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The mutual conference that my mind hath | Or hath my uncle Beaufort, and myself,
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.

K. Hen. 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. Long live queen Margaret, England's happiness!

Q. Mar. We thank you all.

[Flourish.

Suf. 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.

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 hath his highness in his infancy
Been crown'd 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!

Car. Nephew, what means this passionate dis-
course?

This peroration with such circumstance? *
For France, 'tis our's: and we will keep it still.
Glo. Ay, uncle, we will keep it, if we cau;
But now it is impossible we should :
Suffolk, the new-made duke that rules the
roast,

These counties were the keys of Normandy :-
But wherefore weeps Warwick, my valiant

Glo. [Reads.] Imprimis, It is agreed between the French King, Charles, and Wil-Hath given the dutchies of Anjou and Maine liam de la Poole, marquis of Suffolk, ambas- Unto the poor king Reignier, whose large style sador for Henry king of England, that the Agrees not with the leanness of his purse. said Henry shall espouse the lady Margaret, Sal. Now, by the death of him that died for daughter unto Reignier king of Naples, Siall, cilia, and Jerusalem; and crown her queen of England, ere the thirtieth of May next ensuing.Item,-That the dutchy 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 heart,

the

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 dutchies of Anjou and Maine skall 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.

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;
Those provinces these arms of mine did con.
quer :

And are the cities, that I got with wounds,
Deliver'd up again with peaceful words?
Mort Dieu!

York. For Suffolk's duke-may he be suffo

cate,

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.

K. Hen. They please us well.-Lord mar-I never read but England's kings have bad

quis, kneel down;

We here create thee the first duke of Suffolk,
And girt thee with the sword.

Cousin of York, we here discharge your grace
From being reg-nt in the parts of France,
Tull term of eighteen months be full expir'd.
Thanks, uncle Winchester, Gloster, York, and
Buckingham,

Somerset, Salisbury, and Warwick:

We thank you all for this 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 KINO, QUEEN, and SUFFOLK. Cle. 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 Heury got?
Have you yourselves, Somerset, Buckingham,
Brave York, Salisbury, and victorious War-
wick,

Receiv'd deep scars in France and Normandy?

I am the boller to address you, having already fa liarized you to my imagination. + Befored Bure all things.

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.
Glo. A proper jest, and never heard before,
That Suffolk should demand a whole fifteenth,
For costs and charges in transporting her!
She should have staid in France, and stary'd in
France,

Before

Cur. 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;

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Car. This weighty business will not brook delay;

I'll to the duke of Suffolk presently.

[Erit. Som. 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 Gloster be displac'd, he'll be protector.
Buck. Or thou, or Í, Somerset, will be pro-
tector,

Despight duke Humphrey, or the cardinal.

[Exeunt BUCKINGHAM and SOMERSET. Sal. Pride went before, ambition follows bim.

While these do labour for their own ment,

prefer

Behoves it us to labour for the realm.
I never saw but Humphrey duke of Gloster
Did bear bim 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 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.

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 pleas'é,
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 thei
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,

sold.

While all is shar'd, 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
[Ireland.
Methinks, the realms of England, France, and
Bear that proportion to my flesh and bloou,
As did the fatal brand Altbea 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 Nevil's 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 tist,
Nor wear the diadem upon his head,
Whose church-like humours fit 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 per-
fum'd;

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. [back.

SCENE II.-The same.-A Room in the Duke of GLOSTER's House.

Enter GLOSTER and the DUCHESS. Duch. Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd

corn,

Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load?

War. So God help Warwick, as he loves the Why doth the great duke Humphrey kait his 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

Jast:

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;

brows,

As frowning at the favours of the world?
Why are thine eyes fix'd to the sullen earth,
Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight?
What see'st thou there? king Henry's diadem,
Enchas'd 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 heav'd it up,
We'll both together lift our heads to heaven;

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KING HENRY VI

And never more abase our sight so low,
As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground.
Glo. 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.

