oft takes pains If any like the Ills he shews to day Let them be damn'd and let them damn the Play The Persons Represented in the Tragedy KIng Henry the Sixth Prince Edward King Henry's Son By Mr. Joseph Williams Richard Plantagenet Duke of York By Mr. David Williams Edward eldest Son of Richard Plantagenet and after his Fathers death King of England By Mr. Smith George Duke of Clarence second Son of the Duke of York By Mr. Bowman Richard the third Son called Crook-back By Mr. Gillow Rutland a Child the youngest Son The Great Earl of Warwick By Mr. Batterton Old Lord Clifford By Mr. Pearcival Young Clifford his Son By Mr. Wiltshire Queen Margaret Wife of King Henry Mrs. Leigh Lady Grey the Widow of Sir John Grey belov'd and at length married by King Edward the fourth By Mrs. Batterton Lady Elianor Butler a young Lady of great quality that was one of King Edward's Mistresses By Mrs. Currer SCENE ENGLAND THE MISERIES OF Civil-War ACT. I. SCENE I. A Noise of Fighting a Shout for Victory Enter Cade and his Rabble Cade FLing all my dead Subjects into the Thames Now say what place is this Butch 'T is London-Stone Cade Then am I Mortimer Lord of this City And here I sitting upon London-Stone Declare this is the first day of our Reign So I command the Conduits all Piss Claret And I proclaim it Treason now for any man To call me other than Lord Mortimer Enter a Souldier running Sould. Jack Cade Jack Jack Cade Knock down that sawcy Fellow A Butcher kill 's him Butch If he has wit he 'll never call thy Honour Jack Cade again Cade I think he has fair warning Enter a Cobler with a Scrivener Cob. My Lord my Lord Cade Well said a mannerly Fellow Cob. I have catch'd a Scrivener here setting Boyes Copies Cade Oh! there 's a Villain a corrupter of Youth Cob. He has a Book in 's pocket with red Letters in 't Cade Then he 's a Conjurer Cob. He can write Bills and Bonds and Obligations to bind People to undo themselves and pay Money whether they Can or no such a Rogue is enough to undo a Nation Cade I 'm sorry for it for on my honour he 's a proper fellow He shall not dye unless I find him Guilty Cob. He shall die Guilty or not Guilty I brought him to be Hang'd and I will not lose my labour I love hanging there 's Never any hanging but I leave my Stall to go see it Hanging-day is my holy-day and I will keep Coblers holy-day Cade We 'll hang him but we 'll examine him first Cob. No hang him first for now no man will confess Till after he 's hang'd Cade I will examine him Sirrah what 's thy Name Scriv. Emanuel Cob. Emanuel That 's a strange Name Friend 't will go very hard with you Cade Let me alone Friend dost thou write thy Name Or use a mark like a plain honest man Scriv. Sir I thank Heaven I have been so well bred That I can write my name All. He has confest He 's a stranger and a Villain hang him Cade Hang him with his Pen and Ink about his Neck Enter others with the Lord Say Prisoner My Lord my Lord a prize an 't like thy Hoâ—â—r 〈◊〉 Here 's the Lord Say who sold the Townes in France And made us pay one and twenty Fifteens And a shilling to the pound last Subsidy Cade I will behead him one and twenty times Come scurvy Lord what canst thou say To our Mightiness for giving up our Towns To Monsieur Basimecu the Dolphin of France Be it known unto thee Traytor by these presents Even by the presence of my self Lord Mortimer That I will sweep the world clean of such filth Thou Trayterously hast built a Grammar-School To debauch all the youth and whereas formerly Our Grandsiers us'd no Book but Score and Tally Thou hast caus'd wicked Printing to be us'd And contrary to the King his Crown and Dignity Hast built a Paper-Mill It will be prov'd That thou hast Servants talk of Nouns and Verbs And such vile Words no Christian er'e can here Thou hast appointed Justices of Peace To call poor men before 'em about matters They cou'd not answer yes and thou hast hang'd 'em Because they cou'd not read Cob. There was a Villain Cade Thou rid'st upon a foot-cloth dost thou not Say Well what of that Cade Why is it not a shame Thy Horse shou'd weare a Cloak when honest men Go in their Hose and Doublets Say Well I find You men of Kent All. What of us men of Kent Say That Kent is bona terra mala gens Cade Bold Traytor he speaks Latin in my presence Go hang him hang him Say Hear me Country-men Cade Hear Latin Villain hang him All. Hang him hang him They drag him away Butch We 'll hang up every man that can speak Latin Cade Well counsel'd Butcher counsel'd like a Butcher We will and more for they are but few Tay. We 'll hang up any man that can speak French For I 'm a Taylour and there is no man That can speak French will let me work a stitch for ' em Cob. We 'll hang up all the Lords and Gentlemen Spare none but such as go in clouted shoes For I 'm a Cobler and live by those Tayl. But by your favour Sir I am a Taylor And Sir I live by Lords and Gentlemen I only wou'd hang those that owe me money And will not pay me Cade Why thou stiching Coxcomb We will be Lords and Gentlemen our selves Tayl. Oh! that 's another thing Cade Another thing What do we fight for else you silly Rascal Cob. 'T is true my Lord we ought to be Great-men For it is said Labour in thy Vocation That is let Magistrates be labouring-men Therefore we lab'ring men ought to be Magistrates And I will be Lord Cobler and a Counsellor Carp I 'le be Lord Carpenter for 't is a shame That none of the Kings Council are good Workmen Cob. The Lords forsooth scorn to wear leather Aprons Cade We 'll make 'em glad to go in leather Aprons Butch We 'll stick 'em all and we 'll be Lords our selves Tayl. I 'll be contented to be but a Knight Cob. Shall we not spare the Lords that are our friends Such as thy Cousin Plantagenet and others Cade No Lord is our Friend you Fool they meerly chouse us Butch How meerly chouse us Cade I say meerly chouse us All the fine words and money that they give us Is nothing else but buying of Calves-heads Butch My Cleaver then shall chouse 'em of their Brains Cade When they have done with us they 'l turn us off Butch Here are brave Knaves Tayl. His Honour understands ' em Cob. I Gad my Lord 's a devilish parlous Fellow Prethee my Lord what ail's these plaguy Lords To keep this coyl when they have a power o' money Brave Lands and gallant Wenches to their Wives Cade I 'll
HENRY the Sixth The First PART WITH THE MURDER OF HUMPHREY Duke of Glocester As it was Acted at the Dukes Theatre Written by Mr. CROWN LONDON Printed for R. Bentley and M. Magnes in Russel-Street in Covent-Garden 1681. The Prologue WIth much ado a Prologue we obtain'd From th' Author who this good old Play did mend He said a Prologue was a Painted Clout Only to tell the Shew within hung out And he no pains wou'd on the Clout bestow When very few wou'd come to see the Show The Comet that last Summer flam'd obove Has dropt his Pitch in every Dish you love Poor slighted Wit is flung among the Swine Like Grapes in France now you forbid their Wine Play-Houses like forsaken Barns are grown The lusty Threshers of both ends of Town Let the Corn rot and give their Labour o're And so the Vizards cackle here no more Or if they hither come 't is but for fear Lest zealous Constables find 'em elsewhere And their torn Coats for Romish Reliques seize And the poor Girles for Painted Images Thus all your Pleasures wither and decay You 've suck'd the Globe and flung the shell away As for our wretched selves we are forc'd still To chaw down Poetry against our will But little Pleasure it to us does give We swallow it as Sick-Men eat to live And to preserve your Stomacks we make bold To Cram you every day with New or Old To day we bring old gather'd Herbs 't is true But such as in sweet Shakespears Garden grew And all his Plants immortal you esteem Your Mouthes are never out of taste with him Howe're to make your Appetites more keen Not only oyly Words are sprinkled in But what to please you gives us better hopâ— A little Vineger against the Pope The Persons Represented in the PLAY King Henry the Sixth By Mr. Jos Williams Humphry Duke of Glocester Lord Protector of the Kingdom and Uncle to the King being Brother to King Henry the 5th By Mr. Batterton The Cardinal a Bastard Son of John of Gaunt and so Uncle to Duke Humphry By Mr. Harris Richard Plantagenet Heir of the House of York pretender to the Crown By Mr. D. Williams Duke of Buckingham Earl of Warwick Earl of Salisbury Duke of Suffolk a Lover of the Queen By Mr. Smith Queen Margaret Wife of King Henry the 6th in Love with the Duke of Suffolk By my La. Slingsby Elianor Duchess of Glocester Wife to the Lord Protector By Mrs. Batterton Sheriff of London Sir John Stanly Attendants SCENE The Court at Westminster TO Sir CHARLES SIDLEY BARONET SIR I Am afraid I shall displease you by setting your Name before so scandalous a thing as a Pamphlet of mine but when I have told you the reason I believe you will pardon me I make not use of your Name to add a lustre to mine I am not so much concerned for it Fame built on Poetry is like a Castle in the Air which the next Wind demolishes I have heard of great Armies Mustered in the Air but never of any thing they Conquered Such are the Forces of Poetry I have had my Ears torn with the noise of a Poets Drums and Trumpets of the Bellowing of his Actors and the clapping of his Audience but I never heard of one inch of firm Land he gained All he fought for was Inchanted Ground which now he seems to possess and anon it vanishes has nothing real in it but the vexation of obscene Birds which disturb him with