Enter Salisbury.

Sal. Now, by my sword, well hast thou fought to-day; By the mass, so did we all.-I thank you, Richard: God knows, how long it is I have to live; And it hath pleas'd him, that three times to-day You have defended me from imminent death.Well, lords, we have not got that which we have; "Tis not enough our foes are this time fled, Being opposites of such repairing nature.

York. I know, our safety is to follow them; For, as I hear, the king is fled to London, To call a present court of parliament. Let pursue him, ere the writs go forth :What says lord Warwick? shall we after them? War. After them! nay, before them, if we can. Now, by my faith, lords, 'twas a glorious day: St. Albans' battle, won by famous York,

Shall be eterniz'd in all age to come.

Sound, drums and trumpets ;-and to London all: And more such days as these to us befall! [Exeunt.

King Edward IV.

Edmund, Earl of Rutland,

George, afterwards Duke of Clarence,

Richard, afterwards Duke of Gloster,) Duke of Norfolk,

Marquis of Montague,

Earl of Warwick,

Earl of Pembroke,

Lord Hastings,

Lord Stafford,

his Sons.

of the Duke of York's Party.

Sir John Somerville.
Tutor to Rutland.

Mayor of York.

Lieutenant of the Tower.

A Nobleman.

Two Keepers. A Huntsman.

A Son that has killed his Father.

A Father that has killed his Son.

Queen Margaret.

York. While we pursu'd the horsemen of the north, He slily stole away, and left his men Whereat the great lord of Northumberland, Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat, Cheer'd up the drooping army; and himself, Lord Clifford, and lord Stafford, all abreast, Charg'd our main battle's front, and, breaking in, Were by the swords of common soldiers slain. Edw. Lord Stafford's father, duke of Buckingham, Is either slain, or wounded dangerous: I cleft his beaver with a downright blow; That this is true, father, behold his blood.

[Showing his bloody Sword. Mont. And, brother, here's the earl of Wiltshire's blood, [To York, showing his. Whom I encounter'd as the battles joia'd. Rich. Speak thou for me, and tell them what I did. [Throwing down the Duke of Somerset's Head. York. Richard hath best deserv'd of all my sons.What, is your grace dead, my lord of Somerset ? Norf. Such hope have all the line of John of Gaunt! Rich. Thus do I hope to shake king Henry's head. War. And so do I.-Victorious prince of York,

Before I see thee seated in that throne
Which now the house of Lancaster usurps,
I vow by heaven, these eyes shall never close.
This is the palace of the fearful king,
And this the regal seat: possess it, York:
For this is thine, and not king Henry's heirs.
York. Assist me then, sweet Warwick, and I will;
For hither we have broken in by force.

Norf. We'll all assist you; he, that flies, shall die.
York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk,-Stay by me, my

lords ;

And, soldiers, stay, and lodge by me this night. 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 parliaBut little thinks, we shall be of her council: [ment, By words or blows, here let us win our right.

Rich. Arm'd, as we are, let's stay within this house. War. The bloody parliament shall this be call'd, Unless Plantagenet, duke of York, be king; And bashful Henry depos'd, whose cowardice Hath made us by-words to our enemies.

York. Then leave me not, my lords; be resolute; I mean to take possession of my right. War. Neither the king, nor he that loves him best, The proudest he that holds up Lancaster, Dares stir a wing, if Warwick shake his bells. I'll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares :Resolve thee, Richard; claim the English crown.

[Warwick leads York to the Throne, who seats himself.

Flourish. Enter King Henry, Clifford, Northumberland, Westmoreland, Exeter, and others, with red Roses in their Hats.

K. Hen. My lords, look where the sturdy rebel sits, Even in the chair of state! belike, he means (Back'd by the power of Warwick, that false peer), To aspire unto the crown, and reign as king.Earl of Northumberland, he slew thy father;And thine, lord Clifford; and you both have vow'd revenge

On him, his sons, his favourites, and his friends. North. If I be not, heavens, he reveng' on me! Cliff. The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn in steel. [down: West. What, shall we suffer this? let's pluck him My heart for anger burns, I cannot brook it.

K. Hen. Be patient, gentle earl of Westmoreland. Cliff. Patience is for poltroons, and such as he; He durst not sit there, had your father liv'd. My gracious lord, here in the parliament Let us assail the family of York.

North. Well hast thou spoken, cousin; be it so. K. Hen. Ah, know you not, the city favours them, And they have troops of soldiers at their beck?

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;
I am thy sovereign.
York.
Thou art deceiv'd, I am thine.
Exe. For shame, come down; he made thee duke
of York.

