to worke and get thereby somewhat to maintaine you O neighbour I grow verie choloricke and thou didst saue the life of my sonne vvhy if thou hadst not another vvould and for my part I vvould he had bene hangd seuen yeeres ago it had saued me a great deale of mony then But come let vs go in let the quean alone Exeunt Shore Alasse thus am I become an open shame to the world here shall I die in the streets for want of sustenance alasse is my fact so heinous that none will pitie me Yet heere comes another to whom I haue done good who is least able to pleasure me yet I will trie him to see if he will giue me any thing Enter Morton a Seruing man Mort. Now sir who but king Richard beares sway and hath proclaimed Iohn Earle of Lincolne heire aparant to the Crown the yoong Princes they are in the Tower nay some saies more they are murthered But this makes me to muse the Duke of Buckingham and the King is at such variance that did all in all to helpe him to the Crowne but the Duke of Buckingham is rid downe to Breaknock Castle in Wales and there he meanes to raise vp a power to pull down the vsurper but let them agree as they will for the next faire winde I le ouer seas Shore A Shores wife so neere driuen to beg of a seruingman I necessitie hath no law I must needs Good sir releeue me and giue me something Seru. Why what art thou Shore In briefe Morton I am Shores wife that haue done good to all Seru. A foole and euer thy owne enemy In troth mistresse Shore my store is but small yet as it is wee le part stakes but soft I cannot do what I would I am watcht Enters Page Shore Good Morton releeue me Seru. What should I releeue my Kings enemy Shore Why thou promist thou wouldst Seru. I tell thee I wil not so be answered Sownes I would with all my heart but for yonder villaine a plague on him Exit Page An honest fellow I warrant him How now Shores wife will none releeue thee Shore No none will releeue her that hath bene good to all Page Why t were pitie to do thee good but me thinkes she is fulsome and stinkes Shore If I be fulsome shun my company for none but thy Lord sought my miserie and he hath vndone me Pag. Why hath he vndone thee nay thy wicked and naughtie life hath vndone thee but if thou wantest maintenance why doest thou not fall to thy old trade againe Shore Nay villaine I haue done open penance and am sorie for my sinnes that are past Page Sownes is Shores wife become an holie whoore nay then we shall neuer haue done Shore Why hang thee if thy faults were so written in thy forehead as mine is it would be as wrong with thee But I prethie leaue me and get thee from me Page And cannot you keepe the Citie but you must runne gadding to the Court and you staie here a litle longer I le make you be set away and for my part would all whoores were so serued then there would be fewer in England then there be And so farewell good mistresse Shore Exit Shore And all such vsurping kings as thy Lord is may come to a shamefull end which no doubt I may liue yet to see Therfore sweet God forgiue all my foule offence And though I haue done wickedly in this world Into hell fire let not my soule be hurld Exit Enter Maister Terrill and siir Robert Brokenbery Broken Maister Terrell the King hath vvritten that for one night I should deliuer you the keyes and put you in full possession But good M. Terrell may I be so bold to demand a question vvithout offence Ter. Else God forbid say on vvhat ere it be Bro. Then this maister Terrell for your comming I partly knovv the cause for the king oftentimes hath sent to me to haue them both dispatcht but because I vvas a seruant to their father being Edvvard the fourth my heart vvould neuer giue me to do the deed Ter. Why sir Robert you are beside the matter vvhat neede you vse such speeches what matters are betweene the King and me I pray you leaue it and deliuer me the keyes Broken A here with teares I deliuer you the keyes and so farwell maister Terrell Exit Ter. Alasse good sir Robert hee is kinde hearted but it must not preuaile what I haue promised the King I must performe But ho Myles Forest For. Here sir Ter. Myles Forest haue you got those men I spake of they must be resolute and pittilesse For. I warrant you sir they are such pittilesse villaines that all London cannot match them for their villanie one of their names is Will Sluter yet the most part calles him blacke Will the other is Iack Denten two murtherous villaines that are resolute Ter. I prethie call them in that I may see them and speake with them Forest Ho Will and Iack Well Here sir we are at hand For. These be they that I told you of Ter. Come hither sirs to make a long discourse were but a folly you seeme to be resolute in this cause that Myles Forest hath deliuered to you therefore you must cast away pitie not so much as thinke vpon fauour for the more