Bol.
How far is it, my lord, to Berkley now?

North.
I am a stranger here in Gloucestershire.
These high wild hills, and rough uneven ways,
Draw out our miles, and make them wearisome;
Yet your fair discourse hath much beguil'd
The tediousness and process of my travel.

Bol.
Who comes here? Enter Harry Percy.(M)8Q0142

North.
It is my son, young Harry Percy,
Sent from my brother Worcester.
Harry, how fares your uncle?

Per.
I had thought, my lord, to have learned his health of you.

North.
Why, is he not with the queen?

Per.
No, my good lord; he hath foorsook the court,
Broken his staff of office, and dispers'd
The household of the king.

North.
What was his reason?
He was not so resolv'd, when last we spake together.

Per.
Because your lordship was proclaimed traitor.
But he, my lord, is gone to Ravenspurg,
To offer service to the Duke of Hereford;
And sent me o'er by Berkley, to discover
What power the Duke of York had levied there;
Then with direction to repair to Ravenspurg.

North.
Have you forgot the Duke of Hereford, boy?

Per.
No, my good lord; for that is not forgot,
Which ne'er I did remember: to my knowledge,
I never in my life did look on him.

North.
Then learn to know him now: this is the duke.

Per.
My gracious lord, I tender you my service,
Such as it is, being tender, raw, and young;
Which elder days shall ripen, and confirm
To more approved service and desert.

Bol.
I thank thee, gentle Percy; and be sure,
I count myself in nothing else so happy,
As in a soul rememb'ring my good friends.

North.
How far is it to Berkley? And what stir
Keeps good old York there, with his men of war?

Per.
There stands the castle, by yon tuft of trees,
Mann'd with three hundred men, as I have heard:

And in it are the lords of York, Berkley, and Seymour:
None else of name, and noble estimate. Enter the Lords of Ross and Willoughby.

North.
Here comes the lords of Ross and Willoughby.

Bol.
Welcome, my lords: I wot^{9 note} your love pursues
A banish'd traitor; all my treasury
Is yet but unfelt thanks, which, more enrich'd
Shall be your love and labour's recompense.

Ross.
Your presence makes us rich, most noble lord.

Wil.
And far surmounts our labour to attain it.

Bol.
Evermore thanks, the exchequer of the poor,
Which, till my infant fortune comes to years,
Stands for my bounty. But who comes here? Enter Lord Berkley, attended.

North.
It is my lord of Berkley, as I guess.

Ber.
My lord of Hereford, my message is to you.

Bol.
My lord, my answer is—to Lancaster:
And I am come to seek that name in England:
And I must find that title in your tongue,
Before I make reply to aught you say.

Ber.
Mistake me not, my lord; 'tis not my meaning,
To raze one title of your honour out:—
To you, my lord, I come, (what lord you will,)
From the most glorious regent of this land,
The Duke of York; to know, what pricks you on
To take advantage of the absent time,^{10 note}
And fright our native peace with self-born arms. Enter York, attended.(N)8Q0143

Bol.
I shall not need transport my words by you;
Here comes his grace in person.—Noble uncle! [Kneels.

York.
Show me thy humble heart, and not thy knee,
Whose duty is deceivable and false.

Bol.
My gracious uncle!—

York.
I am no traitor's uncle; and that word—grace,

In an ungracious mouth, is but profane.
Why have those banish'd and forbidden legs
Dar'd once to touch a dust of England's ground?
But more than this,—Why have they dared to march
So many miles upon her peaceful bosom;
Frighting her pale-fac'd villages with war?
Thou art a banish'd man, and here art come,
Before the expiration of thy time,
In braving arms against thy sovereign.

Bol.
As I was banish'd, I was banish'd Hereford;
But as I come, I come for Lancaster.
And, noble uncle, I beseech your grace,
Look on my wrongs with an indifferent eye:^{11 note}
You are my father, for, methinks, in you
I see old Gaunt alive; O, then, my father!
Will you permit that I shall stand condemn'd
A wand'ring vagabond; my rights and royalties
Pluck'd from my arms perforce, and given away
To upstart unthrifts? Wherefore was I born?
If that my cousin king be King of England,
It must be granted, I am Duke of Lancaster.
I am denied to use my livery here,
And yet my letters-patent give me leave:
My father's goods are all distrain'd, and sold;
What would you have me do? I am a subject,
And challenge law; Attornies are denied me;
And therefore, personally I lay my claim
To my inheritance of free descent.

North.
The noble duke hath been too much abus'd.

Ross.
It stands your grace upon to do him right.^{12 note}

York.
My lords of England, let me tell you this,—
I have had feeling of my cousin's wrongs,
And labour'd all I could to do him right:
But in this kind to come, in braving arms,
To find out right with wrong,—it may not be;
And you that do abet him in this kind,
Cherish rebellion, and are rebels all.

North.
The noble duke hath sworn, his coming is
But for his own: and, for the right of that,
We all have strongly sworn to give him aid;
And let him ne'er see joy, that breaks that oath.

York.
Well, well, I see the issue of these arms;
I cannot mend it, I must needs confess,
Because my power is weak, and all ill left:
But, since I cannot, be it known to you,
I do remain as neuter. So, fare you well;
Unless you please to enter in the castle,
And there repose you for this night.

Bol.
An offer, uncle, that we will accept.
But we must win your grace, to go with us
To Bristol Castle, which, they say, is held
By Bushy, Bagot, and their complices,
The caterpillars of the commonwealth,
Which I have sworn to weed, and pluck away.(O)8Q0144

York.
It may be, I will go with you; but yet I'll pause;
For I am loath to break our country's laws.
Nor friends, nor foes, to me welcome you are:
Things past redress, are now with me past care. [Exeunt. (March repeated.) END OF ACT SECOND.

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