Page 537 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

So help me God, as I have watched the night - [110]
Ay, night by night, in studying good for England!
That doit that e’er I wrested from the king,
Or any groat I hoarded to my use,
Be brought against me at my trial day!
No: many a pound of mine own proper store, [115]
Because I would not tax the needy commons,
Have I dispursèd to the garrisons
And never asked for restitution.

WINCHEST ER

It serves you well, my lord, to say so much.

GLOUCEST ER

I say no more than truth, so help me God! [120]

Y ORK

In your protectorship you did devise
Strange tortures for offenders, never heard of,
That England was defamed by tyranny.

GLOUCEST ER

Why ’tis well known that, whiles I was Protector,
Pity was all the fault that was in me: [125]
For I should melt at an offender’s tears,
And lowly words were ransom for their fault.
Unless it were a bloody murderer
Or foul felonious thief that fleeced poor passengers,
I never gave them condign punishment. [130]
Murder indeed, that bloody sin, I tortured
Above the felon or what trespass else.

SUFFOLK

My lord, these faults are easy, quickly answered;
But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge
Whereof you cannot easily purge yourself. [135]
I do arrest you in his highness’ name,
And here commit you to my Lord Cardinal
To keep until your further time of trial.