You told not, how Henry the fixth hath loft
All that which Henry the fifth had gotten?
Methinks, these peers of France should smile at 30

Prince. To Edward, but not to the English king.
Queen. Deceitful Warwick! it was thy device
By this alliance to make void my fuit;
Before thy coming, Lewis was Henry's friend.
K. Lewis. And ftill is friend to him and Mar
garet:

Oxf. Why, Warwick, canft thou speak against 35 But if your title to the crown be weak,

K. Lewis. Queen Margaret, prince Edward, and 50 Both full of truth, I make king Lewis behold

[To Warwick. Sent from your brother, marquis Montague.

War. Thereon I pawn my credit and mine 6c Thefe from our king unto your majesty.— honour.

Envy in this place feems to be put for malice or hatred.

the poverty of Margaret's father being a very frequent topic of reproach. 3 Conveyance is here put for artifice and fraud.

15

And now, to footh your forgery and his,
Sends me a paper to perfuade me patience?
Is this the alliance that he feeks with France?
Dare he prefume to fcorn us in this manner?
Queen. I told your majesty as much before :
This proveth Edward's love, and Warwick's ho-20|
nefty.
[heaven,

War. King Lewis, I here proteft,-in fight of
And by the hope I have of heavenly blifs,—
That I am clear from this mifdeed of Edward's;
No more my king, for he difhonours me;
But most himself, if he could fee his fhame.-
Did I forget, that by the houfe of York
My father came untimely to his death?

Queen. Let me give humble thanks for all at
K. Lew. Then, England's meffenger, return in
post;

And tell falfe Edward, thy supposed king,-
That Lewis of France is fending over maskers,
To revel it with him and his new bride:
Thou feeft what's past, go fear2 thy king withal.
Bona. Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower
fhortly,

I'll wear the willow garland for his fake. [afide,
Queen. Tell him, my mourning weeds are laid
And I am ready to put armour on. [wrong;
War. Tell him from me, that he hath done me
And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long.
There's thy reward; be gone.

K. Lew. But, Warwick;

[Exit Poft.

Thyfelf, and Oxford, with five thousand men,
25 Shall crofs the feas, and bid falfe Edward battle:
And, as occafion ferves, this noble queen
And prince fhall follow with a fresh supply.
Yet, ere thou go, but answer me one doubt;-
What pledge have we of thy firm loyalty?

Did I let pafs the abuse done to my niece1?
Did I impale him with the regal crown?
Did I put Henry from his native right;

30

And am I guerdon'd at the last with shame?
Shame on himself! for my defert is honour.
And, to repair my honour loft for him,

I here renounce him, and return to Henry:-
My noble queen, let former grudges país,
And henceforth I am thy true fervitor;
I will revenge his wrong to lady Bona,
And replant Henry in his former state.

35

Queen. Warwick, these words have turn'd my 40
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 vouchfafe to furnish us
With fome few bands of chofen foldiers,
I'll undertake to land them on our coaft,
And force the tyrant from his feat by war.
'Tis not his new-made bride fhall fuccour him :
And as for Clarence,-as my letters tell me,
He's very likely now to fall from him;

50

War. This fhall affure my conftant loyalty ;-
That if our queen and this young prince agree,
I'll join my younger daughter, and my joy,
To him forthwith in holy wedlock bands.

Queen. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your
motion:-

Son Edward, he 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. [it;
Prince. Yes, I accept her, for the well deferves
And here, to pledge my vow, I give my hand.
[He gives bis band to Warwick.
K. Lew. Why ftay we now? These foldiers
shall be levy'd,

45 And thou, lord Bourbon, our high admiral,
Shall waft them over with our royal fleet.-
long, 'till Edward fall by war's mischance,
For mocking marriage with a dame of France.
[Exeunt. Manet Warwick.
War. I came from Edward as embaffador,
But I return his fworn and mortal foe:
Matter of marriage was the charge he gave me,
But dreadful war fhall anfwer his demand.
Had he none elfe to make a ftale, but me?
Then none but I fhall turn his jeft to forrow.
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 mifery,

For matching more for wanton luft than honour,
Or than for ftrength and safety of our country.
Bena. Dear brother, how fhall Bona be reveng'd 55
But by thy help to this diftreffed queen?

