Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation.

[Flourish.

Sold. [Reads.] Edward the fourth, by the grace of God, king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, &c.

482

Montg. And whosoe'er gainsays king Edward's

right,

By this I challenge him to single fight.

[Throws down his Gauntlet.

All. Long live Edward the fourth!

K. Edw. Thanks, brave Montgomery ; and thanks unto you all.

If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness.
Now, for this night, let's harbour here in York:
And, when the morning sun shall raise his car
Above the border of this horizon,

490

We'll forward towards Warwick, and his mates;
For, well I wot, that Henry is no soldier.—
Ah, froward Clarence !-how evil it beseems thee,
To flatter Henry, and forsake thy brother!

Yet, as we may, we'll meet both thee and War

wick,

Come on, brave soldiers; doubt not of the day;
And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay.

[Exeunt.

SCENE

London.

SCENE VIII.

Enter King HENRY, WARWICK, CLARENCE, MONTAGUE, EXETER, and OXFORD.

War. What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia, With hasty Germans, and blunt Hollanders, Hath pass'd in safety through the narrow seas, And with his troops doth march amain to London: And many giddy people flock to him.

500

K. Henry. Let's levy men, and beat him back again.

Clar. A little fire is quickly trodden out; Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench.

War. In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends, Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war;

511

Those will I muster up :-and thou, son Clarence,
Shall stir, in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent,
The knights, and gentlemen to come with thee :—
Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham,
Northampton, and in Leicestershire, shalt find
Men well inclin'd to hear what thou command'st :-
And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well belov'd,
In Oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends.
My sovereign, with the loving citizens-
Like to his island, girt in with the ocean,
Or modest Dian, circled with her nymphs-
Shall rest in London, 'till we come to him.-
Fair lords, take leave, and stand not to reply.- 520
Farewel,

Kij

-

Farewel, my sovereign.

K. Henry. Farewel, my Hector, and my Troy's true hope.

Clar. In sign of truth, I kiss your highness' hand. K. Henry. Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortu

nate !

Mont. Comfort, my lord ;—and so I take my leave. Oxf. [Kissing HENRY's Hand.] And thus I seal my truth, and bid adieu.

K. Henry. Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague,

And all at once, once more a happy farewel.

War. Farewel, sweet lords; let's meet at Coventry. [Exeunt WARWICK, CLARENCE, Oxford, and MONTAGUE.

K. Henry. Here at the palace will I rest a while, Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship? Methinks, the power, that Edward hath in field, Should not be able to encounter mine.

531

Exe. The doubt is, that he will seduce the rest.
K. Henry. That's not my fear, my meed hath got
: me fame :

I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands,
Nor posted off their suits with slow delays;
My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds,
My mildness hath allay'd their swelling griefs,
My mercy dry'd their water-flowing tears:
I have not been desirous of their wealth,
Nor much oppress'd them with great subsidies,

540

Nor

Nor forward of revenge, though they much err'd;
Then why should they love Edward more than me?
No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace :
And, when the lion fawns upon the lamb,

The lamb will never cease to follow him.

[Shout within. A Lancaster! A Lancaster! Exe. Hark, hark, my lord! what shouts are these?

Enter King EDWARD, GLOSTER, and Soldiers. K. Edw. Seize on the shame-fac'd'Henry, bear him hence,

And once again proclaim us king of England. 550
You are the fount, that makes small brooks to flow :
Now stops thy spring; my sea shall suck them dry,
And swell so much the higher by their ebb.-
Hence with him to the Tower; let him not speak.
[Exeunt some with King HENRY.
And, lords, towards Coventry bend we our course,
Where peremptory Warwick now remains:
The sun shines hot, and, if we use delay,
Cold biting winter mars our hop'd-for hay.

Glo. Away betimes, before his forces join,

And take the great-grown traitor, unawares;
Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry.

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ACT V. SCENE 1.

Before the Town of Coventry.

Enter WARWICK, the

Mayor of Coventry, two Messengers, and others, upon the Walls.

Warwick.

WHERE is the post, that came from valiant Ox

ford?

How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow ?

1 Mes. By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward. War. How far off is our brother Montague ?Where is the post that came from Montague? 2 Mes. By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop.

Enter Sir JOHN SOMERVILLE.

10

War. Say, Somerville, what says my loving son ?
And, by thy guess, how nigh is Clarence now?
Somerv. At Southam I did leave him with his forces,
And do expect him here some two hours hence.
War. Then Clarence is at hand, I hear his drum.
Somerv. It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies;
The drum your honour hears, marcheth from War-
wick.

War, Who should that be? belike, unlook'd-for
friends.

Someru. They are at hand, and you shall quickly

know,

March