And yet I know not how to get the crown,
For many lives stand between me and home:
And I,-like one lost in a thorny wood,
That rents the thorns, and is rent with the thorns;
Seeking a way, and straying from the way;
Not knowing how to find the open air,
But toiling desperately to find it out,-
Torment myself to catch the English crown;
And from that torment I will free myself,
Or hew my way out with a bloody axe.
Why, I can smile, and murder while I smile;
And cry, content, to that which grieves my heart;
And wet my cheeks with artificial tears;
And frame my face to all occasions.

I'll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall;
I'll slay more gazers than the basilisk;
I'll play the orator as well as Nestor;
Deceive more slily than Ulysses could,
And, like a Sinon, take another Troy:
I can add colours to the cameleon ;
Change shapes, with Proteus, for advantages,
And set the murd'rous Machiavel to school.
Can I do this, and cannot get a crown?
Tut! were it further off, I'll pluck it down. [ex.

SCENE III. FRANCE A ROOM, IN THE PALACE.

Flourish. Enter Lewis the French King, and Lady Bona, attended; the king takes his state. Ther. inter Queen Margaret, Prince Edward her Son, and the Earl of Oxford.

K. Lew. Fair queen of England, worthy Margaret,

[rising. Sit down with us; it ill befits thy state And birth, that thou should'st stand, while Lewis doth sit. [Margaret

Q. Mar. No, mighty king of France; now Must strike her sail, and learn awhile to serve, Where kings command. I was, I must confess, Great Albion's queen in former golden days: But now mischance hath trod my title down, And with dishonour laid me on the ground; Where I must take like seat unto my fortune, And to my humble seat conform myself.

cares.

1

K. Lew. Why, say, fair queen, whence springs this deep despair? [with tears, Q. Mar. From such a cause as fills mine eyes And stoops my tongue, while heart is drown'd in [self, K. Lew. Whate'er it be, be thou still like thyAnd sit thee by our side: yield not thy neck [seats her by him. To fortune's yoke, but let thy dauntless mind Still ride in triumph over all mischance. Be plain, queen Margaret, and tell thy grief; It shall be eas'd, if France can yield relief. Q. Mar. Those gracious words revive my drooping thoughts,

And give my tongue-tied sorrows leave to speak.
Now, therefore, be it known to noble Lewis,-
That Henry, sole possessor of my love,
Is, of a king, become a banished man,
And forc'd to live in Scotland a forlorn;
While proud ambitious Edward, duke of York,
Usurps the regal title, and the seat
Of England's true-anointed lawful king.
This is the cause, that I, poor Margaret,-
With this my son, prince Edward, Henry's heir,-

Am come to crave thy just and lawful aid;
And, if thou fail us, all our hope is done:
Scotland bath will to help, but cannot help;
Our people and our peers are both misled,
Our treasure seiz'd, our soldiers put to flight,
And, as thou see'st, ourselves in heavy plight.
K. Lew. Renowned queen, with patience calm
the storm,

While we bethink a means to break it off.

Q. Mar. The more we stay, the stronger growB our foe. S [thee. K. Lew. The more I stay, the more I'll succour Q. Mar. O, but impatience waiteth on true

sorrow:

And see, where comes the breeder of my sorrow. Enter Warwick, attended.

K. Lew. What's he, approacheth boldly to our presence ?? [greatest friend. Q. Mar. Our earl of Warwick, Edward's K. Lew. Welcome, brave Warwick! What brings thee to France?

[descending from his state. Q. Margaret rises. Q. Mar. Ay, now begins a second storm to rise; For this is he, that moves both wind and tide.

War. From worthy Edward, king of Albion, My lord and sovereign, and thy vowed friend, I come,-in kindness, and unfeigned love,First, to do greetings to thy royal person; And, then, to crave a league of amity; And, lastly, to confirm that amity With nuptial knot, if thou vouchsafe to grant That virtuous lady Bona, thy fair sister, To England's king in lawful marriage. Q. Mar. If that go forward, Henry's hope is War. And, gracious madam, [to Bona] in our

king's behalf

[done.

