To fit about the coronation.

If thou doft find him tractable to us,
Encourage him, and tell him all our reafons:
If he be leaden, icy, cold, unwilling,
Be thou fo too; and fo 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,

Haft 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;
5 Where nothing can proceed, that toucheth us,
Whereof I fhall not have intelligence.

Tell him, his fears are shallow, wanting instance 3:
And for his dreams,-I wonder, he's so fond
To trust the mockery of unquiet flumbers:
10 To fly the boar, before the boar pursues,
Were to incense the boar to follow us,
And make purfuit, where he did mean no chase.
Go, bid thy mafter rife and come to me;
And we will both together to the Tower,
Where, he thall fee, the boar will use us kindly.
Mef. I'll go, my lord, and tell him what you
fay.
[Exit.
Enter Catefby.

His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries
To-morrow are let blood at Pomfret-castle;
And bid my friend, for joy of this good news,
Give mistress Shore one gentle kifs the more.
Buck. Good Catesby, go, effect this bufinefs 15
foundly.
[can.

Catef. My good lords both, with all the heed I
Glo. Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we
Catef. You fhall, my lord.

[nleep?

Glo. At Crosby-place, there you shall find us both. 20 [Exit Carefey.

Buck. Now, my lord, what fhall we do, if we

perceive

Lord Haftings will not yield to our complots?

Catef. Many good morrows to my noble lord!
Haft. Good morrow, Catesby; you, are early
ftirring;

What news, what news, in this our tottering state?
Catef. It is a reeling world, indeed, my lord;
And, I believe, will never stand upright,

Glo. Chop off his head, man;-fomewhat we 25 'Till Richard wear the garland of the realm.

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 poffefs'd.

Haft. How? wear the garland? doft thou mean
Catef. Ay, my good lord.
[the crown?

Haft. I'll have this crown of mine cut from my
fhoulders,

Buck. I'll claim that promise at your grace's hand. 30 Before I'll fee the crown fo foul misplac'd.

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

Come, let us fup betimes; that afterwards
We may digeft our complots in fome form.

But canft thou guess that he doth aim at it? [ward
Catef Ay, on my life; and hopes to find you for-
Upon his party, for the gain thereof:

And, thereupon, he fends you this good news,— 35 That, this fame very day, your enemies,

The kindred of the queen, muft die at Pomfret.

Haft. 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 fide,
40 To bar my master's heirs in true defcent,
God knows, I will not do it, to the death. [mind!
Catef. God keep your lordship in that gracious
Haft. But I fhall laugh at this a twelve-month
hence,-

45 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 fend fome packing, that yet think not on't.

Catef. 'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord, 50 When men are unprepar'd, and look not for it.

Mcf. Then certifies your lordship, that this night
He dreamt, the boar had rafed off his helm:
Befides, he fays, there are two councils held;
And that may be determin'd at the one,
Which may make you and him to rue at the other. 55
Therefore he fends to know your lordship's plea-
If presently you will take horse with him, [fure,-
And with all speed poft with him toward the north,
To fun the danger that his foul divines.

Haft. O monftrous, monstrous! and fo falls it out With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey: and fo'twill do With fome men elfe, who think themselves as fafe As thou, and I; who, as thou know'ft, are dear To princely Richard, and to Buckingham.

Catef. The princes both make high account of

you,

For they account his head upon the bridge. [Afide.
Haft. I know they do; and I have well deferv'd it.

1 i. e. a private confultation, feparate from the known and publick council. 2 This term rafed or rasped is always given to defcribe the violence inflicted by a boar. By a boar, throughout this feene, is meant Glofter, who was called the boar, or the bag, as has been before obferved, from his having a bear for his cognizance, and one of the fupporters of his coat of arms. 3 i. e. wanting fome example or act of malevolence, by which they may be justified,

Enter

Enter Stanley.

Come on, come on, where is your boar-fpear, man?

Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided?

Staal. My lord, good morrow ;--and good mor

row, Catesby:

You may jeft on, but, by the holy rood',

I do not like these several councils, I.

Haft. My lord.

5

ΙΟ

15

I hold my life as dear as you do yours ;
And never, in my days, I do protest,
Was it more precious to me than 'tis now:
Think you, but that I know our state secure,
I would be fo triumphant as I am? [London,
Stani. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from
Were jocund, and suppos'd their states were fure,
And they, indeed, had no caufe to mistrust;
But yet, you fee, how foon the day o'er-caft.
This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt;
Pray God, I fay, I prove a needless coward!
What, fhall we toward the Tower? the day is spent. 20
Haft. Come, come, have with you 2.-Wot you
what, my lord?

To-day the lords you talk of are beheaded.

Stanl. They, for their truth 3, 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.