stearne that you are the more shall you please the King Will Zownes sir nere talke to vs of fauour t is not the first that Iack and I haue gone about Ter. Well said but the Kings pleasure is this that he wil haue no blood shead in the deed doing therefore let me heare your aduises For. Why then I thinke this maister Terrell that as they sit at supper there should be two dags readie charged and so suddeinly to shoote them both through Terrell No I like not that so well what saiest thou Will what is thy opinion Well Tush heere 's more adoo then needes I pray bring mee where they are and I le take them by the heeles and beate their braines against the walles Ter. Nay that I like not for t is too tyrannous Dout. Then heare me maister Terrell let Will take one and I le take another and by the life of Iack Douton wee le cut both their throates Ter. Nay sirs then heare me I will haue it it done in this order when they be both a bed and at rest Myles Forest thou shalt bring them vp both and betweene two feather beds smother them both For. Why this is verie good but stand aside for here comes the Princes I le bring you word when the deed is done Exit Terrill Enter the Princes Yorke How fares my noble Lord and louing brother King A worthie brother Richard Duke of Yorke my cause of sorrow is not for my selfe but this is it that addes my sorrow more to see our vnckle whom our father left as our Protector in minoritie should so digresse from dutie loue and zeale so vnkindly
thus to keepe vs vp prisoners and know no sufficient cause for it Yorke Why brother comfort your selfe for tho he detaine vs a while he will not keepe vs long but at last he will send vs to our louing mother againe whither if it please God to send vs I doubt not but our mother would keepe vs so safe that all the Prelates in the worlde should not depriue her of vs againe so much I assure my selfe of But here comes Myles Forest I prethy Myles tell my kingly brother some mery storie to passe away the time for thou seest he is melancholy King No Myles tell me no mery storie but answere me to one question vvhat vvas he that vvalked vvith thee in the Gardeine me thought he had the keyes For. My Lord it vvas one that vvas appointed by the King to be an ayde to sir Thomas Brokenbury King Did the King vvhy Myles Forest am not I King For. I would haue said my Lord your vnckle the Protector King Nay my kingly vnckle I know he is now but let him enioy both Crowne and kingdome so my brother and I may but enioy our liues and libertie But tell me is sir Robert Brokenbery cleane discharged For. No my Lord he hath but charge for a night or two King Nay then new officers new lawes would we had kept the old still But who are they whose gastly lookes doth present a dying feare to my liuing bodie I prethee tell me Myles what are they For. One my Lord is called Iack Denten the other is called Will Slawter But why starts your grace King Slawter I pray God he come not to slaughter my brother and me for from murther and slaughter good Lord deliuer vs But tell me Myles is our lodging prepared For. I my Lord if it please your brother you to walke vp King Then come brother we will go to bed For. I will attend vpon your grace Yorke Come Myles Forest beare vs company For. Sirs staie you two here and when they are a sleep I le call you vp Exit Dent. I promise thee Will it greeues mee to see what mone these yoong Princes make I had rather then fortie pounds I had nere tane it in hand t is a dangerous matter to kill innocent princes I like it not Will Why you base slaue are you faint hearted a little thing would make me strike thee I promise thee Dent. Nay go forward for now I am resolute but come le ts too it VVill I prethee staie hee le call vs vp anon But sirrha Iacke didst thou mark how the King started when he heard my name What will he do when he feeles me For. But ho sirs come softly for now they are at rest VVill Come we are readie by the masse they are a sleepe indeed For. I heare they sleep and sleepe sweet Princes neuer wake no more for you haue seene the last light in this world Iack Come presse them downe it bootes not to cry againe Iack vpon them so lustily But maister Forest now they are dead what shall we do with them For. Why goe and bury them at the heape of stones at the staire foote while I goe and tell maister Terrell that the deed is done VVill Well we will farewell maister Forest Enter Terrell Ter. How now Myles Forest is this deed dispatcht For. I sir a bloodie deed we haue performed Ter. But tell me what hast thou done with them For. I haue conueyd them to the staires foote among a heape of stones and anon I le carry them where they shall be no more found againe nor all the cronicles shall nere make mentiō what shall become of them yet good maister Terrell tell the King my name that he may