Qu. It may be so: but yet my inward soulePerswades me it is otherwise: how ere it be,I cannot but be sad: so heauy sad,As though on thinking on no thought I thinke,Makes me with heauy nothing faint and shrinke
Bush. 'Tis nothing but conceit (my gracious Lady.)Qu. 'Tis nothing lesse: conceit is still deriu'dFrom some fore-father greefe, mine is not so,For nothing hath begot my something greefe,Or something, hath the nothing that I greeue,'Tis in reuersion that I do possesse,But what it is, that is not yet knowne, whatI cannot name, 'tis namelesse woe I wot.Enter Greene.
Gree. Heauen saue your Maiesty, and wel met Gentlemen:I hope the King is not yet shipt for Ireland
Qu. Why hop'st thou so? Tis better hope he is:For his designes craue hast, his hast good hope,Then wherefore dost thou hope he is not shipt?Gre. That he our hope, might haue retyr'd his power,and driuen into dispaire an enemies hope,Who strongly hath set footing in this Land.The banish'd Bullingbrooke repeales himselfe,And with vp-lifted Armes is safe arriu'dAt Rauenspurg
Qu. Now God in heauen forbid
Gr. O Madam 'tis too true: and that is worse,The L[ord]. Northumberland, his yong sonne Henrie Percie,The Lords of Rosse, Beaumond, and Willoughby,With all their powrefull friends are fled to him
Bush. Why haue you not proclaim'd NorthumberlandAnd the rest of the reuolted faction, Traitors?Gre. We haue: whereupon the Earle of WorcesterHath broke his staffe, resign'd his Stewardship,And al the houshold seruants fled with him to BullinbrookQu. So Greene, thou art the midwife of my woe,And Bullinbrooke my sorrowes dismall heyre:Now hath my soule brought forth her prodegie,And I a gasping new deliuered mother,Haue woe to woe, sorrow to sorrow ioyn'd
Bush. Dispaire not Madam
Qu. Who shall hinder me?I will dispaire, and be at enmitieWith couzening hope; he is a Flatterer,A Parasite, a keeper backe of death,Who gently would dissolue the bands of life,Which false hopes linger in extremity.Enter Yorke.
Gre. Heere comes the Duke of Yorke
Qu. With signes of warre about his aged necke,Oh full of carefull businesse are his lookes:Vncle, for heauens sake speake comfortable words:Yor. Comfort's in heauen, and we are on the earth,Where nothing liues but crosses, care and greefe:Your husband he is gone to saue farre off,Whilst others come to make him loose at home:Heere am I left to vnder-prop his Land,Who weake with age, cannot support my selfe:Now comes the sicke houre that his surfet made,Now shall he try his friends that flattered him.Enter a seruant.
Ser. My Lord, your sonne was gone before I came
Yor. He was: why so: go all which way it will:The Nobles they are fled, the Commons they are cold,And will I feare reuolt on Herfords side.Sirra, get thee to Plashie to my sister Gloster,Bid her send me presently a thousand pound,Hold, take my Ring
Ser. My Lord, I had forgotTo tell your Lordship, to day I came by, and call'd there,But I shall greeue you to report the rest
Yor. What is't knaue?Ser. An houre before I came, the Dutchesse di'de
Yor. Heau'n for his mercy, what a tide of woesCome rushing on this wofull Land at once?I know not what to do: I would to heauen(So my vntruth had not prouok'd him to it)The King had cut off my head with my brothers.What, are there postes dispatcht for Ireland?How shall we do for money for these warres?Come sister (Cozen I would say) pray pardon me.Go fellow, get thee home, prouide some Carts,And bring away the Armour that is there.Gentlemen, will you muster men?If I know how, or which way to order these affairesThus disorderly thrust into my hands,Neuer beleeue me. Both are my kinsmen,Th' one is my Soueraigne, whom both my oathAnd dutie bids defend: th' other againeIs my kinsman, whom the King hath wrong'd,Whom conscience, and my kindred bids to right:Well, somewhat we must do: Come Cozen,Ile dispose of you. Gentlemen, go muster vp your men,And meet me presently at Barkley Castle:I should to Plashy too: but time will not permit,All is vneuen, and euery thing is left at six and seuen.
Exit
Bush. The winde sits faire for newes to go to Ireland,But none returnes: For vs to leuy powerProportionable to th' enemy, is all impossible
Gr. Besides our neerenesse to the King in loue,Is neere the hate of those loue not the King
Ba. And that's the wauering Commons, for their loueLies in their purses, and who so empties them,By so much fils their hearts with deadly hate
Bush. Wherein the king stands generally condemn'dBag. If iudgement lye in them, then so do we,Because we haue beene euer neere the King
Gr. Well: I will for refuge straight to Bristoll Castle,The Earle of Wiltshire is alreadie there
Bush. Thither will I with you, for little officeWill the hatefull Commons performe for vs,Except like Curres, to teare vs all in peeces:Will you go along with vs?Bag. No, I will to Ireland to his Maiestie:Farewell, if hearts presages be not vaine,We three here part, that neu'r shall meete againe
Bu. That's as Yorke thriues to beate back BullinbrokeGr. Alas poore Duke, the taske he vndertakesIs numbring sands, and drinking Oceans drie,Where one on his side fights, thousands will flye
Bush. Farewell at once, for once, for all, and euer.Well, we may meete againe
Bag. I feare me neuer.Enter.
Scaena Tertia.
Enter the Duke of Hereford, and Northumberland.
Bul. How farre is it my Lord to Berkley now?Nor. Beleeue me noble Lord,I am a stranger heere in Gloustershire,These high wilde hilles, and rough vneeuen waies,Drawes out our miles, and makes them wearisome.And yet our faire discourse hath beene as sugar,Making the hard way sweet and delectable:But I bethinke me, what a wearie wayFrom Rauenspurgh to Cottshold will be found,In Rosse and Willoughby, wanting your companie,Which I protest hath very much beguildThe tediousnesse, and processe of my trauell:But theirs is sweetned with the hope to haueThe present benefit that I possesse;And hope to ioy, is little lesse in ioy,Then hope enioy'd: By this, the wearie LordsShall make their way seeme short, as mine hath done,By sight of what I haue, your Noble Companie
Bull. Of much lesse value is my Companie,Then your good words: but who comes here?
Enter H[arry]. Percie.
North. It is my Sonne, young Harry Percie,Sent from my Brother Worcester: Whence soeuer.Harry, how fares your Vnckle?Percie. I had thought, my Lord, to haue learn'd hishealth of you
North. Why, is he not with the Queene?Percie. No, my good Lord, he hath forsook the Court,Broken his Staffe of Office, and disperstThe Household of the King
North. What was his reason?He was not so resolu'd, when we last spake together
Percie. Because your Lordship was proclaimed Traitor.But hee, my Lord, is gone to Rauenspurgh,To offer seruice to the Duke of Hereford,And sent me ouer by Barkely, to discouerWhat power the Duke of Yorke had leuied there,Then with direction to repaire to Rauenspurgh
North. Haue you forgot the Duke of Hereford (Boy.)Percie. No, my good Lord; for that is not forgotWhich ne're I did remember: to my knowledge,I neuer in my life did looke on him
North. Then learne to know him now: this is theDuke
Percie. My gracious Lord, I tender you my seruice,Such as it is, being tender, raw, and young,Which elder dayes shall ripen, and confirmeTo more approued seruice, and desert
Bull. I thanke thee gentle Percie, and be sureI count my selfe in nothing else so happy,As in a Soule remembring my good Friends:And as my Fortune ripens with thy Loue,It shall be still thy true Loues recompence,My Heart this Couenant makes, my Hand thus seales it
North. How farre is it to Barkely? and what stirreKeepes good old Yorke there, with his Men of Warre?Percie. There stands the Castle, by yond tuft of Trees,Mann'd with three hundred men, as I haue heard,And in it are the Lords of Yorke, Barkely, and Seymor,None else of Name, and noble estimate.Enter Rosse and Willoughby.
