Stan. They, for their truth, might better wear their heads, Than fome that have accus'd them wear their hats. But come, my Lord, away. Enter a Purfuivant: Haft. Go on before, I'll talk with this good fellow. [Exeunt Lord Stanley and Catesby. 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'ft me laft where now we meet. Then I was going prifoner to the Tower, By the fuggeftion of the Queen's allies; But now I tell thee, (keep it to thy felf), This day thofe enemies are put to death, And I in better state than e'er I was. Purf. God hold it to your Honour's good content! Haft. Gramercy, fellow; there, drink that for me. [Throws han his purfe. Purf. I thank your Honour. [Exit Purfuivant. Enter a Prieft. Prieft. Well met, my Lord, I'm glad to fee your Honour. Haft. I thank thee, good Sir John, with all my heart; I'm in your debt for your last exercise. Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you. Enter Buckingham. [He whispers. Buck. What, talking with a prieft, Lord Chamber lain? Your friends at Pomfret they do need the priest, Your Honour hath no fhriving work in hand. Haft. Good faith, and when I met this holy man, The men you talk of came into my mind. What, go you tow'rd the Tower? Buck. I do, my Lord, but long I fhall not flay. I fhall return before your Lordship thence. Haft. Nay, like enough, for I ftay dinner there. Buck. And fupper too, altho' thou know'st it not. Come, will you go ? Haft. I'll wait upon your Lordship. [Afide. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Changes to Pomfret castle. Enter Sir Richard Ratcliff, with halberts, carrying Lord Rivers, Lord Gray, and Sir Thomas Vaughan, to death. Rat. Come, bring forth the prifoners. Riv. Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee this, For truth, for duty, and for loyalty. Gray. God keep the Prince from all the pack of you! A knot you are of damned blood fuckers. Vaugh. You live that fhall cry woe for this hereafter. Riv. O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prifon, Within the guilty closure of thy walls Richard the Second, here, was hack'd to death; We give to thee our guiltlefs blood to drink. Gray. Now Marg'ret's curfe is fall'n upon our heads, Riv. Then curs'd fhe Richard, curs'd fhe Buckingham, Rat. Make hafte, the hour of death is now expir'd. brace; Farewel, until we meet again in heaven. [Exeunt. SCENE V. The Tower. Buckingham, Stanley, Haftings, Bishop of Ely, Catesby, Haft. Now, Noble Peers, the cause why we are met Is to determine of the coronation. In God's name speak, when is the royal day? Buck. Who knows the Lord Protector's mind herein ? Who is most inward with the Noble Duke? Ely. Your Grace, we think, fhould fooneft know his mind. Buck. We know each other's faces: for our hearts, He knows no more of mine than I of your's; 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, I have not founded him; nor he deliver'd But you, my Noble Lord, may name the time, Enter Gloucefter. Ely. In happy time here comes the Duke himself. Glo. My Noble Lords and coufins all, good-morrow: I have been long a fleeper; but I trust My abfence doth neglect no great defign, Which by my prefence might have been concluded. Glo. Than my Lord Haftings no man might be bolder. Ely. Marry, and will, my Lord, with all my heart. [Exit Ely. That he will lofe his head, ere give confent, Shall lofe the royalty of England's throne. Buck. Withdraw yourself a while; I'll go with you. [Exeunt Glo. and Buck. Stan. We have not yet fet down this day of triumph.. To-morrow, in my judgment, is too fudden; For I myself am not to well provided, As elfe I would be, were the day prolong'd. Re-enter Bishop of Ely. Ely. Where is my Lord the Duke of Gloucefter? 1 have fent traitway for thefe ftrawberries. Haft. His Grace looks chearfully and smooth this morning: There's fome conceit or other likes him well, Can leffer hide his love or hate than he; Stan. 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 Gloucester and Buckingham. Glo. I pray you all, tell me what they deferve, Haft. The tender love I bear your Grace, my Lord, Makes me moft forward in this princely prefence, To doom th' offenders, whofoe'er they be. I fay, my Lord, they have deserved death. Glo. Then be your eyes the witnefs of their evil.. And this is Edward's wife, that monftrous witch, I will not dine until I fee the fame. [Exeunt. Manent Lovel and Catesby, with the Lord Haftings. Haft Woe, woe, for England! not a whit for me! Three times to-day my foot-cloth horfe did ftumble, Catef. Come, come, dispatch; the Duke will be at dinner. Make a fhort fhrift, he longs to fee your head. Ready with every nod to tumble down Into the fatal bowels of the deep. Lov Come, come, difpatch, 'tis bootlefs to exclaim. Haft. O bloody Richard! miferable England! I prophefy the fearfull'ft time to thee That ever wretched age hath look'd upon. Come, lead me to the block, bear him my head. Glo. Come, confin canft thou quake and change thy Murther thy breath in middle of a word, [colour, And then again begin, and ftop again, |