Part 13
_York._ In your protectorship you did devise Strange tortures for offenders never heard of, That England was defamed by tyranny.
_Glou._ Why, ’tis well known that, whiles I was protector, [bca124] Pity was all the fault that was in me; ·bca125· For I should melt at an offender’s tears, And lowly words were ransom for their fault. Unless it were a bloody murderer, Or foul felonious thief that fleeced poor passengers, I never gave them condign punishment: ·bca130· Murder indeed, that bloody sin, I tortured Above the felon or what trespass else.
_Suf._ My lord, these faults are easy, quickly answered: [bca133] But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge, [bca134] Whereof you cannot easily purge yourself. ·bca135· I do arrest you in his highness’ name; And here commit you to my lord cardinal [bca137] To keep, until your further time of trial.
_King._ My lord of Gloucester, ’tis my special hope That you will clear yourself from all suspect: [bca140] My conscience tells me you are innocent.
_Glou._ Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous: Virtue is choked with foul ambition And charity chased hence by rancour’s hand; Foul subornation is predominant ·bca145· And equity exiled your highness’ land. I know their complot is to have my life, And if my death might make this island happy And prove the period of their tyranny, I would expend it with all willingness: ·bca150· But mine is made the prologue to their play; For thousands more, that yet suspect no peril, Will not conclude their plotted tragedy. Beaufort’s red sparkling eyes blab his heart’s malice, And Suffolk’s cloudy brow his stormy hate; ·bca155· Sharp Buckingham unburthens with his tongue The envious load that lies upon his heart; And dogged York, that reaches at the moon, Whose overweening arm I have pluck’d back, By false accuse doth level at my life: ·bca160· And you, my sovereign lady, with the rest, Causeless have laid disgraces on my head And with your best endeavour have stirr’d up [bca163] My liefest liege to be mine enemy: Ay, all of you have laid your heads together-- ·bca165· Myself had notice of your conventicles-- [bca166] And all to make away my guiltless life. [bca167] I shall not want false witness to condemn me, Nor store of treasons to augment my guilt; [bca169] The ancient proverb will be well effected: [bca170] ‘A staff is quickly found to beat a dog.’
_Car._ My liege, his railing is intolerable: [bca172] If those that care to keep your royal person From treason’s secret knife and traitors’ rage [bca174] Be thus upbraided, chid and rated at, ·bca175· And the offender granted scope of speech, ’Twill make them cool in zeal unto your grace.
_Suf._ Hath he not twit our sovereign lady here With ignominious words, though clerkly couch’d, As if she had suborned some to swear ·bca180· False allegations to o’erthrow his state?
_Queen._ But I can give the loser leave to chide.
_Glou._ Far truer spoke than meant: I lose, indeed; Beshrew the winners, for they play’d me false! [bca184] And well such losers may have leave to speak. ·bca185·
_Buck._ He’ll wrest the sense and hold us here all day: Lord cardinal, he is your prisoner.
_Car._ Sirs, take away the duke, and guard him sure. [bca188]
_Glou._ Ah! thus King Henry throws away his crutch Before his legs be firm to bear his body. ·bca190· Thus is the shepherd beaten from thy side And wolves are gnarling who shall gnaw thee first. Ah, that my fear were false! ah, that it were! [bca193] For, good King Henry, thy decay I fear. [_Exit, guarded._ [bca194]
_King._ My lords, what to your wisdoms seemeth best, [bca195] Do or undo, as if ourself were here.
_Queen._ What, will your highness leave the parliament?
_King._ Ay, Margaret; my heart is drown’d with grief, Whose flood begins to flow within mine eyes, My body round engirt with misery, ·bca200· For what’s more miserable than discontent? Ah, uncle Humphrey! in thy face I see The map of honour, truth and loyalty: And yet, good Humphrey, is the hour to come That e’er I proved thee false or fear’d thy faith. ·bca205· What louring star now envies thy estate, That these great lords and Margaret our queen Do seek subversion of thy harmless life? Thou never didst them wrong nor no man wrong; [bca209] And as the butcher takes away the calf ·bca210· And binds the wretch and beats it when it strays, [bca211] Bearing it to the bloody slaughter-house, Even so remorseless have they borne him hence; And as the dam runs lowing up and down, Looking the way her harmless young one went, ·bca215· And can do nought but wail her darling’s loss, Even so myself bewails good Gloucester’s case [bca217] With sad unhelpful tears, and with dimm’d eyes [bca218] Look after him and cannot do him good, So mighty are his vowed enemies. ·bca220· His fortunes I will weep and ’twixt each groan Say ‘Who’s a traitor? Gloucester he is none.’ [bca222] [_Exeunt all but Queen, Cardinal Beaufort, Suffolk, and York. Somerset remains apart._
_Queen._ Free lords, cold snow melts with the sun’s hot beams. [bca223] Henry my lord is cold in great affairs, Too full of foolish pity, and Gloucester’s show [bca225] Beguiles him as the mournful crocodile With sorrow snares relenting passengers, Or as the snake roll’d in a flowering bank, [bca228] With shining checker’d slough, doth sting a child That for the beauty thinks it excellent. ·bca230· Believe me, lords, were none more wise than I-- And yet herein I judge mine own wit good-- [bca232] This Gloucester should be quickly rid the world, To rid us from the fear we have of him.
