Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen;
And haste is needful in this desperate case.-
Pembroke, and Stafford, you in our behalf
Go levy men, and make prepare for war;
They are already, or quickly will be landed:
Myself in person will straight follow you.

[Exeunt PEMBROKE and STAFFORD.
But, ere I go, Hastings, -and Montague,-
Resolve my doubt. You twain, of all the rest,
Are near to Warwick, by blood, and by alliance:
Tell me, if you love Warwick more than me?
If it be so, then both depart to him;

I rather wish you foes, than hollow friends;
But if you mind to hold your true obedience,
Give me assurance with some friendly vow,
That I may never have you in suspect.

Mont. So God help Montague, as he proves true!
Hast. And Hastings, as he favours Edward's cause!
K.Edw. Now, brother Richard, will you stand by us?
Glo. Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you.
K.Hen. Why so; then am I sure of victory.

Now therefore let us hence; and lose no hour.
Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power. [Exe.

SCENE II.

A Plain in Warwickshire. Enter WARWICK and OxFORD, with French and other Forces.

War. Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well; The common people by numbers swarm to us.

Enter CLARENCE and SOMERSET. But, see, where Somerset and Clarence come ;Speak suddenly, my lords, are we all friends? Clar. 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, 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 towns about,

And but attended by a simple guard,

We may surprize and take him at our pleasure?
Our scouts have found the adventure very easy:
That as Ulysses, and stout Diomede, 3

With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus' 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 seize himself; I say not-slaughter him,
For I intend only to surprize 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 silent sort :
For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George!

SCENE III.

[Exeunt.

EDWARD'S Camp, near Warwick. Enter certain Watchmen to guard the King's tent.

1 Watch. Come on,my masters,each man take his stand; The king, by this, is set him down to sleep.

2 Watch. What, will he not to-bed?

1 Watch. Why, no: for he hath made a solemn vow Never to lie and take his natural rest,

Till Warwick, or himself, be quite supprest.

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

3 Watch. But say, I pray, what nobleman is that, That with the king here resteth in his tent ?

1 Wat. 'Tis the lord Hastings, the king's chiefest friend. 3 Watch. O, is it so? But why commands the king, That his chief followers lodge in towns about him, While he himself keepeth in the cold field?

2 Watch.'Tis the more honour,because more dangerous. 3 Watch. Ay; but give me worship and quietness,

I like it better than a dangerous honour.

If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,

'Tis to be doubted, he would waken him.

1 Watch. Unless our halberds did shut up his passage. 2 Watch. Ay, wherefore else guard we his royal tent, But to defend his person from night-foes?

[3] See the tenth book of the Iliad. These circumstances, however, were accessible, without reference to Homer in the original.

STEEV.

Enter WARWICK, CLARENCE, OXFORD, SOMERSET, and Forces.

War. This is his tent; and see, where stand his guard. Courage, my masters: honour now, or never! But follow me, and Edward shall be ours.

1 Watch. Who goes there?

2 Watch. Stay, or thou diest.

WAR

[WARWICK, and the rest cry all,-Warwick! Warwick! and set upon the Guard; who fly, crying-Arm! Arm ! WICK, and the rest, following them.

The drum beating and trumpets sounding. Re-enter 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 is the duke.

K.Ed. The duke! why, Warwick, when we parted last, Thou call'dst me king?

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.4
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 shrowd 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 de convey'd
Unto my brother, archbishop of York.

43 Might we read with a slight alteration?

And come to new create you duke of York. JOHNS.

When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows, I'll follow you, and tell what answer

Lewis, and the lady Bona, sent to him :

Now, for a while, farewel, good duke of York.

K.Ed. What fates impose, that men must needs abide ; It boots not to resist both wind and tide.

[Exit King EDWARD, led out; SOMERSET with him. Oxf. 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.

SCENE IV.

[Exeunt.

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 prisoner; Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard, Or by his foe surpriz'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.Mar. 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 forth with 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.

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 advértis'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 forwardness.
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.