Buck.
Welcome, sweet prince, to London, to your chamber. ^note

Glou.
Welcome, dear cousin, my thoughts' sovereign:
The weary way hath made you melancholy.

Prince.
No, uncle; but our crosses on the way
Have ^note made it tedious, wearisome, and heavy:
I want more uncles here to welcome me.

Glou.
Sweet prince, the untainted virtue of your years
Hath ^note not yet dived into the world's deceit:
Nor ^note more can you distinguish of a man
Than of his outward show; which, God he knows,
Seldom or never jumpeth with the heart.
Those uncles which you want were dangerous;
Your grace attended to their sugar'd words,
But look'd not on the poison of their hearts:
God keep you from them, and from such false friends!

Prince. ^note
God keep me from false ^note friends! but they were none ^note.

Glou.
My lord, the mayor ^note of London comes to greet you. Enter the Lord Mayor ^note, and his train.

May.
God bless your grace with health and happy days! ^note

Prince.
I thank you, good my lord; and thank you all.
I thought my mother and my brother York
Would long ere this have met us on the way:
Fie, what a slug is Hastings, that he comes not
To tell us whether they will come or no! Enter Lord Hastings.

Buck.
And, in good time, here comes the sweating lord.

Prince.
Welcome, my lord: what, will our mother come?

Hast.
On what occasion, God he knows, not I,
The queen your mother and your brother York
Have ^note taken sanctuary: the tender prince

Would fain have come ^note with me to meet your grace,
But by his mother was perforce withheld.

Buck.
Fie, what an ^note indirect and peevish ^note course
Is this of hers! Lord cardinal, will your grace
Persuade the queen to send ^note the Duke of York
Unto his princely brother presently?
If she deny, Lord Hastings, go ^note with him ^note,
And from her jealous arms pluck him perforce.

Card.
My Lord of Buckingham, if my weak oratory
Can from his mother win the ^note Duke of York,
Anon ^note expect him here; but if she be obdurate
To mild entreaties ^note, God in heaven ^note forbid
We should infringe the holy privilege
Of blessed ^note sanctuary! not for all this land
Would I be guilty of so deep ^note a sin.

Buck.
You are too senseless-obstinate ^note, my lord,
Too ceremonious and traditional:
Weigh it but ^note with the grossness of this ^note age,
You break not sanctuary in seizing him.
The benefit thereof is always granted
To those whose dealings have deserved the place
And those who have the wit to claim the place:
This prince hath neither claim'd it nor deserved it;
And therefore ^note, in mine opinion, cannot have it:
Then, taking ^note him from thence ^note that is not there,

You break no privilege nor charter there.
Oft have I heard of sanctuary men;
But sanctuary children ne'er ^note till now.

Card.
My lord, you shall o'er-rule ^note my mind for once.
Come on, Lord Hastings, will you go with me?

Hast.
I go, my lord.

Prince.
Good ^note lords, make all the speedy haste you may. [Exeunt ^note Cardinal and Hastings.
Say, uncle Gloucester, if our brother come,
Where shall we sojourn till our coronation?

Glou.
Where it seems ^note best unto your royal self.
If I may ^note counsel you, some day or two
Your highness shall repose you at the Tower:
Then where you please, and ^note shall be thought most fit
For your best health and recreation.

Prince.
I do not like the Tower, of any place.
Did Julius Cæsar build that place, my lord?

Buck. ^note
He did, my gracious ^note lord, begin that place;
Which, since, succeeding ages have re-edified ^note.

Prince.
Is it upon record, or else reported
Successively from age to age, he built it?

Buck.
Upon ^note record, my gracious lord.

Prince.
But say, my lord, it were not register'd,
Methinks the truth should live from age to age,
As 'twere retail'd ^note to all posterity,
Even to the general all-ending ^note day.

Glou. [Aside ^note]
So wise so young, they say, do never ^note live long.

Prince.
What say you, uncle?

Glou.
I say, without characters, fame lives ^note long.

[Aside ^note]
Thus ^note, like the formal vice, Iniquity ^note,
I moralize two ^note meanings in one word.

Prince.
That Julius Cæsar was a famous man;
With what his valour did enrich his wit,
His wit set down to make his valour live:
Death makes ^note no conquest of this ^note conqueror;
For now ^note he lives in fame, though not in life.
I'll tell you what, my cousin Buckingham,—

Buck.
What, my gracious ^note lord?

Prince.
An if ^note I live until I be a man,
I'll win our ancient right in France again,
Or die a soldier, as I lived a king.

Glou. [Aside ^note]
Short summers lightly ^note have ^note a forward spring. Enter young York, Hastings, and the Cardinal.

Buck.
Now, in good time, here comes the Duke of York.

Prince.
Richard ^note of York! how fares our loving ^note brother?

York.
Well, my dread ^note lord; so must I call you now.

