Part 44

_Glou._ Sweet prince, the untainted virtue of your years Hath not yet dived into the world’s deceit:   [fca008] Nor more can you distinguish of a man   [fca009] Than of his outward show; which, God he knows,    ·fca010· Seldom or never jumpeth with the heart. Those uncles which you want were dangerous; Your grace attended to their sugar’d words, But look’d not on the poison of their hearts: God keep you from them, and from such false friends!    ·fca015·

_Prince._ God keep me from false friends! but they were none.  [fca016]

_Glou._ My lord, the mayor of London comes to greet you.   [fca017]

_Enter the_ Lord Mayor, _and his train_.

_May._ God bless your grace with health and happy days!

_Prince._ I thank you, good my lord; and thank you all.   [fca019] I thought my mother and my brother York    ·fca020· Would long ere this have met us on the way: Fie, what a slug is Hastings, that he comes not To tell us whether they will come or no!

_Enter_ LORD HASTINGS.

_Buck._ And, in good time, here comes the sweating lord.

_Prince._ Welcome, my lord: what, will our mother come?    ·fca025·

_Hast._ On what occasion, God he knows, not I, The queen your mother and your brother York Have taken sanctuary: the tender prince   [fca028] Would fain have come with me to meet your grace,   [fca029] But by his mother was perforce withheld.    ·fca030·

_Buck._ Fie, what an indirect and peevish course   [fca031] Is this of hers! Lord cardinal, will your grace Persuade the queen to send the Duke of York   [fca033] Unto his princely brother presently? If she deny, Lord Hastings, go with him,   [fca035] And from her jealous arms pluck him perforce.

_Card._ My Lord of Buckingham, if my weak oratory Can from his mother win the Duke of York,   [fca038] Anon expect him here; but if she be obdurate   [fca039] To mild entreaties, God in heaven forbid   [fca040] We should infringe the holy privilege Of blessed sanctuary! not for all this land   [fca042] Would I be guilty of so deep a sin.   [fca043]

_Buck._ You are too senseless-obstinate, my lord,   [fca044] Too ceremonious and traditional:    ·fca045· Weigh it but with the grossness of this age,   [fca046] You break not sanctuary in seizing him. The benefit thereof is always granted To those whose dealings have deserved the place And those who have the wit to claim the place:    ·fca050· This prince hath neither claim’d it nor deserved it; And therefore, in mine opinion, cannot have it:   [fca052] Then, taking him from thence that is not there,   [fca053] You break no privilege nor charter there. Oft have I heard of sanctuary men;    ·fca055· But sanctuary children ne’er till now.   [fca056]

_Card._ My lord, you shall o’er-rule my mind for once.   [fca057] Come on, Lord Hastings, will you go with me?

_Hast._ I go, my lord.

_Prince._ Good lords, make all the speedy haste you may.   [fca060] [_Exeunt Cardinal and Hastings._ Say, uncle Gloucester, if our brother come, Where shall we sojourn till our coronation?

_Glou._ Where it seems best unto your royal self.   [fca063] If I may counsel you, some day or two   [fca064] Your highness shall repose you at the Tower:    ·fca065· Then where you please, and shall be thought most fit   [fca066] For your best health and recreation.

_Prince._ I do not like the Tower, of any place. Did Julius Cæsar build that place, my lord?

_Buck._ He did, my gracious lord, begin that place;   [fca070] Which, since, succeeding ages have re-edified.   [fca071]

_Prince._ Is it upon record, or else reported Successively from age to age, he built it?

