KING HENRY VI.

PART II.

PERSONS OF THE DRAMA.

King Henry the Sixth:

A Herald. Vaux. HUMPHREY, duke of Gloster, his uncle. Hume and Southwe , two priests. Cardinal BEAUFORT, bishop of Winchester, great BOLING BROKE,a conjurer. A Spirit raiseıl by him. uncle to the king.

Thomas HORNER,anarmourer. Peter, his man. RICHAND PLANTAGENET, duke of York : Clerk of Chatham. Mayor of Saint Alban's. EDWARD and Richard, his sons.

Simpcox, an impostor. Two Murderers. Duke of SOMERSET,

Jack Cade, a rebel : Duke of SUFFOLK,

GEORGE, JOHN, Dick, Syith the Weaver, MI-
Duke of BUCKINGHAM, of the king's party. CHAEL, &c. his followers.
Lord CLIFFORD,

ALEXANDER Íden, a Kentish gentleman.
Young Clifford, his son,
Earl of SALISBURY,

MARGARET, queen to king Henry.
Earl of Warwick' of the York faction.

ELEANOR, duchess of Gloster. Lord Scales, governor of the Tower. Lord Say. MARGERY JOURDAIN, a witch. Wife to Simpcox. Sir HUMPHREY STAFFORD, and his Brother. Sir John STANLEY.

Lords, Ladies, and Attendants ; Petitioners, AlA Sea-Captain, Master, and Master's Mate, and dermen, a Beadle, Sheriff, and Officers ; CitiWALTER WHITMORE.

zens, Prentices, Falconers, Guards, Soldiers, Two Gentlemen, prisoners with SUFFOLK. Messengers, &c.

SCENE,

-dispersedly in various parts of England.

ACT I.

SCENE I.- London. A room of state in-the As procurator to your excellence, palace.

To marry princess Margaret for your grace;

So, in the famous ancient city, Tours, Flourish of trumpets : then hautboys. Enter, on

In presence of the kings of France and Sicil, one side, King HENRY, Duke of GLOSTER, The dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretaigne, and SALISBURY, WARWICK, and Cardinal Beau

Alençon, POBT; on the other, Queen MARGARET, led Seven earls, twelve barons, twenty reverend in by SUFFOLK; YORK, SOMERSET, Buck

bishops, INGHAM, and Others, following.

I have perform'd my task, and was espous’d: Suf. As by your high imperial majesty And humbly now upon my bended knee, I had in charge at my depart for France,

In sight of England and her lordly peers, VOL, II.

E

Deliver up my title in the queen

Till term of eighteen months be full expir'd.To your most gracious hands, that are the sub- Thanks, uncle Winchester, Gloster, York, and stance

Buckingham, Of that great shadow I did represent ;

Somerset, Salisbury, and Warwick; The happiest gift, that ever marquess gave, We thank you all for this great favour done, The fairest queen that ever king receiv'd. In entertainment to my princely queen. K. Hen. Suffolk, arise. Welcome, queen Mar- Come, let us in ; and with all speed provide garet :

To see her coronation be perform d. I can express no kinder sign of love,

[Exeunt King, Queen, and Suffolk. Than this kind kiss.-0 Lord, that lends me life, Glo. Brave peers of England, pillars of the Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness !

state, For thou hast given me in this beauteous face, To you duke Humphrey must unload his grief, A world of earthly blessings to my soul, Your grief, the common grief of all the land. If sympathy of love unite our thoughts. What! did my brother Henry spend his youth, Q. Mar. Great king of England, and my gra- His valour, coin, and people, in the wars? cious lord ;

Did he so often lodge in open field, The mutual conference that my mind hath had— In winter's cold, and summer's parching heat, By day, by night; waking, and in my dreams; To conquer France, his true inheritance ? In courtly company, or at my beads, –

And did my brother Bedford toil his wits, With you mine alder-liefest sovereign, To keep by policy what Henry got? Makes me the bolder to salute my king Have you yourselves, Somerset, Buckingham, With ruder terms; such as my wit affords, Brave York, Salisbury, and victorious Warwick, And over-joy of heart doth minister.

