Nay, be thou fure I'll well requite thy kindhefs, But Warwick, after God, thou fett'ft me free, And chiefly therefore I thank God and thee; He was the author, thou the inftrument. Therefore, that I may conquer Fortune's fpight, By living low where Fortune cannot hurt me, And that the people of this bleffed land May not be punith'd with my thwarting stars, Warwick, although my head ftill wear the crown, I here refign my government to thee, For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds. War. Your Grace has ftill been fan'd for virtuous, And now may feem as wife as virtuous, By Spying and avoiding Fortune's malice; For few men rightly temper with the ftars* 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 blefs'd in peace and war; And therefore I yield thee my free confent. War. And Ichufe Clarence only for Protector. K. Henry. Warwick and Clarence, give me both your hands; [hearts. Now join your hands, and with your hands your * I fuppofe the meaning is, that few men conform their temper to their destiny, which King Henry did, when finding his felf unfortunate, he gave the management of public affairs to more profperous hands. Johns. Clar. That he confents, if Warwick yield con- I mean in bearing weight of government, Clar. What else? and that fucceffion be determin'd., War. Ay, therein Clarence fhall not want his part. K. Henry. 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 Clar. It fhall be done, my Sovereign, with all speed. K. Henry My Lord of Somerfet, what youth is that, Of whom you feem to have fo tender care? Som. My Liege, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond. K. Henry. 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 blifs. His looks are full of peaceful majesty, His head by nature f fram'd to wear a crown, His hand to wield a fceptre, and himself Likely in time to blefs a regal throne. Make much of him, my Lords; for this is he Enter a Poft War. What news, my friend? He was afterwards Henry VII.; a man who put an end to the civil war of the two houfes, but not otherwife remarkable for virtue. Shakespeare knew his trade. Henry VII was grandfather to Queen Elizabeth, and the King from whom James inherited. Johnfon. Post. That Edward is efcaped from your brother, And fled, as he bears fince, to Burgundy. War. Unfavoury ne vs; but how made he efcape? And the Lord Haftings, who attended him And from the bilhop's huntfimen refcu'd him; War. My brother was too careless of his charge. [Exeunt. ·Manent Somerset, Richmond, and Oxford. Som. My Lord, I like not of this flight of Ed- For, doubtless, Burgundy will yield him help, Did glad my heart with hope of this young Riche mond, So doth my heart mifgive me in thefe conflicts Oxf. Ay, for if Edward repoffefs the crown, 'Tis like that Richmond with the reft fhall down. Som. It fhall be fo; he fhall to Britany Come therefore, let's about it fpeedily. [Exeunt. SCENE VIII. Changes to York. Enter King Edward, Gloucefter, Haftings, and Soldiers. [teft, K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, Haftings, and the 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 repais'd the feas, And brought desired help from Burgundy. Glou. The gates made faft! brother, I like not For many men that stumble at the threshold, [this. Are well foretold that danger lurks within. K. Edw. Tufh! man, aboadments must not now By fair or foul means we must enter in, [affright us: For hither will our friends repair to us. Haft. My Liege, I'll knock once more to fummon them. Enter on the walls the Mayor of York and his brethren. Mayor. My Lords, we were forewarned of your And fhut the gates for safety of ourselves; [coming, For now we owe allegiance unto Henry. K. Edw. But, Mafter Mayor, if Henry be your Yet Edward at the least is Duke of York. [King, Mayor. True, my good Lord, I know you for no lefs. K. Edw. Why, and I challenge nothing but my As being well content with that alone. [dukedom, Glou. But when the fox has once got in his nofe, He'll foon find means to make the body follow. [Afide. Haft. Why, Mafter Mayor, why stand you in a doubt?.. Open the gates. We are King Henry's friends. Enter the Mayor and two Aldermen. 1 K. Edw. So, Mafter Mayor, thefe gates muft not But in the night, or in the time of war. [be fhut What, fear not, man, but yield me up the keys; [Takes his keys. · For Edward will defend the town and thee, Glou. Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery, K. Edw. Welcome, Sir John; but why come you in arms? Montg. To help King Edward in his time of storm, As every loyal fubject ought to do K. Edw. Thanks, good Montgory; but we now Our title to the crown, and only claim [forget Our dukedom, till God pleafe to lend the reft. Montg. Then fare you well, for I will hence again; I came to ferve a king, and not a duke. and let us march away. [The drum begins a march. K. Edw. Nay, stay, Sir John, a while, and we'll debate By what fafe means the crown may be recover'd. Glou. Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points? K. Edw. When we grow stronger then we'll make our claim: 'Till then 'tis wildom to conceal our meaning. Haft. Away with fcrupulous wit, now arms muft. rule. Gla. And fearlefs 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. Monty. Av, now my Sovereign (peaketh like him And now will I be Edward's champion. [self: Haft Sound, trumpet, Edward fhall be here proclaim'd: |