_Buck._ Upon record, my gracious lord.   [fca074]

_Prince._ But say, my lord, it were not register’d,    ·fca075· Methinks the truth should live from age to age, As ’twere retail’d to all posterity,   [fca077] Even to the general all-ending day.   [fca078]

_Glou._ [_Aside_] So wise so young, they say, do never live long.   [fca079]

_Prince._ What say you, uncle?    ·fca080·

_Glou._ I say, without characters, fame lives long.   [fca081] [_Aside_] Thus, like the formal vice, Iniquity,   [fca082] I moralize two meanings in one word.   [fca083]

_Prince._ That Julius Cæsar was a famous man; With what his valour did enrich his wit,    ·fca085· His wit set down to make his valour live: Death makes no conquest of this conqueror;   [fca087] For now he lives in fame, though not in life.   [fca088] I’ll tell you what, my cousin Buckingham,--

_Buck._ What, my gracious lord?   [fca090]

_Prince._ An if I live until I be a man,   [fca091] I’ll win our ancient right in France again, Or die a soldier, as I lived a king.

_Glou._ [_Aside_] Short summers lightly have a forward spring.   [fca094]

_Enter young_ YORK, HASTINGS, _and the_ CARDINAL.

_Buck._ Now, in good time, here comes the Duke of York.    ·fca095·

_Prince._ Richard of York! how fares our loving brother?   [fca096]

_York._ Well, my dread lord; so must I call you now.   [fca097]

_Prince._ Ay, brother, to our grief, as it is yours: Too late he died that might have kept that title,   [fca099] Which by his death hath lost much majesty.    ·fca100·

_Glou._ How fares our cousin, noble Lord of York?

_York._ I thank you, gentle uncle. O, my lord, You said that idle weeds are fast in growth: The prince my brother hath outgrown me far.   [fca104]

_Glou._ He hath, my lord.

_York._ And therefore is he idle?    ·fca105·

_Glou._ O, my fair cousin, I must not say so.

_York._ Then is he more beholding to you than I.   [fca107]

_Glou._ He may command me as my sovereign; But you have power in me as in a kinsman.   [fca109]

_York._ I pray you, uncle, give me this dagger.   [fca110]

_Glou._ My dagger, little cousin? with all my heart.

_Prince._ A beggar, brother?

_York._ Of my kind uncle, that I know will give;   [fca113] And being but a toy, which is no grief to give.   [fca114]

_Glou._ A greater gift than that I’ll give my cousin.    ·fca115·

_York._ A greater gift! O, that’s the sword to it.   [fca116]

_Glou._ Ay, gentle cousin, were it light enough.

_York._ O, then, I see, you will part but with light gifts;   [fca118] In weightier things you’ll say a beggar nay.

_Glou._ It is too heavy for your grace to wear.   [fca120]

_York._ I weigh it lightly, were it heavier.   [fca121]

_Glou._ What, would you have my weapon, little lord?

_York._ I would, that I might thank you as you call me.   [fca123]

_Glou._ How?

_York._ Little.    ·fca125·

_Prince._ My Lord of York will still be cross in talk: Uncle, your grace knows how to bear with him.

_York._ You mean, to bear me, not to bear with me: Uncle, my brother mocks both you and me; Because that I am little, like an ape,    ·fca130· He thinks that you should bear me on your shoulders.

_Buck._ With what a sharp-provided wit he reasons!   [fca132] To mitigate the scorn he gives his uncle,   [fca133] He prettily and aptly taunts himself: So cunning and so young is wonderful.    ·fca135·

_Glou._ My lord, will’t please you pass along?   [fca136] Myself and my good cousin Buckingham Will to your mother, to entreat of her To meet you at the Tower and welcome you.

_York._ What, will you go unto the Tower, my lord?    ·fca140·

_Prince._ My lord protector needs will have it so.   [fca141]

_York._ I shall not sleep in quiet at the Tower.

_Glou._ Why, what should you fear?   [fca143]

_York._ Marry, my uncle Clarence’ angry ghost:   [fca144] My grandam told me he was murder’d there.   [fca145]

_Prince._ I fear no uncles dead.

_Glou._ Nor none that live, I hope.

