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Modern Text |
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Enter the ARCHBISHOP of York, MOWBRAY , HASTINGS , and others
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Enter the ARCHBISHOP of York, MOWBRAY , HASTINGS , and others
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ARCHBISHOP What is this forest called?
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ARCHBISHOP What is this forest called?
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HASTINGS 'Tis Gaultree Forest, an ’t shall please your Grace.
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HASTINGS 'Tis Gaultree Forest, an ’t shall please your Grace.
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ARCHBISHOP Here stand, my lords, and send discoverers forth
To know the numbers of our enemies.
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ARCHBISHOP Here stand, my lords, and send discoverers forth
To know the numbers of our enemies.
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HASTINGS 5 We have sent forth already.
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HASTINGS We have sent forth already.
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ARCHBISHOP 'Tis well done.
My friends and brethren in these great affairs,
I must acquaint you that I have received
New-dated letters from Northumberland,
Their cold intent, tenor, and substance, thus:
10 Here doth he wish his person, with such powers
As might hold sortance with his quality,
The which he could not levy; whereupon
He is retired, to ripe his growing fortunes,
To Scotland, and concludes in hearty prayers
15 That your attempts may overlive the hazard
And fearful melting of their opposite.
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ARCHBISHOP 'Tis well done.
My friends and brethren in these great affairs,
I must acquaint you that I have received
New-dated letters from Northumberland,
Their cold intent, tenor, and substance, thus:
Here doth he wish his person, with such powers
As might hold sortance with his quality,
The which he could not levy; whereupon
He is retired, to ripe his growing fortunes,
To Scotland, and concludes in hearty prayers
That your attempts may overlive the hazard
And fearful melting of their opposite.
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MOWBRAY Thus do the hopes we have in him touch ground
And dash themselves to pieces.
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MOWBRAY Thus do the hopes we have in him touch ground
And dash themselves to pieces.
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Enter a MESSENGER
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Enter a MESSENGER
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HASTINGS Now, what news?
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HASTINGS Now, what news?
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MESSENGER West of this forest, scarcely off a mile,
20 In goodly form comes on the enemy,
And, by the ground they hide, I judge their number
Upon or near the rate of thirty thousand.
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MESSENGER West of this forest, scarcely off a mile,
In goodly form comes on the enemy,
And, by the ground they hide, I judge their number
Upon or near the rate of thirty thousand.
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MOWBRAY The just proportion that we gave them out.
Let us sway on and face them in the field.
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MOWBRAY The just proportion that we gave them out.
Let us sway on and face them in the field.
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Enter WESTMORELAND
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Enter WESTMORELAND
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ARCHBISHOP 25 What well-appointed leader fronts us here?
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ARCHBISHOP What well-appointed leader fronts us here?
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MOWBRAY I think it is my Lord of Westmoreland.
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MOWBRAY I think it is my Lord of Westmoreland.
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WESTMORELAND Health and fair greeting from our general,
The Prince Lord John and Duke of Lancaster.
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WESTMORELAND Health and fair greeting from our general,
The Prince Lord John and Duke of Lancaster.
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ARCHBISHOP Say on, my Lord of Westmoreland, in peace,
30 What doth concern your coming.
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ARCHBISHOP Say on, my Lord of Westmoreland, in peace,
What doth concern your coming.
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WESTMORELAND Then, my lord,
Unto your Grace do I in chief address
The substance of my speech. If that rebellion
Came like itself, in base and abject routs,
Led on by bloody youth, guarded with rage,
35 And countenanced by boys and beggary—
I say, if damn’d commotion so appeared
In his true, native, and most proper shape,
You, reverend father, and these noble lords
Had not been here to dress the ugly form
40 Of base and bloody insurrection
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WESTMORELAND Then, my lord,
Unto your Grace do I in chief address
The substance of my speech. If that rebellion
Came like itself, in base and abject routs,
Led on by bloody youth, guarded with rage,
And countenanced by boys and beggary—
I say, if damn’d commotion so appeared
In his true, native, and most proper shape,
You, reverend father, and these noble lords
Had not been here to dress the ugly form
Of base and bloody insurrection
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With your fair honors. You, Lord Archbishop,
Whose see is by a civil peace maintained,
Whose beard the silver hand of peace hath touched,
Whose learning and good letters peace hath tutored,
45 Whose white investments figure innocence,
The dove and very blessèd spirit of peace,
Wherefore do you so ill translate yourself
Out of the speech of peace, that bears such grace,
Into the harsh and boist'rous tongue of war,
50 Turning your books to graves, your ink to blood,
Your pens to lances, and your tongue divine
To a trumpet and a point of war?
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With your fair honors. You, Lord Archbishop,
Whose see is by a civil peace maintained,
Whose beard the silver hand of peace hath touched,
Whose learning and good letters peace hath tutored,
Whose white investments figure innocence,
The dove and very blessèd spirit of peace,
Wherefore do you so ill translate yourself
Out of the speech of peace, that bears such grace,
Into the harsh and boist'rous tongue of war,
Turning your books to graves, your ink to blood,
Your pens to lances, and your tongue divine
To a trumpet and a point of war?
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ARCHBISHOP Wherefore do I this? So the question stands.
Briefly, to this end: we are all diseased,
55 And with our surfeiting and wanton hours
Have brought ourselves into a burning fever,
And we must bleed for it; of which disease
Our late King Richard, being infected, died.
But, my most noble Lord of Westmoreland,
60 I take not on me here as a physician,
Nor do I as an enemy to peace
Troop in the throngs of military men,
But rather show awhile like fearful war
To diet rank minds sick of happiness
65 And purge th' obstructions which begin to stop
Our very veins of life. Hear me more plainly.
I have in equal balance justly weighed
What wrongs our arms may do, what wrongs we suffer,
And find our griefs heavier than our offenses.
70 We see which way the stream of time doth run
And are enforced from our most quiet there
By the rough torrent of occasion,
And have the summary of all our griefs,
When time shall serve, to show in articles;
75 Which long ere this we offered to the King
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ARCHBISHOP Wherefore do I this? So the question stands.
Briefly, to this end: we are all diseased,
And with our surfeiting and wanton hours
Have brought ourselves into a burning fever,
And we must bleed for it; of which disease
Our late King Richard, being infected, died.
But, my most noble Lord of Westmoreland,
I take not on me here as a physician,
Nor do I as an enemy to peace
Troop in the throngs of military men,
But rather show awhile like fearful war
To diet rank minds sick of happiness
And purge th' obstructions which begin to stop
Our very veins of life. Hear me more plainly.
I have in equal balance justly weighed
What wrongs our arms may do, what wrongs we suffer,
And find our griefs heavier than our offenses.
We see which way the stream of time doth run
And are enforced from our most quiet there
By the rough torrent of occasion,
And have the summary of all our griefs,
When time shall serve, to show in articles;
Which long ere this we offered to the King
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And might by no suit gain our audience.
When we are wronged and would unfold our griefs,
We are denied access unto his person
Even by those men that most have done us wrong.
80 The dangers of the days but newly gone,
Whose memory is written on the earth
With yet appearing blood, and the examples
Of every minute’s instance, present now,
Hath put us in these ill-beseeming arms,
85 Not to break peace or any branch of it,
But to establish here a peace indeed,
Concurring both in name and quality.
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And might by no suit gain our audience.
When we are wronged and would unfold our griefs,
We are denied access unto his person
Even by those men that most have done us wrong.
The dangers of the days but newly gone,
Whose memory is written on the earth
With yet appearing blood, and the examples
Of every minute’s instance, present now,
Hath put us in these ill-beseeming arms,
Not to break peace or any branch of it,
But to establish here a peace indeed,
Concurring both in name and quality.
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WESTMORELAND When ever yet was your appeal denied?
Wherein have you been gallèd by the King?
