After Richard's death, many people mocked or destroyed his image to gain favor with the new king, Henry VI. One of the most prominent people to do this was William Shakespeare. He probably did it to shore up his friendship with the king, so as to get more people to attend the plays by "the king's favorite playwright." Here are some of the more memorable quotes and excerpts from his play, The Tragedy of Richard the Third.

       "But then I sigh, and with a piece of scripture, tell them that God bids us do good for evil. And thus I clothe my naked villainy with odd old ends stolen forth of holy writ, and seem I a saint, when most I play the Devil." - Richard (Act 2, Scene 3)

       "Then say they were not slain. But dead they are, and, devilish slave, by thee." - Anne (Act 2, Scene 2)

       "O, let them keep it till thy sins be ripe, and then hurl down their indignation on thee, The troubler of the poor world's peace! The worm of conscience still be-gnaw thy soul! Thy friends suspect for traitors while thou liv'st and take deep traitors for thy dearest friends! No sleep close up that deadly eye of thine unless it be while some tormenting dream affrights thee with a hell of ugly devils! Thou elvish-marked, abortive, rooting hog!" - Queen Margaret (Act 2, Scene 3)