but reward me with a kingly thanks Ter. I wil go certifie the King with speed that Myles Forest Will Slawter and Iack Denten they three haue done the deed And so farewell Exeunt omnes Enter the Duke of Buckingham with his dagger drawne Ban. Ah good my Lord saue my life Buc. Ah villaine how canst thou aske for mercie when thou hast so vniustly betraied me Ban. I desire your grace but giue me leaue to speake Buc. I speake thy last villain that those that heare it may see how vniustly thou hast betraied me Ban. Then thus my Lord First the proclamation was death to him that harboured your grace Buc. Ah villaine and a thousand crownes to him that could betraie me Ban. Ah my Lord my obeysance to my Prince is more Buc. Ah villain thou betraiedst me for lucre and not for dutie to thy Prince why Banister a good seruant thinkes his life well spent that spends it in the quarrel of his maister But villain make thy selfe readie and here receiue thy death Enter a Herald Herald Henry Duke of Buckingham I arest thee in King Richards name as a traytor Buc. Well Herald I will obey thy rest But am I arrested in King Richardes name vsurping Richard that insatiate blood succour that traitor to God man Ah Richard did I in Guild-Hall pleade the Orator for thee and held thee in all thy slie and wicked practises and for my reward doest thou alot me death Ah Buckingham thou plaidst thy part and made him King and put the lawfull heires besides why then is Buckingham guiltie now of his death yet had not the Bishop of Ely fled I had escaped Enters sixe others to rescue the Duke All Come the Duke of Buckingham shall not die We will take him away by force Herald Why villaines will you bee Traytours to your Prince Buckingham Nay good my friends giue me leaue to speake and let me intreate you to laie your weapons by Then know this countrey men the cause I am thus this Is for bringing in your lawfull King which is Henry Earle of Richmond now in Brittaine and meanes ere long to land at Milford Hauen in Wales where I doo know hee shall haue ayde of the cheefest of the Welch hee is your lawfull King and this a wrongfull vsurper When you shall heare of him landed in that place then take vp weapons and amaine to him hee is the man must reaue you of this yoake and send the vsurper headlesse to his home and poore Buckingham praies vpon his knees to blesse good Richmond in his enterprise and when the conquest shall be giuen to him graunt he may match with Ladie Elizabeth as promise hath to fore by him bene past while then my friendes leaue mee alone to death and let me take this punishment in peace Ah Buckingham was not thy meaning good in displacing the vsurper to raise a lawfull king Ah Buckingham it was too late the lawfull heires were smothered in the Tower sweet Edward and thy brother I nere slept quiet thinking of your deaths But vaunt Buckingham thou wast altogither innocent of their deaths But thou vilain whom of a child I nurst thee vp and hast so vniustly betraied thy Lorde Let the curse of Buckingham nere depart from thee
France Irish cōflicts Scotland knowes my trust When thou hast kept thy skin vnscard and let thine armor rust How thou vniustly here exclaim'st Yea far from loue or kin Was this the oath which at our princes death With vs thou didst combine But time permits now to tell thee all my minde For well t is known that but for fear you neuer wold haue clind Let Commons now haue it in hand the matter is begun Of whom I feare the lesser sort vpon thy part will run My Lords I cannot breath it out in words like to you but this My honor I will set to sale let any comman man come in And say Earle Riuers faith vnto his Prince did quaile Then will I lose my lands and life but if none so can doo Then thou Protector iniur'st me and thy copartner too But since as Iudges here you are and taking no remorce Spare me not let me haue law iniustice do your worst Buc. My Lord lay down a cooling card this game is gone too far You haue him fast now cut him off for feare of ciuill war Iniurious Earle I hardly brooke this portion thou hast giuen Thus with my honor me to touch but thy ruth shall begin Ri. But as thou art I leaue thee here Vnto the officers custody First bare him to Pomphret Castle Charge them to keep him secretly And as you heare from me so deale Let it be done immediatly Take from our Garrison one whole band To guard him thither safely Riu. And send'st thou me to common Iayle Nay then I know thy minde God blesse these yoong and tender babes That I do leaue behinde And God aboue protect them day and night Those are the marks thou aim'st at to rid them from their right Farewell sweet England and my country men Earle Riuers leades the way Yet would my life might rid you from this thrall But for my stock kinred to the Queen I greatly feare thē all And thus disloyall Duke