Enter Salisbury. Sal. Now, by my sword, well hast thou fought By the mass, so did we all. -I thank you, Richard: You have defended me from imminent death. * Well, lords, we have not got that which we have:2 * 'Tis not enough our foes are this time fled, * Being opposites of such repairing nature. 3 York. I know, our safety is to follow them: (2) i. e. We have not secured that which we have acquired. Richard Plantagenet, duke of York. Edward, earl of March, afterwards King Edward IV. Edmund, earl of Rutland, George, afterwards duke of Clarence, Richard, afterwards duke of Glocester, Duke of Norfolk, Marquis of Montague, Earl of Warwick, Earl of Pembroke, Lord Hastings, Lord Stafford, of York. Sir John Mortimer, uncles to the duke Sir Hugh Mortimer, Henry, earl of Richmond, a youth. Lord Rivers, brother to Lady Grey. Sir William Stanley. Sir John Montgomery. Sir John Somerville. Tutor to Rutland. Mayor of York. Lieutenant of the Tower. A Nobleman. T00 Keepers. A Huntsman. A Son that has killed his father. A Father that has killed his son. Queen Margaret. Lady Grey, afterwards queen to Edward IV. his sons. Bona, sister to the French queen. Soldiers, and other attendants on King Henry and of the duke of York's Scene, during part of the third act, in France, during all the rest of the play, in England. party. ACT I. SCENE I.-London. The Parliament House. Drums. Some soldiers of York's party break in. Then, enter the Duke of York, Edward, Richard, Norfolk, Montague, Warwick, and others, with white roses in their hats. Warwick. I WONDER, how the king escap'd our hands. York. While we pursu'd the horsemen of the north, He slily stole away, and left his men: Edw. Lord Stafford's father, duke of Buckingham, [Showing his bloody sword. Mont. And, brother, here's the earl of Wiltshire's blood, [To York, showing his. Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'd. Rich. Speak thou for me, and tell them what I did. [Throwing down the duke of Somerset's head. * York. Richard hath best deserv'd of all my sons. What, is your grace dead, my lord of Somerset? Norf. Such hope have all the line of John of Gaunt! Rich. Thus do I bope to shake king Henry's head. War. And so do I. - Victorious prince of York, For hither we have broken in by force. my lords: And, soldiers, stay, and lodge by me this night. [They retire. * York. The queen, this day, here holds her parliament, * But little thinks we shall be of her council: *By words, or blows, here let us win our right. Rich. Arm'd as we are, let's stay within this house. War. The bloody parliament shall this be call'd, Unless Plantagenet, duke of York, be king; And bashful Henry depos'd, whose cowardice Hath made us by-words to our enemies. York. Then leave me not, my lords; be resolute; I mean to take possession of my right. War. Neither the king, nor he that loves him best, The proudest he that holds up Lancaster, Dares stir a wing, if Warwick shake his bells, (1) Hawks had sometimes little bells hung on them, perhaps to dare the birds; that is, to fright them from rising. I'll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares :Resolve thee, Richard; claim the English crown. [Warwick leads York to the throne, who seats himself. Flourish. Enter King Henry, Clifford, Northumberland, Westmoreland, Exeter, and others, with red roses in their hats. K. Hen. My lords, look where the sturdy rebel sits, Even in the chair of state! belike, he means (Back'd by the power of Warwick, that false peer,) To aspire unto the crown, and reign as king.Earl of Northumberland, he slew thy father;— And thine, lord Clifford; and you both have vow'd revenge On him, his sons, his favourites, and his friends. North. If I be not, heavens, be reveng'don me! Clif. The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn in steel. West. What, shall we suffer this? let's pluck him down: My heart for anger burns, I cannot brook it. K. Hen. Be patient, gentle earl of Westmoreland. Clif. Patience is for poltroons, and such as he; He durst not sit there had your father liv'd. My gracious lord, here in the parliament Let us assail the family of York. North. Well hast thou spoken, cousin; be it so. K. Hen. Ah, know you not, the city favours them, And they have troops of soldiers at their beck? Exe. But when the duke is slain, they'll quickly fly. K. Hen. Far be the thought of this from Henry's heart, To make a shambles of the parliament-house! Cousin of Exeter, frowns, words, and threats, Shall be the war that Henry means to use.[They advance to the Duke. Thou factious duke of York, descend my throne, And kneel for grace and mercy at my feet; I am thy sovereign. York. Thou art deceiv'd, I am thine. Exe. For shame, come down; he made thee duke of York. York. 