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you still retain the name of King, and if any disturb

ye, we four comes presently from the four parts of the Kingdom,

with four puissant armies to assist you.

King

you four must be all then, for I think nobody else

will follow you, unless it be to hanging!

Green

why Richard, King Richard, will ye be as good as

your word, and seal the writings? sfoot, and thou

dost not and I do not join with thine uncles and turn

traitor, would I might be turned to a toadstool.

King

very well, sir. they did well to choose you for

their orator, that has King Richard's love and heart

in keeping. your suit is granted, sir. let us see the

writings.

All

they are here, my lord.

King

view them Tresilian, then we will sign and seal

them. look to your bargain, Greene, and be no loser,

for if ye forfeit or run behind hand with me, I swear

I will both imprison and punish ye soundly.

Green

forfeit, sweet King? 'sblood, I will sell their

houses ere I will forfeit my lease, I warrant thee.

King

if they be stubborn, do, and spare not. rack them

soundly and we will maintain it. remember ye not the

proviso enacted in our last parliament, that no statute,

were it never so profitable for the commonwealth

should stand in any force against our proceedings?

Green

it is true, my lord, then what should hinder ye to

accomplish anything that may best please your Kingly

spirit to determine?

King

true, Greene, and we will do it in spite of them.

is it just, Tresilian?

Tresilian

most just, my liege. these gentlemen here, sir

henry Greene, sir Edward Bagot, sir william Bushy, and

sir Thomas Scroope, all jointly here stand bound to

pay your majesty, or your deputy, wherever you remain,

seven thousand pounds a month for this your Kingdom; for which

your grace, by these writings, surrenders to their

hands: all your crown lands, lordships, manors, rents,

taxes, subsidies, fifteens, imposts, foreign customs,

staples for wool, tin, lead, and cloth; all forfeitures

of goods or lands confiscate, and all other

duties that is, shall, or may appertain to the King or

crown's revenues, and for non-payment of the sum or

sums aforesaid, your majesty to seize the lands and

goods of the said gentlemen above named, and their

bodies to be imprisoned at your grace's pleasure.

King

how like you that, Greene? believe me, if you fail,

I will not favour ye a day.

Green

I will ask no favour at your hands, sir.

ye shall have your money at your day, and then do your

worst, sir!

King

it is very good. set to your hands and seals.

Tresilian, we make you our deputy to receive this money.

look strictly to them, I charge ye.

Tresilian

if the money come not to my hands at the time

appointed, I will make them smoke for it.

Green

ay, ay, you are an upright justice, sir, we fear

ye not. here, my lord, they are ready, signed and sealed.

Tresilian

deliver them to his majesty all together, as your

special deeds.

Omnes

we do, with humble thanks unto his majesty that

makes us tenants to so rich a lordship.

King

keep them, Tresilian; now will we sign and seal

to you. never had english subjects such a landlord.

Green

nor ever had english King such subjects as we four,

that are able to farm a whole Kingdom and pay him rent for it.

King

look that ye do. we shall expect performance

speedily. there is your indenture, signed and sealed,

which as our Kingly deed we here deliver.

Green

thou never didst a better deed in thy life, sweet

bully, thou mayst now live at ease, we will toil for

thee, and send thy money in tumbling.

King

we shall see your care, sir.

reach me the map, we may allot their portions,

and part the realm amongst them equally.

you four shall here by us divide yourselves

into the nine and thirty shires and counties of my Kingdom, parted

thus: (come stand by me and mark those shires assigned

ye). Bagot, thy lot: betwixt the thames and sea thus

lies: Kent, Surrey, sussex, hampshire, berkshire,

wiltshire, dorsetshire, somersetshire, devonshire,

cornwall, those