*Sound trumpets, alarum to the combatants.
[Alarum. They fighi, and Peter strikes
down his Master.

treason.

Hor. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess [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?

K. Hen. Go, take hence that traitor from our
sight;

For, by his death, we do perceive his guilt:1
And God, in justice, hath reveal'd to us
The truth and innocence of this poor fellow,
Which he had thought to have murder'd
fully.-

*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?
*Trow's thou, that e'er I'll look upon the world;
Or count them happy, that enjoy 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 rul'd, 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;
wrong-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

Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward. [Exeunt.
SCENE IV. The same. A Street. Enter GLOS-With her, that hateth thee, and hates us all,-
TER and Servants, in mourning Cloaks.

* Glo. 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.2
Sirs, what's o'clock ?

Serv.

Ten, my lord.

Glo. Ten is the hour that was appointed me, To watch the coming of my punish'd 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, still 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-stain'd eyes to see her miseries. Enter the Duchess of Gloster, in a white sheet, with papers pinned upon her back, her feet bare, and a taper burning in her hand: SIR JOHN STANLEY, a Sheriff, and Officers.

Serv. So please your grace, we'll take her from

the sheriff.

Glo. No, stir not, for your lives; let her pass by.
Duch. 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, Gloster, hide thee from their hateful looks;
And, in thy closet pent up, rue my shame,
And ban thine enemies, both mine and thine.

Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief.
Duch. Ah, Gloster, 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. Mail'd up in shame, with papers on my back; *And follow'd with a rabble, that rejoice

distempered, and reeled as he went, and so was slaine without guilt. As for the false servant, he lived not long unpunished; for being convict of felonie in court of assise, he was judged to be hanged, and so was at Tiburne. Fo. 626.

And York, and impious Beaufort, that false priest,
And, fly thou how thou canst, they'll tangle thee:
Have all lim'd bushes to betray thy wings,
*But fear not thou, until thy foot be snar'd,
* Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.
*Glo. 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 seathe,'
*So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless.
Would'st have me rescue thee from this reproach?
Why, yet thy scandal were not wip'd away,
But I in danger for the breach of law.

Thy greatest help is quiet,1° gentle Nell:
I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience;
These few days' wonder will be quickly worn.
Enter a Herald.

Her. I summon your grace to his majesty's par
liament, holden at Bury the first of this next month.
Glo. And my consent ne'er ask'd 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. 'Sher. An't please your grace, here my com

mission stays:

To take her with him to the Isle of Man.
And Sir John Stanley is appointed now

Glo. Must you, Sir John, protect my lady here? 'Stan. So am I given in charge, may't please,

your grace.

Glo. 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.

Duch. What gone, my lord; and bid me not, farewell.

'Glo. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak.
[Exeunt GLOSTER and Servants.

contradiction to all the historians, who state that he was
slain. Hall's words are, whose body was drawen to *
Tyborn, and there hanged and beheaded. The law
made no distinction, the dead body of the vanquished
was equally adjudged to the punishment of a convicted
traitor, in order that his posterity might participate in
his infamy. Indeed the record seems decisive; for it
states that the dead man was watched after the battle
was done, and this most probably means before it was
conveyed to Tyburn for execution and decapitation.
The death of the vanquished person was always re
garded as certain evidence of his guilt.
2 i. e. pass or fleet away.
3 Not easily.
4 Malicious.
5 Curse.
6 Wrapped or bundled up in disgrace; alluding to
the sheet of penance. Mailed, from a muil or male, a
little budget.

