Enter Young CLIFFORD. 1 [Exit. Y. Clif. Shame and confusion! all is on the rout! To cease! - Wast thou ordain'd, dear father, And in thy reverence, and thy chair-days, thus For, underneath an alehouse' paltry sign, Q. Mar. Away, my lord! you are slow; for shame, away! K. Hen. Can we outrun the heavens? good Margaret, stay. Q. Mar. What are you made of? you'll not fight, nor fly: Now is it manhood, wisdom, and defence, 3 A dreadful wager, a tremendous stake. Alarum: Retreat. Flourish; then enter YORK, RICHARD PLANTAGENET, WARWICK, and Soldiers, with Drum and Colours. York. Of Salisbury, who can report of him; Rich. But still, where danger was, still there I met him; So was his will in his old feeble body. But, noble as he is, look, where he comes. Enter SALISBURY. Sal. Now, by my sword, well hast thou fought to-day; By the mass, so did we all. I thank you, Richard: RICHARD PLANTAGENET, Duke of York. EDWARD, Earl of March, afterwards King Edward the Fourth, EDMUND, Earl of Rutland, GEORGE, afterwards Duke of Clarence, RICHARD, afterwards Duke of Gloster, MARQUIS OF MONTAGUE, EARL OF WARWICK, EARL OF PEMBROKE, LORD HASTINGS, LORD STAFFord, his Sons. of the Duke of York's Party. SIR JOHN MORTIMER, SIR HUGH MORTIMER, Uncles to the Duke of York. HENRY, Earl of Richmond, a Youth. LORD RIVERS, Brother to Lady Grey. SIR WILLIAM STANLEY. SIR JOHN MONTGOMERY. Lieutenant of the Tower. A Huntsman. A Son that has killed his Father. A Father that has killed his Son. QUEEN MARGARET. LADY GREY, afterwards Queen to Edward the Fourth. Soldiers, and other Attendants on King Henry and SCENE, during part of the third act, in France; during all the rest of the play, in England. 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. War. 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 : Is cither slain, or wounded dangerous : I cleft his beaver with a downright blow; [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 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, [They retire. York. The queen, this day, here holds her parliament. But little thinks we shall be of her council: Rich. Arm'd as we are, let's stay within this house. 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. 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'd on 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? Ere. 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! 1 Hawks had sometimes little bells hung on them, perhaps to dare the birds; that is, to fright them from rising. York. Ere. For shame, come down; he made thee duke of York. Thou art deceiv'd, I am thine. York. 'Twas my inheritance, as the earldom was. Ere. 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 disprove it. 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 words, I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger, As shall revenge his death, before I stir. War. Poor Clifford! how I scorn his worthless threats! York. Will you, we show our title to the crown? If not, our swords shall plead it in the field. K. Hen. What title hast thou, traitor, to the crown? Thy father was, as thou art, duke of York; War. Talk not of France, sith 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 And be you silent and attentive too, Wherein my grandsire, and my father, sat? War. But prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be king. crown. K. Hen. An if he may, then am I lawful king: The crown to thee, and to thine heirs for ever; For Richard, in the view of many lords, York. He rose against him, being his sovereign, Ere. No; for he could not so resign his crown, Exe. My conscience tells me, he is lawful king. War. Depos'd he shall be, in despite of all. North. Thou art deceiv'd: 'tis not thy southern power, Of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, nor of Kent,- Clif. King Henry, be thy title right or wrong, York. Henry of Lancaster, resign thy crown: - War. Do right unto this princely duke of York: [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. And thou shalt reign in quiet while thou liv'st. K. Hen. I am content: Richard Plantagenet, Clif. What wrong is this unto the prince your son? Clif. Come, cousin, let us tell the queen these news. West. Farewell, faint-hearted and degenerate king. North. Be thou a prey unto the house of York, Conditionally, that here thou take an oath K. Hen. And long live thou, and these thy for- York. Now York and Lancaster are reconcil'd. War. And I'll keep London, with my soldiers. K. Hen. And I, with grief and sorrow, to the [Going. Q. Mar. Nay, go not from me, I will follow thee. Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me: I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch! [Exeunt NORTHUmberland, CliffoRD, and WESTMORELAND. War. Turn this way, Henry, and regard them not. Exe. They seek revenge, and therefore will not yield. K. Hen. Ah, Exeter! But thou preferr'st thy life before thine honour: The northern lords, that have forsworn thy colours, K. Hen. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me speak. Q. Mar. Thou hast spoke too much already; get thee gone. K. Hen. Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay with me? Q. Mar. Ay, to be murder'd by his enemies. Prince. When I return with victory from the field, I'll see your grace: till then, I'll follow her. Q. Mar Come, son, away; we may not linger thus. [Exeunt QUEEN MARGARET and the PRINCE. K. Hen. Poor queen! how love to me, and to her son, Hath made her break out into terms of rage! SCENE II. A Room in Sandal Castle, near Wakefield, in Yorkshire. Enter EDWARD, RICHARD, and MONTAGUE. Rich. Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave. Edw. No, I can better play the orator. York. Why, how now, sons and brother, at a strife? What is your quarrel? how began it first? Edw. No quarrel, but a slight contention. Rich. About that which concerns your grace, and us; The crown of England, father, which is yours. York. Mine, boy? not till king Henry be dead. Rich. Your right depends not on his life, or death. Edw. Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it now: By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe, It will outrun you, father in the end. York. I took an oath that he should quietly reign. Edw. I'd break a thousand oaths, to reign one year. Rich. No; God forbid, your grace should be for sworn. York. I shall be, if I claim by open war. Rich. I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear me speak. York. Thou canst not, son; it is impossible. Rich. An oath is of no moment, being not took Before a true and lawful magistrate, That hath authority over him that swears: Henry had none, but did usurp the place; 2 Peck. Then, seeing 'twas he that made you to depose, But, stay; What news? Why com'st thou in such post? Mess. The queen, with all the northern earls and lords, Intend here to besiege you in your castle : Mont. Brother, I go; I'll win them, fear it not: And thus most humbly I do take my leave. [Erit. Enter SIR JOHN and SIR HUGH MORTIMER. York. Sir John, and sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles! You are come to Sandal in a happy hour; Sir John. She shall not need, we'll meet her in the field. York. What, with five thousand men? Rich. Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need. A woman's general; What should we fear? [A March afar off. Edw. I hear their drums; let's set our men in order ; And issue forth, and bid them battle straight. I doubt not, uncle, of our victory. SCENE III. Alarums: Excursions. [Alarum. Exeunt. Plains near Sandal Castle. Enter RUTLAND, and his Tutor. Rut. Ah, whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands! Ah, tutor! look, where bloody Clifford comes! 3 Of sound judgment. |