Q. Mar. No, mighty king of France; now Margaret

Must strike her sail, and learn a while to serve, Where kings command. I was, I must confess,

Great Albion's queen in former golden days:
But now mischance hath trod my title down,
And with dishonour laid me on the ground;
Where I must take like seat unto my fortune,
And to my humble seat conform myself.

K. Lew. Why, say, fair queen, whence springs this deep despair!

Q. Mar. From such a cause as fills mine eyes with tears,

And stops my tongue, while heart is drown'd in

cares.

K. Lew. Whate'er it be, be thou still like thyself,

And sit thee by our side: yield not thy neck
[Seats her by him.
To fortune's yoke, but let thy dauntless mind
Still ride in triumph over all mischance.
Be plain, queen Margaret, and tell thy grief;
It shall be eas'd, if France can yield relief.
Q. Mar. Those gracious words revive my
drooping thoughts,

And give my tongue-tied sorrows leave
speak.

Now, therefore, be it known to noble Lewis,
That Henry, sole possessor of my love,
Is, of a king, become a banish'd man,
And forc'd to live in Scotland a forlorn;
While proud ambitious Edward, duke of York,
Usurps the regal title, and the seat

to

Of England's trae-anointed lawful king.
This is the cause, that I, poor Margaret,
With this my son, prince Edward, Henry's
heir.

Am come to crave thy just and lawful aid;
And, if thou fail us, all our hope is done:
Scotland hath will to help, but cannot help;
Our people and our peers are both misled,
Our treasure seiz'd, our soldiers put to flight.
And, as thou see'st, ourselves in heavy plight.
K. Lew. Renowned queen, with patience calm

the storm,

While we bethink a means to break it off. Q. Mar. The more we stay the stronger grows our foe.

K. Lew. The more I stay, the more I'll succour thee.

Q. Mar. O but impatience waiteth on true

sorrow:

And see, where comes the breeder of my sorrow. Enter WARWICK, attended.

K. Lew. What's he, approacheth boldly to our presence?

Q. Mar. Our earl of Warwick, Edward's greatest friend.

K. Lew. Welcome, brave Warwick! What brings thee to France?

[Descending from his State, Queen MARGARET rises.

Q. Mar. Ay, now begins a second storm to

rise; For this is he, that moves both wind and tide. War. From worthy Edward, king of Albion, My lord and sovereign, and thy vowed friend, I come,-in kindness and unfeigned love,First, to do greetings to thy royal persou; And, then, to crave a league of amity; And, lastly, to confirm that amity With nuptial knot, if thou vouchsafe to grant That virtuous lady Bona, thy fair sister, To England's king in lawful marriage.

Q. Mar. If that go forward, Henry's hope is done.

War. And, gracious madam, [To BONA.] in our king's behalf,

I am commanded, with your leave and favour, Humbly to kiss your hand, and with my tongue To tell the passion of my sovereign's heart;

Hath plac'd thy beauty's image, and thy virtue. Q. Mar. King Lewis,-and lady Bona,-hear hear me speak,

Before you answer Warwick. His demand Springs not from Edward's well-meant honest love,

But from deceit, bred by necessity;
For how can tyrants safely govern home,
Unless abroad they purchase great alliance ?
To prove him tyrant this reason may suffice,
That Henry liveth still; but were he dead,
Yet here prince Edward stands, king Henry's

son.

Look therefore, Lewis, that by this league and marriage

Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour :
For though usurpers sway the rule a while,
Yet heavens are just, and time suppresseth
wrongs.

War. Injurious Margaret!

Prince. And why not queen ?

War. Because thy father Henry did usurp ; And thou no more art prince, than she is queen.

Oxf. Then Warwick disannuls great John of

Gaunt.

Which did subdue the greatest part of Spain; And, after John of Gaunt, Henry the fourth, Whose wisdom was a mirror to the wisest ; And, after that wise prince, Henry the fifth, Who by his prowess conquered all France; From these our Henry lineally descends.

War. Oxford, how haps it, in this smooth discourse,

You told not how Henry the sixth hath lost
All that which Henry the fifth had gotten ?
Methinks, these peers of France should smile at
that.

