2674 War. Where is the Post that came from valiant Oxford?

2675How farre hence is thy Lord, mine honest fellow?

2676Mess. 1. By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward.

2677War. How farre off is our Brother Mountague?

2678Where is the Post that came from Mountague?

2679Mess. 2. By this at Daintry, with a puissant troope.

2681War. Say Someruile, what sayes my louing Sonne?

2682And by thy guesse, how nigh is Clarence now?

2683Someru. At Southam I did leaue him with his forces,

2684And doe expect him here some two howres hence.

2685War. Then Clarence is at hand, I heare his Drumme.

2686Someru. It is not his, my Lord, here Southam lyes:

2687The Drum your Honor heares, marcheth from Warwicke.

2688 War. Who should that be? belike vnlook'd for friends.

2689 Someru. They are at hand, and you shall quickly know.

2692 Edw. Goe, Trumpet, to the Walls, and sound a Parle.

2693Rich. See how the surly Warwicke mans the Wall.

2694War. Oh vnbid spight, is sportfull Edward come?

2695Where slept our Scouts, or how are they seduc'd,

2696That we could heare no newes of his repayre.

2697Edw. Now Warwicke, wilt thou ope the Citie Gates,

2698Speake gentle words, and humbly bend thy Knee,

2699Call Edward King, and at his hands begge Mercy,

2700And he shall pardon thee these Outrages?

2701War. Nay rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence,

2702Confesse who set thee vp, and pluckt thee downe,

2703Call Warwicke Patron, and be penitent,

2704And thou shalt still remaine the Duke of Yorke.

2705Rich. I thought at least he would haue said the King,

2706Or did he make the Ieast against his will?

2707War. Is not a Dukedome, Sir, a goodly gift?

2708Rich. I, by my faith, for a poore Earle to giue,

2709Ile doe thee seruice for so good a gift.

2710 War. 'Twas I that gaue the Kingdome to thy Bro-

2711ther.

2712Edw. Why then 'tis mine, if but by Warwickes gift.

2713War. Thou art no Atlas for so great a weight:

2714And Weakeling, Warwicke takes his gift againe,

2715And Henry is my King, Warwicke his Subiect.

2716Edw. But Warwickes King is Edwards Prisoner:

2717And gallant Warwicke, doe but answer this,

2718What is the Body, when the Head is off?

2719Rich. Alas, that Warwicke had no more fore-cast,

2720But whiles he thought to steale the single Ten,

2721The King was slyly finger'd from the Deck:

2722You left poore Henry at the Bishops Pallace,

2723And tenne to one you'le meet him in the Tower.

2724Edw. 'Tis euen so, yet you are Warwicke still.

2725Rich. Come Warwicke,

2726Take the time, kneele downe, kneele downe:

2727Nay when? strike now, or else the Iron cooles.

2728War. I had rather chop this Hand off at a blow,

2729And with the other, fling it at thy face,

2730Then beare so low a sayle, to strike to thee.

2731Edw. Sayle how thou canst,

2732Haue Winde and Tyde thy friend,

2733This Hand, fast wound about thy coale-black hayre,

2734Shall, whiles thy Head is warme, and new cut off,

2735Write in the dust this Sentence with thy blood,

2736Wind-changing Warwicke now can change no more.

2738 War. Oh chearefull Colours, see where Oxford comes.

2739Oxf. Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster.

2740Rich. The Gates are open, let vs enter too.

2741Edw. So other foes may set vpon our backs.

2742Stand we in good array: for they no doubt

2743Will issue out againe, and bid vs battaile;

2744If not, the Citie being but of small defence,

2745Wee'le quickly rowze the Traitors in the same.

2746War. Oh welcome Oxford, for we want thy helpe.

2748Mount. Mountague, Mountague, for Lancaster.

2749 Rich. Thou and thy Brother both shall buy this Treason

2750Euen with the dearest blood your bodies beare.

2751Edw. The harder matcht, the greater Victorie,

2752My minde presageth happy gaine, and Conquest.

2754Som. Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster.

2755Rich. Two of thy Name, both Dukes of Somerset,

2756Haue sold their Liues vnto the House of Yorke,

2757And thou shalt be the third, if this Sword hold.

2759 War. And loe, where George of Clarence sweepes along,

2760Of force enough to bid his Brother Battaile:

2761With whom, in vpright zeale to right, preuailes

2762More then the nature of a Brothers Loue.

2763Come Clarence, come: thou wilt, if Warwicke call.

2764 Clar. Father of Warwick, know you what this meanes?

2765Looke here, I throw my infamie at thee:

2766I will not ruinate my Fathers House,

2767Who gaue his blood to lyme the stones together,

2768And set vp Lancaster. Why, trowest thou, Warwicke,

2769That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt vnnaturall,

2770To bend the fatall Instruments of Warre

2771Against his Brother, and his lawfull King.

2772Perhaps thou wilt obiect my holy Oath:

2773To keepe that Oath, were more impietie,

2774Then Iephah, when he sacrific'd his Daughter.

2775I am so sorry for my Trespas made,

2776That to deserue well at my Brothers hands,

2777I here proclayme my selfe thy mortall foe:

2778With resolution, wheresoe're I meet thee,

2779(As I will meet thee, if thou stirre abroad)

2780To plague thee, for thy foule mis-leading me.

2781And so, prowd-hearted Warwicke, I defie thee,

2782And to my Brother turne my blushing Cheekes.

2783Pardon me Edward, I will make amends:

2784And Richard, doe not frowne vpon my faults,

2785For I will henceforth be no more vnconstant.

2786 Edw. Now welcome more, and ten times more belou'd,

2787Then if thou neuer hadst deseru'd our hate.

2788Rich. Welcome good Clarence, this is Brother-like.

2789Warw. Oh passing Traytor, periur'd and vniust.

2790Edw. What Warwicke,

2791Wilt thou leaue the Towne, and fight?

2792Or shall we beat the Stones about thine Eares?

2793Warw. Alas, I am not coop'd here for defence:

2794I will away towards Barnet presently,

2795And bid thee Battaile, Edward, if thou dar'st.

2796 Edw. Yes Warwicke, Edward dares, and leads the way:

2797Lords to the field: Saint George, and Victorie. Exeunt.