← The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 5 of 9]

Act V, Scene III — Fields near St Alban’s…

Name: The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 5 of 9]
Author: Shakespeare, William

Part 4 of 10 · Shakespeare, William · Public domain text

About this edition

Source: Project Gutenberg e-text #49297, public domain in the United States · text not rewritten or summarized · How RedLectern is built

Contents (153)

Opening under 1 min
Preface about 19 min
Act I, Scene I — Westminster Abbey about 6 min
Act I, Scene II — France. Before Orleans about 6 min
Act I, Scene III — London. Before the Tower about 4 min
Act I, Scene IV — Orleans about 4 min
Act I, Scene V — The same about 2 min
Act I, Scene VI — The same about 1 min
Act II, Scene I — Before Orleans about 3 min
Act II, Scene II — Orleans. Within the town about 2 min
Act II, Scene III — Auvergne. The Countess’s castle about 3 min
Act II, Scene IV — London. The Temple-garden about 5 min
Act II, Scene V — The Tower of London about 4 min
Act III, Scene I — London. The Parliament-house about 7 min
Act III, Scene II — France. Before Rouen about 5 min
Act III, Scene III — The plains near Rouen about 3 min
Act III, Scene IV — Paris. The Palace about 2 min
Act IV, Scene I — Paris. A hall of state about 7 min
Act IV, Scene II — Before Bourdeaux about 2 min
Act IV, Scene III — Plains in Gascony about 2 min
Act IV, Scene IV — Other plains in Gascony about 2 min
Act IV, Scene V — The English camp near Bourdeaux about 2 min
Act IV, Scene VI — A field of battle about 2 min
Act IV, Scene VII — Another part of the field about 4 min
Act V, Scene I — London. The palace about 2 min
Act V, Scene II — France. Plains in Anjou about 1 min
Act V, Scene III — Before Angiers about 7 min
Act V, Scene IV — Camp of the DUKE OF YORK in Anjou about 6 min
Act V, Scene V — London. The royal palace about 37 min
Act I, Scene I — London. The palace about 9 min
Act I, Scene II — The DUKE OF GLOUCESTER’S house about 4 min
Act I, Scene III — The palace about 8 min
Act I, Scene IV — GLOUCESTER’S garden about 3 min
Act II, Scene I — Saint Alban’s about 8 min
Act II, Scene II — London. The DUKE OF YORK’S garden about 3 min
Act II, Scene III — A hall of justice about 4 min
Act II, Scene IV — A street about 4 min
Act III, Scene I — The Abbey at Bury St Edmund’s about 14 min
Act III, Scene II — Bury St Edmund’s. A room of state about 15 min
Act III, Scene III — A bedchamber about 1 min
Act IV, Scene I — The coast of Kent about 6 min
Act IV, Scene II — Blackheath about 7 min
Act IV, Scene III — Another part of Blackheath about 1 min
Act IV, Scene IV — London. The palace about 2 min
Act IV, Scene V — London. The Tower about 1 min
Act IV, Scene VI — London. Cannon Street about 1 min
Act IV, Scene VII — London. Smithfield about 5 min
Act IV, Scene VIII — Southwark about 3 min
Act IV, Scene IX — Kenilworth Castle about 2 min
Act IV, Scene X — Kent. Iden’s garden about 4 min
Act V, Scene I — Fields between Dartford and Blackheath about 8 min
Act V, Scene II — Saint Alban’s about 4 min
Act V, Scene III — Fields near St Alban’s about 42 min
Act I, Scene I — London. The Parliament-house about 11 min
Act I, Scene II — Sandal Castle about 3 min
Act I, Scene III — Field of battle betwixt Sandal Castle and Wakefield about 2 min
Act I, Scene IV — Another part of the field about 7 min
Act II, Scene I — A plain near Mortimer’s Cross in Herefordshire about 8 min
Act II, Scene II — Before York about 7 min
Act II, Scene III — A field of battle between Towton and Saxton, in Yorkshire about 2 min
Act II, Scene IV — Another part of the field about 1 min
Act II, Scene V — Another part of the field about 5 min
Act II, Scene VI — Another part of the field about 4 min
Act III, Scene I — A forest in the north of England about 4 min
Act III, Scene II — London. The palace about 8 min
Act III, Scene III — France. The KING’S palace about 10 min
Act IV, Scene I — London. The palace about 6 min
Act IV, Scene II — A plain in Warwickshire about 1 min
Act IV, Scene III — Edward’s camp, near Warwick about 3 min
Act IV, Scene IV — London. The palace about 1 min
Act IV, Scene V — A park near Middleham Castle in Yorkshire about 1 min
Act IV, Scene VI — London. The Tower about 4 min
Act IV, Scene VII — Before York about 4 min
Act IV, Scene VIII — London. The palace about 2 min
Act V, Scene I — Coventry about 5 min
Act V, Scene II — A field of battle near Barnet about 2 min
Act V, Scene III — Another part of the field about 1 min
Act V, Scene IV — Plains near Tewksbury about 3 min
Act V, Scene V — Another part of the field about 4 min
Act V, Scene VI — London. The Tower about 4 min
Act V, Scene VII — London. The palace about 38 min
Act V, Scene I about 6 min
Act V, Scene II about 3 min
Act V, Scene III about 7 min
Act V, Scene IV about 2 min
Act V, Scene V about 6 min
Act V, Scene VI about 3 min
Act V, Scene VII about 4 min
Act V, Scene VIII about 3 min
Act V, Scene IX about 7 min
Act V, Scene X about 9 min
Act V, Scene XI about 1 min
Act V, Scene XII about 3 min
Act V, Scene XIII about 5 min
Act V, Scene XIV under 1 min
Act V, Scene XV about 1 min
Act V, Scene XVI about 1 min
Act V, Scene XVII about 1 min
Act V, Scene XVIII about 5 min
Act V, Scene XIX about 1 min
Act V, Scene XX about 2 min
Act V, Scene XXI about 3 min
Act V, Scene XXII about 2 min
Act V, Scene XXIII about 25 min
Act V, Scene I about 9 min
Act V, Scene II about 2 min
Act V, Scene III about 8 min
Act V, Scene IV about 6 min
Act V, Scene V about 6 min
Act V, Scene VI about 2 min
Act V, Scene VII under 1 min
Act V, Scene VIII about 7 min
Act V, Scene IX about 2 min
Act V, Scene X about 5 min
Act V, Scene XI about 6 min
Act V, Scene XII about 4 min
Act V, Scene XIII about 2 min
Act V, Scene XIV about 1 min
Act V, Scene XV about 1 min
Act V, Scene XVI about 2 min
Act V, Scene XVII about 2 min
Act V, Scene XVIII under 1 min
Act V, Scene XIX about 3 min
Act V, Scene XX about 3 min
Act V, Scene XXI about 5 min
Act V, Scene XXII about 3 min
Act V, Scene XXIII about 19 min
Dramatis Personæ about 1 min
Act I, Scene I — London. A street about 6 min
Act I, Scene II — The same. Another street about 10 min
Act I, Scene III — The palace about 14 min
Act I, Scene IV — London. The Tower about 11 min
Act II, Scene I — London. The palace about 5 min
Act II, Scene II — The palace about 6 min
Act II, Scene III — London. A street about 2 min
Act II, Scene IV — London. The palace about 3 min
Act III, Scene I — London. A street about 8 min
Act III, Scene II — Before Lord Hastings’ house about 5 min
Act III, Scene III — Pomfret Castle about 1 min
Act III, Scene IV — The Tower of London about 4 min
Act III, Scene V — The Tower-walls about 4 min
Act III, Scene VI — The same. A street about 1 min
Act III, Scene VII — Baynard’s Castle about 9 min
Act IV, Scene I — Before the Tower about 4 min
Act IV, Scene II — London. The Palace about 5 min
Act IV, Scene III — The same about 2 min
Act IV, Scene IV — Before the palace about 21 min
Act IV, Scene V — Lord DERBY’S house about 1 min
Act V, Scene I — Salisbury. An open place about 1 min
Act V, Scene II — The camp near Tamworth about 1 min
Act V, Scene III — Bosworth Field about 14 min
Act V, Scene IV — Another part of the field about 1 min
Act V, Scene V — Another part of the field about 2 h 10 min

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Act V, Scene III — Fields near St Alban’s

Alarum. Retreat. Enter YORK, RICHARD, WARWICK, and Soldiers, with drum and colours.

York. Of Salisbury, who can report of him, [bec001] That winter lion, who in rage forgets Aged contusions and all brush of time, [bec003] And, like a gallant in the brow of youth, [bec004] Repairs him with occasion? This happy day ·bec005· Is not itself, nor have we won one foot, If Salisbury be lost.

Rich. My noble father, Three times to-day I holp him to his horse, [bec008] Three times bestrid him; thrice I led him off, Persuaded him from any further act: ·bec010· But still, where danger was, still there I met him; And like rich hangings in a homely house, [bec012] So was his will in his old feeble body. But, noble as he is, look where he comes. [bec014]

Enter SALISBURY.

Sal. Now, by my sword, well hast thou fought to-day; ·bec015· By the mass, so did we all. I thank you, Richard: [bec016] God knows how long it is I have to live; And it hath pleased him that three times to-day You have defended me from imminent death. [bec019] Well, lords, we have not got that which we have: ·bec020· ’Tis not enough our foes are this time fled, Being opposites of such repairing nature.

York. I know our safety is to follow them; For, as I hear, the king is fled to London, To call a present court of parliament. ·bec025· Let us pursue him ere the writs go forth. What says Lord Warwick? shall we after them? [bec027]

War. After them! nay, before them, if we can. Now, by my faith, lords, ’twas a glorious day: [bec029] Saint Alban’s battle won by famous York ·bec030· Shall be eternized in all age to come. Sound drums and trumpets, and to London all: [bec032] And more such days as these to us befall! [Exeunt. [bec033]

LINENOTES TO II KING HENRY VI.

[baa001] London.] Capell. ¶ The Palace.] Scene, the Palace. Theobald.

[baa002] for] F1 F2. from F3 F4.

[baa007] Calaber, Bretagne and] Bretagne Hanmer. ¶ and] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[baa013] hands] F1. hand F2 F3 F4.

[baa019] lends] lend’st Rowe (ed. 2).

[baa028] alder-liefest] Alder liefest (in italics) Ff. aller-liefest Malone conj.

[baa034] Makes] F1 F2. Make F3 F4. ¶ wondering fall to weeping] Wondring, fall to Weeping F1 F2. wondring, fall to weeping F3 F4.

[baa037] All [kneeling]. All kneel. Ff.

[baa047] thirtieth] thirteenth Rowe.

[baa048] duchy......county of Maine] dutchies of Anjou and Maine Capell, from (Qq).

[baa049] father--] Malone. father. Ff. fa. (Q1 Q2). fa-- (Q3) Capell. ¶ [Lets...fall] Duke Humphrey lets it fall (Qq). om. Ff.

[baa051] at] to F4.

[baa054] [Reads] om. Ff. [taking the paper from Glo. and reading. Capell. ¶ It is...them,] Omitted by Pope.

[baa055] duchies] Dutchesse F1 F2 F3. Dutchess F4.

[baa057] any] om. Malone.

[baa058] kneel] kneel you Pope. kneel thee Collier MS.

[baa060] gird] girt (Qq) Ff.

[baa062] I’ the] I’ th F1 F2 F3. I’ th’ F4. In the (Qq) Capell. See note (I).

[baa064] Somerset] F1. and Somerset F2 F3 F4.

[baa066] all for] for all (Q3) and Warburton.

[baa069] [Exeunt...] F2 F3 F4. Exit.... F1. Manet the rest. F1. Manent the rest. F2 F3 F4.

[baa070] SCENE II. Pope.

[baa083] Beaufort] Beauford Ff. Bedford Rowe.

[baa088], baa089: And had...Crowned] Grant White. And hath...Crowned F1 F2 F3. And hath...Crown’d F4. And was...Crowned Rowe. Or hath......Been crown’d Capell. And hath...Been crown’d Malone.

[baa100] peroration] preroration F1.

[baa104] roast] Pope. rost Ff. roost Grant White.

[baa105] duchy] dutchies Capell.

[baa116] wounds] swords Collier conj., from (Qq).

[baa118] Mort Dieu!] om. Pope.

[baa119], baa120: For...isle!] Put in the margin by Pope.

[baa130] starved] sterv’d F1 F2. starv’d F3 F4.

[baa149] west] east Warburton.

[baa163] all together] Rowe. altogether Ff.

[baa164] hoise] hoyse Ff. heave (Qq). hoist Theobald.

[baa173] Or thou or I, Somerset,] Or Somerset or I Pope. Thou, or I, Somerset, Capell. ¶ protector] F2 F3 F4. protectors F1.

[baa174] [Exeunt...] Exit... Ff.

[baa175] went] goes Capell. ¶ follows him] follows after Anon. conj., from (Qq).

[baa187] Hath] Have Rove.

[baa189] brother] cousin Anon, conj., from (Qq).

[baa199] tend the] tend to Capell. ’tend the Steevens conj.

[baa201] And] The good and Seymour conj.

[baa202] [Aside] Theobald. ¶ And so...cause.] As two lines in Ff.

[baa203] Then...main.] As two lines, the first ending away, in Ff. ¶ make haste] om. Seymour conj. ¶ away] om. Pope.

[baa204] Unto...lost] As two lines, the first ending maine?, in Ff.] ¶ baa204–baa208: Unto...slain] Put in the margin by Pope.

[baa205] Warwick did] did Warwick Collier MS.

[baa208] [Exeunt W. and S.] Exit W. and S. Manet Yorke. Ff.

[baa209] SCENE III. Pope.

[baa216] thine] mine Grant White.

[baa217] pennyworths] penn’orths Pope. penn’worth Capell. pennyworth Steevens.

[baa221] hapless] helpless Collier MS.

[baa224] starve] F3 F4. sterve F1 F2. ¶ dare] dares Theobald.

[baa233] England’s soil] England Anon. conj., from (Qq).

[baa242] humours fits] (Qq) Ff. humour fits Rowe. humours fit Malone.

[baa246] surfeiting in] surfeit in the Hanmer.

[baa247] After this Capell conjectures that a line is lost.

[baa251] in] in in F1.

[bab001] SCENE II.] Capell. SCENE IV. Pope om. Ff. ¶ The...house.] Theobald.

[bab002] at] with Pope.

[bab022] dream...doth] Capell. dreames...doth Ff. dreams...do Rowe.

[bab025] office-badge] office’ badge S. Walker conj.

[bab031] my] the F3 F4.

[bab038] are] (Qq) Hanmer. wer F1 F2. were F3 F4.

[bab039] Where] There Staunton conj. ¶ dame] om. F4.

[bab042] ill-nurtured] ill-nurtur’d F3. ill-nurter’d F1 F2. ill-natur’d F4.

[bab057] Saint] S. F1 F2 F3. St. F4.

[bab058] Where as] F1 F2. Whereas F3 F4.

[bab059] thou] thou too Hanmer.

[bab060] [Exeunt...] Capell. Ex. Hum. F1 (after line 59). Ex. Hu. F2 F3 F4 (after line 59).

[bab068] there? Sir John!] Hanmer. there? Sir John; Ff.

[bab069] thee] thou Seymour conj.

[bab071] What...majesty!] My majesty! why, man, Capell, from (Qq).

[bab075] Jourdain] Capell (and passim). Jordane F1 F2. Jordan F3 F4.

[bab089] words but] words, but Rowe.

[bab097] Dame Eleanor’s aspiring] F1 F2. Dame Elianor’s F3 F4. Eleanor’s aspiring Pope.

[bab101] Suffolk] F3. Suffolke F1 F2. Suffolk’s F4.

[bab105] wreck] Hanmer. wracke F1 F2. wrack F3 F4.

[bac001] SCENE III.] Capell. SCENE V. Pope. SCENE VII. Johnson (a misprint). ¶ The Palace.] Hanmer. An apartment in the palace. Theobald. ¶...Peter...] Theobald. om. Ff.

[bac003] in the quill] in quill Hanmer. in quiet Jackson conj. in the coil Singer conj. in sequel Collier (Collier MS.). in the quile Jervis conj. in the pend Bullock conj.

[bac006] Peter.] F1 F2. 1 Peter. F3. 1 Pet. F4.

[bac013] [Reading] Rowe (ed. 2). om. Ff. ¶ To] For Capell.

[bac016] an’t] Hanmer. and’t Ff.

[bac020] [Reads] Rowe. om. Ff.

[bac021] Melford] Long Melford Theobald, from (Qq).

[bac025] Peter] F1. Pet. F2 F3 F4. 3 Pet. Rowe. Suff. [reads]. Theobald. ¶ [giving his petition] Capell. om. Ff.

[bac028] What say’st thou? did] What did Pope. What! did Theobald.

[bac030] master] Warburton. Mistresse F1 F2 F3. mistress F4.

[bac032] [Enter Servant.] Ff. om. Pope. Enter Servants. Capell.

[bac034] [Exit...] Exit. Ff. Exit Peter, guarded. Theobald.

[bac037] [Tears the supplications.] Rowe. Teare the supplication. Ff.

[bac039] All.] 1 P. Capell. ¶ [Exeunt.] Exit. Ff.

[bac041] fashion in] Rowe (ed. 2). fashions in F1 F2 F3. fashion of F4.

[bac049] a tilt] F3 F4. a-tilt F1 F2.

[bac058] images] image S. Walker conj.

[bac059] of the cardinals] of cardinals Reed (1803). now of cardinals Seymour conj.

[bac063] cause] the cause Rowe.

[bac066] haughty] haughtie F1. haught F2 F3 F4. proud Pope.

[bac075] through] though F2.

[bac079] our] her Reed (1803).

[bac088] the lays] their lays Rowe.

[bac092] not] nor F2.

[bac097] we’ll...last] we will weed all the realm Collier MS.

[bac098] helm] helme. Exit. Ff. realm Theobald. ¶ Sound a Sennet.] F1. om. F2 F3 F4. ¶ Duke Humphrey of Gloucester,] Duke Humfrey, Ff. ¶ Cardinal Beaufort] Cardinall. Ff. ¶ Somerset] Hanmer. om. Ff. ¶ the Duchess of Gloucester.] the Duchesse. Ff.

[bac099] SCENE VI. Pope.

[bac102] denay’d] F1 F2 F3. deny’d F4.

[bac108] The] A Collier MS.

[bac115] women’s] womens F1 F2 F3. womans F4. ¶ his] this F4.

[bac122] wreck] Hanmer. wrack Ff.

[bac129] treasury] treasurie F1. treasure F2 F3 F4.

[bac135] [Exit Gloucester]. Exit Humfrey. Ff. ¶ The Queen...] Johnson. om. Ff.

[bac140] I’ld] I’d Pope, from (Qq). I could Ff.

[bac144] wear] weare F1. weares F2. wears F3 F4. ¶ master] masters Halliwell Conj.

[bac146] I will] I’ll Pope.

[bac148] fume] fury Grant White (Dyce and S. Walker conj.). ¶ needs] F1. can neede F2. can need F3 F4. now needs Keightley conj.

[bac149] far] F3 F4. farre F1 F2. fast Pope. ¶ Re-enter G.] Enter Humfrey. Ff.

[bac150] SCENE VII. Pope.

[bac155] so deal] deal so Rowe.

[bac166] here] there Collier (Collier MS. and Long MS.).

[bac174] Enter...] Theobald. Enter Armorer and his Man. Ff. Enter Horner the Armour and his Man Peter. Rowe.

[bac185] An’t] Rowe (ed. 2). And’t Ff.

[bac202] This...judge] This do, my lord, if I may be the judge Capell. ¶ my lord] my gracious lord Collier (Collier MS.).

[bac208] See note (II).

[bac212] spite of man] sight of my master Capell. ¶ man] F1. my man F2 F3. my master F4. this man Collier MS. a man Steevens.

[bac216]–bac218: Away...away.] As in Ff. As three lines in Capell, ending day...month...away.

[bad001] SCENE IV.] Capell. SCENE VIII. Pope. ¶ Gloucester’s garden.] Capell. The Witch’s cave. Theobald. A room prepared for the pretended inchantments. Hanmer. See note (III). ¶ Enter...] Enter Mother Jordan, Hume, Southwell, and Bullingbrook. Rowe. Enter the Witch, the two Priests, and Bullingbrooke. Ff.

[bad005] you] om. Pope.

[bad010] you] om. Rowe.

[bad011] Enter...] Enter Duchess above; and presently Hume. Dyce. Enter Elianor aloft. Ff.

[bad012] all] to all F4. ¶ To] Come, to Capell.

[bad015] silent] silence Collier (Collier MS.), from (Qq).

[bad018] up] ope Collier MS.

