The true Tragedie of Richard Duke of Yorke and the death of good King Henrie the Sixt with the whole contention betweene the two Houses Lancaster and Yorke as it was sundrie times acted by the Right Honourable the Earle of Pembrooke his seruants Printed at London by P. S. for Thomas Millington and are to be sold at his shoppe vnder Saint Peters Church in Cornival 1595. The true Tragedie of Richard Duke of Yorke and the good King Henry the Sixt. Enter Richard Duke of Yorke The Earle of Warwicke The Duke of Norffolke Marquis Montague Edward Earle of March Crookeback Richard and the yong Earle of Rutland with Drumme and Souldiers with white Roses in their hats Warwike I Wonder how the king escapt our hands Yorke Whilst we pursude the horsemen of the North He slilie stole awaie and left his men Whereat the great Lord of Northumland Whose warlike eares could neuer brooke retrait Chargde our maine battels front and therewith him Lord Stafford and Lord Clifford all abrâ—st 〈…〉 Brake in and were by the hands oâ— common Souldiers slain Edw. Lord Staffords father Duke of Buckhingham Is either slaine or wounded dangerouslie I cleft his Beuer with a downe right blow Father that this is true behold his bloud Mont And brother heere 's the Earle of Wiltshires Bloud whom I encountred as the battailes ioâ—â—d Rich. Speake thou for me and tell them what I did York What is your grace dead my L of Summerset Norf. Such hope haue all the line of Iohn of Gaâ—â—â— Rich. Thus doe I hope to shape king Henries head War And so do I victoriâ—us prince of Yorke Before I see thee seated in that throne Which now the house of Lancaster vsurpes I vow by heauens these eies shal neuer close This is the pallace of that fearefull king And that the regall chaire Possesse it Yorke For this is thine and not king Henries heires York Assist me then sweet Warwike and I wil For hither are we broken in by force Norf. Wee le all assist thee and he that flies shall die York Thanks gentle Norffolke Staie by me my Lords and souldiers staie you heere and lodge this night War And when the king comes offer him no Violence vnlesse he seek to put vs out by force Rich Armde as we be le ts staie within this house War The bloudie parlement shall this be calde Vnlâ—â—â—e Plantagenet Duke of Yorke be king And bashfull Henrie be deposde whose cowardise Hath made vs by words to our enemies York Then leaue me not my Lords for now I meane To take possession of my right War Neither the king nor him that loues him best The proudest burd that holds vp Lancaster Dares stirre a wing if Warwike shake his bels I le plant Plantagenet and root him out who dares Resolue thee Richard Claime the English crowne Enter king Henrie the sixt with the Duke of Excester The Earle of Northumberland the Earle of Westmerland and Clifford the Earle of Cumberland withred Roses in their hats King Looke Lordings where the sturdy rebel sits Euen in the chaire of state belike he meanes Backt by the power of Warwike that false peere To aspire vnto the crowne and raigne as king Earle of Northumberland he slew thy father And thine Clifford and you both haue vow'd reuenge On him his sonnes his fauorites and his friends Northu And if I be not heauens be reuengd on me Clif. The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn in steel West What shall we suffer this le ts pull him downe My hart for anger breakes I cannot speake King Be patient gentle Earle of Westmerland Clif. Patience is for pultrouns such as he He durst not sit there had your father liu'd My gratious Lord here in the Parlement Let vs assaile the familie of Yorke North. Well hast thou spoken cosen be it so King O know you not the Cittie fauours them And they haue troopes of soldiers at their becke Exet. But when the D. is slaine thei le quicklie slie King Far be it from the thoughtes of Henries hart To make a shambles of the parlement house Cosâ—â— of Exeter words frownes and threats Shall be the warres that Henrie meanes to vse Thou facâ—tious duke of Yorke descend my throne I am thy soueraigne York Thou art deceiu'd I am thine Exet. For shame come downe he made thee D. of York York T was mine inheritance as the kingdome is Exet. Thy father was a traytor to the crowne War Exeter thou art a traitor to the crowne In following this vsurping Henry Clif. Whom should he follow but his naturall king