K. Edw. What if both Lewis and Warwick be appeas'd, By fuch invention as I can devife?

Mont. Yet to have join'd with France in fuch alliance, Would more have ftrengthen'd this our commonwealth 'Gainft foreign ftorms, than any home-bred marriage. Haft. Why, knows not Montague that of it felf England is fafe, if true within it self ?

Mont. Yes, but the fafer when 'tis back'd with France. Haft. 'Tis better ufing France, than trufting France. Let us be back'd with God, and with the feas, Which he hath giv'n for fence impregnable, And with their helps alone defend our felves: In them, and in our felves, our fafety lyes.

Cla. For this one fpeech, Lord Haftings well deferves To have the heir of the Lord Hungerford.

K. Edw. Ay, what of that? it was my will and grant, And for this once my will fhall ftand for law.

Glo. And yet methinks your Grace hath not done well, To give the heir and daughter of Lord Scales

Unto the brother of your loving bride;

She better would have fitted me or Clarence;
But in your bride you bury brotherhood,

Cla. Or else you would not have beftow'd the heir
Of the Lord Bonvill on your new wife's fon,
And leave your brothers to go fpeed elsewhere.
K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife
That thou art malecontent? I will provide thee.

Cla. In chufing for your felf, you fhew'd your judgment;
Which being fhallow, you fhall give me leave
To play the broker in mine own behalf;

And to that end I fhortly mind to leave you.

K. Edw. Leave me, or tarry, Edward will be King;

And not be ty'd unto his brother's will.

Queen. My Lords, before it pleas'd his Majefty

To raise my state to title of a Queen,
Do me but right, and you must all confefs
That I was not ignoble of defcent,

And meaner than my felf have had like fortune.
But as this title honours me and mine,

So your dislikes, to whom I would be pleafing,

Do cloud my joys with danger and with forrow.
K. Edw. My love, forbear to fawn upon their frowns
What danger or what forrow can befall thee,

So long as Edward is thy conftant friend,

And their true Sov'reign, whom they must obey?
Nay, whom they fhall obey, and love thee too,
Unless they feek for hatred at my hands:
Which if they do, yet will I keep thee fafe,
And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath.
Glo. I hear, yet fay not much, but think the more.
SCENE II. Enter a Poft.

K. Edw. Now, meffenger, what letters or what news from France ?

Poft. My Sovereign Liege, no letters and few words, But fuch as I (without your special pardon)

Dare not relate.

K. Edw. Go to, we pardon thee:

So tell their words, as near as thou canft guess them.
What answer makes King Lewis to our letters?
Poft. At my depart, these were his very words;
Go tell falfe Edward, thy fuppofed King,

That Lewis of France is fending over maskers

To revel it with him and his new bride.

K. Edw. Is Lewis fo brave? belike he thinks me Henry. But what faid Lady Bona to my marriage?

Poft. These were her words, utter'd with mild disdain: Tell bim, in bope be'll prove a widower fhortly,

I'll wear the willow garland for his fake.

K. Edw. I blame not her, the could fay little lefs; She had the wrong. But what faid Henry's Queen? For fo I heard that fhe was there in place.

Poft. Tell him (quoth fhe) my mourning weeds are done, And I am ready to put armour on.

K. Edo. Belike fhe minds to play the Amazon.

But what faid Warwick to these injuries?

Poft. He, more incens'd against your Majesty

Than all the reft, discharg'd me with these words;
Tell bim from me that be bath done me wrong,
And therefore I'll uncrown bim ere't be long.

K.Edw. Ha! durft the traitor breathe out fo proud words?

VOL. VI.

N

Well,

Well, I will arm me, being thus fore-warn'd:
They fhall have wars, and pay for their prefumption.
But fay, is Warwick friends with Margaret ?

Poft.Ay, gracious Sov'reign, they're fo link'd in friendship,
The young Prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter.
Cla. Belike the younger; Clarence will have the elder.
Now, brother King, farewel, and fit you fast,
For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter,
That though I want a kingdom, yet in marriage
I may not prove inferior to your felf.

You that love me and Warwick, follow me.

[Exit Clarence, and Somerset follows. Glo. Not I: my thoughts aim at a further matter: I ftay not for the love of Edward, but the crown. [Afide. K. Edw. Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick? Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen ; And hafte is needful in this defp'rate cafe : Pembroke and Stafford, you in our behalf Go levy men, and make prepare for war ; They are already, or will foon be landed : My felf in perfon will ftraight follow you.

