3NOw is the Winter of our Discontent,

4Made glorious Summer by this Son of Yorke:

5And all the clouds that lowr'd vpon our house

6In the deepe bosome of the Ocean buried.

7Now are our browes bound with Victorious Wreathes,

8Our bruised armes hung vp for Monuments;

9Our sterne Alarums chang'd to merry Meetings;

10Our dreadfull Marches, to delightfull Measures.

11Grim-visag'd Warre, hath smooth'd his wrinkled Front:

12And now, in stead of mounting Barbed Steeds,

13To fright the Soules of fearfull Aduersaries,

14He capers nimbly in a Ladies Chamber,

15To the lasciuious pleasing of a Lute.

16But I, that am not shap'd for sportiue trickes,

17Nor made to court an amorous Looking-glasse:

18I, that am Rudely stampt, and want loues Maiesty,

19To strut before a wonton ambling Nymph:

20I, that am curtail'd of this faire Proportion,

21Cheated of Feature by dissembling Nature,

22Deform'd, vn-finish'd, sent before my time

23Into this breathing World, scarse halfe made vp,

24And that so lamely and vnfashionable,

25That dogges barke at me, as I halt by them.

26Why I (in this weake piping time of Peace)

27Haue no delight to passe away the time,

28Vnlesse to see my Shadow in the Sunne,

29And descant on mine owne Deformity.

30And therefore, since I cannot proue a Louer,

31To entertaine these faire well spoken dayes,

32I am determined to proue a Villaine,

33And hate the idle pleasures of these dayes.

34Plots haue I laide, Inductions dangerous,

35By drunken Prophesies, Libels, and Dreames,

36To set my Brother Clarence and the King

37In deadly hate, the one against the other:

38And if King Edward be as true and iust,

39As I am Subtle, False, and Treacherous,

40This day should Clarence closely be mew'd vp:

41About a Prophesie, which sayes that G,

42Of Edwards heyres the murtherer shall be.

43Diue thoughts downe to my soule, here Clarence comes.

45Brother, good day: What meanes this armed guard

46That waites vpon your Grace?

47Cla. His Maiesty tendring my persons safety,

48Hath appointed this Conduct, to conuey me to th' Tower

49Rich. Vpon what cause?

50Cla. Because my name is George.

51Rich. Alacke my Lord, that fault is none of yours:

52He should for that commit your Godfathers.

53O belike, his Maiesty hath some intent,

54That you should be new Christned in the Tower,

55But what's the matter Clarence, may I know?

56Cla. Yea Richard, when I know: but I protest

57As yet I do not: But as I can learne,

58He hearkens after Prophesies and Dreames,

59And from the Crosse-row pluckes the letter G:

60And sayes, a Wizard told him, that by G,

61His issue disinherited should be.

62And for my name of George begins with G,

63It followes in his thought, that I am he.

64These (as I learne) and such like toyes as these,

65Hath moou'd his Highnesse to commit me now.

66Rich. Why this it is, when men are rul'd by Women:

67'Tis not the King that sends you to the Tower,

68My Lady Grey his Wife, Clarence 'tis shee.

69That tempts him to this harsh Extremity.

70Was it not shee, and that good man of Worship,

71Anthony Woodeulle her Brother there,

72That made him send Lord Hastings to the Tower?

73From whence this present day he is deliuered?

74We are not safe Clarence, we are not safe.

75Cla. By heauen, I thinke there is no man secure

76But the Queenes Kindred, and night-walking Heralds,

77That trudge betwixt the King, and Mistris Shore.

78Heard you not what an humble Suppliant

79Lord Hastings was, for her deliuery?

80Rich. Humbly complaining to her Deitie,

81Got my Lord Chamberlaine his libertie.

82Ile tell you what, I thinke it is our way,

83If we will keepe in fauour with the King,

84To be her men, and weare her Liuery.

85The iealous ore-worne Widdow, and her selfe,

86Since that our Brother dub'd them Gentlewomen,

87Are mighty Gossips in our Monarchy.

88Bra. I beseech your Graces both to pardon me,

89His Maiesty hath straightly giuen in charge,

90That no man shall haue priuate Conferenee.

91(Of what degree soeuer) with your Brother.

92Rich. Euen so, and please your Worship Brakenbury,

93You may partake of any thing we say:

94We speake no Treason man; We say the King

95Is wise and vertuous, and his Noble Queene

96Well strooke in yeares, faire, and not iealious.

97We say, that Shores Wife hath a pretty Foot,

98A cherry Lip, a bonny Eye, a passing pleasing tongue:

99And that the Queenes Kindred are made gentle Folkes.

100How say you sir? can you deny all this?

101Bra. With this (my Lord) my selfe haue nought to

102doo.

103Rich. Naught to do with Mistris Shore?

104I tell thee Fellow, he that doth naught with her

105(Excepting one) were best to do it secretly alone.

106Bra. What one, my Lord?

107Rich. Her Husband Knaue, would'st thou betray me?

108Bra. I do beseech your Grace

109To pardon me, and withall forbeare

110Your Conference with the Noble Duke.

111Cla. We know thy charge Brakenbury, and wil obey.

112Rich. We are the Queenes abiects, and must obey.

113Brother farewell, I will vnto the King,

114And whatsoe're you will imploy me in,

115Were it to call King Edwards Widdow, Sister,

116I will performe it to infranchise you.

117Meane time, this deepe disgrace in Brotherhood,

118Touches me deeper then you can imagine.

119Cla. I know it pleaseth neither of vs well.

120Rich. Well, your imprisonment shall not be long,

121I will deliuer you, or else lye for you:

122Meane time, haue patience.

123Cla. I must perforce: Farewell. Exit Clar.

124Rich Go treade the path that thou shalt ne're return:

125Simple plaine Clarence, I do loue thee so,

126That I will shortly send thy Soule to Heauen,

127If Heauen will take the present at our hands.

128But who comes heere? the new deliuered Hastings?

130Hast. Good time of day vnto my gracious Lord.

131Rich. As much vnto my good Lord Chamberlaine:

132Well are you welcome to this open Ayre,

133How hath your Lordship brook'd imprisonment?

134Hast. With patience (Noble Lord) as prisoners must:

135But I shall liue (my Lord) to giue them thankes

136That were the cause of my imprisonment.

137Rich. No doubt, no doubt, and so shall Clarence too,

138For they that were your Enemies, are his,

139And haue preuail'd as much on him, as you,

140Hast. More pitty, that the Eagles should be mew'd,

141Whiles Kites and Buzards play at liberty.

142Rich. What newes abroad?

143Hast. No newes so bad abroad, as this at home:

144The King is sickly, weake, and melancholly,

145And his Physitians feare him mightily.

146Rich. Now by S. Iohn, that Newes is bad indeed.

147O he hath kept an euill Diet long,

148And ouer-much consum'd his Royall Person:

149'Tis very greeuous to be thought vpon.

150Where is he, in his bed?

151Hast. He is.

152Rich. Go you before, and I will follow you.

154He cannot liue I hope, and must not dye,

155Till George be pack'd with post-horse vp to Heauen.

156Ile in to vrge his hatred more to Clarence,

157With Lyes well steel'd with weighty Arguments,

158And if I faile not in my deepe intent,

159Clarence hath not another day to liue:

160Which done, God take King Edward to his mercy,

161And leaue the world for me to bussle in.

162For then, Ile marry Warwickes yongest daughter.

163What though I kill'd her Husband, and her Father,

164The readiest way to make the Wench amends,

165Is to become her Husband, and her Father:

166The which will I, not all so much for loue,

167As for another secret close intent,

168By marrying her, which I must reach vnto.

169But yet I run before my horse to Market:

170Clarence still breathes, Edward still liues and raignes,

171When they are gone, then must I count my gaines. Exit

175Anne. Set downe, set downe your honourable load,

176If Honor may be shrowded in a Herse;

177Whil'st I a-while obsequiously lament

178Th' vntimely fall of Vertuous Lancaster.

179Poore key-cold Figure of a holy King,

180Pale Ashes of the House of Lancaster;

181Thou bloodlesse Remnant of that Royall Blood,

182Be it lawfull that I inuocate thy Ghost,

183To heare the Lamentations of poore Anne,

184Wife to thy Edward, to thy slaughtred Sonne,

185Stab'd by the selfesame hand that made these wounds.

186Loe, in these windowes that let forth thy life,

187I powre the helplesse Balme of my poore eyes.

188O cursed be the hand that made these holes:

189Cursed the Heart, that had the heart to do it:

190Cnrsed the Blood, that let this blood from hence:

191More direfull hap betide that hated Wretch

192That makes vs wretched by the death of thee,

193Then I can wish to Wolues, to Spiders, Toades,

194Or any creeping venom'd thing that liues.

195If euer he haue Childe, Abortiue be it,

196Prodigeous, and vntimely brought to light,

197Whose vgly and vnnaturall Aspect

198May fright the hopefull Mother at the view,

199And that be Heyre to his vnhappinesse.

200If euer he haue Wife, let her be made

201More miserable by the death of him,

202Then I am made by my young Lord, and thee.

203Come now towards Chertsey with your holy Lode,

204Taken from Paules, to be interred there.

205And still as you are weary of this waight,

206Rest you, whiles I lament King Henries Coarse.

208Rich. Stay you that beare the Coarse, & set it down.

209An. What blacke Magitian coniures vp this Fiend,

210To stop deuoted charitable deeds?

211Rich. Villaines set downe the Coarse, or by S. Paul,

212Ile make a Coarse of him that disobeyes.

213Gen. My Lord stand backe, and let the Coffin passe.

214Rich. Vnmanner'd Dogge,

215Stand'st thou when I commaund:

216Aduance thy Halbert higher then my brest,

217Or by S. Paul Ile strike thee to my Foote,

218And spurne vpon thee Begger for thy boldnesse.

219Anne. What do you tremble? are you all affraid?

220Alas, I blame you not, for you are Mortall,

221And Mortall eyes cannot endure the Diuell.

222Auant thou dreadfull minister of Hell;

223Thou had'st but power ouer his Mortall body,

224His Soule thou canst not haue: Therefore be gone.

225Rich. Sweet Saint, for Charity, be not so curst.

226An. Foule Diuell,

227For Gods sake hence, and trouble vs not,

228For thou hast made the happy earth thy Hell:

229Fill'd it with cursing cries, and deepe exclaimes:

230If thou delight to view thy heynous deeds,

231Behold this patterne of thy Butcheries.

232Oh Gentlemen, see, see dead Henries wounds,

233Open their congeal'd mouthes, and bleed afresh.