90 What peer hath been suborned to grate on you,
That you should seal this lawless bloody book
Of forged rebellion with a seal divine
And consecrate commotion’s bitter edge?
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WESTMORELAND When ever yet was your appeal denied?
Wherein have you been gallèd by the King?
What peer hath been suborned to grate on you,
That you should seal this lawless bloody book
Of forged rebellion with a seal divine
And consecrate commotion’s bitter edge?
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ARCHBISHOP My brother general, the commonwealth,
95 To brother born an household cruelty,
I make my quarrel in particular.
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ARCHBISHOP My brother general, the commonwealth,
To brother born an household cruelty,
I make my quarrel in particular.
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WESTMORELAND There is no need of any such redress,
Or if there were, it not belongs to you.
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WESTMORELAND There is no need of any such redress,
Or if there were, it not belongs to you.
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MOWBRAY Why not to him in part, and to us all
100 That feel the bruises of the days before
And suffer the condition of these times
To lay a heavy and unequal hand
Upon our honors?
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MOWBRAY Why not to him in part, and to us all
That feel the bruises of the days before
And suffer the condition of these times
To lay a heavy and unequal hand
Upon our honors?
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WESTMORELAND O, my good Lord Mowbray,
Construe the times to their necessities,
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WESTMORELAND O, my good Lord Mowbray,
Construe the times to their necessities,
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105 And you shall say indeed it is the time,
And not the King, that doth you injuries.
Yet for your part, it not appears to me
Either from the King or in the present time
That you should have an inch of any ground
110 To build a grief on. Were you not restored
To all the Duke of Norfolk’s seigniories,
Your noble and right well remembered father’s?
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And you shall say indeed it is the time,
And not the King, that doth you injuries.
Yet for your part, it not appears to me
Either from the King or in the present time
That you should have an inch of any ground
To build a grief on. Were you not restored
To all the Duke of Norfolk’s seigniories,
Your noble and right well remembered father’s?
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MOWBRAY What thing, in honor, had my father lost,
That need to be revived and breathed in me?
115 The King that loved him, as the state stood then,
Was force perforce compelled to banish him,
And then that Harry Bolingbroke and he,
Being mounted and both rousèd in their seats,
Their neighing coursers daring of the spur,
120 Their armèd staves in charge, their beavers down,
Their eyes of fire sparking through sights of steel
And the loud trumpet blowing them together,
Then, then, when there was nothing could have stayed
My father from the breast of Bolingbroke,
125 O, when the King did throw his warder down—
His own life hung upon the staff he threw—
Then threw he down himself and all their lives
That by indictment and by dint of sword
Have since miscarried under Bolingbroke.
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MOWBRAY What thing, in honor, had my father lost,
That need to be revived and breathed in me?
The King that loved him, as the state stood then,
Was force perforce compelled to banish him,
And then that Harry Bolingbroke and he,
Being mounted and both rousèd in their seats,
Their neighing coursers daring of the spur,
Their armèd staves in charge, their beavers down,
Their eyes of fire sparking through sights of steel
And the loud trumpet blowing them together,
Then, then, when there was nothing could have stayed
My father from the breast of Bolingbroke,
O, when the King did throw his warder down—
His own life hung upon the staff he threw—
Then threw he down himself and all their lives
That by indictment and by dint of sword
Have since miscarried under Bolingbroke.
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WESTMORELAND 130 You speak, Lord Mowbray, now you know not what.
The Earl of Hereford was reputed then
In England the most valiant gentleman.
Who knows on whom fortune would then have smiled?
But if your father had been victor there,
135 He ne'er had borne it out of Coventry;
For all the country in a general voice
Cried hate upon him; and all their prayers and love
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WESTMORELAND You speak, Lord Mowbray, now you know not what.
The Earl of Hereford was reputed then
In England the most valiant gentleman.
Who knows on whom fortune would then have smiled?
But if your father had been victor there,
He ne'er had borne it out of Coventry;
For all the country in a general voice
Cried hate upon him; and all their prayers and love
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Were set on Hereford, whom they doted on
And blessed and graced, indeed more than the King.
140 But this is mere digression from my purpose.
Here come I from our princely general
To know your griefs, to tell you from his Grace
That he will give you audience; and wherein
It shall appear that your demands are just,
145 You shall enjoy them, everything set off
That might so much as think you enemies.
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Were set on Hereford, whom they doted on
And blessed and graced, indeed more than the King.
But this is mere digression from my purpose.
Here come I from our princely general
To know your griefs, to tell you from his Grace
That he will give you audience; and wherein
It shall appear that your demands are just,
You shall enjoy them, everything set off
That might so much as think you enemies.
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MOWBRAY But he hath forced us to compel this offer;
And it proceeds from policy, not love.
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MOWBRAY But he hath forced us to compel this offer;
And it proceeds from policy, not love.
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WESTMORELAND Mowbray, you overween to take it so.
150 This offer comes from mercy, not from fear.
For, lo, within a ken our army lies,
Upon mine honor, all too confident
To give admittance to a thought of fear.
Our battle is more full of names than yours,
155 Our men more perfect in the use of arms,
Our armor all as strong, our cause the best.
Then reason will our hearts should be as good.
Say you not then our offer is compelled.
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WESTMORELAND Mowbray, you overween to take it so.
This offer comes from mercy, not from fear.
For, lo, within a ken our army lies,
Upon mine honor, all too confident
To give admittance to a thought of fear.
Our battle is more full of names than yours,
Our men more perfect in the use of arms,
Our armor all as strong, our cause the best.
Then reason will our hearts should be as good.
Say you not then our offer is compelled.
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MOWBRAY Well, by my will, we shall admit no parley.
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MOWBRAY Well, by my will, we shall admit no parley.
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WESTMORELAND 160 That argues but the shame of your offense.
A rotten case abides no handling.
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WESTMORELAND That argues but the shame of your offense.
A rotten case abides no handling.
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HASTINGS Hath the Prince John a full commission,
In very ample virtue of his father,
To hear and absolutely to determine
165 Of what conditions we shall stand upon?
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HASTINGS Hath the Prince John a full commission,
In very ample virtue of his father,
To hear and absolutely to determine
Of what conditions we shall stand upon?
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WESTMORELAND That is intended in the General’s name.
I muse you make so slight a question.
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WESTMORELAND That is intended in the General’s name.
I muse you make so slight a question.
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ARCHBISHOP Then take, my Lord of Westmoreland, this schedule,
For this contains our general grievances.
170 Each several article herein redressed,
All members of our cause, both here and hence,
That are insinewed to this action,
Acquitted by a true substantial form
And present execution of our wills
175 To us and to our purposes confined,
We come within our awful banks again
And knit our powers to the arm of peace.
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ARCHBISHOP Then take, my Lord of Westmoreland, this schedule,
For this contains our general grievances.
Each several article herein redressed,
All members of our cause, both here and hence,
That are insinewed to this action,
Acquitted by a true substantial form
And present execution of our wills
To us and to our purposes confined,
We come within our awful banks again
And knit our powers to the arm of peace.
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WESTMORELAND This will I show the General. Please you, lords,
In sight of both our battles we may meet,
180 And either end in peace, which God so frame,
Or to the place of difference call the swords
Which must decide it.
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WESTMORELAND This will I show the General. Please you, lords,
In sight of both our battles we may meet,
And either end in peace, which God so frame,
Or to the place of difference call the swords
Which must decide it.
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ARCHBISHOP My lord, we will do so.
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ARCHBISHOP My lord, we will do so.
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Exit WESTMORELAND
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Exit WESTMORELAND
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MOWBRAY There is a thing within my bosom tells me
That no conditions of our peace can stand.
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MOWBRAY There is a thing within my bosom tells me
That no conditions of our peace can stand.
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HASTINGS 185 Fear you not that. If we can make our peace
Upon such large terms and so absolute
As our conditions shall consist upon,
Our peace shall stand as firm as rocky mountains.
