Buck. Well, well, he was the covertst sheltred Tray tor

That ever liv'd.

Would you imagine, or almost beleeve,

Wert not, that by great preservation

40

We live to tell it, that the subtill Traytor

This day had plotted, in the Councell-House,

To murther me, and my good Lord of Gloster.
Maior. Had he done so?

Rich. What? thinke you we are Turkes, or Infidels?
Or that we would, against the forme of Law,
Proceed thus rashly in the Villaines death,
But that the extreme perill of the case,

The Peace of England, and our Persons safetie,
Enforc'd us to this Execution.

50

Maior. Now faire befall you, he deserv'd his death, And your good Graces both have well proceeded, To warne false Traytors from the like Attempts. Buck. I never look'd for better at his hands, After he once fell in with Mistresse Shore:

60

[Glou.] Yet had we not determin'd he should dye, Untill your Lordship came to see his end, Which now the loving haste of these our friends, Something against our meanings, have prevented; Because, my Lord, I would have had you heard The Traytor speake, and timorously confesse The manner and the purpose of his Treasons: That you might well have signify'd the same Unto the Citizens, who haply may

Misconster us in him, and wayle his death. 42. it, that: it you, the-Q0.

48. in: to-Q2.

45. Had he done so: What, had he so53. your good Graces: you, my good lords-Q0. 55. Buck.: out-22. 57. given to Glou.-4-8Q. we not: not we-QQ. 58. end: death-Q2. 60. meanings: meaning-Qo. 61. I: we-Q2. 63. Treasons: treason-Qo. 66. Misconster: Misconstrue-6Q.4F.

Ma. But, my good Lord, your Graces words shal serve, As well as I had seene, and heard him speake: And doe not doubt, right Noble Princes both, But Ile acquaint our dutious Citizens

With all your just proceedings in this case.

70

Rich. And to that end we wish'd your Lordship here, T'avoid the Censures of the carping World.

Buck. Which since you come too late of our intent, Yet witnesse what you heare we did intend: And so, my good Lord Maior, we bid farwell.

Exit Maior.

80

Rich. Goe after, after, Cousin Buckingham. The Maior towards Guild-Hall hyes him in all poste: There, at your meetest vantage of the time, Inferre the Bastardię of Edwards Children: Tell them, how Edward put to death a Citizen, Onely for saying, he would make his Sonne Heire to the Crowne, meaning indeed his House, Which, by the Signe thereof, was tearmed so. Moreover, urge his hatefull Luxurie,

And beastiall appetite in change of Lust,

Which stretcht unto their Servants, Daughters, Wives, Even where his raging eye, or savage heart,

Without controll, lusted to make a prey.

Nay, for a need, thus farre come neere my Person:
Tell them, when that my Mother went with Child
Of that insatiate Edward; Noble Yorke,

My Princely Father, then had Warres in France,

90

67. words: word-Q 69. doe not doubt: doubt you not-Q. 71. case: cause-1-52.

73. Censures of the carping: carping censures of the-QQ. 74. Which.. intent: But intents-Q0.

80. meetest vantage: meet'st advantage-Q0.

89. raging: lustful-Qo.

93. insatiate: unsatiate-Qo.

90. lusted.. a: listed.. his-Qe.

And by true computation of the time,
Found, that the Issue was not his begot:
Which well appeared in his Lineaments,
Being nothing like the Noble Duke, my Father:
Yet touch this sparingly, as 'twere farre off,
Because, my Lord, you know my Mother lives.

Buck. Doubt not, my Lord, Ile play the Orator,
As if the Golden Fee, for which I plead,
Were for my selfe: and so, my Lord, adue.

100

Rich. If you thrive wel, bring them to Baynards Castle, Where you shall finde me well accompanied With reverend Fathers, and well-learned Bishops. Buck. I goe, and towards three or foure a Clocke Looke for the Newes that the Guild-Hall affoords. Exit Buckingham.

Exit.

