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
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
it is meet he die by course of Law Suff. That were a worthy policy indeed To bring him to the Bar and there for want Of good substantial Arguments against him Shall openly arreign our selves of Malice And so instead of bringing him to death Expose our selves to all the People's fury True we have Jealousie back'd with strong Reasons But Reason cannot enter into their minds Mud Walls you know resist all Battery And then from those Mud Walls the People's fury Will salley out and make slaughter on us Yo. I 'me o' your mind it is distraction To sail with him into his own safe Harbour The People's rage and not be well coyl'd round With proofs that will resist small shot at least Qu. What shall we do then Must we let him live If so let 's find some way our selves to die For I had rather perish once for all Than die each hour a lingring death of fear Suff. No Madam no the imperious Duke shall die We will not to his pride and rage expose The King the Kingdom and our selves and do Substantial wrong to all because we cannot Do against him a formal piece of Justice Must Justice starve because we want a Lawyers Forked distinctions to feed her neatly with And bright keen proofs to carve him up withal No let us examine into her hungry Stomach The morsel any way no matter how Nor will the Duke have any injury It is an honest and a good deceit To deceive him who first intends deceit Qu. Most gallant Suffolk resolutely spoke Suff. Not resolute except so much were done For things are often spoke and never meant To shew my Heart and Tongue fully agree Say but the word I 'le be the Executioner And think I do a meritorious deed I know the Duke means Treason to the King Why shou'd I stay for proofs of what I know Does any one refuse to kill a Wolf Till he has stain'd his Chops with Crimson Blood No 't is enough he knows him for a Wolf His nature's Crime enough to deserve death He then does best that does dispatch him soonest What do you say Lord Cardinal Speak your mind You see how free we are why are you close Is it a meritorious deed or no Card. My Lords I only staid to feel your Pulses That I might know the temper of your minds How vigorous their constitutions were Religion has a body and a spirit The body is like Water weak and tasteless And that we fling among the Common People The extracted Spirit is intoxicating And that we drink our selves and give our Friends And as wise Men do always in their pleasures Select Companions of their own Humour Those that are rude and quarrelsome in Drink They shun with care those that are kind and pleasant Witty and good natur'd gladly they Consort withal So we ne're drink the spirit of Religion With any Men but those of our own minds Or Men of melting maudling piety Who when they are drunk with it will kiss our feet And weep and do whatever we command e'm Suff. And pray what is this Spirit let us taste it Card. This Did some ask me if this deed were lawful I wou'd say no it is a horrid Murder If any Man offend's against the Publick He to the Publick must give satisfaction That private Man that kills him is a Murderer And a bold Robber of the publick Right But now to you I say cut the Duke's Throat 'T is lawful necessary meritorious And so 't were in another but perhaps If I shou'd say so he wou'd not believe it So he might wound the Church with its own Weapons I 'd pronounce all such damn'd should kill the Duke But I 'le pronounce you damn'd if you refuse it Because you are capable of these great mysteries Suff. Most excellent this deed which I before Only thought needful now I find Religious Card. A most religious meritorious deed You know the Churches Power is call'd the Keys The Keys are given us not one single Key As if there were only one Door to Heaven Oh! there are many entrances There 's one Great common Gate of common Honesty At that we let in common understandings Then there are private Wickets but the Stairs That lead up to e'm are most steep and dangerous And none dare venture up but bold brave Spirits But these back Stairs lead up to Heaven's best Rooms This Murder then is one of Heaven's back Stairs Kill him his Blood will oyl the Churches Keys That you shall choose what Room in Heaven you please Yo. I ne're heard any thing that pleas'd me better Card. My Lords my Lords Reason and Law allow You Layicks to carry Swords for your defence Religion suffers us to carry none Is it because Priests Altars and Religion Does not deserve defence as well as you Yes but we Priests have always Weapons ready A kind of two-edge Knives call'd Subtilties That are most keenly whetted at the Altars And nothing cuts so as one of them In short then kill the Duke kill him to night Before he hurt the King the Church or you Suff. Here is my hand my Lord I 'le see it done Qu. I give consent Yo. I 'le joyn and now we four Agree in it who dares oppose a Censure Suff. We must get fitting People to assist us Card. I 'le find you such I 'le mould e'm for the purpose When we have kill'd the Duke we will give out He kill'd himself to prevent publick shame Or his heart broke because he was discovered Suff. But will not those be Lyes Card. Most sacred truths Do not his actions bring his death upon him Qu. True Card. Then 't is true I hope he kills himself Suff. Right Card. Or suppose we report the discovery Of his foul treacherous actions broke his heart I pray is that false when the discovery Of his foul actions make us break his Neck Suff. No certainly for that will break his heart Card. Then every way you see we spread no falshoods My Lords the Church has several kind of Garments Course home-spun Clothes for Fools fine Robes for Wits Now though a Fool may be let into Heaven With his course Coat on they will ne're admit him To Rooms of State among the Saints of quality Enter a Gentleman Gent. My Lords I am sent Post to you from Ireland The Irish Rebels are all up in Arms And put the English to the Sword send Succours With all the speed you can and stop the rage Betimes or else the Wound may grow incurable Card. A Breach that craves a very speedy stop What counsel give you in this weighty Business Suff. That speedy Force be rais'd My Lord of York Pray do you Head e'm and go try your Fortune Yo. I will my Lord so please his Majesty Suff. Why our Authority is his consent And what we do establish he confirms Then pray my Lord take you this task in hand Yo. Content my Lords do you provide me Souldiers
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
his Succession And letting fall some words to please her pride To shew what high designs he had near Birth Made the proud frantique Woman run immediately To fetch a cursed Midwife out of Hell King Indeed that was a very wicked Fact Suff. Oh! Sir the Duke of Glocester is a Man Unsounded yet and full of deep deceit Card. Sir he appears to you to be a Man Of great Humanity Mildness and Gentleness There 's not a greater Tyrant upon Earth If any small Offences had at any time Tript up the heels of any of his Enemies And thrown e'm in his power he tortur'd e'm Beyond all bounds either of Law or Manhood He has torn their Bodies so by horrid Deaths As if to put affronts upon that peaceful Christianity which forbids all Revenge He 'd put a cheat upon the Resurrection And tear that Article out of our Creed King Can this be true How chance I never heard of it Card. Who ever durst acquaint you this before Suff. Who ever had your Ear but he till now King The meanest poorest Subject in my Kingdom Had it and shall as much as he or any Man Card. Ay! you like Heaven Sir gave access to all But he was that eternal Persecution All suffer'd that devoutly wou'd approach you King If this this be true what a vile thing is Man Yo. Sir his insatiable Avarice Makes two great Crowns sit loosely on your Head He squeez'd the English Purses till Blood followed Upon pretence to pay your Troops in France So almost tore this Kingdom from its Loyalty Then by not sending any of that Money He starv'd your Troops and almost lost you France Buck. Oh! there are horrid Crimes lie hid in smooth Duke Humphrey which the time will bring to light King My Lords you seem to take great care of me If it be real it deserves great praise But shall I speak my Conscience freely to you No Man I 'me sure no Monarch shou'd dissemble I do not cannot think the Duke of Glocester That horrid thing you represent him to me Card. Then what are we Sir King My Lord Cardinal I 'le tell you what my Father said you were His Reason was as piercing as his Sword And he from depth of Knowledg not from Prophesie Said That if e're you were a Cardinal You 'd make your Cap vye with your Prince's Crown As for these Lords I wo'ld entreat of them To think that I have Eyes as well as they If my Lord Duke of Glocester had such Sores Break out of him as these I shou'd ha' seen e'm Some time or other sure as well as they If he had plaid such Proteus tricks as these Some time or other sure I shou'd have catch'd him But if he be the Monster they have painted him Then what a horrid villanous thing is Man Who wou'd not rather live with Wolves than Men For a Wolf shews his nature but a Man Appears a Lamb when he is most a Wolf If so then I must fly from all of you For now when you seem Lambs you may be Tygers Qu. Sir on my knees I humbly fall before you Kneels And beg with Tears do not give up your self And all of us to Death by incredulity I am a poor weak Woman and a Stranger And of a Nation for whom your Subjects By Nature have an inbred scorn and hate Which great successes greatly have improv'd And Sir my banish't Enemy the Duchess Will in the Rocks of her poor barren Island Sit brooding Vengeance and when you are dead The Eagles she has hatcht shall tear my Soul out And who in England can or will protect me Suff. And all of us are in the same condition All kneel Qu. Then if you think these Lords Sir have no Loyalty Nor I the consort of your Youth no love Yet think we have some kindness for our selves And in your preservation seek our own King Rise my dear Love rise all of you my Lords If I have injur'd you by my suspitions I pray forgive me you perhaps have seen More in the Duke of Glocester than I have I must confess I 'me of a temper fram'd Wakeful to holy thinks drowzy to earthly I 'me as unfit for Earth as some for Heaven Yet knowing I 'me the Shepherd of my Flock I rouse my self to attend upon my Duty But oft I charm my self asleep again With the Caelestial Musick of Religion And then a Wolf may steal upon my sleep And I not see him which perhaps you may That Sirs I thank you all for your kind care Card. Sir we have faithfully discharg'd our Consciences King You have done well I thank you all but pray Give me good proofs of what you have alledged 'T is not enough to say in such a Bush There lies a Thief in such a Cave a Beast But you must shew him to me e're I shoot Else I may kill one of my stragling Sheep I 'me fond of no mans Person but his Vertue Prove that the Duke and Loyalty are strangers And he and I will be as far asunder As Life and Death the Grave shall be betwixt us Suff. Oh! Sir we shall not want sufficient proofs Enter the Duke of Glocester they all start as soon as he comes in Card. See! see the Duke is here King Ha! they all start At the first sight of him I like not that Aside Gl. All happiness attend my Lord the King Pardon Royal Sir that I have stayed so long Suff. My Lord of Glocester you are come too soon Unless you were more Loyal than you are My Lord I here Arrest you of high Treason Gl. My Lord of Suffolk you shall not see me blush Nor change my Countenance at this Arrest King As they to see him did he twits e'm well Aside Gl. Innocence is not very easily daunted Who can accuse me Wherein am I guilty Yo. 