Earliest manuscript copy of a Shakespeare play: conflated version of the two parts of Henry IV

[This transcription is pending final vetting]

[Image 1: fol. A1v]

Leandro.   Si​r Thomas Hotton.   Francis Manouch.​
Octauio   Si​r Warrham S^t leger​.    Thomas Slender.​
Bartolus    Si​r Edward Dering​    Mr Kemp.​
Iames    Robert Heywood.​    Mr Donne​.    X.
Henrique    Edward Dering​    Ihon Deryng.​
Lopez.   Thomas Slender​.    Ihon Carlile​.
                                            Thomas Derying.
Deigo.    Mr Donne.​ ^Kemp. Iacke of the buttery​.
Assistent.    Ihon Dering.    Anthony Deryng.​
                     Mr Kemp.​    Georg Perd.​

[Image 1: fol. 1r]

he istory ff ing enry he ourth .//.
Enter
Ihon E. of Lancaster bare Sir Walter Blunt,
King Henry.
Sir Walter and Blunt and
Attendance.
King So shaken as we are, so wan with Care,
ffind we a time for frighted peace to pant,
And breath short winded accents of new broiles ^{sweete rest.}
To be Commenc't in stronds afarre remote.
No more the thirsty bosome of this land
Shall wash her selfe with ⁱⁿ her owne Childrens bloud.
No more shall trenching warre channell her feildes,
Nor bruise her flowretts with the armed hoofes
Of hostile paces. Those opposed eyes,
which like the meteors of a troubled heauen,
All of one nature, of one substance bredd,
Did lately meete in the intestine shocke
And furious Close of Ciuill butchery,
Shall now in mutuall well-beseeming rankes,
March all one way: and be no more oppos’d
Against acquaintance, kin^^dred and ally’es.
The edge of warre, like an ill-sheathed knife,
No more shall Cutt his master. Therefore freindes
fforthwith a power of English shall we leuy,
whose armes were moulded in theire mothers wombes,
To Chase these Pagans from those holy feildes,
And force proude Mahomett from Palestine.
But this our purpose is now ^^is twelue-month’s old,
And bootelesse ’tis to tell you we will go.
Therefore we meete not now. Then lett me heare
Of you my ^^{gentle gentle}noble sonne of Lancaster,
What yesternight our Counsell did decree,
In forwardinge this deere expedience.
Lanc:

[Image 2: fol. 1v]

Lanc: My Lieg this hast was hott in Question
And many limitts of the Charg sett downe
but yesternight when all Athwart there came
A post from Wales, Laden with heauy Newes
whose worst was: that the noble Mortimer
leading the men of Herdfordsheere to fight
Against the’ Irregular and Wild Glendower
was by the rude handes of that welchman taken
A thousand of his people butchered:
vpon whose dead Corps there was such misevse
Such beastly, shameles transeformacion
by those Welch-women don: as may not be
(without much shame) retold or spoken of:
King:, It seemes then, that the tidinges of this broyle
brake off our buisines for the holy land:
Lanc:, This matcht with other-like, (my gratious lord)
far more vneuene and vnwelcome Newes
Came from the North: and thus it did Report:
on Holy-roode-day: the gallant hotspur there
young Harry Percy: and braue Archibald
that euer valiant & Aproved Scote
At Holmedon Met: where they did spend
a sad & bloody hower:
As by discharge of theire Artillary
And shape of Likelihood, the Newes was told:
for he that brought them in the verry heate
and prid of theire Contention did tak horse
vncertaine of the Issue Any way:
King: here is a deare & true Industrious friend
Sir Walter blunt: New lighted from his horse
straind with the variation of each soyle
betwixt that Holmedon: & this seat of ours
And he hath brought vs smoth & welcome Newes:
the Earle of Dowglas is discomfited:
ten thowsand bold Scots: two & twenty knights
balkt in their owne blood did Sir Walter see
on Holmedons playnes: of prisoners Hotspur tooke
Mordake Earle of Fie & eldest soone
to:

[Image 2: fol. 2r]

to beaten Dowglas & the Earle of Atholl 
of Murrey: Angus: and Menteith
and is not this An honourable spoyle?
A gallant prize: ha. Coosen ^Blunt is it not? in faith it is:
Blunt: A Conquest for a prince to boast of:
King:  yea: there thou mak'st me sad: & mak'st me sinne
in envy that my lord Northumberland
should be the father of so blest A sonne:
A sonne, who is the theame of honoures tongue,
Amongst a groue: the very straightest plant
who is sweet fortunes Minion & her pride
whilst I by lookeing on the praise of hime
see Riot and dishonour staine the brow
of my young Harry: o that it Could be prou’d
that some Night-tripping fairy had exchang’d
in Cradle Clothes our Chilldren where they lay
and Cal’d myne Percy: his Plantagnet:
then would I haue his Harry and he myne
but let hime from my thoughts: what think yow blunt
of this young Percies prid: the prisoners
which he in this Adventure hath surpris’d
to his owne vse he keepes: & sends me word
I shall haue none: but Mordake Earl of fife
Blunt: This is his vnckles teaching: this is Worsester
Maleuolent to yow in all respects
which makes hime prune himeselfe & bristle vp
the Crest of youth: Against yowr dignity:
King:  but I haue sent for hime to Answeare this
& ffor this Cause A while we must neglect
our holy purpose to Ierusalem
on wednesday next our Counsell we will hold
At Winsor: so informe the lords
but come yowr selfe with speed to us agayne
for more is to be said & to be done
then out of Anger Can be Vttered:
Blunt: I will, my Liege:
Exeunt
Enter