_Car._ That he should die is worthy policy; ·bca235· But yet we want a colour for his death: ’Tis meet he be condemn’d by course of law.
_Suf._ But, in my mind, that were no policy: The king will labour still to save his life, The commons haply rise, to save his life; ·bca240· And yet we have but trivial argument, [bca241] More than mistrust, that shows him worthy death.
_York._ So that, by this, you would not have him die.
_Suf._ Ah, York, no man alive so fain as I!
_York._ ’Tis York that hath more reason for his death. [bca245] But, my lord cardinal, and you, my lord of Suffolk, [bca246] Say as you think, and speak it from your souls, Were’t not all one, an empty eagle were set To guard the chicken from a hungry kite, [bca249] As place Duke Humphrey for the king’s protector? ·bca250·
_Queen._ So the poor chicken should be sure of death.
_Suf._ Madam, ’tis true; and were’t not madness, then, To make the fox surveyor of the fold? Who being accused a crafty murderer, His guilt should be but idly posted over, ·bca255· Because his purpose is not executed. No; let him die, in that he is a fox, By nature proved an enemy to the flock, Before his chaps be stain’d with crimson blood, As Humphrey, proved by reasons, to my liege. [bca260] And do not stand on quillets how to slay him: Be it by gins, by snares, by subtlety, Sleeping or waking, ’tis no matter how, So he be dead; for that is good deceit [bca264] Which mates him first that first intends deceit. ·bca265·
_Queen._ Thrice-noble Suffolk, ’tis resolutely spoke. [bca266]
_Suf._ Not resolute, except so much were done; For things are often spoke and seldom meant: But that my heart accordeth with my tongue, Seeing the deed is meritorious, ·bca270· And to preserve my sovereign from his foe, Say but the word, and I will be his priest.
_Car._ But I would have him dead, my Lord of Suffolk, Ere you can take due orders for a priest: Say you consent and censure well the deed, ·bca275· And I’ll provide his executioner, I tender so the safety of my liege.
_Suf._ Here is my hand, the deed is worthy doing.
_Queen._ And so say I.
_York._ And I: and now we three have spoke it, [bca280] It skills not greatly who impugns our doom.
_Enter a_ Post.
_Post._ Great lords, from Ireland am I come amain, [bca282] To signify that rebels there are up And put the Englishmen unto the sword: Send succours, lords, and stop the rage betime, ·bca285· Before the wound do grow uncurable; [bca286] For, being green, there is great hope of help.
_Car._ A breach that craves a quick expedient stop! [bca288] What counsel give you in this weighty cause?
_York._ That Somerset be sent as regent thither: [bca290] ’Tis meet that lucky ruler be employ’d; Witness the fortune he hath had in France.
_Som._ If York, with all his far-fet policy, [bca293] Had been the regent there instead of me, He never would have stay’d in France so long. ·bca295·
_York._ No, not to lose it all, as thou hast done: I rather would have lost my life betimes Than bring a burthen of dishonour home By staying there so long till all were lost. Show me one scar character’d on thy skin: ·bca300· Men’s flesh preserved so whole do seldom win. [bca301]
_Queen._ Nay, then, this spark will prove a raging fire, If wind and fuel be brought to feed it with: No more, good York; sweet Somerset, be still: Thy fortune, York, hadst thou been regent there, ·bca305· Might happily have proved far worse than his. [bca306]
_York._ What, worse than nought? nay, then, a shame take all! [bca307]
_Som._ And, in the number, thee that wishest shame!
_Car._ My Lord of York, try what your fortune is. The uncivil kernes of Ireland are in arms ·bca310· And temper clay with blood of Englishmen: To Ireland will you lead a band of men, Collected choicely, from each county some, [bca313] And try your hap against the Irishmen?
