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 Buck. An untimely ague How Stay'd me a prisoner in my chamber, when Nor. 'Twixt Guynes and Arde: I was then present, saw them salute on horse. Such a compounded one? Buck. All the whole time The view of earthly glory: Men might say, To one above itself. Each following day Made Britain, India: every man that stood Nor. As I belong to worship, and affect royal; To the disposing of it nought rebell'd, Buck. Who did guide, I mean, who set the body and the limbs Buck. I pray you, who, my lord? To do in these fierce vanities? I wonder, 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 To eminent assistance, but, spider-like, [eye If not from hell, the devil is a niggard; Buck. Why the devil, Upon this French going-out, took he upon him, 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 Honour and plenteous safety,) that you read Nor. All this was order'd by the good dis- Together: to consider further, that cretion What his high hatred would effect, wants not 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, 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 Shall lessen this big look. 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 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 I say again, there is no English soul 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 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. 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, Enter BRANDON; a SERGEANT at Arms be My lord the duke of Buckingham, and earl Buck. Lo you, my lord, The net has fallen upon me; I shall perish Buck. So, so; 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. 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; 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 And point by point the treasons of his master The KING takes his state. The Lords of the 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. 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 Where others tell steps with me. 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, K. Hen. Still exaction! The nature of it? In what kind, let's know 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 freeze Allegiance in them; their curses now, pass, That tractable obedience is a slave To each incensed will. I would, your highness K. Hen. By my life, 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, And those of true condition, that your sub-'Tis but the fate of place, and the rough That virtue must go through. We must not stint Our necessary actions, in the fear To cope ý malicious censures; which ever, 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. |