Act IV opens with Clarence and Malavill discussing the deceitful Isabella. Clarence becomes suspicious of Malavill, questioning him on how Thyrrold had come to find out about his and Isabella’s plans to flee the country. Thyrrold enters, causing an altercation between the two as Thyrrold claims that Isabella begged for his forgiveness for coercing Clarence. Clarence threatens Thyrrold so he leaves, saying in parting that he will be joining Isabella in her bed. Suddenly, a group of villains enter, grab Malavill’s sword and stab him with it. On his death bed, Malavill begins to tell Clarence the truth regarding Isabella’s relationship with Thyrrold, however, he dies beforehand.
The next scene opens on Isabella and her lady, Esperanza, whom Isabella instructs to get their disguises ready for her departure with the Duke of Clarence, just as Catharine enters with her lover Tudor. Catharine notices Isabella’s pale face and trembling hands and asks her what is wrong. Racked with guilt, she replies that she is ill, and Catharine instructs her ladies to lead her away, admitting to Tudor that she is overcome with an ominous feeling of terror. The play reaches its frenzied pinnacle when Esperanza suddenly enters, crying out that there has been a break-in by a group of men, who are pursuing her and killing guards as they go. In response, Tudor hides in a closet as Catharine locks her door, preparing to negotiate with the intruders. Edward, Gloucester, Thyrrold and their officers enter Catharine’s chamber, and Edward immediately orders a search of Catharine’s rooms for Tudor. On hearing Edward accuse him of cowardice for hiding from him, Tudor leaves his hiding place to face Edward and his men. Isabella suddenly enters, demanding to stay with her Queen, however, Gloucester instructs Thyrrold to do with her what he wishes. Despite Catharine’s appeals to spare Tudor, Gloucester stabs him, and he falls to the floor. Catharine sinks upon Tudor as he dies, begging for death herself. Edward instructs that no harm should come to Catharine, and orders Tudor’s body to be taken away. Despite refusing to let go of Tudor’s body, Catharine is eventually led away from the scene.
A visual diagram of the play’s military and romantic relationships.