Covington Cross1992

[first lines]

Sir Thomas Grey:
Friar! Friar!

Friar:
My lord?

Sir Thomas Grey:
I need a prayer.

Friar:
A prayer?

Sir Thomas Grey:
Yes, a prayer. You pray, don't you, Friar?

Friar:
Of course, my lord. Any particular sort of prayer?

Sir Thomas Grey:
My family is off to Sussex. The Duke of Arondale, the depositor of the king's taxes, is there.

Friar:
Oh, good.

Sir Thomas Grey:
It's taxes, Friar. What could be good about it? Everybody comes from around the county, sips spiced wine, pretends to like each other and then leaves large sums of money they can ill afford.

Friar:
I see what you mean.

Sir Thomas Grey:
A traveling prayer would be in order, you know the usual thing - good weather, safe journey - whatever else you can think of.

Friar:
Of course.

Sir Thomas Grey:
And, ah, Friar, perhaps you could say another as well for my sons Armus and William. They're off to war. I worry for them. I miss them.

Friar:
I'll pray the best prayer I can pray for them, Sir Thomas.

Sir Thomas Grey:
No doubt you will, Friar, and while you're at it, might as well mention something about the damned taxes!