 | The First Part of the Reign of King Richard the Second : or Thomas of Woodstock |  |
[Actus quintus]
Enter Lapoole wt h a light after hime the (2) MurderersLap:
com sirs be resolut. the tyme serues well
to act the busines you haue tayne in hand
the duke is gon to rest [the rome is voyded]
[no eare can heere his cryes,] be feareless bould
82
are all yor Instruments for death mayd readye
i m:
all fitt thoth purpose see my lord, heeres first a towell
wt h wc h we doe intend to strangle hime, but if he striue
& this should chance to fayle, Ile malle his old massard wt h this ham̄er [OMITTED]
knocke hime downe like an oxe, & after cutts throat, how like ye thi«s[OMITTED]»
La:
no wound hime not it must be don so faire & cuningly
as if he dyed a common naturall death
for so we must giue out to all that aske
2 m:
ther is no way then but to smother hime
La:
I like that best, yett one thinge lett me tell ye
thinke not yor worke contriud soe easely
as if you were to match some common man/
beleeue me sirs, his countenance is such
so full of dread and lordly mat i e.
[mixt wt h such myld & gentle hauior,]
as will (except you be resolud at full)
stricke you wt h feare euen wt h his princly lookes
i m:
not & he lookt as gryme as hercules
as sterne & terrible as the deuell hime self
La:
tis well resolud, retyre yor selues a while
[stay in the next wt h draweing chamber ther]
& when [I spy the best aduantage for ye,] occasion Serues Ile call ye forth
2 m:
doe but becken wt h yor finger my lord, & like vulters
we com flyeing & sease hime persently
Exeunt (2) Murderers
La:
doe soe; [& yett] now by [all] my fairest hopes I sweare
the bouldnes of thes villaynes to this murder
makes me abhorr them & the deed for euer
[horror of conscience, wt h the kings command]
[fights a fell combatt in my fearefull breast]
the king commands his vncle heere must dye
& my sadd conscience byds the contrarye
& tells me that his Innocent blood thus spilt
heauen will reuenge, murders a haynous guilt
83
[the further that I wayd in this foule act]
[my troubled sences are the more distract]
[connfownded & tormented past my Reasone]
but thers no lingering, either hee must dye
or great king Richard, vowes my tragedy
then twixt too euells tis good to chuse the least
lett danger fright faynt fooles, Ile saue myne owne
& lett hime fall to blacke distructione
he drawes the curtaynes[OMITTED]
he sleepes vppon his bed. the tyme serues fittly
Ile call the murderers in. sound musicke ther
to rocke his sences in eternall slumbers.
[musique]
sleepe woodstocke sleepe. thou neuer more shalt wake
this towne of Callys shall for euer tell
wt hin hir castle walles playne Thomas fell
Exitt Lapoole[OMITTED]
Thunder & lightning Enter the ghost of the Black Prince/
i ghost:
night horror. & theternall shreekes of death
in tended to be done this dismall night
hath shooke faire Englands great Cathederall
& from my toomb elate at Conterburye
the ghost of Edward the blacke prince is come
to stay king Richards rage, my wanton sone
Thomas of woodstocke wake. thy brother calls thee
thou Royall issue of king Edwards loynes
thou art be sett wt h murder rise & fly
if heere thou stay, death comes & thou must dye
Still dost thou sleepe: oh I am nought but ayre [OMITTED]
84
when thou beheldst me fight at Cressy feild
wher hand, to hand. I tooke king Iohn of ffrance
& his bould sonns my captiue prissoners
Ide shake these stiff supporters of thy bed
& dragg thee from this dull Securyty
oh yett for pittye wake. preuent thy doome
thy blood vpon my sonne, will surely come
Thunder
for wc h, deere brother woodstocke haste & fly
preuent his Ruein & thy Tragedye
Exit Ghoste/
Enter Edward the thirds ghost
oh