Prince.
Ay, brother, to our grief, as it is yours:
Too late ^note he died that ^note might have kept that title,
Which by his death hath lost much majesty.

Glou.
How fares our cousin, noble Lord of York?

York.
I thank you, gentle uncle. O, my lord,
You said that idle weeds are fast in growth:
The prince my brother hath outgrown ^note me far.

Glou.
He hath, my lord.

York.
And therefore is he idle?

Glou.
O, my fair cousin, I must not say so.

York.
Then is he more beholding ^note to you than I.

Glou.
He may command me as my sovereign;
But you have power in me as in ^note a kinsman.

York.
I pray you, uncle ^note, give me this ^note dagger.

Glou.
My dagger, little cousin? with all my heart.

Prince.
A beggar, brother?

York.
Of ^note my kind uncle, that I know will give;
And ^note being ^note but ^note a toy, which is ^note no grief ^note to give ^note.

Glou.
A greater gift than that I'll give my cousin.

York.
A greater gift! O, that's the sword to ^note it.

Glou.
Ay, gentle cousin, were it light enough.

York.
O, then ^note, I see, you will ^note part but with light gifts ^note;
In weightier things you'll say a beggar nay.

Glou.
It is too heavy ^note for your ^note grace to wear.

York.
I ^note weigh it lightly, were it heavier.

Glou.
What, would you have my weapon, little lord?

York.
I would, that I might thank ^note you as ^note you call me.

Glou.
How?

York.
Little.

Prince.
My Lord of York will still be cross in talk:
Uncle, your grace knows how to bear with him.

York.
You mean, to bear me, not to bear with me:
Uncle, my brother mocks both you and me;
Because that I am little, like an ape,
He thinks that you should bear me on your shoulders.

Buck. ^note
With what a sharp-provided ^note wit he reasons!

To mitigate the scorn he gives ^note his uncle,
He prettily and aptly taunts himself:
So cunning and so young is wonderful.

Glou.
My lord ^note, will't ^note please you ^note pass along?
Myself and my good cousin Buckingham
Will to your mother, to entreat of her
To meet you at the Tower and welcome you.

York.
What, will you go unto the Tower, my lord?

Prince.
My lord protector needs ^note will have it so.

York.
I shall not sleep in quiet at the Tower.

Glou.
Why ^note, what should you fear?

York.
Marry, my uncle Clarence' ^note angry ghost:
My grandam ^note told me he was murder'd there.

Prince.
I fear no uncles dead.

Glou.
Nor none that live, I hope.

Prince.
An if ^note they live, I hope I need not fear.
But come, my lord; and with ^note a heavy heart,
Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower. [A Sennet. ^note Exeunt ^note all but Gloucester, Buckingham and Catesby. ^note

Buck.
Think you, my lord, this little parting York
Was not incensed by his subtle mother
To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously?

Glou.
No doubt, no doubt: O, 'tis a parlous ^note boy;
Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable:
He is all the mother's, from the top to toe.

Buck.
Well, let them rest. Come hither ^note, Catesby.

Thou art sworn ^note as deeply to effect what we intend
As closely to conceal what we impart:
Thou know'st ^note our reasons urged upon the way;
What think'st ^note thou? is it not an easy matter
To make William Lord ^note Hastings of our mind,
For the instalment of this noble duke
In the seat royal of this famous isle?

Cate.
He for his father's sake so loves the prince
That he will not be won to aught against him.

Buck.
What think'st thou then of Stanley? what will he? ^note

Cate.
He will do all in all as Hastings doth.

Buck.
Well, then, no more but ^note this: go, gentle Catesby,
And, as it were far off, sound thou ^note Lord Hastings ^note,
How he doth stand affected to our ^note purpose;
And summon him to-morrow to the Tower,
To sit about the coronation ^note.
If thou dost find him tractable to us,
Encourage him, and show ^note him all our reasons:
If he be leaden ^note, icy-cold ^note, unwilling,
Be thou so too; and so break off your ^note talk,
And give us notice of his inclination:
For we to-morrow hold divided councils,
Wherein thyself shalt ^note highly be employ'd.

Glou.
Commend me to Lord William: tell him, Catesby,
His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries
To-morrow are let blood at Pomfret-castle;
And bid my friend ^note, for joy of this good news,

Give Mistress ^note Shore one gentle ^note kiss the more.

Buck.
Good Catesby, go ^note, effect this business soundly.

Cate.
My good lords both, with all ^note the heed I may ^note.

Glou.
Shall ^note we hear from you, Catesby, ere we sleep?

Cate.
You shall, my lord.

Glou.
At Crosby Place ^note, there shall you ^note find us both. [Exit Catesby. ^note

Buck.
Now ^note, my lord, what shall we do, if we perceive ^note
Lord ^note Hastings will not yield to our complots?

