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him.

2nd Murderer

do it quickly whilst his back is towards ye, ye

damned villain; if thou lettest him speak but a word,

we shall not kill him.

1st Murderer

I will watch him for that, down of your knees and

creep, ye rascal.

Woodstock

have mercy, god! my sight of the sudden fails me.

I cannot see my paper, my trembling fingers will not

hold my pen. a thick congealed mist overspreads the

chamber. I will rise and view the room.

1st Murderer

not too fast for falling!

Woodstock

what villain hand hath done a deed so bad,

to drench his black soul in a prince's blood?

1st Murderer

do ye prate, sir? take that and that. zounds,

put the towel about his throat and strangle him quickly,

ye slave, or by the heart of hell, I will fell thee too.

2nd Murderer

it is done, ye damned slave. pull ye dog, and pull

thy soul to hell in doing it, for thou hast killed the

truest subject, that ever breathed in England.

1st Murderer

pull, rogue, pull! think of the gold we shall

have for doing it, and then let him, and thee, go to

the devil together. bring in the feather-bed and

roll him up in that till he be smothered and stifled,

and life and soul pressed out together. quickly,

ye hellhound!

2nd Murderer

here here, ye cannibal. zounds he kicks and

sprawls. lie on his breast, ye villain!

1st Murderer

let him sprawl and hang. he is sure enough for

speaking. pull off the bed now, smooth down his hair

and beard. close his eyes and set his neck right:

why so. all fine and cleanly: who can say that this

man was murdered now?

[Re-enter Lapoole]

Lapoole

what, is he dead?

2nd Murderer

as a door-nail, my lord. what will ye do with his

body?

Lapoole

take it up gently, lay him in his bed.

then shut the door, as if he there had died.

1st Murderer

it cannot be perceived otherwise, my lord.

never was murder done with such rare skill.

at our return we shall expect reward, my lord.

Lapoole

it is ready told.

bear in the body, then return and take it.

Exeunt [Murderers] with the body

within there ho!

Enter Soldiers Soldier my lord?

Lapoole

be ready with your weapons, soldiers.

guard the room.

there is two false traitors entered the Duke's chamber,

plotting to bear him thence, betray the castle,

deliver up the town and all our lives

to the french forces that are hard at hand

to second their attempts. therefore stand close,

and as they enter, seize them presently.

our will is your warrant: use no further words

but hew them straight in pieces with your swords.

Soldier

I warrant ye, my lord, and their skins were scaled

with brass, we have swords will pierce them. come,

sirs, be ready.

[Re-enter the Two Murderers]

1st Murderer

come, ye miching rascal, the deed is done and all

things performed rarely. we will take our reward, steal

close out of the town, buy us fresh geldings, spur cut

and ride till we are past all danger, I warrant thee.

Lapoole

give their reward there! quick I say!

Soldier

down with the traitors! kill the villains!

Both

hell and the devil! zounds! hold, ye rascals!

They kill the Murderers Lapoole

drag hence their bodies, hurl them in the sea:

the black reward of death is a traitor's pay.

Exeunt soldiers with their bodies

so, this was well performed. now who but we

can make report of Woodstock's tragedy?

only he died a natural death at calais:

so must we give it out or else King Richard

through europe's Kingdoms will be hardly censured.

his headstrong uncles, York and Lancaster,

are up, we hear, in open arms against him;

the gentlemen and commons of the realm

missing the good old Duke, their plain protector,

break their allegiance to their sovereign lord

and all revolt upon the baron's sides;

to help which harm, I will over to England straight,

and with the old troops of soldiers taken from calais,

I will back King Richard's power, for should he fail

(and his great uncles get the victory)

his friends are sure to die; but if he win,

they fall, and we shall rise, whilst Richard is