234Blush, blush, thou lumpe of fowle Deformitie:

235For 'tis thy presence that exhales this blood

236From cold and empty Veines where no blood dwels.

237Thy Deeds inhumane and vnnaturall,

238Prouokes this Deluge most vnnaturall.

239O God! which this Blood mad'st, reuenge his death:

240O Earth! which this Blood drink'st, reuenge his death.

241Either Heau'n with Lightning strike the murth'rer dead:

242Or Earth gape open wide, and eate him quicke,

243As thou dost swallow vp this good Kings blood,

244Which his Hell-gouern'd arme hath butchered.

245Rich. Lady, you know no Rules of Charity,

246Which renders good for bad, Blessings for Curses.

247An. Villaine, thou know'st nor law of God nor Man,

248No Beast so fierce, but knowes some touch of pitty.

249Rich. But I know none, and therefore am no Beast.

250An. O wonderfull, when diuels tell the truth!

251Rich. More wonderfull, when Angels are so angry:

252Vouchsafe (diuine perfection of a Woman)

253Of these supposed Crimes, to giue me leaue

254By circumstance, but to acquit my selfe.

255An. Vouchsafe (defus'd infection of man)

256Of these knowne euils, but to giue me leaue

257By circumstance, to curse thy cursed Selfe.

258Rich. Fairer then tongue can name thee, let me haue

259Some patient leysure to excuse my selfe.

260An. Fouler then heart can thinke thee,

261Thou can'st make no excuse currant,

262But to hang thy selfe.

263Rich. By such dispaire, I should accuse my selfe.

264An. And by dispairing shalt thou stand excused,

265For doing worthy Vengeance on thy selfe,

266That did'st vnworthy slaughter vpon others.

267Rich. Say that I slew them not.

268An. Then say they were not slaine:

269But dead they are, and diuellish slaue by thee.

270Rich. I did not kill your Husband.

271An. Why then he is aliue.

272Rich. Nay, he is dead, and slaine by Edwards hands.

273An. In thy foule throat thou Ly'st,

274Queene Margaret saw

275Thy murd'rous Faulchion smoaking in his blood:

276The which, thou once didd'st bend against her brest,

277But that thy Brothers beate aside the point.

278Rich. I was prouoked by her sland'rous tongue,

279That laid their guilt, vpon my guiltlesse Shoulders.

280An. Thou was't prouoked by thy bloody minde,

281That neuer dream'st on ought but Butcheries:

282Did'st thou not kill this King?

283Rich. I graunt ye.

284An. Do'st grant me Hedge-hogge,

285Then God graunt me too

286Thou may'st be damned for that wicked deede,

287O he was gentle, milde, and vertuous.

288Rich. The better for the King of heauen that hath him.

289An. He is in heauen, where thou shalt neuer come.

290Rich. Let him thanke me, that holpe to send him thi-

291 ther:

292For he was fitter for that place then earth.

293An. And thou vnfit for any place, but hell.

294Rich. Yes one place else, if you will heare me name it.

295An. Some dungeon.

296Rich. Your Bed-chamber.

297An. Ill rest betide the chamber where thou lyest.

298Rich. So will it Madam, till I lye with you.

299An. I hope so.

300Rich. I know so. But gentle Lady Anne,

301To leaue this keene encounter of our wittes,

302And fall something into a slower method.

303Is not the causer of the timelesse deaths

304Of these Plantagenets, Henrie and Edward,

305As blamefull as the Executioner.

306An. Thou was't the cause, and most accurst effect.

307Rich. Your beauty was the cause of that effect:

308Your beauty, that did haunt me in my sleepe,

309To vndertake the death of all the world,

310So I might liue one houre in your sweet bosome.

311An. If I thought that, I tell thee Homicide,

312These Nailes should rent that beauty from my Cheekes.

313Rich. These eyes could not endure y^t beauties wrack,

314You should not blemish it, if I stood by;

315As all the world is cheared by the Sunne,

316So I by that: It is my day, my life.

317An. Blacke night ore-shade thy day, & death thy life.

318Rich. Curse not thy selfe faire Creature,

319Thou art both.

320An. I would I were, to be reueng'd on thee.

321Rich. It is a quarrell most vnnaturall,

322To be reueng'd on him that loueth . thee.

323An. It is a quarrell iust and reasonable,

324To be reueng'd on him that kill'd my Husband.

325Rich. He that bereft the Lady of thy Husband,

326Did it to helpe thee to a better Husband.

327An. His better doth not breath vpon the earth.

328Rich. He liues, that loues thee better then he could.

329An. Name him.

330Rich. Plantagenet.

331An. Why that was he.

332Rieh. The selfesame name, but one of better Nature.

333An. Where is he?

334Rich. Heere: Spits at him.

335Why dost thou spit at me.

336An. Would it were mortall poyson, for thy sake.

337Rich. Neuer came poyson from so sweet a place.

338An. Neuer hung poyson on a fowler Toade.

339Out of my sight, thou dost infect mine eyes.

340Rich. Thine eyes (sweet Lady) haue infected mine.

341An. Would they were Basiliskes, to strike thee dead.

342Rich. I would they were, that I might dye at once:

343For now they kill me with a liuing death.

344Those eyes of thine, from mine haue drawne salt Teares;

345Sham'd their Aspects with store of childish drops:

346These eyes, which neuer shed remorsefull teare,

347No, when my Father Yorke, and Edward wept,

348To heare the pittious moane that Rutland made

349When black-fac'd Clifford shooke his sword at him.

350Nor when thy warlike Father like a Childe,

351Told the sad storie of my Fathers death,

352And twenty times, made pause to sob and weepe:

353That all the standers by had wet their cheekes

354Like Trees bedash'd with raine. In that sad time,

355My manly eyes did scorne an humble teare:

356And what these sorrowes could not thence exhale,

357Thy Beauty hath, and made them blinde with weeping.

358I neuer sued to Friend, nor Enemy:

359My Tongue could neuer learne sweet smoothing word.

360But now thy Beauty is propos'd my Fee,

361My proud heart sues, and prompts my tongue to speake.

363Teach not thy lip such Scorne; for it was made

364For kissing Lady, not for such contempt.

365If thy reuengefull heart cannot forgiue,

366Loe heere I lend thee this sharpe-pointed Sword,

367Which if thou please to hide in this true brest,

368And let the Soule forth that adoreth thee,

369I lay it naked to the deadly stroke,

370And humbly begge the death vpon my knee,

372Nay do not pause: For I did kill King Henrie,

373But 'twas thy Beauty that prouoked me.

374Nay now dispatch: 'Twas I that stabb'd yong Edward,

375But 'twas thy Heauenly face that set me on.

377Take vp the Sword againe, or take vp me.

378An. Arise Dissembler, though I wish thy death,

379I will not be thy Executioner.

380Rich. Then bid me kill my selfe, and I will do it.

381An. I haue already.

382Rich. That was in thy rage:

383Speake it againe, and euen with the word,

384This hand, which for thy loue, did kill thy Loue,

385Shall for thy loue, kill a farre truer Loue,

386To both their deaths shalt thou be accessary.

387An. I would I knew thy heart.

388Rich. 'Tis figur'd in my tongue.

389An. I feare me, both are false.

390Rich. Then neuer Man was true.

391An. Well, well, put vp your Sword.

392Rich. Say then my Peace is made.

393An. That shalt thou know heereafter.

394Rich. But shall I liue in hope.

395An. All men I hope liue so.

396Vouchsafe to weare this Ring.

397Rich. Looke how my Ring incompasseth thy Finger,

398Euen so thy Brest incloseth my poore heart:

399Weare both of them, for both of them are thine.

400And if thy poore deuoted Seruant may

401But beg one fauour at thy gracious hand,

402Thou dost confirme his happinesse for euer.

403An. What is it?

404Rich. That it may please you leaue these sad designes,

405To him that hath most cause to be a Mourner,

406And presently repayre to Crosbie House:

407Where (after I haue solemnly interr'd

408At Chertsey Monast'ry this Noble King,

409And wet his Graue with my Repentant Teares)

410I will with all expedient duty see you,

411For diuers vnknowne Reasons, I beseech you,

412Grant me this Boon.

413An. With all my heart, and much it ioyes me too,

414To see you are become so penitent.

415Tressel and Barkley, go along with me.

416Rich. Bid me farwell.

417An. 'Tis more then you deserue:

418But since you teach me how to flatter you,

419Imagine I haue saide farewell already.

421Gent. Towards Chertsey, Noble Lord?

422Rich. No: to White Friars, there attend my comming

424Was euer woman in this humour woo'd?

425Was euer woman in this humour wonne?

426Ile haue her, but I will not keepe her long.

427What? I that kill'd her Husband, and his Father,

428To take her in her hearts extreamest hate,

429With curses in her mouth, Teares in her eyes,

430The bleeding witnesse of my hatred by,

431Hauing God, her Conscience, and these bars against me,

432And I, no Friends to backe my suite withall,

433But the plaine Diuell, and dissembling lookes?

434And yet to winne her? All the world to nothing.

435Hah!

436Hath she forgot alreadie that braue Prince,

437Edward, her Lord, whom I (some three monthes since)

438Stab'd in my angry mood, at Tewkesbury?

439A sweeter, and a louelier Gentleman,

440Fram'd in the prodigallity of Nature:

441Yong, Valiant, Wise, and (no doubt) right Royal,

442The spacious World cannot againe affoord:

443And will she yet abase her eyes on me,

444That cropt the Golden prime of this sweet Prince,

445And made her Widdow to a wofull Bed?

446On me, whose All not equals Edwards Moytie?

447On me, that halts, and am mishapen thus?

448My Dukedome, to a Beggerly denier!

449I do mistake my person all this while:

450Vpon my life she findes (although I cannot)

451My selfe to be a maru'llous proper man.

452Ile be at Charges for a Looking-glasse,

453And entertaine a score or two of Taylors,

454To study fashions to adorne my body:

455Since I am crept in fauour with my selfe,

456I will maintaine it with some little cost.

457But first Ile turne yon Fellow in his Graue,

458And then returne lamenting to my Loue.

459Shine out faire Sunne, till I haue bought a glasse,

460That I may see my Shadow as I passe. exit.

464Riu. Haue patience Madam, ther's no doubt his Maiesty

465Will soone recouer his accustom'd health.

466Gray. In that you brooke it ill, it makes him worse,

467Therefore for Gods sake entertaine good comfort,

468And cheere his Grace with quicke and merry eyes

469Qu. If he were dead, what would betide on me?

