York. What, will you go unto the Tower, my lord?

Prince. My lord protector needs will have it so.

Come, let us sup betimes; that afterwards We may digest our complots in some form.

[Exeunt.

York. Marry, my uncle Clarence' angry

ghost;

My grandam told me, he was murder'd there.
Prince. I fear no uncles dead.

Glo. Nor none that live, I hope.

Prince. An if they live, I hope I need not fear.

But come, my lord, and, with a heavy heart,
Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower.

[Exeunt PRINCE, YORK, HASTINGS, CAR-
DINAL, and Attendants.

Buck. Think you, my lord, this little prating
York

Was not incensed by his subtle mother,
To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously?
Glo. No doubt, no doubt; Oh! 'tis a parlous
boy;

Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable; +
He's all the mother's, from the top to toe.
Buck. Well, let them rest.-

Come hither, gentle Catesby; thou art sworn
As deeply to effect what we intend,
As closely to conceal what we impart :

Thou know'st our reasons urg'd upon the

way;

What think'st thou? is it not an easy matter
To make William lord Hastings of our mind,
For the instalment of this noble duke
In the seat royal of this famous isle?

Cate. He for his father's sake so loves the
prince,

That he will not be won to aught against him. Buck. What think'st thou then of Stanley? will not be?

Cate. He will do all in all as Hastings doth. Buck. Well then, no more but this: Go, gentle Catesby,

And, as it were far off, sound thou lord Hastings,

How he doth stand affected to our purpose;
And summon him to-morrow to the Tower,
To sit about the coronation.

If thou dost find him tractable to us,
Encourage him, and tell him all our reasons:
If he be leaden, icy, cold, unwilling,
Be thou so too, and so break off the talk,
And give us notice of his inclination:
For we to-morrow hold divided councils,
Wherein thyself shalt highly be employ'd.

Glo. Commend me to lord William: tell him,
Catesby,

His dangerous knot of adversaries

To-morrow are let blood at Pomfret castle;
And bid my friend, for joy of this good news,
Give mistress Shore one gentle kiss the more.
Buck. Good Catesby, go, effect this business
soundly.

Cate. My good lords both, with all the heed
I can.

Glo. Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere
we sleep?

Cate. You shall, my lord.
Glo. At Crosby-place, there shall you find us
both.
[Erit CATESBY.
Buck. Now, my lord, what shall we, if we
perceive

Lord Hastings will not yield to our complots? Glo. Chop off his head, man ;-somewhat we will do :

And, look, when I am king, claim thou of me The earldom of Hereford, and all the moveables

Whereof the king my brother was possess'd. Buck. I'll claim that promise at your grace's hand.

Glo. And look to have it yielded with all kindness.

Enter a MESSENGER.

To shun the danger that his soul divines.

Hast. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord;
Bid him not fear the separated councils:
His honour, and myself, are at the one;
And, at the other, is my good friend Catesby;
Where nothing can proceed, that toucheth us,
Whereof I shall not have intelligence.
Tell him, his fears are shallow, wanting in-
stance: ⚫

And for his dreams-I wonder, he's so fond +
To trust the mockery of unquiet slumbers:
To fly the boar, before the boar pursues,
Were to incense the boar to follow us,
And make pursuit, where he did mean no
chase.

Go, bid thy master rise and come to me;
And we will both together to the Tower,
Where, he shall see, the boar will use us
kindly.

Mess. I'll go, my lord, and tell him what you
Бау.
[Exit.

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?

Cate. It is a reeling world, indeed, my lord; And, I believe, will never stand upright, Till Richard wear the garland of the realm. Hast. How! wear the garland? dost thou mean the crown?

Cate. Ay, my good lord.

Hast. I'll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders,

Before I'll see the crown so foul misplac'd.
But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it?

Cute. Ay, on my life; and hopes to find you forward

Upon his party, for the gain thereof:
And, thereupon, he sends you this good news,-
That, this same very day, your enemies,
The kindred of the queen, must die at Pomfret.
Hast. Indeed, I am no mourner for that

cate. God keep your lordship in that gracious mind!

Hast. I thank thee, good Sir John, with all my heart.

month hence,

That they, who brought me in my master's hate, I live to look upon their tragedy.

Well, Catesby, ere a fortnight make me older, I'll send some packing, that yet think not on't. Cate. 'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord,

When men are unprepar'd, and look not for it. 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.
Cute. 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 deserv'd it.

Enter STANLEY. Come on, come on, where is your boar-spear,

man ?

Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided?

Stan. My lord, good-morrow; and good morrow, Catesby :

You may jest on, but, by the holy rood,
I do not like these several councils, I.

Hast. My lord, I hold my life as dear as your's;

And never, in my life, I do protest,

Was it more precious to me than 'tis now:
Think you, but that I know our state secure,
I would be so triumphant as I am?

