*And haste is needful in this desperate case.-
'Pembroke, and Stafford, you in our behalf
Go levy men, and make prepare for war;
They are already, or quickly will be landed :
Myself in person will straight follow you.

[Exeunt PEMBROKE and Stafford.

But ere I go, Hastings,-and Montague,-
Resolve my doubt. You twain, of all the rest,
'Are near to Warwick, by blood, and by alliance.
Tell me, if you love Warwick more than me?
If it be so, then both depart to him;

I rather wish you foes, than hollow friends;
But if you mind to hold your true obedience,
Give me assurance with some friendly vow,

That I may never have you in suspect.

Mont. So God help Montague, as he proves true! Hast. And Hastings, as he favors Edward's cause! K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, will you stand by us ?

Glo. Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you. K. Edw. Why so; then am I sure of victory. Now therefore let us hence; and lose no hour, Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power.

[Exeunt.

.

SCENE II. A Plain in Warwickshire.

Enter WARWICK and OXFORD, with French and other

Forces.

War. Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well; The common people by numbers swarm to us.

Enter CLARENCE and SOMERSET.

But, see, where Somerset and Clarence come.-
Speak suddenly, my lords, are we all friends?
Clar. Fear not that, my lord.

War. Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto War

wick;

And welcome, Somerset.-I hold it cowardice,
To rest mistrustful where a noble heart

Hath pawned an open hand in sign of love;

Else might I think that Clarence, Edward's brother, Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings.

But welcome, sweet Clarence; my daughter shall be thine.

And now what rests, but, in night's coverture,
Thy brother being carelessly encamped,
His soldiers lurking in the towns about,
And but attended by a simple guard,

We may surprise and take him at our pleasure?
Our scouts have found the adventure very easy;
* That as Ulysses, and stout Diomede,

*With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus' tents, * And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds;1 * So we, well covered with the night's black mantle, * At unawares may beat down Edward's guard, * And seize himself; I say not-slaughter him,

6

* For I intend but only to surprise 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 silent sort.
For Warwick and his friends, God and saint George!

*

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. Edward's Camp near Warwick.

Enter certain Watchmen, to guard the King's tent.

* 1 Watch. Come on, my masters; each man take his stand;

The king, by this, is set him down to sleep.

*2 Watch. What, will he not to bed?

*1 Watch. Why, no; for he hath made a solemn

VOW

1 We are told by some of the writers of the Trojan story, that the capture of these horses was one of the necessary preliminaries of the fate of Troy.

*Never to lie and take his natural rest,

*

*Till Warwick, or himself, be quite suppressed.

*2 Watch. To-morrow then, belike, shall be the day,

* If Warwick be so near as men report.

*3 Watch. But say, I pray, what nobleman is that * That with the king here resteth in his tent?

* 1 Watch. 'Tis the lord Hastings, the king's chiefest friend.

*3 Watch. O, is it so? 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 honor because more dan

gerous.

*3 Watch. Ay; but give me worship and quietness; *I like it better than a dangerous honor.

*If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,

* 'Tis to be doubted, he would waken him.

*1 Watch. Unless our halberds did shut up his passage.

*2 Watch. Ay, wherefore else guard we his royal

tent,

* But to defend his person from night foes?

Enter WARWICK, CLARENCE, OXFORD, SOMERSET, and Forces.

War. This is his tent; and see, where stand his

guard.

Courage, my masters: honor now, or never!
But follow me, and Edward shall be ours.
1 Watch. Who goes there?

*2 Watch. Stay, or thou diest.

[WARWICK, and the rest, cry all-Warwick! Warwick and set upon the guard; who fly, crying, Arm! Arm! Warwick, and the rest, following them.

The drum beating, and trumpets sounding. Reenter WARWICK, and the rest, bringing the King out in a gown, sitting in a chair; GLOSTER and HASTINGS fly.

Som.

What are they that fly there? ' War. Richard, and Hastings; let them go; here's the duke.

K. Edw. The duke! why, Warwick, when we parted last,

Thou call'dst me king!

War. Ay, but the case is altered; • When you disgraced me in my embassade, Then I degraded you from being king, And come now to create you duke of York. Alas! how should you govern any kingdom, That know not how to use ambassadors; 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 shroud yourself from enemies?

*K. Edw. Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here too?

*Nay, then I see, that Edward needs must down.'Yet, Warwick, in despite of all mischance, Of thee thyself, and all thy complices, 'Edward will always bear himself as king; *Though fortune's malice overthrow my state, * My mind exceeds the compass of her wheel. War. Then, for his mind,' be Edward England's [Takes off his crown.

king.

But Henry now shall wear the English crown,

6

*And be true king indeed; thou but the shadow.

My

lord of Somerset, at my request,

See that forthwith duke Edward be conveyed
Unto my brother, archbishop of York.

'When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows, 'I'll follow you, and tell what answer

i. e. in his mind; as far as his own mind goes.

'Lewis, and the lady Bona, send to him;

Now, for a while, farewell, good duke of York.

* K. Edw. What fates impose, that men must needs

abide;

* It boots not to resist both wind and tide.

*

[Exit KING EDWARD, led out; SOMERSET with him.

Oxf. What now remains, my lords, for us to do, *But march to London with our soldiers?

War. Ay, that's the first thing that we have to do ; To free king Henry from imprisonment,

And see him seated in the regal throne.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV. London. A Room in the Palace.

Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and RIVERS.

Riv. Madam, what makes you in this sudden change?

Q. Eliz. Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn What late misfortune is befallen king Edward?

Riv. What, loss of some pitched battle against Warwick?

Q. Eliz. No, but the loss of his own royal person.
Riv. Then is my sovereign slain ?

Q. Eliz. Ay, almost slain, for he is taken pris

oner;

Either betrayed by falsehood of his guard,
Or by his foe surprised at unawares;
And, as I further have to understand,

Is now committed to the bishop of York,
'Fell Warwick's brother, and by that our foe.

Riv. 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.

Q. Eliz. 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;