0000010lights, lights, bring torches, knaves! 0000020shut to the gates, 0000030let no man out until the house be searched. 0000040call for our coaches, let us away good brother 0000050now by the blest saints, i fear we are poisoned all. 0000060poisoned my lord? 0000070ay, ay, good arundel, it is high time begone. 0000080may heaven be blest for this prevention. 0000090god, for thy mercy! would our cousin king 0000100so cozen us, to poison us in our meat? 0000110has no man here some helping antidote 0000120for fear already we have taken some dram? 0000130what thinkest thou, cheyney, thou first broughtst the 0000140tidings. are we not poisoned, thinkest thou? 0000150fear not, my lords. 0000160that mischievous potion was as yet unserved. 0000170it was a liquid bane dissolved in wine 0000180which after supper should have been caroused 0000190to young king richard's health. 0000200good in faith! are his uncles' deaths become 0000210health to king richard? how came it out? 0000220sir thomas cheyney, pray resolve us. 0000230a carmelite friar, my lord, revealed the plot 0000240and should have acted it, but touched in conscience 0000250he came to your good brother, the lord protector, 0000251and so disclosed it; who straight sent me to you. 0000260the lord protect him for it, ay, and our cousin 0000270king. high heaven be judge, we wish all good to him. 0000280a heavy charge, good woodstock, hast thou had 0000290to be protector to so wild a prince 0000300so far degenerate from his noble father 0000310whom the trembling french the black prince called 0000320not of a swart and melancholy brow 0000330(for sweet and lovely was his countenance) 0000340but that he made so many funeral days 0000350in mournful france: the warlike battles won 0000360at crecy field, poitiers, artoise and maine 0000370made all france groan under his conquering arm. 0000380but heaven forestalled his diadem on earth 0000390to place him with a royal crown in heaven. 0000400rise may his dust to glory! ere he would have done 0000410a deed so base unto his enemy, 0000420much less unto the brothers of his father, 0000430he would first have lost his royal blood in drops, 0000440dissolved the strings of his humanity 0000450and lost that livelihood that was preserved 0000460to make his (unlike) son a wanton king. 0000470forbear, good john-of-gaunt; believe me, brother 0000480we may do wrong unto our cousin king. 0000490i fear his flattering minions more than him. 0000500by the blest virgin, noble edmund york 0000510i am past all patience. poison his subjects, 0000520his royal uncles! why, the proud castilian 0000530where john-of-gaunt writes king and sovereign, 0000540would not throw off their vild and servile yoke 0000550by treachery so base. patience, gracious heaven! 0000560a good invoke, right princely lancaster, 0000570calm thy high spleen. sir thomas cheyney here 0000580can tell the circumstance; pray give him leave. 0000590well, let him speak. 0000600it is certainly made known, my reverend lords, 0000610to your loved brother, and the good protector 0000620that not king richard but his flatterers 0000630sir henry greene, joined with sir edward bagot, 0000640and that sly machiavel tresilian, 0000650(whom now the king elects for lord chief justice) 0000651had all great hands in this conspiracy. 0000660by blessed mary i will confound them all. 0000670your spleen confounds yourself. 0000680by kingly edward's soul, my royal father, 0000690i will be revenged at full on all their lives. 0000700nay, if your rage break to such high extremes 0000710you will prevent yourself, and lose revenge. 0000720why edmund, canst thou give a reason yet 0000730though we, so near in blood, his hapless uncles, 0000740(his grandsire edward's sons; his father's brothers) 0000750should thus be made away, why might it be 0000760that arundel and surrey here should die? 0000770some friend of theirs wanted my earldom sore. 0000780perhaps my office of the admiralty, 0000790if a better and more fortunate hand could govern it 0000800i would it were none of mine, 0000810yet thus much can i say; and make my praise 0000820no more than merit a wealthier prize 0000830did never yet take harbour in our roads 0000840than i to england brought. you all can tell, 0000850full threescore sail of tall and lusty ships 0000860and six great carracks fraught with oil and wines 0000870i brought king richard in abundance home 0000880so much, that plenty hath so staled our palates 0000890as that a tun of high-prized wines of france 0000900is hardly worth a mark of english money. 0000910if service such as this done to my country 0000920merit my heart to bleed, let it bleed freely. 0000930we will bleed together, warlike arundel. 0000940cousin of surrey, princely edmund york 0000950let us think on some revenge: if we must die 0000960ten thousand souls shall keep us company. 0000970patience, good lancaster. tell me, kind cheyney 0000980how does thy master, our good brother woodstock 0000990plain thomas, for by the rood so all men call him 0001000for his plain dealing, and his simple clothing. 0001010let others jet in silk and gold, says he, 0001020a coat of english frieze, best pleaseth me. 0001030how thinks his unsophisticated plainness 0001040of these bitter compounds? fears he no drug 0001050put in his broth? shall his healths be secure? 0001051faith my lord, his mind suits with his habit 0001060homely and plain; both free from pride and envy 0001070and therein will admit distrust to none. 0001080and see, his grace himself is come to greet you. 0001090by your leave there, room for my lord protector's grace! 0001100health to your grace. 0001110i salute your healths, good brothers, pray pardon 0001120me, i will speak with you anon. hie thee, good exton! 0001130good lord mayor, i do beseech ye prosecute 0001140with your best care a means for all our safeties. 0001150mischief hath often double practices; 0001160treachery wants not his second stratagem. 0001170who knows but steel may hit, though poison fail? 0001180alack the day, the night is made a veil 0001190to shadow mischief. set, i beseech, 0001200strong guard and careful to attend the city. 0001210our lady help, we know not who are friends. 0001220our foes are grown so mighty, pray be careful. 0001230your friends are great in london, good my lord. 0001240i will front all dangers, trust it on my word. 0001250thanks from my heart i swear. afore my god 0001260i know not which way to bestow myself 0001270the time is so busy and so dangerous too. 0001280why how now, brothers? how fares good john-of-gaunt? 0001290thou art vexed i know; thou grievest, kind edmund york. 0001300arundel and surrey, noble kinsmen 0001310i know ye all are discontented much; 0001320but be not so. afore my god i swear 0001330king richard loves you all: and credit me 0001340the princely gentleman is innocent 0001350of this black deed, and base conspiracy. 0001360speak, speak, how is it with princely lancaster? 0001370sick gloucester, sick. we all are weary 0001380and fain we would lie down to rest ourselves 0001390but that so many serpents lurk in the grass 0001400we dare not sleep. 0001410enough, enough 0001420good brother, i have found out the disease. 0001421when the head aches, the body is not healthful. 0001430king richard is wounded with a wanton humour, 0001440lulled and secured by flattering sycophants; 0001450but it is not deadly yet, it may be cured. 0001460some vein let blood where the corruption lies 0001470and all shall heal again. 0001480then lose no time, lest it grow ulcerous. 0001490the false tresilian, greene and bagot 0001500run naught but poison, brother, spill them all. 0001510they guide the nonage king; it is they protect him. 0001520ye wear the title of protectorship 0001530but like an under-officer, as though 0001540yours were derived from theirs; faith, you are too plain. 0001550in my apparel, you will say. 0001560good faith, in all. 0001570the commons murmur against the dissolute king 0001580treason is whispered at each common table 0001590as customary as their thanks to heaven. 0001600men need not gaze up to the sky to see 0001610whether the sun shine clear or no, it is found 0001620by the small light should beautify the ground. 0001630conceit you me, a blind man thus much sees: 0001640he wants his eyes to whom we bend our knees. 0001650you all are princes of the royal blood 0001660yet like great oaks ye let the ivy grow 0001670to eat your hearts out with his false embraces. 0001680ye understand, my lord? 0001690ay, ay, good coz, as if ye plainly said 0001700destroy those flatterers and tell king richard 0001710he does abase himself to countenance them. 0001720soft, soft! 0001730fruit that grows high is not securely plucked, 0001740we must use ladders and by steps ascend 0001750till by degrees we reach the altitude. 0001760you conceit me too? pray be smooth awhile. 0001770tomorrow is the solemn nuptial day 0001780betwixt the king and virtuous anne-a-beame 0001790the emperor's daughter, a right gracious lady 0001800that is come to england for king richard's love. 0001810then, as you love his grace, and hate his flatterers, 0001820discountenace not the day with the least frown, 0001830be ignorant of what ye know. afore my god 0001840i have good hope this happy marriage, brothers, 0001841of this so noble and religious princess 0001850will mildly calm his headstrong youth, to see 0001860and shun those stains that blurs his majesty. 0001870if not, by good king edward's bones, our royal father, 0001880i will remove those hinderers of his health, 0001890though it cost my head. 0001900on these conditions, brother, we agree. 0001910and i. 0001920and i. 0001930to hide our hate is soundest policy. 0001940and brother gloucester, since it is your pleasure 0001950to have us smooth our sullen brows with smiles 0001960we would have you suit your outside to your heart 0001970and like a courtier cast this country habit 0001980for which the coarse and vulgar call your grace 0001990by the title of plain thomas: yet we doubt not 0002000tomorrow we shall have good hope to see 0002010your high protectorship in bravery. 0002020no no, good york, this is as fair a sight, 0002030my heart in this plain frieze sits true and right. 0002040in this i will serve my king as true and bold 0002050as if my outside were all trapped in gold. 0002060by mary but you shall not, brother woodstock! 0002070what, the marriage day to richard and his queen, 0002080and will ye so disgrace the state and realm? 0002090we will have you brave, in faith! 0002100well, well 0002110for your sakes, brothers, and this solemn day 0002120for once i will sumpter a gaudy wardrobe, but it is more 0002130than i have done (i vow) this twenty years. 0002140afore my god the king could not have entreated me 0002150to leave this habit, but your wills be done. 0002160let us hie to court: you all your wishes have: 0002170one weary day, plain thomas will be brave. 0002180nay, good sir henry, king richard calls for you. 0002190prithee sweet greene 0002200visit his highness and forsake these passions. 0002210'sblood i am vexed, tresilian mad me not, 0002220thyself and i and all are now undone. 0002221the lords at london are secured from harm, 0002230the plot is revealed. black curses seize the traitor! 0002240eternal torments whip that carmelite! 0002250a deeper hell than limbo patrum hold him, 0002260a fainting villain, confusion crush his soul! 0002270could the false slave recoil, and swore their 0002280deaths! 0002290mischief devour him! had it but taken effect 0002300on lancaster and edmund duke of york 0002310(those headstrong uncles to the gentle king) 0002320the third brother, plain thomas, the protector 0002330had quickly been removed; but since it is thus 0002340our safeties must be cared for, and it is best 0002350to keep us near the person of the king. 0002360had they been dead, we had ruled the realm and him. 0002370so shall we still so long as richard lives. 0002380i know he cannot brook his stubborn uncles. 0002390come, think not on it: cheer thee, tresilian 0002400here is better news for thee: we have so wrought 0002410with kingly richard, that by his consent 0002420you are already mounted on your footcloth 0002430(your scarlet or your purple, which ye please) 0002440and shortly are to underprop the name, 0002450mark me, tresilian, of lord chief justice of england. 0002460hum, hum, hum. legit or non legit? methinks already 0002470i sit upon the bench with dreadful frowns 0002480frighting the lousy rascals, 0002490and when the jury once cries "guilty" could pronounce 0002500"lord have mercy on thee", with a brow 0002510as rough and stern as surly rhadamanth; 0002520or when a fellow talks, cry "take him, jailor, 0002530clap bolts of iron on his heels and hands!" 0002540chief justice, my lords! hum, hum, hum. 0002550i will wear the office in his true ornament. 0002560but good your honour, as it will shortly be, 0002570you must observe and fashion to the time 0002580the habit of your laws. the king is young 0002590ay, and a little wanton, so perhaps are we: 0002600your laws must not be beadles then, tresilian, 0002610to punish your benefactors, look to that. 0002620how sir, to punish you, the minions to the king, 0002621the jewels of his heart, his dearest loves? 0002630zounds, i will screw and wind the stubborn law 0002640to any fashion that shall like you best. 0002650it shall be law, what i shall say is law, 0002660and what is most suitable to all your pleasures. 0002670thanks to your lordship which is yet to come! 0002680farewell, tresilian, still be near the court. 0002690anon king richard shall confirm thy state. 0002700we must attend his grace to westminster 0002710to the high nuptials of fair anne-a-beame, 0002720that must be now his wife and england's queen. 0002730so, let them pass. tresilian, now bethink thee. 0002740hum, lord chief justice: methinks already 0002750i am swelled more plump than erst i was. 0002760authority is a dish that feeds men fat, 0002770an excellent delicate: yet best be wise, 0002780no state is secure without some enemies. 0002790the dukes will frown; why, i can look as grim 0002800as john-of-gaunt, and all that frown with him. 0002810but yet until mine office be put on 0002820by kingly richard, i will conceal myself: 0002830framing such subtle laws that janus-like 0002840may with a double face salute them both. 0002850i will search my brain and turn the leaves of law: 0002860wit makes us great, greatness keeps fools in awe. 0002870my man there, ho! where is nimble? 0002880as nimble as an eel, sir. did ye call, sir? 0002890sir! look out some better phrase: salute again. 0002900i know no other, sir, unless you will be frenchified, 0002910and let me lay the monsieur to your charge, or sweet 0002920signior. 0002930neither. it is higher yet. nimble, thou buckram 0002940scribe, think once again. 0002950neither sir: nor monsieur: nor signior. what should 0002960i call him, trow? he is monstrously translated 0002970suddenly! at first, when we were schoolfellows, then 0002980i called him sirrah,, but since he became my master i 0002990pared away the "ah" and served him with the sir. what 0003000title he has got now, i know not, but i will try 0003001further. has your worship any employment for me? 0003010thou gross uncaput, no, thou speakest not yet. 0003020my mouth was open i am sure. if your honour 0003030would please to hear me. 0003040ha, honour sayest thou? ay, now thou hittest it, 0003050nimble. 0003060i knew i should wind about ye till i had your 0003070honour. 0003080nimble, bend thy knee. 0003090the lord chief justice of england speaks to thee. 0003100the lord be praised! we shall have a flourishing 0003110commonwealth, sir. 0003120peace, let me speak to thee. 0003130yes, anything, so your honour pray not for me, i 0003140care not; for now you are lord chief justice, if ever 0003150ye cry, lord have mercy upon me, i shall hang for it, 0003160sure! 0003170no. those fearful words shall not be pronounced 0003180against thee, nimble. 0003190thank ye, my lord. nay, and you will stand between 0003200me and the gallows, i will be an arrant thief, sure, if 0003210i cannot pick up my crumbs by the law quickly, i will 0003220cast away my buckram bags and be a highway lawyer now, 0003230certainly. 0003240canst thou remember, nimble, how by degrees i rose, 0003250since first thou knewest me? i was first a schoolboy. 0003260ay, saving your honour's speech, your worshipful 0003270tail was whipped for stealing my dinner out of my 0003280satchel. you were ever so crafty in your childhood, 0003290that i knew your worship would prove a good lawyer. 0003300interrupt me not. those days thou knewest, i say, 0003310from whence i did become a plodding clerk, 0003320from which i bounced, as thou dost now, in buckram 0003330to be a pleading lawyer (and there i stayed) 0003340till by the king i was chief justice made. 0003350nimble, i read this discipline to thee 0003360to stir thy mind up still to industry. 0003370thank your good lordship. 0003380go to thy mistress: lady you now must call her. 0003390bid her remove her household up to london; 0003400tell her our fortunes, and with how much peril 0003410we have attained this place of eminence. 0003411go and remove her. 0003420with a habeas corpus or a surssararis, i assure ye. 0003430and so i leave your lordship, always hoping of your 0003440wonted favour, that when i have passed the london 0003450bridge of affliction i may arrive with you at the 0003460westminster hall of promotion, and then i care not. 0003470thou shalt; thou hast an executing look 0003480and i will put the axe into thy hand. 0003490i rule the law: thou by the law shalt stand. 0003500i thank your lordship, and a fig for the rope then! 0003510bagot and greene, next to the fair queen anne 0003520take your high places, by king richard's side 0003530and give fair welcome to our queen and bride. 0003540uncles of woodstock, york, and lancaster, 0003550make full our wishes, and salute our queen; 0003560give all your welcomes to fair anne-a-beame. 0003570i hope sweet prince, her grace mistakes us not 0003580to make our hearts the worser part of us: 0003590our tongues have in our english eloquence 0003600(harsh though it is) pronounced her welcomes many 0003610by oaths and loyal protestations 0003620to which we add a thousand infinites; 0003630but in a word, fair queen, forever welcome! 0003640let me prevent the rest, for mercy's sake! 0003650if all their welcomes be as long as thine 0003660this health will not go round this week, by the mass! 0003670sweet queen, and cousin, now i will call you so, 0003680in plain and honest phrase, welcome to england! 0003690think they speak all in me, and you have seen 0003700all england cry with joy, "god bless the queen", 0003710and so afore my god i know they wish it. 0003720only i fear my duty not misconstered, 0003730nay, nay, king richard, afore god i will speak the truth! 0003740sweet queen, you have found a young and wanton choice, 0003741a wild-head, yet a kingly gentleman; 0003750a youth unsettled; yet he is princely bred 0003760descended from the royalest bloods in europe, 0003770the kingly stock of england and of france. 0003780yet he is a hare-brain, a very wag in faith, 0003790but you must bear, madam: alas, he is but a blossom; 0003800but his maturity i hope you will find 0003810true english bred, a king loving and kind. 0003820i thank ye for your double praise, good uncle. 0003830ay, ay good coz, i am plain thomas, by the rood 0003840i will speak the truth. 