SCENE I.

ACT IV.

The Palace in England.

Enter Gloucefter, Clarence, Somerset and Montague. Gloucester.

Now

JOW tell me, brother Clarence, what think you Of this new marriage with the Lady Gray? Hath not our brother made a worthy choice?

Cla. Alas, you know 'tis far from hence to France: How could he stay till Warwick made return?

Som. My Lords, forbear this talk. Here comes the King.

Flourish. Enter King Edward, Lady Gray as Queen, Pembroke, Stafford and Haftings: Four ftand on one fide, and four on the other.

Glo. And his well chofen bride.

Cla. I mind to tell him plainly what I think.
K. Edw. Now, brother Clarence, how like you
our choice,

That you ftand penfive, as half malecontent?
Clar. As well as Lewis of France, or th' Earl of
Warwick,

Which are so weak of courage and in judgment,
That they'll take no offence at our abuse.

K. Edw. Suppofe they take offence without a caufe, They are but Lewis and Warwick, and I am Edward, Your King and Warwick's, and must have my will. Glo And you fhall have your will, becaufe our Yet hafty marriage feldom proveth well.

[King K. Edw. Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too?

Glo. Not I; no. God forbid that I fhould wish Them fevered whom God hath join' together; Pity to funder them that yoke fo well.

K. Edw. Setting your fcorns and your mislike aside, Tell me fome reafon why the Lady Gray

Should not become my wife, and England's Queer?

And you too, Somerset and Montague,,
Speak freely what you think.

Cla. Then this is my opinion; that King Lewis Becomes your enemy, for mocking him

About the marriage of the Lady Bona.

Glo. And Warwick, doing what you gave ir charge,. Is now dishonoured by this new marriage.

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

[appeas'd Mont. Yet to have join'd with France in fuch al

liance,

Would more have ftrengthen'd this our Common- wealth

'Gainst foreign ftorms, than any home-bred marriage. Haft. Why, knows not Montague, that of itself England is fafe, if true within itself?

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 given for fence impregnable,
And with their helps alone defend ourselves:
In them, and in ourfelves, our fafety lyes.

Cla. For this one speech, Lord Hastings well deTo have the heir of the Lord Hungerford. [ferves K. Edw. Ay, what of that? it was my will and And for this once my will fhall stand for law. [grant *, 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 Of the Lord Bonvil on your new wife's fon, [heir * And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere.

K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife

It must be remembered, that till the restoration, the heirefles of great estates were in the wardship of the King, Johnfon.

That thou art malecontent? I will provide thee. Cla. In chufing for yourself you fhew'd your judgment;

Which being fhallow, you shall 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 Majesty
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 myself have nad like fortune.
But as this title honours me and mine,

So your diflikes, 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 befal thee,
So long as Edward is thy conftant friend,
And their true Sovereign, 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 fhall feel the vengeance of my wrath.
Glo. afide.] I hear, yet fay not much, but think

the more.

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

Poft. My Sovereign Liege, no letters, and few But fuch as I, without your fpecial pardon, [words; Dare not relate.

K. Edw. Go to, we pardon thee.

So tell their words, as near as thou canft guess them.
What anfyer makes King Lewis to our letters?
Poft. At my depart thefe were his very words;
--Go tell falle Edward thy fuppofed King,
That Lewis of France is fending over makers

To revel it with him and his new bride.

K. Edw. Is Lewis fo brave? belike he thinks me But what faid.Lady Bona to my marriage. [Henry. Poft. There were her words, utter'd with mild difdain;

-Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower fhortly, I'll wear the willow garland for his fake.

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

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

[are done; K. Edw. Belike fhe means to play the Amazon. But what faid Warwick to these injuries?

Pft. He, more incens'd against your Majefty Than all the rest, discharg'd me with thefe words; -Tell him from me, that he hath done me wrong,. And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long.

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

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,

That young Prince Edward marries Warwick's

daughter.

[Exit. Cla. Belike the younger; Clarence will have the

elder.

-Now, brother King, farewell, 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 yourself.
-You that love me and Warwick, follow me.

[Exit Clarence, and Somerset follows. Glo. Not I: my thoughts aim at a further matter:: I fay not for love of Edward, but the crown. [Afide. K. Edw. Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick?

Yet am I arm'd against the worft can happen;
And hafte is needful in this defp'rate cafe.
Pembroke and Stafford, you in onr behalf.

Go levy men, and make prepare for war;
They are already, or will foon be landed;
Myfelf in perfon will ftrait follow you.

1

[Ex. 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.

Mon. 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.

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 Somerset.

But fee, where Somerset and Clarence come. -Speak fuddenly, my Lords, are we all friends? Cla. Fear not that, my Lord.

War. Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto WarAnd welcome, Somerfet. I hold it cowardice [wick; To rest 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.