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.

125

Wol. Stand forth, and with bold spirit relate what

King.

you,

Most like a careful subject, have collected 130
Out of the Duke of Buckingham.

Speak freely.

Surv. First, it was usual with him, every day

Wol.

It would infect his speech, that if the King
Should without issue die,

To make the sceptre his.

he'll carry it so

These very words
I've heard him utter to his son-in-law,

135

Lord Abergavenny; to whom by oath he men

ac'd

Revenge upon the Cardinal.

Please your Highness, note

This dangerous conception in this point.

Not friended by his wish, to your high person 140

His will is most malignant; and it stretches

Beyond you, to your friends.

Q. Kath.

Deliver all with charity.

My learn'd Lord Cardinal,

King.

Speak on.

Surv.

How grounded he his title to the crown?

Upon our fail? To this point hast thou heard

him

At any time speak aught?

145

He was brought to this

Sir, a Chartreux friar,

By a vain prophecy of Nicholas Henton.

King. What was that Henton ?

Surv.

His confessor; who fed him every minute
With words of sovereignty.

King.

How know'st thou this?

155

Surv. Not long before your Highness sped to France,
The Duke being at the Rose, within the parish 152
Saint Lawrence Poultney, did of me demand
What was the speech among the Londoners
Concerning the French journey. I repli'd,
Men fear 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 Car, 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

160

165

To me should utter, with demure confidence
This pausingly ensu'd: 'Neither the King nor 's
heirs,

Tell you the Duke, shall prosper. Bid him

strive

169

To gain the love o' 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; 175
Yes, heartily beseech you.

King.

Surv.

King.

Go forward.

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-

gerous for him

To ruminate on this so far, until

180

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 185
Should have gone off.

Ha! what, so rank? Ah ha!

There's mischief in this man.

further ?

Surv. I can, my liege.

King.

Surv.

King.

Proceed.

Canst thou say

Being at Greenwich,

After your Highness had reprov'd the Duke
About Sir William Bulmer,

I remember 190

Of such a time; being my sworn servant,
The Duke retain'd him his. But on; what

hence?

Surv. "If," quoth he, "I for this had been committed,"

King.

- As, to the Tower, I thought,

play'd

"I would have

The part my father meant to act upon

195

The usurper Richard; who, being at Salisbury,
Made suit to come in 's presence; which if granted,
As he made semblance of his duty, would

Have put his knife into him.”

A giant traitor! 199

Wol. Now, madam, may his Highness live in freedom, And this man out of prison?

Q. Kath.

God mend all!

King. There's something more would out of thee;

what say'st?

Surv. After "the Duke his father," with "the knife,"

He stretch'd him, and, with one hand on his

dagger,

King.

Another spread on 's breast, mounting his eyes, 205
He did discharge a horrible oath; whose tenour
Was, were he evil us'd, he would outgo

His father by as much as a performance
Does an irresolute purpose.

To sheathe his knife in us.

Call him to present trial.

There's his period,

He is attach'd.

If he may

Find mercy in the law, 'tis his; if none,

Let him not seek 't of us. By day and night,
He's traitor to the height.

SCENE III

[An ante-chamber in the palace.]

210

Exeunt.

Enter the Lord Chamberlain and Lord Sandys.

Cham. Is't possible the spells of France should juggle Men into such strange mysteries?

San.

Though they be never so ridiculous,

New customs,

Nay, let 'em 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 'em, you would swear directly
Their very noses had been counsellors

To Pepin or Clotharius, they keep state so. 10