470If he were dead, what would betide on me?

471Gray. No other harme, but losse of such a Lord.

472Qu. The losse of such a Lord, includes all harmes.

473Gray. The Heauens haue blest you with a goodly Son,

474To be your Comforter, when he is gone.

475Qu. Ah! he is yong; and his minority

476Is put vnto the trust of Richard Glouster,

477A man that loues not me, nor none of you.

478Riu. Is it concluded he shall be Protector?

479Qu. It is determin'd, not concluded yet:

480But so it must be, if the King miscarry.

482Gray. Here comes the Lord of Buckingham & Derby.

483Buc. Good time of day vnto your Royall Grace.

484Der. God make your Maiesty ioyful, as you haue bin

485Qu. The Countesse Richmond, good my L. of Derby.

486To your good prayer, will scarsely say, Amen.

487Yet Derby, notwithstanding shee's your wife,

488And loues not me, be you good Lord assur'd,

489I hate not you for her proud arrogance.

490Der. I do beseech you, either not beleeue

491The enuious slanders of her false Accusers:

492Or if she be accus'd on true report,

493Beare with her weaknesse, which I thinke proceeds

494From wayward sicknesse, and no grounded malice.

495Qu. Saw you the King to day my Lord of Derby.

496Der. But now the Duke of Buckingham and I,

497Are come from visiting his Maiesty.

498Que. What likelyhood of his amendment Lords.

499Buc. Madam good hope, his Grace speaks chearfully.

500Qu. God grant him health, did you confer with him?

501Buc. I Madam, he desires to make attonement:

502Betweene the Duke of Glouster, and your Brothers,

503And betweene them, and my Lord Chamberlaine,

504And sent to warne them to his Royall presence.

505Qu. Would all were well, but that will neuer be,

506I feare our happinesse is at the height.

508Rich. They do me wrong, and I will not indure it,

509Who is it that complaines vnto the King,

510Thar I (forsooth) am sterne, and loue them not?

511By holy Paul, they loue his Grace but lightly,

512That fill his eares with such dissentious Rumors.

513Because I cannot flatter, and looke faire,

514Smile in mens faces, smooth, deceiue, and cogge,

515Ducke with French nods, and Apish curtesie,

516I must be held a rancorous Enemy.

517Cannot a plaine man liue, and thinke no harme,

518But thus his simple truth must be abus'd,

519With silken, slye, insinuating Iackes?

520Grey. To who in all this presence speaks your Grace?

521Rich. To thee, that hast nor Honesty, nor Grace:

522When haue I iniur'd thee? When done thee wrong?

523Or thee? or thee? or any of your Faction?

524A plague vpon you all. His Royall Grace

525(Whom God preserue better then you would wish)

526Cannot be quiet scarse a breathing while,

527But you must trouble him with lewd complaints.

528Qu. Brother of Glouster, you mistake the matter:

529The King on his owne Royall disposition,

530(And not prouok'd by any Sutor else)

531Ayming (belike) at your interiour hatred,

532That in your outward action shewes it selfe

533Against my Children, Brothers, and my Selfe,

534Makes him to send, that he may learne the ground.

535Rich. I cannot tell, the world is growne so bad,

536That Wrens make prey, where Eagles dare not pearch.

537Since euerie Iacke became a Gentleman,

538There's many a gentle person made a Iacke.

539Qu. Come, come, we know your meaning Brother (Gloster

540You enuy my aduancement, and my friends:

541God grant we neuer may haue neede of you.

542Rich. Meane time, God grants that I haue need of you.

543Our Brother is imprison'd by your meanes,

544My selfe disgrac'd, and the Nobilitie

545Held in contempt, while great Promotions

546Are daily giuen to ennoble those

547That scarse some two dayes since were worth a Noble.

548Qu. By him that rais'd me to this carefull height,

549From that contented hap which I inioy'd,

550I neuer did incense his Maiestie

551Against the Duke of Clarence, but haue bin

552An earnest aduocate to plead for him.

553My Lord you do me shamefull iniurie,

554Falsely to draw me in these vile suspects.

555Rich! You may deny that you were not the meane

556Of my Lord Hastings late imprisonment.

557Riu. She may my Lord, for---

558Rich. She may Lord Riuers, why who knowes not so?

559She may do more sir then denying that:

560She may helpe you to many faire preferments,

561And then deny her ayding hand therein,

562And lay those Honors on your high desert.

563What may she not, she may, I marry may she.

564Riu. What marry may she?

565Ric. What marrie may she? Marrie with a King,

566A Batcheller, and a handsome stripling too,

567I wis your Grandam had a worser match.

568Qu. My Lord of Glouster, I haue too long borne

569Your blunt vpbraidings, and your bitter scoffes:

570By heauen, I will acquaint his Maiestie

571Of those grosse taunts that oft I haue endur'd.

572I had rather be a Countrie seruant maide

573Then a great Queene, with this condition,

574To be so baited, scorn'd, and stormed at,

575Small ioy haue I in being Englands Queene.

577Mar. And lesned be that small, God I beseech him,

578Thy honor, state, and seate, is due to me.

579Rich. What? threat you me with telling of the King?

580I will auouch't in presence of the King:

581I dare aduenture to be sent to th'Towre.

582'Tis time to speake,

583My paines are quite forgot.

584Margaret. Out Diuell,

585I do remember them too well:

586Thou killd'st my Husband Henrie in the Tower,

587And Edward my poore Son, at Tewkesburie.

588Rich. Ere you were Queene,

589I, or your Husband King:

590I was a packe-horse in his great affaires:

591A weeder out of his proud Aduersaries,

592A liberall rewarder of his Friends,

593To royalize his blood, I spent mine owue.

594Margaret. I and much better blood

595Then his, or thine.

596 Rich. In all which time, you and your Husband Grey

597Were factious, for the House of Lancaster;

598And Riuers, so were you: Was not your Husband,

599In Margarets Battaile, at Saint Albons, slaine?

600Let me put in your mindes, if you forget

601What you haue beene ere this, and what you are:

602Withall, what I haue beene, and what I am.

603Q.M. A murth'rous Villaine, and so still thou art.

604Rich. Poore Clarence did forsake his Father Warwicke,

605I, and forswore himselfe (which Iesu pardon.)

606Q.M. Which God reuenge.

607Rich. To fight on Edwards partie, for the Crowne,

608And for his meede, poore Lord, he is mewed vp:

609I would to God my heart were Flint, like Edwards,

610Or Edwards soft and pittifull, like mine;

611I am too childish foolish for this World.

612Q.M. High thee to Hell for shame, & leaue this World

613Thou Cacodemon, there thy Kingdome is.

614Riu. My Lord of Gloster: in those busie dayes,

615Which here you vrge, to proue vs Enemies,

616We follow'd then our Lord, our Soueraigne King,

617So should we you, if you should be our King.

618Rich. If I should be? I had rather be a Pedler:

619Farre be it from my heart, the thought thereof.

620Qu. As little ioy (my Lord) as you suppose

621You should enioy, were you this Countries King,

622As little ioy you may suppose in me,

623That I enioy, being the Queene thereof.

624Q.M. A little ioy enioyes the Queene thereof,

625For I am shee, and altogether ioylesse:

626I can no longer hold me patient.

627Heare me, you wrangling Pyrates, that fall out,

628In sharing that which you haue pill'd from me:

629Which off you trembles not, that lookes on me?

630If not, that I am Queene, you bow like Subiects;

631Yet that by you depos'd, you quake like Rebells.

632Ah gentle Villaine, doe not turne away.

633Rich. Foule wrinckled Witch, what mak'st thou in my (sight?

634Q.M. But repetition of what thou hast marr'd,

635That will I make, before I let thee goe.

636Rich. Wert thou not banished, on paine of death?

637Q.M. I was: but I doe find more paine in banishment,

638Then death can yeeld me here, by my abode.

639A Husband and a Sonne thou ow'st to me,

640And thou a Kingdome; all of you, allegeance:

641This Sorrow that I haue, by right is yours,

642And all the Pleasures you vsurpe, are mine.

643Rich. The Curse my Noble Father layd on thee,

644When thou didst Crown his Warlike Brows with Paper,

645And with thy scornes drew'st Riuers from his eyes,

646And then to dry them, gau'st the Duke a Clowt,

647Steep'd in the faultlesse blood of prettie Rutland:

648His Curses then, from bitternesse of Soule,

649Denounc'd against thee, are all falne vpon thee:

650And God, not we, hath plagu'd thy bloody deed.

651Qu. So iust is God, to right the innocent.

652Hast. O, 'twas the foulest deed to slay that Babe,

653And the most mercilesse, that ere was heard of.

654Riu. Tyrants themselues wept when it was reported.

655Dors. No man but prophecied reuenge for it.

656Buck. Northumberland, then present, wept to see it.

657Q.M. What? were you snarling all before I came,

658Ready to catch each other by the throat,

659And turne you all your hatred now on me?

660Did Yorkes dread Curse preuaile so much with Heauen,

661That Henries death, my louely Edwards death,

662Their Kingdomes losse, my wofull Banishment,

663Should all but answer for that peeuish Brat?

664Can Curses pierce the Clouds, and enter Heauen?

665Why then giue way dull Clouds to my quick Curses.

666Though not by Warre, by Surfet dye your King,

667As ours by Murther, to make him a King.

668Edward thy Sonne, that now is Prince of Wales,

669For Edward our Sonne, that was Prince of Wales,

670Dye in his youth, by like vntimely violence.

671Thy selfe a Queene, for me that was a Queene,

672Out-liue thy glory, like my wretched selfe:

673Long may'st thou liue, to wayle thy Childrens death,

674And see another, as I see thee now,

675Deck'd in thy Rights, as thou art stall'd in mine.

676Long dye thy happie dayes, before thy death,

677And after many length'ned howres of griefe,

678Dye neyther Mother, Wife, nor Englands Queene.

679Riuers and Dorset, you were standers by,

680And so wast thou, Lord Hastings, when my Sonne

681Was stab'd with bloody Daggers: God, I pray him,

682That none of you may liue his naturall age,

683But by some vnlook'd accident cut off.

684Rich. Haue done thy Charme, y^u hateful wither'd Hagge.

685Q.M. And leaue out thee? stay Dog, for y^u shalt heare me.

686If Heauen haue any grieuous plague in store,

687Exceeding those that I can wish vpon thee,

688O let them keepe it, till thy sinnes be ripe,

689And then hurle downe their indignation

690On thee, the troubler of the poore Worlds peace.

