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Henry IV, Pt. 2: Act IV, Scene 2

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Henry IV, Pt. 2
Act IV, Scene 2

Yorkshire . Another part of the Forest of Gaultree .

Coat of arms of John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford

Coat of arms of John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford

Bedford Master, circa 1420

  1. Enter Prince John of Lancaster and his army .

Prince John of Lancaster

1 - 30
  1. You are well encount’red here , my cousin Mowbray ,
  2. Good day to you , gentle Lord Archbishop ,
  3. And so to you , Lord Hastings , and to all .
  4. My Lord of York , it better show’d with you
  5. When that your flock , assembled by the bell ,
  6. Encircled you to hear with reverence
  7. Your exposition on the holy text
  8. Than now to see you here an iron man , talking ,
  9. Cheering a rout of rebels with your drum ,
  10. Turning the word to sword and life to death .
  11. That man that sits within a monarch’s heart
  12. And ripens in the sunshine of his favor ,
  13. Would he abuse the countenance of the King ,
  14. Alack , what mischiefs might he set abroach
  15. In shadow of such greatness ? With you , Lord Bishop ,
  16. It is even so . Who hath not heard it spoken
  17. How deep you were within the books of God ?
  18. To us the speaker in his parliament ,
  19. To us th’ imagin’d voice of God himself ,
  20. The very opener and intelligencer
  21. Between the grace , the sanctities of heaven ,
  22. And our dull workings ? O , who shall believe
  23. But you misuse the reverence of your place ,
  24. Employ the countenance and grace of heav’n ,
  25. As a false favorite doth his prince’s name ,
  26. In deeds dishonorable ? You have ta’en up ,
  27. Under the counterfeited zeal of God ,
  28. The subjects of his substitute , my father ,
  29. And both against the peace of heaven and him
  30. Have here upswarm’d them .

Archbishop of York

31 - 43
  1.                           Good my Lord of Lancaster ,
  2. I am not here against your father’s peace ,
  3. But as I told my Lord of Westmorland ,
  4. The time misord’red doth , in common sense ,
  5. Crowd us and crush us to this monstrous form
  6. To hold our safety up . I sent your Grace
  7. The parcels and particulars of our grief ,
  8. The which hath been with scorn shov’d from the court ,
  9. Whereon this Hydra son of war is born ,
  10. Whose dangerous eyes may well be charm’d asleep
  11. With grant of our most just and right desires ,
  12. And true obedience , of this madness cured ,
  13. Stoop tamely to the foot of majesty .

Lord Mowbray

44 - 45
  1. If not , we ready are to try our fortunes
  2. To the last man .

Lord Hastings

46 - 51
  1.                  And though we here fall down ,
  2. We have supplies to second our attempt ;
  3. If they miscarry , theirs shall second them ,
  4. And so success of mischief shall be born ,
  5. And heir from heir shall hold his quarrel up
  6. Whiles England shall have generation .

Prince John of Lancaster

52 - 53
  1. You are too shallow , Hastings , much too shallow ,
  2. To sound the bottom of the after - times .

Earl of Westmorland

54 - 55
  1. Pleaseth your Grace to answer them directly
  2. How far forth you do like their articles .

Prince John of Lancaster

56 - 67
  1. I like them all , and do allow them well ,
  2. And swear here , by the honor of my blood ,
  3. My father’s purposes have been mistook ,
  4. And some about him have too lavishly
  5. Wrested his meaning and authority .
  6. My lord , these griefs shall be with speed redress’d ,
  7. Upon my soul they shall . If this may please you ,
  8. Discharge your powers unto their several counties ,
  9. As we will ours , and here between the armies
  10. Let’s drink together friendly and embrace ,
  11. That all their eyes may bear those tokens home
  12. Of our restored love and amity .

Archbishop of York

68
  1. I take your princely word for these redresses .