farewell when euer this is knowne The shame and infamy thereof be sure will be thine owne Exit Rich. So now my Lord of Buckingham let vs hoyst vp saile while the winde serues this hot beginning must haue a quicke dispatch therefore I charge and command straightly that euerie high way be laid close that none may be suffered to carrie this newes before we our selues come for if word come before vs then is our pretence bewraid and all we haue done to no effect If any aske the cause why they may not passe vse my authoritie and if he resist shoote him through Now my Lord of Buckingham let vs take post to Stony Stratford where happily I le say such grace to the Princes dinner that I will make the deuoutest of them forget what meat they eate and yet all for the best I hope Exit Enter the yoong Prince Lord Gray sir Thomas Vaughon sir Richard Hapc and their traine Hapc. Lord Gray you do discomfort the King by reason of your heauinesse Gray Alasse sir Richard how can I be merry when we haue so great a charge of his grace and again this makes me to greeue the more because wee cannot heare from Earle Riuers which makes me think the Protector and he haue bene at some words King Why good vnkle comfort your selfe no doubt my vnkle Earle Riuers is well is comming no doubt with my vnkle of Gloster to meete vs else we should haue heard to the contrarie If any haue cause to feare it is my selfe therfore good vnkle comfort your selfe and be not sad Gray The sweete ioyce of such a grape would comfort a man were he halfe dead and the sweete words of such a Prince would make men carlesse of mishaps how dangerous soeuer Hap. Lord Gray we heare now by all likelihoods the Protector not to be farre therefore wee are to entertaine him and the Duke of Buckingham with curtesie both for the Princes behalfe and for our owne Gray Sir Richard Hapc I shall hardly shew the Protector or the Duke of Buckingham any mery countenance considering how hardly I haue bene vsed by them both but yet for loue to my prince I wil bridle my affectiō but in good time they come Enters Richard Duke of Buckingham and their traine Rich. Long liue my Princely Nephew in all happinesse King Thankes vnckle of Gloster for your curtesie yet you haue made hast for we lookt not for you as yet Rich. Therein I shew my humble dutie to your grace whose life I wish to redouble your deceased fathers dayes King Thankes good vnckle Buc. Long liue my gratious Prince King Thankes Buckingham but vnckle you will beare vs company towards London Rich. For that cause we came Buc. Gentlemen on afore keep your roomes how now Lord Gray doo you iustle in the presence of the King This is more then needs Gray My Lord I scarce touched you I hope it be no offence Rich. Sir no great offence but inward enuy will burst out No Lord Gray you cannot hide your malice to vs of the Kings blood King Why good vnckle let me know the cause of your suddaine quarrell Rich. Marry thus noble Nephew the old wound of enuy being rubbed by Lord Grayes venomous rashnesse is growne to such a venomous sore that it is incurable without remooue of dead flesh Buc. Lord Gray I do so much dislike thy abuse that were it not in presence of the Prince I would bid thee combate but thus and it shal like your grace I arest atache this Lord Gray Sir Thomas Vaughon and Richard Hapce of high treason to your grace And that Lord Gray hath conueyed money out of the Tower to relieue our enemies the Scots and now by currying fauour with your Maiestie he thinkes it to be hid Rich. Only this I adde you gouerne the Prince without my authoritie allowing me no more then the bare name of Protector which I wil haue in the dispight of you and therfore as your competitor Earle Riuers is alreadie imprisoned so shall you be till time affoord the law to take place Gray But whereas we are atacht as traytors to his grace and gouerne him without your authoritie why we haue authoritie from the mother Queene And for the deliuery of the mony to the Scots it was done by a generall consent of you all and that I haue your hands to shew for my discharge therfore your arest atachment is not lawfull yet as lawful as your quarell is right Rich. Thy presumption condemnes thee Lord Gray thy arest is lawfull Therefore see them speedily and secretly imprisoned and after the coronation they shall answer it by law meane while Officers looke to your charge King A Gods and is it iustice without my consent Am I a King and beare no authoritie My louing kindred committed to prison as traytors in my presence and I stand to giue aime at them A Edward would thou laist by thy fathers side or else he had liued till thou hadst
