The possibility of an earlier pre-Shakespearean version and a later Shakespearean revision cannot be ruled out.
SOURCES: The main historical source seems to have been either Edward Hall’s The Union of the Two Noble and Illustre Famelies of Lancastre and Yorke (1548) or Richard Grafton’s abridged and very slightly altered version thereof (1569); Holinshed’s Chronicles also seems to have been used, but there are fewer signs of its influence than in any of the other English histories. The false miracle of Simpcox was added by Grafton to Hall, but Shakespeare almost certainly read it in John Foxe’s hugely influential protestant martyrology Actes and Monuments (perhaps read in the enlarged edition of 1583).
TEXT: A short version was published in Quarto form in 1594, entitled The First Part of the Contention betwixt the two famous Houses of Yorke and Lancaster, with the death of the good Duke Humphrey: And the banishment and death of the Duke of Suffolke, and the Tragicall end of the proud Cardinall of Winchester, with the notable Rebellion of Iacke Cade: And the Duke of Yorkes first claime vnto the Crowne, reprinted 1600 and, with attribution to Shakespeare and title combined with that of the following play, 1619 (The Whole Contention betweene the two Famous Houses, Lancaster and Yorke). The Quarto text is a reconstruction of a playing version, but there is much dispute over whether it is a short and often poorly remembered version of the play that is preserved in full in the Folio or the text of an early version (not by Shakespeare? partly by Shakespeare?) that Shakespeare then revised into the play that was printed in the Folio. It is equally unclear whether the possible linguistic signs of a non-Shakespearean hand (or hands) in the Folio text are vestiges of an older version or the result of active collaboration/coauthorship. We use the Folio text, which has the authority of Hemings and Condell; it is usually thought to represent a fairly close approximation of Shakespeare’s manuscript, though the Third Quarto sometimes seems to have been consulted. The Quarto remains valuable for certain details of staging and the more significant of its variations are recorded in the textual notes.
THE SECOND PART OF
HENRY THE SIXTH, WITH
THE DEATH OF THE GOOD
DUKE HUMPHREY
Lancastrians
KING HENRY VI
QUEEN MARGARET
Duke Humphrey of GLOUCESTER, Lord Protector, the king’s uncle
ELEANOR, Duchess of Gloucester
CARDINAL Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester, the king’s great-uncle
Duke of SOMERSET, the Cardinal’s nephew
Duke of BUCKINGHAM, Humphrey Stafford
Marquis, later Duke, of SUFFOLK, William de la Pole
Old Lord CLIFFORD
YOUNG CLIFFORD, his son
Yorkists
Richard Plantagenet, Duke of YORK
EDWARD, Earl of March, his son
RICHARD (who will eventually become King Richard III), another son
Earl of SALISBURY, Richard Neville
Earl of WARWICK, his son
The conjuration
John HUME, a priest
John SOUTHWELL, a priest
MARGARET JORDAN, a witch
Roger BULLINGBROOK, a conjurer
ASNATH, a spirit
The petitions and combat
Thomas HORNER, an armourer
PETER Thump, the Armourer’s man
FIRST PETITIONER
SECOND PETITIONER
FIRST NEIGHBOUR
SECOND NEIGHBOUR
THIRD NEIGHBOUR
FIRST PRENTICE
SECOND PRENTICE
The false miracle
Saunder SIMPCOX
Simpcox’s WIFE
MAYOR of St Albans
TOWNSMAN
BEADLE
Eleanor’s penance
Gloucester’s SERVANT
Sir John STANLEY
A SHERIFF of London
A HERALD
The murder of Gloucester
FIRST MURDERER
SECOND MURDERER
The murder of Suffolk
LIEUTENANT, commander of a ship
MASTER of the same ship
The Master’s MATE
Walter WHITMORE
Cade’s rebellion
George BEVIS (probably the original actor’s name, the character being an anonymous commoner)
John HOLLAND (probably the original actor’s name, the character being an anonymous commoner)
Jack CADE, also known as John
DICK the butcher
SMITH the weaver
Emmanuel, a CLERK of Chartham
Sir Humphrey STAFFORD
William, STAFFORD’S BROTHER
MICHAEL
Lord SAYE
MESSENGER
SECOND MESSENGER
Lord SCALES
FIRST CITIZEN
SOLDIER
Alexander IDEN, an esquire of Kent
VAUX, a messenger
Petitioners, Servant, Servingman, Brethren of St Albans, Townspeople of St Albans, Gloucester’s Men, Sheriff ’s Officers, Attendants, Commons, a Sawyer, Matthew Gough, Iden’s Men, Soldiers
running scene 1
Flourish of trumpets, then hautboys. Enter King [Henry VI], Duke Humphrey [of Gloucester], Salisbury, Warwick and [Cardinal] Beaufort on the one side. The Queen [Margaret], Suffolk, York, Somerset and Buckingham on the other
SUFFOLK As by your high imperial majesty
I had in charge at my depart2 for France,
As procurator to3 your excellence,
To marry Princess Margaret for4 your grace,
So, in the famous ancient city, Tours5,
In presence of the Kings of France and Sicil6,
The Dukes of Orléans, Calaber, Bretagne7 and Alençon,
Seven earls, twelve barons and twenty reverend bishops,
I have performed my task and was espoused9,
And humbly now upon my bended knee,
In sight of England and her lordly peers,
Deliver up my title in the queen
To your most gracious hands, that are the substance
Of that great shadow14 I did represent:
The happiest gift that ever marquis15 gave,
The fairest queen that ever king received.
KING HENRY VI Suffolk, arise. Welcome, Queen Margaret:
I can express no kinder18 sign of love
Than this kind kiss: O Lord, that lends me life,
Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness:
For thou hast given me in this beauteous face
A world of earthly blessings to my soul,
If sympathy23 of love unite our thoughts.