their croaking whilst he wakes and defile him by muting upon him if ever he sleeps No wise Man can much regard what his share is in such a barren and floating Place My concernment is for some little Truth and good Sense Commodities which no one will expect to find aboard such a Paper Boat as a Play were it not convoy'd by so flourishing and great Reputation as yours I speak not my own but the opinion of some of the wisest Men of this Age this Play is no indifferent Satyre upon the most pâ—mpous fortunate and potent Folly that ever reigned over the minds of men called Popery My Lord Bacon says good Books ought to have no other Patrons but Truth and Reason Many other things ought to be that never will If Truth and Reason were things so potent how came Folly and Error to prevail over e'm in all Ages and Nations How came Wisdom to live among the Antients in Porches and Tubs and Fools to shine in Palaces whilst living and in Temples when dead How came Truth among Christians to be troden under foot for several hundreds of Years whilst Error and Folly rode on mens Shoulders and trod on Princes Necks Mens Shoulders had never been so ill us'd if their Heads had been good And when a Germane Fryar dâ—scovered Trutb by an accident as strange as another did Gunpowder how come the latter mischievous invention to have fifty times the success of the former and to pierce a hundred times as many Heads and Hearts If Truth in Schools and Churches meet so much contempt what must it expect in so wretched a thing as a Play is now esteemed The wisest Men among the Ancients indeed thought themselves scarce wise enough to judge Drammatique Poetry but ours think themselves much too Wise and throw it off as a Trifle for Women and Fools to play with and by that means it pines more and more into a Trifle For what vigour soever is necessary to please Ladies elsewhere Impotence best delights e'm upon the Stage The Poets that will hit the right Mark must aim at the Boxes and what Arrows they shoot over them are all lost nor are our Male Judges of a more Masculine Spirit I have always observed when an Actor talks Sense the Audience begins to sleep but when an unnatural passion sets him a grimacing and howling as if he were in a fit of the Stone they immediately waken listen and stare as if some rare Operator were about to Cut him In short Sense is so great a stranger to the most that it is never welcome to Company for its own sake but the sake of the Introducer For this reason I use your Name to guide that share of it is in this Play through the Press as I did Shakespear's to support it on the Stage I called it in the Prologue Shakespear's Play though he has no Title to the 40th part of it The Text I took out of his Second Part of Henry the Sixth but as most Texts are serv'd I left it as soon as I could For though Shakespear be generally very delightful h is not so always His Volumn is all up-hill and down Paradise was never more pleasant than some parts of it nor Ireland and Greenland colder and more uninhabitable then others And I have undertaken to cultivate one of the most barren Places in it The Trees are all Shrubs and the Men Pigmies nothing has any Spirit or shape the Cardinal is duller then ever
Glocester The FIRST PART ACT. I. Enter Humphry Duke of Glocester Duke of York Cardinal Beauford Duke of Somerset Duke of Buckingham Earl of Salisbury Earl of Warwick Glo. MY Lords you cannot but have seen of late Much discontent sit always on my Brow All Men that know me well must know no private Petty concernment can unfix my mind No some will think perhaps I speak too proudly I care not what they think I 'le speak my Mind Nothing has weight enough to press my spirits Less than the great Misfortunes of the Kingdom Card. So how my Lord Protector gracefully aside Ushers himself into these Lords esteem What bosom here now will not bid him wellcome I hate him but I will not let him know it Till I can let him know it to his ruine Glo. Ah! my Lords Did my valiant glorious Brother Henry the Fifth erect the Law of England Above the Roman or the Macedonian Do things that made the Continent all tremble When e're the favourable Winds unlockt The floating Gates of this our little World To let out that our brave Warriors to invade it That France not only did confess it self A Vassal to his Royal English Blood But the whole Empire of the World did seem To own it self the Birth right of his Valour Yo. Eternity shall ne'r wear out the Characters Of his Renown which his keen Sword engrav'd Glo. Ay yes his fame shall last but not his Empire He 's dead and with him his great Empire dies All that hiâ— Valour got all that the vigilance And wisdom of my Brother Bedford kept All that your selves and I have early and late Study'd to keep and kept some years with glory Crowning our King in Paris in his Infancy Making Proud France bow to an English Child All all these Labours Victories and Glories Are melting down in a soft beautious bosom Given away to purchase a Fair Face A fatal Marriage in one fatal minute Has spoyld the Work of many glorious years Card. Nephew you are more passionate than needs Erance is not gone nor shall it go so easily Glo. No 't is not gone indeed but all the sluces Are pulling up and it is going fast 'T is pouring out apace in Provinces The new made Duke of Suffolk gives whole Provinces To buy the King a Wife Anjou and Maine Are frankly given to the Queen 's poor Father King â—eignier whose high and flowing style Dwells far above the Banks of his low Purse But he must have these Provinces to fill it Of such low value in this Duke's esteem Is all the purchase of our Blood that he Wil give it all away for Blushing Cheeks Sal. Those Dukedoms were the Keys of Normandy My Lord of Warwick Weeps Why weeps my Son War Who wou'd not weep to see his own Blood cheapned And sold before his Face at a low rate I won those Provinces and what got With Wounds is given away with peaceful words Glo. Yes and to make it even ridiculous The Duke of Suffolk Asks a whole Fifteenth For Charges to Transport the Queen to England What Was there ne'r a Beauty in the World Besides the Queen yes sure there was in England Had the King so much doted upon Beauty He might have Married one of His fair Subjects And had more Beauty at a cheaper rate Card. My Lord of Glocester this is hot discourse And as I think to very little purpose Since what is done now cannot be recall'd And what is done was done to please the King Glo. My Lord of Winchester I understand you 'T is not my hot Discourse but Presence warms you You have a Fester'd Mind and 't will break out I saw it in your Face if I stay longer We shall begin our antient Bickerings But such small matters shall not trouble me I will be gone but e're I go I 'le Prophesy France will be lost but I desire to prove As False a Prophet as you are a Priest Exeunt Card. Affronted thus ' Pox o' these fumbling Robes aside How came my Warlike Spirit wrapt in these Formalities that hold my hands from Blood I 'm fitter for a Sword and I will use one Did you not hear the good Protector Lords Expect what usage you will have when I His Unckle and a Priest am thus abus'd You see how well his Enmity is heal'd And he has much the same kiâ—dness for you And indeed for the King He makes great shew Of Zeal for England and he has great zeal for it That is t' enjoy it he is heir apparent And the King cannot please him by a Marriage Unless he 'd Wed an Altar or a Cell Be not my Lords cheated with his smooth words What though the foolish common people dote on him Clapping their hands and shouting when they see him Crying Heaven save your Roâ—al Excellence And call him always the good Duke of Glocester They are Fools and know not Men nor what they love Uncheat e'm but however save the King Protect him from his dangerous Protector Buck. Why shou'd the King my Lords have a Protector He is of age I think to rule himself My Lord of Somerset joyn you with me We with the Duke of Suffolks ayd will hoyse Duke Humphry from his Seat Card. This weighty business Brooks no delay I 'le to the Duke of Suffolk Exit Som. Though the Protector 's Pride and Greatness vex us The Cardinal's Insâ—lence is more intolerable If Gloster be displac'd he 'l be Protector Buck. If Gloster falls or you or I 'le succeed Ex. Buck. and Sal. Sal. So so the Kingdom will thrive well no doubt When all will rend her for their private ends I never saw but the good Duke of Glocester Bore himself like a Noble Gentleman But I have seen the Cardinal demean himself More like a Soldier than a Priest he 'l often Swear like a Ruffian quarrel like a Hector Trample on all as he were Lord of all My worthy Son and you my Lord of York My valâ—aâ—t Brother let us joyn together And shâ—w the Kingdom has some good Men in it Who faithfully will serve their King and Country And ayd all others who promote that work And among those I reckon the Protector War So heaven help me as I love my Country Ex. Sal. War Yo. And so say I for I have greatest cause Anjou and Main are given to the French Two Dukedoms given for a Dukes fair Daughter Henry I blame thee not What is it to thee Thou dost not give away thine own but mine Pirates may make cheap penny-worths of their Pillage Whilst the poor injur'd owner stands aloofe And shakes his head and weeps and wrings his hands And sees his Goods all borne away and dares Not touch his own or scarcely call it his England and France and Ireland are my Kingdoms One day I may both claim and seize my own And from weak Henry's Head may pull the Crown These high fierce Tempests methinks make it shake What opportunity
