2 KING HENRY VI

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Contents

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

KING HENRY
the Sixth
(KING HENRY VI:) 
HUMPHREY Duke of Gloucester, his uncle. (GLOUCESTER:) 
CARDINAL BEAUFORT Bishop of Winchester, great-uncle to the King.
(CARDINAL:) 
RICHARD
PLANTAGENET
Duke of York. (YORK:) 
EDWARD 

RICHARD 

 |
| his sons
| 
DUKE OF SOMERSET (SOMERSET:) 
DUKE OF SUFFOLK (SUFFOLK:) 
DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM (BUCKINGHAM:) 
LORD CLIFFORD (CLIFFORD:) 
YOUNG CLIFFORD his son. 
EARL OF SALISBURY (SALISBURY:) 
EARL OF WARWICK (WARWICK:) 
LORD SCALES (SCALES:) 
LORD SAY (SAY:) 
SIR HUMPHREY
STAFFORD
(SIR HUMPHREY:) 
WILLIAM STAFFORD Sir Humphrey Stafford's brother. 
SIR JOHN STANLEY (STANLEY:) 
VAUX:
MATTHEW GOFFE:
A Sea-captain, (Captain:) Master, and Master's-Mate. 
WALTER WHITMORE:
Two Gentlemen, prisoners with Suffolk.
(First Gentleman:)
(Second Gentleman:) 
JOHN HUME (HUME:) 

JOHN SOUTHWELL 

 |
| priests.
| 
BOLINGBROKE a conjurer. 
THOMAS HORNER an armourer. (HORNER:) 
PETER Thomas Horner's man. 
Clerk of Chatham. (Clerk:) 
Mayor of Saint Alban's. (Mayor:) 
SIMPCOX an impostor. 
ALEXANDER IDEN a Kentish gentleman. (IDEN:) 
JACK CADE a rebel. (CADE:) 
GEORGE BEVIS (BEVIS:) 

JOHN HOLLAND (HOLLAND:) 

DICK the butcher (DICK:) 

SMITH the weaver (SMITH:) 

MICHAEL (MICHAEL:) 

&c. 

 |
|
|
|
|
| followers of Cade.
|
|
|
|
| 
Two Murderers
(First Murderer:)
(Second Murderer:) 
QUEEN MARGARET Queen to King Henry. 
ELEANOR Duchess of Gloucester. (DUCHESS:) 
MARGARET JOURDAIN a witch. 
Wife to Simpcox (Wife:) 
Lords, Ladies, and Attendants. Petitioners,
Aldermen, a Herald, a Beadle, Sheriff, and
Officers, Citizens, 'Prentices, Falconers,
Guards, Soldiers, Messengers, &c.
(First Neighbour:)
(Second Neighbour:)
(Third Neighbour:)
(First Petitioner:)
(Second Petitioner:)
(Herald:)
(Beadle:)
(Sheriff:)
(Servant:)
(Soldier:)
(Townsman:)
(First 'Prentice:)
(Second 'Prentice:)
(Post:)
(Messenger:) 
A Spirit. (Spirit:) 

Scene

England. 

Act I

Scene I London. The palace.