[bad021]...they do...]...doe... Ff.

[bad022] Adsum] Ad sum F1.

[bad023]–bad026: Asmath...hence] Arranged as by Capell; as four lines in Ff, ending God...at...speake...hence. ¶ Asmath] Asmuth Pope.

[bad025] answer...ask] F1. answer that I aske F2 F3 F4. tell what I ask Pope, ending the lines name...ask...hence.

[bad027] Ask...done!] As one line in F4; as prose in F1 F2 F3. ¶ wilt. That......done!] Rowe. wilt; that...done. Ff.

[bad028] ‘First......become?’] Rowe; as prose in Ff. ¶ of him become] become of him Capell. ¶ [Reading...] Capell.

[bad030] As the Spirit...] Capell. As the spirit speaks, they write the answer. Rowe. om. Ff.

[bad031] What fates await] Ff. Tell me what fates await Pope. What fate awaits Capell.

[bad035] be] om. F2. ¶ bad035, bad067: upon the sandy plains] upon sandy plains Rowe (ed. 1). on the sandy plains Pope. on the plains Hanmer. on sand Capell.

[bad036], 68: castles mounted stand] a castle mounted stands Hanmer.

[bad039] False] Foul Collier MS. ¶ Exit Spirit.] Ff. Spirit descends. Rowe.

[bad042] commonweal] realm Pope.

[bad043] deeply] deep Rowe.

[bad047] threatest Where’s] F1 F2. threaten’st where’s F3 F4. threat’st where is Pope.

[bad048] [Showing her the Papers. Capell.

[bad050] asunder] apart Pope.

[bad051] Exeunt...] Dyce. Exit Duchess from above. Malone. Exeunt some to the Dut. Capell. om. Ff.

[bad052] all forthcoming] forth-coming all Rowe. are all forth-coming Collier MS.

[bad053] All, away!] Knight. All away. Ff. Away. Rowe. om. Pope. All.--Away! Malone. ¶ Exeunt...] Rowe. Exit. Ff.

[bad054]–bad071: Lord...understood.] Put in the margin by Pope, following (Qq).

[bad055] chosen] chose Pope.

[bad061] te, Æacida,] Warburton. te Æacida Theobald. Æacida F1 F2. Æacide F3 F4. te Æacidem Rowe.

[bad065] betide] befal Capell.

[bad069] Come, come] Come, come away Capell, reading lines 69–71 as two lines of verse, the first ending oracles. ¶ Come,...lords;] Transfer to end line 71. Anon. conj.

[bad070] hardly] hardily Theobald.

[bad074] Thither...them] As in Pope; as two lines in Ff. ¶ go] Rowe. goes Ff. ¶ them] ’em S. Walker conj.

[bad078] At...lord.] My lord, at your good pleasure. Hanmer. ¶ ho!] om. Hanmer.

[bba001] ACT II. SCENE I.] Pope. om. Ff. ¶ Saint Alban’s] Pope. ¶ Gloucester,] Protector, Ff.

[bba009] an it] Pope. and it Ff.

[bba015] he would] Ff (reading as prose). he’d Pope.

[bba020] Beat] Bent Pope.

[bba023] What...peremptory] As one line in Pope. As two lines in Ff, the first ending cardinal. As prose in Theobald. ¶ peremptory] so peremptory Rowe.

[bba024] Tantæne...iræ?] Omitted by Pope. ¶ 24, 25: Tantæne...malice] As in Theobald: the first line ends...hot? in Ff.

[bba025], bba026: Churchmen......do it?] A churchman, and so hot? good uncle, hide Such malice with such holiness. Can you do it? Becket conj.

[bba026] With...it?] Omitted by Pope. With such holiness can you not do it? Warburton conj. A churchman, with such holiness can you do it? Johnson conj. What? with...can you not do it? Heath conj. With such holiness, Can you not do it? Capell, ending the lines hot?...holiness...it? And with such holiness you well can do it. Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.). With such holiness can you do it. Collier (ed. 1). With such holiness you can do it. Singer conj. With...can you dote? Staunton, Malone conj. from (Q2).

[bba029] you] yourself Pope.

[bba030] An’t] Ff. ¶ lord-protectorship] Capell. Lord Protectorship F4. Lords Protectorship F1 F2 F3.

[bba033], 34: good queen......peers] Arranged as in Ff; as one line by Malone.

[bba034] furious] F1. too-too furious F2. too-too-furious F3 F4.

[bba038]–bba053: The ‘Asides’ first indicated by Rowe.

[bba040] the] that Rowe.

[bba042], 43: Ay...grove] Arranged as by Theobald; as three lines in Ff, ending peepe...evening...grove. ¶ bba042: an if] Capell. And if Ff.

[bba046] We had had] We’d had had Steevens (1778). We’d have had Mason conj. ¶ Come...sword] As one line in Ff.

[bba047]–bba049: True...you] Given to ‘Glost.’ in Ff; corrected by Theobald.

[bba048] ye] you Theobald. ¶ advised] avis’d Capell. ¶ of] om. Pope.

[bba051] Now...this] One line in Pope; two lines, the first ending priest, in Ff.

[bba053] Medice, teipsum--] Edd. Medice teipsum, Ff. Medice cura teipsum. Rowe. Omitted by Pope.] ¶ bba053, bba054: Medice...yourself] As prose in Ff.

[bba055] The...lords] As two lines in Ff. ¶ Enter...] Enter one of the Town, crying out a miracle! Capell. Enter one crying a Miracle. Ff.

[bba059] SCENE II. Pope.

[bba061], bba063: Towns.] One. Ff.

[bba062] him] om. Seymour conj.

[bba067] Enter...] Rowe. Enter the Maior of Saint Albones, and his Brethren, bearing the man betweene two in a Chayre. Ff.

[bba068] comes] Ff. come Rowe. are Capell.

[bba069] To present...man] Before your highness to present the man Pope. Come to present...man Capell.

[bba071] Although] Though Pope. ¶ his sight] sight Lloyd conj.

[bba077], bba080, bba083: an’t] Hanmer. and’t Ff.

[bba081] Hadst...told] One line in Capell; as prose in Ff.

[bba083] Berwick] Rowe. Barwick] F1 F3 F4. Barwicke F2.

[bba084] Poor...thee] As two lines in Ff. See note (IV).

[bba085] nor] or F3.

[bba091] Simpcox] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). Symon F1 F2. Simon F3 F4. Saunder Capell.

[bba092] help] heal S. Walker conj.

[bba093] time] a time F3 F4.

[bba096] off of] F1 F2. off F3 F4.

[bba099] that in all] that in Rowe (ed. 1). once in all Pope.

[bba102] master] Sir Pope.

[bba105] Let me] Let’s Pope.

[bba107] master] om. Hanmer.

[bba108] Alban] F3 F4. Albon F2. Albones F1.

[bba114] did he] he did F3 F4.

[bba124] an if] Pope. and if Ff.

[bba125]–bba132: Then...again] As prose in (Qq) and Knight (Boswell conj.). See note (V). ¶ bba125: Then] om. Pope.

[bba127] all] om. Steevens. ¶ name] know F4.

[bba129] it is] ’s Steevens.

[bba130] and] om. Hanmer.

[bba131] his] (Qq) Capell. it, Ff. that Rowe.

[bba132] again] om. Pope.

[bba136] my lord, if it] my good lord, if’t Capell.

[bba138] Exit...] Capell. Exit a Messenger. Theobald. Exit. Ff.

[bba139] Now] New F2. ¶ by and by] om. Pope.

[bba150] bearest] Ff. bear’st Pope.

[bba152] this] his Anon. conj.

[bba153] Alas] Alas, alas Keightley conj.

[bba154], bba155: As prose in Pope; two lines, the first ending towne, in Ff.

[bba155] come...from whence] do come...whence Capell. ¶ Exeunt......] Capell. Exit Beadle with the Woman. Theobald. Exit Beadle. Rowe. Exit. Ff.

[bba156] has] hath Hanmer.

[bba159] You...fly] You, in a day, my lord, made whole towns fly Capell.

[bba160] SCENE III. Pope.

[bba173]–bba176: [Aside...] Rowe.

[bba179] vanquish’d] languish’d S. Walker conj.

[bba182] thereby] om. Pope.

[bba186] commonweal] commonwealth Rowe (ed. 1).

[bba199], bba200: scales...stands...prevails.] scale...stand...prevail! Johnson conj.

[bba200] Flourish.] F1. om. F2 F3 F4. ¶ SCENE II.] Capell. SCENE IV. Pope. om. Ff. ¶ London...garden.] Capell. The Duke of York’s Palace. Pope.

[bbb006] at full] thus at full Pope. at the full Capell.

[bbb007] and if] an if S. Walker conj.

[bbb015] Edmund] Edmond F1. Edward F2 F3 F4.

[bbb016] was Thomas of] F1 F2. Thomas of F3 F4. Thomas Rowe (ed. 2). was Thomas Pope.

[bbb020] as] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[bbb026] all you] you both (Qq) Capell.

[bbb027] Richard......traitorously] F1. King Richard...traiterously F2 F3 F4. King Richard trait’rously was murther’d Pope.

[bbb028] told the truth] told the very truth Hanmer. surely told the truth Capell. told the truth in this Keightley conj.

[bbb034], bbb035: As in Pope; as three lines in Ff.

[bbb035] Philippe] Hanmer. Phillip F1. Philip F2 F3 F4.

[bbb043]–bbb050: His eldest...Clarence] See note (VI).

[bbb051] elder] eldest F4.

[bbb053] proceeding is] F2 F3 F4. proceedings is F1. proceedings are Malone.

[bbb055] York claims] York here claims Pope. but York claims Capell.

[bbb056] fails, his] fail, he F4. fail, his Rowe (ed. 2).

[bbb057] flourishes] flourisheth F4.

[bbb064], bbb065: As in Pope. As three lines, ending lords:...crown’d...stayn’d, in Ff.

[bbb077] My lord,...full] As prose in Ff. My Lord, here...full. Rowe (reading as prose). My lord, here break we off; we know your mind. Pope. My lord, break off; we know your mind at full. Capell.

[bbc001] SCENE III.] Capell. SCENE V. Pope. ¶ A hall...] Capell. A house near Smithfield. Theobald. A room of State. Hanmer. ¶ Enter...] Substantially as Theobald and Capell. Sound Trumpets. Enter the King and State, with Guard, to banish the Duchesse. Ff. ¶ bbc001: Gloucester’s wife:] As a separate line in Ff.

[bbc003] sins] Theobald. sinne F1 F2. sin F3 F4. ¶ bbc003, bbc004: sins...are] sin...is Collier MS.

[bbc014] banishment] exile Pope. ¶ welcome were] welcomer Anon. conj.

[bbc016] the law] law Pope. ¶ Exeunt...guarded.] Theobald. om. Ff.

[bbc020] I beseech] ’Beseech Hanmer.

[bbc021] ease] F1 F4. cease F2 F3.

[bbc022]–bbc025: As in Pope. As five lines, ending Gloster,...Staffe,...be,...guide,...feete:, in Ff.

[bbc029] be to be...child] be protected like a child by peers Collier (Collier MS.).

[bbc030] God......England’s realm.] Omitted by Capell. ¶ England’s realm] England Anon. conj. ¶ realm] Realme: F1 F2. Realm: F3 F4. helm. Steevens (Johnson conj.). helm!--Dyce and Staunton.

[bbc031] the] to th’ Hanmer. ¶ his realm] his helm Keightley conj.

[bbc032] staff:] staff; To think I fain would keep it makes me laugh. Collier (Collier MS.).

[bbc035] willingly] willing Pope.

[bbc042], bbc043: off. This...raught,] F1. off This...raught, F2. off, This...raught, F3 F4. off, This...raught:-- Capell. _off, This...wrench’d:--_ Capell conj.

[bbc044] it best] F1 F2. best it F3 F4.

[bbc046] her] your Jackson conj. ¶ youngest] F1 F2. younger F3 F4. strongest Singer (Anon. conj. MS.). ¶ proudest Collier (Collier MS.). haughtiest Staunton conj. longest Anon. conj.

[bbc050] the lists] lists Collier MS.

[bbc054] O’] Capell. A Ff. A’ Theobald.

[bbc055] defend] guard Pope.

[bbc058] this] the Rowe (ed. 2). ¶ Horner] om. Ff. ¶ Peter] om. Ff.

[bbc059] SCENE VI. Pope.

[bbc071] credit] F1 F2. the credit F3 F4.

[bbc074] an if] Capell. and if F1 F2 F3. if F4.

[bbc078] fence] F1 F2. to fence F3 F4.

[bbc079] drinking] drinking both Collier (Collier MS.), reading as verse.

[bbc087] I will] will Malone.

[bbc089] blow!] blow, as Bevis of Southampton fell upon Ascapart. Warburton, from (Qq).

[bbc091] Sound, trumpets] Collier. Sound trumpets Ff. ¶ alarum] ’larum Capell. ¶ [Alarum.] Capell. om. Ff.

[bbc092] [Dies.] Theobald. om. Ff.

[bbc095] enemy] enemies F1.

[bbc096] right] the right Hanmer.

[bbc097] Go, take hence] Go, and take hence Hanmer. Go, take away Capell.

[bbc101] to have murder’d] to murder Pope.

[bbc102] [Sound a flourish.] F1. Omitted in F2 F3 F4. ¶ SCENE IV.] Capell. SCENE VII. Pope. ¶ A street.] Theobald. ¶ Serving-men,] men, Ff.

[bbd003] Barren...wrathful nipping] The barren...nipping Pope. Bare...wrathful nipping Capell. The barren...wrathful Mitford conj. ¶ wrathful nipping] wrathful-nipping S. Walker conj.

[bbd004] abound] go round Capell (Theobald conj.).

[bbd005] Ten] Tis ten o’clock Steevens conj.

[bbd011] face,] face Collier.

[bbd012] laughing] F1. still laughing F2 F3 F4. and laughing Lettsom conj.

[bbd016] to see] F1 F3 F4. so see F2. ¶ Sir John Stanley] Theobald. om. Ff. Capell partly adopts the stage direction of (Qq).

[bbd025] thine] their F4. our Rowe.

[bbd033] deep-fet] deep-fetch’d Pope.

[bbd039] them...enjoy] Rowe. them...enjoyes Ff. him...enjoys Anon. conj.

[bbd045] As] That Pope.

[bbd054] betray] bewray Long MS.

[bbd069] These few days’ wonder] This few-days-wonder Hanmer.

[bbd070], bbd071: I...month] as in Ff. As prose in Pope.

[bbd073] [Exit Herald.] Theobald. om. Ff.

[bbd075] exceed] pass Capell conj.

[bbd076] An’t] Hanmer. And’t Ff. ¶ your] you F2.

[bbd079] here] hence Heath conj. there S. Walker conj.

[bbd083], bbd084: As in Pope. The lines end her...farewell in Ff.

[bbd086] [Exeunt...] Exeunt G. and Servants. Capell. Exit Gloster. Ff.

[bbd087] gone too?] F2 F3 F4. gone to? F1. gone so? Collier (Collier MS.).

[bbd089] afear’d] afraid Pope.

[bbd098] Like to] No; like Rowe.

[bbd105] Madam,...sheet] One line in Pope; two, the first ending done, in Ff.

[bbd106] our] your S. Walker conj.

[bca001] ACT III. SCENE I.] Pope. om. Ff. ¶ The Abbey...] At Bury. Theobald. St Edmund’s Bury. Hanmer. Bury. A Room in the Abbey. Capell. ¶ Cardinal Beaufort,] Cardinall, Ff. See note (VII).

[bca004] will ye] will you Theobald.

[bca008] How praud, how peremptory] How peremptory Pope. How proud, peremptory Steevens. ¶ himself?] Johnson. himselfe. F1 F2 F3. himselfe F4. himself! Rowe.

[bca010] And if] An if Delius conj.

[bca028] commons’] common Pope (ed. 2).

[bca035] Made] Makes Hanmer.

[bca039] lord] lords Pope.

[bca040] allegation] allegations Collier MS.

[bca046] life, began] Pope. life began Ff. ¶ practices] practise S. Walker conj.

[bca048] by reputing] by repeating Rowe. the repeating Hanmer.

[bca053] deep] deepest Capell, from (Qq).

[bca068] conscience,] Ff. conscience? Pope.

[bca078] is...wolf] Rowe. is...wolves Ff. are...wolves Malone.

[bca084] your] our F4.

[bca087] [Aside] Rowe.

[bca088] hope] hop’d Rowe (ed. 1).

[bca093] SCENE II. Pope.

[bca098] Suffolk, thou] F1. Suffolk, yet thou F2 F3 F4. Suffolk’s duke, thou Malone, from (Qq). Suffolk, well, thou S. Walker conj.

[bca104] One line in Pope; two, the first ending lord, in Ff.

[bca107] One line in Pope; two in Ff.

[bca109] Nor ever] Nor never F4.

[bca115] mine] my Rowe.

[bca117] dispursed] disbursed F4.

[bca124] whiles] Ff. while Johnson. whilst Capell.

[bca133] easy] easily Collier (Collier MS.). very S. Walker conj.

[bca134] mightier] weightier S. Walker conj.

[bca137] you] om. Capell.

[bca140] suspect] Capell. suspence Ff. suspicion Rowe. suspects Malone.

[bca163] endeavour] endeavours Rowe (ed. 2).

[bca166] notice] note Anon. conj.

[bca167] And...life] Omitted in Reed (1803, 1813, 1821). ¶ make] take Capell conj.

[bca169] treasons] reasons S. Walker conj.

[bca170] effected] affected Reed (1803).

[bca172] his] this Anon. conj.

[bca174] traitors’ Capell. Traytors F1 F2. Traytor’s F3 F4.

[bca184] play’d] play Capell.

[bca188] take] takes F3.

[bca193] my] may F2.

[bca194] [Exit, guarded.] Theobald. Exit Gloster. F1. Exit Glocester. F2 F3 F4.

[bca195] SCENE III. Pope. ¶ wisdoms] wisdom Rowe.

[bca209] Thou] That Rowe.

[bca211] strays] strives Theobald (Thirlby conj.).

[bca217] bewails] bewail Rowe (ed. 2).

[bca218] dimm’d] dimn’d Ff. ¶ eyes] eyes, Rowe. eyes; Ff.

[bca222] traitor?] traitor, Malone. ¶ [Exeunt...] Edd. Exit. Ff.

[bca223] Queen. Free lords,] Manent Queen, three lords. Queen. My lords, Edd. conj. ¶ Free...beams] One line in Pope; two, the first ending lords, in Ff. ¶ Free lords] See, lords Hanmer. Fair lords Collier MS.

[bca225] and] om. Pope.

[bca228] in] on Capell. ¶ flowering] flowry Rowe.

[bca232] mine] F1 F2. my F3 F4.

[bca241] And yet] As yet Collier MS.

[bca245] [Aside. S. Walker conj. ¶ more] most Collier MS.

[bca246] you] om. Hanmer. ¶ my lord of] lord Collier MS.

[bca249] the] a Anon. conj. ¶ chicken] F1. chicke F2 F3. chick F3 F4.

[bca260] Humphrey,] Humphry’s Hanmer. ¶ reasons] treasons Heath conj.

[bca264] good deceit] good conceit Delius conj.

[bca266] ’tis] om. Hanmer.

[bca280] spoke] spoken Hanmer.

[bca282] SCENE IV. Pope.

[bca286] uncurable] incurable F3 F4.

[bca288] quick expedient] quick-expedient S. Walker conj.

[bca290] as regent] F1. a regent F2 F3 F4.

[bca293] far-fet] far-fetch’d Pope.

[bca301] do] doth Hanmer.

[bca306] happily] F1. haply F2 F3 F4.

[bca307] nought] Pope. naught Ff.

[bca313] county] country F4.

[bca326] that event.] this. Capell conj. that intent Anon. conj.

[bca328] Bristol] Bristow Ff.

[bca330] [Exeunt...] Exeunt. Manet Yorke. Ff.

[bca331] SCENE V. Pope.

[bca333], bca334: art Resign to death] F4. art; Resigne to death F1 F2 F3.

[bca339] the] a Capell.

[bca348] Whiles] Whilest F4. Whilst Rowe. ¶ nourish] march Collier MS.

[bca354] mad-bred] mad-brain’d Rowe.

[bca357] Ashford,] Ashford, with a headlong crew, Seymour conj.

[bca362] fought] fight Hanmer.

[bca363] porpentine] porcupine Rowe.

[bca364], bca365: seen Him caper......like] seen him Caper...like to Capell. seen him Capering...like Anon. conj.

[bca378] arms] aims Dyce conj. (withdrawn).

[bca383] the next] then next Collier MS.

[bcb001] SCENE II.] Capell. SCENE VI. Pope. ¶ Bury...state.] Edd. An apartment in the Palace. Theobald. The same. Another Room. Capell. ¶ Enter...] Capell. Enter two or three running over the Stage, from the Murther of Duke Humfrey. Ff.

[bcb004], bcb005: Didst...penitent? First Mur. Here] First Mur. Didst penitent? Here Edd. conj.

[bcb005]–bcb007: As two lines, the first ending you, in Steevens. Hanmer ends the first at dispatch’d.

[bcb011] Is] F1. are F2 F3. and are F4. See note (VIII).

[bcb013] ’Tis] Yes Rowe.

[bcb014] [Exeunt Murderers.] Theobald. Exeunt. Ff. ¶ Cardinal Beaufort,] Cardinall, Suffolke, Ff.

[bcb026] thee, Nell;] thee Nell, Ff. thee: Well, Theobald. thee, Meg; Capell. thee, Margaret; Malone. See note (IX). ¶ Re-enter S.] Enter S. Ff.

[bcb032] [The King swoons.] King sounds. Ff.

[bcb038] comfort] comfore F2.

[bcb041] tune] tunne F2.

[bcb063] blood-drinking] blood-draining Anon. conj.

[bcb069] fill’d with my] F1 F2 F3. fill’d with F4. filled with Rowe.

[bcb070] ay me, unhappy!] ah me unhappy! Pope.

[bcb076] the adder] an adder Rowe.

[bcb078]–bcb121: Is all...so long.] Struck out in Collier MS.

[bcb079], bcb100: Eleanor] Elianor Ff. Margaret Rowe. See note (IX).

[bcb080] statua and worship it] Dyce. statue, and worship it Ff. statue, and do worship to it Rowe. statue then, and worship it Capell.

[bcb083] awkward wind] adverse winds Pope.

[bcb085] wind] F3 F4. winde F1 F2. winds Pope. ¶ bcb085–bcb087: this, but...shore?] Capell. this? but...shore. Ff.

[bcb087] no] a Rowe. thy Pope.

[bcb088]–bcb091: then, but cursed...rock?] then? But curst...Rocke: Ff. then, but curse...rock? Hanmer. ¶ bcb088: gentle] ungentle Singer (Anon. MS. conj.).

[bcb089] he] him Hanmer. ¶ forth] F1 F2. from F3 F4.

[bcb093] But] He Pope.

[bcb094]–bcb096: The...unkindness:] Put in the margin by Pope.] ¶ bcb094: pretty-vaulting] Dyce (S. Walker conj.). pretty vaulting Ff.

[bcb097] The...sands] The sinking sands, the splitting rocks cow’r’d in Johnson conj.

[bcb101] thy] the Pope.

[bcb105] earnest-gaping] earnest-gazing Anon. conj. ¶ thy] F1. the F2 F3 F4.

[bcb116] witch] Theobald. watch Ff.

[bcb119] or thou not] art thou not Hanmer. thou Steevens conj.

[bcb120] Ay] Aye Ff. Ah Rowe. ¶ Eleanor] Elinor Ff. Margaret Rowe. See note (IX).

[bcb121] dost] didst Rowe. ¶ Enter...] Commons are seen pressing towards the Door, with Salisbury keeping them back: Enter Warwick. Capell. ¶ Salisbury] Theobald. om. Ff.

[bcb124] Suffolk] Suffolke, F1. Suffolkes, F2. Suffolk, F3 F4.

[bcb127] who...his] who...their Pope. whom...their Hanmer.

[bcb134] shall I] I shall Rowe.

[bcb135] [Exit.] Warwick goes in. Theobald. om. Ff.

[bcb142] drain] rain Rann (Capell conj.).

[bcb147] earthy] F1. earthly F2 F3 F4.

[bcb148] Re-enter...bed.] Edd. Bed put forth. Ff (after line 146). Warwicke drawes the curtaines and showes Duke Humphrey in his bed. (Qq). A door is thrown open, and Gloster discover’d dead upon his Bed: Warwick, and Others by him. Capell.

[bcb152] For...life in death] For...life is death F4. For...death in life, Johnson conj. And...death in life Capell. And...life in death Rann.

[bcb159] vow?] vow. F1.

[bcb161] ghost] coarse Roderick conj.

[bcb162] bloodless] blood-left Hanmer.

[bcb171] nostrils] nostris F2.

[bcb174] Look, on the sheets his] Edd. Look on the sheets, his Ff. Look on the sheets; his Pope.

[bcb175] rugged] F1. rugg’d F2 F3 F4.

[bcb177] murderd] murdred F1 F2 F3. murdered F4.

[bcb179], bcb182: duke] F3 F4. D. F1 F2.

[bcb181] sir] sirs Rowe.

[bcb182] were...foes] F1. were...death F2. have...death F3 F4. See note (X).

[bcb186] Then] Than F1.

[bcb195] your] Ff. the Rowe.

[bcb202] [Exeunt......others.] Capell. Exit Cardinall (Qq). om. Ff.

[bcb204] He dares] He dare F4.

[bcb207] say] say it Capell, from (Qq).

[bcb225] send] F1 F4. om. F2 F3.

[bcb231] [Exeunt...] Exeunt. Ff.

[bcb232] SCENE VII. Pope.

[bcb236] Re-enter...] Enter... Ff.

[bcb237] Why...drawn] One line in Pope: two in Ff.

[bcb241] [to the Commons, entering] Capell. Enter Salisbury. Ff.

[bcb244] Lord] false Malone, from (Qq). done] put Rowe.

[bcb257] In pain] On pain Collier (Capell conj.).

[bcb258] strait] strange F4.

[bcb262] harmful] harmefull F1. harmelesse F2. harmless F3 F4.

[bcb265] whether] where F1 F2 F3. whe’re F4. See King John, note (V).

[bcb278] Commons [within]. Within. Ff.

[bcb288] [Exit...] Capell. om. Ff.

[bcb299] [Exeunt...] Exit. Ff.

[bcb300] SCENE VIII. Pope.

[bcb303] make] F1. made F2 F3 F4.

[bcb307] coward woman] woman-coward Becket conj.

[bcb308] enemy] Ff. enemies Capell, from (Qq).

[bcb311] bitter-searching] Steevens. bitter searching Ff.

[bcb318] on end] (Qq) Pope (ed. 2). an end Ff. ¶ as one] like one Pope.

[bcb322] daintiest that] dantiest meat Theobald. dainties that Id. conj. daintiest thing Hanmer, from (Qq).

[bcb325] smart] sharp Collier MS.

[bcb327] concert] Theobald. consort Ff.

[bcb328] dark-seated] F3 F4. darke seated F1 F2.

[bcb331] overcharged] overcharg’d F4.

[bcb332] turn] Rowe. turnes F1 F2. turns F3 F4.

[bcb342] [Kissing his hand. Johnson.

[bcb344] upon these] on these lips Hanmer.

[bcb345] whom] which Hanmer.

[bcb347] whiles] whil’st F4.

[bcb359] thence] F1. hence F2 F3 F4.

[bcb366] no joy] to joy Singer (Collier MS.). ¶ nought] ought F3 F4.

[bcb367] SCENE IX. Pope. ¶ Whither] Whether F1.

[bcb369] is at point] F1 F2. is at the point F3 F4. ’s at the point Pope.

[bcb373], bcb374: Sometime......sometime] Sometimes...sometimes F4.

[bcb379] [Exit Vaux.] Exit. Ff.

[bcb381] an hour’s] another’s Mason conj.

[bcb393] its] it’s Ff. his (Qq).

[bcb397] thou] om. F3 F4.

[bcb399] lived] liv’d F1 F2. lives F3 F4.

[bcb403] Away!] In a line by itself, S. Walker conj. ¶ fretful] om. Hanmer. fearful S. Walker conj. (a misprint?) ¶ corrosive] cor’sive Boswell (1821).

[bcb406] wheresoe’er] F1. wheresoever F2 F3 F4.

[bcb408] with thee] along with thee Hanmer. with thee along Capell.

[bcb409] cask] casket Rowe.

[bcb412] [Exeunt severally.] Rowe (ed. 2). Exeunt. Ff.

[bcc001] SCENE III.] Capell. SCENE X. Pope. ¶ A bedchamber.] The Cardinal’s bedchamber. Theobald. The same. Another Room. Capell. London. Cardinal Beaufort’s bedchamber. Malone. ¶ bcc001: sovereign] king Collier MS.

[bcc004] and feel no pain] but one whole year Theobald conj., from (Qq).

[bcc009] bed? where should he] bed, where he should Delius conj.

[bcc010] whether] where Ff.

[bcc021] busy meddling] busy-meddling S. Walker conj.

[bcc022] this wretch’s] his wretched Capell conj.

[bcc026] if] if’t Collier (Collier MS.).

[bcc028] make] give Capell conj.

[bda001] ACT IV. SCENE I.] Pope. om. Ff. ¶ The coast of Kent.] Pope. om. Ff. ¶ Enter......] Enter Lieutenant, Suffolke, and others. Ff. Firing heard at Sea. After that, a Boat appears; and puts ashore a Captain, a Master, a Master’s mate... Capell. ¶ Walter Whitmore,] Whitmore, Rowe. om. Ff. ¶ bda001: Cap.] (Qq) Rowe. Lieu. Ff (and throughout the scene).

[bda006] Clip] Theobald. Cleape F1 F2. Cleap F3 F4. Clap] Pope (ed. 2).

[bda011] discoloured] Ff. discolour’d Pope.

[bda014] [pointing to Suffolk. Johnson.

[bda018] Cap.] Whit. Malone conj. two thousand] 2000. Ff.

[bda020] throats] throat F2. shall:] After this Malone supposes a line has been lost.

[bda021], bda022: The lives...sum!] Grant White. The lives...sum? Knight The lines...summe. Ff. ¶ The lives of those...Be counterpoised...sum!] Nor can those lives...Be counterpoised...sum. Rowe. The lives of those...Cannot be pois’d...sum. Capell. The lives of those...Cannot be counterpois’d...sum. Malone. The lives of those we have lost in fight cannot Be counterpois’d...sum Steevens conj. Can lives of those...Be counterpois’d...sum? Collier (Collier MS.). The lives of those...Can they be counterpois’d...sum? Halliwell.

[bda026] [To Suf.] Rowe. om. Ff.

[bda029] George] ring Capell conj., from (Qq).

[bda032] start’st] F4. startst F3. starts F1 F2. ¶ affright] affright thee Delius conj.

[bda039] Never] Ne’er Rowe.

[bda043] [is laying Hands on Suffolk, to bear him off. Capell.

[bda046] Whit.] Wal. Ff. Cap. Capell, from (Qq).

[bda048] Jove...I?] Pope, from (Qq). Omitted in Ff.

[bda050] Suf. Obscure......blood] Pope, from (Qq). Continued to Lieu. in Ff. ¶ lowly] Pope, from (Qq). lowsie Ff.

[bda051] The honourable] Pope. Suf. The honourable Ff.

[bda052] jaded] jady Capell, from (Qq). jadis Rann conj.

[bda054] Bare-headed] And bare-head Capell, from (Qq).

[bda063] mine] F1. thine F2 F3 F4.

[bda065] forlorn swain] foul-tongued slave Collier MS. ¶ swain?] swain. F1.

[bda069] thy] thine Capell, from (Qq).

[bda070] Cap. Yes, Pole. Suf. Pole!] Added by Capell from (Qq). ¶ Pool! Sir Pool! lord!] Poole, Sir Poole? Lord Ff. _Poole? Sir Poole? Lord Poole?_ Johnson conj. Pole, ay Pole; Capell.

[bda071] Ay] I Ff. Nay Capell.

[bda074] swallowing] swallowing up F3 F4.

[bda077] shalt] F2 F3 F4. shall F1.

[bda082] neither] nor Rowe.

[bda084] overgorged] ouergorg’d F1. over-gor’d F2 F3 F4.

[bda085] mother’s bleeding] Rowe. mother-bleeding Ff.

[bda093] are] Rowe. and Ff.

[bda096] proud encroaching] proud-encroaching S. Walker conj.

[bda098] our] a Rowe (ed. 2). an Keightley conj.

[bda102] Is] Are Hanmer.

[bda107] threatens] threats F2.

[bda108] Bargulus] Bardylis Hanmer.

[bda110] should] shald F2.

[bda115] Cap. Walter,--Whit. Come] Rowe (ed. 2). Lieu. Water: W. Come Ff, printing as prose.

[bda117] Gelidus] F2 F3 F4. Pine gelidus F1. Panæ gelidus Theobald. Pene gelidus Malone. Pone gelidus Mitford conj. ¶ it is] it’s Pope.

[bda118], bda142: Whit.] Wal. Ff.

[bda128] the] this S. Walker conj.

[bda129] True] Know true Hanmer. No, true or All true Anon. conj. ¶ True......fear] Exempt from fear is true nobility Lloyd conj.

[bda132] Come...can] Given to Suf. by Hanmer. Continued to Lieu. in Ff. ¶ ye] you Hanmer.

[bda135] banditto] Johnson. bandetto Ff.

[bda136] bastard] dastard Theobald.

[bda137] Stabb’d...islanders] Omitted by Rowe (ed. 2) and Pope (ed. 1).

[bda138] [Exeunt...] Exit Walter with Suffolke. F1 F2 (Water F1). Exit Walter with Suffolk. F3 F4.

[bda141] [Exeunt...body.] Exit Lieutenant, and the rest. Manet the first Gent. Enter Walter with the body. Ff.

[bda142] lifeless] Capell. livelesse F1 F2. liveless F3 F4.

[bda143] [Exit.] Exit Walter. Ff.

[bda147] [Exit...] Capell. om. Ff.

[bdb001] SCENE II.] Pope. om. Ff. ¶ Blackheath.] Capell. Southwark. Pope. om. Ff. ¶...George Bevis......] Capell. ...Bevis... Ff. ¶ bdb001, bdb004, &c.: Bevis.] Ff. Geo. Capell.

[bdb003], bdb007, &c.: Holl.] Ff. Joh. Capell.

[bdb007] for] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[bdb008] merry] a merry F4.

[bdb015] to say as,] to say, as F1 F2. as to say F3 F4.

[bdb026] Smith] Will Capell, from (Qq).

[bdb028] Drum. Enter...] Ff.

[bdb030]–bdb032: father,--...inspired] father, for our enemies shall fall before us;-- Dick. Or rather......herrings. Cade. Inspired Tyrwhitt conj.

[bdb031], &c.: Dick.] Rowe. But. Ff (and passim). ¶ The ‘Asides’ were first marked by Capell.

[bdb032] For] Or for S. Walker conj. ¶ bdb032, bdb033: For...princes] Transferred by Capell to the end of Holland’s speech, line 28. ¶ bdb032: fall] F4. faile F1 F2. fail F3.

[bdb033] princes,--Command] Malone. princes. Command Ff.

[bdb044] &c. Smith.] Steevens. Weaver. Ff. Wil. Capell.

[bdb057] [Exit. Malone conj.

[bdb066] will be,--] Rowe. will be Ff.

[bdb069] on] upon F4.

[bdb075], bdb076: parchment?...man?] parchment;...man? Pope. parchment...man. Ff.

[bdb077] the bee’s] the bees F1 F2. bees F3 F4.

[bdb078] mine] F1. my F2 F3 F4. ¶ who’s] whose F1. who is Rowe (ed. 2). ¶ Enter some...] Capell. Enter a Clearke. Ff. Re-enter Smith... Malone conj. ¶ Chatham] Rowe (ed. 2). Chartam F1. Chattam F2 F3 F4.

[bdb079] of] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[bdb084] Has] Dyce. Ha’s Ff. H’as Rowe (ed. 2). He ’as Pope.

[bdb085] he is] he’s Pope.

[bdb096] an honest] F2 F3 F4. a honest F1.

[bdb100] he’s] F1. he is F2 F3 F4.

[bdb103] [Exit one......] Ff. Exeunt some... Capell. ¶ Enter...] Ff. Enter Michael, hastily. Capell.

[bdb104] Where’s] F1 F2. Where is F3 F4.

[bdb112], bdb113: I will...presently] I’ll...here presently Keightley conj.

[bdb113] [Kneels] Collier (ed. 1). om. Ff. ¶ [Rises] Dyce (Collier MS.).

[bdb114] him!] him. Is there any more of them that be knights? Mich. Ay, his brother. Cade. Then kneel down, Dick Butcher. Rise up, Sir Dick Butcher. Now sound up the drum. Theobald, from (Qq). ¶ Enter...] Ff. ¶ his Brother,] young Stafford, Rowe. William his brother, Malone.

[bdb115] SCENE III. Pope.

[bdb118] revolt] repent Anon. conj.

[bdb119], &c.: Bro.] Ff. Y. Staf. Rowe. W. Staf. Malone.

[bdb121] not] them Hanmer.

[bdb129] Marry, this: Edmund] Marry, this.--Edmund Theobald. Marry, this Edmund Ff.

[bdb130] Clarence’] Clarence F1 F2 F3. Clarence’s F4.

[bdb146] ye] F1. you F2 F3 F4.

[bdb148] [Aside] Capell. om. Ff.

[bdb156] mained] main’d Ff. maim’d (Qq) Rowe.

[bdb157] that that] F1 F2. that F3 F4.

[bdb164] an enemy] the enemy Rowe.

[bdb174] And] All Collier MS. ¶ [Exeunt...] Exeunt the two Staffords, with the Train. Theobald. Exit. Ff.

[bdb177] We will] We’ll F4.

[bdb178] shoon] F3. shooen F1 F2. shoons F4.

[bdb181] are] are are F2. ¶ toward] F1 F2. towards F3 F4.

[bdb183] forward.] forward, lads! Capell conj., reading 182, 183 as two lines of verse, the first ending we are. ¶ [Exeunt.] Exeunt Cade and his Party. Theobald. om. Ff.

[bdc001] SCENE III.] Capell. ¶ Another part of Blackheath.] The same. Another part of it. Capell. om. Ff. ¶ Alarums...] Ff. ¶ Enter......] Ff. Re-enter...... Theobald.

[bdc005] will I] F1. wil I F2. I will F3 F4.

[bdc006] again] om. Warburton.

[bdc007] hundred lacking one] hundred lacking one, a week Malone, from (Qq). hundred years lacking one Collier (Collier MS.).

[bdc010], bdc011: [putting on...brigandine] Edd., from Holinshed. taking off Stafford’s Armour. Capell. om. Ff.

[bdc012] horse] F1 F2. horses F3 F4. horse’s Rowe. horse’ Dyce (S. Walker conj.).

[bdc014] thrive and do good,] thrive, do good; Johnson conj. thrive and do well Delius conj.

[bdc015] gaols] gaoles F1 F2. goals F3 F4.

[bdd001] SCENE IV.] Pope. om. Ff. ¶ London. The palace.] London. A Room in the Palace. Capell. Blackheath. Pope. om. Ff. ¶ Enter...] Ff. ¶ and the Queen...head] at a Distance Queen Margaret mourning over a Head. Capell.

[bdd012] shall] should Rowe.

[bdd022] Still lamenting] Lamenting still Pope. ¶ for] om. Pope.

[bdd023] fear me, love,] fear me (Love) Ff. fear, my love, Capell, from (Qq).

[bdd024] wouldest not] Theobald. would’st not F1. would’st not halfe F2 F3 F4 (half F3 F4).

[bdd025] No, my] My Pope. No Capell.

[bdd029] Clarence’] Clarence F1 F2 F3. Clarence’s F4.

[bdd039], bdd044: Killingworth] Kenelworth Capell.

[bdd042] would] F1. should F2 F3 F4.

[bdd043] traitors hate] F2 F3 F4. traitors hateth F1. traitor rebel hateth Capell. traitor hateth Steevens. ¶ thee] thee specially Anon. conj.

[bdd048] may] can Capell conj.

[bdd049], bdd050: Malone ends the lines at citizens...houses. ¶ bdd049: London bridge] London-bridge, my lord Capell.

[bdd050] fly] flye F1. flye him F2 F3 F4 (fly F4). ¶ houses] houses as he comes Keightley, reading Fly...comes as one line.

[bdd057] the] F1. to F2 F3 F4.

[bdd058] be] om. F1.

[bde001] SCENE V.] Pope. ¶ London. The Tower.] London. Pope. The same. The Tower. Capell. ¶ Enter...enter...] F4. Enter...enters... F1 F2 F3.

[bde002] First Cit.] 1 Cit. Ff. ¶ likely] like F4. ¶ bde002–bde005: No......rebels] As prose by Pope. As five lines in Ff.

[bde009] to...and gather] F1. into...and gather F2 F3 F4. into...gather Pope.

[bde010] I will] will I F3 F4. ¶ Goffe] F1 F2 F3. Goff F4. Gough Capell.

