Glou. Touch'd you the bastardy of Edward's chil

dren?

Buck. I did; with his contract with Lady Lucy,
And his contract by deputy in France;
The unsatiate 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,

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Being the right idea of your father,

Both in your form and nobleness of mind;

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Laid open all your victories in Scotland,

Your discipline in war, wisdom in peace,
Your bounty, virtue, fair humility;

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Indeed, left nothing fitting for your purpose
Untouch'd or slightly handled in discourse.
And when my oratory drew toward end,
I bid them that did love their country's good
Cry, "God save Richard, England's royal king!"

Glou. And did they so?

Buck. No, so God help me, they spake not a word; But, like dumb statuës or breathing stones, Star'd each on other, and look'd deadly pale; Which when I saw, I reprehended them,

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And ask'd the Mayor what meant this wilful 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,

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"Thus saith the Duke, thus hath the Duke in

ferr'd;"

But nothing spoke in warrant from himself.

When he had done, some followers of mine own,
At the 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,

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"Thanks, gentle citizens and friends," quoth I; "This general applause and cheerful shout Argues your wisdom and your love to Richard :" And even here brake off, and came away. Glou. What tongueless blocks were they! Would they not speak?

[Buck. No, by my troth, my lord.]

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Glou. Will not the Mayor then and his brethren

come?

Buck. The Mayor is here at hand.

Intend some fear; Be not you spoke with, but by mighty suit;

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And look you get a prayer-book in your hand,
And stand between two churchmen, good my

For on that ground I'll make a holy descant
And be not easily won to our requests.

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Play the maid's part, still answer nay, and take

it.

Glou. I go; and if you plead as well for them
As I can say nay to thee for myself,
No doubt we'll bring it to a happy issue.

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Buck. Go, go up to the leads; the Lord Mayor knocks. Exit [Gloucester].

Enter the Mayor and Citizens.

Welcome, my lord! I dance attendance here;
I think the Duke will not be spoke withal.

Enter Catesby [from the castle].

[Here comes his servant.]

Now, Catesby, what says your lord to my request?
Cate. 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.

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Buck. Return, good Catesby, to the gracious Duke ; 65
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.

Exit.

Cate. I'll signify so much unto him straight.
Buck. Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an Edward!

He is not lolling on a lewd love-bed,

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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;

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But, sure, I fear, we shall not win him to it. 80 May. Marry, God defend his Grace should say us

nay!

Buck. I fear he will. Here Catesby comes again.

Re-enter Catesby.

Cate.

Now, Catesby, what says his Grace?

[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.
Buck. 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.

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Exit Catesby.

When holy and devout religious men
Are at their beads, 'tis much to draw them thence,
So sweet is zealous contemplation.

Enter Gloucester aloft, between two Bishops. [Catesby returns].

May. See, where his Grace stands 'tween two clergy

men!

Buck. Two props of virtue for a Christian prince,
To stay him from the fall of vanity;
And, see, a book of prayer in his hand,
True ornaments to know a holy man.
Famous Plantagenet, most gracious prince,
Lend favourable ear to our requests;
And pardon us the interruption

Of thy devotion and right Christian zeal.
Glou. My lord, there needs no such apology.

I do beseech your Grace to pardon me,
Who, earnest in the service of my God,
Deferr'd the visitation of my friends.

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But, leaving this, what is your Grace's pleasure? Buck. Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God above, And all good men of this ungovern'd isle.

Glou. I do suspect I have done some offence

That seems disgracious in the city's eye,

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And that you come to reprehend my ignorance. Buck. You have, my lord. Would it might please your Grace,

On our entreaties, to amend your fault!

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Glou. Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land? Buck. Know then, it is your fault that you resign

H