Cates. He will do all in all as Hastings doth.

Buck. Well then, no more but this. Go, gentle
Catesby,

And, as it were far off, sound thou lord Hastings,
How he doth stand affected to our purpose;
And summon him to-morrow to the Tower,
To sit about the coronation.

If thou dost find him tractable to us,
Encourage him, and tell him all our reasons:
If he be leaden, icy, cold, unwilling,

Be thou so too; and so break off the talk,
And give us notice of his inclination :
For we to-morrow hold divided councils,1
Wherein thyself shalt highly be employ'd.

Glos. Commend me to lord William: tell him,
Catesby,

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 kiss the more.
Buck. Good Catesby, go; effect this business
soundly.

Cates. My good lords both, with all the heed I

can.

Glos. Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we

sleep?

Cates. You shall, my lord.

1 A private consultation.

Glos. At Crosby-place; there shall you find us [Exit Catesby.

both.

Buck. Now, my lord, what shall we do, if we per

ceive

Lord Hastings will not yield to our complots ?

Glos. 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.

Glos. And look to have it yielded with all kind

ness.

Come, let us sup betimes, that afterwards

We may digest our complots in some form.

Mes. One from the lord Stanley.

Has. [within.] What is 't o'clock?

Mes. Upon the stroke of four.

Enter HASTINGS.

Has. 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. Has. And then,

Mes. And then he sends you word, he dreamt To-night the boar had rased off his helm:

Besides, he says, there are two councils held;
And that may be determined 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.

Has. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord;
Bid him not fear the separated councils :
His honor 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 2
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,

1

Where, he shall see, the boar1 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! Has. Good morrow, Catesby; you are early stir

ring.

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.

Has. How! wear the garland? dost thou mean the crown?

Cates. Ay, my good lord.

Has. I'll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders,

Before I'll see the crown so foul misplaced.

But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it? Cates. Ay, on my life; and hopes to find you forward

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.

Hus. 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,

1 Gloster, who had a boar for his arms.

To bar my master's heirs in true descent,

God knows, I will not do it, to the death.

Cates. God keep your lordship in that gracious mind!

Has. 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 it.
Cates. 'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord,
When men are unprepared, and look not for it.

Has. 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,

For they account his head upon the bridge. [aside. Has. I know they do, and I have well deserved 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; good morrow,

Catesby.

You may jest on; but, by the holy rood,1