North. Here come the Lords of Rosse and Willoughby,Bloody with spurring, fierie red with haste
Bull. Welcome my Lords, I wot your loue pursuesA banisht Traytor; all my TreasurieIs yet but vnfelt thankes, which more enrich'd,Shall be your loue, and labours recompence
Ross. Your presence makes vs rich, most Noble Lord
Willo. And farre surmounts our labour to attaine it
Bull. Euermore thankes, th' Exchequer of the poore,Which till my infant-fortune comes to yeeres,Stands for my Bountie: but who comes here?Enter Barkely.
North. It is my Lord of Barkely, as I ghesse
Bark. My Lord of Hereford, my Message is to you
Bull. My Lord, my Answere is to Lancaster,And I am come to seeke that Name in England,And I must finde that Title in your Tongue,Before I make reply to aught you say
Bark. Mistake me not, my Lord, 'tis not my meaningTo raze one Title of your Honor out.To you, my Lord, I come (what Lord you will)From the most glorious of this Land,The Duke of Yorke, to know what pricks you onTo take aduantage of the absent time,And fright our Natiue Peace with selfe-borne Armes.Enter Yorke.
Bull. I shall not need transport my words by you,Here comes his Grace in Person. My Noble Vnckle
York. Shew me thy humble heart, and not thy knee,Whose dutie is deceiuable, and false
Bull. My gracious Vnckle
York. Tut, tut, Grace me no Grace, nor Vnckle me,I am no Traytors Vnckle; and that word Grace,In an vngracious mouth, is but prophane.Why haue these banish'd, and forbidden Legges,Dar'd once to touch a Dust of Englands Ground?But more then why, why haue they dar'd to marchSo many miles vpon her peacefull Bosome,Frighting her pale-fac'd Villages with Warre,And ostentation of despised Armes?Com'st thou because th' anoynted King is hence?Why foolish Boy, the King is left behind,And in my loyall Bosome lyes his power.Were I but now the Lord of such hot youth,As when braue Gaunt, thy Father, and my selfeRescued the Black Prince, that yong Mars of men,From forth the Rankes of many thousand French:Oh then, how quickly should this Arme of mine,Now Prisoner to the Palsie, chastise thee,And minister correction to thy Fault
Bull. My gracious Vnckle, let me know my Fault,On what Condition stands it, and wherein?York. Euen in Condition of the worst degree,In grosse Rebellion, and detested Treason:Thou art a banish'd man, and here art comeBefore th' expiration of thy time,In brauing Armes against thy Soueraigne
Bull. As I was banish'd, I was banish'd Hereford,But as I come, I come for Lancaster.And Noble Vnckle, I beseech your GraceLooke on my Wrongs with an indifferent eye:You are my Father, for me thinkes in youI see old Gaunt aliue. Oh then my Father,Will you permit, that I shall stand condemn'dA wandring Vagabond; my Rights and RoyaltiesPluckt from my armes perforce, and giuen awayTo vpstart Vnthrifts? Wherefore was I borne?If that my Cousin King, be King of England,It must be graunted, I am Duke of Lancaster.You haue a Sonne, Aumerle, my Noble Kinsman,Had you first died, and he beene thus trod downe,He should haue found his Vnckle Gaunt a Father,To rowze his Wrongs, and chase them to the bay.I am denyde to sue my Liuerie here,And yet my Letters Patents giue me leaue:My Fathers goods are all distraynd, and sold,And these, and all, are all amisse imployd.What would you haue me doe? I am a Subiect,And challenge Law: Attorneyes are deny'd me;And therefore personally I lay my claimeTo my Inheritance of free Discent
North. The Noble Duke hath been too much abus'd
Ross. It stands your Grace vpon, to doe him right
Willo. Base men by his endowments are made great
York. My Lords of England, let me tell you this,I haue had feeling of my Cosens Wrongs,And labour'd all I could to doe him right:But in this kind, to come in brauing Armes,Be his owne Caruer, and cut out his way,To find out Right with Wrongs, it may not be;And you that doe abett him in this kind,Cherish Rebellion, and are Rebels all
North. The Noble Duke hath sworne his comming isBut for his owne; and for the right of that,Wee all haue strongly sworne to giue him ayd,And let him neu'r see Ioy, that breakes that Oath
York. Well, well, I see the issue of these Armes,I cannot mend it, I must needes confesse,Because my power is weake, and all ill left:But if I could, by him that gaue me life,I would attach you all, and make you stoopeVnto the Soueraigne Mercy of the King.But since I cannot, be it knowne to you,I doe remaine as Neuter. So fare you well,Vnlesse you please to enter in the Castle,And there repose you for this Night
Bull. An offer Vnckle, that wee will accept:But wee must winne your Grace to goe with vsTo Bristow Castle, which they say is heldBy Bushie, Bagot, and their Complices,The Caterpillers of the Commonwealth,Which I haue sworne to weed, and plucke away
York. It may be I will go with you: but yet Ile pawse,For I am loth to breake our Countries Lawes:Nor Friends, nor Foes, to me welcome you are,Things past redresse, are now with me past care.
Exeunt.
Scoena Quarta.
Enter Salisbury, and a Captaine.
Capt. My Lord of Salisbury, we haue stayd ten dayes,And hardly kept our Countreymen together,And yet we heare no tidings from the King;Therefore we will disperse our selues: farewell
Sal. Stay yet another day, thou trustie Welchman,The King reposeth all his confidence in thee
Capt. 'Tis thought the King is dead, we will not stay;The Bay-trees in our Countrey all are wither'd,And Meteors fright the fixed Starres of Heauen;The pale-fac'd Moone lookes bloody on the Earth,And leane-look'd Prophets whisper fearefull change;Rich men looke sad, and Ruffians dance and leape,The one in feare, to loose what they enioy,The other to enioy by Rage, and Warre:These signes fore-run the death of Kings.Farewell, our Countreymen are gone and fled,As well assur'd Richard their King is dead.Enter.
Sal. Ah Richard, with eyes of heauie mind,I see thy Glory, like a shooting Starre,Fall to the base Earth, from the Firmament:Thy Sunne sets weeping in the lowly West,Witnessing Stormes to come, Woe, and Vnrest:Thy Friends are fled, to wait vpon thy Foes,And crossely to thy good, all fortune goes.Enter.
Actus Tertius. Scena Prima.
Enter Bullingbrooke, Yorke, Northumberland, Rosse, Percie, Willoughby, with Bushie and Greene Prisoners.