Minion Trayterous Suffolk That I were now a Pestilence to cover her From head to foot with tort'ring deadly sores I will throw scorn on her as I pass by A thing a Woman hates worse than the Plague And I will undermine her Royal Glories If digging deep as lowest Hell will do it I 'le climbe the Throne or else to Hell I 'le fall If Heaven won't make me great the Devil shall Qu. Ha! Did you not observe my Lord of Suffolk With what contempt that Woman look'd upon me As she past by Suff. I saw it and I laugh'd at it Qu. Ho! call her back and fling her at my feet Suff. She shall fall shortly there and lower too If my Plots fail not Enter Petitioners Peter the Armorers Man being one 1. Pet. May it please your Grace Suff. What woud'st thou have with me 1. Pet. I think you be my Lord Protectors Grace If you be pray your Grace see my Petition 2. Pet. And mine 3 Pet. And mine an 't please your Grace Qu. So All Petitions to the Protector 's Grace The Kingdoms supplications all to him And all the Ladies follow his Wives Train The King and I are only Royal Cyphers Flourish'd and guilded only with fine Titles Come What are your Petitions let me see e'm 1. Pet. Mine is an 't please you Madam against John Goodman my Lord Cardinall's Man for keeping my House and my Lands and my Wife from me Suff. How thy Wife from thee too that 's very hard 1. Pet. Nay an 't please your Grace let him give me my House and my Lands and let him keep my Wife an' he will I do not care now he has had her so long Suff. What 's yours What 's here Against the Duke of Suffolk for Enclosing the Commons of Melford How now you Rascal 2. Pet. An 't please your Grace I am but a poor Petitioner of our whole Township Pet. Mine is against my Master Thomas Horner for saying the Duke of York is lawful Heir to the Crown Qu. How Pet. Yes and that the King is but an Usurper Qu. There 's a Villain indeed Suff. Who is there Enter a Servant Take this Fellow in and send for a Pursuivant presently We 'l hear more of this Matter before the King Qu. You here who shroud your selves under the Protector Begin your Suits anew and sue to him Tears their Petitionâ— This is the Duke of Suffolk I 'me your Queen 2 Pet. The Duke of Suffolk oh I am undone Qu. Away you Slaves ho turn these Fellows out Is this the Fashion in the Court of England Is this the Royalty of th' English King To be a Pupil to a Governour Am I a Queen yet Subject to a Duke Oh my La Poole when in the City Tours Thou rann'st a tilt in honour of my Love And stol'st away the Ladies hearts of France I from thy Graces copyed in my Mind A charming glorious Picture of King Henry I thought thy Courage Courtship and Proportion Had been brave Shadows of thy braver King But oh there ne'r was Woman so deceiv'd At the first sight of the Kings sad grave Look The golden Image of him in my mind Fell down upon my heart and almost broke it My heavy heart sunk in a Royal shadow And greater was the fall because before It stood on high and golden expectations Ah! never was so sad a fall as that From glorious Suffolk down to soft King Henry Suff. Madam be patient for I Married you Not to the poor weak King but to the brave Kingdom And that I 'le make a glorious Husband to you Qu Indeed the Marriage 'tween the King and me Is but a strange one for to speak the truth I 'm Wedded to the Throne more than to him And he is Married more to Heaven than me His Soul is Married to all the Saints in Heaven Heaven is the King 's spacious Seraglio There his heart lives that which he leaves below With me and with the Kingdom is a shadow Suff. He is indeed no more but a King's Ghost That walks in night it has been night in England E'r since that Glorious Sun his Father set And France and England like two metled Steeds bound startle break their reins and run away At sight of this pale Ghost nor will be Govern'd Qu. 'T were night with England I am sure with me If 't were not for my glorious La Poole If 't were not for thee England were Hell to me And I tormented with Infernal pains Under the Arrogance of the Protector Of Cardinal Beauford that imperious Church Man Of Somerset Buckingham and grumbling York For each of these is greater than the King Suff. And Salisbury and Warwick are as great as they Qu. Indeed for any thing that I can see The King 's the only Subject iâ— the Kingdom He obeys all and no one obeys him But all this does not vex me half so much As the intolerable insolence Of that proud Dame the Lord Protectors Wife She invades the Court each day with Troopes of Ladies And vanquishes my Glory so entirely That I appear a little falling Star And she a Comet upon whom all gaze Her very Habit does exceed in cost Th' expences of a little Princes Court She Swim's along the Court like a Guilt Ship New come from India laden all with Jewels And then she scorns to strike her Sayl to me But over-looks me like a little Pinke Laden with Toyes and Fripperies from France This slave to Pride that shou'd be slave to me Vaunted amongst her Minions the other day The very Train of her worst wearing Gown Was better worth then all my Fathers Lands Till Suffolk gave two Dukedoms for his Daughter Suff. Laugh at her Pride for Madam it shall shortly Be your Divertisement and her Destruction I 've dug a Pit for the fierce Lyoness Who greedy of Honor ranges to the very Suburbs of Hell for it and I 've turn'd loose Jackalls to tempt her to the Pit in shew Of guiding her to her desired Prey See here comes one of my Jackalls Sir John What News Enter Humes Humes Good News my Lord I have been with the Duchess And did Salute her in the Devil's Name With the Title of Majesty Suff. Ha! ha ha Laughs Qu. What do you mean Suff. Madam the Story will make you Laugh the Duchess Is going to the Devil for Preferment Qu. How To the Devil Suff. Yes and bribes this Gentleman To find out some of the Devil's Spyes and Agents To ayd her in a Correspondence with him Humes Madam it is most true and I 've found out One Margery Jordan an experienc'd Witch And Roger Bullingbrook a Conjurer And they pretend they 'l raise from Hell a Spirit Shall tell her all she 'l aske Qu. Sure they are Cheats Suff. They shall be Cheats to her and her Duke Humphry Two mortal Devils call'd York and Buckingham Shall send their Devil to Hell and carry her To what she more than Hell abhors to
shame And ruine and her Duke shall quickly follow He must have share of it in spite of him Qu. Oh! my La Poole that I were now in private aside To Kiss thee for this Plot Oh! 't is a rare one Humes carry on this Plot here 's Gold for thee Thou shalt have more Humes So the Gold tumbles in On every side of me but 't is no wonder aside I serve the Master of the Mines of the Devil And how in Hell he uses Slaves I know not He is an excellent Master in this World Exit Qu. Oh! Suffolk thou didst never look so lovely In all thy Life as now nor did I ever Feel such transporting pleasure in my Soul Now I shall be a Queen Suff. A glorious one I 'm sure the fairest England ever saw Qu. Oh! Suffolk bravest loveliest of Men I 'm trebly blest by thee thou dost delight My Love and my Revenge and my Ambition Now all the Ladies that in scorn of me Flatter'd and waited on proud Gloster's Wife Shall suddenly repent their sawcy follies Suff. The Duke 's of Somerset and Buckingham With the Insolent Cardinal shall all fall too As for the Duke of York this late Complaint Will make but little for his benefit So one by one we 'l tumble e'm all down Qu. And on the Ruines of 'em all we 'l revel Suff. And England at the Queen's command shall be Qu. I 'le Govern that and thou shalt govern me ACT II. The King and Queen sat in State Duke Humphry Cardinal Buckingham York Salisbury Warwick and the Duchess attending King FOr my own part my Lords I care not whether Rules France the Duke of Somerset or York All 's one to me they are both fitting Men. York Sir if I ill demean'd my self in France Then let me be deny'd the Regentship Som. Sir if I be unworthy of the place Then give the Duke of York the Regentship War Whether your Grace my Lord be worthy or not Dispute not that the Duke of York is worthier Car. Ambitious Warwick let your betters speak War The Cardinal 's not my betters in the Field Buck. My Lord all in this Presence are your betters War In Title not in Fortune or in Courage Sal. Peace Son King Oh! peace my Lords Do not you know What little pleasure I have in my Crown And Do you strive to make me wearier of it You take it ill if I refuse you Governments Yet you deny to let me Rule in quiet I wonder what you see in this vile World Worth the contending for Heaven has entrusted me With Three Great Kingdoms England France and Ireland And I must give Account of 'em to Heaven And not throw up my Charge for my own ease Else I wou'd gladly give e'm all to buy The holy Peace any of you may have Yet you disturb your selves and me for Rule Which I account a Pennance for my sins Qu. Is this a King that speaks or some poor Pilgrim That having lost his way seates himself ignorantly Down in a Throne and does not know 't is one And falls a Preaching to the gaping Multitude Oh! What a Prince is this to sway three Kingdoms Aside And what a Husband 's this for a young Queen Yo. Most Gratious Soveraign our chief contention Is to give you that ease which you delight in To lay the burden of your Government On Men whose Loyalty and great Abilities May bear e'm up both to your ease and glory Sal. And for the Government of France my Lord Of York no Man so fitting as