The Bloody Tudor (by William)

A Story Inspired by Shakespeare's Macbeth

House of Tudor Family Tree

Characters

Mary - Queen of England

Elizabeth - Mary’s rival and half-sister

Three Oracles

Hampshire

Bothwell

York

Cornwall

Emmett - Cornwall’s son

Murderers

Devon

Sussex

Essex

Northumberland

Norfolk

Suffolk

Hereford

Setting

The year is 1558. The day is November 17. Mary and Elizabeth, half-sisters and rivals for the throne, are waging war…

Act 1 Scene 1

1st Oracle: Ha!

2nd Oracle: Ha!

3rd Oracle: Ha!

1st Oracle: When the battle is over…

2nd Oracle: Appear to York, and make him do thy bloody deed.

3rd Oracle: Darkness calls, it is his destiny.

Altogether: Fair is foul, and foul is fair. By midnight the queen shall have gory hair. 

Act 1 Scene 2

Throne Room. Enter Mary and a bloody scout.

Mary: What is thy matter? Speak up!

Scout: My great queen, I have a war report.

Mary: Well, then say it.

Scout: The traitorous earl of Suffolk joined forces with that insufferable Elizabeth, your very half-sister!

Mary: Very well. Go on.

Scout: York and Cornwall were immediately dispatched to the battlefield, where they won an outrageous victory. I would like to talk more, but my injuries should be treated first.

Mary: Fabulous! Have Suffolk’s head on the chopping block immediately. As for you, your wounds and story do you credit.

Enter Essex.

Mary: Essex! How was thine battle?

Essex: We won by a landslide.

Mary: Were our commanders, Cornwall and York, afraid?

Essex: They were as afraid as falcons are of sparrows.

Mary: That is quite an honor. Have Suffolk killed and give his land to the brave and loyal Earl of York.

Messenger and Essex: Will do, your majesty.

Essex exits

Mary: As for my little sister, I still need to deal with her.

[Exeunt]

Act 1 Scene 3

York and Cornwall enter.

York: No, Cornwall, you definitely deserve more than me. You cut off their supply lines!

Cornwall: York, let’s not draw conclusions so soon.

Oracles enter.

York: Humph! What a misty and mysterious forest. [sees oracles] Who art thou? What strange garments! What art thou doing here? What art thou? Ghosts?

1st Oracle: York!

2nd Oracle: York!

3rd Oracle: York!

Oracles: All hail York!

1st Oracle: York, Suffolk, and King hereafter!

York: What? Suffolk? I know that I am York because I hath inherited thy land, but Suffolk? Suffolk is a rich man. And then, I can’t even become Suffolk, how do I become king? Ridiculous.

Cornwall: What praise! What do you say about me?

Oracles: Cornwall! Beware York, Cornwall! Lesser than York but greater. You shall not become king, but your children shall!

Oracles vanish.

York: How strange, why beware me?

Enter Essex, running.

Essex: Great knight, our holy queen has decreed that Suffolk be a traitor! You will be Suffolk along with York!

York: Hmmm, if I just became York, then can’t I become king?

Essex: Come, come! Meet up with the queen!

[Exeunt]

Act 2 Scene 1

Lady York: My lord? Ah, I see! Three oracles? York, Suffolk, and King? Already Suffolk? [Puts down the letter] My dear, the only thing I must bring out in you is ambition. [Enter York] My lord! What news does thy bring?

York: The queen is staying here, to-night!

Lady York: If that is so, it is time to take action.

York: I am one who is loyal to my country.

Lady York: Do you want to remain loyal to your country, or are you going to achieve authentic manhood?

York: Well-

Lady York: If you want real manhood, then you will help me execute my master plan.

York: [to audience] Which one shall I pick? I do not want to mirror what Macbeth did wrong a few generations ago. [to Lady York] Fine. I will help you.

[Exeunt]

Act 2 Scene 2

Enter York and Murderers.

