Part 30

_Humphrey._ Forbeare ambitious Prelate to vrge my griefe, And pardon me my gratious Soueraigne, For here I sweare vnto your Maiestie, That I am guiltlesse of these hainous crimes ·dae160· Which my ambitious wife hath falsly done, And for she would betraie her soueraigne Lord, I here renounce her from my bed and boord, And leaue her open for the law to iudge, Vnlesse she cleare her selfe of this foule deed. ·dae165·

_King._ Come my Lords this night weele lodge in S. Albones, And to morrow we will ride to London, And trie the vtmost of these Treasons forth, Come vnckle Gloster along with vs, My mind doth tell me thou art innocent. _Exet omnes._ [dae170]

## SCENE VI.

Enter the Duke of _Yor_k_e_, and the Earles of _Salsbury_ and _Warwicke_.

_Yorke._ My Lords our simple supper ended, thus, [daf001] Let me reueale vnto your honours here, The right and title of the house of Yorke, To Englands Crowne by liniall desent.

_War._ Then Yorke begin, and if thy claime be good, ·daf005· The Neuils are thy subiects to command.

_Yorke._ Then thus my Lords. Edward the third had seuen sonnes, The first was Edward the blacke Prince, Prince of Wales. ·daf010· The second was Edmund of Langly, [daf011] Duke of Yorke. The third was Lyonell Duke of Clarence. The fourth was Iohn of Gaunt, The Duke of Lancaster. ·daf015· The fifth was Roger Mortemor, Earle of March. The sixt was sir Thomas of Woodstocke, William of Winsore was the seuenth and last.

Now, Edward the blacke Prince he died before his father, and left behinde him Richard, that afterwards was King, Crownde by ·daf020· the name of Richard the second, and he died without an heire. Edmund of Langly Duke of Yorke died, and left behind him two daughters, Anne and Elinor.

Lyonell Duke of Clarence died, and left behinde Alice, Anne, and Elinor, that was after married to my father, and by her I ·daf025· claime the Crowne, as the true heire to Lyonell Duke of Clarence, the third sonne to Edward the third. Now sir. In the [daf027] time of Richards raigne, Henry of Bullingbrooke, sonne and heire [daf028] to Iohn of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster fourth sonne to Edward the third, he claimde the Crowne, deposde the Merthfull King, and ·daf030· as both you know, in Pomphret Castle harmlesse Richard was [daf031] shamefully murthered, and so by Richards death came the house of Lancaster vnto the Crowne.

_Sals._ Sauing your tale my Lord, as I haue heard, in the raigne of Bullenbrooke, the Duke of Yorke did claime the Crowne, and ·daf035· but for Owin Glendor, had bene King. [daf036]

_Yorke._ True. But so it fortuned then, by meanes of that monstrous rebel Glendor, the noble Duke of York was done to death, and so euer since the heires of Iohn of Gaunt haue possessed the Crowne. But if the issue of the elder should sucseed before the issue [daf040] of the yonger, then am I lawfull heire vnto the kingdome.

_Warwicke._ What plaine proceedings can be more plaine, hee [daf042] claimes it from Lyonel Duke of Clarence, the third sonne to Edward the third, and Henry from Iohn of Gaunt the fourth sonne. So that till Lyonels issue failes, his should not raigne. It failes not ·daf045· yet, but florisheth in thee & in thy sons, braue slips of such a stock. Then noble father, kneele we both togither, and in this priuate place, be we the first to honor him with birthright to the Crown.

_Both._ Long liue Richard Englands royall King.

_Yorke._ I thanke you both. But Lords I am not your King, vntil ·daf050· this sword be sheathed euen in the hart blood of the house of Lancaster.

