Shakespeare's First Folio Part 402

Gray. Why Brother Riuers, are you yet to learne What late misfortune is befalne King Edward?

Riu. What losse of some pitcht battell Against Warwicke?

Gray. No, but the losse of his owne Royall person

Riu. Then is my Soueraigne slaine?

Gray. I almost slaine, for he is taken prisoner, Either betrayd by falshood of his Guard, Or by his Foe surpriz'd at vnawares: And as I further haue to vnderstand, Is new committed to the Bishop of Yorke, Fell Warwickes Brother, and by that our Foe

Riu. These Newes I must confesse are full of greefe, Yet gracious Madam, beare it as you may, Warwicke may loose, that now hath wonne the day

Gray. Till then, faire hope must hinder liues decay: And I the rather waine me from dispaire For loue of Edwards Off-spring in my wombe: This is it that makes me bridle pa.s.sion, And beare with Mildnesse my misfortunes crosse: I, I, for this I draw in many a teare, And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighes, Least with my sighes or teares, I blast or drowne King Edwards Fruite, true heyre to th' English Crowne

Riu. But Madam, Where is Warwicke then become?

Gray. I am inform'd that he comes towards London, To set the Crowne once more on Henries head, Guesse thou the rest, King Edwards Friends must downe.

But to preuent the Tyrants violence, (For trust not him that hath once broken Faith) Ile hence forthwith vnto the Sanctuary, To saue (at least) the heire of Edwards right: There shall I rest secure from force and fraud: Come therefore let vs flye, while we may flye, If Warwicke take vs, we are sure to dye.

Exeunt.

Enter Richard, Lord Hastings, and Sir William Stanley.

Rich. Now my Lord Hastings, and Sir William Stanley Leaue off to wonder why I drew you hither, Into this cheefest Thicket of the Parke.

Thus stand the case: you know our King, my Brother, Is prisoner to the Bishop here, at whose hands He hath good vsage, and great liberty, And often but attended with weake guard, Come hunting this way to disport himselfe.

I haue aduertis'd him by secret meanes, That if about this houre he make this way, Vnder the colour of his vsuall game, He shall heere finde his Friends with Horse and Men, To set him free from his Captiuitie.

Enter King Edward, and a Huntsman with him.

Huntsman. This way my Lord, For this way lies the Game

King Edw. Nay this way man, See where the Huntsmen stand.

Now Brother of Gloster, Lord Hastings, and the rest, Stand you thus close to steale the Bishops Deere?

Rich. Brother, the time and case, requireth hast, Your horse stands ready at the Parke-corner

King Ed. But whether shall we then?

Hast. To Lyn my Lord, And s.h.i.+pt from thence to Flanders

Rich. Wel guest beleeue me, for that was my meaning K.Ed. Stanley, I will requite thy forwardnesse

Rich. But wherefore stay we? 'tis no time to talke

K.Ed. Huntsman, what say'st thou?

Wilt thou go along?

Hunts. Better do so, then tarry and be hang'd

Rich. Come then away, lets ha no more adoo

K.Ed. Bishop farwell, Sheeld thee from Warwickes frowne, And pray that I may re-possesse the Crowne.

Exeunt.

Flourish. Enter King Henry the sixt, Clarence, Warwicke, Somerset, young Henry, Oxford, Mountague, and Lieutenant.

K.Hen. M[aster]. Lieutenant, now that G.o.d and Friends Haue shaken Edward from the Regall seate, And turn'd my captiue state to libertie, My feare to hope, my sorrowes vnto ioyes, At our enlargement what are thy due Fees?

Lieu. Subiects may challenge nothing of their Sou'rains But, if an humble prayer may preuaile, I then craue pardon of your Maiestie

K.Hen. For what, Lieutenant? For well vsing me?

Nay, be thou sure, Ile well requite thy kindnesse.

For that it made my imprisonment, a pleasure: I, such a pleasure, as incaged Birds Conceiue; when after many moody Thoughts, At last, by Notes of Houshold harmonie, They quite forget their losse of Libertie.

But Warwicke, after G.o.d, thou set'st me free, And chiefely therefore, I thanke G.o.d, and thee, He was the Author, thou the Instrument.

Therefore that I may conquer Fortunes spight, By liuing low, where Fortune cannot hurt me, And that the people of this blessed Land May not be punisht with my thwarting starres, Warwicke, although my Head still weare the Crowne, I here resigne my Gouernment to thee, For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds

Warw. Your Grace hath still beene fam'd for vertuous, And now may seeme as wise as vertuous, By spying and auoiding Fortunes malice, For few men rightly temper with the Starres: Yet in this one thing let me blame your Grace, For chusing me, when Clarence is in place

Clar. No Warwicke, thou art worthy of the sway, To whom the Heau'ns in thy Natiuitie, Adiudg'd an Oliue Branch, and Lawrell Crowne, As likely to be blest in Peace and Warre: And therefore I yeeld thee my free consent

Warw. And I chuse Clarence onely for Protector

King. Warwick and Clarence, giue me both your Hands: Now ioyne your Hands, & with your Hands your Hearts, That no dissention hinder Gouernment: I make you both Protectors of this Land, While I my selfe will lead a priuate Life, And in deuotion spend my latter dayes, To sinnes rebuke, and my Creators prayse

Warw. What answeres Clarence to his Soueraignes will?

Clar. That he consents, if Warwicke yeeld consent, For on thy fortune I repose my selfe

Warw. Why then, though loth, yet must I be content: Wee'le yoake together, like a double shadow To Henries Body, and supply his place; I meane, in bearing weight of Gouernment, While he enioyes the Honor, and his ease.

And Clarence, now then it is more then needfull, Forthwith that Edward be p.r.o.nounc'd a Traytor, And all his Lands and Goods confiscate

Clar. What else? and that Succession be determined

Warw. I, therein Clarence shall not want his part

King. But with the first, of all your chiefe affaires, Let me entreat (for I command no more) That Margaret your Queene, and my Sonne Edward, Be sent for, to returne from France with speed: For till I see them here, by doubtfull feare, My ioy of libertie is halfe eclips'd

Clar. It shall bee done, my Soueraigne, with all speede

King. My Lord of Somerset, what Youth is that, Of whom you seeme to haue so tender care?

Somers. My Liege, it is young Henry, Earle of Richmond

King. Come hither, Englands Hope:

Layes his Hand on his Head.

If secret Powers suggest but truth To my diuining thoughts, This prettie Lad will proue our Countries blisse.

His Lookes are full of peacefull Maiestie, His Head by nature fram'd to weare a Crowne, His Hand to wield a Scepter, and himselfe Likely in time to blesse a Regall Throne: Make much of him, my Lords; for this is hee Must helpe you more, then you are hurt by mee.

Enter a Poste.

Warw. What newes, my friend?

Poste. That Edward is escaped from your Brother, And fled (as hee heares since) to Burgundie

Warw. Vnsauorie newes: but how made he escape?

Poste. He was conuey'd by Richard, Duke of Gloster, And the Lord Hastings, who attended him In secret ambush, on the Forrest side, And from the Bishops Huntsmen rescu'd him: For Hunting was his dayly Exercise

Warw. My Brother was too carelesse of his charge.

But let vs hence, my Soueraigne, to prouide A salue for any sore, that may betide.