QUEEN MARGARET Great King of England and my gracious lord,
The mutual conference25 that my mind hath had,
By day, by night, waking and in my dreams,
In courtly company or at my beads27,
With you, mine alderliefest28 sovereign,
Makes me the bolder to salute29 my king
With ruder terms, such as my wit30 affords
And overjoy of heart doth minister31.
KING HENRY VI Her sight32 did ravish, but her grace in speech,
Her words yclad33 with wisdom’s majesty,
Makes me from wond’ring34 fall to weeping joys,
Such is the fullness of my heart’s content.
Lords, with one cheerful voice, welcome my love.
ALL Long live Queen Margaret, England’s happiness!
Kneel
They rise
QUEEN MARGARET We thank you all.
Flourish
To Gloucester
SUFFOLK My Lord Protector, so39 it please your grace,
Here are the articles of contracted40 peace
Between our sovereign and the French King Charles,
For eighteen months concluded42 by consent.
GLOUCESTER. Reads. ‘Imprimis43, it is agreed between the French
King Charles, and William de la Pole, Marquess of Suffolk,
ambassador for Henry King of England, that the said Henry
shall espouse the Lady Margaret, daughter unto Reignier
King of Naples, Sicilia and Jerusalem, and crown her Queen
of England ere48 the thirtieth of May next ensuing.
Item49: that the duchy of Anjou and the county of Maine shall
Lets the paper fall
be released and delivered to the king her father’—
KING HENRY VI Uncle, how now?
GLOUCESTER Pardon me, gracious lord,
Some sudden qualm53 hath struck me at the heart
And dimmed mine eyes, that54 I can read no further.
KING HENRY VI Uncle55 of Winchester, I pray, read on.
Reads
CARDINAL. ‘Item: it is further agreed between them,
that the duchies of Anjou and Maine shall be released and
delivered over to the king her father, and she sent over of58 the
King of England’s own proper59 cost and charges, without
having any dowry.’
To Suffolk
KING HENRY VI They please us well.— Lord marquis, kneel down:
Suffolk kneels
We here create thee the first Duke of Suffolk,
Suffolk rises
And gird63 thee with the sword.—
Cousin64 of York,
We here discharge your grace from being regent65
I’th’parts of France, till term of eighteen months
Be full67 expired. Thanks, uncle Winchester,
Gloucester, York, Buckingham, Somerset,
Salisbury and Warwick.
We thank you all for this great favour done,
In entertainment71 to my princely queen.
Come, let us in, and with all speed provide72
To see her coronation be performed.
Exeunt King [Henry VI], Queen [Margaret] and Suffolk. The rest remain
GLOUCESTER Brave74 peers of England, pillars of the state,
To you Duke Humphrey must unload his grief:
Your grief, the common grief of all the land.
What? Did my brother Henry77 spend his youth,
His valour, coin and people, in the wars?
Did he so often lodge79 in open field,
In winter’s cold and summer’s parching heat,
To conquer France, his true inheritance?
And did my brother Bedford toil his wits,
To keep by policy83 what Henry got?
Have you yourselves, Somerset, Buckingham,
Brave York, Salisbury and victorious Warwick,
Received deep scars in France and Normandy:
Or hath mine uncle Beaufort and myself,
With all the learnèd Council88 of the realm,
Studied so long, sat in the Council house
Early and late, debating to and fro
How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe91,
And had his highness in his infancy
Crownèd in Paris in despite of foes?
And shall these labours and these honours die?
Shall Henry’s conquest, Bedford’s vigilance,
Your deeds of war and all our counsel96 die?
O peers of England, shameful is this league97,
Fatal this marriage, cancelling your fame98,
Blotting your names from books of memory,
Razing the characters100 of your renown,
Defacing monuments101 of conquered France,
Undoing all, as102 all had never been!
CARDINAL Nephew, what means this passionate discourse?
This peroration with such circumstance104:
For France, ’tis ours; and we will keep it still.
GLOUCESTER Ay, uncle, we will keep it, if we can:
But now it is impossible we should.
Suffolk, the new-made duke that rules the roost,
Hath given the duchy of Anjou and Maine
Unto the poor King Reignier, whose large style110
Agrees not with the leanness of his purse.
SALISBURY Now by the death of him that died for all112,
These counties were the keys of Normandy.—
But wherefore114 weeps Warwick, my valiant son?
WARWICK For grief that they are past recovery.
For were there hope to conquer them again,
My sword should shed hot blood, mine eyes no tears.
Anjou and Maine? Myself did win them both:
Those provinces these arms of mine did conquer.
And are the cities that I got with wounds
Delivered up again with peaceful words?
Mort Dieu122!
YORK For Suffolk’s duke, may he be suffocate123,
That dims the honour of this warlike isle:
France should have torn and rent125 my very heart
Before I would have yielded to this league.
I never read but England’s kings have had
Large sums of gold and dowries with their wives:
And our King Henry gives away his own,
To match with her that brings no vantages130.
GLOUCESTER A proper131 jest, and never heard before,
That Suffolk should demand a whole fifteenth132
For costs and charges in transporting her:
She should have stayed in France and starved in France,
Before—
CARDINAL My lord of Gloucester, now ye grow too hot136:
It was the pleasure137 of my lord the king.
GLOUCESTER My lord of Winchester, I know your mind.
’Tis not my speeches that you do mislike,
But ’tis my presence that doth trouble ye.
Rancour will out: proud prelate, in thy face
I see thy fury: if I longer stay,
We shall begin our ancient143 bickerings.—
Lordings144, farewell, and say when I am gone,
I prophesied France will be lost ere long.
Exit Humphrey [Gloucester]
CARDINAL So, there goes our Protector in a rage:
’Tis known to you he is mine enemy:
Nay more, an enemy unto you all,
And no great friend, I fear me, to the king:
Consider, lords, he is the next of blood150
And heir apparent to the English crown:
Had Henry got an empire by his marriage,
And all the wealthy kingdoms of the west153,
There’s reason he should be displeased at it.