Glou.
Chop off his head, man; somewhat we will do ^note:
And, look, when I am king, claim thou of me
The earldom of Hereford ^note, and the ^note moveables
Whereof the king my brother stood ^note possess'd.

Buck.
I'll claim that promise at your grace's ^note hands ^note.

Glou.
And look to have it yielded with all willingness ^note.
Come, let us sup betimes, that afterwards
We may digest our complots ^note in some form. [Exeunt. ^note Scene II. [Footnote: Before Lord Hastings' house. ^note Enter ^note a Messenger.

Mess.
What, ho! ^note my lord!

Hast. [Within ^note]
Who knocks at the door ^note?

Mess.
A messenger from the Lord ^note Stanley. Enter ^note Lord Hastings.

Hast.
What is't ^note o'clock?

Mess.
Upon the stroke of four.

Hast.
Cannot thy master ^note sleep these ^note tedious ^note nights ^note?

Mess.
So it should seem ^note by that ^note I have to say.
First, he commends him to your noble lordship ^note.

Hast.
And then? ^note

Mess.
And then he sends you word ^note
He dreamt to-night ^note the boar ^note had razed ^note his helm:
Besides, he says there are two councils held ^note;
And that may be ^note determined at the one
Which may make you and him to rue at the other.
Therefore he sends to know your lordship's pleasure,
If presently you will ^note take horse with him,
And with all speed ^note post with him toward ^note the north,
To shun the danger that his soul divines.

Hast.
Go, fellow ^note, go, return unto thy lord;
Bid him not fear the separated councils ^note:
His honour and myself are at the one,
And at the other is my servant ^note Catesby;
Where nothing can proceed that toucheth us
Whereof I shall not have intelligence.

Tell him his fears are shallow, wanting instance ^note:
And for his dreams, I wonder he is so fond ^note
To trust the mockery of unquiet slumbers:
To fly the boar before the boar pursues ^note,
Were to incense the boar to follow us
And make pursuit where he did mean no chase ^note.
Go, bid thy master rise and come to me;
And we will both together to the Tower,
Where, he shall see, the boar will use us kindly.

Mess.
My gracious lord, I'll ^note tell him what you say. [Exit. ^note Enter Catesby. ^note

Cate.
Many good morrows to my noble lord!

Hast.
Good morrow, Catesby; you are early stirring:
What news, what news, in this our tottering state?

Cate.
It is a reeling world indeed, my lord;
And I believe 'twill ^note never stand upright
Till Richard wear the garland of the realm.

Hast.
How! ^note wear the garland! dost thou mean the crown? ^note

Cate.
Ay, my good lord.

Hast.
I'll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders
Ere I will ^note see the crown so foul misplaced.
But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it?

Cate.
Ay, on my life ^note, and hopes to find you forward
Upon his party for the gain thereof:
And thereupon he sends you this good news,

That this same very day your enemies,
The kindred of the queen, must die at Pomfret.

Hast.
Indeed, I am no mourner for that ^note news,
Because they have been still mine enemies ^note:
But, that I'll give my voice on Richard's side,
To bar my master's heirs in true descent,
God knows I will not do it, to the death.

Cate.
God keep your lordship in that gracious mind!

Hast.
But I shall laugh at this a twelve-month hence,
That they who ^note brought me in my master's hate,
I live to look upon their tragedy.
I tell thee ^note, Catesby,—

Cate.
What, my lord?

Hast.
Ere ^note a fortnight make me elder ^note,
I'll send some packing that yet think ^note not on it ^note.

Cate.
'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord,
When men are unprepared and look not for it.

Hast.
O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it ^note out
With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey: and so 'twill do
With some men else, who ^note think themselves as safe
As thou and I; who, as thou know'st ^note, are dear
To princely Richard and to ^note Buckingham.

Cate.
The princes both make high account of you; [Aside ^note]
For they account his head upon the bridge.

Hast.
I know they do; and I have well deserved it ^note. Enter Lord Stanley.
Come on, come on ^note; where is your boar-spear, man?
Fear you the boar, and go ^note so unprovided?

Stan.
My lord, good morrow; good ^note morrow, Catesby:
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 ^note yours ^note;
And never in my life ^note, I do protest,
Was it more precious to me than 'tis ^note now:
Think you, but that I know our state ^note secure,
I would be so triumphant as I am?

Stan.
The lords at Pomfret ^note, when they rode from London,
Were jocund and supposed their state was ^note sure,
And they ^note indeed had no cause to mistrust;
But yet, you see, how soon the day o'ercast ^note.
This sudden stab ^note of rancour I misdoubt:
Pray God, I say ^note, I prove a needless coward!
What, shall we toward the Tower? the day is spent.

Hast.
Come, come, have with you. Wot you ^note what, my lord? ^note
To-day the lords you talk ^note of are beheaded. ^note

Stan.
They, for their truth, might better wear their heads
Than some that have accused them wear their hats ^note.
But come, my lord, let us ^note away ^note.

