And, by the ground they hide, I judge their number
Upon or near the rate of thirty thousand.
MESSENGER
The enemy is west of this forest, and less than a mile away. They look powerful, and, from the amount of space they're taking up, I'd say they have close to thirty thousand soldiers.
MOWBRAY
The just proportion that we gave them out.
Let us sway on and face them in the field.
MOWBRAY
That's exactly the number we thought they had. Let's march ahead and engage them in battle.
Enter WESTMORELAND
WESTMORELAND enters.
ARCHBISHOP
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What well-appointed leader fronts us here?
ARCHBISHOP
Who's this well-equipped leader coming here to confront us?
MOWBRAY
I think it is my Lord of Westmoreland.
MOWBRAY
I think it's Lord Westmoreland.
WESTMORELAND
Health and fair greeting from our general,
The Prince Lord John and Duke of Lancaster.
WESTMORELAND
Our general, the Prince Lord John of Lancaster, sends greetings and wishes you good health.
ARCHBISHOP
Say on, my Lord of Westmoreland, in peace,
30
What doth concern your coming.
ARCHBISHOP
Speak in peace, Lord Westmoreland. What's the reason you've come here?
WESTMORELAND
Then, my lord,
Unto your Grace do I in chief address
The substance of my speech. If that rebellion
Came like itself, in base and abject routs,
Led on by bloody youth, guarded with rage,
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And countenanced by boys and beggary—
I say, if damn'd commotion so appeared
In his true, native, and most proper shape,
You, reverend father, and these noble lords
Had not been here to dress the ugly form
40
Of base and bloody insurrection
WESTMORELAND
The most important part of my message is for you, your grace. You, who are a holy man, and these good gentlemen as well—you would not be here, lending dignity to this bloody insurrection, if it appeared as rebellion normally does: like a lowborn mob, led by bloody youths uniformed in rags, and supported by boys and beggars.
