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 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?

Stan. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London,

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 fel

low.

[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.

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

tent!

Hast. Gramercy, fellow: There, drink that for [Throwing him his purse. Purs. I thank your honour. [Exit Pursuivant.

me.

Enter a Priest.

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

Hast. I thank thee, good sir John, with all my

heart.

I am in your debt for your last exercise;

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 work 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

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 out. Riv. O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prison, Fatal and ominous to noble peers!

Within the guilty closure of thy walls,

Richard the second here was hack'd to death:

And, for more slander to thy dismal seat,

We give thee up our guiltless blood to drink.

Grey. Now Margaret's curse is fallen upon our

heads,

When she exclaim'd on Hastings, you, and I,
For standing by when Richard stabb'd her son.
Rio. Then curs'd she Hastings, then curs'd she
Buckingham,

Then curs'd she Richard:-O, remember, God,
To hear her prayers for them, as now for us!
And for my sister, and her princely sons,—
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:

Farewel, 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? Buck. Are all things ready for that royal time? Stan. They are; and wants but nomination. Ely. To-morrow then I judge a happy day.

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

hearts,

He knows no more of mine, than I of yours;
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 Glo'ster.

Ely. In happy time, here comes the duke himself.

Glo. My noble lords and cousins, all, good mor

row:

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,

William lord Hastings had pronounc'd your part,— I mean, your voice,-for crowning of the king.