Enter SALISBURY. Sal. Now, by my sword, well hast thou fought to-day; By the mass, so did we all. - I thank you, Richard: York. I know, our safety is to follow them, Sound, drums and trumpets: -and to London all: And more such days as these to us befall! [Exeunt. DUKE OF NORFOLK, MARQUIS OF MONTAGUE, EARL OF WARWICK, EARL OF PEMBROKE, LORD HASTINGS, LORD STAFFORD, his sons. Sir JOHN SOMERVILLE. 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. of the Duke of York's BONA, sister to the French Queen. party. Soldiers, and other Attendan 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 mea: 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 a-breast, Charg'd our main battle's front, and, breaking in, Were by the swords of common soldiers slain. Edw. Lord Stafford's father, duke of Buckingham, Is either slain, or wounded dangerous : [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' Rick. 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. 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; War. Neither the king, nor he that loves him The proudest he that holds up Lancaster, Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, CLIFFORD, NOR- Thou art deceiv'd, I am thine. York. York. 'Twas my inheritance, as the earldom was. Clif. Whom should he follow, but his natural 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, North. Yes, Warwick, I remember it to my grief; West. Plantagenet, of thee, and these thy sons, Clif. Urge it no more: lest that, instead of words, War. Poor Clifford! how I scorn his worthless York. Will you, we show our title to the crown K. Hen. My lords, look where the sturdy rebel Thy father was, as thou art, duke of York; sits, Even in the chair of state! belike, he means, 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. North. Well hast thou spoken, cousin; be it so. K. Hen. Far be the thought of this from Henry's To make a shambles of the parliament-house! Thy grandfather Roger Mortimer, earl of March: War. Talk not of France, sith thou hast lost it all. 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, shink you, 'twere prejudicial to his crown? Ere. 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? Exe. His is the right, and therefore pardon me. York. Why whisper you, my lords, and answer not? Ere. 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 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, Where I shall kneel to him that slew my father! K. Hen. O Clifford, how thy words revive my heart! York. Henry of Lancaster, resign thy crown: — What mutter you, or what conspire you, lords? War. Do right unto this princely duke of York; Or I will fill the house with armed men, And o'er the chair of state, where now he sits, Write up his title with usurping blood. [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. Clif. What wrong is this unto the prince your son ? War. What good is this to England, and himself? 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 may'st thou be overcome! Or live in peace, abandon'd, and despis'd! [Exeunt NORTHUMBERLAND, CLIFFORD, and WESTMORELAND. Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit. The crown to thee, and to thine heirs for ever; | To honour me as thy king and sovereign; To seek to put me down, and reign thyself. form. War. Long live king embrace him. 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 ? Had'st 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; Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there, Rather than made that savage duke thine heir, And disinherited thine only son. Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me : If you be king, why should not I succeed? K. Hen. Pardon me, Margaret; sweet son; — pardon me, The earl of Warwick, and the duke, enforc'd me. be forc'd? I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch: Stern Faulconbridge commands the narrow seas; 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! 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? Rich. About that which concerns your grace, and us; The crown of England, father, which is yours. 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. But, for a kingdom, any oath may be broken. I'd break a thousand oaths, to reign one year. Rich. No; God forbid, your grace shoud be forsworn. York. I shall be, if I claim by open war. Rich. I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear in 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: And all that poets feign of bliss and joy. You, Edward, shall unto my lord Cobham, Enter a Messenger. 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 : York. Ay, with my sword. What! think'st theu, that we fear them? Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me ; — Mont. Brother, I go; I'll win them, fear it not: And thus most humbly I do take my leave. [Exit. 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. |