Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well.
K. Edw. Yea, brother Richard, are you offended
too?
Glou. Not 1 : 20
No, God forbid that I should wish them sever'd
Whom God hath join'd together; aye, and
'twere pity
To sunder them that yoke so well together.
K. Edw. Setting your scorns and your mislike
aside.
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 mine opinion: that King Lewis
Becomes your enemy, for mocking him 30
About the marriage of the Lady Bona.
13. "our"; Capell, "your."— I. G.
17. "And shall"; Rowe, "And you shall"; Walker, "Ay, and shall,'*
or "Marry, and shall." — I. G.
102
KING HENRY VI Act. iv. Sc. L
Glou. Aiid Warwick, doing what you gave in
charge,
Is now dishonored hy this new marriage.
K. Edic. What if both Lewis and Warwick be ap-
peased
By such invention as I can devise?
Mont. Yet, to have join'd with France in such al-
hance
Would more have strengthen'd this our com-
monwealth
'Gainst foreimi storms than any home-bred mar-
riage.
Hast. Why, knows not Montague that of itself
England is safe, if true withhi itself? -i^
Mont. But the safer when 'tis back'd with France.
Hast. 'Tis better using France than trusting
France :
Let us be back'd with God and wdth 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 de-
serves
To have the heir of the Lord Hungerford.
K. Edzv. Aye, what of that? it was my will and
grant ;
And for this once my will shall stand for law. 50
41. '•Hut the safer"; Ff. 2, 3, 4, "Yes, but the safer." S. Walker
conj. "But then the safer"; Kciohtley, "Aij, but (he safer"; Anon,
conj. "But yet the safer"; yaughan, "But all the safer"; F. 2,
"safter."—!. *G.
i2. "using"; yaughan, "losing." — I. G.
103
Act IV. Sc. i. THE THIKD PART OF
Glou. 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 elsewhere.
K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence ! is it for a wife
That thou art malcontent? I will provide
thee. 60
Clar, In choosing for yourself, you show'd your
judgment.
Which being shallow, you shall give me leave
To play the broker in mine own behalf;
And to that end I shortly mind to leave you.
K, Edw. Leave me, or tarry, Edward will be king,
And not be tied unto his brother's will.
66. Until the Restoration minors coming into possession of great
estates were in the wardship of the king, who bestowed them on
his favorites, or in other words gave them up to plunder, and after-
wards disposed of them in marriage as he pleased. — H. N. H.
68. The king's advancement of his wife's family is thus mentioned
by Holinshed: "iiir father was created earle Rivers, and made
high constable of England: hir brother, lord Anthonie, was married to
the sole heire of Thomas lord Scales: sir Thomas Graie, sonne to sir
John Graie, the queens first husband, was created marquesse of
Dorset, and married to Cicelie, heire to the lord Bonville." In fact,
however, the queen's son Thomas was married to Anne, the king's
niece, daughter and heiress to the duke of Exeter. These things
were done in the spring of 1465, the king's marriage having been
publicly acknowledged a short time before, and the queen having
been introduced at court and crowned. — H. N. H.
66. "brother's"; Rowe's emendation o^ Ff., "Brothers"; Anon. conj.
*'hrothers\"—\. G.
104
KING HENRY VI Act. IV. Sc. i.
Q. Eliz. My lords, before it pleased his majesty
To raise my state to title of a queen,
Do me but right, and you must all confess
That I was not ignoble of descent; "^0
And meaner than myself have had like fortune.
But as this title honors me and mine,
So your dislike, to whom I would be pleasing.
Doth cloud my joys ^\'ith danger and with sor-
row.
K. Edw. My love, forbear to fawn upon their
frowns :
What danger or what sorrow can befall thee,
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; 80
Which if they do, yet will I keep thee safe.
And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath.
Gtou. I hear, yet say not much, but think the more.
lAsid^.
Enter a Post.
K. Edw. Now, messenger, what letters or ^A'hat
news
From France?
