2034Will. 'Tis certaine, euery man that dyes ill, the ill vpon

2035his owne head, the King is not to answer it.

2036Bates. I doe not desire hee should answer for me, and

2037yet I determine to fight lustily for him.

2038King. I my selfe heard the King say he would not be

2039ransom'd.

2040Will. I, hee said so, to make vs fight chearefully: but

2041when our throats are cut, hee may be ransom'd. and wee

2042ne're the wiser.

2043King. If I liue to see it, I will neuer trust his word af-

2044ter.

2045Will. You pay him then: that's a perillous shot out

2046of an Elder Gunne, that a poore and a priuate displeasure

2047can doe against a Monarch: you may as well goe about

2048to turne the Sunne to yce, with fanning in his face with a

2049Peacocks feather: You'le neuer trust his word after;

2050come, 'tis a foolish saying.

2051King. Your reproofe is something too round, I should

2052be angry with you, if the time were conuenient.

2053Will. Let it bee a Quarrell betweene vs, if you

2054liue.

2055King. I embrace it.

2056Will. How shall I know thee againe?

2057King. Giue me any Gage of thine, and I will weare it

2058in my Bonnet: Then if euer thou dar'st acknowledge it,

2059I will make it my Quarrell.

2060Will. Heere's my Gloue: Giue mee another of

2061thine.

2062King. There.

2063Will. This will I also weare in my Cap: if euer thou

2064come to me, and say, after to morrow, This is my Gloue,

2065by this Hand I will take thee a box on the eare.

2066King. If euer I liue to see it, I will challenge it.

2067Will. Thou dar'st as well be hang'd.

2068King. Well, I will doe it, though I take thee in the

2069Kings companie.

2070Will. Keepe thy word: fare thee well.

2071Bates. Be friends you English fooles, be friends, wee

2072haue French Quarrels enow, if you could tell how to rec-

2073kon. Exit Souldiers.

2074King. Indeede the French may lay twentie French

2075Crownes to one, they will beat vs, for they beare them

2076on their shoulders: but it is no English Treason to cut

2077French Crownes, and to morrow the King himselfe will

2078be a Clipper.

2079Vpon the King, let vs our Liues, our Soules,

2080Our Debts, our carefull Wiues,

2081Our Children, and our Sinnes, lay on the King:

2082We must beare all.

2083O hard Condition, Twin-borne with Greatnesse,

2084Subiect to the breath of euery foole, whose sence

2085No more can feele, but his owne wringing.

2086What infinite hearts-ease must Kings neglect,

2087That priuate men enioy?

2088And what haue Kings, that Priuates haue not too,

2089Saue Ceremonie, saue generall Ceremonie?

2090And what art thou, thou Idoll Ceremonie?

2091What kind of God art thou? that suffer'st more

2092Of mortall griefes, then doe thy worshippers.

2093What are thy Rents? what are thy Commings in?

2094O Ceremonie, shew me but thy worth.

2095What? is thy Soule of Odoration?

2096Art thou ought else but Place, Degree, and Forme,

2097Creating awe and feare in other men?

2098Wherein thou art lesse happy, being fear'd,

2099Then they in fearing.

2100What drink'st thou oft, in stead of Homage sweet,

2101But poyson'd flatterie? O, be sick, great Greatnesse,

2102And bid thy Ceremonie giue thee cure.

2103Thinks thou the fierie Feuer will goe out

2104With Titles blowne from Adulation?

2105Will it giue place to flexure and low bending?

2106Canst thou, when thou command'st the beggers knee,

2107Command the health of it? No, thou prowd Dreame,

2108That play'st so subtilly with a Kings Repose.

2109I am a King that find thee: and I know,

2110'Tis not the Balme, the Scepter, and the Ball,

2111The Sword, the Mase, the Crowne Imperiall,

2112The enter-tissued Robe of Gold and Pearle,

2113The farsed Title running 'fore the King,

2114The Throne he sits on: nor the Tyde of Pompe,

2115That beates vpon the high shore of this World:

2116No, not all these, thrice-gorgeous Ceremonie;

2117Not all these, lay'd in Bed Maiesticall,

2118Can sleepe so soundly, as the wretched Slaue:

2119Who with a body fill'd, and vacant mind,

2120Gets him to rest, cram'd with distressefull bread,

2121Neuer sees horride Night, the Child of Hell:

2122But like a Lacquey, from the Rise to Set,

2123Sweates in the eye of Phebus; and all Night

2124Sleepes in Elizium: next day after dawne,

2125Doth rise and helpe Hiperio to his Horse,

2126And followes so the euer-running yeere

2127With profitable labour to his Graue:

2128And but for Ceremonie, such a Wretch,

2129Winding vp Dayes with toyle, and Nights with sleepe,

2130Had the fore-hand and vantage of a King.

2131The Slaue, a Member of the Countreyes peace,

2132Enioyes it; but in grosse braine little wots,

2133What watch the King keepes, to maintaine the peace;

2134Whose howres, the Pesant best aduantages.

2136Erp. My Lord, your Nobles iealous of your absence,

2137Seeke through your Campe to find you.

2138King. Good old Knight, collect them all together

2139At my Tent: Ile be before thee.

2140Erp. I shall doo't, my Lord. Exit.

2141King. O God of Battailes, steele my Souldiers hearts,

2142Possesse them not with feare: Take from them now

2143The sence of reckning of th'opposed numbers:

2144Pluck their hearts from them. Not to day, O Lord,

2145O not to day, thinke not vpon the fault

2146My Father made, in compassing the Crowne.

2147I Richards body haue interred new,

2148And on it haue bestowed more contrite teares,

2149Then from it issued forced drops of blood.

2150Fiue hundred poore I haue in yeerely pay,

2151Who twice a day their wither'd hands hold vp

2152Toward Heauen, to pardon blood:

2153And I haue built two Chauntries,

2154Where the sad and solemne Priests sing still

2155For Richards Soule. More will I doe:

2156Though all that I can doe, is nothing worth;

2157Since that my Penitence comes after all,

2158Imploring pardon.

2160Glouc. My Liege.

2161King. My Brother Gloucesters voyce? I:

2162I know thy errand, I will goe with thee:

2163The day, my friend, and all things stay for me.

i 3 Enter