Sound trumpets. Enter KING, QUEEN, and SOMERSET, on the terrace
KING HENRY
Was ever king that joy'd 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 long'd to be a King
As I do long and wish to be a subject.
Enter BUCKINGHAM and old CLIFFORD
BUCKINGHAM
Health and glad tidings to your Majesty!
KING HENRY
Why, Buckingham, is the traitor Cade surpris'd?
Or is he but retir'd to make him strong?
Enter, below, multitudes, with halters about their necks
CLIFFORD
He is fled, my lord, and all his powers do yield,
And humbly thus, with halters on their necks,
Expect your Highness' doom of life or death.
KING HENRY
Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting gates,
To entertain my vows of thanks and praise!
Soldiers, this day have you redeem'd your lives,
And show'd 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.
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!
MESSENGER
Please it your Grace to be advertised
The Duke of York is newly come from Ireland
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
The Duke of Somerset, whom he terms a traitor.
KING HENRY
Thus stands my state, 'twixt Cade and York distress'd;
Like to a ship that, having scap'd a tempest,
Is straightway calm'd, and boarded with a pirate;
But now is Cade driven back, his men dispers'd,
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-
And Somerset, we will commit thee thither
Until his army be dismiss'd from him.
SOMERSET
My lord,
I'll yield myself to prison willingly,
Or unto death, to do my country good.
KING HENRY
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;
For yet may England curse my wretched reign.
