THE True Tragedie of Richard the third Wherein is showne the death of Edward the fourth with the smothering of the two yoong Princes in the Tower With a lamentable ende of Shores wife an example for all wicked women And lastly the coniunction and ioyning of the two noble Houses Lancaster and Yorke As it was playd by the Queenes Maiesties Players LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede and are to be sold by William Barley at his shop in Newgate Market neare Christ Church doore 1594 THE TRVE TRAGEDIE OF RICHARD THE THIRD Enters Truth and Poetrie To them the Ghoast of George Duke of Clarence Ghost CResse cruor sanguinis satietur sanguine cresse Quod spero scitio O scitio scitio vendicta Exit Poetrie Truth well met Truth Thankes Poetrie what makes thou vpon a stage Poet. Shadowes Truth Then will I adde bodies to the shadowes Therefore depart and giue Truth leaue To shew her pageant Poe. Why will Truth be a Player Truth No but Tragedia like for to present A Tragedie in England done but late That will reuiue the hearts of drooping mindes Poe. Whereof Truth Marry thus Richard Plantagenet of the House of Yorke Claiming the Crowne by warres not by descent Had as the Chronicles make manifest In the two and twentith yeare of Henry the sixth By act of Parliament intailed to him The Crowne and titles to that dignitie And to his ofspring lawfully begotten After the decease of that forenamed King Yet not contented for to staie the time Made warres vpon King Henry then the sixth And by outrage suppressed that vertuous King And wonne the Crowne of England to himselfe But since at Wakefield in a battell pitcht Outragious Richard breathed his latest breath Leauing behind three branches of that line Three sonnes the first was Edward now the King George of Clarence and Richard Glosters Duke Then Henry claiming after his decease His stile his Crowne and former dignitie Was quite suppressed till this Edward the fourth Poe. But tell me truth of Henry what ensued Tru. Imprisoned he in the Tower of London lies By strict command from Edward Englands King Since cruelly murthered by Richard Glosters Duke Poe. Whose Ghoast was that did appeare to vs Tru. It was the ghost of George the duke of Clarēce Who was attected in King Edwards raigne Falsly of Treason to his royaltie Imprisoned in the Tower was most vnnaturally By his owne brother shame to parents stocke By Glosters Duke drowned in a but of wine Poe. What shield was that he let fall Tru. A shield conteining this in full effect Blood sprinkled springs blood spilt craues due reuenge Whereupon he writes Cresse cruor Sanguis satietur sanguine cresse Quod spero scitio O scitio scitio vendicta Poe. What maner of man was this Richard Duke of Gloster Tru. A man ill shaped crooked backed lame armed withall Valiantly minded but tyrannous in authoritie So during the minoritie of the yoong Prince He is made Lord Protector ouer the Realme Gentiles suppose that Edward now hath raigned Full two and twentie yeares and now like to die Hath summond all his Nobles to the Court To sweare alleageance with the Duke his brother For truth vnto his sonne the tender Prince Whose fathers soule is now neare flight to God Leauing behind two sonnes of tender age Fiue daughters to comfort the haplesse Queene All vnder the protection of the Duke of Gloster Thus gentles excuse the length by the matter And here begins Truthes Pageant Poetrie Wend with me Exeunt Enter Edward the fourth Lord Hastings Lord Marcus and Elizabeth To them Richard Hastings Long liue my soueraigne in all happinesse Marcus An honourable age with Cressus wealth Hourely attend the person of the King King And welcome you Peeres of England vnto your King Hast. For our vnthankfulnesse the heauens hath throwne thee downe Mar. I feare for our ingratitude our angry God doth frowne King Why Nobles he that laie me here Can raise me at his pleasure But my deare friends and kinsmen In what estate I now lie it is seene to you all And I feele my selfe neare the dreadfull stroke of death And the cause that I haue requested you in friendly wise To meete togither is this That where malice enuy sowing sedition in the harts of men So would I haue that admonished and friendly fauours Ouercome in the heart of yon Lord Marcus and Lord Hastings Both for how I haue gouerned these two and twentie yeares I leaue it to your discretions The malice hath still bene an enemy to you both That in my life time I could neuer get any lege of amity betwixt you Yet at my death let me intreate you to imbrace each other That at my last departure you may send my soule To the ioyes celestiall For leauing behinde me my yoong sonne Your lawfull King after my decease May be by your wise and graue counsell so gouerned Which no doubt may bring comfort To his famous realme of England But what saith Lord Marcus and Lord Hastings What not one word nay then I see it will not be For they are resolute in their ambition Elizabeth Ah yeeld Lord Hastings And submit your selues to each other And you Lord Marcus submit your selfe See here the aged King my father How he sues for peace betwixt you both Consider Lord Marcus you are son to my mother the Queene And therefore let me intreat you to mittigate your wrath And in friendly sort imbrace each other King Nay cease thy speech Elizabeth It is but folly to speake to them For they are resolute in their ambitious mindes Therefore Elizabeth I feele my selfe at the last instant of death And now must die being thus tormented in minde Hast. May it be that thou Lord Marcus That neither by intreatie of the Prince curtuous word of Elizabeth his daughter May withdraw thy ambition from me Marc. May it be that thou Lord Hastings Canst not perceiue the marke his grace aimes at Hast. No I am resolute except thou submit Marc. If thou beest resolute giue vp the vpshot And perhaps thy head may paie for the losses King Ah Gods sith at my death you iarre What will you do to the yoong Prince after my decease For shame I say depart from my presence and leaue me to my self For these words strikes a second dying to my soule Ah my Lords I thought I could haue commanded A greater thing then this at your hands But sith I cannot I take my leaue of you both And so depart and trouble me no more Hast. With shame and like your Maiestie I submit therfore Crauing humble pardon on my knees And would rather that my body shal be a pray to mine enemy Rather then I will offend my Lord at the houre And instance of his death King Ah thankes Lord Hastings Eliza. Ah yeeld Lord Marcus sith Lord Hastings Is contented to be vnited King Ah yeeld Lord Marcus thou art too obstinate Marc. My gracious Lord I am content
And humbly craue your graces pardon on my knee For my foule offence And see my Lord my brest opened to mine aduersary That he may take reuenge then once it shall be said I will offend my gratious suffereigne King Now let me see you friendly giue one an other your hands Hast. With a good will an t like your grace Therefore Lord Marcus take here my hand Which was once vowde and sworne to be thy death But now through intretie of my Prince I knit a league of amitie for euer Mar. Well Lord Hastings not in show but in deed Take thou here my hand which was once vowed To a shiuered thy bodie in peecemeales That the foules of the ayre should haue fed Their yoong withall But now vpon aleageance to my Prince I vow perfect loue And liue friendship for euer King Now for confirming of it here take your oathes Hast. If I Lord Hastings falcifie my league of friendship Vowde to Lord Marcus I craue confusion Marcus Like oath take I and craue confusion Lod. Euen when the greatest of his torments had left him Shore But are the nobles agreed to the contentment of the Prince Lod. The Nobles and Peeres are agreed as the King would wish them Shorse. Lodwicke thou reuiuest me Lod. I but few thought that the agreement and his life would haue ended togither Shore Why Lodwicke is he dead Lod. In briefe mistresse Shore he hath changed his life Shorse. His life ah me vnhappie woman Now is misery at hand Now will my foes tryumph at this my fall Those whom I haue done most good will now forsake me Ah Hursly when I enterteined thee first I was farre from change so was I Lodwicke When I restored thee thy lands Ah sweete Edward farwell my gracious Lord and souereigne For now shall Shores wife be a mirrour and looking glasse To all her enemies Thus shall I finde Lodwicke and haue cause to say That all men are vnconstant Lod. Why mistresse Shore for the losse of one friend Will you abandon the rest that wish you well Shore Ah Lodwicke I must for when the tree decaies Whose fruitfull branch haue flourished many a yeare Then farewell those ioyfull dayes and offspring of my heart But say Lodwicke who hath the King made Protector During the innormitie of the yoong Prince Lod. He hath made his brother Duke of Gloster Protector Shore Ah me then comes my ruine and decaie For he could neuer abide me to the death No he alwaies