Perforce be their acquaintance. These exactions, Whereof my sovereign would have note, they are Most pestilent to the hearing; and, to bear 'em, The back is sacrifice to the load. They say In tempting of your patience, but am bolden'd Under your promis'd pardon. The subjects' grief Comes through commissions, which compel from each Is nam'd your wars in France: this makes bold mouths: 60 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, This 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 pass'd 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 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 Not ours or not allow'd; what worst, as oft, Hitting a grosser quality, is cried up We should take root here where we sit, or sit K. Hen. Things done well, 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 denied The force of this commission: pray, look to 't; Wol. [To the Secretary.] A word with you. Let there be letters writ to every shire, Of the king's grace and pardon. The griev'd commons Hardly conceive of me: let it be nois'd, That through our intercession this revokement Enter Surveyor. [Exit Secretary. Q. Kath. I am sorry that the Duke of Buckingham The gentleman is learn'd and a most rare speaker; That he may furnish and instruct great teachers And never seek for aid out of himself. When these so noble benefits shall prove Not well dispos'd, the mind growing once corrupt, They turn to vicious forms, ten times more ugly Than ever they were fair. This man so complete, Who was enroll'd 'mongst wonders, and when we, B Things to strike honour sad. Bid him recount The fore-recited practices; whereof We cannot feel too little, hear too much. Wol. Stand forth, and with bold spirit relate what you, Out of the Duke of Buckingham. K. Hen. Speak freely. Surv. First, it was usual with him, every day Wol. Please your highness, note Q. Kath. Deliver all with charity. K. Hen. My learn'd lord cardinal, Speak on: How grounded he his title to the crown Upon our fail? to this point hast thou heard him At any time speak aught? 130 135 140 145 Sir, a Chartreux friar, How know'st thou this? 150 His confessor, who fed him every minute K. Hen. Surv. Not long before your highness sped to France, 155 160 To hear from him a matter of some moment: He solemnly had sworn that what he spoke 165 My chaplain to no creature living but To me should utter, with demure confidence This pausingly ensued: Neither the king nor's heirs, Tell you the duke, shall prosper: bid him strive 170 If I know you well, Q. Kath. office You were the duke's surveyor and lost your K. Hen. Go forward. Surv. Let him on. On my soul, I'll speak but truth. I told my lord the duke, by the devil's illusions 175 The monk might be deceiv'd; and that 'twas dangerous for him To ruminate on this so far, until It forg'd him some design, which, being believ'd, It was much like to do: he answer'd 'Tush, It can do me no damage; adding further, K. Hen. K. Hen. Surv. Proceed. Being at Greenwich, After your highness had reprov'd the duke About Sir William Blomer- Of such a time: being my sworn servant, The duke retain'd him his. But on; what hence? 180 185 190 As, to the Tower I thought, I would have play'd The part my father meant to act upon The usurper Richard; who, being at Salisbury, Made suit to come in 's presence; which if granted, 195 K. Hen. A giant traitor! 200 Wol. Now, madam, may his highness live in freedom, And this man out of prison? Q. Kath. God mend all! 205 K. Hen. There's something more would out of thee; what say'st? Surv. After the duke his father,' with the knife,' He stretch'd him, and with one hand on his dagger, Another spread on 's breast, mounting his eyes, He did discharge a horrible oath, whose tenour Was, were he evil us'd, he would outgo His father by as much as a performance Does an irresolute purpose. K. Hen. To sheathe his knife in us. There's his period, Call him to present trial: if he may Find mercy in the law, 'tis his; if none, SCENE III.-A Room in the Palace. Enter the Lord Chamberlain and LORD SANDS. Cham. Is 't possible the spells of France should juggle Men into such strange mysteries ? Sands. Though they be never so ridiculous, New customs, Nay, let 'em be unmanly, yet are follow'd. Cham. As far as I see, all the good our English Have got by the late voyage is but merely A fit or two o' the face; but they are shrewd ones ; 210 [Exeunt. 5 For when they hold 'em, you would swear directly To Pepin or Clotharius, they keep state so. 10 Sands. They have all new legs, and lame ones: one would take it, That never saw 'em pace before, the spavin Or springhalt reign'd among 'em. Cham. Death! my lord, Their clothes are after such a pagan cut too, Enter SIR THOMAS LOVELL. What news, Sir Thomas Lovell? How now! 15 |