 | The history of King Richard The Second |  |
ACT II.
A Chamber.Gaunt Sick, to him York.
York.
Now Brother, what cheer?
Gaunt.
Why well, 'tis with me as old Gaunt cou'd wish.
York.
What, Harry sticks with you still; well I hear he's safe in
France and very busie.
Gaunt.
My Blood were never Idle.
I fear too busie; come, he's a par'lous Boy, I smell a confed'racy
betwixt him and his Companions here, Mischief will come
on't, cut him off I say; Let him be Kites-meat—I would hang
a Son, to kill a Traytor.
Gaunt.
Go sleep good York and wake with better thoughts.
York.
Heav'n grant we sleep not all 'till Alarums wake us.
I tell you Brother I lik'd not the manner of his departure, 'twas the
very smooth smiling Face of Infant Rebellion; with what familiar
Courtesie did he caress the Rabble?
Off goes his Bonnet to an Oysterwench,
A Brace of Dray-men bid God speed him well
And had the Tribute of his supple knee,
Then shakes a Shoo-maker by the waxt Thumbs,
With thanks my Country-men, my Friends, my Brothers,
Then comes a Peal of sighs wou'd knock a Church down,
Roguery, mechanick Roguery! rank Treason,
Gaunt.
My sickness grows upon me, set me higher.
York.
Villany takes its time, all goes worse and worse in Ireland,
Rebellion is there on the Wing, and here in the Egg; yet still
the Court dances after the French Pipe, Eternal Apes of Vanity:
Mutiny stirring, Discipline asleep, Knaves in Office, all's wrong;
make much of your Sickness Brother: if it be Mortal, 'tis worth a
Duke-dome.
Gaunt.
How happy Heav'n were my approaching death
Cou'd my last words prevail upon the King,
Whose easie gentle Nature has expos'd
His unexperienc'd Youth to flatterers frauds;
Yet at this hour, I hope to bend his Ear
To Councel, for the Tongues of dying men
Enforce attention like deep Harmony:
Where words are scarce, th'are seldom spent in Vain,
For they breath Truth, that breath their Words in Pain.
Enter King, Queen, Northumberland, Ross, Willoughby, Piercye, &c. With Guards and Attendants.
Queen.
How fares our Noble Uncle Lancaster?
King.
How is't with aged Gaunt?
Gaunt.
Ag'd as your Highness says, and Gaunt indeed.
King.
Can sick men play so nicely with their Names?
Gaunt.
Since thou dost seek to kill my Name in me,
I mock my Name great King to flatter thee.
King.
Should dying men then, flatter those that Live?
Gaunt.
No, no, Men living flatter those that dye.
King.
Thou now a dying sayst, thou flatter'st me.
Gaunt.
Oh! no, Thou dyest though I the sicker am,
King.
I am in health breath, free but see thee ill
Gaunt.
Now he that made me knows I see thee ill.
Thy death-bed is no less than the whole Land,
Whereon thou ly'st in Reputation sick.
Yet hurri'd on by a malignant fate
Commit'st thy annoynted Body to the Cure
Of those Physitians that first Poyson'd thee!
Upon thy Youth a Swarm of flatterers hang
And with their fulsome weight are daily found
To bend thy yielding Glories to the ground.
King.
Judge Heav'n how poor a thing is Majesty,
Be thou thy self the Judge, when thou sick Wight
Presuming on an Agues Priviledge
Dar'st with thy Frozen admonition,
Make pale our Cheek, but I excuse thy weakness.
Gaunt.
Think not the Ryot of your Court can last,
Tho fed with the dear Life blood of your Realms;
For vanity at last preys of it self.
This Earth of Majesty, this seat of Mars,
This Fortress built by Nature in the Floods,
Whose Rocky shores beat back the foaming Sedge,
This England Conqu'rour of the Neighbring Lands,
Makes now a shameful Conquest on it self.
York.