Queen. Renowned prince, how fhall poor Henry
live,

Unless thou rescue him from foul despair?

But feek revenge on Edward's mockery.

[Exit.

1 We learn from Holinfhed, " That king Edward did attempt a thing once in the earles houfe which was much against the earles honeftie (whether he would have defloured his daughter or his niece, the certaintie was not for both their honours revealed) for furely fuch a thing was attempted by king Edward." 2. e. fright thy king.

ACT

Of this new marriage with the lady Grey?
Hath not our brother made a worthy choice?

Clar. Alas, you know, 'tis far from hence to
France;

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

Flourish.

5

Would more have ftrengthen'd this our commonwealth

'Gainst foreign storms, than any home-bred mar

riage.

Haft. Why, knows not Montague, that of itself, England is fafe, if true within itself?

Mont. Yes; but the fafer, when 'tis back'd [France:

with France.

Haft. 'Tis better ufing France, than trusting
10 Let us be back'd with God, and with the seas',
Which he hath given for fence impregnable,
And with their helps alone defend ourselves;
In them, and in ourselves, our fafety lies.

Enter King Edward, Lady Grey, as Queen; Pembroke, Stafford, and Haftings. Four 15 ftand on one fide, and four on the other.

Glo. And his well chofen 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 malecontent?
Clar. As well as Lewis of France, or the earl of
Warwick;

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

K. Edw. Suppofe they take offence without a
caufe,

They are but Lewis and Warwick; I am Edward,
Your king and Warwick's, and must have my will.

[ed too?

20

25

Glo. And you thall have your will, because our 30
Yet hafty marriage seldom proveth well. [king:
K. Edw. Yea, brother Richard, are you offend-
Glo. Not I:
No; God forbid, that I fhould with them fever'd
Whom God hath join'd together: ay, and 'twere 35
To funder them that yoke fo well together. [pity,
K. Edw. Setting your fcorns, and your mislike,
afide,

Tell me fome reafon, why the lady Grey
Should not become my wife, and England's queen:--40
And you too, Somerset, and Montague,
Speak freely what you think.

Clar. Then this is my opinion,-that king Lewis
Becomes your enemy, for mocking him
About the marriage of the lady Bona.

Glo. And Warwick, doing what you gave in
charge,

Is now dishonour'd by this new marriage.

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

By fuch invention as I can devife?

Ment. Yet to have join'd with France in fuch alliance,

Clar. For this one fpeech, lord Haftings well deferves

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
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 beftow'd
the heir

Of the lord Bonville on your new wife's fon 2,
And leave your brothers to go fpeed elsewhere.

K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife,
That thou art malecontent? I will provide thee.
Clar. In choofing for yourself, you shew'd your

judgement:

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

king,

And not be ty'd unto his brother's will.

Queen. My lords, before it pleas'd his majesty
To raife my ftate to title of a queen,
Do me but right, and you must all confefs
That I was not ignoble of descent,
And meaner than myfelf have had like fortune.
45 But as this title honours me and mine,

So your diflikes, to whom I would be pleafing,
Do cloud my joys with danger and with forrow.

K. Edw. My love, forbear to fawn upon their
frowns :

50 What danger, or what forrow can befall thee,
So long as Edward is thy conftant friend,

And their true fovereign, whom they must obey?
Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too,

Dr. Johnson obferves, that this has been the advice of every man who in any age underflood and favoured the intereft of England. 2 Prior to the Reftoration, the heireffes of great eftates were in the wardship of the king, who in their minority gave them up to plunder, and afterwards matched them to his favourites. Dr. Johnfon remarks on this paffage, that he knows not when liberty gained more than by the abolition of the court of wards.

Unles

Unless they feek for hatred at my hands:
Which if they do, yet will I keep thee fafe,
And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath.
Glo. [afide.] I hear, yet fay not much, but
think the more.

