As closely to conceal what we impart.

Thou know'st our reasons urged upon the way;-
What think'st thou? is it not an easy matter

To make William lord Hastings of our mind,
For the instalment of this noble duke

In the seat royal of this famous isle?

Cate. He for his father's sake so loves the prince, That he will not be won to aught against him. Buck. What think'st thou then of Stanley? will not he?

Cate. 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,
Wherein thyself shalt highly be employed.

Glo. 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.

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

1 "But the protectoure and the duke after they had sent to the lord cardinal, the lord Stanley, and the lord Hastings, then lord chamberlaine, with many other noblemen, to commune and devise about the coronation in one place, as fast were they in another place, contriving the contrarie to make the protectoure king. The lord Stanley, that was after earle of Darby, wisely mistrusted it, and said unto the lord Hastings that he much mislyked these two several councels.”—Holinshed, from sir T. More.

Cate. You shall, my lord.
Glo. At Crosby-place, there shall you find us both.
[Exit CATESBY.
Buck. Now, my lord, what shall we do, if we per-

ceive

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 movables
Whereof the king my brother was possessed.

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.

[Exeunt.

Hast. Cannot my lord Stanley sleep these tedious nights?

Mess. So it should seem by that I have to say. First, he commends him to your noble lordship. Hast. And then,

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

1 Every material circumstance in this scene is from Holinshed, except that it is a knight with whom Hastings converses instead of Buckingham. 2 This term rased, or rashed, is always given to describe the violence inflicted by a boar. By the boar, throughout this scene, is meant Gloster, in allusion to his crest.

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 pleasure,— 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;
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.

3

Tell him, his fears are shallow, wanting instance;
And for his dreams-I wonder he's so fond 3
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,

2

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

Enter CATESBY.

[Exit.

Cate. Many good morrows to my noble lord!
Hast. Good morrow, Catesby; you are early stir-

ring.

What news, what news, in this our tottering state?
Cate. It is a reeling world, indeed, my lord;

And, I believe, will never stand upright,

Till Richard wear the garland of the realm.

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

Cate. Ay, my good lord.

1 This was the usual address to noblemen in Shakspeare's time; it was indifferently used with your lordship. See any old letter or dedication of that age.

2 Instance is here put for motive, cause.

3 Weak.

Hast. 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?

Cate. 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.
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.

Cate. God keep your lordship in that gracious mind!
Hast. 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't.
Cate. 'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord,
When men are unprepared, 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.

Cate. The princes doth make high account of you,For they account his head upon the bridge. [Aside. Hast. 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! and good morrow, Catesby :

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

I do not like these several councils, I.

1 Cross.

Hast. My lord, I hold my life as dear as you do

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 supposed their states were sure,
And they, indeed, had no cause to mistrust;
But yet, you see, how soon the day o'ercast.
This sudden stab of rancor 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 accused 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 STAN. 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, That 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 honor's good content! Hast. Gramercy, fellow. There, drink that for me.

Purs. I thank your honor.

VOL. V.

9

[Throwing him his purse. [Exit Pursuivant.

1 That is, continue it.