1 The real name of the combatants were John Da-
veys and William Catour. The names of the sheriffs
were Godfrey Bologne and Robert Horne, the latter,
which occurs in the page of Fabian's Chronicle, may
have suggested the name of Horner. The precept to
the sheriffs, commanding them to prepare the barriers
in Smithfield, with the account of expenses incurred, is
among the records of the exchequer, and has been
printed in Mr. Nichols's Illustrations of the Manners
and Expenses of Antient Times in England, quarto,
1797. It appears that the erection of the barriers, the
combat itself, and the subsequent execution of the ar-
mourer, occupied the space of six or seven days; that a
large quantity of sand and gravel was consumed on the
occasion, and that the place of battle was strewed with
rushes. Mr. Steevens inferred that the armourer was
not killed by his opponent, but worsted, and immedi-she had deserved.-Johnson.
ately afterwards hanged. This, however, is in direct

7 Deep-fetched.

8 i. e. careful, circumspect. 9 Scathe is harm, mischief, used by all our ancient writers. The word is still in use in Scotland. 10 The poet has not endeavoured to raise much compassion for the duchess, who indeed suffers but what

11 i. e. the world may look again favourably on me.

Duch. 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 afear'd, * 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 used according to your state. *Duch. That's bad enough, for I am but reproach: *And shall I then be us'd reproachfully?

Stan. Like to a duchess, and Duke Humphrey's lady,

*According to that state you shall be used.

Duch. Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare; Although thou hast been conduct' of my shame! Sher. It is my office; and, madam, pardon me. 'Duch. Ay, ay, farewell; thy office is discharg'd. Come, Stanley, shall we go?

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

And go we to attire you for our journey.

Duch. 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.2

[Exeunt.

The strangeness of his alter'd countenance? With what a majesty he bears himself? 'How insolent of late he is become,

How proud, how peremptory, and unlike himself? We know the time, since 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 submission:
But meet him now, and, be it in the morn,
When every one will give the time of day,
He knits his brow, and shows an angry eye,
And passeth by with stiff unbowed knee,
Disdaining duty that to us belongs.
Small curs are not regarded, when they grin:
But great men tremble, when the lion roars:
And Humphrey is no little man in England.
First, note, that he is near you in descent;
And should you fall, he is the next will mount.
Me seemeth, then, it is no policy,-

4

Respecting what a rancorous mind he bears,
And his advantage following your decease,―
That he should come about your royal person,
'Or be admitted to your highness' council.
By flattery hath he won the commons' hearts;
And, when he please to make commotion,

1 For conductor.

2 This impatience of a high spirit is very natural. It is not so dreadful to be imprisoned as it is desirable in a state of disgrace to be sheltered from the scorn of gazers. This is one of those touches which came from the hand of Shakspeare; it is not in the old play. 3 Wonder.

"Tis to be fear'd, they all will follow him.
"Now 'tis the spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted;
Suffer them now, and they'll o'ergrow the garden,
And choke the herbs for want of husbandry.
The reverent care, I bear unto my lord,
'Made me collect' these dangers in the duke.
If it be fond, call it a woman's fear;
Which fear if better reasons can supplant,
'I will subscribe and say-I wrong'd the duke.
My lord of Suffolk,-Buckingham,-and York,—
Reprove my allegation, if you can;

'Or else conclude my words effectual.
'Suff. Well hath your highness seen into this
duke;

And, had I first been put to speak my mind, I think I should have told your grace's' tale. *The duchess, by his subornation,

* Upon my life, began her devilish practices:
Or if he were not privy to those faults,
*Yet, by reputing of his high descent

(As next the king he was successive heir,)
*And such high vaunts of his nobility,
* Did instigate the bedlam brain-sick duchess,

By wicked means, to frame our sovereign's fall, Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep; * And in his simple show he harbours treason. The fox barks not, when he would steal the lamb. No, no, my sovereign; Gloster is a man Unsounded yet, and full of deep deceit.

*Car. Did he not, contrary to form of law, * Devise strange deaths for small offences done York. And did he not, in his protectorship, *Levy great sums of money through the realm, * For soldiers' pay in France, and never sent it? *By means whereof, the towns each day revolted. *Buck. Tut! these are petty faults to faults un

known,

*Which time will bring to light in smooth Duke Humphrey.

*K. Hen. My lords, at once: The care you have

of us,

*To mow down thorns that would annoy our foot,
*Is worthy praise: But shall I speak my conscience?
*Our kinsman Gloster is as innocent
*From meaning treason to our royal person,
*As is the sucking lamb, or harmless dove:
*The duke is virtuous, mild; and too weil given,
To dream on evil, or to work my downfall.

