6 PERSONS REPRESENTED. KING EDWARD THE FOURTH. EDWARD, prince of Wales, afterwards King Edward V. RICHARD, duke of York, GEORGE, duke of Clarence, RICHARD, duke of Gloster, afterwards King Richard Ill. A young Son of Clarence. HENRY, earl of Richmond, afterwards King Henry VII. THOMAS ROTHER AM, archbishop of York. JOHN MORTON, bishop of Ely. DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. DUKE OF NORFOLK. EARL OF SURREY, his son. EARL OF OXFORD. LORD HASTINGS. LORD STANLEY. LORD SIR THOMAS VAUGHAN. SIR RICHARD RATCLIFF. ELIZABETH, queen of King Edward IV. DUCHESS OF YORK, mother to King Edward IV. Clarence, and Gloster. LADY ANNE, widow of Edward prince of Wales, son to King Henry VI.; afterwards married to the duke of Gloster. A young DAUGHTER of Clarence. Lords, and other Attendants; two Gentlemen, a Pursuivant, Scrivener, Citizens, Murderers, Messengers, Ghosts, Soldiers, &c. SCENE, England. Glos. Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York; In the deep bosom of the ocean buried. Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths; And now, instead of mounting barbed steeds, 1 Dances. 2 Steeds canarisoned in a warlike manner. He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber, To the lascivious pleasing of a lute. up, But I,-that am not shaped for sportive tricks, up, ''i. e. Nature that puts together things of a dissimilar kind, as a brave soul and a deformed body.'-Warburton. 2 Preparations for mischief. About a prophecy, which says, that G Of Edward's heirs the murderer shall be. Dive, thoughts, down to my soul! here Clarence comes. Enter CLARENCE guarded, and BRAKENBURY. Brother, good day. What means this armed guard, That waits upon your grace? Cla. His majesty, Tendering my person's safety, hath appointed This conduct to convey me to the Tower. Cla. Because my name is-George. Glos. Alack, my lord, that fault is none of yours; That you shall be new christen'd in the Tower. He hearkens after prophecies and dreams, Glos. Why, this it is, when men are ruled by women. 'Tis not the king that sends you to the Tower; Was it not she, and that good man of worship, That made him send lord Hastings to the Tower, From whence this present day he is deliver'd? We are not safe, Clarence, we are not safe. Cla. By heaven, I think, there is no man secure, But the queen's kindred, and night-walking heralds That trudge betwixt the king and mistress Shore. Heard you not, what an humble suppliant Lord Hastings was to her for his delivery? Glos. Humbly complaining to her deity Got my lord chamberlain his liberty. I'll tell you what,—I think, it is our way, If we will keep in favor with the king, To be her men, and wear her livery. The jealous o'erworn widow, and herself,1 Since that our brother dubb'd them gentlewomen, Are mighty gossips in this monarchy. Bra. I beseech your graces both to pardon me; His majesty hath straitly given in charge, That no man shall have private conference, Of what degree soever, with his brother. Glos. Even so? an please your worship, Brakenbury, You may partake of any thing we say: The queen and mistress Shore. |