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Richard II (Quarto 1, 1597)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Catherine Lisak
Peer Reviewed
T H E
Tragedie of King Ri-
chard the se-
cond.
As it hath beene publikely acted
by the right Honourable the
Lorde Chamberlaine his Ser-
uants.
L O N D O N
Printed by Valentine Simmes for Androw Wise, and
are to be sold at his shop in Paules church yard at
the singe of the Angel.
1 5 9 7.
ENTER King Richard, IOHN
OF GAVNT, WITH OTHER
Nobles and attendants.
King Richard.
5OVld Iohn of Gaunt time honoured Lancaster,
Hast thou according to thy oath and bande
Brought hither Henrie Herford thy bolde sonne,
Here to make good the boistrous late appeale,
Which then our leysure would not let vs heare
10Against the Duke of Norfolke, Thomas Moubray ?
Gaunt. I haue my Leige.
King. Tell me moreouer hast thou sounded him,
If he appeale the Duke on ancient malice,
Or worthily as a good subiect should
15On some knowne ground of treacherie in him.
Gaunt. As neere as I could sift him on that argument,
On some apparent daunger seene in him,
Aimde at your highnes, no inueterate malice.
King. Then call them to our presence face to face,
20And frowning brow to brow our selues will heare,
The accuser and the accused freely speake:
High stomackt are they both and full of ire,
In rage, deafe as the sea, hastie as fire.
Enter Bullingbrooke and Mowbray.
25Bulling. Manie yeares of happie daies befall,
My gratious soueraigne my most louing liege.
Mowb. Each day still better others happines,
Vntill the heauens enuying earths good hap,
Adde an immortall title to your Crowne.
30King. We thanke you both, yet one but flatters vs,
As well appeareth by the cause you come,
Namely to appeale each other of high treason:
Coosin of Herford, what dost thou obiect
Against the Duke of Norffolke Thomas Mowbray?
35Bull. First, heauen be the record to my speech,
In the deuotion of a subiects loue,
Tendring the pretious safetie of my Prince,
And free from other misbegotten hate,
Come I appellant to this princely presence.
40Now Thomas Mowbray do I turne to thee,
And marke my greeting well: for what I speake
My body shall make good vpon this earth,
Or my diuine soule answer it in heauen:
Thou art a traitour and a miscreant,
45Too good to be so, and too bad to liue,
Since the more faire and cristall is the skie,
The vglier seeme the cloudes that in it flie:
Once more, the more to aggrauate the note,
With a foule traitors name stuffe I thy throte,
50And wish (so please my Soueraigne) ere I moue,
What my tong speaks, my right drawen sword may proue.
Mow. Let not my cold wordes here accuse my zeale,
Tis not the triall of a womans warre,
The bitter clamour of two eger tongues
55Can arbitrate this cause betwixt vs twaine,
The bloud is hote that must be coold for this,
Yet can I not of such tame patience boast,
As to be huisht, and naught at all to say.
First the faire reuerence of your Highnesse curbs me,
60From giuing reines and spurres to my free speech,
Which else would post vntill it had returnd,
These termes of treason doubled downe his throat:
Setting aside his high blouds royaltie,
And let him be no kinsman to my Liege,
65I do defie him, and I spit at him,
Call him a slaunderous coward, and a villaine,
Which to maintaine, I would allow him ods,
And meete him were I tied to runne afoote,
Euen to the frozen ridges of the Alpes,
70Or any other ground inhabitable,
Where euer Englishman durst set his foote,
Meane time, let this defend my loyaltie,
By all my hopes most falsly doth he lie.
Bull. Pale trembling coward there I throw my gage,
75Disclaiming here the kinred of the King,
And lay aside my high bloudes royaltie,
Which Feare, not Reuerence makes thee to except.
If guilty dread haue left thee so much strength,
As to take vp mine honours pawne, then stowpe,
80By that, and all the rites of Knighthoode else,
Will I make good against thee arme to arme,
What I haue spoke, or thou canst worse deuise.
Mow. I take it vp, and by that sword I sweare,
Which gently laid my Knighthood on my shoulder,
85Ile answer thee in any faire degree,
Or chiualrous designe of knightly triall:
And when I mount, aliue may I not light,
If I be traitor or vniustly fight.
King. What doth our cousin lay to Mowbraies charge?
90It must be great that can inherit vs,
So much as of a thought of ill in him.
Bul. Looke what I speake, my life shall proue it true,
That Mowbray hath receiude eight thousand nobles
In name of Lendings for your Highnes souldiours,
95The which he hath detaind for lewd imployments,
Like a false traitour, and iniurious villaine:
Besides I say, and will in battle proue,
Or here, or elsewhere to the furthest Verge:
That euer was surueyed by English eye,
100That all the treasons for these eighteene yeares,
Complotted and contriued in this land:
Fetch from false Mowbray their first head and spring,
Further I say and further will maintaine
Vpon his bad life to make all this good,
105That he did plotte the Duke of Glocesters death,
Suggest his soone beleeuing aduersaries,
And eonsequently like a taitour coward,
Slucte out his innocent soule through streames of bloud,
Which bloud, like sacrificing Abels cries,
110Euen from the tounglesse Cauernes of the earth,
To me for iustice and rough chastisement:
And, by the glorious worth of my descent,
This arme shall do it, or this life be spent.
King. How high a pitch his resolution soares,
115Thomas of Norfolke what saist thou to this ?
Mowb. Oh let my soueraigne turne awaie his face,
And bid his eares a little while be deafe.
Till I haue tolde this slaunder of his bloud,
How God and good men hate so foule a lier.
120King. Mowbray impartiall are our eies and eares,
Were he my brother, nay, my kingdomes heire,
As he is but my fathers brothers sonne,
Now by scepters awe I make a vowe,
Such neighbour neerenes to our sacred bloud
125Should nothing priuiledge him nor partialize
The vnstooping firmenesse of my vpright soule,
He is our subiect Mowbray so art thou,
Free speech and fearelesse I to thee allowe.
Mowb. Then Bullingbrooke as lowe as to thy heart
130Through the false passage of thy throate thou liest.
Three partes of that receipte I had for Callice,
Disburst I duely to his highnesse souldiers,
The other part reserude I by consent,
For that my soueraigne liege was in my debt.
135Vpon remainder of a deare account:
Since last I went to France to fetch his Queene:
Now swallow downe that lie. For Glocesters death,
I slewe him not but to my own disgrace,
Neglected my sworne duety in that case:
140For you my noble Lord of Lancaster,
The honourable father to my foe,
Once did I lay an ambushe for your life,
A trespasse that doth vex my grieued soule:
Ah but ere I last receiude the Sacrament,
145I did confesse it, and exactly begd
Your graces pardon, and I hope I had it.
This is my fault, as for the rest appeald
Itissuesfrom the rancour of a villaine,
A recreant and most degenerate traitour,
150Which in my selfe I boldly will defende,
And enterchangeably hurle downe my gage
Vpon this ouerweening traitors foote,
To proue my selfe a loyal Gentleman,
Euen in the best bloud chamberd in his bosome,
155In haste wherof most hartily I pray
Your highnes to assigne our triall day.
King. Wrath kindled gentleman be ruled by me,
Lets purge this choler without letting bloud,
This we prescribe though no Phisition,
160Deepe malice makes too deepe incision,
Forget, forgiue, conclude and be agreed,
Our doctors say, this is no month to bleede:
Good Vnckle let this ende where it begonne,
Weele calme the Duke of Norfolke, you your sonne.
165Gaunt. To be a make-peace shal become my age,
Throw downe (my sonne) the Duke of Norfolkes gage.
King. And Norfolke throw downe his.
Gaunt. When Harry? when obedience bids,
Obedience bids I should not bid againe.
170King. Norfolke throw downe we bid, there is no boote.
Mow. My selfe I throw dread soueraigne at thy foote,
My life thou shalt command, but not my shame,
The one my duety owes, but my faire name
175Despight of death that liues vpon my graue,
To darke dishonours vse thou shalt not haue:
I am disgraste, impeacht, and baffuld heere,
Pierst to the soule with Slaunders venomd speare,
The which no balme can cure but his heart bloud
180Which breathde this poyson.
King. Rage must be withstoode,
Giue me his gage; Lions make Leopards tame.
Mowb. Yea but not change his spots : take but my shame,
And I resigne my gage, my deare deare Lord,
185The purest treasure mortall times afford,
Is spotlesse Reputation that away
Men are but guilded loame, or painted clay,
A iewell in a ten times bard vp chest,
Is a bold spirit in a loyall breast:
190Mine honour is my life, both grow in one,
Take honour from me, and my life is done :
Then (deare my Liege) mine honour let me trie,
In that I liue, and for that will I die.
King. Coosin, throw vp your gage, do you beginne.
Bull. O God defend my soule from such deepe sinne,
Shall I seeme Crest-fallen in my fathers fight?
Or with pale beggar-feare impeach my height,
Before this out-darde Dastard? ere my tong
200Shall wound my honour with such feeble wrong,
Or sound so base a parlee, my teeth shall teare
The slauish motiue of recanting feare,
And spit it bleeding in his high disgrace,
Where Shame doth harbour euen in Mowbraies face.
King. We were not borne to sue, but to commaund,
Which since we cannot do, to make you friends,
Be ready as your liues shall answere it,
At Couentry vpon saint Lamberts day,
210There shall your swords and launcesarbitrate
The swelling difference of your setled hate,
Since we cannot atone you, we shall see
Iustice designe the Victors chiualrie,
Lord Marshal, commaund our Officers at Armes,
215Be ready to direct these home allarmes.
Exit.
Enter Iohn of Gaunt with the Duchesse of Glocester.
Gaunt Alas, the part I had in Woodstockes bloud,
Doth more sollicite me than your exclaimes,
220To stirre against the butchers of his life,
But since correction lieth in those hands,
Which made the fault that we cannot correct:
Put we our quarrell to the will of heauen,
Who when they see the houres ripe on earth,
225Will raine hot vengeance on offenders heads.
Duchesse Findes brotherhood in thee no sharper spurre?
Hath loue in thy old bloud no liuing fire?
Edwards seuen sonnes whereof thy selfe art one,
Were as seuen viols of his sacred bloud,
230Or seuen faire branches springing from one roote:
Some of those seuen are dried by natures course,
Some of those branches by the Destinies cut:
But Thomas my deare Lord, my life, my Glocester,
One violl full of Edwards sacred bloud,
235One flourishing branch of his most royall roote
Is crackt, and all the precious liquor spilt,
Is hackt downe, and his summer leaues all faded
By Enuies hand, and Murders bloudy axe.
Ah Gaunt, his bloud was thine, that bed, that womb,
240That mettall, that selfe mould, that fashioned thee
Made him a man: and though thou liuest and breathest,
Yet art thou slaine in him, thou doost consent
In some large measure to thy fathers death,
In that thou seest thy wretched brother die,
245Who was the modell of thy fathers life:
Call it not patience Gaunt, it is dispaire,
In suffring thus thy brother to be slaughtred,
Thou shewest the naked pathway to thy life,
Teaching sterne Murder how to butcher thee:
250That which in meane men we intitle Patience,
Is pale cold Cowardice in noble breasts.
What shall I saie? to safegard thine owne life,
The best way is to venge my Glocesters death.
Gaunt Gods is the quarrell for Gods substitute,
255His deputy annointed in his sight,
Hath causd his death, the which if wrongfully,
Let heauen reuenge, for I may neuer lift
An angry arme against his minister.
Duch. Where then may I complainemy selfe?
260Gaunt To God the widdowes Champion and defence,
Duch. Why then I will; farewell olde Gaunt,
Thou goest to Couentry, there to behold
Our Coosen Hereford and fell Mowbray fight.
O set my husbands wronges on Herefords speare,
265That it may enter butchers Mowbraies brest:
Or if misfortune misse the first carier,
Be Mowbraies sinnes so heauy in his bosome
That they may breake his foming coursers backe,
And throw the rider headlong in the listes,
270A caitiue recreant to my Coosen Hereford,
Farewell old Gaunt, thy sometimes brothers wife,
With her companion Griefe must end her life.
Gaunt Sister farewell, I must to Couentry,
As much good stay with thee, as go with me.
275Duch. Yet one word more, griefe boundeth where is fals,
Not with the emptines, hollownes, but weight:
I take my leaue before I haue begone,
For sorrow endes not when it seemeth done:
Commend me to thy brother Edmund Yorke,
280Lo this is all: nay yet depart not so,
Though this be al, doe not so quickly go:
I shall remember more: Bid him, ah what?
With all good speede at Plashie visite me,
Alacke and what shall good olde Yorke there see,
285But empty lodgings and vnfurnisht wals,
Vnpeopled offices, vntrodden stones,
And what cheere there for welcome but my grones?
Therfore commend me, let him not come there,
To seeke out sorrow that dwels euery where,
290Desolate desolate will I hence and die:
The last leaue of thee takes my weeping eie.
Exeunt.
Enter Lord Marshall and the Duke Aumerle.
Mar. My Lord Aumerle is Harry Herford armde?
295Aum. Yea at all points, and longs to enter in.
Mar. The Duke of Norfolke sprightfully and bold,
Staies but the summons of the appellants trumpet.
Aum. Why then the Champions are prepard and stay
For nothing but his maiesties approach.
300
The trumpets sound and the King enters with his nobles; when
they are set, enter the Duke of Norfolke in armes defendant.
King Marshall demaunde of yonder Champion,
The cause of his arriuall here in armes,
305Aske him his name, and orderly proceede
To sweare him in the iustice of his cause.
Mar. In Gods name and the Kings say who thou art.
And why thou comest thus knightly clad in armes,
Against what man thou comst and what thy quarell.
310Speake truly on thy knighthoode, and thy oth,
As so defend the heauen and thy valour.
Mow. My name is Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke,
Who hither come ingaged by my oath,
(Which God defende a Knight should violate)
315Both to defend my loyalty and truth,
To God, my King, and my succeeding issue,
Against the Duke of Herford that appeales me,
And by the grace of God, and this mine arme,
To proue himin defending of my selfe,
320A traitour to my God, my King, and me,
And as I truely fight, defend me heauen.
The trumpets sound.
Enter Duke of Hereford
322.1appellant in armour.
King Marshall aske yonder Knight in armes,
Both who he is, and why he commeth hither,
325Thus plated in habiliments of warre,
And formally according to our lawe,
Depose him in the iustice of his cause.
Mar. What is thy name? and wherfore comst thou hither?
Before king Richard in his royall lists,
330Against whom comes thou? and whats thy quarrell?
Speake like a true Knight, so defend thee heauen.
