KING HENRY THE SIXTH.

PRELIMINARY REMARKS.

THE historical transactions in this play take in the "No sooner was I crept out of my cradle,

compass of above thirty years. In the three parts But I was made a king at nine months old.' of King Henry VI. there is no very precise attention to

King Henry VI. Part II. Act iv. Sc 9 the date and disposition of facts; they are shuffled back. * When I was crown'd I was but nine months old.' wards and forwards out of time. For instance, the

King Henry VI. Part III. Act i. Sc 1 Lord Talbot is killed at the end of the fourth act of this The first of these passages is among the additions play, who in reality did not fall till the 13th of July, made by Shakspeare to the old play, according to Mr. 1453 : and the Second Part of King Henry VI. opens Malone's hypothesis. The other passage does occur in with the marriage of the king, which was solemnized the True Tragedie of Richard Duke of York; and eight years before Talbot's death, in the year 1445. therefore it is natural to conclude that neither Shak. Again, in the second part, dame Eleanor Cobham is in speare nor the author of that piece could have written troduced to insult Queen Margaret : though her penance the First Part of King Henry VI. and banishment for sorcery happened three years be- 2. In Act ii. Sc. 5. of this play, it is said that the earl

fore that princess came over to England. There are of Cambridge raised an army against his sovereign. * other transgressions against history, as far as the order But Shakspeare, in his play of King Henry V. has reof time is concerned.

presented the matter truly as it was: the earl being in Mr, Malone has written a dissertation to prove that that piece, Act ii., condemned at Southampton for con. the First Part of King Henry VI. was not written by spiring to assassinate Henry. Shakspeare : and that the Second and Third Parts were 3. The author of this play knew the true pronuncionly altered by him from the old play, entitled “The ation of the word Hecate, as it is used by the Roman Contention of the Two famous Houses of Yorke and writers :Lancaster,' printed in two parts, in quarto, in 1594 and I speak not to that railing Hecate.' 1595. The substance of his argument, as far as regards But Shakspeare, in Macbeth, always uses Hecate as a this play, is as follows:

dissyllable. 1. The diction, versification, and allusions in it, are The second speech in this play ascertains the author all different from the diction, versification, and allusions to have been very familiar with Hall's Chronicle : of Shakspeare, and corresponding with those of Greene, 'What should I say? his deeds exceed all speech.' Peele, Lodge, Marlowe, and others who preceded him? This phrase is introduced upon almost every occasion there are more allusions to mythology, to classical an- by Hall when he means to be eloquent. Holinshed, not thors, and to ancient and modern history, than are Hall, was Shakspeare's historian. Here then is an found in any one piece of Shakspeare's written on an additional minute proof that this play was not ShakEnglish story: they are such as do not naturally rise speare's. out of the subject, but seem to be inserted merely to This is the sum of Malone's argument, which Steeshow the writer's learning. These allusions, and many vens has but feebly combated in notes appended to it ; particular expressions, seem more likely to have been and I am disposed to think more out of a spirit of oppo. used by the authors already named than by Shak. sicion than from any other cause. Malone conjectured speare. - He points out many of the allusions, and in that this piece which we now call the First Part of stances the words proditor and immanity, which are King Henry VI. was, when first performed, called The not to be found in any of the poet's undisputed works. Play of King Henry VI.; and he afterwards found his The versification he thinks clearly of a different co- conjecture confirmed by an entry in the accounts of lour from that of Shakspeare's genuine dramas ; while Henslowe, the proprietor of the Rose Theatre on the at the same time it resembles that of many of the plays Bank Side. It must have been very popular, having produced before his time. The sense concludes or been played no less than thirteen times in one season: pauses almost uniformly at the end of every line; and the first entry of its performance by the Lord Strange's The yerse has scarcely ever a redundant syllable. He company, ai the Rose, is dated March 3, 1591. It is produces numerous instances from the works of Lodge, worthy of remark that Shakspeare does not appear at Peele, Greene, and others, of similar versification. any time to have had the smalest connexion with that

A passage in a pamphlet written by Thomas Nashe, theatre, or the companies playing there ; which affords an intimate friend of Greene, Peele, Marlowe, &c.

