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, 30
For choosing me when Clarence is in place.
Clar. No, Warwick, thou are worthy of the sway,
To whom the heavens 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.
War. And I choose Clarence only for protector.
K. Hen. Warv/ick and Clarence, give me both your
hands :
Now join your hands, and with your hands your
hearts,
That no dissension hinder government : 40
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.
War. What answers Clarence to his sovereign's
will?
Clar. That he consents, if Warwick yield consent;
For on thy fortune I repose myself.
War. Why, then, though loath, yet must I be con-
tent:
We '11 yoke together, like a double shadow
To Henry's body, and supply his place; 50
I mean, in bearing weight of government.
While he enjoys the honor and his ease.
And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful
29. Few men accommodate themselves to their destiny, or adapt
themselves to circumstances. â H. N. H.
120
KING HENRY VI Act iv. Sc. vi.
Forthwitli that Edward be pronounced a traitor,
And all his lands and goods be confiscate.
Clar, What else? and that succession be determined.
War. Aye, therein Clarence shall not want his part.
K. Hen. But, with the first of all your chief affairs,
Let me entreat, for I command no more.
That Margaret your queen and my son Ed-
ward 60
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.
Clar. It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.
K. Hen. My Lord of Somerset, what youth is that,
Of whom vou seem to have so tender care ?
Som. My hege, it is young Henry, earl of Rich-
mond.
55. "be confiscate"; Malone's emendation; F. 1, "confiscate"; Ft.
2, 3, 4, "confiscated."â!. G.
67. This "young Henry," then in his tenth year, was son to Ed-
mund Tudor, earl of Richmond, and Margaret, daughter and heir
to John Beaufort, first duke of Somerset. Edmund, again, was son
to Katharine, widow of Henry Y, by her second husband, Owen
Tudor, an untitled gentleman of Wales. The groundwork of the
present representation was furnished by the chroniclers. The occa-
sion was this: The young earl's uncle, Jasper Tudor, brought his
nephew to London, and introduced him to King Henry, soon after
the latter was released from the Tower; "whome," says Holinshed,
"when the king had a good while beheld, he said to such princes as
were with him, â 'Lo, surelie this is he, to whom both we and our
adversaries, lea\'ing the possession of all things, shall hereafter give
roome and place.' So that it might seeme probable, by the colier-
cnce of holie Henries prediction with the issue falling out in truth,
that for the time he was indued with a propiieticall spirit." It is
said that after the carl became King Henry VII, in gratitude for this
early presage he solicited the pope to enroll Henry VI among the
saints of tl>e Church; but was refused, cither because he would not
pay the price, or as Bacon supposes, lest, "as Henry was reputed
in the world abroad but for a simple man, tlie estimation of that
121
Act IV. Sc. vi. THE THIRD PART OF
K. Hen, Come hither, England's hope. [Lays his
hand on his head] If secret powers
Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts,
This pretty lad will prov^e our country's bliss. '^0
His looks are full of peaceful majesty,
His head by nature framed to wear a crown,
His hand to wield a scepter, 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.
War. What news, my friend?
Post. That Edward is escaped from your brother,
And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.
War. Unsavory news ! but how made he escape ? 80
Post. He was convey'd by Richard duke of Glou-
cester
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.
War. My brother was too careless of his charge.
But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide
A salve for any sore that may betide.
[Exeunt all hut Somerset, Richmond
and Oxford.
Som. My lord, I like not of this flight of Ed-
ward's ;
For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help, 90
kind of lionor might be diminished, if there were not distance kept
between innocents and saints." â H. N. H.
122
KING HENRY VI Act iv. Sc. vU.
Aiid we sliall 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 '11 send him hence to Brittany,
Till storms be past of civil enmity.
Oxf. Aye, for if Edward repossess the crown,
'Tis hke that Richmond with the rest shall
down. 100
Som, It shall be so; he shall to Brittany.
Come, therefore, let 's about it speedily.
[E.veunt.
Scene VII
Before York.
Flourish. Enter King Edicard, Gloucester,
Hastings, and Soldiers.
K. Edw. 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.
V/ell have we pass'd and now repass'd the seas,
And brought desired help from Burgundy:
What then remains, we being thus arrived
123
Act IV. Sc. vii. THE THIRD PART OF
From Ravenspurgh haven before the gates of
York,
But that we enter, as into our dukedom?
Gloii. The gates made fast! Brother, I Uke not
this ; 1^
For many men that stumble at the threshold
Ai*e well foretold that danger lurks within.
K. Edw. 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.
Hast. My liege, 1 11 knock once more to summon
them.