0003850my sovereign lord, and you true english peers 0003860your all-accomplished honours have so tied 0003870my senses by a magical restraint 0003880in the sweet spells of this your fair demeanours, 0003890that i am bound and charmed from what i was: 0003900my native country i no more remember 0003910but as a tale told in my infancy, 0003920the greatest part forgot: and that which is, 0003930appears to england's fair elysium 0003940like brambles to the cedars, coarse to fine, 0003950or like the wild grape to the fruitful vine. 0003960and, having left the earth where i was bred 0003970and english made, let me be englished: 0003980they best shall please me shall me english call. 0003990my heart, great king, to you; my love to all. 0004000gramercy, man, thou highly honourest me. 0004010and blest is england in this sweet accord. 0004020afore my god, sweet queen, our english ladies 0004030and all the women that this isle contains 0004040shall sing in praise of this your memory 0004050and keep records of virtuous anne-a-beame 0004060whose discipline hath taught them womanhood. 0004070what erst seemed well by custom, now looks rude. 0004080our women, till your coming, fairest cousin 0004090did use like men to straddle when they ride, 0004100but you have taught them now to sit aside. 0004110yet (by your leave) young practice often reels; 0004120i have seen some of your scholars kick up both their 0004130heels! 0004140what have you seen, my lord? 0004150nay, nay, nothing, wife. 0004151i see little without spectacles thou knowest. 0004160trust him not, aunt, for now he is grown so brave 0004170he will be courting, ay, and kissing too. 0004180nay, uncle! now i will do as much for you, 0004190and lay your faults all open to the world! 0004200ay, ay, do, do. 0004210i am glad you are grown so careless: now by my crown 0004220i swear, good uncles york and lancaster, 0004230when you this morning came to visit me 0004240i did not know him in this strange attire. 0004250how comes this golden metamorphosis 0004260from homespun housewifery? speak, good uncle! 0004270i never saw you hatched and gilded thus. 0004280i am no stoic, my dear sovereign cousin, 0004290to make my plainness seem canonical, 0004300but to allow myself such ornaments 0004310as might be fitting for your nuptial day 0004320and coronation of your virtuous queen; 0004330but were the eye of day once closed again 0004340upon this back they never more should come. 0004350you have much graced the day. but, noble uncle 0004360i did observe what i have wondered at: 0004370as we, today, rode on to westminster 0004380methought your horse, that wont to tread the ground 0004390and pace as if he kicked it, scornfully, 0004400mound and curvet, like strong bucephalus, 0004410today he trod as slow and melancholy 0004420as if his legs had failed to bear his load. 0004430and can ye blame the beast? afore my god 0004440he was not wont to bear such loads. indeed, 0004450a hundred oaks upon these shoulders hang 0004460to make me brave upon your wedding day, 0004470and more than that: to make my horse more tire, 0004480ten acres of good land are stitched up here. 0004490you know, good coz, this was not wont to be. 0004500in your tother hose, uncle? 0004510no, nor his frieze coat neither! 0004520ay, ay, mock on. my tother hose, say ye? 0004530there is honest plain dealing in my tother hose. 0004540should this fashion last i must raise new rents, 0004550undo my poor tenants, turn away my servants, 0004560and guard myself with lace; nay, sell more land 0004561and lordships too, by the rood. hear me king richard: 0004570if thus i jet in pride, i still shall lose; 0004580but i will build castles in my tother hose. 0004590the king but jests, my lord; and you grow angry. 0004600tother hose! did some here wear that fashion 0004610they would not tax and pill the commons so! 0004620(sfoot, he forewarned us, and will break 0004630out himself.) 0004640no matter, we will back him though it grows to blows. 0004650scoff ye my plainness, i will talk no riddles, 0004660plain thomas will speak plainly: there is bagot there, 0004670and greene - 0004680and what of them, my lord? 0004690upstarts, come down, you have no places there; 0004700here is better men to grace king richard's chair, 0004710if it pleased him grace them so. 0004720uncle, forbear. 0004730these cuts the columns that should prop thy house 0004740they tax the poor, and i am scandaled for it 0004750that by my fault those late oppressions rise 0004760to set the commons in a mutiny 0004770that london even itself was sacked by them. 0004780and who did all these rank commotions point at? 0004790even at these two: bagot here, and greene, 0004800with false tresilian, whom your grace we hear 0004810hath made chief justice. well, well, be it so. 0004820mischief on mischief sure will shortly flow. 0004830pardon my speech, my lord, since now we are all so 0004840brave to grace queen anne, this day we will spend in 0004850sport; but in my tother hose, i will tickle them for it. 0004860come, come, ye dote, my lord. 0004870dote, sir? know ye to whom ye speak? 0004880no more, good uncles. come, sweet greene, have done. 0004890(i will wring them all for this, by england's crown). 0004900why is our lord protector so outrageous? 0004910because thy subjects have such outrage shown them 0004920by these thy flatterers. let the sun dry up 0004930what the unwholesome fog hath choked the ground with. 0004940here is arundel, thy ocean's admiral 0004950hath brought thee home a rich and wealthy prize, 0004960taken three score sail of ships, and six great carracks 0004970all richly laden; let those goods be sold 0004980to satisfy those borrowed sums of coin 0004990their pride hath forced from the needy commons: 0005000to salve which inconvenience i beseech your grace 0005010you would vouchsafe to let me have the sale 0005020and distribution of those goods. 0005030our word, good uncle, is already passed, 0005040which cannot with our honour be recalled: 0005050those wealthy prizes already are bestowed 0005060on these our friends. 0005070on them, my lord? 0005080yes. who storms at it? 0005090shall cankers eat the fruit 0005100that planting and good husbandry hath nourished? 0005110cankers?! 0005120ay, cankers! caterpillars! 0005130worse than consuming fires 0005140that eats up all their furies falls upon. 0005150once more be still. 0005160who is it that dares encounter with our will? 0005170we did bestow them, hear me, kind uncles: 0005180we shall ere long be past protectorship 0005190then will we rule ourself, and even till then 0005200we let ye know those gifts are given to them. 0005210we did it, woodstock. 0005220ye have done ill, then. 0005230ha, dare ye say so? 0005240dare i? afore my god i will speak, king richard, 0005250were i assured this day my head should off. 0005260i tell ye sir, my allegiance stands excused 0005270in justice of the cause. ye have done ill. 0005280the sun of mercy never shine on me 0005290but i speak truth. when warlike arundel, 0005300beset at sea, fought for those wealthy prizes 0005310he did with fame advance the english cross, 0005320still crying "courage in king richard's name." 0005330for thee he won them, and do thou enjoy them, 0005340he will fetch more honours home. but had he known 0005350that kites should have enjoyed the eagle's prize 0005360the fraught had swum unto thine enemies. 0005370so, sir. we will soothe your vexed spleen, good uncle 0005380and mend what is amiss. to those slight gifts 0005381not worth acceptance, thus much more we add: 0005390young henry greene shall be lord chancellor, 0005400bagot, lord keeper of our privy seal, 0005410tresilian, learned in our kingdom's laws, 0005420shall be chief justice. by them and their directions 0005430king richard will uphold his government. 0005440change no more words, my lord, ye do deject 0005450your kingly majesty to speak to such 0005460whose home-spun judgments, like their frosty beards 0005470would blast the blooming hopes of all your kingdom. 0005480were i as you, my lord - 0005490oh, gentle greene, throw no more fuel on 0005500but rather seek to mitigate this heat. 0005510be patient, kingly richard, quench this ire. 0005520would i had tears of force to stint this fire! 0005530beshrew the churls that make my queen so sad. 0005540but by my grandsire edward's kingly bones, 0005550my princely father's tomb, king richard swears 0005560we will make them weep these wrongs in bloody tears. 0005570come, fair queen anne-a-beame. bagot and greene, 0005580keep by king richard's side; but as for you, 0005590we will shortly make your stiff obedience bow. 0005600remember this, my lords: 0005610we keep the seal: our strength you all shall know. 0005620and we are chancellor: we love you well, think so. 0005630god for his mercy! shall we brook these braves, 0005640disgraced and threatened thus by fawning knaves? 0005650shall we that were great edward's princely sons 0005660be thus outbraved by flattering sycophants? 0005670afore my god and holy saints i swear 0005680but that my tongue hath liberty to show 0005690the inly passions boiling in my breast, 0005700i think my overburthened heart would break. 0005710what then may we conjecture? what is the cause 0005720of this remiss and inconsiderate dealing 0005730urged by the king and his confederates, 0005740but hate to virtue, and a mind corrupt 0005750with all preposterous rude misgovernment? 0005760these prizes taken by warlike arundel 0005761before his face are given those flatterers. 0005770it is his custom to be prodigal 0005780to any but to those do best deserve. 0005790because he knew you would bestow them well 0005800he gave it such as for their private gain 0005810neglect both honour and their country's good. 0005820how now, what noise is this? 0005830some posts, it seems: pray heaven the news be good. 0005840amen. i pray, for england's happiness. 0005850speak, speak, what tidings cheyney? 0005860of war, my lord and civil dissension: 0005870the men of kent and essex do rebel. 0005880i thought no less; and always feared as much. 0005890the shrieves in post have sent unto your grace 0005900that order be taken to stay the commons 0005910for fear rebellion rise in open arms. 0005920now, headstrong richard, shalt thou reap the fruit 0005930thy lewd licentious wilfulness hath sown. 0005940i know not which way to bestow myself! 0005950there is no standing on delay, my lords, 0005960these hot eruptions must have some redress 0005970or else in time they will grow incurable. 0005980the commons, they rebel: and the king all careless. 0005990here is wrong on wrong, to stir more mutiny. 0006000afore my god i know not what to do. 0006010take open arms. join with the vexed commons 0006020and hale his minions from his wanton side. 0006030their heads cut off, the people is satisfied. 0006040not so, not so! alack the day, good brother 0006050we may not so affright the tender prince. 0006060we will bear us nobly, for the kingdom's safety 0006070and the king's honour. therefore list to me. 0006080you, brother gaunt, and noble arundel 0006090shall undertake, by threats, or fair entreaty, 0006100to pacify the murmuring commons' rage; 0006110and whiles you there employ your service hours 0006120we presently will call a parliament 0006130and have their deeds examined thoroughly; 0006140where, if by fair means we can win no favour 0006150nor make king richard leave their companies, 0006151we will thus resolve, for our dear country's good 0006160to right her wrongs, or for it spend our bloods. 0006170about it then, we for the commons, you for the 0006180court. 0006190ay, ay. good lancaster, i pray be careful. 0006200come, brother york, we soon shall right all wrong, 0006210and send some headless from the court ere long. 0006220thus shall king richard suit his princely train 0006230despite his uncle's pride. embrace us, gentlemen. 0006240sir edward bagot, bushy, greene, and scroope, 0006250your youths are fitting to our tender years 0006260and such shall beautify our princely throne. 0006270fear not my uncles, nor their proudest strength 0006280for i will buckler ye against them all. 0006290thanks, dearest lord, let me have richard's love 0006300and like a rock unmoved my state shall stand 0006310scorning the proudest peer that rules the land. 0006320your uncles seek to overturn your state, 0006330to awe ye like a child, that they alone 0006340may at their pleasures thrust you from the throne. 0006350as if the sun were forced to decline 0006360before his dated time of darkness comes. 0006370sweet king, set courage to authority 0006380and let them know the power of majesty. 0006390may not the lion roar, because he is young? 0006400what are your uncles but as elephants 0006410that set their aged bodies to the oak? 0006420you are the oak against whose stock they lean: 0006430fall from them once, and then destroy them ever. 0006440be thou no stay, king richard, to their strength 0006450but as a tyrant unto tyranny, 0006460and so confound them all eternally. 0006470law must extend unto severity 0006480when subjects dare to brave their sovereign. 0006490tresilian, thou art lord chief justice now, 0006500who should be learned in the laws but thee? 0006510resolve us therefore what thou thinkest of them 0006520seek to subvert their king and sovereign. 0006530as of the king's rebellious enemies: 0006540as underminers of his sacred state; 0006550which, in the greatest prince or mightiest peer 0006560that is a subject to your majesty, 0006570is nothing less than treason capital, 0006580and he a traitor that endeavours it, 0006590attaint them then, arrest them and condemn them. 0006600hale them to the block and cut off all their heads, 0006610and then king richard claim the government. 0006620see it be done, tresilian, speedily. 0006630that course is all too rash, my gracious lord. 0006640too rash for what? 0006650it must be done with greater policy 0006660for fear the people rise in mutiny. 0006670ay, there is the fear: the commons love them well 0006680and all applaud the wily lancaster, 0006690the counterfeit relenting duke of york 0006700together with our fretful uncle woodstock 0006710with greater reverence than king richard's self. 0006720but time shall come, when we shall yoke their necks 0006730and make them bend to our obedience. 0006740how now, what readest thou, bushy? 0006750the monument of english chronicles, 0006760containing acts and memorable deeds 0006770of all your famous predecessor kings. 0006780what findest thou of them? 0006790examples strange and wonderful, my lord. 0006800the end of treason even in mighty persons: 0006810for here it is said your royal grandfather 0006820although but young, and under government, 0006830took the protector then, proud mortimer, 0006840and on a gallows fifty foot in height 0006850he hung him for his pride and treachery. 0006860why should our proud protector then presume 0006870and we not punish him, whose treason is vilder far 0006880than ever was rebellious mortimer's? 0006890prithee read on. examples such as these 0006900will bring us to our kingly grandsire's spirit. 0006910what is next? 0006920the battle full of dread and doubtful fear 0006930was fought betwixt your father and the french. 0006940then the black prince, encouraging his soldiers, 0006950being in number but 7750, gave the onset to the 0006960french king's puissant army, which were numbered to 000697068000, and in one hour got the victory, slew 6000 of 0006980the french soldiers, took prisoners of dukes, earls, 0006990knights and gentlemen to the number 1700, and of 0007000the common sort 10000; so the prisoners that were 0007010taken were twice so many as the englishmen were in 0007020njmber. besides, the thrice renowned prince took with 0007030his own hand king john of france and his son prisoners. 0007040this was called the battle of poitiers, and 0007050was fought on monday the nineteenth of september, 1356, 0007060my lord. 0007070a victory most strange and admirable. 0007080never was conquest got with such great odds. 0007090oh, princely edward, had thy son such hap, 0007100such fortune and success to follow him, 0007110his daring uncles and rebellious peers 0007120durst not control and govern as they do. 0007130but these bright shining trophies shall awake me, 0007140and as we are his body's counterfeit, 0007150so will we be the image of his mind, 0007160and die but we will attain his virtuous deeds. 0007170what next ensues, good bushy? read the rest. 0007180here is set down, my princely sovereign, 0007190the certain time and day when you were born. 0007200our birthday sayest thou? is that noted there? 0007210it is, my lord. 0007220prithee let me hear it, 0007230for thereby hangs a secret mystery 0007240which yet our uncle strangely keeps from us. 0007250on, bushy. 0007260upon the third of april 1365 was lord richard, son to 0007270the black prince, born at bordeaux. 0007280stay; let me think awhile. read it again. 0007290upon the third of april 1365 was lord richard son to 0007300the black prince born at bordeaux. 00073101365? what year is this? 0007320it is now, my lord, 1387. 0007330by that account, the third of april next 0007340our age is numbered two and twenty years. 0007341oh treacherous men that have deluded us, 0007350we might have claimed our right a twelvemonth since! 0007360shut up thy book, good bushy. bagot, greene, 0007370king richard in his throne will now be seen. 0007380this day i will claim my right, my kingdom's due. 0007390our uncles well shall know they but intrude: 0007400for which we will smite their base ingratitude. 0007410edmund of langley, duke of york, (my lord) 0007420sent from the lord protector and the peers 0007430doth crave admittance to your royal presence. 0007440our uncle edmund. so. were it not he 0007450we would not speak with him, but go admit him. 0007460woodstock and gaunt are stern and troublesome 0007470but york is gentle, mild and generous; 0007480and therefore we admit his conference. 0007490he comes, my lord. 0007500methinks it is strange, my good and reverent uncle, 0007510you and the rest should thus malign against us, 0007520and every hour with rude and bitter taunts 0007530abuse king richard and his harmless friends. 0007540we had a father, that once called ye brother: 0007550a grandsire too, that titled you his son; 0007560but could they see how you have wronged king richard 0007570their ghosts would haunt ye; and in dead of night 0007580fright all your quiet sleeps with horrid fears. 0007590i pray, stand up, we honour reverend years 0007600in meaner subjects. good uncle, rise and tell us: 0007610what further mischiefs are there now devised 0007620to torture and afflict your sovereign with? 0007630my royal lord, even by my birth i swear, 0007640my father's tomb, and faith to heaven i owe, 0007650your uncles' thoughts are all most honourable. 0007660and to that end the good protector sends me 0007670to certify your sacred majesty 0007680the peers of england now are all assembled 0007690to hold a parliament at westminster, 0007700and humbly crave you highness would be there 0007710to sit in council touching such affairs 0007720as shall concern your country's government. 0007730have they so soon procured a parliament? 0007731without our knowledge too? it is somewhat strange. 0007740yet say, good uncle, we will meet them straight. 0007750the news to all will be most wished and welcome. 0007760i take my leave, and to your grace i swear 0007770as i am subject loyal, just and true, 0007780we will nothing do to hurt the realm nor you. 0007790we shall believe you, uncle. go attend him. 0007800yes, we will meet them, but with such intent 0007810as shall dismiss their sudden parliament 0007820till we be pleased to summon and direct it. 0007830come, sirs, to westminster, attend our state. 0007840this day shall make you ever fortunate. 0007850the third of april, bushy, note the time, 0007860our age accomplished, crown and kingdom is mine. 0007870now, brother york, what says king richard, ha? 0007880his highness will be here immediately. 0007890go, cousin surrey, greet the parliament, 0007900tell them the king is coming, give these petitions 0007910to the knights and burgesses of the lower house, 0007920sent from each several shire of all the kingdom. 