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
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
Let vengeance mischiefes tortures light on thee and thine And after death thou maist more torture feele then when Excon turnes the restlesse wheele And banne thy soule where ere thou seeme to rest But come my my friends let me away Herald My Lord we are sorie But come laie hands on Banister Exeunt Enter King Richard sir William Catesbie and others King The goale is got and golden Crowne is wonne And well deseruest thou to weare the same That ventured hast thy bodie and thy soule But what bootes Richard now the Diademe Or kingdome got by murther of his friends My fearefull shadow that still followes me Hath sommond me before the seuere iudge My conscience witnesse of the blood I spilt Accuseth me as guiltie of the fact The fact a damned iudgement craues Whereas impartiall iustice hath condemned Meethinkes the Crowne which I before did weare Inchast with Pearle and costly Diamonds Is turned now into a fatall wreathe Of fiery flames and euer burning starres And raging fiends hath past ther vgly shapes In Stygian lakes adrest to tend on me If it be thus what wilt thou do in this extremitie Nay what canst thou do to purge thee of thy guilt Euen repent craue mercie for thy damned fact Appeale for mercy to thy righteous God Ha repent not I craue mercy they that list My God is none of mine Then Richard be thus resolu'd To pace thy soule in vallence with their blood Soule for soule and bodie for bodie yea mary Richard That 's good Catesbie Cat. You cald my Lord I thinke King It may be so But what thinkst thou Catesbie Cat. Of what my Lord King Why of all these troubles Cat. Why my Lord I hope to see them happily ouercom'd King How villain doest thou hope to see me happily ouercom'd Cat. Who you my Lord King Ay villaine thou points at me thou hopest to see me ouercom'd Cat. No my good Lord your enemies or else not King Ha ha good Catesbie but what hearest thou of the Duke of Buckingham Cat. Why he is dead my Lord he was executed at Salisbury yesterday King Why t is impossible his friends hopes that he shall outline me to be my head Cat. Out-liue you Lord that 's straunge King No Catesbie if a do it must be in fames And since they hope he shall out liue me to be my head He hops without his head rests among his fellow rebels Cat. Mary no force my Lord King But Catesbie what hearest thou of Henry Earle of Richmond Cat. Not a word my Lord King No hearest thou not he liues in Brittaine In fauour with the Duke Nay more Lady Margaret his mother conspires against vs And perswades him that hee is lineally descended from Henry The fourth and that he hath right to the Crowne Therefore tell me what thinkst thou of the Earle Cat. My Lord I thinke of the Earle as he doth deserue A most famous gentleman King Villaine doest thou praise my foe and commend him to my face Cat. Nay my Lord I wish he were as good a friend as he is a foe else the due deserts of a traytor King What 's that Cat. Why my Lord to loose his head King Yea mary I would t were off quickly then But more to the strengthening of his title She goes about to marry him to the Queenes eldest daughter Ladie Elizabeth Cat. Indeed my Lord that I heard was concluded By all the nobilitie of Brittaine King Why then there it goes The great diuell of hell go with all A marriage begun in mischiefe shall end in blood I thinke that accursed sorrceresse the mother Queene Doth nothing but be with me and hatcheth conspiracies And brings out perillous birds to wound Their Countries weale The Earle is vp in Armes And with him many of the Nobilitie He hath ayde in France He is rescued in Brittaine And meaneth shortly to arriue in England But all this spites me not so much As his escape from Landoyse the Dukes Treasuror Who if he had bene prickt foorth for reuenge He had ended all by apprehending of our foe But now he is in disgrace with the Duke And we farther off our purpose then to fore But the Earle hath not so many byting dogs abroad As we haue sleeping curres at home here Readie for rescue Cat. But my Lord I maruell how he should get aide there Considering he is no friend to Brittaine King Ay so thou maist maruell how the Duke of Brittaine Durst wake such a foe as England against him But euill fare makes open warre But who comes there Catsbie Ha one of our spurres to reuenge The Lord Standley father in law to Ladie Margaret His comming is to vs Catsbie Wert not that his life might serue For apprehension against our foe He should haue neither Iudge nor Iury But guiltie death