Bul. Harry of Herford, Lancaster and Darbie
Am I, who ready here do stand in Armes
To proue by Gods grace, and my bodies valour
335In lists, on Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norffolke,
That he is a traitour foule and dangerous,
To God of heauen, king Richard and to me:
And as I truely fight, defend me heauen.
Mar. On paine of death, no person be so bold,
340Or daring, hardy, as to touch the listes,
Except the Martiall and such officers
Appoynted to direct these faire designes.
Bul. Lord Martiall, let me kisse my Souereignes hand,
And bow my knee before his Maiestie,
345For Mowbray and my selfe are like two men,
That vow a long and wearie pilgrimage,
Then let vs take a ceremonious leaue,
And louing farewell of our seuerall friends.
Mar. The appellant in all duety greetes your Highnes,
350And craues to kisse your hand, and take his leaue.
King We will descend and fold him in our armes,
Coosin of Herford, as thy cause is right,
So be thy fortune in this royall fight:
Farewell my bloud, which if to day thou shead,
355Lament we may, but not reuenge the dead.
Bul. O let no noble eie prophane a teare
For me, if I be gorde with Mowbraies speare:
As confident as is the Falcons flight
Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight.
360My louing Lord, I take my leaue of you:
Of you (my noble cousin) Lord Aumarle,
Not sicke although I haue to do with death,
But lusty, yong and cheerely drawing breth:
Loe, as at English feasts so I regreet
365The daintiest last, to make the end most sweet.
Oh thou the earthly Authour of my bloud,
Whose youthfull spirite in me regenerate
Doth with a two-fold vigour lift me vp,
To reach at Victory aboue my head:
370Adde proofe vnto mine armour with thy prayers,
And with thy blessings steele my launces point,
That it may enter Mowbraies waxen cote.
And furbish new the name ofIohn a Gaunt,
Euen in the lustie hauiour of his sonne.
375Gaunt. God in thy good cause make thee prosperous,
Be swift like lightning in the execution,
And let thy blowes doubly redoubled,
Fall like amaZing thunder on the caske
Of thy aduerse pernitious enemy,
380Rowze vp thy youthfull bloud, be valiant and liue.
Bul. Mine innocence and saint George to thriue.
Mowb. How euer God or Fortune cast my lot,
There liues or dies true to King Richards throne,
A loyall, iust, and vpright Gentleman:
385Neuer did captiue with a freer heart
Cast off his chaines of bondagee, and embrace
His golden vncontrould enfranchisment,
More than my dauncing soule doth celebrate
This feast of battle with mine aduersarie,
390Most mighty Liege, and my companion Peeres,
Take from my mouth the wish ofhappy yeeres,
As gentle, and as iocund as to iest
Go I to fight, truth hath a quiet brest.
King. Farewell (my Lord) securely I espie,
395Vertue with Valour couched in thine eie,
Order the triall Martiall, and beginne.
Mart. Harry of Herford, Lancaster and Darby,
Receiue thy launce, and God defend the right.
Bul. Strong as a tower in hope I cry, Amen.
400Mart. Go beare this lance to Thomas Duke of Norfolke.
Herald Harry of Herford, Lancaster, and Darby
Stands here, for God, his soueraigne, and himselfe,
On paine to be found false and recreant,
To proue the Duke of Norfolke Thomas Mowbray
405A traitor to God, his king, and him,
And dares him to set forward to the fight.
Herald 2Here standeth Thomas Mowbray D.of Norfolk
On paine to be found false and recreant,
Both to defend himselfe, and to approue
410Henry of Hereford, Lancaster, and Darby,
To God, his soueraigne, and to him disloyall,
Couragiously, and with a free desire,
Attending but the signall to beginne.
Mart. Sound trumpets, and set forward Combatants:
415Stay, the king hath throwen his warder downe.
King. Let them lay by their helmets, and their speares,
And both returne backe to their chaires againe,
Withdraw with vs, and let the trumpets sound,
While we returne these dukes what we decree.
Draw neere andlist
What with our counsell we haue done:
For that our kingdomes earth should not be soild
With that deare bloud which it hath fostered:
425And for our eies do hate the dire aspect
Of cruell wounds plowd vp with neighbours sword,
426.1And for we thinke the Egle-winged pride
Of skie-aspiring and ambitious thoughts,
With riuall hating enuy set on you
To wake our peace, which in our Countries cradle
.5Draw the sweet infant breath of gentle sleepe,
Which so rouZde vp with boistrous vntunde drummes,
With harsh resounding trumpets dreadfull bray,
And grating shocke of harsh resounding armes,
430Might from our quiet confines fright faire Peace,
And make vs wade euen in our kinreds bloud;
Therefore we banish you our territories:
You cousin Hereford vpon paine of life,
Til twice fiue summers haue enricht our fields,
435Shall not regreete our faire dominions,
But treade the stranger paths of banishment.
Bul. Your will be done; this must my comfort be,
That Sunne that warmes you here, shall shine on me,
And those his golden beames to you heere lent,
440Shall point on me, and guilde my banishment.
King Norfolke, for thee remaines a heauier doome,
Which I with some vnwillingnesse pronounce,
The slie slow houresshall not determinate
The datelesse limite of thy deere exile,
445The hoplesse word of neuerto returne,
Breathe I against thee, vpon paine of life.
Mowb. A heauy sentence, my most soueraigne Liege,
And all vnlookt for from your Highnesse mouth,
A deerer merit not so deepe a maime,
450As to be cast forth in the common ayre
Haue I deserued at your Highnesse hands:
The language I haue learnt these forty yeeres,.
My natiue English now I must forgo,
And now my tongues vse is to me, no more
455Than an vnstringed violl or a harpe,
Or like a cunning instrument casde vp,
Or being open, put into his hands
That knowes no touch to tune the harmonie:
Within my mouth you haue engaold my tongue,
460Doubly portculist with my teeth and lippes,
And dull vnfeeling barren ignorance
Is made my Gaoler to attend on me:
I am too olde to fawne vpon a nurse,
Too far in yeeres to be a pupill now,
465What is thy sentence but speechlesse death?
Which robbes my tongue frombreathing natiue breath.
King It bootesthee not to be compassionate,
After our sentence playning comes too late.
Mow. Then thus I turne me from my countries light,
470To dwel in solemne shades of endlesse night.
King. Returneagaine, and take an othe with thee,
Lay on our royall sword your banisht hands,
Sweare by the duty that y'owe to God,
(Our part therein we banish with your selues,)
475To keepe the oath that we administer:
You neuer shall, so helpe you truth and God,
Embrace each others loue in banishment,
Nor neuer looke vpon each others face,
Nor neuer write, regreete, nor reconcile
480This lowring tempest of your home-bred hate,
Nor neuer by aduised purpose meete,
To plot, contriue, or complot any ill,
Gainst vs, our state, our subiects, or our land.
Bul. I sweare.
485Mow. And I, to keepe al this.
Bul. Norffolke, so fare as to mine enemy:
By this time, had the King permitted vs,
One of our soules had wandred in the aire,
Banisht this fraile sepulchre of our flesh,
490As now our flesh is banisht from this land,
Confesse thy treasons ere thou flie the realme,
Since thou hast far to go, beare not along
The clogging burthen of a guiltie soule.
Mow. No Bullingbrooke, if euer I were traitour,
495My name be blotted from the booke oflife,
And I from heauen banisht as from hence:
But what thou art, God, thou, and I, do know,
And al too soone (I feare) the King shall rew:
Farewell (my Liege) now no way can I stray,
500Saue backe to England al the worlds my way.
Exit.
King. Vncle, euen in the glasses of thine eyes,
I see thy grieued heart: thy sad aspect
Hath from the number of his banisht yeeres
Pluckt foure away, sixe frozen winters spent,
505Returne with welcome home from banishment.
Bull. How long a time lies in one little word.
Foure lagging winters and foure wanton springes,
End in a word, such is the breath of Kinges.
Gaunt. I thanke my liege that in regard of me,
510He shortens foure yeares ofmy sonnes exile,
But little vantage shall I reape thereby:
For eare the sixe yeares that he hath to spend
Can change their moones, and bring their times about,
My oile-dried lampe, and time bewasted light
515Shall be extint with age and endlesse nightes,
My intch of taper will be burnt and done,
And blindfold Death not let me see my sonne.
King. Why Vnckle thou hast many yeares to liue.
Gaunt. But not a minute King that thou canst giue,
520Shorten my daies thou canst with sullen sorrowe,
And plucke nights from me, but not lend a morrow:
Thou canst helpe time to furrow me with age,
But stoppe no wrinckle in his pilgrimage:
Thy word is currant with him for my death,
525But dead, thy kingdome cannot buy my breath.
King. Thy sonne is banisht vpon good aduise,
Whereto thy tong a party verdict gaue,
Why at our iustice seemst thou then to lower?
Gaunt. Things sweet to taste, prooue in digestion sowre.
530You vrgde me as a iudge, but I had rather,
You would haue bid me argue like a father:
531.1Oh had't beene a stranger, not my child,
To smooth his fault I should haue beene more milde:
A partiall slaunder ought I to auoide,
And in the sentence my owne life destroyed:
Alas, I lookt when some of you should say,
I was too strict to make mine owne away:
But you gaue leaue to my vnwilling tongue,
535Against my will to do my selfe this wrong.
King. Coosen farewel, and Vnckle, bid him so,
Sixe yeares we banish him and he shall go.
Au. Cosin farewel, what presence must not know,
540From where you doe remaine let paper shew.
Mar. My Lord, no leaue take I, for I will ride
As farre as land will let me by your side.
Gaunt. Oh to what purpose doest thou hoard thy words,
That thou returnest no greeting to thy friends?
545Bull. I haue too few to take my leaue of you,
When the tongues office should be prodigall,
To breathe the aboundant dolor of the heart.
Gaunt. Thy griefe is but thy absence for a time.
Bull. Ioy absent, griefe is present for that time.
550Gaunt. What is sixe winters? they are quickly gone.
Bul. To men in ioy, but griefe makes one hower ten.
Gaun. Call it a trauaile that thou takst for pleasure.
Bul. My heart will sigh when I miscall it so,
Which findes it an inforced pilgrimage.
555Gaun. The sullen passage of thy weary steps,
Esteeme as foyle wherein thou art to set,
The pretious Iewell of thy home returne.
557.1Bul. Nay rather euery tedious stride I make,
Will but remcmber me what a deale of world:
I wander from the Iewels that I loue.
Must I not serue a long apprentishood,
.5To forreine passages, and in the end,
Hauing my freedome, boast of nothing else,
But that I was a iourneyman to griefe.
Gaun. All places that the eie of heauen visits,
Are to a wiseman portes and happie hauens:
.10Teach thy necessity to reason thus,
There is no vertue like necessity,
Thinke not the King did banish thee,
But thou the King. Woe doth the heauier sit,
Where it perceiues it is but faintly borne:
.15Go, say I sent thee foorth to purchase honour,
And not the King exilde thee; or suppose,
Deuouring pestilence hangs in our aire,
And thou art flying to a fresher clime:
Looke what thy soule holds deare, imagine it
.20To ly that way thou goest, not whence thou comst:
Suppose the singing birds musitions,
The grasse whereon thou treadst, the presence strowd,
The flowers, faire Ladies, and thy steps, no more
Then a delightfull measure or a dance,
.25For gnarling sorrow hath lesse power to bite,
The man that mocks at it, and sets it light.
Bul. Oh who can hold a fier in his hand,
By thinking on the frosty Caucasus?
560Or cloy the hungry edge of appetite,
By bare imagination of a feast?
Or wallow naked in December snow,
By thinking on fantasticke sommers heate?
Oh no, the apprehension of the good,
565Giues but the greater feeling to the worse:
Fell sorrowes tooth doth neuer ranckle more,
Then when he bites, but launceth not the soare.
Gaun. Come come my sonne Ile bring thee on thy way,
Had I thy youth and cause, I would not stay.
570Bul. Then Englands ground farewell, sweet soile adiew,
My mother and my nurse that beares me yet,
Where eare I wander boast of this I can,
Though banisht, yet a true borne English man.
Exeunt.
575
Enter the King with Bushie, &c at one dore, and the
Lord Aumarle at another.
King We did obserue. Coosen Aumarle,
How far brought you high Hereford on his way?
Aum. I brought high Herford, if you call him so,
But to the next high way, and there I left him.
580King And say, what store of parting teares were shed?
Aum. Faith none for me, except the Northeast winde,
Which then blew bitterly against our faces,
Awakt the sleeping rhewme, and so by chance
Did grace our hollow parting with a teare.
585King What said our cousin when you parted with him?
Aum. Farewel, & for my hart disdained that my tongue
Should so prophane the word that taught me craft,
To counterfaite oppression of such griefe,
That words seemd buried in my sorrowes graue:
590Marry would the word Farewel haue lengthned howers,
And added yeares to his short banishment,
He should haue had a volume of farewels:
But since it would not, he had none of me.
King. He is our Coosens Coosin, but tis doubt,
595When time shall call him home from banishment,
Whether our kinsman come to see his friends.
Our selfe and Bushie,
Obserued his courtship to the common people,
How he did seeme to diue into their harts,
600With humble and familiar courtesie,
With reuerence he did throw away on slaues,
Wooing poore craftsmen with the craft of smiles.
And patient vnder-bearing of his fortune,
As twere to banish their affects with him,
605Off goes his bonnet to an oysterwench,
A brace of draimen bid God speed him well,
And had the tribute of his supple knee,
With thankes my countreymen my louing friendes,
As were our England in reuersion his,
610And he our subiects next degree in hope.
Greene. Wel, he is gone, and with him go these thoughts,
Now for the rebels which stand out in Ireland,
Expedient mannage must be made my liege,
Ere further leysure yeeld them further meanes,
615For theiraduantage and your highnes losse.
King. VVe will our selfe in person to this warre,
And for our coffers with too great a court,
And liberall larges are growen somewhat light,
VVe are inforst to farm our royall Realme,
620The reuenew whereof shall furnish vs,
For our affaires in hand if that come short,
Our substitutes at home shall haue blanke charters,
Whereto, when they shal know what men are rich,
They shal subscribe them for large summes of gold,
625And send them after to supply our wants,
For we will make for Ireland presently.
Enter Bushie with newes.
Bush. Olde Iohn of Gaunt is grieuous sicke my Lord,
630Sodainely taken, and hath sent post haste,
To intreate your Maiestie to visite him.
King Where lies he?
Bush. At Ely house.
King Now put it (God) in the Physitions mind,
635To help him to his graue immediatly:
The lining of his coffers shall make coates
To decke our souldiers forthese Irish warres.