Enter, on the walls, the Mayor of York and his
Brethren.
May. INIy lords, we were forewarned of your com-
ing,
And shut the gates for safety of ourselves;
For now we owe allegiance unto Henry.
K. Edw. But, master mayor, if Henry be your
king, 2^
Yet Edward at the least is Duke of York.
3Iay. True, my good lord ; I know you for no less.
K. Edw. Why, and I challenge nothing but my
dukedom,
As being well content with that alone.
Glou. [Aside~\ But when the fox hath once got in
his nose,
8. "Ravenspurgh," the name of a sea-port in Yorkshire; the read-
ing of Ff. 2, 3, 4; F. 1, "Rauenspurre"; Qq. 1, 3, "Raunspur";
"Ravenspurgh haven before"; Pope omits "haven"; Steevens conj.
"fore."â I. G.
124
KING HENRY VI Act iv. Sc. vii.
He '11 soon find means to make the body follow.
Hast. Why, master mayor, why stand you in a
doubt?
Open the gates; we are King Henry's friends.
May. Aye, say you so? the gates shall then be
open'd. V^^^^cy descend.
Gloii. A wise stout captain, and soon persuaded ! ^0
Hast. The good old man would fain that all were
well,
So 'twere not 'long of him; but being enter'd,
I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade
Both him and all his brothers unto reason.
Enter the Mayor and two Aldermen, below.
K. Edw. 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 ;
[Takes his keys.
For Edward will defend the town and thee.
And all those friends that deign to follow me.
March. Enter Montgomery, with drum and
soldiers.
Glou. Brother, this is Sir John ^lontgomery, ^0
Our trusty friend, unless I be deceived.
K. Edw. Welcome, Sir John ! But why come you
in arms?
Montg. To help King Edward in his time of
storm,
30. "A wise stout captain, and soon persuaded"; "captain" probably
trisyllabic; Keightley, '7' faith, a wise"; Collier MS. -captain he";
Deliiis (Lettsom oonj.), 'capilain"; Cartvvriglit, "captain, faith";
Pope, "persuaded soon." â I. G.
125
Act IV. Sc. vii. THE THIRD PART OF
As every loyal subject ought to do.
K Edw, Thanks, good Montgomery ; but we now
forget
Our title to the crown, and only claim
Our dukedom till God please to send the rest.
Montg. 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 drmn begins to march.
K. Edw. Nay, stay, Sir John, a while, and we '11
debate
By what safe means the crown may be recover'd.
Montg. What talk you of debating? in few words.
If you '11 not here proclaim yourself our king,
I '11 leave you to your fortune, and be gone
To keep them back that come to succor you :
Why shall we fight, if you pretend no title?
Glo7i. Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice
points ?
K. Edw. When we grow stronger, then we '11
make our claim:
Till then, 'tis wisdom to conceal our meaning. 60
Hast. Away with scrupulous wit! now arms must
rule.
Glou. And fearless minds climb soonest unto
crowns.
Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand;
The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.
K. Edw. Then be it as you will ; for 'tis my right,
And Henry but usurps the diadem.
67. "shall"; Capell (from Qq.), "should."â I. G.
126
KING HENRY VI Act IV. Sc. vii.
Montg. Aye, now my sovereign speaketh like liini-
self ;
And now will I be Edward's champion.
Hast. Sound trumi^et; Edward shall be here pro-
claim'd :
Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation.
[Flourish.
Sold. Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God, 71
king of England and France, and lord of
Ireland, &c.
Montg. And whosoe'er gainsays King Edward's
right,
By this I challenge liim to single fight.
[Throws down his gauntlet.
All. Long Hve Edward the Fourth!
K. Edw. Thanks, brave ^lontgomery; and thanks
unto you all:
If fortune serve me, I '11 requite this kindness.
Now, for this night, let 's harbor here in York ;
ilnd when the morning sun shall raise his car ^0
Above the border of this horizon,
We '11 forward towards Warwick and his mates ;
For well I wot that Henry is no soldier.
Ah, f roward Clarence ! how evil it beseems thee,
To flatter Heniy and forsake thy brother!
Yet, as we may, wx '11 meet both thee and War-
wick.
Come on, brave soldiers : doubt not of the day.
And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay.
[Exeunt.
88. In October, 1470. about a year after his escape from York,
Edward, having failed in several schemes for recovering his power,
127
Act IV. Sc. viii. THE THIRD PART OF
Scene VIII
London. The jjalace.
Flourish. Enter King Henry, Warwick, Mon-
tague, Clarence, Exeter, and Oxford.
