But I'll acquaint our duteous citizens
Buck. Lord mayor, the reason we have sent for
Glo. Look back, defend thee, here are enemies.
Buck. God and our innocency defend and guard
us!
Enter Lovel, and Ratcliff, with Hastings' head.
Glo. Be patient, they are friends; Ratcliff, and
Lovel.
Loc. Here is the head of that ignoble traitor,
The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.
With all your just proceedings in this case. [here,.
Glo. And to that end we wish'd your lordship
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 Mayor.
Glo. Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham.
10 The mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post a
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
15 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; [wives,
Which stretch'd unto their servants, daughters,
20 Even where his ranging eye, or savage heart,
Without controul, listed to make his prey.
Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person?
Tell them, when that my mother went with child
Of that insatiate Edward, noble York,
Glo. So dear I lov'd the man, that I must weep.
I took him for the plainest harmless creature,
That breath'd upon the earth a christian;
Made him my book, wherein my soul recorded
The history of all her secret thoughts:
So smooth he daub'd his vice with shew of virtue,
That, his apparent open guilt omitted,-
I mean, his conversation with Shore's wife,-
He liv'd from all attainder of suspect.
Buck. Well, well, he was the covert'st shelter'd 30
That ever liv'd.- -Look you, my
lord mayor,
Would you imagine, or almost believe,
(Were't not, that by great preservation
We live to tell it you) the subtle traitor
This day had plotted, in the council-house,
To murder me, and my good lord of Gloster?
Mayor. What! had he so?
Glo. What! think you we are Turks,or infidels ?
Or that we would, against the form of law,
Proceed thus rashly in the villain's death;
But that the extreme peril of the case,
The peace of England, and our persons' safety,
Enforc'd us to this execution?
My princely father, then had wars in France;
And, by just computation of the time,
Found that the issue was not his begot;
Which well appeared in his lincaments,
Being nothing like the noble duke my father.
Yet touch this sparingly, as 'twere far off;
Because, my lord, you know, my mother lives.
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 Bay-
nard's castle;
Where you shall find me well accompanied,
With reverend fathers, and well-learned bishops.
Buck. I go; and towards three or four o'clock,
40 Look for the news that the Guildhall affords.
[Exit Buckingham.
Glo. Go, Lovel, with all speed to doctor Shaw,
Go thou 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. [Exit.
Mayor. Now, fair befall you! he deserv'd his
And your good graces both have well proceeded, 45
To warn false traitors from the like attempts.
I never look'd for better at his hands,
After he once fell in with mistress Shore.
Buck. Yet had we not determin'd he should
Until your lordship came to see his end;
Which now the loving haste of these our friends,
Somewhat against our meaning, hath prevented:
Because, my lord, we would have had you heard
The traitor speak, and timorously confess
The manner and the purpose of his treasons;
That you might well have signify'd the same
Unto the citizens, who, haply, may
Misconstrue us in him, and wail his death.
Mayor. But, my good lord, your grace's word
As well as I had seen, and heard him speak:
And do not doubt, right noble princes both,
Which in a set hand fairly is engross'd,
That it may be to-day read o'er in Paul's.
And mark how well the sequel hangs together:
Eleven hours I've spent to write it over,
60 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,
This person was one Walker, a substantial citizen and grocer at the Crown in Cheapside.
[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 requests;
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, and Citizens.
Welcome, my lord: I dance attendance here;
think, the duke will not be spoke withal.-
Enter Catesby.
Now, Catesby, what says your lord to my request?
Cates. He doth entreat your grace, my noble
lord,
To visit him to-morrow, or next day:
He is within, with two right reverend fathers,
20 Divinely bent to meditation;
And in no worldly suit would he be mov'd,
To draw him from his holy exercise.
Buck. Now by the holy mother of our Lord, The citizens are mum, say not a word. [dren: 15 Glo. Touch'd you the bastardy of Edward's chilBuck. I did; with his contract with lady Lucy, And his contract by deputy in France: The insatiate greediness of his desires, And his enforcement of the city wives; His tyranny for trifles; his own bastardy,As being got, your father then in France, And his resemblance being not like the dukę. Withal, I did infer your lineaments,— Being the right idea of your father, Both in your form and nobleness of mind: Laid open all your victories in Scotland, 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 toward end, I bade them, that did love their country's good, Cry-"God save Richard, England's royal king! Glo. And did they so?
[duke; Buck. Return, good Catesby, to the gracious Tell him, myself, the mayor and aldermen, 25 In deep designs, in matter of great moment, No less importing than our general good, Are come to have some conference with his grace. Cates. I'll signify so much unto him straight.
Buck. No, so God help me, they spake not a 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 40
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' the hall, hurl'd up their caps,
And some ten voices cry'd, God save king Richard!
