Act IV, Scene 1: The Princes Imprisoned — Richard III

Elizabeth, Anne, and the Duchess of York meet at the Tower to visit the princes. The Lieutenant says the King has forbidden visitors. Elizabeth asks who is King; he means the Lord Protector, and she answers let the Lord protect him from that kingly title. Mother, grandmother, and aunt in law all demand entry. He refuses, bound by oath.

Stanley arrives: Anne must go straight to Westminster to be crowned Richard's queen. Elizabeth begs to have her lace cut so her pent heart can beat and tells Dorset to flee cross the seas to Richmond from this slaughterhouse. The Duchess curses the cockatrice she hatched to the world. Anne remembers wishing sorrow on Richard's future wife when he wooed her over Henry's corpse, and says she proved the subject of her own soul's curse, enjoying no hour's sleep in his bed, hated for her father Warwick, and sure he will soon be rid of her.

The women part: Dorset toward Richmond, Anne toward coronation and death, the Duchess toward her grave, Elizabeth toward sanctuary. Elizabeth stays to address the Tower stones, pitying the tender babes immured within the walls and begging the ancient stones to use her babies well.