Post. My sovereign liege, no letters; and few
words,
70. Her father was Sir Richard Woodville, afterwards earl of
Rivers; her mother Jaquetta, duchess dowaper of Bedford, who
was daughter of Peter of Luxeniliurg, earl of St. Paul, and widow
of John duke of Bedford, brother to King Henry V. — H. N. H.
73, 74. "dislike . . . Doth"; Ff., "dislikes . . . Doth";
Rowe, "dislikes . . . Do."— I. G.
105
Act IV. Sc. i. THE THIRD PART OF
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. 90
What answer makes King Lewis unto our let-
ters?
Post. At my depart, these were his very words:
'Go tell false Edward, thy supposed king.
That Lewis of France is sending over mas-
quers
To revel it with him and his new bride.'
K. Edw. Is Lewis so brave? behke he thinks me
Henry.
But what said Lady Bona to my marriage?
Post. These were her words, utter' d with mild dis-
dain:
'Tell him, in hope he '11 prove a widower shortly,
I '11 wear the willow garland for his sake,' 100
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.
Post. 'Tell him,' quoth she, 'my mourning weeds
are done.
And I am ready to put armor on.'
K. Edw. Belike she minds to play the Amazon.
But what said Warwick to these injuries?
Post. He, more incensed against your majesty
89, 90. "therefore, in brief, Tell me"; F. 1, "Therefore, in brief e,
tell me"; Ft. 2, 3, 4, "Therefore, in hriefe, tell"; Pope, "So tell"—
I. G.
93. "thy"; Rowe (from Qq.); Ff., "the."— I. G.
106
KING HENRY VI ^ Act. iv. Sc. i.
, Than all the rest, diseharged me with these
words :
'Tell him from me that he liath done me
wrong, 110
And therefore I '11 uncrown him ere 't be long.'
K, Edxv. 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 pre-
sumption.
But say, is AVarwick friends with JNIargaret?
Post. Aye, gracious sovereign; they are so link'd
in friendship.
That young Prince Edward marries Warwick's
daughter.
Clar. Belike the elder; Clarence v»'ill have the
younger.
Now, brother king, farewell, and sit you fast,
For I will hence to Warwick's other daugh-
ter; I'-^O
That, though I want a kingdom, yet in mar-
riage
I may not prove inferior to yourself.
You that love me and. War wick, follow me.
[EiTit Clarence, and Somerset folloios.
us. "elder . . . younger"; Ff. (from Qq.); Theobald, "younger
. . . elder."— I. G.
123. Jolmson has remarked upon the actunl improliabiiity of Clar-
ence making this speech in th.c king's hearing. AViien the earl of
Essex attempted to raise a re'>elIion in tiie city, with a design, as was
supposed, to storm the queen's palace, he ran about the streets with
his sword drawn, crying out, "They that love rae, follow me." —
H. N. H.
Shk- 1-0.3 107
Act IV. Sc. i. THE THIRD PART OF
Glou. [Aside] Not I:
My thoughts aim at a further matter ; I
Stay not for the love of Edward, but the crown.
K. Edw. Clarence and Somerset both gone to War-
wick !
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 130
Go levy men, and make prepare for war;
They are already, or quickly will be landed:
Myself in person will straight follow you.
lEcceunt Pembroke and Stafford.
But, ere I go, Hastings and Montague,
Resolve my doubt. You twain, of all the rest,
AiQ 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, 140
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?
Glon. Aye, 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.
126. "the love"; Pope, "love."— I. G.
128. "Yet am I arm'd"; Vaughan, "Yet am I warn'd."—T. G.
108
KING HENRY VI Act iv. Sc. ii.
Scene II
A plain in Warwickshire.
Enter Warwick and OiVford, with French soldiers.
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 comes!
Speak suddenly, my lords, are we all friends?
Clar. Fear not that, mv lord.
War. Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto War-
wick ;
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, 10
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 encamp'd,
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 :
\2. "Sweet Clarenct"; Pope, "-friend"; Capell, •'Clarence." Many
modern editions omit "but." — I. G.
