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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,

Wer't not, that by great preservation

We live to tell it, that the subtle traitor
This day had plotted, in the council-house,

To murder me and my good lord of Glo'fter?

MAY. What? -Had he fo?

GLO. What! think you, we are Turks or infidels?

Or that we would, against the form of law,
Proceed thus rafhly to the villain's death,
But that the extreme peril of the cafe,
The peace of England, and our person's safety,
Enforc'd us to this execution?

MAY. Now, fair befal 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 fee 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 confefs
The manner and the purpose of his treasons,
That you might well have fignify'd the fame
Unto the citizens, who, haply, may

Mifconftrue us in him, and wail his death.

MAY. But, my good lord, your grace's word fhall ferve,

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 cafe.

GLO. And to that end we wifh'd your lordship here,
T'avoid the cenfures of the carping world.

Buck. But fince you come too late of our intent,
Yet witness, what, you hear, we did intend
And fo, 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 faying, he would make his fon

Heir to the crown; meaning, indeed, his house,
Which by the fign thereof was termed fo.

Moreover, urge his hateful luxury,

And beftial appetite in change of luft,

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 perfon
Tell them, when that my mother went with child
Of that infatiate Edward, noble York

My princely father, then had wars in France,
And, by just computation of the time,
Found that the iffue was not his begot,
Which well appeared in his lineaments,
Being nothing like the noble duke, my father.
Yet touch this fparingly, 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 myfelf; and fo, my lord, adieu.

GLO. If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard's castle, Where you fhall find me well accompanied

With reverend fathers and well-learned bishops.

Buck. I go, towards three or four o'clock

Look for the news that the Guild-hall affords. [Exit Buck, GLO. Go, Lovel, and with all speed to Dr. Shaw.

Go thou to friar Peuker; bid them both

Meet me within this hour at Baynard's castle.

[Exeunt Lov. and Cat. feverally.

Now will I go to take fome privy order

To draw the brats of Clarence out of fight;

And to give order, that no fort of perfon

Have, any time, recourse unto the princes.

[Exit.

Enter a fcrivener,

SCRIV. Here is th' indictment of the good lord Haftings,

Which in a fet hand fairly is ingrofs'd;

That it may be to day read o'er in Pauls.

And, mark, how well the fequel hangs together.

Eleven hours I've fpent to write it over,

For yesternight by Catesby was it fent me;

The precedent was full as long a doing.

And yet within these five hours Hastings liv'd

Untainted, unexamined, free at liberty.

Here's a good world the while.-Who is so grofs,
That cannot fee this palpable device?

Yet who fo bold, but fays, he fees it not?

Bad is the world, and all will come to nought,
When fuch ill dealings must be feen in thought.

Exit.

SCENE VII. Changes to Baynard's castle.

Enter Gloucester and Buckingham at several doors. GLO. How now, how now, what fay the citizens? BUCK. Now by the holy mother of our lord, The citizens are mum, fay 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' unfatiate greediness of his desires,
And his enforcement of the city wives;
His tyranny for trifles; his own bastardy,
As being begot, 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 difcipline in war, wisdom in peace,
Your bounty, virtue, fair humility,
Indeed, left nothing fitting for the purpose
Untouch'd, or flightly handled in discourse,
And when my oratory grew tow'rd end

I bid them, that did love their country's good,
Cry, God fave Richard, England's royal king.
GLO. And did they so?

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

But like dumb ftatues, or unbreathing ftones,,

Star'd each on other, and look'd deadly pale;

Which when I faw, I reprehended them,

And afk'd the May'r, what meant this wilful filence? His answer was, the people were not us'd

To be spoke to, except by the recorder.

Then he was urg'd to tell my tale again:

"Thus faith the duke, thus hath the duke inferr'd,"
But nothing spake in warrant from himself.
When he had done, fome followers of mine own,
At lower end o'th' hall, hurl'd up their caps,
And some ten voices cry'd, God fave king Richard!
And thus I took the vantage of those few.
"Thanks, gentle citizens end friends," quoth I,
"This general applause and chearful shout

66 Argues your wisdom, and your love to Richard."
And even here brake off and came away.

GLO. What tongueless blocks were they, would they not
Will not the mayor then and his brethren come? [fpeak?
BUCK. The mayor is here at hand; intend fome fear;
Be not you spoke with, but by mighty fuit;

And look you get a prayer-book in your hand,
And ftand between two churchmen, good my lord,
For on that ground I'll build a holy defcants
-And be not eafily won to our requests,

Play the maid's part, still answer NAY, and take it.
GLO. I go and if you plead as well for them,

As I can fay, NAY to thee, for myself;

No doubt we'll bring it to a happy issue.

[Exit Glo,

Buck. Go, go up to the leads, the lord mayor knocks.
Enter lord mayor and citizens.

-Welcome, my lord. I dance attendance here;
I think, the duke will not be spoke withal.

Enter Catesby.

Catesby, what fays your lord to my request?

CAT. He doth entreat your grace, my noble lord, To vifit him to-morrow, or next day.

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