[Enter the ARCHBISHOP and SIR MICHAEL]
- Archbishop Scroop. Hie, good Sir Michael; bear this sealed brief
With winged haste to the lord marshal;
This to my cousin Scroop, and all the rest
To whom they are directed. If you knew
2580 How much they do to import, you would make haste.
- Archbishop Scroop. Like enough you do.
To-morrow, good Sir Michael, is a day
2585 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,
2590 What with the sickness of Northumberland,
Whose power was in the first proportion,
And what with Owen Glendower's absence thence,
Who with them was a rated sinew too
And comes not in, o'er-ruled by prophecies,
2595 I fear the power of Percy is too weak
To wage an instant trial with the king.
- Sir Michael. Why, my good lord, you need not fear;
There is Douglas and Lord Mortimer.
- Sir Michael. But there is Mordake, Vernon, Lord Harry Percy,
And there is my Lord of Worcester and a head
Of gallant warriors, noble gentlemen.
- Archbishop Scroop. And so there is: but yet the king hath drawn
The special head of all the land together:
2605 The Prince of Wales, Lord John of Lancaster,
The noble Westmoreland and warlike Blunt;
And moe corrivals and dear men
Of estimation and command in arms.
- Sir Michael. Doubt not, my lord, they shall be well opposed.
2610
- Archbishop Scroop. 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,
2615 And 'tis but wisdom to make strong against him:
Therefore make haste. I must go write again
To other friends; and so farewell, Sir Michael.
[Exeunt]
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