2022How could he stay till Warwicke made returne?

2023 Som. My Lords, forbeare this talke: heere comes the

2024King.

2029Rich. And his well-chosen Bride.

2030Clarence. I minde to tell him plainly what I thinke.

2031King. Now Brother of Clarence,

2032How like you our Choyce,

2033That you stand pensiue, as halfe malecontent?

2034Clarence. As well as Lewis of France,

2035Or the Earle of Warwicke,

2036Which are so weake of courage, and in iudgement,

2037That they'le take no offence at our abuse.

2038King. Suppose they take offence without a cause:

2039They are but Lewis and Warwicke, I am Edward,

2040Your King and Warwickes, and must haue my will.

2041Rich. And shall haue your will, because our King:

2042Yet hastie Marriage seldome proueth well.

2043King. Yea, Brother Richard, are you offended too?

2044Rich. Not I: no:

2045God forbid, that I should wish them seuer'd,

2046Whom God hath ioyn'd together:

2047I, and 'twere pittie, to sunder them,

2048That yoake so well together.

2049King. Setting your skornes, and your mislike aside,

2050Tell me some reason, why the Lady Grey

2051Should not become my Wife, and Englands Queene?

2052And you too, Somerset, and Mountague,

2053Speake freely what you thinke.

2054Clarence. Then this is mine opinion:

2055That King Lewis becomes your Enemie,

2056For mocking him about the Marriage

2057Of the Lady Bona.

2058 Rich. And Warwicke, doing what you gaue in charge,

2059Is now dis-honored by this new Marriage.

2060King. What, if both Lewis and Warwick be appeas'd,

2061By such inuention as I can deuise?

2062 Mount. Yet, to haue ioyn'd with France in such alliance,

2063Would more haue strength'ned this our Commonwealth

2064'Gainst forraine stormes, then any home-bred Marriage.

2065Hast. Why, knowes not Mountague, that of it selfe,

2066England is safe, if true within it selfe?

2067Mount. But the safer, when 'tis back'd with France.

2068Hast. 'Tis better vsing France, then trusting France:

2069Let vs be back'd with God, and with the Seas,

2070Which he hath giu'n for fence impregnable,

2071And with their helpes, onely defend our selues:

2072In them, and in our selues, our safetie lyes.

2073 Clar. For this one speech, Lord Hastings well deserues

2074To haue the Heire of the Lord Hungerford.

2075King. I, what of that? it was my will, and graunt,

2076And for this once, my Will shall stand for Law.

2077 Rich. And yet me thinks, your Grace hath not done well,

2078To giue the Heire and Daughter of Lord Scales

2079Vnto the Brother of your louing Bride;

2080Shee better would haue fitted me, or Clarence:

2081But in your Bride you burie Brotherhood.

2082 Clar. Or else you would not haue bestow'd the Heire

2083Of the Lord Bonuill on your new Wiues Sonne,

2084And leaue your Brothers to goe speede elsewhere.

2085King. Alas, poore Clarence: is it for a Wife

2086That thou art malecontent? I will prouide thee.

2087Clarence. In chusing for your selfe,

2088You shew'd your iudgement:

2089Which being shallow, you shall giue me leaue

2090To play the Broker in mine owne behalfe;

2091And to that end, I shortly minde to leaue you.

2092King. Leaue me, or tarry, Edward will be King,

2093And not be ty'd vnto his Brothers will.

2094Lady Grey. My Lords, before it pleas'd his Maiestie

2095To rayse my State to Title of a Queene,

2096Doe me but right, and you must all confesse,

2097That I was not ignoble of Descent,

2098And meaner then my selfe haue had like fortune.

2099But as this Title honors me and mine,

2100So your dislikes, to whom I would be pleasing,

2101Doth cloud my ioyes with danger, and with sorrow.

2102 King. My Loue, forbeare to fawne vpon their frownes:

2103What danger, or what sorrow can befall thee,

2104So long as Edward is thy constant friend,

2105And their true Soueraigne, whom they must obey?

2106Nay, whom they shall obey, and loue thee too,

2107Vnlesse they seeke for hatred at my hands:

2108Which if they doe, yet will I keepe thee safe,

2109And they shall feele the vengeance of my wrath.

2110 Rich. I heare, yet say not much, but thinke the more.

2112 King. Now Messenger, what Letters, or what Newes

2113from France?

2114 Post. My Soueraigne Liege, no Letters, & few words,

2115But such, as I (without your speciall pardon)

2116Dare not relate.

2117King. Goe too, wee pardon thee:

2118Therefore, in briefe, tell me their words,

2119As neere as thou canst guesse them.

2120What answer makes King Lewis vnto our Letters?

2121Post. At my depart, these were his very words:

2122Goe tell false Edward, the supposed King,

2123That Lewis of France is sending ouer Maskers,

2124To reuell it with him, and his new Bride.

2125 King. Is Lewis so braue? belike he thinkes me Henry.

2126But what said Lady Bona to my Marriage?

2127 Post. These were her words, vtt'red with mild disdaine:

2128Tell him, in hope hee'le proue a Widower shortly,

2129Ile weare the Willow Garland for his sake.

2130King. I blame not her; she could say little lesse:

2131She had the wrong. But what said Henries Queene?

2132For I haue heard, that she was there in place.

2133Post. Tell him (quoth she)

2134My mourning Weedes are done,

2135And I am readie to put Armour on.

2136King. Belike she minds to play the Amazon.

2137But what said Warwicke to these iniuries?

2138Post. He, more incens'd against your Maiestie,

2139Then all the rest, discharg'd me with these words:

2140Tell him from me, that he hath done me wrong,

2141And therefore Ile vncrowne him, er't be long.

2142 King. Ha? durst the Traytor breath out so prowd words?

2143Well, I will arme me, being thus fore-warn'd:

2144They shall haue Warres, and pay for their presumption.

2145But say, is Warwicke friends with Margaret?

2146Post. I, gracious Soueraigne,

2147They are so link'd in friendship,

2148That yong Prince Edward marryes Warwicks Daughter.

2149Clarence. Belike, the elder;

2150Clarence will haue the younger.