[Flourish of trumpets: then hautboys. Enter KING
HENRY VI, GLOUCESTER, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and
CARDINAL, on the one side; QUEEN MARGARET, SUFFOLK,
YORK, SOMERSET, and BUCKINGHAM, on the other] 
SUFFOLK As by your high imperial majesty
I had in charge at my depart for France,
As procurator to your excellence,
To marry Princess Margaret for your grace,
So, in the famous ancient city, Tours,
In presence of the Kings of France and Sicil,
The Dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretagne and Alencon,
Seven earls, twelve barons and twenty reverend bishops,
I have perform'd my task and was espoused:
And humbly now upon my bended knee,
In sight of England and her lordly peers,
Deliver up my title in the queen
To your most gracious hands, that are the substance
Of that great shadow I did represent;
The happiest gift that ever marquess gave,
The fairest queen that ever king received. 
KING HENRY VI Suffolk, arise. Welcome, Queen Margaret:
I can express no kinder sign of love
Than this kind kiss. O Lord, that lends me life,
Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!
For thou hast given me in this beauteous face
A world of earthly blessings to my soul,
If sympathy of love unite our thoughts. 
QUEEN MARGARET Great King of England and my gracious lord,
The mutual conference that my mind hath had,
By day, by night, waking and in my dreams,
In courtly company or at my beads,
With you, mine alder-liefest sovereign,
Makes me the bolder to salute my king
With ruder terms, such as my wit affords
And over-joy of heart doth minister. 
KING HENRY VI Her sight did ravish; but her grace in speech,
Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty,
Makes me from wondering fall to weeping joys;
Such is the fulness of my heart's content.
Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love. 
ALL [Kneeling] Long live Queen Margaret, England's
happiness! 
QUEEN MARGARET We thank you all. 
[Flourish] 
SUFFOLK My lord protector, so it please your grace,
Here are the articles of contracted peace
Between our sovereign and the French king Charles,
For eighteen months concluded by consent. 
GLOUCESTER [Reads] 'Imprimis, it is agreed between the French
king Charles, and William de la Pole, 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'-- 
[Lets the paper fall] 
KING HENRY VI Uncle, how now! 
GLOUCESTER Pardon me, gracious lord;
Some sudden qualm hath struck me at the heart
And dimm'd mine eyes, that I can read no further. 
KING HENRY VI Uncle of Winchester, I pray, read on. 
CARDINAL [Reads] '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 any dowry.' 
KING HENRY VI They please us well. Lord marquess, kneel down:
We here create thee the first duke of Suffolk,
And gird thee with the sword. Cousin of York,
We here discharge your grace from being regent
I' the parts of France, till term of eighteen months
Be full expired. Thanks, uncle Winchester,
Gloucester, York, Buckingham, Somerset,
Salisbury, and Warwick;
We thank you all for the great favour done,
In entertainment to my princely queen.
Come, let us in, and with all speed provide
To see her coronation be perform'd. 
[Exeunt KING HENRY VI, QUEEN MARGARET, and SUFFOLK] 
GLOUCESTER Brave peers of England, pillars of the state,
To you Duke Humphrey must unload his grief,
Your grief, the common grief of all the land.
What! did my brother Henry spend his youth,
His valour, coin and people, in the wars?
Did he so often lodge in open field,
In winter's cold and summer's parching heat,
To conquer France, his true inheritance?
And did my brother Bedford toil his wits,
To keep by policy what Henry got?
Have you yourselves, Somerset, Buckingham,
Brave York, Salisbury, and victorious Warwick,
Received deep scars in France and Normandy?
Or hath mine uncle Beaufort and myself,
With all the learned council of the realm,
Studied so long, sat in the council-house
Early and late, debating to and fro
How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe,
And had his highness in his infancy
Crowned in Paris in despite of foes?
And shall these labours and these honours die?
Shall Henry's conquest, Bedford's vigilance,
Your deeds of war and all our counsel die?
O peers of England, shameful is this league!
Fatal this marriage, cancelling your fame,
Blotting your names from books of memory,
Razing the characters of your renown,
Defacing monuments of conquer'd France,
Undoing all, as all had never been! 
CARDINAL Nephew, what means this passionate discourse,
This peroration with such circumstance?
For France, 'tis ours; and we will keep it still. 
GLOUCESTER Ay, uncle, we will keep it, if we can;
But now it is impossible we should:
Suffolk, the new-made duke that rules the roast,
Hath given the duchy of Anjou and Maine
Unto the poor King Reignier, whose large style
Agrees not with the leanness of his purse. 
SALISBURY Now, by the death of Him that died for all,
These counties were the keys of Normandy.
But wherefore weeps Warwick, my valiant son? 
WARWICK 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;
Those provinces these arms of mine did conquer:
And are the cities, that I got with wounds,
Delivered up again with peaceful words?
Mort Dieu! 
YORK For Suffolk's duke, may he be suffocate,
That dims the honour of this warlike isle!
France should have torn and rent my very heart,
Before I would have yielded to this league.
I never read but England's kings have had
Large sums of gold and dowries with their wives:
And our King Henry gives away his own,
To match with her that brings no vantages. 
GLOUCESTER A proper jest, and never heard before,
That Suffolk should demand a whole fifteenth
For costs and charges in transporting her!
She should have stayed in France and starved
in France, Before-- 
CARDINAL My Lord of Gloucester, now ye grow too hot:
It was the pleasure of my lord the King. 
GLOUCESTER My Lord of Winchester, I know your mind;
'Tis not my speeches that you do mislike,
But 'tis my presence that doth trouble ye.
Rancour will out: proud prelate, in thy face
I see thy fury: if I longer stay,
We shall begin our ancient bickerings.
Lordings, farewell; and say, when I am gone,
I prophesied France will be lost ere long. 
[Exit] 
CARDINAL 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.
Look to it, lords! let not his smoothing words
Bewitch your hearts; be wise and circumspect.
What though the common people favour him,
Calling him 'Humphrey, the good Duke of
Gloucester,'
Clapping their hands, and crying with loud voice,
'Jesu maintain your royal excellence!'
With 'God preserve the good Duke Humphrey!'
I fear me, lords, for all this flattering gloss,
He will be found a dangerous protector. 
BUCKINGHAM Why should he, then, protect our sovereign,
He being of age to govern of himself?
Cousin of Somerset, join you with me,
And all together, with the Duke of Suffolk,
We'll quickly hoise Duke Humphrey from his seat. 
CARDINAL This weighty business will not brook delay:
I'll to the Duke of Suffolk presently. 
[Exit] 
SOMERSET Cousin of Buckingham, though Humphrey's pride
And greatness of his place be grief to us,
Yet let us watch the haughty cardinal:
His insolence is more intolerable
Than all the princes in the land beside:
If Gloucester be displaced, he'll be protector. 
BUCKINGHAM Or thou or I, Somerset, will be protector,
Despite Duke Humphrey or the cardinal. 
[Exeunt BUCKINGHAM and SOMERSET] 
SALISBURY Pride went before, ambition follows him.
While these do labour for their own preferment,
Behoves it us to labour for the realm.
I never saw but Humphrey Duke of Gloucester
Did bear him like a noble gentleman.
Oft have I seen the haughty cardinal,
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 commonweal.
Warwick, my son, the comfort of my age,
Thy deeds, thy plainness and thy housekeeping,
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. 
WARWICK So God help Warwick, as he loves the land,
And common profit of his country! 
YORK [Aside] And so says York, for he hath greatest cause. 
SALISBURY Then let's make haste away, and look unto the main. 
WARWICK 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,
The peers agreed, and Henry was well pleased
To change two dukedoms for a duke's fair daughter.
I cannot blame them all: what is't to them?
'Tis thine they give away, and not their own.
Pirates may make cheap pennyworths of their pillage
And purchase friends and give to courtezans,
Still revelling like lords till all be gone;
While as the silly owner of the goods
Weeps over them and wrings his hapless hands
And shakes his head and trembling stands aloof,
While all is shared and all is borne away,
Ready to starve and dare not touch his own:
So York must sit and fret and bite his tongue,
While his own lands are bargain'd for and sold.
Methinks the realms of England, France and Ireland
Bear that proportion to my flesh and blood
As did the fatal brand Althaea burn'd
Unto the prince's heart of Calydon.
Anjou and Maine both given unto the French!
Cold news for me, for I had hope of France,
Even as I have of fertile England's soil.
A day will come when York shall claim his own;
And therefore I will take the Nevils' parts
And make a show of love to proud Duke Humphrey,
And, when I spy advantage, claim the crown,
For that's the golden mark I seek to hit:
Nor shall proud Lancaster usurp my right,
Nor hold the sceptre in his childish fist,
Nor wear the diadem upon his head,
Whose church-like humours fits not for a crown.
Then, York, be still awhile, till time do serve:
Watch thou and wake when others be asleep,
To pry into the secrets of the state;
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:
Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose,
With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfumed;
And in my standard bear the arms of York
To grapple with the house of Lancaster;
And, force perforce, I'll make him yield the crown,
Whose bookish rule hath pull'd fair England down. 
[Exit] 