Stan. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London, [sure, Were jocund, and suppos'd their states were And they, indeed, had no cause to mistrust; But yet, you see, how soon the day o'er-cast, This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt; Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward ! What, shall we toward the Tower? the day is spent.

Hast. Come, coine, have with you.-Wot + you what, my lord?

To-day, the lords you talk of are beheaded. Stan. They, for their truth, might better wear their heads,

Than some that have accus'd 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 STAN. 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 bow, Than when thou met'st me last where now we

meet:

Then I was 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.

Purs. God hold it, to your honour's good content!

Hast. Gramercy, fellow: There, driuk that for me. [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.

SCENE III.-Pomfret.-Before the Castle. Enter RATCLIFF, with a guard, conducting RIVERS, GREY, and VAUGHAN, to Execution.

Rat. Come, bring forth the prisoners.
Riv. Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee
this,-

To-day, shalt thou behold a subject die,
For truth, for duty, and for loyalty.

Grey. God keep the prince from all the pack of you ?

A knot you are of damned blood-suckers. Vaugh. You live, that shall cry woe for this hereafter.

Rat. Despatch; the limit of your lives is ont. Riv. O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody

Buck. Who knows the lord protector's mind. herein?

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 bearts,

He knows no more of ine, than I of your's;
Nor I, of his, my lord, than you of mine :-
Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.
Hast. I thank his grace, I know he loves
me well;

But, for his purpose in the coronation,
I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd
His gracious pleasure any way therein :
But you, my noble lord, may name the time;
And in the duke's behalf I'll give my voice,
Which, I presume, he'll take in gentle part.
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,

Of damned witchcraft: and that have prevail'd
Upon my body with their hellish charms ↑
Hast. The tender love I bear your grace, my
lord,

Makes me most forward in this noble presence
To doom the offenders: Whosoe'er they be.
I say, my lord, they have deserved death.
Glo. Then be your eyes the witness of their
evil :

Look how I am bewitch'd; behold mine arm
Is, like a blasted sapling, wither'd up;
And this is Edward's wife, that monstrous
witch,

Consorted with that harlot, strumpet Shore,
That by their witchcraft thus have marked

cluded.

Buck. Had you not come up on your cue, my lord,

William lord Hastings had pronounc'd your part,-

I mean, your voice,-for crowning of the king. Glo. Than my lord Hastings, no man might be bolder;

His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.

My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn, I saw good strawberries in your garden there; I do beseech you send for some of them. Ely. Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart. [Exit ELY. Glo. Cousin of Buckingham, a word with [Takes him aside. Catesby bath sounded Hastings in our business,

you.

And finds the testy gentleman so hot,
That he will lose his head, ere give consent,
His master's child, as worshipfully he terms
it,

Shall lose the royalty of England's throne.
Buck. Withdraw yourself awhile, I'll go with

you.

[Exeunt GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM. Stan. We have not yet set down this day of triumph.

To-morrow, in my judgment, is too sudden;
For I myself am not so well provided,
As else i would be, were the day prolong'd.

Re-enter Bishop of ELY.

Ely. Where is my lord protector! I have sent for these strawberries. Hast. His grace looks cheerfully aud smooth this morning;

There's some conceit or other likes him well, When he doth bid good morrow with such spi

rit.

I think there's ne'er a man in Christendom,
Can lesser hide his love, or hate, than be;
For by his face straight shall ye know his heart.
Stan. What of his heart perceive you in his
face,

[Exeunt Council, with GLOSTER and BUCK

INGHAM.

Hast. Woe, woe, for England! not a whit for me; For I, too fond, might have prevented this: Stanley did dream, the boar did rase his heim; But I disdain'd it, and did scorn to fly. Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble,

And startled, when he look'd upon the Tower,
As loath to bear me to the slaughter-house.
Oh! now I want the priest that spake to me:
I now repent I told the pursuivant,
As too triumphing, how mine enemies,
To-day at Pomfret bloodily were butcher'd,
And I myself secure in grace and favour.
O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse
Is lighted on poor Hastings' wretched head.
Cate. Despatch, my lord, the duke would be

at dinner;

Make a short shift, he longs to see your head.
Hast. O momentary grace of mortal men,
Which we more hunt for thau the grace of
God!

Who builds his hope in air of your fair looks,
Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast;
Ready, with every nod, to tumble down
Into the fatal bowels of the deep.

Lov. Come, come, despatch; 'tis bootless to exclaim.

Hast. O bloody Richard!-miserable Eng. land!

I prophesy the fearfull'st time to thee, That ever wretched age hath look'd upon.Come, lead me to the block, bear him my head; They smile at me, who shortly shall be dead. [Exeunt.

SCENE V.-The same.-The Tower-walls. Enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM, in rusty armour, marvellous ill-favour'd.

Glo. Come, cousin, canst thou quake, and change thy colour ?

By any likelihood he show'd to-day?

offended;

terror?

Buck. Tut, I can counterfeit the deep trage.

dian;

Speak, and look back, and pry on every side.
Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,
Intending deep suspicion: ghastly looks
Are at my service, like enforced smiles;

Glo. And did they so?

Buck. No, so God help me, they spake not a word;

But, like dumb statues, or breathless stones,
Star'd on each other, and look'd deadly pale.
Which when I saw, I reprehended them;

And ask'd the mayor, what meant this wilful silence :

His answer was,-the people were not us'd
To be spoke to, but by the recorder.
Then he was urg'd to tell my tale again:
Thus saith the duke, thus hath the duke in-
ferr'd;

But nothing spoke in warrant from himself. When he had done, some followers of mine own,

At lower end o'the ball, hurl'd up their caps, And some ten voices cried, God save king Richard!

And thus I took the vantage of the few,-
Thanks, gentle citizens and friends, quoth 1;
This general applause, and cheerful shout,
Argues your wisdom, and your love to
Richard:

And even here broke off and came away.
Glo.

What tongueless blocks were they;
Would they not speak ?
Will not the mayor then, and his brethren,

come?

For on that ground I'll make a holy descant :
And be not easily won to our requests;
Play the maid's part, still answer nay, and
take it.

Glo. 1 go; And if you plead as well for them,

As I can say nay to thee for myself,
No doubt we'll bring it to a happy issue.
Buck. Go, go, up to the leads; the lord mayor
knocks.
[Exit GLOSTER.
Enter the LORD MAYOR, Aldermen, and
Citizens.

Welcome, my lord; I dance attendance here;
I think, the duke will not be spoke withal.-
Enter, from the Castle, CATESBY.
Now, Catesby! what says your lord to my re-
quest?

Cate. He doth entreat your grace, my noble lord,

To visit him to-morrow, or next day:
He is within, with two right reverend fathers,
Divinely bent to meditation;

And in no worldly suit would he be mov'd,
To draw him from his holy exercise.

• Pretend.

Buck. Return, good Catesby, to the gracious duke;

Tell him, myself, the mayor, and aldermen,
In deep designs, in matter of great moment,
No less importing than the general good,
Are come to have some conference with his
grace.

Cate. I'll signify so much unto him straight.
[Exit.
Buck. Ah! ha! my lord, this prince is not an
Edward!

He is not lolling on a lewd day-bed, •
·
But on his knees at meditation;
Not dallying with a brace of courtezans,
But meditating with two deep divines;
Not sleeping, to engross + his idle body,
But praying, to enrich his watchful soul:
Happy were Englaud, would this virtuous
prince

Take on himself the sovereignty thereof:
But, sure, I fear, we shall ne'er win him to it.
May. Marry, God defend, his grace should say
us nay!

Buck. I fear, he will: Here Catesby comes again ;

Re-enter CATESBY.

Now, Catesby, what says his grace?

Cate. He wonders to what end you have as-
sembled

Such troops of citizens to come to him,
His grace not being warn'd thereof before,
He fears, my lord, you mean no good to liim.
Buck. Sorry I am, my noble cousin should
Suspect me, that I mean no good to him:
By heaven, we come to him in perfect love;
And so once more return and tell his grace.
[Exit CATESBY.

When holy and devout religious men
Are at their beads, 'tis hard to draw them
thence;

So sweet is zealous contemplation. Enter GLOSTER, in a Gallery above, between two Bishops. CATESBY returns. May. See, where his grace stands 'tween two clergymen !

Buck. Two props of virtue for a Christian
prince,

To stay him from the fall of vanity:
And, see, a book of prayer in his hand;
True ornaments to know a holy man.
Famous Plantagenet, most gracious prince,
Lend favourable ear to our requests;
And pardon us the interruption

Of thy devotion, and right-Christian zeal.
Glo. My lord, there needs no such apology;
I rather do beseech you pardon me,
Who, earnest in the service of my God,
Neglect the visitation of my friends,
But, leaving this, what is your grace's pleasure?
Buck. Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God
above,

And all good men of this ungovern'd isle.

Glo. I do suspect 1 have done some offence, That seems disgracious in the city's eye; And that you come to reprehend ny ignorance. Buck. You have, my lord; Would it night please your grace,

On our entreaties to amend your fault! Glo. Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land?

Buck. Know, then, it is your fault, that you resign

The supreme seat, the throne majestical,
The sceptred office of your ancestors,
Your state of fortune, and your due of birth,
The lineal glory of your royal house,
To the corruption of a blemish'd stock:
Whilst, in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts
(Which here we waken to our country's good,)
The noble isle doth want her proper limbs ;
Her face defac'd with scars of infamy,