_York._ I will, my lord, so please his majesty. ·bca315·
_Suf._ Why, our authority is his consent, And what we do establish he confirms: Then, noble York, take thou this task in hand.
_York._ I am content: provide me soldiers, lords, Whiles I take order for mine own affairs. ·bca320·
_Suf._ A charge, Lord York, that I will see perform’d. But now return we to the false Duke Humphrey.
_Car._ No more of him; for I will deal with him That henceforth he shall trouble us no more. And so break off; the day is almost spent: ·bca325· Lord Suffolk, you and I must talk of that event. [bca326]
_York._ My Lord of Suffolk, within fourteen days At Bristol I expect my soldiers; [bca328] For there I’ll ship them all for Ireland.
_Suf._ I’ll see it truly done, my Lord of York. [bca330] [_Exeunt all but York._
_York._ Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful thoughts, [bca331] And change misdoubt to resolution: Be that thou hopest to be, or what thou art [bca333] Resign to death; it is not worth the enjoying: Let pale-faced fear keep with the mean-born man, ·bca335· And find no harbour in a royal heart. Faster than spring-time showers comes thought on thought, And not a thought but thinks on dignity. My brain more busy than the labouring spider [bca339] Weaves tedious snares to trap mine enemies. ·bca340· Well, nobles, well, ’tis politicly done, To send me packing with an host of men: I fear me you but warm the starved snake, Who, cherish’d in your breasts, will sting your hearts. ’Twas men I lack’d and you will give them me: ·bca345· I take it kindly; yet be well assured You put sharp weapons in a madman’s hands. Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band, [bca348] I will stir up in England some black storm Shall blow ten thousand souls to heaven or hell; ·bca350· And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage Until the golden circuit on my head, Like to the glorious sun’s transparent beams, Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw. [bca354] And, for a minister of my intent, ·bca355· I have seduced a headstrong Kentishman, John Cade of Ashford, [bca357] To make commotion, as full well he can, Under the title of John Mortimer. In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade ·bca360· Oppose himself against a troop of kernes, And fought so long, till that his thighs with darts [bca362] Were almost like a sharp-quill’d porpentine; [bca363] And, in the end being rescued, I have seen [bca364] Him caper upright like a wild Morisco, ·bca365· Shaking the bloody darts as he his bells. Full often, like a shag-hair’d crafty kerne, Hath he conversed with the enemy, And undiscover’d come to me again And given me notice of their villanies. ·bca370· This devil here shall be my substitute; For that John Mortimer, which now is dead, In face, in gait, in speech, he doth resemble: By this I shall perceive the commons’ mind, How they affect the house and claim of York. ·bca375· Say he be taken, rack’d and tortured, I know no pain they can inflict upon him Will make him say I moved him to those arms. [bca378] Say that he thrive, as ’tis great like he will, Why, then from Ireland come I with my strength ·bca380· And reap the harvest which that rascal sow’d; For Humphrey being dead, as he shall be, And Henry put apart, the next for me. [bca383] [_Exit._
## SCENE II. _Bury St Edmund’s. A room of state_.
_Enter certain_ Murderers, _hastily_.
_First Mur._ Run to my Lord of Suffolk; let him know [bcb001] We have dispatch’d the duke, as he commanded.
_Sec. Mur._ O that it were to do! What have we done? Didst ever hear a man so penitent? [bcb004]
_Enter_ SUFFOLK.
_First Mur._ Here comes my lord. [bcb005]
_Suf._ Now, sirs, have you dispatch’d this thing?
_First Mur._ Ay, my good lord, he’s dead.
_Suf._ Why, that’s well said. Go, get you to my house; I will reward you for this venturous deed. The king and all the peers are here at hand. ·bcb010· Have you laid fair the bed? Is all things well, [bcb011] According as I gave directions?
_First Mur._ ’Tis, my good lord. [bcb013]
_Suf._ Away! be gone. [_Exeunt Murderers._ [bcb014]
_Sound trumpets. Enter the_ KING, _the_ QUEEN, CARDINAL BEAUFORT, SOMERSET, _with Attendants_.
_King._ Go, call our uncle to our presence straight; ·bcb015· Say we intend to try his grace to-day, If he be guilty, as ’tis published.
_Suf._ I’ll call him presently, my noble lord. [_Exit._
_King._ Lords, take your places; and, I pray you all, Proceed no straiter ’gainst our uncle Gloucester ·bcb020· Than from true evidence of good esteem He be approved in practice culpable.
