Before you answer Warwick. His demand Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour: War. Because thy father Henry did ufurp; Which did fubdue the greatest part of Spain; War. Oxford, how haps it, in this fmooth difcourfe, K. Lervis. But is he gracious in the people's eye? 5 Tell me for truth the measure of his love War. Such it feems, As may befeem a monarch like himself. Myfelf have often heard him say, and swear,— ICThat this his love was an eternal plant; 15 Whereof the root was fix'd in virtue's ground, K. Lewis. Now, fifter, let us hear your firm Bona. Your grant, or your denial, shall be mine :Yet I confefs, that often ere this day, [Speaking to Warwick. 20 When I have heard your king's defert recounted, Mine ear hath tempted judgement to defire. K. Lewis. Then, Warwick, this,-Our fifter fhall be Edward's; And now forthwith fhall articles be drawn 25 Touching the jointure that your king must make, Which with her dowry fhall be counterpois'd :Draw near, queen Margaret; and be a witness, That Bona fhall be wife to the English king. You told not, how Henry the fixth hath loft that. But for the reft,-You tell a pedigree Of threefcore and two years; a filly time To make prefcription for a kingdom's worth. Prince. To Edward, but not to the English king. Oxf. Why, Warwick, canft thou speak against 35 But if your title to the crown be weak, thy liege, Whom thou obey'dft thirty and fix years, War. Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right, Oxf. Call him my king, by whofe injurious doom My elder brother, the lord Aubrey Vere, Was done to death? and more than fo, 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 houfe of Lancaster. War. And I the houfe of York. As may appear by Edward's good fuccefs,- 40 That your estate requires, and mine can yield. War. Henry now lives in Scotland, at his eafe; Where having nothing, nothing he can lofe. And as for you yourself, our quendam queen,— You have a father able to maintain you; 45 And better 'twere, you troubled him than France. Queen. Peace, impudent and fhameless Warwick, peace; Proud fetter-up and puller down of kings! I will not hence, 'till with my talk and tears, K. Lewis. Queen Margaret, prince Edward, and 50 Both full of truth, I make king Lewis behold K. Lewis. Now, Warwick, tell me, even upon thy confcience, Is Edward your true king? for I were loth, To link with him that were not lawful chofen. Thy fly conveyance 3, and thy lord's falfe love; [Poft, blowing a born within. For both of you are birds of felf-fame feather. K. Lewis. Warwick, this is fome post to us, or thee. Enter a Poft. Poft. My lord ambaffador, thefe letters are for you; [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. [To king Lewis. 2 This feems to be spoken ironically; the poverty of Margaret's father being a very frequent topic of reproach. 3 Conveyance is here put for artifice and fraud. And, 15 And now, to footh your forgery and his, War. King Lewis, I here proteft,-in fight of Queen. Let me give humble thanks for all at And tell falfe Edward, thy supposed king,- I'll wear the willow garland for his fake. [afide, K. Lew. But, Warwick; [Exit Poft. Thyfelf, and Oxford, with five thousand men, Did I let pafs the abuse done to my niece1? 30 And am I guerdon'd at the last with shame? I here renounce him, and return to Henry:- 35 Queen. Warwick, these words have turn'd my 40 And I forgive and quite forget old faults, friend, That, if king Lewis vouchfafe to furnish us 50 War. This fhall affure my conftant loyalty ;- Queen. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your Son Edward, he is fair and virtuous, 45 And thou, lord Bourbon, our high admiral, For matching more for wanton luft than honour, Queen. Renowned prince, how fhall poor Henry 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? Clar. Alas, you know, 'tis far from hence to How could he fstay 'till Warwick made return? 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 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 That you stand pensive, as half malecontent? Which are fo weak of courage, and in judgement, K. Edw. Suppofe they take offence without a They are but Lewis and Warwick; I am Edward, [ed too? 20 25 Glo. And you thall have your will, because our 30 Tell me fome reafon, why the lady Grey Clar. Then this is my opinion,-that king Lewis Glo. And Warwick, doing what you gave in 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 To give the heir and daughter of lord Scales She better would have fitted me, or Clarence; Clar. Or else you would not have beftow'd Of the lord Bonville on your new wife's fon 2, K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife, judgement: Which being fhallow, you shall give me leave king, And not be ty'd unto his brother's will. Queen. My lords, before it pleas'd his majesty So your diflikes, to whom I would be pleafing, K. Edw. My love, forbear to fawn upon their 50 What danger, or what forrow can befall thee, And their true fovereign, whom they must obey? 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: 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 [brief, But, ere I go, Haftings,-and Montague,- I rather with you foes, than hollow friends: K. Edw. Go to, we pardon thee: therefore, in 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! 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: But fay, is Warwick friends with Margaret? 45 That young prince Edward marries Warwick's Now, brother king, farewel, and fit you fast, Glo. Not I: Speak fuddenly, my lords, are we all friends? And now what rests, but, in night's coverture, With flight and manhood stole to Rhefus' tents, 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.- 5 Though fortune's malice overthrow my state, But Henry now fhall wear the English crown, [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 When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows, 3 Watch. O, is it fo? But why commands the 20 It boots not to refift both wind and tide. 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 War. This is his tent; and fee, where ftand 35 Courage, my masters: honour now, or never! 2 Watch. Stay, or thou dieft. them. The drum beating, and trumpets founding. Sem. What are they that fly there? War. Richard, and Haftings: let them go, War. Ay, but the cafe is alter'd: [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; 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. Queen. Ay, almoft flain, for he is taken prifoner; 45] 50 And I the rather wean me from despair, 60 Queen. I am informed, that he comes towards K. Edw. Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here. 165]I'll hence forthwith unto the fanctuary, To |