Enter a Pursuivant. ^note

Hast.
Go on before; I'll talk with this good fellow. ^note [Exeunt ^note Stanley and Catesby.
How now, sirrah! ^{note note} how goes the world with thee?

Purs.
The better that your lordship please ^note to ask.

Hast.
I tell thee, man ^note, 'tis better with me now
Than when I met thee ^note last where now we meet:
Then was I 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 to death,
And I in better state than e'er ^note I was.

Purs.
God hold it, to your honour's good content!

Hast.
Gramercy, fellow ^note: there, drink that for me ^note. [Throws ^note him his purse.

Purs.
God save your lordship ^note. [Exit. ^note Enter a Priest.

Priest.
Well met, my lord; I am ^note glad to see your honour.

Hast.
I thank thee, good Sir John, with all my heart. ^note
I am ^note in your debt for your last exercise ^note;

^note
Come the next Sabbath ^note, and I will content you. [He whispers ^note in his ear. Enter Buckingham.

Buck.
What, talking with a priest, lord chamberlain? ^note
Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest;
Your honour hath no shriving ^note work in hand.

Hast.
Good faith, and when I met this holy man,
Those ^note men you talk of came into my mind.
What, go you toward ^note the Tower? ^note

Buck.
I do, my lord ^note; but long I shall not stay ^note:
I shall return before your lordship thence.

Hast.
'Tis ^note like enough, for I stay dinner there.

Buck. [Aside ^note]
And supper too, although thou know'st ^note it not.
Come, will you go?

Hast. ^note
I'll wait upon your lordship. [Exeunt. ^{note note} Scene III. [Footnote: Pomfret Castle. ^note Enter ^note Sir Richard Ratcliff, with halberds, carrying Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan to death.

Rat. ^note
Come, bring forth the prisoners.

Riv.
Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee this:

To-day shalt thou behold a subject die
For truth, for duty, and for loyalty.

Grey.
God keep ^note the prince from all the pack of you!
A knot you are of damned blood-suckers.

Vaug.
You live that shall cry woe for this hereafter.

Rat.
Dispatch; the limit of your lives is out ^note.

Riv.
O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prison,
Fatal and ominous ^note to noble peers!
Within the guilty closure of thy walls
Richard the second here was hack'd to death;
And, for more slander to thy dismal seat ^note,
We give thee up our guiltless blood ^note to drink. ^note

Grey.
Now Margaret's curse is ^note fall'n upon our heads,
For standing by when Richard stabb'd her son.

Riv.
Then cursed she Hastings, then cursed she Buckingham ^note, ^note
Then cursed ^note she Richard ^note. O, remember, God,
To hear her prayers ^note for them, as now for us!
And ^note for my sister and her princely sons ^note,
Be satisfied, dear God, with our true blood ^note,
Which, as thou know'st, unjustly must be spilt.

Rat.
Make haste; the hour of death is expiate. ^note

Riv.
Come, Grey, come, Vaughan, let us all ^note embrace:
And take our leave, until we meet ^note in heaven. [Exeunt. ^note Scene IV. [Footnote: The Tower of London. ^note Enter Buckingham, Derby, Hastings, the Bishop of Ely, Ratcliff, Lovel, with others, and take their seats at a table. ^note

Hast.
My lords, at once ^note: the cause why we are met
Is, to determine of the coronation.
In God's name, speak ^note: when is the ^note royal day?

Buck.
Are all things fitting ^note for that ^note royal time?

Der.
It is, and wants but ^note nomination.

Ely. ^note
To-morrow then I judge a happy day ^note.

Buck.
Who knows the lord protector's mind herein?
Who is most inward with the noble duke?

Ely.
Your grace, we think ^note, should soonest know his mind.

Buck.
Who, I, my lord! ^note We know each other's faces,
But for our hearts, he knows no more of mine
Than I of yours;
Nor I no more of his, than you of mine.
Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.

Hast.
I thank his grace, I know he loves me well;
But, for his purpose in the coronation,
I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd
His gracious ^note pleasure any way therein:
But you, my noble lords ^note, may name the time;
And in the duke's behalf I'll give my voice,
Which, I presume, he'll take in gentle ^note part. Enter Gloucester. ^note

Ely.
Now in good ^note time, here comes the duke himself.

Glou.
My noble lords ^note and cousins all, good morrow.
I have been long a sleeper ^note; but, I hope ^note,
My absence doth neglect no great designs ^note,
Which by my presence might have been concluded.

Buck.
Had not you ^note come upon your cue ^note, my lord,
William Lord Hastings had ^note pronounced your ^note part,—
I mean, your voice,— ^notefor ^note crowning of the king.

Glou.
Than ^note my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder;
His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.

