ACT V.

Enter King Henry, attended.

• K. Hen. Buekingham, doth York intend no SCENE I.--The same. Fields between Dartford

harm to us, and Blackheath. The King's camp on one side. • That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm? On the other, enter York allended, with drum * York. In all submission and humility, and colours : his forces at some distance. * York doth present himself unto your highness. • York. From Ireland thus comes York, to claim

* K. Hen. Then what intend these forces thou his right,

dost bring ? * And pluck the crown from feeble Henry's head :

• York. To heave the traitor Somerset from • Ring, bells, aloud; burn, bonfires, clear and bright,

hence; • To entertain great England's lawful king.

And fight against that monstrous rebel, Cade, Ah, sancta majestas! who would not buy thee dear?

• Who since I heard to be discomfited. • Let them obey, that know not how to rule ;

Enter Iden, with Cade's head. • This hand was made to handle nought but gold: • Iden. If one so rude, and of so mean condition, •I cannot give due action to my words,

May pass into the presence of a king, • Except a sword or sceptre balance it,

Lo, I present your grace a traitor's head, • A sceptre shall it have, have I a soul ;

The head of Cade, whom I in combat slew. • On which I'll toss the flower-de-luce of France. • K. Hen. The head of Cade?-Great God, how Enter Buckingham.

just art thou! • Whom have we here? Buckingham, to disturb me?

O, let me view his visage, being dead,

That living wrought me such exceeding trouble. • The king hath sent him, sure : I must dissemble. • Buck. York, if thou meanest well, I greet thee

Tell me, my friend, art thou the man that slew him?

Iden. I was, an't like well.

your majesty • York. Humphrey of Buckingham, I accept thy

• K. Hen. How art thou call?d?nd what is thy

degree? greeting.

• Iden. Alexander Iden, that's my name; * Art thou a messenger, or come of pleasure ? * Buck. A messenger from Henry, our dread liege,

A poor esquire of Kent, that loves his king.

* Buck. So please • To know the reason of these arms in peace;

you, iny lord, 'twere not

amiss • Or why, thou-being a subject as I

am,

* He were created knight for his good service. • Against thy oath and true allegiance sworn, *K. Hen. Iden, kneel down. (He kneels.] Rise • Should'st raise so great a power without his leave, • Or dare to bring thy force so near the court.

up a knight.

We give thee for reward a thousand marks; • York. Scarce can I speak, my choler) * And will, that thou henceforth attend on us. is so great.

• Iden. May Iden live to merit such a bounty, 0, I could hew up rocks, and fight with

And never live but true unto his liege! flint,

• K. Hen. See, Buckingham! Somerset comes. • I am so angry at these abject terms;

with the queen ; • And now, like Ajax Telamonius,

'Go, bid her hide him quickly from the duke. • On sheep or oxen could I spend my fury! Aside. • I am far better born than is the king;

Enter Queen Margaret and Somerset. • More like a king, more kingly in my

.Q. Mar. For thousand Yorks he shall not hide thoughts :

his head, • But I must make fair weather yet a while, * But boldly stand, and front him to his face. • Till Henry be more weak, and I more

• York. How now! Is Somerset at liberty ? strong.

• Then, York, unloose thy long-imprison'd thoughts, O Buckingham, I prythee, pardon me, * And let thy tongue be equal with thy heart. • That I have given no answer all this while; * Shall I endure the sight of Somerset?

My mind was troubled with deep melancholy. • False king! why hast thou broken faith with me, • The cause why I have brought this army hither, Knowing how hardly I can brook abuse ? • Is--to remove proud Somerset from the king, King did I call thee? no, thou art not king; • Seditious to his grace, and to the state.

Not fit to govern and rule multitudes, • Buck. That is too much presumption on thy || Which dar'st not, no, nor canst not rule a traitor. part:

"That head of thine doth not become a crown; . But if thy arms be to no other end,

Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer's staff, • The king hath yielded unto thy demand; * And not to grace an awful princely sceptre. • The duke of Somerset is in the Tower.

