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The Drum beating, and Trumpets sounding, reenter WARWICK, and the rest, bringing the King out in a Gown, sitting in a Chair; GLOSTER and HASTINGS fly.

Som.

What are they that fly there? War. Richard, and Hastings: let them go, here's the duke.

K. Edw. The duke! why, Warwick, when we
Thou call'dst me king?
[parted last,
War.
Ay, but the case is alter'd ;
When you disgrac'd 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?
K. Edw. Yea, brother of Clarence, art 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.
War. 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 awhile, farewell, good duke of York.
K. Edw. What fates impose, that men must
needs abide;

It boots not to resist both wind and tide.

[Exit K. EDW. led out; SOM. with him. Orf. What now remains, my lords, for us, to do, But march to London with our soldiers?

War. 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. A Room in the Palace. Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and RIVERS.

Riv. Madam, what makes you in this sudden change?

Q. Eliz. Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn,

What late misfortune is befall'n King Edward? Riv. What, loss of some pitch'd battle against Warwick?

Q. Eliz. No, but the loss of his own royal

person.

Riv. Then is my sovereign slain?

Q. Eliz. Ay, almost slain, for he is taken pri

soner;

Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard,
Or by his foe surpris'd 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.
Riv. 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.
Q. Eliz. 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.

Riv. But, madam, where is Warwick then become?

Q. Eliz. I am informed, 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.

SCENE V.

[Exeunt.

A Park near Middleham Castle in Yorkshire. Enter GLOSTER, HASTINGS, SIR WILLIAM STANLEY, and Others.

Glo. 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 advertis'd him by secret means,
That if, about this hour, he make this 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 and a Huntsman,

Hunt. This way, my lord; for this way lies the game.

K. Edw. Nay, this way, man; see, where the huntsmen stand.

Now, brother of Gloster, Lord Hastings, and the

rest,

Stand you thus close, to steal the bishop's deer? Glo. Brother, the time and case requireth

haste;

Your horse stands ready at the park corner.
K. Edw. But whither shall we then?

Hast. To Lynn, my lord: and ship from thence to Flanders.

Glo. Well guess'd, believe me; for that was my meaning.

K. Edw. Stanley, I will requite thy forward

ness.

Glo. But wherefore stay we? 'tis no time to talk.

K. Edw. Huntsman, what say'st thou? wilt thou go along?

Hunt. Better do so, than tarry and be hang'd. Glo. Come then, away; let's have no more ado. K. Edw. Bishop, farewell: shield thee from Warwick's frown;

And pray that I may repossess the crown.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VI. A Room in the Tower.

Enter KING HENRY, CLARENCE, WARWICK, SOMER-
SET, 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,
I then crave pardon of your majesty.

K. Hen. 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.

War. Your grace hath 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:
Yet in this one thing let me blame your grace,
For choosing me, when Clarence is in place.
Clar. No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the
sway,

To whom the heavens, in thy nativity,
Adjudg'd an olive branch, and laurel crown,
As likely to be blest in peace, and war;
And therefore I yield thee my free consent.
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,

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.
War. What answers Clarence to his sovereign's
will?

Clar. That he consents, if Warwick yield consent:

For on thy fortune I repose myself.

War. 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 pronounc'd a traitor,
And all his lands and goods be confiscate.

Clar. 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)

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