Henry the Sixth with the murder of Humphrey, Duke of Glocester : as it was acted at the Dukes Theatre / written by Mr. Crown.

Scene a Room of State.

Enter Edward, Richard, Guards.

Ed.

The Scituation of this Castle pleases me.

Rich.

But, Sir, not me, for I'm afraid it stands Too near a Beauty that once stopt your way, And I'm afraid will do it once again.

Ed.

Women are moving Creatures, and may follow us.

Rich.

Pardon my confidence, I love to serve My Friends as boldly as I fight my Enemies.

Ed.

You say well, Brother, and I'll promise you, Nothing shall stay me here, beyond this night.

Enter a Lord.

Lord.

A Lady, Sir, desires to kiss your hands.

Ric.

A Lady? Pox o' Ladies; he is tinder To every Lady, and will catch new fire.

Enter Lady Grey, and her Women: She kneels, kisses King Edward's hand, he raises her, and Salutes her.

Rich.

A very lovely woman! he is ruin'd!

Ed.

I ne're had Eyes, or my eyes ne're saw beauty, Till this amazing minute.

Ric.

So! he's gone: Any one may have London now that will.

La. Gr.

Sir, I present you humbly the petition

Kneels again, and the King gazes.

Of a poor Widow, and her little Orphans:

I am the Widow of one Sir John Grey, Who in S. Alban's Battel lost his life, In the defence of him we thought our King. If my poor Husband's Loyalty did err, He dearly for that fatal error paid. My humble prayer is, that my poor Orphans May not be punish'd for their Fathers Faults, If erring Loyalty can be a fault.

Ed.

I am so rapt, I mind not what she say; Nor that she is all this while upon her knees: Pray, Madam, rise, —leave us—

To the Attendants.

Ric.

So she (I find) Must grant a thing, before her thing be granted.

Ex.

Ed.

Had you a Husband, Madam, did you say?

La. Gr.

Yes, Sir, I had one at S. Alban's Battel; His Name was Sir John Grey.

Ed.

Oh happy man! What excellence had he above mankind, That he shou'd be more blest than all mankind? And have you Children?

La. Gr.

Many poor young Orphans.

Ed.

Oh! wondrous happy man t' enjoy this Woman! I must inquire about her, I was never,

(Aside.)

Never so charm'd before. My Lord, come hither, Pray do you know this Lady?

Lord.

Yes, Sir, well. She is the Widow of Sir John Grey of Grooby, A man of Quality, and great Estate. But a most vehement Lancastrian.

Ed.

No matter: of what Family is she?

Lord.

Her quality does far exceed her Husbands; And yet her Virtue does exceed her quality. She is the Daughter of Sir Richard Woodvile, Her Mother was sometimes Dutchesse of Bedford.

Ed.

Dutchesse of Bedford? Ha!

Lord.

Dutchesse of Bedford. And Daughter of the Earl of S. Pool.

Ed.

Of noble birth, and by her Mothers side Related to the house of Lancaster.

Lord.

She is by Marriage, Sir; that was the cause That Sir John Grey was such a fierce Lancastrian.

Ed.

She has Beauty, she has Virtue, she has Birth:

(Aside)

Why may not this fair Lady be a Queen? But she's a Subject, England will not like it. And th' English Nation, like the Sea it governs,

Is bold and turbulent, and easily mov'd, And always beats against the shore, that bounds it. What? is the people free, and not the King? Not free where every Slave is free, his bed? Yes, so it is, it seems, and English fury Will easily with any wind be rais'd, To dash the Palaces, and Beds of Kings. Come what come will, this Lady shall be mine. She shall be, or my Mistress, or my Wife. What was it, Madam, you desir'd o' me?

La. Gr.

To give poor Orphans, Sir, their Father's Lands.

Ed.

Heaven forbid I shou'd retain 'em from 'em!

La. Gr.

Then, Sir, with humble thanks I take my leave.

Ed.

Hold, Madam, for I must have one word more, I must impose a Tax upon this Land.

La. Gr.

It shall be thankfully, and gladly paid.

Ed.

It will I'm sure more gladly be receiv'd. It is an easie Tax, no more but Love.

La. Gr.

No Loyal Subjects, Sir, but love their King.

Ed.

But this is love, that none but you can grant.

La. Gr.

I do not understand your meaning, Sir.

Ed.

Truly, I scarcely understand my self, For I have gaz'd my self out of my Reason.

La. Gr.

With your permission, Sir, I'll take my leave.

Ed.

Oh! you shall never, never part from me.

La. Gr.

VVhat do you mean, Sir?

Ed.

I mean all the Love, E're was or can be in the heart of man.

La. Gr.

Love, Sir?

Ed.

Ay Love.

La. Gr.

I dare not understand you, Because I dare not think ill of my Prince.

Ed.