hated me whom his brother loued so well Thus must I lament and say all the world is vnconstant Lod. But mistresse Shore comfort your selfe And thinke well of my Lord Who hath alway bene a helper vnto you Shorse. Indeed Lodwicke to condemne his honour I cannot For he hath alway bene my good Lord For as the world is fickle so changeth the minds of men Lod. Why mistresse Shore rather then want should oppresse You that litle land which you beg'd for me of the King Shall be at your dispose Shorse. Thanks good Lodwicke Enters a Citizen and Morton a seruing man Citi. O maister Morton you are very welcome met I hope you thinke on me for my mony Mor. I pray sir beare with me and you shall haue it With thankes too Citi. Nay I pray sir let me haue my mony For I haue had thankes and too much more then I lookt for Mor. In faith sir you shall haue it But you must beare with me a litle But sir I maruell how you can be so greedie for your mony When you see sir we are so vncertaine of our owne Citi. How so vncertaine of mine owne Why doest thou know any bodie wil come to rob me Mor. Why no Citi. Wilt thou come in the night and cut my throate Mor. No Citi. Wilt thou and the rest of thy companions Come and set my house on fire Mor. Why no I tell thee Citi. Why how should I then be vncertaine of mine owne Mor. Why sir by reason the King is dead Citi. O sir is the King dead I hope he hath giuen you no quittance for my debt Mor. No sir but I pray staie a while and you shall haue it Assoone as I can Citi. Well I must be content where nothing is to be had The King looseth his right they say But who is this Mor. Marry sir it is mistresse Shore To whom I am more beholding too for my seruice Then the deerest friend that euer I had Citi. And I for my sonnes pardon Mor. Now mistresse Shore how fare you Shore Well Morton but not so wel as thou hast knowne me For I thinke I shal be driuen to try my friends one day Mor. God forfend mistresse Shore And happie be that Sunne shall shine vpon thee For preseruing the life of my sonne Shore Gramercies good father But how doth thy sonne is he well Citi. The better that thou liues doth he Shore Thankes father I am glad of it But come maister Lodwicke shall we go And you Morton you le beare vs company Lod. I mistresse Shore For my Lord thinkes long for our comming Exit omnes Citi. There there huffer but by your leaue The Kings death is a maime to her credit But they say there is my Lord Hastings in the Court He is as good as the Ase of hearts at maw Well euen as they brew so let them bake for me But I must about the streetes to see and I can meete With such cold customers as they I met withall euen now Masse if I meete with no better I am like to keepe a bad hoshold of it Exit Enters Richard sir William Casbe Page of his chamber and his traine Rich. My friends depart The houre commands your absence Leaue me and euery man looke to his charge Exit traine Casbie. Renowned and right worthie Protector Whose excelency far deserues the name of king then protector Sir William Casbie wisheth my Lord That your grace may so gouerne the yoong Prince That the Crowne of England may flourish in all happinesse Rich. Ah yoong Prince and why not I Exit Casbie Or who shall inherit Plantagines but his sonne And who the King deceased but the brother Shall law bridle nature or authoritie hinder inheritance No I say no Principalitie brookes no equalitie Much lesse superioritie And the title of a King is next vnder the degree of a God For if he be worthie to be called valiant That in his life winnes honour and by his sword winnes riches Why now I with renowne of a souldier which is neuer sold but By waight nor changed but by losse of life I reapt not the gaine but the glorie and since it becommeth A sonne to maintaine the honor of his deceased father Why should not I hazard his dignitie by my brothers sonnes To be baser then a King I disdaine And to be more then Protector the law deny Why my father got the Crowne my brother won the Crowne And I will weare the Crowne Or I le
