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.

1 Watch. Who goes there?

2 Watch. Stay, or thou diest.

WAR

[WARWICK, and the rest cry all,-Warwick! Warwick! and set upon the Guard; who fly, crying-Arm! Arm ! WICK, 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 is the duke.

K.Ed. The duke! why,Warwick,'when we parted last, Thou call'dst me king?

War. Ay, but the case is alter'd :
When you disgrac'd me in my embassade,
Then I degraded you from being king,

And come now to create you duke of York. 4
Alas! how should you govern any kingdom,
That know not how to use ambassadors;
Nor how to be contented with one wife ;
Nor how to use your brothers brotherly;
Nor how to study for the people's welfare;
Nor how to shrowd 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 king:

[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 de convey'd
Unto my brother, archbishop of York.

E4] Might we read with a slight alteration?

And come to new create you duke of York.

JOHNS,

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, farewel, good duke of York.

K. Ed. 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.Mar. 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 the 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 forth with 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 way lies the game. 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 wilt thou go

along?

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

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:5
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, as king Henry did, when finding himself unfortunate he gave the management of public affairs to more prosperous hands. JOHNS.

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? Cla. 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, Forth with that Edward be pronounc'd a traitor, And all his lands and goods be confiscate.

Cla. 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.

Cla. 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

[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. Shakspeare knew his trade. Henry VII was grandfather to Queen Elizabeth, and the king from whom James inherited. JOHNS.--Shakspeare only copied this particular, together with many others, from Holinshed. STEEV --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. MAL.