Witnefs the fortune he hath had in France
Som. If York, with all his far fetch'd policy,
'Had been the Regent there instead of me,
He never wou'd have ftaid in France fo long.
York. No, not to lose it at all, as thou haft done:
I rather would have loft my life betimes,
Than bring a burthen of dishonour home,
By ftaying there fo long, till all were loft.
Shew me one fear character'd on thy fkin:
Mens' flesh preferv'd fo whole do feldom win.
2 Mar Nay then, this fpark will prove a raging fire,
If wind and fewel be brought to feed it with.
No more, good York; fweet Somerfet, be ftill
Thy fortune. York, hadft thou been Regent there,
Might happily have prov'd far worfe than.his.
York What, worie than nought? nay, then a shame take all!
Som. And, in the number, thee that wifheft fhame!
Gar. My Lord of York; try what your fortune is:
Th' uncivil kerns of Ireland are in arms,
And temper clay with blood of Englishmen.
To ireland will you lead a band of men,
Collected choicely from each county fome,
And try your hap against the Irishmen?
York. I will, my Lord, fo please his Majefty.
Suf. Why, our authority is his confent;
And what we do eftablifh, he confirms;
Then, Noble York take thou this task in hand.
York. I am content: provide me foldiers, Lords,
Whilft I take order for mine own affairs.
Suf. A charge Lord York, that I will fee perform❜d: But now return we to the falle Duke Humphry.
Car. No more of him; for I will deal with him,
That henceforth he fhall trouble us no more:
And fo break off: the day is almost spent :
Lord Suffolk, you and I must talk of that event.
York My Lord of Suffolk, within fourteen days
At Bristol I expect my foldiers;
For there I'll ship them all for Ireland.
Suf. I'll fee it truly done, my Lord of York. [Exeunt.
York. Now, York, or never, fteel thy fearful thoughts, And change misdoubt to refolution:
Be that thou hop'ft to be, or what thou art
Refign to death, it is not worth th'enjoying:
Let pale fac'd Fear keep with the mean-born man,
And find no harbour în a Royal heart.
Fafter than fpring time fhow'rs, comes thought on
And not a thought but thinks on dignity.
My brain, more buty than the lab'ring fpider,
Weaves tedious fnares to trap mine enemies.
Well, Nobles, well; 'tis politicly done,
To fend me packing with an host of men :
I fear me you but warm the starved snake,
Who, cherish'd in your breaft, will fting your hearts.
'Twas men I lack'd, and you will give them me;
I take it kindly yet be well affur'd
You put fharp weapons in a madman's hands.
Whilft I in ireland nourish a mighty band,
I will tir up in England fome black storm
Shall blow ten thousand fouls to heav'n or hell.
And this fell tempelt fhall not cease to rage,
Until the golden circuit on my head,
(Like to the glorious fun's tranfparent beams),
Do calm the fury of this mad brain'd flaw.
And, for a minifter of my intent,
I have feduc'd a headstrong Kentish man,
John Cade of Afhford,
To make commotion, as full well he can,
Under the title of John Mortimer.
In Ireland have I feen this ftubborn Cade
Oppose himself against a troop of kerns;
And fought fo long, till that his thighs with darts
Were almost like a tharp quill'd porcupine:
And, in the end being refcu'd, I have feen
Him caper upright like a wild Morifco,
Shaking the bloody darts, as he his bells.
Full often, like a thag hair'd crafty kern,
Hath he converfed with the enemy;
And undiscover'd come to me again,
And giv'n me notice of their villanies.
This devil here shall be my substitute;
For that John Mortimer, which now is dead,
In face, in gate, in fpeech, he doth resemble.
By this I fhall perceive the commons' mind,
How they affect the house and claim of York.
Say he be taken, rack'd, and tortured;
I know no pain they can inflict upon him
Will make him fay, I mov'd him to thofe arms.
Say that he thrive, as 'tis great like he will;
Why, then, from Ireland come I with my ftrength,
And reap the harvest which that rafcal fow'd:
For Humphry being dead, as he shall be,
And Henry put apart, the next for me.
SCENE VI. An apartment in the palace. Enter two or three running over the ftage from the mur ther of Duke Humphry.