Now will I stake (my Liege) my Soul upon't;
Old Gaunt is hearty in his wishes for you,
And what he speaks, is out of honest Zeal,
And tho thy Anger prove to me as Mortal,
As is to him this sickness, yet blunt York
Must Eccho to his words and cry,
Thou art abus'd and flatter'd.
King.
Gentle Uncle,
Excuse the sallies of my youthful Blood,
Nor shall we be unmindful to redress,
(However difficult) our States corruption,
And purge the Vanities that Crown'd our Court.
Gaunt.
My gracious Liege your Pardon, this bold duty,
Was all that stood betwixt my Grave and me,
Your Sycophants bred from your Child-hood with you,
Have such advantage had to work upon you,
That scarce your failings can be call'd your faults;
Now to Heav'ns care and your own Piety,
I leave my sacred Lord, and may you have
In life that peace that waits me in the Grave.
King.
Thanks my good Uncle, bear him to his Bed,
[Exit Gaunt.
Attend him well, and if a Princes Prayers
Have more than common interest with Heav'n,
Our Realm shall yet enjoy his honest Councel.
And now my Souldiers for our Irish Wars,
We must suppress these rough prevailing Kerns,
That live like Venom, where no Venom else
But only they have priviledg to live.
But first our Uncle Gaunt being indispos'd,
We do create his Brother both in Blood
And Loyalty our Uncle York,
Lord Governour of England, in our absence
Observe me Lords, and pay him that respect
You give our Royal Presence.
[Enter Northumberland.
North.
My Liege old Gaunt commends him to your Highness.
King.
What says our Uncle?
North.
Nothing; all is said.
His Tongue is now a stringless instrument,
But call'd on your lov'd name and blest you dying.
King.
The ripest fruit falls first and so doe's He,
His course is done, our Pilgrimage to come,
So much for that; return we to our War
And cause our Coffers with too great a Court
And liberal Largess, are grown somewhat Light:
Prest with this exigence, we for a time
Do seize on our dead Uncles large Revenues
In Herford's absence.
York.
O my Liege pardon me if you please, if not, I please not
Herford, I fear already he's too apt t'engage against your Power,
and these proceedings will give countenance and growth to his
Designs, forbear to draw such Dangers on your Head.
King.
Be Heav'n our judge we mean him nothing fowl
But shortly will with interest restore
The Loan our sudden streights make necessary.—
Weep not my Love nor drown with boding Tears,
Our springing Conquest, bear our absence well,
Nor think that I have joy to part with Thee,
Tho never vacant Swain in silent Bowers,
Cou'd boast a passion so sincere as mine,
Yet where the int'rest of the Subject calls,
We wave the dearest Transports of our Love
Flying from Beauty' Arms to rugged War;
Conscience our first, and Thou our second Care.
[Exeunt.
Manent, Morthumberland, Piercy, Ross, Willoughby.
North.
Well Lords, the Duke of Lancaster is dead.
Will.
And living too if Justice had her right,
For Herford then were more than a bare Name,
Who now succeeds departed Gaunt in nothing,
But in his mind's rich Virtues, the Kings pleas'd
To have occasion for his temporal wealth!
O my heart swells, but let it burst with silence,
Ere it be disburden'd with a liberal tongue.
Perc.
Now rot the tongue that scants a Subjects freedom,
Loosers at least are priviledgd to talk,
And who accounts not Herfords looss his own
Deserves not the esteem if Herford's friend.
There's none of us here present but did weep
At parting, and if there be any one
Whose tears are not converted now to fire
He is a Crocadile.
North.
The fate of Bullingbrook will soon be ours,
We hear the Tempest sing yet seek no shelter,
We see our wreck and yet securely perish,
A sure, but willful Fate—for had ye Spirits
But worthy to receive it, I cou'd say
How near the tidings of our comfort is.
Give us thy thoughts and rate 'em as thou wilt,
Here's Blood for'em, but point us to the veins
That hold the richest, we will empty those,
To purchase 'em.
