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to grip, and eat the hearts of all the Kingdom.

Lancaster

this day shall here determinate all wrongs.

the meanest man taxed by their foul oppressions

shall be permitted freely to accuse,

and right they shall have to regain their own;

or all shall sink to dark confusion.

[Drum]s sound[ed with] in York

how now, what drums are these?

Enter Cheyney Cheyney

to arms, my lords, the minions of the King

are swiftly marching on to give ye battle.

Lancaster

they march to death then, Cheyney. dare the

traitors

presume to brave the field with english princes?

York

where is King Richard? he was resolved but lately

to take some hold of strength, and so secure him.

Cheyney

knowing their states were all so desperate,

it seems they have persuaded otherwise,

for now he comes with full resolve to fight.

Lapoole this morning is arrived at court

with the calais soldiers and some french supplies

to back this now intended enterprise.

Lancaster

those new supplies have spurred their forward hopes

and thrust their resolutions boldly on

to meet with death and sad destruction.

York

their drums are near. just heaven, direct this deed

and as our cause deserves, our fortunes speed.

[Drums, and They] march about

Enter with Drum and Colours, the King, Greene, Bushy, Bagot, Scroope, Lapoole,

and Soldiers. They march about.

King

although we could have easily surprised,

dispersed and overthrown your rebel troops

that draw your swords against our sacred person,

the highest god's anointed deputy,

breaking your holy oaths to heaven and us:

yet of our mild and princely clemency

we have forborne; that by this parliament

we might be made partaker of the cause

that moved ye rise in this rebellious sort.

Lancaster

hast thou, King Richard, made us infamous?

by proclamations false and impudent

hast thou condemned us in our absence too

as most notorious traitors to the crown?

betrayed our brother Woodstock's harmless life,

and sought base means to put us all to death?

and dost thou now plead dotish ignorance

why we are banded thus in our defense?

Green

methinks your treasons to his majesty,

raising his subjects against his royal life,

should make ye beg for mercy at his feet.

King

you have forgotten, uncle Lancaster,

how you in prison murdered cruelly

a friar Carmelite because he was

to bring in evidence against your grace

of most ungracious deeds and practices.

Lancaster

and you, my lord, remember not so well

that by that Carmelite at London once,

when at a supper, you would have poisoned us.

York

for shame, King Richard, leave this company

that like dark clouds obscure the sparkling stars

of thy great birth, and true nobility.

Arundel

yield to your uncles. who but they should have

the guidance of your sacred state and council?

Bagot

yield first your heads, and so he shall be sure

to keep his person and his state secure.

King

and by my crown, if still you thus persist

your heads and hearts ere long shall answer it.

Arundel

not till ye send for more supplies from France,

for England will not yield ye strength to do it.

York

thou well mayst doubt their loves that lost their

hearts.

ungracious prince, cannot thy native country

find men to back this desperate enterprise?

Lancaster

his native country! why, that is France my lords!

at Bordeaux was he born, which place allures

and ties his deep affections still to France.

Richard is english blood: not english born.

thy mother travailed in unhappy hours

when she, at Bordeaux, left her heavy load.

the soil is fat for wines, not fit for men,

and England now laments that heavy time.

her royalties are lost: her state made base;

and thou no King, but landlord now become

to this great state that terrored christendom.

King

I cannot brook these braves. let drums sound death,

and strike at once to stop this traitor's breath.

Bagot

stay, my dear lord; and once more hear me,

princes.

the King was minded, ere this brawl began,

to come to terms of composition.

Lancaster