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first…begotten and the lawful heir Of Edward king； the third of that descent；
During whose reign the Percies of the north； Finding his usurpation most
unjust； Endeavour'd my advancement to the throne。 The reason mov'd
these warlike lords to this Was； for that…young Richard thus remov'd；
Leaving no heir begotten of his body… I was the next by birth and
parentage； For by my mother I derived am From Lionel Duke of Clarence；
third son To King Edward the Third； whereas he From John of Gaunt doth
bring his pedigree； Being but fourth of that heroic line。 But mark： as in this
haughty great attempt They laboured to plant the rightful heir； I lost my
liberty； and they their lives。 Long after this； when Henry the Fifth；
Succeeding his father Bolingbroke； did reign； Thy father； Earl of
Cambridge； then deriv'd From famous Edmund Langley； Duke of York；
Marrying my sister； that thy mother was； Again； in pity of my hard distress；
Levied an army； weening to redeem And have install'd me in the diadem；
But； as the rest； so fell that noble earl； And was beheaded。 Thus the
Mortimers； In whom the title rested； were suppress'd。 PLANTAGENET。
Of Which； my lord； your honour is the last。 MORTIMER。 True； and thou
seest that I no issue have； And that my fainting words do warrant death。
Thou art my heir； the rest I wish thee gather； But yet be wary in thy
studious care。 PLANTAGENET。 Thy grave admonishments prevail with
me。 But yet methinks my father's execution Was nothing less than bloody
tyranny。 MORTIMER。 With silence； nephew； be thou politic； Strong fixed
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King Henry VI； Part 1
is the house of Lancaster And like a mountain not to be remov'd。 But now
thy uncle is removing hence； As princes do their courts when they are
cloy'd With long continuance in a settled place。 PLANTAGENET。 O uncle；
would some part of my young years Might but redeem the passage of your
age！ MORTIMER。 Thou dost then wrong me； as that slaughterer doth
Which giveth many wounds when one will kill。 Mourn not； except thou
sorrow for my good； Only give order for my funeral。 And so； farewell； and
fair be all thy hopes； And prosperous be thy life in peace and war！ ＇Dies＇
PLANTAGENET。 And peace； no war； befall thy parting soul！ In prison
hast thou spent a pilgrimage； And like a hermit overpass'd thy days。 Well； I
will lock his counsel in my breast； And what I do imagine； let that rest。
Keepers； convey him hence； and I myself Will see his burial better than his
life。 Exeunt GAOLERS； hearing out the body of MORTIMER Here dies
the dusky torch of Mortimer； Chok'd with ambition of the meaner sort；
And for those wrongs； those bitter injuries； Which Somerset hath offer'd to
my house； I doubt not but with honour to redress； And therefore haste I to
the Parliament； Either to be restored to my blood； Or make my ill th'
advantage of my good。 Exit
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King Henry VI； Part 1
ACT III。
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King Henry VI； Part 1
SCENE 1。
London。 The Parliament House
Flourish。 Enter the KING； EXETER； GLOUCESTER； WARWICK；
SOMERSET； and SUFFOLK； the BISHOP OF WINCHESTER；
RICHARD PLANTAGENET； and others。 GLOUCESTER offers to put up
a bill； WINCHESTER snatches it； and tears it
WINCHESTER。 Com'st thou with deep premeditated lines； With
written pamphlets studiously devis'd？ Humphrey of Gloucester； if thou
canst accuse Or aught intend'st to lay unto my charge； Do it without
invention； suddenly； I with sudden and extemporal speech Purpose to
answer what thou canst object。 GLOUCESTER。 Presumptuous priest； this
place commands my patience； Or thou shouldst find thou hast dishonour'd
me。 Think not； although in writing I preferr'd The manner of thy vile
outrageous crimes； That therefore I have forg'd； or am not able Verbatim to
rehearse the method of my pen。 No； prelate； such is thy audacious
wickedness； Thy lewd； pestiferous； and dissentious pranks； As very infants
prattle of thy pride。 Thou art a most pernicious usurer； Froward by nature；
enemy to peace； Lascivious； wanton； more than well beseems A man of
thy profession and degree； And for thy treachery； what's more manifest In
that thou laid'st a trap to take my life； As well at London Bridge as at the
Tower？ Beside； I fear me； if thy thoughts were sifted； The King； thy
sovereign； is not quite exempt From envious malice of thy swelling heart。
WINCHESTER。 Gloucester； I do defy thee。 Lords； vouchsafe To give me
hearing what I shall reply。 If I were covetous； ambitious； or perverse； As
he will have me； how am I so poor？ Or how haps it I seek not to advance
Or raise myself； but keep my wonted calling？ And for dissension； who
preferreth peace More than I do； except I be provok'd？ No； my good lords；
it is not that offends； It is not that that incens'd hath incens'd the Duke： It is
because no one should sway but he； No one but he should be about the
King； And that engenders thunder in his breast And makes him roar these
accusations forth。 But he shall know I am as good GLOUCESTER。 As
good！ Thou bastard of my grandfather！ WINCHESTER。 Ay； lordly sir； for
what are you； I pray； But one imperious in another's throne？
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GLOUCESTER。 Am I not Protector； saucy priest？ WINCHESTER。 And
am not I a prelate of the church？ GLOUCESTER。 Yes； as an outlaw in a
castle keeps； And useth it to patronage his theft。 WINCHESTER。
Unreverent Gloucester！ GLOUCESTER。 Thou art reverend Touching thy
spiritual function； not thy life。 WINCHESTER。 Rome shall remedy this。
WARWICK。 Roam thither then。 SOMERSET。 My lord； it were your duty
to forbear。 WARWICK。 Ay； see the bishop be not overborne。 SOMERSET。
Methinks my lord should be religious； And know the office that belongs to
such。 WARWICK。 Methinks his lordship should be humbler； It fitteth not
a prelate so to plead。 SOMERSET。 Yes； when his holy state is touch'd so
near。 WARWICK。 State holy or unhallow'd； what of that？ Is not his Grace
Protector to the King？ PLANTAGENET。 ＇Aside＇ Plantagenet； I see； must
hold his tongue； Lest it be said 'Speak； sirrah； when you should； Must your
bold verdict enter talk with lords？' Else would I have a fling at Winchester。
KING HENRY。 Uncles of Gloucester and of Winchester； The special
watchmen of our English weal； I would prevail； if prayers might prevail
To join your hearts in love and amity。 O； what a scandal is it to our crown
That two such noble peers as ye should jar！ Believe me； lords； my tender
years can tell Civil dissension is a viperous worm That gnaws the bowels
of the commonwealth。 ＇A noise within： 'Down with the tawny coats！'＇
What tumult's this？ WARWICK。 An uproar； I dare warrant； Begun through
malice of the Bishop's men。 ＇A noise again： 'Stones！ Stones！'＇
Enter the MAYOR OF LONDON； attended
MAYOR。 O； my good lords； and virtuous Henry； Pity the city of
London； pity us！ The Bishop and the Duke of Gloucester's men； Forbidden
late to carry any weapon； Have fill'd their pockets full of pebble stones
And； banding themselves in contrary parts； Do p