without any more ado Now Lord Standley what newes Haue you receiued any letters of your late embassage into Brittaine What answere haue you receiued of your letters Enter Lord Standley and his sonne George Stand. Why my Lord for that I sent I haue receiued King And how doth your sonne then is he in health Standley For his health my Lord I do not mistrust King Faith tell vs when meanes he to arriue in England And how many of our Nobilitie is with him And what power is with him Standley And please your grace His power is vnknowne to me Nor willingly would not I be priuy to such causes King Oh good wordes Lord Standley but giue me leaue to gleane out of your golden field of eloquence how braue you pleade ignorance as though you knew not of your sonnes departure into Brittaine out of England Stand. Not I my Lord King Why is not his mother thy wife dares he passe ouer without the blessing of his mother whose husband thou art Stand. I desire your maiestie but giue me leaue to speake King Yea speak Standley no doubt some fine coloured tale Stand. And like your grace wheras you mistrust that I knew of my sonnes departure out of England into Brittaine God I take to record it was vnknowne to me nor know not yet what his pretence is for at his departure was I one of the priuy councell to your brother King Edward the fourth and that she was able to relieue him without my helpe I hope her sufficiencie is knowne to your grace Therefore I humbly craue pardon King Well Standley I feare it will be proued to the contrarie that thou didst furnish him both with mony and munition which if it be then looke for no fauour at my hands but the due deserts of a traitor but let this passe What 's your repaire to our presence Stan. Only this my Lord that I may repaire from the court to my house in the country King Ay sir that you might be in Cheshire and Lancashire then should your Postes passe inuisible into Brittaine and you to depart the realme at your pleasure or else I to suffer an
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
make them hop without their crownes that denies me Haue I remoued such logs out of my sight as my brother Clarēce And king Henry the sixt to suffer a child to shadow me Nay more my nephew to disinherit me Yet most of all to be released from the yoke of my brother As I terme it to become subiect to his sonne No death nor hell shal not withhold me but as I rule I wil raign And so raign that the proudest enemy shall not abide The sharpest shoure Why what are the babes but a puffe of Gun-pouder a marke for the soldiers food for fishes Or lining for beds deuices enough to make them away Wherein I am resolute and determining needs no counsell Ho whos 's within Enters Page and Perciuall Perc. May it please your Maiestie Richard Ha villaine Maiestie Per. I speake but vpon that which shal be my good Lord Rich. But what 's he with thee Page A Messenger with a letter from the right honourable The Duke of Buckingham Exit Page Rich. Sirra giue place Ah how this title of Maiestie animates me to my purpose Rise man regard no fall haply this letter brings good lucke May it be or is it possible Doth Fortune so much fauour my happinesse That I no sooner deuise but she sets abroach Or doth she but to trie me that raising me aloft My fall may be the greater well laugh on sweete change Be as be may I will neuer feare colours nor regard ruth Valour brings fame and fame conqueres death Perciuall Per. My Lord Rich. For so thy letter declares thy name Thy trust to thy Lord is a sufficient warrant That I vtter my minde fully vnto thee And seeing thy Lord and I haue bene long foes And haue found now so fit opportunitie to ioyne league To alaie the proude enemy tell him thus as a friend I do accept of his grace and will be as readie to put in practise To the vttermost of my power what ere he shal be to deuise But whereas he hath writ that the remouing of the yoong Prince from the Queenes friends might do well Tell him thus it is the only way to our purpose For he shall shortly come vp to London to his Coronation At which instant we will be both present And where by the helpe of thy Lord I will so plaie my part That I le be more then I am and not much lesse then I looke for No nor a haire bredth from that I am Aiudge thou what it is Perciual Perc. God send it my Lord but my Lord willed me to satisfie you and to tell you by word of mouth that he hath in readinesse a braue company of men Rich. What power hath he Per. A braue band of his owne Rich. What number Per. My Lord to the number of fiue hundreth footmen And horsmen ayders