But Warwick, after God, thou fett'ft me free,
And chiefly therefore, I thank God, and thee:
He was the Author, thou the Inftrument.
Therefore that I may conquer Fortune's fpight,
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 ftill wear the Crown,
I here refign my Government to thee,
For thou art fortunate in all thy Deeds.

War. Your Grace hath still been fam'd for virtuous,
And now may seem as wife as virtuous,
By fpying and avoiding Fortune's Malice,

For few Men rightly temper with the Stars:
Yet in this one thing let me blame your Grace,
For chufing me, when Clarence is in place.

Clar. No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway,
To whom the Heav'ns in thy Nativity,
Adjudg'd an Olive Branch, and Lawrel Crown,
As likely to be bleft in Peace and War:

And therefore I yield thee my free confent.

War. And I chufe Clarence only for Protector.

K. Henry. Warwick and Clarence, give me both your Hands. Now join your Hands, and with your Hands, your Hearts, That no diffention hinder Government:

I make you both Protectors of this Land,
While I my self will lead a private Life,
And in Devotion spend my latter Days,
To fins rebuke, and my Creator's praife.

War. What anfwers Clarence to his Soveraign's Will?
Clar. That he confents, if Warwick yield confent,
For on thy fortune I repofe my felf.

War. Why then, though loath, yet must I be content: We'll yoak together, like a double shadow To Henry's Body, and fupply 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 confifcated.

Clar.

Clar. What elfe? and that Succeffion be determined.
War. Ay, therein Clarence fhall not want his part.
K. Henry. But with the firft, of all our chief Affairs,
Let me intrear, for I command no more,

That Margaret your Queen, and my Son Edward,
Be fent for, to return from France with speed:
For 'till I fee them here, by doubtful fear,
My joy of liberty is half eclips'd.

Clar. It fhall be done, my Soveraign, with all speed. K. Henry. My Lord of Somerset, what Youth is that, Of whom you feem to have fo tender care?

Som. My Liege, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond. K. Henry. Come hither, England's Hope:

Lays his Hand on his Head.

If fecret Powers fuggeft but truth

To my divining Thoughts,

This pretty Lad will prove our Country's blifs.
His looks are full of peaceful Majefty,

His Head by Nature fram'd to wear a Crown,
His Hand to wield a Scepter, and himself
Likely in time to blefs a Regal Throne:
Make much of him, my Lords; for this is he
Muft help you more, than you are hurt by me.
Enter a Poft.

War. What news, my Friend?

Poft. That Edward is escaped from your Brother,
And fled, as he hears fince, to Burgundy.

War. Unfavory news; but how made he escape?
Poft. He was convey'd by Richard, Duke of Glo'fters
And the Lord Haftings, who attended him

In fecret ambush, on the Foreft fide,

And from the Bishop's Huntsmen refcu'd him:
For Hunting was his daily Exercise.

War. My Brother was too careless of his charge.
But let us hence, my Soveraign, to provide

A Salve for any Sore, that may betide.

[Exeunt.

Manet Somerfet, Richmond, and Oxford. 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 prefaging Prophecy

Did glad my Heart, with hope of this young Richmond:
So doth my Heart, mif-give me, in thefe Conflicts
What may befal him, to his harm and ours.
Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst,
Forthwith we'll fend hence to Britany,
'Till ftorms be paft of civil Enmity.

Oxf. Ay, for if Edward re-possess the Crown,
'Tis like that Richmond with the reft fhall down.
Som. It fhall be fo; he fhall to Britany.
Come therefore, let's about it fpeedily.

[Exeunt.

Enter King Edward, Glocefter, Haftings, and Soldiers. K. Edw. Now Brother Richard, Lord Haftings, and the reft, Yet thus far Fortune maketh us amends, And fays, that once more I fhall enterchange My wained State, for Henry's Regal Crown. Well have we pafs'd, and now repafs'd the Seas, And brought defired help from Burgundy. What then remains, we being thus arriv'd From Ravenspurgh Haven, before the Gates of York

But that we enter, as into our Dukedom?

Glo. The Gates made faft?

Brother, I like not this.

For many Men that stumble at the Threshold,
Are well fore-told, that danger lurks within.

K. Edw. Tuh Man, aboadments muft not now affright us: By fair or foul means we must enter in,

For hither will our Friends repair to us.

