Enter SOMERSET. Som. All health unto my gracious sovereign! K. Hen. Welcome, lord Somerset. What news from France? Som. That all your interest in those territories Is utterly bereft you; all is lost. K. Hen. Cold news, lord Somerset: but God's will be done! York. [Aside.] Cold news for me; for I had hope of France, As firmly as I hope for fertile England. Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bud, Enter GLOSTER. Glo. All happiness unto my lord the king! Pardon, my liege, that I have stay'd so long. Suf. Nay, Gloster, know, that thou art come too soon, Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art: I do arrest thee of high treason here. Glo. Well, Suffolk, yet thou shalt not see me blush, A heart unspotted is not easily daunted. York. 'Tis thought, my lord, that you took bribes of France, And, being protector, stay'd the soldiers' pay; By means whereof his highness hath lost France. Glo. Is it but thought so? What are they that think it I never robb'd the soldiers of their pay, Nor ever had one penny bribe from France. So help me God, as I have watch'd the night, Ay, night by night,-in studying good for England! Or any groat I hoarded to my use, Be brought against me at my trial-day! No; many a pound of mine own proper store, And never ask'd for restitution. Car. It serves you well, my lord, to say so much. Strange tortures for offenders, never heard of, Glo. Why, 'tis well known that, whiles I was protector, Pity was all the fault that was in me; For I should melt at an offender's tears, And lowly words were ransom for their fault. Or foul felonious thief that fleec'd poor passengers, Murder, indeed, that bloody sin, I tortur'd Above the felon, or what trespass else. Suf. My lord, these faults are easy, quickly answer'd : I do arrest you in his highness' name; K. Hen. My lord of Gloster, 'tis my special hope, Glo. Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous! And charity chas'd hence by rancour's hand; And equity exil'd your highness' land. I know their complot is to have my life; And, if my death might make this island happy, I would expend it with all willingness: But mine is made the prologue to their play; Beaufort's red sparkling eyes blab his heart's malice, I shall not want false witness to condemn me, Car. My liege, his railing is intolerable : Suf. Hath he not twit our sov'reign lady here, False allegations to o'erthrow his state? Q. Mar. But I can give the loser leave to chide. Buck. He'll wrest the sense, and hold us here all day :Lord cardinal, he is your prisoner. Car. Sirs, take away the duke, and guard him sure. Glo. Ah, thus king Henry throws away his crutch, Before his legs be firm to bear his body! Thus is the shepherd beaten from thy side, And wolves are gnarling who shall gnaw thee first. [Exeunt Attendants with GLOSTER. K. Hen. My lords, what to your wisdoms seemeth best, Do, or undo, as if ourself were here. Q. Mar. What, will your highness leave the parliament? K. Hen. Ay, Margaret, my heart is drown'd with grief, Whose flood begins to flow within mine eyes; My body round engirt with misery, For what's more miserable than discontent ?— And yet, good Humphrey, is the hour to come, And binds the wretch, and beats it when it strays, His fortunes I will weep; and, 'twixt each groan, [Exit. Q. Mar. Free lords, cold snow melts with the sun's hot beams. Henry my lord is cold in great affairs, Too full of foolish pity: and Gloster's show Believe me, lords, were none more wise than I, Car. That he should die is worthy policy; More than mistrust, that shows him worthy death. York. 'Tis York that hath more reason for his death.— But, my lord cardinal, and you, my lord of Suffolk,- To guard the chicken from a hungry kite, Q. Mar. So the poor chicken should be sure of death. Who being accus'd a crafty murderer, His guilt should be but idly posted over, Before his chaps be stain'd with crimson blood,— Q. Mar. Thrice noble Suffolk, 'tis resolutely spoke. And to preserve my sov'reign 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, 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 uncurable; 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, York. No, not to lose it all, as thou hast done: |