Act 4, Scene 7

KING EDWARD

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 passed and now repassed the seas,
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?

RICHARD

The gates made fast! Brother, I like not this;
For many men that stumble at the threshold
Are well foretold that danger lurks within.

KING EDWARD

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.

HASTINGS

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

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

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

Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom,
As being well content with that alone.

RICHARD

But when the fox hath once got in his nose,
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.

RICHARD

A wise, stout captain, and soon persuaded.

HASTINGS

The good old man would fain that all were well,
So ’twere not long of him; but, being entered,
I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade
Both him and all his brothers unto reason.

KING EDWARD

So, master Mayor, these gates must not be shut
But in the night or in the time of war.
What, fear not, man, but yield me up the keys;

KING EDWARD

For Edward will defend the town and thee
And all those friends that deign to follow me.

RICHARD

Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery,
Our trusty friend unless I be deceived.

KING EDWARD

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

Thanks, good Montgomery; but we now forget
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.

KING EDWARD

Nay, stay, Sir John, a while, 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 pretend no title?

RICHARD

Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points?

KING EDWARD

When we grow stronger, then we’ll make our claim.
Till then ’tis wisdom to conceal our meaning.

HASTINGS

Away with scrupulous wit! Now arms must rule.

RICHARD

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

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 champion.

HASTINGS

Sound, trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaimed.
Come, fellow soldier, make thou proclamation.

SOLDIER

Edward the Fourth, by the Grace of God, King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland, etc.

MONTGOMERY

And whoso’er gainsays King Edward’s right,
By this I challenge him to single fight.

ALL

Long live Edward the Fourth!

KING EDWARD

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
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.
Come on, brave soldiers; doubt not of the day,
And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay.