Rich.
Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave.

Edw.
No, I can better play the orator.

Mont.
But I have reasons strong and forcible. Enter the Duke of York.

York.
Why, how now, sons and brother ^note! at a strife?
What is your quarrel? how began it first?

Edw.
No quarrel, but a slight ^note contention.

York.
About what?

Rich.
About that which concerns your grace and us;
The crown of England, father, which is yours.

York.
Mine, boy? not till ^note King Henry be dead.

Rich.
Your right depends not on his life or death.

Edw.
Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it now:
By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe,
It will outrun you, father, in the end.

York.
I took an oath that he should quietly reign.

Edw.
But for a kingdom any oath may be broken:
I would ^note break a thousand oaths to reign one year.

Rich.
No; God forbid your grace should be forsworn.

York.
I shall be, if I claim by open war.

Rich.
I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear me speak.

York.
Thou canst not, son; it is impossible.

Rich.
An oath is of no moment, being not took
Before a true and lawful magistrate,
That hath authority over ^note him that swears:
Henry had none, but did usurp the place;
Then, seeing 'twas he that made you to depose,
Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous.
Therefore, to arms! And, father, do but think
How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown;
Within whose circuit is Elysium
And all that poets feign of bliss and joy.
Why do we linger thus? I cannot rest
Until the white rose that I wear be dyed
Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry's heart.

York.
Richard, enough; I will be king, or die.
Brother ^note, thou shalt to London presently,
And whet on Warwick to this enterprise.
Thou, Richard, shalt ^note to the Duke of Norfolk ^note,
And tell him privily of our intent.
You, Edward, shall unto my Lord Cobham ^note,
With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise:
In them I trust; for they are soldiers,
Witty ^note, courteous, liberal, full of spirit.
While you are thus employ'd, what resteth more,
But that I seek occasion how to rise,
And yet ^note the king not privy to my drift,
Nor any of the house of Lancaster? Enter a Messenger. ^note
But, stay: what news? Why comest thou in such post?

Gabr.
The queen with all the northern earls and lords ^note

Intend ^note here to besiege you in your castle:
She is hard by with twenty thousand men;
And therefore fortify your hold, my lord.

York.
Ay, with my sword. What! think'st thou that we fear them ^note?
Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me;
My brother ^note Montague shall post to London:
Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest,
Whom we have left protectors of the king,
With powerful policy strengthen themselves,
And trust not simple Henry nor his oaths.

Mont.
Brother ^note, I go; I'll win them, fear it not:
And thus most humbly I do take my leave. [Exit. ^note Enter ^note Sir John Mortimer and Sir Hugh Mortimer.

York.
Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles, ^note
You are come to Sandal in a happy hour;
The army of the queen mean ^note to besiege us.

Sir John.
She shall not need; we'll meet her in the field.

York.
What, with five thousand men?

Rich.
Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need:
A woman's general; what should we fear? [A march afar off.

Edw.
I hear their drums: let's set our men in order ^note,
And issue forth and bid them battle straight.

York.
Five men to twenty! though the odds be great,
I doubt not, uncle, of our victory.
Many a battle have I won in France,
When as the enemy hath been ten to one:
Why should I not now have the like success? [Alarum. Exeunt. ^note

^note

Previous section

Next section