To play the broker in mine own behalf;
And, to that end, I fhortly mind to leave you.

K. Edry. Leave me, or tarry, Edward will be King And not be ty'd unto his brother's will.

Queen. My Lords, before it pleas'd his Majefty
To raise my state to title of a Queen,
Do me but right, and you must all confefs
That I was not ignoble of defcent;

And meaner than myfelf have had like fortune.
But as this Title honours me and mine,

So your diflikes, to whom I would be pleafing,
Do cloud my joys with danger and with forrow.

K. Edw. My Love, forbear to fawn upon their frowns;
What danger, or what forrow, can befal thee,
So long as Edward is thy conftant friend,

And their true Sovereign, whom they must obey?
Nay, whom they fhall obey, and love thee too,
Unless they seek for hatred at my hands:
Which if they do, yet will I keep thee fafe;
And they fhall feel the vengeance
of my
wrath.*
Glo. I hear, yet fay not much, but think the more..

Enter a Poft.

K. Edw. Now, Meffenger, what letters or what news from France?

Poft. My fovereign Liege, no letters, and few words; But fuch as I (without your fpecial pardon)

K. Edw. Go to, we pardon thee:

So tell their words, as near as thou canft guefs them.
What answer makes King Lewis to our letters ?
Poft. At my Depart, thefe were his very words;
Go tell falfe Edward, thy fuppofed King,
That Lewis of France is fending over maskers
To rever it with him and his new bride.

K Edw. Is Lewis fo brave? belike, he thinks me Henry. But what faid lady Bona to my marriage?

Poft. Thefe were her words, utter'd with mild difdain: Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly,

I'll wear the willow garland for his fake.

K. Edw. I blame not her, fhe could fay little lefs; She had the wrong. But what faid Henry's Queen? For fo I heard, that fhe was there in place.

Poft.Tell him,(quoth fhe) my mourningweeds are done; And I am ready to put armour on.

K. Edw. Belike, fhe means to play the Amazon. But what faid Warwick to these injuries?

Peft. He, more incens'd againft your Majefty Than all the reft, difcharg'd me with thefe words; Tell him from me, that he hath done me wrong; And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long.

K.Ed. Ha! durft the traitor breathe out fo proud words? Well, I will arm me, being thus fore-warn'd: They fhall have wars, and pay for their prefumption. But fay, is Warwick friends with Margaret?

Poft. Ay, gracious Sov'reign, they're fo link'd in friendship.

That young Prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter.
Cl. Belike the younger; Clarence will have the elder. (7)
Now, brother King farewel, and fit you faft,
For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter;
That though I want a Kingdom, yet in Marriage
I may not prove inferior to yourself.

You, that love me and Warwick, follow me..

[Exit Clarence; and Somerset follows. Glo. Not I: my thoughts aim at a further matter: I ftay not for love of Edward, but the Crown. [Afide. K. Edw. Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick ? Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen; And hafte is needful in this defp'rate cafe : Pembroke and Stafford, you in our behalf Go levy men, and make prepare for war; They are already, or will foon be landed; Myfelf in perfon will ftrait follow you.

[Exeunt Pembroke and Stafford.

(7) Belike, the Elder; Clarence will have the Younger.] I have ventured to make Elder and Younger change Places in this Line against the Authority of all the printed Copies. The Reafon of it will be obvioas to every one, from the Proofs in my Note preceding this.

But

But ere I go, Haftings and Montague,

Refolve my doubt: you twain, of all the reft,
Are near to Warwick by blood and by alliance;
Tell me, if you love Warwick more than me?
If it be fo, then both depart to him:

I rather with you foes, than hollow friends.
But if you mind to hold your true obedience,
Give me affurance with fome friendly vow,
That I may never have you in suspect.

Mon. So God help Montague, as he proves true!
Haft. And Haftings, as he favours Edward's Cause!
K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, will you ftand by us?
Glo. Ay, in defpight of all that fhall withstand you.
K. Edw. Why fo, then am I fure of victory.
Now therefore let ut hence, and lofe no hour,
'Till we meet Warwick with his foreign Power. [Exe.

SCENE, in Warwickshire.

Enter Warwick and Oxford, with French Soldiers.

War. Th
Τ

Ruft me, my Lord, all hitherto goes well:
The common people fwarm by numbers to us.
Enter Clarence and Somerfet.

But fee, where Somerset and Clarence come;
Speak fuddenly, my Lords, are we all friends?
Clar. Fear not that, my Lord.

War. Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto Warwick
And welcome, Somerfet: I hold it cowardife
To reft miftruftful, where a noble heart

Hath pawn'd an open hand in fign of love.

Elfe might I think, that Clarence, Edward's brother,
Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings.
But welcome, friend, my daughter fhall be thine.
And now what refts, but in night's coverture,
Thy brother being carelessly encamp'd,

His foldiers lurking in the towns about, (8)

And

(8) His Soldiers lurking in the Town about.] Dr. Thirlby advifed the reading Towns here, very justly, upon the Proof of this Paflage

fpoken

And but attended by a fimple guard,

We

may furprize and take him at our pleasure ? Our fcouts have found th' adventure very eafy: That as Ulyffes and ftout Diomede

With flight and manhood stole to Rhesus' tents,
And brought from thence the Thracian fatal fteeds;
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 St. George!

[Exeunt.

Enter the Watchmen to guard the King's Tent.

Watch. Come on, my masters, each man take his ftand: The King by this has fet him down to sleep.

2 Watch. What, will he not to bed?

I Watch. Why, no; for he hath made a folemn vow, Never to lie and take his natural rest,

Till Warwick or himself be quite fuppreft.

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

3 Watch. But fay, I pray, what nobleman is that, That with the King here refteth in his tent?

1 Watch. 'Tis the Lord Haftings, the King's chiefekt friend.

3 Watch. 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.

3 Watch. Ay, but give me worship and quietnefs;

Spoken by the Guard in the Scene immediately following. but why commands the King,

That his chief Follwers lodge in Towns about him, &c.

I like it better than a dang 'rous honour.
If Warwick knew in what eftate he stands,
'Tis to be doubted, he would weaken him.

1 Watch. Unless our halberds did shut up his paffage. 2 Watch. Ay; wherefore elfe guard we this royal tent, But to defend his perfon from night-foes?

Enter Warwick, Clarence, Oxford, Somerfet, and French Soldiers, filent all.

War. This is his tent; and fee, where ftands his Courage, my mafters: honour now, or never! But follow me, and Edward fhall be ours. Watch. Who goes there?

2 Watch. Stay, or thou dieft.

guard:

[Warwick and the reft cry all, Warwick! Warwick! and fet upon the Guard; who fly, crying, Arms! Arms! Warwick and the reft 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; Glofter 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 parted, Thou call'dft me King?

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

When you difgrac'd me in my embaffade,
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 too?

Nay,