University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE I.

Beaufort. Buckingham.
Beaufort.
You may rely upon my Information.—
I paid a liberal Price, to learn the Secret.

Buck.
Then, my Lord Cardinal, we stand in Need
Of all your Forecast.—It asks, both Force and Skill,
To ward the heavy Stroke of an Attainder.

Beauf.

Buck.
You shall approve Me, stedfast.

Beauf.
Our Time is short:—The Night draws on, apace.—
The Queen, and Suffolk, must be found.—In Him,
Our Safety lies.—'Tis well, our Foes attempt
His Life, with Mine.—

Buck.
Behold them Both.

Beauf.
Mark, then,
How we shall Work upon Her tender Fears.

SCENE. II.

Beaufort. Buckingham. Queen. Suffolk.
Queen.
At last, my Lord of Winchester, the King
Will not have Gloucester, longer, bear the Title,
Nor derogating Office, of Protectour:
And, if a Woman be allow'd to judge,
The Speech is well-adapted to our Purpose.

Beauf.
But, Madam; That is not Sufficient, Now.

Suff.
Yet, is it not a Matter to be slighted.

Beauf.
I slight it not.—But, Suffolk, we must take,
Yet bolder Measures; and, with Speed: Or, all
Our past Endeavours—

Queen.
What new Obstacles?

Beauf.
Our Enemies are alarm'd for the Protectour.—
This Night, do Gloucester, Salisbury, Warwick, York,
(With many more of their Cabal) assemble,
At Warwick's, to contrive—

Queen.
What can they, There,
Contrive?—The King is Ours.

Buckin.
What Favourites dread:—
The never-failing Means to curb their Power.

Suff.
What Mischief?

Beauf.
An Attainder.

Queen.
Against Whom?—
What Favourites dread!—Speak, Buckingham; Speak, Beaufort:
Who are to fall the Victims to their Rage?

Beauf.
My Self;—and Suffolk.

Queen.
Suffolk!—did'st thou say?

Beauf.
It may be,—Buckingham will not escape.

Queen.
But, answer as to Suffolk!

Beauf.
Chiefly Him!

Queen.
Pernicious Prelate!—Medling, hoary Traitour!
Attempting all Things; and, performing Nothing!
Is This the Fruit of thy malicious Counsels?—
Were we not prompted on, by Thee?—Did'st Thou
Not forge the Crime? Did'st Thou not, basely, hire
False, perjur'd Witnesses?—The King shall know it:
Gloucester shall be Protectour, still: The Dutchess
Shall have ample Recompence,—from Thee;
And double all her Sufferings, on Thy Head!—

Suff.
Let me intreat your Majesty—

Queen.
No, Suffolk!—
I see my Errour;—Thy Ruin, and my Own!—
I know the formidable Power, against us:
I know, My Marriage, and the giving up
Of Maine and Anjou, will be urg'd, to Morrow,
To Thy Destruction.—We must join with Gloucester;
Ask his Forgiveness:—And, renounce this Cardinal;
This wily,—this most inauspicious, Priest.—
But; 'Tis the Curse of busy, ambitious Churchmen,
Ever to plot; and, Never, to succeed!

Beauf.
Now, give an injur'd Prelate leave to Speak;
But, not in Words of Bitterness.—Your Majesty,
And Suffolk, may renounce me:—Yet, is Beaufort
Not destitute of Friends.—The Mitred Powers,
Bishops and Abbots, and the Holy See,
Protect My Innocency.—Let Others seek
For Shelter, where they may!—

Suff.
Lord Cardinal,
Too hastily you take Offence.—Blame not
The Queen's Surprize.

Beauf.
I shall not intermeddle:—
Nor, will I, vainly, sue for Humfrey's Favour.
The Queen (who knows him, better than his Uncle)
May find Acceptance, for her try'd Affection
To Eleanor:—

Queen.
Most insolent Seducer!—

Beauf.
And Suffolk's Services are so notorious,
He cannot fear Injustice from the Parliament.

Suff.
My Lord of Winchester; you know, the People,
Incens'd by our Proceedings,—

Queen.

Suff.
That, were to ruin Him; your Self; and, Me.