691The Worme of Conscience still begnaw thy Soule,

692Thy Friends suspect for Traytors while thou liu'st,

693And take deepe Traytors for thy dearest Friends:

694No sleepe close vp that deadly Eye of thine,

695Vnlesse it be while some tormenting Dreame

696Affrights thee with a Hell of ougly Deuills.

697Thou eluish mark'd, abortiue rooting Hogge,

698Thou that wast seal'd in thy Natiuitie

699The slaue of Nature, and the Sonne of Hell:

700Thou slander of thy heauie Mothers Wombe,

701Thou loathed Issue of thy Fathers Loynes,

702Thou Ragge of Honor, thou detested---

703Rich. Margaret.

704Q.M. Richard. Rich. Ha.

705Q.M. I call thee not.

706Rich. I cry thee mercie then: for I did thinke,

707That thou hadst call'd me all these bitter names.

708Q.M. Why so I did, but look'd for no reply.

709Oh let me make the Period to my Curse.

710Rich. 'Tis done by me, and ends in Margaret.

711Qu. Thus haue you breath'd your Curse against your self.

712Q.M. Poore painted Queen, vain flourish of my fortune,

713Why strew'st thou Sugar on that Bottel'd Spider,

714Whose deadly Web ensnareth thee about?

715Foole, foole, thou whet'st a Knife to kill thy selfe:

716The day will come, that thou shalt wish for me,

717To helpe thee curse this poysonous Bunch-backt Toade.

718Hast. False boding Woman, end thy frantick Curse,

719Least to thy harme, thou moue our patience.

720Q.M. Foule shame vpon you, you haue all mou'd mine.

721Ri. Were you wel seru'd, you would be taught your duty.

722Q.M. To serue me well, you all should do me duty,

723Teach me to be your Queene, and you my Subiects:

724O serue me well, and teach your selues that duty.

725Dors. Dispute not with her, shee is lunaticke.

726Q.M. Peace Master Marquesse, you are malapert,

727Your fire-new stampe of Honor is scarce currant.

728O that your yong Nobility could iudge

729What 'twere to lose it, and be miserable.

730They that stand high, haue many blasts to shake them,

731And if they fall, they dash themselues to peeces.

732Rich. Good counsaile marry, learne it, learne it Mar-

733quesse.

734Dor. It touches you my Lord, as much as me.

735Rich. I, and much more: but I was borne so high:

736Our ayerie buildeth in the Cedars top,

737And dallies with the winde, and scornes the Sunne.

738Mar. And turnes the Sun to shade: alas, alas,

739Witnesse my Sonne, now in the shade of death,

740Whose bright out-shining beames, thy cloudy wrath

741Hath in eternall darknesse folded vp.

742Your ayery buildeth in our ayeries Nest:

743O God that seest it, do not suffer it,

744As it is wonne with blood, lost be it so.

745Buc. Peace, peace for shame: If not, for Charity.

746Mar. Vrge neither charity, nor shame to me:

747Vncharitably with me haue you dealt,

748And shamefully my hopes (by you) are butcher'd.

749My Charity is outrage, Life my shame,

750And in that shame, still liue my sorrowes rage.

751Buc. Haue done, haue done.

752Mar. O Princely Buckingham, Ile kisse thy hand,

753In signe of League and amity with thee:

754Now faire befall thee, and thy Noble house:

755Thy Garments are not spotted with our blood:

756Nor thou within the compasse of my curse.

757Buc. Nor no one heere: for Curses neuer passe

758The lips of those that breath them in the ayre.

759Mar. I will not thinke but they ascend the sky,

760And there awake Gods gentle sleeping peace.

761O Buckingham, take heede of yonder dogge:

762Looke when he fawnes, he bites; and when he bites,

763His venom tooth will rankle to the death.

764Haue not to do with him, beware of him,

765Sinne, death, and hell haue set their markes on him,

766And all their Ministers attend on him.

767Rich. What doth she say, my Lord of Buckingham.

768Buc. Nothing that I respect my gracious Lord.

769Mar. What dost thou scorne me

770For my gentle counsell?

771And sooth the diuell that I warne thee from.

772O but remember this another day:

773When he shall split thy very heart with sorrow:

774And say (poore Margaret) was a Prophetesse:

775Liue each of you the subiects to his hate,

776And he to yours, and all of you to Gods. Exit.

777Buc. My haire doth stand an end to heare her curses.

778Riu. And so doth mine, I muse why she's at libertie.

779Rich. I cannot blame her, by Gods holy mother,

780She hath had too much wrong, and I repent

781My part thereof, that I haue done to her.

782Mar. I neuer did her any to my knowledge.

783Rich. Yet you haue all the vantage of her wrong:

784I was too hot, to do somebody good,

785That is too cold in thinking of it now:

786Marry as for Clarence, he is well repayed:

787He is frank'd vp to fatting for his paines,

788God pardon them, that are the cause thereof.

789Riu. A vertuous, and a Christian-like conclusion

790To pray for them that haue done scath to vs.

791Rich. So do I euer, being well aduis'd.

793For had I curst now, I had curst my selfe.

795Cates. Madam, his Maiesty doth call for you,

796And for your Grace, and yours my gracious Lord.

797Qu. Catesby I come, Lords will you go with mee.

798Riu. We wait vpon your Grace.

800Rich. I do the wrong, and first begin to brawle.

801The secret Mischeefes that I set abroaeh,

802I lay vnto the greeuous charge of others.

803Clarence, who I indeede haue cast in darknesse,

804I do beweepe to many simple Gulles,

805Namely to Derby, Hastings, Buckingham,

806And tell them 'tis the Queene, and her Allies,

807That stirre the King against the Duke my Brother.

808Now they beleeue it, and withall whet me

809To be reueng'd on Riuers, Dorset, Grey.

810But then I sigh, and with a peece of Scripture,

811Tell them that God bids vs do good for euill:

812And thus I cloath my naked Villanie

813With odde old ends, stolne forth of holy Writ,

814And seeme a Saint, when most I play the deuill.

816But soft, heere come my Executioners,

817How now my hardy stout resolued Mates,

818Are you now going to dispatch this thing?

819Uil. We are my Lord, and come to haue the Warrant,

820That we may be admitted where he is.

821Ric. Well thought vpon, I haue it heare about me:

822When you haue done, repayre to Crosby place;

823But sirs be sodaine in the execution,

824Withall obdurate, do not heare him pleade;

825For Clarence is well spoken, and perhappes

826May moue your hearts to pitty, if you marke him.

827Vil. Tut, tut, my Lord, we will not stand to prate,

828Talkers are no good dooers, be assur'd:

829We go to vse our hands, and not our tongues.

830Rich. Your eyes drop Mill-stones, when Fooles eyes

831fall Teares:

832I like you Lads, about your businesse straight.

833Go, go, dispatch.

834Vil. We will my Noble Lord.

837Keep. Why lookes your Grace so heauily to day.

838Cla. O, I haue past a miserable night,

839So full of fearefull Dreames, of vgly sights,

840That as I am a Christian faithfull man,

841I would not spend another such a night

842Though 'twere to buy a world of happy daies:

843So full of dismall terror was the time.

844Keep. What was your dream my Lord, I pray you tel me

845Cla. Me thoughts that I had broken from the Tower,

846And was embark'd to crosse to Burgundy,

847And in my company my Brother Glouster,

848Who from my Cabin tempted me to walke,

849Vpon the Hatches: There we look'd toward England,

850And cited vp a thousand heauy times,

851During the warres of Yorke and Lancaster

852That had befalne vs. As we pac'd along

853Vpon the giddy footing of the Hatches,

854Me thought that Glouster stumbled, and in falling

855Strooke me (that thought to stay him) ouer-boord,

856Into the tumbling billowes of the maine.

857O Lord, me thought what paine it was to drowne,

858What dreadfull noise of water in mine eares,

859What sights of vgly death within mine eyes.

860Me thoughts, I saw a thousand fearfull wrackes:

861A thousand men that Fishes gnaw'd vpon:

862Wedges of Gold, great Anchors, heapes of Pearle,

863Inestimable Stones, vnvalewed Iewels,

864All scattred in the bottome of the Sea,

865Some lay in dead-mens Sculles, and in the holes

866Where eyes did once inhabit, there were crept

867(As 'twere in scorne of eyes) reflecting Gemmes,

868That woo'd the slimy bottome of the deepe,

869And mock'd the dead bones that lay scattred by.

870Keep. Had you such leysure in the time of death

871To gaze vpon these secrets of the deepe?

872Cla. Me thought I had, and often did I striue

873To yeeld the Ghost: but still the enuious Flood

874Stop'd in my soule, and would not let it forth

875To find the empty, vast, and wand'ring ayre:

876But smother'd it within my panting bulke,

877Who almost burst, to belch it in the Sea.

878Keep. Awak'd you not in this sore Agony?

879Clar. No, no, my Dreame was lengthen'd after life.

880O then, began the Tempest to my Soule.

881I past (me thought) the Melancholly Flood,

882With that sowre Ferry-man which Poets write of,

883Vnto the Kingdome of perpetuall Night.

884The first that there did greet my Stranger-soule,

885Was my great Father-in-Law, renowned Warwicke,

886Who spake alowd: What scourge for Periurie,

887Can this darke Monarchy affoord false Clarence?

888And so he vanish'd. Then came wand'ring by,

889A Shadow like an Angell, with bright hayre

890Dabbel'd in blood, and he shriek'd out alowd

891Clarence is come, false, fle eting, periur'd Clarence,

892That stabb'd me in the field by Tewkesbury:

893Seize on him Furies, take him vnto Torment.

894With that (me thought) a Legion of foule Fiends

895Inuiron'd me, and howled in mine eares

896Such hiddeous cries, that with the very Noise,

897I (trembling) wak'd, and for a season after,

898Could not beleeue, but that I was in Hell,

899Such terrible Impression made my Dreame.

900Keep. No maruell Lord, though it affrighted you,

901I am affraid (me thinkes) to heare you tell it.

902Cla. Ah Keeper, Keeper, I haue done these things

903(That now giue euidence against my Soule)

904For Edwards sake, and see how he requits mee.

905O God! if my deepe prayres cannot appease thee,

906But thou wilt be aueng'd on my misdeeds,

907Yet execute thy wrath in me alone:

908O spare my guiltlesse Wife, and my poore children.

909Keeper, I prythee sit by me a-while,

910My Soule is heauy, and I faine would sleepe.

911Keep. I will my Lord, God giue your Grace good rest.

