Act 3 — Scene I. Bristol. Before the Castle.
Reading edition
Enter Bolingbroke, York, Northumberland, Ross, Percy, Willoughby, with Bushy and Green, prisoners.[1290]
Boling. Bring forth these men. Bushy and Green, I will not vex your souls— Since presently your souls must part your bodies— With too much urging your pernicious lives,[1291] For 'twere no charity; yet, to wash your blood5 From off my hands, here in the view of men I will unfold some causes of your deaths.[1292] You have misled a prince, a royal king, A happy gentleman in blood and lineaments, By you unhappied and disfigured clean:10 You have in manner with your sinful hours Made a divorce betwixt his queen and him, Broke the possession of a royal bed[1293] And stain'd the beauty of a fair queen's cheeks With tears drawn from her eyes by your foul wrongs.[1294]15 Myself, a prince by fortune of my birth, Near to the king in blood, and near in love Till you did make him misinterpret me,[1295] Have stoop'd my neck under your injuries, And sigh'd my English breath in foreign clouds,[1296]20 Eating the bitter bread of banishment; Whilst you have fed upon my signories,[1297] Dispark'd my parks and fell'd my forest woods, From my own windows torn my household coat,[1298] Razed out my imprese, leaving me no sign,[1299]25 Save men's opinions and my living blood, To show the world I am a gentleman. This and much more, much more than twice all this, Condemns you to the death. See them deliver'd over[1300] To execution and the hand of death.30 Bushy. More welcome is the stroke of death to me Than Bolingbroke to England. Lords, farewell.[1301] Green. My comfort is that heaven will take our souls And plague injustice with the pains of hell. Boling. My Lord Northumberland, see them dispatch'd.35
[Exeunt Northumberland and others, with the prisoners.[1302]
Uncle, you say the queen is at your house; For God's sake, fairly let her be entreated:[1303] Tell her I send to her my kind commends; Take special care my greetings be deliver'd.[1304] York. A gentleman of mine I have dispatch'd40 With letters of your love to her at large. Boling. Thanks, gentle uncle. Come, lords, away,[1305] To fight with Glendower and his complices:[1306] Awhile to work, and after holiday. [Exeunt.