_War._ Then Yorke aduise thy selfe and take thy time, Claime thou the Crowne, and set thy standard vp, And in the same aduance the milke-white Rose, ·daf055· And then to gard it, will I rouse the Beare, [daf056] Inuiron’d with ten thousand Ragged-staues To aide and helpe thee for to win thy right, Maugre the proudest Lord of Henries blood, [daf059] That dares deny the right and claime of Yorke, ·daf060· For why my minde presageth I shall liue [daf061] To see the noble Duke of Yorke to be a King.

_Yorke._ Thanks noble Warwicke, and Yorke doth hope to see, The Earl of Warwicke liue, to be the greatest man in England, but the King. Come lets goe. _Exet omnes._ [daf065]

## SCENE VII.

Enter King _Henry_, and the Queene, Duke _Humphrey_, the Duke of _Suffolke_, and the Duke of _Buckingham_, the _Cardinall_, and Dame _Elnor Cobham_, led with the Officers, and then enter to them the Duke of _Yorke_, and the Earles of _Salsbury_ and _Warwicke_.

_King._ Stand foorth Dame Elnor Cobham Duches of Gloster, [dag001] and here the sentence pronounced against thee for these Treasons, [dag002] that thou hast committed gainst vs, our States and Peeres. [dag003]

First for thy hainous crimes, thou shalt two daies in London do [dag004] penance barefoote in the streetes, with a white sheete about thy ·dag005· bodie, and a waxe Taper burning in thy hand. That done, thou shalt be banished for euer into the Ile of Man, there to ende thy wretched daies, and this is our sentence erreuocable. Away with [dag008] her.

_Elnor._ Euen to my death, for I haue liued too long. ·dag010· _Exet_ some with _Elnor_.

_King._ Greeue not noble vnckle, but be thou glad, In that these Treasons thus are come to light, Least God had pourde his vengeance on thy head, [dag013] For her offences that thou heldst so deare.

_Humph._ Oh gratious _Henry_, giue me leaue awhile, [dag015] To leaue your grace, and to depart away, For sorrowes teares hath gripte my aged heart, And makes the fountaines of mine eyes to swell, And therefore good my Lord, let me depart.

_King._ With all my hart good vnkle, when you please, [dag020] Yet ere thou goest, _Humphrey_ resigne thy staffe, For Henry will be no more protected, The Lord shall be my guide both for my land and me.

_Humph._ My staffe, I noble Henry, my life and all. [dag024] My staffe, I yeeld as willing to be thine, [dag025] As erst thy noble father made it mine, [dag026] And euen as willing at thy feete I leaue it, As others would ambitiously receiue it, And long hereafter when I am dead and gone, May honourable peace attend thy throne. ·dag030·

_King._ Vnkle Gloster, stand vp and go in peace, No lesse beloued of vs, then when Thou weart Protector ouer my land. _Exet Gloster._ [dag033]

_Queene._ Take vp the staffe, for here it ought to stand, Where should it be, but in King Henries hand? ·dag035·

_Yorke._ Please it your Maiestie, this is the day That was appointed for the combating Betweene the Armourer and his man, my Lord, And they are readie when your grace doth please.

_King._ Then call them forth, that they may trie their rightes. ·dag040·

Enter at one doore the Armourer and his neighbours, drinking to him so much that he is drunken, and he enters with a drum before him, and his staffe with a sand-bag fastened to it, and at the other doore, his man with a drum and sand-bagge, and Prentises drinking to him.

_1. Neighbor._ Here neighbor Hornor, I drink to you in a cup of (Sacke. [dag041] And feare not neighbor, you shall do well inough.

_2. Neigh._ And here neighbor, heres a cup of Charneco. [dag043]

_3. Neigh._ Heres a pot of good double beere, neighbor drinke [dag044] And be merry, and feare not your man. ·dag045·

_Armourer._ Let it come, yfaith ile pledge you all, And a figge for Peter.

_1. Prentise._ Here Peter I drinke to thee, and be not affeard. [dag048]

_2. Pren._ Here Peter, heres a pinte of Claret-wine for thee. [dag049]

_3. Pren._ And heres a quart for me, and be merry Peter, ·dag050· And feare not thy maister, fight for credit of the Prentises.