913Bra. Sorrow breakes Seasons, and reposing houres,

914Makes the Night Morning, and the Noon-tide night:

915Princes haue but their Titles for their Glories,

916An outward Honor, for an inward Toyle,

917And for vnfelt Imaginations

918They often feele a world of restlesse Cares:

919So that betweene their Titles, and low Name,

920There's nothing differs, but the outward fame.

9221. Mur. Ho, who's heere?

923Bra. What would'st thou Fellow? And how camm'st

924thou hither.

9252. Mur. I would speak with Clarence, and I came hi-

926ther on my Legges.

927Bra. What so breefe?

9281. 'Tis better (Sir) then to be tedious:

929Let him see our Commission, and talke no more. Reads

930Bra. I am in this, commanded to deliuer

931The Noble Duke of Clarence to your hands.

932I will not reason what is meant heereby,

933Because I will be guiltlesse from the meaning.

934There lies the Duke asleepe, and there the Keyes.

935Ile to the King, and signifie to him,

936That thus I haue resign'd to you my charge. Exit.

9371 You may sir, 'tis a point of wisedome:

938Far you well.

9392 What, shall we stab him as he sleepes.

9401 No: hee'l say 'twas done cowardly, when he wakes

9412 Why he shall neuer wake, vntill the great Iudge-

942ment day.

9431 Why then hee'l say, we stab'd him sleeping.

9442 The vrging of that word Iudgement, hath bred a

945kinde of remorse in me.

9461 What? art thou affraid?

9472 Not to kill him, hauing a Warrant,

948But to be damn'd for killing him, from the which

949No Warrant can defend me.

9501 I thought thou had'st bin resolute.

9512 So I am, to let him liue.

9521 Ile backe to the Duke of Glouster, and tell him so.

9532 Nay, I prythee stay a little:

954I hope this passionate humor of mine, will change,

955It was wont to hold me but while one tels twenty.

9561 How do'st thou feele thy selfe now?

9572 Some certaine dregges of conscience are yet with-

958in mee.

9591 Remember our Reward, when the deed's done.

9602 Come, he dies: I had forgot the Reward.

9611 Where's thy conscience now.

9622 O, in the Duke of Glousters purse.

9631 When hee opens his purse to giue vs our Reward,

964thy Conscience flyes out.

9652 'Tis no matter, let it goe: There's few or none will

966entertaine it.

9671 What if it come to thee againe?

9682 Ile not meddle with it, it makes a man a Coward:

969A man cannot steale, but it accuseth him: A man cannot

970Sweare, but it Checkes him: A man cannot lye with his

971Neighbours Wife, but it detects him. 'Tis a blushing

972shamefac'd spirit, that mutinies in a mans bosome: It

973filles a man full of Obstacles. It made me once restore a

974Pursse of Gold that (by chance) I found: It beggars any

975man that keepes it: It is turn'd out of Townes and Cit-

976ties for a dangerous thing, and euery man that means to

977liue well, endeuours to trust to himselfe, and liue with-

978out it.

9791 'Tis euen now at my elbow, perswading me not to

980kill the Dkue.

9812 Take the diuell in thy minde, and beleeue him not:

982He would insinuate with thee but to make thee sigh.

9831 I am strong fram'd, he cannot preuaile with me.

9842 Spoke like a tall man, that respects thy reputation.

985Come, shall we fall to worke?

9861 Take him on the Costard, with the hiltes of thy

987Sword, and then throw him into the Malmesey-Butte in

988the next roome.

9892 O excellent deuice; and make a sop of him.

9901 Soft, he wakes.

9912 Strike.

9921 No, wee'l reason with him.

993Cla. Where art thou Keeper? Giue me a cup of wine.

9942 You shall haue Wine enough my Lord anon.

995Cla. In Gods name, what art thou?

9961 A man, as you are.

997Cla. But not as I am Royall.

9981 Nor you as we are, Loyall.

999Cla. Thy voice is Thunder, but thy looks are humble.

10001 My voice is now the Kings, my lookes mine owne.

1001Cla. How darkly, and how deadly dost thou speake?

1002Your eyes do menace me: why looke you pale?

1003Who sent you hither? Wherefore do you come?

10042 To, to, to---

1005Cla. To murther me?

1006Both. I, I.

1007Cla. You scarsely haue the hearts to tell me so,

1008And therefore cannot haue the hearts to do it.

1009Wherein my Friends haue I offended you?

10101 Offended vs you haue not, but the King.

1011Cla. I shall be reconcil'd to him againe.

10122 Neuer my Lord, therefore prepare to dye.

1013Cla. Are you drawne forth among a world of men

1014To slay the innocent? What is my offence?

1015Where is the Euidence that doth accuse me?

1016What lawfull Quest haue giuen their Verdict vp

1017Vnto the frowning Iudge? Or who pronounc'd

1018The bitter sentence of poore Clarence death,

1019Before I be conuict by course of Law?

1020To threaten me with death, is most vnlawfull.

1021I charge you, as you hope for any goodnesse,

1022That you depart, and lay no hands on me:

1023The deed you vndertake is damnable.

10241 What we will do, we do vpon command.

10252 And he that hath commanded, is our King.

1026Cla. Erroneous Vassals, the great King of Kings

1027Hath in the Table of his Law commanded

1028That thou shalt do no murther. Will you then

1029Spurne at his Edict, and fulfill a Mans?

1030Take heed: for he holds Vengeance in his hand,

1031To hurle vpon their heads that breake his Law.

10322 And that same Vengeance doth he hurle on thee,

1033For false Forswearing, and for murther too:

1034Thou did'st receiue the Sacrament, to fight

1035In quarrell of the House of Lancaster.

10361 And like a Traitor to the name of God,

1037Did'st breake that Vow, and with thy treacherous blade,

1038Vnrip'st the Bowels of thy Sou'raignes Sonne.

10392 Whom thou was't sworne to cherish and defend.

10401 How canst thou vrge Gods dreadfull Law to vs,

1041When thou hast broke it in such deere degree?

1042Cla. Alas! for whose sake did I that ill deede?

1043For Edward, for my Brother, for his sake.

1044He sends you not to murther me for this:

1045For in that sinne, he is as deepe as I.

1046If God will be auenged for the deed,

1047O know you yet, he doth it publiquely,

1048Take not the quarrell from his powrefull arme:

1049He needs no indirect, or lawlesse course,

1050To cut off those that haue offended him.

10511 Who made thee then a bloudy minister,

1052When gallant springing braue Plantagenet,

1053That Princely Nouice was strucke dead by thee?

1054Cla. My Brothers loue, the Diuell, and my Rage.

10551 Thy Brothers Loue, our Duty, and thy Faults,

1056Prouoke vs hither now, to slaughter thee.

1057Cla. If you do loue my Brother, hate not me:

1058I am his Brother, and I loue him well.

1059If you are hyr'd for meed, go backe againe,

1060And I will send you to my Brother Glouster:

1061Who shall reward you better for my life,

1062Then Edward will for tydings of my death.

10632 You are deceiu'd,

1064Your Brother Glouster hates you.

1065Cla. Oh no, he loues me, and he holds me deere:

1066Go you to him from me.

10671 I so we will.

1068Cla. Tell him, when that our Princely Father Yorke,

1069Blest his three Sonnes with his victorious Arme,

1070He little thought of this diuided Friendship:

1071Bid Glouster thinke on this, and he will weepe.

10721 I Milstones, as he lessoned vs to weepe.

1073Cla. O do not slander him, for he is kinde.

10741 Right, as Snow in Haruest:

1075Come, you deceiue your selfe,

1076'Tis he that sends vs to destroy you heere.

1077Cla. It cannot be, for he bewept my Fortune,

1078And hugg'd me in his armes, and swore with sobs,

1079That he would labour my deliuery.

10801 Why so he doth, when he deliuers you

1081From this earths thraldome, to the ioyes of heauen.

10822 Make peace with God, for you must die my Lord.

1083Cla. Haue you that holy feeling in your soules,

1084To counsaile me to make my peace with God,

1085And are you yet to your owne soules so blinde,

1086That you will warre with God, by murd'ring me.

1087O sirs consider, they that set you on

1088To do this deede, will hate you for the deede.

10892 What shall we do?

1090Clar. Relent, and saue your soules:

1091Which of you, if you were a Princes Sonne,

1092Being pent from Liberty, as I am now,

1093If two such murtherers as your selues came to you,

1094Would not intreat for life, as you would begge

1095Were you in my distresse.

10961 Relent? no: 'Tis cowardly and womanish.

1097Cla. Not to relent, is beastly, sauage, diuellish:

1098My Friend, I spy some pitty in thy lookes:

1099O, if thine eye be not a Flatterer,

1100Come thou on my side, and intreate for mee,

1101A begging Prince, what begger pitties not.

11022 Looke behinde you, my Lord.

11031 Take that, and that, if all this will not do, Stabs him.

1104Ile drowne you in the Malmesey-But within. Exit.

11052 A bloody deed, and desperately dispatcht:

1106How faine (like Pilate) would I wash my hands

1107Of this most greeuous murther. Enter 1. Murtherer

11081 How now? what mean'st thou that thou help'st me

1109not? By Heauen the Duke shall know how slacke you

1110haue beene.

11112. Mur. I would he knew that I had sau'd his brother,

1112Take thou the Fee, and tell him what I say,

1113For I repent me that the Duke is slaine. Exit.

11141. Mur. So do not I: go Coward as thou art.

1115Well, Ile go hide the body in some hole,

1116Till that the Duke giue order for his buriall:

1117And when I haue my meede, I will away,

1118For this will out, and then I must not stay. Exit

1124King. Why so: now haue I done a good daies work.

1125You Peeres, continue this vnited League:

1126I, euery day expect an Embassage

1127From my Redeemer, to redeeme me hence.

1128And more to peace my soule shall part to heauen,

1129Since I haue made my Friends at peace on earth.

1130Dorset and Riuers, take each others hand,

1131Dissemble not your hatred, Sweare your loue.

1132Riu. By heauen, my soule is purg'd from grudging hate

1133And with my hand I seale my true hearts Loue.

1134Hast. So thriue I, as I truly sweare the like.

1135King. Take heed you dally not before your King,

1136Lest he that is the supreme King of Kings

1137Confound your hidden falshood, and award

1138Either of you to be the others end.

1139Hast. So prosper I, as I sweare perfect loue.

1140Ri. And I, as I loue Hastings with my heart.

1141King. Madam, your selfe is not exempt from this:

1142Nor you Sonne Dorset, Buckingham nor you;

1143You haue bene factious one against the other.

1144Wife, loue Lord Hastings, let him kisse your hand,

1145And what you do, do it vnfeignedly.

