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Before his face are given those flatterers.

Surrey

It is his custom to be prodigal

To any but to those do best deserve.

Arundel

Because he knew you would bestow them well

He gave it such as for their private gain

Neglect both honour and their country's good.

Lancaster

How now, what noise is this?

York

Some posts, it seems: pray heaven the news be good.

Woodstock

Amen. I pray, for England's happiness.

Speak, speak, what tidings Cheyney?

Cheyney

Of war, my Lord and civil dissension:

the men of Kent and Essex do rebel.

Woodstock

I thought no less; and always feared as much.

Cheyney

The Shrieves in post have sent unto your Grace

That order be taken to stay the commons

For fear rebellion rise in open arms.

Woodstock

Now, headstrong Richard, shalt thou reap the fruit

Thy lewd licentious wilfulness hath sown.

I know not which way to bestow myself!

York

There is no standing on delay, my Lords,

These hot eruptions must have some redress

Or else in time they will grow incurable.

Woodstock

The commons, they rebel: and the King all careless.

Here is wrong on wrong, to stir more mutiny.

Afore my God I know not what to do.

Lancaster

Take open arms. join with the vexed commons

And hale his minions from his wanton side.

Their heads cut off, the people is satisfied.

Woodstock

Not so, not so! alack the day, good brother

We may not so affright the tender prince.

We will bear us nobly, for the kingdom's safety

And the King's honour. therefore list to me.

You, brother Gaunt, and noble Arundel

Shall undertake, by threats, or fair entreaty,

To pacify the murmuring commons' rage;

And whiles you there employ your service hours

We presently will call a parliament

And have their deeds examined thoroughly;

Where, if by fair means we can win no favour

Nor make King Richard leave their companies,

We will thus resolve, for our dear country's good

To right her wrongs, or for it spend our bloods.

Lancaster

About it then, we for the commons, you for the

Court.

Woodstock

Ay, ay. Good Lancaster, I pray be careful.

Come, brother York, we soon shall right all wrong,

And send some headless from the court ere long.

Exuent

Act II, Scene 1

[Scene 1: Westminster]

Trumpets sound. Enter King Richard, Greene, Bagot, Bushy Scroope, Tresilian, and others.

King

thus shall King Richard suit his princely train

despite his uncle's pride. embrace us, gentlemen.

sir Edward Bagot, Bushy, Greene, and Scroope,

your youths are fitting to our tender years

and such shall beautify our princely throne.

fear not my uncles, nor their proudest strength

for I will buckler ye against them all.

Green

thanks, dearest lord, let me have Richard's love

and like a rock unmoved my state shall stand

scorning the proudest peer that rules the land.

Bushy

your uncles seek to overturn your state,

to awe ye like a child, that they alone

may at their pleasures thrust you from the throne.

Scroope

as if the sun were forced to decline

before his dated time of darkness comes.

Bagot

sweet King, set courage to authority

and let them know the power of majesty.

Green

may not the lion roar, because he is young?

what are your uncles but as elephants

that set their aged bodies to the oak?

you are the oak against whose stock they lean:

fall from them once, and then destroy them ever.

be thou no stay, King Richard, to their strength

but as a tyrant unto tyranny,

and so confound them all eternally.

Tresilian

law must extend unto severity

when subjects dare to brave their sovereign.

King

Tresilian, thou art lord chief justice now,

who should be learned in the laws but thee?

resolve us therefore what thou thinkest of them

seek to subvert their King and sovereign.

Tresilian

as of the King's rebellious enemies:

as underminers of his sacred state;

which, in the greatest prince or mightiest peer

that is a subject to your majesty,

is nothing less than treason capital,

and he a traitor that endeavours it. [Bushy reads a book]

King

attaint