But for the rest,-You tell a pedigree
Of threescore and two years; a silly time
To make prescription for a kingdom's worth.
Oxf. Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against

thy liege,

Whom thou obey'dst thirty and six years,
And not bewray thy treason with a blush?
War. Can Oxford, that did ever fence the

right,

Now buckler falsehood with a pedigree?
For shame, leave Henry, and call Edward king.
Oxf. Call him my king, by whose injurious
doom

My elder brother, the lord Aubrey Vere,
Was done to death? and more than so, my
father

Even in the downfall of h's mellow'd years,
When nature brought him to the door of death?
No, Warwick, no; while life upholds this arm,
This arm upholds the house of Lancaster.
War. And I the house of York.

K. Lew. Queen Margaret, prince Edward, and
Oxford,

Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside.
While I use further conference with Warwick.
Q. Mar. Heaven grant, that Warwick's words
bewitch him not!

[Retiring with the PRINCE and OXFORD. K. Lew. Now, Warwick, tell me, even upon

thy conscience,

Is Edward your true king? for I were loath,
To link with him that were not lawful chosen.
War. Thereon I pawn my credit and mine
bonour.

K. Lew. But is he gracious in the people's eye ?

War. The more, that Henry was unfortunate. K. Lew. Then further, all dissembling set

aside,

Tell me for truth the measure of his love Unto our sister Bona.

War. Such it seems,

As may beseem a monarch like himself. Myself have often heard him say, and swear, That this his love was an eternal plant; Whereof the root was fix'd in virtue's ground,

The leaves and fruit maintain'd with beauty's

sun;

Exempt from envy, but not from disdain,
Unless the lady Bona quit his pain.

K. Lew. Now, sister, let us hear your firm
resolve.

Bona. Your grant, or your denial, shall be mine :

Yet I confess, [To WAR.] that often ere this day,

When I have heard your king's desert recounted,

Mine ear bath tempted judgment to desire. K. Lew. Then, Warwick, thus,--Our sister shall be Edward's ;

And now forthwith shall articles be drawn Touching the jointure that your king must make,

Which with her dowry shall be counterpois'd:Draw near, queen Margaret; and be a witness, That Bona shall be wife to the English king. Prince. To Edward, but not to the English king.

Q. Mar. Deceitful Warwick! it was thy device

By this alliance to make void my suit ;
Before thy coming, Lewis was Henry's friend.
K. Lew. And still is friend to him and Mar-
garet :

But if your title to the crown be weak,
(As may appear by Edward's good success,)
Then 'tis but reason that I be releas'd
From giving aid, which late I promised.
Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand,
That your estate requires, and mine can yield.
War. Henry now lives in Scotland, at bis

ease;

for you;

Sent from your brother, marquis Montague.
These from our king unto your majesty.-
And, madam, these for you; from whom, I
know not,

[To MARGARET. They all read their
Letters.

Oxf. I like it well, that our fair queen and mistress

Siniles at her news, while Warwick frowns at his.

Prince. Nay, mark, how Lewis stamps as he were nettled:

I hope, all's for the best.

K. Lew. Warwick, what are thy news? and your's fair queen?

Q. Mar. Mine, such as fill my heart with unhop'd joys.

War. Mine, full of sorrow and heart's discontent.

K. Lew. What! has your king married the lady Grey?

And now, to sooth your forgery and his,
Sends me a paper to persuade me patience ?
Is this the alliance that he seeks with France ?
Dare he presume to scorn us in this manner?

:

Q. Mar. I told your majesty as much before This proveth Edward's love and Warwick's honesty.

War. King Lewis, I here protest,-in sight of heaven,

And by the hope I have of heavenly bliss,-
That I am clear from this misdeed of Edward's;
No more my king, for he dishonours me:
But most himself, if he could see his shame.—
Did I forget, that by the house of York
My father came untimely to his death?
Did I let pass the abuse done to my niece?
Did I impale him with the regal crown?
Did I put Henry from his native right;
And am I guerdon'd at the last with shame!
Shame on himself! for my desert is honour.
And, to repair my honour lost for him,
I here renounce him, and return to Heury:
My noble queen, let former grudges pass,
And henceforth I am thy true servitor;
I will revenge his wrong to lady Bona,
And replant Henry in his former state.
Q. Mar. Warwick, these words have turn'd
my hate to love;

And I forgive and quite forget old faults,
And joy that thou becom'st king Henry's
friend.