I am commanded, with your leave and favour,
Humbly to kiss your hand, and with my tongue
To tell the passion of my sovereign's heart;
Where fame, late entering at his heedful ears,
Hath plac'd thy beauty's image, and thy virtue.
Q. Mar. King Lewis, and lady, Bona,-hear
me speak,

Before you answer Warwick. His demand
Springs not from Edward's well-meant honest
But by deceit, bred by necessity;
[love,
For bow can tyrants safely govern home,
Unless abroad they purchase great alliance?
To prove him tyrant, this reason may suffice,-
That Henry liveth still, but were be dead,
Yet here prince Edward stands, king Henry's
[marriage,

son.

Look, therefore, Lewis, that by this league and
Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour:
For though usurpers sway the rule awhile,
Yet heavens are just, and time suppresseth wrongs.
War. Injurious Margaret!
Prince. And why not queen?

War. Because thy father Henry did usurp; And thou no more-art prince, than she is queen. Orf. Then Warwick disannuls great John of

Gaunt,

Which did subdue the greatest part of Spain; And, after John of Gaunt, Henry the fourth, Whose wisdom was a mirror to the wisest; And, after that wise prince, Henry the fifth,

Who by his prowess conquered all France:
From these our Henry lineally descends.

War. Oxford, how haps it, in this smooth
discourse,

You told not, how Henry the sixth hath lost
All that which Henry the fifth had gotten?
Methinks, these peers of France should smile at
But for the rest,-you tell a pedigree

[that.

Of threescore and two years; a silly time
To make prescription for a kingdom's worth.
Orf. Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against
thy liege,

Whom thou obey'dst thirty and six years,
And not bewray thy treason with a blush?
War. Can Oxford, that did ever fence the
Now buckler falsehood with a pedigree? [right,
For shame, leave Henry, and call Edward king.
Oxf. Call him my king, by whose injurious
My elder brother, the lord Aubrey Vere, [doom
Was done to death? and more than so, my father,
Even in the downfall of his mellow'd years,
When nature brought him to the door of death?
No, Warwick, no; while life upholds this arm,
This arm upholds the house of Lancaster.

War. And I, the house of York.

K. Lew. Queen Margaret, prince Edward, and Oxford,

Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside,
While I use further conference with Warwick.
Q. Mar. Heaven grant, that Warwick's words
bewitch him not!

[retiring with the Prince and Oxford. K. Lew. Now, Warwick, tell me, even upon thy conscience,

Is Edward your true king? for I were loath
To link with him that were not lawful chosen.
War. Thereon I pawn my credit and mine

honour.

K. Lew. But is he gracious in the people's eye? War. The more, that Henry was unfortunate. K. Lew. Then further, all dissembling set Tell me for truth the measure of his love [aside, Unto our sister Bona.

War. Such it seems,

As may beseem a monarch like himself.
Myself have often heard him say, and swear,—
That this his love was an eternal plant;
Whereof the root was fix'd in virtue's ground,
The leaves and fruit maintain'd with beauty's
Exempt from envy, but not from disdain, [sun;
Unless the lady Bona quit his pain.

K. Lew. Now, sister, let us hear your firm resolve. [mine:Bona. Your grant, or your denial, shall be Yet I confess, [to War.] that often ere this day, When I have heard your king's desert recounted, Mine ear hath tempted judgment to desire.

K. Lew. Then, Warwick, thus,-Our sister shall be Edward's:

And now forth with shall articles be drawn Touching the jointure that your king must make, Which with her dowry shall be counterpois'd:Draw near, queen Margaret; and be a witness, That Bona shall be wife to the English king. Prince. To Edward, but not to the English king.

Smiles at her news, while Warwick frowns at his
Prince. Nay, mark, now Lewis stamps as he
I hope, all's for the best.
[were nettled:

K. Lew. Warwick, what are thy news? and your's fair queen ?

Q. Mar. Mine, such as fill my heart with un-
hop'd joys.
[tent.

War. Mine, full of sorrow and heart's disconK. 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 honesty. [heaven,

War. King Lewis, I here protest,in sight of 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 ain I guerdon'd at the last with shame? Shame on himself! for my desert is bonour. And, to repair my honour lost for him,

I here recounce 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-
But by thy help to this distressed queen? [veng'd,
Q. Mar. Renowned prince, how shall poor
Henry live,

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 Messenger. 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 well 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

War. I came from Edward as ambassador,
But I return his sworn and mortal foe:
Matter of marriage was the charge he gave me,
But dreadful war shall answer his demand,
Had he none else to make a stale, 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.