Look to it, lords: let not his smoothing155 words
Bewitch your hearts: be wise and circumspect.
What though the common people favour him,
Calling him ‘Humphrey, the good Duke of Gloucester’,
Clapping their hands, and crying with loud voice,
‘Jesu maintain your royal excellence!’
With ‘God preserve the good Duke Humphrey!’
I fear me, lords, for all this flattering gloss162,
He will be found a dangerous Protector.
BUCKINGHAM Why should he then protect our sovereign,
He165 being of age to govern of himself?
Cousin of Somerset, join you with me,
And all together, with the Duke of Suffolk,
We’ll quickly hoist Duke Humphrey from his seat.
CARDINAL This weighty business will not brook169 delay:
I’ll to the Duke of Suffolk presently170.
Exit Cardinal
SOMERSET Cousin of Buckingham, though Humphrey’s pride
And greatness of his place be grief to us,
Yet let us watch the haughty173 cardinal:
His insolence is more intolerable
Than175 all the princes in the land beside:
If Gloucester be displaced, he’ll be Protector.
BUCKINGHAM Or177 thou or I, Somerset, will be Protector,
Despite Duke Humphrey or the cardinal.
Exeunt Buckingham and Somerset
SALISBURY Pride went before, ambition179 follows him.
While these do labour for their own preferment180,
Behoves it181 us to labour for the realm.
I never saw but182 Humphrey Duke of Gloucester
Did bear him183 like a noble gentleman:
Oft have I seen the haughty cardinal,
More like a soldier than a man o’th’Church,
As stout186 and proud as he were lord of all,
Swear like a ruffian and demean187 himself
Unlike the ruler of a commonweal.
Warwick, my son, the comfort of my age,
Thy deeds, thy plainness and thy housekeeping190
Hath won the greatest favour of the commons,
Excepting none but192 good Duke Humphrey.
And, brother193 York, thy acts in Ireland
In bringing them to civil discipline,
Thy late195 exploits done in the heart of France,
When thou wert regent for our sovereign,
Have made thee feared and honoured of the people:
Join we together for the public good,
In what we can, to bridle199 and suppress
The pride of Suffolk and the cardinal,
With Somerset’s and Buckingham’s ambition:
And, as we may, cherish202 Duke Humphrey’s deeds,
While they do tend203 the profit of the land.
WARWICK So God help Warwick, as he loves the land,
And common205 profit of his country.
Aside
YORK And so says York,— for he hath greatest cause206.
SALISBURY Then let’s make haste away, and look unto the main207.
WARWICK Unto the main? O, father, Maine208 is lost,
That Maine which by main209 force Warwick did win,
And would have kept so long as breath did last:
Main chance, father, you meant, but I meant Maine,
Which I will win from France, or else be slain,
Exeunt Warwick and Salisbury, leaving York
YORK Anjou and Maine are given to the French,
Paris is lost, the state of Normandy
Stands on a tickle215 point now they are gone:
Suffolk concluded216 on the articles,
The peers agreed, and Henry was well pleased
To change218 two dukedoms for a duke’s fair daughter.
I cannot blame them all: what is’t to them?
’Tis thine220 they give away, and not their own.
Pirates may make cheap pennyworths of their pillage221
And purchase friends and give to courtesans222,
Still223 revelling like lords till all be gone,
While as the silly224 owner of the goods
Weeps over them, and wrings his hapless225 hands,
And shakes his head, and trembling stands aloof226,
While all is shared and all is borne away,
Ready228 to starve and dare not touch his own.
So York must sit and fret and bite his tongue,
While his own lands are bargained for and sold:
Methinks the realms of England, France and Ireland
Bear that proportion232 to my flesh and blood,
As did the fatal brand Althaea burnt
Unto the prince’s heart of Calydon234.
Anjou and Maine both given unto the French!
Cold news for me: for I had hope of France,
Even as I have of fertile England’s soil.
A day will come when York shall claim his own,
And therefore I will take the Nevilles’239 parts
And make a show of love to proud Duke Humphrey,
And, when I spy advantage, claim the crown,
For that’s the golden mark242 I seek to hit:
Nor shall proud Lancaster243 usurp my right,
Nor hold the sceptre in his childish244 fist,
Nor wear the diadem245 upon his head,
Whose church-like humours246 fits not for a crown.
Then, York, be still awhile, till time do serve247:
Watch248 thou, and wake when others be asleep,
To pry into the secrets of the state,
Till Henry, surfeiting250 in joys of love,
With his new bride and England’s dear-bought251 queen,
And Humphrey with the peers be fall’n at jars252:
Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose253,
With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfumed,
And in my standard255 bear the arms of York,
To grapple256 with the House of Lancaster:
And force perforce257 I’ll make him yield the crown,
Whose bookish258 rule hath pulled fair England down.
Exit York
running scene 2
Enter Duke Humphrey [of Gloucester] and his wife Eleanor
ELEANOR Why droops my lord like over-ripened corn,
Hanging the head at Ceres’2 plenteous load?
Why doth the great Duke Humphrey knit his brows,
As4 frowning at the favours of the world?
Why are thine eyes fixed to the sullen5 earth,
Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight?
What see’st thou there? King Henry’s diadem,
Enchased8 with all the honours of the world?
If so, gaze on, and grovel9 on thy face,
Until thy head be circlèd with the same.
Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious gold.
What, is’t12 too short? I’ll lengthen it with mine,
And having both together heaved it up,
We’ll both together lift our heads to heaven,
And never more abase our sight so low
As to vouchsafe16 one glance unto the ground.
GLOUCESTER O Nell, sweet Nell, if thou dost love thy lord,
Banish the canker18 of ambitious thoughts:
And may that thought, when I imagine ill19
Against my king and nephew, virtuous Henry,
Be my last breathing21 in this mortal world.
My troublous dreams this night22 doth make me sad.
ELEANOR What dreamed my lord? Tell me, and I’ll requite23 it
With sweet rehearsal24 of my morning’s dream.
