of a calm world, and a long peace; ten times more dishonourable ragged than an old faced antient: and such have I, to fill up the rooms of them that have bought out their services, that you would think, that I had a hundred and fifty tattered prodigals, lately come from swine-keeping, from eating draff and husks. A mad fellow met me on the way, and told me, I had unloaded all the gibbets, and pressed the dead bodies. No eye hath seen such scarecrows. I'll not march through Coventry with them, that's flat :-Nay, and the villains march wide betwixt the legs, as if they had gyves on; for, indeed, I had the most of them out of prison. There's but a shirt and a half in all my company: and the half-shirt is two napkins, tacked together, and thrown over the shoulders like a herald's coat without sleeves; and the shirt, to say the truth, stolen from my host at Saint Albans, or the red-nose innkeeper of Daintry. But that's all one; they'll find linen enough on every hedge. Enter Prince HENRY and WESTMORELAND. P. Hen. How now, blown Jack? how now, quilt? Fal. What, Hal? How now, mad wag? what a devil dost thou in Warwickshire?-My good lord of Westmoreland, I cry you mercy; I thought your honour had already been at Shrewsbury. West. 'Faith, sir John, 'tis more than time that I were there, and you too; but my powers are there already : The king, I can tell you, looks for us all; we must away all night. Fal. Tut, never fear me; I am as vigilant as a cat to steal cream, P. Hen. I think, to steal cream indeed; for thy theft hath already made thee butter. But tell me, Jack; Whose fellows are these that come after? Fal. Mine, Hal, mine. P. Hen. I did never see such pitiful rascals. Fal. Tut, tut; good enough to toss; food for powder, food for powder; they'll fill a pit, as well as better: tush, man, mortal men, mortal men. West. Ay, but, sir John, methinks they are exceeding poor and bare; too beggarly. Fal. 'Faith, for their poverty, I know not where they had that and for their bareness,-I am sure, they never learned that of me. P. Hen. No, I'll be gers on the ribs, bare. is already in the field. sworn; unless you call three finBut, sirrah, make haste; Percy Fal. What, is the king encamped? West. He is, sir John; I fear, we shall stay too long. Fal. Well, To the latter end of a fray, and the beginning of a feast, Fits a dull fighter, and a keen guest. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The Rebel Camp near Shreswbury. Enter HOTSPUR, WORCESTER, DOUGLAS, and VERNON. Hot. We'll fight with him to-night. Wor. It may not be. Doug. You give him then advantage. Ver. Not a whit. Hot. Why say you so? looks he not for supply? Ver. So do we. Hot. His is certain, ours is doubtful. Wor. Good cousin, be advised; stir not to-night. Doug. You do not counsel well; You speak it out of fear, and cold heart. Ver. Do me no slander, Douglas: by my life, I hold as little counsel with weak fear, Doug. Yea, or to-night. Ver. Content. Hot. To night, say I. Ver. Come, come, it may not be. I wonder much, being men of such great leading, In general, journey-bated, and brought low; Wor. The number of the king exceedeth ours: [The Trumpet sounds a parley. Enter Sir WALTER BLUNT. Blunt. I come with gracious offers from the king, If you vouchsafe me hearing, and respect. Hot. Welcome, sir Walter Blunt; And 'would to God, You were of our determination! Some of us love you well: and even those some But stand against us like an enemy. Blunt. And God defend, but still I should stand so, So long as, out of limit, and true rule, But, to my charge.-The king hath sent to know Have any way your good deserts forgot,— He bids you name your griefs; and, with all speed, And pardon absolute for yourself, and these, Herein misled by your suggestion. Hot. The king is kind; and, well we know, the king Knows at what time to promise, when to pay. My father, and my uncle, and myself, And,-when he heard him swear, and vow to God, He came but to be duke of Lancaster, To sue his livery, and beg his peace; With tears of innocency, and terms of zeal,— Blunt. Tut, I came not to hear this. In short time after, he depos'd the king; |