1146Qu. There Hastings, I will neuer more remember

1147Our former hatred, so thriue I, and mine.

1148King. Dorset, imbrace him:

1149Hastings, loue Lord Marquesse.

1150Dor. This interchange of loue, I heere protest

1151Vpon my part, shall be inuiolable.

1152Hast. And so sweare I.

1153King. Now Princely Buckingham, seale y^u this league

1154With thy embracements to my wiues Allies,

1155And make me happy in your vnity.

1156Buc. When euer Buckingham doth turne his hate

1157Vpon your Grace, but with all dutious loue,

1158Doth cherish you, and yours, God punish me

1159With hate in those where I expect most loue,

1160When I haue most need to imploy a Friend,

1161And most assured that he is a Friend,

1162Deepe, hollow, treacherous, and full of guile,

1163Be he vnto me: This do I begge of heauen,

1164When I am cold in loue, to you, or yours. Embrace

1165King. A pleasing Cordiall, Princely Buckingham

1166Is this thy Vow, vnto my sickely heart:

1167There wanteth now our Brother Gloster heere,

1168To make the blessed period of this peace.

1169Buc. And in good time,

1170Heere comes Sir Richard Ratcliffe, and the Duke.

1172Rich. Good morrow to my Soueraigne King & Queen

1173And Princely Peeres, a happy time of day.

1174King, Happy indeed, as we haue spent the day:

1175Gloster, we haue done deeds of Charity,

1176Made peace of enmity, faire loue of hate,

1177Betweene these swelling wrong incensed Peeres.

1178Rich. A blessed labour my most Soueraigne Lord:

1179Among this Princely heape, if any heere

1180By false intelligence, or wrong surmize

1181Hold me a Foe: If I vnwillingly, or in my rage,

1182Haue ought committed that is hardly borne,

1183To any in this presence, I desire

1184To reconcile me to his Friendly peace:

1185'Tis death to me to be at enmitie:

1186I hate it, and desire all good mens loue,

1187First Madam, I intreate true peace of you,

1188Which I will purchase with my dutious seruice.

1189Of you my Noble Cosin Buckingham,

1190If euer any grudge were lodg'd betweene vs.

1191Of you and you, Lord Riuers and of Dorset,

1192That all without desert haue frown'd on me:

1193Of you Lord Wooduill, and Lord Scales of you,

1194Dukes, Earles, Lords, Gentlemen, indeed of all.

1195I do not know that Englishman aliue,

1196With whom my soule is any iot at oddes,

1197More then the Infant that is borne to night:

1198I thanke my God for my Humility.

1199Qu. A holy day shall this be kept heereafter:

1200I would to God all strifes were well compounded.

1201My Soueraigne Lord, I do beseech your Highnesse

1202To take our Brother Clarence to your Grace.

1203Rich. Why Madam, haue I offred loue for this,

1204To be so flowted in this Royall presence?

1205Who knowes not that the gentle Duke is dead? Theyall start.

1206You do him iniurie to scorne his Coarse.

1207King. Who knowes not he is dead?

1208Who knowes he is?

1209Qu. All-seeing heauen, what a world is this?

1210Buc. Looke I so pale Lord Dorset, as the rest?

1211Dor. I my good Lord, and no man in the presence,

1212But his red colour hath forsooke his cheekes.

1213King. Is Clarence dead? The Order was reuerst.

1214Rich. But he (poore man) by your first order dyed,

1215And that a winged Mercurie did beare:

1216Some tardie Cripple bare the Countermand,

1217That came too lagge to see him buried.

1218God grant, that some lesse Noble, and lesse Loyall,

1219Neerer in bloody thoughts, and not in blood,

1220Deserue not worse then wretched Clarence did,

1221And yet go currant from Suspition.

1223Der. A boone my Soueraigne for my seruice done.

1224King. I prethee peace, my soule is full of sorrow.

1225Der. I will not rise, vnlesse your Highnes heare me.

1226King. Then say at once, what is it thou requests.

1227Der. The forfeit (Soueraigne) of my seruants life,

1228Who slew to day a Riotous Gentleman,

1229Lately attendant on the Duke of Norfolke.

1230King. Haue I a tongue to doome my Brothers death?

1231And shall that tongue giue pardon to a slaue?

1232My Brother kill'd no man, his fault was Thought,

1233And yet his punishment was bitter death.

1234Who sued to me for him? Who (in my wrath)

1235Kneel'd and my feet, and bid me be aduis'd?

1236Who spoke of Brother-hood? who spoke of loue?

1237Who told me how the poore soule did forsake

1238The mighty Warwicke, and did fight for me?

1239Who told me in the field at Tewkesbury,

1240When Oxford had me downe, he rescued me:

1241And said deare Brother liue, and be a King?

1242Who told me, when we both lay in the Field,

1243Frozen (almost) to death, how he did lap me

1244Euen in his Garments, and did giue himselfe

1245(All thin and naked) to the numbe cold night?

1246All this from my Remembrance, brutish wrath

1247Sinfully pluckt, and not a man of you

1248Had so much grace to put it in my minde.

1249But when your Carters, or your wayting Vassalls

1250Haue done a drunken Slaughter, and defac'd

1251The precious Image of our deere Redeemer,

1252You straight are on your knees for Pardon, pardon,

1253And I (vniustly too) must grant it you.

1254But for my Brother, not a man would speake,

1255Nor I (vngracious) speake vnto my selfe

1256For him poore Soule. The proudest of you all,

1257Haue bin beholding to him in his life:

1258Yet none of you, would once begge for his life.

1259O God! I feare thy iustice will take hold

1260On me, and you; and mine, and yours for this.

1261Come Hastings helpe me to my Closset.

1262Ah poore Clarence. Exeunt some with K. & Qneen.

1263Rich. This is the fruits of rashnes: Markt you not,

1264How that the guilty Kindred of the Queene

1265Look'd pale, when they did heare of Clarence death.

1266O! they did vrge it still vnto the King,

1267God will reuenge it. Come Lords will you go,

1268To comfort Edward with our company.

1269Buc. We wait vpon your Grace. exeunt.

1273Edw. Good Grandam tell vs, is our Father dead?

1274Dutch. No Boy.

1275Daugh. Why do weepe so oft? And beate your Brest?

1276And cry, O Clarence, my vnhappy Sonne.

1277Boy. Why do you looke on vs, and shake your head,

1278And call vs Orphans, Wretches, Castawayes,

1279If that our Noble Father were aliue?

1280Dut. My pretty Cosins, you mistake me both,

1281I do lament the sicknesse of the King,

1282As loath to lose him, not your Fathers death:

1283It were lost sorrow to waile one that's lost.

1284Boy. Then you conclude, (my Grandam) he is dead:

1285The King mine Vnckle is too blame for it.

1286God will reuenge it, whom I will importune

1287With earnest prayers, all to that effect.

1288Daugh. And so will I.

1289Dut. Peace children peace, the King doth loue you wel.

1290Incapeable, and shallow Innocents,

1291You cannot guesse who caus'd your Fathers death.

1292Boy. Grandam we can: for my good Vnkle Gloster

1293Told me, the King prouok'd to it by the Queene,

1294Deuis'd impeachments to imprison him;

1295And when my Vnckle told me so, he wept,

1296And pittied me, and kindly kist my cheeke:

1297Bad me rely on him, as on my Father,

1298And he would loue me deerely as a childe.

1299Dut. Ah! that Deceit should steale such gentle shape,

1300And with a vertuous Vizor hide deepe vice.

1301He is my sonne, I, and therein my shame,

1302Yet from my dugges, he drew not this deceit.

1303Boy. Thinke you my Vnkle did dissemble Grandam?

1304Dut. I Boy.

1305Boy. I cannot thinke it. Hearke, what noise is this?

1308Qu. Ah! who shall hinder me to waile and weepe?

1309To chide my Fortune, and torment my Selfe.

1310Ile ioyne with blacke dispaire against my Soule,

1311And to my selfe, become an enemie.

1312Dut. What meanes this Scene of rude impatience?

1313Qu. To make an act of Tragicke violence.

1314Edward my Lord, thy Sonne, our King is dead.

1315Why grow the Branches, when the Roote is gone?

1316Why wither not the leaues that want their sap?

1317If you will liue, Lament: if dye, be breefe,

1318That our swift-winged Soules may catch the Kings,

1319Or like obedient Subiects follow him,

1320To his new Kingdome of nere-changing night.

1321Dut. Ah so much interest haue in thy sorrow,

1322As I had Title in thy Noble Husband:

1323I haue bewept a worthy Husbands death,

1324And liu'd with looking on his Images:

1325But now two Mirrors of his Princely semblance,

1326Are crack'd in pieces, by malignant death,

1327And I for comfort, haue but one false Glasse,

1328That greeues me, when I see my shame in him.

1329Thou art a Widdow: yet thou art a Mother,

1330And hast the comfort of thy Children left,

1331But death hath snatch'd my Husband from mine Armes,

1332And pluckt two Crutches from my feeble hands,

1333Clarence, and Edward. O, what cause haue I,

1334(Thine being but a moity of my moane)

1335To ouer-go thy woes, and drowne thy cries.

1336Boy. Ah Aunt! you wept not for our Fathers death:

1337How can we ayde you with our Kindred teares?

1338Daugh. Our fatherlesse distresse was left vnmoan'd,

1339Your widdow-dolour, likewise be vnwept.

1340Qu. Giue me no helpe in Lamentation,

1341I am not barren to bring forth complaints:

1342All Springs reduce their currents to mine eyes,

1343That I being gouern'd by the waterie Moone,

1344May send forth plenteous teares to drowne the World.

1345Ah, for my Husband, for my deere Lord Edward.

1346Chil. Ah for our Father, for our deere Lord Clarence.

1347Dut. Alas for both, both mine Edward and Clarence.

1348Qu. What stay had I but Edward, and hee's gone?

1349Chil. What stay had we but Clarence? and he's gone.

1350Dut. What stayes had I, but they? and they are gone.

1351Qu. Was neuer widdow had so deere a losse.

1352Chil. Were neuer Orphans had so deere a losse.

1353Dut. Was neuer Mother had so deere a losse.

1354Alas! I am the Mother of these Greefes,

1355Their woes are parcell'd, mine is generall.

1356She for an Edward weepes, and so do I:

1357I for a Clarence weepes, so doth not shee:

1358These Babes for Clarence weepe, so do not they.

1359Alas! you three, on me threefold distrest:

1360Power all your teares, I am your sorrowes Nurse,

1361And I will pamper it with Lamentation.

