Shouldst raise so great a power without his leave, Or dare to bring thy force so near the court.

York. Scarce can I speak, my choler is so great.
O, I could hew up rocks, and fight with flint.
I am so angry at these abject terms;
And how, like Ajax Telamonins,

On sheep or oxen could I spend my fury!
I am far better born than is the king;
More like a king, more kingly in my thoughts:
But I must make fair weather yet a while,
Till Henry be more weak, and I more strong.-
[All the preceding is spoken aside.
Buckingham, I prithee pardon me,
That I have given no answer all this while;
My mind was troubled with deep melancholy.
The cause why I have brought this army hither,
Is, to remove proud Somerset from the king,
Seditious to his grace, and to the state.

Buck. That is too much presumption on thy part:
But if thy arms be to no other end,
The king hath yielded unto thy demand;
The Duke of Somerset is in the Tower.

York. Upon thine honour, is he prisoner?
Buck. Upon mine honour, he is prisoner.
York. Then, Buckingham, I do dismiss my
powers.

Soldiers, I thank you all; disperse yourselves;
Meet me to-morrow in Saint George's field,
You shall have pay, and everything you wish.
And let my sovereign, virtuous Henry,
Command my eldest son, nay all my sons,
As pledges of my fealty and love.
I'll send them all as willing as I live;
Lands, goods, horse, armour, anything I have
Is his to use, so Somerset may die.

Buck. York, I commend this kind submission: We twain will go into his highness' tent.

Enter King HENRY, attended.

K. Hen. Buckingham, doth York intend no harm to us,

That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm ?
York. In all submission and humility,
York doth present himself unto your highness.
K. Hen. Then what intend these forces thou
dost bring?

[hence; York. To heave the traitor Somerset from And fight against that monstrous rebel Cade, Who since I heard to be discomfited.

Enter IDEN, with CADE's head.

Iden. If one so rude, and of such mean con-
May pass into the presence of a king, [dition.
Lo, I present your grace a traitor's head,
The head of Cade, whom I in combat slew.
K. Hen. The head of Cade?-Great God, how
just art thou !-

O, let me view his visage, being dead,
That living wrought me such exceeding trouble.
Tell me, my friend, art thou the man that slew
him?

Iden. I was, an't like your majesty.

Iden. May Iden live to merit such a bounty, And never live but true unto his liege!

K. Hen. See, Buckingham! Somerset comes with the queen ;

Go, bid her hide him quickly from the duke.
Enter Queen MARGARET and SOMERSET.
Q. Mar. For thousand Yorks he shall not hide
his head,

But boldly stand, and front him to his face.
York. How now! Is Somerset at liberty?
Then, York,unloose thy long-imprison'd thoughts,
And let thy tongue be equal with thy heart.
Shall I endure the sight of Somerset ?—
False king! why hast thou broken faith with me,
Knowing how hardly I can brook abuse?
King did I call thee? no, thou art not king;
Not fit to govern and rule multitudes,
Which dar'st not, no, nor canst not rule a traitor.
That head of thine doth not become a crown;
Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer's staff,
And not to grace an awful princely sceptre.
That gold must round engrit these brows of mine,
Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles' spear,
Is able with the change to kill and cure
Here is a band to hold a sceptre up,
And with the same to act controlling laws.
Give place; by Heaven, thou shalt rule no more
O'er him whom Heaven created for thy ruler.

Som. O monstrous traitor!-I arrest thee, York,
Of capital treason 'gainst the king and crown:
Obey, audacious traitor; kneel for grace.
York. Wouldst have me kneel? first let me
ask of these,

If they can brook I bow a knee to man.
Sirrah, call in my sons to be my bail;

[Exit an Attendant. I know ere they will have me go to ward, They'll pawn their swords for my enfranchise

ment.

Q. Mar. Call hither Clifford: bid him come amain, [Exit BUCKINGHAM. To say, if that the bastard boys of York Shall be the surety for their traitor father. York. O blood-bespotted Neapolitan, Outcast of Naples, England's bloody scourge ! The sons of York, thy betters in their birth, Shall be their father's bail: and bane to those That for my surety will refuse the boys. Enter EDWARD and RICHARD PLANTAGENET, with Forces, at one side; at the other, with Forces also, Old CLIFFORD and his Son.