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HASTINGS Fear you not that. If we can make our peace
Upon such large terms and so absolute
As our conditions shall consist upon,
Our peace shall stand as firm as rocky mountains.
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MOWBRAY Yea, but our valuation shall be such
190 That every slight and false-derivèd cause,
Yea, every idle, nice, and wanton reason,
Shall to the King taste of this action,
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MOWBRAY Yea, but our valuation shall be such
That every slight and false-derivèd cause,
Yea, every idle, nice, and wanton reason,
Shall to the King taste of this action,
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That, were our royal faiths martyrs in love,
We shall be winnowed with so rough a wind
195 That even our corn shall seem as light as chaff
And good from bad find no partition.
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That, were our royal faiths martyrs in love,
We shall be winnowed with so rough a wind
That even our corn shall seem as light as chaff
And good from bad find no partition.
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ARCHBISHOP No, no, my lord. Note this: the King is weary
Of dainty and such picking grievances,
For he hath found to end one doubt by death
200 Revives two greater in the heirs of life;
And therefore will he wipe his tables clean
And keep no telltale to his memory
That may repeat and history his loss
To new remembrance. For full well he knows
205 He cannot so precisely weed this land
As his misdoubts present occasion;
His foes are so enrooted with his friends
That, plucking to unfix an enemy,
He doth unfasten so and shake a friend;
210 So that this land, like an offensive wife
That hath enraged him on to offer strokes,
As he is striking holds his infant up
And hangs resolved correction in the arm
That was upreared to execution.
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ARCHBISHOP No, no, my lord. Note this: the King is weary
Of dainty and such picking grievances,
For he hath found to end one doubt by death
Revives two greater in the heirs of life;
And therefore will he wipe his tables clean
And keep no telltale to his memory
That may repeat and history his loss
To new remembrance. For full well he knows
He cannot so precisely weed this land
As his misdoubts present occasion;
His foes are so enrooted with his friends
That, plucking to unfix an enemy,
He doth unfasten so and shake a friend;
So that this land, like an offensive wife
That hath enraged him on to offer strokes,
As he is striking holds his infant up
And hangs resolved correction in the arm
That was upreared to execution.
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HASTINGS 215 Besides, the King hath wasted all his rods
On late offenders, that he now doth lack
The very instruments of chastisement,
So that his power, like to a fangless lion,
May offer but not hold.
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HASTINGS Besides, the King hath wasted all his rods
On late offenders, that he now doth lack
The very instruments of chastisement,
So that his power, like to a fangless lion,
May offer but not hold.
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ARCHBISHOP 'Tis very true,
220 And therefore be assured, my good Lord Marshal,
If we do now make our atonement well,
Our peace will, like a broken limb united,
Grow stronger for the breaking.
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ARCHBISHOP 'Tis very true,
And therefore be assured, my good Lord Marshal,
If we do now make our atonement well,
Our peace will, like a broken limb united,
Grow stronger for the breaking.
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MOWBRAY Be it so.
Here is returned my Lord of Westmoreland.
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MOWBRAY Be it so.
Here is returned my Lord of Westmoreland.
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Enter WESTMORELAND
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Enter WESTMORELAND
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WESTMORELAND 225 The Prince is here at hand. Pleaseth your lordship
To meet his Grace just distance ’tween our armies.
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WESTMORELAND The Prince is here at hand. Pleaseth your lordship
To meet his Grace just distance ’tween our armies.
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MOWBRAY Your Grace of York, in God’s name then set forward.
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MOWBRAY Your Grace of York, in God’s name then set forward.
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ARCHBISHOP Before, and greet his Grace.—(to WESTMORELAND) My lord,
we come.
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ARCHBISHOP Before, and greet his Grace.—(to WESTMORELAND) My lord,
we come.
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The ARCHBISHOP , MOWBRAY , YORK , HASTINGS and the others go forward
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The ARCHBISHOP , MOWBRAY , YORK , HASTINGS and the others go forward
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Enter Prince John of LANCASTER and officers with him
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Enter Prince John of LANCASTER and officers with him
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LANCASTER You are well encountered here, my cousin Mowbray.—
230 Good day to you, gentle Lord Archbishop,—
And so to you, Lord Hastings, and to all.—
My Lord of York, it better showed with you
When that your flock, assembled by the bell,
Encircled you to hear with reverence
235 Your exposition on the holy text
Than now to see you here, an iron man talking,
Cheering a rout of rebels with your drum,
Turning the word to sword, and life to death.
That man that sits within a monarch’s heart
240 And ripens in the sunshine of his favor,
Would he abuse the countenance of the King,
Alack, what mischiefs might he set abroach
In shadow of such greatness! With you, Lord Bishop,
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LANCASTER You are well encountered here, my cousin Mowbray.—
Good day to you, gentle Lord Archbishop,—
And so to you, Lord Hastings, and to all.—
My Lord of York, it better showed with you
When that your flock, assembled by the bell,
Encircled you to hear with reverence
Your exposition on the holy text
Than now to see you here, an iron man talking,
Cheering a rout of rebels with your drum,
Turning the word to sword, and life to death.
That man that sits within a monarch’s heart
And ripens in the sunshine of his favor,
Would he abuse the countenance of the King,
Alack, what mischiefs might he set abroach
In shadow of such greatness! With you, Lord Bishop,
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It is even so. Who hath not heard it spoken
245 How deep you were within the books of God,
To us the speaker in His parliament,
To us th' imagined voice of God himself,
The very opener and intelligencer
Between the grace, the sanctities, of heaven,
250 And our dull workings? O, who shall believe
But you misuse the reverence of your place,
Employ the countenance and grace of heaven
As a false favorite doth his prince’s name,
In deeds dishonorable? You have ta'en up,
255 Under the counterfeited zeal of God,
The subjects of His substitute, my father,
And both against the peace of heaven and him
Have here up-swarmed them.
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It is even so. Who hath not heard it spoken
How deep you were within the books of God,
To us the speaker in His parliament,
To us th' imagined voice of God himself,
The very opener and intelligencer
Between the grace, the sanctities, of heaven,
And our dull workings? O, who shall believe
But you misuse the reverence of your place,
Employ the countenance and grace of heaven
As a false favorite doth his prince’s name,
In deeds dishonorable? You have ta'en up,
Under the counterfeited zeal of God,
The subjects of His substitute, my father,
And both against the peace of heaven and him
Have here up-swarmed them.
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ARCHBISHOP Good my Lord of Lancaster,
260 I am not here against your father’s peace,
But, as I told my Lord of Westmoreland,
The time misordered doth, in common sense,
Crowd us and crush us to this monstrous form
To hold our safety up. I sent your Grace
265 The parcels and particulars of our grief,
The which hath been with scorn shoved from the court,
Whereon this Hydra son of war is born,
Whose dangerous eyes may well be charmed asleep
With grant of our most just and right desires,
270 And true obedience, of this madness cured,
Stoop tamely to the foot of majesty.
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ARCHBISHOP Good my Lord of Lancaster,
I am not here against your father’s peace,
But, as I told my Lord of Westmoreland,
The time misordered doth, in common sense,
Crowd us and crush us to this monstrous form
To hold our safety up. I sent your Grace
The parcels and particulars of our grief,
The which hath been with scorn shoved from the court,
Whereon this Hydra son of war is born,
Whose dangerous eyes may well be charmed asleep
With grant of our most just and right desires,
And true obedience, of this madness cured,
Stoop tamely to the foot of majesty.
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MOWBRAY If not, we ready are to try our fortunes
To the last man.
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MOWBRAY If not, we ready are to try our fortunes
To the last man.
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HASTINGS And though we here fall down,
We have supplies to second our attempt;
275 If they miscarry, theirs shall second them,
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HASTINGS And though we here fall down,
We have supplies to second our attempt;
If they miscarry, theirs shall second them,
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And so success of mischief shall be born,
And heir from heir shall hold this quarrel up
Whiles England shall have generation.