25

30

35

Haft. Go on before, I'll talk with this good fellow.
[Exeunt Lord Stanley, and Carefby.
Sirrah, how now? how goes the world with thee?
Purf. The better, that your lordship please to ask.
Haft. I tell thee, man, 'tis better with me now,
Than when thou met'st me last where now we meet:
Then I was going prisoner to the Tower,
By the fuggeftion 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 ftate than ere I was.
Purf. God hold it, to your honour's good con-40
Haft. Gramercy, fellow: There, drink that for
[Throws bim bis purje.
Purf. I thank your honour. [Exit Purfuivant.
Enter a Prieft.

me.

[tent;

Prieft. Well met, my lord; I am glad to fee 45
your honour.
[heart.

Haft. I thank thee, good Sir John, with all my
I am in your debt for your last 5 exercife;
Come the next sabbath, and I will content you.

Enter Buckingham.

Buck. What, talking with a prieft, lord Cham-
berlain ?

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

50

Hafi. Good faith, and when I met this holy man, 55
The men you talk of came into my mind.
What, go you toward the Tower? [there:
Buck. I do, my lord; but long I shall not stay
I fhall return before your lordship thence.
Haft. Nay, like enough, for I ftay dinner there.

1 i. e. the cross. 3 i. c. honesty.

Rat. Come, bring forth the prisoners.

Riv. Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee this,-
To-day fhalt thou behold a subject die,
For truth, for duty, and for loyalty.

[you!
Grey, God keep the prince from all the pack of
A knot you are of damned blood-fuckers. [after.
Vaugh. You live, that shall cry woe for this here-
Rat. Difpatch: 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 fecond here was hack'd to death:
And, for more flander to thy dismal feat,
We give thee up our guiltless blood to drink. [heads.
Grey. Now Margaret's curfe is fallen upon our
When the exclaim'd on Hastings, you, and I,
For ftanding by when Richard stabb'd her fon.
Riv. Then curs'd the Haftings, curs'd the Buck-
ingham,

Then curs'd the Richard :-O, remember, God,
To hear her prayer for them, as now for us!
As for my fifter, and her princely fons,--
Be fatisfied, dear God, with our true bloods,
Which, as thou know'ft, unjustly must be spilt!
Rat. Make hafte, the hour of death is now ex-
pir'd.
[embrace:
Riv. Come, Grey,-come,Vaughan,-let us here
Farewel, until we meet again in heaven. [Exeunt.
SCENE IV.

The Tower.

[met

Buckingham, Stanley, Haftings, Bishop of Ely,
Catefby, Lovel, with others a. a table.
Haft. Now, noble peers, the cause why we are
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?
Stanl. They are, and wants but nomination.
Ely. To-morrow then I judge a happy day. [in?
Buck. Who knows the lord protector's mind here-
Who is most inward with the noble duke?

Ely. Your grace, we think, fhould foonest know
his mind.
[hearts,

Buck. We know each other's faces: for our
He knows no more of mine, than I of yours;
Nor I of his, my lord, than you of mine :-
Lord Haftings, you and he are near in love.

Haft. I thank his grace, I know he loves me well;
But, for his purpose in the coronation,

160lI have not founded him, nor he deliver`d

2 A familiar phrafe in parting, as much as, I bave fomething to say to you. 4 i. e. continue it. 5 i. e. performance of divine fervice. • Shriving work is

confeffion.

His

Glo. Than my lord Hastings, no man might be 15 bolder;

Lovel, and Catefby, look, that it be done ;-
The reft, that love me, rife, and follow me.

[Exit Council, with Richard and Buckingham. Haft. Woe, woe, for England! not a whit for me;

For 1, too fond, might have prevented this:
Stanley did dream, the boar did rafe his helm;
But I difdain'd it, and did fcorn to fly. [ble,
Three times to-day my foot-cloth horfe 3 did ftum-
20 And started, when he look'd upon the Tower,
As loth to bear me to the flaughter-house.
O, now I need the pricft that fpake to me :
I now repent I told the pursuivant,

His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.-
My lord of Ely, when I was laft in Holborn,
I saw good strawberries in your garden there;
I do befeech you, fend for fome of them.
Ely. Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart.
[Exit Ely.
Glo. Coufin of Buckingham, a word with you.
Catesby hath founded Haftings in our bufinefs;
And finds the tefty gentleman fo hot,
That he will lofe his head, ere give confent,
His mafter's child, as worshipfully he terms it,
Shall lofe the royalty of England's throne.
Buck. Withdraw yourself awhile, I'll go with you.
[Exeunt Glifter and Buckingham. 30||
Stanl. We have not yet fet down this day of
triumph.

To-morrow, in my judgement, is too fudden;
For I myself am not fo well provided,
As elfe I would be, were the day prolong'd.
Re-enter Bishop of Ely.

