My son George Stanley is frank'd up in hold;
If I revolt, off goes young George's head;
The fear of that withholds my present aid.
But tell me, where is princely Richmond now

Stan. What men of name resort to him?

Chris. Sir Walter Herbert, a renowned soldier ; Sir Gilbert Talbot, sir William Stanley ; Oxford, redoubted Pembroke, sir James Blunt, And Rice-ap-Thomas, with a valiant crew; And many other of great fame and worth: And towards London do they bend their course If by the way they be not fought withal.

im;

Stan. Well, hie thee to thy lord, commend me to Tell him the queen hath heartily consented He shall espouse Elizabeth her daughter. These letters will resolve him of my mind. Farewell. [Gives papers to Sir CHRISTOPHER. Exeunt.

ACT V.

SCENE I.-Salisbury. An open Plac Enter the Sheriff and Guard, with BUCKINGHA led to execution.

Buck. Will not king Richard let me speak with hir Sher. No, my good lord: therefore be patient. Buck.Hastings and Edward's children, Rivers, Grey, Holy king Henry, and thy fair son Edward. Vaughan, and all that have miscarried By underhand corrupted foul injustice: If that your moody discontented souls

Do through the clouds behold this present hour,
Even for revenge mock destruction!-
my
This is All Souls' day, fellows, is it not?
Sher. It is, my lord.

Buck. Why, then All-Souls'day is my body's dooms-
This is the day, which, in king Edward's time, [day,
I wish'd might fall on me, when I was found
False to his children, or his wife's allies:
This is the day, wherein I wish'd to fall
By the false faith of him whom most I trusted :
This, this All Souls' day to my fearful soul,
Is the determin'd respite of my wrongs.
That high All-seer which I dallied with,
Hath turned my feigned prayer on my head,
And given in earnest what I begg'd in jest.
Thus doth he force the swords of wicked men
To turn their own points on their masters' bosoms:
Thus Margaret's curse falls heavy on my neck,—
When he, quoth she, shall split thy heart with sorrow,
Remember Margaret was a prophetess.-
Come, sirs, convey me to the block of shame;
Wrong hath but wrong, and blame the due of blame.
[Exeunt BUCKINGHAM, &c.

SCENE II.-Plain near Tamworth.

Enter, with drum and colours, RICHMOND, OXFORD, Sir JAMES BLUNT, Sir WALTER HERBERT, and others, with Forces, marching.

Rich Fellows in arms, and my most loving friends, Bruis'd underneath the yoke of tyranny, Thus far into the bowels of the land Have we march'd on without impediment, And here receive we from our father Stanley Lines of fair comfort and encouragement. The wretched, bloody, and usurping boar, That spoil'd your summer fields, and fruitful vines, Swills your warm blood like wash, and makes his trough In your embowell'd bosoms, this foul swine

By this one bloody trial of sharp war.

Oaf. Every man's conscience is a thousand swords, To fight against that bloody homicide.

Herb. I doubt not, but his friends will turn to us. Blunt. He hath no friends, but who are friends for Which, in his dearest need, will fly from him. [fear; Rich. All for our vantage. Then, in God's name, march:

True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings, Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings. [Exeu

SCENE III.-Bosworth Field. Enter KING RICHARD, and Forces; the DUKE OF NORFOLK, EARL OF SURREY, and others.

K. Rich. Here pitch our tents, even here in Bosworth My lord of Surrey, why look you so sad? [field.Sur. My heart is ten times lighter than my looks. K. Rich. My lord of Norfolk,Nor. Here, most gracious liege. K. Rich. Norfolk, we must have knocks; Ha! must

we not?

Nor. We must both give and take, my loving lord. K. Rich. Up with my tent: Here will I lie to-night, [Soldiers begin to set up the KING's tent. But where, to-morrow?-Well, all's one for that.Who hath descried the number of the traitors?

[Exeux!.

Nor Six or seven thousand is their utmost power. K. Rich. Why, our battalia trebles that account: Besides, the king's name is a tower of strength, Which they upon the adverse faction want. Up with the tent.-Come, noble gentlemen, Let us survey the vantage of the ground;— Call for some men of sound direction:Let's want no discipline, make no delay; For, lords, to-morrow is a busy day. Enter, on the other side of the field, RICHMOND, Sir WILLIAM BRANDON, OXFORD, and other Lords. Some of the Soldiers pitch RICHMOND's tent. Richm. The weary sun hath made a golden set, And, by the bright track of his fiery car, Gives token of a goodly day to-morrow. Sir William Brandon, you shall bear my standard.Give me some ink and paper in my tent ;I'll draw the form and model of our battle, Limit each leader to his several charge, And part in just proportion our small power. My lord of Oxford,-you, sir William Brandon,And you, sir Walter Herbert, stay with me: The earl of Pembroke keeps his regiment ;Good captain Blunt, bear my good night to him, And by the second hour in the morning Desire the earl to see me in my tent:Yet one thing more, good captain, do for me; Where is lord Stanley quarter'd, do you know?

Blunt. Unless I have mista en his colours much, (Which, well I am assur'd, I have not done,) His regiment lies half a mile at least South from the mighty power of the king.

