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Is not itself, nor have we won one foot,

You have defended me from imminent death. If Salisbury be lost.

Well, lords, we have not got that which we have : Rich. My noble father,

"Tis not enough our foes are this time fled, Three times to-day I holp him to his horse, Being opposites of such repairing nature. Three times bestrid him ; thrice I led liim off, York. i know our safety is to follow them; Persuaded him from any further act : 10 For, as I hear, the king is ted to London, But still, where danger was, still there I met him; To call a present court of parliament : And like rich hangings in a homely house, Let us pursue him ore the writs go forth. So was liis will in his old feeble body.

What says Lord Warwick ? shall we after them ? But, noble as he is, look where he comes.

War. After them! nay, before them, if we Enter SALISBURY.

Now, by my faith, lords, 'twas a glorious day: Sal. Now, by my sword, well hast thou fought Saint Alban's battle, won by famous York, to-day;

Shall be eterniz'd in all age to come. By the mass, so did we all. I thank you, Richard: Sound drums and trumpets ! and to London all : God knows how long it is I have to live ; And more such days as these to us befall! And it hath pleas'd him that three times to day

Exeunt.

can.

30

THE THIRD PART

PART OF KING HENRY
THE SIXTH.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. King HENRY THE SIXTA.

Sir JOHN MORTIMER, | Uncles to the Duke of EDWARD, Prince of Wales, his Son.

Sir Hugh MORTIMER, S

York. LEWIS THE ELEVENTH, King of France.

HENRY, Earl of Richmond, a Youth. DUKE OF SOMERSET,

LORD RIVERS, Brother to Lady Grey. DUKE OF EXETER,

SIR WILLIAM STANLEY. EARL OF OXFORD,

on King Henry's Sir John MONTGOMERY. EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND, side.

SIR JOHN SOMERVILLE. EARL OF WESTMORELAND,

Tutor to Rutland. LORD CLIFFORD,

Mayor of York. RICHARD PLANTAGENET, Duke of York.

Licutenant of the Tower,
EDWARD, Earl of March, afterwards

A Nobleman.
King Edward the Fourth,

I'vo Keeper's.

his EDMUND, Earl of Rutland,

A Huntsman.

Sons. GEORGE, afterwards Duke of Clarence,

A Son that has killed his Father, RICHARD, afterwards Duke of Gloucester,

A Father that has killed his Son. DUKE OF NORFOLK,

QUEEN MARGARET. MARQUESS OF MONTAGUE,

LADY GREY, afterwards Queen to Edward the EARL OF WARWICK, of the Duke of York's

Fourth. EARL OF PEMBROKE,

party.

Bona, Sister to the French Queen. LORD HASTINGS, LORD STAFFORD, Soldiers, and other Attendants on King Henry and King Edward, Messengers, Watchmen, etc. SCENE.-During part of the Third Act, in France ; during the rest of the Play,

in England.

ACT I.

Whose war-like ears could never brook retreat,

Cheer'd up the drooping army; and himself, SCENE I.-London. The Parliament llouse.

Lord Clifford, and Lord Stafford, all abreast, Drums. Some Soldiers of York's party break in. Chargid our main battle's front, and breaking in

Then enter the Duke of York, EDWARD, Were by the swords of common soldiers slain. RICHARD, NORFOLK, MONTAGUE, WARWICK,

Edw. Lord Stafford's father, Duke of Buck. and Others, with white roses in their hats.

ingham,

Is either slain or wounded dangerously ; War. I wonder how the king escap'd our hands. I cleft his beaver with a downright blow : York. While we pursu'd the horsemon of the That this is true, father, behold his blood. porth,

Showing his blooily suord. He slily stole away and left his men :

Mont. To YORK, showing his. And, brother, Whereat the great Lord of Northumberland,

here's the Earl of Wiltshire's blood,

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Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'd. He durst not sit there had your father liv'd.
Rich. Speak thou for me, and tell them what My gracious lord, here in the parliament
I did.

Throwing down the Duke of Let us assail the family of York.

SOMERSET's head. North. Well hast thou spoken, cousin : be it so. York. Richard hath best deserv'd of all my sons. K. Hen. Ah! know you not thecity favours them, But is your grace dead, my Lord of Somerset ? And they have troops of soldiers at their beck ? Norf. Such hope have all the line of John of Exe. But when the duke is slain they 'll Gaunt!

quickly fly. Rich. Thus do I hope to shake King Henry's K. Hen. Far be the thought of this from head.