And thus I took the vantage of those few,-
Thanks, gentle citizens, and friends, quoth I;
This general applause, and chearful shout,
Argues your wisdom, and your love to Richard:
And even here brake off, and came away.
Glo. What tongueless blocks were they; would 55
they not speak?
Will not the mayor then, and his brethren, come?
Buck. The mayor is here at hand; intend 2 some
Be not you spoke with, but by mighty suit: And look you get a prayer-book in your hand,
[Erit. Buck. Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an Edward!
He is not lolling on a lewd day-bed,
But on his knees at meditation;
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.
Mayor. Marry, God defend his grace should
say us nay!
[again:-
Buck. I fear, he will: here Catesby comes
Re-enter Catesby.
Catesby, what says your lord?
[sembled
Cates. He wonders to what end you have as
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 above, between two Bishops. Catesby
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'i. e. seen in silence, without notice or detection. pamper.
Buck. Two props of virtue for a christian prince,
To stay him from the fall of vanity:
And, see, a book of prayer in his hand;
True ornaments to know a holy man.
Famous Plantagenet, most gracious prince,
Lend favourable ear to our requests;
And pardon us the interruption
Of thy devotion, and right-christian zeal..
Glo. My lord, there needs no such apology;
I rather do beseech you pardon me,
Who, earnest in the service of my God,
Deferr'd the visitation of my friends.
But, leaving this, what is your grace's pleasure?
Buck. Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God
above,
And all good men of this ungovern'd isle.
And that my path were even to the crown,
As the ripe revenue and due of birth;
Yet so much is my poverty of spirit,
So mighty, and so many, my defects,
5 That I would rather hide me from my greatness,-
Being a bark to brook no mighty sea,-
Than in my greatness covet to be hid,
And in the vapour of iny glory smother'd.
But God be thank'd, there is no need of me;
10(And much I need to help you, if need were;)
The royal tree hath left us royal fruit,
Which, mellow'd by the stealing hours of time,
Will well become the seat of majesty,
And make, no doubt, us happy by his reign.
15 On him I lay what you would lay on me,
The right and fortune of his happy stars,-
Which God defend that I should wring from him!
Buck. My lord, this argues conscience in your
grace;
Glo. I do suspect, I have done some offence,
That seems disgracious in the city's eye;
And that you come to reprehend my ignorance.
Buck. You have, my lord; would it might 20
please your grace,
On our entreaties, to amend your fault!
Glo. Elsewherefore breathe I in a christian land?
Buck. Know, then, it is your fault, that you re-
The supreme seat, the throne majestical,
The scepter'd office of your ancestors,
Your state of fortune, and your due of birth,
The lineal glory of your royal house,
To the corruption of a blemish'd stock:
Whilst, in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts,
(Which here we waken to our country's good)
The noble isle doth want her proper limbs;
Her face defac'd with scars of infamy,
Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants,
But the respects thereof are nice and trivial,
All circumstances well considered.
You say, that Edward is your brother's son
So say we too, but not by Edward's wife:
For first was he contract to lady Lucy,
Your mother lives a witness to his vow;
And afterwards by substitute betroth'd
To Bona, sister to the king of France.
These both put by, a poor petitioner,
A care-craz'd mother to a many sons,
30 A beauty-waning and distressed widow,
Even in the afternoon of her best days,
Made prize and purchase of his wanton eye,
Seduc'd the pitch and height of all his thoughts
To base declension and loath'd bigamy:
And almost shoulder'd' in the swallowing gulph 35 By her, in his unlawful bed, he got
Of dark forgetfulness and deep oblivion.
Which to recure, we heartily solicit
Your gracious self to take on you the charge
And kingly government of this your land:
Not as protector, steward, substitute,
Or lowly factor for another's gain;
But as successively, from blood to blood,
Your right of birth, your empery, your own.
For this, consorted with the citizens,
Your very worshipful and loving friends,
And by their vehement instigation,
In this just suit come I to move your grace.
Glo. I cannot tell, if to depart in silence,
Or bitterly to speak in your reproof,
Best fitteth my degree, or your condition:
For, not to answer, you might haply think,
Tongue-ty'd ambition, not replying, yielded
To bear the golden yoke of sovereignty,
Which fondly you would here impose on me;
If to reprove you for this suit of yours,
So season'd with your faithful love to me,
Then, on the other side, I check'd my friends,
Therefore, to speak, and to avoid the first;
And then, in speaking, not to incur the last,-
Definitively thus I answer you.
Your love deserves my thanks; but
Unmeritable, shuns your high request,
First, if all obstacles were cut away,
This Edward, whom our manners call-the prince.
More bitterly could I expostulate,
Save that, for reverence to some alive,
I give a sparing limit to my tongue.
