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Go thou [To CAT.] 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. [Exit.

SCENE VI.

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 have 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,

8

7 to doctor Shaw,-] Shaw and Penker were two popular preachers. Instead of a pamphlet being published by the Secretary of the Treasury, to furnish the advocates for the administration of the day, with plausible topicks of argument on great political measures, (the established mode of the present time) formerly it was customary to publish the court creed from the pulpit at Saint Paul's Cross. As Richard now employed Dr. Shaw to support his claim to the crown, so, about fifteen years before, the great Earl of Warwick employed his chaplain Dr. Goddard to convince the people that Henry VI. ought to be restored, and that Edward IV. was an usurper. MALONE.

"The precedent -] The original draft from which the engrossment was made.

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 bad dealing must be seen in thought.

SCENE VII.

The same. Court of Baynard's Castle.

Exit.

Enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM, meeting. Glo. How now, how now? what say the citizens? 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 children?

Buck. 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 to an end,

I bade them, that did love their country's good,
Cry-God save Richard, England's Royal king!

9 seen in thought,] That is, seen in silence, without notice or detection.

Glo. And did they so?

Buck. No, so God help me, they spake not a word; But, like dumb statuas, or breathless 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 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 cried, God save king Richard! And thus I took the vantage of those few,Thanks, gentle citizens, and friends, quoth I; This general applause, and cheerful shout, 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 speak?

Will not the mayor then, and his brethren, come? Buck. The mayor is here at hand, intend some fear;1

Be not you spoke with, but by mighty suit:
And look you get a prayer-book in your hand,
And stand between two churchmen, good my lord;
For on that ground I'll make a holy descant:
And be not easily 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 say nay to thee for myself,

No doubt we'll bring it to a happy issue.2

5

intend some fear:] Perhaps, pretend; though intend will stand in the sense of giving attention. JOHNSON.

As I can say nay to thee, &c.] i. e. if (says Richard) you speak for them as plausibly as I in my own person, or for my own pur

Buck. Go, go, up to the leads; the lord mayor [Exit GLOSTER.

knocks.

Enter the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens. Welcome, my lord: I dance attendance here; I think, the duke will not be spoke withal.—

Enter, from the Castle, CATESBY.

Now, Catesby! what says your lord to my request?
Cate. He doth entreat your grace, my noble lord,
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 mov'd,

To draw him from his holy exercise.

Buck. Return, good Catesby, to the gracious duke; Tell him, myself, the mayor and aldermen, In deep designs, in matter of great moment, No less importing than our general good, Are come to have some conference with his grace. Cate. I'll signify so much unto him straight.

[Exit. Buck. Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an Edward!

He is not lolling on a lewd day-bed,3
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 virtuous prince
Take on himself the sovereignty thereof:

poses, shall seem to deny your suit, there is no doubt but we shall bring all to a happy issue.

3

day-bed,] i. e. a couch, or sofa.

to engross-] To fatten, to pamper,

But, sure, I fear, we shall ne'er win him to it.
May. Marry, God defend, his

us nay! 5

grace

should say

Buck. I fear, he will: Here Catesby comes again;

Re-enter CATESBY.

Now, Catesby, what says his grace?

Cate. He wonders to what end you have assembled Such troops of citizens to come to him,

His

grace not being warn'd thereof before, He fears, my lord, 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, we come to him in perfect love; And so once more return and tell his grace. [Exit CATESBY. When holy and devout religious men

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

Enter GLOSTER, in a Gallery above, between Two Bishops. CATESBY returns.

May. See, where his grace stands 'tween 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 ear to our requests;
And pardon us the interruption

Of thy devotion, and right christian zeal.

God defend, his grace should say us nay!] This pious and courtly mayor was Edmund Shaw, brother to Dr. Shaw, whom Richard had employed to prove his title to the crown, from the pulpit at Saint Paul's Cross.

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