North.
Hold generous Youth.
This gallantry unlocks my inmost Brest,
Seizing a secret dearer than my heart.
Attend me Lords, I have from Port le Blanc
This very day receiv'd intelligence,
That our wrong'd Herford with Lord Rainold Cobham,
Sir Thomas Arpingham, bold Sir John Rainston,
Sir Robert Waterton, Quaint, Norbery,
With eight tall Ships, three thousand men in Arms,
Design with speed to touch our Northern shore,
If then you have a spark of British glory,
To imp our drooping Countries broken Wing,
Joyn hands with me and post to Ravenspurg.
Ross.
Now business stirs and life is worth our while.
Will.
Nature her self of late hath broke her Order,
Then why should we continue our dull Round?
Rivers themselves refuse their wonted course,
Start wide or turn on their own Fountain heads;
Our Lawrels all are blasted, rambling Meteors
Affright the fixst inhabitants of Heav'n.
The pale fac't Moon looks bloody on the Earth,
And lean-lookt Prophets whisper dreadful change.
Pierc.
Away, let's post to th' North, and see for once
A Sun rise there; the glorious Bulling-brook.
For our Return will not pass a thought,
For if our Courtiers passage be withstood,
We'll make our selves a Sea and sail in Blood.
[Exeunt.
Enter Queen Attended.
Lady.
Despair not Madam.
Queen.
Who shall hinder me?
I will despair and be at enmity,
With flattering hope, he is a Couzener,
A Parasite, a keeper back of Death,
That wou'd dissolve at once our pain and Life,
Which lingring hope holds long upon the Rack;
Lady.
Here comes the Duke.
[Enter York and Servants.
Queen.
With signs of War about his aged neck,
And full of careful business are his looks.
York.
Death and confusion! oh!—set my Corsleet right, fetch
my commanding Sword: scour up the brown Bills, Arm, Arm,
Arm.
Queen.
Now Uncle for Heav'ns sake speak comfort.
York.
Comforts in Heav'n, and we are on the Earth, nothing but
crosses on this side of the Moon; my heart stews in Choller, I shall
dissolve to a Gelly. That your Husband shou'd have no more wit
than to go a Knight Erranting whilst Rogues seize all at home, and
that I shou'd have no more wit than to be his Deputy at such a proper
time: to undertake to support a crazy Government, that can
scarce carry my own Fat: Well Sirrah, have you given my Son
orders to strengthen his Forces? if he prove a Flincher too.—
Gent.
My Lord I know not how he stands affected,
Not well, I fear, because at my Arrival
He was withdrawn, at least pretended so
So that I cou'd not give him your Commands.
York.
Why so? go all which way it will, the Nobles are all fled,
and hide themselves like my ungracious Rascal, or else strike in
with the Rebels; the Commons find our Exchequer empty and
revolt too, and a blessed bargain I have on't.
Queen.
Alass my Bank and Jewels are dispos'd off
For the Kings wants already, and to wait
Till fresh recruits come from our Fathers Court,
I fear will lose our Cause.
York.
Get thee to Plashy to my Sister Gloster,
Her Coffers I am sure are strongly lin'd,
Bid her send me presently 50000. Nobles.
Hold—take my Ring, fly if thou lov'st thy Head.
Gent.
My Lord I had forgot to tell you that to day
Passing by there I was inform'd—
But I shall grieve you to report the rest.
York.
What is't Knave?
Gent.
An hour before I came the Dutches Dy'd,
Her Son your Nephew ere her Blood was cold,
Makes all secure and flies to Bullingbrook.
York.