_Prince._ An if they live, I hope I need not fear.   [fca148] But come, my lord; and with a heavy heart,   [fca149] Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower.   [fca150] [_A Sennet. Exeunt all but Gloucester, Buckingham and Catesby._

_Buck._ Think you, my lord, this little prating York   [fca151] Was not incensed by his subtle mother To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously?

_Glou._ No doubt, no doubt: O, ’tis a parlous boy;   [fca154] Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable:    ·fca155· He is all the mother’s, from the top to toe.

_Buck._ Well, let them rest. Come hither, Catesby.   [fca157] Thou art sworn as deeply to effect what we intend   [fca158] As closely to conceal what we impart: Thou know’st our reasons urged upon the way;   [fca160] What think’st thou? is it not an easy matter   [fca161] To make William Lord Hastings of our mind,   [fca162] For the instalment of this noble duke In the seat royal of this famous isle?

_Cate._ He for his father’s sake so loves the prince    ·fca165· That he will not be won to aught against him.

_Buck._ What think’st thou then of Stanley? what will he?   [fca167]

_Cate._ He will do all in all as Hastings doth.

_Buck._ Well, then, no more but this: go, gentle Catesby,   [fca169] And, as it were far off, sound thou Lord Hastings,   [fca170] How he doth stand affected to our purpose;   [fca171] And summon him to-morrow to the Tower,   [fca172] To sit about the coronation. If thou dost find him tractable to us, Encourage him, and show him all our reasons:   [fca175] If he be leaden, icy-cold, unwilling,   [fca176] Be thou so too; and so break off your talk,   [fca177] And give us notice of his inclination: For we to-morrow hold divided councils, Wherein thyself shalt highly be employ’d.   [fca180]

_Glou._ 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 friend, for joy of this good news,   [fca184] Give Mistress Shore one gentle kiss the more.   [fca185]

_Buck._ Good Catesby, go, effect this business soundly.   [fca186]

_Cate._ My good lords both, with all the heed I may.   [fca187]

_Glou._ Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we sleep?   [fca188]

_Cate._ You shall, my lord.

_Glou._ At Crosby Place, there shall you find us both.   [fca190] [_Exit Catesby._

_Buck._ Now, my lord, what shall we do, if we perceive   [fca191] Lord Hastings will not yield to our complots?   [fca192]

_Glou._ Chop off his head, man; somewhat we will do:   [fca193] And, look, when I am king, claim thou of me The earldom of Hereford, and the moveables   [fca195] Whereof the king my brother stood possess’d.   [fca196]

_Buck._ I’ll claim that promise at your grace’s hands.   [fca197]

_Glou._ And look to have it yielded with all willingness.   [fca198] Come, let us sup betimes, that afterwards We may digest our complots in some form. [_Exeunt._   [fca200]

## SCENE II. _Before Lord Hastings’ house_.

_Enter a_ Messenger.

_Mess._ What, ho! my lord!   [fcb001]

_Hast._ [_Within_] Who knocks at the door?   [fcb002]

_Mess._ A messenger from the Lord Stanley.   [fcb003]

_Enter_ LORD HASTINGS.

_Hast._ What is’t o’clock?   [fcb004]

_Mess._ Upon the stroke of four.    ·fcb005·

_Hast._ Cannot thy master sleep these tedious nights?   [fcb006]

_Mess._ So it should seem by that I have to say.   [fcb007] First, he commends him to your noble lordship.   [fcb008]

_Hast._ And then?   [fcb009]

_Mess._ And then he sends you word   [fcb010] He dreamt to-night the boar had razed his helm:   [fcb011] Besides, he says there are two councils held;   [fcb012] And that may be determined at the one   [fcb013] Which may make you and him to rue at the other. Therefore he sends to know your lordship’s pleasure,    ·fcb015· If presently you will take horse with him,   [fcb016] And with all speed post with him toward the north,   [fcb017] To shun the danger that his soul divines.

