The fixth part of his fubftance, to be levy'd
Without delay; and the pretence for this

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

Tongues fpit their duties out, and cold hearts freeze
Allegiance in them; their curfes now,
Live where their prayers did; and it's come to pafs,
That tractable obedience is a slave

To each incenfed will. I would, your highnefs
Would give it quick confideration, for
There is no primer basiness '.
King. By my life,

This is against our pleasure.

Wel. And for me,

I have no further gone in this, than by

A fingle voice; and that not past me, but
By learned approbation of the judges. If I am
Traduc'd by ignorant tongues, which neither know
My faculties, nor perfon, yet will be
The chronicles of my doing,-let me fay,"
'Tis but the fate of place, and the rough brake
That virtue muft go through. We must not stint 2
Our neceffary actions, in the fear

To cope 3 malicious cenfurers; which ever,
As ravenous fishes, do a veffel follow
That is new trimm'd; but benefit no further
Than vainly longing. What we oft do best,
By fick interpreters, once 4 weak ones, is
Not ours, or not allow'd; what worst, as oft
Hitting a groffer quality, is cry'd up

For our best act. If we fhall ftand still,

In fear our motion will be mock'd or carp'd at,
We fhould take root here where we fit, or fit
State ftatues only.

King. Things done well,

And with a care, exempt themselves from fear:
Things done without example, in their iffue
Are to be fear'd. Have you a precedent
Of this commiffion? I believe, not any.
We must not rend our subjects from our laws,
And stick them in our will. Sixth part of each?
A trembling contribution! Why, we take,
From every tree, lop 5, bark, and part o' the timber;
And, though we leave it with a root, thus hack'd,
The air will drink the fap. To every county,
Where this is queftion'd, send our letters, with
Pree pardon to each man that has deny'd
The force of this commiffion: Pray, look to 't;
I put it to your care.

Wel. A word with you.

15

Queen. I am forry, that the duke of Buckingham is run in your displeasure.

King. It grieves many :

The gentleman is learn'd, a moft rare speaker,
To nature none more bound; his training fuch,
That he may furnish and inftru& great teachers,
And never feek for aid out of himself. Yet fee,:
When these fo noble benefits fhall prove

Not well difpos'd, the mind growing once corrupt,
They turn to vicious forms, ten times more ugly
Than ever they were fair. This man, so complete,
20 Who was enroll'd 'mongst wonders, and when we,
Almoft with ravish'd lift'ning, could not find
His hour of fpeech a minute; he, my lady,
Hath into monstrous habits put the graces
That once were his, and is become as black
As if befmear'd in hell. Sit by us; you fhall hear
(This was his gentleman in truft) of him

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140

451

501

55

Things to ftrike honour fad.-Bid him recount
The fore-recited practices; whereof

We cannot feel too little, hear too much.

Wel. Stand forth; and with bold fpirit relate

what you,

Moft like a careful subject, have collected
Out of the duke of Buckingham.

6c

[To the Secretary.

Surv. Not long before your highness sped to France, The duke being at the Rofe, within the parish

1 i. c. no matter of ftate that more earnestly preffes a dispatch.

2 i. e. Nop. 3 i. e. to en

counter with. 4 Once is not unfrequently used for fometime, or at one time or other, among our ancient

writers. S Lop fignifies the branches.

X x 2

Saint

Saint Lawrence Poultney, did of me demand
What was the fpeech among the Londoners
Concerning the French journey: I reply'd,
Men fear'd, the French would prove prefidious,
To the king's danger. Prefently 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, fays he,
Hath fent to me, wishing me to permit
John de la Court, my chaplain, a choice bour
To bear from bin a matter of fome moment:
Whom after under the confeffion's feal
He folemnly bad forn, that, what be spoke,
My chaplain to no creature living, but

To me, fhould utter, with demure confidence

This paufingly enfu'd,-Neither the king nor his heirs,

(Tell you the duke) shall profper: bid him ftrive
For the love of the commonalty; the duke
Shall govern England.-

Queen. If I know you well,

You were the duke's surveyor, and loft your office
On the complaint o' the tenants: Take good heed,
You charge not in your spleen a noble person,

And spoil your nobler foul; I say, take heed;
Yes, heartily befeech you.

