The Third Part of King Henry the Sixth

SCENE V. A park near Middleham Castle in Yorkshire

Enter GLOUCESTER, LORD HASTINGS, SIR WILLIAM STANLEY, and others

  GLOUCESTER. Now, my Lord Hastings and Sir William Stanley,    Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither    Into this chiefest 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 advertis'd him by secret means    That if about this hour he make this way,    Under the colour of his usual game,    He shall here find his friends, with horse and men,    To set him free from his captivity.

Enter KING EDWARD and a HUNTSMAN with him

  HUNTSMAN. This way, my lord; for this way lies the game.  KING EDWARD. Nay, this way, man. See where the huntsmen stand.    Now, brother of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and the rest,    Stand you thus close to steal the Bishop's deer?  GLOUCESTER. Brother, the time and case requireth haste;    Your horse stands ready at the park corner.  KING EDWARD. But whither shall we then?  HASTINGS. To Lynn, my lord; and shipt from thence to Flanders.  GLOUCESTER. Well guess'd, believe me; for that was my meaning.  KING EDWARD. Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness.  GLOUCESTER. But wherefore stay we? 'Tis no time to talk.  KING EDWARD. Huntsman, what say'st thou? Wilt thou go along?  HUNTSMAN. Better do so than tarry and be hang'd.  GLOUCESTER. Come then, away; let's ha' no more ado.  KING EDWARD. Bishop, farewell. Shield thee from Warwick'sfrown,    And pray that I may repossess the crown. Exeunt

SCENE VI. London. The Tower

Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, CLARENCE, WARWICK, SOMERSET, young HENRY, EARL OF RICHMOND, OXFORD, MONTAGUE, LIEUTENANT OF THE TOWER, and attendants

  KING HENRY. Master Lieutenant, now that God and friends    Have shaken Edward from the regal seat    And turn'd my captive state to liberty,    My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys,    At our enlargement what are thy due fees?  LIEUTENANT. Subjects may challenge nothing of their sov'reigns;    But if an humble prayer may prevail,    I then crave pardon of your Majesty.  KING HENRY. For what, Lieutenant? For well using me?    Nay, be thou sure I'll well requite thy kindness,    For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure;    Ay, 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,    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 art fortunate in all thy deeds.  WARWICK. Your Grace hath still been fam'd for virtuous,    And now may seem as wise as virtuous    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,    For choosing me when Clarence is in place.  CLARENCE. No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway,    To whom the heav'ns in thy nativity    Adjudg'd an olive branch and laurel crown,    As likely to be blest in peace and war;    And therefore I yield thee my free consent.  WARWICK. And I choose Clarence only for Protector.  KING HENRY. Warwick and Clarence, give me both your hands.    Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts,    That no dissension hinder government.    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.  WARWICK. What answers Clarence to his sovereign's will?  CLARENCE. That he consents, if Warwick yield consent,    For on thy fortune I repose myself.  WARWICK. Why, then, though loath, yet must I be content.    We'll yoke together, like a double shadow    To Henry's body, and supply his place;    I mean, in bearing weight of government,    While he enjoys the honour and his ease.    And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful    Forthwith that Edward be pronounc'd a traitor,    And all his lands and goods confiscated.  CLARENCE. What else? And that succession be determin'd.  WARWICK. Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.  KING HENRY. But, with the first of all your chief affairs,    Let me entreat- for I command no more-    That Margaret your Queen and my son Edward    Be sent for to return from France with speed;    For till I see them here, by doubtful fear    My joy of liberty is half eclips'd.  CLARENCE. It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.  KING HENRY. My Lord of Somerset, what youth is that,    Of whom you seem to have so tender care?  SOMERSET. My liege, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond.  KING HENRY. 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 prove our country's bliss.    His looks are full of peaceful majesty;    His head by nature fram'd to wear a crown,    His hand to wield a sceptre; 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

  WARWICK. What news, my friend?  POST. That Edward is escaped from your brother    And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.  WARWICK. Unsavoury news! But how made he escape?  POST. He was convey'd by Richard Duke of Gloucester    And the Lord Hastings, who attended him    In secret ambush on the forest side    And from the Bishop's huntsmen rescu'd him;    For hunting was his daily exercise.  WARWICK. 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 but SOMERSET, RICHMOND, and OXFORD  SOMERSET. My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward's;    For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help,    And we shall have more wars befor'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'll send him hence to Brittany,    Till storms be past of civil enmity.  OXFORD. Ay, for if Edward repossess the crown,    'Tis like that Richmond with the rest shall down.  SOMERSET. It shall be so; he shall to Brittany.    Come therefore, let's about it speedily. Exeunt