'T is thought my Lord that you took Bribes from France And being Protector staid the Souldiers Pay By means whereof all France is almost lost Gl. Is it but thought so What are they that think so King Ha! Is it come but to a thought already Aside Gl. I never rob'd the Souldiers of their Pay Nor ever had one penny Bribe from France But I have rob'd my self both day and night Of all my rest to study good for England The Farthing that e're I wrested from the King Or hoarded up for my own private use I wish may canker all I can call mine But I have wrested from my own Revenues Many a Pound and given among the Garrisons Because I wou'd not Tax the needy Commons And never ask'd for Restitution Card. It serves you well my Lord to say so much Gl. I say no more than truth so help me Heaven Yo. In your Protectorship you did invent Strange and unheard of Tortures for Offenders That England was defam'd by Tyranny Gl. It is well known Pity was all my fault For I shou'd melt at an Offenders tears And humble
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
shou'd I think that they love cutting Throats They cou'd not find it such a pleasant business 1. Mur. They love to cut the throat of a vile Heretick 3. Mur. How do I know Duke Humphry is a Heretick 2. Mur. The Cardinal says he is one 3. Mur. How if the Cardinal Shou'd be mistaken 1. Mur. He will answer for it 3. Mur. And so he shall for I 'me an honest Fellow And if to kill Duke Humphry be a sin I 'le either lay it at the Cardinal's door Or put it on the high dutch Lady's score Ex. Mur. Enter Cardinal and three Murderers Card. So you have all sworn at the holy Altars Now have a care don't let your Consciences Fool you to flinch with fear e're it is done Or to repent and tell it when 't is done If so you are trebly Damn'd 1. Mur. I warrant your Grace Card. Believe your Priests and not your Consciences For Priests are to direct your Consciences Your Consciences are silly false corrupt 2 Mur. Oh! hang my Conscience Sir I ne're regarded it 3 Mur. May I be bold to ask your Grace one question Card. Ay prethee do 3 Mur. Suppose a Priest an 't please you Mistake and I shou'd sin by his command Will he be damn'd for me and shall I escape Card. A Priest mistake Sirrah were you ne're catechis'd That you are ignorant of First Principles 1 Mur. Why look you now you will be asking questions Card. The Church cannot mistake the Church is infallible 3 Mur. Pray Sir an 't please you how shall I know that Card. How shall you know it Sirrah The Church tells you so 2 Mur. Prethee give over don't stand asking questions 3 Mur. How shall I know the Church tells true an 't please you Card. The Church I say Sirrah is Infallible 3 Mur. How shall I know the Church is so Infallible Card. Why I say Sirrah the Church tells you so 3 Mur. But how shall I be certain it tells true 1 Mur. What a strange man is this we must dismiss him Car. Be certain this is a damn'd Rogue a Heretick Sirrah don't you believe the Church I 'le burn you 2 Mur. So so you have brought your self into a fine pickle 3 Mur. Oh! yes Sir I believe 1 Mur. Oh! do you so 2 Mur. 'T is time you shou'd 3 Mur. I only did make bold to ask some questions To know some things that I was ignorant of Card. Why there was your mistake you are not to Know You are only to do what a Priest bids you Priests only are to know you are to know nothing Except your duty and the reward that follows it Your duty now is to destroy a Traytor Yes and a Heretick 3 Mur. I 'le do 't an 't please you 1 Mur. Your Grace may trust him he is an honest Fellow Only a little troublesome with scruples 2 Mur. Which way Sir had we best to kill the Duke Card. Which way it shall please Heaven to inspire you Stay let me see Strangling I think were best Ay strangling strangling 't will give least suspition And make the World believe Grief broke his heart For so we will give out 1 Mur. We 'l do 't an 't please you I have a Handkerchief fit for the purpose Card. Open the door go to him go go quickly The Scene is drawn the Duke of Glocester sitting and reading in his Night-Gown Card. Ha! he 's awake and up you two go hold him Softly to the Mur. And get him down whilst the other strangles him Gl. Ha! Who is that opens the door 2 Mur. The Cardinal's Servants an 't please your Grace Gl. And what 's your business 1 Mur. The Cardinal saw your Light burning so late And was afraid your Grace was indispos'd And sent to know if your Grace wanted any thing And gave us strict command to wait upon you Gl. He is grown wondrous kind I am afraid He 's ill for this is not his natural temper He guesses right of me I 'm ill indeed A heaviness like Death oppresses me I cannot get my thoughts out of a Grave I fear not Death it self why shou'd a dream And empty shadow of it then oppress me Card. So get behind him now whilst he is musing Aside Gl. If wicked men be digging now my Grave And these cold Terrors