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Made Britain, India: every man, that stood,
Show'd like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were
As cherubims, all gilt: the madains too,
Not us'd to toil, did almost sweat to bear
The pride upon them, that their very labour
Was to them as a painting: now this mask
Was cry'd incomparable; and the ensuing night
Made it a fool, and beggar. The two kings,
Equal in lustre, were now best, now worst,
As presence did present them; him in eye,
Still him in praise; and, being present both,
'Twas said, they saw but one; and no discerner
Durst wag his tongue in censure.' When these suns
(For so they phrase them,) by their heralds chal-
leng'd,

The noble spirits to arms, they did perform
Beyond thought's compass; that former fabulous
story,

Being now seen possible enough, got credit,
That Bevis was believ'd.

Buck.

O, you go far. Nor. As I belong to worship, and affect In honour honesty, the tract of every thing Would by a good discourser lose some life, Which action's self was tongue to. All was royal; To the disposing of it nought rebell'd; Order gave each thing view; the office did Distinctly his full function.

Buck.

Who did guide,
I mean, who set the body and the limbs
Of this great sport together, as you guess?
Nor. One, certes, that promises no element*
In such a business.

Buck.
I pray you, who, my lord?
Nor. All this was order'd by the good discretion
Of the right reverend cardinal of York.
Buck. The devil speed him! no man's pie is freed
From his ambitious finger. What had he
To do in these fierce' vanities? I wonder,
That such a keech can with his very bulk
Take up the rays o' the beneficial sun,
And keep it from the earth.

Surely, sir,

Nor. There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends: For, being not propp'd by ancestry (whose grace Chalks successors their way,) nor call'd upon For high feats done to the crown; neither allied To eminent assistants, but, spider-like, Out of his self-drawing web, he gives us note, The force of his own merit makes his way; A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys A place next to the king.

Aber. I cannot tell What heaven hath given him, let some graver eye Pierce into that; but I can see his pride

Peep through each part of him: Whence has he

that?

If not from hell, the devil is a niggard;

Or has given all before, and he begins A new hell in himself.

Buck.

Why the devil,

Upon this French going-out, took he upon him,
Without the privity o' the king, to appoint
Who should attend on him? He makes up the file'
Of all the gentry; for the most part such
Too, whom as great a charge as little honour
He meant to lay upon: and his own letter,"
The honourable board of council out,
Must fetch him in the papers.

(1) In opinion, which was most noble.
(2) Sir Bevis, an old romance.

(3) Certainly. (4) Practice. (6) Lump of fat. (7) List.

(5) Proud.

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Nor.

Why, all this business

'Like it your grace,

The state takes notice of the private difference
Betwixt you and the cardinal. I advise you,
(And take it from a heart that wishes towards you
Honour and plenteous safety,) that you read
The cardinal's malice and his potency
Together: to consider further, that
What his high hatred would effect, wants not
A minister in his power: You know his nature,
That he's revengeful; and I know, his sword
Hath a sharp edge: it's long, and, it may be said,
It reaches far; and where 'twill not extend,
Thither he darts it. Bosom up my counsel,
You'll find it wholesome. Lo, where comes that
rock,

That I advise your shunning.

Enter Cardinal Wolsey (the purse borne before him,) certain of the guard, and two Secretaries with papers. The Cardinal in his passage fixeth his eye on Buckingham, and Buckingham on him, both full of disdain.

Wol. The duke of Buckingham's surveyor, ha? Where's his examination?

1 Secr.

Here, so please you.

Wol. Is he in person ready?

1 Secr. Ay, please your grace. Wol. Well, we shall then know more; and

Buckingham

Shall lessen this big look. [Exe. Wolsey and train. Buck. This butcher's curio is venom-mouth'd,

and I

Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore, best Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's book Out-worths a noble's blood.

Nor. What, are you chaf'd? Ask God for temperance; that's the appliance only, Which your disease requires.

Buck.

I read in his looks

Matter against me; and his eye revil'd
Me, as his abject object: at this instant

(8) Sets down in his letter without consulting the council.

(9) Conducted.

(10) Wolsey was the son of a butcher.

He bores me with some trick: He's gone to the (As soon he shall by me,) that thus the cardinal
king;
Does buy and sell his honour as he pleases,
And for his own advantage.

I'll follow, and out-stare him,

Nor. Stay, my lord, And let your reason with your choler question What 'tis you go about: To climb steep hills, Requires slow pace at first: Anger is like A full-hot horse; who being allow'd his way, Self-mettle tires him. Not a man in England Can advise me like you: be to yourself As you would to your friend. Buck. I'll to the king; And from a mouth of honour quite cry down This Ipswich fellow's insolence; or proclaim, There's difference in no persons.

Nor.

