London. A Room in the Tower.
 Enter BUCKINGHAM, STANLEY, HASTINGS, BISHOP OF ELY,
 NORFOLK, RATCLIFFE, LOVEL, with OTHERS,
 at a table.

Lord Hastings	Now, noble peers, the cause why we are met
	Is to determine of the coronation.
	In God's name, speak: when is the royal day?

Buckingham	Is all things ready for the royal time?

Stanley	It is, and wants but nomination.

Bishop of Ely	Tomorrow, then, I judge a happy day.

Buckingham	Who knows the Lord Protector's mind herein?
	Who is most inward with the noble duke?

Bishop of Ely	Your grace, we think, should soonest know his mind.

Buckingham	We know each other's faces. For our hearts,
	He knows no more of mine than I of yours,
	Or I of his, my lord, than you of mine.
	Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.

Lord Hastings	I thank his grace, I know he loves me well;
	But for his purpose in the coronation,
	I have not sounded him, nor he delivered
	His gracious pleasure any way therein.
	But you, my honourable lords, may name the time;
	And in the duke's behalf I'll give my voice,
	Which I presume he'll take in gentle part.

                              Enter RICHARD.

Bishop of Ely	In happy time, here comes the duke himself.

Richard	My noble lords and cousins all, good morrow.
	I have been long a sleeper, but I trust
	My absence doth neglect no great design
	Which by my presence might have been concluded.

Buckingham	Had you not come upon your cue, my lord,
	William Lord Hastings had pronounced your part-
	I mean your voice for crowning of the king.

Richard	Than my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder:
	His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.
	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.

Bishop of Ely	Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart.
														[Exit.
Richard	Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you.
	[Aside to BUCKINGHAM.]
	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 worshipful he terms it,
	Shall lose the royalty of England's throne.

Buckingham	Withdraw yourself a while; I'll go with you.
									 [Exeunt RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM.

Stanley	We have not yet set down this day of triumph.
	Tomorrow, in my judgement, is too sudden;
	For I myself am not so well provided
	As else I would be were the day prolonged.

                       Re-enter the BISHOP OF ELY.

Bishop of Ely	Where is my lord the Duke of Gloucester?
	I have sent for these strawberries.

Lord Hastings	His grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning:
	There's some conceit or other likes him well
	When that he bids good morrow with such spirit.
	I think there's never a man in Christendom
	Can lesser hide his love or hate than he,
	For by his face straight shall you know his heart.

Stanley	What of his heart perceive you in his face
	By any livelihood he showed today?

Lord Hastings	Marry, that with no man here he is offended,
	For were he, he had shown it in his looks.

Stanley	I pray God he be not, I say.

                     Re-enter RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM.

Richard	I pray you all, tell me what they deserve
	That do conspire my death with devilish plots
	Of damnd witchcraft, and that have prevailed
	Upon my body with their hellish charms?

Lord Hastings	The tender love I bear your grace, my lord,
	Makes me most forward in this princely presence
	To doom th' offenders, whatsoe'er they be.
	I say, my lord, they have deservd death.

Richard	Then be your eyes the witness of their evil.
	See how I am bewitched. Behold, mine arm
	Is like a blasted sapling, withered up.
	And this is Edward's wife, that monstrous witch,
	Consorted with that harlot, strumpet Shore,
	That by their witchcraft thus have markd me.

Lord Hastings	If they have done this deed, my noble lord-

Richard	If? - thou protector of this damnd strumpet,
	Talk'st thou to me of ifs? Thou art a traitor.
	Off with his head! Now by Saint Paul I swear
	I will not dine until I see the same.
	Lovel and Ratcliffe, look that it be done;
	The rest that love me, rise, and follow me.
														[Exeunt.
            Manet LOVEL and RATCLIFFE with the Lord HASTINGS.

Lord Hastings	Woe, woe for England! not a whit for me;
	For I, too fond, might have prevented this.
	Stanley did dream the boar did raze his helm,
	And I did scorn it, and disdain to fly;
	Three times today my footcloth horse did stumble,
	And started when he looked upon the Tower,
	As loath to bear me to the slaughterhouse.
	O, now I need the priest that spake to me.
	I now repent I told the pursuivant,
	As too triumphing, how mine enemies
	Today at Pomfret bloodily were butchered,
	And I myself secure in grace and favour.
	O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse
	Is lighted on poor Hastings' wretched head.

Ratcliffe	Come, come, dispatch; the duke would be at dinner.
	Make a short shrift; he longs to see your head.

Lord Hastings	O momentary grace of mortal men,
	Which we more hunt for than the grace of God!
	Who builds his hope in air of your good looks
	Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast,
	Ready with every nod to tumble down
	Into the fatal bowels of the deep.

Lovel	Come, come, dispatch; 'tis bootless to exclaim.

Lord Hastings	O bloody Richard! Miserable England!
	I prophesy the fearfull'st time to thee
	That ever wretched age hath looked upon.
	Come, lead me to the block; bear him my head:
	They smile at me who shortly shall be dead.
														[Exeunt.
