2397But Warwicke, after God, thou set'st me free,

2398And chiefely therefore, I thanke God, and thee,

2399He was the Author, thou the Instrument.

2400Therefore that I may conquer Fortunes spight,

2401By liuing low, where Fortune cannot hurt me,

2402And that the people of this blessed Land

2403May not be punisht with my thwarting starres,

2404Warwicke, although my Head still weare the Crowne,

2405I here resigne my Gouernment to thee,

2406For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds.

2407 Warw. Your Grace hath still beene fam'd for vertuous,

2408And now may seeme as wise as vertuous,

2409By spying and auoiding Fortunes malice,

2410For few men rightly temper with the Starres:

2411Yet in this one thing let me blame your Grace,

2412For chusing me, when Clarence is in place.

2413Clar. No Warwicke, thou art worthy of the sway,

2414To whom the Heau'ns in thy Natiuitie,

2415Adiudg'd an Oliue Branch, and Lawrell Crowne,

2416As likely to be blest in Peace and Warre:

2417And therefore I yeeld thee my free consent.

2418Warw. And I chuse Clarence onely for Protector.

2419 King. Warwick and Clarence, giue me both your Hands:

2420Now ioyne your Hands, & with your Hands your Hearts,

2421That no dissention hinder Gouernment:

2422I make you both Protectors of this Land,

2423While I my selfe will lead a priuate Life,

2424And in deuotion spend my latter dayes,

2425To sinnes rebuke, and my Creators prayse.

2426 Warw. What answeres Clarence to his Soueraignes

2427will?

2428Clar. That he consents, if Warwicke yeeld consent,

2429For on thy fortune I repose my selfe.

2430Warw. Why then, though loth, yet must I be content:

2431Wee'le yoake together, like a double shadow

2432To Henries Body, and supply his place;

2433I meane, in bearing weight of Gouernment,

2434While he enioyes the Honor, and his ease.

2435And Clarence, now then it is more then needfull,

2436Forthwith that Edward be pronounc'd a Traytor,

2437And all his Lands and Goods confiscate.

2438 Clar. What else? and that Succession be determined.

2439Warw. I, therein Clarence shall not want his part.

2440King. But with the first, of all your chiefe affaires,

2441Let me entreat (for I command no more)

2442That Margaret your Queene, and my Sonne Edward,

2443Be sent for, to returne from France with speed:

2444For till I see them here, by doubtfull feare,

2445My ioy of libertie is halfe eclips'd.

2446 Clar. It shall bee done, my Soueraigne, with all

2447speede.

2448King. My Lord of Somerset, what Youth is that,

2449Of whom you seeme to haue so tender care?

2450 Somers. My Liege, it is young Henry, Earle of Rich-

2451mond.

2452King. Come hither, Englands Hope:

2454If secret Powers suggest but truth

2455To my diuining thoughts,

2456This prettie Lad will proue our Countries blisse.

2457His Lookes are full of peacefull Maiestie,

2458His Head by nature fram'd to weare a Crowne,

2459His Hand to wield a Scepter, and himselfe

2460Likely in time to blesse a Regall Throne:

2461Make much of him, my Lords; for this is hee

2462Must helpe you more, then you are hurt by mee.

2464Warw. What newes, my friend?

2465Poste. That Edward is escaped from your Brother,

2466And fled (as hee heares since) to Burgundie.

2467Warw. Vnsauorie newes: but how made he escape?

2468Poste. He was conuey'd by Richard, Duke of Gloster,

2469And the Lord Hastings, who attended him

2470In secret ambush, on the Forrest side,

2471And from the Bishops Huntsmen rescu'd him:

2472For Hunting was his dayly Exercise.

2473Warw. My Brother was too carelesse of his charge.

2474But let vs hence, my Soueraigne, to prouide

2475A salue for any sore, that may betide. Exeunt.

2477Som. My Lord, I like not of this flight of Edwards:

2478For doubtlesse, Burgundie will yeeld him helpe,

2479And we shall haue more Warres befor't be long.

2480As Henries late presaging Prophecie

2481Did glad my heart, with hope of this young Richmond:

2482So doth my heart mis-giue me, in these Conflicts,

2483What may befall him, to his harme and ours.

2484Therefore, Lord Oxford, to preuent the worst,

2485Forthwith wee'le send him hence to Brittanie,

2486Till stormes be past of Ciuill Enmitie.

2487Oxf. I: for if Edward re-possesse the Crowne,

2488'Tis like that Richmond, with the rest, shall downe.

2489Som. It shall be so: he shall to Brittanie.

2490Come therefore, let's about it speedily. Exeunt.

2493 Edw. Now Brother Richard, Lord Hastings, and the rest,

2494Yet thus farre Fortune maketh vs amends,

2495And sayes, that once more I shall enterchange

2496My wained state, for Henries Regall Crowne.

2497Well haue we pass'd, and now re-pass'd the Seas,

2498And brought desired helpe from Burgundie.

2499What then remaines, we being thus arriu'd

2500From Rauenspurre Hauen, before the Gates of Yorke,

2501But that we enter, as into our Dukedome?

2502Rich. The Gates made fast?

2503Brother, I like not this.

2504For many men that stumble at the Threshold,

2505Are well fore-told, that danger lurkes within.

2506 Edw. Tush man, aboadments must not now affright vs:

2507By faire or foule meanes we must enter in,

2508For hither will our friends repaire to vs.

2509 Hast. My Liege, Ile knocke once more, to summon

2510them.

2513Maior. My Lords,

2514We were fore-warned of your comming,

2515And shut the Gates, for safetie of our selues;

2516For now we owe allegeance vnto Henry.

2517Edw. But, Master Maior, if Henry be your King,

2518Yet Edward, at the least, is Duke of Yorke.

2519 Maior. True, my good Lord, I know you for no

2520lesse.

2521 Edw. Why, and I challenge nothing but my Dukedome,

2522As being well content with that alone.