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  • Title: Henry VI, Part 2 (Folio 1, 1623)

    • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Henry VI, Part 2 (Folio 1, 1623)

    128The second Part of Henry the Sixt.
    985And him to Pumfret; where, as all you know,
    Harmelesse Richard was murthered traiterously.
    Warw. Father, the Duke hath told the truth;
    Thus got the House of Lancaster the Crowne.
    Yorke. Which now they hold by force, and not by right:
    990For Richard, the first Sonnes Heire, being dead,
    The Issue of the next Sonne should haue reign'd.
    Salisb. But William of Hatfield dyed without an
    Heire.
    Yorke. The third Sonne, Duke of Clarence,
    995From whose Line I clayme the Crowne,
    Had Issue Phillip, a Daughter,
    Who marryed Edmond Mortimer, Earle of March:
    Edmond had Issue, Roger, Earle of March;
    Roger had Issue, Edmond, Anne, and Elianor.
    1000Salisb. This Edmond, in the Reigne of Bullingbrooke,
    As I haue read, layd clayme vnto the Crowne,
    And but for Owen Glendour, had beene King;
    Who kept him in Captiuitie, till he dyed.
    But, to the rest.
    1005Yorke. His eldest Sister, Anne,
    My Mother, being Heire vnto the Crowne,
    Marryed Richard, Earle of Cambridge,
    Who was to Edmond Langley,
    Edward the thirds fift Sonnes Sonne;
    1010By her I clayme the Kingdome:
    She was Heire to Roger, Earle of March,
    Who was the Sonne of Edmond Mortimer,
    Who marryed Phillip, sole Daughter
    Vnto Lionel, Duke of Clarence.
    1015So, if the Issue of the elder Sonne
    Succeed before the younger, I am King.
    Warw. What plaine proceedings is more plain then this?
    Henry doth clayme the Crowne from Iohn of Gaunt,
    The fourth Sonne, Yorke claymes it from the third:
    1020Till Lionels Issue fayles, his should not reigne.
    It fayles not yet, but flourishes in thee,
    And in thy Sonnes, faire slippes of such a Stock.
    Then Father Salisbury, kneele we together,
    And in this priuate Plot be we the first,
    1025That shall salute our rightfull Soueraigne
    With honor of his Birth-right to the Crowne.
    Both. Long liue our Soueraigne Richard, Englands
    King.
    Yorke. We thanke you Lords:
    1030But I am not your King, till I be Crown'd,
    And that my Sword be stayn'd
    With heart-blood of the House of Lancaster:
    And that's not suddenly to be perform'd,
    But with aduice and silent secrecie.
    1035Doe you as I doe in these dangerous dayes,
    Winke at the Duke of Suffolkes insolence,
    At Beaufords Pride, at Somersets Ambition,
    At Buckingham, and all the Crew of them,
    Till they haue snar'd the Shepheard of the Flock,
    1040That vertuous Prince, the good Duke Humfrey:
    'Tis that they seeke; and they, in seeking that,
    Shall finde their deaths, if Yorke can prophecie.
    Salisb. My Lord, breake we off; we know your minde
    at full.
    1045Warw. My heart assures me, that the Earle of Warwick
    Shall one day make the Duke of Yorke a King.
    Yorke. And Neuill, this I doe assure my selfe,
    Richard shall liue to make the Earle of Warwick
    The greatest man in England, but the King.
    1050 Exeunt.

    Sound Trumpets. Enter the King and State,
    with Guard, to banish the Duchesse.

    King. Stand forth Dame Elianor Cobham,
    Glosters Wife:
    1055In sight of God, and vs, your guilt is great,
    Receiue the Sentence of the Law for sinne,
    Such as by Gods Booke are adiudg'd to death.
    You foure from hence to Prison, back againe;
    From thence, vnto the place of Execution:
    1060The Witch in Smithfield shall be burnt to ashes,
    And you three shall be strangled on the Gallowes.
    You Madame, for you are more Nobly borne,
    Despoyled of your Honor in your Life,
    Shall, after three dayes open Penance done,
    1065Liue in your Countrey here, in Banishment,
    With Sir Iohn Stanly, in the Ile of Man.
    Elianor. Welcome is Banishment, welcome were my
    Death.
    Glost. Elianor, the Law thou seest hath iudged thee,
    1070I cannot iustifie whom the Law condemnes:
    Mine eyes are full of teares, my heart of griefe.
    Ah Humfrey, this dishonor in thine age,
    Will bring thy head with sorrow to the ground.
    I beseech your Maiestie giue me leaue to goe;
    1075Sorrow would sollace, and mine Age would ease.
    King. Stay Humfrey, Duke of Gloster,
    Ere thou goe, giue vp thy Staffe,
    Henry will to himselfe Protector be,
    And God shall be my hope, my stay, my guide,
    1080And Lanthorne to my feete:
    And goe in peace, Humfrey, no lesse belou'd,
    Then when thou wert Protector to thy King.
    Queene. I see no reason, why a King of yeeres
    Should be to be protected like a Child,
    1085God and King Henry gouerne Englands Realme:
    Giue vp your Staffe, Sir, and the King his Realme.
    Glost. My Staffe? Here, Noble Henry, is my Staffe:
    As willingly doe I the same resigne,
    As ere thy Father Henry made it mine;
    1090And euen as willingly at thy feete I leaue it,
    As others would ambitiously receiue it.
    Farewell good King: when I am dead, and gone,
    May honorable Peace attend thy Throne.
    Exit Gloster.
    1095Queene. Why now is Henry King, and Margaret Queen,
    And Humfrey, Duke of Gloster, scarce himselfe,
    That beares so shrewd a mayme: two Pulls at once;
    His Lady banisht, and a Limbe lopt off.
    This Staffe of Honor raught, there let it stand,
    1100Where it best fits to be, in Henries hand.
    Suff. Thus droupes this loftie Pyne, & hangs his sprayes,
    Thus Elianors Pride dyes in her youngest dayes.
    Yorke. Lords, let him goe. Please it your Maiestie,
    This is the day appointed for the Combat,
    1105And ready are the Appellant and Defendant,
    The Armorer and his Man, to enter the Lists,
    So please your Highnesse to behold the fight.
    Queene. I, good my Lord: for purposely therefore
    Left I the Court, to see this Quarrell try'de.
    1110King. A Gods Name see the Lysts and all things fit,
    Here let them end it, and God defend the right.
    Yorke. I neuer saw a fellow worse bestead,
    Or more afraid to fight, then is the Appellant,
    The seruant of this Armorer, my Lords.
    Enter
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