Henry VI Part 2

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Original text
Act II, Scene I
Enter the King, Queene, Protector, Cardinall, and
Suffolke, with Faulkners hallowing.

Queene.
Beleeue me Lords, for flying at the Brooke,
I saw not better sport these seuen yeeres day:
Yet by your leaue, the Winde was very high,
And ten to one, old Ioane had not gone out.

King.
But what a point, my Lord, your Faulcon made,
And what a pytch she flew aboue the rest:
To see how God in all his Creatures workes,
Yea Man and Birds are fayne of climbing high.

Suff.
No maruell, and it like your Maiestie,
My Lord Protectors Hawkes doe towre so well,
They know their Master loues to be aloft,
And beares his thoughts aboue his Faulcons Pitch.

Glost.
My Lord, 'tis but a base ignoble minde,
That mounts no higher then a Bird can sore:

Card.
I thought as much, hee would be aboue the Clouds.

Glost.
I my Lord Cardinall, how thinke you by that?
Were it not good your Grace could flye to Heauen?

King.
The Treasurie of euerlasting Ioy.

Card.
Thy Heauen is on Earth, thine Eyes & Thoughts
Beat on a Crowne, the Treasure of thy Heart,
Pernitious Protector, dangerous Peere,
That smooth'st it so with King and Common-weale.

Glost.
What, Cardinall? / Is your Priest-hood growne peremptorie?
Tantane animis Colestibus ira,
Church-men so hot? / Good Vnckle hide such mallice:
With such Holynesse can you doe it?

Suff.
No mallice Sir, no more then well becomes
So good a Quarrell, and so bad a Peere.

Glost.
As who, my Lord?

Suff.
Why, as you, my Lord,
An't like your Lordly Lords Protectorship.

Glost.
Why Suffolke, England knowes thine insolence.

Queene.
And thy Ambition, Gloster.

King.
I prythee peace,
good Queene, / And whet not on these furious Peeres,
For blessed are the Peace-makers on Earth.

Card.
Let me be blessed for the Peace I make
Against this prowd Protector with my Sword.

Glost.
Faith holy Vnckle, would't were come to that.

Card.

Marry, when thou dar'st.

Glost.

Make vp no factious numbers for the matter,
In thine owne person answere thy abuse.

Card.

I, where thou dar'st not peepe: / And if thou dar'st,
this Euening, / On the East side of the Groue.

King.
How now, my Lords?

Card.
Beleeue me, Cousin Gloster,
Had not your man put vp the Fowle so suddenly,
We had had more sport. Come with thy two-hand Sword.

Glost.
True Vnckle,

are ye aduis'd? / The East side of the Groue:
Cardinall, I am with you.

King.
Why how now, Vnckle Gloster?

Glost.
Talking of Hawking; nothing else, my Lord.
Now by Gods Mother, Priest, / Ile shaue your Crowne for this,
Or all my Fence shall fayle.

Card.
Medice teipsum,
Protector see to't well, protect your selfe.

King.
The Windes grow high, / So doe your Stomacks, Lords:
How irkesome is this Musick to my heart?
When such Strings iarre, what hope of Harmony?
I pray my Lords let me compound this strife.
Enter one crying a Miracle.

Glost.
What meanes this noyse?
Fellow, what Miracle do'st thou proclayme?

One.
A Miracle, a Miracle.

Suffolke.
Come to the King, and tell him what Miracle.

One.
Forsooth, a blinde man at Saint Albones Shrine,
Within this halfe houre hath receiu'd his sight,
A man that ne're saw in his life before.

King.
Now God be prays'd, that to beleeuing Soules
Giues Light in Darknesse, Comfort in Despaire.
Enter the Maior of Saint Albones, and his Brethren,
bearing the man betweene two
in a Chayre.

Card.
Here comes the Townes-men, on Procession,
To present your Highnesse with the man.

