Speeches (Lines) for Henry VI in "History of Henry VI, Part II"

Earl of Suffolk. As by your high imperial majesty
I had in charge at my depart for France,
As procurator to your excellence,
To marry Princess Margaret for your grace,
So, in the famous ancient city, Tours,
In presence of the Kings of France and Sicil,
The Dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretagne and Alencon,
Seven earls, twelve barons and twenty reverend bishops,
I have perform'd my task and was espoused:
And humbly now upon my bended knee,
In sight of England and her lordly peers,
Deliver up my title in the queen
To your most gracious hands, that are the substance
Of that great shadow I did represent;
The happiest gift that ever marquess gave,
The fairest queen that ever king received.

Henry VI. Suffolk, arise. Welcome, Queen Margaret:
I can express no kinder sign of love
Than this kind kiss. O Lord, that lends me life,
Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!
For thou hast given me in this beauteous face
A world of earthly blessings to my soul,
If sympathy of love unite our thoughts.

Queen Margaret. Great King of England and my gracious lord,
The mutual conference that my mind hath had,
By day, by night, waking and in my dreams,
In courtly company or at my beads,
With you, mine alder-liefest sovereign,
Makes me the bolder to salute my king
With ruder terms, such as my wit affords
And over-joy of heart doth minister.

Henry VI. Her sight did ravish; but her grace in speech,
Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty,
Makes me from wondering fall to weeping joys;
Such is the fulness of my heart's content.
Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love.

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester. [Reads] 'Imprimis, it is agreed between the French
king Charles, and William de la Pole, Marquess of
Suffolk, ambassador for Henry King of England, that
the said Henry shall espouse the Lady Margaret,
daughter unto Reignier King of Naples, Sicilia and
Jerusalem, and crown her Queen of England ere the
thirtieth of May next ensuing. Item, that the duchy
of Anjou and the county of Maine shall be released
and delivered to the king her father'--

Henry VI. Uncle, how now!

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester. Pardon me, gracious lord;
Some sudden qualm hath struck me at the heart
And dimm'd mine eyes, that I can read no further.

Henry VI. Uncle of Winchester, I pray, read on.

Winchester. [Reads] 'Item, It is further agreed between them,
that the duchies of Anjou and Maine shall be
released and delivered over to the king her father,
and she sent over of the King of England's own
proper cost and charges, without having any dowry.'

Henry VI. They please us well. Lord marquess, kneel down:
We here create thee the first duke of Suffolk,
And gird thee with the sword. Cousin of York,
We here discharge your grace from being regent
I' the parts of France, till term of eighteen months
Be full expired. Thanks, uncle Winchester,
Gloucester, York, Buckingham, Somerset,
Salisbury, and Warwick;
We thank you all for the great favour done,
In entertainment to my princely queen.
Come, let us in, and with all speed provide
To see her coronation be perform'd.

Earl of Suffolk. Madam, myself have limed a bush for her,
And placed a quire of such enticing birds,
That she will light to listen to the lays,
And never mount to trouble you again.
So, let her rest: and, madam, list to me;
For I am bold to counsel you in this.
Although we fancy not the cardinal,
Yet must we join with him and with the lords,
Till we have brought Duke Humphrey in disgrace.
As for the Duke of York, this late complaint
Will make but little for his benefit.
So, one by one, we'll weed them all at last,
And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.
[Sound a sennet. Enter KING HENRY VI, GLOUCESTER,]
CARDINAL, BUCKINGHAM, YORK, SOMERSET, SALISBURY,
WARWICK, and the DUCHESS]

Henry VI. For my part, noble lords, I care not which;
Or Somerset or York, all's one to me.

Eleanor. Was't I! yea, I it was, proud Frenchwoman:
Could I come near your beauty with my nails,
I'd set my ten commandments in your face.

Henry VI. Sweet aunt, be quiet; 'twas against her will.

Richard Plantagenet - Duke of York. Doth any one accuse York for a traitor?