York. 'Twas 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. Cliff. Whom should he follow, but his natural king? War. True, Clifford; and that's Richard, duke of York. [throne? K. Ken. And shall I stand, and thou sit in my York. It must and shall be so. Content thyself. War. Be duke of Lancaster, let him be king. West. He is both king and duke of Lancaster: And that the lord of Westmoreland shall maintain. War. And Warwick shall disprove it. You forget, That we are those, which chas'd you from the field, And slew your fathers, and with colours spread March'd through the city to the palace gates.

North. Yes, Warwick, I remember it to my grief; And, by his soul, thou and thy house shall rue it. West. Plantagenet, of thee, and these thy sons, Thy kinsmen, and thy friends, I'll have more lives, Than drops of blood were in my father's veins.

Cliff. Urge it no more; lest that, instead of words, I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger, As shall revenge his death, before I stir.

[threats! War. Poor Clifford! how I scorn his worthless York. Will you, we show our title to the crown? If not, our swords shall plead it in the field.

K. Hen. What title hast thou, traitor, to the crown? Thy father was, as thou art, duke of York; Thy grandfather, Roger Mortimer, earl of March: I am the son of Henry the fifth, 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.

York. Sons, peace!

[speak.

K. Hen. Peace thou! and give king Henry leave to
War. Plantagenet shall speak first:-hear him,
And be you silent and attentive too,
[lords;

For he, that interrupts him, shall not live. [throne,
K. Hen. Think'st thou, that I will leave my kingly
Wherein my grandsire, and my father, sat!"
No: first shall war unpeople this my realm;

York. "Twas by rebellion against his king. K. Hen. I know not what to say; my title's weak. Tell me, may not a king adopt an heir? York. What then?

K. Hen. An if he may, then am I lawful king: For Richard, in the view of many lords, Resign'd the crown to Henry the fourth; 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, 'twere prejudicial to his crown?

Exe. No; for he could not so resign his crown, But that the next heir should succeed and reign. K. Hen. Art thou against us, duke of Exeter ? Exe. His is the right, and therefore pardon me. York. Why whisper you, my lords, and answer not? Exe. My conscience tells me he is lawful king. K. Hen. All will revolt from me, and turn to him. North. Plantagenet, for all the claim thou lay'st, Think not, that Henry shall be so depos'd.

War. Depos'd he shall be, in despite of all. North. Thou art deceiv'd: 'tis not thy southern power,

Of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, nor of Kent,-
Which makes thee thus presumptuous and proud,-
Can set the dake up, in despite of me.

Cliff King Henry, be thy title right or wrong,
Lord Clifford vows to fight in thy defence:
May that ground gape, and swallow me alive,
Where I shall kneel to him that slew my father!
K. Hen. O Clifford, how thy words revive my heart!
York. Henry of Lancaster, resign thy crown:-
What mutter you, or what conspire you, lords?
War. Do right unto this princely duke of York;
Or I will fill the house with armed men,
And, o'er the chair of state, where now he sits,
Write up his title with usurping blood.

[He stamps, and the Soldiers show themselves. K. Hen. My lord of Warwick, hear me but one word

Let me, for this my life-time, reign as king.
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,
Enjoy the kingdom after my decease.

Cliff. What wrong is this unto the prince your son?
War. What good is this to England, and himself?
West. Base, fearful, and despairing Henry!
Cliff. How hast thou injur'd both thyself and us!
West, I cannot stay to hear these articles.
North. Nor I.

Cliff. 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!
Cliff. In dreadful war mayst thou be overcome!
Or live in peace, abandon'd, and despis'd!

[Exeunt North. Cliff, and West. War. Turn this way, Henry, and regard them not. Exe. They seek revenge, and therefore will not K. Hen. Ah, Exeter! [yield. 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; Conditionally, that here thou take an oath To cease this civil war, and, whilst I live, To honour me as thy king and sovereign; And neither by treason, nor hostility, To seek to put me down, and reign thyself. York. This oath I willingly take, and will perform. [Coming from the Throne. War. Long live king Heary! Plantagenet, em[sons!

brace him.

K. Hen. And long live thou, and these thy forward York. Now York and Lancaster are reconcil'd. Exe. Accurs'd be he, that seeks to make them foes! [Senet. The Lords come forward. York, Farewell, my gracious lord; I'll to my castle. War. And I'll keep London, with my soldiers. Nurf. And I to Norfolk, with my followers.