Buck.
Alas, your Majesty is, yet, a Stranger
To the free, stubborn, Spirits of the English!—
Tenacious of their ancient Rights and Customs,
They will not be controll'd, but by their Laws:
Nor, is the King, without his Parliament, secure.

Queen.
What can be done!—

Suff.
Your Eminency sees,
The Queen would be advis'd.

Beauf.

Queen.

Beauf.
There is but one Expedient, now to extricate
The King from Tutelage, and save your Friends:
And You, alone, are equal to the Task.

Queen.
Then, count it done, my Lords!—And, count my Will,
In all Attempts, superiour to my Power.

Beauf.
Thus, then:—The King must be prevail'd upon
To grant an Order for the immediate Seisure
Of Gloucester;—And his Servants.—

Suff.
The Protectour!—

Beauf.
Is Suffolk startled, then?—

Queen.
Beaufort, proceed.

Beauf.
I stand reprov'd.

Queen.
An Order, you were saying,
To Seise the Lord Protectour, and his Servants:—
I like it well.

Beauf.
Only upon Suspicion
(I mean) of Treason, to confine my Nephew
To his Apartment;—For a Day, at most.

Queen.
His Exclusion from the King will Countenance
This Order:—

Beauf.
And, his Party, seeing that Stroke
Pursued, will be Confounded with Surmises.
Beside;—It does prevent their Meeting Him,
At Warwick's:—And, we gain a Day, to vote
His Office, void.—That Difficulty, conquer'd;
The Parliament may be dissolv'd, at Pleasure.

Queen.
Suffolk, and Buckingham;—How say you, Now;

Suff.
The Advice is bold: And, it may prove successfull.

Buckin.
It tallies, well, with what is done already.

Queen.
I answer for the King:—

Beauf.
And I, for Gloucester;
That We shall never dread his Anger, more.

Queen.
My Lord of Winchester; You must with Me.—
The King shall thank you.

Beauf.
I decline, in Years.
When I am dead; your Majesties will lose
An humble, faithful, unambitious, Servant.

SCENE III.

Buckingham. Suffolk.
Suff.
Who is there, Beaufort, does not know Thee, better!

Buckin.
His Actions and his whole Deportment glare,
Conspicuous, through the slender Veil of Words.

Suff.

Buckin.
Herein, I dare believe
His Heart Sincere.

Suff.

Buckin.
He has dispers'd large Summs, to purchase Voices.

Suff.
Urge him to More.—His Treasures are immense!—
Nor, must We spare, on this Occasion.

Buckin.
See!—
The Lord Protectour.

Suff.
We may learn his Business.

SCENE IV.

Buckingham. Suffolk. Gloucester.
Gloucest.
Since the King's Pleasure is (if so it be)
That I remain excluded from his Councils;
I hope, I may, through Suffolk's Intercession,
Speak to the Queen.

Suff.
The Queen!—My Lord Protectour?

Gloucest.
Why not, the Queen?
I have no favour'd Whispers to impart,
You and the Duke your Friend, may hear my Business:
So, might the King.—Nay more; I give my Word,
You will be pleas'd with what I have to say.

Suff.
We ask not What.—Lord Buckingham, do You
Let the Queen know the Pleasure of his Highness.

Gloucest.
No!—Not my Pleasure:—But, my poor Request.

SCENE V.

Suffolk. Gloucester.
Suff.
Your Pardon, Sir:—I did not mean Offence.

Gloucest.
Vain-glorious Suffolk; Yes!—Throughout the long
Continuance of my high Power, I never us'd
Such Arrogance of Speech to my Inferiours:
And, Equals (Since my Brother Bedford's Death)
Amongst my Fellow-Subjects, have I None!
Nor, can I have; untill a Prince of Wales
Be born.—Nay; frown not, Duke of Suffolk!—
Duke, By your Treachery to the King, and to His Realm.

Suff.

Gloucest.
I do remember, well,
Thy boastful Speeches;—How, thou did'st beguile
The Lords and Commons of their publick Thanks.—
But, Parliaments have, often, been surpris'd;
And, often, have retriev'd their past Mistakes.

Suffolk.
Your arbitrary Sway demands their Notice.

SCENE VI.

Suffolk. Gloucester. Beaufort.
Gloucest.
Insult me not, proud Mignion!—Thou art not
Privileged in abusive Words, like Beaufort.