King.
Great is his comfort in this Earthly Vale,
Although by his sight his sinne be multiplyed.

Glost.
Stand by, my Masters, bring him neere the King,
His Highnesse pleasure is to talke with him.

King.
Good-fellow, tell vs here the circumstance,
That we for thee may glorifie the Lord.
What, hast thou beene long blinde, and now restor'd?

Simpc.
Borne blinde, and't please your Grace.

Wife.
I indeede was he.

Suff.
What Woman is this?

Wife.
His Wife, and't like your Worship.

Glost.
Hadst thou been his Mother, thou could'st
haue better told.

King.
Where wert thou borne?

Simpc.
At Barwick in the North, and't like your Grace.

King.
Poore Soule, / Gods goodnesse hath beene great to thee:
Let neuer Day nor Night vnhallowed passe,
But still remember what the Lord hath done.

Queene.
Tell me, good-fellow, / Cam'st thou here by Chance,
or of Deuotion, / To this holy Shrine?

Simpc.
God knowes of pure Deuotion, / Being call'd
a hundred times, and oftner, / In my sleepe,
by good Saint Albon: / Who said; Symon, come;
come offer at my Shrine, / And I will helpe thee.

Wife.
Most true, forsooth: / And many time and oft
my selfe haue heard a Voyce, / To call him so.

Card.
What, art thou lame?

Simpc.
I, God Almightie helpe me.

Suff.
How cam'st thou so?

Simpc.
A fall off of a Tree.

Wife.
A Plum-tree, Master.

Glost.
How long hast thou beene blinde?

Simpc.
O borne so, Master.

Glost.
What, and would'st climbe a Tree?

Simpc.
But that in all my life, when I was a youth.

Wife.
Too true, and bought his climbing very deare.

Glost.
'Masse, thou lou'dst Plummes well, that would'st venture so.

Simpc.
Alas, good Master, my Wife desired some
Damsons, and made me climbe, with danger of my Life.

Glost.
A subtill Knaue, but yet it shall not serue:
Let me see thine Eyes; winck now, now open them,
In my opinion, yet thou seest not well.

Simpc.
Yes Master, cleare as day, I thanke God and
Saint Albones.

Glost.
Say'st thou me so: what Colour is this Cloake of?

Simpc.
Red Master, Red as Blood.

Glost.
Why that's well said: What Colour is my Gowne of?

Simpc.
Black forsooth, Coale-Black, as Iet.

King.
Why then, thou know'st what Colour Iet is of?

Suff.
And yet I thinke, Iet did he neuer see.

Glost.
But Cloakes and Gownes, before this day, a many.

Wife.
Neuer before this day, in all his life.

Glost.
Tell me Sirrha, what's my Name?

Simpc.
Alas Master, I know not.

Glost.
What's his Name?

Simpc.
I know not.

Glost.
Nor his?

Simpc.
No indeede, Master.

Glost.
What's thine owne Name?

Simpc.
Saunder Simpcoxe, and if it please you, Master.

Glost.
Then Saunder, sit there, / The lying'st Knaue
in Christendome. / If thou hadst beene borne blinde,
Thou might'st as well haue knowne all our Names, / As thus to
name the seuerall Colours we doe weare. / Sight may distinguish
of Colours: / But suddenly to nominate them all, / It
is impossible. / My Lords, Saint Albone here hath done a
Miracle: / And would ye not thinke it, Cunning to be great,
That could restore this Cripple to his Legges againe.

Simpc.
O Master, that you could?

Glost.
My Masters of Saint Albones, / Haue you not
Beadles in your Towne, / And Things call'd Whippes?

Maior.
Yes, my Lord, if it please your Grace.

Glost.
Then send for one presently.

Maior.
Sirrha, goe fetch the Beadle hither straight.
Exit.

Glost.
Now fetch me a Stoole hither by and by.
Now Sirrha, if you meane to saue your selfe from Whipping,
leape me ouer this Stoole, and runne away.

