SHAKESPEARE ON DISK. THE SECOND PART OF KING HENRY THE SIXTH. ACT II. SCENE I. [Saint Alban's.] [Enter KING HENRY, QUEEN MARGARET, GLOSTER, CARDINAL, and SUFFOLK, with FALCONERS hallooing.] QUEEN MARGARET. Believe me, lords, for flying at the brook, 2/1/1 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 HENRY. 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. DUKE OF SUFFOLK. No marvel, an it like your majesty, My lord Protector's hawks do tower so well; 2/1/10 They know their master loves to be aloft, And bears his thoughts above his falcon's pitch. DUKE OF GLOSTER. My lord, 'tis but a base ignoble mind That mounts no higher than a bird can soar. CARDINAL BEAUFORT. I thought as much: he would be above the clouds. DUKE OF GLOSTER. Ay, my lord cardinal,- how think you by that? Were it not good your Grace could fly to heaven? KING HENRY. The treasury of everlasting joy! CARDINAL BEAUFORT. Thy heaven is on earth; thine eyes and thoughts Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart; 2/1/20 Pernicious Protector, dangerous peer, That smooth'st it so with king and commonweal! DUKE OF GLOSTER. What, cardinal, is your priesthood grown peremptory? `Tantaene animis caelestibus irae?' Churchmen so hot? good uncle, hide such malice; With such holiness can you not do it? DUKE OF SUFFOLK. No malice, sir; no more than well becomes So good a quarrel and so bad a peer. DUKE OF GLOSTER. As who, my lord? DUKE OF SUFFOLK. Why, as you, my lord, An't like your lordly lord-Protectorship. 2/1/30 DUKE OF GLOSTER. Why, Suffolk, England knows thine insolence. QUEEN MARGARET. And thy ambition, Gloster. KING HENRY. I prithee, peace, Good queen, and whet not on these furious peers; For blessed are the peacemakers on earth. CARDINAL BEAUFORT. Let me be blessed for the peace I make, Against this proud Protector, with my sword! DUKE OF GLOSTER [aside to CARDINAL]. Faith, holy uncle, would 'twere come to that! CARDINAL BEAUFORT [aside to GLOSTER]. Marry, when thou darest. DUKE OF GLOSTER [aside to CARDINAL]. Make up no factious numbers for the matter; In thine own person answer thy abuse. 2/1/40 CARDINAL BEAUFORT [aside to GLOSTER]. Ay, where thou darest not peep: an if thou darest, This evening on the east side of the grove. KING HENRY. How now, my lords! CARDINAL BEAUFORT. Believe me, cousin Gloster Had not your man put up the fowl so suddenly, We had had more sport.- [aside to GLOSTER] Come with thy two-hand sword. DUKE OF GLOSTER. True, uncle. CARDINAL BEAUFORT [aside to GLOSTER]. Are ye advised?- the east side of the grove? DUKE OF GLOSTER [aside to CARDINAL]. Cardinal, I am with you. KING HENRY. Why, how now, uncle Gloster! DUKE OF GLOSTER. Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord.- 2/1/50 [aside to CARDINAL] Now, by God's mother, priest, I'll shave your crown for this, Or all my fence shall fail. CARDINAL BEAUFORT [aside to GLOSTER]. `Medice, teipsum'; Protector, see to't well, protect yourself. KING HENRY. 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 TOWNSMAN of St. Alban's, crying, "A miracle!"] DUKE OF GLOSTER. What means this noise? Fellow, what dost thou proclaim? TOWNSMAN. A miracle! a miracle! 2/1/60 DUKE OF SUFFOLK. Come to the king, and tell him what miracle. TOWNSMAN. 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 HENRY. Now, God be praised, that to believing souls Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair! [Enter the MAYOR of St. Alban's and his brethren, bearing SIMPCOX, between two in a chair, his WIFE and a multitude following.] CARDINAL BEAUFORT. Here comes the townsmen on procession, To present your highness with the man. KING HENRY. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale, Although by his sight his sin be multiplied. 2/1/70 DUKE OF GLOSTER. Stand by, my masters:- bring him near the king; His highness' pleasure is to talk with him. KING HENRY. Good fellow, tell us here the circumstance, That we for thee may glorify the Lord. What, hast thou been long blind, and now restored? SAUNDER SIMPCOX. Born blind, an't please your Grace. WIFE. Ay, indeed was he. DUKE OF SUFFOLK. What woman is this? WIFE. His wife, an't like your worship. DUKE OF GLOSTER. Hadst thou been his mother, thou couldst have better told. KING HENRY. Where wert thou born? SAUNDER SIMPCOX. At Berwick in the north, an't like your Grace. 