(SCENE II.)

Enter WARWICK and OXFORD, with Soldiers. War. Trust me, my lords, all hitherto goes well; The common people by numbers swarm to us. But see, where Somerset and Clarence come; Speak suddenly, my lords; are we all friends? Cla. Fear not that, my lord.

War. 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 town 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.
Then cry king Henry with resolved minds,
And break we presently into his tent.

Cla. Why, then let's on our way in silent sort : For Warwick and his friends, God, and St. George! War. This is his tent, and see where his guard doth stand:

Courage, my soldiers, now or never;

But follow me now, and Edward shall be ours.
All. A Warwick, a Warwick!

(SCENE III.)

Alarms, and GLOSTER and HASTINGS fly. Orf. Who goes there?

War. Richard and Hastings: let them go, here's the duke.

K. Edw. The duke! why, Warwick, when we parted last

Thou call'dst me king.

War. Ay, but the case is alter'd now.
When you disgrac'd me in my embassage,
Then I disgraced you from being king.

And now am come to create you duke of York.
Alas! how should you govern any kingdom,
That know not how to use ambassadors;
Nor how to use your brothers brotherly;
Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies?

K. Edw. Well, Warwick, let fortune do her worst, Edward in mind will bear himself a king.

War. Then, for his mind, be Edward England's king;

Bat Henry now shall wear the English crown.
Go, convey him to our brother, archbishop of York;
And when I have fought with Pembroke and his
followers,

I'll come and tell thee what the lady Bona says;
And so for a while farewell, good duke of York.
[Exeunt some with KING EDWARD.

Cla. What follows now? all hitherto goes well : But we must despatch some letters into France, To tell the queen of our happy fortune, And bid her come with speed to join with us. War. Ay, that's the first thing that we have to do; And free king Henry from imprisonment, And see him seated in his regal throne. [cares, Come, lets haste away, and, having pass'd these I'll post to York, and see how Edward fares. [Exeunt omnes.

(SCENE IV.)

Enter GLOSTER, HASTINGS, and Sir WILLIAM
STANLEY.

Glo. Lord Hastings, and sir William Stanley,
Know that the cause I sent for you is this:
I look my brother, with a slender train,
Should come a hunting in this forest here.
The bishop of York befriends him much,
And lets him use his pleasure in the chase.
Now I have privily sent him word,
How I am come with you to rescue him:
And see where the huntsman and he doth come
Enter EDWARD and a Huntsman.

Hunt. This way, my lord, the deer is gone. R. Edw. No, this way, huntsman ; [the rest, See where the keepers stand. Now, brother, and What, are you provided to depart?

Glo. Ay, ay, the horse stands at the park corner; Come, to Lynn, and so take shipping into Flanders. K. Edw. Come, then.

Hastings and Stanley, I will requite your loves.
Bishop, farewell: shield thee from Warwick's frown,
And pray that I may repossess the crown.
Now, huntsman, what will you do?

Hunt. Marry, my lord, I think I had as good go with you as tarry here to be hanged. K. Edw. Come then, let's away with speed. [Exeunt omnes.

Tush! fear not, fair queen, but cast those cares aside. King Edward's noble mind his honours doth display; And Warwick may lose, though then he got the day. Queen. If that were all, my grief's were at an end; But greater troubles will I fear befall.

Riv. What, is he taken prisoner by the foe, To the danger of his royal person, then? Queen. Ay, there's my grief; king Edward is surpris'd,

And led away as prisoner unto York.

Riv. The news is passing strange, I must confess;
Yet comfort yourself, for Edward hath more friends:
Then Lancaster at this time must perceive
That some will set him in his throne again.
Queen. God grant they may; but, gentle bro-
ther, come,

And let me lean upon thine arm awhile,
Until I come unto the sanctuary,
There to preserve the fruit within my womb,
King Edward's seed, true heir to England's crown.
[Exeunt.

