# Sir William Catesby — Richard III character guide

> Sir William Catesby in Richard III by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Catesby, good Catesby, gentle Catesby

**First appearance:** 0004-act-i-scene-iii

## Snapshot

Richard's silken go-between, a courtier whose easy manners and ready ear make him the perfect instrument for testing loyalties and springing traps.

## Who they are

Catesby moves through the court as Richard's trusted agent, probing Hastings for support, carrying messages, and arranging the machinery of the protectorate. His smooth, ingratiating manner — 'good Catesby,' 'gentle Catesby' — masks a cold appraisal of who will rise and who will die, as when he notes aside that the princes 'account his head upon the bridge.' He matters because he shows how Richard's plots succeed through sociability and information, not just violence.

## In the story

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iii)

Enters to summon the court to the king.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Sent by Richard and Buckingham to sound out Lord Hastings regarding the plot.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii)

Tests Hastings' loyalty to Richard and reports the execution of the queen's kindred.

### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-v)

Sent to Friar Penker and later brings the Mayor to the Tower.

### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-vi)

Delivered the indictment to the scrivener the previous night.

### [Scene VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-vii)

Acts as messenger between Buckingham and Richard during the staged encounter.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii)

Instructed by Richard to spread rumors of Queen Anne's illness.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iii)

Brings Richard the bad news of Ely's defection and Buckingham's uprising.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iv)

Receives orders from Richard to summon the Duke of Norfolk to Salisbury.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii)

Informs Richard of the time and readiness; sent to summon Stanley's forces.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iv)

Urges Norfolk to rescue Richard, then offers to help Richard find a horse.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/catesby
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se/characters