War. So much his friend, ay, his unfeigned

friend,

That, if king Lewis vouchsafe to furnish us
With some few bands of chosen soldiers,
I'll undertake to land them on our coast,
And force the tyrant from his seat by war.
'Tis not his new-made bride shall succour him:
And as for Clarence, as my letters tell me,
He's very likely now to fall from him;
For matching more for wanton Just than honour,
Or than for strength and safety of our country.
Bona. Dear brother, how shall Bona be le-
veng'd,

But by the help to this distressed queen ?
Q. Mar. Renowned prince, how shall poor
Henry live,

Unless thou rescue him from foul despair?
Bona. My quarrel, and this English queen's,

are one.

War. And mine, fair lady Bona, joins with your's.

K. Lew. And mine, with her's, and thine, and
Margaret's.

Therefore, at last, I firmly am resolv'd,
You shall have aid.

Q. Mar. Let me give humble thanks for all at once.

K. Lew. Then England's messenger return in

post;

And tell false Edward, thy supposed king,
That Lewis of France is sending over maskers,
To revel it with him and his new bride:
Thou seest what's past, go fear + thy king withal.
Bona. Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widow-
er shortly,

I'll wear the willow garland for his sake.
Q. Mar. Tell him, my mourning weeds are
laid aside,

And I am ready to put armour on.

War. Tell him from me, that he hath done me wrong;

And therefore I'll uncrown him, ere't be long. There's thy reward; be gone. [Exit MESS.

K. Lew. But, Warwick, thou,
And Oxford, with five thousand men,
Shall cross the seas, aud bid false Edward
battle:

And, as occasion serves, this noble queen
And prince shall follow with a fresh supply,
Yet, ere thou go, but answer me one doubt;-
What pledge have we of thy firm loyalty?

War. This shall assure my constant Joy

I'll join mine eldest daughter, and my joy,
To_him_forthwith in holy wedlock bands.

Q. Mar. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion :

Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous,
Therefore delay not, give thy hand to War-
wick;

And, with thy hand, thy faith irrevocable,
That only Warwick's daughter shall be thine.
Prince. Yes, I accept her, for she well de-
serves it;

And here, to pledge my vow, I give my hand.
[He gives his hand to WARWICK.
K. Lew. Why stay we now? These soldiers
shall be levied,

And thou, lord Bourbon, our high admiral,
Shalt waft them over with our royal fleet.-
I long, till Edward fall by war's mischance,
For mocking marriage with a dame of France.

Tell me some reason, why the lady Grey
Should not become my wife, and England's
queen :-

And you too, Somerset and Montague,
Speak freely what you think.

Clar. Then this is my opinion,-that king
Lewis

Becomes your enemy, for mocking him
About the marriage of the lady Bona.

Glo. And Warwick, doing what you gave in charge,

Is now dishonoured by this new marriage. K. Edw. What, if both Lewis and Warwick be appeas'd,

But such invention as I can devise?

Mont. Yet to have join'd with France in such alliance,

Would more have strengthen'd this our commonwealth

foreign storms, than any home-bred marriage.

Hast. Why, knows not Montague, that of itself

England is safe, if true within itself!

Mont. Yes; but the safer, when 'tis back'd

ACT IV.

[Exit.

SCENE 1.-London.-A Room in the Palace. Enter GLOSTER, CLARENCE, SOMERSET, MONTAGUE, and others.

Glo. Now tell me, brother Clarence, what think you

of this new marriage with the lady Grey? Hath not our brother made a worthy choice? Clar. Alas, you know, 'tis far from hence to

France;

How could he stay till Warwick made return? Som. My lords, forbear this talk; here comes the king.

Flourish. Enter King EDWARD, attended; Lady GREY, as Queen; PEMBROKE, STAFFORD, HASTINGS, and others.

Glo. And his well-chosen bride.

Clar. 1 mind to tell him plainly what I think.

K. Edw. Now brother of Clarence, how like you our choice,

That you stand pensive, as half malecontent? Clar. As well as Lewis of France, or the earl of Warwick;

Which are so weak of courage, and in judg ment

That they'll take no offence at our abuse.
K. Edw. Suppose they take offence without a

cause.