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And so success of mischief shall be born,
And heir from heir shall hold this quarrel up
Whiles England shall have generation.
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LANCASTER You are too shallow, Hastings, much too shallow
280 To sound the bottom of the after-times.
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LANCASTER You are too shallow, Hastings, much too shallow
To sound the bottom of the after-times.
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WESTMORELAND Pleaseth your Grace to answer them directly
How far forth you do like their articles.
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WESTMORELAND Pleaseth your Grace to answer them directly
How far forth you do like their articles.
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LANCASTER I like them all, and do allow them well,
And swear here by the honor of my blood,
285 My father’s purposes have been mistook,
And some about him have too lavishly
Wrested his meaning and authority.
(to ARCHBISHOP) My lord, these griefs shall be with speed redressed;
Upon my soul, they shall. If this may please you,
290 Discharge your powers unto their several counties,
As we will ours, and here, between the armies,
Let’s drink together friendly and embrace,
That all their eyes may bear those tokens home
Of our restorèd love and amity.
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LANCASTER I like them all, and do allow them well,
And swear here by the honor of my blood,
My father’s purposes have been mistook,
And some about him have too lavishly
Wrested his meaning and authority.
(to ARCHBISHOP) My lord, these griefs shall be with speed redressed;
Upon my soul, they shall. If this may please you,
Discharge your powers unto their several counties,
As we will ours, and here, between the armies,
Let’s drink together friendly and embrace,
That all their eyes may bear those tokens home
Of our restorèd love and amity.
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ARCHBISHOP 295 I take your princely word for these redresses.
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ARCHBISHOP I take your princely word for these redresses.
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LANCASTER I give it you, and will maintain my word,
And thereupon I drink unto your Grace.
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LANCASTER I give it you, and will maintain my word,
And thereupon I drink unto your Grace.
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HASTINGS Go, captain, and deliver to the army
This news of peace. Let them have pay, and part.
300 I know it will well please them. Hie thee, captain.
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HASTINGS Go, captain, and deliver to the army
This news of peace. Let them have pay, and part.
I know it will well please them. Hie thee, captain.
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Exit officer
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Exit officer
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ARCHBISHOP To you, my noble Lord of Westmoreland.
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ARCHBISHOP To you, my noble Lord of Westmoreland.
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WESTMORELAND I pledge your Grace, and if you knew what pains
I have bestowed to breed this present peace,
You would drink freely. But my love to you
305 Shall show itself more openly hereafter.
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WESTMORELAND I pledge your Grace, and if you knew what pains
I have bestowed to breed this present peace,
You would drink freely. But my love to you
Shall show itself more openly hereafter.
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ARCHBISHOP I do not doubt you.
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ARCHBISHOP I do not doubt you.
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WESTMORELAND I am glad of it.—
Health to my lord and gentle cousin, Mowbray.
|
WESTMORELAND I am glad of it.—
Health to my lord and gentle cousin, Mowbray.
|
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MOWBRAY You wish me health in very happy season,
For I am on the sudden something ill.
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MOWBRAY You wish me health in very happy season,
For I am on the sudden something ill.
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ARCHBISHOP 310 Against ill chances men are ever merry,
But heaviness foreruns the good event.
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ARCHBISHOP Against ill chances men are ever merry,
But heaviness foreruns the good event.
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WESTMORELAND Therefore be merry, coz; since sudden sorrow
Serves to say thus: “Some good thing comes tomorrow.”
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WESTMORELAND Therefore be merry, coz; since sudden sorrow
Serves to say thus: “Some good thing comes tomorrow.”
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ARCHBISHOP Believe me, I am passing light in spirit.
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ARCHBISHOP Believe me, I am passing light in spirit.
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MOWBRAY 315 So much the worse if your own rule be true.
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MOWBRAY So much the worse if your own rule be true.
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Shouts within
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Shouts within
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LANCASTER The word of peace is rendered. Hark how they shout.
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LANCASTER The word of peace is rendered. Hark how they shout.
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MOWBRAY This had been cheerful after victory.
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MOWBRAY This had been cheerful after victory.
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ARCHBISHOP A peace is of the nature of a conquest,
For then both parties nobly are subdued,
320 And neither party loser.
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ARCHBISHOP A peace is of the nature of a conquest,
For then both parties nobly are subdued,
And neither party loser.
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LANCASTER Go, my lord,
And let our army be dischargèd too.
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LANCASTER Go, my lord,
And let our army be dischargèd too.
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Exit WESTMORELAND
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Exit WESTMORELAND
|
|
And, good my lord, so please you, let our trains
March by us, that we may peruse the men
We should have coped withal.
|
And, good my lord, so please you, let our trains
March by us, that we may peruse the men
We should have coped withal.
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ARCHBISHOP Go, good Lord Hastings,
325 And ere they be dismissed, let them march by.
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ARCHBISHOP Go, good Lord Hastings,
And ere they be dismissed, let them march by.
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Exit HASTINGS
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Exit HASTINGS
|
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LANCASTER I trust, lords, we shall lie tonight together.
|
LANCASTER I trust, lords, we shall lie tonight together.
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Enter WESTMORELAND
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Enter WESTMORELAND
|
|
Now, cousin, wherefore stands our army still?
|
Now, cousin, wherefore stands our army still?
|
|
WESTMORELAND The leaders, having charge from you to stand,
Will not go off until they hear you speak.
|
WESTMORELAND The leaders, having charge from you to stand,
Will not go off until they hear you speak.
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LANCASTER 330 They know their duties.
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LANCASTER They know their duties.
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Enter HASTINGS
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Enter HASTINGS
|
|
HASTINGS My lord, our army is dispersed already.
Like youthful steers unyoked, they take their courses
East, west, north, south, or, like a school broke up,
Each hurries toward his home and sporting-place.
|
HASTINGS My lord, our army is dispersed already.
Like youthful steers unyoked, they take their courses
East, west, north, south, or, like a school broke up,
Each hurries toward his home and sporting-place.
|
|
WESTMORELAND 335 Good tidings, my Lord Hastings, for the which
I do arrest thee, traitor, of high treason.—
And you, Lord Archbishop, and you, Lord Mowbray,
Of capital treason I attach you both.
|
WESTMORELAND Good tidings, my Lord Hastings, for the which
I do arrest thee, traitor, of high treason.—
And you, Lord Archbishop, and you, Lord Mowbray,
Of capital treason I attach you both.
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MOWBRAY Is this proceeding just and honorable?
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MOWBRAY Is this proceeding just and honorable?
|
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WESTMORELAND 340 Is your assembly so?
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WESTMORELAND Is your assembly so?
|
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ARCHBISHOP Will you thus break your faith?
|
ARCHBISHOP Will you thus break your faith?
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LANCASTER I pawned thee none.
I promised you redress of these same grievances
Whereof you did complain, which, by mine honor,
I will perform with a most Christian care.
345 But for you rebels, look to taste the due
Meet for rebellion and such acts as yours.
Most shallowly did you these arms commence,
Fondly brought here, and foolishly sent hence.—
Strike up our drums; pursue the scattered stray.
350 God, and not we, hath safely fought today.—
Some guard these traitors to the block of death,
Treason’s true bed and yielder-up of breath.
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LANCASTER I pawned thee none.
I promised you redress of these same grievances
Whereof you did complain, which, by mine honor,
I will perform with a most Christian care.
But for you rebels, look to taste the due
Meet for rebellion and such acts as yours.
Most shallowly did you these arms commence,
Fondly brought here, and foolishly sent hence.—
Strike up our drums; pursue the scattered stray.
God, and not we, hath safely fought today.—
Some guard these traitors to the block of death,
Treason’s true bed and yielder-up of breath.
|
|
Exeunt
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Exeunt
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Original Text |
Modern Text |
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Enter the ARCHBISHOP of York, MOWBRAY , HASTINGS , and others
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Enter the ARCHBISHOP of York, MOWBRAY , HASTINGS , and others
|
|
ARCHBISHOP What is this forest called?