Duch. What dream'd my lord? tell me, and
I'll requite it

With sweet rehearsal of my morning's dream.
Glo. 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 plac'd the heads of Edmund duke of So-
merset,

And William de la Poole first duke of Suffolk.
This was my dream; what it doth bode, God

knows.

Duch. Tut, this was nothing but an argu.
ment,

That be that breaks a stick of Gloster's grove,
Sball 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
crown'd:

Where Heury, and dame Margaret, kneel'd

me,

Aud on my head did set the diadem.

Glo. Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide
right:

Presumptuous dame, ill-nutur'd Eleanor!
Art thou not second woman in the realm;
And the protector's wife, belov'd 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.
Duck. What, what, my lord! are you

choleric

With Eleanor, for telling but her dream?
Next time, I'll keep my dreams unto myself,
And not be check'd.

. But, by the grace of God

advice,

Your grace's title shall be multiplied.

Duch. What say'st thou, man? hast thou as
yet conferr'd

With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch;
And Roger Bolingbroke, the conjurer?
And will they undertake to do me good?
Hume. This they have promised,-to show
your highness

A spirit rais'd from depth of under ground,
That shall make answer to such questions,
As by your grace shall be propounded him.
Duch. It is enough; I'll think upon the ques-
tions:

When from Saint 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 DUCHESS.
Hume. Hume must make merry with the du-
chess' gold;
But how now, Sir John
Hume ?
Marry, and shall.

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.

are

to

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, out-They, knowing dame Eleanor's aspiring hu

Glo. Nay, be not angry, I am pleas'd again.

Enter a MESSENGER.

mour,

Have hired me to undermine the duchess,
And buz these conjuratious 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 kuaves,
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:
[Exit.
so Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all.

Mess. My lord protector, 'tis his highness' pleasure,

You do prepare to ride unto Saint Alban's, Whereas the king and queen do mean to bawk.

Glo. I go.-Come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us ?

Duch. Yes, good my lord, I'll follow presently.

[Exeunt GLOSTER and MESSENGER. Follow I must, I cannot go before, While Gloster bears this base

mind.

and humble

Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood,

I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks, 2nd smooth my way

necks:

upon their

And, being a woman, I will not be slack
To play my part in fortune's pageant.
Where are you there? Sir John

not, man,

headless

nay,

We are alone; here none but thee, and I.

Enter HUME.

SCENE III.-The same.-A Room in the
Palace.

Enter PETER, and others, with Petitions.
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.

Suf. 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 lordship? Let me see them: What is thine?

1 Pet. Mine is, an't please your grace, against fear John Goodman, my lord cardinal's man, for keeping my house, and lands, and wife, and all, from me.

Hume. Jesn preserve your royal majesty !
Duch. What say'st thon, majesty! I am but

grace.

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Suf. Thy wife too? that is some wrong, indeed.-What's your's ?-What's here! [Reads.]

Against the duke of Suffolk for enclosing the commons of Melford.-How now, sir knave?

Let the issue be what it will.

+ With great exactness and observance of form,

Peter. [Presenting his Petition.] Against my master, Thomas Horner, for saying, That the duke of York was rightful heir to the

2 Pet. Alas, Sir, I am but a poor petitioner | And plac'd a quire of such enticing birds,
That she will light to listen to the lays,
of our whole township.
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 dis-

crown.

Q. Mar. What say'st 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.

Suf. Who is there? [Enter Servants.]—Take this fellow in, and send for his master with a pursuivant presently:-we'll hear more of your [Exeunt Servants with PETER. Q. Mar. And as for you, that love to be protected

matter before the king.

Under the wings of our protector's grace,
Begin your suits anew, and sue to him.
[Tears the Petition.
Away, base cullions! -Suffolk, let them go.
All. Come, let's be gone.