York: For this to completely work out, I need you to murder Cornwall and his teenage son. They know what I know, and they are a threat to me. And you know what he did to you. He stripped ye naked, tied ye to a bed, and flogged you till you were quite dead.

Murderers: Yes, that was an unfortunate situation.

York: Cornwall is an enemy to me as he is to ye. Now go do your job!

1st Murderer: Yes, sir!

[Exeunt]

Act 2 Scene 3

Midnight. Enter Lady York.

Lady York: Where is my husband? I have done my share. Drugged and drunk, those servants won’t wake up till a week passes. But soft, what is that? A dagger. Let me grasp thee, deadly sight! Or is that just my imagination. It is time to pull together. Act as one accord!

Enter York

York: I must go now dear, although I am quite nervous.

Bells Ring.

York: Prithee, ye hear? Don’t hear that bell, Mary, for this is the bell that carries you up to heaven or forces you down into hell.

York Exits.

Lady York: I myself am getting nervous and guilty. What is that I hear? I fear they have awakened and the plot foiled. What’s to be done now?

York Enters.

Lady York: My husband. How art thee? Why do you still have the daggers? Put them back!

York: I won’t! I can’t! You do it!

Lady York: Fine, you coward. And wash your hands.

Lady York Exits

York: My conscience gets to me. Go away conscience, and leave me with full confidence.

[Exeunt] 

Act 3 Scene 1

Enter Murderers. Cornwall’s guest chambers

1st Murderer: Get ready. Cornwall will arrive in a few moments with his son, Emmett.

2nd Murderer: Think of this as a piece of revenge for that atrocity!

3rd Murderer: I remember. We were fighting for Elizabeth, but Cornwall captured us. He stripped us naked and flogged us so. He then tied the three of us together and tortured us for information. As if I’d ever given any information!

2nd Murderer: Quiet! He’s coming in.

Cornwall: If York can become king, then my children will be able to as well. But how do I ensure that my children become king? By killing York? No, these are dirty thoughts. Emmett! Don’t go outside. It does look like it will rain.

1st Murderer: Then let it pour blood!

Cornwall: No! No! Treachery! Fly Emmett, fly fly fly!

Emmett escapes.

3rd Murderer: Why did you put out thy damned light? We’ve only done half the job!

2nd Murderer: True. Let’s report what we have done to York.

[Exeunt]

Act 3 Scene 2

Westminster Abbey. Enter York, Lady York, Devon, Sussex, Essex, Northumberland, Norfolk, Hampshire, Bothwell, and Hereford.

Devon: Fellow nobles, I hope you know that Queen Mary and our great friend Cornwell have both been murdered.

Essex: Of course I have! This is no small thing! And to add on interest, all of these unfortunate incidents happened at York’s castle in Scarborough.

Murmurs of agreement

Northumberland: Do you think York may have been the culprit?

Sussex: Of course! Every arrow points at him.

Bothwell: I disagree! York is noble and loyal to the queen.

Hereford: Hush, hush! Here he comes.

King York: Welcome to the feast and coronation! [Sees ghost of Cornwall] Bloody ghost! Vision! Dreadful sight! Go hither. Get out of thine sight. Get out of thy seat. Don’t shake thy gory curls at me. You bastard!

Hampshire: Is his majesty alright?

Queen York: My lord has a chronic mental illness. Don’t ever mind him.

King York: Bastard! I didn't do it! Cox-comb! Skamelar! Leverter! Be any form but this, ghost! [Ghost disappears] I’m fine now.

Queen York: You have spoiled the enjoyment of this evening because of this utter lack of self control. Everybody leave! My husband needs some time. 

Act 3 Scene 2

Enter Noblemen at a rally.

Essex: I’m going to aid Elizabeth. Who will join me? King York has murdered Mary. Our King is a downright thieving bastard. He is a tyrant!

Devon: I shall!

Northumberland: For war, I shall!