additional argument in favour of Malone's position, shows that the First Part of King Henry VI. had been that the play could not be his. By whom it was writon the stage before 1592 ; and his favourable mention of ten (says Malone,) it is now, I fear, difficult to ascerthe piece may induce a belief that it was written by a tain. It was not entered on the Stationers' books, nor friend of his, *How would it have joyed brave Talbot, printed till the year 1623; when it was reiterated with the terror of the French, to thinke that, after he had Shakspeare's undisputed plays by the editors of the lyen two hundred yeare in his tombe, he should triumph first

. folio, and improperly entitled the Third* Part of again on the stage ; and have his bones new embalmed King Henry VI. `In one sense it might be called so; with the teares of ten thousand spectators at least (at for two plays on the subject of that reign had been several times,) who in the tragedian that represents his printed before. But considering the history of that king, person behold him fresh bleeding. - Pierce Penniless, and the period of time which the piece comprehends, it kis Supplication to the Deril, 1592.

ought to have been called, what in fact it is, The First That this passage related to the old play of King Part of King Henry VI. At this distance of time it is Henry VI. or, as it is now called, the First Part of impossible to ascertain on what principle it was that King Henry VI. can hardly be doubted. Talbot appears Heminge and Condell admitted it into their volume; but in the First Part, and not in the Second or Third Part, I suspect that they gave it a place as a necessary introand is expressly spoken of in the play, as well as in duction to the two other parts; and because Shakspeare Hall's Chronicle, as the terror of the French.' Holin- had made some slight" alterations, and written a few shed, who was Shakspeare's guide, omits the passage lines in it. in Hall, in which Talbot is thus described ; and this is Mr. Malone's arguments have made many converts an additional proof that this play was not the production to his opinion ; and perhaps Mr. Morgann, in his ele. of our great poet.

gant Essay on the Dramatic Character of Falstaff, I led There are other internal proofs of this :

the way, when he pronounced it “That-drum-and1. The author does not seem to have known precisely trumper thing,-written doubtless, or rather exhibi'ed now old Henry VI. was at the time of his father's long before shakspeare was born, though afterwards death. He supposed him to have passed the state of repaired and furbished up by him with here and there infancy before he lost his father, and even to have re. a little sentiment and diction.' membered some of his sayings.' In the Fourth Act, Sc. 4, speaking of the famous Talbot, he says : When I was young (as yet I am not old,)

* This applies only to the title in the Register of the I do remember hou my father said,

Stationers Company: in the first folio it was called ihe A stouter champion never handled sword.''

First Part of King Henry VI. But Shakspeare knew that Henry VI.could not possi. Malone's Life of Shakspeare, p 810, ed 1821. bly remember any thing of his father:

First published in 1777

FIRST PART OF

KING HENRY THE SIXTH.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

KING HENRY THE SIXTH.

Mayor of London. WOODVILLE, Lieutenant of Duke of GLOSTER, Uncle to the King, and Pro

the Tower. tector.

VERNON, of the White Rose, or York Faction. · Duke of Bedrord, Uncle to the King, and Regent BASSET, of the Red Rose, or Lancaster Faction,

of France. Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter, great Uncle CHARLES, Dauphin, and afterwards King of France. to the King.

REIGNIER, Duke of Anjou, and titular Kingway HENRY BEAUFORT, great Uncle to the King, Bi- DUKE of BÚRGUNDY. DUKE of ALENCOR.

Naples.
shop of Winchester, and afterwards Car- Governor of Paris. Bastard of Orleans.

dinal.
John BEAUFORT, Earl of Somerset ; afterwards General of the French Forces in Bordeaux.

Master-Gunner of Orleans, and his Son.
Duke.
RICHARD PLANTAGENET, eldest Son of Richard, An old Shepherd, Father to Joan la Pucelle.

A French Sergeant. A Porter.
late Earl of Cambridge ; afterwards Duke
of York.

MARGARET, Daughter to Reignier: afterwards EARL of WARWICK. Earl of SALISBURY, EARL

married to King Henry. of SUFFOLK.

COUNTESS of AUVERGNE. LORD TALBOT, afterwards Earl of Shrewsbury. Joan La PUCELLE, commonly called Joan of Arc. John Talbot, his Son.

Fiends appearing to La Pucelle, Lords, Warders EDMUND MORTIMER, Earl of March.

of the Tower, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers, MesMortimer's Keeper, and a Lawyer.

sengers, and several Attendants both on the Eng. Sir John FastOLFE. SIR WILLIAM Lucy.

lish and French. SIR WILLIAM GLANSDALE. SIR THOMAS GAR

SCENE-partly in England, and partly in France.