Simpc.
Alas Master, I am not able to stand alone:
You goe about to torture me in vaine.
Enter a Beadle with Whippes.

Glost.
Well Sir, we must haue you finde your Legges.
Sirrha Beadle, whippe him till he leape ouer that same
Stoole.

Beadle.
I will, my Lord. Come on Sirrha, off with your
Doublet, quickly.

Simpc.
Alas Master, what shall I doe? I am not able
to stand.
After the Beadle hath hit him once, he leapes ouer the
Stoole, and runnes away: and they follow, and cry, A
Miracle.

King.
O God, seest thou this, and bearest so long?

Queene.
It made me laugh, to see the Villaine runne.

Glost.
Follow the Knaue, and take this Drab away.

Wife.
Alas Sir, we did it for pure need.

Glost.
Let th? be whipt through euery Market Towne,
Till they come to Barwick, from whence they came.
Exit.

Card.
Duke Humfrey ha's done a Miracle to day.

Suff.
True: made the Lame to leape and flye away.

Glost.
But you haue done more Miracles then I:
You made in a day, my Lord, whole Townes to flye.
Enter Buckingham.

King.
What Tidings with our Cousin Buckingham?

Buck.
Such as my heart doth tremble to vnfold:
A sort of naughtie persons, lewdly bent,
Vnder the Countenance and Confederacie
Of Lady Elianor, the Protectors Wife,
The Ring-leader and Head of all this Rout,
Haue practis'd dangerously against your State,
Dealing with Witches and with Coniurers,
Whom we haue apprehended in the Fact,
Raysing vp wicked Spirits from vnder ground,
Demanding of King Henries Life and Death,
And other of your Highnesse Priuie Councell,
As more at large your Grace shall vnderstand.

Card.
And so my Lord Protector, by this meanes
Your Lady is forth-comming, yet at London.

This Newes I thinke hath turn'd your Weapons edge;
'Tis like, my Lord, you will not keepe your houre.

Glost.
Ambitious Church-man, leaue to afflict my heart:
Sorrow and griefe haue vanquisht all my powers;
And vanquisht as I am, I yeeld to thee,
Or to the meanest Groome.

King.
O God, what mischiefes work the wicked ones?
Heaping confusion on their owne heads thereby.

Queene.
Gloster, see here the Taincture of thy Nest,
And looke thy selfe be faultlesse, thou wert best.

Glost.
Madame, for my selfe, to Heauen I doe appeale,
How I haue lou'd my King, and Common-weale:
And for my Wife, I know not how it stands,
Sorry I am to heare what I haue heard.
Noble shee is: but if shee haue forgot
Honor and Vertue, and conuers't with such,
As like to Pytch, defile Nobilitie;
I banish her my Bed, and Companie,
And giue her as a Prey to Law and Shame,
That hath dis-honored Glosters honest Name.

King.
Well, for this Night we will repose vs here:
To morrow toward London, back againe,
To looke into this Businesse thorowly,
And call these foule Offendors to their Answeres;
And poyse the Cause in Iustice equall Scales,
Whose Beame stands sure, whose rightful cause preuailes.
Flourish. Exeunt.
Original text
Act II, Scene II
Enter Yorke, Salisbury, and Warwick.

Yorke.
Now my good Lords of Salisbury & Warwick,
Our simple Supper ended, giue me leaue,
In this close Walke, to satisfie my selfe,
In crauing your opinion of my Title,
Which is infallible, to Englands Crowne.

Salisb.
My Lord, I long to heare it at full.

Warw.
Sweet Yorke begin: and if thy clayme be good,
The Neuills are thy Subiects to command.