I Run to my Lord of Suffolk; let him know We have dispatch'd the Duke, as he commanded. 2 Ob that it were to do! what have we done! Didst ever hear a man fo penitent!
Suf. Now, Sirs, have you dispatch'd this thing? 1 Ay, my good Lord, he's dead.
Suf. Why, that's well faid. Go, get you to my house
I will reward you for this vent'rous deed :
The King and all the Peers are here at hand
Have you laid fair the ped? are all things well,
According as I gave directions;
I Yes, my good Lord.
Suf. Away, be gone.
Enter King Henry, the Queen, Cardinal, Somerset with Attendants.
K. Henry. Go, call our uncle to our prefence strait : Say, we intend to try his Grace to-day,
If he be guilty, as 'tis published.
Suf. I'll call him prefently, my Noble Lord. [Exit.
K. Henry. Lords, take your places: and I pray you all Proceed no ftraiter 'gainst our uncle Glo'ster, Than from true evidence of good esteem He be approv'd in practice culpable.
2. Mar. God forbid any malice should prevail, That faultless may condemn a Nobleman!
Pray God he may acquit him of suspicion !
K. Henry. I thank thee. Well, thefe words content me much.
How now? why look'ft thou pale? why trembleft thou?
Where is our uncle? what is the matter, Suffolk?
Suf. Dead in his bed, my Lord; Glo'fter is dead.
2. Mar. Marry, God for efend!
Car. God's fecret judgement: I did dream to night, The Duke was dumb, and could not speak a word.
[King faoons. 2. Mar. How fares my Lord? help, Lords, the King
Som. Rear up his body, wring him by the nose.
2. Mar. Run, gó, help, help! oh, Henry, ope thine
eyes.
Suf. He doth revive again; Madam, be patient.
K. Henry, O heav'nly God!
2 Mar How fares my gracious Lord?
Suf. Comfort, my Sovereign; gracious Henry, com
K. Henry. What, doth my Lord of Suffolk comfort me? Came he right now to fing a raven's note, Whose dismal tune bereft my vital pow'rs; And thinks he, that the chirping of a wren, By crying comfort from a hollow breaft, Can chafe away the first conceived found? Hide not thy poifon with fuch fugar'd words; Lay not thy hands on me; forbear, I fay; Their touch affrights me as a ferpent's fting. Thou baleful meffenger, out of my fight! Upon thy eye-balls murd'rous Tyranny Sits in grim majelty to fright the world. Look not upon me, for thine eyes are wounding!
Yet do not go away; come, bafilifk,
And kill the innocent gazer with thy fight:
For in the fhade of death I fhall find joy;
In life but double death, now Glo'fter's dead.
2. Mar. Why do you rate my Lord of Suffolk thus! Although the Duke was enemy to him,
Yet he, moft Christian-like, laments his death.
And for myself, foe as he was to me,
Might liquid tears, or heart-offending groans,
Or blood-confuming fighs, recal his life;
I would be blind with weeping, fick with groans,
Look pale as primrose with blood-drinking fighs,
And all to have the Noble Duke alive.
What know I how the world may deem of me?
For it is known we were but hollow friends:
It may be judg'd I made the Duke away;
So fhall my name with Slander's tongue be wounded,
And princes' courts be fill'd with my reproach.
This get I by his death: ah, me unhappy!
To be a Queen and crown'd with infamy.
K. Henry. Ah, woe is me for Glo'fter, wretched man!
2. Mar. Be woe for me, more wretched than he is.
What, doft thou turn away and hide thy face?
I am no lothfome leper; look on me.
What, art thou like the adder waxen deaf?
Be pois'nous too, and kill thy forlorn Queen.
Is all thy comfort fhut in Glo'fter's tomb?
Why, then, dame Margaret was ne'er thy joy.
Erect his ftatue, and do worship to it,
And make my image but an alehouse-sign,
Was I for this nigh wreck'd upon the sea,
And twice by adverfe winds from England's bank
Drove back again unto my native clime?
What boded this; but well forewarning winds
Did feem to fay, Seek not a fcorpion's neft,
Nor fet no footing on this unkind fhore.
What did I then, but curfe the gentle gufts,
And he that loos'd them from their brazen caves;
And bid them blow towards England's bleffed thore,
Or turn our stern upon a dreadful rock ?
Yet Eolus would not be a murtherer,
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