My liege, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond.

KING HENRY

Come hither, England’s hope.

King Henry lays his hand on Richmond’s head If secret powers

Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts,

This pretty lad will prove our country’s bliss.

His looks are full of peaceful majesty,

His head by nature framed to wear a crown,

His hand to wield a sceptre, and himself

Likely in time to bless a regal throne.

Make much of him, my lords, for this is he

Must help you more than you are hurt by me.

Enter a Post

WARWICK What news, my friend?

POST

That Edward is escaped from your brother

And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.

WARWICK

Unsavoury news—but how made he escape ?

POST

He was conveyed by Richard Duke of Gloucester

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.

WARWICK

My brother was too careless of his charge.

(To King Henry) But let us hence, my sovereign, to

provide

A salve for any sore that may betide.

Exeunt all but Somerset, Richmond, and Oxford

SOMERSET (to Oxford)

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 Richmond,

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,

Forthwith we’ll send him hence to Brittany,

Till storms be past of civil enmity.

OXFORD

Ay, for if Edward repossess the crown,

’Tis like that Richmond with the rest shall down.

SOMERSET

It shall be so—he shall to Brittany.

Come, therefore, let’s about it speedily. Exeunt

4.8 Flourish. Enter King Edward, Richard Duke of Gloucester, and Lord Hastings, ⌈With a troop of Hollanders⌉

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 waned state for Henry’s regal crown.

Well have we passed and now repassed 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 ?

⌈Hastings⌉ knocks at the gates of York

RICHARD OF 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

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.

HASTINGS

My liege, I’ll knock once more to summon them.

He knocks. Enter, on the walls, the Mayor and aldermen of York

MAYOR

My lords, we were forewarned of your coming,

And shut the gates for safety of oursetves—

For now we owe allegiance unto Henry.

KING EDWARD

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

Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom,

As being well content with that alone.

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (aside)

But when the fox hath once got in his nose,

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.

They descend

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

A wise stout captain, and soon persuaded.

HASTINGS

The good old man would fain that all were well,

So ’twere not long of him; but being entered,

I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade

Both him and all his brothers unto reason.

Enter below the Mayor and two aldermen

KING EDWARD

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,

King Edward takes some keys from the Mayor

For Edward will defend the town and thee,

And all those friends that deign to follow me.

March. Enter Sir John Montgomery with a drummer and soldiers

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery,

Our trusty friend, unless I be deceived.

KING EDWARD

Welcome, Sir John—but why come you in arms?

MONTGOMERY

To help King Edward in his time of storm,

As every loyal subject ought to do.

KING EDWARD

Thanks, good Montgomery, but we now forget

Our title to the crown, and only claim

Our dukedom till God please to send the rest.

MONTGOMERY

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 drummer begins to sound a march

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

To keep them back that come to succour you.

Why shall we fight, if you pretend no title?