sons.

I cleft his beaver with a downright blow; (Back'd by the power of Warwick, that false peer,) That this is true, father, behold his blood. Î'o aspire unto the crown, and reign as king.

[Showing his bloody sword. Earl of Northumberland, he slew thy father ;Mont. And, brother, here's the earl of Wilt- And thine, lord Clifford; and you both have shire's blood, [To York, showing his.

vow'd revenge Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'd. On him, his sons, his favourites, and his friends. Rich. Speak thou for me, and tell them what I North. If I be not, heavens, be reveng'd on me! did.

Clif. The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn [Throwing down the duke of Somerset's in steel. head.

West. What, shall we suffer this ? let's pluck York. Richard hath best desery'd of all my him down :

My heart for anger burns, I cannot brook it. What, is your grace dead, my lord of Somerset ? K. Hen. Be patient, gentle earl of WestmoreNorf. Such hope have all the line of John of land. Gaunt!

Clif. Patience is for poltroons, and such as he: Rich. Thus do I hope to shake king Henry's He durst not sit there, had your father liv'd. head.

My gracious lord, here in the parliament
War. And so do I.–Victorious prince of York, Let us assail the family of York.
Before I see thee seated in that throne

North. Well hast thou spoken, cousin; be it so. Which now the house of Lancaster usurps, K. Hen. Ah, know you not, the city favours I vow by heaven, these eyes shall never close.

them, This is the palace of the fearful king,

And they have troops of soldiers at their beck? And this the regal seat: possess it, York ; Exe. But, when the duke is slain, they'll For this is thine, and not king Henry's heirs. quickly fly. York. Assist me then, sweet Warwick, and I K. Hen. Far be the thought of this from will ;

Henry's heart, For hither we have broken in by force. To make a shambles of the parliament-house ! Norf. We'll all assist you; he, that flies, shall Cousin of Exeter, frowns, words, and threats, die.

Shall be the war that Henry means to use.York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk, Stay by me,

[They advance to the Duke. my lords ;

Thou factious duke of York, descend my throne, And, soldiers, stay, and lodge by me this night. And kneel for grace and mercy at my feet; War. And, when the king comes, offer him I am thy sovereign. no violence,

York. Thou art deceiv'd, I am thine. Unless he seek to thrust you out by force. Exe. For shame, come down; he made thee

Ć They retire. duke of York. York. The queen, this day, here holds her York. 'Twas my inheritance, as the earldom

parliament, But little thinks we shall be of her council : Exe. Thy father was a traitor to the crown. By words, or blows, here let us win our right. War. Exeter, thou art a traitor to the crown, Rich. Árm'd as we are, let's stay within this in following this usurping Henry. house.

Clif. Whom should he follow, but his natural War. The bloody parliament shall this be call’d, king ? Unless Plantagenet, duke of York, be king; War. True, Clifford ; and that's Richard,

l And bashful #enry depos’d, whose cowardice

duke of York. Hath made us by-words to our enemies.

K. Hen. And shall I stand, and thou sit in York. Then leavemenot, my lords; beresolute; I mean to take possession of my right.

York. It must and shall be so. Content thyself. War. Neither the king, nor he that loves him War. Be duke of Lancaster, let him be king. best,

West. He is both king and duke of Lancaster; The proudest he that holds up Lancaster, And that the lord of Westmoreland shall maintain. Dares stir a wing, if Warwick shake his bells. War. And Warwick shall disprove it. You I'll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares :

forget, Resolve thee, Richard ; claim the English crown. That weare those which chas'd you from thefield,

[ Warwick leads York to the throne, who And slew your fathers, and with colours spread seats himself.

March'd through the city to the palace gates.

North. Yes, Warwick, I remember it to my Flourish. Enter King HENRY, CLIFFORD,

grief; NORTHUMBERLAND, WESTMORELAND, EXE- And, by his soul, thou and thy house shall rue it. TER, and Others, with red roses in their hats.

West. Plantagenet, of thee, and these thy sons, K. Hen. My lords, look where the sturdy Thy kinsmen, and thy friends, I'll have more rebel sits,

lives, Even in the chair of state ! belike, he means, Than drops of blood were in my father's veins.

was.

my throne ?

my heart!