Rich. Then Madame for our happie battelles victorie first thankes to heauen next to my foreward country-men but Madame pardon me tho I make bold to charge you with a promise that you made which was confirmed by diuerse of the Peeres touching the marriage of Elizabeth and hauing ended what I promised you Madam I looke and hope to haue my due Stand. Then know my sonne the Peeres by full consent in that thou hast freed them from a tyrants yoke haue by election chosen thee as King first in regard they account thee vertuous next for that they hope all forraine broyles shall cease and thou wilt guide and gouerne them in peace then sit thou downe my sonne and here receiue the Crowne of England as thy proper owne sit downe Oxf. Henry the seuenth by the grace of God King of England France and Lord of Ireland God saue the King All Long liue Henry the seuenth King of England Rich. Thanks louing friends and my kind country-men and here I vow in presence of you all to root abuses from this common welth which now flowes faster then the furious tyde that ouerflowes beyond the bankes of Nile And louing father and my other friends whose ready forwardnesse hath made me fortunate Richmond will still in honourable loue count himselfe to be at your dispose nor do I wish to enioy a longer life then I shall liue to thinke vpon your loue But what saith faire Elizabeth to vs for now wee haue welcommed our other friends I must bid you welcome Ladie amongst the rest and in my welcome craue to be resolued how you resolue touching my profered loue vnto you here your mother and the Peeres agree and all is ended if you condescend Eliz. Then know my Lord that if my mother please I must in dutie yeeld to her command for when our aged father left his life he willed vs honour still our mothers age and therefore as my dutie doth command I do commit my selfe to her dispose Queene Then here my Lord receiue thy royall spouse vertuous Elizabeth for both the Peeres and Commons do agree that this faire Princesse shall be wife to thee And we pray all that faire Elizabeth may liue for aye and neuer yeeld to death Rich. And so say I thanks to you all my Lords that thus haue honoured Richmond with a Crowne and if I liue then make account my Lords I will deserue this with more then common loue Stan. And now were but my forme George Standley here How happie were our present meeting then But he is dead nor shall I euermore see my sweete Boy whom I do loue so deare for well I know the vsurper In his rage hath made a slaughter of my aged ioy Rich. Take comfort gentle father for I hope my brother George will turne in safe to vs Stand. A no my sonne for he that ioyes in blood will worke his furie on the innocent Enters two Messengers with George Standley Stan. But how now what noyse is this Mess. Behold Lord Standley we bring thy sonne thy sonne George Standley whom with great danger we haue saued from furie of a tyrants doome L. Stan. And liues George Standley Then happie that I am to see him freed thus from a tyrants rage Welcome my sonne my sweete George welcome home George Stan. Thanks my good father and George Standley ioyes to see you ioynd in this assembly And like a lambe kept by a greedie Woolfe within the inclosed sentire of the earth expecting death without deliuerie euen from this daunger is George Standley come to be a guest to Richmond the rest for when the bloodie butcher heard your honour did refuse to come to him hee like a sauage tygre then inraged commanded straight I should be murdered sent these two to execute the deed but they but they that knew how innocēt I was did post him off with many long delayes alleaging reasons to alaie his rage but t was in vaine for he like to a starued Lionesse still called for blood saying that I should die But to be briefe when both the battels ioyned these two and others shifted me away Rich. Now seeing that each thing turnes to our content I will it be proclaimed presently that traytrous Richard Be by our command drawne through the streets of Lester Starke naked on a Colliers horse let him be laide For as of others paines he had no regard So let him haue a traytors due reward Now for our marriage and our nuptiall rytes Our pleasure is they be solemnized In our Abby of Westminster according to the ancient custom due The two and twentith day of August next Set forwards then my Lords towards London straight There to take further order for the state Mess. Thus Gentles may you heere behold the ioyning of these Houses both in one by this braue Prince Henry the seauenth who was for wit compared to Salomon his gouernment was vertuous euery way and God did wonderously increase his store he did subdue a proud rebellious Lord that did encounter him vpon blacke health He died when he had raigned full three and twentie yeares eight moneths and some odde dayes and lies buried in Westminster He died left behind a sonne Mess. A sonne he left a Harry of that name a worthie