ARGUMENT.

The duke of York enters London in triumph, and extorts from the imbecile Henry a recognition of his succession to the throne in return for an undisturbed possession of his regal dignity during life. The conflicting interests of each party soon lead to an infraction of this treaty: Richard is defeated and taken prisoner in a battle near Wakefield in Yorkshire, and soon after put to death; while the infant duke of Rutland, his son, is barbarously murdered in cold blood by Lord Clifford. The powerful assistance of the earl of Warwick enables the depressed Yorkists in their turn to defeat their opponents at Towton in Yorkshire, and place Edward duke of York on the throne. King Henry escapes to Scotland, but is at length committed to the Tower, while his queen and son repair to Paris to implore the aid of the French king, whose sympathy is weakened by the presence of Warwick, who is commissioned by his master to solicit the hand of the princess Bona, the sister of Lewis; when a messenger from England suddenly arrives with the intelligence of Edward's marriage with Lady Elizabeth Grey. Exasperated at this insult, Warwick forms a treaty of alliance with Margaret and Lewis, and speedily dethrones his sovereign, who effects his escape to Burgundy, where he obtains a supply of troops, and soon after lands at Ravenspurg: a great number of his adherents flock to his standard, and Warwick is routed and slain in a general engagement near Barnet. A still more decisive action at Tewkesbury destroys the relics of the Lancastrian forces: the prince of Wales is stabbed to the heart by the three royal brothers in the presence of his mother; while the captive monarch is himself assassinated in the Tower by Richard, duke of Gloster.

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 Gloster,
DUKE OF NORFOLK,

MARQUIS OF MONTAGUE,

EARL OF WARWICK,

EARL OF PEMBROKE,
LORD HASTINGS,
LORD STAFFORD,

SIR JOHN MORTIMER,

SIR HUGH MORTIMER,

his sons.

of the duke of York's party.

uncles to the duke of York.

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. TWO 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.
BONA, sister to the French queen.

Soldiers, and other Attendants on King Henry and King
Edward, Messengers, Watchmen, &c.

SCENE, during part of the third act, in France; during all the rest of the play, in England.

KING HENRY VI.

PART III.

ACT I.

Drums.

SCENE I.

London. The Parliament-house.

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.

War. I wonder, how the king escaped our hands. York. While we pursued the horsemen of the north,

He slily stole away, and left his men :

Whereat the great lord of Northumberland, Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat, 'Cheer'd up the drooping army; and himself,

'Lord Clifford, and lord Stafford, all abreast,

Charged our main battle's front, and, breaking in,

• Were by the swords of common soldiers slain.

Ed. Lord Stafford's father, duke of Bucking

ham,

4

Is either slain, or wounded dangerous.

I cleft his beaver with a downright blow :
That this is true, father, behold his blood.

[showing his bloody sword.

Mon. And, brother, here's the earl of Wilt[to York, showing his.

shire's blood,

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 deserved of all my

sons.

What, is your grace dead, my lord of Somerset ? Nor. Such hope have all the line of John of

Gaunt!

Rich. Thus do I hope to shake King Henry's

head.

War. And so do I. Victorious prince of York, Before I see thee seated in that throne

Which now the house of Lancaster usurps,

I vow, by heaven, these eyes shall never close.
This is the palace of the fearful king,

And this the regal seat: possess it, York;

For this is thine, and not king Henry's heirs'.
York. Assist me then, sweet Warwick, and I

will;

For hither we have broken in by force.

Nor. We'll all assist you: he that flies shall die. York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk. Stay by me, my

lords;

And, soldiers, stay, and lodge by me this night.

War. And, when the king comes, offer him no

violence,

Unless he seek to thrust you out by force.

[they retire. "York. The queen, this day, here holds her par

liament,

"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 deposed, whose cowardice

Hath made us by-words to our enemies.

York. Then leave me not, my lords; be reso

lute:

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 '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.

An allusion to falconry. The hawks had sometimes little bells hung on them, perhaps, to dare the birds, that is, to fright them from rising.'-Johnson.