Mess. I'll go, my lord, and tell him what you say. [Exit. 1 Enter CATESBY. Cate. Many good morrows to my noble lord! Hast. Good morrow, Catesby; you are early stirring; What news, what news, in this our tottering state? Hast. I'll have this crown of mine cut from my Before I'll see the crown so foul misplaced. Upon his party, for the gain thereof: And, thereupon, he sends you this good news,- Hast. Indeed, I am no mourner for that news, Cute. God keep your lordship in that gracious mind! Hast. But I shall laugh at this a twelve-month hence, That they, who brought me in my master's hate, Cate. 'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord, Hast. O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey; and so 'twill do With some men else, who think themselves as safe As thou, and I; who, as thou know'st, are dear To princely Richard, and to Buckingham. Cate. The princes both make high account of you, For they account his head upon the bridge. [Aside. Hast. I know they do; and I have well deserved it. Enter STANLEY. Come on, come on, where is your boar-spear, nian! Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided? Stan. My lord, good morrow; and good morrow, You may jest on, but, by the holy rood, Hast. My lord, I hold my life as dear as yours; And never, in my life, I do protest, Was it more precious to me than 'tis now: Stan. The lords at Pomfret,when they rode from Were jocund, and supposed their states were sure, Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward! To-day the lords you talk of are beheaded. Stan. They, for their truth, might better wear their heads, Than some, that have accused them, wear their hats. But come, my lord, let's away. Enter a PURSUIVANT. Hast. Go on, before, I'll talk with this good fellow. [Exeunt Stanley and Catesby. How now, sirrah? How goes the world with thee? Purs. The better, that your lordship please to ask. Hast. I tell thee, man, 'tis better with me now, Than when thou met'st me last where now we meet: Then was I going prisoner to the Tower, By the suggestion of the queen's allies; But now, I tell thee, (keep it to thyself,) This day those enemies are put to death, And I in better state than ere I was. me. Purs. God hold it, to your honour's good content! Hast. Gramercy, fellow: there, drink that for [Throwing him his Purse. Purs. I thank your honour. [Exit Pursuivant. Enter a PRIEST. Pr. Well met, my lord; I am glad to see your honour. • Cross. + Know. Hast. I thank thee, good Sir John, with all my I am in your debt for your last exercise; Buck. What, talking with a priest, lord cham- Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest; Hast. 'Good faith, and when I met this holy man, Buck. I do, my lord; but long I cannot stay there : Hast. Nay, like enough, for I stay dinner there: [Aside. [Exeunt. Come, will you go? Hast. I'll wait upon your lorship. SCENE III.-Pomfret.-Before the Castle. Enter RATCLIFF, with a Guard, conducting RIVERS, Rat. Come, bring forth the prisoners. Riv. Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee this,- Grey. God keep the prince from all the pack of A knot you are of damned blood-suckers. Vaugh. You live, that shall cry woe for this here after. Rat. Despatch; the limit of your lives is out. Grey. Now Margaret's curse is fallen upon our - When she exclaim'd on Hastings, you, and I, For standing by when Richard stabb'd her son. A Riv. Then cursed she Hastings, then cursed she 榆 • Confession. 1 Then cursed she Richard:-0, remember, God, Be satisfied, dear God, with our true bloods, Which, as thou know'st, unjustly must be spilt! Rat. Make haste, the hour of death is expiate. Riv. Come, Grey,-Come, Vaughan, let us here embrace; Farewell, until we meet again in heaven. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-London.-A Room in the Tower. BUCKINGHAM, STANLEY, HASTINGS, the Bishop of ELY, CATESBY, LOVEL, and others, sitting at a Table; Officers of the Council attending. Hast. Now, noble peers, the cause why we are met Is to determine of the coronation: In God's name, speak, when is the royal day? Who is most inward + with the noble duke? Ely. Your grace, we think, should soonest know his mind. Buck. We know each other's faces: for our hearts, He knows no more of mine, than I of yours; I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd Enter GLOSTER. Ely. In happy time, here comes the duke himself. Glo. My noble lords and cousins, all, good morrow: I have been long a sleeper, but, i trust, My absence doth neglect no great design, Which by my presence might have been concluded. Buck. Had you not come upon your cue, my lord, + Intimate. • Expiated, completed. William lord Hastings had pronounced your part,- His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.- To-morrow, in my judgment, is too sudden; Re-enter Bishop of ELY. Ely. Where is my lord protector?"I have sent For these strawberries. Hast. His grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning; There's some conceit* or other likes him well, Hast. Marry, that with no man here he is offended; For, were he, he had shewn it in his looks. Re-enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM. Glo. I pray you all, tell me what they deserve, That do conspire my death with devilish plots Of damned witchcraft; and that have prevail'd Upon my body with their hellish charmis? Hast. The tender love I bear your grace, my lord, Makes me most forward in this noble presence * Thought. |