15. "towns"; Theobald (Thirlby conj.); Ff-, "town."— I. G.
109
Act IV. Sc. iii. THE THIRD PART OF
That as Ulysses and stout Diomede
With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus'
tents, ^^
And brought from thence the Thracian fatal
steeds,
So we, well cover'd with the night's black man-
tle.
At unawares may beat down Edward's guard,
And seize himself; 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!'
Whj^ 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 three watchmeiij, to guard the King's tent.
First Watch. Come on, my masters, each man take
his stand:
The king by this is set him down to sleep.
Second Watch. What, will he not to bed?
21. It had been prophesied that if the horses of the Thracian
Rhesus drank of the Xanthus and grazed on the Trojan plains, the
Greeks would never take Troy. Wherefore Diomede and Ulysses
killed him at night, and carried off his horses. Vide Iliad, x. ; Ovid,
Metamorphoses, xiii. 98-108, 249-252. Virgil, ^neid, i. 469-4T3.—
I. G.
110
KING HENRY VI Act IV. Sc. iii.
First Watch. Why, no; for he hath made a solenui
Never to he and take his natural rest,
Till Warwick or himself be quite suppressed.
Second U^atch. To-morrow then beHke shall be the
day,
If Warwick be so near as men report.
Third Watch. But say, I pray, what nobleman is
that,
That with the king here resteth in his tent ? 10
First Watch. ^Tis the Lord Hastings, the king's
chief est friend.
Third Watch. O, is it so? But why commands the
king
That his chief followers lodge in towns about
him.
While he himself keeps in the cold field?
Second Watch. 'Tis the more honor, because more
dangerous.
Third Watch. Aye, but give me worship and quiet-
ness ;
I like it better than a dangerous honor.
If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,
'Tis to be doubted he would waken him.
First Watch. Unless our halberds did shut up his
passage. 20
Second Watch. Aye, wherefore else guard we his
royal tent.
But to defend his person from night-foes ?
U. "keeps"; so Ff. 3, 4; VL 1, 2, "keepes"; Theobald "keepeth";
Hanmer, "keeps here"; Vauglian, "keeps out"; Kcightley, "field
here."—\. G.
15. "more danejeroua" ; so Ff. 1, 9; Ff. 3, 4, "the more d."; Han-
mer, "dangerous." — I G.
Ill
Act IV. Sc. iii. THE THIRD PART OF
Enter Warwick, Clarence, Oxford, Somerset, and
French soldiers, silent all.
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.
First Watch. Who goes there?
Second 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 playing and trumpet sounding, re-enter
Warwick, Somerset, and the rest, bringing the
King out in his gown, sitting in a chair. Rich-
ard and Hastings fly over the stage.
Som. What are they that fly there?
War. Richard and Hastings: let them go; here is
the duke.
K. Edw. The duke! Why, Warwick, v/hen we
parted, ^^
Thou call'dst me king.
War. Aye, but the case is alter'd:
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 }'0u 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,
112
KING HENRY VI Act IV. Sc. iii.
Nor liow to shroud yourself from enemies? 40
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 comi3lices,
Edward will always bear himself as king:
â– /N Though fortune's malice overthrow my state,
\ My mind exceeds the compass of her wheel.
y^^ War, Then, for his mind, be Edward England's
' king: [Takes off his crown.
But Henry now shall wear the Enghsh crown,
And be true king indeed, thou but the shadow.
My Lord of Somerset, at my request, 51
See that forthwith Duke Edward be convey'd
Unto my brother. Archbishop of York.
When I have fought with Pembroke and his
fellows,
I '11 follow you, and tell what answer
Lewis and the Lady Bona send to him.
Now, for a while farewell, good Duke of York.
[They lead him off forcibly.
K. Edw. What fates impose, that men must needs
abide ;
It boots not to resist both wind and tide.
[Eiit, guarded.
41. "Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here too?"; Pope, "Brother
of C, and art Ihoii here too?"; Capell, "Yea, brother of C, and art
thou here too?" — I. G.
