13 War. And, when the king comes, offer him no violence, Unless he seek to put us out by force. 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. 40 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. Enter King HENRY, CLIFFORD, NORTHUMBERLAND, WETSMORELAND, EXETER, and others, at the further End of the Stage. K. Henry. My lords, look where the sturdy rebel sits, 50 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 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. 60 K. Henry. 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. Henry. 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. K. Henry. Far be it from the thoughts of Henry's heart, To make a shambles of the parliament-house! Cousin of Exeter, frowns, words, and threats, 'Shall be the war that Henry means to use. 70 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. 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 kingdom is. Exe. Thy father was a traitor to the crown. 80* War. Exeter, thou art a traitor to the crown, In following this usurping Henry. Clif. Whom should he follow, but his natural king War. True, Clifford; and that's Richard, duke of York. K. Henry. 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. 92 North. No, 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. 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. 100 War. Poor Clifford how I scorn his worthless threats! Bij York. York. Will you, we shew our title to the crown? If not, our swords shall plead it in the field. K. Henry. What title hast thou, traitor, to the crown? Thy father was, as thou art, duke of York; Who made the Dauphin and the French to stoop, 110 War. Talk not of France, sith thou hast lost it all. K. Henry. 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: Father, tear the crown from the usurper's head. Edw. Sweet father, do so; set it on your head. Mont. Good brother, as thou lov'st and honour'st arms, Let's fight it out, and not stand cavilling thus. Rich, Sound drums and trumpets, and the king will fly. York. Sons, peace! . 120 K. Henry, Peace thou! and give king Henry leave to speak. War. Plantagenet shall speak first:-hear him, lords; And be you silent and attentive too, For he, that interrupts him, shall not live. K. Henry. Think'st thou, that I will leave my king ly throne, Wherein Wherein my grandsire, and my father, sat? 131 War. But prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be king. K. Henry. Henry the fourth by conquest got the crown. York. 'Twas by rebellion against his king. K. Henry. I know not what to say; my title's weak. Tell me, may not a king adopt an heir? York. What then? K. Henry. An if he may, then am I lawful king: 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. York. He rose against him, being his sovereign, And made him to resign the crown perforce. 140 War. Suppose, my lords, he did it unconstrain'd, Think you, 'twere prejudicial to the crown ? Exe. No; for he could not so resign his crown, But that the next heir should succeed and reign. K. Henry. 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? 150 Exe. My conscience tells me, he is lawful king. him. Biij North. |