"The mutual conference that my mind hath had1-Studied so long, sat in the council-house, By day, by night; waking, and in my dreams; In courtly company, or at my beads, "With you mine alder-licfest sovereign, Makes me the bolder to salute my king 'With ruder terms; such as my wit affords, And over-joy of heart doth minister. Early and late, debating to and fro How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe? Been crown'd in Paris, in despite of foes? And shall these labours, and these honours, die? 'K. Hen. Her sight did ravish: but her grace in Your deeds of war, and all our council, die? speech, Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty, O peers of England, shameful is this league' 'Fatal this marriage, cancelling your fame: Makes me, from wondering fall to weeping joys;Blotting your names from books of memory 'Such is the fulness of my heart's content.- Q. Mar. We thank you all. [Flourish. Suff. My lord protector, so it please your grace, Razing the characters of your renown; Defacing monuments of conquered France; 'Undoing all, as all had never been! 'Car. Nephew, what means this passionate discourse? This peroration with such circumstance ?3 Glo. Ay, uncle, we will keep it, if we can; Glo. Reads.] Imprimis, It is agreed between the French king, Charles, and William de la Poole, marquess of Suffolk, ambassador for Henry king* of England, that the said Henry shall espouse the lady Margaret, daughter unto Reignier king of Naples, Sicilia, and Jerusalem; and crown her queen of England, ere the thirtieth of May next ensuing.Item,-That the duchy of Anjou and the county of Maine, shall be released and delivered to the king her father K. Hen. Uncle, how now? Glo. Pardon me, gracious lord; Some sudden qualm hath struck me at the heart, And dimm'd mine eyes, that I can read no further. K. Hen. Uncle of Winchester, I pray, read on. Win. Item,-It is further agreed between them that the duchies of Anjou and Maine shall be released and delivered over to the king her father; and she sent over of the king of England's own proper cost and charges, without having dowry. K. Hen. They please us well.-Lord marquess We here create thee the first duke of Suffolk, Cousin of York, we here discharge your grace Somerset, Salisbury, and Warwick; and 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? '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; York. For Suffolk's duke-may he be suffocate, And our king Henry gives away his own, Glo. A proper jest, and never heard before, *Before *Car. My lord of Gloster, now you grow too hot; *It was the pleasure of my lord the king. * Glo. My lord of Winchester, I know your mind; [Exeunt King, Queen, and Suffolk.Tis not my speeches that you do mislike, Glo. Brave peers of England, pillars of the 'In winter's cold, and summer's parching heat, Have you yourselves, Somerset, Buckingham, (1) I am the bolder to address you, having already familiarized you to my imagination. (2) Beloved above all things. We shall begin our ancient bickerings.4Lordings, farewell; and say, when I am gone, 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. *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, There's reason he should be displeased at it. (3) This speech crowded with so many circumstances of aggravation. (4) Skirmishings. *Look to it, lords; let not his smoothing words ter; 'Clapping their hands, and crying with a loud voice * Buck. Why should he then protect our The peers agreed; and Henry is well pleas'd, I cannot blame them all; What is't to them? And purchase friends, and give to courtezans, *He being of age to govern of himself?— *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, [Exeunt Buckingham and Somerset. 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 common-weal.'Warwick, my son, the comfort of my age! Thy deeds, thy plainness, and thy house-keeping, 'Hath won the greatest favour of the commons, 'Excepting none but good duke Humphrey.'And brother York, thy acts in Ireland, 'In bringing them to civil discipline; "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 "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. * War. So God help Warwick, as he loves the land, And common profit of his country! *York. And so says York, for he hath greatest cause. Sal. Then let's make haste away, and look unto the main. War. Unto the main! O father, Maine is lost; That Maine, which by main force Warwick did win, 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. [Exeunt Warwick and Salisbury. York. Anjou and Maine are given to the French; *Paris is lost; the state of Normandy *Stands on a tickle' point, now they are gone: Suffolk concluded on the articles; (1) For ticklish. Bear that proportion to my flesh and blood, * Unto the prince's heart of Calydon." A day will come, when York shall claim his own; Till Henry, surfeiting in joys of love, With his new bride, and England's dear-bought queen, And Humphrey with the peers be fall'n at jars: SCENE II.-The same. A room in the duke Duch. Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load? As frowning at the favours of the world? Gazing on that which seems to dir thy sight? Until thy head be circled with the same. (2) Meleager; whose life was to continue only so long as a certain firebrand should last. His mother Althea having thrown it into the fire, he lexpired in torment. Glo. O Nell, sweet Nell, if thou dost love thy Your grace's title shall be multiplied. Duch. What say'st thou, man? hast thou as yet With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch; A spirit rais'd from depth of under ground, of Here Hume, take this reward: make merry, man, 'And William de la Poole first duke of Suffolk. In the cathedral church of Westminster, And in that chair where kings and queens are Where Henry, and dame Margaret, kneel'd to me, Glo. Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright: To tumble down thy husband and thyself, choleric 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. duchess' gold; Marry, and shall. But how now, sir John Hume? Scal up your lips, and give no words but-mum! "The business asketh silent secrecy. * Dame Eleanor gives gold, to bring the witch: They knowing dame Eleanor's aspiring humour, 'Mess. My lord protector, 'tis his highness' pleasure, 'You do prepare to ride unto Saint Albans, To play my part in fortune's pageant. 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. 6 Suff. How now, fellow? would'st any thing with me? 1 Pet. I pray, my lord, pardon me! I took ye for my lord protector. Q. Mar. Reading the superscription.] To my lord protector! are your supplications to his lord'ship? 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 keep'ing my house and lands, and wife and all, from me. Suff. Thy wife too? that is some wrong indeed.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] (4) Let the issue be what it will. Against my (5) With great exactness and observance of form. Scene III. SECOND PART OF KING HENRY VI. master, Thomas Horner, for saying, That the duke* And plac'd a quire of such enticing birds, of York was rightful heir to the crown. Q. Mar. What say'st thou? Did the duke "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. *That she will light to listen to the lays, Suff. 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* [Exeunt Servants, with Peter. the king. 'Q. Mar. And as for you, that love to be pro-* tected 'Under the wings of our protector's grace, Begin your suits anew, and sue to him. [Tears the petition. *Is this the fashion in the court of England? * And must be made a subject to a duke? * His champions are-the prophets and apostles; * Are brazen images of canoniz'd saints. * Would choose him pope, and carry him to Rome, * And set the triple crown upon his head; That were a state fit for his holiness. Suff. Madam, be patient: as I was cause Q. Mar. Beside the haught protector, have we The imperious churchman; Somerset, Bucking- So, one by one, we'll weed them all at last, K. Hen. For my part, noble lords, I care not Or Somerset, or York, all's one to me. York. If York have ill demean'd himself in Then let him be denay'd' the regentship. Som. If Somerset be unworthy of the place, Cor. Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak. wick. War. Warwick may live to be the best of all. -and show some reason, *Sal. Peace, son; Buckingham, Why Somerset should be preferr'd in this. * Q. Mar. Because the king, forsooth, will have it so. Glo. Madam, the king is old enough himself 'To give his censure: these are no women's mat ters. Q. Mar. If he be old enough, what need your grace To be protector of his excellence? Glo. Madam, I am protector of the realm; 'And, at his pleasure, will resign my place. Suff. Resign it then, and leave thine insolence. 'The commonwealth hath daily run to wreck : * And grumbling York; and not the least of these, 'As that proud dame, the lord protector's wife. 'More like an empress than duke Humphrey's wife;* 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, '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, Are lank and lean with thy extortions. * Buck. Thy cruelty in execution, Q. Mar. Thy sale of offices and towns in *If they were known, as the suspect is great,- Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter.I (1) Scoundrels. (2) Sayings. (3) Drab, trull. (ainty Peter the arbourer's (5) Denay is frequently used instead of deny among the old writers. (6) Censure here means simply judgment or opinion. 'Duch. Was't I? yea, I it was, proud French-'I do beseech your majesty, 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. Suff. 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 unmeet. '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. Suff. Peace, headstrong Warwick! 'Let him have all the rigour of the law. Hor. Alas, my lord, hang me if I ever 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 villain's accusation. a K. Hen. Uncle, what shall we say to this in law? * 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. [Exe. SCENE IV.-The same. 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 pro*vided: 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, War. Image of pride, why should I hold my while we be busy below; and so, I pray you, go "Was rightful heir unto the English crown; And that your majesty was an usurper. * in God's name, and leave us. [Exit Hume.] the earth :-* John Southwell, read you; and let 'Mother Jourdain, be you prostrate, and grovel on * us to our work. Enter Duchess, above. *Duch. Well said, my masters; and welcome Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night, ofThe 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, 'K. Hen. Say, man, were these thy words? 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: (1) The marks of her fingers and thumbs. By exorcise Shakspeare invariably means to raise spirits, and not to lay them. [Here they perform the ceremonies appertaining, and make the circle; Bolingbroke, or Southwell, reads, Conjuro te, &c. It thunders and lightens terribly; then the Spirit riseth. * Spir. Adsum. *M. Jourd. Asmath, By the eternal God, whose name and power *Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask; (3) Matter or business. (4) Village-dogs. |