'Twas my inheritance, as the earldom was. Exe. Thy father was a traitor to the crown. War. Exeter, thou art a traitor to the crown, In following this usurping Henry. Clif. Whom should he follow, but his natural king? War. True, Clifford; and that's Richard, duke of York. K. Hen. And shall I stand, and thou sit in my throne? York. It must and shall be so. Content thyself. War. Be duke of Lancaster, let him be king. West. He is both king and duke of Lancaster: And that the lord of Westmoreland shall maintain. War. And Warwick shall disproveit. You forget, That we are those, which chas'd you from the field, And slew your fathers, and with colours spread March'd through the city to the palace gates. North. Yes, Warwick, I remember it to my grief; And, by his soul, thou and thy house shall rue it. West. Plantagenet, of thee, and these thy sons, Thy kinsmen, and thy friends, I'll have more lives, Than drops of blood were in my father's veins. Clif. Urge it no more; lest that, instead of I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger, Thy father was, as thou art, duke of York; War. Talk not of France, sith1 thou hast lost it all. K. Hen. The lord protector lost it, and not I; When I was crown'd, I was but nine months old. Rich. You are old enough now, and yet, methinks you lose : Father, tear the crown from the usurper's head. Edw. Sweet father, do so; set it on your head. Mont. Good brother, [To York.] as thou lov'st and honour'st arms, Let's fight it out, and not stand cavilling thus. Rich. Sound drums and trumpets, and the king will fly. War. Plantagenet shall speak first :-hear him, lords; And be you silent and attentive too, K. Hen. Think'st thou, that I will leave my Wherein my grandsire, and my father, sat? War. But prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be king. crown. York. 'Twas by rebellion against his king. K. Hen. I know not what to say; my title's weak. Tell me, may not a king adopt an heir? York. What then? K. Hen. An if he may, then am I lawful king: For Richard, in the view of many lords, Resign'd the crown to Henry the Fourth; Whose heir my father was, and I am his. York. He rose against him, being his sovereign, And made him to resign his crown perforce. War. Suppose, my lords, he did it unconstrain'd, Think you, 'twere prejudicial to his crown ?? Exe. No; for he could not so resign his crown, But that the next heir should succeed and reign. K. Hen. Art thou against us, duke of Exeter? Ere. His is the right, and therefore pardon me. * York. Why whisper you, my lords, and answer not? Exe. My conscience tells me he is lawful king. K. Hen. All will revolt from me, and turn to him. North. Plantagenet, for all the claim thou lay'st, Think not, that Henry shall be so depos'd. War. Depos'd he shall be, in despite of all. North. Thou art deceiv'd: 'tis not thy southern '1) Since. power, Of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, nor of Kent,Which makes thee thus presumptuous and proud, Can set the duke up, in despite of me. Clif. King Henry, be thy title right or wrong, Lord Clifford vows to fight in thy defence: May that ground gape, and swallow me alive, worth-Where I shall kneel to him that slew my father! (2) i. e. Detrimental to the general rights of hereditary royalty. K. Hen. O Clifford, how thy words revive my [He stamps, and the soldiers show themselves. K. Hen. My lord of Warwick, hear me but one word ; • Let me, for this my life-time, reign as king. Q. Mar. Nay, go not from me, I will follow thee. K. Hen. Be patient, gentle queen, and I will stay Q. Mar. Who can be patient in such extremes? *Ah, wretched man! would I had died a maid, * And never seen thee, never borne thee son, * Seeing thou hast prov'd so unnatural a father! * Hath he deserv'd to lose his birthright thus? Hadst thou but lov'd him half so well as I; * Or felt that pain which I did for him once; * Or nourish'd him, as I did with my blood; there, York. Confirm the crown to me, and to mine heirs, Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood And thou shalt reign in quiet whilst thou liv'st. K. Hen. I am content: Richard Plantagenet, Enjoy the kingdom after my decease. Clif. What wrong is this unto the prince your son? Clif. Come, cousin, let us tell the queen these K. Hen. Ah, Exeter! Why should you sigh, my lord? K. Hen. Not for myself, lord Warwick, but my son, Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit. The crown to thee, and to thine heirs for ever; * To seek to put me down, and reign thyself. form. War. Long live king Henry!-Plantagenet, embrace him. K. Hen. And long live thou, and these thy forward sons! York. Now York and Lancaster are reconcil'd. Exe. Accurs'd be he, that seeks to make them foes! [Senet. The lords come forward. 'York. Farewell, my gracious lord; I'll to my * Rather than made that savage duke thine heir, * Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me: *The earl of Warwick, and the duke, enforc'd me. * Q. Mar. Enforc'd thee! art thou king, and I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch! As thou shalt reign but by their sufferance. * But thou preferr'st thy life before thine honour: The northern lords, that have forsworn thy colours, Q. Mar. Thou hast spoke too much already; get me? K. Hen. Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay with I'll see your grace: till then, I'll follow her. Hath made her break out into terms of rage! X |