1362Dor. Comfort deere Mother, God is much displeas'd,

1363That you take with vnthankfulnesse his doing.

1364In common worldly things, 'tis call'd vngratefull,

1365With dull vnwillingnesse to repay a debt,

1366Which with a bounteous hand was kindly lent:

1367Much more to be thus opposite with heauen,

1368For it requires the Royall debt it lent you.

1369Riuers. Madam, bethinke you like a carefull Mother

1370Of the young Prince your sonne: send straight for him,

1371Let him be Crown'd, in him your comfort liues.

1372Drowne desperate sorrow in dead Edwards graue,

1373And plant your ioyes in liuing Edwards Throne.

1376Rich. Sister haue comfort, all of vs haue cause

1377To waile the dimming of our shining Starre:

1378But none can helpe our harmes by wayling them.

1379Madam, my Mother, I do cry you mercie,

1380I did not see your Grace. Humbly on my knee,

1381I craue your Blessing.

1382Dut. God blesse thee, and put meeknes in thy breast,

1383Loue Charity, Obedience, and true Dutie.

1384Rich. Amen, and make me die a good old man,

1385That is the butt-end of a Mothers blessing;

1386I maruell that her Grace did leaue it out.

1387Buc. You clowdy-Princes, & hart-sorowing-Peeres,

1388That beare this heauie mutuall loade of Moane,

1389Now cheere each other, in each others Loue:

1390Though we haue spent our Haruest of this King,

1391We are to reape the Haruest of his Sonne.

1392The broken rancour of your high-swolne hates,

1393But lately splinter'd, knit, and ioyn'd together,

1394Must gently be preseru'd, cherisht, and kept:

1395Me seemeth good, that with some little Traine,

1396Forthwith from Ludlow, the young Prince be fet

1397Hither to London, to be crown'd our King.

1398Riuers. Why with some little Traine,

1399My Lord of Buckingham?

1400Buc. Marrie my Lord, least by a multitude,

1401The new-heal'd wound of Malice should breake out,

1402Which would be so much the more dangerous,

1403By how much the estate is greene, and yet vngouern'd.

1404Where euery Horse beares his commanding Reine,

1405And may direct his course as please himselfe,

1406As well the feare of harme, as harme apparant,

1407In my opinion, ought to be preuented.

1408Rich. I hope the King made peace with all of vs,

1409And the compact is firme, and true in me.

1410Riu. And so in me, and so (I thinke) in all.

1411Yet since it is but greene, it should be put

1412To no apparant likely-hood of breach,

1413Which haply by much company might be vrg'd:

1414Therefore I say with Noble Buckingham,

1415That it is meete so few should fetch the Prince.

1416Hast. And so say I.

1417Rieh. Then be it so, and go we to determine

1418Who they shall be that strait shall poste to London .

1419Madam, and you my Sister, will you go

1420To giue your censures in this businesse. Exeunt.

1422Buc. My Lord, who euer iournies to the Prince,

1423For God sake let not vs two stay at home:

1424For by the way, Ile sort occasion,

1425As Index to the story we late talk'd of,

1426To part the Queenes proud Kindred from the Prince.

1427Rich. My other selfe, my Counsailes Consistory,

1428My Oracle, My Prophet, my deere Cosin,

1429I, as a childe, will go by thy direction,

1430Toward London then, for wee'l not stay behinde. Exeunt

14341. Cit. Good morrow Neighbour, whether away so

1435fast?

14362. Cit. I promise you, I scarsely know my selfe:

1437Heare you the newes abroad?

14381. Yes, that the King is dead.

14392. Ill newes byrlady, seldome comes the better:

1440I feare, I feare, 'twill proue a giddy world.

14423. Neighbours, God speed.

14431. Giue you good morrow sir.

14443. Doth the newes hold of good king Edwards death?

14452. I sir, it is too true, God helpe the while.

14463. Then Masters looke to see a troublous world.

14471. No, no, by Gods good grace, his Son shall reigne.

14483. Woe to that Land that's gouern'd by a Childe.

14492. In him there is a hope of Gouernment,

1450Which in his nonage, counsell vnder him,

1451And in his full and ripened yeares, himselfe

1452No doubt shall then, and till then gouerne well.

14531. So stood the State, when Henry the sixt

1454Was crown'd in Paris, but at nine months old.

14553. Stood the State so? No, no, good friends, God wot

1456For then this Land was famously enrich'd

1457With politike graue Counsell; then the King

1458Had vertuous Vnkles to protect his Grace.

14591. Why so hath this, both by his Father and Mother.

14603. Better it were they all came by his Father:

1461Or by his Father there were none at all:

1462For emulation, who shall now be neerest,

1463Will touch vs all too neere, if God preuent not.

1464O full of danger is the Duke of Glouster,

1465And the Queenes Sons, and Brothers, haught and proud:

1466And were they to be rul'd, and not to rule,

1467This sickly Land, might solace as before.

14681. Come, come, we feare the worst: all will be well.

14693. When Clouds are seen, wisemen put on their clokes;

1470When great leaues fall, then Winter is at hand;

1471When the Sun sets, who doth not looke for night?

1472Vntimely stormes, makes men expect a Dearth:

1473All may be well; but if God sort it so,

1474'Tis more then we deserue, or I expect.

14752. Truly, the hearts of men are full of feare:

1476You cannot reason (almost) with a man,

1477That lookes not heauily, and full of dread.

14783. Before the dayes of Change, still is it so,

1479By a diuine instinct, mens mindes mistrust

1480Pursuing danger: as by proofe we see

1481The Water swell before a boyst'rous storme:

1482But leaue it all to God. Whither away?

14832 Marry we were sent for to the Iustices.

14843 And so was I: Ile beare you company. Exeunt.

1488Arch. Last night I heard they lay at Stony Stratford,

1489And at Northampton they do rest to night:

1490To morrow, or next day, they will be heere.

1491Dut. I long with all my heart to see the Prince:

1492I hope he is much growne since last I saw him.

1493Qu. But I heare no, they say my sonne of Yorke

1494Ha's almost ouertane him in his growth.

1495Yorke. I Mother, but I would not haue it so.

1496Dut. Why my good Cosin, it is good to grow.

1497Yor. Grandam, one night as we did sit at Supper,

1498My Vnkle Riuers talk'd how I did grow

1499More then my Brother. I, quoth my Vnkle Glouster,

1500Small Herbes haue grace, great Weeds do grow apace.

1501And since, me thinkes I would not grow so fast,

1502Because sweet Flowres are slow, and Weeds make hast.

1503Dut. Good faith, good faith, the saying did not hold

1504In him that did obiect the same to thee.

1505He was the wretched'st thing when he was yong,

1506So long a growing, and so leysurely,

1507That if his rule were true, he should be gracious.

1508Yor. And so no doubt he is, my gracious Madam.

1509Dut. I hope he is, but yet let Mothers doubt.

1510Yor. Now by my troth, if I had beene remembred,

1511I could haue giuen my Vnkles Grace, a flout,

1512To touch his growth, neerer then he toucht mine.

1513Dut. How my yong Yorke,

1514I prythee let me heare it.

1515Yor. Marry (they say) my Vnkle grew so fast,

1516That he could gnaw a crust at two houres old,

1517'Twas full two yeares ere I could get a tooth.

1518Grandam, this would haue beene a byting Iest.

1519Dut. I prythee pretty Yorke, who told thee this?

1520Yor. Grandam, his Nursse.

1521Dut. His Nurse? why she was dead, ere y^u wast borne.

1522Yor. If 'twere not she, I cannot tell who told me.

1523Qu. A parlous Boy: go too, you are too shrew'd.

1524Dut. Good Madam, be not angry with the Childe.

1525Qu. Pitchers haue eares.

1527Arch. Heere comes a Messenger: What Newes?

1528Mes. Such newes my Lord, as greeues me to report.

1529Qu. How doth the Prince?

1530Mes. Well Madam, and in health.

1531Dut. What is thy Newes?

1532Mess. Lord Riuers, and Lord Grey,

1533Are sent to Pomfret, and with them,

1534Sir Thomas Vaughan, Prisoners.

1535Dut. Who hath committed them?

1536Mes. The mighty Dukes, Glouster and Buckingham.

1537Arch. For what offence?

1538Mes. The summe of all I can, I haue disclos'd:

1539Why, or for what, the Nobles were committed,

1540Is all vnknowne to me, my gracious Lord.

1541Qu. Aye me! I see the ruine of my House:

1542The Tyger now hath seiz'd the gentle Hinde,

1543Insulting Tiranny beginnes to Iutt

1544Vpon the innocent and awelesse Throne:

1545Welcome Destruction, Blood, and Massacre,

1546I see (as in a Map) the end of all.

1547Dut. Accursed, and vnquiet wrangling dayes,

1548How many of you haue mine eyes beheld?

1549My Husband lost his life, to get the Crowne,

1550And often vp and downe my sonnes were tost

1551For me to ioy, and weepe, their gaine and losse.

1552And being seated, and Domesticke broyles

1553Cleane ouer-blowne, themselues the Conquerors,

1554Make warre vpon themselues, Brother to Brother;

1555Blood to blood, selfe against selfe: O prepostorous

1556And franticke outrage, end thy damned spleene,

1557Or let me dye, to looke on earth no more.

1558Qu. Come, come my Boy, we will to Sanctuary.

1559Madam, farwell.

1560Dut. Stay, I will go with you.

1561Qu. You haue no cause.

1562Arch. My gracious Lady go,

1563And thether beare your Treasure and your Goodes,

1564For my part, Ile resigne vnto your Grace

1565The Seale I keepe, and so betide to me,

1566As well I tender you, and all of yours.

1567Go, Ile conduct you to the Sanctuary. Exeunt

1572Buc. Welcome sweete Prince to London,

1573To your Chamber.

1574Rich. Welcome deere Cosin, my thoughts Soueraign

1575The wearie way hath made you Melancholly.

1576Prin. No Vnkle, but our crosses on the way,

1577Haue made it tedious, wearisome, and heauie.

1578I want more Vnkles heere to welcome me.

1579Rich. Sweet Prince, the vntainted vertue of your yeers

1580Hath not yet diu'd into the Worlds deceit:

1581No more can you distinguish of a man,

1582Then of his outward shew, which God he knowes,

1583Seldome or neuer iumpeth with the heart.

1584Those Vnkles which you want, were dangerous:

1585Your Grace attended to their Sugred words,

1586But look'd not on the poyson of their hearts:

1587God keepe you from them, and from such false Friends.