[bde012] for......again] rebellion never thrives Collier (Collier MS.).

[bdf001] SCENE VI.] Capell. om. Ff. Pope continues the scene. ¶ London. Cannon Street.] Cannon-Street. Theobald. ¶ Enter...] Ff. ¶ staff] sword Capell, from (Qq). ¶ bdf001–bdf006: Now...Mortimer.] As prose by Pope. As seven lines in Ff.

[bdf004] this] F1. the F2 F3 F4.

[bdf009] ye] you Rowe.

[bdf013]–bdf015: Come...away.] As prose by Pope. As four lines in Ff.

[bdf015] [Exeunt.] Exeunt omnes. Ff.

[bdg001] SCENE VII.] Capell. om. Ff. Pope continues the scene. ¶ London. Smithfield.] Smithfield. Theobald.

[bdg002] court] courts Rowe (ed. 2).

[bdg007], bdg014: Holl.] John. Ff. ¶ bdg007, bdg009, bdg014: ‘Aside’ marked first by Capell.

[bdg010] eating] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[bdg014] we are] are we S. Walker conj.

[bdg017] SCENE VI. Pope. SCENE VIII. Hanmer.

[bdg018] towns] town Rowe (ed. 2).

[bdg019] Enter George Bevis...] Steevens. Enter George... Ff.

[bdg022] point-blank] point-black Rowe (ed. 2).

[bdg023] giving] the giving Capell conj.

[bdg024] Mounsieur] Monsieur F4.

[bdg025] these presence] these presents F4.

[bdg035] peace] the peace Rowe (ed. 2).

[bdg037] they] thy F2.

[bdg040] in] F1. on F2 F3 F4.

[bdg048] What] Well, what Hanmer. ¶ Kent?] F3 F4. Kent. F1 F2.

[bdg049] ’tis] om. Hanmer.

[bdg051] where] F3 F4. wher’e F1 F2.

[bdg054] because full] beauteous, full Hanmer.

[bdg055] wealthy] worthy Hanmer.

[bdg056] you are] F1. thou art F2 F3 F4.

[bdg058] Yet] Yea Malone conj.

[bdg061], bdg062: hands, But to...you?] Rann (Johnson conj.). _hands? Kent to...you_, Ff. hands, Bent to...you? Steevens conj. _hands? ’Cept to...you?_ Mason conj. hands, Kent to...you? Malone. _hands, Kent?--To...you_, Jackson conj. hands, Kent, to...you? Collier.

[bdg064] book] _books_Anon. conj.

[bdg068] You] Ye F4.

[bdg070] behoof,--] Capell. behoof. Ff.

[bdg071] Tut] Tut, tut Hanmer. struck’st] struckest Dyce.

[bdg073] never] neve F2.

[bdg075] pale for] F1. pale with F2 F3 F4.

[bdg080] caudle] F4. candle F1 F2 F3. ¶ bdg080, bdg081: the help of hatchet] F1. the help of a hatchet F2 F3 F4. pap with a hatchet Farmer conj. the pap of a hatchet Steevens.

[bdg083] the palsy] It is the palsy Anon. conj. from (Qq). ¶ provokes] provoketh Hanmer.

[bdg095]–bdg097: I feel...life] Marked as ‘Aside’ first by Capell.

[bdg096] an] Pope. and Ff.

[bdg098] speaks] speake F2. ¶ not] not, Capell. ¶ o’] Theobald. a Ff.

[bdg100] James] William Ritson conj.

[bdg107] [Exeunt...] Hanmer. om. Ff.

[bdg108] in the] F1 F2. of the F3 F4.

[bdg110] to me] F1 F2. me F3 F4.

[bdg117] Re-enter...] Enter... Ff. Re-enter Rebels, with the Heads. Capell.

[bdg118]–bdg124. But...Away!] As prose by Theobald. As nine lines in Ff. ¶ bdg118: braver] brave F4.

[bdg119] alive] alive [jowl them together. Collier MS.

[bdg124] [Exeunt.] Rowe. Exit. Ff.

[bdh001] SCENE VIII.] Capell. SCENE VII. Pope. SCENE IX. Hanmer. ¶ Southwark.] Theobald. ¶ Enter...] Enter againe... Ff. ¶ bdh001: Magnus’] Warburton. Magnus Theobald. Magnes Ff.

[bdh002], bdh003. [Sound a parley.] Parley sounded; afterwards, a Retreat. Capell.

[bdh003], bdh004: What...kill?] As prose first by Hanmer. As three lines, ending heare?...parley...kill? in Ff.

[bdh004] attended] Theobald. om. Ff.

[bdh005] Ay, here] Rowe. I heere F1 F2. I here F3 F4.

[bdh010] relent] repent Collier (Collier MS.).

[bdh012] rebel] Singer (Collier MS. and Anon. MS.), rabble Ff.

[bdh020] him] ’em Theobald. them Hanmer.

[bdh023] White Hart] White-hart F4. White-heart F1. white-heart F2 F3.

[bdh024] ye] you Rowe (ed. 2). ¶ out] over S. Walker conj.

[bdh031] As two lines in Ff.

[bdh044] Villiago] Ff. Villageois Theobald. Viliaco Dyce and Staunton (Capell conj.).

[bdh049] money] mercy Warburton.

[bdh053]–bdh057: Was ever......staying.] Marked ‘Aside’ by Dyce and Staunton.

[bdh058] middest] midst F4.

[bdh061] makes] F1. make F2 F3 F4.

[bdh066] Exeunt.] Exeunt omnes. Ff.

[bdi001] SCENE IX.] Capell. SCENE VIII. Pope. SCENE X. Hanmer. ¶ Kenilworth Castle.] The Palace at Killingworth. Theobald. ¶ terrace.] Tarras. Ff.

[bdi006] old Clifford.] Capell. Clifford. Ff.

[bdi009] below, multitudes,] Multitudes Ff. below, the Soldiers of Cade’s army, Capell.

[bdi010] He is] He’s Pope.

[bdi018] infortunate] F1 F2. unfortunate F3 F4.

[bdi021] countries] counties Delius conj.

[bdi022] [Exeunt. Hanmer.

[bdi025] a mighty] F1 F2. mighty F3 F4. united Collier MS.

[bdi026] Of] Of desp’rate Hanmer. Of nimble Capell. ¶ stout] stout Irish Collier (Mitford conj.). ¶ kernes] kernes, he Keightley conj.

[bdi029] arms] Armes F1. Armies F2 F3 F4. aims Singer (Dyce conj. withdrawn).

[bdi033] calm’d] F4. calme F1. claimd F2. claim’d F3. cramp’d Becket conj. chas’d S. Walker conj.

[bdi034] dispersed] dispers’d F4. dispierc’d F1 F2 F3.

[bdi036] I pray...go] Go, I pray thee, Buckingham, Staunton conj. ¶ go and meet him] Ff. go and meet with him, Rowe. to go and meet him Malone. go forth and meet him Steevens. then go and meet him Collier (Collier MS.). go thou and meet him Dyce conj.

[bdi049] For] Or Seymour conj. ¶ [Flourish.] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[bdj001] SCENE X.] Steevens. SCENE IX. Pope. SCENE XI. Hanmer. ACT V. SCENE I. Capell. ¶ Kent. Iden’s garden.] Capell. A Garden in Kent. Pope. ¶ Cade.] F1 F2. Jack Cade. F3 F4. ¶ bdj001: ambition] F2 F3 F4. ambitions F1.

[bdj003] these] those Capell conj.

[bdj004] so] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[bdj006] on] o’er Hanmer.

[bdj010], bdj011: brain-pan] brain-pain Rowe (ed. 2).

[bdj012] bravely] toil’d by Lettsom conj.

[bdj014] Enter Iden.] Ff. Enter Iden, with Servants. Steevens, from (Qq). See note (XI).

[bdj018] and] and’s Rowe. and is Malone.

[bdj019] waning] waining Rowe (ed. 2). warning Ff.

[bdj023], bdj024: Here’s...leave.] Marked ‘Aside’ by Dyce and Staunton.

[bdj024] Ah,] Ah F3 F4. A F1 F2.

[bdj025] a thousand] a 1000. Ff.

[bdj034] [Enter five Servants. Anon. conj.

[bdj035] ay,] om. Pope.

[bdj037], bdj038: five men] (Qq) Ff. fine men Collier (Collier MS.).

[bdj038] all] om. Rowe.

[bdj041] an esquire] ’squire Capell.

[bdj043] steadfast-gazing] Capell. stedfast gazing Ff.

[bdj051] As for words] As for more words Rowe. As for mere words Mason conj. But as for words Anon. conj. ¶ words...words,] wordes--(whose...wordes?) Becket conj. ¶ bdj051, bdj052: As...what] As for more words, let this my sword report (Whose greatness answers words) what Hanmer.

[bdj054] the edge] thine edge F4.

[bdj055] chines] chaines F2.

[bdj056] God] Malone, from (Qq). Jove Ff.

[bdj057] [Here they fight.] Ff. ¶ Cade falls. Capell. om. Ff.

[bdj065] thee] thou Jackson conj.

[bdj069] that] F1. om. F2 F3 F4. which Rowe.

[bdj076] in] om. Lloyd conj.

[bdj080] off] of F4.

[bdj082] [Exit.] Ff. Exit, dragging out the Body. Capell. Exeunt, Iden dragging out the body, and Servants. Dyce.

[bea001] ACT V. SCENE I.] Pope. ACT V. SCENE II. Capell. ¶ Fields...Blackheath.] Malone. In the Fields near London. Pope. Fields near St Alban’s. Capell. ¶ Enter...] Ff. Two Camps pitch’d, the King’s, and Duke of York’s; on either side, one. Enter York, attended. Capell.

[bea005] sancta majestas] majesty Pope. santa maestá Capell conj. from (Qq).

[bea006] them...know] Rowe. them...knowes F1 F2. them...knows F3 F4. him...knows Capell conj.

[bea008] I cannot] It cannot Delius conj.

[bea010] soul] F3 F4. soule F1 F2. sword Johnson conj.

[bea011] flower-de-luce] fleure-de-luce F1 F2. floure-de-luce F3 F4.

[bea021] Should] Should’st Theobald.

[bea023]–bea031: Scarce...strong.] Marked ‘Aside’ by Rowe.

[bea027] or oxen] and oxen Capell.

[bea032] Buckingham] F1. O Buckingham F2 F3 F4.

[bea039] arms] aims Collier conj.

[bea043] prisoner.] F1 F4. prisoner? F2 F3.

[bea055] [Exeunt. Hanmer.

[bea056] SCENE II.] Pope. Scene changes to the King’s Pavilion. Theobald. ¶ Enter...] Ff. Enter.... Re-enter Buckingham and York, attended. Theobald.

[bea060] intends] F1 F2 F3. intend F4.

[bea061] heave] (Qq) F1 F2. have F3 F4.

[bea063] Who] F1. Whom F2 F3 F4. ¶ heard] hear Capell.

[bea065] pass] press S. Walker conj.

[bea071] art thou] wast thou Capell conj.

[bea072] an’t] Ff.

[bea074] Alexander Iden] Ev’n Alexander Iden Hanmer. Iden, Alexander Iden Edd. conj. ¶ Alexander...name] My name is Alexander Iden, sir Capell conj. ¶ name;] name, my liege; Keightley conj.

[bea075] loves his] F1. loves the F2. love the F3 F4.

[bea076] it] om. F4.

[bea077] his] this S. Walker conj.

[bea078] down. [He kneels.] Rise] Johnson. downe, rise Ff. down; and rise thou Hanmer.

[bea082] [Rises.] Collier (Collier MS.).

[bea083] SCENE III. Pope. ¶ See...Somerset] See, Buckingham! see who Capell conj.

[bea093] not king] F1. no king F2 F3 F4.

[bea094] govern and rule] rule and govern S. Walker conj.

[bea095] darest] dar’st F1. durst F2 F3 F4.

[bea099] these] F1. the F2 F3 F4.

[bea100] smile and frown] frown and smile Delius conj. ¶ like to] F1. like F2 F3 F4.

[bea103] act] enact Capell conj.

[bea109]–bea111: Theobald (Warburton) reads in this order: Sirrah...bail; Wouldst...man. ¶ bea109: kneel?] kneel? [pointing to his Troops, and Attendants. Capell. ¶ these] Theobald. three Id. conj. thee Ff. them Hanmer.

[bea111] sons] sonne F1. ¶ bail] F3 F4. bale F1. baile F2. [Exit...] Capell om. Ff.

[bea113] for] F2 F3 F4. of F1.

[bea116] [Exit Buckingham.] Capell. om. Ff. Exit an Attendant. Dyce.

[bea120] bail] F3 F4. baile F1 F2. ¶ bane] bale Theobald.

[bea121] boys!] Dyce. boyes. F1 F2 F3. boys. F4. ¶ Enter...] Ff.

[bea122] Enter...son.] Enter Clifford. Ff. Drums. Enter, from one side, the Lords Edward and Richard, Sons to York; and, from the other, Old Clifford and his Son; Forces with them both. Capell, from (Qq).

[bea124] [Kneels.] Johnson.

[bea125] I] We (Qq) Capell.

[bea126] us] F1. me F2 F3 F4.

[bea130] mistakest] F2 F3 F4. mistakes F1.

[bea135] chop] F1. crop F2 F3 F4.

[bea139] Edw.] F1 F2. Edm. F3 F4.

[bea143] thy] F1 F2. the F3 F4.

[bea146] fell-lurking] fell-barking Roderick conj. fell-lurching Heath conj. fell-looking Collier (Collier MS.). fell lurking Capell.

[bea147] Enter...] Drums. Enter W. and S., with Forces. Capell.

[bea148] SCENE IV. Pope. ¶ bait] F3 F4. bate F1. baite F2.

[bea149] bear-ward] berard F1 F2. bearard F3 F4.

[bea150] baiting] F3 F4. bayting F1 F2.

[bea152] Run] Turn Hanmer.

[bea153] being] having Collier (Collier MS.). ¶ with] within Keightley conj.

[bea154] between] betwixt F4.

[bea156] oppose] F1 F2. suppose F3 F4.

[bea157] Clif.] Y. C. (i. e. Young Clifford). Capell.

[bea169] dig...war] find out war to dig a grave Roderick conj.

[bea170] shame] stain S. Walker conj.

[bea174] mickle] F1. milckie F2. milky F3 F4.

[bea175] consider’d] Pope. considered Ff.

[bea181] an oath] a vow Capell.

[bea189] this] his F4.

[bea194] or] Rowe (ed. 2). and Ff.

[bea195], bea198, bea208: Clif.] Old Clif. Ff.

[bea196] to go] go Rowe.

[bea201] household] Malone, from (Qq). housed F1. houses F2 F3 F4.

[bea202] badge] age Capell, from (Qq).

[bea203] ragged] rugged Warburton.

[bea207] to] Rowe (ed. 2). io F1. so F2 F3 F4.

[bea210] bear-ward] bearard Ff.

[bea211] to arms] to arms, to arms Anon. conj. ¶ victorious] F1. victorious noble F2 F3 F4.

[bea212] the rebels] these traitors (Qq) Capell.

[bea216] [Exeunt severally.] Theobald. Exeunt. Ff. ¶ SCENE II.] Steevens. SCENE V. Pope. SCENE III. Capell. ¶ Saint Alban’s.] Capell. The Battle at St. Albans. Pope. ¶ Alarums to the battle.] (Qq). om. Ff.

[beb002] And if] An if Capell conj.

[beb004] dead men’s cries] (Qq) Ff. dy’ng mens cries Rowe. dying cries Roderick conj.

[beb008] noble] om. Johnson.

[beb011] Carrion kites] carrion, kytes F4.

[beb012] Enter old Clifford.] Enter Clifford. Ff.

[beb019] As two lines, the first ending Yorke? in Ff.

[beb024] now] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[beb027] lay] F1 F2. day F3 F4. ¶ [They...falls.] Capell. Fight. Pope. Omitted in Ff.

[beb028] couronne les œuvres] corrone les eumenes F1. corronne les oevres F2 F3 F4. ¶ [Dies.] Ff. They fight and Clifford falls and dies. Collier.

[beb031] confusion! all] Pope. confusion all Ff.

[beb036] soldier] souldier F1. souldiers F2 F3 F4.

[beb038] nor] for Pope.

[beb040] [Seeing his dead father] Theobald. om. Ff.

[beb041] premised] promised Delius conj.

[beb042] earth and heaven] heaven and earth Staunton.

[beb045] ordain’d] F1. ordained F2 F3 F4. ¶ dear] deere F1. O deere F2. O dear F3 F4.

[beb059] Absyrtus] Theobald. Absirtis Ff. Absirtus Rowe.

[beb065] [Exit...father.] Pope. Exit. Rowe. om. Ff. ¶ Somerset is killed.] Rowe. Omitted in Ff.

[beb066] See note (XII).

[beb067] For] Fall’n Johnson conj. ¶ an alehouse’ paltry] a paltry alehouse Anon. conj. from (Qq).

[beb071] [Exit.] Theobald. om. Ff.

[beb072] SCENE VI. Pope.

[beb074] nor fight] F1 F2. not fight F3 F4.

[beb078] should] shall Johnson.

[beb080] we] me Rowe (ed. 2).

[beb082] where] were F2.

[beb083] Re-enter young C.] Dyce. Enter C. Ff. Other Alarums. Enter young C. Capell.

[beb084] Y. Clif.] Clif. Ff. ¶ heart’s] F2 F3 F4. hearts F1.

[beb086] uncurable] incurable Pope (ed. 2). ¶ discomfit] discomfite Ff. discomfort Capell conj.

[beb087] parts] pow’rs Hanmer. party Warburton. friends Collier MS.

[bec001] SCENE III.] Steevens. SCENE VII. Pope. Scene IV. Capell. Theobald continues the scene. ¶ Fields......] Malone. Fields without the Town. Capell. ¶ bec001: Of] Old Collier (Collier MS.), from (Qq).

[bec003] brush] bruise Warburton. ¶ of] F1 F2. off F3 F4.

[bec004] brow] blow Johnson conj. browse Becket conj. bloom Collier (Collier MS.). glow Anon. conj.

[bec008] holp] holpe F1. hope F2 F3 F4.

[bec012] a] F1 F2. an F3 F4.

[bec014] as he is, look] as he is,--Look Delius conj.

[bec016] By the] By’ th’ F1 F2 F3. By th’ F4.

[bec019] imminent] F1 F2. eminent F3. Eminent F4.

[bec027] them?] F2 F3 F4. them: F1.

[bec029] faith] (Qq) Malone. hand Ff.

[bec032] drums] (Qq) Hanmer. drumme F1 F2. drum F3 F4.

[bec033] these] this Hanmer.

NOTES TO II KING HENRY VI.

NOTE I.

I. 1. 62. This passage, which is printed as prose in the Quartos, is arranged and read by Capell thus:

‘And girt thee with the sword.-- Cousin of York, we here discharge your grace From being regent in the parts of France, ’Till term of eighteen months be full expir’d.-- Thanks, uncle Winchester, Gloster, York, and Buckingham, Somerset, Salisbury, and Warwick, thanks: We thank you, &c.’

NOTE II.

I. 3. 208. Theobald inserts here two lines from the old play:

‘K. Hen. Then be it so: My Lord of Somerset, We make your Grace Regent over the French.’

We have omitted them, agreeing with Capell, Malone, Mr Knight, Mr Collier, and Mr Grant White, that their insertion is not absolutely necessary. Besides Shakespeare would hardly have left so lame a line as the second unaltered. It is possible that some such line as the following may have dropped out:

‘King. Then be it so: this is King Henry’s doom.’

NOTE III.

I. 4. At the commencement of this scene Rowe, and Pope in his first edition, inserted the stage direction ‘Flourish’ which belongs to the end of the previous scene. Pope, in his second edition, omitted it altogether, and Theobald restored it to its right place.

NOTE IV.

II. 1. 84. Having recorded up to this point throughout the scene all the cases in which the arrangement of the lines in the Folios is defective, we have thought it unnecessary to do so any more, except where there is any doubt as to what the true arrangement should be. The restoration of the metre is, in almost all instances, due to Pope.

NOTE V.

II. 1. 125–132. In the first Folio this passage stands as follows:

‘Then Saunder, sit there, The lying’st Knave in Christendome. If thou hadst beene borne blind, Thou might’st as well haue knowne all our Names, As thus to name the seuerall Colours we doe weare. Sight may distinguish of Colours: But suddenly to nominate them all, It is impossible. My Lords, Saint Albone here hath done a Miracle: And would ye not thinke it, Cunning to be great, That could restore this Cripple to his Legges againe.’