your self And pray my Lord of Buckingham shew reason Why you prefer the Duke of Somerset Qu. Because 't is the King's Will to have it so Glou. Madam the King is old enough himself To speak his Mind these are no Womens matters Qu. If he be old enough What needs your Grace To be Protector of His Majesty Glou. Madam I am Protector of the Kingdom And at His pleasure will resign my Place Suff. Resign it then and leave your Insolence Since you were King As who is King but you The Common-wealth has daily run to ruine The Dauphin seiz'd our Provinces in France And you our Liberties and Honors here Car. The Commons you have Rack't the Clergies Bags Are lank and lean with your Extortions Som. You spend the Publick Treasure most profusely On Sumptuous Buildings for your Luxury And costly Attire for your Wive's Vanity Elia. So so my Dress becomes a Crime of State Shortly I do believe you will Arraign My Necklaces and Bodkins of High Treason You cannot do it by the Law of England ' Cause they have not their Equals here to try 'em by Buck. We may extort the Law as oft your Husband Has done to punish beyond bounds of Law Qu. And not content to waste the Publick Treasure Both on his own and his Wive's foolish Pride He has as the Suspition's very strong Made Sale of Offices and Towns in France Which if 't were prov'd shou'd make him lose his Head Glo. How am I baited beyond Human sufferance I will go out and coole lest I be tempted To act or speak any thing Unworthy of my self and of this Presence Exit King My Lords my Lords I see and grieve to see Too much Ill-mindedness in all this Fury We oft by Lightning read in darkest Night And by your Passions I read all your Natures Though you at other times can keep e'm dark But I have Read e'm when you thought it not And I my self scarce minded what I did I like the musing Hermit in the Desert Feel the cold nipping blasts of the rough Wind And hear the Howles of Wolves and Yelpes of Foxes Though I regard e'm not nor mind at all To shun e'm or to fortifie against e'm Card. I hope the King rankes not among the Wolves One of the Shepherds of the Sacred Flock King I shou'd be glad I had no cause at all Suff. I hope there 's none of us has spoken any thing But from deep sence of Loyalty and Honor Against a Traytor to the King and Kingdom King I 'le Judge so honourably of you all To think you only eccho Publick Rumor And Ecchoes that miscall the Passenger Injure him not but they that set e'm talking Publick Report then wrongs the Duke not you For if you know him false Why don't you prove it Then you do ill to do no more then Talke Qu. Sir subtle Men don't use to act their Wickedness In Roades in Markets or on Steeple tops But closely hid so hid that oft the Devil Who did employ e'm scarce knows what they mean Elia. Come Sir all this is spoken out of envy Low crawling envy envy that is chok'd With the great Dust the Train of my Robes make Whence came this beggarly Spirit into England It never can be of the English growth The late great Conquerors of Towns and Provinces Fallen to envy a Lady's Cloaths Oh! beggarly Some poor French Pedler brought this Spirit hither
' Mongst the small Wares they sell so dear to us Qu. Oh! how she taunts me this is meant to me Aside I will take an occasion to affront her Le ts fall her Fan. Give me my Fan What Minion Can you not She gives the Duchess a Box o' th' â—â—re I cry you Mercy Madam Was it you Elia. Yes it was I proud Daughter of a Beggar Strike me thy betters many times thy betters Bating the Dignity thc King bestows on thee No mar'le thou look'st with envy on my Jewels Thy Father cou'd not give thee Gold enough Only to Guild one of the Kings Prayer-Books The King was forc'd to give him two great Provinces That so it might not shamefully be said The Father of the Queen of England starves Qu. So so King Fye Madam Fye this is too much Pray Rule your self it was against her will Elia. Against her will no! Sir 't was with her will And shortly she will do as much to you But she shall never strike me unreveng'd Exit Elia. Buck. I will follow her my Lord Cardinal And listen after the Duke how he proceeds The Duchess Fury now will need no spurs She 'l gallop fast enough to her destruction Card. And let her gallop and the Devil speed her Ex. Buck. Enter Duke Humphry Glo. My Lords I 've walk'd away from all that passion Which your false spiteful Accusations Had kindled in my breast and now I come In a cold candid temper to advise you To spare your selves for me you cannot hurt Bring any Proofs of what you have accused me And I lye open to the Law as any Man At least I will do so for if you think My Office fences me I 'le throw it down But to the matters that we have in hand I say the Duke of York's the fittest person To be your Regent Sir in France Suff. Before Election's made let me shew reason why The Duke of York is most unfit of any Man York My Lord of Suffolk I will tell you why Because I scorn to be your Flatterer Next if I be appointed for the place Such is my Lord of Somersets ambition And hate to me that he will keep me here Without Discharge Money or Furniture Till France be wonn he had rather it were lost Than any one shou'd rule it but himself Last time I danc'd Attendance on his will Till Paris was besieg'd famish'd and lost War That I can witness and a blacker Treason Was ne'r committed Suff. Peace my Lord of Warwick Here 's one shall silence you and him you plead for Enter Armorer and his Man Peter York How Silence me Suff. Yes here is a Man accused Of Treason that relates to you my Lord. York Does any one accuse me for a Traytor King What do you mean my Lord What Men are these Suff. An 't please your Majesty this is the Man That does Accuse his Master of High Treason His words were these That Richard Duke of York Was the true lawful heir to the Crown of England And that your Majesty was an Usurper King Say Man Were these thy words Arm. An 't please your Majesty I never said nor thought any such matter Heaven is my witness I am falsely accus'd Pet. By these ten bones he spoke e'm to me one night my Lord in the Garret when we were scow'ring the Duke of York's Armour York Base Villain I will have thee hang'd for this Most Trayt'rous Speech I do beseech your Majesty Let him find all the rigour of the Law Ar. Hang me my Lord if ever I spoke these words My Accuser is my Prentice and I correcting him For his Fault the other day he Vow'd on 's knees He 'd be reveng'd on me I have good witness Therefore I beseech your Majesty cast not away An Honest Man for a Rogues Accusation One that has been a Rogue Sir all his Life A most notorious Rogue Sir I beseech you King Unckle What shall we say to this in Law Glo. If I may Judge Sir let the Duke of Somerset Be Regent o'r the French because the Duke Of York lies under violent suspition And let these have a day appointed e'm For single Combate ' cause the Armourer Has Witness of his Servants Threats and Malice This is the Law and this is Sir my Sentence King Let it be so Som. I humbly thank your Majesty Armo. And I accept the Combat willingly Pet. Alass my Lord I cannot fight oh pity me Oh Heaven have mercy on me I shall never Be able to strike a blow oh Lord my heart Why the Devil must I fight Is this my Reward for Witnessing I cannot fight Glo. Sirrah you must fight or be hang'd King Away with e'm to Prison till the Combat Come my Lord Duke I will dispatch you to France All go out but the Cardinal Card. I will not rest till I 've the Blood of Glocester He must be Lord Protector of the Kingdom And Lord it over me He thinks he is A better Man ' cause he is a King's Son And I but Son of the Duke of Lancaster He is the Son of Henry the Fourth And I of Henry's Father John of Gaunt But at my making there it seems did want Some Holy Ceremonies for want of which I 'm that the Rude Ill-manar'd Law calls Bastard And ' cause the Law has thrust me from Succession To the great Temporal Glories of my Father They wrap'd me up in a Priest's Robe and lay me Out of the World and in the way of Heaven They shou'd have drest poor Henry in this Child's Coat And laid him in the Cradle of the Church And hum'd him fast asleep with Holy Stories His little Soul was fitter for those things Well I will go to Heaven but in my way I at the Lord Protectorship will bayt Or I will lye abroad in stormes of Blood My Cosins themselves Legitimate may call Their Souls compar'd with mine are Bastards all Exit Enter Elianor Humes the Scene a Room in the Conjurer's House Elia. Where are your Instruments Humes They are both ready Preparing their dire Charms and Exorcisms Elia. Call e'm Enter Bullingbrook and the Witch Humes Come in this Madam is Roger Bullingbrook A Man of wonderful and dreadful Art He has a Key to the Infernal deep And let 's abroad what Spirit he will and when And when he will he Chains him up again This Woman equals him in Power and Art Her Name is Jordan Elia. Come begin your Charmes Bull. Dare you be present Madam Elia. Dare the Devil Come in my presence for I dare meet him Bull. Madam you may for Heaven fetters him And gives us Mortal Creatures Power to do so I gain'd my Art by Prayer and profound Study Then nothing fear Elia. I ne'r knew what fear was Bull. Go Mother Jordan get the Incense ready The Witch goes out Elia. Well said my Masters come begin begin Bull. Pray Patience Madam for we know our times Our time is in the Deep and Silent Night