0007930these copies i will keep, and show his highness. 0007940pray make haste. 0007950i will, my lord. 0007960pity king richard's youth, most reverend uncles 0007970and in your high proceedings gently use him. 0007980think of his tender years: what is now amiss 0007990his riper judgment shall make good and perfect 0008000to you, and to the kingdom's benefit. 0008010alack, sweet queen. you and our lord the king 0008020have little cause to fear our just proceedings. 0008030we will fall beneath his feet, and bend our knees 0008040so he cast off those hateful flatterers 0008050that daily ruinate his state and kingdom. 0008060go in, sweet ladies, comfort one another. 0008070this happy parliament shall make all even 0008080and plant sure peace betwixt the king and realm. 0008081may heaven direct your wisdoms to provide 0008090for england's honour and king richard's good. 0008100believe no less, sweet queen. attend her highness. 0008110the king is come, my lords. 0008120stand from the door then: make way, cheyney. 0008130yonder is your uncles, my lord. 0008140ay, with our plain protector! 0008150full of complaints, sweet greene, i will wage my crown. 0008160give them fair words, and smooth awhile. 0008170the toils are pitched, and you may catch them quickly. 0008180why, how now, uncle? what, disrobed again 0008190of all your golden rich abiliments? 0008200ay, ay, good coz, i am now in my tother hose, 0008210i am now myself, plain thomas, and by the rood 0008220in these plain hose i will do the realm more good 0008230than these that pill the poor, to jet in gold. 0008240nay, be not angry, uncle. 0008250be you then pleased, good coz, to hear me speak 0008260and view thy subjects' sad petitions. 0008270see here, king richard, whilst thou livest at ease 0008280lulling thyself in nice security, 0008290thy wronged kingdom is in a mutiny. 0008300from every province are the people come 0008310with open mouths exclaiming on the wrongs 0008320thou and these upstarts have imposed on them. 0008330shame is deciphered on thy palace gate, 0008340confusion hangeth over thy wretched head, 0008350mischief is coming and in storms must fall: 0008360the oppression of the poor to heaven doth call. 0008370well, well, good uncle, these your bitter taunts 0008380against my friends and me will one day cease. 0008390but what is the reason you have sent for us? 0008400to have your grace confirm this parliament 0008410and set your hand to certain articles 0008420most needful for your state and kingdom's quiet. 0008430where are those articles? 0008440the states and burgesses of the parliament 0008450attend with duty to deliver them. 0008451please you ascend your throne. we will call them in. 0008460we will ask a question first, and then we will see 0008470them; for trust me, reverent uncles, we have sworn 0008480we will not sit upon our royal throne 0008490until this question be resolved at full. 0008500reach me that paper, bushy. hear me, princes: 0008510we had a strange petition here delivered us. 0008520a poor man's son, his father being deceased, 0008530gave him in charge unto a rich man's hands 0008540to keep him and the little land he had 0008550till he attained to one and twenty years. 0008560the poor revenue amounts but to three crowns, 0008570and yet the insatiate churl denies his right 0008580and bars him of his fair inheritance. 0008590tell me, i pray: will not our english laws 0008600enforce this rich man to resign his due? 0008610there is no let to bar it, gracious soverign. 0008620afore my god, sweet prince, it joys my soul 0008630to see your grace in person thus to judge his cause. 0008640such deeds as this will make king richard shine 0008650above his famous predecessor kings 0008660if thus he labour to establish right. 0008670the poor man then had wrong, you all confess? 0008680and shall have right, my liege, to quit his wrong. 0008690then, woodstock, give us right, for we are 0008700wronged. 0008710thou art the rich, and we the poor man's son. 0008720the realms of england, france, and ireland 0008730are those three crowns thou yearly keepest from us. 0008740is it not a wrong when every mean man's son 0008750may take his birthright at the time expired, 0008760and we, the principal, being now attained 0008770almost to two and twenty years of age 0008780cannot be suffered to enjoy our own 0008790nor peaceably possess our father's right? 0008800was this the trick, sweet prince! alack the day, 0008810you need not thus have doubled with your friends. 0008820the right i hold, even with my heart i render 0008830and wish your grace had claimed it long ago. 0008840thou hadst rid mine age of mickle care and woe. 0008850and yet i think i have not wronged your birthright: 0008851for if the times were searched i guess your grace 0008860is not so full of years till april next. 0008870but be it as it will. lo, here, king richard, 0008880i thus yield up my sad protectorship: 0008890a heavy burthen has thou taken from me. 0008900long mayst thou live in peace and keep thine own 0008910that truth and justice may attend thy throne. 0008920then in the name of heaven we thus ascend it 0008930and here we claim our fair inheritance 0008940of fruitful england, france, and ireland, 0008950superior lord of scotland; and the rights 0008960belonging to our great dominions. 0008970here, uncles, take the crown from richard's hand 0008980and once more place it on our kingly head. 0008990this day we will be new enthronished. 0009000with all our hearts, my lord. trumpets, be ready. 0009010long live king richard, of that name the second 0009020the sovereign lord of england's ancient rights! 0009030we thank ye all. so. now we feel ourself. 0009040our body could not fill this chair till now, 0009050it was scanted to us by protectorship. 0009060but now we let ye know king richard rules 0009070and will elect and choose, place and displace 0009080such officers as we ourself shall like of. 0009090and first, my lords, because your age is such 0009100as pity it were ye should be further pressed 0009110with weighty business of the common weal, 0009120we here dismiss ye from the council table 0009130and will that you remain not in our court. 0009140deliver up your staves. and hear ye, arundel, 0009150we do discharge ye of the admiralty. 0009160scroope, take his office and his place in council. 0009170i thank your highness. 0009180here, take my staff, good cousin. york thus leaves 0009190thee. thou leanest on staves that will at length 0009200deceive thee. 0009210there lie the burthen of old lancaster; 0009220and may he perish that succeeds my place! 0009230so, sir, we will observe your humour. 0009240sir henry greene, succeed our uncle york, 0009241and bushy take the staff of lancaster. 0009250i thank your grace: his curses fright not me. 0009260i will keep it to defend your majesty. 0009270what transformation do mine eyes behold 0009280as if the world were topsy-turvy turned! 0009290hear me, king richard. 0009300plain thomas, i will not hear ye. 0009310ye do not well to move his majesty. 0009320hence, flatterer, or by my soul i will kill thee! 0009330(shall england, that so long was governed 0009340by grave experience, of white-headed age, 0009350be subject now to rash unskilful boys?) 0009360then force the sun run backward to the east, 0009370lay atlas' burthen on a pigmy's back, 0009380appoint the sea his times to ebb and flow; 0009390and that as easily may be done as this. 0009400give up your council staff, we will hear no more. 0009410my staff, king richard? see, coz, here it is: 0009420full ten years' space within a prince's hand, 0009430a soldier and a faithful councillor, 0009440this staff hath always been discreetly kept; 0009450nor shall the world report an upstart groom 0009460did glory in the honours woodstock lost; 0009470and therefore, richard, thus i sever it. 0009480there, let him take it, shivered, cracked and broke 0009490as will the state of england be ere long 0009500by this rejecting true nobility. 0009510farewell, king richard. i will to plashey, brothers, 0009520if ye ride through essex, call and see me. 0009530if once the pillars and supporters quail 0009540how can the strongest castle choose but fail? 0009550and so will he ere long. come, come, let us leave 0009560them. 0009570ay, ay, your places are supplied sufficiently. 0009580old doting graybeard! 0009590before god, my lord, had they not been your uncles 0009600i had broke my council staff about their heads. 0009610we will have an act for this: it shall be henceforth 0009620counted high treason for any fellow with a gray beard 0009630to come within forty foot of the court gates. 0009640ay, or a great-bellied doublet. we will alter 0009641the kingdom presently. 0009650pox on it, we will not have a beard amongst us, we will 0009660shave the country and the city too, shall we not, 0009670richard? 0009680do what ye will, we will shield and buckler ye. 0009690we will have a guard of archers to attend us; 0009700and they shall daily wait on us and you. 0009710send proclamations straight in richard's name 0009720to abridge the laws our late protector made. 0009730let some be sent to seek tresilian forth. 0009740seek him! hang him, he lurks not far off i warrant. 0009750and this news come abroad once, ye shall have him 0009760here presently. 0009770would he were come. his counsel would direct you 0009780well. 0009790troth, i think i shall trouble myself but with a 0009800few counsellors. what cheer shall we have to dinner, 0009810king richard? 0009820no matter what today. we will mend it shortly. 0009830the hall at westminster shall be enlarged 0009840and only serve us for a dining room, 0009850wherein i will daily feast ten thousand men. 0009860an excellent device! the commons have murmured 0009870against us a great while, and there is no such means as 0009880meat to stop their mouths. 0009890sfoot, make their gate wider. let us first 0009900fetch their money and bid them to dinner afterwards. 0009910'sblood, and i were not a councillor, i could find 0009920in myself to dine at a tavern today, sweet king. 0009930shall us be merry? 0009940we must have money to buy new suits, my lord. 0009950the fashion that we wear are gross and stale. 0009960we will go sit in council to devise some new. 0009970a special purpose to be thought upon! 0009980it shall be the first thing we will do. 0009990come, wantons, come. if gloucester hear of this 0010000he will say our council guides us much amiss. 0010010dismiss the parliament our uncles called, 0010020and tell the peers it is our present pleasure 0010030that each man parts unto his several home. 0010040when we are pleased, they shall have summons sent 0010050and with king richard hold a parliament. 0010051set forward. 0010060you of the council march before the king; 0010070i will support his arm. 0010080gramercy, greene. 0010090tell me, dear aunt, has richard so forgot 0010100the types of honour and nobility 0010110so to disgrace his good and reverent uncles? 0010120madam, it is true. no sooner had he claimed 0010130the full possession of his government 0010140but my dear husband and his noble brethren 0010150were all dismissed from the council table, 0010160banished the court, and even before their faces 0010170their offices bestowed on several grooms. 0010180my husband ireland, that unloving lord 0010190(god pardon his amiss, he now is dead) 0010200king richard was the cause he left my bed. 0010210no more, good cousin. could i work the means, 0010220he should not so disgrace his dearest friends. 0010230alack the day! though i am england's queen 0010240i meet sad hours and wake when others sleep. 0010250he meets content, but care with me must keep. 0010260distressed poverty overspreads the kingdom: 0010270in essex, surrey, kent and middlesex 0010280are seventeen thousand poor and indigent 0010290which i have numbered; and to help their wants 0010300my jewels and my plate are turned to coin 0010310and shared amongst them. oh, riotous richard, 0010320a heavy blame is thine for this distress, 0010330that dost allow thy polling flatterers 0010340to gild themselves with others' miseries. 0010350wrong not yourself with sorrow, gentle queen, 0010360unless that sorrow were a helping means 0010370to cure the malady you sorrow for. 0010380the sighs i vent are not mine own, dear aunt. 0010390i do not sorrow in mine own behalf 0010400nor now repent with peevish frowardness 0010410and wish i never had seen this english shore, 0010420but think me happy in king richard's love. 0010421no, no, good aunt, this troubles not my soul: 0010430it is england's subjects' sorrow i sustain, 0010440i fear they grudge against their sovereign. 0010450fear not that, madam, england is not mutinous; 0010460it is peopled all with subjects, not with outlaws. 0010470though richard (much misled by flatterers) 0010480neglects, and throws his sceptre carelessly, 0010490yet none dares rob him of his kingly rule. 0010500besides, your virtuous charity, fair queen 0010510so graciously hath won the commons' love 0010520as only you have power to stay their rigour. 0010530the wealth i have shall be the poor's revenue 0010540as sure as it were confirmed by parliament. 0010550this mine own industry, and sixty more 0010560i daily keep at work, is all their own. 0010570the coin i have, i send them, would it were more. 0010580to satisfy my fears, or pay those sums 0010590my wanton lord hath forced from needy subjects. 0010600i would want myself. go, let those trunks be filled 0010610with those our labours to relieve the poor. 0010620let them be carefully distributed. 0010630for those that now shall want, we will work again, 0010640and tell them ere two days we shall be furnished. 0010650what, is the court removing? whither goes that 0010660trunk? 0010670it is the queen's charity, sir, of needful clothing 0010680to be distributed amongst the poor. 0010690why, there is one blessing yet, that england hath 0010700a virtuous queen, although a wanton king. 0010710good health, sweet princess. believe me, madam, 0010720you have quick utterance for your housewifery. 0010730your grace affords good pennyworths sure, ye sell so 0010740fast! pray heaven your gettings quit your swift 0010750return. 0010760amen; for it is from heaven i look for recompense. 0010770no doubt, fair queen, the righteous powers will 0010780quit you for these religious deeds of charity. 0010790but to my message: 0010800health to your majesty! my lord the duke 0010810entreats your grace prepare with him to horse. 0010820he will this night ride home to plashey house. 0010821madam, ye hear i am sent for. 0010830then begone: 0010840leave me alone in desolation. 0010850adieu, good aunt, i will see ye shortly there. 0010860king richard's kindred are not welcome here. 0010870will ye all leave me then? oh woe is me, 0010880i now am crowned a queen of misery. 0010890where didst thou leave my husband, cheyney, 0010900speak! 0010910accompenied with the dukes of york and lancaster 0010920who, as i guess, intend to ride with him, 0010930for which he wished me haste your grace's presence. 0010940thou seest the passions of the queen are such 0010950i may not too abruptly leave her highness; 0010960but tell my lord i will see him presently. 0010970sawest thou king richard, cheyney? prithee, tell 0010980me: 0010990what revels keep his flattering minions? 0011000they sit in council to devise strange fashions, 0011010and suit themselves in wild and antic habits 0011020such as this kingdom never yet beheld: 0011030french hose, italian cloaks, and spanish hats, 0011040polonian shoes with peaks a handful long, 0011050tied to their knees with chains of pearl and gold. 0011060their plumed tops fly waving in the air 0011070a cubit high above their wanton heads. 0011080tresilian with king richard likewise sits 0011090devising taxes, and strange shifts for money 0011100to build again the hall at westminster 0011110to feast and revel in; and when abroad they come, 0011120four hundred archers in a guard attends them. 0011130oh, certain ruin of this famous kingdom! 0011140fond richard, thou buildest a hall to feast in 0011150and starvest thy wretched subjects to erect it. 0011160woe to those men that thus incline thy soul 0011170to these remorseless acts and deeds so foul! 0011180the trumpets tell us that king richard is coming. 0011190i will take my leave, fair queen; but credit me 0011200ere many days, again i will visit ye. 0011210i will home to langley, with my uncle york, 0011220and there lament alone my wretched state. 0011230blest heaven conduct ye both. queen anne alone 0011240for richard's follies still must sigh and groan. 0011250come, my tresilian. 0011260thus like an emperor shall king richard reign 0011270and you so many kings attendant on him. 0011280our guard of archers, keep the doors, i charge ye, 0011290let no man enter to disturb our pleasures. 0011300thou toldest me, kind tresilian, thou hadst devised 0011310blank charters, to fill up our treasury 0011320opening the chests of hoarding cormorants 0011330that laugh to see their kingly sovereign lack. 0011340let us know the means, we may applaud thy wit. 0011350see here, my lord: only with parchment, innocent 0011360sheepskins. ye see here is no fraud, no clause, no 0011370deceit in the writing. 0011380why, there is nothing writ! 0011390there is the trick on it! 0011400these blank charters shall be forthwith sent 0011410to every shrieve through all the shires of england, 0011420with charge to call before them presently 0011430all landed men, freeholders, farmers, grasiers, 0011440or any else that have ability. 0011450then in your highness' name they shall be charged 0011460to set their names, and forthwith seal these blanks. 0011470that done, these shall return to court again, 0011480but cartloads of money soon shall follow them. 0011490excellent tresilian! 0011500noble lord chief justice! 0011510where should his grace get such a councillor! 0011520not if his beard were off! prithee tresilian, 0011530off with it. sfoot, thou seest we have not a beard 0011540amongst us! thou sendest our barbers there to poll 0011550the whole country. sfoot, let some shave thee! 0011560it would become thee better in faith, and make thee 0011561look more grim when thou sitst in judgment. 0011570i tell ye, gallants: i will not lose a hair of my 0011580lordship and king richard's favour for the pope's 0011590revenues. 0011600by your leave, there, give way to the queen! 0011610now, anne-a-beame, how cheers my dearest queen? 0011620is it holiday, my love? believe me, lords, 0011630it is strange to take her from her sempstery; 0011640she and her maids are all for housewifery. 0011650shalt work no more, sweet nan, now richard is king, 0011660and peers and people all shall stoop to him. 0011670we will have no more protecting uncles, trust me! 0011680prithee look smooth and bid these nobles welcome. 0011690whom my lord favours must to me be welcome. 0011700these are our councillors, i tell ye, lady, 0011710and these shall better grace king richard's court 0011720than all the doting heads that late controlled us. 0011730thou seest already we begin to alter 0011740the vulgar fashions of our homespun kingdom. 0011750i tell thee, nan, the states of christendom 0011760shall wonder at our english royalty. 0011770we held a council to devise these suits: 0011780sir henry greene devised this fashion shoe, 0011790bushy this peak; bagot and scroope set forth 0011800this kind coherence betwixt the toe and knee 0011810to have them chained together lovingly; 0011820and we as sovereign did confirm them all. 0011830suit they not quaintly, nan? sweet queen, resolve me. 0011840i see no fault that i dare call a fault. 0011850but would your grace consider with advice 0011860what you have done unto your reverent uncles? 