valiant and victorious Prince for on the fifth yeare of his happie raigne hee entered France and to the Frenchmens costs hee wonne Turwen and Turney The Emperor serued this King for common pay and as a mersonary prince did follow him Then after Morle and Morles conquered he and still did keepe the French men at a bay And lastly in this Kings decreasing age he conquered Bullen and after when he was turned home he died when he had raigned full thirtie eight yeares nine moneths and some odde dayes and was buried in Windsore He died and left three famous springs behinde him Edward the sixt he did restore the Gospell to his light and finished that his father left vndone A wise yoong Prince giuen greatly to his booke He brought the English seruice first in vse and died when he had raigned six yeares fiue moneths some odde dayes and lieth buried in Westminster Eliza. Next after him a Mary did succeede which married Philip King of Spaine she raigned fiue yeares foure moneths and some odde dayes and is buried in Westminster When she was dead her sister did succeed Queene Worthie Elizabeth a mirrour in her age by whose wise life and ciuill gouernment her country was defended from the crueltie of famine fire and swoord warres fearefull messengers This is that Queene as writers truly say That God had marked downe to liue for aye Then happie England mongst thy neighbor Iles For peace and plentie still attends on thee And all the fauourable Planets smiles To see thee liue in such prosperitie She is that lampe that keeps faire Englands light And through her faith her country liues in peace And she hath put proud Antichrist to flight And bene the meanes that ciuill wars did cease Then England kneele vpon thy hairy knee And thanke that God that still prouides for thee The Turke admires to heare her gouernment And babies in Iury sound her princely name All Christian Princes to that Prince hath sent After her rule was rumord foorth by fame The Turke hath sworne neuer to lift his hand To wrong the Princesse of this blessed land T were vaine to tell the care this Queene hath had In helping those that were opprest by warre And how her Maiestie hath stil bene glad When she hath heard of peace proclaim'd from far Ieneua France and Flanders hath set downe The good she hath done since she came to the Crowne For which if ere her life be tane away God grant her soule may liue in heauen for aye For if her Graces dayes be brought to end Your hope is gone on whom did peace depend FINIS
intollerable foe vnder me which I will not But Standley to be brief thou shalt not go But soft Richard but that it were better to be alone then to haue noysome company he shall goe leauing for his loyaltie a sufficient pledge Come hither Standley thou shalt goe leauing me here thy sonne and heire George Standley for a pledge that hee may perish for thy fault if neede should be if thou likest this goe If not answere me briefly and say quickly no Stand. I am to aduise my selfe vppon a secret cause and of a matter that concernes me neare say that I leaue my sonne vnto the King and that I should but aide Earle Richmond my sonne George Standley dies but if my faith be kept vnto my Prince George Standley liues Well I will except the Kings proffer And please your grace I am content and will leaue my sonne to pledge King Here come hither and with thee take this lesson Thou art set free for our defence Thou shalt vpon thy pledge make this promise Not only to staie the hinderance of the Earle But to preuent his purpose with thy power Thou shalt not seeke by any meanes to aide or rescue him This done of my life thy sonne doth liue But otherwise thy sonne dies and thou too if I catch thee And it shall go hard but I will catch thee Stand. And you shall go apace and yet go without me But I humbly take my leaue of your grace Farewell George King How now what do you giue him letters Stand. No my Lord I haue done The second sight is sweet of such a sonne Exit King Carry George Standley to prison George Alasse my Lord shall I go to prison King Shall you go to prison what a question 's that So pricke the lambe and wound the damme How likest thou this Catesbie Cat. Oh my Lord so excellent that you haue imprisoned his sonne King Nay now will we looke to the rest But I sent the Lord Louell to the mother Queene Concerning my sute to her daughter Elizabeth But see in good time here he is How now Louell what newes What saith the mother Queene to my sute Enters Louell Lou. My Lord very strange