_Queen._ God forbid any malice should prevail, That faultless may condemn a nobleman! Pray God he may acquit him of suspicion! ·bcb025·
_King._ I thank thee, Nell; these words content me much. [bcb026]
_Re-enter_ SUFFOLK.
How now! why look’st thou pale? why tremblest thou? Where is our uncle? what’s the matter, Suffolk?
_Suf._ Dead in his bed, my lord; Gloucester is dead.
_Queen._ Marry, God forfend! ·bcb030·
_Car._ God’s secret judgement: I did dream to-night The duke was dumb and could not speak a word. [bcb032] [_The King swoons._
_Queen._ How fares my lord? Help, lords! the king is dead.
_Som._ Rear up his body; wring him by the nose.
_Queen._ Run, go, help, help! O Henry, ope thine eyes! ·bcb035·
_Suf._ He doth revive again: madam, be patient.
_King._ O heavenly God!
_Queen._ How fares my gracious lord?
_Suf._ Comfort, my sovereign! gracious Henry, comfort! [bcb038]
_King._ What, doth my Lord of Suffolk comfort me? Came he right now to sing a raven’s note, ·bcb040· Whose dismal tune bereft my vital powers; [bcb041] And thinks he that the chirping of a wren, By crying comfort from a hollow breast, Can chase away the first-conceived sound? Hide not thy poison with such sugar’d words; ·bcb045· Lay not thy hands on me; forbear, I say; Their touch affrights me as a serpent’s sting. Thou baleful messenger, out of my sight! Upon thy eye-balls murderous tyranny Sits in grim majesty, to fright the world. ·bcb050· Look not upon me, for thine eyes are wounding: Yet do not go away: come, basilisk, And kill the innocent gazer with thy sight; For in the shade of death I shall find joy; In life but double death, now Gloucester’s dead. ·bcb055·
_Queen._ Why do you rate my Lord of Suffolk thus? Although the duke was enemy to him, Yet he most Christian-like laments his death: And for myself, foe as he was to me, Might liquid tears or heart-offending groans ·bcb060· Or blood-consuming sighs recall his life, I would be blind with weeping, sick with groans, Look pale as primrose with blood-drinking sighs, [bcb063] And all to have the noble duke alive. What know I how the world may deem of me? ·bcb065· For it is known we were but hollow friends: It may be judged I made the duke away; So shall my name with slander’s tongue be wounded, And princes’ courts be fill’d with my reproach. [bcb069] This get I by his death: ay me, unhappy! [bcb070] To be a queen, and crown’d with infamy!
_King._ Ah, woe is me for Gloucester, wretched man!
_Queen._ Be woe for me, more wretched than he is. What, dost thou turn away and hide thy face? I am no loathsome leper; look on me. ·bcb075· What! art thou, like the adder, waxen deaf? [bcb076] Be poisonous too and kill thy forlorn queen. Is all thy comfort shut in Gloucester’s tomb? [bcb078] Why, then, dame Eleanor was ne’er thy joy. [bcb079] Erect his statua and worship it, [bcb080] And make my image but an alehouse sign. Was I for this nigh wreck’d upon the sea And twice by awkward wind from England’s bank [bcb083] Drove back again unto my native clime? What boded this, but well forewarning wind [bcb085] Did seem to say ‘Seek not a scorpion’s nest, Nor set no footing on this unkind shore?’ [bcb087] What did I then, but cursed the gentle gusts [bcb088] And he that loosed them forth their brazen caves; [bcb089] And bid them blow towards England’s blessed shore, ·bcb090· Or turn our stern upon a dreadful rock? Yet Æolus would not be a murderer, But left that hateful office unto thee: [bcb093] The pretty-vaulting sea refused to drown me, [bcb094] Knowing that thou wouldst have me drown’d on shore, ·bcb095· With tears as salt as sea, through thy unkindness: The splitting rocks cower’d in the sinking sands [bcb097] And would not dash me with their ragged sides, Because thy flinty heart, more hard than they, Might in thy palace perish Eleanor. ·bcb100· As far as I could ken thy chalky cliffs, [bcb101] When from thy shore the tempest beat us back, I stood upon the hatches in the storm, And when the dusky sky began to rob My earnest-gaping sight of thy land’s view, [bcb105] I took a costly jewel from my neck-- A heart it was, bound in with diamonds-- And threw it towards thy land: the sea received it, And so I wish’d thy body might my heart: And even with this I lost fair England’s view ·bcb110· And bid mine eyes be packing with my heart And call’d them blind and dusky spectacles, For losing ken of Albion’s wished coast. How often have I tempted Suffolk’s tongue, The agent of thy foul inconstancy, ·bcb115· To sit and witch me, as Ascanius did [bcb116] When he to madding Dido would unfold His father’s acts commenced in burning Troy! Am I not witch’d like her? or thou not false like him? [bcb119] Ay me, I can no more! die, Eleanor! [bcb120] For Henry weeps that thou dost live so long. [bcb121]
_Noise within. Enter_ WARWICK, SALISBURY _and many_ Commons.
