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please to make commotion； 'Tis to be fear'd they all will follow him。 Now
'tis the spring； and weeds are shallow…rooted； Suffer them now； and they'll
o'ergrow the garden And choke the herbs for want of husbandry。 The
reverent care I bear unto my lord Made me collect these dangers in the
Duke。 If it be fond； can it a woman's fear； Which fear if better reasons can
supplant； I will subscribe； and say I wrong'd the Duke。 My Lord of Suffolk；
Buckingham； and York； Reprove my allegation if you can； Or else
conclude my words effectual。 SUFFOLK。 Well hath your Highness seen
into this duke； And had I first been put to speak my mind； I think I should
have told your Grace's tale。 The Duchess； by his subornation； Upon my
life； began her devilish practices； Or if he were not privy to those faults；
Yet by reputing of his high descent… As next the King he was successive
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heir… And such high vaunts of his nobility； Did instigate the bedlam
brainsick Duchess By wicked means to frame our sovereign's fall。 Smooth
runs the water where the brook is deep； And in his simple show he
harbours treason。 The fox barks not when he would steal the lamb。 No； no；
my sovereign； Gloucester is a man Unsounded yet； and full of deep deceit。
CARDINAL。 Did he not； contrary to form of law； Devise strange deaths
for small offences done？ YORK。 And did he not； in his protectorship；
Levy great sums of money through the realm For soldiers' pay in France；
and never sent it？ By means whereof the towns each day revolted。
BUCKINGHAM。 Tut； these are petty faults to faults unknown Which time
will bring to light in smooth Duke Humphrey。 KING HENRY。 My lords； at
once： the care you have of us； To mow down thorns that would annoy our
foot； Is worthy praise； but shall I speak my conscience？ Our kinsman
Gloucester is as innocent From meaning treason to our royal person As is
the sucking lamb or harmless dove： The Duke is virtuous； mild； and too
well given To dream on evil or to work my downfall。 QUEEN。 Ah； what's
more dangerous than this fond affiance？ Seems he a dove？ His feathers are
but borrow'd； For he's disposed as the hateful raven。 Is he a lamb？ His skin
is surely lent him； For he's inclin'd as is the ravenous wolf。 Who cannot
steal a shape that means deceit？ Take heed； my lord； the welfare of us all
Hangs on the cutting short that fraudful man。
Enter SOMERSET
SOMERSET。 All health unto my gracious sovereign！ KING HENRY。
Welcome； Lord Somerset。 What news from France？ SOMERSET。 That all
your interest in those territories Is utterly bereft you； all is lost。 KING
HENRY。 Cold news； Lord Somerset； but God's will be done！ YORK。
＇Aside＇ Cold news for me； for I had hope of France As firmly as I hope for
fertile England。 Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bud； And caterpillars
eat my leaves away； But I will remedy this gear ere long； Or sell my title
for a glorious grave。Enter GLOUCESTER
GLOUCESTER。 All happiness unto my lord the King！ Pardon； my
liege； that I have stay'd so long。 SUFFOLK。 Nay； Gloucester； know that
thou art come too soon； Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art。 I do
arrest thee of high treason here。 GLOUCESTER。 Well； Suffolk； thou shalt
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not see me blush Nor change my countenance for this arrest： A heart
unspotted is not easily daunted。 The purest spring is not so free from mud
As I am clear from treason to my sovereign。 Who can accuse me？ Wherein
am I guilty？ YORK。 'Tis thought； my lord； that you took bribes of France
And； being Protector； stay'd the soldiers' pay； By means whereof his
Highness hath lost France。 GLOUCESTER。 Is it but thought so？ What are
they that think it？ I never robb'd the soldiers of their pay Nor ever had one
penny bribe from France。 So help me God； as I have watch'd the night… Ay；
night by night… in studying good for England！ That doit that e'er I wrested
