Suffolk.
‡ ^noteAs by your high imperial majesty,
I had in charge at my depart for France,
As procurator to your excellence,
To marry Princess Marg'ret for your grace;
So in the famous ancient city, Tours,
In presence of the Kings of France and Sicil,
The Dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretaigne, Alanson,
Seven Earls, twelve Barons, twenty reverend Bishops,
I have perform'd my task, and was espous'd:
And humbly now upon my bended knee,
In sight of England and her lordly Peers,

Deliver up my title in the Queen [Presenting the Queen to the King.
To your most gracious hand, that are the substance
Of that great shadow I did represent:
The happiest gift that ever Marquiss gave,
The fairest Queen that ever King receiv'd.

K. Henry.
Suffolk arise. Welcome, Queen Margaret,
I can express no kinder sign of love
Than this kind kiss. O Lord, that lend'st me life,
Lend me a heart repleat with thankfulness:
For thou hast giv'n me, in this beauteous face,
A world of earthly blessings to my soul,
If sympathy of love unite our thoughts.

Q. Mar.
Great King of England, and my gracious lord,
The mutual conf'rence that my mind hath had,
By day, by night, waking, and in my dreams,
In courtly company, or at my beads,
With you mine alder-liefest sovereign;
Makes me the bolder to salute my King
With ruder terms; such as my wit affords,
And over-joy of heart doth minister.

K. Henry.
Her sight did ravish, but her grace in speech,
Her words yclad with wisdom's majesty,
Make me from wondring, fall to weeping joys,
Such is the fulness of my heart's content.
Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love.

All kneel.
Long live Queen Marg'ret, England's happiness.

Q. Mar.
We thank you all. [Flourish.

Suff.
My lord protector, so it please your grace,
Here are the articles of contracted peace,
Between our soveraign and the French King Charles,
For eighteen months concluded by consent.

Glo. Reads.]

Imprimis, it is agreed between the French King,

Charles, and William de la Pole, Marquiss of Suffolk, ambassador for Henry King of England, that the said Henry shall espouse the lady Margaret, daughter unto Reignier, King of Naples, Sicilia, and Jerusalem, and crown her Queen of England, ere the thirteenth of May next ensuing.

Item. That the dutchy of Anjou, and the county of Main, shall be released and delivered to the King her father.

K. Henry.
Uncle, how now?

Glo.
Pardon me, gracious lord,
Some sudden qualm hath struck me to the heart,
And dimn'd mine eyes, that I can read no further.

K. Henry.
Uncle of Winchester, I pray read on.

Win.

Item, That the Dutchies of Anjou and Main shall be released and delivered to the King her father, and she sent over of the King of England's own proper cost and charges, without having any dowry.

K. Henry.
They please us well. Lord Marquiss, kneel you down;
We here create thee the first Duke of Suffolk,
And girt thee with the sword. Cousin of York,
We here discharge your grace from being regent
I'th' parts of France, 'till term of eighteen months
Be full expir'd. Thanks, uncle Winchester,
Glo'ster, York, Buckingham, and Somerset,
Salisbury and Warwick,
We thank you all for this great favour done,
In entertainment to my princely Queen.
Come, let us in, and with all speed provide
To see her coronation be perform'd. [Exeunt King, Queen, and Suffolk.

SCENE II. Manent the rest.

Glo.
Brave peers of England, pillars of the state,
To you Duke Humphry must unload his grief,
Your grief, the common grief of all the land.
What! did my brother Henry spend his youth,
His valour, coin, and people in the wars?
Did he so often lodge in open field,
In winter's cold, and summer's parching heat,
To conquer France, his true inheritance?
And did my brother Bedford toil his wits
To keep by policy what Henry got:
Have you your selves, Somerset, Buckingham,
Brave York, and Salisbury, victorious Warwick,
Receiv'd deep Scars in France and Normandy:
Or hath mine uncle Bedford, and my self,
With all the learned council of the realm,
Studied so long, sat in the council house,
Early and late, debating to and fro,
How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe?
And was his highness in his infancy
Crowned in Paris, in despight of foes?
And shall these labours and these honours die?
Shall Henry's conquest, Bedford's vigilance,
Your deeds of war, and all our counsel die!
O peers of England, shameful is this league,
Fatal this marriage, cancelling your fame,
Blotting your names from books of memory,
Rasing the characters of your renown,
Defacing monuments of conquer'd France,
Undoing all, as all had never been.

