Yet, Warwick, in despite of all mischance, [Takes off his Crown. I'll follow you, and tell what answer It boots not to resist both wind and tide, [Erit K. Edw. led out; Som. with him. Orf. What now remains, my lords, for us to do, But march to London with our soldiers? SCENE V. A Park near Middleham Castle in Yorkshire. Enter Gloster, Hastings, Sir William Stanley, and others. Glo. Now, my Lord Hastings, and Sir William Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither, Is prisoner to the bishop here, at whose hands men, To set him free from his captivity. Enter King Edward and a Huntsman. Hunt. This way, my lord; for this way lies the game. War. Ay, that's the first thing that we have K. Edw. Nay, this way, man; see, where the to do; To free King Henry from imprisonment, [Exeunt. SCENE IV. London. A Room in the Palace. Enter Queen Elizabeth and Rivers. Riv. Madam, what makes you in this sudden change? 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? Q. Eliz. No, but the loss of his own royal person. Riv. Then is my sovereign slain? huntsmen stand. Now, brother of Gloster, Lord Hastings, and the rest, Stand you thus close, to steal the bishop's deer? Glo. Well guess'd, believe me; for that was my meaning. K. Edw. Stanley, I will requite thy forward K. Edw. Huntsman, what say'st thou wilt thou go along? Hunt. Better do so, than tarry and be hang'd. Glo. Come then, away; let's have no more ado. Q. Eliz. Ay, almost slain, for he is taken pri- K. Edw. Bishop, farewell: shield thee from soner; Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard, Or by his foe surpris'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 confess, are full of grief: Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may: And I the rather wean me from despair, crown. Riv. But, madam, where is Warwick then become? Q. Eliz. 1 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, [Exeunt Warwick's frown; And pray that I may repossess the crown. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. A Room in the Tower. Enter King Henry, Clarence, Warwick, Somer Have shaken Edward from the regal seat; But, if an humble prayer may prevail, me ? Nay, be thou sure, I'll well requite thy kindness, crown, I here resign my government to thee, And now may seem as wise as virtuous, sway, To whom the heavens, in thy nativity, Now join your hands, and, with your hands, your hearts, That no dissension hinder government: Clar. That he consents, if Warwick yield con cret 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 bro ther, 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 And the Lord Hastings, who attended him 1 And from the bishop's huntsmen rescued him; But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide [Exeunt King Henry, 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! Oxf. 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. SCENE VII. Before York. [Exeunt. York, But that we enter, as into our dukedom? For many men, that stumble at the threshold, By fair or foul means we must enter in, 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. less. I doubt not, but we shall soon persuade SCENE VIII. London. A Room in the Palace. Re-enter the Mayor, and Two Aldermen, below. Enter King Henry, Warwick, Clarence, Mon K. Edw. So, master mayor: these gates must But in the night, or in the time of war. tague, Exeter, and Oxford. War. What counsel, lords? Edward from Drum. Enter Montgomery and Forces,And many giddy people flock to him. marching. As every loyal subject ought to do. of Orf. Let's levy men, and beat him back again. Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war; rence, Shalt stir, in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent, K. Edw. Thanks, good Montgomery: But we The knights and gentlemen to come with thee: now forget Our title to the crown; and only claim. Our dukedom, till God please to send the rest. I came to serve a king, and not a duke.- By what safe means the crown may be recover'd. K. Edw. When we grow stronger, then we'll 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; Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham, And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well belov'd, K. Hen. Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's Clar. In sign of truth, I kiss your highness' hand. K. Hen. Well-minded Clarence, be thou for tunate! Mont. Comfort, my lord,-and so I take my leave. Orf. And thus [Kissing Henry's hand.] I seal my truth, and bid adieu. K. Hen. Sweet Oxford, and my loving Mon- And all at once, once more a happy farewell. [Exeunt War. Clar. Oxf. and Mont. K. Hen. Here at the palace will I rest a while. Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship? Mont. Ay now my sovereign speaketh like Methinks, the power that Edward hath in field And Henry but usurps the diadem. himself; And now will I be Edward's champion. Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation. By this I challenge him to single fight. If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness. We'll forward towards Warwick, and his mates; Come on, brave soldiers; doubt not of the day; [Exeunt. Should not be able to encounter mine. Exe. The doubt is, that he will seduce the rest. got me fame. I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands, me? No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace; [Shout within. A Lancaster! A Lancaster! Enter King Edward, Gloster, and Soldiers. K. Edw. Seize on the shame-fac'd Henry, bear him hence, And once again proclaim us king of England.You are the fount that makes small brooks to flow: Now stops thy spring; my sea shall suck them dry, And swell so much the higher by their ebb.Hence with him to the Tower; let him not speak. [Exeunt some with King Henry. And, lords, towards Coventry bend we our course, Where peremptory Warwick now remains: 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 7 1 Mess. By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward. War. How far off is our brother Montague ? Where is the post that came from Montague? 