You may jest on, but, by the holy rood', I do not like these several councils, I. Hast. My lord,
I hold my life as dear as you do yours; And never, in my days, I do protest, Was it more precious to me than 'tis now : Think you, but that I know our state secure, I would be so triumphant as I am?
Stanl, The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from Were jocund, and suppos'd their states were sure, And they, indeed, had no cause to mistrust; But yet, you see, how soon the day o'ercast. This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt; Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward!
Enter Sir Richard Ratcliff, conducting Lord Rivers, Lord Richard Grey, and Sir Thomas Vaughan to execution.
Rat. Come, bring forth the prisoners.
Ric. Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee this,—— To-day shalt thou behold a subject die, For truth, for duty, and for loyalty. [you! Grey. God keep the prince from all the pack of A knot you are of damn'd blood-suckers. [after. Vaugh. You live, that shall cry woe for this here- Rat. Dispatch: the limit of your lives is out. Riv.OPomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prison,
What, shall we toward the Tower? the day is spent. 20 Fatal and ominous to noble peers! Hast. Come, come, have with you.-Wot you
To-day the lords you talk of are beheaded. Stanl. They, for their truth', might better wear their heads,
Than some, that have accus'd them, wear their But come, my lord, let's away. [hats.
Hast. Go on before, I'll talk with this good fellow. [Exeunt Lord Stanley, aud Catesby. 30 Sirrah, how now? how goes the world with thee? Purs. The better, that your lordship please to ask. Hast. I tell thee, man, 'tis better with me now, Thanwhenthou met'st me last where now we meet: Then I was going prisoner to the Tower, By the suggestion of the queen's allies; But now, I tell thee, (keep it to thyself) This day those enemies are put tɔ death, And I in better state than ere I was. Purs. God hold it, to your honour's good con-40 Hast. Gramercy, fellow: There, drink that for [Throws him his purse. Purs. I thank your honour. [Exit Pursuivant. Enter a Priest. Priest. Well met, my lord; I am glad to see 45 your honour. [heart.
Hast. I thank thee, good Sir John, with all my I am in your debt for your last exercise; Come the next sabbath, and I will content you. Enter Buckingham.
Buck. What, talking with a priest, lord cham
Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest; Your honour hath no shriving work in hand.
Within the guilty closure of thy walls, Richard the second here was hack'd to death: And, for more slander to thy dismal seat, We give thee up our guiltlessbloodtodrink. [heads. Grey. Now Margaret's curse is fallen upon our When she exclaim'd on Hastings, you, and I, For standing by when Richard stabb'd her son. Riv. Then curs'd she Hastings, curs'd she Buckingham,
Then curs'd she Richard:-O, remember, God, To hear her prayer for them, as now for us! As for my sister, and her princely sons,- Be satisfied; dear God, with our true bloods, Which, as thou know'st, unjustly must be spilt! Rat. Make haste, the hour of death is now ex- pir'd. [embrace: Riv.Come,Grey,-come, Vaughan,-let us here Farewell, until we meet again in heaven. [Exeunt.
Buckingham, Stanley, Hastings, Bishop of Ely, Catesby, Lovel, with others at a table. Hast. Now, noble peers, the cause why we are [s-to determine of the coronation: In God's name, speak, when is the royal day? Buck. Are all things ready for that royal tine? Stant. They are, and wants but nomination. Ely. To-morrow then I judge a happy day. Buck. Who knows the lordprotector'smindhere- Who is most inward with the noble duke? Ely. Your grace, we think, should soonest know his mind. [hearts,- Buck. We know each other's faces: for our
Hast. Good faith, and when I met this holy man, 55 He knows no more of mine, than I of yours; The men you talk of came into my mind. What, go you toward the Tower?
Buck. I do, my lord; but long I shall not stay I shall return before your lordship thence. Hast. Nay, like enough, for I stay dinner there.[60][
1 i. e. the cross.
i. e. honesty.
is confession.
Nor I of his, my lord, than you of mine:- Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love. Hast. I thank his grace, I know he loves me But, for his purpose in the coronation, [well; have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd'
2 A familiar phrase in parting, as much as, I have something to say to you. i. e. continue it. i. e. performance of divine service. Shriving work
ed with that harlot, stru
That by their withcraft thus hay Hast. If they have done this lord,
Glo. If thou protector of thi Talk'st thou to me of ifs?-Tho Off with his head;-now, by Sa
Ely. In happy time, here comes the duke himself. Glo. My noble lords and cousins, all good morI have been long a sleeper; but I trust, My absence doth neglect no great design, Whichbymy presence might havebeenconcluded. 10[ will not dine until I see the san Buck. Had you not come upon your cue', my
lord, Williamlord Hastings had pronounc'd your part,I mean, your voice,-for crowning of the king. Glo. Than my lord Hastings, no man might be 15 bolder;
Lovel, and Catesby, look, that i The rest, that love me, rise, and [Exit Council, with Richard a Hast. Woe, woe, for England
For I, too fond, might have prey Stanley did dream, the boar did But I disdain'd it, and did scorn Three times to-day my foot-cloth 20 And started, when he look'd up As loth to bear me to the slaught O, now I need the priest that spa I now repent I told the pursuivan As too triumphing, how mine en 25 To-day at Pomfret bloodily were And I myself secure in grace and O, Margaret, Margaret, now thy lighted on poor Hastings' wret Cates. Dispatch, my lord, the at dinner;
His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.- My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn, I saw good strawberries in your garden there; 1 do beseech you, send for some of them. Ely. Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart. [Exit Ely. Glo. Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you. Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business; And finds the testy gentleman so hot, That he will lose his head, ere give consent, His master's child, as worshipfully he terms it, Shall lose the royalty of England's throne. Buck. Withdraw yourself awhile, I'll gowithyou. [Exeunt Gloster and Buckingham.30 Stanl. We have not yet set down this day of triumph.