2 ghost:
Sleepst thou so soundly & pale death so nye
Thomas of woodstocke, wake my sone & fly
thy wrongs haue rowsd thy royall fathers ghost
& from his quiat graue. king Edwards come
to guard thy Innocent life, my princly sonne
behould me heere. sometymes faire Englands lord
(7) warlicke sonnes I left, yett being gone
no one succeeded In my kingly throne
Richard of burdex, my accussed grand child
Cutt of yor titles to the kingly state
& now yor liues and all, would ruinate
murders his grand siers sonns: his fathers brothers
becomes a landlord to my kingly tytles
rents out my crownes reuenewes. racks my subiects
that spent ther bloods wt h me in conquering ffrance
beheld me ryd in state through london streetes
& at my sturropp lowly footeing by
(4) captiue kings to grace my victory
yett that, nor this. his royatous youth can stay
till death hath tayne his vncles all away
thou fift of Edwards sonns gitt vp & ffly
hast thee to England, close & speedely
thy brothers Yorke & Gaunt are vp in Armes
goe Ioyne wt h them. preuent thy further harmes
85
this howre foretells thy sad distructione
Exit Ghoste
[OMITTED] oh, good angells guide me, stay thou blessed speritt
[OMITTED] thou Royall shadowe of my kingly ffather
[OMITTED] returne agayne. I knowe thy reuerent lookes
[OMITTED] wt h thy deere sight, once more recomfort me
[OMITTED] putt by the feares my trembling harte foretells
[OMITTED] & heere is mayd apparant to my sight
[OMITTED] by dreames & vissions of this dreadfull night
[OMITTED] vpon my knees I begg it: ha: protect me heauen:
[OMITTED] the doores are all made fast: twas but my fancye
[OMITTED] alls whist & still, & nothing heere appeeres
[OMITTED] but the vast circute of this emptie roome
[OMITTED] thou blessed hand of mercye, guid my sences
[OMITTED] a fore my god me thoughts as heere I slept
[OMITTED] I did behould in liuely forme & Substance
[OMITTED] my father Edward and my warlicke brother
[OMITTED] both glyding by my bed. & cryd to me
[OMITTED] to leaue this place to saue my life & fly
[OMITTED] lighten my feares deere lord. I heere remayne
[OMITTED] a poore old man, thrust from my natiue country
[OMITTED] kept & Imprissond in a fforrayne kingdome
if I must dye beare reccord righteous heauen
Enter Lapoole & the Murderers:
how I haue nightly wakt for englands good
& yett to right hir wrongs would spend my blood
send thy sadd doome, king Richard take my life
I wish my death might ease my countryes greife
86
we are preuented, backe retire agayne
hees ryssen from his bed, what fate ≼serues hime
my lord how faire you.
W:
thou canst not kill me villayne
gods holly angle guards a Iust mans life
and wt h his radiant beames as bright as fire
will guard & keepe his righteous Innocence
I am a prince. thou darst not murder me.
La:
yor grace mistakes my lord,
W:
what art thou speake
La:
Lapoole my lord. this cittyes gouernor.
W:
Lapoole thou art king Richards flatterer
oh you Iust gods. record ther trechery
Iudg ther fowle wrongs. that vnder show of ffreendship
betryd my simple kynd. Intendiments
my harte misgaue it was no tyme for reuells
when you like maskers, cam, disguisd to plasshey
Ioynd wt h that wanton king to trapp my life
for that I knowe's the end his mallice aymes at
this castle, & my secrett sending hether
Imports no less. ther fore I charge ye tell mee.
euen by the vertue of nobillitye.
& partly to, on that alegience
thou owst the ofspring of king Edwards house
if ought thou knowst to preiudice my life
thou persently reueale, & make it knowne,/
La:
nay good my lord forbeare that fond suspitione
W:
I tell thee poole. ther is noless intended
why am I sent thus from my natiue country
but heere at Callys to be murdered.