Mont. And I unto the sea, from whence I came. [Exeunt York and his Sons, Warwick, Norfolk, Montague, Soldiers, and Attendants. K. Hen. And I, with grief and sorrow, to the court. Enter Queen Margaret and the Prince of Wales. Exe. Here comes the queen, whose looks bewray I'll steal away. [her anger: K. Hen. Exeter, so will I. [Going. Q. Mar. Nay, go not from me, I will follow thee. K. Hen. Be patient, gentle queen, and I will stay. Q. Mar. Who can be patient in such extremes? Ah, wretched man! would I had died a maid, And never seen thee, never borne thee sou, Seeing thou hast prov'd so unnatural a father! Hath he deserv'd to lose his birthright thus ? Hadst thou but lov'd him half so well as I; Or felt that pain which I did for him once; Or nourish'd him, as I did with my blood; Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there, Rather than made that savage duke thine heir, And disinherited thine only son.

Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me: If you be king, why should not I succeed? [son:K. Hen. Pardon me, Margaret ;-pardon me, sweet The earl of Warwick, and the duke, enforc'd me. Q. Mar. Enfore'd thee! art thou king, and wilt be

forc'd?

I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch !
Thou hast undone thyself, thy son, and me;
And given unto the house of York such head,
As thou shalt reign but by their sufferance.
To entail him and his heirs unto the crown,
What is it, but make thy sepulchre,
And creep into it far before thy time?
Warwick is chancellor, and the lord of Calais ;
Stern Faulconbridge commands the narrow seas;
The duke is made protector of the realm;
And yet shalt thou he safe? such safety finds
The trembling lamb, environed with wolves.
Had I been there, which am a silly woman,
The soldiers should have toss'd me on their pikes,
Before I would have granted to that act.
But thou preferr'st thy life before thine honour:
And, seeing thou dost, I here divorce myself,
Both from thy table, Henry, and thy bed,
Until that act of parliament be repeal'd,
Whereby my son is disinherited."

The northern lords, that have forsworn thy colours,
Will follow mine, if once they see them spread :
And spread they shall be; to thy foul disgrace,
And utter ruin of the house of York.
Thus do I leave thee :-Come, son, let's away:
Our army's ready; come, we'll after them.

thee gone.

K. Hen. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me speak.
Q. Mar. Thou hast spoke too much already; get
[me?
K. Hen. Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay with
Q. Mar. Ay, to be murder'd by his enemies.
Prince. When I return with victory from the field,
I'll see your grace: till then, I'll follow her.
Q. Mar. Come, son, away; we may not linger thus.
[Exeunt Queen Margaret and the Prince.
K. Hen. Poor queen! how love to me, and to her
Hath made her break out into terms of rage! [son,
Reveng'd may she be on that hateful duke;
Whose haughty spirit, winged with desire,"
Will cost my crown, and, like an empty eagle,
Tire on the flesh of me, and of my son !
The loss of those three lords torments my heart:
I'll write unto them, and entreat them fair ;-
Come, cousin, you shall be the messenger.
Exe. And I, I hope, shall reconcile them all.
[Exeunt.

SCENE II. A Room in Sandal Castle, near
Wakefield, in Yorkshire.

Enter Edward, Richard, and Montague.
Rich. Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave.
Edw. No, I can better play the orator.
Mont. But I have reasons strong and forcible.
Enter York.

York. Why, how now, sons, and brother, at a strife? What is your quarrel? how began it first?

Edw. No quarrel, but a slight contention.
York. About what?

[us;

Rich. About that which concerns your grace and The crown of England, father, which is yours. York. Mine, boy not till king Henry be dead. Rich. Your right depends not on his life, or death. Edw. Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it now:

York. I shall be, if I claim by open war.

Rich. I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear me speak.

York. Thou canst not, son; it is impossible.
Rich. An oath is of no moment, being not took
Before a true and lawful magistrate,

That hath authority over him that swears:
Henry had none, but did usurp the place;
Then, seeing 'twas he that made you to depose,
Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous.
Therefore, to arms. And, father, do bat think,
Within whose circuit is Elysium,
How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown;

And all that poets feign of bliss and joy.
Why do we linger thus? I cannot rest,
Until the white rose, that I wear, be died
Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry's heart.

York. Richard, enough; I will be king, or die.—
And whet on Warwick to this enterprise.
Brother, thou shalt to London presently,"
Thou, Richard, shalt unto the duke of Norfolk,
And tell him privily of our intent.-
You, Edward, shall unto my lord Cobham,
With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise:
In them I trust; for they are soldiers,
Witty and courteous, liberal, full of spirit.-
While you are thus employ'd, what resteth more,
But that I seek occasion how to rise;
And yet the king not privy to my drift,
Nor any of the house of Lancaster?
Enter a Messenger.