THE True Tragedie of Richard the third Wherein is showne the death of Edward the fourth with the smothering of the two yoong Princes in the Tower With a lamentable ende of Shores wife an example for all wicked women And lastly the coniunction and ioyning of the two noble Houses Lancaster and Yorke As it was playd by the Queenes Maiesties Players LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede and are to be sold by William Barley at his shop in Newgate Market neare Christ Church doore 1594 THE TRVE TRAGEDIE OF RICHARD THE THIRD Enters Truth and Poetrie To them the Ghoast of George Duke of Clarence Ghost CResse cruor sanguinis satietur sanguine cresse Quod spero scitio O scitio scitio vendicta Exit Poetrie Truth well met Truth Thankes Poetrie what makes thou vpon a stage Poet. Shadowes Truth Then will I adde bodies to the shadowes Therefore depart and giue Truth leaue To shew her pageant Poe. Why will Truth be a Player Truth No but Tragedia like for to present A Tragedie in England done but late That will reuiue the hearts of drooping mindes Poe. Whereof Truth Marry thus Richard Plantagenet of the House of Yorke Claiming the Crowne by warres not by descent Had as the Chronicles make manifest In the two and twentith yeare of Henry the sixth By act of Parliament intailed to him The Crowne and titles to that dignitie And to his ofspring lawfully begotten After the decease of that forenamed King Yet not contented for to staie the time Made warres vpon King Henry then the sixth And by outrage suppressed that vertuous King And wonne the Crowne of England to himselfe But since at Wakefield in a battell pitcht Outragious Richard breathed his latest breath Leauing behind three branches of that line Three sonnes the first was Edward now the King George of Clarence and Richard Glosters Duke Then Henry claiming after his decease His stile his Crowne and former dignitie Was quite suppressed till this Edward the fourth Poe. But tell me truth of Henry what ensued Tru. Imprisoned he in the Tower of London lies By strict command from Edward Englands King Since cruelly murthered by Richard Glosters Duke Poe. Whose Ghoast was that did appeare to vs Tru. It was the ghost of George the duke of Clarēce Who was attected in King Edwards raigne Falsly of Treason to his royaltie Imprisoned in the Tower was most vnnaturally By his owne brother shame to parents stocke By Glosters Duke drowned in a but of wine Poe. What shield was that he let fall Tru. A shield conteining this in full effect Blood sprinkled springs blood spilt craues due reuenge Whereupon he writes Cresse cruor Sanguis satietur sanguine cresse Quod spero scitio O scitio scitio vendicta Poe. What maner of man was this Richard Duke of Gloster Tru. A man ill shaped crooked backed lame armed withall Valiantly minded but tyrannous in authoritie So during the minoritie of the yoong Prince He is made Lord Protector ouer the Realme Gentiles suppose that Edward now hath raigned Full two and twentie yeares and now like to die Hath summond all his Nobles to the Court To sweare alleageance with the Duke his brother For truth vnto his sonne the tender Prince Whose fathers soule is now neare flight to God Leauing behind two sonnes of tender age Fiue daughters to comfort the haplesse Queene All vnder the protection of the Duke of Gloster Thus gentles excuse the length by the matter And here begins Truthes Pageant Poetrie Wend with me Exeunt Enter Edward the fourth Lord Hastings Lord Marcus and Elizabeth To them Richard Hastings Long liue my soueraigne in all happinesse Marcus An honourable age with Cressus wealth Hourely attend the person of the King King And welcome you Peeres of England vnto your King Hast. For our vnthankfulnesse the heauens hath throwne thee downe Mar. I feare for our ingratitude our angry God doth frowne King Why Nobles he that laie me here Can raise me at his pleasure But my deare friends and kinsmen In what estate I now lie it is seene to you all And I feele my selfe neare the dreadfull stroke of death And the cause that I haue requested you in friendly wise To meete togither is this That where malice enuy sowing sedition in the harts of men So would I haue that admonished and friendly fauours Ouercome in the heart of yon Lord Marcus and Lord Hastings Both for how I haue gouerned these two and twentie yeares I leaue it to your discretions The malice hath still bene an enemy to you both That in my life time I could neuer get any lege of amity betwixt you Yet at my death let me intreate you to imbrace each other That at my last departure you may send my soule To the ioyes celestiall For leauing behinde me my yoong sonne Your lawfull King after my decease May be by your wise and graue counsell so gouerned Which no doubt may bring comfort To his famous realme of England But what saith Lord Marcus and Lord Hastings What not one word nay then I see it will not be For they are resolute in their ambition Elizabeth Ah yeeld Lord Hastings And submit your selues to each