PRINCE. I fear no uncles dead.
GLOUCESTER. Nor none that live, I hope.
PRINCE. An if they live, I hope I need not fear.
But come, my lord; and with a heavy heart, Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower.
A sennet.
Exeunt all but GLOUCESTER, BUCKINGHAM, and CATESBY BUCKINGHAM. Think you, my lord, this little prating York Was not incensed by his subtle mother To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously?
GLOUCESTER. No doubt, no doubt. O, "tis a perilous boy; Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable.
He is all the mother"s, from the top to toe.
BUCKINGHAM. Well, let them rest. Come hither, Catesby.
Thou art sworn as deeply to effect what we intend As closely to conceal what we impart.
Thou know"st our reasons urg"d 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 n.o.ble Duke In the seat royal of this famous isle?
CATESBY. He for his father"s sake so loves the Prince That he will not be won to aught against him.
BUCKINGHAM. What think"st thou then of Stanley? Will not he?
CATESBY. He will do all in all as Hastings doth.
BUCKINGHAM. 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 employ"d.
GLOUCESTER. 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 lord, for joy of this good news, Give Mistress Sh.o.r.e one gentle kiss the more.
BUCKINGHAM. Good Catesby, go effect this business soundly.
CATESBY. My good lords both, with all the heed I can.
GLOUCESTER. Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we sleep?
CATESBY. You shall, my lord.
GLOUCESTER. At Crosby House, there shall you find us both.
Exit CATESBY BUCKINGHAM. Now, my lord, what shall we do if we perceive Lord Hastings will not yield to our complots?
GLOUCESTER. Chop off his head-something we will determine.
And, look when I am King, claim thou of me The earldom of Hereford and all the movables Whereof the King my brother was possess"d.
BUCKINGHAM. I"ll claim that promise at your Grace"s hand.
GLOUCESTER. 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
SCENE 2.
Before LORD HASTING"S house
Enter a MESSENGER to the door of HASTINGS
MESSENGER. My lord, my lord! [Knocking]
HASTINGS. [Within] Who knocks?
MESSENGER. One from the Lord Stanley.
HASTINGS. [Within] What is"t o"clock?
MESSENGER. Upon the stroke of four.
Enter LORD HASTINGS
HASTINGS. Cannot my Lord Stanley sleep these tedious nights?
MESSENGER. So it appears by that I have to say.
First, he commends him to your n.o.ble self.
HASTINGS. What then?
MESSENGER. Then certifies your lordship that this night He dreamt the boar had razed off his helm.
Besides, he says there are two councils kept, And that may be determin"d at the one Which may make you and him to rue at th" other.
Therefore he sends to know your lordship"s pleasure- If you will presently take horse with him And with all speed post with him toward the north To shun the danger that his soul divines.
HASTINGS. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord; Bid him not fear the separated council: His honour 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, without instance; And for his dreams, I wonder he"s so simple To trust the mock"ry 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, Where, he shall see, the boar will use us kindly.
MESSENGER. I"ll go, my lord, and tell him what you say.
Exit
Enter CATESBY
CATESBY. Many good morrows to my n.o.ble lord!
HASTINGS. Good morrow, Catesby; you are early stirring.
What news, what news, in this our tott"ring state?
CATESBY. It is a reeling world indeed, my lord; And I believe will never stand upright Till Richard wear the garland of the realm.
HASTINGS. How, wear the garland! Dost thou mean the crown?
CATESBY. Ay, my good lord.
HASTINGS. I"ll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders Before I"ll see the crown so foul misplac"d.
But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it?
CATESBY. 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.
HASTINGS. 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, G.o.d knows I will not do it to the death.
CATESBY. G.o.d keep your lordship in that gracious mind!
HASTINGS. But I shall laugh at this a twelve month hence, That they which 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.
CATESBY. "Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord, When men are unprepar"d and look not for it.
HASTINGS. O monstrous, monstrous! And so falls it out With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey; and so "twill do With some men else that think themselves as safe As thou and I, who, as thou knowest, are dear To princely Richard and to Buckingham.
CATESBY. The Princes both make high account of you- [Aside] For they account his head upon the bridge.
HASTINGS. I know they do, and I have well deserv"d it.
Enter LORD STANLEY
Come on, come on; where is your boar-spear, man?
Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided?
STANLEY. My lord, good morrow; good morrow, Catesby.
You may jest on, but, by the holy rood, I do not like these several councils, I.
HASTINGS. My lord, I hold my life as dear as yours, And never in my days, I do protest, Was it so precious to me as "tis now.
Think you, but that I know our state secure, I would be so triumphant as I am?
STANLEY. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London, Were jocund and suppos"d 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 rancour I mis...o...b..; Pray G.o.d, I say, I prove a needless coward.
What, shall we toward the Tower? The day is spent.
HASTINGS. Come, come, have with you. Wot you what, my Lord?
To-day the lords you talk"d of are beheaded.
STANLEY. They, for their truth, might better wear their heads Than some that have accus"d them wear their hats.
But come, my lord, let"s away.
Enter HASTINGS, a pursuivant
HASTINGS. Go on before; I"ll talk with this good fellow.