Proceed thus rashly43 in the villain’s death,
But that the extreme peril of the case,
The peace of England and our person’s safety,
Enforced us to this execution?
MAYOR Now fair47 befall you! He deserved his death,
And your good graces, both have well proceeded48
To warn false traitors from the like attempts.
BUCKINGHAM I never looked for50 better at his hands,
After he once fell in51 with Mistress Shore.
Yet had we not determined he should die52
Until your lordship came to see53 his end,
Which now the loving haste of these our friends,
Something against our meanings, have prevented;
Because, my lord, I would have had you heard
The traitor speak, and timorously57 confess
The manner and the purpose of his treasons,
That you might well have signified the same
Unto the citizens, who haply60 may
Misconster us in him61 and wail his death.
MAYOR But, my good lord, your grace’s words shall serve
As63 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.
RICHARD And to that end we wished your lordship here,
T’avoid the censures of the carping68 world.
BUCKINGHAM Which since you come too late of69 our intent.
Yet witness70 what you hear we did intend.
And so, my good Lord Mayor, we bid farewell.
Exit Mayor
RICHARD Go, after, after, cousin buckingham.
The mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post73:
There, at your meetest vantage74 of the time,
Infer75 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 house78,
Which, by the sign79 thereof was termèd so.
Moreover, urge his hateful luxury80
And bestial appetite in change of lust,81
Which stretched unto their servants, daughters, wives,
Even where83 his raging eye or savage heart,
Without control, lusted to make a prey.
Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person85:
Tell them, when that my mother went with child86
Of that insatiate Edward, noble York
My princely father then had wars in France,
And by true89 computation of the time,
Found that the issue was not his begot90 —
Which well appearèd in his lineaments91,
Being nothing like the noble duke my father.
Yet touch this sparingly93, as ’twere far off,
Because, my lord, you know my mother lives.
BUCKINGHAM Doubt not, my lord, I’ll play the orator
As if the golden fee96 for which I plead
Were for myself. And so, my lord, adieu.
RICHARD If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard’s Castle98,
Where you shall find me well accompanied
With reverend fathers and well-learnèd bishops.
BUCKINGHAM I go: and towards three or four o’clock
Look for the news that the Guildhall affords.
Exit Buckingham
RICHARD Go, Lovell, with all speed to Doctor Shaw.—103
To Catesby or Ratcliffe
Go thou to Friar Penker: bid them both
Meet me within this hour at Baynard’s Castle.
Exeunt [all but Richard]
Now will I go to take some privy order106
To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight,
And to give order that no manner108 person
Have any time recourse109 unto the princes.
Exit
[Act 3 Scene 6]
running scene 12
Enter a Scrivener
SCRIVENER Here is the indictment1 of the good Lord Hastings,
Shows a paper
Which in a set hand fairly is engrossed2,
That it may be today read o’er in Paul’s.3
And mark how well the sequel4 hangs together:
Eleven hours I have spent to write it over,
For yesternight by Catesby was it sent me,
The precedent7 was full as long a-doing.
Untainted, unexamined, free, at9 liberty.
Here’s a good world the while! Who is so gross10
That cannot see this palpable device?11
Yet who so bold, but says he sees it not?
Bad is the world, and all will come to nought
Where such ill dealing must be seen in thought.14
Exit
[Act 3 Scene 7]
running scene 13
Enter Richard and Buckingham, at several doors
RICHARD How now, how now? What say the citizens?
BUCKINGHAM Now, by the holy mother of our lord,
The citizens are mum3, say not a word.
RICHARD Touched you4 the bastardy of Edward’s children?
BUCKINGHAM I did: with his contract5 with Lady Lucy,
And his contract by deputy6 in France,
Th’unsatiate greediness of his desire,
And his enforcement8 of the city wives,
His tyranny for trifles9, his own bastardy,
As being got10, 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 open15 all your victories in Scotland,
Your discipline16 in war, wisdom in peace,
Your bounty17, virtue, fair humility:
Indeed, left nothing fitting for18 your purpose
Untouched, or slightly19 handled, in discourse.