SCENE VII. Before York

Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD, GLOUCESTER, HASTINGS, and soldiers

  KING EDWARD. 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.    Well have we pass'd and now repass'd the seas,    And brought desired help from Burgundy;    What then remains, we being thus arriv'd    From Ravenspurgh haven before the gates of York,    But that we enter, as into our dukedom?  GLOUCESTER. The gates made fast! Brother, I like not this;    For many men that stumble at the threshold    Are well foretold that danger lurks within.  KING EDWARD. 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.  HASTINGS. My liege, I'll knock once more to summon them.Enter, on the walls, the MAYOR OF YORK and his BRETHREN  MAYOR. My lords, we were forewarned of your coming    And shut the gates for safety of ourselves,    For now we owe allegiance unto Henry.  KING EDWARD. But, Master Mayor, if Henry be your King,    Yet Edward at the least is Duke of York.  MAYOR. True, my good lord; I know you for no less.  KING EDWARD. Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom,    As being well content with that alone.  GLOUCESTER. [Aside] But when the fox hath once got in his nose,    He'll soon find means to make the body follow.  HASTINGS. Why, Master Mayor, why stand you in a doubt?    Open the gates; we are King Henry's friends.  MAYOR. Ay, say you so? The gates shall then be open'd.                                                   [He descends]  GLOUCESTER. A wise stout captain, and soon persuaded!  HASTINGS. The good old man would fain that all were well,    So 'twere not long of him; but being ent'red,    I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade    Both him and all his brothers unto reason.

Enter, below, the MAYOR and two ALDERMEN

  KING EDWARD. 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

  GLOUCESTER. Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery,    Our trusty friend, unless I be deceiv'd.  KING EDWARD. Welcome, Sir john! But why come you in arms?  MONTGOMERY. To help King Edward in his time of storm,    As every loyal subject ought to do.  KING EDWARD. Thanks, good Montgomery; but we now forget    Our title to the crown, and only claim    Our dukedom till God please to send the rest.  MONTGOMERY. 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.                                      [The drum begins to march]  KING EDWARD. Nay, stay, Sir John, a while, and we'll debate    By what safe means the crown may be recover'd.  MONTGOMERY. What talk you of debating? In few words:    If you'll not here proclaim yourself our King,    I'll leave you to your fortune and be gone    To keep them back that come to succour you.    Why shall we fight, if you pretend no title?  GLOUCESTER. Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points?  KING EDWARD. When we grow stronger, then we'll make our claim;    Till then 'tis wisdom to conceal our meaning.  HASTINGS. Away with scrupulous wit! Now arms must rule.  GLOUCESTER. And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns.    Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand;    The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.  KING EDWARD. Then be it as you will; for 'tis my right,    And Henry but usurps the diadem.  MONTGOMERY. Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself;    And now will I be Edward's champion.  HASTINGS. Sound trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim'd.    Come, fellow soldier, make thou proclamation.                                   [Gives him a paper. Flourish]  SOLDIER. [Reads] 'Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God,    King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland, &c.'  MONTGOMERY. And whoso'er gainsays King Edward's right,    By this I challenge him to single fight.                                          [Throws down gauntlet]  ALL. Long live Edward the Fourth!  KING EDWARD. Thanks, brave Montgomery, and thanks unto you all;    If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness.    Now for this night let's harbour here in York;    And when the morning sun shall raise his car    Above the border of this horizon,    We'll forward towards Warwick and his mates;    For well I wot that Henry is no soldier.    Ah, froward Clarence, how evil it beseems the    To flatter Henry and forsake thy brother!    Yet, as we may, we'll meet both thee and Warwick.    Come on, brave soldiers; doubt not of the day,    And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay. Exeunt

SCENE VIII. London. The palace

Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, WARWICK, MONTAGUE, CLARENCE, OXFORD, and EXETER

  WARWICK. 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 London;    And many giddy people flock to him.  KING HENRY. Let's levy men and beat him back again.  CLARENCE. A little fire is quickly trodden out,    Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench.  WARWICK. In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends,    Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war;    Those will I muster up, and thou, son Clarence,    Shalt stir up in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent,    The knights and gentlemen to come with thee.    Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham,    Northampton, and in Leicestershire, shalt find    Men well inclin'd to hear what thou command'st.    And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well belov'd,    In Oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends.    My sovereign, with the loving citizens,    Like to his island girt in with the ocean    Or modest Dian circled with her nymphs,    Shall rest in London till we come to him.    Fair lords, take leave and stand not to reply.    Farewell, my sovereign.  KING HENRY. Farewell, my Hector and my Troy's true hope.  CLARENCE. In sign of truth, I kiss your Highness' hand.  KING HENRY. Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate!  MONTAGUE. Comfort, my lord; and so I take my leave.  OXFORD. [Kissing the KING'S band] And thus I seal my truth andbid    adieu.  KING HENRY. Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague,    And all at once, once more a happy farewell.  WARWICK. Farewell, sweet lords; let's meet at Coventry.                              Exeunt all but the KING and EXETER  KING HENRY. Here at the palace will I rest a while.    Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship?    Methinks the power that Edward hath in field    Should not be able to encounter mine.  EXETER. The doubt is that he will seduce the rest.  KING HENRY. That's not my fear; my meed hath got me fame:    I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands,    Nor posted off their suits with slow delays;    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.                      [Shout within 'A Lancaster! A Lancaster!']  EXETER. Hark, hark, my lord! What shouts are these?

