SC. XXI. eau
[♦] Quee. Welcome to England, my louing friends of Frāce,
And welcome Summerset, and Oxford too.
Once more haue we spread our sailes abroad,
And though our tackling be almost consumde,
[5] And Warwike as our maine mast ouerthrowne,
Yet warlike Lords raise you that sturdie post,
That beares the sailes to bring vs vnto rest,
And Ned and I as willing Pilots should
For once with carefull mindes guide on the sterne,
10 To beare vs through that dangerous gulfe
That heretofore hath swallowed vp our friends.
Prince. And if there be, as God forbid there should,
Amongst vs a timorous or fearefull man,
[♦] Let him depart before the battels ioine,
[15] Least he in time of need intise another,
And so withdraw the souldiers harts from vs.
I will not stand aloofe and bid you fight,
[♦] But with my sword presse in the thickest thronges,
And single Edward from his strongest guard,
20 And hand to hand enforce him for to yeeld,
Or leaue my bodie as witnesse of my thoughts.
Oxf. Women and children of so high resolue,
[♦] And Warriors faint, why twere perpetuall
[♦] Shame? Oh braue yong Prince, thy
25 Noble grandfather doth liue againe in thee,
Long maiest thou liue to beare his image,
And to renew his glories.
Sum. And he that turnes and flies when such do fight,
Let him to bed, and like the Owle by daie
[30] Be hist, and wondered at if he arise.
Enter a Messenger.
Mes. My Lords, Duke Edward with a mighty power,
Is marching hitherwards to fight with you.
Oxf. I thought it was his pollicie, to take vs vnprouided,
[♦] But here will we stand and fight it to the death.
Enter king Edward, Cla. Glo. Hast. and Souldiers.
35 Edw. See brothers, yonder stands the thornie wood,
Which by Gods assistance and your prowesse,
[♦] Shall with our swords yer night be cleane cut downe.
Queen. Lords, Knights & gentlemen, what I should say,
My teares gainesaie, for as you see, I drinke
[40] The water of mine eies. Then no more
[♦] But this. Henry your king is prisoner
In the tower, his land and all our friends
Are quite distrest, and yonder standes
The Wolfe that makes all this,
45 Then on Gods name Lords togither cry saint George.
[♦] All. Saint George for Lancaster.
Alarmes to the battell, Yorke flies, then the chambers be discharged. Then enter the king, Cla. & Glo. and the rest, & make a great shout, and crie, for Yorke, for Yorke, and then the Queene is taken, & the prince, & Oxf. & Sum. and then sound and enter all againe.
Edw. Lo here a period of tumultuous broiles,
Awaie with Oxford to Hames castell straight,
For Summerset off with his guiltie head.
50 Awaie I will not heare them speake.
[♦] Oxf. For my part Ile not trouble thee with words. Exit Oxford.
[♦] Sum. Nor I, but stoope with patience to my death. Exit Sum.
Edw. Now Edward what satisfaction canst thou make,
For stirring vp my subiects to rebellion?
55 Prin. Speake like a subiect proud ambitious Yorke,
Suppose that I am now my fathers mouth,
Resigne thy chaire, and where I stand kneele thou,
[♦] Whilst I propose the selfesame words to thee,
[♦] Which traytor thou woudst haue me answere to.
[60] Queen. Oh that thy father had bin so resolu’d:
[♦] Glo. That you might still haue kept your
Peticote, and nere haue stolne the
Breech from Lancaster.
Prince. Let Aesop fable in a winters night,
65 His currish Riddles sorts not with this place.
Glo. By heauen brat Ile plague you for that word.
Queen. I, thou wast borne to be a plague to men.
Glo. For Gods sake take awaie this captiue scold.
[♦] Prin Nay take away this skolding Crooktbacke rather.
70 Edw. Peace wilfull boy, or I will tame your tongue.
[♦] Cla. Vntuterd lad thou art too malepert.
Prin. I know my dutie, you are all vndutifull.
Lasciuious Edward, and thou periurd George,
And thou mishapen Dicke, I tell you all,
75 I am your better, traytors as you be.
[♦] Edw. Take that, the litnes of this railer heere.
Queen. Oh kill me too.
Glo. Marrie and shall.
[♦] Edw. Hold Richard hold, for we haue doone too (much alreadie.
80 Glo. Why should she liue to fill the world with words?
[♦] Ed. What doth she swound? make meanes for Her recouerie?
Glo. Clarence, excuse me to the king my brother,
I must to London on a serious matter,
Ere you come there, you shall heare more newes.
85 Cla. About what, prethe tell me?
Glo. The Tower man, the Tower, Ile root them out. Exit Gloster.
[♦] Queen. Ah Ned, speake to thy mother boy? ah
Thou canst not speake.
Traytors, Tyrants, bloudie Homicides,
90 They that stabd Cæsar shed no bloud at all,
For he was a man, this in respect a childe,
And men nere spend their furie on a child,
[♦] Whats worse then tyrant that I maie name,
You haue no children Deuils, if you had,
95 The thought of them would then haue stopt your rage,
But if you euer hope to haue a sonne,
Looke in his youth to haue him so cut off,
As Traitors you haue doone this sweet young prince.
Edw. Awaie, and beare her hence.
[100] Queen. Naie nere beare me hence, dispatch
Me heere, heere sheath thy sword,
Ile pardon thee my death. Wilt thou not?
[♦] Then Clarence, doe thou doe it?
Cla. By Heauen I would not doe thee so much ease.
105 Queen. Good Clarence doe, sweet Clarence kill me too.
Cla. Didst thou not heare me sweare I would not do it?
Queen. I, but thou vsest to forsweare thy selfe,
Twas sinne before, but now tis charitie.
[♦] Whears the Diuels butcher, hardfauored Richard,
[110] Richard where art thou? He is not heere,
Murder is his almes deed, petitioners
[♦] For bloud he nere put backe.
Edw. Awaie I saie, and take her hence perforce.
[♦] Queen. So come to you and yours, as to this prince. Ex.
[115] Edw. Clarence, whithers Gloster gone?
[♦] Cla Marrie my Lord to London, and as I gesse, to
Make a bloudie supper in the Tower.
Edw. He is sudden if a thing come in his head.
Well, discharge the common souldiers with paie
[120] And thankes, and now let vs towards London,
[♦] To see our gentle Queene how shee doth fare,
For by this I hope shee hath a sonne for vs. Exeunt Omnes.