GLOUCESTER Methought this staff, mine office-badge25 in court,
Was broke in twain26: by whom I have forgot,
But, as I think, it was by th’cardinal:
And on the pieces of the broken wand
Were placed the heads of Edmund Duke of Somerset,
And William de la Pole, first Duke of Suffolk.
This was my dream: what it doth bode, God knows.
ELEANOR Tut, this was nothing but an argument32
That he that breaks a stick of Gloucester’s grove33
Shall lose his head for his presumption.
But list35 to me, my Humphrey, my sweet duke:
Methought I sat in seat of majesty
In the cathedral church of Westminster,
And in that chair38 where kings and queens are crowned,
Where Henry and Dame Margaret kneeled to me
And on my head did set the diadem.
GLOUCESTER Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide41 outright:
Presumptuous dame, ill-nurtured42 Eleanor,
Art thou not second woman in the realm,
And the Protector’s wife, beloved of44 him?
Hast thou not worldly pleasure at command,
Above the reach or compass46 of thy thought?
And wilt thou still be hammering47 treachery,
To tumble down thy husband and thyself
From top of honour to disgrace’s feet?
Away from me, and let me hear no more!
ELEANOR What, what, my lord? Are you so choleric51
With Eleanor for telling but52 her dream?
Next time I’ll keep my dreams unto myself,
And not be checked54.
GLOUCESTER Nay, be not angry: I am pleased again.
Enter [a] Messenger
MESSENGER My Lord Protector, ’tis his highness’ pleasure
You do prepare to ride unto St Albans57,
Where as the king and queen do mean to hawk58.
GLOUCESTER I go. Come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us?
ELEANOR Yes, my good lord, I’ll follow presently60.
Exit Humphrey [Duke of Gloucester with Messenger]
Follow I must: I cannot go before,
While Gloucester bears this base62 and humble mind.
Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood,
I would remove these tedious stumbling blocks
And smooth my way upon their headless necks.
And, being a woman, I will not be slack
To play my part in Fortune’s pageant67.—
Calling
Where are you there? Sir68 John! Nay, fear not, man,
We are alone: here’s none but thee and I.
Enter Hume
HUME Jesus preserve your royal majesty.
ELEANOR What say’st thou? ‘Majesty’: I am but grace71.
HUME But by the grace of God, and Hume’s advice,
Your grace’s title shall be multiplied73.
ELEANOR What say’st thou, man? Hast thou as yet conferred
With Margery Jordan, the cunning75 witch,
With Roger Bullingbrook, the conjurer76?
And will they undertake to do me good?
HUME This they have promised to show your highness:
A spirit raised from depth of underground,
That shall make answer to such questions
As by your grace shall be propounded81 him.
ELEANOR It is enough: I’ll think upon the questions:
When from St Albans we do make return,
We’ll see these things effected to the full.
Giving him money
Here, Hume, take this reward: make merry, man,
With thy confederates in this weighty cause.
Exit Eleanor
HUME Hume must make merry with the duchess’ gold:
Marry88, and shall: but how now, Sir John Hume?
Seal up your lips, and give no words but mum89:
The business asketh silent secrecy.
Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch:
Gold cannot come amiss, were she a devil.
Yet have I gold flies from another coast93:
I dare not say from the rich cardinal
And from the great and new-made Duke of Suffolk,
Yet I do find it so: for to be plain,
They, knowing Dame Eleanor’s aspiring humour97,
Have hired me to undermine the duchess
And buzz these conjurations99 in her brain.
They say ‘A crafty knave does need no broker100’,
Yet am I Suffolk and the cardinal’s broker.
Hume, if you take not heed, you shall go near102
To call them both a pair of crafty knaves.
Well, so it stands: and thus, I fear, at last
Hume’s knavery will be the duchess’ wrack105,
And her attainture106 will be Humphrey’s fall:
Sort how it will107, I shall have gold for all.
Exit
running scene 3
Enter three or four Petitioners, [Peter] the armourer’s man being one
FIRST PETITIONER My masters, let’s stand close1: my Lord Protector
will come this way by and by, and then we may deliver our
supplications in the quill3.
SECOND PETITIONER Marry, the Lord protect4 him, for he’s a good
man, Jesu bless him.
Enter Suffolk and Queen [Margaret]
FIRST PETITIONER Here a6 comes, methinks, and the queen with
He goes to meet Suffolk and the Queen
him. I’ll be the first, sure.
SECOND PETITIONER Come back, fool: this is the
Duke of Suffolk, and not my Lord Protector.
SUFFOLK How now, fellow: wouldst10 anything with me?
FIRST PETITIONER I pray, my lord, pardon me: I took ye for my
Lord Protector.
Reading
QUEEN MARGARET ‘To my Lord Protector!’— Are your
supplications to his lordship? Let me see them: what is thine?
FIRST PETITIONER Mine is, an’t15 please your grace, against John
Goodman, my lord cardinal’s man16, for keeping my house
and lands and wife and all from me.
To Second
SUFFOLK Thy wife too? That’s some wrong indeed.—
Petitioner
What’s yours?
Reading supplication
What’s here?— ‘Against the Duke of Suffolk, for
enclosing the commons21 of Melford.’— How now,
To Second
Sir Knave?
Petitioner
SECOND PETITIONER Alas, sir, I am but a poor petitioner
of our whole township.
Offering his petition
PETER Against my master, Thomas Horner, for
saying that the Duke of York was rightful heir to the
crown.
QUEEN MARGARET What say’st thou? Did the Duke of York say he
was rightful heir to the crown?
PETER That my master was? No, forsooth30: my master said
that he was, and that the king was an usurper.
SUFFOLK Who is there?
Enter Servant
Take this fellow in, and send for his master with a pursuivant33
presently.— We’ll hear more of your matter before the king.
Exit [Servant with Peter]
QUEEN MARGARET And as for you that love to be protected
Under the wings of our Protector’s grace,
Begin your suits anew, and sue to37 him.