2 Mess. By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop. Enter Sir John Somerville. War. Say, Somerville, what says my loving son 7 And, by thy guess, how nigh is Clarence now? Som. At Southam I did leave him with his forces, And do expect him here some two hours hence. [Drum heard. War. Then Clarence is at hand, I hear his drum. Som. It is not his, my lord: here Southam lies: The drum your honour hears, marcheth from Warwick. War. Who should that be? belike, unlook'dfor friends. Som. They are at hand, and you shall quickly know. Drums. Enter King Edward, Gloster, and Forces, marching. K. Edw. Go, trumpet, to the walls, and sound a parle." Glo. See how the surly Warwick mans the wall. War. O, unoid spite! is sportful Edward come? Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduc'd, That we could hear no news of his repair? K. Edw. Now, Warwick, wilt thou ope the city gates, Speak gentle words, and humbly bend thy knee? Call Edward,-king, and at his hands beg mercy, And he shall pardon thee these outrages. War. Nay, rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence, Confess who set thee up and pluck'd thee down? Call Warwick-patron, and be penitent, Or did he make the jest against his will? brother. K. Edw. Why, then 'tis mine, if but by War. wick's gift. War. Thou art no Atlas for so great a weight: soner: And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this,What is the body, when the head is off? Glo. Alas, that Warwick had no more forecast, But, whiles he thought to steal the single ten, The king was slyly finger'd from the deck! You left poor Heary at the bishop's palace, And, ten to one, you'll meet him in the Tower. K. Edw. "Tis even so; yet you are Warwick still. Glo. Come, Warwick, take the time, kncel down, kneel down: Nay, when? strike now, or else the iron cools. tide thy friend; This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black hair, Shall, whiles the head is warm, and new cut off, Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood,Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more. Enter Oxford, with Drum and Colours. War. O cheerful colours! see where Oxford comes! Orf. Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster! [Oxford and his Forces enter the City. Glo. The gates are open, let us enter too. K. Edw. So other foes may set upon our backs. Stand we in good array; for they, no doubt Will issue out again, and bid us battle: If not, the city, being but of small defence, We'll quickly rouse the traitors in the same. War. O, welcome, Oxford, for we want thy help. Enter Montague, with Drum and Colours. Mont. Montague, Montague, for Lancaster! [He and his Forces enter the City. Glo. Thou and thy brother both shall buy this treason Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear. K. Edw. The harder match'd, the greater vic tory; My mind presageth happy gain, and conquest. Enter Somerset, with Drum and Colours. Som. Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster! [He and his Forces enter the City. Glo. Two of thy name, both dukes of Somerset, Have sold their lives unto the house of York: And thou shalt be the third, if this sword hold. Enter Clarence, with Drum and ColoursS. War. And lo, where George of Clarence sweeps along, Of force enough to bid his brother battle; Clar. Father of Warwick, know you what this means? [Taking the red Rose out of his Cap Look here, I throw my infamy at thee: I will not ruinate my father's house, Who gave his blood to lime the stones together, And set up Lancaster. Why, trow'st thou, War wick, That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt, unnatural, And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults, Than if thou never hadst deserv'd our hate. War. O passing traitor, perjur'd, and unjust! Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears? Lords, to the field, Saint George and victory. K. Edw. So, lie thou there: die thou, and die our fear: pany. [Exit. That might not be distinguish'd; but, at last, Sweet rest to his soul Fly, lords, and save yourselves: for Warwick bids You all farewell, to meet again in heaven. [Dies. K. Edw. Thus far our fortune keeps an upward course, And we are graced with wreaths of victory. For Warwick was a bug, that fear'd us all.- War. Ah, who is nigh? come to me, friend or foe, shows That I must yield my body to the earth, tree, And kept low shrubs from winter's powerful wind. These eyes, that now are dimm'd with death's Have been as piercing as the mid-day sun, The wrinkles in my brows, now fill'd with blood, Lo, now my glory smear'd in dust and blood! dust? And, live we how we can, yet die we must. and That they do hold their course toward Tewks We having now the best at Barnet field, mented In every county as we go along. SCENE IV. Plains near Tewksbury. wail their loss, But cheerly seek how to redress their harms. Whiles, in his moan, the ship splits on the rock, Som. Ah, Warwick, Warwick, wert thou as Ah, what a shame! ah, what a fault were this! Even now we heard the news: Ah, couldst thou fly! War. Why, then I would not fly.-Ah, Mon-The friends of France our shrouds and tacklings? tagne, If thou be there, sweet brother, take my hand, And, to the latest gasp, cried out for Warwick, Which sounded like a cannon in a vault, |