Pope alters the first four lines thus:

‘Saunder, sit there, the lying’st knave in christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, Thou might’st as well know all our names, as thus To know the several colours we do wear.’

The following is Hanmer’s reading of the first six lines:

‘Then, Saunder, sit thou there, the lying’st knave In christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, Thou might’st as well know all our names, as thus To know the several colours we do wear. Sight may distinguish colours: true, but suddenly To nominate them all, it is impossible.’

In the rest of the scene several arbitrary changes have been made by different editors for the sake of the metre.

NOTE VI.

II. 2. 45, 46. The first Folio has the whole passage thus:

‘His eldest Sister, Anne, My Mother being Heire vnto the Crowne, Marryed Richard, Earle of Cambridge, Who was to Edmond Langley, Edward the thirds fift Sonnes Sonne; By her I clayme the Kingdome: She was Heire to Roger, Earle of March, Who was the Sonne of Edmond Mortimer Who marryed Phillip, sole Daughter Vnto Lionel, Duke of Clarence.’

The later Folios follow the first, except that in the seventh line they read ‘She then was’ for ‘She was.’

Rowe read, ‘Who was son to Edmond Langley,’ but made no other change; and Pope followed him.

Theobald read:

‘Who was the son to Edmond Langley, Edward the Third’s fifth son.’--

and arranged the following lines as they are found in our text.

Hanmer:

‘Who was the son of Edmund Langley, Edward the Third’s fifth son’s son, and by her I claim the kingdom, for she then was heir To Roger &c.’

It was Capell who arranged the earlier lines of the speech as we have given them. Steevens, as usual, adopted his arrangement without acknowledging the obligation.

Mr Collier, in his first edition, read:

‘Married Richard Earl of Cambridge; who was To Edmond Langley Edward the third’s fifth son, son.’

NOTE VII.

III. 1. We retain here Salisbury and Warwick among the persons who enter to the parliament, because they are found both in the Folios and Quartos. In the latter their ‘exeunt’ is also marked. Capell was the first to omit them because they do not speak throughout the scene.

NOTE VIII.

III. 2. 11. The murderer’s answer ’Tis, which Rowe changed to Yes without authority, shows that we ought to retain the Is of the first Folio notwithstanding the grammatical inaccuracy. In the Quartos the murderer says, ‘All things is hansome now my Lord.’

NOTE IX.

III. 2. 26. We have left ‘Nell’ in the text as the mistake is, in all probability, Shakespeare’s own. He was thinking of the Duchess of Gloucester. Oddly enough neither Rowe nor Pope discovered the blunder. Shakespeare again wrote ‘Elianor’ or ‘Elinor’ for ‘Margaret’ in the 79th, the 100th, and 120th lines of this scene. In Henry V. V. 1. the author has made a similar mistake and written ‘Doll’ for ‘Nell.’ See also note VII on The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

NOTE X.

III. 2. 182. This is a striking example of the way in which corrections were made in the successive Folios; i.e. by mere guess-work, without reference to the first. The true reading escaped the notice of all editors before Capell.

NOTE XI.

IV. 10. 14. By comparing this scene as it stands in the Quartos with that of the Folios it will appear that Shakespeare, in remodelling it, intended that Iden should be alone when he encountered Cade, as his first speech is evidently a soliloquy; and after he has killed Cade he disposes of the body with his own hands. Shakespeare omitted, however, to strike out the reference to the ‘five men’ in line 36.

Steevens who brought the servants on the stage forgot to send them off it. The mistake remained uncorrected down to Mr Dyce’s first edition.

Another example of Shakespeare’s incomplete alteration of the Quarto has been pointed out by Malone at V. 1. 56.

NOTE XII.

V. 2. 66. Malone, referring to the corresponding passage of the Quartos, supposes that a line has been omitted, to the following effect:

‘Behold, the prophecy is come to pass; For, &c.’

THE THIRD PART OF KING HENRY THE SIXTH.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ†.

KING HENRY the Sixth. EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES, his son. LEWIS XI. KING OF FRANCE. DUKE OF SOMERSET. DUKE OF EXETER. EARL OF OXFORD. EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND. EARL OF WESTMORELAND. LORD CLIFFORD. RICHARD PLANTAGENET, Duke of York. his sons: EDWARD, Earl of March, afterwards King Edward IV., EDMUND, Earl of Rutland, GEORGE, afterwards Duke of Clarence, RICHARD, afterwards Duke of Gloucester, DUKE OF NORFOLK. MARQUESS OF MONTAGUE. EARL OF WARWICK. EARL OF PEMBROKE. LORD HASTINGS. LORD STAFFORD. uncles to the Duke of York. SIR JOHN MORTIMER, SIR HUGH MORTIMER, HENRY, Earl of Richmond, a youth. LORD RIVERS, brother to Lady Grey. SIR WILLIAM STANLEY. SIR JOHN MONTGOMERY. SIR JOHN SOMERVILLE. Tutor to Rutland. Mayor of York. Lieutenant of the Tower. A Nobleman. Two Keepers. A Huntsman. A Son that has killed his father. A Father that has killed his son. QUEEN MARGARET. LADY GREY, afterwards Queen to Edward IV. BONA, sister to the French Queen.

Soldiers, Attendants, Messengers, Watchmen, &c.

SCENE: England and France.

────────── † DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. First given, imperfectly, by Rowe.

THE THIRD PART OF KING HENRY VI.

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Act I, Scene I — London. The Parliament-house

Alarum. Enter the DUKE OF YORK, EDWARD, RICHARD, NORFOLK, MONTAGUE, WARWICK, and Soldiers.

War. I wonder how the king escaped our hands. [caa001]

York. While we pursued the horsemen of the north, He slily stole away and left his men: Whereat the great Lord of Northumberland, Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat, ·caa005· Cheer’d up the drooping army; and himself, Lord Clifford and Lord Stafford, all a-breast, Charged our main battle’s front, and breaking in Were by the swords of common soldiers slain.

Edw. Lord Stafford’s father, Duke of Buckingham, ·caa010· Is either slain or wounded dangerously; [caa011] I cleft his beaver with a downright blow: That this is true, father, behold his blood. [caa013]

Mont. And, brother, here’s the Earl of Wiltshire’s blood, [caa014] Whom I encounter’d as the battles join’d. ·caa015·

Rich. Speak thou for me and tell them what I did. [caa016] [Throwing down the Duke of Somerset’s head.

York. Richard hath best deserved of all my sons. But is your grace dead, my Lord of Somerset? [caa018]

Norf. Such hope have all the line of John of Gaunt! [caa019]

Rich. Thus do I hope to shake King Henry’s head. [caa020]

War. And so do I. Victorious Prince of York, [caa021] Before I see thee seated in that throne [caa022] Which now the house of Lancaster usurps, I vow by heaven these eyes shall never close. This is the palace of the fearful king, ·caa025· And this the regal seat: possess it, York; For this is thine and not King Henry’s heirs’. [caa027]

York. Assist me, then, sweet Warwick, and I will; For hither we have broken in by force. [caa029]

Norf. We’ll all assist you; he that flies shall die. ·caa030·

York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk: stay by me, my lords; And, soldiers, stay and lodge by me this night. [caa032] [They go up.

War. And when the king comes, offer him no violence, Unless he seek to thrust you out perforce. [caa034]

York. The queen this day here holds her parliament, ·caa035· But little thinks we shall be of her council: [caa036] By words or blows here let us win our right.

Rich. Arm’d as we are, let’s stay within this house.

War. The bloody parliament shall this be call’d, Unless Plantagenet, Duke of York, be king, ·caa040· And bashful Henry deposed, whose cowardice [caa041] Hath made us by-words to our enemies.

York. Then leave me not, my lords; be resolute; [caa043] I mean to take possession of my right.

War. Neither the king, nor he that loves him best, ·caa045· The proudest he that holds up Lancaster, Dares stir a wing, if Warwick shake his bells. I’ll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares: [caa048] Resolve thee, Richard; claim the English crown. [caa049]

Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, CLIFFORD, NORTHUMBERLAND, WESTMORELAND, EXETER, and the rest.

K. Hen. My lords, look where the sturdy rebel sits, [caa050] Even in the chair of state: belike he means, Back’d by the power of Warwick, that false peer, To aspire unto the crown and reign as king. Earl of Northumberland, he slew thy father, And thine, Lord Clifford; and you both have vow’d revenge [caa055] On him, his sons, his favourites and his friends.

North. If I be not, heavens be revenged on me! [caa057]

Clif. The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn in steel.

West. What, shall we suffer this? let’s pluck him down: My heart for anger burns; I cannot brook it. ·caa060·

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

Clif. Patience is for poltroons, such as he: [caa062] He durst not sit there, had your father lived. My gracious lord, here in the parliament Let us assail the family of York. ·caa065·

North. Well hast thou spoken, cousin: be it so. [caa066]

K. Hen. Ah, know you not the city favours them, And they have troops of soldiers at their beck?

Exe. But when the duke is slain, they’ll quickly fly. [caa069]

K. Hen. Far be the thought of this from Henry’s heart, [caa070] To make a shambles of the parliament-house! Cousin of Exeter, frowns, words and threats Shall be the war that Henry means to use. [caa073] Thou factious Duke of York, descend my throne, And kneel for grace and mercy at my feet; ·caa075· I am thy sovereign.

York. I am thine. [caa076]

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

York. ’Twas my inheritance, as the earldom was. [caa078]

Exe. Thy father was a traitor to the crown.

War. Exeter, thou art a traitor to the crown ·caa080· In following this usurping Henry.

Clif. Whom should he follow but his natural king?

War. True, Clifford; and that’s Richard Duke of York. [caa083]

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

York. It must and shall be so: content thyself. ·caa085·

War. Be Duke of Lancaster; let him be king.

West. He is both king and Duke of Lancaster; And that the Lord of Westmoreland shall maintain.

War. And Warwick shall disprove it. You forget That we are those which chased you from the field ·caa090· And slew your fathers, and with colours spread March’d through the city to the palace gates.

North. Yes, Warwick, I remember it to my grief; [caa093] And, by his soul, thou and thy house shall rue it.

West. Plantagenet, of thee and these thy sons, ·caa095· Thy kinsmen and thy friends, I’ll have more lives Than drops of blood were in my father’s veins.

Clif. Urge it no more; lest that, instead of words, I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger As shall revenge his death before I stir. ·caa100·

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

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

K. Hen. What title hast thou, traitor, to the crown? Thy father was, as thou art, Duke of York; [caa105] Thy grandfather, Roger Mortimer, Earl of March: I am the son of Henry the Fifth, Who made the Dauphin and the French to stoop And seized upon their towns and provinces.

War. Talk not of France, sith thou hast lost it all. ·caa110·

K. Hen. The lord protector lost it, and not I: When I was crown’d I was but nine months old.

Rich. You are old enough now, and yet, methinks, you lose. [caa113] Father, tear the crown from the usurper’s head. [caa114]

Edw. Sweet father, do so; set it on your head. ·caa115·

Mont. Good brother, as thou lovest and honourest arms, [caa116] Let’s fight it out and not stand cavilling thus.

Rich. Sound drums and trumpets, and the king will fly.

York. Sons, peace!

K. Hen. Peace, thou! and give King Henry leave to speak. ·caa120·

War. Plantagenet shall speak first: hear him, lords; And be you silent and attentive too, For he that interrupts him shall not live.

K. Hen. Think’st thou that I will leave my kingly throne, Wherein my grandsire and my father sat? ·caa125· No: first shall war unpeople this my realm; Ay, and their colours, often borne in France, And now in England to our heart’s great sorrow, Shall be my winding-sheet. Why faint you, lords? My title’s good, and better far than his. ·caa130·

War. Prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be king. [caa131]

K. Hen. Henry the Fourth by conquest got the crown.

York. ’Twas by rebellion against his king.

K. Hen. [Aside] I know not what to say; my title’s weak. [caa134] Tell me, may not a king adopt an heir? ·caa135·

York. What then?

K. Hen. An if he may, then am I lawful king; [caa137] For Richard, in the view of many lords, Resign’d the crown to Henry the Fourth, Whose heir my father was, and I am his. ·caa140·

York. He rose against him, being his sovereign, And made him to resign his crown perforce. [caa142]

War. Suppose, my lords, he did it unconstrain’d, Think you ’twere prejudicial to his crown? [caa144]

Exe. No; for he could not so resign his crown ·caa145· But that the next heir should succeed and reign.

K. Hen. Art thou against us, Duke of Exeter?

Exe. His is the right, and therefore pardon me.

York. Why whisper you, my lords, and answer not?

Exe. My conscience tells me he is lawful king. [caa150]

K. Hen. [Aside] All will revolt from me, and turn to him.

North. Plantagenet, for all the claim thou lay’st, Think not that Henry shall be so deposed.

War. Deposed he shall be, in despite of all. [caa154]

North. Thou art deceived: ’tis not thy southern power, [caa155] Of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, nor of Kent, Which makes thee thus presumptuous and proud, Can set the duke up in despite of me.

Clif. King Henry, be thy title right or wrong, Lord Clifford vows to fight in thy defence: ·caa160· May that ground gape and swallow me alive, Where I shall kneel to him that slew my father!

K. Hen. O Clifford, how thy words revive my heart!

York. Henry of Lancaster, resign thy crown. [caa164] What mutter you, or what conspire you, lords? ·caa165·

War. Do right unto this princely Duke of York, Or I will fill the house with armed men, And over the chair of state, where now he sits, [caa168] Write up his title with usurping blood. [_He stamps with his foot, and the Soldiers show themselves._

K. Hen. My Lord of Warwick, hear me but one word: [caa170] Let me for this my life-time reign as king.

York. Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs, [caa171] And thou shalt reign in quiet while thou livest.

King. I am content: Richard Plantagenet, Enjoy the kingdom after my decease. ·caa175·

Clif. What wrong is this unto the prince your son!

War. What good is this to England and himself!

West. Base, fearful and despairing Henry!

Clif. How hast thou injured both thyself and us!

West. I cannot stay to hear these articles. ·caa180·

North. Nor I.

Clif. Come, cousin, let us tell the queen these news.

West. Farewell, faint-hearted and degenerate king, In whose cold blood no spark of honour bides.

North. Be thou a prey unto the house of York, ·caa185· And die in bands for this unmanly deed!

Clif. In dreadful war mayst thou be overcome, Or live in peace abandon’d and despised! [caa188] [Exeunt North., Cliff., and West.

War. Turn this way, Henry, and regard them not. [caa189]

Exe. They seek revenge and therefore will not yield. ·caa190·

K. Hen. Ah, Exeter!

War. Why should you sigh, my lord?

K. Hen. Not for myself, Lord Warwick, but my son, Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit. But be it as it may: I here entail The crown to thee and to thine heirs for ever; ·caa195· Conditionally, that here thou take an oath [caa196] To cease this civil war, and, whilst I live, To honour me as thy king and sovereign, And neither by treason nor hostility [caa199] To seek to put me down and reign thyself. ·caa200·

York. This oath I willingly take and will perform. [caa201]

War. Long live King Henry! Plantagenet, embrace him.

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

York. Now York and Lancaster are reconciled.

Exe. Accursed be he that seeks to make them foes! [caa205] [Sennet. Here they come down.

York. Farewell, my gracious lord; I’ll to my castle.

War. And I’ll keep London with my soldiers.

Norf. And I to Norfolk with my followers.

Mont. And I unto the sea from whence I came. [caa209] [_Exeunt York and his Sons, Warwick, Norfolk, Montague, their Soldiers, and Attendants._

K. Hen. And I, with grief and sorrow, to the court. [caa210]

Enter QUEEN MARGARET and the PRINCE OF WALES.

Exe. Here comes the queen, whose looks bewray her anger: [caa211] I’ll steal away.

K. Hen. Exeter, so will I. [caa212]

Q. Mar. Nay, go not from me; I will follow thee.

K. Hen. Be patient, gentle queen, and I will stay.

Q. Mar. Who can be patient in such extremes? ·caa215· Ah, wretched man! would I had died a maid, And never seen thee, never borne thee son, Seeing thou hast proved so unnatural a father! Hath he deserved to lose his birthright thus? Hadst thou but loved him half so well as I, [caa220] Or felt that pain which I did for him once, Or nourish’d him as I did with my blood, Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there, Rather than have made that savage duke thine heir [caa224] And disinherited thine only son. ·caa225·

Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me: If you be king, why should not I succeed?

K. Hen. Pardon me, Margaret; pardon me, sweet son: The Earl of Warwick and the duke enforced me.

Q. Mar. Enforced thee! art thou king, and wilt be forced? ·caa230· I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch! Thou hast undone thyself, thy son and me; And given unto the house of York such head As thou shalt reign but by their sufferance. To entail him and his heirs unto the crown, [caa235] What is it, but to make thy sepulchre And creep into it far before thy time? Warwick is chancellor and the lord of Calais; Stern Falconbridge commands the narrow seas; The duke is made protector of the realm; ·caa240· And yet shalt thou be safe? such safety finds The trembling lamb environed with wolves. Had I been there, which am a silly woman, The soldiers should have toss’d me on their pikes Before I would have granted to that act. [caa245] But thou preferr’st thy life before thine honour: And seeing thou dost, I here divorce myself Both from thy table, Henry, and thy bed, Until that act of parliament be repeal’d Whereby my son is disinherited. ·caa250· The northern lords that have forsworn thy colours Will follow mine, if once they see them spread; And spread they shall be, to thy foul disgrace And utter ruin of the house of York. Thus do I leave thee. Come, son, let’s away; ·caa255· Our army is ready; come, we’ll after them. [caa256]

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

Q. Mar. Thou hast spoke too much already: get thee gone.

K. Hen. Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay with me? [caa259]

Q. Mar. Ay, to be murder’d by his enemies. ·caa260·

Prince. When I return with victory from the field [caa261] I’ll see your grace: till then I’ll follow her.

Q. Mar. Come, son, away; we may not linger thus. [caa263] [Exeunt Queen Margaret and the Prince.

K. Hen. Poor queen! how love to me and to her son [caa264] Hath made her break out into terms of rage! ·caa265· Revenged may she be on that hateful duke, Whose haughty spirit, winged with desire, Will cost my crown, and like an empty eagle [caa268] Tire on the flesh of me and of my son! The loss of those three lords torments my heart: ·caa270· I’ll write unto them and entreat them fair. Come, cousin, you shall be the messenger.

Exe. And I, I hope, shall reconcile them all. [caa273] [Exeunt.

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Act I, Scene II — Sandal Castle

Enter RICHARD, EDWARD, and MONTAGUE.

Rich. Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave. [cab001]

Edw. No, I can better play the orator.

Mont. But I have reasons strong and forcible.

Enter the DUKE OF YORK.

York. Why, how now, sons and brother! at a strife? [cab004] What is your quarrel? how began it first? ·cab005·

Edw. No quarrel, but a slight contention. [cab006]

York. About what?

Rich. About that which concerns your grace and us; The crown of England, father, which is yours.

York. Mine, boy? not till King Henry be dead. [cab010]

Rich. Your right depends not on his life or death.

Edw. Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it now: By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe, It will outrun you, father, in the end.

York. I took an oath that he should quietly reign. ·cab015·

Edw. But for a kingdom any oath may be broken: I would break a thousand oaths to reign one year. [cab017]

Rich. No; God forbid your grace should be forsworn.

York. I shall be, if I claim by open war.

Rich. I’ll prove the contrary, if you’ll hear me speak. ·cab020·

York. Thou canst not, son; it is impossible.

Rich. An oath is of no moment, being not took Before a true and lawful magistrate, That hath authority over him that swears: [cab024] Henry had none, but did usurp the place; ·cab025· Then, seeing ’twas he that made you to depose, Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous. Therefore, to arms! And, father, do but think How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown; Within whose circuit is Elysium ·cab030· And all that poets feign of bliss and joy. Why do we linger thus? I cannot rest Until the white rose that I wear be dyed Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry’s heart.

York. Richard, enough; I will be king, or die. ·cab035· Brother, thou shalt to London presently, [cab036] And whet on Warwick to this enterprise. Thou, Richard, shalt to the Duke of Norfolk, [cab038] And tell him privily of our intent. You, Edward, shall unto my Lord Cobham, [cab040] With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise: In them I trust; for they are soldiers, Witty, courteous, liberal, full of spirit. [cab043] While you are thus employ’d, what resteth more, But that I seek occasion how to rise, ·cab045· And yet the king not privy to my drift, [cab046] Nor any of the house of Lancaster? [cab047]

Enter a Messenger.

But, stay: what news? Why comest thou in such post?

Gabr. The queen with all the northern earls and lords [cab049]

Intend here to besiege you in your castle: [cab050] She is hard by with twenty thousand men; And therefore fortify your hold, my lord.

