Belike she minds to play the Amazon.
But what said Warwick to these injuries?
Post
He, more incensed against your majesty
Than all the rest, discharged me with these words:
‘Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong,
And therefore I’ll uncrown him ere’t be long.’
King Edward IV
Ha! durst the traitor breathe out so proud words?
Well I will arm me, being thus forewarn’d:
They shall have wars and pay for their presumption.
But say, is Warwick friends with Margaret?
Post
Ay, gracious sovereign; they are so link’d in friendship That young Prince Edward marries Warwick’s daughter.
Clarence
Belike the elder; Clarence will have the younger.
Now, brother king, farewell, and sit 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 yourself.
You that love me and Warwick, follow me.
Exit Clarence, and Somerset follows
Gloucester
[Aside] Not I:
My thoughts aim at a further matter; I
Stay not for the love of Edward, but the crown.
King Edward IV
Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick!
Yet am I arm’d against the worst can happen;
And haste is needful in this desperate case.
Pembroke and Stafford, you in our behalf
Go levy men, and make prepare for war;
They are already, or quickly will be landed:
Myself in person will straight follow you.
Exeunt Pembroke and Stafford
But, ere I go, Hastings and Montague,
Resolve my doubt. You twain, of all the rest,
Are near to Warwick by blood and by alliance:
Tell me if you love Warwick more than me?
If it be so, then both depart to him;
I rather wish you foes than hollow friends:
But if you mind to hold your true obedience,
Give me assurance with some friendly vow,
That I may never have you in suspect.
Montague
So God help Montague as he proves true!
Hastings
And Hastings as he favours Edward’s cause!
King Edward IV
Now, brother Richard, will you stand by us?
Gloucester
Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you.
King Edward IV
Why, so! then am I sure of victory.
Now therefore let us hence; and lose no hour,
Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power.
Exeunt
SCENE II. A PLAIN IN WARWICKSHIRE.
Enter Warwick and Oxford, with French soldiers
Warwick
Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well;
The common people by numbers swarm to us.
Enter Clarence and Somerset
But see where Somerset and Clarence come!
Speak suddenly, my lords, are we all friends?
Clarence
Fear not that, my lord.
Warwick
Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto Warwick;
And welcome, Somerset: I hold it cowardice
To rest mistrustful where a noble heart
Hath pawn’d an open hand in sign of love;
Else might I think that Clarence, Edward’s brother,
Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings:
But welcome, sweet Clarence; my daughter shall be thine.
And now what rests but, in night’s coverture,
Thy brother being carelessly encamp’d,
His soldiers lurking in the towns about,
And but attended by a simple guard,
We may surprise and take him at our pleasure?
Our scouts have found the adventure very easy:
That as Ulysses and stout Diomede
With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus’ tents,
And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds,
So we, well cover’d with the night’s black mantle,
At unawares may beat down Edward’s guard
And seize himself; I say not, slaughter him,
For I intend but only to surprise 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 silent sort:
For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George!
Exeunt
SCENE III. EDWARD’S CAMP, NEAR WARWICK.
Enter three Watchmen, to guard King Edward IV’s tent
First Watchman
Come on, my masters, each man take his stand:
The king by this is set him down to sleep.
Second Watchman
What, will he not to bed?
First Watchman
Why, no; for he hath made a solemn vow
Never to lie and take his natural rest
Till Warwick or himself be quite suppress’d.
Second Watchman
To-morrow then belike shall be the day,
If Warwick be so near as men report.
Third Watchman
But say, I pray, what nobleman is that
That with the king here resteth in his tent?
First Watchman
’Tis the Lord Hastings, the king’s chiefest friend.
Third Watchman
O, is it so? But why commands the king
That his chief followers lodge in towns about him,
While he himself keeps in the cold field?
Second Watchman
’Tis the more honour, because more dangerous.
Third Watchman
Ay, but give me worship and quietness;
I like it better than a dangerous honour.
If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,
’Tis to be doubted he would waken him.
First Watchman
Unless our halberds did shut up his passage.
Second Watchman
Ay, wherefore else guard we his royal tent,
But to defend his person from night-foes?
Enter Warwick, Clarence, Oxford, Somerset, and French soldiers, silent all
Warwick
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.
First Watchman
Who goes there?
Second Watchman
Stay, or thou diest!
Warwick and the rest cry all, ‘Warwick! Warwick!’ and set upon the Guard, who fly, crying, ‘Arm! arm!’ Warwick and the rest following them
The drum playing and trumpet sounding, reenter Warwick, Somerset, and the rest, bringing King Edward IV out in his gown, sitting in a chair. Richard and Hastings fly over the stage
Somerset
What are they that fly there?
