Folger Shakespeare Library

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Contents

Front Matter |
ACT 1 |
ACT 2 |
ACT 3 |
ACT 4 |
ACT 5 |

From the Director of the Folger Shakespeare Library

It is hard to imagine a world without Shakespeare. Since their composition four hundred years ago, Shakespeare’s plays and poems have traveled the globe, inviting those who see and read his works to make them their own.

Readers of the New Folger Editions are part of this ongoing process of “taking up Shakespeare,” finding our own thoughts and feelings in language that strikes us as old or unusual and, for that very reason, new. We still struggle to keep up with a writer who could think a mile a minute, whose words paint pictures that shift like clouds. These expertly edited texts are presented to the public as a resource for study, artistic adaptation, and enjoyment. By making the classic texts of the New Folger Editions available in electronic form as Folger Digital Texts, we place a trusted resource in the hands of anyone who wants them.

The New Folger Editions of Shakespeare’s plays, which are the basis for the texts realized here in digital form, are special because of their origin. The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is the single greatest documentary source of Shakespeare’s works. An unparalleled collection of early modern books, manuscripts, and artwork connected to Shakespeare, the Folger’s holdings have been consulted extensively in the preparation of these texts. The Editions also reflect the expertise gained through the regular performance of Shakespeare’s works in the Folger’s Elizabethan Theater.

I want to express my deep thanks to editors Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine for creating these indispensable editions of Shakespeare’s works, which incorporate the best of textual scholarship with a richness of commentary that is both inspired and engaging. Readers who want to know more about Shakespeare and his plays can follow the paths these distinguished scholars have tread by visiting the Folger either in-person or online, where a range of physical and digital resources exists to supplement the material in these texts. I commend to you these words, and hope that they inspire.

Michael Witmore
Director, Folger Shakespeare Library

Textual Introduction
By Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine

Until now, with the release of the Folger Digital Texts, readers in search of a free online text of Shakespeare’s plays had to be content primarily with using the Moby™ Text, which reproduces a late-nineteenth century version of the plays. What is the difference? Many ordinary readers assume that there is a single text for the plays: what Shakespeare wrote. But Shakespeare’s plays were not published the way modern novels or plays are published today: as a single, authoritative text. In some cases, the plays have come down to us in multiple published versions, represented by various Quartos (Qq) and by the great collection put together by his colleagues in 1623, called the First Folio (F). There are, for example, three very different versions of Hamlet, two of King Lear, Henry V, Romeo and Juliet, and others. Editors choose which version to use as their base text, and then amend that text with words, lines or speech prefixes from the other versions that, in their judgment, make for a better or more accurate text.

Other editorial decisions involve choices about whether an unfamiliar word could be understood in light of other writings of the period or whether it should be changed; decisions about words that made it into Shakespeare’s text by accident through four hundred years of printings and misprinting; and even decisions based on cultural preference and taste. When the Moby™ Text was created, for example, it was deemed “improper” and “indecent” for Miranda to chastise Caliban for having attempted to rape her. (See The Tempest, 1.2: “Abhorred slave,/Which any print of goodness wilt not take,/Being capable of all ill! I pitied thee…”). All Shakespeare editors at the time took the speech away from her and gave it to her father, Prospero.

The editors of the Moby™ Shakespeare produced their text long before scholars fully understood the proper grounds on which to make the thousands of decisions that Shakespeare editors face. The Folger Library Shakespeare Editions, on which the Folger Digital Texts depend, make this editorial process as nearly transparent as is possible, in contrast to older texts, like the Moby™, which hide editorial interventions. The reader of the Folger Shakespeare knows where the text has been altered because editorial interventions are signaled by square brackets (for example, from Othello: “If she in chains of magic were not bound,”), half-square brackets (for example, from Henry V: “With blood and sword and fire to win your right,”), or angle brackets (for example, from Hamlet: “O farewell, honest soldier. Who hath relieved/you?”). At any point in the text, you can hover your cursor over a bracket for more information.

Because the Folger Digital Texts are edited in accord with twenty-first century knowledge about Shakespeare’s texts, the Folger here provides them to readers, scholars, teachers, actors, directors, and students, free of charge, confident of their quality as texts of the plays and pleased to be able to make this contribution to the study and enjoyment of Shakespeare.

Synopsis

With a weak, unworldly king on the throne, the English nobility heightens its struggle for power in Henry VI, Part 2, leading to the brink of civil war.

At the start of the play, Henry meets his new bride, Margaret, to whom he has been married by proxy through Suffolk, her lover. Henry’s popular and powerful uncle Gloucester, the Lord Protector, soon comes under attack by Margaret, Suffolk, Cardinal Beaufort, and others.

Gloucester’s wife is shamed and exiled and Gloucester himself removed from office, then murdered on Suffolk’s orders. Suffolk is banished, captured by pirates, and killed. Meanwhile, the cardinal dies, raving in madness because of his part in Gloucester’s death.

A Kentish rebel, Jack Cade, leads a short-lived revolt, seizing London before his supporters desert him. He dies fighting in a garden. Soon another revolt emerges: Richard, Duke of York, leads an army against King Henry, who flees back to London. As the play ends, Richard’s forces also move toward London.

Characters in the Play
King Henry VI
Queen Margaret
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, the king’s uncle, and Lord Protector
Duchess of Gloucester, Dame Eleanor Cobham
Cardinal Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester, the king’s great-uncle
Duke of Somerset
Duke of Suffolk, William de la Pole, earlier Marquess of Suffolk
Buckingham
Lord Clifford
Young Clifford, his son
Duke of York, Richard Plantagenet
Earl of Salisbury
Earl of Warwick, Salisbury’s son
Edward, Earl of March
Richard
sons of the Duke of York
Jack Cade, leader of the Kentish rebellion
Bevis
John Holland
Dick the butcher
Smith the weaver
Michael
George
followers of Jack Cade
Lord Scales
Lord Saye
Sir Humphrey Stafford
His Brother, William Stafford
King Henry’s
supporters against Cade
Sir John Hume, a priest
John Southwell, a priest
Margery Jourdain, a witch
Roger Bolingbroke, a conjurer
Spirit
Sir John Stanley
Sheriff
custodians of the Duchess of Gloucester
Thomas Horner, the Duke of York’s armorer
Peter Thump, Horner the armorer’s man or prentice
Two or Three Petitioners
Three Neighbors of Horner’s
Three Prentices, friends of Thump
A Man of Saint Albans
Sander Simpcox, supposed recipient of a miracle
His Wife
Mayor of Saint Albans
A Beadle of Saint Albans
Lieutenant, captain of a ship
Ship’s Master
Master’s Mate
Walter Whitmore, a ship’s officer
Two Gentlemen, prisoners
Messengers
Servants
A Herald
Post, or messenger
Two or Three Murderers of Gloucester
Vaux
Clerk of Chartham
Two or Three Citizens
Alexander Iden, a gentleman of Kent
Servants, Guards, Falconers, Attendants, Townsmen of Saint Albans, Bearers, Drummers, Commoners, Rebels, a Sawyer, Soldiers, Officers, Matthew Gough, and Others

ACT 1
Scene 1
Flourish of trumpets, then hautboys.
Enter King Henry, Duke Humphrey of Gloucester,
Salisbury, Warwick, and Cardinal Beaufort, on the one
side; Queen Margaret, Suffolk, York, Somerset, and
Buckingham, on the other.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 0001 As by your high imperial Majesty
FTLN 0002 I had in charge at my depart for France,
FTLN 0003 As procurator to your Excellence,
FTLN 0004 To marry Princess Margaret for your Grace,
FTLN 0005 5 So, in the famous ancient city Tours,
FTLN 0006 In presence of the Kings of France and Sicil,
FTLN 0007 The Dukes of Orleance, Calaber, Britaigne, and
FTLN 0008 Alanson,
FTLN 0009 Seven earls, twelve barons, and twenty reverend
FTLN 0010 10 bishops,
FTLN 0011 I have performed my task and was espoused;
He kneels.
FTLN 0012 And humbly now upon my bended knee,
FTLN 0013 In sight of England and her lordly peers,
FTLN 0014 Deliver up my title in the Queen
FTLN 0015 15 To your most gracious hands, that are the substance
FTLN 0016 Of that great shadow I did represent:
FTLN 0017 The happiest gift that ever marquess gave,
FTLN 0018 The fairest queen that ever king received.
7

9
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 1
KING HENRY
FTLN 0019 Suffolk, arise.—Welcome, Queen Margaret.
Suffolk rises.
FTLN 0020 20 I can express no kinder sign of love
FTLN 0021 Than this kind kiss. He kisses her.
FTLN 0022 O Lord, that lends me life,
FTLN 0023 Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!
FTLN 0024 For Thou hast given me in this beauteous face
FTLN 0025 25 A world of earthly blessings to my soul,
FTLN 0026 If sympathy of love unite our thoughts.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 0027 Great king of England and my gracious lord,
FTLN 0028 The mutual conference that my mind hath had
FTLN 0029 By day, by night, waking and in my dreams,
FTLN 0030 30 In courtly company or at my beads,
FTLN 0031 With you, mine alderliefest sovereign,
FTLN 0032 Makes me the bolder to salute my king
FTLN 0033 With ruder terms, such as my wit affords
FTLN 0034 And overjoy of heart doth minister.
KING HENRY
FTLN 0035 35 Her sight did ravish, but her grace in speech,
FTLN 0036 Her words yclad with wisdom’s majesty,
FTLN 0037 Makes me from wond’ring fall to weeping joys,
FTLN 0038 Such is the fullness of my heart’s content.
FTLN 0039 Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love.
ALL kneel.
FTLN 0040 40 Long live Queen Margaret, England’s happiness!
QUEEN MARGARET FTLN 0041 We thank you all.
Flourish. All rise.
SUFFOLK , to Gloucester
FTLN 0042 My Lord Protector, so it please your Grace,
FTLN 0043 Here are the articles of contracted peace
FTLN 0044 Between our sovereign and the French king Charles,
FTLN 0045 45 For eighteen months concluded by consent.
He hands Gloucester a paper.

11
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 1
GLOUCESTER (reads) FTLN 0046 Imprimis, it is agreed between the
FTLN 0047 French king Charles and William de la Pole, Marquess
FTLN 0048 of Suffolk, ambassador for Henry, King of England,
FTLN 0049 that the said Henry shall espouse the Lady
FTLN 0050 50 Margaret, daughter unto Reignier, King of Naples,
FTLN 0051 Sicilia, and Jerusalem, and crown her Queen of England
FTLN 0052 ere the thirtieth of May next ensuing. Item,
FTLN 0053 that the duchy of Anjou and the county of Maine
FTLN 0054 shall be released and delivered to the King her
FTLN 0055 55 father— He drops the paper.
KING HENRY
FTLN 0056 Uncle, how now?
GLOUCESTER FTLN 0057 Pardon me, gracious lord.
FTLN 0058 Some sudden qualm hath struck me at the heart
FTLN 0059 And dimmed mine eyes, that I can read no further.
KING HENRY
FTLN 0060 60 Uncle of Winchester, I pray read on.
CARDINAL picks up the paper and reads FTLN 0061 Item, it is further
FTLN 0062 agreed between them that the duchies of
FTLN 0063 Anjou and Maine shall be released and delivered to
FTLN 0064 the King her father, and she sent over of the King of
FTLN 0065 65 England’s own proper cost and charges, without
FTLN 0066 having any dowry.
KING HENRY
FTLN 0067 They please us well.—Lord Marquess, kneel down.
Suffolk kneels.
FTLN 0068 We here create thee the first Duke of Suffolk
FTLN 0069 And girt thee with the sword. Suffolk rises. Cousin
FTLN 0070 70 of York,
FTLN 0071 We here discharge your Grace from being regent
FTLN 0072 I’ th’ parts of France till term of eighteen months
FTLN 0073 Be full expired.—Thanks, Uncle Winchester,
FTLN 0074 Gloucester, York, Buckingham, Somerset,
FTLN 0075 75 Salisbury, and Warwick;
FTLN 0076 We thank you all for this great favor done
FTLN 0077 In entertainment to my princely queen.

13
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 1
FTLN 0078 Come, let us in, and with all speed provide
FTLN 0079 To see her coronation be performed.
King, Queen, and Suffolk exit.
The rest remain.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0080 80 Brave peers of England, pillars of the state,
FTLN 0081 To you Duke Humphrey must unload his grief,
FTLN 0082 Your grief, the common grief of all the land.
FTLN 0083 What, did my brother Henry spend his youth,
FTLN 0084 His valor, coin, and people in the wars?
FTLN 0085 85 Did he so often lodge in open field,
FTLN 0086 In winter’s cold and summer’s parching heat,
FTLN 0087 To conquer France, his true inheritance?
FTLN 0088 And did my brother Bedford toil his wits
FTLN 0089 To keep by policy what Henry got?
FTLN 0090 90 Have you yourselves, Somerset, Buckingham,
FTLN 0091 Brave York, Salisbury, and victorious Warwick,
FTLN 0092 Received deep scars in France and Normandy?
FTLN 0093 Or hath mine uncle Beaufort and myself,
FTLN 0094 With all the learnèd council of the realm,
FTLN 0095 95 Studied so long, sat in the Council House,
FTLN 0096 Early and late, debating to and fro
FTLN 0097 How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe,
FTLN 0098 And had his Highness in his infancy
FTLN 0099 Crowned in Paris in despite of foes?
FTLN 0100 100 And shall these labors and these honors die?
FTLN 0101 Shall Henry’s conquest, Bedford’s vigilance,
FTLN 0102 Your deeds of war, and all our counsel die?
FTLN 0103 O peers of England, shameful is this league,
FTLN 0104 Fatal this marriage, cancelling your fame,
FTLN 0105 105 Blotting your names from books of memory,
FTLN 0106 Razing the characters of your renown,
FTLN 0107 Defacing monuments of conquered France,
FTLN 0108 Undoing all, as all had never been!
CARDINAL
FTLN 0109 Nephew, what means this passionate discourse,

15
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 1
FTLN 0110 110 This peroration with such circumstance?
FTLN 0111 For France, ’tis ours, and we will keep it still.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0112 Ay, uncle, we will keep it if we can,
FTLN 0113 But now it is impossible we should.
FTLN 0114 Suffolk, the new-made duke that rules the roast,
FTLN 0115 115 Hath given the duchy of Anjou and Maine
FTLN 0116 Unto the poor King Reignier, whose large style
FTLN 0117 Agrees not with the leanness of his purse.
SALISBURY
FTLN 0118 Now, by the death of Him that died for all,
FTLN 0119 These counties were the keys of Normandy.
FTLN 0120 120 But wherefore weeps Warwick, my valiant son?
WARWICK
FTLN 0121 For grief that they are past recovery;
FTLN 0122 For, were there hope to conquer them again,
FTLN 0123 My sword should shed hot blood, mine eyes no
FTLN 0124 tears.
FTLN 0125 125 Anjou and Maine? Myself did win them both!
FTLN 0126 Those provinces these arms of mine did conquer.
FTLN 0127 And are the cities that I got with wounds
FTLN 0128 Delivered up again with peaceful words?
FTLN 0129 Mort Dieu!
YORK
FTLN 0130 130 For Suffolk’s duke, may he be suffocate
FTLN 0131 That dims the honor of this warlike isle!
FTLN 0132 France should have torn and rent my very heart
FTLN 0133 Before I would have yielded to this league.
FTLN 0134 I never read but England’s kings have had
FTLN 0135 135 Large sums of gold and dowries with their wives;
FTLN 0136 And our King Henry gives away his own
FTLN 0137 To match with her that brings no vantages.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0138 A proper jest, and never heard before,
FTLN 0139 That Suffolk should demand a whole fifteenth
FTLN 0140 140 For costs and charges in transporting her!

17
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 1
FTLN 0141 She should have stayed in France and starved in
FTLN 0142 France
FTLN 0143 Before—
CARDINAL
FTLN 0144 My lord of Gloucester, now you grow too hot.
FTLN 0145 145 It was the pleasure of my lord the King.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0146 My lord of Winchester, I know your mind.
FTLN 0147 ’Tis not my speeches that you do mislike,
FTLN 0148 But ’tis my presence that doth trouble you.
FTLN 0149 Rancor will out. Proud prelate, in thy face
FTLN 0150 150 I see thy fury. If I longer stay,
FTLN 0151 We shall begin our ancient bickerings.—
FTLN 0152 Lordings, farewell; and say, when I am gone,
FTLN 0153 I prophesied France will be lost ere long.
Gloucester exits.
CARDINAL
FTLN 0154 So, there goes our Protector in a rage.
FTLN 0155 155 ’Tis known to you he is mine enemy,
FTLN 0156 Nay, more, an enemy unto you all,
FTLN 0157 And no great friend, I fear me, to the King.
FTLN 0158 Consider, lords, he is the next of blood
FTLN 0159 And heir apparent to the English crown.
FTLN 0160 160 Had Henry got an empire by his marriage,
FTLN 0161 And all the wealthy kingdoms of the West,
FTLN 0162 There’s reason he should be displeased at it.
FTLN 0163 Look to it, lords. Let not his smoothing words
FTLN 0164 Bewitch your hearts; be wise and circumspect.
FTLN 0165 165 What though the common people favor him,
FTLN 0166 Calling him “Humphrey, the good Duke of
FTLN 0167 Gloucester,”
FTLN 0168 Clapping their hands and crying with loud voice
FTLN 0169 “Jesu maintain your royal Excellence!”
FTLN 0170 170 With “God preserve the good Duke Humphrey!”
FTLN 0171 I fear me, lords, for all this flattering gloss,
FTLN 0172 He will be found a dangerous Protector.

19
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 1
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 0173 Why should he, then, protect our sovereign,
FTLN 0174 He being of age to govern of himself?—
FTLN 0175 175 Cousin of Somerset, join you with me,
FTLN 0176 And all together, with the Duke of Suffolk,
FTLN 0177 We’ll quickly hoise Duke Humphrey from his seat.
CARDINAL
FTLN 0178 This weighty business will not brook delay.
FTLN 0179 I’ll to the Duke of Suffolk presently. Cardinal exits.
SOMERSET
FTLN 0180 180 Cousin of Buckingham, though Humphrey’s pride
FTLN 0181 And greatness of his place be grief to us,
FTLN 0182 Yet let us watch the haughty cardinal.
FTLN 0183 His insolence is more intolerable
FTLN 0184 Than all the princes’ in the land besides.
FTLN 0185 185 If Gloucester be displaced, he’ll be Protector.
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 0186 Or thou or I, Somerset, will be Protector,
FTLN 0187 Despite Duke Humphrey or the Cardinal.
Buckingham and Somerset exit.
SALISBURY
FTLN 0188 Pride went before; Ambition follows him.
FTLN 0189 While these do labor for their own preferment,
FTLN 0190 190 Behooves it us to labor for the realm.
FTLN 0191 I never saw but Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester,
FTLN 0192 Did bear him like a noble gentleman.
FTLN 0193 Oft have I seen the haughty cardinal,
FTLN 0194 More like a soldier than a man o’ th’ Church,
FTLN 0195 195 As stout and proud as he were lord of all,
FTLN 0196 Swear like a ruffian and demean himself
FTLN 0197 Unlike the ruler of a commonweal.—
FTLN 0198 Warwick, my son, the comfort of my age,
FTLN 0199 Thy deeds, thy plainness, and thy housekeeping
FTLN 0200 200 Hath won the greatest favor of the Commons,
FTLN 0201 Excepting none but good Duke Humphrey.—
FTLN 0202 And, brother York, thy acts in Ireland,

21
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 1
FTLN 0203 In bringing them to civil discipline,
FTLN 0204 Thy late exploits done in the heart of France,
FTLN 0205 205 When thou wert regent for our sovereign,
FTLN 0206 Have made thee feared and honored of the people.
FTLN 0207 Join we together for the public good
FTLN 0208 In what we can to bridle and suppress
FTLN 0209 The pride of Suffolk and the Cardinal,
FTLN 0210 210 With Somerset’s and Buckingham’s ambition;
FTLN 0211 And, as we may, cherish Duke Humphrey’s deeds
FTLN 0212 While they do tend the profit of the land.
WARWICK
FTLN 0213 So God help Warwick, as he loves the land
FTLN 0214 And common profit of his country!
YORK
FTLN 0215 215 And so says York— aside for he hath greatest
FTLN 0216 cause.
SALISBURY
FTLN 0217 Then let’s make haste away and look unto the main.
WARWICK
FTLN 0218 Unto the main? O father, Maine is lost!
FTLN 0219 That Maine which by main force Warwick did win
FTLN 0220 220 And would have kept so long as breath did last!
FTLN 0221 Main chance, father, you meant; but I meant Maine,
FTLN 0222 Which I will win from France or else be slain.
Warwick and Salisbury exit.
York remains.
YORK
FTLN 0223 Anjou and Maine are given to the French;
FTLN 0224 Paris is lost; the state of Normandy
FTLN 0225 225 Stands on a tickle point now they are gone.
FTLN 0226 Suffolk concluded on the articles,
FTLN 0227 The peers agreed, and Henry was well pleased
FTLN 0228 To change two dukedoms for a duke’s fair daughter.
FTLN 0229 I cannot blame them all. What is ’t to them?
FTLN 0230 230 ’Tis thine they give away, and not their own.
FTLN 0231 Pirates may make cheap pennyworths of their
FTLN 0232 pillage,

23
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 1
FTLN 0233 And purchase friends, and give to courtesans,
FTLN 0234 Still reveling like lords till all be gone;
FTLN 0235 235 Whileas the silly owner of the goods
FTLN 0236 Weeps over them, and wrings his hapless hands,
FTLN 0237 And shakes his head, and trembling stands aloof,
FTLN 0238 While all is shared and all is borne away,
FTLN 0239 Ready to starve, and dare not touch his own.
FTLN 0240 240 So York must sit and fret and bite his tongue
FTLN 0241 While his own lands are bargained for and sold.
FTLN 0242 Methinks the realms of England, France, and
FTLN 0243 Ireland
FTLN 0244 Bear that proportion to my flesh and blood
FTLN 0245 245 As did the fatal brand Althaea burnt
FTLN 0246 Unto the Prince’s heart of Calydon.
FTLN 0247 Anjou and Maine both given unto the French!
FTLN 0248 Cold news for me, for I had hope of France,
FTLN 0249 Even as I have of fertile England’s soil.
FTLN 0250 250 A day will come when York shall claim his own;
FTLN 0251 And therefore I will take the Nevilles’ parts
FTLN 0252 And make a show of love to proud Duke Humphrey,
FTLN 0253 And, when I spy advantage, claim the crown,
FTLN 0254 For that’s the golden mark I seek to hit.
FTLN 0255 255 Nor shall proud Lancaster usurp my right,
FTLN 0256 Nor hold the scepter in his childish fist,
FTLN 0257 Nor wear the diadem upon his head,
FTLN 0258 Whose churchlike humors fits not for a crown.
FTLN 0259 Then, York, be still awhile till time do serve.
FTLN 0260 260 Watch thou and wake, when others be asleep,
FTLN 0261 To pry into the secrets of the state
FTLN 0262 Till Henry, surfeiting in joys of love
FTLN 0263 With his new bride and England’s dear-bought
FTLN 0264 queen,
FTLN 0265 265 And Humphrey with the peers be fall’n at jars.
FTLN 0266 Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose,
FTLN 0267 With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfumed,
FTLN 0268 And in my standard bear the arms of York,
FTLN 0269 To grapple with the house of Lancaster;

25
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 2
FTLN 0270 270 And force perforce I’ll make him yield the crown,
FTLN 0271 Whose bookish rule hath pulled fair England down.
York exits.
Scene 2
Enter Duke Humphrey of Gloucester and his wife
the Duchess Eleanor.
DUCHESS
FTLN 0272 Why droops my lord like over-ripened corn
FTLN 0273 Hanging the head at Ceres’ plenteous load?
FTLN 0274 Why doth the great Duke Humphrey knit his brows,
FTLN 0275 As frowning at the favors of the world?
FTLN 0276 5 Why are thine eyes fixed to the sullen earth,
FTLN 0277 Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight?
FTLN 0278 What seest thou there? King Henry’s diadem,
FTLN 0279 Enchased with all the honors of the world?
FTLN 0280 If so, gaze on and grovel on thy face
FTLN 0281 10 Until thy head be circled with the same.
FTLN 0282 Put forth thy hand; reach at the glorious gold.
FTLN 0283 What, is ’t too short? I’ll lengthen it with mine;
FTLN 0284 And, having both together heaved it up,
FTLN 0285 We’ll both together lift our heads to heaven
FTLN 0286 15 And never more abase our sight so low
FTLN 0287 As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0288 O Nell, sweet Nell, if thou dost love thy lord,
FTLN 0289 Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts!
FTLN 0290 And may that hour when I imagine ill
FTLN 0291 20 Against my king and nephew, virtuous Henry,
FTLN 0292 Be my last breathing in this mortal world!
FTLN 0293 My troublous dreams this night doth make me sad.
DUCHESS
FTLN 0294 What dreamed my lord? Tell me, and I’ll requite it
FTLN 0295 With sweet rehearsal of my morning’s dream.

27
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 2
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0296 25 Methought this staff, mine office badge in court,
FTLN 0297 Was broke in twain—by whom I have forgot,
FTLN 0298 But, as I think, it was by th’ Cardinal—
FTLN 0299 And on the pieces of the broken wand
FTLN 0300 Were placed the heads of Edmund, Duke of
FTLN 0301 30 Somerset,
FTLN 0302 And William de la Pole, first Duke of Suffolk.
FTLN 0303 This was my dream. What it doth bode God knows.
DUCHESS
FTLN 0304 Tut, this was nothing but an argument
FTLN 0305 That he that breaks a stick of Gloucester’s grove
FTLN 0306 35 Shall lose his head for his presumption.
FTLN 0307 But list to me, my Humphrey, my sweet duke:
FTLN 0308 Methought I sat in seat of majesty,
FTLN 0309 In the cathedral church of Westminster
FTLN 0310 And in that chair where kings and queens were
FTLN 0311 40 crowned,
FTLN 0312 Where Henry and Dame Margaret kneeled to me
FTLN 0313 And on my head did set the diadem.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0314 Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright.
FTLN 0315 Presumptuous dame, ill-nurtured Eleanor,
FTLN 0316 45 Art thou not second woman in the realm
FTLN 0317 And the Protector’s wife, beloved of him?
FTLN 0318 Hast thou not worldly pleasure at command,
FTLN 0319 Above the reach or compass of thy thought?
FTLN 0320 And wilt thou still be hammering treachery
FTLN 0321 50 To tumble down thy husband and thyself
FTLN 0322 From top of honor to disgrace’s feet?
FTLN 0323 Away from me, and let me hear no more!
DUCHESS
FTLN 0324 What, what, my lord? Are you so choleric
FTLN 0325 With Eleanor for telling but her dream?
FTLN 0326 55 Next time I’ll keep my dreams unto myself
FTLN 0327 And not be checked.