Scene II GLOUCESTER'S house.

[Enter GLOUCESTER and his DUCHESS] 
DUCHESS Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd corn,
Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load?
Why doth the great Duke Humphrey knit his brows,
As frowning at the favours of the world?
Why are thine eyes fixed to the sullen earth,
Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight?
What seest thou there? King Henry's diadem,
Enchased with all the honours of the world?
If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face,
Until thy head be circled with the same.
Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious gold.
What, is't too short? I'll lengthen it with mine:
And, having both together heaved it up,
We'll both together lift our heads to heaven,
And never more abase our sight so low
As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground. 
GLOUCESTER 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. 
DUCHESS What dream'd my lord? tell me, and I'll requite it
With sweet rehearsal of my morning's dream. 
GLOUCESTER 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 placed the heads of Edmund Duke of Somerset,
And William de la Pole, first duke of Suffolk.
This was my dream: what it doth bode, God knows. 
DUCHESS Tut, this was nothing but an argument
That he that breaks a stick of Gloucester'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;
Where Henry and dame Margaret kneel'd to me
And on my head did set the diadem. 
GLOUCESTER Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright:
Presumptuous dame, ill-nurtured Eleanor,
Art thou not second woman in the realm,
And the protector's wife, beloved 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! 
DUCHESS What, what, my lord! are you so choleric
With Eleanor, for telling but her dream?
Next time I'll keep my dreams unto myself,
And not be cheque'd. 
GLOUCESTER Nay, be not angry; I am pleased again. 
[Enter Messenger] 
Messenger My lord protector, 'tis his highness' pleasure
You do prepare to ride unto Saint Alban's,
Where as the king and queen do mean to hawk. 
GLOUCESTER I go. Come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us? 
DUCHESS Yes, my good lord, I'll follow presently. 
[Exeunt GLOUCESTER and Messenger] 
Follow I must; I cannot go before,
While Gloucester bears this base and humble mind.
Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood,
I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks
And smooth my way upon their headless necks;
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's none but thee and I. 
[Enter HUME] 
HUME Jesus preserve your royal majesty! 
DUCHESS 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. 
DUCHESS What say'st thou, man? hast thou as yet conferr'd
With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch,
With Roger Bolingbroke, the conjurer?
And will they undertake to do me good? 
HUME This they have promised, to show your highness
A spirit raised from depth of under-ground,
That shall make answer to such questions
As by your grace shall be propounded him. 
DUCHESS It is enough; I'll think upon the questions:
When from St. Alban's we do make return,
We'll see these things effected to the full.
Here, Hume, take this reward; make merry, man,
With thy confederates in this weighty cause. 
[Exit] 
HUME Hume must make merry with the duchess' gold;
Marry, and shall. But how now, Sir John Hume!
Seal up your lips, and give no words but mum:
The business asketh silent secrecy.
Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch:
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,
They, knowing Dame Eleanor's aspiring humour,
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 palace.

