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Plead what I will be, not what I have been ;
Not my deserts, but what I will deserve.
Urge the necessity and state of times,
And be not peevish-fond in great designs.

415

Q. Eliz. Shall I be tempted of the devil thus ?
K. Rich. Ay, if the devil tempt you to do good.
Q. Eliz. Shall I forget myself to be myself?
K. Rich. Ay, if yourself's remembrance wrong your-

self.

Q. Eliz. Yet thou didst kill my children.

420

K. Rich. But in your daughter's womb I bury them;
Where in that nest of spicery they will breed
Selves of themselves, to your recomforture.

Q. Eliz. Shall I go win my daughter to thy will?
K. Rich. And be a happy mother by the deed.
Q. Eliz. I go. Write to me very shortly,

And you shall understand from me her mind.

well.

425

K. Rich. Bear her my true love's kiss; and so, fareExit Queen Elizabeth. Relenting fool, and shallow changing woman! 431

Enter Ratcliff [Catesby following].

How now! what news?

Rat. Most mighty sovereign, on the western coast
Rideth a puissant navy; to our shores

Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends, 435
Unarm'd, and unresolv'd to beat them back.

"Tis thought that Richmond is their admiral;
And there they hull, expecting but the aid
Of Buckingham to welcome them ashore.

K. Rich. Some light-foot friend post to the Duke of

Norfolk ;

Ratcliff, thyself, or Catesby; where is he?

Cate. Here, my good lord.

K. Rich. Catesby, fly to the Duke.

440

442

Cate. I will, my lord, with all convenient haste. 442

K. Rich. [Ratcliff], come hither.

Post to Salisbury.

When thou com'st thither, [To Catesby.] Dull

unmindful villain,

Why stay'st thou here, and go'st not to the

Duke ?

445

Cate. First, mighty liege, tell me your Highness'

pleasure,

What from your Grace I shall deliver to him.

K. Rich. O, true, good Catesby. Bid him levy straight

The greatest strength and power that he can

make,

And meet me suddenly at Salisbury.

Cate. I go.

450

Exit.

Rat. What, may it please you, shall I do at Salisbury?

K. Rich. Why, what wouldst thou do there before I

go?

Rat. Your Highness told me I should post before. 455 K. Rich. My mind is chang'd.

Enter Lord Stanley.

Stanley, what news with you? Stan. None good, my liege, to please you with the

hearing;

Nor none so bad, but may well be reported.

K. Rich. Hoyday, a riddle! neither good nor bad! 460 What need'st thou run so many miles about

Stan.

When thou mayst tell thy tale the nearest way?
Once more, what news?

465

Richmond is on the seas. K. Rich. There let him sink, and be the seas on him! White-liver'd runagate, what doth he there? Stan. I know not, mighty sovereign, but by guess. K. Rich. Well, as you guess? Stan. Stirr'd up by Dorset, Buckingham, and Morton,

He makes for England, here to claim the crown. K. Rich. Is the chair empty? Is the sword unsway'd?

Is the King dead? the empire unpossess'd?

What heir of York is there alive but we?

470

475

And who is England's king but great York's heir? Then, tell me, what makes he upon the seas ? Stan. Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess. K. Rich. Unless for that he comes to be your liege, You cannot guess wherefore the Welshman comes? Thou wilt revolt, and fly to him, I fear.

Stan. No, my good lord, therefore mistrust me not.

K. Rich. Where is thy power, then, to beat him

back?

Where be thy tenants and thy followers?

Are they not now upon the western shore,
Safe-conducting the rebels from their ships?

480

Stan. No, my good lord, my friends are in the north. K. Rich. Cold friends to me! What do they in the north, 485

When they should serve their sovereign in the west? Stan. They have not been commanded, mighty King. Pleaseth your Majesty to give me leave,

I'll muster up my friends, and meet your Grace Where and what time your Majesty shall please. K. Rich. Ay, ay, thou wouldst be gone to join with Richmond;

Stan.

But I'll not trust thee.

491

495

Most mighty sovereign, You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful. I never was nor never will be false. K. Rich. Go, then, and muster men; but leave behind Your son, George Stanley. Look your heart be firm,

Or else his head's assurance is but frail.

Stan. So deal with him as I prove true to you. Exit.

Enter a Messenger.

1. Mess. My gracious sovereign, now in Devon

shire,

500

As I by friends am well advertised,

Sir Edward Courtney, and the haughty prelate
Bishop of Exeter, his elder brother,

With many moe confederates, are in arms.

Enter another Messenger.

2. Mess. In Kent, my liege, the Guildfords are in

arms;

And every hour more competitors

505

Flock to the rebels, and their power grows strong.

Enter another Messenger.

3. Mess. My lord, the army of great Buckingham K. Rich. Out on ye, owls! nothing but songs of death? He striketh him.

There, take thou that, till thou bring better news. 510

3. Mess. The news I have to tell your Majesty

Is that by sudden floods and fall of waters,
Buckingham's army is dispers'd and scatter'd ;
And he himself wand'red away alone,

No man knows whither.

K. Rich.

I cry thee mercy;

There is my purse to cure that blow of thine.
Hath any well-advised friend proclaim'd
Reward to him that brings the traitor in ?

515

3. Mess. Such proclamation hath been made, my lord.

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