29
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 2
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0328 Nay, be not angry. I am pleased again.
Enter Messenger.
MESSENGER
FTLN 0329 My Lord Protector, ’tis his Highness’ pleasure
FTLN 0330 You do prepare to ride unto Saint Albans,
FTLN 0331 60 Whereas the King and Queen do mean to hawk.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0332 I go.—Come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us?
DUCHESS
FTLN 0333 Yes, my good lord. I’ll follow presently.
Gloucester exits, with Messenger.
FTLN 0334 Follow I must; I cannot go before
FTLN 0335 While Gloucester bears this base and humble mind.
FTLN 0336 65 Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood,
FTLN 0337 I would remove these tedious stumbling blocks
FTLN 0338 And smooth my way upon their headless necks;
FTLN 0339 And, being a woman, I will not be slack
FTLN 0340 To play my part in Fortune’s pageant.—
FTLN 0341 70 Where are you there? Sir John! Nay, fear not, man.
FTLN 0342 We are alone; here’s none but thee and I.
Enter Sir John Hume.
HUME
FTLN 0343 Jesus preserve your royal Majesty!
DUCHESS
FTLN 0344 What sayst thou? “Majesty”? I am but “Grace.”
HUME
FTLN 0345 But by the grace of God and Hume’s advice,
FTLN 0346 75 Your Grace’s title shall be multiplied.
DUCHESS
FTLN 0347 What sayst thou, man? Hast thou as yet conferred
FTLN 0348 With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch,
FTLN 0349 With Roger Bolingbroke, the conjurer?
FTLN 0350 And will they undertake to do me good?

31
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 2
HUME
FTLN 0351 80 This they have promisèd: to show your Highness
FTLN 0352 A spirit raised from depth of underground
FTLN 0353 That shall make answer to such questions
FTLN 0354 As by your Grace shall be propounded him.
DUCHESS
FTLN 0355 It is enough. I’ll think upon the questions.
FTLN 0356 85 When from Saint Albans we do make return,
FTLN 0357 We’ll see these things effected to the full.
FTLN 0358 Here, Hume, take this reward.
She gives him money.
FTLN 0359 Make merry, man,
FTLN 0360 With thy confederates in this weighty cause.
Duchess exits.
HUME
FTLN 0361 90 Hume must make merry with the Duchess’ gold.
FTLN 0362 Marry, and shall! But, how now, Sir John Hume?
FTLN 0363 Seal up your lips, and give no words but “mum”;
FTLN 0364 The business asketh silent secrecy.
FTLN 0365 Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch;
FTLN 0366 95 Gold cannot come amiss, were she a devil.
FTLN 0367 Yet have I gold flies from another coast—
FTLN 0368 I dare not say, from the rich cardinal
FTLN 0369 And from the great and new-made Duke of Suffolk,
FTLN 0370 Yet I do find it so. For, to be plain,
FTLN 0371 100 They, knowing Dame Eleanor’s aspiring humor,
FTLN 0372 Have hirèd me to undermine the Duchess
FTLN 0373 And buzz these conjurations in her brain.
FTLN 0374 They say a crafty knave does need no broker,
FTLN 0375 Yet am I Suffolk and the Cardinal’s broker.
FTLN 0376 105 Hume, if you take not heed, you shall go near
FTLN 0377 To call them both a pair of crafty knaves.
FTLN 0378 Well, so it stands; and thus I fear at last
FTLN 0379 Hume’s knavery will be the Duchess’ wrack,
FTLN 0380 And her attainture will be Humphrey’s fall.
FTLN 0381 110 Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all.
He exits.

33
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 3
Scene 3
Enter three or four Petitioners, Peter, the
Armorer’s man, being one.
FIRST PETITIONER FTLN 0382 My masters, let’s stand close. My
FTLN 0383 Lord Protector will come this way by and by, and
FTLN 0384 then we may deliver our supplications in the quill.
SECOND PETITIONER FTLN 0385 Marry, the Lord protect him, for
FTLN 0386 5 he’s a good man! Jesu bless him!
Enter Suffolk, wearing the red rose,
and Queen Margaret.
FIRST PETITIONER FTLN 0387 Here he comes, methinks, and the
FTLN 0388 Queen with him. I’ll be the first, sure.
He steps forward.
SECOND PETITIONER FTLN 0389 Come back, fool! This is the Duke
FTLN 0390 of Suffolk, and not my Lord Protector.
SUFFOLK FTLN 0391 10 How now, fellow? Wouldst anything with
FTLN 0392 me?
FIRST PETITIONER FTLN 0393 I pray, my lord, pardon me. I took
FTLN 0394 you for my Lord Protector.
QUEEN MARGARET takes a petition and reads. FTLN 0395 To my
FTLN 0396 15 Lord Protector. Are your supplications to his Lordship?
FTLN 0397 Let me see them.—What is thine?
FIRST PETITIONER FTLN 0398 Mine is, an ’t please your Grace,
FTLN 0399 against John Goodman, my Lord Cardinal’s man,
FTLN 0400 for keeping my house, and lands, and wife and all,
FTLN 0401 20 from me.
SUFFOLK FTLN 0402 Thy wife too? That’s some wrong indeed.—
FTLN 0403 What’s yours? Taking a petition. What’s here?
FTLN 0404 (Reads.) Against the Duke of Suffolk for enclosing
FTLN 0405 the commons of Melford. How now, sir knave?
SECOND PETITIONER FTLN 0406 25 Alas, sir, I am but a poor petitioner
FTLN 0407 of our whole township.
PETER , showing his petition FTLN 0408 Against my master,

35
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 3
FTLN 0409 Thomas Horner, for saying that the Duke of York
FTLN 0410 was rightful heir to the crown.
QUEEN MARGARET FTLN 0411 30 What sayst thou? Did the Duke of
FTLN 0412 York say he was rightful heir to the crown?
PETER FTLN 0413 That my master was? No, forsooth. My master
FTLN 0414 said that he was and that the King was an
FTLN 0415 usurper.
SUFFOLK , calling FTLN 0416 35 Who is there?
Enter Servant.
FTLN 0417 Take this fellow in, and send for his master with a
FTLN 0418 pursuivant presently.—We’ll hear more of your
FTLN 0419 matter before the King.
Peter exits with Servant.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 0420 And as for you that love to be protected
FTLN 0421 40 Under the wings of our Protector’s grace,
FTLN 0422 Begin your suits anew, and sue to him.
Tear the supplication.
FTLN 0423 Away, base cullions.—Suffolk, let them go.
ALL FTLN 0424 Come, let’s be gone. They exit.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 0425 My lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise,
FTLN 0426 45 Is this the fashions in the court of England?
FTLN 0427 Is this the government of Britain’s isle
FTLN 0428 And this the royalty of Albion’s king?
FTLN 0429 What, shall King Henry be a pupil still
FTLN 0430 Under the surly Gloucester’s governance?
FTLN 0431 50 Am I a queen in title and in style,
FTLN 0432 And must be made a subject to a duke?
FTLN 0433 I tell thee, Pole, when in the city Tours
FTLN 0434 Thou rann’st atilt in honor of my love
FTLN 0435 And stol’st away the ladies’ hearts of France,
FTLN 0436 55 I thought King Henry had resembled thee
FTLN 0437 In courage, courtship, and proportion.
FTLN 0438 But all his mind is bent to holiness,

37
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 3
FTLN 0439 To number Ave Marys on his beads;
FTLN 0440 His champions are the prophets and apostles,
FTLN 0441 60 His weapons holy saws of sacred writ,
FTLN 0442 His study is his tiltyard, and his loves
FTLN 0443 Are brazen images of canonized saints.
FTLN 0444 I would the College of the Cardinals
FTLN 0445 Would choose him pope and carry him to Rome
FTLN 0446 65 And set the triple crown upon his head!
FTLN 0447 That were a state fit for his holiness.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 0448 Madam, be patient. As I was cause
FTLN 0449 Your Highness came to England, so will I
FTLN 0450 In England work your Grace’s full content.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 0451 70 Besides the haughty Protector, have we Beaufort
FTLN 0452 The imperious churchman, Somerset, Buckingham,
FTLN 0453 And grumbling York; and not the least of these
FTLN 0454 But can do more in England than the King.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 0455 And he of these that can do most of all
FTLN 0456 75 Cannot do more in England than the Nevilles;
FTLN 0457 Salisbury and Warwick are no simple peers.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 0458 Not all these lords do vex me half so much
FTLN 0459 As that proud dame, the Lord Protector’s wife.
FTLN 0460 She sweeps it through the court with troops of
FTLN 0461 80 ladies,
FTLN 0462 More like an empress than Duke Humphrey’s wife.
FTLN 0463 Strangers in court do take her for the Queen.
FTLN 0464 She bears a duke’s revenues on her back,
FTLN 0465 And in her heart she scorns our poverty.
FTLN 0466 85 Shall I not live to be avenged on her?
FTLN 0467 Contemptuous baseborn callet as she is,
FTLN 0468 She vaunted ’mongst her minions t’ other day
FTLN 0469 The very train of her worst wearing gown

39
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 3
FTLN 0470 Was better worth than all my father’s lands
FTLN 0471 90 Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 0472 Madam, myself have limed a bush for her
FTLN 0473 And placed a choir of such enticing birds
FTLN 0474 That she will light to listen to the lays
FTLN 0475 And never mount to trouble you again.
FTLN 0476 95 So let her rest. And, madam, list to me,
FTLN 0477 For I am bold to counsel you in this:
FTLN 0478 Although we fancy not the Cardinal,
FTLN 0479 Yet must we join with him and with the lords
FTLN 0480 Till we have brought Duke Humphrey in disgrace.
FTLN 0481 100 As for the Duke of York, this late complaint
FTLN 0482 Will make but little for his benefit.
FTLN 0483 So, one by one, we’ll weed them all at last,
FTLN 0484 And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.
Sound a sennet. Enter King Henry, Duke Humphrey
of Gloucester, Cardinal, Somerset, wearing the red
rose, Buckingham, Salisbury; York and Warwick, both
wearing the white rose; and the Duchess of
Gloucester.
KING HENRY
FTLN 0485 For my part, noble lords, I care not which;
FTLN 0486 105 Or Somerset or York, all’s one to me.
YORK
FTLN 0487 If York have ill demeaned himself in France,
FTLN 0488 Then let him be denied the regentship.
SOMERSET
FTLN 0489 If Somerset be unworthy of the place,
FTLN 0490 Let York be regent; I will yield to him.
WARWICK
FTLN 0491 110 Whether your Grace be worthy, yea or no,
FTLN 0492 Dispute not that. York is the worthier.
CARDINAL
FTLN 0493 Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak.

41
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 3
WARWICK
FTLN 0494 The Cardinal’s not my better in the field.
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 0495 All in this presence are thy betters, Warwick.
WARWICK
FTLN 0496 115 Warwick may live to be the best of all.
SALISBURY
FTLN 0497 Peace, son.—And show some reason, Buckingham,
FTLN 0498 Why Somerset should be preferred in this.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 0499 Because the King, forsooth, will have it so.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0500 Madam, the King is old enough himself
FTLN 0501 120 To give his censure. These are no women’s matters.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 0502 If he be old enough, what needs your Grace
FTLN 0503 To be Protector of his Excellence?
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0504 Madam, I am Protector of the realm,
FTLN 0505 And at his pleasure will resign my place.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 0506 125 Resign it, then, and leave thine insolence.
FTLN 0507 Since thou wert king—as who is king but thou?—
FTLN 0508 The commonwealth hath daily run to wrack,
FTLN 0509 The Dauphin hath prevailed beyond the seas,
FTLN 0510 And all the peers and nobles of the realm
FTLN 0511 130 Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty.
CARDINAL , to Gloucester
FTLN 0512 The Commons hast thou racked; the clergy’s bags
FTLN 0513 Are lank and lean with thy extortions.
SOMERSET , to Gloucester
FTLN 0514 Thy sumptuous buildings and thy wife’s attire
FTLN 0515 Have cost a mass of public treasury.
BUCKINGHAM , to Gloucester
FTLN 0516 135 Thy cruelty in execution
FTLN 0517 Upon offenders hath exceeded law
FTLN 0518 And left thee to the mercy of the law.

43
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 3
QUEEN MARGARET , to Gloucester
FTLN 0519 Thy sale of offices and towns in France,
FTLN 0520 If they were known, as the suspect is great,
FTLN 0521 140 Would make thee quickly hop without thy head.
Gloucester exits.
Queen Margaret drops her fan.
FTLN 0522 To Duchess. Give me my fan. What, minion, can
FTLN 0523 you not? She gives the Duchess a box on the ear.
FTLN 0524 I cry you mercy, madam. Was it you?
DUCHESS
FTLN 0525 Was ’t I? Yea, I it was, proud Frenchwoman.
FTLN 0526 145 Could I come near your beauty with my nails,
FTLN 0527 I’d set my ten commandments in your face.
KING HENRY
FTLN 0528 Sweet aunt, be quiet. ’Twas against her will.
DUCHESS
FTLN 0529 Against her will, good king? Look to ’t in time.
FTLN 0530 She’ll hamper thee and dandle thee like a baby.
FTLN 0531 150 Though in this place most master wear no breeches,
FTLN 0532 She shall not strike Dame Eleanor unrevenged.
Eleanor, the Duchess, exits.
BUCKINGHAM , aside to Cardinal
FTLN 0533 Lord Cardinal, I will follow Eleanor
FTLN 0534 And listen after Humphrey how he proceeds.
FTLN 0535 She’s tickled now; her fume needs no spurs;
FTLN 0536 155 She’ll gallop far enough to her destruction.
Buckingham exits.
Enter Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0537 Now, lords, my choler being overblown
FTLN 0538 With walking once about the quadrangle,
FTLN 0539 I come to talk of commonwealth affairs.
FTLN 0540 As for your spiteful false objections,
FTLN 0541 160 Prove them, and I lie open to the law;
FTLN 0542 But God in mercy so deal with my soul

45
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 3
FTLN 0543 As I in duty love my king and country!
FTLN 0544 But, to the matter that we have in hand:
FTLN 0545 I say, my sovereign, York is meetest man
FTLN 0546 165 To be your regent in the realm of France.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 0547 Before we make election, give me leave
FTLN 0548 To show some reason, of no little force,
FTLN 0549 That York is most unmeet of any man.
YORK
FTLN 0550 I’ll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet:
FTLN 0551 170 First, for I cannot flatter thee in pride;
FTLN 0552 Next, if I be appointed for the place,
FTLN 0553 My lord of Somerset will keep me here
FTLN 0554 Without discharge, money, or furniture
FTLN 0555 Till France be won into the Dauphin’s hands.
FTLN 0556 175 Last time I danced attendance on his will
FTLN 0557 Till Paris was besieged, famished, and lost.
WARWICK
FTLN 0558 That can I witness, and a fouler fact
FTLN 0559 Did never traitor in the land commit.
SUFFOLK FTLN 0560 Peace, headstrong Warwick!
WARWICK
FTLN 0561 180 Image of pride, why should I hold my peace?
Enter Horner, the Armorer, and his Man
Peter, under guard.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 0562 Because here is a man accused of treason.
FTLN 0563 Pray God the Duke of York excuse himself!
YORK
FTLN 0564 Doth anyone accuse York for a traitor?
KING HENRY
FTLN 0565 What mean’st thou, Suffolk? Tell me, what are
FTLN 0566 185 these?

47
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 3
SUFFOLK
FTLN 0567 Please it your Majesty, this is the man
FTLN 0568 That doth accuse his master of high treason.
FTLN 0569 His words were these: that Richard, Duke of York,
FTLN 0570 Was rightful heir unto the English crown,
FTLN 0571 190 And that your Majesty was an usurper.
KING HENRY FTLN 0572 Say, man, were these thy words?
HORNER FTLN 0573 An ’t shall please your Majesty, I never said
FTLN 0574 nor thought any such matter. God is my witness, I
FTLN 0575 am falsely accused by the villain.
PETER FTLN 0576 195 By these ten bones, my lords, he did speak
FTLN 0577 them to me in the garret one night as we were
FTLN 0578 scouring my lord of York’s armor.
YORK , to Horner
FTLN 0579 Base dunghill villain and mechanical,
FTLN 0580 I’ll have thy head for this thy traitor’s speech!—
FTLN 0581 200 I do beseech your royal Majesty,
FTLN 0582 Let him have all the rigor of the law.
HORNER FTLN 0583 Alas, my lord, hang me if ever I spake the
FTLN 0584 words. My accuser is my prentice; and when I did
FTLN 0585 correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow
FTLN 0586 205 upon his knees he would be even with me. I have
FTLN 0587 good witness of this. Therefore I beseech your
FTLN 0588 Majesty, do not cast away an honest man for a
FTLN 0589 villain’s accusation!
KING HENRY
FTLN 0590 Uncle, what shall we say to this in law?
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0591 210 This doom, my lord, if I may judge:
FTLN 0592 Let Somerset be regent o’er the French,
FTLN 0593 Because in York this breeds suspicion;
FTLN 0594 And let these have a day appointed them
FTLN 0595 For single combat in convenient place,
FTLN 0596 215 For he hath witness of his servant’s malice.
FTLN 0597 This is the law, and this Duke Humphrey’s doom.

49
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 4
SOMERSET
FTLN 0598 I humbly thank your royal Majesty.
HORNER
FTLN 0599 And I accept the combat willingly.
PETER FTLN 0600 Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God’s sake pity
FTLN 0601 220 my case! The spite of man prevaileth against me. O
FTLN 0602 Lord, have mercy upon me! I shall never be able to
FTLN 0603 fight a blow. O Lord, my heart!
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0604 Sirrah, or you must fight or else be hanged.
KING HENRY FTLN 0605 Away with them to prison; and the day of
FTLN 0606 225 combat shall be the last of the next month.—
FTLN 0607 Come, Somerset, we’ll see thee sent away.
Flourish. They exit.
Scene 4
Enter the Witch Margery Jourdain, the two Priests
Hume and Southwell, and Bolingbroke, a conjurer.
HUME FTLN 0608 Come, my masters. The Duchess, I tell you,
FTLN 0609 expects performance of your promises.
BOLINGBROKE FTLN 0610 Master Hume, we are therefore provided.
FTLN 0611 Will her Ladyship behold and hear our
FTLN 0612 5 exorcisms?
HUME FTLN 0613 Ay, what else? Fear you not her courage.
BOLINGBROKE FTLN 0614 I have heard her reported to be a
FTLN 0615 woman of an invincible spirit. But it shall be convenient,
FTLN 0616 Master Hume, that you be by her aloft
FTLN 0617 10 while we be busy below; and so, I pray you, go, in
FTLN 0618 God’s name, and leave us. Hume exits.
FTLN 0619 Mother Jourdain, be you prostrate and grovel on
FTLN 0620 the earth. She lies face downward. John Southwell,
FTLN 0621 read you; and let us to our work.

51
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 4
Enter Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester,
with Hume, aloft.
DUCHESS FTLN 0622 15 Well said, my masters, and welcome all. To
FTLN 0623 this gear, the sooner the better.
BOLINGBROKE
FTLN 0624 Patience, good lady. Wizards know their times.
FTLN 0625 Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night,
FTLN 0626 The time of night when Troy was set on fire,
FTLN 0627 20 The time when screech owls cry and bandogs howl,
FTLN 0628 And spirits walk, and ghosts break up their graves—
FTLN 0629 That time best fits the work we have in hand.
FTLN 0630 Madam, sit you, and fear not. Whom we raise
FTLN 0631 We will make fast within a hallowed verge.
Here they do the ceremonies belonging, and
make the circle. Bolingbroke or Southwell reads
“Conjuro te, etc.” It thunders and lightens terribly;
then the Spirit riseth.
SPIRIT FTLN 0632 25 Adsum.
JOURDAIN FTLN 0633 Asmath,
FTLN 0634 By the eternal God, whose name and power
FTLN 0635 Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask,
FTLN 0636 For till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence.
SPIRIT
FTLN 0637 30 Ask what thou wilt. That I had said and done!
BOLINGBROKE , reading from a paper, while Southwell
writes
FTLN 0638 First of the King: What shall of him become?
SPIRIT
FTLN 0639 The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose,
FTLN 0640 But him outlive and die a violent death.
BOLINGBROKE , reads
FTLN 0641 What fates await the Duke of Suffolk?
SPIRIT
FTLN 0642 35 By water shall he die and take his end.
BOLINGBROKE reads
FTLN 0643 What shall befall the Duke of Somerset?

53
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 4
SPIRIT FTLN 0644 Let him shun castles.
FTLN 0645 Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains
FTLN 0646 Than where castles mounted stand.
FTLN 0647 40 Have done, for more I hardly can endure.
BOLINGBROKE
FTLN 0648 Descend to darkness and the burning lake!
FTLN 0649 False fiend, avoid!
Thunder and lightning. Spirit exits, descending.
Enter the Duke of York and the Duke of Buckingham
with their Guard and Sir Humphrey Stafford, and
break in.
YORK
FTLN 0650 Lay hands upon these traitors and their trash.
The Guard arrest Margery Jourdain and her
accomplices and seize their papers.
FTLN 0651 To Jourdain. Beldam, I think we watched you at an
FTLN 0652 45 inch.
FTLN 0653 To the Duchess, aloft. What, madam, are you
FTLN 0654 there? The King and commonweal
FTLN 0655 Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains.
FTLN 0656 My Lord Protector will, I doubt it not,
FTLN 0657 50 See you well guerdoned for these good deserts.
DUCHESS
FTLN 0658 Not half so bad as thine to England’s king,
FTLN 0659 Injurious duke, that threatest where’s no cause.
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 0660 True, madam, none at all. What call you this?
He holds up the papers seized.
FTLN 0661 Away with them! Let them be clapped up close
FTLN 0662 55 And kept asunder.—You, madam, shall with us.—
FTLN 0663 Stafford, take her to thee. Stafford exits.
FTLN 0664 We’ll see your trinkets here all forthcoming.
FTLN 0665 All away! Jourdain, Southwell, and Bolingbroke
exit under guard, below; Duchess and Hume
exit, under guard, aloft.

55
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 1. SC. 4
YORK
FTLN 0666 Lord Buckingham, methinks you watched her well.
FTLN 0667 60 A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon!
FTLN 0668 Now, pray, my lord, let’s see the devil’s writ.
Buckingham hands him the papers.
FTLN 0669 What have we here?
FTLN 0670 (Reads.) The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose,
FTLN 0671 But him outlive and die a violent death.
FTLN 0672 65 Why, this is just Aio te, Aeacida,
FTLN 0673 Romanos vincere posse. Well, to the rest:
FTLN 0674 (Reads.) Tell me what fate awaits the Duke of
FTLN 0675 Suffolk?
FTLN 0676 By water shall he die and take his end.
FTLN 0677 70 What shall betide the Duke of Somerset?
FTLN 0678 Let him shun castles;
FTLN 0679 Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains
FTLN 0680 Than where castles mounted stand.
FTLN 0681 Come, come, my lord, these oracles
FTLN 0682 75 Are hardly attained and hardly understood.
FTLN 0683 The King is now in progress towards Saint Albans;
FTLN 0684 With him the husband of this lovely lady.
FTLN 0685 Thither goes these news as fast as horse can carry
FTLN 0686 them—
FTLN 0687 80 A sorry breakfast for my Lord Protector.
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 0688 Your Grace shall give me leave, my lord of York,
FTLN 0689 To be the post, in hope of his reward.
YORK FTLN 0690 At your pleasure, my good lord.
Buckingham exits.
FTLN 0691 Who’s within there, ho!
Enter a Servingman.
FTLN 0692 85 Invite my lords of Salisbury and Warwick
FTLN 0693 To sup with me tomorrow night. Away!
They exit.

ACT 2
Scene 1
Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, Gloucester the
Lord Protector, Cardinal, and Suffolk, and
Attendants, with Falconers hallowing.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 0694 Believe me, lords, for flying at the brook
FTLN 0695 I saw not better sport these seven years’ day.
FTLN 0696 Yet, by your leave, the wind was very high,
FTLN 0697 And, ten to one, old Joan had not gone out.
KING HENRY , to Gloucester
FTLN 0698 5 But what a point, my lord, your falcon made,
FTLN 0699 And what a pitch she flew above the rest!
FTLN 0700 To see how God in all his creatures works!
FTLN 0701 Yea, man and birds are fain of climbing high.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 0702 No marvel, an it like your Majesty,
FTLN 0703 10 My Lord Protector’s hawks do tower so well;
FTLN 0704 They know their master loves to be aloft
FTLN 0705 And bears his thoughts above his falcon’s pitch.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0706 My lord, ’tis but a base ignoble mind
FTLN 0707 That mounts no higher than a bird can soar.
CARDINAL
FTLN 0708 15 I thought as much. He would be above the clouds.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0709 Ay, my Lord Cardinal, how think you by that?
FTLN 0710 Were it not good your Grace could fly to heaven?
59

61
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 2. SC. 1
KING HENRY
FTLN 0711 The treasury of everlasting joy.
CARDINAL , to Gloucester
FTLN 0712 Thy heaven is on Earth; thine eyes and thoughts
FTLN 0713 20 Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart.
FTLN 0714 Pernicious Protector, dangerous peer,
FTLN 0715 That smooth’st it so with king and commonweal!
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0716 What, cardinal, is your priesthood grown
FTLN 0717 peremptory?
FTLN 0718 25 Tantaene animis caelestibus irae?
FTLN 0719 Churchmen so hot? Good uncle, hide such malice.
FTLN 0720 With such holiness, can you do it?
SUFFOLK
FTLN 0721 No malice, sir, no more than well becomes
FTLN 0722 So good a quarrel and so bad a peer.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0723 30 As who, my lord?
SUFFOLK FTLN 0724 Why, as you, my lord,
FTLN 0725 An ’t like your lordly Lord Protectorship.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0726 Why, Suffolk, England knows thine insolence.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 0727 And thy ambition, Gloucester.
KING HENRY FTLN 0728 35 I prithee peace,
FTLN 0729 Good queen, and whet not on these furious peers,
FTLN 0730 For blessèd are the peacemakers on Earth.
CARDINAL
FTLN 0731 Let me be blessèd for the peace I make
FTLN 0732 Against this proud Protector with my sword!
GLOUCESTER , aside to Cardinal
FTLN 0733 40 Faith, holy uncle, would ’t were come to that!
CARDINAL , aside to Gloucester FTLN 0734 Marry, when thou
FTLN 0735 dar’st!
GLOUCESTER , aside to Cardinal
FTLN 0736 Make up no factious numbers for the matter.
FTLN 0737 In thine own person answer thy abuse.