[Enter three or four Petitioners, PETER, the
Armourer's man, being one] 
First Petitioner 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. 
Second Petitioner Marry, the Lord protect him, for he's a good man!
Jesu bless him! 
[Enter SUFFOLK and QUEEN MARGARET] 
PETER Here a' comes, methinks, and the queen with him.
I'll be the first, sure. 
Second Petitioner Come back, fool; this is the Duke of Suffolk, and
not my lord protector. 
SUFFOLK How now, fellow! would'st anything with me? 
First Petitioner I pray, my lord, pardon me; I took ye for my lord
protector. 
QUEEN MARGARET [Reading] 'To my Lord Protector!' Are your
supplications to his lordship? Let me see them:
what is thine? 
First Petitioner 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. 
SUFFOLK Thy wife, too! that's 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! 
Second Petitioner Alas, sir, I am but a poor petitioner of our whole township. 
PETER [Giving his petition] Against my master, Thomas
Horner, for saying that the Duke of York was rightful
heir to the crown. 
QUEEN MARGARET What sayst 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. 
SUFFOLK Who is there? 
[Enter Servant] 
Take this fellow in, and send for
his master with a pursuivant presently: we'll hear
more of your matter before the King. 
[Exit Servant with PETER] 
QUEEN MARGARET 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 supplication] 
Away, base cullions! Suffolk, let them go. 
ALL Come, let's be gone. 
[Exeunt] 
QUEEN MARGARET 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 Gloucester's governance?
Am I a queen in title and in style,
And must be made a subject to a duke?
I tell thee, Pole, when in the city Tours
Thou ran'st a tilt in honour of my love
And stolest 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 saws of sacred writ,
His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves
Are brazen images of canonized saints.
I would the college of the cardinals
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. 
SUFFOLK Madam, be patient: as I was cause
Your highness came to England, so will I
In England work your grace's full content. 
QUEEN MARGARET Beside the haughty protector, have we Beaufort,
The imperious churchman, Somerset, Buckingham,
And grumbling York: and not the least of these
But can do more in England than the king. 
SUFFOLK 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. 
QUEEN MARGARET 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,
More like an empress than Duke Humphrey's wife:
Strangers in court do take her for the queen:
She bears a duke's revenues on her back,
And in her heart she scorns our poverty:
Shall I not live to be avenged on her?
Contemptuous base-born callet 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,
Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter. 
SUFFOLK Madam, myself have limed a bush for her,
And placed a quire of such enticing birds,
That she will light 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 disgrace.
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. 
[Sound a sennet. Enter KING HENRY VI, GLOUCESTER,
CARDINAL, BUCKINGHAM, YORK, SOMERSET, SALISBURY,
WARWICK, and the DUCHESS] 
KING HENRY VI 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. 
SOMERSET If Somerset be unworthy of the place,
Let York be regent; I will yield to him. 
WARWICK Whether your grace be worthy, yea or no,
Dispute not that: York is the worthier. 
CARDINAL Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak. 
WARWICK The cardinal's not my better in the field. 
BUCKINGHAM All in this presence are thy betters, Warwick. 
WARWICK Warwick may live to be the best of all. 
SALISBURY Peace, son! and show some reason, Buckingham,
Why Somerset should be preferred in this. 
QUEEN MARGARET Because the king, forsooth, will have it so. 
GLOUCESTER Madam, the king is old enough himself
To give his censure: these are no women's matters. 
QUEEN MARGARET If he be old enough, what needs your grace
To be protector of his excellence? 
GLOUCESTER Madam, I am protector of the realm;
And, at his pleasure, will resign my place. 
SUFFOLK Resign it then and leave thine insolence.
Since thou wert king--as who is king but thou?--
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. 
CARDINAL The commons hast thou rack'd; the clergy's bags
Are lank and lean with thy extortions. 
SOMERSET Thy sumptuous buildings and thy wife's attire
Have cost a mass of public treasury. 
BUCKINGHAM Thy cruelty in execution
Upon offenders, hath exceeded law,
And left thee to the mercy of the law. 
QUEEN MARGARET They 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 GLOUCESTER. QUEEN MARGARET drops her fan] 
Give me my fan: what, minion! can ye not? 
[She gives the DUCHESS a box on the ear] 
I cry you mercy, madam; was it you? 
DUCHESS Was't I! yea, I it was, proud Frenchwoman:
Could I come near your beauty with my nails,
I'd set my ten commandments in your face. 
KING HENRY VI Sweet aunt, be quiet; 'twas against her will. 
DUCHESS 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 unrevenged. 
[Exit] 
BUCKINGHAM Lord cardinal, I will follow Eleanor,
And listen after Humphrey, how he proceeds:
She's tickled now; her fume needs no spurs,
She'll gallop far enough to her destruction. 
[Exit] 
[Re-enter GLOUCESTER] 
GLOUCESTER 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. 
SUFFOLK 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 danced attendance on his will
Till Paris was besieged, famish'd, and lost. 
WARWICK That can I witness; and a fouler fact
Did never traitor in the land commit. 
SUFFOLK Peace, headstrong Warwick! 
WARWICK Image of pride, why should I hold my peace? 
[Enter HORNER, the Armourer, and his man
PETER, guarded] 
SUFFOLK Because here is a man accused of treason:
Pray God the Duke of York excuse himself! 
YORK Doth any one accuse York for a traitor? 
KING HENRY VI What mean'st thou, Suffolk; tell me, what are these? 
SUFFOLK Please it your majesty, this is the man
That doth accuse his master of high treason:
His words were these: that Richard, Duke of York,
Was rightful heir unto the English crown
And that your majesty was a usurper. 
KING HENRY VI Say, man, were these thy words? 
HORNER An't shall please your majesty, I never said nor
thought any such matter: God is my witness, I am
falsely accused by the villain. 
PETER By these ten bones, my lords, 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 rigor of the law. 
HORNER 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. 
KING HENRY VI Uncle, what shall we say to this in law? 
GLOUCESTER This doom, my lord, if I may judge:
Let Somerset be regent over 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. 
SOMERSET I humbly thank your royal majesty. 
HORNER And I accept the combat willingly. 
PETER 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! 
GLOUCESTER Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd. 
KING HENRY VI 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. 
[Flourish. Exeunt] 

