3 KING HENRY VI 1.2

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3 KING HENRY VI 1.2

Sandal Castle.

[Enter RICHARD, EDWARD, and MONTAGUE]

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

EDWARD No, I can better play the orator.

MONTAGUE But I have reasons strong and forcible.

[Enter YORK]

YORK Why, how now, sons and brother! at a strife?

What is your quarrel? how began it first? 5

EDWARD No quarrel, but a slight contention.

YORK About what?

RICHARD About that which concerns your grace and us;

The crown of England, father, which is yours.

YORK Mine boy? not till King Henry be dead. 10

RICHARD Your right depends not on his life or death.

EDWARD 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. 15

EDWARD But for a kingdom any oath may be broken:

I would break a thousand oaths to reign one year.

RICHARD No; God forbid your grace should be forsworn.

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

RICHARD I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear me speak. 20

YORK Thou canst not, son; it is impossible.

RICHARD An oath is of no moment, being not took

Before a true and lawful magistrate,

That hath authority over him that swears:

Henry had none, but did usurp the place; 25

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 30

And all that poets feign of bliss and joy.

Why do we finger 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. 35

Brother, thou shalt to London presently,

And whet on Warwick to this enterprise.

Thou, Richard, shalt to the Duke of Norfolk,

And tell him privily of our intent.

You Edward, shall unto my Lord Cobham, 40

With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise:

In them I trust; for they are soldiers,

Witty, courteous, liberal, full of spirit.

While you are thus employ'd, what resteth more,

But that I seek occasion how to rise, 45

And yet the king not privy to my drift,

Nor any of the house of Lancaster?

[Enter a Messenger]

But, stay: what news? Why comest thou in such post?

Messenger The queen with all the northern earls and lords

Intend here to besiege you in your castle: 50

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?

Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me;

My brother Montague shall post to London: 55

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.

MONTAGUE Brother, I go; I'll win them, fear it not: 60

And thus most humbly I do take my leave.

[Exit]

[Enter JOHN MORTIMER and HUGH MORTIMER]

Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles,

You are come to Sandal in a happy hour;

The army of the queen mean to besiege us.

JOHN MORTIMER She shall not need; we'll meet her in the field. 65

YORK What, with five thousand men?

RICHARD Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need:

A woman's general; what should we fear?

[A march afar off]

EDWARD I hear their drums: let's set our men in order,

And issue forth and bid them battle straight. 70

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? 75

[Alarum. Exeunt]

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YORK		Why, how now, sons and brother! at a strife?
		What is your quarrel? how began it first?	5

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

EDWARD		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.

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

RICHARD	An oath is of no moment, being not took
	Before a true and lawful magistrate,
	That hath authority over him that swears:
	Henry had none, but did usurp the place;	25
	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	30
	And all that poets feign of bliss and joy.
	Why do we finger 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.	35
	Brother, thou shalt to London presently,
	And whet on Warwick to this enterprise.
	Thou, Richard, shalt to the Duke of Norfolk,
	And tell him privily of our intent.
	You Edward, shall unto my Lord Cobham,	40
	With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise:
	In them I trust; for they are soldiers,
	Witty, courteous, liberal, full of spirit.
	While you are thus employ'd, what resteth more,
	But that I seek occasion how to rise,	45
	And yet the king not privy to my drift,
	Nor any of the house of Lancaster?
	[Enter a Messenger]
	But, stay: what news? Why comest thou in such post?

Messenger	The queen with all the northern earls and lords
	Intend here to besiege you in your castle:	50
	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?
	Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me;
	My brother Montague shall post to London:	55
	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.

MONTAGUE	Brother, I go; I'll win them, fear it not:	60
	And thus most humbly I do take my leave.
	[Exit]
	[Enter JOHN MORTIMER and HUGH MORTIMER]
	Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles,
	You are come to Sandal in a happy hour;
	The army of the queen mean to besiege us.

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

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EDWARD		I hear their drums: let's set our men in order,
		And issue forth and bid them battle straight.	70

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?	75
	[Alarum. Exeunt]