63
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 2. SC. 1
CARDINAL , aside to Gloucester
FTLN 0738 45 Ay, where thou dar’st not peep. An if thou dar’st,
FTLN 0739 This evening, on the east side of the grove.
KING HENRY
FTLN 0740 How now, my lords?
CARDINAL FTLN 0741 Believe me, cousin Gloucester,
FTLN 0742 Had not your man put up the fowl so suddenly,
FTLN 0743 50 We had had more sport. (Aside to Gloucester.)
FTLN 0744 Come with thy two-hand sword.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0745 True, uncle. (Aside to Cardinal.) Are you advised?
FTLN 0746 The east side of the grove.
CARDINAL , aside to Gloucester
FTLN 0747 I am with you.
KING HENRY FTLN 0748 55 Why, how now, uncle Gloucester?
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0749 Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord.
FTLN 0750 (Aside to Cardinal.) Now, by God’s mother, priest,
FTLN 0751 I’ll shave your crown for this,
FTLN 0752 Or all my fence shall fail.
CARDINAL , aside to Gloucester FTLN 0753 60 Medice, teipsum;
FTLN 0754 Protector, see to ’t well; protect yourself.
KING HENRY
FTLN 0755 The winds grow high; so do your stomachs, lords.
FTLN 0756 How irksome is this music to my heart!
FTLN 0757 When such strings jar, what hope of harmony?
FTLN 0758 65 I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife.
Enter a man from St. Albans crying “A miracle!”
GLOUCESTER FTLN 0759 What means this noise?—
FTLN 0760 Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim?
MAN FTLN 0761 A miracle, a miracle!
SUFFOLK
FTLN 0762 Come to the King, and tell him what miracle.
MAN
FTLN 0763 70 Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban’s shrine

65
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 2. SC. 1
FTLN 0764 Within this half hour hath received his sight,
FTLN 0765 A man that ne’er saw in his life before.
KING HENRY
FTLN 0766 Now, God be praised, that to believing souls
FTLN 0767 Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair.
Enter the Mayor of Saint Albans, and his brethren,
bearing the man Simpcox between two in a chair,
followed by Simpcox’s Wife and Others.
CARDINAL
FTLN 0768 75 Here comes the townsmen on procession
FTLN 0769 To present your Highness with the man.
KING HENRY
FTLN 0770 Great is his comfort in this earthly vale,
FTLN 0771 Although by his sight his sin be multiplied.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0772 Stand by, my masters.—Bring him near the King.
FTLN 0773 80 His Highness’ pleasure is to talk with him.
The two bearers bring the chair forward.
KING HENRY
FTLN 0774 Good fellow, tell us here the circumstance,
FTLN 0775 That we for thee may glorify the Lord.
FTLN 0776 What, hast thou been long blind and now restored?
SIMPCOX FTLN 0777 Born blind, an ’t please your Grace.
WIFE FTLN 0778 85 Ay, indeed, was he.
SUFFOLK FTLN 0779 What woman is this?
WIFE FTLN 0780 His wife, an ’t like your Worship.
GLOUCESTER FTLN 0781 Hadst thou been his mother, thou couldst
FTLN 0782 have better told.
KING HENRY FTLN 0783 90 Where wert thou born?
SIMPCOX
FTLN 0784 At Berwick in the North, an ’t like your Grace.
KING HENRY
FTLN 0785 Poor soul, God’s goodness hath been great to thee.
FTLN 0786 Let never day nor night unhallowed pass,
FTLN 0787 But still remember what the Lord hath done.

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Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 2. SC. 1
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 0788 95 Tell me, good fellow, cam’st thou here by chance,
FTLN 0789 Or of devotion to this holy shrine?
SIMPCOX
FTLN 0790 God knows, of pure devotion, being called
FTLN 0791 A hundred times and oftener in my sleep
FTLN 0792 By good Saint Alban, who said “Simon, come,
FTLN 0793 100 Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help thee.”
WIFE
FTLN 0794 Most true, forsooth, and many time and oft
FTLN 0795 Myself have heard a voice to call him so.
CARDINAL FTLN 0796 What, art thou lame?
SIMPCOX FTLN 0797 Ay, God Almighty help me!
SUFFOLK FTLN 0798 105 How cam’st thou so?
SIMPCOX FTLN 0799 A fall off of a tree.
WIFE FTLN 0800 A plum tree, master.
GLOUCESTER FTLN 0801 How long hast thou been blind?
SIMPCOX FTLN 0802 O, born so, master.
GLOUCESTER FTLN 0803 110 What, and wouldst climb a tree?
SIMPCOX FTLN 0804 But that in all my life, when I was a youth.
WIFE FTLN 0805 Too true, and bought his climbing very dear.
GLOUCESTER FTLN 0806 Mass, thou lov’dst plums well, that
FTLN 0807 wouldst venture so.
SIMPCOX FTLN 0808 115 Alas, good master, my wife desired some
FTLN 0809 damsons, and made me climb, with danger of my
FTLN 0810 life.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0811 A subtle knave, but yet it shall not serve.—
FTLN 0812 Let me see thine eyes. Wink now. Now open them.
FTLN 0813 120 In my opinion, yet thou seest not well.
SIMPCOX FTLN 0814 Yes, master, clear as day, I thank God and
FTLN 0815 Saint Alban.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0816 Sayst thou me so? What color is this cloak of?
SIMPCOX FTLN 0817 Red, master, red as blood.

69
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 2. SC. 1
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0818 125 Why, that’s well said. What color is my gown of?
SIMPCOX FTLN 0819 Black, forsooth, coal-black as jet.
KING HENRY
FTLN 0820 Why, then, thou know’st what color jet is of.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 0821 And yet, I think, jet did he never see.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0822 But cloaks and gowns, before this day, a many.
WIFE
FTLN 0823 130 Never, before this day, in all his life.
GLOUCESTER FTLN 0824 Tell me, sirrah, what’s my name?
SIMPCOX FTLN 0825 Alas, master, I know not.
GLOUCESTER , pointing FTLN 0826 What’s his name?
SIMPCOX FTLN 0827 I know not.
GLOUCESTER , pointing to someone else FTLN 0828 135 Nor his?
SIMPCOX FTLN 0829 No, indeed, master.
GLOUCESTER FTLN 0830 What’s thine own name?
SIMPCOX FTLN 0831 Sander Simpcox, an if it please you, master.
GLOUCESTER FTLN 0832 Then, Sander, sit there, the lying’st knave
FTLN 0833 140 in Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind,
FTLN 0834 thou mightst as well have known all our names as
FTLN 0835 thus to name the several colors we do wear. Sight
FTLN 0836 may distinguish of colors; but suddenly to nominate
FTLN 0837 them all, it is impossible.—My lords, Saint
FTLN 0838 145 Alban here hath done a miracle; and would you
FTLN 0839 not think his cunning to be great that could
FTLN 0840 restore this cripple to his legs again?
SIMPCOX FTLN 0841 O master, that you could!
GLOUCESTER FTLN 0842 My masters of Saint Albans, have you not
FTLN 0843 150 beadles in your town and things called whips?
MAYOR FTLN 0844 Yes, my lord, if it please your Grace.
GLOUCESTER FTLN 0845 Then send for one presently.
MAYOR FTLN 0846 Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight.
A man exits.

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ACT 2. SC. 1
GLOUCESTER FTLN 0847 Now fetch me a stool hither by and by.
FTLN 0848 155 One brings a stool. Now, sirrah, if you mean to
FTLN 0849 save yourself from whipping, leap me over this
FTLN 0850 stool, and run away.
SIMPCOX FTLN 0851 Alas, master, I am not able to stand alone.
FTLN 0852 You go about to torture me in vain.
Enter a Beadle with whips.
GLOUCESTER FTLN 0853 160 Well, sir, we must have you find your
FTLN 0854 legs.—Sirrah beadle, whip him till he leap over
FTLN 0855 that same stool.
BEADLE FTLN 0856 I will, my lord.—Come on, sirrah, off with
FTLN 0857 your doublet quickly.
SIMPCOX FTLN 0858 165 Alas, master, what shall I do? I am not able to
FTLN 0859 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
FTLN 0860 O God, seest Thou this, and bearest so long?
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 0861 It made me laugh to see the villain run.
GLOUCESTER , to the Beadle
FTLN 0862 Follow the knave, and take this drab away.
WIFE FTLN 0863 170 Alas, sir, we did it for pure need.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0864 Let them be whipped through every market town
FTLN 0865 Till they come to Berwick, from whence they came.
The Beadle, Mayor, Wife, and the others from
Saint Albans exit.
CARDINAL
FTLN 0866 Duke Humphrey has done a miracle today.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 0867 True, made the lame to leap and fly away.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0868 175 But you have done more miracles than I.
FTLN 0869 You made in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly.

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ACT 2. SC. 1
Enter Buckingham.
KING HENRY
FTLN 0870 What tidings with our cousin Buckingham?
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 0871 Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold:
FTLN 0872 A sort of naughty persons, lewdly bent,
FTLN 0873 180 Under the countenance and confederacy
FTLN 0874 Of Lady Eleanor, the Protector’s wife,
FTLN 0875 The ringleader and head of all this rout,
FTLN 0876 Have practiced dangerously against your state,
FTLN 0877 Dealing with witches and with conjurers,
FTLN 0878 185 Whom we have apprehended in the fact,
FTLN 0879 Raising up wicked spirits from under ground,
FTLN 0880 Demanding of King Henry’s life and death
FTLN 0881 And other of your Highness’ Privy Council,
FTLN 0882 As more at large your Grace shall understand.
CARDINAL
FTLN 0883 190 And so, my Lord Protector, by this means
FTLN 0884 Your lady is forthcoming yet at London.
FTLN 0885 Aside to Gloucester. This news, I think, hath turned
FTLN 0886 your weapon’s edge;
FTLN 0887 ’Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0888 195 Ambitious churchman, leave to afflict my heart.
FTLN 0889 Sorrow and grief have vanquished all my powers,
FTLN 0890 And, vanquished as I am, I yield to thee,
FTLN 0891 Or to the meanest groom.
KING HENRY
FTLN 0892 O God, what mischiefs work the wicked ones,
FTLN 0893 200 Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby!
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 0894 Gloucester, see here the tainture of thy nest,
FTLN 0895 And look thyself be faultless, thou wert best.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 0896 Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal

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ACT 2. SC. 2
FTLN 0897 How I have loved my king and commonweal;
FTLN 0898 205 And, for my wife, I know not how it stands.
FTLN 0899 Sorry I am to hear what I have heard.
FTLN 0900 Noble she is; but if she have forgot
FTLN 0901 Honor and virtue, and conversed with such
FTLN 0902 As, like to pitch, defile nobility,
FTLN 0903 210 I banish her my bed and company
FTLN 0904 And give her as a prey to law and shame
FTLN 0905 That hath dishonored Gloucester’s honest name.
KING HENRY
FTLN 0906 Well, for this night we will repose us here.
FTLN 0907 Tomorrow toward London back again,
FTLN 0908 215 To look into this business thoroughly,
FTLN 0909 And call these foul offenders to their answers,
FTLN 0910 And poise the cause in Justice’ equal scales,
FTLN 0911 Whose beam stands sure, whose rightful cause
FTLN 0912 prevails.
Flourish. They exit.
Scene 2
Enter York, Salisbury, and Warwick.
YORK
FTLN 0913 Now, my good lords of Salisbury and Warwick,
FTLN 0914 Our simple supper ended, give me leave,
FTLN 0915 In this close walk, to satisfy myself
FTLN 0916 In craving your opinion of my title,
FTLN 0917 5 Which is infallible, to England’s crown.
SALISBURY
FTLN 0918 My lord, I long to hear it at full.
WARWICK
FTLN 0919 Sweet York, begin; and if thy claim be good,
FTLN 0920 The Nevilles are thy subjects to command.
YORK FTLN 0921 Then thus:
FTLN 0922 10 Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons:

77
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 2. SC. 2
FTLN 0923 The first, Edward the Black Prince, Prince of Wales;
FTLN 0924 The second, William of Hatfield; and the third,
FTLN 0925 Lionel, Duke of Clarence; next to whom
FTLN 0926 Was John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster;
FTLN 0927 15 The fifth was Edmund Langley, Duke of York;
FTLN 0928 The sixth was Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of
FTLN 0929 Gloucester;
FTLN 0930 William of Windsor was the seventh and last.
FTLN 0931 Edward the Black Prince died before his father
FTLN 0932 20 And left behind him Richard, his only son,
FTLN 0933 Who, after Edward the Third’s death, reigned as
FTLN 0934 king
FTLN 0935 Till Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster,
FTLN 0936 The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt,
FTLN 0937 25 Crowned by the name of Henry the Fourth,
FTLN 0938 Seized on the realm, deposed the rightful king,
FTLN 0939 Sent his poor queen to France, from whence she
FTLN 0940 came,
FTLN 0941 And him to Pomfret; where, as all you know,
FTLN 0942 30 Harmless Richard was murdered traitorously.
WARWICK FTLN 0943 Father, the Duke hath told the truth.
FTLN 0944 Thus got the house of Lancaster the crown.
YORK
FTLN 0945 Which now they hold by force and not by right;
FTLN 0946 For Richard, the first son’s heir, being dead,
FTLN 0947 35 The issue of the next son should have reigned.
SALISBURY
FTLN 0948 But William of Hatfield died without an heir.
YORK
FTLN 0949 The third son, Duke of Clarence, from whose line
FTLN 0950 I claim the crown, had issue, Philippa, a daughter,
FTLN 0951 Who married Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March.
FTLN 0952 40 Edmund had issue, Roger, Earl of March;
FTLN 0953 Roger had issue: Edmund, Anne, and Eleanor.
SALISBURY
FTLN 0954 This Edmund, in the reign of Bolingbroke,

79
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 2. SC. 2
FTLN 0955 As I have read, laid claim unto the crown
FTLN 0956 And, but for Owen Glendower, had been king,
FTLN 0957 45 Who kept him in captivity till he died.
FTLN 0958 But to the rest.
YORK FTLN 0959 His eldest sister, Anne,
FTLN 0960 My mother, being heir unto the crown,
FTLN 0961 Married Richard, Earl of Cambridge, who was son
FTLN 0962 50 To Edmund Langley, Edward the Third’s fifth son.
FTLN 0963 By her I claim the kingdom. She was heir
FTLN 0964 To Roger, Earl of March, who was the son
FTLN 0965 Of Edmund Mortimer, who married Philippa,
FTLN 0966 Sole daughter unto Lionel, Duke of Clarence.
FTLN 0967 55 So, if the issue of the elder son
FTLN 0968 Succeed before the younger, I am king.
WARWICK
FTLN 0969 What plain proceedings is more plain than this?
FTLN 0970 Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt,
FTLN 0971 The fourth son; York claims it from the third.
FTLN 0972 60 Till Lionel’s issue fails, his should not reign.
FTLN 0973 It fails not yet, but flourishes in thee
FTLN 0974 And in thy sons, fair slips of such a stock.
FTLN 0975 Then, father Salisbury, kneel we together,
FTLN 0976 And in this private plot be we the first
FTLN 0977 65 That shall salute our rightful sovereign
FTLN 0978 With honor of his birthright to the crown.
SALISBURY, WARWICK , kneeling
FTLN 0979 Long live our sovereign Richard, England’s king!
YORK
FTLN 0980 We thank you, lords. They rise. But I am not your
FTLN 0981 king
FTLN 0982 70 Till I be crowned, and that my sword be stained
FTLN 0983 With heart-blood of the house of Lancaster;
FTLN 0984 And that’s not suddenly to be performed,
FTLN 0985 But with advice and silent secrecy.
FTLN 0986 Do you as I do in these dangerous days:
FTLN 0987 75 Wink at the Duke of Suffolk’s insolence,

81
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 2. SC. 3
FTLN 0988 At Beaufort’s pride, at Somerset’s ambition,
FTLN 0989 At Buckingham, and all the crew of them,
FTLN 0990 Till they have snared the shepherd of the flock,
FTLN 0991 That virtuous prince, the good Duke Humphrey.
FTLN 0992 80 ’Tis that they seek; and they, in seeking that,
FTLN 0993 Shall find their deaths, if York can prophesy.
SALISBURY
FTLN 0994 My lord, break we off. We know your mind at full.
WARWICK
FTLN 0995 My heart assures me that the Earl of Warwick
FTLN 0996 Shall one day make the Duke of York a king.
YORK
FTLN 0997 85 And, Neville, this I do assure myself:
FTLN 0998 Richard shall live to make the Earl of Warwick
FTLN 0999 The greatest man in England but the King.
They exit.
Scene 3
Sound trumpets. Enter King Henry and State
(Queen Margaret, Gloucester, York, Salisbury, Suffolk,
and Others) with Guard, to banish the Duchess of
Gloucester, who is accompanied by Margery Jourdain,
Southwell, Hume, and Bolingbroke, all guarded.
KING HENRY
FTLN 1000 Stand forth, Dame Eleanor Cobham, Gloucester’s
FTLN 1001 wife.
FTLN 1002 In sight of God and us, your guilt is great.
FTLN 1003 Receive the sentence of the law for sins
FTLN 1004 5 Such as by God’s book are adjudged to death.
To Jourdain, Southwell, Hume, and Bolingbroke.
FTLN 1005 You four, from hence to prison back again;
FTLN 1006 From thence unto the place of execution:
FTLN 1007 The witch in Smithfield shall be burnt to ashes,
FTLN 1008 And you three shall be strangled on the gallows.

83
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 2. SC. 3
FTLN 1009 10 To Duchess You, madam, for you are more nobly
FTLN 1010 born,
FTLN 1011 Despoilèd of your honor in your life,
FTLN 1012 Shall, after three days’ open penance done,
FTLN 1013 Live in your country here in banishment
FTLN 1014 15 With Sir John Stanley in the Isle of Man.
DUCHESS
FTLN 1015 Welcome is banishment. Welcome were my death.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1016 Eleanor, the law, thou seest, hath judged thee.
FTLN 1017 I cannot justify whom the law condemns.
Duchess and the other prisoners exit under guard.
FTLN 1018 Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief.
FTLN 1019 20 Ah, Humphrey, this dishonor in thine age
FTLN 1020 Will bring thy head with sorrow to the ground.—
FTLN 1021 I beseech your Majesty give me leave to go;
FTLN 1022 Sorrow would solace, and mine age would ease.
KING HENRY
FTLN 1023 Stay, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. Ere thou go,
FTLN 1024 25 Give up thy staff. Henry will to himself
FTLN 1025 Protector be; and God shall be my hope,
FTLN 1026 My stay, my guide, and lantern to my feet.
FTLN 1027 And go in peace, Humphrey, no less beloved
FTLN 1028 Than when thou wert Protector to thy king.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1029 30 I see no reason why a king of years
FTLN 1030 Should be to be protected like a child.
FTLN 1031 God and King Henry govern England’s realm!—
FTLN 1032 Give up your staff, sir, and the King his realm.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1033 My staff?—Here, noble Henry, is my staff.
He puts down his staff before Henry.
FTLN 1034 35 As willingly do I the same resign
FTLN 1035 As e’er thy father Henry made it mine;
FTLN 1036 And even as willingly at thy feet I leave it
FTLN 1037 As others would ambitiously receive it.

85
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 2. SC. 3
FTLN 1038 Farewell, good king. When I am dead and gone,
FTLN 1039 40 May honorable peace attend thy throne.
Gloucester exits.
Henry picks up the staff.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1040 Why, now is Henry king and Margaret queen,
FTLN 1041 And Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, scarce himself,
FTLN 1042 That bears so shrewd a maim. Two pulls at once:
FTLN 1043 His lady banished and a limb lopped off.
FTLN 1044 45 This staff of honor raught, there let it stand
FTLN 1045 Where it best fits to be, in Henry’s hand.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1046 Thus droops this lofty pine and hangs his sprays;
FTLN 1047 Thus Eleanor’s pride dies in her youngest days.
YORK
FTLN 1048 Lords, let him go.—Please it your Majesty,
FTLN 1049 50 This is the day appointed for the combat,
FTLN 1050 And ready are the appellant and defendant—
FTLN 1051 The armorer and his man—to enter the lists,
FTLN 1052 So please your Highness to behold the fight.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1053 Ay, good my lord, for purposely therefor
FTLN 1054 55 Left I the court to see this quarrel tried.
KING HENRY
FTLN 1055 I’ God’s name, see the lists and all things fit.
FTLN 1056 Here let them end it, and God defend the right!
YORK
FTLN 1057 I never saw a fellow worse bestead
FTLN 1058 Or more afraid to fight than is the appellant,
FTLN 1059 60 The servant of this armorer, my lords.
Enter at one door the Armorer Horner and his
Neighbors, drinking to him so much that he is drunk;
and he enters with a Drum before him and his staff with
a sandbag fastened to it; and at the other door his man
Peter, with a Drum and sandbag, and Prentices
drinking to him.

87
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 2. SC. 3
FIRST NEIGHBOR FTLN 1060 Here, neighbor Horner, I drink to you
FTLN 1061 in a cup of sack; and fear not, neighbor, you shall
FTLN 1062 do well enough.
SECOND NEIGHBOR FTLN 1063 And here, neighbor, here’s a cup of
FTLN 1064 65 charneco.
THIRD NEIGHBOR FTLN 1065 And here’s a pot of good double beer,
FTLN 1066 neighbor. Drink, and fear not your man.
HORNER FTLN 1067 Let it come, i’ faith, and I’ll pledge you all.
FTLN 1068 And a fig for Peter! They drink.
FIRST PRENTICE FTLN 1069 70 Here, Peter, I drink to thee, and be not
FTLN 1070 afraid.
SECOND PRENTICE FTLN 1071 Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy
FTLN 1072 master. Fight for credit of the prentices.
PETER FTLN 1073 I thank you all. Drink, and pray for me, I pray
FTLN 1074 75 you, for I think I have taken my last draft in this
FTLN 1075 world. Here, Robin, an if I die, I give thee my
FTLN 1076 apron.—And, Will, thou shalt have my hammer.—
FTLN 1077 And here, Tom, take all the money that I have. He
distributes his possessions. FTLN 1078 O Lord, bless me, I
FTLN 1079 80 pray God, for I am never able to deal with my
FTLN 1080 master. He hath learnt so much fence already.
SALISBURY FTLN 1081 Come, leave your drinking, and fall to
FTLN 1082 blows. Sirrah, what’s thy name?
PETER FTLN 1083 Peter, forsooth.
SALISBURY FTLN 1084 85 Peter? What more?
PETER FTLN 1085 Thump.
SALISBURY FTLN 1086 Thump? Then see thou thump thy master
FTLN 1087 well.
HORNER FTLN 1088 Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon
FTLN 1089 90 my man’s instigation, to prove him a knave and
FTLN 1090 myself an honest man; and touching the Duke of
FTLN 1091 York, I will take my death I never meant him any
FTLN 1092 ill, nor the King, nor the Queen.—And therefore,
FTLN 1093 Peter, have at thee with a downright blow!
YORK FTLN 1094 95 Dispatch. This knave’s tongue begins to double.
FTLN 1095 Sound, trumpets. Alarum to the combatants!

89
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 2. SC. 4
Trumpet sounds.
They fight, and Peter strikes him down.
HORNER FTLN 1096 Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason.
He dies.
YORK FTLN 1097 Take away his weapon.—Fellow, thank God and
FTLN 1098 the good wine in thy master’s way.
PETER FTLN 1099 100 O God, have I overcome mine enemies in this
FTLN 1100 presence? O Peter, thou hast prevailed in right!
KING HENRY
FTLN 1101 Go, take hence that traitor from our sight;
FTLN 1102 For by his death we do perceive his guilt.
FTLN 1103 And God in justice hath revealed to us
FTLN 1104 105 The truth and innocence of this poor fellow,
FTLN 1105 Which he had thought to have murdered
FTLN 1106 wrongfully.—
FTLN 1107 Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward.
Sound a flourish. They exit, bearing Horner’s body.
Scene 4
Enter Duke Humphrey of Gloucester and his Men,
in mourning cloaks.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1108 Thus sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud,
FTLN 1109 And after summer evermore succeeds
FTLN 1110 Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold;
FTLN 1111 So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet.
FTLN 1112 5 Sirs, what’s o’clock?
SERVANT FTLN 1113 Ten, my lord.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1114 Ten is the hour that was appointed me
FTLN 1115 To watch the coming of my punished duchess.
FTLN 1116 Uneath may she endure the flinty streets,
FTLN 1117 10 To tread them with her tender-feeling feet.
FTLN 1118 Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook

91
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 2. SC. 4
FTLN 1119 The abject people gazing on thy face
FTLN 1120 With envious looks laughing at thy shame,
FTLN 1121 That erst did follow thy proud chariot wheels
FTLN 1122 15 When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets.
FTLN 1123 But, soft! I think she comes, and I’ll prepare
FTLN 1124 My tearstained eyes to see her miseries.
Enter the Duchess of Gloucester, barefoot, and in a
white sheet, with papers pinned to her back and a
taper burning in her hand, with Sir John Stanley,
the Sheriff, and Officers.
SERVANT
FTLN 1125 So please your Grace, we’ll take her from the Sheriff.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1126 No, stir not for your lives. Let her pass by.
DUCHESS
FTLN 1127 20 Come you, my lord, to see my open shame?
FTLN 1128 Now thou dost penance too. Look how they gaze!
FTLN 1129 See how the giddy multitude do point,
FTLN 1130 And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee.
FTLN 1131 Ah, Gloucester, hide thee from their hateful looks,
FTLN 1132 25 And, in thy closet pent up, rue my shame,
FTLN 1133 And ban thine enemies, both mine and thine.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1134 Be patient, gentle Nell. Forget this grief.
DUCHESS
FTLN 1135 Ah, Gloucester, teach me to forget myself!
FTLN 1136 For whilst I think I am thy married wife
FTLN 1137 30 And thou a prince, Protector of this land,
FTLN 1138 Methinks I should not thus be led along,
FTLN 1139 Mailed up in shame, with papers on my back,
FTLN 1140 And followed with a rabble that rejoice
FTLN 1141 To see my tears and hear my deep-fet groans.
FTLN 1142 35 The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet,
FTLN 1143 And when I start, the envious people laugh

93
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 2. SC. 4
FTLN 1144 And bid me be advisèd how I tread.
FTLN 1145 Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke?
FTLN 1146 Trowest thou that e’er I’ll look upon the world
FTLN 1147 40 Or count them happy that enjoys the sun?
FTLN 1148 No, dark shall be my light, and night my day.
FTLN 1149 To think upon my pomp shall be my hell.
FTLN 1150 Sometimes I’ll say I am Duke Humphrey’s wife
FTLN 1151 And he a prince and ruler of the land;
FTLN 1152 45 Yet so he ruled and such a prince he was
FTLN 1153 As he stood by whilst I, his forlorn duchess,
FTLN 1154 Was made a wonder and a pointing-stock
FTLN 1155 To every idle rascal follower.
FTLN 1156 But be thou mild, and blush not at my shame,
FTLN 1157 50 Nor stir at nothing till the ax of death
FTLN 1158 Hang over thee, as, sure, it shortly will.
FTLN 1159 For Suffolk, he that can do all in all
FTLN 1160 With her that hateth thee and hates us all,
FTLN 1161 And York and impious Beaufort, that false priest,
FTLN 1162 55 Have all limed bushes to betray thy wings;
FTLN 1163 And fly thou how thou canst, they’ll tangle thee.
FTLN 1164 But fear not thou until thy foot be snared,
FTLN 1165 Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1166 Ah, Nell, forbear. Thou aimest all awry.
FTLN 1167 60 I must offend before I be attainted;
FTLN 1168 And had I twenty times so many foes,
FTLN 1169 And each of them had twenty times their power,
FTLN 1170 All these could not procure me any scathe
FTLN 1171 So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless.
FTLN 1172 65 Wouldst have me rescue thee from this reproach?
FTLN 1173 Why, yet thy scandal were not wiped away,
FTLN 1174 But I in danger for the breach of law.
FTLN 1175 Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell.
FTLN 1176 I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience;
FTLN 1177 70 These few days’ wonder will be quickly worn.

