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, Uncles to the Duke of York. HENRY, Earl of Richmond, a Youth. SIR JOHN MONTGOMERY. Lieutenant of the Tower. A Nobleman. Two Keepers. his Sons. A Huntsman. A Son that has killed his Father. A Father that has killed his Son. QUEEN MARGARET. of the Duke of York's LADY GREY, afterwards Queen to Edward the Fourth. Party. BONA, sister to the French Queen. 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. SCENE I.- London. ACT I. 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 either 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, 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 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 seals 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 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. York. Sons, peace! K. Hen. Peace thou! and give king Henry leave to speak. 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 kingly throne, Wherein my grandsire, and my father, sat? 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. Not for myself, lord Warwick, but my son, Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit. 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, Ere. My conscience tells me, he is lawful king. War. Depos'd he shall be, in despite of all. 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. York. Confirm the crown to me, and to mine heirs, 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. In whose cold blood no spark of honour bides! North. Be thou a prey unto the house of York, And die in bands for this unmanly deed! Clif. In dreadful war mayst thou be overcome! Or live in peace, abandon'd and despis'd! [Going. Q. Mar. Nay, go not from me, I will follow thee. Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me : The earl of Warwick and the duke enforc'd me. be forc'd? I shame to hear thec 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! |