vnto him is my Lord Chamberlaine and my Lord Hastings Rich. Sounes dares he trust the Lord Hastings Per. I my Lord as his owne life he is secret I warrant you Rich. Well Perciuall this matter is waightie and must not be slipt therefore return this answere to thy Lord that to morrow I will meet him for to day I cannot for now the funerall is past I must set a screene before the fire for feare of suspition again I am now to strengthen my selfe by the controuersie that is betwixt the kindred of the King deceast and the Queene that 's liuing the yoong Prince is yet in hucsters handling and they not throughly friendes now must I so worke that that water that driues the mill may drowne it I climbe Perciuall I regard more the glorie then the gaine for the very name of a King redouble a mans life with fame when death hath done his worst and so commend me to thy Lord and take thou this for thy paines Per. I thanke your grace I humbly take my leaue Exit Perciual Rich. Why so now Fortune make me a King Fortune giue me a kingdome let the world report the Duke of Gloster was a King therefore Fortune make me King if I be but King for a yeare nay but halfe a yeare nay a moneth a weeke three dayes one day or halfe a day nay an houre swounes half an houre nay sweete Fortune clap but the Crowne on my head that the vassals may but once say God saue King Richards life it is inough Sirrha who is there Enters Page Page My Lord Rich. What hearest thou about the Court Pag. Ioy my Lord of your Protectorship for the most part Some murmure but my Lord they be of the baser sort Rich. A mightie arme wil sway the baser sort authority doth terrifie But what other newes hearest thou Pag. This my Lord they say the yong king is comming vp to his coronation attended on by his two vnkles Earle Riuers Lord Gray and the rest of the Queenes kindred Rich. A parlous bone to ground vpon and a rush stifly knit which if I could finde a knot I would giue one halfe to the dogs and set fire on the other Pag. It is reported my Lord but I know not whether it be true or no that the Duke of Buckingham is vp in the Marches of Wales with a band of men and as they say hee aimes at the Crowne Rich. Tush a shadow without a substance and a feare without a cause but yet if my neighbours house bee on fire let me seeke to saue mine owne in trust is treason time slippth it is ill iesting with edge tooles or dallying with Princes matters I le strike whillst the yron is hote and I le trust neuer a Duke of Buckingham no neuer a Duke in the world further then I see him And sirrha so follow me Exit Richard Pag. I see my Lord is fully resolued to climbe but how hee climbes I le leaue that to your iudgements but what his fall will be that 's hard to say But I maruell that the Duke of Buckingham and he are now become such great friends who had wont to loue one another so well as the spider doth the flie but this I haue noted since he hath had the charge of Protector how many noble men hath fled the realme first the Lord Marcus sonne to the Queene the Earle of Westmorland and Northumberland are secretly fled how this geare will cotten I know not But what do I medling in such matters that should medle with the vntying of my Lordes points faith do euen as a great many do beside medle with Princes matters so long til they proue themselues beggars in the end Therfore I for feare I should be taken nipping with any words I le set a locke on my lips for feare my tongue grow too wide for my mouth Exit Page Enter the yoong Prince his brother Duke of Yorke Earle Riuers Lord Gray sir Hapce sir Thomas Vaughan Kng. Right louing vnckles and the rest of this company my mother hath written and thinks it conuenient that we dismisse our traine for feare the towne
to worke and get thereby somewhat to maintaine you O neighbour I grow verie choloricke and thou didst saue the life of my sonne vvhy if thou hadst not another vvould and for my part I vvould he had bene hangd seuen yeeres ago it had saued me a great deale of mony then But come let vs go in let the quean alone Exeunt Shore Alasse thus am I become an open shame to the world here shall I die in the streets for want of sustenance alasse is my fact so heinous that none will pitie me Yet heere comes another to whom I haue done good who is least able to pleasure me yet I will trie him to see if he will giue me any thing Enter Morton a Seruing man Mort. Now sir who but king Richard beares sway and hath proclaimed Iohn Earle of Lincolne heire aparant to the Crown the yoong Princes they are in the Tower nay some saies more they are murthered