Receiving Buckingham's profession of good faith, Catesby goes out, and thereupon Richard enters "aloft, betweene two Bishops " I (1. 94). I must premise (1) that nothing said by More, or any other historical authority, supplied a hint even for the dramatic Richard's refusal of an audience on the ground of preoccupation with "holy Exercise" (2) the words "with a byshop on euery hand of him "—which I have placed between square brackets-were added by Halle or Grafton to More's text. I resume More's narrative at the point when, "on the morrow after " Buckingham's speech, comming to Bainards castell, vnto protector. the lord ham sent word to Richard that company desired an an import [Richard come till he [Hol. iii. 731/1/11. More, 74/27.] the maior with all the The maiors aldermen,2 and chiefe commoners of the citie, in their best maner apparelled, assembling themselues togither, resorted vnto Bainards castell, where the protector laie. To which place repaired also, (according to their appointment,) the duke of Buckingham, and diuerse noble men with him, beside manie knights and other [Buckinggentlemen. And therevpon the duke sent word vnto the lord protector, of the being there of a great and honourable companie, to mooue a great matter vnto his grace. Wherevpon the protector made difficultie to come out vnto them, but if he first knew some ant matter.] part of their errand, as though he doubted and partlie mistrusted declined to the comming of such a number vnto him so suddenlie, without anie warning, or knowledge whether they came for good or harme. Then the duke, when he had shewed this to the maior and other, that they might thereby see how little the protector looked for this matter, they sent vnto him by the messenger such louing message againe, and therewith so humblie besought him, to vouchsafe that they might resort to his presence to propose their intent, of which they would vnto none other person anie part disclose; that at the last he came foorth of his chamber, and yet not downe [After vnto them, but stood aboue in a gallerie ouer them [with a byshop on euery hand of him], where they might see him, and speake to him, as though he would not yet come too neere them till he wist what they ment. 1 94. Enter Richard aloft, . . Bishops.] F. Enter Rich. with two bishops aloft (a loste Q1).] Q. Richard's summons of Shaw and Penker to meet him at Baynard's Castle (III. v. 103-105) is not in the Qq. See p. 376 above. 2 In the F. version of III. vii. 66, "the Maior and Aldermen " desire a conference with Richard. The Q. reads: "the Maior and Cittizens;" and F. has (1. 55): "Enter the Maior, and Citizens." knew somebusiness.] thing of their another message he came forth and stood in a gallery.] Speaking on behalf of the Mayor and citizens, Buckingham thus addresses Richard (11. 100-103): Famous Plantagenet, most gracious Prince, And pardon vs the interruption Of thy Deuotion and right Christian Zeale. Richard asks "what is your Graces pleasure?" and Buckingham answering (11. 109, 110), Euen that (I hope) which pleaseth God aboue, And all good men of this vngouern'd Ile ; proceeds, after some flattery, to make known their suit (11. 130-136): we heartily solicite Your gracious selfe to take on you the charge And Kingly Gouernment of this your Land; Or lowly Factor for anothers gaine; But as successiuely, from Blood to Blood, Your Right of Birth, your Empyrie, your owne. 132 136 Richard's answer (11. 141-173) contains nothing resembling the speech attributed to him by More, save in ll. 148-150; 171. With these lines compare the passage, "Notwithstanding, he not onlie . . . to the prince.' If, says Richard, I elect to keep silence, you might deem that I consented; If to reproue you for this suit of yours, (So season'd with your faithfull loue to me,) 148 On him [Edward V.] I lay that you would lay on me,. . . 171 [Hol. iii. 731/1/39. More, 75/20.] And thervpon the duke of [Bucking Buckingham first made humble petition vnto him on the behalfe of them all, that his grace would pardon them, and licence them to propose vnto his grace the intent of their comming, without his displeasure; without which pardon obteined, they durst not be bold to mooue him of that matter. ham craved Richard's pardon beforehand for the intent of their coming.] [Richard gave In which albeit they ment as much honor to his grace, as wealth to all the realme beside, yet were they not sure how his grace would take it; whome they would in no wise offend. Then the protector (as he was verie gentle of himselfe, and also longed sore to wit what they ment) gaue him leaue to propose what him Buckingham liked; verelie trusting (for the good mind that he bare them all) none of them anie thing would intend vnto himward, wherewith he ought to bee greeued. When the duke had this leaue and pardon to speake, then waxed he bold to shew him their intent and 1 148-150. If friends] F. om. Q. leave to speak.] purpose, with all the causes moouing them therevnto (as ye before haue heard); and finallie to beseech his grace, that it would like him, of his accustomed goodness and zeale vnto the realme, now [Richard with his eie of pitie to behold the long continued distresse and decaie of the same, and to set his gratious hands to redresse and of this amendment thereof. All which he might well doo, by taking vpon him the crowne and gouernance of this realme, according to his right and title lawfullie descended vnto him; and to the laud of God, profit of the land, & vnto his noble grace so much the more honour, and lesse paine, in that, that neuer prince reigned vpon anie people, that were so glad to liue vnder his obeisance, as the people of this realme vnder his. When the protector had heard the proposition, he looked verie strangelie thereat, and answered: that all were it that he partlie knew the things by them alledged to be true, yet such entire loue he bare vnto king Edward and his children, &1 so much more regarded his honour in other realmes about, than the crowne of anie one, (of which he was neuer desirous,) that he could not find in his hart in this point to incline to their desire. . . . Notwithstanding, he not onlie pardoned them the motion that they made him, but also thanked them for the loue and hartie fauour they bare him; praieng them for his sake to giue and beare the same to the prince, 2 ... Buckingham replies by urging the illegitimacy of Edward IV.'s children (11. 