War Tâ—ue Clif and that is Richard Duke of Yorke King And shall I stande while thou sittest in my throne York Content thy selfe it must and shall be so War Be Duke of Lancaster let him be king West Why he is both king Duke of Lancaster And that the Earle of Westmerland shall mainetaine War And Warwike shall disproue it You forget That we are those that chaste you from the field And slew your father and with colours spred Marcht through the Cittie to the pallas gates Nor. No Warwike I remember it to my griefe And by his soule thou and thy house shall rew it West Plantagenet of thee and of thy sonnes Thy kinsmen and thy friendes I le haue more liues Then drops of bloud were in my fathers vaines Clif. Vrge it no more least in reuenge thereof I send thee Warwike such a messenger As shall reueng his death before I stirre War Poore Clifford how I skorn thy worthles threats York Wil ye we shew our title to the crowne Or else our swords shall plead it in the field King What title haste thou traitor to the Crowne Thy father was as thou art Duke of Yorke Thy grandfather Roger Mortâ—mer earle of March I am the sonne of Henrie the Fift who tamde the French And made the Dolphin stoope and seazd vpon their Townes and prouinces War Talke not of France since thou hast lost it all King â—he Lord protector lost it and not I When I was crownd I was but nine months old Rich. You are olde enough now and yet me thinkes you lose Father teare the Crowne from the Vsurpers head Edw. Do so sweet father set it on your head Mont. Good brother as thou lou'st honorst armes Le ts fight it out and not stand cauilling thus Rich. Sound drums and trumpets the king will sly York Peace sonnes Nâ—rthum Peace thou and giue king Henry leaue to speake King Ah Plantagenet why seekest thou to depose me Are we not both both Plantagenets by birth And from two brothers line allie discent Suppose by right and equitie thou be king Thinkst thou that I will leaue my kinglie seate Whereâ—n my father and my grandsire sat No first shall warre vnpeople this my realme I and our colours often borne in France And now in England to our harts great sorrow Shall be my winding sheete why saint you Lords My titles better farre than his
kingdome saie For eâ—ther that is thine or else thou wert not his Enter the Earle of Warwike Montague with drum ancient and souldiers War How now faire Lords what sare what newes abroad Rich. Ah Warwike should we report the balefull Nâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 at each words deliuerance stab poinyardes In our flesh till all were told the words would adde More 〈◊〉 then the wounds Ah valiant Lord the Duke of Yorke is slaine Edw. Ah Warwike Warwike that Plantagenet Which held thee deere I euen an his soules redemption Is by the â—â—â—â—ne L. Clifford done to death War Ten daiâ—s a go I drownd those newes in teares And now to adde more measure to your woes I come to tell you things since then befalne After the bloudie fraie at Wakefield fought Where your braue father breath'd his latest gaspe Tidings as swiflie as the post could runne Was brought me of your losse and his departure I then in London keeper of the King Mustred my souldâ—ers gathered flockes of friends And verie vvell appointed as I thought Marcht to saint Albons to entercept the Queene Bearing the King in my behalfe along For by my scoutes I was aduertised That she was comming with a full intent To dash your late decree in parliament Touching king Henries heires and your succession Short tale to make we at Saint Albons met Our battel 's ioinde and both sides fiercelie fought But whether t was the coldnesse of the king He lookt full gentlie on his warlike Queene That robde my souldiers of their heated spleene Or whether t was report of his successe Or more then common feare of Cliffords rigor Who thunders to his captaines bloud and death I cannot tell But to conclude with truth Their weapons like to lightnings went and came Our souldiers like the might Owles lasie flight Or like an idle thresher with a â—laile Fel gentlie downe as if they smote their friends I cheerd them vp with iustice of the cause With promise of hie paie and great rewardes But all in vaine they had no harts to fight Nor we in them no hope to win the daie So that We fled The king vnto the Queene Lord George your brother Norffolke and my selfe In