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Buck.

Bran.

O, Nicholas Hopkins?

He.

Buck. My surveyor is false; the o'ergreat 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,

By darkening my clear sun. My lord, fare

well.

[exeunt.

SCENE II. The same. The council-chamber.

Cornets. Enter KING HENRY, leaning on the CARDINAL'S shoulder; the Nobles, and SIR THOMAS LOVELL: the CARDINAL places himself under the KING'S feet on his right side.

King. My life itself, and the best heart of it,

Thanks you for this great care: I stood i' the level

Of a full-charged confederacy, and give thanks

To you that choked 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.

A noise within, crying Room for the Queen!'

Enter QUEEN KATHARINE, ushered by the DUKE of NORFOLK, and the DUKE of SUFFOLK: she kneels. The KING riseth from his state, takes her up, kisses and placeth her by him.

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

King. 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.

King.
Q. Kath.

Lady mine, proceed.

I am solicited, not by a few,

And those of true condition, that your sub

jects

Are in great grievance: there have been commissions

Sent down among 'em, which hath flaw'd the heart

Of all their loyalties: wherein although,
My good lord cardinal, they vent reproaches
Most bitterly on you as putter on

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 spinsters, carders, fullers, weavers,
who,

Unfit for other life, compell'd by hunger
And lack of other means, in desperate

manner

Daring the event to the teeth, are all in

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You that are blamed for it alike with us,
Know you of this taxation?

Wol.

Please you, sir,

I know but of a single part in aught

Pertains to the state, and front but in that

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Things that are known alike, which are not wholesome

To those which would not know them, and

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Most pestilent to the hearing; and, to bear

'em,

[graphic]
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