Flourish. Enter King Edward, Richard, Hastings,
and Soldiers, all wearing the white rose. 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 wanèd state for Henry’s regal crown.
Well have we passed, and now re-passed, the seas, 5
And brought desirèd 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? Hastings knocks at the gate. RICHARD
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
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. He knocks. | Edward, Richard, Hastings, and their men arrive at the city of York.
They've had some help from Burgundy and are ready to enter the city.
That should be easy enough, right? |
Enter on the walls the Mayor of York and his brethren,
the Aldermen. MAYOR
My lords, we were forewarnèd 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, 20
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, 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 opened.
He descends with the Aldermen. | Wrong. The Mayor of York won't let them in; he says that Henry is the king and that they're shutting out Edward on purpose. Wait a minute, says Edward. Sure, Henry's the king, but Edward is at least the Duke of York. To sweeten the deal, Hastings claims they are Henry's friends. The Mayor agrees to open the gates and let them in. |
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 55
To keep them back that come to succor 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. 60 HASTINGS
Away with scrupulous wit! Now arms must rule. | Edward says he just wants to come up with a plan. They can't go and fight Henry now; they need rest. Hastings disagrees; he wants to go now and hit Henry hard. |
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, 65
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. 70 Flourish. Sound. SOLDIER reads Edward the Fourth, by the Grace of
God, King of England and France, and Lord of
Ireland, &c. MONTGOMERY
And whosoe’er gainsays King Edward’s right,
By this I challenge him to single fight. 75 Throws down his gauntlet. 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 harbor here in York,
And when the morning sun shall raise his car 80
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! 85
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. They exit. | Even though Edward is uncertain, he agrees to this. He will go and claim his right to the throne. Again. |