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Enter GLOSTER, BUCKINGHAM, STANLEY, HASTINGS, RATCLIFF, and Others. Glo. Sister, have comfort: all of us have canse To wail the dimming of our shining star; But none can cure their harms by wailing them.

Madam, my mother, I do cry you mercy,

I did not see your grace:- Humbly on my knee I crave your blessing.

Duch. God bless thee; and put meekness in thy breast,

Love, charity, obedience, and true duty!

Glo. Amen; and make me die a good old man!

That is the butt-end of a mother's blessing;

[Aside.

I marvel, that her grace did leave it out.
Buck. You cloudy princes, and heart sorrow-
ing peers,

That bear this mutual heavy load of moan,
Now cheer each other in each other's love:
Though we have spent our harvest of this king,
We are to reap the harvest of his son.
The broken rancour of your high swoln hearts,
But lately splinted, knit, and join'd together,
Must gently be preserv'd, cherish'd, and kept;
Me seemeth good, that, with some little train,
Forthwith from Ludlow the young prince be
fetch'd

Hither to London, to be crown'd our king.
Riv. Why with some little train, my lord of
Buckingham?

Buck. Marry, my lord, lest, by a multitude, The new-heal'd wound of malice should break out;

Which would be so much the more dangerous, By how much the estate is green and yet ungovern'd:

Where every horse bears his commanding rein, And may direct his course as please himself, As well the fear of harm, as harm apparent, In my opinion, ought to be prevented.

Gio I hope, the king made peace with all of us; And the compact is firm, and true, in me.

Riv. And so in me; and so, I think, in all: Yet, since it is but green, it should be put To no apparent likelihood of breach, Which, haply, by much company might be urg'd, Therefore I say, with noble Buckingham, That it is meet so few should fetch the prince. Hast. And so say I.

Glo. Then be it so; and go we to determine Who they shall be that straight shall post to

Ludlow.

Madam, and you my mother,-will you go
To give your censures in this weighty business?

[Exeust all but BUCKINGHAM and GLOSTER. Buck. My lord, whoever journeys to the prince, For God's sake, let not us two stay at home: For, by the way, I'll sort occasion,

As index to the story we late talk'd of, [prince.
To part the queen's proud kindred from the
Glo. My other self, my counsel's consistory,
My oracle, my prophet!-My dear cousin,
1, as a child, will go by thy direction.
Towards Ludlow then, for we'll not stay behind.
[Exeunt.

SCENE III. The Same. A Street.
Enter two Citizens, meeting.

1 Cit. Good morrow, neighbour: Whither away so fast?

2 Cit. I promise you, I scarcely know myself; Hear you the news abroad.

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2 Cit. Ill news, by'r lady; seldom comes the better:

I fear, I fear, 'twill prove a giddy world.
Enter another Citizen.

3 Cit. Neighbours, God speed!
1 Cit.
Give you good morrow, sir.
3 Cit. Doth the news hold of good King Ed-
ward's death?
[while!

2 Cit. Ay, sir, it is too true; God help, the 3 Cit. Then, masters, look to see a troublous world. [shall reign.

1 Cit. No, no; by God's good grace, his son 3 Cit. Woe to that land, that's govern'd by a child!

2 Cit. In him there is a hope of government; That, in his nonage, council under him, And, in his full and ripen'd years, himself, No doubt, shall then, and till then, govern well. 1 Cit. So stood the state, when Henry the Sixth Was crown'd at Paris but at nine months old. 3 Cit. Stood the state so? no, no, good friends, God wot;

For then this land was famously enrich'd With politick grave counsel; then the king Had virtuous uncles to protect his grace. 1 Cit. Why, so hath this, both by his father and mother. [father;

3 Cit. Better it were they all came by his Or, by his father there were none at all: For emulation now, who shall be nearest, Will touch us all too near, if God prevent it not. O, full of danger is the duke of Gloster; And the queen's sons, and brothers, haught and proud:

And were they to be rul'd, and not to rule,
This sickly land might solace as before.

1 Cit. Come, come, we fear the worst: all will be well.

3 Cit. When clouds are seen, wise men put on their cloaks;

When great leaves fall, then winter is at hand;
When the sun sets, who doth not look for night?
Untimely storms make men expect a dearth
All may be well; but, if God sort it so,
'Tis more than we deserve, or I expect.

2 Cit. Truly, the hearts of men are full of fear: You cannot reason almost with a man That looks not heavily, and full of dread.

