King Henry VI, Part III
| ACT IV SCENE VII | Before York. | |
| [ Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER, HASTINGS, and Soldiers ] | ||
| KING EDWARD IV | Now, brother Richard, Lord Hastings, and the rest, | |
| Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends, | ||
| And says that once more I shall interchange | ||
| My waned state for Henry’s regal crown. | ||
| Well have we pass’d and now repass’d the seas | 5 | |
| And brought desired help from Burgundy: | ||
| What then remains, we being thus arrived | ||
| From Ravenspurgh haven before the gates of York, | ||
| But that we enter, as into our dukedom? | ||
| GLOUCESTER | The gates made fast! Brother, I like not this; | 10 |
| For many men that stumble at the threshold | ||
| Are well foretold that danger lurks within. | ||
| KING EDWARD IV | Tush, man, abodements must not now affright us: | |
| By fair or foul means we must enter in, | ||
| For hither will our friends repair to us. | 15 | |
| HASTINGS | My liege, I’ll knock once more to summon them. | |
| [Enter, on the walls, the Mayor of York, and his Brethren] | ||
| Mayor | My lords, we were forewarned of your coming, | |
| And shut the gates for safety of ourselves; | ||
| For now we owe allegiance unto Henry. | ||
| KING EDWARD IV | But, master mayor, if Henry be your king, | 20 |
| Yet Edward at the least is Duke of York. | ||
| Mayor | True, my good lord; I know you for no less. | |
| KING EDWARD IV | Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom, | |
| As being well content with that alone. | ||
| GLOUCESTER | [Aside] But when the fox hath once got in his nose, | 25 |
| He’ll soon find means to make the body follow. | ||
| HASTINGS | Why, master mayor, why stand you in a doubt? | |
| Open the gates; we are King Henry’s friends. | ||
| Mayor | Ay, say you so? the gates shall then be open’d. | |
| [They descend] | ||
| GLOUCESTER | A wise stout captain, and soon persuaded! | 30 |
| HASTINGS | The good old man would fain that all were well, | |
| So ’twere not ‘long of him; but being enter’d, | ||
| I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade | ||
| Both him and all his brothers unto reason. | ||
| [Enter the Mayor and two Aldermen, below] | ||
| KING EDWARD IV | So, master mayor: these gates must not be shut | 35 |
| But in the night or in the time of war. | ||
| What! fear not, man, but yield me up the keys; | ||
| [Takes his keys] | ||
| For Edward will defend the town and thee, | ||
| And all those friends that deign to follow me. | ||
| [March. Enter MONTGOMERY, with drum and soldiers] | ||
| GLOUCESTER | Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery, | 40 |
| Our trusty friend, unless I be deceived. | ||
| KING EDWARD IV | Welcome, Sir John! But why come you in arms? | |
| MONTAGUE | To help King Edward in his time of storm, | |
| As every loyal subject ought to do. | ||
| KING EDWARD IV | Thanks, good Montgomery; but we now forget | 45 |
| Our title to the crown and only claim | ||
| Our dukedom till God please to send the rest. | ||
| MONTAGUE | Then fare you well, for I will hence again: | |
| I came to serve a king and not a duke. | ||
| Drummer, strike up, and let us march away. | 50 | |
| [The drum begins to march] | ||
| KING EDWARD IV | Nay, stay, Sir John, awhile, and we’ll debate | |
| By what safe means the crown may be recover’d. | ||
| MONTAGUE | What talk you of debating? in few words, | |
| If you’ll not here proclaim yourself our king, | ||
| I’ll leave you to your fortune and be gone | 55 | |
| To keep them back that come to succor you: | ||
| Why shall we fight, if you pretend no title? | ||
| GLOUCESTER | Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points? | |
| KING EDWARD IV | When we grow stronger, then we’ll make our claim: | |
| Till then, ’tis wisdom to conceal our meaning. | 60 | |
| HASTINGS | Away with scrupulous wit! now arms must rule. | |
| GLOUCESTER | And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns. | |
| Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand: | ||
| The bruit thereof will bring you many friends. | ||
| KING EDWARD IV | Then be it as you will; for ’tis my right, | 65 |
| And Henry but usurps the diadem. | ||
| MONTAGUE | Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself; | |
| And now will I be Edward’s champion. | ||
| HASTINGS | Sound trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim’d: | |
| Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation. | 70 | |
| [Flourish] | ||
| Soldier | Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God, king of | |
| England and France, and lord of Ireland, &c. | ||
| MONTAGUE | And whosoe’er gainsays King Edward’s right, | |
| By this I challenge him to single fight. | ||
| [Throws down his gauntlet] | ||
| All | Long live Edward the Fourth! | 75 |
| KING EDWARD IV | Thanks, brave Montgomery; and thanks unto you all: | |
| If fortune serve me, I’ll requite this kindness. | ||
| Now, for this night, let’s harbour here in York; | ||
| And when the morning sun shall raise his car | ||
| Above the border of this horizon, | 80 | |
| We’ll forward towards Warwick and his mates; | ||
| For well I wot that Henry is no soldier. | ||
| Ah, froward Clarence! how evil it beseems thee | ||
| To flatter Henry and forsake thy brother! | ||
| Yet, as we may, we’ll meet both thee and Warwick. | 85 | |
| Come on, brave soldiers: doubt not of the day, | ||
| And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay. | ||
| [Exeunt] | ||
Continue to 3 Henry VI, Act 4, Scene 8