Come gentlemen, lets all go visite him,
Pray God we may make haste and come too late,
Amen
Exeunt.
Enter Iohn of Gaunt sicke, with the duke of Yorke, &c.
Gaunt. Wil the King come that I may breathe my last?
In holsome counsell to his vnstaied youth.
Yorke Vex not your selfe, nor striue not with your breath,
645For all in vaine comes counsell to his eare.
Gaunt. Oh but they say, the tongues of dying men,
Inforce attention like deepe harmony:
Where words are scarce they are seldome spent in vaine,
For they breathe truth that breathe their wordes in paine:
650He that no more must say, is listened more
Than they whom youth and ease haue taught to glose,
More are mens ends markt than their liues before:
The setting Sunne, and Musike at the close,
As the last taste of sweetes is sweetest last,
655Writ in remembrance more than things long past,
Though Richard my liues counsell would not heare,
My deaths sad tale may yet vndeafe his eare.
Yorke No, it is stopt with other flattering soundes,
As praises of whose taste the wise are found
660Lasciuious meeters, to whose venome sound
The open eare of youth doth aIwayes listen,
Report of fashions in proude Italie,
Whose maners still our tardy apish nation
Limps after in base imitation:
665Where doth the world thrust forth a vanitie,
So it be new, theres no respect how vile,
That is not quickly buzde into his eares?
Then all too late comes Counsell to be heard,
Where will doth mutiny with wits regard:
670Direct not him whose way himselfe wil chuse,
Tis breath thou lackst and that breath wilt thou loose.
Gaunt Me thinkes I am a prophet new inspirde,
And thus expiring do foretell of him,
His rash fierce blaze of ryot cannot last:
675For violent fires soone burne out themselues.
Small shoures last long, but sodaine stormes are short:
He tires betimes that spurs too fast betimes
With eagre feeding foode doth choke the feeder,
Light vanitie insatiate cormorant,
680Consuming meanes soone praies vpon it selfe:
This royall throne of Kings, this sceptred Ile,
This earth of maiestie, this seate of Mars,
This other Eden, demy Paradice,
This fortresse built by Nature for her selfe,
685Against infection and the hand of warre,
This happy breede of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the siluer sea,
Which serues it in the office of a wall,
Or as moate defensiue to a house,
690Against the enuie oflesse happier lands.
This blessed plot, this earth, this realme, this England,
This nurse, this teeming wombe of royall Kings,
Feard by their breed, and famous by theyr byrth,
Renowned for theyr deedes as far from home,
695For christian seruice, and true chiualry,
As is the sepulchre in stubburne Iewry,
Of the worldsransome blessed Maries sonne:
This land of such deare soules, this deere deere land,
Deare for her reputation through the world,
700Is now leasde out; I dye pronouncing it,
Like to a tenement or pelting Farme.
England bound in with the triumphant sea,
Whose rockie shoare beates backe the enuious siege
Of watry Neptune, is now bound in with shame,
705With inckie blots, and rotten parchment bonds:
That England that was wont to conquer others,
Hath made a shamefull conquest
of it selfe:
Ah would the scandall vanish with my life,
How happy then were my ensuing death?
Yorke The King is come, deale mildely with his youth,
For young hot colts being ragde, do rage the more.
710
Enter king and Queene, &c.
Queene How fares our noble vncle Lancaster?
715King What comfort man? how ist with aged Gaunt?
Gaunt O how that name befits my composition!
Old Gaunt indeede, and gaunt in being olde:
Within me Griefe hath kept a tedious fast.
And who abstaines from meate that is not gaunt?
720For sleeping England long time haue I watcht,
Watching breedes leanenesse, leanenesse is all gaunt:
The pleasure that some fathers feede vpon
Is my strict fast; I meane my childrens lookes,
And therein fasting hast thou made me gaunt:
725Gaunt am I for the graue, gaunt as a graue,
Whose hollow wombe inherites naught but bones.
King Can sicke men play so nicely with their names?
Gaunt No misery makes sport to mocke it selfe,
Since thou dost seeke to kill my name in me,
730I mocke my name (great King) to flatter thee.
King Should dying men flatter with those that liue?
Gaunt No no, men liuing flatter those that die.
King. Thou now a dying sayest thou flatterest me.
Gaunt. Oh no, thou diest, though I the sicker be.
735King. I am in health, I breathe, and see thee ill.
Gaunt. Now he that made me knowes I see theeill.
Ill in my selfe to see, and in thee, seeing ill,
Thy death-bed is no lesser than thy land,
Wherein thou liest in reputation sicke,
740And thou too carelesse pacient as thou art
Commitst thy annoynted body to the cure
Ofthose Physitions that first wounded thee,
A thousand flatterers sit within thy Crowne,
Whose compasse is no bigger than thy head,
745And yet inraged in so small a verge,
The waste is no whit lesser than thy land:
Oh had thy grandsire with a Prophets eie,
Seene how his sonnes sonne should destroy his sonnes,
From forth thy reach he would haue Iaid thy shame,
750Deposing thee before thou wert possest,
Which art possest now to depose thy selfe:
Why cousin wert thou regent of the world,
It were a shame to let this land by lease:
But for thy world enioying but this land,
755Is it not more than shame to shame it so?
Landlord of England art thou now not, not King,
Thy state of lawe is bondslaue to the lawe,
And thou
King. A lunatike leane-witted foole,
760Presuming on an agues priuiledge,
Darest with thy frozen admonition
Make pale our cheeke, chasing the royall bloud
With furie from his natiue residence.
Now by my seates right royall maiestie,
765Wert thou not brother to great Edwards sonne,
This tong that runnes so roundly in thy head,
Should runne thy head from thy vnreuerent shoulders.
Gaunt Oh spare me not my brothers Edwards sonne,
For that I was his father Edwards sonne,
770That bloud already like the Pellican,
Hast thou tapt out and drunkenly carowst,
My brother Glocester plaine well meaning soule,
Whom faire befall in heauen mongst happy soules,
Maie be a president and witnes good:
775That thou respectst not spilling Edwards bloud:
Ioine with the present sicknes that I haue,
And thy vnkindnes be like crooked age,
To crop at once a too long withered flower,
Liue in thy shame, but die not shame with thee,
780These words hereafter thy tormentors be,
Convay me to my bed then to my graue,
Loue they to liue that loue and honour haue.
Exit.
King And let them die that age and sullens haue,
For both hast thou, and both become the graue.
785Yorke I doe beseech your Maiesty, impute his words
To waiward sicklines and age in him,
He loues you on my life, and holdes you deere,
As Harry Duke of Hereford were he here.
King Right, you say true, as Herefords loue, so his
790As theirs, so mine, and all be as it is.
North. My liege, old Gaunt commends him to your Ma-
King What saies he?
795North. Nay nothing, all is said:
His tongue is now a stringlesse instrument,
Words, life, and al, old Lancaster hath spent.
Yorke Be Yorke the next that must be bankrout so,
Though death be poore, it ends a mortall wo.
800King The ripest fruitfirst fals, and so doth he,
His time is spent, our pilgrimage must be;
So much for that. Now for our Irish wars,
We must supplant those rough rugheaded kerne,
Which liue like venome, where no venome else,
805But onely they haue priuiledge to liue.
And for these great affaires do aske some charge,
Towards our assistance we doe seaze to vs:
The plate, coine, reuenewes, and moueables
Whereof our Vnckle Gaunt did stand possest.
810Yorke How long shal I be patient? ah how long
Shall tender duty make me suffer wrong?
Not Glocesters death, nor Herefords banishment,
Nor Gauntes rebukes, nor Englands priuate wrongs,
Nor the preuention of poore Bullingbrooke,
815About his mariadge, nor my owne disgrace,
Haue euer made me sower my patient cheeke,
Or bende one wrinckle on my soueraignes face:
I am the last of noble Edwards sonnes,
Of whom thy father Prince of Wales was first
820In warre was neuer Lyon ragde more fierce,
In peace was neuer gentle lambe more milde,
Then was that young and princely Gentleman:
His face thou hast, for euen so lookt he,
Accomplisht with a number of thy howers;
825But when he frowned it was against the french,
And not against his friends: his noble hand
Did win what he did spende, and spent not that
Which his triumphant fathers hand had wonne:
His hands were guilty of no kinred bloud,
830But bloudie with the enemies of his kinne:
Oh Richard: Yorke is too far gone with griefe,
Or else he neuer would compare betweene.
King Why Vnckle whats the matter?
835Yorke Oh my liege, pardone me if you please,
If not I pleasd not to be pardoned, am content with all,
Seeke you to seaze and gripe into your hands
The roialties and rights of banisht Hereford:
Is not Gaunt dead? and doth not Hereford liue?
840Was not Gaunt iust? and is not Harrie true?
Did not the one deserue to haue an heire?
Is not his heire a well deseruing sonne?
Take Herefordes rightes away, and take from time
His charters, and his customarie rightes;
845Let not to morrow then ensue to daie:
Be not thy selfe. For how ait thou a King
But by faire sequence and succession?
Now afore God God forbidde I say true,
If you doe wrongfully seaze Herefords rightes,
850Call in the letters patents that he hath
By his attourneies generall to sue
His liuery, and deny his offred homage,
You plucke a thousand dangers on your head,
You loose a thousand well disposed hearts,
855And pricke my tender patience to those thoughts,
Which honour, and alleageance cannot thinke.
King Thinke what you wil, we cease into our hands
His plate, his goods, his money and his landes.
Yorke Ile not be by the while, my liege farewell,
860What will ensue hereof thers none can tell:
But by bad courses may be vnderstood
That their euents can neuer fall out good.
Exit.
King Go Bushie to the Earle of Wiltshire straight,
Bid him repaire to vs to Ely house,
865To see this busines: to morrow next
We will for Ireland, and tis time I trow,
And we create in absence of our selfe,
Our Vnckle Yorke Lord gouernour of England;
For he is iust, and alwaies loued vs well:
870Come on our Queene, to morrow must we part,
Be merry, for our time of staie is short.
Exeunt King andQueene:
Manet North.
North. Well Lords, the Duke of Lancaster is dead.
Rosse And liuing to, for now his sonne is Duke.
875Will. Barely in title, not in reuenewes.
North. Richly in both ifiustice had her right.
Rosse My heart is great, but it must breake with silence,
Eart be disburdened with a liberall tongue.
North. Nay speake thy mind, & let him nere speake more
880That speakes thy wordsagaine to doe thee harme.
Wil. Tends that thou wouldst speake to the Duke of Her-
If it be so, out with it boldlyman,
Quicke is mine eare to heare of good towards him.
Rosse No good at all that I can doe for him,
885Vnlesse you call it good to pitty him,
Bereft, and gelded of his patrimony.
North. Now afore God tis shame such wrongs are borne,
In him a royall Prince and many mo,
890Of noble bloud in this declining land,
The King is not himselfe, but basely led
By flatterers, and what they will informe,
Meerely in hate gainst any of vs all,
That will the King seuerely prosecute,
895Gainst vs, our liues, our children, and our heires.
Rosse The commons hath he pild with grieuous taxes,
And quite lost their hearts. The nobles hath he finde,
For ancient quarrels and quite lost their hearts.
Willo. And daily new exactions are deuisde,
900As blanckes, beneuolences, and I wot not what:
But what a Gods name doth become of this?
North. Wars hath not wasted it, for warrde he hath not,
But basely yeelded vpon compromise,
That which his noble auncestors atchiued with blowes,
905More hath he spent in peace then they in wars.
Rosse The Earle of Wiltshire hath the realme in farme.
Will. The King growen banckrout like a broken man.
North. Reproch and dissolution hangeth ouer him.
Rosse He hath not money for these Irish wars,
910His burthenous taxations notwithstanding,
But by the robbing ofthe banisht Duke.
North. His noble kinsman most degenerate King,
But Lords we heare this fearefull tempest sing,
Yet seeke no shelter to auoid the storme:
915We see the wind sit sore vpon our sailes,
And yet we strike not, but securely perish.
Rosse We see the very wracke that we must suffer,
And vnauoided is the danger now
For suffering so the causes of our wracke.
920North. Not so, euen through the hollow eies of death,
I spie life peering but I dare not say.
How neere the tidings of our comfort is.
Wil. Nay let vs share thy thoughts as thou dost ours.
Rosse Be confident to speake Northumberland
925We three are but thy selfe, and speaking so
Thy words are but as thoughts, therefore be bold.
North. Then thus, I haue from le Port Blan
A Bay in Brittaine receiude intelligence,
That Harry duke of Herford, Rainold L. Cobham
930That late broke from the Duke of Exeter
His brother, archbishop late of Canterburie,
Sir Thomas Erpingham, sir Iohn Ramston,
Sir Iohn Norbery, sir Robert Waterton, and Francis Coines;
All these well furnished by the Duke of Brittaine
935With eight tall shippes, three thousand men of warre,
Are making hither with all due expedience,
And shortly meane to touch our Northerne shore:
Perhaps they had ere this but that they stay
The first departing of the King for Ireland.
940Ifthen we shall shake off our slauish yoke,
Impe out our drowping countries broken wing,
Redeeme from Broking pawne the blemisht Crowne,
Wipe off the dust that hides our Scepters guilt,
And make high Maiestie looke like it selfe,
945Away with me in post to Rauenspurgh:
But if you faint, as fearing to do so,
Stay, and be secret, and my selfe will go.
Rosse To horse, to horse, vrge doubts to them that feare.
Willo. Holde out my horse, and I will first be there.
950
Exeunt.
Enter the Queene, Bushie, Bagot.
Bush. Madam, your maiestie is too much sad,
You promist, when you parted with the King,
955To lay aside life-harming heauines,
And entertaine a cheerefull disposition.
Queene To please the king I did, to please my selfe
I cannot do it; yet I know no cause
Why I should welcome such a guest as Griefe,
960Saue bidding farewell to so sweete a guest,
As my sweete Richard: yet agayne me thinkes
Some vnborne sorrow ripe in Fortunes wombe,
Is comming towardes me and my inward soule,
With nothing trembles, at something it grieues,
965More then with parting from my Lord the King.
Bushie Each substance of a griefe hath twenty shadowes,
Which shewes like griefe it selfe, but is not so:
For Sorrowes eyes glazed with blinding teares,
Diuides one thing entire to many obiects,
970Like perspectiues, which rightly gazde vpon
Shew nothing but confusion; eyde awry,
Distinguish forme: so your sweet maiestie,
Looking awry vpon your Lords departure,
Finde shapes of griefe more than himselfe to waile,
975Which lookt on as it is, is naught but shadows
Of what it is not; then thrice (gracious Queene)
More then your Lords departure weep not, more is not seen
Or if it be, tis with false Sorrowes eye,
Which for things true, weepes things imaginarie.
