Glo. At Crosby-place, there shall you find us both. [Exit CATESBY. Buck. Now, my lord, what shall we do, if we perLord Hastings will not yield to our complots? [ceive 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.
Come, let us sup betimes; that afterwards
We may digest our complots in some form.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-Before Lord Hastings' house.

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. My lord, my lord,—

Hast. [Within.]

Mess.

[Knocking.

Who knocks?

One from lord Stanley.

Hast. [Within.] What is't o'clock?
Mess. Upon the stroke of four.

Enter HASTINGS.

Hast. Cannot thy master sleep the tedious nights?
Mess. So it should seem by that I have to say.
First, he commends him to your noble lordship.
Hast. And then,-

Mess. And then he sends you word, he dreamt
To-night the boar1 had rased off his helm:
Besides, he says, there are two councils held;
And that may be determin'd at the one,

Which may make you and him to rue at th' other.
Therefore he sends to know your lordship's pleasure,—
If presently, you will take horse with him,

so called because he had a boar for his cognizance.

And with all speed post with him toward the north,
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 instance:
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 say.

Enter CATESBY.

[Exit.

Cate. Many good-morrows to my noble lord! Hast. Good-morrow, Catesby; you are early stir

ring.

What news, what news, in this our tottering state?
Cate. It is a reeling world, indeed, my lord;
And, 1 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.

[shoulders,

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

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

Cate. Ay, on my life; and hopes to find you forUpon his party, for the gain thereof:

[ward

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 news,
Because they have been still my adversaries:
But, that I'll give my voice on Richard's side,
To bar my master's heirs in true descent,
God knows, I will not do it, to the death. [mind!
Cate. God keep your lordship in that gracious
Hast. But I shall laugh at this a twelvemonth

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.

:

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 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.3

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:

Think you, but that I know our state secure,
I would be so triumphant as I am?

[London, Stan. The lords of Pomfret, when they rode from Were jocund, and suppos'd their states were sure, 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, come, 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 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.

Purs. God hold it,3 to your honour's good content! Hast. Gramercy, fellow: There, drink that for [Throwing him his purse. Purs. I thank your honour. [Exit Pursuivant.

me.

i. e. I have something to say to you.

1

2

truth, for honesty.

3 i. e. continue it.

Enter a Priest.

Pr. Well met, my lord; I am glad to see your

honour. [heart. Hast. I thank thee, good sir John,' with all my

I am in your debt for your last exercise;2

Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you.

Enter BUCKINGHAM.

Buck. What, talking with a priest, lord chamberlain?

Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest;
Your honour hath no shriving work3 in hand.

Hast. Good faith, and when I met this holy man,
The men you talk of came into my mind.
What, go you toward the Tower?

Buck. I do, my lord; but long I cannot stay there. I shall return before your lordship thence.

Hast. Nay, like enough, for I stay dinner there. Buck. And supper too, although thou know'st it

not.

Come, will you go?

Hast.

[Aside.

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

A knot you are of damned blood-suckers.

[you!

Sir was formerly the usual address to the inferior clergy. 2 Performance of divine service, or private confessional. 3 i. e. duty of confession.