Glo.
Come, Cousin, canst thou quake and change thy colour,
Murther thy breath in middle of a word,
And then again begin, and stop again,
As if thou wert distraught, and mad with terror?

Buck.
Tut, I can counterfeit the deep Tragedian,
Speak, and look back, and pry on every side;
Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,
Intending deep suspicion: ghastly looks
Are at my service, like enforced smiles;
And both are ready in their offices,
At any time to grace my stratagems.

Glo.
Here comes the Mayor.

Buck.
Let me alone to entertain him. Lord Mayor,— Enter the Lord Mayor, attended.

Glo.
Look to the draw-bridge there.

Buck.
Hark, a drum!

Glo.
Catesby, o'erlook the walls.

Buck.
Lord Mayor, the reason we have sent—

Glo.
Look back, defend thee, here are enemies.

Buck.
God and our innocence defend and guard us! Enter Lovel and Catesby with Hastings's head.

Glo.
Be patient, they are friends; Catesby and Lovel.

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

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.

Buck.
Well, well, he was the covert'st shelter'd traitor—
Would you imagine, or almost believe,
(Were't not, that by great preservation
We live to tell it) that the subtle traitor
This day had plotted, in the Council-house,
To murther me and my good lord of Glo'ster.

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 to the villain's death;
But that the extreme peril of the case,
The peace of England, and our Person's safety,
Enforc'd us to this execution?

Mayor.
Now, fair befall you! he deserv'd his death;
And your good Graces 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.

Buck.
Yet had not we determin'd he should die,
Until your lordship came to see his end;
Which now the loving haste of these our friends,
Something against our meaning, hath prevented;
Because, my lord, we would have had you heard
The traitor speak; and tim'rously 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,
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,
T'avoid the censures of the carping world.

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

Glo.
Go after, after, Cousin Buckingham.
The Mayor towards Guild-Hall 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
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,
Which stretch'd unto their servants, daughters, wives,
Ev'n where his ranging eye, or savage heart,
Without controul, lusted to make a 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
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 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 Guild-Hall affords. [Exit Buck.

Glo.
Go, Lovel, with all speed to Doctor Shaw.
Go thou to Fryar Peuker; bid them both
Meet me within this Hour at Baynard's Castle. [Exeunt Lov. and Cates. severally.
Now will I go to take some privy order
To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight;
And to give order, that no sort of person
Have, any time, recourse unto the Princes. [Exit. Enter a Scrivener.

Scriv.
Here is th' 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 Pauls.
And, mark, how well the sequel hangs together:
Eleven hours I've spent to write it over,
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
Untainted, unexamin'd, free at liberty.
Here's a good world the while;—who is so gross,
That cannot see this palpable device?
Yet who so bold, but says, he sees it not?
Bad is the world; and all will come to nought,
When such ill dealings must be seen in thought. [Exit.

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