Act 1
Scene 1
Enter Tom, Dick, and Jack
JACK
The plague hath just past leaving our beloved England weak, and without enough peasants to work the land. The greedy barons overwork us, and now those beshrewed traitors in parliament are demanding all citizens' rich or poor pay 5p or be slaughtered. Because of this new atrocity, tonight my family will fast.
TOM
Forsooth, this new poll tax is unfortunate, but I deem it regrettably necessary to keep up the war in France, would you rather we be conquered and taken as slaves by the enemy?
DICK
Speak you of this war of two score and four? I would it be over, as it stands, to be taken captive by the French might not be so bad as the state we are in now, taken captive by our baron and unable to leave the manor. That we should march on London and tell the king our grievances is a point in which I agree with our fellows, our heavenly monarch will be sure to think of some way to help us.
JACK
I agree, on taking our grievances to the king, but I doubt our efforts will be much availed. I am not sure young Richard is strong enough to defy parliament.
TOM
Though I think this new tax justified, by my hood, when you go to London I will follow, for this is not the only grievance needed to be voiced to the king. It is a great injustice done to us that we be not paid good wages and be free to leave the manor. Though our attempts may be bootless and only succeed in sending all us to the stocks, I would try lest I live me life in regret.
Enter Wat
TOM
Here comes Wat, I shall inquire his standing about this new taxation.
WAT
How do you fare lords? Well I trust, with no spots of red or black, nor lumps in your pits the size of bloody apples, for such a day is thankfully past.
TOM
Exceedingly, but we are in want of your opinion on the issue of the day.
WAT
And pray you, what is this?
JACK
Have you not heard?
WAT
No, tell onto me this news.
JACK
The whole town hath taken up the scythe of war; Legge (may the devil beshrew his soul) hath just struck a fellow countryman over this new poll tax. We are marching to London on the marrow to express our grievances to the king; the men of Essex already are on the move and meet them we will at Maidstone.
WAT
Poor folk we be and abused enough already. Doom all the men who kept us chained to this accursed field, the bear hath finally ripped free. And as the farmers have taken up the scythe so will I my hammer, My thanks to Legge, tomorrow I ride with you to Maidstone.
Exit All
Enter Tom, Dick, and Jack
JACK
The plague hath just past leaving our beloved England weak, and without enough peasants to work the land. The greedy barons overwork us, and now those beshrewed traitors in parliament are demanding all citizens' rich or poor pay 5p or be slaughtered. Because of this new atrocity, tonight my family will fast.
TOM
Forsooth, this new poll tax is unfortunate, but I deem it regrettably necessary to keep up the war in France, would you rather we be conquered and taken as slaves by the enemy?
DICK
Speak you of this war of two score and four? I would it be over, as it stands, to be taken captive by the French might not be so bad as the state we are in now, taken captive by our baron and unable to leave the manor. That we should march on London and tell the king our grievances is a point in which I agree with our fellows, our heavenly monarch will be sure to think of some way to help us.
JACK
I agree, on taking our grievances to the king, but I doubt our efforts will be much availed. I am not sure young Richard is strong enough to defy parliament.
TOM
Though I think this new tax justified, by my hood, when you go to London I will follow, for this is not the only grievance needed to be voiced to the king. It is a great injustice done to us that we be not paid good wages and be free to leave the manor. Though our attempts may be bootless and only succeed in sending all us to the stocks, I would try lest I live me life in regret.
Enter Wat
TOM
Here comes Wat, I shall inquire his standing about this new taxation.
WAT
How do you fare lords? Well I trust, with no spots of red or black, nor lumps in your pits the size of bloody apples, for such a day is thankfully past.
TOM
Exceedingly, but we are in want of your opinion on the issue of the day.
WAT
And pray you, what is this?
JACK
Have you not heard?
WAT
No, tell onto me this news.
JACK
The whole town hath taken up the scythe of war; Legge (may the devil beshrew his soul) hath just struck a fellow countryman over this new poll tax. We are marching to London on the marrow to express our grievances to the king; the men of Essex already are on the move and meet them we will at Maidstone.
WAT
Poor folk we be and abused enough already. Doom all the men who kept us chained to this accursed field, the bear hath finally ripped free. And as the farmers have taken up the scythe so will I my hammer, My thanks to Legge, tomorrow I ride with you to Maidstone.
Exit All