They are but Lewis and Warwick; I am Edward,

Your king and Warwick's, and must have my will.

Glo. And you shall have your will, because our king;

Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well.

with France.

Hast. 'Tis better using France, than trusting
France,

Let us be back'd with God, and with the seas,
Which he hath given for fence impregnable,
And with their helps only defend ourselves,
In them and in ourselves, our safety lies.
Clar. For this one speech, lord Hastings well
deserves

To have the heir of the lord Hungerford.

K. Edw. Ay, what of that? it was my will, and grant ;

And, for this once, my will shall stand for law. Glo. And yet, methinks, your grace hath not

done well,

To give the heir and daughter of lord Scales
Unto the brother of your loving bride;
She better would have fitted me or Clarence:
But in your bride you bury brotherhood.
Clar. Or else you would not have bestow'd
the heir +

Of the lord Bonville on your new wife's son
And leave your brothers to go speed else-
where.

K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a That thou art malecontent? I will provide wife,

thee.

row.

fended too?

Glo. Not 1:

No; God forbid that I should wish them sever'd

Whom God hath join'd together: ay, and 'twere pity,

To sunder them that yoke so well together. K. Edw. Setting your scorns, and your mislike aside,

A stalking norae, a pretence.

So long as Edward is thy constant friend, And their true sovereign, whom they must obey?

Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too,

Unless they seek for hatred at my hands:

This has been the advice of every man who in any age understood and favoured the interest of England." The heiresses of great estates were in the wardsh of the king, who arbitrarily and often scandalously matched them to his favourites.

Mess. My sovereign liege, no letters and few words;

But such as I, without your special pardon,
Dare not relate.

K. Edw. Go to, we pardon thee: therefore, in brief,

Tell me their words as near as thou canst guess them.

What answer makes king Lewis unto our letters? Mess. At my depart, these were his very words;

Go tell false Edward, thy supposed king, That Lewis of France is sending over maskers,

To revel it with him and his new bride. K. Edw. Is Lewis so brave? belike, he thinks me Henry.

But what said lady Bona to my marriage? Mess. These were her words, utter'd with mild disdaiu;

Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly,

I'll wear the willow garland for his sake. K. Edw. I blame not her, she could say little less;

She had the wrong. But what said Henry's queen;

For I have heard, that she was there in place, Mess. Tell him, quoth she, my mourning weeds are done, t

And I am ready to put armour on.
K. Edw. Belike, she minds to play the

Amazon.

But what said Warwick to these injuries?
Mess. He, more incens'd against your majesty
Than all the rest, discharg'd me with these
words;

Tell him from me, that he hath done me wrong,
And therefore I'll uncrown him, ere't be long.
K. Edw. Ha! durst the traitor breathe out so
proud words?

Well, I will arm me, being thus forewarn'd: They shall have wars, and pay for their presumption.

But say, is Warwick friends with Margaret ? Mess. Ay, gracious sovereign; they are so link'd in friendship,

That young prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter.

Clar. Belike, the elder; Clarence will have

the younger.

Now, brother king, farewell, and sit you fast,
For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter;
That, though I want a kingdom, yet in mar-
riage

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
Stay not for love of Edward, but the crown.

[Aside.

K. Edw. Clarence and Somerset both gone to
Warwick!

Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen;
And haste is needful in this desperate case.-
Pembroke, and Stafford, you in our behalf
Go levy men, aud 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:

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
Warwick;

And welcome, Somerset :-I hold it cowardice,
To rest mistrustful where a noble heart
Hath pawn'd 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, Clarence; my daughter shall be thine.

And now what rest, but, in night's overture,
Thy brother being carelessly encamp'd,
His soldiers lurking in the towns about,
Aud but attended by a simple guard,
We may surprize and take him at our pleasure ?
Our scouts have found the adventure very
That as Ulysses, and stout Diomede,
With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus'
tents,

easy:

And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds;

So we, well cover'd with the night's black mantle;

At unawares may beat down Edward's guard,
And seize bimself; I say not-slaughter him,
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 111.-Edward's Camp, near War

wick.

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 bath made a solemn vow

Never to lie and take his natural rest, Till Warwick, or himself, be quite suppress'd. 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 ir that,

That with the king here resteth in bis tent