See, where they come; I'll warrant they'll make it good. [bail. Q. Mar. And here comes Clifford to deny their Člif. Health and all happiness to my lord the [Kneels. York. I thank thee, Clifford: Say, what news with thee?

king?

degree?

Iden. Alexander Iden, that's my name; A poor esquire of Kent, that loves his king. Buck. So please it you, my lord, 'twere not amiss

He were created knight for his good service.
K. Hen. Iden, kneel down. [He kneels.] Rise
up a knight.

We give thee for reward a thousand marks;
And will that thou henceforth attend on us.

Clif. This is my king, York, I do not mistake; But thou mistak'st me much to think I do :To Bedlam with him! is the man grown mad? K. Hen. Ay, Clifford; a bedlam and ambitious humour

Makes him oppose himself against his king.
Clif. He is a traitor; let him to the tower
And chop away that factious pate of his.

Q. Mar. He is arrested, but will not obey; His sons, he says, shall give their words for him.

Tork. Will you not, sons?

Edw. Ay, noble father, if our words will serve. Rich. And if words will not, then our weapons shall.

Olif. Why, what a brood of traitors have we here!

York. Look in a glass, and call thy image so; I am thy king, and thou a false-heart traitor. Call hither to the stake my two brave bears, That, with the very shaking of their chains, They may astonish these fell lurking curs; Bid Salisbury and Warwick come to me. Drums. Enter WARWICK and SALISBURY, with

Forces.

Clif. Are these thy bears? we'll bait thy bears
to death,

And manacle the bearward in their chains,
If thou dar'st bring them to the baiting-place.

Rich. Oft have I seen a hot o'erweening cur
Run back and bite, because he was withheld;
Who, being suffer'd with the bear's fell paw,
Hath clapp'd his tail between his legs and cried:
And such a piece of service will you do,
If you oppose yourselves to match Lord Warwick,
Clif. Hence, heap of wrath, foul indigested
lump,

As crooked in thy manners as thy shape!

York. Nay, we shall heat you thoroughly anon. Clif. Take heed, lest by your heat you barn yourselves.

K. Hen. Why, Warwick, hath thy knee forgot to bow?

Old Salisbury,-shame to thy silver hair,
Thou mad misleader of thy brainsick son!-
What, wilt thou on thy death-bed play the ruffian,
And seek for sorrow with thy spectacles?
O, where is faith? O, where is loyalty?
If it be banish'd from the frosty head,
Where shall it find a harbour in the earth?-
Wilt thou go dig a grave to find out war,
And shame thine honourable age with blood?
Why art thou old and want'st experience?
Or wherefore dost abuse it if thou hast it?
For shame! in duty bend thy knee to me,
That bows unto the grave with mickle age.
Sal. My lord, I have considered with myself
The title of this most renowned duke;
And in my conscience do repute his grace
The rightful heir to England's royal seat.
K. Hen. Hast thou not sworn allegiance unto
Sal. I have.

[me?

K. Hen. Canst thon dispense with heaven for such an oath?

Sal. It is great sin, to swear unto a sin;
But greater sin, to keep a sinful oath.
Who can be bound by any solemn vow
To do a murtherous deed, to rob a man,
To force a spotless virgin's chastity,
To reave the orphan of his patrimony,

To wring the widow from her accustom'd right;
And have no other reason for this wrong
But that he was bound by a solemn oath?

Q. Mar. A subtle traitor needs no sophister. K. Hen. Call Buckingham, and bid him arm himself. [thou hast, York. Call Buckingham, and all the friends I am resolved for death or diguity.

Clif. The first I warrant thee. if dreams prove true.

War. You were best to go to bed, and dream

again,

To keep thee from the tempest of the field.

Clif. I am resolv'd to bear a greater storm Than any thou canst conjure up to-day; And that I'll write upon thy burgonet Might I but know thee by thy household badge. War. Now, by my father's badge, old Nevil's

crest,

The rampant bear, chain'd to the ragged staff,
This day I'll wear aloft my burgonet,
(As on a mountain-top the cedar shows,
That keeps his leaves in spite of any storm),
Even to affright thee with the view thereof.

Clif. And from thy burgonet I'll rend thy bear, And tread it under foot with all contempt, Despite the bearward that protects the bear.

