University of Virginia Library

SCENE the Fourth.

A Castle.
Flourish. Enter Bullingbrook, York, Northumberland, Piercy, Willoughby, &c.
North.
The News is very fair and good My Lord,
Richard within this Fort has hid his head.

York.
It would become the Lord Northumberland
To say King Richard, that so good a King
Should be compell'd to hide a sacred Head,
And Thou have leave to shew a Villains Face!

Bull.
Mistake not Uncle farther then you shou'd.

York.
Talk not thou Traytor farther then thou shoud'st.

[Enter Ross.
Bull.
What say'st thou Ross? will not this Castle yield?

Ross.
My Lord the Castle Royally is man'd
Against your entrance, for the King and Queen
But newly are arriv'd and enter'd there,
With them the Lord Aumerle, Lord Salisbury,
Sir Stephen Scroop, besides a Clergy-man
Of holy rev'rence, whom I cannot learn.

North.
I know him, 'tis the Bishop of Carlile.

Bull.
Go Northumberland, through the ribs of this Castle,
With brazen Trumpets sound the breath of Parle,
Say thus—that Bullingbrook upon his knees
Kisses King Richards hands with true allegiance,
And that with thoughts of Peace he's hither come.
Ev'n at his feet to lay his Arms and Pow'r,
Provided his Revenues be restor'd,
His Banishment repeal'd; let this be granted
Or else he'l use th'advantage of his Power,
And lay the Summers Dust with show'rs of Blood:—
Enter King above Aumerle, Carlile, &c.
But see where on the walls he do's appear,
As do's the blushing discontented Sun,
When envious Clouds combine to shade his Glory.

York.
O my dear Liege, Heav'n guard your Majesty,
'Fore Heav'n, my old heart leaps at sight of you,
Think not that falsly I gave up your Pow'r,
If any Villain of 'em dares to say it,
I'le call that Villain Lyar to his teeth,
He is a Rogue, tho' it be Bullingbrook!
Lo, here I kneel, and pay thee Homage as a true
Subject shou'd before the Rebels Faces.

King.
Rise York, I know thy truth, and pity thee.
We are amaz'd, and thus long have we stood
To watch the fearful bending of his knee;
Because We thought Our Self his lawful King.
Tell Bullingbrook, for yond' methinks is he,
That every stride he makes upon Our Land
Is dangerous Treason: He is come t' unfold
The purple Testament of bleeding War:
But e're the Crown he seeks shall bind his Brow,
A thousand Orphan'd Widowed Mothers Tears
Shall wash from Earth their Sons and Husbands Blood

North.
Heaven forbid our Lord the King
Shou'd thus with civil Arms be rusht upon;
Lord Bullingbrook does humbly kiss your Hand,
And swears his coming hither has no other scope
Then to demand his Royalties, and beg
Enfrancisement from Exile; grant but this,
His Glitt'ring Arms he will commend to Rust.

King.
Northumberland say thus,—The King complies
With his Demands; and so commend us to him.
We do debase Our Self Cousin, do we not,
To look so peaceful and to speak so fair?
Shall we call back Northumberland, and send
Defiance to the Traytor's Heart, and Die.

Aum.
No, good my Lord, let's fight with gentle words,
Till time lend Friends, and Friends their conquering Swords.

King.
That ere this power-chang'd Tongue
That laid the Sentence of dread Banishment
On yond proud Man, shou'd take it off agen.
O that I were as great
As is my Grief, or lesser than my Name!
That I could quite forget what I have been,
Or not remember what I must be now.

Aum.
Northumberland comes back from Bullingbrook.

King.
What must the King do now? Must he forgo
The Name of King? O' God's Name let it pass,
I'll give my Jewels for a set of Beads,
My gilded Palace for a Hermitage,
My Robes of Empire for an Alms-man's Gown,
My figur'd Goblets for a Dish of Wood,
My Scepter for an humble Palmers Staff,
My Subjects for a pair of Poor Carv'd Saints,
And my large Kingdom for a little Grave,
A little, very little obscure Grave!
Aumarle, Thou weep'st; my tender hearted Cousin,
Wee'l joyn our Royal with thy Loyal Tears,
Our sighs and they shall lodge the Summer Corn
And make a Dearth in this revolting Land.

North.
My Lord he thanks your Highness and begs leave
To speak with you, Sir please you to come down:
Hee'll wait your Majesty ith' Court below.

King.
Down, down, I come like Blazing Phaeton,
Wanting the Menage of unruly Steeds;
Down pomp, down swelling stubborn Heart, down King,
For Night-Owls shriek where Mounting Larks should sing.

[Exeunt from above.
Re-enter Bullingbrook and his Company in the Court.
Bul.
Northumberland to London, with all speed,
Summon a Parliament i'th' Commons Name,
In Order to the Kings Appearance there;
[Enter King attended.]
But see—his Highness comes, stand all apart
And shew fair Duty to his Majesty.

York runs over to the King, kneels and kisses his Hand.
York.
Now left the Rebels seize me if they can,
For here I'll perish by my Sovereign's side.

King.
Fy Cousin, you debase your princely Knee
And make our Earth too proud with Kissing it;
Methinks my Heart had rather feel your Love,
Then thus in Eye behold the Courtesie:
Up Cousen, up—Your Heart is up, I know

Bul.
My gracious Lord I come but for my own.

King.
And to that Title who must set the Bounds?

Bul.
Nor even to that do I lay farther claim,
Than my true Service shall deserve your Love.

King.
Well you deserve, they best deserve to have,
That know the strongest surest way to get;
But Heav'n rules all—good Uncle dry your Tears—
Cousin I am to young to be your Father
Tho' you are Old enuff to be my Heir!
Methinks one Person's wanting yet
To this fair Presence, our Old Loyal Gaunt,
He was thy Father Herford, was he not?
Excuse me Cousin, Tears but ill become
A King, at least when Friends and Kinsmen meet,
And yet I cannot chuse but weep to think,
That whilst you press and I permit this Scorn;
What Plagues we heap on Children yet unborn.

[Exeunt.