William Shakespeare's Third Part of King Henry the Sixth in the complete original text.
William Shakespeare's plays, sonnets and poems at AbsoluteShakespeare.com
Home Plays Sonnets Poems Quotes Summaries Essays Glossary Links Help

HOME > Plays > Third Part of King Henry the Sixth > Act IV. Scene VII.

Third Part of King Henry the Sixth

Study Guides
Hamlet
Julius Caesar
King Henry IV
King Lear
Macbeth
Merchant of Venice
Othello
Romeo and Juliet
The Tempest
Twelfth Night

Trivia
Authorship
Bard Facts
Bibliography
Biography
FAQ
Films
Globe Theatre
Pictures
Quiz
Timeline

Act IV. Scene VII.

Scene VII.—Before York.

Enter KING EDWARD, GLOUCESTER,
HASTINGS, and Forces.

K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, Lord Hast-
ings, 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,
And brought desired help from Burgundy:
What then remains, we being thus arriv'd
From Ravenspurgh haven before the gates of
York,
But that we enter, as into our dukedom?
Glo. The gates made fast! Brother, I like not
this;
For many men that stumble at the threshold
Are well foretold that danger lurks within.
K. Edw. 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.
Hast. My liege, I'll knock once more to
summon them.

Enter on the Walls, the Mayor of York and
his Brethren.
May. My lords, we were forewarned of your
coming,
And shut the gates for safety of ourselves;
For now we owe allegiance unto Henry.
K. Edw. But, Master Mayor, if Henry be
your king,
Yet Edward, at the least, is Duke of York.
May. True, my good lord, I know you for
no less.
K. Edw. Why, and I challenge nothing but
my dukedom,
As being well content with that alone.
Glo. [Aside.] But when the fox hath once got
in his nose,
He'll soon find means to make the body follow.
Hast. Why, Master Mayor, why stand you in
a doubt?
Open the gates; we are King Henry's friends.
May. Ay, say you so? the gates shall then be
open'd. [Exit, with Aldermen, above.
Glo. A wise stout captain, and soon persuaded.
Hast. 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.

Re-enter the Mayor and two Aldermen.
K. Edw. 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;
[Takes his keys.
For Edward will defend the town and thee,
And all those friends that deign to follow me.

Enter MONTGOMERY and Forces.
Glo. Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery,
Our trusty friend, unless I be deceiv'd,
K. Edw. Welcome, Sir John! but why come
you in arms?
Mont. To help King Edward in this time of
storm,
As every loyal subject ought to do.
K. Edw. Thanks, good Montgomery; but we
now forget
Our title to the crown, and only claim
Our dukedom till God please to send the rest.
Mont. 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.
[A march begun.
K. Edw. Nay, stay, Sir John, awhile; and
we'll debate
By what safe means the crown may be recover'd.
Mont. 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?
Glo. Why, brother, wherefore stand you on
nice points?
K. Edw. When we grow stronger then we'll
make our claim;
Till then, 'tis wisdom to conceal our mean-
ing.
Hast. Away with scrupulous wit! now arms
must rule.
Glo. And fearless minds climb soonest unto
crowns.
Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand;
The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.
K. Edw. Then be it as you will; 'for 'tis my
right,
Ind Henry but usurps the diadem.
Mont. Ay, now my sov'reign speaketh like
himself;
And now will I be Edward's champion.
Hast. Sound, trumpet! Edward shall be here
proclaim'd;
Come, fellow soldier, make thou proclamation.
[Gives him a paper. Flourish.
Sold. Edward the Fourth, by the grace of
God, King of England and France, and Lord
if Ireland, &c.
Mont. 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!
K. Edw. 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.
[Exeunt.
< PREVIOUS
Copyright © 2000-2005 AbsoluteShakespeare.com. All rights reserved.  Contact Us  Privacy  Awards