First Watch.
Come on, my masters, each man take his stand:
The king by this is ^note set him down to sleep.

Second Watch.
What, will he not to bed?

First Watch.
Why, no; for he hath made a solemn vow
Never to lie and take his natural rest
Till Warwick or himself be quite suppress'd.

Second Watch.
To-morrow then belike shall be the day,
If Warwick be so near as men report.

Third Watch.
But say, I pray, what nobleman is that
That with the king here resteth in his tent?

First Watch.
'Tis the Lord Hastings, the king's chiefest friend.

Third Watch.
O, is it so? But why commands the king
That his chief followers lodge in towns about him,
While he himself keeps ^note in the cold field ^note?

Second Watch.
'Tis the more honour, because more dangerous ^note.

Third Watch.
Ay, but give me worship and quietness;
I like it better than a dangerous honour.
If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,
'Tis to be doubted he would waken him.

First Watch.
Unless our halberds did shut up his passage.

Second Watch.
Ay, wherefore else guard we his ^note royal tent,
But to defend his person from night-foes?

Enter ^note Warwick, Clarence, Oxford, Somerset, and French soldiers, silent all.

War.
This is his tent; and see where stand ^note his guard.
Courage, my masters! honour now or never!
But follow me, and Edward shall be ours.

First Watch.
Who goes there?

Second Watch.
Stay, or thou diest! [Warwick ^note and the rest cry all, ‘Warwick! Warwick!’ and set upon the Guard, who fly, crying, ‘Arm! arm!’ ^note Warwick and the rest following them. The drum playing and trumpet sounding ^note, re-enter ^note Warwick, Somerset, and the rest, bringing the King out in his gown, sitting in a chair. Richard and Hastings fly ^note over the stage.

Som.
What are they that fly there?

War.
Richard and Hastings: let them go; here is ^note
The duke. ^note

K. Edw.
The duke! Why, Warwick, when we parted ^{note note},
Thou call'dst me king. ^note

War.
Ay, but the case is alter'd:
When you disgraced me in my embassade ^note,
Then I degraded you from being king,
And come now to create ^note you Duke of York.
Alas! how should you govern any kingdom,
That know not how to use ambassadors,
Nor how to be contented with one wife,
Nor how to use your brothers brotherly,
Nor how to study for the people's welfare,

Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies?

K. Edw.
Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here too ^note?
Nay, then I see that Edward needs must ^note down.
Yet, Warwick, in despite of all mischance,
Of thee thyself and all thy complices,
Edward will always bear himself as king:
Though fortune's malice overthrow my state,
My mind exceeds the compass of her wheel.

War.
Then, for his mind, be Edward England's king: [Takes off his crown.
But Henry now shall wear the English crown,
And be true king indeed, thou but the shadow ^note.
My Lord of Somerset, at my request,
See that forthwith Duke Edward be convey'd
Unto my brother, Archbishop of York.
When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows,
I'll follow you, and tell what answer ^note
Lewis and the ^note Lady Bona send ^note to him.
Now, for a while ^note farewell, good Duke of York. [They lead ^note him out forcibly.

K. Edw.
What fates impose, that men must needs abide;
It boots not to resist both wind and tide. [Exit, guarded. ^note

Oxf.
What now remains, my lords, for us to do
But march to London with our soldiers?

War.
Ay, that's the first thing that we have to do;
To free king Henry from imprisonment
And see him seated in the regal throne. [Exeunt. ^note

^note

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