Henry VI, Pt. 2
Act IV, Scene 4
London. A room in the palace.
From: Shakespeare's Heroines
Robert Anning Bell, 1901
- Enter the King with a supplication and the Queen with
- Suffolk’s head, the Duke of Buckingham and the Lord Say.
Queen Margaret
1 - 6- Oft have I heard that grief softens the mind,
- And makes it fearful and degenerate;
- Think therefore on revenge and cease to weep.
- But who can cease to weep and look on this?
- Here may his head lie on my throbbing breast;
- But where’s the body that I should embrace?
Duke of Buckingham
7- What answer makes your Grace to the rebels’ supplication?
King Henry the Sixth
8 - 13- I’ll send some holy bishop to entreat;
- For God forbid so many simple souls
- Should perish by the sword! And I myself,
- Rather than bloody war shall cut them short,
- Will parley with Jack Cade their general.
- But stay, I’ll read it over once again.
Queen Margaret
14 - 17- Ah, barbarous villains! Hath this lovely face
- Rul’d like a wandering planet over me,
- And could it not enforce them to relent,
- That were unworthy to behold the same?
King Henry the Sixth
18- Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head.
Lord Say
19- Ay, but I hope your Highness shall have his.
King Henry the Sixth
20 - 23- How now, madam?
- Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolk’s death?
- I fear me, love, if that I had been dead,
- Thou wouldst not have mourn’d so much for me.
Queen Margaret
24- No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for thee.
- Enter Second Royal Messenger.
King Henry the Sixth
25- How now? What news? Why com’st thou in such haste?
Second Royal Messenger
26 - 36- The rebels are in Southwark; fly, my lord!
- Jack Cade proclaims himself Lord Mortimer,
- Descended from the Duke of Clarence’ house,
- And calls your Grace usurper, openly,
- And vows to crown himself in Westminster.
- His army is a ragged multitude
- Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless.
- Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother’s death
- Hath given them heart and courage to proceed.
- All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen,
- They call false caterpillars, and intend their death.
King Henry the Sixth
37- O graceless men! They know not what they do.
Duke of Buckingham
38 - 39- My gracious lord, retire to Killingworth,
- Until a power be rais’d to put them down.
Queen Margaret
40 - 41- Ah, were the Duke of Suffolk now alive,
- These Kentish rebels would be soon appeas’d!
King Henry the Sixth
42 - 43- Lord Say, the traitors hateth thee,
- Therefore away with us to Killingworth.
Lord Say
44 - 47- So might your Grace’s person be in danger.
- The sight of me is odious in their eyes;
- And therefore in this city will I stay
- And live alone as secret as I may.
- Enter Third Royal Messenger.
Third Royal Messenger
48 - 52- Jack Cade hath gotten London Bridge:
- The citizens fly and forsake their houses;
- The rascal people, thirsting after prey,
- Join with the traitor, and they jointly swear
- To spoil the city and your royal court.
Duke of Buckingham
53- Then linger not, my lord, away, take horse.
King Henry the Sixth
54- Come, Margaret, God, our hope, will succor us.
Queen Margaret
55- My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceas’d.
King Henry the Sixth
56- Farewell, my lord, trust not the Kentish rebels.
Duke of Buckingham
57- Trust nobody, for fear you be betray’d.
Lord Say
58 - 59- The trust I have is in mine innocence,
- And therefore am I bold and resolute.
- Exeunt.