* Q. Mar. Ah, what's more dangerous than this

fond affiance!

*Seems he a dove? his feathers are but borrow'd,
*For he's disposed as the hateful raven.
*Is he a lamb? his skin is surely lent him,
*For he's inclin'd as are the ravenous wolves.
*Who cannot steal a shape, that means deceit ?
*Take heed, my lord; the welfare of us all
*Hangs on the cutting short that fraudful man.
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. 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, understood so far as it relates to the title being 'com. lately, in our memory. Selden says that this must be monly in use, and properly to the king applied,' because he adduces an instance of the use of majesty, so early as the reign of Henry the Second. The reader will see more on the subject in Mr. Douce's Illustrations of Shakspeare, vol. ii. p. 11.

4 i. e. it seemeth to me, a word more grammatical than methinks, which has intruded into its place.-John-word occurs again in Act v :

8 i. e. valuing himself on his high descent. The

son.

5 i. e. assemble by observation.

6 Foolish.

7 Suffolk uses highness and grace promiscuously to the queen. Camden says that majesty came into use in the reign of King Henry the Eighth, as sacred majesty

And in my conscience do repute his grace,' &c.

act of this play. He is now meditating on this disap 9 These two lines York had spoken before in the first pointment, and comparing his former hopes with his present loss.

SCENE I.

KING HENRY VI.

And Suffolk's cloudy brow his stormy hate H
Sharp Buckingham unburdens with his tongue

*Or sell my title for a glorious grave. Aside. The envious load that lies upon his heart

gards of religion as is the king; but are men of the world, means you who are not bound up to such precise reand know how to live. I have shown in a note on and consequently virtuous. This may be the meaning Twelfth Night, Actii. Se. 4, that free meant pure, chaste, here; unless the reader would rather believe that it PATAN means free-born, noble, which was the sense of its Saxon originalo od tam vellos; morbolet

6 Warburton thinks that by free lords Margaret
F

'Twas men I lack'd, and you will give them me:

Mess. Great lords, from Ireland am I come I take it kindly: yet, be well assur'd

I i. e. in the flowers growing on a bank. 2 York had more reason for desiring Humphrey's death, because he stood between him and the crown, 5 That is, I will be the attendant on his last scene; 1 which he had proposed to himself in his ambitious views. will be the last man whom he shall see.' 3 The meaning of this obscurely constructed passage 6 i. e. judge or think well of it. appears to be, "The fox may be lawfully killed, as being 7 It matters not greatly. Shakspeare has the known to be an enemy to sheep, even before he has ac-phrase in Twelfth Night, Act v. Sc. 1. tually killed them; so Humphrey may be properly de- s Expeditious.

I would be blind with weeping, sick with groans
Look pale as primrose, with blood-drinking sighs,
And all to have the noble duke alive,

What know I how the world may deem of me?
For it is known we were but hollow friends;
It may be judg'd, I made the duke away:
So shall my name with slander's tongue be
wounded,

* And princes' courts be fill'd with my reproach.

interesting dissertation, printed in the second volume of his Illustrations of Shakspeare.

5 The directions concerning this scene stand thus in the quarto copy:- Then the curtains being drawne, this Duke Humphrey is discovered in his bed, and two men lying on his breast, and smothering him in his bed And then enter the Duke of Suffolk to them,

4 A dancer in a morris-dance; originally, perhaps,
meant to imitate a Moorish dance, and thence named.
The bells sufficiently indicate that the English morris-hear of the cardinal, he is at the point of death.
dancer is intended. It appears from Blount's Glosso-
graphy, and some of our old writers, that the dance
itself was called a morisco. Florio, in the first edition
of his Italian Dictionary, defines Moresca, a kind of
morice or antique dance, after the Moorish or Ethiopian
fashion. The reader who would know more on this
curious subject will do well to consult Mr. Douce's very

SAs Esculap an herdsman did espie,
That did with easy sight enforce a basilisk to fille,
Albeit naturally that beast doth murther with the eye.'
Albion's England, b. i. c. iii.

9 And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs,'
King Henry VI, Part III, Act iv. Sc. 4