Bull. Bring forth these men:Bushie and Greene, I will not vex your soules,(Since presently your soules must part your bodies)With too much vrging your pernitious liues,For 'twere no Charitie: yet to wash your bloodFrom off my hands, here in the view of men,I will vnfold some causes of your deaths.You haue mis-led a Prince, a Royall King,A happie Gentleman in Blood, and Lineaments,By you vnhappied, and disfigur'd cleane:You haue in manner with your sinfull houresMade a Diuorce betwixt his Queene and him,Broke the possession of a Royall Bed,And stayn'd the beautie of a faire Queenes Cheekes,With teares drawn fro[m] her eyes, with your foule wrongs.My selfe a Prince, by fortune of my birth,Neere to the King in blood, and neere in loue,Till you did make him mis-interprete me,Haue stoopt my neck vnder your iniuries,And sigh'd my English breath in forraine Clouds,Eating the bitter bread of banishment;While you haue fed vpon my Seignories,Dis-park'd my Parkes, and fell'd my Forrest Woods;From mine owne Windowes torne my Household Coat,Raz'd out my Impresse, leauing me no signe,Saue mens opinions, and my liuing blood,To shew the World I am a Gentleman.This, and much more, much more then twice all this,Condemnes you to the death: see them deliuered ouerTo execution, and the hand of death
Bushie. More welcome is the stroake of death to me,Then Bullingbrooke to England
Greene. My comfort is, that Heauen will take our soules,And plague Iniustice with the paines of Hell
Bull. My Lord Northumberland, see them dispatch'd:Vnckle, you say the Queene is at your House,For Heauens sake fairely let her be entreated,Tell her I send to her my kind commends;Take speciall care my Greetings be deliuer'd
York. A Gentleman of mine I haue dispatch'dWith Letters of your loue, to her at large
Bull. Thankes gentle Vnckle: come Lords away,To fight with Glendoure, and his Complices;A while to worke, and after holliday.
Exeunt.
Scena Secunda.
Drums: Flourish, and Colours. Enter Richard, Aumerle, Carlile,andSouldiers.
Rich. Barkloughly Castle call you this at hand?Au. Yea, my Lord: how brooks your Grace the ayre,After your late tossing on the breaking Seas?Rich. Needs must I like it well: I weepe for ioyTo stand vpon my Kingdome once againe.Deere Earth, I doe salute thee with my hand,Though Rebels wound thee with their Horses hoofes:As a long parted Mother with her Child,Playes fondly with her teares, and smiles in meeting;So weeping, smiling, greet I thee my Earth,And doe thee fauor with my Royall hands.Feed not thy Soueraignes Foe, my gentle Earth,Nor with thy Sweetes, comfort his rauenous sence:But let thy Spiders, that suck vp thy Venome,And heauie-gated Toades lye in their way,Doing annoyance to the trecherous feete,Which with vsurping steps doe trample thee.Yeeld stinging Nettles to mine Enemies;And when they from thy Bosome pluck a Flower,Guard it I prethee with a lurking Adder,Whose double tongue may with a mortall touchThrow death vpon thy Soueraignes Enemies.Mock not my sencelesse Coniuration, Lords;This Earth shall haue a feeling, and these StonesProue armed Souldiers, ere her Natiue KingShall falter vnder foule Rebellious Armes
Car. Feare not my Lord, that Power that made you KingHath power to keepe you King, in spight of all
Aum. He meanes, my Lord, that we are too remisse,Whilest Bullingbrooke through our securitie,Growes strong and great, in substance and in friends
Rich. Discomfortable Cousin, knowest thou not,That when the searching Eye of Heauen is hidBehind the Globe, that lights the lower World,Then Theeues and Robbers raunge abroad vnseene,In Murthers and in Out-rage bloody here:But when from vnder this Terrestriall BallHe fires the prowd tops of the Easterne Pines,And darts his Lightning through eu'ry guiltie hole,Then Murthers, Treasons, and detested sinnes(The Cloake of Night being pluckt from off their backs)Stand bare and naked, trembling at themselues.So when this Theefe, this Traytor Bullingbrooke,Who all this while hath reuell'd in the Night,Shall see vs rising in our Throne, the East,His Treasons will sit blushing in his face,Not able to endure the sight of Day;But selfe-affrighted, tremble at his sinne.Not all the Water in the rough rude SeaCan wash the Balme from an anoynted King;The breath of worldly men cannot deposeThe Deputie elected by the Lord:For euery man that Bullingbrooke hath prest,To lift shrewd Steele against our Golden Crowne,Heauen for his Richard hath in heauenly payA glorious Angell: then if Angels fight,Weake men must fall, for Heauen still guards the right.Enter Salisbury.
Welcome my Lord, how farre off lyes your Power?Salisb. Nor neere, nor farther off, my gracious Lord,Then this weake arme; discomfort guides my tongue,And bids me speake of nothing but despaire:One day too late, I feare (my Noble Lord)Hath clouded all thy happie dayes on Earth:Oh call backe Yesterday, bid Time returne,And thou shalt haue twelue thousand fighting men:To day, to day, vnhappie day too lateOrethrowes thy Ioyes, Friends, Fortune, and thy State;For all the Welchmen hearing thou wert dead,Are gone to Bullingbrooke, disperst, and fled
Aum. Comfort my Liege, why lookes your Grace sopale?Rich. But now the blood of twentie thousand menDid triumph in my face, and they are fled,And till so much blood thither come againe,Haue I not reason to looke pale, and dead?All Soules that will be safe, flye from my side,For Time hath set a blot vpon my pride
Aum. Comfort my Liege, remember who you are
Rich. I had forgot my selfe. Am I not King?Awake thou sluggard Maiestie, thou sleepest:Is not the Kings Name fortie thousand Names?Arme, arme my Name: a punie subiect strikesAt thy great glory. Looke not to the ground,Ye Fauorites of a King: are wee not high?High be our thoughts: I know my Vnckle YorkeHath Power enough to serue our turne.But who comes here?Enter Scroope.