The time when Cities oft are set on fire When Râ—bberies and Murders are committed When Bandogs Howle and Shreich-Owles Warn the Dying When Spir t s Walk and Ghosts break up their Graves Then Devils come abroad to meet their Friends And that 's the time best fit 's our present Work But Madam sit and fear not whom we raise We will make fast within a hallowed Verge Enter the Witch with a Pan of Coales Bull. Fling Incense in then grovel on the Earth The Witch fling's something on the Coales and then the Conjurer immediately falls prostrate makes a Circle with his Wand then takes a Book and Reades Bull. Thou mighty Spirit one of the chief Powers And Potentates in the Infernal Kingdom Whose Empire extends wide in Night and Chaos Whose Provinces are Peopled thick with damn'd By that Authority he gives me o'r thee Who hurl'd thee down into these doleful Regions I chargee thee to obey my dread Commands And at my calling to appear Appear Asmath appear Bull. Asmath Appear appear Witch Asmath Appear appear Thunder and Lightning a Sprit rises Spirit I 'm here Bull. I charge thee by th' eternal being Whose name and power thou ever tremblest at To Answer that I Ask for till thou speak Thou shalt not stir from hence Spirit Ask what thou wilt But prethee do not keep me with thee long Bull. First of the King What shall become of him Spirit The Duke now lives that Henry shall Depose But him out-live and dye a violent Death Bull. Now say What fate attends the Duke of Suffolk Spirit By Water shall he meet his latest Breath Bull. What shall befall the Duke of Somerset Spirit Let him shun Castles Safer shall he be on the Sandy Plains Then where Castles mounted stand H'a done for more I hardly can endure Bull. Descend to darkness and the Burning Lake Be gon be gon The Spirit descends with Thunder and Lightning Enter the Dukes of York and Buckingham with a Guard and seize e'm Yo. Lay hands upon these Traytors and their Trash Elia. Ha! Yo. Madam yes I think we have watch'd you narrowly The King and Kingdom are indebted to you For this fine piece of Work my Lord Protector Who no doubt set you a Work will see you rewarded Elia. What mighty Mischief have I done my Lords Talked with a Devil I every day converse With worse then Devils with your selves my Lords But I've it seems disturb'd the Peace of Hell What you have Interest there and many Friends Forgive me Lords but yet you can disturb The King and Kingdom 's Peace Is that no Crime Buck. You have commited Madam then no crime It seems away with those and Guard e'm close Keep e'm asunder see that all their Trinkets Be forth-coming Madam you must with us Guard lead out Elia. Witch and Conjurer Yo This was an excellent Plot well chose t' build on Now pray my Lord let 's see the Devil 's Writ The Duke yet lives that Henry shall Depose Reads But him outlive and dye a violent death Buck. This is just Aio te Aeacida Romanos vincere posse Yo. The Devil still keeps to his old trade of Quibling Buck. He is the Father of all Lyers and Quiblers Yo. Well to the rest What Fate attends the Duke of Suffolk Reads By Water shall he meet his latest breath What shall befall the Duke of Somerset Let him shun Castles Safer shall he be on Sandy Plains Then where Castles mounted stand Fine stuff The Devil I see is grown old and dull The King is now in Progress towards St. Albans With him the Husband of this lowly Lady Whether go all these Cloudy Oracles As fast as Horse can carry e'm A sorry Breakfast for my Lord Protector Buck. Your Grace shall give me leave my Lord of York To be the Post Yo. My Lord at your own pleasure Within there ho Enter a Servant Intreat my Lords of Salisbury and Warwick To take a short Collation at my House This Afternoon away My Lord your Servant Ex. Enter the King Queen Protector Cardiâ—al Suffolk as from Hawking Attendants Somerset Salisbury Warwick Qu. Believe me Lords for flying at the Brook I ne'r had better sport in all my life Yet by your leave the Wind was very high King But what a Point my Lord your Falcon made And what a pitch she flew above the rest Suff. My Lord Protector 's Hawks towre like their Master Above their Fellows Glo. 'T is an humble Mind That mounts my Lord no higher than a Bird. Card. I thought he soon wou'd be above the Clouds Gl. Ay my Lord Cardinal how think you by that Wou'd not your Grace be glad to mount towards Heaven K. The Treasury of Everlasting Joy Card. Your Heaven is on Earth your eyes and thoughts Beat on a Crown the Treasure of your Heart Pernitious haughty treacherous Protector Who smooth it thus both with the King and Kingdom Gl. How Cardinal Tantaeve animis Coelestibus irae Church-Men so hot Uncle for shame let your Robe hide your Malice Suff. No Malice my Lord but Zeal that which becomes So good a Quarrel with so bad a Lord. Gl. As who Suff. Why as your Self my Lord Protector Gl. My Lord of Suffolk England knows your Insolence Qu. And your Ambition my Lord of Glocester K. How Madam You a Stirrer of Debate These are the pleasant Sounds that follow me Where-e'er I go I 'm an Inchanted Isle Surrounded with Eternal raging Storms Whoe'er approaches me hazards a Wreck These Winds and Waves beat on my Lord Protector Because he is a Rock that Guards my Coast Card. Good Heaven what Arts has the Protector us'd To charm you Sir that you can see all Loyalty In him who means you hurt and none in us Who shew our Loyal Zeal to guard you from him Were it but one of us that shewed this Zeal It might be thought an Envy to his Greatness And a design to get into his Office But since we all unite our Accusations We can have no design but Loyalty Since all of us cannot be Lord Protectors K. But all may hope though only one can be so But come my Lords do not I know you all I mind you often when you think I do not You think I 'm fast asleep to all this World I wou'd be so but you disturb my rest And break my slumbers with your furious Broils And make me mind you whether I will or no. Alas I pity you you wrong your selves Much more than me and yet you trouble me Trouble my Counsels trouble my Devotions Trouble my Sports but Sirs I thank you for it For by these Tempests you stir up the Mud That lodges in the bottom of this World And make all Pleasures here a Puddle to me And make me long for the pure Joys above To do me good though you design me none Qu. Here I am tir'd with everlasting Preaching Aside Card. The King and I ought to change Offices Aside He is more
save your self From Whipping leap o'r this Stool and run away Simp. Alass Master I am not able to stand alone You go about to Torture me in vain Glo. Well Sirrah I must have you find your Legs Whip him till he leap o'r that same Stool Simp. Master What shall I do I cannot stand Glo. Leap Sirrah Leap Simp. Oh! oh Beadle Whips him he leaps over the Stool and runs away and they cry a Miracle follow King Do'st thou behold thir Heaven and bear thus long Glo. Bring back the Rogue and take this Drabbe away Wife Alass we did it for pure need forsooth Glo. Let e'm be Whipt through every Market Town Till they come to Berwick from whence they came Car. Heark you Are not you a Company of Damn'd Fools To employ such a Silly Rogue as this Softly to a Fryer That has shewn all your Cheats to the whole World Fry My Lord they were known to all Wise Men before And such a Fool will serve to Couzen Fools And Fools are those that we must hope to stand by Exit Enter Buckingham King What Tidings brings my Lord of Buckingham Buc. Such as my heart does temble to relate My Lord Protector 's Wife has practis'd horridly And dangerously against your Majesties Life H 'as dealt with Hellish Conjurers and Witches To raise up wicked Spirits from under Ground To acquaint her with your destiny and Councel her How she may ayd your Fate and hasten it She 's enquir'd too of the Infernal Oracle The Fates of several of your Majesties Council We apprehended e'm all in the Fact Car. Ha! Is she fallen into our Trap that 's well Aside And she shall soon pluck her Duke Humphrey after My Lord Protector your good Lady finding She governs you thinks she can rule the Devil And have th' infernal Powers at her Command Heaven be Prais'd England's Protected well Your Grace is Lord Protector of the Kingdom Your Wife rules you the Devil is her Protector And so the Devil is England's Lord Protector I hope we shall displace his Devilship Glo. And put a worse Devil in if you succeed But these good Churchmen are the heavenly comforts You give your Kinsman in affliction You may insult for sorrow has so vanquisht me The basest Groom may trample on me now King What horrid things are practis'd in this World How vile ones heap confusion on their heads Qu My Lord my Lord you see your nest is tainted Look that your self be faultless you had best Glo. Madam I will not answer for a Woman For my own self to heaven I appeal Who knowes how I have lov'd my King and Country And for my Wife I know not how it stands Sorry I am to hear what I have heard Noble she is but if she have forgot Honor and Vertue I will forget her And banish her my Bed and my Acquaintance And give her up to the just punishment Which â—he deserves for so much wickedness And so dishonouring my honest Name King I will to London with what haste I can To look into this business thoroughly And call these foul offenders to their Answers Ex. Om. prae Suff. and the Qu. Qu. My dear dear Suffolk how thou every moment Heap'st new delights on me when thou didst get for me The English Crown thou didst not please me more Then now in getting me revenge on Elianor Treading on her methinks I walk in Triumph To a second and more pleasing Coronation Suff. I told you Madam I had snares for her You were impatient and cou'd not stay