York. Assist me, then, sweet Warwick, and I will; For hither we have broken in by force. Stay by me, my lords: this night. : Norf. We'll all assist you: he, that flies, shall die. York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk. And, soldiers, stay, and lodge by me 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. By words or blows here let us win our right. Rich. Arm'd as we are, let's stay within this house. And bashful Henry depos'd, whose cowardice 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, [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, Back'd by the power of Warwick, that false peer, Earl of Northumberland, he slew thy father; And thine, lord Clifford, and you both have vow'd revenge North. If I be not, heavens be reveng❜d on me! 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. 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 'll 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 Exe. For shame! come down: he made thee duke of York. York. 'T was 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? 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. K. Hen. What title hast thou, traitor, to the crown? Thy grandfather, Roger Mortimer, earl of March. Who made the Dauphin and the French to stoop, And seiz'd upon their towns and provinces. 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. K. Hen. Peace thou, and give king Henry leave to speak. For he, that interrupts him, shall not live. K. Hen. Think'st thou, that I will leave my kingly throne, Wherein my grandsire, and my father, sat? No: first shall war unpeople this my realm; Ay, and their colours - often borne in France, Why faint you, lords? My title 's good, and better far than his. War. Prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be 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. An if he may, then am I lawful king; 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, Think you, 't were prejudicial to his crown? Exe. No; for he could not so resign his crown, K. Hen. Art thou against us, duke of Exeter? K. Hen. All will revolt from me, and turn to him. War. Depos'd he shall be in despite of all. North. Thou art deceiv'd: 't is 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: Where I shall kneel to him that slew my father! K. Hen. O Clifford, how thy words revive my heart! What mutter you, or what conspire you, lords? War. Do right unto this princely duke of York, And, o'er the chair of state, where now he sits, [He stamps, and the Soldiers show themselves. K. Hen. My lord of Warwick, hear 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 may'st thou be overcome, Or live in peace, abandon'd, and despis'd! [Exeunt NORTHUMBERLAND, CLIFFORD, and War. Turn this way, Henry, and regard them not. War. Why should you sigh, my lord? K. Hen. Not for myself, lord Warwick, but my son, Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit. But be it as it may, I here entail The crown to thee, and to thine heirs for ever; |