P. John.
You are well encounter'd here, my cousin Mowbray:—
Good day to you, gentle lord archbishop;
And so to you, lord Hastings,—and to all.—
My lord of York, it better show'd with you,
When that your flock, assembled by the bell,
Encircled you, to hear with reverence
Your exposition on the holy text;
Than now to see you here an iron man^{2 note},

Cheering a rout of rebels with your drum,
Turning the word to sword^{3 note}

, and life to death.
That man, that sits within a monarch's heart,
And ripens in the sunshine of his favour,
Would he abuse the countenance of the king,
Alack, what mischiefs might he set abroach,
In shadow of such greatness! With you, lord bishop,
It is even so:—Who hath not heard it spoken,
How deep you were within the books of God?
To us, the speaker in his parliament;
To us, the imagin'd voice of God himself^{4 note}

In deeds dishonourable? You have taken up^{7 note},
Under the counterfeited zeal of God,
The subjects of his substitute, my father;
And, both against the peace of heaven and him,
Have here up-swarm'd them.

Arch.
Good my lord of Lancaster,
I am not here against your father's peace:
But, as I told my lord of Westmoreland,
The time misorder'd doth, in common sense^{8 note}

Mowb.
If not we ready are to try our fortunes
To the last man.

Hast.
And though we here fall down,
We have supplies to second our attempt;
If they miscarry, theirs shall second them:
And so success of mischief^{1 note} shall be born;

And heir from heir shall hold this quarrel up,
Whiles England shall have generation.

P. John.
You are too shallow, Hastings, much too shallow,
To sound the bottom of the after-times.

West.
Pleaseth your grace, to answer them directly,
How far-forth you do like their articles?

P. John.
I like them all, and do allow^{2 note}

them well:
And swear here by the honour of my blood,
My father's purposes have been mistook;
And some about him have too lavishly
Wrested his meaning, and authority.—
My lord, these griefs shall be with speed redress'd;
Upon my soul, they shall. If this may please you,
Discharge your powers^{3 note} unto their several counties,
As we will ours: and here, between the armies,
Let's drink together friendly, and embrace;
That all their eyes may bear those tokens home,
Of our restored love, and amity.

Arch.
I take your princely word for these redresses.

P. John.
I give it you, and will maintain my word:
And thereupon I drink unto your grace.

Hast.
Go, captain, [To an Officer.] and deliver to the army

This news of peace; let them have pay, and part:
I know, it will well please them; Hie thee, captain. [Exit Officer.

Arch.
To you, my noble lord of Westmoreland.

West.
I pledge your grace: And, if you knew what pains
I have bestow'd to breed this present peace,
You would drink freely: but my love to you
Shall show itself more openly hereafter.

Arch.
I do not doubt you.

West.
I am glad of it.—
Health to my lord, and gentle cousin, Mowbray.

Mowb.
You wish me health in very happy season;
For I am, on the sudden, something ill.

Arch.
Against ill chances, men are ever merry^{4 note};
But heaviness foreruns the good event.

West.
Therefore be merry, coz^{5 note}; since sudden sorrow
Serves to say thus,—Some good thing comes tomorrow.

Arch.
Believe me, I am passing light in spirit.

Mowb.
So much the worse, if your own rule be true. [Shouts within.

P. John.
The word of peace is render'd; Hark, how they shout!

Mowb.
This had been cheerful, after victory.

Arch.
A peace is of the nature of a conquest:
For then both parties nobly are subdued,
And neither party loser.

P. John.
Go, my lord,

And let our army be discharged too.— [Exit Westmoreland.
And, good my lord, so please you, let our trains^{6 note}

Arch.
Go, good lord Hastings,
And, ere they be dismiss'd, let them march by. [Exit Hastings.

P. John.
I trust, my lords, we shall lie to-night together.— Re-enter Westmoreland.
Now, cousin, wherefore stands our army still;

West.
The leaders having charge from you to stand,
Will not go off until they hear you speak.

P. John.
They know their duties. Re-enter Hastings.

Hast.
My lord, our army is dispers'd already:
Like youthful steers unyok'd, they take their courses
East, west, north, south; or, like a school broke up,
Each hurries toward his home, and sporting-place.

West.
Good tidings, my lord Hastings; for the which
I do arrest thee, traitor, of high treason:—
And you, lord archbishop,—and you, lord Mowbray,

Of capital treason I attach you both.

Mowb.
Is this proceeding just and honourable?

West.
Is your assembly so?

Arch.
Will you thus break your faith?

P. John.
I pawn'd thee none:
I promis'd you redress of these same grievances^{7 note},
Whereof you did complain; which, by mine honour,
I will perform with a most christian care.
But, for you, rebels,—look to taste the due
Meet for rebellion, and such acts as yours* ^note.
Most shallowly did you these arms commence,
Fondly brought here^{8 note}
, and foolishly sent hence.—
Strike up our drums, pursue the scatter'd stray;
Heaven, and not we, hath safely fought to-day.—
Some guard these traitors to the block of death;
Treason's true bed, and yielder up of breath. [Exeunt^{9 note}

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