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ACT 2. SC. 4
Enter a Herald.
HERALD
FTLN 1178 I summon your Grace to his Majesty’s Parliament
FTLN 1179 Holden at Bury the first of this next month.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1180 And my consent ne’er asked herein before?
FTLN 1181 This is close dealing. Well, I will be there.
Herald exits.
FTLN 1182 75 My Nell, I take my leave.—And, master sheriff,
FTLN 1183 Let not her penance exceed the King’s commission.
SHERIFF
FTLN 1184 An ’t please your Grace, here my commission stays,
FTLN 1185 And Sir John Stanley is appointed now
FTLN 1186 To take her with him to the Isle of Man.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1187 80 Must you, Sir John, protect my lady here?
STANLEY
FTLN 1188 So am I given in charge, may ’t please your Grace.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1189 Entreat her not the worse in that I pray
FTLN 1190 You use her well. The world may laugh again,
FTLN 1191 And I may live to do you kindness, if
FTLN 1192 85 You do it her. And so, Sir John, farewell.
DUCHESS
FTLN 1193 What, gone, my lord, and bid me not farewell?
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1194 Witness my tears. I cannot stay to speak.
Gloucester exits with his Men.
DUCHESS
FTLN 1195 Art thou gone too? All comfort go with thee,
FTLN 1196 For none abides with me. My joy is death—
FTLN 1197 90 Death, at whose name I oft have been afeard,
FTLN 1198 Because I wished this world’s eternity.—
FTLN 1199 Stanley, I prithee, go, and take me hence.
FTLN 1200 I care not whither, for I beg no favor;
FTLN 1201 Only convey me where thou art commanded.

97
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 2. SC. 4
STANLEY
FTLN 1202 95 Why, madam, that is to the Isle of Man,
FTLN 1203 There to be used according to your state.
DUCHESS
FTLN 1204 That’s bad enough, for I am but reproach.
FTLN 1205 And shall I, then, be used reproachfully?
STANLEY
FTLN 1206 Like to a duchess and Duke Humphrey’s lady;
FTLN 1207 100 According to that state you shall be used.
DUCHESS
FTLN 1208 Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare,
FTLN 1209 Although thou hast been conduct of my shame.
SHERIFF
FTLN 1210 It is my office; and, madam, pardon me.
DUCHESS
FTLN 1211 Ay, ay, farewell. Thy office is discharged.
The Sheriff and Officers exit.
FTLN 1212 105 Come, Stanley, shall we go?
STANLEY
FTLN 1213 Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet,
FTLN 1214 And go we to attire you for our journey.
DUCHESS
FTLN 1215 My shame will not be shifted with my sheet.
FTLN 1216 No, it will hang upon my richest robes
FTLN 1217 110 And show itself, attire me how I can.
FTLN 1218 Go, lead the way. I long to see my prison.
They exit.

ACT 3
Scene 1
Sound a sennet. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret,
Cardinal, Suffolk, York, Buckingham, Salisbury, and
Warwick, and Others to the Parliament.
KING HENRY
FTLN 1219 I muse my lord of Gloucester is not come.
FTLN 1220 ’Tis not his wont to be the hindmost man,
FTLN 1221 Whate’er occasion keeps him from us now.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1222 Can you not see, or will you not observe,
FTLN 1223 5 The strangeness of his altered countenance?
FTLN 1224 With what a majesty he bears himself,
FTLN 1225 How insolent of late he is become,
FTLN 1226 How proud, how peremptory, and unlike himself?
FTLN 1227 We know the time since he was mild and affable;
FTLN 1228 10 And if we did but glance a far-off look,
FTLN 1229 Immediately he was upon his knee,
FTLN 1230 That all the court admired him for submission.
FTLN 1231 But meet him now, and, be it in the morn
FTLN 1232 When everyone will give the time of day,
FTLN 1233 15 He knits his brow and shows an angry eye
FTLN 1234 And passeth by with stiff unbowèd knee,
FTLN 1235 Disdaining duty that to us belongs.
FTLN 1236 Small curs are not regarded when they grin,
FTLN 1237 But great men tremble when the lion roars—
FTLN 1238 20 And Humphrey is no little man in England.
101

103
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 1
FTLN 1239 First, note that he is near you in descent,
FTLN 1240 And, should you fall, he is the next will mount.
FTLN 1241 Meseemeth then it is no policy,
FTLN 1242 Respecting what a rancorous mind he bears
FTLN 1243 25 And his advantage following your decease,
FTLN 1244 That he should come about your royal person
FTLN 1245 Or be admitted to your Highness’ Council.
FTLN 1246 By flattery hath he won the Commons’ hearts;
FTLN 1247 And when he please to make commotion,
FTLN 1248 30 ’Tis to be feared they all will follow him.
FTLN 1249 Now ’tis the spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted;
FTLN 1250 Suffer them now, and they’ll o’ergrow the garden
FTLN 1251 And choke the herbs for want of husbandry.
FTLN 1252 The reverent care I bear unto my lord
FTLN 1253 35 Made me collect these dangers in the Duke.
FTLN 1254 If it be fond, call it a woman’s fear,
FTLN 1255 Which fear, if better reasons can supplant,
FTLN 1256 I will subscribe and say I wronged the Duke.
FTLN 1257 My lords of Suffolk, Buckingham, and York,
FTLN 1258 40 Reprove my allegation if you can,
FTLN 1259 Or else conclude my words effectual.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1260 Well hath your Highness seen into this duke,
FTLN 1261 And, had I first been put to speak my mind,
FTLN 1262 I think I should have told your Grace’s tale.
FTLN 1263 45 The Duchess by his subornation,
FTLN 1264 Upon my life, began her devilish practices;
FTLN 1265 Or if he were not privy to those faults,
FTLN 1266 Yet, by reputing of his high descent—
FTLN 1267 As next the King he was successive heir,
FTLN 1268 50 And such high vaunts of his nobility—
FTLN 1269 Did instigate the bedlam brainsick duchess
FTLN 1270 By wicked means to frame our sovereign’s fall.
FTLN 1271 Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep,
FTLN 1272 And in his simple show he harbors treason.
FTLN 1273 55 The fox barks not when he would steal the lamb.

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ACT 3. SC. 1
FTLN 1274 No, no, my sovereign, Gloucester is a man
FTLN 1275 Unsounded yet and full of deep deceit.
CARDINAL
FTLN 1276 Did he not, contrary to form of law,
FTLN 1277 Devise strange deaths for small offenses done?
YORK
FTLN 1278 60 And did he not, in his protectorship,
FTLN 1279 Levy great sums of money through the realm
FTLN 1280 For soldiers’ pay in France, and never sent it,
FTLN 1281 By means whereof the towns each day revolted?
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 1282 Tut, these are petty faults to faults unknown,
FTLN 1283 65 Which time will bring to light in smooth Duke
FTLN 1284 Humphrey.
KING HENRY
FTLN 1285 My lords, at once: the care you have of us
FTLN 1286 To mow down thorns that would annoy our foot
FTLN 1287 Is worthy praise; but, shall I speak my conscience,
FTLN 1288 70 Our kinsman Gloucester is as innocent
FTLN 1289 From meaning treason to our royal person
FTLN 1290 As is the sucking lamb or harmless dove.
FTLN 1291 The Duke is virtuous, mild, and too well given
FTLN 1292 To dream on evil or to work my downfall.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1293 75 Ah, what’s more dangerous than this fond affiance?
FTLN 1294 Seems he a dove? His feathers are but borrowed,
FTLN 1295 For he’s disposèd as the hateful raven.
FTLN 1296 Is he a lamb? His skin is surely lent him,
FTLN 1297 For he’s inclined as is the ravenous wolves.
FTLN 1298 80 Who cannot steal a shape that means deceit?
FTLN 1299 Take heed, my lord; the welfare of us all
FTLN 1300 Hangs on the cutting short that fraudful man.
Enter Somerset.
SOMERSET
FTLN 1301 All health unto my gracious sovereign!

107
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ACT 3. SC. 1
KING HENRY
FTLN 1302 Welcome, Lord Somerset. What news from France?
SOMERSET
FTLN 1303 85 That all your interest in those territories
FTLN 1304 Is utterly bereft you. All is lost.
KING HENRY
FTLN 1305 Cold news, Lord Somerset; but God’s will be done.
YORK , aside
FTLN 1306 Cold news for me, for I had hope of France
FTLN 1307 As firmly as I hope for fertile England.
FTLN 1308 90 Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bud,
FTLN 1309 And caterpillars eat my leaves away.
FTLN 1310 But I will remedy this gear ere long,
FTLN 1311 Or sell my title for a glorious grave.
Enter Gloucester.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1312 All happiness unto my lord the King!
FTLN 1313 95 Pardon, my liege, that I have stayed so long.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1314 Nay, Gloucester, know that thou art come too soon,
FTLN 1315 Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art.
FTLN 1316 I do arrest thee of high treason here.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1317 Well, Suffolk, thou shalt not see me blush
FTLN 1318 100 Nor change my countenance for this arrest.
FTLN 1319 A heart unspotted is not easily daunted.
FTLN 1320 The purest spring is not so free from mud
FTLN 1321 As I am clear from treason to my sovereign.
FTLN 1322 Who can accuse me? Wherein am I guilty?
YORK
FTLN 1323 105 ’Tis thought, my lord, that you took bribes of France
FTLN 1324 And, being Protector, stayed the soldiers’ pay,
FTLN 1325 By means whereof his Highness hath lost France.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1326 Is it but thought so? What are they that think it?

109
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ACT 3. SC. 1
FTLN 1327 I never robbed the soldiers of their pay
FTLN 1328 110 Nor ever had one penny bribe from France.
FTLN 1329 So help me God as I have watched the night—
FTLN 1330 Ay, night by night—in studying good for England!
FTLN 1331 That doit that e’er I wrested from the King,
FTLN 1332 Or any groat I hoarded to my use,
FTLN 1333 115 Be brought against me at my trial day!
FTLN 1334 No, many a pound of mine own proper store,
FTLN 1335 Because I would not tax the needy Commons,
FTLN 1336 Have I dispursèd to the garrisons
FTLN 1337 And never asked for restitution.
CARDINAL
FTLN 1338 120 It serves you well, my lord, to say so much.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1339 I say no more than truth, so help me God.
YORK
FTLN 1340 In your protectorship, you did devise
FTLN 1341 Strange tortures for offenders, never heard of,
FTLN 1342 That England was defamed by tyranny.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1343 125 Why, ’tis well known that whiles I was Protector,
FTLN 1344 Pity was all the fault that was in me;
FTLN 1345 For I should melt at an offender’s tears,
FTLN 1346 And lowly words were ransom for their fault.
FTLN 1347 Unless it were a bloody murderer
FTLN 1348 130 Or foul felonious thief that fleeced poor passengers,
FTLN 1349 I never gave them condign punishment.
FTLN 1350 Murder indeed, that bloody sin, I tortured
FTLN 1351 Above the felon or what trespass else.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1352 My lord, these faults are easy, quickly answered;
FTLN 1353 135 But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge
FTLN 1354 Whereof you cannot easily purge yourself.
FTLN 1355 I do arrest you in his Highness’ name,
FTLN 1356 And here commit you to my Lord Cardinal
FTLN 1357 To keep until your further time of trial.

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ACT 3. SC. 1
KING HENRY
FTLN 1358 140 My lord of Gloucester, ’tis my special hope
FTLN 1359 That you will clear yourself from all suspense.
FTLN 1360 My conscience tells me you are innocent.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1361 Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous.
FTLN 1362 Virtue is choked with foul ambition,
FTLN 1363 145 And charity chased hence by rancor’s hand;
FTLN 1364 Foul subornation is predominant,
FTLN 1365 And equity exiled your Highness’ land.
FTLN 1366 I know their complot is to have my life;
FTLN 1367 And if my death might make this island happy
FTLN 1368 150 And prove the period of their tyranny,
FTLN 1369 I would expend it with all willingness.
FTLN 1370 But mine is made the prologue to their play;
FTLN 1371 For thousands more, that yet suspect no peril,
FTLN 1372 Will not conclude their plotted tragedy.
FTLN 1373 155 Beaufort’s red sparkling eyes blab his heart’s malice,
FTLN 1374 And Suffolk’s cloudy brow his stormy hate;
FTLN 1375 Sharp Buckingham unburdens with his tongue
FTLN 1376 The envious load that lies upon his heart;
FTLN 1377 And dogged York, that reaches at the moon,
FTLN 1378 160 Whose overweening arm I have plucked back,
FTLN 1379 By false accuse doth level at my life.—
FTLN 1380 And you, my sovereign lady, with the rest,
FTLN 1381 Causeless have laid disgraces on my head
FTLN 1382 And with your best endeavor have stirred up
FTLN 1383 165 My liefest liege to be mine enemy.
FTLN 1384 Ay, all of you have laid your heads together—
FTLN 1385 Myself had notice of your conventicles—
FTLN 1386 And all to make away my guiltless life.
FTLN 1387 I shall not want false witness to condemn me
FTLN 1388 170 Nor store of treasons to augment my guilt.
FTLN 1389 The ancient proverb will be well effected:
FTLN 1390 “A staff is quickly found to beat a dog.”

113
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 1
CARDINAL
FTLN 1391 My liege, his railing is intolerable.
FTLN 1392 If those that care to keep your royal person
FTLN 1393 175 From treason’s secret knife and traitor’s rage
FTLN 1394 Be thus upbraided, chid, and rated at,
FTLN 1395 And the offender granted scope of speech,
FTLN 1396 ’Twill make them cool in zeal unto your Grace.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1397 Hath he not twit our sovereign lady here
FTLN 1398 180 With ignominious words, though clerkly couched,
FTLN 1399 As if she had subornèd some to swear
FTLN 1400 False allegations to o’erthrow his state?
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1401 But I can give the loser leave to chide.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1402 Far truer spoke than meant. I lose, indeed;
FTLN 1403 185 Beshrew the winners, for they played me false!
FTLN 1404 And well such losers may have leave to speak.
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 1405 He’ll wrest the sense and hold us here all day.
FTLN 1406 Lord Cardinal, he is your prisoner.
CARDINAL , to his Men
FTLN 1407 Sirs, take away the Duke, and guard him sure.
GLOUCESTER
FTLN 1408 190 Ah, thus King Henry throws away his crutch
FTLN 1409 Before his legs be firm to bear his body.—
FTLN 1410 Thus is the shepherd beaten from thy side,
FTLN 1411 And wolves are gnarling who shall gnaw thee first.
FTLN 1412 Ah, that my fear were false; ah, that it were!
FTLN 1413 195 For, good King Henry, thy decay I fear.
Gloucester exits, guarded by Cardinal’s Men.
KING HENRY
FTLN 1414 My lords, what to your wisdoms seemeth best
FTLN 1415 Do, or undo, as if ourself were here.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1416 What, will your Highness leave the Parliament?

115
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 1
KING HENRY
FTLN 1417 Ay, Margaret. My heart is drowned with grief,
FTLN 1418 200 Whose flood begins to flow within mine eyes,
FTLN 1419 My body round engirt with misery;
FTLN 1420 For what’s more miserable than discontent?
FTLN 1421 Ah, uncle Humphrey, in thy face I see
FTLN 1422 The map of honor, truth, and loyalty;
FTLN 1423 205 And yet, good Humphrey, is the hour to come
FTLN 1424 That e’er I proved thee false or feared thy faith.
FTLN 1425 What louring star now envies thy estate
FTLN 1426 That these great lords and Margaret our queen
FTLN 1427 Do seek subversion of thy harmless life?
FTLN 1428 210 Thou never didst them wrong nor no man wrong.
FTLN 1429 And as the butcher takes away the calf
FTLN 1430 And binds the wretch and beats it when it strains,
FTLN 1431 Bearing it to the bloody slaughterhouse,
FTLN 1432 Even so remorseless have they borne him hence;
FTLN 1433 215 And as the dam runs lowing up and down,
FTLN 1434 Looking the way her harmless young one went,
FTLN 1435 And can do naught but wail her darling’s loss,
FTLN 1436 Even so myself bewails good Gloucester’s case
FTLN 1437 With sad unhelpful tears, and with dimmed eyes
FTLN 1438 220 Look after him and cannot do him good,
FTLN 1439 So mighty are his vowèd enemies.
FTLN 1440 His fortunes I will weep and, ’twixt each groan,
FTLN 1441 Say “Who’s a traitor, Gloucester he is none.”
He exits, with Buckingham, Salisbury, Warwick,
and Others. Somerset steps aside.
QUEEN MARGARET , to Cardinal, Suffolk, and York
FTLN 1442 Free lords, cold snow melts with the sun’s hot
FTLN 1443 225 beams.
FTLN 1444 Henry my lord is cold in great affairs,
FTLN 1445 Too full of foolish pity; and Gloucester’s show
FTLN 1446 Beguiles him, as the mournful crocodile
FTLN 1447 With sorrow snares relenting passengers,
FTLN 1448 230 Or as the snake, rolled in a flow’ring bank,

117
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 1
FTLN 1449 With shining checkered slough, doth sting a child
FTLN 1450 That for the beauty thinks it excellent.
FTLN 1451 Believe me, lords, were none more wise than I—
FTLN 1452 And yet herein I judge mine own wit good—
FTLN 1453 235 This Gloucester should be quickly rid the world,
FTLN 1454 To rid us from the fear we have of him.
CARDINAL
FTLN 1455 That he should die is worthy policy,
FTLN 1456 But yet we want a color for his death.
FTLN 1457 ’Tis meet he be condemned by course of law.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1458 240 But, in my mind, that were no policy.
FTLN 1459 The King will labor still to save his life,
FTLN 1460 The Commons haply rise to save his life,
FTLN 1461 And yet we have but trivial argument,
FTLN 1462 More than mistrust, that shows him worthy death.
YORK
FTLN 1463 245 So that, by this, you would not have him die.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1464 Ah, York, no man alive so fain as I!
YORK
FTLN 1465 ’Tis York that hath more reason for his death.
FTLN 1466 But, my Lord Cardinal, and you, my lord of Suffolk,
FTLN 1467 Say as you think, and speak it from your souls:
FTLN 1468 250 Were ’t not all one an empty eagle were set
FTLN 1469 To guard the chicken from a hungry kite
FTLN 1470 As place Duke Humphrey for the King’s Protector?
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1471 So the poor chicken should be sure of death.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1472 Madam, ’tis true; and were ’t not madness then
FTLN 1473 255 To make the fox surveyor of the fold—
FTLN 1474 Who, being accused a crafty murderer,
FTLN 1475 His guilt should be but idly posted over
FTLN 1476 Because his purpose is not executed?
FTLN 1477 No, let him die in that he is a fox,

119
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 1
FTLN 1478 260 By nature proved an enemy to the flock,
FTLN 1479 Before his chaps be stained with crimson blood,
FTLN 1480 As Humphrey, proved by reasons, to my liege.
FTLN 1481 And do not stand on quillets how to slay him—
FTLN 1482 Be it by gins, by snares, by subtlety,
FTLN 1483 265 Sleeping or waking. ’Tis no matter how,
FTLN 1484 So he be dead; for that is good deceit
FTLN 1485 Which mates him first that first intends deceit.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1486 Thrice noble Suffolk, ’tis resolutely spoke.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1487 Not resolute, except so much were done,
FTLN 1488 270 For things are often spoke and seldom meant;
FTLN 1489 But that my heart accordeth with my tongue,
FTLN 1490 Seeing the deed is meritorious,
FTLN 1491 And to preserve my sovereign from his foe,
FTLN 1492 Say but the word and I will be his priest.
CARDINAL
FTLN 1493 275 But I would have him dead, my lord of Suffolk,
FTLN 1494 Ere you can take due orders for a priest.
FTLN 1495 Say you consent and censure well the deed,
FTLN 1496 And I’ll provide his executioner.
FTLN 1497 I tender so the safety of my liege.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1498 280 Here is my hand. The deed is worthy doing.
QUEEN MARGARET FTLN 1499 And so say I.
YORK
FTLN 1500 And I. And now we three have spoke it,
FTLN 1501 It skills not greatly who impugns our doom.
Enter a Post.
POST
FTLN 1502 Great lords, from Ireland am I come amain
FTLN 1503 285 To signify that rebels there are up
FTLN 1504 And put the Englishmen unto the sword.
FTLN 1505 Send succors, lords, and stop the rage betime,

121
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 1
FTLN 1506 Before the wound do grow uncurable;
FTLN 1507 For, being green, there is great hope of help.
He exits.
CARDINAL
FTLN 1508 290 A breach that craves a quick expedient stop!
FTLN 1509 What counsel give you in this weighty cause?
YORK
FTLN 1510 That Somerset be sent as regent thither.
FTLN 1511 ’Tis meet that lucky ruler be employed—
FTLN 1512 Witness the fortune he hath had in France.
SOMERSET , advancing
FTLN 1513 295 If York, with all his far-fet policy,
FTLN 1514 Had been the regent there instead of me,
FTLN 1515 He never would have stayed in France so long.
YORK
FTLN 1516 No, not to lose it all, as thou hast done.
FTLN 1517 I rather would have lost my life betimes
FTLN 1518 300 Than bring a burden of dishonor home
FTLN 1519 By staying there so long till all were lost.
FTLN 1520 Show me one scar charactered on thy skin.
FTLN 1521 Men’s flesh preserved so whole do seldom win.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1522 Nay, then, this spark will prove a raging fire
FTLN 1523 305 If wind and fuel be brought to feed it with.—
FTLN 1524 No more, good York.—Sweet Somerset, be still.—
FTLN 1525 Thy fortune, York, hadst thou been regent there,
FTLN 1526 Might happily have proved far worse than his.
YORK
FTLN 1527 What, worse than naught? Nay, then, a shame take
FTLN 1528 310 all!
SOMERSET
FTLN 1529 And, in the number, thee that wishest shame!
CARDINAL
FTLN 1530 My lord of York, try what your fortune is.
FTLN 1531 Th’ uncivil kerns of Ireland are in arms
FTLN 1532 And temper clay with blood of Englishmen.

123
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 1
FTLN 1533 315 To Ireland will you lead a band of men,
FTLN 1534 Collected choicely, from each county some,
FTLN 1535 And try your hap against the Irishmen?
YORK
FTLN 1536 I will, my lord, so please his Majesty.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1537 Why, our authority is his consent,
FTLN 1538 320 And what we do establish he confirms.
FTLN 1539 Then, noble York, take thou this task in hand.
YORK
FTLN 1540 I am content. Provide me soldiers, lords,
FTLN 1541 Whiles I take order for mine own affairs.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1542 A charge, Lord York, that I will see performed.
FTLN 1543 325 But now return we to the false Duke Humphrey.
CARDINAL
FTLN 1544 No more of him, for I will deal with him,
FTLN 1545 That henceforth he shall trouble us no more.
FTLN 1546 And so break off; the day is almost spent.
FTLN 1547 Lord Suffolk, you and I must talk of that event.
YORK
FTLN 1548 330 My lord of Suffolk, within fourteen days
FTLN 1549 At Bristow I expect my soldiers,
FTLN 1550 For there I’ll ship them all for Ireland.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1551 I’ll see it truly done, my lord of York.
All but York exit.
YORK
FTLN 1552 Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful thoughts
FTLN 1553 335 And change misdoubt to resolution.
FTLN 1554 Be that thou hop’st to be, or what thou art
FTLN 1555 Resign to death; it is not worth th’ enjoying.
FTLN 1556 Let pale-faced fear keep with the mean-born man
FTLN 1557 And find no harbor in a royal heart.
FTLN 1558 340 Faster than springtime showers comes thought on
FTLN 1559 thought,

125
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ACT 3. SC. 1
FTLN 1560 And not a thought but thinks on dignity.
FTLN 1561 My brain, more busy than the laboring spider,
FTLN 1562 Weaves tedious snares to trap mine enemies.
FTLN 1563 345 Well, nobles, well, ’tis politicly done
FTLN 1564 To send me packing with an host of men.
FTLN 1565 I fear me you but warm the starvèd snake,
FTLN 1566 Who, cherished in your breasts, will sting your
FTLN 1567 hearts.
FTLN 1568 350 ’Twas men I lacked, and you will give them me;
FTLN 1569 I take it kindly. Yet be well assured
FTLN 1570 You put sharp weapons in a madman’s hands.
FTLN 1571 Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band,
FTLN 1572 I will stir up in England some black storm
FTLN 1573 355 Shall blow ten thousand souls to heaven or hell;
FTLN 1574 And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage
FTLN 1575 Until the golden circuit on my head,
FTLN 1576 Like to the glorious sun’s transparent beams,
FTLN 1577 Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw.
FTLN 1578 360 And for a minister of my intent,
FTLN 1579 I have seduced a headstrong Kentishman,
FTLN 1580 John Cade of Ashford,
FTLN 1581 To make commotion, as full well he can,
FTLN 1582 Under the title of John Mortimer.
FTLN 1583 365 In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade
FTLN 1584 Oppose himself against a troop of kerns,
FTLN 1585 And fought so long till that his thighs with darts
FTLN 1586 Were almost like a sharp-quilled porpentine;
FTLN 1587 And in the end being rescued, I have seen
FTLN 1588 370 Him caper upright like a wild Morisco,
FTLN 1589 Shaking the bloody darts as he his bells.
FTLN 1590 Full often, like a shag-haired crafty kern,
FTLN 1591 Hath he conversèd with the enemy,
FTLN 1592 And undiscovered come to me again
FTLN 1593 375 And given me notice of their villainies.
FTLN 1594 This devil here shall be my substitute;
FTLN 1595 For that John Mortimer, which now is dead,

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ACT 3. SC. 2
FTLN 1596 In face, in gait, in speech he doth resemble.
FTLN 1597 By this, I shall perceive the Commons’ mind,
FTLN 1598 380 How they affect the house and claim of York.
FTLN 1599 Say he be taken, racked, and torturèd,
FTLN 1600 I know no pain they can inflict upon him
FTLN 1601 Will make him say I moved him to those arms.
FTLN 1602 Say that he thrive, as ’tis great like he will,
FTLN 1603 385 Why then from Ireland come I with my strength
FTLN 1604 And reap the harvest which that rascal sowed.
FTLN 1605 For, Humphrey being dead, as he shall be,
FTLN 1606 And Henry put apart, the next for me.
He exits.
Scene 2
Enter two or three running over the stage, from the
murder of Duke Humphrey.
FIRST MURDERER
FTLN 1607 Run to my lord of Suffolk. Let him know
FTLN 1608 We have dispatched the Duke as he commanded.
SECOND MURDERER
FTLN 1609 O, that it were to do! What have we done?
FTLN 1610 Didst ever hear a man so penitent?
Enter Suffolk.
FIRST MURDERER FTLN 1611 5 Here comes my lord.
SUFFOLK FTLN 1612 Now, sirs, have you dispatched this thing?
FIRST MURDERER FTLN 1613 Ay, my good lord, he’s dead.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1614 Why, that’s well said. Go, get you to my house;
FTLN 1615 I will reward you for this venturous deed.
FTLN 1616 10 The King and all the peers are here at hand.
FTLN 1617 Have you laid fair the bed? Is all things well,
FTLN 1618 According as I gave directions?
FIRST MURDERER FTLN 1619’Tis, my good lord.
SUFFOLK FTLN 1620 Away, be gone. The Murderers exit.

