History of Henry VI, Part I (1592)

Intro

Title Variant: The First Part of King Henry the Sixth; or, Harry the Sixth
by Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Nashe, and Anonymous, adapted by Shakespeare
Date variant: 1591-2
Online Critical Edition in Progress - Version 1.a.
Shakespeare Network - https://shakespearenetwork.net/

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Act I, Scene 3

London. Before the Tower.

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester
I am come to survey the Tower this day:
Since Henry's death, I fear, there is conveyance.
Where be these warders, that they wait not here?
Open the gates; 'tis Gloucester that calls.

First Warder
[Within] Who's there that knocks so imperiously?

First Serving-Man
It is the noble Duke of Gloucester.

Second Warder
[Within] Whoe'er he be, you may not be let in.

First Serving-Man
Villains, answer you so the lord protector?

First Warder
[Within] The Lord protect him! so we answer him:
We do no otherwise than we are will'd.

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester
Who willed you? or whose will stands but mine?
There's none protector of the realm but I.
Break up the gates, I'll be your warrantize.
Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms?
[Gloucester's men rush at the Tower Gates, and]
WOODVILE the Lieutenant speaks within]

Woodvile
What noise is this? what traitors have we here?

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester
Lieutenant, is it you whose voice I hear?
Open the gates; here's Gloucester that would enter.

Woodvile
Have patience, noble duke; I may not open;
The Cardinal of Winchester forbids:
From him I have express commandment
That thou nor none of thine shall be let in.

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester
Faint-hearted Woodvile, prizest him 'fore me?
Arrogant Winchester, that haughty prelate,
Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could brook?
Thou art no friend to God or to the king:
Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly.

Serving-Men
Open the gates unto the lord protector,
Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not quickly.
[Enter to the Protector at the Tower Gates BISHOP]
OF WINCHESTER and his men in tawny coats]

Winchester
How now, ambitious Humphry! what means this?

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester
Peel'd priest, dost thou command me to be shut out?

Winchester
I do, thou most usurping proditor,
And not protector, of the king or realm.

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester
Stand back, thou manifest conspirator,
Thou that contrivedst to murder our dead lord;
Thou that givest whores indulgences to sin:
I'll canvass thee in thy broad cardinal's hat,
If thou proceed in this thy insolence.

Winchester
Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge a foot:
This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain,
To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester
I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back:
Thy scarlet robes as a child's bearing-cloth
I'll use to carry thee out of this place.

Winchester
Do what thou darest; I beard thee to thy face.

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester
What! am I dared and bearded to my face?
Draw, men, for all this privileged place;
Blue coats to tawny coats. Priest, beware your beard,
I mean to tug it and to cuff you soundly:
Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat:
In spite of pope or dignities of church,
Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down.

Winchester
Gloucester, thou wilt answer this before the pope.

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester
Winchester goose, I cry, a rope! a rope!
Now beat them hence; why do you let them stay?
Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array.
Out, tawny coats! out, scarlet hypocrite!
[Here GLOUCESTER's men beat out BISHOP OF]
WINCHESTER's men, and enter in the hurly-
burly the Mayor of London and his Officers]

Lord Mayor of London
Fie, lords! that you, being supreme magistrates,
Thus contumeliously should break the peace!

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester
Peace, mayor! thou know'st little of my wrongs:
Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king,
Hath here distrain'd the Tower to his use.

Winchester
Here's Gloucester, a foe to citizens,
One that still motions war and never peace,
O'ercharging your free purses with large fines,
That seeks to overthrow religion,
Because he is protector of the realm,
And would have armour here out of the Tower,
To crown himself king and suppress the prince.

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester
I will not answer thee with words, but blows.

Lord Mayor of London
Naught rests for me in this tumultuous strife
But to make open proclamation:
Come, officer; as loud as e'er thou canst,
Cry.

Officer
All manner of men assembled here in arms this day
against God's peace and the king's, we charge and
command you, in his highness' name, to repair to
your several dwelling-places; and not to wear,
handle, or use any sword, weapon, or dagger,
henceforward, upon pain of death.

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester
Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law:
But we shall meet, and break our minds at large.

Winchester
Gloucester, we will meet; to thy cost, be sure:
Thy heart-blood I will have for this day's work.

Lord Mayor of London
I'll call for clubs, if you will not away.
This cardinal's more haughty than the devil.

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester
Mayor, farewell: thou dost but what thou mayst.

Winchester
Abominable Gloucester, guard thy head;
For I intend to have it ere long.
[Exeunt, severally, GLOUCESTER and BISHOP OF]
WINCHESTER with their Serving-men]

Lord Mayor of London
See the coast clear'd, and then we will depart.
Good God, these nobles should such stomachs bear!
I myself fight not once in forty year.

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History of Henry VI, Part I (1592)

Act I, Scene 3

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