Receiv'd deep scars in France and Normandy ? K. Fien. Iller sight did ravish : but her grace Or hath my uncle Beaufort, and myself, in speech,

With all the learned council of the realm, Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty, Studied so long, sat in the council-house, Makes me, from wondering, fall to weeping joys; Early and late, debating to and fro Such is the fulness of my heart's content.- How France and Frenchmen might be kept in Loriis, with one cheerful voice welcome my love.

awe? All. Long live queen Margaret, England's hap- And hath his highness in his infancy piness!

Been crown'd in Paris, in despite of foes ? Q. Mar. We thank

you

all. [Flourish. And shall these labours, and these honours, die? Suf. My lord protector, so it please your grace, Shall Henry's conquest, Bedford's vigilance, Here are the articles of contracted

peace, Your deeds of war, and all our counsel, die ? Between our sovereign and the French king O peers of England, shameful is this league ! Charles,

Fatal this marriage, cancelling your fame; For eighteen months concluded by consent. Blotting your names from books of memory;

Glo. [Reads.] Imprimis, It is agreed between Razing the characters of your renown; the French king, Charles, and William de la Defacing monuments of conquer'd France ; Poole, marquess of Suffolk, ambassador for Hen- Undoing all, as all had never been ! ry king of England,—that the said Henry shall Car. Nephew, what means this passionate disespouse the lady Margaret, daughter unto Reig- course? nier king of Naples, Sicilia, and Jerusalem ; and This peroration with such circumstance ? crown her queen of England, ere the thirtieth of For France, 'tis ours; and we will keep it still. May next ensuing:--Item,—That the dutchy of Glo. Ay, uncle, we will keep it, if we can ; Anjou and the county of Maine, shall be released But now it is impossible we should : and delivered to the king her father

Suffolk, the new-made duke, that rules the roast, K. Hen. Uncle, how now?

Hath given the dutchies of Anjou and Maine Glo. Pardon me, gracious lord ;

Unto the poor king Reignier, whose large style Some sudden qualm hath struck me at the heart, Agrees not with the leanness of his purse. And dimm’dmine eyes, that I can read no further. Sal. Now, by the death of him that died for

K. Hen. Uncle of Winchester, I pray, read on. all,

Win. Item,- It is further agreed between them, These counties were the keys of Normandy :—that the dutchies of Anjou and Maine shall be But wherefore weeps Warwick, my valiant son ? released and delivered over to the king her father ; War. For grief, that they are past recovery:. and she sent over of the king of England's own For, were there hope to conquer them again, proper cost and charges, without having dowry. My sword should shed hot blood, mine eyes no K. Hen. They please us well.—Lord marquess, tears. kneel down;

Anjou and Maine ! myself did win them both; We here create thee the first duke of Suffolk, Those provinces these arms of mine did conquer: And girt thee with the sword.

And are the cities, that I got with wounds, Cousin of York, we here discharge your grace Deliver'd up again with peaceful words ? From being regent in the parts of France, Mort Dicu!

cause.

York. For Suffolk'sduke-may he be suffocate, Sal. Pride went before, ambition follows him.
That dims the honour of this warlike isle ! While these do labour for their own preferment,
France should have torn and rent my very heart, Behoves it us to labour for the realn.
Before I would have yielded to this league. I never saw but Humphrey duke ot' Gloster
I never read but England's kings have had Did bear him like a noble gentleman.
Large sums of gold, and dowries, with their wives: Oft have I seen the haughty cardinal-
And our king Henry gives away his own, More like a soldier, than a man o'the church,
To match with her that brings no vantages. As stout, and proud, as he were lord oi all,-

Glo. A proper jest, and never heard before, Swear like a ruffian, and demean himself
That Suffólk should demand a whole fifteenth, Unlike the ruler of a common-weal.-
For costs and charges in transporting her : Warwick, my son, the comfort of my age !
She should have staid in France, and starv'd in Thy deeds, thy plainness, and thy house-keeping,
France,

