When thou mayst tell thy tale the nearest way? Once more, what news? Stan. Richmond is on the seas. K. Rich. There let him sink, and be the seas on him, Stan. I know not, mighty sovereign, but by guess. Stan. Stirr'd up by Dorset, Buckingham, and Ely, K. Rich. Is the chair empty? is the sword unsway'd? Is the King dead? the empire unpossess'd? What heir of York is there alive but we? And who is England's King but great York's heir? Stan. Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess. Stan. No, mighty liege; therefore mistrust me not. Are they not now upon the western shore, Safe-conducting the rebels from their ships? Stan. No, my good lord, my friends are in the North. K. Rich. Cold friends to me: what do they in the North, When they should serve their sovereign in the West? Stan. They have not been commanded, mighty King: Pleaseth your Majesty to give me leave, 39 Runagate is runaway or vagabond. White-liver'd, lily-liver'd, and milk-livered are terms denoting extreme cowardice. In v. 3, Richard calls Richmond "a milksop." Richmond had in fact escaped the fate of the Lancastrian leaders by fleeing into France. 40 The words for that are here equivalent to because; a common usage with the old writers. Richard chooses to take the phrase in another sense than Stanley had meant. I'll muster up my friends, and meet your Grace K. Rich. Ay, ay, thou wouldst be gone to join with Richmond: I will not trust you, sir. Stan. Most mighty sovereign, You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful : I never was nor never will be false. K. Rich. Go, then, and muster men. But leave behind Your son, George Stanley: look your faith be firm, Stan. So deal with him as I prove true to you. Enter a Messenger. Mess. My gracious sovereign, now in Devonshire, Sir Edward Courtney, and the haughty prelate With many more confederates, are in arms. Enter a second Messenger. [Exit. 2 Mess. In Kent, my liege, the Guildfords are in arms; And every hour more competitors 42 Flock to the rebels, and their power grows strong. Enter a third Messenger. 3 Mess. My lord, the army of great BuckinghamK. Rich. Out on ye, owls! nothing but songs of death ?43 [Strikes him. There, take thou that, till thou bring better news. 3 Mess. The news I have to tell your Majesty Is, that by sudden floods and fall of waters, 41 Advertised for informed, notified, or instructed, occurs repeatedly. 42 Competitors for confederates or partners. See vol. v. page 217, note 3. 43 The owl's note or hoot was considered ominous or ill-boding. Buckingham's army is dispersed and scatter'd ; No man knows whither. There is my purse to cure that blow of thine. 3 Mess. Such proclamation hath been made, my lord. Enter a fourth Messenger. 4 Mess. Sir Thomas Lovel and Lord Marquess Dorset, 'Tis said, my liege, in Yorkshire are in arms. But this good comfort bring I to your Highness, The Bretagne navy is dispersed by tempest: Richmond, in Dorsetshire, sent out a boat Unto the shore, to ask those on the banks If they were his assistants, yea or no ; Who answer'd him, they came from Buckingham Upon his party: 44 he, mistrusting them, Hoised sail, and made his course again for Bretagne. K. Rich. 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. Re-enter CATESBY. Cate. My liege, the Duke of Buckingham is taken, — That is the best news: that the Earl of Richmond Is with a mighty power landed at Milford, Is colder tidings, yet they must be told.45 44 " Upon his party" is to take part with him; to fight on his side. 45 The Earl of Richmond embarked with about two thousand men at Harfleur, in Normandy, August 1, 1485, and landed at Milford Haven on the 7th. He directed his course to Wales, hoping the Welsh would receive him cordially as their countryman, he having been born at Pembroke, and his grandfather being Owen Tudor, who married Catharine of France, the widow of Henry the Fifth and mother of Henry the Sixth. K. Rich. Away towards Salisbury! while we reason here,46 A royal battle might be won and lost : Some one take order 47 Buckingham be brought To Salisbury; the rest march on with me. [Flourish. Exeunt. SCENE V. A Room in Lord STANLEY'S House. Enter STANLEY and Sir CHRISTOPHER URSWICK. Stan. Sir Christopher, tell Richmond this from me : My son George Stanley is frank'd up in hold: But, tell me, where is princely Richmond now? Chris. At Pembroke, or at Ha'rford-West,1 in Wales. Chris. Sir Walter Herbert, a renowned soldier ; If by the way they be not fought withal. Stan. Return unto thy lord; commend me to him: Tell him the Queen hath heartily consented He shall espouse Elizabeth her daughter. These letters will resolve 3 him of my mind. [Giving letters. Farewell. 46 That is, "while we are talking here." See page 196, note 4. [Exeunt. 47 To take order is, in old English, to adopt measures, or give directions. 1 This name in full is Haverford-West; shortened for metre's sake, of course. The place lies nearly north of Pembroke. 2 To bena occurs often in the sense of to direct. 8 Resolve, again, for inform or satisfy. See page 239, note 3. Enter the Sheriff, and Guard, with BUCKINGHAM, led to Execution. Buck. Will not King Richard let me speak with him? Sher. No, my good lord; therefore be patient. Buck. Hastings, and Edward's children, Rivers, Grey, By underhand corrupted foul injustice,- Do through the clouds behold this present hour, This is All-Souls' day, fellows, is it not? Sher. It is, my lord. Buck. Why, then All-Souls' day is my body's doomsday. This is the day that, in King Edward's time, I wish'd might fall on me, when I was found 2 1 Buckingham was executed on All-Saints' day, November 1, 1483. 2 That is, "the close or termination of the period for which the punishment of my crimes was deferred. See vol. vi. page 182, note II. |