2210Yet who so bold, but sayes he sees it not?

2211Bad is the World, and all will come to nought,

2212When such ill dealing must be seene in thought. Exit.

2214Rich. How now, how now, what say the Citizens?

2215Buck. Now by the holy Mother of our Lord,

2216The Citizens are mum, say not a word.

2217Rich. Toucht you the Bastardie of Edwards Children?

2218Buck I did, with his Contract with Lady Lucy,

2219And his Contract by Deputie in France,

2220Th'vnsatiate greedinesse of his desire,

2221And his enforcement of the Citie Wiues,

2222His Tyrannie for Trifles, his owne Bastardie,

2223As being got, your Father then in France,

2224And his resemblance, being not like the Duke.

2225Withall, I did inferre your Lineaments,

2226Being the right Idea of your Father,

2227Both in your forme, and Noblenesse of Minde:

2228Layd open all your Victories in Scotland,

2229Your Discipline in Warre, Wisdome in Peace,

2230Your Bountie, Vertue, faire Humilitie:

2231Indeed, left nothing fitting for your purpose,

2232Vntoucht, or sleightly handled in discourse.

2233And when my Oratorie drew toward end,

2234I bid them that did loue their Countries good,

2235Cry, God saue Richard, Englands Royall King.

2236Rich. And did they so?

2237Buck. No, so God helpe me, they spake not a word,

2238But like dumbe Statues, or breathing Stones,

2239Star'd each on other, and look'd deadly pale:

2240Which when I saw, I reprehended them,

2241And ask'd the Maior, what meant this wilfull silence?

2242His answer was, the people were not vsed

2243To be spoke to, but by the Recorder.

2244Then he was vrg'd to tell my Tale againe:

2245Thus sayth the Duke, thus hath the Duke inferr'd,

2246But nothing spoke, in warrant from himselfe.

2247When he had done, some followers of mine owne,

2248At lower end of the Hall, hurld vp their Caps,

2249And some tenne voyces cry'd, God saue King Richard:

2250And thus I tooke the vantage of those few.

2251Thankes gentle Citizens, and friends, quoth I,

2252This generall applause, and chearefull showt,

2253Argues your wisdome, and your loue to Richard:

2254And euen here brake off, and came away.

2255Rich. What tongue-lesse Blockes were they,

2256Would they not speake?

2257Will not the Maior then, and his Brethren, come?

2258Buck. The Maior is here at hand: intend some feare,

2259Be not you spoke with, but by mightie suit:

2260And looke you get a Prayer-Booke in your hand,

2261And stand betweene two Church-men, good my Lord,

2262For on that ground Ile make a holy Descant:

2263And be not easily wonne to our requests,

2264Play the Maids part, still answer nay, and take it.

2265Rich. I goe: and if you plead as well for them,

2266As I can say nay to thee for my selfe,

2267No doubt we bring it to a happie issue.

2268Buck. Go, go vp to the Leads, the Lord Maior knocks.

2270Welcome, my Lord, I dance attendance here,

2271I thinke the Duke will not be spoke withall.

2273Buck. Now Catesby, what sayes your Lord to my

2274request?

2275Catesby. He doth entreat your Grace, my Noble Lord,

2276To visit him to morrow, or next day:

2277He is within, with two right reuerend Fathers,

2278Diuinely bent to Meditation,

2279And in no Worldly suites would he be mou'd,

2280To draw him from his holy Exercise.

2281Buck. Returne, good Catesby, to the gracious Duke,

2282Tell him, my selfe, the Maior and Aldermen,

2283In deepe designes, in matter of great moment,

2284No lesse importing then our generall good,

2285Are come to haue some conference with his Grace.

2286Catesby. Ile signifie so much vnto him straight. Exit.

2287Buck. Ah ha, my Lord, this Prince is not an Edward,

2288He is not lulling on a lewd Loue-Bed,

2289But on his Knees, at Meditation:

2290Not dallying with a Brace of Curtizans,

2291But meditating with two deepe Diuines:

2292Not sleeping, to engrosse his idle Body,

2293But praying, to enrich his watchfull Soule.

2294Happie were England, would this vertuous Prince

2295Take on his Grace the Soueraigntie thereof.

2296But sure I feare we shall not winne him to it.

2297Maior. Marry God defend his Grace should say vs

2298nay.

2299Buck. I feare he will: here Catesby comes againe.

2301Now Catesby, what sayes his Grace?

2302Catesby. He wonders to what end you haue assembled

2303Such troopes of Citizens, to come to him,

2304His Grace not being warn'd thereof before:

2305He feares, my Lord, you meane no good to him.

2306Buck. Sorry I am, my Noble Cousin should

2307Suspect me, that I meane no good to him:

2308By Heauen, we come to him in perfit loue,

2309And so once more returne, and tell his Grace. Exit.

2310When holy and deuout Religious men

2311Are at their Beades, 'tis much to draw them thence,

2312So sweet is zealous Contemplation.

2314Maior. See where his Grace stands, tweene two Clergie

2315men.

2316Buck. Two Props of Vertue, for a Christian Prince,

2317To stay him from the fall of Vanitie:

2318And see a Booke of Prayer in his hand,

2319True Ornaments to know a holy man.

2320Famous Plantagenet, most gracious Prince,

2321Lend fauourable eare to our requests,

2322And pardon vs the interruption

2323Of thy Deuotion, and right Christian Zeale.

2324Rich. My Lord, there needes no such Apologie:

2325I doe beseech your Grace to pardon me,

2326Who earnest in the seruice of my God,

2327Deferr'd the visitation of my friends.

2328But leauing this, what is your Graces pleasure?

2329Buck. Euen that (I hope) which pleaseth God aboue,

2330And all good men, of this vngouern'd Ile.

2331Rich. I doe suspect I haue done some offence,

2332That seemes disgracious in the Cities eye,

2333And that you come to reprehend my ignorance.