Original: Brave warriors, Clifford and Northumberland,
Modern: My brave warriors, Clifford and Northumberland,

Original: Come, make him stand upon this molehill here,
Modern: Come, force him to stand on top of this little hill,

Original: That raught at mountains with outstretched arms,
Modern: This man who reached for mountains with his arms stretched out,

Original: Yet parted but the shadow with his hand.
Modern: But only managed to grasp at shadows with his hands.

Original: What! was it you that would be England’s king?
Modern: What! Was it really you who wanted to be England’s king?

Original: Was’t you that revell’d in our parliament,
Modern: Was it you who celebrated and showed off in our parliament,

Original: And made a preachment of your high descent?
Modern: And gave speeches about your royal bloodline?

Original: Where are your mess of sons to back you now?
Modern: Where is your group of sons to support you now?

Original: The wanton Edward, and the lusty George?
Modern: The wild Edward and the aggressive George?

Original: And where’s that valiant crook-back prodigy,
Modern: And where’s that brave hunchbacked marvel,

Original: Dicky your boy, that with his grumbling voice
Modern: Your boy Richard, who with his rough voice

Original: Was wont to cheer his dad in mutinies?
Modern: Used to encourage his father during rebellions?

Original: Or, with the rest, where is your darling Rutland?
Modern: And with the others, where is your beloved son Rutland?

Original: Look, York: I stain’d this napkin with the blood
Modern: Look, York: I soaked this cloth with the blood

Original: That valiant Clifford, with his rapier’s point,
Modern: That brave Clifford, with the point of his sword,

Original: Made issue from the bosom of the boy;
Modern: Drew from the chest of your boy;

Original: And if thine eyes can water for his death,
Modern: And if your eyes can shed tears for his death,

Original: I give thee this to dry thy cheeks withal.
Modern: I give you this to wipe your cheeks with.

Original: Alas poor York! but that I hate thee deadly,
Modern: Oh poor York! If I didn’t hate you so intensely,

Original: I should lament thy miserable state.
Modern: I would feel sorry for your miserable condition.

Original: I prithee, grieve, to make me merry, York.
Modern: I beg you, show your grief to entertain me, York.

Original: What, hath thy fiery heart so parch’d thine entrails
Modern: What, has your angry heart so dried up your insides

Original: That not a tear can fall for Rutland’s death?
Modern: That you can’t shed a single tear for Rutland’s death?

Original: Why art thou patient, man? thou shouldst be mad;
Modern: Why are you so calm, man? You should be furious;

Original: And I, to make thee mad, do mock thee thus.
Modern: And I, to drive you crazy, taunt you like this.

Original: Stamp, rave, and fret, that I may sing and dance.
Modern: Stomp your feet, scream, and rage, so I can sing and dance.

Original: Thou wouldst be fee’d, I see, to make me sport:
Modern: You need to be paid, I see, to give me this entertainment:

Original: York cannot speak, unless he wear a crown.
Modern: York can’t speak unless he’s wearing a crown.

Original: A crown for York! and, lords, bow low to him:
Modern: A crown for York! And, lords, bow down low to him:

Original: Hold you his hands, whilst I do set it on.
Modern: Hold his hands while I place it on his head.

Original: Ay, marry, sir, now looks he like a king!
Modern: Yes, indeed, sir, now he looks like a king!

Original: Ay, this is he that took King Henry’s chair,
Modern: Yes, this is the man who took King Henry’s throne,

Original: And this is he was his adopted heir.
Modern: And this is the man who was named his adopted heir.

Original: But how is it that great Plantagenet
Modern: But how is it that the great Plantagenet

Original: Is crown’d so soon, and broke his solemn oath?
Modern: Is crowned so quickly, and broke his sacred promise?

Original: As I bethink me, you should not be king
Modern: As I recall, you were not supposed to be king

Original: Till our King Henry had shook hands with death.
Modern: Until our King Henry had died.

Original: And will you pale your head in Henry’s glory,
Modern: And will you enclose your head in Henry’s royal glory,

Original: And rob his temples of the diadem,
Modern: And steal the crown from his head,

Original: Now in his life, against your holy oath?
Modern: While he’s still alive, breaking your holy oath?

Original: O, ‘tis a fault too too unpardonable!
Modern: Oh, this is a crime that’s completely unforgivable!

Original: Off with the crown, and with the crown his head;
Modern: Off with the crown, and off with his head along with it;

Original: And, whilst we breathe, take time to do him dead.
Modern: And, while we catch our breath, take your time to kill him.

This scene depicts the capture and brutal taunting of Richard, Duke of York, by Queen Margaret and her Lancastrian forces following the Battle of Wakefield. York is brought before his enemies as a prisoner, and Margaret orchestrates his humiliation by placing a paper crown on his head in mockery of his claim to the English throne. She and her allies, including the Earl of Northumberland and Lord Clifford, taunt York with the death of his young son Rutland, whom Clifford has killed in revenge for his own father’s death. Margaret presents York with a handkerchief stained with Rutland’s blood, intensifying his anguish and grief.

York responds to their cruelty with defiant speeches condemning Margaret’s unwomanly behavior and attacking her character, calling her a she-wolf and denouncing her alleged adultery. He curses the Lancastrians and prophesies future suffering for them, particularly focusing on Margaret’s violations of natural maternal instincts. Despite his eloquent fury and grief over his murdered son, York remains their captive. The scene concludes with Clifford and Margaret stabbing York to death, after which Margaret orders his head to be cut off and placed on the gates of York city, along with the heads of his supporters Salisbury and Warwick’s father. Margaret and her forces then depart for London to confront King Henry.

Henry VI, Part 3 opens with the aftermath of the Battle of St. Albans, where the Yorkists have achieved victory over the Lancastrians. The Duke of York enters Parliament and claims the throne, leading to a confrontation with King Henry VI. A compromise is reached whereby Henry remains king for his lifetime but agrees to disinherit his son Prince Edward in favor of York and his heirs. When Queen Margaret learns of this arrangement, she is furious and raises an army to defend her son’s birthright.

The conflict escalates into full civil war. Margaret’s forces defeat and kill the Duke of York at the Battle of Wakefield, but York’s sons—Edward, George, and Richard—continue the fight. They achieve victory at the Battle of Towton, where King Henry is captured and Edward of York is proclaimed King Edward IV. Henry escapes and flees to Scotland with Margaret and Prince Edward, while Edward IV consolidates his power and marries Elizabeth Woodville, causing tension with his supporter the Earl of Warwick.

Warwick, feeling betrayed by Edward’s marriage, switches sides and allies with Margaret and the exiled Henry VI. With French support, they invade England and briefly restore Henry to the throne while Edward flees to Burgundy. However, Edward returns with an army and reclaims his crown. The final act culminates in the Battle of Tewkesbury, where the Yorkists achieve decisive victory. Prince Edward is killed in battle, Queen Margaret is captured, and Henry VI is murdered in the Tower of London by Richard of Gloucester. The play concludes with Edward IV seemingly secure on the throne, though Richard’s final soliloquy hints at his own future ambitions for the crown.