Of threefcore and two years; a filly time
To make prefcription for a kingdom's worth.
Oxf. Why, Warwick, canft thou fpeak against
thy Liege,

Whom thou obeyedst thirty and fix years,
And not bewray thy treafon with a blufh?
War. Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right,
Now buckler falfehood with a pedigree?
For fhame, leave Henry, and call Edward King.
Oxf. Call him my King, by whose injurious doom
My elder brother, the Lord Aubrey Vere,
Was done to death? and more than fo, my father,
Even in the downfall of his mellow'd years,
When nature brought him to the door of death?
No, Warwick, no; while life upholds this arm,
This arm upholds the houfe of Lancaster.
War. And I the houfe of York.

K. Lew. Queen Margaret. Prince Edward, and Vouchfafe at our request to ftand afide, [Oxford, While I ufe farther conference with Warwick. Queen. Heav'ns grant that Warwick's words bewitch him not! [They stand aloof. K. Lew. Now, Warwick, tell me ev'n upon thy confcience,

Is Edward your true King? for I were loth
To link with him that were not lawful chofen.
War. Thereon I pawn my credit and mine honour.
K. Lew. But is he gracious in the people's eyes?
War. The more, that Henry was unfortunate.
K. Lew. Then further; all diffembling set aside,
Tell me for truth the measure of his love
Unto our fifter Bona.

War. Such it feems,

As may befeem a monarch like himself.

Myfelf have often heard him say, and swear,

That this his love was an eternal plant,

Whereof the root was fix'd in virtue's ground,
The leaves and fruit maintain'd with beauty's fun,
Exempt from envy, but not from disdain,
Unless the Lady Bona quit his pain.

K. Lew. Now, fifter, let us hear your firm refolve.
Bona. Your grant or your denial shall be mine.

Yet I confess that often ere this day,

[Speaking to War. When I have heard your King's defert recounted, Mine ear hath tempted judgment to defire.

K. Lew. Then, Warwick, this. Our fifter fhall be Edward's.

And now forthwith fhall articles be drawn
Touching the jointure that your king must make,
Which with her dowry fhall be counterpois'd.
Draw near, Queen Margaret, and be a witness,
That Bona fhall be wife to th' English King.
Prince. To Edward, but not to the English King.
Queen. Deceitful Warwick, it was thy device
By this alliance to make void my füit;
Before thy coming Lewis was Henry's friend.
K. Lew And ftill is friend to him and Margaret;
But if your title to the crown be weak,
As may appear by Edward's good fuccefs,
Then 'tis but reafon that I be releas'd
From giving aid, which late I promised.
Yet fhall you have all kindnefs at my hand,
That your estate requires, and mine can yield.
War. Henry now lives in Scotland at his eafe,
Where having nothing, nothing can he lose.
And as for you yourself, our quondam Queen,
You have a father able to maintain you;
And better 'twere you troubled him than France.
Queen. Peace, impudent and fhameless Warwick,
peace!

Proud fetter-up and puller-down of Kings!
I will not hence, till with my talk and tears,
Both full of truth, I make King Lewis behold
Thy fly conveyance *, and thy Lord's falfe love;
[Poft, blowing a horn within..
For both of you are birds of felf-fame feather.
K. Lew. Warwick, this is fome poít to us, or thee..

Conveyance is juggling, and thence is taken for are tifice and fraud. Johnfon.

Poft. My Lord Ambaffador, thefe letters are for

[To Warwick.

you, Sent from your brother, Marquis Montague. --Thefe, from our King unto your Majefty.

[To K. Lewis. -And, Madam, these for you; from whom I know not [To the Queen. They all read their letters. Oxf I like it well, that our fair Queen and Mistress Smiles at her news, while Warwick frowns at his. Prince. Nay, mark how Lewis ftamps as he were nettled.

I hope all's for the best.