Sussex: To our relationship!

Norfolk: For freedom!

Hereford: For no fear.

Bothwell: I will not join ye to uphold loyalty.

Hampshire: I shall not for honor.

Essex: Then we shall part our separate ways

[Exeunt] 

Act 3 Scene 3

Enter Oracles.

Oracles: Double, double, blood and rubble. Fire rage and ask for trouble.

1st Oracle: Add frog’s leg and pig’s blood.

2nd Oracle: Eye of newt and claw of cat.

3rd Oracle: Falcon poop and dog’s tail.

Oracles: Double, double, blood and rubble. Fire rage and ask for trouble.

1st Oracle: Dust of elm and midsection of maggot.

2nd Oracle: Tooth of Frenchman and leg of duck.

3rd Oracle: Add Beaver tail and dry fish bladder.

1st Oracle: Bar of steel and rat hair.

2nd Oracle: Cow’s tongue and dirt.

3rd Oracle: Diced lion and rhinoceros horn.

Oracles: Double, double, blood and rubble. Fire rage and ask for trouble.

Enter York.

Oracles: York, York, York!

York: You hags, what is to happen next?

Oracles: We have made apparitions for you.

1st Apparition appears.

1st Apparition: York! York! York!

York: If I had three ears, I’d hear thee.

1st Apparition: York! Beware Essex. Beware the Earl of Essex. Dismiss me. Enough.

York: Yes, fear Essex. What else?

1st Oracle: The apparitions will not answer questions.

2nd Apparition appears

2nd Apparition: York! York! York! You shall be invincible until Hamilton Wood comes to Westminster Abbey.

3rd Apparition appears

3rd Apparition: York! York! York! No one of a woman born shall harm thee.

York: Then why fear Essex? Goodbye.

[Exeunt]

Act 3 Scene 4

Castle at Cardiff. Enter Elizabeth and Essex.

Essex: I have brought to your service some noblemen to fight against those no good Catholics. Only the lords Bothwell and Hampshire.

Elizabeth: Wonderful! We strike when the iron is hot. Gather your lords and tell them to have a forward strike on --

Norfolk rushes in

Norfolk: Essex! Your whole family hath been killed by the tyrant York.

Essex: My children too? My pretty little ones? My wife?

Norfolk: Yes, the tyrant is best at doing these atrocious things.

Elizabeth: This is no time to grieve. Win this war and you shalt get your revenge.

[Exeunt] 

Act 3 Scene 5

Enter King York, Doctor, and Messenger.

King York: What is the situation with my lords?

Messenger: Terrible things, my lord. Only Bothwell and Hampshire have stayed with you.

Doctor: Report on your wife: she is dead. She died of madness last night.

King York: Oh, well. Tell Bothwell and Hampshire to get their armies in formation. 

Act 3 Scene 6

Enter Elizabeth, Devon, Sussex, Essex, Northumberland, Norfolk, Hereford, and Armies

Elizabeth: What wood is this?

Devon: Hamilton. Every man grab a bough and advance!

Essex: I will hunt down that hell-hound.

Act 3 Scene 7

Messenger: Sir, sir! Hamilton Wood is advancing.

King York: Let me see! Oh, well, we may die fighting with honor.

Messenger leaves

Essex: Turn, hellhound, turn!

King York: Out of all people I have avoided you. [Starts Fighting] Ha! You’re wasting effort. Nobody born shall harm me.

Essex: Then tell thy demon angel who told you that Essex never had a mother and was untimely ripped out of his mother’s womb.

King York: They tricked me!

They fight. King York is beheaded.

Enter Elizabeth, Devon, Sussex, Northumberland, Norfolk, Hereford, and Armies

Elizabeth: The noblemen have subdued the enemy and put Bothwell and Hampshire at mercy.

Essex: Long live Elizabeth! Long live the queen!

All: Long live Elizabeth! Long live the queen!

[Exeunt]