Henry VI. What mean'st thou, Suffolk; tell me, what are these?

Earl of Suffolk. Please it your majesty, this is the man
That doth accuse his master of high treason:
His words were these: that Richard, Duke of York,
Was rightful heir unto the English crown
And that your majesty was a usurper.

Henry VI. Say, man, were these thy words?

Thomas Horner. Alas, my lord, hang me, if ever I spake the words.
My accuser is my 'prentice; and when I did correct
him for his fault the other day, he did vow upon his
knees he would be even with me: I have good
witness of this: therefore I beseech your majesty,
do not cast away an honest man for a villain's
accusation.

Henry VI. Uncle, what shall we say to this in law?

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester. Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd.

Henry VI. Away with them to prison; and the day of combat
shall be the last of the next month. Come,
Somerset, we'll see thee sent away.

Queen Margaret. 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.

Henry VI. 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.

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester. Ay, my lord cardinal? how think you by that?
Were it not good your grace could fly to heaven?

Henry VI. The treasury of everlasting joy.

Queen Margaret. And thy ambition, Gloucester.

Henry VI. I prithee, peace, good queen,
And whet not on these furious peers;
For blessed are the peacemakers on earth.

Winchester. [Aside to GLOUCESTER] Ay, where thou darest
not peep: an if thou darest,
This evening, on the east side of the grove.

Henry VI. How now, my lords!

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester. [Aside to CARDINAL] Cardinal, I am with you.

Henry VI. Why, how now, uncle Gloucester!

Winchester. [Aside to GLOUCESTER] Medice, teipsum--
Protector, see to't well, protect yourself.

Henry VI. 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.

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.

Henry VI. Now, God be praised, that to believing souls
Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair!
[Enter the Mayor of Saint Alban's and his]
brethren, bearing SIMPCOX, between two in a
chair, SIMPCOX's Wife following]

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

Henry VI. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale,
Although by his sight his sin be multiplied.

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester. Stand by, my masters: bring him near the king;
His highness' pleasure is to talk with him.

Henry VI. Good fellow, tell us here the circumstance,
That we for thee may glorify the Lord.
What, hast thou been long blind and now restored?

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester. Hadst thou been his mother, thou couldst have
better told.

Henry VI. Where wert thou born?

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

Henry VI. 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.

Simpcox. Black, forsooth: coal-black as jet.

Henry VI. Why, then, thou know'st what colour jet is of?

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!']

Henry VI. O God, seest Thou this, and bearest so long?

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester. But you have done more miracles than I;
You made in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly.

Henry VI. What tidings with our cousin Buckingham?

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester. 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.

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

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of 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 dishonour'd Gloucester's honest name.

Henry VI. Well, for this night we will repose us here:
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.

Richard Plantagenet - Duke of York. And, Nevil, this I do assure myself:
Richard shall live to make the Earl of Warwick
The greatest man in England but the king.

Henry VI. 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 burn'd 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.

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester. Eleanor, the law, thou see'st, hath judged thee:
I cannot justify whom the law condemns.
[Exeunt DUCHESS and 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;
Sorrow would solace and mine age would ease.

Henry VI. 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 Margaret. Ay, good my lord; for purposely therefore
Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried.

Henry VI. O God's name, see the lists and all things fit:
Here let them end it; and God defend the right!

Peter. O God, have I overcome mine enemy in this presence?
O Peter, thou hast prevailed in right!

Henry VI. Go, take hence that traitor from our sight;
For 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 murder'd wrongfully.
Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward.

Eleanor. 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.

Henry VI. I muse my Lord of Gloucester is not come:
'Tis not his wont to be the hindmost man,
Whate'er occasion keeps him from us now.

Duke of Buckingham. Tut, these are petty faults to faults unknown.
Which time will bring to light in smooth
Duke Humphrey.

Henry VI. 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 Gloucester 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 well given
To dream on evil or to work my downfall.

Duke/Earl of Somerset. All health unto my gracious sovereign!

