RING Edward IV.

Edward Prince of Wales, afterwards

Edward V.

Sons to Edward IV.

Richard Duke of York,

George, Duke of Clarence, Brother to Edward IV.

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, Brother to Edward IV, afterwards

King Richard III.

Cardinal, Archbishop of York.

Duke of Buckingham.

Duke of Norfolk.

Earl of Surrey.

Marquifs of Dorfet, Son to Queen Elizabeth.

Earl Rivers, Brother to the Queen.

Lord Gray, Son to Queen Elizabeth.

Earl of Richmond, afterwards King Henry VII,

Bishop of Ely.

Lord Haftings.

Sir Thomas Vaughan.

Sir Richard Ratcliff,

Lord Lovel,

Catesby,

Friends to the Duke of Gloucester,

Sir James Tyrrel, a Villain.

Thomas, Lord Stanley, Lord Steward of K. Edward IVth's Houfbold, afterwards Earl of Derby.

Lord Mayor.

Sir Chriftopher Urfwick, a Prieft.

Elizabeth, Queen of Edward IV.

Queen Margaret, Widow of Henry VI:

Anne, Widow of Edward Prince of Wales, Son to Henry VI. afterwards married to the Duke of Gloucester.

Dutchess of York, Mother to Edward IV. Clarence, and Rich

ard III.

Sherif, Purfuivant, Citizens, Ghosts, of thofe murder'd by
Richard III. with Soldiers and other Attendants,

The SCENE, in England.

The LIFE and DEATH of (1)

RICHARD III.

A C T I.

SCENE, The Court.

Enter Richard Duke of Gloucefter, folus:

OW is the Winter of our Difcontent
Made glorious Summer by this Sun of

York:

And all the clouds, that low'rd upon our
House,

In the deep bofom of the ocean bury'd.
Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths,
Our bruised arms hung up for monuments :
Our ftern Alarums chang'd to merry meetings;
Our dreadful marches to delightful measures.
Grim-vifag'd War hath fmooth'd his wrinkled front;
And now, inftead of mounting barbed steeds
To fright the fouls of fearful adversaries,

(1) The Life and Death of King Richard III.] This Tragedy, tho' it is call'd the Life and Death of this Prince, comprizes, as moft, but the last eight Years of his time: For it opens with George Duke of Clarence being clap'd up in the Tower, which happen'd in the beginning of the Year 1477: and clofes with the Death of Richard at Bosworth-field, which Battle was fought on the 22d of Auguft in the Year 1485.

VOL. V.

I

He

He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber,
To the lafcivious pleafing of a lute.

But I, that am not fhap'd for fportive tricks,
Nor made to court an am'rous looking glass,-
I, that am rudely ftampt, and want love's majefty,
To ftrut before a wanton, ambling Nymph;
I, that am curtail'd of this fair proportion,
Cheated of feature by diffembling nature,
Deform'd, unfinish'd, fent before my time
Into this breathing world, fcarce half made up;
And that fo lamely and unfashionably,
That dogs bark at me, as I halt by them:
Why I, (in this weak piping time of peace)
Have no delight to pafs away the time;
Unless to spy my fhadow in the Sun,
And defcant on mine own deformity.
And therefore, fince I cannot prove a lover,
To entertain these fair well-fpoken days,
I am determined to prove a villain,
And hate the idle pleafures of thefe days.
Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous,
By drunken prophefies, libels, and dreams,
To fet my brother Clarence and the King
In deadly hate; the one against the other:
And, if King Edward be as true and just,
As I am fubtle, falfe and treacherous,

This day fhould Clarence closely be mew'd up;
About a Prophefy, which fays, that G

Of Edward's Heirs the Murtherer fhall be.

Dive, thoughts, down to my foul! here Clarence comes.

Enter Clarence guarded, and Brakenbury.

Brother, good day; what means this armed Guard,

That waits upon your Grace?

Clar. His Majefly,

Tend'ring my perfon's fafety, hath appointed

This conduct to convey me to the Tower.

Glo. Upon what caufe?

Clar. Because my name is George.

Glo. Alack, my lord, that fault is none of yours:

He

He fhould for That commit your godfathers.

Belike, his Majesty hath some intent,

That you

should be new chriftened in the Tower.
But what's the matter, Clarence, may I know?
Clar Yea, Richard, when I know; for, I proteft,
As yet I do not; but as I can learn,

He hearkens after Prophefies and Dreams,
And from the cross-row plucks the letter G ;
And fays, a wizard told him, that by G
His Iffue difinherited fhould be.

And, for my name of George begins with G,
It follows in his thought, that I am he.
Thefe, as I learn, and fuch like toys as these,
Have mov'd his Highness to commit me now.

Glo. Why, this it is, when men are rul'd by women.
'Tis not the King that fends you to the Tower;
My lady Gray his wife, Clarence, 'tis fhe,
That tempts him to this harsh extremity.
Was it not the, and that good man of worship,
Anthony Woodvil her brother there,

That made him fend lord Haftings to the Tower?
From whence this day he is delivered.

We are not fafe; Clarence, we are not fafe.

Clar. By heav'n, I think, there is no man secure
But the Queen's kindred, and night-walking heralds,
That trudge between the King and miftrefs Shore.
Heard you not, what an humble fuppliant
Lord Haflings was to her for his delivery?

Glo. Humbly complaining to her Deity,
Got my lord Chamberlain his liberty.
I'll tell you what ;- -I think, it is our way,
If we will keep in favour with the King,
To be her men, and wear her livery:
The jealous o'erworn widow, and herfelf,
Since that our Brother dubb'd them gentlewomen,
Are mighty goffips in this Monarchy.

Brak. I beg your Graces both to pardon me :

His Majefty has ftraitly giv'n in charge,
That no man shall have private conference,
Of what degree foever, with your brother.

I 2

Glo.

Glo. Ev'n fo, an't please your worship, Brakenbury! You may partake of any thing we say:

We speak no treason, man

we fay, the King
Is wife and virtuous; and his noble Queen
Well ftrook in years; fair, and not jealous-
We fay, that Shore's wife hath a pretty foot,
A cherry lip, a paffing pleafing tongue :
That the Queen's kindred are made gentle-folk:
How fay you, Sir? can you deny all this?

Brak. With this, my lord, myself have nought to do.
Glo. What, fellow? nought to do with mistress Shore?
I tell you, Sir, he that doth naught with her,
Excepting one, were beft to do it fecretly.
Brak. What one, my lord ?

Glo. Her husband, knave-wouldft thou betray me? Brak. I do befeech your Grace to pardon me,

And to forbear your conf'rence with the Duke.

Clar. We know thy charge, Brakenbury, and will obey.

Glo. We are the Queen's abjects, and must obey.
Brother, farewel; I will unto the King,
And whatfoe'er you will employ me in,
(Were it to call King Edward's widow sister)
I will perform it to infranchise you.

Mean time, this deep difgrace of brotherhood
Touches me deeper than you can imagine.

Clar. I know it pleaseth neither of us well.
Glo. Well, your imprisonment shall not be long,
I will deliver you, or elfe lye for you:

Mean time have patience.

Car. I muft perforce; farewel. [Exe. Brak. Clar.
Glo. Go tread the path, that thou shalt ne'er return :
Simple, plain Clarence!-I do love thee fo,
That I will shortly fend thy foul to heav'n,
If heav'n will take the Prefent at our hands.
But who comes here? the new deliver'd Haftings?
Enter Lord Haftings.

Haft. Good time of day unto my gracious lord.
Gle. As much unto my good lord Chamberlain :

Well