Enter KING EDWARD, GLOUCESTER, and soldiers

  KING EDWARD. Seize on the shame-fac'd Henry, bear him hence;    And once again proclaim us King of England.    You are the fount that makes small brooks to flow.    Now stops thy spring; my sea shall suck them dry,    And swell so much the higher by their ebb.    Hence with him to the Tower: let him not speak.                                     Exeunt 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,    Cold biting winter mars our hop'd-for hay.  GLOUCESTER. Away betimes, before his forces join,    And take the great-grown traitor unawares.    Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry. Exeunt

ACT V. SCENE I. Coventry

Enter WARWICK, the MAYOR OF COVENTRY, two MESSENGERS, and others upon the walls

  WARWICK. Where is the post that came from valiant Oxford?    How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow?  FIRST MESSENGER. By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward.  WARWICK. How far off is our brother Montague?    Where is the post that came from Montague?  SECOND MESSENGER. By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop.

Enter SIR JOHN SOMERVILLE

  WARWICK. Say, Somerville, what says my loving son?    And by thy guess how nigh is Clarence now?  SOMERVILLE. At Southam I did leave him with his forces,    And do expect him here some two hours hence.                                                    [Drum heard]  WARWICK. Then Clarence is at hand; I hear his drum.  SOMERVILLE. It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies.    The drum your Honour hears marcheth from Warwick.  WARWICK. Who should that be? Belike unlook'd for friends.  SOMERVILLE. They are at hand, and you shall quickly know.March. Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD, GLOUCESTER, and soldiers  KING EDWARD. Go, trumpet, to the walls, and sound a parle.  GLOUCESTER. See how the surly Warwick mans the wall.  WARWICK. O unbid spite! Is sportful Edward come?    Where slept our scouts or how are they seduc'd    That we could hear no news of his repair?  KING EDWARD. 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.  WARWICK. 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.  GLOUCESTER. I thought, at least, he would have said the King;    Or did he make the jest against his will?  WARWICK. Is not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift?  GLOUCESTER. Ay, by my faith, for a poor earl to give.    I'll do thee service for so good a gift.  WARWICK. 'Twas I that gave the kingdom to thy brother.  KING EDWARD. Why then 'tis mine, if but by Warwick's gift.  WARWICK. Thou art no Atlas for so great a weight;    And, weakling, Warwick takes his gift again;    And Henry is my King, Warwick his subject.  KING EDWARD. But Warwick's king is Edward's prisoner.    And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this:    What is the body when the head is off?  GLOUCESTER. 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 you'll meet him in the Tower.  KING EDWARD. 'Tis even so; yet you are Warwick still.  GLOUCESTER. Come, Warwick, take the time; kneel down, kneeldown.    Nay, when? Strike now, or else the iron cools.  WARWICK. I had rather chop this hand off at a blow,    And with the other fling it at thy face,    Than bear so low a sail to strike to thee.  KING EDWARD. Sail how thou canst, have wind and tide thyfriend,    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-changing Warwick now can change no more.'

Enter OXFORD, with drum and colours

  WARWICK. O cheerful colours! See where Oxford comes.  OXFORD. Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster!                              [He and his forces enter the city]  GLOUCESTER. The gates are open, let us enter too.  KING EDWARD. So other 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 of small defence,    We'll quietly rouse the traitors in the same.  WARWICK. O, welcome, Oxford! for we want thy help.

Enter MONTAGUE, with drum and colours

  MONTAGUE. Montague, Montague, for Lancaster!                              [He and his forces enter the city]  GLOUCESTER. Thou and thy brother both shall buy this treason    Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear.  KING EDWARD. The harder match'd, the greater victory.    My mind presageth happy gain and conquest.