_Hast._ Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord;   [fcb019] Bid him not fear the separated councils:   [fcb020] His honour and myself are at the one, And at the other is my servant Catesby;   [fcb022] Where nothing can proceed that toucheth us Whereof I shall not have intelligence. Tell him his fears are shallow, wanting instance:   [fcb025] And for his dreams, I wonder he is so fond   [fcb026] To trust the mockery of unquiet slumbers: To fly the boar before the boar pursues,   [fcb028] Were to incense the boar to follow us And make pursuit where he did mean no chase.   [fcb030] 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.

_Mess._ My gracious lord, I’ll tell him what you say.   [fcb034] [_Exit._

_Enter_ CATESBY.

_Cate._ Many good morrows to my noble lord!    ·fcb035·

_Hast._ Good morrow, Catesby; you are early stirring: What news, what news, in this our tottering state?

_Cate._ It is a reeling world indeed, my lord; And I believe ’twill never stand upright   [fcb039] Till Richard wear the garland of the realm.    ·fcb040·

_Hast._ How! wear the garland! dost thou mean the crown?   [fcb041]

_Cate._ Ay, my good lord.

_Hast._ I’ll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders Ere I will see the crown so foul misplaced.   [fcb044] But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it?    ·fcb045·

_Cate._ Ay, on my life, and hopes to find you forward   [fcb046] 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.    ·fcb050·

_Hast._ Indeed, I am no mourner for that news,   [fcb051] Because they have been still mine enemies:   [fcb052] But, that I’ll give my voice on Richard’s side, To bar my master’s heirs in true descent, God knows I will not do it, to the death.    ·fcb055·

_Cate._ God keep your lordship in that gracious mind!

_Hast._ But I shall laugh at this a twelve-month hence, That they who brought me in my master’s hate,   [fcb058] I live to look upon their tragedy. I tell thee, Catesby,--   [fcb060]

_Cate._ What, my lord?

_Hast._ Ere a fortnight make me elder,   [fcb062] I’ll send some packing that yet think not on it.   [fcb063]

_Cate._ ’Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord, When men are unprepared and look not for it.    ·fcb065·

_Hast._ O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out   [fcb066] With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey: and so ’twill do With some men else, who think themselves as safe   [fcb068] As thou and I; who, as thou know’st, are dear   [fcb069] To princely Richard and to Buckingham.   [fcb070]

_Cate._ The princes both make high account of you; [_Aside_] For they account his head upon the bridge.   [fcb072]

_Hast._ I know they do; and I have well deserved it.   [fcb073]

_Enter_ LORD STANLEY.

Come on, come on; where is your boar-spear, man?   [fcb074] Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided?   [fcb075]

_Stan._ My lord, good morrow; good morrow, Catesby:   [fcb076] You may jest on, but, by the holy rood, I do not like these several councils, I.

_Hast._ My lord,   [fcb079] I hold my life as dear as you do yours;   [fcb080] And never in my life, I do protest,   [fcb081] Was it more precious to me than ’tis now:   [fcb082] Think you, but that I know our state secure,   [fcb083] I would be so triumphant as I am?

_Stan._ The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London,   [fcb085] Were jocund and supposed their state was sure,   [fcb086] And they indeed had no cause to mistrust;   [fcb087] But yet, you see, how soon the day o’ercast.   [fcb088] This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt:   [fcb089] Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward!   [fcb090] What, shall we toward the Tower? the day is spent.   [fcb091]

_Hast._ Come, come, have with you. Wot you what, my lord?   [fcb092] To-day the lords you talk of are beheaded.   [fcb093]

_Stan._ They, for their truth, might better wear their heads Than some that have accused them wear their hats.   [fcb095] But come, my lord, let us away.   [fcb096]

_Enter a_ Pursuivant.

