Haft. But I fhall laugh at this a twelve month hence,, Well, Catesby, ere a fortnight make me older, Catef. 'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious Lord, Haft. O monftrous, monftrous! and fo falls it out Cates. The Princes both make high account of youFor they account his head upon the bridge. [Afide. Haft. I know they do; and I have well deferv'd it. Enter Lord Stanley. Come on, come on, where is your boar-spear, man ? Stan. My Lord, good morrow; and, good morrow, You may jeft on, but, by the holy rood, Haft. My Lord, I hold my life as dear as you do yours. And never in my days, I do proteft, Was it fo precious to me as 'tis now ; Think you, but that I know our state secure, Stan. The Lords at Pomfret, when they rode from Were jocund, and fuppos'd, their ftates were fure; What, fhall we tow'rd the Tower? the day is spent. To day the Lords, you talk of, are beheaded. Stan. They, for their truth, might better wear their heads, Than '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 last 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 thyself,) This day those 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. Purf. I thank your Honour. Enter a Prieft. [Throws him his purfe. [Exit Purfuivant. Prieft. Well met, my Lord, I'm glad to see 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 fabbath, and I will content you. Enter Buckingham. [He whispers. Buck. What, talking with a Priest, Lord Chamberlain ? Your friends at Pomfret they do need a Prieft, Your Honour hath no fhriving work in hand. Haft. Good faith, and when I met this holy man, Buck. I do, my Lord, but long I shall not ftay: I fhall return before your Lordship thence. Haft. Nay, like enough. for I ftay dinner there. Come, will you go? Haft. I'll wait upon your Lordship. [Exeunt. SCENE changes to Pomfret-Castle. Enter Sir Richard Ratcliff, with halberds, carrying Lord Rivers, Lord Richard Gray, and Sir Thomas Vaughan to Death. Rat, OME, bring forth the prisoners. Riv. Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee To day fhalt thou behold a subject die Gray. God keep the Prince from all the pack of you, A knot you are of damned blood-fuckers. Vaugh. You live, that shall cry woe for this hereafter. Rat. Dispatch; the limit of your lives is out. Riv. O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prison, Fatal and ominous to noble Peers! Within the guilty closure of thy walls Richard the Second, here, was hack'd to death : Gray. Now Margret's curfe is fall'n upon our heads, Riv. Then curs'd she Richard, curs'd fhe Buckingham, Be fatisfy'd, dear God, with our true blood : Rat. Make hafte, the hour of death is now expir'd. brace; SCENE, The Tower. Buckingham, Stanley, Haftings, Bishop of Ely, Catesby, Lovel, with others, at a table. Haft. NOW, noble Peers, the cause why we are met Is to determine of the coronation : Buck. Who knows the Lord Protector's mind herein ? Who is most inward with the noble Duke ? Ely. Your Grace, we think, fhould foonest know his mind. Buck. We know each other's faces; for our hearts, He knows no more of mine, than I of yours; 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 Ely. In happy time here comes the Duke himself. Glo. Than my Lord Haftings no man might be bolder, His Lord hip knows me well, and loves me well. My Lord of Ely, when I was laft in Holbourn, I faw good ftrawberries in your garden there ; I do beseech you, fend for fome of them. Ely. Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart. [Exit Ely. Glo. Coufin of Buckingham, a word with you. Catesby hath founded Haftings in our business, And finds the tefty gentleman fo hot, That he will lofe his head, ere give Confent, His Mafter's Son, as worshipfully he terms it, Shall lose the Royalty of England's Throne. Buck. Withdraw yourfelf a while, I'll go with you. [Exe. Glo. and Buck. Stanl. We have not yet fet down this day of Triumph; To morrow, in my judgment, is too fudden; For I myself am not fo well provided, Ely. Where is my lord the Duke of Gloucefter Haft. His Grace looks chearfully and fmooth this morning; There's fome conceit, or other, likes him well, Stanl. What of his heart perceive you in his face, 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 deserve, Haft. The tender love I bear your Grace, my lord, |