GRAVE.

ACT I.

Like captives bound to a triumphant car. OCENE I. Westminster Abbey., Dead March. That plotted thus our glory's overthrow ?

What? 'shall we curse the planets of mishap, Corpse of King Henry the Fifth discovered, lying Or shall we think the subtle-witted French in state; attended on by the Dukes of BEDFORD, Conjurers and sorcerers, that, afraid of him, Gloster, and EXETER; the Earl of WAR- By magick verses' have contriv'd his end ? WICK,' the BISHOP of WINCHESTER, Heralds, Win. He was a king bless'd of the King of kings &c.

Unto the French the dreadful judgment day
Bedford.

So dreadful will not be, as was his sight. Hung be the heavens with black, yield day to The battles of the Lord of Hosts he fought : night!

The church's prayers made him so prosperous.

Glo. The church! where is it? Had not church Comets, importing change of times and states, Brandish your crystal' tresses in the sky,

men pray'd, And with them scourge the bad revolting stars,

His thread of life had not so soon decay'd: That have consented* unto Henry's death!

None do you like but an effeminate prince, Henry the Fifth, too famous to live long!

Whom, like a schoolboy, you may overawe. England ne'er lost a king of so much worth.

Win. Gloster, whate'er we like, thou art prom Ĝlo. England ne'er had a king, until his time.

tector; Virtue he had, deserving to command :

And lookest to command the prince, and realm. His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams; Thy wife is proud; she holdeth thee in awe, His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings;

More than God, or religious churchmen, may. His sparkling eyes, replete with wrathful fire,

Glo. Name not religion, for thou lov'st the flesh; More dazzled and drove back his enemies,

And ne'er throughout the year to church thou go'st, Than midday sun fierce bent against their faces. Except it be to pray against thy foes. What should I say? his deeds exceed all speech :

Bed. Cease, cease these jars, and rest your minds He ne'er lift up his hand, but conquer'd.

in peace! Exe. We mourn in black ; Why mourn we not Let's to the altar :-Heralds, wait on us :in blood ?

Instead of gold, we'll offer up our arms ;, Henry is dead, and never shall revive;

Since arms avail not, now that Henry's dead.Upon a wooden coffin we attend;

Posterity, await for wretched years, And death's dishonourable victory

When at their mothers' moist eyes babes shall suck We with our stately presence glorify,

Our isle be made a nourish of salt tears,

And none but women left to wail the dead. 1 Richard Beauchamp, carl of Warwick, who is a character in King Henry V. The earl of Warwick, 3 Crystal is an epithet repeatedly bestowed on comets who appears in a subsequent part of this drama, is by our ancient writers. Richard Nevill, son to the earl of Salisbury, who caine 4 Consented here means conspired together to pre to the title in right of his wife, Anne, sister of Henry mote the death of Henry by their malignant influence Beauchamp, duke of Warwick. Richard, the father on human events. Our ancestors had but one word to of this Henry, was appointed governor to the king on express consent, and concent, which meant accord and the demise of Thomas Beaufort, duke of Exeter, and agreement, whether of persons or things. died in 1439. There is no reason to think the author 5 There was a notion long prevalent that life might bo meant to confound the two characters.

taken away by metrical charms. 2 Alluding to the ancient practice of hanging the stage 6 Nurse, was anciently spelt nouryce and noryshe' with black when a tragedy was to be acted.

and, by Lydgate, eyen nourish.

Henry the Fifth! thy ghost I invocate;

Retiring from the siege of Orleans, Prosper this realm, keep it from civil broils ! Having

full scarce six thousand in his troop, Combat with adverse planets in the heavens! By three and twenty thousand of the French A far more glorious star thy soul will make, Was round encompassed and set upon: Than Julius Cæsar, or bright

No leisure had he to enrank his men;

He wanted pikes to set before his archers;
Enter a Messenger.

Instead whereof, sharp stakes, pluck'd out of hedges,
Mess. My honourable lords, health to you all! They pitched in the ground confusedly,
Sad tidings bring I to you out of France,

To keep the horsemen off from breaking in. Of loss, of slaughter, and discomfiture :

More than three hours the fight continued; Guienne, Champaigne, Rheims, Orleans,

Where valiant Talbot, above human thought, Paris, Guysors, Poictiers, are all quite lost.? Enacted wonders with his sword and lance. Bed. What say'st thou, man, before dead Henry's Hundreds he sent to hell, and none durst stand him; corse ?