40 Then, good my lord, take to your royal self.
This proffer'd benefit of dignity:
If not to bless us and the land withal,
Yet to draw forth your noble ancestry
From the corruption of abusing time,
45 Unto a lineal true-derived course.
Mayor, Do, good my lord; your citizens entreat
Buck, Refuse not, mighty lord, this proffer'd
Cates. O, make them joyful, grant their lawful Glo. Alas, why would you heap these cares on I am unfit for state and majesty :
I do beseech you, take it not amiss;
I cannot, nor I will not, yield to you.
Buck, If you refuse it,-as in love and zeal,
55 Loth to depose the child, your brother's son;
(As well we know your tenderness of heart,
And gentle, kind, effeminate remorse,
Which we have noted in you to your kindred.
And equally, indeed, to all estates;)
60 Yet know, whe'r you accept our suit or no,
Your brother's son shall never reign our king;
But we will plant some other in the throne,
To the disgrace and downfall of your house.
! Le. immersed up to the shoulders.
And, in this resolution, here we leave you;— Come, citizens, we will entreat no more. [Exeunt. Cules. Call them again, sweet prince, accept their suit;
If you deny them, all the land will rue it.
Glo. Will you enforce me to a world of cares? Well, call them again; I am not made of stone, [Exit Catesby. But penetrable to your kind entreaties, Albeit against my conscience and my soul.
Re-enter Buckingham, and the rest. Cousin of Buckingham,—and sage, grave men,Since you will buckle fortune on my back, To bear her burden, whe'r I will or no, I must have patience to endure the load: But if black scandal, or foul-fac'd reproach, Attend the sequel of your imposition, Your meer enforcement shall acquittance me
SCENE I.
Before the Tower:
Enter the Queen, Dutchess of York, and Marquis 30 of Dorset, at one door; Anne Dutchess of Gloster, Leading Lady Margaret Plantagenet, Clarence's young daughter, at the other.
HO meets us here?-my niece
Plantagenet,
Led in the hand of her kind aunt of Gloster?
Now, for my life, she's wand'ring to the Tower,
On pure heart's love, to greet the tender prince.-
Daughter, well met.
I am bound by oath, and therefore pardon me. [Exit Brukenbury.
[hence, Stan. Let me but meet you, ladies, one hour And I'll salute your grace of York as mother, And reverend looker-on, of two fair queens.— Come, madam, you must straight to Westminster, [To tie Dutchess of Gloster. 35 There to be crowned Richard's royal queen. Queen. Ah, cut my lace asunder! That my pent heart may have some scope to beat, Or else I swoon with this dead-killing news. Anne. Despightful tidings! O unpleasing news! Dor. Be of good chear:-Mother, how fares your grace?
[away Whither and, as I [guess, [ther: 45
Anne. God give your graces both
A happy and a joyful time of day!
Queen. As much to you, good sister!
Anne. No further than the Tower;
Upon the like devotion as yourselves,
To gratulate the gentle princes there.
Queen. Kind sister, thanks; we'll enter all toge-
Enter Brakenbury.
And, in good time, here the lieutenant comes.-
Master lieutenant, pray you, by your leave,
How doth the prince, and my young son of York: 50
Brak. Right well, dear madam: By your patience,
I may not suffer you to visit them;
The king hath strictly charg'd the contrary.
Queen. The king! who's that?
Brak. I mean, the lord protector.
Queen. The lord protect him from that kingly
Hath he set bounds between their love and me?
I am their mother, Who shall bar me from them?
Dutch. I am their father's mother, I will see them.
Anne. Their aunt am I in law, in love their 60
mother:
Then bring me to their sights; I'll bear thy blame,
And take thy office from thee, on my peril.
Brak. No, madam, no, I may not leave it so;
[gone,
Queen. O Dorset, speak not to me, get thee
Death and destruction dog thee at the heels;
Thy mother's name is ominous to children:
If thou wilt out-strip death, go cross the seas,
And live with Richmond, from the reach of hell.
Go, hie thee, hie thee from this slaughter-house,
Lest thou increase the number of the dead;
And make me die the thrall of Margaret's curse,-
Nor mother, wife, nor England's counted queen.
Stanl. Full of wise care is this your counsel,
madam:-
Take all the swift advantage of the hours:
You shall have letters from me to my son
In your behalf, to meet you on the way:
Be not ta'en tardy by unwise delay.
Dutch. O ill-dispersing wind of misery!my accursed womb, the bed of death; A cockatrice hast thou hatch'd to the world, Whose unavoided eye is murderous! [sent.
Stan. Come, madam, come; I in all haste was Anne. And I with all unwillingness will go.O, would to God, that the inclusive verge Of golden metal, that must round my brow,
Were red-hot steel, to sear me to the brain'!