King. Let him on :

Go forward. ́

Surv. On my foul, I'll speak but truth.

I told my lord the duke, By the devil's illufions

The monk might be deceiv'd; and that 'twas 3 A fit or two o' the face 3; but they are shrewd ones;

dang 'rous for him

To ruminate on this fo far, until

It forg'd him fome defign, which, being believ'd,
It was much like to do: He anfwer'd, Tuf!

It can do me no damage: adding further,
That, had the king in his last sickness fail'd,
The cardinal's and Sir Thomas Lovel's heads

35

Should have gone off.

King. Ha! what, so rank '? Ah, ha! [further? There's mifchief in this man

For, when they hold 'em, you would fwear directly,
Their very nofes had been counsellors

To Pepin, or Clotharius, they keep ftate fo.
Sands. They have all new legs, and lame ones;
one would take it,

That never faw them pace before, the spavin
And fpringhalt reign'd among 'em.

Cham. Death! my lord,

Their cloaths are after fuch a pagan cut too,

-Canst thou fay 4c That, fure, they have worn out Christendom. How

After your highness had reprov'd the duke
About Sir William Blomer,-

King. I remember

Of fuch a time:-Being my fworn fervant,
The duke retain'd him his.-But on; What hence?
Surv. If, quoth he, I for this bad been committed,
As to the Tower, I thought, I would have play'd

The part my father meant to act upon

The ufurper Richard: who, being at Salisbury,
Made fuit to come in bis presence; which if granted,
As be made femblance of bis duty, would

Have put bis knife into bim.

(For fo run the conditions) leave thefe remnants |55|Of fool, and feather, that they got in France,

I Rank weeds are weeds that are grown up to great height and strength. What, fays the king, was be advanced to this pitch? 2 Mysteries were allegorical fhews, which the mummers of thofe times exhibited in odd and fantaftic habits. Myfteries are used, by an easy figure, for those that exhibited myfteries; and the fenfe is only, that the travelled Englishmen were metamorphofed, by foreign fashions, into fuch an uncouth appearance, that they looked like mummers in a mystery. 3 A fit of the face feems to be what we now term a grimace, an artificial caft of the countenance. 4 The firingbalt, or Springbalt, is a difeafe incident to horfes, which gives them a convulfive motion in their paces. does not allude to the feathers anciently worn in the hats and caps of our countrymen (a circumstance to which no ridicule could justly belong), but to an effeminate fashion of young gentlemen carrying fans of feathers in their hands.

5 This

With

With all their honourable points of ignorance
Pertaining thereunto, (as fights, and fireworks;
Abusing better men than they can be,
Out of a foreign wisdom) renouncing clean
The faith they have in tennis, and tall ftockings,
Short blister'd breeches ', and thofe types of travel,
And understand again like honest men;

Or pack to their old play-fellows: there, I take it,
They may, cum privilegio, wear away

5

Salutes you all: This night he dedicates

To fair content, and you: none here, he hopes,
In all this noble bevy, has brought with her
One care abroad; he would have all as merry
As firft-good company, good wine, good welcome,
Can make good people.-O, my lord, you are tardy;
Enter Lord Chamberlain, Lord Sands, and Sir Thomas
Lovel.

The very thought of this fair company

The lag end of their lewdness, and be laugh'd at. 10 Clapp'd wings to me.
Sands. 'Tis time to give them phyfick, their dif-

Are grown fo catching.

Cham. What a lofs our ladies

Will have of these trim vanities!

Lev. Ay, marry,

Leafes

There will be woe indeed, lords: the fly whorefons
Have got a speeding trick to lay down ladies;
A French fong, and a fiddle, has no fellow. [going;|
Sands. The devil fiddle 'em! I am glad, they're
(For, fure, there's no converting of 'em) now
An honeft country lord, as I am, beaten

A long time out of play, may bring his plain-fong,
And have an hour of hearing; and, by 'r-lady,
Held current mufic too.

Cham. Well faid, lord Sands;

Your colt's tooth is not cast yet.