0011870(my fears provoke me to be bold, my lord) 0011880they are your noble kinsmen, to revoke the 0011890sentence were - 0011900an act of folly, nan! king's words are laws. 0011910if we infringe our word, we break our law. 0011920no more of them, sweet queen. 0011930madam, what is done was with advice enough. 0011940the king is now at years and hath shook off 0011950the servile yoke of mean protectorship. 0011951his highness can direct himself sufficient. 0011960why should his pleasures then be curbed by any 0011970as if he did not understand his state? 0011980they tell thee true, sweet love. come, ride with me 0011990and see today my hall at westminster 0012000which we have builded now to feast our friends. 0012010do, do, good madam. prithee sweet king, let us ride 0012020somewhither and it be but to show ourselves. sfoot, 0012030our devices here are like jewels kept in caskets, or 0012040good faces in masks, that grace not the owners because 0012050they are obscured. if our fashions be not published, 0012060what glory is in the wearing? 0012070we will ride through london only to be gazed at. 0012080fair anne-a-beame, you shall along with us. 0012090at westminster shalt see my sumptuous hall, 0012100my royal tables richly furnished 0012110where every day i feast ten thousand men; 0012120to furnish out which feast i daily spend 0012130thirty fat oxen and three hundred sheep, 0012140with fish and fowl in numbers numberless. 0012150not all our chronicles shall point a king 0012160to match our bounty, state, and royalty. 0012170or let all our successors yet to come 0012180strive to exceed me, and if they forbid it, 0012190let records say, only king richard did it. 0012200oh but, my lord, it will tire your revenues 0012210to keep this festival a year together! 0012220as many days as i write england's king 0012230we will maintain that bounteous festival. 0012240tresilian, look to your blank charters speedily, 0012250send them abroad with trusty officers; 0012260and bagot, see a messenger be sent 0012270to call our uncle woodstock home to the court. 0012280not that we love his meddling company, 0012290but that the raged commons loves his plainness 0012300and should grow mutinous about these blanks. 0012310we will have him near us. within his arrow's length, 0012320we stand secure: we can restrain his strength. 0012330see it be done. come, anne, to our great hall 0012340where richard keeps his gorgeous festival. 0012350within there ho! 0012360your lordship's pleasure? 0012370what, are those blanks dispatched? 0012380they are all trussed up, my lord, in several 0012390packets. 0012400where is nimble? where is that varlet? 0012410as nimble as a morris dancer, now my bells are on. 0012420how do ye like the rattling of my chains, my lord? 0012430oh, villain, thou wilt hang in chains for this. 0012440art thou crept into the court fashion, knave? 0012450alas, my lord, ye know i have followed your lordship 0012460without ever a rag since ye ran away from the 0012470court once; and i pray let me follow the fashion a 0012480little, to show myself a courtier. 0012490go spread those several blanks throughout the 0012500kingdom, and here is commission with the council's 0012510hands with charge to every shrieve and officer 0012520to assist and aid you; and when they are sealed and 0012530signed, see ye note well such men's ability as set 0012540their hands to them. inquire what rents, what lands, 0012550or what revenues they spend by the year, and let me 0012560straight receive intelligence. besides, i would have you 0012570use yourselves so cunningly to mark who grudges, or 0012580but speaks amiss of good king richard, myself, or any 0012590of his new councillors. attach them all for privy 0012600whisperers and send them up. i have a trick in law 0012610shall make king richard seize into his hands 0012620the forfeiture of all their goods and lands. 0012630nimble, take thou these blanks, and see you take 0012640especial note of them. 0012650i will take the ditty, sir, but you shall set a note 0012660to it, for if any man shall speak but an ill word of 0012670anything that is written here - 0012680why, ass, there is nothing. 0012690and would ye have them speak ill of nothing? that is 0012700strange. but i mean, my lord, if they should but give 0012710this paper an ill word, as to say, "i will tear this 0012711paper", or worse, "i will rend this paper", or fouler 0012720words than that, as to say, "i will bumfiddle your 0012730paper," if there be any such, i have a black book for 0012740them, my lord, i warrant ye. 0012750be it your greatest care to be severe. 0012760crosby and fleming, pray be diligent. 0012770we shall, my lord. 0012780but how if we meet with some ignoramus fellows, 0012790my lord, that cannot write their minds. what shall 0012800they do? 0012810if they but set to their marks, it is good. 0012820we shall meddle with no women in the blanks, 0012830shall we? 0012840rich widows, none else; for a widow is as much as 0012850man and wife. 0012860then a widow is a hermaphrodite, both cut and 0012870long tail. and if she cannot write, she shall set her 0012880mark to it? 0012890what else, sir? 0012900but if she have a daughter, she shall set her 0012910mother's mark to it? 0012920meddle with none but men and widows, sir, 0012930i charge ye. 0012940well, sir, i shall see a widow's mark then: i 0012950never saw none yet! 0012960you have your lessons perfect, now begone: 0012970be bold and swift in execution. 0012980god be ' ye, my lord. we will domineer over the 0012990vulgar like so many saint georges over the poor dragons. 0013000come, sirs, we are like to have a flourishing commonwealth, 0013010in faith! 0013020come, my good brothers, here at plashey house 0013030i will bid you welcome with as true a heart 0013040as richard with a false, and mind corrupt 0013050disgraced our names and thrust us from his court. 0013060beshrew him that repines, my lord, for me. 0013070i lived with care at court, i now am free. 0013080come, come, let us find some other talk. i think 0013090not on it. i never slept soundly when i was amongst 0013100them, so let them go. this house of plashey, brother, 0013110stands in a sweet and pleasant air, in faith. 0013111it is near the thames and circled round with trees 0013120that in the summer serve for pleasant fans 0013130to cool ye, and in winter strongly break 0013140the stormy winds that else would nip ye too. 0013150and in faith, old york, 0013160we have all need of some kind wintering. 0013170we are beset (heaven shield) with many storms. 0013180and yet these trees at length will prove to me 0013190like richard and his riotous minions. 0013200their wanton heads so oft play with the winds 0013210throwing their leaves so prodigally down, 0013220they will leave me cold at last; and so will they 0013230make england wretched; and, in the end, themselves. 0013240if westminster hall devour as it has begun 0013250it were better it were ruined lime and stone. 0013260afore my god, i late was certified 0013270that at one feast was served ten thousand dishes. 0013280he daily feasts, they say, ten thousand men 0013290and every man must have his dish, at least. 0013300thirty fat oxen and three hundred sheep 0013310serve but one day's expenses. 0013320a hundred scarcely can suffice his guard. 0013330a camp of soldiers feeds not like those bowmen. 0013340but how will these expenses be maintained? 0013350oh, they say there are strange tricks come forth 0013360to fetch in money. what they are, i know not. 0013370you have heard of the fantastic suits they wear? 0013380never was english king so habited. 0013390we could allow his clothing, brother woodstock, 0013400but we have four kings more, are equalled with him. 0013410there is bagot, bushy, wanton greene, and scroope 0013420in state and fashion without difference. 0013430indeed, they are more than kings; for they rule him. 0013440come, come, our breaths reverberate the wind. 0013450we talk like good divines, but cannot cure 0013460the grossness of the sin. or shall we speak 0013470like all-commanding wise astronomers, 0013480and flatly say, such a day shall be fair? 0013490and yet it rains, whether he will or no. 0013500so may we talk; but thus will richard do. 0013510how now, cheyney, what drives thee on so fast? 0013520if i durst, i would say (my lord) 0013530tresilian drives me, one half as ill, 0013540i am still the pursuivant of unhappy news. 0013550here is blank charters, my lord. i pray, behold them, 0013560sent from king richard and his councillors. 0013570thou makest me blank at very sight of them! 0013580what must these? 0013590they appear in shape of obligations. 0013600they are no less, the country is full of them. 0013610commissions are come down to every shrieve 0013620to force the richest subjects of the land 0013630to set their hands, and forthwith seal these blanks 0013640and then the bond must afterwards be paid: 0013650that shall confirm a due debt to the king 0013660as much or little as they please to point it. 0013670oh, strange unheard-of vild taxation! 0013680who is it can help my memory a little? 0013690has not this ever been held a principle: 0013700"there is nothing spoke or done that has not been?" 0013710it was a maxim ere i had a beard. 0013720it is now found false, an open heresy! 0013730this is a thing was never spoke nor done. 0013740blank charters call ye them? if any age 0013750keep but a record of this policy 0013760(i phrase it too, too well) flat villainy, 0013770let me be chronicled apostata, 0013780rebellious to my god and country both! 0013790how do the people entertain these blanks? 0013800with much dislike, yet some for fear have signed 0013810them; others there be, refuse and murmur strongly. 0013820afore my god i cannot blame them for it. 0013830he might as well have sent defiance to them. 0013840oh, vulture england, wilt thou eat thine own? 0013850can they be rebels called, that now turn head? 0013860i speak but what i fear, not what i wish. 0013870this foul oppression will withdraw all duty, 0013880and in the commons' hearts hot rancours breed 0013890to make our country's bosom shortly bleed. 0013900what shall we do to seek for remedy? 0013910let each man hie him to his several home 0013911before the people rise in mutiny, 0013920and, in the mildest part of lenity, 0013930seek to restrain them from rebellion, 0013940for what can else be looked for? promise redress; 0013950that eloquence is best in this distress. 0013960york counsels well. let us haste away. 0013970the time is sick. we must not use delay. 0013980let us still confer by letters. 0013990content, content, 0014000so friends may parley, even in banishment. 0014010farewell, good brothers. cheyney, conduct them forth. 0014020adieu, good york and gaunt, farewell forever. 0014030i have a sad presage comes suddenly 0014040that i shall never see these brothers more. 0014050on earth, i fear, we never more shall meet. 0014060of edward the third's seven sons we three are left 0014070to see our father's kingdom ruinate. 0014080i would my death might end the misery 0014090my fear presageth to my wretched country. 0014100the commons will rebel without all question, 0014110and before my god, i have no eloquence 0014120to stay this uproar, i must tell them plain 0014130we all are struck, but must not strike again. 0014140how now? what news? 0014150there is a horseman at the gate, my lord. 0014160he comes from the king, he says, to see your grace. 0014170to see me, sayest thou? a' god's name, let him 0014180come, he brings no blank charters with him. 0014190prithee, bid him alight and enter. 0014200i think he dares not for fouling on his feet, my 0014210lord, i would have him alight, but he swears as 0014220he is a courtier, he will not off on his horseback till 0014230the inner gate be open. 0014240passion of me, that is strange. i prithee, give him 0014250satisfaction, open the inner gate. what might this 0014260fellow be? 0014270some fine fool: he is attired very fantastically, 0014280and talks as foolishly. 0014290go let him in, and when your have done, bid cheyney 0014300come and speak with me. 0014310i will, my lord. 0014320come on, sir, ye may ride into my lord's cellar now, 0014321and ye will sir. 0014330prithee, fellow, stay and take my horse. 0014340i have business for my lord, sir, i cannot. 0014350a rude swain, by heaven, but stay, here walks 0014360another. hearest ta, thou, fellow? is this plashey 0014370house? 0014380ye should have asked that question before ye came 0014390in, sir. but this is it. 0014400the hinds are all most rude and gross. i prithee, 0014410walk my horse. 0014420i have a little business, sir. 0014430thou shalt not lose by it. i will give thee a tester 0014440for thy pains. 0014450i shall be glad to earn money, sir. 0014460prithee, do, and know thy duty. thy head is too 0014470saucy. 0014480cry ye mercy, i did not understand your worship's 0014490calling. 0014500the duke of gloucester lies here, does he not? 0014510marry, does he, sir. 0014520is he within? 0014530he is not far off, sir. he was here even now. 0014540ah, very good, walk my horse well, i prithee, he has 0014550travelled hard and he is hot in faith. i will in and 0014560speak with the duke, and pay thee presently. 0014570i make no doubt sir. oh, strange metamorphosis! 0014580is it possible that this fellow that is all made of 0014590fashions should be an englishman? no marvel if he 0014600know not me, being so brave, and i so beggarly. well, 0014610i shall earn money to enrich me now and it is the first 0014620i earned, by the rood, this forty year. come on, sir, 0014630you have sweat hard about this haste, yet i think you 0014640know little of the business. why so i say! you are a 0014650very indifferent beast, you will follow any man that 0014660will lead you. now, truly, sir, you look but even 0014670leanly on it. you feed not in westminster hall a-days, 0014680where so many sheep and oxen are devoured. i am afraid 0014690they will eat you shortly, if you tarry amongst them. 0014691you are pricked more with the spur than the provender, 0014700i see that. i think your dwelling be at hackney when 0014710you are at home, is it not? you know not the duke 0014720neither, no more than your master, and yet i think 0014730you have as much wit as he. faith, say a man should 0014740steal ye and feed ye fatter, could ye run away with 0014750him lustily? 0014760ah, your silence argues a consent, i see, by the 0014770mass, here comes company. we had been both taken if 0014780we had, i see. 0014790saw ye not my lord at the gate, say ye? 0014800why, i left him there but now. 0014810in sooth i saw no creature, sir, only an old groom 0014820i got to walk my horse. 0014830a groom, say ye! sfoot, it is my lord, the duke. 0014840what have ye done? this is somewhat too coarse! 0014850your grace should be an hostler to this fellow! 0014860i do beseech your grace's pardon. the error was 0014870in the mistake; your plainness did deceive me. 0014880please it your grace to redeliver. 0014890no, by my faith. i will have my money first. 0014900promise is a promise. 0014910i know your grace's goodness will refuse it. 0014920think not so nicely of me; indeed, i will not. 0014930if you so please, there is your tester. 0014940if you so please, there is your horse, sir. 0014950now pray you tell me, is your haste to me? 0014960most swift and serious, from his majesty. 0014970what, from king richard, my dear lord and kinsman? 0014980go, sirrah, take you his horse, lead him to the stable, 0014990meat him well, i will double his reward. there is twelve 0015000pence for ye. 0015010i thank your grace. 0015020now, sir, your business. 0015030his majesty commends him to your grace. 0015040this same is a rare fashion you have got at court. 0015050of whose devising was it, i pray? 0015060i assure your grace, the king his council sat three 0015070days about it. 0015080by my faith, their wisdoms took great pains, i assure ye. 0015081the state was well employed the whiles, by the rood. 0015090then this at court is all the fashion now? 0015100the king himself doth wear it; 0015110whose most gracious majesty sent me in haste. 0015120this peak doth strangely well become the foot. 0015130this peak, the king doth likewise wear, being a 0015140polonian peak; and me did his highness pick from forth 0015150the rest. 0015160he could not have picked out such another, 0015170i assure ye. 0015180i thank your grace that picks me out so well; 0015190but as i said, his highness would request - 0015200but this most fashionable chain, that links as it were 0015210the toe and knee together? 0015220in a most kind coherence, so it like your grace; 0015230for these two parts, being in operation and quality 0015240different, as for example: the toe a disdainer or 0015250spurner; the knee a dutiful and most humble orator. 0015260this chain doth, as it were, so toeify the knee and so 0015270kneeify the toe, that between both it makes a most 0015280methodical coherence, or coherent method. 0015290it is most excellent, sir, and full of art. please ye 0015300walk in. 0015310my message tendered, i will tend your grace. 0015320cry ye mercy, have you a message to me? 0015330his majesty, most affectionately, and like a royal 0015340kinsman, 0015350entreats your grace's presence at the court. 0015360is that your message sir? i must refuse it, then. 0015370my english plainness will not suit that place, 0015380the court is too fine for me. my service here 0015390will stand in better stead, to quench the fire 0015400those blanks have made. i would they were all burnt, 0015410or he were hanged that first devised them, sir. 0015420they stir the country so. i dare not come 0015430and so excuse me, sir. if the king think it ill, 0015440he thinks amiss. i am plain thomas still. 0015450the rest i will tell ye as ye sit at meat. 0015460furnish a table, cheyney, call for wine. 0015470come, sir, ye shall commend me to the king. 0015480tell him i will keep these parts in peace to him. 0015490dispatch, good mr bailey, the market is almost done, 0015500you see. it is rumored that the blanks are come and the 0015510rich choughs begin to flock out of the town already. 0015520you have seen the high shrieve's warrant and the 0015530council's commission, and therefore i charge ye in the 0015540king's name, be ready to assist us. 0015550nay, look ye sir. be not too pestiferous, i beseech 0015560ye. i have begun myself and sealed one of your blanks 0015570already, and by my example there is more shall follow. 0015580i know my place and calling, my name is ignorance and 0015590i am bailey of dunstable. i cannot write nor read, 0015600i confess it, mo more could my father, nor his father 0015610nor none of the ignorants this hundred year, i assure ye. 0015620your name proclaims no less, sir, and it has been a 0015630most learned generation. 0015640though i cannot write, i have set my mark, ecce 0015650signum! read it i beseech ye. 0015660the mark of simon ignorance, the bailey of dunstable, 0015670being a sheephook with a tarbox at end on it. 0015680very right. it was my mark ever since i was an 0015690innocent and therefore, as i say, i have begun and 0015700will assist ye. for here be rich whoresons in the 0015710town, i can tell ye, that will ye the slip and ye look 0015720not to it. 0015730we therefore presently will divide ourselves. you 0015740two shall stay here whiles we, mr ignorance, with some 0015750of your brethren, the men of dunstable, walk through 0015760the town noting the carriage of the people. they say 0015770there are strange songs and libels cast about the 0015780market place against my lord tresilian and the rest of 0015790the king's young counsellors. if such there be, we will 0015800have some aid and attach them speedily. 