Enter a Messenger.

you;

Sent from your brother marquis Montague.
These from our king unto your majesty.-
And, madam, these for you; from whom, I know not.

[To Margaret. They all read their letters. Orf. I like it well, that our fair queen and mistress Smiles at her news, while Warwick frowns at his. Prince. Nay, mark, how Lewis stamps as he were nettled:

* I hope, all's for the best.

K. Lew. Warwick, what are thy news? and yours, fair queen?

'Q. Mar. Mine, such as fill my heart with unhop'd joys.

War. Mine, full of sorrow and heart's discon

tent.

K. Lew. What! has your king married the lady Grey?

And now, to sooth your forgery and his, Sends me a paper to persuade me patience? Is this the alliance that he seeks with France? 'Dare he presume to scorn us in this manner?

Q. Mar. I told your majesty as much before: This proveth Edward's love, and Warwick's hon

esty.

War. King Lewis, I here protest,-in sight of
heaven,

And by the hope I have of heavenly bliss,-
That I am clear from this misdeed of Edward's;
No more my king, for he dishonours me;
But most himself, if he could see his shame.-
Did I forget, that by the house of York
My father came untimely to his death?
Did I let pass the abuse done to my niece?
Did I impale him with the regal crown?
Did I put Henry from his native right;

And am I guerdon'd' at the last with shame?
* Shame on himself! for my desert is honour.
* And, to repair my honour lost for him,
* I here renounce him, and return to Henry:
My noble queen, let former grudges pass,
And henceforth I am thy true servitor;
I will revenge his wrong to lady Bona,
And replant Henry in his former state.

Q. Mar. Warwick, these words have turn'd
my hate to love;

And I forgive and quite forget old faults,
And joy that thou becom'st king Henry's friend.
War. So much his friend, ay, his unfeigned
friend,

That, if king Lewis vouchsafe to furnish us
With some few bands of chosen soldiers,
I'll undertake to land them on our coast,
And force the tyrant from his seat by war.
'Tis not his new-made bride shall succour him:
* And as for Clarence,-as my letters tell me,
* He's very likely now to fall from him;
* For matching more for wanton lust than honour,
* Or than for strength and safety of our country.
* Bona. Dear brother, how shall Bona be re-

veng'd,

But by thy help to this distressed queen?

Q. Mar. Renowned prince, how shall poor
Henry live,

* Unless thou rescue him from foul despair?
* Bona. My quarrel, and this English queen's,

You shall have aid.

* Q. Mar. Let me give humble thanks for all a

once.

K. Lew. Then England's messenger, return in And tell false Edward, thy supposed king,— post; That Lewis of France is sending over maskers, To revel it with him and his new bride:

*Thou seest what's past, go fear2 thy king withal. Bona. Tell him, In hope he'll prove a widower shortly,

I'll wear the willow garland for his sake.

Q. Mar. Tell him, My mourning weeds are laid aside,

And I am ready to put armour on.

War. Tell him from me, That he hath done me

wrong;

And therefore I'll uncrown him, ere't be long.
There's thy reward: be gone.

[Exit Mess. K. Lew. But, Warwick, thou, And Oxford, with five thousand men, Shall cross the seas, and bid false Edward battle: *And, as occasion serves, this noble queen

And prince shall follow with a fresh supply. Yet, ere thou go, but answer me one doubt;What pledge have we of thy firm loyalty?

War. This shall assure my constant loyalty That if our queen and this young prince agree, I'll join mine eldest daughter, and my joy, To him forthwith in holy wedlock bands. 'Q. Mar. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your

motion :

Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous,
Therefore delay not, give thy hand to Warwick;
And, with thy hand, thy faith irrevocable,
That only Warwick's daughter shall be thine.

* Prince. Yes, I accept her, for she weil de serves it;

And here, to pledge my vow, I give my hand. [He gives his hand to Warwick. 'K. Lew. Why stay we now? These soldiers shall be levied,

And thou, lord Bourbon, our high admiral, Shall waft them over with our royal fleet.-I long, till Edward fall by war's mischance, For mocking marriage with a dame of France. [Exeunt all but Warwick But I return his sworn and mortal foe: War. I came from Edward as ambassador, Matter of marriage was the charge he gave me, But dreadful war shall answer his demand. Had he none else to make a stale,3 but me? Then none but I shall turn his jest to sorrow. I was the chief that rais'd him to the crown, And I'll be chief to bring him down again: Not that I pity Henry's misery, But seek revenge on Edward's mockery.

