ACT V.

SCENE I. Salisbury. An open place.

Enter the Sheriff, and BUCKINGHAM, with halberds, led to execution.

Buck. Will not King Richard let me speak with him?

Sher. No, my good lord; therefore be patient. Buck. Hastings, and Edward's children, Rivers,

Grey,

Holy King Henry, and thy fair son Edward,
Vaughan, and all that have miscarried
By underhand corrupted foul injustice,-
If that your moody discontented souls

Do through the clouds behold this present hour,
Even for revenge mock my destruction!-
This is All-Souls' day, fellows, is it not?
Sher. It is, my lord.

Buck. Why, then All-Souls' day is my body's doomsday.

This is the day that, in King Edward's time,
I wished might fall on me, when I was found
False to his children or his wife's allies;
This is the day wherein I wished to fall
By the false faith of him I trusted most;
This, this All-Souls' day to my fearful soul
Is the determined respite of my wrongs:
That high All-Seer that I dallied with
Hath turned my feignéd prayer on my head
And given in earnest what I begged in jest.
Thus doth he force the swords of wicked men

To turn their own points on their masters' bosoms:

Now Margaret's curse falls heavy on my neck,'When he,' quoth she, 'shall split thy heart with

sorrow,

Remember Margaret was a prophetess.'

Come, sirs, convey me to the block of shame; Wrong hath but wrong, and blame the due of blame.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-The Camp near Tamworth.

Enter RICHMOND, OXFORD, Sir JAMES BLUNT, Sir WALTER HERBERT, and others, with Forces, marching.

Richm. Fellows in arms, and my most loving friends,

Bruised underneath the yoke of tyranny,
Thus far into the bowels of the land

Have we marched on without impediment;
And here receive we from our father Stanley
Lines of fair comfort and encouragement.

The wretched, bloody, and usurping boar,
That spoiled your summer fields and fruitful vines,
Swills your warm blood like wash, and makes his
trough

In your embowelled bosoms, this foul swine
Lies now even in the centre of this isle,

Near to the town of Leicester, as we learn :
From Tamworth thither is but one day's march.
In God's name, cheerly on, courageous friends,
To reap the harvest of perpetual peace
By this one bloody trial of sharp war.

Oxf. Every man's conscience is a thousand swords, To fight against this guilty homicide.

Herb. I doubt not but his friends will turn to us. Blunt. He hath no friends but what are friends for fear,

Which in his dearest need will shrink from him. Richm. All for our vantage. Then, in God's name, march:

True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings, Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.-Bosworth Field.

Enter King RICHARD, and Forces, the Duke of NORFOLK, Earl of SURREY, and others.

K. Rich. Here pitch our tents, even here in Bosworth field.

My Lord of Surrey, why look you so sad?

Sur. My heart is ten times lighter than my looks. K. Rich. My Lord of Norfolk,

Nor.

Here, most gracious liege. K. Rich. Norfolk, we must have knocks; ha!

must we not?

Nor. We must both give and take, my loving

lord.

K.Kich. Up with my tent! [Soldiers begin to set up the King's tent.] Here will I lie to-night; But where to-morrow? Well, all's one for that. Who hath descried the number of the traitors? Nor. Six or seven thousand is their utmost

power.

K. Rich. Why, our battalia trebles that account: Besides, the king's name is a tower of strength, Which they upon the adverse party want.

--

Up with the tent !-Come, noble gentlemen,
Let us survey the vantage of the ground;-
Call for some men of sound direction :-
Let's want no discipline, make no delay;
For, lords, to-morrow is a busy day.

[Exeunt.

Enter, on the other side of the field, RICHMOND, Sir WILLIAM BRANDON, OXFORD, and others. Some of the Soldiers pitch Richmond's tent.

Richm. The weary sun hath made a golden set,
And, by the bright track of his fiery car,
Gives token of a goodly day to-morrow.

Sir William Brandon, you shall bear my standard.—
Give me some ink and paper in my tent:
I'll draw the form and model of our battle,
Limit each leader to his several charge,
And part in just proportion our small power.-
My Lord of Oxford,--you, Sir William Brandon,—
And you, Sir Walter Herbert,-stay with me.
The Earl of Pembroke keeps his regiment :-
Good Captain Blunt, bear my good-night to him,
And by the second hour in the morning
Desire the earl to see me in my tent:

Yet one thing more, good captain, do for me,—
Where is Lord Stanley quartered, do you know?
Blunt. Unless I have mista'en his colours much,—
Which well I am assured I have not done,—
His regiment lies half a mile at least

South from the mighty power of the king.

Richm. If without peril it be possible,

Sweet Blunt, make some good means to speak with

him,

And give him from me this most needful scroll.

Blunt. Upon my life, my lord I'll undertake it;

And so, God give you quiet rest to-night!

Richm. Good night, good Captain Blunt. [Exit.
Blunt.] Come, gentlemen,

Let us consult upon to-morrow's business :
In to my tent; the air is raw and cold.

[They withdraw into the tent.

Re-enter, to his tent, King RICHARD, NORFOLK, RATCLIFF, CATESBY, and others.

K.Rich. What is 't o'clock?

Cate.

It's nine o'clock.

It's supper-time, my lord;

K. Rich. I will not sup to-night.
Give me some ink and paper.

What, is my beaver easier than it was?
And all my armour laid into my tent?

Cate. It is, my liege; and all things are in readi

ness.

K. Rich. Good Norfolk, hie thee to thy charge; Use careful watch, choose trusty sentinels.

Nor. I go, my lord.

K. Rich. Stir with the lark to-morrow, gentle

Norfolk.

Nor. I warrant you, my lord.

K. Rich. Catesby !

Cate. My lord?

K. Rich.

[Exit.

Send out a pursuivant at arms

To Stanley's regiment; bid him bring his power Before sunrising, lest his son George fall

Into the blind cave of eternal night.

[Exit CATESBY.

Fill me a bowl of wine.-Give me a watch.

Saddle white Surrey for the field to-morrow.
Look that my staves be sound, and not too heavy.--