0015810ye shall do well, sir, and for your better aiding, 0015820if you can but find out my brother, mr ignoramus, he 0015821will be most pestiferous unto ye, i assure ye. 0015830i am afraid he will not be found, sir, but we will 0015840inquire. come, fellow fleming and nimble, look to the 0015850whisperers i charge ye. 0015860i warrant ye. come, mr bailey, let your billmen 0015870retire till we call them; and you and i will here 0015880shadow ourselves and write down their speeches. 0015890nay, you shall write and i will mark, sir. 0015920and see, see, here come some already, all rich 0015930chubbs, by the mass. i know them all, sir. 0015940tarry, tarry, good neighbours, take a knave with 0015950ye! what a murrain! is there a bear broke loose in 0015960the town, that ye make such haste from the market? 0015970a bear? no, nor a lion baited neither. i tell ye, 0015980neighbour, i am more afraid of the bee than the bear. 0015990there is wax to be used today, and i have no seal about 0016000me. i may tell you in secret, here is a dangerous 0016010world towards. neighbour, you are a farmer, and i hope 0016020here is none but god and good company. we live in such 0016030a state, i am even almost weary of all, i assure ye. 0016040here is my other neighbour, the butcher, that dwells at 0016050hockley, has heard his landlord tell strange tidings. 0016060we shall be all hoisted and we tarry here, i can tell 0016070ye. 0016080they begin to murmur. i will put them down all for 0016090whisperers. mr bailey, what is he that talks so? 0016100his name is cowtail, a rich grasier, and dwells 0016110here hard by at leighton buzzard. 0016120cowtail, a grasier, dwelling at leighton, 0016130buzzard, my bailey? 0016140right, sir. listen again, sir. 0016150ah, sirrah? and what said the good knight your 0016160landlord, neighbour? 0016170marry, he said, but i will not stand to anything, i 0016180tell ye that aforehand. he said that king richard's 0016190new counsellors (god amend them) had crept into honester 0016191men's places than themselves were; and that the king's 0016200uncles and the old lords were all banished the 0016210court. and he said flatly we should never have a 0016220merry world as long as it was so. 0016230butcher, you and your landlord will be both hanged 0016240for it. 0016250and then he said there is one tresilian, a lawyer, 0016260that has crept in amongst them and is now a lord forsooth, 0016270and he has sent down into every country of england 0016280a sort of black chapters. 0016290black chapters? a' god's name, neighbour, out 0016300of what black book were they taken? 0016310come, come. they are blank charters, neighbours. 0016320i heard of them afore, and therefore i made 0016330such haste away. they are sent down to the high 0016340shrieve with special charge that every man that is of 0016350any credit or worship in the country must set their 0016360hands and seal to them, for what intent i know not. i 0016370say no more, i smell something. 0016380well, well, my masters. let us be wise. we are 0016390not all one man's sons. they say there are whispering 0016400knaves abroad. let us hie us home, for i assure ye, 0016410it was told me where i broke my fast this afternoon that 0016420there were above three score gentlemen in our shire 0016430that had set their hands and seals to those blank 0016440charters already. 0016450now god amend them for it, they have given an ill 0016460example we shall be forced to follow. 0016470i would my wife and children were at jerusalem 0016480with all the wealth! i would make shift for one, i warrant 0016490them. come, neighbours, let us be gone. 0016500step forward with your bills, mr bailey. not too 0016510fast, sirs! i charge ye in the king's name to stand 0016520till we have done with ye. 0016530saint benedicite, what must we do now, trow? 0016540be not so pestiferous, my good friends and neighbours. 0016550you are men of wealth and credit in the country 0016560and therefore as i myself and others have begun, i 0016561charge ye in his highness' name presently to set your 0016570hands and seals to these blank charters. 0016580jesu, receive my soul, i am departed! 0016590i am even struck to at heart too. 0016600alas, sir, we are poor men, what should our hands 0016610do? 0016620there is no harm i warrant ye. what need you fear, 0016630when ye see bailey ignorance has sealed before ye? 0016640i pray ye let us see them, sir. 0016650here, ye bacon-fed pudding-eaters, are ye afraid 0016660of a sheepskin? 0016670mass! it is somewhat darkly written. 0016680ay, ay, it was done in the night, sure. 0016690mass, neighbours, here is nothing that i see. 0016700and can it be any harm, think ye, to set your 0016710hands to nothing? these blank charters are but little 0016720pieces of parchment. let us set our marks to them, and 0016730be rid of a knave's company. 0016740as good at first as last, we can be but undone. 0016750ay and our own hands undoes us, that is the 0016760worst on it. lend us your pen, sir. 0016770we must all venture, neighbours, there is no 0016780remedy. 0016790they grumble as they do it. i must put them down 0016800for whisperers and grumblers. come, have you done 0016810yet? 0016820ay, sir. (would you and they were sodden for my 0016830swine!) 0016840here is wax, then. i will seal them for ye, and you 0016850shall severally take them off, and then deliver them 0016860as your deeds. 0016870come you boar's grease, take off this 0016880seal here. so! this is your deed. 0016890faith, sir, in some respect it is and it is not. 0016900and this is yours. 0016910ay, sir, against my will, i swear. 0016920ox-jaw, take off this seal! you will deliver your 0016930deed with a good conscience? 0016940there it is, sir, against my conscience, god is my 0016950witness. i hope ye have done with us now, sir. 0016960no, ye caterpillars, we have worse matters against 0016970ye yet. sirrah, you know what your landlord told ye, 0016980concerning my lord tresilian, and king richard's new 0016981favourites; and more than that, you know your own 0016990speeches; and therefore mr bailey, let some of your 0017000billmen away with them to the high shrieve's presently, 0017010either to put in bail, or be sent up to the court 0017020for privy whisperers. 0017030their offenses are most pestiferous. away with 0017040them! 0017050now out alas, we shall all to hanging, sure! 0017060hanging? nay, that is the least on it, ye shall 0017070tell me that a twelvemonth hence else. 0017080stand close, mr bailey; we shall catch more of these 0017090traitors presently. 0017100you shall find me most pestiferous to assist ye; 0017110and so i pray ye, commend my service to your good lord 0017120and master. come, sir, stand close; i see - 0017130nay, sweet mr schoolmaster, let us hear it again, i 0017140beseech ye. 0017150patientia. you are a servingman, i am a scholar. i 0017160have shown art and learning in these verses, i assure 0017170ye, and yet if they were well searched they are little 0017180better than libels. but the carriage of a thing is 0017190all, sir. i have covered them rarely. 0017200sfoot, the country is so full of intelligencers that 0017210two men can scarce walk together but they are attached 0017220for whisperers. 0017230this paper shall wipe their noses, and they shall 0017240not boo to a goose for it; for i will have these verses 0017250sung to their faces by one of my schoolboys, wherein 0017260i will tickle them all, in faith. shalt hear else. 0017270but first let us look there be no pitchers with ears, 0017280nor needles with eyes about us. 0017290come, come, all is safe i warrant ye. 0017300mark then. here i come over them for their blank 0017310charters; shalt hear else. 0017320will ye buy any parchment knives? 0017330we sell for little gain: 0017340whoever are weary of their lives 0017350they will rid them of their pain. 0017360blank charters they are called 0017361a vengeance on the villain, 0017370i would he were both flayed and balled: 0017380god bless my lord tresilian. 0017390is it not rare? 0017400oh rascals! they are damned three hundred fathom deep 0017410already. 0017420nay, look ye, sir, there can be no exceptions taken 0017430for this last line helps all, wherein with a kind of 0017440equivocation i say "god bless my lord tresilian." do 0017450ye mark, sir? now here, in the next verse i run over 0017460all these flatterers in the court by name. ye shall 0017470see else: 0017480a poison may be green, 0017490but bushy can be no fagot: 0017500god mend the king and bless the queen, 0017510and it is no matter for bagot. 0017520for scroope, he does no good; 0017530but if you will know the villain, 0017540his name is now to be understood: 0017550god bless my lord tresilian. 0017560how like ye this, sir? 0017570most excellent, in faith, sir. 0017580oh, traitors! mr bailey, do your authority. 0017590two most pestiferous traitors. lay hold of them, 0017600i charge ye. 0017610what mean ye, sir? 0017620nay, talk not, for if ye had a hundred lives they 0017630were all hanged. ye have spoken treason in the ninth 0017640degree. 0017650treason? patientia, good sir, we spoke not a word. 0017660be not so pestiferous. mine ears have heard your 0017670examinations, wherein you uttered most shameful treason, 0017680for ye said, "god bless my lord tresilian." 0017690i hope there is no treason in that, sir. 0017700that shall be tried. come, mr bailey: their hands 0017710shall be bound under a horse's belly and sent up to 0017720him presently, they will both be hanged, i warrant them. 0017730well, sir, if we be: we will speak more ere we be 0017740hanged, in spite of ye. 0017750ay, ay, when you are hanged, speak what you will, we 0017760care not. away with them. 0017770ye see, mr bailey, what knaves are abroad now you are 0017771here: it is time to look about, ye see. 0017780i see there are knaves abroad indeed, sir. i speak 0017790for mine own part. i will do my best to reform the 0017800pestiferousness of the time, and as for example i have 0017810set my mark to the charters, so will i set mine eyes 0017820to observe these dangerous cases. 0017830close again, mr bailey: here comes another whisperer, 0017840i see by some, oh villain! he whistles treason! 0017850i will lay hold of him myself. 0017860out alas, what do ye mean, sir? 0017870a rank traitor, mr bailey: lay hold on him, for he 0017880has most erroneously and rebelliously whistled 0017890treason. 0017900whistled treason! alas, sir, how can that be? 0017910very easily, sir. there is a piece of treason that 0017920flies up and down the country in the likeness of a 0017930ballad, and this being the very tune of it, thou hast 0017940whistled treason. 0017950alas, sir, ye know i spake not a word. 0017960that is all one, if any man whistles treason it is 0017970as ill as speaking it. mark me, mr bailey: the bird 0017980whistles that cannot speak, and yet there be birds in 0017990a manner that can speak too. your raven will call ye 0018000rascal, your crow will call ye knave, mr bailey. 0018010ergo, he that can whistle can speak, and therefore 0018020this fellow hath both spoke and whistled treason. 0018030how say you, bailey ignorance? 0018040ye have argued well, sir, but ye shall hear me sift 0018050him nearer, for i do not think but there are greater 0018060heads in this matter, and therefore, my good fellow, 0018070be not pestiferous, but say and tell the truth. who 0018080did set you a-work? or who was the cause of your whistling? 0018090or did any man say to you, "go whistle"? 0018100not any man, woman or child, truly, sir. 0018110no? how durst you whistle, then? or what cause had 0018120ye to do so? 0018130the truth is, sir. i had lost two calves out of my 0018131pasture, and being in search for them, from the top of 0018140the hill i might spy you two in the bottom here, and 0018150took ye for my calves sir; and that made me come 0018160whistling down for joy, in hope i had found them. 0018170more treason yet! he take a courtier and a bailey 0018180for two calves! to limbo with him. he shall be quartered 0018190and then hanged. 0018200good mr bailey, be pitiful. 0018210why, look ye, sir, he makes a pitiful fellow of a 0018220bailey too! away with him. yet stay awhile, here 0018230comes your fellows, sir. 0018240now, mr bailey, are your blanks sealed yet? 0018250they are, sir, and we have done this day most 0018260strange and pestiferous service, i assure ye, sir. 0018270your care shall be rewarded. come, fellow nimble, 0018280we must to court about other employments. there are 0018290already thirteen thousand blanks signed and returned to the 0018300shrieves, and seven hundred sent up to the court for 0018310whisperers, out of all which my lord will fetch a 0018320round sum, i doubt it not. come, let us away. 0018330ay, ay. we will follow. come, ye sheepbiter. here is 0018340a traitor of all traitors that not only speaks, but 0018350has whistled treason. come, come, sir, i will spoil 0018360your whistle, i warrant ye! 0018370sirrah, are the bags sealed? 0018380yes, my lord. 0018390then take my keys; and lock the money in my study 0018400safe. bar and make sure, i charge ye, so, be gone. 0018410i will, my lord. 0018420so, seven thousand pounds from bedford, buckingham and 0018430oxford shires, these blanks already have returned the 0018440king. so then there is four for me and three for him; our 0018450pains in this must needs be satisfied. good husbands 0018460will make hay while the sun shines and so must we, for 0018470thus conclude these times. so men be rich enough, 0018471they are good enough. let fools make conscience how 0018480they get their coin. i will please the king and keep me 0018490in his grace, for princes' favours purchase land apace. 0018500these blanks that i have scattered in the realm 0018510shall double his revenues to the crown. 0018520now, lord tresilian, is this coin come yet? 0018530king richard wants money, you are too slack, 0018540tresilian. 0018550some shires have sent; and more, my lords, will 0018560follow. these sealed blanks i now have turned to 0018570bonds and these shall down to norfolk presently. 0018580the choughs with much ado have signed and sealed, 0018590and here is a secret note my men have sent 0018600of all their yearly estates amounts unto, 0018601and by this note i justly tax their bonds. 0018610here is a fat whoreson in his russet slops 0018620and yet may spend three hundred pounds by the year: 0018630the third of which the hogs-face owes the king. 0018640here is his bond for it, with his hand and seal 0018650and so by this i will sort each several sum: 0018660the thirds of all shall to king richard come. 0018670how like you this, my lords? 0018680most rare, tresilian. hang them, cods-heads, 0018690shall they spend money and king richard lack it? 0018700are not their lives and lands and livings his? 0018710then rack them thoroughly. 0018720oh, my lords, i have set a trick afoot for ye; and 0018730ye follow it hard and get the king to sign it, you will 0018740be all kings by it. 0018750the farming out the kingdom? tush, tresilian, it is 0018760half granted already, and had been fully concluded, 0018770had not the messenger returned so unluckily from the 0018780duke of gloucester, which a little moved the king at his 0018790uncle's stubborness. but to make all whole, we have 0018800left that smooth-faced flattering greene to follow 0018810him close and he will never leave till he has done it, 0018820i warrant ye. 0018830there is no question on it; king richard will betake 0018840himself to a yearly stipend, and we four by lease must 0018850rent the kingdom. 0018851rent it, ay rack it too, ere we forfeit our 0018860leases, and we had them once. how now, bagot, what 0018870news? 0018880all rich and rare: the realm must be divided presently 0018890and we four must farm it. the leases are a-making 0018900and for seven thoudand pounds a month the kingdom is our own, 0018910boys. 0018920sfoot, let us differ for no price and it were 0018930seventy thousand pounds a month we will make somebody pay for it. 0018940where is his highness? 0018950he will be here presently to seal the writings. 0018960he is a little angry that the duke comes not, but that 0018970will vanish quickly. on with your soothest faces, ye 0018980wenching rascals. humour him finely, and you are all 0018990made by it. 0019000see, see! he comes; and that flattering hound 0019010greene close at his elbow. 0019020come, come, we must all flatter if we mean 0019030to live by it. 0019040our uncle will not come, then? 0019050that was his answer, flat and resolute. 0019060was ever subject so audacious? 0019070and can your grace, my lord, digest these wrongs? 0019080yes, as a mother that beholds her child 0019090dismembered by a bloody tyrant's sword. 0019100i tell thee, bagot, in my heart remains 0019110such deep impressions of his churlish taunts 0019120as nothing can remove the gall thereof 0019130till with his blood mine eyes be satisfied. 0019140sfoot, raise powers, my lord, and fetch him 0019150thence perforce. 0019160i dare not, greene, for whilst he keeps in the 0019170country there is no meddling, he is so well beloved 0019180as all the realm will rise in arms with him. 0019190sfoot, my lord, an you would fain have him, i have a 0019200trick shall fetch him from his house at plashey in 0019210spite of all his favourites. 0019220let us have it, tresilian, thy wit must help or all is 0019230dashed else. 0019240then thus, my lord: whiles the duke securely revels 0019250in the country, we will have some trusty friends disguise 0019251themselves like masquers and this night ride down to plashey, 0019260and in the name of some near-adjoining 0019270friends, offer their sports to make him merry, which 0019280he no doubt will thankfully accept. then in the masque 0019290we will have it so devised (the dance being done and the 0019300room voided) then upon some occasion single the duke 0019310alone, thrust him in a masquing suit, clap a vizard on 0019320his face, and so convey him out of the house at 0019330pleasure. 0019340how if he cry, and call for help? 0019350what serves your drums but to drown his cries? 0019360and, being in a masque, it will never be suspected. 0019370good, in faith, and to help it, my lord lapoole, 0019380the governor of calais, is new come over, who, with a 0019390troop of soldiers closely ambushed in the woods, near 0019400the house, shall shrowd themselves till the masque be 0019410ended. then, the duke being attached, he shall be 0019420there ready to receive him, hurry him away to the 0019430thames' side, where a ship shall be laid ready for his 0019440coming, so clap him under hatches, hoist sails, and 0019450secretly convey him out of the realm to calais, and so 0019460by this means ye shall prevent all mischief, for neither 0019470of your uncles nor any of the kingdom shall know 0019480what is become of him. 0019490i like it well, sweet greene; and by my crown 0019500we will be in the masque ourself, and so shall you. 0019510get horses ready, this night we will ride to plashey; 0019520but see ye carry it close and secretly, 0019530for whilst this plot is a-working for the duke 0019540i will set a trap for york and lancaster. 0019550go, tresilian, let proclamations straight be sent 0019560wherein thou shalt accuse the dukes of treason, 0019570and then attach, condemn, and close imprison them. 0019580lest the commons should rebel against us 0019590we will send unto the king of france for aid, 0019600and in requital we will surrender up 0019610our forts of guynes and calais to the french. 0019620let crown and kingdom waste, yea life and all, 0019621before king richard see his true friends fall. 0019630give order our disguises be made ready, 0019640and let lapoole provide the ship and soldiers. 0019650we will not sleep, by heaven, till we have seized him. 0019660(sfoot, urge our suit again, he will forget it 0019670else.) 0019680these traitors once surprised, then all is sure: 0019690our kingdom is quiet and your state is secure. 