Enter a Messenger.

* War. What news, my friend?

* Mess. That Edward is escaped from your brother,

* And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.

* War. Unsavoury news: But how made he escape? * Mess. He was convey'd by Richard duke of Glos

ter,

* And the lord Hastings, who attended him * In secret ambush on the forest side,

* And from the bishop's huntsmen rescued him;

* For hunting was his daily exercise.

*War. My brother was too careless of his charge.

* But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide * A salve for any sore that may betide.

[Exeunt King HENRY, WAR. CLAR. Lieut. and Attendants.

*Som. My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward's:

*For, doubtless, Burgundy will yield him help; * And we shall have more wars, before't be long. * As Henry's late presaging prophecy

* Did glad my heart, with hope of this young Rich

mond;

So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts * What may befall him, to his harm, and ours: Therefore, lord Oxford, to prevent the worst,

i. e. Waited for him.

*Forthwith we'll send him hence to Britany, Till storms be past of civil enmity.

* Oxf. Ay; for, if Edward repossess the crown, "Tis like, that Richmond with the rest shall down. *Som. It shall be so; he shall to Britany.

* Come therefore, let's about it speedily.

SCENE VII.

Before York.

[Exeunt.

Enter King EDWARD, GLOSTER, HASTINGS, and Forces.

'K. Edw. 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.

'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 Ravenspurg haven before the gates of York, 'But that we enter, as into our dukedom?

6

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 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.

6

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.

open'd.

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 well,

* So 'twere not 'long of him:7 but, being enter'd, * I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade

* Both him, and all his brothers, unto reason.

7 The mayor is willing we should enter, so he may not be blamed,

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 deceiv'd.

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, 'Drummer, strike up,

and not a duke,—

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 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. [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.