The THIRD Part of (1) King HENRY VI. A C T I. SCENE, London. Alarum. Enter Duke of York, Edward, Richard, Norfolk, Montague, Warwick, and Soldiers. I WARWICK. Wonder, how the King efcap'd our hands! York. While we purfu'd the horfemen of the north, Whereat the great Lord of Northumberland, (1) The Third Part of King Henry VI.] The action of this play (which was at first printed under this title, The true Tragedy of Richard Duke of York, and the good King Henry VI: or, The Second Part of the Contention of York and Lancafler) opens juft after the first battle at St. Albans, wherein the York faction carries the day; and clofes with the murder of King Henry VI, and the birth of Prince Edward, afterwards King Edward V. So that this hiftory takes in the space of full 16 Years. The rancour of the contending factions, in this play, is painted too ftrongly to be agreeable: but the poet, in a great meafure, goes on the authority of tradition and if the noblemen appear more favage than can fuit with their dignity or our prefent nction of politeness; confiderable allowances must be made for the inveteracy, with which this civil war was carried on in all its viciffitudes. Chear'd up the drooping army; and himself, Edw. Lord Stafford's father, Duke of Buckingham, Is either flain or wounded dang'rously. I cleft his beaver with a down-right blow: Mont. And, brother, here's the Earl of Wiltshire's blood; 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 beft deferv'd of all my fons: Is his Grace dead, my Lord of Somerfet? Norf. Such hope have all the line of John of Gaunt! Rich. Thus do I hope to fhake King Henry's head. War. And fo do I. Victorious Prince of York, Before I fee thee feated in that throne, Which now the houfe of Lancaster ufurps, Norf. We'll all affift you; he, that flies, fhall die. York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk; ftay by me, my Lords; And, foldiers, ftay and lodge by me this night. [They go up. War. And when the King comes, offer him no violence; Unless he feek to thrust you out by force. 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 ftay within this house. War. The bloody parliament fhall this be call'd, Unless Plantagenet Duke of York, be King; And bathful Henry depos'd; whofe cowardife Hath made us by-words to our enemies. York. Then leave me not; my Lords, be refolute; I mean to take poffeffion of my right. War. War. Neither the King, nor he that loves him beft, K. Henry. My Lords, look where the sturdy rebel fits, (Back'd by the power of Warwick, that false Peer,) K. Henry. Be patient, gentle Earl of Westmorland. North. Well haft thou spoken, coufin, be it fo. Exe. But when the Duke is flain, they'll quickly fly. (2) To make a shambles of the parliament-house. Coufin of Exeter, frowns, words and threats, Shall be the war that Henry means to use. (2) Weftm. But when the Duke is flain, &c.] Ever fince the old edition by the players, hath this line been given to Westmorland: but, 'tis plain, the King in his fpeech immediately following replies as to Exeter, who in the modern books has not as yet fpoke a word. I have, upon the authority of the oldeft Quarto, reftor'd this line, therefore, to Exeter. E 4 And And kneel for grace and mercy at my I am thy Sovereign. York. Thou'rt deceiv'd, I'm thine. feet: Exe. For fhame come down: he made thee Duke of York. War. Exeter, thou art a traitor to the crown, Clif. Whom should he follow, but his natura! King? War. True, Clifford; and that's Richard Duke of York. K. Henry. And shall I ftand, and thou fit in my throne? York. It mult and fhall be fo, content thyfelf. War. Be Duke of Lancafter, let him be King. Weft. He is both King, and Duke of Lancefter; And that the Lord of Westmorland fhall maintain. War. And Warwick thall difprove it. You forget, That we are thofe, which chas'd you from the field, And flew your fathers, and with colours fpread March'd through the city to the Palace gates. North. No, Warwick, I remember it to my grief. Clif. Urge it no more; left that, inftead of words, War. Poor Clifford! how I fcorn his worthlefs threats. York. Will you, we fhew our title to the crown? If not, our fwords fhall plead it in the field. K. Henry. What title haft thou, traitor, to the crown? Who made the Dauphin and the French to ftcop, War. Talk not of France, fith thou haft loft it all. Father, tear the crown from the ufurper's head. Mont. Good brother, as thou lovʼst and honour'st arms,, Let's fight it out, and not stand cavilling thus. Rich. Sound drums and trumpets, and the King will York. Sons, peace. [Ay.K.Henry.Peace thou, and give King Henry leave to speak. War. Plantagenet fhall fpeak firft: hear him, Lords, And be you filent and attentive too; For he, that interrupts him, fhall not live. 1 [throne, K. Henry. Think'ft thou, that I will leave my kingly War. But prove it Henry, and thou shalt be King. K. Henry. I know not what to fay, my title's weak: Tell me, may not a King adopt an heir ? York. What then? K. Henry. And if he may, then am I lawful King: For Richard, in the view of many Lords, Refign'd the crown to Henry the fourth ; York. He rofe against him, being his Sovereign, Exe. No, for he could not fo refign his crown, Wars |