hast post hast are come to ioine with you For in the marches here we heard you were Making another head to fight againe Edw. Thankes gentle Warwike How farre hence is the Duke with his power And when came George from Burgundie to England War Some fiue miles off the Duke is with his power But as for your brother he was latelie sent From your kind Aunt Duches of Burgundie With aide of souldiers gainst this needfull warre Rich. T was ods belike when valiant Warwike fled Oft haue I heard thy praises in pursute But nere till now thy scandall of retire War Nor now my scandall Richard dost thou heare For thou shalt know that thâ—s right hand of mine Can plucke the Diadem from â—aint Henries head And wring the awefull scepter from his fist Were he as famous and as bold in warre As he is famde for mildnesse peace and praier Rich. I know it well Lord Warwike blame me not T was loue I bare thy glories made me speake But in this troublous time what 's to be done Shall we gothrow away our coates of steele And clad our bodies in blacke mourning gownes Numbring our Auemaries with our beades Or shall we on the helmets of our foes Tell our deuotion with reuengefull armes If for the last saie I and to it Lords War Why therefore Warwike came to find â— you out And therefore comes my brother Montague Attend me Lords the proud insulting Queene With Clifford and the haught Northumberland And of their feather manie mo proud birdes Haue wrought thâ— easie melting king like waxe He sware consent to your succession His oath inrolled in the Parliament But now to London all the crew are gone To frustrate his oath or what besides May make against the house of Lancaster Thâ—iâ— power I gesse them fifty thousand strong Now if the helpe of Norffolke and my selfe Can but amount to 48. thousand With all the friendes that thou braue earle of March Among the louing Welshmen canst procure Why via To London will we march amaine And once againe beâ—â—â—ide our foming steedes And once againe crie charge vpon the foe But neuer once againe turne backe and flâ—e Rich. I now me thinkes I heare great Warwike speake Nere maie he liue to see a sunshine daie That cries râ—tire when Warwike bids him stay Edw. Lord Warwike on thy shoulder will I leane And when thou faints must Edward fall Which perill heauen forefend War No longer Earle of March but Duke of Yorke The next degree is Englands royall king And king of England and shalt thou be proclaimde In euery burrough as we passe along And he that casts not vp his cap for ioie Shall for the offence make forfeit of his head King Edward valiant Richard Montague Stay we no longer dreaming of renowne But forward to effect these resolutions Enâ—er a Messenger Mes The Duke of Norffolke sends you word by me The Queene is comming with a puissant power And craues your companie for speedie councell War Why then it sorts braue Lordes Le ts march away Exeunt Omnes Enter the King and Queene Prince Edward and the Northerne Earles with drum and Souldiers Quee. Welcome my Lord to this braue town of York Yonder 's the head of that ambitious enemie That sought to be impaled with your crowne Doth not the obiect please your eie my Lord King Euen as the rockes please them that feare their wracke Withhold reuenge deare God t is not my fault Nor wittinglie haue I infringde my vow Clif My gratious Lord this too much lenitie And harmefull pittie must be laid aside To whom do Lyons cast their gentle lookes Not to the beast that would vsurpe his den Whose hand is that the sauage Beare doth licke Not his that spoiles his young before his face Whose â—â—apâ—s the lurking serpentes mortall sting Not he that sets his foot vpon her backe The smallest worme will turne being troden on And Doues will pecke in rescue of their broode Ambitious Yorke did leuell at thy Crowne Thou smiling while he knit his angrie browes He but a Duke would haue his sonne a king And raise his issue like a louing sire Thou being a king blest with a goodlie sonne Didst giue consent to disinherit him Which argude thee a most vnnaturall father Vnreasonable creatures feed their yong And though mans face be fearefull to their eies Yet in protect on of their tender ones Who hath not seene them euen with those same wings Which they haue sometime vsde in fearefull flight Make warre with him that climes vnto their nest Offring their owne liues in their yongs defence For shame my Lord make them your president Were it not pittie that this goodlie boy should lose his birth right through his fathers fault And long hereafter saie vnto his child
