Cates. My good lords both, with all the heed I can. Glo. Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we

sleep?

Cates. You shall, my lord.

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Glo. At Crosby-Place, there you shall find us both. [Exit CATESBY. Buck. Now, my lord, what shall we do, 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. Come, let us sup betimes; that afterwards

We may digest our complots in some form.

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[Excunt.

SCENE II.

Before Lord HASTINGS' House. Enter a Messenger.

Mes. My lord, my lord

Hast. [Within.] Who knocks?

Mes. One from lord Stanley.
Hast. What is't o'clock ?
Mes. Upon the stroke of four.

Enter

Enter HASTINGS.

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

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Mes. Then certifies your lordship, that this night He dreamt, the boar 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 the other. Therefore he sends to know your lordship's plea

sure

If presently you will take horse with him,

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; 220
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,

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Where,

Where, he shall see, the boar will use us kindly. Mes. I'll go, my lord, and tell him what you say.

Enter CATESBY.

[Exit.

Cates. Many good morrows to my noble lord!
Hast. Good morrow, Catesby; you are early
stirring;

What news, what news, in this our tottering state?
Cates. It is a reeling world, indeed, my lord;
And, I believe, will never stand upright,
'Till Richard wear the garland of the realm.

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Hast. How! wear the garland! dost thou mean the

crown?

Cates. 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?

Cates. Ay, on my life; and hopes to find you for ward

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 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.

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Cates.

Cates. God keep your lordship in that gracious

mind!

Hast. But I shall laugh at this a twelve-month hence

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

260

Well, Catesby, ere a fortnight make me older,
I'll send some packing, that yet think not on't.
Cates. '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.
Cates. The princes both make high account of

you

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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 you do your's;

And never, in my days, I do protest,

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Was

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.-

what, my lord?

-Wot you

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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 Lord STANLEY, and CATESBY. Sirrah, how now, 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 me 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),

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This day those enemies are put to death,

And