* Seeing the deed is meritorious,

And to preserve my sovereign from his foe,* Say but the word, and I will be his priest.* *Car. But I would have him dead, my lord of Suffolk,

* Ere you can take due orders for a priest:
* Say, you consent, and censure well the deed,"
* And I'll provide his executioner,

* I tender so the safety of my liege.

* Suf. Here is my hand, the deed is worthy doing. * Q. Mar. And so say I.

*York. And I: and now we three have spoke it, *It skills not greatly who impugns our doom.

Enter a Messenger.

'Mess. Great lords, from Ireland am I come amain,

To signify that rebels there are up,

:

And put the Englishmen unto the sword * Send succours, lords, and stop the rage betime, * Before the wound do grow incurable; *For, being green, there is great hope of help. *Car. A breach, that craves a quick expedient stop! 7

• What counsel give you in this weighty cause? "York. That Somerset be sent as regent thither; • "Tis meet that lucky ruler be employ'd; 'Witness the fortune he hath had in France.

Som. If York, with all his far-fet policy, Had been the regent there instead of me, 'He never would have staid in France so long.

I will be his priest.] I will be the attendant on his last scene; I will be the last man whom he will see.

5

and censure well the deed,] That is, approve the deed, judge the deed good.

6It skills not] It is of no importance.

7

expedient stop!] i. c. expeditious.

York. No, not to lose it all, as thou hast done: * I rather would have lost my life betimes, * Than bring a burden of dishonour home, *By staying there so long, till all were lost. * Show me one scar charácter'd on thy skin: Men's flesh preserv'd so whole, do seldom win. * Q. Mar. Nay then, this spark will prove a raging fire,

;

* If wind and fuel be brought to feed it with :* No more, good York;-sweet Somerset, be still *Thy fortune, York, hadst thou been regent there, Might happily have prov'd far worse than his. York. What, worse than naught? nay, then a shame take all!

*

Som. And, in the number, thee, that wishest shame!

'Car. My lord of York, try what your fortune is. ‹ The uncivil Kernes 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 some, "And try your hap against the Irishmen?

*York. I will, my lord, so please his majesty. *Suf. Why, our authority is his consent;

* And, what we do establish, he confirms: * Then, noble York, take thou this task in hand. 'York. I am content: Provide me soldiers, lords, 'Whiles I take order for mine own affairs.

Suf. A charge, lord York, that I will see perform'd.

But now return we to the false duke Humphrey. 'Car. No more of him; for I will deal with him, 6 That, henceforth, he shall trouble us no more. And so 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 soldiers;

For there I'll ship them all for Ireland. Suf. I'll see it truly done, my lord of York. [Exeunt all but YORK. York. Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful thoughts,

' And change misdoubt to resolution :

* Be that thou hop'st to be; or what thou art * Resign to death, it is not worth the enjoying: * Let pale-fac'd fear keep with the mean-born man, * And find no harbour in a royal heart.

*Faster than spring-time showers, comes thought on thought;

* And not a thought, but thinks on dignity. *My brain, more busy than the labouring spider, *Weaves tedious snares to trap mine enemies. * Well, nobles, well, 'tis politickly done, * To send me packing with an host of men: * I fear me, you but warm the starved snake, *Who, cherish'd in your breasts, will sting your hearts.

'Twas men I lack'd, and you will give them me: 'I take it kindly; yet, be well assur'd 'You put sharp weapons in a madman's hands. 'Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band, * I will stir up in England some black storm, * Shall blow ten thousand souls to heaven, or hell: * And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage * Until the golden circuit on my head, *Like to the glorious sun's transparent beams, * Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw. 'And, for a minister of my intent,

8

I have seduc'd a head-strong Kentishman, 'John Cade of Ashford,

'To make commotion, as full well he can, 'Under the title of John Mortimer.

2

mad-bred flaw.] Flaw is a sudden violent gust of wind.

In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade * Oppose himself against a troop of Kernes ;' * And fought so long, till that his thighs with darts * Were almost like a sharp-quill'd porcupine: * And, in the end being rescu'd, I have seen him * Caper upright like a wild Mórisco,'

* Shaking the bloody darts, as he his bells.
*Full often, like a shag-hair'd crafty Kerne,
*Hath he conversed with the enemy;
* And undiscover'd come to me again,
*And given me notice of their villainies.
*This devil here shall be my substitute;
*For that John Mortimer, which now is dead,
* In face, in gait, in speech, he doth resemble:
By this I shall 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 say-I mov'd him to those arms. Say, that he thrive, (as 'tis great like he will,)

Why, then from Ireland come I with my strength,
And reap the harvest which that rascal sow'd:
For, Humphrey being dead, as he shall be,
And Henry put apart, the next for me.

[Exit.

SCENE II.

Bury. A Room in the Palace.

Enter certain Murderers, hastily.

1 Mur. Run to my lord of Suffolk; let him know, * We have despatch'd the duke, as he commanded.

9 a troop of Kernes;] Kernes were light-armed Irish foot-soldiers.

-a wild Mórisco,] A moor in a military dance, now called Morris, that is, a Moorish dance.

* 2 Mur. O, that it were to do!-What have we

Despatch'd this thing?

1 Mur.

Now, sirs, have you

Ay, my good lord, he's dead. Suf. Why, that's well said. Go, get you to my house;

'I will reward you for this venturous deed.

The king and all the peers are here at hand :— • Have you laid fair the bed? are all things well, 'According as I gave directions?

1 Mur. "Tis, my good lord.

Suf. Away, be gone!

[Exeunt Murderers.

Enter King HENRY, Queen MARGARET, Cardinal BEAUFORT, SOMERSET, Lords, and Others.

• K. Hen. Go, call our uncle to our presence

straight:

Say, we intend to try his grace to-day,

If he be guilty, as 'tis published.

Suf. I'll call him presently, my noble lord.

[Exit. K. Hen. Lords, take your places ;-And, I pray

you all,

'Proceed no straiter 'gainst our uncle Gloster, Than from true evidence, of good esteem,

He be approv'd in practice culpable.

* Q. Mar. God forbid any malice should prevail, * That faultless may condemn a nobleman! * Pray God, he may acquit him of suspicion!

* K. Hen. I thank thee, Margaret; these words content me much.