Car.
Nephew, what means this passionate discourse?
This peroration with such circumstances?
For France, 'tis ours; and we will keep it still.

Glo.
Ay, uncle, we will keep it if we can;
But now it is impossible we should.
Suffolk, the new made Duke that rules the roast,
Hath giv'n the dutchy of Anjou and Maine
Unto the poor King Reignier, whose large style
Agrees not with the leaness of his purse.

Sal.
Now by the death of him who dy'd for all,
These counties were the Keys of Normandy:
But wherefore weeps Warwick, my valiant son?

War.
For grief that they are past recovery.
For were there hope to conquer them again,
My sword should shed hot blood, mine eyes no tears.
Anjou and Maine! my self did win them both:
Those provinces these arms of mine did conquer.
And are the cities that I got with wounds,
Delivered up again with peaceful words?* ^note

York.
France should have torn and rent my very heart,
Before I would have yielded to this league.
I never read but England's Kings have had
Large sums of gold, and dowries with their wives:
And our King Henry gives away his own,
To match with her that brings no vantages.

Glo.
A proper jest, and never heard before,
That Suffolk should demand a whole fifteenth,
For cost and charges in transporting her:
She should have staid in France, and starv'd in France,
Before—

Car.
My lord of Glo'ster, now ye grow too hot:
It was the pleasure of my lord the King.

Glo.
My lord of Winchester, I know your mind.
'Tis not my speeches that you do mislike,
But 'tis my presence that doth trouble you.
Rancour will out, proud Prelate; in thy face
I see thy fury: if I longer stay,
We shall begin our ancient bickerings.
Lordings farewel, and say when I am gone,
I prophesy'd, France will be lost ere long. [Exit.

Car.
So, there goes our Protector in a rage:
'Tis known to you he is mine enemy;
Nay more, an enemy unto you all,
And no great friend, I fear me, to the King.
Consider, lords, he is the next of blood,
And heir apparent to the English crown.
Had Henry got an empire by his marriage,
And all the wealthy kingdoms of the west,
There's reason he should be displeas'd at it.
Look to it, lords, let not his smoothing words
Bewitch your hearts, be wise and circumspect.
What though the common people favour him,
Calling him Humphry, the good Duke of Glo'ster,
Clapping their hands and crying with loud voice,
Jesu maintain your royal excellence,
With, God preserve the good Duke Humphry:
I fear me, lords, for all this flattering gloss,
He will be found a dangerous Protector.

Buck.
Why should he then protect our Sovereign,
He being of age to govern of himself?
Cousin of Somerset, join you with me,
And all together with the Duke of Suffolk,
We'll quickly hoise Duke Humphry from his seat.

Car.
This weighty business will not brook delay.
I'll to the Duke of Suffolk presently. [Exit.

Som.
Cousin of Buckingham, though Humphry's pride
And greatness of his place be grief to us,
Yet let us watch the haughty Cardinal:
His insolence is more intolerable
Than all the princes in the land beside:
If Glo'ster be displac'd, he'll be Protector.

Buck.
Or Somerset or I will be Protector,
Despight Duke Humphry, or the Cardinal. [Ex. Buckingham and Somerset.

Sal.
Pride went before, Ambition follows him.
While these do labour for their own preferment,
Behoves it us to labour for the realm.
I never saw but Humphry Duke of Glo'ster
Did bear him like a noble gentleman:
Oft have I seen the haughty Cardinal
More like a soldier than a man o'th' church,
As stout and proud as he were lord of all,
Swear like a ruffian, and demean himself
Unlike the ruler of a common-weal.
Warwick my son, the comfort of my age!
Thy deeds, thy plainness, and thy house-keeping,
Have won the greatest favour of the commons,
Excepting none but good Duke Humphry.
And brother York, thy acts in Ireland,
In bringing them to civil discipline;
Thy late exploits done in the heart of France,
When thou wert Regent for our sovereign;
Have made thee fear'd and honour'd of the people.
Join we together for the publick good,
In what we can to bridle and suppress
The pride of Suffolk, and the Cardinal,

With Somerset's and Buckingham's ambition;
And as we may, cherish Duke Humphry's deeds,
While they do tend the profit of the land.

