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that was his answer, flat and resolute.

King

was ever subject so audacious?

Bagot

and can your grace, my lord, digest these wrongs?

King

yes, as a mother that beholds her child

dismembered by a bloody tyrant's sword.

I tell thee, Bagot, in my heart remains

such deep impressions of his churlish taunts

as nothing can remove the gall thereof

till with his blood mine eyes be satisfied.

Green

sfoot, raise powers, my lord, and fetch him

thence perforce.

King

I dare not, Greene, for whilst he keeps in the

country there is no meddling, he is so well beloved

as all the realm will rise in arms with him.

Tresilian

sfoot, my lord, an you would fain have him, I have a

trick shall fetch him from his house at plashey in

spite of all his favourites.

Green

let us have it, Tresilian, thy wit must help or all is

dashed else.

Tresilian

then thus, my lord: whiles the Duke securely revels

in the country, we will have some trusty friends disguise

themselves like masquers and this night ride down to plashey,

and in the name of some near-adjoining

friends, offer their sports to make him merry, which

he no doubt will thankfully accept. then in the masque

we will have it so devised (the dance being done and the

room voided) then upon some occasion single the Duke

alone, thrust him in a masquing suit, clap a vizard on

his face, and so convey him out of the house at

pleasure.

Scroope

how if he cry, and call for help?

Tresilian

what serves your drums but to drown his cries?

and, being in a masque, it will never be suspected.

Green

good, in faith, and to help it, my lord Lapoole,

the governor of calais, is new come over, who, with a

troop of soldiers closely ambushed in the woods, near

the house, shall shrowd themselves till the masque be

ended. then, the Duke being attached, he shall be

there ready to receive him, hurry him away to the

thames' side, where a ship shall be laid ready for his

coming, so clap him under hatches, hoist sails, and

secretly convey him out of the realm to calais, and so

by this means ye shall prevent all mischief, for neither

of your uncles nor any of the Kingdom shall know

what is become of him.

King

I like it well, sweet Greene; and by my crown

we will be in the masque ourself, and so shall you.

get horses ready, this night we will ride to plashey;

but see ye carry it close and secretly,

for whilst this plot is a-working for the Duke

I will set a trap for York and Lancaster.

go, Tresilian, let proclamations straight be sent

wherein thou shalt accuse the Dukes of treason,

and then attach, condemn, and close imprison them.

lest the commons should rebel against us

we will send unto the King of France for aid,

and in requital we will surrender up

our forts of guynes and calais to the french.

let crown and Kingdom waste, yea life and all,

before King Richard see his true friends fall.

give order our disguises be made ready,

and let Lapoole provide the ship and soldiers.

we will not sleep, by heaven, till we have seized him.

Bushy

(sfoot, urge our suit again, he will forget it

else.)

King

these traitors once surprised, then all is sure:

our Kingdom is quiet and your state is secure.

Green

most true, sweet King: and then your grace, as you

promised, farming out the Kingdom to us four shall

not need to trouble yourself with any business, this

old turkey-cock Tresilian shall look to the law, and

we will govern the land most rarely.

King

so, sir. the love of thee and these, my dearest

Greene, hath won King Richard to consent to that

for which all foreign Kings will point at us.

and of the meanest subject of our land

we shall be censured strangely, when they tell

how our great father toiled his royal person

spending his blood to purchase towns in France;

and we his son, to ease our wanton youth

become a landlord to this warlike realm,

rent out our Kingdom like a pelting farm

that erst was held, as fair as babylon,

the maiden conqueress to all the world.

Green

sfoot, what need you care what the world talks?