_War._ It is reported, mighty sovereign, That good Duke Humphrey traitorously is murder’d By Suffolk and the Cardinal Beaufort’s means. [bcb124] The commons, like an angry hive of bees ·bcb125· That want their leader, scatter up and down And care not who they sting in his revenge. [bcb127] Myself have calm’d their spleenful mutiny, Until they hear the order of his death.
_King._ That he is dead, good Warwick, ’tis too true; ·bcb130· But how he died God knows, not Henry: Enter his chamber, view his breathless corpse, And comment then upon his sudden death.
_War._ That shall I do, my liege. Stay, Salisbury, [bcb134] With the rude multitude till I return. [_Exit._ [bcb135]
_King._ O Thou that judgest all things, stay my thoughts, My thoughts, that labour to persuade my soul Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey’s life! If my suspect be false, forgive me, God, For judgement only doth belong to thee. ·bcb140· Fain would I go to chafe his paly lips With twenty thousand kisses and to drain [bcb142] Upon his face an ocean of salt tears, To tell my love unto his dumb deaf trunk And with my fingers feel his hand unfeeling: ·bcb145· But all in vain are these mean obsequies; And to survey his dead and earthy image, [bcb147] What were it but to make my sorrow greater? [bcb148]
_Re-enter_ WARWICK _and others, bearing_ GLOUCESTER’S _body on a bed_.
_War._ Come hither, gracious sovereign, view this body.
_King._ That is to see how deep my grave is made; ·bcb150· For with his soul fled all my worldly solace, For seeing him I see my life in death. [bcb152]
_War._ As surely as my soul intends to live With that dread King that took our state upon him To free us from his father’s wrathful curse, ·bcb155· I do believe that violent hands were laid Upon the life of this thrice-famed duke.
_Suf._ A dreadful oath, sworn with a solemn tongue! What instance gives Lord Warwick for his vow? [bcb159]
_War._ See how the blood is settled in his face. ·bcb160· Oft have I seen a timely-parted ghost, [bcb161] Of ashy semblance, meagre, pale and bloodless, [bcb162] Being all descended to the labouring heart; Who, in the conflict that it holds with death, Attracts the same for aidance ’gainst the enemy; ·bcb165· Which with the heart there cools and ne’er returneth To blush and beautify the cheek again. But see, his face is black and full of blood, His eye-balls further out than when he lived, Staring full ghastly like a strangled man; ·bcb170· His hair uprear’d, his nostrils stretch’d with struggling; [bcb171] His hands abroad display’d, as one that grasp’d And tugg’d for life and was by strength subdued: Look, on the sheets his hair, you see, is sticking; [bcb174] His well-proportion’d beard made rough and rugged, [bcb175] Like to the summer’s corn by tempest lodged. It cannot be but he was murder’d here; [bcb177] The least of all these signs were probable.
_Suf._ Why, Warwick, who should do the duke to death? [bcb179] Myself and Beaufort had him in protection; ·bcb180· And we, I hope, sir, are no murderers. [bcb181]
_War._ But both of you were vow’d Duke Humphrey’s foes, [bcb182] And you, forsooth, had the good duke to keep: ’Tis like you would not feast him like a friend; And ’tis well seen he found an enemy. ·bcb185·
_Queen._ Then you, belike, suspect these noblemen [bcb186] As guilty of Duke Humphrey’s timeless death.
_War._ Who finds the heifer dead and bleeding fresh And sees fast by a butcher with an axe, But will suspect ’twas he that made the slaughter? ·bcb190· Who finds the partridge in the puttock’s nest, But may imagine how the bird was dead, Although the kite soar with unbloodied beak? Even so suspicious is this tragedy.
_Queen._ Are you the butcher, Suffolk? Where’s your knife? [bcb195] Is Beaufort term’d a kite? Where are his talons?