Monday, August 27, 2007

What Did Buckingham Want to Say?

We know that before his execution, Henry Stafford, Richard III's ally suddenly turned rebel, asked for an audience with Richard, but was denied. Sadly, we now have no idea of what Buckingham meant to say. So what was it? Here are a few possibilities:

Sorry sorry sorry!

You know, don't you think we should just chalk this one up to experience?

I know this looks bad, but I can explain everything.

I just wanted to express my high sense of esteem for you. I don't think I've ever had the chance to do so.

I've still got lots of great ideas in my head. Let's do supper, shall we?

Just kidding!

Shouldn't you sleep on this?

I know I shouldn't speak ill of a lady, but it's really that Margaret Beaufort dame whose head you should be going after.

Remember how much fun we had stealing the crown? Doesn't that count for anything?

If you spare my life, I'll dish some real dirt about my wife's sister Elizabeth Woodville.

Remember, if you kill me, someday some guy will write me a speech in which I get to talk about it being All Souls' Day and act very repentant and noble, and you'll just be yelling for a horse.

7 comments:

Gabriele Campbell said...

Roflol.

That last one had me in stitches.

Kathryn Warner said...

I love the last one, too!

Carla said...

Great stuff! I add my vote for the last one.

Susan Higginbotham said...

Thanks, ladies!

Years ago, the English Shakespeare Company brought its Wars of the Roses production to Stamford, Connecticut. It was a modern-dress production. The actor who played Buckingham (I think it was Michael Pennington) was dressed in a trenchcoat. Ye gods, he had magnetism. For weeks after that I was staring at men in trenchcoats wistfully.

Gabriele Campbell said...

Sean Bean wore a leather one when he played Macbeth on stage. I so want a DVD of that production.

Kit moss said...

Could you ever get cleverer???

Nan

Susan Higginbotham said...

Thanks, Nan!

Gabriele, that's a DVD I would probably enjoy myself.