K. Edw. Suppose, they take offence without a cause, They are but Lewis and Warwick; I am Edward, Your king and Warwick's, and must have my will. Glo. And you shall have your will, because our king: Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well. K. Edw. Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too? Glo. Not I? No; God forbid, that I should wish them sever'd, Whom God hath join'd together: ay, and 'twere pity To sunder them that yoke so well together. K. Edw. Setting your scorns, and your mislike, aside, Tell me some reason, why the lady Grey Should not become my wife, and England's queen : And you, too, Somerset, and Montague, Clar. Then this is my opinion, that king Lewis 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 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: What danger, or what sorrow, can befall thee, Glo. And Warwick, doing what you gave in Unless they seek for hatred at my hands: 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 Let us be back'd with God, and with the seas, 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. Glo. And yet, methinks, your grace hath not done well, To give the heir and daughter of lord Scales the heir Of the lord Benville on your new wife's son, And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere. 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 I'll 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 presumption. 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, My thoughts aim at a further matter; I [Aside. K. Edw. Clarence and Somerset both gone to Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen; [Exeunt Pembroke and Stafford. 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. Áy, in despite of all that shall withstand 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 And welcome, Somerset :-I hold it cowardice 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, So we, well cover'd with the night's black mantle, SCENE III.-Edward's camp, near Warwick. tent. 1 Watch. Come on, my masters, each man 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 solemn 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? 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 ness, I like it better than a dangerous honour. 1 Watch. Unless our halberds did shut up his passage. 2 Watch. Ay; wherefore else guard we his royal tent, But to defend his person from night-foes? Enter WARWICK, CLARENCE, Oxford, SoMERSET, and Forces. 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. K. Edw. The duke! why, Warwick, when we parted last, Thou call'dst me king? War. Ay, but the case is alter'd: Nay, then I see, that Edward needs must down.- I'll follow you, and tell what answer K. Edw. What fates impose, that men must needs abide ; It boots not to resist both wind and tide. [Exit King Edward, led out; Somerset with him. Oxf. What now remains, my lords, for us to do, But march to London with our soldiers? War. Ay, that's the first thing that we have to do ; To free king Henry from imprisonment, Q. Eliz. Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn, What late misfortune is befall'n king Edward? Riv. What, loss of some pitch'd battle against Warwick? Riv. But, madam, where is Warwick then become? Q. Eliz. I am informed, that he comes towards London, To set the crown once more on Henry's head: Guess thou the rest; king Edward's friends must down. But, to prevent the tyrant's violence, (For trust not him, that hath once broken faith,) [Exeunt. SCENE V.-A park near Middleham Castle in Yorkshire. Enter GLOSTER, HASTINGS, Sir WILLIAM Glo. Now, my lord Hastings, and sir William Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither, Thus stands the case: You know, our king, my brother, Is prisoner to the bishop here, at whose hands Enter King EDWARD, and a Huntsman. Hunt. This way, my lord; the game. huntsmen stand. Now, brother of Gloster, lord Hastings, and the rest, Lieu. Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns; 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 kindness, War. Your grace hath still been fam'd for virtuous; And now may seem as wise as virtuous, Be 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. sway, Clar. No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the 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 dissention hinder government: War. What answers Clarence to his sovereign's Clar. That he consents, if Warwick yield consent; For on thy fortune I repose myself. War. Why then, though loath, yet must I be K. Hen. But, with the first of all your chief Let me entreat, (for I command no more,) Clar. It shall be done, my sovereign, with all K. Hen. My lord of Somerset, what youth is Of whom you seem to have so tender care? K. Hen. Come hither, England's hope: If se- War. What news, my friend? Mess. That Edward is escaped from your brother, And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy. Mess. He was convey'd by Richard duke of And the lord Hastings, who attended him War. My brother was too careless of his But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide [Exeunt King Hen. War. Clar. Lieut. 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; 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 EDWARD, GLOSTER, Hastings, and Forces. K.Edw. Now, brother Richard, lord Hastings, and the rest; Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends, Glo. The gates made fast!-Brother, I like not this; For many men, that stumble at the threshold, By fair or foul means we must enter in, 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; 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. K. Edw. Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom; As being well content with that alone. Glo. But, when the fox hath once got in his |