be fore-running damps Oh! Heaven prepare me for it 3 Mur. How he prays Aside 2 Mur. What if he does What are a Hereticks prayers Aside Gl. Let all my sins drop from me in these Tears 3 Mur. How penitent he is my Soul relents The Devil take this cursed want of Money Aside Gl. If e're my Person Greatness or Authority Did injure any one forgive the fault And in the bosome of the injur'd person Pour down a thousand blessings Above all things Preserve the King from all his Enemies If I by Wickedness and Falshood perish Oh! give my bloody Enemies repentance And let my Death be an occasion Of good to them but ruine to their wickedness 3 Mur. Heark how he prays for us that are his murderers Aside 1 Mur. What if he does he is a Heretick His Prayers are Curses we are the worse for e'm Aside Card. Why don't you do your work Aside 3 Mur. We will we will Aside Gl. So shall I do more good in Death than Life And by my innocent Death procure a Blessing To my good King my Country all my Enemies They lay hold on the Duke and strangle him Card. So Is he dead yet 2 Mur. Yes he does not stir Enter the Duke of Suffolk Suff. Ho! What 's the News Card. The deed is done my Lord. Suff. Have you dispatch'd the thing 1 Mur. We have done his business Suff. Thou art a gallant Rogue there 's Gold for thee And for you all Card. A Rogue my Lord you wrong him He is a Saint and so are they all 3 Mur. A Saint Aside Devil take such Saints I wou'd this deed were to be done again My Family shou'd starve e're I wou'd do it Card. I hear a noise without 3 Mur. A noise without I 'me sure I hear a cursed noise within me A bawling Conscience Card. Place the Body some way As may give least suspition and be gone And come another time for your rewards They place the Body in a Chair shut the Scene and Ex. Enter the King and Queen Attendants Qu. What brings your Majesty abroad so early You â—o not use to finish your Devotion So soon as this King Oh! Love I am not well My Uncle is always walking in my mind And shakes the melancholy Room with fear Methinks he tells me I have not done well To give him up to his too cruel Enemies To men who are not such as they shou'd be Qu. Why Sir have you so great mistrust of e'm King I wish I had no cause I 've sent Commands to e'm To bring my Uncle to me presently Enter the Cardinal Had you my message my Lord Cardinal Card. Yes
Royal Sir the Duke of Suffolk instantly Will bring the Duke of Glocester I have lodg'd My noble Prisoner but in the next Rooms King Methinks he shou'd not be the man you make him Card. Your Majesty has your eyes always fixt On shining Heaven that when you look below The World is in a mist and dark to you Enter Suffolk King How now Why look'st thou pale why do'st thou shake Where is my Uncle What 's the matter Speak Suff. The Duke is dead Card. How Dead Suff. Dead in his Chair Qu. Oh! Heaven forbid Suff. 'T is true Card. Heaven's secret Judgments I fear'd some dreadful judgment wou'd o'retake him The King Swoons Qu. How is my Lord Help help the King is dying Suff. Rear up his Body fetch some Water quickly Qu. Oh! Help help help Suff. See he revives again Madam be comforted Qu. How does my Lord King Oh! heavenly God! Sighs deeply Suff. Take comfort Gracious Sir King Ah! Wo is me for Glocester wretched man Qu. Is all your comfort shut up in his Tomb And can you find no joy in me at all Why do you turn away and hide your Face I am no loathsome Leaper look on me Ah! wo is me more wretched than he is Did I for this expose my self to Winds And Rocks and Seas and twice was almost wrack'd And twice was driven back as if the Winds Forewarn'd me landing on this unkind Shore The vaulting Sea danc'd with me to and fro As it were loth to bring me to this Coast The Rocks cover'd in the Waves and hid themselves As shaming to owe kindred to an Island Whose cruel King wou'd thus reward my Love Ah! see if he will speak to me or look on me How hateful am I grown Ah! wretched me Card. I see the King loves this dead Traytor better Than all his living Friends Farewel I 'me sorry Sir To see you hate your Friends and love your Enemies Ex. King Where is my dead Friend I 'le see him lead me to him Suff. In the next Room Sir Ho open these doors The Scene is drawn and the Duke of Glocester is shewn dead in a Chair King Oh! thou good man And hast thou thus been us'd And is this all of thee that 's left to me Oh! to how little and how poor a pittance Are all my Comforts in this life now brought Enter Warwick War Oh! Sir Reports are spread among the People The good Duke Humphry treacherously is murder'd By Suffolk's and the Cardinal Beauford's means Suff. By mine War By yours Suff. I did expect as much War The Commons like a Hive of angry Bees That want their Leader scatter up and down And care not whom they sting in their revenge I have endeavour'd to allay their rage Until they are satisfied about his death King Ah! my Lord he is dead 't is true too true See here But how he died God knows not I. I fear foul play was plaid him for his Life Oh Heaven to whom Judgment alone belongs Forgive me if I injure any one With false suspitions War Sir as certainly As I believe that Heaven was his Maker I believe Treachery was his destroyer Suff. Do you know it that so dreadfully you swear it War I swear that I believe it Suff. What 's your reason War I see already above a thousand proofs That he was basely strangled Suff. Strangled War Strangled His Face is black and swell'd with settled Blood Which shews the passage to the Heart was stopt Whether the Blood in natural deaths descends To aid the labouring