[Prologue]

Enter Chorus. Cho.
Now all the youth of England are on fire,
And silken dalliance in the wardrobe lies:
Now thrive the armourers, and honour's thought
Reigns solely in the breast of every man:
They sell the pasture now to buy the horse;
Following the mirror of all Christian kings,
With wingéd heels, as English Mercuries;
For now sits expectation in the air.
O England!—model to thy inward greatness,
Like little body with a mighty heart,—
What might'st thou do, that honour would thee do,
Were all thy children kind and natural!
But see thy fault! France hath in thee found out
A nest of hollow bosoms, which he fills^{1 note}
With treacherous crowns; and three corrupted men,—
One, Richard earl of Cambridge;^{2 note} and the second,
Henry lord Scroop of Masham,^{3 note} and the third,
Sir Thomas Grey, knight, of Northumberland,—
Have, for the gilt of France^{4 note} (O guilt, indeed!),
Confirm'd conspiracy with fearful France;(A)8Q0061
And by their hands this grace of kings^{5 note} must die,

(If hell and treason hold their promises,)
Ere he take ship for France, and in Southampton. The back scene opens and discovers a tableau, representing the three conspirators receiving the bribe from the emissaries of France.
Linger your patience on; and well digest
The abuse of distance, while we force a play.^{6 note}
The sum is paid; the traitors are agreed;
The king is set from London; and the scene
Is now transported, gentles, to Southampton,—
There is the playhouse now, there must you sit:
And thence to France shall we convey you safe,
And bring you back, charming the narrow seas
To give you gentle pass; for, if we may,
We'll not offend one stomach^{7 note} with our play.
But, till the king come forth, and not till then,^{8 note}
Unto Southampton do we shift our scene. [Exit.

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