other And you Lord Marcus submit your selfe See here the aged King my father How he sues for peace betwixt you both Consider Lord Marcus you are son to my mother the Queene And therefore let me intreat you to mittigate your wrath And in friendly sort imbrace each other King Nay cease thy speech Elizabeth It is but folly to speake to them For they are resolute in their ambitious mindes Therefore Elizabeth I feele my selfe at the last instant of death And now must die being thus tormented in minde Hast. May it be that thou Lord Marcus That neither by intreatie of the Prince curtuous word of Elizabeth his daughter May withdraw thy ambition from me Marc. May it be that thou Lord Hastings Canst not perceiue the marke his grace aimes at Hast. No I am resolute except thou submit Marc. If thou beest resolute giue vp the vpshot And perhaps thy head may paie for the losses King Ah Gods sith at my death you iarre What will you do to the yoong Prince after my decease For shame I say depart from my presence and leaue me to my self For these words strikes a second dying to my soule Ah my Lords I thought I could haue commanded A greater thing then this at your hands But sith I cannot I take my leaue of you both And so depart and trouble me no more Hast. With shame and like your Maiestie I submit therfore Crauing humble pardon on my knees And would rather that my body shal be a pray to mine enemy Rather then I will offend my Lord at the houre And instance of his death King Ah thankes Lord Hastings Eliza. Ah yeeld Lord Marcus sith Lord Hastings Is contented to be vnited King Ah yeeld Lord Marcus thou art too obstinate Marc. My gracious Lord I am content
of Northampton is not able to receiue vs and againe my vnckle of Gloster may rather thinke we come of malice against him and his blood therefore my Lords let me here your opinions for my words and her letters are all one and besides I my selfe giue consent Riuers Then thus may it please your grace I will shewe my opinion First note the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke the league of friendship is yet but greene betwixt them and little cause of variance may cause it breake and thereby I thinke it not requisite to discharge the cōpany because of this The Duke of Buckingham is vp in the Marches of VVales with a great power and with him is ioyned the Protector for what cause I know not therefore my Lords I haue spoken my mind boldly but do as your honours shall thinke good Vaugh. Why my Lord Riuers wherefore is he Protector but for the Kings safetie Riu. I sir Thomas Vaughan and therefore a traitor because he is Protector Gray We haue the Prince in charge therefore we neede not care Riu. We haue the Prince but they the authoritie Gray Why take you not the Duke of Buckingham for the Kings friend Riu. Yes and yet we may misdoubt the Duke of Gloster as a foe Gray Why then my Lord Riuers I thinke it is conuenient that we leaue you here behind vs at Northamton for conference with them and if you heare their pretence be good towards the King you may in Gods name make returne come with them but if not leaue them and come to vs with speed For my sister the Queene hath willed that we should dismisse our companie and the King himselfe hath agreed to it therfore we must needs obey Riuers If it please your grace I am content and humbly take my leaue of you all Exit King Farewell good vnckle ah gods if I do liue my fathers yeares as God forbid but I may I will so roote out this malice enuie sowne among the nobilitie that I will make them weary that were the first beginners of these mischiefes Gray Worthily well spoken of your princely Maiestie Which no doubt sheweth a king-like resolution Vaughon A toward yoong Prince and no doubt forward to all vertue whose raigne God long prosper among vs King But come vnckle let vs forward of our iourny towards London Riuers We will attend vpon your Maiestie Exit omnes Enters an old Inne-keeper and Richards Page Page Come on mine Oste what doest thou vnderstand my tale or no Oste. I faith my guest you haue amazed mee alreadie and to heare it again it wil mad me altogither but because I may think vpon it the better I pray you let me heare it once more Page Why then thus I serue the right honourable the Lord Protector Oste. I I know that too well Pag. Then this is his graces pleasure that this night he will be lodged in thy house thy fare must be sumptuous thy lodgings cleanly his men vsed friendly and with great curtesie and that he may haue his lodging prepared as neare Lord Riuers as possible may be Oste. Why sir if this be all this is done alreadie Page Nay more Ost. Nay sir you loue me no more here 's too much already Page Nay my Lords graces pleasure is further that when all thy guesse haue tane their chambers that thou conuey into my Lords hands the keyes of euery