Arch.
Hie, good sir Michael; bear this sealed brief^{3 note},
With winged haste to the lord marshal^{4 note};
This to my cousin Scroop; and all the rest
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^{5 note}



.
To-morrow, good sir Michael, is a day,
Wherein the fortune of ten thousand men
Must bide the touch: For, sir, at Shrewsbury,
As I am truly given to understand,
The king, with mighty and quick-raised power,
Meets with lord Harry: and, I fear, sir Michael,

What with the sickness of Northumberland,
(Whose power was in the first proportion^{6 note},)
And what with Owen Glendower's absence, thence,
(Who with them was a rated sinew too^{7 note},
And comes not in, o'er-rul'd by prophecies,)
I fear, the power of Percy is too weak
To wage an instant trial with the king.

Gent.
Why, my good lord, you need not fear; there's Douglas,
And lord Mortimer^{8 note}

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;
And many more cor-rivals, and dear men
Of estimation and command in arms.

Gent.
Doubt not, my lord, they shall be well oppos'd.

Arch.
I hope no less, yet needful 'tis to fear;
And, to prevent the worst, sir Michael, speed:
For, if lord Percy thrive not, ere the king
Dismiss his power, he means to visit us,—
For he hath heard of our confederacy,—

And 'tis but wisdom to make strong against him;
Therefore, make haste: I must go write again
To other friends; and so farewell, sir Michael. [Exeunt severally. 9 ^note

Previous section