Yorke.
Then thus:
Edward the third, my Lords, had seuen Sonnes:
The first, Edward the Black-Prince, Prince ofWales;
The second, William of Hatfield; and the third,
Lionel, Duke of Clarence; next to whom,
Was Iohn of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster;
The fift, was Edmond Langley, Duke of Yorke;
The sixt, was Thomas of Woodstock, Duke ofGloster;
William of Windsor was the seuenth, and last.
Edward the Black-Prince dyed before his Father,
And left behinde him Richard, his onely Sonne,
Who after Edward the third's death, raign'd as King,
Till Henry Bullingbrooke, Duke of Lancaster,
The eldest Sonne and Heire of Iohn of Gaunt,
Crown'd by the Name of Henry the fourth,
Seiz'd on the Realme, depos'd the rightfull King,
Sent his poore Queene to France, from whence she came,
And him to Pumfret; where, as all you know,
Harmelesse Richard was murthered traiterously.

Warw.
Father, the Duke hath told the truth;
Thus got the House of Lancaster the Crowne.

Yorke.
Which now they hold by force, and not by right:
For Richard, the first Sonnes Heire, beingdead,
The Issue of the next Sonne should haue reign'd.

Salisb.
But William of Hatfield dyed without an Heire.

Yorke.
The third Sonne, Duke of Clarence, / From whose Line
I clayme the Crowne, / Had Issue Phillip, a Daughter,
Who marryed Edmond Mortimer, Earle of March:
Edmond had Issue, Roger, Earle of March;
Roger had Issue, Edmond, Anne, and Elianor.

Salisb.
This Edmond, in the Reigne of Bullingbrooke,
As I haue read, layd clayme vnto the Crowne,
And but for Owen Glendour, had beene King;
Who kept him in Captiuitie, till he dyed.
But, to the rest.

Yorke.
His eldest Sister, Anne,
My Mother, being Heire vnto the Crowne,
Marryed Richard, Earle of Cambridge, / Who was
to Edmond Langley, / Edward the thirds fift Sonnes Sonne;
By her I clayme the Kingdome: / She was Heire
to Roger, Earle of March, / Who was the Sonne
of Edmond Mortimer, / Who marryed Phillip,
sole Daughter / Vnto Lionel, Duke of Clarence.
So, if the Issue of the elder Sonne
Succeed before the younger, I am King.

Warw.
What plaine proceedings is more plain then this?
Henry doth clayme the Crowne from Iohn of Gaunt,
The fourth Sonne, Yorke claymes it from the third:
Till Lionels Issue fayles, his should not reigne.
It fayles not yet, but flourishes in thee,
And in thy Sonnes, faire slippes of such a Stock.
Then Father Salisbury, kneele we together,
And in this priuate Plot be we the first,
That shall salute our rightfull Soueraigne
With honor of his Birth-right to the Crowne.

Both.
Long liue our Soueraigne Richard, Englands King.

Yorke.
We thanke you Lords: / But I am not your King,
till I be Crown'd, / And that my Sword be stayn'd
With heart-blood of the House of Lancaster:
And that's not suddenly to be perform'd,
But with aduice and silent secrecie.
Doe you as I doe in these dangerous dayes,
Winke at the Duke of Suffolkes insolence,
At Beaufords Pride, at Somersets Ambition,
At Buckingham, and all the Crew of them,
Till they haue snar'd the Shepheard of the Flock,
That vertuous Prince, the good Duke Humfrey:
'Tis that they seeke; and they, in seeking that,
Shall finde their deaths, if Yorke can prophecie.

Salisb.
My Lord, breake we off; we know your minde at full.

Warw.
My heart assures me, that the Earle of Warwick
Shall one day make the Duke of Yorke a King.

Yorke.
And Neuill, this I doe assure my selfe,
Richard shall liue to make the Earle of Warwick
The greatest man in England, but the King.
Exeunt.
Original text
Act II, Scene III
Sound Trumpets. Enter the King and State,
with Guard, to banish the Duchesse.

