchess, I tell you, expects performance of your promises. Boling. Master Hume, we are therefore provided: Will her ladyship behold and hear our exorcisms?

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

Boling. I have heard her reported to be a woman of an invincible spirit: But it shall be convenient, master Hume, that you be by her aloft, 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:-John Southwell, read you; and let us to our work.

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Buck. True madam, none at all. What call

us:

you this? [Showing her the papers. Away with them; let them be clapp'd up close, And kept asunder:-You, madam, shall with Stafford, take her to thee.[Exit DUCHESS from above. We'll see your trinkets here all forth-coming; All-Away!

[Exeunt Guards, with SOUTH. BOLING. &c. York. Lord Buckingham, methinks, you watch'd her well:

A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon!
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,

Aio te, Facida, Romanos vincere posse.

* Village-dogs.

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Well, to the rest:

Tell me what fate awaits the duke of Suffolk?
By water shall he die, and take his end.-
What shall betide the duke of Somerset?
Let him shun castles;

Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains,
Than where castles mounted stand.
Come, come, my lords;
These oracles are hardily attain'd,
And hardly understood.
[Albans.
The king is now in progress toward Saint
With him, the husband of this lovely lady:
Thither go these news, as fast as horse can
carry them;

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

To be the post, in hope of his reward.
York. At your pleasure, my good lord.-
Who's within there, ho!

Enter a SERVANT.

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

ACT II.

SCENE I.-Saint Albans. Enter King HENRY, Queen MARGARET, GLOSTER, CARDINAL, and SUFFOLK, with Falconers hollaing.

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

I saw not better sport these seven years' day: Yet, by your leave, the wind was very high; And, ten to one, old Joan had not gone out.

K. Hen. But what a point, my lord, your

falcon made,

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

Suf. No marvel, an it like your majesty, My lord protector's hawks do tower so well; They know their master loves to be aloft, And bears his thoughts above his falcon's pitch.

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

clouds.

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+ Rewarded.

+ Fond.

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

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

In thine own person answer thy abuse. [Aside. Car. Ay, where thou dar'st not peep: an if thou dar❜st,

This evening on the east side of the grove.

[Aside. K. Hen. How now, my lords? Car. Believe me, cousin Gloster, [ly, Had not your man put up the fowl so suddenWe had had more sport.-Come with thy twohand sword. [Aside to GLO.

Glo. True, uncle.

Car. Are you advis'd?-the east side of the grove?

Glo. Cardinal, I am with you.

[Aside.

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

Now, by God's mother, priest, I'll shave your crown for this,

Or all my fence* shall fail.
Car. Medice teipsum;
Protector, see to't well, protect yourself.

[Aside.

[Aside.

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

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

Enter an INHABITANT of Saint Albans, crying,
A Miracle!

Glo. What means this noise?
Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim?
Inhab. A miracle! a miracle!

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

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

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

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

Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair!

Enter the MAYOR of Saint Albans, and his Brethren; and SIMPCOX, borne between two persons in a Chair; his Wife, and a great multitude following.

Cur. Here come the townsmen on procession,

To present your highness with the man. K. Hen. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale,

Although by his sight his sin be multiplied. Glo. Stand by, my masters, bring him near

the king,

His highness' pleasure is to talk with him.
K. Hen. Good fellow, tell us here the cir-

cumstance,

That we for thee may glorify the Lord. What, hast thou been long blind, and now restor❜d?

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

Suf. What woman is this?

Fence is the art of defence.

Wife. His wife, an't like your worship. Glo. Had'st thou been his mother, thou could'st have better told.

K. Hen. Where wert thou born? Simp. At Berwick in the north, an't like your grace.

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

Let never day nor night unhallow'd pass,
But still remember what the Lord hath done.
Q. Mar. Tell me, good fellow, cam'st thou
here by chance,

Or of devotion, to this holy shrine?
Simp. God knows, of pure devotion; being
call'd
A hundred times, and oftener, in my sleep
By good Saint Alban; who said,-Simpcox,

come;

Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help thee. Wife. Most true, forsooth; and many time and oft

Myself have heard a voice to call him so.
Cur. What, art thou lame?

Simp. Ay, God Almighty help me!
Suf. How cam'st thou so?
Simp. A fall off of a tree.
Wife. A plum-tree, master.

Glo. How long hast thou been blind?
Simp. O, born so, master.

Glo. What, and would'st climb a tree?
Simp. But that in all my life, when I was a
youth.

Wife. Too true; and bought his climbing very dear.

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

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

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

serve.

Let me see thine eyes :-wink now ;-now open them:

In my opinion yet thou see'st not well.

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

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

Simp. Red, master; red as blood.

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

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

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

a many.

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

Glo. Nor his?

Simp. No, indeed, master.
Glo. What's thine own name?

Simp. Saunder Simpcox, an if it please you,

master.

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