The True History of Edward IV

Act 1, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's Lost Play

Act I, Scene II

Heworth Moor near York. Enter the Earl of Salisbury and his sons, Sir Thomas Neville and the Earl of Warwick with their retainers. Thomas and Maud Stanhope are newly wedded and ride together holding bouquets.

Salisbury:
Here on Heworth’s broad and open plain,
We find the calm that follows wedding cheer.
My son, my Maud, how fair the future seems,
With peace and promise as our bridal gifts.

Thomas Neville:
My lord, this day doth shine with joy’s bright rays,
For in this union, hearts and lands unite.
With Maud, my love, and thee, my noble sire,
We face the future with unclouded eyes.

Maud:
My heart, entwined with thine, beats strong and true,
And in this bond, our strength shall e’er endure.

Warwick:
Yet, brother, though this day doth favor thee,
Consider well the fortunes we do bear.
Thy bride, though fair, brings naught but modest means,
Whilst I, with Lady Anne, hold lands and gold.
Great wealth and power oft’ sway the hearts of men,
More sure than love’s embrace or tender vow.

Thomas Neville:
True, Warwick, thy estate and match are grand,
Yet love, not gold, doth fortify the heart.
Our union, humble though it seems to thee,
Is rich in loyalty and steadfast trust.

Warwick:
Such lofty words, dear brother, suit thee well,
Yet, in the game of wedlock and shifting power,
'Tis wealth and influence that bend the knee,
And shape the fate of kingdoms and their lords.

Salisbury:
Peace, sons, for both your paths hold weight and worth.
Thomas, thy heart is true and full of grace,
And Warwick, thine ambition serves us well.
In union lies our strength, and in our bonds,
We’ll find the means to weather any storm...

   Alarums. Enter Egremont, Richard Percy, the Duke of Exeter, Sir William  
   Buckton and their army.

Egremont:
Hold, Salisbury! Thy revels are ill-timed.
Thy mirth is but a mockery to us and our house,
Who stand as rightful heirs to the north’s domain.
This marriage is a slight upon the Percy name,
And vengeance shall attend these nuptial rites.

Richard Percy:
Aye, Neville’s pride shall not unchallenged stand.
Thy joy shall turn to sorrow on this moor,
For here, beneath doleful skies, we claim our right,
And blood shall mark the measure of our might.

Thomas Neville:
Bold words, Egremont, but deeds must speak as loud.
We come in peace, yet ready to defend.
Our union is both a pledge of love and strength,
And no man’s spite shall tear it from our hands.

Warwick:
Percy, thou art a dolt! And Exeter, I see your doubt. 
Let wisdom temper this your fiery rage,
For all our wealth and strength combined are vast.
Is it worth bloodshed on this hallowed ground,
When parley might yet mend the breach instead?

Salisbury:
What madness drives thee, Percy, to such threats?
Can honour find no place in these thy thoughts?
Withdraw thy men, and let wise counsel guide,
Else ruin be the harvest of thy pride.

Exeter:
Nay, Salisbury and Warwick, thy words fall on deaf ears.
   
   (To Egremont)

Egremont, let not thy fervor cool,
For now’s the time to strike with all our might.
Teach these Nevilles that their joy is vain,
And power belongs to those with strength and zeal.

Egremont:
No counsel serves but that of steel and fire.
Prepare, for here thy revels meet their end!

Thomas Neville:
If fight thou seekers, then fight thou shalt attain,
Yet know, our swords are tempered in resolve.
	
   (He draws his sword)

Richard Percy:
Then let the clash of arms declare our right,
And let the earth bear witness to our spite!
	
   (He draws his sword) 

   They skirmish. The Duke of Exeter flees, but Sir William Buckton 
   charges at Salisbury.

Buckton:
Salisbury, thou art the canker of our cause
Prepare to meet thy end!

Salisbury:
Bold fool, thy fury shall be thy undoing!

   (They draw their swords and fight)

Buckton:
Thy age doth slow thee, old man. Feel my wrath!

Salisbury:
Thy youthful rage is matched by my firm resolve!

   (His sword strikes true. Sir William Buckton falls, mortally wounded.)

Buckton:
O cruel fate! My life and cause doth ebb away...
	
   (He dies.)

   (A trumpet sounds)

Egremont: (breathless)
Enough! This fray doth serve no further gain.

   (Throws down his sword)

Though blood is spilled, our cause is yet unbowed.
We leave, but mark my words, this fray is not done.
The feud ’twixt Percy and Neville shall endure.

Thomas Neville:
And we, undaunted, stand ‘gainst thy bloody ire.
Our union stronger forged by this, thy hate.

Egremont: (to Sir Richard Percy)
Come brother, let us hence and gather strength,
To Northumberland our father will we ride.
For this encounter seeds a greater storm,
That even English yew will ne’er pluck down  

Richard Percy:
This day, though drawn, foretells of battles to come,
And in those battles, vict’ry shall be ours.

Salisbury:
Then let the future bring what trials it may,
We stand prepared, with honour as our shield.

Egremont:
Farewell, but not for long, my noble foes.
Our paths shall cross again, with greater force.

				Exeunt Egremont, Richard Percy to the sound of a drum.

Maud: (to Thomas Neville)
O dearest love, this day of joy so marred with blood,
How soon do dreams of peace to darkness turn.

Thomas Neville:
Fear not, my Maud, for in our hearts reside,
A strength that foes and battles cannot break.
This brawl is but a prelude to our stand,
And stand we shall, ’gainst all who seek our fall.

Warwick:
Brother, let this fray instruct us both,
That power and wealth oft’ bring battle near.
In this conflict, our house must strong appear,
And allies find among those who share our fate.

Salisbury:
Aye, Warwick, wise words of valour do thee grace.
And Thomas your love for Maud makes us strong indeed.
Yet prudence served us naught on this dark day.
If battle be our lot, then let us join with famous York, 
And thus aligned we’ll cast away our caution and fear,
And stand with him ‘gainst foul Somerset’s career.

Thomas Neville:
With thee, my father, and with York beside,
We’ll see this northern realm free from Percy’s pride.

Maud:
Then let our hearts unite in this just cause,
And may our love be strength through all the strife.

Salisbury:
Come then, let us hence, to ready for the fight,
For in our union with York lies our greatest might.

				Exeunt Salisbury, Thomas Neville, Maud, Warwick, 
                                and their retainers.

If you enjoyed this post, let me know, and I’ll continue the drama next week on History Mondays. In the meantime, if you are a fan of the Wars of the Roses, here are some of my books on Amazon.

My new book, The Rose, The Bastard and The Saint King, is out on 07/11/24. Pre-order it now from all the usual places.