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. 1 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. Exe. 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? Content thyself. York. It must and shall be so. 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 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, War. Suppose, my lords, he did it unconstrain'd, 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. 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. 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 Q. Mar. Nay, go not from me, I will follow thee. York. Confirm the crown to me, and to mine Or nourish'd him, as I did with my blood; 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. North. Be thou a prey unto the house of York, Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there, Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me : sweet son; — The earl of Warwick and the duke enforc'd me. be forc'd? 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! War. 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! 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, York. Richard, enough; I will be king, or die. Brother, thou shalt to London presently, And whet on Warwick to this enterprize. — Thou, Richard, shalt unto the duke of Norfolk, And tell him privily of our intent. You, Edward, shall unto my lord Cobham, With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise: In them I trust; for they are soldiers, Witty and courteous, liberal, full of spirit. · While you are thus employ'd, what resteth more, But that I seek occasion how to rise; And yet the king not privy to my drift, Nor any of the house of Lancaster? 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 thou, 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; York. What, with five thousand men? Edw. I hear their drums; let's set our men in he shall die. Enter CLIFFORD, and Soldiers. Chif. Chaplain, away! thy priesthood saves thy life. As for the brat of this accursed duke, Whose father slew my father, Tut. And I, my lord, will bear him company. Clif. Soldiers, away with him. Tut. Ah, Clifford! murder not this innocent child, Lest thou be hated both of God and man. [Erit, 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 threat'ning 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 - 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; No, if I digg'd up thy forefathers' graves, And hung their rotten coffins up in chains, It could not slake mine ire, nor ease my heart. The sight of any of the house of York Is as a fury to torment my soul; And till I root out their accursed line, And leave not one alive, I live in hell. Therefore [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. Rut. But 'twas ere I was born. Ah, let me live in prison all my days; Thy father slew my father; therefore, die. [Dies Clif. Plantagenet! I come, Plantagenet! And this thy son's blood cleaving to my blade, Shall rust upon my weapon, till tby blood, Congeal'd with this, do make me wipe off both. [Exit. 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. 4 Heaven grant that this may be your greatest boast! Ovid. Epist. But this I know they have demean'd themselves I dare your quenchless fury to more rage; North. Yield to our mercy, proud Plantagenet. York. My ashes, as the Phoenix, may bring forth So doves do peck the falcon's piercing talons; York. O Clifford, but bethink thee once again, [Draws. Q. Mar. Hold, valiant Clifford! for a thousand causes, I would prolong awhile the traitor's life: - When he might spurn him with his foot away? [They lay hands on YORK, who struggles. Clif. Ay, ay, so strives the woodcock with the gin. North. So doth the coney struggle in the net. [YORK is taken prisoner. York. So triumph thieves upon their conquer'd booty; So true men yield, with robbers so o'er match'd. 5 i. e. We boggled, failed. North. What would your grace have done unto | Hath that poor monarch taught thee to insult? him now? Q. Mar. Brave warriors, Clifford and Northumberland, Come make him stand upon this molehill here, Or, with the rest, where is your darling Rutland ? I pr'ythee, grieve, to make me merry, York; Is crown'd so soon, and broke his solemn oath? Whose tongue more poisons than the adder's tooth! To triumph like an Amazonian trull, I would assay, proud queen, to make thee blush: It needs not, nor it boots thee not, proud queen; Unless the adage must be verified, That beggars, mounted, run their horse to death. 'Tis beauty, that doth oft make women proud; But heaven knows, thy share thereof is small : 'Tis virtue that doth make them most admir'd; The contrary doth make thee wonder'd at: 'Tis government 9, that makes them seem divine; The want thereof makes thee abominable: Thou art as opposite to every good, As the Antipodes are unto us, Or as the south to the septentrion.' O, tiger's heart, wrapp'd in a woman's hide! And yet be seen to bear a woman's face? woman. [He gives back the Handkerchief. And if thou tell'st the heavy story right, Upon my soul, the hearers will shed tears; Yea, even my foes will shed fast-falling tears, And say, Alas, it was a piteous deed! There, take the crown, and with the crown, my curse; And, in thy need, such comfort come to thee, As now I reap at thy too cruel hand! — Hard-hearted Clifford, take me from the world; My soul to heaven, my blood upon your heads! North. Had he been slaughter-man to all my kin, I should not for my life but weep with him, To see how inly sorrow gripes his soul. Q. Mar. What, weeping-ripe, my lord Northumberland? Think but upon the wrong he did us all, And that will quickly dry thy melting tears. Clif. Here's for my oath, here's for my father's death. [Stabbing him. Q. Mar. And here's to right our gentle-hearted king. [Stabbing him. York. Open thy gate of mercy, gracious God! My soul flies through these wounds to seek out thee. [Dies. [Exeunt. Q. Mar. Off with his head, and set it on York gates; So York may overlook the town of York. |