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Glo. Come then away, let's ha' no more ado.

K. Edw. Bishop, farewel; fhield thee from Warwick's frown;

And pray, that I may repoffefs the crown.

[Exeunt.

SCENE changes to the Tower in London. Enter King Henry, Clarence, Warwick, Somerset, young Richmond, Oxford, Montague, and Lieutenant of the Tower.

K. Henry. M Have fhaken Edward from the regal seat,

R. Lieutenant, now that God and friends

And turn'd my captive ftate to liberty,

My fear to hope, my forrows unto joys;
At our enlargement what are thy due fees?

Lie. Subjects may challenge nothing of their Sovereigns;
But if an humble prayer may prevail,

I then crave pardon of your Majefty.

K. Henry. For what, Lieutenant? for well ufing me?
Nay, be thou fure, I'll well requite thy kindness;
For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure :

Ay, fuch a pleasure as incaged birds
Conceive, when after many moody thoughts,
At last, by notes of houfhold harmony,
They quite forget their lofs of liberty.

But Waravick, 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 spight,
By living low, where fortune cannot hurt me ;
And that the people of this bleffed land
May not be punish'd with my thwarting ftars;
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 ftill been fam'd for virtuous, And now may feem 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

For chufing me, when Clarence is in place.

Clar. No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the fway, To whom the heav'ns in thy nativity,

Adjudg'd an olive branch and laurel 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 myself will lead a private life;
And in devotion spend my latter days,
To fin's rebuke and my Creator's praise.

War. What answers Clarence to his Sov'reign's will? Clar. That he confents, if Warwick yield confent; For on thy fortune I repofe myself.

War. Why then, though loth, yet muft I be content;
We'll yoke together, like a double fhadow
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. What else? and that fucceffion be determin'd. War. Ay, therein Clarence fhall not want his part. K. Henry. But with the first of all our chief affairs, Let me intreat, for I command no more,

That Margaret your Queen and my fon 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.

Glar. It fhall be done, my Sov'reign, with all fpeed, 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: iffecret powers [Lays his hand on his head. Suggest

Suggeft but truth to my divining thoughts,
This pretty lad will prove our country's blifs.
His looks are full of peaceful majesty,
His head by nature fram'd to wear a crown,
His hand to wield a fceptre, and himself
Likely in time to bless 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?

Pof. 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 Glofier, And the Lord Haftings, who attended him

In fecret ambush on the foreft-fide,

And from the Bishop's huntfmen refcu'd him :
For hunting was his daily exercife.

War. My brother was too careless of his charge.
But let us hence, my Sov'reign, to provide

A falve for any fore that may betide.

[Exeunt.

Manent 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 him hence to Britany,
Till forms be paft of civil enmity.

Oxf. Ay, for if Edward re-poffefs 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 speedily.

[Exeunt.

SCENE

SCENE changes to York.

Enter King Edward, Gloucester, Haflings, and Soldiers.

K. Edw. NOW, brother Richard, Haftings, and the reit,

Yet thus far

maketh us amends; And fays, that once more I fhall enterchange My wained ftate for Henry's regal crown. Well have we pafs'd, and now repafs'd the feas, And brought defired help from Burgundy. What then remains, we being thus arriv'd From Ravenfpurg, before the gates of York, But that we enter, as into our dukedom?

Glo. The gates made fast! brother, I like not this. For many men, that ftumble at the threshold, Are well foretold that danger lurks within.

K.Edw. Tush! man, aboadments must not now affright

By fair or foul means we must enter in,
For hither will our friends repair to us.

[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 ourselves;

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 you for no lefs. K. Edw. Why, and I challenge nothing but my Duke

As being well content with that alone.

Glo. But when the fox has once got in his nose, He'll foon find means to make the body follow.

[dom;

[Afide.

Haft. 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 open'd.
[He defcends.
Glo. A wife ftout Captain, and perfuaded foon!
Haft. The good old man would fain that all were well,
So 'twere not long of him; but being enter'd,
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I doubt not, I, but we fhall foon perfuade
Both him and all his brothers unto reafon.

Enter the Mayor, and two Aldermen.

K. Edw. So, mafter Mayor; thefe 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 storm, As every loyal fubject ought to do.

K. Edw. Thanks, good Montgom'ry: but we now forget Our title to the crown, and only claim

Our dukedom, till God please to send the reft.

Mont. Then fare you well, for I will hence again; I came to serve a King, and not a Duke:

Drummer, ftrike up, and let us march away.

[The Drum begins a March. K. Edw. Nay, stay, Sir John, awhile; 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 yourself 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 stand 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. Away with fcrupulous wit, now arms must 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.