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 sum

mon 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. But, when the fox hath once got in his nose, He'll soon find means to make the body follow. [Aside. 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 [Exeunt from above. Glo. A wise stout captain, and persuaded soon! Hast. The good old man would fain that all were

open'd.

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, below.

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.

Drum.-Enter MONTGOMERY, and Forces, marching.
Glo. Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery,

Our trusty friend, unless I be deceived.

• The mayor is willing we should enter, so he

may not be blamed.

You IV.

K

1

K. Edw. Welcome, Sir John! But why come you

in arms?

Mont: To help king Edward in his 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, a while; 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 should 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 meaning. 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,
And Henry but usurps the diadem.

Mont. Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like him

self; 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. [Reads.] Edward the fourth, by the grace of God, king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, &c.

Mont. And whosoe'er gainsays king Edward's

right,

By this I challenge him to single fight.

[Throws down his Gauntlet.

* Noise, report.

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 War-

wick.

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

[Exeunt.

SCENE VIII.-London. A Room in the Palace.

Enter King HENRY, WARWICK, CLARENCE, MONTAGUE, EXETER, and OXFORD.

War. What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia, With hasty Germans, and blunt Hollanders, Hath pass'd in safety through the narrow seas, And with his troops doth march amain to London; And many giddy people flock to him.

Oxf. Let's levy men, and beat him back again. Clar. A little fire is quickly trodden out; Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench. War. In Warwickshire, I have true-hearted

friends,

Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war;
Those will I muster up:-And thou, son Clarence,
Shalt stir, in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent,
The knights, and gentlemen to come with thee :-
Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham,
Northampton, and in Leicestershire, shall find
Men well inclined to hear what thou command'st:-
And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well beloved,.
In Oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends.-
My sovereign, with the loving citizens,-
Like to his island, girt in with the ocean,
Or modest Dian, circled with her nymphs,
Shall rest in London, till we come to him.-
Fair lords, take leave, and stand not to reply.
Farewell, my sovereign.

• Know.

K. Hen. Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's

true hope. Clar. In sign of truth, I kiss your highness' hand. K. Hen. Well-minded Clarence, be thou for

tunate !

Mont. Comfort, my lord; and so I take my leave. Oxf. And thus, [Kissing Henry's Hand. I seal

my truth, and bid adieu.

K. Hen. Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague, And all at once, once more a happy farewell. War. Farewell, sweet lords; let's meet at Coventry. [Exeunt-War. Clar. Oxf. and Montague.

K. Hen. 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 encounter mine.

Exe. The doubt is, that he will seduce the rest. K. Hen. That's not my fear, my meed hath got

fame.

I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands,
Nor posted off their suits with slow delays;
My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds,
My mildness hath allay'd their swelling griefs,
My mercy dried their water-flowing tears:,
I have not been desirous of their wealth,
Nor much oppress'd them with great subsidies,
Nor forward of revenge, though they much err'd;
Then, why should they love Edward more than me?
No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace :
And, when the lion fawns upon the lamb,
The lamb will never cease to follow him.

[Shout within. -A Lancaster! A Lancaster! Exe. Hark, hark, my lord! What shouts are these? Enter KING EDWARD, GLOSTER, and Soldiers. K. Edw. Seize on the shame-faced Henry, bear him hence,

And once again proclaim us king of England.You are the fount, that makes small brooks to flow; Now stops thy spring; my sea shall suck them

dry,

And swell so much the higher by their ebb.-
Hence with him to the Tower; let him not speak.
[Exeunt some with King Henry.
And, lords, towards Coventry bend we our course,
Where peremptory Warwick now remains:

The sun shines hot, and, if we use delay,
Cold biting winter mars our hoped-for hay*.
Glo. Away betimes, before his forces join,
And take the great-grown traitor unawares:
Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry.

ACT V.

SCENE I.-Coventry.

[Exeunt.

Enter, upon the Walls, WARWICK, the MAYOR of Coventry, two MESSENGERS, and others.

War. Where is the post, that came from valiant

Oxford?

How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow?
1 Mess. By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward.
War. How far off is our brother Montague? -
Where is the post that came from Montague?

2 Mess. By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop. Enter Sir JOHN SOMERVILLE.

War. Say, Somerville, what says my loving son? And, by the guess, how nigh is Clarence now? Som. At Southam I did leave him with his forces, And do expect him here some two hours hence. [Drum heard. War. Then Clarence is at hand, I hear his drum. Som. It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies; The drum your honour hears, marcheth from

Warwick.

War. Who should that be? Belike unlook'd-for friends.

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

Drums.-Enter King EDWARD, GLOSTER, and Forces, marching.

K. Edw. Go, trumpet, to the walls, and sound a

parle.

Glo. See, how the surly Warwick mans the wall. War. O, unbid spite! Is sportful Edward come? Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduced, That we could hear no news of his repair ?

K. Edw, Now, Warwick, wilt thou ope the city Speak gentle words, and humbly bend thy knee?

gates,

* The allusion is to the proverb, 'Make hay while the sun shines.'