Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor:
Not Peer Reviewed

Henry VI, Part 1 (Modern)

Enter [the Duke of] Gloucester, with his Servingmen [in blue coats].
360Gloucester
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?
[1 Servingman knocks on gates.] Open the gates, 'tis Gloucester that calls.
1 Warder
[Within the Tower.] Who's there, that knocks so imperiously?
3651 Servingman
It is the noble Duke of Gloucester.
2 Warder
[Within the Tower.] Whoe'er he be, you may not be let in.
1 Servingman
Villains, answer you so the Lord Protector?
1 Warder
[Within the Tower.] The Lord protect him, so we answer him.
We do no otherwise then we are willed.
370Gloucester
Who willèd you? Or whose will stands, but mine?
There's none Protector of the realm but I.
[To Servingmen.] 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 Woodville 375the [Tower's] Lieutenant speaks within.
Woodville
[Within the Tower.] What noise is this? What traitors have we here?
Gloucester
Lieutenant, is it you whose voice I hear?
Open the gates, here's Gloucester that would enter.
380Woodville
[Within the Tower.] Have patience noble duke: I may not open.
The Cardinal of Winchester forbids.
From him I have express commandèment,
That thou, nor none of thine, shall be let in.
Gloucester
Faint-hearted Woodville. Prizest him 'fore me?
385Arrogant 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.
Servingmen
Open the gates unto the Lord Protector,
390Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not quickly.
Enter to the [Lord] Protector at the Tower Gates, [the Bishop of] Winchester and his men in tawny coats.
Winchester
How now ambitious Humphrey. What means this?
395Gloucester
Peeled priest, dost thou command me to be shut out?
Winchester
I do, thou most usurping proditor,
And not Protector of the King or realm.
Gloucester
Stand back thou manifest conspirator.
400Thou that contrived'st to murder our dead lord,
Thou that giv'st whores indulgences to sin,
I'll canvas 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.
405This be Damascus, be thou cursèd Cain,
To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.
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.
410Winchester
Do what thou dar'st, I beard thee to thy face.
Gloucester
What? Am I dared and bearded to my face?
Draw men, for all this privilegèd place.
[All draw their swords.]
Blue coats to tawny coats. Priest, beware your beard.
415I 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 420Pope.
Gloucester
Winchester goose, I cry, "A rope, a rope".
[To his Servingmen.] Now beat them hence. Why do you let them stay?
[To Winchester.] Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array.
Out tawny coats. Out scarlet hypocrite.
425 Here Gloucester's men beat out the Cardinal's men, and enter[ing] in the hurly-burly, the Mayor of London, and his Officers.
Mayor
Fie, lords, that you being supreme magistrates,
Thus contumeliously should break the peace.
430Gloucester
Peace, mayor, thou know'st little of my wrongs.
Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king,
Hath here distrained the Tower to his use.
Winchester
[To Mayor.] Here's Gloucester, a foe to citizens,
One that still motions war, and never peace,
435O'ercharging your free purses with large fines,
That seeks to overthrow religion,
Because he is Protector of the realm;
And would have armor here out of the Tower
To crown himself king and suppress the Prince.
440Gloucester
I will not answer thee with words but blows.
Here they [the two factions] skirmish again.
Mayor
Naught rests for me, in this tumultuous strife,
But to make open proclamation.
Come, officer, as loud as e'er thou canst, cry.
445Officer
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.
[The skirmish ceases.]
450Gloucester
Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law.
But we shall meet and break our minds at large.
Winchester
Gloucester, we'll meet to thy cost, be sure.
Thy heart-blood I will have for this day's work.
Mayor
I'll call for clubs, if you will not away:
455[Aside.] This Cardinal's more haughty then the devil.
Gloucester
Mayor farewell. Thou dost but what thou may'st.
Winchester
Abominable Gloucester, guard thy head,
For I intend to have it ere long.
Exeunt [both factions severally].
460Mayor
[To Officers.] See the coast cleared, and then we will depart.
Good God, these nobles should such stomachs bear.
I myself fight not once in forty year.
Exeunt.