Here, there, and every where, enrag'd he slew : Speak softly; or the loss of those great towns The French exclaim'd, The devil was in arms; Will make him burst his lead, and rise from death. All the whole army stood agaz'd on him:

Glo. Is Paris lost? is Rouen yielded up? His soldiers, spying his undaunted spirit, If Henry were recall d to life again,

A Talbot! a Talbot! cried out amain, These news would cause him once more yield the And rush'd into the bowels of the battle. ghost.

Here had the conquest fully been seald up, Exe. How were they lost? what treachery was If Sir John Fastolfe had not play'd the coward; us'd ?

He being in the vaward (plac'd behind, Mess. No treachery; but want of men and money. With purpose to relieve and follow them,) Among the soldiers this is mutter'd,

Cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke.
That here you maintain several factions ;

Hence grew the general wreck and massacre;
And, whilst a field should be despatch'd and fought, Enclosed were they with their enemies :
You are disputing of your generals.

A base Walloon, to win the Dauphin's grace,
One would have ling'ring wars, with little cost; Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back ;
Another would fly swift, but wanteth wings; Whom all France, with their chief assembled
A third man thinks, without expense at all,

strength, By guileful fair words peace may be obtain'd. Durst not presume to look once in the face. Awake, awake, English nobility!

Bed. Is Talbot slain? then I will slay myself, Let not sloth dim your honours, new begot: For living idly here, in pomp and ease, Cropp?d are the flower-de-luces in your arms; Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid, Of England's coat one half is cut away.

Unto his dastard foeman is betray'd. Exe. Were our tears wanting to this funeral, 3 Mess. O no, he lives; but is took prisoner, These tidings would call forth her flowing tides. And Lord Scales with him, and Lord Hungerford

Bed. Me they concern; regent I am of France :- Most of the rest slaughter'd, or took, likewise. Give me my steeled coat, I'll fight for France.- Bed. His ransom there is none but I shall pay: Away with these disgraceful wailing robes ! I'll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne, Wounds I will lend the French, instead of eyes, His crown shall be the ransom of my friend ; To weep their intermissive miseries.4

Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours.Enter another Messenger.

Farewell, my masters; to my task will I;

Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make, 2 Mess. Lords, view these letters, full of bad To keep our great Saint George's feast withal : mischance,

Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take, France is revolted from the English quite ; Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake. Except some petty towns of no import:

3 Mess. So you had need; for Orleans is beThe Dauphin Charles is crowned king in Rheims;

sieg'd;
The bastard of Orleans with him is join'd; The English army is grown weak and faint:
Reignier, duke of Anjou, doth take his part; The earl of Salisbury craveth supply,
The duke of Alencon flieth to his side.

And hardly keeps his men from mutiny, Ece. The Dauphin is crowned king! all fly to Since they, so few, watch such a multitude. him!

Exe. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry O, whither shall we fly from this reproach?

sworn; 'Glo. We will not fly, but to our enemies' throats; Either to quell the Dauphin utterly, Bedford, if thou be slack, I'll fight it out.

Or bring him in obedience to your yoke. Bed. Gloster, why doubt'st thou of my forward

Bed. I do remember it; and here take leave, To go about my preparation,

[Exit. An army have I muster'd in my thoughts,

Glo. I'll to the Tower, with all the haste I can, Wherewith already France is overrun.

To view the artillery and munition;
Enter a third Messenger.

And then I will proclaim young Henry king., [Exit.

Exe. To Eltham will †, where the young king is, 3 Mess. My gracious lords, to add to your laments, Being ordain'd his special governor ; Wherewith you now bedew King Henry's hearse,- And for his safety there I'll

best devise. [Exit. I must inform you of a dismal fight,

Win. Each hath his place and function to attend : Betwixt the stout Lord Talbot and the French.

I am left out: for me nothing remains. Win. What! wherein Talbot overcame? is't so ? But long I will not be Jack-out-of-office; 3 Mess. O, no; wherein Lord Talbot was o'er- The king from Eltham I intend to steal, thrown:

And sit at chiefest stern of public weal. The circumstance I'll tell you more at large.