Tears the supplication
Away, base cullions38!— Suffolk, let them go.
ALL [PETITIONERS] Come, let’s be gone.
Exeunt [Petitioners]
QUEEN MARGARET My lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise40?
Is this the fashions41 in the court of England?
Is this the government of Britain’s isle?
And this the royalty of Albion’s43 king?
What, shall King Henry be a pupil still
Under the surly Gloucester’s governance?
Am I a queen in title and in style46,
And must be made a subject to a duke?
I tell thee, Pole48, when in the city Tours
Thou ran’st a-tilt49 in honour of my love
And stol’st away the ladies’ hearts of France,
I thought King Henry had resemblèd thee
In courage, courtship and proportion52:
But all his mind is bent53 to holiness,
To number Ave-Maries on his beads54:
His champions55 are the prophets and apostles,
His weapons holy saws56 of sacred writ,
His study is his tilt-yard57, and his loves
Are brazen images58 of canonizèd saints.
I would the college of the cardinals59
Would choose him Pope, and carry him to Rome,
And set the triple crown61 upon his head:
That were a state fit for his holiness62.
SUFFOLK Madam, be patient: as I was cause
Your highness came to England, so will I
In England work65 your grace’s full content.
QUEEN MARGARET Beside the haughty Protector, have we Beaufort
The imperious churchman, Somerset, Buckingham,
And grumbling York: and not the least of these
But69 can do more in England than the king.
SUFFOLK And he of these that can do most of all
Cannot do more in England than the Nevilles:
Salisbury and Warwick are no simple72 peers.
QUEEN MARGARET Not all these lords do vex me half so much
As that proud dame, the Lord Protector’s wife:
She sweeps it75 through the court with troops of ladies,
More like an empress than Duke Humphrey’s wife:
Strangers77 in court do take her for the queen:
She bears a duke’s revenues on her back,78
And in her heart she scorns our poverty:
Shall I not live to be avenged on her?
Contemptuous base-born callet81 as she is,
She vaunted ’mongst her minions82 t’other day,
The very train of her worst wearing83 gown
Was better worth84 than all my father’s lands,
Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter85.
SUFFOLK Madam, myself have limed a bush86 for her,
And placed a choir of such enticing birds87,
That she will light88 to listen to the lays,
And never mount to trouble you again.
So let her rest: and, madam, list to me,
For I am bold to counsel you in this:
Although we fancy92 not the cardinal,
Yet must we join with him and with the lords,
Till we have brought Duke Humphrey in disgrace.
As for the Duke of York, this late complaint95
Will make but little for his benefit96:
So one by one we’ll weed97 them all at last,
And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.
Sound a sennet. Enter the King [Henry VI with Somerset and] York [whispering on either side of him], Duke Humphrey [of Gloucester], Cardinal, Buckingham, Salisbury, Warwick and the Duchess [Eleanor]
KING HENRY VI For my part, noble lords, I care not which:
Or100 Somerset or York, all’s one to me.
YORK If York have ill demeaned101 himself in France,
Then let him be denied the regentship102.
SOMERSET If Somerset be unworthy of the place,
Let York be regent: I will yield to him.
WARWICK Whether your grace be worthy, yea or no,
Dispute not that: York is the worthier.
CARDINAL Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak.
WARWICK The cardinal’s not my better in the field108.
BUCKINGHAM All in this presence109 are thy betters, Warwick.
WARWICK Warwick may live to be the best of all.
SALISBURY Peace, son, and show some reason, Buckingham,
Why Somerset should be preferred in this.
QUEEN MARGARET Because the king, forsooth, will have it so.
GLOUCESTER Madam, the king is old enough himself
To give his censure115: these are no women’s matters.
QUEEN MARGARET If he be old enough, what needs your grace
To be Protector of his excellence?
GLOUCESTER Madam, I am Protector of the realm,
And at his pleasure will resign my place.
SUFFOLK Resign it then and leave120 thine insolence.
Since thou wert king — as who is king but thou? —
The commonwealth hath daily run to wrack,
The dauphin hath prevailed123 beyond the seas,
And all the peers and nobles of the realm
Have been as bondmen125 to thy sovereignty.
CARDINAL The commons hast thou racked: the clergy’s bags126
Are lank127 and lean with thy extortions.
SOMERSET Thy sumptuous buildings and thy wife’s attire
Have cost a mass of public treasury129.
BUCKINGHAM Thy cruelty in execution
Upon offenders hath exceeded law,
And left thee to the mercy of the law.
QUEEN MARGARET Thy sale of offices133 and towns in France,
If they were known, as the suspect134 is great,
Would make thee quickly hop without thy head135.
Exit Gloucester
Queen Margaret drops her fan To Eleanor
Give me my fan: what, minion136, can ye not?
She gives the Duchess [Eleanor] a box on the ear
I cry you mercy137, madam: was it you?
ELEANOR Was’t I? Yea, I it was, proud Frenchwoman:
Could I come near your beauty with my nails,
I’d set my ten commandments140 in your face.
KING HENRY VI Sweet aunt, be quiet: ’twas against her will141.
ELEANOR Against her will, good king? Look to’t142 in time,
She’ll hamper thee and dandle143 thee like a baby:
Though in this place most master144 wear no breeches,
She shall not strike Dame Eleanor unrevenged.
Exit Eleanor
BUCKINGHAM Lord Cardinal, I will follow Eleanor,
And listen after147 Humphrey, how he proceeds:
She’s tickled148 now, her fury needs no spurs,
She’ll gallop far enough to her destruction.
Exit Buckingham
Enter Humphrey [Duke of Gloucester]
GLOUCESTER Now, lords, my choler being overblown
With walking once about the quadrangle,
I come to talk of commonwealth affairs.
As for your spiteful false objections153,
Prove them, and I lie open to the law:
But God in mercy so deal with my soul,
As I in duty love my king and country.
