Which, by the sign thereof, was termèd so.Moreover, urge his hateful luxury,
And bestial appetite in change of lust;
Which stretch’d unto their servants, daughters, wives,
Even where his raging eye or savage heart,
Without control, listed 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 true computation of the time,
Found that the issue was not his begot;
Which well appearèd 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.
BUCKINGHAM
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.
GLOSTER
If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard’s Castle;
Where you shall find me well accompanied
With reverend fathers and well learned bishops.
BUCKINGHAM
I go; and towards three or four o’clock
Look for the news that the Guildhall affords.
[Exit.]
GLOSTER
Go, Lovel, with all speed to Doctor Shaw.—
Go thou [to CATESBY] 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 order that no manner person
Have any time recourse unto the princes.
[Exit.]
SCENE VI. 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 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 naught,
When such ill dealing must be seen in thought.
[Exit.]
SCENE VII. London. Court of Baynard’s Castle
[Enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM, meeting.]
GLOSTER
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.
GLOSTER
Touch’d you the bastardy of Edward’s children?
BUCKINGHAM
I did; with his contráct with Lady Lucy,
And his contráct 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 mine oratory drew toward end
I bid them that did love their country’s good
Cry “God save Richard, England’s royal king!”
GLOSTER
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 wilful silence:
His answer was—the people were not us’d
