JOHN. What would you say? speak boldly, we entreat.
LEI. It is not fear, but wonder, bars my speech. I muse to see a mother and a queen, Two peers so great as Salisbury and Chester, Sit and support proud usurpation, And see King Richard's crown worn by Earl John.
QUEEN. He sits as viceroy and a[s] substitute.
CHES. He must and shall resign, when Richard comes.
SAL. Chester, he will, without your must and shall.
LEI. Whether he will or no, he shall resign.
JOHN. You know your own will, Leicester, but not mine.
LEI. Tell me among ye, where is reverend Ely, Left by our dread king as his deputy?
JOHN. Banish'd he is, as proud usurpers should.
LEI. Pride then, belike, was enemy to pride: Ambition in yourself his state envied. Where is Fitzwater, that old honour'd lord?
LEI. Exil'd he may be, but dishonour'd never! He was a fearless soldier and a virtuous scholar. But where is Huntington, that noble youth?
JOHN. Leicester, you question more than doth become you. On to the purpose, why you come to us.
LEI. I come to Ely and to all the state, Sent by the king, who three times sent before To have his ransom brought to Austria: And if you be elected deputy, Do as you ought, and send the ransom-money.
JOHN. Leicester, you see I am no deputy; And Richard's ransom if you do require, Thus we make answer: Richard is a king, In Cyprus, Acon, Acre, and rich Palestine. To get those kingdoms England lent him men, And many a million of her substance spent, The very entrails of her womb were rent: No plough but paid a share, no needy hand, But from his poor estate of penury Unto his voyage offer'd more than mites, And more, poor souls, than they had might to spare. Yet were they joyful; for still flying news-- And lying I perceive them now to be-- Came of King Richard's glorious victories, His conquest of the Soldan,[217] and such tales As blew them up with hope, when he return'd, He would have scatter'd gold about the streets.
LEI. Do princes fight for gold? O leaden thought! Your father knew that honour was the aim Kings level at. By sweet St John, I swear, You urge me so, that I cannot forbear. What do you tell of money lent the king, When first he went into this holy war, As if he had extorted from the poor, When you, the queen, and all that hear me speak, Know with what zeal the people gave their goods. Old wives took silver buckles from their belts; Young maids the gilt pins that tuck'd up their trains; Children their pretty whistles from their necks, And every man what he did most esteem, Crying to soldiers, "Wear these gifts of ours." This proves that Richard had no need to wrong, Or force the people, that with willing hearts Gave more than was desir'd. And where you say, You [do] guess Richard's victories but lies, I swear he wan rich Cyprus with his sword; And thence, more glorious than the guide of Greece, That brought so huge a fleet to Tenedos, He sail'd along the Mediterran sea, Where on a sunbright morning he did meet The warlike Soldan's[218] well-prepared fleet. O, still, methinks, I see King Richard stand In his gilt armour stain'd with Pagan's blood, Upon a galley's prow, like war's fierce god, And on his crest a crucifix of gold! O, that day's honour can be never told! Six times six several brigantines he boarded, And in the greedy waves flung wounded Turks; And three times thrice the winged galley's banks (Wherein the Soldan's son was admiral) In his own person royal Richard smooth'd, And left no heathen hand to be upheav'd Against the Christian soldiers.