The Duchess of York, Queen Elizabeth, and young York await the arrival of the two young princes from Ludlow. The Archbishop announces they'll arrive soon. Young York makes a clever joke about his uncle Gloucester's rapid growth, earning praise for his wit. A Messenger arrives with devastating news: Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan have been arrested by Gloucester and Buckingham. Alarmed, the women realize the danger is real. Queen Elizabeth decides to flee to sanctuary with her son, taking her valuables with them.
This scene marks the pivot from Richard's scheming to visible action. Until now, his plots have been whispered and indirect—prophecies, manipulations, secret orders. Here, his power becomes tangible and terrifying. The arrest of Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan is Richard's first open move against the queen's family, and it shatters any remaining illusion of safety. The women's earlier anxiety—especially Elizabeth's premonition that 'our happiness is at the highest'—suddenly proves prophetic. Richard's control of information and movement is absolute; he arrests the queen's allies en route to London and tells her through a messenger. She has no recourse, only flight.
Young York's joke about Gloucester's growth ('Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace') is the scene's only moment of levity, and it's darkly ironic. The child's wit is praised as impressive—he's clever enough to understand double meanings and turn them to wit. Yet his intelligence cannot protect him. Neither can the Duchess's love, nor Elizabeth's status as queen, nor the Archbishop's position. The scene shows how completely Richard has marginalized legitimate authority: the Archbishop can only offer sanctuary, not protection. The play is tightening around these women. By the end, Elizabeth chooses the sanctuary of the church not as a spiritual refuge but as a legal one—the only place Richard cannot touch her.
The scene's emotional tone shifts abruptly from domestic warmth to existential dread. Moments before the Messenger enters, the women are discussing children's growth and making jokes. Seconds later, Elizabeth is ordering her son out of England to save his life. The swiftness of this reversal—from anticipation to catastrophe—mirrors the speed of Richard's takeover. He doesn't seize power slowly or through debate. He acts, announces, and forces reactions. By trapping the queen's supporters before they can even reach London, he prevents any coordinated resistance. The scene ends with the women scattering to sanctuary and exile, their family fractured by Richard's invisible hand.
Good madam, be not angry with the child.
Please, madam, don’t be angry with the child.
Archbishop Of York · Act 2, Scene 4
The Archbishop intervenes as young York teases Gloucester about his growth, trying to smooth over tension in front of the boy. The line rings because it captures a moment of protective innocence—an adult trying to shield a child from adult cruelty. It shows how the young princes are surrounded by those who sense danger but cannot stop what is coming.
Grandam, one night, as we did sit at supper, My uncle Rivers talk’d how I did grow More than my brother: ’Ay,’ quoth my uncle Gloucester, ’Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace:’ And since, methinks, I would not grow so fast, Because sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste.
Grandma, one night, while we were having supper, My uncle Rivers talked about how much I had grown More than my brother: ’Yes,’ said my uncle Gloucester, ’Small plants grow slowly, but big weeds grow fast:’ And since then, I think, I wouldn’t want to grow so quickly, Because pretty flowers take their time, and weeds grow fast.
York · Act 2, Scene 4
Young York recounts a lesson from Gloucester comparing small herbs to great weeds, suggesting that growing too fast is unnatural and marks one as base. The line matters because it shows Gloucester subtly working to turn the family against young York, planting doubts about the boy's worth and nature. It demonstrates how Richard uses wisdom and wit as tools of manipulation.
Original Shakespeare alongside modern English. Synced read-along narration in the app.