ACT IV.

[Exit.

SCENE 1-London. A room in the palace. Enter Gloster, Clarence, Somerset, Montague, and others.

'Glo. Now tell me, brother Clarence, what think you

Of this new marriage with the lady Grey?

(3) A stalking-horse, a pretence.

* Hath not our brother made a worthy choice? * Clar. Alas, you know, 'tis far from hence to France;

*How could he stay till Warwick made return? *Som. My lords, forbear this talk; here comes the king.

Flourish. Enter King Edward, attended; Lady Grey, as Queen; Pembroke, Stafford, Hastings, and others.

*Glo. And his well-chosen bride.

* Clar. I mind to tell him plainly what I think. 'K. Edw. Now, brother of Clarence, how like you our choice,

That you stand pensive, as half malcontent? 'Clar. As well as Lewis of France, or the earl of Warwick;

Which are so weak of courage, and in judgment, 'That they'll take no offence at our abuse.

'K. Edw. Suppose they take offence without a

Glo. And yet, methinks, your grace hath not done well,

To give the heir and daughter of lord Scales
Unto the brother of your loving bride;
She better would have fitted me, or Clarence:
But in your bride you bury brotherhood.
'Clar. Or else you would not have bestow'd
the heirl

Of the lord Bonville on your new wife's son,
And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere.
K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife,
That thou art malcontent? I will provide thee.
Clar. In choosing for yourself, you show'd your
judgment;

Which being shallow, you shall give me leave
To play the broker in mine own behalf;
And, to that end, I shortly mind to leave you.
'K. Edw. Leave me, or tarry, Edward will be
king,

And not be tied unto his brother's will.

Q. Eliz. My lords, before it pleas'd his majesty
To raise my state to title of a queen,
Do me but right, and you must all confess
That I was not ignoble of descent,

And meaner than myself have had like fortune.
But as this title honours me and mine,
So your dislikes, to whom I would be pleasing,
Do cloud my joys with danger and with sorrow.
'K. Edw. My love, forbear to fawn upon their

frowns:

charge,

'Is now dishonoured by this new marriage.

'K. Edw. What, if both Lewis and Warwick be appeas'd,

By such invention as I can devise? Mont. Yet to have join'd with France in such alliance,

Would more have strengthen'd this our commonwealth,

'Gainst foreign storms, than any home-bred marriage.

Hast. Why, knows not Montague, that of itself 'England is safe, if true within itself? *Mont. Yes; but the safer, when 'tis back'd with France.

*Hast. 'Tis better using France, than trusting

France:

* Let us be back'd with God, and with the seas, *Which he hath given for fence impregnable, *And with their helps only defend ourselves; * In them, and in ourselves, our safety lies. Clar. For this one speech, lord Hastings well deserves

To have the heir of the lord Hungerford. 'K. Edw. Ay, what of that? it was my will, and grant;

*And, for this once, my will shall stand for law.

(1) The heiress of great estates were in the wardship of the king, who matched them to his favourites.

|

'Mess. My sovereign liege, no letters; and few words,

But such as I, without your special pardon, Dare not relate.

K. Edw. Go to, we pardon thee: therefore, in brief,

Tell me their words as near as thou canst guess them.

What answer makes king Lewis unto our letters?

Mess. At my depart, these were his very words: Go tell false Edward, thy supposed king,— That Lewis of France is sending over maskers, To revel it with him and his new bride.

K. Edw. Is Lewis so brave? belike, he thinks

Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly, I'll wear the willow garland for his sake.

K. Edw. I blame not her, she could say little less; She had the wrong. But what said Henry's queen? For I have heard, that she was there in place.2 Mess. Tell him, quoth she, my mourning weeds are done,3

And I am ready to put armour on.

K. Edw. Belike, she minds to play the Amazon. But what said Warwick to these injuries?

K. Edw. Ha! durst the traitor breathe out so proud words?

'Well, I will arm me, being thus forewarn'd: They shall have wars, and pay for their presump

tion.