seuerall chamber and what my Lords pleasure is further thou shalt know in the morning Oste. How locke in my guesse like prisoners why doe you heare my guesse mee thinkes there should be little better then treason in these words you haue vttered Page Treason villaine how darest thou haue a thought of treason against my Lord therefore you were best be briefe and tell me whether you will do it or no Oste. Alasse what shall I do who were I best to offend shall I betraie that good olde Earle that hath laine at my house this fortie yeares why and I doe hee will hang me nay then on the other side if I should not do as my Lord Protector commands he will chop off my head but is there no remedie Page Come sir be briefe there is no remedie therefore be briefe and tell me straight Oste. Why then sir here 's my hand tell my Lord Protector he shall haue it I will do as he commands mee but euen against my will God is my witnesse Page Why then farewell mine Oste ste. Farewell euen the woorst guest that euer came to my house A maisters maisters what a troublesome vocation am I crept into you thinke we that be In-keepers get all the world but I thinke I shall get a faire halter to my necke but I must go see all things done to my great griefe Exit Enters the mother Queene and her daughter and her sonne to sanctuarie Earle Riuers speakes out of his chamber Ho mine Oste Chamberlaine where 's my key What pend vp like a prisoner But staie I feare I am betraid The sodain sight of Glosters Duke doth make me sore afraid I le speake to him and gently him salute Tho in my heart I enuie much the man God morrow my Lord Protector to your grace And Duke of Buckingham God morrow too Thankes noble Dukes for our good cheare for your cōpany Here enters Buckingham and Gloster and their traine Rich. Thou wretched Earle whose aged head imagins nought but treacherie Like Iudas thou admitted wast to sup with vs last night But heauens preuented thee our ils and left thee in this plight Greeu'st thou that I the Gloster Duke shuld as Protector sway And were you he was left behind to make vs both away Wilt thou be ringleader to wrōg must you guide the realme Nay ouer boord al such mates I hurl whilst I do guid the helme I le weed you out by one and one I le burne you vp like chaffe I le rend your stock vp by the rootes that yet in triumphs laffe Riu. Alas good Dukes for ought I know I neuer did offend Except vnto my Prince vnloyall I haue bene Then shew iust cause why you exclaime so rashly in this sort So falsly thus me to condemne vpon some false report But am I here as prisoner kept imprisoned here by you Then know I am as true to my Prince as the proudest in thy crue Buc. A brauely spokē good old Earle who tho his lims be num He hath his tongue as much at vse as tho his yeares were yong Ri. Spekest thou the truth how darst thou speak for iustice to apeale When as thy packing with thy Prince thy falshood do reueale A Riuers blush for shame to speake like traitor as thou art Riu. Abrayd you me as traitor to your grace No altho a prisoner I returne defiance in thy face The Chronicles I record talk of my fidelitie of my progeny Wher as in a glas thou maist behold thy ancestors their trechery The wars in
bin better able to rule If my neere kindred be committed to prison what remains for me a crowne A but how so beset with sorrows that the care grief wil kil me ere I shal enioy my kingdome Well since I cannot command I wil intreat Good vnkle of Gloster for all I can say little but for my vnkle Lord Gray what need he be a theef or conuey money out of the Tower when he hath sufficient of his own But good vnkle let me baile them all If not I will baile my vnckle Lord Gray if I may Rich. Your grace vndertakes you know not what the matters are perillous especially against the Lord Gray King What perilous matters considering he is a friend to vs Rich. He may be a friend to win fauour so climbe to promotion in respect of his equals His equals nay his betters King I know my vnckle will conceale no treason or dangerous heeresie from vs Ric. Yes secrets that are too subtil for babes Alasse my Lord you are a child and they vse you as a child but they consult and conclude of such matters as were we not carefull would proue preiudiciall to your Maiesties person Therefore let not your grace feare any thing by our determination for as my authoritie is onely vnder your grace so shall my loyaltie deserue hereafter the iust recompence of a true subiect therefore I hauing charge frō my brother your father our late deceased king during the minoritie of your grace I wil vse my authoritie as I see good King Ay me vnhappie king Gray Nay let not your grace be dismaid for our imprisonmēt but I would we could warrant your grace from harme so we humbly take our leaues of your grace hoping that ere long we shall