Character Analysis
Walter Whitmore and the lieutenant are on the ship that Suffolk has been put on to get him out of England. The conversation these men have with the high-and-mighty Suffolk is a jaw-dropper.
Up until this point, we've seen people follow Suffolk's commands, whether they want to or not, since Suffolk is such a powerful figure. The shipmates, however, are not impressed by Suffolk's arrogance and his status. They tell him he should be ashamed of himself for kissing the queen, smiling at Gloucester's death, losing lands in France, and calculating against a guiltless king.
Bam. Then Whitmore up and beheads Suffolk, despite the fact that Suffolk is all, "I can't be killed by someone lower in status than I am; it just wouldn't be right."
Whitmore, shall we say, does not share this concern.