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 aside,
Tell me for truth the measure of his love
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 fixed in virtue's ground,
The leaves and fruit maintained with beauty's sun:
Exempt from envy, but not from disdain,
Unless the Lady Bona quit his pain.

K. Lew. Now sister, let us hear your firm resolve. Bona. Your grant or your denial shall be mine: Yet I confess [to WARWICK.] 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 forthwith shall articles be drawn Touching the jointure that your King must make, Which with her dowry shall be counterpoised.— 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.

Q. Mar. Deceitful Warwick, it was thy device By this alliance to make void my suit: Before thy coming Lewis was Henry's friend. K. Lew. And still is friend to him and Margaret: But if your title to the crown be weak, As may appear by Edward's good success, Then 't is but reason that I be released From giving aid, which late I promised. Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand That your estate requires, and mine can yield.

War. Henry now lives in Scotland at his ease; Where, having nothing, nothing he can lose. And as for you yourself, our quondam Queen, You have a father able to maintain And better 't were you troubled him than France. Q. Mar. Peace, impudent and shameless

you:

Warwick, peace: Proud setter-up and puller-down of kings!

I will not hence till with my talk and tears,
Both full of truth, I make King Lewis behold
Thy sly conveyance and thy lord's false love:
For both of you are birds of self-same feather.
[A horn sounded within,

K. Lew. Warwick, this is some post to us or thee.
Enter a Messenger.

Mess. My lord ambassador, these letters are for you;

Sent from your brother, Marquis Montague:
These from our King unto your majesty:
And, madam, these for you; from whom I know

not.

[TO MARGARET.—They all read their letters. Oxf. I like it well that our fair Queen and mistress

Smiles at her news, while Warwick frowns at his. Prince. Nay, mark how Lewis stamps as he were nettled:

I hope all's for the best.

K. Lew. Warwick, what are thy news; and yours fair Queen?

Q. Mar. Mine such as fill my heart with unhoped joys.

War. Mine full of sorrow and heart's discon-
tent.

K. 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.

War. King Lewis, 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:
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 am I guerdoned 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.
Q. Mar. Warwick, these words have turned
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 unfeignéd 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 revenged But by thy help to this distresséd Queen?

Q. Mar. Renowned prince, how shall poor Henry live,

Unless thou rescue him from foul despair? [one.
Bona. My quarrel and this English Queen's are
War. And mine, fair Lady Bona, joins with yours.
K. Lew. And mine with hers and thine and
Margaret's:

Therefore, at last I firmly am resolved
You shall have aid.

at once.

Q. Mar. Let me give humble thanks for all [in post; K. Lew. Then, England's messenger, return And tell false Edward, thy supposéd King, That Lewis of France is sending over maskers To revel it with him and his new bride. Thou seest what's past; go fear thy King withal Bona. Tell him, in hope he 'll prove a widower shortly,

I'll wear the willow garland for his sake. [aside, Q. Mar. Tell him, my mourning weeds are laid And I am ready to put armour on.

[wrong,

War. Tell him from me that he hath done me 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 motion.

your

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 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. [Exit.

SCENE I.-London. A Room in the Palace. Enter GLOSTER, CLARENCE, SOMERSET, MONTAGUE, and others.

Glo. Now tell me, brother Clarence, what think you

Of this new marriage with the Lady Grey:
lath not our brother made a worthy choice?
Clar. Alas, you know 't is far from hence to
France:

low could he stay till Warwick made return?

Som. My lords, forbear this talk here comes the King.

Glo. 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, HASTINGS, and others.

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

That you stand pensive, as half malcontent?

Clar. As well as Lewis of France, or the 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 Lewis and Warwick: I am Edward, Your King and Warwick's, and must have my will. Glo. And shall have your will, because our King: Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well.

K. Edw. Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too?

Glo. Not I:

No, God forbid that I should wish them severed Whom God hath joined together: ay and 't were pity

To sunder them that yoke so well together.

K. Edw. Setting your scorns and your mislike aside,

Tell me some reason why the Lady Grey
Should not become my wife and England's Queen.
And you too, Somerset and Montague,
Speak freely what you think.

