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ACT I.

Buck. The devil speed him! no man's pie is free'd

SCENE I.-London.-An Ante-chamber in From his ambitious finger. What had he

the Palace.

at

Enter the Duke of NORFOLK, at one door; the other, the Duke of BUCKINGHAM, and

the Lord ABERGAVENNY.

Buck. Good morrow, and well met. have you done,

Since last we saw in France?

Nor. I thank your grace:

Healthful; and ever siuce a fresh admirer
Of what I saw there.

Buck. An untimely ague

How

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 horse.
back;
[clung
Beheld them, when they lighted, how they
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. Then you lost

The view of earthly glory: Men might say,
Till this time, pomp was single; but now mar-
ried

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

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Nor. 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 bis full function.

Buck. Who did guide,

I mean, who set the body and the limbs
Of this great sport together, as you guess?
Nor. One, certes, that promises no element ¶
In such a business.

Buck. I pray you, who, my lord?

To do in these fierce vanities? I wonder,
That such a keech + can with bis very bulk
Take up the rays o' the beneficial sun,
And keep it from the earth.

Nor. Surely, Sir,

There's in him stuff that puts hlin to these ends:

For being not propp'd by, ancestry, (whose

grace

Chalks successors their way,) nor call'd upon
For high feats done to the crown; neither
allied

To eminent assistance, but, spider-like,
Out of his self drawing web, he gives us note,
The force of his own merit makes his way;
A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys
A place next to the king.
Aber. I cannot tell

[eye
What heaven hath given him, let some graver
Pierce into that; but I can see his pride
Peep through each part of him: Whence has he
that ?

If not from hell, the devil is a niggard;
Or has given all before, and he begins
A new hell in himself.

Buck. Why the devil,

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
Of all the gentry for the most part such [tile t
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 the papers.

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Aber. A proper title of a peace; and purchas'd

At a superfluous rate!

Buck. Why all this business

Our reverend cardinal carried. ||

Nor. 'Like it your grace,

The state takes notice of the private difference
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

Nor. All this was order'd by the good dis- Together: to consider further, that

cretion

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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

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It reaches far; and where 'twill not extend, Thither he darts it. Bosom up iny counsel, You'll find it wholesome. Lo, where comes that 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.

Wol. The duke of Buckingham's surveyor ?

ha?

Where's his examination ?

1 Secr. Here, so please you. Wol. Is he in person ready?

1 Secr. Ay, please your grace.

As here at home, suggests the king our

master

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 eanning cardinal

The articles o'the combination drew,
As himself pleas'd; and they were ratified,
As he cried, thus let it be: to as much end,
As give a crutch to the dead: But our count-
cardinal

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

Wol. Well, we shall then know more; and To the old dam, treason,)-Charles the em
Buckingham

Shall lessen this big look.
[Exeunt WOLSEY, and train.
Buck. This butcher's car is venom-mouth'd,

and I

Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore,

best

Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's look

Out-worths a noble's blood.

Nor. What, are you chaf'd?

peror,

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

Ask God for temperance; that's the appliance Paid ere he promis'd: whereby his suit was

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

Ere it was ask'd;-but when the way was

granted, made,

And pav'd with gold, the emperor thas desir'd ;

He bores + me with some trick: He's gone to That he would please to alter the king's course,

the king;

I'll follow, and out-stare him.

Nor. Stay, my lord,

And let your reason with your choler question
What 'tis you go about: To clime steep hills,
Requires slow pace at first: Anger is like
A full-hot horse; 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 insolence; or proclaim, There's difference in no persons.

Nor. Be advis'd;

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
o'er,
In seeming to augment it, wastes it? Be
vis'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.

Buck. Sir,

I am thankful to you; and I'll go along By your prescription :—but this

fellow,

run

ad

top-proud

(Whom from the flow of gall I name not, but
From sincere motions,) by intelligence,
And proofs as clear as founts in Júly, when
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

• Wolsey was the son of a butcher. ↑ Stabs.

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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 be
fore him, and two or three of the guard.
Bran. Your office, sergeant; execute it.
Serg. Sir.

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. Lo you, my lord,

The net has fallen upon me; I shall perish
Under device and practice.t

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Buck. So, so;

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And danger serves among them.

K. Hen. Taxation !

These are the limbs of the plot: no more, Wherein? and what taxation ?-My lord car

I hope.

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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 clouds put on,
By dark'ning my clear sun.-My lord, farewell.
[Exeunt.

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 himself under the KING'S
fcet 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 places her by him.

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

suitor.

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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.

dinal,

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 hat
file.

Where others tell steps with me.
Q. Kath. No, my lord,

You know no more than others: but you frame Things, that are known alike; which are not wholesome

To those which would not know them, and yet must Perforce be their acquaintance. These exactions, Whereof my sovereign would have note, they Most pestilent to the hearing; and, to bear them,

are

The back is sacrifice to the load. They say,
They are devis'd by you; or else you suffer
Too hard an exclamation.

K. Hen. 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:
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. By my life,
This is against our pleasure.
Wol. And for me,

I have no farther gone in this, thau by

That you would love yourself; and, in that love, A single voice; and that not pass'd me, but

Not unconsider'd leave your honour, nor

The dignity of your office, is the point

Of my petition.

K. Hen. Lady mine!-proceed.

K. Kath. I am solicited, not by a few,

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And those of true condition, that your sub-'Tis but the fate of place, and the rough

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That virtue must go through. We must not stint

Our necessary actions, in the fear

To cope ý malicious censures; 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
Hitting a grosser quality, is cried up
Not our's, or not allow'd; ¶ what worst, as oft,

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.

I am only one among the other counsellors.

+ Thicket of thorns.

Encounter.

↑ Approved.

1 Retard.

Sometime.

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