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SCENE I.-London. "An Ante-chamber in the

Palace.

Enter the DUKE OF NORFOLK, at one door; at the other, the DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM, and the LORD

ABERGAVENNY.

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 free'd
From his ambitious finger. What had he
To do in these fierce vanities? I wonder,

Buck. Good morrow, and well met. How have That such a keech, can with his very bulk
you done,

Since last we saw in France?

I thank your grace:
Nor.
Healthful; and ever since a fresh admirer

Of what I saw there.

Buck.

An untimely ague

Stay'd me a prisoner in my chamber, when
Those suns of glory, those two lights of men,'
Met in the vale of Arde.
Nor.
'Twixt Guynes and Arde:
I was then present, saw them salute on horseback;
Beheld them, when they lighted, how they clung
In their embracement, as they grew together;
Which had they, what four thron'd ones could have
weigh'd

Such a compounded one?
Buck.

All the whole time

I was my chamber's prisoner.

Nor.

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Then you lost
The view of earthly glory: Men might say,
Till this time, pomp was single; but now married
To one above itself. Each following day
Became the next day's master, till the last
Made former wonders it's: To-day, the French,
All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods,
Shone down the English; and, to-morrow, they
Made Britain, India: every man, that stood,
Show'd like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were
As cherubins, all gilt: the madams 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 challeng'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.

Ner. 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.

Bruck.

Who did guide,
I mean, who set the body and the limbs
Of this great sport together, as you guess?
Nar. One, certes, that promises no element
In such a business.

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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 he papers.

I do know
Aber.
Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have
By this so sicken'd their estates, that never
They shall abound as formerly.

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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,

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

You'll find it wholesome. Lo, where comes that As here at home, suggests the king our master

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.

To this last costly treaty, the interview,
That swallow'd so much treasure, and like a glass
Did break i' the rinsing.

Nor.
'Faith, and so it did.
Buck. Pray, give me favour, sir. This cunning

cardinal

The articles o'the combination drew,

As himself' pleas'd; and they were ratified,

Wol. The duke of Buckingham's surveyor? ha? As he cried, Thus let be: to as much end, Where's his examination?

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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.

[Exeunt WOLSEY, and Train. Buck. This butcher's cur 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 He bores me with some trick: He's gone to the king; I'll follow, and out-stare him.

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Be advis'd.

Nor. 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 soul More stronger to direct you than yourself; If with the sap of reason you would quench, Or but allay, the fire of passion.

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As give a crutch to the dead: But our count-car

dinal

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 grante
Ere it was ask'd; but when the way was mad,
And pav'd with gold, the emperor thus desir'd ;-
That he would please to alter the king's course,
And break the foresaid peace. Let the king know,
(As soon he shall by me,) that thus the cardinal
Does buy and sell his honour as he pleases,
And for his own advantage.

Nor.

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

Buck.

No, not a syllable;

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To see you ta'en from liberty, to look on
The business present: 'Tis his highness' pleasure,
You shall to the Tower.

Buck.
It will help me nothing
To plead mine innocence; for that die is on me,
Which makes my whitest part black. The will

heaven

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The will of heaven be done, and the king's pleasure
By me obey'd.
Brand.

Here is a warrant from

Of these exactions, yet the king our master,
(Whose honour heaven shield from soil!) even he

escapes not

Language unmannerly, yea, such which breaks
The sides of loyalty, and almost appears
In loud rebellion.

Nor.

Not almost appears,

It doth appear: for, upon these taxations,
The clothiers all, not able to maintain
The many to them 'longing, have put off

The king, to attach lord Montacute; and the bodies The spinsters, carders, fullers, weavers, who,
Of the duke's confessor, John de la Court,

One Gilbert Peck, his chancellor, —

So, so;

Buck. These are the limbs of the plot: no more, I hope. Bran. A monk o' the Chartreux.

Buck.

Bran.

O, Nicholas Hopkins?

He.

Buck. My surveyor is false; the o'er-great cardinal

Hath show'd him gold: my life is spann'd already:
I am the shadow of poor Buckingham;
Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on,
My lord, farewell.
By dark'ning my clear sun. —

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. - The Council-Chamber. Cornets. Enter KING HENRY, CARDINAL WOLSEY, the Lords of the Council, Sir THOMAS LOVELL, The KING enters, Officers, and Attendants. 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 bear 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
The CARDINAL places
take their several places.
kimself under the KING's feet, on his right side.

A noise within, crying, Room for the Queen! Enter

the QUEEN, ushered by the DUKES OF NORFOLK
The KING riseth from
and SUFFOLK: she kneels.
his State, takes her up, kisses, and placeth her
by him.

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

-Half

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

Never name to us; your 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 commissions
Sent down among them, which have flaw'd the heart
Of all their loyalties: - wherein, although,
My good lord cardinal, they vent reproaches
Most bitterly on you, as putter-on

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Tongues spit their duties out, and cold hearts freeze Allegiance in them; their curses now,

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.
This is against our pleasure.

Wol.

By my life,

And for me,

I have no further 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 cope 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,
Q ૧

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.

Things done well,

K. Hen.
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 care.
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 com-

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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 cómplete,
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.

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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
Thus pausingly ensu'd―Neither the king, nor his heirs,
(Tell you the duke) shall prosper: bid him strive
To gain the love of the commonalty; the duke
Shall govern England.

Q. 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. Go forward.

Surv.

Let him on :

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 dan
g'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,
The cardinal's and sir Thomas Lovell's heads

Wel. Stand forth; and with bold spirit relate what Should have gone off.

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

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further?

Surv. I can, my liege.

K. Hen.

Surv.

Proceed.

Being at Greenwic After your highness had reprov'd the duke About sir William Blomer,

K. Hen.

I remember

Of such a time-Being my servant sworn,
The duke retain'd him his. But on; Wh

hence?

Surv. If, quoth he, I for this had been commil” As, to the Tower, I thought, — I would have play's

The part my father meant to act upon
The usurper Richard: who, being at Salisbury,

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New customs,

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 o' 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,
A springhalt reign'd among them.
Cham.
Death! my lord,
Their clothes are after such a pagan cut too,
That, sure, they have worn out christendom.

now?

What news, sir Thomas Lovell?

Lov.

How

Enter Sir THOMAS LOVELL.

'Faith, my lord,

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Have got a speeding trick to lay down ladies;
A French song, and a fiddle, has no fellow.
Sands. The devil fiddle them! I am glad, they're
going;

(For, sure, there's no converting of them ;) now, An honest country lord, as I am, beaten

A long time out of play, may bring his plain

song,

And have an hour of hearing; and, by'r lady, Held current musick too.

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Your colt's tooth is not cast yet.

Sands.

Nor shall not, while I have a stump. Cham.

Whither were you a going?

Lov.

Sir Thomas,

To the cardinal's;

O, 'tis true:

Your lordship is a guest too.
Cham.
This night he makes a supper, and a great one,
To many lords and ladies; there will be
The beauty of this kingdom, I'll assure you.
Lov. That churchman bears a bounteous mind
indeed,

A hand as fruitful as the land that feeds us;
His dews fall every where.

Cham.

No doubt, he's noble ; He had a black mouth, that said other of him. Sands. He may, my lord, he has wherewithal; in

him,

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I am your lordship's. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV. - The Presence-Chamber in York

Place.

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;

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