3 Cit. Before the days of change, still is it so: By a divine instinct, men's minds mistrust Ensuing danger; as, by proof, we see The water swell before a boist'rous storm. But leave it all to God. Whither away?

2 Cit. Marry, we were sent for to the justices. 3 Cit. And so was I; I'll bear you company.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV. The same. A Room in the Palace. Enter the ARCHBISHOP OF YORK, the young DUKE OF YORK, QUEEN ELIZABETH, and the DUCHESS OF YORK.

Arch. Last night, I heard, they lay at Stony-
Stratford;

And at Northampton they do rest to-night:
To-morrow, or next day, they will be here.
Duch. I long with all my heart to see the prince;
I hope, he is much grown since last I saw him.
Q. Eliz. But I hear, no; they say, my son of
York

Hath almost overta'en him in his growth.

York. Ay, mother, but I would not have it so. Duch. Why, my young cousin? it is good to [suppes,

grow.

York. Grandam, one night, as we did sit at My uncle Rivers talk'd how I did grow

Gloster,

More than my brother; Ay, quoth my uncle| And thither, bear your treasure and your goods
For my part, I'll resign unto your grace
The seal I keep; And so betide to me,
As well I tender you, and all of yours!
Come, I'll conduct you to the sanctuary.

Small herbs have grace; great weeds do grow apace:
And since, methinks, I would not grow so fast.
Because sweet flowers are slow, and weeds make
haste
[not hold
Duch. 'Good faith, 'good faith, the saying did
In him that did object the same to thee:
He was the wretched'st thing, when he was
So long a growing, and so leisurely, [young:
That, if his rule were true, he should be graci-
[madam.
Arch. And so, no doubt, he is, my gracious
Duch. I hope he is: but yet let mothers doubt.
York. Now, by my troth, if I had been re-
member'd,

ous.

I could have given my uncle's grace a flout,
To touch his growth, nearer than he touch'd
mine.
[me hear it.
Duch. How, my young York? I pr'ythee, let
York. Marry, they say, my uncle grew so fast,
That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old;
"Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth.
Grandam, this would have been a biting jest.
Duch. I pr'ythee, pretty York, who told thee
York. Grandam, his nurse.
[this?
Duch. His nurse? why, she was dead ere thou
wast born.
[me.
York. If 'twere not she, I cannot tell who told
Q. Eliz. A parlous boy: Go to, you are too
shrewd.
[child.
Arch. Good madam, be not angry with the
Q. Eliz. Pitchers have ears.
Enter a Messenger.

Here comes a messenger:

Arch. What news? Mess.

Such news, my lord,

As grieves me to unfold.
Q. Eliz.

How doth the prince?
Mess. Well, madam, and in health.
Duch.

What is thy news? Mess. Lord Rivers, and Lord Grey, are sent to Pomfret,

With them Sir Thomas Vanghan, prisoners.
Duch. Who hath committed them?
Mess.
Gloster and Buckingham.

Q. Eliz.

The mighty dukes,

For what offence? Mess. The sum of all I can, I have disclos'd;; Why, or for what, the nobles were committed, Is all unknown to me, my gracious lady.

Q. Eliz. Ah me, I see the ruin of my house!
The tiger now hath seiz'd the gentle hind;
Insulting tyranny begins to jut

Upon the innocent and awless throne:-
Welcome, destruction, blood, and massacre!
I see, as in a map, the end of all.

The

Art Third.

SCENE I. London. A Street.

Trumpets sound.

[Exeunt.

Enter the PRINCE OF

WALES, GLOSTER, BUCKINGHAM, CARDINAL
BOURCHIER, and Others.

Buck. Welcome, sweet prince, to London, to
your chamber.
[vereign:
Glo. Welcome, dear cousin, my thoughts' so-
The weary way hath made you melancholy.

Prince. No, uncle; but our crosses on the way Hath made it tedious, wearisome, and heavy: I want more uncles here to welcome me.

Glo. Sweet prince, the untainted virtue of your
years

Hath not yet div'd into the world's deceit :
No more can you distinguish of a man,
Than of his outward show; which, God he
knows,

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!

Prines. God keep me from false friends; but
they were none.
[greet you.
Glo. My lord, the mayor of London comes to
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
[Exeunt Mayor, &e.

you all.

I thought, my mother, and my brother York,
Would long ere this have met us on the way:
Fye, what a slug is Hastings! that he comes not
To tell us whether they would come, or no.
Enter HASTINGS.