King.
Stand forth Dame Elianor Cobham, / Glosters Wife:
In sight of God, and vs, your guilt is great,
Receiue the Sentence of the Law for sinne,
Such as by Gods Booke are adiudg'd to death.
You foure from hence to Prison, back againe;
From thence, vnto the place of Execution:
The Witch in Smithfield shall be burnt to ashes,
And you three shall be strangled on the Gallowes.
You Madame, for you are more Nobly borne,
Despoyled of your Honor in your Life,
Shall, after three dayes open Penance done,
Liue in your Countrey here, in Banishment,
With Sir Iohn Stanly, in the Ile of Man.

Elianor.
Welcome is Banishment, welcome were my Death.

Glost.
Elianor, the Law thou seest hath iudged thee,
I cannot iustifie whom the Law condemnes:
Mine eyes are full of teares, my heart of griefe.
Ah Humfrey, this dishonor in thine age,
Will bring thy head with sorrow to the ground.
I beseech your Maiestie giue me leaue to goe;
Sorrow would sollace, and mine Age would ease.

King.
Stay Humfrey, Duke of Gloster, / Ere thou goe,
giue vp thy Staffe, / Henry will to himselfe
Protector be, / And God shall be my hope,
my stay, my guide, / And Lanthorne to my feete:
And goe in peace, Humfrey, no lesse belou'd,
Then when thou wert Protector to thy King.

Queene.
I see no reason, why a King of yeeres
Should be to be protected like a Child,
God and King Henry gouerne Englands Realme:
Giue vp your Staffe, Sir, and the King his Realme.

Glost.
My Staffe? Here, Noble Henry, is my Staffe:
As willingly doe I the same resigne,
As ere thy Father Henry made it mine;
And euen as willingly at thy feete I leaue it,
As others would ambitiously receiue it.
Farewell good King: when I am dead, and gone,
May honorable Peace attend thy Throne.
Exit Gloster.

Queene.
Why now is Henry King, and Margaret Queen,
And Humfrey, Duke of Gloster, scarce himselfe,
That beares so shrewd a mayme: two Pulls at once;
His Lady banisht, and a Limbe lopt off.
This Staffe of Honor raught, there let it stand,
Where it best fits to be, in Henries hand.

Suff.
Thus droupes this loftie Pyne, & hangs his sprayes,
Thus Elianors Pride dyes in her youngest dayes.

Yorke.
Lords, let him goe. Please it your Maiestie,
This is the day appointed for the Combat,
And ready are the Appellant and Defendant,
The Armorer and his Man, to enter the Lists,
So please your Highnesse to behold the fight.

Queene.
I, good my Lord: for purposely therefore
Left I the Court, to see this Quarrell try'de.

King.
A Gods Name see the Lysts and all things fit,
Here let them end it, and God defend the right.

Yorke.
I neuer saw a fellow worse bestead,
Or more afraid to fight, then is the Appellant,
The seruant of this Armorer, my Lords.
Enter at one Doore the Armorer and his
Neighbors, drinking to him so much, that hee is
drunke; and he enters with a Drumme before him, and his
Staffe, with a Sand-bagge fastened to it: and at the other
Doore his Man, with a Drumme and Sand-bagge, and
Prentices drinking to him.

1. Neighbor.
Here Neighbour Horner, I drinke to
you in a Cup of Sack; and feare not Neighbor, you
shall doe well enough.

2. Neighbor.
And here Neighbour, here's a Cuppe
of Charneco.

3. Neighbor.
And here's a Pot of good Double-Beere
Neighbor: drinke, and feare not your Man.

Armorer.
Let it come yfaith, and Ile pledge you all,
and a figge for Peter.

1. Prent.
Here Peter, I drinke to thee, and be not
afraid.

2. Prent.
Be merry Peter, and feare not thy
Master, / Fight for credit of the Prentices.

Peter.
I thanke you all: drinke, and pray for me, I pray you,
for I thinke I haue taken my last Draught in this World.
Here Robin, and if I dye, I giue thee my Aporne; and
Will, thou shalt haue my Hammer: and here Tom,
take all the Money that I haue. O Lord blesse me, I pray
God, for I am neuer able to deale with my Master, hee hath
learnt so much fence already.

