War Proue it Henrie and thou shalt be king King Why Henrie the fourth by conquest got the Crowne York T' was by rebellion gainst his soueraigne King I know not what to saie my titles weake Tell me maie not a king adopt an heire War What then King Then am I lawfull king For Richard The second in the view of maine Lords Resignde the Crowne to Henrie the fourth Whose heire my Father was and I am his York I tell thee he rose against him being his Soueraigne made him to resigne the crown perforce War Suppose my Lord he did it vnconstrainde Thinke you that were preiudiciall to the Crowne Exet. No for he could not so resigne the Crowne But that the next heire must succeed and raigne King Art thou against vs Duke of Exceter Exet. His is the right and therefore pardon me King All will reuolt from me and turne to him Northum Plantagenet for all the claime thou laist Thinke not king Henry shall be thus deposde War Deposde he shall be in despight of thee North. Tush Warwike Thou art deceiued t is not thy Southerne powers of Essex Suffolke Norffolke and of Kent that makes thee thus presumptuous and proud Can set the Duke vp in despight of me Cliff King Henrie be thy title right or wrong Lord Clifford vowes to fight in thy defence Maie that ground gape and swallow me aliue Where I do kneele to him that slew my father King O Clifford how thy words reâ—iue my soule York Henry of Lancaster resigne thy crowne What mutter you or what conspire you Lords War Doe right vnto this princelie Duke of Yorke Or I will fill the house with armed men Enter Souldiers And ouer the chaire of state where now he sits Wright vp his title with thy vsurping bloud King O Warwike heare me speake Let me but raigne in quiet whilst I liue York Confirme the crowne to me and to mine heires And thou shalt raigne in quiet whilst thou hu'st King Conuey the souldiers hence and then I will War Captaine conduct them into Tâ—â—hill fieldes Clif. What wrong is this vnto the Prince your son War What good is this for England and himselfe Northum Base fearefull and despairing Henry Clif. How hast thou wronged both thy selfe and vs West I cannot staie to heare these Articles Exit Clif. Nor I Come cosen le ts go tell the Queene Northum Be thou a praie vnto the house of Yorke And die in bands for this vnkingly deed Exit Clif. In dreadfull warre maist thou be ouercome Or liue in peace abandon'd and despisde Exit Exet. They seeke reuenge and therefore will not yeeld my Lord. King Ah Exeter War Why should you sigh my Lord King Not for my selfe Lord Warwike but my soone Whom I vnnaturallie shall disinherit But be it as it maie I heere intaile the Crowne To thee and to thine heires conditionallie That here thou take thine oath to cease these ciuill Broiles and whilst I liue to honour me as thy king and Soueraigne York That oath I willinglie take and will performe War Long liue king Henry Plantagenet embrace him King And long liue thou and all thy forward sonnes York Now Yorke and Lancaster are reconcilde Exet. Accuist be he that seekes to make them soes Sound Irumpets York My Lord I le take my leaue for I le to Wakefield To my castell Exit Yorke and his sonnes War And I le keepe London with my souldiers Exit Norf And I le to Norffolke with my followers Exit Mont. And I to the sea from whence I came Exit Enter the Queene and the Prince Exet. My Lord here comes the Queen I le steale away King And so will I. Queene Naie staie or else I follow thee King Be patient gentle Queene and then I le staie Quee. What patience can there ah timerous man Thou hast vndoone thy selfe thy sonne and me And giuen our rights vnto the house of Yorke Art thou a king and wilt be â—orst to yeeld Had I beene there the souldiers should haue tost Me on their launces points before I would haue Granted to their wils The Duke is made Protector of the land Sterne Fawconbridge Commands the narrow seas And thinkst thou then To sleepe secure I heere diuorce me Henry From thy bed vntâ—ll that Act of Parlement Be recalde wherein thou yeeldest to the house of Yorke The Northen Lords that haue forsworne thy colours Will follow mine if once they see them spred And spread they shall vnto thy deepe disgrace Come sonne le ts awaie and leaue him heere alone King Staie gentle Margaret and here me speake Queene Thou hast spoke too much alreadie therefore be still