2 Henry the Sixth (The First Part of the Contention betwixt the Two Famous Houses of York and Lancaster) · chunk 11 of 32
Anonymous / Marlowe, Christopher / Shakespeare, William · published 1600 · first performed or written c.1590 (Annals) history · Pembroke's Men (?) T43 York and Lancaster: dynastic claims and typicality 0.72 · 511 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T43: henry, king, richard, warwick, york, edward, father, duke, crown, son.
Then thus my lords. Edward the third had seven sons, The first was Edward the black Prince, Prince of Wales. The second was Edmund of Langley, Duke of York. The third was Lionel Duke of Clarence. The fourth was Iohn of Gaunt, The Duke of Lancaster. The fifth was Roger Mortemer, Earl of March. The sixth was sir Thomas of Woodstock. William of Winsore was the seventh and last. Now, Edward the black prince he died before his father, & left behind him Richard, that afterwards was King, crowned by the name of Richard the second, and he died without an heir. Edmund of Langly duke of York died, and left behind him two daughters, Anne and Elinor. Lyonel duke of Clarence died, and left behind, Alice, Anne, and Elinor, that was after married to my father, and by her I claim the Crown, as the true heir to Lionel Duke of Clarence the third son to Edward the third. Now sir. In the time of Richard's reign, Henry of Bullenbrooke, son and heir to Iohn of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster, fourth son to Edward the third, he claimed the crown, deposed the mirthful King, and as you both know, in Pomfret Castle harmless Richard was shamefully murdered, and so by Richard's death came the house of Lancaster unto the Crown. Saving your tale my lord, as I have heard, in the reign of Bullenbrook, the Duke of York did claim the Crown, and but for Owen Glendor, had been King. True, but so it fortuned then, by means of that monstrous rebel Glendor, the noble Duke of York was done to death, and so ever since the heirs of Iohn of Gaunt have possessed the Crown. But if the issue of the elder should succeed before the issue of the younger than am I lawful heir unto the kingdom. What plain proceedings can be more plain? he claims it from Lyonel duke of Clarence, the third son to Edward the third, and Henry from Iohn of Gaunt the fourth son. So that till Lyonels issue fails, his should not reign. It fails not yet, but flourisheth in thee and in thy sons, brave slips of such a stock. Then noble father, kneel we both together, and in this private place be we the first to honour him with birthright to the Crown. Long live Richard England's royal King. I thank you both: but lords, I am not your king, until this sword be sheathed even in the heart blood of the house of Lancaster. Then York advise thyself, and take thy time, Claim thou the Crown, and set thy standard up, And in the same advance the milk-white Rose, And then to guard it, I will rouse the Bear, Environed with ten thousand ragged-staves To aid and help thee for to win thy right, Maugre the proudest lords of Henry's blood, That dares deny the right and claim of York, For why, my mind presageth I shall live To see the noble Duke of York to be a King.
seed 43: T8 · seed 44: T50 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Then thus my lords. Edward the third had ſeuen ſonnes, The firſt was Edward the blacke Prince, Prince of Wales. The ſecond was Edmund of Langley, Duke of Yorke. The third was Lyonell Duke of Clarence. The fourth was Iohn of Gaunt, The Duke of Lancaſter. The fifth was Roger Mortemer, Earle of March. The ſixt was ſir Thomas of Woodſtocke. William of Winſore was the ſeuenth and laſt. Now, Edward the black prince he died before his father, & left behinde him Richard, that afterwards was King, crowned by the name of Richard the ſecond, and he died without an heire. Edmund of Langly duke of Yorke died, and left behind him two daughters, Anne and Elinor. Lyonel duke of Clarence died, and left behind, Alice, Anne, and Elinor, that was after married to my father, and by her I claime the Crowne, as the true heyre to Lyonell Duke of Clarence the third ſonne to Edward the third. Now ſir. In the time of Richards raigne, Henry of Bullenbrooke, ſonne and heire to Iohn of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaſter, fourth ſon to Edward the third▪ he claimde the crown, depoſde the mirthful King, and as you both know, in Pomphret Caſtle harmles Richard was ſhamefully murthered, and ſo by Richards death came the houſe of Lancaſter vnto the Crowne. Sauing your tale my lord, as I haue heard, in the raigne of Bullenbrook, the Duke of York did claime the Crown, and but for Owen Glendor, had bin King. True, but ſo it fortuned then, by meanes of that monſtrous rebell Glendor, the noble Duke of Yorke was done to death, and ſo euer ſince the heires of Iohn of Gaunt haue poſſeſſed the Crowne. But if the iſſue of the elder ſhould ſucceed before the iſſue of the yonger then am I lawfull heire vnto the kingdome. What plaine proceedings can be more plaine? he claimes it from Lyonel duke of Clarence, the third ſon to Edward the third, and Henry from Iohn of Gaunt the fourth ſon. So that til Lyonels iſſue failes, his ſhould not raigne. It fails not yet, but flouriſheth in thee and in thy ſons, braue ſlips of ſuch a ſtocke. Then noble father, kneele we both togither, and in this priuate place be we the firſt to honor him with birth-right to the Crowne. Long liue Richard Englands royall King. I thank you both: but lords, I am not your king, vntil this ſword be ſheathed euen in the heart bloud of the houſe of Lancaſter. Then Yorke aduiſe thy ſelfe, and take thy time, Claime thou the Crowne, and ſet thy ſtandard vp, And in the ſame aduance the milke-white Roſe, And then to guard it▪ I wil rouſe the Beare, Inuiron'd with ten thouſand ragged-ſtaues To aide and help thee for to win thy right, Maugre the proudeſt lords of Henries bloud, That dares deny the right and claime of Yorke, For why, my mind preſageth I ſhall liue To ſee the noble Duke of Yorke to be a King.