Page images
PDF
EPUB

Enter Warwick and Oxford in England, with French

Soldiers.

War. Trust me, my Lord, all hitherto goes well,
The common People by numbers fwarm to us.
Enter Clarence and Somerfet.
But fee where Somerset and Clarence come;
Speak fuddenly, my Lords, are we all Friends?
Clar. Fear not that, my Lord.

War. Then gentle Clarence, welcome unto Warwick,,
And welcome Somerfet: I hold it Cowardize,
To reft miftruftful, where a Noble Heart

Hath pawn'd an open Hand, in fign of Love::.
Elfe might I think, that Clarence, Edward's Brother,
Were but a feigned Friend to our Proceedings.
But welcome fweet Clarence, my Daughter fhall be thine..
And now, what refts? but in Night's Coverture,
Thy Brother being carelefly encamp'd,

His Soldiers lurking in the Town about,
And but attended by a fimple Guard,
We may furprize and take him at our pleasure,
Our Scouts have found the Adventure very eafie:
That as Vlyffes, and ftout Diomede

With flight 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 fay not, flaughter him,
For I intend but only to furprize 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 filent fort,
For Warwick and his Friends, God and Saint George.

Enter the Watchmen to guard the King's Tent.

[Exeunt.

I Watch. Come on, my Masters, each Man take his Stand, The King by this has fet him down to fleep.

2 Warch. What, will he not to Bed?

Watch. Why no; for he hath made a folemn Yow,

Never to lye and take his natural Reft,

Till Warwick, or himself, be quite fuppreft.

2 Watch.

2 Watch. To morrow then belike fhall be the Day, If Warwick be fo near as Men report.

3 Watch. But fay,I pray, what Nobleman is that, That with the King here refteth in his Tent?

1 Watch. 'Tis the Lord Haftings, the King's chiefeft Friend. 3 Watch. O, is it fo? but why commands the King, That his chief Followers lodge in Towns about him, While he himself keeps in the cold Field?

2 Watch. 'Tis the more Honour, because the more dangerous. 3 Watch. Ay, but give me worship and quietness, I hike it better than a dangerous Honour.

If Warwick knew in what Eftate he stands,

'Tis to be doubted he would waken him.

1 Watch. Unless our Halberds did fhut up his Paffage. 2 Watch. Ay; wherefore elfe guard we this Royal Tent, But to defend his Perfon from Night-foes?

Enter Warwick, Clarence, Oxford, Somerset, and French Soldiers, filent all.

War. This is his Tent, and fee where ftands his Guard: Courage, my Masters: Honour now or never:

But follow me, and Edward (hall be ours.

I Watch. Who goes there?

2 Watch. Stay, or thou diest.

[Warwick and the reft cry all, Warwick, Warwick, and set upon the Guard, who fly, crying, Arms, Arms, Warwick and the reft following them.

The Drum beating, and Trumpets founding.

Enter Warwick, Somerfer, and the rest, bringing the King ont in a Gown, fitting in a Chair; Glo'lter and Haftings flying over the Stage.

Som. What are they that fly there?

War. Richard and Haftings, let them go, here is the Duke. K. Edw. The Duke!

Why Warwick, when we parted

Thou call'dft me King?

War. Ay, but the cafe is alter'd.

When you difgrac'd me in my Embaffade,
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 ufe Ambassadors,

Nor

Nor how to be contented with one Wife,
Nor how to use your Brothers brotherly,
Now how to study for the People's Welfare,
Nor how to farowd your felf from Enemies.
K, Edw. Yea, Brother of Clarence,

Art thou here too?

Nay then I fee, that Edward must needs down.
Yet Warwick, in defpight of all Mifchance,
Of thee thy felf, and all thy Complices,
Edward will always bear himself as King:
Though Fortune's Malice overthrow my State,
My Mind exceeds the Compafs of her Wheel.
War. Then for his Mind be Edward England's King.
Takes off his Crown.
But Henry now fhall wear the English Crown,
And be true King indeed; thou but a Shadow.
My Lord of Somerset, at my request,

See that forthwith Duke Edward be convey'd
Unto my Brother Archbishop of York:

When I have fought with Pembrook, and his Fellows,
I'll follow you, and tell what anfwer

Lewis and the Lady Bona fend to him.

Now for a while farewel good Duke of York.