That gold must round engirt these brows of mine; York. Upon thine honour, is he prisoner? • Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles' spear, Buck, Upon mine honour, he is prisoner. • Is able with the change to kill and cure. • York. Then, Buckingham, I do dismiss my

• Here is a hand to hold a sceptre up, powers. --

* And with the same to act controlling laws. Soldiers, I thank you all : disperse yourselves; Give place; by heaven, thou shalt rule no more • Meet me to-morrow in Saint George's field, 1. O'er him, whom heaven created for thy ruler. • You shall have pay, and every thing you wish. • Som. O monstrous traitor!-I arrest thee, York, * And let my sovereign, virtuous Henry, * Of capital treason 'gainst the king and crown: * Command my eldest son,-nay, all my sons,

* Obey, audacious traitor; kneel for grace. * As pledges of my fealty and love,

* York. Would'st have me kneel? first let me * I'll send them all as willing as I live;

ask of these, * Lands, goods, horse, armour, any thing I have * If they can brook I bow a knee to man. * Is his to use, so Somerset may die.

* Sirrah, call in my sons to be my bail ; • Buck. York, I commend this kind submission:

(Exit an attendant. • We twain will go into his highness' tent. * I know, ere they will have me go to ward2 (1) i. e. Balance my hand.

(2) Custody, confinement,

me?

king!

His

* They'll pawn their swords for my enfranchise- 11 * Thou mad misleader of thy brain-sick son ! ment.

* What, wilt thou on thy death-bed play the ruffian, "Q. Mar. Call hither Clifford; bid him come * And seek for sorrow with thy spectacles? amain,

* 0, where is faith? O, where is loyalty ? * To say, if that the bastard boys of York * If it be banish'd from the frosty head, * Shall be the surety for their traitor father. * Where shall it find a harbour in the earth?

* York. O blood-bespotted Neapolitan, * Wilt thou go dig a grave to find out war, * Outcast of Naples, England's bloody scourge! * And shame thine honourable age with blood ? * The sons of York, thy betters in their birth, * Why art thou old, and want'st experience • Shall be their father's bail; and bane to those * Or wherefore dost abuse it, if thou hast it? • That for my surety will refuse the boys.

* For shame! in duty bend thy knee to me,

* That bows unto the grave with mickle age. Enter Edward and Richard Plantagenet, with

* Sal. My lord, I have considered with myself forces, at one side; at the other, with forces also, || * The title of this most renowned duke; Old Clifford and his son.

* And in my conscience do repute his grace * See, where they come; I'll warrant they'll make * The rightful heir to England's royal seat. it good.

* K. Hen. Hast thou not sworn allegiance unto * Q. Mar. And here comes Clifford, to deny their bail.

* Sal. I have. *Clif. Health and all happiness to my lord the * K. Hen. Canst thou dispense with heaven for

[Kneels.

such an oath? • York. I thank thee, Clifford : Say, what news * Sal. It is great sin, to swear unto a sin; with thee?

* But greater sin, to keep a sinful oath. Nay, do not fright us with an angry look : * Who can be bound by any solemn vow • We are thy sovereign, Clifford, kneel again; * To do a murderous deed, to rob a man, • For thy mistaking so, we pardon thee.

* To force a spotless virgin's chastity, Clif. This is my king, York, I do not mistake ; * To reave the orphan of his patrimony, • But thou mistak'st me much, to think I do :- * To wring the widow from her custom'd right; * To Bedlam with him! is the man grown mad? * And have no other reason for this wrong, • K. Hen. Ay, Clifford; a bedlam and ambitious * But that he was bound by a solemn oath? humour

Q. Mar. A subtle traitor needs no sophister. • Makes him oppose himself against his king. .K. Hen. Call Buckingham, and bid him arm *Clif. He is a traitor ; let him to the Tower,

himself. . And chop away that factious pate of his.

* York. Call Buckingham, and all the friends 2. Mar. He is arrested, but will not obey;

thou hast, sons,

he says, shall give their words for him. · I am resolv'd for death, or dignity. • York. Will you not, sons?

*Clif. The first, I warrant thee, if dreams prove Edw. Ay, noble father, if our words will serve.

true. • Rich. And if words will not, then our weapons • War. You were best to go to bed, and dream shall.

again, * Clif. Why, what a brood of traitors have we To keep thee from the tempest of the field. here!

