Arch.
Hie, good sir Michael ^note; bear this &dagger2; sealed brief,
With winged haste, to the lord mareshal;14Q0653
This &dagger2; to my cousin Scroop; and all the &dagger2; rest
To whom they are directed: if you knew
How much they do import, you would make haste.

Gen.
I ^note guess their tenor.

Arch.
Like enough, you do.
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)
And what with ^note Owen Glendower's absence thence,

(Who with them was a ^note rated sinew too ^note,
And comes not in, o'er-rul'd by prophesies)—
I fear, the power of Percy is too weak
To wage an instant trial with the king.

Gen.
Why, my good lord, I think, you need not fear;
There is the Douglas, and lord Mortimer:—

Arch.
No,
Mortimer is not there.

Gen.
But there is Mordake, Vernon, Harry ^{note note} 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 corrivals, and dear men
Of estimation and command in arms.

Gen.
Doubt not, my lord, they shall ^note 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,— ^note
And 'tis but wisdom to make strong against him;
Therefore, make haste: I must go write again
To other friends; and so farewel, sir Michael. [Exeunt, severally.

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