[Exit. Scene closes. The tenth of August last, this dreadful lord,

5 For an account of this Sir John Fastolfe, vide Bic1 Pope conjectured that this blank had been supplied graphia Britannica, by Kippis, vol. v.; in which is his by the name of Francis Drake, which, though a gla- life, written by Mr. Gough. ring anachronism, might have been a popular, though 6 The old copy reads send, the present reading was not judicious, mode of attracting plaudits in the theatre. proposed by Mason, who observes that the king was not Part of the arms of Drake was two blazing stars. at this time in the power of the cardinal, but under the

2 Capel proposed to complete this defective verse by care of the duke of Exeter. The second article of accuthe insertion of Rouen among the places lost, as Glostersation brought against the bishop by the duke of GloucesInfers that it had been mentioned with the rest.

ter is that he purposed and disposed him to set hand on 3 i.e. England's flowing tides.

the king's person, and to have removed him from El. 4 1. e. their miseries which have only a short inter-tham to Windsor, to the intent to put him in governanco mission.

as him list.' Holinshed vol. iii. p. 591

me ?

SCENE II. France. Before Orleans. Enter Speak, shall I call her in? Believe my words,

CHARLES, with his Forces ; ALENCON, REIGNIER, For they are certain and infallible. and others.

Char. Go, call her in: (Erit Bastard.) But, first Char. Mars his true moving,' even as in the

to try ber skill, heavens,

Reignier, stand thou as Dauphin in my place: So in the earth, to this day is not known:

Question her proudly, let thy looks be stern :Late did he shine upon the English side;

By this mean shall we sound what skill she hath. Now we are victors, upon us he smiles.

(Retires. What towns of any moment, but we have? Enter LA PUCELLE, Bastard of Orleans, and others, At pleasure here we lie, near Orleans;

Reig. Fair maid, is't

thou wilt do these wondrous Otherwhiles, the famish'd English, like pale ghosts,

feats? Faintly besiege us one hour in a month.

Puc. Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to beguile Alen. They want their porridge, and their fat bullbeeves :

Where is the Dauphin ?--come, come from behind; Either they must be dieted like mules, And have their provender tied to their mouths,

I know thee well, though never seen before.

Be not amaz'd, there's nothing hid from me: Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice. Reig. Let's raise the siege ; Why live we idly Stand back, you lords, and give us leave a while.

In private will I talk with thee apart: here? Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear:

Reig. She takes upon her bravely at first dash. Remaineth none but mad-brain'd Salisbury;

Pue. Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd's daughter.

My wit untrain'd in any kind of art. And he may well in fretting spend his gall,

Heaven, and our Lady gracious, hath it pleas'd Nor men, nor money, hath he to make war. Char. Sound, sound alarum; we will rush on them. Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs,

To shine on my contemptible estate : Now for the honour of the forlorn French :

And to sun's parching heat display'd my cheeks, Him I forgive niy death, that killeth me, When he sees me go back one foot, or tly. [Ereunt. And, in a vision full of majesty,

God's mother deigned to appear to me; Alarums : Excursions : afterwards a Retreat. Will'd me to leave my base vocation, Re-enter CHARLES, ALENCON, REIGNIER, and And free my country from calamity : others.

Her aid she promis'd, and assurd success : Char. Who ever saw the like? what men have I?- In complete glory she reveald herself; Dogs! cowards ! dastards !—I would ne'er have fled, And, whereas I was black and swart before,

With those clear rays which she infus'd on me, But that they left me 'midst my enemies.

That beauty am I bless'd with, which you see. Reig. Salisbury is a desperate homicide ;

Ask me what question thou canst possible,
He fighteth as one weary of his life.

And I will answer unpremeditated :
The other lords, like lions wanting food,
Do rush upon us as their hungry prey.?

My courage try by combat, if thou dar'st,
Alen. Froissard, a countryman of ours, records, Resolve on this :: Thou shalt

And thou shalt find that I exceed my sex. England all Olivers and Rowlandsø bred,

fortunate,

If thou receive me for thy warlike mate. During the time Edward the Third did reign.

Char. Thou hast astonish'd me with thy hugle More truly now may this be verified ;

terms; For none but Samsons, and Goliasses It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten!

