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?
KING EDWARD (seeing George)
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.
WARWICK
Then, for his mind, be Edward England’s king.
Warwick takes off Edward’s crown
But Henry now shall wear the English crown,
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
Louis and the Lady Bona send to him.
Now for a while farewell, good Duke of York.
They begin to lead Edward out forcibly
KING EDWARD
What fates impose, that men must needs abide.
It boots not to resist both wind and tide.
Exeunt some with Edward
OXFORD
What now remains, my lords, for us to do
But march to London with our soldiers?
WARWICK
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
4.5 Enter Earl Rivers and his sister, Lady Gray, Edward’s queen
RIVERS
Madam, what makes you in this sudden change?
LADY GRAY
Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn
What late misfortune is befall’n King Edward?
RIVERS
What? Loss of some pitched battle against Warwick?
LADY GRAY
No, but the loss of his own royal person.
RIVERS Then is my sovereign slain?
LADY GRAY
Ay, almost stain—for he is taken prisoner,
Either betrayed by falsehood of his guard
Or by his foe surprised at unawares,
And, as I further have to understand,
Is new committed to the Bishop of York,
Fell Warwick’s brother, and by that our foe.
RIVERS
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.
LADY GRAY
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.
This is it that makes me bridle passion
And bear with mildness my misfortune’s cross.
Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear
And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs,
Lest with my sighs or tears I blast or drown
King Edward’s fruit, true heir to th’English crown.
RIVERS
But, madam, where is Warwick then become?
LADY GRAY
I am informed that he comes towards London
To set the crown once more on Henry’s head.
Guess thou the rest—King Edward’s friends must down.
But to prevent the tyrant’s violence—
For trust not him that hath once broken faith—
I’ll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary,
To save at least the heir of Edward’s right.
There shall I rest secure from force and fraud.
Come, therefore, let us fly while we may fly.
If Warwick take us, we are sure to die. Exeunt
4.6 Enter Richard Duke of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and Sir William Stanley, ⌈with soldiers⌉
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER
Now my lord Hastings and Sir William Stanley,
Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither
Into this chiefest thicket of the park.
Thus stands the case: you know our King, my brother,
Is prisoner to the Bishop here, at whose hands
He hath good usage and great liberty,
And, often but attended with weak guard,
Comes hunting this way to disport himself.
I have advertised him by secret means
That if about this hour he make this way
Under the colour of his usual game,
He shall here find his friends with horse and men
To set him free from his captivity.
Enter King Edward and a Huntsman with him
HUNTSMAN
This way, my lord—for this way lies the game.
KING EDWARD
Nay, this way, man—see where the huntsmen stand.
Now, brother of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and the
rest,
Stand you thus close to steal the Bishop’s deer?
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER
Brother, the time and case requireth haste.
Your horse stands ready at the park corner.
KING EDWARD But whither shall we then?
HASTINGS To Lynn, my lord,
And shipped from thence to Flanders.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER ⌈aside⌉
Well guessed, believe me—for that was my meaning.
KING EDWARD
Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER
But wherefore stay we? ’Tis no time to talk.
KING EDWARD
Huntsman, what sayst thou? Wilt thou go along?
HUNTSMAN
Better do so than tarry and be hanged.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER
Come then, away—let’s have no more ado.
KING EDWARD
Bishop, farewell—shield thee from Warwick’s frown,
And pray that I may repossess the crown. Exeunt
4.7 Flourish. Enter the Earl of Warwick and George Duke of Clarence ⌈with the crown⌉. Then enter King Henry, the Earl of Oxford, the Duke of Somerset ⌈withl young Henry Ear⌉ of Richmond, the Marquis of Montague, and the Lieutenant of the Tower
KING HENRY
Master Lieutenant, now that God and friends
Have shaken Edward from the regal seat
And turned my captive state to liberty,
My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys,
At our enlargement what are thy due fees?
LIEUTENANT
Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns—
But if an humble prayer may prevail,
I then crave pardon of your majesty.
KING HENRY
For what, Lieutenant? For well using me?
Nay, be thou sure I’ll well requite thy kindness,
For that it made my prisonment a pleasure—
Ay, such a pleasure as encagèd birds
Conceive when, after many moody thoughts,
At last by notes of household harmony
They quite forget their loss of liberty.
But, Warwick, after God, thou sett’st me free,
And chiefly therefore I thank God and thee.
He was the author, thou the instrument.
Therefore, that I may conquer fortune’s spite
By living low, where fortune cannot hurt me,
And that the people of this blessed land
May not be punished with my thwarting stars,
Warwick, although my head still wear the crown,
I here resign my government to thee,
For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds.
WARWICK
Your grace hath still been famed for virtuous,
And now may seem as wise as virtuous
By spying and avoiding fortune’s malice,
For few men rightly temper with the stars.
Yet in this one thing let me blame your grace:
For choosing me when Clarence is in place.
GEORGE OF CLARENCE
No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway,
To whom the heav’ns in thy nativity
Adjudged an olive branch and laurel crown,
As likely to be blest in peace and war.
And therefore I yield thee my free consent.
WARWICK
And I choose Clarence only for Protector.
KING HENRY
Warwick and Clarence, give me both your hands.
Now join your hands, and with your hands your
hearts,
That no dissension hinder government.
I make you both Protectors of this land,
While I myself will lead a private life
And in devotion spend my latter days,
To sin’s rebuke and my creator’s praise.
WARWICK
What answers Clarence to his sovereign’s will?
GEORGE OF CLARENCE
That he consents, if Warwick yield consent,
For on thy fortune I repose myself.
WARWICK
Why, then, though loath, yet must I be content.
