Act 4, Scene 1 Summary

The Duchess of York, Queen Elizabeth, Dorset, Anne and Clarence's daughter have all come to visit the young princes at the Tower. Brackenbury, the guard, tells them that Richard, whom he calls, "the king," and quickly amends to "the Lord Protector," has forbidden anyone from seeing the princes. The women are angry at the restriction, and frightened that the guard referred to Richard as "the king."

Lord Stanley enters, having been sent to fetch Anne to be crowned Richard's queen. Everyone is shocked at the news that Richard is being crowned king, and Anne regrets having married Richard and realizes her mistake in falling for Richard's "honey words." She hopes that God might give her a quick death. Elizabeth is especially distressed and urges Dorset to sail across the seas and live with Richmond. Stanley encourages Dorset to follow this advice...