Only this proofl'll of thy valour make, Lean raw-bon'd rascals; who would e'er suppose

In single combat thou shalt buckle with me:

And, if thou vanquishest, thy words are true ; They had such courage and audacity? Char. Let's leave this town ; for they are hair- Otherwise, I renounce all confidence. brain'd slaves,

Puc. I am prepar’d: here is my keen-edged sword,

Deck'd with five flower-de-luces on each side: And hunger will enforce them to be more eager : of old I know them; rather with their teeth

The which at Touraine, in Saint Katharine's church

yard, The walls they'll tear down, than forsake the siege.

Out of a great deal of old iron I chose forth. Reig. I think, by some odd gimmals or device,

Char. Then come o'God's name, I fear no woman. Their arms are set, like clocks, still to strike on; Else ne'er could they hold out so as they do.

Puc. And, while I live, I'll ne'er fly from a man. By my consent, we'll e'en let them alone.

[They figh.. Alen. Be it so.

Char. Stay, stay thy hands; thou art an Amazon,

And fightest with the sword of Deborah.
Enter the Bastard of Orleans,

Puc. Christ's mother helps me, else I were too Bast. Where's the prince Dauphin, I have news

weak. for him.

Char. Whoe'er helps thee, 'tis thou that must Char. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us. help me : Bast. Methinks, your looks are sad, your cheers Impatiently I burn with thy desire ; appallid:

My heart and hands thou hast at once subdu'd. Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence ?

Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so, Be not dismay’d, for succour is at hand :

Let me thy servant, and not sovereign, be ; A holy maid hither with me I bring,

'Tis the French Dauphin sueth thus to thee. Which, by a vision sent to her from heaven,

Puc. I must not yield to any rites of love, Ordained is to raise this tedious siege,

For my profession's sacred from above:
And drive the English forth the bounds of France. When I have chased all thy foes from hence,
The spirit of deep prophecy she hath,

Then will I think upon a recompense.
Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome ;'
What's past, and what's to come, she can descry. 4 By

gimmals, gimbols, gimmers, or gimowes, any

kind of device or machinery producing motion was 1 'You are as ignorant in the true movings of my meant. Baret has the gimeio or hinge of a door.' muse as the astronomers are in the true movings of 5 Bastard was not in former times a title of reproach. Mars, which to this day they could never attain to. Ga- 6 Cheer in this instance means heart or courage, as briel Harvey's Hunt is up, by Nash, 1596, Preface. in the expression “be of good cheer.' 2 i, e. the prey for which they are hungry.

7 Warburton says that, there were no nine syhils of 3 These were two of the most famous in the list of Rome, it is a mistake for the nine Sibylline Oracles Charlemagne's twelve peers; and their exploits are the brought to one of the Tarquins. But the poet followed theme of the old romances. From the equally doughty the popular books of his day, which say that 'the ten and unheard of exploits of these champions, arose the sybils were women that had ihe spirit of prophecy (enu saying of Giving a Rowland for an Oliver, for giving a merating them) and that they prophesied of Christ erson as good as he brings.

on?

me?

8

foot;

Char. Mean tine, took gracious on thy prostrate 1 Servants rush at the Power Gates. Enter, to the thrall.

Gates, WOODVILLE, the Lieutenant. Reig. My lord, methinks, is very long in talk.

Wood. [Within.] What noise is this ? what trajAlen. Doubtless he shrives this woman to her

tors have we here? smock;

Glo. Lieutenant, is it you, whose voice I hear? Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech. Open the gates ; here's Gloster, that would enter. Reig. Shall we disturb him, since ho keeps no Wood, [Within.] Have patience, noble duke: I mean?

may not open; Alen. He may mean more than we poor men do The cardinal of Winchester forbids : know:

From him I have express commandment, These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues. That thou, nor none of thine, shall be let in.

Reg. My lord, where are you? what devise you Glo. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore Shall we give over Oreans, or no?

Arrogant Winchester ? that haughty prelate, Puc. Why, no, I sav, distrustful recreants ! 1

Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could brook? Fight till the last gesp, I will be your guard. Thou art no friend to God, or to the king : Char. What sne says, I'll confirm; we'l fight it |Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly. out.

1 Seru. Open the gates unto the lord protector; Puc. Assign'd am I to be the English scourge. Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not This night the siege assuredly I'll raise :

quickly. Expect Saint Martin's summer, halcyon days, Since I have entered into these wars.

