Henry VI, Pt. 3
Act IV, Scene 8

London. A palace room.

Byam Shaw, 1901

0. Flourish. Enter the King Henry, Warwick, Montague, Clarence,
0. Oxford, and Exeter.

Earl of Warwick

1 - 5

1. What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia,
2. With hasty Germans and blunt Hollanders,
3. Hath pass’d in safety through the Narrow Seas,
4. And with his troops doth march amain to London,
5. And many giddy people flock to him.

King Henry the Sixth

6

6. Let’s levy men, and beat him back again.

Duke of Clarence

7 - 8

7. A little fire is quickly trodden out,
8. Which being suffer’d, rivers cannot quench.

Earl of Warwick

9 - 24

9. In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends,
10. Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war;
11. Those will I muster up; and thou, son Clarence,
12. Shalt stir up in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent,
13. The knights and gentlemen to come with thee.
14. Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham,
15. Northampton, and in Leicestershire, shalt find
16. Men well inclin’d to hear what thou command’st;
17. And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well belov’d,
18. In Oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends.
19. My sovereign, with the loving citizens,
20. Like to his island, girt in with the ocean,
21. Or modest Dian, circled with her nymphs,
22. Shall rest in London till we come to him.
23. Fair lords, take leave and stand not to reply.
24. Farewell, my sovereign.

King Henry the Sixth

25

25. Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy’s true hope.

Duke of Clarence

26

26. In sign of truth, I kiss your Highness’ hand.

King Henry the Sixth

27

27. Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate!

Marquess Montague

28

28. Comfort, my lord! And so I take my leave.

Earl of Oxford

29 - 30

29. And thus
0. Kissing Henry’s hand.
30.          I seal my truth, and bid adieu.

King Henry the Sixth

31 - 32

31. Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague,
32. And all at once, once more a happy farewell.

Earl of Warwick

33

33. Farewell, sweet lords, let’s meet at Coventry.

0. Exeunt all but King Henry and Exeter.

King Henry the Sixth

34 - 37

34. Here at the palace will I rest a while.
35. Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship?
36. Methinks the power that Edward hath in field
37. Should not be able to encounter mine.

Duke of Exeter

38

38. The doubt is that he will seduce the rest.

King Henry the Sixth

39 - 51

39. That’s not my fear, my meed hath got me fame:
40. I have not stopp’d mine ears to their demands,
41. Nor posted off their suits with slow delays;
42. My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds,
43. My mildness hath allay’d their swelling griefs,
44. My mercy dried their water-flowing tears;
45. I have not been desirous of their wealth,
46. Nor much oppress’d them with great subsidies,
47. Nor forward of revenge, though they much err’d.
48. Then why should they love Edward more than me?
49. No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace;
50. And when the lion fawns upon the lamb,
51. The lamb will never cease to follow him.

0. Shout within, “A Lancaster! A Lancaster!”

Duke of Exeter

52

52. Hark, hark, my lord, what shouts are these?

0. Enter King Edward and his Soldiers with Gloucester and
0. others.

King Edward

53 - 62

53. Seize on the shame-fac’d Henry, bear him hence,
54. And once again proclaim us King of England.
55. You are the fount that makes small brooks to flow;
56. Now stops thy spring, my sea shall suck them dry,
57. And swell so much the higher by their ebb.
58. Hence with him to the Tower, let him not speak.
0. Exit Exeter with King Henry guarded.
59. And, lords, towards Coventry bend we our course,
60. Where peremptory Warwick now remains.
61. The sun shines hot, and, if we use delay,
62. Cold biting winter mars our hop’d-for hay.

Duke of Gloucester

63 - 65

63. Away betimes, before his forces join,
64. And take the great-grown traitor unawares.
65. Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry.

0. Exeunt.