Drums. Some Soldiers of YORK's party break in. Then

enter the Duke of York, EDWARD, RICHARD, NORFOLK,
MONTAGUE, WARWICK, and others, with white roses in
their hats.
War. I wonder how the king escaped our hands.

York. While we pursued the horsemen of the rorth,
He slily stole away, and left his men :
Whereat the great lord of Northumberland,
Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat,
Cheered 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.

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, dead, my

Mont. And, brother, here's the earl of Wiltshire's blood,

[To YORK, showing his. Whom I encountered as the battles? joined. Rich. 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

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.

War. 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 cluse.
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.

Norf. We'll all assist you; he that Aies 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 perforce.

[The Soldiers 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. Armed as we are, let's stay within this house.

War. The bloody parliament shall this be called, Unless Plantagenet, duke of York, be king,

The battles] The battalions; the armies.

And bashful Henry deposed, whose cowardice
Hath made us bywords 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 her that holds up Lancaster,
Dares stir a wing, if Warwick shake his bells.
I'll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares :-
Resolve thee, Richard; claim the English crown.

[Warwick leads YORK to the throne, who seats himself.

Flourish. Enter King HENRY, CLIFFORD, NORTHUMBER

LAND, WESTMORELAND, EXETER, and others, with red roses in their hats.

K. Hen. My lords, look where the sturdy rebel sits, Even in the chair of state ! belike he means (Backed 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 vowed re

venge
On him, his sons, his favourites, and his friends.

North. If I be not, heavens be revenged on me!
Clif. The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn in steel.
West. What, shall we suffer this ? let's pluck him

down;

My heart for anger burns; I cannot brook it.

K. Hen. Be patient, gentle earl of Westmoreland.

woman.

The proudest he] He was often used for man, and she for

Farther on, ii. 2, we have 'Or any he the proudest of thy sort.' So in the Taming of the Shrew, i. 2, “That she's the choice love of signior Gremio.'

Clif. 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.

North. Well hast thou spoken, cousin ; be it so.

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

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

K Hen. 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. —

[They advance to the Duke. 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.
Exe. For shame, come down : he made thee duke of

York.
York. 'T was my inheritance, as the earldom was.
Exe. Thy father was a traitor to the crown.

War. Exeter, thou art a traitor to the crown,
In following this usurping Henry.

Clif. Whom should he follow but his natural king ?
War. True, Clifford; and that's Richard, duke of York.
K. Hen. And shall I stand, and thou sit in my

throne ? York. It must and shall be so: content thyself. War. Be duke of Lancaster, let him be king.

West. He is both king and duke of Lancaster; And that the lord of Westmoreland shall maintain.

War. And Warwick shall disprove it. You forget That we are those which chased you from the field And slew your fathers, and with colours spread Marched through the city to the palace-gates.

North. Yes, Warwick, I remember it to my grief; And, by his soul, thou and thy house shall rue it.

West. Plantagenet, of thee, and these thy sons,
Thy kinsmen, and thy friends, I'll have more lives
Than drops of blood were in my father's veins.

Clif. Urge it no more ; lest that, instead of words,
I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger
As shall revenge his death before I stir.

War. Poor Clifford ! how I scorn bis worthless threats !

York. Will you we show our title to the crown ? If not, our swords shall plead it in the field.

K. Hen. What title hast thou, traitor, to the crown ? Thy father was, as thou art, duke of York; Thy grandfather, Roger Mortimer, earl of March : I am the son of Henry the fifth, Who made the dauphin and the French to stoop, And seized upon their towns and provinces.

War. Talk not of France, sith thou hast lost it all.

K. Hen. The lord protector lost it, and not I; When I was crowned I was but nine months old. Rich. You are old enough now, and yet methinks you

lose :
Father, tear the crown from the usurper's head.

Edw. Sweet father, do so ; set it on your head.
Mont. Good brother [To YORK.], as thou lov'st and

honour'st arms,
Let's fight it out, and not stand cavilling thus.

Rich. Sound drums and trumpets, and the king will fly.
York. Sons, peace !
K. Hen. Peace thou! and give king Henry leave to

speak.
War. Plantagenet shall speak first: hear him, lords,
And be you silent and attentive too,
For he that interrupts him shall not live.