& that Lapoole. confounds my patience
this towne of callys wher I spent my blood
to make it captiue to the englishe kinge
be fore whose walles great Edward. lay Incampt
wt h his (7) sonnes almost for (14) monthes
wher the blacke prince my brother, & my selfe
87
feareless of wounds, nere left. till it was wonne
& wast to make a prisone for his sonne
oh righteous heauens, why doe you suffer itt
La:
disquiett not yor thoughts my gratious lord.
ther is no hurte intended creditt me
although awhile yor freedome be abrydgd
I knowe the king. if you would but submitt
& wright yor letters to his mat i e.
yor reconsylement might be easly wraught
W:
for what should I submitt, or aske his mercye
had I offended, wt h all low submissione
Ide lay my necke vnder the blocke before hime
& willingly endure the strocke of death
but if not so: why should my fonnd Intreatyes
make my trew loyallty appeere like treasone [OMITTED]
no no Lapoole, lett guiltye men begg ∥dons [OMITTED]
my mynd is cleere. & I must tell ye Sir [OMITTED]
princes haue hartes like poynted Diamonds [OMITTED]
that will in sunder burst afore they bend [OMITTED]
& such liues heere: though death king Richard «s[OMITTED]»
yett fetch me pen & incke Ile wright to h[OMITTED]
not to intreat, but to admonish hime [OMITTED]
that he forsake his foolish wayes in tyme [OMITTED]
& learne to gouerne like a vertious prince[OMITTED]
call home his wise & reuerent counsellors. [OMITTED]
88
that howrely workes the Realmes confusione
this counsell if he followe may in tyme
pull downe those mischeifes that soe fast doe clyme
La:
heeres penn & paper my lord wilt please ye wright
W:
anon I will, shutt to the doores & leaue me
good night Lapoole, & ∥don me I prethee
that my sadd feare, mayd questione of thy faith
my state is feare full, & my mynd was troubled
euen at thy entrance wt h most feare full vissions.
wc h mayd my passiones more extreame & hastye
out of my better Iudgment I repent itt
& will reward thy loue: once more good night
La:
good rest vnto yor grace, I meane in death
this dismall night: thou breathest thy latest breath
he sitts to wright, Ile call the murderers In
to steale behynd. & closly strangle hime—
Exitt Lapoole
W:
So help me heauen. I know not what to wright
what stile to vse: nor how I should beginn
my method is to playne, to greete a kinge
Ile nothing say to'excuse or cleere my self
for I haue nothing doe that needs excuse
but tell him playne. though heere I spend my blood
Enter both the Murderers
I wish his saftye. & all Englands good.
i m:
creepe close to his backe ye rogue, be ready w
t
h the towell,
when I haue knockt hime downe. to strangle hime
2 m:
doe it quickly whilst his backe is towards ye, ye dambd villayne,
if tho
u lettst hime speake but a word. we shall not kill hime,
i m:
Ile watch hime for that, downe of yo
r knees & creepe ye Rascall,
W:
haue mercy god. my sight ath sudden fayles me
I cannot see my paper, my trembling fingers will not hold
my penn, a thicke coniealled mist ore spreds the chamber
Ile ryse & view the Roome
2 m:
not to fast for fallinge.
strickes hime.
W:
what villayne hand. hath done a deed soe badd.
to drench his blacke soule in a princes blood
89
doe ye prate S
r, take that & that, zounes putt the towell
a bouts throat & strangle hime quickly ye slaue. or by the
harte of hell. Ile fell thee too
2 m:
tis done ye dambd slaue. pull ye dogg: & pull thy soule to hell/
in doeing it. for tho
u hast killd the truest subiect,
that euer breathd in England.
i m:
pull rogue pull, thinke of the gould we shall haue for d«oe»in«g[OMITTED]it»
& then lett hime & thee. goe to'th deuell to gether. bring in
the fether bead. & rowle him vp in that till he be smotherd &
stiffled. & life & soule prest out together. quickly ye hell hound/
2 m:
heere heere ye caniball. zounes he kickes & spralls,
ly ons breast ye villayne
i m:
lett him sprall & hang. hees sure enough for speakeing,
[OMITTED] pull of the bed now. smooth downe his hayre & beard.