_Peter._ I thanke you all, but ile drinke no more, Here Robin, and if I die, here I giue thee my hammer, And Will, thou shalt haue my aperne, and here Tom, Take all the mony that I haue. [dag055]

O Lord blesse me, I pray God, for I am neuer able to deale with my maister, he hath learnt so much fence alreadie. [dag057]

_Salb._ Come leaue your drinking, and fall to blowes. Sirrha, whats thy name? [dag059]

_Pettr._ Peter forsooth. ·dag060·

_Salbury._ Peter, what more?

_Peter._ _Thumpe_.

_Salsbury._ Thumpe, then see that thou thumpe thy maister.

_Armour._ Heres to thee neighbour, fill all the pots again, for before [dag064] we fight, looke you, I will tell you my minde, for I am come ·dag065· hither as it were of my mans instigation, to proue my selfe an honest [dag066] man, and Peter a knaue, and so haue at you Peter with downright blowes, as Beuys of South-hampton fell vpon Askapart.

_Peter._ Law you now, I told you hees in his fence alreadie. [dag069] Alarmes, and Peter hits him on the head and fels him.

_Armou._ Hold Peter, I confesse, Treason, treason. He dies. ·dag070·

_Peter._ O God I giue thee praise. He kneeles downe.

_Pren._ Ho well done Peter. God saue the King.

_King._ Go take hence that Traitor from our sight, For by his death we do perceiue his guilt, And God in iustice hath reuealde to vs, ·dag075· The truth and innocence of this poore fellow, Which he had thought to haue murthered wrongfully. Come fellow, follow vs for thy reward. _Exet omnis._ [dag078]

## SCENE VIII.

Enter Duke _Humphrey_ and his men, in mourning cloakes.

_Humph._ Sirrha, whats a clocke? [dah001]

_Seruing._ Almost ten my Lord.

_Humph._ Then is that wofull houre hard at hand, That my poore Lady should come by this way, In shamefull penance wandring in the streetes, ·dah005· Sweete Nell, ill can thy noble minde abrooke, The abiect people gazing on thy face, With enuious lookes laughing at thy shame, That earst did follow thy proud Chariot wheeles, When thou didst ride in tryumph through the streetes. ·dah010·

Enter Dame _Elnor Cobham_, bare-foote, and a white sheete about her, with a waxe candle in her hand, and verses written on her backe and pind on, and accompanied with the Sheriffes of London, and Sir _Iohn Standly_, and Officers, with billes and holbards.

_Seruing._ My gratious Lord, see where my Lady comes, Please it your grace, weele take her from the Sheriffes?

_Humph._ I charge you for your liues stir not a foote, Nor offer once to draw a weapon here, But let them do their office as they should. ·dah015·

_Elnor._ Come you my Lord to see my open shame? Ah Gloster, now thou doest penance too, [dah017] See how the giddie people looke at thee, Shaking their heads, and pointing at thee heere, Go get thee gone, and hide thee from their sights, ·dah020· And in thy pent vp studie rue my shame, And ban thine enemies. Ah mine and thine.

_Hum._ Ah Nell, sweet Nell, forget this extreme grief, And beare it patiently to ease thy heart.

_Elnor._ Ah Gloster teach me to forget my selfe, ·dah025· For whilst I thinke I am thy wedded wife, Then thought of this, doth kill my wofull heart. [dah027] The ruthlesse flints do cut my tender feete, And when I start the cruell people laugh, And bids me be aduised how I tread, ·dah030· And thus with burning Taper in my hand, Malde vp in shame with papers on my backe, Ah, Gloster, can I endure this and liue. [dah033] Sometime ile say I am Duke _Humphreys_ wife, And he a Prince, Protector of the land, ·dah035· But so he rulde, and such a Prince he was, As he stood by, whilst I his forelorne Duches Was led with shame, and made a laughing stocke, To euery idle rascald follower. [dah039]

_Humphrey._ My louely Nell, what wouldst thou haue me do? ·dah040· Should I attempt to rescue thee from hence, I should incurre the danger of the law, And thy disgrace would not be shadowed so.