0019700most true, sweet king: and then your grace, as you 0019710promised, farming out the kingdom to us four shall 0019720not need to trouble yourself with any business, this 0019730old turkey-cock tresilian shall look to the law, and 0019740we will govern the land most rarely. 0019750so, sir. the love of thee and these, my dearest 0019760greene, hath won king richard to consent to that 0019770for which all foreign kings will point at us. 0019780and of the meanest subject of our land 0019790we shall be censured strangely, when they tell 0019800how our great father toiled his royal person 0019810spending his blood to purchase towns in france; 0019820and we his son, to ease our wanton youth 0019830become a landlord to this warlike realm, 0019840rent out our kingdom like a pelting farm 0019850that erst was held, as fair as babylon, 0019860the maiden conqueress to all the world. 0019870sfoot, what need you care what the world talks? 0019880you still retain the name of king, and if any disturb 0019890ye, we four comes presently from the four parts of the kingdom, 0019900with four puissant armies to assist you. 0019910you four must be all then, for i think nobody else 0019920will follow you, unless it be to hanging! 0019930why richard, king richard, will ye be as good as 0019940your word, and seal the writings? sfoot, and thou 0019950dost not and i do not join with thine uncles and turn 0019960traitor, would i might be turned to a toadstool. 0019970very well, sir. they did well to choose you for 0019980their orator, that has king richard's love and heart 0019990in keeping. your suit is granted, sir. let us see the 0020000writings. 0020010they are here, my lord. 0020011view them tresilian, then we will sign and seal 0020020them. look to your bargain, greene, and be no loser, 0020030for if ye forfeit or run behind hand with me, i swear 0020040i will both imprison and punish ye soundly. 0020050forfeit, sweet king? 'sblood, i will sell their 0020060houses ere i will forfeit my lease, i warrant thee. 0020070if they be stubborn, do, and spare not. rack them 0020080soundly and we will maintain it. remember ye not the 0020090proviso enacted in our last parliament, that no statute, 0020100were it never so profitable for the commonwealth 0020110should stand in any force against our proceedings? 0020120it is true, my lord, then what should hinder ye to 0020130accomplish anything that may best please your kingly 0020140spirit to determine? 0020150true, greene, and we will do it in spite of them. 0020160is it just, tresilian? 0020170most just, my liege. these gentlemen here, sir 0020180henry greene, sir edward bagot, sir william bushy, and 0020190sir thomas scroope, all jointly here stand bound to 0020200pay your majesty, or your deputy, wherever you remain, 0020210seven thousand pounds a month for this your kingdom; for which 0020220your grace, by these writings, surrenders to their 0020230hands: all your crown lands, lordships, manors, rents, 0020240taxes, subsidies, fifteens, imposts, foreign customs, 0020250staples for wool, tin, lead, and cloth; all forfeitures 0020260of goods or lands confiscate, and all other 0020270duties that is, shall, or may appertain to the king or 0020280crown's revenues, and for non-payment of the sum or 0020290sums aforesaid, your majesty to seize the lands and 0020300goods of the said gentlemen above named, and their 0020310bodies to be imprisoned at your grace's pleasure. 0020320how like you that, greene? believe me, if you fail, 0020330i will not favour ye a day. 0020340i will ask no favour at your hands, sir. 0020350ye shall have your money at your day, and then do your 0020360worst, sir! 0020370it is very good. set to your hands and seals. 0020371tresilian, we make you our deputy to receive this money. 0020380look strictly to them, i charge ye. 0020390if the money come not to my hands at the time 0020400appointed, i will make them smoke for it. 0020410ay, ay, you are an upright justice, sir, we fear 0020420ye not. here, my lord, they are ready, signed and 0020430sealed. 0020440deliver them to his majesty all together, as your 0020450special deeds. 0020460we do, with humble thanks unto his majesty that 0020470makes us tenants to so rich a lordship. 0020480keep them, tresilian; now will we sign and seal 0020490to you. never had english subjects such a landlord. 0020500nor ever had english king such subjects as we four, 0020510that are able to farm a whole kingdom and pay him 0020520rent for it. 0020530look that ye do. we shall expect performance 0020540speedily. there is your indenture, signed and sealed, 0020550which as our kingly deed we here deliver. 0020560thou never didst a better deed in thy life, sweet 0020570bully, thou mayst now live at ease, we will toil for 0020580thee, and send thy money in tumbling. 0020590we shall see your care, sir. 0020600reach me the map, we may allot their portions, 0020610and part the realm amongst them equally. 0020620you four shall here by us divide yourselves 0020630into the nine and thirty shires and counties of my kingdom, parted 0020640thus: (come stand by me and mark those shires assigned 0020650ye). bagot, thy lot: betwixt the thames and sea thus 0020660lies: kent, surrey, sussex, hampshire, berkshire, 0020670wiltshire, dorsetshire, somersetshire, devonshire, 0020680cornwall, those parts are thine as amply, bagot, as 0020690the crown is mine. 0020700all thanks, love, duty to my princely sovereign. 0020710bushy, from thee shall stretch his government 0020720over these lands that lie in wales, together 0020730with our counties of gloucester, worcester, hereford, 0020740shropshire, staffordshire and cheshire. there is thy 0020750lot. 0020760thanks to my king that thus hath honoured me. 0020761sir thomas scroope, from trent to tweed thy lot 0020770is parted thus: all yorkshire, derbyshire, lancashire, 0020780cumberland, westmoreland, and northumberland. 0020790receive thy lot, thy state and government. 0020800with faith and duty to your highness' throne. 0020810now, my greene, what have i left for thee? 0020820sfoot, and you will give me nothing, then goodnight 0020830landlord! since ye have served me last, and i be not 0020840the last shall pay your rent, never trust me! 0020850i kept thee last to make thy part the greatest. 0020860see here, sweet greene: 0020870these shires are thine, even from the thames to trent: 0020880thou here shalt lie, in the middle of my land. 0020890that is best in the winter. is there any pretty 0020900wenches in my government? 0020910guess that by this: thou hast london, middlesex, 0020920essex, suffolk, norfolk, cambridgeshire, 0020930hertfordshire, bedfordshire, buckinghamshire, 0020940oxfordshire, northamptonshire; rutlandshire, 0020950leicestershire, warwickshire, huntingdonshire, 0020960and lincolnshire. there is your portion, sir. 0020970'slid, i will rule like a king amongst them, 0020980and thou shalt reign like an emperor over us. 0020990thus have i parted my whole realm amongst ye. 0021000be careful of your charge and government. 0021010and now to attach our stubborn uncles, 0021020let warrants be sent down, tresilian, 0021030for gaunt and york, surrey and arundel 0021040whiles we this night at plashey suddenly 0021050surprise plain woodstock. being parted thus 0021060we shall with greater ease arrest and take them. 0021070your places are not sure while they have breath, 0021080therefore pursue them hard: those traitors gone, 0021090the staves are broke the people lean upon, 0021100and you may guide and rule then at your pleasures. 0021110away to plashey, let our masque be ready. 0021120beware plain thomas, for king richard comes 0021130resolved with blood to wash all former wrongs. 0021140the queen so sick! come, come, make haste good 0021150wife, thou wilt be belated, sure, it is night already! 0021160on with thy cloak and mask! to horse, to horse! 0021170good troth, my lord i have no mind to ride. 0021180i have been dull and heavy all this day, 0021190my sleeps were troubled with sad dreams last night, 0021200and i am full or fear and heaviness. 0021210pray let me ride tomorrow. 0021220what, and the queen so sick? away for shame! 0021230stay for a dream? thou hast dreamt i am sure ere this! 0021240never so fearful were my dreams till now. 0021250had they concerned myself, my fears were past; 0021260but you were made the object of mine eye 0021270and i beheld you murdered cruelly. 0021280ha, murdered? 0021290alack, good lady, didst thou dream of me? 0021300take comfort, then, all dreams are contrary. 0021310pray god it prove so, for my soul is fearful, 0021320the vision did appear so lively to me. 0021330methoughts as you were ranging through the woods 0021340an angry lion with a herd of wolves 0021350had in an instant round encompassed you; 0021360when to your rescue, against the course of kind, 0021370a flock of silly sheep made head against them, 0021380bleating for help, against whom the forest king 0021390roused up his strength, and slew both you and them. 0021400this fear affrights me. 0021410afore my god thou art foolish, i will tell thee all 0021420thy dream. thou knowest last night we had some private 0021430talk about the blanks the country is taxed withal, 0021440where i compared the state (as now it stands, 0021450meaning king richard and his harmful flatterers) 0021460unto a savage herd of ravening wolves, 0021470the commons to a flock of silly sheep 0021480who, whilst their slothful shepherd careless stood, 0021490those forest thieves broke in, and sucked their blood. 0021500and this thy apprehension took so deep 0021510the form was portrayed lively in thy sleep. 0021520come, come, it is nothing. what, are the horses ready? 0021530they are, my lord. 0021531where is the gentleman that brought this message? 0021540where lies the queen, sir? 0021550at sheen, my lord: most sick, and so much altered 0021560as those about her fear her sudden death. 0021570forfend it heaven! away, make haste i charge ye. 0021580what, weeping now? afore my god thou art fond! 0021590come, come, i know thou art no augurer of ill. 0021600dry up thy tears, this kiss, and part. farewell! 0021610that farewell from your lips to me sounds ill. 0021620wherever i go, my fears will follow still. 0021630see her to horseback, cheyney. 0021640before my god, it is late, 0021650and but the important business craves such haste, 0021660she had not gone from plashey house tonight. 0021670but woe is me the good queen anne is sick 0021680and (by my soul) my heart is sad to hear it: 0021690so good a lady, and so virtuous, 0021700this realm for many ages could not boast of. 0021710her charity hath stayed the commons' rage 0021720that would ere this have shaken richard's chair 0021730or set all england on a burning fire. 0021740and, before my god, i fear, when she is gone 0021750this woeful land will all to ruin run. 0021760how now, cheyney! what, is thy lady gone yet? 0021770she is, my lord, with much unwillingness, 0021780and it is so dark i cannot blame her grace. 0021790the lights of heaven are shut in pitchy clouds 0021800and flakes of fire run tilting through the sky 0021810like dim ostents to some great tragedy. 0021820god bless good anne-a-beame. i fear her death 0021830will be the tragic scene the sky foreshows us. 0021840when kingdoms change, the very heavens are 0021850troubled. 0021860pray god king richard's wild behaviour 0021870force not the powers of heaven to frown upon us. 0021880my prayers are still for him. what thinkest thou, 0021890cheyney. may not plain thomas live a time, to see 0021900this state attain her former royalty? 0021910before god i doubt it not. my heart is merry, 0021920and i am suddenly inspired for mirth. 0021921ha, what sport shall we have tonight, cheyney? 0021930i am glad to see your grace addicted so 0021940for i have news of sudden mirth to tell ye 0021950which, till i heard ye speak, i durst not utter: 0021960we shall have a masque tonight, my lord. 0021970ha, a masque sayest thou? what are they, cheyney? 0021980it seems, my lord, some country gentlemen, 0021990to show their dear affection to your grace 0022000proffer their sports this night to make you merry. 0022010their drums have called for entrance twice already. 0022020are they so near? i prithee let them enter. 0022030tell them we do embrace their loves most kindly. 0022040give order through the house that all observe them. 0022050we must accept their loves, although the times 0022060are no way suited now for masks and revels. 0022070what, ho, within there! 0022080my lord? 0022090prepare a banquet: call for lights and music. 0022100they come in love, and we will accept it so. 0022110some sports does well, we are all too full of woe. 0022120they are come, my lord. 0022130they all are welcome, cheyney, set me a chair. 0022140we will behold their sports in spite of care. 0022150from the clear orb of our ethereal sphere 0022160bright cynthia comes to hunt and revel here. 0022170the groves of calydon and arden woods 0022180of untamed monsters, wild and savage herds, 0022190we and our knights have freed, and hither come 0022200to hunt these forests, where we hear there lies 0022210a cruel tusked boar, whose terror flies 0022220through this large kingdom, and with fear and dread 0022230strikes her amassed greatness pale and dead. 0022240and, having viewed from far these towers of stone, 0022250we heard the people midst their joy and moan 0022260extol to heaven a faithful prince and peer 0022270that keeps a court of love and pity here. 0022271reverend and mild his looks: if such there be 0022280this state directs, great prince, that you are he; 0022290and ere our knights to this great hunting go, 0022300before your grace they would some pastime show 0022310in sprightly dancing. thus they bade me say 0022320and wait an answer to return or stay. 0022330nay, for heaven's pity let them come, i prithee. 0022340pretty device, in faith! stand by, make room there! 0022350stir, stir, good fellows, each man to his task! 0022360we shall have a clear night, the moon directs 0022370the masque. 0022380ha, country sports say ye? before god it is courtly. 0022390a general welcome, courteous gentlemen. 0022400and when i see your faces, i will give each man more 0022410particular. if your entertainment fail your merit, 0022420i must ask pardon: my lady is from home 0022430and most of my attendance waiting on her. 0022440but we will do what we can to bid you welcome. 0022450afore my god, it joys my heart to see 0022460amidst these days of woe and misery 0022470ye find a time for harmless mirth and sport. 0022480but it is your loves, and we will be thankful for it. 0022490ah, sirrah, ye come like knights to hunt the boar 0022500indeed; 0022510and heaven he knows we had need of helping hands, 0022520so many wild boars roots and spoil our lands 0022530that england almost is destroyed by them. 0022540i care not if king richard heard me speak it: 0022550i wish his grace all good, high heaven can tell, 0022560but there is a fault in some, alack the day. 0022570his youth is led by flatterers much astray. 0022580but he is our king and god's great deputy, 0022590and if ye hunt to have me second ye 0022600in any rash attempt against his state, 0022610afore my god, i will never consent unto it. 0022620i ever yet was just and true to him, 0022630and so will still remain, what is now amiss 0022640our sins have caused, and we must bide heaven's will. 0022650i speak my heart: i am plain thomas still. 0022660come, come, a hall, and music there! your dance being 0022670done, 0022680a banquet stands prepared to bid you welcome. 0022690how now, cheyney! is this banquet ready? 0022700there is no time, i fear, for banqueting. 0022710my lord, i wish your grace be provident, 0022720i fear your person is betrayed, my lord. 0022730the house is round beset with armed soldiers. 0022740ha, soldiers? 0022750afore my god, the commons all are up, then. 0022760they will rebel against the king, i fear me, 0022770and flock to me to back their bold attempts. 0022780go arm the household, cheyney. 0022790hear me, gentlemen. 0022800before god i do not like this whispering. 0022810if your intents be honest, show your faces. 0022820guard fast the doors and seize him presently! 0022830this is the cave, that keeps the tusked boar 0022840that roots up england's vineyards uncontrolled. 0022850bagot, arrest him! if for help he cry 0022860drown all his words, with drums, confusedly. 0022870am i betrayed? 0022880ye cannot escape, my lord, the toils are pitched 0022890and all your household fast in hold ere this. 0022900thomas of woodstock: duke of gloucester, 0022910earl of cambridge and of buckingham, 0022920i here arrest thee in king richard's name 0022930of treason to the crown, his state and realm. 0022940i will put in bail, and answer to the law. 0022950speak, is king richard here? 0022960no, no, my lord, away with him! 0022970villains, touch me not! 0022980i am descended of the royal blood, king richard's 0022990uncle, 0023000his grandsire's son; his princely father's brother. 0023010becomes it princes to be led like slaves? 0023020put on a vizard. stop his cries. 0023030ha, who bids them so? i know that voice full 0023040well. 0023041afore my god, false men, king richard is here! 0023050turn thee, thou headstrong youth, and speak again! 0023060by thy dead father's soul i charge thee hear me 0023070so heaven may help me at my greatest need 0023080as i have wished thy good and england's safety. 0023090you are still deceived, my lord, the king is 0023100not here. 0023110on with his masquing suit, and bear him hence. 0023120we will lead ye fairly to king richard's presence. 0023130nay, from his presence to my death you will lead me; 0023140and i am pleased i shall not live to see 0023150my country's ruin, and his misery. 0023160thou hearest me well, proud king, and well mayst 0023170boast that thou betrayedest me here so suddenly, 0023180for had i known thy secret treachery 0023190nor thou, nor these thy flattering minions, 0023200with all your strengths had wronged plain woodstock 0023210thus. but use your wills. your uncles gaunt and 0023220york will give you thanks for this; and the poor commons, 0023230when they shall hear of these your unjust proceedings. 0023240stop his mouth, i say, we will hear no more. 0023250good heaven, forgive me, pray ye forbear awhile 0023260i will speak but one word more, indeed i will. 0023270some man commend me to my virtuous wife 0023280tell her her dreams have taken effect indeed: 0023290by wolves and lions now must woodstock bleed. 0023300deliver him to lapoole. the ship lies ready. 0023310convey him over to calais speedily, 0023320there use him as we gave directions. 0023330sound up your drums, our hunting sports are done, 0023340and when you are past the house, cast by your habits 0023350and mount your horses with all swiftest haste. 0023360the boar is taken, and our fears are past. 0023370come sirs, attend, my lord is coming forth. 0023380the high shrieves of kent and northumberland 0023390with twenty gentlemen are all arrested 0023400for privy whisperers against the state; 0023410in which i know my lord will find some trick 0023411to seize their goods, and then there is work for us. 0023420nay, there will be work for the hangman first; then 0023430we rifle the goods, and my lord seizes the lands. 0023440if these seven hundred whisperers that are taken come off 0023450lustily, he will have the devil and all shortly. 0023460see, see, they are coming. 0023470call for a marshal there! commit the traitors. 0023480we do beseech your honour hear us speak. 0023490sir, we will not hear ye. the proof is too plain 0023500against ye. becomes it you, sir, being shrieve of 0023510kent, to stay the blanks king richard sent abroad, 0023520revile our messengers, refuse the charters, 0023530and spurn like traitors against the king's decrees? 