The True History of Edward IV

Act 1, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Lost Play

Act I, Scene III

Windsor Castle. The King’s bedchamber. King Henry VI sits on his throne lost in a stupor. Queen Margaret cradles the infant Edward, Prince of Wales, in her arms.

   Enter the Duke of Somerset, the Duke of Buckingham, and Lord Clifford who  
   bow to the queen.

Somerset: (aside)
My lords, this scene of sorrow pains the heart,
To see our sovereign in this wretched state.
Yet we must press our cause with urgency,
For England’s future rests upon the queen and prince.

Buckingham:
Indeed, fair Somerset, thy words ring true.
Our liege’s mind, though clouded, must affirm
His son’s position as the rightful heir,
That all may see the line of Lancaster
Shall hold the throne unbroken and secure.

Clifford:
Aye, and with this, we’ll strike ‘gainst our foes.
For York’s ambition reaches far and wide,
Yet in Prince Edward’s name, we’ll find our strength,
To stand ‘gainst all who challenge King Henry’s right.
For as loyal retainer of Percy my master,
I swear my sword and service to this cause.

   (The lords approach)

Queen Margaret:
Noble lords, my heart is grieved to see
My lord in such a state of fragile mind.
Yet in this dear child, our hope and future holds.
Let Somerset press forward with his plea,
And let all the world know Edward is our heir.

Somerset: (speaks to the king)
My liege, though shadows cloud thy noble brow,
And illness dims the light within thine eyes,
We seek thy royal voice to sound the truth,
That Edward, Prince of Wales, thy son, is heir,
And all shall know the line of Lancaster
Remains unbroken, strong ‘gainst our foes.

   (Buckingham takes the prince in his arms and presents him to the king)

Buckingham: 
Great king, though words may fail to pierce the fog
That shrouds thy mind, let duty guide thy will.
Bless thy son as rightful Prince of Wales,
That all may see the strength of Lancaster.

King Henry VI: (vacantly)
Forsooth…and forsooth?

Queen Margaret: (to the king)
O fate, why must thou torment us so?
My lord, recall the duty of thy crown,
And in thy child’s name, find the strength to speak.

Somerset:
Your majesty, the king’s response is weak.
We must assert his will through our decree,
And let his silence serve as royal assent.

Queen Margaret:
Aye, Somerset, proceed with all thy might.
Yet know, the threat of York doth haunt my dreams.
He seeks the throne, his heart with treachery filled.
Destroy him, Somerset, and end this dire threat,
For Edward’s future must be free from strife.

Somerset:
Fear not, my queen, for York shall meet his end.
His schemes and plots will fall beneath our might.
With Buckingham and Clifford at my side,
We’ll crush his cause and claim our rightful place.

Clifford:
Indeed, my sword is ready for the fight,
And with the strength of Lancaster behind,
We’ll vanquish York and all his kin!

Buckingham:
Let us proclaim, by royal will and writ,
That Edward is the Prince of Wales, our heir.
And in this act, we challenge York’s dark claim,
And set the stage for Lancaster’s bright reign.

   (The Queen takes the Prince from Buckingham)

Queen Margaret:
Then let it be, and may the fates align
To shield my child and safeguard Henry’s line.

Somerset: (aloud)
By the king’s silent assent, we thus proclaim,
That Edward, Prince of Wales, doth hold the right
To England’s throne, and all shall honour him.
And with this truth, we vow to crush our foes,
And bring the traitor York unto his knees.

King Henry VI: (weakly)
Forsooth…and…forsooth?

Queen Margaret:
My lords, you all hear the will of England’s king.
In Edward’s name, we stand ‘gainst the storm,
And in our union, find the strength to fight.

   Enter a Messenger in haste.

Messenger: (breathless)
Your majesty, my lords, a dire message I must convey:
The council, seeing Henry’s fragile state,
Hath named the Duke of York protector of the realm, 
To guide the crown and keep the peace anon.

Queen Margaret:
What treachery is this? What bitter blow!
To see our foe thus rise in power and might,
While we, beset by shadows and by fear,
Must guard our claim ‘gainst York’s usurping hand.

Somerset:
This news doth shake the very ground beneath my feet.
With York now sanctioned by the council’s will,
His strength is doubled by northern might,
And all the Neville's stands ready at his side.

Buckingham:
The tides hath turned, and peril haunts our cause.
With York’s ascent, the balance shifts to him,
And Lancaster must brace ’gainst this dire threat.

Clifford:
Yet we shall not despair nor yield the field.
Our cause is just, and with our hearts resolved,
We’ll face this challenge with unyielding might.

Queen Margaret:
My lords, confer and plot our next bold move,
For I must tend my thoughts and soothe my fears.

				Exeunt, Buckingham, Clifford, and Messenger.

Somerset: (aside to Queen Margaret)
My queen, a secret fear doth grip my heart,
That whispers of my blood in Edward’s veins
Might yet be known, and cast a pall on all.
We must be swift, and York’s threat quickly quell.

Queen Margaret: (whispers to Somerset)
That fear shall ne’er escape these guarded walls.
Our bond, our secret, doth remain entombed.
But haste, my love, and see our foes laid low.

				Exit Somerset.

Queen Margaret:
O cruel fate, that I, a queen, must bear
The weight of power yet lack the strength to wield it.
How frail this crown upon my brow doth sit,
When men with swords and schemes do plot my fall.
I am but woman, bound by nature’s chains,
Yet fierce in love, and fierce in my resolve.
In Edward’s name, I shall not yield to fear,
Though York and all his hosts draw ever near.
My heart, though tender, beats with lion’s might,
And in this struggle, I shall find my fight.
The blood of Anjou runs through my veins like fire,
And though my sex doth mark me soft and frail,
I wield the love and wrath of a mother’s ire,
And in that strength, I shall not, cannot, fail.
O Edward, thou art Lancaster’s bright star,
And for thy future, I shall war with fate.
Though shadows press, my will shall drive them far,
And see our house rise high and dominate York’s brief star.

				Exits with the prince.

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