And we, while to the wanton lute do strut...

So I've been doing some research on my dissertation. And I came across this useful direct quote:

And so we bid you welcome to our court,
Fair cousin Albany, and you, our sweetest Essex.
Take this my hand, and you fair Essex this,
And with this bond we'll cry anon,
And shout Jack Cock O'London to the foe.

Approach your ears, and kindly bend your conscience to my peace.

Get thee to Gloucester, Essex. Do thee to Wessex, Exeter.
Fair Albany to Somerset must eke his route.
And Scroop, do you to Westmorland, where shall bold York
Enrouted now for Lancaster, with forces of our Uncle Rutland,
Enjoin his standard with sweet Norfolk's host.
Fair Sussex, get thee to Warwicksbourne,
And there, with frowning purpose, tell our plan
To Bedford's tilted ear, that he shall press
With most insensate speed
And join his warlike effort to bold Dorset's side.
I most royally shall now to bed,
To sleep off all the nonsense I've just said.

Or maybe I've just been listening to Beyond the Fringe's Shakespeare parody. Who knows?



The funny thing is, this is not all that different from the accounts of the various fourteenth century civil wars...