'But say, is Warwick friends with Margaret? Mess. Ay, gracious sovereign; they are so link'd in friendship,

That young prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter.

Clar. Belike, the elder; Clarence will have the younger.

Now, brother king, farewell, and sit you fast, * For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter: That, though I want a kingdom, yet in marriage I may not prove inferior to yourself.You, that love me and Warwick, follow me. [Exit Clarence, and Somerset follows. Gio. Not I:

My thoughts aim at a further matter; I
Stay not for love of Edward, but the crown. [Aside.
K. Edw. Clarence and Somerset both gone to
Warwick!

Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen; And haste is needful in this desperate case.'Pembroke, and Stafford, you in our behalf

Go levy men, and make prepare for war; "They are already, or quickly will be landed "Myself in person will straight follow you.

[Exeunt Pembroke and Stafford.

But, ere I go, Hastings,-and Montague,'Resolve my doubt. You twain, of all the rest, Are near to Warwick, by blood, and by alliance: 'Tell me, if you love Warwick more than me? 'If it be so, then both depart to him;

'I rather wish you foes, than hollow friends;
But if you mind to hold your true obedience,
'Give me assurance with some friendly vow,
'That I may never have you in suspect.

Mont. So God help Montague, as he proves true! Hast. And Hastings, as he favours Edward's cause!

'K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, will you stand by us?

Glo. Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you. K. Edw. Why so; then am I sure of victory. Now therefore let us hence; and lose no hour, 'Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power. [Exeunt. SCENE II.—A plain in Warwickshire. Enter Warwick and Oxford, with French and other forces.

War. Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well; The common people by numbers swarm to us. Enter Clarence and Somerset.

But see, where Somerset and Clarence come ;Speak suddenly, my lords, are we all friends? Clar. Fear not that, my lord.

War. Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto

Warwick;

And welcome, Somerset:-I hold it cowardice,
To rest mistrustful where a noble heart
Hath pawn'd an open hand in sign of love;
Else might I think, that Clarence, Edward's brother,
Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings:
But welcome, Clarence; my daughter shall be thine.
And now what rests, but, in night's coverture,
Thy brother being carelessly encamp'd,

VOL. II.

We may surprise and take him at our pleasure? Our scouts have found the adventure very easy: *That as Ulysses, and stout Diomede, *With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus' tents, *And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds;

*So we, well cover'd with the night's black mantle,
At unawares may beat down Edward's guard,
And seize himself; I say not-slaughter him,
* For I intend but only to surprise him.--
You, that will follow me to this attempt,
'Applaud the name of Henry, with your leader.
[They all cry, Henry!

Why, then, let's on our way in silent sort:
For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint
George!
[Exeunt.
SCENE III-Edward's camp, near Warwick.
Enter certain Watchmen, to guard the King's

*Never to lie and take his natural rest, Till Warwick, or himself, be quite suppress'd. *2 Watch. To-morrow then, belike, shall be the day,

*If Warwick be so near as men report.

*3 Watch. But say, I pray, what nobleman is that,

That with the king here resteth in his tent? #1 Watch. 'Tis the lord Hastings, the king's chiefest friend.

*3 Watch. O, is it so? But why commands the

king,

*That his chief followers lodge in towns about him, *While he himself keepeth in the cold field? *2 Watch. 'Tis the more honour, because more dangerous.

*3 Watch. Ay; but give me worship and quiet

War. This is his tent; and see, where stand
his guard.

Courage, my masters: honour now, or never!
But follow me, and Edward shall be ours.
1 Watch. Who goes there?

2 Watch. Stay, or thou diest.
[Warwick, and the rest, cry all-Warwick!
Warwick and set upon the guard; who
fly, crying-Arm! Arm! Warwick, and
the rest, following them.

The drum beating, and trumpets sounding. Reenter Warwick, and the rest, bringing the King out in a gown, sitting in a chair; Gloster and Hastings fly.

Som.

What are they that fly there? War. Richard, and Hastings: let them go

here's the duke.

* But, if an humble prayer may prevail, * I then crave pardon of your majesty. *K. Hen. For what, lieutenant? for well using me?