129
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 2
Sound trumpets. Enter King Henry, Queen
Margaret, Cardinal, Somerset, with Attendants.
KING HENRY
FTLN 1621 15 Go, call our uncle to our presence straight.
FTLN 1622 Say we intend to try his Grace today
FTLN 1623 If he be guilty, as ’tis publishèd.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1624 I’ll call him presently, my noble lord. He exits.
KING HENRY
FTLN 1625 Lords, take your places; and, I pray you all,
FTLN 1626 20 Proceed no straiter ’gainst our uncle Gloucester
FTLN 1627 Than from true evidence of good esteem
FTLN 1628 He be approved in practice culpable.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1629 God forbid any malice should prevail
FTLN 1630 That faultless may condemn a nobleman!
FTLN 1631 25 Pray God he may acquit him of suspicion!
KING HENRY
FTLN 1632 I thank thee, Meg. These words content me much.
Enter Suffolk.
FTLN 1633 How now? Why look’st thou pale? Why tremblest
FTLN 1634 thou?
FTLN 1635 Where is our uncle? What’s the matter, Suffolk?
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1636 30 Dead in his bed, my lord. Gloucester is dead.
QUEEN MARGARET FTLN 1637 Marry, God forfend!
CARDINAL
FTLN 1638 God’s secret judgment. I did dream tonight
FTLN 1639 The Duke was dumb and could not speak a word.
King Henry swoons.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1640 How fares my lord? Help, lords, the King is dead!
SOMERSET
FTLN 1641 35 Rear up his body. Wring him by the nose.

131
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 2
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1642 Run, go, help, help! O Henry, ope thine eyes!
King Henry stirs.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1643 He doth revive again. Madam, be patient.
KING HENRY
FTLN 1644 O heavenly God!
QUEEN MARGARET FTLN 1645 How fares my gracious lord?
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1646 40 Comfort, my sovereign! Gracious Henry, comfort!
KING HENRY
FTLN 1647 What, doth my lord of Suffolk comfort me?
FTLN 1648 Came he right now to sing a raven’s note,
FTLN 1649 Whose dismal tune bereft my vital powers,
FTLN 1650 And thinks he that the chirping of a wren,
FTLN 1651 45 By crying comfort from a hollow breast,
FTLN 1652 Can chase away the first-conceivèd sound?
FTLN 1653 Hide not thy poison with such sugared words.
FTLN 1654 Lay not thy hands on me. Forbear, I say!
FTLN 1655 Their touch affrights me as a serpent’s sting.
FTLN 1656 50 Thou baleful messenger, out of my sight!
FTLN 1657 Upon thy eyeballs, murderous Tyranny
FTLN 1658 Sits in grim majesty to fright the world.
FTLN 1659 Look not upon me, for thine eyes are wounding.
FTLN 1660 Yet do not go away. Come, basilisk,
FTLN 1661 55 And kill the innocent gazer with thy sight;
FTLN 1662 For in the shade of death I shall find joy,
FTLN 1663 In life but double death, now Gloucester’s dead.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1664 Why do you rate my lord of Suffolk thus?
FTLN 1665 Although the Duke was enemy to him,
FTLN 1666 60 Yet he most Christian-like laments his death.
FTLN 1667 And for myself, foe as he was to me,
FTLN 1668 Might liquid tears or heart-offending groans
FTLN 1669 Or blood-consuming sighs recall his life,
FTLN 1670 I would be blind with weeping, sick with groans,

133
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 2
FTLN 1671 65 Look pale as primrose with blood-drinking sighs,
FTLN 1672 And all to have the noble duke alive.
FTLN 1673 What know I how the world may deem of me?
FTLN 1674 For it is known we were but hollow friends.
FTLN 1675 It may be judged I made the Duke away;
FTLN 1676 70 So shall my name with slander’s tongue be wounded
FTLN 1677 And princes’ courts be filled with my reproach.
FTLN 1678 This get I by his death. Ay me, unhappy,
FTLN 1679 To be a queen and crowned with infamy!
KING HENRY
FTLN 1680 Ah, woe is me for Gloucester, wretched man!
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1681 75 Be woe for me, more wretched than he is.
FTLN 1682 What, dost thou turn away and hide thy face?
FTLN 1683 I am no loathsome leper. Look on me.
FTLN 1684 What, art thou, like the adder, waxen deaf?
FTLN 1685 Be poisonous too, and kill thy forlorn queen.
FTLN 1686 80 Is all thy comfort shut in Gloucester’s tomb?
FTLN 1687 Why, then, Dame Margaret was ne’er thy joy.
FTLN 1688 Erect his statue and worship it,
FTLN 1689 And make my image but an alehouse sign.
FTLN 1690 Was I for this nigh-wracked upon the sea
FTLN 1691 85 And twice by awkward wind from England’s bank
FTLN 1692 Drove back again unto my native clime?
FTLN 1693 What boded this, but well forewarning wind
FTLN 1694 Did seem to say “Seek not a scorpion’s nest,
FTLN 1695 Nor set no footing on this unkind shore”?
FTLN 1696 90 What did I then but cursed the gentle gusts
FTLN 1697 And he that loosed them forth their brazen caves
FTLN 1698 And bid them blow towards England’s blessèd shore
FTLN 1699 Or turn our stern upon a dreadful rock?
FTLN 1700 Yet Aeolus would not be a murderer,
FTLN 1701 95 But left that hateful office unto thee.
FTLN 1702 The pretty-vaulting sea refused to drown me,
FTLN 1703 Knowing that thou wouldst have me drowned on
FTLN 1704 shore

135
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 2
FTLN 1705 With tears as salt as sea, through thy unkindness.
FTLN 1706 100 The splitting rocks cow’red in the sinking sands
FTLN 1707 And would not dash me with their ragged sides
FTLN 1708 Because thy flinty heart, more hard than they,
FTLN 1709 Might in thy palace perish Margaret.
FTLN 1710 As far as I could ken thy chalky cliffs,
FTLN 1711 105 When from thy shore the tempest beat us back,
FTLN 1712 I stood upon the hatches in the storm,
FTLN 1713 And when the dusky sky began to rob
FTLN 1714 My earnest-gaping sight of thy land’s view,
FTLN 1715 I took a costly jewel from my neck—
FTLN 1716 110 A heart it was, bound in with diamonds—
FTLN 1717 And threw it towards thy land. The sea received it,
FTLN 1718 And so I wished thy body might my heart.
FTLN 1719 And even with this I lost fair England’s view,
FTLN 1720 And bid mine eyes be packing with my heart,
FTLN 1721 115 And called them blind and dusky spectacles
FTLN 1722 For losing ken of Albion’s wishèd coast.
FTLN 1723 How often have I tempted Suffolk’s tongue,
FTLN 1724 The agent of thy foul inconstancy,
FTLN 1725 To sit and watch me, as Ascanius did
FTLN 1726 120 When he to madding Dido would unfold
FTLN 1727 His father’s acts commenced in burning Troy!
FTLN 1728 Am I not witched like her, or thou not false like
FTLN 1729 him?
FTLN 1730 Ay me, I can no more. Die, Margaret,
FTLN 1731 125 For Henry weeps that thou dost live so long.
Noise within. Enter Warwick and Salisbury,
and many Commons.
WARWICK
FTLN 1732 It is reported, mighty sovereign,
FTLN 1733 That good Duke Humphrey traitorously is murdered
FTLN 1734 By Suffolk and the Cardinal Beaufort’s means.
FTLN 1735 The Commons, like an angry hive of bees
FTLN 1736 130 That want their leader, scatter up and down

137
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 2
FTLN 1737 And care not who they sting in his revenge.
FTLN 1738 Myself have calmed their spleenful mutiny,
FTLN 1739 Until they hear the order of his death.
KING HENRY
FTLN 1740 That he is dead, good Warwick, ’tis too true;
FTLN 1741 135 But how he died God knows, not Henry.
FTLN 1742 Enter his chamber, view his breathless corpse,
FTLN 1743 And comment then upon his sudden death.
WARWICK
FTLN 1744 That shall I do, my liege.—Stay, Salisbury,
FTLN 1745 With the rude multitude till I return.
Warwick exits through one door; Salisbury and
Commons exit through another.
KING HENRY
FTLN 1746 140 O Thou that judgest all things, stay my thoughts,
FTLN 1747 My thoughts that labor to persuade my soul
FTLN 1748 Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey’s life.
FTLN 1749 If my suspect be false, forgive me, God,
FTLN 1750 For judgment only doth belong to Thee.
FTLN 1751 145 Fain would I go to chafe his paly lips
FTLN 1752 With twenty thousand kisses, and to drain
FTLN 1753 Upon his face an ocean of salt tears,
FTLN 1754 To tell my love unto his dumb deaf trunk
FTLN 1755 And with my fingers feel his hand unfeeling;
FTLN 1756 150 But all in vain are these mean obsequies.
FTLN 1757 And to survey his dead and earthy image,
FTLN 1758 What were it but to make my sorrow greater?
Bed put forth, bearing Gloucester’s body.
Enter Warwick.
WARWICK
FTLN 1759 Come hither, gracious sovereign. View this body.
KING HENRY
FTLN 1760 That is to see how deep my grave is made,
FTLN 1761 155 For with his soul fled all my worldly solace;
FTLN 1762 For seeing him, I see my life in death.

139
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 2
WARWICK
FTLN 1763 As surely as my soul intends to live
FTLN 1764 With that dread King that took our state upon Him
FTLN 1765 To free us from His Father’s wrathful curse,
FTLN 1766 160 I do believe that violent hands were laid
FTLN 1767 Upon the life of this thrice-famèd duke.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1768 A dreadful oath, sworn with a solemn tongue!
FTLN 1769 What instance gives Lord Warwick for his vow?
WARWICK
FTLN 1770 See how the blood is settled in his face.
FTLN 1771 165 Oft have I seen a timely-parted ghost,
FTLN 1772 Of ashy semblance, meager, pale, and bloodless,
FTLN 1773 Being all descended to the laboring heart,
FTLN 1774 Who, in the conflict that it holds with death,
FTLN 1775 Attracts the same for aidance ’gainst the enemy,
FTLN 1776 170 Which with the heart there cools and ne’er
FTLN 1777 returneth
FTLN 1778 To blush and beautify the cheek again.
FTLN 1779 But see, his face is black and full of blood;
FTLN 1780 His eyeballs further out than when he lived,
FTLN 1781 175 Staring full ghastly, like a strangled man;
FTLN 1782 His hair upreared, his nostrils stretched with
FTLN 1783 struggling;
FTLN 1784 His hands abroad displayed, as one that grasped
FTLN 1785 And tugged for life and was by strength subdued.
FTLN 1786 180 Look, on the sheets his hair, you see, is sticking;
FTLN 1787 His well-proportioned beard made rough and
FTLN 1788 rugged,
FTLN 1789 Like to the summer’s corn by tempest lodged.
FTLN 1790 It cannot be but he was murdered here.
FTLN 1791 185 The least of all these signs were probable.
The bed is removed.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1792 Why, Warwick, who should do the Duke to death?

141
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 2
FTLN 1793 Myself and Beaufort had him in protection,
FTLN 1794 And we, I hope, sir, are no murderers.
WARWICK
FTLN 1795 But both of you were vowed Duke Humphrey’s foes,
FTLN 1796 190 To Cardinal. And you, forsooth, had the good duke
FTLN 1797 to keep.
FTLN 1798 ’Tis like you would not feast him like a friend,
FTLN 1799 And ’tis well seen he found an enemy.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1800 Then you, belike, suspect these noblemen
FTLN 1801 195 As guilty of Duke Humphrey’s timeless death.
WARWICK
FTLN 1802 Who finds the heifer dead and bleeding fresh,
FTLN 1803 And sees fast by a butcher with an ax,
FTLN 1804 But will suspect ’twas he that made the slaughter?
FTLN 1805 Who finds the partridge in the puttock’s nest
FTLN 1806 200 But may imagine how the bird was dead,
FTLN 1807 Although the kite soar with unbloodied beak?
FTLN 1808 Even so suspicious is this tragedy.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1809 Are you the butcher, Suffolk? Where’s your knife?
FTLN 1810 Is Beaufort termed a kite? Where are his talons?
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1811 205 I wear no knife to slaughter sleeping men,
FTLN 1812 But here’s a vengeful sword, rusted with ease,
FTLN 1813 That shall be scoured in his rancorous heart
FTLN 1814 That slanders me with murder’s crimson badge.—
FTLN 1815 Say, if thou dar’st, proud lord of Warwickshire,
FTLN 1816 210 That I am faulty in Duke Humphrey’s death.
WARWICK
FTLN 1817 What dares not Warwick, if false Suffolk dare him?
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1818 He dares not calm his contumelious spirit
FTLN 1819 Nor cease to be an arrogant controller,
FTLN 1820 Though Suffolk dare him twenty thousand times.

143
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 2
WARWICK
FTLN 1821 215 Madam, be still—with reverence may I say—
FTLN 1822 For every word you speak in his behalf
FTLN 1823 Is slander to your royal dignity.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1824 Blunt-witted lord, ignoble in demeanor!
FTLN 1825 If ever lady wronged her lord so much,
FTLN 1826 220 Thy mother took into her blameful bed
FTLN 1827 Some stern untutored churl, and noble stock
FTLN 1828 Was graft with crab-tree slip, whose fruit thou art
FTLN 1829 And never of the Nevilles’ noble race.
WARWICK
FTLN 1830 But that the guilt of murder bucklers thee
FTLN 1831 225 And I should rob the deathsman of his fee,
FTLN 1832 Quitting thee thereby of ten thousand shames,
FTLN 1833 And that my sovereign’s presence makes me mild,
FTLN 1834 I would, false murd’rous coward, on thy knee
FTLN 1835 Make thee beg pardon for thy passèd speech
FTLN 1836 230 And say it was thy mother that thou meant’st,
FTLN 1837 That thou thyself wast born in bastardy;
FTLN 1838 And after all this fearful homage done,
FTLN 1839 Give thee thy hire and send thy soul to hell,
FTLN 1840 Pernicious bloodsucker of sleeping men!
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1841 235 Thou shalt be waking while I shed thy blood,
FTLN 1842 If from this presence thou dar’st go with me.
WARWICK
FTLN 1843 Away even now, or I will drag thee hence!
FTLN 1844 Unworthy though thou art, I’ll cope with thee
FTLN 1845 And do some service to Duke Humphrey’s ghost.
Warwick and Suffolk exit.
KING HENRY
FTLN 1846 240 What stronger breastplate than a heart untainted?
FTLN 1847 Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just,
FTLN 1848 And he but naked, though locked up in steel,
FTLN 1849 Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted.

145
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 2
A noise within.
QUEEN MARGARET FTLN 1850 What noise is this?
Enter Suffolk and Warwick, with their weapons drawn.
KING HENRY
FTLN 1851 245 Why, how now, lords? Your wrathful weapons
FTLN 1852 drawn
FTLN 1853 Here in our presence? Dare you be so bold?
FTLN 1854 Why, what tumultuous clamor have we here?
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1855 The trait’rous Warwick, with the men of Bury,
FTLN 1856 250 Set all upon me, mighty sovereign.
Enter Salisbury.
SALISBURY , to the offstage Commons
FTLN 1857 Sirs, stand apart. The King shall know your mind.—
FTLN 1858 Dread lord, the Commons send you word by me,
FTLN 1859 Unless Lord Suffolk straight be done to death
FTLN 1860 Or banishèd fair England’s territories,
FTLN 1861 255 They will by violence tear him from your palace
FTLN 1862 And torture him with grievous ling’ring death.
FTLN 1863 They say, by him the good duke Humphrey died;
FTLN 1864 They say, in him they fear your Highness’ death;
FTLN 1865 And mere instinct of love and loyalty,
FTLN 1866 260 Free from a stubborn opposite intent,
FTLN 1867 As being thought to contradict your liking,
FTLN 1868 Makes them thus forward in his banishment.
FTLN 1869 They say, in care of your most royal person,
FTLN 1870 That if your Highness should intend to sleep,
FTLN 1871 265 And charge that no man should disturb your rest,
FTLN 1872 In pain of your dislike or pain of death,
FTLN 1873 Yet, notwithstanding such a strait edict,
FTLN 1874 Were there a serpent seen with forkèd tongue
FTLN 1875 That slyly glided towards your Majesty,
FTLN 1876 270 It were but necessary you were waked,
FTLN 1877 Lest, being suffered in that harmful slumber,

147
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 2
FTLN 1878 The mortal worm might make the sleep eternal.
FTLN 1879 And therefore do they cry, though you forbid,
FTLN 1880 That they will guard you, whe’er you will or no,
FTLN 1881 275 From such fell serpents as false Suffolk is,
FTLN 1882 With whose envenomèd and fatal sting
FTLN 1883 Your loving uncle, twenty times his worth,
FTLN 1884 They say, is shamefully bereft of life.
COMMONS , within
FTLN 1885 An answer from the King, my lord of Salisbury!
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1886 280 ’Tis like the Commons, rude unpolished hinds,
FTLN 1887 Could send such message to their sovereign!
FTLN 1888 To Salisbury. But you, my lord, were glad to be
FTLN 1889 employed,
FTLN 1890 To show how quaint an orator you are.
FTLN 1891 285 But all the honor Salisbury hath won
FTLN 1892 Is that he was the lord ambassador
FTLN 1893 Sent from a sort of tinkers to the King.
COMMONS , within
FTLN 1894 An answer from the King, or we will all break in.
KING HENRY
FTLN 1895 Go, Salisbury, and tell them all from me,
FTLN 1896 290 I thank them for their tender loving care;
FTLN 1897 And, had I not been cited so by them,
FTLN 1898 Yet did I purpose as they do entreat.
FTLN 1899 For, sure, my thoughts do hourly prophesy
FTLN 1900 Mischance unto my state by Suffolk’s means.
FTLN 1901 295 And therefore, by His Majesty I swear,
FTLN 1902 Whose far unworthy deputy I am,
FTLN 1903 He shall not breathe infection in this air
FTLN 1904 But three days longer, on the pain of death.
Salisbury exits.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1905 O Henry, let me plead for gentle Suffolk!
KING HENRY
FTLN 1906 300 Ungentle queen to call him gentle Suffolk!

149
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 2
FTLN 1907 No more, I say. If thou dost plead for him,
FTLN 1908 Thou wilt but add increase unto my wrath.
FTLN 1909 Had I but said, I would have kept my word;
FTLN 1910 But when I swear, it is irrevocable.
FTLN 1911 305 To Suffolk. If, after three days’ space, thou here
FTLN 1912 be’st found
FTLN 1913 On any ground that I am ruler of,
FTLN 1914 The world shall not be ransom for thy life.—
FTLN 1915 Come, Warwick, come, good Warwick, go with me.
FTLN 1916 310 I have great matters to impart to thee.
All but the Queen and Suffolk exit.
QUEEN MARGARET , calling after King Henry and
Warwick
FTLN 1917 Mischance and sorrow go along with you!
FTLN 1918 Heart’s discontent and sour affliction
FTLN 1919 Be playfellows to keep you company!
FTLN 1920 There’s two of you; the devil make a third,
FTLN 1921 315 And threefold vengeance tend upon your steps!
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1922 Cease, gentle queen, these execrations,
FTLN 1923 And let thy Suffolk take his heavy leave.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1924 Fie, coward woman and soft-hearted wretch!
FTLN 1925 Hast thou not spirit to curse thine enemies?
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1926 320 A plague upon them! Wherefore should I curse
FTLN 1927 them?
FTLN 1928 Could curses kill, as doth the mandrake’s groan,
FTLN 1929 I would invent as bitter searching terms,
FTLN 1930 As curst, as harsh, and horrible to hear,
FTLN 1931 325 Delivered strongly through my fixèd teeth,
FTLN 1932 With full as many signs of deadly hate,
FTLN 1933 As lean-faced Envy in her loathsome cave.
FTLN 1934 My tongue should stumble in mine earnest words;
FTLN 1935 Mine eyes should sparkle like the beaten flint;
FTLN 1936 330 Mine hair be fixed on end, as one distract;

151
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 2
FTLN 1937 Ay, every joint should seem to curse and ban;
FTLN 1938 And even now my burdened heart would break
FTLN 1939 Should I not curse them. Poison be their drink!
FTLN 1940 Gall, worse than gall, the daintiest that they taste;
FTLN 1941 335 Their sweetest shade, a grove of cypress trees;
FTLN 1942 Their chiefest prospect, murd’ring basilisks;
FTLN 1943 Their softest touch, as smart as lizards’ stings!
FTLN 1944 Their music, frightful as the serpent’s hiss,
FTLN 1945 And boding screech owls make the consort full!
FTLN 1946 340 All the foul terrors in dark-seated hell—
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1947 Enough, sweet Suffolk, thou torment’st thyself,
FTLN 1948 And these dread curses, like the sun ’gainst glass,
FTLN 1949 Or like an over-chargèd gun, recoil
FTLN 1950 And turn the force of them upon thyself.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1951 345 You bade me ban, and will you bid me leave?
FTLN 1952 Now, by the ground that I am banished from,
FTLN 1953 Well could I curse away a winter’s night,
FTLN 1954 Though standing naked on a mountain top
FTLN 1955 Where biting cold would never let grass grow,
FTLN 1956 350 And think it but a minute spent in sport.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1957 O, let me entreat thee cease! Give me thy hand,
FTLN 1958 That I may dew it with my mournful tears;
FTLN 1959 Nor let the rain of heaven wet this place
FTLN 1960 To wash away my woeful monuments.
She kisses his hand.
FTLN 1961 355 O, could this kiss be printed in thy hand,
FTLN 1962 That thou mightst think upon these by the seal,
FTLN 1963 Through whom a thousand sighs are breathed for
FTLN 1964 thee!
FTLN 1965 So, get thee gone, that I may know my grief;
FTLN 1966 360 ’Tis but surmised whiles thou art standing by,
FTLN 1967 As one that surfeits thinking on a want.
FTLN 1968 I will repeal thee, or, be well assured,

153
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 2
FTLN 1969 Adventure to be banishèd myself;
FTLN 1970 And banishèd I am, if but from thee.
FTLN 1971 365 Go, speak not to me. Even now be gone!
FTLN 1972 O, go not yet! Even thus two friends condemned
FTLN 1973 Embrace and kiss and take ten thousand leaves,
FTLN 1974 Loather a hundred times to part than die.
They embrace.
FTLN 1975 Yet now farewell, and farewell life with thee.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 1976 370 Thus is poor Suffolk ten times banishèd,
FTLN 1977 Once by the King, and three times thrice by thee.
FTLN 1978 ’Tis not the land I care for, wert thou thence.
FTLN 1979 A wilderness is populous enough,
FTLN 1980 So Suffolk had thy heavenly company;
FTLN 1981 375 For where thou art, there is the world itself,
FTLN 1982 With every several pleasure in the world;
FTLN 1983 And where thou art not, desolation.
FTLN 1984 I can no more. Live thou to joy thy life;
FTLN 1985 Myself no joy in naught but that thou liv’st.
Enter Vaux.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1986 380 Whither goes Vaux so fast? What news, I prithee?
VAUX FTLN 1987 To signify unto his Majesty,
FTLN 1988 That Cardinal Beaufort is at point of death;
FTLN 1989 For suddenly a grievous sickness took him
FTLN 1990 That makes him gasp and stare and catch the air,
FTLN 1991 385 Blaspheming God and cursing men on Earth.
FTLN 1992 Sometimes he talks as if Duke Humphrey’s ghost
FTLN 1993 Were by his side; sometimes he calls the King
FTLN 1994 And whispers to his pillow, as to him,
FTLN 1995 The secrets of his overchargèd soul.
FTLN 1996 390 And I am sent to tell his Majesty
FTLN 1997 That even now he cries aloud for him.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 1998 Go, tell this heavy message to the King. Vaux exits.