But this makes me to muse the Duke of Buckingham and the King is at such variance that did all in all to helpe him to the Crowne but the Duke of Buckingham is rid downe to Breaknock Castle in Wales and there he meanes to raise vp a power to pull down the vsurper but let them agree as they will for the next faire winde I le ouer seas Shore A Shores wife so neere driuen to beg of a seruingman I necessitie hath no law I must needs Good sir releeue me and giue me something Seru. Why what art thou Shore In briefe Morton I am Shores wife that haue done good to all Seru. A foole and euer thy owne enemy In troth mistresse Shore my store is but small yet as it is wee le part stakes but soft I cannot do what I would I am watcht Enters Page Shore Good Morton releeue me Seru. What should I releeue my Kings enemy Shore Why thou promist thou wouldst Seru. I tell thee I wil not so be answered Sownes I would with all my heart but for yonder villaine a plague on him Exit Page An honest fellow I warrant him How now Shores wife will none releeue thee Shore No none will releeue her that hath bene good to all Page Why t were pitie to do thee good but me thinkes she is fulsome and stinkes Shore If I be fulsome shun my company for none but thy Lord sought my miserie and he hath vndone me Pag. Why hath he vndone thee nay thy wicked and naughtie life hath vndone thee but if thou wantest maintenance why doest thou not fall to thy old trade againe Shore Nay villaine I haue done open penance and am sorie for my sinnes that are past Page Sownes is Shores wife become an holie whoore nay then we shall neuer haue done Shore Why hang thee if thy faults were so written in thy forehead as mine is it would be as wrong with thee But I prethie leaue me and get thee from me Page And cannot you keepe the Citie but you must runne gadding to the Court and you staie here a litle longer I le make you be set away and for my part would all whoores were so serued then there would be fewer in England then there be And so farewell good mistresse Shore Exit Shore And all such vsurping kings as thy Lord is may come to a shamefull end which no doubt I may liue yet to see Therfore sweet God forgiue all my foule offence And though I haue done wickedly in this world Into hell fire let not my soule be hurld Exit Enter Maister Terrill and siir Robert Brokenbery Broken Maister Terrell the King hath vvritten that for one night I should deliuer you the keyes and put you in full possession But good M. Terrell may I be so bold to demand a question vvithout offence Ter. Else God forbid say on vvhat ere it be Bro. Then this maister Terrell for your comming I partly knovv the cause for the king oftentimes hath sent to me to haue them both dispatcht but because I vvas a seruant to their father being Edvvard the fourth my heart vvould neuer giue me to do the deed Ter. Why sir Robert you are beside the matter vvhat neede you vse such speeches what matters are betweene the King and me I pray you leaue it and deliuer me the keyes Broken A here with teares I deliuer you the keyes and so farwell maister Terrell Exit Ter. Alasse good sir Robert hee is kinde hearted but it must not preuaile what I haue promised the King I must performe But ho Myles Forest For. Here sir Ter. Myles Forest haue you got those men I spake of they must be resolute and pittilesse For. I warrant you sir they are such pittilesse villaines that all London cannot match them for their villanie one of their names is Will Sluter yet the most part calles him blacke Will the other is Iack Denten two murtherous villaines that are resolute Ter. I prethie call them in that I may see them and speake with them Forest Ho Will and Iack Well Here sir we are at hand For. These be they that I told you of Ter. Come hither sirs to make a long discourse were but a folly you seeme to be resolute in this cause that Myles Forest hath deliuered to you therefore you must cast away pitie not so much as thinke vpon fauour for the more stearne that you are the more shall you please the King Will Zownes sir nere talke to vs of fauour t is not the first that Iack and I haue gone about Ter. Well said but the Kings pleasure is this that he wil haue no blood shead in the deed doing therefore let me heare your aduises For. Why then I thinke this maister Terrell that as they sit at supper there should be two dags readie charged and so suddeinly to shoote them both through Terrell No I like not that so well what saiest thou Will what is thy opinion Well Tush heere 's more adoo then needes I pray bring mee where they are and I le take them