The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• The Third Part of King Henry the Sixth: Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Scene I.—: London. the Parliament-house.
• Scene II.—: A Room In Sandal Castle, Near Wakefield, In Yorkshire.
• Scene III.—: Field of Battle Between Sandal Castle and Wakefield.
• Scene IV.—: Another Part of the Plains.
• Act II.
• Scene I.—: A Plain Near Mortimer’s Cross In Herefordshire.
• Scene II.—: Before York.
• Scene III.—: A Field of Battle Between Towton and Saxton, In Yorkshire.
• Scene IV.—: Another Part of the Field.
• Scene V.—: Another Part of the Field.
• Scene VI.—: The Same.
• Act III.
• Scene I.—: A Chase In the North of England.
• Scene II.—: London. a Room In the Palace.
• Scene III.—: France. a Room In the Palace.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.—: London. a Room In the Palace.
• Scene II.—: A Plain In Warwickshire.
• Scene III.—: Edward’scamp Near Warwick.
• Scene IV.—: London. a Room In the Palace.
• Scene V.—: A Park Near Middleham Castle In Yorkshire.
• Scene VI.—: A Room In the Tower.
• Scene VII.—: Before York.
• Scene VIII.—: London. a Room In the Palace.
• Act V.
• Scene I.—: Coventry.
• Scene II.—: A Field of Battle Near Barnet.
• Scene III.—: Another Part of the Field.
• Scene IV.—: Plains Near Tewksbury.
• Scene V.—: Another Part of the Same.
• Scene VI.—: London. a Room In the Tower.
• Scene VII.—: The Same. a Room In the Palace.

Scene III.—

Edward’sCamp near Warwick.

Enter certain Watchmen to guard theKing’stent.

First Watch.

Come on, my masters, each man take his stand;

The king, by this, is set him down to sleep.

Sec. 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.

Sec. 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 in the cold field?

Sec. Watch.

’Tis the more honour, because the more dangerous.

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.

Sec. Watch.

Ay; wherefore else guard we his royal tent,

But to defend his person from night-foes?

EnterWarwick, Clarence, Oxford, Somerset,and Forces.

War.

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.

First Watch.

Who goes there?

Sec. Watch.

Stay, or thou diest.

[Warwickand the rest cry all, ‘Warwick! Warwick!’ and set upon the Guard; who fly, crying, ‘Arm! Arm!’ Warwickand the rest following them.

Drums beating, and Trumpets sounding, re-enterWarwickand the rest, bringing theKingout in his gown, sitting in a chair.GloucesterandHastingsfly over the stage.

Som.

What are they that fly there?

War.

Richard and Hastings: let them go; here’s the duke.

K. Edw.

The duke! Why, Warwick, when we parted last,

Thou call’dst me king!

War.

Ay, but the case is alter’d:

When you disgrac’d 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?

K. Edw.

Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here too?

Nay, then, I see that Edward needs must 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.

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

Lewis and the Lady Bona send to him:

Now, for a while farewell, good Duke of York.

K. Edw.

What fates impose, that men must needs abide;

It boots not to resist both wind and tide.

[Exit, led out;Somersetwith him.

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.