And march'd from Raunspur haven unto York :
But soft, the gates are shut; I like not this.
Rich. Sound up the drum, and call them to the
walls.

Enter the Lord Mayor of York, upon the walls. Mayor. My lords, we had notice of your coming, And that's the cause we stand upon our guard, And shut the gates for to preserve the town. Henry now is king, and we are sworn to him.

K. Edw. Why, my lord mayor, if Henry be your king,

Edward I am sure at least is duke of York.

Mayor. Truth, my lord, we know you for no less. K. Edw. I crave nothing but my dukedom. Rich. But when the fox hath gotten in his head. He'll quickly make the body follow after.

Hast. Why, my lord mayor, what stand you upon points?

Open the gates, we are king Henry's friends. Mayor. Say you so? then I'll open them presently. [Exit Mayor.

Rich. By my faith, a wise stout captain, and soon persuaded.

The Mayor opens the door, and brings the keys in his hand.

K. Edw. So, my lord mayor, these gates must not be shut,

But in the time of war; give me the keys:
What, fear not, man, for Edward will defend
The town and you, despite of all your foes.
Enter Sir JOHN MONTGOMERY, with drum and
Soldiers.

How now, Richard, who is this?

Rich. Brother, this is sir John Montgomery, A trusty friend, unless I be deceiv'd.

K. Edw. Welcome, Sir John. Wherefore come you in arms? [storms,

Sir John. To help king Edward in this time of As every loyal subject ought to do.

K. Edw. Thanks, brave Montgomery; but I only claim

My dukedom, till it please God to send the rest. Sir John. Then fare you well. Drum, strike up, and let us march away;

I came to serve a king, and not a duke.

K. Edw. Nay, stay, sir John, and let us first debate With what security we may do this thing.

Sir John. What stand you on debating! To be brief,

Except you presently proclaim yourself
Our king, I'll hence again, and keep them back
That come to succour you; why should we fight,
When you pretend no title?

Rich. Fie, brother, fie a stand you upon terms?
Resolve yourself, and let us claim the crown.
K. Edw. I am resolv'd once more to claim the
crown,

And win it too, or else to lose my life.

Sir John. Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself,

And now will I be Edward's champion.
Sound trumpets, for Edward shall be proclaim'd.
Edward the fourth, by the grace of God, king of
England and France, and lord of Ireland:
And whosoe'er gainsays king Edward's right,
By this I challenge him to single fight.

a The quarto of 1595 repeats fie.

b Like is omitted in the quarto of 1619

Long live Edward the fourth!
All. Long live Edward the fourth:
K. Edw. We thank you all. Lord mayor, lead
on the way.

For this night we 'll harbour here in York,
And then as early as the morning sun
Lifts up his beams above this horizon,
We'll march to London, to meet with Warwick,
And pull false Henry from the regal throne.
[Exeunt omnes.

(SCENE VII.)

Enter WARWICK and CLARENCE with the crown, and then KING HENRY, Oxford, Somerset, and the young EARL OF RICHMOND.

King. Thus from the prison to this princely seat, By God's great mercies am I brought again. Clarence and Warwick, do you keep the crown, And govern and protect my realm in peace, And I will spend the remnant of my days To sin's rebuke, and my Creator's praise. War. What answers Clarence to his sovereign's will?

Cla. Clarence agrees to what king Henry likes. King. My lord of Somerset, what pretty boy Is that you seem to be so careful of?

Som. If it please your grace, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond.

King. Henry of Richmond,

Come hither, pretty lad. If heav'nly powers
Do aim aright to my divining thoughts,
Thou, pretty boy, shalt prove this country's bliss.
Thy head is made to wear a princely crown;
Thy looks are all replete with majesty;
Make much of him, my lords, for this is he
Shall help you more than you are hurt by me.