Clif. Urge it no more ; sest that, instead of

Exe. No; for he could not so resign his crown, words,

But that the next heir should succeed and reign. I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger,

K. Hen. Art thou against us, duke of Exeter ? As shall revenge his death, before I stir.

Exe. His is the right, and therefore pardon me. War. Poor Clifford ! how I scorn his worth- York. Why whisper you, my lords, and anless threats!

swer not? York. Will you, weshow our title to the crown? Exe. My conscience tells me he is lawful king. If not, our swords shall plead it in the field. K. Hen. All will revolt from me, and turn to him. K. Hen. What title hast thou, traitor, to the North. Plantagenet, for all the claim thou lay'st, crown?

Think not, that Henry shall be so depos'd. Thy father was, as thou art, duke of York ; War. Depos’d he shall be, in despite of all. Thy grandfather, Roger Mortimer, earl of March: North. Thou art deceiv'd : 'tis not thy southI am the son of Henry the fifth,

ern power, Who made the Dauphin and the French to stoop, Of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, nor of Kent,And seiz'd upon their towns and provinces. Which makes thee thus presumptuous and War. Talk not of France, sith thou hast lost proud, it all.

Can set the duke up, in despite of me. K. Hen. The lord protector lost it, and not I; Clif. King Henry, be thy title right or wrong, When I was crown'd, I was but nine months old. Lord Clifford vows to fight in thy defence : Rich. You are old enough now, and yet, me- May that ground gape, and swallow me alive, thinks, you lose e:

Where I shall kneel to him that slew my father ! Father, tear the crown from the usurper's head. K. Hen. O Clifford, how thy words revive

Edw. Sweet father, do so; set it on your head. Mont. Good brother, [To York.] as thou York. Henry of Lancaster, resign thy crown:lov'st and honour'st arms,

What mutter you, or what conspire you, lords ? Let's fight it out, and not stand cavilling thus. War. Do right untothis princely dukeof York; Rich. Sound drums and trumpets, and the Or I will fill the house with armed men, king will fly.

And o'er the chair of state where now he sits, York. Sons, peace!

Write

up his title with usurping blood. K. Hen. Peace thou ! and give king Henry [He stamps, and the Soldiers show themselves. leave to speak.

K. Hen. My lord of Warwick, hear me but War. Plantagenet shall speak first:-hear him, one word ;lords;

Let me, for this my life-time, reign as king.. And be you silent and attentive too,

York. Confirm the crown to me, and to mine For he that interrupts him shall not live.

heirs, K. Hen. Think'st thou that I will leave my And thou shalt reign in quiet, while thou liv'st. kingly throne,

K. Her. I am content: Richard Plantagenet, Wherein my grandsire, and my father, sat ? Enjoy the kingdom after my decease. No: first shall war unpeople this my realm ; Clif: What wrong is this unto the prince your Ay, and their colours-often borne in France ;

son? And now in England, to our heart's great sor- War. What good is this to England, and himrow,

self? Shall be my winding sheet.—Why faint you, West. Base, fearful, and despairing Henry! lords?

Clif. How hast thou injur’dboth thyself and us? My title's good, and better far than his.

West. I cannot stay to hear these articles. War. But prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be North. Nor I. king.

Clif. Come, cousin, let us tell the

queen

these K. Hen. Henry the fourth by conquest got the

West. Farewell, faint-hearted and degenerate York. 'Twas by rebellion against his king.

king, K. Hen. I know not what to say ; my title’s In whose cold blood no spark of honour bides. Weak.

North. Be thou a prey unto the house of York, Tell me, may not a king adopt an heir ? And die in bands for this unmanly deed ! York. What then?

Clif. In dreadful war may’st thou be overcome ! K. Hen. An if he may, then am I lawful king: Or live in peace, abandon'd, and despis’d ! For Richard, in the view of many lords,

[Excunt Northumberland, Cliford, and Resign'd the crown to Henry the fourth ;

Westmoreland. Whose beir my father was, and I am his. War. Turn this way, Henry, and regard them

York. He rose against him, being his sovereign, And made him to resign his crown perforce.

Ere. They seek revenge, and therefore will War. Suppose, my lords, he did it uncon- not yield. strain'd,

K. Hen. Ah, Exeter !
Think you, 'twere prejudicial to his crown? War. Why should you sigh, my lord ?

news.

crown.

not.