York. Ay, with my sword. What! think’st thou that we fear them? [cab053] Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me; My brother Montague shall post to London: [cab055] Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest, Whom we have left protectors of the king, With powerful policy strengthen themselves, And trust not simple Henry nor his oaths.

Mont. Brother, I go; I’ll win them, fear it not: [cab060] And thus most humbly I do take my leave. [Exit. [cab061]

Enter SIR JOHN MORTIMER and SIR HUGH MORTIMER.

York. Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles, [cab062] You are come to Sandal in a happy hour; The army of the queen mean to besiege us. [cab064]

Sir John. She shall not need; we’ll meet her in the field. ·cab065·

York. What, with five thousand men?

Rich. Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need: A woman’s general; what should we fear? [A march afar off.

Edw. I hear their drums: let’s set our men in order, [cab069] And issue forth and bid them battle straight. ·cab070·

York. Five men to twenty! though the odds be great, I doubt not, uncle, of our victory. Many a battle have I won in France, When as the enemy hath been ten to one: Why should I not now have the like success? [cab075] [Alarum. Exeunt.

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Act I, Scene III — Field of battle betwixt Sandal Castle and Wakefield

Alarums. Enter RUTLAND and his Tutor.

Rut. Ah, whither shall I fly to ’scape their hands? [cac001] Ah, tutor, look where bloody Clifford comes! [cac002]

Enter CLIFFORD and Soldiers.

Clif. Chaplain, away! thy priesthood saves thy life. As for the brat of this accursed duke, [cac004] Whose father slew my father, he shall die. [cac005]

Tut. And I, my lord, will bear him company.

Clif. Soldiers, away with him! [cac007]

Tut. Ah, Clifford, murder not this innocent child, Lest thou be hated both of God and man! [cac009] [Exit, dragged off by Soldiers.

Clif. How now! is he dead already? or is it fear [cac010] That makes him close his eyes? I’ll open them.

Rut. So looks the pent-up lion o’er the wretch That trembles under his devouring paws; [cac013] And so he walks, insulting o’er his prey, And so he comes, to rend his limbs asunder. ·cac015· Ah, gentle Clifford, kill me with thy sword, And not with such a cruel threatening look. Sweet Clifford, hear me speak before I die. I am too mean a subject for thy wrath: Be thou revenged on men, and let me live. ·cac020·

Clif. In vain thou speak’st, poor boy; my father’s blood [cac021] Hath stopp’d the passage where thy words should enter.

Rut. Then let my father’s blood open it again: [cac023] He is a man, and, Clifford, cope with him.

Clif. Had I thy brethren here, their lives and thine ·cac025· Were not revenge sufficient for me; No, if I digg’d up thy forefathers’ graves And hung their rotten coffins up in chains, It could not slake mine ire, nor ease my heart. The sight of any of the house of York [cac030] Is as a fury to torment my soul; And till I root out their accursed line And leave not one alive, I live in hell. Therefore-- [Lifting his hand. [cac034]

Rut. O, let me pray before I take my death! ·cac035· To thee I pray; sweet Clifford, pity me!

Clif. Such pity as my rapier’s point affords.

Rut. I never did thee harm: why wilt thou slay me?

Clif. Thy father hath.

Rut. But ’twas ere I was born. Thou hast one son; for his sake pity me, ·cac040· Lest in revenge thereof, sith God is just, He be as miserably slain as I. Ah, let me live in prison all my days; And when I give occasion of offence, Then let me die, for now thou hast no cause. ·cac045·

Clif. No cause! Thy father slew my father; therefore, die. [cac047] [Stabs him.

Rut. Di faciant laudis summa sit ista tuæ! [cac048] [Dies.

Clif. Plantagenet! I come, Plantagenet! And this thy son’s blood cleaving to my blade ·cac050· Shall rust upon my weapon, till thy blood, Congeal’d with this, do make me wipe off both. [cac052] [Exit.

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Act I, Scene IV — Another part of the field

Alarum. Enter RICHARD, Duke of York.

York. The army of the queen hath got the field: [cad001] My uncles both are slain in rescuing me; And all my followers to the eager foe Turn back and fly, like ships before the wind Or lambs pursued by hunger-starved wolves. ·cad005· My sons, God knows what hath bechanced them: But this I know, they have demean’d themselves Like men born to renown by life or death. Three times did Richard make a lane to me, And thrice cried ‘Courage, father! fight it out!’ ·cad010· And full as oft came Edward to my side, With purple falchion, painted to the hilt In blood of those that had encounter’d him: And when the hardiest warriors did retire, Richard cried, ‘Charge! and give no foot of ground!’ ·cad015· And cried, ‘A crown, or else a glorious tomb! [cad016] A sceptre, or an earthly sepulchre!’ With this, we charged again: but, out, alas! We bodged again; as I have seen a swan [cad019] With bootless labour swim against the tide ·cad020· And spend her strength with over-matching waves. [A short alarum within. Ah, hark! the fatal followers do pursue; And I am faint, and cannot fly their fury: And were I strong, I would not shun their fury: The sands are number’d that make up my life; [cad025] Here must I stay, and here my life must end. [cad026]

Enter QUEEN MARGARET, CLIFFORD, NORTHUMBERLAND, the young Prince, and Soldiers.

Come, bloody Clifford, rough Northumberland, I dare your quenchless fury to more rage: I am your butt, and I abide your shot.

North. Yield to our mercy, proud Plantagenet. ·cad030·

Clif. Ay, to such mercy as his ruthless arm, With downright payment, show’d unto my father. Now Phaëthon hath tumbled from his car, And made an evening at the noontide prick.

York. My ashes, as the phœnix, may bring forth [cad035] A bird that will revenge upon you all: And in that hope I throw mine eyes to heaven, Scorning whate’er you can afflict me with. Why come you not? what! multitudes, and fear?

Clif. So cowards fight when they can fly no further; ·cad040· So doves do peck the falcon’s piercing talons; So desperate thieves, all hopeless of their lives, Breathe out invectives ’gainst the officers.

York. O Clifford, but bethink thee once again, And in thy thought o’er-run my former time; ·cad045· And, if thou canst for blushing, view this face, And bite thy tongue, that slanders him with cowardice Whose frown hath made thee faint and fly ere this!

Clif. I will not bandy with thee word for word, But buckle with thee blows, twice two for one. [cad050]

Q. Mar. Hold, valiant Clifford! for a thousand causes I would prolong awhile the traitor’s life. Wrath makes him deaf: speak thou, Northumberland.

North. Hold, Clifford! do not honour him so much To prick thy finger, though to wound his heart: ·cad055· What valour were it, when a cur doth grin, For one to thrust his hand between his teeth, When he might spurn him with his foot away? It is war’s prize to take all vantages; [cad059] And ten to one is no impeach of valour. [cad060] [They lay hands on York, who struggles.

Clif. Ay, ay, so strives the woodcock with the gin.

North. So doth the cony struggle in the net. [cad062]

York. So triumph thieves upon their conquer’d booty; So true men yield, with robbers so o’er-match’d. [cad064]

North. What would your grace have done unto him now? ·cad065·

Q. Mar. Brave warriors, Clifford and Northumberland, Come, make him stand upon this molehill here, That raught at mountains with outstretched arms, [cad068] Yet parted but the shadow with his hand. What! was it you that would be England’s king? ·cad070· Was’t you that revell’d in our parliament, And made a preachment of your high descent? [cad072] Where are your mess of sons to back you now? [cad073] The wanton Edward, and the lusty George? And where’s that valiant crook-back prodigy, ·cad075· Dicky your boy, that with his grumbling voice Was wont to cheer his dad in mutinies? Or, with the rest, where is your darling Rutland? Look, York: I stain’d this napkin with the blood That valiant Clifford, with his rapier’s point, ·cad080· Made issue from the bosom of the boy; And if thine eyes can water for his death, [cad082] I give thee this to dry thy cheeks withal. Alas, poor York! but that I hate thee deadly, I should lament thy miserable state. ·cad085· I prithee, grieve, to make me merry, York. What, hath thy fiery heart so parch’d thine entrails

That not a tear can fall for Rutland’s death? Why art thou patient, man? thou shouldst be mad; And I, to make thee mad, do mock thee thus. ·cad090· Stamp, rave, and fret, that I may sing and dance. [cad091] Thou wouldst be fee’d, I see, to make me sport: York cannot speak, unless he wear a crown. A crown for York! and, lords, bow low to him: Hold you his hands, whilst I do set it on. [cad095] [Putting a paper crown on his head. Ay, marry, sir, now looks he like a king! Ay, this is he that took King Henry’s chair; And this is he was his adopted heir. [cad098] But how is it that great Plantagenet Is crown’d so soon, and broke his solemn oath? [cad100] As I bethink me, you should not be king Till our King Henry had shook hands with death. And will you pale your head in Henry’s glory, And rob his temples of the diadem, Now in his life, against your holy oath? [cad105] O, ’tis a fault too too unpardonable! Off with the crown; and, with the crown, his head; And, whilst we breathe, take time to do him dead.

Clif. That is my office, for my father’s sake. [cad109]

Q. Mar. Nay, stay; let’s hear the orisons he makes. [cad110]

York. She-wolf of France, but worse than wolves of France, [cad111] Whose tongue more poisons than the adder’s tooth! How ill-beseeming is it in thy sex To triumph, like an Amazonian trull, Upon their woes whom fortune captivates! ·cad115· But that thy face is, visard-like, unchanging, Made impudent with use of evil deeds, [cad117] I would assay, proud queen, to make thee blush. [cad118] To tell thee whence thou camest, of whom derived, Were shame enough to shame thee, wert thou not shameless. [cad120] Thy father bears the type of King of Naples, [cad121] Of both the Sicils and Jerusalem, Yet not so wealthy as an English yeoman. Hath that poor monarch taught thee to insult? It needs not, nor it boots thee not, proud queen, ·cad125· Unless the adage must be verified, That beggars mounted run their horse to death. ’Tis beauty that doth oft make women proud; But, God he knows, thy share thereof is small: ’Tis virtue that doth make them most admired; ·cad130· The contrary doth make thee wonder’d at: ’Tis government that makes them seem divine; The want thereof makes thee abominable: Thou art as opposite to every good As the Antipodes are unto us, ·cad135· Or as the south to the septentrion. O tiger’s heart wrapp’d in a woman’s hide! [cad137] How couldst thou drain the life-blood of the child, To bid the father wipe his eyes withal, And yet be seen to bear a woman’s face? ·cad140· Women are soft, mild, pitiful and flexible; [cad141] Thou stern, obdurate, flinty, rough, remorseless. Bid’st thou me rage? why, now thou hast thy wish: Wouldst have me weep? why, now thou hast thy will: For raging wind blows up incessant showers, ·cad145· And when the rage allays, the rain begins. These tears are my sweet Rutland’s obsequies: And every drop cries vengeance for his death, [cad148] ’Gainst thee, fell Clifford, and thee, false Frenchwoman.

North. Beshrew me, but his passion moves me so [cad150] That hardly can I check my eyes from tears. [cad151]

York. That face of his the hungry cannibals [cad152] Would not have touch’d, would not have stain’d with blood: [cad153] But you are more inhuman, more inexorable, O, ten times more, than tigers of Hyrcania. ·cad155· See, ruthless queen, a hapless father’s tears: This cloth thou dip’dst in blood of my sweet boy, And I with tears do wash the blood away. Keep thou the napkin, and go boast of this: [cad159] And if thou tell’st the heavy story right, ·cad160· Upon my soul, the hearers will shed tears; Yea even my foes will shed fast-falling tears, And say ‘Alas, it was a piteous deed!’ There, take the crown, and, with the crown, my curse; [cad164] And in thy need such comfort come to thee ·cad165· As now I reap at thy too cruel hand! Hard-hearted Clifford, take me from the world: My soul to heaven, my blood upon your heads!

North. Had he been slaughter-man to all my kin, [cad169] I should not for my life but weep with him, [cad170] To see how inly sorrow gripes his soul.

Q. Mar. What, weeping-ripe, my Lord Northumberland? [cad172] Think but upon the wrong he did us all, And that will quickly dry thy melting tears.

Clif. Here’s for my oath, here’s for my father’s death. [cad175] [Stabbing him.

Q. Mar. And here’s to right our gentle-hearted king. [cad176] [Stabbing him.

York. Open Thy gate of mercy, gracious God! My soul flies through these wounds to seek out Thee. [cad178] [Dies.

Q. Mar. Off with his head, and set it on York gates; So York may overlook the town of York. [cad180] [Flourish. Exeunt.

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Act II, Scene I — A plain near Mortimer’s Cross in Herefordshire

A march. Enter EDWARD, RICHARD, and their power.

Edw. I wonder how our princely father ’scaped, [cba001] Or whether he be ’scaped away or no From Clifford’s and Northumberland’s pursuit: [cba003] Had he been ta’en, we should have heard the news; Had he been slain, we should have heard the news; ·cba005· Or had he ’scaped, methinks we should have heard The happy tidings of his good escape. How fares my brother? why is he so sad?

Rich. I cannot joy, until I be resolved Where our right valiant father is become. ·cba010· I saw him in the battle range about; And watch’d him how he singled Clifford forth. Methought he bore him in the thickest troop As doth a lion in a herd of neat; Or as a bear, encompass’d round with dogs, ·cba015· Who having pinch’d a few and made them cry, The rest stand all aloof, and bark at him. So fared our father with his enemies; So fled his enemies my warlike father: Methinks, ’tis prize enough to be his son. [cba020] See how the morning opes her golden gates, [cba021] And takes her farewell of the glorious sun! How well resembles it the prime of youth, Trimm’d like a younker prancing to his love!

Edw. Dazzle mine eyes, or do I see three suns? [cba025]

Rich. Three glorious suns, each one a perfect sun; Not separated with the racking clouds, But sever’d in a pale clear-shining sky. [cba028] See, see! they join, embrace, and seem to kiss, As if they vow’d some league inviolable: ·cba030· Now are they but one lamp, one light, one sun. In this the heaven figures some event. [cba032]

Edw. ’Tis wondrous strange, the like yet never heard of. [cba033] I think it cites us, brother, to the field, That we, the sons of brave Plantagenet, ·cba035· Each one already blazing by our meeds, [cba036] Should notwithstanding join our lights together And over-shine the earth as this the world. Whate’er it bodes, henceforward will I bear Upon my target three fair-shining suns. [cba040]

Rich. Nay, bear three daughters: by your leave I speak it. [cba041] You love the breeder better than the male. [cba042]

Enter a Messenger.

But what art thou, whose heavy looks foretell Some dreadful story hanging on thy tongue?

Mess. Ah, one that was a woful looker-on ·cba045· When as the noble Duke of York was slain, Your princely father and my loving lord!

Edw. O, speak no more, for I have heard too much.

Rich. Say how he died, for I will hear it all.

Mess. Environed he was with many foes, ·cba050· And stood against them, as the hope of Troy Against the Greeks that would have enter’d Troy. But Hercules himself must yield to odds; And many strokes, though with a little axe, Hew down and fell the hardest-timber’d oak. [cba055] By many hands your father was subdued; But only slaughter’d by the ireful arm Of unrelenting Clifford and the queen, Who crown’d the gracious duke in high despite, Laugh’d in his face; and when with grief he wept, ·cba060· The ruthless queen gave him to dry his cheeks [cba061] A napkin steeped in the harmless blood Of sweet young Rutland, by rough Clifford slain: And after many scorns, many foul taunts, They took his head, and on the gates of York ·cba065· They set the same; and there it doth remain, The saddest spectacle that e’er I view’d.

Edw. Sweet Duke of York, our prop to lean upon, Now thou art gone, we have no staff, no stay. O Clifford, boisterous Clifford! thou hast slain ·cba070· The flower of Europe for his chivalry; And treacherously hast thou vanquish’d him, For hand to hand he would have vanquish’d thee. Now my soul’s palace is become a prison: Ah, would she break from hence, that this my body ·cba075· Might in the ground be closed up in rest! For never henceforth shall I joy again, Never, O never, shall I see more joy!

Rich. I cannot weep; for all my body’s moisture Scarce serves to quench my furnace-burning heart: ·cba080· Nor can my tongue unload my heart’s great burthen; For selfsame wind that I should speak withal [cba082] Is kindling coals that fires all my breast, [cba083] And burns me up with flames that tears would quench. To weep is to make less the depth of grief: ·cba085· Tears then for babes; blows and revenge for me! Richard, I bear thy name; I’ll venge thy death, Or die renowned by attempting it.

Edw. His name that valiant duke hath left with thee; His dukedom and his chair with me is left. ·cba090·

Rich. Nay, if thou be that princely eagle’s bird, Show thy descent by gazing ’gainst the sun: For chair and dukedom, throne and kingdom say; Either that is thine, or else thou wert not his. [cba094]

March. Enter WARWICK, MARQUESS OF MONTAGUE, and their army.

War. How now, fair lords! What fare? what news abroad? [cba095]

Rich. Great Lord of Warwick, if we should recount [cba096] Our baleful news, and at each word’s deliverance Stab poniards in our flesh till all were told, The words would add more anguish than the wounds. O valiant lord, the Duke of York is slain! ·cba100·

Edw. O Warwick, Warwick! that Plantagenet, [cba101] Which held thee dearly as his soul’s redemption, Is by the stern Lord Clifford done to death.

War. Ten days ago I drown’d these news in tears; And now, to add more measure to your woes, ·cba105· I come to tell you things sith then befall’n. [cba106] After the bloody fray at Wakefield fought, Where your brave father breathed his latest gasp, Tidings, as swiftly as the posts could run, Were brought me of your loss and his depart. ·cba110· I, then in London, keeper of the king, Muster’d my soldiers, gather’d flocks of friends, And very well appointed, as I thought, [cba113] March’d toward Saint Alban’s to intercept the queen, [cba114] Bearing the king in my behalf along; ·cba115· For by my scouts I was advertised That she was coming with a full intent To dash our late decree in parliament Touching King Henry’s oath and your succession. Short tale to make, we at Saint Alban’s met, ·cba120· Our battles join’d, and both sides fiercely fought: But whether ’twas the coldness of the king, Who look’d full gently on his warlike queen, That robb’d my soldiers of their heated spleen; [cba124] Or whether ’twas report of her success; ·cba125· Or more than common fear of Clifford’s rigour, Who thunders to his captives blood and death, [cba127] I cannot judge: but, to conclude with truth, Their weapons like to lightning came and went; Our soldiers’, like the night-owl’s lazy flight, [cba130] Or like an idle thresher with a flail, [cba131] Fell gently down, as if they struck their friends. I cheer’d them up with justice of our cause, [cba133] With promise of high pay and great rewards: [cba134] But all in vain; they had no heart to fight, ·cba135· And we in them no hope to win the day; So that we fled; the king unto the queen; Lord George your brother, Norfolk and myself, [cba138] In haste, post-haste, are come to join with you; For in the marches here we heard you were, ·cba140· Making another head to fight again.

Edw. Where is the Duke of Norfolk, gentle Warwick? And when came George from Burgundy to England?

War. Some six miles off the duke is with the soldiers; [cba144] And for your brother, he was lately sent ·cba145· From your kind aunt, Duchess of Burgundy, With aid of soldiers to this needful war.

Rich. ’Twas odds, belike, when valiant Warwick fled: Oft have I heard his praises in pursuit, But ne’er till now his scandal of retire. ·cba150·

War. Nor now my scandal, Richard, dost thou hear; For thou shalt know this strong right hand of mine Can pluck the diadem from faint Henry’s head, And wring the awful sceptre from his fist, Were he as famous and as bold in war ·cba155· As he is famed for mildness, peace, and prayer.

Rich. I know it well, Lord Warwick; blame me not: ’Tis love I bear thy glories makes me speak. [cba158] But in this troublous time what’s to be done? Shall we go throw away our coats of steel, ·cba160· And wrap our bodies in black mourning gowns, Numbering our Ave-Maries with our beads? Or shall we on the helmets of our foes Tell our devotion with revengeful arms? If for the last, say ay, and to it, lords. ·cba165·

War. Why, therefore Warwick came to seek you out; And therefore comes my brother Montague. Attend me, lords. The proud insulting queen, With Clifford and the haught Northumberland, And of their feather many moe proud birds, [cba170] Have wrought the easy-melting king like wax. He swore consent to your succession, His oath enrolled in the parliament; And now to London all the crew are gone, To frustrate both his oath and what beside ·cba175· May make against the house of Lancaster. Their power, I think, is thirty thousand strong: Now, if the help of Norfolk and myself, With all the friends that thou, brave Earl of March, Amongst the loving Welshmen canst procure, [cba180] Will but amount to five and twenty thousand, Why, Via! to London will we march amain, [cba182] And once again bestride our foaming steeds, And once again cry ‘Charge upon our foes!’ [cba184] But never once again turn back and fly. ·cba185·

Rich. Ay, now methinks I hear great Warwick speak: Ne’er may he live to see a sunshine day, That cries ‘Retire,’ if Warwick bid him stay. [cba188]

Edw. Lord Warwick, on thy shoulder will I lean; [cba189] And when thou fail’st--as God forbid the hour!-- [cba190] Must Edward fall, which peril heaven forfend!

