King HENRY the Sixth: LEWIS XI. king of France. Duke of Somerset, Duke of Exeter, Earl of Oxford, Earl of Northumberland, lords on king Henry's side. Earl of Westmoreland, Lord CLIFFORD, RICHARD PLANTAGENET, duke of York: EDWARD, earl of March, afterwards king Edward IV. EDMUND, earl of Rutland, GEORGE, afterwards duke of Clarence, Marquis of Montague, Earl of Warwick, Earl of Pembroke, Lord HASTINGS, Lord STAFFORD, his sons. of the duke of York's party. } uncles to the duke of York. Sir JOHN MORTIMER, Lord RIVERS, brother to lady Grey. Sir WIL- killed his son. Queen MARGARET. Lady GREY, afterwards queen to Edward IV. Soldiers, and other Attendants on king Henry and king Edward, Messengers, Watchmen, &c. Scene, during part of the third act, in France; during all the rest of the play, in England. KING HENRY VI. PART III. ACT I. SCENE I.-London. The Parliament-House. Drums. Some Soldiers of YORK's party break in. Then, enter the Duke of YORK, EDWARD, RICHARD, Norfolk, Montague, Warwick, and Others, with white roses in their hats. War. I wonder, how the king escap'd our hands. York. While we pursu'd the horsemen of the north, He slily stole away, and left his men: Whereat the great lord of Northumberland, I cleft his beaver with a downright blow; [Showing his bloody sword. blood, Mont. And, brother, here's the earl of Wiltshire's [To York, showing his. Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'd. Rich. Speak thou for me, and tell them what I did. [Throwing down the duke of Somerset's head. York. Richard hath best deserv'd of all my sons.— What, is your grace dead, my lord of Somerset ? Norf. Such hope have all the line of John of Gaunt ! Rick. Thus do I hope to shake king Henry's head. War. And so do I.-Victorious prince of York, Before I see thee seated in that throne Which now the house of Lancaster usurps, York. Assist me then, sweet Warwick, and I will; For hither we have broken in by force. Norf. We'll all assist you; he, that flies, shall die. York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk,-Stay by me, my lords ; And, soldiers, stay, and lodge by me this night. War. And, when the king comes, offer him no violence, Unless he seek to thrust you out by force. [They retire. York. The queen, this day, here holds her parlia ment, But little thinks we shall be of her council: By words, or blows, here let us win our right. Rich. Arm'd as we are, let's stay within this house. War. The bloody parliament shall this be call'd, Unless Plantagenet, duke of York, be king; And bashful Henry depos'd, whose cowardice Hath made us by-words to our enemies. York. Then leave me not, my lords; be resolute; I mean to take possession of my right. War. Neither the king, nor he that loves him best, 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:Resolve thee, Richard; claim the English crown. [Warwick leads York to the throne, who seats himself. Flourish. Enter King HENRY, CLIFFord, Northumberland, Westmoreland, Exeter, and Others, with red roses in their hats. K. Hen. My lords, look where the sturdy rebel sits, Even in the chair of state! belike, he means, (Back'd by the power of Warwick, that false peer,) To aspire unto the crown, and reign as king.Earl of Northumberland, he slew thy father;And thine, lord Clifford; and you both have vow'd revenge On him, his sons, his favourites, and his friends. North. If I be not, heavens, be reveng❜d on me! Clif. The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn in steel. West. What, shall we suffer this? let's pluck him down: My heart for anger burns, I cannot brook it. K. Hen. Be patient, gentle earl of Westmoreland. Clif. Patience is for poltroons, and such as he; He durst not sit there, had your father liv'd. My gracious lord, here in the parliament Let us assail the family of York. North. Well hast thou spoken, cousin; be it so. K. Hen. Ah, know you not, the city favours them, And they have troops of soldiers at their beck? VOL. V. Exe. But, when the duke is slain, they'll quickly fly. K. Hen. Far be the thought of this from Henry's heart, To make a shambles of the parliament-house! [They advance to the Duke. Thou factious duke of York, descend my throne, And kneel for grace and mercy at my feet; I am thy sovereign. York. Thou art deceiv'd, I am thine. Exe. For shame, come down; he made thee duke of York. York. 'Twas my inheritance, as the earldom was. Clif. Whom should he follow, but his natural king? K. Hen. And shall I stand, and thou sit in my throne? York. It must and shall be so. Content thyself. War. Be duke of Lancaster, let him be king. West. He is both king and duke of Lancaster; And that the lord of Westmoreland shall maintain. War. And Warwick shall disprove it. You forget, That we are those which chas'd you from the field, 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;" And, by his soul, thou and thy house shall rue it. West. Plantagenet, of thee, and these thy sons, Thy kinsmen, and thy friends, I'll have more lives, Than drops of blood were in my father's veins. |