Hath won the greatest favour of the commons, Beforc

Excepting none but good duke Humphrey.-
Cur. Mylord of Gloster, now you grow too hot; And, brother York, thy acts in Ireland,
It was the pleasure of my lord the king. In bringing them to civil discipline;

Gl. My lordof Winchester, I know your mind: Thy late exploits, done in the heart of France,
"T'is not my speeches, that you do mislike ; When thou wert regent for our sovereign,
But 'tis my presence, that doth trouble you. Have made thee fear'd, and honour'd, of the
Rancour will out: Proud prelate, in thy face

people :I see thy fury: if I longer stay,

Join we together, for the public good; We shall begin our ancient bickerings.

In what we can to bridle and suppress Lordings, farewell ; and say, when I am gone, The pride of Suffolk, and the cardinal, I prophesied— France will be lost ere long. With Somerset's and Buckingham's ambition ;

[Erit. And, as we may, cherish duke Humphrey's deeds, Car. So, there goes our protector in a rage. While they do tend the profit of the land. 'Tis known to you, he is mine enemy :

War. So God help Warwick, as he loves the Nay, more, an enemy unto you all ;

land, And no great friend, I fear me, to the king. And common profit of his country ! Consider, lords, he is the next of blood,

York. And so says York, for he hath greatest And heir apparent to the English crown; Had Henry got an empire.by his marriage, Sal. Then let's make haste away, and look And all the wealthy kingdoms of the west,

unto the main. There's reason he should be displeas'd at it. War. Unto the main ! O father, Maine is lost; Look to it, lords; let not his smoothing words That Maine, which by main force Warwick did Bewitch your hearts ; be wise, and circumspect. win, What though the common people favour him, And would have kept, so long as breath did last: Calling him-Humphrey, the good duke of Gloster, Main chance, father, you meant; but I meant Clapping their hands, and crying with loud voice Maine, Jesu maintain your royal ercellence !

Which I will win from France, or else be slain. With-God preserve the good duke Humphrey !

[Exeunt Warwick and Salisbury. I fear me, lords, for all this flattering gloss, York. Anjou and Maineare given to the French; He will be found a dangerous protector. Paris is lost; the state of Normandy Buck. Why should he then protect our sove

Stands on a tickle point, now they are gone : reign,

Suffolk concluded on the articles ; He being of age to govern of himself?

The peers agreed ; and Henry was well pleas'd, Cousin of Somerset, join you with me, To change two dukedoms for a duke's fair And all together—with the duke of Suffolk,

daughter. We'll quickly hoise duke Humphrey from his seat. I cannot blame them all; What is't to them ? Car. This weighty business will not brook | 'Tis thine they give away, and not their own. delay;

Pirates may make cheap pennyworths of their r'l to the duke of Suffolk presently. [Exit. pillage, Som. Cousin 'of Buckingham, though Hum- And purchase friends, and give to courtezans, phrey's pride,

Still revelling, like lords, till all be gone: And greatness of his place be grief to us, While as the silly owner of the goods Yet let us watch the haughty cardinal; Weeps over them, and wrings his hapless hands, His insolence is more intolerable

And shakes his head, and trembling stands aloof, Than all the princes in the land beside ; While all is shar'd, and all is borne away ; If Gloster be displac'd, he'll be protector. Ready to starve, and dare not touch his own. Buck. Or thou, or 1, Somerset, will be pro- So York must sit, and fret, and bite his tongus, tector,

While his own lands are bargain'd for, and sold. Despight duke Humphrey, or the cardinal. Methinks, the realms of England, Franec, und

[Exeunt Buckingham and Somerset. Ireland,

in court,

Bear that proportion to my flesh and blood, Glo. Methought, this staff, mine office-baulge
As did the fatal brand Althea burn'd,
Unto the prince's heart of Calydon.

