Oxf. I like it well, that our fair queen and mis

tress 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 discontent. K. Lew. What! has your king married the lady

Grey?

And now, to soothe 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 ho

nesty.

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 guerdon'd 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 turn'd my

hate to love;

And I forgive and quite forget old faults,
And joy that thou becomest king Henry's friend.
War. So much his friend, ay, his unfeigned

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 then for strength and safety of our country.

Bona. Dear brother, how shall Bona be re

venged,

But by thy help to this distressed queen? Q. Mar. Renowned prince, how shall poor Henry live,

Unless thou rescue him from foul despair ?

Bona. My quarrel, and this English queen's, are

one.

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.

Q. Mar. Let me give huinble thanks for all at

once.

K. Lew. Then England's messenger, return in post; And tell false Edward, thy supposed 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.

Q. Mar. Tell him, my mourning weeds are laid

aside,

And I am ready to put armour on.
War. Tell him from me, that he hath done me

wrong;

And therefore I'll uncrown him, ere't be long.

There's thy reward; be gone.

K. Lew. But, Warwick, thou,

And Oxford, with five thousand men,

[Exit Mess.

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.

* Fright.

Q. Mar. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your

motion :

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 deserves 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 embassador,
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.

ACT IV.

[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 ? Hath not our brother made a worthy choice ?

Clar. Alas, you know, 'tis far from hence to

France;

How could he stay till Warwick made return ?
Som. My lords, forbear this talk; here comes

the king.

Flourish.-Enter King EDWARD, attended; Lady GREY, as Queen; PEMBROKE, STAFFORD, HASTINGS, and others.

Glo. And his well-chosen bride.

* A stalking-horse, a pretence.

Clar. I mind to tell him plainly what I think.
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 you 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 join'd together: ay, and 'twere

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.

Clar. 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 join'd with France in such al

liance,

Would more have strengthen'd this our common

wealth

'Gainst foreign storms, than any home-bred mar

riage..

Hast. Why, knows not Montague, that of itself England is safe, if true within itself?

Mont. Yes; but the safer, when 'tis back'd with

France.

Hast. 'Tis better using France, than trusting

France:

1

Let us be back'd with God, and with the seas*,
Which he hath given for fence impregnable,
And with their helps only defend ourselves;
In them, and in ourselves, our safety lies.

Clar. For this one speech, lord Hastings well de

serves

To have the heir of the lord Hungerford.

K. Edw. Ay, what of that? It was my will, and

grant;

And, for this once, my will shall stand for law. Glo. And yet, methinks, your grace hath not done well,

To give the heir and daughter of lord Scales
Unto the brother of your loving bride;
She better would have fitted me, or Clarence,
But in your bride you bury brotherhood.

Clar. Or else you would not have bestow'd the

heir +,

Of the lord Bonville on your new wife's son,
And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere.
K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! Is it for a wife,
That thou art malcontent? I will provide thee.
Clar. In choosing for yourself, you shew'd your

judgment:

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 brother's 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

frowns:

What danger, or what sorrow, can befall thee,
So long as Edward is thy constant friend,
And their true sovereign, whom they must obey?
Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too,

* This has been the advice of every man who in any age understood and favoured the interest of England.

+ The heiresses of great estates were in the wardships of the king, who matched them to his favourites.