Nor. Like it your Grace,

The state takes notice of the private difference T
Betwixt you and the Cardinal. I advise you,

(And take it from a heart, that wishes tow'rds you'
Honour and plenteous fafety ;) that you read aoqü
The Cardinal's malice and his potency Lodziw
Together to confider further, that se bicom odW
What his high hatred would effect, wants not is "C
A minifter in his pow'r. You know his nature, T
That he's revengeful; and, I know, his fword!
Hath a fharp edge: it's long, and't may be faid,
It reaches far; and where 'twill not extend,
Thither he darts it. Bofom up my counfel,
You'll find it wholesome. Lo, where comes that rock
That I advise your shunning.

Enter Cardinal Wolfey, the purfe born before him, certain of the guard, and two fecretaries 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 furveyor? ha? Where's his examination ?

Secr. Here, fo please you.

Wel. Is he in perfon ready?

Secr. Ay, an't please your Grace.

Wol. Well, we shall then know more;

And Buckingham fhall leffen this big look.

[Exeunt Cardinal and his train. Buck. This butcher's cur is venom-mouth'd, and I Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore beft Not wake him in his flumber. A beggar's book Out-worths a noble's blood.

Nor. What, are you chaf'd?

"

Ask God for temp'rance; that's th' appliance only,
Which your difeafe requires.

Buck. I read in's looks

Matter against me, and his eye

revil'd

Me as his abject object; at this inftant

He bores me with fome trick, he's gone to th' King: I'll follow and out-ftare him.

Nor. Stay, my Lord;

And

And let your reafon with your choler queftion
What 'tis you go about. To climb fteep hills,
Requires flow pace at firft. Anger is like
A full-hot horfe, 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 infolences or proclaim,
There's diff'rence in no perfons.

Nor. Be advis'd;

Heat not a furnace for your foe fo hot,
That it do finge yourfelf. We may out-run
By violent swiftnefs, that which we run at ;
And lofe by over-running: know you not,
The fire that mounts the liquor 'till't run o'er,
Seeming t'augment it, waftes it? be advis'da
I fay again, there is no English foul

More ftronger to direct you than yourself;
If with the fap of reafon you would quench,
Or but allay, the fire of paflion.

Buck. Sir,

I'm thankful to you, and I'll go along

By your prefcription; but this top-proud fellow,
Whom from the flow of gall I name not, but
From fincere motions, by intelligence,

And proofs as clear as founts in July, when
We fee each grain of gravel, I do know

To be corrupt and treasonous.

Nor. Say not, treasonous.

Aftrong

Buck. To th' King I'll fay't, and make my vouch as

As fhore of rock.- Attend. This holy fox,
Or wolf, or both, (for he is equal rav'nous,
As he is fubtle; and as prone to mischief,
As able to perform't;) his mind and place
Infecting one another, yea reciprocally,
Only to fhew his pomp, as well in France
As here at home, fuggefts the King our malter
To this last coftly treaty, th' enterview,

That

That fwallow'd fo much treasure, and like a glafs
Did break i' th' rinfing.

Nor. Faith, and so it did.

Buck. Praygive me favour, Sir.-This cunning Cardinal The articles o' th' combination drew,

As himself pleas'd; and they were ratify'd,
As he cry'd, let it be-to as much end,

As give a crutch to th' dead. But our Court-Cardinal
Has done this, and 'tis well-for worthy Wolfey,
Who cannot err, he did it. Now this follows,
(Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppy
To th' old dam, treafon ;) Charles the Emperor,
Under pretence to fee the Queen his aunt,
(For 'twas indeed his colour, but he came
To whisper Wolfey ;) here makes visitation:
His fears were, that the interview betwixt
England and France might through their amity
Breed him fome 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 fure, the Emperor
Paid ere he promis'd, whereby his fuit was granted
Ere it was afk'd. But when the way was made,
And pav'd with gold; the Emp'ror thus defir'd,
That he would please to alter the King's course,
And break the forefaid peace. Let the King know,
{As foon he fhall by me) that thus the Cardinal
Does buy and fell his honour as he pleases,
And for his own advantage.

Nor. I am forry

To hear this of him; and could wish, you 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 Serjeant at Arms before him, and two

or three of the guard.

Bran. Your office, Serjeant; execute it.

Serj. Sir,

My

My Lord the Duke of Buckingham, and Earl
Of Hertford, Stafford, and Northampton, I
Arreft thee of high treason, in the name
Of our moft Sov'reign King.

Buck. Lo you, my Lord,

The net has fall'n upon me; I shall perish
Under device and practice.

Bran. I am forry

To fee you ta'en from liberty, to look on
The bufinefs prefent.

You fhall to th' Tower.

'Tis his Highness' pleasure

Buck. It will help me nothing

To plead mine innocence; for that dye is on me, Which makes my whit'st part black. The will of heav'n Be done in this and all things! I obey.

O my Lord Aberga'ny, fare ye well.

Bran. Nay, he must bear you company. The King Is pleas'd you fhall to th' Tower, 'till you know How he determines further.

Aber. As the Duke faid,

The will of heav'n be done; and the King's pleafure. By me obey'd!

Bran. Here is a warrant from

The King, t' attach Lord Montague; and the bodies Of the Duke's confeffor, John de la Car;

And Gilbert Peck, his chancellor. (5)

Buck. So, fo;

These are the limbs o' th' plot; no more, I hope?
Bran. A monk o' th' Chartreux.

Buck. Nicholas Hopkins? (6)

(5) One Gilbert Peck, bis counsellor.] So the old copies have it, but, when I publish'd my SHAKESPEARE reftor'd, I, from the authorities of Hall and Holingfhead, chang'd it to chancellor. And our poet himself, in the beginning of the fecond act vouches for this

correction.

At which; appear'd against him his surveyor,

Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor·

Mr. Pope, in his last edition, has vouchfaf'd to embrace my correction. (6) Michael Hopkins?] So all the old copies had it; and fo Mr. Rowe and Mr. Pope from them. But here again, by the help of the chronicles, I have formerly given the true reading; which Mr. Pope has likewife adopted in his last edition.

Bran.

Bran. He.

Buck. My furveyor is falfe, the o'er-great Cardinal Hath fhew'd him gold; my life is fpann'd already I am the fhadow of poor Buckingham,

Whofe figure ev'n this inftant cloud puts on,

By dark'ning my clear fun. My Lord, farewel. [Exeunt.

SCENE changes to the Council-Chamber.

Cornet. Enter King Henry, leaning on the Card nal's shoulder; the Nobles, and Sir Thomas Lovel; the Cardinal places himself under the King's feet, on his right fide.

King. MY

life itfelf, and the beft heart of it, [level Thanks you for this great care: 1 food i'th Of a full-charg'd confed'racy, and give thanks Το that choak'd it. Let be call'd before us you That gentleman of Buckingham's in perfon; I'll hear him his confeffions justify,

And point by point the treafons of his mater
He fhall again relate.

;

A noife within, crying, Room for the Queen. Enter the Queen ufher'd by the Duke of Norfolk, and Suffolk She kneels. The King rifeth from his ftate, takes her up. kifles and placeth her by him.

-Queen. Nay, we mast longer kneel; I am a fuitor. King. Arife, and take your place by us; half your fuit Never name to us; you have half our power: The other moiety, ere you afk, is given; Repeat your will, and take it.

Queen. Thank your Majesty.

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

Of my petition.

King Lady mine, proceed.

Queen. I am follicited, not by a few,

And those of true condition, that your fabjects

Are in great grievance. There have been commiffions Sent down among 'em, which have flaw'd the heart VOL. V.

of