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Exit [Lapoole]

Act V, Scene 2: Open country]

Drums. March within. Enter Tresilian and Nimble with armour.

Tresilian

these proclamations we have sent abroad,

wherein we have accused the Dukes of treason,

will daunt their pride and make the people leave them.

I hope no less, at least. where art thou, Nimble?

Nimble

so loaden with armour, I cannot stir, my lord.

Tresilian

whose drums were those that beat even now?

Nimble

King Richard's drums, my lord: the young lords are

pressing soldiers.

Tresilian

oh, and do they take their press with willingness?

Nimble

as willing as a punk, that is pressed on a

feather-bed, they take their pressing apiece with great

patience. marry, the lords no sooner turn their

backs, but they run away like sheep, sir.

Tresilian

they shall be hanged like dogs for it.

what, dares the slaves refuse their sovereign?

Nimble

they say the proclamation is false, my lord;

and they will not fight against the King's friends.

Tresilian

so, I feared as much, and since it is come to this

I must provide betime and seek for safety,

for now the King and our audacious peers

are grown to such a height of burning rage

as nothing now can quench their kindled ire

but open trial, by the sword and lance;

and then I fear King Richard's part will fail.

Nimble, our soldiers run, thou sayest?

Nimble

ay, by my troth, my lord. and I think it is our

best course to run after them, for if they run now,

what will they do when the battle begins? if we tarry

here and the King's uncles catch us, we are sure to be

hanged my lord, have ye no trick of law to defend

us? no demur or writ of error to remove us?

Tresilian

Nimble, we must be wise.

Nimble

then let us not stay to have more wit beaten into

our heads, I like not that, my lord.

Tresilian

I am a man for peace, and not for war.

Nimble

and yet they say you have made more wrangling

in the land than all the wars have done these seven years.

Tresilian

this battle will revenge their base exclaims.

but hearest thou, Nimble, I will not be there today.

one man amongst so many is no maim,

therefore I will keep aloof, till all be done.

if good, I stay; if bad, away I run.

Nimble, it shall be so. I will neither fight nor die;

but, thus resolved, disguise myself and fly. Exit

Nimble

it is the wisest course, my lord. and I will go put

off mine armour that I may run lustily too. Exit

Act V, Scene 3: Open country]

Enter with Drum and Colours, York, Lancaster, Arundel, Surrey, with the Duchess of Gloucester, Cheyney, and Soldiers.

Lancaster

go to our tents, dear sister, cease your sorrows.

we will revenge our noble brother's wrongs

and force that wanton tyrant to reveal

the death of his dear uncle: harmless Woodstock,

so traitorously betrayed.

York

alack, good man,

it was an easy task to work on him,

his plainness was too open to their view.

he feared no wrong because his heart was true.

good sister, cease your weeping. there is none here

but are as full of woe and touched as near.

conduct and guard her, Cheyney, to the tent.

expect to hear severest punishment

on all their heads that have procured his harms,

struck from the terror of our threatening arms.

Duchess of Gloucester

may all the powers of heaven assist your hands,

and may their sins sit heavy on their souls

that they in death, this day, may perish all

that traitorously conspired good Woodstock's fall.

Exeunt Cheyney and the Duchess Lancaster

if he be dead, by good King Edward's soul

we will call King Richard to a strict account

for that and for his realm's misgovernment.

you peers of England, raised in righteous arms

here to re-edify our country's ruin,

join all your hearts and hands never to cease

till with our swords we work fair England's peace. Drums

Arundel

most princely Lancaster, our lands and lives

are to these just proceedings ever vowed.

Surrey

those flattering minions that overturns the state

this day in death shall meet their endless fate!

York

never such vipers were