To-morrow, in my judgement, is too sudden; For I myself am not so well provided, As else I would be, were the day prolong'd. Re-enter the Bishop of Ely.
Make a short shrift; he longs to
Hast. O momentary grace of m Which we more hunt for than the Who builds his hope in air of you 35 Lives like a drunken sailor on a r Ready, with every nod, to tumble Into the fatal bowels of the deep. Lov. Come, come, dispatch; 'tis
Ely. Where is my lord protector? I have sent For these strawberries. [morning; Hast. His grace looks chearfully and smooth this There's some conceit or other likes him well, When he doth bid good morrow with such spirit. I think there's ne'er a man in Christendom, Can lesser hide his love, or hate, than he; For by his face straight shall you know his heart. Stanl. What of his heart perceive you in his face, 45 By any likelihood' he shew'd to-day?
[ed; Hast. Marry, that with no man here he is offendFor, were he, he had shewn it in his looks.
Re-enter Gloster and Buckingham. Glo. I pray you all, tell me what they deserve, That do conspire my death with devilish plots Of damned witchcraft; and that have prevail'd Upon my body with their hellish charms?
Hast. The tender love I bear your grace, my lord, Makes me most forward in this noble presence To doom the offenders: Whosoe'er they be, I say, my lord, they have deserved death,
Glo. Then be your eyes the witness of their evil, Look how I am bewitch'd; behold, mine arm
Hast. Oh, bloody Richard!I prophesy the fearful'st time to t That ever wretched age hath look Come, lead me to the block, bear They smile at me, who shortly sha
SCENE The Tower-Walls. Enter Gloster, and Buckingham, in marvellous ill-favour' Glo.Come,cousin, canst thou qua thy colour?
Murder thy breath in middle of a w And then again begin, and stop aga 55 As if thou wert distraught, and ma
Buck.Tut, I can counterfeit the d Speak, and look back, and pry on Tremble and start at wagging of as Intending deep suspicion: ghastly
The cue, queue, or tail of a speech,
This expression is borrowed from the theatre. last words, which are the token for an entrance or answer. To come on the cue, therefo at the proper time. 2i.e. appearance. The housings of a horse, and sometimes self, were anciently denominated a foot-cloth,
But I'll acquaint our duteous citizens
Enter Lovel, and Ratcliff, with Hastings' head. Glo. Be patient, they are friends; Ratcliff, and Lovel.
Lov. 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. 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 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. [traitor 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?
25 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 lineaments, 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;
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; [die, 50 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 shall serve,
As well as I had seen, and heard him speak : And do not doubt, right noble princes both,
Where you shall find me well accompanied, 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. 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. [cit. SCENE
A Street. Enter a Scrivener.
Scriv. Here is the indictment of the good lord Hastings;
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.
Buck. Now by the holy mother of our Lord, The citizens are mum, say not a word. 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 duke. 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?
Play the maid's part, still answer Glo. I go; and if you plead As I can say nay to thee for m No doubt we'll bring it to a haj Buck. Go, go, up to the lead knocks.
Enter the Lord Mayor, an Welcome, my lord: I dance att I think, the duke will not be sp Enter Catesby.
Now, Catesby, what says your lo Cates. He doth entreat your lord,
To visit him to-morrow, or next He is within, with two right reve 20 Divinely bent to meditation; And in no worldly suit would he To draw him from his holy exer
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 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' 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,
Buck. Return, good Catesby Tell him, myself, the mayor and In deep designs, in matter of gre No less importing than our gene Are come to have some conferend Cates. I'll signify so much unto
Buck. Ah, ha, my lord, this Edward!
He is not lolling on a lewd day-b But on his knees at meditation; Not dallying with a brace of cou But meditating with two deep di Not sleeping, to engross his idle But praying, to enrich his watchf Happy were England, would this Take on himself the sovereignty t But, sure, I fear, we shall ne'er wi Mayor. Marry, God defend h say us nay! Buck. I fear, he will: here Re-enter Catesby. Catesby, what says your lord? Cates. He wonders to what end Such troops of citizens to come to
His grace not being warn'd there He fears, my lord, you mean no g Buck. Sorry I am, my noble co Suspect me, that I mean no good By heaven, we come to him in per And so once more return and tell
When holy and devout religious m Are at their beads, 'tis hard to draw So sweet is zealous contemplation. Enter Gloster above, between two Bis
1i. 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 my 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. 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!
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, 30A 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:
Glo. Elsewherefore breathe I in a christian land: Buck. Know, then, it is your fault, that you re- The supreme seat, the throne majestical, [sign 25 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,
And alinost shoulder'd' in the swallowing gulph 35 By her, in his unlawful bed, he got
Of dark forgetfulness and deep oblivion. Which to recure 2, 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 my desert Unmeritable, shuns your high request.
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 love. [suit.
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 3, 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,
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