But to the matter that we have in hand:—
I say, my sovereign, York is meetest158 man
To be your regent in the realm of France.
SUFFOLK Before we make election, give me160 leave
To show some reason, of no little force,
That York is most unmeet of any man.
YORK I’ll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet:
First, for I cannot flatter thee in pride164:
Next, if I be appointed for the place,
My Lord of Somerset will keep me here,
Without discharge, money, or furniture167,
Till France be won into the dauphin’s hands:
Last time I danced attendance on his will
Till Paris was besieged, famished, and lost.
WARWICK That can I witness, and a fouler fact171
Did never traitor in the land commit.
SUFFOLK Peace, headstrong Warwick.
WARWICK Image174 of pride, why should I hold my peace?
Enter [guarded, Horner the] armourer and his man [Peter]
SUFFOLK Because here is a man accused of treason:
Pray God the Duke of York excuse himself!
YORK Doth anyone accuse York for177 a traitor?
KING HENRY VI What178 mean’st thou, Suffolk? Tell me, what are these?
Indicating Peter
SUFFOLK Please it your majesty, this is the man
That doth accuse his master of high treason:
His words were these: that Richard, Duke of York,
Was rightful heir unto the English crown
And that your majesty was an usurper.
KING HENRY VI Say, man, were these thy words?
HORNER An’t185 shall please your majesty, I never said nor
thought any such matter: God is my witness, I am falsely
accused by the villain.
Raising his hands
PETER By these ten bones188, my lords, he did
speak them to me in the garret189 one night, as we
were scouring190 my Lord of York’s armour.
YORK Base dunghill villain and mechanical191,
I’ll have thy head for this thy traitor’s speech.—
I do beseech your royal majesty,
Let him have all the rigour of the law.
HORNER Alas, my lord, hang me if ever I spake the words: my
accuser is my prentice, and when I did correct196 him for his
fault the other day, he did vow upon his knees he would be
even with me — I have good witness of this — therefore I
beseech your majesty, do not cast away an honest man for a
villain’s accusation.
To Gloucester
KING HENRY VI Uncle, what shall we say to this in law?
GLOUCESTER This doom202, my lord, if I may judge:
Let Somerset be regent o’er the French,
Because in York this204 breeds suspicion:
Indicating Horner and Peter Indicating Horner
And let these have a day appointed them
For single combat in convenient206 place,
For he hath witness of his servant’s malice:
This is the law, and this Duke Humphrey’s doom.
SOMERSET I humbly thank your royal majesty.
HORNER And I accept the combat willingly.
PETER Alas, my lord, I cannot fight: for God’s sake, pity my
case: the spite of man prevaileth against me. O Lord, have
mercy upon me! I shall never be able to fight a blow. O Lord,
my heart!
GLOUCESTER Sirrah215, or you must fight, or else be hanged.
KING HENRY VI Away with them to prison, and the day
Of combat shall be the last of the next month.
Come, Somerset, we’ll see thee sent away.
Flourish. Exeunt
running scene 4
Enter the Witch [Margaret Jordan], the two priests [Hume and Southwell] and Bullingbrook
HUME Come, my masters, the duchess, I tell you, expects
performance of your promises.
BULLINGBROOK Master Hume, we are therefore provided3: will
her ladyship behold and hear our exorcisms4?
HUME Ay, what else? Fear you not her courage.
BULLINGBROOK I have heard her reported to be a woman of an
invincible spirit: but it shall be convenient, Master Hume,
that you be by her aloft, while we be busy below: and so, I
pray you, go in God’s name and leave us.
Exit Hume
She lies down upon her face
Mother Jordan, be you prostrate and grovel on
the earth. John Southwell, read you, and let us
to our work.
Enter Eleanor aloft [Hume following]
ELEANOR Well said13, my masters, and welcome all. To this gear
the sooner the better.
BULLINGBROOK Patience, good lady: wizards know their times:
Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night,
The time of night when Troy was set on fire17,
The time when screech-owls18 cry and bandogs howl,
And spirits walk, and ghosts break up19 their graves:
That time best fits the work we have in hand.
Madam, sit you and fear not: whom we raise,
We will make fast within a hallowed verge22.
Here [they] do the ceremonies belonging, and make the circle: Bullingbrook or Southwell reads, ‘Conjuro te’, etc. It thunders and lightens terribly: then the Spirit [Asnath] riseth
ASNATH. Adsum23.
MARGARET JORDAN Asnath,
By the eternal God, whose name and power
Thou tremblest at, answer that26 I shall ask:
For till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence.
ASNATH Ask what thou wilt: that28 I had said and done.
Reads
BULLINGBROOK ‘First of the king: what shall of him become?’
ASNATH The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose:
As the Spirit speaks,
But him outlive, and die a violent death.
Reads Southwell writes the answer
BULLINGBROOK ‘What fates await the Duke of Suffolk?’
ASNATH By water shall he die, and take his end.
Reads
BULLINGBROOK ‘What shall befall the Duke of Somerset?’
ASNATH Let him shun castles;
Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains
Than where castles mounted37 stand.
Have done, for more I hardly can endure.
BULLINGBROOK Descend to darkness and the burning lake!
False fiend, avoid40!
Thunder and lightning. Exit Spirit
Enter the Duke of York and the Duke of Buckingham with their guard [Sir Humphrey Stafford as Captain] and break in
YORK Lay hands upon these traitors and their trash41:
To Jordan
Beldam, I think we watched you at an inch42.
What, madam, are you there? The king and commonweal
Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains44:
My Lord Protector will, I doubt it not,
See you well guerdoned for these good deserts46.
ELEANOR Not half so bad as thine to England’s king,
Injurious duke, that threatest48 where’s no cause.
BUCKINGHAM True, madam, none at all: what call you this?
Pointing to the papers
Away with them: let them be clapped up close50
To Eleanor
And kept asunder51.— You, madam, shall with us.
Stafford, take her to52 thee.
