RICHARD OF 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 advertised 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?

RICHARD OF 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 shipped from thence to Flanders.

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER ⌈aside⌉

Well guessed, believe me—for that was my meaning.

KING EDWARD

Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness.

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

But wherefore stay we? ’Tis no time to talk.

KING EDWARD

Huntsman, what sayst thou? Wilt thou go along?

HUNTSMAN

Better do so than tarry and be hanged.

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

Come then, away—let’s have no more ado.

KING EDWARD

Bishop, farewell—shield thee from Warwick’s frown,

And pray that I may repossess the crown. Exeunt

4.7 Flourish. Enter the Earl of Warwick and George Duke of Clarence ⌈with the crown⌉. Then enter King Henry, the Earl of Oxford, the Duke of Somerset ⌈withl young Henry Ear⌉ of Richmond, the Marquis of Montague, and the Lieutenant of the Tower

KING HENRY

Master Lieutenant, now that God and friends

Have shaken Edward from the regal seat

And turned 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 sovereigns—

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 prisonment a pleasure—

Ay, such a pleasure as encagèd 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 sett’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 punished 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 famed 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.

GEORGE OF CLARENCE

No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway,

To whom the heav’ns in thy nativity

Adjudged 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?

GEORGE OF 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 pronounced a traitor,

And all his lands and goods be confiscate.

GEORGE OF CLARENCE

What else? And that succession be determined.

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 eclipsed.

GEORGE OF 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