55. "tell what annwer"; Pope, "tell you what reply"; Capell, "tell
his grace what ansirer"; Keiglilley, "tell him what ansicer"; .Anon,
conj. "tell the duke what answer"; Dyce, "tell him there what answer."
—I." G.
113
Act IV. Sc. iv. THE TIIIKD PART OF
Oxf. What now remains, my lords, for us to do, 60
But march to London with our soldiers?
War, Aye, 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, The palace.
Enter Queen Elizabeth and Rivers.
Riv. Madam, what makes j^ou in this sudden
change?
Q. Eliz. Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn
What late misfortune is befall'n King Ed-
ward?
64. This capture of Edward is related by the chroniclers as hav-
ing taken place in the latter part of 14G9. In Holinshed the story
runs thus: "After the battell at Hedgecote, commonlie called Ban-
berie field, the northenie men resorted toward Warwike, where the
earle had gathered a great multitude of people. The king in this
mane time had assembled his power, and was comming toward the
earle, who, being advertised thereof, sent to the duke of Clarence,
requiring him to come and joine with him. The duke, being not
farre off, with all speed repaired to the earle, and so they joined
their powerse together, upon secret knowledge had, that the king
tooke small heed to himselfe, nothing doubting anie outward attempt
of his enimies. The earle, intending not to leese such opportunitie,
in the dead of the night, with an elect companie of men, set on
the kings field, killing them that kept the watch, and yer the king
was ware, at a place called Wolnie, he was taken prisoner and
brought to the castell of Warwike. And, to the intent his friends
should not know what was become of him, the earle caused him
by secret journies in the night to be conveied to Middleham castell
in Yorkshire, and there to be kept under the custodie of the arch-
bishop of Yorkc, and other his freends in those parties." — H. N. H.
114
KING HENRY VI Act iv. Sc. iv.
Riv, What! loss of some pitch'd battle against
Warwick ?
Q. Eliz. No, but the loss of his own royal person.
Riv. Then is my sovereign slain?
Q. Eliz. Aye, almost slain, for he is taken prisoner,
Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard,
Or by his foe surprised at unawares :
And, as I further have to understand, 10
Is new committed to the Bishop of York,
Fell Warwick's brother and bv 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 de-
cay.
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;
Ave, aye, for this I draw in many a tear 21
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 the English
crown.
Riv. But, madam, where is AVarwick then become?
Q. Eliz. I am inform'd that he comes towards Lon-
don,
To set the crown once more on Henry's head:
11. "new committed"; Rowc, "»j()?r committed." — I. G.
19. "is it that juakes me bridle passion"; the reading* of F. 1 ; Ff,
2, 3, "i.* it . . . my passion"; F. 4, "j* . . . mtj passion";
Rowe, "is it . . . in wu passion"; Pope, "is't . . . in my pas
sion"; yauglian. '"i.* it. vuikes . . . passion." — I. G.
115
>• .
Act iV. Sc. V.
THE THIRD PART OF
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 '11 hence forthwith unto the sanctuary, 31
To save at least the heir of Edward's right:
There sliall 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.
[EiVeunt.
Scene V
A park near Middleham Castle in Yorkshire.
.Enter Gloucester, Lord Hastings, Sir William
Stanley, and othet^s.
Glou. Now, my Lord Hastings and Sir WiUiam
Stanley,
Leave ofl* to wonder why I di'ew you hither,
Into this chief est 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 10
Under the color of his usual game,
He shall here find his friends with horse and
men
KI^^G HENRY VI Act IV. Sc. v.
To set him free from his captivity.
Enter King Edward and a Huntsman with him.
Hunt. This way, my lord; for this way Ues the
game.
K. Edw. Nay, this way, man : see where the hunts-
men stand.
Now, brother of Gloucester, Lord Hastings,
and the rest,
Stand you thus close, to steal the bishop's deer?
Glou. Brother, the time and case requireth haste:
Your horse stands ready at the park-corner.
K. Edw. But whither shall we then?
Hast. To Lynn, my lord.