Enter One with a letter to WARWICK.
War. What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia,
With hasty Germans, and blunt Hollanders,
Is pass'd in safety through the narrow seas,
And with his troops doth march amain towards
London,

b

And many giddy-headed people follow him.
Oxf. 'Tis best to look to this betimes,
For if this fire do kindle any further,
It will be hard for us to quench it out.

War. InWarwickshire I have true-hearted friends,
Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war;
Them will I muster up; and thou, son Clarence,
Shalt in Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent,
Stir up the knights and gentlemen to come with
thee.

And thou, brother Montague, in Leicestershire,
Buckingham, and Northamptonshire, shalt find
Men well inclin'd to do what thou command'st;
And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well belov'd,
Shalt in thy countries muster up thy friends.
My sovereign, with his loving citizens,
Shall rest in London till we come to him.
Fair lords, take leave, and stand not to reply.
Farewell, my sovereign.

King. Farewell, my Hector, my Troy's true hope.
War.Farewell, sweet lords; let's meet at Coventry.
All. Agreed.
[Exeunt omnes.

a The first part of this scene, till the Messenger enters, corresponds with Scene 6 of Henry VI., Part III.' The second part corresponds with Scene 8 of that amended play. b Giddy-headed, in the quarto of 1619; in the edition of 1595, giddy.

Enter EDWARD and his train.

K. Edw. Seize on the shame-fac'd Henry, And once again convey him to the Tower.

(SCENE I.)

Enter WARWICK, on the walls.

Away with him, I will not hear him speak.
And now towards Coventry let us bend our course,
To meet with Warwick and his confederates.
[Exeunt omnes

War. Where is the post that came from valiant Oxford?

How far hence is thy lord, my honest fellow? Oxf. Post. By this at Daintry, marching hitherward.

War. Where is our brother Montague ? Where is the post that came from Montague ? Post. I left him at Dunsmore with his troops. War. Say, Somerville, where is my loving son? And by thy guess, how far is Clarence hence? Som. At Southam, my lord, I left him with his And do expect him two hours hence. [force,

War. Then Oxford is at hand; I hear his drum.

Enter EDWARD and his power.

Glo. See, brother, where the surly Warwick maus the wall.

War. O, unbid spite ! is sportful Edward come? Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduc'd, That we could have no news of their repair?

R. Edw. Now, Warwick, wilt thou be sorry for thy faults,

And call Edward king? and he will pardon thee. War. Nay, rather wilt thou draw thy forces back, Confess who set thee up and pull'd thee down, Call Warwick patron, and be penitent?

And thou shalt still remain the duke of York. Glo. I had thought at least he would have said the king.

Or did he make the jest against his will?

War. 'T was Warwick gave the kingdom to thy brother.

K. Edw. Why, then 't is mine, if but by Warwick's gift. [weight, War. Ay, but thou art no Atlas for so great a And, weakling, Warwick takes his gift again; Henry is my king, Warwick his subject.

K.Edw. I prithee, gallant Warwick, tell me this,What is the body when the head is off?

Glo. Alas! that Warwick had no more foresight, But whilst he sought to steal the single ten, The king was finely finger'd from the deck. You left poor Henry in the bishop's palace, And ten to one you'll meet him in the Tower. K. Edw. "Tis even so, and yet you are old Warwick still. [comes.

War. O, cheerful colours! see where Oxford Enter OXFORD, with drum and Soldiers, and all cry,— Orf. Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster! [Exit. K. Edw. The gates are open; see, they enter in. [streets. Let us follow them, and bid them battle in the Glo. No, so some other might set upon our backs;

We'll stay till all be enter'd, and then follow them.
Enter SOMERSET, with drum and Soldiers.
Som. Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster ! [Exit.

a Somerville. In the original copies, Summerfield.

Glo. Two of thy name, both dukes of Somerset, Have sold their lives unto the house of York, And thou shalt be the third, if my sword hold. Enter MONTAGUE, with drum and Soldiers. Mont. Montague, Montague, for Lancaster! [Exit. K. Edw. Traitorous Montague, thou and thy brother Shall dearly aby this rebellious act.

