SCENE 6.London.A street
Enter a SCRIVENER
SCRIVENER.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 gros That cannot see this palpable device?Yet who's so bold but says he sees it not?Bad is the world;and all will come to nought,When such ill dealing must be seen in thought.Exit
SCENE 7.London.Baynard's Castle
Enter GLOUCESTER and BUCKINGHAM,at several doors
GLOUCESTER.How now,how now!What say the citizens?
BUCKINGHAM.Now,by the holy Mother of our Lord,The citizens are mum,say not a word.GLOUCESTER.Touch'd you the bastardy of Edward's children?BUCKINGHAM.I did;with his contract with Lady Lucy,And his contract by deputy in France;Th'insatiate greediness of his desire,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 mine oratory drew toward end I bid them that did love their country's good Cry 'God save Richard,England's royal King!'GLOUCESTER.And did they so?
BUCKINGHAM.No,so God help me,they spake not a word;But,like dumb statues or breathing stones,Star'd each on other,and look'd deadly pale.Which when I saw,I reprehended them,And ask'd the Mayor what meant this wilfull silence.His answer was,the people were not used 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 of 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 wisdoms and your love to Richard.'And even here brake off and came away.GLOUCESTER.What,tongueless blocks were they?Would they not speak?Will not the Mayor then and his brethren come?BUCKINGHAM.The Mayor is here at hand.Intend some fear;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.GLOUCESTER.I go;and if you plead as well for them As I can say nay to thee for myself,No doubt we bring it to a happy issue.BUCKINGHAM.Go,go,up to the leads;the Lord Mayor knocks.Exit GLOUCESTER
Enter the LORD MAYOR,ALDERMEN,and citizens
Welcome,my lord.I dance attendance 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 to-morrow or next day.He is within,with two right reverend fathers,Divinely bent to meditation;And in no worldly suits would he be mov'd,To draw him from his holy exercise.BUCKINGHAM.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.CATESBY.I'll signify so much unto him straight.Exit BUCKINGHAM.Ah ha,my lord,this prince is not an Edward!He is not lolling on a lewd love-bed,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 his Grace the sovereignty thereof;But,sure,I fear we shall not win him to it.MAYOR.Marry,God defend his Grace should say us nay!BUCKINGHAM.I fear he will.Here Catesby comes again.
Re-enter CATESBY
Now,Catesby,what says his Grace?CATESBY.My lord,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.BUCKINGHAM.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 much to draw them thence,So sweet is zealous contemplation.