[OMITTED] close his eyes. & sett his necke right: why so: all fine & cleanely,
[OMITTED]ole
who can say that this man was murderd now,
[OMITTED] La:
what is he dead
«2» m:
as a doore nayle my lord. what will ye doe wt
h his bodye.
[OMITTED] take it vp gently, lay hime in his bed.
[OMITTED] then shutt the doore as if he ther had dyd.
[OMITTED] then shutt the doore as if he ther had dyd.
[OMITTED] it cannot be perseaued otherwise my lord; neuer was
[OMITTED] murder done wt h such rare skill. at or returne we shall
[OMITTED] expect reward my lord.
Exeunt wt
h the bodye
[OMITTED] murder done wt h such rare skill. at or returne we shall
[OMITTED] expect reward my lord.
[OMITTED] tis ready tould, beare in the body then returne & take it/.
[OMITTED] wt h in ther hoe
[OMITTED] wt h in ther hoe
[OMITTED] my lord.
90
[draw all] be readie wt h yor weapons [souldiers]. guard the Roome
thers (2) falce traytors enterd the dukes Chamber
plotting to beare hime thence: betray the castle
deliuer vp the towne & all or liues
to the french forces that are hard at hand
[to second ther attempts]. therfore stand close
& as they enter sease them persently
or wills yor warrant vse no further words
but hew them straight in peeces wt h yor swords
sould:
I warrant ye my lord. & ther skinns were scalld w
t
h brass
Enter the Murderr
s
we haue swords will pearce them. com sirs be ready/
i m:
Com ye micheing Rascall the deeds done & all things parformd rarely
wele take o
r reward, steale close out ath towne, by vs fresh geldings
spurr cutt & ryd till we are past all danger I warrant thee
La:
giue ther reward ther. quicke I say
+ sould:
downe wt h the traytors. kill the villaynes.
both:
hell & the deuell zounes hould ye Rascalls/.
They Kill the Murderers
La:
[drag hence ther bodies. hurle them in the sea]
[the blacke reward of deathes a traytors pay.]
Exeunt sould: wt h ther bodys
So this was well parformd. now who butt we
can make report of woodstocks tragedy
only he dyd a naturall death at Callys,
so must we giue it out, or else king Richard
through Europs kingdomes wilbe hardly sensurd
his head strong vncles, yorke & lancaster
are vp we heare, in open Armes agaynst hime,
[the gentlemen & commons of the Realme]
[missing the good old duke. ther playne protector.]
[brake ther allegiance to ther soueraigne lord]
[& all reuolt vppon the Barrons syds]
to help wc h harme, Ile ore to england straight
& wt h th'old troopes of souldiers tayne from Callys.
Ile backe king Richards powre. for should he fayle
(& his great vncles gitt the victorye)
his freends are sure to dye: but if he winn.
they fall, & we shall ryse whilst Richards kinge
Exeunt
91
T:
These proclemations we haue sent abroad
wher in we haue accusd the dukes of treason.
will dant ther pryd. & make the people leaue them.
I hope no less at least. wher art thou nimble,
N:
so loaden wt h armour I cannot stirr my lord,
T:
whose dromes were those that beate euen now
N:
king Richards dromes my lord: the young lords are pressing souldiers
T:
oh & doe they take ther press wt h willingnes [OMITTED]
N:
as willing as a puncke, thats prest on a feather bed, they take ther[OMITTED]
a peece w
t
h great patience. mary the lords no sooner turne ther bac«ks»
but they rune away like sheepe Sir
T
they shalbe hangd like doggs fort
what dares the slaues refuse ther soueraigne
N:
they say the proclemationes falce my lord.
