THE FIRST AND SECOND PARTES OF KING EDWARD THE FOURTH. containing His mery pastime with the Tanner of Tamworth, as also his loue to faire Mistrisse Shoare, her great promotion, fall and miserie, and lastly the lamentable death of both her and her hus band. Likewise the besieging of London, by the Bastard the same by the Lord Maior and the Cittizens. As it hath diuers times beene publikely played by the seruants. Imprinted at London by F. K. for Humfrey Lownes and John Oxenbridge. 1600. PART I. DRAMATIS PERSONE.a KING EDWARD THE FOURTH. Lord Howard. Sir THOMAS SELLINGER. SIR HENRY MORTON, Vice-Admiral of the Isle of Wight. The Captain of the same. Sir HUMPHREY BOWES. ASTON. } two Justices. The Master of St. Katharine's Hospital. Lord Mayor of London. Apprentices, Messengers, Officers, Soldiers, Huntsmen, Watermen, &c. Scene-ENGLAND. a There is no list of characters in any of the old copies. THE FIRST PART OF KING EDWARD IV. ACT I, SCENE I. Enter King Edward, the Duchess Of York, the Queen, the Lord Howard, and Sir Thomas Sellingeb. Duch. Son, I tell ye you have done you know not what. King. I have married a woman; else I am deceived, mother. Duch. Married a woman! married, indeed. Here is a marriage that befits a King! It is no marvel it was done in haste: Here is a bridal, and with hell to boot: King. Faith, mother, some we have, indeed; but ere long you shall see us make work for an heir apparent, I doubt not. Nay, nay, come, come! God's will, what chiding still? Duch. O God! that e'er I liv'd to see this day! b The old copies are not divided into Acts and Scenes. The places are always, and the exits and entrances sometimes, unmarked. The stage directions are often either superfluous or deficient; but I have altered them as little as possible. King. By my faith, mother, I hope you shall see the night too, and in the morning I will be bold to bid you to the christening, grandmother and godmother to a Prince of Wales. Tut, mother, 'tis a stirring world. Duch. Have you sent Warwick into France for this? King. No, by my faith, mother, I sent Warwick into France for another; but this by chance being nearer hand, and coming in the way, I cannot tell how, we concluded, and now, as you see, are going about to get a young king. Duch. But tell me, son, how will you answer this? Should not breed mortal hate betwixt the realms? I know his soul will blush within his bosom, And shame will sit in scarlet on his brow, To have his honour touch'd with this foul blemish. Which yet the child that is unborn shall rue. King. Tush, mother, you are deceived: all true subjects shall have cause to thank God, to have their king born of a true English woman. I tell you, it was never well since we matched with strangers; so our children have been still like chickens of the half kind. But where the cock and the hen be both of one breed, there is like to be birds of the game. Hear you, mother, hear you ; |