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;

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 guard.

Bran. Your office, sergeant; execute it.
Serg.
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.

The net has fall'n upon me;

Under device and practice.

Bran.

Sir,

Lo you, my lord,

I shall perish

I am sorry

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 of

heaven

3 Unfair stratagem.

Be done in this and all things!-I obey.-
O my lord Aberga'ny, fare you well.

king

Bran. Nay, he must bear you company:-The [To ABERGAVENNY. Is pleas'd, you shall to the Tower, till you know How he determines further.

Aber.

As the duke said

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

Bran.

Here is a warrant from

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

One Gilbert Peck, his chancellor,

Buck.

So, so;

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, By dark'ning my clear sun.-My lord, farewell.

[Exeunt.

• Measured.

VOL. VII.

M

SCENE II.

The Council-Chamber.

Cornets. Enter King HENRY, Cardinal WOLSEY, the Lords of the Council, Sir THOMAS LOVELL, Officers, and Attendants. 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 Cardinal places him

self 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 and 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.

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

* Chair.

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 commissions
Sent down among them, 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 uproar,
And Danger serves among them.

K. Hen.

Taxation!

Wherein? and what taxation?-My lord cardinal,
You that are blam'd 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 file *
Where others tell steps with me.

No, my lord,

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

some

To those which would not know them, and yet must
Perforce be their acquaintance. These exactions,
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

Too hard an exclamation.

K. Hen.

you

suffer

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 subject's grief Comes through commissions, which compel from each

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

Is nam'd, your wars in France: This makes bold mouths:

2 I'am only one among the other counsellors.