2 Henry the Sixth (The First Part of the Contention betwixt the Two Famous Houses of York and Lancaster) · chunk 3 of 32
Anonymous / Marlowe, Christopher / Shakespeare, William · published 1600 · first performed or written c.1590 (Annals) history · Pembroke's Men (?) T43 York and Lancaster: dynastic claims and typicality 0.82 · 551 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T43: henry, king, richard, warwick, york, edward, father, duke, crown, son.
For grief that all is lost that Warwick won. Sons. Anjoy and Maine, both given away at once, Why Warwick did win them, & must that than which we won with our swords, be given away with words? As I have read, our Kings of England were wont to have large dowries with their wives, but our king Henry gives away his own. Come sons, away, and look unto the main. Unto the Main, oh father, Maine is lost, Which Warwick by main force did win from France, Maine chance father you meant, but I mean Maine, Which I will win from France, or else be slain. Anjoy and Maine, both given unto the French, Cold news for me, for I had hope of France, Even as I have of fertile England. A day will come when York shall claim his own, And therefore I will take the Nevels parts, And make a show of love to proud Duke Humphrey: And when I spy advantage, claim the Crown, For that's the golden mark I seek to hit: Nor shall proud Lancaster usurp my right, Nor hold the sceptre in his childish fist, Nor wear the Diadem upon his head, Whose church-like humours fits not for a Crown: Then York be still a while till time do serve, Watch thou, and wake when others be asleep, To pry into the secrets of the state, Till Henry surfeiting in joys of love, With his new bride, and England's dear bought Queen, And Humphrey with the Peers be fallen at jars, Then will I raise aloft the milk-white Rose, With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfumed, And in my Standard bear the Arms of York, To graffle with the house of Lancaster: And force perforce, I'll make him yield the Crown, Whose bookish rule hath pulled fair England down. Why droops my Lord like over ripened corn, Hanging the head at Cearies plenteous load? Whatseest thou Duke Humphrey King Henry's Crown? Reach at it, and if thine arm be too short, Mine shall lengthen it. Art not thou a Prince, Uncle to the King and his Protector? Then what shouldst thou lack that might content thy mind? My lovely Nell, far be it from my heart, To think of Treasons 'gainst my sovereign lord, But I was troubled with a dream to night, And God I pray, it do betide no ill. What dreamed my lord? Good Humphrey tell it me, And i'll interpret it, and when that's done, I'll tell thee then what I did dream to night. This night when I was laid in bed, I dreamt that This my staff mine Office badge in Court, Was broke in two, and on the ends were placed, The heads of the Cardinal of Winchester, And William de la Pool first Duke of Suffolk. Tush my Lord, this signifies nought but this, That he that breaks a stick of Gloucester's grove, Shall for th'offence make forfeit of his head. But now my lord, i'll tell you what I dreamt, Me thought I was in the Cathedral Church At Westminster, and seated in the chair Where the Kings and Queens are crowned, and at my feet Henry and Margaret with a crown of gold, Stood ready to set it on my princely head.
seed 43: T8 · seed 44: T50 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
For griefe that all is loſt that Warwicke wonne. Sonnes. Anioy and Maine, both giuen away at once, Why Warwick did win them, & muſt that then which we won with our ſwords, be giuen away with wordes? As I haue read, our Kings of England were woont to haue large dowries with their wiues, but our king Henry giues away his owne. Come ſonnes, away, and looke vnto the maine. Vnto the Maine, oh father, Maine is loſt, VVhich Warwicke by maine force did win from France, Maine chance father you meant, but I meane Maine, Which I wil win from France, or els be ſlaine. Anioy and Maine, both giuen vnto the French, Cold newes for me, for I had hope of France, Euen as I haue of fertill England. A day will come when Yorke ſhall claime his owne, And therefore I will take the Neuels parts, And make a ſhow of loue to prowd Duke Humphrey: And when I ſpie aduantage, claime the Crowne, For thats the golden marke I ſeeke to hit: Nor ſhall prowd Lancaſter vſurp my right, Nor hold the ſcepter in his childiſh fiſt, Nor weare the Diademe vpon his head, Whoſe church-like humors fits not for a Crowne: Then Yorke be ſtill a while till time do ſerue, Watch thou, and wake when others be aſleepe, To prie into the ſecrets of the ſtate, Till Henry ſurfeiting in ioyes of loue, With his new bride, and Englands deare bought Queene, And Humphrey with the Peeres be falne at iarres, Then will I raiſe aloft the milke-white Roſe, With whoſe ſweete ſmell the ayre ſhall be perfumde, And in my Standard beare the Armes of Yorke, To graffle with the houſe of Lancaſter: And force perforce, Ile make him yeeld the Crowne, Whoſe bookiſh rule hath puld faire England downe. Why droopes my Lord like ouer ripened corne, Hanging the head at Cearies plenteous loade? Whatſeeſt thou Duke Humphrey King Henries Crowne? Reach at it, and if thine arme be too ſhort, Mine ſhall lengthen it. Art not thou a Prince, Vnckle to the King and his Protector? Then what ſhouldſt thou lacke that might content thy mind? My louely Nell, far be it from my heart, To thinke of Treaſons gainſt my ſoueraigne lord, But I was troubled with a dreame to night, And God I pray, it do betide no ill. What drempt my lord? Good Humphrey tel it me, And ile interpret it, and when thats done, Ile tell thee then what I did dreame to night. This night when I was laid in bed, I dreampt that This my ſtaffe mine Office badge in Court, Was broke in two, and on the ends were plac'd, of the Cardinall of Wincheſter, lliam de la Poole firſt Duke of Suffolke. Tuſh my Lord, this ſignifies nought but this, That he that breakes a ſticke of Gloſters groue, Shall for th'offence make forfeit of his head. But now my lord, ile tell you what I dreampt, Me thought I was in the Cathedrall Church At Weſtminſter, and ſeated in the chaire Where the Kings and Queenes are crownde, and at my feete Henry and Margaret with a crowne of gold, Stood ready to ſet it on my princely head.