SCENE II. Enter a Meffenger to the Door of Hastings. Mef. My Lord, my Lord. Haft. Who knocks? Mef. One from the Lord Stanly. Haft. What is't a Clock? Mef. Upon the ftroak of four. Enter Lord Haftings. Haft. Cannot my Lord Stanly fleep thefe tedious Nights? Mef. So it appears by what I have to say: Firft, he commends him to your noble Self. Haft. What then? Mef. Then certifies your Lordship, that this Night Which may make you and him to rue at th'other. Haft. Go Fellow, go, return unto thy Lord, Tell him his Fears are fhallow without inftance; Mef. I'll go, my Lord, and tell him what you fay. [Exit. Enter Enter Catesby. Catef. Many good morrows to my Noble Lord. 'Till Richard wear the Garland of the Realm. Doft thou mean the Crown? Catef Ay, my good Lord. Haft. I'll have this Crown of mine cut from my Shoulders, Before I'll fee the Crown fo foul mifplac'd; But canft thou guess that he doth aim at it? Catef. Ay, on my Life, and hopes to find you forward Upon his Party, for the gain thereof; And thereupon he fends you this good News, Catef. God keep your Lordship in that gracious Mind. Well Catesby, e'er a Fortnight make me older, Haft. Omonftrous, monftrous! and fo falls it out Catef. The Princes both make high account of you- [Afide. Enter Enter Lord Stanley. Come on, come on, where is your Boar-fpear, Man? Stan. My Lord, good morrow, good morrow, Catesby; I do not like these feveral Councils, I. Haft. My Lord, I hold my Life as dear as yours, And never in my Days, I do protest, Was it fo precious to me as 'tis now; Think you, but that I know the State fecure, I would be fo triumphant as I am? Stan. The Lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London, Were jocund, and fuppos'd their States were fure, And they indeed had no cause to mistrust; But yet you fee how foon the Day o'er-cast. The fudden ftab of Rancor I mifdoubt, Pray God, I fay, I prove a needlefs Coward. What, fhall we toward the Tower? the Day is spent. Wot ye what, my Lord, you: To day, the Lords you'talk of are beheaded. Stan. They, for their Truth, might better wear their Heads, Than fome that have accus'd them wear their Hats. But come, my Lord, let's away. Enter a Purfuivant. Haft. Go on before, I'll talk with this good Fellow. [Exeunt Lord Stanley and Catesby. How now, Sirrah? how goes the World with thee? Purf. The better, that you Lordship please to ask. Haft. I tell thee Man, 'tis better with me now, Than when thou met'ft me laft where now we meet; Then was I going Prifoner to the Tower, By the Suggeftion of the Queen's Allies. But now I tell thee, keep it to thy felf, This Day thofe Enemies are put to death, And I in better State than e'er I was. Purf. God hold it to your Honour's good Content. Haft. Gramercy Fellow; there drink that for me. [Throws him his Purfe. Purf. I thank your Honour. [Exit Pursuivant. Enter Enter a Prieft. Prieft. Well met, my Lord, I am glad to fee your Honour. Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you. Enter Buckingham. Buck. What, talking with a Prieft, Lord Chamberlain? Haft. Good faith, and when I met this holy Man, Buck. I do, my Lord, but long I cannot stay there: Haft. Nay, like enough, for I'll ftay Dinner there. Buck. And Supper too, although thou know'st it not. [ Aside. Come, will you go? Haft. I'll wait upon your Lordship. SCENE III. [Exeunt. Enter Sir Richard Ratcliff, with Halberds, carrying the Riv. Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee this, Gray. God bless the Prince from all the pack of you, A Knot you are of damned Blood-fuckers. Vaugh. You live that fhall cry woe for this hereafter. Riv. O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody Prifon! Within the guilty closure of thy Walls Gray. Now Margaret's Curfe is faln upon our Heads, K 2 Riv. Riv. Then curs'd fhe Richard, Then curs'd fhe Haftings. O remember God Be fatisfy'd, dear God, with our true Blood," Rat. Make hafte, the hour of Death is now expir'd. Riv. Come Gray, come Vaughan, let us here embrace; Farewel, until we meet again in Heaven. SCENE IV. [Exeunt. Enter Buckingham, Derby, Haftings, Bishop of Ely, Norfolk, Ratcliff, Lovel, with others, at a Table. Haft. Now Noble Peers, the cause why we are met In God's Name fpeak, when is the Royal Day? Ely. Your Grace, we think, fhould fooneft know his Mind. He knows no more of mine than I of yours, Or I of his, my Lord, than you of mine: Haft. I thank his Grace, I know he loves me well: I have not founded him, nor he deliver'd His gracious pleasure any way therein: But you, my Honourable Lord, may name the time, Enter Gloucester. Ely. In happy time here comes the Duke himself. I have been long a fleeper; but I trust My abfence doth neglect no great Defign, |