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Henry VI, Pt. 2: Act II, Scene 2

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Henry VI, Pt. 2
Act II, Scene 2

London. York’s garden.

And in this private plot be we the first that shall salute our rightful sovereign

Robert Dudley, William MacKenzie, 19th century

  1. Enter York, Salisbury, and Warwick.

Duke of York

1 - 5
  1. Now, my good Lords of Salisbury and Warwick,
  2. Our simple supper ended, give me leave
  3. In this close walk to satisfy myself
  4. In craving your opinion of my title,
  5. Which is infallible, to England’s crown.

Earl of Salisbury

6
  1. My lord, I long to hear it at full.

Earl of Warwick

7 - 8
  1. Sweet York, begin; and if thy claim be good,
  2. The Nevils are thy subjects to command.

Duke of York

9 - 27
  1. Then thus:
  2. Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons:
  3. The first, Edward the Black Prince, Prince of Wales;
  4. The second, William of Hatfield; and the third,
  5. Lionel Duke of Clarence; next to whom
  6. Was John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster;
  7. The fifth was Edmund Langley, Duke of York;
  8. The sixth was Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester;
  9. William of Windsor was the seventh and last.
  10. Edward the Black Prince died before his father,
  11. And left behind him Richard, his only son,
  12. Who after Edward the Third’s death reign’d as king
  13. Till Henry Bullingbrook, Duke of Lancaster,
  14. The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt,
  15. Crown’d by the name of Henry the Fourth,
  16. Seiz’d on the realm, depos’d the rightful king,
  17. Sent his poor queen to France, from whence she came,
  18. And him to Pomfret; where, as all you know,
  19. Harmless Richard was murdered traitorously.

Earl of Warwick

28 - 29
  1. Father, the Duke hath told the truth;
  2. Thus got the house of Lancaster the crown.

Duke of York

30 - 32
  1. Which now they hold by force and not by right;
  2. For Richard, the first son’s heir, being dead,
  3. The issue of the next son should have reign’d.

Earl of Salisbury

33
  1. But William of Hatfield died without an heir.

Duke of York

34 - 38
  1. The third son, Duke of Clarence, from whose line
  2. I claim the crown, had issue, Philippe, a daughter,
  3. Who married Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March;
  4. Edmund had issue, Roger Earl of March;
  5. Roger had issue, Edmund, Anne, and Eleanor.

Earl of Salisbury

39 - 43
  1. This Edmund, in the reign of Bullingbrook,
  2. As I have read, laid claim unto the crown,
  3. And but for Owen Glendower, had been king,
  4. Who kept him in captivity till he died.
  5. But, to the rest.

Duke of York

44 - 53
  1. His eldest sister, Anne,
  2. My mother, being heir unto the crown,
  3. Married Richard Earl of Cambridge, who was
  4. To Edmund Langley, Edward the Third’s fifth son, son.
  5. By her I claim the kingdom. She was heir
  6. To Roger Earl of March, who was the son
  7. Of Edmund Mortimer, who married Philippe,
  8. Sole daughter unto Lionel Duke of Clarence;
  9. So, if the issue of the elder son
  10. Succeed before the younger, I am king.

Earl of Warwick

54 - 63
  1. What plain proceedings is more plain than this?
  2. Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt,
  3. The fourth son, York claims it from the third;
  4. Till Lionel’s issue fails, his should not reign.
  5. It fails not yet, but flourishes in thee,
  6. And in thy sons, fair slips of such a stock.
  7. Then, father Salisbury, kneel we together,
  8. And in this private plot be we the first
  9. That shall salute our rightful sovereign
  10. With honor of his birthright to the crown.

Both Salisbury and Warwick

64
  1. Long live our sovereign Richard, England’s king!

Duke of York

65 - 77
  1. We thank you, lords. But I am not your king
  2. Till I be crown’d, and that my sword be stain’d
  3. With heart-blood of the house of Lancaster;
  4. And that’s not suddenly to be perform’d,
  5. But with advice and silent secrecy.
  6. Do you as I do in these dangerous days:
  7. Wink at the Duke of Suffolk’s insolence,
  8. At Beauford’s pride, at Somerset’s ambition,
  9. At Buckingham, and all the crew of them,
  10. Till they have snar’d the shepherd of the flock,
  11. That virtuous prince, the good Duke Humphrey.
  12. ’Tis that they seek; and they in seeking that
  13. Shall find their deaths, if York can prophesy.

Earl of Salisbury

78
  1. My lord, break we off; we know your mind at full.

Earl of Warwick

79 - 80
  1. My heart assures me that the Earl of Warwick
  2. Shall one day make the Duke of York a king.

Duke of York

81 - 83
  1. And, Nevil, this I do assure myself,
  2. Richard shall live to make the Earl of Warwick
  3. The greatest man in England but the King.
  1. Exeunt.
Cassell's Illustrated Shakespeare

Long live our sovereign Richard, England’s king!

From: Cassell's Illustrated Shakespeare

Mary Cowden Clarke, Charles Cowden Clarke, 1870

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