_Elnor._ Be thou milde, and stir not at my disgrace, Vntill the axe of death hang ouer thy head, [dah045] As shortly sure it will. For Suffolke he, The new made Duke, that may do all in all With her that loues him so, and hates vs all, And impious Yorke and Bewford that false Priest, Haue all lymde bushes to betraie thy wings, ·dah050· And flie thou how thou can they will intangle thee. [dah051]

Enter a Herald of Armes.

_Herald._ I summon your Grace, vnto his highnesse Parlament holden at saint Edmunds-Bury, the first of the next month. [dah053]

_Humphrey._ A Parlament and our consent neuer craude Therein before. This is sodeine. [dah055] Well, we will be there. _Exet. Herald._

Maister Sheriffe, I pray proceede no further against my Lady, then the course of law extendes.

_Sheriffe._ Please it your grace, my office here doth end, And I must deliuer her to sir Iohn Standly, [dah060] To be conducted into the Ile of Man.

_Humphrey._ Must you sir Iohn conduct my Lady?

_Standly._ _I_ my gratious Lord, for so it is decreede, [dah063] And _I_ am so commanded by the King.

_Humph._ _I_ pray you sir Iohn, vse her neare the worse, [dah065] In that _I_ intreat you to vse her well. The world may smile againe and I may liue, To do you fauour if you do it her, And so sir Iohn farewell.

_Elnor._ What gone my Lord, and bid me not farwell? [dah070]

_Humph._ Witnesse my bleeding heart, I cannot stay to speake. _Exet Hnmphrey_ and his men.

_Elnor._ Then is he gone, is noble Gloster gone, And doth Duke Humphrey now forsake me too? Then let me haste from out faire Englands boundes, Come Standly come, and let vs haste away. ·dah075·

_Standly._ Madam lets go vnto some house hereby, [dah076] Where you may shift your selfe before we go.

_Elnor._ Ah good sir Iohn, my shame cannot be hid, Nor put away with casting off my sheete: But come let vs go, maister Sheriffe farewell, ·dah080· Thou hast but done thy office as thou shoulst. [dah081] _Exet omnes._

## SCENE IX.

Enter to the Parlament.

Enter two Heralds before, then the Duke of _Buckingham_, and the Duke of _Suffolke_, and then the Duke of _Yorke_, and the _Cardinall_ of _Winchester_, and then the King and the Oueene, and then the Earle of _Salisbury_, and the Earle of _Warwicke_.

_King._ I wonder our vnkle Gloster staies so long. [dai001]

_Queene._ Can you not see, or will you not perceiue, [dai002] How that ambitious Duke doth vse himselfe? The time hath bene, but now that time is past. [dai004] That none so humble as Duke Humphrey was. ·dai005· But now let one meete him euen in the morne, When euery one will giue the time of day, And he will neither moue nor speake to vs. [dai008] See you not how the Commons follow him [dai009] In troupes, crying, God saue the good Duke Humphrey, ·dai010· And with long life, Iesus preserue his grace, [dai011] Honouring him as if he were their King. [dai012] Gloster is no litle man in England, And if he list to stir commotions, Tys likely that the people will follow him. ·dai015· My Lord, if you imagine there is no such thing, Then let it passe, and call it a womans feare. [dai017] My Lord of Suffolke, Buckingham, and Yorke, Disproue my Alligations if you can, [dai019] And by your speeches, if you can reproue me, ·dai020· I will subscribe and say, I wrong’d the Duke.