Scroope. More health and happinesse betide my Liege,Then can my care-tun'd tongue deliuer him
Rich. Mine eare is open, and my heart prepar'd:The worst is worldly losse, thou canst vnfold:Say, Is my Kingdome lost? why 'twas my Care:And what losse is it to be rid of Care?Striues Bullingbrooke to be as Great as wee?Greater he shall not be: If hee serue God,Wee'l serue him too, and be his Fellow so.Reuolt our Subiects? That we cannot mend,They breake their Faith to God, as well as vs:Cry Woe, Destruction, Ruine, Losse, Decay,The worst is Death, and Death will haue his day
Scroope. Glad am I, that your Highnesse is so arm'dTo beare the tidings of Calamitie.Like an vnseasonable stormie day,Which make the Siluer Riuers drowne their Shores,As if the World were all dissolu'd to teares:So high, aboue his Limits, swells the RageOf Bullingbrooke, couering your fearefull LandWith hard bright Steele, and hearts harder then Steele:White Beares haue arm'd their thin and hairelesse ScalpsAgainst thy Maiestie, and Boyes with Womens Voyces,Striue to speake bigge, and clap their female iointsIn stiffe vnwieldie Armes: against thy CrowneThy very Beads-men learne to bend their BowesOf double fatall Eugh: against thy StateYea Distaffe-Women manage rustie Bills:Against thy Seat both young and old rebell,And all goes worse then I haue power to tell
Rich. Too well, too well thou tell'st a Tale so ill.Where is the Earle of Wiltshire? where is Bagot?What is become of Bushie? where is Greene?That they haue let the dangerous EnemieMeasure our Confines with such peacefull steps?If we preuaile, their heads shall pay for it.I warrant they haue made peace with Bullingbrooke
Scroope. Peace haue they made with him indeede (myLord.)Rich. Oh Villains, Vipers, damn'd without redemption,Dogges, easily woon to fawne on any man,Snakes in my heart blood warm'd, that sting my heart,Three Iudasses, each one thrice worse then Iudas,Would they make peace? terrible Hell make warreVpon their spotted Soules for this Offence
Scroope. Sweet Loue (I see) changing his propertie,Turnes to the sowrest, and most deadly hate:Againe vncurse their Soules; their peace is madeWith Heads, and not with Hands: those whom you curseHaue felt the worst of Deaths destroying hand,And lye full low, grau'd in the hollow ground
Aum. Is Bushie, Greene, and the Earle of Wiltshiredead?Scroope. Yea, all of them at Bristow lost their heads
Aum. Where is the Duke my Father with his Power?Rich. No matter where; of comfort no man speake:Let's talke of Graues, of Wormes, and Epitaphs,Make Dust our Paper, and with Raynie eyesWrite Sorrow on the Bosome of the Earth.Let's chuse Executors, and talke of Wills:And yet not so; for what can we bequeath,Saue our deposed bodies to the ground?Our Lands, our Liues, and all are Bullingbrookes,And nothing can we call our owne, but Death,And that small Modell of the barren Earth,Which serues as Paste, and Couer to our Bones:For Heauens sake let vs sit vpon the ground,And tell sad stories of the death of Kings:How some haue been depos'd, some slaine in warre,Some haunted by the Ghosts they haue depos'd,Some poyson'd by their Wiues, some sleeping kill'd,All murther'd. For within the hollow CrowneThat rounds the mortall Temples of a King,Keepes Death his Court, and there the Antique sitsScoffing his State, and grinning at his Pompe,Allowing him a breath, a little Scene,To Monarchize, be fear'd, and kill with lookes,Infusing him with selfe and vaine conceit,As if this Flesh, which walls about our Life,Were Brasse impregnable: and humor'd thus,Comes at the last, and with a little PinneBores through his Castle Walls, and farwell King.Couer your heads, and mock not flesh and bloodWith solemne Reuerence: throw away Respect,Tradition, Forme, and Ceremonious dutie,For you haue but mistooke me all this while:I liue with Bread like you, feele Want,Taste Griefe, need Friends: subiected thus,How can you say to me, I am a King?Carl. My Lord, wise men ne're waile their present woes,But presently preuent the wayes to waile:To feare the Foe, since feare oppresseth strength,Giues in your weakenesse, strength vnto your Foe;Feare, and be slaine, no worse can come to sight,And fight and die, is death destroying death,Where fearing, dying, payes death seruile breath
Aum. My Father hath a Power, enquire of him;And learne to make a Body of a Limbe
Rich. Thou chid'st me well: proud Bullingbrooke I comeTo change Blowes with thee, for our day of Doome:This ague fit of feare is ouer-blowne,An easie taske it is to winne our owne.Say Scroope, where lyes our Vnckle with his Power?Speake sweetly man, although thy lookes be sowre
Scroope. Men iudge by the complexion of the SkieThe state and inclination of the day;So may you by my dull and heauie Eye:My Tongue hath but a heauier Tale to say:I play the Torturer, by small and smallTo lengthen out the worst, that must be spoken.Your Vnckle Yorke is ioyn'd with Bullingbrooke,And all your Northerne Castles yeelded vp,And all your Southerne Gentlemen in ArmesVpon his Faction
Rich. Thou hast said enough.Beshrew thee Cousin, which didst lead me forthOf that sweet way I was in, to despaire:What say you now? What comfort haue we now?By Heauen Ile hate him euerlastingly,That bids me be of comfort any more.Goe to Flint Castle, there Ile pine away,A King, Woes slaue, shall Kingly Woe obey:That Power I haue, discharge, and let 'em goeTo eare the Land, that hath some hope to grow,For I haue none. Let no man speake againeTo alter this, for counsaile is but vaine
Aum. My Liege, one word
Rich. He does me double wrong,That wounds me with the flatteries of his tongue.Discharge my followers: let them hence away,From Richards Night, to Bullingbrookes faire Day.
Exeunt.
Scaena Tertia.
Enter with Drum and Colours, Bullingbrooke, Yorke,Northumberland,Attendants.
Bull. So that by this intelligence we learneThe Welchmen are dispers'd, and SalisburyIs gone to meet the King, who lately landedWith some few priuate friends, vpon this Coast
North. The newes is very faire and good, my Lord,Richard, not farre from hence, hath hid his head
York. It would beseeme the Lord Northumberland,To say King Richard: alack the heauie day,When such a sacred King should hide his head
North. Your Grace mistakes: onely to be briefe,Left I his Title out
York. The time hath beene,Would you haue beene so briefe with him, he wouldHaue beene so briefe with you, to shorten you,For taking so the Head, your whole heads length
Bull. Mistake not (Vnckle) farther then you should
York. Take not (good Cousin) farther then you should.Least you mistake the Heauens are ore your head
Bull. I know it (Vnckle) and oppose not my selfeAgainst their will. But who comes here?Enter Percie.
Welcome Harry: what, will not this Castle yeeld?Per. The Castle royally is mann'd, my Lord,Against thy entrance
Bull. Royally? Why, it containes no King?Per. Yes (my good Lord)It doth containe a King: King Richard lyesWithin the limits of yond Lime and Stone,And with him, the Lord Aumerle, Lord Salisbury,Sir Stephen Scroope, besides a Clergie manOf holy reuerence; who, I cannot learne
North. Oh, belike it is the Bishop of Carlile
Bull. Noble Lord,Goe to the rude Ribs of that ancient Castle,Through Brazen Trumpet send the breath of ParleInto his ruin'd Eares, and thus deliuer:Henry Bullingbrooke vpon his knees doth kisseKing Richards hand, and sends allegeanceAnd true faith of heart to his Royall Person: hither comeEuen at his feet, to lay my Armes and Power,Prouided, that my Banishment repeal'd,And Lands restor'd againe, be freely graunted:If not, Ile vse th 'aduantage of my Power,And lay the Summers dust with showers of blood,Rayn'd from the wounds of slaughter'd Englishmen;The which, how farre off from the mind of BullingbrookeIt is, such Crimson Tempest should bedrenchThe fresh greene Lap of faire King Richards Land,My stooping dutie tenderly shall shew.Goe signifie as much, while here we marchVpon the Grassie Carpet of this Plaine:Let's march without the noyse of threatning Drum,That from this Castles tatter'd BattlementsOur faire Appointments may be well perus'd.Me thinkes King Richard and my selfe should meetWith no lesse terror then the ElementsOf Fire and Water, when their thundring smoakeAt meeting teares the cloudie Cheekes of Heauen:Be he the fire, Ile be the yeelding Water;The Rage be his, while on the Earth I raineMy Waters on the Earth, and not on him.March on, and marke King Richard how he lookes.
Parle without, and answere within: then a Flourish. Enter on theWalls,Richard, Carlile, Aumerle, Scroop, Salisbury.