King Gentle sonne Edwarde wilt thou staie with me Quee I to be murdred by his enemies Exit Prin. When I returne with victorie from the field I le see your Grace till then I le follow her Exit King Poore Queene her loue to me and to the prince Her sonne Makes hir in 〈…〉 thus forget hir selfe Reuenged maie shâ—e be on that accursed Duke Come cosen of Exeter staie thou here For Clifford and those Northern Lords be gone I feare towards Wakefield to disturbe the Duke Enter Edward and Richard and Montague Edw. Brother and cosen Montague giue mee leaue to speake Rich. Nay I can better plaie the Orator Mont. But I haue reasons strong and forceable Enter the Duke of Yorke York Howe nowe sonnes what at a iarre amongst your selues Rich. No father but a sweete contention about that which concernes your selfe and vs The crowne of England father York The crowne boy why Henries yet aliue And I haue sworne that he shall raigne in quiet till His death Edw. But I would breake an hundred othes to raigne one yeare Rich. And if it please your grace to giue me leaue I le shew your grace the waie to saue your oath And dispossesse king Henrie from the crowne Yorke I prethe Dicke let me heare thy deuise Rich. Then thus my Lord. An oath is of no moment Being not sworne before a lawfull magistrate Henry is none but doth vsurpe your right And yet your grace stands bound to him by oath Then noble father resolue your selfe And once more claime the crowne Yorke I saist thou so boie why then it shall be so I am resolude to win the crowne or die Edward thou shalt to Edmund Brooke Lord Cobham With vvhom the Kentishmen vvill vvillinglie rise Thou cosen Montague shalt to Norffolke straight And bid the Duke to muster vppe his souldiers And come to me to Wakefield presentlie And Richard thou to London strait shalt post And bid Richard Neuill Earle of Warwike To leaue the cittie and with his men of warre To meete me at Saint Albons ten daies hence My selfe heere in Sandall castell will prouide Both men and monie to furder our attempts Now what newes Enter a Messenger Mes My Lord the Queene with thirtie thousand men Accompanied with the Earles of Cumberland Nâ—rthumberland and Westmerland and others of the House
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
of Lancaster are marching towards Wakefield To besiedge you in your castell heere Enter sir Iohn and sir Hugh Mortimer Yorke A Gods name let them come Cosen Montague post you hence and boies staie you with me Sir Iohn and sir Hugh Mortemers mine vncles Your welcome to Sandall in an happie houre The armie of the Queene meanes to besiedge vs. Sir Iohn Shee shall not neede my Lorde wee le meete her in the field York What with fiue thousand souldiers vncle Rich. I father with fiue hundred for a need A womans generall what should you feare York Indeed manie braue battels haue I woon In Normandie when as the enimie Hath bin ten to one and why should I now doubt Of the like successe I am resolu'd Come lets goe Edw. Le ts martch awaie I heare their drums Exit Alarmes and then Enter the yong Earle of Rutland and his Tutor Tutor Oh flie my Lord le ts leaue the Castell And flie to Wakefield straight Enter Clifford Rut. O Tutor looke where bloudie Clifford comes Clif. Chaplin awaie thy Priesthood saues thy life As for the brat of that accursed Duke Whose father slew my father he shall die Tutor Oh Clifford spare this tender Lord least Heauen reuenge it on thy head Oh saue his life Clif Soldiers awaie and drag him hence perforce Awaie with the villaine Exit the Chaplein How now what dead alreadie or is it feare that Makes him close his eies I le open them Rut. So lookes the pent vp Lion on the lambe And so he walkes insulting ouer his praie And so he turnes againe to rend his limmes in sunder Oh Clifford kill me with thy sword and Not with such a cruell threatning looke I am too meane a subiect for thy wrath Be thou reuengde on men and let me liue Clif. In vaine thou speakest poore boy my fathers Bloud hath stopt the passage where thy wordes shoulde enter Rut. Then let my fathers blood ope it againe he is a Man and Clifford cope with him Clif. Had I thy brethren here their liues and thine Were not reuenge sufficient for me Or should I dig vp thy forefathers graues And hang their rotten coffins vp in chaines It could not slake mine ire nor case my