] One thing confuses me - maybe I got it wrong, but I understood that Claudius' letter was *sealed* and not to be opened until arrival, which meant that R&G didn't know what was in it either. So not only does Hamlet arrange for the death of two (admittedly former) friends, a big negative step in itself, but he doesn't know for sure how they would have reacted on finding out the contents of the letter. How does he know that they would have stood by and let him be killed?

Hmmm. there's a point I hadn't thought of yet. I think Hamlet thinks he has enough corroborating evidence against them by that point to think that they are working only for Claudius. Even if that weren't the case, I think that Cheryl's point that Hamlet realizes that it is either him, or them, or me. I am not sure he cares what reaction R&G would have had. All he sees the command of his death. In addition to all that, what really could they have done? All the English had to do is dismiss them, and kill H once they were gone.

] P.S to Jezkalyn: I've been feeling slightly guilty about my summary dismissal of Horatio after your touching defence.