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SCENE, in Warwickshire.

Enter Warwick and Oxford, with French Soldiers.

War.

T

Ruft me, my Lord, all hitherto goes well;
The common people swarm by numbers to us.
Enter Clarence and Somerset.

But fee, where Somerfet 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 nobler 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, friend, my daughter fhall be thine,
And now what refts, but in night's coverture,
Thy brother being carelefly encamp'd,
His foldiers lurking in the towns about, (19)
And but attended by a fimple guard,

We may furprize and take him at our pleasure ?
Our scouts have found th' adventure very easy:
That as Ulyffes and ftout Diomede

With flight and manhood ftole to Rhefus' tents,
And brought from thence the Thracian fatal fteeds;
So we, well cover'd 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,

(19) His foldiers lurking in the town about.] Dr. Thirlby advised the reading towns here, very juftly, upon the proof of this paffage spoken by the guard in the fcene immediately following.

-but why commands the King,

That his chief foll'wers lodge in towns about him, &c.

For

For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George!

[Exeunt.

Enter the Watchmen to guard the King's Tent.

1 Watth. Come on, my mafters, each man take his stand: The King by this has fet him down to fleep.

2 Watch. What, will he not to bed ?

1 Watch. Why, no: for he hath made a folemn vow, Never to lie and take his natural rest,

Till Warwick, or himfelf be quite fuppreft.

2 Watch. To-morrow then, belike, fhall be the day; If Warwick be so near, as men report.

3 Watch. But fay, I pray, what nobleman is that, That with the King here refteth in his tent? [friend. 1 Watch. 'Tis the Lord Haftings, the King's chiefest 3 Watch. O, is it fo? but why commands the King, That his chief followers lodge in towns about him, While he himself keepeth in the cold field ?

z Watch. 'Tis the more honour, becaufe the more dangerous.

3 Watch. Ay, but give me worship and quietness; I like it better than a dang'rous honour. If Warwick knew in what estate he stands, 'Tis to be doubted, he would waken him.

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, Somerfet, and French Soldiers, filent all.

War. This is his tent; and fee, where stands his guard; Courage, my mafters: honour now, or never! But follow me, and Edward fhall be ours.

1 Watch. Who goes there?

2 Watch. Stay, or thou dieft.

[Warwick and the reft cry all, Warwick! Warwick! and fet upon the Guard; who fly, crying Arms! arms! Warwick and the reft following them.

The Drum beating, and Trumpets founding.

Enter

Enter Warwick, Somerfet, and the rest, bringing the King out in a gown, fitting in a chair; Glo'fter and Haltings 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'dit me King?

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

When you difgrac'd me in my ambaffade,
Then I degraded you from being King;
And come now to create you Duke of York.
Alas, how fhould you govern any kingdom,
That know not how to ufe Ambaffadors;
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 shroud yourself from enemies?

K. Edw. Brother of Clarence, and art thou here too? Nay, then I fee, that Edward needs must down.

Yet, Warwick, in defpight of all mifchance,
Of thee thyfelf, and all thy complices,
Edward will always bear himself as King:
Though fortune's malice overthrow my flate,
My mind exceeds the compafs of her wheel.

War. Then, for his mind, be Edward England's King.
[Takes off bis Crown
But Henry now fhall wear the English crown,
And be true King, indeed; thou but the fhadow.
My Lord of Somerfet, at my request,

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

When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows,
I'll follow you, and tell you what reply

Lewis and Lady Bona fent to him:

Now for a while farewel, good Duke of York.

K. Edw. What fates impofe, that men muft needs abide;

It boots not to refift both wind and tide.

[Ex. King Edward led out forceably.

Oxf. What now remains, my Lords, for us to do,.
But march to London with our foldiers?

War. Ay, that's the first thing that we have to do;
To free King Henry from imprisonment,
And fee him feated in the regal throne.

Riv.

SCENE, the Palace.

Enter Rivers, and the Queen.

[Exeunt

Adam, what makes you in this fudden change?
Queen. Why brother Rivers, are you yet to learn,
What late misfortune has befaln King Edward?
Riv. What! lofs of fome pitcht battle against Warwick?
Queen. No, but the lofs of his own royal perfon.
Riv. Then is my Sovereign flain ?

Queen. Ay, almoft flain, for he is taken prifoner.
Either betray'd by falfehood of his guard,
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 must confefs, are full of grief:
Yet, gracious Madam, bear it as you may;
Warwick may lose, that now hath won the day.

Queen. Till then fair hope muft hinder life's decay. And I the rather wean me from despair,

For love of Edward's off-fpring in my womb:
This is't, that makes me bridle in my paffion,
And bear with mildness my misfortune's cross:
Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear,
And ftop the rifing of blood-fucking fighs,
Left with my fighs, or tears, I blast or drown
King Edward's fruit, true heir to th' English crown.
Riv, But, Madam, where is Warwick then become?
Queen. I am informed that he comes towards London,
To fet the crown once more on Henry's head:
Guess thou the reft, King Edward's friends must down.
But to prevent the tyrant's violence,

(For truft not him, that once hath broken faith ;)
I'll hence forthwith unto the fanctuary,

To

To fave at least 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.

SCENE, a Park near Middleham Castle in Yorkshire.

Enter Gloucester, Lord Haftings, and Sir William Stanley.

TOW,my Lord Haftings, and Sir William Stanley,

Glo. N Lea

Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither,

Into this chiefeft thicket of the Park.

Thus ftands the cafe; you know, our King, my brother,
Is pris'ner to the Bishop, at whose 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 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 lies the game. K. Edw. Nay, this way, man; fee, where the huntfmen ftand.

Now, brother Glo'fter, Haftings, and the reft,
Stand you thus close to steal the Bishop's deer?
Glo. Brother, the time and cafe requireth hafte,
Your horfe ftands ready at the park-corner.

K. Edw. But whither fhall we then?

Haft. To Lyn, my Lord,

And thip from thence to Flanders.

Glo. Well gueft, 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 fo, than tarry and be hang'd.

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