University of Virginia Library

The SCENE the Duke of York's House, long Scrowles lying on a Table.
York.
Now my good Lords of Salisbury and Warwick,
You have perus'd my Title to the Crown,
I pray deliver me both your opinions.

War.
My Lord, 'tis very plain, the Right is yours;
King Henry claimes the Crown from John of Gaunt,
Fourth Son of Edward the Third; Your Grace claims it
From Lyonell Duke of Clarence the Third Son:
Till Lyonell's Issue fails, his shou'd not Reign.
It failes not yet, but flourishes in you,
And in your Sons, fair Branches of your Stock.
My Lord of Salisbury kneel we together,
And in this private Room be we the first
That shall Salute our Lawful Soveraign,
With the honor of his Birth-right to the Crown.

Both.
Long live our Sovereign, Richard King of England.

York.
My Lords, I give you both my hearty thanks;
But I am not your King till I be Crown'd,
And my Sword stayn'd in the heart blood of all
The House of Lancaster; and that's not suddenly,
Nor very easily to be perform'd:
We must use Counsel, Secresy, and Courage:
Do you as I do in these dangerous days,
Wink at the Duke of Suffolk's Insolence;
At Beauford's Pride; at Somerset's Ambition;
At Buckingham, and all the Crew of e'm,
Till they have snar'd the good and wise Duke Hymphry,
Whose Vertues are so many Guardian Angels
Both to the King and Kingdom; his destruction
These ill Men seek, and they in seeking that
Shall find their own, if I can Prophesie.

Sal.
My Lord, let us break off, we know your Mind.

War.
There's something great within my breast that tells me,
The Day is coming, when the Earl of Warwick
Shall make the Duke of York the King of England.

Yo.
And I shall live to make the Earl of Warwick
The greatest Man in England but the King—

Exit.