Henry's heart, War. And so do I. Victorious Prince of York, To make a shambles of the parliament-house! Before I see thee seated in that throne

Cousin of Exeter, frowns, words, and threats, Which now the house of Lancaster usurps, Shall be the war that Henry means to use. I vow by heaven these eyes shall never close.

They adrance to the DUKE. This is the palace of the fearful king,

Thou factious Duke of York, descend my throne, And this the regal seat: possess it, York ; And kneel for grace and mercy at my feet; For this is thine and not King Henry's heirs'. I am thy sovereign. York. Assist me then, sweet Warwick, and I York.

I am thine. will;

Ere. For shame! come down: he made thee For hither we have broken in by force.

Duke of York. Norf. We'llall assist you; he that flies shall die. York. 'Twas my inheritance, as the earldom was. York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk. Stay by me, Exc. Thy father was a traitor to the crown. my lords;

War. Exeter, thou art a traitor to the crown And, soldiers, stay and lodge by me this night. In following this usurping Henry. War. And when the king comes, offer him Clif. Whom should he follow but his natural no violence,

king? Unless he seek to thrust you out perforce.

War. True, Clifford ; and that's Richard,

The Soldiers retire. Duke of York. York. The queen this day here holds her K. Hen. And shall I stand, and thou sit in parliament,

my throne ? But little thinks we shall be of her council : York. It must and shall be so : content thyself. By words or blows here let us win our right. War. Be Duke of Lancaster : let him be king. Rich, Arm'd as we are, let's stay within this West. He is both king and Duke of Lancaster: house.

And that the Lord of Westmoreland shall War. The bloody parliament shall this be call'd, maintain. Unless Plantagenet, Duke of York, be king, War. And Warwick shall disprove it. You And bashful Henry depos'd, whose cowardice forget Hath made us by-words to our enemies.

That we are those which chas'd you from the field York. Then leave me not, my lords ; be resolute; And slew your fathers, and with colours spread I mean to take possession of my right.

March'd through the city to the palace gates. War. Neither the king, nor he that loves him North. Yes, Warwick, I rememberit toms grief; best,

And, by his soul, thou and thy house shall rue it. The proudest he that holds up Lancaster,

West. Plantagenet, of thee and these thy sons, Dares stir a wing if Warwick shake his bells, Thy kinsmen and thy friends, I 'll have more lives I'll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares. Than drops of blood were in my father's veins. Resolve thee, Richard : claim the English crown. Clif. Urge it no more;lest that instead of words WARWICK leads YORK to the throne, who I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger

seats himself. As shall revenge his death before I stir.

War. Poor Clifford ! how I scorn his worthPlourish. Enter King HENRY, CLIFFORD,

less threats. NORTHUMBERLAND, WESTMORELAND, EXE

York. Will you we show our title to the crown? TER, and Others, with red roses in their hats.

If not, our swords shall plead it in the field. K. Hen. My lords, look where the sturdy K. Uen. What title hast thou, traitor, to the rebel sits,

crown? Even in the chair of state! belike he means, Thy father was, as thou art, Duke of York ; Back'd by the power of Warwick, that false peer, Thy grandfather, Roger Mortimer, Earl of March. To aspire unto the crown and reign as king. I am the son of Henry the Fifth, Earl of Northumberland, he slew thy father, Who made the Dauphin and the French to stoop, And thine, Lord Clifford ; and you both have And seiz'd upon their towns and provinces. vow'd revenge

War. Talk not of France, sith thou hast lost On him, his sons, his favourites, and his friends. it all.

North. If I be not, heavens be reveng'd on me! K. Hen. The lord protector lost it, and not I: Clif. The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn When I was crown'd I was but nine months old. in steel.

Rich. You are old enough now, and yet, meWest. What! shall we suffer this ? let's pluck thinks, you lose. him down:

Father, tear the crown from the usurper's head. My heart for anger burns ; I cannot brook it. 60 Edw. Sweet father, do so ; set it on vour lesdi. K. Hen. Be patient, gentle Earl of West- Mont. To York. Good brother, as thou lov'st moreland.

and honour'st arms, Clif. Patience is for poltroons, such as he : Let's fight it out and not stand cavilling thus.

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100

Rich. Sound drums and trumpets, and the And thou shalt reign in quiet while thou liv'st. king will fly.

York. Sons, peace!

K. Hen. I am content: Richard Plantagenet, Enjoy the kingdom after my decease.

Clif. What wrong is this unto the prince your

son!

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.

Ile stumps with his foot, and the Soldiers show themselves. ! K. Hen. My Lord of Warwick, hear me but one word:

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Let me for this my life-time reign as king. York. Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs,

220

and us;

11

240

And never seen thee, never borne thee son,

SCENE 11.- A Room in Sandal Castle, near Seeing thou hast prov'd so unnatural a father.