Heart in his last conflict And failing freezes with the cold of Death And ne're returns but leaves the face all pale His eyes stand gastly from his Head and almost Come out to meet us to complain of strangling His gaping nostrils are stretch'd out with striving His hands are spread abroad as one that grasp'd And tugg'd for Life but was by strength o're-master'd His well proportion'd Beard is rugged made Like Summer's Corn by furious tempest lodg'd See a blew Ring encompasses his Neck Oh! Murder here has danc'd her fairy round If the Duke was not strangled ne're was man Suff. Why who shou'd do it my Lord none but my self And Cardinal Beauford had him in protection War Who finds the Heifer dead and bleeding fresh And sees a Butcher with his Ax stand by May easily suspect who made the Slaughter Qu. The Cardinal and you my Lord are Murderers For shame my Lord of Warwick rule your arrogance War Pray Madam let me with due reverence tell you Each word you speak for him slaunders your Honour Suff. Blunt-witted Lord thy evil manners say Thy Mother took into her blameful Bed Some rough untutour'd Churl and grafted there On Nâ—vil's noble race a rugged Clown War Did not my Sovereign's presence check my fury I 'de make thee kneel for pardon for this speech And say 't was thy own Mother that thou mean'st And after this low homage I wou'd kill thee Thou treacherous murderer of sleeping men Suff. Thou shalt be waking when I shed thy blood If er'e I meet thee from this royal presence War Away or I will drag thee though I scorn thee I 'le fight with thee to appease Duke Humphry's Ghost King Forbear my Lords for shame stay I command you A Noise Enter Salisbury Sal. Great Sir the Commons humbly implore by me The Duke of Suffolk may be put to death Or Banish'd instantly for else they threaten They 'l tear him hence by violence and Torture him Free from bold contradiction to your liking But out of Loyalty they drive him from you They say If you desir'd to sleep and charg'd No one on pain of Death shou'd dare to wake you Yet if they saw a Serpent in your Bosom They with the hazard of their lives wou'd wake you And drive him from you whether you wou'd or no. They say the Duke of Suffolk is that Serpent By whose envenom'd sting your Uncle perish'd A Prince a thousand times of Suffolk's value From him they also fear your Majestie 's Death Suff. They durst not send this message to their King My noble Lord Embassador from Weavers King My Lord of Salisbury Tell e'm from me I thank e'm for their Loyal care of me That I have been awake long e're they rouz'd me And seen the dangerous Serpent I have cherish'd To my great danger and my Friends destruction For oh the slimy paths the Serpent crawl'd To sting my Friend to Death shine in my eyes Suff. Sir will you judg me e're you know my innocnece King Go tell e'm By that Heavenly Majesty Whose most unworthy Deputy I am I vow most solemnly the English Air Shall not receive three days infection more From this most wicked man for if it does The fourth shall end his wickedness and him Exit Salis. Suff. Sir this is hard to doom mâ—'re I 'me tried Qu. Oh! let me plead Sir for this injur'd Lord. King Oh fye forbear forbear your pleading
they give I 'le take Exit Enter Duke of Glocester and his Dutchess Elianor Eli. Why droops my Lord and on the sullen Earth Fixes his Eyes What dost thou there behold King Henry's Diadem fallen from his Head Too feeble to support the mâ—ghty weight If it be that thou look'st on gaze thy fill Put forth thy hand and reach the glorious Gold Glo. Oh Nell sweet Nell if thou dost love thy self Banish the Canker of Ambitious thoughts They will devour thy Peace thy Life thy Soul May the curst hour when I imagine ill Against my Royal Nephew vertuous Henry Be my last breathing in this mortal World Eli. I wish the same to me but Is it ill To the good Pious King to take from him A heavy Weight that presses him to Earth An Element his heavenly mind abhors His thoughts are all above and Royal cares Tear e'm and pull e'm down to earth in spite of him And What a torment to him must that be It is unjust to let so good a Prince So cruelly be tortur'd with a Crown Gloc. Oh Elianour away with thy fond words Thou mayst deceive thy self thou canst not me Hast thou in my Embraces layn so long And am I yet wholly a stranger to thee I find thy high aspiring thoughts did study My honor and my offices not me Thou know'st them well thou hast weigh'd them exactly But me thou art an utter stranger to Or thou woud'st never tempt me to disloyalty Eli. He is the loyal Subject seeks to please His King and not himself 'T is more disloyalty T' impose a Crown upon Religious Henry Than 't is to Usurp one from another King But you are only Loyal to your self And your own fame because to take the Crown The World wou'd call Disloyalty and Treason You wrong the King to save your own renown Glo. Away away fond Elianor as Nature Has given you Women thinner skins than Men Through which your working blood is easier seen So thinner Arts to hide your laboring thoughts Do not I know your thoughts designs and soul And all you 'd work me â—o as well as you You would have me throw my self down to Villany To exalt you in place above the Queen Blast my Renown and Soul to all eternity To please your haughtiness for some few years Oh Elianor now I must Chide outright Presumptuous unkind ill-minded Elianor Are you not the second Woman in the Kingdom H ve you not Worldly Pleasure at command A greater circle of delight than all Thy Soul can range about in thy whole Life Yet not content