That if our Queen and this young Prince agree,
I'll join my s'younger daughter and my joy
To him forthwith, in holy wedlock bands.

Q. Mar. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion,
Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous;
Therefore delay not, give thy hand to Warwick,
And with thy hand, thy faith irrevocable,
That only Warwick's daughter shall be thine.

Prince. Yes, I accept her, for she well deserves it: And here to pledge my vow, I give my hand.

[He gives his hand to Warwick. K. Lewis. Why stay we now? these soldiers shall be And thou, Lord Bourbon, our high Admiral, [levy'd, Shalt waft them over with our royal fleet. I lcng’till Edward fall by war's mischance, For mocking marriage with a Dame of France.

[Exeunt. Manet Warwick, War. I came from Edward as ambassador, But I return his sworn and mortal foe: Matter of marriage was the charge he gave me, But dreadful war shall answer his demand. Had he none else to make a stale but me? Then none but I shall turn his jest to sorrow. I was the chief that rais'd him to the crown, And I'll be chief to bring him down again : Not that I pity Henry's misery, But seek revenge on Edward's mockery, [Exit.

5 cides ... old edit. Theob. emend.

Аст

Enter Gloucester, Clarence, Somerset, and Montague.

GLOUCESTER.

you
Of this new marriage with the Lady Gray?

Hath not our brother made a worthy choice?
Cla. 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. Flourish. Enter King Edward, Lady Gray as Queen,

Pembroke, Stafford, and Hastings: Four stand on one
fide, and four on the otber.
Glo. And his well-chosen bride.
Cla. I mind to tell him plainly what I think.

K. Edw. Now, brother Clarence, how like you our choice, That you stand pensive as half malecontent?

Cla. As well as Lewis of France, or th’Earl of Warwick, Which are so weak of courage, and in judgment, That they'll take no offence at our abuse.

K. Edw. Suppose they take offence without a cause. They are but Lewis and Warwick, I am Edward, Your King and Warwick's, and must have my will.

Gle. And you shall have your will, because our King. Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well.

K. Edw. Yea, brother Richard, you offended too?

Glo. Not I; no: God forbid that I should wish Them fevered whom God hath joined together! Pity to sunder them, that yoak so well.

K. Edu,

K. Edw. Setting your scorns and your milike aside,
Tell me some 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.

Cla. 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 appeasid, By such invention as I can devise?

Mont. Yet to have join'd with France in such alliance, Would more have strengthen'd this our commonwealth 'Gainst foreign storms, than any home-bred marriage.

Haft. Why, knows not Montague that of it felf England is safe, if true within it felf?

Mont. Yes, but the safer when 'tis back'd with France.

Haft. 'Tis better using France, than trusting France.
Let us be back'd with God, and with the seas,
Which he hath giv'n for fence impregnable,
And with their helps alone defend our felves :
In them, and in our selves, our safety lyes.

Cla. For this one speech, Lord Hastings well deserves 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.

Cla. Or else you would not have bestow'd the heir
Of the Lord Bonvill on your new wife's fon,
And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere.

K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife
That thou art malecontent? I will provide thee.
Cla. In chusing for your self, you shew'd your judgment;

Which being shallow, you shall give me leave
To play the broker in mine own behalf ;
And to that end I shortly mind to leave you.

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

Queen. My Lords, before it pleas’d his Majesty
To raise my state to title of a Queen,
Do me but right, and you muft all confess
That I was not ignoble of descent,
And meaner than my self have had like fortune.
But as this title honours me and mine,
So your dislikes, to whom I would be pleasing,
Do cloud my joys with danger and with sorrow.

K. Edw. My love, forbear to fawn upon their frowns;
What danger or what forrow can befall thee,
So long as Edward is thy constant friend,
And their true Sov’reign, whom they must obey?
Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too,
Unless they seek for hatred at my hands :
Which if they do, yet will I keep thee safe,
And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath.
Glo. I hear, yet say not much, but think the more.

S
с Е N E II.

Enter a Poft. K. Edw. Now, messenger, what letters, or what news from France ?

Poft. My Sovereign Liege, no letters and few words,
But such as I (without your special pardon)
Dare not relate.

K. Edw. Go to, we pardon thee :
So tell their words, as near as thou canst guess them.
What answer makes King Lewis to our letters?

Poft. At my depart, these were his very words:
Go tell false Edward, thy supposed King,
That Lewis of France is sending over maskers
To revel it with bim and bis new bride,

K. Edw.

K. Edw. Is Lewis fo brave? belike he thinks me Henry. But what said Lady Bona to my marriage? Post

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

K. Edw. I blame not her, she could say little less; She had the wrong. But what said Henry's Queen? For so I heard that she was there in place.

Poft. Tell bim (quoth she) my mourning weeds are done, And I am ready to put armour on.

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

Poft. He, more incens’d against your Majesty
Than all the rest discharg'd me with these words:
Tell bim from me that he bath done me wrong,
And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long.

K. Edw. Ha! durst the traitor breathe'out so proud words?
Well, I will arm' me, being thus fore-warn’d:.
They shall have wars, and pay for their presumption.
But say, is Warwick friends with Margaret? [ship,

Pojt. Ay, gracious Sov'reign, they're so link'd in friends: The young Prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter.

Cla. Belike the 6 'younger ; Clarence will have the elder.! Now, brother King, farewel, and sit you fast, For 1 will hence to Warwick's other daughter, That though I want a kingdom, yet in marriage I may not prove inferior to your self. You that love me and Warwick, follow me.

[Exit Clarence, and Somerset follows. Glo. Not I: my thoughts aim at a further matter: I stay not for the love of Edward, but the crown. [Afide

K. Edw. Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick ? Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen; And hafte is needful in this defp'rate case: Pembroke and Stafford, you in our behalf Go levy men, and make prepare for war;

They 6 elder: Clarence will have the younger.

old edit. Tbeob, emend.