Act IV, Scene 6

London. The Tower.

[Flourish. Enter KING HENRY VI, CLARENCE, WARWICK,] [p]SOMERSET, HENRY OF RICHMOND, OXFORD, MONTAGUE, and [p]Lieutenant of the Tower]

• Henry VI. Master lieutenant, now that God and friends 2315
  Have shaken Edward from the regal seat,
  And turn'd my captive state to liberty,
  My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys,
  At our enlargement what are thy due fees?

• Lieutenant. Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns; 2320
  But if an humble prayer may prevail,
  I then crave pardon of your majesty.

• Henry VI. For what, lieutenant? for well using me?
  Nay, be thou sure I'll well requite thy kindness,
  For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure; 2325
  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, thou set'st me free, 2330
  And chiefly therefore I thank God and thee;
  He was the author, thou 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 2335
  May not be punish'd with my thwarting stars,
  Warwick, although my head still wear the crown,
  I here resign my government to thee,
  For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds.

• Earl of Warwick. Your grace hath still been famed for virtuous; 2340
  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. 2345

• George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway,
  To whom the heavens in thy nativity
  Adjudged an olive branch and laurel crown,
  As likely to be blest in peace and war;
  And therefore I yield thee my free consent. 2350

• Earl of Warwick. And I choose Clarence only for protector.

• Henry VI. 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, 2355
  While I myself will lead a private life
  And in devotion spend my latter days,
  To sin's rebuke and my Creator's praise.

• Earl of Warwick. What answers Clarence to his sovereign's will?

• George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). That he consents, if Warwick yield consent; 2360
  For on thy fortune I repose myself.

• Earl of Warwick. Why, then, though loath, yet must I 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, 2365
  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 Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). What else? and that succession be determined. 2370

• Earl of Warwick. Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.

• Henry VI. 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; 2375
  For, till I see them here, by doubtful fear
  My joy of liberty is half eclipsed.

• George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.

• Henry VI. My Lord of Somerset, what youth is that,
  Of whom you seem to have so tender care? 2380

• Duke/Earl of Somerset. My liege, it is young Henry, earl of Richmond.

• Henry VI. Come hither, England's hope.
  [Lays his hand on his head]
  If secret powers
  Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts, 2385
  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. 2390
  Make much of him, my lords, for this is he
  Must help you more than you are hurt by me.

[Enter a Post]

• Earl of Warwick. What news, my friend?

• Post. That Edward is escaped from your brother, 2395
  And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.

• Earl of Warwick. Unsavoury news! but how made he escape?

• Post. He was convey'd by Richard Duke of Gloucester
  And the Lord Hastings, who attended him
  In secret ambush on the forest side 2400
  And from the bishop's huntsmen rescued him;
  For hunting was his daily exercise.

• Earl of Warwick. My brother was too careless of his charge.
  But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide
  A salve for any sore that may betide. 2405

[Exeunt all but SOMERSET, HENRY OF RICHMOND, and OXFORD]

• Duke/Earl of 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 2410
  Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond,
  So doth 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 hence to Brittany, 2415
  Till storms be past of civil enmity.

• Earl Oxford. Ay, for if Edward repossess the crown,
  'Tis like that Richmond with the rest shall down.

• Duke/Earl of Somerset. It shall be so; he shall to Brittany.
  Come, therefore, let's about it speedily. 2420

[Exeunt]