[They lead him out forcibly. K. Edw. What Fates impose, that Men muft needs abide;

It boots not to refift both Wind and Tide.

| Exeunt.

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 Imprifonment,
And see him feated in the Regal Throne.

Enter Rivers, and the Lady Gray.

[Exeunt.

Riv. Madam, what makes you in this fudden change? La. Gray. Why Brother Rivers, are you yet to learn What late Misfortune has befaln King Edward? Riv. What! lofs of fome pitcht Battel

Against Warwick?

La. Gray. No, but the lofs of his own Royal Perfon.
Riv. Then is my Sovereign flain?

La. Gray. Ay, almoft flain, for he is taken Pifoner.
Either betray'd by falfhood of his Guard,

Or

Or by his Foe furpriz'd at unawares:

And as I further have to understand,
Is now committed to the Bishop of York.

Fell Warwick's Brother, and by that our Foe.

Riv. Thefe News I muft confefs are full of Grief:
Yet, gracious Madam, bear it as you may,
Warwick my lofe, that now hath won the Day.

La. Gray. Till then fair hope muft hinder Life's decay. And I the rather wean me from Defpair

For love of Edward's Off-fpring in my Womb:
This is it that makes me bridle in my Paffion,
And bear with mildness my Misfortune cross:
Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a Tear,
And ftop the rifing of Blood-fucking Sighs,
Left with my Sighs or Tears, I blaft or drown
King Edward's Fruit, true Heir to th' English Crown.
Riv. But Madam,

Where is Warwick then become?

La. Gray. I am inform'd that he comes towards London, To fet the Crown once more on Henry's Head:

Guess thou the reft, King Edward's Friends muft down.
But to prevent the Tyrant's Violence,

For truft not him that hath once broken Faith,
I'll hence forthwith unto the Sanctuary,

To fave, at leaft, the Heir of Edward's Right;
There fhall I reft fecure from force and fraud:
Come therefore let us fly, while we may fly,
If Warwick take us, we are fure to die.

Exeunt.

Enter Gloucefter, Lord Haftings, and Sir William Stanley. Glo. Now my Lord Haftings, and Sir William Stanley, Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither,

Into this chiefeft Thicket of the Park.

Thus ftands the Cafe; you know your King, my Brother,
Is Prifoner to the Bishop here, at whofe Hands
He hath good Ufage, and great Liberty,
And often but attended with weak Guard,
Comes hunting this way to difport himself.
I have advertis'd him by fecret Means,
That if about this hour he make this way,
Under the colour of his ufual Game,

He

He fhall here find his Friends with Horfe and Men,
To fet him free from his Captivity.

Enter King Edward, and a Huntsman with him.
Hunt. This way, my Lord,
For this way lyes the Game.

K. Edw. Nay this way, Man,
See where the Huntsmen ftand.

Now Brother of Glo'fter, Lord Haftings and the rest,
Stand you thus clofe to fteal the Bishop's Deer?
Glo. Brother the time and cafe requireth haste,
Your Horse stands ready at the Park-corner.
K. Edw. But whither fhall we then?

Haft. To Lyn, my Lord,

And fhip from thence to Flanders.

1

Glo. Well gueft, believe me, for that was my meaning.
K. Edw. Stanley, I wi I requite thy forwardness.
Glo. But wherefore ftay we? 'tis no time to talk.
K. Edw. Huntfman, what fay'ft thou?

Wilt thou go along?

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

K. Edw. Bishop farewel,

Shield thee from Warwick's frown,

And pray that I may repoffefs the Crown.

[Exeunt.

Enter King Henry, Clarence, Warwick, Somerfet, young Richmond, Oxford, Mountague,and Lieutenant of the Tower. K. Henry. Mr. Lieutenant, now that God and Friends Have fhaken Edward from the Regal Seat,

And turn'd my captive State to liberty,

My fear to hope, my forrows unto joys,

At our enlargement what are thy due Fees?

Lieu. Subjects may challenge nothing of their Sov'raigns, But, if an humble Prayer may prevail,

I then crave pardon of you M.jefty.

K. Henry. For what, Lieutenant? For well using me? Nay, be thou fure, I'll well requite thy kindness,

For that it made my Imprisonment a Pleasure:
Ay, fuch a Pleafure, as incaged Birds
Conceive; when after many moody thoughts,
At laft, by Notes of Houthold harmony,
They quite forget their lofs of Liberty.

But

« PreviousContinue »