2/1/80 KING HENRY. Poor soul, God's goodness hath been great to thee: Let never day nor night unhallow'd pass, But still remember what the Lord hath done. QUEEN MARGARET. Tell me, good fellow, camest thou here by chance, Or of devotion, to this holy shrine? SAUNDER SIMPCOX. God knows, of pure devotion; being call'd A hundred times and oftener, in my sleep, By good Saint Alban; who said, "Simpcox, come,- Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help thee." WIFE. Most true, forsooth; and many time and oft 2/1/90 Myself have heard a voice to call him so. CARDINAL BEAUFORT. What, art thou lame? SAUNDER SIMPCOX. Ay, God Almighty help me! DUKE OF SUFFOLK. How camest thou so? SAUNDER SIMPCOX. A fall off of a tree. WIFE. A plum-tree, master. DUKE OF GLOSTER. How long hast thou been blind? SAUNDER SIMPCOX. O, born so, master. DUKE OF GLOSTER. What, and wouldst climb a tree? SAUNDER SIMPCOX. But that in all my life, when I was a youth. WIFE. Too true; and bought his climbing very dear. DUKE OF GLOSTER. Mass, thou lovedst plums well, that wouldst venture so. SAUNDER SIMPCOX. Alas, good master, my wife desired some damsons, And made me climb, with danger of my life. 2/1/100 DUKE OF GLOSTER. A subtle knave! but yet it shall not serve.- Let me see thine eyes: wink now; now open them:- In my opinion yet thou see'st not well. SAUNDER SIMPCOX. Yes, master, clear as day, I thank God and Saint Alban. DUKE OF GLOSTER. Say'st thou me so? What colour is this cloak of? SAUNDER SIMPCOX. Red, master; red as blood. DUKE OF GLOSTER. Why, that's well said. What colour is my gown of? SAUNDER SIMPCOX. Black, forsooth; coal-black as jet. KING HENRY. Why, then, thou know'st what colour jet is of? DUKE OF SUFFOLK. And yet, I think, jet did he never see. 2/1/110 DUKE OF GLOSTER. But cloaks and gowns, before this day, a many. WIFE. Never, before this day, in all his life. DUKE OF GLOSTER. Tell me, sirrah, what's my name? SAUNDER SIMPCOX. Alas, master, I know not. DUKE OF GLOSTER. What's his name? SAUNDER SIMPCOX. I know not. DUKE OF GLOSTER. Nor his? SAUNDER SIMPCOX. No, indeed, master. DUKE OF GLOSTER. What's thine own name? SAUNDER SIMPCOX. Saunder Simpcox, an if it please you, master. 2/1/120 DUKE OF GLOSTER. Then, Saunder, sit there, the lyingest knave in Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, thou mightst 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? SAUNDER SIMPCOX. O master, that you could! DUKE OF GLOSTER. My masters of Saint Alban's, have you not beadles in your 2/1/130 town, and things call'd whips? MAYOR OF ST. ALBAN'S. Yes, my lord, if it please your Grace. DUKE OF GLOSTER. Then send for one presently. MAYOR OF ST. ALBAN'S. Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight. [Exit an ATTENDANT.] DUKE OF GLOSTER. Now fetch me a stool hither by and by. [A stool brought out.] Now, sirrah, if you mean to save yourself from whipping, leap me over this stool and run away. SAUNDER SIMPCOX. Alas, master, I am not able to stand alone: You go about to torture me in vain. [Enter a BEADLE with whips.] DUKE OF GLOSTER. Well, sir, we must have you find your legs.- Sirrah beadle, 2/1/140 whip him till he leap over that same stool. BEADLE. I will, my lord.- Come on, sirrah; off with your doublet quickly. SAUNDER 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 HENRY. O God, seest Thou this, and bearest so long? QUEEN MARGARET. It made me laugh to see the villain run. DUKE OF GLOSTER. Follow the knave; and take this drab away. WIFE. Alas, sir, we did it for pure need. DUKE OF GLOSTER. Let them be whipp'd through every market-town till they come to Berwick, from whence they came. [Exeunt MAYOR, 2/1/150 BEADLE, WIFE, etc.] CARDINAL BEAUFORT. Duke Humphrey has done a miracle to-day. DUKE OF SUFFOLK. True; made the lame to leap and fly away. DUKE OF GLOSTER. But you have done more miracles than I; You made in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly. [Enter BUCKINGHAM.] KING HENRY. What tidings with our cousin Buckingham? DUKE OF 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,- 2/1/160 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 BEAUFORT. And so, my lord Protector, by this means Your lady is forthcoming yet at London. [aside to GLOSTER] This news, I think, hath turn'd your 2/1/170 weapon's edge; 'Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour. DUKE OF GLOSTER. Ambitious churchman, leave to afflict my heart: Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my powers; And, vanquish'd as I am, I yield to thee, Or to the meanest groom. KING HENRY. O God, what mischiefs work the wicked ones, Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby! QUEEN MARGARET. Gloster, see here the tainture of thy nest; And look thyself be faultless, thou wert best. DUKE OF GLOSTER. Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal, 2/1/180 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 dishonour'd Gloster's honest name. KING HENRY. Well, for this night we will repose us here: 2/1/190 To-morrow 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.] SCENE II. [London. The Duke of York's garden.] [Enter YORK, SALISBURY, and WARWICK.] DUKE OF YORK. Now, my good Lords of Salisbury and Warwick, 2/2/1 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 England's crown. EARL OF SALISBURY. My lord, I long to hear it at full. EARL OF WARWICK. Sweet York, begin: and if thy claim be good, The Nevils are thy subjects to command. DUKE OF YORK. Then thus:- Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons: 2/2/10 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 Gloster; 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, reign'd as king; 2/2/20 Till Henry Bolingbroke, duke of Lancaster, The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt, Crown'd 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 murder'd traitorously. EARL OF WARWICK. Father, the duke hath told the truth; Thus got the house of Lancaster the crown. DUKE OF YORK. Which now they hold by force, and not by right; 2/2/30 For Richard, the first son's heir, being dead, The issue of the next son should have reign'd. EARL OF SALISBURY. But William of Hatfield died without an heir. DUKE OF 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. EARL OF SALISBURY. This Edmund, in the reign of Bolingbroke, As I have read, laid claim unto the crown; 2/2/40 And, but for Owen Glendower, had been king, Who kept him in captivity till he died. But, to the rest. DUKE OF YORK. His eldest sister, Anne, My mother, being heir unto the crown, Married Richard earl of Cambridge; who was son To Edmund Langley, Edward the Third's fifth 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: 2/2/50 So, if the issue of the elder son Succeed before the younger, I am king. EARL OF WARWICK. What plain proceeding is more plain than this? Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt, The fourth son; York doth claim 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 2/2/60 That shall salute our rightful sovereign With honour of his birthright to the crown. EARL OF SALISBURY and EARL OF WARWICK. Long live our sovereign Richard, England's king! DUKE OF YORK. We thank you, lords. But I am not your king Till I be crown'd, and that my sword be stain'd With heart-blood of the house of Lancaster; And that's not suddenly to be perform'd, But with advice and silent secrecy. Do you as I do in these dangerous days: Wink at the Duke of Suffolk's insolence, 2/2/70 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. EARL OF SALISBURY. My lord, break we off; we know your mind at full. EARL OF WARWICK. My heart assures me that the Earl of Warwick Shall one day make the Duke of York a king. DUKE OF YORK. And, Nevil, this I do assure myself,- 2/2/80 Richard shall live to make the Earl of Warwick The greatest man in England but the king. [Exeunt.] SCENE III. [A hall of justice.] [Sound trumpets. Enter KING HENRY, QUEEN MARGARET, GLOSTER, YORK, SUFFOLK, and SALISBURY; the DUCHESS OF GLOSTER, MARGERY JOURDAIN, SOUTHWELL, HUME, and BOLINGBROKE, under guard.] KING HENRY. Stand forth, Dame Eleanor Cobham, Gloster's wife: 2/3/1 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 adjudg'd to death.- [to JOURDAIN etc.] 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, 2/3/10 Shall, after three days' open penance done, Live in your country here, in banishment, With Sir John Stanley, in the Isle of Man. DUCHESS OF GLOSTER. Welcome is banishment; welcome were my death. DUKE OF GLOSTER. Eleanor, the law, thou seest, hath judged thee: I cannot justify whom the law condemns.- [Exeunt the DUCHESS and the other prisoners, guarded.] Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief. 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; 2/3/20 Sorrow would solace, and mine age would ease. KING HENRY. Stay, Humphrey duke of Gloster: 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 MARGARET. I see no reason why a king of years Should be to be protected like a child.- God and King Henry govern England's helm!- 2/3/30 Give up your staff, sir, and the king his realm. DUKE OF GLOSTER. My staff! here, noble Henry, is my staff: As willingly do I the same resign As e'er 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 MARGARET. Why, now is Henry king, and Margaret queen; And Humphrey duke of Gloster scarce himself, 2/3/40 That bears so shrewd a maim; two pulls at once,- His lady banish'd, and a limb lopp'd off: This staff of honour raught, there let it stand Where it best fits to be,- in Henry's hand. DUKE OF SUFFOLK. Thus droops this lofty pine, and hangs his sprays; Thus Eleanor's pride dies in her youngest days. DUKE OF 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, 2/3/50 So please your highness to behold the fight. QUEEN MARGARET. Ay, good my lord; for purposely therefore Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried. KING HENRY. O' God's name, see the lists and all things fit: Here let them end it; and God defend the right! DUKE OF YORK. I never saw a fellow worse bested, 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 sandbag fastened to it; and at the other door PETER, his man, with a drum and sandbag, 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. 