Complete Plays, The (279 page)

Rivers

These news I must confess are full of grief;
Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may:
Warwick may lose, that now hath won the day.

Queen Elizabeth

Till then fair hope must hinder life’s decay.
And I the rather wean me from despair
For love of Edward’s offspring in my womb:
This is it that makes me bridle passion
And bear with mildness my misfortune’s cross;
Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear
And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs,
Lest with my sighs or tears I blast or drown
King Edward’s fruit, true heir to the English crown.

Rivers

But, madam, where is Warwick then become?

Queen Elizabeth

I am inform’d that he comes towards London,
To set the crown once more on Henry’s head:
Guess thou the rest; King Edward’s friends must down,
But, to prevent the tyrant’s violence,—
For trust not him that hath once broken faith,—
I’ll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary,
To save at least the heir of Edward’s right:
There shall I rest secure from force and fraud.
Come, therefore, let us fly while we may fly:
If Warwick take us we are sure to die.

Exeunt

S
CENE
V. A
PARK
NEAR
M
IDDLEHAM
C
ASTLE
I
N
Y
ORKSHIRE
.

Enter Gloucester, Hastings, and Stanley

Gloucester

Now, my Lord Hastings and Sir William Stanley,
Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither,
Into this chiefest thicket of the park.
Thus stands the case: you know our king, my brother,
Is prisoner to the bishop here, at whose hands
He hath good usage and great liberty,
And, often but attended with weak guard,
Comes hunting this way to disport himself.
I have advertised him by secret means
That if about this hour he make his 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 IV and a Huntsman with him

Huntsman

This way, my lord; for this way lies the game.

King Edward IV

Nay, this way, man: see where the huntsmen stand.
Now, brother of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and the rest,
Stand you thus close, to steal the bishop’s deer?

Gloucester

Brother, the time and case requireth haste:
Your horse stands ready at the park-corner.

King Edward IV

But whither shall we then?

Hastings

To Lynn, my lord,
And ship from thence to Flanders.

Gloucester

Well guess’d, believe me; for that was my meaning.

King Edward IV

Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness.

Gloucester

But wherefore stay we? ’tis no time to talk.

King Edward IV

Huntsman, what say’st thou? wilt thou go along?

Huntsman

Better do so than tarry and be hang’d.

Gloucester

Come then, away; let’s ha’ no more ado.

King Edward IV

Bishop, farewell: shield thee from Warwick’s frown;
And pray that I may repossess the crown.

Exeunt

S
CENE
VI. L
ONDON
. T
HE
T
OWER
.

Flourish. Enter King Henry VI, Clarence, Warwick, Somerset, Henry Of Richmond, Oxford, Montague, and Lieutenant of the Tower

King Henry VI

Master lieutenant, now that God and friends
Have shaken Edward from the regal seat,
And turn’d my captive state to liberty,
My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys,
At our enlargement what are thy due fees?

Lieutenant

Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns;
But if an humble prayer may prevail,
I then crave pardon of your majesty.

King Henry VI

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 incaged 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 blessed land
May not be punish’d 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.

Warwick

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.

Clarence

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.

Warwick

And I choose Clarence only for protector.

King Henry VI

Warwick and Clarence give me both your hands:
Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts,
That no dissension 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.

Warwick

What answers Clarence to his sovereign’s will?

Clarence

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

Warwick

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.

Clarence

What else? and that succession be determined.

Warwick

Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.

King Henry VI

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.

Clarence

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

King Henry VI

My Lord of Somerset, what youth is that,
Of whom you seem to have so tender care?

Somerset

My liege, it is young Henry, earl of Richmond.

King Henry VI

Come hither, England’s hope.

Lays his hand on his head

If secret powers
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 Post

Warwick

What news, my friend?

Post

That Edward is escaped from your brother,
And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.

Warwick

Unsavoury news! but how made he escape?

Post

He was convey’d by Richard Duke of Gloucester
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.

Warwick

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 all but Somerset, Henry Of Richmond, and Oxford

Somerset

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 befall him, to his harm and ours:
Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst,
Forthwith we’ll send him hence to Brittany,
Till storms be past of civil enmity.

Oxford

Ay, for if Edward repossess the crown,
’Tis like that Richmond with the rest shall down.

Somerset

It shall be so; he shall to Brittany.
Come, therefore, let’s about it speedily.

Exeunt

S
CENE
VII. B
EFORE
Y
ORK
.

Flourish. Enter King Edward IV, Gloucester, Hastings, and Soldiers

King Edward IV

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 pass’d and now repass’d the seas
And brought desired help from Burgundy:
What then remains, we being thus arrived
From Ravenspurgh haven before the gates of York,
But that we enter, as into our dukedom?

Gloucester

The gates made fast! Brother, I like not this;
For many men that stumble at the threshold
Are well foretold that danger lurks within.

King Edward IV

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.

Hastings

My liege, I’ll knock once more to summon them.

Enter, on the walls, the Mayor of York, and his Brethren

Mayor

My lords, we were forewarned of your coming,
And shut the gates for safety of ourselves;
For now we owe allegiance unto Henry.

King Edward IV

But, master mayor, if Henry be your king,
Yet Edward at the least is Duke of York.

Mayor

True, my good lord; I know you for no less.

King Edward IV

Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom,
As being well content with that alone.

Gloucester

[Aside]
 
But when the fox hath once got in his nose,
He’ll soon find means to make the body follow.

Hastings

Why, master mayor, why stand you in a doubt?
Open the gates; we are King Henry’s friends.

Mayor

Ay, say you so? the gates shall then be open’d.

They descend

Gloucester

A wise stout captain, and soon persuaded!

Hastings

The good old man would fain that all were well,
So ’twere not ’long of him; but being enter’d,
I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade
Both him and all his brothers unto reason.

Enter the Mayor and two Aldermen, below

King Edward IV

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.

March. Enter Montgomery, with drum and soldiers

Gloucester

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

King Edward IV

Welcome, Sir John! But why come you in arms?

Montague

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

King Edward IV

Thanks, good Montgomery; but we now forget
Our title to the crown and only claim
Our dukedom till God please to send the rest.

Montague

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.

The drum begins to march

King Edward IV

Nay, stay, Sir John, awhi le, and we’ll debate
By what safe means the crown may be recover’d.

Montague

What talk you of debating? in few words,
If you’ll not here proclaim yourself our king,
I’ll leave you to your fortune and be gone
To keep them back that come to succor you:
Why shall we fight, if you pretend no title?

Gloucester

Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points?

King Edward IV

When we grow stronger, then we’ll make our claim:
Till then, ’tis wisdom to conceal our meaning.

Hastings

Away with scrupulous wit! now arms must rule.

Gloucester

And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns.
Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand:
The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.

King Edward IV

Then be it as you will; for ’tis my right,
And Henry but usurps the diadem.

Montague

Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself;
And now will I be Edward’s champion.

Hastings

Sound trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim’d:
Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation.

Flourish

Soldier

Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God, king of
England and France, and lord of Ireland, & c.