Anointed let me be with deadly venom;
And die, ere men can say-God save the queen!
Queen. Go, go, poor soul, I envy not thy glory;
To feed my humour, wish thyself no harm.
Anne. No! why?—When he, that is
band now,
Came to me, as I follow'd Henry's corse; [hands,
When scarce the blood was well wash'd from his
Which issued from my other angel husband,
And that dead saint which then I weeping follow'd;
O, when, I say, I look'd on Richard's face,
This was my wish,-Be thou, quoth I, accurs'd,
For making me, so young, so old a widow!
And, when thou wed'st, let sorrow haunt thy bed; 15
And be thy wife (if any be so mad)
More miserable by the life of thee,
Than thou hast made me by my dear lord's death!
Lo, ere I can repeat this curse again,
E'en in so short a space, my woman's heart
Grossly grew captive to his honey words,
And prov'd the subject of mine own soul's curse:
Which ever since hath held mine eyes from rest;
For never yet one hour in his bed
Did I enjoy the golden dew of sleep,
But with his timorous dreams was still awak'd.
Besides, he hates me for my father Warwick;
And will, no doubt, shortly be rid of me.
And thy assistance, is king Richard seated:-
But shall we wear these glories for a day?
Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them?
Buck. Still live they, and for ever let them last!
K. Rich. Ah, Buckingham, now do I play the
touch',
Totry if thou be current gold indeed:- [speak.
Young Edward lives;-Think now what I would
Buck. Say on, my loving lord.
K. Rich. Why, Buckingham, I say, I would be
[liege.
Buck. Why, so you are, my thrice-renowned
K. Henry. Ha! am I king? 'tis so: but Edward
Buck. True, noble prince.
[lives.
K. Rich. O bitter consequence, [prince!-
That Edward still should live-True! noble
Cousin, thou wast not wont to be so dull:-
Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead;
And I would have it suddenly perform'd.
20 What say'st thou now? speak suddenly, be brief.
Buck. Your grace may do your pleasure.
K.Rich. Tut, tut, thou art all ice, thy kindness
freezes:
Queen. Poor heart,adieu; Ipity thy complaining.
Anne. No more than with my soul I mourn for 30
Dor. Farewell, thou woeful welcomer of glory! Anne. Adieu,poorsoul, thou tak'st thy leave of it! Dutch. Go thou to Richmond, and good fortune guide thee![To Dorset. 35 Go thou to Richard, and good angels tend thee![To Anne.
Go thou to sanctuary, and good thoughts possess [To the Queen.
I to my grave, where peace and rest lie with me! 40
Eighty odd years of sorrow have I seen,
And each hour's joy wreck'd with a week of teen2.
Queen. Stay yet; look back, with me, unto the
Tower.-
Pity, you ancient stones, those tender babes,
Whom envy hath immur'd within your walls!
Rough cradle for such little pretty ones!
Rude ragged nurse! old sullen play-fellow
For tender princes, use my babies well!
So foolish sorrow bids your stones farewell.
Flourish of trumpets. Enter Richard, as King,
Buckingham, Catesby, a Page, and others.
K. Rich. Stand all apart.-Cousin of Bucking-
Buck. My gracious sovereign. [ham,
K. Rich. Give me thy hand. Thus high, by thy
advice,
Say, have I thy consent, that they shall die?
Buck. Give me some breath, some little pause,
Before I positively speak in this: [dear lord,
I will resolve your grace immediately.
[Exit Buckingham.
Cates. The king is angry; see, he gnaws his lip.
K. Rich. I will converse with iron-witted fools,
And unrespective boys; none are for me,
That look into me with considerate eyes:-
High-reaching Buckingham grows circumspect.--
Boy!-
Page. My lord.
[gold
K.Rich. Know'st thou not any, whom corrupting
Would tempt unto a close exploit' of death?
Page. I know a discontented gentleman,
Whose humble means match not his haughty
Gold were as good as twenty orators, [mind:
And will, no doubt, tempt him to any thing.
K. Rich. What is his name?
Page. His name, my lord, is-Tyrrel.
K. Rich. I partly know the man: Go, call him
hither, boy.-
[Exit boy.
The deep-revolving witty Buckingham
No more shall be the neighbour to my counsels:
Hath he so long held out with me untir'd,
And stops he now for breath? Well, be it so.
This seems to allude to the ancient mode of punishing a regicide, viz. by placing a crown of Iron heated red-hot, upon his head. 2 i.e. sorrow. To play the touch, means, to represent the touchstone. * i.e. inattentive, inconsiderate. i.e. secret act. Witty implies in this place judicious, or cunning. A wit was not in our author's time employed to signify a man of fancy, but was used for wisdom or judgement.
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