980Queene It may be so; but yet my inward soule
Perswades me it is otherwise: how ere it be,
I cannot but be sad: so heauie sad,
As thought on thinking on no thought I thinke,
Makes me with heauy nothing faint and shrinke.
985Bush. Tis nothing but conceit my gratious Lady.
Queene Tis nothing lesse: conceit is still deriude,
From some forefather griefe, mine is not so,
For nothing hath begot my something griefe.
Or something hath the nothing that I grieue,
990Tis in reuersion that I do possesse,
But what it is that is not yet knowen what,
I cannot name, tis namelesse woe I wot.
Greene God saue your maiesty, and well met Gentlemen,
995I hope the King is not yet shipt for Ireland.
Queene Why hopest thou so? tis better hope he is,
For his designes craue haste, his haste good hope:
Then wherefore dost thou hope he is not shipt?
Greene That he our hope might haue retirde his power,
1000And driuen into despaire an enemies hope,
Who strongly hath set footing in this land,
The banisht Bullingbrooke repeales himselfe,
And with vplifted armes is safe ariude at Rauenspurgh.
1005Queene Now God in heauen forbid.
Greene Ah Madam! tis too true, and that is worse:
The lord Northumberland, his son yong H. Percie,
The lords of Rosse, Beaumond, and Willoughby,
With all their powerful friends are fled to him.
1010Bush. Why haue you not proclaimd Northumberland
And al the rest reuolted faction, traitours ?
Greene We haue, whereupon the earle of Worcester
Hath broken his Staffe, resignd his Stewardship,
And al the houshold seruants fled with him to Bullingbrook
1015Queene So Greene, thou art the midwife to my woe,
And Bullingbrooke my sorowes dismall heire,
Now hath my soule brought forth her prodigie,
And I a gasping new deliuerd mother,
Haue woe to woe, sorow to sorow ioynde
1020Bushie Dispaire not Madam.
Queene Who shall hinder me?
I will dispaire and be at enmitie
With cousening Hope, he is a flatterer,
A parasite, a keeper backe of Death,
1025Who gently would dissolue the bands of life,
VVhich false Hope lingers in extremitie.
Greene Here comes the Duke of Yorke.
Queene VVith signes of war about his aged necke,
1030Oh ful of carefull busines are his lookes!
Vncle, for Gods sake speake comfortable wordes.
1031.1Yorke Should I do so I should bely my thoughts,
Comfort's in heauen, and we are on the earth,
VVhere nothing liues but crosses, cares and griefe:
Your husband, he is gone to saue far off,
1035VVhilst others come to make him loose at home:
Heere am I left to vnderprop his land,
Who weake with age cannot support my selfe,
Now comes the sicke houre that his surfet made,
Now shall he trie his friends that flatterd him.
Seruingman My Lord, your son was gone before I came.
Yorke He was; why so go all which way it will:
The nobles they are fled, the commons they are colde,
And will (I feare) reuolton Herefords side.
1045Sirra, get thee to Plashie to my sister Glocester,
Bid her send me presently a thousand pound,
Hold take my ring.
Seruingman My Lord, I had forgot to tel your Lordship:
To day as I came by I called there,
1050But I shall grieue you to report the rest.
Yorke What ist knaue?
Seruingman An houre before I came the Dutchesse died.
Yorke God for his mercy, what a tide of woes
Comes rushing on this wofull land at once!
1055I know not what to do: I would to God,
(So my vntruth had not prouokt him to it)
The King had cut off my head with my brothers.
What are there no Posts dispatcht for Ireland?
How shal we do for money for these wars?
1060Come sister, cousin I would say, pray pardon me:
Go fellow get thee home, prouide some cartes,
And bring away the armour that is there.
Gentlemen, will you go muster men?
If I know how or which way to order these affayres
1065Thus disorderly thrust into my hands,
Neuer beleeue me: both are my kinsmen,
Tone is my soueraigne, whom both my oath
And duety bids defend; tother againe
Is my kinsman, whom the King hath wrongd,
1070Whom conscience, and my kinred bids to right.
Wel somewhat we must do: Come cousin,
Ile dispose of you: Gentlemen, go muster vp your men,
And meete me presently at Barkly:
I should to Plashie too, but time wil not permit:
1075All is vneuen, and euery thing is left at sixe and seauen.
Bush. The winde sits faire for newes to go for Ireland,
But none returnes. For vs to leuie power
Proportionable to the enemy is all vnpossible.
Gree. Besides our neerenes to the King in loue,
1080Is neare the hate of those loue not the King.
Bag. And that is the wauering commons, for their loue
Lies in their purses, and who so empties them,
By so much fils their hearts with deadly hate.
Bush. Wherein the King stands generally condemnd.
1085Bag. If iudgment lie in them, then so do we,
Because we euer haue beene neere the King.
Gree. Well I will for refuge straight to Brist. Castle,
The Earle of Wiltshire is already there.
Bush. Thither will I with you, for little office
1090Will the hatefull commons perfourme for vs,
Except like curs to teare vs all to pieces:
Will you go along with vs?
Bag. No, I will to Ireland to his Maiesty,
Farewell if hearts presages be not vaine,
1095We three here part that nere shall meete againe.
Bush. Thats as Yorke thriues to beat backe Bullingbrook.
Gree. Alas poore Duke the taske he vndertakes,
Is numbring sands, and drinking Oceans drie,
Where one on his side fights, thousands will flie:
1100Farewellat once, for once, for all, and euer.
Bush. Well, we may meete againe.
Bag. I feare me neuer.
Enter Hereford, Northumberland.
Bull. How far is it my Lord to Barckly now?
North. Beleeue me noble Lord,
I am a stranger here in Glocestershire,
These high wild hils and rough vneuen waies,
1110Drawes out our miles and makes them wearisome,
And yet your faire discourse hath beene as sugar,
Making the hard way sweete and delectable,
But I bethinke me what a weary way
From Rauenspurgh to Cotshall will be found,
1115In Rosse and Willoughby wanting your company,
Which I protest hath very much beguild,
The tediousnesse and processe of my trauell:
But theirs is sweetned with the hope to haue
The present benefit which I possesse,
1120And hope to ioy is little lesse in ioye,
Then hope enioyed: by this the weary Lords
Shall make their way seeme short as mine hath done,
By sight of what I haue, your noble company.
Bull. Of much lesse value is my company,
1125Then your good wordes. But who comes here?
Enter Harry Persie.
North. It is my sonne young Harry Persy,
Sent from my brother Worcester whencesoeuer.
Harry, how fares your Vnckle?
1130H.Per. I had thought my Lord to haue learned his health
North. Why is he not with the Queene?
H.Per. No my good Lord, he hath forsooke the court,
Broken his staffe of office and disperst
1135The houshold of the King.
North. What was his reason, he was not so resolude,
When last we spake togither?
H Per. Because your Lowas proclaimed traitor,
But he my Lo:is gone to Rauenspurgh,
1140To offer seruice to the Duke of Hereford,
And sent me ouer by Barckly to discouer,
What power the Duke of Yorke had leuied there,
Then with directions to repaire to Rauenspurgh.
North. Haue you forgot the Duke of Herefords boy?
1145H.Per. No my good Lo: for that is not forgot,
Which nere I did remember, to my knowledge
I neuer in my life did looke on him.
North. Then learne to know him now, this is the Duke.
1150H.Per. My gratious Lo: I tender you my seruice,
Such as it is, being tender, raw, and young,
Which elder daies shal ripen and confirme
To more approued seruice and desert.
Bull. I thanke thee gentle Persy, and be sure,
1155I count my selfe in nothing else so happy,
Asin a soule remembring my good friends,
And as my fortune ripens with thy loue,
It shalbe still thy true loues recompence,
My heart this couenant makes, my hand thus seales it.
1160North. How farre is it to Barckly, and what slur
Keepes good old Yorke there with his men of war?
H.Per. There stands the Castle by yon tuft of trees,
Mand with 300. men as I haue heard,
And in it are the LordsofYorke Barkly and Seymer,
1165None else of name and noble estimate.
North. Here come the Lords of Rosse and Willoughby,
Bloudy with spurring, fiery red with haste.
Bull. VVelcome my Lords, I wot your loue pursues,
1170A banisht traitor: all my treasury
Is yet but vnfelt thanks, which more inricht,
Shalbe your loue and labours recompence.
Rosse Your presence makes vs rich, most noble Lord.
Wil. And far surmounts our labour to attaine it.
1175Bul. Euermore thanke's the exchequer of the poore,
VVhich till my infant fortune comes to yeares,
Stands for my bounty: but who comes here?
North. It is my Lord of Barkly as I guesse.
1180Barkly My Lord of Hereford my message is to you.
Bul. My Lord my answere is to Lancaster,
And I am come to seeke that name in England,
And I must find that title in your tongue,
Before I make reply to ought you say.
1185Bar. Mistake me not my Lord, tis not my meaning,
To race one title of your honor out:
To you my Lo: I come, what Lo: you will,
From the most gratious regent of this land
The Duke of Yorke: to know what prickes you on,
1190To take aduantage of the absent time,
And fright our natiue peace with selfeborne armes?
Bull. I shall not need transport my words by you,
Here comes his grace in person, my noble Vnckle.
1195Yorke Shew me thy humble heart, and not thy knee,
Whose duety is deceiueable and false.
Bull. My gratious Vnckle.
Yor. Tut tut, grace me no grace, nor vnckle me no vnckle,
I am no traitors Vnckle, and that word Grace
1200In an vngratious mouth is but prophane:
Why haue those banisht and forbidden legs,
Dard once to touch a dust of Englands ground:
Butthen more why? why haue they dard to march
So many miles vpon her peacefull bosome,
1205Frighting her pale fac't villadges with warre,
And ostentation of despised armes?
Comst thou because the annointed king is hence?
Why foolish boy the King is left behinde,
And in my loiall bosome lies his power,
1210Were I but now Lord of such hot youth,
As when braue Gaunt thy father and my selfe,
Rescued the blacke prince that young Mars of men.
From forth the ranckes of many thousand french,
O then how quickly should this arme of mine,
1215Now prisoner to the Palsie chastise thee,
And minister correction to thy fault!
Bull. My gratious Vnckle let me know my fault,
On what condition stands it and wherein?
Yorke Euen in condition of the worst degree,
1220In grosse rebellion and detested treason,
Thou art a banisht man and here art come,
Before the expiration of thy time,
In brauing armes against thy soueraigne.
Bull. As I was banisht, I was banisht Hereford,
1225But as I come, I come for Lancaster.
And noble Vnckle I beseech your grace,
Looke on my wrongs with an indifferent eie:
You are my father, for me thinkes in you
I see old Gaunt aliue. Oh then my father,
1230Will you permit that I shall stand condemnd
A wandering vagabond, my rights and royalties
Pluckt from my armes perforce; and giuen away
To vpstart vnthrifts? wherefore was I borne?
If that my cousin King be King in England,
1235It must be granted I am duke of Lancaster:
You haue a sonne, Aumerle, my noble cousin,
Had you first died, and he bin thus trod downe,
He should haue found his vncle Gaunt a father,
To rowze his wrongs and chase them to the baie.
1240I am denyed to sue my Liuery here,
And yet my letters pattents giue me leaue.
My fathers goods are all distrainde and sold,
And these, and all, are all amisse employed.
What would you haue me do? I am a subiect;
1245And I challenge law, Atturnies are denied me,
And therefore personally I lay my claime
To my inheritance offree descent.
North. The noble Duke hath bin too much abused.
Rosse It stands your Grace vpon to do him right.
1250Willo. Base men by his endowments are made great.
Yorke My Lords of England, let me tell you this:
I haue had feeling of my cousins wrongs,
And labourd all I could to do him right:
But in this kind to come, in brauing armes
1255Be his owne caruer, and cut out his way,
To finde out right wyth wrong it may not be:
And you that do abette him in this kinde,
Cherish rebellion, and are rebells all.
North. The noble Duke hath sworne his comming is,
1260But for his owne; and for the right of that,
We al haue strongly sworne to giue him ayde:
And let him neuer see ioy that breakes that oath.
Yorke Wel wel, I see the issue of these armes,
I cannot mend it I must needes confesse,
1265Because my power is weake and all ill left:
But ifI could, by him that gaue me life,
I would attach you all, and make you stoope
Vnto the soueraigne mercie of the king;
But since I cannot, be it knowen vnto you,
1270I do remaine as newter, so fare you well,
Vnlesse you please to enter in the castle,
And there repose you for this night.
Bull. An offer vncle that we will accept,
But we must winne your Grace to go with vs,
1275To Bristow castle, which they say is held
By Bushie, Bagot, and their complices,
The caterpillers of the commonwealth,
Which I haue sworne to weede and plucke away.
Yorke It may be I will go with you, but yet Ile pawse.
1280For I am loath to breake our countries lawes,
Nor friends, nor foes to me welcome you are:
Things past redresse, are now with me past care.
Exeunt.
Enter erle of Salisbury and a Welch captaine.
1285Welch. My lord of Salisbury, we haue stayed ten dayes,
And hardly kept our countrymen together,
And yet we heare no tidings from the King,
Therefore we will disperse our selues, farewell.
Salis. Stay yet another day, thou trustie Welchman,
1290The King reposeth all his confidence in thee.
Welch. Tis thought the King is dead; we wil not stay,
The bay trees in our country are al witherd,
And Meteors fright the fixed starres of heauen,
The pale-facde moone lookes bloudie on the earth,
1295And leane-lookt prophets whisper fearefull change,
Rich men looke sad, and ruffians daunce and leape,
The one in feare to loose what they enioy,
The other to enioy by rage and warre:
Thesesignes forerunne the death or fall of Kings.
1300Farewell, our countrymen are gone and fled,
As well assured Richard their King is dead.
Salis. Ah Richard! with the eies of heauy mind
I see thy glory like a shooting starre
Fall to the base earth from the firmament,
1305Thy sunne sets weeping in the lowly west,
Witnessing stormes to come, wo, and vnrest,
Thy friends are fled to wait vpon thy foes,
And crosly to thy good all fortune goes.
1310
Enter Duke of Hereford, Yorke, Northumberland,
Bushie and Greene prisoners.
Bull. Bring forth these men.