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ARCHBISHOP What is this forest called?
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HASTINGS 'Tis Gaultree Forest, an ’t shall please your Grace.
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HASTINGS 'Tis Gaultree Forest, an ’t shall please your Grace.
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ARCHBISHOP Here stand, my lords, and send discoverers forth
To know the numbers of our enemies.
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ARCHBISHOP Here stand, my lords, and send discoverers forth
To know the numbers of our enemies.
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HASTINGS 5 We have sent forth already.
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HASTINGS We have sent forth already.
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ARCHBISHOP 'Tis well done.
My friends and brethren in these great affairs,
I must acquaint you that I have received
New-dated letters from Northumberland,
Their cold intent, tenor, and substance, thus:
10 Here doth he wish his person, with such powers
As might hold sortance with his quality,
The which he could not levy; whereupon
He is retired, to ripe his growing fortunes,
To Scotland, and concludes in hearty prayers
15 That your attempts may overlive the hazard
And fearful melting of their opposite.
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ARCHBISHOP 'Tis well done.
My friends and brethren in these great affairs,
I must acquaint you that I have received
New-dated letters from Northumberland,
Their cold intent, tenor, and substance, thus:
Here doth he wish his person, with such powers
As might hold sortance with his quality,
The which he could not levy; whereupon
He is retired, to ripe his growing fortunes,
To Scotland, and concludes in hearty prayers
That your attempts may overlive the hazard
And fearful melting of their opposite.
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MOWBRAY Thus do the hopes we have in him touch ground
And dash themselves to pieces.
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MOWBRAY Thus do the hopes we have in him touch ground
And dash themselves to pieces.
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Enter a MESSENGER
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Enter a MESSENGER
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HASTINGS Now, what news?
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HASTINGS Now, what news?
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MESSENGER West of this forest, scarcely off a mile,
20 In goodly form comes on the enemy,
And, by the ground they hide, I judge their number
Upon or near the rate of thirty thousand.
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MESSENGER West of this forest, scarcely off a mile,
In goodly form comes on the enemy,
And, by the ground they hide, I judge their number
Upon or near the rate of thirty thousand.
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MOWBRAY The just proportion that we gave them out.
Let us sway on and face them in the field.
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MOWBRAY The just proportion that we gave them out.
Let us sway on and face them in the field.
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Enter WESTMORELAND
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Enter WESTMORELAND
|
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ARCHBISHOP 25 What well-appointed leader fronts us here?
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ARCHBISHOP What well-appointed leader fronts us here?
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MOWBRAY I think it is my Lord of Westmoreland.
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MOWBRAY I think it is my Lord of Westmoreland.
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WESTMORELAND Health and fair greeting from our general,
The Prince Lord John and Duke of Lancaster.
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WESTMORELAND Health and fair greeting from our general,
The Prince Lord John and Duke of Lancaster.
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ARCHBISHOP Say on, my Lord of Westmoreland, in peace,
30 What doth concern your coming.
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ARCHBISHOP Say on, my Lord of Westmoreland, in peace,
What doth concern your coming.
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WESTMORELAND Then, my lord,
Unto your Grace do I in chief address
The substance of my speech. If that rebellion
Came like itself, in base and abject routs,
Led on by bloody youth, guarded with rage,
35 And countenanced by boys and beggary—
I say, if damn’d commotion so appeared
In his true, native, and most proper shape,
You, reverend father, and these noble lords
Had not been here to dress the ugly form
40 Of base and bloody insurrection
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WESTMORELAND Then, my lord,
Unto your Grace do I in chief address
The substance of my speech. If that rebellion
Came like itself, in base and abject routs,
Led on by bloody youth, guarded with rage,
And countenanced by boys and beggary—
I say, if damn’d commotion so appeared
In his true, native, and most proper shape,
You, reverend father, and these noble lords
Had not been here to dress the ugly form
Of base and bloody insurrection
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With your fair honors. You, Lord Archbishop,
Whose see is by a civil peace maintained,
Whose beard the silver hand of peace hath touched,
Whose learning and good letters peace hath tutored,
45 Whose white investments figure innocence,
The dove and very blessèd spirit of peace,
Wherefore do you so ill translate yourself
Out of the speech of peace, that bears such grace,
Into the harsh and boist'rous tongue of war,
50 Turning your books to graves, your ink to blood,
Your pens to lances, and your tongue divine
To a trumpet and a point of war?
|
With your fair honors. You, Lord Archbishop,
Whose see is by a civil peace maintained,
Whose beard the silver hand of peace hath touched,
Whose learning and good letters peace hath tutored,
Whose white investments figure innocence,
The dove and very blessèd spirit of peace,
Wherefore do you so ill translate yourself
Out of the speech of peace, that bears such grace,
Into the harsh and boist'rous tongue of war,
Turning your books to graves, your ink to blood,
Your pens to lances, and your tongue divine
To a trumpet and a point of war?
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ARCHBISHOP Wherefore do I this? So the question stands.
Briefly, to this end: we are all diseased,
55 And with our surfeiting and wanton hours
Have brought ourselves into a burning fever,
And we must bleed for it; of which disease
Our late King Richard, being infected, died.
But, my most noble Lord of Westmoreland,
60 I take not on me here as a physician,
Nor do I as an enemy to peace
Troop in the throngs of military men,
But rather show awhile like fearful war
To diet rank minds sick of happiness
65 And purge th' obstructions which begin to stop
Our very veins of life. Hear me more plainly.
I have in equal balance justly weighed
What wrongs our arms may do, what wrongs we suffer,
And find our griefs heavier than our offenses.
70 We see which way the stream of time doth run
And are enforced from our most quiet there
By the rough torrent of occasion,
And have the summary of all our griefs,
When time shall serve, to show in articles;
75 Which long ere this we offered to the King
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ARCHBISHOP Wherefore do I this? So the question stands.
Briefly, to this end: we are all diseased,
And with our surfeiting and wanton hours
Have brought ourselves into a burning fever,
And we must bleed for it; of which disease
Our late King Richard, being infected, died.
But, my most noble Lord of Westmoreland,
I take not on me here as a physician,
Nor do I as an enemy to peace
Troop in the throngs of military men,
But rather show awhile like fearful war
To diet rank minds sick of happiness
And purge th' obstructions which begin to stop
Our very veins of life. Hear me more plainly.
I have in equal balance justly weighed
What wrongs our arms may do, what wrongs we suffer,
And find our griefs heavier than our offenses.
We see which way the stream of time doth run
And are enforced from our most quiet there
By the rough torrent of occasion,
And have the summary of all our griefs,
When time shall serve, to show in articles;
Which long ere this we offered to the King
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And might by no suit gain our audience.
When we are wronged and would unfold our griefs,
We are denied access unto his person
Even by those men that most have done us wrong.
80 The dangers of the days but newly gone,
Whose memory is written on the earth
With yet appearing blood, and the examples
Of every minute’s instance, present now,
Hath put us in these ill-beseeming arms,
85 Not to break peace or any branch of it,
But to establish here a peace indeed,
Concurring both in name and quality.
|
And might by no suit gain our audience.
When we are wronged and would unfold our griefs,
We are denied access unto his person
Even by those men that most have done us wrong.
The dangers of the days but newly gone,
Whose memory is written on the earth
With yet appearing blood, and the examples
Of every minute’s instance, present now,
Hath put us in these ill-beseeming arms,
Not to break peace or any branch of it,
But to establish here a peace indeed,
Concurring both in name and quality.
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WESTMORELAND When ever yet was your appeal denied?
Wherein have you been gallèd by the King?
90 What peer hath been suborned to grate on you,
That you should seal this lawless bloody book
Of forged rebellion with a seal divine
And consecrate commotion’s bitter edge?
|
WESTMORELAND When ever yet was your appeal denied?
