RICHARD.
And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns.
Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand;
The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.
KING EDWARD.
Then be it as you will; for ’tis my right,
And Henry but usurps the diadem.
MONTGOMERY.
Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself,
And now will I be Edward’s champion.
HASTINGS.
Sound, trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaimed.
Come, fellow soldier, make thou proclamation.
[Gives him a paper. Flourish.]
SOLDIER.
[Reads.] Edward the Fourth, by the Grace of God, King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland, etc.
MONTGOMERY.
And whoso’er gainsays King Edward’s right,
By this I challenge him to single fight.
[Throws down his gauntlet.]
ALL.
Long live Edward the Fourth!
KING EDWARD.
Thanks, brave Montgomery, and thanks unto you all.
If Fortune serve me, I’ll requite this kindness.
Now for this night let’s harbour here in York,
And when the morning sun shall 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 soldier.
Ah, froward Clarence, how evil it beseems thee
To flatter Henry and forsake thy brother!
Yet, as we may, we’ll meet both thee and Warwick.
Come on, brave soldiers; doubt not of the day,
And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay.