SCENE V. The same. The Tower walls, Enter Gloster and Buckingham, in rusty armour, marvellous ill-favoured. Glo. Come cousin, canst thou quake, and change Murder thy breath in middle of a word,- As if thou wert distraught, and mad with terror? At any time, to grace my stratagems. Glo. He is; and, see, he brings the mayor along. Enter the Lord Mayor and Catesby. Buck. Let me alone to entertain him.-Lord mayor, Glo. Look to the draw-bridge there. Buck. Hark, hark! a drum. Glo. Catesby, o'erlook the walls. Buck. Lord mayor, the reason we have sent for you, Glo. Look back, defend thee, here are enemies. Buck. God and our innocence defend and guard us! Enter Lovel and Ratcliff, with Hastings's head. Glo. Be patient, they are friends; Ratcliff and Lovel. * Pretending. Lov. Here is the head of that ignoble traitor, The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings. Glo. So dear I lov'd the man, that I must weep. I took him for the plainest harmless't creature, That breath'd upon the earth a Christian; Made him my book, wherein my soul recorded The history of all her secret thoughts: So smooth he daub'd his vice with show of virtue, I mean, his conversation with Shore's wife,- Buck. Well, well, he was the covert'st shelter'd traitor That ever liv'd.-Look you, my lord mayor, Glo. What! think you we are Turks, or infidels? The peace of England, and our persons' safety, May. Now, fair befal you! he deserv'd his death; After he once fell in with mistress Shore. Buck. Yet had we not determin'd he should die, Until your lordship came to see his end; Which now the loving haste of these our friends, Somewhat against our meaning, hath prevented : Because, my lord, we would have had you heard The traitor speak, and timorously confess The manner and the purpose of his treasons; That you might well have signified the same Unto the citizens, who, haply, may Misconstrue us in him, and wail his death. May. But, my good lord, your grace's word shall serve, As well as I had seen, and heard him speak: With all your just proceedings in this case. Glo. And to that end we wish'd your lordship here, . To avoid the censures of the carping world. Buck. But since you came too late of our intent, Yet witness what you hear we did intend : And so, my good lord mayor, we bid farewell. [Exit Lord Mayor. Glo. Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham. The mayor towards Guildhall 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 saying-he would make his son Heir to the crown; meaning, indeed, his house, Which, by the sign thereof, was termed 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, Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person: My princely father, then had wars in France; Buck. 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. Glo. If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard's Where you shall find me well accompanied, [Exit Buckingham. Glo. Go, Lovel, with all speed to doctor Shaw,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; 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. Here's a good world the while!-Who is so gross, * Original draft. Bad is the world; and all will come to nought, When such bad dealing must be seen in thought. [Exit. SCENE VII. The same. Court of Baynard's castle. 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, I bade them, that did love their country's good, Buck. No, so God help me, they spake not a But, like dumb statuas, or breathless stones, And ask'd the mayor, what meant this wilful silence; |