[Exeunt above Eleanor and Hume, guarded]
We’ll see your trinkets here all forthcoming53.
All, away!
Exeunt [below guard with Margaret Jordan, Southwell and Bullingbrook]
YORK Lord Buckingham, methinks you watched her well:
A pretty56 plot, well chosen to build upon.
Buckingham gives him the papers
Now pray, my lord, let’s see the devil’s writ57.
What have we here?
Reads
‘The duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose:
But him outlive, and die a violent death.’
Why, this is just61
‘Aio Aeacidam, Romanos vincere posse.’62
Well, to the rest:
‘Tell me what fate awaits the Duke of Suffolk?’
‘By water shall he die, and take his end.’
‘What shall betide the Duke of Somerset?’
‘Let him shun castles:
Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains
Than where castles mounted stand.’
Come, come, my lords,
These oracles are hardly attained71,
And hardly72 understood.
The king is now in progress73 towards St Albans,
With him the husband of this lovely lady:
Thither goes these news as fast as horse can carry them:
A sorry breakfast for my Lord Protector.
BUCKINGHAM Your grace shall give me leave, my lord of York,
To be the post78 in hope of his reward.
Calling within
YORK At your pleasure, my good lord. Who’s within there, ho!
Enter a Servingman
Invite my lords of Salisbury and Warwick
To sup81 with me tomorrow night. Away.
Exeunt [severally]
running scene 5
Enter the King [Henry VI], Queen [Margaret], Protector [Gloucester], Cardinal and Suffolk, with Falconers hallooing
QUEEN MARGARET Believe me, lords, for flying at the brook1,
I saw not better sport these seven years’ day2:
Yet, by your leave, the wind was very high,
And, ten to one, old Joan had not gone out.4
To Gloucester
KING HENRY VI But what a point5, my lord, your falcon made,
And what a pitch6 she flew above the rest:
To see how God in all his creatures works!
Yea, man and birds are fain of8 climbing high.
SUFFOLK No marvel, an it like9 your majesty,
My Lord Protector’s hawks do tower10 so well:
They know their master loves to be aloft11,
And bears his thoughts above his falcon’s pitch.
GLOUCESTER My lord, ’tis but a base ignoble mind
That mounts no higher than a bird can soar.
CARDINAL I thought as much: he would be above the clouds.
GLOUCESTER Ay, my lord cardinal, how think you by that16?
Were it not good your grace could fly to heaven?
KING HENRY VI The treasury of everlasting joy.
CARDINAL Thy heaven is on earth: thine eyes and thoughts
Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart,
Pernicious21 Protector, dangerous peer,
That smooth’st it22 so with king and commonweal!
GLOUCESTER What, cardinal?
Is your priesthood grown peremptory24?
Tantaene animis coelestibus irae25?
Churchmen so hot26? Good uncle, hide such malice:
With such holiness, can you do it?
SUFFOLK No malice, sir, no more than well becomes
So good a quarrel and so bad a peer.
GLOUCESTER As who, my lord?
SUFFOLK Why, as you, my lord,
An’t like your lordly Lord’s Protectorship.
GLOUCESTER Why, Suffolk, England knows thine insolence.
QUEEN MARGARET And thy ambition, Gloucester.
KING HENRY VI I prithee, peace, good queen,
And whet not on36 these furious peers,
For blessèd are the peacemakers on earth37.
CARDINAL Let me be blessèd for the peace I make
Against this proud Protector, with my sword.
Gloucester and Cardinal speak aside
GLOUCESTER Faith, holy uncle, would’t were come to that.
CARDINAL Marry41, when thou dar’st.
GLOUCESTER Make up no factious numbers for the matter42,
In thine own person answer thy abuse43.
CARDINAL Ay, where thou dar’st not peep: an if44 thou dar’st,
This evening, on the east side of the grove.
KING HENRY VI How now, my lords?
CARDINAL Believe me, cousin Gloucester,
Had not your man put up48 the fowl so suddenly,
We had had more sport.— Come with thy two-hand sword49.
GLOUCESTER True, uncle.—
Are ye advised?51 The east side of the grove?
CARDINAL I am with you.
KING HENRY VI Why, how now, uncle Gloucester?
GLOUCESTER Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord.—
Now, by God’s mother, priest, I’ll shave your crown55 for this,
Or all my fence56 shall fail.
CARDINAL. Medice, teipsum57—
Protector, see to’t well, protect yourself.
KING HENRY VI The winds grow high: so do your stomachs59, lords:
How irksome is this music to my heart!
When such strings jar61, what hope of harmony?
I pray, my lords, let me compound62 this strife.
Enter one [Townsman] crying ‘A miracle!’
GLOUCESTER What means this noise?
Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim?
TOWNSMAN A miracle, a miracle!
SUFFOLK Come to the king and tell him what miracle.
TOWNSMAN Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban’s shrine67
Within this half-hour hath received his sight:
A man that ne’er saw in his life before.
KING HENRY VI Now, God be praised, that to believing souls
Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair.
Enter the Mayor of St Albans, and his brethren, bearing the man [Simpcox] between two in a chair, [Simpcox’s Wife and Townspeople following]
CARDINAL Here comes the townsmen on procession,
To present your highness with the man.
KING HENRY VI Great is his comfort in this earthly vale74,
Although by his sight his sin be multiplied75.
GLOUCESTER Stand by, my masters, bring him near the king:
His highness’ pleasure is to talk with him.
KING HENRY VI Good fellow, tell us here the circumstance78,
That we for thee may glorify the Lord.
What, hast thou been long blind and now restored?
SIMPCOX Born blind, an’t please your grace.
WIFE Ay, indeed, was he.
SUFFOLK What woman is this?
WIFE His wife, an’t like your worship.
GLOUCESTER Hadst thou been his mother, thou couldst have better told85.
To simpcox
KING HENRY VI Where wert thou born?
SIMPCOX At Berwick87 in the north, an’t like your grace.
