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 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 sure I’ll well requite kindness,
For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure;
Ay, such a pleasure as incaged 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 sett’st me free,
And chiefly therefore I thank God and ;
He was the author, 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 ,
For art fortunate in all deeds.
WARWICK
Your Grace 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
No, Warwick, art worthy of the sway,
To whom the heavens in nativity
Adjudged an olive branch and laurel crown,
As likely to be blest in peace and war;
And therefore I yield 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
That he consents, if Warwick yield consent,
For on fortune I repose myself.
WARWICK
Why, then, though loath, yet I must 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
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
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
My liege, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond.
KING HENRY
Come , England’s hope. If secret powers
KING HENRY
Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts,
This pretty lad will prove our country’s bliss.
His looks are full of peaceful majesty,
His head by nature framed to wear a crown,
His hand to wield a sceptre, and himself
Likely in time to bless a regal throne.
Make much of him, my lords, for this is he
Must help you more than you are hurt by me.
WARWICK
What news, my friend?
POST
That Edward is escaped from your brother
And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.
WARWICK
Unsavoury news! But how made he escape?
POST
He was conveyed by Richard, Duke of Gloucester
And the Lord Hastings, who attended him
In secret ambush on the forest side
And from the Bishop’s huntsmen rescued him,
For hunting was his daily exercise.
WARWICK
My brother was too careless of his charge.
But let us , my sovereign, to provide
A salve for any sore that may betide.
SOMERSET
My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward’s,
For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help,
And we shall have more wars before ’t be long.
As Henry’s late presaging prophecy
Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond,
So my heart misgive me, in these conflicts
What may befall him, to his harm and ours.
Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst,
Forthwith we’ll send him to Brittany
Till storms be past of civil enmity.
OXFORD
Ay, for if Edward repossess the crown,
like that Richmond with the rest shall down.
SOMERSET
It shall be so. He shall to Brittany.
Come therefore, let’s about it speedily.