hart The sight of anie of the house of Yorke Is as a furie to torment my soule Therefore till I root out that curssed line And leaue not one on earth I le liue in hell therefore Rut. Oh let me praie before I take my death To thee I praie Sweet Clifford pittie me Clif. I such pittiâ—â—s my rapiers point affords Rut. I neuer did thee hurt wherefore wilt thou kill mee Clif. Thy father hath Rut. But t was ere I was borne Thou hast one sonne for his sake pittie me Least in reuenge thereof 〈◊〉 God is iust He be as miserablie slaine as I. Oh let me liue in prison all my daies And when I giue occasion of offence Then let me die for now thou hast no cause Clif. No cause Thy Father slew my father therefore Die Plantagenet I come Plantagenet And this thy sonnes bloud cleauing to my blade Shall rust vpon my weapon till thy bloud Congeald with his doe make me wipe off both Exit Alarmes Enter the Duke of Yorke solus Yorke Ah Yorke post to thy castell saue thy life The goale is lost thou house of Lancaster Thrise happie chance is it for thee and thine That heauen abridgde my daies and cals me hence But God knowes what chance hath betide my sonnes But this I know they haue demeand themselues Like men borne to renowne by life or death Three times this daie came Richard to my sight And cried courage Father Victorie or death And twise so oft came Edward to my view With purple Faulchen painted to the hilts In bloud of those whom he had slaâ—ghtered Oh harke I heare the drums No waie to flie No waie to saue my life And heere I staie And heere my life must end Enter the Queene Clifford Northumberland and souldiers Come bloudie Clifford rough Northumberland I dare your quenchlesse â—â—rie to more bloud This is the But and this abides your shot Northum Yeeld to our mercies proud Plantagenet Clif. I to such mercie as his ruthfull arme With downe right paiment lent vnto my father Now Phaeton hath tumbled from his carre And made an euening at the noone tide pricke York My ashes like the Phoenix maie bring forth A bird that will reuenge it on you all And in that hope I cast mine eies to heauen Skorning what ere you can afflict me with Why staie you Lords what multitudes and feare Clif. So cowards fight when they can flie no longer So Doues doe pecke the Rauens piersing tallents So desperate theeues all hopelesse of their liues Breath out inuectiues gainst the officers York Oh Clifford yet bethinke thee once againe And in thy minde orerun my former time And bite thy toung that slaunderst him with cowardise Whose verie looke hath made thee quake â—re this Clif. I will not bandie with thee word for word But buckle with thee blowes twise two for one Queene Hold valiant Clifford for a thousand causes I would prolong the traitors life a while Wrath makes him death speake thou Northumberland Nor. Hold Clifford doe not honour him to much To pricke thy finger though to wound his hart What valure were it when a curre doth grin For one to thrust his hand betweene his teeth When he might spurne him with his foote awaie T is warres prise to take all aduantages And ten to one is no impeach in wanes Fight and take him Cliff I I so striues the Woodcocke with the gin North. So doth the cunnâ—e struggle with the net York So triumphs theeues vpon their conquered Bootie So true men yeeld by robbers ouermatcht North. What will your grace haue done with him Queen Braue warriors Clifford Northumberland Come make him stand vpon thâ—s molehill here That aâ—mde at mountaines with outstâ—etched arme And parted but the shaddow with his hand Was it you that reuelde in our Parlement And made a prechment of your high descent Where are your messe of sonnes to backe you now The wanton Edward and the lâ—stie George Or where is that valiant Crookbackt prodegie Dickey your boy that with his grumbling voice Was wont to cheare his Dad in mutinâ—es Or amongst the rest where is your daâ—â—ing Rutland Looke Yorke I dipt this napkin in the bloud That valiant Clifford with his rapiers point Made isâ—ue from the bosome of thy boy And if thine eâ—es can water for his death I giue thee this to drie thy cheeks with all Alas poore Yorke But that I hate thee much I should lament thy miserable state I prethee greeue to make me merrie Yorke Stamp raue and fret that I maie sing and dance What hath thy fierie hart so parcht thine entrailes That not a teare can fall for Rutlands death Thou wouldst be feede I see to make me sport Yorke cannot speake vnlesle he