KING HENRY VI Poor soul, God’s goodness hath been great to thee:
Let never day nor night unhallowed pass89,
But still90 remember what the Lord hath done.
To Simpcox
QUEEN MARGARET Tell me, good fellow, cam’st thou here by chance,
Or of92 devotion, to this holy shrine?
SIMPCOX God knows, of pure devotion, being called
A hundred times and oft’ner in my sleep,
By good Saint Alban, who said, ‘Simon, come:
Come offer96 at my shrine, and I will help thee.’
WIFE Most true, forsooth: and many time and oft
Myself have heard a voice to call him so.
CARDINAL What, art thou lame?
SIMPCOX Ay, God Almighty help me.
SUFFOLK How cam’st thou so?
SIMPCOX A fall off of a tree102.
WIFE A plum tree, master.
GLOUCESTER How long hast thou been blind?
SIMPCOX O, born so, master.
GLOUCESTER What, and wouldst climb a tree?
SIMPCOX But that107 in all my life, when I was a youth.
WIFE Too true, and bought his climbing very dear.
GLOUCESTER Mass109, thou lov’dst plums well, that wouldst venture so.
SIMPCOX Alas, good master, my wife desired some damsons110,
And made me climb111, with danger of my life.
GLOUCESTER A subtle knave, but yet it shall not serve112:
Let me see thine eyes: wink113 now: now open them:
In my opinion, yet114 thou see’st not well.
SIMPCOX Yes, master, clear as day, I thank God and Saint Alban.
GLOUCESTER Say’st thou me so116: what colour is this cloak of?
SIMPCOX Red, master, red as blood.
GLOUCESTER Why, that’s well said: what colour is my gown of?
SIMPCOX Black, forsooth, coal-black as jet.
KING HENRY VI Why, then, thou know’st what colour jet is of?
SUFFOLK And yet, I think, jet did he never see.
GLOUCESTER But cloaks and gowns, before this day, a many122.
WIFE Never, before this day, in all his life.
GLOUCESTER Tell me, sirrah, what’s my name?
SIMPCOX Alas, master, I know not.
GLOUCESTER What’s his name?
SIMPCOX I know not.
GLOUCESTER Nor his?
SIMPCOX No, indeed, master.
GLOUCESTER What’s thine own name?
SIMPCOX Saunder Simpcox, an if it please you, master.
GLOUCESTER Then, Saunder, sit there, the lying’st knave in
Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, thou might’st
as well have known all our names as thus to name the
several135 colours we do wear. Sight may distinguish of colours,
but suddenly to nominate136 them all, it is impossible.— My
lords, Saint Alban here hath done a miracle: and would ye
not think his cunning138 to be great, that could restore this
cripple to his legs again?
SIMPCOX O master, that you could!
GLOUCESTER My masters of St Albans, have you not beadles141 in
your town, and things called whips?
MAYOR Yes, my lord, if it please your grace.
GLOUCESTER Then send for one presently144.
MAYOR Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight145.
Exit [a Townsperson]
GLOUCESTER Now fetch me a stool hither by and by146.— Now,
sirrah, if you mean to save yourself from whipping, leap me
over this stool and run away.
SIMPCOX Alas, master, I am not able to stand alone149: You go
about to torture me in vain.
Enter a Beadle with whips
GLOUCESTER Well, sir, we must have you find your legs.—
Sirrah beadle, whip him till he leap over that same stool.
BEADLE I will, my lord.— Come on, sirrah, off with your
doublet154 quickly.
SIMPCOX Alas, master, what shall I do? I am not able to 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 VI O God, see’st thou this, and bearest156 so long?
QUEEN MARGARET It made me laugh to see the villain run.
GLOUCESTER Follow the knave, and take this drab158 away.
WIFE Alas, sir, we did it for pure need.
GLOUCESTER Let them be whipped through every market town
Till they come to Berwick, from whence they came.
Exeunt [Wife, Beadle, Mayor and Townspeople]
CARDINAL Duke Humphrey has done a miracle today.
SUFFOLK True: made the lame to leap and fly away.
GLOUCESTER But you have done more miracles than I:
You made in a day, my lord, whole towns165 to fly.
Enter Buckingham
KING HENRY VI What tidings with our cousin Buckingham?
BUCKINGHAM Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold:
A sort of naughty persons, lewdly bent168,
Under the countenance and confederacy169
Of Lady Eleanor, the Protector’s wife,
The ringleader and head of all this rout171,
Have practised172 dangerously against your state,
Dealing with witches and with conjurers,
Whom we have apprehended in the fact174,
Raising up wicked spirits from under ground,
Demanding of176 King Henry’s life and death,
And other of your highness’ Privy Council,
As more at large178 your grace shall understand.
CARDINAL And so, my Lord Protector, by this means
Your lady is forthcoming yet180 at London.
This news, I think, hath turned181 your weapon’s edge:
’Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour182.
GLOUCESTER Ambitious churchman, leave to afflict183 my heart:
Sorrow and grief have vanquished all my powers:
And, vanquished as I am, I yield to thee,
Or to the meanest groom186.
KING HENRY VI O God, what mischiefs work the wicked ones,
Heaping confusion188 on their own heads thereby!
QUEEN MARGARET Gloucester, see here the tainture189 of thy nest,
And look190 thyself be faultless, thou wert best.
GLOUCESTER Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal,
How I have loved my king and commonweal:
And for my wife, I know not how it stands193:
Sorry I am to hear what I have heard.
Noble she is: but if she have forgot
Honour and virtue and conversed196 with such
As, like to pitch197, defile nobility,
I banish her my bed and company
And give her as a prey to law and shame,
That hath dishonoured Gloucester’s honest name.
KING HENRY VI Well, for this night we will repose us here:
Tomorrow toward London back again,
To look into this business thoroughly
And call these foul offenders to their answers,
And poise the cause205 in justice’ equal scales,
Whose beam stands sure206, whose rightful cause prevails.
Flourish.
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