K. Henry.
What stronger breast-plate than a heart untainted?
Thrice is he arm'd that hath his quarrel just;
And he but naked (though lock'd up in steel)
Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted. [A noise within.

Q. Mar.
What noise is this? Enter Suffolk and Warwick, with their weapons drawn.

K. Henry.
Why how now, lords? your wrathful weapons drawn
Here in our presence! dare you be so bold?
Why, what tumultuous clamour have we here?

Suf.
The trait'rous Warwick with the men of Bury
Set all upon me, mighty Soveraign.

Enter Salisbury.

Sal.
Sirs, stand apart, the King shall know your mind.
Dread lord, the Commons send you word by me,
Unless lord Suffolk strait be put to death,
Or banished fair England's territories,
They will by violence tear him from your palace,
And torture him with grievous lingring death.
They say, by him the good Duke Humphry dy'd;
They say, in him they fear your Highness' death;
And mere instinct of love and loyalty,
(Free from a stubborn opposite intent,
As being thought to contradict your liking)
Makes them thus forward in his banishment.
They say, in care of your most royal person,
That if your Highness should intend to sleep,
And charge that no man should disturb your rest,
In pain of your dislike, or pain of death;
Yet notwithstanding such a strange edict,
Were there a serpent seen with forked tongue
That slily glided tow'rds your Majesty,
It were but necessary you were wak'd;
Lest being suffer'd in that harmless slumber,
The mortal worm might make the sleep eternal.
And therefore do they cry, though you forbid,
That they will guard you whe're you will or no,
From such fell serpents as false Suffolk is;
With whose invenomed and fatal sting
Your loving uncle, twenty times his worth,
They say, is shamefully bereft of life.

Commons within.
An answer from the King, my lord of Salisbury.

Suf.
'Tis like the Commons, rude unpolish'd hinds,

Could send such message to their Soveraign:
But you, my lord, were glad to be employ'd,
To shew how queint an orator you are.
But all the honour Salisbury hath won,
Is, that he was the lord ambassador
Sent from a sort of tinkers to the King.

Within.
An answer from the King, or we will all break in.

K. Henry.
Go Salisbury, and tell them all from me,
I thank them for their tender loving care;
And had I not been cited so by them,
Yet did I purpose as they do entreat;
For sure my thoughts do hourly prophesie
Mischance unto my state by Suffolk's means.
And therefore by his Majesty I swear,
Whose far-unworthy deputy I am,
He shall not breathe infection in this air
But three days longer, on the pain of death.

Q. Mar.
Oh Henry, let me plead for gentle Suffolk.

K. Henry.
Ungentle Queen, to call him gentle Suffolk.
No more, I say: if thou dost plead for him,
Thou wilt but add increase unto my wrath.
Had I but said, I would have kept my word;
But when I swear, it is irrevocable:
If after three days space thou here be'st found,
On any ground that I am ruler of,
The world shall not be ransom for thy life.
Come Warwick, come good Warwick, go with me;
I have great matters to impart to thee. [Exit.

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