Enter WINCHESTER, attended by a Train of Şere Glory is like a circle in the water,

vants in tawny Coats.? Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself,

Win. How now, ambitious Humphry? what Till, by broad spreading, it disperse to nought.?

means this? With Henry's death, the English circle ends ; Glo, Pield priest, dost thou command me to be Dispersed are the glories it included.

shut out ? Now am I like that proud insulting ship,

Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor, Which Cæsar and his fortune bare at once. And not protector of the king or realm.

Char. Was Mahomet inspired with a dove ? Glo. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator ; Thou with an eagle art inspired then,

Thou, that coutriv’dst to murder our dead lord Helen, the mother of great Constantine,

Thou, that giv'st whores indulgences to sing :
Nor yet Saint Philip's daughters, 4 were like thee. I'N canvas i thee in thy broad cardinal's hat,
Bright star of Venus, fall’n down on the earth, If thou proceed in this thy insolence.
How may I reverently worship thee enough? Win. Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge &

Alen. Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege.
Reig. Woman, do what thou canst to save our This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain,
honours;

To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.
Drive them from Or mans, and be immortaliz'd. Glo. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back :
Char. Presently we try :-Come let's away Thy scarlet robes, as a child's bearing-cloth
about it?

I'll use, to carry thee out of this place. No prophet will I trust, if she prove false. [Exeunt. Win. Do what thou dar'st: I beard thee to thy SCENE III. London. Hill before the Tower.

face. Enter, at the Gates, the Duke of GLOSTER, with

Glo. What ? am I dar'd, and bearded to my

face ? his Serving-men in blue Coats.

Draw, men, for all this privileged place; Glo, I am come to survey the Tower this day;

Blue-coats to tawny-coats. Priest, beware your Since Henry's death, I fear there is conveyance

beard ; Where be these warders, that they wait not here?

(GLOSTER and his men attack the Bishop, Open the gates; Gloster it is that calls.

I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly: [Servants knock

Under

my 1 Ward. [Within.) Who is there that knocks so In spite of pope or dignities of church,

feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat; imperiously 1 I Serv. It is the noble duke of Gloster,

Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down,

Win. Gloster, thou’lt answer this before the pope. 2 Ward. (Within.) Whoe'er he be, you may not Glo. Winchester goose, 12 I cry a rope ! a rope

be let in. 1 Sery. Answer you so the lord protector, Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array.

Now beat them hence: Why do you let them stay villains ? I Ward. [Within,! The Lord protect him! so

Out, tawny coats !-out scarlet1 hypocrite! we answer him:

Here a great Tumult. In the midst of it, Enter the We do no otherwise than we are willid,

Mayor of London, 14 and Officers. Glo. Who willed you? or whose will stands, but May. Fye, lords! that you, being supreme magismine?

trates, There's none protector of the realm, but I.

Thus contumeliously should break the peace! Break up the gates, I'll be your warrantize : Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms ?

Glo, Peace, mayor: thou know'st little of my

wrongs : 1 i. e. expect prosperity after misfortune, like fair 9 Traitor. weather at Martlemas, after winter has begun.

10 The public stews in Southwark were under the 2 This is a favourite image with poets.

jurisdiction of the bishop of Winchester. Upton had 3 Mahomet had a dove which he used to feed with seen the office book of the court leet, in which was en. wheat out of his ear; which dove when it was hungry: tered the fees paid by, and the customs and regulations lighted , bill in to of find its breakfast, Mahomet persuading the rude and il Ta canvas was to toss in a sieve; a punishment simple Arabians that it was the Holy Ghost.' Raleigh's (says Cotgrave) inflicted on such as commit gross ab Hist. of the World, part i. c. vi.

surdities. 4 Meaning the four daughters of Philip mentioned in 12 A Winchester goose was a particular stage of the Acts, xxi. 9.

disease contracted in the stews, hence Gloucester be5 Conveyance anciently signified any kind of furtive stows the epithet on the bishop in derision and scorn. knavery, or privy stealing.

13 In King Henry VIII. the earl of Surrey, with a 6 To break up was the same as to break open. similar allusion to Cardinal Wolsey's habit, calls him 7 It appears that the attendants upon ecclesiastical scarlet sin.' courts, and a bishop's servants, were then, as now, dis- 14 It appears from Pennant's London that this mayor anguished by clothing of a sombre colour.

was John Coventry, an opulent mercer, from whom the 8 h e, bald, aluding to his shaven crown.

present earl of Coventry is descended.