& theile not fight against the kings ffreends
T:
so I feard as much & sence tis come to this
I must prouid be tyme & seeke for saftye
for now the king, & or awdatious peeres
are growne to such a height of burneing Rage
as nothing now can quench ther kyndled Ire
but open tryall, by the sword & lance
& then I feare king Richards parte will fayle
nimble. or souldiers Rune thou saist
N:
I by my troth my lord. & I thinke tis o
r best course to rune after th[OMITTED]
for if the Rune now. what will they doe when the battaile beginns[OMITTED]
if we tarry heere & the kings vncles catch vs, we are sure to be hangd[OMITTED]
92
or wrytt of erro
r to remoue vs,
T
nimble we must be wise
N:
then letts not stay to haue more witt beaten into or heads, I like not that my lord
T:
I am a man for peace, & not for warr
N:
& yett they say you haue maid more wrangling eth land
then all the warrs has don this (7) yeares/
T
this battayle will reuenge ther basse exclaymes
but hearst thou nimble, Ile not be ther to day
one man amongst so many is no mayme
ther fore Ile keepe aloofe, till all be donne
if good I stay; if badd, away I Rune
nimble It shalbe soe. Ile neither fight nor dye.
but thus resould, disguise my self & fly—
Exit Trissillian
N:
tis the wisest course my lord.
& Ile goe putt of myne Armour that I may Rune lustely too
Exitt Nimb/
Enter wt h Drome, and Cullors, Yorke. Lancaster Arondell surrye wt h the Dutches of gloster, & souldiers & Cheney/
[lanck]
goe to or tents deere sister Csease yor sorrowes
we will reuenge or noble brothers wrongs.
& force that wanton Tirant to reueale
the death of his deere vncle: harmless woodstocke
so trayterously betrayd.
[yorke]
alacke good man
it was an easey taske to worke on hime
his playneness was to open to ther view
he feard no wrong. because his harte was trewe/
good sister Cease yor weepeing. thers non heere
but are as full of woe. & toucht as neere
conduct & guard hir Cheyney to the Tent
expect to heere seuerest punishment.
on all ther heads that haue procurd his harmes
strocke from the terror of or threatninge Armes
[duches]
may all the powres of heauen assist yor hands
& may ther sinns sitt heauey on ther soules
93
that trayterously conspird, good woodstocks fall
Exeunt Cheney & the Dutches
[[OMITTED]lanck]
If he be dead, by good king Edwards soule
wele call king Richard to a strickt account
for that & for his Realmes misgouerment
you peeres of England Raisd in Righteous Armes
[—Dromes]
heere to reedifye or Countryes Rueine
Ioyne all yor harts & hands neuer to cease
till wt h or swords we worke faire Englands peace
[[OMITTED]rrondell]
+ most princly Lancaster or lands & liues
are to these Iust proceedings euer vowd
[surrye]
those fflattering mynions that ore turnes the state
this day in death. shall meete ther endless fate
[[OMITTED][rondell] [OMITTED]rke]
neuer such vipors were indurd soe longe
to gryp, & eate the harts of all the kingdome
[Dromes]
[[OMITTED]ck]
this day shall heere determinate all wrongs
the meanest man taxt by ther foule oppressions
shalbe permitted freely to accuse,
[OMITTED]s sounds [OMITTED] in
& right they shall haue to regayne ther one.
or all shall sincke to darke confusione
[OMITTED] v
how now what dromes are these
«En»ter Cheney—
To Armes my lords, the mynions of the kinge
are swiftly marcheing on to giue ye battaile
[lanck]
they march to death then Cheney, dare the traytors/
presume to braue the feild wt h english princes
94
wher is king Richard, he was resolud but lately
to take some hould. of strength & so secure hime
[chenye:]
knoweing ther states, were all so desperate
it seemes they haue parswaded otherwise
for now he comes wt h full resolue to fight
Lapoole this morneing Is arryud at courte
wt h the Callys souldiers & some french supplyes,
to backe this now Intended enterprise
lanck:
those new supplyes haue spurd ther forward hopes
& thrust ther resolutions bouldly on
to meete wt h death & sadd distructione
york:
ther dromes are neere, Iust heauen derect this deed
& as or cause deserues or ffortunes speed.
March a bout
Enter wt h Drome & Cullours: The King Greene Busshy Baggott: Scroope Lapoole and souldiers They march a bout (all.
[kynge]
Although we could haue easely surprisd
disperst & overthrone yor rebell troopes
that draw yor swords agaynst or sacred persone
the hyest gods Anoynted Deputye
breakeing yor holly oathes to heauen & vs.
yett of or myld & princly Clemencye
we haue forborne: that by this parlament
we might be mayd partaker of the cause
that mou'd ye Rise in this Rebellious sorte
[lan]
hast thou king Richard, mayd vs Infamous.
by proclemations false & Impodent
hast thou condemd vs in or absence too
as most natorious traytors to the crowne
betrayd or brother woodstocks harmless life
& sought base meanes to putt vs all to death
& dost thou now plead dotish Ignorance
why we are landed thus in or defence.
[grene]
me thinks yor treasons to his mat i e.
raiseing his subiects gainst his royall life
should make ye begg for mercye at his feete
[kynge]
you haue forgotten vncle Lancaster
95
a fryer Carmalit be cause he was
to bring in euidence against yor grace
of most vngratious deeds & practises
[lanck:]
& you my lord remember not so well
that by that Carmalett at london once
when at a supper, youd haue poysond vs.
[yorke]
for shame king Richard leaue this companey
that like darke clowds obscure the sparkling starrs
of thy great birth, & trew nobillitye
[Arrondell]
yeild to yor vncles. who but they should haue
the guidance of yor sacred state & counsell
Bagg:
yeild first yor heads, & so he shalbe sure
to keepe his person, & his state secure
K:
& by my crowne if still you thus persist
yor heads & harts ere long shall answer it
[Arrond:/]
not till ye send for more supplyes from ffrance [OMITTED]
for england will not yeild ye strength to doe it [OMITTED]
yorke
thou well maist doubt ther loues that lost ther har[OMITTED]
vngratious prince cannot thy natiue country [OMITTED]
fynd men to backe this desperat enterprise [OMITTED]
96
his natiue country, why that is ffrance my lords
at Burdex was he borne, wc h place allures
& tyes his deepe affections still to france
Richard is English blood: not english borne
thy mother trauelld in vnhappie howres
when she at Burdex. left hir heauey load
the soyle is fatt for wynes, not fitt for men
& england now laments that heauey tyme
hir royallties are lost; hir state made basse
& thou no king but landlord now become
to this great state that terrord christendome
K:
I cannot brooke these braues, lett dromes sound death
& stricke at once to stopp this traytors breath.
Bag:
[stay my deere lord: & once more heere me princes]
[the king was mynded. ere this braule began]
[to com to tearmes of compositione]
lanck:
[lett hime reuoke the proclemations]
[cleere vs of all supposed crymes of treason]
[reueale wher or good brother Gloster keepes]
[& graunt that these pernitious fflatterers]
[may by the lawe be tryd, to quitt them selues]
[of all such haynous crymes alledgd against them]
[& wele lay downe or weapons at thy ffeete]
[K]: all: my:
[presumptious traytors]
[All]
[traytors]
K:
[againe we duble it, rebellious traytors,]
traytors to heauen & vs: draw all yor swords
& fling defiance to those trayteros lords
[OMITTED][Enter Bagg: & Cheney]
all:
lett or dromes thunder & beginne the fight
[OMITTED][nter Bushey: & Surry:]
all:
Iust heauen protect vs. & defend the right
—Exeunt omnes
[OMITTED] Alarume
Enter Greene & Cheyney: meets Armde
Ch:
Stand traytor. for thou canst not scap my sword
Gr:
what villayne fronts me wt h the nam of traytor.
wast thou false Cheney, now by king Richards loue
Ile tilt thy soule out for that base reproch.