Be advis'd; Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot That it do singe yourself: We may outrun, By violent swiftness, that which we run at, And lose by over-running, Know you not, The fire, that mounts the liquor till it run o'er, In seeming to augment it, wastes it? Be advis'd: I say again, there is no English soal More stronger to direct you than yourself; If with the sap of reason you would quench, Or but allay, the fire of passion.

Buck.

Sir,

I am thankful to you; and I'll go along

By your prescription:-but this top-proud fellow,
(Whom from the flow of galt i name not, but
From sincere motions,) by intelligence,
And proofs as clear as founts in Júly, when
We see each grain of gravel, I do know
To be corrupt and treasonous.
Nor.
Say not, treasonous.
Buck. To the king I'll say't; and make my vouch

as strong

As shore of rock. Attend. This holy fox,
Or wolf, or both (for he is equal ravenous,
As he is subtle; and as prone to mischief,
As able to perform it: his mind and place
Infecting one another, yea, reciprocally,)
Only to show his pomp as well in France
As here at home, suggests the king our master
To this last costly treaty, the interview,
That swallow'd so much treasure, and like a glass
Did break 'the rinsing.

Nor.

'Faith, and so it did.

Nor.

I am sorry

To hear this of him; and could wish, he were Something mistaken in't.

Buck.

No, not a syllable;

I do pronounce him in that very shape,
He shall appear in proof.

Enter Brandon; a Sergeant at Arms before him, and two or three of the guards.

Bran. Your office, serjeant; execute it.
Serj,

My lord the duke of Buckingham, and earl
Of Hereford, Stafford, and Northampton, I
Arrest thee of high treason, in the name
Of our most sovereign king.

Buck.

Sir,

Lo you, my lord, The net has fall'n upon me; I shall perish Under device and practice."

Bran.

I am sorry

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Buck. Pray, give me favour, sir. This cunning Hath show'd him gold: my life is spann'd already :

cardinal

The articles o'the combination drew,

As himself pleas'd; and they were ratified,
As he cried, Thus let be: to as much end,
As give a crutch to the dead: But our count-cardinal
Has done this, and 'tis well; for worthy Wolsey,
Who cannot err, he did it. Now this follows
(Which as I take it is a kind of puppy

To the old dam, treason,) Charles the Emperor,
Under pretence to see the queen his aunt
(For 'twas, indeed, his colour; but he came
To whisper Wolsey,) here makes visitation:
His fears were, that the interview, betwixt
England and France, might, through their amity,
Breed him some prejudice; for from this league
Peep'd harms that menac'd him: He privily
Deals with our cardinal; and, as I trow,
Which I do well: for, I am sure, the emperor
Paid ere he promis'd; whereby his suit was granted,
Ere it was ask'd;-but when the way was made,
And pav'd with gold, the emperor thus desir'd ;-
at he would please to alter the king's course,
nd break the foresaid peace. Let the king know,
(1) Stabe. (2) Excites. (3) Unfair stratagem.

I am the shadow of poor Buckingham;
Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on,
By dark'ning my clear sun.-My lord, farewell.

[Exeunt, SCENE II.-The council-chamber. Cornets, Enter King Henry, Cardinal Wolsey, the Lords of the Council, Sir Thomas Lovell, Officers, and Assistants. The King enters, leaning on the Cardinal's shoulder.

K. Hen. My life itself, and the best heart of it, Thanks you for this great care: I stood i'the level Of a full-charg'd confederacy, and give thanks To you that chok'd it.-Let be call'd before us That gentleman of Buckingham's: in person I'll hear him his confessions justify; And point by point the treasons of his master He shall again relate.

The King takes his state. The Lords of the Council take their several places. The Cardina places himself under the King's feet, on his right side.

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4 noise within, crying Room for the Queen. En- Is nam'd, your wars in France: This makes bold ter the Queen, ushered by the Dukes of Norfolk mouths: and Suffolk: she kneels. The King riseth from Tongues spit their duties out, and cold hearts freeze his state, takes her up, kisses, and placeth her Allegiance in them; their curses now, by him.

Q. Koth. Nay, we must longer kneel; I am a suitor.

K. Hen. Arise, and take place by us:-Half
your suit

Never name to us; you have half our power:
The other moiety, ere you ask, is given;
Repeat your will, and take it.

Q. Kath.

Thank your majesty.

That you would love yourself; and, in that love,
Not unconsider'd leave your honour, nor
The dignity of your office, is the point

Of my petition.
K. Hen.

Lady mine, proceed.

Q. Kath. I am solicited, not by a few,
And those of true condition, that your subjects
Are in great grievance: there have been com-

missions

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I know but of a single part, in aught
Pertains to the state; and front but in that file'
Where others tell steps with me.