Y. Clif. And so to arms, victorious father, To quell the rebels and their 'complices. Rich. Fie! charity, for shame! speak not in spite,

For you shall sup with Jesu Christ to-night. Y. Clif. Foul stigmatic, that's more than thou canst tell,

Rich. If not in heaven, you'll surely sup in hell. [Exeunt severally.

SCENE II.-Saint Alban's. Alarums: Excursions. Enter WARWICK. War. Clifford of Cumberland, 'tis Warwick calls!

And if thou dost not hide thee from the bear, Now when the angry trumpet sounds alarum, And dead men's cries do fill the empty air, Clifford, I say, come forth and fight with me! Proud northern lord, Clifford of Cumberland, Warwick is hoarse with calling thee to arms.

But that 'tis shown ignobly, and in treason.
York. So let it help me now against thy sword,
As I in justice and true right express it!
Clif. My soul and body on the action both!-
York. A dreadful lay!-address thee instantly.
[They fight, and CLIFFORD falls.
Clif. La fin couronne les œuvres. [Dies.
York. Thus war hath given thee peace, for thou
art still.

Peace with his soul, Heaven, if it be thy will.
[Exit.

Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds
Where it should guard. O war, thon son of hell,
Whom angry heavens do make their minister,
Throw in the frozen bosoms of our part
Hot coals of vengeance -Let no soldier fly:
He that is truly dedicate to war
Hath no self-love; nor he that loves himself
Hath not essentially, but by circumstance,
The name of valour.-O, let the vile world end,
[Seeing his dead father.
And the premised flames of the last day
Knit earth and heaven together!
Now let the general trumpet blow his blast,
Particularities and petty sounds

To cease! Wast thou ordain'd, dear father,
To lose thy youth in peace, and to achieve
The silver livery of advised age,

And in thy reverence, and thy chair days, thus
To die in ruffian battle?-Even at this sight,
My heart is turn'd to stone: and, while 'tis mine,
It shall be stony. York not our old men spares;
No more will I their babes: tears virginal
Shall be to me even as the dew to fire;
And beauty, that the tyrant oft reclaims,
Shall to my flaming wrath be oil and flax.
Henceforth, I will not have to do with pity:
Meet I an infant of the house of York,
Into as many gobbets will 1 cut it,
As wild Medea young Absyrtus did:
In cruelty will I seek out my fame.
Come, thou new ruin of old Clifford's house;
[Taking up the body.
As did Æneas old Anchises bear,
So bear I thee upon my manly shoulders;
But then Eneas bare a living load,
Nothing so heavy as these woes of mine.

[Exit.

Enter RICHARD PLANTAGENET and SOMERSET,
fighting, and SOMERSET is killed.
Rich. So, lie thou there;-
For underneath an alehouse' paltry sign,
The Castle in Saint Albans, Somerset
Hath made the wizard famous in his death.
Sword, hold thy temper: heart, be wrathful still:
Priests pray for enemies, but princes kill.

[Exit. Alarums: Excursions. Enter King HENRY, Queen MARGARET, and others, retreating. Q. Mar. Away, my lord! you are slow; for shame, away!

K. Hen. Can we outrun the heavens? good Margaret, stay.

Q. Mar. What are you made of? you'll not fight nor fly:

Now is it manhood, wisdom, and defence,
To give the enemy way; and to secure us

By what we can, which can no more but fly.
If you be ta'en, we then should see the bottom
[Alarum afar off.

Of all our fortines: but if we haply scape,
(As well we may, if not through your neglect),
We shall to London get, where you are lov'd;
And where this breach now in our fortunes made,
May readily be stopp'd.

Enter Young CLIFFORD.

Y. Clif. But that my heart's on future mischief I would speak blasphemy ere bid you fly; [set, But fly you must; uncurable discomfit Reigns in the hearts of all our present parts. Away, for your relief! and we will live To see their day, and them our fortune give: Away, my lord, away. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.-Fields near Saint Alban's. Alarum: Retreat. Flourish: then enter YORK, RICHARD PLANTAGENET, WARWICK, and Soldiers, with drum and colours.

York. Of Salisbury, who can report of him?— That winter lion, who in rage forgets Aged contusions and all brush of time; And, like a gallant in the brow of youth, Repairs him with occasion? This happy day Is not itself, nor have we won one foot, If Salisbury be lost.

Rich.

