The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• The Third Part of King Henry the Sixth: Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Scene I.—: London. the Parliament-house.
• Scene II.—: A Room In Sandal Castle, Near Wakefield, In Yorkshire.
• Scene III.—: Field of Battle Between Sandal Castle and Wakefield.
• Scene IV.—: Another Part of the Plains.
• Act II.
• Scene I.—: A Plain Near Mortimer’s Cross In Herefordshire.
• Scene II.—: Before York.
• Scene III.—: A Field of Battle Between Towton and Saxton, In Yorkshire.
• Scene IV.—: Another Part of the Field.
• Scene V.—: Another Part of the Field.
• Scene VI.—: The Same.
• Act III.
• Scene I.—: A Chase In the North of England.
• Scene II.—: London. a Room In the Palace.
• Scene III.—: France. a Room In the Palace.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.—: London. a Room In the Palace.
• Scene II.—: A Plain In Warwickshire.
• Scene III.—: Edward’scamp Near Warwick.
• Scene IV.—: London. a Room In the Palace.
• Scene V.—: A Park Near Middleham Castle In Yorkshire.
• Scene VI.—: A Room In the Tower.
• Scene VII.—: Before York.
• Scene VIII.—: London. a Room In the Palace.
• Act V.
• Scene I.—: Coventry.
• Scene II.—: A Field of Battle Near Barnet.
• Scene III.—: Another Part of the Field.
• Scene IV.—: Plains Near Tewksbury.
• Scene V.—: Another Part of the Same.
• Scene VI.—: London. a Room In the Tower.
• Scene VII.—: The Same. a Room In the Palace.

Scene IV.—

London. A Room in the Palace.

EnterQueen ElizabethandRivers.

Riv.

Madam, what makes you in this sudden change?

Q Eliz.

Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn,

What late misfortune is befall’n King Edward?

Riv.

What! loss of some pitch’d battle against Warwick?

Q. Eliz.

No, but the loss of his own royal person.

Riv.

Then is my sovereign slain?

Q. Eliz.

Ay, almost slain, for he is taken prisoner;

Either betray’d by falsehood of his guard

Or by his foe surpris’d at unawares:

And, as I further have to understand,

Is new committed to the Bishop of York,

Fell Warwick’s brother, and by that our foe.

Riv.

These news, I must confess, are full of grief;

Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may:

Warwick may lose, that now hath won the day.

Q. Eliz.

Till then fair hope must hinder life’s decay.

And I the rather wean me from despair

For love of Edward’s offspring in my womb:

This is it that makes me bridle passion,

And bear with mildness my misfortune’s cross;

Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear,

And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs,

Lest with my sighs or tears I blast or drown

King Edward’s fruit, true heir to the English crown.

Riv.

But, madam, where is Warwick then become?

Q. Eliz.

I am inform’d that he comes towards London,

To set the crown once more on Henry’s head:

Guess thou the rest; King Edward’s friends must down.

But, to prevent the tyrant’s violence,—

For trust not him that hath once broken faith,—

I’ll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary,

To save at least the heir of Edward’s right:

There shall I rest secure from force and fraud.

Come, therefore; let us fly while we may fly:

If Warwick take us we are sure to die.

[Exeunt.