by the heeles and beate their braines against the walles Ter. Nay that I like not for t is too tyrannous Dout. Then heare me maister Terrell let Will take one and I le take another and by the life of Iack Douton wee le cut both their throates Ter. Nay sirs then heare me I will haue it it done in this order when they be both a bed and at rest Myles Forest thou shalt bring them vp both and betweene two feather beds smother them both For. Why this is verie good but stand aside for here comes the Princes I le bring you word when the deed is done Exit Terrill Enter the Princes Yorke How fares my noble Lord and louing brother King A worthie brother Richard Duke of Yorke my cause of sorrow is not for my selfe but this is it that addes my sorrow more to see our vnckle whom our father left as our Protector in minoritie should so digresse from dutie loue and zeale so vnkindly
thus to keepe vs vp prisoners and know no sufficient cause for it Yorke Why brother comfort your selfe for tho he detaine vs a while he will not keepe vs long but at last he will send vs to our louing mother againe whither if it please God to send vs I doubt not but our mother would keepe vs so safe that all the Prelates in the worlde should not depriue her of vs againe so much I assure my selfe of But here comes Myles Forest I prethy Myles tell my kingly brother some mery storie to passe away the time for thou seest he is melancholy King No Myles tell me no mery storie but answere me to one question vvhat vvas he that vvalked vvith thee in the Gardeine me thought he had the keyes For. My Lord it vvas one that vvas appointed by the King to be an ayde to sir Thomas Brokenbury King Did the King vvhy Myles Forest am not I King For. I would haue said my Lord your vnckle the Protector King Nay my kingly vnckle I know he is now but let him enioy both Crowne and kingdome so my brother and I may but enioy our liues and libertie But tell me is sir Robert Brokenbery cleane discharged For. No my Lord he hath but charge for a night or two King Nay then new officers new lawes would we had kept the old still But who are they whose gastly lookes doth present a dying feare to my liuing bodie I prethee tell me Myles what are they For. One my Lord is called Iack Denten the other is called Will Slawter But why starts your grace King Slawter I pray God he come not to slaughter my brother and me for from murther and slaughter good Lord deliuer vs But tell me Myles is our lodging prepared For. I my Lord if it please your brother you to walke vp King Then come brother we will go to bed For. I will attend vpon your grace Yorke Come Myles Forest beare vs company For. Sirs staie you two here and when they are a sleep I le call you vp Exit Dent. I promise thee Will it greeues mee to see what mone these yoong Princes make I had rather then fortie pounds I had nere tane it in hand t is a dangerous matter to kill innocent princes I like it not Will Why you base slaue are you faint hearted a little thing would make me strike thee I promise thee Dent. Nay go forward for now I am resolute but come le ts too it VVill I prethee staie hee le call vs vp anon But sirrha Iacke didst thou mark how the King started when he heard my name What will he do when he feeles me For. But ho sirs come softly for now they are at rest VVill Come we are readie by the masse they are a sleepe indeed For. I heare they sleep and sleepe sweet Princes neuer wake no more for you haue seene the last light in this world Iack Come presse them downe it bootes not to cry againe Iack vpon them so lustily But maister Forest now they are dead what shall we do with them For. Why goe and bury them at the heape of stones at the staire foote while I goe and tell maister Terrell that the deed is done VVill Well we will farewell maister Forest Enter Terrell Ter. How now Myles Forest is this deed dispatcht For. I sir a bloodie deed we haue performed Ter. But tell me what hast thou done with them For. I haue conueyd them to the staires foote among a heape of stones and anon I le carry them where they shall be no more found againe nor all the cronicles shall nere make mentiō what shall become of them yet good maister Terrell tell the King my name that he may but reward me with a kingly thanks Ter. I wil go certifie the King with speed that Myles Forest Will Slawter and Iack Denten they three haue done the deed And so farewell Exeunt omnes Enter the Duke of Buckingham with his dagger drawne Ban. Ah good my Lord saue my life Buc. Ah villaine how canst thou aske for mercie when thou hast so vniustly betraied me Ban. I desire