K. Hen. Not for myself, lord Warwick, but | And creep into it far before thy time? my son,

Warwick is chancellor, and the lord of Calais; Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit.

Stern Falconbridge commands the narrow seas; But, be it as it may :-I here entail

The duke is made protector of the realm ; The crown to thee, and to thine heirs for ever ; And yet shalt thou be safe? such safety finds Conditionally, that here thou take an oath The trembling lamb, env ned with wolves. To cease this civil war, and, whilst I live, Had I been there, which am a silly woman, To honour me as thy king and sovereign ; The soldiers should have toss'd me on their pikes, And neither by treason, nor hostility,

Before I would have granted to that act. To seek to put me down, and reign thyself. But thou preferr'st thy life before thine honour : York. This oath I willingly take, and will And seeing thou dost, I here divorce myself,

perforin. [Coming from the throne. Both from thy table, Henry, and thy bed, War. Long live king Henry —Plantagenet, Until that act of parliament be repeal'd, embrace him.

Whereby my son is disinherited. K. Hen. And long live thou, and these thy The northern lords, that have forsworn thy coforward sons !

lours, York. Now York and Lancaster are reconcild. Will follow mine, if once they see them spread: Exe. Accurs'd be he, that seeks to make them and spread they shall be ; to thy foul disgrace,

foes ! [Senet. The Lords come forward. And utter ruin of the house of York. York. Farewell, my gracious lord ; I'll to my Thus do I leave thee :-Come, son, let's away; castle.

Our army's ready; come, we'll after them. War. And I'll keep London, with my soldiers. k. Hen. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me Norf. And I to Norfolk, with my followers. speak. Mont. And I unto the sea, from whence I came. Q. Mar. Thou hast spoke too much already;

[Exeunt York and his Sons, Warwick, get thee gone.

Norfolk, Montague, Solliers, and K. Jien. Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay
Attendants.

with me? K. Hen. And I, with grief and sorrow, to the Q. Mar. Ay, to be murder'd by his enemies. court.

Prince. When I return with victory from the

field, Enter Queen MARGARET and the Prince of

I'll see your grace : till then, 171 follow her. WALES.

Q. Mar. Come, son, away; we may not linger Exe. Here comes the queen, whose looks be- thus. wray her anger :

[Excunt Queen Margaret, and the Prince. I'll steal away.

K. Ħin. Poor queen! how love to me, and to K. Hen. Exeter, so will I. [Going. Q. Mar. Nay, go not from me, I will follow thee. Hath made her break out into terms of rage ! K.Hen. Be patient, gentlequeen, and I will stay. Reveng’d may she be on that hateful duke ;

Q. Mar. Who can be patient in such extremes? Whose haughty spirit, winged with desire, Ah, wretched man! 'would I had died a maid, Will cost my crown, and, like an empty eagle, And never seen thee, never borne thee son, Tire on the Aesh of me, and of my son! Seeing thou hast prov'd so unnatural a father! The loss of those three lords torments my heart: Hath he deserv'd to lose his birthright thus ? I'll write unto them, and entreat them fair ;Hadst thou but lov'd him half so well as I ; Come, cousin, you shall be the messenger. Or felt that pain, which I did for him once ; Exe. And I, I hope, shall reconcile them all. Or nourish'd him, as I did with my blood;

[Excunt. Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there,

SCENE II.-A room in Sandal Castle, near Rather than made that sa vage duke thine heir,

Wahefield, in Yorkshire.
And disinherited thine only son.

Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me: Enter EDWARD, RICHARD, and MONTAGUE.
If you be king, why should not I succeed?
K. Hen. Pardon ine, Margaret ;-pardon me,

Rich. Brother, though I be youngest, give me sweet son ;

leave. The earl of Warwick, and the duke, enforc'd me. Edw. No, I can better play the orator. Q. Mar. Enforc'd thee! art thou king, and Nont. But I have reasons strong and forcible.

wilt be forc'd ? I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch !

Enter YORK. Thou hast undone thyself, thy son, and me;

York. Why, how now, sons and brother, at a And given unto the house of York such head,

strife? As thou shalt reign but by their sufferance. What is your quarrel ? how began it first ? To entail him and his heirs unto the crown, Edw. No quarrel, but a slight contention, What is it but to make thy sepulchre,

York. About what?

her son,

now:

be great,

Rich. About that, which concerns your grace, | With powerful policy strengthen themselves, and us;

And trust not simple Henry, nor his oaths. The crown of England, father, which is yours. Mont. Brother, I go; I'll win them, fear it not:

York. Mine, boy? not till king Henry be dead. And thus most humbly I do take my leave. Rich. Your right depends not on his life, or

[Exit. death.

Enter Sir John and Sir Hugh MORTIMER. Edw. Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it

York. Sir John, and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine Bygiving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe, uncles ! It will outrun you, father, in the end.

You are come to Sandal in a happy hour ; Pork. I took an oath, that he should quietly The army of the queen mean to besiege us. reign.

Sir John. She shall not need, we'll meet her Edw. But, for a kingdom, any oath may be in the field. broken :

York. What, with five thousand men ? ra break a thousand oaths, to reign one year. Rich. Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need. Rich. No; God forbid, your grace should be A woman's general ; What should we fear? forsworn.

[ A march afur off York. I shall be, if I claim by open war.

Edw. I hear their drums ; let's set our men in Rich. I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear order; me speak.

And issue forth, and bid them battle straight. York. Thou canst not, son ; it is impossible. York. Five men to twenty !—though the odds

Rich. An oath is of no moment, being not took Before a true and lawful magistrate,

I doubt not, uncle, of our victory. That hath authority over him that swears : Many a battle have I won in France, Henry had none, but did usurp the place ; When as the enemy hath been ten to one; Then, seeing 'twas he that made you to depose, Why should I not now have the like success ? Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous.

[Alarum. Exeunt. Therefore, to arms. And, father, do but think, How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown;

SCENE III.-Plains near Sandal Castle. Within whose circuit is Elysium,

Alarums : Excursions. Enter RTLAND and his And all that poets feign of bliss and joy.

Tutor. Why do we linger thus ? I cannot rest, Until the white rose, that I wear, be dy'd Rut. Ah, whither shall I fly to 'scape their Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry's heart.

lands? York. Richard, enough ; I will be king, or Ah, tutor! look, where bloody Clifford comes !

die.Brother, thou shalt to London presently,

Enter CLIFFORD, and Soldiers. And whet on Warwick to this enterprise. Clif. Chaplain, away! thy priesthood saves Thou, Richard, shalt unto the duke of Norfolk, And tell him privily of our intent.

As for the brat of this accursed duke, You, Edward, shall unto my lord Cobham, Whose father slew my father, he shall die. With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise : Tut. And I, my lord, will bear hiin company. In them I trust; for they are soldiers,

Clif. Soldiers, away with him. Witty and courteous, liberal, full of spirit.- Tüt. Ah, Clifford ! murder not this innocent While you are thus employ'd, what resteth more, child, But that I seek occasion how to rise ;

Lest thou be hated both of God and man. And yet the king not privy to my drift,

[Erit, forced off by Soldiers. Nor any of the house of Lancaster ?

Clif. How now! is he dead already ? Or, is

it fear, Enter u Messenger.

That makes him close his eyes ?-I'll open them. But, stay; What news ? Why com’st thou in Rut. So looks the pert-up lion o’er the wretch such post ?

That trembles under his devouring paws: Mess. The queen, with all the northern earls And so he walks, insulting o'er his prey; and lords,

And so he comes to rend his limbs asunder. Intend here to besiege you in your castle: Ah, gentle Clifford, kill me with thy sword, She is hard by with twenty thousand men ; And not with such a cruel threat'ning look. And therefore fortify your hold, my lord, Sweet Clifford, hear me speak before I die; York. Ay, with my sword. What! think’st i ain too mean a subject for thy wrath, thou that we fear them?

Be thou reveng'd on men, and let me live. Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me ;- Clif. In vain thou speak'st, poor boy; my faMy brother Montague shall post to London:

ther's blood Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest, Hath stopp'd the passage where thy words slrould Whore we have left protectors of the king,

thy life.

waves.

