Publisher's Synopsis
Enter LORD BARDOLPHLORD BARDOLPHWho keeps the gate here, ho?The Porter opens the gateWhere is the earl?PorterWhat shall I say you are?LORD BARDOLPHTell thou the earl That the Lord Bardolph doth attend him here.PorterHis lordship is walk'd forth into the orchard; Please it your honour, knock but at the gate, And he himself wilt answer.Enter NORTHUMBERLANDLORD BARDOLPHHere comes the earl.Exit PorterNORTHUMBERLANDWhat news, Lord Bardolph? every minute now Should be the father of some stratagem: The times are wild: contention, like a horse Full of high feeding, madly hath broke loose And bears down all before him.LORD BARDOLPHNoble earl, I bring you certain news from Shrewsbury.NORTHUMBERLANDGood, an God will!LORD BARDOLPHAs good as heart can wish: The king is almost wounded to the death; And, in the fortune of my lord your son, Prince Harry slain outright; and both the Blunts Kill'd by the hand of Douglas; young Prince John And Westmoreland and Stafford fled the field; And Harry Monmouth's brawn, the hulk Sir John, Is prisoner to your son: O, such a day, So fought, so follow'd and so fairly won, Came not till now to dignify the times, Since Caesar's fortunes!NORTHUMBERLANDHow is this derived? Saw you the field? came you from Shrewsbury?LORD BARDOLPHI spake with one, my lord, that came from thence, A gentleman well bred and of good name, That freely render'd me these news for true.NORTHUMBERLANDHere comes my servant Travers, whom I sent On Tuesday last to listen after news.Enter TRAVERSLORD BARDOLPHMy lord, I over-rode him on the way; And he is furnish'd with no certainties More than he haply may retail from me.NORTHUMBERLANDNow, Travers, what good tidings comes with you?TRAVERSMy lord, Sir John Umfrevile turn'd me back With joyful tidings; and, being better horsed, Out-rode me. After him came spurring hard A gentleman, almost forspent with speed, That stopp'd by me to breathe his bloodied horse. He ask'd the way to Chester; and of him I did demand what news from Shrewsbury: He told me that rebellion had bad luck And that young Harry Percy's spur was cold. With that, he gave his able horse the head, And bending forward struck his armed heels Against the panting sides of his poor jade Up to the rowel-head, and starting so He seem'd in running to devour the way, Staying no longer question.NORTHUMBERLANDHa! Again: Said he young Harry Percy's spur was cold? Of Hotspur Coldspur? that rebellion Had met ill luck?LORD BARDOLPHMy lord, I'll tell you what; If my young lord your son have not the day, Upon mine honour, for a silken point I'll give my barony: never talk of it.NORTHUMBERLANDWhy should that gentleman that rode by Travers Give then such instances of loss?LORD BARDOLPHWho, he? He was some hilding fellow that had stolen The horse he rode on, and, upon my life, Spoke at a venture. Look, here comes more news.Enter MORTONNORTHUMBERLANDYea, this man's brow, like to a title-leaf, Foretells the nature of a tragic volume: So looks the strand whereon the imperious flood Hath left a witness'd usurpation. Say, Morton, didst thou come from Shrewsbury?