Sent from your brother, Marquess Montague:

-

[To LOUIS.] These from our King unto your Majesty : [To MARGARET.] And, madam, these for you; from whom [They all read their letters.

I know not.

Oxf. I like it well that our fair Queen and mistress

Smiles at her news, while Warwick frowns at his.

Prince. Nay, mark how Louis stamps, as he were nettled: I hope all's for the best.

K. Lou. Warwick, what are thy news?- and yours, fair Queen?

Queen. Mine such as fill my heart with unhoped 7 joys. War. Mine full of sorrow and heart's discontent.

K. Lou. What! has your King married the Lady Grey? And now, to soothe your forgery and his,

Sends me a paper to persuade me patience?
Is this th' alliance that he seeks with France?
Dare he presume to scorn us in this manner?

Queen. I told your Majesty as much before:
This proveth Edward's love and Warwick's honesty.
War. King Louis, I here protest, in sight of Heaven,
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? 9

Did I let pass th' abuse done to my niece?10

7 Unhoped here means unexpected. So, to hope is still sometimes used in the sense of to expect.

8 To allay, to ease off, to stroke down, are among the old senses of to soothe.

9 Not so: Salisbury was wounded and taken prisoner by the Lancastrians in the battle of Wakefield; was soon after beheaded, and his head, along with York's, set upon the gates of York.

10 King Edward did attempt a thing once in the earles house, which was

Did I impale him with the regal crown?
Did I put Henry from his native right?
And am I guerdon'd 11 at the last with shame?
Shame on himself! for my desert is honour:
And, to repair my honour lost for him,

I here renounce 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.

Queen. Warwick, these words have turn'd my hate to love; And I forgive and quite forget old faults,

And joy that thou becomest King Henry's friend.

War. So much his friend, ay, his unfeignèd friend,

That, if King Louis 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 revenged
But by thy help to this distressèd Queen?

Queen. Renownèd Prince, how shall poor Henry live
Unless thou rescue him from foul despair?

Bona. My quarrel and this English Queen's are one.
War. And mine, fair Lady Bona, joins with yours.

much against the earles honestie, (whether he would have deflowred his daughter or his neece, the certaintie was not for both their honours revealed,) for surely such a thing was attempted by king Edward. - HOLIN

SHED.

11 Guerdon'd is rewarded, recompensed.

K. Lou. And mine with hers and thine and Margaret's: Therefore, at last, I firmly am resolved

You shall have aid.

Queen. Let me give humble thanks for all at once. K. Lou. Then, England's messenger, return in post, And tell false Edward, thy supposed king,

That Louis of France is sending over masquers

To revel it with him and his new bride:

Thou see'st what's past; go fear 12 thy king withal.

Bona. Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly, I'll wear the willow-garland for his sake.

Queen. Tell him, my mourning-weeds are laid aside, And I am ready to put armour on.

War. Tell him from me, that he hath done me wrong; And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long.

K. Lou.

[Giving a purse.] There's thy reward: be gone. [Exit Mess.
But, Warwick, thou
Thyself 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 13 and my joy

To him forthwith in holy wedlock-bands.

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

12 To fear used transitively; to frighten or make afraid. See vol. ii. page 169, note 22, and vol. vi. page 149, note 2.

18 This is a departure from history, for Edward Prince of Wales was married to Anne, second daughter of the Earl of Warwick. In fact Isabella, his eldest daughter, was married to Clarence in 1468. There is, however, no inconsistency in the present proposal, for at the time represented neither of Warwick's daughters was married.

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 deserves it;

And here, to pledge my vow, I give my hand.

[Gives his hand to WARWICK.

K. Lou. Why stay we now? These soldiers shall be levied ; And thou, Lord Bourbon, our High-Admiral, Shalt 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 14 but me?
Then none but I shall turn his jest to sorrow.
I was the chief that raised 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.15

[Exit.

14 Stale was much used for a lure, pretence, or decoy; as in a passage of Sidney's: "One bird caught served as a stale to bring in more." It was also used in a sense nearly the same as laughing-stock, which appears to be the sense here. See vol. vii. page 87, note 40, and vol. ii. page 154, note 9. 15 The part which Warwick is made to act in this scene, though amply justified by the Chronicles, seems to have little or no foundation in fact. The King was privately married to the Lady Elizabeth Grey, May 1, 1464, and there was no open rupture between him and Warwick till the Fall of 1468, though the elements had long been secretly preparing for a storm. The causes that finally set the king-maker so fiercely against his royal creature are clouded in mystery; perhaps, as hath been said, "we need seek no further than that jealousy and ingratitude which is too often experienced in those who are under obligations too great to be discharged."

ACT IV.

SCENE I. London. A Room in the Palace.

Enter GLOSTER, CLARENCE, SOMERSET, and MONTAGUE.

Glos. Now tell me, brother Clarence, what 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. Glos. And his well-chosen bride.

Clar. I mind to tell him plainly what I think.

Flourish. Enter King EDWARD, attended; Lady GREY, as Queen; PEMBROKE, STAFFORD, and HASTINGS.

K. Edw. Now, brother of Clarence, how like you our choice,

That

you stand pensive, as half malcontent?

Clar. As well as Louis of France or th' Earl of Warwick ; Which are so weak of courage and in judgment,

That they'll take no offence at our abuse.

K. Edw. Suppose they take offence without a cause,
They are but Louis and Warwick: I am Edward,
Your King and Warwick's, and must have my will.

Glos. Ay, and shall have your will, because our King:
Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well.

K. Edw. Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too? Glos. Not I:

No, God forbid that I should wish them sever'd

Whom God hath join'd together; ay, and 'twere pity
To sunder them that yoke so well together.