0023540my lord: i plead our ancient liberties 0023550recorded and enrolled in the king's crown office, 0023560wherein the men of kent are clear discharged 0023570of fines, fifteens, or any other taxes: 0023580forever given them by the conqueror. 0023590you are still deceived: those charters were not sent 0023600to abrogate your ancient privilege, 0023610but for his highness' use they were devised 0023620to gather and collect amongst his subjects 0023630such sums of money as they well might spare, 0023640and he in their defence must hourly spend. 0023650is not the subjects' wealth at the king's will? 0023660what, is he lord of lives and not of lands? 0023670is not his high displeasure present death? 0023680and dare ye stir his indignation so? 0023690we are free-born, my lord, yet do confess 0023700our lives and goods, are at the king's dispose: 0023710but how, my lord, like to a gentle prince 0023720to take or borrow what we best may spare; 0023730and not, like bondslaves, force it from our hands. 0023740presumptuous traitors, that will we try on you. 0023750will you set limits to the king's high pleasure? 0023760away to prison! seize their goods and lands. 0023770much good may it do ye, my lord. the care is 0023771taken; as good die there as here abroad be slain. 0023780well, god forgive both you and us, my lord: 0023790your hard oppressions have undone the state 0023800and made all england poor and desolate. 0023810why suffer ye their speech? to prison hie! 0023820there let them perish, rot, consume, and die! 0023830art thou there, nimble? 0023840i am here, my lord. and since your lordship is now 0023850employed to punish traitors, i am come to present myself unto you. 0023860what, for a traitor? 0023870no, my lord, but for a discoverer of the strangest 0023880traitor that was ever heard of, for by the plain 0023890arithmetic of my capacity, i have found out the 0023900very words a traitor spoke that has whistled treason. 0023910how is that, whistle treason? 0023920most certain, my lord, i have a trick for it: if a 0023930carman do but whistle, i will find treason in it, 0023940i warrant ye. 0023950thou art a rare statesman. nimble, thou hast a 0023960reaching head. 0023970i will put treason into any man's head, my lord, let 0023980him answer it as he can. and then, my lord, we have 0023990got a schoolmaster, that teaches all the country to 0024000sing treason, and like a villain he says: 0024010god bless your lordship. 0024020thou art a most strange discoverer. where are these 0024030traitors? 0024040all in prison, my lord. mr ignorance, the bailey of 0024050dunstable, and i, have taken great pains about them. 0024060besides, here is a note of seven hundred whisperers, 0024070most on them sleepy knaves. we pulled them out of 0024080bedfordshire. 0024090let us see the note. seven hundred whispering traitors; 0024100monstrous villains! we must look to these: 0024110of all the sort these are most dangerous, 0024120to stir rebellion against the king and us... 0024130what are they, crosby? are the rebels wealthy? 0024140fat choughs, my lord, all landed men. rich farmers 0024150grasiers and such fellows, that having been but a 0024160little pinched with imprisonment, begin already to 0024161offer their lands for liberty. 0024170we will not be nice to take their offers, crosby, 0024180their lands are better than their lives to us, 0024190and without lands they shall not ransom lives. 0024200go sirs, to terrify the traitors more, 0024210ye shall have warrants straight to hang them all; 0024220then if they proffer lands, and put in bail 0024230to make a just surrender speedily, 0024240let them have lives, and after, liberty. 0024250but those that have not lands nor goods to pay, 0024260let them be whipped, then hanged. make haste away. 0024270well, then: i see my whistler must be whipped: he 0024280has but two calves to live on, and has lost them too. 0024290and for my schoolmaster, i will have him march about the 0024300market place with ten dozen of rods at his girdle the 0024310very day he goes a-feasting, and every one of his 0024320scholars shall have a jerk at him. come, sirs. 0024330away and leave us. here comes sir edward bagot. 0024340right happily met, my lord tresilian. 0024350you are well returned to court, sir edward, 0024360to this sad house of sheen, made comfortless 0024370by the sharp sickness of the good queen anne. 0024380king richard is come and gone to visit her. 0024390sad for her weak estate, he sits and weeps. 0024400her speech is gone. only at sight of him 0024410she heaved her hands and closed her eyes again, 0024420and whether alive, or dead, is yet uncertain. 0024430here comes sir william bushy. what tidings, sir? 0024440the king is a widower, sir. fair anne-a-beame 0024450hath breathed her last farewell to all the realm. 0024460peace with her soul, she was a virtuous lady. 0024470how takes king richard this her sudden death? 0024480fares like a madman: rends his princely hair, 0024490beats his sad breast, falls grovelling on the earth 0024500all careless of his state, wishing to die 0024510and even in death to keep her company. 0024511but that which makes his soul more desperate, 0024520amidst this heat of passion, weeping comes 0024530his aunt the duchess, woodstock's hapless wife, 0024540with tender love and comfort, 0024550at sight of whom his griefs again redoubled, 0024560calling to mind the lady's woeful state, 0024570as yet all ignorant of her own mishap. 0024580he takes her in his arms, weeps on her breast, 0024590and would have there revealed her hubsand's fall 0024600amidst his passions, had not scroope and greene 0024610by violence borne him to an inward room; 0024620where still he cries to get a messenger 0024630to send to calais to reprieve his uncle. 0024640i do not like those passions. 0024650if he reveal the plot we all shall perish. 0024660where is the duchess? 0024670with much ado we got her leave the presence 0024680with an intent in haste to ride to plashey. 0024690she will find sad comforts there. would all were 0024700well. 0024710a thousand dangers round enclose our state. 0024720and we will break through, my lord, in spite 0024730of fate. 0024740come, come, be merry, good tresilian. 0024750here comes king richard, all go comfort him. 0024760my dearest lord, forsake these sad laments. 0024770no sorrows can suffice to make her live. 0024780then let sad sorrow kill king richard too, 0024790for all my earthly joys with her must die 0024800and i am killed with cares eternally. 0024810for anne-a-beame is dead, forever gone! 0024820she was too virtuous to remain with me, 0024830and heaven hath given her higher dignity. 0024840oh, god, i fear, even here begins our woe: 0024850her death is but chorus to some tragic scene 0024860that shortly will confound our state and realm. 0024870such sad events black mischiefs still attend, 0024880and bloody acts, i fear, must crown the end. 0024890presage not so, sweet prince, your state is 0024900strong. 0024910your youthful hopes with expectation crowned. 0024920let not one loss so many comforts drown. 0024930despair and madness seize me. oh, my dear friends, 0024940what loss can be compared to such a queen? 0024950down with this house of sheen, go ruin all! 0024960pull down her buildings, let her turrets fall! 0024970forever lay it waste and desolate 0024980that english king may never here keep court, 0024990but to all ages leave a sad report, 0025000when men shall see these ruined walls of sheen 0025010and sighing say, here died king richard's queen. 0025020for which we will have it wasted lime and stone 0025030to keep a monument of richard's moan. 0025040oh, torturing grief! 0025050dear liege, all tears for her are vain 0025060oblations, 0025070her quiet soul rests in celestial peace: 0025080with joy of that, let all your sorrows cease. 0025090send post to calais and bid lapoole forbear 0025100on pain of life, to act our sad decree. 0025110for heaven's love, go, prevent the tragedy. 0025120we have too much provoked the powers divine 0025130and here repent thy wrongs, good uncle woodstock; 0025140the thought whereof confounds my memory. 0025150if men might die when they would appoint the time, 0025160the time is now king richard would be gone; 0025170for as a fearful thunderclap doth strike 0025180the soundest body of the tallest oak, 0025190yet harmless leaves the outward bark untouched, 0025200so is king richard struck. come, come let us go. 0025210my wounds are inward. inward burns my woe. 0025220come sirs, be resolute. the time serves well 0025230to act the business you have taken in hand. 0025240the duke is gone to rest, the room is voided, 0025250no ear can hear his cries, be fearless bold 0025260and win king richard's love, with heaps of gold. 0025270are all your instruments for death made ready? 0025280<1murd >all fit to the purpose. see, my lord, here is 0025290first a towel with which we do intend to strangle 0025300him; but if he strive and this should chance to fail, 0025301i will maul his old mazzard with his hammer, knock him 0025310down like an ox, and after cut his throat. how like ye 0025320this? 0025330no, wound him not, 0025340it must be done so fair and cunningly 0025350as if he died a common natural death, 0025360for so we must give out to all that ask. 0025370<2murd >there is no way then, but to smother him. 0025380i like that best; yet one thing let me tell ye: 0025390think not your work contrived so easily 0025400as if ye were to match some common man. 0025410believe me, sirs, his countenance is such, 0025420so full of dread and lordly majesty, 0025430mixed with such mild and gentle behaviour 0025440as will (except you be resolved at full) 0025450strike you with fear even with his princely looks. 0025460<1murd >not and he looked as grim as hercules, 0025470as stern and terrible as the devil himself! 0025480it is well resolved. retire yourselves awhile, 0025490stay in the next withdrawing chamber there 0025500and when occasion serves, i will call ye forth. 0025510<2murd >do but beckon with your finger, my lord, 0025520and like vultures we come flying and seize him 0025530presently. 0025540do so. now by my fairest hopes, i swear 0025550the boldness of these villains to this murder 0025560makes me abhor them and the deed forever. 0025570horror of conscience, with the king's command 0025580fights a fell combat in my fearful breast. 0025590the king commands his uncle here must die. 0025600and my sad conscience bids the contrary 0025610and tells me that his innocent blood thus spilt 0025620heaven will revenge. murder is a heinous guilt, 0025630a seven times crying sin. accursed man, 0025640the further that i wade in this foul act 0025650my troubled senses are the more distract, 0025660confounded and tormented past my reason. 0025670but there is no lingering: either he must die 0025680or great king richard vows my tragedy. 0025690then betwixt two evils it is good to choose the least: 0025700let danger fright faint fools, i will save mine own 0025710and let him fall to black destruction. 0025711he sleeps upon his bed. the time serves fitly, 0025720i will call the murderers in. sound music there, 0025730to rock his senses in eternal slumbers. 0025740sleep, woodstock, sleep. thou never more shalt wake. 0025750this town of calais shall forever tell, 0025760within her castle walls plain thomas fell. 0025770<1gost >night horror and the eternal shrieks of death 0025780intended to be done this dismal night 0025790hath shook fair england's great cathedral, 0025800and from my tomb elate at canterbury 0025810the ghost of edward the black prince is come 0025820to stay king richard's rage, my wanton son. 0025830thomas of woodstock, wake! thy brother calls thee. 0025840thou royal issue of king edward's loins, 0025850thou art beset with murder, rise and fly. 0025860if here thou stay, death comes and thou must die. 0025870still dost thou sleep? oh, i am nought but air! 0025880had i the vigour of my former strength 0025890when thou beheldest me fight at crecy field 0025900where, hand to hand, i took king john of france 0025910and his bold sons my captive prisoners, 0025920i would shake these stiff supporters of thy bed 0025930and drag thee from this dull security. 0025940oh, yet for pity wake! prevent thy doom! 0025950thy blood upon my son will surely come, 0025960for which, dear brother woodstock, haste and fly, 0025970prevent his ruin and thy tragedy. 0025980oh! 0025990<2gost >sleepest thou so soundly and pale death so nigh? 0026000thomas of woodstock, wake, my son, and fly! 0026010thy wrongs have roused thy royal father's ghost 0026020and from his quiet grave king edward is come 0026030to guard thy innocent life, my princely son, 0026040behold me here: sometime fair england's lord. 0026050seven warlike sons i left, yet being gone 0026060no one succeeded in my kingly throne, 0026070richard of bordeaux, my accursed grandchild, 0026071cut off your titles to the kingly state 0026080and now your lives and all would ruinate: 0026090murders his grandsire's sons: his father's brothers: 0026100becomes a landlord to my kingly titles, 0026110rents out my crown's revenues, racks my subjects 0026120that spent their bloods with me in conquering france, 0026130beheld me ride in state through london streets 0026140and at my stirrup lowly footing by 0026150four captive kings to grace my victory. 0026160yet that nor this his riotous youth can stay 0026170till death hath taken his uncles all away. 0026180thou fifth of edward's sons, get up and fly! 0026190haste thee to england, close and speedily! 0026200thy brothers york and gaunt are up in arms, 0026210go join with them: prevent thy further harms. 0026220the murderers are at hand: awake, my son! 0026230this hour fortells thy sad destruction. 0026240oh, good angels, guide me, stay thou blessed 0026250spirit, 0026260thou royal shadow of my kingly father, 0026270return again! i know thy reverend looks. 0026280with thy dear sight once more recomfort me, 0026290put by the fears my trembling heart foretells 0026300and here is made apparent to my sight 0026310by dreams and visions of this dreadful night. 0026320upon my knees i beg it. ha! protect me, heaven! 0026330the doors are all made fast! it was but my fancy: 0026340all is whist and still, and nothing here appears 0026350but the vast circuit of this empty room. 0026360thou blessed hand of mercy, guide my senses! 0026370afore my god, methoughts as here i slept 0026380i did behold in lively form and substance 0026390my father edward and my warlike brother 0026400both gliding by my bed, and cried to me 0026410to leave this place, to save my life, and fly. 0026420lighten my fears, dear lord. i here remain 0026430a poor old man, thrust from my native country 0026440kept and imprisoned in a foreign kingdom. 0026450if i must die, bear record, righteous heaven, 0026460how i have nightly waked for england's good, 0026470and yet to right her wrongs would spend my blood. 0026480send thy sad doom, king richard: take my life. 0026490i wish my death might ease my country's grief. 0026500(we are prevented: back retire again, 0026510he is risen from his bed. what fate preserves him?) 0026520my lord, how fare you? 0026530thou canst not kill me villain! 0026540god's holy angel guards a just man's life 0026550and with his radiant beams as bright as fire 0026560will guard and keep his righteous innocence. 0026570i am a prince. thou darest not murder me. 0026580your grace mistakes, my lord. 0026590what art thou, speak! 0026600lapoole, my lord, this city's governor. 0026610lapoole, thou art king richard's flatterer. 0026620oh, you just gods! record their treachery, 0026630judge their foul wrongs, that under show of friendship 0026640betrayed my simple, kind, intendiments! 0026650my heart misgave it was no time for revels 0026660when you, like masquers, came, disguised, to plashey 0026670joined with that wanton king to trap my life, 0026680for that, i know is the end his malice aims at. 0026690this castle, and my secret sending hither 0026700imports no less. therefore i charge ye tell me: 0026710even by the virtue of nobility, 0026720and partly, too, on that allegiance 0026730thou owest the offspring of king edward's house, 0026740if aught thou knowest to prejudice my life, 0026750thou presently reveal, and make it known. 0026760nay, good my lord, forbear that fond suspicion. 0026770i tell thee, poole: there is no less intended. 0026780why am i sent thus from my native country, 0026790but here at calais to be murdered? 0026800and that lapoole, confounds my patience. 0026810this town of calais where i spent my blood 0026820to make it captive to the english king, 0026830before whose walls great edward lay encamped 0026840with his seven sons almost for fourteen months; 0026850where the black prince, my brother, and myself 0026860the peers of england, and our royal father, 0026870fearless of wounds, never left till it was won, 0026880and was it to make a prison for his son? 0026890oh, righteous heavens, why do you suffer it? 0026891disquiet not your thoughts, my gracious lord. 0026900there is no hurt intended, credit me, 0026910although awhile your freedom be abridged. 0026920i know the king: if you would but submit 0026930and write your letters to his majesty, 0026940your reconcilement might be easily wrought. 0026950for what should i submit, or ask his mercy? 0026960had i offended, with all low submission 0026970i would lay my neck under the block before him 0026980and willingly endure the stroke of death. 0026990but if not so, why should my fond entreaties 0027000make my true loyalty appear like treason? 0027010no, no, lapoole, let guilty men beg pardons. 0027020my mind is clear; and i must tell ye, sir, 0027030princes have hearts like pointed diamonds 0027040that will in sunder burst afore they bend, 0027050and such lives here! though death king richard send, 0027060yet fetch me pen and ink, i will write to him 0027070not to entreat, but to admonish him 0027080that he forsake his foolish ways in time 0027090and learn to govern like a virtuous prince: 0027100call home his wise and reverend counsellors, 0027110thrust from his court those cursed flatterers 0027120that hourly work the realm's confusion. 0027130this counsel if he follow may in time 0027140pull down those mischiefs that so fast do climb. 0027150here is pen and paper, my lord, will it please 0027160ye write? 0027170anon i will: shut to the doors and leave me. 0027180goodnight, lapoole, and pardon me i prithee 0027190that my sad fear made question of thy faith. 0027200my state is fearful, and my mind was troubled 0027210even at thy entrance, with most fearful visions; 0027220which made my passions more extreme and hasty. 0027230out of my better judgment i repent it, 0027240and will reward thy love. once more, good-night. 0027250good rest unto your grace, (i mean in death. 0027260this dismal night, thou breathest thy latest breath. 0027270he sits to write, i will call the murderers in 0027280to steal behind and closely strangle him.) 0027290so help me heaven, i know not what to write, 0027291what style to use, nor how i should begin: 0027300my method is too plain, to greet a king. 0027310i will nothing say to excuse or clear myself, 0027320for i have nothing done that needs excuse; 0027330but tell him plain, though here i spend my blood. 0027340i wish his safety and all england's good. 0027350<1murd >creep close to his back, ye rogue, be ready with 0027360the towel, when i have knocked him down, to strangle 0027370him. 0027380<2murd >do it quickly whilst his back is towards ye, ye 0027390damned villain; if thou lettest him speak but a word, 0027400we shall not kill him. 0027410<1murd >i will watch him for that, down of your knees and 0027420creep, ye rascal. 0027430have mercy, god! my sight of the sudden fails me. 0027440i cannot see my paper, my trembling fingers will not 0027450hold my pen. a thick congealed mist overspreads the 0027460chamber. i will rise and view the room. 0027470<1murd >not too fast for falling! 