War. What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia,
With hasty Germans and blunt Hollanders,
Hath pass'd in safety through the narrow seas,
And with his troops doth march amain to Lon-
don;
And many giddy people flock to him.
K. Hen. Let 's levy men, and beat him back again.
Clar. A little fire is quickly trodden out;
Which, being suifer'd, rivers cannot quench.
War. In Warwickshire I have true-hearted
friends,
embarked from Lynn, and sought refuge with the duke of Bur-
gundy, who had lately been married to his sister. Being there fitted
out with a fleet and fifteen hundred men, he returned to England,
and landed at Ravenspurg, the same place where Bolingbroke had
come on a similar errand in 1399. In less than two months after his
landing, Edward was again on the throne: but his course was one of
inexpressible perfidy; "still bruiting that his comming was not to
chalenge the crowne, but onelie the duchie of Yorke"; and when at
last, on this ground, he was let into the city of York, he "received
the sacrament, and there solemnlie sware to keepe and observe tv/o
speciall articles, â the one, that he should use the citizens after a
gentle and courteous maner, the other, that he should be faithfull
and obedient unto king Henries commandments." â H. N. H.
"Enter." In the Folios, Somerset is named in the stage direction,
though he had gone with young Richmond into Brittany. The mis-
take arose, as the Cambridge Eds. point out, from the Quartos, in
which Scenes vi. and viii. form but one. â 1. G.
2. "hasty Germans"; S. Walker, "lusty"; Cartwright, "hardy."â
I. G.
128
KING HENRY VI Act iv. Se. viii.
Not mutinous iu peace, yet bold iii war; 1^
Those will I muster up : uiid thou, son Clarence,
Shalt stir up in Suffolk, Norfolk and in Kent,
The knights and gentlemen to come with thee:
Thou, brother INIontague, in Buckingham,
Northampton and in Leicestershire, shalt find
Men well inclined to hear what thou com-
mand'st :
And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well be-
loved.
In Oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends.
My sovereign, with the loving citizens.
Like to his island girt in with the ocean, 20
Or modest Dian circled wdth her nymphs,
Shall rest in London till we come to him.
Fair lords take leave and stand not to reply.
Farewell, my sovereign.
K. Hen. Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's true
hope.
Clar. In sign of truth, I kiss your highness' hand.
K. Hen. Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortu-
nate !
Mont. Comfort, my lord; and so I take my leave.
Ojcf. And thus I seal my truth and bid adieu.
K. Hen. Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague,
And all at once, once more a happy farewell. ^^1
War. Farewell, sw^et lords: let's meet at Coven-
try.
[Exeunt all hut King Henri/ and Exeter.
K. Hen. Here at the palace will I rest a while.
Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship?
Methinks the power that Edward hath in field
129
Act IV. Sc. viii. THE THIRD PART OF
Should not be able to encounter mine.
EiVe. The doubt is that he will seduce the restâ
K. Hen. That 's not my fear ; my meed hath got
me fame:
I have not stopp'd mine ears to theii' demands,
Nor posted off their suits with slow delays ; 40
My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds,
My mildness hath allay'd their swelling griefs,
My mercy dried their water-flowing tears;
I have not been desirous of their wealth,
Nor much oppress'd them with great subsidies,
Nor forward of revenge, though they much
err'd :
Then why should they love Edward more than
me?
No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace :
And when the lion fawns upon the lamb.
The lamb will never cease to follow him. 50
[Shout within, 'A Lancaster! A Lancaster!'
Exe. Hark, hark, my lord! what shouts are these?
Enter King Edward, Gloucester, and Soldiers.
K, Edw. Seize on the shame-faced Henry, bear
him hence ;
And once again proclaim us king of England.
You are the fount that makes small brooks to
flow :
43. "water-flowing tears"; Capell, "water-flowing eyes"; Collier
MS., "hitter-flowing tears" ; Vaughan, "%oet o'erfloiving tears." â I. G.
51. Mr. Collier thinks this shout should be, A York! A York!
unless we suppose it to come from some soldiers in Henry's pay.
But the truth is, one part of Edward's disguise was that he ordered
his men everywhere to shout, "Long live King Henry !" â H. N. H.
130
KING HENRY VI Act iv. Sc. Wii.
Now stops thy spring; my sea shall suck tlieni
dry,
And swell so much the higher by their ebb.
Hence with him to the Tower; let him not speak.
[Etveunt some with King Henry.
And, lords, towards Coventry bend we our
course,
Where peremptory Warwick now remains:
The sun shines hot; and, if we use delay, 60
Cold biting winter mars our hoped-for hay.
