K.Edw. Bishop, farewell: shield thee from Warwick's frown; And pray that I may repossess the crown. SCENE VI. [Exeunt. Room in the Tower. Enter King HENRY, CLARENCE, WARWICK, SOMERSET, Young RICHMOND, OXFORD, MONTAGUE, Lieutenant of the Tower, and Attendants. K.Hen. 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? Lieu. Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns; But, if an humble prayer may prevail, K.Hen. For what, lieutenant? for well using me? Conceive, when, after many moody thoughts, For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds. War. Your grace has still been fam'd 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: 5 Clar. No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway, [5] I suppose the meaning is, few men conform their temper to their des tiny, as king Henry did, when finding himself unfortunate he gave the management of public affairs to more prosperous hands. JOHNS. To whom the heavens, in thy nativity, War. And I choose Clarence only for protector. K.Hen. Warwick, and Clarence, give me both your hands; Now join your hands, and, with your hands, your hearts, War. What answers Clarence to his sovereign's will? Cla. That he consents, if Warwick yield consent; For on thy fortune I repose myself. War. Why then, though loth, 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, Forth with that Edward be pronounc'd a traitor, And all his lands and goods be confiscate. Cla. What else? and that succession be determin'd. War. Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part. K.Hen. 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 eclips'd. Cla. It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed. K.Hen. My lord of Somerset, what youth is that, Of whom you seem to have so tender care? Som. My liege, it is young Henry, earl of Richmond.6 [6] He was afterwards Henry VII. a man who put an end to the civil war of the two houses, but no otherwise remarkable for virtue. Shakspeare knew his trade. Henry VII was grandfather to Queen Elizabeth, and the king from whom James inherited, JOHNS.--Shakspeare only copied this particular, together with many others, from Holinshed. STEEV-Henry earl of Richmond was the son of Edmond earl of Richmond, and Margaret, daughter to John the first duke of Somerset. Edmond earl of Richmond was half-brother to king Henry the sixth, being the son of that king's mother Queen Catharine, by her second husband Owen Teuther or Tudor, who was taken prisoner at the battle of Mortimer's Cross, and soon afterwards beheaded at Hereford. MAL. K.Hen. Come hither, England's hope: If secret powers [Lays his hand on his head. 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 fram❜d to wear a crown, His hand to wield a scepter; 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 Messenger. War. What news, my friend? Mes. That Edward is escaped from your brother, And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy. War. Unsavoury news: But how made he escape? Mes. He was convey'd by Richard duke of Gloster, And the lord Hastings, who attended him In secret ambush on the forest side, And from the bishop's huntsmen rescued him ; For hunting was his daily exercise. War. My brother was too careless of his charge.— But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide A salve for any sore that may betide. [Exeunt King HENRY, WAR. CLAR. Lieut. and Attendants. 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 presaging prophecy Did glad my heart, with hope of this young Richmond; Oxf. Ay; for, if Edward repossess the crown, SCENE VII. [Exeunt. Before York. Enter King EDWARd, Gloster, HASTINGS, and Forces. K.Edw. Now, brother Richard, lord Hastings, and the rest; Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends, Well have we pass'd, and now repass'd the seas, Glo. The gates made fast!-Brother, I like not this; For many men, that stumble at the threshold, Are well foretold, that danger lurks within. K.Edw. Tush, man! abodements must not now affright us : By fair or foul means we must enter in, Hast. My liege, I'll knock once more, to summon them. Enter, on the walls, the Mayor of York, and his Brethren. May. My lords, we were forewarned of your coming, And shut the gates for safety of ourselves; For now we owe allegiance unto Henry. K.Edw. But, master mayor, if Henry be your king, Yet Edward, at the least, is duke of York. May. True, my good lord; I know you for no less. K.Ed. Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom ; As being well content with that alone. Glo. But, when the fox hath once got in his nose, He'll soon find means to make the body follow. [Aside. Hast. Why, master mayor, why stand you in a doubt? Open the gates, we are king Henry's friends. May. Ay, say you so? the gates shall then be open'd. [Exeunt from above. Glo. A wise stout captain, and persuaded soon! Hast. The good old man would fain that all were well, So 't were not long of him :7 but, being enter'd, I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade Both him, and all his brothers, unto reason. Re-enter the Mayor and two Aldermen, below. K.Ed. So, master mayor: these 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. [7] The Mayor is willing we should enter, so he may not be blamed. JOHNS. For Edward will defend the town, and thee, Drum. Enter MONTGOMERY, and Forces marching. K.Ed. Welcome, sir John! But why come you in arms? Monty. To help king Edward in his time of storm, As every loyal subject ought to do. K.Edw. Thanks, good Montgomery: But we now forget Our title to the crown; and only claim Our dukedom, till God please to send the rest. Montg. Then fare you well, for I will hence again ; I came to serve a king, and not a duke,Drummer, strike up, and let us march away. [A March begun, K.Edw. Nay, stay, sir John, a while; and we'll debate, By what safe means the crown may be recover'd. Montg. 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 succour you: Why should we fight, if you pretend no title ? Glo. Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points? K.Edw. When we grow stronger, then we'll make our claim: Till then, 'tis wisdom to conceal our meaning. Hast. Away with scrupulous wit! now arms must rule. Glo. And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns. Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand; The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.8 K.Edw. Then be it as you will; for 'tis my right, And Henry but usurps the diadem. Montg. Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself; And now will I be Edward's champion. Has. Sound,trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim'd. -Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation. [Flourish. Gives him a paper. Sold.[reads.] Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God, king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, &c. Montg. And whosoe'er gainsays king Edward's right, [8] Bruit-i.e. noise, report. STEEV.This French word bruit was very early made a denizen of our language. Thus in the Bible: "Behold the noise of the bruit is come."-Jeremiah, 22. WHALLEY. |