[exit

SCENE I. LONDON. A ROOM IN THE PALACE.

Enter Gloster, Clarence, Somerset, Montague,

and others.

think you

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 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?

K. Edw. Suppose they take offence without &

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 Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well. [king: K. Edw. Yea, brother Richard, are you offended Glo. Not I:

[too? No; God forbid, that I should wish them sever'd, Whom God hath join'd together: ay, and 'twere To sunder them that yoke so well together. [pity K. Edw. Setting your scorns, and your mislike, aside,

Tell me some reason, why the lady Grey[queen:Should not become my wife, and England's

And you too, Somerset, and Montague,
Speak freely what you think,

[Lewis Clar. Then this is my opinion,-that king Becomes your enemy, for mocking him About the marriage of the lady Bona. [charge, Glo. And Warwick, doing what you gave in Is now dishonoured by this new marriage. K. Edw. What, if both Lewis and Warwick By such invention as I can devise? [be appeas'd, Mont. Yet to have join'd with France in such alliance, [wealth Would more have strengthen'd this our common'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. [France: Hast. 'Tis better using France, than trusting 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. 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.

[heir

Clar. Or else you would not have bestow'd the 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
And not be tied unto his brother's will. [king,
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,
So long as Edward is thy constant friend,
And their true sovereign, whom they must obey?
Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too,
Unless they seek for hatred at my hands:
Which, if they do, yet will I keep thee safe,
And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath.
Clo. I hear, yet say not much, but think the
[aside.

more.

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

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

brief, [them. Tell me their words as near as thou canst guess 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
me Henry.

But what said lady Bona to my marriage?
Mess. These were her words, utter'd with

mild disdain;

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; [queen? She had the wrong. But what said Henry's For I have heard, that she was there in place. Mess. Tell him, quoth she, my mourning weeds And I am ready to put armour on. [are done, 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 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. (younger.

Clar. Belike, the elder; Clarence will have the 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. Glo. Not I: My thoughts aim at a further matter; I Stay not for love of Edward, but the crown.

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. [true!
Mont. So God help Montague, as he proves
Hast. And Hastings, as he favours Edward's
cause!
[by us?
K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, will you stand
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. [ex. 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.,[Warwick; War. Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto 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,
His soldiers lurking in the towns about,
And but attended by a simple guard,
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!

SCENE III. EDWARD'S CAMP, NEAR WARWICK. Enter certain Watchmen, to guard the King's 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. 'Tis the lord Hastings, the king's chiefest friend Eking,

3 Watch. O, is it so? But why commands the 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. [ness, 3 Watch. Ay; but give me worship and quietI 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 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! Warwick, and the rest, following them. The drum beating and trumpets sounding, re-enter 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: When you disgrac'd me in my embassade, Then I degraded you from being king, And come now to create you duke of York, Alas! how should you govern any kingdom, That know not how to use ambassadors; Nor how to be contented with one wife; Nor know not how to use your brothers brotherly; Nor how to study for the people's welfare; Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies?

K. Edw. Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here too?

Nay, then I see, that Edward needs must down.
Yet, Warwick, in despite of all mischance,
Of thee thyself, and all thy complices,
Edward will always bear himself as king:
Though fortune's malice overthrow my state,
My mind exceeds the compass of her wheel.
War. Then, for his mind, be Edward Eng-
land's king:
[takes off his crown.
But Henry now shall wear the English crown,
And be true king indeed; thou but the shadow.-
My lord of Somerset, at my request,
See that forthwith duke Edward be convey'd
Unto my brother, archbishop of York.
When I have fought with Pembroke and bis fel-
I'll follow you, and tell what answer [lows,
Lewis and the lady Bona send to him :-
Now, for a while, farewell, good duke of York.