Think you, but that I know our state secure,
I would he so triumphant as I am?

Stan. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode 7ered from London,

Were jocund, and suppes their states were sure,
And they, indeed, had no cause to mistrust;
But yet, you see, how soon the day o'er-cast.
This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt;

Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward! What, shall we toward the Tower? the day is 440 spent.

Hast. Come, come, have with you.

Wot

"you what, my Lord? To-day the lords yon talk of are beheaded. Stan. 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 a Pursuivant.

Hast. Go on before, I'll talk with this good

fellow.

[Exeunt STANLEY and CATESEY how goes the world with thee?

How now, sirrah?

Purs. The better,

that your Lordship please to ask.

Hast. I tell thee, man, 'tis better with me now, Than 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 Honour's good

**content!

Hast. Gramercy, fellow: There, drink that for ine.

[Throwing him his purse. Pars. I thank your Honour. [Exit PURSUIVANT.

Enter a Priest,

Pr. Well met, my Lord; I am glad to see your Honour.

Hast. I thank thee, good Sir John, with all my heart.

I am in your debt for your last exercise;

Come the next sabbath, and I will content you.

Enter BUCKINGHAM.

Buck. What, talking with a priest, Lord Cham◄ berlain?

Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest ; Your Honour hath no shriving work in hand,

Hast. 'Good faith, and when I met this holy

The men you talk of came into my mind.
What, go you toward the Tower?

Buck. I do, my Lord; but long I cannot stay

there:

I shall return before your Lordship thence,

Hast. Nay, like

Buck. And supper

Come, will you go?

Hast. I'll wait upon your Lordship.. | [Exeunt.

Enter RATCLIFF, with a guard, conducting RIVERS, GREY, and VAUGHAN to execution.

Rat. Come, hring forth the prisoners.

Riv. Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee this,

To-day shalt thou behold a subject die,
For truth, for duty, and for loyalty.

Grey. God keep the Prince from all the pack of you!

A knot you are of damned blood-suckers. Vaugh. You live, that shall cry woe for this hereafter.

Rat. Despatch; 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:
And, for more slander to thy dismal seat,
We give thee up our guiltless, blood to drink.
Grey. Now Margaret's curse is fallen upon our
heads, Di
1 vid
When she exclaim'd on Hastings, you, and I,
For standing by when Richard stabb'd her son.[
Rip. Then curs'd she Hastings, then curs'd she
Buckingham,

Then curs'd she Richard: → 0, remember, God,
To hear her prayers for them, as now for us!
And for my sister, and her princely sous,
Be satisfied, dear God, with our true bloods,

Which, as thou know'st, unjustly must be spilt! Rat. Make haste, the hour of death is expiate. Riv. Come, Grey, - come, Vaughan,

us here embrace; *

Farewell, until we meet again in heaven.

SCENE IV.

let

[Exeunt!

MI London. A Room in the Tower.

BUCKINGHAM, STANLEY, HASTINGS, the Bishop. of Ely, CATESBY, LOVEL, and Others: sitting at a table: Officiers of the council atextending.

Hast. Now, noble Peers, the cause why me

are inet

Is to determine of the coronation:
In God's name, speak, when is the royal day?
Buck. Are all things ready for that royal time?
Stan. They are; and wants but nomination.
Ely. To-morrow then I judge a happy day.
Buck. Who knows the Lord Protector's mind
herein?

Who is most inward with the noble Duke? Ely. Your Grace, we think, should soonest know his mind.

Buck. We know each other's faces: for our hearts.

He knows no more of mine, than I of yours;
Nor of his my Lord, than you of mine:
Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.
Haste thank his Grace, I know he loves me

But, for his purpose in the coronation,
I have not sounded him nor he deliver'd
His gracious pleasure any way therein:
But you, my noble Lord, may name the time;
And in the Duke's behalf I'll give my voiće, ›
Which, 1 presume, he'll take in gentle part.

་

Enter GLOSTER.

Ely. In happy time, here comes the Duke himself.

Glo. My noble Lords and cousins, all, good,

moirow:

I have been long a sleeper; but, I trust,
My absence doth neglect no great design,
Which by my presence might have been con-
cluded.

Buck. And you not come upon your cue, my

Lord,

William lord Hastings had pronounc'd your

part,

-

AI

I mean, your voice) for crowning of the

King.

Glo. Than my Lord Hastings, no man might be bolder; NZ

His Lordship knows me well, and loves me well.bwald

er Adzr My Lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn, I saw good strawberries in your garden there; I do beseech you, send for some of them. Ely. Marry, and will, my Lord, with all my heart. [Exit ELY! Glo. Cousin of Buckingham a word with you.

mr rond or sil ba. {Takes him aside, Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business, And finds the testy gentleman so hot,