Scene IV GLOUCESTER's garden.

[Enter MARGARET JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTHWELL, and
BOLINGBROKE] 
HUME Come, my masters; the duchess, I tell you, expects
performance of your promises. 
BOLINGBROKE Master Hume, we are therefore provided: will her
ladyship behold and hear our exorcisms? 
HUME Ay, what else? fear you not her courage. 
BOLINGBROKE 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. 
[Enter the DUCHESS aloft, HUME following] 
DUCHESS Well said, my masters; and welcome all. To this
gear the sooner the better. 
BOLINGBROKE Patience, good lady; wizards know their times:
Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night,
The 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,
That time best fits the work we have in hand.
Madam, sit you and fear not: whom we raise,
We will make fast within a hallow'd verge. 
[Here they do the ceremonies belonging, and make the
circle; BOLINGBROKE or SOUTHWELL reads, Conjuro te,
&c. It thunders and lightens terribly; then the
Spirit riseth] 
Spirit Adsum. 
MARGARET JOURDAIN Asmath,
By the eternal God, whose name and power
Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask;
For, till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence. 
Spirit Ask what thou wilt. That I had said and done! 
BOLINGBROKE 'First of the king: what shall of him become?' 
[Reading out of a paper] 
Spirit The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose;
But him outlive, and die a violent death. 
[As the Spirit speaks, SOUTHWELL writes the answer] 
BOLINGBROKE 'What fates await the Duke of Suffolk?' 
Spirit By water shall he die, and take his end. 
BOLINGBROKE 'What shall befall the Duke of Somerset?' 
Spirit Let him shun castles;
Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains
Than where castles mounted stand.
Have done, for more I hardly can endure. 
BOLINGBROKE Descend to darkness and the burning lake!
False fiend, avoid! 
[Thunder and lightning. Exit Spirit] 
[Enter YORK and BUCKINGHAM with their Guard
and break in] 
YORK Lay hands upon these traitors and their trash.
Beldam, I think we watch'd you at an inch.
What, madam, are you there? the king and commonweal
Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains:
My lord protector will, I doubt it not,
See you well guerdon'd for these good deserts. 
DUCHESS Not half so bad as thine to England's king,
Injurious duke, that threatest where's no cause. 
BUCKINGHAM True, madam, none at all: what call you this?
Away with them! let them be clapp'd up close.
And kept asunder. You, madam, shall with us.
Stafford, take her to thee. 
[Exeunt above DUCHESS and HUME, guarded] 
We'll see your trinkets here all forthcoming.
All, away! 
[Exeunt guard with MARGARET JOURDAIN, SOUTHWELL, &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, AEacida, Romanos vincere posse.'
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 hardly attain'd,
And hardly understood.
The king is now in progress towards Saint Alban's,
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. 
BUCKINGHAM 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 Servingman] 
Invite my Lords of Salisbury and Warwick
To sup with me to-morrow night. Away! 
[Exeunt] 