Beauf.
Why, my Lord Suffolk, should you hold Discourse
With over-boiling Choler?—'Tis his Temper:
It, ever, was.—He thinks it, Manliness;
A most Exalted Vertue!—

Gloucest.
'Tis a Temper,
An Openness of Heart, in which I glory;
The Failing (if you please) of honest Minds:
A Quality, unsafe for Men, like Thee!

Beauf.
A Quality, indeed, I envy not;
Content with Talents of an humbler Kind.

Suff.
The Queen.—
We leave your Highness.

Gloucest.
I beseech you, stay.
I will not, long, detain you: And, my Business
Regards the Publick; not, my own Concerns.

SCENE VII.

Suffolk. Gloucester. Beaufort. Queen.
Queen.
What would the Lord Protectour, then, with Us?

Gloucest.
That Title, Madam, is become a Crime;
The only Crime, that Gloucester knows: Unless,
Your Majesty is pleas'd to inform me; Why,
A Prince, and Peer, of England is deny'd
Admittance to the King.

Queen.
We come not, hither,
To answer Questions.—I was told, you had
Some Business to impart.—If so; be brief.

Gloucest.
Madam, I know, Affairs of State demand you.
Brief, then: I would resign my needless Office;
Whether to you, or to the King.

Queen.
I undertake,
My royal Consort will not be displeas'd.

Gloucest.
He has no Will, but Yours.—Before, you came
To grace the Court, my Counsels bore some Weight;
But, Your Superiour Wisdom makes them useless:
And, I have held my Office, much too long.
Therein I merit Blame.

Queen.
Yes; Scornful Man!
Too long thou hast held it; and, too proudly, govern'd:
As if, while Gloucester lives, the Majesty
Of England must submit to Tutelage;
And, be the Scorn of all the Neighbouring Princes:
A By-Word, in the Mouth of every Subject!

Beauf.
I must commend my Nephew's Resolution:
Nor, can it be unwelcome to the King;
Whose regal Dignity your Majesty consults.

Gloucest.
Peace, Beaufort, Peace!—Nor, Madam, think that You
(Though crown'd, with Pomp, as Queen of this fair Realm)
Have any Right, to censure my Endeavours
To serve, alike, my Countrey, and my King;
Whose Interests are the same:—Not sacred Wedlock
Is a closer Tie.—As for My Actions;
To our Sovereign Lord, the Nobles, and the Commons,
(Our legal Powers) am I accountable:—
And, so is Beaufort; and your Favourite, Suffolk;
And You, my royal Dame!

Queen.
Presumptuous Man!—

Suff.
Why should your Majesty, thus, condescend—

Queen.
The vain Applauses of the wretched Commons
Have swoln thy Heart with Pride!—

Beauf.

Suff.
No Mention of the King, in all their Transport:—
Duke Humfrey reigns!

Queen.
I blush, my Lords,
To recollect, how gentle Henry's Goodness
Has been abus'd.—

Gloucest.
And, Madam, Gloucester blushes:
But, not for any Guilt of His.

Queen.
Most insolent!—
To Whom doest Thou intend the Provocation?
Speak out thy Insinuations:—We defy thee!—
But, Gloucester, if thou darest to loose thy Tongue
Against my Fame, unsully'd, as the Light;
Here, by my royal Father's Life, I swear
Perdition on thy Head!—More fatal Vengeance,
Than, ever, injur'd Woman did accomplish.

Gloucest.
Wherein, do I accuse your Majesty?
I answer, only, as to my Sovereign's Goodness;
Never, abus'd by Me.—These busy Flies,
That ever seek the Sunshine of the Court,
Will ruin Him, and You.—I am content
To quit my Apartment in the Palace.—And,
(Whatever They, through Envy, may suggest)
Gloucester was never sordidly ambitious
Of popular Applause.—If, to do Justice,
If, to protect the Commons from Oppression,
Be judg'd a Crime; I am, indeed, most criminal.
And, yet; unless the Commons do enjoy
Their Rights; and, be indulg'd their Freedom:
In my poor Thought, the King, with all his Nobles,
Is destitute; unable to repell
A forreign Foe; or rule in Peace, at Home.

SCENE VIII.