155
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 2
FTLN 1999 Ay me! What is this world? What news are these!
FTLN 2000 But wherefore grieve I at an hour’s poor loss,
FTLN 2001 395 Omitting Suffolk’s exile, my soul’s treasure?
FTLN 2002 Why only, Suffolk, mourn I not for thee,
FTLN 2003 And with the southern clouds contend in tears—
FTLN 2004 Theirs for the earth’s increase, mine for my
FTLN 2005 sorrows’?
FTLN 2006 400 Now get thee hence. The King, thou know’st, is
FTLN 2007 coming;
FTLN 2008 If thou be found by me, thou art but dead.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 2009 If I depart from thee, I cannot live;
FTLN 2010 And in thy sight to die, what were it else
FTLN 2011 405 But like a pleasant slumber in thy lap?
FTLN 2012 Here could I breathe my soul into the air,
FTLN 2013 As mild and gentle as the cradle babe
FTLN 2014 Dying with mother’s dug between its lips;
FTLN 2015 Where, from thy sight, I should be raging mad
FTLN 2016 410 And cry out for thee to close up mine eyes,
FTLN 2017 To have thee with thy lips to stop my mouth.
FTLN 2018 So shouldst thou either turn my flying soul,
FTLN 2019 Or I should breathe it so into thy body,
FTLN 2020 And then it lived in sweet Elysium.
FTLN 2021 415 To die by thee were but to die in jest;
FTLN 2022 From thee to die were torture more than death.
FTLN 2023 O, let me stay, befall what may befall!
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 2024 Away! Though parting be a fretful corrosive,
FTLN 2025 It is applièd to a deathful wound.
FTLN 2026 420 To France, sweet Suffolk. Let me hear from thee,
FTLN 2027 For wheresoe’er thou art in this world’s globe,
FTLN 2028 I’ll have an Iris that shall find thee out.
SUFFOLK FTLN 2029 I go.
QUEEN MARGARET FTLN 2030 And take my heart with thee.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 2031 425 A jewel locked into the woefull’st cask

157
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ACT 3. SC. 3
FTLN 2032 That ever did contain a thing of worth!
FTLN 2033 Even as a splitted bark, so sunder we.
FTLN 2034 This way fall I to death.
QUEEN MARGARET FTLN 2035 This way for me.
They exit through different doors.
Scene 3
Enter King Henry, Salisbury and Warwick, to the
Cardinal in bed, raving and staring.
KING HENRY
FTLN 2036 How fares my lord? Speak, Beaufort, to thy sovereign.
CARDINAL
FTLN 2037 If thou be’st Death, I’ll give thee England’s treasure,
FTLN 2038 Enough to purchase such another island,
FTLN 2039 So thou wilt let me live and feel no pain.
KING HENRY
FTLN 2040 5 Ah, what a sign it is of evil life,
FTLN 2041 Where Death’s approach is seen so terrible!
WARWICK
FTLN 2042 Beaufort, it is thy sovereign speaks to thee.
CARDINAL
FTLN 2043 Bring me unto my trial when you will.
FTLN 2044 Died he not in his bed? Where should he die?
FTLN 2045 10 Can I make men live, whe’er they will or no?
FTLN 2046 O, torture me no more! I will confess.
FTLN 2047 Alive again? Then show me where he is.
FTLN 2048 I’ll give a thousand pound to look upon him.
FTLN 2049 He hath no eyes! The dust hath blinded them.
FTLN 2050 15 Comb down his hair. Look, look. It stands upright,
FTLN 2051 Like lime-twigs set to catch my wingèd soul.
FTLN 2052 Give me some drink, and bid the apothecary
FTLN 2053 Bring the strong poison that I bought of him.
KING HENRY
FTLN 2054 O, Thou eternal mover of the heavens,

159
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 3
FTLN 2055 20 Look with a gentle eye upon this wretch!
FTLN 2056 O, beat away the busy meddling fiend
FTLN 2057 That lays strong siege unto this wretch’s soul,
FTLN 2058 And from his bosom purge this black despair!
WARWICK
FTLN 2059 See how the pangs of death do make him grin!
SALISBURY
FTLN 2060 25 Disturb him not. Let him pass peaceably.
KING HENRY
FTLN 2061 Peace to his soul, if God’s good pleasure be!—
FTLN 2062 Lord Card’nal, if thou think’st on heaven’s bliss,
FTLN 2063 Hold up thy hand; make signal of thy hope.
The Cardinal dies.
FTLN 2064 He dies and makes no sign. O, God forgive him!
WARWICK
FTLN 2065 30 So bad a death argues a monstrous life.
KING HENRY
FTLN 2066 Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all.
FTLN 2067 Close up his eyes, and draw the curtain close,
FTLN 2068 And let us all to meditation.
After the curtains are closed around
the bed, they exit. The bed is removed.

ACT 4
Scene 1
Alarum. Offstage fight at sea. Ordnance goes off.
Enter Lieutenant, Suffolk, captive and in disguise,
and Others, including a Master, a Master’s Mate,
Walter Whitmore, and Prisoners.
LIEUTENANT
FTLN 2069 The gaudy, blabbing, and remorseful day
FTLN 2070 Is crept into the bosom of the sea,
FTLN 2071 And now loud-howling wolves arouse the jades
FTLN 2072 That drag the tragic melancholy night,
FTLN 2073 5 Who, with their drowsy, slow, and flagging wings
FTLN 2074 Clip dead men’s graves, and from their misty jaws
FTLN 2075 Breathe foul contagious darkness in the air.
FTLN 2076 Therefore bring forth the soldiers of our prize;
FTLN 2077 For, whilst our pinnace anchors in the Downs,
FTLN 2078 10 Here shall they make their ransom on the sand,
FTLN 2079 Or with their blood stain this discolored shore.—
FTLN 2080 Master, this prisoner freely give I thee.—
FTLN 2081 And, thou that art his mate, make boot of this.—
FTLN 2082 The other, Walter Whitmore, is thy share.
Three gentlemen prisoners, including Suffolk,
are handed over.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
FTLN 2083 15 What is my ransom, master? Let me know.
163

165
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 1
MASTER
FTLN 2084 A thousand crowns, or else lay down your head.
MATE , to the Second Gentleman
FTLN 2085 And so much shall you give, or off goes yours.
LIEUTENANT
FTLN 2086 What, think you much to pay two thousand crowns,
FTLN 2087 And bear the name and port of gentlemen?—
FTLN 2088 20 Cut both the villains’ throats—for die you shall;
FTLN 2089 The lives of those which we have lost in fight
FTLN 2090 Be counterpoised with such a petty sum!
FIRST GENTLEMAN
FTLN 2091 I’ll give it, sir, and therefore spare my life.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
FTLN 2092 And so will I, and write home for it straight.
WHITMORE , to Suffolk
FTLN 2093 25 I lost mine eye in laying the prize aboard,
FTLN 2094 And therefore to revenge it shalt thou die;
FTLN 2095 And so should these, if I might have my will.
LIEUTENANT
FTLN 2096 Be not so rash. Take ransom; let him live.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 2097 Look on my George; I am a gentleman.
FTLN 2098 30 Rate me at what thou wilt, thou shalt be paid.
WHITMORE
FTLN 2099 And so am I. My name is Walter Whitmore.
Suffolk starts.
FTLN 2100 How now, why starts thou? What, doth death
FTLN 2101 affright?
SUFFOLK
FTLN 2102 Thy name affrights me, in whose sound is death.
FTLN 2103 35 A cunning man did calculate my birth
FTLN 2104 And told me that by water I should die.
FTLN 2105 Yet let not this make thee be bloody-minded;
FTLN 2106 Thy name is Gualtier, being rightly sounded.
WHITMORE
FTLN 2107 Gualtier or Walter, which it is, I care not.

167
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 1
FTLN 2108 40 Never yet did base dishonor blur our name
FTLN 2109 But with our sword we wiped away the blot.
FTLN 2110 Therefore, when merchantlike I sell revenge,
FTLN 2111 Broke be my sword, my arms torn and defaced,
FTLN 2112 And I proclaimed a coward through the world!
SUFFOLK
FTLN 2113 45 Stay, Whitmore, for thy prisoner is a prince,
FTLN 2114 The Duke of Suffolk, William de la Pole.
WHITMORE
FTLN 2115 The Duke of Suffolk muffled up in rags?
SUFFOLK
FTLN 2116 Ay, but these rags are no part of the Duke.
FTLN 2117 Jove sometimes went disguised, and why not I?
LIEUTENANT
FTLN 2118 50 But Jove was never slain, as thou shalt be.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 2119 Obscure and lousy swain, King Henry’s blood,
FTLN 2120 The honorable blood of Lancaster,
FTLN 2121 Must not be shed by such a jaded groom.
FTLN 2122 Hast thou not kissed thy hand and held my stirrup?
FTLN 2123 55 Bareheaded plodded by my footcloth mule,
FTLN 2124 And thought thee happy when I shook my head?
FTLN 2125 How often hast thou waited at my cup,
FTLN 2126 Fed from my trencher, kneeled down at the board,
FTLN 2127 When I have feasted with Queen Margaret?
FTLN 2128 60 Remember it, and let it make thee crestfall’n,
FTLN 2129 Ay, and allay this thy abortive pride.
FTLN 2130 How in our voiding lobby hast thou stood
FTLN 2131 And duly waited for my coming forth?
FTLN 2132 This hand of mine hath writ in thy behalf,
FTLN 2133 65 And therefore shall it charm thy riotous tongue.
WHITMORE
FTLN 2134 Speak, captain, shall I stab the forlorn swain?
LIEUTENANT
FTLN 2135 First let my words stab him as he hath me.

169
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 1
SUFFOLK
FTLN 2136 Base slave, thy words are blunt, and so art thou.
LIEUTENANT
FTLN 2137 Convey him hence, and on our longboat’s side,
FTLN 2138 70 Strike off his head.
SUFFOLK FTLN 2139 Thou dar’st not for thy own.
LIEUTENANT
FTLN 2140 Yes, Pole.
SUFFOLK FTLN 2141 Pole!
LIEUTENANT FTLN 2142 Pole! Sir Pole! Lord!
FTLN 2143 75 Ay, kennel, puddle, sink, whose filth and dirt
FTLN 2144 Troubles the silver spring where England drinks!
FTLN 2145 Now will I dam up this thy yawning mouth
FTLN 2146 For swallowing the treasure of the realm.
FTLN 2147 Thy lips that kissed the Queen shall sweep the
FTLN 2148 80 ground,
FTLN 2149 And thou that smiledst at good Duke Humphrey’s
FTLN 2150 death
FTLN 2151 Against the senseless winds shall grin in vain,
FTLN 2152 Who in contempt shall hiss at thee again.
FTLN 2153 85 And wedded be thou to the hags of hell
FTLN 2154 For daring to affy a mighty lord
FTLN 2155 Unto the daughter of a worthless king,
FTLN 2156 Having neither subject, wealth, nor diadem.
FTLN 2157 By devilish policy art thou grown great,
FTLN 2158 90 And, like ambitious Sylla, overgorged
FTLN 2159 With gobbets of thy mother’s bleeding heart.
FTLN 2160 By thee Anjou and Maine were sold to France.
FTLN 2161 The false revolting Normans thorough thee
FTLN 2162 Disdain to call us lord, and Picardy
FTLN 2163 95 Hath slain their governors, surprised our forts,
FTLN 2164 And sent the ragged soldiers wounded home.
FTLN 2165 The princely Warwick, and the Nevilles all,
FTLN 2166 Whose dreadful swords were never drawn in vain,
FTLN 2167 As hating thee, are rising up in arms.
FTLN 2168 100 And now the house of York, thrust from the crown

171
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 1
FTLN 2169 By shameful murder of a guiltless king
FTLN 2170 And lofty, proud, encroaching tyranny,
FTLN 2171 Burns with revenging fire, whose hopeful colors
FTLN 2172 Advance our half-faced sun, striving to shine,
FTLN 2173 105 Under the which is writ “Invitis nubibus.”
FTLN 2174 The commons here in Kent are up in arms,
FTLN 2175 And, to conclude, reproach and beggary
FTLN 2176 Is crept into the palace of our king,
FTLN 2177 And all by thee.—Away! Convey him hence.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 2178 110 O, that I were a god, to shoot forth thunder
FTLN 2179 Upon these paltry, servile, abject drudges!
FTLN 2180 Small things make base men proud. This villain
FTLN 2181 here,
FTLN 2182 Being captain of a pinnace, threatens more
FTLN 2183 115 Than Bargulus, the strong Illyrian pirate.
FTLN 2184 Drones suck not eagles’ blood, but rob beehives.
FTLN 2185 It is impossible that I should die
FTLN 2186 By such a lowly vassal as thyself.
FTLN 2187 Thy words move rage and not remorse in me.
FTLN 2188 120 I go of message from the Queen to France.
FTLN 2189 I charge thee waft me safely cross the Channel.
LIEUTENANT FTLN 2190 Walter.
WHITMORE
FTLN 2191 Come, Suffolk, I must waft thee to thy death.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 2192 Paene gelidus timor occupat artus.
FTLN 2193 125 It is thee I fear.
WHITMORE
FTLN 2194 Thou shalt have cause to fear before I leave thee.
FTLN 2195 What, are you daunted now? Now will you stoop?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
FTLN 2196 My gracious lord, entreat him; speak him fair.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 2197 Suffolk’s imperial tongue is stern and rough,
FTLN 2198 130 Used to command, untaught to plead for favor.

173
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 1
FTLN 2199 Far be it we should honor such as these
FTLN 2200 With humble suit. No, rather let my head
FTLN 2201 Stoop to the block than these knees bow to any
FTLN 2202 Save to the God of heaven and to my king;
FTLN 2203 135 And sooner dance upon a bloody pole
FTLN 2204 Than stand uncovered to the vulgar groom.
FTLN 2205 True nobility is exempt from fear.—
FTLN 2206 More can I bear than you dare execute.
LIEUTENANT
FTLN 2207 Hale him away, and let him talk no more.
SUFFOLK
FTLN 2208 140 Come, soldiers, show what cruelty you can,
FTLN 2209 That this my death may never be forgot!
FTLN 2210 Great men oft die by vile bezonians:
FTLN 2211 A Roman sworder and banditto slave
FTLN 2212 Murdered sweet Tully; Brutus’ bastard hand
FTLN 2213 145 Stabbed Julius Caesar; savage islanders
FTLN 2214 Pompey the Great, and Suffolk dies by pirates.
Walter Whitmore exits with
Suffolk and Others.
LIEUTENANT
FTLN 2215 And as for these whose ransom we have set,
FTLN 2216 It is our pleasure one of them depart.
FTLN 2217 To Second Gentleman. Therefore come you with us,
FTLN 2218 150 and let him go. Lieutenant and the rest exit.
The First Gentleman remains.
Enter Walter Whitmore with the body
and severed head of Suffolk.
WHITMORE
FTLN 2219 There let his head and lifeless body lie,
FTLN 2220 Until the Queen his mistress bury it.
Walter Whitmore exits.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
FTLN 2221 O, barbarous and bloody spectacle!
FTLN 2222 His body will I bear unto the King.

175
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 2
FTLN 2223 155 If he revenge it not, yet will his friends.
FTLN 2224 So will the Queen, that living held him dear.
He exits with the head and body.
Scene 2
Enter Bevis and John Holland with staves.
BEVIS FTLN 2225 Come, and get thee a sword, though made of a
FTLN 2226 lath. They have been up these two days.
HOLLAND FTLN 2227 They have the more need to sleep now, then.
BEVIS FTLN 2228 I tell thee, Jack Cade the clothier means to dress
FTLN 2229 5 the commonwealth, and turn it, and set a new nap
FTLN 2230 upon it.
HOLLAND FTLN 2231 So he had need, for ’tis threadbare. Well, I
FTLN 2232 say, it was never merry world in England since
FTLN 2233 gentlemen came up.
BEVIS FTLN 2234 10 O miserable age! Virtue is not regarded in
FTLN 2235 handicraftsmen.
HOLLAND FTLN 2236 The nobility think scorn to go in leather
FTLN 2237 aprons.
BEVIS FTLN 2238 Nay, more, the King’s Council are no good
FTLN 2239 15 workmen.
HOLLAND FTLN 2240 True, and yet it is said “Labor in thy vocation,”
FTLN 2241 which is as much to say as “Let the magistrates
FTLN 2242 be laboring men.” And therefore should we
FTLN 2243 be magistrates.
BEVIS FTLN 2244 20 Thou hast hit it, for there’s no better sign of a
FTLN 2245 brave mind than a hard hand.
HOLLAND FTLN 2246 I see them, I see them! There’s Best’s son, the
FTLN 2247 tanner of Wingham—
BEVIS FTLN 2248 He shall have the skins of our enemies to make
FTLN 2249 25 dog’s leather of.
HOLLAND FTLN 2250 And Dick the butcher—
BEVIS FTLN 2251 Then is sin struck down like an ox, and iniquity’s
FTLN 2252 throat cut like a calf.

177
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 2
HOLLAND FTLN 2253 And Smith the weaver.
BEVIS FTLN 2254 30 Argo, their thread of life is spun.
HOLLAND FTLN 2255 Come, come, let’s fall in with them.
Drum. Enter Cade, Dick the butcher, Smith the
weaver, and a Sawyer, with infinite numbers,
all with staves.
CADE FTLN 2256 We, John Cade, so termed of our supposed
FTLN 2257 father—
DICK , aside FTLN 2258 Or rather of stealing a cade of herrings.
CADE FTLN 2259 35 For our enemies shall fall before us, inspired
FTLN 2260 with the spirit of putting down kings and princes—
FTLN 2261 command silence.
DICK FTLN 2262 Silence!
CADE FTLN 2263 My father was a Mortimer—
DICK , aside FTLN 2264 40 He was an honest man and a good
FTLN 2265 bricklayer.
CADE FTLN 2266 My mother a Plantagenet—
DICK , aside FTLN 2267 I knew her well; she was a midwife.
CADE FTLN 2268 My wife descended of the Lacys.
DICK , aside FTLN 2269 45 She was indeed a peddler’s daughter, and
FTLN 2270 sold many laces.
SMITH , aside FTLN 2271 But now of late, not able to travel with
FTLN 2272 her furred pack, she washes bucks here at home.
CADE FTLN 2273 Therefore am I of an honorable house.
DICK , aside FTLN 2274 50 Ay, by my faith, the field is honorable;
FTLN 2275 and there was he born, under a hedge, for his
FTLN 2276 father had never a house but the cage.
CADE FTLN 2277 Valiant I am—
SMITH , aside FTLN 2278 He must needs, for beggary is valiant.
CADE FTLN 2279 55 I am able to endure much—
DICK , aside FTLN 2280 No question of that; for I have seen him
FTLN 2281 whipped three market-days together.
CADE FTLN 2282 I fear neither sword nor fire.
SMITH , aside FTLN 2283 He need not fear the sword, for his coat
FTLN 2284 60 is of proof.

179
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 2
DICK , aside FTLN 2285 But methinks he should stand in fear of
FTLN 2286 fire, being burnt i’ th’ hand for stealing of sheep.
CADE FTLN 2287 Be brave, then, for your captain is brave and
FTLN 2288 vows reformation. There shall be in England seven
FTLN 2289 65 halfpenny loaves sold for a penny. The three-hooped
FTLN 2290 pot shall have ten hoops, and I will make it
FTLN 2291 felony to drink small beer. All the realm shall be in
FTLN 2292 common, and in Cheapside shall my palfrey go to
FTLN 2293 grass. And when I am king, as king I will be—
ALL FTLN 2294 70 God save your Majesty!
CADE FTLN 2295 I thank you, good people.—There shall be no
FTLN 2296 money; all shall eat and drink on my score; and I
FTLN 2297 will apparel them all in one livery, that they may
FTLN 2298 agree like brothers and worship me their lord.
DICK FTLN 2299 75 The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.
CADE FTLN 2300 Nay, that I mean to do. Is not this a lamentable
FTLN 2301 thing, that of the skin of an innocent lamb should
FTLN 2302 be made parchment? That parchment, being scribbled
FTLN 2303 o’er, should undo a man? Some say the bee
FTLN 2304 80 stings, but I say, ’tis the beeswax; for I did but seal
FTLN 2305 once to a thing, and I was never mine own man
FTLN 2306 since. How now? Who’s there?
Enter a Clerk of Chartham, under guard.
SMITH FTLN 2307 The clerk of Chartham. He can write and read
FTLN 2308 and cast account.
CADE FTLN 2309 85 O, monstrous!
SMITH FTLN 2310 We took him setting of boys’ copies.
CADE FTLN 2311 Here’s a villain!
SMITH FTLN 2312 H’as a book in his pocket with red letters in ’t.
CADE FTLN 2313 Nay, then, he is a conjurer.
DICK FTLN 2314 90 Nay, he can make obligations and write court
FTLN 2315 hand.
CADE FTLN 2316 I am sorry for ’t. The man is a proper man, of
FTLN 2317 mine honor. Unless I find him guilty, he shall not

181
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 2
FTLN 2318 die.—Come hither, sirrah; I must examine thee.
FTLN 2319 95 What is thy name?
CLERK FTLN 2320 Emmanuel.
DICK FTLN 2321 They use to write it on the top of letters.—’Twill
FTLN 2322 go hard with you.
CADE FTLN 2323 Let me alone.—Dost thou use to write thy
FTLN 2324 100 name? Or hast thou a mark to thyself, like an
FTLN 2325 honest, plain-dealing man?
CLERK FTLN 2326 Sir, I thank God, I have been so well brought
FTLN 2327 up that I can write my name.
ALL FTLN 2328 He hath confessed. Away with him! He’s a villain
FTLN 2329 105 and a traitor.
CADE FTLN 2330 Away with him, I say! Hang him with his pen
FTLN 2331 and inkhorn about his neck.
One exits with the Clerk.
Enter Michael.
MICHAEL FTLN 2332 Where’s our general?
CADE FTLN 2333 Here I am, thou particular fellow.
MICHAEL FTLN 2334 110 Fly, fly, fly! Sir Humphrey Stafford and his
FTLN 2335 brother are hard by, with the King’s forces.
CADE FTLN 2336 Stand, villain, stand, or I’ll fell thee down. He
FTLN 2337 shall be encountered with a man as good as himself.
FTLN 2338 He is but a knight, is he?
MICHAEL FTLN 2339 115 No.
CADE FTLN 2340 To equal him I will make myself a knight
FTLN 2341 presently. He kneels. Rise up Sir John Mortimer.
FTLN 2342 He rises. Now have at him!
Enter Sir Humphrey Stafford and his Brother, with
a Herald, Drum, and Soldiers.
STAFFORD
FTLN 2343 Rebellious hinds, the filth and scum of Kent,
FTLN 2344 120 Marked for the gallows, lay your weapons down!
FTLN 2345 Home to your cottages; forsake this groom.
FTLN 2346 The King is merciful, if you revolt.

183
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 2
BROTHER
FTLN 2347 But angry, wrathful, and inclined to blood,
FTLN 2348 If you go forward. Therefore yield, or die.
CADE
FTLN 2349 125 As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not.
FTLN 2350 It is to you, good people, that I speak,
FTLN 2351 Over whom, in time to come, I hope to reign,
FTLN 2352 For I am rightful heir unto the crown.
STAFFORD
FTLN 2353 Villain, thy father was a plasterer,
FTLN 2354 130 And thou thyself a shearman, art thou not?
CADE
FTLN 2355 And Adam was a gardener.
BROTHER FTLN 2356 And what of that?
CADE
FTLN 2357 Marry, this: Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March,
FTLN 2358 Married the Duke of Clarence’ daughter, did he not?
STAFFORD FTLN 2359 135 Ay, sir.
CADE
FTLN 2360 By her he had two children at one birth.
BROTHER FTLN 2361 That’s false.
CADE
FTLN 2362 Ay, there’s the question. But I say ’tis true.
FTLN 2363 The elder of them, being put to nurse,
FTLN 2364 140 Was by a beggar-woman stol’n away,
FTLN 2365 And, ignorant of his birth and parentage,
FTLN 2366 Became a bricklayer when he came to age.
FTLN 2367 His son am I. Deny it if you can.
DICK
FTLN 2368 Nay, ’tis too true. Therefore he shall be king.
SMITH FTLN 2369 145 Sir, he made a chimney in my father’s house,
FTLN 2370 and the bricks are alive at this day to testify it.
FTLN 2371 Therefore deny it not.
STAFFORD
FTLN 2372 And will you credit this base drudge’s words,
FTLN 2373 That speaks he knows not what?

185
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 2
ALL
FTLN 2374 150 Ay, marry, will we. Therefore get you gone.
BROTHER
FTLN 2375 Jack Cade, the Duke of York hath taught you this.
CADE FTLN 2376 He lies, aside for I invented it myself.—Go to,
FTLN 2377 sirrah. Tell the King from me that, for his father’s
FTLN 2378 sake, Henry the Fifth, in whose time boys went to
FTLN 2379 155 span-counter for French crowns, I am content he
FTLN 2380 shall reign, but I’ll be Protector over him.
DICK FTLN 2381 And, furthermore, we’ll have the Lord Saye’s
FTLN 2382 head for selling the dukedom of Maine.
CADE FTLN 2383 And good reason: for thereby is England mained
FTLN 2384 160 and fain to go with a staff, but that my puissance
FTLN 2385 holds it up. Fellow kings, I tell you that that Lord
FTLN 2386 Saye hath gelded the commonwealth and made it
FTLN 2387 an eunuch; and, more than that, he can speak
FTLN 2388 French, and therefore he is a traitor.
STAFFORD
FTLN 2389 165 O, gross and miserable ignorance!
CADE FTLN 2390 Nay, answer if you can. The Frenchmen are our
FTLN 2391 enemies. Go to, then, I ask but this: can he that
FTLN 2392 speaks with the tongue of an enemy be a good
FTLN 2393 counselor, or no?
ALL FTLN 2394 170 No, no, and therefore we’ll have his head!
BROTHER , to Stafford
FTLN 2395 Well, seeing gentle words will not prevail,
FTLN 2396 Assail them with the army of the King.
STAFFORD
FTLN 2397 Herald, away, and throughout every town
FTLN 2398 Proclaim them traitors that are up with Cade,
FTLN 2399 175 That those which fly before the battle ends
FTLN 2400 May, even in their wives’ and children’s sight
FTLN 2401 Be hanged up for example at their doors.—
FTLN 2402 And you that be the King’s friends, follow me.
The Staffords, Soldiers, and Herald exit.

