Hast.
My lords, at once ^note: the cause why we are met
Is, to determine of the coronation.
In God's name, speak ^note: when is the ^note royal day?

Buck.
Are all things fitting ^note for that ^note royal time?

Der.
It is, and wants but ^note nomination.

Ely. ^note
To-morrow then I judge a happy day ^note.

Buck.
Who knows the lord protector's mind herein?
Who is most inward with the noble duke?

Ely.
Your grace, we think ^note, should soonest know his mind.

Buck.
Who, I, my lord! ^note We know each other's faces,
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;
But, for his purpose in the coronation,
I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd
His gracious ^note pleasure any way therein:
But you, my noble lords ^note, may name the time;
And in the duke's behalf I'll give my voice,
Which, I presume, he'll take in gentle ^note part. Enter Gloucester. ^note

Ely.
Now in good ^note time, here comes the duke himself.

Glou.
My noble lords ^note and cousins all, good morrow.
I have been long a sleeper ^note; but, I hope ^note,
My absence doth neglect no great designs ^note,
Which by my presence might have been concluded.

Buck.
Had not you ^note come upon your cue ^note, my lord,
William Lord Hastings had ^note pronounced your ^note part,—
I mean, your voice,— ^notefor ^note crowning of the king.

Glou.
Than ^note my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder;
His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.

Hast.
I thank your grace.

Glou.
My Lord of Ely!

Ely.
My lord?

Glou.
When ^note I was last in Holborn,
I saw good strawberries in your ^note garden there:
I do ^note beseech you send for some of them.

Ely.
Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart. ^note [Exit. ^note

Glou.
Cousin of ^note Buckingham, a word with you. [Drawing him aside. ^note
Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business,
And finds the testy ^note gentleman so hot,
As ^note he will lose his head ere ^note give consent
His master's son ^note, as worshipful ^note he terms it,
Shall lose the royalty of England's throne.

Buck.
Withdraw you hence, my lord, I'll follow you. ^note [Exit ^note Gloucester, Buckingham following.

Der.
We have not yet set down this day of triumph.
To-morrow, in mine opinion ^note, is too sudden ^note;
For I myself am not so well provided
As else I would be, were the day prolong'd. Re-enter ^note Bishop of Ely. ^note

Ely.

Where is my lord protector ^note? I have sent ^note for these ^note strawberries.

Hast.
His grace looks cheerfully and smooth to-day ^note;
There's some conceit or other likes him well,
When he doth bid good morrow with such a ^note spirit.
I think there's never ^note a man in Christendom

That can less ^note hide his love or hate than he;
For by his face straight shall you know his heart.

Der.
What of his heart perceive you in his face
By any likelihood ^note he show'd to-day?

Hast.
Marry, that with no man here he is ^note offended;
For, were he, he had ^note shown ^note it in his looks ^note.

Der.
I pray God he be not, I say. ^note Re-enter Gloucester ^note and Buckingham.

Glou.
I pray you all, tell me what they ^note deserve
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,
Makes me most forward in this noble ^note presence
To doom the offenders, whatsoever ^note they be: ^note
I say, my lord, they have deserved death.

Glou.
Then be your eyes the witness of this ill ^note:
See ^note how I am bewitch'd; behold, mine arm
Is like a blasted sapling, wither'd ^note up:
And this is ^note Edward's wife, that monstrous witch,
Consorted with that harlot strumpet ^note Shore,
That by their witchcraft ^note thus have marked me.

Hast.
If they have done this thing ^note, my gracious ^note lord,— ^note

Glou.
If! thou protector of this damned strumpet,
Tellest thou me ^note of ‘ifs’ ^note? 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 Ratcliff, look that it be done: ^note
The rest that love me, rise ^note and follow me. [Exeunt ^note all but Hastings, Ratcliff and Lovel.

Hast.
Woe, woe for England! not a whit for me;
For I, too fond, might have prevented this.
Stanley did dream the board did raze his helm ^note;
But I disdain'd it, and did scorn ^note to fly:
Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble,
And startled ^note, when he look'd upon the Tower,
As loath to bear me to the slaughter-house.
O, now I want ^note the priest that spake to me:
I now repent I told the pursuivant,
As 'twere triumphing at ^note mine enemies,
How they ^note at Pomfret bloodily were butcher'd,
And I myself secure in grace and favour.
O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse
Is lighted ^note on poor Hastings' wretched head!

Rat. ^note
Dispatch, my lord ^note; the duke would be at dinner:
Make a short shrift; he longs to see your head.

Hast.
O momentary grace of mortal ^note men,
Which we more hunt for than the ^note grace of God ^note!

Who builds his hopes ^note in air ^note of your fair ^note looks ^note,
Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast,
Ready, with every nod, to tumble down
Into the fatal bowels of the deep.

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

Hast.
O bloody Richard! miserable England!
I prophesy the fearfull'st time to thee
That ever wretched age hath look'd upon. ^note
Come, lead me to the block; bear him my head:
They smile at me that ^note shortly shall be dead. [Exeunt. ^note

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