Was broke in twain ; by whom, I have forgot,
Anjou and Maine, both given unto the French! But, as I think, it was by the cardinal ;
Cold news for me ; for I had hope of France, And on the pieces of the broken wand
Even as I have of fertile England's soil, Were plac'd the heads of Edmund duke of
A day will come, when York shall claim his own; Somerset,
And therefore I will take the Nevils' parts, And William de la Poole first duke of Suffolk.
Andmake a show of love to proud duke Humphrey, This was my dream ; what it doth bode, God
And, when I spy advantage, claim the crown,

knows. For that's the golden mark í seek to hit : Duch. Tut, this was nothing but an argument, Nor shall proud Lancaster usurp my right, That he, that breaks a stick of Gloster's grove, Nor hold his sceptre in his childish fist, Shall lose his head for his presumption. Nor wear the diadem upon his head,

But list to me, my Humphrey, my sweet duke: Whose church-like humours fit not for a crown. Methought, I sat in seat of majesty, Then, York, be still awhile, till time do serve: In the cathedral church of Westminster, Watch thou, and wake, when others be asleep, And in that chair where kings and queens are To pry into the secrets of the state ;

crown'd; Till Henry, surfeiting in joys of love,

Where Henry, and dame Margaret, kneeld tome, With his new bride, and England's dear-bought And on my head did set the diadem. queen,

Glo. Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright: And Humphrey with the peers be fall’n at jars: Presumptuous dame, ill-nurtur'd Eleanor ! Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose, Art thou not second woman in the realm ; With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfum'd; And the protector's wife, belov’d of him ? And in my standard bear the arms of York, Hast thou not worldly pleasure at command, To grapple with the house of Lancaster ; Above the reach or compass of thy thought? And, force perforce, I'll make him yield the crown, And wilt thou still be hammering treachery, Whose bookish rule hath pull à fair England To tumble down thy husband, and thyself, down.

[Exit. From top of honour to disgrace's feet ?

Away from me, and let me hear no more. SCENE II.-The same. A room in the Duke Duch. What, what, my lord, are you socholeric of Gloster's house.

With Eleanor, for telling but her dream?

Next time, I'll keep iny dreams unto myself, Enter GLOSTER and the Duchess.

And not be check’d. Duch. Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd Glo. Nay, be not angry, I am pleas'd again.

corn, Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load ?

Enter a Messenger. Why doth the great duke Humphrey knit his Mess. My lord protector, 'tis his highness brows,

pleasure, As frowning at the favours of the world ? You do prepare to ride unto Saint Albans, Why are thine eyes fix'd to the sullen earth, Whereas the king and queen do mean to hawk. Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight? Glo. I go.--Come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us? What see'st thou there? King Henry's diadem, Duch. Yes, good my lord, I'll follow presently. Enchas'd with all the honours of the world?

[Ereunt Gloster and Messenger. If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face,

Follow I must, I cannot go before, Until thy head be circled with the same. While Gloster bears this base and humble mind Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious gold :- Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood, What, is't too short? I'll lengthen it with mine: I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks, And, having both together heav'd it up, And smooth my way upon their headless necks: We'll both together lift our heads to heaven; And, being a woman, I will not be slack And never more abase our sight so low, To play my part in fortune's pageant. As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground. Where are you there? Sir John! nay, fear not, Glo. O Nell, sweet Nell, if thou dost love thy

man, lord,

We are alone; here's none but thee, and I. Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts :

Enter HUME. And may that thought, when I imagine ill Against my king and nephew, virtuous Henry, Hume. Jesu preserve your royal majesty! Be my last breathing in this mortal world! Duch. What say'st thou, majesty! I am but My troublous dream this night doth make me sad. grace. Duch. What dream'd my lord ? tell me, and Hume. But, by the grace of God, and Hume's I'll requite it

advice, With sweet rehearsal of my morning's dream. Your grace's title shall be multiplied.

from me.

guise,

Duch. What say'st thou, man? hast thou as keeping my house, and lands, and wife and all,

yet conferr'd With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch; Suf. Thy wife too? that is some wrong, inAnd Roger Bolingbroke, the conjurer ? deed.—What's yours ?-What's here ! [Reads.] And will they undertake to do me good ? Against the duke of Suffolk, for enclosing the Hume. This they have promised, -to show commons of Melford.—How now, sir knave? your highness