[Exeunt PETITIONERS. Q. Mar. 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 Gloster's governance?
Am I a queen in title, and in style,
And must be made a subject to a duke?
I tell thee, Poole, when in the city Tours
Thou ran'st a tilt in honour of my love,
And stol'st 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 canoniz'd saints.
I would the college of cardinals

Would choose him pope, and carry him

Rome,

And set the triple crown upon his head;
That were a state fit for his holiness.

to

Suf. Madam, be patient: as I was cause
Your highness came to England, so will I
In England work your grace's full content.
Q. Mar. Beside the haught protector, have
we Beaufort,

The imperious churchman; Somerset, Buck-
ingham,

And grumbling York: and not the least of these,

But can do more in England than the king.

Suf. 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.
Q. Mar. 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 her poverty:
Shall I not live to be aveng'd on her?
Contemptuons 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,
Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daugh-

ter.

Suf. Madam, myself have lim'd a bush for

ber;

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grace.

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.
Enter King HENRY, YORK, and SOMERSET,
conversing with him; Duke and Duchess
of GLOSTER, Cardinal BEAUFORT, BUCKING-
HAM, SALISBURY, and WARWICK.

K. Hen. 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
Frauce,

Then let him be denay'd+ the regentship.
Som. If Somerset be unworthy of the place,
Let York be regent, I will yield to him.
War. Whether your grace be worthy, yea

or no,

Dispute not that: York is the worthier.
Car. Ambitious Warwick, let thy beiters
speak.

War. The cardinal's not my better in the

field.

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Scene III.

SECOND PART OF KING HENRY VI.

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.

Suf. 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 un

meet.

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.
Suf. Peace, head-strong Warwick!

495

Let Somerset be regent o'er the French,
Because in York this breeds suspicion :
And let these have a day appointed them
For single combat in convenient place;
For be bath witness of his servant's malice:
This is the law, and this duke Humphrey's
doom.

K. Hen. Then be it so. My lord of Somer-
set,

We

make your grace lord regent o'er the French.

Som. I humbly thank your royal majesty. Hor. And I accept the combat willingly. Pet. Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God's sake, pity my case! the spite of man prevaileth O Lord, have mercy upon me! I against ine. shall never be able to fight a blow: O Lord, my 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.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-The same.-The duke of GLOS-
TER'S Garden.

Enter MARGERY JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTH-
WELL, and BOLINGBROKE.

Hume. Come, my masters; the duchess, I tell you, expects performance of your promises.

Boling. Master Hume, we are therefore provided: Will her ladyship behold and hear our exorcisms?*

Hume. Ay; What else? fear you not her cou rage.

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, while we be busy below; and so, I pray you, go in God's name, and leave us. [Erit HUME.] Mother Jourdain, be you prostrate, and grovel on War. Image of pride, why should I hold my the earth :-John Southwell, read you; and let us to our work. peace ?

Enter Servants of SUFFOLK, bringing in HOR

NER and PETER.

Suf. Because here is a man accus'd of trea-all.

son;

Enter DUCHESS, above.

Duch. Well said, my masters; and welcome
To this geer: the sooner the better.
Boling. Patience, good lady; wizards know
their times :

Pray God, the duke of York excuse himself!
York. Doth any one accuse York for a trai-Deep

tor ?

K. Hen. What mean'st thou, Suffolk ? tell me:
What are these?

Suf. 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 an usurper.

K. Hen. Say, man, were these thy words? Hor. 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.

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 mechani-
cal,

I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech :-
I do beseech your royal majesty,
Let him have all the rigour of the law.

Hor. 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.

K. Hen. Uncle, what shall we say to this in
Jaw!

Glo. This doom, my lord, if I may judge.

night, dark night, the silent of the night, time of night when Troy was set on fire;

The

The

time when screech-owls cry, and
dogs howl,

ban

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 raise,

We will make fast within a hallow'd verge.

we

[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 eterna! God, whose name and power
Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask;
For, till thou speak, thou shalt not pass
hence.

from

Spir. Ask what thou wilt:-That I had said and done!

Boling. First, of the king. What shall of him become?

[Reading out of a Paper.

By exorcise Shakspeare invariably means to raise spirits, and not to lay them. + Matter or business. ¡ Village dogs.

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