As Henry’s late presaging prophecy

  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,

  Till storms be past of civil enmity.

  OXFORD    Ay, for if Edward repossess the crown,

  ’Tis like that Richmond with the rest, shall down.

  SOMERSET    It shall be so. He shall to Brittany.

  Come, therefore, let’s about it speedily.

  Exeunt

  [Act 4 Scene 7]

  running scene 15

  Flourish. Enter Edward, Richard, 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 interchange3

  My wanèd4 state for Henry’s regal crown.

  Well have we passed and now repassed the seas

  And brought desirèd help from Burgundy.

  What then remains, we being thus arrived

  From Ravenspurgh haven8 before the gates of York,

  Hastings knocks

  But that we enter, as into our dukedom?

  GLOUCESTER    The gates made fast10? Brother, I like not this,

  For many men that stumble at the threshold

  Are well foretold12 that danger lurks within.

  KING EDWARD IV    Tush, man, abodements must not now affright13 us.

  By fair or foul means we must enter in,

  For hither will our friends repair15 to us.

  Knocks

  HASTINGS    My liege, I’ll knock once more to summon them.

  Enter [above], 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,

  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 challenge23 nothing but my dukedom,

  As being well content with that alone.

  Aside

  GLOUCESTER    But when the fox hath once got in his nose25,

  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 opened.

  He descends [with his brethren]

  GLOUCESTER    A wise stout30 captain, and soon persuaded.

  HASTINGS    The good old man would fain31 that all were well,

  So ’twere not long of him32. But being entered,

  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

  But36 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 deign39 to follow me.

  March. Enter Montgomery, with Drum and Soldiers

  GLOUCESTER    Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery,

  Our trusty friend, unless I be deceived.

  KING EDWARD IV    Welcome, Sir John. But why come you in arms?

  MONTGOMERY    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 forget45

  Our title to the crown and only claim

  Our dukedom, till God please to send the rest.

  MONTGOMERY    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.

  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 recovered.

  MONTGOMERY    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

  To keep them back that come to succour you.

  Why shall we fight, if you pretend57 no title?

  GLOUCESTER    Why, brother, wherefore stand you58 on nice points?

  KING EDWARD IV    When we grow stronger, then we’ll make our claim.

  Till then, ’tis wisdom to conceal our meaning60.

  HASTINGS    Away with scrupulous wit61, now arms must rule.

  GLOUCESTER    And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns.

  Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand63.

  The bruit64 thereof will bring you many friends.

  KING EDWARD IV    Then be it as you will, for ’tis my right,

  And Henry but usurps the diadem.

  MONTGOMERY    Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself,

  And now will I be Edward’s champion68.

  HASTINGS    Sound69 trumpet. Edward shall be here proclaimed.

  Come, fellow soldier, make thou proclamation.

  Flourish. Sound

  Reads

  SOLDIER71    ‘Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God,

  King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland, etc.’

  MONTGOMERY    And whosoe’er gainsays73 King Edward’s right,

  By this I challenge him to single fight.

  Throws down his gauntlet

  ALL    Long live Edward the Fourth!

  KING EDWARD IV    Thanks, brave76 Montgomery, and thanks unto you all.

  If fortune serve me, I’ll requite this kindness.

  Now, for this night, let’s harbour78 here in York,

  And when the morning sun shall raise his car79

  Above the border of this horizon,

  We’ll forward towards Warwick and his mates;

  For well I wot82 that Henry is no soldier.

  Ah, froward Clarence, how evil it beseems83 thee

  To flatter Henry and forsake thy brother!

  Yet, as we may, we’ll meet both thee and Warwick.

  Come on, brave soldiers, doubt not of the day86,

  And that once gotten, doubt not of large pay.

  Exeunt

  [Act 4 Scene 8]

  running scene 16

  Flourish. Enter the King, Warwick, Montague, Clarence, Oxford and Somerset

  WARWICK    What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia1,

  With hasty Germans and blunt2 Hollanders,

  Hath passed in safety through the narrow seas3,

  And with his troops doth march amain4 to London,

  And many giddy5 people flock to him.