Hast.
I thank your grace.

Glou.
My Lord of Ely!

Ely.
My lord?

Glou.
When ^note I was last in Holborn,
I saw good strawberries in your ^note garden there:
I do ^note beseech you send for some of them.

Ely.
Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart. ^note [Exit. ^note

Glou.
Cousin of ^note Buckingham, a word with you. [Drawing him aside. ^note
Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business,
And finds the testy ^note gentleman so hot,
As ^note he will lose his head ere ^note give consent
His master's son ^note, as worshipful ^note he terms it,
Shall lose the royalty of England's throne.

Buck.
Withdraw you hence, my lord, I'll follow you. ^note [Exit ^note Gloucester, Buckingham following.

Der.
We have not yet set down this day of triumph.
To-morrow, in mine opinion ^note, is too sudden ^note;
For I myself am not so well provided
As else I would be, were the day prolong'd. Re-enter ^note Bishop of Ely. ^note

Ely.

Where is my lord protector ^note? I have sent ^note for these ^note strawberries.

Hast.
His grace looks cheerfully and smooth to-day ^note;
There's some conceit or other likes him well,
When he doth bid good morrow with such a ^note spirit.
I think there's never ^note a man in Christendom

That can less ^note hide his love or hate than he;
For by his face straight shall you know his heart.

Der.
What of his heart perceive you in his face
By any likelihood ^note he show'd to-day?

Hast.
Marry, that with no man here he is ^note offended;
For, were he, he had ^note shown ^note it in his looks ^note.

Der.
I pray God he be not, I say. ^note Re-enter Gloucester ^note and Buckingham.

Glou.
I pray you all, tell me what they ^note 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 ^note presence
To doom the offenders, whatsoever ^note they be: ^note
I say, my lord, they have deserved death.

Glou.
Then be your eyes the witness of this ill ^note:
See ^note how I am bewitch'd; behold, mine arm
Is like a blasted sapling, wither'd ^note up:
And this is ^note Edward's wife, that monstrous witch,
Consorted with that harlot strumpet ^note Shore,
That by their witchcraft ^note thus have marked me.

Hast.
If they have done this thing ^note, my gracious ^note lord,— ^note

Glou.
If! thou protector of this damned strumpet,
Tellest thou me ^note of ‘ifs’ ^note? Thou art a traitor:
Off with his head! Now, by Saint Paul I swear,
I will not dine until I see the same.
Lovel and Ratcliff, look that it be done: ^note
The rest that love me, rise ^note and follow me. [Exeunt ^note all but Hastings, Ratcliff and Lovel.

Hast.
Woe, woe for England! not a whit for me;
For I, too fond, might have prevented this.
Stanley did dream the board did raze his helm ^note;
But I disdain'd it, and did scorn ^note to fly:
Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble,
And startled ^note, when he look'd upon the Tower,
As loath to bear me to the slaughter-house.
O, now I want ^note the priest that spake to me:
I now repent I told the pursuivant,
As 'twere triumphing at ^note mine enemies,
How they ^note at Pomfret bloodily were butcher'd,
And I myself secure in grace and favour.
O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse
Is lighted ^note on poor Hastings' wretched head!

Rat. ^note
Dispatch, my lord ^note; the duke would be at dinner:
Make a short shrift; he longs to see your head.

Hast.
O momentary grace of mortal ^note men,
Which we more hunt for than the ^note grace of God ^note!

Who builds his hopes ^note in air ^note of your fair ^note looks ^note,
Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast,
Ready, with every nod, to tumble down
Into the fatal bowels of the deep.

Lov.
Come, come, dispatch; 'tis bootless to exclaim.

Hast.
O bloody Richard! miserable England!
I prophesy the fearfull'st time to thee
That ever wretched age hath look'd upon. ^note
Come, lead me to the block; bear him my head:
They smile at me that ^note shortly shall be dead. [Exeunt. ^note Scene V. [Footnote: The Tower-walls. ^note Enter Gloucester ^note and Buckingham, in rotten armour, ^note marvellous ill-favoured.

Glou.
Come, cousin, canst thou quake, and change thy colour ^note,
Murder ^note thy breath in middle of a word,
And then begin again ^note, and stop again,
As if thou wert ^note distraught ^note and mad with terror?

Buck.
Tut, I can ^note counterfeit the deep tragedian,
Speak and look back, and pry on every side,
Tremble and start at wagging of a straw ^note,

Intending deep suspicion: ghastly looks
Are ^note at my service, like enforced smiles;
And both are ready in their offices,
At any time, to grace my stratagems.
But what, is Catesby gone?

Glou.
He is; and, see, he brings the mayor along. Enter the Mayor ^note and Catesby.

Buck.
Lord mayor ^note,—

Glou.
Look to the drawbridge there!

Buck.
Hark! ^note a drum.

