Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my powers: Or to the meanest groom. K. Hen. O God, what mischiefs work the wicked ones; Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby! Q. Mar. Gloster, see here the tainture of thy nest; And, look, thyself be faultless, thou wert best. Glo. Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal, I banish her, my bed, and company; And give her, as a prey, to law, and shame, That hath dishonour'd Gloster's honest name. K. Hen. Well, for this night, we will repose us here: To-morrow, toward London, back again, To look into this business thoroughly, And call these foul offenders to their answers ; And poise the cause in justice' equal scales, Whose beam stands sure, whose rightful cause prevails. [Flourish. Exeunt. SCENE II.-London. The Duke of YORK's Garden. Enter YORK, SALISBURY, and WARWICK. York. Now, my good lords of Salisbury and Warwick, Our simple supper ended, give me leave, In this close walk, to satisfy myself, In craving your opinion of my title, War. Sweet York, begin: and if thy claim be good, The Nevils are thy subjects to command. York. Then thus: Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons: The first, Edward the Black Prince, prince of Wales; Sent his poor queen to France, from whence she came, York. Which now they hold by force, and not by right; Sal. But William of Hatfield died without an heir. line I claim the crown,) had issue-Philippe, a daughter, York. His eldest sister, Anne, My mother, being heir unto the crown, Married Richard, earl of Cambridge; who was son Succeed before the younger, I am king. War. What plain proceedings are more plain than this? Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt, The fourth son; York claims it from the third. It fails not yet; but flourishes in thee, That shall salute our rightful sovereign With honour of his birthright to the crown. Both. Long live our sovereign Richard, England's king! York. We thank you, lords. But I am not your king Till I be crown'd; and that my sword be stained Do you, as I do, in these dangerous days, Sal. My lord, break we off; we know your mind at full. War. My heart assures me, that the earl of Warwick Shall one day make the duke of York a king. York. And, Nevil, this I do assure myself,Richard shall live to make the earl of Warwick The greatest man in England, but the king. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. A Hall of Justice. Trumpets sounded. Enter King HENRY, Queen MARGARET, GLOSTER, YORK, SUFFOLK, and SALISBURY; the Duchess of GLOSTER, MARGERY JOURDAIN, SOUTHWELL, HUME, and BOLINGBROKE, under guard. K. Hen. Stand forth, dame Eleanor Cobham, Gloster's wife: In sight of God, and us, your guilt is great; Such as by God's book are adjudg’d to death.— [To JOURD. &c. From thence, unto the place of execution: Duch. Welcome is banishment, welcome were my death. Glo. Eleanor, the law, thou seest, hath judged thee; I cannot justify whom the law condemns. [Exeunt the Duchess, and the other Prisoners, guarded. Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief. Ah, Humphrey, this dishonour in thine age Will bring thy head with sorrow to the ground!I beseech your majesty, give me leave to go; Sorrow would solace, and mine age would ease. K. Hen. Stay, Humphrey duke of Gloster: ere thou go, Q. Mar. I see no reason, why a king of years Glo. My staff?—here, noble Henry, is my staff: |