Enter a Peft.

K. Edw. Now, meffenger, what letters, or what news,

From France?

[And hafte is needful in this defperate cafe.Pembroke, and Stafford, you in our behalf Go levy men, and make prepare for war; They are already, or quickly will be landed: 5 Myfelf in person will straight follow you. [Exeunt Pembroke and Stafford.

[words, 10

Peft. My fovereign liege, no letters; and few
But fuch as I, without your fpecial pardon,
Dare not relate.

[brief,

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

I rather with you foes, than hollow friends:
But if you mind to hold your true obedience,
Give me affurance with fome friendly vow,

K. Edw. Go to, we pardon thee: therefore, in
Tell me their words as near as thou canft guefs 15 That I may never have you in suspect.

them.

What anfwer makes king Lewis unto our letters?

Poft. At my depart, these were his very words: "Go tell falfe Edward, thy fuppofed king,"That Lewis of France is fending over maskers, 20 "To revel it with him and his new bride."

K. Edw. Is Lewis fo brave? belike, he thinks me Henry.

But what faid lady Bona to my marriage?

Peft. Thefe were her words, utter'd with mild 25 difdain:

"Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower fhortly, "I'll wear the willow garland for his fake."

K. Edw. I blame not her, fhe could fay little lefs; She had the wrong. But what faid Henry's queen For I have heard, that she was there in place.

Peft. "Tell him," quoth the, "my mourning weeds are done,

"And I am ready to put armour on."

30

Mon. So God help Montague, as he proves true!
Haft. And Haftings, as he favours Edward's

caufe!

[by us?

K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, will you stand Glo. Ay, in defpight of all that shall withstand you.

K. Edw. Why fo; then am I fure of victory. Now therefore let us hence; and lofe no hour, Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power.

K. Edw. Belike, the minds to play the Amazon. 35 But, fee, where Somerfet and Clarence comes;

But what faid Warwick to thefe injuries?

Pet. He, more incens'd against your majesty Than all the reft, discharg'd me with thefe words: “Tell him from me, that he hath done me wrong, "And therefore I'll uncrown him, ere 't be long."40 K. Edw. Ha! durft the traitor breathe out fo proud words?

Well, I will arm me, being thus forewarn'd:
They fhall have wars, and pay for their prefump-
tion.

But fay, is Warwick friends with Margaret?
Pof. Ay, gracious fovereign; they are to link'd
in friendship,
[daughter.

45

That young prince Edward marries Warwick's
Clar. Belike, the younger; Clarence will have 50
the elder.

Now, brother king, farewel, and fit 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 Somerfet flows.

Glo. Not I:
My thoughts aim at a further matter; I
Stay not for love of Edward, but the crown.

Speak fuddenly, my lords, are we all friends?
Cla. Fear not that, my lord. [Warwick;
War. Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto
And welcome, Somerfet :-I hold it cowardice,
To reft mistrustful where a noble heart
Hath pawn'd an open hand in sign of love; [ther,
Elfe might I think, that Clarence, Edward's bro-
Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings:
But welcome, Clarence; my daughter fhall be
thine.

And now what rests, but, in night's coverture,
Thy brother being carelefly encamp'd,
His foldiers lurking in the towns about,
And but attended by a fimple guard,
We may surprize and take him at our pleasure?
Our fcouts have found the adventure very easy:
That as Ulyffes, and ftout Diomede,

With flight and manhood stole to Rhefus' tents,
And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds;
55 So we, well cover'd with the night's black mantle,
At unawares may beat down Edward's guard,
And feize himself; I say not-flaughter him,
For I intend, but only to furprize 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 filent fort:
For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint

6

George!

[Exeunt.

SCENE

Never to lie and take his natural reft,

"Till Warwick, or himfelf, be quite fuppreft.