Glou. Away betimes, before his forces join,
And take the great-grown traitor unawares:
Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry.
[Exeunt.
61. "hoped-for hay"; Qq., "hope for haie"; Malone proposed, alto-
f.ether unnecessarily, to change the words to "hope for aye." â I. G.
64. On this occasion Henry was betrayed into the hands of Ed-
ward by the archbishop of York, in whose care he had been left by
Warwick. On the morning of April 11, 1471, the archbishop, who
was brother to Warwick, had Henry out to an official ride through
the streets of London, and in the evening he gave orders for Ed-
ward to be admitted by a postern. The excuse which he alleged was,
that he found the city i)ent on having Edward for their king. Henry,
liowcver, was not remanded to the Tower till after his cause was
again crushed in the battle of Barnet. â H. N. H.
ISl
Act V. Sc. i. THE THIRD PART OF
ACT FIFTH
Scene I
Coventry.
Enter Warwick, the Mayor of Coventry, two Mes-
sengers, and others upon the walls.
War. Where is the post that came from vaUant
Oxford?
How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow?
First. Mess. By this at Dunsmore, marching hith-
erward.
War. How far off is our brother Montague?
Where is the post that came from IMontague?
Second Mess. By this at Daintry, with a puissant
troop.
Enter Sir John Somervile.
War. Say, Somervile, what says my loving son ?
And, by thy guess, how nigh is Clarence now?
Som. At Southam I did leave him with his forces,
And do expect him here some two hours hence 10
[Drum heard.
War. Then Clarence is at hand ; I hear his drum.
Som. It is not his, my lord ; here Southam lies :
The drum your honor hears marcheth from
Warwick.
6. "Daintry," popular pronunciation' of Daventry. â I. G.
132
KING HENRY VI Act v. Sc. i.
War. Who should that be? behke, unlook'd-for
fi-iends.
Som. They are at hand, ajid you shall quickly know.
March. Flourish. Enter King Edward, Glou-
cester and Soldiers.
K. Edxv. Go, trumpet, to the walls, and sound a
parle.
Gloii. See how the surly Warwick mans the wall!
War. O unhid spite! is sportful Edward come?
Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduced,
That we could hear no news of his repair? 20
K. Edxv. Now, Warwick, wilt thou ope the city
gates.
Speak gentle words and humbly bend thy knee,
Call Edward king and at his hands beg mercy?
And he shall pardon thee these outrages.
War, Nay, rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence.
Confess who set thee up and pluck'd thee down,
Call Warwick patron and be penitent ?
And thou shalt still remain the Duke of York.
Glou. I thought, at least, he would have said the
king;
Or did he make the jest against his will? 30
Wa7\ Is not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift?
Glou. Aye, by my faith, for a poor earl to give:
I '11 do thee service for so good a gift.
War. 'Twas I that gave the kingdom to thy
brother.
K. Edxv. Why then 'tis mine, if but by Wanvick's
gift.
War. Thou art no Atlas for so great a weight:
133
Act V. Sc. i. THE THIRD PART OF
And, weakling, ^Varwick takes his gift again;
And Henry is my king, Warwick his subject.
K. Echv. But Warwick's king is Edward's i^ris-
oner :
And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this : 40
WJmt is the body when the head is off?
Glou. Alas, that Warwick had no more forecast,
But, whiles he thought to steal the single ten, ,
The king was slily finger'd from the deck!
You left poor Henry at the bishop's palace.
And, ten to one, vou '11 meet him in the Tower.
K. Edw. 'Tis even so; yet you are Warwick still.
Glou. Come, Warwick, take the time ; kneel down,
kneel down:
Xay, when? strike now, or else the iron cools.
War. I had rather chop this hand off at a blow, 50
And with the other fling it at thy face.
Than bear so low a sail, to strike to thee.
K. Edw. Sail how thou canst, have wind and tide
thy friend,
This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black
hair.
Shall, whiles thy head is warm and new cut off,
. Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood,
' Wind- clmnging Warwick now can change no
more.'
Enter Oxford^ with drum and colors.
War. O cheerful colors! see where Oxford comes!
Oa^f. Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster!
[He and his forces enter the city.
50. "I had"; Pope, "I'd."â I. G.
134
KING MENRY VI Act v. Sc. i.
Glou. The gates are open, let us enter too. 60
K. Edxi). So otlier foes may set upon our backs.
Stand we in good array ; for they no doubt
Will issue out again and bid us battle:
If not, the city being but a small defense,
We '11 quickly rouse the traitors in the same.
War, O, welcome, Oxford! for we M'ant thy help.
Enter Montague, with drum and colors.