Warwick
Richard and Hastings: let them go; here is The duke.
King Edward IV
The duke! Why, Warwick, when we parted,
Thou call’dst me king.
Warwick
Ay, but the case is alter’d:
When you disgraced me in my embassade,
Then I degraded you from being king,
And come now to create you Duke of York.
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 shroud yourself from enemies?
King Edward
IV
Yea, brother of Clarence, are 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.
Warwick
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 be convey’d
Unto my brother, Archbishop of York.
When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows,
I’ll follow you, and tell what answer
Lewis and the Lady Bona send to him.
Now, for a while farewell, good Duke of York.
They lead him out forcibly
King Edward IV
What fates impose, that men must needs abide;
It boots not to resist both wind and tide.
Exit, guarded
Oxford
What now remains, my lords, for us to do
But march to London with our soldiers?
Warwick
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.
Exeunt
SCENE IV. LONDON. THE PALACE.
Enter Queen Elizabeth and Rivers
Rivers
Madam, what makes you in this sudden change?
Queen Elizabeth
Why brother Rivers, are you yet to learn
What late misfortune is befall’n King Edward?
Rivers
What! loss of some pitch’d battle against Warwick?
Queen Elizabeth
No, but the loss of his own royal person.
Rivers
Then is my sovereign slain?
Queen Elizabeth
Ay, almost slain, for he is taken prisoner,
Either betray’d by falsehood of his guard
Or by his foe surprised 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.
Rivers
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.
Queen Elizabeth
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.
Rivers
But, madam, where is Warwick then become?
Queen Elizabeth
I am inform’d 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 forthwith 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.
Exeunt
SCENE V. A PARK NEAR MIDDLEHAM CASTLE IN YORKSHIRE.
Enter Gloucester, Hastings, and Stanley
Gloucester
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 advertised him by secret means
That if about this hour he make his 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 IV and a Huntsman with him
Huntsman
This way, my lord; for this way lies the game.
King Edward IV
Nay, this way, man: see where the huntsmen stand.
Now, brother of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and the rest,
Stand you thus close, to steal the bishop’s deer?
Gloucester
Brother, the time and case requireth haste:
Your horse stands ready at the park-corner.
King Edward IV
But whither shall we then?
Hastings
To Lynn, my lord,
And ship from thence to Flanders.
Gloucester
Well guess’d, believe me; for that was my meaning.
King Edward IV
Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness.
Gloucester
But wherefore stay we? ’tis no time to talk.
King Edward IV
Huntsman, what say’st thou? wilt thou go along?
Huntsman
Better do so than tarry and be hang’d.
Gloucester
Come then, away; let’s ha’ no more ado.
King Edward IV
Bishop, farewell: shield thee from Warwick’s frown;
And pray that I may repossess the crown.
Exeunt
SCENE VI. LONDON. THE TOWER.
Flourish. Enter King Henry VI, Clarence, Warwick, Somerset, Henry Of Richmond, Oxford, Montague, and Lieutenant of the Tower
King Henry VI
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?
Lieutenant
Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns;
But if an humble prayer may prevail,
I then crave pardon of your majesty.
King Henry VI
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.
Warwick
Your grace hath still been famed 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:
Ye
t in this one thing let me blame your grace,
For choosing me when Clarence is in place.
Clarence
No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway,
To whom the heavens in thy nativity
Adjudged an olive branch and laurel crown,
As likely to be blest in peace and war;
And therefore I yield thee my free consent.
Warwick
And I choose Clarence only for protector.
King Henry VI
Warwick and Clarence give me both your hands:
Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts,
That no dissension 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.
Warwick
What answers Clarence to his sovereign’s will?
Clarence
That he consents, if Warwick yield consent;
For on thy fortune I repose myself.
Warwick
Why, then, though loath, 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
Forthwith that Edward be pronounced a traitor,
And all his lands and goods be confiscate.
Clarence
What else? and that succession be determined.
Warwick
Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.
King Henry VI
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 eclipsed.
Clarence
It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.
King Henry VI
My Lord of Somerset, what youth is that,
Of whom you seem to have so tender care?
Somerset
My liege, it is young Henry, earl of Richmond.
King Henry VI
Come hither, England’s hope.
Lays his hand on his head
If secret powers
Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts,
This pretty lad will prove our country’s bliss.
His looks are full of peaceful majesty,
His head by nature framed to wear a crown,
His hand to wield a sceptre, and himself
Likely in time to bless a regal throne.
Make much of him, my lords, for this is he
Must help you more than you are hurt by me.
Enter a Post
Complete Plays, The Page 223