Wakefidd. llath he deserv'd to lose his birthright thus ? lladst thou but lov'd him half so well as I,

Enter EDWARD, RICHARD, and MONTAGUE. Or felt that pain which I did for him once, Or nourishi'd him as I did with my blood,

Rich. Brother, though I be youngest, give me

leave. Thou would'st have left thy dearest heart-blood there,

Edw. No, I can better play the orator. Rather than have made that savage duke thine

Mont. But I have reasons strong and forcible. heir,

Enter YORK. And disinherited thine only son.

York. Why, how now, sons and brother! at Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me.

a strife? If you be king, why should not I succeed?

What is your quarrel ? how began it first? K. llen. Pardon me, Margaret; pardon me, Edw. No quarrel, but a slight contention. sweet son:

York. About what ? The Earl of Warwick and the duke enforc'd me. Rich. About that which concerns your grace Q. Mar. Enforc'd thee! art thou king, and wilt be forc'd ?

230 The crown of England, father, which is yours. I shame to hear thee speak. Ah! timorous

York. Minc, boy ? not till King Henry be dead. wretch;

Rich. Your right depends not on his life or Thou hast undone thyself, thy son, and me;

death. And given unto the house of York such head

Edw. Now you are beir, therefore enjoy it now: As thou shalt reign but by their sufferance.

By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe, To entail him and his heirs unto the crown,

It will outrun you, father, in the end. What is it but to make thy sepulchre,

York. I took an oath that he should quietly And creep into it far before thy time?

reign. Warwick is chancellor and the lord of Calais;

Edw. But for a kingdom any oath may be Stern Faulconbridge commands the narrow seas; broken: The duke is made protector of the realm ; I would break a thousand oaths to reign one year. And yet shalt thou be safe? such safety finds

Rich. No; God forbid your grace should be The trembling lamb environed with wolves.

forsworn. Had I been there, which am a silly woman, York. I shall be, if I claim by open war. The soldiers should have toss'd me on their pikes

Rich. I'll prove the contrary, if you 'll hear Before I would have gravted to that act ;

me speak. But thou preferr'st thy life before thine honour:

York. Thou canst not, son ; it is impossible. And seeing thou dost, I here divorce myself

Rich, An oath is of no moment, being not took Both from thy table, Henry, and thy bed,

Before a true and lawful magistrate Until that act of parliament be repeald That hath authority over him that swears : Whereby my son is disinherited.

250 Henry had none, but did usurp the place ; The northern lords that have forsworn thycolours Then, seeing 'twas he that made you to depose, Will follow mine, if once they see them spread ; Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous. And spread they shall be, to thy foul disgrace,

Therefore, to arms! And, father, do but think And utter ruin of the house of York.

How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown,
Thus do I leave thee. Come, son, let's away ; Within whose circuit is Elysium,
Our army is ready ; come, we'll after them.

And all that poets feign of bliss and joy. K. Hen. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me Why do we linger thus ? I cannot rest spcak.

Until the white rose that I wear be dyed Q. Mar. Thou hast spoke too much already : Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry's heart. get thee gone.

York. Richard, enough: I will be king, or die. K. llen. Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay Brother, thou shalt to London presently, with me?

And whet on Warwick to this enterprise. Q. Mar. Ay, to be murder'd by his enemies.

Thou, Richard, shalt to the Duke of Norfolk, Prince. When I return with victory from the And tell him privily of our intent. field

You, Edward, shall unto my Lord Cobham, I'll see your grace : till then I'll follow her.

With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise : R. Mar. Come, son, away; we may not linger In them I trust ; for they are soldiers, thus. Excunt Queen MARGARET and the Witty, courtiers, liberal, full of spirit.

Prince of WALES. While you are thus employ'd, what resteth more. K. Hen. Poor queen! how love to me and to

But that I seek occasion how to rise, her son

And yet the king not privy to my drift,
Hath made her break out into terms of rage.

Nor any of the house of Lancaster?
Reveng'd may she be on that hateful duke,
Whose haughty spirit, winged with desire,

Enter a Messenger.
Will cost my crown, and like an empty eagle But, stay : what news? why com'st thou in such
Tire on the flesh of me and of my son!
The loss of those three lords torments my heart : Mess. The queen with all the northern earls
I'll write unto thein and entreat them fair.

and lords Come, cousin ; you shall be the messenger. Intend here to besiege you in your castle. Exe. And I, I hope, shall reconcile them all. She is hard by with twenty thousand men,

Excunt. And therefore fortify your hold, my lord,

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