1588Prin. God keepe me from false Friends,

1589But they were none.

1590Rich. My Lord, the Maior of London comes to greet

1591you.

1593Lo.Maior. God blesse your Grace, with health and

1594happie dayes.

1595Prin. I thanke you, good my Lord, and thank you all:

1596I thought my Mother, and my Brother Yorke,

1597Would long, ere this, haue met vs on the way.

1598Fie, what a Slug is Hastings, that he comes not

1599To tell vs, whether they will come, or no.

1601Buck. And in good time, heere comes the sweating

1602Lord.

1603Prince. Welcome, my Lord: what, will our Mother

1604come?

1605Hast. On what occasion God he knowes, not I;

1606The Queene your Mother, and your Brother Yorke,

1607Haue taken Sanctuarie: The tender Prince

1608Would faine haue come with me, to meet your Grace,

1609But by his Mother was perforce with-held.

1610Buck. Fie, what an indirect and peeuish course

1611Is this of hers? Lord Cardinall, will your Grace

1612Perswade the Queene, to send the Duke of Yorke

1613Vnto his Princely Brother presently?

1614If she denie, Lord Hastings goe with him,

1615And from her iealous Armes pluck him perforce.

1616Card. My Lord of Buckingham, if my weake Oratorie

1617Can from his Mother winne the Duke of Yorke,

1618Anon expect him here: but if she be obdurate

1619To milde entreaties, God forbid

1620We should infringe the holy Priuiledge

1621Of blessed Sanctuarie: not for all this Land,

1622Would I be guiltie of so great a sinne.

1623Buck. You are too sencelesse obstinate, my Lord,

1624Too ceremonious, and traditionall.

1625Weigh it but with the grossenesse of this Age,

1626You breake not Sanctuarie, in seizing him:

1627The benefit thereof is alwayes granted

1628To those, whose dealings haue deseru'd the place,

1629And those who haue the wit to clayme the place:

1630This Prince hath neyther claym'd it, nor deseru'd it,

1631And therefore, in mine opinion, cannot haue it.

1632Then taking him from thence, that is not there,

1633You breake no Priuiledge, nor Charter there:

1634Oft haue I heard of Sanctuarie men,

1635But Sanctuarie children, ne're till now.

1636Card. My Lord, you shall o're-rule my mind for once.

1637Come on, Lord Hastings, will you goe with me?

1638Hast. I goe, my Lord. Exit Cardinall and Hastings.

1639Prince. Good Lords, make all the speedie hast you may.

1640Say, Vnckle Glocester, if our Brother come,

1641Where shall we soiourne, till our Coronation?

1642Glo. Where it think'st best vnto your Royall selfe.

1643If I may counsaile you, some day or two

1644Your Highnesse shall repose you at the Tower:

1645Then where you please, and shall be thought most fit

1646For your best health, and recreation.

1647Prince. I doe not like the Tower, of any place:

1648Did Iulius Caesar build that place, my Lord?

1649Buck. He did, my gracious Lord, begin that place,

1650Which since, succeeding Ages haue re-edify'd.

1651Prince. Is it vpon record? or else reported

1652Successiuely from age to age, he built it?

1653Buck. Vpon record, my gracious Lord.

1654Prince. But say, my Lord, it were not registred,

1655Me thinkes the truth should liue from age to age,

1656As 'twere retayl'd to all posteritie,

1657Euen to the generall ending day.

1658Glo. So wise, so young, they say doe neuer liue long.

1659Prince. What say you, Vnckle?

1660Glo. I say, without Characters, Fame liues long.

1661Thus, like the formall Vice, Iniquitie,

1662I morallize two meanings in one word.

1663Prince. That Iulius Caesar was a famous man,

1664With what his Valour did enrich his Wit,

1665His Wit set downe, to make his Valour liue:

1666Death makes no Conquest of his Conqueror,

1667For now he liues in Fame, though not in Life.

1668Ile tell you what, my Cousin Buckingham.

1669Buck. What, my gracious Lord?

1670Prince. And if I liue vntill I be a man,

1671Ile win our ancient Right in France againe,

1672Or dye a Souldier, as I liu'd a King.

1673Glo. Short Summers lightly haue a forward Spring.

1675Buck. Now in good time, heere comes the Duke of

1676Yorke.

1677Prince. Richard of Yorke, how fares our Noble Bro-

1678ther?

1679Yorke. Well, my deare Lord, so must I call you now.

1680Prince. I, Brother, to our griefe, as it is yours:

1681Too late he dy'd, that might haue kept that Title,

1682Which by his death hath lost much Maiestie.

1683Glo. How fares our Cousin, Noble Lord of Yorke?

1684Yorke. I thanke you, gentle Vnckle. O my Lord,

1685You said, that idle Weeds are fast in growth:

1686The Prince, my Brother, hath out-growne me farre.

1687Glo. He hath, my Lord.

1688Yorke. And therefore is he idle?

1689Glo. Oh my faire Cousin, I must not say so.

1690Yorke. Then he is more beholding to you, then I.

1691Glo. He may command me as my Soueraigne,

1692But you haue power in me, as in a Kinsman.

1693Yorke. I pray you, Vnckle, giue me this Dagger.

1694Glo. My Dagger, little Cousin? with all my heart.

1695Prince. A Begger, Brother?

1696Yorke. Of my kind Vnckle, that I know will giue,

1697And being but a Toy, which is no griefe to giue.

1698Glo. A greater gift then that, Ile giue my Cousin.

1699Yorke. A greater gift? O, that's the Sword to it.

1700Glo. I, gentle Cousin, were it light enough.

1701Yorke. O then I see, you will part but with light gifts,

1702In weightier things you'le say a Begger nay.

1703Glo. It is too weightie for your Grace to weare.

1704Yorke. I weigh it lightly, were it heauier.

1705Glo. What, would you haue my Weapon, little Lord?

1706Yorke. I would that I might thanke you, as, as, you

1707call me.

1708Glo. How?

1709Yorke. Little.

1710Prince. My Lord of Yorke will still be crosse in talke:

1711Vnckle, your Grace knowes how to beare with him.

1712Yorke. You meane to beare me, not to beare with me:

1713Vnckle, my Brother mockes both you and me,

1714Because that I am little, like an Ape,

1715He thinkes that you should beare me on your shoulders.

1716Buck. With what a sharpe prouided wit he reasons:

1717To mittigate the scorne he giues his Vnckle,

1718He prettily and aptly taunts himselfe:

1719So cunning, and so young, is wonderfull.

1720Glo. My Lord, wilt please you passe along?

1721My selfe, and my good Cousin Buckingham,

1722Will to your Mother, to entreat of her

1723To meet you at the Tower, and welcome you.

1724Yorke. What, will you goe vnto the Tower, my Lord?

1725Prince. My Lord Protector will haue it so.

1726Yorke. I shall not sleepe in quiet at the Tower.

1727Glo. Why, what should you feare?

1728Yorke. Marry, my Vnckle Clarence angry Ghost:

1729My Grandam told me he was murther'd there.

1730Prince. I feare no Vnckles dead.

1731Glo. Nor none that liue, I hope.

1732Prince. And if they liue, I hope I need not feare.

1733But come my Lord: and with a heauie heart,

1734Thinking on them, goe I vnto the Tower.

1737Buck. Thinke you, my Lord, this little prating Yorke

1738Was not incensed by his subtile Mother,

1739To taunt and scorne you thus opprobriously?

1740Glo. No doubt, no doubt: Oh 'tis a perillous Boy,

1741Bold, quicke, ingenious, forward, capable:

1742Hee is all the Mothers, from the top to toe.

1743Buck. Well, let them rest: Come hither Catesby,

1744Thou art sworne as deepely to effect what we intend,

1745As closely to conceale what we impart:

1746Thou know'st our reasons vrg'd vpon the way.

1747What think'st thou? is it not an easie matter,

1748To make William Lord Hastings of our minde,

1749For the installment of this Noble Duke

1750In the Seat Royall of this famous Ile?

1751Cates. He for his fathers sake so loues the Prince,

1752That he will not be wonne to ought against him.

1753Buck. What think'st thou then of Stanley? Will

1754not hee?

1755Cates. Hee will doe all in all as Hastings doth.

1756Buck. Well then, no more but this:

1757Goe gentle Catesby, and as it were farre off,

1758Sound thou Lord Hastings,

1759How he doth stand affected to our purpose,

1760And summon him to morrow to the Tower,

1761To sit about the Coronation.

1762If thou do'st finde him tractable to vs,

1763Encourage him, and tell him all our reasons:

1764If he be leaden, ycie, cold, vnwilling,

1765Be thou so too, and so breake off the talke,

1766And giue vs notice of his inclination:

1767For we to morrow hold diuided Councels,

1768Wherein thy selfe shalt highly be employ'd.

1769Rich. Commend me to Lord William: tell him Catesby,

1770His ancient Knot of dangerous Aduersaries

1771To morrow are let blood at Pomfret Castle,

1772And bid my Lord, for ioy of this good newes,

1773Giue Mistresse Shore one gentle Kisse the more.

1774Buck. Good Catesby, goe effect this businesse soundly.

1775Cates. My good Lords both, with all the heed I can.

1776Rich. Shall we heare from you, Catesby, ere we sleepe?

1777Cates. You shall, my Lord.

1778Rich. At Crosby House, there shall you find vs both.

1780Buck. Now, my Lord,

1781What shall wee doe, if wee perceiue

1782Lord Hastings will not yeeld to our Complots?

1783Rich. Chop off his Head:

1784Something wee will determine:

1785And looke when I am King, clayme thou of me

1786The Earledome of Hereford, and all the moueables

1787Whereof the King, my Brother, was possest.

1788Buck. Ile clayme that promise at your Graces hand.

1789Rich. And looke to haue it yeelded with all kindnesse.

1790Come, let vs suppe betimes, that afterwards

1791Wee may digest our complots in some forme.

1795Mess. My Lord, my Lord.

1796Hast. Who knockes?

1797Mess. One from the Lord Stanley.

1798Hast. What is't a Clocke?

1799Mess. Vpon the stroke of foure.

1801Hast. Cannot my Lord Stanley sleepe these tedious

1802Nights?

1803Mess. So it appeares, by that I haue to say:

1804First, he commends him to your Noble selfe.

1805Hast. What then?

1806Mess. Then certifies your Lordship, that this Night

1807He dreamt, the Bore had rased off his Helme:

1808Besides, he sayes there are two Councels kept;

1809And that may be determin'd at the one,

1810Which may make you and him to rue at th'other.