[him,

Richm. If without peril it be possible, Sweet Blunt, make some good means to speak with And give him from me this most needful note. Blunt. Upon my life, my lord, I'll undertake it; And so, God give you quiet rest to-night! Richm. Good night, good captain Blunt.

gentlemen,

Come,

The Ghosts of the two young Princes rise. Ghosts. Dream on thy cousins smother'd in the Let us be lead within thy bosom, Richard, [Tower, And weigh thee down to ruin, shame, and death! Thy nephews' souls bid thee despair, and die.

Sleep, Richmond, sleep in peace, and wake in joy; Good angels guard thee from the boar's annoy! Live, and beget a happy race of kings! Edward's unhappy sons do bid thee flourish.

[wife,

The Ghost of QUEEN ANNE rises. Ghost. Richard, thy wife, that wretched Anne thy That never slept a quiet hour with thee, Now fills thy sleep with perturbations: To-morrow in the battle think on me, And fall thy edgeless sword; Despair, and die!Thou, quiet soul, sleep thou a quiet sleep; [TO RICHMOND. Dream of success and happy victory; Thy adversary's wife doth pray for thee.

The Ghost of BUCKINGHAM rises. Ghost. The first was I, that help'd thee to the crown; [TO KING RICHARD.

The last was I that felt thy tyranny: O, in the battle think on Buckingham, And die in terror of thy guiltiness! of bloody deeds and death; · Dream on, dream on, Fainting, despair; despairing, yield thy breath!I died for hope, ere I could lend thee aid:

[TO RICHMOND. But cheer thy heart, and be thou not dismay'd: God, and good angels, fight on Richmond's side; And Richard falls in height of all his pride.

[The Ghosts vanish. KING RICHARD starts out of his dream.

K. Rich. Give me another horse,-bind up my

wounds,

guilty!

Methought, the souls of all that I had murder'd
Came to my tent: and every one did threat
To-morrow's vengeance on the head of Richard.

Hath twice done salutation to the morn;
Your friends are up, and buckle on their armour.
K. Rich. O, Ratcliff, I have dream'd a fearfu
dream!-

What thinkest thou, will our friends prove all true?
Rat. No doubt, my lord.

K. Rich.

Ratcliff, I fear, I fear,-
Rat. Nay, good my lord, be not afraid of shadows.
K. Rich. By the apostle Paul, shadows to-night
Have struck more terror to the soul of Richard,
Than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers,
Armed in proof, and led by shallow Richmond.
It is not yet near day. Come, go with me;
Under our tents I'll play the eaves dropper,
To hear if any mean to shrink from me.

[Exeunt KING RICHARD and RATCLIFF RICHMOND wakes. Enter OXFORD and others. Lords. Good morrow, Richmond.

Richm. 'Cry mercy, lords, and watchful gentlemen
That you have ta'en a tardy sluggard here.
Lords. How have you slept, my lord?
Richm. The sweetest sleep, and fairest-boding
That ever enter'd in a drowsy head, [dreams.
Have I since your departure had, my lords.
Methought, their souls, whose bodies Richard mui.
Came to my tent, and cried-On! victory! [der'd,
I promise you, my heart is very jocund
In the remembrance of so fair a dream.
How far into the morning is it, lords?
Lords. Upon the stroke of four.
Richm Why, then 'tis time to arm, and give direc.
tion.-
[He advances to the troops.
More than I have said, loving countrymen,
The leisure and enforcement of the time
Forbids to dwell on: Yet remember this,
God, and our good cause, fight upon our side;
The prayers of holy saints, and wronged souls,
Like high-rear'd bulwarks, stand before our faces:
Richard except, those, whom we fight against,
Had rather have us win, than him they follow.
For what is he they follow? truly, gentlemen,
A bloody tyrant, and a homicide;

One rais'd in blood, and one in blood establish'd;
One that made means to come by what he hath,
And slaughter'd those that were the means to help
A base foul stone, made precious by the foil, [him;
Of England's chair, where he is falsely set;
One that hath ever been God's enemy:
Then if you fight against God's enemy,
God will, in justice, ward you as his soldiers;
If you do sweat to put a tyrant down,
You sleep in peace, the tyrant being slain,
If you do fight against your country's foes,
Your country's fat shall pay your pains the hire,
If you do fight in safeguard of your wives,

Your wives shall welcome home the conquerors;
If you do free your children from the sword,
Your children's children quit it in your age.
Then, in the name of God, and all these rights,
Advance your standards, draw your willing swords
For me, the ransom of my bold attempt
Shall be this cold corpse on the earth's cold face;
But if I thrive, the gain of my attempt
The least of you shall share his part thereof.
Sound, drums and trumpets, boldly and cheerfully,
God, and Saint George! Richmond and victory!

[Exeunt.

Re-enter KING RICHARD, RATCLIFF, Attendants, and Forces.

K. Rich. What said Northumberland, as touching Richmond?

Rat. He sinil'd and said, the better for our purpose. K. Rich. He was i' the right; and so, indeed, it is. [Clock strikes. Tell the clock there.-Give me a calendar.Who saw the sun to-day?