2 Pet. Alas, sir, I am but a poor petitioner of A spirit, rais'd from depth of under ground, our whole township. That shall make answer to such questions, Peter. [Presenting his petition.] Against my As by your grace shall be propounded him. master, Thomas Horner, for saying that the Duck. It is enough: I'll® think upon the duke of York was rightful heir to the crown. questions :

Q. Mar. What say'st thou? Did the duke of When from Saint Albans we do make return, York say, he was rightful heir to the crown ? We'll see these things effected to the full. Peter. That my master was? No, forsooth: Here, Hume, take this reward; make merry, man, my master said, That he was ; and that the king With thy confederates in this weighty cause. was an usurper.

[Erit Duchess. Suf. Who is there? [Enter Servants. ]—Take Hume. Hume must make merry with the this fellow in, and send for his master with a duchess' gold;

pursuivant presently:-we'll hear more of your Marry, and shall. But how now, sir John Hume? matter before the king. Seal up your lips, and give no words but-mum!

[Ereunt Servants, with Peter. The business asketh silent secrecy.

Q. Mar. And as for you, that love to be proDame Eleanor gives gold, to bring the witch :

tected
Gold cannot come amiss, were she a devil. Under the wings of our protector's grace,
Yet have I gold, flies from another coast : Begin your suits anew, and sue to him.
I dare not say, from the rich cardinal,

[Tears the petition. And from the great and new-made duke of Suffolk; Away, base cullions !-Suffolk, let them go. Yet I do find it so: for, to be plain,

All. Come, let's be gone. [Exeunt Petitioners.
They, knowing dame Eleanor's aspiring humour, Q. Mar. My lord of Suffolk, say, is this the
Have hired me to undermine the duchess,
And buz these conjurations in her brain. Is this the fashion in the court of England ?
They say, a crafty knave does need no broker; Is this the government of Britain's isle,
Yet am I Suffolk and the cardinal's broker. And this the royalty of Albion's king ?
Hume, if you take not heed, you shall go near What, shall king Henry be a pupil still,
To call them both pair of crafty knaves. Under the surly Gloster's governance ?
Well

, so it stands : And thus, I fear, at last, Am I a queen in title and in style,
Hune's knavery will be the duchess' wreck; And must be made a subject to a duke?
And her attainture will be Humphrey's fall: I tell thee, Poole, when in the city Tours
Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all. [Exit. Thou ran’st a tilt in honour of my love,

And stol'st away the ladies' hearts of France ; SCENE III.-The same. room in the palace. I thought king Henry had resembled thee, Enter PETER and Others, with petitions.

In courage, courtship, and proportion:

But all his mind is bent to holiness, 1 Pet. My masters, let's stand close ; my lord To number Ave-Maries on his beads : protector will come this way by and by, and then His champions are the prophets and apostles ; we may deliver our supplications in the quill. His weapons, holy saws of sacred writ;

2 Pet. Marry, the Lord protect him, fór he is His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves a good man ! Jesu bless him!

Are brazen images of canoniz'd saints.

I would the college of cardinals Enter SUFFOLK and Queen MARGARET.

Would choose him pope, and carry him to Rome, 1 Pet. Here 'a comes, methinks, and the queen And set the triple crown upon his head; with him: I'll be the first, sure.

That were a state fit for his holiness. 2 Pet. Come back, fool; this is the duke of Suf. Madam, be patient: as I was cause Suffolk, and not my lord protector,

Your highness came to England, so will I Suf. How now, fellow? would'st any thing In England work your grace's full content. with me?

Q. Mar. Beside the haught protector, have 1 Pet. I pray, my lord, pardon me! I took ye we Beaufort, for my lord protector.

The imperious churchman; Somerset, BuckingQ. Mar. [Reading the superscription.) To

ham, my lord protector! are your supplications to his And grumbling York : and not the least of lordship? Let me see them: What is thine ? these,

1 Pet. Mine is, an't please your grace, against But can do more in England than the king. John Goodman, my lord cardinal's man, for Suf. And he of these, that can do most of all,