Prince John of Lancaster

69 - 70
  1. I give it you , and will maintain my word ,
  2. And thereupon I drink unto your Grace .

Lord Hastings

71 - 73
  1. Go , captain , and deliver to the army
  2. This news of peace . Let them have pay , and part .
  3. I know it will well please them . Hie thee , captain .
  1. Exit Officer .

Archbishop of York

74
  1. To you , my noble Lord of Westmorland .

Earl of Westmorland

75 - 78
  1. I pledge your Grace , and if you knew what pains
  2. I have bestowed to breed this present peace ,
  3. You would drink freely . But my love to ye
  4. Shall show itself more openly hereafter .

Archbishop of York

79
  1. I do not doubt you .

Earl of Westmorland

80 - 81
  1.                     I am glad of it .
  2. Health to my lord , and gentle cousin , Mowbray .

Lord Mowbray

82 - 83
  1. You wish me health in very happy season ,
  2. For I am on the sudden something ill .

Archbishop of York

84 - 85
  1. Against ill chances men are ever merry ,
  2. But heaviness foreruns the good event .

Earl of Westmorland

86 - 87
  1. Therefore be merry , coz , since sudden sorrow
  2. Serves to say thus , some good thing comes tomorrow .

Archbishop of York

88
  1. Believe me , I am passing light in spirit .

Lord Mowbray

89
  1. So much the worse , if your own rule be true .
  1. Shout within .

Prince John of Lancaster

90
  1. The word of peace is rend’red . Hark how they shout !

Lord Mowbray

91
  1. This had been cheerful after victory .

Archbishop of York

92 - 94
  1. A peace is of the nature of a conquest ,
  2. For then both parties nobly are subdued ,
  3. And neither party loser .

Prince John of Lancaster

95 - 99
  1.                          Go , my lord ,
  2. And let our army be discharged too .
  3. Exit Westmorland .
  4. And , good my lord , so please you , let our trains
  5. March by us , that we may peruse the men
  6. We should have cop’d withal .

Archbishop of York

100 - 101
  1.                              Go , good Lord Hastings ,
  2. And ere they be dismiss’d , let them march by .
  1. Exit Hastings .
  1. Enter Westmorland .

Prince John of Lancaster

102 - 103
  1. I trust , lords , we shall lie tonight together .
  2. Now , cousin , wherefore stands our army still ?

Earl of Westmorland

104 - 105
  1. The leaders , having charge from you to stand ,
  2. Will not go off until they hear you speak .

Prince John of Lancaster

106
  1. They know their duties .
  1. Enter Hastings .

Lord Hastings

107 - 110
  1. My lord , our army is dispers’d already :
  2. Like youthful steers unyok’d , they take their courses
  3. East , west , north , south , or , like a school broke up ,
  4. Each hurries toward his home and sporting - place .

Earl of Westmorland

111 - 114
  1. Good tidings , my Lord Hastings ! For the which
  2. I do arrest thee , traitor , of high treason ,
  3. And you , Lord Archbishop , and you , Lord Mowbray ,
  4. Of capital treason I attach you both .

Lord Mowbray

115
  1. Is this proceeding just and honorable ?

Earl of Westmorland

116
  1. Is your assembly so ?

Archbishop of York

117
  1. Will you thus break your faith ?

Prince John of Lancaster

118 - 129
  1.                                 I pawn’d thee none .
  2. I promis’d you redress of these same grievances
  3. Whereof you did complain , which , by mine honor ,
  4. I will perform with a most Christian care .
  5. But for you rebels , look to taste the due
  6. Meet for rebellion and such acts as yours .
  7. Most shallowly did you these arms commence ,
  8. Fondly brought here and foolishly sent hence .
  9. Strike up our drums , pursue the scatt’red stray ;
  10. God , and not we , hath safely fought today .
  11. Some guard these traitors to the block of death ,
  12. Treason’s true bed and yielder - up of breath .
  1. Exeunt .
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