delaies I beseech your highnesse to dispatch me now K Ed. Lords giue vs leaue wee meane to trie this widowes wit Cla. I good leaue haue you Glo. For you will haue leaue till youth take leaue And leaue you to your crouch K Ed. Come hither widdow howe many children haste thou Cla. I thinke he meanes to begge a child on her Glo. Nay whip me then hee le rather giue hir two La. Three my most gratious Lord. Glo. You shall haue foure and you wil be rulde by him K Ed. Were it not pittie they shoulde loose their fathers lands La. Be pittifull then dread L. and grant it them K Edw. I le tell thee how these lands are to be got La. So shall you bind me to your highnesse seruice K Ed What seruice wilt thou doe me if I grant it them La. Euen what your highnesse shall command Glo. Naic then widow I le warrant you all your Husbands lands if you grant to do what he Commands Fight close or in good faith You catch a clap Cla. Naie I seare her not vnlesse she fall Glo. Marie godsforbot man for hee le take vantage then La. Why stops my Lord shall I not know my taske K Ed. An easie taske t is but to loue a king La. That 's soone perfounde because I am a subiect K Ed. Why then thy hushandes landes I freelie giue thee La. I take my leaue with manie thousand thankes Cla. The match is made shee seales it with a cursie K Ed Staie widdow stare what loue dost thou thinke I sue so much to get La. My humble seruice such as subiects owes and the lawes commands K Ed. No by my troth I meant no such loue But to tell thee the troth I aime to lie with thee La. To tell you plaine my Lord I had rather lie in prison K Edw. Why then thou canst not get thy husbandes lands La. Then mine honestie shall be my dower For by that losse I will not purchase them K Ed. Herein thou wrongst thy children mightilie La. Heerein your highnesse wrongs both them and Me but mightie Lord this merrie inclination Agrees not with the sadnesse of my sute Please it your highnes to dismisse me either with I or no. K Ed I if thou saie I to my request No if thousaie no to my demand La. Then no my Lord my sute is at an end Glo. The widdow likes him not shee bends the brow Cla. Why he is the bluntest woer in christendome K Ed Her lookes are all repleat with maiestie One waie or other she is for a king And she shall be my loue or else my Queene Saie that king Edward tooke thee for his Queene La. T is better said then done my gratious Lord I am a subiect sit to iest withall But far vnfit to be a Soueraigne K Edw. Sweet widdow by my state I sweare I speake No more then what my hart intends And that is to enioie thee for my loue La. And that is more then I will yeeld vnto I know I am too bad to be your Queene And yet too good to be your Concubine K Edw. You caâ—â—ll widdow I did meane my Queene La. Your grace would be loath my sonnes should call you father K Edw. No more then when my daughters call thee Mother Thou art a widow and thou hast some children And by Gods mother I being but a bacheler Haue other some Why t is a happy thing To be the father of manie children Argue no more for thou shalt be my Queene Glo. The ghostlie father now hath done his shrift Cla. When he was made a shriuer t was for shift K Edw. Brothers you muse what talke the widdow And I haue had you would thinke it strange If I should marrie her Cla. Marrie her my Lord to whom K Edw. Why Clarence to my selfe Glo. That would be ten daies wonder at the least Cla. Why that 's a daie longer then a wonder lastes Glo. And so much more are the wonders in extreames K Edw. Well ieast on brothers I can tell you hir Sute is granted for her husbands lands Enter a Messenger Mes And it please your grace Henry your foe is Taken and brought as prisoner to your pallace gates K Edw. Awaie with him and send him to the Tower And let vs go question with the man about His apprehension Lords along and vse this Ladie honorablie Exeunt Omnes Manet Gloster and spâ—akes Glost I Edward will vse women honourablie Would he were wasted marrow bones and all That from his loines no issue might succeed To hinder me from the golden time I looke for For I am not yet lookt on in the world First is there