Enter CLARENCE, with drum and Soldiers. War. And lo where George of Clarence sweeps along,

Of power enough to bid his brother battle.
Cla. Clarence, Clarence, for Lancaster!
K. Edw. Et tu, Brute / wilt thou stab Cæsar too?
A parley, sirrah, to George of Clarence.

Sound a parley, and RICHARD and CLARENCE whis-
per together, and then CLARENCE takes his red.
rose out of his hat, and throws it at WARWICK.
War. Come, Clarence, come, thou wilt if War-
wick call.
[means?
Cla. Father of Warwick, know you what this
I throw mine infamy at thee;

I will not ruinate my father's house,

Who gave his blood to lime the stones together,
And set up Lancaster. Thinkest thou
That Clarence is so harsh, unnatural,

To lift his sword against his brother's life?
And so, proud-hearted Warwick, I defy thee;
And to my brothers turn my blushing cheeks.
Pardon me, Edward, for I have done amiss;
And, Richard, do not frown upon me;
For henceforth I will prove no more unconstant.
K. Edw. Welcome, Clarence, and ten times
more welcome,

Than if thou never hadst deserv'd our hate.
Glo. Welcome, good Clarence, this is brotherly.
War. O, passing traitor, perjur'd and unjust !
K. Edw. Now, Warwick, wilt thou leave the
town and fight?

Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears?
War. Why, I am not coop'd up here for defence:
I will away to Barnet presently,
And bid thee battle, Edward, if thou dar'st.
K.Edw. Yes, Warwick, he dares, and leads the way:
Lords, to the field; saint George and victory!
[Exeunt omnes.

(SCENE II.)

Alarms, and then enter WARWICK wounded. War. Ah, who is nigh? Come to me, friend or foe, And tell me who is victor, York or Warwick? Why ask I that? my mangled body shows That I must yield my body to the earth, And by my fall the conquest to my foes. Thus yields the cedar to the axe's edge, Whose arms gave shelter to the princely eagle, Under whose shade the ramping a lion slept,

a Ramping, in the edition of 1595; rampant, in that of 1619.

Oxf. Ah, Warwick, Warwick! cheer up thyself and live,

For yet there's hope enough to win the day.
Our warlike queen with troops is come from France,
And at Southampton landed all her train,
And mightst thou live, then would we never fly.

War. Why, then I would not fly; nor have I now, But Hercules himself must yield to odds;

For many wounds receiv'd, and many more repaid,
Have robb'd my strong-knit sinews of their strength,
And, spite of spites, needs must I yield to death.
Som. Thy brother Montague hath breath'd his last.
And at the pangs of death I heard him cry
And say,
"Commend me to my valiant brother;"
And more he would have spoke, and more he said
Which sounded like a clamour in a vault,
That could not be distinguish'd for the sound;
And so the valiant Montague gave up the ghost.
War. What is pomp, rule,reign, but earth and dust?
And live we how we can, yet die we must.
Sweet rest his soul! fly, lords, and save yourselves,
For Warwick bids you all farewell to meet in
heaven.
[He dies.
Oxf. Come, noble Somerset, let's take our horse,
And cause retreat be sounded through the camp,
That all our friends that yet remain alive
May be forewarn'd, and save themselves by flight.
That done, with them we'll post unto the queen,
And once more try our fortune in the field.

(SCENE III.)

[Exeunt.

Enter EDWARD, CLARENCE, and GLOSTER, with Soldiers.

K. Edw Thus still our fortune gives us victory,
And girts our temples with triumphant joys.
The big-bon'd traitor, Warwick, hath breath'd his
last,

And Heaven this day hath smil'd upon us all.
But in this clear and bightsome day,

I see a black, suspicious cloud appear,
That will encounter with our glorious sun,
Before he gain his easeful western beams;

I mean, those powers which the queen hath got in
France

Are lauded, and mean once more to menace us. Glo. Oxford and Somerset have fled to her; And 't is likely, if she have time to breathe, Her faction will be full as strong as ours.