Enter SOMERSET, with drum and colours

  SOMERSET. Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster!                              [He and his forces enter the city]  GLOUCESTER. Two of thy 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 colours

  WARWICK. And lo where George of Clarence sweeps along,    Of force enough to bid his brother battle;    With whom an upright zeal to right prevails    More than the nature of a brother's love.  CLARENCE. Clarence, Clarence, for Lancaster!  KING EDWARD. Et tu Brute- wilt thou stab Caesar too?    A parley, sirrah, to George of Clarence.                  [Sound a parley. RICHARD and CLARENCE whisper]  WARWICK. Come, Clarence, come. Thou wilt if Warwick call.  CLARENCE. [Taking the red rose from his hat and throwing      it at WARWICK]    Father of Warwick, know you what this means?    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, trowest 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    Than Jephtha when he sacrific'd his daughter.    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 whereso'er I meet thee-    As I will meet thee, if thou stir abroad-    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;    And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults,    For I will henceforth be no more unconstant.  KING EDWARD. Now welcome more, and ten times more belov'd,    Than if thou never hadst deserv'd our hate.  GLOUCESTER. Welcome, good Clarence; this is brother-like.  WARWICK. O passing traitor, perjur'd and unjust!  KING EDWARD. What, Warwick, wilt thou leave die town and fight?    Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears?  WARWICK. Alas, I am not coop'd here for defence!    I will away towards Barnet presently    And bid thee battle, Edward, if thou dar'st.  KING EDWARD. Yes, Warwick, Edward dares and leads the way.    Lords, to the field; Saint George and victory!Exeunt YORKISTS[March. WARWICK and his company follow]

SCENE II. A field of battle near Barnet

Alarum and excursions. Enter KING EDWARD, bringing forth WARWICK, wounded

  KING EDWARD. So, lie thou there. Die thou, and die our fear;    For Warwick was a bug that fear'd us all.    Now, Montague, sit fast; I seek for thee,    That Warwick's bones may keep thine company. Exit  WARWICK. 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.    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 pow'rful wind.    These eyes, that now are dimm'd with death's black veil,    Have been as piercing as the mid-day sun    To search the secret treasons of the world;    The wrinkles in my brows, now fill'd with blood,    Were lik'ned oft to kingly sepulchres;    For who liv'd King, but I could dig his grave?    And who durst smile when Warwick bent his brow?    Lo now my glory smear'd in dust and blood!    My parks, my walks, my manors, that I had,    Even now forsake me; and of all my lands    Is nothing left me but my body's length.    what is pomp, rule, reign, but earth and dust?    And live we how we can, yet die we must.

Enter OXFORD and SOMERSET

  SOMERSET. Ah, Warwick, Warwick! wert thou as we are,    We might recover all our loss again.    The Queen from France hath brought a puissant power;    Even now we heard the news. Ah, couldst thou fly!  WARWICK. Why then, I would not fly. Ah, Montague,    If thou be there, sweet brother, take my hand,    And with thy lips keep in my soul a while!    Thou lov'st me not; for, brother, if thou didst,    Thy tears would wash this cold congealed blood    That glues my lips and will not let me speak.    Come quickly, Montague, or I am dead.  SOMERSET. Ah, Warwick! Montague hath breath'd his last;    And to the latest gasp cried out for Warwick,    And said 'Commend me to my valiant brother.'    And more he would have said; and more he spoke,    Which sounded like a clamour in a vault,    That mought not be distinguish'd; but at last,    I well might hear, delivered with a groan,    'O farewell, Warwick!'  WARWICK. Sweet rest his soul! Fly, lords, and save yourselves:    For Warwick bids you all farewell, to meet in heaven.                                                          [Dies]  OXFORD. Away, away, to meet the Queen's great power!                                  [Here they bear away his body]

SCENE III. Another part of the field

Flourish. Enter KING in triumph; with GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, and the rest

  KING EDWARD. Thus far our fortune keeps an upward course,    And we are grac'd with wreaths of victory.    But in the midst of this bright-shining day    I spy a black, suspicious, threat'ning cloud    That will encounter with our glorious sun    Ere he attain his easeful western bed-    I mean, my lords, those powers that the Queen    Hath rais'd in Gallia have arriv'd our coast    And, as we hear, march on to fight with us.  CLARENCE. A little gale will soon disperse that cloud    And blow it to the source from whence it came;    Thy very beams will dry those vapours up,    For every cloud engenders not a storm.  GLOUCESTER. The Queen is valued thirty thousand strong,    And Somerset, with Oxford, fled to her.    If she have time to breathe, be well assur'd    Her faction will be full as strong as ours.  KING EDWARD. are advertis'd by our loving friends    That they do hold their course toward Tewksbury;    We, having now the best at Barnet field,    Will thither straight, for willingness rids way;    And as we march our strength will be augmented    In every county as we go along.    Strike up the drum; cry 'Courage!' and away. Exeunt