Edward Clarence and Henry And his sonne and all they lookt for issue Of their loines ere I can plant my selfe A cold premeditation for my purpose What other pleasure is there in the world beside I will go clad my bodie in gaie ornaments And lull my selfe within a ladies lap And with sweet Ladies with my words and lookes Oh monstrous man to harbour such a thought Why loue did scorne me in my mothers wombe And for I should not deale in hir astaires Shee did corrupt fraile nature in the flesh And plasle an enuious mountaine on my backe Where sits deformity to mocke my bodie To drie mine arme vp like a withered shrimpe To make my legges of an vnequall size And am I then a man to be belou'd Easier for me to compasse twentie crownes Tut I can smile and murder when I smile I crie content to that that greeues me most I can adde colours to the Camelion And for a need change shapes with Protheus And set the aspiring Catalin to schoole Can I doe this and cannot get the crowne Tush were it ten times higher I le pull it downe Exit Enter king Lewis and the ladie Bonâ— and Queene Margaret Prince Edward and Oxford and others Lewes Welcome Queene Margaret to the Court of France It sits not Lewis to sit while thou dost stand Sit by my side and here I vow to thee Thou shalt haue aide to repossesse thy right And be at proud Edward from his vsurped seat And place king Henry in his former rule Queen I humblie thanke your royall maiestie And pray the God of heauen to blesse thy state Great king of France that thus regards our wrongs Enter Warwike Lew. How now who is this Queen Our Earle of Warwike Edwardes chiefest friend Lew. Welcome braue Warwike what brings thee to France War From worthy Edward king of England My Lord and Soueraigne and thy vowed friend I come in kindnes and vnfained loue First to do greetings to thy royall person And then to craue a league of amitie And lastlie to confirme that amitie With nuptiall knot if thou vouchsafe to grant That vertuous ladie Bona thy faire sister To Englands king in lawfull marriage Queen And if this go forward all our hope is done War And gratious Madam in our kings behalfe I am commanded with
Cla. My Lord we thinke as Warvvike and Levves That are so slacke in iudgement that thei le take No offence at this suddaine marriage Edw. Suppose they doe they are but Levves and Warvvike and I am your king and Warvvikes And will be obaied Glo. And shall because our king but yet such Sudden marriages seldome proueth well Edw. Yea brother Richard are you against vs too Glo. Not I my Lord no God foreâ—end that I should Once gaine sâ—â—e your highnesse pleasure â— t were a pittie to sunder them that yoake so wel togither Edw. 〈◊〉 your skornes and your dislikes aside Shew me some reasons why the Ladie Gray Mare not be my loue and Englands Queene Speake freelie Clarence Gloster Montague and Hastings Cla. My Lord then this is my opinion That Warwike beeing dishonored in his embassage Doth seeke reuenge to quite his iniuries Glo. And Levves in regard of his sisters wrongs Doth â—oine with Warwike to supplant your state Edw. Suppose that Lewiâ— and Warwike be appeasâ— By such meanes as I can best deuise Mont. But yet to haue ioind with France in this Alliance would more haue strengthened this out Common wealth gainst â—orâ—aâ—â—e stormes Then anie hâ—me bred marriage Hast Let England be true within it selfe We need not France not any alliance with them Clâ— For this 〈◊〉 speech the Lord Hastings wel deserues To haue the daughter and heire of the Lord Hungerford Edw. And what then It was our will it should be so Cla. I and for such a thing too the Lord Scales Did well deserue at your hands to haue the Daughter of the Lord Bonsield and left your Brothers to go seeke elsewhere but in Your madnes you butie brotherhood Edw Alasse poore Clarence is it for a wife That thou art mal-content Why man be of good cheere I will prouide thee one Cla. Naie you plaide the broker soâ—ll for your selfe That you shall giue me leaue to make my Choise as I thinke good â—nd to that intent I shortlie meane to leaue you Edw. Leaue me or tarrie I am full resolu'd Edward will not be tied to his brothers wils Queen My Lords doe 〈◊〉 but right and you must Confesse before it pleasd his highnesse to aduance My state to title of a Queene That I was not ignoble in my birth Edw. Forthcare my loue