War.
So God help Warwick, as he loves the land
And common profit of his country.

York.
And so says York, for he hath greatest cause.

Sal.
Then let's make haste, and look unto the main.* ^note





[Ex. Warwick and Salisbury. SCENE III. Manet York.

York.
Anjou and Maine are given to the French,
Paris is lost, the state of Normandy
Stands on a tickle point, now they are gone:
Suffolk concluded on the articles,
The peers agreed, and Henry was well pleas'd
To change two dukedoms for a Duke's fair daughter.
I cannot blame them all, what is't to them?
'Tis thine they give away, and not their own.
Pirates may make cheap penn'worths of their pillage,
And purchase friends and give to curtezans,
Still revelling like lords 'till all be gone:
While as the silly owner of the goods
Weeps over them, and wrings his hapless hands,
And shakes his head, and trembling stands aloof,
While all is shar'd, and all is born away;
Ready to starve, and dare not touch his own.

So York must sit, and fret, and bite his tongue,
While his own lands are bargain'd for, and sold.
Methinks the realms of England, France, and Ireland,
Bear that proportion to my flesh and blood,
As did the fatal brand Althea burnt,
Unto the prince's heart of Calidon.
Anjou and Maine both given unto the French!
Cold news for me: for I had hope of France,
Ev'n as I have of fertile England's soil.
A day will come when York shall claim his own,
And therefore I will take the Nevills parts,
And make a shew of love to proud Duke Humphry;
And when I spy advantage, claim the crown;
For that's the golden mark I seek to hit.
Nor shall proud Lancaster usurp my right,
Nor hold the scepter in his childish fist,
Nor wear the diadem upon his head,
Whose church-like humour fits not for a crown.
Then York be still a while, 'till time do serve:
Watch thou, and wake when others be asleep,
To pry into the secrets of the state;
'Till Henry surfeiting in joys of love,
With his new bride, and England's dear bought Queen,
And Humphry with the peers be fall'n at jars.
Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose,
With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfum'd;
And in my standard bear the arms of York,
To grapple with the house of Lancaster;
And force perforce I'll make him yield the crown,
Whose bookish rule hath pull'd fair England down. [Exit York.

SCENE IV. Enter Duke Humphry, and his Wife Eleanor.

Elean.
Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd corn
Hanging the head with Ceres plenteous load?
Why doth the great Duke Humphry knit his brows,
As frowning at the favours of the world?
Why are thine eyes fixt to the sullen earth,
Gazing at that which seems to dim thy sight?
What seest thou there? King Henry's diadem,
Inchas'd with all the honours of the world?
If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face,
Until thy head be circled with the same.
Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious gold:
What, is't too short? I'll lengthen it with mine.
And having both together heav'd it up,
We'll both together lift our heads to heaven;
And never more abase our sight so low,
As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground.

Glo.
O Nell, sweet Nell, if thou dost love thy lord,
Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts:
And may that thought, when I imagine ill
Against my King and nephew virtuous Henry,
Be my last breathing in this mortal world.
My troublous dreams this night do make me sad.

Elean.
What dream'd my lord? tell me, and I'll requite it
With sweet rehearsal of my morning's dream.

Glo.
Methought this staff, mine office badge in court,
Was broke in twain; by whom, I have forgot,
But as I think, it was by th' Cardinal;
And on the pieces of the broken wand

Were plac'd the heads of Edmund Duke of Somerset,
And William de la Pole first Duke of Suffolk.
This was the dream; what it doth bode, God knows.

Elean.
Tut, this was nothing but an argument
That he that breaks a stick of Glo'ster's grove,
Shall lose his head for his presumption.
But list to me, my Humphry, my sweet Duke:
Methought I sat in seat of majesty,
In the Cathedral church of Westminster,
And in that chair where Kings and Queens were crown'd;
Where Henry and Margaret kneel'd to me,
And on my head did set the diadem.