Bushie and Greene, I will not vex your soules,
1315Since presently your soules must part your bodies
With too much vrging your pernitious liues,
For twere no charitie; yet to wash your bloud
From off my hands, heere in the view of men
I will vnfold some causes of your deaths:
1320You haue misled a Prince, a royall King,
A happy Gentleman in bloud and lineaments,
By you vnhappied, and disfigured cleane,
You haue in manner with your sinfull houres
Made a diuorce betwixt his Queene and him,
1325Broke the possession of a royall bed,
And stainde the beutie of a faire Queenes cheekes
With teares, drawen from her eies by your fowle wrongs,
My selfe a Prince, by fortune of my birth,
Neere to the King in bloud, and neere in loue,
1330Till you did make him misinterpret me,
Haue stoopt my necke vnder your iniuries,
And sigh't my English breath in forren cloudes,
Eating the bitter bread of banishment,
Whilst you haue fed vpon my segniories,
1335Disparkt my parkes, and felld my forrest woods,
From my owne windowes torne my houshold coate,
Rac't out my impreese, leauing me no signe,
Saue mensopinions, and my liuing bloud,
To shew the world I am a gentleman.
1340This and much more, much more then twice all this
Condemns you to the death: see them deliuered ouer
To execution and the hand of death.
Bush. More welcome is the stroke of death to me,
Than Bullingbrooke to England, Lords farewell.
1345Greene My comfort is, that heauen will take our soules,
And plague iniustice with the paines of hell.
Bul. My Lord Northumberland, see them dispatcht:
Vncle, you say the Queene is at your house,
For Gods sake fairely let her be intreated,
1350Tel her I send to her my kinde commends;
Take special care my greetings be deliuered.
Yorke A gentleman of mine I haue dispatcht,
With letters of your loue to her at large.
Bul. Thankes (gentle vncle:) Come Lords, away,
1355To fight with Glendor and his complices,
A while to worke, and after holiday.
Exeunt.
1360
Enter the King Aumerle, Carleil, &c.
King Barkloughly castle call they this at hand?
Aum. Yea my Lord, How brookes your Grace the ayre
After your late tossing on the breaking seas?
King Needes must I like it well, I weepe for ioy,
1365To stand vpon my kingdome once againe:
Deere earth I do salute thee with my hand,
Though rebels wound thee with their horses hoofes:
As a long parted mother with her childe
Playes fondly with her teares and smiles in meeting;
1370So weeping, smiling greete I thee my earth,
And do thee fauours with my royall hands;
Feede not thy Soueraignes foe, my gentle earth,
Nor with thy sweetes comfort his rauenous sence,
But let thy Spiders that sucke vp thy venome,
1375And heauy-gated toades lie in theyr way,
Doing annoyance to the treacherous feete,
Which with vsurping steps do trample thee,
Yeelde stinging nettles to mine enemies:
And when they from thy bosome plucke a flower,
1380Guard it I pray thee with a lurking Adder,
Whose double tongue may wyth a mortall touch,
Throwe death vpon thy soueraignes enemies,
Mocke not my senceles coniuration Lords,
This earth shall haue a feeling, and these stones,
1385Proue armed souldiers ere her natiue King,
Shall faulter vnder foule rebellions armes.
Carl. Feare not my Lord, that power that made you king,
Hath power to keepe you king in spight of all,
1388.1The meanes that heauens yeeld must be imbrac't
And not neglected. Else heauen would,
And we will not, heauens offer, we refuse,
The profered meanes of succors and redresse.
Aum. He meanes my Lo: that we are too remisse,
1390Whilst Bullingbrooke through our security,
Growes strong and great in substance and in power.
King Discomfortable Coosen knowst thou not,
That when the searching eie of heauen is hid,
Behinde the globe that lights the lower world,
1395Then theeues and robbers range abroad vnseene,
In murthers and in outrage bouldy here,
But when from vnder this terrestriall ball,
He fires the proud tops of the easterne pines,
And dartes his light through euery guilty hole,
1400Then murthers, treasons and detested sinnes,
The cloake of night being pluckt from off their backs,
Stand bare and naked trembling at themselues?
So when this thiefe, this traitor Bullingbrooke,
Who all this while hath reueld in the night,
1404.1VVhilst we were wandring with the Antipodes,
1405Shall see vs rising in our throne the east,
His treasons will sit blushing in his face,
Not able to endure the sight of day,
But selfe affrighted tremble at his sinne,
Not all the water in the rough rude sea,
1410Can wash the balme offfrom an annointed King,
The breath of worldly men cannot depose,
The deputy elected by the Lord,
For euery man that Bullingbrooke hath prest,
To lifte shrewd steele against our golden crowne,
1415God for his Ric: hath in heauenly pay,
A glorious Angell; then if Angels fight,
Weake men must fall, for heauen still gardes the right.
Enter Salisb.
King Welcome my Lo:how far off lies your power?
1420Salis. Nor neare nor farther off my gratious Lo:
Than this weake arme; discomfort guides my tongue,
And bids me speake of nothing but Despaire,
One day too late I feare me noble Lo:
Hath clouded all thy happy daies on earth:
1425O call backe yesterday, bid Time returne,
And thou shalt haue twelue thousand fighting men,
To day to day vnhappie daie too late,
Ouerthrowes thy ioies friends, fortune and thy state,
For all the Welshmen hearing thou wert dead,
1430Are gone to Bullingbrooke disperst and fled.
Aum. Comfort my liege, why lookes your grace so pale.
King But now the bloud of 20000. men,
Did triumph in my face, and they are fled:
1435And till so much bloud thither come againe,
Haue I not reason to looke pale and dead?
All soules that wilbe safe, flie from my side,
For time hath set a blot vpon my pride.
Aum. Comfort my liege remember who you are.
1440King I had forgot my selfe, am I not King?
Awake thou coward Maiesty thou sleepest,
Is not the Kings name twenty thousand names?
Arme arme, my name a puny subiect strikes,
At thy great glorie, looke not to the ground,
1445Ye fauourites of a King, are we not high?
High be our thoughts, I know my Vnckle Yorke,
Hath power enough to serue our turne: but who comes here?
Enter Scroope.
Scro. More health and happines betide my liege,
1450Then can my care tunde tongue deliuer him.
King Mine eare is open, and my hart prepard,
The worst is worldly losse thou canst vnfold,
Say, is my kingdome lost? why twas my care,
And what losse is it to be rid of care?
1455Striues Bullingbrooke to be as great as we,
Greater he shall not be, if he serue God,
Weele serue him to, and be his fellow so:
Reuolt our subiects, that we cannot mende,
They breake their faith to God as well as vs:
1460Crie woe, destruction, ruine, and decay,
The worst is death, and death will haue his day.
Scro. Glad am I, that your highnes is so armde,
To beare the tidings of calamity,
Like an vnseasonable stormie day,
1465Which makes the siluer riuers drowne their shores,
As if the world were all dissolude to teares:
So high aboue his limits swels the rage
Of Bullingbrooke couering your fearefull land,
With hard bright steele, and harts harder then steele,
1470White beards haue armd their thin and haireles scalpes
Against thy maiesty: boies with womens voices,
Striue to speake big and clap their femal ioints,
In stiffe vnweildy armes against thy crowne,
Thy very beadsmen learne to bend their bowes,
1475Of double fatall ewe against thy state.
Yea distaffe women mannage rustie bils
Against thy seate, both young and old rebell,
And all goes worse then I haue power to tell.
King Too well too well thou telst a tale so ill,
1480Where is the Earle of Wiltshire? where is Bagot?
What is become of Bushie? where is Greene?
That they haue let the dangerous enemy,
Measure our confines with such peacefull steps,
If we preuaile, their heads shall pay for it:
1485I warrant they haue made peace with Bulling.
Scro. Peace haue they made with him indeed my Lord.
King Oh villaines, vipers, damnd without redemption,
Dogs easily woon to fawne on any man.
1490Snakes in my hart bloud warmd, that sting my hart,
Three Iudasses, each one thrise worse then Iudas,
Would they make peace? terrible hel,
Make war vpon their spotted soules for this.
Scro. Sweet loue I see changing his property,
1495Turnes to the sowrest and most deadly hate,
Againe, vncurse their soules, their peace is made
With heads and not with hands, those whom you curse
Haue felt the worst of deathes destroying wound,
And lie full low grau'd in the hollow ground.
1500Aum. Is Bushie, Greene, and the Earle of Wiltshire dead.
Scro. I all of them at Bristow lost their heads.
Aum. Where is the Duke my father with his power?
King No matter where, of comfort no man speake:
1505Lets talke of graues, of wormes, and Epitaphs,
Make dust our paper, and with rainy eies,
Write sorrow on the bosome of the earth.
Lets choose executors and talke of wils:
And yet not so, for what can we bequeath,
1510Saue our deposed bodies to the ground?
Our landes, our liues, and all are Bullingbrookes.
And nothing can we call our owne, but death:
And that small modle of the barren earth,
Which serues as paste, and couer to our bones,
1515For Gods sake let vs sit vpon the ground,
And tell sad stories of the death of Kings,
How some haue beene deposd, some slaine in warre,
Some haunted by the ghosts they haue deposed,
Some poisoned by their wiues, some sleeping kild;
1520All murthered, for within the hollow crowne
That roundes the mortall temples of a king,
Keepes death his court, and there the antique sits,
Scofing his state and grinning at his pompe,
Allowing him a breath, a litle sceane,
1525To monarchise be feard, and kil with lookes,
Infusing him with selfe and vaine conceit,
As if this flesh which wals about our life,
Were brasse impregnable: and humord thus,
Comes at the last, and with a little pin
1530Boares thorough his Castle wall, and farewell King;
Couer your heades, and mocke not flesh and bloud,
With solemne reuerence, throw away respect,
Tradition, forme, and ceremonious duetie,
For you haue but mistooke me al this while:
1535I liue with bread like you, feele want,
Taste griefe, neede friends, subiected thus,
How can you say to me, I am a King?
Carleil My lord, wisemen nere sit and waile theyr woes,
But presently preuent the wayes to waile,
1540To feare the foe, since feare oppresseth strength,
Giues in your weakenes strength vnto your foe,
1541.1And so your follies fight against your selfe:
Feare and be slaine, no worse can come to fight,
And fight and die, is death destroying death,
Where fearing dying, paies death seruile breath.
1545Aum. My father hath a power, inquire of him,
And learne to make a body of a limme.
King Thou chidst me well, prowd Bullingbrooke, I come
To change blowes with thee for our day of doome:
This agew fit of feare is ouerblowne,
1550And easie taske it is to winne our owne.
Say Scroope, where lies our vncle with his power?
Speake sweetely manalthough thy lookes be sower.
Scroope Men iudge by the complexion of the skie,
The state and inclination of the day;
1555So may you by my dull and heauy eie:
My tongue hath but a heauier tale to say,
I play the torturer by small and small
To lengthen out the worst that must be spoken:
Your vncle Yorke is ioynd with Bullingbrooke,
1560And all your Northerne castles yeelded vp,
And all your Southerne Gentlemen in armes
Vpon his partie.
King Thou hast said enough:
Beshrew thee cousin which didst leade me foorth
1565Ofthat sweete way I was in to dispaire.
What say you now? what comfort haue we now?
By heauen Ile hate him euerlastingly,
That bids me be of comfort any more.
Go to Flint Castle, there Ile pine away,
1570A King woes slaue shall kingly woe obey:
That power I haue, discharge, and let them goe
To eare the land that hath some hope to grow,
For I haue none, let no man speake againe,
To alter this, for counsell is but vaine.
1575Aum. My Liege, one word.
King He does me double wrong,
That wounds me with the flatteries of his tong.
Discharge my followers, let them hence away,
From Richards night, to Bullingbrookes faire day.
Enter Bull. Yorke, North.
Bull. So that by this intelligence we learne
1585The Welch men are disperst, and Salisburie
Is gone to meete the King, who lately landed
With some few priuate friends vpon this coast.
North. The newes is very faire and good my lord,
Richard not farre from hence hath hid his head.
1590Yorke It would beseeme the Lord Northumberland
To say King Richard; alacke the heauy day,
When such a sacred King should hide his head.
North. Your Grace mistakes; onely to be briefe
Left I his title out.
1595Yorke The time hath bin, would you haue beene so briefe
He would haue bin so briefe to shorten you,
For taking so the head, your whole heads length:
Bull. Mistake not (vncle) further then you should.
1600Yorke Take not (good cousin) further then you should,
Lest you mistake the heauens are ouer our heads.
Bull. I knowit vncle, and oppose not my selfe,
Against their will. But, who comes here?
Enter Percie.
1605Welcome Harry; what, will not this castle yeelde?
H.Per. The Castle royally is mand my Lord.
Against thy entrance.
Bull. Royally, why it containes no King.
H.Per. Yes (my good Lord,)
1610It doth containe a King, King Richard lies
Within the limites of yon lime and stone,
And with him are the Lord Aumerle, Lord Salisbury,
Sir Stephen Scroope, besides a cleargie man
Ofholy reuerence, who I cannot learne.
1615North. Oh belike it is the bishop of Carleil.
Bull. Noble Lords,
Go to the rude ribbes of that ancient Castle,
Through brazen trumpet send the breath ofparlee
Into his ruinde eares, and thus deliuer.
1620H.Bull. on both his knees doth kisse king Richards hand,
And sends allegeance and true faith of heart
To his most royall person: hither come
Euen at his feete to lay my armes and power:
Prouided, that my banishment repeald,
1625And lands restored againe be freely granted;
If not, Ile vse the aduantage of my power,
And lay the summers dust with showres of bloud,
Rainde from the wounds of slaughtered English men,
The which, how farre off from the minde of Bulling.
1630It is, such crimson tempest should bedrench
The fresh greene lap of faire King Richards land:
My stooping duety tenderly shall shew:
Go signifie as much while here we march
Vpon the grassie carpet of this plaine;
1635Lets march without the noyse of threatning drumme,
That from this Castels tottered battlements
Our faire appointments may be well perusde.
Me thinkes King Richard and my selfe should meete
With no lesse terrour than the elements
1640Of fire and water, when their thundring shocke
At meeting teares the cloudie cheekes of heauen.
Be he the fire, Ile be the yeelding water;
The rage be his, whilst on the earth I raigne.
My water's on the earth, and not on him,
1645March on, and marke King Richard how he lookes.
The trumpets sound, Richard appeareth on the walls.
Bull. See see King Richard doth himselfe appeare,
1650As doth the blushing discontented Sunne,
From out the fierie portall of the East,
When he perceiues the enuious cloudes are bent
To dimme his glorie, and to staine the tracke
Of his bright passage to the Occident.
1655Yorke Yet lookes he like a King, beholde his eye,
As bright as is the Eagles, lightens forth
Controlling maiestie; alacke alacke for woe,
That any harme should staine so faire a shew.
