4OPen your Eares: For which of you will stop

5The vent of Hearing, when loud Rumor speakes?

6I, from the Orient, to the drooping West

7(Making the winde my Post-horse) still vnfold

8The Acts commenced on this Ball of Earth.

9Vpon my Tongue, continuall Slanders ride,

10The which, in euery Language, I pronounce,

11Stuffing the Eares of them with false Reports:

12I speake of Peace, while couert Enmitie

13(Vnder the smile of Safety) wounds the World:

14And who but Rumour, who but onely I

15Make fearfull Musters, and prepar'd Defence,

16Whil'st the bigge yeare, swolne with some other griefes,

17Is thought with childe, by the sterne Tyrant, Warre,

18And no such matter? Rumour, is a Pipe

19Blowne by Surmises, Ielousies, Coniectures;

20And of so easie, and so plaine a stop,

21That the blunt Monster, with vncounted heads,

22The still discordant, wauering Multitude,

23Can play vpon it. But what neede I thus

24My well-knowne Body to Anathomize

25Among my houshold? Why is Rumour heere?

26I run before King Harries victory,

27Who in a bloodie field by Shrewsburie

28Hath beaten downe yong Hotspurre, and his Troopes,

29Quenching the flame of bold Rebellion,

30Euen with the Rebels blood. But what meane I

31To speake so true at first? My Office is

32To noyse abroad, that Harry Monmouth fell

33Vnder the Wrath of Noble Hotspurres Sword:

34And that the King, before the Dowglas Rage

35Stoop'd his Annointed head, as low as death.

36This haue I rumour'd through the peasant-Townes,

37Betweene the Royall Field of Shrewsburie,

38And this Worme-eaten-Hole of ragged Stone,

39Where Hotspurres Father, old Northumberland,

40Lyes crafty sicke. The Postes come tyring on,

41And not a man of them brings other newes

42Then they haue learn'd of Me. From Rumours Tongues,

43They bring smooth-Comforts-false, worse then True-

44 wrongs. Exit.