*Nay, be thou sure, I'll well requite thy kind

ness,

* For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure: * Ay, such a pleasure as incaged birds * Conceive, when, after many moody thoughts, * At last, by notes of household harmony, *They quite forget their loss of liberty.*But, Warwick, after God, thou sett'st me free, * And chiefly therefore I thank God, and thee; *He was the author, thou the instrument. * Therefore, that I may conquer fortune's spite, * By living low, where fortune cannot hurt me; *And that the people of this blessed land *May not be punish'd with my thwarting stars; 'Warwick, although my head still wear the crown, 'I here resign my government to thee,

For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds.

*War. Your grace hath still been fam'd for virtuous;

*And now may seem as wise as virtuous,

By spying, and avoiding, fortune's malice, *For few men rightly temper with the stars; * Yet in this one thing let me blame your grace, *For choosing me, when Clarence is in place 2 * Clar. No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the

sway,

* To whom the heavens, in thy nativity, * Adjudg'd an olive branch, and laurel crown, *As likely to be blest in peace, and war; * And therefore I yield thee my free consent. *War. And I choose Clarence only for protector. *K. Hen. Warwick, and Clarence, give me both your hands;

*Now join your hands, and, with your hands, your hearts,

* That no dissension hinder government:
I make you both protectors of this land;
While I myself will lead a private life,
And in devotion spend my latter days,
To sin's rebuke, and my Creator's praise.

War. What answers Clarence to his sovereign's will?

* Clar. That he consents, if Warwick yield consent;

For on thy fortune I repose myself.

* War. Why then, though loth, yet must I be

content:

We'll yoke together, like a double shadow *To Henry's body, and supply his place; * I mean, in bearing weight of government,

While he enjoys the honour, and his ease.

* And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful, Forthwith that Edward be pronounc'd a traitor, And all his lands and goods be confiscate.

Clar. What else? and that succession be determin'd.

* War. Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.

*K. Hen. But, with the first of all your chief affairs,

* Let me entreat (for I command no more.) That Margaret your queen, and my son Edward, * Be sent for, to return from France with speed: * For, till I see them here, by doubtful fear My joy of liberty is half eclips'd.

Clar. It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.

(1) Few men conform their temper to their destiny. (2) Present. (3) Afterward Henry VII.

'K. Hen. My lord of Somerset, what youth is that,

Of whom you seem to have so tender care? 'Som. My liege, it is young Henry, earl of Richmond.

'K. Hen. Come hither, England's hope: If secret powers [Lays his hand on his head. Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts, This pretty lad3 will prove our country's bliss. His looks are full of peaceful majesty ; His head by nature fram'd to wear a crown, His hand to wield a sceptre; and himself Likely, in time, to bless a regal throne. Make much of him, my lords; for this is he, Must help you more than you are hurt by me. Enter a Messenger.

* War. What news, my friend? *Mess. That Edward is escaped from your brother,

*And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy. * War. Unsavoury news: But how made he escape?

* Mess. He was convey'd by Richard duke of Gloster,

*And the lord Hastings, who attended him *In secret ambush on the forest side, *And from the bishop's huntsmen rescued him; For hunting was his daily exercise.

* War. My brother was too careless of his charge.

*But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide A salve for any sore that may betide.

[Exeunt King Henry, War. Clar. Lieut. and attendants.

*Som. My lord, I like not of this flight of

So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts *What may befall him, to his harm, and ours: Therefore, lord Oxford, to prevent the worst, *Forthwith we'll send him hence to Britany, * Till storms be past of civil enmity.

*Orf. Ay; for, if Edward repossess the crown, 'Tis like, that Richmond with the rest shall down. * Som. It shall be so; he shall to Britany. *Come therefore, let's about it speedily. [Exeunt. SCENE VII-Before York. Enter King Ed ward, Gloster, Hastings, and forces. 'K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, lord Hastings, and the rest;

Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends,
And says-that once more I shall interchange

My waned state for Henry's regal crown.

Well have we pass'd, and now repass'd the seas,

And brought desir'd help from Burgundy :
What then remains, we being thus arriv'd
From Ravenspurg haven before the gates of York,
But that we enter, as into our dukedom?

Glo. The gates made fast!-Brother, I like
not this;

For many men, that stumble at the threshold, *Are well foretold-that danger lurks within. *K. Edw. Tush, man! abodements must not now affright us :

By fair or foul means we must enter in, *For hither will our friends repair to us.

(4) i. e. Waited for him.