For yesternight by Catesby was it sent me; Here's a good world the while!-Who is so gross, [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. Touched you the bastardy of Edward's children? Buck. I did; with his contract with lady Lucy, 1 i. e. the original draught. 2 The king had been familiar with this lady before his marriage, to obstruct which, his mother alleged a precontract between them. But Elizabeth Lucy, being sworn to speak the truth, declared that the king had not been affianced to her, though she owned she had been his concubine. Edward, however, had been married to lady Eleanor Butler, widow of lord Butler of Sudely, and daughter to the great earl of Shrewsbury. On this ground his children were declared illegitimate by the only parliament assembled by king Richard III.; but no mention was made of Elizabeth Lucy. 3 This tale is supposed to have been first propagated by the duke of Clarence when he obtained a settlement of the crown on himself and his issue after the death of Henry VI. Sir Thomas More says that the duke of Gloster, soon after Edward's death, revived this scandal. Walpole thinks it highly improbable that Richard should have urged such a topic to the people, or "start doubts of his own legitimacy, which was too much connected with that of his brothers, to be tossed and bandied about before the multitude." He has also shown that Richard "lived in perfect har And his resemblance, being not like the duke; Both in your form and nobleness of mind; I bade them, that did love their country's good, Buck. No, so God help me, they spake not a word; But, like dumb statuas,1 or breathless stones, Stared on each other, and looked deadly pale. And asked the mayor what meant this wilful silence: - Glo. What tongueless blocks were they! Would they not speak? Will not the mayor then, and his brethren, come? Buck. The mayor is here at hand; intend some fear; mony with his mother, and lodged with her in her palace at this very time. -Historic Doubts, 4to. 1768. 1 Statue was formerly a word of three syllables; the old orthography is statua. 2 Pretend. Be not you spoke with, but by mighty suit. No doubt we'll bring it to a happy issue. Buck. Go, go, up to the leads: the lord mayor [Exit GLOSTER. knocks. Enter the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens. Enter, from the castle, CATESBY. 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 suit would he be moved, To draw him from his holy exercise. Buck. Return, good Catesby, to the gracious duke; 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. Cate. I'll signify so much unto him straight. [Exit. He is not lolling on a lewd day-bed,' 1 i. e. a couch, or sofa. But praying, to enrich his watchful soul. But, sure, I fear, we shall ne'er win him to it. May. Marry, God defend, his grace should say us nay! Buck. I fear he will. Here Catesby comes again; Re-enter CATESBY. Now, Catesby, what says his grace? Cate. He wonders to what end you have assembled Such troops of citizens to come to him, His grace not being warned thereof before. [Exit CATESBY. Enter GLOSTER, in a gallery above, between two Bishops. CATESBY returns. May. See, where his grace stands 'tween two clergymen ! 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.- And pardon us the interruption Of thy devotion, and right-Christian zeal. Glo. My lord, there needs no such apology; I rather do beseech you pardon me, Who, earnest in the service of my God, Neglect the visitation of my friends. But, leaving this, what is your grace's pleasure? Glo. I do suspect, I have done some offence, And that you come to reprehend my ignorance. your grace, On our entreaties, to amend your fault! Glo. Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land? Buck. Know, then, it is your fault, that you resign The supreme seat, the throne majestical, The sceptred office of your ancestors, Your state of fortune, and your due of birth, Whilst, in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts, 1 Shouldered in may mean rudely thrust into. Johnson proposes to read smouldered. Mason thinks we should read smothered. 2 Recover. The word is frequently used by Spenser; and both as a verb and a substantive by Lyly. |