Q. Mar. So the poor chicken fhould be fure of death. Suf. Madam, 'tis true; and wer't not madness, then, To make the fox furveyor of the fold? Who being accus'd a crafty murtherer, His guilt fhould be but idly posted over, Because his purpose is not executed. No; let him die, in that he is a fox, By nature prov'd an enemy to the flock; Before his chaps be ftain'd with crimson blood, As Humphry prov'd by reasons to my Liege; And do not stand on quillets how to flay him: Be it by ginns, by fnares, by fubtilty, Sleeping or waking, 'tis no matter how,

So he be dead; for that is good deceit.

Which mates him first, that firft intends deceit.

Q. Mar. Thrice-noble Suffolk, 'tis refolutely spoke.
Suf. Not refolute, except fo much were done;
For things are often fpoke, and feldom meant;
But that my heart accordeth with my tongue,
Seeing the deed is meritorious,

And to preferve 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 cenfent, and cenfure well the deed,

And I'll provide his executioner,

I tender fo the safety of my Liege.

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

York. And I: And now we three have spoke it,

It skills not greatly, who impugns our doom.

Enter a Poft.

Poft. Great lords, from Ireland am I come amain,
To fignifie that Rebels there are up,

And put the Englishmen unto the Tword:
Send fuccours, lords, and ftop the rage betime,
Before the wound do grow incurable;

For being green, there is great hope of help.

Car

Car. A breach, that craves a quick expedient Stop What counsel give you in this weighty cause ? York. That Somerfet be fent a Regent thither : 'Tis meet, that lucky ruler be employ'd: Witnefs the fortune he hath had in France. Som. If York, with all his far-fetch'd policy, Had been the Regent there instead of me, He never would have ftaid in France fo long. York. No, not to lofe it all, as thou haft done : I rather would have loft my life betimes, Than bring a burthen of dishonour home, By staying there fo long, till all were loft. Shew me one scar, character'd on thy skin: Men's flesh preferv'd fo whole, do feldom win.

Q. Mar. Nay then, this fpark will prove a raging fire, If wind and fuel be brought to feed it with: No more, good York; fweet Somerset, be still. Thy fortune, York, hadft thou been Regent there, Might happily have prov'd far worse than his.

York. What, worse than nought? nay, then a fhame take all!

Som. And, in the number, thee that wifheft fhame! Car. My lord of York, try what your fortune is; Th' uncivil Kerns of Ireland are in arms, And temper day with blood of Englishmen. To Ireland will you lead a band of men, Collected choicely from each county fome, And try your hap against the Irishmen? York. I will, my lord, fo please his Majefty. Suf. Why, our Authority is his confent And what we do establish, he confirms; Then, noble York, take thou this task in hand. York. I am content: provide me foldiers, lords, Whilft I take order for mine own affairs.

;

Suf. A charge, lord York, that I will fee perform'd: But now return we to the falfe Duke Humphry. Car. No more of him; for I will deal with him, That henceforth he fhall trouble us no more : And fo break off: the day is almost spent: Lord Suffolk, you and I must talk of that event. VOL. V.

C

York.

York. My lord of Suffolk, within fourteen days At Briflol I expect my foldiers;

For there I'll fhip them all for Ireland.

Suf. I'll fee it truly done, my lord of York. [Exeunt. Manet York.

York. Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful thoughts, And change mifdoubt to resolution :

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

Fafter than fpring-time fhow'rs, comes thought on thought,
And not a thought, but thinks on dignity.
My brain, more bufie than the lab'ring fpider,
Weaves tedious fnares to trap mine enemies.
Well, Nobles, well; 'tis politickly done,
'To fend me packing with an host of men:
I fear me, you but warm the starved Snake,
Who, cherish'd in your breast, will fting your hearts.
'Twas men I lack'd, and you will give them me;
I take it kindly: yet be well affur'd,

You put fharp weapons in a mad-man's hands.
Whilst I in Ireland nourish a mighty band,
I will ftir up in England fome black ftorm,
Shall blow ten thousand fouls to heav'n or hell.
And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage,
Until the golden circuit on my head,
(Like to the glorious fun's tranfparent beams,)
Do calm the fury of this mad-brain'd flaw.
And, for a minifter of my intent,

I have feduc'd a headstrong Kentish man,
John Cade of Ashford,

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

In Ireland have I feen this ftubborn Cade
Oppofe himself against a troop of Kerns;
And fought fo long, till that his thighs with darts
Were almoft like a fharp-quill'd porcupine:

And,

And, in the end being refcu'd, I have feen
Him caper upright like a wild Morifco,
Shaking the bloody darts, as he his bells.
Full often, like a fhag-hair'd crafty Kern,
Hath he converfed with the enemy;
And undiscover'd come to me again,
And giv'n me notice of their villanies.
This devil here fhall be my substitute;
For that John Mortimer, which now is dead,
In face, in gate, in fpeech he doth resemble.
By this, I fhall 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 fay, I mov'd him to thofe arms.
Say, that he thrive; as 'tis great like, he will;
Why, then, from Ireland come I with my ftrength,
And reap the harvest which that rascal fow'd;
For Humphry being dead, as he fhall be,
And Henry put a-part, the next for me.

[Exit.

SCENE, an Apartment in the Palace.

Enter two or three, running over the Stage, from the murther of Duke Humphry.

1.

UN to my lord of Suffolk; let him know, We have dispatch'd the Duke, as he commanded. 2. Oh, that it were to do! what have we done? Didft ever hear a man so penitent ?

Enter Suffolk.

1. Here comes my lord.

Suf. Now, Sir, have you dispatch'd this thing? 1. Ay, my good lord, he's dead.

Suf. Why, that's well faid. Go, get you to my house;

I will reward you for this vent'rous 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. Yes, my good lord.

Suf. Away, be gone.

Enter King Henry, the Queen, Cardinal, Somerset, with Attendants.

K. Henry. Go, call our Uncle to our presence ftrait: 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. Henry. Lords, take your places: and, I pray you all, Proceed no firaiter 'gainst our uncle Glo'fter,

Than from true evidence, of good esteem,

He be approv'd in practice culpable.

Q. Mar. God forbid, any malice should prevail, That faultlefs may condemn a Nobleman!

Pray God, he may acquit him of fufpicion!

K. Henry. I thank thee: Well, these words content me much. (8)

Enter Suffolk.

How now? why look'ft thou pale? why trembleft thou?
Where is our Uncle? what is the matter, Suffolk?
Suf. Dead in his bed, my lord; Glofter is dead.
Q. Mar. Marry, God forefend?

(8) I thank thee, Nell, thefe Words content me much.] This is K. Henry's Reply to his Wife Margaret. Our Poet, I remember, in his King John, makes Faulconbridge the Bastard, upon his first stepping into Honour, fay, that he will study to forget his old Acquaintance;

And if his Name be George, I'll call him Peter;

For new-made Honour doth forget Mens Names.

But, furely, this is wide of King Henry's Cafe; and it can be no Reason why he fhould forget his own Wife's Name; and call her Nell instead of Margaret. As the Change of a fingle Letter fets all right, I am willing to fuppofe it came from his Pen thus ;

I thank thee: Well; thefe words content me much.

:

K. Henry was a Prince of great Piety and Meekness, a great Lover of his Uncle Gloucester, whom his nobles were rigidly perfecuting and to whom he fufpected the Queen bore no very good Will in her Heart: But finding her, beyond his hopes, fpeak fo candidly in the Duke's Cafe, he is mightily comforted and contented at her impartial Seeming.

Car,