1 WATCHMAN
Come on, my masters, each man take his stand.
The King by this is set him down to sleep.
2 WATCHMAN
What, will he not to bed?
1 WATCHMAN
Why, no; for he made a solemn vow
Never to lie and take his natural rest
Till Warwick or himself be quite suppressed.
2 WATCHMAN
Tomorrow, then, shall be the day,
If Warwick be so near as men report.
3 WATCHMAN
But say, I pray, what nobleman is that
That with the King here resteth in his tent?
1 WATCHMAN
the Lord Hastings, the King’s chiefest friend.
3 WATCHMAN
O, is it so? But why commands the King
That his chief followers lodge in towns about him,
While he himself keeps in the cold field?
2 WATCHMAN
the more honour, because more dangerous.
3 WATCHMAN
Ay, but give me worship and quietness;
I like it better than dangerous honour.
If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,
to be doubted he would waken him.
1 WATCHMAN
Unless our halberds did shut up his passage.
2 WATCHMAN
Ay, else guard we his royal tent
But to defend his person from night-foes?
WARWICK
This is his tent; and see where stand his guard.
Courage, my masters! Honour now or never!
But follow me, and Edward shall be ours.
1 WATCHMAN
Who goes there?
2 WATCHMAN
Stay, or diest.
SOMERSET
What are they that fly there?
WARWICK
Richard and Hastings.
Let them go. Here is the Duke.
KING EDWARD
The Duke? Why, Warwick, when we parted,
call’dst me king?
WARWICK
Ay, but the case is altered.
When you disgraced me in my embassade,
Then I degraded you from being king,
And come now to create 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?
KING EDWARD
Yea, brother of Clarence, art here too?
Nay, then I see that Edward needs must down.
Yet, Warwick, in despite of all mischance
Of thyself and all complices,
Edward will always bear himself as king.
Though Fortune’s malice overthrow my state,
My mind exceeds the compass of her wheel.
WARWICK
Then for his mind be Edward England’s king;
WARWICK
But Henry now shall wear the English crown
And be true king indeed, but the shadow.
My lord of Somerset, at my request,
See that forthwith Duke Edward be conveyed
Unto my brother, Archbishop of York.
When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows,
I’ll follow you and tell what answer
Lewis and the Lady Bona send to him.
Now, for a while farewell, good Duke of York.
KING EDWARD
What fates impose, that men must needs abide;
It boots not to resist both wind and tide.
OXFORD
What now remains, my lords, for us to do,
But march to London with our soldiers?
WARWICK
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.