from the King； Or any groat I hoarded to my use； Be brought against me at
my trial…day！ No； many a pound of mine own proper store； Because I
would not tax the needy commons； Have I dispursed to the garrisons； And
never ask'd for restitution。 CARDINAL。 It serves you well； my lord； to say
so much。 GLOUCESTER。 I say no more than truth； so help me God！
YORK。 In your protectorship you did devise Strange tortures for offenders；
never heard of； That England was defam'd by tyranny。 GLOUCESTER。
Why； 'tis well known that whiles I was Protector Pity was all the fault that
was in me； For I should melt at an offender's tears； And lowly words were
ransom for their fault。 Unless it were a bloody murderer； Or foul felonious
thief that fleec'd poor passengers； I never gave them condign punishment。
Murder indeed； that bloody sin； I tortur'd Above the felon or what trespass
else。 SUFFOLK。 My lord； these faults are easy； quickly answer'd； But
mightier crimes are laid unto your charge； Whereof you cannot easily
purge yourself。 I do arrest you in His Highness' name； And here commit
you to my Lord Cardinal To keep until your further time of trial。 KING
HENRY。 My Lord of Gloucester； 'tis my special hope That you will clear
yourself from all suspense。 My conscience tells me you are innocent。
GLOUCESTER。 Ah； gracious lord； these days are dangerous！ Virtue is
chok'd with foul ambition； And charity chas'd hence by rancour's hand；
Foul subornation is predominant； And equity exil'd your Highness' land。 I
know their complot is to have my life； And if my death might make this
island happy And prove the period of their tyranny； I would expend it with
all willingness。 But mine is made the prologue to their play； For thousands
more that yet suspect no peril Will not conclude their plotted tragedy。
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Beaufort's red sparkling eyes blab his heart's malice； And Suffolk's cloudy
brow his stormy hate； Sharp Buckingham unburdens with his tongue The
envious load that lies upon his heart； And dogged York； that reaches at the
moon； Whose overweening arm I have pluck'd back； By false accuse doth
level at my life。 And you； my sovereign lady； with the rest； Causeless have
laid disgraces on my head； And with your best endeavour have stirr'd up
My liefest liege to be mine enemy； Ay； all of you have laid your heads
together… Myself had notice of your conventicles… And all to make away
my guiltless life。 I shall not want false witness to condemn me Nor store
of treasons to augment my guilt。 The ancient proverb will be well effected：
'A staff is quickly found to beat a dog。' CARDINAL。 My liege； his railing
is intolerable。 If those that care to keep your royal person From treason's
secret knife and traitor's rage Be thus upbraided； chid； and rated at； And
the offender granted scope of speech； 'Twill make them cool in zeal unto
your Grace。 SUFFOLK。 Hath he not twit our sovereign lady here With
ignominious words； though clerkly couch'd； As if she had suborned some
to swear False allegations to o'erthrow his state？ QUEEN。 But I can give
the loser leave to chide。 GLOUCESTER。 Far truer spoke than meant： I
lose indeed。 Beshrew the winners； for they play'd me false！ And well such
losers may have leave to speak。 BUCKINGHAM。 He'll wrest the sense；
and hold us here all day。 Lord Cardinal； he is your prisoner。 CARDINAL。
Sirs； take away the Duke； and guard him sure。 GLOUCESTER。 Ah； thus
King Henry throws away his crutch Before his legs be firm to bear his
body！ Thus is the shepherd beaten from thy side； And wolves are gnarling
who shall gnaw thee first。 Ah； that my fear were false！ ah； that it were！ For；
good King Henry； thy decay I fear。 Exit； guarded KING HENRY。 My lords；
what to your wisdoms seemeth best Do or undo； as if ourself were here。
QUEEN。 What； will your Highness leave the Parliament？ KING HENRY。
Ay； Margaret； my heart is drown'd with grief； Whose flood begins to flow
within mine eyes； My body round engirt with misery… For what's more
miserable than discontent？ Ah； uncle Humphrey； in thy f