Henry VI. Welcome, Lord Somerset. What news from France?

Duke/Earl of Somerset. That all your interest in those territories
Is utterly bereft you; all is lost.

Henry VI. Cold news, Lord Somerset: but God's will be done!

Earl of Suffolk. My lord, these faults are easy, quickly answered:
But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge,
Whereof you cannot easily purge yourself.
I do arrest you in his highness' name;
And here commit you to my lord cardinal
To keep, until your further time of trial.

Henry VI. My lord of Gloucester, 'tis my special hope
That you will clear yourself from all suspect:
My conscience tells me you are innocent.

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester. Ah! thus King Henry throws away his crutch
Before his legs be firm to bear his body.
Thus is the shepherd beaten from thy side,
And wolves are gnarling who shall gnaw thee first.
Ah, that my fear were false! ah, that it were!
For, good King Henry, thy decay I fear.

Henry VI. My lords, what to your wisdoms seemeth best,
Do or undo, as if ourself were here.

Queen Margaret. What, will your highness leave the parliament?

Henry VI. Ay, Margaret; my heart is drown'd with grief,
Whose flood begins to flow within mine eyes,
My body round engirt with misery,
For what's more miserable than discontent?
Ah, uncle Humphrey! in thy face I see
The map of honour, truth and loyalty:
And yet, good Humphrey, is the hour to come
That e'er I proved thee false or fear'd thy faith.
What louring star now envies thy estate,
That these great lords and Margaret our queen
Do seek subversion of thy harmless life?
Thou never didst them wrong, nor no man wrong;
And as the butcher takes away the calf
And binds the wretch, and beats it when it strays,
Bearing it to the bloody slaughter-house,
Even so remorseless have they borne him hence;
And as the dam runs lowing up and down,
Looking the way her harmless young one went,
And can do nought but wail her darling's loss,
Even so myself bewails good Gloucester's case
With sad unhelpful tears, and with dimm'd eyes
Look after him and cannot do him good,
So mighty are his vowed enemies.
His fortunes I will weep; and, 'twixt each groan
Say 'Who's a traitor? Gloucester he is none.'
[Exeunt all but QUEEN MARGARET, CARDINAL,]
SUFFOLK, and YORK; SOMERSET remains apart]

Earl of Suffolk. Away! be gone.
[Exeunt Murderers]
[Sound trumpets. Enter KING HENRY VI, QUEEN]
MARGARET, CARDINAL, SOMERSET, with Attendants]

Henry VI. Go, call our uncle to our presence straight;
Say we intend to try his grace to-day.
If he be guilty, as 'tis published.

Earl of Suffolk. I'll call him presently, my noble lord.

Henry VI. Lords, take your places; and, I pray you all,
Proceed no straiter 'gainst our uncle Gloucester
Than from true evidence of good esteem
He be approved in practise culpable.

Queen Margaret. God forbid any malice should prevail,
That faultless may condemn a nobleman!
Pray God he may acquit him of suspicion!

Henry VI. I thank thee, Meg; these words content me much.
[Re-enter SUFFOLK]
How now! why look'st thou pale? why tremblest thou?
Where is our uncle? what's the matter, Suffolk?

Earl of Suffolk. He doth revive again: madam, be patient.

Henry VI. O heavenly God!

Earl of Suffolk. Comfort, my sovereign! gracious Henry, comfort!

Henry VI. What, doth my Lord of Suffolk comfort me?
Came he right now to sing a raven's note,
Whose dismal tune bereft my vital powers;
And thinks he that the chirping of a wren,
By crying comfort from a hollow breast,
Can chase away the first-conceived sound?
Hide not thy poison with such sugar'd words;
Lay not thy hands on me; forbear, I say;
Their touch affrights me as a serpent's sting.
Thou baleful messenger, out of my sight!
Upon thy eye-balls murderous tyranny
Sits in grim majesty, to fright the world.
Look not upon me, for thine eyes are wounding:
Yet do not go away: come, basilisk,
And kill the innocent gazer with thy sight;
For in the shade of death I shall find joy;
In life but double death, now Gloucester's dead.