Mont. Montague, ISfontague, for Lancaster!
[He and his forces enter the city.
Glou. Thou and thy brother both shall buy this
treason
Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear.
K. Edw. The harder match'd, the greater victory:
My mind presageth happy gain and conquest.
Enter Somerset, with drum and colors.
Som. Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster? 72
[He and his forces enter the citv.
Glou. Two of +hy name, both Dukes of Somerset,
Have sold their lives unto the house of York;
And thou shalt be the third, if this sword hold.
Enter Clarence, with drum and colors.
War. And lo, where George of Clarence sweeps
along,
Of force enough to bid his brother battle;
With whom an upright zeal to right prevails
73. "Two of thy navie, both Dvkes of Somerset"; "Eilmuml, slain
at battle of St. Alban's, U55; and Henry, his son, beheaded after
the battle of Hexham, 1463" (Ritson).â l'. G.
78. "whom an"; Rowe's emendation; Ff. 2, 3, 4- "whom, an"; V. 1,
â˘â˘who7n, in."â I. G.
135
Act V. Sc. i. THE THIRD PART OF
More than the nature of a brother's love I
Come, Clarence, come; thou wilt, if Warwick
caU. 80
Clar. Father of Warwick, know you what this
means? [Taking his red rose out of his hat.
Look here, I throw my infamy at thee :
I will not ruinate my father's House,
Who gave his blood to lime the stones together,
And set up Lancaster. Why, trow'st thou,
Warwick,
That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt, unnatural,
To bend the fatal instruments of war
Against his brother and his lawful king?
Perhaps thou wilt object my holy oath:
To keep that oath were more impiety 90
Than Jephthah's, when he sacrificed his daugh-
ter.
I am so sorry for my trespass made
That, to deserve well at my brother's hands,
I here proclaim myself thy mortal foe.
With resolution, wheresoe'er I meet thee â
As I will meet thee, if thou stir abroad â
To plague thee for thy foul misleading me.
And so, proud-hearted Warwick, I defy thee,
And to my brother turn my blushing cheeks.
Pardon me, Edward, I will make amends : 100
And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults,
8G. "That Clarence is"; Steevens conj. "Clarence, so harsh, so
blunt"; Qq., "so harsh" (so blvnt omitted); Collier conj. "so harsh,
so blind"; Mitford, "so harsh" or "so blunf; S. Walker, "bhint-un-
nalural" ; Anon. conj. "brute-nnnatvral." â I. G.
91. "Je])hthah's"; Rowe, Jepthah's"; Ff. 1, 2, "lephah" Ff. 3, 4,
"Jepthah."â!. G.
136
KING HENRY VI Act v. Sc. ii.
For I will henceforth be no more uncoiistant.
K. Edw. Now welcome more, and ten times more
beloved,
Than if thou never hadst deserved our hate.
Glou. Welcome, good Clarence ; this is brother-like.
War. O passing traitor, perjured and unjust!
K. Edw, What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the
town, and fight?
Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears?
War. Alas, I am not coop'd here for defense!
I will away towards Barnet presently, HO
And bid thee battle, Edward, if thou darest.
K, Edw. Yes, Warwick, Edward dares, and leads
the way.
Lords, to the field; Saint George and victory!
lEiVeunt King Edward and his company.
March. Warwick and his company follow.
Scene II
A field of battle near Barnet.
Alarum and excursions. Enter King Edward^
bringing forth Warwich wounded.
K. Edw. So, lie thou there: die thou, and die our
fear ;
For Warwick was a bug that fear'd us all.
110. "towards Barnet." Tlie proposition to go out of Coventry
and fight a pitched Imttle precisely at Barnet remains unintelligible
in the drama. The actual situation is clearly given by Halle. Find-
ing that Warwick would not come out, Edward withdrew towards
London. Warwick pursued and overtook hiui at Barnet. â C. H. H.
137
Act V. Sc. ii. THE THIRD PART OF
Now, Montague, sit fast ; I seek for thee,
That Warwick's bones may keep tiiine company.
[Exit.
War. Ah, who is nigh? come to me, friend or foe,
And tell me, who is victor, York or Warwick?
Why ask I that ? my mangled body shows,
My blood, my want of strength, my sick heart
shows,
That I must yield my body to the earth
And, by my fall the conquest to my foe, 10
Thus yields the cedar to the axe's edge.
Whose arms gave shelter to the princely eagle,
Under whose shade the ramping lion slept,
Whose top-branch overpeer'd Jove's spreading
tree,
And kept low shrubs from winter's powerful
wind.
These eves, that now are dimm'd with death's