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But this only shows the pretext, not the fact. Yet Sharon Turner gives Richard credit for the sincerity and reasonableness of his apprehensions. *

A contest for power between the queen's relations and those of the late king was a matter of course. Whether the measures adopted or contemplated by the former so far exceeded the bounds of political contention as to justify the brothers and friends of Edward in treating them as traitors, is a question upon which no sufficient evidence exists.

Shakspeare's version, which refers the executions to the tyranny and ambition of Richard, has certainly a sufficient foundation for a dramatist; but it must not be received as authentic history.

It is upon the same authority of Sir Thomas More, that Gloucester and Buckingham, by way of making it appear that a sudden alarm obliged them to arm in great haste, are introduced “in rusty armour, marvellous ill-favoured." In this guise they send for the Lord Mayor of London, and easily satisfy him that Hastings had plotted against their lives, and that his sudden execution was an act of urgent necessity. What follows has more of poetical licence :

"Glou. Come, cousin, canst thou quake and change thy colour?

* iii. 392.

+ Hol., 382.

Act iii. Sc. 5.

Murder thy breath in middle of a word,
And then again begin, and stop again

As if thou wert distraught, and mad with terror?
Buck. Tut! I can counterfeit the deep tragedian ;
Speak, and look back, and pry on every side;
Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,
Intending deep suspicion; ghastly looks
Are at my service like enforced smiles ;
And both are ready in their offices,

At any time, to grace my stratagems."

It is now agreed that Buckingham shall openly harangue the citizens in favour of Richard's claim to the crown, setting forth the illegitimacy of the two princes, by reason of their father's marriage with "Lady Lucy," previous to his union with Elizabeth Grey. And he was even instructed, at the expense of the honour of Gloucester's mother, the Duchess of York, to hint that Edward himself had been illegitimate ;* and this he was to enforce by the want of resemblance between the late King and Richard, Duke of York, while Gloucester himself was described as

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'Being the right idea of your father,

Both in your form, and nobleness of mind."

* Clarence had been accused, in the Act of Attainder, of making a similar insinuation. All the topics of Buckingham's harangue are said to have been set forth in a sermon at Paul's Cross, by Dr. Shaw (More in Hol., 386; Fabyan, 669). Shakspeare makes Richard send for him, but we hear no more. See Lingard, 547.

And Buckingham thus continues the report of his harangue, and its issue: he

"" Laid

open all your

victories in Scotland;

Your discipline in war, wisdom in peace,
Your bounty, virtue, fair humility.
Indeed, left nothing fitting for your purpose
Untouch'd, or slightly handled in discourse.
And, when my oratory grew to an end,

I bade 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 statues, or breathless stones,

Star'd on each other, and look'd deadly pale;
Which, when I saw, I reprehended them;

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:

Thus saith the duke--thus hath the duke inferred;
But nothing spoke in warrant from himself.
When he had done, some followers of mine own,
At lower end of hall, hurl'd up their caps,
And some ten voices cried, God save King Richard!
And then I took the vantage of those few:
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."

The mayor, however, had been gained, and was now expected, with a request that Richard would ascend the throne; and he, whose dramatic character is that of a consummate hypocrite, is to be found with a prayer-book in his hand, in serious discourse with two bishops.* All this is enacted, and, with a great deal of assumed unwillingness, he finally accepts the

crown.

The whole process is in Shakspeare's authority ;† but the precontract, upon which it was attempted to set aside Edward's marriage with Lady Grey, was with Lady Eleanor Butler (not Lady Lucy, who, however, was also one of Edward's favourites);-this lady was daughter of the famous Earl of Shrewsbury, and widow of Lord Butler.+

And the supplication to Richard, to take

* Malone observes that this piece of hypocrisy is not in More. + Hol., 395.

Bosw. 142.

See Walpole, 133; Croyl. Cont., 567. This lady is not named by Collins, among the children of Lord Shrewsbury, but Lingard shows (p. 250) that she has a place in the Talbot pedigree. Nothing turns upon her birth or marriage. Comines says (b. v. c. 18), that the Bishop of Bath (Stillington) told Richard, that he married Edward privately to a lady unnamed; but he says afterwards, if I understand him (b. vi. c. 9), that there was no marriage.

upon him the royal dignity, had a somewhat more valid pretence to constitutional authority, than would be inferred from either Shakspeare or More. It professed to be an election by "us, the three estates of the land;" though, when afterwards confirmed by act of parliament, it was said to have been delivered "by many and divers lords, spiritual and temporal, and other nobles, and noteth persons of the commons in great multitude;" but it is added, that "neither the said three estates, neither the said persons which in their name presented and delivered the said roll, were assembled in form of parliament.”* The act set forth the illegitimacy of the two sons of Edward.

We now come to the murder of the young princes:

"K. Rich. Ah, Buckingham! now do I ply the

touch,

:

think now what I would

To try if thou be current gold indeed :-
Young Edward lives;
speak.

* Rolls, vi. 240; the Croyl. Cont. has also the expression, ex parte dominorum et communitatis regni, and says nothing of Dr. Shaw. Fabyan (p. 669) mentions Suffolk and other nobles as present, but says nothing of estates. Suffolk was John de la Pole, son of Margaret's favourite, and married to Elizabeth, the sister of Richard III.

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