Richard's right-hand man who helps the Duke rise to the throne, thinking he'll be rewarded once Richard is king. Instead, Richard spurns him. Buckingham realizes the error of his ways and tries unsuccessfully to raise an army against Richard, only to be captured and beheaded. He repents his sins before he dies.
Duke of Buckingham Quotes in Richard III
The Richard III quotes below are all either spoken by Duke of Buckingham or refer to Duke of Buckingham. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 3, Scene 1
Quotes
Your are too senseless-obstinate, my lord,
Too ceremonious and traditional.
Weigh it but with the grossness of this age,
You break not sanctuary in seizing him.
The benefit thereof is always granted
To those whose dealings have deserv'd the place
And those who have the wit to claim the place.
The Prince hath neither claim'd it nor deserv'd it,
And therefore, in mine opinion, cannot have it.
Then, taking him from thence that is not there,
You break no privilege nor charter there.
Related Characters:
Duke of Buckingham (speaker), Duke of York, Cardinal Bouchier
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3, Scene 5
Quotes
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 strategems.
Related Characters:
Duke of Buckingham (speaker)
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3, Scene 7
Quotes
No, so God help me, they spake not a word;
But, like dumb statues or breathing stones,
Star'd each on other, and look'd deadly pale.
Which when I saw, I reprehended them,
And ask'd the mayor what meant this willful silence.
Related Characters:
Duke of Buckingham (speaker), Richard, Duke of Gloucester, King Richard III, Edward, Prince of Wales, Duke of York
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Duke of Buckingham Character Timeline in Richard III
The timeline below shows where the character Duke of Buckingham appears in Richard III. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1, Scene 3
The Duke of Buckingham and Lord Stanley enter, having just visited King Edward. They report that the king wants...
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...recounts with satisfaction the success of his plot: he has tricked Clarence, Stanley, Hastings, and Buckingham into thinking Elizabeth and her friends are to blame for Clarence's imprisonment. Furthermore, he has...
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Act 2, Scene 1
Back at the Palace, King Edward announces to Queen Elizabeth, Dorset, Rivers, Hastings, Buckingham, Grey, and others that, though he is near death, he feels much more at peace...
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Richard notes to Buckingham how pale "the guilty kindred" of Queen Elizabeth looked upon hearing Clarence was killed. "O,...
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Act 2, Scene 2
...urge Queen Elizabeth to have her son, young Edward Prince of Wales, crowned immediately. Richard, Buckingham, Stanley, Hastings, and Sir Ratcliffe enter and discuss how young Edward should travel to the...
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Buckingham refers to some prior private conference between the two of them, telling Richard they must...
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Act 2, Scene 4
...and announces that Rivers, Grey, and Sir Thomas Vaughan have been imprisoned by Richard and Buckingham. He doesn't know for what offense. Elizabeth laments "the ruin of my house" and the...
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Act 3, Scene 1
On a street in London, Edward Prince of Wales, Richard, Buckingham, and Cardinal Bouchier (the Archbishop of Canterbury) enter and Richard welcomes the prince to London....
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Alone, Richard, Buckingham, and Catesby confer about their secret plan to make Richard King of England. They discuss...
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Act 3, Scene 2
...the Pursuivant money for a drink. A Priest enters and Hastings discusses a past favor. Buckingham enters and jokes that Hastings doesn't need a priest like those who are about to...
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Act 3, Scene 3
...has come true. Rivers responds by hoping that God will fulfill her curse on Richard, Buckingham, and Hastings, but hopes that his own shed blood will exempt his sister Queen Elizabeth...
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Act 3, Scene 4
In a room at the Tower, Buckingham, Stanley, Hastings, the Bishop of Ely, Ratcliffe, Lord Lovel (another of Richard's minions) and others...
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Richard sends the Bishop of Ely off to get strawberries for everyone, then takes Buckingham aside and recounts Catesby's report of Hastings' resistance to Richard's coronation. Richard and Buckingham exit....
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Richard and Buckingham return and Richard asks everyone what should be done to those who "conspire my death...
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Act 3, Scene 5
Richard sends Buckingham after the Lord Mayor to spread rumors amongst the citizenry that young Edward Prince of...
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Act 3, Scene 7
At Baynard's Castle in London, Buckingham reports to Richard that the citizens reacted to the rumors Buckingham spread with complete silence,...
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In light of the public's reaction, Richard and Buckingham contrive to make it seem to the public that Richard does not want to be...
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While Buckingham talks with the Lord Mayor and others, Catesby enters with a message for Buckingham from...
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Richard enters in a gallery above, flanked by two Bishops. Catesby returns. Buckingham points out to the other visitors how religious Richard is. He then entreats Richard to...
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Act 4, Scene 2
At the Palace, Richard is now King and is surrounded by Buckingham, Catesby, Ratcliffe, Lovel, a Page, and others. Richard, pleased to be king but worried that...
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...gladly agrees to kill at Richard's bidding. Richard sends Tyrrel off to kill the princes. Buckingham enters ready to share his decision about the princes, but Richard dismisses the matter before...
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Richard finally acknowledges Buckingham by asking him for the time, saying that "like a Jack, thou keep'st the stroke...
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Act 4, Scene 3
Ratcliffe enters and reports that the Bishop of Ely has fled to Richmond and that Buckingham, who also fled, is gathering Welsh forces to fight Richard. Richard pooh-poohs Buckingham, though he...
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Act 4, Scene 4
...don't like Richard and would rather Richmond take power) and will be helped ashore by Buckingham. Richard sends Ratcliffe and Catesby off. Stanley enters and confirms the navy belongs to Richmond,...
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...succession to report that different families around England are raising armies against Richard and that Buckingham's army has been scattered by flooding. Another Messenger enters and reports that Lovel and Dorset...
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Act 5, Scene 1
At Salisbury, the Sheriff and a Guard lead a repentant Buckingham to execution. His request to speak with Richard is denied. He calls on the souls...
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Act 5, Scene 3
...Clarence, Rivers, Grey, Vaughan, Hastings, Edward Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, Anne, and Buckingham rise in succession. Each ghost speaks to Richard and then to Richmond. Each calls on...
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