Who, after Edward the Third's death, reign'd as king; Till Henry Bolingbroke, duke of Lancaster, The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt, Crown'd by the name of Henry the Fourth, Seiz'd on the realm; depos'd the rightful king; Sent his poor queen to France, from whence she came, And him to Pomfret; where, as all you know, Harmless Richard was murdered traitorously. War. Father, the duke hath told the truth; Thus got the house of Lancaster the crown. York. Which now they hold by force, and not by right; For Richard, the first son's heir being dead, The issue of the next son should have reign'd. Sal. But William of Hatfield died without an heir. York. The third son, duke of Clarence (from whose line I claim the crown), had issue-Philippe, a daughter, Who married Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March; York. His eldest sister, Anne, My mother, being heir unto the crown, Married Richard, earl of Cambridge; who was son To Edmund Langley, Edward the Third's fifth son. By her I claim the kingdom: she was heir Succeed before the younger, I am king. War. What plain proceedings are more plain than this? Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt, The fourth son; York claims it from the third. Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign: York. We thank you, lords. But I am not your king Till I be crown'd; and that my sword be stain'd Do you, as I do, in these dangerous days, A mind at full. York. And, Nevil, this I do assure myself,Richard shall live to make the earl of Warwick The greatest man in England but the king. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. A Hall of Justice. Trumpets sounded. Enter KING HENRY, QUEEN MARGARET, GLOSTER, YORK, SUFFOLK, and SALISBURY; the DUCHESS OF GLOSTER, MARGERY JOURDAIN, SOUTHWELL, HUME, and BOLINGBROKE, under guard. K. Hen. Stand forth, dame Eleanor Cobham, In sight of God, and us, your guilt is great; From thence, unto the place of execution: You, madam, for you are more nobly born, Glo. Eleanor, the law, thou seest, hath judged thee; I cannot justify whom the law condemns.[Exeunt the Duchess, and the other Prisoners guarded. Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief. Give up thy staff; Henry will to himself Q. Mar. I see no reason, why a king of years [Exit. Q. Mar. Why, now is Henry king, and Mar garet queen; And Humphrey, duke of Gloster, scarce himself, That bears so shrewd a maim; two pulls at once, His lady banish'd, and a limb lopp'd off. This staff of honour raught, there let it stand, Thus Eleanor's pride dies in her youngest days. York. Lords, let him go.-Please it your majesty, This is the day appointed for the combat; Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried. K. Hen. O' God's name, see the lists and all things fit; Here let them end it, and God defend the right! York. I never saw a fellow worse bested, Or more afraid to fight, than is the appellant, The servant of this armourer, my lords. Enter, on one side, HORNER, and his Neighbours, drinking to him so much that he is drunk; and he enters bearing a staff with a sand-bag fastened to it; a drum before him: at the other side, PETER, with a drum and a similar staff; accompanied by Prentices drinking to him. 1 Neigh. Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a cup of sack; and fear not, neighbour, you shall do well enough. 2 Neigh. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of charneco, 3 Neigh. And here's a pot of good double beer, neighbour: drink, and fear not your man. Hor. Let it come, i' faith, and I'll pledge you all; And a fig for Peter! 1 Pren. Here Peter, I drink to thee; and be not afraid. 2 Pren. Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master; fight for credit of the prentices. Peter. I thank you all: drink, and pray for me, I pray you; for, I think, I have taken my last draught in this world.-Here, Robin, an if I die, I give thee my apron; and, Will, thou shalt have my hammer:-and here, Tom, take all the money that I have.-O Lord, bless me, I pray God! for I am never able to deal with my master, he hath learnt so much fence already. Sal. Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows. Sirrah, what's thy name? Peter. Peter, forsooth. Sal. Peter! what more? [well. Sal. Thump! then see thou thump thy master Hor. Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon my man's instigation, to prove him a knave, and myself an honest man: and touching the duke of York, will take my death, Í never meant him any ill, nor the king, nor the queen: And, therefore, Peter, have at thee with a downright blow, as Bevis of Southampton fell upon Ascapart. York. Despatch :-this knave's tongue begins to double. Sound trumpets, alarum to the combatants. [Alarum. They fight, and PETER strikes down his Master. Hor. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason. [Dies. York. Take away his weapon;-Fellow, Thank God, and the good wine in thy master's way. Peter. O God! have I overcome mine enemies in this presence? O Peter, thou hast prevail'd in right! K. Hen. Go, take hence that traitor from our sight; For, by his death, we do perceive his guilt! fully. Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The same. A Street. Enter GLOSTER and Servants, in mourning Cloaks. Glo. Thus, sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud; And, after summer, evermore succeeds Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold: |