Rat.

Not I, my lord. K.Rich. Then he disdains to shine; for, by the book, He should have brav'd the east an hour ago: A black day will it be to somebody.— Ratcliff.

Rut. My lord? K. Rich. The sun will not be seen to-day; The sky doth frown and lour upon our army. I would, these dewy tears were from the ground. Not shine to-day! Why, what is that to me, More than to Richmond? for the self same heaven, That frowns on me, looks sadly upon him.

Enter NORFOLK.

Nor. Arm, arm, my lord; the foe vaunts in the
field.
[horse;
K. Rich. Come, bustle, bustle; - Caparison my
Call up lord Stanley, bid him bring his power:
I will lead forth my soldiers to the plain,
And thus my
battle shall be ordered.
My forward shall be drawn out all in length,
Consisting equally of horse and foot
Our archers shall be placed in the midst :
John duke of Norfolk, Thomas earl of Surrey,
Shall have the leading of this foot and horse.
They thus directed, we ourself will follow

in the main battle; whose puissance on either side
Shall be well winged with our chiefest horse.
This, and Saint George to boot!-What think'st thou,
Norfolk ?

Nor. A good direction, warlike sovereign.
This found I on my tent this morning.

And, on record, left them the heirs of shame.
Shall these enjoy our lands? lie with your wives!
Ravish our daughters? Hark, I hear their drum.
[Drum afar of.

Fight, gentlemen of England! fight, bold yeomen!
Draw, archers, draw your arrows to the head!
Spur your proud horses hard, and ride in blood;
Amaze the welkin with your broken staves!--
What says lord Stanley? will he bring his power?
Enter a Messenger.
Mess. My lord, he doth deny to come.

K. Rich. Off instantly with his son George's head. Nor. My lord, the enemy is pass'd the marsh; After the battle let George Stanley die.

Cate. Rescue, my lord of Norfolk, rescue, rescue!
The king enacts more wonders than a man,
Daring an opposite to every danger;

His horse is slain, and all on foot he fights,
Seeking for Richmond in the throat of death:
Rescue, fair lord, or else the day is lost!

Alarums. Enter KING RICHARD.

K. Rich. A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse! Cate. Withdraw, my lord, I'll help you to a horse K. Rich. Slave, I have set my life upon a cast, And I will stand the hazard of the die:

I think, there be six Richmonds in the field;
Five have I slain to-day, instead of him :-
A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse! [Exeunt.

Enter KING RICHARD and RICHMOND ; and exeunt, fighting. Retreat, and flourish. Then enter RICHMOND, STANLEY bearing the crown, with divers other Lords, and Forces.

;

Go. gentlemen, every man unto his charge:
Let not our babbling dreams affright our souls;
Conscience is but a word that cowards use,
Devis'd at first to keep the strong in awe;
Our strong arms be our conscience, swords our law.
March on, join bravely, let us to't pell-mell;
If not to heaven, then hand in hand to hell. —
What shall I say more than I have inferr'd?
Remember whom you are to cope withal ;-
A sort of vagabonds, rascals, and run-aways,
A scum of Bretagnes, and base lackey peasants,
Whom their o'er-cloy'd country vomits forth
To desperate ventures and assur'd destruction.
You sleeping safe, they bring you to unrest;
You having ands, and bless'd with beauteous wives,
They would restrain the one, distain the other.
And who doth lead them, but a paltry fellow,
Long kept in Bretagne at our mother's cost?
A milk-sop, one that never in his life
Felt so much cold as over shoes in snow?
Let's whip these stragglers o'er the seas again;
Lash hence these over-weening rags of France,
These famish'd beggars, weary of their lives;
Who, but for dreaming on this fond exploit,
For want of means, poor rats, had hang'd themselves.
If we be conquer'd, let men conquer us,
Aud not these bastard Bretagnes, whom our fathers
Have in their own land beaten, bobb'd, and thump'd,

Richm. God, and your arms, be prais'd, victorious The day is ours, the bloody dog is dead. [friends; Stan. Courageous Richmond, well hast thou acquit Lo, here, this long-usurped royalty, From the dead temples of this bloody wretch Have I pluck'd off, to grace thy brows withal; Wear it, enjoy it, and make much of it.

[thee!

Richm. Great God of heaven, say, amen, to all!— But, tell me first, is young George Stanley living'

Stan. He is, my lord, and safe in Leicester town, Whither, if it please you, we may now withdraw us. Richm. What men of name are slain on either side? Stan. John duke of Norfolk, Walter lord Ferrers, Sir Robert Brakenbury, and sir William Brandon. Richm. Inter their bodies as becomes their births. Proclaim a pardon to the soldiers fled, That in submission will return to us; And then, as we have ta'en the sacrament, We will unite the white rose with the red :Smile heaven upon this fair conjunction, That long hath frown'd upon their enmity!— What traitor hears me, and says not, -amen? England hath long been mad, and scarr'd herself; The brother blindly shed the brother's blood, The father rashly slaughter'd his own son. The son, compell'd, been butcher to the sire; All this divided York and Lancaster, Divided, in their dire division.—