Q. Kath.
No, my lord,
You know no more than others: but you frame
Things, that are known alike; which are not whole-

some

Live where their prayers did; and it's come to pass,
That tractable obedience is a slave

To each incensed will. I would, your highness
Would give it quick consideration, for
There is no primer business.

K. Hen.
By my life,
This is against our pleasure.
Wol.

And for me,
I have no farther gone in this, than by
A single voice; and that not pass'd me, but
By learned approbation of the judges.

If I am traduc'd by tongues, which neither know
My faculties, nor person, yet will be
The chronicles of my doing,-let me say,
'Tis but the fate of place, and the rough brake
That virtue must go through. We must not stint
Our necessary actions, in the fear

To cope1 malicious censurers; which ever,
As ravenous fishes, do a vessel follow
That is new trimm'd; but benefit no further
Than vainly longing. What we oft do best,
By sick interpreters, once weak ones, is
Not ours, or not allow'd; what worst, as oft
Hitting a grosser quality, is cried up
For our best act. If we shall stand still,
In fear our motion will be mock'd or carp'd at,
We should take root here where we sit, or sit
State statues only.

K. Hen.
Things done well,
And with a care, exempt themselves from fear;
Things done without example, in their issue
Are to be fear'd. Have you a precedent
Of this commission? I believe, not any.
We must not rend our subjects from our laws,
And stick them in our will. Sixth part of each?
A trembling contribution! Why, we take,
From every tree, lop, bark, and part o'the timber;
And, though we leave it with a root, thus hack'd,
The air will drink the sap. To every county,
Where this is question'd, send our letters, with
Free pardon to each man that has denied
The force of this commission: Pray, look to't;
I put it to your case.
Wol.
A word with you.

[To the Secretary.
Let there be letters writ to every shire,
Of the king's grace and pardon. The griev'd

commons

Hardly conceive of me; let it be nois'd, That, through our intercession, this revokement To those which would not know them, and yet must And pardon comes: I shall anon advise you Perforce be their acquaintance. These exactions,Further in the proceeding. [Exit Secretary. Whereof my sovereign would have note, they are Most pestilent to the hearing: and, to bear them, The back is sacrifice to the load. They say, They are devis'd by you; or else you suffer Too hard an exclamation.

K. Hen.

Still exaction! The nature of it? In what kind, let's know, Is this exaction?

Q. Kath.

I am much too venturous
In tempting of your patience; but am bolden'd
Under your promis'd pardon. The subjects' grief
Comes through commissions, which compel from
each

The sixth part of his substance, to be levied
Without delay; and the pretence for this

(1) I am only one among the other counsellors.
(2) Thicket of thorns. (3) Retard.

Enter Surveyor.

Q. Kath. I am sorry, that the duke of Bucking

ham

Is run in your displeasure.

K. Hen.
It grieves many :
The gentleman is learn'd, and a most rare speaker,
To nature none more bound; his training such,
That he may furnish and instruct great teachers,
And never seek for aid out of himself.
Yet see

When these so noble benefits shall prove

Not well-dispos'd, the mind growing once corrupt,
They turn to vicious forms, ten times more ugly
Than ever they were fair. This man so complete,
(6) Approved

(4) Encounter.
(7) Beyond.

(5) Sometime.

Who was enroll'd 'mongst wonders, and when we,
Almost with ravish'd list'ning, could not find
His hour of speech a minute; he, my lady,
Hath into monstrous habits put the graces
That once were his, and is become as black

As if besmear'd in hell. Sit by us; you shall hear
(This was his gentleman in trust,) of him
Things to strike honour sad.-Bid him recount
The fore-recited practices; whereof
We cannot feel too little, hear too much.

Go forward.
Surv. On my soul, I'll speak but truth.

I told my lord the duke, By the devil's illusions
The monk might be deceiv'd; and that 'twas
dang'rous for him,

To ruminate on this so far, until

It forg'd him some design, which, being believ'd,
It was much like to do: He answer'd, Tush!
It can do me no damage: adding further,
That, had the king in his last sickness fail'd,

Wol. Stand forth; and with bold spirit relate The cardinal's and sir Thomas Lovell's heads

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How grounded he his title to the crown,
Upon our fail? to this point hast thou heard him
At any time speak aught?
Surv.

He was brought to this
By a vain prophecy of Nicholas Hopkins.
K. Hen. What was that Hopkins?
Surv.

Should have gone off.

K. Hen.

Ha! what, so rank? Ah, ha! There's mischief in this man:-Canst thou say fur

ther?

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A giant traitor! Wol. Now, madam, may his highness live in freedom,

God mend all!

Sir, a Chartreux friar, And this man out of prison? His confessor; who fed him every minute Q. Kath. With words of sovereignty. K. Hen. There's something more would out of thee; What say'st!