Can there be ill in Love? there will be all The happiness to me, glory to you, Your heart and mine can possibly desire. Why do you tremble, and draw back your hand? You must not, shall not stir till you have granted, What all this languishing, and pressing means.

La. Gr.

Oh! I shall swoon! wou'd I had ne're come here! Sir, I thus low most humbly beg of you, Let it suffice your conquering armes have seiz'd My Husbands life, your laws have seiz'd his Lands, Seek not to take my honour, and my Vertue. I never fought against you, ne're oppos'd you.

Ed.

I wrong her beauty, it deserves a Crown,

Asid••

••very look claims a Kingdom as it's due; ••nd I, who gain'd my right, shou'd not wrong others. ••adam, I mean nothing but honour to you, •• am resolv'd to make you Queen of England.

La. Gr.

Now, Sir, you mean dishonour to your self. •• am as much unworthy to be Queen, ••s I'm above serving an ill design.

Ed.

Rather the crown's unworthy of your Beauty.

La. Gr.

It is impossible, you shou'd descend ••o such mean thoughts.

Ed.

It is impossible, •• shou'd have happiness without your Love. •• had rather with your Love be your dead Husband, Than with your hatred be a living King.

La. Gr.

I lately wish'd I never had come here ••or my own sake, I wish it now for yours: ••h! think Sir, what will all your Subjects say?

Ed.

They'l say, I am in Love.

La. Gr.

But will they not ••e much displeas'd, their Prince shou'd love so low?

Ed.

I give them leave to chuse where they like best; ••hy shou'd I be the only man impos'd on?

La. Gr.

But I'm a Widow, and have many Children.

Ed.

And I have Children too, though I'm a Batchelour; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we are tryed, and shall be sure of Heirs.

La. Gr.

But you have sent to Court a foreign Princesse, ••ay bring your Kingdom great advantages.

Ed.

Then set my Kingdom go and marry her.

La. Gr.

Consider, you may enrage the Earl of Warwick.

Ed.

He is my Friend, and Servant, not my Guardian.

La. Gr.

But, Sir, they say you are promis'd to another.

Ed.

When I'm a priest I will do penance for it.

La. Gr.

I am afraid you'l lose your Subjects love.

Ed.

Why shou'd I lose their love, by loving Subjects?

La. Gr.

But you have many Subjects of more Beauty.

Ed.

My Subjects if they please may marry 'em. •• give them freedom, and I'll take my own, •• take it too this minute.

La. Gr.

At first sight? ••ou'l think me, Sir, immodest, shou'd I grant.

Ed.

A King is above forms; I'll have it so. ••••en come away.

La. Gr.

What in this Mourning habit?

Ed.

I marry not your habit, but your self.

La. Gr.

The world will much condemn you, Sir.

Ed.

I care not, I had rather live a minute in your Armes, Than many ages in the praise of Fools.

Enter a Gentleman.

Gent.

Most happy tydings, Sir! Henry your Enemy, Wandring alone, disguis'd in homely habit, Was taken by the Keepers of the Forrest, As he was reading in shady Covert.

Ed.

Good news indeed! where is he? bring him to me.

Enter King Henry in a poor habit, brought in by a Couple of Forresters.

Why how now Henry? in this humble dress?

Hen.

Insult not, Edward, over my misfortunes, But from this garb, in which thou scarce canst know me, Learn thou to know thy self; for in my fall Heaven humbles every King as well as me.

Ed.

Henry, I pity thee, thou dost not suffer For thy own Crimes, but those of thy usurping And trayterous Ancestours. To London with him. And keep him a close Prisoner in the Tower. But let him there command all things but Liberty.

Ex. Hen. with a guard.

How all my happinesses flow together: A Crown upon my Head, my chiefest Enemy Under my Feet, and Beauty in my Armes.

Ex.

Enter Richard.

Ric.

What's this? a Chaplain call'd for? he is mad—. He'll marry her, and marry at first sight. Marry a Subject, nay, and a mean Subject, Nay, the poor wretched leavings of a Subject, A Widow, and the Widow of a Knight! I fear this Marriage will enrage the Kingdom, But I fear more the furious Warwick's Rage, Whose haughty temper will not bear the affront Of being sent on a mock-Embassy. Now, though I'd have him fight him, have him kill him, Kill both my Brothers, if he'd set up me: But that he cannot do, for he must fight In Henry's Name, and so must set up Henry. He's not far from hence, I'll after him,

And for my own sake I will pacify him; And let the King mean while finish his marriage. For I wou'd have him finish it, because I'm told he has another Wife, if so, The Children of this Marriage must be Bastards, Then when I've kill'd Henry, and his Son, And by some Arts destroy'd my Brother Clarence, The King once dead, I'll Bastardize his Children; Then am I King, but some will say by Villany: That's Villany, that by it's ill success Betray's a man and into ruin throws; When once it gains a Crown, it vertue grows.

Ex.