Glo.
Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright:
Presumptuous dame, ill-natur'd Eleanor,
Art thou not second woman in the realm,
And the Protector's wife, belov'd of him?
Hast thou not worldly pleasure at command,
Above the reach or compass of thy thought?
And wilt thou still be hammering treachery,
To tumble down thy husband and thy self
From top of honour to disgrace's feet?
Away from me, and let me hear no more.

Elean.
What, what, my lord, are you so cholerick
With Eleanor, for telling but her dream?
Next time I'll keep my dreams unto my self,
And not be check'd.

Glo.
Nay, be not angry, I am pleas'd again. Enter Messenger.

Mes.
My lord Protector, 'tis his Highness' pleasure,
You do prepare to ride unto St. Albans,
Whereas the King and Queen do mean to hawk.

Glo.
I go: come Nell, thou wilt ride with us? [Ex. Glo.

Elean.
Yes, my good lord, I'll follow presently.
Follow I must, I cannot go before,
While Glo'ster bears this base and humble mind.
Were I a man, a Duke, and next of blood,
I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks,
And smooth my way upon their headless necks.
And being a woman, I will not be slack
To play my part in fortune's pageant.
Where are you there? Sir John; nay fear not, man,
We are alone, here's none but thee and I. Enter Hume.

Hume.
Jesus preserve your Royal Majesty.

Elean.
What say'st thou? Majesty? I am but Grace.

Hume.
But by the grace of God, and Hume's advice,
Your grace's title shall be multiply'd.

Elean.
What say'st thou, man? hast thou as yet conferr'd
With Margery Jordan, the cunning witch;
And Roger Bolingbroke the conjurer,
And will they undertake to do me good?

Hume.
This they have promised, to shew your highness
A Spirit rais'd from depth of under ground,
That shall make answer to such questions
As by your grace shall be propounded him.

Elean.
It is enough, I'll think upon the questions:
When from St. Albans we do make return,
We'll see those things effected to the full.
Here Hume, take this reward, make merry, man,
With thy confederates in this weighty cause. [Exit Eleanor.

Hume.
Hume must make merry with the Dutchess' gold:
Marry and shall; but how now, Sir John Hume?
Seal up your lips, and give no words, but mum!
The business asketh silent secrecy.

Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch:
Gold cannot come amiss, were she a devil.
Yet have I gold flies from another coast:
I dare not say from the rich Cardinal,
And from the great and new-made Duke of Suffolk;
Yet I do find it so: for to be plain,
They (knowing Eleanor's aspiring humour)
Have hired me to undermine the Dutchess,
And buz these conjurations in her brain.
They say, a crafty knave does need no broker;
Yet am I Suffolk's and the Cardinal's broker.
Hume, if you take not heed, you shall go near
To call them both a pair of crafty knaves.
Well, so it stands; and thus I fear at last,
Hume's knavery will be the Dutchess' wrack,
And her attainture will be Humphry's fall:
Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all. [Exit. SCENE V. Enter three or four Petitioners, the Armorer's man being one.

1 Pet.

My masters, let's stand close, my lord Protector will come this way by and by, and then we may deliver our supplications in the quill.

2 Pet.

Marry, the Lord protect him, for he's a good man, Jesu bless him.

1 Pet.

Here a comes methinks, and the Queen with him: I'll be the first sure.

2 Pet.

Come back, fool, this is the Duke of Suffolk, and not my lord Protector.

Suf.

How now, fellow; would'st any thing with me?

1 Pet.

I pray my lord, pardon me, I took ye for my lord Protector.

Q. Mar.

To my Lord Protector? [reading] Are your supplications to his lordship? let me see them; what is thine?

1 Pet.

Mine is, and't please your grace, against John Goodman, my lord Cardinal's man, for keeping my house and lands, and wife, and all from me.

Suf.

Thy wife too? that's some wrong indeed. What's yours? what's here? [Reads.] Against the Duke of Suffolk, for inclosing the Commons of Melford. How now, Sir Knave?

2 Pet.

Alas, Sir, I am but a poor petitioner of our whole township.

