When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows,
I'll follow you, and tell what answer

Lewis, and the Lady Bona, sent to him :

Now, for a while, farewell, good duke of York.

K. Edw. What fates impose, that men must needs abide ; It boots not to resist both wind and tide.

[Exit King EDWARD, led out; SOMERSET with him. Oxf. What now remains, my lords, for us to do, But march to London with our soldiers?

War. Ay, that's the first thing that we have to do; To free king Henry from imprisonment,

And see him seated in the regal throne.

SCENE IV.

[Exeunt

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?

Q. Eliz. Ay, almost slain, for he is taken prisoner ;
Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard,

Or by his foe surpriz'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;

Warwick may lose, that now hath won the day.

Q. Eliz. Till then, fair hope must hinder life's decay. And I the rather wean me from despair,

For love of Edward's offspring in my womb :

This is it that makes me bridle passion,

And bear with mildness my misfortune's cross;
Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear,
And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs,
Lest with my sighs or tears I blast or drown
King Edward's fruit, true heir to th' English crown.
Riv. But, madam, where is Warwick then become?
Q. Eliz. I 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,

(For trust not him that hath once broken faith,)
I'll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary,

To save at least the heir of Edward's right;
There shall I rest secure from force, and fraud.
Come therefore, let us fly, while we may fly;
If Warwick take us, we are sure to die.

SCENE V.

[Exeunt.

A Park near Middleham Castle in Yorkshire. Enter GLOSTER, HASTINGS, Sir WILLIAM STANLEY, and others

Glo. Now, my lord Hastings, and sir William Stanley, Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither,

Into this chiefest thicket of the park.

Thus stands the case: You know, our king, my brother,
Is prisoner to the bishop here, at whose hands

He hath good usage and great liberty;
And often, but attended with weak guard,
Comes hunting this way to disport himself.
I have advértis'd him by secret means,
That if about this hour, he make this way,
Under the colour of his usual game,

He shall here find his friends, with horse and men,
To set him free from his captivity.

Enter King EDWARD, and a Huntsman.

Hunt. This way, my lord; for this lies the game.

way

K. Edw. Nay, this way, man; see, where the huntsmen

stand..

Now, brother of Gloster, lord Hastings, and the rest,
Stand you thus close, to steal the bishop's deer?

Glo. Brother, the time and case requireth haste;
Your horse stands ready at the park corner.

K. Edw. But whither shall we then?

Hast. To Lynn, my lord; and ship from thence to Flanders.

Glo. Well guess'd, believe me ; for that was my meaning,
K. Edw. Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness.

Glo. But wherefore stay we ? 'tis no time to talk.
K. Edw. Huntsman, what say'st thou

along?

wilt thou go

Hunt. Better do so, than tarry and be hang'd.
Glo. Come then, away; let's have no more ado.

VOL. IV.

28

K. Edw. Bishop, farewell: shield thee from Warwick's

frown;

And pray that I may repossess the crown.

SCENE VI.

[Exeunt.

A Room in the Tower. Enter King Henry, Clarence, WarWICK, SOMERSET, Young RICHMOND, OXFORD, Montague, Lieutenant of the Tower, and Attendants.

K. Hen. Master lieutenant, now that God and friends Have shaken Edward from the regal seat; And turn'd my captive state to liberty, My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys; At our enlargement what are thy due fees?

Lieu. Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns; But, if an humble prayer may prevail,

I then crave pardon of your majesty.

K. Hen. For what, lieutenant? for well using me? Nay, be thou sure, I'll well requite thy kindness, For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure : Ay, such a pleasure as incaged birds Conceive, when, after many moody thoughts, At last, by notes of household harmony, They quite forget their loss of liberty.But, Warwick, after God, thou set'st me free, And chiefly therefore I thank God, and thee; He was the author, thou the instrument. Therefore, that I may conquer fortune's spite, By living low, where fortune cannot hurt me; And that the people of this blessed land May not be punish'd with my thwarting stars; Warwick, although my head still wear the crown, I here resign my government to thee,

For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds.

War. Your grace has still been fam'd for virtuous;
And now may seem as wise as virtuous,
By spying, and avoiding, fortune's malice,
For few men rightly temper with the stars :*
Yet in this one thing let me blame your grace,
For choosing me, when Clarence is in place.

Clar. No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway,

[5] I suppose the meaning is, few men conform their temper to their destiny, king Henry did, when finding himself unfortunate he gave the management of pub lic affairs to more prosperous hands. JOHNSON.

To whom the heavens, in thy nativity,
Adjudg'd an olive branch, and laurel crown,
As likely to be blest in peace, and war;

And therefore I yield thee my free consent.

War. And I choose Clarence only for protector.
K. Hen. Warwick, and Clarence, give me both your
hands;

Now join your hands, and, with your hands, your hearts,
That no dissention hinder government:
I make you both protectors of this land;
While I myself will lead a private life,
And in devotion spend my latter days,
To sin's rebuke, and my Creator's praise.

War. What answers Clarence to his sovereign's will? Clar. That he consents, if Warwick yield consent; For on thy fortune I repose myself.

War. Why then, though loth, yet must I be content:
We'll yoke together, like a double shadow
To Henry's body, and supply his place;
I mean, in bearing weight of government,
While he enjoys the honour, and his ease.
And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful,
Forthwith that Edward be pronounc'd a traitor,
And all his lands and goods be confiscate.

Clar. What else? and that succession be determin'd
War. Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.
K. Hen. But, with the first of all your chief affairs,
Let me entreat, (for I command no more,)
That Margaret your queen, and my son Edward,
Be sent for, to return from France with speed:
For, till I see them here, by doubtful fear
My joy of liberty is half eclips'd.

Clar. It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.
K. Hen. My lord of Somerset, what youth is that,

Of whom you seem to have so tender care?

Som. My liege, it is young Henry, earl of Richmond."

[6] He was afterwards Henry VII. a man who put an end to the civil war of the two houses, but no otherwise remarkable for virtue. Shakespeare knew his trade. Henry VII. was grandfather to Queen Elizabeth, and the king from whom James interited. JOHNSON.--Shakespeare only copied this particular, together with many others, from Holinshed. STEEVENS.-Henry earl of Richmond was the son of Edmond earl of Richmond, and Margaret, daughter to John the first duke of Somerset. Edmond earl of Richmond was half-brother to king Henry the sixth, being the son of that king's mother Queen Catharine, by her second husband Owen Teuther or Tudor, who was taken prisoner at the battle of Mortimer's Cross, and soon afterwards beheaded at Hereford. MALONE.

K. Hen. Come hither, England's hope: If secret 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?

Mes. That Edward has escaped from your brother, And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.

War. Unsavoury news: But how made he escape ? Mes. He was convey'd by Richard duke of Gloster, And the lord Hastings, who attended him

In secret ambush on the forest side,

And from the bishop's huntsmen rescued him;

For hunting was his daily exercise.

War. My brother was too careless of his charge.

But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide

A salve for

any sore that may betide.

[Exeunt King
HENRY, WAR. CLAR. Lieut. and Attendants.
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 1;
So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts
What may befal 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.

[Exeunt.

Before York. Enter King EDWARD, Gloster, Hastings,

and Forces.

K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, lord Hastings, and

the rest;