_Hast._ Go on before; I’ll talk with this good fellow.   [fcb097] [_Exeunt Stanley and Catesby._ How now, sirrah! how goes the world with thee?   [fcb098]

_Purs._ The better that your lordship please to ask.   [fcb099]

_Hast._ I tell thee, man, ’tis better with me now   [fcb100] Than when I met thee last where now we meet:   [fcb101] 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,    ·fcb105· And I in better state than e’er I was.   [fcb106]

_Purs._ God hold it, to your honour’s good content!

_Hast._ Gramercy, fellow: there, drink that for me.   [fcb108] [_Throws him his purse._

_Purs._ God save your lordship. [_Exit._   [fcb109]

_Enter a_ Priest.

_Priest._ Well met, my lord; I am glad to see your honour.   [fcb110]

_Hast._ I thank thee, good Sir John, with all my heart. I am in your debt for your last exercise;   [fcb112] Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you.   [fcb113] [_He whispers in his ear._

_Enter_ BUCKINGHAM.

_Buck._ What, talking with a priest, lord chamberlain?   [fcb114] Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest;    ·fcb115· Your honour hath no shriving work in hand.   [fcb116]

_Hast._ Good faith, and when I met this holy man, Those men you talk of came into my mind.   [fcb118] What, go you toward the Tower?   [fcb119]

_Buck._ I do, my lord; but long I shall not stay:   [fcb120] I shall return before your lordship thence.

_Hast._’Tis like enough, for I stay dinner there.   [fcb122]

_Buck._ [_Aside_] And supper too, although thou know’st it not.   [fcb123] Come, will you go?

_Hast._ I’ll wait upon your lordship. [_Exeunt._   [fcb124]

## SCENE III. _Pomfret Castle_.

_Enter_ SIR RICHARD RATCLIFF, _with halberds, carrying_ RIVERS, GREY, _and_ VAUGHAN _to death_.

_Rat._ Come, bring forth the prisoners.   [fcc001]

_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!   [fcc005] A knot you are of damned blood-suckers.

_Vaug._ You live that shall cry woe for this hereafter.   [fcc007]

_Rat._ Dispatch; the limit of your lives is out.

_Riv._ O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prison, Fatal and ominous to noble peers!   [fcc010] Within the guilty closure of thy walls Richard the second here was hack’d to death; And, for more slander to thy dismal seat,   [fcc013] We give thee up our guiltless blood to drink.   [fcc014]

_Grey._ Now Margaret’s curse is fall’n upon our heads,   [fcc015] For standing by when Richard stabb’d her son.

_Riv._ Then cursed she Hastings, then cursed she Buckingham,   [fcc017] Then cursed she Richard. O, remember, God,   [fcc018] To hear her prayers for them, as now for us!   [fcc019] And for my sister and her princely sons,   [fcc020] Be satisfied, dear God, with our true blood,   [fcc021] Which, as thou know’st, unjustly must be spilt.

_Rat._ Make haste; the hour of death is expiate.   [fcc023]

_Riv._ Come, Grey, come, Vaughan, let us all embrace:   [fcc024] And take our leave, until we meet in heaven. [_Exeunt._   [fcc025]

## SCENE IV. _The Tower of London_.

_Enter_ BUCKINGHAM, DERBY, HASTINGS, _the_ BISHOP OF ELY, RATCLIFF, LOVEL, _with others, and take their seats at a table_.

_Hast._ My lords, at once: the cause why we are met   [fcd001] Is, to determine of the coronation. In God’s name, speak: when is the royal day?   [fcd003]

_Buck._ Are all things fitting for that royal time?   [fcd004]

_Der._ It is, and wants but nomination.   [fcd005]

_Ely._ To-morrow then I judge a happy day.   [fcd006]

_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.   [fcd009]

_Buck._ Who, I, my lord! We know each other’s faces,   [fcd010] But for our hearts, he knows no more of mine Than I of yours; Nor I no more of his, than you of mine. Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.