_Suffol._ Well hath your grace foreseen into that Duke, And if I had bene licenst first to speake, I thinke I should haue told your graces tale. Smooth runs the brooke whereas the streame is deepest ·dai025· No, no, my soueraigne, Gloster is a man Vnsounded yet, and full of deepe deceit.

Enter the Duke of _Somerset_.

_King._ Welcome Lord Somerset, what newes from France?

_Somer._ Cold newes my Lord, and this it is, That all your holds and Townes within those Territores [dai030] Is ouercome my Lord, all is lost.

_King._ Cold newes indeed Lord Somerset, But Gods will be done.

_Yorke._ Cold newes for me, for I had hope of France, Euen as I haue of fertill England. ·dai035·

Enter Duke _Humphrey_.

_Hum._ Pardon my liege, that I haue staid so long.

_Suffol._ Nay, Gloster know, that thou art come too soone, Vnlesse thou proue more loyall then thou art, We do arrest thee on high treason here.

_Humph._ Why Suffolkes Duke thou shalt not see me blush ·dai040· Nor change my countenance for thine arrest, Whereof am I guiltie, who are my accusers? [dai042]

_York._ Tis thought my lord, your grace tooke bribes from France, And stopt the soldiers of their paie, By which his Maiestie hath lost all France. [dai045]

_Humph._ Is it but thought so, and who are they that thinke so? [dai046] So God helpe me, as I haue watcht the night [dai047] Euer intending good for England still, That penie that euer I tooke from France, Be brought against me at the iudgement day. ·dai050· I neuer robd the soldiers of their paie, Many a pound of mine owne propper cost Haue I sent ouer for the soldiers wants, Because I would not racke the needie Commons.

_Car._ In your Protectorship you did deuise ·dai055· Strange torments for offendors, by which meanes [dai056] England hath bene defamde by tyrannie.

_Hum._ Why tis wel knowne that whilst I was protector Pitie was all the fault that was in me, A murtherer or foule felonous theefe, [dai060] That robs and murthers silly passengers, [dai061] I tortord aboue the rate of common law. [dai062]

_Suffolk._ Tush my Lord, these be things of no account, But greater matters are laid vnto your charge, I do arrest thee on high treason here, ·dai065· And commit thee to my good Lord Cardinall, Vntill such time as thou canst cleare thy selfe.

_King._ Good vnkle obey to his arrest, _I_ haue no doubt but thou shalt cleare thy selfe, My conscience tels me thou art innocent. ·dai070·

_Hump._ Ah gratious Henry these daies are dangerous, And would my death might end these miseries, And staie their moodes for good King Henries sake, But I am made the Prologue to their plaie, And thousands more must follow after me, ·dai075· That dreads not yet their liues destruction. Suffolkes hatefull tongue blabs his harts malice, [dai077] Bewfords firie eyes showes his enuious minde, Buckinghams proud lookes bewraies his cruel thoughts, And dogged Yorke that leuels at the Moone ·dai080· Whose ouerweening arme _I_ haue held backe. All you haue ioynd to betraie me thus: And you my gratious Lady and soueraigne mistresse, Causelesse haue laid complaints vpon my head, I shall not want false witnesses inough, [dai085] That so amongst you, you may haue my life. The Prouerbe no doubt will be well performde, [dai087] A staffe is quickly found to beate a dog.

_Suffolke._ Doth he not twit our soueraigne Lady here, As if that she with ignomious wrong, [dai090] Had sobornde or hired some to sweare against his life. [dai091]

_Queene._ I but I can giue the loser leaue to speake. [dai092]

_Humph._ Far truer spoke then ment, I loose indeed, Beshrow the winners hearts, they plaie me false. [dai094]

_Buck._ Hele wrest the sence and keep vs here all day, ·dai095· My Lord of Winchester, see him sent away.

_Car._ Who’s within there? Take in Duke Humphrey, And see him garded sure within my house.

