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And brought defired help from Burgundy.
What then remains we being thus arriv'd
From Ravenfpurg, before the gates of York,
But that we enter, as into our Dukedom?

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

K. Edw. Tufh! man, aboadments must not now affright us:

By fair or foul means we must enter in,
For hither will our friends repair to us.

Haft My Liege, I'll knock once more to fummon them.

Enter on the walls, the Mayor of York and his Brethren,

Mayor, My Lords, we were forewarned of your coming,

And fhut the gates for fafety of ourselves;

For now we owe allegiance unto Henry.

K. Edw. But, mafter Mayor, if Henry be your King, Yet Edward, at the leaft, is Duke of York,

Mayor. True, my good Lord, I know you for no lefs.

K. Edw. Why, and I challenge nothing but my Dukedom;

As being well content with that alone.

Glo. But when the fox has once got in his nofe, He'll foon find means to make the Body follow, [Afide. Haft. Why, mafter Mayor, why ftand you in a doubt? Open the gates. We are King Henry's friends. Mayor. Ay, fay you fo? the gates fhall then be open'd. [He defcends. Glo. A wife ftout captain, and perfuaded foon! Haft. The good old man would fain that all were

well,

8

The good old man would fain mayor is willing we should enter that all were well] The fo he may not be blamed.

So

So 'twere not 'long of him; but being entered,
I doubt not, I, but we shall foon perfuade
Both him and all his brothers unto reafon.

· Enter the Mayor, and two Aldermen.

K. Edw. So mafter Mayor, thefe 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 thofe friends that deign to follow me.

March. Enter Montgomery with Drum and Soldiers.

Glo. Brother this is Sir John Montgomery,

Our trufty friend, unlefs I be deceiv'd.

K. Edw. Welcome, Sir John; but why come you in arms?

Montg. To help King Edward in his time of ftorm, As every loyal fubject ought to do,

K. Edw. Thanks, good Montgom'ry; but we now forget

Our title to the crown, and only claim

Our Dukedom, till God please to fend the reft.

Montg. Then fare you well, for I will hence again; I came to serve a King, and not a Duke.

-Drummer, ftrike up, and let us march away.

[The Drum begins a March, K. Edw. Nay, ftay, Sir John, a while; and we'll debate,

By what fafe means the crown may be recover'd.
Montg. 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 fuccour you.
Why hall we fight if you pretend no title?

Glo.

Glo. Why brother, wherefore stand you on nice points?

K. Edw. When we grow ftronger, then we'll make our claim:

Till then, 'tis wisdom to conceal our meaning.

Haft. Away with fcrupulous wit, now arms must rule.

Glo. And fearless minds climb fooneft 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 ufurps the diadem.

Mont. Ay, now my Sov'reign fpeaketh like himfelf:

And now will I be Edward's champion.

Haft. Sound, trumpet, Edward fhall be here pro

claimed:

Come, fellow-foldier, make thou proclamation.

[Flourish. Sold. Edward the fourth, by the grace of God, King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland, &c. Mont. And whofoe'er gain-fays King Edward's

right,

By this I challenge him to fingle fight.

[Throws down his Gauntlet. All. Long live Edward the fourth!

K. Edw. Thanks, brave Montgomery; and thanks to all.

If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness.

Now, for this night, let's harbour here in York,
And when the morning fun fhall 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 foldier.
Ah, froward Clarence, evil it befeems thee
To flatter Henry, and forfake thy brother!

Yet as we may, we'll meet both thee and Warwick.

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

[blocks in formation]

[Exeunt.

Enter King Henry, Warwick, 'Montague, Clarence,

War.

Oxford, and Somerfet.

HAT counsel, Lords? Edward from
Belgia,

WHA

With hafty Germans, and blunt Hollanders,

Hath paffed in fafety through the narrow feas;
And with his troops doth march amain to London;
And many giddy people flock to him.

9

K. Henry. Let's levy men and beat him back again.
Clar. A little fire is quickly trodden out,

Which being fuffer'd, rivers cannot quench..

War. In Warwickshire I have true hearted friends, Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war,

Those will I mufter up; and thou, fon Clarence,
Shalt ftir, in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent,
The knights and gentlemen to come with thee.
Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham,
Northampton, and in Leicestershire, fhalt find
Men well inclin'd to hear what thou command'ft.
And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well belov'd,
In Oxfordshire fhalt mufter up thy friends,
My Sov'reign, with the loving citizens,
Like to his ifland girt with th' ocean,

9 Let's levy men and beat him

back again.] This line expreffes a spirit of war fo unfuitable to the character of Henry, that I would give the firft cold fpeech to the King, and the brifk

This line

answer to Warwick.
is not in the old quarto, and
when Henry faid nothing, the firft
fpeech might be as properly,
given to Warwick as to any
other.

Or

Or modeft Dian circled with her nymphs,
Shall reft in London, 'till we come to him:
Fair Lords, take leave, and stand not to reply.
-Farewel, my Sovereign.

K. Henry. Farewel, my Hector and my Troy's true hope.

Clar. In fign of truth, I kiss your highness' hand. K. Henry. Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate! Mont. Comfort, my Lord. And so I take my leave. Oxf. [Kiffing Henry's band.] And thus I feal my truth, and bid adieu.

K. Henry, Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague, And all at once, once more a happy farewel. War. Farewel, fweet Lords; let's meet at Coventry..

[Exeunt. K. Henry. Here at the palace will I reft a while. 'Coufin of Exeter, what thinks your Lordship: Methinks, the pow'r, that Edward hath in field, Should not be able to encounter mine.

Exe. The doubt is, that he will feduce the reft. K. Henry. That's not my fear, my meed hath got me fame :

I have not stopt mine ears to their demands,
Nor pofted off their fuits with flow delays,
My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds,
My mildness hath allay'd their fwelling griefs,
My mercy dried their water flowing tears.
I have not been defirous of their wealth,
Nor much oppreft them with great fubfidies,
Nor forward of revenge, though they much err'd.
Then why should they love Edward more than me;
No, Exeter, thefe graces challenge grace,
And when the lion fawns upon the lamb,

I

My MEED hath got me fame: Meed fignifies reward. We should read my

DEED, i, e. my manners, conduft in the administration..

WARBURTON,

The

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