Soldiers, and other Attendants on King Henry and King Edward, Messengers, Watchmen, etc. SCENE.-During part of the Third Act, in France; during the rest of the Play, ACT I. in England. SCENE 1.-London. The Parliament House. Drums. Some Soldiers of YORK's party break in. He slily stole away and left his men : 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. Norf. We'll all assist you; he that flies shall die. York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk. Stay by me, my lords; 31 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 perforce. But little thinks we shall be of her council: 40 War. The bloody parliament shall this be call'd, Unless Plantagenet, Duke of York, be king, And bashful Henry depos'd, whose cowardice Hath made us by-words to our enemies. 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, 50 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. 60 K. Hen. Be patient, gentle Earl of Westmoreland. Clif. Patience is for poltroons, such as he He durst not sit there had your father liv'd. 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 Exe. But when the duke is slain they 'il quickly fly. K. Hen. Far be the thought of this from Henry's heart, To make a shambles of the parliament-house! Cousin of Exeter, frowns, words, and threats, Shall be the war that Henry means to use. They advance to the DUKE Thou factious Duke of York, descend my throne, And kneel for grace and mercy at my feet; I am thy sovereign. York. Exe. For shame! Duke of York. # I am thine. come down: he made thee York. "Twas my inheritance, as the earldom was. Exe. 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 rae 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: 710 Rich. Sound drums and trumpets, and the And thou shalt reign in quiet while thou liv'st. king will fly. York. Sons, peace! K. Hen. Peace thou! and give King Henry leave to speak. 120 War. Plantagenet shall speak first: hear him, lords; And be you silent and attentive too, For he that interrupts him shall not live. K. Hlen. Think'st thou that I will leave my kingly throne, Wherein my grandsire and my father sat? 13) War. Prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be king. K. Hen. Henry the Fourth by conquest got the crown. York. 'Twas by rebellion against his king. K. Hen. Aside. I know not what to say my title's weak. Tell me, may not a king adopt an heir? York. What then? 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, Think you 'twere prejudicial to his crown? Exc. 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? Exe. My conscience tells me he is lawful king. K. Hen. All will revolt from me, and turn to him. 151 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. 160 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. Ile stumps with his foot, and the Soldiers show themselves. K. Hen. My Lord of Warwick, hear me but one word: 170 Let me for this my life-time reign as king. York. Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs, K. Hen. I am content: Richard Plantagenet, Enjoy the kingdom after my decease. Clif. What wrong is this unto the prince your son! War. What good is this to England and himself! West. Base, fearful, and despairing Henry! Clif. How hast thou injur'd both thyself and us! West. I cannot stay to hear these articles. 189 North. Nor I. Clif. Come, cousin, let us tell the queen these my son, Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit. 200 K. Hen. And long live thou and these thy forward sons! York. Now York and Lancaster are reconcil'd. Exe. Accurs'd be he that seeks to make them foes! Sennet. The Lords come forward. York. Farewell, my gracious lord: I'll to my castle. War. And I'll keep London with my soldiers. Norf. And I to Norfolk with my followers. Mont. And I unto the sea from whence I came. Exeunt YORK and his Sons, WARWICK, NORFOLK, MONTAGUE, Soldiers, and Attendants. K. Hen. And I, with grief and sorrow, to the 220 And never seen thee, never borne thee son, Rather than have 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; pardon me, sweet son: The Earl of Warwick and the duke enforc'd me. Q. Mar. Enforc'd thee! art thou king, and wilt be forc'd? 230 I shame to hear thee speak. Ah! timorous wretch; 240 Thou hast undone thyself, thy son, and me; 250 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 261 I'll see your grace: till then I'll follow her. her son Hath made her break out into terms of rage. 271 SCENE II. A Room in Sandal Castle, near 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 What is your quarrel? how began it first? Rich. About that which concerns your grace 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. But for a kingdom any oath may be broken: I would break a thousand oaths to reign one year. Rich. No; God forbid your grace should be forsworn. 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: Then, seeing 'twas he that made you to depose, Henry had none, but did usurp the place; Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous. Therefore, to arms! And, father, do but think How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown, Within whose circuit is Elysium, And all that poets feign of bliss and joy. Why do we linger thus? I cannot rest Until the white rose that I wear be dyed Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry's heart. York. Richard, enough: I will be king, or die. You, Edward, shall unto my Lord Cobham, 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. 50 York. Ay, with my sword. What! think'st thou that we fear them? Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me; My brother Montague shall post to London : Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest, Whom we have left protectors of the king, With powerful policy strengthen themselves, And trust not simple Henry nor his oaths. 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; 62 The army of the queen mean to besiege us. 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. 70 York. Five men to twenty! though the odds be great, I doubt not, uncle, of our victory. SCENE III.-Field of Battle between Sandal Alarums. Excursions. Enter RUTLAND and his Tutor. Rut. Ah! whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands? Ah! tutor, look, where bloody Clifford comes. Enter CLIFFORD and Soldiers. Clif. Chaplain, away! thy priesthood saves thy life. As for the brat of this accursed duke, Tut. Ah! Clifford, murder not this innocent child, Lest thou be hated both of God and man. Exit, forced off by Soldiers. Clif. How now! is he dead already? or is it fear That makes him close his eyes? I'll open them. Rut. So looks the pent-up lion o'er the wretch That trembles under his devouring paws; And so he walks, insulting o'er his prey, And so he comes to rend his limbs asunder. Ah! gentle Clifford, kill me with thy sword, And not with such a cruel threatening look. Sweet Clifford ! hear me speak before I die : I am too mean a subject for thy wrath; Be thou reveng'd on men, and let me live. Clif. In vain thou speak'st, poor boy; my father's blood 20 Hath stopp'd the passage where thy words should enter. Rut. Then let my father's blood open it again: He is a man, and, Clifford, cope with him. Clif. Had I thy brethren here, their lives and thine Were not revenge sufficient for me; 30 Lifting his hand. Rut. O let me pray before I take my death. To thee I pray; sweet Clifford, pity me! Clif. Such pity as my rapier's point affords. Rut. I never did thee harm: why wilt thou slay me? Clif. Thy father hath. Ah! let me live in prison all my days; Thy father slew my father; therefore, die. 40 York. The army of the queen hath got the field: My uncles both are slain in rescuing me; And all my followers to the eager foe Turn back and fly, like ships before the wind, Or lambs pursu'd by hunger-starved wolves, My sons, God knows what hath bechanced them: But this I know, they have demean'd themselves Like men born to renown by life or death. Three times did Richard make a lane to me, And thrice cried 'Courage, father! fight it out!' And full as oft came Edward to my side, With purple falchion, painted to the hilt In blood of those that had encounter'd him: And when the hardiest warriors did retire, Richard cried 'Charge! and give no foot of ground!' waves. 11 And cried 'A crown, or else a glorious tomb! BERLAND, the young PRINCE, and Soldiers. Come, bloody Clifford, rough Northumberland, I dare your quenchless fury to more rage: |