And now may seem as wife 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 chufing me, when Clarence is in place.

CLAR. No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the fway,
To whom the heav'ns in thy nativity

Adjudg'd an olive branch and laurel crown,

As likely to be bleft in peace and war;

And therefore I yield thee my free confent.

WAR. And I chufe 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 diffention 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 fin's rebuke and my Creator's praise.

WAR. What answers Clarence to his fov'reign's will? CLAR. That he confents, if Warwick yield confent; on thy fortune I repofe myself.

For

WAR. Why then, though loth, yet must I be content :
We'll yoke together, like a double fhadow
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 confiscated.

CLAR. What elfe? and that fucceffion be determin'd. WAR. Ay, therein Clarence fhall not want his part.

K. HEN. But with the first of all our chief affairs, Let me intreat, for I command no more,

That Margaret your queen and my fon Edward

Be fent for, to return from France with speed,
For till I fee them here, by doubtful fear
My joy of liberty is half eclips'd,

CLAR. It shall be done, my fov'reign, 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. K. HEN. Come hither, England's hope: if fecret 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 blefs a regal throne.
Make much of him, my lords; for this is he
Muft help you more, than you are hurt by me.
Enter a Poft.

WAR. What news, my friend?

POST. That Edward is escaped from your brother,
And fled, as he hears fince, to Burgundy.

WAR. Unsavory news; but how made he escape ?
POST. He was convey'd by Richard duke of Glo'fter,

And the lord Haftings, who attended him

In fecret ambush on the foreft-fide,

And from the bishop's huntsmen rescu'd him;

For hunting was his daily exercise.

WAR. My brother was too careless of his charge.

-But let us hence, my fovereign, to provide

A falve for any fore that may betide.

Manent Somerset, Richmond, and Oxford.

[Exeunt.

SOм. 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 prefaging prophecy

Did glad my heart, with hope of this young Richmond;
So doth my heart mifgive me in these conflicts
What may befal him, to his harm and ours.
Therefore, lord Oxford, to prevent the worst,
Forthwith we'll fend him hence to Britany,
Till ftorms be paft of civil enmity.

OxF. Ay, for if Edward repoffefs the crown: 'Tis like that Richmond with the reft fhall down. SOM. It shall be fo; he fhall to Britany.

Come therefore let's about it speedily.

SCENE VIII. Changes to York.

[Exeuni.

Enter king Henry, Gloucefter, Haftings, and foldiers. K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, Haftings and the reft, Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends,

And fays that once more I fhall interchange

My wained ftate for Henry's regal crown.

Well have we pafs'd, and now repafs'd the feas,
And brought defired help from Burgundy.

What then remains, we being thus arriv'd

From Ravenfpurg, before the gates of York,
But that we enter as into our dukedom?

GLO. The gates made faft! brother, I like not this.
For many men that stumble at the threshold,
Are well foretold that danger lurks within.

K. EDW. Tufh, man, aboadments must not now affright By fair or foul means we must enter in, For hither will our friends repair to us.

[us:

HAST. My liege, I'll knock once more to fummon 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 leaft, is duke of York.

MAYOR. True, my good lord, I know you for no less. K. EDW. Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom; As being well content with that alone.

GLO. But when the fox has once got in his nose, He'll foon find means to make the body follow.

[Afide.

HAST. Why, mafter Mayor, why stand you in a doubt?

Open the gates. We are king Henry's friends.

MAYOR. Ay, fay you fo? the gates fhall then be open'd. [He defcends. GLO. A wife ftout captain, and perfuaded foon!

HAST. The good old man would fain that all were well,

So 'twere not 'long of him; but being entered,

I doubt not, I, but we fhall foon perfuade

Both him and all his brothers unto reafon.

Enter the Mayor, and two Aldermen.

K. EDW. So, mafter 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;

For Edward will defend the town and thee,

[Takes the keys.

And all those friends that deign to follow me.

March. Enter Montgomery with drum and foldiers.

GLO. Brother, this is fir John Montgomery, Our trusty friend, unless I be deceiv'd.

K. Edw. Welcome, fir John; but why come you in arms? MON. To help king Edward in his time of storm,

As every loyal fubject ought to do.

K. Edw. Thanks, good Montgom'ry; but we now forget Our title to the crown, and only claim

Our dukedom, till God please to send the rest.

MoN. Then fare you well, and I will hence again; I came to serve a king, and not a duke.

-Drummer, strike up, and let us march away,

[The drum begins a march.

K. Eów. Nay, stay, fir John, a while; and we'll debate, By what fafe means the crown may be recover'd. MON. 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 fuccour you. Why fhall we fight if you pretend no title?

GLO. Why, brother, wherefore ftand you on nice points? K. EDW. When we grow ftronger, then we'll make our 'Till then, 'tis wisdom to conceal our meaning. [claim:

HAST. Away with fcrupulous wit, now arms must rule. GLO. And fearless minds climb fooneft 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 ufurps the diadem.

MON. Ay, now my fovereign fpeaketh like himfelf;
VOL. IV.

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