The SECOND PART OF

HENRY IV.

Containing his DEATH:

AND THE

CORONATION

OF

King HENRY V.

PROLOGUE.

Enter RUMOUR, painted full of Tongues..

PEN your ears: for which of you will stop
The Vent of Hearing, when loud Rumour speaks ?
I from the Orient to the drooping Weft,
Making the wind my post-horfe, ftill unfold
The Acts commenced on this Ball of Earth..
Upon my tongues continual flanders ride,
The which in every language I pronounce;
Stuffing the ears of men with false reports.
I fpeak of Peace, while covert enmity,
Under the smile of safety, wounds the world:
And who but Rumour, who but only I,
Make fearful mufters and prepar'd defence,
Whilft the big year, fwoll'n with fome other griefs,
Is thought with child by the ftern tyrant War,
And no fuch matter? Rumour is a pipe
Blown by furmifes, jealoufies, conjectures;.
And, of so easie and so plain a stop,

That the blunt monfter with uncounted heads,
The ftill-difcordant wavering multitude,.
Can play upon it. But what need I thus
My well-known body to anatomize

Among my houfhold? Why is Rumour here ?
I run before King Harry's victory;:
Who in a bloody field by Shrewsbury

Hath beaten down young Hot-pur and his troops;
Quenching the flame of bold Rebellion

Ev'n with the rebels' blood. But what mean I -
To fpeak fo true at first ? my office is
To noise abroad, that Harry Monmouth fell
Under the wrath of noble Hot-fpur's sword;
And that the King before the Douglas' rage
Stoop'd his anointed head as low as death.

This have I rumour'd through the peasant towns,
Between that royal field of Shrewsbury,

And this worm-eaten Hold of ragged stone; (1)
Where Hot-pur's father, old Northumberland,
Lies crafty fick. The Posts come tiring on ;
And not a man brings other news

Than they have learn'd of me. From Rumour's tongues, They bring fmooth comforts falfe, worfe than true [Exit

wrongs.

(1) And this worm-eaten Hole of ragged Stone,] NorthumberLand had retir'd and fortified himself in his Caftle, a Place of Strength in those times, tho the Building might be im pair'd by its Antiquity; and therefore, I believe, our Post wrote:

And this worm-eaten Hold of ragged Stones

Dramati

KING Henry the Fourth.

Prince Henry, afterwards crown'd King Henry the Fifth.

Prince John of Lancaster,

}

Sons to Henry the Fourth.. and Brethren to Henry. the Fifth.

ว

Humphrey of Gloucester,
Thomas of Clarence,
Northumberland,
Archbishop of York,

Mowbray,

Haftings,

Lord Bardolph.

Travers,

Oppofites against King Henry the Fourth.

Page,

Shallow and Silence, Country Juftices..

Davy, Servant to Shallow.

Phang and Snare, two Serjeants.

Mouldy,