&mlquo;York.
&mlquo;Now, my good lords of Salisbury and Warwick,
&mlquo;Our simple supper ended, give me leave,
&mlquo;In this close walk, to satisfy myself,
&mlquo;In craving your opinion of my title,
&mlquo;Which is infallible^{6 note}

&mast;Sal.
&mast;My lord, I long to hear it at full.

War.
Sweet York, begin: and if thy claim be good,
The Nevils are thy subjects to command.

York.
Then thus:—
&mlquo;Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons:
&mlquo;The first, Edward the Black Prince, prince of Wales;
&mlquo;The second, William of Hatfield; and the third,
&mlquo;Lionel, duke of Clarence; next to whom,
&mlquo;Was John of Gaunt, the duke of Lancaster;
&mlquo;The fifth, was Edmond Langley^{7 note}, duke of York;
&mlquo;The sixth, was Thomas of Woodstock, duke of Gloster;
&mlquo;William of Windsor was the seventh, and last.
&mlquo;Edward, the Black Prince, died before his father;
&mlquo;And left behind him Richard, his only son,
&mlquo;Who, after Edward the Third's death, reign'd as king;

&mlquo;Till Henry Bolingbroke, duke of Lancaster,
&mlquo;The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt,
&mlquo;Crown'd by the name of Henry the Fourth,
&mlquo;Seized on the realm; depos'd the rightful king;
&mlquo;Sent his poor queen to France, from whence she came,
&mlquo;And him to Pomfret; where, as all you know^{8 note}
,
&mlquo;Harmless Richard was murder'd traitorously.

&mast;War.
&mast;Father, the duke hath told the truth;
&mast;Thus got the house of Lancaster the crown.

&mast;York.
&mast;Which now they hold by force, and not by right;
&mast;For Richard, the first son's heir being dead,
&mast;The issue of the next son should have reign'd.

&mast;Sal.
&mast;But William of Hatfield died without an heir.

&mast;York.
&mast;The third son, duke of Clarence, (from whose line
&mast;I claim the crown,) had issue—Philippe, a daughter,
&mast;Who married Edmund Mortimer, earl of March,
&mast;Edmund had issue—Roger, earl of March:
&mast;Roger had issue—Edmund, Anne, and Eleanor.

&mlquo;Sal.
&mlquo;This Edmund^{9 note}, in the reign of Bolingbroke,
&mlquo;As I have read, laid claim unto the crown;
&mlquo;And, but for Owen Glendower, had been king,

&mlquo;Who kept him in captivity, till he died^{1 note}

&mlquo;York.
&mlquo;His eldest sister, Anne,
&mlquo;My mother being heir unto the crown,
&mlquo;Married Richard, earl of Cambridge; who was son
&mlquo;To Edmund Langley, Edward the third's fifth son.
&mlquo;By her I claim the kingdom: she was heir
&mlquo;To Roger, earl of March; who was the son
&mlquo;Of Edmund Mortimer; who married Philippe,
&mlquo;Sole daughter unto Lionel, duke of Clarence:
&mlquo;So, if the issue of the elder son
&mlquo;Succeed before the younger, I am king.

&mlquo;War.
&mlquo;What plain proceedings are more plain than this?
&mlquo;Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt,
&mlquo;The fourth son; York claims it from the third.
&mlquo;Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign;
&mlquo;It fails not yet; but flourishes in thee,
&mlquo;And in thy sons, fair slips of such a stock.—
&mlquo;Then, father Salisbury, kneel we both together;
&mlquo;And, in this private plot^{2 note}, be we the first,
&mlquo;That shall salute our rightful sovereign
&mlquo;With honour of his birthright to the crown.

Both.
Long live our sovereign Richard, England's king!

&mlquo;York.
We thank you, lords. But I am not your king
&mlquo;Till I be crown'd; and that my sword be stain'd
&mlquo;With heart-blood of the house of Lancaster:
&mast;And that's not suddenly to be perform'd;
&mast;But with advice, and silent secrecy.
&mast;Do you, as I do, in these dangerous days,
&mast;Wink at the duke of Suffolk's insolence,
&mast;At Beaufort's pride, at Somerset's ambition,
&mast;At Buckingham, and all the crew of them,
&mast;Till they have snar'd the shepherd of the flock,
&mast;That virtuous prince, the good duke Humphrey:
&mast;'Tis that they seek; and they, in seeking that,
&mast;Shall find their deaths, if York can prophesy.

&mast;Sal.
&mast;My lord, break we off; we know your mind at full.

&mlquo;War.
&mlquo;My heart assures me^{3 note}, that the earl of Warwick
&mlquo;Shall one day make the duke of York a king.

&mlquo;York.
&mlquo;And, Nevil, this I do assure myself,—
&mlquo;Richard shall live to make the earl of Warwick
&mlquo;The greatest man in England, but the king. [Exeunt.

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