But, stay; What news? Why com'st thou in such post? [lords, Mess. The queen, with all the northern earls and Intend here to besiege you in your castle : She is hard by with twenty thousand men ; And therefore fortify your hold, my lord.

York. Ay, with my sword. What! think'st thou, that we fear them ?

Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me ;-
My brother Montague shall post to London :
Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest,
Whom we have left protectors of the king,
With powerful policy strengthen themselves,
And trust not simple Henry, nor his oaths.

Mont. Brother, I go; I'll win them, fear it not:
And thus most humbly I do take my leave. [Exit.
Enter Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer.
York. Sir John, and sir Hugh Mortimer, mine
You are come to Sandal in a happy hour; [uncles!
The army of the queen mean to besiege us. [field.
Sir John. She shall not need, we'll meet her in the
York. What, with five thousand men?
Rich. Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need.
A woman's general; what should we fear?
[A March afar off.
Edw. I hear their drums; let's set our men in order;
And issue forth, and bid them battle straight.

York. Five men to twenty-though the odds be I doubt not, uncle, of our victory. [great, Many a battle have I won in France, When as the enemy hath been ten to one; Why should I not now have the like success? [Alarum. Exeunt.

SCENE III. Plains near Sandal Castle. Alarums: Excursions. Enter Rutland and his

Tutor.

Rut. Ah, whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands? Ab, tutor! look, where bloody Clifford comes !

[life.

Enter Clifford and Soldiers. Cliff. Chaplain, away! thy priesthood saves thy As for the brat of this accursed duke, Whose father slew my father, he shall die. Tut. And I, my lord, will bear him company. Cliff. Soldiers, away with him.

Tut. Ah, Clifford ! murder not this innocent child, Lest thou be hated both of God and man.

[Exit, forced off by Soldiers. Cliff. How now! is he dead already? Or, is it fear, That makes him close his eyes ?-I'll open them. Rut. So looks the pent-up lion o'er the wretch

Of both the Sicils, and Jerusalem;
Yet not so wealthy as an English yeoman.
Hath that poor monarch taught thee to insult?
It needs not, nor it boots thee not, proud queen;
Unless the adage must be verified,-

That beggars, mounted, run their horse to death.
"Tis beauty, that doth oft make women proud;
But, God he knows, thy share thereof is small:
"Tis virtue, that doth make them most admir'd;
The contrary doth make thee wonder'd at:
'Tis government, that makes them seem divine;
The want thereof makes thee abominable:
Thou art as opposite to every good,

As the Antipodes are unto us,

Or as the south to the septentrion.

O, tiger's heart, wrapp'd in a woman's hide!
How couldat thou drain the life-blood of the child,
To bid the father wipe his eyes withal,
And yet be seen to bear a woman's face?
Women are soft, mild, pitiful, and flexible;
Thou, stern, obdurate, flinty, rough, remorseless.
Bid'st thou me rage? why, now thou hast thy wish:
Wouldst have me weep? why, now thou hast thy will:
For raging wind blows up incessant showers,
And, when the rage allays, the rain begins.
These tears are my sweet Rutland's obsequies;
And every drop cries vengeance for his death,-
'Gainst thee, fell Clifford,-and thee, false French-

woman.

North. Beshrew me, but his passions move me so, That hardly can I check my eyes from tears. York. That face of his the hungry cannibals Would not have touch'd, would not have stain'd

with blood:

But you are more inhuman, more inexorable,-
O, ten times more,-than tigers of Hyrcania.
See, ruthless queen, a hapless father's tears:
This cloth thou dipp'dst in blood of my sweet boy,
And I with tears do wash the blood away.
Keep thou the napkin, and go boast of this:
He gives back the Handkerchief.
And, if thou tell'st the heavy story right,
Upon my soul, the hearers will shed tears;
Yea, even my foes will shed fast-falling tears,
And say,-Alas, it was a piteous deed!-
There, take the crown,and, with the crown, my curse;
And, in thy need, such comfort come to thee,
As now I reap at thy too cruel hand!
Hard-hearted Clifford, take me from the world;
My soul to heaven, my blood upon your heads!
North. Had he been slaughterman to all my kin,
I should not for my life but weep with him,
To see how inly sorrow gripes his soul.