See, see, King Richard doth himselfe appeareAs doth the blushing discontented Sunne,From out the fierie Portall of the East,When he perceiues the enuious Clouds are bentTo dimme his glory, and to staine the tractOf his bright passage to the Occident
York. Yet lookes he like a King: behold his Eye(As bright as is the Eagles) lightens forthControlling Maiestie: alack, alack, for woe,That any harme should staine so faire a shew
Rich. Wee are amaz'd, and thus long haue we stoodTo watch the fearefull bending of thy knee,Because we thought our selfe thy lawfull King:And if we be, how dare thy ioynts forgetTo pay their awfull dutie to our presence?If we be not, shew vs the Hand of God,That hath dismiss'd vs from our Stewardship,For well wee know, no Hand of Blood and BoneCan gripe the sacred Handle of our Scepter,Vnlesse he doe prophane, steale, or vsurpe.And though you thinke, that all, as you haue done,Haue torne their Soules, by turning them from vs,And we are barren, and bereft of Friends:Yet know, my Master, God Omnipotent,Is mustring in his Clouds, on our behalfe,Armies of Pestilence, and they shall strikeYour Children yet vnborne, and vnbegot,That lift your Vassall Hands against my Head,And threat the Glory of my precious Crowne.Tell Bullingbrooke, for yond me thinkes he is,That euery stride he makes vpon my Land,Is dangerous Treason: He is come to opeThe purple Testament of bleeding Warre;But ere the Crowne he lookes for, liue in peace,Ten thousand bloody crownes of Mothers SonnesShall ill become the flower of Englands face,Change the complexion of her Maid-pale PeaceTo Scarlet Indignation, and bedewHer Pastors Grasse with faithfull English Blood
North. The King of Heauen forbid our Lord the KingShould so with ciuill and vnciuill ArmesBe rush'd vpon: Thy thrice-noble Cousin,Harry Bullingbrooke, doth humbly kisse thy hand,And by the Honorable Tombe he sweares,That stands vpon your Royall Grandsires Bones,And by the Royalties of both your Bloods,(Currents that spring from one most gracious Head)And by the buried Hand of Warlike Gaunt,And by the Worth and Honor of himselfe,Comprising all that may be sworne, or said,His comming hither hath no further scope,Then for his Lineall Royalties, and to beggeInfranchisement immediate on his knees:Which on thy Royall partie graunted once,His glittering Armes he will commend to Rust,His barbed Steedes to Stables, and his heartTo faithfull seruice of your Maiestie:This sweares he, as he is a Prince, is iust,And as I am a Gentleman, I credit him
Rich. Northumberland, say thus: The King returnes,His Noble Cousin is right welcome hither,And all the number of his faire demandsShall be accomplish'd without contradiction:With all the gracious vtterance thou hast,Speake to his gentle hearing kind commends.We doe debase our selfe (Cousin) doe we not,To looke so poorely, and to speake so faire?Shall we call back Northumberland, and sendDefiance to the Traytor, and so die?Aum. No, good my Lord, let's fight with gentle words,Till time lend friends, and friends their helpeful Swords
Rich. Oh God, oh God, that ere this tongue of mine,That layd the Sentence of dread BanishmentOn yond prowd man, should take it off againeWith words of sooth: Oh that I were as greatAs is my Griefe, or lesser then my Name,Or that I could forget what I haue beene,Or not remember what I must be now:Swell'st thou prowd heart? Ile giue thee scope to beat,Since Foes haue scope to beat both thee and me
Aum. Northumberland comes backe from Bullingbrooke
Rich. What must the King doe now? must he submit?The King shall doe it: Must he be depos'd?The King shall be contented: Must he looseThe Name of King? o' Gods Name let it goe.Ile giue my Iewels for a sett of Beades,My gorgeous Pallace, for a Hermitage,My gay Apparrell, for an Almes-mans Gowne,My figur'd Goblets, for a Dish of Wood,My Scepter, for a Palmers walking Staffe,My Subiects, for a payre of carued Saints,And my large Kingdome, for a little Graue,A little little Graue, an obscure Graue.Or Ile be buryed in the Kings high-way,Some way of common Trade, where Subiects feetMay howrely trample on their Soueraignes Head:For on my heart they tread now, whilest I liue;And buryed once, why not vpon my Head?Aumerle, thou weep'st (my tender-hearted Cousin)Wee'le make foule Weather with despised Teares:Our sighes, and they, shall lodge the Summer Corne,And make a Dearth in this reuolting Land.Or shall we play the Wantons with our Woes,And make some prettie Match, with shedding Teares?As thus: to drop them still vpon one place,Till they haue fretted vs a payre of Graues,Within the Earth: and therein lay'd, there lyesTwo Kinsmen, digg'd their Graues with weeping Eyes?Would not this ill, doe well? Well, well, I seeI talke but idly, and you mock at mee.Most mightie Prince, my Lord Northumberland,What sayes King Bullingbrooke? Will his MaiestieGiue Richard leaue to liue, till Richard die?You make a Legge, and Bullingbrooke sayes I
North. My Lord, in the base Court he doth attendTo speake with you, may it please you to come downe
Rich. Downe, downe I come, like glist'ring Phaeton,Wanting the manage of vnruly Iades.In the base Court? base Court, where Kings grow base,To come at Traytors Calls, and doe them Grace.In the base Court come down: down Court, down King,For night-Owls shrike, where mou[n]ting Larks should sing
Bull. What sayes his Maiestie?North. Sorrow, and griefe of heartMakes him speake fondly, like a frantick man:Yet he is come
Bull. Stand all apart,And shew faire dutie to his Maiestie.My gracious Lord
Rich. Faire Cousin,You debase your Princely Knee,To make the base Earth prowd with kissing it.Me rather had, my Heart might feele your Loue,Then my vnpleas'd Eye see your Courtesie.Vp Cousin, vp, your Heart is vp, I know,Thus high at least, although your Knee be low
Bull. My gracious Lord, I come but for mineowne
Rich. Your owne is yours, and I am yours, andall
Bull. So farre be mine, my most redoubted Lord,As my true seruice shall deserue your loue
Rich. Well you deseru'd:They well deserue to haue,That know the strong'st, and surest way to get.Vnckle giue me your Hand: nay, drie your Eyes,Teares shew their Loue, but want their Remedies.Cousin, I am too young to be your Father,Though you are old enough to be my Heire.What you will haue, Ile giue, and willing to,For doe we must, what force will haue vs doe.Set on towards London:Cousin, is it so?Bull. Yea, my good Lord
Rich. Then I must not say, no.
Flourish.
Exeunt.
Scena Quarta.
Enter the Queene, and two Ladies
Qu. What sport shall we deuise here in this Garden,To driue away the heauie thought of Care?La. Madame, wee'le play at Bowles
Qu. 'Twill make me thinke the World is full of Rubs,And that my fortune runnes against the Byas
La. Madame, wee'le Dance
Qu. My Legges can keepe no measure in Delight,When my poore Heart no measure keepes in Griefe.Therefore no Dancing (Girle) some other sport
La. Madame, wee'le tell Tales
Qu. Of Sorrow, or of Griefe?La. Of eyther, Madame
Qu. Of neyther, Girle.For if of Ioy, being altogether wanting,It doth remember me the more of Sorrow:Or if of Griefe, being altogether had,It addes more Sorrow to my want of Ioy:For what I haue, I need not to repeat;And what I want, it bootes not to complaine
La. Madame, Ile sing
Qu. 'Tis well that thou hast cause:But thou should'st please me better, would'st thou weepe
La. I could weepe, Madame, would it doe you good
Qu. And I could sing, would weeping doe me good,And neuer borrow any Teare of thee.Enter a Gardiner, and two Seruants.
