take them all, I'll answer the coinage. Bid my lieutenant Peto meet me at the town's end. Bard. I will, captain: farewell. [Exit. Fal. If I be not ashamed of my soldiers, I am a souced gurnet. I have misused the king's press damnably. I have got, in exchange of a hundred and fifty soldiers, three hundred and odd pounds. I press me none but good householders, yeomen's sons: inquire me out contracted bachelors, such as had been ask'd twice on the bans; such a commodity of warm slaves, as had as lief hear the devil as a drum; such as fear the report of a caliver* worse than a struck fowl, or a hurt wild duck. I press'd me none but such toasts and butter, with hearts in their bellies no bigger than pin's heads, and they have bought out their services; and now my whole charge consists of ancients, corporals, lieutenants, gentlemen of companies, slaves as ragged as Lazarus in the painted cloth, where the glutton's dogs licked his sores: and such as, indeed, were never soldiers; but discarded unjust serving-men, younger sons to younger brothers, revolted tapsters, and ostlers trade-fallen; the cankers of a calm world, and a long peace; ten times more dishonourably ragged than an old-faced ancient :+ and such have I, to fill up the rooms of them that have bought out their services, that you would think, that I had a hundred and fifty tatter'd prodigals, lately come from swine-keeping, from eating draff and husks. A mad fellow met me on the way, and told me, I had unloaded all the gibbets, and pressed the dead bodies. No eye hath seen such scare-crows. I'll not march through Coventry with them, that's flat:-Nay, and the villains march wide betwixt the legs, as if they had gyves on; for, indeed, I had the most of them out of prison. There's but a shirt and a half in all my company: and the half shirt is two napkins, tacked together, and thrown over the shoulders like a herald's coat without sleeves; and the shirt, to say the truth, stolen from my host at Saint Alban's, or the red-nose inn-keeper of Daintry. But that's all one; they'll find linen enough on every hedge. Enter PRINCE HENRY and WESTMORELAND. P. Hen. How now, blown Jack? how now, quilt? Fal. What, Hal? How now, mad wag? what a devil_dost thou in Warwickshire ?-My good lord of Westmoreland, I cry you mercy; I thought your honour had already been at Shrewsbury. West. 'Faith, Sir John, 'tis more than time that I were there, and you too; but my powers are there already: The king, I can tell you, looks for us all; we must away all night. Fal. Tut, never fear me; I am as vigilant as a cat to steal cream. P. Hen. I think, to steal cream indeed; for thy theft hath already made thee butter. But tell me, Jack; Whose fellows are these that come after ? Fal. Mine, Hal, mine. P. Hen. I did never see such pitiful rascals. * A gun. + New-patched standard. Fal. Tut, tut; good enough to toss;* food for powder, food for powder; they'll fill a pit, as well as better: tush, man, mortal men, mortal men. West. Ay, but, Sir John, methinks they are exceeding poor and bare; too beggarly. Fal. 'Faith, for their poverty,-I know not where they had that and for their bareness, I am sure, they never learned that of me. P. Hen. No, I'll be sworn; unless you call three fingers on the ribs, bare. But, sirrah, make haste; Percy is already in the field. Fal. What! is the king encamped? West. He is, Sir John; I fear, we shall stay too long. To the latter end of a fray, and the beginning of a feast, [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The Rebel Camp near Shrewsbury. Enter HOTSPUR, WORCESTER, DOUGLAS, and VERNON. Hot. We'll fight with him to-night. Wor. It may not be. Doug. You give him then advantage. Ver. Not a whit. Hot. Why say you so? looks he not for supply? Hot. His is certain, ours is doubtful. Wor. Good cousin, be advised; stir not to-night. Doug. You do not counsel well; You speak it out of fear, and cold heart. Ver. Do me no slander, Douglas: by my life I hold as little counsel with weak fear, Doug. Yea, or to-night. Ver. Content. Hot. To-night, say I. Ver. Come, come, it may not be. I wonder much, being men of such great leading,† Drag back our expedition: Certain horse Of my cousin Vernon's are not yet come up: * I. e. on a pike. + Generalship. Hot. So are the horses of the enemy Wor. The number of the king exceedeth ours: [The Trumpet sounds a parley. Enter SIR WALTER BLUNT. Blunt. I come with gracious offers from the king, If you vouchsafe me hearing, and respect. Hot. Welcome, Sir Walter Blunt; And 'would to God, You were of our determination! Some of us love you well: and even those some Envy your great deserving, and good name; Because you are not of our quality,* But stand against us like an enemy. Blunt. And God defend, but still I should stand so, So long as, out of limit and true rule, You stand against anointed majesty! But, to my charge.-The king hath sent to know Have any way your good deserts forgot,- He bids you name your griefs, and, with all speed, And pardon absolute yourself, and these, Herein misled by your suggestion. Hot. The king is kind; and, well we know, the king Did give him that same royalty he wears: Laid gifts before him, proffer'd him their oaths, * Fellowship. The delivery of his land. + Grievances. High and low. Gave him their heirs; as pages follow'd him, In short time after he deposed the king; And, in the neck of that, task'd* the whole state: In rage dismiss'd my father from the court; Broke oath on oath, committed wrong on wrong: This head of safety; and, withal, to pry Into his title, the which we find Too indirect for long continuance. Blunt. Shall I return this answer to the king? Hot. Not so, Sir Walter; we'll withdraw awhile. Go to the king; and let there be impawn'd Some surety for a safe return again, And in the morning early shall mine uncle Bring him our purposes: and so farewell. Blunt. I would, you would accept of grace and love. Blunt. 'Pray heaven you do! [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-York. A Room in the Archbishop's House. Enter the ARCHBISHOP of YORK, and a GENTLEMAN. Arch. Hie, good Sir Michael, bear this sealed brief,‡ With winged haste, to the lord mareschal; This to my cousin Scroop; and all the rest * Taxed. † I.e. this army. + Letter. To whom they are directed: if you knew How much they do import, you would make haste. Gent. My good lord, I guess their tenor, Arch. Like enough you do. To-morrow, good Sir Michael, is a day, The king, with mighty and quick-raised power, And comes not in, o'er-ruled by prophecies), I fear, the power of Percy is too weak To wage an instant trial with the king. Gent. Why, good my lord, you need not fear; there's Douglas, And Mortimer. Arch. No, Mortimer 's not there. Gent. But there is Mordake, Vernon, lord Harry Percy, And there's my lord of Worcester; and a head Of gallant warriors, noble gentlemen. Arch. And so there is: but yet the king hath drawn The special head of all the land together; The prince of Wales, lord John of Lancaster, The noble Westmoreland, and warlike Blunt; Of estimation and command in arms. Gent. Doubt not, my lord, they shall be well opposed And, to prevent the worst, Sir Michael, speed: [Exeunt severally. * Whose contingent was the largest. 2 G VOL. II. |