Bran. He.

Buck. My surveyor is false; the o'er-great cardinal Hath shew'd him gold: my life is spann'd already : I am the shadow of poor Buckingham; Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on, By dark'ning my clear sun.---My lord, farewel.

SCENE II.

[Exeunt.

The Council-Chamber. Cornet. Enter King HENRY, leaning on the Cardinal's Shoulder; the Nobles, and Sir THOMAS LOVEL. The Cardinal places himself under the King's Feet, on his right Side.

King. 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 270 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.

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 placeth her by him.

Queen. Nay, we must longer kneel; I am a suitor.

King. Arise, and take your place by us:-Half your

suit

Never name to us; you have half our power:
The other moiety, ere you ask, is given;

Repeat your will, and take it.

280

Queen. Thank your majesty.

That you would love yourself; and, in that love,

Not unconsider'd leave your honour, nor

The dignity of your office, is the point

Of my petition.

King. Lady mine, proceed.

Queen. I am solicited, not by a few,

And those of true condition, that your subjects

Are in great grievance: There have been commis

sions

289

Sent down among them, which have flaw'd the heart Of all their loyalties:-wherein, although,

[TO WOLSEY.

My good lord cardinal, they vent reproaches
Most bitterly on you, as putter-on
Of these exactions, yet the king our master

(Whose honour heaven shield from soil!) even he

escapes not

Language unmannerly, yea, such which breaks

The sides of loyalty, and almost appears
In loud rebellion.

Nor. Not almost appears,
It doth appear: for, upon these taxations,
The clothiers all, not able to maintain

300

The many to them 'longing, have put off

The

The spinsters, carders, fullers, weavers, who,
Unfit for other life, compell'd by hunger
And lack of other means, in desperate manner
Daring the event to the teeth, are all in uproar,

And Danger serves among them.

King. Taxation!

Wherein? and what taxation?-My lord cardinal,
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 that file
Where others tell steps with me.

Queen. No, my lord,

310

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

some

To those which would not know them, and yet must
Perforce be their acquaintance. These exactions, 320
Whereof my sovereign would have note, they are
Most pestilent to the hearing; and, to bear them,
The back is sacrifice to the load. They say,
They are devis'd by you; or else you suffer
Too hard an exclamation.

King. Still exaćtion !

The nature of it? In what kind, let's know,
Is this exaction ?

Queen. I am much too venturous

In tempting of your patience; but am bolden'd 330 Under your promis'd pardon. The subject's grief

Comes, through commissions, which compel from

each

The sixth part of his substance, to be levy'd
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

I have no further gone in this, than by

A single 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 person, yet will be

The chronicles of my doing-let me say,

'Tis but the fate of place, and the rough brake
That virtue must go through. We must not stint
Our necessary actions, in the fear

To cope malicious censurers; 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

350

Not

Not ours, or not allow'd; what worst, as oft,
Hitting a grosser quality, is cry'd up
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.

King. Things done well,

360

370

And with a care, exempt themselves from fear;
Things done without example, in their issue
Are to be fear'd. Have you a precedent
Of this commission? 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, bark, and part o' the timber;
And, though we leave it with a root, thus hack'd,
The air will drink the sap. To every county,
Where this is question'd, send our letters, with
Free pardon to each man that has deny'd
The force of this commission: Pray, look to't';
I put it to your care.

Wol. A word with you.

280

[To the Secretary..

Let there be letters writ to every shire,

Of the king's grace and pardon. The griev'd 'com

mons

Hardly conceive of me; let it be nois'd,

That, through our intercession, this revokement
And pardon comes: I shall anon advise you

Further in the proceeding.

Ciij

[Exit Secretary.

Enter