Till things cou'd ripen Qu. Oh! thou art my Sun My joyes and glories ripen grow and flourish Under thy beautiful and glorious beams Come le ts go see Dame Elianor in her shame The pleasing'st sight in the whole World next thee Suff. Next sight I 'le shew you shall be Gloster's fall The good fond Husband will be loth to stay Behind his Wife though she goes to destruction Qu. Sure thou wert made o' purpose for my Love Had heaven bid me ask for some great Merit A Gift that might have shewed bounty divine I wou'd have said Let Suffolk heaven be mine Ex. ACT III. Enter York Salisbury and Warwick The SCENE the Duke of York's House long Scrowles lying on a Table York NOw my good Lords of Salisbury and Warwick You have perus'd my Title to the Crown I pray deliver me both your opinions War My Lord 't is very plain the Right is yours King Henry claimes the Crown from John of Gaunt Fourth Son of Edward the Third Your Grace claims it From Lyonell Duke of Clarence the Third Son Till Lyonell's Issue fails his shou'd not Reign It failes not yet but flourishes in you â—nd in your Sons fair Branches of your Stock My Lord of Salisbury kneel we together And in this private Room be we the first That shall Salute our Lawful Soveraign With the honor of his Birth-right to the Crown Both. Long live our Sovereign Richard King of England York My Lords I give you both my hearty thanks But I am not your King till I be Crown'd And my Sword slayn'd in the heart blood of all The House of Lancaster and that 's not suddenly Nor very easily to be perform'd We must use Counsel Secresy and Courage Do you as I do in these dangerous days Wink at the Duke of Suffolk's Insolence At Beauford's Pride at Somerset's Ambition At Buckingham and all the Crew of e'm Till they have snar'd the good and wise Duke Humphry Whose Vertues are so many Guardian Angels Both to the King and Kingdom his destruction These ill Men seek and they in seeking that Shall find their own if I can Prophesie Sal. My Lord let us break off we know your Mind War There 's something great within my breast that tells me The Day is coming when the Earl of Warwick Shall make the Duke of York the King of England Yo. And I shall live to make the Earl of Warwick The greatest Man in England but the King Exit The SCENE the Court. Enter King and Queen Duke of Suffolk Duke of Glocester Cardinal Elianor a Prisoner King Madam stand forth and hear your Sentence from me In sight of heaven and me your guilt is great A Crime to which heavens Book adjudges Death Your Fellow Criminals shall suffer Death â—nd 't is notorious false reasoning â—ou shou'd be spar'd because you are great and Noble he World is us'd to such false Reasonings â—nd that 's the cause there is so little Truth in it But I observe but few of the World's Customs Nor will I now be lead away in this Then hear my Sentence since to your great Spirit There is no pain like shame I Sentence you To bear the tort'ring shame of open Pennance And since to live depos'd of all your Honors In some remote sad desolate obscurity Is to you pain like burying alive I Sentence you to spend your days in Banishment With Sir John Stanley in the Isle of Man
Elia. Welcome my Banishment for I am sure My doleful days will not be many there Glo. Oh Wife What hast thou brought upon thy self Did not I timely warn thee of Ambition And say one day 't wou'd do some dismal deed The King has past a righteous Sentence on thee And none have reason to complain but I Who innocently suffer in thy shame My honor shares in all thy sad reproach And my love suffers in thy Banishment That I am punish'd equally with thee Though I am innocent and yet the King Does me no wrong at all no Elianor I 've reason to complain of none but thee Who woud'st not take the Counsels that I gave thee Out of dear Love to thee Elia. I see my folly Glo. Now hast thou brought dishonor on my age And shame and grief will sink me to my Grave Qu. My Lord my Lord you can be sensible Of your Wive's shame but not of the dishonor The King and I both suffer'd by her Insolence You weep ' cause she must suffer an houâ—s Pennance But she has made me suffer horrid Pennance E'er since I was her Queen both to my own And the King's shame and grief that you ne'r wept for She must walk barefoot now upon the stones Time was she trod on me I was her way Which I endur'd to the King's shame and mine And you for that had very small regret Gl. Madam if for her Crimes her too great Crimes The punishment the King has doom'd her â—o Be not enough pray Sentence her to more But let her know an end of punishment But if the Scale be full enough already As the just King who poiz'd it well conceives Do not be heaping till it grows injustice Qu. My Lord she deserves more then she shall suffer Only for the intolerable rudeness Wherewith she treated me her Queen to day To call me to my Face a Beggars Daughter Suppose I were that miserable Beggar Is it well done to tread on Poverty But when by Birth heaven made me a great Princess And the King's Love made me a great Queen her Queen For her to treat me so Was that well done Suff. Yes Madam 't was well done for his Designs Of making her your Queen your Majesty her subject That they had such Designs her present Crimes Are a sufficient proofe and they did well To bring you to subjection by degrees Car. All the reflection I shall make is this He who was Govern'd by so ill a Woman Is very unfit to be the Kingdoms Governor She was his Counsellor the Devil hers Conjecture then what his Designs must be Glo. Lord Cardinal I am sure of your good Word I see what all of you thirst for my ruine I had long since remov'd out of your way If duty to my King had not detain'd me I was afraid to trust him in your hands But I perceive my stay occasions him Perpetual trouble and the heavenly power Has an especial eye to Sacred Kings To his Protection then I 'le leave the King If the King will permit me and retire To bear the heavy burden of my griefs Qu. Pray do my Lord we 'l take you at your word I see no reason why a King of years Shou'd be Protected like a little Child Resign your Staffe and give the King his Kingdom The King by heaven's help may Govern it King Do do my Lord since they 'l all have it so I shall not want a Counsel or Protection For heaven is my hope my stay my guide And go in peace less powerful less great No less belov'd by me and all good Men. Enter York Glo. Then here most Sacred Sovereign is my Staffe As willingly do I resign it to you As e're your glorious Father made it mine As willingly I lay it at your feet As others wou'd ambitiously receive it Farewell good King may you when I am dead Never have cause to shed one tear for me When is your Royal Pleasure that my Wife Shall do her Pennance King Now immediately Glo. Come Elianor let us support our Sorrows Sorrow is natural to this Vale of Tears My fall will rather pleasure to me bring If it shall cause no sorrow to the King Exit Glocester Elianor with a Guard King Oh Lords you have made me part with a good Man I wish I may never have need of him York How Has the Duke resign'd the Government Qu. Yes Henry now is King and I am Queen And Humphry Duke of Glocester scarce himself Two of his stately Branches are lopt from him His Wife is Banish'd and his Staffe resign'd And he will shortly wither with the Mayme Yo. As I wou'd wish How have these haughty Lords asidâ— Most subtilly wrought their own destruction For now the King lies open to my Sword But they shall perish with him for their Villanies A Shout Enter Buckingham King Now What 's the News Buck. May it please your Majesty The Combate 'tween the Armourer and his Man The Appellant and Defendant has been fought According as your Majesty appointed Truth has prevail'd the Guilty Armourer Worsted by his Servant has confest the Treason King Where is the Fellow Buc. They are both without Come in Enter Armorer and his Man with a Guard King What Fellow did you speak the words Arm. Yes please your Majesty King Yet you deny'd ' em Ar. I was unwilling to be hang'd an 't please you King But not unwilling to destroy thy Soul By spilling of an innocent Fellows blood As thou hast done if right had not prevail'd Buck. Sir it was right indeed that did prevail I never saw poor Fellow so afraid As the Armorer's Servant was in all my life And yet he beate his Master by his Innocence Arm. It was my Conscience beate me and not he If my own Conscience had not fought against me I cou'd have beaten twenty such as he Pet. I do not know that for though I was afraid E're I came to it now I know what it is I do not care if I have t'other bout King There 's mischief in this Business I discern it Aside The Common People have been tamper'd with To try how they will like a change of Princes And to make way for it my right is question'd And my good Lord Protector sent away from me Oh! heaven if I be useful to my People Preserve me for their sakes from wicked Men If I be not extend thy Providence To them and let what will become of me Go lead that Traytor to the Death he merits Thou honest man whose truth and innocence Heaven has reveal'd by me shall be rewarded Exit Omnes prae Suffolk and the Queen Qu. Now it goes excellently well indeed This haughty Woman tumbled in the dirt So far beneath my feet I cannot tread upon her Duke Humphrey's charming Rod broken in pieces Wherewith he kept as in a Conjurers Circle The King and Kingdom both out of our reach Suff. Did not I promise you there shou'd be nothing
