And you my good lords both, have well proceeded,
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.

GLOU. Yet had not we determined he should die,
Until your lordship came to see his death;
Which now the loving haste of these our friends,
Somewhat against our meaning, have prevented:
Because, my lord, we would have had you heard
The traitor speak, and timorously confess
The manner and the purpose of his treason;
That you might well have signified the same
Unto the citizens, who haply may

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Misconstrue us in him and wail his death.

MAY. But, my good lord, your grace's word shall serve,

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As well as I had seen and heard him speak :
And doubt you not, right noble princes both,
But I'll acquaint our duteous citizens
With all your just proceedings in this cause.

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

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

GLOU. Go, Lovel, with all speed to Doctor Shaw;
[TO CATE.] Go thou to Friar Penker; bid them both
Meet me within this hour at Baynard's Castle.

[Exit Mayor.

[Exeunt all but GLOUCESTER.

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. The same. A street.

Enter a Scrivener, with a paper in his hand.

SCRIV. This is the indictment of the good Lord Hastings;

Which in a set hand fairly is engross'd,

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

[Exit.

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And mark how well the sequel hangs together:

Eleven hours I spent to write it over,

For yesternight by Catesby was it brought me;
The precedent was full as long a-doing:

And yet within these five hours lived Lord Hastings,

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Untainted, unexamined, free, at liberty.

Here's a good world the while! Why, who's so gross,

That seeth not this palpable device?

Yet who's so blind, but says he sees it not?

Bad is the world; and all will come to nought,
When such bad dealings must be seen in thought.

[Exit.

SCENE VII. Baynard's Castle.

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Enter GLOUCESTER and BUCKINGHAM, at several doors.

GLOU. How now, my lord, what say the citizens?

BUCK. Now, by the holy mother of our Lord,

I bid them that did love their country's good

The citizens are mum, speak not a word.

Cry "God save Richard, England's royal king!"
GLOU. Ah! and did they so?

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BUCK. No, so God help me, they spake not a word;

But, like dumb statuës or breathing stones,

Gazed each on other, and look'd deadly pale.
Which when I saw, I reprehended them;

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And ask'd the mayor what meant this wilful silence:

His answer was, the people were not wont
To be spoke to but by the recorder.

Then he was urged to tell my tale again,

"Thus saith the duke, thus hath the duke inferr'd";

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But nothing spake in warrant from himself.
When he had done, some followers of mine own,
At the lower end of the hall, hurl'd up their caps,

And some ten voices cried "God save King Richard!"

And thus I took the vantage of those few,

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"Thanks, gentle citizens and friends," quoth I;

"This general applause and loving shout

Argues your wisdoms and your love to Richard":

And even here brake off, and came away.

GLOU. What tongueless blocks were they! would they not speak ? 25 BUCK. No, by my troth, my lord.

GLOU. Will not the mayor then and his brethren come?

BUCK. The mayor is here at hand: intend some fear;

Be not you spoke with, but by mighty suit:

And look you get a prayer-book in your hand,

And stand betwixt two churchmen, good my lord;

For on that ground I'll build a holy descant:

And be not easily won to our request :

Play the maid's part, still answer "nay," and take it.

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GLOU. 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.

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BUCK. Go, go, up to the leads; the lord mayor knocks.

Enter the Mayor and Citizens.

Welcome, my lord: I dance attendance here;

I think the duke will not be spoke withal.

Enter CATESBY.

Here comes his servant: how now, Catesby,
What says he?

CATE. My lord, he doth entreat your grace
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 moved,
To draw him from his holy exercise.

[Exit GLOUCESTER.

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BUCK. Return, good Catesby, to thy lord again :

Tell him, myself, the mayor and citizens,

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In deep designs and matters of great moment,

No less importing than our general good,

Are come to have some conference with his grace.
CATE. I'll tell him what you say, my lord.

[Exit.

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

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MAY. Marry, God forbid his grace should say us nay!
BUCK. I fear he will..

Re-enter CATESBY.

My lord,

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How now, Catesby, what says your lord?

CATE.
He wonders to what end you have assembled
Such troops of citizens to speak with him,
His grace not being warn'd thereof before:
My lord, he fears you mean no good to him.
BUCK. Sorry I am my noble cousin should
Suspect me, that I mean no good to him:

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By heaven, I come in perfect love to him;

And so once more return and tell his grace.
When holy and devout religious men

[Exit CATESBY.

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

Enter GLOUCESTER aloft, between two Bishops.
CATESBY returns.

MAY. See, where he stands between two clergymen !
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 ears to our request;
And pardon us the interruption

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Of thy devotion and right Christian zeal.

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GLOU. My lord, there needs no such apology:

I rather do beseech you pardon me,

Who, earnest in the service of my God,

Neglect the visitation of my friends.

But, leaving this, what is your grace's pleasure?

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BUCK. Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God above,

And all good men of this ungovern'd isle.

GLOU. I do suspect I have done some offence

That seems disgracious in the city's eyes,

And that you come to reprehend my ignorance.

At our entreaties, to amend that fault?

BUCK. You have, my lord: would it might please your grace,

GLOU. Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land?

BUCK. Then know, it is your fault that you resign

The supreme seat, the throne majestical,

The scepter'd office of your ancestors,

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To the corruption of a blemish'd stock:

Whilst, in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts,

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Which here we waken to our country's good,
This noble isle doth want her proper limbs;
Her face defaced with scars of infamy,
Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants,
And almost shoulder'd in the swallowing gulf
Of blind forgetfulness and dark oblivion.
Which to recure, we heartily solicit
Your gracious self to take on you the charge

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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,

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In this just suit come I to move your grace.

GLOU. I know not whether to depart in silence,

Or bitterly to speak in your reproof,

Yet so much is my poverty of spirit,
So mighty and so many my defects,

As I had 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 my glory smother'd.

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But, God be thanked, there's no need of me,
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,

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And make, no doubt, us happy by his reign.

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!

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BUCK. My lord, this argues conscience in your grace;

But the respects thereof are nice and trivial,
All circumstances well considered.