2084Richard. Come Cousin,

2085Canst thou quake, and change thy colour,

2086Murther thy breath in middle of a word,

2087And then againe begin, and stop againe,

2088As if thou were distraught, and mad with terror?

2089Buck. Tut, I can counterfeit the deepe Tragedian,

2090Speake, and looke backe, and prie on euery side,

2091Tremble and start at wagging of a Straw:

2092Intending deepe suspition, gastly Lookes

2093Are at my seruice, like enforced Smiles;

2094And both are readie in their Offices,

2095At any time to grace my Stratagemes.

2096But what, is Catesby gone?

2097Rich. He is, and see he brings the Maior along.

2099Buck. Lord Maior.

2100Rich. Looke to the Draw-Bridge there.

2101Buck. Hearke, a Drumme.

2102Rich. Catesby, o're-looke the Walls.

2103Buck. Lord Maior, the reason we haue sent.

2104Rich. Looke back, defend thee, here are Enemies.

2105Buck. God and our Innocencie defend, and guard vs.

2107Rich. Be patient, they are friends: Ratcliffe, and Louell.

2108Louell. Here is the Head of that ignoble Traytor,

2109The dangerous and vnsuspected Hastings.

2110Rich. So deare I lou'd the man, that I must weepe:

2111I tooke him for the plainest harmelesse Creature,

2112That breath'd vpon the Earth, a Christian.

2113Made him my Booke, wherein my Soule recorded

2114The Historie of all her secret thoughts.

2115So smooth he dawb'd his Vice with shew of Vertue,

2116That his apparant open Guilt omitted,

2117I meane, his Conuersation with Shores Wife,

2118He liu'd from all attainder of suspects.

2119Buck. Well, well, he was the couertst sheltred Traytor

2120That euer liu'd.

2121Would you imagine, or almost beleeue,

2122Wert not, that by great preseruation

2123We liue to tell it, that the subtill Traytor

2124This day had plotted, in the Councell-House,

2125To murther me, and my good Lord of Gloster.

2126Maior. Had he done so?

2127Rich. What? thinke you we are Turkes, or Infidels?

2128Or that we would, against the forme of Law,

2129Proceed thus rashly in the Villaines death,

2130But that the extreme perill of the case,

2131The Peace of England, and our Persons safetie,

2132Enforc'd vs to this Execution.

2133Maior. Now faire befall you, he deseru'd his death,

2134And your good Graces both haue well proceeded,

2135To warne false Traytors from the like Attempts.

2136Buck. I neuer look'd for better at his hands,

2137After he once fell in with Mistresse Shore:

2138Yet had we not determin'd he should dye,

2139Vntill your Lordship came to see his end,

2140Which now the louing haste of these our friends,

2141Something against our meanings, haue preuented;

2142Because, my Lord, I would haue had you heard

2143The Traytor speake, and timorously confesse

2144The manner and the purpose of his Treasons:

2145That you might well haue signify'd the same

2146Vnto the Citizens, who haply may

2147Misconster vs in him, and wayle his death.

2148Ma. But, my good Lord, your Graces words shal serue,

2149As well as I had seene, and heard him speake:

2150And doe not doubt, right Noble Princes both,

2151But Ile acquaint our dutious Citizens

2152With all your iust proceedings in this case.

2153Rich. And to that end we wish'd your Lordship here,

2154T'auoid the Censures of the carping World.

2155Buck. Which since you come too late of our intent,

2156Yet witnesse what you heare we did intend:

2157And so, my good Lord Maior, we bid farwell.

2159Rich. Goe after, after, Cousin Buckingham.

2160The Maior towards Guild-Hall hyes him in all poste:

2161There, at your meetest vantage of the time,

2162Inferre the Bastardie of Edwards Children:

2163Tell them, how Edward put to death a Citizen,

2164Onely for saying, he would make his Sonne

2165Heire to the Crowne, meaning indeed his House,

2166Which, by the Signe thereof, was tearmed so.

2167Moreouer, vrge his hatefull Luxurie,

2168And beastiall appetite in change of Lust,

2169Which stretcht vnto their Seruants, Daughters, Wiues,

2170Euen where his raging eye, or sauage heart,

2171Without controll, lusted to make a prey.

2172Nay, for a need, thus farre come neere my Person:

2173Tell them, when that my Mother went with Child

2174Of that insatiate Edward; Noble Yorke,

2175My Princely Father, then had Warres in France,

2176And by true computation of the time,

2177Found, that the Issue was not his begot:

2178Which well appeared in his Lineaments,

2179Being nothing like the Noble Duke, my Father:

2180Yet touch this sparingly, as 'twere farre off,

2181Because, my Lord, you know my Mother liues.

2182Buck. Doubt not, my Lord, Ile play the Orator,

2183As if the Golden Fee, for which I plead,

2184Were for my selfe: and so, my Lord, adue.

2185Rich. If you thriue wel, bring them to Baynards Castle,

2186Where you shall finde me well accompanied

2187With reuerend Fathers, and well-learned Bishops.

2188Buck. I goe, and towards three or foure a Clocke

2189Looke for the Newes that the Guild-Hall affoords.

2191Rich. Goe Louell with all speed to Doctor Shaw,

2192Goe thou to Fryer Peuker, bid them both

2193Meet me within this houre at Baynards Castle. Exit.

2194Now will I goe to take some priuie order,

2195To draw the Brats of Clarence out of sight,

2196And to giue order, that no manner person

2197Haue any time recourse vnto the Princes. Exeunt.

2199Scr. Here is the Indictment of the good Lord Hastings,

2200Which in a set Hand fairely is engross'd,

2201That it may be to day read o're in Paules.

2202And marke how well the sequell hangs together:

2203Eleuen houres I haue spent to write it ouer,

2204For yester-night by Catesby was it sent me,

2205The Precedent was full as long a doing,

2206And yet within these fiue houres Hastings liu'd,

2207Vntainted, vnexamin'd, free, at libertie.

2208Here's a good World the while.

2209Who is so grosse, that cannot see this palpable deuice?