answer by law to the shame disgrace of you all Exit Rich. Go you shall answere it by law Kin. But come vnkle shal we to Lon. to our vntimely cronatiō Rich. What else and please your maiestie where by the way I will appoint trustie Officers about you Buc. Sound Trumpet in this parley God saue the King Rich. Richard Enter the mother Queene and her yoong sonne the Duke of Yorke and Elizabeth Yorke May it please your grace to shew to your children the cause of your heauines that we knowing it may be copartners of your sorrowes Q. Ay me poore husbandles queene you poore fatherlesse princes Eliz. Good mother expect the liuing and forget the dead What tho our father be dead yet behold his children the image of himselfe Queene Ay poore Princes my mourning is for you and for your brother who is gone vp to an vntimely crownation Eliz. Why mother he is a Prince and in handes of our two vnckles Earle Riuers Lord Gray who wil no doubt be carefull of his estate Queen I know they will but kings haue mortall enemies as well as friends that esteeme and regard them A sweet children when I am at rest my nightly dreames are dreadful Me thinks as I lie in my bed I see the league broken which was sworne at the death of your kingly father t is this my children and many other causes of like importance that makes your aged mother to lament as she doth Yorke May it please your grace Queene A my son no more grace for I am so sore disgraced that without Gods grace I fall into dispaire with my selfe but who is this Enter a Messenger York What art thou that with thy gastly lookes preaseth into sanctuary to affright our mother Queene Messen A sweet Princes doth my countenance bewray me My newes is doubtfull and heauie Eliz. Then vtter it to vs that our mother may not heare it Queene A yes my friend speake what ere it be Mess. Then thus may it please your grace The yong prince comming vp to his coronation attended on by his two vnckles Earle Riuers and Lord Gray and the rest of your kindred was by the Duke of Buckingham and the Protector met at stonie Stratford where on a suddaine grew malice betweene the Duke of Buckingham and the Lord Gray but in the end the Duke of Buckinghams malice grew so great that he arested and attached all those of your kindred of high treason whereupon the Protector being too rash in iudgement hath committed them all to Pomphret Castle Queene Where I feare he will butcher them all but where is the Prince my sonne Messen. He remaines at London in the Bishops palace in the hands of the Protector Queene A traitors will they laie hands on their Prince and imprison his Peeres which no doubt meanes well towards him But tell me art not thou seruant to the Arch-Bishop of Yorke Messen. Yes and it please your grace for himselfe is here at hand with Letters from the Councell and here he comes Enter Cardinall Queene But here my friend griefe had almost made me forget thy reward A come my Lord thou bringest the heauie newes come shoote thine arrow and hit this heart that is almost dead with griefe alreadie Car. What ere my newes be haue patience the Duke of Gloster greets your grace Queene Draw home my Lord for now you hit the marke Car. The Prince your sonne doth greete your grace Queene A happie gale that blew that arrow by A let me see the Letter that he sent perhaps it may prolong my life a while Yorke How doth my brother is he in health my Lord Card. In health sweete Prince but longes to haue thy companie Yorke I am content if my mother will let me go Card. Content or not sweete Prince it must be so Queene Hold and haue they persuaded thee my sonne to haue thy brother too away from me nay first I will know what shall become of thee before I send my other sonne to them Card. Looke on this Letter and aduise your selfe for thus the Councell hath determined Queene And haue they chosen thee among the rest for to persuade me to this enterprise No my Lord and thus persuade your selfe I will not send him to be butchered Card. Your grace misdoubts the worst they send for him only to haue him bedfellow to the King and there to staie keep him company And if your sonne miscary then let his blood be laid vnto my charge I know their drifts and what they do pretend for they shall both this night sleepe in the Tower and to morrow they shall come forth to his happie coronation Vpon my honour this is the full effect for see the ambusht nobles are at hand to take the Prince away from you by force if you will not by faire meanes let him go Queene Why my Lord wil you breake Sanctuary and bring in rebels to affright vs thus No you shall rather take away my life before you get my boy away from me Card. Why Madame haue you taken Sanctuary Queene I my Lord and high time too I trow Card. A heauie case when Princes flie for aide where cut-throates rebels and bankerouts should