2/3/60 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. THOMAS 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 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, 2/3/70 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. EARL OF SALISBURY. Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows.- Sirrah, what's thy name? PETER. Peter, forsooth. EARL OF SALISBURY. Peter! what more? PETER. Thump. 2/3/80 EARL OF SALISBURY. Thump! then see thou thump thy master well. THOMAS 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! DUKE OF YORK. Dispatch:- this knave's tongue begins to double.- Sound, trumpets, alarum to the combatants! [Alarum. They fight, and PETER strikes him down.] THOMAS HORNER. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason. [Dies.] DUKE OF YORK. Take away his weapon.- Fellow, thank God, and the good wine 2/3/90 in thy master's way. PETER. O God, have I overcome mine enemy in this presence? O Peter, thou hast prevail'd in right! KING HENRY. Go, take hence that traitor from our sight; For by his death we do perceive his guilt: 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 wrongfully.- Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward. [Sound a flourish. Exeunt.] SCENE IV. [A street.] [Enter GLOSTER and his MEN, in mourning cloaks.] DUKE OF GLOSTER. Thus sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud; 2/4/1 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? SERVING-MAN. 'Tis almost ten, my lord. DUKE OF GLOSTER. 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 2/4/10 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 barefoot, in a white sheet, with verses pinned on her back, and a taper burning in her hand; with SIR JOHN STANLEY, the SHERIFF, and OFFICERS.] SERVING-MAN. So please your Grace, we'll take her from the sheriff. DUKE OF GLOSTER. No, stir not, for your lives; let her pass by. DUCHESS OF GLOSTER. Come you, my lord, to see my open shame? Now thou dost penance too. Look how they gaze! 2/4/20 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! DUKE OF GLOSTER. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief. DUCHESS OF GLOSTER. 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, 2/4/30 Mail'd up in shame, with papers on my back, And follow'd 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? Trow'st 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; 2/4/40 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; 2/4/50 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. DUKE OF GLOSTER. Ah, Nell, forbear! thou aimest all awry; I must offend before I be attainted: And had I twenty times so many foes, 2/4/60 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, 2/4/70 Holden at Bury the first of this next month. DUKE OF GLOSTER. 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. 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. DUKE OF GLOSTER. Must you, Sir John, protect my lady here? SIR JOHN STANLEY. So am I given in charge, may't please your Grace. 2/4/80 DUKE OF GLOSTER. 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 OF GLOSTER. What, gone, my lord and bid me not farewell! DUKE OF GLOSTER. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak. [Exeunt GLOSTER and his MEN.] DUCHESS OF GLOSTER. 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 wish'd this world's eternity.- 2/4/90 Stanley, I prithee, go, and take me hence; I care not whither, for I beg no favour, Only convey me where thou art commanded. SIR JOHN STANLEY. Why, madam, that is to the Isle of Man; There to be used according to your state. DUCHESS OF GLOSTER. That's bad enough, for I am but reproach,- And shall I, then, be used reproachfully? SIR JOHN STANLEY. Like to a duchess, and Duke Humphrey's lady; According to that state you shall be used. DUCHESS OF GLOSTER. Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare,- 2/4/100 Although thou hast been conduct of my shame. SHERIFF. It is my office; and madam, pardon me. DUCHESS OF GLOSTER. Ay, ay, farewell; thy office is discharged.- Come, Stanley, shall we go? SIR JOHN STANLEY. Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet, And go we to attire you for our journey. DUCHESS OF GLOSTER. 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.] 2/4/110 ACT II. END.