Clif. I am resolv'd to bear a greater storm, * York. Look in a glass, and call thy image so ; || Than any thou canst conjure up to-day; *I am thy king, and thou a false-heart traitor. And that I'll write upon thy burgonet, * Call hither to the stake my two brave bears, Might I but know thee by thy household badge. * That, with the very shaking of their chains, War. Now, by my father's badge, old Nevil's * They may astonish these fell lurking curs;

crest, * Bid Salisbury, and Warwick, come to me. The rampant bear chain'd to the ragged staff, Drums. Enter Warwick and Salisbury, with|| (As on a mountain-top the cedar shows,

This day I'll wear aloft my burgonet,3 forces.

That keeps his leaves in spite of any storm,) · Clif. Are these thy bears? we'll bait thy bears Even to aftright thee with the view thereof. to death,

Clif. And from thy burgonet I'll rend thy bear, • And manacle the bear-ward2 in their chains, And tread it under foot with all contempt, • If thou dar'st bring them to the baiting-place. Despite the bear-ward that protects the bear.

* Rich. Oft have I seen a hot o'erweening cur • Y. Clif. And so to arms, victorious father, * Run back and bite, because he was withheld; • To quell the rebels, and their 'complices. * Who, being suffer'd with the bear's fell paw, Rich. Fie! charity, for shame! speak not in spite, * Hath clapp'd his tail between his legs, and cry'd : For you shall sup with Jesu Christ to-night. * And such a piece of service will

• Ý. Clif. Foul stigmatic, 4 that's more than thou If you oppose yourselves to match lord Warwick.

canst tell. *Clif. Hence, heap of wrath, foul indigested • Rich. If not in heaven, you'll surely sup in lump,

hell.

(Exeunt severally. * As crooked in thy manners as thy shape!

* York. Nay, we shall heat you thoroughly anon. SCENE II.-Saint Albans. Alarums: Excur* Clif. Take heed, lest by your

heat

sions.
burn

Enter Warwick.
you
yourselves.

War. Clifford of Cumberland, 'tis Warwick calls! * K. Hen. Why, Warwick, hath thy knee forgot And if thou dost not hide thee from the bear, to bow?

Now,--when the angry trumpet sounds alarm, * Old Salisbury,-shame to thy silver hair, And dead men's cries do fill the empty air,

(1) The Nevils, earls of Warwick, had a bear (3) Helmet. and ragged staff for their crest,

(4) One on whom nature has set a mark of de (2) Bear-keeper.

formity, a stigma.

you do,

Clifford, I say, come forth and fight with me! * Meet I an infant of the house of York,
Proud northern lord, Clifford of Cumberland, * Into as many gobbets will I cut it,
Warwick is hoarse with calling thee to arms. * As wild Medea young Absyrtus did :
Enter York.

* In cruelty will I seek out my fame.

Come, thou new ruin of old Clifford's house; How now, my noble lord? what, all a-foot?

[Taking up the body. • York. The deadly-handed Clifford slew my

· As did Æneas old Anchises bear, steed;

* So bear I thee upon my manly shoulders; • But match to match I have encountered him,

* But then Æneas bare a living load, • And made a prey for carrion kites and crows * Nothing so heavy as these woes of mine. (Exit. Even of the bonny beast he lov'd so well.

Enter Richard Plantagenet and Somerset, fightEnter Clifford.

ing, and Somerset is killed. · War. Of one or both of us the time is come.

Rich. So, lie thou there;York. Hold, Warwick, seek thee out some other

• For, underneath an ale-house' paltry sign, chace,

The Castle in Saint Albans, Somerset

Hath made the wizard famous in his death.For I myself must hunt this deer to death. War. Then, nobly, York; 'tis for a crown thou

* Sword, hold thy temper; heart, be wrathful still : fight'st.

* Priests pray for enemies, but princes kill. [Exit. • As I intend, Clifford, to thrive to-day,

Alarums: Excursions. Enter King Henry, Queen It grieves my soul to leave thee unassail'd.

Margaret, and others, retreating.

(Exit Warwick • Clif. What seest thou in me, York? Why dost Q. Mar. Away, my lord! you are slow; for thou pause?

shame, away! ‘York. With thy brave bearing should I be in love, * K. Hen. Can we outrun the heavens? good • But that thou art so fast mine enemy.

Margaret, stay. *Clif. Nor should thy prowess want praise and

* Q. Mar. What are you made of? you'll not esteem,

tight, nor fly : • But that 'tis shown ignobly, and in treason.