Ely. Where is my lord protector? I have fent
For thefe ftrawberries.
[morning;

Haft. His grace looks chearfully and fmooth this
There's fome conceit or other likes him well,
When he doth bid good morrow with such spirit.
I think there's ne'er a man in Chriftendom,
Can leffer hide his love, or hate, than he;
For by his face ftraight fhall you know his heart.

Stanl. What of his heart perceive you in his face,
By any likelihood he fhew'd to-day?

Haft. Marry, that with no man here he is offended;
For, were he, he had fhewn it in his looks.

Re-enter Glofter and Buckingham.
Glo. I pray you all, tell me what they deferve,
That do confpire my death with devilish plots
Of damned witchcraft; and that have prevailed
Upon my body with their hellish charms?

Haft. The tender love I bear your grace, my lord,
Makes me moft forward in this noble prefence
To doom the offenders: Whofoe'er they be,
I fay, my lord, they have deserved death.
Glo. Then be your eyes the witnefs of their evil,
Look how I am bewitch'd; behold, mine arm

As too triumphing, how mine enemies
25 To-day at Pomfret bloodily were butcher'd,
And I myself fecure in grace and favour.
O, Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curfe
Is lighted on poor Haftings' wretched head.
Caref. Difpatch, my lord, the duke would be
at dinner;

Make a fhort fhrift; he longs to fee your head.
Haft. O momentary grace of mortal men,
Which we more hunt for than the grace of God!
Who builds his hope in air of your fair looks,
35 Lives like a drunken failor on a mast;
Ready, with every nod, to tumble down
Into the fatal bowels of the deep.

40

45

50

Haft. Oh, bloody Richard!miferable En-
I prophefy the fearful'ft time to thee,
That ever wretched age hath look'd upon.-
Come, lead me to the block, bear him my head;
They fmile at me, who shortly shall be dead.

Glo. Come, coufin, canft thou quake, and change
thy colour?

Murder thy breath in middle of a word,-
And then again begin, and ftop again,

55 As if thou wert diftraught, and mad with terror?
Buck. Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian;
Speak, and look back, and pry on every fide,
Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,
Intending deep fufpicion: ghaftly looks

This expreffion is borrowed from the threatre.

The cue, queue, or tail of a speech, confifts of the

laft words, which are the token for an entrance or anfwer. To come on the cue, therefore, is to come

at the proper time. 2 i. e. appearance.

felf, were anciently denominated a feut-cloth.

3 The kings of a horfe, and fometimes a horfe him

Are

Are at my fervice, like enforced fmiles;
And both are ready in their offices,
At any time, to grace my ftratagems.
But what, is Catesby gone?

Gle. He is; and, fee, he brings the mayor along. 5
Enter the Lord Mayor, and Catesby.

Buck. Let me alone to entertain him.-Lord
mayor!

Gla. Look to the draw-bridge there.
Buck. Hark! a drum.

Gio. Catesby, o'erlook the walls.

Buck. Well, well, he was the covert'ft fhelter'd 30
That ever liv'd.Look you, my lord mayor,
Would you imagine, or almoft believe,
(Were't not, that by great prefervation

We live to tell it you) the fubtle traitor
This day had plotted, in the council-house,
To murder me, and my good lord of Glofter?
Mayer. What! had he fo?

Gl. What! think you we are Turks, or infidels?
Or that we would, againit the form of law,
Proceed thus rafhly in the villain's death;
But that the extreme peril of the cafe,
The peace of England, and our perfons' fafety,
Enforc'd us to this execution?

Mayer. Now, fair befal you! he deferv'd his
And your good graces both have well proceeded, 45
To warn false traitors from the like attempts.
I never look'd for better at his hands,
After he once fell in with mistress Shore.

Buck. Yet had we not determin'd he fhould die,
Until your lordship came to see his end;
Which now the loving hafte of these our friends,
Somewhat against our meaning, hath prevented :
Becaufe, my lord, we would have had you heard
The traitor fpeak, and timorously confefs
The manner and the purpose of his treasons;
That you might well have fignify'd the fame
Unto the citizens, who, haply, may
Mifconftrue us in him, and wail his death.
Mayer. But, my good lord, your grace's word

1 This person was one Walker, a fubftantial citizen and grocer at the Crozen in Cheapfide.

Enter the Lord Mayor, and Citizens. Welcome, my lord: I dance attendance here; I think, the duke will not be spoke withal.Enter Catesby.

[dren 15 Now, Catefby? what fays your lord to my request ? Catef. He doth entreat your grace, my noble

To vifit him to-morrow, or next day :

He is within, with two right reverend fathers, 20 Divinely bent to meditation;

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

[word: 35

And afk'd the mayor, what meant this wilful 40 But, fure, I fear, we shall ne'er win him to it.

i. e. feen in filence, without notice or detection. pamper.