she was at the first But when I had told her the cause she gaue concent Desiring your maiestie to make the nobilitie priuie to it King God haue mercy Louell but what said Lady Elizabeth Lou. Why my Lord straunge as women will be at the first But through intreatie of her mother she quickly gaue consent And the Queene wild me to tel your grace that she meanes to leaue Sanctuary and to come to the court with al her daughters King I marry Louell let not that opportunitie slippe looke to it Catesbie be carefull for it Louell for thereby hangs such a chance that may inrich vs and our heires for euer But sirs hard ye nothing of the Scottish Nobles that met at Nottingham to conferre about the marriage of my Neece Cat. Not a word my Lord Enters Messenger King Gogs wounds who is that search the villaine has he any dags about him Mess. No my Lord I haue none King From whence comes thou Mess. From the Peeres at Nottingham and Scotland they greete your Maiestie Lou. Sirrha is the marriage concluded betweene the Scottish Earle and the faire Lady Rosa Cat. Prethie tell vs is it concluded Page How saies thou is it concluded King Nay will you giue me leaue to tell you that Why you villaines will you know the secrets of my letter by interrupting messengers that are sent to me Away I say begone it is time to looke about away I say what here yet villaines Mess. My Lord I haue somewhat to say besides King Then speake it what hast thou to say Mess. This my Lord when the Peeres of England and Scotland met at Nottingham togither to confer about the marriage of your Neese it was straight determined that she shuld be married with the Scottish Earle And further my Lord the Councel commanded me to deliuer vnto your grace the treasons of Captain Blunt who had the Earle of Oxford in charge in Hames castle now are they both fled and purposeth to ayde the Earle of Richmond against your grace Now my Lord I take my leaue King Messenger staie hath Blunt betraied doth Oxford rebell and aide the Earle Richmond may this be true what is our prison so weake our friends so fickle our Ports so ill lookt too that they may passe and repasse the seas at their pleasures then euerie one conspires spoyles our Conflex conqueres our Castles and Armes themselues with their owne weapons vnresisted O villaines rebels fugetiues theeues how are we betrayd when our owne swoordes shall beate vs and our owne subiects seekes the subuertion of the state the fall of their Prince and sack of their country of his nay neither must nor shall for I will Army with my friends and cut off my enemies beard them to their face that dares me and but one I one one beyond the seas that troubles me wel his power is weake we are strong therfore I wil meet him with such melodie that the singing of a bullet shal send him merily to his lōgest home Come folow me Enter Earle Rich. Earle Oxford P. Landoys captain Blunt Rich. Welcome deare friends and louing country-men Welcome I say to Englands blisfull Ile Whose forwardnesse I cannot but commend That thus do aide vs in our enterprise My right it is and sole inheritance And Richard but vsurps in my authoritie For in his tyrannie he slaughtered those That would not succour him in his attempts Whose guiltlesse blood craues daily at Gods hands Reuenge for outrage done to their harmelesse liues Then courage countrymen and neuer be dismayd Our quarels good and God will helpe the right For we may know by dangers we haue past That God no doubt will giue vs victorie Oxf. If loue of gold or feare of many foes Could once haue danted vs in our attempts Thy foote had neuer toucht the English shoare And here Earle Oxford plites his faith to thee Neuer to leaue in what we haue vndertane But follow still with resolution Till thou be crownd as conquerer in the field Or lose thy life in following of thy right Thy right braue Richmond which we wil maintaine Maugre the proudest bird of Richards brood Then cousin Richmond being resolued thus Let vs straight to Aarms God and S. George for vs Blunt As this braue Earle haue said so say we all We will not leaue thee till the field be wonne Which if with fortunate successe we can performe Thinke then Earle Richmond that I followed thee And that shall be honour inough for mee Lan. So saith Landoyse that honors Richmond so With loue vnfeined for his valure past That if your honour leade the way to death Peeter Landoys hath sworne to follow thee For if Queen mother do but keep her word And what the Peeres haue promised