with these Wilt thou be forging New impious honors till pil'd heap on heap They fall and overwhelm thy self and me Eâ—i I must confess I mortally abhor And scorn that Woman which is now my Queen Oh! hateful thought she she my Queen a Vassal Of France subdu'd by us into a Province And she a Beggar in that Conquer'd Province Become the Queen and Mistriss of her Conquerors I the first Woman of Victorious England Bow to the last of low dejected France Preposterous ignominious base contemptible Had you the spirit of an English Conqueror You wou'd not bear it but you have it not The mighty fire that burnt so bright and hot In the brave English Souls of the last Age Is blazing now its last in me a Woman Who can no more than greatly think and talk A shrewd sign heaven is taking from us France Since he takes from us spirits that shou'd rule it And yet were I but Queen of England once I wou'd not doubt but to keep Conquer'd France Though Kings and Lord Protectors cannot do it Glo. Talk not of ruling Kingdoms rule your self That I lament the King 's most fatal Marriage The Queen her self and all the Kingdom knows But I abhor it not for Womanish causes Because my Wive's inferior goes before her But because France England's inferior Will by this Match ascend above her Conqueror We give two Provinces to buy a Wife Who brings nought with her but a shameful Peace And this is that causes my present sadness Eli. And sadness will redress your Country's Griefs Gl. Yes He shall dye that wrought e'm trayterous Suffolk Eli. If Suffolk dyes for bringing such a Curse on us What shou'd be done to her who is that Curse Let her not live or rather let her live But live no Queen Glo. But subject to your self Eli. I almost scorn to have so poor a Subject Glo. Ah Elianor thy Pride and my fond Love To thee will bring destruction on us both Have I not Griefs enow already on me And Enemies enow that plot my ruine But you must be among the number of e'm Eli. I 'em Enemy to nothing but the Queen And I 'le to her be an implacable And Devillish Enemy whil'st she is a Queen Let her be poor Dame Margaret and my Subject And I will Sign her then an Act of Grace Glo. You will comply in nothing to please me Eli. I will comply in every thing I can But I must hate the Queen in spite of me Glo. If thou must hate her do but yet love me Eli. I hope you doubt not that my Lord. Glo. I do not Enter a Messenger Messen My Lord Protector 't is His Majesties pleasure You prepare to ride to S. Albans Where both the King and Queen are a going to Hawke Glo. I go Come Nell Wilt thou along with us Ex. Eli. Yes my good Lord I 'le follow presently Follow I that 's the Word follow I must Whil'st Glocester bears this base and humble mind My Spirit cries go first the Duke sayes follow Shall I obey my Husband or my Soul My Soul is my self he but my other self And by his humble mind my weaker self Well I will play my part in Fortune Pageant Where are you there Sir John nay fear not Man We are alone here 's none but thee and I. Enter Humes Hume Heaven preserve your Majesty Eli. My Majesty Hume Yes that will be your Title very shortly Eli. Has my infernal friend the Devil said this By his Priest and Priestess the Conjurer and Witch Hast thou conferr'd with e'm Hume Madam I have Eli. And Will they undertake to do me service Hume They have promised from the infernal deeps to dragge One of the Spirits that of old gave Oracles Whose fiery eye by its own Native Light Sees all that 's hidden in Fates dark Abyss As plain as we Mortals when they come to light This Spirit shall make Answer to all Questions That it shall please your Grace to pose him with Eli. It is enough I 'le think upon the Questions Here Hume take this reward make merry Man With thy Confederates in this weighty business Hume I humbly thank your Grace Exit Enter the Duke of Suffolk talking with the Queen Eli See here comes she That blasts my eyes worse than the Spirit can do The Witch will raise out of th' Infernal deep And with her her damn'd
for him Will add but very little to your Honour But to my anger much 't will make me pass Censure on you and heavier Doom on him Had I but said it nothing shou'd ha chang'd me But having sworn it you may easier Remove the Kingdom than stay that man in it Then let him hear his Sentence once again If after three days space he shall be found On any Ground that I am Ruler of The World shall not be Ransom for his Life Exit Qu. Oh wretched wretched me Oh! I cou'd turn My Breath and Spirits all all into Curses Curse all thy Enemies and all the World I prethee joyn with me and let us Curse e'm Suff. A Plague upon e'm Wherefore shou'd I curse e'm Were Curses killing as the groans of Mandrakes I 'de stay to curse e'm were the Palace burning And every word I said were half on 't fire And I my Curses ended shou'd be Ashes For what 's the difference 'tween being Ashes Or Water as I soon shall be with Sorrow Qu. I must betake my self now to my Tears The last poor refuge of a wretched Woman Suff. Must I see this And can I not revenge it Like one of the fallen Spirits banish'd Heaven I stand upon the shining Precipice And look with grief on all the Joys I 'me leaving Then down with Terror on my desperate fall Then grin with rage because I cannot help my self And amidst all these Passions I 'me more tortur'd In Heaven than I shâ—ll be when fallen to Hell Qu. My griefs no flesh can bear no soul can guess Oh! that the moment when thou took'st me Prisoner Thy Sword had seperated my Soul and Body Then had I been at ease but now thy Banishment Divides e'm and I live