Glou.
Catesby ^note, o'erlook the walls.

Buck.
Lord mayor, the reason we have sent— ^note

Glou.
Look back, defend thee ^note, here are enemies.

Buck.
God and our innocency ^note defend and guard ^note us!

Glou.
Be patient, they are friends, Ratcliff and Lovel. ^note Enter ^note Lovel and Ratcliff, with Hastings' head. ^note

Lov. ^note
Here is the head of that ignoble traitor,
The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.

Glou.
So dear I loved the man, that I must weep.
I took him for the plainest harmless ^note creature ^note
That breathed upon this ^note earth a Christian ^note;
Made ^note him my book, wherein my soul recorded
The history of all her secret thoughts:
So smooth he daub'd his vice with show of virtue

That, his apparent open guilt omitted,
I mean, his conversation with Shore's wife,
He lived ^note from all attainder of suspect ^note.

Buck.
Well, well, he was the covert'st shelter'd traitor
That ever lived. ^note
Would you imagine ^note, or almost believe,
Were't ^note not that ^note, by great preservation,
We live to tell it you, the ^note subtle traitor
This day had ^note plotted, in the council-house
To murder me and my good Lord of Gloucester?

May.
What, had he so? ^note

Glou.
What, think you ^note we are Turks or infidels?
Or that we would ^note, against the form ^note of law,
Proceed thus rashly to the ^note villain's death,
But that the extreme ^note peril of the case,
The peace of England and our persons' safety,
Enforced us to this ^note execution? ^note

May.
Now, fair befall you! he deserved his death;
And you, my good lords ^note 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 ^note.

Glou. ^note
Yet had not we ^note determined he should die,
Until your lordship came to see his death ^note;

Which now the loving ^note haste of these our friends,
Somewhat against our meaning ^note, have ^note prevented:
Because, my lord, we ^note would have had you heard ^note
The traitor speak and timorously confess
The manner and the purpose of his treason ^note;
That you might well have signified the same
Unto the citizens, who haply ^note may
Misconstrue ^note us in him and wail his death.

May.
But ^note, my good lord, your grace's ^note word ^note shall serve,
As well as I ^note had seen and heard ^note him speak:
And doubt you not ^note, right noble princes both,
But I'll acquaint our ^note duteous citizens
With all your just proceedings in this cause ^note.

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

Buck.
But ^note since you come ^note too late of ^note our intents ^note,
Yet witness what you hear we did intend:
And so, my good lord mayor, we bid farewell ^note. [Exit Mayor.

Glou.
Go ^note, after, after, cousin Buckingham.
The mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post:
There, at your meet'st advantage ^note 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
Heir to the crown, meaning indeed his house,
Which, by the sign thereof, was termed so.
Moreover, urge his hateful luxury
And bestial ^note appetite in change of lust;
Which stretched to ^note their servants, daughters ^note, wives,
Even where his lustful ^note eye or savage heart,
Without control, listed ^note to make his prey ^note.
Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person:
Tell them, when that my mother went with child
Of that unsatiate ^note Edward, noble York
My princely father then had wars ^note in France;
And, by just ^note 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:
But ^note touch this sparingly, as 'twere ^note far ^note off;
Because you know, my lord ^note, my mother ^note lives.

Buck.
Fear ^note 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 ^note.

Glou.
If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard'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
Look for the news that the Guildhall affords ^note. [Exit. ^note

Glou.
Go, Lovel, with all speed to Doctor Shaw; [To Cate. ^note]
Go thou to Friar Penker ^note; bid them both
Meet me within this hour at Baynard's Castle ^note. [Exeunt ^note all but Gloucester.
Now will I in ^note, to take some privy order,
To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight;
And to give notice ^note, that no manner of person ^note
At any time have ^note recourse unto the princes. [Exit. ^{note note} Scene VI. [Footnote: The same. A street. ^note Enter a Scrivener, with a paper in his hand. ^note

Scriv.
This ^note is the indictment of the good Lord Hastings;
Which in a set hand fairly is engross'd,
That it may be this day ^note read o'er ^note in Paul's.
And mark how well the sequel hangs together:
Eleven hours I spent ^note to write it over,
For yesternight by Catesby was it brought ^note me;
The precedent ^note was full as long a-doing:
And yet within these five hours lived Lord Hastings ^note,
Untainted, unexamined, free, at liberty.
Here's a good world the while! Why who's ^note so gross,
That seeth not ^note this palpable ^note device?

Yet who's ^note so blind ^note, but ^note says he sees it not?
Bad is the world; and all will come to nought ^note,
When such bad ^note dealing ^note must be seen in ^note thought. [Exit. ^note Scene VII. [Footnote: Baynard's Castle. ^note Enter ^note Gloucester and Buckingham, at several doors.

Glou.
How now, my lord ^note, what say ^note the citizens?

