* 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!"

'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.

It skills not-] It is of no importance.

expedient stop!] i. e. 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 character'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 confirins: * 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, 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,

'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.

8

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.

SCENE II.

Bury. A Room in the Palace.

Enter certain Murderers, hastily.

[Exit.

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 footsoldiers.

—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

done?

* Didst ever hear a man so penitent?

Enter SUFFOLK.

1 Mur. Here comes my lord.

Suf.

'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.