Messenger

My lord! my lord!

Hastings

Within

Who knocks?

Messenger

One from the Lord Stanley. Enter LORD HASTINGS.

Hastings

Within

What is't o'clock?

Messenger

Upon the stroke of four.

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 determined at the one

Which may make you and him to rue at the 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 mockery 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 tottering 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 misplaced.

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,

God knows I will not do it, to the death.

Catesby

God keep your lordship in that gracious mind!

Hastings

But I shall laugh at this a twelvemonth 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 unprepared 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 know'st, 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 deserved 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 you do 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 supposed 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 misdoubt:

Pray God, 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 talked of are beheaded.

Stanley

They, for their truth, might better wear their heads

Than some that have accused them wear their hats.

But come, my lord, let's away. Enter a Pursuivant.

Hastings

Go on before; I'll talk with this good fellow. Exeunt Stanley and Catesby.

How now, sirrah! how goes the world with thee?

a Pursuivant

The better that your lordship please to ask.

Hastings

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 e'er I was.

a Pursuivant

God hold it, to your honour's good content!

Hastings

Gramercy, fellow: there, drink that for me. Throws him his purse.

a Pursuivant

I thank your honour! Exit.Enter a Priest.

Another priest

Well met, my lord; I am glad to see your honour.

Hastings

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.

Another priest

I'll wait upon your lordship.

Buckingham

What, talking with a priest, lord chamberlain?

Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest:

Your honour hath no shriving work in hand.

Hastings

Good faith, and when I met this holy man,

The men you talk of came into my mind.

What, go you toward the Tower?

Buckingham

I do, my lord; but long I cannot stay there:

I shall return before your lordship thence.

Hastings

Nay, like enough, for I stay dinner there.

Buckingham

Aside

And supper too, although thou know'st it not.

Come, will you go?

Hastings

I'll wait upon your lordship. Exeunt.