Page:Richard III (1927) Yale.djvu/171

Richard the Third the kings treasure, and of his household stuffe.' Holinshed, iii. 721. More, 42/30.

stroke of four. Dramatically, the next day after the action of the last scene. Historically, midnight of June 12–13, 1483.

separated council. 'But the protector and the duke, after that they had sent the lord cardinall, the archbishop of Yorke, then lord chancellor, the bishop of Elie, the lord Stanleie, and the lord Hastings, then lord chamberleine, with manie other noble men, to common & deuise about the coronation in one place, as fast were they in an other place, contriuing the contrarie, and to make the protector king.' Holinshed, iii. 721. More, 43/6. Hastings' trust in Catesby and the latter's betrayal of the lord is described in Holinshed, iii. 722, and More, 44/8.

his dreams. ' the selfe night next before his death, the lord Stanleie sent a trustie messenger vnto him [Hastings] at midnight in all the hast, requiring him to rise and ride awaie with him, for he was disposed viterlie no longer to bide, he had so fearfull a dreame; in which him thought that a boare with his tuskes so rased them both by the heads, that the bloud ran about both their shoulders.' Holinshed, iii. 723. More, 48/19. Further, in the same passage, Hastings chides the messenger for his master's faith in dreams.

his head upon the bridge. London Bridge, where the heads of traitors were exposed on a tower.

the day is spent. The scene opens at four in the morning. The meaning, therefore, is that it is growing late, not that the day is over.

now we meet. 'Vpon the verie Tower wharfe, so neare the place where his head was off soone after, there met he [the lord Hastings] with one Hastings, a purseuant of his owne name, And, at their