HENRY VI Part 2 Act 2

Scene I Saint Alban's

	[Enter KING HENRY VI, QUEEN MARGARET, GLOUCESTER, CARDINAL, and SUFFOLK, with Falconers halloing]
QUEEN MARGARET	Believe me, lords, for flying at the brook, I saw not better sport these seven years' day: Yet, by your leave, the wind was very high; And, ten to one, old Joan had not gone out.
KING HENRY VI	But what a point, my lord, your falcon made, And what a pitch she flew above the rest! To see how God in all his creatures works! Yea, man and birds are fain of climbing high.
SUFFOLK	No marvel, an it like your majesty, My lord protector's hawks do tower so well; They know their master loves to be aloft, And bears his thoughts above his falcon's pitch.
GLOUCESTER	My lord, 'tis but a base ignoble mind That mounts no higher than a bird can soar.
CARDINAL	I thought as much; he would be above the clouds.
GLOUCESTER	Ay, my lord cardinal? how think you by that? Were it not good your grace could fly to heaven?
KING HENRY VI	The treasury of everlasting joy.
CARDINAL	Thy heaven is on earth; thine eyes and thoughts Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart; Pernicious protector, dangerous peer, That smooth'st it so with king and commonweal!
GLOUCESTER	What, cardinal, is your priesthood grown peremptory? Tantaene animis coelestibus irae? Churchmen so hot? good uncle, hide such malice; With such holiness can you do it?
SUFFOLK	No malice, sir; no more than well becomes So good a quarrel and so bad a peer.
GLOUCESTER	As who, my lord?
SUFFOLK	Why, as you, my lord, An't like your lordly lord-protectorship.
GLOUCESTER	Why, Suffolk, England knows thine insolence.
QUEEN MARGARET	And thy ambition, Gloucester.
KING HENRY VI	I prithee, peace, good queen, And whet not on these furious peers; For blessed are the peacemakers on earth.
CARDINAL	Let me be blessed for the peace I make, Against this proud protector, with my sword!
GLOUCESTER	[Aside to CARDINAL] Faith, holy uncle, would 'twere come to that!
CARDINAL	[Aside to GLOUCESTER] Marry, when thou darest.
GLOUCESTER	[Aside to CARDINAL] Make up no factious numbers for the matter; In thine own person answer thy abuse.
CARDINAL	[Aside to GLOUCESTER] Ay, where thou darest not peep: an if thou darest, This evening, on the east side of the grove.
KING HENRY VI	How now, my lords!
CARDINAL	Believe me, cousin Gloucester, Had not your man put up the fowl so suddenly, We had had more sport.
	[Aside to GLOUCESTER]
	Come with thy two-hand sword.
GLOUCESTER	True, uncle.
CARDINAL	[Aside to GLOUCESTER] Are ye advised? the east side of the grove?
GLOUCESTER	[Aside to CARDINAL] Cardinal, I am with you.
KING HENRY VI	Why, how now, uncle Gloucester!
GLOUCESTER	Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord.
	[Aside to CARDINAL]
	Now, by God's mother, priest, I'll shave your crown for this, Or all my fence shall fail.
CARDINAL	[Aside to GLOUCESTER] Medice, teipsum-- Protector, see to't well, protect yourself.
KING HENRY VI	The winds grow high; so do your stomachs, lords. How irksome is this music to my heart! When such strings jar, what hope of harmony? I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife.
	[Enter a Townsman of Saint Alban's, crying 'A miracle!']
GLOUCESTER	What means this noise? Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim?
Townsman	A miracle! a miracle!
SUFFOLK	Come to the king and tell him what miracle.
Townsman	Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban's shrine, Within this half-hour, hath received his sight; A man that ne'er saw in his life before.
KING HENRY VI	Now, God be praised, that to believing souls Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair!
	[Enter the Mayor of Saint Alban's and his brethren, bearing SIMPCOX, between two in a chair, SIMPCOX's Wife following]
CARDINAL	Here comes the townsmen on procession, To present your highness with the man.
