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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 Shore 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 noble 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 noble 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