97
wt h both his trecherous Brothers Gaunt & yorke
were all opposd wt h thee, to try these Armes
Id sealt on all yor hartes
«A»larum Ch:
this shall suffice
to free the kingdome from thy villanyes
«Th[OMITTED]y F[OMITTED]gh»
[OMITTED]Enter Arondell
thou huntst a noble game right warlick Cheney
[OMITTED] cutt but this vlser off, thou healst the kingdome
[OMITTED] yeild thee falce Traytor, most detested man
[OMITTED] that setest king Richard gainst his reuerent vncles
[OMITTED] to shed the royall bloods & make the realme,
[OMITTED] weepe for ther tymless dessolatione
[OMITTED] cast downe thy weapons, for by this my sword
[OMITTED] wele beare thee from this place, aliue or dead
Gree:
com beoth then. Ile stand firme & dare yor worst
he that flyes from it, be his soule accurst
[OMITTED] [Ch] [OMITTED] & [OMITTED]ne
Aro:
So may the ffoes of england fall in blood
[OMITTED] most dessolat traytor. vp wt h his body Cheney
[OMITTED] & hayle it to the tent of lancaster
[OMITTED]g Baggott Busshy Scroop & souldiers
[OMITTED]Ch:
Stand firme my lord. heeres rescue
[OMITTED]Aron:
courage then wele beare his body hence in spight of them
They Fight
98
K:
oh princly youth. king Richards deerest ffreend[s].
what heauey starr this day had dominance
to cutt of all thy flowreing youth full hopes.
prosper proud rebells. as you dealt by hime
hard harted vncles, vnrelenting churles,
that heere haue murderd all my earthly Ioyes.
oh my deere Greene, wert thou aliue to see,
how Ile reuenge thy tymless Tragedye/
on all ther heads, that did but lift a hand.
to hurt this bodye. that I heald so deere
euen by this kiss, & by my crowne I sweare
Alarum /
Enter Baggott Busshy & Scroope to the King /
Bag:
A way my lord. stand not to wayle his death
the ffeild is lost; or soldiers shrincke & fly
Lapoole is taken prisoner by the lords.
hye to the Towre. ther is no help in swords.
Scr:
still to continew warr were childishnes.
ther ods, a mountayne, ours a molehill is.
Bush:
letts fly to london. & make strong the Towre
lowd proclemations post through out the camp
wt h promiss of reward to all that take vs
gitt saftye for or liues my princly lord
if heere we stay we shall be all betrayd
K.
oh my deere ffreends the fearefull wrath of heauen.
sitts heauey on or heads for woodstocks death
blood cryes for blood. & that almightie hand
permitts not murder vnrevengd to stand; com, com,
we yett may hyd or selues from worldly strength
but heauen will fynd vs out, & stricke at length
each lend a hand to beare this load of woe
that erst king Richard loud & tenderd soe
Exeunt omnes
Alarum; Bush & lancaster Enter
Enter Trissillian disguisd & Nimble,
T
wher art thou nimble [OMITTED]
99
as light as a fether my lord. I haue putt off my shoo«e»
that I might Rune lustely, the battailes lost & t«h[OMITTED]»
prisoners, what shall we doe my lord. yonders a[OMITTED]
we may Rune a longe that. & nere be seene I warra[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
I did suspect no less. & soe tis falne [OMITTED]
the day is lost. & dasht are all or hopes [OMITTED]
king Richards taken prisoner by the peeres [OMITTED]
oh that I were vpon some steepye Rocke [OMITTED]
wher I might tumble headlong to the sea [OMITTED]
before those crewell lords, doe sease on mee. [OMITTED]
N
oh that I were transformd In to a mouse, that I[OMITTED]
into any hole ith house, & I card not [OMITTED]
T
com nimble tis no tyme to vse delaye [OMITTED]
Ile keepe me in this poore disguise a while [OMITTED]
& so vnknowne. prolong my weary life [OMITTED]
in hope king Richard shall conclud my peace [OMITTED]
[OMITTED]sound Retreat,
harke, harke, the trumpetts call the soldiers backe[OMITTED]
retreat is sounded, now the tyme serues fitt [OMITTED]
& we may steale from hence: away good nim[OMITTED]
N:
nay stay my lord. sled & ye goe that way «*» [OMITTED]
but & youle be ruld by me. I haue thought of a [OMITTED]
that [OMITTED]ye shall Scap them all most brauely [OMITTED]
100
be thinke thy self good nimble, quickly man/
N:
Ile meditate my lord. & then Ime for ye: now nimble,
show thy selfe. a man of vallo
r. thinke of thy fortunes,
tis a hanging matter, if tho
u conceale hime besides thers
a (1000) markes for hime that takes hime, w
t
h the dukes
fauo
rs, & free ∥don: besids hees but a coward,, he would
nere haue rune from the battaile else: S
t Tantony assist me,
Ile sett vpon hime persently; my lord I haue thought vpon
this tricke: I must take ye prissoner/.