And ship from thence to Flanders. -1
Glou, Well guess'd, believe me; for that was my
meaning.
K. Edw. Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness.
Glou. But wherefore stay we? 'tis no time to talk.
K. Edw. Huntsman, what say'st thou? wilt thou go
along ?
13, So in Holinshed: "King Edward, being thus in captivitie,
spake ever faire to the archbishop, and to his other keepers, so that
he had leave diverse daies to go hunt. Now on a doie, when he
was thus abrode, there met with him sir William Stanlie and di-
verse other of his friends, with such a great band of men, tiiat
neither his keepers would nor once durst move him to returne unto
prison againe. After that he was once at libcrtie, he came to Yorke,
where he was joifullie received, and taried tiiere two daies; but when
he perceived he could get no armie togithcr in that countrie, he
turned to Lancaster, where he found his chamberlaine the lord Hast-
ings well accompanied, by whose aid he came safelie to London." —
H. N. H.
16. "brother of Gloucester, Lord Uastimis"; Pope, ''brother Gh's-
ter, Hastings"; Collier MS., "brother of Oloster, IJast!i)fts."—l. G.
21. "Flanders"; Vaughan suggests the addition of tlie ^words, "as
1 ffuess."—!. G.
117
Act IV. Sc. vi. THE THIRD PART OF
Hunt. Better do so than tarry and be hang'd.
GIou. Come then, away ; let 's ha' no more ado.
K. Edzv. Bishop, farewell: shield thee from War-
wick's frown;
And pray that I may repossess the crown.
\_Ea^eunt.
Scene VI
London. The Tower.
Flourish. Enter King Henry, Clarence, War-
wick, Somerset, young Richmond, Oxford,
Montague, and Lieutenant of the Tower.
K. Hen. Master lieutenant, now that God and
friends
Have shaken Edward from the regal seat,
And turn'd my captive state to liberty,
29. The whole matter of Edward's captivity and escape has been
set aside by later writers as a fiction of the chroniclers. Here
again the great learning and exemplary candor of Dr. Lingard will
amply warrant our quoting him. "By modern writers," says he, "the
captivity of Edward has been scornfully rejected. Hume says it is
contradicted by records. Carte and Henry pronounce it incredible
and romantic. But, if it were, they should have accounted for what
in that case were more inconceivable, the mention which is made of
it by almost every writer of the age, whether foreigner or native;
even by Comines, who says that he received the principal incidents
of Edward's history from the mouth of Edward himself; and by
the annalist of Croyland, who was high in the confidence of that
monarch. But there is a record which places the imprisonment be-
yond a doubt, the attainder of Clarence, in which the king enumerates
it among his offences: 'as in jupartyng the king's royall estate, persona
and life in straile warde, putting him thereby from all his libertie, aftre
procurying grete commocions.' " Perhaps we should add that Hume's
argument proceeds on the supposition, that the alleged captivity was
in 1470, and is entirely nonsuited by referring to the true date,
IIB
KING HENRY VI Act IV. Sc. vi.
My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys,
At our enlargement what are thy due fees?
Lieu. Subjects may challenge nothing of their sov-
ereigns ;
But if an humble prayer may prevail,
I then crave pardon of your majesty.
K. Hen. For what, lieutenant? for well using me?
Nay, be thou sure I '11 well requite thy kind-
ness, 1^
For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure;
Aye, such a pleasure as incaged 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 set'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, 20
And that the people of this blessed land
May not be punish'd with my thwarting stars,
Warwick, although my head still wear the
crown,
I here resign my government to thee,
For thou are fortunate in all thv deeds.
War. Your grace hath still been famed for vir-
tuous ;
And now may seem as wise as virtuous,
wliioh was the latter part of 14-C9. Its not being mentioned in the
king's proclamation against Clarence in 1470, nowise proves the
point; for on the Christmas before Clarence had a full pardon, and
that proclamation refers only to offenses committed after the pardon
was granted. — H. X. H.
119
Act IV. Sc. vi. THE THIRD PART OF