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Now, my good Lords of Salisbury and Warwick, Our simple supper ended, give me leave In this close walk to satisfy myself, In craving your opinion of my title, Which is infallible, to England’s crown.
Now, my good Lords of Salisbury and Warwick, Our simple supper done, let me ask you In this quiet walk to hear my thoughts, In seeking your opinion on my claim, Which is certain, to the crown of England.
My lord, I long to hear it at full.
My lord, I’m eager to hear it fully.
Sweet York, begin: and if thy claim be good, The Nevils are thy subjects to command.
Sweet York, begin: and if your claim is valid, The Nevils will be your subjects to command.
Then thus: Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons: The first, Edward the Black Prince, Prince of Wales; The second, William of Hatfield, and the third, Lionel Duke of Clarence: next to whom Was John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster; The fifth was Edmund Langley, Duke of York; The sixth was Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester; William of Windsor was the seventh and last. Edward the Black Prince died before his father And left behind him Richard, his only son, Who after Edward the Third’s death reign’d as king; Till Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster, The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt, Crown’d by the name of Henry the Fourth, Seized on the realm, deposed the rightful king, Sent his poor queen to France, from whence she came, And him to Pomfret; where, as all you know, Harmless Richard was murder’d traitorously.
Then listen: Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons: The first, Edward the Black Prince, Prince of Wales; The second, William of Hatfield, and the third, Lionel Duke of Clarence: next to him Was John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster; The fifth was Edmund Langley, Duke of York; The sixth was Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester; William of Windsor was the seventh and last. Edward the Black Prince died before his father And left behind him Richard, his only son, Who, after Edward the Third’s death, ruled as king; Until Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster, The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt, Was crowned as Henry the Fourth, Took the throne, removed the rightful king, Sent his poor queen to France, where she came from, And him to Pomfret; where, as you all know, The innocent Richard was murdered treacherously.
Father, the duke hath told the truth: Thus got the house of Lancaster the crown.
Father, the duke has spoken the truth: That’s how the house of Lancaster came to the throne.
Which now they hold by force and not by right; For Richard, the first son’s heir, being dead, The issue of the next son should have reign’d.
Right now they hold it by force, not by right; Because Richard, the first son’s heir, is dead, The next son’s descendants should have ruled.
But William of Hatfield died without an heir.
But William of Hatfield died without having a son.
The third son, Duke of Clarence, from whose line I claimed the crown, had issue, Philippe, a daughter, Who married Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March: Edmund had issue, Roger Earl of March; Roger had issue, Edmund, Anne and Eleanor.
The third son, Duke of Clarence, whose line I claim the crown from, had a daughter, Philippe, Who married Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March: Edmund had a son, Roger, Earl of March; Roger had three children: Edmund, Anne, and Eleanor.
This Edmund, in the reign of Bolingbroke, As I have read, laid claim unto the crown; And, but for Owen Glendower, had been king, Who kept him in captivity till he died. But to the rest.
This Edmund, during Bolingbroke’s reign, As I’ve read, claimed the crown; And, but for Owen Glendower, would have been king, Who kept him locked up until he died. But back to the rest.
His eldest sister, Anne, My mother, being heir unto the crown Married Richard Earl of Cambridge; who was son To Edmund Langley, Edward the Third’s fifth son. By her I claim the kingdom: she was heir To Roger Earl of March, who was the son Of Edmund Mortimer, who married Philippe, Sole daughter unto Lionel Duke of Clarence: So, if the issue of the elder son Succeed before the younger, I am king.
His eldest sister, Anne, My mother, being the heir to the crown, Married Richard, Earl of Cambridge; who was the son Of Edmund Langley, the fifth son of Edward the Third. Through her, I claim the kingdom: she was the heir To Roger, Earl of March, who was the son Of Edmund Mortimer, who married Philippe, The only daughter of Lionel, Duke of Clarence: So, if the elder son’s descendants Succeed before the younger, I am king.
What plain proceeding is more plain than this? Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt, The fourth son; York claims it from the third. Till Lionel’s issue fails, his should not reign: It fails not yet, but flourishes in thee And in thy sons, fair slips of such a stock. Then, father Salisbury, kneel we together; And in this private plot be we the first That shall salute our rightful sovereign With honour of his birthright to the crown.
What clear logic is more clear than this? Henry claims the crown from John of Gaunt, The fourth son; York claims it from the third. Until Lionel’s descendants fail, his line should not rule: It hasn’t failed yet, but lives on in you And in your sons, fine examples of such a lineage. Then, Father Salisbury, let us kneel together; And in this secret moment, let us be the first To greet our rightful sovereign With the honor of his birthright to the throne.
Long live our sovereign Richard, England’s king!
Long live our sovereign Richard, King of England!
We thank you, lords. But I am not your king Till I be crown’d and that my sword be stain’d With heart-blood of the house of Lancaster; And that’s not suddenly to be perform’d, But with advice and silent secrecy. Do you as I do in these dangerous days: Wink at the Duke of Suffolk’s insolence, At Beaufort’s pride, at Somerset’s ambition, At Buckingham and all the crew of them, Till they have snared the shepherd of the flock, That virtuous prince, the good Duke Humphrey: ’Tis that they seek, and they in seeking that Shall find their deaths, if York can prophesy.
We thank you, lords. But I am not yet your king Until I am crowned and my sword is stained With the blood of the House of Lancaster; And that can’t happen quickly, But will take careful planning and quiet secrecy. Do as I do in these dangerous times: Look the other way at the Duke of Suffolk’s arrogance, At Beaufort’s pride, at Somerset’s ambition, At Buckingham and all their crew, Until they’ve trapped the shepherd of the flock, That virtuous prince, the good Duke Humphrey: That’s what they want, and in chasing that goal They’ll find their deaths, if York’s vision is true.
My lord, break we off; we know your mind at full.
My lord, let’s stop here; we understand your thoughts fully.
My heart assures me that the Earl of Warwick Shall one day make the Duke of York a king.
My heart tells me that one day the Earl of Warwick Will make the Duke of York a king.
And, Nevil, this I do assure myself: Richard shall live to make the Earl of Warwick The greatest man in England but the king.
And, Nevil, I am sure of this: Richard will live to make the Earl of Warwick The most powerful man in England, second only to the king.