And never of the Nevilles’ noble race.

WARWICK

But that the guilt of murder bucklers thee

And I should rob the deathsman of his fee,

Quitting thee thereby of ten thousand shames,

And that my sovereign’s presence makes me mild,

I would, false murd‘rous coward, on thy knee

Make thee beg pardon for thy passed speech,

And say it was thy mother that thou meant’st—

That thou thyself wast born in bastardy!

And after all this fearful homage done,

Give thee thy hire and send thy soul to hell,

Pernicious blood-sucker of sleeping men!

SUFFOLK

Thou shalt be waking while I shed thy blood,

If from this presence thou dar’st go with me.

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.

Exeunt Suffolk and Warwick

KING HENRY

What stronger breastplate than a heart untainted?

Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just;

And he but naked, though locked up in steel,

Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted.

COMMONS (within) Down with Suffolk! Down with Suffolk!

QUEEN MARGARET What noise is this?

Enter Suffolk and Warwick with their weapons drawn

KING HENRY

Why, how now, lords? Your wrathful weapons drawn

Here in our presence? Dare you be so bold?

Why, what tumultuous clamour have we here?

SUFFOLK

The trait’rous Warwick with the men of Bury

Set all upon me, mighty sovereign!

COMMONS (within) Down with Suffolk! Down with Suffolk!

Enter from the commons the Earl of Salisbury

SALISBURY (to the commons, within)

Sirs, stand apart. The King shall know your mind.

(To King Henry)

Dread lord, the commons send you word by me

Unless Lord Suffolk straight be done to death,

Or banished fair England’s territories,

They will by violence tear him from your palace

And torture him with grievous ling‘ring death.

They say, by him the good Duke Humphrey died;

They say, in him they fear your highness’ death;

And mere instinct of love and loyalty,

Free from a stubborn opposite intent,

As being thought to contradict your liking,

Makes them thus forward in his banishment.

They say, in care of your most royal person,

That if your highness should intend to sleep,

And charge that no man should disturb your rest

In pain of your dislike, or pain of death,

Yet, notwithstanding such a strait edict,

Were there a serpent seen with forked tongue,

That slily glided towards your majesty,

It were but necessary you were waked,

Lest, being suffered in that harmful slumber,

The mortal worm might make the sleep eternal.

And therefore do they cry, though you forbid,

That they will guard you, whe’er you will or no,

From such fell serpents as false Suffolk is,

With whose envenomed and fatal sting

Your loving uncle, twenty times his worth,

They say, is shamefully bereft of life.

COMMONS (within) An answer from the King, my lord of Salisbury!

SUFFOLK

’Tis like the commons, rude unpolished hinds,

Could send such message to their sovereign.

But you, my lord, were glad to be employed,

To show how quaint an orator you are.

But all the honour Salisbury hath won

Is that he was the Lord Ambassador

Sent from a sort of tinkers to the King.

COMMONS (within) An answer from the King, or we will all break in!

KING HENRY

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.

⌈Exit Salisbury⌉

QUEEN MARGARET ⌈kneeling⌉

O Henry, let me plead for gentle Suffolk.

KING HENRY

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.

(To Suffolk) If after three days’ space thou here beest

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.

Exeunt King Henry and Warwick with

attendants ⌈who draw the curtains as they

leave⌉. Queen Margaret and Suffolk remain

QUEEN MARGARET ⌈rising⌉

Mischance and sorrow go along with you!

Heart’s discontent and sour affliction

Be playfellows to keep you company!

There’s two of you, the devil make a third,

And threefold vengeance tend upon your steps!

SUFFOLK

Cease, gentle Queen, these execrations,