But stay, here comes the Gardiners,Let's step into the shadow of these Trees.My wretchednesse, vnto a Rowe of Pinnes,They'le talke of State: for euery one doth so,Against a Change; Woe is fore-runne with Woe
Gard. Goe binde thou vp yond dangling Apricocks,Which like vnruly Children, make their SyreStoupe with oppression of their prodigall weight:Giue some supportance to the bending twigges.Goe thou, and like an ExecutionerCut off the heads of too fast growing sprayes,That looke too loftie in our Common-wealth:All must be euen, in our Gouernment.You thus imploy'd, I will goe root awayThe noysome Weedes, that without profit suckeThe Soyles fertilitie from wholesome flowers
Ser. Why should we, in the compasse of a Pale,Keepe Law and Forme, and due Proportion,Shewing as in a Modell our firme Estate?When our Sea-walled Garden, the whole Land,Is full of Weedes, her fairest Flowers choakt vp,Her Fruit-trees all vnpruin'd, her Hedges ruin'd,Her Knots disorder'd, and her wholesome HearbesSwarming with Caterpillers
Gard. Hold thy peace.He that hath suffer'd this disorder'd Spring,Hath now himselfe met with the Fall of Leafe.The Weeds that his broad-spreading Leaues did shelter,That seem'd, in eating him, to hold him vp,Are pull'd vp, Root and all, by Bullingbrooke:I meane, the Earle of Wiltshire, Bushie, Greene
Ser. What are they dead?Gard. They are,And Bullingbrooke hath seiz'd the wastefull King.Oh, what pitty is it, that he had not so trim'dAnd drest his Land, as we this Garden, at time of yeare,And wound the Barke, the skin of our Fruit-trees,Least being ouer-proud with Sap and Blood,With too much riches it confound it selfe?Had he done so, to great and growing men,They might haue liu'd to beare, and he to tasteTheir fruites of dutie. Superfluous branchesWe lop away, that bearing boughes may liue:Had he done so, himselfe had borne the Crowne,Which waste and idle houres, hath quite thrown downe
Ser. What thinke you the King shall be depos'd?Gar. Deprest he is already, and depos'd'Tis doubted he will be. Letters came last nightTo a deere Friend of the Duke of Yorkes,That tell blacke tydings
Qu. Oh I am prest to death through want of speaking:Thou old Adams likenesse, set to dresse this Garden:How dares thy harsh rude tongue sound this vnpleasing newesWhat Eue? what Serpent hath suggested thee,To make a second fall of cursed man?Why do'st thou say, King Richard is depos'd,Dar'st thou, thou little better thing then earth,Diuine his downfall? Say, where, when, and howCam'st thou by this ill-tydings? Speake thou wretch
Gard. Pardon me Madam. Little ioy haue ITo breath these newes; yet what I say, is true;King Richard, he is in the mighty holdOf Bullingbrooke, their Fortunes both are weigh'd:In your Lords Scale, is nothing but himselfe,And some few Vanities, that make him light:But in the Ballance of great Bullingbrooke,Besides himselfe, are all the English Peeres,And with that oddes he weighes King Richard downe.Poste you to London, and you'l finde it so,I speake no more, then euery one doth know
Qu. Nimble mischance, that art so light of foote,Doth not thy Embassage belong to me?And am I last that knowes it? Oh thou think'stTo serue me last, that I may longest keepeThy sorrow in my breast. Come Ladies goe,To meet at London, Londons King in woe.What was I borne to this: that my sad looke,Should grace the Triumph of great Bullingbrooke.Gard'ner, for telling me this newes of woe,I would the Plants thou graft'st, may neuer grow.Enter.
G. Poore Queen, so that thy State might be no worse,I would my skill were subiect to thy curse:Heere did she drop a teare, heere in this placeIle set a Banke of Rew, sowre Herbe of Grace:Rue, eu'n for ruth, heere shortly shall be seene,In the remembrance of a Weeping Queene.Enter.
Actus Quartus. Scoena Prima.
Enter as to the Parliament, Bullingbrooke, Aumerle,Northumberland,Percie, FitzWater, Surrey, Carlile, Abbot of Westminster. Herauld,Officers, and Bagot.
Bullingbrooke. Call forth Bagot.Now Bagot, freely speake thy minde,What thou do'st know of Noble Glousters death:Who wrought it with the King, and who perform'dThe bloody Office of his Timelesse end
Bag. Then set before my face, the Lord Aumerle
Bul. Cosin, stand forth, and looke vpon that man
Bag. My Lord Aumerle, I know your daring tongueScornes to vnsay, what it hath once deliuer'd.In that dead time, when Glousters death was plotted,I heard you say, Is not my arme of length,That reacheth from the restfull English CourtAs farre as Callis, to my Vnkles head.Amongst much other talke, that very time,I heard you say, that you had rather refuseThe offer of an hundred thousand Crownes,Then Bullingbrookes returne to England; adding withall,How blest this Land would be, in this your Cosins death
Aum. Princes, and Noble Lords:What answer shall I make to this base man?Shall I so much dishonor my faire Starres,On equall termes to giue him chasticement?Either I must, or haue mine honor soyl'dWith th' Attaindor of his sland'rous Lippes.There is my Gage, the manuall Seale of deathThat markes thee out for Hell. Thou lyest,And will maintaine what thou hast said, is false,In thy heart blood, though being all too baseTo staine the temper of my Knightly sword
Bul. Bagot forbeare, thou shalt not take it vp
Aum. Excepting one, I would he were the bestIn all this presence, that hath mou'd me so
Fitz. If that thy valour stand on sympathize:There is my Gage, Aumerle, in Gage to thine:By that faire Sunne, that shewes me where thou stand'st,I heard thee say (and vauntingly thou spak'st it)That thou wer't cause of Noble Glousters death.If thou deniest it, twenty times thou lyest,And I will turne thy falshood to thy hart,Where it was forged with my Rapiers point
Aum. Thou dar'st not (Coward) liue to see the day
Fitz. Now by my Soule, I would it were this houre
Aum. Fitzwater thou art damn'd to hell for this
Per. Aumerle, thou lye'st: his Honor is as trueIn this Appeale, as thou art all vniust:And that thou art so, there I throw my GageTo proue it on thee, to th' extreamest pointOf mortall breathing. Seize it, if thou dar'st
Aum. And if I do not, may my hands rot off,And neuer brandish more reuengefull Steele,Ouer the glittering Helmet of my Foe
Surrey. My Lord Fitzwater:I do remember well, the very timeAumerle, and you did talke
Fitz. My Lord,'Tis very true: You were in presence then,And you can witnesse with me, this is true
Surrey. As false, by heauen,As Heauen it selfe is true
Fitz. Surrey, thou Lyest
Surrey. Dishonourable Boy;That Lye, shall lie so heauy on my Sword,That it shall render Vengeance, and Reuenge,Till thou the Lye-giuer, and that Lye, doe lyeIn earth as quiet, as thy Fathers Scull.In proofe whereof, there is mine Honors pawne,Engage it to the Triall, if thou dar'st
Fitzw. How fondly do'st thou spurre a forward Horse?If I dare eate, or drinke, or breathe, or liue,I dare meete Surrey in a Wildernesse,And spit vpon him, whilest I say he Lyes,And Lyes, and Lyes: there is my Bond of Faith,To tye thee to my strong Correction.As I intend to thriue in this new World,Aumerle is guiltie of my true Appeale.Besides, I heard the banish'd Norfolke say,That thou Aumerle didst send two of thy men,To execute the Noble Duke at Callis
Aum. Some honest Christian trust me with a Gage,That Norfolke lyes: here doe I throw downe this,If he may be repeal'd, to trie his Honor
Bull. These differences shall all rest vnder Gage,Till Norfolke be repeal'd: repeal'd he shall be;And (though mine Enemie) restor'd againeTo all his Lands and Seignories: when hee's return'd,Against Aumerle we will enforce his Tryall
Carl. That honorable day shall ne're be seene.Many a time hath banish'd Norfolke foughtFor Iesu Christ, in glorious Christian fieldStreaming the Ensigne of the Christian Crosse,Against black Pagans, Turkes, and Saracens:And toyl'd with workes of Warre, retyr'd himselfeTo Italy, and there at Venice gaueHis Body to that pleasant Countries Earth,And his pure Soule vnto his Captaine Christ,Vnder whose Colours he had fought so long
Bull. Why Bishop, is Norfolke dead?Carl. As sure as I liue, my Lord
Bull. Sweet peace conduct his sweet SouleTo the Bosome of good old Abraham.Lords Appealants, your differe[n]ces shal all rest vnder gage,Till we assigne you to your dayes of Tryall.Enter Yorke.