Death what a tide of woes break upon us at once. Perverse
too to take this time to play the villain in: wou'd to Heav'n the
King had cut off my Head as he did my Brothers, Come Sister
—Couzen I would say, pray Pardon me, if I know how to order
these perplext Affairs, I am a Sturgeon. Gentlemen go Muster
up your Men, and meet me at Barkley Castle. I should to
Plashie too, but time will not suffer; the Wind's cross too, and
will let us hear nothing from Ireland, nor boots it much, if they
have no better News for us, than we have for them. All's wrong,
Oh! fie, hot! hot!
[Exeunt.
SCENE the Third.
The Field, Flourish Enter. Bullingbrook, Northumberland, Piercy, and the Rest with their Powers.Bull.
And thus like Seamen, scatter'd in a Storm
Meet we to Revel on the safer Shore;
Accept my worthy Friends, my dearest thanks,
For yet my Infant Fortunes can present
Returns no Richer but when these are Ripe,—
North.
Your Presence was the Happiness we sigh'd for,
And now made Rich in that we seek no more.
Enter Ross, and Willoughby.
Bull.
My Lords, y'are well return'd, what News from Wales,
We hear that Salisbury has Levi'd there
Full 40000 on the Kings behalf.
Ross.
My Lord, that Cloud's disperst, the Welshmen hearing
That all the North here had resign'd to you,
Disperst themselves and part are hither fled.
Will.
Fortune so Labours to Confirm your Pow'r
That all Attempts go cross on the Enemies side.
Enter York and Servants.
Bull.
But see our Uncle York, come as I guess
To Treat with us, being doubtful of his strength,
His hot and testie humour else wou'd nere
Salute us but with Blows; be ready Guards
When I shall give Command—My Noble Uncle.
Shew me thy humble Heart and not thy Knee,
Whose Duty's feign'd and false.
Bull.
My Gracious Uncle.
York.
Tut, tut, Grace me no Grace, and Uncle me no Uncle,
I am no Traytors Uncle, I renounce thee,
Why have these banisht and forbidden Feet
Dar'd once to touch a Dust of English ground,
But more then why, why have they dar'd to march
So many Miles upon her Peaceful Bosom,
Frighting her pale-fac't Villages with War?
Com'st thou because th'annointed King is hence,
Why graceless Boy the King is left behind
And in my Loyal Bosom lies the Power:
Were I but now the Lord of such hot Youth,
As when brave Gaunt thy Father and my Self
Rescu'd the Black Prince, that young Mars of Men,
O then how quickly should this Arm of mine,
(Now Pris'ner to the Palsie) Chastise thee,
And this raw Crew of hot-braind Youth about thee?
Your Boys should have Correction, much Correction.
Bull.
Why reverend Uncle, let me know my fault
On what Condition stands it and wherein?
York.
Even in Condition of the worst Degree,
In gross Rebellion and detested Treason,
Thou art a Banisht Man and here art come,
Before the Expiration of thy time,
In braving Arms against thy Sovereign.
Bull.
As I was Banisht, I was Banisht Herford,
But as I come I come for Lancaster,
Look on my wrongs with an indifferent Eye,
You are my Father, for methinks in you,
I see Old Gaunt Alive: O then my Father
Will you permit that I shall stand Condemnd
A wandring Vagabond, my Rights and Royalties
Snatcht from my Hand perforce and giv'n away
To up-start Unthrifts? wherefore was I Born?
If that my Cousen King, be King of England,
It must be granted I am Duke of Lancaster,
York.
Thy words are all as false as thy Intents,
The King but for the Service of the State,
And Pawn'd to me his Honour to repay it,
Which I as Gaunt Executour allow'd.
Bull.
Then Uncle I am sorry you have drawn the Guilt on your
own head, and that of Course Justice must fall there too; we must
Commit you to our Guards Custody.
York.
Perfidious Villain,
Now he that has a Soul give me a Sword!
And since my Followers are too few to Engage,
Give but this Villain here and me a Ring,
And if you do not see a Traytor Cudgell'd,
As a Vile Traytor should, I'll give ye leave
To hang my Brawn i'th' Sun.
North.