Sands. No, my lord;

Nor fhall not, while I have a stump.

Cham. You are young, Sir Harry Guilford. Sands. Sir Thomas Lovel, had the cardinal But half my lay-thoughts in him, fome of these Should find a running banquet ere they refted, 15I think, would better please 'em: By my life, They are a fweet fociety of fair ones.

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40

Lov. O, that your lordship were but now confeffor
To one or two of these !

Sands. I would, I were;
They fhould find easy penance.

Lov. 'Faith, how eafy?

Sands. As easy as a down-bed would afford it.
Cham. Sweet ladies, will it please you fit? Sir

So, now you are fairly feated :-Gentlemen,
The penance lies on you, if thefe fair ladies
Pafs away frowning.

Sands. For my little cure,

45 Let me alone.

Hautboys. Enter Cardinal Wolfey, and takes bis

flate.

Wol. You are welcome, my fair guests; that noble lady,

Sirso Or gentleman, that is not freely merry,

Is not my friend: This, to confirm my welcome;
And to you all good health.
[Drinks.

Sands. Your grace is noble :

Let me have fuch a bowl may hold my thanks,

[Exeunt. 55 And fave me so much talking.
Wol. My lord Sands,

Changes to York-Place. Hautboys. Afmall table under a state for the Cardinal, a longer table for the guifts. Then enter Anne Bullen, and divers other Ladies and Gentle-60| vamen, as guests, at one door; at another door, enter Sir Henry Guilford.

Gail, Ladies, a general welcome from his grace

I am beholden to you :-cheer your neighbours :-
Ladies, you are not merry ;-Gentlemen,
Whofe fault is this?

Sands. The red wine firft must rife

In their fair cheeks, my lord; then we shall have 'em
Talk us to filence.

Anne. You are a merry gamefter,

1 i. e. breeches puff'd, swell'd out like bliftersa

X X 3

My

tongue;

And, pray, receive 'em nobly, and conduct 'em
Into our prefence, where this heaven of beauty
Shall fhine at full upon them :--Some attend him.--
[All arife, and tables removed.

You have now a broken banquet; but we'll mend it.
A good digeftion to you all: and, once more,
I fhower a welcome on you ;---Welcome all.
Hautbeys. Enter the King, and others, as Mafkers,
babited like Shepherds, uber'd by the Lord Cham
berlain. They pafs directly before the Cardinal,
and gracefully falute bim.

A noble company! What are their pleasures?
Cham. Because they speak no English, thus they
pray'd

To tell your grace ;---That, having heard by fame
Of this fo noble and fo fair affembly

This night to meet here, they could do no lefs,
Out of the great refpect they bear to beauty,
But leave their flocks; and, under your fair conduct,
Crave leave to view these ladies, and entreat
An hour of revels with them.

By all your good leaves, gentlemen ;---Here I'l
My royal choice.

King. You have found him, cardinal:
You hold a fair affembly; you do well, lord:
20 You are a churchman, or, I'll tell you, cardinal,
I fhould judge now unhappily.

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Wol. I am glad,

4

King. Lead in your ladies, every one.---Sweet
I must not yet forfake you :---Let's be merry ;---
Good my lord cardinal, I have half a dozen healths
To drink to thefe fair ladies, and a measure
To lead them once again; and then let's dream
Who's beft in favour.---Let the mufick knock it.
[Exeunt, with trumpets.

i. e. if I make my party. 2 A chamber is a gun (ufed only on occafions of rejoicing) which ftands erect on its breech, and fo contrived as to carry great charges, and thereby to make a noife more than proportioned to its bulk. They are called chambers because they are mere chambers to lodge powder; a chamber being the technical term for that cavity in a piece of ordnance which contains the combustibles. Chambers are still fired in the Park, and at the places oppofite to the Parliament-houfe, when the king goes thither. 3. e. take the chief place. • i. e. unluckily, mischievously. Kifs was anciently the established fee of a lady's partner.

5 A

ACT

ACT II.

No doubt, he will requite it. This is noted,
And generally; whoever the king favours,
The cardinal inftantly will find employment,

That labour, fir. All's now done, but the ceremony 10 And far enough from court too.

20