your grace but giue me leaue to speake Buc. I speake thy last villain that those that heare it may see how vniustly thou hast betraied me Ban. Then thus my Lord First the proclamation was death to him that harboured your grace Buc. Ah villaine and a thousand crownes to him that could betraie me Ban. Ah my Lord my obeysance to my Prince is more Buc. Ah villain thou betraiedst me for lucre and not for dutie to thy Prince why Banister a good seruant thinkes his life well spent that spends it in the quarrel of his maister But villain make thy selfe readie and here receiue thy death Enter a Herald Herald Henry Duke of Buckingham I arest thee in King Richards name as a traytor Buc. Well Herald I will obey thy rest But am I arrested in King Richardes name vsurping Richard that insatiate blood succour that traitor to God man Ah Richard did I in Guild-Hall pleade the Orator for thee and held thee in all thy slie and wicked practises and for my reward doest thou alot me death Ah Buckingham thou plaidst thy part and made him King and put the lawfull heires besides why then is Buckingham guiltie now of his death yet had not the Bishop of Ely fled I had escaped Enters sixe others to rescue the Duke All Come the Duke of Buckingham shall not die We will take him away by force Herald Why villaines will you bee Traytours to your Prince Buckingham Nay good my friends giue me leaue to speake and let me intreate you to laie your weapons by Then know this countrey men the cause I am thus this Is for bringing in your lawfull King which is Henry Earle of Richmond now in Brittaine and meanes ere long to land at Milford Hauen in Wales where I doo know hee shall haue ayde of the cheefest of the Welch hee is your lawfull King and this a wrongfull vsurper When you shall heare of him landed in that place then take vp weapons and amaine to him hee is the man must reaue you of this yoake and send the vsurper headlesse to his home and poore Buckingham praies vpon his knees to blesse good Richmond in his enterprise and when the conquest shall be giuen to him graunt he may match with Ladie Elizabeth as promise hath to fore by him bene past while then my friendes leaue mee alone to death and let me take this punishment in peace Ah Buckingham was not thy meaning good in displacing the vsurper to raise a lawfull king Ah Buckingham it was too late the lawfull heires were smothered in the Tower sweet Edward and thy brother I nere slept quiet thinking of your deaths But vaunt Buckingham thou wast altogither innocent of their deaths But thou vilain whom of a child I nurst thee vp and hast so vniustly betraied thy Lorde Let the curse of Buckingham nere depart from thee
be performed Touching the marriage with Elizabeth Daughter to our King Edward the fourth And by this marriage ioyne in vnitie Those famous Houses Lancashire and Yorke Then England shall no doubt haue cause to say Edwards coronation was a ioyfull day And t is is all Landoys desires to see Richm. Thanks Landoys and here Earle Richmonds vows If their kinde promises take but effect That as they haue promised I be made King I will so deale in gouerning the state Which now lies like a sauage shultred groue Where brambles briars and thornes ouer-grow those sprigs Which if they might but spring to their effect And not be crost so by their contraries Making them subiect to these outrages Would proue such members of the Common-weale That England should in them be honoured As much as euer was the Romane state When it was gouernd by the Councels rule And I will draw my swoord braue country-men And neuer leaue to follow my resolue Till I haue mowed those brambles briars and thornes That hinder those that long to do vs good Oxf. Why we haue scapt the dangeroust brunt of all Which was his garrison at Milford Hauen Shall we dismay or dant our friends to come Because he tooke the Duke of Buckingham No worthie friends and louing country-men Oxford did neuer beare so base a minde He will not winke at murthers secretly put vp Nor suffer vpstarts to enioy our rightes Nor liue in England vnder an vsurping king And this is Oxfords resolution Rich. But Blunt looke whos 's that knocks Blunt My Lord t is a messenger from the mother Queene And the Ladie Standley your mother with letters Rich. Admit him straight now shall we heare some newes Enters Messenger Mess. Long liue Earle Richmond The mother Queene doth greet your honour Rich. Welcome my friend how fares our mother the rest Mess. In health my Lord and glad to hear of your ariual safe Rich. My friend my mother hath written to me of certaine that are