KING HENRY VI	Great is his comfort in this earthly vale, Although by his sight his sin be multiplied.
GLOUCESTER	Stand by, my masters: bring him near the king; His highness' pleasure is to talk with him.
KING HENRY VI	Good fellow, tell us here the circumstance, That we for thee may glorify the Lord. What, hast thou been long blind and now restored?
SIMPCOX	Born blind, an't please your grace.
Wife	Ay, indeed, was he.
SUFFOLK	What woman is this?
Wife	His wife, an't like your worship.
GLOUCESTER	Hadst thou been his mother, thou couldst have better told.
KING HENRY VI	Where wert thou born?
SIMPCOX	At Berwick in the north, an't like your grace.
KING HENRY VI	Poor soul, God's goodness hath been great to thee: Let never day nor night unhallow'd pass, But still remember what the Lord hath done.
QUEEN MARGARET	Tell me, good fellow, camest thou here by chance, Or of devotion, to this holy shrine?
SIMPCOX	God knows, of pure devotion; being call'd A hundred times and oftener, in my sleep, By good Saint Alban; who said, 'Simpcox, come, Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help thee.'
Wife	Most true, forsooth; and many time and oft Myself have heard a voice to call him so.
CARDINAL	What, art thou lame?
SIMPCOX	Ay, God Almighty help me!
SUFFOLK	How camest thou so?
SIMPCOX	A fall off of a tree.
Wife	A plum-tree, master.
GLOUCESTER	How long hast thou been blind?
SIMPCOX	Born so, master.
GLOUCESTER	What, and wouldst climb a tree?
SIMPCOX	But that in all my life, when I was a youth.
Wife	Too true; and bought his climbing very dear.
GLOUCESTER	Mass, thou lovedst plums well, that wouldst venture so.
SIMPCOX	Alas, good master, my wife desired some damsons, And made me climb, with danger of my life.
GLOUCESTER	A subtle knave! but yet it shall not serve. Let me see thine eyes: wink now: now open them: In my opinion yet thou seest not well.
SIMPCOX	Yes, master, clear as day, I thank God and Saint Alban.
GLOUCESTER	Say'st thou me so? What colour is this cloak of?
SIMPCOX	Red, master; red as blood.
GLOUCESTER	Why, that's well said. What colour is my gown of?
SIMPCOX	Black, forsooth: coal-black as jet.
KING HENRY VI	Why, then, thou know'st what colour jet is of?
SUFFOLK	And yet, I think, jet did he never see.
GLOUCESTER	But cloaks and gowns, before this day, a many.
Wife	Never, before this day, in all his life.
GLOUCESTER	Tell me, sirrah, what's my name?
SIMPCOX	Alas, master, I know not.
GLOUCESTER	What's his name?
SIMPCOX	I know not.
GLOUCESTER	Nor his?
SIMPCOX	No, indeed, master.
GLOUCESTER	What's thine own name?
SIMPCOX	Saunder Simpcox, an if it please you, master.
GLOUCESTER	Then, Saunder, sit there, the lyingest knave in Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, thou mightest as well have known all our names as thus to name the several colours we do wear. Sight may distinguish of colours, but suddenly to nominate them all, it is impossible. My lords, Saint Alban here hath done a miracle; and would ye not think his cunning to be great, that could restore this cripple to his legs again?
SIMPCOX	O master, that you could!
GLOUCESTER	My masters of Saint Alban's, have you not beadles in your town, and things called whips?
Mayor	Yes, my lord, if it please your grace.
GLOUCESTER	Then send for one presently.
Mayor	Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight.
	[Exit an Attendant]
GLOUCESTER	Now fetch me a stool hither by and by. Now, sirrah, if you mean to save yourself from whipping, leap me over this stool and run away.
SIMPCOX	Alas, master, I am not able to stand alone: You go about to torture me in vain.
