| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | May 3 | | Battle of St. Albans | | By William Shakespeare (1564–1616) |
| | | | From Henry VI. Part II, Act V. Scene 3. |
| The first battle of St. Albans, fought on May 3, 1455, was the first in the War of the Roses, and resulted in a victory for the Yorkists. |
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Scene, Fields near St. Alban’s.
Alarum. Retreat. Enter YORK, RICHARD, WARWICK, and Soldiers, with drum and colours.
York. Of Salisbury, who can report of him, | |
| That winter lion, who in rage forgets | |
| Aged contusions and all brush of time, | |
| And, like a gallant in the brow of youth, | |
| Repairs him with occasion? This happy day | 5 |
| Is not itself, nor have we won one foot, | |
| If Salisbury be lost. | |
| Rich. My noble father, | |
| Three times to-day I holp him to his horse, | |
| Three times bestrid him; thrice I led him off, | 10 |
| Persuaded him from any further act: | |
| But still, where danger was, still there I met him; | |
| And like rich hangings in a homely house, | |
| So was his will in his old feeble body. | |
| But, noble as he is, look where he comes. | 15 |
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Enter SALISBURY.
Sal. Now, by my sword, well hast thou fought to-day; | |
| By the mass, so did we all. I thank you, Richard: | |
| God knows how long it is I have to live; | |
| And it hath pleased him that three times to-day | |
| You have defended me from imminent death. | 20 |
| Well, lords, we have not got that which we have: | |
| ’Tis not enough our foes are this time fled, | |
| Being opposites of such repairing nature. | |
| York. I know our safety is to follow them; | |
| For, as I hear, the king is fled to London, | 25 |
| To call a present court of parliament. | |
| Let us pursue him ere the writs go forth. | |
| What says Lord Warwick? shall we after them? | |
| War. After them! nay, before them, if we can. | |
| Now, by my faith, lords, ’twas a glorious day: | 30 |
| Saint Alban’s battle won by famous York | |
| Shall be eternized in all age to come. | |
| Sound drums and trumpets, and to London all: | |
| And more such days as these to us befall! [Exeunt. | | | |
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