Queen Margaret. Why do you rate my Lord of Suffolk thus?
Although the duke was enemy to him,
Yet he most Christian-like laments his death:
And for myself, foe as he was to me,
Might liquid tears or heart-offending groans
Or blood-consuming sighs recall his life,
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 judged I made the duke away;
So shall my name with slander's tongue be wounded,
And princes' courts be fill'd with my reproach.
This get I by his death: ay me, unhappy!
To be a queen, and crown'd with infamy!

Henry VI. Ah, woe is me for Gloucester, wretched man!

Warwick. It is reported, mighty sovereign,
That good Duke Humphrey traitorously is murder'd
By Suffolk and the Cardinal Beaufort's means.
The commons, like an angry hive of bees
That want their leader, scatter up and down
And care not who they sting in his revenge.
Myself have calm'd their spleenful mutiny,
Until they hear the order of his death.

Henry VI. That he is dead, good Warwick, 'tis too true;
But how he died God knows, not Henry:
Enter his chamber, view his breathless corpse,
And comment then upon his sudden death.

Warwick. That shall I do, my liege. Stay, Salisbury,
With the rude multitude till I return.

Henry VI. O Thou that judgest all things, stay my thoughts,
My thoughts, that labour to persuade my soul
Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey's life!
If my suspect be false, forgive me, God,
For judgment only doth belong to thee.
Fain would I go to chafe his paly lips
With twenty thousand kisses, and to drain
Upon his face an ocean of salt tears,
To tell my love unto his dumb deaf trunk,
And with my fingers feel his hand unfeeling:
But all in vain are these mean obsequies;
And to survey his dead and earthly image,
What were it but to make my sorrow greater?
[Re-enter WARWICK and others, bearing]
GLOUCESTER'S body on a bed]

Warwick. Come hither, gracious sovereign, view this body.

Henry VI. That is to see how deep my grave is made;
For with his soul fled all my worldly solace,
For seeing him I see my life in death.

Warwick. Away even now, or I will drag thee hence:
Unworthy though thou art, I'll cope with thee
And do some service to Duke Humphrey's ghost.

Henry VI. What stronger breastplate than a heart untainted!
Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just,
And he but naked, though lock'd up in steel
Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted.

Queen Margaret. What noise is this?
[Re-enter SUFFOLK and WARWICK, with their]
weapons drawn]

Henry VI. Why, how now, lords! your wrathful weapons drawn
Here in our presence! dare you be so bold?
Why, what tumultuous clamour have we here?

Commons. [Within] An answer from the king, or we will all break in!

Henry VI. Go, Salisbury, and tell them all from me.
I thank them for their tender loving care;
And had I not been cited so by them,
Yet did I purpose as they do entreat;
For, sure, my thoughts do hourly prophesy
Mischance unto my state by Suffolk's means:
And therefore, by His majesty I swear,
Whose far unworthy deputy I am,
He shall not breathe infection in this air
But three days longer, on the pain of death.

Queen Margaret. O Henry, let me plead for gentle Suffolk!

Henry VI. Ungentle queen, to call him gentle Suffolk!
No more, I say: if thou dost plead for him,
Thou wilt but add increase unto my wrath.
Had I but said, I would have kept my word,
But when I swear, it is irrevocable.
If, after three days' space, thou here be'st found
On any ground that I am ruler of,
The world shall not be ransom for thy life.
Come, Warwick, come, good Warwick, go with me;
I have great matters to impart to thee.

Queen Margaret. This way for me.

Henry VI. How fares my lord? speak, Beaufort, to
thy sovereign.

Winchester. If thou be'st death, I'll give thee England's treasure,
Enough to purchase such another island,
So thou wilt let me live, and feel no pain.

Henry VI. Ah, what a sign it is of evil life,
Where death's approach is seen so terrible!