	[Enter a Beadle with whips]
GLOUCESTER	Well, sir, we must have you find your legs. Sirrah beadle, whip him till he leap over that same stool.
Beadle	I will, my lord. Come on, sirrah; off with your doublet quickly.
SIMPCOX	Alas, master, what shall I do? I am not able to stand.
	[After the Beadle hath hit him once, he leaps over the stool and runs away; and they follow and cry, 'A miracle!']
KING HENRY VI	O God, seest Thou this, and bearest so long?
QUEEN MARGARET	It made me laugh to see the villain run.
GLOUCESTER	Follow the knave; and take this drab away.
Wife	Alas, sir, we did it for pure need.
GLOUCESTER	Let them be whipped through every market-town, till they come to Berwick, from whence they came.
	[Exeunt Wife, Beadle, Mayor, &c]
CARDINAL	Duke Humphrey has done a miracle to-day.
SUFFOLK	True; made the lame to leap and fly away.
GLOUCESTER	But you have done more miracles than I; You made in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly.
	[Enter BUCKINGHAM]
KING HENRY VI	What tidings with our cousin Buckingham?
BUCKINGHAM	Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold. A sort of naughty persons, lewdly bent, Under the countenance and confederacy Of Lady Eleanor, the protector's wife, The ringleader and head of all this rout, Have practised dangerously against your state, Dealing with witches and with conjurers: Whom we have apprehended in the fact; Raising up wicked spirits from under ground, Demanding of King Henry's life and death, And other of your highness' privy-council; As more at large your grace shall understand.
CARDINAL	[Aside to GLOUCESTER] And so, my lord protector, by this means Your lady is forthcoming yet at London. This news, I think, hath turn'd your weapon's edge; 'Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour.
GLOUCESTER	Ambitious churchman, leave to afflict my heart: Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my powers; And, vanquish'd as I am, I yield to thee, Or to the meanest groom.
KING HENRY VI	O God, what mischiefs work the wicked ones, Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby!
QUEEN MARGARET	Gloucester, see here the tainture of thy nest. And look thyself be faultless, thou wert best.
GLOUCESTER	Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal, How I have loved my king and commonweal: 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 Honour and virtue and conversed with such As, like to pitch, defile nobility, I banish her my bed and company And give her as a prey to law and shame, That hath dishonour'd Gloucester's honest name.
KING HENRY VI	Well, for this night we will repose us here: To-morrow toward London back again, To look into this business thoroughly And call these foul offenders to their answers And poise the cause in justice' equal scales, Whose beam stands sure, whose rightful cause prevails.
	[Flourish. Exeunt]

Scene II London. YORK'S garden

	[Enter YORK, SALISBURY, and WARWICK]
YORK	Now, my good Lords of Salisbury and Warwick, Our simple supper ended, give me leave In this close walk to satisfy myself, In craving your opinion of my title, Which is infallible, to England's crown.
SALISBURY	My lord, I long to hear it at full.
WARWICK	Sweet York, begin: and if thy claim be good, The Nevils are thy subjects to command.
YORK	Then thus: Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons: The first, Edward the Black Prince, Prince of Wales; The second, William of Hatfield, and the third, Lionel Duke of Clarence: next to whom Was John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster; The fifth was Edmund Langley, Duke of York; The sixth was Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester; William of Windsor was the seventh and last. Edward the Black Prince died before his father And left behind him Richard, his only son, Who after Edward the Third's death reign'd as king; Till Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster, The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt, Crown'd by the name of Henry the Fourth, Seized on the realm, deposed the rightful king, Sent his poor queen to France, from whence she came, And him to Pomfret; where, as all you know, Harmless Richard was murder'd traitorously.
WARWICK	Father, the duke hath told the truth: Thus got the house of Lancaster the crown.
YORK	Which now they hold by force and not by right; For Richard, the first son's heir, being dead, The issue of the next son should have reign'd.
SALISBURY	But William of Hatfield died without an heir.