doe sweet Clarence kill me too Cla. Didst thou not heare me sweare I would not do it Queen I but thou vsest to forsweare thy selfe T was sinne before but now t is charitie Wheaâ—s the Diuels butcher hardfauored Richard Richard where art thou He is not heere Murder is his almes deed petitioners For bloud he nere put backe Edw. Awaie I saie and take her hence perforce Queen So come to you and yours as to this prince Ex. Edw. Clarence whither 's Gloster gone Cla Marrie my Lord to London and as I gesse to Make a bloudie supper in the Tower Edw. He is sudden if a thing come in his head Well discharge the common souldiers with paie And thankes and now let vs towards London To see our gentle Queene how shee doth fare For by this I hope shee hath a sonne for vs. Exeunt Omnes Enter Gloster to king Henry in the Tower Glo. Good day my Lord. What at your booke so hard Hen. I my good Lord. Lord I should saie rather T is sinne to flatter good was little better Good Gloster and good Diuell were all alike What scene of Death hath Rosius now to act Glo. Suspition alwaies haunts a guiltie mind Hen. The birde once limde doth feare the fatall bush And I the haplesse maile to one poore birde Haue now the fatall obiect in mine eie Where my poore young was limde was caught kild Glo. Why what a foole was that of Creeâ—e That taught his sonne the office Of a birde and yet for all that the poore Fowle was drownde Hen. I Dedalus my poore sonne Icarus Thy father Minos that denide our course Thy brother Edward the sunne that â—earde his wings And thou the enuioâ—s gulfe that swallowed him Oh better can my brest abide thy daggers point Then can mine cares that tragike historie Glo. Why dost thou thinke I am an executioner Hen. A persecutor I am sure thou art And if murdering innocents be executions Then I know thou art an executioner Glo. Thy sonne I kild for his presumption Hen. Hadst thou bin kild when first thou didst presume Thou hadst not liude to kill a sonne of mine And thus I prophesie of theo That manie a Widdow for her husbands death And many an infants water standing eie Widowes for their husbands children for their fathers Shall curse the time that euer thou wert borne The owle sâ—â—ikt at thy birth an euill signe The night Crow cride aboding lucklesse tune Dogs howld and hideous tempests shooke down trees The Rauen rookt her on the Chimnies top And chattering Piâ—s in dismall discord sung Thy mother felt more then a mothers paine And yet brought â—orth lesse then a mothers hope To wit an vndigest created lumpe Not like the fruit of such a goodly tree Teeth hadst thou in thy head when thou wast borne Thus haue we swept suspition from our seat And made our footstoole of securitie Come hither Besse and let me kisse my boie Young Ned for thee thine Vncles and my selfe Haue in our armors watcht the Winters night Marcht all a foote in summers skalding heat That thou mightst â—epossesse the crowne in peace And of out labours thou shalt reape the gaine Glo. I le blast his haruest and your head were laid For yet I am not lookt on in the world This shoulder was ordaind so thicke to heaue And heaue it shall some waight or breake my backe Worke thou the waie and thou shalt execute Edward Clarence and Gloster loue my louelie Queene And kisse your princely nephew brothers both Cla. The dutie that I owe vnto your Maiestie I seale vpon the rosiate lips of this sweet babe Queen Thankes noble Clarence worthie brother thankes Gloster And that I loue the fruit from whence thou Sprangst witnesse the louing kisse I giue the child To saie the truth so Iudas kist his maister And so he cride all haile and meant all haâ—â—e Edward Nowe am I seated as my soule delights Hauing my countries peace and brothers loues Cla. What will your grace haue done with Margaret Ranard her father to the king of France Hath pawnd the Cyssels and Ierusalem And hither haue they sent it for her ransome Edw. Awaie with her and waâ—te hir hence to France And now what rests but that we spend the time With stately Triumphs and mirthfull comickâ— shewes Such as befits the pleasures of the Court. Sound drums and Trumpets farewell to sower annoy For heere I hope begins our lasting ioie Exeunt Omnes FINIS