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 me Henry.

But what said lady Boua to my marriage?

Mess. These were her words, utter'd with mild disdain ;

Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly,

Pll 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, Mess. Tell him, quoth she, my mourning weeds are done, t

And I am ready to put armour on.

K. Edw. Belike, she minds to play the
Amazon.

But what said Warwick to these injuries ?
Mess. He, more incens'd against your majesty
Than all the rest, discharg'd me with these
words;

Tell him from me, that he hath done me wrong,
And therefore Pil uncrown him, ere't be long.
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 pre

sumption.

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 mar-
riage

I may not prove inferior to yourself.--
You, that love me and Warwick, follow me.
[Exit CLARENCE, and SOMERSET follows.
Glo. Not 1:

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 arin'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:

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 feigued friend to our proceedings: But welcome, Clarence; my daughter shall be thine.

And now what rest, but, in night's overture,
Thy brother being carelessly encamp'd,
His soldiers lurking in the towns about,
And but attended by a simple guard,
We may surprize 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-siaughter 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, Heury.
Why, then, let's on our way in silent sort:
For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint
George!
[Exeunt.

Enter certain WATCHMEN, to guard the King's Tent.

1 Watch. Come on, my masters, each maa take his stand:

The king, by this, is set him down to sleep. 2 Watch. What, will he not to-bed !

1 Watch. Why, no: for he hath made a 60lemn vow

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 !

Nay, be thou sure, I'll well requite thy kindness,

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 bartony,
They quite forget their loss of liberty.-
But, Warwick, after God, thou set'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. +
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 blessed in peace and war;
And therefore I yield thee my free consent.
War. And I choose Clarence only for pro-

tector.

Few men conform their temper to their destiny. + Present.

K. Hen. Warwick and Clarence, give me both

your hands;

Now join your bands, and, with your hands, your hearts;

That no dissention 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 loath, yet must I be content:

We'll yoke together, like a double shadow
To Henry's body, and supply his place;
While he enjoys the honour and his ease.
I mean, in bearing weight of government,
And, Clarence, now then it is more than need-
And all his lands and goods be confiscate.
Forthwith that Edward be pronounc'd a traitor,

ful,

Clar. What else? and that succession be de

termin'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.

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 lad 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 be

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 bis daily exercise.

War. My brother was too careless of bis 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 Edward's:

For, doubtless, Burgundy will yield him help; And we shall have more wars, before't be

long.

As Henry's late presaging prophecy
Did glad my heart, with hope of this young
Richmond;

Afterward Henry VII. who put an end to the civil war between the two houses t I. c. Waited for him.

SCENE VII.-Before York.

[Exeunt.

Enter King EDWARD, GLOSTER, HASTINGS,

and Forces.

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 desired help from Burgundy : What then remains, we being thus arriv'd

[A March begun. K. Edw. Nay, stay, Sir John, a while; and

we'll debate,

cover'd.

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.
Hast. My liege, I'll knock once more, to
summon them.

Enter, on the Walls, the MAYOR of York, and his Brethren.

May. My lords, we were forewarned of your
coming,

And shut the gates for safety of ourselves;
For now we owe allegiance unto Henry.

K. Edw. But, master mayor, if Henry be
your king,

Yet Edward, at the least, is duke of York.
May. True, my good lord; I know you for

no less.

soon !

crowns.

Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand;
The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.
K. Edw. Then be it as you will; for 'tis my

right,

And Henry but usurps the diadem.

Mont. Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself;

And now will I be Edward's champion.

Hast. Sound, trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim'd:

Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclanation. [Gives him a Paper. Flourish. Sold. [Reads.] Edward the fourth, by the grace of God, king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, &c.

Mont. And whosoe'er gainsays king Edward's right,

By this I challenge him to single fight.

[Throws down his Gauntlet.
All. Long live king Edward the fourth!
K. Edw. Thanks, brave Montgomery ;-and
thanks unto you all.

If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness.
Now, for this night, let's harbour here in York:
And when the morning sun shall raise his car
Above the border of this horizon,
We'll forward towards Warwick and his mates;
For well I wot that Henry is no soldier.-
Ah! froward Clarence, how evil it beseems

thee,

To flatter Henry, and forsake thy brother!
Yet, as we may, we'll meet both thee and
Warwick.-

Come on, brave soldiers; doubt not of the day;

And, that ouce gotten, doubt not of large pay. [Exeunt.

SCENE VIII.-London.-A Room in the
Palace.

Enter King HENRY, WARWICK, CLARENCE,
MONTAGUE, EXETER, and OXFORD.
War. What counsel, lords? Edward from
Belgia,