Prince. I fear no uncles dead. Gloster. Nor none that live, I hope. Prince. An if they live, I hope I need not fear. But come, my lord; and, with a heavy heart, Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower. (A sennet1 Exeunt Prince, York, Hastings, Car dinal, and Attendants.) THE PRINCES IN THE TOWER THOMAS HEYWOOD (From "King Edward the Fourth") THE little princes, however, had many friends, and King Richard thought them dangerous. He therefore sent an order to the constable of the Tower that he should put them to death. When he refused, Sir James Tyrell was sent with a warrant giving him control of the Tower for one night. The boys were then smothered under their pil lows by Dighton and Forrest, two of their jailers. SCENE. A Room in the Tower. (Enter the two young Princes, Edward and Richard, in their gowns and caps, unbuttoned, and untrust.2) Rich. How does your lordship? Ed. Well, good brother Richard. How does yourself? you told me your head ached. Rich. Indeed it does, my lord; feel with your hands How hot it is. (Edward lays his hand on his brother's head.) Ed. Indeed you have caught cold, 1 set of notes played on a trumpet. 2 with garments loosened. With sitting yesternight to hear me read. I pray thee go to bed, sweet Dick, poor little heart. Rich. You'll give me leave to wait upon your lordship. Ed. I had more need, brother, to wait on you. For you are sick; and so am not I. Rich. Oh, lord, methinks this going to our bed, How like it is to going to our grave. Ed. I pray thee, do not speak of graves, sweet heart. Indeed thou frightest me. Rich. Why, my lord brother, did not our tutor teach us, That when at night we went unto our bed, We still should think we went unto our grave. That we should do as ev'ry Christian ought, To be prepar'd to die at every hour, But I am heavy.1 Rich. Indeed, and so am I. Ed. Then let us say our prayers and go to bed. (They kneel, and solemn music the while within. The music ceaseth, and they rise.) Rich. What, bleeds your grace? Ed. Ay, two drops and no more. Rich. God bless us both; and I desire no more. Ed. Brother, see here what David says, and so say I; Lord! in thee will I trust, although I die. (As the young Princes go out, enter Tirill.) 1 low-spirited. Tir. Go, lay ye down, but never more to rise. Should rise and cry against us. O hark (a noise within), hark, The mandrake's shrieks are music to their cries, Do drop like torches, to behold this deed: Methinks the Tower should rent 2 down from the top, (Enter at the one door, Dighton, with Edward under his arm, at the other door, Forrest with Richard.) Digh. Stand further, damnèd rogue, and come not near me. For. Nay, stand thou further, villain, stand aside. Digh. Are we not both damnd for this cursed deed? For. It is too true. Oh, I am damnd indeed! (He looks down on the boy under his arm.) Tir. I am as deep as you, although my hand Did not the deed. Digh. O villain, art thou there? For. A plague light on thee! Tir. Curse not; A thousand plagues will light upon us all. (They lay them down.) The priest here in the Tower will bury them. Let us away. KING RICHARD THE THIRD WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE RICHARD III. was, after John, the best-hated king in English history. He was ugly and misshapen in body, and shrewd and unscrupulous in pursuit of his ends. The worst crimes of that bloody epoch were laid to Gloucester's charge. Men believed that he had slain Prince Edward after the battle of Tewkesbury and murdered King Henry as he lay a prisoner in the Tower. The death of Clarence was attributed to him, and he doubtless caused the young sons of Edward IV. to be put out of his way. Richard's usurpation of the throne was justly regarded with horror by all classes in England. Encouraged by the general discontent, Henry Tudor, Duke of Richmond, the son of Margaret Beaufort, — great-granddaughter of John of Gaunt, — and of Edmund Tudor, a Welsh nobleman, returned from exile to claim the crown. He landed at Milford Haven, where the Welsh flocked to his standard. The leading English lords, even those most trusted by Richard, declared for Henry. At the battle of Bosworth Field (1485) the king's forces were overwhelmed and he himself was slain. The crown, bloody as it fell from Richard's helmet, was placed on the head of Henry Tudor, and he was declared king. ACT IV SCENE IV. Before the Palace. (Enter Lord Stanley.) K. Rich. How now, what news with you? Stan. None good, my lord, to please you with the hearing; Nor none so bad, but it may well be told. K. Rich. Heyday, a riddle! neither good nor bad! Why dost thou run so many mile about, When thou mayst tell thy tale a nearer way? Once more, what news? Stan. Richmond is on the seas. K. Rich. There let him sink, and be the seas on him! White-liver'd runagate, what doth he there? Stan. I know not, mighty sovereign, but by guess. K. Rich. Well, sir, as you guess, as you guess ? Stan. Stirr'd up by Dorset, Buckingham, and Ely, He makes for England, there to claim the crown. K. Rich. Is the chair empty? is the sword unsway'd? Is the king dead? the empire unpossess'd? What heir of York is there alive but we? And who is England's king but great York's heir? Then, tell me, what doth he upon the sea? Stan. Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess. K. Rich. Unless for that he comes to be your liege, You cannot guess wherefore the Welshman comes. Thou wilt revolt and fly to him, I fear. Stan. No, mighty liege; therefore mistrust me not. K. Rich. Where is thy power then to beat him back? Where are thy tenants and thy followers? Are they not now upon the western shore, Stan. No, my good lord, my friends are in the north. |