Comes hunting this way to disport himself.
I have advértised 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 guessed, 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 sayst thou: wilt thou go along?

Hunt. Better do so than tarry and be hanged. Glo. Come then, away; let's have no more ado. K. Edw. Bishop, farewell: shield thee from Warwick's frown,

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

SCENE VI.-A Room in the Tower.

Enter KING HENRY, CLARENCE, WARWICK, SOMERSET, YOUNG RICHMOND, OXFORD, MONTAGUE, Lieutenant of the Tower, and Attendants.

K. Hen. Master Lieutenant, now that God and friends

Have shaken Edward from the regal seat,
And turned my captive state to liberty,
My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys,
At our enlargement what are thy due fees?
Lieut. Subjects may challenge nothing of their
sovereigns:

But if an humble prayer may prevail,
I then crave pardon of your majesty.

K. Hen. For what, lieutenant; for well using me?
Nay, be thou sure I'll well requite thy kindness,
For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure:
Ay, such a pleasure as incagéd birds
Conceive when, after many moody thoughts,
At last, by notes of household harmony,
They quite forget their loss of liberty.-
But, Warwick, after God thou set'st me free,

And chiefly therefore I thank God and thee:
He was the author, thou the instrument.
Therefore, that I may conquer fortune's spite,
By living low where fortune cannot hurt me,
And that the people of this blesséd land
May not be punished with my thwarting stars,
Warwick, although my head still wear the crown,
I here resign my government to thee;
For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds.

War. Your grace hath still been famed for virtuous
And now may seem as wise as virtuous,
By spying and avoiding fortune's malice;
For few men rightly temper with the stars:
Yet in this one thing let me blame your grace,
For choosing me when Clarence is in place.

Cla. No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway, To whom the Heavens, in thy nativity, Adjudged an olive branch and laurel crown, As likely to be blest in peace and war: And therefore I yield thee my free consent. War. And I choose Clarence only for protector. K. Hen. Warwick and Clarence, give me both your hands:

Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts,

That no dissention hinder government.
I make you both protectors of this land:
While I myself will lead a private life,
And in devotion spend my latter days,
To sin's rebuke and my Creator's praise.
War. What answers Clarence to his sovereign's
will?

Clar. That he consents, if Warwick yield consent For on thy fortune I repose myself.

War. Why then, though loath, yet must I be

content:

We'll yoke together, like a double shadow
To Henry's body, and supply his place:
I mean, in bearing weight of government,
While he enjoys the honour and his ease.
And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful
Forthwith that Edward be pronounced a traitor,
And all his lands and goods be confiscate.
Clar. What else? and that succession be de-

termined.

War. Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.

K. Hen. But with the first of all your chief affairs Let me entreat (for I command no more) That Margaret your Queen, and my son Edward, Be sent for to return from France with speed: For till I see them here, by doubtful fear My joy of liberty is half eclipsed.

Clar. It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.

K. Hen. My lord of Somerset, what youth is that Of whom you seem to have so tender care?

Som. My liege, it is young Henry, Earl of
Richmond.

K. Hen. Come hither, England's hope. - If
secret powers [Lays his hand on his head.
Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts,
This pretty lad will prove our country's bliss.
His looks are full of peaceful majesty;
His head by nature framed to wear a crown,
His hand to wield a sceptre; and himself
Likely in time to bless a regal throne.
Make much of him, my lords: for this is he
Must help you more than you are hurt by me.
Enter a Messenger.

War. What news, my friend?

Mess. That Edward is escapéd from your brother,

And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.

War. Unsavoury news! But how made he escape?

Mess. He was conveyed by Richard, Duke of
Gloster,

And the Lord Hastings, who attended him
In secret ambush on the forest side,
And from the bishop's huntsmen rescued him:
For hunting was his daily exercise.

War. My brother was too careless of his charge.
But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide
A salve for any sore that may betide.

[Exeunt KING HENRY, WARWICK, CLARENCE, Lieutenant and Attendants. Som. My lord, I like not of this flight of

Edward's:

For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help, And we shall have more wars before 't be long. As Henry's late presaging prophecy

Did glad my heart with hope of this young
Richmond,

So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts
What may befal him, to his harm and ours:
Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst,
Forthwith we'll send him hence to Britany,
Till storms be past of civil enmity.

Orf. Ay for if Edward repossess the crown "T is like that Richmond with the rest shall down, Som. It shall be so: he shall to Britany. Come therefore, let's about it speedily. [Exeunt.

SCENE VII.-Before York.

Enter KING EDWARD, GLOSTER, HASTINGS, and Forces.

K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, Lord Hastings, and the rest,

Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends,
And

says that once more I shall interchange

My waned state for Henry's regal crown.
Well have we passed, and now repassed the seas,
And brought desiréd help from Burgundy.
What then remains, we being thus arrived
From Ravenspurg haven before the gates of York,
But that we enter as into our dukedom?