Act II

Scene I Saint Alban's.

[Enter KING HENRY VI, QUEEN MARGARET, GLOUCESTER,
CARDINAL, and SUFFOLK, with Falconers halloing] 
QUEEN MARGARET 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. 
KING HENRY VI 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 fain of climbing high. 
SUFFOLK 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. 
GLOUCESTER My lord, 'tis but a base ignoble mind
That mounts no higher than a bird can soar. 
CARDINAL I thought as much; he would be above the clouds. 
GLOUCESTER Ay, my lord cardinal? how think you by that?
Were it not good your grace could fly to heaven? 
KING HENRY VI The treasury of everlasting joy. 
CARDINAL Thy heaven is on earth; thine eyes and thoughts
Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart;
Pernicious protector, dangerous peer,
That smooth'st it so with king and commonweal! 
GLOUCESTER What, cardinal, is your priesthood grown peremptory?
Tantaene animis coelestibus irae?
Churchmen so hot? good uncle, hide such malice;
With such holiness can you do it? 
SUFFOLK No malice, sir; no more than well becomes
So good a quarrel and so bad a peer. 
GLOUCESTER As who, my lord? 
SUFFOLK Why, as you, my lord,
An't like your lordly lord-protectorship. 
GLOUCESTER Why, Suffolk, England knows thine insolence. 
QUEEN MARGARET And thy ambition, Gloucester. 
KING HENRY VI I prithee, peace, good queen,
And whet not on these furious peers;
For blessed are the peacemakers on earth. 
CARDINAL Let me be blessed for the peace I make,
Against this proud protector, with my sword! 
GLOUCESTER [Aside to CARDINAL] Faith, holy uncle, would
'twere come to that! 
CARDINAL [Aside to GLOUCESTER] Marry, when thou darest. 
GLOUCESTER [Aside to CARDINAL] Make up no factious
numbers for the matter;
In thine own person answer thy abuse. 
CARDINAL [Aside to GLOUCESTER] Ay, where thou darest
not peep: an if thou darest,
This evening, on the east side of the grove. 
KING HENRY VI How now, my lords! 
CARDINAL Believe me, cousin Gloucester,
Had not your man put up the fowl so suddenly,
We had had more sport. 
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] 
Come with thy two-hand sword. 
GLOUCESTER True, uncle. 
CARDINAL [Aside to GLOUCESTER] Are ye advised? the
east side of the grove? 
GLOUCESTER [Aside to CARDINAL] Cardinal, I am with you. 
KING HENRY VI Why, how now, uncle Gloucester! 
GLOUCESTER Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord. 
[Aside to CARDINAL] 
Now, by God's mother, priest, I'll shave your crown for this,
Or all my fence shall fail. 
CARDINAL [Aside to GLOUCESTER] Medice, teipsum--
Protector, see to't well, protect yourself. 
KING HENRY VI 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 a Townsman of Saint Alban's, crying 'A miracle!'] 
GLOUCESTER What means this noise?
Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim? 
Townsman A miracle! a miracle! 
SUFFOLK Come to the king and tell him what miracle. 
Townsman Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban's shrine,
Within this half-hour, hath received his sight;
A man that ne'er saw in his life before. 
KING HENRY VI Now, God be praised, that to believing souls
Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair! 
[Enter the Mayor of Saint Alban's and his
brethren, bearing SIMPCOX, between two in a
chair, SIMPCOX's Wife following] 
CARDINAL Here comes the townsmen on procession,
To present your highness with the man. 
KING HENRY VI Great is his comfort in this earthly vale,
Although by his sight his sin be multiplied. 
GLOUCESTER Stand by, my masters: bring him near the king;
His highness' pleasure is to talk with him. 
KING HENRY VI Good fellow, tell us here the circumstance,
That we for thee may glorify the Lord.
What, hast thou been long blind and now restored? 
SIMPCOX Born blind, an't please your grace. 
Wife Ay, indeed, was he. 
SUFFOLK What woman is this? 
Wife His wife, an't like your worship. 
GLOUCESTER Hadst thou been his mother, thou couldst have
better told. 
KING HENRY VI Where wert thou born? 
SIMPCOX At Berwick in the north, an't like your grace. 
KING HENRY VI 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. 
QUEEN MARGARET Tell me, good fellow, camest thou here by chance,
Or of devotion, to this holy shrine? 
SIMPCOX 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. 
CARDINAL What, art thou lame? 
SIMPCOX Ay, God Almighty help me! 
SUFFOLK How camest thou so? 
SIMPCOX A fall off of a tree. 
Wife A plum-tree, master. 
GLOUCESTER How long hast thou been blind? 
SIMPCOX Born so, master. 
GLOUCESTER What, and wouldst climb a tree? 
SIMPCOX But that in all my life, when I was a youth. 
