York.
Hie, good Sir Michell, bear this sealed brief
With winged haste to the Lord Mareshal;
This to my cousin Scroop, and all the rest
To whom they are directed: if you knew
How much they do import, you wou'd make haste.

Sir Mich.
My lord, I guess their tenour.

York.
Like enough.
To morrow, good Sir Michell, is a day,
Wherein the fortune of ten thousand men
Must bide the touch. For, Sir, at Shrewsbury,
As I am truly giv'n to understand,
The King, with mighty and quick-raised power,
Meets with lord Harry; and, I fear, Sir Michell,
What with the sickness of Northumberland,
Whose pow'r was in the first proportion;
And what with Owen Glendower's absence thence,
Who with them was ^{8 note}a rated sinew too,
And comes not in, o'er-rul'd by prophecies;
I fear the pow'r of Percy is too weak,
To wage an instant tryal with the King.

Sir Mich.
Why, my good lord, there's Dowglas, and lord Mortimer.

York.
No, Mortimer is not there.

Sir Mich.
But there is Mordake, Vernon, Harry Percy,
And there's my lord of Worcester, and a head
Of gallant warriors, noble gentlemen.

York.
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 Westmorland, and warlike Blunt;
And many more corrivals, and dear men
Of estimation and command in arms.

Sir Mich.
Doubt not, my lord, they shall be well oppos'd.

York.
I hope no less: yet, needful 'tis to fear.
And to prevent the worst, Sir Michell, 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,

And 'tis but wisdom to make strong against him:
Therefore make haste, I must go write again
To other friends; and so farewel, Sir Michell. [Exeunt.

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