Buck. And in good time, here comes the sweat-
ing lord.
[mother come?
Prince. Welcome, my lord: What, will our
Hast. On what occasion, God he knows, not I,
The queen your mother, and your brother York,
Have taken sanctuary: The tender prince
Would fain have come with me to meet your

grace,

But by his mother was perforce withheld.

Buck. Fye! what an indirect and peevish

course

Duch. Accursed and unquiet wrangling days!
How many of you have mine eyes beheld?
My husband lost his life to get the crown;
And often up and down my sons were tost,
For me to joy, and weep, their gain and loss;
And being seated, and domestic broils
Clean overblown, themselves, the conquerors,
Make war upon themselves; brother to brother,
Blood to blood, self 'gainst self:-0, prepos-Can from his mother win the duke of York,

Is this of hers?-Lord cardinal, will your grace
Persuade the queen to send the duke of York
Unto his princely brother presently?
If she deny,-Lord Hastings, go with him,
And from her jealous arms pluck him perforce.
Card. My lord of Buckingham, if my weak
oratory

terous,

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Anon expect him here: But if she be obdurate
To mild entreaties, God in heaven forbid
We should infringe the holy privilege
Of blessed sanctuary! not for all this land,
Would I be guilty of so deep a sin.

Buck. You are too senseless-obstinate, my lord,
Too ceremonious, and traditional:
Weigh it but with the grossness of this age,
You break not sanctuary in seizing him.

The benefit thereof is always granted
To those whose dealings have deserv'd the place,
And those who have the wit to claim the place:
This prince hath neither claim'd it, nor de-

serv'd it;

And therefore, in mine opinion, cannot have it:
Then, taking him from thence, that is not there,
You break no privilege nor charter there.
Oft have I heard of sanctuary men;

But sanctuary children, ne'er till now. [once.-
Card. My lord, you shall o'errule my mind for
Come on, Lord Hastings, will you go with me?
Hast. I go, my lord.

Prince. Good lords, make all the speedy haste

you may. [Exeunt Cardinal and HAST. Say, uncle Gloster, if our brother come, Where shall we sojourn till our coronation?

Glo. Where it seems best unto your royal self.
If I may counsel you, some day, or two,
Your highness shall repose you at the Tower:
Then where you please, and shall be thought
For your best health and recreation. [most fit
Prince. I do not like the Tower, of any place:--
Did Julius Cæsar build that place, my lord?
Glo. He did, my gracious lord, begin that
place;

Which, since, succeeding ages have re-edified.
Prince. Is it upon record? or else reported
Successively from age to age, he built it?
Buck. Upon record, my gracious lord. [ter'd;
Prince. But say, my lord, it were not regis-
Methinks, the truth should live from age to age,
As 'twere retail'd to all posterity,
Even to the general all-ending day.

Glo. So wise so young, they say, do ne'er live long.

[Aside.

Aside.

Prince. What say you, uncle? Glo. I say, without characters, fame lives long. Thus, like the formal vice, Iniquity, I moralize two meanings in one word. J Prince. That Julius Cæsar was a famous man, With what his valour did enrich his wit, His wit set down to make his valour live. Death makes no conquest of this conqueror; For now he lives in fame, though not in life. I'll tell you what, my cousin Buckingham.Buck. What, my gracious lord? Prince. An if I live until I be a man, I'll win our ancient right in France again, Or die a soldier, as I liv'd a king.

Glo. Short summers lightly have a forward spring.

[Aside. Enter YORK, HASTINGS, and the Cardinal. Buck. Now, in good time, here comes the duke [brother? Prince. Richard of York! how fares our loving York. Well, my dread lord; so must I call you

of York.

now.

Prince. Ay, brother; to our grief, as it is yours: Too late he died that might have kept that title, Which by his death hath lost much majesty,

Glo. 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. Glo. He hath, my lord.

York. And therefore is he idle? Glo. O, my fair cousin, I must not say so York. Then is he more beholden to you, than I. Glo. He may command me, as my sovereign; But you have power in me, as in a kinsman. York. I pray you, uncle, give me this dagger. Glo. My dagger, little cousin? with all my Prince. A beggar, brother? [heart. York. Of my kind uncle, that I know will give;

And, being but a toy, which is no grief to give.
Glo. A greater gift than that I'll give mycousin.
York. A greater gift! O, that's the sword to it?
Glo. Ay, gentle cousin, were it light enough.
York. O then, I see, you'll part but with light
gifts:

In weightier things you'll say a beggar, nay.
Glo. It is too weighty for your grace to wear.
York. I weigh it lightly, were it heavier.
Glo. What, would you have my weapon, little
lord?
[call me.
York. I would, that I might thank you as you
Glo. How?