K. Hen.

How know'st thou this?
Surv. Not long before your highness sped to
France,

The duke being at the Rose, within the parish
Saint Lawrence Poultney, did of me demand
What was the speech amongst the Londoners
Concerning the French journey: I replied,
Men fear'd, the French would prove perfidious,
To the king's danger. Presently the duke
Said, 'Twas the fear, indeed; and that he doubted,
"Twould prove the verity of certain words
Spoke by a holy monk; That oft, says he,
Hath sent to me, wishing me to permit
John de la Court, my chaplain, a choice hour
To hear from him a matter of some moment:
Whom after under the confession's seal
He solemnly had sworn, that, what he spoke,
My chaplain to no creature living, but
To me, should utter, with demure confidence
This pausingly ensu'd,-Neither the king, nor his|

heirs,

Tell you the duke) shall prosper: bid him strive To gain the love of the commonally; the duke Shall govern England.

Kath,

If I know you well,

You were the duke's surveyor, and lost your
office

On the complaint o'the tenants: Take good heed,
You charge not in your spleen a noble person,
And spoil your nobler soul! I say, take heed;
Yes, heartily beseech you.

K. Hen.

Let him on:

(1) Conduct, manage.
(2) Now Merchant-Taylor's School.

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Though they be never so ridiculous,
Nay, let them be unmanly, yet are follow'd.

Cham. As far as I see, all the good our English
Have got by the late voyage, is but merely
A fit or two of the face; but they are shrewd ones;
For when they hold them, you would swear directly,
Their very noses had been counsellors

To Pepin, or Clotharius, they keep state so.
Sands. They have all new legs, and lame ones;
one would take it,

That never saw them pace before, the spavin,

(3) Grimace.

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Lov.

They must either

(For so run the conditions) leave these remnants
Of fool, and feather, that they got in France,
With all their honourable points of ignorance,
Pertaining thereto (as fights, and fireworks;
Abusing better men than they can be,

Out of a foreign wisdom,) renouncing clean
The faith they have in tennis, and tall stockings,
Short blister'd breeches, and those types of travel,
And understand again like honest men;
Or pack to their old playfellows: there, I take it,
They may, cum privilegio,' wear away
The lag end of their lewdness, and be laugh'd at.
Sands. "Tis time to give them physic, their dis-

eases

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They are set here for examples. Cham.

True, they are so

But few now give so great ones. My barge stays;*
Your lordship shall along:-Come,good sir Thomas,
We shall be late else: which I would not be,
For I was spoke to, with sir Henry Guildford,
This night, to be comptrollers.

Sands.

I am your lordship's. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The presence chamber in Yorkplace. Hautboys. A small table under a state for the Cardinal, a longer table for the guests. Enter at one door, Anne Bullen, and divers Lords, Ladies, and Gentlewomen, as guests ; at another door, enter Sir Henry Guildford.

Guild. Ladies, a general welcome from his grace
Salutes ye all: This night he dedicates
To fair content, and you: none here, he hopes,
In all this noble bevy,' has brought with her
One care abroad; he would have all as merry
As first-good company, good wine, good welcome,
Can make good people.-O, my lord, you are tardy;
Enter Lord Chamberlain, Lord Sands, and Sir
Thomas Lovell.

Clapp'd wings to me.
The very thought of this fair company

Cham. You are young, sir Harry Guildford.
Sands. Sir Thomas Lovell, had the cardinal
But half my lay-thoughts in him, some of these
Should find a running banquet ere they rested,
I think, would better please them: By my life,
They are a sweet society of fair ones.

Lov. O, that your lordship were but now confessor To one or two of these! Sands.

I would I were; They should find easy penance.

Lov.

'Faith, how easy? Sands. As easy as a down-bed would afford it. Cham. Sweet ladies, will it please you sit? Sir

Harry,

Place you that side, I'll take the charge of this: His grace is ent'ring.-Nay, you must not freeze; My lord Sands, you are one will keep them waking; Two women plac'd together makes cold weather:Pray, sit between these ladies.

Sands.

By my faith, And thank your lordship.-By your leave, sweet ladies :

[Seats himself between Anne Bullen and another lady. If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me ; I had it from my father.

Was he mad, sir?

Anne. Sands. O, very mad, exceeding mad; in love too: But he would bite none; just as I do now, He would kiss you twenty with a breath.

[Kisses her. Cham. Well said, my lord. So, now you are fairly seated:-Gentlemen, The penance lies on you, if these fair ladies Pass away frowning. Sands. For my little cure, Let me alone.

Hautboys. Enter Cardinal Wolsey, attended;

and takes his state."

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(4) The speaker is at Bridewell, and the cardinal's house was at Whitehall.

(5) Company. (6) Chair.

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