2 Watch. To-morrow then, belike, fhall be the day,

If Warwick be so near as men report.

|Nay, then I fee, that Edward needs must down.-
Yet, Warwick, in defpight of all mifchance,
Of thee thyfelf, and all thy complices,
Edward will always bear himself as king:

5 Though fortune's malice overthrow my state,
My mind exceeds the compafs of her wheel.
War. Then, for his mind, be Edward England's
king:
[Takes off his croton-

But Henry now fhall wear the English crown,
10 And be true king indeed; thou but the shadow.—
My lord of Somerset, at my request,

[that, 15

3 Watch. But fay, I pray, what nobleman is That with the king here refteth in his tent? 1 Watch. "Tis the lord Haftings,the king's chiefeft friend.

[king,

See that forthwith duke Edward be convey'd
Unto my brother, archbishop of York.

When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows,
I'll follow you, and tell what answer
Lewis, and the lady Bona, fend to him:-
Now, for a while, farewel, good duke of York.
K. Edw. What fates impofe, that men muft
needs abide;

3 Watch. O, is it fo? But why commands the 20 It boots not to refift both wind and tide.
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.

[nefs,

3 Watch. Ay; but give me worship and quiet-25 I like it better than a dangerous honour. If Warwick knew in what estate he stands, 'Tis to be doubted, he would waken him.

1 Watch. Unless our halberds did thut up his paffage.

[tent, 30

2 Watch. Ay; wherefore elfe guard we his royal
But to defend his perfon from night foes?
Enter Warwick, Clarence, Oxford, Somerset, and
French feldiers, filent all.

War. This is his tent; and fee, where ftand 35
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 dieft.
[Warwick, and the reft, cry all-Warwick! War-
zvick! and jet upon the guard; who fly, crying-
Arm! Arm! Warwick, and the reft, following

them.

The drum beating, and trumpets founding.
Enter Warwick, Somerset, and the reft, bringing the
King out in a gown, fitting in a chair: Glefter and
Haftings fly over the flage.

Sem. What are they that fly there?

War. Richard, and Haftings: let them go,
here's the duke.
[parted laft,
K. Edw. The duke! why, Warwick, when we
Thou call'dft me king?

War. Ay, but the cafe is alter'd:
When you difgrac'd me in my embaffage,
Then I degraded you from being king,
And come now to create you duke of York.
Alas! how fhould you govern any kingdom,
That know not how to ufe embaffadors;
Nor how to be contented with one wife;
Nor how to use your brothers brotherly;
Nor how to study for the people's welfare ;
Nor how to fhrowd yourself from enemies? [too?

[Exit King Edward, led out. Oxf. What now remains, my lords, for us to do, But march to London with our foldiers?

War. Ay, that's the first thing that we have to do;
To free king Henry from imprisonment,
And fee him feated in the regal throne. [Exeunt.
S CE N E IV.
London. The Palace.

Enter the Queen, and Rivers.

Riv. Madam, what makes you in this fudden [learn,

change?

Queen. Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to What late misfortune is befall'n king Edward?

Riv. What, lofs of fome pitch'd battle against

Warwick?

Queen. No, but the lofs of his own royal perfon.
Riv. Then is my sovereign flain?

Queen. Ay, almoft flain, for he is taken prifoner;
40 Either betray'd by falfhood of his guard,
Or by his foe furpriz'd at unawares:
And, as I further have to understand,
Is new committed to the bishop of York,
Fell Warwick's brother, and by that our foe.
Riv. These news, I must confefs, are full of grief;
Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may;
Warwick may lofe, that now hath won the day.
Queen. 'Till then, fair hope must hinder life's
decay.

45]

50 And I the rather wean me from despair,
For love of Edward's offspring in my womb :
This is it that makes me bridle my paffion,
And bear with mildnefs my misfortune's cross;
Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear,
55 And ftop the rifing of blood-fucking fighs,
Left with my fighs or tears I blast or drown
King Edward's fruit, true heir to the English crown.
Riv. But, madam, where is Warwick then be-
come?
[London,

60 Queen. I am informed, that he comes towards
To fet the crown once more on Henry's head:
Guefs thou the reft; king Edward's friends muft
But, to prevent the tyrant's violence, [down.
(For truil not him that once hath broken faith)

K. Edw. Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here. 165]I'll hence forthwith unto the fanctuary,

To