York. Little.

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,
He thinks that you should bear me on your
shoulders.
[reasons;
Buck. With what a sharp provided wit he
To mitigate the scorn he gives his uncle,
He prettily and aptly taunts himself:
So cunning, and so young, is wonderful. [along?
Glo. My gracious lord, will 't please you pass
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 ?

Prince. My lord protector needs will have it so.
York. I shall not sleep in quiet at the Tower.
Glo. Why, sir, what should you fear?
York. Marry, my uncle Clarence' angry ghost:
My grandam told me, he was murder'd there.
Prince. I fear no uncles dead.

Glo. Nor none that live, I hope. Prince. An if they live, I hope, I need not fear. But come, my lord, and, with a heavy heart, Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower.

[Exeunt Prince, YORK, HASTINGS, Cardinal, and Attendants.

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

Gio. No doubt, no doubt: O, 'tis a parlous boy; Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable; He's all the mother's, from the top to toe. Buck. Well, let them rest.— Come hither, gentle Catesby; thou art sworn As deeply to effect what we intend, As closely to conceal what we impart: Theu know'st our reasons urg'd upon the way :-What think'st thou? is it not an easy matter To make William Lord Hastings of our mind, For the instalment of this noble duke In the seat royal of this famous isle? [prince,

Cate. He for his father's sake so loves the That he will not be won to aught against him. Buck, What think'st thou then of Stanley?

will not he?

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And give us notice of his inclination:
For we to-morrow hold divided councils,
Wherein thyself shalt highly be employ'd,
Glo, 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,
Give mistress Shore one gentle kiss the more.
Buck. Good Catesby, go, effect this business
soundly.
[can.
Cate. My good lords both, with all the heed I
Glo. Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we
Cate, You shall, my lord.
[sleep?
Glo. At Crosby-place, there shall you find us
both.
(Exit CATESBY.
Buck. Now, my lord, what shall we do, if we
perceive

Lord Hastings will not yield to our complots?
Glo, Chop off his head, man;-somewhat we
will do:-

Ard, look, when I am king, claim thou of me
The earldom of Hereford, and all the moveables
Whereof the king my brother was possess'd.
Buck. I'll claim that promise at your grace's
hand.

Glo. 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 II. Eefore Lord Hastings' House. Enter a Messenger.

Mess. My lord, my lord,-
Hast, [Within. Who knocks?

[Knocking.

Mess.
One from Lord Stanley.
Hast. [Within.] What is't o'clock?
Mess. Upon the stroke of four.
Enter Hastings.

Hast. Cannot thy master sleep these tedious
nights?

Mess. So it should seem, by that I have to say. First, he commends him to your noble lordship. Hast. And then,

Mess. And then he sends you word, he dreamt To-night the boar hath rased off his helm: Besides, he says, there are two councils held; And that may be determin'd at the one, Which maymake you and him to rue at the other. Therefore he sends to know your lordship's pleasure,

If presently, you will take horse with him, And with all speed post with him toward the north,

To shun the danger that his soul divines.

Hast. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord;
Bid him not fear the separated councils:
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, wanting instance:
And for his dreams-I wonder, he's so fond
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 core to me;
And we will both together to the Tower,
Where, he shall see, the boar will use us kindly.
Mess. I'll go, my lord, and tell him what you
[Exit.

say.

Enter CATESBY.
Cate. Many good morrows to my noble lord!

|

Hast. Good morrow, Catesby; you are early
stirring:
[state?
What news, what news, in this our tottering
Cate. It is a reeling world, indeed, my lord;
And, I believe, will never stand upright,
Till Richard wear the garland of the realm.
Hast. How! wear the garland? dost thou mean
Cate. Ay, my good lord.
[the crown?
Hast. 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?
Cate. Ay, on my life; and hopes to find you
Upon his party, for the gain thereof: [forward
And thereupon he sends you this good news,-
That, this same very day, your enemies,
The kindred of the queen, must die at Pomfret.

Hast. 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.

Cate. God keep your lordship in that gracious
mind!

[hence,
Hast. But I shall laugh at this a twelvemonth
That they, who 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.
Cate. 'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord,
When men are unprepar'd, and look not for it.
Hast. O, monstrous, monstrous! and so falls
it out
With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey: and so 'twill do
With some men else, who think themselves as
safe

As thou, and I; who, as thou know'st, are dear
To princely Richard, and to Buckingham.
Cate. The princes both make high account
of you,

For they account his head upon the bridge.