King We are amazde, and thus long haue we stoode,
1660To watch the feareful bending of thy knee,
Because : me'thought our selfe thy lawful King:
And if wee be, howe dare thy ioynts forget
To pay their awefull duety to our presence?
If we be not, shew vs the hand of God
1665That hath dismist vs from our Stewardship;
For well we know no hand of bloud and bone
Can gripe the sacred handle of our Scepter,
Vnlesse he do prophane, steale, or vsurpe,
And though you thinke that all as you haue done
1670Haue torne their soules, by turning them from vs,
And we are barren and bereft offriends:
Yet know, my maister God omnipotent,
Is mustering in his cloudes on our behalfe,
Armies of pestilence, and they shall strike
1675Your children yet vnborne, and vnbegot,
That lift your vassaile hands against my head,
And threat the glorie of my precious crowne.
Tell Bullingbrooke, for yon me thinkes he standes,
That euery stride he makes vpon my land,
1680Is dangerous treason: he is come to open
The purple testament ofbloeding warre:
But ere the crowne he lookes for, liue in peace,
Ten thousand bloudy crownes of mothers sonnes,
Shall ill become the flower of Englands face,
1685Change the complexion of her maid-pale peace,
To scarlet indignation and bedew
Her pastors grasse with faithfull English bloud.
North. The King of heauen forbid: our Lo: the king
Should so with ciuill and vnciuill armes,
1690Be rusht vpon. Thy thrise noble Cosen,
Harry Bullingbrooke doth humbly kisse thy hand,
And by the honorable tombe he sweares,
That stands vpon your roiall grandsires bones,
And by the roialties of both your blouds,
1695Currents that spring from one most gratious head,
And by the buried hand of warlike Gaunt,
And by the worth and honor of himselfe,
Comprising all that may be sworne or said,
Hiscomming hither hath no further scope,
1700Then for his lineall roialties, and to beg
Infranchisement immediate on his knees,
Which on thy roiall partie granted once,
His glittering armes he will commend to rust,
His barbed steeds to stables, and his hart
1705To faithfull seruice ofyour Maiesty.
This sweares he, as he is princesse iust,
And as I am a gentleman I credit him.
King Northumberland, say thus, the King returnes,
His noble Cosen is right welcome hither,
1710And all the number of his faire demaunds,
Shall be accomplisht without contradiction,
With all the gratious vtterance thou hast,
Speake to his gentle hearing kind commends.
King We do debase our selues, Cosen do we not,
1715To looke so poorely, and to speake so faire?
Shall we call backe Northumberland and send
Defiance to the traitor and so die?
Aum. No good my Lo:lets fight with gentle words,
Till time lend friends, and friends their helpfull swords.
1720King Oh God oh God that ere this tong of mine
That laid the sentence of dread banishment
On yon prowde man should take it off againe
With words of sooth! Oh that I were as great
As is my griefe, or lesser than my name!
1725Or that I could forget what I haue beene!
Or not remember what I must be now!
Swellst thou (prowd heart) Ile giue thee scope to beate,
Since foes haue scope to beate both thee and me.
Aum. Northumberland comes backe from Bullingbrooke
King What must the King do now? must he submit?
The King shall do it: must he be deposde?
The king shall be contented: must he loose
The name of King? a Gods name let it go:
1735Ile giue my iewels for a set of Beades:
My gorgeous pallace for a hermitage:
My gay apparel for an almesmans gowne:
My figurde goblets for a dish of wood:
My scepter for a Palmers walking staffe:
1740My subiects for a paire of carued Saintes,
And my large kingdome for a little graue,
A little little graue, an obscure graue,
Or Ile be buried in the Kings hie way,
Some way of common trade, where subiects feete
1745May hourely trample on their soueraignes head;
For on my heart they treade now whilst I liue:
And buried once, why not vpon my head?
Aumerle thou weepst (my tender-hearted coosin)
Weele make fowle weather with despised teares;
1750Our sighs and they shall lodge the summer corne,
And make a dearth in this reuolting land:
Or shall we play the wantons with our woes,
And make some prety match with sheading teares,
As thus to drop them still vpon one place,
1755Till they haue fretted vs a paire of graues
Within the earth, and therein laide; there lies
Two kinsmen digd their graues with weeping eies:
Would not this ill do well? well well I see,
I talke but idlely, and you laugh at me.
1760Most mightie Prince my Lord Northumberland,
What saies king Bullingbroke, will his maiestie
Giue Richard leaue to liue till Richard dye,
You make a leg and Bullingbroke saies I.
North. My Lord, in the base court he doth attend,
1765To speake with you, may it please you to come downe.
King. Downe, downe I come, like glistring Phaeton:
Wanting the manage of vnrulie Iades.
In the base court, base court where Kinges growe base,
To come at traitors calls, and do them grace,
1770In the base court come downe: downe court, downe King,
For nightowles shreeke where mounting larkes should sing.
Bull. What saies his maiestie?
North. Sorrowe and greife of hart,
Makes him speake fondly like a frantike man,
1775Yet he is come.
Bull. Stand all apart,
And shew faire dutie to his Maiestie:
( he kneeles downe.
My gratious Lord.
King. faire coosen, you debase your princely knee,
To make the base earth proud with kissing it:
Me rather had my hart might feele your loue,
Then my vnpleased eie see your curtesie:
Vp coosen vp, your hart is vp I knowe,
1785Thus high at least, although your knee be lowe.
Bull. My gratious Lord, I come but for mine owne.
King. Your owne is yours, and I am yours and all.
1790Bull. So farre be mine my most redoubted Lord,
As my true seruice shall deserue your loue.
King. Well you deserue: they well deserue to haue,
That know the strong'st and surest way to get,
1795Vncle giue me your handes, nay drie your eies,
Teares shew their loue, but want their remedies.
Coosen I am to yong to be your Father,
Though you are old enough to be my heire,
What you will haue, Ile giue, and willing to,
1800For doe we must, what force will haue vs doe:
Set on towards London, Cosen is it so?
Bul. Yea my good Lord:
King. Then I must not say no.
Enter the Queene with her attendants
Quee. What sport shall we deuise here in this garden,
To driue away the heauy thought of care?
1810Lady Madame weele play at bowles.
Quee. Twil make me thinke the world is full of rubs,
And that my fortune runs against the bias.
Lady Madame weele daunce.
Quee. My legs can keepe no measure in delight,
1815When my poore hart no measure keepes in griefe:
Therfore no dauncing girle, some other sport.
Lady Madame weele tell tales.
Quee. Of sorrow or of griefe.
Lady Of either Madame.
1820Quee. Of neither girle:
For if of ioy, being altogither wanting,
It doth remember me the more of sorrow:
Or if of griefe, being altogither had,
It adds more sorrow to my want of ioy:
1825For what I haue I need not to repeate,
And what I want it bootes not to complaine.
Lady Madame Ile sing.
Quee. Tis well that thou hast cause,
But thou shouldst please me better, wouldst thou weepe.
1830Lady I could weepe; Madame would it doe you good?
Quee. And I could sing would weeping doe me good,
And neuer borrow any teare of thee.
Enter Gardeners.
But stay, here come the gardeners,
1835Lets step into the shadow of these trees,
My wretchednes vnto a row of pines,
They will talke of state for euery one doth so,
Against a change woe is fore-runne with woe.
Gard. Go bind thou vp yong dangling Aphricokes,
1840Which like vnruly children make their sire,
Stoope with oppression of their prodigall weight,
Giue some supportance to the bending twigs,
Go thou, and like an executioner
Cut off the heads of two fast growing spraies,
1845That looke too loftie in our common-wealth,
All must be euen in our gouernement.
You thus employed, I will goe roote away
The noysome weedes which without profit sucke
The soiles fertilitie from wholsome flowers.
1850Man. Why should we in the compas of a pale,
Keepe law and forme, and due proportion,
Shewing as in a modle our firme estate,
When our sea-walled garden the whole land
Is full of weedes, her fairest flowers choakt vp,
1855Her fruit trees all vnprunde, her hedges ruinde,
Her knots disordered, and her holsome hearbs
Swarming with caterpillers.
Gard. Hold thy peace,
He that htah suffered this disordered spring,
1860Hath now himselfe met with the fall of leafe:
The weedes which his broad spreading leaues did shelter,
That seemde in eating him to hold him vp,
Are pluckt vp roote and all by Bullingbrooke,
I meane the Earle of Wiltshire, Bushie, Greene,
1865Man. What are they dead?
Gard. They are.
And Bullingbrooke hath ceasde the wastefull king,
Oh what pitie is it that he had not so trimde,
And drest his land as we this garden at time of yeare
1870Do wound the barke, the skinne of our fruit trees,
Lest being ouer prowd in sap and bloud,
With too much riches it confound it selfe
Had he done so to great and growing men,
They might haue liude to beare, and he to taste
1875Their fruits of duety: superfluous branches
We loppe away, that bearing boughes may liue:
Had he done so, himselfe had borne the crowne,
Which waste of idle houres hath quite throwne downe.
Man. What, thinke you the King shall be deposed?
1880Gard. Deprest he is already, and deposde
Tis doubt he will be. Letters came last night
To a deare friend of the good Duke of Yorkes,
That tell blacke tidings.
Queene Oh I am prest to death through want of speaking
1885Thou old Adams likenesse set to dresse this garden,
How dares thy harsh rude tong sound this vnpleasing news?
What Eue? what serpent hath suggested thee
To make a second fall of cursed man?
Why dost thou say king Richard is deposde?
1890Darst thou thou little better thing than earth
Diuine his downefall? say, where, when, and how,
Canst thou by this ill tidings speake thou wretch?
Gard. Pardon me Madam, little ioy haue I
To breathe this newes, yet what I say is true:
1895King Richard he is in the mightie hold
Of Bullingbrooke: their fortunes both are weyde
In your Lo. scale is nothing but himselfe,
And some few vanities that make him light:
But in the ballance of great Bullingbrooke,
1900Besides himselfe are all the English peeres,
And with that oddes he weighs King Richard downe;
Post you to London and you will find it so,
I speake no more than euery one doth know.
Queene Nimble Mischance that arte so light of foote,
1905Doth not thy embassage belong to me,
And am I last that knowes it? Oh thou thinkest
To serue me last that I may longest keepe
Thy sorrow in my breast: come Ladies go
To meete at London Londons king in wo.
1910What, was I borne to this that my sad looke
Should grace the triumph of great Bullingbrooke?
Gardner for telling me these newes of wo,
Pray God the plants thou graftst may neuer grow.
Exit
Gard. Poore Queene, so that thy state might be no worse,
1915I would my Skill were subiect to thy curse:
Here did she fall a teare, here in this place
Ile set a banke of Rew sowre hearb of grace,
Rew euen for ruth heere shortly shall be seene,
In the remembrance of a weeping Queene.
Exeunt.
Enter Bullingbrookewith the Lords to parliament.
Bull. Call forth Bagot.
Enter Bagot.
1925Now Bagot, freely speake thy mind,
What thou doest know of noble Gloucesters death,
Who wrought it with the King, and who performde
The bloudy office of his timeles end.
Bagot Then set before my face the Lord Aumerle.
1930Bull. Cousin, stand foorth, and looke vpon that man.
Bagot My Lord Aumerle, I know your daring tong
Scornes to vnsay what once it hath deliuered.
In that dead time when Glocesters death was plotted
I heard you say, Is not my arme of length,
1935That reacheth from the restful English court,
As farre as Callice to mine vncles head?
Amongst much other talke that very time
I heard you say, that you had rather refuse
The offer of an hundred thousand crownes,
1940Then Bullingbrookes returne to England, adding withall,
How blest this land would be in this your cosins death.
Aum. Princes and noble Lords,
What answer shall I make to this base man?
Shall I so much dishonour my faire starres
1945On equall termes to giue them chasticement?
Either I must, or haue mine honour soild
With the attainder of his slaunderous lippes,
There is my gage, the manual seale of death,
That matkes thee out for hell, I say thou liest,
1950And wil maintaine what thou hast said is false
In thy heart bloud, though being all too base
To staine the temper of my knightly sword.
Bull. Bagot, forbeare, thou shalt not take it vp.
Aum. Excepting one, I would he were the best
1955In all this presence that hath moude me so.
Fitz. If that thy valure stand on simpathie,
There is my gage Aumerle, in gage to thine;
By that faire Sunne which shews me where thou standst,
I heard thce say, and vauntingly thou spakst it,
1960That thou wert cause of noble Gloucesters death.
If thou deniest it twenty times, thou liest,
And I will turne thy falshoode to thy heart,
Where it was forged with my rapiers point.
Aum. Thou darst not (coward) liue to see that day.
1965Fitz. Now by my soule, I would it were this houre.
Aum. Fitzwaters, thou art damnd to hell for this.
L.Per. Aumerle, thou liest, his honour is as true
In this appeale as thou art all vniust,
And that thou art so, there I throwe my gage,
1970To prooue it on thee to the extreamest point
Of mortall breathing, ceaze it if thou darst.
Aum. And if I do not, may my hands rot off,
And neuer brandish more reuengefull steele
Ouer the glittering helmet of my foe.
1974.1Another L. I taske the earth to the like (forsworne Aumerle)
And spurre thee on with full as many lies
As it may be hollowed in thy treacherous eare
From sinneto sinne: there is my honors pawne
.5Ingage it to the triall if thou darest.
Aum. Who sets me else? by heauen Ile throwe at all,
I haue a thousand spirites in one breast,
To answer twenty thousand such as you.
1975Sur. My lord Fitzwater, I do remember well
The very time (Aumerle) and you did talke.
Fitz. Tis very true you were in presence then,
.
1980And you can witnes with me this is true.
Sur. As false, by heauen, as heauen it selfe is true.
Fitz. Surrie thou liest.
Sur. Dishonorable boy, that lie shall lie so heauie onmy
That it shall render vengeance and reuenge,
Till thou the lie-giuer, and that lie do lie,
In earth as quiet as thy fathers scull.
In proofe whereof there is my honours pawne,
1990Ingage it to the triall if thou darst.
Fitz. How fondly doest thou spurre a forward horse!
If I dare eate, or drinke, or breathe, or liue,
I dare meet Surry in a wildernes,
And spit vpon him whilst I say, he lies,
1995And lies, and lies: there is bond of faith,
To tie thee to my strong correction:
As I intende to thriue in this new world,
Aumerle is guiltie of my true appeale.
Besides I heard the banished Norffolke say,
2000That thou Aumerle didst send two of thy men,
To execute the noble Duke at Callice.
