IRST, my Feare: then, my Curtsie: last, my ture. Be it knowne to you (as it is very well) I was lately heere in the end of a displeasing Play, to pray your Patience for it, and to promise you a Better: I did meane (indeede) to pay you with this, which if (like an ill Venture) it come unluckily home, I breake; and you, my gentle Creditors lose. Heere I promist you I would be, and heere I commit my Bodie to your Mercies: Bate me some, and I will pay you some, and (as most Debtors do) promise you infinitely. If my Tongue cannot entreate you to acquit me: will you command me to use my Legges? And yet that were but light payment, to Dance out of your debt: But a good Conscience, will make any possible satisfaction, and so will I. All the gentlewomen heere, have forgiven me, if the Gentlemen will not, then the Gentlemen do not agree with the Gentlewomen, which was never seene before, in such an Assembly. One word more, I beseech you if you be not too much cloid with Fat Meate, our humble Author will continue the Story (with Sir John in it) aud make you merry, with faire Katherine of France: where (for any thing I know) Falstaffe shall dye of a sweat, unlesse already he be kill'd with your hard Opinions: For Old-Castle dyed a Martyr, and this is not the man. My Tongue is wearie, when my Legs are too, I will bid you good night; and so kneele downe before you: But (indeed) to pray for the Queene. THE ACTORS NAMES. UMOUR the Presentor. King Henry the Fourth. Prince Henry, afterwards Crowned King Henrie the Fift. The Life of Henry the Fift. Enter Prologue. For a Muse of Fire, that would ascend A Kingdome for a Stage, Princes to A, Within this Woodden O, the Or That did affright the Ayre at Agincourt? And let us, Cyphers to this great Accompt, Thinke when we talke of Horses, that you see them, Into an Howre-glasse: for the which supplie, Who Prologue-like, your humble patience pray, Actus Primus. Scana Prima. Enter the two Bishops of Canterbury and Ely. Exit. Y Lord, Ile tell you, that selfe Bill is urg'd, But that the scambling and unquiet time Bish. Ely. But how my Lord shall we resist it now? We loose the better halfe of our Possession: For all the Temporall Lands, which men devout By Testament have given to the Church, Would they strip from us; being valu'd thus, As much as would maintaine, to the Kings honor, A thousand pounds by th'yeere. Thus runs the Bill. |