Hold, take my ring.
SERVANT.
My lord, I had forgot to tell your lordship:
To-day, as I came by, I called there;
But I shall grieve you to report the rest.
YORK.
What is’t, knave?
SERVANT.
An hour before I came the duchess died.
YORK.
God for his mercy! what a tide of woes
Comes rushing on this woeful land at once!
I know not what to do: I would to God,—
So my untruth had not provok’d him to it,—
The king had cut off my head with my brother’s.
What! are there no posts dispatch’d for Ireland?
How shall we do for money for these wars?
Come, sister,—cousin, I would say,—pray, pardon me.—
Go, fellow, get thee home; provide some carts,
And bring away the armour that is there.
[Exit Servant.]
Gentlemen, will you go muster men?
If I know how or which way to order these affairs
Thus disorderly thrust into my hands,
Never believe me. Both are my kinsmen:
T’one is my sovereign, whom both my oath
And duty bids defend; the other again
Is my kinsman, whom the king hath wrong’d,
Whom conscience and my kindred bids to right.
Well, somewhat we must do. Come, cousin,
I’ll dispose of you. Gentlemen, go muster up your men,
And meet me presently at Berkeley Castle.
I should to Plashy too:
But time will not permit. All is uneven,
And everything is left at six and seven.
[Exeunt YORK and QUEEN.]
BUSHY.
The wind sits fair for news to go to Ireland,
But none returns. For us to levy power
Proportionable to the enemy
Is all unpossible.
GREEN.
Besides, our nearness to the king in love
Is near the hate of those love not the king.
BAGOT.
And that is the wavering commons; for their love
Lies in their purses; and whoso empties them,
By so much fills their hearts with deadly hate.
BUSHY.
Wherein the king stands generally condemn’d.
BAGOT.
If judgment lie in them, then so do we,
Because we ever have been near the king.
GREEN.
Well, I will for refuge straight to Bristol Castle.
The Earl of Wiltshire is already there.
BUSHY.
Thither will I with you; for little office
Will the hateful commons perform for us,
Except like curs to tear us all to pieces.
Will you go along with us?
BAGOT.
No; I will to Ireland to his Majesty.
Farewell: If heart’s presages be not vain,
We three here part that ne’er shall meet again.
BUSHY.
That’s as York thrives to beat back Bolingbroke.
GREEN.
Alas, poor Duke! the task he undertakes
Is numb’ring sands and drinking oceans dry:
Where one on his side fights, thousands will fly.
Farewell at once; for once, for all, and ever.
BUSHY.
Well, we may meet again.
BAGOT.
I fear me, never.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE III.
The Wolds in Gloucestershire.
[Enter BOLINGBROKE and NORTHUMBERLAND, with Forces.]
BOLINGBROKE.
How far is it, my lord, to Berkeley now?
NORTHUMBERLAND.
Believe me, noble lord,
I am a stranger here in Gloucestershire.
These high wild hills and rough uneven ways
Draws out our miles, and makes them wearisome;
And yet your fair discourse hath been as sugar,
Making the hard way sweet and delectable.
But I bethink me what a weary way
From Ravenspurgh to Cotswold will be found
In Ross and Willoughby, wanting your company,
Which, I protest, hath very much beguil’d
The tediousness and process of my travel.
But theirs is sweeten’d with the hope to have