Yorke. Great Duke of Lancaster, I come to theeFrom plume-pluckt Richard, who with willing SouleAdopts thee Heire, and his high Scepter yeeldsTo the possession of thy Royall Hand.Ascend his Throne, descending now from him,And long liue Henry, of that Name the Fourth
Bull. In Gods Name, Ile ascend the Regall Throne
Carl. Mary, Heauen forbid.Worst in this Royall Presence may I speake,Yet best beseeming me to speake the truth.Would God, that any in this Noble PresenceWere enough Noble, to be vpright IudgeOf Noble Richard: then true Noblenesse wouldLearne him forbearance from so foule a Wrong.What Subiect can giue Sentence on his King?And who sits here, that is not Richards Subiect?Theeues are not iudg'd, but they are by to heare,Although apparant guilt be seene in them:And shall the figure of Gods Maiestie,His Captaine, Steward, Deputie elect,Anoynted, Crown'd, planted many yeeres,Be iudg'd by subiect, and inferior breathe,And he himselfe not present? Oh, forbid it, God,That in a Christian Climate, Soules refin'deShould shew so heynous, black, obscene a deed.I speake to Subiects, and a Subiect speakes,Stirr'd vp by Heauen, thus boldly for his KingMy Lord of Hereford here, whom you call King,Is a foule Traytor to prowd Herefords King.And if you Crowne him, let me prophecie,The blood of English shall manure the ground,And future Ages groane for his foule Act.Peace shall goe sleepe with Turkes and Infidels,And in this Seat of Peace, tumultuous WarresShall Kinne with Kinne, and Kinde with Kinde confound.Disorder, Horror, Feare, and MutinieShall here inhabite, and this Land be call'dThe field of Golgotha, and dead mens Sculls.Oh, if you reare this House, against this HouseIt will the wofullest Diuision proue,That euer fell vpon this cursed Earth.Preuent it, resist it, and let it not be so,Least Child, Childs Children cry against you, Woe
North. Well haue you argu'd Sir: and for your paines,Of Capitall Treason we arrest you here.My Lord of Westminster, be it your charge,To keepe him safely, till his day of Tryall.May it please you, Lords, to grant the Commons Suit?Bull. Fetch hither Richard, that in common viewHe may surrender: so we shall proceedeWithout suspition
Yorke. I will be his Conduct.Enter.
Bull. Lords, you that here are vnder our Arrest,Procure your Sureties for your Dayes of Answer:Little are we beholding to your Loue,And little look'd for at your helping Hands.Enter Richard and Yorke.
Rich. Alack, why am I sent for to a King,Before I haue shooke off the Regall thoughtsWherewith I reign'd? I hardly yet haue learn'dTo insinuate, flatter, bowe, and bend my Knee.Giue Sorrow leaue a while, to tuture meTo this submission. Yet I well rememberThe fauors of these men: were they not mine?Did they not sometime cry, All hayle to me?So Iudas did to Christ: but he in twelue,Found truth in all, but one; I, in twelue thousand, none.God saue the King: will no man say, Amen?Am I both Priest, and Clarke? well then, Amen.God saue the King, although I be not hee:And yet Amen, if Heauen doe thinke him mee.To doe what seruice, am I sent for hither?Yorke. To doe that office of thine owne good will,Which tyred Maiestie did make thee offer:The Resignation of thy State and CrowneTo Henry Bullingbrooke
Rich. Giue me the Crown. Here Cousin, seize y Crown:Here Cousin, on this side my Hand, on that side thine.Now is this Golden Crowne like a deepe Well,That owes two Buckets, filling one another,The emptier euer dancing in the ayre,The other downe, vnseene, and full of Water:That Bucket downe, and full of Teares am I,Drinking my Griefes, whil'st you mount vp on high
Bull. I thought you had been willing to resigne
Rich. My Crowne I am, but still my Griefes are mine:You may my Glories and my State depose,But not my Griefes; still am I King of those
Bull. Part of your Cares you giue me with your Crowne
Rich. Your Cares set vp, do not pluck my Cares downe.My Care, is losse of Care, by old Care done,Your Care, is gaine of Care, by new Care wonne:The Cares I giue, I haue, though giuen away,They 'tend the Crowne, yet still with me they stay:Bull. Are you contented to resigne the Crowne?Rich. I, no; no, I: for I must nothing bee:Therefore no, no, for I resigne to thee.Now, marke me how I will vndoe my selfe.I giue this heauie Weight from off my Head,And this vnwieldie Scepter from my Hand,The pride of Kingly sway from out my Heart.With mine owne Teares I wash away my Balme,With mine owne Hands I giue away my Crowne,With mine owne Tongue denie my Sacred State,With mine owne Breath release all dutious Oathes;All Pompe and Maiestie I doe forsweare:My Manors, Rents, Reuenues, I forgoe;My Acts, Decrees, and Statutes I denie:God pardon all Oathes that are broke to mee,God keepe all Vowes vnbroke are made to thee.Make me that nothing haue, with nothing grieu'd,And thou with all pleas'd, that hast all atchieu'd.Long may'st thou liue in Richards Seat to sit,And soone lye Richard in an Earthie Pit.God saue King Henry, vn-King'd Richard sayes,And send him many yeeres of Sunne-shine dayes.What more remaines?North. No more: but that you readeThese Accusations, and these grieuous Crymes,Committed by your Person, and your followers,Against the State, and Profit of this Land:That by confessing them, the Soules of menMay deeme, that you are worthily depos'd
Rich. Must I doe so? and must I rauell outMy weau'd-vp follyes? Gentle Northumberland,If thy Offences were vpon Record,Would it not shame thee, in so faire a troupe,To reade a Lecture of them? If thou would'st,There should'st thou finde one heynous Article,Contayning the deposing of a King,And cracking the strong Warrant of an Oath,Mark'd with a Blot, damn'd in the Booke of Heauen.Nay, all of you, that stand and looke vpon me,Whil'st that my wretchednesse doth bait my selfe,Though some of you, with Pilate, wash your hands,Shewing an outward pittie: yet you PilatesHaue here deliuer'd me to my sowre Crosse,And Water cannot wash away your sinne
North. My Lord dispatch, reade o're these Articles
Rich. Mine Eyes are full of Teares, I cannot see:And yet salt-Water blindes them not so much,But they can see a sort of Traytors here.Nay, if I turne mine Eyes vpon my selfe,I finde my selfe a Traytor with the rest:For I haue giuen here my Soules consent,T' vndeck the pompous Body of a King;Made Glory base; a Soueraigntie, a Slaue;Prowd Maiestie, a Subiect; State, a Pesant
North. My Lord
Rich. No Lord of thine, thou haught-insulting man;No, nor no mans Lord: I haue no Name, no Title;No, not that Name was giuen me at the Font,But 'tis vsurpt: alack the heauie day,That I haue worne so many Winters out,And know not now, what Name to call my selfe.Oh, that I were a Mockerie, King of Snow,Standing before the Sunne of Bullingbrooke,To melt my selfe away in Water-drops.Good King, great King, and yet not greatly good,And if my word be Sterling yet in England,Let it command a Mirror hither straight,That it may shew me what a Face I haue,Since it is Bankrupt of his Maiestie
Bull. Goe some of you, and fetch a Looking-Glasse
North. Read o're this Paper, while y Glasse doth come
Rich. Fiend, thou torments me, ere I come to Hell
Bull. Vrge it no more, my Lord Northumberland
North. The Commons will not then be satisfy'd
Rich. They shall be satisfy'd: Ile reade enough,When I doe see the very Booke indeede,Where all my sinnes are writ, and that's my selfe.Enter one with a Glasse.
Giue me that Glasse, and therein will I reade.No deeper wrinckles yet? hath Sorrow struckeSo many Blowes vpon this Face of mine,And made no deeper Wounds? Oh flatt'ring Glasse,Like to my followers in prosperitie,Thou do'st beguile me. Was this Face, the FaceThat euery day, vnder his House-hold Roofe,Did keepe ten thousand men? Was this the Face,That like the Sunne, did make beholders winke?Is this the Face, which fac'd so many follyes,That was at last out-fac'd by Bullingbrooke?A brittle Glory shineth in this Face,As brittle as the Glory, is the Face,For there it is, crackt in an hundred shiuers.Marke silent King, the Morall of this sport,How soone my Sorrow hath destroy'd my Face
Bull. The shadow of your Sorrow hath destroy'dThe shadow of your Face
Rich. Say that againe.The shadow of my Sorrow: ha, let's see,'Tis very true, my Griefe lyes all within,And these externall manner of Laments,Are meerely shadowes, to the vnseene Griefe,That swells with silence in the tortur'd Soule.There lyes the substance: and I thanke thee KingFor thy great bountie, that not onely giu'stMe cause to wayle, but teachest me the wayHow to lament the cause. Ile begge one Boone,And then be gone, and trouble you no more.Shall I obtaine it?Bull. Name it, faire Cousin
Rich. Faire Cousin? I am greater then a King:For when I was a King, my flatterersWere then but subiects; being now a subiect,I haue a King here to my flatterer:Being so great, I haue no neede to begge
Bull. Yet aske
Rich. And shall I haue?Bull. You shall
Rich. Then giue me leaue to goe
Bull. Whither?Rich. Whither you will, so I were from your sights
Bull. Goe some of you, conuey him to the Tower
Rich. Oh good: conuey: Conueyers are you all,That rise thus nimbly by a true Kings fall
Bull. On Wednesday next, we solemnly set downeOur Coronation: Lords, prepare your selues.
Exeunt.
Abbot. A wofull Pageant haue we here beheld
Carl. The Woes to come, the Children yet vnborne,Shall feele this day as sharpe to them as Thorne
Aum. You holy Clergie-men, is there no PlotTo rid the Realme of this pernicious Blot
Abbot. Before I freely speake my minde herein,You shall not onely take the Sacrament,To bury mine intents, but also to effectWhat euer I shall happen to deuise.I see your Browes are full of Discontent,Your Heart of Sorrow, and your Eyes of Teares.Come home with me to Supper, Ile lay a PlotShall shew vs all a merry day.
Exeunt.
Actus Quintus. Scena Prima.
Enter Queene, and Ladies.
Qu. This way the King will come: this is the wayTo Iulius Cęsars ill-erected Tower:To whose flint Bosome, my condemned LordIs doom'd a Prisoner, by prowd Bullingbrooke.Here let vs rest, if this rebellious EarthHaue any resting for her true Kings Queene.Enter Richard, and Guard.
But soft, but see, or rather doe not see,My faire Rose wither: yet looke vp; behold,That you in pittie may dissolue to dew,And wash him fresh againe with true-loue Teares.Ah thou, the Modell where old Troy did stand,Thou Mappe of Honor, thou King Richards Tombe,And not King Richard: thou most beauteous Inne,Why should hard-fauor'd Griefe be lodg'd in thee,When Triumph is become an Ale-house Guest
Rich. Ioyne not with griefe, faire Woman, do not so,To make my end too sudden: learne good Soule,To thinke our former State a happie Dreame,From which awak'd, the truth of what we are,Shewes vs but this. I am sworne Brother (Sweet)To grim Necessitie; and hee and IWill keepe a League till Death. High thee to France,And Cloyster thee in some Religious House:Our holy liues must winne a new Worlds Crowne,Which our prophane houres here haue stricken downe
Qu. What, is my Richard both in shape and mindeTransform'd, and weaken'd? Hath BullingbrookeDepos'd thine Intellect? hath he beene in thy Heart?The Lyon dying, thrusteth forth his Paw,And wounds the Earth, if nothing else, with rageTo be o're-powr'd: and wilt thou, Pupill-like,Take thy Correction mildly, kisse the Rodde,And fawne on Rage with base Humilitie,Which art a Lyon, and a King of Beasts?Rich. A King of Beasts indeed: if aught but Beasts,I had beene still a happy King of Men.Good (sometime Queene) prepare thee hence for France:Thinke I am dead, and that euen here thou tak'st,As from my Death-bed, my last liuing leaue.In Winters tedious Nights sit by the fireWith good old folkes, and let them tell thee TalesOf wofull Ages, long agoe betide:And ere thou bid good-night, to quit their griefe,Tell thou the lamentable fall of me,And send the hearers weeping to their Beds:For why? the sencelesse Brands will sympathizeThe heauie accent of thy mouing Tongue,And in compassion, weepe the fire out:And some will mourne in ashes, some coale-black,For the deposing of a rightfull King.Enter Northumberland.
North. My Lord, the mind of Bullingbrooke is chang'd.You must to Pomfret, not vnto the Tower.And Madame, there is order ta'ne for you:With all swift speed, you must away to France
Rich. Northumberland, thou Ladder wherewithallThe mounting Bullingbrooke ascends my Throne,The time shall not be many houres of age,More then it is, ere foule sinne, gathering head,Shall breake into corruption: thou shalt thinke,Though he diuide the Realme, and giue thee halfe,It is too little, helping him to all:He shall thinke, that thou which know'st the wayTo plant vnrightfull Kings, wilt know againe,Being ne're so little vrg'd another way,To pluck him headlong from the vsurped Throne.The Loue of wicked friends conuerts to Feare;That Feare, to Hate; and Hate turnes one, or both,To worthie Danger, and deserued Death
North. My guilt be on my Head, and there an end:Take leaue, and part, for you must part forthwith
Rich. Doubly diuorc'd? (bad men) ye violateA two-fold Marriage; 'twixt my Crowne, and me.And then betwixt me, and my marryed Wife.Let me vn-kisse the Oath 'twixt thee, and me;And yet not so, for with a Kisse 'twas made.Part vs, Northumberland: I, towards the North,Where shiuering Cold and Sicknesse pines the Clyme:My Queene to France: from whence, set forth in pompe,She came adorned hither like sweet May;Sent back like Hollowmas, or short'st of day