T:
how prissoner.
N:
thers no way to scap else. then must I carry ye to the kings
vncles, who persently condemnes ye, for a trayto
r, sends ye away
to hanginge. & then god bless my lord Trissellian/
T:
wilt tho
u betray thy mr villayne/
N:
I if my m
r be a villayne, you thinke tis nothing for a man
to be hangd for his m
r: you heare not the proclematione/
T
what proclematione
N
oh Sr, all[s] the countryes full of them: that whosoeuer sees you,
does not persently take ye. & bring ye to the lords. shalbe
hangd for his labour, ther fore no more words, least I raise
the hole camp vpon ye, ye see one of yor owne swords of
Iustice drawne over ye. ther fore goe quiettly, least I
cutt yor head off & saue the hang man a labour
T
o villayne
N:
no more words, away Sr.
Exeunt Prisoners
sound a Retreat Then A Florish
Enter wt h Victory Lancaster [yorke] Chæney Arondell Surry, & souldiers wt h lapoole Bushy & Scroope
[Drom Collours]
lan
Thus princly Edwards sonnes In tender care
of wanton Richard & ther ffathers realme
haue toyld to purge faire Englands plessant feild
of all those ranckorous weeds that choakt the grownds
& left hir plessant meads like barron hills
who ist can tell vs. wc h way Baggott fled
[Aron:]
+ some say to Bristowe to make strong the castle
lanc:
see that the ports be layd. hele fly the land
101
[OMITTED] had we Trissellian hangd, then all were sure
wher slept or scouts that he escopt the ffeild.
[OMITTED] ch:
he fled they say before the fight begune.
[[OMITTED]ithin [OMITTED]ishe]
lan:
or proclemations soone shall fynd hime forth.
[OMITTED] the roote & grownd of all these vild abusses
[OMITTED] Enter Nimble wt h Trissillian. Bound & Guarded
[OMITTED] lanck:
how now [what guard is that,] what traytors ther
[OMITTED] N:
The Traytor now is tayne: I heere ≼sent the villayne
[OMITTED] & if ye needs will knowe his name.
[OMITTED] god bless my lord Tressillian.
[OMITTED] Ch:
Tressillian my lord attacht & aprehended by his man/
[OMITTED] N:
yes & it please ye my lord. twas I that tooke hime,
I was once a trampler in the lawe after hime & I thank[OMITTED]
hime he tought me this tricke, to saue my self from hanging [OMITTED]
[OMITTED] lanc:
thart a good lawyer. & hast remoud the cause from thy selfe fairely «*»[OMITTED]
[OMITTED] N:
I haue remoud it w
t
h a habis corpus; & then I tooke hime [OMITTED]
[OMITTED] w
t
h a sursseraris, & bound hime in this bond to answer itt [OMITTED]
[OMITTED] nay I haue studdied for my learneing I can tell ye my lord [OMITTED]
[OMITTED] ther was not a stone be tweene westminster hall & temple barr [OMITTED]
[OMITTED] but I haue tould them euery morneinge.
«A»rond:
what moud thee being his man to aprehend hime [OMITTED]
[OMITTED] N:
partly for thes causses; first the feare of the proclematione [OMITTED]
[OMITTED] for I haue plodded in ployden & can f[OMITTED]nd no lawe[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
| The First Part of the Reign of King Richard the Second : or Thomas of Woodstock | |