to â—iwne vpon their frownes For thee they must obay 〈◊〉 shall obâ—â—â— And if they looke for fauour at my hands Mont. My Lord heere is the messenger returnâ— from France Enter a Messenger Edw. Now sâ—â—a What letters or what newâ—â—â— Mes No letters my Lord and such 〈…〉 without your highnesse speciall pardon I dare not â—â—late Edw. We pardon thee and as neere as thou canst Tell me What said Lewis to our letters Mes At my depaâ—tute these were his vetie words Go tell false Edward thy supposed king That Lewis of France is sending ouer Maskers To reuill it with him and his new bride Edw. Is Lewis so braue belike he thinkes me Henry But what said Lady Bona to these wrongs Mes Tel him quâ—th she in hope hee le proue a widdower shortly I le weare the willow garland for his sake Edw. She had the wrong indeed she could saie Little lesse But what saide Henries Queene for as I heare she was then in place Mes Tell him quoth shee my mourning weeds be Doone and I am readie to put armour on Edw. Then be like she meanes to plaâ—e the Amazon But what said Warwike to these iniuries Mes He more incensed then the rest my Lord Tell him quoth he that he hath done me wrong And therefore I le vncrowne him erâ—â— be long Ed Ha Durst the traytor breath out such proude words But I will arme me to preuent the worst But what is Warwike friendes with Margaret Mes I my good Lord theare so 〈◊〉 in friendship That young Prince Edward marries Warwikes daughter Cla. The elder belike Clarence shall haue the Yonger All you that loue me and Warwike Follo v me Exit Clarence and Summerset Edw. Clarence and Summerset fled to Warwike What saie you brother Richard will you stand to vs Glo. I my Lord in despight of all that shall Withstand you For why hath Nature Made me halt downe right but that I Should be valiant and stand to it for if I would I cannot runne awaie Edw. ` Penbrooke go raise an armie presentlie Pitch vp my tent for in the field this night I meane to rest and on the morrow morne I le march to meet proud Warwike ere he land Those stragling troopes which he hath got in France But ere I goe Montague and Hastings You of all the rest are neerest allied In bloud to Warwike therefore tell me if You fauour him more then me or not Speake truelie for I had rather haue you open Enemies then hollow friends Monta. So God helpe Montague as he proues true Hast And Hastings as hee fauours Edwards cause Edw. It shall suffice come then le ts march awaie Exeunt Omnes Enter Warwike and Oxford with souldiers War Trust me my Lords all hitherto goes well The common people by numbers swaâ—me to vs But see where Sommerset and Clarence comes Speake suddenlie my Lords are we all friends Cla. Feare not that my Lord. War Then gentle Clarence welcome vnto Warwike And welcome Summerset I hold it cowardise To rest mistrustfull where a noble hart Hath pawnde an open hand in signe of loue Else might I thinke that Clarence Edwards brother Were but a fained friend to our proceedings But welcome sweet Clarence my daughter shal be thine And now what rests but in nights couerture Thy brother being careleslie encampt His souldiers lurking in the towne about And but attended by a simple guarde We maie surprise and take him at our pleasure Our skouts haue found the aduenture verie easie Then crie king Henry with resolued nundes And breake we presentlie into his tent Cla. Why then le ts on our waie in silent sort For Warwike and his friends God and saint George War This is his tent and see where his guard doth Stand Courage my souldiers now or neuer But follow me now and Edward shall be ours All A Warwike a Warwike Alarmes and Gloster and Hastings shes Oxf Who goes there War Richard and Hastings let them go heere is the Duke Edw. The Duke why Warwike when we parted Last thou caldst me king War I but the case is altred now When you disgraste me in my embassage Then I disgraste you â—rom being king And now am come to create yoâ— Duke of Yorke Alasâ—e how should you gouerne anie kingdome That knowes not how to vse embassadors Nor how to vse your brothers brotherlie Noâ—how to shâ—owd your selfe from enimies Edw. Well Warwike let fortune doe her worst Edward in mind will beare himselfe a king War Then for his minde be Edward Englands king But Henry now shall weare the English crowne Go conuaie him to our brother archbishop of Yorke And when