Lien. Subjects may challenge nothing of their Sov'

raigns,

But, if an humble Prayer may prevail,

I then crave pardon of your Majefty.

K. Henry. For what, Lieutenant? For well ufing me? Nay, be thou fure, I'll well requite thy kindness, For that it made my Imprisonment a Pleasure: Ay, fuch a Pleasure, as incaged Birds Conceive; when after many moody thoughts At laft, by Notes of Houfhold harmony, They quite forget their loss of Liberty. But Warwick, after God, thou fett'st me free, And chiefly therefore, I thank God, and thee: He was the Author, thou the Inftrument, Therefore that I may conquer Fortune's spight, By living low, where Fortune cannot hurt me, And that the People of this bleffed Land May not be punish'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 hath ftill been fam'd for virtuous,
And now may feem as wife as virtuous,
By fpying and avoiding Fortune's Malice,
For few Men rightly temper with the Stars:
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 Lawrel Crown,
As likely to be bleft in Peace and War;

And therefore I yield thee my free confent.

War. And I chufe Clarence only for Protector.

K. Henry. Warwick and Clarence, give me both your Hands! Now join your Hands, and with your Hands, your Heart: That no Diffention hinder Government:

1 make you both Protectors of this Land,
While I my felf will lead a private Life,
And in Devotion spend my latter Days,
VOL. IV.

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To

To fins rebuke, and my Creator's praise.

War. What anfwers Clarence to his Soveraign's Will? Clar. That he confents, if Warwick yield confent, For on thy fortune I repofe my felf.

War. Why then, though loath, yet muft I be content: We'll yoak together, like a double fhadow To Henry's Body, and fupply his Place; I mean, in bearing weight of Government, While he enjoys the honour, and his cafe. And Clarence, now then it is more than needful Forthwith that Edward be pronounc'd a Traitor, And all his Lands and Goods confifcated.

Clar. What elfe? and that Succeffion be determined.
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 Son Edward,
Be fent for, to return from France with speed:
For 'till I fee them here, by doubtful fear,
My joy of liberty is half eclips'd.

Clar. It fhall be done, my Soveraign, with all fpeed. K. Henry. My Lord of Somerfet, what Youth is thar, Of whom you seem to have fo tender care?

Som. My Liege, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmord.
K. Henry, Come hither, England's Hope:

[Lays his Hand on his Head. If fecret Powers fuggeft but truth

To my divining Thoughts,

This pretty Lad will prove our Country's blifs.
His Looks are full of peaceful Majefty,

His Head by Nature fram'd to wear a Crown,
His Hand to wield a Scepter, and himself
Likely in time to blefs a Regal Throne:
Make much of him, my Lords; for this is he
Muft help you more, than you are hurt by me.

Enter a Poft.

War. What news, my Friend?

Foft, That Edward is efcaped from your Brother,

And

And fled, as he hears fince, to Burgundy.

War. Unfavory news; but how made he efcape? Poft. He was convey'd by Richard, Duke of Glofter, And the Lord Haftings, who attended him

In fecret ambush, on the Foreft fide,

And from the Bishop's Huntsmen rescu'd him:
For Hunting was his daily Exercife.

War. My Brother was too carelefs of his charge.
But let us hence, my Soveraign, to provide

A Salve for any Sore; that may betide.

[Exeunt

Manet Somerfet, Richmond, and Oxford. Som. My Lord, I like not of this flight of Edward's: For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help,

And we fhall have more Wars before't be long.

As Kenry's late prefaging Prophecy

Did glad my Heart, with hope of this young Richmond:
So doth my Heart, mif-give me, in these Conflicts
What may befal him, to his harm and ours.
Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst,
Forthwith we'll fend him hence to Britany,
'Tis ftorms be paft of civil Enmity.

Oxf. Ay, for if Edward re-poffefs the Crown, 'Tis like that Richmond with the reft fhall down. Som. It fhall be fo; he fhall to Britang.

Come therefore, let's about it fpeedily.

[Exeunt

Enter King Edward, Glocefter, Haftings, and Soldiers. K. Edw. Now Brother Richard, Lord Hastings, and the rest,

Yet thus far Fortune maketh us amends,

And fays, that once more I fhall enterchange
My wained State, for Henry's Regal Crown.

Well have we pafs'd, and now repafs'd the Seas,
And brought defired help from Burgundy.
What then remains, we being thus arriv'd
From Ravenspurg Haven, before the Gates of York,
But that we enter, as into our Dukedom?

Glo. The Gates made faft?

Brother, I like not this.

For many Men that ftumble at the Threshold,
Are well foretold, that danger lurks within.

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K. Edw

K. Edw. Tush Man, aboadments must not now affright us:

By fair or foul means we must enter in,

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 fore-warned of your coming,

And shut the Gates, for fafety of our felves;
For now we owe Allegiance unto Henry.

K. Edw. But, Mafter Mayor, if Henry be your King,
Yet Edward, at the leaft, is Duke of York.

Mayor. True, my good Lord, I know you for no lefs. K. Edw. Why, and I challenge nothing but my Dukedom, As being well content with that alone.

Glo. 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 ftand you in a doubt? Open the Gates, we are King Henry's Friends. Mayor. Ay, fay you fo? the Gates fhall then be opened. [He defcends. Glo. A wife ftout Captain, and foon perfuaded.

Haft. The good old Man would fain that all were well, So 'twere not long of him; but being entred, I doubt not I, but we fhall foon perfwade Both him and all his Brothers, unto Reafon.

Enter the Mayor, and two Aldermen. K. Edw. So, Mafter Mayor; thefe 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 hofe Friends, that deign to follow me.
March. Enter Montgomery with Drum and Soldiers.
Glo. Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery,

Our trufty Friend, unless 1 be deceiv'd.

K. Edw. Welcome, Sir John, but why come you in Arms? Mont. To help King Edward in his time of form,

As every Loyal Subject ought to do.

K Edw.

K. Edw. Thanks, good Montgomery:

But we now forget our Title to the Crown,
And only claim our Dukedom,

'Till God pleafe.to send the rest.

Mont. Then fare you well, for I will hence again, I came to ferve a King, and not a Duke:

Drummer strike up, and let us March away.

[The Drum begins a March
K. Edw. Nay ftay, Sir John, a while, and we'll debate
By what fafe means the Crown may be recover'd.
Mont. What talk you of debating? in few Words,
If you'll not here proclaim your felf our King,
I'll leave you to your Fortune, and be gone,
To keep them back, that come to fuccour you.
Why fhall we fight, if you pretend no Title?

Glo. Why Brother, wherefore stand you on nice points?
K. Edw. When we grow ftronger,

Then we'll make our Claim:

'Till then, 'tis Wisdom to conceal our meaning.

Haft. Away with fcrupulous Wit, now Arms must rule. Glo. And fearless 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.

Mont. Ay, now my Soveraign fpeaketh like himself, And now will I be Edward's Champion.

Haft Sound Trumpet, Edward fhall be here proclaim'd: Come, fellow Soldier, make thou Proclamation. [Flourish. Sold. Edward the Fourth, by the Grace of God, King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland, c.

Mont. And whofoe'er gain-fays King Edward's right, But this I challenge him to fingie Fight.

[Throws down his Gauntlets

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 at York:

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And