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 dissention 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 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, 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,) 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.

Clar. 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] 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. Shakespeare knew his trade. Henry VII. was grandfather to Queen Elizabeth, and the king from whom James inherited. JOHNSON.Shakespeare only copied this particular, together with many others, from Holinshed. STEEVENS.- -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. MALONE.

22

VOL. VI.

P

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 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 Messenger.

War. What news, my friend?

Mes. That Edward has 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;
So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts
What may befal him, to his harm, and ours:
Therefore, lord Oxford, to prevent the worst,
Forthwith we'll send him hence to Britany,
Till storms be past of civil enmity.

Oxf. Ay; for, if Edward repossess the crown,
'Tis like, that Richmond with the rest shall down.
Som. It shall be so; he shall to Britany.
Come therefore, let's about it speedily.

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,
And says that once more I shall interchange
My waned state for Henry's regal crown.

Well have we pass'd, and now repass'd the seas,
And brought desired help from Burgundy :
What then remains, we being thus arriv'd
From Ravenspurg haven 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 stumble at the threshold,
Are well foretold-that danger lurks within.

K. Edw. Tush, man! abodements must not now af fright us :

By fair or foul means we must enter in,

For hither will our friends repair to us.

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 'twere not 'long of him : 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,
And all those friends that deign to follow me.
Drum. Enter MONTGOMERY, and Forces, marching.
Glo. Brother, this is sir John Montgomery,

Our trusty friend, unless I be deceiv'd.

K. Ed. Welcome, sir John! But why come you in arms? Montg. 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."

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.

Hast. Sound, trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim'd. -Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation.

[Gives him a paper. Flourish. 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. STEEVENS.-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, x. 22. WHALLEY.

By this I challenge him to single fight.

[Throws down his gauntlet.

All. Long live Edward the Fourth!

K. Edw. Thanks, brave Montgomery ;-and thanks un

to you all.

If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness.
Now, for this night, let's harbour here in York:
And, when the morning sun shall raise his car
Above the border of this horizon,

We'll forward towards Warwick, and his mates;
For, well I wot, that Henry is no soldier.-

Ah, froward Clarence !-how evil it beseems thee,
To flatter Henry, and forsake thy brother!

Yet, as we may, we'll meet both thee and Warwick.-
Come on, brave soldiers; doubt not of the day;

And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay. [Exeunt.

London.

SCENE VIII.

A Room in the Palace. Enter King HENRY, WARWICK, CLARENCE, MONTAGUE, EXETER, and OXFORD. War. What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia, With hasty Germans, and blunt Hollanders, Hath pass'd in safety through the narrow seas, And with his troops doth march amain to London : And many giddy people flock to him.

K.H. Let's levy men, and beat them back again." Clar. A little fire is quickly trodden out; Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench.

War. In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends, Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war;

Those will I muster up-and thou, son Clarence,
Shalt stir, in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent,
The knights and gentlemen to come with thee :-
Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham,
Northampton, and in Leicestershire, shalt find
Men well inclin'd to hear what thou command'st :-
And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well belov'd,
In Oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends.-
My sovereign, with the loving citizens,-
Like to his island, girt in with the ocean,

[9] This line expresses a spirit of war so unsuitable to the character of Henry, that I would give the first cold speech to the king, and the brisk answer to War wick. This line is not in the old quarto: and when Henry said nothing, the first speech might be as properly given to Warwick as to any other. JOHNSON.

Every judicious reader must concur in Dr. Johnson's opinion. STEEVENS.