War. No longer Earl of March, but Duke of York: The next degree is England’s royal throne; [cba193] For King of England shalt thou be proclaim’d In every borough as we pass along; ·cba195· And he that throws not up his cap for joy [cba196] Shall for the fault make forfeit of his head. King Edward, valiant Richard, Montague, [cba198] Stay we no longer, dreaming of renown, But sound the trumpets, and about our task. ·cba200·

Rich. Then, Clifford, were thy heart as hard as steel, As thou hast shown it flinty by thy deeds, I come to pierce it, or to give thee mine.

Edw. Then strike up drums: God and Saint George for us!

Enter a Messenger.

War. How now! what news? ·cba205·

Mess. The Duke of Norfolk sends you word by me, The queen is coming with a puissant host; And craves your company for speedy counsel.

War. Why then it sorts, brave warriors, let’s away. [cba209] [Exeunt.

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Act II, Scene II — Before York

Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, QUEEN MARGARET, the PRINCE OF WALES, CLIFFORD, and NORTHUMBERLAND, with drum and trumpets.

Q. Mar. Welcome, my lord, to this brave town of York. [cbb001] Yonder’s the head of that arch-enemy [cbb002] That sought to be encompass’d with your crown: Doth not the object cheer your heart, my lord?

K. Hen. Ay, as the rocks cheer them that fear their wreck: ·cbb005· To see this sight, it irks my very soul. Withhold revenge, dear God! ’tis not my fault, Nor wittingly have I infringed my vow. [cbb008]

Clif. My gracious liege, this too much lenity And harmful pity must be laid aside. [cbb010] To whom do lions cast their gentle looks? Not to the beast that would usurp their den. Whose hand is that the forest bear doth lick? Not his that spoils her young before her face. Who ’scapes the lurking serpent’s mortal sting? ·cbb015· Not he that sets his foot upon her back. The smallest worm will turn being trodden on, And doves will peck in safeguard of their brood. Ambitious York did level at thy crown, Thou smiling while he knit his angry brows: [cbb020] He, but a duke, would have his son a king, And raise his issue, like a loving sire; Thou, being a king, blest with a goodly son, Didst yield consent to disinherit him, Which argued thee a most unloving father. ·cbb025· Unreasonable creatures feed their young; And though man’s face be fearful to their eyes, Yet, in protection of their tender ones, Who hath not seen them, even with those wings Which sometime they have used with fearful flight, [cbb030] Make war with him that climb’d unto their nest, Offering their own lives in their young’s defence? For shame, my liege, make them your precedent! [cbb033] Were it not pity that this goodly boy Should lose his birthright by his father’s fault, ·cbb035· And long hereafter say unto his child, ‘What my great-grandfather and grandsire got [cbb037] My careless father fondly gave away’? Ah, what a shame were this! Look on the boy; [cbb039] And let his manly face, which promiseth ·cbb040· Successful fortune, steel thy melting heart [cbb041] To hold thine own and leave thine own with him. [cbb042]

K. Hen. Full well hath Clifford play’d the orator, Inferring arguments of mighty force. But, Clifford, tell me, didst thou never hear ·cbb045· That things ill-got had ever bad success? [cbb046] And happy always was it for that son Whose father for his hoarding went to hell? [cbb048] I’ll leave my son my virtuous deeds behind; And would my father had left me no more! ·cbb050· For all the rest is held at such a rate As brings a thousand-fold more care to keep Than in possession any jot of pleasure. [cbb053] Ah, cousin York! would thy best friends did know How it doth grieve me that thy head is here! ·cbb055·

Q. Mar. My lord, cheer up your spirits: our foes are nigh, And this soft courage makes your followers faint. [cbb057] You promised knighthood to our forward son: Unsheathe your sword, and dub him presently. Edward, kneel down. ·cbb060·

K. Hen. Edward Plantagenet, arise a knight; And learn this lesson, draw thy sword in right.

Prince. My gracious father, by your kingly leave, I’ll draw it as apparent to the crown, And in that quarrel use it to the death. ·cbb065·

Clif. Why, that is spoken like a toward prince.

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. Royal commanders, be in readiness: For with a band of thirty thousand men Comes Warwick, backing of the Duke of York; And in the towns, as they do march along, ·cbb070· Proclaims him king, and many fly to him: Darraign your battle, for they are at hand. [cbb072]

Clif. I would your highness would depart the field: The queen hath best success when you are absent.

Q. Mar. Ay, good my lord, and leave us to our fortune. ·cbb075·

K. Hen. Why, that’s my fortune too; therefore I’ll stay.

North. Be it with resolution then to fight.

Prince. My royal father, cheer these noble lords And hearten those that fight in your defence: Unsheathe your sword, good father; cry ‘Saint George!’ [cbb080]

March. Enter EDWARD, GEORGE, RICHARD, WARWICK, NORFOLK, MONTAGUE, and Soldiers.

Edw. Now, perjured Henry! wilt thou kneel for grace, [cbb081] And set thy diadem upon my head; Or bide the mortal fortune of the field?

Q. Mar. Go, rate thy minions, proud insulting boy! Becomes it thee to be thus bold in terms ·cbb085· Before thy sovereign and thy lawful king?

Edw. I am his king, and he should bow his knee; I was adopted heir by his consent: Since when, his oath is broke; for, as I hear, [cbb089] You, that are king, though he do wear the crown, ·cbb090· Have caused him, by new act of parliament, To blot out me, and put his own son in.

Clif. And reason too: Who should succeed the father but the son?

Rich. Are you there, butcher? O, I cannot speak! [cbb095]

Clif. Ay, crook-back, here I stand to answer thee, Or any he the proudest of thy sort.

Rich. ’Twas you that kill’d young Rutland, was it not?

Clif. Ay, and old York, and yet not satisfied.

Rich. For God’s sake, lords, give signal to the fight. ·cbb100·

War. What say’st thou, Henry, wilt thou yield the crown? [cbb101]

Q. Mar. Why, how now, long-tongued Warwick! dare you speak? When you and I met at Saint Alban’s last, Your legs did better service than your hands.

War. Then ’twas my turn to fly, and now ’tis thine. ·cbb105·

Clif. You said so much before, and yet you fled.

War. ’Twas not your valour, Clifford, drove me thence.

North. No, nor your manhood that durst make you stay.

Rich. Northumberland, I hold thee reverently. Break off the parley; for scarce I can refrain [cbb110]

The execution of my big-swoln heart Upon that Clifford, that cruel child-killer. [cbb112]

Clif. I slew thy father, call’st thou him a child?

Rich. Ay, like a dastard and a treacherous coward, As thou didst kill our tender brother Rutland; ·cbb115· But ere sunset I’ll make thee curse the deed. [cbb116]

K. Hen. Have done with words, my lords, and hear me speak.

Q. Mar. Defy them then, or else hold close thy lips.

K. Hen. I prithee, give no limits to my tongue: I am a king, and privileged to speak. ·cbb120·

Clif. My liege, the wound that bred this meeting here [cbb121] Cannot be cured by words; therefore be still.

Rich. Then, executioner, unsheathe thy sword: [cbb123] By him that made us all, I am resolved That Clifford’s manhood lies upon his tongue. ·cbb125·

Edw. Say, Henry, shall I have my right, or no? A thousand men have broke their fasts to-day, That ne’er shall dine unless thou yield the crown.

War. If thou deny, their blood upon thy head; For York in justice puts his armour on. ·cbb130·

Prince. If that be right which Warwick says is right, There is no wrong, but every thing is right.

Rich. Whoever got thee, there thy mother stands; [cbb133] For, well I wot, thou hast thy mother’s tongue.

Q. Mar. But thou art neither like thy sire nor dam; ·cbb135· But like a foul mis-shapen stigmatic, Mark’d by the destinies to be avoided, As venom toads, or lizards’ dreadful stings. [cbb138]

Rich. Iron of Naples hid with English gilt, Whose father bears the title of a king,-- ·cbb140· As if a channel should be call’d the sea,-- [cbb141] Shamest thou not, knowing whence thou art extraught, To let thy tongue detect thy base-born heart?

Edw. A wisp of straw were worth a thousand crowns, To make this shameless callet know herself. ·cbb145· Helen of Greece was fairer far than thou, Although thy husband may be Menelaus; And ne’er was Agamemnon’s brother wrong’d By that false woman, as this king by thee. His father revell’d in the heart of France, ·cbb150· And tamed the king, and made the dauphin stoop; And had he match’d according to his state, He might have kept that glory to this day; But when he took a beggar to his bed, And graced thy poor sire with his bridal-day, ·cbb155· Even then that sunshine brew’d a shower for him, That wash’d his father’s fortunes forth of France, And heap’d sedition on his crown at home. For what hath broach’d this tumult but thy pride? Hadst thou been meek, our title still had slept; ·cbb160· And we, in pity of the gentle king, Had slipp’d our claim until another age.

Geo. But when we saw our sunshine made thy spring, And that thy summer bred us no increase, We set the axe to thy usurping root; ·cbb165· And though the edge hath something hit ourselves, Yet, know thou, since we have begun to strike, We’ll never leave till we have hewn thee down, Or bathed thy growing with our heated bloods.

Edw. And, in this resolution, I defy thee; ·cbb170· Not willing any longer conference, [cbb171] Since thou deniest the gentle king to speak. [cbb172] Sound trumpets! let our bloody colours wave! And either victory, or else a grave. [cbb174]

Q. Mar. Stay, Edward. ·cbb175·

Edw. No, wrangling woman, we’ll no longer stay: [cbb176] These words will cost ten thousand lives this day. [cbb177] [Exeunt.

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Act II, Scene III — A field of battle between Towton and Saxton, in Yorkshire

Alarum. Excursions. Enter WARWICK.

War. Forspent with toil, as runners with a race, [cbc001] I lay me down a little while to breathe; For strokes received, and many blows repaid, Have robb’d my strong-knit sinews of their strength, And spite of spite needs must I rest awhile. ·cbc005·

Enter EDWARD, running.

Edw. Smile, gentle heaven! or strike, ungentle death! For this world frowns, and Edward’s sun is clouded.

War. How now, my lord! what hap? what hope of good? [cbc008]

Enter GEORGE.

Geo. Our hap is loss, our hope but sad despair; [cbc009] Our ranks are broke, and ruin follows us: ·cbc010· What counsel give you? whither shall we fly? [cbc011]

Edw. Bootless is flight, they follow us with wings; And weak we are and cannot shun pursuit.

Enter RICHARD.

Rich. Ah, Warwick, why hast thou withdrawn thyself? Thy brother’s blood the thirsty earth hath drunk, ·cbc015· Broach’d with the steely point of Clifford’s lance; And in the very pangs of death he cried, Like to a dismal clangor heard from far, ‘Warwick, revenge! brother, revenge my death!’ So, underneath the belly of their steeds, [cbc020] That stain’d their fetlocks in his smoking blood, The noble gentleman gave up the ghost.

War. Then let the earth be drunken with our blood: I’ll kill my horse, because I will not fly. Why stand we like soft-hearted women here, ·cbc025· Wailing our losses, whiles the foe doth rage; [cbc026] And look upon, as if the tragedy [cbc027] Were play’d in jest by counterfeiting actors? [cbc028] Here on my knee I vow to God above, I’ll never pause again, never stand still, ·cbc030· Till either death hath closed these eyes of mine Or fortune given me measure of revenge. [cbc032]

Edw. O Warwick, I do bend my knee with thine; And in this vow do chain my soul to thine! [cbc034] And, ere my knee rise from the earth’s cold face, ·cbc035· I throw my hands, mine eyes, my heart to thee, Thou setter up and plucker down of kings, Beseeching thee, if with thy will it stands That to my foes this body must be prey, Yet that thy brazen gates of heaven may ope, [cbc040] And give sweet passage to my sinful soul! Now, lords, take leave until we meet again, Where’er it be, in heaven or in earth. [cbc043]

Rich. Brother, give me thy hand; and, gentle Warwick, [cbc044] Let me embrace thee in my weary arms: ·cbc045· I, that did never weep, now melt with woe That winter should cut off our spring-time so.

War. Away, away! Once more, sweet lords, farewell. [cbc048]

Geo. Yet let us all together to our troops, [cbc049] And give them leave to fly that will not stay; ·cbc050· And call them pillars that will stand to us; And, if we thrive, promise them such rewards As victors wear at the Olympian games: [cbc053] This may plant courage in their quailing breasts; For yet is hope of life and victory. ·cbc055· Forslow no longer, make we hence amain. [Exeunt. [cbc056]

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Act II, Scene IV — Another part of the field

Excursions. Enter RICHARD and CLIFFORD.

Rich. Now, Clifford, I have singled thee alone: [cbd001] Suppose this arm is for the Duke of York, And this for Rutland; both bound to revenge, Wert thou environ’d with a brazen wall.

Clif. Now, Richard, I am with thee here alone: ·cbd005· This is the hand that stabb’d thy father York; And this the hand that slew thy brother Rutland; And here’s the heart that triumphs in their death And cheers these hands that slew thy sire and brother To execute the like upon thyself; ·cbd010· And so, have at thee! [cbd011] [They fight. Warwick comes; Clifford flies.

Rich. Nay, Warwick, single out some other chase; For I myself will hunt this wolf to death. [Exeunt.

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Act II, Scene V — Another part of the field

Alarum. Enter KING HENRY alone.

King. This battle fares like to the morning’s war, [cbe001] When dying clouds contend with growing light, What time the shepherd, blowing of his nails, Can neither call it perfect day nor night. Now sways it this way, like a mighty sea [cbe005] Forced by the tide to combat with the wind; Now sways it that way, like the selfsame sea Forced to retire by fury of the wind: Sometime the flood prevails, and then the wind; [cbe009] Now one the better, then another best; ·cbe010· Both tugging to be victors, breast to breast, Yet neither conqueror nor conquered: So is the equal poise of this fell war. Here on this molehill will I sit me down. To whom God will, there be the victory! [cbe015] For Margaret my queen, and Clifford too, Have chid me from the battle; swearing both They prosper best of all when I am thence. Would I were dead! if God’s good will were so; For what is in this world but grief and woe? ·cbe020· O God! methinks it were a happy life, To be no better than a homely swain; To sit upon a hill, as I do now, To carve out dials quaintly, point by point, Thereby to see the minutes how they run, ·cbe025· How many make the hour full complete; [cbe026] How many hours bring about the day; [cbe027] How many days will finish up the year; How many years a mortal man may live. When this is known, then to divide the times: [cbe030] So many hours must I tend my flock; So many hours must I take my rest; So many hours must I contemplate; So many hours must I sport myself; So many days my ewes have been with young; ·cbe035· So many weeks ere the poor fools will ean; [cbe036] So many years ere I shall shear the fleece: [cbe037] So minutes, hours, days, months, and years, [cbe038] Pass’d over to the end they were created, Would bring white hairs unto a quiet grave. ·cbe040· Ah, what a life were this! how sweet! how lovely! Gives not the hawthorn-bush a sweeter shade To shepherds looking on their silly sheep, Than doth a rich embroider’d canopy [cbe044] To kings that fear their subjects’ treachery? ·cbe045· O, yes, it doth; a thousand-fold it doth. And to conclude, the shepherd’s homely curds, His cold thin drink out of his leather bottle, His wonted sleep under a fresh tree’s shade, All which secure and sweetly he enjoys, ·cbe050· Is far beyond a prince’s delicates, His viands sparkling in a golden cup, His body couched in a curious bed, When care, mistrust, and treason waits on him. [cbe054]

Alarum. Enter a Son that has killed his father, dragging in the dead body.

Son. Ill blows the wind that profits nobody. [cbe055] This man, whom hand to hand I slew in fight, May be possessed with some store of crowns; And I, that haply take them from him now, May yet ere night yield both my life and them To some man else, as this dead man doth me. [cbe060] Who’s this? O God! it is my father’s face, Whom in this conflict I unwares have kill’d. [cbe062] O heavy times, begetting such events! From London by the king was I press’d forth; My father, being the Earl of Warwick’s man, ·cbe065· Came on the part of York, press’d by his master; And I, who at his hands received my life, Have by my hands of life bereaved him. Pardon me, God, I knew not what I did! And pardon, father, for I knew not thee! ·cbe070· My tears shall wipe away these bloody marks; And no more words till they have flow’d their fill.

K. Hen. O piteous spectacle! O bloody times! Whiles lions war and battle for their dens, [cbe074] Poor harmless lambs abide their enmity. ·cbe075· Weep, wretched man, I’ll aid thee tear for tear; And let our hearts and eyes, like civil war, Be blind with tears, and break o’ercharged with grief. [cbe078]

Enter a Father that has killed his son, bringing in the body.

Fath. Thou that so stoutly hast resisted me, [cbe079] Give me thy gold, if thou hast any gold; ·cbe080· For I have bought it with an hundred blows. But let me see: is this our foeman’s face? Ah, no, no, no, it is mine only son! [cbe083] Ah, boy, if any life be left in thee, Throw up thine eye! see, see what showers arise, ·cbe085· Blown with the windy tempest of my heart, Upon thy wounds, that kill mine eye and heart! [cbe087] O, pity, God, this miserable age! What stratagems, how fell, how butcherly, [cbe089] Erroneous, mutinous and unnatural, [cbe090] This deadly quarrel daily doth beget! O boy, thy father gave thee life too soon, [cbe092] And hath bereft thee of thy life too late!

K. Hen. Woe above woe! grief more than common grief! O that my death would stay these ruthful deeds! [cbe095] O, pity, pity, gentle heaven, pity! The red rose and the white are on his face, The fatal colours of our striving houses: The one his purple blood right well resembles; [cbe099] The other his pale cheeks, methinks, presenteth: [cbe100] Wither one rose, and let the other flourish; If you contend, a thousand lives must wither.

Son. How will my mother for a father’s death Take on with me and ne’er be satisfied!

Fath. How will my wife for slaughter of my son ·cbe105· Shed seas of tears and ne’er be satisfied!

K. Hen. How will the country for these woful chances Misthink the king and not be satisfied!

Son. Was ever son so rued a father’s death?

Fath. Was ever father so bemoan’d his son? [cbe110]

K. Hen. Was ever king so grieved for subjects’ woe? Much is your sorrow; mine ten times so much.

Son. I’ll bear thee hence, where I may weep my fill. [cbe113] [Exit with the body.

Fath. These arms of mine shall be thy winding-sheet; My heart, sweet boy, shall be thy sepulchre, ·cbe115· For from my heart thine image ne’er shall go; My sighing breast shall be thy funeral bell; And so obsequious will thy father be, Even for the loss of thee, having no more, [cbe119] As Priam was for all his valiant sons. ·cbe120· I’ll bear thee hence; and let them fight that will, For I have murdered where I should not kill. [cbe122] [Exit with the body.

K. Hen. Sad-hearted men, much overgone with care, Here sits a king more woful than you are.

Alarums: excursions. Enter QUEEN MARGARET, the PRINCE, and EXETER.

Prince. Fly, father, fly! for all your friends are fled, [cbe125] And Warwick rages like a chafed bull: Away! for death doth hold us in pursuit.

Q. Mar. Mount you, my lord; towards Berwick post amain: Edward and Richard, like a brace of greyhounds Having the fearful flying hare in sight, ·cbe130· With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath, And bloody steel grasp’d in their ireful hands, Are at our backs; and therefore hence amain.

Exe. Away! for vengeance comes along with them: Nay, stay not to expostulate, make speed; ·cbe135· Or else come after: I’ll away before.

K. Hen. Nay, take me with thee, good sweet Exeter: Not that I fear to stay, but love to go Whither the queen intends. Forward; away! [Exeunt. [cbe139]

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Act II, Scene VI — Another part of the field

A loud alarum. Enter CLIFFORD, wounded.