Cla. Then this is my opinion: that King Lewis
Becomes your enemy, for mocking him
About the marriage of the Lady Bona.

Glo. And Warwick, doing what you gave in charge,

Is now dishonoured by this new marriage. K. Edw. What if both Lewis and Warwick be appeased

By such invention as I can devise?

Mont. Yet to have joined with France in such alliance, [wealth

Would more have strengthened 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 it is backed

with France.

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 King, And not be tied unto his brothers' will.

Q. Eliz. My lords, before it pleased 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

[brief, K. Edw. Go to, we pardon thee: therefore in Tell me their words as near as thou canst guess them What answer makes King Lewis unto our letters?

very

Mess. At my depart these were his words: "Go tell false Edward, thy supposéd 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, uttered 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

less: She had the wrong. Queen?

little

But what said Henry's

For I have heard that she was there in place. Mess. "Tell him," quoth she, "my mourning weeds are done,

And I am ready to put armour on."

K. Edw. Belike she minds to play the Amazon. But what said Warwick to these injuries?

Mess. He, more incensed against your majesty Than all the rest, discharged 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 forewarned: They shall have wars, and pay for their presumption.

But

say, is Warwick friends with Margaret? Mess. Ay, gracious sovereign: they are so linked in friendship

That young Prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter.

Clar. Belike the elder: Clarence will have the younger.

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.

[Aside.

K. Edw. Clarence and Somerset both gone to
Warwick!

Yet am I armed against the worst can happen;
And haste is needful in this desperate case.—
Pembroke and Stafford, you in our behalf
Go levy men, and make prepare for war:
They are already, or quickly will be landed.
Myself in person will straight follow you.

[Exeunt PEMBROKE and STAFFORD.

But ere I go, Hastings and Montague,
Resolve my doubt. You twain, of all the rest,
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.

Mont. So God help Montague as he proves true. last. And Hastings as he favours Edward's

cause.

K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, will you stand by us?

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. [Exeunt.

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. But see where Somerset and Clarence come! Speak suddenly, my lords; are we all friends?

Enter CLARENCE and SOMERSET. Clar. Fear not that, my lord.

War. Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto
Warwick;

And welcome Somerset.-I hold it cowardice
To rest mistrustful where a noble heart
Hath pawned an open hand in sign of love:
Else might I think that Clarence, Edward's brother,
Were but a feignéd 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 encamped,
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 covered 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!
[Exeunt.

"

SCENE III.-EDWARD's Camp near Warwick. Enter certain Watchmen to guard the KING's tent. 1st Watch. Come on, my masters, each man take his stand:

The King by this is set him down to sleep. 2nd Watch. What, will he not to bed? 1st Watch. Why, no: for he hath made a solemn vow

Never to lie and take his natural rest Till Warwick or himself be quite suppressed. 2nd Watch. To-morrow, then, belike shall be the day,

If Warwick be so near as men report.

3rd Watch. But say, I pray, what nobleman is that

That with the King here resteth in his tent? 1st Watch. "Tis the Lord Hastings, the King's chiefest friend.

3rd Watch. Oh is it so? But why commands the King

That his chief followers lodge in towns about him, While he himself keepeth in the cold field?

2nd Watch. 'Tis the more honour, because more dangerous.

3rd Watch. Ay, but give me worship and quietness:

I like it better than a dangerous honour. If Warwick knew in what estate he stands, 'Tis to be doubted he would waken him.

1st Watch. Unless our halberds did shut up his passage.

2nd 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.
1st Watch. Who goes there?

2nd Watch. Stay or thou diest. [WARWICK and the rest cry all, "Warwick! Warwick!" and set upon the Guard; who fly, crying, "Arm! 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 e King.

War. Ay, but the case is altered:
When you disgraced me in my ambassade,
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 England's
[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 conveyed
Unto my brother, Archbishop of York.
When I have fought with Pembroke and his
fellows,

King:

I'll follow you, and tell what answer
Lewis and the Lady Bona send 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. [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 pitched 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 betrayed by falsehood of his guard,
Or by his foes surprised 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.