_Geo._ Welcome is the earl to my poor cell, And so are you, my lords; but let me counsel you To leave these wars against your king, and live in quiet. _Ken._ Father, we come not for advice in war, But to know whether we shall win or leese.[308] _Geo._ Lose, gentle lords, but not by good King Edward; A baser man shall give you all the foil. _Ken._ Ay, marry, father, what man is that? _Geo._ Poor George-a-Greene, the Pinner. _Ken._ What shall he? _Geo._ Pull all your plumes, and sore dishonour you. _Ken._ He! as how? _Geo._ Nay, the end tries all; but so it will fall out. _Ken._ But so it shall not, by my honour Christ. I'll raise my camp, and fire Wakefield town, And take that servile Pinner George-a-Greene, And butcher him before King Edward's face. _Geo._ Good my lord, be not offended, For I speak no more than art reveals to me: And for greater proof, Give your man leave to fetch me my staff. _Ken._ Jenkin, fetch him his walking-staff. _Jen._ [_giving it_]. Here is your walking-staff. _Geo._ I'll prove it good upon your carcases; A wiser wizard never met you yet, Nor one that better could foredoom your fall. Now I have singled you here alone, I care not though you be three to one. _Ken._ Villain, hast thou betray'd us? _Geo._ Momford, thou liest, ne'er was I traitor yet; Only devis'd this guile to draw you on For to be combatants. Now conquer me, and then march on to London: It shall go hard but I will hold you task. _Arm._ Come, my lord, cheerly, I'll kill him hand to hand. _Ken._ A thousand pound to him that strikes that stroke! _Geo._ Then give it me, for I will have the first. [_Here they fight_; GEORGE _kills_ SIR GILBERT ARMSTRONG, _and takes the other two prisoners._ _Bon._ Stay, George, we do appeal. _Geo._ To whom? _Bon._ Why, to the king: For rather had we bide what he appoints, Then here be murder'd by a servile groom. _Ken._ What wilt thou do with us? _Geo._ Even as Lord Bonfield wish'd, You shall unto the king: and, for that purpose, See where the Justice is plac'd. _Enter_ Justice. _Jus._ Now, my Lord of Kendal, where be all your threats? Even as the cause, so is the combat fallen, Else one could never have conquer'd three. _Ken._ I pray thee, Woodroffe, do not twit me; If I have faulted, I must make amends. _Geo._ Master Woodroffe, here is not a place for many words: I beseech ye, sir, discharge all his soldiers, That every man may go home unto his own house. _Jus._ It shall be so. What wilt thou do, George? _Geo._ Master Woodroffe, look to your charge; Leave me to myself. _Jus._ Come, my lords. [_Exeunt all except_ GEORGE. SCENE III.--_A Wood near Wakefield._ GEORGE-A-GREENE _discovered._[309]