Rich. Goe Lovell with all speed to Doctor Shaw, 110 [To Cate.] Goe thou to Fryer Peuker, bid them both Meet me within this houre at Baynards Castle. Now will I goe to take some privie order, To draw the Brats of Clarence out of sight, And to give order, that no manner person Have any time recourse unto the Princes.

[Scene vi.

The same. A street.]

Exeunt.

Enter a Scrivener [with a paper in his hand].

Scr. Here is the Indictment of the good Lord Hastings, Which in a set Hand fairely is engross'd,

95. true: just-QQ.

99. Yet: But-Qe.

100. my Lord, you know: you know, my lord-QL.
101. Doubt: Fear-Q0.
113. goe: in-Qe.

III. Peuker: Penker-CAPELL. 115. order, .. no manner person: notice..

no manner of person-QQ.

116. Have any time recourse: At any time have recourse

That it may be to day read o're in Paules.
And marke how well the sequell hangs together:
Eleven houres I have spent to write it over,
For yester-night by Catesby was it sent me,
The Precedent was full as long a doing,
And yet within these five houres Hastings liv'd,
Untainted, unexamin'd, free, at libertie.

Here's a good World the while.

IO

Who is so grosse, that cannot see this palpable device?
Yet who so bold, but sayes he sees it not?

Bad is the World, and all will come to nought,
When such ill dealing must be seene in thought. Exit.

[Scene vii. Baynard's Castle.]

Enter Richard and Buckingham at severall Doores. Rich. 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.

Rich. Toucht you the Bastardie of Edwards Children? Buck. I did, with his Contract with Lady Lucy, And his Contract by Deputie in France, Th'unsatiate greedinesse of his desire, And his enforcement of the Citie Wives, His Tyrannie for Trifles, his owne Bastardie, As being got, your Father then in France,

4. to day: this day-Q0.

7. sent: brought-Q.

1Ο

6. I bave spent: I spent-Q.

9. Hastings liv'd: lived Lord Hastings-QQ. 11-12. 2 ll. ending gross, device-Q.

12. Who is: Why, who's-QQ. cannot see: seeth not-CAMBRIDGE.

13. who: who's-1-2Q. bold: blind-Qo.

15. ill: bad-Qo.

2. How now, bow now: How now, my lord-Q.

4. say: and speak-QQ.

8. unsatiate.. desire: insatiate .. desires-Q.

And his resemblance, being not like the Duke.
Withall, I did inferre your Lineaments,

Being the right Idea of your Father,

Both in your forme, and Noblenesse of Minde:
Layd open all your Victories in Scotland,
Your Discipline in Warre, Wisdome in Peace,
Your Bountie, Vertue, faire Humilitie:
Indeed, left nothing fitting for your purpose,
Untoucht, or sleightly handled in discourse.
And when my Oratorie drew toward end,
I bid them that did love their Countries good,
Cry, God save Richard, Englands Royall King.
Rich. And did they so?

20

Buck. No, so God helpe me, they spake not a word, But like dumbe Statues, or breathing Stones, Star'd each on other, and look'd deadly pale: Which when I saw, I reprehended them,

30

And ask'd the Maior, what meant this wilfull silence?
His answer was, the people were not used
To be spoke to, but by the Recorder.
Then he was urg'd to tell my Tale againe:
Thus sayth the Duke, thus hath the Duke inferr'd,
But nothing spoke, in warrant from himselfe.
When he had done, some followers of mine owne,
At lower end of the Hall, hurld up their Caps,
And some tenne voyces cry'd, God save King Richard:
And thus I tooke the vantage of those few.
Thankes gentle Citizens, and friends, quoth I,
This generall applause, and chearefull showt,

19. your: the-Q0.

40

21. my.. drew toward: mine.. grew to an end-Qo. 24. And: Ah!(A,) and-Qo. 26. Statues: Statuës-KEIGHTLEY. 27. Star'd: Gazed-Q0. 30. used: wont-Q2. 34. spoke: spake-Qo. 36. At lower: At the lower-Qe. 40. chearefull: loving-Q.