Aum. Some honest Christian trust me with a gage,
That Norffolke lies, heere do I throwe downe this,
If he may be repeald to trie his honour.
2005Bull. These differences shall all rest vnder gage,
Till Norffolke be repeald, repeald he shallbe,
And though mine enimie, restord againe
To all his landes and signiories: when he is returnd,
Against Aumerle we will inforce his triall.
2010Carl. That honourable day shall neuer be seene.
Manie a time hath banisht Norffolke fought,
For Iesu Christ in glorious Christian feild,
Streaming the ensigne of the Christian Crosse,
Against blacke Pagans, Turkes, and Saracens,
2015And toild with workes of warre, retird himselfe
To Italie, and there at Venice gaue
His bodie to that pleasant Countries earth,
And his pure soule vnto his Captaine Christ,
Vnder whose coulours he had fought so long.
2020Bull. Why B. is Norffolke dead?
Carl. As surely as I liue my Lord.
Bull. Sweet peace conduct his sweete soule to the bosome,
Of good olde Abraham: Lords Appellants,
Your differences shall all rest vnder gage,
2025Till we assigne you to your daies of triall.
Enter Yorke
Yorke Great Duke of Lancaster I come to thee,
From plume-pluckt Richard, who with willing soule,
Adopts the heire, and his high scepter yeeldes,
2030To the possession of thy royaIl hand:
Ascend his throne, descending now from him,
And long liue Henry fourth of that name.
Bull. In Gods name Ile ascend the regall throne.
Car. Mary God forbid.
2035Worst in this royall presence may I speake.
Yet best beseeming me to speake the truth,
Would God that any in this noble presence,
Were enough noble to be vpright iudge
Of noble Richard. Then true noblesse would
2040Learne him forbearance from so foule a wrong,
What subiect can giue sentence on his King:
And who sits here that is not Richards subiect?
Theeues are not iudgd but they are by to heare,
Although apparant guilt be seene in them,
2045And shall the figure of Gods Maiesty,
His Captaine, steward, deputy, elect,
Annointed, crowned, planted, many yeares
Be iudgd by subiect and infetiour breath,
And he himselfe not present? Oh forfend it God,
2050That in a Christian climate soules refinde,
Should shew so heinous blacke obsceene a deed
I speake to subiects and a subiect speakes,
Stird vp by God thus boldly for his King,
My Lord ofHereford here whom you call King,
2055Is a foule traitour to proud Herefords King,
And if you crowne him let me prophesie,
The bloud of English shall manure the ground,
And future ages groane for this foule act,
Peace shall go sleepe with turkes and infidels,
2060And in this seate of peace, tumultuous warres,
Shall kin with kin, and kinde with kind confound:
Disorder, horror, feare, and mutiny,
Shall heere inhabit, and this land be cald,
The field of Golgotha and dead mens sculs.
2065Oh if yon raise this house against this house,
It will the wofullest diuision proue,
That euer fell vpon this cursed earth:
Preuent it, resist it, let it not be so,
Lest child, childs children, crie against you wo.
2070North. Well haue you argued sir, and for your paines,
Of Capitall treason, we arrest you heere:
My Lord of Westminster, be it your charge,
To keepe him safely till his day of triall.
Bull. Let it be so, and loe on wednesday next,
We solemnly proclaime our Coronation,
2245Lords be ready all.
Exeunt.
2245.1
Manent West. Caleil, Aumerle.
Abbot. A wofull Pageant haue we heere beheld.
Car. The woe's to come, the children yet vnborne,
Shall feele this day as sharpto them as thorne.
Aum. You holy Clergy men, is there no plot,
2250To ridde the realme of this pernitious blot?
Abbot. My Lo. before I freely speake my mind heerein,
You shall not onely take the Sacrament,
To burie mine intents, but also to effect,
What euer I shall happen to deuise:
2255I see your browes are full of discontent,
Your harts of sorrow, and your eies of teares:
Come home with me to supper, Ile lay a plot,
Shall shew vs all a merrie daie.
Exeunt.
2260
Enter the Queene with her attendants.
Quee. This way the King will come, this is the way,
To Iulius Cæsars ill erected Tower,
To wohse flint bosome, my condemned Lord,
Is doomde a prisoner by proud Bullingbrooke.
2265Heere let vs rest, if this rebellious earth,
Haue any resting for her true Kings Queene.
( Enter Ric.
But soft, but see, or rather doe not see,
My faire Rose wither, yet looke vp, behold,
2270That you in pittie may dissolue to deaw,
And wash him fresh againe with true loue teares.
Ah thou the modle where olde Troy did stand!
Thou mappe of honour, thou King Richards tombe,
And not King Richard: thou most beauteous Inne,
2275Why should hard fauourd greife be lodged in thee,
When triumph is become an alehouse guest?
Rich. ioyne not with greife faire woman, doe not so,
To make my end too sudden, learne good soule,
To thinke our former state a happie dreame,
2280From which awakt the trueth of what we are
Shewes vs but this: I am sworne brother (sweet)
To grim necessitie, and he and I,
Will keepe a league till death. Hie thee to Fraunce,
And cloister thee in some religious house,
2285Our holy liues must win a new worlds crowne,
VVhich our prophane houres heere haue throwne downe.
Quee. what is my Richard both in shape and minde
Transformd and weakned? hath Bullingbrooke,
Deposde thine intellect? hath he been in thy hart?
2290The Lyon dying thrusteth foorth his pawe,
And woundes the earth if nothing else with rage,
To be ore-powr'd, and wilt thou pupill-like
Take the correction, mildly kisse the rod,
And fawne on Rage with base humilitie,
2295VVhich art a Lion and the king of beasts.
King. a King of beasts indeed, if aught but beasts,
I had been still a happie King of men.
Good (sometimes Queene) prepare thee hence for France,
Thinke I am dead, and that euen here thou takest
2300As from my death bed thy last liuing leaue;
In winters tedious nights sit by the fire,
with good old folkes, and let them tell the tales,
Of woefull ages long agoe betidde:
And ere thou bid good night to quite their griefes,
2305Tell thou the lamentable tale of me,
And send the hearers weeping to their beds:
For why, the senslesse brands will simpathize
The heauy accent of thy moouing tong,
And in compassion weepe the fire out,
2310And some wil mourne in ashes, some cole blacke,
For the deposing of a rightfull King.
Enter Northum.
North. My Lord, the minde of Bullingbrooke is changde,
You must to Pomfret, not vnto the Tower.
2315And Madam, there is order tane for you,
With al swift speede you must away to France.
King Northumberland, thou ladder wherewithall
The mounting Bullingbrooke ascends my throne,
The time shall not be many houres of age
2320More than it is, ere foule sinne gathering head
Shall breake into corruption, thou shalt thinke,
Though he diuide the realme and giue thee halfe,
It is too little helping him to all.
He shall thinke that thou which knowest the way
2325To plant vnrightfull kings, wilt know againe,
Being nere so little vrgde another way,
To plucke him headlong from the vsurped throne:
The loue of wicked men conuerts to feare,
That feare to hate, and hate turnes one or both
2330To worthy daunger and deserued death.
North. My guilt be on my head, and there an end:
Take leaue and part, for you must part forthwith.
King Doubly diuorst (bad men) you violate
A two-fold marriage twixt my crowne and me,
2335And then betwixt me and my married wife.
Let me vnkisse the oathe twixt thee and me:
And yet not so, for with a kisse twas made.
Part vs Northumberland, I towardes the north,
Where shiuering cold and sickenesse pines the clime:
2340My wife to Fraunce, from whence set forth in pomp
She came adorned hither like sweete Maie,
Sent backe like Hollowmas or shortst of day.
Queene And must we be diuided? must we part?
King I hand from hand (my loue) and heart from heart.
2345Queene Banish vs both, and send the King with me.
King That were some loue, but little pollicie.
Queene Then whither he goes, thither let me go.
King So two togither weeping make one woe,
Weepe thou for me in Fraunce, I for thee heere,
2350Better far off than neere be nere the neare,
Go count thy way with sighes, I mine with groanes.
Queene So longest way shall haue the longest moanes.
King Twise for one step Ile grone the way being short
And peece the way out with a heauy heart.
2355Come come in wooing sorrow lets be briefe,
Since wedding it, there is such length in griefe;
One kisse shall stop our mouths, and dumbly part,
Thus giue I mine, and thus take I thy heart.
Queene Giue me mine owne againe, twere no good part
2360To take on me to keepe, and kill thy heart:
So now I haue mine owne againe, be gone,
That I may striue to kill it with a groane.
King We make woe wanton with this fond delay,
Once more adue, the rest let sorrow say.
Exeunt.
Enter Duke of Yorke and the Dutchesse.
Du. My Lord, you told me you would tell the rest,
When weeping made you breake the storie of
Of our two cousins comming into London.
2370Yorke Where did I leaue?
Du. At that sad stop my Lord,
Where rude misgouerned hands from windowes tops,
Threw dust and rubbish on king Richards head.
Yorke Then (as I said) the Duke great Bullingbrooke
2375Mounted vpon a hote and fierie steede,
Which his aspiring rider seemd to know,
With slow, but stately pase kept on his course,
Whilst all tongues cried, God saue the Bullingbrooke,
You would haue thought the very windows spake:
2380So many greedy lookes of yong and old
Through casements darted their desiring eies
Vpon his visage, and that all the walles
With painted imagery had said at once,
Iesu preserue the welcome Bullingbrooke,
2385Whilst he from the one side to the other turning
Bare-headed, lower than his prowd steedes necke
Bespake them thus; I thanke you countrymen:
And thus still doing, thus he passt along.
Du. Alac poore Richard, where rode he the whilst?
2390Yorke As in a Theater the eies of men,
After a well-graced Actor leaues the stage,
Are ydly bent on him that enters next,
Thinking his prattle to be tedious;
Euen so, or with much more contempt mens eies
2395Did scowle on gentle Ric. no man cried, God saue him,
No ioyfull tongue gaue him his welcome home,
But dust was throwen vpon his sacred head:
Which with such gentle sorrow he shooke off,
His face still combating with teares and smiles,
2400The badges of his griefe and patience,
That had not God for some strong purpose steeld
The hearts of men, they must perforce haue melted,
And Barbarisme it selfe haue pittied him:
But heauen hath a hand in these euents,
2405To whose high will we bound our calme contents.
To Bullingbrooke are we sworne subiects now,
Whose state and honour I for ay allow.
Du. Here comes my sonne Aumerle.
2410Yorke Aumerle that was,
But that is lost, for being Richards friend:
And Madam, you must call him Rutland now:
I am in parleament pledge for his truth
And lasting fealtie to the new made king.
2415Du. Welcome my sonne, who are the violets now
That strew the greene lap of the new come spring.
Au. Madam, I know not, nor I greatly care not,
God knowes I had as leife be none as one.
Yorke Well, beare you wel in this new spring of time,
2420Lest you be cropt before you come to prime.
What newes from Oxford, do these iusts & triumphs hold?
Aum. For aught I know (my Lord) they do.
Yorke you will be there I know.
Aum. If God preuent not, I purpose so.
2425Yorke What seale is that that hangs without thy bosome?
yea lookst thou pale? let me see the writing,
Aum. My Lord, tis nothing.
Yorke No matter then who see it,
I will be satisfied, let me see the writing.
2430Aum. I do beseech your grace to pardon me;
It is a matter of small consequence,
Which for some reasons I would not haue seene.
Yorke Which for some reasons sir I meane to see.
I feare I feare.
2435Du. What should you feare?
Tis nothing but some band that he is entred into
For gay apparell gainst the triumph day.
Yorke Bound to himselfe; what doth he with a bond
That he is bound to. Wife, thou art a foole:
2440Boy, let me see the writing.
Aum. I do beseech you pardon me, I may not shew it.
Yorke I will be satisfied, let me see it I say:
He pluckes it out of his bosome and reades it.
Yorke Treason, foule treason, villaine, traitor, slaue,
Du. What is the matter my lord?
2445Yorke Ho, who is within there? saddle my horse,
God sor his mercy! what treachery is here?
Du. Why what is it my Lord?
Yorke Giue me my bootes I say, saddle my horse,
Now by mine honour, by my life, by my troth
2450I will appeach the villaine.
Du. What is the matter?
Yorke Peace foolish woman.
Du. I wil not peace, what is the matter Aumerle?
Au. Good mother be content, it is no more
2455Then my poore life must answere.
Du. Thy life answere?
yor. Bring me my bootes, I will vntothe King.
2458.1
His man enters with his bootes.
Du. Strike him Aumerle, poore boy thou art amazd,
2460Hence vilaine neuer more come in my sight.
Yor. Giue me my bootes I say.
Du. Why Yorke what wilt thou doe?
Wilt thou not hide the trespasse of thine owne?
Haue we more sons? or are we like to haue?
2465Is not my teeming date drunke vp with time?
And wilt thou plucke my faire sonne from mine age?
And rob me of a happie mothers name,
Is he not like the? is he not thine owne?
Yor. Thou fond mad woman,
2470Wilt thou conceale this darke conspiracie?
A doozen of them here haue tane the sacrament,
And interchaungeably set downe there hands,
To kill the king at Oxford.
Du. He shal be none, weele keepe him heere,
2475Then what is that to him?
Yor. Away fond woman, were he twentie times my sonne,
Iwould appeach him.
Du. Hadst thou groand for him as I haue done,
Thou wouldst bee more pittifull.
2480But nowe I knowe rhy minde, thou doest suspect
That I haue been disloiall to thy bed,
And that he is a bastard, not thy sonne:
Sweete Yorke, sweete husband, be not of that mind,
He is as like thee as a man may be,
2485Not like to me, or any of my kinne,
And yet I loue him.
Yor. Make way vnrulie woman.
Exit.
Du. After Aumerle: mount thee vpon his horse,
Spur, post, and get before him to the King,
2490And beg thy pardon ere he do accuse thee,
Ile not be long behind, though I be old,
I doubt not but to ride as fast as Yorke,
And neuer will I rise vp from the ground,
Till Bullingbroke haue pardoned thee: away, be gone.
Enter the King with his nobles.
King H. Can no man tell me of my vnthriftie sonne?
Tis full three moneths since I did see him last,
If any plague hang ouer vs tis he:
2500I would to God my Lordes he might be found:
Inquire at London, mongst the Tauernes there,
For there (they say) he daylie doth frequent,
With vnrestrained loose companions,
Euen such (they say) as stand in narrow lanes,
2505And beate our watch, and rob our passengers,
Which he yong wanton and effeminate boy,
Takes on the point of honour to support so dissolute a crew.
