A CT IV. SCENE I.

Changes to England.

Enter Gloucefter, Clarence, Somerfet and Montague.

N.

GLOUCESTER.

OW tell me, brother Clarence, what think you

Of this new marriage with the lady Gray? Hath not our brother made a worthy choice?

Clar. Alas, you know 'tis far from hence to France:

How could he stay till Warwick made return?
Som. My lords, forbear this talk: here comes the King,

Elourish. Enter King Edward, Lady Gray as Queen, Pembroke, Stafford, and Haftings: Four ftand on. one fide, and four on the other.

Glo. And his well-chofen bride...

Clar. I mind to tell him plainly what I think. K. Edw. Now brother Clarence, how like you our choice,

That

you stand penfive as half malecontent?

Clar. As well as Lewis of France, or th' Earl of War wick,

Which are fo weak of courage, and in judgment,
That they'll take no offence at our abufe.

K. Edw. Suppofe they take offence without a cause::
They are but Lewis and Warwick, I am Edward,
Your King and Warwick's, and muft have my will.
Glo. And you fhall have your will, because our King.
Hen hafty marriage feldom proveth well..

K. Edw..

K. Edw. Yea, brother Richard, you offended too? Glo. Not I; no: God forbid that I fhould with Them fevered whom God hath join'd together. Pity to funder them, that yoak fo well.

K. Edw. Setting your fcorns and your mislike afide, Tell me fome reason why the lady Gray

Should not become my wife, and England's Queen ?
And you too, Somerset and Montague,
Speak freely what you think.

Clar. Then this is my opinion; that King Lewis
Becomes your enemy, for mocking him

About the marriage of the lady Bona.

Glo. And Warwick, doing what you gave in charge, Is now dishonoured by this new marriage.

K. Edw. What if both Lewis and Warwick be appeas'd, By fuch invention as I can devise ?

Mont. Yet to have join'd with France in fuch alliance, Would more have strengthen'd this our commonwealth 'Gainft foreign ftorms, than any home-bred marriage. Haft. Why, knows not Montague that of it felf England is fafe, if true within it felf?

Mont. Yes, but the fafer when 'tis back'd with France, Haft. 'Tis better ufing France, than trufting France.~· Let us be back'd with God, and with the feas, Which he hath given for fence impregnable, And with their helps alone defend our felves: In them, and in our felves, our safety lyes.

Clar. For this one fpeech, lord Haftings well deferves To have the heir of the lord Hungerford.

K. Edw. Ay, what of that? it was my will and grant,.. And for this once my will shall stand for law.

Glo. And yet methinks your grace hath not done well, To give the heir and daughter of lord Scales

Unto the brother of your loving bride.
She better would have fitted me or Clarence;
But in your bride you bury brotherhood.

Clar. Or elfe you would not have bestow'd the heir
Of the lord Bonvill on your new wife's fon;
And leave your brothers to go fpeed elsewhere.

K. Edw.

K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife That thou art malecontent? I will provide thee. Clar. In chufing for your felf, you fhew'd your judg

ment;

Which being fhallow, you fhall give me leave-
To play the broker in mine own behalf;
And to that end I fhortly mind to leave

you.

K. Edw. Leave me, or tarry, Edward will be King; And not be ty'd unto his brother's will.

L. Gray. My lords, before it pleas'd his Majesty
To raise my state to title of a Queen,
Do me but right, and you must all confefs.
That I was not ignoble of defcent,

And meaner than my self have had like fortune.
But as this title honours me and mine,

So your diflikes, to whom I would be pleafing,
Do cloud my joys with danger and with forrow.
K. Edw. My love, forbear to fawn upon their frowns;
What danger or what forrow can befal thee,

So long as Edward is thy conftant friend,.

And their true Sov'raign, whom they must obey?
Nay whom they fhall obey, and love thee too,
Unless they feek for hatred at my hands:

Which if they do, yet will I keep thee safe,
And they fhall feel the vengeance of my wrath.

Glo. I hear, yet fay not much, but think the more.

SCENE I

Enter a Poft.

K. Edw. Now meffenger, what letters or what naws from France?

Poft. My Soveraign Liege, no letters and few words, But fuch as (without your fpecial pardon)..

Dare not relate.

K. Edw. Go to, we pardon thee:

So tell their words, as near as thou canft guess them.
What answer makes King Lewis to our letters.?

Poft

Poft. At my depart, these were his very words;
Go tell falfe Edward, thy fuppofed King,
That Lewis of France is fending over maskers
To revel it with him and his new bride.

K. Edw. Is Lewis fo brave? belike he thinks me Henry.

But what faid lady Bona to my marriage?

Poft. These were her words, utter'd with mild difdain.: Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly, I'll wear the willow garland for his fake.

K. Edw. I blame not her, fhe could fay little lefs ; She had the wrong. But what faid Henry's Queen? For fo I heard that he was there in place.

Poft. Tell him (quoth fhe); my mourning weeds are done,

And I am ready to put armour on.

K. Edw. Belike the minds to play the Amazon. But what faid Warwick to these injuries?

Poft. He, more incens'd against your Majefty Than all the reft, difcharg'd me with thefe words; Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong, And therefore I'll uncrown him.ere't be long,

K. Edw. Ha! durft the traitor breath out fo proud words?

Well, I will arm me, being thus fore-warn'd:
They hall have wars, and pay for their prefumption.
But fay, is Warwick friends with Margaret?

Poft. Ay, gracious Sov'raign, they're fo link'd in friendship,

The young Prince Edward marries Warwick's daugh

ter.

Clar. Belike the elder; Clarence will have the

younger.

Now brother King farewel, and fit you faft,

For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter,
That though I want a kingdom, yet in marriage.
I may not prove inferior to your felf.

You that love me and Warwick, follow me.

[Exit Clarence, and Somerset follows.

Gloo

Glo. Not I: my thoughts aim at a further mat

ter:

I ftay not for love of Edward, but the crown.

[Afide. K. Edw. Clarence and Somerfet both gone to War

wick ?
Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen;
And hafte is needful in this defp'rate cafe!
Pembroke and Stafford, you in our behalf
Go levy men, and make prepare for war;
They are already, or will foon be landed :
My felf in perfon will ftraight follow you.

[Ex. Pembroke and Stafford.

But ere I go, Haftings and Montague
Refolve my doubt you twain of all the reft
Are near to Warwick by blood and by alliance ;
Tell me if you love Warwick more than me?
If it be fo, then both depart to him :

I rather with you foes than hollow friends.
But if you mind to hold your true obedience,
Give me affurance with fome friendly vow,
That I may never have you in suspect.

Mon. So God help Montague, as he proves true.
Haft. And Haftings, as he favours Edward's caufe.
K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, will you ftand by

us?

Glo. Ay, in defpight of all that fhall withstand you.
K. Edw. Why fo, then am I fure of victory.

Now therefore let us hence, and lofe no hour
Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power. [Exe.

SCENE