ACT III. SCENE I. At BUR Y. Enter King Henry, Queen, Cardinal, Suffolk, York, Buckingham, Salisbury and Warwick, to the Parliament. I K. HENRY. Mufe, my Lord of Glo'fter is not come; 'Tis not his wont to be the hindmost man, Whate'er occafion keeps him from us now. Q. Mar. Can you not fee, or will you not obferve The strangeness of his alter'd countenance, With what a majefty he bears himself, We know the time, fince he was mild and affable; That all the court admir'd him for fubmiffion. Me feemeth- -] That is, it feemeth to me, a word more grammatical than methinks, which has, I know not how, intruded into its place. Refpecting Respecting what a ranc'rous mind he bears, Or be admitted to your Highness' council. By flatt'ry hath he won the common hearts: Or elfe conclude my words effectual. Suf. Well hath your Highness seen into this Duke. Upon my life, began her devilifh practices, your Grace's tale.] Suffolk ufes Highness and Grace promifcuously to the queen. "Ma jefty was not the fettled title till the time of king James the first. Car. Car. Did he not, contrary to form of law, Devise strange deaths for small offences done? York. And did he not in his protectorship Levy great fums of money through the realm For foldiers' pay in France, and never fent it? By means whereof the towns each day revolted. Buck. Tut, thefe are petty faults to faults unknown; Which time will bring to light in fimooth Duke Humphry. The care you have K. Henry. My Lords, at once. The care of us, To mow down thorns that would annoy our foot, From meaning treason to our royal perfon As is the fucking lamb or harmless dove. Q. Mar, Ah! what's more dang'rous than this fond affiance? Seems he a dove his feathers are but borrow'd; Is he a lamb? his fkin is, furely, lent him; Som. All health unto my gracious Sovereign! Som. That all your int'reft in thofe territories Is utterly, bereft you; all is loft. K. Henry. Cold news, Lord Somerfet. But God's will be done! York. Cold news for me; for I had hope of France, As firmly as I hope for fertile England. Thus Thus are, my bloffoms blafted in the bud, SCENE II. Enter Gloucester. [Afide. Glo. All happiness unto my Lord the King! Pardon, my Liege, that I have ftaid fo long. Suf. Nay, Glo'fter, know that thou art come too foon, Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art. I do arreft thee of high treafon here. Glo. Well, Suffolk, yet thou shalt not see me blush, Nor change my countenance for this Arrest, A heart unfpotted is not easily daunted. The pureft spring is not fo free from mud As I am clear from treason to my Sovereign. Who can accufe me? Wherein am I guilty? York. 'Tis thought, my Lord, that you took bribes of France, And, being protector, ftaid the foldiers' pay; Nor ever had one penny bribe from France. Be brought against me at my trial day! And never afk'd for restitution. 3 —this gear] Gear was a general word for thing or matters. Car. Car. It ferves you well, my Lord, to fay fo much. Glo. I fay no more than truth, fo help me God! York. In your protectorship you did devife Strange tortures for offenders, never heard of; That England was defam'd by tyranny. Glo. Why, 'tis well known, that, while I was protector, Pity was all the fault that was in me, For I fhould melt at an offender's tears, And lowly words were ransom for their fault; Or foul felonious thief that fleec'd poor paffengers, Murder, indeed, that bloody fin I tortur'd Above the felon, or what trefpafs elfe. Suf. My Lord, thefe faults are eafy, quickly ans fwer'd:+ But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge, K. Henry. My Lord of Glo'fter, 'tis my fpecial hope Gl. Ah, gracious Lord, thefe days are dangerous, Virtue is choak'd with foul ambition, And charity chas'd hence by Rancour's hand, And equity exil'd your Highnefs' Land. I would expend it with all willingness. thefe faults are easy,] Eafy is flight, inconfiderable, as in other paffages of this authour. VOL. V. E For |