Wherein have you been gallèd by the King?
What peer hath been suborned to grate on you,
That you should seal this lawless bloody book
Of forged rebellion with a seal divine
And consecrate commotion’s bitter edge?
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ARCHBISHOP My brother general, the commonwealth,
95 To brother born an household cruelty,
I make my quarrel in particular.
|
ARCHBISHOP My brother general, the commonwealth,
To brother born an household cruelty,
I make my quarrel in particular.
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WESTMORELAND There is no need of any such redress,
Or if there were, it not belongs to you.
|
WESTMORELAND There is no need of any such redress,
Or if there were, it not belongs to you.
|
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MOWBRAY Why not to him in part, and to us all
100 That feel the bruises of the days before
And suffer the condition of these times
To lay a heavy and unequal hand
Upon our honors?
|
MOWBRAY Why not to him in part, and to us all
That feel the bruises of the days before
And suffer the condition of these times
To lay a heavy and unequal hand
Upon our honors?
|
|
WESTMORELAND O, my good Lord Mowbray,
Construe the times to their necessities,
|
WESTMORELAND O, my good Lord Mowbray,
Construe the times to their necessities,
|
|
105 And you shall say indeed it is the time,
And not the King, that doth you injuries.
Yet for your part, it not appears to me
Either from the King or in the present time
That you should have an inch of any ground
110 To build a grief on. Were you not restored
To all the Duke of Norfolk’s seigniories,
Your noble and right well remembered father’s?
|
And you shall say indeed it is the time,
And not the King, that doth you injuries.
Yet for your part, it not appears to me
Either from the King or in the present time
That you should have an inch of any ground
To build a grief on. Were you not restored
To all the Duke of Norfolk’s seigniories,
Your noble and right well remembered father’s?
|
|
MOWBRAY What thing, in honor, had my father lost,
That need to be revived and breathed in me?
115 The King that loved him, as the state stood then,
Was force perforce compelled to banish him,
And then that Harry Bolingbroke and he,
Being mounted and both rousèd in their seats,
Their neighing coursers daring of the spur,
120 Their armèd staves in charge, their beavers down,
Their eyes of fire sparking through sights of steel
And the loud trumpet blowing them together,
Then, then, when there was nothing could have stayed
My father from the breast of Bolingbroke,
125 O, when the King did throw his warder down—
His own life hung upon the staff he threw—
Then threw he down himself and all their lives
That by indictment and by dint of sword
Have since miscarried under Bolingbroke.
|
MOWBRAY What thing, in honor, had my father lost,
That need to be revived and breathed in me?
The King that loved him, as the state stood then,
Was force perforce compelled to banish him,
And then that Harry Bolingbroke and he,
Being mounted and both rousèd in their seats,
Their neighing coursers daring of the spur,
Their armèd staves in charge, their beavers down,
Their eyes of fire sparking through sights of steel
And the loud trumpet blowing them together,
Then, then, when there was nothing could have stayed
My father from the breast of Bolingbroke,
O, when the King did throw his warder down—
His own life hung upon the staff he threw—
Then threw he down himself and all their lives
That by indictment and by dint of sword
Have since miscarried under Bolingbroke.
|
|
WESTMORELAND 130 You speak, Lord Mowbray, now you know not what.
The Earl of Hereford was reputed then
In England the most valiant gentleman.
Who knows on whom fortune would then have smiled?
But if your father had been victor there,
135 He ne'er had borne it out of Coventry;
For all the country in a general voice
Cried hate upon him; and all their prayers and love
|
WESTMORELAND You speak, Lord Mowbray, now you know not what.
The Earl of Hereford was reputed then
In England the most valiant gentleman.
Who knows on whom fortune would then have smiled?
But if your father had been victor there,
He ne'er had borne it out of Coventry;
For all the country in a general voice
Cried hate upon him; and all their prayers and love
|
|
Were set on Hereford, whom they doted on
And blessed and graced, indeed more than the King.
140 But this is mere digression from my purpose.
Here come I from our princely general
To know your griefs, to tell you from his Grace
That he will give you audience; and wherein
It shall appear that your demands are just,
145 You shall enjoy them, everything set off
That might so much as think you enemies.
|
Were set on Hereford, whom they doted on
And blessed and graced, indeed more than the King.
But this is mere digression from my purpose.
Here come I from our princely general
To know your griefs, to tell you from his Grace
That he will give you audience; and wherein
It shall appear that your demands are just,
You shall enjoy them, everything set off
That might so much as think you enemies.
|
|
MOWBRAY But he hath forced us to compel this offer;
And it proceeds from policy, not love.
|
MOWBRAY But he hath forced us to compel this offer;
And it proceeds from policy, not love.
|
|
WESTMORELAND Mowbray, you overween to take it so.
150 This offer comes from mercy, not from fear.
For, lo, within a ken our army lies,
Upon mine honor, all too confident
To give admittance to a thought of fear.
Our battle is more full of names than yours,
155 Our men more perfect in the use of arms,
Our armor all as strong, our cause the best.
Then reason will our hearts should be as good.
Say you not then our offer is compelled.
|
WESTMORELAND Mowbray, you overween to take it so.
This offer comes from mercy, not from fear.
For, lo, within a ken our army lies,
Upon mine honor, all too confident
To give admittance to a thought of fear.
Our battle is more full of names than yours,
Our men more perfect in the use of arms,
Our armor all as strong, our cause the best.
Then reason will our hearts should be as good.
Say you not then our offer is compelled.
|
|
MOWBRAY Well, by my will, we shall admit no parley.
|
MOWBRAY Well, by my will, we shall admit no parley.
|
|
WESTMORELAND 160 That argues but the shame of your offense.
A rotten case abides no handling.
|
WESTMORELAND That argues but the shame of your offense.
A rotten case abides no handling.
|
|
HASTINGS Hath the Prince John a full commission,
In very ample virtue of his father,
To hear and absolutely to determine
165 Of what conditions we shall stand upon?
|
HASTINGS Hath the Prince John a full commission,
In very ample virtue of his father,
To hear and absolutely to determine
Of what conditions we shall stand upon?
|
|
WESTMORELAND That is intended in the General’s name.
I muse you make so slight a question.
|
WESTMORELAND That is intended in the General’s name.
I muse you make so slight a question.
|
|
ARCHBISHOP Then take, my Lord of Westmoreland, this schedule,
For this contains our general grievances.
170 Each several article herein redressed,
All members of our cause, both here and hence,
That are insinewed to this action,
Acquitted by a true substantial form
And present execution of our wills
175 To us and to our purposes confined,
We come within our awful banks again
And knit our powers to the arm of peace.
|
ARCHBISHOP Then take, my Lord of Westmoreland, this schedule,
For this contains our general grievances.
