S CENE II.

Enter a Poft

K. Edw. Now, Meffenger, what letters or what news from France?

Poft. My Sovereign Liege, no letters, and few words; But fuch as I, without your fpecial pardon,

Dare not relate.

K. Edw. Go to, we pardon thee.

So tell their words, as near as thou canst guess them.
What anfwer makes King Lewis to our letters?
Poft. At my depart, thefe were his very words;
-Go tell falfe Edward, thy fuppofed King,
That Lewis of France is fending over maikers
To revel it with him and his new bride.

K. Edw. Is Lewis so brave? belike, he thinks me
Henry.

But what faid lady Bona to my marriage?

Poft. These were her words, utter'd with mild difdain; -Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower fhortly, I'll wear the willow garland for his fake.

K. Edw. I blame not her, fhe could fay little less; She had the wrong. But what faid Henry's Queen? For fo I heard, that fhe was there in place.

Poft. Tell him, quoth the, my mourning weeds are done;

And I am ready to put armour on.

K. Edw. Belike, the means to play the Amazon. But what faid Warwick to these injuries?

Poft. He, more incens'd against your Majefty Than all the reft, difcharg'd me with thefe words; -Tell him from me, that he hath done me Wrong, And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long.

K. Edw. Ha! durft the Traitor breathe out fo proud words?

Well, I will arm me, being thus forewarn'd:
They fhall have wars, and pay for their prefumption.
But fay, is Warwick friends with Margaret?

Poft

Poft. Ay, gracious Sov'reign, they're fo link'd in friendfhip,

That young Prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter.

[Exit. Clar. Belike the younger; Clarence will have the elder.s -Now, brother King, farewel, and fit you fast, For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter; That though I want a Kingdom, yet in Marriage I may not prove inferior to yourfelf.

*

-You, that love me and Warwick, follow me.
[Exit Clarence, and Somerset follows:
Glo. Not I: my thoughts aim at a further matter:
I ftay not for love of Edward, but the Crown. [Afide.
K. Edw. Clarence and Somerfet both gone to Warwick?
Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen;
And hafte is needful in this defp'rate cafe.
Pembroke and Stafford, you in our behalf
Go levy men, and make prepare for war;
They are already, or will foon be landed;
Myself in perfon will ftrait follow you.

[Exe. Pembroke and Stafford.

But ere I go, Haftings and Montague,
Refolve my doubt: You twain, of all the reft,
Are near to Warwick by blood and by alliance;
Tell me, if you love Warwick more than me?
If it be fo, then both depart to him,

I rather wish you foes, than hollow friends.
But if you mind to hold your true obedience,
Give me affurance with fome friendly vow,
That I may never have you in fufpect.

5 Belike the Elder; Clarence will have the Younger.] I have ventured to make Elder and Younger change Places in this Line against the Authority of All the printed Copies. The Rea

fon of it will be obvious.

THEOBALD. *You, that love me and Warwick, follow me.] That

Clarence fhould make this fpeech in the king's hearing is very improbable, yet I do not fee how it can be palliated. The king never goes out, nor can Clarence

be talking to a company apart, for he anfwers immediately to that which the Poft fays to the king.

Mon.

Mon. So God help Montague, as he proves true! Haft. And Haftings, as he favours Edward's Caufe! K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, will you ftand by us? Glo. Ay, in defpight of all that shall withstand K. Edw. Why fo. Then am I fure of victory. Now therefore let us hence, and lofe no hour, 'Till we meet Warwick with his foreign Power. [Exe.

War.

ar Ti

you.

Enter Warwick and Oxford, with French Soldiers.
RUST 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 cowardife
To rest mistrustful, 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, friend, my daughter fhall be thine.
And now what refts, but in night's overture,
Thy brother being carelefly encamp'd,
His foldiers lurking in the towns about,
And but attended by a fimple guard,

night's overture.] The author muft, I think, have written night's coverture. For though overture, which fignifies firft an opening, then an offer, may likewife mean an opportunity, yet in an overture feems to be an improper phrase.

6 His Soldiers lurking in the

*

6

Town about.] Dr. Thirlby advifed the reading Towns here; the Guard in the Scene immediately following fays,

but why commands the King,

That his chief Followers lodge in
Towns about him, &c.

THEOBALD.
We

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

With flight and manhood stole 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, For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George!

SCENE IV.

[Exeunt.

Enter the Watchmen to guard the King's Tent.

I Watch. 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?

I Watch. Why, no; for he hath made a folemn vow, Never to lie and take his natural Reft,

Till Warwick or himself be quite fuppreft.

2 Watch. Tomorrow 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 keepeth in the cold field?

2 Watch. 'Tis the more honour, because the more dangerous.

So we, well cover'd with the line may confirm the reading of night's black mantle,] This coverture.

3 Watch.

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.

1 Watch. Unless our halberds did fhut up his paffage. 2 Watch. Ay; wherefore else 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 mafters: honour now, or never!
But follow me, and Edward fhall be ours.

I 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 Warwick, Somerfet, and the rest, bringing the King out in a gown, fitting in a chair; Glofter 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 ambassade,
Then I degraded you from being King;

* And come now to create you Duke of York.
Alas, how fhould you govern any kingdom,

* And come now to create you And come to new create you Duke

Duke of York.] Might we

read with a flight alteration à

of York.

That