K. Edw. We are advertis'd by our loving friends, That they do hold their course towards Tewksbury. Thither will we, for willingness rids way: And in every county as we pass along Our strengths shall be augmented.

Come, let's go, for if we slack this fair bright summer's day,

Sharp winter's showers will mar our hope for hay. [Exeunt omnes.

a My, in the edition of 1595; and, in that of 1619

(SCENE IV.)

Enter the QUEEN, PRINCE EDWARD, OXFORD, and
SOMERSET, with drum and Soldiers.
Queen. Welcome to England, my loving friends
of France,

And welcome Somerset and Oxford too.
Once more have we spread our sails abroad,
And though our tackling be almost consum'd,
And Warwick as our mainmast overthrown,
Yet, warlike lords, raise you that sturdy post
That bears the sails to bring us unto rest,
And Ned and I, as willing pilots should,
For once, with careful minds guide on the stern,
To bear us through that dangerous gulf
That heretofore hath swallow'd up our friends.
Prince. And if there be (as God forbid there
should)

Amongst us a timorous or fearful man,
Let him depart before the battles join,
Lest he in time of need entice another,
And so withdraw the soldiers' hearts from us.
I will not stand aloof and bid you fight,
But with my sword press in the thickest throngs,
And single Edward from his strongest guard,
And hand to hand enforce him for to yield,
Or leave my body as witness of my thoughts.

Oxf. Women and children of so high resolve,
And warriors faint! why, 't were perpetual shame.
Oh, brave young prince, thy noble grandfather
Doth live again in thee: long mayst thou live
To bear his image, and to renew his glories!
Som. And he that turns and flies when such do
fight,

Let him to bed, and like the owl by day
Be hiss'd and wonder'd at if he arise.

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. My lords, duke Edward with a mighty power

Is marching hitherwards to fight with you. Oxf. I thought it was his policy to take us unprovided;

But here will we stand, and fight it to the death. Enter KING EDWARD, CLARENCE, GLOSTER, HASTINGS, and Soldiers.

K. Edw. See, brothers, yonder stands the thorny wood,

Which, by God's assistance and your prowess, Shall with our swords ere night be clean cut down. Queen. Lords, knights, and gentlemen, what I

should say

My tears gainsay. For, as you see, I drink
The water of mine eyes. Then no more but this;
Henry your king is prisoner in the Tower;
His land, and all our friends, are quite distress'd;
And yonder stands the wolf that makes all this;
Then on God's name, lords, together cry, Saiut
George!

All. Saint George for Lancaster!

(SCENE V.)

Alarms to the battle: YORK flies; then the chamber be discharged. Then enter the KING, CLARENCE, GLOSTER, and the rest, making a great shout, and cry, "For York! For York!" and then the QUEEN, PRINCE, OXFORD, and SOMERSET are taken; and then sound and enter all again. K. Edw. Lo! here a period of tumultuous broils. Away with Oxford to Hammes castle straight:

For Somerset, off with his guilty head. Away! I will not hear them speak. Orf. For my part, I'll not trouble thee with words. [Exit OXFORD.

Som. Nor I, but stoop with patience to my [Exit SOMERSET.

death.

K. Edw. Now, Edward, what satisfaction canst thou make

For stirring up my subjects to rebellion?

Prince. Speak like a subject, proud ambitious York;

Suppose that I am now my father's mouth; Resign thy chair, and, where I stand, kneel thou, Whilst I propose the selfsame words to thee, Which, traitor, thou wouldst have me answer to. Queen. Oh, that thy father had been so resolv'd! Glo. That you might still have kept your petticoat,

And ne'er have stol'n the breech from Lancaster. Prince. Let Æsop fable in a winter's night; His currish riddles sort not with this place.