Winchester. Bring me unto my trial when you will.
Died he not in his bed? where should he die?
Can I make men live, whether they will or no?
O, torture me no more! I will confess.
Alive again? then show me where he is:
I'll give a thousand pound to look upon him.
He hath no eyes, the dust hath blinded them.
Comb down his hair; look, look! it stands upright,
Like lime-twigs set to catch my winged soul.
Give me some drink; and bid the apothecary
Bring the strong poison that I bought of him.

Henry VI. O thou eternal Mover of the heavens.
Look with a gentle eye upon this wretch!
O, beat away the busy meddling fiend
That lays strong siege unto this wretch's soul.
And from his bosom purge this black despair!

Earl of Salisbury. Disturb him not; let him pass peaceably.

Henry VI. Peace to his soul, if God's good pleasure be!
Lord cardinal, if thou think'st on heaven's bliss,
Hold up thy hand, make signal of thy hope.
He dies, and makes no sign. O God, forgive him!

Warwick. So bad a death argues a monstrous life.

Henry VI. Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all.
Close up his eyes and draw the curtain close;
And let us all to meditation.

Duke of Buckingham. What answer makes your grace to the rebels'
supplication?

Henry VI. I'll send some holy bishop to entreat;
For God forbid so many simple souls
Should perish by the sword! And I myself,
Rather than bloody war shall cut them short,
Will parley with Jack Cade their general:
But stay, I'll read it over once again.

Queen Margaret. Ah, barbarous villains! hath this lovely face
Ruled, like a wandering planet, over me,
And could it not enforce them to relent,
That were unworthy to behold the same?

Henry VI. Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head.

Lord Say. Ay, but I hope your highness shall have his.

Henry VI. How now, madam!
Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolk's death?
I fear me, love, if that I had been dead,
Thou wouldst not have mourn'd so much for me.

Queen Margaret. No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for thee.

Henry VI. How now! what news? why comest thou in such haste?

Messenger. The rebels are in Southwark; fly, my lord!
Jack Cade proclaims himself Lord Mortimer,
Descended from the Duke of Clarence' house,
And calls your grace usurper openly
And vows to crown himself in Westminster.
His army is a ragged multitude
Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless:
Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother's death
Hath given them heart and courage to proceed:
All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen,
They call false caterpillars, and intend their death.

Henry VI. O graceless men! they know not what they do.

Queen Margaret. Ah, were the Duke of Suffolk now alive,
These Kentish rebels would be soon appeased!

Henry VI. Lord Say, the traitors hate thee;
Therefore away with us to Killingworth.

Duke of Buckingham. Then linger not, my lord, away, take horse.

Henry VI. Come, Margaret; God, our hope, will succor us.

Queen Margaret. My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceased.

Henry VI. Farewell, my lord: trust not the Kentish rebels.

Duke of Buckingham. What, is he fled? Go some, and follow him;
And he that brings his head unto the king
Shall have a thousand crowns for his reward.
[Exeunt some of them]
Follow me, soldiers: we'll devise a mean
To reconcile you all unto the king.

Henry VI. Was ever king that joy'd an earthly throne,
And could command no more content than I?
No sooner was I crept out of my cradle
But I was made a king, at nine months old.
Was never subject long'd to be a king
As I do long and wish to be a subject.

Duke of Buckingham. Health and glad tidings to your majesty!

Henry VI. Why, Buckingham, is the traitor Cade surprised?
Or is he but retired to make him strong?
[Enter below, multitudes, with halters about]
their necks]

Lord Clifford. He is fled, my lord, and all his powers do yield;
And humbly thus, with halters on their necks,
Expect your highness' doom of life or death.

Henry VI. Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting gates,
To entertain my vows of thanks and praise!
Soldiers, this day have you redeemed your lives,
And show'd how well you love your prince and country:
Continue still in this so good a mind,
And Henry, though he be infortunate,
Assure yourselves, will never be unkind:
And so, with thanks and pardon to you all,
I do dismiss you to your several countries.