Salisb.
Come, leaue your drinking, and fall to blowes.
Sirrha, what's thy Name?

Peter.
Peter forsooth.

Salisb.
Peter? what more?

Peter.
Thumpe.

Salisb.
Thumpe? Then see thou thumpe thy Master well.

Armorer.
Masters, I am come hither as it were vpon my
Mans instigation, to proue him a Knaue, and my selfe an
honest man: and touching the Duke of Yorke, I will take
my death, I neuer meant him any ill, nor the King, nor
the Queene: and therefore Peter haue at thee with a
downe-right blow.

Yorke.
Dispatch, this Knaues tongue begins to double.
Sound Trumpets, Alarum to the Combattants.
They fight, and Peter strikes him downe.

Armorer.
Hold Peter, hold, I confesse, I confesse Treason.

Yorke.
Take away his Weapon: Fellow thanke God, and the
good Wine in thy Masters way.

Peter.
O God, haue I ouercome mine Enemies in this
presence? O Peter, thou hast preuayl'd in right.

King.
Goe, take hence that Traytor from our sight,
For by his death we doe perceiue his guilt,
And God in Iustice hath reueal'd to vs
The truth and innocence of this poore fellow,
Which he had thought to haue murther'd wrongfully.
Come fellow, follow vs for thy Reward.
Sound a flourish. Exeunt.
Original text
Act II, Scene IV
Enter Duke Humfrey and his Men in Mourning Cloakes.

Glost.
Thus sometimes hath the brightest day a Cloud:
And after Summer, euermore succeedes
Barren Winter, with his wrathfull nipping Cold;
So Cares and Ioyes abound, as Seasons fleet.
Sirs, what's a Clock?

Seru.
Tenne, my Lord.

Glost.
Tenne is the houre that was appointed me,
To watch the comming of my punisht Duchesse:
Vnneath may shee endure the Flintie Streets,
To treade them with her tender-feeling feet.
Sweet Nell, ill can thy Noble Minde abrooke
The abiect People, gazing on thy face,
With enuious Lookes laughing at thy shame,
That erst did follow thy prowd Chariot-Wheeles,
When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets.
But soft, I thinke she comes, and Ile prepare
My teare-stayn'd eyes, to see her Miseries.
Enter the Duchesse in a white
Sheet, and
a Taper burning in her hand, with
the Sherife and Officers.

Seru.
So please your Grace, wee'le take her from the Sherife.

Gloster.
No, stirre not for your liues, let her passe by.

Elianor.
Come you, my Lord, to see my open shame?
Now thou do'st Penance too. Looke how they gaze,
See how the giddy multitude doe point,
And nodde their heads, and throw their eyes on thee.
Ah Gloster, hide thee from their hatefull lookes,
And in thy Closet pent vp, rue my shame,
And banne thine Enemies, both mine and thine.

Glost.
Be patient, gentle Nell, forget this griefe.

