That by their witchcraft thus have marked me. Hast. If they have done this deed, my noble lord,- Lovel, and Catesby, look, that it be done; [Exeunt council, with GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble, Cate. Despatch, my lord, the duke would be at dinner; Ready, with every nod, to tumble down Into the fatal bowels of the deep. Lov. Come, come, despatch; 'tis bootless to exclaim. Hast. Oh, bloody Richard!-miserable England! I prophesy the fearful'st time to thee, [Exeunt [8] So, in The Legend of Lord Hastings, M.D. 1463. [Master Dolman.] "My palfry, in the playnest paved streete, Thryse bow'd his boanes, thryse kneled on the flower, Thryse shonnd (as Balams asse) the dreaded tower." The housings of a horse, and sometimes the horse himself, were anciently denomi nated a foot-cloth. STEEVENS. [9] So, Horace: Nescius auræ fallacis. JOHNSON. The same. SCENE V. The Tower walls. Enter GLOSTER and BUCK INGHAM, in rusty armour, marvellous ill-favoured.' Glo. Come, cousin, canst thou quake, and change thy colour? Murder thy breath in middle of a word,→ As if thou wert distraught, and mad with terror? Glo. He is ; and, see, he brings the mayor along. Enter the Lord Mayor, and CATESBY. Buck. Let me alone to entertain him.-Lord mayor,- Buck. Hark, hark! a drum. Glo. Catesby, o'erlook the walls. Buck. Lord mayor, the reason we have sent for you,- Glo. So dear I lov'd the man, that I must weep. So smooth he daub'd his vice with show of virtue, I mean, his conversation with Shore's wife, [1] Thus Holinshed: "The protector immediately after dinner, intending to set some colour upon the matter, sent in all haste for many substantial men out of the citie into the tower; and at their coming, himselfe with the duke of Buckingham, stood harnessed in old ill-faring briganders, such as no man should weene they would Vouchsafe to have put upon their backes, except that some sudden necessitie had constreined them." STEEVENS. [2] That is, pretending. STEEVENS. He liv'd from all attainder of suspect. Buck. Well, well, he was the covert'st shelter'd traitor To murder me, and my good lord of Gloster? Glo. What! think you we are Turks, or infidels ? The peace of England, and our persons' safety, May. Now, fair befall you! he deserv'd his death; Buck. Yet had we not determin'd he should die, Misconstrue us in him, and wail his death. May. But, my good lord, your grace's word shall serve, As well as I had seen, and heard him speak : 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. : Infer the bastardy of Edward's children : Heir to the crown; meaning, indeed, his house, And bestial appetite in change of lust; Which stretch'd unto their servants, daughters, wives. Even where his raging eye, or savage heart, Without control, listed to make his prey. Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person My princely father, then had wars in France; Were for myself: and so, my lord, adieu. Glo. If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard's castle; Where you shall find me well accompanied, With reverend fathers, and well-learned bishops. Look for the news that the Guildhall affords. [Exit BUCKINGHAM. 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. [Exit. SCENE VI.—A Street. Enter a scrivener. 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 :- For yesternight by Catesby was it sent me ; Here's a good world the while!-Who is so gross, 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. [Exit. The same. SCENE VII. Court of Baynard's Castle. Enter GLOSTER Glo. How now, how now? What say the citizens ? The citizens are mum, say not a word. Glo. Touch'd you the bastardy of Edward's children? Buck. I did; with his contract with lady Lucy, And his contract by deputy in France : Th' insatiate greediness of his desires I bade them, that did love their country's good, Buck. No, so God help me, they spake not a word; But, like dumb statues, or breathless stones, Star'd on each other, and look'd deadly pale. And ask'd the mayor, what meant this wilful silence : [3] That is, seen in silence, without notice or detection. JOHNSON. |