Henry VI, Part III

London. The Parliament-house.

Alarum. Enter the Duke of York, Edward, Richard, Norfolk, Montague, Warwick, and Soldiers.

Warwick

I wonder how the king escaped our hands.

York

While we pursued the horsemen of the north, He slyly stole away and left his men: Whereat the great Lord of Northumberland, Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat, Cheer’d up the drooping army; and himself, Lord Clifford and Lord Stafford, all abreast, Charged our main battle’s front, and breaking in Were by the swords of common soldiers slain.

Edward

Lord Stafford’s father, Duke of Buckingham, Is either slain or wounded dangerously; I cleft his beaver with a downright blow: That this is true, father, behold his blood.

Montague

And, brother, here’s the Earl of Wiltshire’s blood, Whom I encounter’d as the battles join’d.

Richard

Speak thou for me and tell them what I did. Throwing down the Duke of Somerset’s head.

York

Richard hath best deserved of all my sons. But is your grace dead, my Lord of Somerset?

Norfolk

Such hope have all the line of John of Gaunt!

Richard

Thus do I hope to shake King Henry’s head.

Warwick

And so do I. Victorious Prince of York, Before I see thee seated in that throne Which now the house of Lancaster usurps, I vow by heaven these eyes shall never close. This is the palace of the fearful king, And this the regal seat: possess it, York; For this is thine and not King Henry’s heirs’.

York

Assist me, then, sweet Warwick, and I will; For hither we have broken in by force.

Flourish. Enter King Henry, Clifford, Northumberland, Westmoreland, Exeter, and the rest.

King Henry

My lords, look where the sturdy rebel sits, 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 have vow’d revenge On him, his sons, his favourites and his friends.

Northumberland

If I be not, heavens be revenged on me!

Clifford

The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn in steel.

Westmoreland

What, shall we suffer this? let’s pluck him down: My heart for anger burns; I cannot brook it.

King Henry

Be patient, gentle Earl of Westmoreland.

Clifford

Patience is for poltroons, such as he: He durst not sit there, had your father lived. My gracious lord, here in the parliament Let us assail the family of York.

Northumberland

Well hast thou spoken, cousin: be it so.

King Henry

Ah, know you not the city favours them, And they have troops of soldiers at their beck?

Exeter

But when the duke is slain, they’ll quickly fly.

King Henry

Far be the thought of this from 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. Thou factious Duke of York, descend my throne, and kneel for grace and mercy at my feet; I am thy sovereign.

York

I am thine.

Exeter

For shame, come down: he made thee Duke of York.

King Henry

And I, with grief and sorrow, to the court.

Enter Queen Margaret and the Prince of Whales.

Exeter

Here comes the queen, whose looks bewray her anger: I’ll steal away.

King Henry

Exeter, so will I.

Queen Margaret

Nay, go not from me; I will follow thee.

King Henry

Be patient, gentle queen, and I will stay.

Queen Margaret

Who can be patient in such extremes? Ah, wretched man! would I had died a maid, And never seen thee, never borne thee son, Seeing thou hast proved so unnatural a father! Hath he deserved to lose his birthright thus? Hadst thou but loved him half so well as I, Or felt that pain which I did for him once, Or nourish’d him as I did with my blood, Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there, Rather than have that savage duke thine heir And disinherited thine only son.

Prince

Father, you cannot disinherit me: If you be king, why should not I succeed?

King Henry

Pardon me, Margaret; pardon me, sweet son: The Earl of Warwick and the duke enforced me.

Queen Margaret

Enter the Duke of York.

York

Why, how now, sons and brother! at a strife? What is your quarrel? how began it first?

Edward

No quarrel, but a slight contention.

York

About what?

Richard

About that which concerns your grace and us; The crown of England, father, which is yours.

York

Mine boy? not till King Henry be dead.

Richard

Your right depends not on his life or death.

Edward

Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it now: By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe, It will outrun you, father, in the end.

York

I took an oath that he should quietly reign.

Edward

But for a kingdom any oath may be broken: I would break a thousand oaths to reign one year.

Richard

No; God forbid your grace should be forsworn.

York

I shall be, if I claim by open war.

Richard

I’ll prove the contrary, if you’ll hear me speak.

York

Thou canst not, son; it is impossible.

Richard

An oath is of no moment, being not took Before a true and lawful magistrate, That hath authority over him that swears: Henry had none, but did usurp the place; Then, seeing ’twas he that made you to depose, Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous. Therefore, to arms! And, father, do but think How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown; Within whose circuit is Elysium And all that poets feign of bliss and joy. Why do we finger thus?

London. The palace.

Enter King Edward, Gloucester, Clarence, and Lady Grey.

King Edward

Brother of Gloucester, at Saint Alban’s field This lady’s husband, Sir Richard Grey, was slain, His lands then seized on by the conqueror: Her suit is now to repossess those lands; Which we in justice cannot well deny, Because in quarrel of the house of York The worthy gentleman did lose his life.

Gloucester

Your highness shall do well to grant her suit; It were dishonour to deny it her.

King Edward

It were no less; but yet I’ll make a pause.

Gloucester

Aside to Clarence. Yea, is it so? I see the lady hath a thing to grant, Before the king will grant her humble suit.

Clarence

Aside to Gloucester. He knows the game: how true he keeps the wind!

Gloucester

Aside to Clarence. Silence!

King Edward

Widow, we will consider of your suit; And come some other time to know our mind.

Lady Grey

Right gracious lord, I cannot brook delay: May it please your highness to resolve me now; And what your pleasure is, shall satisfy me.

Gloucester

Aside to Clarence. Ay, widow? then I’ll warrant you all your lands, An if what pleases him shall pleasure you. Fight closer, or, good faith, you’ll catch a blow.

Clarence

Aside to Gloucester. I fear her not, unless she chance to fall.

Gloucester

Aside to Clarence. God forbid that! for he’ll take vantages.

King Edward

How many children hast thou, widow? tell me.

Clarence

Aside to Gloucester. I think he means to beg a child of her.

Gloucester

Aside to Clarence. Nay, whip me then: he’ll rather give her two.

Lady Grey

Three, my most gracious lord.