_Humph._ O! thus King Henry casts away his crouch, Before his legs can beare his bodie vp, ·dai100· And puts his watchfull shepheard from his side, Whilst wolues stand snarring who shall bite him first. Farwell my soueraigne, long maist thou enjoy, Thy fathers happie daies free from annoy. _Exet Humphrey_, with the _Cardinals_ men.

_King._ My Lords what to your wisdoms shal seem best, ·dai105· Do and vndo as if our selfe were here.

_Queen._ What wil your highnesse leaue the Parlament?

_King._ I Margaret. My heart is kild with griefe, [dai108] Where I may sit and sigh in endlesse mone, For who’s a Traitor, Gloster he is none. [dai110] _Exet King, Salsbury_, and _Warwicke_.

_Queene._ Then sit we downe againe my Lord Cardinall, Suffolke, Buckingham, Yorke, and Somerset. Let vs consult of proud Duke Humphries fall. In mine opinion it were good he dide, For safetie of our King and Common-wealth. ·dai115·

_Suffolke._ And so thinke _I_ Madame, for as you know, If our King Henry had shooke hands with death, Duke Humphrey then would looke to be our King: And it may be by pollicie he workes, To bring to passe the thing which now we doubt, ·dai120· The Foxe barkes not when he would steale the Lambe, But if we take him ere he do the deed, We should not question if that he should liue. No. Let him die, in that he is a Foxe, [dai124] Least that in liuing he offend vs more. [dai125]

_Car._ Then let him die before the Commons know, For feare that they do rise in Armes for him.

_Yorke._ Then do it sodainly my Lords.

_Suffol._ Let that be my Lord Cardinals charge & mine.

_Car._ Agreed, for hee’s already kept within my house. ·dai130·

Enter a Messenger.

_Queene._ How now sirrha, what newes?

_Messen._ Madame I bring you newes from Ireland, The wilde Onele my Lords, is vp in Armes, [dai133] With troupes of Irish Kernes that vncontrold, [dai134] Doth plant themselues within the English pale. [dai135]

_Queene._ What redresse shal we haue for this my Lords?

_Yorke._ Twere very good that my Lord of Somerset [dai137] That fortunate Champion were sent ouer, And burnes and spoiles the Country as they goe. [dai139] To keepe in awe the stubborne Irishmen, ·dai140· He did so much good when he was in France.

_Somer._ Had Yorke bene there with all his far fetcht Pollices, he might haue lost as much as I. [dai143]

_Yorke._ I, for Yorke would haue lost his life before [dai144] That France should haue reuolted from Englands rule. [dai145]

_Somer._ I so thou might’st, and yet haue gouernd worse then I.

_York._ What worse then nought, then a shame take all. [dai147]

_Somer._ Shame on thy selfe, that wisheth shame.

_Queene._ Somerset forbeare, good Yorke be patient, And do thou take in hand to crosse the seas, ·dai150· With troupes of Armed men to quell the pride Of those ambitious Irish that rebell.

_Yorke._ Well Madame sith your grace is so content, Let me haue some bands of chosen soldiers, And Yorke shall trie his fortune against those kernes. [dai155]

_Queene._ Yorke thou shalt. My Lord of Buckingham, [dai156] Let it be your charge to muster vp such souldiers As shall suffise him in these needfull warres.

_Buck._ Madame I will, and leauie such a band [dai159] As soone shall ouercome those Irish Rebels, ·dai160· But Yorke, where shall those soldiers staie for thee?

_Yorke._ At Bristow, I wil expect them ten daies hence. [dai162]

_Buc._ Then thither shall they come, and so farewell. _Exet Buckingham._

_Yorke._ Adieu my Lord of Buckingham.

_Queene._ Suffolke remember what you haue to do. ·dai165· And you Lord Cardinall concerning Duke Humphrey, Twere good that you did see to it in time, [dai167] Come let vs go, that it may be performde. [dai168] _Exet omnis, Manit Yorke._