Rut. Then let my father's blood open it again; With bootless labour swim against the tide, He is a man, and, Clifford, cope with him. And spend her strength with over-matching Clif. Had I thy brethren here, their lives, and

(A short alarum within. thine,

Ah, hark! the fatal followers do pursue ; Were not revenge sufficient for me :

And I am faint, and cannot fly their fury: No, if I digg'd up thy forefathers' graves, And, were I strong, I would not shun their fury: And hung their rotten coffins up in chains, The sands are number'd, that make up my life; It could not slake mine ire, nor ease my heart. Here must I stay, and here my life must end. The sight of any of the house of York Is as a fury to torment my soul ;

Enter Queen MARGARET, CLIFFORD, NORAnd till I root out their accursed line,

THUMBERLAND, and Soldiers. And leave not one alive, I live in hell.

Come, bloody Clifford,-rough NorthunberTherefore

[Lifting his hand. land, Rut. O, let me pray before I take my death :- I dare your quenchless fury to more rage ; To thee I pray ; Sweet Clifford, pity me! I am your butt, and I abide

your shot. Chif. Such pity as my rapier's point affords. North. Yield to our mercy, proud Plantagenet. Rut. I never did thee harm ; Why wilt thou Clif. Ay, to such mercy, as this ruthless arm, slay me?

With

downright payment, show'd unto my father. Clif. Thy father hath.

Now Phaeton hath tumbled from his car, Rut. But 'twas ere I was born.

And made an evening at the noontide prick. Thou hast one son, for his sake pity me;

York. My ashes, as the phænix, may bring Lest in revenge thereof,--sith God is just,

forth He be as miserably slain as I.

A bird, that will revenge upon you all : Ah, let me live in prison all my days; And, in that hope, I throw mine eyes to heaven, And when I give occasion of offence,

Scorning whate'er you can afflict me with. Then let me die, for now thou hast no cause. Why come you not? what! multitudes, and Clif. No cause ?

fear ? Thy father slew my father ; therefore, die. Clif. So cowards fight, when they can fly no [Clifford stabs him.

further ; Rut. Dii faciant, laudis summa sit ista tuæ ! So doves do peck the falcon's piercing talons ;

[ Dies. So desperate thieves, all hopeless of their lives, Clif: Plantagenet ! I come, Plantagenet! Breathe out invectives 'gainst the officers. And this thy son's blood cleaving to my blade, York. O, Clifford, but

bethink thee once again, Shall rust upon my weapon, till thy blood, And in thy thought o'er-run my former time: Congeald with this, do make me wipe off both. And, if thou canst for blushing, view this face;

[Erit. And bite thy tongue, that slanders him with

cowardice, SCENE IV.-The same.

Whose frown hath made thee faint and fly ere

this. Alarum. Enter YORK.

Clif. I will not bandy with thee word for word; York. The army of the queen hath got the But buckle with thee blows, twice two for one. field :

[Draus. My uncles both are slain in rescuing me; Q. Mar. Hold, valiant Clifford! for a thouAnd all my followers to the eager foe Turn back, and fly, like ships before the wind, I would prolong awhile the traitor's life :Or lambs pursu'd by hunger-starved wolves. Wrath makes him deaf: speak thou, NorthumMy sons--God knows, what hath bechanced berland. them :

North. Hold, Clifford; do not honour him so But this I know,—they have demean'd them

much, selves

To prick thy finger, though to wound his heart: Like men born to renown, by life or death. What valour were it, when a cur doth grin, Three times did Richard make a lane to me; For one to thrust his hand between his teeth, And thrice cried, -Courage, father ! fight it out! When he might spurn him with his foot away? And full as oft came Edward to my side, It is war's prize to take all vantages; With purple falchion, painted to the hilt And ten to one is no impeach of valour. In blood of those that had encounter'd him :

[They lay hands on York, who struggles. And when the hardiest warriors did retire, Clif. Ay, ay, so strives the woodcock with the Richard cried, -Charge! and give no foot of gin. ground !

North. So doth the coney struggle in the net. And cried, -A crown, or else a glorious tomb !

[York is taken prisoner. A sceptre, or an earthly sepulchre !

York. So triumph thieves upon their conWith this, we charg'd again : but, out, alas !

quer'd booty; We bodg'd again; as I have seen a swan So true men yield, with robbers so o'ermatch’d.

sand causes,

a