And when my oratory drew toward end,
I bid them that did love their country’s good
Cry ‘God save Richard, England’s royal king!’
RICHARD And did they so?
BUCKINGHAM No, so God help me, they spake not a word,
But, like dumb statues or breathing stones,
Stared each on other and looked deadly pale:
Which when I saw, I reprehended them,
And asked the mayor what meant this wilful silence:
His answer was, the people were not used
To be spoke to but by the recorder.30
Then he was urged to tell my tale again:
‘Thus saith the duke, thus hath the duke inferred32’ —
But nothing spoke in warrant from himself.33
When he had done, some followers of mine own,
At lower end of the hall35, hurled up their caps,
And some ten voices cried, ‘God save King Richard!’
And thus I took the vantage37 of those few:
‘Thanks, gentle citizens and friends,’ quoth I,
‘This general39 applause and cheerful shout
Argues40 your wisdom and your love to Richard.’
And even here brake41 off, and came away.
RICHARD What tongueless blocks42 were they? Would they not speak?
Will not the mayor then and his brethren43 come?
BUCKINGHAM The mayor is here at hand. Intend some fear44:
Be not you spoke with, but by mighty suit.45
And look46 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 descant48:
And be not easily won49 to our requests,
Play the maid’s part: still answer nay, and take it.50
RICHARD I go. And if you plead as well for them
As I can say nay to thee for myself52,
No doubt we bring it to a happy issue.53
BUCKINGHAM Go, go, up to the leads.54 The Lord Mayor knocks.
[Exit Richard]
Enter the Mayor and Citizens
Welcome, my lord. I dance attendance55 here:
I think the duke will not be spoke withal.
Enter Catesby
Now, Catesby, what says your lord to my request.
CATESBY He doth entreat your grace, my noble lord,
To visit him tomorrow or next day:
He is within, with two right reverend fathers,
Divinely bent61 to meditation,
And in no worldly suits62 would he be moved,
To draw him from his holy exercise.63
BUCKINGHAM Return, good Catesby, to the gracious duke:
Tell him myself, the Mayor and Alderman,
In deep designs, in matter of great moment66,
No less importing67 than our general good,
Are come to have some conference with his grace.
CATESBY I’ll signify so much unto him straight.
Exit
BUCKINGHAM Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an Edward!
He is not lulling71 on a lewd love-bed,
But on his knees at meditation:
Not dallying with a brace73 of courtesans,
But meditating with two deep divines74:
Not sleeping, to engross75 his idle body,
But praying, to enrich his watchful76 soul.
Happy77 were England, would this virtuous prince
Take on his grace78 the sovereignty thereof:
But sure I fear we shall not win him to it.
MAYOR Marry, God defend80 his grace should say us nay!
BUCKINGHAM I fear he will. — Here Catesby comes again.
Enter Catesby
Now, Catesby, what says his grace?
CATESBY He wonders to what end you have assembled
Such troops of citizens to come to him,
His grace not being warned thereof before.
He fears, my lord, you mean no good to him.
BUCKINGHAM Sorry I am my noble cousin should
Suspect me that I mean no good to him.
By heaven, we come to him in perfect89 love,
And so once more return and tell his grace.
Exit [Catesby]
When holy and devout religious men
Are at their beads92, ’tis hard to draw them thence,
So sweet is zealous93 contemplation.
Enter Richard aloft, between two Bishops. [Catesby returns]
MAYOR See, where his grace stands ’tween two clergymen.
BUCKINGHAM Two props95 of virtue for a Christian prince,
To stay96 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 right102 Christian zeal.
RICHARD My lord, there needs no such apology:
I do beseech your grace to pardon me,
Who, earnest in the service of my God,
Deferred the visitation106 of my friends.
But, leaving this, what is your grace’s pleasure?
BUCKINGHAM Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God above,
And all good men of this ungoverned isle.
RICHARD I do suspect I have done some offence
That seems disgracious111 in the city’s eye,
And that you come to reprehend my ignorance.112
BUCKINGHAM You have, my lord: would it might please your grace,
On our entreaties, to amend your fault.
