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And put the Englishmen unto the sword:
Send succours, lords, and stop the rage betime,
Before the wound do grow uncurable;

For, being green, there is great hope of help.

CAR. A breach that craves a quick expedient stop! What counsel give you in this weighty cause?

YORK. That Somerset be sent as regent thither:
'Tis meet that lucky ruler be employ'd;
Witness the fortune he hath had in France.
SOM. If York, with all his far-fet policy,
Had been the regent there instead of me,
He never would have stay'd in France so long.
YORK. No, not to lose it all, as thou hast done:
I rather would have lost my life betimes
Than bring a burthen of dishonour home
By staying there so long till all were lost.
Show me one scar character'd on thy skin:
Men's flesh preserved so whole do seldom win.
QUEEN. Nay, then, this spark will prove a raging
fire,

If wind and fuel be brought to feed it with :
No more, good York; sweet Somerset, be still :
Thy fortune, York, hadst thou been regent there,
Might happily have proved far worse than his.

YORK. What, worse than nought? nay, then, a shame take all !

SOM. And, in the number, thee that wishest shame.

CAR. My Lord of York, try what your fortune is. The uncivil kerns of Ireland are in arms

And temper clay with blood of Englishmen :

To Ireland will you lead a band of men,
Collected choicely, from each county some,
And try your hap against the Irishmen?

YORK. I will, my lord, so please his majesty. SUF. Why, our authority is his consent, And what we do establish he confirms: Then, noble York, take thou this task in hand. YORK. I am content: provide me soldiers, lords, Whiles I take order for mine own affairs.

SUF. A charge, Lord York, that I will see perform'd.

But now return we to the false Duke Humphrey.
CAR. No more of him; for I will deal with him
That henceforth he shall trouble us no more.
And so break off; the day is almost spent:
Lord Suffolk, you and I must talk of that event.
YORK. My Lord of Suffolk, within fourteen days
At Bristol I expect my soldiers;

For there I'll ship them all for Ireland.

SUF. I'll see it truly done, my Lord of York.

[Exeunt all but YORK. YORK. Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful thoughts,

And change misdoubt to resolution:

Be that thou hopest to be, or what thou art Resign to death; it is not worth the enjoying: Let pale-faced fear keep with the mean-born man, And find no harbour in a royal heart.

Faster than spring-time showers comes thought on thought,

And not a thought but thinks on dignity.

My brain more busy than the labouring spider
Weaves tedious snares to trap mine enemies.
Well, nobles, well, 'tis politicly done,

To send me packing with an host of men:
I fear me you but warm the starved snake,
Who,cherish'd in your breasts, will sting your hearts.
'Twas men I lack'd and you will give them me:
I take it kindly; yet be well assured

You put sharp weapons in a madman's hands.
Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band,
I will stir up in England some black storm
Shall blow ten thousand souls to heaven or hell;
And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage
Until the golden circuit on my head,

Like to the glorious sun's transparent beams,
Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw.
And, for a minister of my intent,

I have seduced a headstrong Kentishman,
John Cade of Ashford,

To make commotion, as full well he can,
Under the title of John Mortimer.

In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade
Oppose himself against a troop of kerns,
And fought so long, till that his thighs with darts
Were almost like a sharp-quill'd porpentine ;

And, in the end being rescued, I have seen
Him caper upright like a wild Morisco,
Shaking the bloody darts as he his bells.
Full often, like a shag-hair'd crafty kern,
Hath he conversed with the enemy,

And undiscover'd come to me again
And given me notice of their villanies.
This devil here shall be my substitute;
For that John Mortimer, which now is dead,
In face, in gait, in speech, he doth resemble:
By this I shall perceive the commons' mind,
How they affect the house and claim of York.
Say he be taken, rack'd and tortured,

I know no pain they can inflict upon him
Will make him say I moved him to those arms.
Say that he thrive, as 'tis great like he will,
Why, then from Ireland come I with my strength
And reap the harvest which that rascal sow'd;
For Humphrey being dead, as he shall be,
And Henry put apart, the next for me.

SCENE II.

Bury St. Edmund's. A room of state.

Enter certain Murderers, hastily.

[Exit.

FIRST MUR. Run to my Lord of Suffolk; let him know

We have dispatch'd the duke, as he commanded. SEC. MUR. O that it were to do! What have we Didst ever hear a man so penitent?

Enter SUFFOLK.

FIRST MUR. Here comes my lord.

[done?

SUF. Now, sirs, have you dispatch'd this thing? FIRST MUR. Ay, my good lord, he's dead.

SUF. Why, that's well said. Go, get you to my

house;

E

I will reward you for this venturous deed.
The king and all the peers are here at hand.

Have laid fair the bed? Is all things well,
you

According as I gave directions?

FIRST MUR. "Tis, my good lord.

SUF. Away! be gone. [Exeunt Murderers. Sound trumpets. Enter the KING, the QUEEN, CarDINAL BEAUFORT, SOMERSET, with Attendants. KING. Go, call our uncle to our presence straight; Say we intend to try his grace to-day,

If he be guilty, as 'tis published.

Sur. I'll call him presently, my noble lord.

[Exit. KING. 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 practice culpable.

QUEEN. God forbid any malice should prevail, That faultless may condemn a nobleman! Pray God he may acquit him of suspicion ! KING. 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 ? SUF. Dead in his bed, my lord; Gloucester is dead. QUEEN. Marry, God forfend!

CAR. God's secret judgement: I did dream tonight

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