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Woodstock

to see me, sayest thou? a' god's name, let him

come, he brings no blank charters with him.

prithee, bid him alight and enter.

Servant

I think he dares not for fouling on his feet, my

lord, I would have him alight, but he swears as

he is a courtier, he will not off on his horseback till

the inner gate be open.

Woodstock

passion of me, that is strange. I prithee, give him

satisfaction, open the inner gate. what might this

fellow be?

Servant

some fine fool: he is attired very fantastically,

and talks as foolishly.

Woodstock

go let him in, and when your have done, bid Cheyney

come and speak with me.

Servant

I will, my lord.

Enter a Spruce Courtier on horseback

come on, sir, ye may ride into my lord's cellar now,

and ye will sir.

Courtier

prithee, fellow, stay and take my horse.

Servant

I have business for my lord, sir, I cannot.

Courtier

a rude swain, by heaven, but stay, here walks

another. hearest ta, thou, fellow? is this plashey

house?

Woodstock

ye should have asked that question before ye came

in, sir. but this is it.

Courtier

the hinds are all most rude and gross. I prithee,

walk my horse.

Woodstock

I have a little business, sir.

Courtier

thou shalt not lose by it. I will give thee a tester

for thy pains.

Woodstock

I shall be glad to earn money, sir.

Courtier

prithee, do, and know thy duty. thy head is too

saucy.

Woodstock

cry ye mercy, I did not understand your worship's

calling.

Courtier

the Duke of Gloucester lies here, does he not?

Woodstock

marry, does he, sir.

Courtier is he within?

Woodstock

he is not far off, sir. he was here even now.

Courtier

ah, very good, walk my horse well, I prithee, he has

travelled hard and he is hot in faith. I will in and

speak with the Duke, and pay thee presently.

Woodstock

I make no doubt sir. oh, strange metamorphosis!

is it possible that this fellow that is all made of

fashions should be an englishman? no marvel if he

know not me, being so brave, and I so beggarly. well,

I shall earn money to enrich me now and it is the first

I earned, by the rood, this forty year. come on, sir,

you have sweat hard about this haste, yet I think you

know little of the business. why so I say! you are a

very indifferent beast, you will follow any man that

will lead you. now, truly, sir, you look but even

leanly on it. you feed not in Westminster hall a-days,

where so many sheep and oxen are devoured. I am afraid

they will eat you shortly, if you tarry amongst them.

you are pricked more with the spur than the provender,

I see that. I think your dwelling be at hackney when

you are at home, is it not? you know not the Duke

neither, no more than your master, and yet I think

you have as much wit as he. faith, say a man should

steal ye and feed ye fatter, could ye run away with

him lustily?

ah, your silence argues a consent, I see, by the

mass, here comes company. we had been both taken if

we had, I see.

Enter Cheyney, Courtier, and Servants Cheyney

saw ye not my lord at the gate, say ye?

why, I left him there but now.

Courtier

in sooth I saw no creature, sir, only an old groom

I got to walk my horse.

Cheyney

a groom, say ye! sfoot, it is my lord, the Duke.

what have ye done? this is somewhat too coarse!

your grace should be an hostler to this fellow!

Courtier

I do beseech your grace's pardon. the error was

in the mistake; your plainness did deceive me.

please it your grace to redeliver.

Woodstock

no, by my faith. I will have my money first.

promise is a promise.

Courtier

I know your grace's goodness will refuse it.

Woodstock

think not so nicely of me; indeed, I will not.

Courtier

if you so please, there is your tester.

Woodstock

if you so please, there is your horse, sir.

now pray you tell me, is your haste to me?

Courtier

most swift and serious, from his majesty.

Woodstock

what, from King Richard, my dear lord and kinsman?

go, sirrah, take you his horse, lead him