So far'd our father with his enemies;
So fled his enemies my warlike father;
Methinks, 'tis prize enough to be his son.e Bend
See, how the morning opes her golden gates, the
And takes her farewell of the glorious sun!
How well resembles it the prime of youth,
Trimm'd like a younker, prancing to his love! $
Edw. Dazzle mine eyes, or do I see three suns?
Rich. Three glorious suns, each one a perfect sun;
Not separated with the racking clouds,
But sever'd in a pale clear-shining sky.
See, see! they join, embrace, and seem to kiss,
As if they vow'd some league inviolable:
Now are they but one lamp, one light, one sun.
In this the heaven figures some event.

Edw. "Tis wondrous strange, the like yet never

I think, it cites us, brother, to the field; [heard of.
That we, the sons of brave Plantagenet,
Each one already blazing by onr meeds,
Should, notwithstanding, join our lights together,
And over-shine the earth, as this the world.
Whate'er it bodes, henceforward will I bear
Upon my target three fair shining suns. [speak it,
Rich. Nay, bear three daughters ;-by your leave I
You love the breeder better than the male.
Enter a Messenger.

But what art thou, whose heavy looks foretell
Some dreadful story hanging on thy tongue ?
Mess. Ah, one that was a woful looker on, T
When as the noble duke of York was slain,
Your princely father, and my loving lord.

Edw. O, speak no more! for I have heard too much.
Rich. Say how he died, for I will hear it all.
Mess. Environed he was with many foes;
And stood against them, as the hope of Troy
Against the Greeks, that would have enter'd Troy.
But Hercules himself must yield to odds;
And many strokes, though with a little axe,
Hew down and fell the hardest-timber'd oak."
But only slaughter'd by the ireful arm
By many hands your father was subdu'd;
Of unrelenting Clifford, and the queen:
Who crown'd the gracious duke in high despite;
Laugh'd in his face; and, when with grief he wept,
The ruthless queen gave him, to dry his cheeks,
A napkin steeped in the harmless blood

Of sweet young Rutland, by rough Clifford slain :
And, after many scorns, many foul taunts,
They took his head, and on the gates of Yorku vil.
The saddest spectacle that e'er I view'd.
They set the same; and there it doth remain,

T

Edw. Sweet duke of York, our prop to lean upon;

death.

king.

[Dies.

Q. Mar. Off with his head, and set it on York gates; So York may overlook the town of York. [Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE I. A Plain near Mortimer's Cross, in Herefordshire.

Drums. Enter Edward and Richard, with their Forces, marching.

Edw. I wonder, how our princely father 'scap'd;
Or whether he be 'scap'd away, or no,
From Clifford's and Northumberland's pursuit ;
Had he been ta'en, we should have heard the news;
Had he been slain, we should have heard the news;
Or, had he 'scap'd, methinks, we should have heard
The happy tidings of his good escape.-
How fares my brother? why is he so sad?
Rich. I cannot joy, until I be resolv'd
Where our right valiant father is become.
I saw him in the battle range about;
And watch'd bim, how he singled Clifford forth.
Methought, he bore him in the thickest troop,
As doth a lion in a herd of neat:

Or as a bear, encompass'd round with dogs;
Who having pinch'd a few, and made them cry,
The rest stand all aloof, and bark at him.

For, hand to band, he would have vanquish'd thee!-
And treacherously hast thou vanquish'd bim,
Now my soul's palace is become a prison:
Ah, would she break from hence! that this my body
Might in the ground he closed up in rest: bouté al
For never henceforth shall I joy again,wp-b
Never, O never, shall 1 see more joy.

Rich. I cannot weep; for all my body's moisture
Scarce serves to quench my furnace-burning heart:
Nor can my tongue unload my heart's great burden;
For self-same wind, that I should speak withal,
Is kindling coals, that fire all my breast,
And burn me up with flames, that tears would queuch.
To weep, is to make less the depth of grief:
Tears, then, for babes; blows, and revenge, for me !
Richard, I bear thy name, I'll venge thy death,
Or die renowned by attempting it.
Edw. His name that valiant duke hath left with

His dukedom and his chair with me is left.

[thee;

Rich. Nay, if thou be that princely eagle's bird,
Show thy descent by gazing 'gainst the sun:
For chair and dukedom, throne and kingdom say;
Either that is thine, or else thou wert not his.

March. Enter Warwick and Montague, with
Forces.

War. How now, fair lords? What fare? what news abroad?

Rick. Great lord of Warwick, if we should recount Our baleful news, and, at each word's deliverance, Stab poniards in our flesh, till all were told, The words would add more anguish than the wounds. O valiant lord, the duke of York is slain. Edw. O Warwick Warwick! that Plantagenet, Which held thee dearly, as his soul's redemption, Is by the stern lord Clifford done to death.