comming in our aide the report of whose names are referd to thee to deliuer Mess. First theirs the Lord Talbut the Earle of Shreuesbury sonne and heire with a braue band of his owne There is also the Lord Fitz Harbart the Earle of Pembrookes sonne and heire Of the Gentlemen of the Welch there is sir Prise vp Thomas and sir Thomas vp Richard sir Owen Williams braue gentlemen my Lord These are the chiefe Rich. Are these the full number of all that come Mess. Only two more my Lord which I haue left vnnamed the one is sir Thomas Denis a Westerne gentleman and ioynd with him one Arnoll Butler a great many are willing but dares not as yet Rich. Doth Arnoll Butler come I can hardly brooke his trecherie for hee it was that wrought my disgrace with the King Oxf. Well my Lord wee are now to strengthen our selues with friends and not to reape vp olde quarrels say that Arnoll Butler did iniurie you in the time of peace the mendes is twise made if he stand with you in the time of warres Rich. Well my friend take this for thy good newes And commend me to our mother and the rest Thus my Lords you see God still prouides for vs But now my Lords touching the placing of our battell best And how we may be least indangered Because I will be foremost in this fight To incounter with that bloodie murtherer My selfe wil lead the vaward of our troope My Lord of Oxford you as our second selfe Shall hall haue the happie leading of the reare A place I know which you will well deserue And Captaine Blunt Peter Landoyse and you Shall by in quarters as our battels scowtes Prouided thus your bow-men Captaine Blunt Must scatter here and there to gaull their horse As also when that our promised friends do come Then must you hold hard skirmish with our foes Till I by cast of a counter march Haue ioynd our power with those that come to vs Then casting close as wings on either side We will giue a new prauado on the foe Therefore let vs towards Aderstoe amaine Where we this night God-willing will incampe From thence towards Lichfield we will march next day And neerer London bid King Richard play Exit Enters the Page Page Where shall I finde a place to sigh my fill And waile the griefe of our sore troubled King For now he hath obtaind the Diademe But with such great discomfort to his minde That he had better liued a priuate man his lookes are gastly Hidious to behold and from the priuie sentire of his heart There comes such deepe fetcht sighes and fearefull cries That being with him in his chamber oft He mooues me weepe and sigh for company For if he heare one stirre he riseth vp And claps his hand vpon his dagger straight Readie to stab him what so ere he be But he must thinke this is the iust reuenge The heauens haue powred vpon him for his sinnes Those Peeres which he vnkindly murthered Doth crie for iustice at the hands of God And he in iustice sends continuall feare For to afright him both at bed and boord But staie what noyse is this who haue we here Enters men to go to Richmond How now sirs whither are you going so fast Men Why to Earle Richmonds Camp to serue with him For we haue left to serue King Richard now Page Why comes there any more Men A number more Exit Page Why these are the villaines my Lord would haue put his life into their hands A Richard now do my eyes witnesse that thy end is at hand For thy commons make no more account of thee then of a priuate man yet will I as dutie bindes giue thee aduertisements of their vniust proceedings My maister hath lifted out many and yet hath left one to lift him out of all not onely of his Crowne but also of his life But I will in to tell my Lord of what is happened Enters Richmond and Oxford Rich. Good my Lord depart and leaue me to my selfe Oxf. I pray my Lord let me go along with you Rich. My Lord it may not be for I haue promised my father that none shall come but my selfe therfore good my Lord depart Oxf. Good my Lord haue a care of your self I like not these night walkes and scouting abroad in the euenings so disguised for you must not now that you are in the usurper dominions and you are the onely marke he aimes at and your last nightes absence bred such amazement in our souldiers that they like men wanting the power to follow Armes were on a sodaine more liker to flie then to fight therefore good my Lorde if I may not stand neare let me stand aloofe off Rich. Content thee good Oxford and tho I confesse my self bound to thee for thy especiall care yet at this time I pray thee hold me excused But farewell my Lord heere comes my Lord and father Enters Standley and another Stan. Captaine