_Hast._ I thank his grace, I know he loves me well;    ·fcd015· But, for his purpose in the coronation, I have not sounded him, nor he deliver’d His gracious pleasure any way therein:   [fcd018] But you, my noble lords, may name the time;   [fcd019] And in the duke’s behalf I’ll give my voice,    ·fcd020· Which, I presume, he’ll take in gentle part.   [fcd021]

_Enter_ GLOUCESTER.

_Ely._ Now in good time, here comes the duke himself.   [fcd022]

_Glou._ My noble lords and cousins all, good morrow.   [fcd023] I have been long a sleeper; but, I hope,   [fcd024] My absence doth neglect no great designs,   [fcd025] Which by my presence might have been concluded.

_Buck._ Had not you come upon your cue, my lord,   [fcd027] William Lord Hastings had pronounced your part,--   [fcd028] I mean, your voice,--for crowning of the king.   [fcd029]

_Glou._ Than my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder;   [fcd030] His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.

_Hast._ I thank your grace.

_Glou._ My Lord of Ely!

_Ely._ My lord?   [fcd032]

_Glou._ When I was last in Holborn, I saw good strawberries in your garden there:   [fcd034] I do beseech you send for some of them.   [fcd035]

_Ely._ Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart.   [fcd036] [_Exit._

_Glou._ Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you.   [fcd037] [_Drawing him aside._ Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business, And finds the testy gentleman so hot,   [fcd039] As he will lose his head ere give consent   [fcd040] His master’s son, as worshipful he terms it,   [fcd041] Shall lose the royalty of England’s throne.

_Buck._ Withdraw you hence, my lord, I’ll follow you.   [fcd043] [_Exit Gloucester, Buckingham following._

_Der._ We have not yet set down this day of triumph. To-morrow, in mine opinion, is too sudden;   [fcd045] For I myself am not so well provided As else I would be, were the day prolong’d.   [fcd047]

_Re-enter_ BISHOP OF ELY.

_Ely._ Where is my lord protector? I have sent for   [fcd048] these strawberries.   [fcd049]

_Hast._ His grace looks cheerfully and smooth to-day;   [fcd050] There’s some conceit or other likes him well, When he doth bid good morrow with such a spirit.   [fcd052] I think there’s never a man in Christendom   [fcd053] That can less hide his love or hate than he;   [fcd054] For by his face straight shall you know his heart.    ·fcd055·

_Der._ What of his heart perceive you in his face By any likelihood he show’d to-day?   [fcd057]

_Hast._ Marry, that with no man here he is offended;   [fcd058] For, were he, he had shown it in his looks.   [fcd059]

_Der._ I pray God he be not, I say.   [fcd060]

_Re-enter_ GLOUCESTER _and_ BUCKINGHAM.

_Glou._ I pray you all, tell me what they deserve   [fcd061] That do conspire my death with devilish plots Of damned witchcraft, and that have prevail’d Upon my body with their hellish charms?

_Hast._ The tender love I bear your grace, my lord,    ·fcd065· Makes me most forward in this noble presence   [fcd066] To doom the offenders, whatsoever they be:   [fcd067] I say, my lord, they have deserved death.

_Glou._ Then be your eyes the witness of this ill:   [fcd069] See how I am bewitch’d; behold, mine arm   [fcd070] Is like a blasted sapling, wither’d up:   [fcd071] And this is Edward’s wife, that monstrous witch,   [fcd072] Consorted with that harlot strumpet Shore,   [fcd073] That by their witchcraft thus have marked me.   [fcd074]

_Hast._ If they have done this thing, my gracious lord,--   [fcd075]

_Glou._ If! thou protector of this damned strumpet, Tellest thou me of ‘ifs’? Thou art a traitor:   [fcd077] Off with his head! Now, by Saint Paul I swear,   [fcd078] I will not dine until I see the same. Lovel and Ratcliff, look that it be done:    ·fcd080· The rest that love me, rise and follow me.   [fcd081] [_Exeunt all but Hastings, Ratcliff and Lovel._