Each several article herein redressed,
All members of our cause, both here and hence,
That are insinewed to this action,
Acquitted by a true substantial form
And present execution of our wills
To us and to our purposes confined,
We come within our awful banks again
And knit our powers to the arm of peace.
|
|
WESTMORELAND This will I show the General. Please you, lords,
In sight of both our battles we may meet,
180 And either end in peace, which God so frame,
Or to the place of difference call the swords
Which must decide it.
|
WESTMORELAND This will I show the General. Please you, lords,
In sight of both our battles we may meet,
And either end in peace, which God so frame,
Or to the place of difference call the swords
Which must decide it.
|
|
ARCHBISHOP My lord, we will do so.
|
ARCHBISHOP My lord, we will do so.
|
|
Exit WESTMORELAND
|
Exit WESTMORELAND
|
|
MOWBRAY There is a thing within my bosom tells me
That no conditions of our peace can stand.
|
MOWBRAY There is a thing within my bosom tells me
That no conditions of our peace can stand.
|
|
HASTINGS 185 Fear you not that. If we can make our peace
Upon such large terms and so absolute
As our conditions shall consist upon,
Our peace shall stand as firm as rocky mountains.
|
HASTINGS Fear you not that. If we can make our peace
Upon such large terms and so absolute
As our conditions shall consist upon,
Our peace shall stand as firm as rocky mountains.
|
|
MOWBRAY Yea, but our valuation shall be such
190 That every slight and false-derivèd cause,
Yea, every idle, nice, and wanton reason,
Shall to the King taste of this action,
|
MOWBRAY Yea, but our valuation shall be such
That every slight and false-derivèd cause,
Yea, every idle, nice, and wanton reason,
Shall to the King taste of this action,
|
|
That, were our royal faiths martyrs in love,
We shall be winnowed with so rough a wind
195 That even our corn shall seem as light as chaff
And good from bad find no partition.
|
That, were our royal faiths martyrs in love,
We shall be winnowed with so rough a wind
That even our corn shall seem as light as chaff
And good from bad find no partition.
|
|
ARCHBISHOP No, no, my lord. Note this: the King is weary
Of dainty and such picking grievances,
For he hath found to end one doubt by death
200 Revives two greater in the heirs of life;
And therefore will he wipe his tables clean
And keep no telltale to his memory
That may repeat and history his loss
To new remembrance. For full well he knows
205 He cannot so precisely weed this land
As his misdoubts present occasion;
His foes are so enrooted with his friends
That, plucking to unfix an enemy,
He doth unfasten so and shake a friend;
210 So that this land, like an offensive wife
That hath enraged him on to offer strokes,
As he is striking holds his infant up
And hangs resolved correction in the arm
That was upreared to execution.
|
ARCHBISHOP No, no, my lord. Note this: the King is weary
Of dainty and such picking grievances,
For he hath found to end one doubt by death
Revives two greater in the heirs of life;
And therefore will he wipe his tables clean
And keep no telltale to his memory
That may repeat and history his loss
To new remembrance. For full well he knows
He cannot so precisely weed this land
As his misdoubts present occasion;
His foes are so enrooted with his friends
That, plucking to unfix an enemy,
He doth unfasten so and shake a friend;
So that this land, like an offensive wife
That hath enraged him on to offer strokes,
As he is striking holds his infant up
And hangs resolved correction in the arm
That was upreared to execution.
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HASTINGS 215 Besides, the King hath wasted all his rods
On late offenders, that he now doth lack
The very instruments of chastisement,
So that his power, like to a fangless lion,
May offer but not hold.
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HASTINGS Besides, the King hath wasted all his rods
On late offenders, that he now doth lack
The very instruments of chastisement,
So that his power, like to a fangless lion,
May offer but not hold.
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ARCHBISHOP 'Tis very true,
220 And therefore be assured, my good Lord Marshal,
If we do now make our atonement well,
Our peace will, like a broken limb united,
Grow stronger for the breaking.
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ARCHBISHOP 'Tis very true,
And therefore be assured, my good Lord Marshal,
If we do now make our atonement well,
Our peace will, like a broken limb united,
Grow stronger for the breaking.
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MOWBRAY Be it so.
Here is returned my Lord of Westmoreland.
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MOWBRAY Be it so.
Here is returned my Lord of Westmoreland.
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Enter WESTMORELAND
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Enter WESTMORELAND
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WESTMORELAND 225 The Prince is here at hand. Pleaseth your lordship
To meet his Grace just distance ’tween our armies.
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WESTMORELAND The Prince is here at hand. Pleaseth your lordship
To meet his Grace just distance ’tween our armies.
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MOWBRAY Your Grace of York, in God’s name then set forward.
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MOWBRAY Your Grace of York, in God’s name then set forward.
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ARCHBISHOP Before, and greet his Grace.—(to WESTMORELAND) My lord,
we come.
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ARCHBISHOP Before, and greet his Grace.—(to WESTMORELAND) My lord,
we come.
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The ARCHBISHOP , MOWBRAY , YORK , HASTINGS and the others go forward
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The ARCHBISHOP , MOWBRAY , YORK , HASTINGS and the others go forward
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Enter Prince John of LANCASTER and officers with him
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Enter Prince John of LANCASTER and officers with him
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LANCASTER You are well encountered here, my cousin Mowbray.—
230 Good day to you, gentle Lord Archbishop,—
And so to you, Lord Hastings, and to all.—
My Lord of York, it better showed with you
When that your flock, assembled by the bell,
Encircled you to hear with reverence
235 Your exposition on the holy text
Than now to see you here, an iron man talking,
Cheering a rout of rebels with your drum,
Turning the word to sword, and life to death.
That man that sits within a monarch’s heart
240 And ripens in the sunshine of his favor,
Would he abuse the countenance of the King,
Alack, what mischiefs might he set abroach
In shadow of such greatness! With you, Lord Bishop,
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LANCASTER You are well encountered here, my cousin Mowbray.—
Good day to you, gentle Lord Archbishop,—
And so to you, Lord Hastings, and to all.—
My Lord of York, it better showed with you
When that your flock, assembled by the bell,
Encircled you to hear with reverence
Your exposition on the holy text
Than now to see you here, an iron man talking,
Cheering a rout of rebels with your drum,
Turning the word to sword, and life to death.
That man that sits within a monarch’s heart
And ripens in the sunshine of his favor,
Would he abuse the countenance of the King,
Alack, what mischiefs might he set abroach
In shadow of such greatness! With you, Lord Bishop,
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It is even so. Who hath not heard it spoken
245 How deep you were within the books of God,
To us the speaker in His parliament,
To us th' imagined voice of God himself,
The very opener and intelligencer
Between the grace, the sanctities, of heaven,
250 And our dull workings? O, who shall believe
But you misuse the reverence of your place,
Employ the countenance and grace of heaven
As a false favorite doth his prince’s name,
In deeds dishonorable? You have ta'en up,
255 Under the counterfeited zeal of God,
The subjects of His substitute, my father,
And both against the peace of heaven and him
Have here up-swarmed them.
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It is even so. Who hath not heard it spoken
How deep you were within the books of God,
To us the speaker in His parliament,
To us th' imagined voice of God himself,
The very opener and intelligencer
Between the grace, the sanctities, of heaven,
And our dull workings? O, who shall believe
But you misuse the reverence of your place,
Employ the countenance and grace of heaven
As a false favorite doth his prince’s name,
In deeds dishonorable? You have ta'en up,
Under the counterfeited zeal of God,
The subjects of His substitute, my father,
And both against the peace of heaven and him
Have here up-swarmed them.
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ARCHBISHOP Good my Lord of Lancaster,
260 I am not here against your father’s peace,
But, as I told my Lord of Westmoreland,
The time misordered doth, in common sense,
Crowd us and crush us to this monstrous form
To hold our safety up. I sent your Grace
265 The parcels and particulars of our grief,
The which hath been with scorn shoved from the court,
Whereon this Hydra son of war is born,
Whose dangerous eyes may well be charmed asleep
With grant of our most just and right desires,
270 And true obedience, of this madness cured,
Stoop tamely to the foot of majesty.
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ARCHBISHOP Good my Lord of Lancaster,
I am not here against your father’s peace,
But, as I told my Lord of Westmoreland,
The time misordered doth, in common sense,
Crowd us and crush us to this monstrous form
To hold our safety up. I sent your Grace
The parcels and particulars of our grief,
The which hath been with scorn shoved from the court,
Whereon this Hydra son of war is born,
Whose dangerous eyes may well be charmed asleep
With grant of our most just and right desires,
And true obedience, of this madness cured,
Stoop tamely to the foot of majesty.
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MOWBRAY If not, we ready are to try our fortunes
To the last man.
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MOWBRAY If not, we ready are to try our fortunes
To the last man.
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HASTINGS And though we here fall down,
We have supplies to second our attempt;
275 If they miscarry, theirs shall second them,
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HASTINGS And though we here fall down,
We have supplies to second our attempt;
If they miscarry, theirs shall second them,
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And so success of mischief shall be born,
And heir from heir shall hold this quarrel up
Whiles England shall have generation.
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And so success of mischief shall be born,
And heir from heir shall hold this quarrel up
Whiles England shall have generation.
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LANCASTER You are too shallow, Hastings, much too shallow
280 To sound the bottom of the after-times.
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LANCASTER You are too shallow, Hastings, much too shallow
To sound the bottom of the after-times.
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WESTMORELAND Pleaseth your Grace to answer them directly
How far forth you do like their articles.
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WESTMORELAND Pleaseth your Grace to answer them directly
How far forth you do like their articles.
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LANCASTER I like them all, and do allow them well,
And swear here by the honor of my blood,
285 My father’s purposes have been mistook,
And some about him have too lavishly
Wrested his meaning and authority.
(to ARCHBISHOP) My lord, these griefs shall be with speed redressed;
Upon my soul, they shall. If this may please you,
290 Discharge your powers unto their several counties,
As we will ours, and here, between the armies,
Let’s drink together friendly and embrace,
That all their eyes may bear those tokens home
Of our restorèd love and amity.
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LANCASTER I like them all, and do allow them well,
And swear here by the honor of my blood,
My father’s purposes have been mistook,
And some about him have too lavishly
Wrested his meaning and authority.
(to ARCHBISHOP) My lord, these griefs shall be with speed redressed;
Upon my soul, they shall. If this may please you,
Discharge your powers unto their several counties,
As we will ours, and here, between the armies,
Let’s drink together friendly and embrace,
That all their eyes may bear those tokens home
Of our restorèd love and amity.
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ARCHBISHOP 295 I take your princely word for these redresses.
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ARCHBISHOP I take your princely word for these redresses.
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LANCASTER I give it you, and will maintain my word,
And thereupon I drink unto your Grace.
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LANCASTER I give it you, and will maintain my word,
And thereupon I drink unto your Grace.
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HASTINGS Go, captain, and deliver to the army
This news of peace. Let them have pay, and part.
300 I know it will well please them. Hie thee, captain.
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HASTINGS Go, captain, and deliver to the army
This news of peace. Let them have pay, and part.
I know it will well please them. Hie thee, captain.
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Exit officer
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Exit officer
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ARCHBISHOP To you, my noble Lord of Westmoreland.
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ARCHBISHOP To you, my noble Lord of Westmoreland.
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WESTMORELAND I pledge your Grace, and if you knew what pains
I have bestowed to breed this present peace,
You would drink freely. But my love to you
305 Shall show itself more openly hereafter.
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WESTMORELAND I pledge your Grace, and if you knew what pains
I have bestowed to breed this present peace,
You would drink freely. But my love to you
Shall show itself more openly hereafter.
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ARCHBISHOP I do not doubt you.
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ARCHBISHOP I do not doubt you.
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WESTMORELAND I am glad of it.—
Health to my lord and gentle cousin, Mowbray.
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WESTMORELAND I am glad of it.—
Health to my lord and gentle cousin, Mowbray.
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MOWBRAY You wish me health in very happy season,
For I am on the sudden something ill.
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MOWBRAY You wish me health in very happy season,
For I am on the sudden something ill.
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ARCHBISHOP 310 Against ill chances men are ever merry,
But heaviness foreruns the good event.
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ARCHBISHOP Against ill chances men are ever merry,
But heaviness foreruns the good event.
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WESTMORELAND Therefore be merry, coz; since sudden sorrow
Serves to say thus: “Some good thing comes tomorrow.”
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WESTMORELAND Therefore be merry, coz; since sudden sorrow
Serves to say thus: “Some good thing comes tomorrow.”
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ARCHBISHOP Believe me, I am passing light in spirit.
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ARCHBISHOP Believe me, I am passing light in spirit.
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MOWBRAY 315 So much the worse if your own rule be true.
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MOWBRAY So much the worse if your own rule be true.
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Shouts within
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Shouts within
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LANCASTER The word of peace is rendered. Hark how they shout.
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LANCASTER The word of peace is rendered. Hark how they shout.
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MOWBRAY This had been cheerful after victory.
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MOWBRAY This had been cheerful after victory.
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ARCHBISHOP A peace is of the nature of a conquest,
For then both parties nobly are subdued,
320 And neither party loser.
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ARCHBISHOP A peace is of the nature of a conquest,
For then both parties nobly are subdued,
And neither party loser.
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LANCASTER Go, my lord,
And let our army be dischargèd too.
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LANCASTER Go, my lord,
And let our army be dischargèd too.
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Exit WESTMORELAND
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Exit WESTMORELAND
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And, good my lord, so please you, let our trains
March by us, that we may peruse the men
We should have coped withal.
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And, good my lord, so please you, let our trains
March by us, that we may peruse the men
We should have coped withal.
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ARCHBISHOP Go, good Lord Hastings,
325 And ere they be dismissed, let them march by.
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ARCHBISHOP Go, good Lord Hastings,
And ere they be dismissed, let them march by.
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Exit HASTINGS
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Exit HASTINGS
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LANCASTER I trust, lords, we shall lie tonight together.
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LANCASTER I trust, lords, we shall lie tonight together.
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Enter WESTMORELAND
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Enter WESTMORELAND
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Now, cousin, wherefore stands our army still?
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Now, cousin, wherefore stands our army still?
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WESTMORELAND The leaders, having charge from you to stand,
Will not go off until they hear you speak.
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WESTMORELAND The leaders, having charge from you to stand,
Will not go off until they hear you speak.
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LANCASTER 330 They know their duties.
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LANCASTER They know their duties.
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Enter HASTINGS
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Enter HASTINGS
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HASTINGS My lord, our army is dispersed already.
Like youthful steers unyoked, they take their courses
East, west, north, south, or, like a school broke up,
Each hurries toward his home and sporting-place.
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HASTINGS My lord, our army is dispersed already.
Like youthful steers unyoked, they take their courses
East, west, north, south, or, like a school broke up,
Each hurries toward his home and sporting-place.
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WESTMORELAND 335 Good tidings, my Lord Hastings, for the which
I do arrest thee, traitor, of high treason.—
And you, Lord Archbishop, and you, Lord Mowbray,
Of capital treason I attach you both.
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WESTMORELAND Good tidings, my Lord Hastings, for the which
I do arrest thee, traitor, of high treason.—
And you, Lord Archbishop, and you, Lord Mowbray,
Of capital treason I attach you both.
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MOWBRAY Is this proceeding just and honorable?
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MOWBRAY Is this proceeding just and honorable?
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WESTMORELAND 340 Is your assembly so?
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WESTMORELAND Is your assembly so?
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ARCHBISHOP Will you thus break your faith?
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ARCHBISHOP Will you thus break your faith?
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LANCASTER I pawned thee none.
I promised you redress of these same grievances
Whereof you did complain, which, by mine honor,
I will perform with a most Christian care.
345 But for you rebels, look to taste the due
Meet for rebellion and such acts as yours.
Most shallowly did you these arms commence,
Fondly brought here, and foolishly sent hence.—
Strike up our drums; pursue the scattered stray.
350 God, and not we, hath safely fought today.—
Some guard these traitors to the block of death,
Treason’s true bed and yielder-up of breath.
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LANCASTER I pawned thee none.
I promised you redress of these same grievances
Whereof you did complain, which, by mine honor,
I will perform with a most Christian care.
But for you rebels, look to taste the due
Meet for rebellion and such acts as yours.
Most shallowly did you these arms commence,
Fondly brought here, and foolishly sent hence.—
Strike up our drums; pursue the scattered stray.
God, and not we, hath safely fought today.—
Some guard these traitors to the block of death,
Treason’s true bed and yielder-up of breath.
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Exeunt
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Exeunt
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