'Now, brother of Gloster, lord Hastings, and the rest, • Stand you thus close, to steal the bishop's deer? • Your horse stands ready at the park corner. IK. Ed. But whither shall we then? Has. To Lynn, my lord, and ship from thence to Flanders. 'Glos. Well guess'd, believe me; for that was my meaning. K. Ed. Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness. "Glos. But wherefore stay we? 'tis no time to talk. "K. Ed. Huntsman, what say'st thou wilt thou go along? Hunts. Better do so, than tarry and be hang'd. "Glos. Come then, away; let's have no more And ado. K. Ed. Bishop, farewell: shield thee from 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, TENANT OF THE TOWER, and Attendants. LIEU "K. Hen. 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? "Lieu. 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 kind ness, "For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure; Ay, such a pleasure as encaged 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. "War. Your grace hath still been famed for vir tuous; "And now may seem as wise as virtuous, "For few men rightly temper with the stars: 1 " 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 bless'd 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 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. War. What answers Clarence to his sovereign's will? "Cla. That he consents if Warwick yield con sent; 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 1 i. e. conform their temper to their destiny. ? Present. "To Henry's body, and supply his place; And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful, "Forthwith that Edward be pronounced a traitor, And all his lands and goods be confiscate. " Cla. What else? and that succession be deter 64 mined. 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. Cla. 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 Rich mond.1 K. Hen. Come hither, England's hope: if secret [lays his hand on his head. powers Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts, This pretty lad will prove our country's bliss. Afterwards Henry VII. 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. "And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy. War. Unsavory news. But how made he escape? "Mes. He was convey'd by Richard duke of Gloster, "And the lord Hastings, who attended him 1 "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, War. Cla. Lieu. and Att. "Som. My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward's: For, doubtless, Burgundy will yield him help; I Waited for him. |