YORK	The third son, Duke of Clarence, from whose line I claimed the crown, had issue, Philippe, a daughter, Who married Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March: Edmund had issue, Roger Earl of March; Roger had issue, Edmund, Anne and Eleanor.
SALISBURY	This Edmund, in the reign of Bolingbroke, As I have read, laid claim unto the crown; And, but for Owen Glendower, had been king, Who kept him in captivity till he died. But to the rest.
YORK	His eldest sister, Anne, My mother, being heir unto the crown Married Richard Earl of Cambridge; who was son To Edmund Langley, Edward the Third's fifth son. By her I claim the kingdom: she was heir To Roger Earl of March, who was the son Of Edmund Mortimer, who married Philippe, Sole daughter unto Lionel Duke of Clarence: So, if the issue of the elder son Succeed before the younger, I am king.
WARWICK	What plain proceeding is more plain than this? Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt, The fourth son; York claims it from the third. Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign: It fails not yet, but flourishes in thee And in thy sons, fair slips of such a stock. Then, father Salisbury, kneel we together; And in this private plot be we the first That shall salute our rightful sovereign With honour of his birthright to the crown.
BOTH	Long live our sovereign Richard, England's king!
YORK	We thank you, lords. But I am not your king Till I be crown'd and that my sword be stain'd With heart-blood of the house of Lancaster; And that's not suddenly to be perform'd, But with advice and silent secrecy. Do you as I do in these dangerous days: Wink at the Duke of Suffolk's insolence, At Beaufort's pride, at Somerset's ambition, At Buckingham and all the crew of them, Till they have snared the shepherd of the flock, That virtuous prince, the good Duke Humphrey: 'Tis that they seek, and they in seeking that Shall find their deaths, if York can prophesy.
SALISBURY	My lord, break we off; we know your mind at full.
WARWICK	My heart assures me that the Earl of Warwick Shall one day make the Duke of York a king.
YORK	And, Nevil, this I do assure myself: Richard shall live to make the Earl of Warwick The greatest man in England but the king.
	[Exeunt]

Scene III A hall of justice

	[Sound trumpets. Enter KING HENRY VI, QUEEN MARGARET, GLOUCESTER, YORK, SUFFOLK, and SALISBURY; the DUCHESS, MARGARET JOURDAIN, SOUTHWELL, HUME, and BOLINGBROKE, under guard]
KING HENRY VI	Stand forth, Dame Eleanor Cobham, Gloucester's wife: In sight of God and us, your guilt is great: Receive the sentence of the law for sins Such as by God's book are adjudged to death. You four, from hence to prison back again; From thence unto the place of execution: The witch in Smithfield shall be burn'd to ashes, And you three shall be strangled on the gallows. You, madam, for you are more nobly born, Despoiled of your honour in your life, Shall, after three days' open penance done, Live in your country here in banishment, With Sir John Stanley, in the Isle of Man.
DUCHESS	Welcome is banishment; welcome were my death.
GLOUCESTER	Eleanor, the law, thou see'st, hath judged thee: I cannot justify whom the law condemns.
	[Exeunt DUCHESS and other prisoners, guarded]
	Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief. Ah, Humphrey, this dishonour in thine age Will bring thy head with sorrow to the ground! I beseech your majesty, give me leave to go; Sorrow would solace and mine age would ease.
KING HENRY VI	Stay, Humphrey Duke of Gloucester: ere thou go, Give up thy staff: Henry will to himself Protector be; and God shall be my hope, My stay, my guide and lantern to my feet: And go in peace, Humphrey, no less beloved Than when thou wert protector to thy King.
QUEEN MARGARET	I see no reason why a king of years Should be to be protected like a child. God and King Henry govern England's realm. Give up your staff, sir, and the king his realm.
GLOUCESTER	My staff? here, noble Henry, is my staff: As willingly do I the same resign As e'er thy father Henry made it mine; And even as willingly at thy feet I leave it As others would ambitiously receive it. Farewell, good king: when I am dead and gone, May honourable peace attend thy throne!