Elianor.
Ah Gloster, teach me to forget my selfe:
For whilest I thinke I am thy married Wife,
And thou a Prince, Protector of this Land;
Me thinkes I should not thus be led along,
Mayl'd vp in shame, with Papers on my back,
And follow'd with a Rabble, that reioyce
To see my teares, and heare my deepe-set groanes.
The ruthlesse Flint doth cut my tender feet,
And when I start, the enuious people laugh,
And bid me be aduised how I treade.
Ah Humfrey, can I beare this shamefull yoake?
Trowest thou, that ere Ile looke vpon the World,
Or count them happy, that enioyes the Sunne?
No: Darke shall be my Light, and Night my Day.
To thinke vpon my Pompe, shall be my Hell.
Sometime Ile say, I am Duke Humfreyes Wife,
And he a Prince, and Ruler of the Land:
Yet so he rul'd, and such a Prince he was,
As he stood by, whilest I, his forlorne Duchesse,
Was made a wonder, and a pointing stock
To euery idle Rascall follower.
But be thou milde, and blush not at my shame,
Nor stirre at nothing, till the Axe of Death
Hang ouer thee, as sure it shortly will.
For Suffolke, he that can doe all in all
With her, that hateth thee and hates vs all,
And Yorke, and impious Beauford, that false Priest,
Haue all lym'd Bushes to betray thy Wings,
And flye thou how thou canst, they'le tangle thee.
But feare not thou, vntill thy foot be snar'd,
Nor neuer seeke preuention of thy foes.

Glost.
Ah Nell, forbeare: thou aymest all awry.
I must offend, before I be attainted:
And had I twentie times so many foes,
And each of them had twentie times their power,
All these could not procure me any scathe,
So long as I am loyall, true, and crimelesse.
Would'st haue me rescue thee from this reproach?
Why yet thy scandall were not wipt away,
But I in danger for the breach of Law.
Thy greatest helpe is quiet, gentle Nell:
I pray thee sort thy heart to patience,
These few dayes wonder will be quickly worne.
Enter a Herald.

Her.
I summon your Grace to his Maiesties Parliament,
Holden at Bury, the first of this next Moneth.

Glost.
And my consent ne're ask'd herein before?
This is close dealing. Well, I will be there.
My Nell, I take my leaue: and Master Sherife,
Let not her Penance exceede the Kings Commission.

Sh.
And't please your Grace, here my Commission stayes:
And Sir Iohn Stanly is appointed now,
To take her with him to the Ile of Man.

Glost.
Must you, Sir Iohn, protect my Lady here?

Stanly.
So am I giuen in charge, may't please your Grace.

Glost.
Entreat her not the worse, in that I pray
You vse her well: the World may laugh againe,
And I may liue to doe you kindnesse, if you doe it her.
And so Sir Iohn, farewell.

Elianor.
What, gone my Lord, and bid me not farewell?

Glost.
Witnesse my teares, I cannot stay to speake.
Exit Gloster.

Elianor.
Art thou gone to? all comfort goe with thee,
For none abides with me: my Ioy, is Death;
Death, at whose Name I oft haue beene afear'd,
Because I wish'd this Worlds eternitie.
Stanley, I prethee goe, and take me hence,
I care not whither, for I begge no fauor;
Onely conuey me where thou art commanded.

Stanley.
Why, Madame, that is to the Ile of Man,
There to be vs'd according to your State.

Elianor.
That's bad enough, for I am but reproach:
And shall I then be vs'd reproachfully?

Stanley.
Like to a Duchesse, and Duke Humfreyes Lady,
According to that State you shall be vs'd.

Elianor.
Sherife farewell, and better then I fare,
Although thou hast beene Conduct of my shame.

Sherife.
It is my Office, and Madame pardon me.

Elianor.
I, I, farewell, thy Office is discharg'd:
Come Stanley, shall we goe?

Stanley.
Madame, your Penance done, / Throw off this Sheet,
And goe we to attyre you for our Iourney.

Elianor.
My shame will not be shifted with my Sheet:
No, it will hang vpon my richest Robes,
And shew it selfe, attyre me how I can.
Goe, leade the way, I long to see my Prison.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act II, Scene I
Enter the King, Queen, Gloucester, Cardinal, and
Suffolk, with falconers hallooing

QUEEN
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
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
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 smoothest 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's Protectorship.

GLOUCESTER
Why, Suffolk, England knows thine insolence.

QUEEN
And thy ambition, Gloucester.

KING
I prithee, peace,
Good Queen, and whet not on these furious peers;
For blessed are the peace-makers 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
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
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
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 Man crying ‘ A miracle!’

