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thirty fat oxen and three hundred sheep

serve but one day's expenses.

Lancaster

a hundred scarcely can suffice his guard.

a camp of soldiers feeds not like those bowmen.

Woodstock

but how will these expenses be maintained?

York

oh, they say there are strange tricks come forth

to fetch in money. what they are, I know not.

Woodstock

you have heard of the fantastic suits they wear?

never was english King so habited.

Lancaster

we could allow his clothing, brother Woodstock,

but we have four Kings more, are equalled with him.

there is Bagot, Bushy, wanton Greene, and Scroope

in state and fashion without difference.

York

indeed, they are more than Kings; for they rule him.

Woodstock

come, come, our breaths reverberate the wind.

we talk like good divines, but cannot cure

the grossness of the sin. or shall we speak

like all-commanding wise astronomers,

and flatly say, such a day shall be fair?

and yet it rains, whether he will or no.

so may we talk; but thus will Richard do.

Enter Cheyney, with blanks Lancaster

how now, Cheyney, what drives thee on so fast?

Cheyney

if I durst, I would say (my lord)

Tresilian drives me, one half as ill,

I am still the pursuivant of unhappy news.

here is blank charters, my lord. I pray, behold them,

sent from King Richard and his councillors.

Woodstock

thou makest me blank at very sight of them!

what must these?

Lancaster

they appear in shape of obligations.

Cheyney

they are no less, the country is full of them.

commissions are come down to every Shrieve

to force the richest subjects of the land

to set their hands, and forthwith seal these blanks

and then the bond must afterwards be paid:

that shall confirm a due debt to the King

as much or little as they please to point it.

Lancaster

oh, strange unheard-of vild taxation!

Woodstock

who is it can help my memory a little?

has not this ever been held a principle:

"there is nothing spoke or done that has not been?"

York

it was a maxim ere I had a beard.

Woodstock

it is now found false, an open heresy!

this is a thing was never spoke nor done.

blank charters call ye them? if any age

keep but a record of this policy

(I phrase it too, too well) flat villainy,

let me be chronicled apostata,

rebellious to my god and country both!

Lancaster

how do the people entertain these blanks?

Cheyney

with much dislike, yet some for fear have signed

them; others there be, refuse and murmur strongly.

Woodstock

afore my god I cannot blame them for it.

he might as well have sent defiance to them.

oh, vulture England, wilt thou eat thine own?

can they be rebels called, that now turn head?

I speak but what I fear, not what I wish.

this foul oppression will withdraw all duty,

and in the commons' hearts hot rancours breed

to make our country's bosom shortly bleed.

Lancaster

what shall we do to seek for remedy?

York

let each man hie him to his several home

before the people rise in mutiny,

and, in the mildest part of lenity,

seek to restrain them from rebellion,

for what can else be looked for? promise redress;

that eloquence is best in this distress.

Lancaster

York counsels well. let us haste away.

the time is sick. we must not use delay.

York

let us still confer by letters.

Woodstock

content, content,

so friends may parley, even in banishment.

farewell, good brothers. Cheyney, conduct them forth.

Exuent all but Woodstock

adieu, good York and Gaunt, farewell forever.

I have a sad presage comes suddenly

that I shall never see these brothers more.

on earth, I fear, we never more shall meet.

of Edward the third's seven sons we three are left

to see our father's Kingdom ruinate.

I would my death might end the misery

my fear presageth to my wretched country.

the commons will rebel without all question,

and before my god, I have no eloquence

to stay this uproar, I must tell them plain

we all are struck, but must not strike again.

Enter a Servant

how now? what news?

Servant

there is a horseman at the gate, my lord.

he