Act II, Scene 4

London. The palace.

[Enter the ARCHBISHOP OF YORK, young YORK, QUEEN ELIZABETH, and the DUCHESS OF YORK]

• Thomas Rotherham. Last night, I hear, they lay at Northampton;
  At Stony-Stratford will they be to-night: 1485
  To-morrow, or next day, they will be here.

• Duchess of York. I long with all my heart to see the prince:
  I hope he is much grown since last I saw him.

• Queen Elizabeth. But I hear, no; they say my son of York
  Hath almost overta'en him in his growth. 1490

• Duke of York. Ay, mother; but I would not have it so.

• Duchess of York. Why, my young cousin, it is good to grow.

• Duke of York. 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 1495
  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.

• Duchess of York. Good faith, good faith, the saying did not hold 1500
  In him that did object the same to thee;
  He was the wretched'st thing when he was young,
  So long a-growing and so leisurely,
  That, if this rule were true, he should be gracious.

• Thomas Rotherham. Why, madam, so, no doubt, he is. 1505

• Duchess of York. I hope he is; but yet let mothers doubt.

• Duke of York. Now, by my troth, if I had been remember'd,
  I could have given my uncle's grace a flout,
  To touch his growth nearer than he touch'd mine.

• Duchess of York. How, my pretty York? I pray thee, let me hear it. 1510

• Duke of York. Marry, they say my uncle grew so fast
  That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old
  'Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth.
  Grandam, this would have been a biting jest.

• Duchess of York. I pray thee, pretty York, who told thee this? 1515

• Duke of York. Grandam, his nurse.

• Duchess of York. His nurse! why, she was dead ere thou wert born.

• Duke of York. If 'twere not she, I cannot tell who told me.

• Queen Elizabeth. A parlous boy: go to, you are too shrewd.

• Thomas Rotherham. Good madam, be not angry with the child. 1520

• Queen Elizabeth. Pitchers have ears.

[Enter a Messenger]

• Thomas Rotherham. Here comes a messenger. What news?

• Messenger. Such news, my lord, as grieves me to unfold.

• Queen Elizabeth. How fares the prince? 1525

• Messenger. Well, madam, and in health.

• Duchess of York. What is thy news then?

• Messenger. Lord Rivers and Lord Grey are sent to Pomfret,
  With them Sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners.

• Duchess of York. Who hath committed them? 1530

• Messenger. The mighty dukes
  Gloucester and Buckingham.

• Queen Elizabeth. For what offence?

• Messenger. The sum of all I can, I have disclosed;
  Why or for what these nobles were committed 1535
  Is all unknown to me, my gracious lady.

• Queen Elizabeth. Ay me, I see the downfall of our house!
  The tiger now hath seized the gentle hind;
  Insulting tyranny begins to jet
  Upon the innocent and aweless throne: 1540
  Welcome, destruction, death, and massacre!
  I see, as in a map, the end of all.

• Duchess of York. Accursed and unquiet wrangling days,
  How many of you have mine eyes beheld!
  My husband lost his life to get the crown; 1545
  And often up and down my sons were toss'd,
  For me to joy and weep their gain and loss:
  And being seated, and domestic broils
  Clean over-blown, themselves, the conquerors.
  Make war upon themselves; blood against blood, 1550
  Self against self: O, preposterous
  And frantic outrage, end thy damned spleen;
  Or let me die, to look on death no more!

• Queen Elizabeth. Come, come, my boy; we will to sanctuary.
  Madam, farewell. 1555

• Duchess of York. I'll go along with you.

• Queen Elizabeth. You have no cause.

• Thomas Rotherham. My gracious lady, go;
  And thither bear your treasure and your goods.
  For my part, I'll resign unto your grace 1560
  The seal I keep: and so betide to me
  As well I tender you and all of yours!
  Come, I'll conduct you to the sanctuary.

[Exeunt]