Sound trumpets. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret,
and Somerset on the terrace, aloft. KING HENRY
Was ever king that joyed an earthly throne
And could command no more content than I?
No sooner was I crept out of my cradle
But I was made a king at nine months old.
Was never subject longed to be a king 5
As I do long and wish to be a subject! | At Kenilworth Castle, Henry wonders why he, as king, can't command that people be happier. Um, okay. |
Enter Buckingham and old Clifford. BUCKINGHAM
Health and glad tidings to your Majesty! KING HENRY
Why, Buckingham, is the traitor Cade surprised,
Or is he but retired to make him strong? Enter below multitudes with halters about their necks. CLIFFORD
He is fled, my lord, and all his powers do yield 10
And, humbly thus, with halters on their necks,
Expect your Highness’ doom of life or death. | Buckingham and Clifford enter with news about what just happened with Cade and the rebels. |
KING HENRY
Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting gates
To entertain my vows of thanks and praise!
Soldiers, this day have you redeemed your lives 15
And showed how well you love your prince and
country.
Continue still in this so good a mind,
And Henry, though he be infortunate,
Assure yourselves, will never be unkind. 20
And so with thanks and pardon to you all,
I do dismiss you to your several countries. ALL God save the King! God save the King! The multitudes exit. | Henry delivers a speech to the rebels below, telling them that they are
forgiven, and he won't ever be mean to them. Everyone cheers. |
Enter a Messenger. MESSENGER
Please it your Grace to be advertisèd
The Duke of York is newly come from Ireland 25
And, with a puissant and a mighty power
Of gallowglasses and stout kerns,
Is marching hitherward in proud array,
And still proclaimeth, as he comes along,
His arms are only to remove from thee 30
The Duke of Somerset, whom he terms a traitor. | Before anyone can celebrate, though, it's out of the frying pan and into
the fire: a messenger tells Henry that York is on his way from Ireland
with an army. He's on his way to settle the score with Somerset, who he
thinks is a traitor. |
KING HENRY
Thus stands my state, ’twixt Cade and York
distressed,
Like to a ship that, having scaped a tempest,
Is straightway calmed and boarded with a pirate. 35
But now is Cade driven back, his men dispersed,
And now is York in arms to second him.
I pray thee, Buckingham, go and meet him,
And ask him what’s the reason of these arms.
Tell him I’ll send Duke Edmund to the Tower.— 40
And, Somerset, we will commit thee thither
Until his army be dismissed from him. SOMERSET My lord,
I’ll yield myself to prison willingly,
Or unto death, to do my country good. 45 KING HENRY, to Buckingham
In any case, be not too rough in terms,
For he is fierce and cannot brook hard language. BUCKINGHAM
I will, my lord, and doubt not so to deal
As all things shall redound unto your good. KING HENRY
Come, wife, let’s in, and learn to govern better, 50
For yet may England curse my wretched reign. Flourish. They exit. | Henry knows better: he thinks York is attacking Henry's kingdom. His is constantly under attack, first by Cade, now by York. Why is that? Henry tells Buckingham to go deal with York. He helped convince Cade to cool it, so maybe he can do the same with York. In the meantime, Henry sends Somerset to the Tower to keep him safe from York. |