* Now is it manhood, wisdom, and defence, • York. So let it help me now against thy sword,

* To give the enemy way : and to secure us • As I in justice and true right express it!

* By what we can, which can no more but fly. • Clif. My soul and body on the action both!

(Alarum afar off • York. A dreadful lay !!-address thee instantly. * If you be ta’en, we then should see the bottom

[They fight, and Clifford falls. * Of all our fortunes: but if we haply 'scape Clif. La fin couronne les ouvres. (Dies. (As well we may, if not through your neglect,) York. Thus war hath given thee peace,

for * We shall to London get; where you are lov’d; thou art still.

* And where this breach, now in our fortunes made, • Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will ! * May readily be stopp'd.

(Exit.

Enter Young Clifford.
Enter Young Clifford.

* Y. Clif. But that my heart's on future mis* Y. Clif. Shame and confusion! all is on the

chief set, rout;

* I would speak blasphemy ere bid you fly; * Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds * Where it should guard. O war, thou son of hell, \ * Reigns in the hearts of all our present parts.6

* But fly you must; uncurable discomfit * Whom angry heavens do make their minister, * Throw in the frozen bosoms of our part

* Away, for your relief! and we will live

* To see their day, and them our fortune give: * Hot coals of vengeance !-Let no soldier fly : * He that is truly dedicate to war,

* Away, my lord, away!

(Exeunt. * Hath no self-love; nor he, that loves himself,

SCENE III.-Fields near Saint Albans. Alar. * Hath not essentially, but by circumstance,

um: Retreat. Flourish; then enter York, Rich* The name of valour.-0, let the vile world end,

ard Plantagenet, Warwick, and Soldiers, with [Seeing his dead father.

drum and colours. * And the premised2 flames of the last day * Knit earth and heaven together!

• York. Of Salisbury, who can report of him; * Now let the general trumpet blow his blast,

* That winter lion, who, in rage, forgets * Particularities and petty sounds

* Aged contusions and all brush of time ;? * To cease !3_-Wast thou ordain'd, dear father, * And, like a gallant in the brow of youth, * To lose thy youth in peace, and to achieve4 * Repairs him with occasion ? this happy day * The silver livery of advised age;

* Is not itself, nor have we won one foot, * And, in thy reverence, and thy chair-days, thus * If Salisbury be lost. * To die in ruffian battle?-Even at this sight,

· Rich.

My noble father, * My heart is turn'd to stone: and, while 'tis . Three times to-day I holp him to his horse, mine,

• Three times bestrid him, thrice I led him off, * It shall be stony. York not our old men spares ;||Persuaded him from any further act: * No more will I their babes : tears virginal But still, where danger was, still there I met him; * Shall be to me even as the dew to fire;

* And like rich hangings in a homely house, * And beauty, that the tyrant oft reclaims, * So was his will in his old feeble body. * Shall to my flarning wrath be oil and flax. * But, noble as he is, look where he comes * Henceforth, I will not have to do with pity:

(6) For parties. (1) A dreadful wager; a tremendous stake. (7) i. e. The gradual detrition of time. (2) Sent before their time. (3) Stop.

(8) i. e. The height of youth: the brow of a hill (4) Obtain. (5) Considerate.

Jis its summit.

forth :

Enter Salisbury.

“For, as I hear, the king is fled to London,

* To call a present court of parliament. • Sal. Now, by my sword, well hast thou fought

* Let us pursue him, ere the writs

go to-day;

- What says lord Warwick ? shail we after them? • By the mass, so did we all.— I thank you, Richard:

War. After them! nay, before them, if we can. God knows, how long it is I have to live; • And it hath pleas'd him, that three times to-day || Saint Albans' battle, won by famous York,

Now, by my faith, lords, 'twas a glorious day : • You have defended me from imminent death.

Shall be eterniz'd in all age to come. * Well, lords, we have not got that which we have:? | Sound, drums and trumpets ;—and to London all: * 'Tis not enough our foes are this time fled,

And more such days as these to us befall! * Being opposites of such repairing nature.3

[Exeunt. • York. I know, our safety is to follow them:

(3) i. e. Being enemies that are likely so soon to (2) i. e. We have not secured that which we || rally and recover themselves from this defeat. bave acquired.