you

Because, my lord, we would have had
The traitor speak, and timorously confess
The manner and the purpose of his treasons;
That you might well have signified the same
Unto the citizens, who, haply, may

Misconstrue us in him, and wail his death.

heard

May. But, my good lord, your grace's word shall As well as I had seen, and heard him speak: [serve, And do not doubt, right noble princes both, But I'll acquaint our duteous citizens

With all your just proceedings in this case.

Glo. And to that end we wish'd your lordship here, To avoid the censures of the carping world.

Buck. But since you came too late of our intent, Yet witness what you hear we did intend: And so, my good lord mayor, we bid farewell.

[Exit Lord Mayor.

Glo. Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham.

The mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post :-
There, at your meetest vantage of the time,
Infer the bastardy of Edward's children:
Tell them, how Edward put to death a citizen, '
Only for saying-he would make his son
Heir to the crown; meaning, indeed, his house,
Which, by the sign thereof, was termed so.
Moreover, urge his hateful luxury,

And bestial appetite in change of lust.

Buck. Doubt not, my lord; I'll play the orator, As if the golden fee, for which I plead,

Were for myself: and so, my lord, adieu.

:

Glo. If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard's Where you shall find me well accompanied, [castle; With reverend fathers, and well-learned bishops. Buck. I go; and, towards three or four o'clock, Look for the news that the Guildhall affords.

[Exit BUCKINGHAM,

1 One Walker, a substantial citizen and grocer, at the Crown in Cheapside.

Glo. Go, Lovel, with all speed to doctor Shaw,Go thou [To CAT.] to friar Penker;-bid them both Meet me, within this hour, at Baynard's castle.

[Exeunt LOVEL and CATESBY. Now will I in, to take some privy order To draw the brats' of Clarence out of sight; And to give notice, that no manner of person Have, any time, recourse unto the princes.

SCENE VI.-A street.

Enter a Scrivener.

[Exit.

Scriv. Here is the indictment of the good lord Which in a set hand fairly is engross'd,

That it may be to-day read o'er in Paul's.

[Hastings,

And mark how well the sequel hangs together:-
Eleven hours I have spent to write it over,
For yesternight by Catesby was it sent me ;
The precedent was full as long a doing;
And yet within these five hours Hastings liv'd,
Untainted, unexamin'd, free, at liberty.
Here's a good world the while!-Who is so gross,
That cannot see this palpable device?
Yet who so bold, but says he sees it not?
Bad is the world, and all will come to nought,
When such bad dealing must be seen in thought.3

[Exit.

Edward, earl of Warwick, and Margaret, afterwards countess of Salisbury. These fell a sacrifice afterwards, the former to the cruel jealousy of Henry VII., and the latter to the capricious tyranny of Henry VIII.

2 The original draft from which the engrossment was made. That is, in silence.

R

SCENE VII.-The same. Court of Baynard's

Castle.'

Enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM, meeting.

Glo. How now, how now? what say the citizens? Buck. Now by the holy mother of our Lord,

The citizens are mum, say not a word.

[dren? Glo. Touched you the bastardy of Edward's chilBuck. I did;

Withal, I did infer your lineaments,

Being the right idea of your father,
Laid open all your victories in Scotland,
Both in your form and nobleness of mind:
Your discipline in war, wisdom in peace,
Your bounty, virtue, fair humility;
Indeed, left nothing, fitting for your purpose,
Untouch'd, or slightly handled, in discourse.
And, when my oratory grew to an end,

I bade them, that did love their country's good,
Cry-God save Richard, England's royal king!
Glo. And did they so?

Buck. No, so God help me, they spake not a word; But, like dumb statues, or unbreathing stones,

Star'd on each other, and look'd deadly pale.

Which, when I saw, I reprehended them;

And ask'd the mayor, what meant this wilful silence!
His answer was- -the people were not us'd
To be spoke to but by the recorder.

Then he was urg'd to tell my tale again;—
Thus saith the duke, thus hath the duke inferr'd;
But nothing spoke in warrant from himself.
When he had done, some followers of mine own,
At lower end o' th' hall, hurl'd up their caps,
And some ten voices cried, God save king Richard!
And thus I took the vantage of those few,-

A castle in Thames-street, which had belonged to Richard, duke of York, and at this time was the property of Edward V.

Thanks, gentle citizens, and friends, quoth I,
This general applause, and cheerful shout,
Argues your wisdom, and your love to Richard:
And even here brake off, and came away.

Glo. What tongueless blocks were they; Would they not speak?

[fear,

Will not the mayor then, and his brethren, come?
Buck. The mayor is here at hand; intend' some
Be not you spoke with, but by mighty suit:
And look you get a prayer-book in your hand,
And stand between two churchmen, good my lord;
For on that ground I'll make a holy descant:
And be not easily won to our resquests;
Play the maid's part, still answer nay, and take it.
Glo. I go; And if you plead as well for them,
As I can say nay to thee for myself,

No doubt we'll bring it to a happy issue.

Buck. Go, go, up to the leads; the lord-mayor knocks. [Exit GLOSTER.

Enter the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens. Welcome, my lord: I dance attendance here; I think, the duke will not be spoke withal.

Enter, from the castle, CATESBY.

Now, Catesby! what says your lord to my request? Cate. He doth entreat your grace, my noble lord, To visit him to-morrow, or next day:

He is within, with two right reverend fathers,

Divinely bent to meditation;

And in no worldly suit would he be mov'd,

To draw him from his holy exercise.

Buck. Return, good Catesby, to the gracious duke; Tell him, myself, the mayor and aldermen, In deep designs, in matter of great moment, No less importing than our general good, Are come to have some conference with his

grace.

1i. e. pretend.

Cate. I'll signify so much unto him straight.

[Exit.

Buck. Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an EdHe is not lolling on a lewd day-bed,

But on his knees at meditation;

1

[ward!

Not dallying with a brace of courtezans,
But meditating with two deep divines;
Not sleeping, to engross his idle body,
But praying, to enrich his watchful soul:
Happy were England, would this virtuous prince
Take on himself the sovereignty thereof:

But sure, I fear, we shall ne'er win him to it.

May. Marry, God defend, his grace should say us nay!

Buck. I fear, he will: Here Catesby comes again;Re-enter Catesby.

Now, Catesby, what says his grace?

Cate. He wonders to what end you have assembled Such troops of citizens to come to him,

His grace not being warn'd thereof before,
He fears, my lord, you mean no good to him.
Buck. Sorry I am, my noble cousin should
Suspect me, that I mean no good to him:
By heaven, we come to him in perfect love;
And so once more return and tell his grace.

[Exit CATESBY. When holy and devout religious men

Are at their beads, 'tis hard to draw them thence;
So sweet is zealous contemplation.

Enter GLOSTER, in a gallery above, between two
Bishops. CATESBY returns.

May. See, where his grace stands 'tween two clergymen!

Buck. Two props of virtue for a christian prince, To stay him from the fall of vanity:

To engross, to fatten, to pamper.