Buck.
Now, by the holy mother of our Lord,
The citizens are mum, and speak ^note not a word.

Glou.
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 ^note;
The ^note insatiate ^note greediness of his desires ^note,
And his enforcement of the city wives ^note;
His tyranny for trifles; his own bastardy,
As being got, your father then in France,
And his resemblance ^note, being not like the duke ^note:
Withal I did infer your lineaments,
Being the right idea of your father,
Both in your ^note form and nobleness of mind;
Laid open ^note all your victories ^note in Scotland,
Your discipline in war, wisdom in peace,
Your bounty, virtue, fair humility;

Indeed left nothing fitting for the purpose ^note
Untouch'd or slightly handled in discourse:
And when mine ^note oratory grew ^note to an end ^note,
I bid ^note them that did love ^note their country's good
Cry ‘God save Richard, England's royal king!’

Glou.
Ah! and ^note did they so?

Buck.
No, so God help me, they spake not a word ^note;
But, like dumb statuas ^note or breathing ^note stones,
Gazed ^note each on other, and look'd deadly pale.
Which when I saw, I reprehended them;
And ask'd the mayor what meant ^note this wilful silence:
His answer was, the pople were not wont ^note
To be spoke to ^note but ^note by the ^note recorder.
Then he was urged to tell my tale again:
‘Thus saith the duke, thus hath the duke inferr'd;’
But nothing spake ^note in warrant from himself.
When he had done, some followers of mine own
At the lower end of the ^note hall hurl'd up their caps,
And some ten voices cried ‘God save King Richard!’
And thus I took the vantage of those few ^note,
‘Thanks, gentle ^note citizens and friends!’ quoth I,
‘This general applause and loving ^note shout
Argues your wisdoms ^note and your love ^note to Richard:’

And even here ^note brake off, and came away.

Glou.
What tongueless blocks were they! would they ^note not speak? ^note

Buck.
No, by my troth, my lord ^note.

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

Buck.
The mayor is here at hand ^note: intend ^note some ^note fear;
Be not you spoke with, but by mighty suit ^note:
And look you get a prayer-book in your hand,
And stand betwixt ^note two churchmen, good my lord;
For on that ground I'll build ^note a holy descant:
And be not easily ^note won to our request ^note;
Play the maid's part, still answer nay, and take it ^note.

Glou.
I go; and if you plead ^note as well for them
As I can say nay to thee ^note for myself, ^note
No doubt we'll ^note bring it to a happy issue.

Buck.
Go, go up to the leads; the lord mayor knocks ^note. [Exit Gloucester. ^note Enter ^note the Mayor and Citizens.
Welcome, my lord ^note: I dance ^note attendance here;
I think the duke will not be spoke ^note withal. Enter Catesby.
Here comes his servant: how now, Catesby,
What says he? ^note

Cate.
My lord, he doth entreat your grace ^note
To visit him to-morrow or next day:
He is within, with two right ^note reverend fathers,
Divinely bent to meditation;
And in no worldly suit ^note would he be moved,
To draw him from his holy exercise.

Buck.
Return, good Catesby, to thy lord again ^note;
Tell him, myself, the mayor and citizens ^note,
In deep designs and matters ^note of great moment,
No less importing than ^note our general good,
Are come to have some conference with his grace.

Cate.
I'll tell ^note him what you say, my lord ^note. [Exit.

Buck.
Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an Edward!
He is not lolling ^note on a lewd day-bed ^note,
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 gracious ^note prince
Take on himself ^note the sovereignty thereof ^note:
But, sure ^note, I fear, we shall ne'er ^note win him to it.

May.
Marry, God forbid ^note his grace should say us nay!

Buck.
I fear he will ^note.

Re-enter ^note Catesby.
How now, Catesby, what says your lord? ^note

Cate.
My lord ^note,
He wonders to what end you have assembled
Such troops of citizens to speak with ^note him,
His grace not being warn'd thereof before: ^note
My lord, he fears ^note 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, I come in perfect ^note love to him ^note;
And so once more return and tell his grace. [Exit Catesby. ^note
When holy and devout religious men
Are at their ^note beads, 'tis hard ^note to draw them thence ^note,
So sweet is zealous contemplation. ^noteEnter Gloucester aloft, between two Bishops ^note. Catesby returns ^note.

May.
See, where he stands between ^note 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 ^note to know a holy man ^note.
Famous Plantagenet, most gracious prince,
Lend favourable ears ^note to our ^note request ^note;
And pardon us the interruption

Of thy devotion and right Christian zeal.

Glou.
My lord, there needs no such apology:
I rather do beseech you pardon ^note me,
Who, earnest in the service of my God ^note,
Neglect ^note 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.

Glou.
I do suspect I have done some offence
That seems ^note disgracious in the city's eyes ^note,
And that you come to reprehend my ignorance.