Clif. Here burns my candle out; ay, here it dies, [cbf001] Which, whiles it lasted, gave King Henry light. [cbf002] O Lancaster, I fear thy overthrow [cbf003] More than my body’s parting with my soul! My love and fear glued many friends to thee; [cbf005] And, now I fall, thy tough commixture melts. [cbf006] Impairing Henry, strengthening misproud York, The common people swarm like summer flies; [cbf008] And whither fly the gnats but to the sun? [cbf009] And who shines now but Henry’s enemies? [cbf010] O Phœbus, hadst thou never given consent That Phaëthon should check thy fiery steeds, [cbf012] Thy burning car never had scorch’d the earth! [cbf013] And, Henry, hadst thou sway’d as kings should do, Or as thy father and his father did, [cbf015] Giving no ground unto the house of York, They never then had sprung like summer flies; [cbf017] I and ten thousand in this luckless realm Had left no mourning widows for our death; [cbf019] And thou this day hadst kept thy chair in peace. ·cbf020· For what doth cherish weeds but gentle air? [cbf021] And what makes robbers bold but too much lenity? Bootless are plaints, and cureless are my wounds; No way to fly, nor strength to hold out flight: [cbf024] The foe is merciless, and will not pity; ·cbf025· For at their hands I have deserved no pity. [cbf026] The air hath got into my deadly wounds, And much effuse of blood doth make me faint. Come, York and Richard, Warwick and the rest; I stabb’d your fathers’ bosoms, split my breast. [cbf030] [He faints.

Alarum and retreat. Enter, EDWARD, GEORGE, RICHARD, MONTAGUE, WARWICK, and SOLDIERS,

Edw. Now breathe we, lords: good fortune bids us pause, And smooth the frowns of war with peaceful looks. Some troops pursue the bloody-minded queen, That led calm Henry, though he were a king, As doth a sail, fill’d with a fretting gust, ·cbf035· Command an argosy to stem the waves. But think you, lords, that Clifford fled with them?

War. No, ’tis impossible he should escape; For, though before his face I speak the words, [cbf039] Your brother Richard mark’d him for the grave: ·cbf040· And wheresoe’er he is, he’s surely dead. [cbf041] [Clifford groans, and dies.

Edw. Whose soul is that which takes her heavy leave? [cbf042]

Rich. A deadly groan, like life and death’s departing. [cbf043]

Edw. See who it is: and, now the battle’s ended, If friend or foe, let him be gently used. ·cbf045·

Rich. Revoke that doom of mercy, for ’tis Clifford; Who not contented that he lopp’d the branch In hewing Rutland when his leaves put forth, But set his murdering knife unto the root [cbf049] From whence that tender spray did sweetly spring, ·cbf050· I mean our princely father, Duke of York.

War. From off the gates of York fetch down the head, Your father’s head, which Clifford placed there; Instead whereof let this supply the room: [cbf054] Measure for measure must be answered. ·cbf055·

Edw. Bring forth that fatal screech-owl to our house, That nothing sung but death to us and ours: Now death shall stop his dismal threatening sound, And his ill-boding tongue no more shall speak. [cbf059]

War. I think his understanding is bereft. [cbf060] Speak, Clifford, dost thou know who speaks to thee? Dark cloudy death o’ershades his beams of life, And he nor sees nor hears us what we say.

Rich. O, would he did! and so perhaps he doth: ’Tis but his policy to counterfeit, ·cbf065· Because he would avoid such bitter taunts Which in the time of death he gave our father. [cbf067]

Geo. If so thou think’st, vex him with eager words. [cbf068]

Rich. Clifford, ask mercy and obtain no grace.

Edw. Clifford, repent in bootless penitence. ·cbf070·

War. Clifford, devise excuses for thy faults.

Geo. While we devise fell tortures for thy faults. [cbf072]

Rich. Thou didst love York, and I am son to York.

Edw. Thou pitied’st Rutland; I will pity thee.

Geo. Where’s Captain Margaret, to fence you now? ·cbf075·

War. They mock thee, Clifford: swear as thou wast wont. [cbf076]

Rich. What, not an oath? nay, then the world goes hard [cbf077] When Clifford cannot spare his friends an oath. I know by that he’s dead; and, by my soul, If this right hand would buy two hours’ life, [cbf080] That I in all despite might rail at him, This hand should chop it off, and with the issuing blood [cbf082] Stifle the villain whose unstanched thirst York and young Rutland could not satisfy.

War. Ay, but he’s dead: off with the traitor’s head, ·cbf085· And rear it in the place your father’s stands. [cbf086] And now to London with triumphant march, There to be crowned England’s royal king: From whence shall Warwick cut the sea to France, And ask the Lady Bona for thy queen: [cbf090] So shalt thou sinew both these lands together; [cbf091] And, having France thy friend, thou shalt not dread [cbf092] The scatter’d foe that hopes to rise again; For though they cannot greatly sting to hurt, Yet look to have them buzz to offend thine ears. ·cbf095· First will I see the coronation; [cbf096] And then to Brittany I’ll cross the sea, To effect this marriage, so it please my lord.

Edw. Even as thou wilt, sweet Warwick, let it be; For in thy shoulder do I build my seat, [cbf100] And never will I undertake the thing Wherein thy counsel and consent is wanting. Richard, I will create thee Duke of Gloucester, And George, of Clarence: Warwick, as ourself, Shall do and undo as him pleaseth best. ·cbf105·

Rich. Let me be Duke of Clarence, George of Gloucester; [cbf106] For Gloucester’s dukedom is too ominous.

War. Tut, that’s a foolish observation: Richard, be Duke of Gloucester. Now to London, To see these honours in possession. [Exeunt. ·cbf110·

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Act III, Scene I — A forest in the north of England

Enter two Keepers, with cross-bows in their hands.

First Keep. Under this thick-grown brake we’ll shroud ourselves; [cca001] For through this laund anon the deer will come; [cca002] And in this covert will we make our stand, [cca003] Culling the principal of all the deer.

Sec. Keep. I’ll stay above the hill, so both may shoot. [cca005]

First Keep. That cannot be; the noise of thy cross-bow Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost. [cca007] Here stand we both, and aim we at the best: And, for the time shall not seem tedious, I’ll tell thee what befel me on a day ·cca010· In this self-place where now we mean to stand.

Sec. Keep. Here comes a man; let’s stay till he be past. [cca012]

Enter KING HENRY, disguised, with a prayer-book.

K. Hen. From Scotland am I stol’n, even of pure love, To greet mine own land with my wishful sight. [cca014] No, Harry, Harry, ’tis no land of thine; ·cca015· Thy place is fill’d, thy sceptre wrung from thee, Thy balm wash’d off wherewith thou wast anointed: [cca017] No bending knee will call thee Cæsar now, No humble suitors press to speak for right, [cca019] No, not a man comes for redress of thee; [cca020] For how can I help them, and not myself?

First Keep. Ay, here’s a deer whose skin ’s a keeper’s fee: This is the quondam king; let’s seize upon him.

K. Hen. Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, [cca024] For wise men say it is the wisest course. ·cca025·

Sec. Keep. Why linger we? let us lay hands upon him.

First Keep. Forbear awhile; we’ll hear a little more.

K. Hen. My queen and son are gone to France for aid; And, as I hear, the great commanding Warwick [cca029] Is thither gone, to crave the French king’s sister ·cca030· To wife for Edward: if this news be true, Poor queen and son, your labour is but lost; For Warwick is a subtle orator, And Lewis a prince soon won with moving words. By this account then Margaret may win him; ·cca035· For she’s a woman to be pitied much: Her sighs will make a battery in his breast; Her tears will pierce into a marble heart; The tiger will be mild whiles she doth mourn; [cca039] And Nero will be tainted with remorse, [cca040] To hear and see her plaints, her brinish tears. Ay, but she’s come to beg, Warwick, to give; She, on his left side, craving aid for Henry, He, on his right, asking a wife for Edward. She weeps, and says her Henry is deposed; ·cca045· He smiles, and says his Edward is install’d; That she, poor wretch, for grief can speak no more; Whiles Warwick tells his title, smooths the wrong, [cca048] Inferreth arguments of mighty strength, And in conclusion wins the king from her, ·cca050· With promise of his sister, and what else, [cca051] To strengthen and support King Edward’s place. O Margaret, thus ’twill be; and thou, poor soul, [cca053] Art then forsaken, as thou went’st forlorn!

Sec. Keep. Say, what art thou that talk’st of kings and queens? [cca055]

K. Hen. More than I seem, and less than I was born to: A man at least, for less I should not be; And men may talk of kings, and why not I?

Sec. Keep. Ay, but thou talk’st as if thou wert a king.

K. Hen. Why, so I am, in mind; and that’s enough. [cca060]

Sec. Keep. But, if thou be a king, where is thy crown?

K. Hen. My crown is in my heart, not on my head; Not deck’d with diamonds and Indian stones, [cca063] Nor to be seen: my crown is call’d content: [cca064] A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy. ·cca065·

Sec. Keep. Well, if you be a king crown’d with content, Your crown content and you must be contented To go along with us; for, as we think, You are the king King Edward hath deposed; And we his subjects sworn in all allegiance ·cca070· Will apprehend you as his enemy.

K. Hen. But did you never swear, and break an oath?

Sec. Keep. No, never such an oath; nor will not now. [cca073]

K. Hen. Where did you dwell when I was King of England? [cca074]

Sec. Keep. Here in this country, where we now remain. ·cca075·

K. Hen. I was anointed king at nine months old; My father and my grandfather were kings, And you were sworn true subjects unto me: And tell me, then, have you not broke your oaths?

First Keep. No; [cca080] For we were subjects but while you were king. [cca081]

K. Hen. Why, am I dead? do I not breathe a man? Ah, simple men, you know not what you swear! [cca083] Look, as I blow this feather from my face, And as the air blows it to me again, ·cca085· Obeying with my wind when I do blow, And yielding to another when it blows, Commanded always by the greater gust; Such is the lightness of you common men. But do not break your oaths; for of that sin [cca090] My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty. Go where you will, the king shall be commanded; And be you kings, command, and I’ll obey.

First Keep. We are true subjects to the king, King Edward. [cca094]

K. Hen. So would you be again to Henry, ·cca095· If he were seated as King Edward is.

First Keep. We charge you, in God’s name, and the king’s, [cca097] To go with us unto the officers.

K. Hen. In God’s name, lead; your king’s name be obey’d: And what God will, that let your king perform; [cca100] And what he will, I humbly yield unto. [Exeunt.

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Act III, Scene II — London. The palace

Enter KING EDWARD, GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, and LADY GREY.

K. Edw. Brother of Gloucester, at Saint Alban’s field [ccb001] This lady’s husband, Sir Richard Grey, was slain, [ccb002] His lands then seized on by the conqueror: [ccb003] Her suit is now to repossess those lands; Which we in justice cannot well deny, ·ccb005· Because in quarrel of the house of York The worthy gentleman did lose his life.

Glou. Your highness shall do well to grant her suit; It were dishonour to deny it her.

K. Edw. It were no less; but yet I’ll make a pause. ·ccb010·

Glou. [Aside to Clar.] Yea, is it so? [ccb011] I see the lady hath a thing to grant, Before the king will grant her humble suit.

Clar. [Aside to Glou.] He knows the game: how true he keeps the wind! [ccb014]

Glou. [Aside to Clar.] Silence! ·ccb015·

K. Edw. Widow, we will consider of your suit; And come some other time to know our mind.

L. Grey. Right gracious lord, I cannot brook delay: May it please your highness to resolve me now; And what your pleasure is, shall satisfy me. ·ccb020·

Glou. [Aside to Clar.] Ay, widow? then I’ll warrant you all your lands, [ccb021] An if what pleases him shall pleasure you. [ccb022] Fight closer, or, good faith, you’ll catch a blow.

Clar. [Aside to Glou.] I fear her not, unless she chance to fall.

Glou. [Aside to Clar.] God forbid that! for he’ll take vantages. ·ccb025·

K. Edw. How many children hast thou, widow? tell me.

Clar. [Aside to Glou.] I think he means to beg a child of her.

Glou. [Aside to Clar.] Nay, whip me then: he’ll rather give her two. [ccb028]

L. Grey. Three, my most gracious lord.

Glou. [Aside to Clar.] You shall have four, if you’ll be ruled by him. ·ccb030·

K. Edw. ’Twere pity they should lose their father’s lands. [ccb031]

L. Grey. Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then. [ccb032]

K. Edw. Lords, give us leave: I’ll try this widow’s wit.

Glou. [Aside to Clar.] Ay, good leave have you; for you will have leave, Till youth take leave and leave you to the crutch. [ccb035] [Glou. and Clar. retire.

K. Edw. Now tell me, madam, do you love your children?

L. Grey. Ay, full as dearly as I love myself.

K. Edw. And would you not do much to do them good?

L. Grey. To do them good, I would sustain some harm.

K. Edw. Then get your husband’s lands, to do them good. ·ccb040·

L. Grey. Therefore I came unto your majesty.

K. Edw. I’ll tell you how these lands are to be got.

L. Grey. So shall you bind me to your highness’ service.

K. Edw. What service wilt thou do me, if I give them?

L. Grey. What you command, that rests in me to do. ·ccb045·

K. Edw. But you will take exceptions to my boon. [ccb046]

L. Grey. No, gracious lord, except I cannot do it.

K. Edw. Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to ask.

L. Grey. Why, then I will do what your grace commands.

Glou. [Aside to Clar.] He plies her hard; and much rain wears the marble. [ccb050]

Clar. [Aside to Glou.] As red as fire! nay, then her wax must melt. [ccb051]

L. Grey. Why stops my lord? shall I not hear my task?

K. Edw. An easy task; ’tis but to love a king.

L. Grey. That’s soon perform’d, because I am a subject.

K. Edw. Why, then, thy husband’s lands I freely give thee. ·ccb055·

L. Grey. I take my leave with many thousand thanks. [ccb056]

Glou. [Aside to Clar.] The match is made; she seals it with a curt’sy. [ccb057]

K. Edw. But stay thee, ’tis the fruits of love I mean.

L. Grey. The fruits of love I mean, my loving liege.

K. Edw. Ay, but, I fear me, in another sense. ·ccb060· What love, think’st thou, I sue so much to get?

L. Grey. My love till death, my humble thanks, my prayers; That love which virtue begs and virtue grants.

K. Edw. No, by my troth, I did not mean such love.

L. Grey. Why, then you mean not as I thought you did. ·ccb065·

K. Edw. But now you partly may perceive my mind.

L. Grey. My mind will never grant what I perceive Your highness aims at, if I aim aright. [ccb068]

K. Edw. To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee.

L. Grey. To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison. [ccb070]

K. Edw. Why, then thou shalt not have thy husband’s lands.

L. Grey. Why, then mine honesty shall be my dower; For by that loss I will not purchase them.

K. Edw. Therein thou wrong’st thy children mightily. [ccb074]

L. Grey. Herein your highness wrongs both them and me. ·ccb075· But, mighty lord, this merry inclination Accords not with the sadness of my suit: Please you dismiss me, either with ‘ay’ or ‘no.’ [ccb078]

K. Edw. Ay, if thou wilt say ‘ay’ to my request; No, if thou dost say ‘no’ to my demand. ·ccb080·

L. Grey. Then, no, my lord. My suit is at an end.

Glou. [Aside to Clar.] The widow likes him not, she knits her brows. [ccb082]

Clar. [Aside to Glou.] He is the bluntest wooer in Christendom. [ccb083]

K. Edw. [Aside] Her looks do argue her replete with modesty; [ccb084] Her words do show her wit incomparable; ·ccb085· All her perfections challenge sovereignty: One way or other, she is for a king; And she shall be my love, or else my queen.-- Say that King Edward take thee for his queen?

L. Grey. ’Tis better said than done, my gracious lord: ·ccb090· I am a subject fit to jest withal, But far unfit to be a sovereign.

K. Edw. Sweet widow, by my state I swear to thee I speak no more than what my soul intends; And that is, to enjoy thee for my love. ·ccb095·

L. Grey. And that is more than I will yield unto: I know I am too mean to be your queen, And yet too good to be your concubine.

K. Edw. You cavil, widow: I did mean, my queen.

L. Grey. ’Twill grieve your grace my sons should call you father. [ccb100]

K. Edw. No more than when my daughters call thee mother. [ccb101] Thou art a widow, and thou hast some children; And, by God’s mother, I, being but a bachelor, Have other some: why, ’tis a happy thing To be the father unto many sons. ·ccb105· Answer no more, for thou shalt be my queen.

Glou. [Aside to Clar.] The ghostly father now hath done his shrift.

Clar. [Aside to Glou.] When he was made a shriver, ’twas for shift. [ccb108]

K. Edw. Brothers, you muse what chat we two have had.

Glou. The widow likes it not, for she looks very sad. [ccb110]

K. Edw. You’ld think it strange if I should marry her.

Clar. To whom, my lord?

K. Edw. Why, Clarence, to myself. [ccb112]

Glou. That would be ten days’ wonder at the least.

Clar. That’s a day longer than a wonder lasts.

Glou. By so much is the wonder in extremes. ·ccb115·

K. Edw. Well, jest on, brothers: I can tell you both Her suit is granted for her husband’s lands.

Enter a Nobleman.

Nob. My gracious lord, Henry your foe is taken, And brought your prisoner to your palace gate. [ccb119]

K. Edw. See that he be convey’d unto the Tower: ·ccb120· And go we, brothers, to the man that took him, To question of his apprehension. Widow, go you along. Lords, use her honourably. [ccb123] [Exeunt all but Gloucester.

Glou. Ay, Edward will use women honourably. [ccb124] Would he were wasted, marrow, bones and all, ·ccb125· That from his loins no hopeful branch may spring, To cross me from the golden time I look for! And yet, between my soul’s desire and me-- The lustful Edward’s title buried-- Is Clarence, Henry, and his son young Edward, ·ccb130· And all the unlook’d for issue of their bodies, To take their rooms, ere I can place myself: A cold premeditation for my purpose! Why, then, I do but dream on sovereignty; Like one that stands upon a promontory, ·ccb135· And spies a far-off shore where he would tread, Wishing his foot were equal with his eye, And chides the sea that sunders him from thence, Saying, he’ll lade it dry to have his way: [ccb139] So do I wish the crown, being so far off; ·ccb140· And so I chide the means that keeps me from it; [ccb141] And so I say, I’ll cut the causes off, Flattering me with impossibilities. [ccb143] My eye’s too quick, my heart o’erweens too much, [ccb144] Unless my hand and strength could equal them. ·ccb145· Well, say there is no kingdom then for Richard; What other pleasure can the world afford? I’ll make my heaven in a lady’s lap, And deck my body in gay ornaments, And witch sweet ladies with my words and looks. [ccb150] O miserable thought! and more unlikely Than to accomplish twenty golden crowns! Why, love forswore me in my mother’s womb: And, for I should not deal in her soft laws, She did corrupt frail nature with some bribe, ·ccb155· To shrink mine arm up like a wither’d shrub; [ccb156] To make an envious mountain on my back, Where sits deformity to mock my body; To shape my legs of an unequal size; To disproportion me in every part, ·ccb160· Like to a chaos, or an unlick’d bear-whelp [ccb161] That carries no impression like the dam. And am I then a man to be beloved? [ccb163] O monstrous fault, to harbour such a thought! Then, since this earth affords no joy to me, ·ccb165· But to command, to check, to o’erbear such As are of better person than myself, I’ll make my heaven to dream upon the crown, [ccb168] And, whiles I live, to account this world but hell, [ccb169] Until my mis-shaped trunk that bears this head [ccb170] Be round impaled with a glorious crown. And yet I know not how to get the crown, [ccb172] For many lives stand between me and home: And I,--like one lost in a thorny wood, That rends the thorns and is rent with the thorns, [ccb175] Seeking a way and straying from the way; Not knowing how to find the open air, But toiling desperately to find it out,-- Torment myself to catch the English crown: And from that torment I will free myself, ·ccb180· Or hew my way out with a bloody axe. Why, I can smile, and murder whiles I smile, And cry ‘Content’ to that which grieves my heart, And wet my cheeks with artificial tears, And frame my face to all occasions. ·ccb185· I’ll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall; [ccb186] I’ll slay more gazers than the basilisk; I’ll play the orator as well as Nestor, Deceive more slily than Ulysses could, And, like a Sinon, take another Troy. ·ccb190· I can add colours to the chameleon, [ccb191] Change shapes with Proteus for advantages, And set the murderous Machiavel to school. [ccb193] Can I do this, and cannot get a crown? Tut, were it farther off, I’ll pluck it down. [Exit. [ccb195]

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Act V, Scene III — Fields near St Alban’s…

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Act V, Scene III — Fields near St Alban’s

Act I, Scene I — London. The Parliament-house

Act I, Scene II — Sandal Castle

Act I, Scene III — Field of battle betwixt Sandal Castle and Wakefield

Act I, Scene IV — Another part of the field

Act II, Scene I — A plain near Mortimer’s Cross in Herefordshire

Act II, Scene II — Before York

Act II, Scene III — A field of battle between Towton and Saxton, in Yorkshire

Act II, Scene IV — Another part of the field

Act II, Scene V — Another part of the field

Act II, Scene VI — Another part of the field

Act III, Scene I — A forest in the north of England

Act III, Scene II — London. The palace