That are your prisoners,

Hot.

I'll keep them all;

By God, he shall not have a Scot of them;
No, if a Scot would save his soul, he shall not:
I'll keep them, by this hand.

I'll have a starling shall be taught to speak
Nothing but 'Mortimer,' and give it him,
To keep his anger still in motion.

Wor. Hear you, cousin; a word.

215

220

225

Hot. All studies here I solemnly defy,

Save how to gall and pinch this Bolingbroke:

And that same sword-and-buckler Prince of Wales,

230

But that I think his father loves him not

And would be glad he met with some mischance,

I would have him poison'd with a pot of ale.

Wor. Farewell, kinsman: I'll talk to you

When you are better temper'd to attend.

North. Why, what a wasp-stung and impatient fool

Art thou to break into this woman's mood,

Tying thine ear to no tongue but thine own!

235

Hot. Why, look you, I am whipp'd and scourged with

Nettled, and stung with pismires, when I hear

240

Of this vile politician, Bolingbroke.

In Richard's time,-what do you call the place?—

A plague upon it, it is in Gloucestershire;
'Twas where the madcap duke his uncle kept,

His uncle York; where I first bow'd my knee
Unto this king of smiles, this Bolingbroke,-
'Sblood!-

When you and he came back from Ravenspurgh.
North. At Berkley-castle.

Hot. You say true:

Why, what a candy deal of courtesy

This fawning greyhound then did proffer me!
Look, 'when his infant fortune came to age,'

245

250

And 'gentle Harry Percy,' and 'kind cousin ;'

O, the devil take such cozeners! God forgive me!
Good uncle, tell your tale; I have done.
Wor. Nay, if you have not, to it again;

255

I have done, i' faith.

Wor. Then once more to your Scottish prisoners. Deliver them up without their ransom straight,

260

And make the Douglas' son your only mean

For powers in Scotland; which, for divers reasons

Which I shall send you written, be assured,

Will easily be granted. You, my lord, [To Northumberland.

265

Your son in Scotland being thus employ'd,

Shall secretly into the bosom creep

Of that same noble prelate, well beloved,
The archbishop.

Hot. Of York, is it not?

Wor. True; who bears hard

270

His brother's death at Bristol, the Lord Scroop.

I speak not this in estimation,

As what I think might be, but what I know

Is ruminated, plotted and set down,

And only stays but to behold the face

275

Of that occasion that shall bring it on.

Hot. I smell it: upon my life, it will do well.

North. Before the game is a-foot, thou still let'st slip.
Hot. Why, it cannot choose but be a noble plot:
And then the power of Scotland and of York,
To join with Mortimer, ha?

280

And so they shall.

Wor.
Hot. In faith, it is exceedingly well aim'd.
Wor. And 'tis no little reason bids us speed,

To save our heads by raising of a head;
For, bear ourselves as even as we can,
The king will always think him in our debt,
And think we think ourselves unsatisfied,
Till he hath found a time to pay us home:
And see already how he doth begin

To make us strangers to his looks of love.

Hot. He does, he does: we'll be revenged on him.
Wor. Cousin, farewell: no further go in this

285

290

Than I by letters shall direct your course.
When time is ripe, which will be suddenly,
I'll steal to Glendower and Lord Mortimer;
Where you and Douglas and our powers at once,
As I will fashion it, shall happily meet,

To bear our fortunes in our own strong arms,
Which now we hold at much uncertainty.

295

North. Farewell, good brother: we shall thrive, I trust. 300
Hot. Uncle, adieu: O, let the hours be short

Till fields and blows and groans applaud our sport!

[Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE I. Rochester. An inn yard.

Enter a Carrier with a lantern in his hand.

First Car. Heigh-ho! an it be not four by the day, I'll be hanged: Charles' wain is over the new chimney, and yet our horse not packed. What, ostler!

Ost. [Within] Anon, anon.

First Car. I prithee, Tom, beat Cut's saddle, put a few flocks in the point; poor jade, is wrung in the withers out of all cess.

Enter another Carrier.

Sec. Car. Peas and beans are as dank here as a dog, and that is the next way to give poor jades the bots: this house is turned upside down since Robin Ostler died.

293, 294. course. When...suddenly] course; When...suddenly, F4. course when...suddenly, Qr course when... suddenly: Q3Q4Q5Q6F1Q7F2Q8F3 (50dainly F. sodainely F2).

295. Lord] Lo: Qr. loe, Q2Q3 Q4 Q5Q6F1Q7F2 to Qg. lo, F3F4.

Mortimer] After this Keight

ley supposes a line to be lost.

301. the] om. F2F3F4.
302. groans] groues Q7. groves Qg.
[Exeunt.] Qq. Exit. Ff.
Rochester......yard.] Capell. An

5

ΙΟ

First Car. Poor fellow, never joyed since the price of oats rose; it was the death of him.

Sec. Car. I think this be the most villanous house in all London road for fleas: I am stung like a tench.

First Car. Like a tench! by the mass, there is ne'er a 15 king christen could be better bit than I have been since the first cock.

Sec. Car. Why, they will allow us ne'er a jordan, and then we leak in your chimney; and your chamber-lie breeds fleas like a loach.

First Car. What, ostler! come away and be hanged! come away.

Sec. Car. I have a gammon of bacon and two razes of ginger, to be delivered as far as Charing-cross.

First Car. God's body! the turkeys in my pannier are quite starved. What, ostler! A plague on thee! hast thou never an eye in thy head? canst not hear? An 'twere not as good deed as drink, to break the pate on thee, I am a very villain. Come, and be hanged! hast no faith in thee?

Enter GADSHILL.

Gads. Good morrow, carriers. What's o'clock?

First Car. I think it be two o'clock.

Gads. I prithee, lend me thy lantern, to see my geld

ing in the stable.

First Car. Nay, by God, soft; I know a trick worth two of that, i' faith.

Gads. I pray thee, lend me thine.

20

25