  KING HENRY VI    Let’s levy men and beat him back again.

  CLARENCE    A little fire is quickly trodden out,

  Which, being suffered8, rivers cannot quench.

  WARWICK    In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends,

  Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war.

  Those will I muster up, and thou, son11 Clarence,

  Shalt stir up in Suffolk, Norfolk and in Kent,

  The knights and gentlemen to come with thee.

  Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham,

  Northampton and in Leicestershire, shalt find

  Men well inclined to hear what thou command’st.

  And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous17 well beloved,

  In Oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends.

  My sovereign, with the loving citizens,

  Like to his island girt in with20 the ocean,

  Or modest Dian21 circled with her nymphs,

  Shall rest22 in London till we come to him.

  Fair lords, take leave and stand not23 to reply.

  Farewell, my sovereign.

  KING HENRY VI    Farewell, my Hector25, and my Troy’s true hope.

  CLARENCE    In sign of truth26, I kiss your highness’ hand.

  KING HENRY VI    Well-minded27 Clarence, be thou fortunate.

  MONTAGUE    Comfort28, my lord, and so I take my leave.

  OXFORD    And thus29 I seal my truth, and bid adieu.

  KING HENRY VI    Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague,

  And all at once31, once more a happy farewell.

  WARWICK    Farewell, sweet lords, let’s meet at Coventry.

  Exeunt. [King Henry and Exeter remain]

  KING HENRY VI    Here at the palace will I rest awhile.

  Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship?

  Methinks the power that Edward hath in field

  Should not be able to encounter36 mine.

  EXETER    The doubt37 is that he will seduce the rest.

  KING HENRY VI    That’s not my fear. My meed38 hath got me fame:

  I have not stopped mine ears to their demands39,

  Nor posted off40 their suits with slow delays.

  My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds,

  My mildness hath allayed their swelling griefs,

  My mercy dried their water-flowing tears.

  I have not been desirous of their wealth,

  Nor much oppressed them with great subsidies45,

  Nor forward of46 revenge, though they much erred.

  Then why should they love Edward more than me?

  No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace48,

  And when the lion fawns upon the lamb,

  The lamb will never cease to follow him.

  Shout within, ‘A Lancaster! A Lancaster!’

  EXETER    Hark, hark, my lord, what shouts are these?

  Enter Edward and his Soldiers

  KING EDWARD IV    Seize on the shame-faced52 Henry. Bear him hence,

  And once again proclaim us King of England.—

  You are the fount54 that makes small brooks to flow:

  Now stops thy spring, my sea shall suck them dry,

  And swell so much the higher by their ebb56.—

  Hence with him to the Tower. Let him not speak.

  Exeunt [some] with King Henry

  And, lords, towards Coventry bend58 we our course

  Where peremptory59 Warwick now remains.

  The sun shines hot, and if we use delay,

  Cold biting winter mars our hoped-for hay61.

  GLOUCESTER    Away betimes62, before his forces join,

  And take the great-grown traitor unawares.

  Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry.

  Exeunt

  [Act 5 Scene 1]

  running scene 17

  Enter Warwick, the Mayor of Coventry, two Messengers and others upon the walls

  WARWICK    Where is the post that came from valiant Oxford?

  How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow?

  FIRST MESSENGER    By this at Dunsmore3, marching hitherward.

  [He may exit]

  WARWICK    How far off is our brother Montague?

  Where is the post that came from Montague?

  SECOND MESSENGER    By this at Daintry, with a puissant6 troop.

  [He may exit]

  Enter Somerville

  WARWICK    Say, Somerville, what says my loving son7?

  And, by thy guess, how nigh is Clarence now?

  SOMERVILLE    At Southam9 I did leave him with his forces

  Drum heard

  And do expect him here some two hours hence.