Wife Too true; and bought his climbing very dear. 
GLOUCESTER Mass, thou lovedst plums well, that wouldst
venture so. 
SIMPCOX Alas, good master, my wife desired some damsons,
And made me climb, with danger of my life. 
GLOUCESTER A subtle knave! but yet it shall not serve.
Let me see thine eyes: wink now: now open them:
In my opinion yet thou seest not well. 
SIMPCOX Yes, master, clear as day, I thank God and
Saint Alban. 
GLOUCESTER Say'st thou me so? What colour is this cloak of? 
SIMPCOX Red, master; red as blood. 
GLOUCESTER Why, that's well said. What colour is my gown of? 
SIMPCOX Black, forsooth: coal-black as jet. 
KING HENRY VI Why, then, thou know'st what colour jet is of? 
SUFFOLK And yet, I think, jet did he never see. 
GLOUCESTER But cloaks and gowns, before this day, a many. 
Wife Never, before this day, in all his life. 
GLOUCESTER Tell me, sirrah, what's my name? 
SIMPCOX Alas, master, I know not. 
GLOUCESTER What's his name? 
SIMPCOX I know not. 
GLOUCESTER Nor his? 
SIMPCOX No, indeed, master. 
GLOUCESTER What's thine own name? 
SIMPCOX Saunder Simpcox, an if it please you, master. 
GLOUCESTER Then, Saunder, sit there, the lyingest knave in
Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, thou
mightest as well have known all our names as thus to
name the several colours we do wear. Sight may
distinguish of colours, but suddenly to nominate them
all, it is impossible. My lords, Saint Alban here
hath done a miracle; and would ye not think his
cunning to be great, that could restore this cripple
to his legs again? 
SIMPCOX O master, that you could! 
GLOUCESTER My masters of Saint Alban's, have you not beadles in
your town, and things called whips? 
Mayor Yes, my lord, if it please your grace. 
GLOUCESTER Then send for one presently. 
Mayor Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight. 
[Exit an Attendant] 
GLOUCESTER Now fetch me a stool hither by and by. Now, sirrah,
if you mean to save yourself from whipping, leap me
over this stool and run away. 
SIMPCOX Alas, master, I am not able to stand alone:
You go about to torture me in vain. 
[Enter a Beadle with whips] 
GLOUCESTER Well, sir, we must have you find your legs. Sirrah
beadle, whip him till he leap over that same stool. 
Beadle I will, my lord. Come on, sirrah; off with your
doublet quickly. 
SIMPCOX 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 they follow and cry, 'A miracle!'] 
KING HENRY VI O God, seest Thou this, and bearest so long? 
QUEEN MARGARET It made me laugh to see the villain run. 
GLOUCESTER Follow the knave; and take this drab away. 
Wife Alas, sir, we did it for pure need. 
GLOUCESTER Let them be whipped through every market-town, till
they come to Berwick, from whence they came. 
[Exeunt Wife, Beadle, Mayor, &c] 
CARDINAL Duke Humphrey has done a miracle to-day. 
SUFFOLK True; made the lame to leap and fly away. 
GLOUCESTER But you have done more miracles than I;
You made in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly. 
[Enter BUCKINGHAM] 
KING HENRY VI What tidings with our cousin Buckingham? 
BUCKINGHAM 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 practised dangerously against your state,
Dealing with witches and with conjurers:
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. 
CARDINAL [Aside to GLOUCESTER] And so, my lord protector,
by this means
Your lady is forthcoming yet at London.
This news, I think, hath turn'd your weapon's edge;
'Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour. 
GLOUCESTER Ambitious churchman, leave to afflict my heart:
Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my powers;
And, vanquish'd as I am, I yield to thee,
Or to the meanest groom. 
KING HENRY VI O God, what mischiefs work the wicked ones,
Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby! 
QUEEN MARGARET Gloucester, see here the tainture of thy nest.
And look thyself be faultless, thou wert best. 
GLOUCESTER Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal,
How I have loved my king and commonweal:
And, for my wife, I know not how it stands;
Sorry I am to hear what I have heard:
Noble she is, but if she have forgot
Honour and virtue and conversed with such
As, like to pitch, defile nobility,
I banish her my bed and company
And give her as a prey to law and shame,
That hath dishonour'd Gloucester's honest name. 
KING HENRY VI Well, for this night we will repose us here:
To-morrow toward London back again,
To look into this business thoroughly
And call these foul offenders to their answers
And poise the cause in justice' equal scales,
Whose beam stands sure, whose rightful cause prevails. 
[Flourish. Exeunt] 

