(3) i. e. Being enemies that are likely so soon to (2) i. e. We have not secured that which we rally and recover themselves from this defeat. have acquired.

ACT I.

SCENE I-London. The Parliament House.

War. And so do I.-Victorious prince of York,
Before I see thee seated in that throne
Which now the house of Lancaster usurps,

Drums. Some soldiers of York's party break|| I vow by heaven, these eyes shall never close.

in. Then, enter the Duke of York, Edward, Richard, Norfolk, Montague, Warwick, and others, with white roses in their hats.

Warwick.

I WONDER, how the king escap'd our hands. York. While we pursu'd the horsemen of the north,

He slily 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 a-breast,
'Charg'd our main battle's front, and, breaking in,|
• Were by the swords of common soldiers slain.
Edw. Lord Stafford's father, duke of Buckingham,
Is either slain, or wounded dangerous:
I cleft his beaver with a downright blow;
That this is true, father, behold his blood.

[Showing his bloody sword.
Mont. And, brother, here's the earl of Wiltshire's
blood,
[To York, showing his.
Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'd.
Rich. Speak thou for me, and tell them what I did.
[Throwing down the duke of Somerset's head.
York. Richard hath best deserv'd of all my

sons.

What, is your grace dead, my lord of Somerset?
Norf. Such hope have all the line of John of
Gaunt!

Rich. Thus do I hope to shake king Henry's

head.

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 1
will;

For hither we have broken in by force.

Norf. We'll all assist you; he, that flies, shall die.
York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk.-Stay by me,

my lords;

And, soldiers, stay, and lodge by me this night. War. And, when the king comes, offer him no violence,

Unless he seek to thrust you out by force.

[They retire. *York. The queen, this day, here holds her

parliament,

But little thinks we shall be of her council:
*By words, or blows, here let us win our right.
Rich. Arm'd as we are, let's stay within this
house.

War. The bloody parliament shall this be call'd,
Unless Plantagenet, duke of York, be king;
And bashful Henry depos'd, whose cowardice
Hath made us by-words to our enemies.

York. Then leave me not, my lords; be resolute;
I mean to take possession of my right.

War. Neither the king, nor he that loves him best,
The proudest he that holds up Lancaster,
Dares stir a wing, if Warwick shake his bells,1

(1) Hawks had sometimes little bells hung on them, perhaps to dare the birds; that is, to fright them from rising.