GLOUCESTER
What means this noise?
Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim?

MAN
A miracle! A miracle!

SUFFOLK
Come to the King and tell him what miracle.

MAN
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
Now God be praised, that to believing souls
Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair!
Enter the Mayor of Saint Albans and his brethren,
with music, bearing the man Simpcox between two
in a chair; Simpcox's Wife and others following

CARDINAL
Here comes the townsmen, on procession,
To present your highness with the man.

KING
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
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
Where wert thou born?

SIMPCOX
At Berwick in the north, an't like your grace.

KING
Poor soul, God's goodness hath been great to thee.
Let never day nor night unhallowed pass,
But still remember what the Lord hath done.

QUEEN
Tell me, good fellow, camest thou here by chance,
Or of devotion, to this holy shrine?

SIMPCOX
God knows, of pure devotion, being called
A hundred times and oftener, in my sleep,
By good Saint Alban, who said ‘ Simon, 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
O, 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 loved'st 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
Sayst 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
Why then, thou knowest 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 Albans, 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
O God, seest thou this, and bearest so long?

QUEEN
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 Mayor and townspeople,
and the Beadle dragging Simpcox's Wife

CARDINAL
Duke Humphrey has done a miracle today.

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
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
And so, my Lord Protector, by this means
Your lady is forthcoming yet at London.
(aside to Gloucester)
This news, I think, hath turned 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 vanquished all my powers;
And, vanquished as I am, I yield to thee
Or to the meanest groom.

KING
O God, what mischiefs work the wicked ones,
Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby!

QUEEN
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 dishonoured Gloucester's honest name.

KING
Well, for this night we will repose us here;
Tomorrow 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
Modern text
Act II, Scene II
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 the English 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, reigned as king
Till Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster,
The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt,
Crowned 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 murdered 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 reigned.

SALISBURY
But William of Hatfield died without an heir.

YORK
The third son, Duke of Clarence, from whose line
I claim 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
To Edmund Langley, Edward the Third's fifth son, 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 proceedings 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.

WARWICK and SALISBURY
Long live our sovereign Richard, England's king!

YORK
We thank you, lords; but I am not your king
Till I be crowned, and that my sword be stained
With heart-blood of the house of Lancaster;
And that's not suddenly to be performed
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, Neville, this I do assure myself:
Richard shall live to make the Earl of Warwick
The greatest man in England but the king.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act II, Scene III
Sound trumpets. Enter the King, Queen, Gloucester,
York, Suffolk, and Salisbury; the Duchess of
Gloucester, Margery Jourdain, Southwell, Hume,
and Bolingbroke, guarded

KING
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 burnt 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 seest, hath judged thee;
I cannot justify whom the law condemns.
Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief.
Exeunt the Duchess and the other prisoners, guarded
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
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
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 ere 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
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 banished and a limb lopped 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
Ay, good my lord; for purposely therefore
Left I the court to see this quarrel tried.

KING
A 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 bestead,
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 the 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 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 Horner down

HORNER
Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason.
He 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 enemies in this
presence? O Peter, thou hast prevailed in right!

KING
Go, take hence that traitor from our sight;
For by 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 murdered wrongfully.
Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward.
Sound a flourish. Exeunt
Modern text
Act II, Scene IV
Enter Gloucester and his men 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?

SERVANT
Ten, my lord.

GLOUCESTER
Ten is the hour that was appointed me
To watch the coming of my punished 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-stained eyes to see her miseries.
Enter the Duchess of Gloucester barefoot, in a white
sheet and verses written on her back and pinned on and
a taper burning in her hand, with Sir John Stanley,
the Sheriff, and officers with bills and halberds

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,
Mailed 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?
Trowest thou that e'er I'll look upon the world,
Or count them happy that enjoys 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 asked 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.
Exit Gloucester with his men

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 afeard,
Because I wished 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
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