Glo. By Heaven, brat, I'll plague you for that word!

Queen. Ay, thou wast born to be a plague to men. Glo. For God's sake, take away this captive scold. Prince. Nay, take away this scolding crook-back rather.

K. Edw. Peace, wilful boy, or I will tame your tongue.

Cla. Untutor'd lad, thou art too malapert. Prince. I know my duty, you are all undutiful. Lascivious Edward, and thou perjur'd George, And thou misshapen Dick, I tell you all

I am your better, traitors as you be.

K. Edw. Take that, thou likeness of this railer here.

Queen. Ob, kill me too!

Glo. Marry, and shall.

[Stabs him.

K. Edw. Hold, Richard, hold, for we have done too much already.

Glo. Why should she live to fill the world with words?

K. Edw. What, doth she swoon? Make means

for her recovery.

Glo. Clarence, excuse me to the king my brother; I must to London on a serious matter; Ere you come there you shall hear more news. Cla About what, prithee tell me?

Glo. The Tower, man, the Tower: I'll root them
out.
[Exit.

Queen. Ah, Ned, speak to thy mother, boy:
Ah, thou canst not speak.
Traitors, tyrants, bloody homicides,

They that stabb'd Cæsar shed no blood at all,
For he was a man; this, in respect, a child;
And men ne'er spend their fury on a child.
What's worse than tyrant that I may not name?
You have no children, devils; if you had,

The thought of them would then have stopp'd your rage:

But if you ever hope to have a son,
Look in his youth to have him so cut off,
As, traitors, you have done this sweet young prince.
K. Edw. Away, and bear her hence.

Queen. Nay, never bear me hence, despatch me

here;

Here sheathe thy sword; I'll pardon thee my death. Wilt thou not? Then, Clarence, do thou do it. Cla. By heaven, I would not do thee so much

ease.

Queen. Good Clarence, do; sweet Clarence, kill me to.

Cla. Didst thou not hear me swear I would not do it?

Queen. Ay, but thou usest to forswear thyself: 'T was sin before, but now 't is charity. Where's the devil's butcher, Richard?

Richard, where art thou?

hard-favour'd

He is not here: Murther is his alms-deed; Petitioners for blood he 'll ne'er put back. K.Edw. Away, I say, and take her hence perforce. Queen. So come to you and yours, as to this prince. [Exit.

K. Edw. Clarence, whither is Gloster gone? Cla. Marry, my lord, to London; and, as I guess, To make a bloody supper in the Tower.

K.Edw. He is sudden, if a thing come in his head. Well, discharge the common soldiers with pay and thanks;

And now let's toward London,

To see our gentle queen how she doth fare;
For by this I hope she hath a son for us.

(SCENE VI.)

[Exeunt omnes.

Glo. Why, what a fool was that of Crete, That taught his son the office of a bird! And yet, for all that, the poor fowl was drown'd. King. I, Dædalus; my poor son, Icarus; Thy father, Minos, that denied our course; Thy brother Edward the sun that sear'd his wings; And thou the enviest gulf that swallow'd him. Oh, better can my breast abide thy dagger's point, Than can mine ears that tragic history.

Glo. Why, dost thou think I am an executioner? King. A persecutor, I am sure thou art; And if murthering innocents be executions, Then I know thou art an executioner.

Glo. Thy son I kill'd for his presumption.
King. Hadst thou been kill'd when first thou
didst presume,

Thou hadst not liv'd to kill a son of mine.
And thus I prophesy of thee:

That many a widow for her husband's death,
And many an infant's water-standing eye,
Widows for their husbands, children for their

fathers,

Shall curse the time that ever thou wert born.
The owl shriek'd at thy birth, an evil sign;
The night-crow cried, a boding luckless tune;
Dogs howl'd, and hideous tempests shook down