187
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 3
CADE
FTLN 2403 And you that love the Commons, follow me.
FTLN 2404 180 Now show yourselves men. ’Tis for liberty!
FTLN 2405 We will not leave one lord, one gentleman;
FTLN 2406 Spare none but such as go in clouted shoon,
FTLN 2407 For they are thrifty, honest men and such
FTLN 2408 As would, but that they dare not, take our parts.
DICK FTLN 2409 185 They are all in order and march toward us.
CADE FTLN 2410 But then are we in order when we are most out
FTLN 2411 of order. Come, march forward.
They exit.
Scene 3
Alarums to the fight, wherein both the Staffords are
slain. Enter Cade and the rest.
CADE FTLN 2412 Where’s Dick, the butcher of Ashford?
DICK FTLN 2413 Here, sir.
CADE FTLN 2414 They fell before thee like sheep and oxen, and
FTLN 2415 thou behaved’st thyself as if thou hadst been in
FTLN 2416 5 thine own slaughterhouse. Therefore, thus will I
FTLN 2417 reward thee: the Lent shall be as long again as it is,
FTLN 2418 and thou shalt have a license to kill for a hundred
FTLN 2419 lacking one.
DICK FTLN 2420 I desire no more.
CADE FTLN 2421 10 And to speak truth, thou deserv’st no less. This
FTLN 2422 monument of the victory will I bear. He puts on
Sir Humphrey Stafford’s armor and helmet, or sallet.
FTLN 2423 And the bodies shall be dragged at my horse
FTLN 2424 heels till I do come to London, where we will have
FTLN 2425 the Mayor’s sword borne before us.
DICK FTLN 2426 15 If we mean to thrive and do good, break open
FTLN 2427 the jails and let out the prisoners.
CADE FTLN 2428 Fear not that, I warrant thee. Come, let’s march
FTLN 2429 towards London.
They exit with the bodies of the Staffords.

189
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 4
Scene 4
Enter King Henry, with a supplication, and
Queen Margaret with Suffolk’s head, the Duke
of Buckingham, and the Lord Saye.
QUEEN MARGARET , aside
FTLN 2430 Oft have I heard that grief softens the mind
FTLN 2431 And makes it fearful and degenerate.
FTLN 2432 Think therefore on revenge, and cease to weep.
FTLN 2433 But who can cease to weep and look on this?
FTLN 2434 5 Here may his head lie on my throbbing breast,
FTLN 2435 But where’s the body that I should embrace?
BUCKINGHAM , to King Henry
FTLN 2436 What answer makes your Grace to the rebels’
FTLN 2437 supplication?
KING HENRY
FTLN 2438 I’ll send some holy bishop to entreat,
FTLN 2439 10 For God forbid so many simple souls
FTLN 2440 Should perish by the sword! And I myself,
FTLN 2441 Rather than bloody war shall cut them short,
FTLN 2442 Will parley with Jack Cade, their general.
FTLN 2443 But stay, I’ll read it over once again. He reads.
QUEEN MARGARET , aside
FTLN 2444 15 Ah, barbarous villains! Hath this lovely face
FTLN 2445 Ruled, like a wandering planet, over me,
FTLN 2446 And could it not enforce them to relent
FTLN 2447 That were unworthy to behold the same?
KING HENRY
FTLN 2448 Lord Saye, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head.
SAYE
FTLN 2449 20 Ay, but I hope your Highness shall have his.
KING HENRY FTLN 2450 How now, madam?
FTLN 2451 Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolk’s death?
FTLN 2452 I fear me, love, if that I had been dead,
FTLN 2453 Thou wouldst not have mourned so much for me.

191
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 4
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 2454 25 No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for thee.
Enter a Messenger.
KING HENRY
FTLN 2455 How now, what news? Why com’st thou in such
FTLN 2456 haste?
MESSENGER
FTLN 2457 The rebels are in Southwark. Fly, my lord!
FTLN 2458 Jack Cade proclaims himself Lord Mortimer,
FTLN 2459 30 Descended from the Duke of Clarence’ house,
FTLN 2460 And calls your Grace usurper, openly,
FTLN 2461 And vows to crown himself in Westminster.
FTLN 2462 His army is a ragged multitude
FTLN 2463 Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless.
FTLN 2464 35 Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother’s death
FTLN 2465 Hath given them heart and courage to proceed.
FTLN 2466 All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen
FTLN 2467 They call false caterpillars and intend their death.
KING HENRY
FTLN 2468 O, graceless men, they know not what they do!
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 2469 40 My gracious lord, retire to Killingworth
FTLN 2470 Until a power be raised to put them down.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 2471 Ah, were the Duke of Suffolk now alive,
FTLN 2472 These Kentish rebels would be soon appeased!
KING HENRY FTLN 2473 Lord Saye, the traitors hateth thee;
FTLN 2474 45 Therefore away with us to Killingworth.
SAYE
FTLN 2475 So might your Grace’s person be in danger.
FTLN 2476 The sight of me is odious in their eyes;
FTLN 2477 And therefore in this city will I stay
FTLN 2478 And live alone as secret as I may.
Enter another Messenger.

193
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 5
SECOND MESSENGER
FTLN 2479 50 Jack Cade hath gotten London Bridge.
FTLN 2480 The citizens fly and forsake their houses.
FTLN 2481 The rascal people, thirsting after prey,
FTLN 2482 Join with the traitor, and they jointly swear
FTLN 2483 To spoil the city and your royal court.
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 2484 55 Then linger not, my lord. Away! Take horse!
KING HENRY
FTLN 2485 Come, Margaret. God, our hope, will succor us.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 2486 My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceased.
KING HENRY , to Saye
FTLN 2487 Farewell, my lord. Trust not the Kentish rebels.
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 2488 Trust nobody, for fear you be betrayed.
SAYE
FTLN 2489 60 The trust I have is in mine innocence,
FTLN 2490 And therefore am I bold and resolute.
They exit.
Scene 5
Enter Lord Scales upon the Tower, walking. Then enters
two or three Citizens below.
SCALES FTLN 2491 How now? Is Jack Cade slain?
FIRST CITIZEN FTLN 2492 No, my lord, nor likely to be slain; for
FTLN 2493 they have won the Bridge, killing all those that
FTLN 2494 withstand them. The Lord Mayor craves aid of
FTLN 2495 5 your Honor from the Tower to defend the city
FTLN 2496 from the rebels.
SCALES
FTLN 2497 Such aid as I can spare you shall command;
FTLN 2498 But I am troubled here with them myself:
FTLN 2499 The rebels have essayed to win the Tower.

195
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 6
FTLN 2500 10 But get you to Smithfield and gather head,
FTLN 2501 And thither I will send you Matthew Gough.
FTLN 2502 Fight for your king, your country, and your lives.
FTLN 2503 And so farewell, for I must hence again.
They exit.
Scene 6
Enter Jack Cade and the rest, and strikes his staff on
London Stone.
CADE FTLN 2504 Now is Mortimer lord of this city. And here, sitting
FTLN 2505 upon London Stone, I charge and command
FTLN 2506 that, of the city’s cost, the Pissing Conduit run
FTLN 2507 nothing but claret wine this first year of our reign.
FTLN 2508 5 And now henceforward it shall be treason for any
FTLN 2509 that calls me other than Lord Mortimer.
Enter a Soldier running.
SOLDIER FTLN 2510 Jack Cade, Jack Cade!
CADE FTLN 2511 Knock him down there. They kill him.
DICK FTLN 2512 If this fellow be wise, he’ll never call you Jack
FTLN 2513 10 Cade more. I think he hath a very fair warning.
Takes a paper from the dead Soldier and
reads the message.
FTLN 2514 My lord, there’s an army gathered together in
FTLN 2515 Smithfield.
CADE FTLN 2516 Come, then, let’s go fight with them. But first, go
FTLN 2517 and set London Bridge on fire, and, if you can,
FTLN 2518 15 burn down the Tower too. Come, let’s away.
All exit.

197
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 7
Scene 7
Alarums. Matthew Gough is slain, and all the rest.
Then enter Jack Cade with his company.
CADE FTLN 2519 So, sirs. Now go some and pull down the Savoy;
FTLN 2520 others to th’ Inns of Court. Down with them all!
DICK FTLN 2521 I have a suit unto your Lordship.
CADE FTLN 2522 Be it a lordship, thou shalt have it for that word.
DICK FTLN 2523 5 Only that the laws of England may come out of
FTLN 2524 your mouth.
HOLLAND , aside FTLN 2525 Mass, ’twill be sore law, then, for he
FTLN 2526 was thrust in the mouth with a spear, and ’tis not
FTLN 2527 whole yet.
SMITH , aside FTLN 2528 10 Nay, John, it will be stinking law, for
FTLN 2529 his breath stinks with eating toasted cheese.
CADE FTLN 2530 I have thought upon it; it shall be so. Away!
FTLN 2531 Burn all the records of the realm. My mouth shall
FTLN 2532 be the Parliament of England.
HOLLAND , aside FTLN 2533 15 Then we are like to have biting
FTLN 2534 statutes—unless his teeth be pulled out.
CADE FTLN 2535 And henceforward all things shall be in
FTLN 2536 common.
Enter a Messenger.
MESSENGER FTLN 2537 My lord, a prize, a prize! Here’s the Lord
FTLN 2538 20 Saye, which sold the towns in France, he that
FTLN 2539 made us pay one-and-twenty fifteens, and one
FTLN 2540 shilling to the pound, the last subsidy.
Enter George with the Lord Saye.
CADE FTLN 2541 Well, he shall be beheaded for it ten times.—Ah,
FTLN 2542 thou say, thou serge, nay, thou buckram lord, now
FTLN 2543 25 art thou within point-blank of our jurisdiction
FTLN 2544 regal. What canst thou answer to my Majesty for
FTLN 2545 giving up of Normandy unto Monsieur Basimecu,
FTLN 2546 the Dauphin of France? Be it known unto thee by

199
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 7
FTLN 2547 these presence, even the presence of Lord Mortimer,
FTLN 2548 30 that I am the besom that must sweep the
FTLN 2549 court clean of such filth as thou art. Thou hast
FTLN 2550 most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm
FTLN 2551 in erecting a grammar school; and whereas,
FTLN 2552 before, our forefathers had no other books but the
FTLN 2553 35 score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be
FTLN 2554 used, and, contrary to the King his crown and dignity,
FTLN 2555 thou hast built a paper mill. It will be proved
FTLN 2556 to thy face that thou hast men about thee that usually
FTLN 2557 talk of a noun and a verb and such abominable
FTLN 2558 40 words as no Christian ear can endure to hear.
FTLN 2559 Thou hast appointed justices of peace to call poor
FTLN 2560 men before them about matters they were not able
FTLN 2561 to answer. Moreover, thou hast put them in prison;
FTLN 2562 and, because they could not read, thou hast
FTLN 2563 45 hanged them, when indeed only for that cause
FTLN 2564 they have been most worthy to live. Thou dost ride
FTLN 2565 on a footcloth, dost thou not?
SAYE FTLN 2566 What of that?
CADE FTLN 2567 Marry, thou oughtst not to let thy horse wear a
FTLN 2568 50 cloak when honester men than thou go in their
FTLN 2569 hose and doublets.
DICK FTLN 2570 And work in their shirt too—as myself, for example,
FTLN 2571 that am a butcher.
SAYE FTLN 2572 You men of Kent—
DICK FTLN 2573 55 What say you of Kent?
SAYE FTLN 2574 Nothing but this: ’tis bona terra, mala gens.
CADE FTLN 2575 Away with him, away with him! He speaks
FTLN 2576 Latin.
SAYE
FTLN 2577 Hear me but speak, and bear me where you will.
FTLN 2578 60 Kent, in the commentaries Caesar writ,
FTLN 2579 Is termed the civil’st place of all this isle.
FTLN 2580 Sweet is the country, because full of riches;
FTLN 2581 The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy;

201
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 7
FTLN 2582 Which makes me hope you are not void of pity.
FTLN 2583 65 I sold not Maine; I lost not Normandy;
FTLN 2584 Yet to recover them would lose my life.
FTLN 2585 Justice with favor have I always done;
FTLN 2586 Prayers and tears have moved me; gifts could never.
FTLN 2587 When have I aught exacted at your hands
FTLN 2588 70 Kent to maintain, the King, the realm, and you?
FTLN 2589 Large gifts have I bestowed on learnèd clerks,
FTLN 2590 Because my book preferred me to the King.
FTLN 2591 And seeing ignorance is the curse of God,
FTLN 2592 Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven,
FTLN 2593 75 Unless you be possessed with devilish spirits,
FTLN 2594 You cannot but forbear to murder me.
FTLN 2595 This tongue hath parleyed unto foreign kings
FTLN 2596 For your behoof—
CADE FTLN 2597 Tut, when struck’st thou one blow in the field?
SAYE
FTLN 2598 80 Great men have reaching hands. Oft have I struck
FTLN 2599 Those that I never saw, and struck them dead.
GEORGE FTLN 2600 O monstrous coward! What, to come behind
FTLN 2601 folks?
SAYE
FTLN 2602 These cheeks are pale for watching for your good.
CADE FTLN 2603 85 Give him a box o’ th’ ear, and that will make ’em
FTLN 2604 red again.
SAYE
FTLN 2605 Long sitting to determine poor men’s causes
FTLN 2606 Hath made me full of sickness and diseases.
CADE FTLN 2607 You shall have a hempen caudle, then, and
FTLN 2608 90 the help of hatchet.
DICK FTLN 2609 Why dost thou quiver, man?
SAYE FTLN 2610 The palsy, and not fear, provokes me.
CADE FTLN 2611 Nay, he nods at us, as who should say “I’ll be
FTLN 2612 even with you.” I’ll see if his head will stand steadier
FTLN 2613 95 on a pole, or no. Take him away, and behead
FTLN 2614 him.

203
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 7
SAYE
FTLN 2615 Tell me, wherein have I offended most?
FTLN 2616 Have I affected wealth or honor? Speak.
FTLN 2617 Are my chests filled up with extorted gold?
FTLN 2618 100 Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?
FTLN 2619 Whom have I injured, that you seek my death?
FTLN 2620 These hands are free from guiltless blood-shedding,
FTLN 2621 This breast from harboring foul deceitful thoughts.
FTLN 2622 O, let me live!
CADE FTLN 2623 105 I feel remorse in myself with his words, but I’ll
FTLN 2624 bridle it. He shall die, an it be but for pleading so
FTLN 2625 well for his life. Away with him! He has a familiar
FTLN 2626 under his tongue; he speaks not i’ God’s name. Go,
FTLN 2627 take him away, I say, and strike off his head
FTLN 2628 110 presently; and then break into his son-in-law’s
FTLN 2629 house, Sir James Cromer, and strike off his head;
FTLN 2630 and bring them both upon two poles hither.
ALL FTLN 2631 It shall be done.
SAYE
FTLN 2632 Ah, countrymen, if when you make your prayers,
FTLN 2633 115 God should be so obdurate as yourselves,
FTLN 2634 How would it fare with your departed souls?
FTLN 2635 And therefore yet relent, and save my life.
CADE FTLN 2636 Away with him, and do as I command you.
Some exit with Lord Saye.
FTLN 2637 The proudest peer in the realm shall not wear a
FTLN 2638 120 head on his shoulders unless he pay me tribute.
FTLN 2639 There shall not a maid be married but she shall
FTLN 2640 pay to me her maidenhead ere they have it. Men
FTLN 2641 shall hold of me in capite; and we charge and command
FTLN 2642 that their wives be as free as heart can wish
FTLN 2643 125 or tongue can tell.
DICK FTLN 2644 My lord, when shall we go to Cheapside and take
FTLN 2645 up commodities upon our bills?
CADE FTLN 2646 Marry, presently.
ALL FTLN 2647 O, brave!

205
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 8
Enter one with the heads of Lord Saye and Sir James
Cromer on poles.
CADE FTLN 2648 130 But is not this braver? Let them kiss one another,
FTLN 2649 for they loved well when they were alive. The
heads are brought together. FTLN 2650 Now part them again,
FTLN 2651 lest they consult about the giving up of some more
FTLN 2652 towns in France. Soldiers, defer the spoil of the
FTLN 2653 135 city until night, for, with these borne before us
FTLN 2654 instead of maces, will we ride through the streets
FTLN 2655 and at every corner have them kiss. Away!
He exits with his company.
Scene 8
Alarum, and retreat. Enter again Cade and
all his rabblement.
CADE FTLN 2656 Up Fish Street! Down Saint Magnus’ Corner!
FTLN 2657 Kill and knock down! Throw them into Thames!
Sound a parley.
FTLN 2658 What noise is this I hear? Dare any be so bold to
FTLN 2659 sound retreat or parley when I command them
FTLN 2660 5 kill?
Enter Buckingham and old Clifford with Attendants.
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 2661 Ay, here they be that dare and will disturb thee.
FTLN 2662 Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the King
FTLN 2663 Unto the Commons, whom thou hast misled,
FTLN 2664 And here pronounce free pardon to them all
FTLN 2665 10 That will forsake thee and go home in peace.
CLIFFORD
FTLN 2666 What say you, countrymen? Will you relent
FTLN 2667 And yield to mercy whil’st ’tis offered you,
FTLN 2668 Or let a rabble lead you to your deaths?

207
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 8
FTLN 2669 Who loves the King and will embrace his pardon,
FTLN 2670 15 Fling up his cap and say “God save his Majesty!”
FTLN 2671 Who hateth him and honors not his father,
FTLN 2672 Henry the Fifth, that made all France to quake,
FTLN 2673 Shake he his weapon at us and pass by.
ALL FTLN 2674 God save the King! God save the King!
They fling their caps in the air.
CADE FTLN 2675 20 What, Buckingham and Clifford, are you so
FTLN 2676 brave?—And, you base peasants, do you believe
FTLN 2677 him? Will you needs be hanged with your pardons
FTLN 2678 about your necks? Hath my sword therefore broke
FTLN 2679 through London gates, that you should leave me at
FTLN 2680 25 the White Hart in Southwark? I thought you
FTLN 2681 would never have given out these arms till you had
FTLN 2682 recovered your ancient freedom. But you are all
FTLN 2683 recreants and dastards, and delight to live in slavery
FTLN 2684 to the nobility. Let them break your backs with
FTLN 2685 30 burdens, take your houses over your heads, ravish
FTLN 2686 your wives and daughters before your faces. For
FTLN 2687 me, I will make shift for one, and so God’s curse
FTLN 2688 light upon you all!
ALL FTLN 2689 We’ll follow Cade! We’ll follow Cade!
CLIFFORD FTLN 2690 35 Is Cade the son of Henry the Fifth,
FTLN 2691 That thus you do exclaim you’ll go with him?
FTLN 2692 Will he conduct you through the heart of France
FTLN 2693 And make the meanest of you earls and dukes?
FTLN 2694 Alas, he hath no home, no place to fly to,
FTLN 2695 40 Nor knows he how to live but by the spoil,
FTLN 2696 Unless by robbing of your friends and us.
FTLN 2697 Were ’t not a shame that, whilst you live at jar,
FTLN 2698 The fearful French, whom you late vanquishèd,
FTLN 2699 Should make a start o’er seas and vanquish you?
FTLN 2700 45 Methinks already in this civil broil
FTLN 2701 I see them lording it in London streets,
FTLN 2702 Crying “Villiago!” unto all they meet.
FTLN 2703 Better ten thousand baseborn Cades miscarry

209
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 9
FTLN 2704 Than you should stoop unto a Frenchman’s mercy.
FTLN 2705 50 To France, to France, and get what you have lost!
FTLN 2706 Spare England, for it is your native coast.
FTLN 2707 Henry hath money; you are strong and manly.
FTLN 2708 God on our side, doubt not of victory.
ALL
FTLN 2709 À Clifford! À Clifford! We’ll follow the King and
FTLN 2710 55 Clifford!
CADE , aside FTLN 2711 Was ever feather so lightly blown to and
FTLN 2712 fro as this multitude? The name of Henry the Fifth
FTLN 2713 hales them to an hundred mischiefs and makes
FTLN 2714 them leave me desolate. I see them lay their heads
FTLN 2715 60 together to surprise me. My sword make way for
FTLN 2716 me, for here is no staying!—In despite of the devils
FTLN 2717 and hell, have through the very middest of you!
FTLN 2718 And heavens and honor be witness that no want of
FTLN 2719 resolution in me, but only my followers’ base and
FTLN 2720 65 ignominious treasons, makes me betake me to my
FTLN 2721 heels. He exits, running.
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 2722 What, is he fled? Go, some, and follow him;
FTLN 2723 And he that brings his head unto the King
FTLN 2724 Shall have a thousand crowns for his reward.
Some of them exit.
FTLN 2725 70 Follow me, soldiers. We’ll devise a means
FTLN 2726 To reconcile you all unto the King.
All exit.
Scene 9
Sound trumpets. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret,
and Somerset on the terrace, aloft.
KING HENRY
FTLN 2727 Was ever king that joyed an earthly throne
FTLN 2728 And could command no more content than I?

211
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 9
FTLN 2729 No sooner was I crept out of my cradle
FTLN 2730 But I was made a king at nine months old.
FTLN 2731 5 Was never subject longed to be a king
FTLN 2732 As I do long and wish to be a subject!
Enter Buckingham and old Clifford.
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 2733 Health and glad tidings to your Majesty!
KING HENRY
FTLN 2734 Why, Buckingham, is the traitor Cade surprised,
FTLN 2735 Or is he but retired to make him strong?
Enter below multitudes with halters about their necks.
CLIFFORD
FTLN 2736 10 He is fled, my lord, and all his powers do yield
FTLN 2737 And, humbly thus, with halters on their necks,
FTLN 2738 Expect your Highness’ doom of life or death.
KING HENRY
FTLN 2739 Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting gates
FTLN 2740 To entertain my vows of thanks and praise!
FTLN 2741 15 Soldiers, this day have you redeemed your lives
FTLN 2742 And showed how well you love your prince and
FTLN 2743 country.
FTLN 2744 Continue still in this so good a mind,
FTLN 2745 And Henry, though he be infortunate,
FTLN 2746 20 Assure yourselves, will never be unkind.
FTLN 2747 And so with thanks and pardon to you all,
FTLN 2748 I do dismiss you to your several countries.
ALL FTLN 2749 God save the King! God save the King!
The multitudes exit.
Enter a Messenger.
MESSENGER
FTLN 2750 Please it your Grace to be advertisèd
FTLN 2751 25 The Duke of York is newly come from Ireland
FTLN 2752 And, with a puissant and a mighty power

213
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 9
FTLN 2753 Of gallowglasses and stout kerns,
FTLN 2754 Is marching hitherward in proud array,
FTLN 2755 And still proclaimeth, as he comes along,
FTLN 2756 30 His arms are only to remove from thee
FTLN 2757 The Duke of Somerset, whom he terms a traitor.
KING HENRY
FTLN 2758 Thus stands my state, ’twixt Cade and York
FTLN 2759 distressed,
FTLN 2760 Like to a ship that, having scaped a tempest,
FTLN 2761 35 Is straightway calmed and boarded with a pirate.
FTLN 2762 But now is Cade driven back, his men dispersed,
FTLN 2763 And now is York in arms to second him.
FTLN 2764 I pray thee, Buckingham, go and meet him,
FTLN 2765 And ask him what’s the reason of these arms.
FTLN 2766 40 Tell him I’ll send Duke Edmund to the Tower.—
FTLN 2767 And, Somerset, we will commit thee thither
FTLN 2768 Until his army be dismissed from him.
SOMERSET FTLN 2769 My lord,
FTLN 2770 I’ll yield myself to prison willingly,
FTLN 2771 45 Or unto death, to do my country good.
KING HENRY , to Buckingham
FTLN 2772 In any case, be not too rough in terms,
FTLN 2773 For he is fierce and cannot brook hard language.
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 2774 I will, my lord, and doubt not so to deal
FTLN 2775 As all things shall redound unto your good.
KING HENRY
FTLN 2776 50 Come, wife, let’s in, and learn to govern better,
FTLN 2777 For yet may England curse my wretched reign.
Flourish. They exit.

215
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 10
Scene 10
Enter Cade.
CADE FTLN 2778 Fie on ambitions! Fie on myself, that have a
FTLN 2779 sword and yet am ready to famish! These five days
FTLN 2780 have I hid me in these woods and durst not peep
FTLN 2781 out, for all the country is laid for me. But now am
FTLN 2782 5 I so hungry that, if I might have a lease of my life
FTLN 2783 for a thousand years, I could stay no longer.
FTLN 2784 Wherefore, o’er a brick wall have I climbed into
FTLN 2785 this garden, to see if I can eat grass, or pick a sallet
FTLN 2786 another while, which is not amiss to cool a man’s
FTLN 2787 10 stomach this hot weather. And I think this word
FTLN 2788 sallet was born to do me good; for many a time,
FTLN 2789 but for a sallet, my brainpan had been cleft with a
FTLN 2790 brown bill; and many a time, when I have been dry
FTLN 2791 and bravely marching, it hath served me instead of
FTLN 2792 15 a quart pot to drink in; and now the word sallet
FTLN 2793 must serve me to feed on.
Enter Iden and his Men.
IDEN
FTLN 2794 Lord, who would live turmoilèd in the court
FTLN 2795 And may enjoy such quiet walks as these?
FTLN 2796 This small inheritance my father left me
FTLN 2797 20 Contenteth me, and worth a monarchy.
FTLN 2798 I seek not to wax great by others’ waning,
FTLN 2799 Or gather wealth, I care not with what envy.
FTLN 2800 Sufficeth that I have maintains my state
FTLN 2801 And sends the poor well pleasèd from my gate.
CADE , aside FTLN 2802 25 Here’s the lord of the soil come to seize
FTLN 2803 me for a stray, for entering his fee-simple without
FTLN 2804 leave.—Ah, villain, thou wilt betray me and get a
FTLN 2805 thousand crowns of the King by carrying my head
FTLN 2806 to him; but I’ll make thee eat iron like an ostrich

217
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 10
FTLN 2807 30 and swallow my sword like a great pin, ere thou
FTLN 2808 and I part. He draws his sword.
IDEN
FTLN 2809 Why, rude companion, whatsoe’er thou be,
FTLN 2810 I know thee not. Why, then, should I betray thee?
FTLN 2811 Is ’t not enough to break into my garden
FTLN 2812 35 And, like a thief, to come to rob my grounds,
FTLN 2813 Climbing my walls in spite of me the owner,
FTLN 2814 But thou wilt brave me with these saucy terms?
CADE FTLN 2815 Brave thee? Ay, by the best blood that ever was
FTLN 2816 broached, and beard thee too. Look on me well: I
FTLN 2817 40 have eat no meat these five days, yet come thou
FTLN 2818 and thy five men, and if I do not leave you all as
FTLN 2819 dead as a doornail, I pray God I may never eat
FTLN 2820 grass more.
IDEN
FTLN 2821 Nay, it shall ne’er be said, while England stands,
FTLN 2822 45 That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent,
FTLN 2823 Took odds to combat a poor famished man.
FTLN 2824 Oppose thy steadfast gazing eyes to mine;
FTLN 2825 See if thou canst outface me with thy looks.
FTLN 2826 Set limb to limb, and thou art far the lesser;
FTLN 2827 50 Thy hand is but a finger to my fist,
FTLN 2828 Thy leg a stick comparèd with this truncheon.
FTLN 2829 My foot shall fight with all the strength thou hast;
FTLN 2830 And if mine arm be heavèd in the air,
FTLN 2831 Thy grave is digged already in the earth.
FTLN 2832 55 As for words, whose greatness answers words,
FTLN 2833 Let this my sword report what speech forbears.
He draws his sword.
CADE FTLN 2834 By my valor, the most complete champion that
FTLN 2835 ever I heard! Steel, if thou turn the edge or cut not
FTLN 2836 out the burly-boned clown in chines of beef ere
FTLN 2837 60 thou sleep in thy sheath, I beseech God on my
FTLN 2838 knees thou mayst be turned to hobnails.
(Here they fight, and Cade falls.)

