Exit Re-enter GLOUCESTER GLOUCESTER Now, lords, my choler being over-blown With walking once about the quadrangle, I come to talk of commonwealth affairs.
As for your spiteful false objections, Prove them, and I lie open to the law:
But God in mercy so deal with my soul, As I in duty love my king and country!
But, to the matter that we have in hand:
I say, my sovereign, York is meetest man To be your regent in the realm of France. SUFFOLK Before we make election, give me leave To show some reason, of no little force, That York is most unmeet of any man. YORK I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet:
First, for I cannot flatter thee in pride;Next, if I be appointed for the place, My Lord of Somerset will keep me here, Without discharge, money, or furniture, Till France be won into the Dauphin's hands:
Last time, I danced attendance on his will Till Paris was besieged, famish'd, and lost. WARWICK That can I witness; and a fouler fact Did never traitor in the land commit. SUFFOLK Peace, headstrong Warwick! WARWICK Image of pride, why should I hold my peace?
Enter HORNER, the Armourer, and his man PETER, guarded SUFFOLK Because here is a man accused of treason:
Pray God the Duke of York excuse himself! YORK Doth any one accuse York for a traitor? KING HENRY VI What mean'st thou, Suffolk; tell me, what are these? SUFFOLK Please it your majesty, this is the man That doth accuse his master of high treason:
His words were these: that Richard, Duke of York, Was rightful heir unto the English crown And that your majesty was a usurper. KING HENRY VI Say, man, were these thy words? HORNER An't shall please your majesty, I never said nor thought any such matter: God is my witness, Iam falsely accused by the villain. PETER By these ten bones, my lords, he did speak them to me in the garret one night, as we were scouring my Lord of York's armour. YORK Base dunghill villain and mechanical, I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech.
I do beseech your royal majesty, Let him have all the rigor of the law. HORNER Alas, my lord, hang me, if ever I spake the words.
My accuser is my 'prentice; and when I did correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow upon his knees he would be even with me: I have good witness of this: therefore I beseech your majesty, do not cast away an honest man for a villain's accusation. KING HENRY VI Uncle, what shall we say to this in law? GLOUCESTER This doom, my lord, if I may judge:
Let Somerset be regent over the French, Because in York this breeds suspicion:
And let these have a day appointed them For single combat in convenient place, For he hath witness of his servant's malice:
This is the law, and this Duke Humphrey's doom. SOMERSET I humbly thank your royal majesty. HORNER And I accept the combat willingly. PETER Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God's sake, pity my case. The spite of man prevaileth against me. OLord, have mercy upon me! I shall never be able to fight a blow. O Lord, my heart! GLOUCESTER Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd. KING HENRY VI Away with them to prison; and the day of combat shall be the last of the next month. Come, Somerset, we'll see thee sent away.
Flourish. Exeunt SCENE IV. GLOUCESTER's garden. Enter MARGARET JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTHWELL, and BOLINGBROKE HUME Come, my masters; the duchess, I tell you, expects performance of your promises. BOLINGBROKE Master Hume, we are therefore provided: