&mast;K. Hen.
&mast;Master lieutenant, now that God and friends
&mast;Have shaken Edward from the regal seat;
&mast;And turn'd my captive state to liberty,
&mast;My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys;
&mast;At our enlargement what are thy due fees?

&mast;Lieu.
&mast;Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns;
&mast;But, if an humble prayer may prevail,
&mast;I then crave pardon of your majesty.

&mast;K. Hen.
&mast;For what, lieutenant? for well using me?
&mast;Nay, be thou sure, I'll well requite thy kindness,
&mast;For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure:
&mast;Ay, such a pleasure as incaged birds
&mast;Conceive, when, after many moody thoughts,
&mast;At last, by notes of household harmony,
&mast;They quite forget their loss of liberty.—
&mast;But, Warwick, after God, thou set'st me free,
&mast;And chiefly therefore I thank God, and thee;

&mast;He was the author, thou the instrument.
&mast;Therefore, that I may conquer fortune's spite,
&mast;By living low, where fortune cannot hurt me;
&mast;And that the people of this blessed land
&mast;May not be punish'd with my thwarting stars;
&mlquo;Warwick, although my head still wear the crown,
&mlquo;I here resign my government to thee,
&mlquo;For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds.

&mast;War.
&mast;Your grace hath still been fam'd for virtuous;
&mast;And now may seem as wise as virtuous,
&mast;By spying, and avoiding, fortune's malice,
&mast;For few men rightly temper with the stars^{9 note}:
&mast;Yet in this one thing let me blame your grace,
&mast;For choosing me when Clarence is in place^{1 note}.

&mast;Clar.
&mast;No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway,
&mast;To whom the heavens, in thy nativity,
&mast;Adjudg'd an olive branch, and laurel crown,
&mast;As likely to be blest in peace, and war;
&mast;And therefore I yield thee my free consent.

&mast;War.
&mast;And I choose Clarence only for protector.

&mast;K. Hen.
&mast;Warwick, and Clarence, give me both your hands;
&mast;Now join your hands, and, with your hands, your hearts,
&mast;That no dissention hinder government:
&mlquo;I make you both protectors of this land;
&mlquo;While I myself will lead a private life,
&mlquo;And in devotion spend my latter days,
To sin's rebuke, and my Creator's praise.

War.
What answers Clarence to his sovereign's will?

&mast;Clar.
&mast;That he consents, if Warwick yield consent;
&mast;For on thy fortune I repose myself.

&mast;War.
&mast;Why then, though loath, yet must I be content:
&mast;We'll yoke together, like a double shadow
&mast;To Henry's body, and supply his place;
&mast;I mean, in bearing weight of government,
&mast;While he enjoys the honour, and his ease.
&mast;And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful,
&mast;Forthwith that Edward be pronounc'd a traitor,
&mast;And all his lands and goods be confiscate^{2 note}

Clar.
What else? and that succession be determin'd.

&mast;War.
&mast;Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.

&mast;K. Hen.
&mast;But, with the first of all your chief affairs,
&mast;Let me entreat, (for I command no more,)
&mast;That Margaret your queen, and my son Edward,
&mast;Be sent for, to return from France with speed:
&mast;For, till I see them here, by doubtful fear
&mast;My joy of liberty is half eclips'd.

Clar.
It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.

&mlquo;K. Hen.
&mlquo;My lord of Somerset, what youth is that,

&mlquo;Of whom you seem to have so tender care?

&mlquo;Som.
&mlquo;My liege, it is young Henry, earl of Richmond.

&mlquo;K. Hen.
&mlquo;Come hither, England's hope: If secret powers [Lays his Hand on his Head.
&mlquo;Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts,
&mlquo;This pretty lad^{3 note}

&mlquo;His looks are full of peaceful majesty;
&mlquo;His head by nature fram'd to wear a crown,
&mlquo;His hand to wield a scepter; and himself
&mlquo;Likely, in time, to bless a regal throne.
Make much of him, my lords; for this is he,
&mlquo;Must help you more than you are hurt by me. Enter a Messenger.
&mast;What news, my friend?

&mast;Mess.
&mast;That Edward is escaped from your brother,
&mast;And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.

&mast;War.
&mast;Unsavoury news: But how made he escape?

&mast;Mess.
&mast;He was convey'd by Richard duke of Gloster,
&mast;And the lord Hastings, who attended him^{4 note}

&mast;In secret ambush on the forest side,
&mast;And from the bishop's huntsmen rescued him;
&mast;For hunting was his daily exercise.

&mast;War.
&mast;My brother was too careless of his charge.—
&mast;But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide
&mast;A salve for any sore that may betide. [Exeunt King Henry, Warwick, Clarence, Lieutenant, and Attendants.

&mast;Som.
&mast;My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward's:
&mast;For, doubtless, Burgundy will yield him help;
&mast;And we shall have more wars, before't be long.
&mast;As Henry's late presaging prophecy
&mast;Did glad my heart, with hope of this young Richmond;
&mast;So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts
&mast;What may befall him, to his harm, and ours:

&mast;Therefore, lord Oxford, to prevent the worst,
&mast;Forthwith we'll send him hence to Brittany,
&mast;Till storms be past of civil enmity.

&mast;Oxf.
&mast;Ay; for, if Edward repossess the crown,
&mast;'Tis like, that Richmond with the rest shall down.

&mast;Som.
&mast;It shall be so; he shall to Brittany.
&mast;Come therefore, let's about it speedily. [Exeunt. 5 ^note.

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