K. Hen. Master lieutenant, now that God and friends

Have shaken Edward from the regal seat,
And turn'd my captive state to liberty,
My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys;
At our enlargement what are thy due fees?
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,

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 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 werthy 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.

Jaw men conform their temper to their destiny, + Present.

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,
For, till I see them here, by doubtful fear
Be sent for, to return from France with speed:
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 be, 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 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

↑ Le. Waited for him.

Drum.-Enter MONTGOMERY and Forces, marching.

Glo. Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery, Our trusty friend, unless I be deceiv'd. K. Edw. Welcome, Sir John! But why come you in arms?

Mont. To help king Edward in his time of storm,

As every loyal subject ought to do.

K. Edw. Thanks, good Montgomery: But we now forget

Our title to the crown; and only claim

Our dukedom, till God please to send the rest. Mont. Then fare you well, for I will hence again;

I came to serve a king, and not a duke,

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

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

we'll debate,

By what safe means the crown may be re

cover'd.

Mont. What talk you of debating? in few words,

If you'll not here proclaim yourself our king,

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.

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 nose,

He'll soon find means to make the body follow. [Aside. Hast. Why, master mayor, why stand you in a doubt ?

Open the gates, we are king Henry's friends. May. Ay, say you so? the gates shall then be open'd.

[Exeunt from above. Glo. A wise stout captain, and persuaded

soon!

Hast. The good old man would fain that all were well,

So 'twere not 'long of him: but, being enter'd,
I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade
Both him, and all his brothers, unto reason.

Re-enter the MAYOR and two ALDERMEN, below.

K. Edw. So, master mayor: these gates must not be shut,

But in the night, or in the time of war.
What! fear not, man, ut yield me up the

keys;

[Takes his keys. For Edward will defend he town and thee, And all those friends that deign to fellow me.

The mayor is willing we should cater, so he may not be blamed.

To keep them back that come to succour you: Why should we fight, if you pretend no title ? Glo. Why brother, wherefore stand you en nice points?

K. Edw. When we grow stronger, then we'll make our claim,

Till then, 'tis wisdom to conceal our meaning. Hast. Away with scrupulous wit! now arms

must rule.

Glo. And fearless minds climb soonest unto

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 Heury but usurps the diadem.

Mont. Ay, now my sovereign speaketh Hike himself;

And now will I be Edward's champion. Hast. Sound, trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim'd :

Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation. [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.

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

With hasty Germans, aud blunt Hollanders,
Hath pass'd in safety through the narrow seas,
And with his troops doth march amain to
London;

And many giddy people flock to him.

Oxf. Let's levy men, and beat him back again.

Clar. A little fire is quickly trodden out: Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench.

War. In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends,

Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war;
Those will I muster up-and thou, son Cla-
rence,

Shalt stir, in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent,
The knights and gentlemen to come with

thee :

Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham,
Northampton, and in Leicestershire, shalt find
Men well inclin'd to bear what thou com-
mand'st:-

And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well-belov'd,
In Oxfordshire shall muster up thy friends.-
My sovereign, with the loving citizens.
Like to his island, girt in with the ocean,
Or modest Dian, circled with her nymphs,
Shall rest in London, till we come to him.-
Fair lords, take leave, and stand not to reply.-
Farewell, my sovereign.

K. Hen. Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's true hope.

Clar. In sign of truth, I kiss your highness' band.

K. Hen. Well-minded Clarence, be thou for

Lunate!

Mont. Comfort, my lord ;-and so I take my

leave.

Oxf. And thus [Kissing HENRY's hand.] I seal my truth, and bid adieu.

K. Hen. Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague,

And all at once, once more a happy farewell. War. Farewell, sweet lords; let's meet at Coventry.

[Exeunt WAR. CLAR. OXF. and MONT. K. Hen. Here at the palace will I rest a while.

Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship? Methinks, the power that Edward hath in field, Should not be able to encounter mine.

Ere. The doubt is, that he will seduce the rest.

K. Hen. That's not my fear, my meed hath got me fame.

I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands,
Nor posted off their suits with slow delays;
My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds,
My mildness hath allay'd their swelling griefs,
My mercy dry'd their water-flowing tears;
I have not been desirous of their wealth,
Nor much oppress'd them with great subsidies,
Nor forward of revenge, though they much err'd:
Then why should they love Edward more thau

me?

dry,

• Merit.

ACT V.

SCENE I-Coventry.

Enter, upon the Walls, WARWICK, the Mayor of Coventry, two MESSENGERS and others. War. Where is the post, that came from valiant Oxford ?

How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow?

1 Mess. By this at Dunsmore, marching hi therward.

War. How far off is our brother Montague ?

Where is the post that came from Montague ? 2 Moss. By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop.

Enter Sir JOHN SOMERVILLE. War. Say, Somerville, what says my loving

son ?

And, by the guess, how nigh is Clarence now? Som. At Southam I did leave him with his

forces,

And do expect him here some two hours bence.

[Drum heard.

Enter OXFORD and SOMERSET.

SCENE IV.-Plains near Tewksbury. March.—Enter Queen MARGARET, Prince EDWARD, SOMERSET, OXFORD, and Sol

diers.

O farewell, Warwick !

War. Sweet rest to his soul!

What though the mast be now blown overboard,

The cable broke, the holding anchor lost,
And half our sailors swallow'd in the flood,
Yet lives our pilot still! Is't meet that he
Should leave the helm, and, like a fearful
With tearful eyes add water to the sea,
lad,

Aud give more strength to that which hath too much;

Whiles, in his moan, the ship splits on the

rock.

The friends of France our shrouds and tack. lings?

And, though unskilful, why not Ned and I
For once allow'd the skilful pilot's charge?
We will not from the helin, to sit and weep;
But keep our course, though the rough wind
say-uo,

From shelves and rocks that threaten us with wreck.

bids

You all farewell, to meet again in heaven.

[Dies. Oxf. Away, away, to meet the queen's great

power!

[Exeunt, bearing off WARWICK's Body.

fair.

Bestride the rock; the tide will wash you off,
Or else you famish, that's a threefold death.
This speak I, lords, to let you understand,
In case some one of you would fly from us,
That there's no hop'd-for mercy with the bro-
thers,

More than with ruthless waves, with sands, and rocks.

Why, courage, then! what cannot be avoided, 'Twere childish weakness to lament, or fear.

Prince. Methinks, a woman of this valiant spirit [words, Should, if a coward heard her speak these tufuse his breast with magnanimity, And make him, naked, foil a man at arms. I speak not this, as doubting any here; For, did I but suspect a fearful man, He should have leave to go away betimes; Lest, in our need, he might infect another, And make him of like spirit to himself. If any such be here, as God forbid ! Let him depart, before we need his help. Oxf. Women and children of so high a courage!

And warriors faint! why, 'twere perpetual shame.

O brave young prince! thy famous grandfather

Doth live again in thee; Long may'st thou live,

To bear his image, and renew his glories!
Som. And be, that will not tight for such a

hope,

Go home to bed, and, like the owl by day,
If he arise, be mock'd and wonder'd at.

Q. Mar. Thanks, gentle Somerset ;-sweet
Oxford, thanks.

Prince. And take his thanks, that yet hath nothing else.