We’ll yoke together, like a double shadow
To Henry’s body, and supply his place—
I mean in bearing weight of government—
While he enjoys the honour and his ease.
And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful
Forthwith that Edward be pronounced a traitor,
And all his lands and goods be confiscate.
GEORGE OF CLARENCE
What else? And that succession be determined.
WARWICK
Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.
KING HENRY
But with the first of all your chief affairs,
Let me entreat—for I command no more—
That Margaret your queen and my son Edward
Be sent for, to return from France with speed.
For, till I see them here, by doubtful fear
My joy of liberty is half eclipsed.
GEORGE OF CLARENCE
It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.
KING HENRY
My lord of Somerset, what youth is that
Of whom you seem to have so tender care?
SOMERSET
My liege, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond.
KING HENRY
Come hither, England’s hope.
King Henry lays his hand on Richmond’s head If secret powers
Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts,
This pretty lad will prove our country’s bliss.
His looks are full of peaceful majesty,
His head by nature framed to wear a crown,
His hand to wield a sceptre, and himself
Likely in time to bless a regal throne.
Make much of him, my lords, for this is he
Must help you more than you are hurt by me.
Enter a Post
WARWICK What news, my friend?
POST
That Edward is escaped from your brother
And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.
WARWICK
Unsavoury news—but how made he escape ?
POST
He was conveyed by Richard Duke of Gloucester
And the Lord Hastings, who attended him
In secret ambush on the forest side
And from the Bishop’s huntsmen rescued him—
For hunting was his daily exercise.
WARWICK
My brother was too careless of his charge.
(To King Henry) But let us hence, my sovereign, to
provide
A salve for any sore that may betide.
Exeunt all but Somerset, Richmond, and Oxford
SOMERSET (to Oxford)
My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward’s,
For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help,
And we shall have more wars before’t be long.
As Henry’s late presaging prophecy
Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond,
So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts,
What may befall him, to his harm and ours.
Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst,
Forthwith we’ll send him hence to Brittany,
Till storms be past of civil enmity.
OXFORD
Ay, for if Edward repossess the crown,
’Tis like that Richmond with the rest shall down.
SOMERSET
It shall be so—he shall to Brittany.
Come, therefore, let’s about it speedily. Exeunt
4.8 Flourish. Enter King Edward, Richard Duke of Gloucester, and Lord Hastings, ⌈With a troop of Hollanders⌉
KING EDWARD
Now, brother Richard, Lord Hastings, and the rest,
Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends,
And says that once more I shall interchange
My waned state for Henry’s regal crown.
Well have we passed and now repassed the seas
And brought desired help from Burgundy.
What then remains, we being thus arrived
From Ravenspurgh haven before the gates of York,
But that we enter, as into our dukedom ?
⌈Hastings⌉ knocks at the gates of York
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER
The gates made fast? Brother, I like not this.
For many men that stumble at the threshold
Are well foretold that danger lurks within.
KING EDWARD
Tush, man, abodements must not now affright us.
By fair or foul means we must enter in,
For hither will our friends repair to us.
HASTINGS
My liege, I’ll knock once more to summon them.
He knocks. Enter, on the walls, the Mayor and aldermen of York
MAYOR
My lords, we were forewarned of your coming,
And shut the gates for safety of oursetves—
For now we owe allegiance unto Henry.
KING EDWARD
But, Master Mayor, if Henry be your king,
Yet Edward at the least is Duke of York.
MAYOR
True, my good lord, I know you for no less.
KING EDWARD
Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom,
As being well content with that alone.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (aside)
But when the fox hath once got in his nose,
He’ll soon find means to make the body follow.
HASTINGS
Why, Master Mayor, why stand you in a doubt?
Open the gates—we are King Henry’s friends.
MAYOR
Ay, say you so? The gates shall then be opened.
They descend
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER
A wise stout captain, and soon persuaded.
HASTINGS
The good old man would fain that all were well,
So ’twere not long of him; but being entered,
I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade
Both him and all his brothers unto reason.
Enter below the Mayor and two aldermen
KING EDWARD
So, Master Mayor, these 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,
King Edward takes some keys from the Mayor
For Edward will defend the town and thee,
And all those
friends that deign to follow me.
March. Enter Sir John Montgomery with a drummer and soldiers
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER
Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery,
Our trusty friend, unless I be deceived.
KING EDWARD
Welcome, Sir John—but why come you in arms?
MONTGOMERY
To help King Edward in his time of storm,
As every loyal subject ought to do.
KING EDWARD
Thanks, good Montgomery, but we now forget
Our title to the crown, and only claim
Our dukedom till God please to send the rest.
MONTGOMERY
Then fare you well, for I will hence again.
I came to serve a king and not a duke.
Drummer, strike up, and let us march away. 50
The drummer begins to sound a march
KING EDWARD
Nay, stay, Sir John, a while, and we’ll debate
By what safe means the crown may be recovered.
MONTGOMERY
What talk you of debating? In few words,
If you’ll not here proclaim yourself our king
I’ll leave you to your fortune and be gone
To keep them back that come to succour you.
Why shall we fight, if you pretend no title?
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (to King Edward)
Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points?
KING EDWARD
When we grow stronger, then we’ll make our claim.
Till then ’tis wisdom to conceal our meaning.
HASTINGS
Away with scrupulous wit! Now arms must rule.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER
And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns.
Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand,
The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.
KING EDWARD
Then be it as you will, for ’tis my right,
And Henry but usurps the diadem.
MONTGOMERY
Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself,
And now will I be Edward’s champion.
HASTINGS
Sound trumpet, Edward shall be here proclaimed.
⌈To Montgomery⌉
Come, fellow soldier, make thou proclamation.
Flourish
⌈MONTGOMERY⌉ Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God
King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland—
The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works Page 47
