Richard III

Richard, now crowned king, informs Buckingham that he intends to have the young princes murdered so that no one can challenge his rule. Buckingham seems disturbed by this and asks for a moment to consider it. As he leaves, Richard is disappointed that Buckingham is now beginning to break with him. Richard considers that he has already sinned so much, so he might as well continue. He summons a servant and asks for a man who will do anything for money to be brought to him. The servant goes to fetch a man named James Tyrrel.

Richard next gives orders to have Anne confined and to put out the rumor that she is sick and may die. He decides that he needs to marry his late brother Edward’s daughter to secure his position on the throne. After learning that Dorset has fled to the Earl of Richmond, Richard begins to worry, remembering that the former King Henry VI once predicted that Richmond would be king and that an Irish bard once warned him that he would not live long after seeing Richmond.

Buckingham returns and Richard is irritated with him. Buckingham resolves to flee as well, learning from Hastings’s lesson that Richard will turn quickly on his former allies.

Tyrrel announces that the princes are dead, recounting how the men he hired almost could not go through with the murder due to the angelic innocence of the young victims. Richard comes to reward Tyrrel, cheerfully asking him to recount the manner of the deaths and burial of his nephews. He is about to go woo his brother’s daughter Elizabeth for his new wife when news arrives that more lords have fled to Richmond and that Buckingham is with the Welsh, raising an army against him. Richard decides to swiftly attack his enemies and destroy the traitors so that his reign is secure.

Queen Margaret listens as Queen Elizabeth and the Duchess of York mourn for the young princes. She feels satisfied that her curse against the House of York has come to pass, seeing the deaths of the young princes as justice for the deaths of her husband Henry and her son Prince Edward in battle. She appears and taunts the grieving women that her curse is fulfilled and that justice has been done, reminding them that fortune will always change.

Richard passes by, preparing for battle. His mother the Duchess of York calls out to him and curses him to die violently. He tries to avoid speaking with her and instead takes Queen Elizabeth to have a private conversation. He persuades her that he wishes to marry her daughter, Elizabeth, to prevent civil war. While Queen Elizabeth is initially skeptical, refusing his request since he is the murderer of her sons, Richard claims that he will repay her for the death of her sons by making her daughter queen and therefore continuing her line on the throne. Queen Elizabeth eventually agrees to go speak with her daughter about the marriage, prompting Richard to remark in an aside that she is weak-willed.

Messengers begin to bring news that Richmond and the lords who have fled to him are sailing to England, intent on attacking. However, Buckingham’s forces from Wales have been defeated and Buckingham has been captured. Richard prepares to go and meet Richmond’s forces in battle.

Scene 5 features Lord Stanley, one of Richard’s allies, secretly visiting Richmond’s forces. He cannot betray Richard since Richard has taken his son as a hostage, but he passes on the news of Richard’s coming marriage to Elizabeth. The other lords tells him that Richmond has landed in England and will soon meet with Richard in battle.