Buck.
You have, my lord: would it might ^note please your grace ^note,
At ^note our entreaties, to amend that ^note fault!

Glou.
Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land?

Buck.
Then know ^note, it is your fault that you resign
The supreme seat, the throne majestical,
The scepter'd ^note office of your ancestors,
Your state of fortune and your due ^note of birth ^note,
The lineal glory of your royal house,
To the corruption of a blemish'd stock:
Whilst ^note, in the mildness of your ^note sleepy thoughts,
Which here we waken to our ^note country's good,
This ^note noble isle doth want her ^note proper limbs;
Her ^note face defaced with scars ^note of infamy,
Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants ^note,

And almost shoulder'd ^note in the ^{note note} swallowing gulf
Of blind forgetfulness and dark ^note oblivion.
Which to recure ^note, we heartily solicit
Your gracious self to take on you ^note the charge
And kingly government of this your land ^note;
Not as protector, steward, substitute,
Or ^note 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 ^note friends,
And by their vehement instigation,
In this just suit ^note come I to move your grace.

Glou.
I know not whether ^note to depart in silence,
Or bitterly to speak in your reproof,
Best fitteth ^note my degree or your condition:
If not ^note to answer, you might haply think
Tongue-tied 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 ^note incur the last,
Definitively thus I answer you. ^note
Your love deserves my thanks, but my desert

Unmeritable shuns ^note your high request.
First, if all obstacles were cut away
And that my path were even to the crown,
As my ripe ^note revenue and due by birth ^note;
Yet so much is my poverty of spirit,
So mighty and so many my defects,
As I had ^note 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 thanked, there's ^note no need of me ^note,
And much I need to help you, if need were ^note;
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 ^note happy by his reign.
On him I lay what ^note you would lay ^note 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;
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 he was ^note contract ^note to Lady Lucy—
Your mother lives a witness to that ^note vow—
And afterward ^note by substitute betroth'd ^note
To Bona, sister to the King of France.
These both put by ^note, a poor petitioner,

A care-crazed mother of a many children ^note,
A beauty-waning and distressed widow,
Even in the afternoon of her best days,
Made prize ^note and purchase of his lustful ^note eye,
Seduced ^note the pitch and height of all his thoughts ^note
To base declension and loathed ^note bigamy:
By her, in his ^note unlawful bed, he got
This Edward, whom our manners term ^note the prince.
More bitterly could I ^note expostulate,
Save that, for reverence to some ^note alive,
I give a sparing limit to my tongue.
Then, good my lord, take to your ^note royal self
This proffer'd ^note benefit of dignity;
If not to bless us and the land withal,
Yet to draw forth your noble ancestry ^note
From the corruption of abusing times ^note,
Unto a lineal true-derived ^note course.

May.
Do, good my lord, your citizens entreat you.

Buck.
Refuse not, mighty lord, this proffer'd love ^note.

Cate.
O, make them joyful, grant their lawful suit!

Glou.
Alas, why would ^note you heap these cares ^note on me?
I am unfit for state and majesty ^note:
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,
Loath 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 kin ^note,
And egally ^note indeed to all estates,—
Yet whether ^note you accept ^note 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 ^note of your house:
And in this resolution here we ^note leave you.
Come, citizens: 'zounds! I'll ^note entreat no more.

Glou.
O, do not swear, my lord of Buckingham. ^note [Exit Buckingham with the Citizens. ^note

Cate.
Call them again, my lord, and accept ^note their suit:

Another ^note.
Do, good my lord, lest all the land do rue it ^{note note}.

Glou.
Would you enforce me to a world of care? ^{note note}
Well ^note, call them ^note again. I am not made of stone ^note,
But penetrable to your kind entreats ^note,
Albeit against my conscience and my soul. Re-enter ^note Buckingham and the rest.
Cousin of Buckingham, and you ^note sage, grave men,
Since you ^note will buckle fortune on my back,
To bear her ^note burthen, whether ^note I will or no,

I must have patience to endure the load:
But if black scandal or foul-faced ^note reproach
Attend the sequel of your imposition,
Your mere enforcement shall acquittance me
From all the impure blots ^note and stains thereof;
For God he knows ^note, and you may partly see,
How far I am from the desire thereof ^note.

May.
God bless your grace! we see it, and will say it.

Glou.
In saying so, you shall but say the truth.

Buck.
Then I salute you with this ^note kingly ^note title:
Long live Richard ^note, England's royal ^note king!

May. and Cit. ^note
Amen.

Buck.
To-morrow will ^note it please you to be crown'd?

Glou.
Even when you please, since ^note you will have it so.

Buck.
To-morrow then we will attend your grace:
And so most joyfully we take our leave ^note. ^note

Glou.
Come, let us to our holy task ^note again.
Farewell, good cousin ^note; farewell, gentle friends. [Exeunt. ^note

Previous section

Next section