H. Percie My Lord, some two dayes since I saw the prince,
2510And tould him of those triumphes helde at Oxford.
King. And what said the gallant?
Per. His answer was, he would vnto the stews,
And from the commonst creature plucke a gloue,
And weare it as a fauour, and with that,
2515He would vnhorse the lustiest Challenger.
King H. As dissolute as desperat, yet through both,
I see some sparkes of better hope, which elder yeares,
May happily bring foorth. But who comes heere?
Enter Aumerle amazed.
2520Aum. Where is the King?
King H. What meanes our cosen, that he stares and lookes
Aum. God saue your grace, I doe beseech your Maiestie,
To haue some conference with your grace alone.
2525King. Withdrawe your selues, and leaue vs here alone.
What is the matter with our cosen nowe?
Aum. For ouer may my knees growe to the earth,
My tongue, cleaue to my rooffe within my mouth,
Vnlesse a pardon ere I rise or speake.
2530King Intended, or committed, was this fault?
If on the first, how heynous ere it be
To win thy after loue, I pardon thee.
Aum. Then giue me leaue that May turne the key,
That no man enter till my tale be done.
2535King. Haue thy desire.
The Duke of Yorke knokes at the doore and crieth.
Yor. My leige beware, looke to thy selfe,
Thou hast a Traitor in thy presence there.
King. Vilain Ile make thee safe.
Aum. Stay thy reuengefull hand, thou hast no cause to
York. Open the dore, secure foole, hardie King,
Shall I for loue speake treason to thy face,
Open the dore, or I will breake it open.
2545King What is the matter vncle, speake, recouer breath,
TeIl vs, how neare is daunger,
That wee may arme vs to encounter it?
Yor. Peruse this writtng heere, and thou shalt know,
The treason that my haste forbids me shew.
2550Aum. remember as thou readst, thy promise past,
I do repent me, reade not my name there,
My hart is not confederate with my hand.
Yor. It was (vilaine) ere thy hand did set it downe.
I tore it from the traitors bosome (King,)
2555Feare, and not loue, begets his penitence:
Forget to pittie him, lest thy pittie proue,
A Serpent that will sting thee to the hart.
King. O heynous, strong, and bould conspiracy;
O loyall Father, of a treacherous Sonne,
2560Thou sheere immaculate and siluer Fountaine,
From whence this streame, through muddy passages,
Hath held his current, and defild himselfe,
Thy ouerflow of good, conuerts to bad:
And thy aboundant goodnes, shall excuse,
2565This deadly blot in thy digressing sonne.
Yor. So shall my vertue, be his vices baude,
An he shall spend mine honour, with his shame,
As thriftles sonnes, their scraping Fathers gold:
Mine honour liues when his dishonour dies,
2570Or my shamde life in his dishonour lies,
Thou kilst me in his life giuing him breath,
The traitor liues, the true man's put to death.
Du. What ho, my Liege, for Gods sake let me in.
2575King H. What shril voice suppliant makes this eger crie?
Du. A woman, and thy aunt (great king) tis I,
Speake with me, pitie me, open the doore,
A beggar begs that neuer begd before.
King Our scene is altred from a serious thing,
2580And now changde to the Beggar and the King:
My dangerous cousin, let your mother in,
I know she is come to pray for your foule sinne.
Yorke If thou do pardon whosoeuer pray,
More sinnes for this forgiuenes prosper may:
2585This festred ioynt cut off, the rest rest sound,
This let alone wil all the rest confound.
Du. Oh king, beleeue not this hard-hearted man,
Loue louing not it selfe, none other can.
2590Yorke Thou frantike woman, what dost thou make here?
Shall thy old dugs once more a traitor reare?
Du. Sweete Yorke be patient, heare me gentle Liege.
King H. Rise vp good aunt.
Du. Not yet I thee beseech,
2595For euer wil I walke vpon my knees,
And neuer see day that the happy sees,
Till thou giue ioy, vntil thou bid me ioy,
By pardoning Rutland my transgressing boy.
Aum. Vnto my mothers prayers I bend my knee.
2600yorke Against them both my true ioynts bended be,
2600.1Ill maist thou thriue if thou graunt any grace.
Du. Pleades he in earnest? looke vpon his face.
His eies do drop no teares, his prayers are in iest,
His words come from his month, ours from our breast,
He prayes but faintly, and would be denied,
2605We pray with heart and soule, and all beside,
His weary ioynts would gladly rise I know,
Our knees still kneele till to the ground they grow,
His prayers are full of false hypocrisie,
Ours of true zeale and deepe integritie,
2610Our prayers do outpray his, then let them haue
That mercy which true prayer ought to haue.
yorke Good aunt stand vp.
Du. Nay, do not say, stand vp;
Say Pardon first, and afterwards, stand vp,
2615And if I were thy nurse thy tong to teach,
Pardon should be the first word of thy speach:
I neuer longd to heare a word till now,
Say pardon King, let pitie teach thee how,
The word is short, but not so short as sweete,
2620No word like pardon for Kings mouthes so meete.
yorke Speake it in French, King say, Pardonne moy.
Du. Dost thou teach pardon pardon to destroy?
Ah my sower husband, my hard-hearted Lord!
That sets the word it selfe against the word:
2625Speake pardon as tis currant in our land,
The chopping French we do not vnderstand,
Thine eie begins to speake, set thy tongue there:
Or in thy piteous heart plant thou thine eare,
That hearing how our plaints and prayers do pierce,
2630Pitie may mooue thee pardon to rehearse.
King H. Good aunt stand vp.
Du. I do not sue to stand.
Pardon is all the sute I haue in hand.
King I pardon him as God shall pardon me.
2635Du. Oh happy vantage of a kneeling knee,
Yet am I sicke for feare, speake it againe,
Twice saying pardon doth not pardon twaine,
But makes one pardon strong.
King H. I pardon him with al my heart.
2640Du. A god on earth thou art.
King H. But for our trusty brother in law and the Abbot,
With all the rest of that consorted crew,
Destruction strait shal dog them at the heeles,
Good vncle, help to order seuerall powers,
2645To Oxford, or where ere these traitors are,
They shall not liue within this world I sweare,
But I will haue them if I once know where.
Vncle farewell, and cousin adue,
Your mother well hath prayed, and prooue you true.
2650Du. Come my olde sonne, I pray God make thee new.
Exeunt.
Manet sir Pierce Exton, &c.
Exton Didst thou not marke the K. what words he spake?
2655Haue I no friend will rid me of this liuing feare?
Was it not so?
Man These were his very words.
Exton Haue I no friend quoth he? he spake it twice.
And vrgde it twice togither, did he not?
2660Man He did.
Exton And speaking it, he wishtly lookt on me,
As who should say, I would thou wert the man,
That would diuorce this terrour from my heart,
Meaning the king at Pomfret. Come lets go,
2665I am the kings friend, and will rid his foe.
Enter Richard alone.
Rich. I haue beene studying how I may compare
This prison where I liue, vnto the world:
2670And forbecause the world is populous,
And here is not a creature but my selfe,
I cannot do it: yet Ile hammer it out,
My braine Ile prooue, the female to my soule,
My soule the father, and these two beget
2675A generation of still-breeding thoughts:
And these same thoughts people this little world,
In humors like the people of this world:
For no thought is contented: the better sort,
As thoughts of things diuine are intermixt
2680With scruples, and do set the word it selfe
Against the word, as thus: Come little ones, & then againe
It is as hard to come, as for a Cammell
To threed the posterne of a small needles eie:
Thoughts tending to ambition they do plot,
2685Vnlikely wonders: how these vaine weake nailes
May teare a passage thorow the flinty ribs
Of this hard world my ragged prison walles:
And for they cannot die in their owne pride,
Thoughts tending to content flatter themselues,
2690That they are not the first of fortunes slaues,
Nor shall not be the last like seely beggars,
Who sitting in the stockes refuge their shame,
That many haue, and others must set there.
And in this thought they find a kind of ease,
2695Bearing their owne misfortunes on the backe
Of such as haue before indurde the like.
Thus play I in one person many people,
And none contented; sometimes am I King,
Then treasons make me wish my selfe a beggar,
2700And so I am: then crushing penurie
Perswades me I was better when a king,
Then am I kingd againe, and by and by,
Thinke that I am vnkingd by Bullingbrooke,
And strait am nothing. But what ere I be,
2705Nor I, nor any man, that but man is,
With nothing shall be pleasde, till he be easde,
With being nothing. Musicke do I heare,
the musike plaies
Ha ha keepe time, how sowre sweete Musicke is
When time is broke, and no proportion kept,
2710So is it in the musike of mens liues:
And here haue I the daintinesse of eare
To checke time broke in a disordered string:
But for the concord of my state and time,
Had not an eare to heare my true time broke,
2715I wasted time, and now doth time waste me:
For now hath time made me his numbring clocke;
My thoughts are minutes, and with sighes they iarre,
Their watches on vnto mine eyes the outward watch
Whereto my finger like a dialles poynt,
2720Is pointing still, in cleansing them from teares.
Now sir, the sound that telles what houre it is,
Are clamorous groanes which strike vpon my hart,
Which is the bell, so sighs, and teares, and grones,
Shew minutes, times, and houres: but my time,
2725Runnes posting on in Bullingbrokes proud ioye,
While I stand fooling heere his iacke of the clocke.
This musicke maddes me, let it sound no more,
For though it haue holp mad men to their witts,
In me it seemes it will make wise men mad:
2730Yet blessing on his hart that giues it me,
For tis asigne of loue: and loue to Richard,
Is a strange brooch in this al-hating world.
Enter a groome of the stable.
Groome. Haile roiall Prince.
2735Rich. Thankes noble peare:
The cheapest of vs is ten grotes too deare.
What art thou, and how comest thou hither,
Where no man neuer comes, but that sad dog,
That brings me foode to make misfortune liue.
2740Groome. I was a poore groome ofthy stable King,
When thou wert King: who trauailling towards Yorke,
With much adoe (at length) haue gottenleaue,
To looke vpon my sometimes roiall maisters face:
Oh how it ernd my hart when I beheld,
2745In London streetes, that Corronation day,
When Bullingbroke rode on Roane Barbarie,
That horse, that thou so often hast bestride,
That horse, that I so carefully haue drest.
Rich. Rode he on Barbarie, tell me gentle freind,
2750How went he vnder him?
Groom. So proudly as if he disdaind the ground.
Ric. So proud that Bullingbroke was on his backe:
That Iade hath eate bread from my royall hand,
This hand hath made him proud with clapping him:
2755Would he not stumble, would he not fall downe
Since pride must haue a fal; and breake the necke,
Of that prond man, that did vsurpe his backe?
Forgiuenes horse why do I raile on thee?
Since thou created to be awed by man,
2760Wast borne to beare; I was not made a horse,
And yet I beare a burthen like an asse,
Spurrde, galld, and tirde by iauncing Bullingbrooke.
Enter one to Richard with meate.
Keeper Fellow, giue place, heere is no longer stay.
2765Rich. If thou loue me, tis time thou wert away.
Groome What my tong dares not, that my heart shal say.
Exit Groome.
Keeper My Lord, wilt please you to fall to?
Rich. Taste of it first as thou art wont to do.
2770Keeper My Lord I dare not, sir Pierce of Exton,
Who lately came from the King commaunds the contrary.
Rich. The diuell take Henry of Lancaster, and thee,
Patience is stale, and I am wearie of it.
Keeper Help, help, help.
2775
The murderers rush in.
Rich. How now, what meanes Death in this rude assault?
Villaine, thy owne hand yeelds thy deaths instrument,
Go thou and fill another roome in hell.
Here Exton strikes him downe.
2780Rich. That hand shall burne in neuer quenching fire,
That staggers thus my person: Exton, thy fierce hand
Hath with the kings bloud staind the kings owne land.
Mount mount my soule, thy seate is vp on high,
Whilst my grosse flesh sinckes downeward here to die,
2785Exton As full of valure as of royall bloud:
Both haue I spilld, Oh would the deede were good!
For now the diuell that told me I did well,
Saies that this deede is chronicled in hell:
This dead king to the liuing king Ile beare.
2790Take hence the rest, and giue them buriall here.
Enter Bullingbrooke with the duke of Yorke.
King Kind vncle Yorke, the latest newes we heare,
2795Is, that the rebels haue consumed with fire
Our towne of Ciceter in Gloucestershire,
But whether they be tane or slaine we heare not.
Enter Northumberland.
Welcome my Lord, what is the newes?
2800North. First to thy sacred state wish I all happinesse,
The next newes is, I haue to London sent
The heades of Oxford, Salisbury, Blunt and Kent,
The maner of their taking may appeare
At large discoursed in this paper heere.
2805King We thanke thee gentle Percie for thy paines,
And to thy woorth will adde right worthy gaines.
Enter Lord Fitzwaters.
Fitz. My Lord, I haue from Oxford sent to London
The heads of Broccas, and sir Benet Seely,
2810Two of the daungerous consorted traitors,
That sought at Oxford thy dire ouerthrow.
king Thy paines Fitz. shall not be forgot,
Right noble is thy merit well I wot.
Enter H Percie.
2815Percie The grand conspirator Abbot of Westminster
With clog of conscience and sowre melancholy
Hath yeelded vp his body to the graue.
But here is Carleil liuing, to abide
Thy kingly doome, and sentence of his pride.
2820king Carleil, this is your doome;
Choose out some secret place, some reuerent roome
More than thou hast, and with it ioy thy life:
So as thou liu'st in peace, die free from strife,
For though mine enemy thou hast euer beene,
2825High sparkes of honour in thee haue I seene.
Enter Exton with the coffin.
Exton Great King, within this co{ffi}n I present
Thy buried feare: herein all breathlesse lies
The mightiest of thy greatest enemies,
2830Richard of Burdeaux, by me hither brought.
king Exton, I thanke thee not, for thou hast wrought
A deed of slaunder with thy fatall hand,
Vpon my head and all this famous Land.
Exton. From your owne mouth my Lo. did I this deed.
2835King. They loue not poison that do poison neede,
Nor do I thee; though I did wish him dead,
I hate the murtherer, loue him murthered:
The guilt of conscience take thou for thy labor,
But neither my good word, nor Princely fauour;
2840With Cayne go wander through shades of night,
And neuer shew thy head by day nor light.
Lordes, I protest my soule is full of wo,
That bloud should sprincle me to make me grow:
Come mourne with me, for what I do lament,
2845And put on sulleyn blacke incontinent,
Ile make a voiage to the holly lande,
To wash this bloud off from my guiltie hand:
March sadly after, grace my mournings heere,
In weeping after this vntimely Beere.
2850
FINIS.