K. Henry.
My lord of Suffolk, post away for life,
And let our forces of such horse and foot
As can be gathered up by any means,
Make speedy rendezvous in Tothill-fields.
It must be done this evening, my lord;
This night the rebels mean to draw to head
Near Islington; which if your speed prevent not,
If once they should unite their several forces,
Their power is almost thought invincible.
Away, my lord, I will be with you soon.

Suf.
I go, my sovereign, with all happy speed.

K. Henry.
Make haste, my lord of Suffolk, as you love us. [Exit Suffolk.
Butler, post you to London with all speed:
Command the mayor and sheriffs, on their allegiance,

The city gates be presently shut up,
And guarded with a strong sufficient watch;
And not a man be suffered to pass
Without a special warrant from ourself.
Command the postern by the Tower be kept,
And proclamation, on the pain of death,
That not a citizen stir from his doors,
Except such as the mayor and shrieves shall choose
For their own guard, and safety of their persons.
Butler away, have care unto my charge.

But.
I go, my sovereign.

K. Henry.
Butler.

But.
My lord.

K. Henry.
Go down by Greenwich, and command a boat
At the Friars-Bridge attend my coming down.

But.
I will, my lord. [Exit Butler.

K. Henry.
It's time, I think, to look unto rebellion,
When Acton doth expect unto his aid
No less than fifty thousand Londoners.
Well, I'll to Westminster in this disguise,
To hear what news is stirring in these brawls. Enter sir John and Doll.

Sir John.

Stand true man, says a thief.

K. Henry.
Stand thief, says a true man: how if a thief?

Sir John.

Stand thief too.

K. Henry.

Then thief or true man, I must stand, I see. Howsoever the world wags, the trade of thieving yet will never down. What art thou?

Sir John.

A good fellow.

K. Henry.

So I am too; I see thou dost know me.

Sir John.

If thou be a good fellow, play the good fellow's part; deliver thy purse without more ado.

K. Henry.

I have no money.

Sir John.

I must make you find some before we

part. If you have no money, you shall have ware; as many sound blows as your skin can carry.

K. Henry.

Is that the plain truth?

Sir John.

Sirrah, no more ado; come, come, give me the money you have. Dispatch, I cannot stand all day.

K. Henry.

Well, if thou wilt needs have it, there it is. Just the proverb, one thief robs another. Where the devil are all my old thieves? Falstaff that villain is so fat, he cannot get on his horse^{9 note}

Sir John.

How much is there on't, o' thy word?

K. Henry.
A hundred pound in angels, on my word.
The time has been I would have done as much
For thee, if thou hadst past this way, as I
Have now.

Sir John.

Sirrah, what art thou? thou seem'st a gentleman?

K. Henry.

I am no less; yet a poor one now, for thou hast all my money.

Sir John.

From whence cam'st thou?

K. Henry.

From the court at Eltham.

Sir John.

Art thou one of the king's servants?

K. Henry.

Yes, that I am, and one of his chamber.

Sir John.

I am glad thou'rt no worse; thou may'st the better spare thy money: And think you thou might'st get a poor thief his pardon, if he should have need^{1 note}?

K. Henry.

Yes, that I can.

Sir John.

Wilt thou do so much for me, when I shall have occasion?

K. Henry.

Yes 'faith will I, so it be for no murder.

Sir John.

Nay, I am a pitiful thief^{2 note}

; all the hurt I do a man, I take but his purse; I'll kill no man.

K. Henry.

Then, on my word I'll do't.

Sir John.

Give me thine hand on the same.

K. Henry.

There 'tis.

Sir John.

Methinks the king should be good to thieves, because he has been a thief himself, although I think now he be turned a true man.

K. Henry.

'Faith, I have heard indeed he has had an ill name that way in his youth; but how canst thou tell that he has been a thief?

Sir John.

How? because he once robb'd me before I fell to the trade myself, when that foul villainous guts^{3 note}

K. Henry.

Well, if he did rob thee then, thou art but even with him now, I'll be sworn. [Aside] Thou knowest not the king now, I think, if thou sawest him?

Sir John.

Not I, i'faith.

K. Henry.

So it should seem.

Sir John.

Well, if old king Harry had liv'd, this king that is now, had made thieving the best trade in England.

K. Henry.

Why so?

Sir John.

Because he was the chief warden of our company. It's pity that e'er he should have been a king, he was so brave a thief. But sirrah, wilt remember my pardon if need be?

K. Henry.

Yes, 'faith will I.

Sir John.

Wilt thou? well then, because thou shalt go safe, for thou may'st hap (being so early) be met with again before thou come to Southwark, if any man, when he should bid thee good morrow, bid thee stand, say thou but Sir John, and they will let thee pass.

K. Henry.

Is that the word? then let me alone.

Sir John.

Nay, sirrah, because I think indeed I shall have some occasion to use thee, and as thou com'st oft this way, I may light on thee another time, not knowing thee, here I'll break this angel: take thou half of it; this is a token betwixt thee and me^{4 note}.

K. Henry.

God-a-mercy; farewel.

Sir John.

O my fine golden slaves! here's for thee, wench, i'faith. Now, Doll, we will revel in our

bever^{5 note}