York. Will you not, sons?
Edw. Ay, noble father, if our words will serve.
Rich. And if words will not, then our weapons
shall.

Cl. 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,1
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 bear-ward 2 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 cry'd:
And such a piece of service will you do,
If you oppose yourselves to match lord Warwick.
Cl. 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 burn
yourselves.

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

Old Salisbury,-shame to thy silver hair,
Thou mad misleader of thy brain-sick 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 consider'd 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. H. Hast thou not sworn allegiance unto me?
Sal. I have.

K. Hen. Canst thou 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 murderous 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 custom'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 resolv'd for death or dignity.

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,1
Might I but know thee by thy household badge.

W.Now,by myfather'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 underfoot with all contempt, Despight the bear-ward that protects the bear. Y. Clif. And so to arms, victorious father, To quell the rebels, and their 'complices. [Exeunt severally.

SCENE II.-SAINT ALBAN'S. Alarums: Excursions. Enter Warwick. W. Clifford of Cumberland, 'tis Warwick calls! And if thou dost not hide thee from the bear, Now,-when the angry trumpet sounds alarm, 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.

Enter York.

How now, my noble lord? what, all a-foot?

Yo. The deadly handed Clifford slew my steed; But match to match I have encountered him, And made a prey for carrion kites and crows, Even of the bonny beast he lov'd so well.

Enter Clifford.

War. Of one or both of us the time is come. York. Hold, Warwick, seek thee out some other chase,

For I myself must hunt this deer to death. War. Then, nobly, York, 'tis for a crown thou fight'st.

As I intend, Clifford, to thrive to-day, It grieves my soul to leave thee unassail'd. [Exit Warwick.

Clif. What seest thou in me, York? why dost thou pause?

Yo. With thy brave bearing should I be in love, But that thou art so fast mine enemy.

Clif. Nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem,

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!-
Yo. A dreadful lay !2-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.

1 Helmet.

2 Stake.

Enter Young Clifford.

Y. Cl. Shame and confusion! all is on the rout! Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds Where it should guard. O war, thou 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 premised1 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 2 will I 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 Æneas 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 Alban's, 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. [Alarum afar off. If you be ta'en, we then should see the bottom Of all our fortunes: but if we haply scape, 2 Mouthfuls.

1 Sent before their time.

(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. C. But that my heart's on future mischief set,

I would speak blasphemy ere bid you fly;
But fly you must; uncurable discomfit
Reigns in the hearts of all our present parts.1
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 2 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, still there 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
have3:

"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

Flourish. Enter King Henry, Clifford, Northumberland, Westmoreland, Exeter, and others,

with red Roses in their Hats.

K.H. 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.

[down:

West. What, shall we suffer this? let's pluck him My heart for anger burns, I cannot brook it.

K.H. 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. H. 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. [heart K. H. Far be the thought of this from Henry's 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.

Y. '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. [king? Clif. Whom should he follow, but his natural War. True, Clifford; and that's Richard, duke of York. [my throne? K. Hen. And shall I stand, and thou sit in 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. [forget,

War. And Warwick shall disprove it. You That we are those, which chas'd you fromthe field, And slew your fathers, and with colours spread March'd through the city to the palace gates.

Nor. 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 Thykinsmen, and thy friends I'll have more lives, Than drops of blood were in my father's veins. C. Urge it no more; lest that, instead of words, I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger, As shall revenge his death, before I stir.

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
York. Sons, peace!
[will fly.

K. Hen. Peace thou! and give king Henry leave to speak. [lords; War. Plantagenet shall speak first: hear him, 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 nowin England, to our heart's great sorrow,-
Shall be mywinding sheet. -Why faint you, lords?
My title's good, and better far than this.
War. But prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be
king.
[the crown.

K. Hen. Henry the fourth by conquest got
York. 'Twas by rebellion against his king.
K. H. 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. W. 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. Y. Why whisper you, my lords, and answer not? Exe. My conscience tells me, he is lawful king. K. H. 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

Clif. 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!

Y. Henry of Lancaster, resign thy crown: What mutter you, or what conspire you, lords? W. 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.
Y. 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. [son?
Č. What wrong is this unto the prince your
War. What good is this to England and
himself?

War. Turn this way, Henry, and regard them not.

Exe. They seek revenge, and therefore will
K. Hen. Ah, Exeter!
[not 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 Henry!-Plantagenet

embrace him.

K. Hen. And long live thou, and these thy forward sons!

Y. Now York and Lancaster are reconcil'd. Exe. Accurs'd be he, that seeks to make them foes! [The Lords come forward. Y.Farewell, my gracious lord; I'll to mycastle. W. And I'll keep London, with my soldiers. Norf. And I to Norfolk, with my followers. M. 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 be wray her anger:

I'll steal away. K. Hen.

Exeter, so will I. [Going. "Q. Mar. Nay, go not from me, I will follow thee. [stay.

K. H. Be patient, gentle queen, and I will Q. M. Who can be patient in such extremes? Ah, wretched man! 'would I had died a maid, And never seen thee, never borne thee son, Seeing thou hast proved 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?
K. Hen. Pardon me, Margaret;-pardon me,
sweet son;-

The earl of Warwick and the duke enforc'd me,
Q. Mar. Enforc'd thee! art thou king, and
wilt be forc'd?
[wretch!
I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous
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 to make thy sepulchre,
And creep into it far before thy time?
Warwick is chancellor, and the lord of Calais;
Stern Falconbridge commands the narrow seas,
The duke is made protector of the realm;
And yet shalt thou be 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. [colours,
The northern lords, that have forsworn thy
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.

K. Hen. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me
speak.

Q. Mar. Thou hast spoke too much already; get thee gone. [with me? K. Hen. Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay Q. Mar. Ay, to be murder'd by his enemies. P. When I return with victory from the field, I'll see your grace: till then, I'll follow her. Q.M.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 son,