| ACT IV SCENE VII | Before York. | |
| | Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER,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 interchange | |
| | My waned state for Henry's regal crown. | 5 |
| | Well have we pass'd and now repass'd 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? | 10 |
| GLOUCESTER | 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 IV | Tush, man, abodements must not now affright us: | |
| | By fair or foul means we must enter in, | 15 |
| | For hither will our friends repair to us. | |
| HASTINGS | My liege, I'll knock once more to summon them. | |
| | Enter, 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. | 20 |
| 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 challenge nothing but my dukedom, | |
| | As being well content with that alone. | 25 |
| GLOUCESTER | Aside | |
| | 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 open'd. | |
| | They descend | |
| GLOUCESTER | A wise stout captain, and soon persuaded! | 30 |
| HASTINGS | 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. | |
| | Enter the Mayor and two Aldermen, below | |
| KING EDWARD IV | So, master mayor: these gates must not be shut | 35 |
| | 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. | |
| | March. Enter MONTGOMERY, with drum and soldiers | |
| GLOUCESTER | Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery, | 40 |
| | Our trusty friend, unless I be deceived. | |
| KING EDWARD IV | Welcome, Sir John! But why come you in arms? | |
| MONTAGUE | 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 forget | 45 |
| | Our title to the crown and only claim | |
| | Our dukedom till God please to send the rest. | |
| MONTAGUE | 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. | 50 |
| | 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 recover'd. | |
| MONTAGUE | 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? | |
| GLOUCESTER | Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points? | |
| KING EDWARD IV | 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. | |
| GLOUCESTER | 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 IV | Then be it as you will; for 'tis my right, | 65 |
| | And Henry but usurps the diadem. | |
| MONTAGUE | Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself; | |
| | And now will I be Edward's champion. | |
| HASTINGS | Sound trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim'd: | |
| | Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation. | 70 |
| | Flourish | |
| Soldier | Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God, king of | |
| | England and France, and lord of Ireland, &c. | |
| MONTAGUE | 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! | 75 |
| KING EDWARD IV | 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, | 80 |
| | 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. | 85 |
| | Come on, brave soldiers: doubt not of the day, | |
| | And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay. | |
| | Exeunt | |
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