	[Exit]
QUEEN MARGARET	Why, now is Henry king, and Margaret queen; And Humphrey Duke of Gloucester scarce himself, That bears so shrewd a maim; two pulls at once; His lady banish'd, and a limb lopp'd off. This staff of honour raught, there let it stand Where it best fits to be, in Henry's hand.
SUFFOLK	Thus droops this lofty pine and hangs his sprays; Thus Eleanor's pride dies in her youngest days.
YORK	Lords, let him go. Please it your majesty, This is the day appointed for the combat; And ready are the appellant and defendant, The armourer and his man, to enter the lists, So please your highness to behold the fight.
QUEEN MARGARET	Ay, good my lord; for purposely therefore Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried.
KING HENRY VI	O God's name, see the lists and all things fit: Here let them end it; and God defend the right!
YORK	I never saw a fellow worse bested, Or more afraid to fight, than is the appellant, The servant of this armourer, my lords.
	[Enter at one door, HORNER, the Armourer, and his Neighbours, drinking to him so much that he is drunk; and he enters with a drum before him and his staff with a sand-bag fastened to it; and at the other door PETER, his man, with a drum and sand-bag, and 'Prentices drinking to him]
First Neighbour	Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a cup of sack: and fear not, neighbour, you shall do well enough.
Second Neighbour	And here, neighbour, here's a cup of charneco.
Third Neighbour	And here's a pot of good double beer, neighbour: drink, and fear not your man.
HORNER	Let it come, i' faith, and I'll pledge you all; and a fig for Peter!
First 'Prentice	Here, Peter, I drink to thee: and be not afraid.
Second 'Prentice	Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master: fight for credit of the 'prentices.
PETER	I thank you all: drink, and pray for me, I pray you; for I think I have taken my last draught in this world. Here, Robin, an if I die, I give thee my apron: and, Will, thou shalt have my hammer: and here, Tom, take all the money that I have. O Lord bless me! I pray God! for I am never able to deal with my master, he hath learnt me so much fence already.
SALISBURY	Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows. Sirrah, what's thy name?
PETER	Peter, forsooth.
SALISBURY	Peter! what more?
PETER	Thump.
SALISBURY	Thump! then see thou thump thy master well.
HORNER	Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon my man's instigation, to prove him a knave and myself an honest man: and touching the Duke of York, I will take my death, I never meant him any ill, nor the king, nor the queen: and therefore, Peter, have at thee with a downright blow!
YORK	Dispatch: this knave's tongue begins to double. Sound, trumpets, alarum to the combatants!
	[Alarum. They fight, and PETER strikes him down]
HORNER	Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason.
	[Dies]
YORK	Take away his weapon. Fellow, thank God, and the good wine in thy master's way.
PETER	O God, have I overcome mine enemy in this presence? O Peter, thou hast prevailed in right!
KING HENRY VI	Go, take hence that traitor from our sight; For his death we do perceive his guilt: And God in justice hath revealed to us The truth and innocence of this poor fellow, Which he had thought to have murder'd wrongfully. Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward.
	[Sound a flourish. Exeunt]

Scene IV A street

	[Enter GLOUCESTER and his Servingmen, in mourning cloaks]
GLOUCESTER	Thus sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud; And after summer evermore succeeds Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold: So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet. Sirs, what's o'clock?
Servants	Ten, my lord.
GLOUCESTER	Ten is the hour that was appointed me To watch the coming of my punish'd duchess: Uneath may she endure the flinty streets, To tread them with her tender-feeling feet. Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook The abject people gazing on thy face, With envious looks, laughing at thy shame, That erst did follow thy proud chariot-wheels When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets. But, soft! I think she comes; and I'll prepare My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries.
	[Enter the DUCHESS in a white sheet, and a taper burning in her hand; with STANLEY, the Sheriff, and Officers]
Servant	So please your grace, we'll take her from the sheriff.
GLOUCESTER	No, stir not, for your lives; let her pass by.
DUCHESS	Come you, my lord, to see my open shame? Now thou dost penance too. Look how they gaze! See how the giddy multitude do point, And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee! Ah, Gloucester, hide thee from their hateful looks, And, in thy closet pent up, rue my shame, And ban thine enemies, both mine and thine!
GLOUCESTER	Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief.
DUCHESS	Ah, Gloucester, teach me to forget myself! For whilst I think I am thy married wife And thou a prince, protector of this land, Methinks I should not thus be led along, Mail'd up in shame, with papers on my back, And followed with a rabble that rejoice To see my tears and hear my deep-fet groans. The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet, And when I start, the envious people laugh And bid me be advised how I tread. Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke? Trow'st thou that e'er I'll look upon the world, Or count them happy that enjoy the sun? No; dark shall be my light and night my day; To think upon my pomp shall be my hell. Sometime I'll say, I am Duke Humphrey's wife, And he a prince and ruler of the land: Yet so he ruled and such a prince he was As he stood by whilst I, his forlorn duchess, Was made a wonder and a pointing-stock To every idle rascal follower. But be thou mild and blush not at my shame, Nor stir at nothing till the axe of death Hang over thee, as, sure, it shortly will; For Suffolk, he that can do all in all With her that hateth thee and hates us all, And York and impious Beaufort, that false priest, Have all limed bushes to betray thy wings, And, fly thou how thou canst, they'll tangle thee: But fear not thou, until thy foot be snared, Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.
GLOUCESTER	Ah, Nell, forbear! thou aimest all awry; I must offend before I be attainted; And had I twenty times so many foes, And each of them had twenty times their power, All these could not procure me any scathe, So long as I am loyal, true and crimeless. Wouldst have me rescue thee from this reproach? Why, yet thy scandal were not wiped away But I in danger for the breach of law. Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell: I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience; These few days' wonder will be quickly worn.
	[Enter a Herald]
Herald	I summon your grace to his majesty's parliament, Holden at Bury the first of this next month.
GLOUCESTER	And my consent ne'er ask'd herein before! This is close dealing. Well, I will be there.
	[Exit Herald]
	My Nell, I take my leave: and, master sheriff, Let not her penance exceed the king's commission.
Sheriff	An't please your grace, here my commission stays, And Sir John Stanley is appointed now To take her with him to the Isle of Man.
GLOUCESTER	Must you, Sir John, protect my lady here?
STANLEY	So am I given in charge, may't please your grace.
GLOUCESTER	Entreat her not the worse in that I pray You use her well: the world may laugh again; And I may live to do you kindness if You do it her: and so, Sir John, farewell!
DUCHESS	What, gone, my lord, and bid me not farewell!
GLOUCESTER	Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak.
	[Exeunt GLOUCESTER and Servingmen]
DUCHESS	Art thou gone too? all comfort go with thee! For none abides with me: my joy is death; Death, at whose name I oft have been afear'd, Because I wish'd this world's eternity. Stanley, I prithee, go, and take me hence; I care not whither, for I beg no favour, Only convey me where thou art commanded.
STANLEY	Why, madam, that is to the Isle of Man; There to be used according to your state.
DUCHESS	That's bad enough, for I am but reproach: And shall I then be used reproachfully?
STANLEY	Like to a duchess, and Duke Humphrey's lady; According to that state you shall be used.
DUCHESS	Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare, Although thou hast been conduct of my shame.
Sheriff	It is my office; and, madam, pardon me.
DUCHESS	Ay, ay, farewell; thy office is discharged. Come, Stanley, shall we go?
STANLEY	Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet, And go we to attire you for our journey.
DUCHESS	My shame will not be shifted with my sheet: No, it will hang upon my richest robes And show itself, attire me how I can. Go, lead the way; I long to see my prison.
	[Exeunt]

Henry VI Part 2 Act 3

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