Act IV, Scene iv:
York. A Room in the Archbishop's Palace.

[Enter the Archbishop of York and Sir Michael.]

ARCH.:

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

How much they do import, you would make haste.

SIR M.:

My good lord,

I guess their tenour.

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 Owen Glendower's absence thence,

Who with them was a rated sinew too,

And comes not in, o'er-rul'd by prophecies,—

I fear the power of Percy is too weak

To wage an instant trial with the King.

SIR M.:

Why, my good lord, you need not fear;

There's Douglas and Lord Mortimer.

ARCH.:

No, Mortimer's not there.

SIR M.:

But there is Mordake, Vernon, Lord Harry 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.

SIR M.:

Doubt not, my lord, they shall be well opposed.

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;

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.]