Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

And now what refts, but in night's overture *,
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 fcouts have found th' adventure very easy;
That as Ulyffes and ftout Diomede

With flight and inanhood 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 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 Saint George!· [Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

Enter the Watchmen to guard the King's tent.

Watch. Come on, my masters, each man take his ftand:

1

The King by this hath fet him down to fleep. 2 Watch. What, will he not to bed?

Watch. Why, no; for he hath made a folemn Never to ly and take his natural rest, Till Warwick or himself be quite fupprefs'd.

[ocr errors]

[vow,

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

[day.

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.

3Watch. O, is it fo?-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 the more dangerous,

Night's coverture. Johnson.

3 Watch. Ay, but give me worship and quietnefs; I like it better than a dang'rous honour. If Warwick knew in what estate he stands, 'Tis to be doubted he would waken him.

Watch. Unlefs our halberds did thut up his paffage. 2 Watch. Ay; wherefore elfe guard we this royal But to defend his person from night-foes? [tent, Enter Warwick, Clarence, Oxford, Somerset, and French Soldiers, filent all.

War. This is his tent; and fee where stands his guard.

-Courage, my masters: honour now, or never!
But follow me, and Edward fhall be ours.
I Watch. Who goes there?

2 Watch. Stay, or thou diest.

[Warwick and the rest cry all, Warwick! Warwick! and fet upon the Guard; who fly, crying, Arms! Arms! Warwick and the rest 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; Glo'fter and Haftings flying over the stage.

Som. What are they that fly there?

War. Richard and Haftings. Let them go, here is the Duke.

K. Edw. The Duke! why, Warwick, when we Thou call'dft me King.

War. Ay, but the cafe is alter'd.

[parted,

When you difgrac'd me in my ambassade,
Then I degraded you from being King;
And come now to create you Duke of York.
Alas, how fhould you govern any kingdom,
That know not how to use ambaffadors,
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 fhrowd yourself from enemies?

K. Edw. Brother of Clarence, and art thou here Nay, then I fee that Edward needs must down. [too? VOL. VI.

X

"Yet, Warwick, in defpight of all mischance,
Of thee thyfelf, and all thy complices,
Edward will always bear himself as King;
Though fortune's malice overthrow my state,
My mind exceeds the compafs of her wheel.
War. Then, for his mind, be Edward England's
King,
[Takes off his crown.
But Henry now fhall wear the English crown,
And be true King, indeed; thou but the fhadow.
-My Lord of Somerfet, at my request,

See that forthwith Duke Edward be convey'd
Unto my brother, archbishop of York.

When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows,
I'll follow you, and tell you what reply
Lewis and Lady Bona fent to him.

-Now for a while farewell, good Duke of York.
K. Edw. What fates impofe, that man muft needs
It boots not to resist both wind and tide. [abide;
[Exit King Edward led out.
Oxf. What now remains, my Lords, for us to do,
But march to London with our foldiers?
War. Ay, that's the first thing that we have to do;
To free king Henry from imprisonment,
And fee him feated in the regal throne.

SCENE V.

The Palace.

Enter Rivers and the Queen.

[Exeunt.

Riv. Madam, what makes you in this fudden change?

Queen. Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn What late misfortune has befaln King Edward? Riv. What! lofs of fome pitch'd battle against Warwick?

Queen. No, but the lofs of his own royal perfon.
Riv. Then is my sovereign flain?

Queen. Ay, almoft flain, for he is taken prisoner,
Either betray'd by falfehood of his guard,
Or by his foe furpriz'd at unawares;
And, as I further have to understand, ́
Is now committed to the bishop of York,

Fell Warwick's brother, and by that our foe.
Riv. Thefe news, I must confefs, are full of grief;;
Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may;
Warwick may lofe, that now hath won the day.
Queen. Till then fair hope muft hinder life's de-
And I the rather wean me from defpair, [cay.
For love of Edward's offspring in my womb:
This is't that makes me bridle in my pallion,
And bear with mildness my misfortune's crois.
Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear,
And flop the rifing of blood-fucking fighs,
Left with my fighs or tears I blaft or drown
King Edward's fruit, true heir to th' English crown.
Riv. But, Madam, where is Warwick then become?
Queen. I am informed that he comes tow'rds Lon-
To let the crown once more on Henry's head: [don,.
Guess thou the reft, King Edward's friends muft
But to prevent the tyrant's violence, [down.
For truft not him that once hath broken faith,
I'll hence forthwith unto the fanctuary,
To fave at least the heir of Edward's right.
There fhall I reft fecure from force and fraud.
Come therefore, let us fly while we may fly;
If Warwick take us, we are fure to die. [Exeunt..

S CE NE VI.

A Park near Middleham-Cafle in Yorkshire.

Enter Gloucefter, Lord Haftings, and Sir William Stanley.

Glo. Now, my Lord Haftings, and Sir WilliamStanley,

Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither,

Into the chiefeft thicket of the park.

[ther, a

Thus ftands the cafe. You know, our King, my bro--
Is pris'ner to the bishop, at whofe hands
He hath good ufage and great liberty;
And often but attended with weak guard
Comes, hunting this way to difport himself.
I have advertis'd him by fecret means,
That if about this hour he make his way,.
Under the colour of his ufual game;

He fhall here find his friends with horfe and men, To fet him free from his captivity.

Enter King Edward and a Huntsman with him.

Hunt. This way, my Lord, for this way lyes the

game.

K. Ed. Nay, this way, man; fee where the buntfmen ftand.

Now, brother Glo'fter, Haftings, and the reft,
Stand you thus clofe to fteal the bishop's deer?
Glo. Brother, the time and cafe requireth haste,
Your horfe ftands ready by at the park corner.
K. Edw. But whither fhall we then?

Haft. To Lyn, my Lord,

And fhip from thence to Flanders.

Glou. Well guefs'd, believe me, for that was my meaning.

[ocr errors]

K. Edw, Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness.
Glou. But wherefore stay we? 'tis no time to talk.
K. Edw. Huntfman, what fay'st thou? wilt thou-
go along?

Hunt. Better do fo than tarry and be hang'd.
Glou. Come then away, let's ha' no more ado.
K. Edw. Bifhop, farewell; fhield thee from War-
wick's frown,

And pray that I may repoffefs the crown. [Exeunt.

SCEN E VII.

Changes to the Tower in London.

Enter King Henry, Clarence, Warwick, Somerfer," young Richmond, Oxford, Montague, and Lieutenant of the Tower.

K.Henry. Mr Lieutenant,now that God and friends Have fhaken Edward from the regal feat, And turn'd my captive flate to liberty,. My fear to hope, my forrows unto joys, At our enlargement what are thy due fees? Lien Subjects may challenge nothing of their foveBut if an humble prayer may prevail,

I then crave pardon of your Majelly.

[reigns;

K. Hen. For what, Lieutenant for well-ufing me &

1

« PreviousContinue »