RICHARD Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land?115
BUCKINGHAM Know then, it is your fault that you resign
The supreme seat, the throne majestical,
The sceptred118 office of your ancestors,
Your state of fortune119 and your due of birth,
The lineal120 glory of your royal house,
To the corruption of a blemished stock121;
Whiles, in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts,
Which here we waken to our country’s good,
The noble isle doth want his proper124 limbs:
His face defaced with scars of infamy125,
His royal stock graft with ignoble plants126,
And almost shouldered in the swallowing gulf127
Of dark forgetfulness and deep oblivion.
Which to recure129, 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 factor133 for another’s gain;
But as successively134 from blood to blood,
Your right of birth, your empery135, your own.
For this, consorted136 with the citizens,
Your very worshipful137 and loving friends,
And by their vehement instigation,
In this just cause come I to move139 your grace.
RICHARD I cannot tell if to depart in silence,
Or bitterly to speak in your reproof
Best firteth my degree or your condition.142
If not to answer, you might haply143 think
Tongue-tied ambition, not replying, yielded144
To bear the golden yoke of sovereignty,
Which fondly146 you would here impose on me.
If to reprove you for this suit of yours,
So seasoned with your faithful love to me,
Then on the other side I checked149 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 desert153
Unmeritable shuns your high request.
First, if all obstacles were cut away155,
And that my path were even156 to the crown,
As the ripe revenue157 and due of birth,
Yet so much is my poverty of spirit,
So mighty and so many my defects,
That I would rather hide me from my greatness160 —
Being a bark to brook161 no mighty sea —
Than in my greatness covet to be hid162,
And in the vapour163 of my glory smothered.
But, God be thanked, there is no need of me,
And much I need165 to help you, were there need.
The royal tree166 hath left us royal fruit,
Which, mellowed by the stealing167 hours of time,
Will well become the seat168 of majesty,
And make, no doubt, us happy by his reign.
On him I lay that170 you would lay on me,
The right and fortune of his happy171 stars,
Which God defend that I should wring172 from him!
BUCKINGHAM My lord, this argues173 conscience in your grace,
But the respects thereof are nice174 and trivial,
All circumstances well considerèd.
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 —178
Your mother lives a witness to his vow —
And afterward by substitute180 betrothed
To Bona, sister181 to the King of France.
These both put off, a poor petitioner182,
A care-crazed183 mother to a many sons,
A beauty-waning and distressèd widow,
Even in the afternoon of her best days,
Made prize and purchase of his wanton186 eye,
Seduced the pitch187 and height of his degree
To base declension and loathed bigamy.188
By her, in his unlawful bed, he got
This Edward, whom our manners190 call the prince.
More bitterly could I expostulate191,
Save that, for reverence to some alive192,
I give a sparing193 limit to my tongue.
Then, good my lord, take to your royal self
This proffered benefit of dignity195:
If not to bless us and the land withal,
Yet to draw forth your noble ancestry
From the corruption of abusing times,
Unto a lineal true-derivèd199 course.
To Richard
MAYOR Do, good my lord: your citizens entreat you.
BUCKINGHAM Refuse not, mighty lord, this proffered love.
CATESBY O, make them joyful, grant their lawful suit!
RICHARD Alas, why would you heap this care203 on me?
I am unfit for state and majesty.
I do beseech you, take it not amiss:
I cannot nor I will not yield to you.
BUCKINGHAM If you refuse it — as, in love and zeal207,
Loath to depose the child, your brother’s son,
As well we know your tenderness of heart
And gentle, kind, effeminate210 remorse,
Which we have noted in you to your kindred
And equally indeed to all estates212 —
Yet know, whe’er you accept 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 of your house:
And in this resolution here we leave you.—
Come citizens, we will entreat no more.
Exeunt [Buckingham with Citizens]
CATESBY Call him again, sweet prince. Accept their suit.
If you deny them all the land will rue it.
RICHARD Will you enforce me to a world of cares?
Call them again. I am not made of stones,
But penetrable to your kind entreaties,
Albeit against my conscience and my soul.
Enter Buckingham and the rest
Cousin of Buckingham, and sage, grave men,