0027480what villain hand hath done a deed so bad, 0027490to drench his black soul in a prince's blood? 0027500<1murd >do ye prate, sir? take that and that. zounds, 0027510put the towel about his throat and strangle him quickly, 0027520ye slave, or by the heart of hell, i will fell thee too. 0027530<2murd >it is done, ye damned slave. pull ye dog, and pull 0027540thy soul to hell in doing it, for thou hast killed the 0027550truest subject, that ever breathed in england. 0027560<1murd >pull, rogue, pull! think of the gold we shall 0027570have for doing it, and then let him, and thee, go to 0027580the devil together. bring in the feather-bed and 0027590roll him up in that till he be smothered and stifled, 0027600and life and soul pressed out together. quickly, 0027610ye hellhound! 0027620<2murd >here here, ye cannibal. zounds he kicks and 0027630sprawls. lie on his breast, ye villain! 0027640<1murd >let him sprawl and hang. he is sure enough for 0027650speaking. pull off the bed now, smooth down his hair 0027660and beard. close his eyes and set his neck right: 0027661why so. all fine and cleanly: who can say that this 0027670man was murdered now? 0027680what, is he dead? 0027690<2murd >as a door-nail, my lord. what will ye do with his 0027700body? 0027710take it up gently, lay him in his bed. 0027720then shut the door, as if he there had died. 0027730<1murd >it cannot be perceived otherwise, my lord. 0027740never was murder done with such rare skill. 0027750at our return we shall expect reward, my lord. 0027760it is ready told. 0027770bear in the body, then return and take it. 0027780within there ho! 0027790my lord? 0027800be ready with your weapons, soldiers. 0027810guard the room. 0027820there is two false traitors entered the duke's chamber, 0027830plotting to bear him thence, betray the castle, 0027840deliver up the town and all our lives 0027850to the french forces that are hard at hand 0027860to second their attempts. therefore stand close, 0027870and as they enter, seize them presently. 0027880our will is your warrant: use no further words 0027890but hew them straight in pieces with your swords. 0027900i warrant ye, my lord, and their skins were scaled 0027910with brass, we have swords will pierce them. come, 0027920sirs, be ready. 0027930<1murd >come, ye miching rascal, the deed is done and all 0027940things performed rarely. we will take our reward, steal 0027950close out of the town, buy us fresh geldings, spur cut 0027960and ride till we are past all danger, i warrant thee. 0027970give their reward there! quick i say! 0027980down with the traitors! kill the villains! 0027990hell and the devil! zounds! hold, ye 0028000rascals! 0028010drag hence their bodies, hurl them in the sea: 0028020the black reward of death is a traitor's pay. 0028030so, this was well performed. now who but we 0028040can make report of woodstock's tragedy? 0028050only he died a natural death at calais: 0028051so must we give it out or else king richard 0028060through europe's kingdoms will be hardly censured. 0028070his headstrong uncles, york and lancaster, 0028080are up, we hear, in open arms against him; 0028090the gentlemen and commons of the realm 0028100missing the good old duke, their plain protector, 0028110break their allegiance to their sovereign lord 0028120and all revolt upon the baron's sides; 0028130to help which harm, i will over to england straight, 0028140and with the old troops of soldiers taken from calais, 0028150i will back king richard's power, for should he fail 0028160(and his great uncles get the victory) 0028170his friends are sure to die; but if he win, 0028180they fall, and we shall rise, whilst richard is king. 0028190these proclamations we have sent abroad, 0028200wherein we have accused the dukes of treason, 0028210will daunt their pride and make the people leave them. 0028220i hope no less, at least. where art thou, nimble? 0028230so loaden with armour, i cannot stir, my lord. 0028240whose drums were those that beat even now? 0028250king richard's drums, my lord: the young lords are 0028260pressing soldiers. 0028270oh, and do they take their press with willingness? 0028280as willing as a punk, that is pressed on a 0028290feather-bed, they take their pressing apiece with great 0028300patience. marry, the lords no sooner turn their 0028310backs, but they run away like sheep, sir. 0028320they shall be hanged like dogs for it. 0028330what, dares the slaves refuse their sovereign? 0028340they say the proclamation is false, my lord; 0028350and they will not fight against the king's friends. 0028360so, i feared as much, and since it is come to this 0028370i must provide betime and seek for safety, 0028380for now the king and our audacious peers 0028390are grown to such a height of burning rage 0028400as nothing now can quench their kindled ire 0028410but open trial, by the sword and lance; 0028411and then i fear king richard's part will fail. 0028420nimble, our soldiers run, thou sayest? 0028430ay, by my troth, my lord. and i think it is our 0028440best course to run after them, for if they run now, 0028450what will they do when the battle begins? if we tarry 0028460here and the king's uncles catch us, we are sure to be 0028470hanged my lord, have ye no trick of law to defend 0028480us? no demur or writ of error to remove us? 0028490nimble, we must be wise. 0028500then let us not stay to have more wit beaten into 0028510our heads, i like not that, my lord. 0028520i am a man for peace, and not for war. 0028530and yet they say you have made more wrangling 0028540in the land than all the wars have done these seven years. 0028550this battle will revenge their base exclaims. 0028560but hearest thou, nimble, i will not be there today. 0028570one man amongst so many is no maim, 0028580therefore i will keep aloof, till all be done. 0028590if good, i stay; if bad, away i run. 0028600nimble, it shall be so. i will neither fight nor die; 0028610but, thus resolved, disguise myself and fly. 0028620it is the wisest course, my lord. and i will go put 0028630off mine armour that i may run lustily too. 0028640go to our tents, dear sister, cease your sorrows. 0028650we will revenge our noble brother's wrongs 0028660and force that wanton tyrant to reveal 0028670the death of his dear uncle: harmless woodstock, 0028680so traitorously betrayed. 0028690alack, good man, 0028700it was an easy task to work on him, 0028710his plainness was too open to their view. 0028720he feared no wrong because his heart was true. 0028730good sister, cease your weeping. there is none here 0028740but are as full of woe and touched as near. 0028750conduct and guard her, cheyney, to the tent. 0028751expect to hear severest punishment 0028760on all their heads that have procured his harms, 0028770struck from the terror of our threatening arms. 0028780may all the powers of heaven assist your hands, 0028790and may their sins sit heavy on their souls 0028800that they in death, this day, may perish all 0028810that traitorously conspired good woodstock's fall. 0028820if he be dead, by good king edward's soul 0028830we will call king richard to a strict account 0028840for that and for his realm's misgovernment. 0028850you peers of england, raised in righteous arms 0028860here to re-edify our country's ruin, 0028870join all your hearts and hands never to cease 0028880till with our swords we work fair england's peace. 0028890most princely lancaster, our lands and lives 0028900are to these just proceedings ever vowed. 0028910those flattering minions that overturns the state 0028920this day in death shall meet their endless fate! 0028930never such vipers were endured so long 0028940to grip, and eat the hearts of all the kingdom. 0028950this day shall here determinate all wrongs. 0028960the meanest man taxed by their foul oppressions 0028970shall be permitted freely to accuse, 0028980and right they shall have to regain their own; 0028990or all shall sink to dark confusion. 0029000how now, what drums are these? 0029010to arms, my lords, the minions of the king 0029020are swiftly marching on to give ye battle. 0029030they march to death then, cheyney. dare the 0029040traitors 0029050presume to brave the field with english princes? 0029060where is king richard? he was resolved but lately 0029070to take some hold of strength, and so secure him. 0029080knowing their states were all so desperate, 0029090it seems they have persuaded otherwise, 0029100for now he comes with full resolve to fight. 0029110lapoole this morning is arrived at court 0029111with the calais soldiers and some french supplies 0029120to back this now intended enterprise. 0029130those new supplies have spurred their forward hopes 0029140and thrust their resolutions boldly on 0029150to meet with death and sad destruction. 0029160their drums are near. just heaven, direct this 0029170deed 0029180and as our cause deserves, our fortunes speed. 0029190although we could have easily surprised, 0029200dispersed and overthrown your rebel troops 0029210that draw your swords against our sacred person, 0029220the highest god's anointed deputy, 0029230breaking your holy oaths to heaven and us: 0029240yet of our mild and princely clemency 0029250we have forborne; that by this parliament 0029260we might be made partaker of the cause 0029270that moved ye rise in this rebellious sort. 0029280hast thou, king richard, made us infamous? 0029290by proclamations false and impudent 0029300hast thou condemned us in our absence too 0029310as most notorious traitors to the crown? 0029320betrayed our brother woodstock's harmless life, 0029330and sought base means to put us all to death? 0029340and dost thou now plead dotish ignorance 0029350why we are banded thus in our defense? 0029360methinks your treasons to his majesty, 0029370raising his subjects against his royal life, 0029380should make ye beg for mercy at his feet. 0029390you have forgotten, uncle lancaster, 0029400how you in prison murdered cruelly 0029410a friar carmelite because he was 0029420to bring in evidence against your grace 0029430of most ungracious deeds and practices. 0029440and you, my lord, remember not so well 0029450that by that carmelite at london once, 0029460when at a supper, you would have poisoned us. 0029470for shame, king richard, leave this company 0029480that like dark clouds obscure the sparkling stars 0029490of thy great birth, and true nobility. 0029500yield to your uncles. who but they should have 0029501the guidance of your sacred state and council? 0029510yield first your heads, and so he shall be sure 0029520to keep his person and his state secure. 0029530and by my crown, if still you thus persist 0029540your heads and hearts ere long shall answer it. 0029550not till ye send for more supplies from france, 0029560for england will not yield ye strength to do it. 0029570thou well mayst doubt their loves that lost their 0029580hearts. 0029590ungracious prince, cannot thy native country 0029600find men to back this desperate enterprise? 0029610his native country! why, that is france my lords! 0029620at bordeaux was he born, which place allures 0029630and ties his deep affections still to france. 0029640richard is english blood: not english born. 0029650thy mother travailed in unhappy hours 0029660when she, at bordeaux, left her heavy load. 0029670the soil is fat for wines, not fit for men, 0029680and england now laments that heavy time. 0029690her royalties are lost: her state made base; 0029700and thou no king, but landlord now become 0029710to this great state that terrored christendom. 0029720i cannot brook these braves. let drums sound death, 0029730and strike at once to stop this traitor's breath. 0029740stay, my dear lord; and once more hear me, 0029750princes. 0029760the king was minded, ere this brawl began, 0029770to come to terms of composition. 0029780let him revoke the proclamations, 0029790clear us of all supposed crimes of treason, 0029800reveal where our good brother gloucester keeps, 0029810and grant that these pernicious flatterers 0029820may by the law be tried, to quit themselves 0029830of all such heinous crimes alleged against them, 0029840and we will lay down our weapons at thy feet. 0029850presumptuous traitors! 0029860traitors! 0029870again we double it: rebellious traitors! 0029880traitors to heaven and us. draw all your swords 0029890and fling defiance to those traitorous lords. 0029900let our drums thunder and begin the fight. 0029901just heaven protect us and defend the right. 0029910stand, traitor! for thou canst not escape my sword. 0029920what villain fronts me with the name of traitor? 0029930was it thou, false cheyney? now by king richard's love 0029940i will tilt thy soul out for that base reproach. 0029950i would thy master and the late protector 0029960with both his treacherous brothers, gaunt and york, 0029970were all opposed, with thee, to try these arms: 0029980i would seal it on all your hearts. 0029990this shall suffice 0030000to free the kingdom from thy villainies. 0030010thou huntest a noble game, right warlike cheyney: 0030020cut but this ulcer off, thou healest the kingdom. 0030030yield thee, false traitor, most detested man 0030040that settest king richard against his reverent uncles 0030050to shed the royal blood and make the realm 0030060weep for their timeless desolation. 0030070cast down thy weapons, for by this my sword 0030080we will bear thee from this place, alive or dead. 0030090come both then. i will stand firm and dare your 0030100worst. he that flies from it, be his soul accursed! 0030110so may the foes of england fall in blood. 0030120most desolate traitor! up with his body, cheyney, 0030130and hale it to the tent of lancaster. 0030140stand firm, my lord. here is rescue. 0030150courage, then! 0030160we will bear his body hence in spite of them. 0030170oh, princely youth, king richard's dearest friend! 0030180what heavy star this day had dominance 0030190to cut off all thy flowering youthful hopes? 0030200prosper, proud rebels! as you dealt by him 0030210hard-hearted uncles, unrelenting churls, 0030220that here have murdered all my earthly joys! 0030221oh my dear greene, wert thou alive to see 0030230how i will revenge thy timeless tragedy 0030240on all their heads that did but lift a hand 0030250to hurt this body, that i held so dear 0030260even by this kiss and by my crown i swear. 0030270away, my lord! stand not to wail his death. 0030280the field is lost; our soldiers shrink and fly: 0030290lapoole is taken prisoner by the lords. 0030300hie to the tower. there is no help in swords. 0030310still to continue war were childishness. 0030320their odds a mountain, ours a molehill is. 0030330let us fly to london, and make strong the tower. 0030340loud proclamations post throughout the camp 0030350with promise of reward to all that take us. 0030360get safety for our lives, my princely lord. 0030370if here we stay, we shall be all betrayed. 0030380oh, my dear friends, the fearful wrath of heaven 0030390sits heavy on our heads for woodstock's death. 0030400blood cries for blood; and that almighty hand 0030410permits not murder unrevenged to stand. 0030420come, come, we yet may hide ourselves from worldly 0030430strength, 0030440but heaven will find us out, and strike at length. 0030450each lend a hand to bear this load of woe 0030460that erst king richard loved and tendered so. 0030470where art thou, nimble? 0030480as light as a feather, my lord. i have put off my 0030490shoes, that i might run lustily. the battle is lost 0030500and they are all prisoners. what shall we do, my lord? 0030510yonder is a ditch. we may run along that and never be 0030520seen, i warrant ye. 0030530i did suspect no less; and so it is fallen: 0030540the day is lost; and dashed are all our hopes. 0030550king richard is taken prisoner by the peers. 0030560oh, that i were upon some steepy rock 0030570where i might tumble headlong to the sea 0030580before those cruel lords do seize on me! 0030581oh that i were transformed into a mouse, that i 0030590might creep into any hole in the house and i cared 0030600not. 0030610come, nimble, it is no time to use delay. 0030620i will keep me in this poor disguise awhile 0030630and so, unknown, prolong my weary life 0030640in hope king richard shall conclude my peace. 0030650hark, hark, the trumpets call the soldiers back, 0030660retreat is sounded, now the time serves fit 0030670and we may steal from hence. away good nimble. 0030680nay, stay my lord! 'slid, and ye go that way, farewell; 0030690but and you will be ruled by me, i have thought of 0030700a trick that ye shall escape them all most bravely. 0030710bethink thyself, good nimble. quickly, man! 0030720i will meditate, my lord; and then i am for ye. 0030730(now, nimble, show thyself a man of valour. think 0030740of thy fortunes. it is a hanging matter if thou conceal him. 0030750besides there is a thousand marks for him that 0030760takes him, with the duke's favours, and free pardon. 0030770besides he is but a coward. he would never have run 0030780from the battle else. saint tantony, assist me, i will 0030790set upon him presently.) 0030800my lord, i have thought upon this trick: 0030810i must take ye prisoner. 0030820how prisoner? 0030830there is no way to escape else. then must i carry 0030840ye to the king's uncles, who presently condemns ye, for 0030850a traitor, sends ye away to hanging, and then 0030860"god bless my lord tresilian." 0030870wilt thou betray thy master, villain? 0030880ay, if my master be a villain. you think it is 0030890nothing for a man to be hanged for his master? you 0030900heard not the proclamation? 0030910what proclamation? 0030920oh, sir, all the country is full of them, that whosoever 0030930sees you, does not presently take ye, and bring 0030940ye to the lords, shall be hanged for his labour. 0030950therefore no more words, lest i raise the whole camp 0030960upon ye. ye see one of your own swords of justice 0030961drawn over ye. therefore go quietly lest i cut your 0030970head off and save the hangman a labour. 0030980o, villain! 0030990no more words. away, sir! 0031000thus princely edward's sons, in tender care 0031010of wanton richard and their father's realm, 0031020have toiled to purge fair england's pleasant field 0031030of all those rancorous weeds that choked the grounds 0031040and left her pleasant meads like barren hills. 0031050who is it can tell us which way bagot fled? 0031060some say to bristowe, to make strong the castle. 0031070see that the port is belayed. he will fly the land, 0031080for england hath no hold can keep him from us. 0031090had we tresilian hanged, then all were sure. 0031100where slept our scouts that he escaped the field? 0031110he fled, they say, before the fight began. 0031120our proclamations soon shall find him forth, 0031130the root and ground of all these vild abuses. 0031140how now, what traitor is 0031150there? 0031160the traitor now is taken. 0031170i here present the villain, 0031180and if ye needs will know his name, 0031190god bless my lord tresilian. 0031200tresilian, my lord, attached and apprehended by 0031210his man! 0031220yes, and it please ye, my lord, it was i that took 0031230him. i was once a trampler in the law after him, and 0031240i thank him he taught me this trick, to save myself 0031250from hanging. 0031260thou art a good lawyer and hast removed the cause 0031270from thyself fairly. 0031280i have removed it with a habeas corpus; and then i 0031290took him with surssararis, and bound him in this bond 0031300to answer it. nay, i have studied for my learning, i 0031310can tell ye, my lord. there was not a stone between 0031311westminster hall and temple bar but i have told them 0031320every morning. 0031330what moved thee, being his man, to apprehend him? 0031340partly for these causes: first, the fear of the 0031350proclamation, for i have plodded in plowden and can 0031360find no law.