K. Rich.

Well,

Go, muster men; but, hear you, leave behind
Your son, George Stanley: look your faith be firm,
Or else his head's assurance is but frail.

Stan.

So deal with him, as I prove true to you.

[Exit R. I. E.

[Enter Catesby R. U. E. with open paper. Richard takes and reads it.

Catesby.

My gracious sovereign, now in Devonshire,
Sir Edward Courtney, and the haughty Ex'ter,
With many more confederates, are in arms.

Ratcliff.

[Enter Ratcliff R. 2. E.

My liege, in Kent the Guildfords are in arms;
And every hour their rebel strength increaseth.

Officer.

[Enter officer L. 3. E.

Sir Thomas Lovel and Lord Marquis Dorset, 'T is said, my liege, in Yorkshire are in arms.

Tyrrel.

[Enter Tyrrel L. I. E.

My lord, the army of the Duke of Buckingham

Is, that by sudden floods and fall of waters,
Buckingham's army is dispersed and scattered:
And he himself wandered away alone,

No man knows whither.

I cry thee mercy!

K. Rich.

Take that to cure that blow of thine!
[Throws him a purse.

Hath any well-advised friend proclaimed
Reward to him that brings the traitor in?

Tyrrel.

Such proclamation hath been made, my liege.

Officer.

[Enter officer L.

My liege, the Duke of Buckingham is taken!

K. Rich.

Away with Buckingham to Salisbury!

While we reason here

A royal battle might be won and lost.
March on! March on !

Since we are up in arms:

If not to fight with foreign enemies,

Yet to beat down these rebels here at home.

[Exit officer.

[March pp.

[March forte, as procession begins.

CURTAIN.

Scene First.

Act Sirth.

THE CAMP OF RICHMOND, NEAR TAM-
WORTH. SUNSET. OFFICERS AND GROUPS
OF SOLDIERS DISCOVERED. DIM LIGHT.
RICHMOND'S MARCH IS HEARD.

[Enter Richmond, Dorset, Ely, Blunt and others. Richmond.

Fellows in arms, and my most loving friends,

Bruised underneath the yoke of tyranny,

Thus far into the bowels of the land,

Have we marched on without impediment;

And here receive we from our father Stanley [Showing a

Lines of fair comfort and encouragement.

That spoiled your summer fields and fruitful vines,

The wretched, bloody and usurping boar,

Lies now even in the centre of this isle,

Near to the town of Leicester, as we learn:

From Tamworth thither is but one day's march,
Then blithe and cheerly on, courageous friends,
To reap the harvest of perpetual peace

By this one bloody trial of sharp war.

Dorset.

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

Ely.

He hath no friends but who are friends for fear,
Which in his greatest need will fall from him,

paper.

Richmond.

All for our vantage! and remember this,—
God and our good cause fight upon our side;
The prayers of holy saints and wrongèd souls,
Like high-reared 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 raised in blood, and one in blood established;
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.

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.
Then cheerly, friends!

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

[Trumpet.

[Enter Stanley with officer and two soldiers.

Stan.

Fortune and victory sit on thy helm!

Richmond.

All comfort that the dark night can afford

Be to thy person, noble father-in-law !
Tell me, I pray, how fares our loving mother?

Stan.

I, by attorney, bless thee from thy mother,
Who prays continually for Richmond's good:

[Kneels.

[The scene becomes gradually very dark. So much for that. The silent hours steal on. In brief, for so the season bids us be, Prepare thy battle early in the morning,

And put thy fortune to the arbitrement
Of bloody strokes and mortal-staring war.
I, as I may-that which I would I cannot,—
With best advantage will deceive the time,
And aid thee in this doubtful shock of arms;
But on thy side I may not be too forward,
Lest, being seen, thy brother, tender George,
Be executed in his father's sight.

Farewell: the leisure and the fearful time
Cuts off the ceremonious vows of love,
And ample interchange of sweet discourse,
Which so long sundered friends should dwell upon.
God give us leisure for these rites of love!

Once more, adieu! Be valiant and speed well!

[Prayer music pp. continues, very low and soft, to end of scene.

Richmond.

Conduct him to his regiment.

[Exeunt Stanley and officers L. I. E.

Come, lords, let 's in to sleep,
Lest leaden slumber weigh us down to-morrow.
When we should mount with wings of victory.

O, thou, whose captain I account myself,
Look on my forces with a gracious eye!
Put in their hands thy bruising irons of wrath,
That they may crush down with a heavy fall
The usurping helmets of our adversaries!
Make us thy ministers of chastisement,
That we may praise thee in the victory!
To thee I do commend my watchful soul,
Ere I let fall the windows of mine eyes:
Sleeping and waking, O, defend me still!

[All kneel.

[Scene closes in slowly.