  WARWICK    Then Clarence is at hand, I hear his drum.

  SOMERVILLE    It is not his, my lord, here12 Southam lies.

  The drum your honour hears marcheth from Warwick.

  WARWICK    Who should that be? Belike, unlooked-for friends.

  SOMERVILLE    They are at hand, and you shall quickly know.

  [Exit into the city]

  March. Flourish. Enter Edward, Richard and Soldiers

  KING EDWARD IV    Go, trumpet, to the walls, and sound a parle16.

  GLOUCESTER    See how the surly17 Warwick mans the wall.

  WARWICK    O, unbid spite, is sportful18 Edward come?

  Where slept our scouts or how are they seduced,

  That we could hear no news of his repair20?

  KING EDWARD IV    Now, Warwick, wilt thou ope the city gates,

  Speak gentle words and humbly bend thy knee?

  Call Edward king and at his hands beg mercy,

  And he shall pardon thee these outrages.

  WARWICK    Nay, rather, wilt thou draw25 thy forces hence,

  Confess who set thee up and plucked thee down,

  Call Warwick patron27 and be penitent?

  And thou shalt still remain the Duke of York.

  GLOUCESTER    I thought, at least, he would have said the king,

  Or did he make the jest against his will?

  WARWICK    Is not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift?

  GLOUCESTER    Ay, by my faith, for a poor earl32 to give.

  I’ll do thee service for so good a gift.

  WARWICK    ’Twas I that gave the kingdom to thy brother.

  KING EDWARD IV    Why then ’tis mine, if but by Warwick’s gift.

  WARWICK    Thou art no Atlas for so great a weight36,

  And weakling, Warwick takes his gift again,

  And Henry is my king, Warwick his subject.

  KING EDWARD IV    But Warwick’s king is Edward’s prisoner.

  And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this:

  What is the body when the head is off?

  GLOUCESTER    Alas, that Warwick had no more forecast42,

  But whiles he thought to steal the single ten43,

  The king was slyly fingered44 from the deck.

  You left poor Henry at the bishop’s palace,

  And ten to one you’ll meet him in the Tower.

  EDWARD    ’Tis even so, yet you are Warwick still47.

  GLOUCESTER    Come, Warwick, take the time48, kneel down, kneel down.

  Nay, when? Strike now, or else the iron cools49.

  WARWICK    I had rather chop this hand off at a blow,

  And with the other fling it at thy face,

  Than bear so low a sail to strike to thee.

  KING EDWARD IV    Sail how thou canst, have wind and tide thy friend,

  This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black hair,

  Shall, whiles thy head is warm and new cut off,

  Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood,

  ‘Wind-changing57 Warwick now can change no more.’

  Enter Oxford with Drum and Colours

  WARWICK    O, cheerful colours, see where Oxford comes!

  He and his forces enter the city

  OXFORD    Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster!

  GLOUCESTER    The gates are open, let us enter too.

  KING EDWARD IV    So other foes may set upon our backs61.

  Stand we in good array62, for they no doubt

  Will issue out again and bid63 us battle;

  If not, the city being but of small defence64,

  Oxford appears on the walls

  We’ll quickly rouse65 the traitors in the same.

  WARWICK    O, welcome, Oxford, for we want66 thy help.

  Enter Montague with Drum and Colours

  He and his forces enter the city

  MONTAGUE    Montague, Montague, for Lancaster!

  GLOUCESTER    Thou and thy brother both shall buy68 this treason

  Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear.

  KING EDWARD IV    The harder matched70, the greater victory.

  My mind presageth happy71 gain and conquest.

  Enter Somerset with Drum and Colours

  He and his forces enter the city

  SOMERSET    Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster!

  GLOUCESTER    Two of thy name73, both Dukes of Somerset,

  Have sold their lives unto the house of York,

  And thou shalt be the third if this sword hold.

  Enter Clarence with Drum and Colours

  WARWICK    And lo, where George of Clarence sweeps along,