219
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 4. SC. 10
FTLN 2839 O, I am slain! Famine, and no other, hath slain me.
FTLN 2840 Let ten thousand devils come against me, and give
FTLN 2841 me but the ten meals I have lost, and I’d defy them
FTLN 2842 65 all. Wither, garden, and be henceforth a burying
FTLN 2843 place to all that do dwell in this house, because the
FTLN 2844 unconquered soul of Cade is fled.
IDEN
FTLN 2845 Is ’t Cade that I have slain, that monstrous traitor?
FTLN 2846 Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed,
FTLN 2847 70 And hang thee o’er my tomb when I am dead.
FTLN 2848 Ne’er shall this blood be wipèd from thy point,
FTLN 2849 But thou shalt wear it as a herald’s coat
FTLN 2850 To emblaze the honor that thy master got.
CADE FTLN 2851 Iden, farewell, and be proud of thy victory. Tell
FTLN 2852 75 Kent from me she hath lost her best man, and
FTLN 2853 exhort all the world to be cowards; for I, that never
FTLN 2854 feared any, am vanquished by famine, not by valor.
Dies.
IDEN
FTLN 2855 How much thou wrong’st me, heaven be my judge!
FTLN 2856 Die, damnèd wretch, the curse of her that bare thee!
FTLN 2857 80 And as I thrust thy body in with my sword,
FTLN 2858 So wish I, I might thrust thy soul to hell.
FTLN 2859 Hence will I drag thee headlong by the heels
FTLN 2860 Unto a dunghill, which shall be thy grave,
FTLN 2861 And there cut off thy most ungracious head,
FTLN 2862 85 Which I will bear in triumph to the King,
FTLN 2863 Leaving thy trunk for crows to feed upon.
He exits with his Men, dragging Cade’s body.

ACT 5
Scene 1
Enter York, wearing the white rose, and his army of
Irish, with Attendants, Drum and Colors.
YORK
FTLN 2864 From Ireland thus comes York to claim his right
FTLN 2865 And pluck the crown from feeble Henry’s head.
FTLN 2866 Ring, bells, aloud! Burn, bonfires, clear and bright
FTLN 2867 To entertain great England’s lawful king!
FTLN 2868 5 Ah, sancta maiestas, who would not buy thee dear?
FTLN 2869 Let them obey that knows not how to rule.
FTLN 2870 This hand was made to handle naught but gold.
FTLN 2871 I cannot give due action to my words
FTLN 2872 Except a sword or scepter balance it.
FTLN 2873 10 A scepter shall it have, have I a soul,
FTLN 2874 On which I’ll toss the fleur-de-luce of France.
Enter Buckingham, wearing the red rose.
FTLN 2875 Aside. Whom have we here? Buckingham, to
FTLN 2876 disturb me?
FTLN 2877 The King hath sent him, sure. I must dissemble.
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 2878 15 York, if thou meanest well, I greet thee well.
YORK
FTLN 2879 Humphrey of Buckingham, I accept thy greeting.
FTLN 2880 Art thou a messenger, or come of pleasure?
223

225
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 5. SC. 1
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 2881 A messenger from Henry, our dread liege,
FTLN 2882 To know the reason of these arms in peace;
FTLN 2883 20 Or why thou, being a subject as I am,
FTLN 2884 Against thy oath and true allegiance sworn,
FTLN 2885 Should raise so great a power without his leave,
FTLN 2886 Or dare to bring thy force so near the court.
YORK , aside
FTLN 2887 Scarce can I speak, my choler is so great.
FTLN 2888 25 O, I could hew up rocks and fight with flint,
FTLN 2889 I am so angry at these abject terms!
FTLN 2890 And now, like Ajax Telamonius,
FTLN 2891 On sheep or oxen could I spend my fury.
FTLN 2892 I am far better born than is the King,
FTLN 2893 30 More like a king, more kingly in my thoughts.
FTLN 2894 But I must make fair weather yet awhile,
FTLN 2895 Till Henry be more weak and I more strong.—
FTLN 2896 Buckingham, I prithee, pardon me,
FTLN 2897 That I have given no answer all this while.
FTLN 2898 35 My mind was troubled with deep melancholy.
FTLN 2899 The cause why I have brought this army hither
FTLN 2900 Is to remove proud Somerset from the King,
FTLN 2901 Seditious to his Grace and to the state.
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 2902 That is too much presumption on thy part.
FTLN 2903 40 But if thy arms be to no other end,
FTLN 2904 The King hath yielded unto thy demand:
FTLN 2905 The Duke of Somerset is in the Tower.
YORK
FTLN 2906 Upon thine honor, is he prisoner?
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 2907 Upon mine honor, he is prisoner.
YORK
FTLN 2908 45 Then, Buckingham, I do dismiss my powers.—
FTLN 2909 Soldiers, I thank you all. Disperse yourselves.

227
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 5. SC. 1
FTLN 2910 Meet me tomorrow in Saint George’s field;
FTLN 2911 You shall have pay and everything you wish.
Soldiers exit.
FTLN 2912 And let my sovereign, virtuous Henry,
FTLN 2913 50 Command my eldest son, nay, all my sons,
FTLN 2914 As pledges of my fealty and love;
FTLN 2915 I’ll send them all as willing as I live.
FTLN 2916 Lands, goods, horse, armor, anything I have
FTLN 2917 Is his to use, so Somerset may die.
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 2918 55 York, I commend this kind submission.
FTLN 2919 We twain will go into his Highness’ tent.
They walk arm in arm.
Enter King Henry and Attendants.
KING HENRY
FTLN 2920 Buckingham, doth York intend no harm to us
FTLN 2921 That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm?
YORK
FTLN 2922 In all submission and humility
FTLN 2923 60 York doth present himself unto your Highness.
KING HENRY
FTLN 2924 Then what intends these forces thou dost bring?
YORK
FTLN 2925 To heave the traitor Somerset from hence
FTLN 2926 And fight against that monstrous rebel Cade,
FTLN 2927 Who since I heard to be discomfited.
Enter Iden, with Cade’s head.
IDEN
FTLN 2928 65 If one so rude and of so mean condition
FTLN 2929 May pass into the presence of a king,
FTLN 2930 Lo, I present your Grace a traitor’s head,
FTLN 2931 The head of Cade, whom I in combat slew.
KING HENRY
FTLN 2932 The head of Cade? Great God, how just art Thou!

229
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 5. SC. 1
FTLN 2933 70 O, let me view his visage, being dead,
FTLN 2934 That living wrought me such exceeding trouble.
FTLN 2935 Tell me, my friend, art thou the man that slew him?
IDEN FTLN 2936 I was, an ’t like your Majesty.
KING HENRY
FTLN 2937 How art thou called? And what is thy degree?
IDEN
FTLN 2938 75 Alexander Iden, that’s my name,
FTLN 2939 A poor esquire of Kent that loves his king.
BUCKINGHAM
FTLN 2940 So please it you, my lord, ’twere not amiss
FTLN 2941 He were created knight for his good service.
KING HENRY
FTLN 2942 Iden, kneel down. He kneels. Rise up a knight. He
rises.
FTLN 2943 80 We give thee for reward a thousand marks,
FTLN 2944 And will that thou henceforth attend on us.
IDEN
FTLN 2945 May Iden live to merit such a bounty,
FTLN 2946 And never live but true unto his liege!
Enter Queen Margaret and Somerset,
wearing the red rose.
KING HENRY , aside to Buckingham
FTLN 2947 See, Buckingham, Somerset comes with th’ Queen.
FTLN 2948 85 Go bid her hide him quickly from the Duke.
Buckingham whispers to the Queen.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 2949 For thousand Yorks he shall not hide his head,
FTLN 2950 But boldly stand and front him to his face.
YORK , aside
FTLN 2951 How now? Is Somerset at liberty?
FTLN 2952 Then, York, unloose thy long-imprisoned thoughts,
FTLN 2953 90 And let thy tongue be equal with thy heart.
FTLN 2954 Shall I endure the sight of Somerset?—
FTLN 2955 False king, why hast thou broken faith with me,

231
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 5. SC. 1
FTLN 2956 Knowing how hardly I can brook abuse?
FTLN 2957 “King” did I call thee? No, thou art not king,
FTLN 2958 95 Not fit to govern and rule multitudes,
FTLN 2959 Which dar’st not—no, nor canst not—rule a traitor.
FTLN 2960 That head of thine doth not become a crown;
FTLN 2961 Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer’s staff,
FTLN 2962 And not to grace an awful princely scepter.
FTLN 2963 100 That gold must round engirt these brows of mine,
FTLN 2964 Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles’ spear,
FTLN 2965 Is able with the change to kill and cure.
FTLN 2966 Here is a hand to hold a scepter up
FTLN 2967 And with the same to act controlling laws.
FTLN 2968 105 Give place. By heaven, thou shalt rule no more
FTLN 2969 O’er him whom heaven created for thy ruler.
SOMERSET
FTLN 2970 O monstrous traitor! I arrest thee, York,
FTLN 2971 Of capital treason ’gainst the King and crown.
FTLN 2972 Obey, audacious traitor. Kneel for grace.
YORK
FTLN 2973 110 Wouldst have me kneel? First let me ask of these
FTLN 2974 If they can brook I bow a knee to man.
FTLN 2975 To an Attendant. Sirrah, call in my sons to be my
FTLN 2976 bail. Attendant exits.
FTLN 2977 I know, ere they will have me go to ward,
FTLN 2978 115 They’ll pawn their swords for my enfranchisement.
QUEEN MARGARET , to Buckingham
FTLN 2979 Call hither Clifford; bid him come amain,
FTLN 2980 To say if that the bastard boys of York
FTLN 2981 Shall be the surety for their traitor father.
Buckingham exits.
YORK , to Queen Margaret
FTLN 2982 O, blood-bespotted Neapolitan,
FTLN 2983 120 Outcast of Naples, England’s bloody scourge!
FTLN 2984 The sons of York, thy betters in their birth,
FTLN 2985 Shall be their father’s bail, and bane to those
FTLN 2986 That for my surety will refuse the boys.

233
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 5. SC. 1
Enter York’s sons Edward and Richard,
wearing the white rose.
FTLN 2987 See where they come; I’ll warrant they’ll make it
FTLN 2988 125 good.
Enter old Clifford and his Son, wearing the red rose.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 2989 And here comes Clifford to deny their bail.
CLIFFORD , kneeling before King Henry
FTLN 2990 Health and all happiness to my lord the King.
He rises.
YORK
FTLN 2991 I thank thee, Clifford. Say, what news with thee?
FTLN 2992 Nay, do not fright us with an angry look.
FTLN 2993 130 We are thy sovereign, Clifford; kneel again.
FTLN 2994 For thy mistaking so, we pardon thee.
CLIFFORD
FTLN 2995 This is my king, York; I do not mistake,
FTLN 2996 But thou mistakes me much to think I do.—
FTLN 2997 To Bedlam with him! Is the man grown mad?
KING HENRY
FTLN 2998 135 Ay, Clifford, a bedlam and ambitious humor
FTLN 2999 Makes him oppose himself against his king.
CLIFFORD
FTLN 3000 He is a traitor. Let him to the Tower,
FTLN 3001 And chop away that factious pate of his.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 3002 He is arrested, but will not obey.
FTLN 3003 140 His sons, he says, shall give their words for him.
YORK FTLN 3004 Will you not, sons?
EDWARD
FTLN 3005 Ay, noble father, if our words will serve.
RICHARD
FTLN 3006 And if words will not, then our weapons shall.
CLIFFORD
FTLN 3007 Why, what a brood of traitors have we here!

235
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 5. SC. 1
YORK
FTLN 3008 145 Look in a glass, and call thy image so.
FTLN 3009 I am thy king and thou a false-heart traitor.
FTLN 3010 Call hither to the stake my two brave bears,
FTLN 3011 That, with the very shaking of their chains,
FTLN 3012 They may astonish these fell-lurking curs.
FTLN 3013 150 To an Attendant. Bid Salisbury and Warwick come
FTLN 3014 to me. Attendant exits.
Enter the Earls of Warwick and Salisbury, wearing the
white rose.
CLIFFORD
FTLN 3015 Are these thy bears? We’ll bait thy bears to death
FTLN 3016 And manacle the bearherd in their chains,
FTLN 3017 If thou dar’st bring them to the baiting place.
RICHARD
FTLN 3018 155 Oft have I seen a hot o’erweening cur
FTLN 3019 Run back and bite because he was withheld,
FTLN 3020 Who, being suffered with the bear’s fell paw,
FTLN 3021 Hath clapped his tail between his legs and cried;
FTLN 3022 And such a piece of service will you do
FTLN 3023 160 If you oppose yourselves to match Lord Warwick.
CLIFFORD
FTLN 3024 Hence, heap of wrath, foul indigested lump,
FTLN 3025 As crooked in thy manners as thy shape!
YORK
FTLN 3026 Nay, we shall heat you thoroughly anon.
CLIFFORD
FTLN 3027 Take heed, lest by your heat you burn yourselves.
KING HENRY
FTLN 3028 165 Why, Warwick, hath thy knee forgot to bow?—
FTLN 3029 Old Salisbury, shame to thy silver hair,
FTLN 3030 Thou mad misleader of thy brainsick son!
FTLN 3031 What, wilt thou on thy deathbed play the ruffian
FTLN 3032 And seek for sorrow with thy spectacles?
FTLN 3033 170 O, where is faith? O, where is loyalty?

237
Henry VI, Part 2
FTLN 3034 If it be banished from the frosty head,
FTLN 3035 Where shall it find a harbor in the earth?
FTLN 3036 Wilt thou go dig a grave to find out war,
FTLN 3037 And shame thine honorable age with blood?
FTLN 3038 175 Why art thou old and want’st experience?
FTLN 3039 Or wherefore dost abuse it, if thou hast it?
FTLN 3040 For shame! In duty bend thy knee to me
FTLN 3041 That bows unto the grave with mickle age.
SALISBURY
FTLN 3042 My lord, I have considered with myself
FTLN 3043 180 The title of this most renownèd duke,
FTLN 3044 And in my conscience do repute his Grace
FTLN 3045 The rightful heir to England’s royal seat.
KING HENRY
FTLN 3046 Hast thou not sworn allegiance unto me?
SALISBURY FTLN 3047 I have.
KING HENRY
FTLN 3048 185 Canst thou dispense with heaven for such an oath?
SALISBURY
FTLN 3049 It is great sin to swear unto a sin,
FTLN 3050 But greater sin to keep a sinful oath.
FTLN 3051 Who can be bound by any solemn vow
FTLN 3052 To do a murd’rous deed, to rob a man,
FTLN 3053 190 To force a spotless virgin’s chastity,
FTLN 3054 To reave the orphan of his patrimony,
FTLN 3055 To wring the widow from her customed right,
FTLN 3056 And have no other reason for this wrong
FTLN 3057 But that he was bound by a solemn oath?
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 3058 195 A subtle traitor needs no sophister.
KING HENRY , to an Attendant
FTLN 3059 Call Buckingham, and bid him arm himself.
Attendant exits.
YORK , to King Henry
FTLN 3060 Call Buckingham and all the friends thou hast,
FTLN 3061 I am resolved for death or dignity.

239
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 5. SC. 1
CLIFFORD
FTLN 3062 The first, I warrant thee, if dreams prove true.
WARWICK
FTLN 3063 200 You were best to go to bed and dream again,
FTLN 3064 To keep thee from the tempest of the field.
CLIFFORD
FTLN 3065 I am resolved to bear a greater storm
FTLN 3066 Than any thou canst conjure up today;
FTLN 3067 And that I’ll write upon thy burgonet,
FTLN 3068 205 Might I but know thee by thy house’s badge.
WARWICK
FTLN 3069 Now, by my father’s badge, old Neville’s crest,
FTLN 3070 The rampant bear chained to the ragged staff,
FTLN 3071 This day I’ll wear aloft my burgonet—
FTLN 3072 As on a mountaintop the cedar shows
FTLN 3073 210 That keeps his leaves in spite of any storm—
FTLN 3074 Even to affright thee with the view thereof.
CLIFFORD
FTLN 3075 And from thy burgonet I’ll rend thy bear
FTLN 3076 And tread it under foot with all contempt,
FTLN 3077 Despite the bearherd that protects the bear.
YOUNG CLIFFORD
FTLN 3078 215 And so to arms, victorious father,
FTLN 3079 To quell the rebels and their complices.
RICHARD
FTLN 3080 Fie! Charity, for shame! Speak not in spite,
FTLN 3081 For you shall sup with Jesu Christ tonight.
YOUNG CLIFFORD
FTLN 3082 Foul stigmatic, that’s more than thou canst tell!
RICHARD
FTLN 3083 220 If not in heaven, you’ll surely sup in hell.
They exit separately.

241
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 5. SC. 2
Scene 2
The sign of the Castle Inn is displayed. Alarms.
Enter Warwick, wearing the white rose.
WARWICK
FTLN 3084 Clifford of Cumberland, ’tis Warwick calls!
FTLN 3085 An if thou dost not hide thee from the bear,
FTLN 3086 Now, when the angry trumpet sounds alarum
FTLN 3087 And dead men’s cries do fill the empty air,
FTLN 3088 5 Clifford, I say, come forth and fight with me;
FTLN 3089 Proud northern lord, Clifford of Cumberland,
FTLN 3090 Warwick is hoarse with calling thee to arms.
Enter York, wearing the white rose.
FTLN 3091 How now, my noble lord? What, all afoot?
YORK
FTLN 3092 The deadly-handed Clifford slew my steed,
FTLN 3093 10 But match to match I have encountered him
FTLN 3094 And made a prey for carrion kites and crows
FTLN 3095 Even of the bonny beast he loved so well.
Enter old Clifford, wearing the red rose.
WARWICK
FTLN 3096 Of one or both of us the time is come.
YORK
FTLN 3097 Hold, Warwick! Seek thee out some other chase,
FTLN 3098 15 For I myself must hunt this deer to death.
WARWICK
FTLN 3099 Then, nobly, York! ’Tis for a crown thou fight’st.—
FTLN 3100 As I intend, Clifford, to thrive today,
FTLN 3101 It grieves my soul to leave thee unassailed.
Warwick exits.
CLIFFORD
FTLN 3102 What seest thou in me, York? Why dost thou pause?
YORK
FTLN 3103 20 With thy brave bearing should I be in love,
FTLN 3104 But that thou art so fast mine enemy.

243
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 5. SC. 2
CLIFFORD
FTLN 3105 Nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem,
FTLN 3106 But that ’tis shown ignobly and in treason.
YORK
FTLN 3107 So let it help me now against thy sword
FTLN 3108 25 As I in justice and true right express it!
CLIFFORD
FTLN 3109 My soul and body on the action both!
YORK
FTLN 3110 A dreadful lay! Address thee instantly.
They fight and Clifford falls.
CLIFFORD
FTLN 3111 La fin courrone les oeuvres. He dies.
YORK
FTLN 3112 Thus war hath given thee peace, for thou art still.
FTLN 3113 30 Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will!
He exits.
Enter young Clifford, wearing the red rose.
YOUNG CLIFFORD
FTLN 3114 Shame and confusion! All is on the rout.
FTLN 3115 Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds
FTLN 3116 Where it should guard. O war, thou son of hell,
FTLN 3117 Whom angry heavens do make their minister,
FTLN 3118 35 Throw in the frozen bosoms of our part
FTLN 3119 Hot coals of vengeance! Let no soldier fly.
FTLN 3120 He that is truly dedicate to war
FTLN 3121 Hath no self-love; nor he that loves himself
FTLN 3122 Hath not essentially, but by circumstance,
FTLN 3123 40 The name of valor. He sees his father, lying dead. O,
FTLN 3124 let the vile world end
FTLN 3125 And the premised flames of the last day
FTLN 3126 Knit Earth and heaven together!
FTLN 3127 Now let the general trumpet blow his blast,
FTLN 3128 45 Particularities and petty sounds
FTLN 3129 To cease! Wast thou ordained, dear father,

245
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 5. SC. 2
FTLN 3130 To lose thy youth in peace, and to achieve
FTLN 3131 The silver livery of advisèd age,
FTLN 3132 And, in thy reverence and thy chair-days, thus
FTLN 3133 50 To die in ruffian battle? Even at this sight
FTLN 3134 My heart is turned to stone, and while ’tis mine,
FTLN 3135 It shall be stony. York not our old men spares;
FTLN 3136 No more will I their babes. Tears virginal
FTLN 3137 Shall be to me even as the dew to fire;
FTLN 3138 55 And beauty, that the tyrant oft reclaims,
FTLN 3139 Shall to my flaming wrath be oil and flax.
FTLN 3140 Henceforth I will not have to do with pity.
FTLN 3141 Meet I an infant of the house of York,
FTLN 3142 Into as many gobbets will I cut it
FTLN 3143 60 As wild Medea young Absyrtis did.
FTLN 3144 In cruelty will I seek out my fame.
He takes his father’s body onto his back.
FTLN 3145 Come, thou new ruin of old Clifford’s house;
FTLN 3146 As did Aeneas old Anchises bear,
FTLN 3147 So bear I thee upon my manly shoulders.
FTLN 3148 65 But then Aeneas bare a living load,
FTLN 3149 Nothing so heavy as these woes of mine. He exits.
Enter Richard, wearing the white rose, and Somerset,
wearing the red rose, to fight.
Richard kills Somerset under the sign of Castle Inn.
RICHARD FTLN 3150 So lie thou there.
FTLN 3151 For underneath an alehouse’ paltry sign,
FTLN 3152 The Castle in Saint Albans, Somerset
FTLN 3153 70 Hath made the wizard famous in his death.
FTLN 3154 Sword, hold thy temper! Heart, be wrathful still!
FTLN 3155 Priests pray for enemies, but princes kill. He exits.
Fight. Excursions. Enter King Henry, Queen
Margaret, both wearing the red rose, and Others.
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 3156 Away, my lord! You are slow. For shame, away!

247
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 5. SC. 3
KING HENRY
FTLN 3157 Can we outrun the heavens? Good Margaret, stay!
QUEEN MARGARET
FTLN 3158 75 What are you made of? You’ll nor fight nor fly.
FTLN 3159 Now is it manhood, wisdom, and defense
FTLN 3160 To give the enemy way, and to secure us
FTLN 3161 By what we can, which can no more but fly.
Alarum afar off.
FTLN 3162 If you be ta’en, we then should see the bottom
FTLN 3163 80 Of all our fortunes; but if we haply scape,
FTLN 3164 As well we may—if not through your neglect—
FTLN 3165 We shall to London get, where you are loved
FTLN 3166 And where this breach now in our fortunes made
FTLN 3167 May readily be stopped.
Enter Young Clifford, wearing the red rose.
YOUNG CLIFFORD
FTLN 3168 85 But that my heart’s on future mischief set,
FTLN 3169 I would speak blasphemy ere bid you fly;
FTLN 3170 But fly you must. Uncurable discomfit
FTLN 3171 Reigns in the hearts of all our present parts.
FTLN 3172 Away, for your relief! And we will live
FTLN 3173 90 To see their day and them our fortune give.
FTLN 3174 Away, my lord, away!
They exit.
Scene 3
Alarum. Retreat. Enter York, Edward, Richard,
Warwick, and Soldiers, all wearing the white rose,
with Drum and Colors.
YORK
FTLN 3175 Of Salisbury, who can report of him,
FTLN 3176 That winter lion, who in rage forgets
FTLN 3177 Agèd contusions and all brush of time,
FTLN 3178 And, like a gallant in the brow of youth,

249
Henry VI, Part 2
ACT 5. SC. 3
FTLN 3179 5 Repairs him with occasion? This happy day
FTLN 3180 Is not itself, nor have we won one foot,
FTLN 3181 If Salisbury be lost.
RICHARD FTLN 3182 My noble father,
FTLN 3183 Three times today I holp him to his horse,
FTLN 3184 10 Three times bestrid him. Thrice I led him off,
FTLN 3185 Persuaded him from any further act;
FTLN 3186 But still, where danger was, still there I met him,
FTLN 3187 And, like rich hangings in a homely house,
FTLN 3188 So was his will in his old feeble body.
FTLN 3189 15 But, noble as he is, look where he comes.
Enter Salisbury, wearing the white rose.
FTLN 3190 Now, by my sword, well hast thou fought today!
SALISBURY
FTLN 3191 By th’ Mass, so did we all. I thank you, Richard.
FTLN 3192 God knows how long it is I have to live,
FTLN 3193 And it hath pleased Him that three times today
FTLN 3194 20 You have defended me from imminent death.
FTLN 3195 Well, lords, we have not got that which we have;
FTLN 3196 ’Tis not enough our foes are this time fled,
FTLN 3197 Being opposites of such repairing nature.
YORK
FTLN 3198 I know our safety is to follow them;
FTLN 3199 25 For, as I hear, the King is fled to London
FTLN 3200 To call a present court of Parliament.
FTLN 3201 Let us pursue him ere the writs go forth.—
FTLN 3202 What says Lord Warwick? Shall we after them?
WARWICK
FTLN 3203 After them? Nay, before them, if we can.
FTLN 3204 30 Now, by my hand, lords, ’twas a glorious day.
FTLN 3205 Saint Albans battle won by famous York
FTLN 3206 Shall be eternized in all age to come.—
FTLN 3207 Sound drum and trumpets, and to London all;
FTLN 3208 And more such days as these to us befall!
Flourish. They exit.