to feel the torment Suff. I 'le stay with you what ever shall befal me Qu. What shou'd befal but Death to both of us The strong convulsions of my griefs have tir'd Wasted and weakned so my vanquish't Spirits That I am fainting now into a calm Suff. And in this calm the current of my Sorrows Shall bear my drowning Spirits to thy Bosom And lay it there as on a Bank of Lillies Where I will Die as in a pleasing slumber Qu. This must not be we must not stay together No we must part or staying thou must Die I rather will endure a lingring Death Of a long parting than by Death to lose thee Whilst we are living we may meet again Suff. We may we shall the King is not Immortal Or if he were his Anger is not so But both will have an end so will our Sorrows The longest life has still an utmost point No Creature is infinite Qu. Except my Love Suff. In hopes then once to meet again Farewel Qu. Oh! sad heart-breaking word Where e're thou wandrest Send to me oft Suff. What joy shall I have else All Places will be desolate and I Shall live no longer than I hear you live Qu. My Fit returns again unhappy we Why are we two so nearly joyn'd in Love And yet by Fortune kept so wide asunder First by thy Marriage and now by thy Banishment My Love was thrown as soon as it was Born On cold Dispair hearing thou hadst a Wife Hadst thou had none and only been a Shepherd And known no other wealth than a small Flock No other Title than the charming Swain For so wou'd every Shepherdess have call'd thee I wou'd have rather been thy humble Wife Than Queen to Henry Suff. If I shou'd stay here Till I told o're the Wealth I wou'd have given For such a happiness we ne're shou'd part Qu. Oh! must we part Heaven made us for each other And then did set us two of all the World Farthest asunder a Wife first did part us But now whole Kingdoms and whole Worlds must part us These Miseries I might have well expected My Love was born under Captivity I was thy Prisoner e're my heart was so Chains lay at th' entrance of the gate of Love And paâ—l Dispair forbad me entring in Yet such sweet Prospects drew my heart along It entred in and now is lost for ever Suff. Say not for ever Do not cruelly Put out the eyes of our Prophetick hopes Which like so many Angel-guides will lead Our Souls to pleasant Prospects of delight Where we may gaze till Fate is tir'd with frowning And Time with holding two so bent to meet Shall loose his hold and let us flie together Till then farewel Qu. Take with thee my poor heart Suff. A Jewel lock'd into the wofull'st Cabinet That ever did contain so great a Treasure Just like a splitted Bark so sunder we This way sink I to ruine Qu. This way I. Exeunt several ways The SCENE the Cardinals Apartment Enter the Cardinal Card. I 'me vext I 'me more I 'me wrack'd By what who knows By a thing within me call'd a Conscience A Trick a Spring that catches us and pinches If we but point at an ill Action Why is it an ill thing to kill a man He is the Plague and Sickness of the World 'T is a kind honest thing to kill a man You cure the Worlâ— of one Disease you free Thousands from Mischief and you ease the man Yet if one do a man so great a kindness The damn'd ungrateful Rogue torments one's Conscience Men are ungrateful Rogues living or dead I know not what to do I must have ease Ho there Enter a Servant Ser. My Lord. Card. Call my Physitian Stay there What shou'd I do with a Physitian No Physick can give me any ease but Poyson The gravel of the Grave is the best scowring For such fierce Hawks as I am after feeding Go now I think on 't call my Confessor Let him alone What shou'd I do with him too My Soul is sick and it can have no ease I grow sick Unless it purge forsooth in a Priest's ear Fetch me a Glass of Wine run quickly run I tremble a cold sweat comes over me All the Air tastes of an infernal damp The Ghost of Duke Humphry appears and goes out the Cardinal falls into a Swoon Enter the Servant with Wine 1 Ser. Help help my Lord is fallen my Lord is dead 2 Ser. Oh! Heaven What 's the matter with my Lord 3 Ser. He opens now his eyes 4 Ser. He foams at the mouth 1 Ser. Let 's set him in the Chair and give him air 3 Ser. I 'le run for his Physitians Ex. 4 Ser. I 'le give notice To all the Court Ex. Enter the three Murtherers Card. Stand off and let the Duke of Glocester speak to me Speak speak I say What wou'dst thou have with me 2 Mur. He names the Duke of Glocester 1 Mur. Oh! Does he so Is his Infallibility come to that A Pox of his Doctrines He has damn'd himself and me too Card. Who is the Grave-maker He is a Villain he digs Graves so shallow The dead break Prison and come plague the Living Why this is fine
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
Priest was And he has hudled up the Murder of Duke Humphry as if he had been guilty of himself and was afraid to shew how it was done But I have been more bold to the great displeasure of some who are it seems ashamed of their own mysteries for there is not a Tool us'd in the murder of Duke Humphry in this Play but what is taken out of their own Church Armory nor a word put into the mouth of the Cardinal and his foolish Instruments but what first dropt from the Heads that adorn their own Church Battlements I cou'd be large in Quotations did I not nauseate Pedantry I shall only shew that what serves here to make the Comical part of a Play does in the Popish Countries compose the gravest part of their Devotion I make the foolish Murderer complain that he cou'd not thrive though he kept every Day a Holy-day in honour of some Saint Now nothing is more