3 Pet.

Against my master, Thomas Horner, for saying, that the Duke of York was rightful heir to the crown?

Q. Mar.

What did the Duke of York say, he was rightful heir to the crown?

3 Pet.

That my mistress was? no, forsooth; my master said that he was; and that the King was an usurper.

Suf.

Who is there?—Take this fellow in, and send for his master with a pursuivant, presently; we'll hear more of your matter before the King.

Q. Mar.
And as for you that love to be protected
Under the wings of our Protector's grace,
Begin your suits anew, and sue to him. [Tears the supplications.
Away, base cullions: Suffolk, let them go.

All.
Come, let's be gone. [Exeunt.

Q. Mar.
My lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise?
Is this the fashion in the court of England?
Is this the government of Britain's Isle?

And this the royalty of Albion's King?
What, shall King Henry be a pupil still,
Under the surly Glo'ster's governance?
Am I a Queen in title and in style,
And must be made a subject to a Duke?
I tell thee, Pole, when in the city Tours
Thou ran'st a tilt in honour of my love,
And stol'st away the ladies hearts of France;
I thought King Henry had resembled thee
In courage, courtship, and proportion:
But all his mind is bent to holiness,
To number Ave Maries on his beads;
His champions are the prophets and apostles,
His weapons holy saws of sacred writ,
His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves
Are brazen images of canoniz'd saints.
I would the college of the Cardinals
Would chuse him Pope, and carry him to Rome,
And set the triple crown upon his head;
That were a state fit for his holiness.

Suf.
Madam, be patient; as I was the cause
Your highness came to England, so will I
In England work your grace's full content.

Q. Mar.
Beside the proud Protector, have we Beauford
Th' imperious churchman; Somerset, Buckingham,
And grumbling York; and not the least of these
But can do more in England than the King.

Suf.
And he of these that can do most of all,
Cannot do more in England than the Nevils;
Salisb'ry and Warwick are no simple Peers.

Q. Mar.
Not all these lords do vex me half so much,
As that proud dame, the lord Protector's wife:
She sweeps it through the court with troops of ladies,

More like an Empress than Duke Humphry's wife.
Strangers in court do take her for the Queen;
She bears a Duke's revenues on her back,
And in her heart she scorns our poverty.
Shall I not live to be aveng'd on her?
Contemptuous base-born callot as she is,
She vaunted 'mongst her minions t' other day,
The very train of her worst wearing gown
Was better worth than all my father's lands,
'Till Suffolk gave two Dukedoms for his daughter.

Suf.
Madam, my self have lim'd a bush for her,
And plac'd a quire of such enticing birds,
That she will light to listen to their lays
And never mount to trouble you again.
So let her rest; and madam list to me,
For I am bold to counsel you in this;
Although we fancy not the Cardinal,
Yet must we join with him and with the lords,
'Till we have brought Duke Humphry in disgrace.
As for the Duke of York, this late complaint
Will make but little for his benefit.
So one by one we'll weed them all at last,
And you your self shall steer the happy helm. SCENE VI. To them enter King Henry, Duke Humphry, Cardinal, Buckingham, York, Salisbury, Warwick, and the Dutchess.

K. Henry.
For my part, noble Lords, I care not which,
Or Somerset, or York, all's one to me.

York.
If York have ill demean'd himself in France,
Then let him be deny'd the Regentship.

Som.
If Somerset be unworthy of the place,

Let York be Regent, I will yield to him.

War.
Whether your grace be worthy, yea or no,
Dispute not that, York is the worthier.

Car.
Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak.

War.
The Cardinal's not my better in the field.

Buck.
All in this presence are thy betters, Warwick.

War.
Warwick may live to be the best of all.

Sal.
Peace, son; and shew some reason, Buckingham,
Why Somerset should be preferr'd in this?

Q. Mar.
Because the King forsooth will have it so.

Glo.
Madam, the King is old enough himself
To give this censure: these are no woman's matters.

Q. Mar.
If he be old enough, what needs your grace
To be Protector of his excellence?

Glo.
Madam, I am Protector of the realm,
And at his pleasure will resign my place.