[Aside.

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row, Catesby:

You may jest on, but, by the holy rood,
I do not like these several councils, I.

Host. My lord, I hold my life as dear as you
And never, in my life, I do protest, [do yours;
Was it more precious to me than 'tis now:
Think you, but that I know our state secure
I would be so triumphant as I am?

Stan. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode
from London,
[sure,
Were jocund, and suppos'd their states were
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.
[what, my lord?
Hast. Come, come, have with you.-Wot you
To-day, the lords you talk of are beheaded.
Stan. They, for their truth, might better wear
their heads,
[hats.
Than some that have accus'd them, wear their
But come, my lord, let's away.

Enter a Pursuivant. Hast. Go on before, I'll talk with this good fellow. [Exeunt STAN. and CATESBY.

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

Then was I going prisoner to the Tower, [meet:
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. [content!
Purs. God hold it, to your honour's good
Hast. Gramercy, fellow; There, drink that
[Throwing him his
Purs. I thank your honour,

for me.

honour.

purse.

[Exit Pursuivant.

Enter a Priest.

Pr. Well met, my lord; I am glad to see your [my heart. Hast. I thank thee, good Sir John, with all 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

man,

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

it not. Come, will you go? Hast.

[there:

Buck. I do, my lord; but long I cannot stay I shall return before your lordship thence. Hast. Nay, like enough, for I staydinner there. Buck. And supper too, although thou know'st [Aside. I'll wait upon your lordship. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Pomfret. Before the Castle. Enter RATCLIFF, with a Guard, conducting RIVERS, GREY, and VAUGHAN, to Execution.

Rat. Come, bring forth the prisoners. Riv. Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee To-day, shalt thou behold a subject die, [this,— 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 Fatal and ominous to noble peers! [prison, 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,

When she exclaim'd on Hastings, you and I, For standing by when Richard stabb'd her son. iv. Then curs'd she Hastings, then curs'd she Buckingham,

Then curs'd she Richard:-O, remember, God,
To hear her prayers for them, as now for us!
And for my sister, and her princely sons,-
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,-let us
here embrace:

Farewell, until we meet again in heaven.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV. London. A Room in the Tower.
BUCKINGHAM, STANLEY, HASTINGS, the BISHOP
OF LLY, CATESBY, LOVEL, and Others, sitting
at a Table; Officers of the Counci! attending.
Is-to determine of the coronation:
Hast. Now, noble peers, the cause why we
[are met
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.
[hearts,-
He knows no more of mine, than I of yours;
Buck. We know each other's faces; for our
Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.
Nor I, of his, my lord, than you of mine:

But, for his purpose in the coronation,[well;
Hast. I thank his grace, I know he loves me
I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd
His gracious pleasure any way therein:
And in the duke's behalf I'll give my voice,
But you, my noble lord, may name the time;
Which, I presume, he'll take in gentle part.
Enter GLOSTER.

I

Ely. In happy time, here comes the duke himself. [morrow:

cluded.

have been long a sleeper; but, I trust, Glo. My noble lords and cousins all, good My absence doth neglect no great design, Which by my presence might have been con[lord, Buck. Had you not come upon your cue, my William Lord Hastings had pronoune'd your part,I mean, your voice,-for crowning of the king. Glo. Than my Lord Hastings, no man might be bolder; [well.His lordship knows me well, and loves me 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. [Takes him aside. Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business; And finds the testy gentleman so hot, That he will lose his head, ere give consent, His master's child, as worshipfully he terms it, Shall lose the royalty of England's throne.

Buck. Withraw yourself awhile, I'll go with

you. [Exeunt GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM. Stan. We have not yet set down this day of triumph.

To-morrow, in my judgment, is too sudden;
For I myself am not so well provided,
As else I would be, were the day prolong'd.
Re-enter the BISHOP OF ELY.
Ely. Where is my lord protector? I have sent
For these strawberries.

Hast. His grace looks cheerfully and smooth
this morning;

There's some conceit or other likes him well,
When he doth bid good morrow with such spirit.
I think, there's ne'er a man in Christendom,
Can lesser hide his love, or hate, than he;
For by his face straight shall you know his heart.

Stan. What of his heart perceive you in his By any likelihood he show'd to-day? [face, Hast. Marry, that with no man here he is offended;

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