known then that in those Countries the great Trafique between them and their Saints almost ruine all other Trades The People are forced to keep so many Holy-days that they have not Working-days enough to keep themselves when they shou'd be labouring to fill their Bellies they are cramming Latine into their Mouths in the honour of some Saint who perhaps understands not a word of the Language unless he learnt it since he died which is a great doubt And they have so many Saints that the People in Heaven starve those upon Earth and contrary to what is done in other Famines the Dead devour the Living No Manufactury thrives like that of Saint-making all others must contribute to that and even the Workmanship of God must grow poor to enrich that of the Priests When all the Saints had disappointed this poor Fellow I make him go to a Priest for advice who instead of bidding him follow his calling sets him a mumbling a Prayer which he tells him is of that efficacy that if he says it over Thirty Days together it will procure him in the end what ever he asks for What appears too ridiculous here for the mouth of a Stage-fool in a Country no less polished then France is recommended to the Faith and Devotion of no less a Prince then the Dauphin in a little Book entituled HEVRES Dedidees a Monsiegneur le Dauphin contenant L' Office qui se dit en L' Eglise ave l' Exercice du Matin en soir le Catechisme dresse par les Peres de la Mission The Prayer is to the Virgin Mary in the 229th Page in the middle of the Prayer 't is said Here demand what ever you please When this Prayer would not do I make the Priest give him another Conveyed by an Angel as he says into the Grave of a Germane Lady who had her Head cut off and lived after it two and twenty Hours not being able to die till she had Confessed and Communicated And the Prayer had this miraculous power annext to it that whosoever did but carry it about him shou'd never suffer by Sea or by Land c. This I found in a little French Book of Devotion to the Virgin Mary Licenced by the Fathers of the Augustine Friars as containing nothing in it contrary to Catholick Faith and recommended to the People with an extraordinary Approbation by what Charter these Prayers claim such great Priviledges is not said yet must be believed Some think me very profane for bringing what belongs to the Church upon the Stage but they may allow me that since they have carried many things that belong to the Stage into the Church To expose these Follies to the People is the business of this Play and I believe you will pardon me that I borrow some assistance from your Reputation since you your self have of late to your very great Honour employ'd your Interest and excellent Vnderstanding in the same design And though you can do it better in common Conversation then I by all my Study and Premeditation It follows not because Lightning sometimes shoots through all the Heavens and rends the Oaks a Man may not light a Candle in the Night To hinder this Rush light from being blown out is the reason why I place your Name before it I have a mind the Play shou'd be read and every one will read it if they think you like it I know few Vnderstandings so universally esteem'd as yours and for so good Reason It wou'd be foolish in me to lash out into unnecessary praises of a Wit that has been so long the delight and ornament of the Nation and is now become the Defence of what is very dear to it Truth Liberty and Property I have so deeply felt what the loss of Property is that I cannot but honour the Defenders of it though their defence comes too late to me I may appear vain in my complaint but People will Groan when they are in pain my Father and by consequence my self his Heir was stript long since by the advice of some ill great Men who sacrifice both private and publick Interest to their own of the Moity of a Province so considerable the French Crown thought it worth contending for many Years And if that fortunate Kingdom strove for it you may imagine they got it I have great hopes of a speedy reparation from the great Justice Clemency and Goodness of his Majesty But this loss made me run into that Madness call'd Poetry and inhabit that Bedlam call'd a Stage I have been so happy that for several Years certain Gentlemen unknown to me have fallen on me and endeavoured to Bleed me when ever I appear'd I wish I knew 'em that I might thank 'em for the Kindness they have done me though they design'd me nothing but Mischief The grounds of their Antipathy I know not Fools I confess may be very well moved to bark at Poets from the same cause that they say all kind of Dogs do at Skinners from a natural instinct that gives 'em notice their own Hides are in danger But I have no great scent of Blood upon me and therefore must impute their Aversions to those Occult Qualities that puzle Philosophers This convinces me 't is necessary for me to flie to some Wise Mans protection and I cannot be safer than under yours Poets are too poor to be beg'd 't is well if they can get Guardians for begging I am confident you will be entreated to take upon you the Guardianship of this little parcel of a Mad-mans Estate now I have told you for what good uses it 't is design'd And if so this will do well and I shall live at ease for those who will behave themselves very rudely to me as a Poet and to this as a thing for publick entertainment will be very civil to this when it is under your care and to me when I am received by you For SIR Your very humble Servant JOHN CROWN Henry the Sixth OR THE MURDER OF THE Duke of