Speeches (Lines) for Sir William Catesby in "History of Richard III"

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester. So do I ever:
[Aside]
being well-advised.
For had I cursed now, I had cursed myself.

Sir William Catesby. Madam, his majesty doth call for you,
And for your grace; and you, my noble lords.

Duke of Buckingham. Well, let them rest. Come hither, Catesby.
Thou art sworn as deeply to effect what we intend
As closely to conceal what we impart:
Thou know'st our reasons urged upon the way;
What think'st thou? is it not an easy matter
To make William Lord Hastings of our mind,
For the instalment of this noble duke
In the seat royal of this famous isle?

Sir William Catesby. He for his father's sake so loves the prince,
That he will not be won to aught against him.

Duke of Buckingham. What think'st thou, then, of Stanley? what will he?

Sir William Catesby. He will do all in all as Hastings doth.

Duke of Buckingham. Good Catesby, go, effect this business soundly.

Sir William Catesby. My good lords both, with all the heed I may.

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester. Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we sleep?

Sir William Catesby. You shall, my lord.

Messenger. My gracious lord, I'll tell him what you say.

Sir William Catesby. Many good morrows to my noble lord!

Lord Hastings. Good morrow, Catesby; you are early stirring
What news, what news, in this our tottering state?

Sir William Catesby. It is a reeling world, indeed, my lord;
And I believe twill never stand upright
Tim Richard wear the garland of the realm.

Lord Hastings. How! wear the garland! dost thou mean the crown?

Sir William Catesby. Ay, my good lord.

Lord Hastings. I'll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders
Ere I will see the crown so foul misplaced.
But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it?

Sir William Catesby. Ay, on my life; and hopes to find forward
Upon his party for the gain thereof:
And thereupon he sends you this good news,
That this same very day your enemies,
The kindred of the queen, must die at Pomfret.

Lord Hastings. Indeed, I am no mourner for that news,
Because they have been still mine enemies:
But, that I'll give my voice on Richard's side,
To bar my master's heirs in true descent,
God knows I will not do it, to the death.

Sir William Catesby. God keep your lordship in that gracious mind!

Lord Hastings. But I shall laugh at this a twelve-month hence,
That they who brought me in my master's hate
I live to look upon their tragedy.
I tell thee, Catesby--

Sir William Catesby. What, my lord?

Lord Hastings. Ere a fortnight make me elder,
I'll send some packing that yet think not on it.

Sir William Catesby. 'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord,
When men are unprepared and look not for it.

Lord Hastings. O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out
With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey: and so 'twill do
With some men else, who think themselves as safe
As thou and I; who, as thou know'st, are dear
To princely Richard and to Buckingham.

Sir William Catesby. The princes both make high account of you;
[Aside]
For they account his head upon the bridge.

Duke of Buckingham. Go, go, up to the leads; the lord mayor knocks.
[Exit GLOUCESTER]
[Enter the Lord Mayor and Citizens]
Welcome my lord; I dance attendance here;
I think the duke will not be spoke withal.
[Enter CATESBY]
Here comes his servant: how now, Catesby,
What says he?

Sir William Catesby. My lord: he doth entreat your grace;
To visit him to-morrow or next day:
He is within, with two right reverend fathers,
Divinely bent to meditation;
And no worldly suit would he be moved,
To draw him from his holy exercise.

Duke of Buckingham. Return, good Catesby, to thy lord again;
Tell him, myself, the mayor and citizens,
In deep designs and matters of great moment,
No less importing than our general good,
Are come to have some conference with his grace.

Sir William Catesby. I'll tell him what you say, my lord.

Duke of Buckingham. I fear he will.
[Re-enter CATESBY]
How now, Catesby, what says your lord?

Sir William Catesby. My lord,
He wonders to what end you have assembled
Such troops of citizens to speak with him,
His grace not being warn'd thereof before:
My lord, he fears you mean no good to him.

Duke of Buckingham. Refuse not, mighty lord, this proffer'd love.

Sir William Catesby. O, make them joyful, grant their lawful suit!

Humphrey of Lancaster - Duke of Gloucester. O, do not swear, my lord of Buckingham.

Sir William Catesby. Call them again, my lord, and accept their suit.

Duke of Buckingham. Give me some breath, some little pause, my lord
Before I positively herein:
I will resolve your grace immediately.

Sir William Catesby. [Aside to a stander by]
The king is angry: see, he bites the lip.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Catesby!

Sir William Catesby. My lord?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Come to me, Tyrrel, soon at after supper,
And thou shalt tell the process of their death.
Meantime, but think how I may do thee good,
And be inheritor of thy desire.
Farewell till soon.
[Exit TYRREL]
The son of Clarence have I pent up close;
His daughter meanly have I match'd in marriage;
The sons of Edward sleep in Abraham's bosom,
And Anne my wife hath bid the world good night.
Now, for I know the Breton Richmond aims
At young Elizabeth, my brother's daughter,
And, by that knot, looks proudly o'er the crown,
To her I go, a jolly thriving wooer.

Sir William Catesby. My lord!

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Good news or bad, that thou comest in so bluntly?

Sir William Catesby. Bad news, my lord: Ely is fled to Richmond;
And Buckingham, back'd with the hardy Welshmen,
Is in the field, and still his power increaseth.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Some light-foot friend post to the Duke of Norfolk:
Ratcliff, thyself, or Catesby; where is he?

Sir William Catesby. Here, my lord.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Fly to the duke:
[To RATCLIFF]
Post thou to Salisbury
When thou comest thither--
[To CATESBY]
Dull, unmindful villain,
Why stand'st thou still, and go'st not to the duke?

Sir William Catesby. First, mighty sovereign, let me know your mind,
What from your grace I shall deliver to him.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. O, true, good Catesby: bid him levy straight
The greatest strength and power he can make,
And meet me presently at Salisbury.

Sir William Catesby. I go.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. 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.

Sir William Catesby. 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.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. What is't o'clock?

Sir William Catesby. It's supper-time, my lord;
It's nine o'clock.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. I will not sup to-night.
Give me some ink and paper.
What, is my beaver easier than it was?
And all my armour laid into my tent?

Sir William Catesby. If is, my liege; and all things are in readiness.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Catesby!

Sir William Catesby. My lord?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. A thousand hearts are great within my bosom:
Advance our standards, set upon our foes
Our ancient word of courage, fair Saint George,
Inspire us with the spleen of fiery dragons!
Upon them! victory sits on our helms.

Sir William Catesby. 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!

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!

Sir William Catesby. Withdraw, my lord; I'll help you to a horse.