K. Lew. Warwick, what are thy news? and your's, fair Queen?

Queen Mine fuch as fills heart with unhop'd

joys.

my

War. Mine full of forrow and heart's difcontent. K. Lew. What! has your King marry'd the Lady And now, to footh your forgery and his, [Gray? Sends me a paper to perfuade me patience? Is this th'alliance that he feeks with France? Dare he prefume to fcorn us in this manner? Queen. I told your Majesty as much before; This proveth Edward's love and Warwick's honesty. War. King Lewis, I here proteft in fight of Heav'n, And by the hope I have of heav'nly blifs, That I am clear from this mifdeed of Edward's, No more my King; for he difhonours me, But mt himfelf, if he could fee his fhame. Did I forget that by the houfe of York My father came untimely to his death? Did I let pafs th' abufe done to my niece*? Did I impale him with the regal crown? Did I put Henry from his native right? And am I guerdon'd at the laft with fhame?

* Whom King Edward attempted in the Farl of Warwick's houfe. Holing.c

Shame on himself, for my defert is honour!"
And to repair my honour loft for him,

I here renounce him, and return to Henry.
-My noble Queen, let former grudges país,
And, henceforth, I am thy true fervitor;
I will revenge his wrong to Lady Bona,
And replant Henry in his former ftate.

Queen. Warwick, thefe words have turn'd my hate to love,

And I forgive and quite forget old faults,
And joy that thou becom' King Henry's friend.
War. So much his friend, ay, his unfeigned friend,
That if King Lewis vouchlafe to furnish us
With fome few bands of chofen foldiers,
I'll undertake to land them on our coaft,,
And force the tyrant from his feat by war.
'Tis not his new-made bride fhall fuccour him:
And, as for Clarence, as my letters tell me,
He's very likely now to fall from him,

For matching more for wanton luft than honour,..
Or than for ftrength and fafety of our country.
Bona. Dear brother, how fhall Bona be reveng'd,.
But by thy help to this diftreffed Queen?

Queen. Renowned Prince, how hall poor Henry Unless thou refcue him from foul defpair? [live,. Bona. My quarrel, and this English Queen's, are

one.

War. And mine, fair Lady Bona, joins with yours. K. Lew. And mine with hers, and thine, and MarTherefore at laft I firmly am refolv'd [garet's. You fhall have aid.

Queen. Let me give humble thanks for all at once. K. Lew. Then, England's meffenger, return in poft;: And tell falfe Edward, thy fupped King, That Lewis of France is fending over maskers, To revel it with him and his new bride. Thou feeft what's paft, go fear thy King withal. Bona. Tell hin, in hope he'll prove a widower I wear the willow garland for his fake. [fhortly, Queen. Tell him, my mourning weeds are laid afide,

And I am ready to put armour on,

War. Tell him from me, that he hath done me

wrong;

And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long.
-There's thy reward, be gone.-

K. Lew. But, Warwick,

[Exit Poft.

Thyfelf and Oxford with five thousand men
Shall crois the feas, and bid falfe Edward battle.
And as occafion ferves, this noble Queen
And prince fhall follow with a fresh supply.
Yet, ere they go, but answer me one doubt:
What pledge have we of thy firm loyalty?
War. This fhall affure my conftant loyalty,
That if our Queen and this young Prince agree,
I'll join my younger daughter and my joy,
To him forthwith in holy wedlock' bands.
Queen. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your ma-
Son Edward, fhe is fair and virtuous; [tion.
Therefore delay not, give thy hand to Warwick,
And, with thy hand, thy faith irrevocable,
That only Warwick's daughter fhall be thine.
Prince. Yes, I accept her, for the well deferves it,
And here to pledge my vow, I give my hand.

[He gives his hand to Warwick. K. Lew. Why stay we now; the fe foldiers fhall be levy'd,

And thou, Lord Bourbon, our high Admiral,
Shalt waft them over with our royal fleet.
I long till Edward fall by war's mischance,
For mocking marriage with a dame of France.
[Exeunt. Manet Warwick.
War. I came from Edward as ambaffador,
But I return his fworn and mortal foe.
Matter of marriage was the charge he gave me,
But dreadful war fhall answer his demand.
Had he none elfe to make a ftale but me?

Then none but I fhall turn his jeft to sorrow.
I was the chief that rais'd him to the crown,
And I'll be chief to bring him down again:

Not that I pity Henry's mifery,..

But feek revenge on Edward's mockery.

[Exið.