Suf.
Resign it then, and leave thine insolence.
Since thou wert King, (as who is King but thou?)
The common-wealth hath daily run to wrack.
The Dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the seas,
And all the peers and nobles of the realm
Have been as bond-men to thy sov'raignty.

Car.
The commons hast thou rack'd, the clergy's bags
Are lank and lean with thy extortions.

Som.
Thy sumptuous buildings, and thy wife's attire,
Have cost a mass of publick treasury.

Buck.
Thy cruelty in execution
Upon offenders hath exceeded law,
And left thee to the mercy of the law.

Q. Mar.
Thy sale of offices and towns in France,
If they were known, as the suspect is great,
Would make thee quickly hop without thy head. [Exit Glo.

Give me my fan; what, minion? can ye not? [She gives the dutchess a box on the ear.
I cry you mercy, Madam; was it you?

Elean.
Was't I? yea, I it was, proud French-woman:
Could I come near your beauty with my nails,
I'd set my ten commandments in your face.

K. Henry.
Sweet aunt, be quiet, 'twas against her will.

Elean.
Against her will, good King? look to't in time,
She'll hamper thee and dandle thee like a baby:
Though in this place most Master wears no breeches,
She shall not strike dame Eleanor unrevenged. [Exit Eleanor.

Buck.
Lord Cardinal, I'll follow Eleanor,
And listen after Humphry, how he proceeds:
She's tickled now, her fume can need no spurs,
She'll gallop fast enough to her destruction. [Exit Buckingham. SCENE VII. Re-enter Duke Humphry.

Glo.
Now, lords, my choler being over-blown
With walking once about the Quadrangle,
I come to talk of commonwealth affairs.
As for your spightful false objections,
Prove them, and I lye open to the law.
But God in mercy deal so with my soul,
As I in duty love my King and country.
But to the matter that we have in hand:
I say, my Sovereign, York is meetest man
To be your Regent in the realm of France.

Suf.
Before we make election, give me leave
To shew some reason of no little force,
That York is most unmeet of any man.

York.
I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet:
First, for I cannot flatter thee in pride;
Next, if I be appointed for the place,
My lord of Somerset will keep me here
Without discharge, mony, or furniture,
'Till France be won into the Dauphin's hands.
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 fouler fact
Did never traitor in the land commit.

Suf.
Peace, head-strong Warwick.

War.
Image of pride, why should I hold my peace? Enter Horner the Armorer, and his Man Peter.

Suf.
Because here is a man accus'd of treason.
Pray God the Duke of York excuse himself.

York.
Doth any one accuse York for a traitor?

K. Henry.
What mean'st thou, Suffolk? tell me, what are these?

Suf.
Please it your Majesty, this is the man
That doth accuse his master of high treason:
His words were these; that Richard Duke of York
Was rightful heir unto the English crown,
And that your Majesty was an usurper.

K. Henry.
Say, man, were these thy words?

Arm.

An't shall please your Majesty, I never said nor thought any such matter; God is my witness, I am falsly accus'd by the villain.

Peter.

By these ten bones, my lord, he did speak them to me in the garret one night, as we were scow'ring my lord of York's armour.

York.
Base dunghil villain, and mechanical,
I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech:
I do beseech your royal Majesty,

Let him have all the rigor of the law.

Arm.

Alas, my lord, hang me if ever I spake the words. My accuser is my prentice, and when I did correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow upon his knees he would be even with me. I have good witness of this; therefore I beseech your Majesty, do not cast away an honest man for a villain's accusation.

K. Henry.
Uncle, what shall we say to this in law?

Glo.
This doom, my lord, if I may judge:
Let Somerset be Regent o'er the French,
Because in York this breeds suspicion.
And let these have a day appointed them
For single combat in convenient place;
For he hath witness of his servant's malice.
This is the law, and this Duke Humphry's doom.

Som.
I humbly thank your royal Majesty.

Arm.
And I accept the combat willingly.

Peter.

Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God's sake pity my case; the spight † ^noteof man prevaileth against me. O lord have mercy upon me, I shall never be able to fight a blow: O lord, my heart!

Glo.

Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd.

K. Henry.

Away with them to prison; and the day of combat shall be the last of the next month. Come Somerset, we'll see thee sent away.