The Duke has sworn he comes but for his own,
And in that Claim we all resolve to Assist him.
York.
What says Northumberland? thou rev'rend Rebel,
Think what a Figure makes thy Beard amongst
This Callow Crew; allow that he were wrong'd,
As on the Kings Faith and mine he is not,
Yet in this kind to come with threatning Arms,
To Compass right with wrong, it may not be;
And you that do abet him in this sort
From the hoar'd Head to the raw beardless Chin,
Cherish Rebellion, and are Rebels all.
Bull.
We have not leisure to debate; strike Drums.
York.
Now the Villains Curse light on thee, and if thou dost
seize the Crown, mayst thou be more Plagu'd with being King,
than I am with being Deputy.
SCENE the Fourth.
Enter Rabble]A Shoomaker, Farrier, Weaver, Tanner, Mercer, Brewer, Butcher, Barber, and infinite others with a Confused Noise.
1.
Silence hea! I Revelation Stitch Command Silence.
All.
Peace hoa!
1.
Am I not Nobly Descended and Honourably Born?
2.
Right, the Field is Honourable, and there was he Born under
a Hedge.
Have I not born Commission with Watt Tyler (witness our
luminary lost in that Service) and was I not president at Jack
Straw's Councel, to kill all the Nobility and Clergy; but the
Fryers mendicant, that in our Reign wou'd soon have starv'd
out o'th' way?
All.
Hum! hum! hem!
1.
What place then do our guifts desere at such a season, where
the temporal King is absent and Usurpers invade?
2.
Why, it behoveth thee to take unto thee a good Conscience,
and make thy self King.
1.
Simon Shuttle, I never lik't thy Politicks, our meanest Brethren
pretend to the spirit of Governing, our Talent is to govern
the Governour; therefore as Bullingbrook shall approve
himself to our liking, we will fix him upon the last of the Government,
or cast him out amongst the shreds and shavings of
the Common-wealth.
4.
But pray Neighbour, what is this same Common-wealth?
3.
You may see it at Smithfield all the Fair-time, 'tis the Butt End
of the Nation.
5.
Peace hea! hear Master Revelation expound it.
1.
Why the Common-wealth is a-Kin to your-a-republick, like
Man and Wife, the very same thing, only the Common-wealth is
the Common-wealth and the Republick is the Republick.
2.
What an excellent Spirit of knowledge is here?
3.
Wee'l have no more Bills nor Bonds, but all shall be reduc't
to the Score and Tally.
4.
No Physick, but what shall be administer'd in a Horn.
5.
We'l have Priviledges taken off, and all sorts compell'd to pay
their Debts.
7.
I except against that, I would rather break, than have gentlemen
out of my debt; it gives us priviledg of being Sawcy: how
are we fain to cringe 'till we have got them into our Books? and then I
warrant we can cock up with the best of 'em. I hate mortally to
be paid off, it makes a man such a sneaking Rascal.
1.
We will have strict and wholsom Laws—
6.
Laws, Strict Laws, so will there be no mischief done, and our
Profession starve. I'll ha' no Laws.
Others,
no Laws, no Laws, no Laws.
Others,
Laws, Laws, Laws.
They Scuffle.
1.
Hark, Bullingbrook approaches, put your selves in posture,
Flourish here.]
Enter Bullingbrook with his Army.
North.
Behold my Lord an Object strange and suddain,
The Rabble up in Arms to mock your pow'rs.
As once the Indian Apes are said to have done
To Alexander's Army.
Pierc.
Death my Lord.
Permit me play for once the Scavinger,
And sweep this Dirt out of your way.
Bull.
Gently my valiant Piercy.
Rage is the proper weapon of these Bruits,
With which 'tis odds, they foil us, Rainston go to'em,
Bespeak 'em fair, and know what caus'd this Tumult.
1.
Oh an envoy! know of him his Quality.
4.
'Tis Sir John Rainston, I have wrought for him.
1.
Down on thy knee; now (because we will observe Decorums
of State) rise up Sir John Drench and Treat with him.
Bull.
Hold Rainston, we will treat with 'em in person,
For in their looks I read a sober judgment,
All carefull to preserve the publick weal,
Chiefly this awful man, to whose grave Censure
We do refer the justice of our Arms.
2.
Goodly! what a gracious person he is.
Bull.
I weep for joy, to see so brave a spirit,
So jealous of your Liberty and Rights.
Trust me my Countrymen, my Friends, my Brothers,
'Tis worthy of the fame the world affords you,
And that curst Limb that stirs against your Priviledges,
Why, let it Rot, tho' it were this right hand.
All.
A Bullingbrook! a Bullingbrook! &c.
Bull.
Mistake not my dear Countrymen our purpose,
You think perhaps cause we are now arriv'd,
With formal Arms, in absence of the King,
That we take this occasion to Usurp,
Alas we harbour no such foul design.
1.
How's that? not usurp? hear ye that Neighbours? he refuses
to Usurp.
Others,
Fall on then, he is not for our turn, down with him.
Sir, we shall give you to understand that we want a Usurper,
and if you refuse to usurp you are a Traytor, and so we put our
selves in Battail array.
Bull.
Yet hear me—what you mean by Usurpation,
I may mistake, and beg to be informd.
If it be only to ascend the Throne,
To see that justice has a liberal course,
In needful Wars to lead you forth to Conquest,
And then dismiss you laden home with Spoils;
If you mean this, I am at your disposal,
And for your profit am content to take
The burden of the State upon my hands.
All,
A Bullingbrook, a Bullingbrook, &c.
1.
One word of caution Friend, be not Chicken-hearted, but pluck
up a Spirit for the work before thee; it was revealed to me that now
there should arise a Son of Thunder, a second Tyler—and I am
resolv'd the vision shall not Lie; therefore I say again pluck up a
Spirit; otherwise I shall discharge my Conscience and usurp my
Self.
Bull.
Friends think me not made of such easie phlegm,
That I can timely pocket wrongs; if so
Why come I thus in Arms to seek my Right?
No sirs, to give you proof that Bullingbrook
Can do bold justice, here stands one Example:
This bold presumer that dares call in question,
The courage of the Man you choose for King,
Shall die for his Offence, Guards hang him up.
1.
Why Neighbours will ye thus give up your Light? who shall
reveal to ye, to save you from the Poyson of the Whore and the
Horns of the Beast.
2.
He had no Vision to foretel this, therefore deserves Hanging
for being a false Prophet.
Bull.
Thus as a Ruler, justice bids me doom,
But for my private part I weep to think
That Blood shou'd be the Prologue to my Reign.
4.
Good Prince he weeps for him! Neighbour Revelation depart
in peace. For thy honour it will be recorded that Bullingbrook
was Crown'd and thou hang'd all on a Day.
1.
What a spirit of delusion has seiz'd ye? why thus will this
rav'nous Storck devour ye all! do, do, deliver me to the Gibbet, and
you in Slavery, seize your Houses over your heads, hang your Sons
and ravish your Daughters.
All,
Say ye so? they must excuse us for that: fall on Neighbors.
A Rescue, a Rescue, &c.
Bull.
Hold Gentlemen, if I have done ye wrong,
The fault is mine and let me suffer for't;
But be not thus injurious to your selves,
To fling your naked Breasts on our Swords points.
Alas it will not be within my Pow'r,
To save ye, when my Troops are once enrag'd.
Therefore give up this vile Incendiary,
Who as you see, to save his miscreant Life,
Seeks to expose all yours—trust me I weep
To think that I must loose a Member—but
Let justice have its course.
All,
Ay, ay, Let justice have it's course, hang, hang him up.
A Bullingbrook, a Bullingbrook, a Bullingbrook, &c,
[Exeunt.
| The history of King Richard The Second | |