Enter three Watchmen to guard King Edward’s tent,
all wearing the white rose. FIRST WATCH
Come on, my masters, each man take his stand.
The King by this is 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 5
Till Warwick or himself be quite suppressed. SECOND WATCH
Tomorrow, 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? 10 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 in the cold field? SECOND WATCH
’Tis the more honor, because more dangerous. 15 THIRD WATCH
Ay, but give me worship and quietness;
I like it better than a dangerous honor.
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. 20 SECOND WATCH
Ay, wherefore else guard we his royal tent
But to defend his person from night foes? | Three watchmen stand outside Edward's tent. They fear that Warwick is nearby, and that he wants to attack Edward. |
Enter Warwick, Clarence, Oxford, Somerset, all wearing
the red rose, and French Soldiers, silent all. WARWICK
This is his tent, and see where stand his guard.
Courage, my masters. Honor, now or never!
But follow me, and Edward shall be ours. 25 FIRST WATCH Who goes there? SECOND WATCH Stay, or thou diest! Warwick and the rest cry all “Warwick, Warwick!”
and set upon the guard, who fly, crying “Arm, Arm!”
Warwick and the rest following them. The drum playing and trumpet sounding,
enter Warwick, Somerset, and the rest, bringing
King Edward out in his gown, sitting in a chair.
Richard and Hastings flies over the stage. SOMERSET
What are they that fly there? WARWICK Richard and Hastings.
Let them go. Here is the Duke. 30 KING EDWARD The Duke?
Why, Warwick, when we parted, thou 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 35
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, 40
Nor how to study for the people’s welfare,
Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies? | Turns out they're right: Warwick, George, Oxford, Somerset, and their soldiers enter and take over the guards. Richard and Hastings make a run for it, but Edward is captured. Edward tells Warwick that he just called him king not too long ago. Why is he capturing him now? Warwick says that for one thing, Edward doesn't stick to his word. He's angry that Edward promised to marry Lady Bona and then went and had a quickie marriage with Lady Grey behind his back. Plus, even Edward's brother is against him now. |
WARWICK
Then for his mind be Edward England’s king, 50 Takes off his crown. But Henry now shall wear the English crown
And be true king indeed, thou but the shadow.—
My lord of Somerset, at my request,
See that forthwith Duke Edward be conveyed
Unto my brother, Archbishop of York. 55
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 awhile farewell, good Duke of York. | Warwick takes off Edward's crown and says he'll give it to Henry. Just like that. |
They begin to lead him out forcibly. KING EDWARD
What Fates impose, that men must needs abide; 60
It boots not to resist both wind and tide. Somerset and Soldiers exit, guarding King Edward. 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 65
And see him seated in the regal throne. They exit. | Warwick and his men lead Edward out, but not before Warwick tells us
that his plan is to free Henry from prison and seat him back on the
throne. |