Messenger. Please it your grace to be advertised
The Duke of York is newly come from Ireland,
And with a puissant and a mighty power
Of gallowglasses and stout kerns
Is marching hitherward in proud array,
And still proclaimeth, as he comes along,
His arms are only to remove from thee
The Duke of Somerset, whom he terms traitor.

Henry VI. Thus stands my state, 'twixt Cade and York distress'd.
Like to a ship that, having 'scaped a tempest,
Is straightway calm'd and boarded with a pirate:
But now is Cade driven back, his men dispersed;
And now is York in arms to second him.
I pray thee, Buckingham, go and meet him,
And ask him what's the reason of these arms.
Tell him I'll send Duke Edmund to the Tower;
And, Somerset, we'll commit thee thither,
Until his army be dismiss'd from him.

Duke/Earl of Somerset. My lord,
I'll yield myself to prison willingly,
Or unto death, to do my country good.

Henry VI. In any case, be not too rough in terms;
For he is fierce and cannot brook hard language.

Duke of Buckingham. I will, my lord; and doubt not so to deal
As all things shall redound unto your good.

Henry VI. Come, wife, let's in, and learn to govern better;
For yet may England curse my wretched reign.

Duke of Buckingham. York, I commend this kind submission:
We twain will go into his highness' tent.

Henry VI. Buckingham, doth York intend no harm to us,
That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm?

Richard Plantagenet - Duke of York. In all submission and humility
York doth present himself unto your highness.

Henry VI. Then what intends these forces thou dost bring?

Alexander Iden. If one so rude and of so mean condition
May pass into the presence of a king,
Lo, I present your grace a traitor's head,
The head of Cade, whom I in combat slew.

Henry VI. The head of Cade! Great God, how just art Thou!
O, let me view his visage, being dead,
That living wrought me such exceeding trouble.
Tell me, my friend, art thou the man that slew him?

Alexander Iden. I was, an't like your majesty.

Henry VI. How art thou call'd? and what is thy degree?

Duke of Buckingham. So please it you, my lord, 'twere not amiss
He were created knight for his good service.

Henry VI. Iden, kneel down.
[He kneels]
Rise up a knight.
We give thee for reward a thousand marks,
And will that thou henceforth attend on us.

Alexander Iden. May Iden live to merit such a bounty.
And never live but true unto his liege!

Henry VI. See, Buckingham, Somerset comes with the queen:
Go, bid her hide him quickly from the duke.

Lord Clifford. This is my king, York, I do not mistake;
But thou mistakest me much to think I do:
To Bedlam with him! is the man grown mad?

Henry VI. Ay, Clifford; a bedlam and ambitious humour
Makes him oppose himself against his king.

Lord Clifford. Take heed, lest by your heat you burn yourselves.

Henry VI. Why, Warwick, hath thy knee forgot to bow?
Old Salisbury, shame to thy silver hair,
Thou mad misleader of thy brain-sick son!
What, wilt thou on thy death-bed play the ruffian,
And seek for sorrow with thy spectacles?
O, where is faith? O, where is loyalty?
If it be banish'd from the frosty head,
Where shall it find a harbour in the earth?
Wilt thou go dig a grave to find out war,
And shame thine honourable age with blood?
Why art thou old, and want'st experience?
Or wherefore dost abuse it, if thou hast it?
For shame! in duty bend thy knee to me
That bows unto the grave with mickle age.

Earl of Salisbury. My lord, I have consider'd with myself
The title of this most renowned duke;
And in my conscience do repute his grace
The rightful heir to England's royal seat.

Henry VI. Hast thou not sworn allegiance unto me?

Earl of Salisbury. I have.

Henry VI. Canst thou dispense with heaven for such an oath?

Queen Margaret. A subtle traitor needs no sophister.

Henry VI. Call Buckingham, and bid him arm himself.

Queen Margaret. Away, my lord! you are slow; for shame, away!

Henry VI. Can we outrun the heavens? good Margaret, stay.