My noble father, Three times to-day I holp him to his horse, Three times bestrid him, thrice I led him off, Persuaded him from any further act: But still where danger was, there still I met him; And like rich hangings in a homely house, So was his will in his old feeble body. But, noble as he is, look where he comes. 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 us 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 hand, lords, 'twas a glorious day: Saint Alban's battle, won by famous York, Shall be eterniz'd in all age to come. Sound drum and trumpets:-and to London all: And more such days as these to us befall!

[Exeunt

EDWARD, Prince of WALES, son to Henry VI

LEWIS XI., King of France.

Duke of SOMERSET, on King Henry's side. Duke of EXETER, on King Henry's side. Earl of OXFORD, on King Henry's side. Earl of NORTHUMBERLAND, on King Henry's side. Earl of WESTMORELAND, on King Henry's side. Lord CLIFFORD, on King Henry's side. RICHARD PLANTAGENET, Duke of York. EDWARD. earl of March, afterwards King Edward IV., son to the Duke of York. EDMUND, Earl of Rutland, son to the Duke of York. GEORGE, afterwards Duke of Clarence, son to the Duke of York.

RICHARD, afterwards Duke of Gloster, son to the Duke of York.

DUKE of NORFOLK, of the Duke of York's party.. Marquis of MONTAGUE, of the Duke of York's

party.

Earl of WARWICK of the Duke of York's party. Earl of PEMBROKE, of the Duke of York's party.

Lord HASTINGS, of the Duke of York's party. Lord STAFFORD, of the Duke of York's party. Sir JOHN MORTIMER, uncle to the Duke of York, Sir HUGH MORTIMER, uncle to the Duke of York. HENRY, Earl of Richmond, a Youth. Lord RIVERS, brother to Lady Grey. Slr WILLIAM STANLEY. Sir JOHN MONTGOMERY. Sir JOHN SOMERVILLE. Tutor to Rutland, Mayor of London. Lieutenant of the Tower.

A Nobleman,

Two Keepers.

A Huntsman.

SCENE I.-London.

The Parliament House.

Drums. Some Soldiers of YORK's Party break in. Then enter the Duke of YORK, EDWARD, RICHARD, NORFOLK, MONTAGUE, WARWICK, and others, with white roses in their hats.

War. I wonder how the king escap'd our hands. York. While we pursued 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 Bucking-
ham,

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 Wilt-
shire's blood, [To YORK, showing his.
Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'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.

But, 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 perforce.

[They retire. York. The queen, this day, here holds her parliament,

But little thinks we shall be of her council:
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 this shall 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.
[WAR. leads YORK to the throne, who seats himself.
Flourish. Enter King HENRY, CLIFFORD, NORTH-
UMBERLAND, WESTMORELAND, EXETER, and
others, with red roses in their huts.

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 be reveng'd on me! Clif. The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn in steel.

West. What, shall we suffer this? let's pluck him down:

My heart for anger burns, I cannot brook it.

K. Hen. Be patient, gentle Earl of Westmoreland.

Clif. 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 shainbles 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. I am thine.

Exe. For shame, come down; he made thee Duke of York.

York. It was 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.

Clif. Whom should he follow but his natural king?

War. True, Clifford; and that's Richard duke of York.

K. Hen. And shall I stand, and thou sit in my throne?

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.

forget

You

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.
Clif. Urge it no more: lest that, instead of
words,

I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger,
As shall revenge his death before I stir.

War. Poor Clifford! how I scorn his worthless threats?

If not, our swords shall plead it in the field.
York. Will you, we show our title to the crown?

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

Let's fight it out, and not stand cavilling thus.
Rich. Sound drums and trumpets, and the king
will fly.
York. Sons, peace!

K. Hen. Peace thou! and give King Henry leave to speak.

War. Plantagenet shall speak first:-hear him, lords;

And be you silent and attentive too,
For he that interrupts him shall not live.

K. Hen. Think'st thou that I will leave my kingly throne,

Wherein my grandsire and my father sat?
No: first shall war unpeople this my realm;
Ay, and their colours-often borne in France,
And now in England, to our hearts great sorrow-
Shall be my winding-sheet.-Why faint you, lords?
My title's good, and better far than his.

War. Prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be king.
K. Hen. Henry the Fourth by conquest got the

crown.

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.