Glo. The gates made fast!-Brother, I like not this:

For many men that stumble at the threshold
Are well foretold that danger lurks within.

K. Edw. Tush, man! abodements must not now affright us.

By fair or foul means we must enter in;
For hither will our friends repair to us.
Hast. My liege, I'll knock once more to sum-
mon them.

Re-enter the Mayor and two Aldermen, below. K. Edw. So master mayor: these gates must not be shut

But in the night or in the time of war. What! fear not, man, but yield me up the keys: [Takes his keys.

For Edward will defend the town and thee, And all those friends that deign to follow me.

Drum. Enter MONTGOMERY and Forces,marching.

Glo. Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery, Our trusty friend, unless I be deceived.

K. Edw. Welcome, Sir John. But why come you in arms?

Mont. To help King Edward in his time of storm; As every loyal subject ought to do.

K. Edw. Thanks, good Montgomery. But we now forget

Our title to the crown; and only claim
Our dukedom, till God please to send the rest.
Mont. Then fare you well, for I will hence
again :

I came to serve a king, and not a duke.-
Drummer, strike up, and let us march away,

"Edward the fourth, by the grace of God, King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland," &c. Mont. And whosoe'er gainsays King Edward's right,

By this I challenge him to single fight. [Throws down his gauntlet. All. Long live Edward the fourth! K. Edw. Thanks, brave Montgomery: and thanks unto you all.

If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness. Now, for this night let's harbour here in York: And when the morning sun shall raise his car

Above the border of this horizon,

We 'll forward towards Warwick and his mates:
For well I wot that Henry is no soldier.—
Ah, froward Clarence, how evil it beseems thee
To flatter Henry and forsake thy brother!
Yet as we may we'll meet both thee and War-
wick.-

Come on, brave soldiers: doubt not of the day;
And that once gotten, doubt not of large pay.
[Exeunt.

SCENE VIII.-London. A Room in the Palace. Enter KING HENRY, WARWICK, CLARENCE, MONTAGUE, EXETER, and Oxford.

War. What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia, With hasty Germans and blunt Hollanders, Hath passed in safety through the narrow seas, And with his troops doth march amain to London; And many giddy people flock to him.

Oxf. Let's levy men, and beat him back again. Clar. A little fire is quickly trodden out; Which being suffered, rivers cannot quench.

War. In Warwickshire I have true-hearted

friends,

Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war:
Those will I muster up. And thou, son Clarence,
Shall stir up in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent,
The knights and gentlemen to come with thee.
Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham,
Northampton, and in Leicestershire, shalt find
Men well inclined to hear what thou command'st.
And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well beloved,
In Oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends.
My sovereign, with the loving citizens,
Like to his island girt in with the ocean,
Or modest Dian circled with her nymphs,
Shall rest in London till we come to him.
Fair lords, take leave, and stand not to reply.
Farewell, my sovereign.

K. Hen. Farewell, my Hector and my Troy's true hope.

Clar. In sign of truth I kiss your highness' hand. K. Hen. Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate.

Mont. Comfort, my lord: and so I take my leave.

Oxf. And thus [Kissing HENRY's hand.] 1 seal my truth, and bid adieu. K. Hen. Sweet Oxford and my loving Mon

tague,

And all at once, once more a happy farewell. War. Farewell, sweet lords: let's meet at Coventry.

[Exeunt WARWICK, CLARENCE, Oxford,

and MONTAGUE.

K. Hen. Here at the palace will I rest awhile. Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship? Methinks the power that Edward hath in field Should not be able to encounter mine.

Exe. The doubt is that he will seduce the rest. K. Hen. That's not my fear; my meed hath got me fame.

I have not stopped mine ears to their demands,
Nor posted off their suits with slow delays;
My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds,
My mildness hath allayed their swelling griefs,

My mercy dried their water-flowing tears:

I have not been desirous of their wealth:

Nor much oppressed them with great subsidies;
Nor forward of revenge, though they much err'd:
Then why should they love Edward more than me?
No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace;
And, when the lion fawns upon the lamb,
The lamb will never cease to follow him.

[Shout within. "A Lancaster! a Lancaster!" Exe. Hark, hark, my lord! what shouts are these? Enter KING EDWARD, GLOSTER, and Soldiers. K. Edw. Seize on the shame-faced Henry;

bear him hence :

And once again proclaim us King of England.
You are the fount that makes small brooks to flow:
Now stops thy spring, my sea shall suck them dry,
And swell so much the higher by their ebb.-
Hence with him to the Tower: let him not speak.
[Exeunt some with KING HENRY.
And, lords, towards Coventry bend we our course,
Where peremptory Warwick now remains.

The sun shines hot, and if we use delay
Cold biting winter mars our hoped-for hay.

Glo. Away betimes before his forces join, And take the great-grown traitor unawares. Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry. [Exeunt.