Suffolk. Gloucester. Beaufort. Queen. Buckingham.
Queen.
Say, Buckingham,—

Buckin.
All is prepar'd.

Queen.
'Tis well.—
Gloucester, thy idle Speeches pass my Ear,
As does the wafting Wind.

Beauf.
Madam, you see,
My Nephew can declaim.

Queen.

Gloucest.
Were You unfortunate, She would not triumph.

Queen.
I see through thy Submission; mistaken Man!—
Thou doest resign an Office, thou hast not Power,
Longer, to hold:—Nay, darest not hold it, longer.

Gloucest.
Not dare to hold our Office?—Yes; We dare!—
Nor, will we give it up to Reiner's Daughter,
Whose whole Inheritance is empty Titles;
Whom Eleanor surmounts, in every Vertue!—
See my Submission?—No; Mistaken Woman!—
Not dare; proud Margaret?—Every Thing We dare,
That our Allegiance warrants!—We, even, dare
To disabuse the King;—which Suffolk dares not do:
Suffolk, who brought the Curse—

Queen.
Arrest the Traitour!

Gloucest.
Arrest the Lord Protectour;—

Queen.
Him;—this Instant!—

Gloucest.
Who holds his Power, by Parliament?—

Queen.
Yes: Seize him!—
That Duke of Gloucester, there!—

Gloucest.
Who offers
Such Violence (though, in the Presence-Chamber)
Tempts my Sword.

Queen.
Suffolk, forbear!—We come not, here, to combat.—
Lord Buckingham; produce your Orders.

Buckin.
Your Highness may peruse them.

Queen.
My Lord of Winchester, do You remain;
And, bring us an Account of his Behaviour.

SCENE IX.

Gloucester. Beaufort. Buckingham.
Gloucest.
I see, His Majesty, hereby, commands,
That I should, on Suspicion of high Treason,
Remain confin'd to my Apartment; 'till
His Pleasure be, farther, known.—I obey.—
Seem not surpris'd, good Uncle: Though, You know,
This Order is illegal.—But, We Obey.

Beauf.
The King, best, knows the Limits of his Power.
With Him, you may dispute—

Gloucest.
Not, with the King;
But, with his new Advisers.

Buckin.
Your Highness may observe,
My Orders do admit of no Delay.

Gloucest.

Beauf.
A sweet, and sound Repose, to Gloucester.

SCENE X.

Beaufort.
Humfrey, farewell:—And, when I do behold
Thy Face, again; then, may thy Looks have Power
To blast my Thought with Madness!—To Morrow,
Wilt thou talk in Parliament?—Thy to Morrow
I cast into Eternity!—But; How?—
The Manner of the Deed lies, yet, confus'd.—
This way;—Or,—That:—Ay;—So!—

SCENE XI.

Beaufort. Warwick.
Warw.
What should detain the Lord Protectour!—

Beauf.
No:—
That will not do.—

Warw.
He may mistake the Hour.—

Beauf.
Ha!—What Voice?—The Earl of Warwick.—

Warw.
Lord Cardinal!—
'Tis somewhat Strange, to find You, out of Council,
At such a busy Time.

Beauf.
Perhaps, You come
To seek the Duke of Gloucester; now, unhappily,
Under Confinement.

Warw.
Under Confinement!—
How? Where? Why?—Unhappily!—
Contrivance, all!—It must;—A Plot of Thine:
Who, else, durst to—

Beauf.
Pass on to his Apartment;
And, He may be at Leisure to inform you.

Warw.
A Prisoner?—The Protectour of the Realm!—
By what Authority?—Say, Bishop;—Cardinal!—

Beauf.
Young, hasty Warwick, question not thy Betters;
Who owe thee no Reply.

Warw.
But, we shall find
A Time, and Place, to question Thee,—to Purpose.
For, if the King, herein, has been advis'd
To stretch his Power, beyond the Law; Thy Malice,
Thy daring Malice, only, has betray'd him.

Beauf.
Rash Boy, thy Menaces rise short of Me;
Who move within a Sphere, exalted high,
Above thy Lay-Condition!—We love our Nephew:
And, to our best Abilities, We serve the King.
Adieu:—And, learn more Reverence to Our Order.

SCENE XII.

Warwick.