Speeches (Lines) for Earl Oxford in "History of Henry VI, Part III"

Warwick. Because thy father Henry did usurp;
And thou no more are prince than she is queen.

Earl Oxford. Then Warwick disannuls great John of Gaunt,
Which did subdue the greatest part of Spain;
And, after John of Gaunt, Henry the Fourth,
Whose wisdom was a mirror to the wisest;
And, after that wise prince, Henry the Fifth,
Who by his prowess conquered all France:
From these our Henry lineally descends.

Warwick. Oxford, how haps it, in this smooth discourse,
You told not how Henry the Sixth hath lost
All that which Henry Fifth had gotten?
Methinks these peers of France should smile at that.
But for the rest, you tell a pedigree
Of threescore and two years; a silly time
To make prescription for a kingdom's worth.

Earl Oxford. Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against thy liege,
Whom thou obeyed'st thirty and six years,
And not bewray thy treason with a blush?

Warwick. Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right,
Now buckler falsehood with a pedigree?
For shame! leave Henry, and call Edward king.

Earl Oxford. Call him my king by whose injurious doom
My elder brother, the Lord Aubrey Vere,
Was done to death? and more than so, my father,
Even in the downfall of his mellow'd years,
When nature brought him to the door of death?
No, Warwick, no; while life upholds this arm,
This arm upholds the house of Lancaster.

Post. [To WARWICK] My lord ambassador, these letters are for you,
Sent from your brother, Marquess Montague:
[To KING LEWIS XI]
These from our king unto your majesty:
[To QUEEN MARGARET]
And, madam, these for you; from whom I know not.

Earl Oxford. I like it well that our fair queen and mistress
Smiles at her news, while Warwick frowns at his.

Edward - Earl of March, later King Edward IV. What fates impose, that men must needs abide;
It boots not to resist both wind and tide.

Earl Oxford. What now remains, my lords, for us to do
But march to London with our soldiers?

Duke/Earl of Somerset. 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.

Earl Oxford. Ay, for if Edward repossess the crown,
'Tis like that Richmond with the rest shall down.

Marquess of Montague. Comfort, my lord; and so I take my leave.

Earl Oxford. And thus I seal my truth, and bid adieu.

Warwick. O cheerful colours! see where Oxford comes!

Earl Oxford. Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster!

Warwick. Sweet rest his soul! Fly, lords, and save yourselves;
For Warwick bids you all farewell to meet in heaven.

Earl Oxford. Away, away, to meet the queen's great power!

Prince Edward. Methinks a woman of this valiant spirit
Should, if a coward heard her speak these words,
Infuse his breast with magnanimity
And make him, naked, foil a man at arms.
I speak not this as doubting any here
For did I but suspect a fearful man
He should have leave to go away betimes,
Lest in our need he might infect another
And make him of like spirit to himself.
If any such be here--as God forbid!--
Let him depart before we need his help.

Earl Oxford. Women and children of so high a courage,
And warriors faint! why, 'twere perpetual shame.
O brave young prince! thy famous grandfather
Doth live again in thee: long mayst thou live
To bear his image and renew his glories!

Messenger. Prepare you, lords, for Edward is at hand.
Ready to fight; therefore be resolute.

Earl Oxford. I thought no less: it is his policy
To haste thus fast, to find us unprovided.

Queen Margaret. This cheers my heart, to see your forwardness.

Earl Oxford. Here pitch our battle; hence we will not budge.
[Flourish and march. Enter KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER,]
CLARENCE, and soldiers]

Edward - Earl of March, later King Edward IV. Now here a period of tumultuous broils.
Away with Oxford to Hames Castle straight:
For Somerset, off with his guilty head.
Go, bear them hence; I will not hear them speak.

Earl Oxford. For my part, I'll not trouble thee with words.