words were Ransom oft for Faults I never gave condign Punishment Unless the Offender were a bloody Murtherer Or ravenous Thief that fleaec'd poor Passengers Suff. My Lord these Faults are easie quickly answer'd But mightier Crimes shall be laid to your Charge From which you cannot easily purge your self I then Arrest you in his Majestie 's Name And here Commit you to my Lord Cardinal To keep you safely till your time of Trial. King So they scarce know what to accuse him of Aside And yet Arrest him now I find e'm out My Lord of Glocester 't is my special hope That you will clear your self from all Suspition My Conscience tells me you are Innocent Gl. Ah! Gracious Prince these Days are dangerous Vertue ne're saw good Times but one wou'd think If ever it shou'd find e'm 't wou'd be now Under the Reign of such a Saintlike King But now the Devil rages more than ever ' Cause from the Angel-vertues of the King He almost fears the downfal of his Kingdom Under the Reigns of wicked Kings he sleeps Because he knows they do his Business for him But now he let 's out all his fiercest Fiends And bids them do his worst or all is lost Rancour Ambition and foul Subornation Are all at work to take away my Life The Devil will not be content without it If I by Death cou'd serve my King and Country I 'de freelier give my Life than these Lords take it King My Lord my Lord I do believe you Gl. Sir I humbly thank you for your Royal Charity All these Lords know what you believe my innocence Sad were my case if there were proofs as strong Of their foul Charge as their foul Hate and rancour Their very looks are witnesses against e'm Beauford's red sparkling eyes tell his hearts malice And Sufollk's cloudy brow his stormy hate Sharp Buckingham unburden's with his Tongue The envious load that lies upon his heart And dogged York that reaches at the Moon Because I have pluck'd back his roaming Arm Endeavours to pull Vengeance on my Head Nay my Queen has with the rest conspir'd And with her best endeavour has stirr'd up My Gracious King to be my Enemy Ay all of you have laid your Heads together I had notice of your Plots and Conventicles And all to take away my guiltless Life I shall not want false Witness to condemn me Nor store of Treason to augment my Guilt Card. His railing Sir is most intolerable If those that watch to keep your Royal Person From Treason's secret Knife and Traytor 's rage Be thus upbraided chid and rated at And the Offender granted scope of speech 'T will cool Men's zeal to serve your Majesty Suff. Has he not twit our Sovereign Lady here With ignominious words though subtilly coucht As if she had suborned Villains to swear False Allegations to destroy his Life Qu. But I can give the looser leave to rail Beshrew the Winners for they play me false And well such Loosers may have leave to speak Buck. He 'l wrest the sence and hold us here all day Pray my Lord Cardinal look to your Prisoner Card. Sirs take away the Duke and guard him sure Gl. Ah! thus King Henry throws away his Crutch Before his Legs be firm to bear his Body Farewel most gracious Sovereign Heaven protect you You ne're stood more in need of his Protection For I 'me afraid if Heaven does not save you Man will not Oh! that all my fears were groundless King Stay Uncle let me embrace you e're I go I wish I speak it here before their faces I wish my Enemies had but thy innocence I in thy face behold what I ne're saw Or in their looks or any of their actions A map of Honour Truth and Loyalty Card. Oh! Sir and do you thus King Nay Sirs permit me You from my Bosom tear my best of Friends My wisest Councellor my faithful'st Servant And the great torment forces me to speak Ah! yet good Uncle is the hour yet to come That e're I found you false or fear'd your Faith But there are louring Stars envy your state For these great Lords and Margaret your Queen Do seek subversion of your harmless life And I your King want power to save you from e'm Gl. Ah gracious Sovereign send me quickly hence What ever innocence I had before I 'me growing a great Criminal my stay Does make me guilty of your Royal Sorrows King Thou need'st not beg to be sent hence thy Enemies Will quickly send thee hence in spite of me Gl. Oh! what a World is this when such a King Has little Power because he has too much Goodness Card. The Duke sure bears about him some Enchantment Wherewith he does bewitch the King Away with him Gl. I will away and from the World and you Cou'd part with greater joy than e're man left A howling Desert full of Savage Beasts Did I not leave my Sovereign behind But Oh! the joy of my escape is dash'd When I remember I have left him there Bewildred and no one to be his guid Begirt by Wolves and none to be his guard Card. What are we Wolves He does improve in railing Gl. Prove your selves otherwise I shall be glad Let all your wickedness end at my death And I 'le forgive you that with all my heart I will thank Heaven for my destiny If as the Roman Curtius stop'd the Plague By leaping down into the gaping Earth So I by being thrown into the Grave Cou'd stop the plague of your Ambition But I 'me afraid I shall do no such miracle Suff. This is intolerable My Lord Cardinal Why do you stand so tamely and permit him To wound both yours and all our Honours thus Card. I will endure no more away with him King Farewel good Man Gl. Farewel oh best of Kings Exit with a Guard King So the inhumane Souldier from the panting Breass of his trembling Mother tears an Infant And carries it away before her face Upon his bloody Spear whilst she looks on And swoons and falls and dares not call for help Even so remorseless ha' they born him hence Whilst I with as unhelpless tears bewail The good Man's injuries and with dim'd eyes Look after him and cannot do him good So mighty are his vowed Enemies Whom he I 'me sure ne're wrong'd he ne're wrong'd any Man Exit Qu. Do you see my Lords in what a case we are The King will hear nothing against the Duke The King is cold full of foolish pity And Glocester's shew beguiles his easie mind Just as a Snake roul'd in a flowry Bank Which shining checker'd slough does sting a Child That for the beauty thinks it excellent Believe me Lords were none more wise than I And I believe my self not dull in this This Glocester shou'd be quickly rid of the World To free the King from danger us from fear Card. That he shou'd die is worthy Policy But yet we want some Colour for his death And
the Living cannot eat Nor drink nor sleep in quiet for the Dead The Dead that can do none of e'm must plague us Thou envious Ghost get to thy own abode I know not where it is in Heaven or Hell Oh! Hell Hell Hell I am tormented Oh! 1 Mur. Oh! gallant brave Infallibility Enter the King Salisbury Warwick King How does the Cardinal 2 Mur. Sir of a sudden He 's fallen into a fit of Infallible Madness Card. Ha! who are these Stand off stand off who are you Sal. This is your King Card. What King The King of Terrors Death is it he If thou be'st Death I 'le give thee Treasure enough to purchase all this Kingdom So thou wilt let me live and feel no pain King Ah! What a sign it is of evil life When Death's approach appears so terrible War My Lord my Lord Do you know your King Car. What King what King War King Henry Car. Ha! King Henry Sir bring me to my Trial when you will I am prepar'd died he not in his Bed Can I make men live whether they will no Oh! do not torture me I will confess Oh! King Poor wretch War What think you Sir Are not these signs Of horrid Guilt King Let us not Censure him Car. Alive again do you say Ha! shew him me I 'le give a Thousand Pound to look on him Stand by and let me see him there he is He has no Eyes the dust has blinded e'm Comb down his hair look look it stands upright Like Limetwigs set to catch my flying Soul I prethee do not carry me along with thee And I 'le do cruel Pennance all my life Hunger shall tear my Entrals Whips my Flesh Thorns my bare Feet my habit shall be Hair-cloth The Rock my Bed hard Roots my only food Foul Puddle all my drink if this suffice not I 'le sell my self a Slave among the Turks What dost thou say wilt thou consent to this King Oh! thou eternal Mercy cast an eye Of pity on this Wretch Oh! drive away from him The hungry Fiend that strives to gripe his Soul Card. Ha! Wilt thou not consent and must I die Oh! let me live and be a Slave a Dog What must I die Oh! this is very cruel War See how he grins Sir with the pangs of Death Sal. Disturb him not let him pass peaceably King Peace to his Soul if it be Heavens good pleasure Lord Cardinal If you have any hopes of Heaven Hold up your hand and give a joyful signal Sal. He gives us none King Oh! Heaven have mercy on him War He gives a dreadful signal of his Guilt King Forbear to judge him we are sinners all He 's dead close up his eyes and let us all To sad and devout Meditation Exeunt The Scene is drawn The Queen weeping A Lady attending Qu. How am I robb'd of all my joys in Youth That now my doleful Years will hang on me Like a great Family on a poor Bankrupt My hope is Destiny will ne're be able With this great weight of Misery upon me To drag me to the Prison of old Age Where we lie cold and dark as in the Grave And have as great a load of Earth upon us Where melancholy thoughts about us crawl Like Toads in Dungeons about Malefactors That Prison where through gates of Horror wrinkled Fate feeds us with the Water of our Tears But enough to quench the thirst of Sorrow For the old Well is then almost dried up Lady Oh! Madam you 'l bring Age on you in Youth If you weep thus Qu. I wou'd if I cou'd bring on me The only joy of Age to be near Death But I have a long Life to travel through Barren and comfortless as any Desert And I am spoil'd of all just at the entrance Enter another Lady 2 Lady Madam there 's a Gentleman without Come from aboard a Vessel where the Duke Of Suffolk lately was Qu. Oh! bring him Enter a Gentleman Oh! saw you lately Sir the Duke of Suffolk Gent. Yes Madam Qu. Oh! How does he Gent. Well I doubt not He is at the end of an unhappy Journey Qu. In France already Gent In a better Country Madam forgive my zeal to my dear Lord. I had the honour to be once his Servant And knowing well your Majesty did bear A very great respect to his great Merit Came to entreat you to revenge his Blood Qu. His Blood Gent. His Blood See Madam this was once The beauteous manly Visage of my Lord. Shews the Duke of Suffolk 's Head 1 Lady She faints she dies Oh! help for Heaven's sake 2 Lady She stirs she 's coming to her self again Qu. Why have you wak'd me from this pleasing slumber In which I had forgotten my vast misery Where is the bloody Spectacle you shewed me 1 Lady Away with it Qu. Shew it me again I say Oh! barbarous and bloody Spectacle Is this the Noble Duke Is this the man That was the pride of Nature England's Ornament But now is England's everlasting shame Oh! my dear murder'd Duke Is this the meeting Which we at parting promised to each other Love promis'd more than Destiny cou'd pay Who did this cursed deed Gent. A cursed Pyrate Who in the Rivers Mouth clapt him aboard And took the Duke and all of us his Prisoners The Duke they knew not till they spy'd his George And then he own'd himself and for his Ransome Offer'd what sums of Gold they wou'd demand He chanc'd to be one Walter Whitmore's Prize Who lost in Fight his eye Qu. And to revenge it He wou'd put out the Sun Gent. Yes kill the Duke And he was stirr'd to greater insolence By that damn'd Villain which they call'd their Captain Who said the Duke had murder'd good Duke Humphry Begger'd the King lost France and ruined England Nay his foul Tongue did not refuse to spit Dishonour on your Sacred Majesty And said the Duke had injur'd the King's Bed Qu. Impudent Villain Gent. For all which foul Crimes He said he wou'd revenge the King and Kingdom Qu. Bold bloody Villain Gent. The brave Duke on this Calling to mind his Birth was Calculated And it was told him he shou'd die by Water He thought at first the Fiend had quibbled with him And he shou'd die by one who was call'd Water But then remembring that he was at Sea He found the Devil had two strings to his Bow So Saw himself encompast round with Destiny Then lifting up his Eyes to Heaven he smil'd As if he in his noble thoughts derided The sport Fate makes with great mens Lives and Fortunes Then looking down with scorn on his base Enemies He gave a sigh at which he nam'd Queen Margaret And with that grace he acted every thing He bowed his Head and had it stricken off Qu. Oh! execrable Villains cou'd this face Which govern'd me not strike an awe in you Who were not worthy once to look up it And thou unfortunate gallant man Thy Wit thy Valour and
thy delicate Form Were mighty faults which the World cou'd not bear No wonder the vile envy of the base Pursued thee when the Noble cou'd not bear thee They cursed thee as the Negroes do the Sun Because thy shining Glories blackned e'm For which Oh England thus I pray for thee May'st thou ne're breed brave Man or if thou dost Oh! let him be thy Ruine or thou his May all thy Witty men be sadly Vitious Let sloth devour their Fortunes Fools their Fame Lewdness their Souls their Bodies Foul Disease May thy Wise Men be Factious and head Fools If they be honest let e'm loose their Heads Let thy Brave Men against thy self be bravest Be Men at foreign Devils at Civil War Let all thy Pious Sons with zeal run mad And make Religion thy Reproach and Curse May'st thou have all Religions to confound thee And none to save thee Here a bloody Altar Oh! cruel England hast thou made for me Therefore these bloody Prayers I make for thee 2 Lady The King is coming Madam Enter the King King Oh! my Lord I bring thee frightful News the Kentishmen Are up in Arms headed by one Jack Cade A Fellow who proclaims himself Lord Mortimer Descended from the Duke of Clarence Line He is marching towards London in the head Of a rude rugged merciless crowd of Peasants And all the way he proclaims me Usurper And vows to Crown himself at Westminster And in this great distress to comfort me The tray'trous Duke of York with a great Power Is marching hither too and he proclaims He comes but to remove the Duke of Sommerset But most believe he secretly intends To reap the benefit of Cade's Rebellion That I am like a Ship beset with danger Threatned with Wracking by the Kentish Storm Or to be Boarded by that Pyrate York Qu. So so my Curse on England springs already Aside Oh! this were Musick to me were it not Allay'd by the sad weeping of my Son Heir of these Noble Kingdoms who methinks Sighs in my Ear Ah Mother for my sake Pity the helpless King my unfortunate Father He was Crown'd King when he was nine Months old But if you do not aid him his Misfortune Will never suffer me to be a King For thy sake Princely Boy I will assist him And something for his own he 's a good Man Though a weak King and it was my ambition Made Suffolk stain his hands in innocent Blood Which Crime forgive me Heaven and let the Duke Of Suffolk's Blood be all my Punishment Enter Sommerset and Buckingham Buck. Oh! fly Sir fly the Rebels are in Southwark The Citizens through fear forsake their Houses The Rascal People all joyn with the Traytors Threatning to spoil the City and your Court. Som. Take comfort Royal Sir we 'll all stand by you King Pray let as little Blood be shed as possible I 'le send a holy Bishop to entreat e'm To spare their Souls and Bodies I will promise e'm To mend my Government for I confess England may yet Curse my unfortuate Reign Qu. Come Sir take Spirit in you Men like Buildings Fall to the Ground if never Fire burn in e'm To harden e'm King 's a Royal Building That shou'd have no soft Clay in it at all Adversity has always reign'd upon you And made you soft but yield not Sir to Rebels Royalty like great Beauty must be chaste Rogues will have all if once they get a taste Exeunt Epilogue NOw some fine things perhaps you think to bear But he who did reform this Play does swear He 'll not bestow rich Trappings on a Horse That will want Breath to run a Three-days Course And be turn'd off by Gallants of the Town For Citizens and their Wives to Hackney on Not that a Barb that 's come of Shackspears breed Can e're want Mettle Courage Shape or Speed But you have Poetry so long rides Post That your delight in Riding now is lost And there is Reason for it I must own â—'ave Foundred all the Poets in the Town Alas their Strength and Courage may abate Vnder the Critique's Spur and the Fools Weight And Destiny is playing wanton Tricks Turning the Nation round to Politiques The Romish Beast has fear'd her from her Wits And thrown her in her old Convulsion Fits The same she had many Years since 't is said Then Poetry was a miserable Jade The Pulpit then Men fiercely did bestride And Musqueteers that Wooden Horse did ride Those damn'd Diseases by time purg'd away The Nation streight grew Young again and Gay Balls assign'd as Masquerades and Plays Were all the Business of those happy Days You flock'd to Plays as if they Jubilees were Things to be seen but once in Fifty Year Boxes i' th' Morning did with Beauty shine And Citizens then in the Pit did Dine The Wife with her good Husband did prevail To bring the Sucking Bottle full of Ale Then on her Knees cold Capon-legs were seen Her Husbands Capon-legs I do not mean Then we were pretious things purchas'd t is known By Cloaths and Suppers but these Days are done Yet they will come again Times cannot hold But whilst they mend Curse on it we grow old Then we may all who once were your delight Suâ— with Duke Humphry as you have done to Night FINIS HENRY the Sixth The Second Part. OR THE MISERY OF CIVIL WAR As it was Acted at the Dukes Theatre Written by Mr. CROWN LONDON Printed for R. Bentley and M. Magnes in Russel-Street in Covent-Garden 1681. PROLOGUE REligious Broyles to such a height are grown All the sweet sound of Poetry they drown Were Orpheus here his Lute might charm our Beasts Our Mastiffs not our Rabble or our Priests Good Heaven Sirs are there no other ways To damn the Pope but damning all our Plays To our Religion 't is no Praise at all That if our Wit must stand our Faith must fall All parties in a Play-House may agree The Stage is priviledg'd from Piety 'T is pleasant Sirs to see you fight and brawl About Religion but have none at all Most fiercely for the Road to Heav'n contend But never care to reach the Journeys end Though you lose Heaven you will keep the Way The Pope sha'n't have you though the Devil may These things such business for the Criticks find They 're not at leasure Poetry to mind Well for the Poet 't is they 're so employ'd Else this poor Work of his wou'd be destroy'd For by his feeble Skill 't is built alone The Divine Shakespear did not lay one Stone Besides this Tragedy a Rod will prove To whip us for a Fault we too much Love And have for ages liv'd call'd Civil Strife The English Nation like a Russian Wife Is to a gentle Husband always curst And loves him best who uses her the worst This Poet though perhaps in Colours faint Those scurvy Joys does in all Postures Paint Fools take in pelting out each others Brains A joy for which this Nation