Glo. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak.

[Exit Gloucefter.

Elean. Art thou gone too? all comfort go with thee! For none abides with me; my joy is death; Death, at whofe name I oft have been afraid, Because I wish'd this world's eternity. Stanley, I pr'ythee, go and take me hence, I care not whither, for I beg no favour; Only convey me where thou art commanded. Stan. Why, Madam, that is to the Isle of Man ; There to be us'd according to your state.

Elean. That's bad enough, for I am but reproach." And fhall then be us'd reproachfully??

Stan. No; like a Dutchefs, and Duke Humphry's lady,

According to that ftate you fhall be us'd.

Elean. Sheriff, farewel, and better than I fare; Although thou hast been conduct of my fhame. Sher. It is my office. Madam, pardon me. Elean. Ay, ay. Farewel. Thy office is discharg'd. Come, Stanley, fhall we go?

Stan. Madam, your penance done, throw off this fheet,

And go we to attire you for our journey.!!!

Elean. My fhame will not be shifted with my fheet, No, it will hang upon my richest robes,

And fhew itself, attire me how I can.

*I

-Go, lead the way, I long to fee my prifon. [Exeunt.

I long to fee my prifon.] This impatience of a high fpirit is very natural. It is not fo dreadful to be imprisoned, as it

is defirable in a flate of difgrace to be fheltered from the fcorn of gazers.

2. 1

ACT

ACT III. SCENE I.

At BUR Y.

Enter King Henry, Queen, Cardinal, Suffolk, York, Buckingham, Salisbury and Warwick, to the Par liament.

I

K. HENRY.

Mufe, my Lord of Glo'fter is not come;

'Tis not his wont to be the hindmost man, fi lari Whate'er occafion keeps him from us now.

Q. Mar. Can you not fee, or will you not observe The ftrangeness of his alter'd countenance,

With what a majefty he bears himself,

How infolent of late he is become,
How peremptory and unlike himself?

We know the time, fince he was mild and affable
And, if we did but glance a far-off look,

Immediately he was upon his knee;

That all the court admir'd him for fubmiffion.

But meet him now, and be it in the morn, on haÅ

When ev'ry one will give the time of day, M

He knits his brow and fhews an angry eye,Maar

And paffeth by with stiff unbowed knee,
Dildaining duty that to us belongs.

Small curs are not regarded, when they grin,
But great men tremble when the lion roars,
And Humphry is no little man in England.

First note, that he is near you in defcent, ya d
And, fhould you fall, he is the next will mount.
Me feemeth then, it is no policy,

Me feemeth] That is, it feemeth to me, a word more grammatical than methinks, which

has, I know not how, intruded into its place.

Respecting

Refpecting what a ranc'rous mind he bears,
And his advantage following your decease,
That he fhould come about your royal perfon,
Or be admitted to your Highness' council.
By flatt'ry hath he won the common hearts:
And when he'll please to make commotion,
'Tis to be fear'd, they all will follow him.
-Now 'tis the fpring, and weeds are fhallow-rooted,
Suffer them now, and they'll o'er-grow the garden,
And choak the herbs for want of husbandry.
The reverent care, I bear unto my Lord,
Made me collect thefe dangers in the Duke,
If it be fond, call it a woman's fear,
Which fear if better reafons can fupplant
I will fubfcribe, and fay, I wrong'd the Duke,
My Lords of Suffolk, Buckingham, and York,
Reprove my allegation, if you can,

Or elfe conclude my words effectual..

Suf. Well hath your Highnefs feen into this Duke. And, had I first been put to fpeak my mind, I think I fhould have told your Grace's tale. The Dutchefs, by his fubornation,

Upon my life, began her devilish practices, 1
Or if he were not privy to thofe faults,
Yet, by repeating of his high defcent,
As next the King he was fucceffive heir,
And fuch high vaunts of his nobility,
Did inftigate the bedlam brain-fick Dutchefs.
By wicked means to frame our fov'reign's fall.
Smooth runs the water, where the brook is deep;
And in his fimple fhew he harbours treason.
The fox barks not when he would fteal the lamb.
No, no, my fov'reign; Glofier is a man
Unfounded yet, and full of deep deceit.

it your Grace's tale;] Suffolk ufes Highness and Grace promifcuously to the queen. Ma

jefty was not the fettled title till the time of king James the first.

Car.

Car. Did he not, contrary to form of law, Devife ftrange deaths for small offences done? York. And did he not in his protectorship Levy great fums of money through the realm For foldiers' pay in France, and never fent it? By means whereof the towns each day revolted.

Buck. Tut, thefe are petty faults to faults unknown; Which time will bring to light in smooth Duke Humphry.

K. Henry. My Lords, at once. The care you have

of us,

To mow down thorns that would annoy our foot,
Is worthy praile; but fhall I fpeak my confcience?
Our kinfman Glo'fter is as innocent

From meaning treafon to our royal perfon
As is the fucking lamb or harmless dove.
The Duke is virtuous, mild, and too well given
To dream on evil, or to work my downfal.

Q. Mar, Ah! what's more dang'rous than this fond
affiance?

Seems he a dove his feathers are but borrow'd
For he's difpofed as the hateful Raven.

Is he a lamb? his fkin is, furely, lent him;
For he's înclin'd as is the ravenous wolf.
Who cannot fteal a fhape that means deceit ?
Take heed, my Lord; the welfare of us all
Hangs on the cutting fhort that fraudful man.

Enter Somerset.

Som. All health unto my gracious Sovereign!
K. Henry. Welcome, Lord Somerfet; what news
from France?

Som. That all your int'reft in those territories
Is utterly bereft you; all is loft.

K. Henry. Cold news, Lord Somerfet. But God's will be done!. ·

York. Cold news for me; for I had hope of France, As firmly as I hope for fertile England.

- Thus

Thus are my bloffoms blafted in the bud,
And caterpillars eat my leaves away.
But I will remedy this gear ere long,
Or fell my title for a glorious grave.

SCENE II.

Enter Gloucester.

[Afide

Glo. All happiness unto my Lord the King! Pardon, my Liege, that I have ftaid fo long. Suf. Nay, Glofter, know that thou art come too soon, Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art.

I do arrest thee of high treafon here.

Glo. Well, Suffolk, yet thou shalt not fee me blush, Nor change my countenance for this Arrest, A heart unspotted is not eafily daunted. The pureft fpring is not fo free from mud As I am clear from treafon to my Sovereign. Who can accufe me? Wherein am I guilty?

York. 'Tis thought, my Lord, that you took bribes of France,

And, being protector, ftaid the foldiers' pay;
By means whereof his Highnefs hath loft France.
Glo. Is it but thought fo? what are they that think it?
I never robb'd the foldiers 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 ftudying good for England.
That doit that e'er I wrefted from the King,
Or any groat I hoarded to my use,

Be brought againft me at my trial day!
No; many a pound of my own proper store,
Because I would not tax the needy commons,
Have I disbursed to the garrifons,
And never afk'd for reftitution.

3-this gear] Gear was a general word for thing or matters.

Car.