Haft. My Liege, I'll knock once more to fummon them. Enter on the Walls, the Mayor of York, and his Brethren. Mayor. My Lords,

We were fore-warned of your coming,

And fhut the Gates, for fafety of our felves;

For now we owe Allegiance unto Henry.

K. Edw. But, Mafter Mayor, if Henry be your King, Yet Edward, at the leaft, is Duke of York.

Mayor. True, my good Lord, I know your for no less. K. Edw. Why, and I challenge nothing but my Dukedom, As being well content with that alone.

Glo. But when the Fox has once got in his Nofe, He'll foon find means to make the Body follow.

Haft.

Hoft. Why, Mafter Mayor, why ftand you in a doubt? Open the Gates, we are King Henry's Friends.

Mayor. Ay, fay you fo? the Gates fhall then be opened. [He defcends. Glo. A wife ftout Captain, and foon perfuaded. Haft. The good old Man would fain that all were well, So 'twere not long of him; but being entred, I doubt not I, but we fhall foon perfwade Both him, and all his Brothers, unto Reason.

Enter the Mayor, aad two Aledrmen. K. Edw. So, Mafter Mayor; these Gates must not be shut, But in the Night, or in the time of War.

What, fear not Man, but yield me up the Keys,

[Takes his Keys.

For Edward will defend the Town, and thee,
And all thofe Friends, that deign to follow me.
March. Enter Montgomery, with Drum and Soldiers.
Glo. Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery,

Our trufty Friend, unless I be deceiv'd.

K. Edw.Welcome, Sir John; but why come you in Arms? Mont. To help King Edward in his time of ftorm, As every Loyal Subject ought to do.

K. Edw. Thanks, good Montgomery:

But we now forget our Title to the Crown,

And only claim our Dukedom,

'Till God please to fend the reft.

Mont. Then fare you well, for I will hence again,

I came to ferve a King, and not a Duke:

Drummer ftrike up, and let us March away.

[The Drum begins a March. K. Edw. Nay ftay, Sir John, a while, and we'll debate

By what fafe means the Crown may be recover'd.
Mont. What talk you of debating? in few Words,

If you'll not' here proclaim your felf our King,

I'll leave you to your Fortune, and be

gone,

To keep them back, that come to fuccour you.

Why fhall we fight, if you pretend no Title?

Glo. Why Brother, wherefore ftand you on nice points? K. Edw. When we grow ftronger,

Then we'll make our Claim:

Till then, 'tis Wisdom to conceal our meaning.

Haft.

Haft. Away with fcrupulous Wit, now Arms muft rule. Glo. And fearlefs minds climb fooneft unto Crowns. Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand,

The bruit thereof will bring you many Friends.

K. Edw. Then be it as you will; for 'tis my right, And Henry but ufurps the Diadem.

Mont. Ay, now my Soveraign fpeaketh like himself, And now will I be Edward's Champion.

Haft. Sound Trumpet, Edward fhall be here proclaim'd: Come, fellow Soldier, make thou Proclamation. [Flourish. Sold. Edward the Fourth, by the Grace of God, King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland, c. Mont. And whofoe'er gain-fays King Edward's right, By this I challenge him to fingle Fight.

[Throws down his Gauntlet.

All. Long live Edward the Fourth.
K. Edw. Thanks, brave Montgomery;
And thanks unto you all.

If Fortune serve me, I'll requite this Kindness.
Now for this Night, let's harbour here at Yorks
And when the Morning Sun fhall raise his Car
Above the Border of this Horizon,

We'll forward towards Warwick, and his Mates;
For well I wot, that Henry is no Soldier.
Ah froward Clarence, how evil it befeems thee,
To flatter Henry, and forfake thy Brother?
Yet as we may, we'll meet both thee and Warwick;
Come on brave Soldiers; doubt not of the Day,
And that once gotten, doubt not of large pay.

[Exeunt.

Enter King Henry, Warwick, Montague, Clarence, Oxford, and Somerfet.

War. What Counsel, Lords? Edward from Belgia,
With hafty Germans, and blunt Hollanders,
Hath pafs'd in fafety through the narrow Seas,
And with his Troops doth march amain to London,
And many giddy People flock to him.

K. Henry. Let's levy Men, and beat him back again.
Clar. A little Fire is quickly trodden out,

Which being fuffer'd, Rivers cannot quench.
VOL. IV.

F

War.