177-180): You say that Edward is your Brothers Sonne : For first was he contract to Lady Lucie, (Your Mother liues a Witnesse to his Vow,) When Edward IV. made known his betrothal to Lady Grey, the Duchess of York 1 & so much] Halle. that so much Hol. (More). 2 In this speech (III. vii. 189) Buckingham says that Edward was seduced, by a fancy for Lady Grey, "To base declension and loath'd Bigamie." The Duchess of York told Edward that Lady Grey's widowhood should be a sufficient deterrent, for it was "a verie blemish and high disparagement to the sacred maiestie of a prince, that ought as nigh to approch priesthood in cleannesse as he dooth in dignitie, to be defiled with bigamie in his first mariage.' -Hol. iii. 726/2/21. More, 60/12. C C entreated to assume the Sovereignty distressed realm.] o singular tion of king refug dissimula Richard [, in Buckingham's offer!] K. Richard spake othermeant wise than he [, when he prayed them transfer their love to his nephew]. Elizabeth Lucie [wasso the Duchess of York asserted betrothed to Edward]. [Buckingham's reply: [Hol. iii. 727/1/16. More, 61/31.] openlie obiected against his mariage, (as it were in discharge of hir conscience,) that the king was sure to dame Elizabeth Lucie and hir husband before God. As Richard still affects to hesitate, the petitioner uses argument (11. 214-217): Yet whether you accept our suit or no, Your Brothers Sonne shall neuer reigne our King ; ... a final 216 To the disgrace and downe-fall of your House: Then I salute you with this Royall Title: Long liue King Richard, Englands worthie King! The following passages illustrate the rest of this scene: [Hol. iii. 731/2/30. More, 77/11.] Upon this answer giuen, the duke, by the protectors licence, a little rowned aswell with other noble men about him, as with the maior and recorder of London. And after that (vpon like pardon desired & obteined) he shewed alowd vnto the protector for a 2 finall conclusion: that the realme was appointed K. Edwards line should not anie longer reigne vpon They would them, both for that they had so farre gone, that it was now no suertie to retreat, as for that they thought it for the weale vniuersall to take that waie, although they had not yet begun it. Wherefore, if it would like his grace to take the crowne vpon him, they would humblie beseech him therevnto. If he would giue them a resolute answer to the contrarie, (which they would be loth to heare,) then must they needs seeke and should not faile to find some other noble man that would. not suffer Edward's line to reign.] [If Richard refused their offer, they should seek for some other noble who would accept it.] [A shout: King Richard, King ... [When Richard accepted the crown] there was a great shout, crieng: "King Richard, king Richard!" Act IV. sc. i.-Queen Elizabeth, the Duchess of York, the MarRichard!"] quess of Dorset, Anne Duchess of Gloucester, and Lady Margaret Plantagenet (Clarence's daughter), meet before the Tower; purposing to visit the Princes. They are informed by the Lieutenant of the 1 yet whether] Q. yet know, where F. 2 for a] Halle. that for a Hol. (More). 3 As this scene closes the Duchess of York says (1.96): Eightie odde yeeres of sorrow haue I seene," ... The historical Duchess was born on May 3, 1415 (Wyrc., 453); and was there- ་ Tower that Richard will not suffer their visit (11. 15-17; cp. p. 376 above). In the previous scene (III. vii. 242-244) Richard's coronation. was appointed for to-morrow. Stanley now enters, and, addressing Anne, says (11. 32, 33): Come, Madame, you must straight to Westminster, There to be crowned Richards Royall Queene. On July 6, 1483,1-nearly a fortnight after the election at Baynard's Castle,-Richard and Anne ascended their thrones in Westminster Abbey, & queene [Hol. iii. 734/1/3. Halle, 376.] where the cardinall of Cantur- The king burie, & other bishops them crowned according to the custome of crowned. the realme, Queen Elizabeth then bids Dorset begone (11. 42, 43): ... If thou wilt out-strip Death, goe crosse the Seas, And liue with Richmond, from the reach of Hell: Dorset went with Queen Elizabeth into sanctuary at Westminster,2 and left it to join the rebellion raised by Buckingham in October, 1483.8 Buckingham, before his capture, hoped either to collect a new army, "or else shortlie to saile into Britaine to the earle of Richmond" (Hol. iii. 743/2/56. Halle, 394). Dorset, more fortunate, was one of those who "fled by sea," and "arriued safelie in the duchie of Britaine" (Hol. iii. 743/2/68. Halle, 394). When Richmond returned to Brittany, after his fruitless attempt to succour the rebellion, [Hol. iii. 745/1/55. Halle, 396.] he was certified by credible information, that the duke of Buckingham had lost his head; and that the marquesse Dorset, and a great number of noble men of England, had a little before inquired and searched for him there, and were now returned to Vannes. When they knew that he was safelie returned into Britaine, Lord, how they reioised! for before that time they missed him, and knew not in what part of the world to make inquirie or search for him. For they doubted and no lesse feared least he had taken land in England, & fallen into the hands of king Richard, in whose person they knew well was neither mercie nor compassion. ing with Wherefore in all speedie maner they galoped toward him, and [Their meethim reuerentlie saluted. Act IV. sc. ii.-Richard enters "crownd" (Q.); attended by Buckingham, Catesby, a Page, and others. The King requires Buckingham's "consent" that the young Princes shall die (1. 23). Buckingham 2 Polyd. Verg., 540/39. 1 Cont. Croyl., 567. 3 Hol. iii. 743/1/59 (Halle, 393). Richmond.] |