Scene II London. YORK'S garden.

[Enter YORK, SALISBURY, and WARWICK] 
YORK Now, my good Lords of Salisbury and Warwick,
Our simple supper ended, give me leave
In this close walk to satisfy myself,
In craving your opinion of my title,
Which is infallible, to England's crown. 
SALISBURY My lord, I long to hear it at full. 
WARWICK Sweet York, begin: and if thy claim be good,
The Nevils are thy subjects to command. 
YORK Then thus:
Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons:
The first, Edward the Black Prince, Prince of Wales;
The second, William of Hatfield, and the third,
Lionel Duke of Clarence: next to whom
Was John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster;
The fifth was Edmund Langley, Duke of York;
The sixth was Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester;
William of Windsor was the seventh and last.
Edward the Black Prince died before his father
And left behind him Richard, his only son,
Who after Edward the Third's death reign'd as king;
Till Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster,
The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt,
Crown'd by the name of Henry the Fourth,
Seized on the realm, deposed 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. 
WARWICK 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. 
SALISBURY But William of Hatfield died without an heir. 
YORK The third son, Duke of Clarence, from whose line
I claimed the crown, had issue, Philippe, a daughter,
Who married Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March:
Edmund had issue, Roger Earl of March;
Roger had issue, Edmund, Anne and Eleanor. 
SALISBURY This Edmund, in the reign of Bolingbroke,
As I have read, laid claim unto the crown;
And, but for Owen Glendower, had been king,
Who kept him in captivity till he died.
But to the rest. 
YORK His eldest sister, Anne,
My mother, being heir unto the crown
Married Richard Earl of Cambridge; who was son
To Edmund Langley, Edward the Third's fifth son.
By her I claim the kingdom: she was heir
To Roger Earl of March, who was the son
Of Edmund Mortimer, who married Philippe,
Sole daughter unto Lionel Duke of Clarence:
So, if the issue of the elder son
Succeed before the younger, I am king. 
WARWICK What plain proceeding is more plain than this?
Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt,
The fourth son; York claims it from the third.
Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign:
It fails not yet, but flourishes in thee
And in thy sons, fair slips of such a stock.
Then, father Salisbury, kneel we 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 snared 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. 
SALISBURY My lord, break we off; we know your mind at full. 
WARWICK My heart assures me that the Earl of Warwick
Shall one day make the Duke of York a king. 
YORK And, Nevil, this I do assure myself:
Richard shall live to make the Earl of Warwick
The greatest man in England but the king. 
[Exeunt] 

Scene III A hall of justice.

[Sound trumpets. Enter KING HENRY VI, QUEEN
MARGARET, GLOUCESTER, YORK, SUFFOLK, and SALISBURY;
the DUCHESS, MARGARET JOURDAIN, SOUTHWELL, HUME,
and BOLINGBROKE, under guard] 
KING HENRY VI Stand forth, Dame Eleanor Cobham, Gloucester's wife:
In sight of God and us, your guilt is great:
Receive the sentence of the law for sins
Such as by God's book are adjudged to death.
You four, from hence to prison back again;