meeting in that place, he was put in remembrance of another time, in which it had happened them before to meet in like manner togither in the same place. At which time the lord chamberleine had beene accused vnto king Edward by the lord Riuers, the queenes brother. . . .' See also the rest of the passage. Holinshed, iii. 723. More, 50/9.
III. ii. 108. Sir John. Sir, a title formerly applied to priests and curates in general. The 'sir' has reference to the degree of bachelor of arts, being the usual English equivalent of the Latin dominus. Sir John was a common nickname for priests.
III. ii. 112. talking with a priest. In Holinshed it is not Buckingham but a knight who is sent by Richard to accompany Hastings to the council. The knight finds Hastings in Tower Street, talking with a priest. '"What, my lord, I pray you come on, whereto talke you so long with that priest? you haue no need of a priest yet."' Holinshed, iii. 723. More, 49/26.
III. ii. 114. shriving. Here used equivocally. Its religious meaning includes confessing and doing penance; its legal sense, imposing an obligation or penalty.
III. iii. S. d. The historical date of Rivers' execution could not have been earlier than June 23, 1483, for he made his will on that day. Excerpta Historica, 246, ed. 1831. Hastings was executed on June 13. Shakespeare assigns, dramatically, the execution of these two lords to the same day, June 13. In this he follows Holinshed, iii. 725, and More, 55/25.
III. iii. 11. Richard ite Second here was hack'd to death. Cf. Richard II, V. v. 106–112.
III. iii. 14. Margaret's curse. Margaret did not, as a matter of fact, 'exclaim on' Grey, but on Rivers, Dorset, and Hastings. See I. iii. 220–224.
III. iv. 26. cue. Words preceding each speech,