[Exeunt Pembroke and Stafford.

But ere I go, Haftings and Montague,
Refolve my doubt: you twain of all the reft
Are near to Warwick by blood and by alliance;
Tell me if you love Warwick more than me.
If it be fo, then both depart to him:
I rather with you foes than hollow friends.
But if you mind to hold your true obedience,
Give me affurance with fome friendly vow,
That I may never have you in fufpect.

Mont. So God help Montague, as he proves true!
Haft. And Haftings, as he favours Edward's caufe!
K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, will you ftand by us?
Glo. Ay, in defpight of all that shall withstand you.
K. Edw. Why, fo; then am I fure of victory.
Now therefore let us hence, and lofe no hour
'Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power.

[Exeunt.

SCENE

SCENE III. In Warwickshire.
Enter Warwick and Oxford, with French Soldiers.
War. Trust me, my Lord, all hitherto goes well,
The common people fwarm by numbers to us.
Enter Clarence and Somerfet.

But fee where Somerfet and Clarence come :
Speak fuddenly, my Lords, are we all friends?
Cla. Oh! fear not that, my Lord.

War. Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto Warwick; And welcome, Somerfet: I hold it cowardife

To reft mistrustful, where a noble heart
Hath pawn'd an open hand in fign of love.

Elfe might I think, that Clarence, Edward's brother,
Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings.
But welcome, friend, my daughter fhall be thine.
And now what refts, but in night's coverture,
Thy brother being carelefly encamp'd,

His foldiers lurking in the towns about,
And but attended by a fimple guard,

We may furprize and take him at our pleasure ?
Our scouts have found th' adventure very eafie:
That as Ulyffes and flout Diomede

With flight and manhood stole to Rhefus' Tents,
And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds
;
So we, well cover'd with the night's black mantle,
At unawares may beat down Edward's guard,
And feize himself: I fay not, flaughter him,
For I intend but only to furprize him.
You that will follow me to this attempt,
Applaud the name of Henry with your leader.

[They all cry, Henry!

Why then, let's on our way in filent fort,

For Warwick and his friends, God and St. George! [Exeunt. SCENE IV.

Enter the Watchmen to guard the King's Tent.

1 Watch. Come on, my mafters, each man take his stand: The King by this has fet him down to fleep.

2 Watch. What, will he not to bed?

atch. Why, no; for he hath made a folemn vow,

N 2

Never

Never to lye and take his natural reft,
'Till Warwick, or himself, be quite fuppreft.

2 Watch. To-morrow then belike shall be the day, If Warwick be fo near as men report.

3 Watch. But fay, I pray, what Nobleman is that That with the King here refteth in his tent?

I Watch.'Tis the Lord Haftings, the King's chiefeft friend. 3 Watch. O, is it fo? but why commands the King That his chief followers lodge in towns about him, While he himself keeps here in the cold field?

2 Watch. 'Tis the more honour, becaufe dangerous. 3 Watch. Ay, but give me worship and quietness; I like it better than a dang'rous honour.

If Warwick knew in what eftate he stands,

'Tis to be doubted he would waken him.

I Watch. Unless our halberds did fhut up his paffage. 2 Watch. Ay; wherefore elfe guard we this royal tent, But to defend his perfon from night-foes?

Enter Warwick, Clarence, Oxford, Somerset, and
French Soldiers, filent all.

War. This is his tent, and fee where ftands his guard: Courage, my mafters: honour now or never!

But follow me, and Edward shall be ours.

1 Watch. Who goes there?

2 Watch. Stay, or thou dieft.

[Warwick and the reft cry all, Warwick! Warwick! and fet upon the Guard, who fly, crying, Arms ! Arms ! Warwick and the reft following them.

The Drum beating, and Trumpets founding,

Enter Warwick, Somerfet, and the reft, bringing the King out in a gown, fitting in a chair; Gloucester and Ha

ftings flying over the ftage.

Som. What are they that fly there?
War. Richard and Haflings; let them

The Duke.

K. Edw. The Duke! why, Warwick, when we parted

Thou call'dft me King.

War. Ay, but the cafe is alter'd. When you difgrac'd me in my Ambaffade, Then I degraded you from being King,

And