Imatges de pàgina
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(My good lord Cardinal) they vent reproaches
Moft bitterly on you as putter on

Of these exactions, yet the King our mafter
(Whofe honour heav'n fhield from foil) escapes not
Language unmannerly; yea fuch which breaks
The fides 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
The many to them longing, have put off
The fpinfters, carders, fullers, weavers, who
Unfit for other life, compell'd by hunger
And lack of other means, in defp'rate manner
Daring th' event to th' teeth, are all in uproar,
And danger ferves 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 ought

Pertains to th' ftate, and front but in that file
Where others tell fteps with me.

Queen. No, my lord,

You know no more than others: but you frame
Things that are known alike, which are not wholsome
To thofe which would not know them, and yet muft
Perforce be their acquaintance. Thefe exactions
(Whereof my Sov'raign would have note) they are
Moft peftilent to th' hearing; and to bear 'em,
The back is facrifice to th' load; they fay,
They are devis'd by you, or elfe you fuffer
Too hard an exclamation.

King. Still exa&ion!

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

Queen. I am much too vent'rous

In tempting of your patience, but am bolden'd
Under your promis'd pardon. The fubjects grief

Comes

Comes through commiffions, which compel from each
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; all their curses now

Live where their pray'rs did; and it's come to pass,
That tractable obedience is a flave

To each incenfed will. I would your Highness
Would give it quick confideration, for
There is no primer bafeness.

King. By my life,

This is against our pleasure.
Wol. And for me,

I have no further gone in this, than by
A fingle voice, and that not paft me but
By learned approbation of the judges.

If I'm traduc'd by 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 ftint
Our neceffary actions, in the fear

To cope 1

e-malicious cenfures; which ever,
As rav'nous fishes do a veffel follow
That is new trimm'd; but benefit no further
Than vainly longing. What we oft do beft,
By fick interpreters, or 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 ftand ftill, in fear-
Our motion will be mock'd or carped at,
We should take root here where we fit:
Or fit ftate-ftatues only.

King. Things done well

And with a care, exempt themfélves 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 fubjects from our laws,

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And stick them in our will. Sixth part of each!
A trembling contribution!-why we take
From ev'ry tree, lop, bark, and part o'th' timber:
And though we leave it with a root thus hackt,
The air will drink the fap. To ev'ry.country
Where this is queftion'd, fend our letters, with
Free pardon to each man that has deny'd
The force of this commiflion; pray look to't,
I put it to your care.

Wol. A word with you.

Let there be letters writ to ev'ry fhire

[To the Secretary.

Of the King's grace and pardon: The griev'd commons
Hardly conceive of me; let it be nois'd,

That through our interceffion, this revokement
And pardon comes; I fhall anon advise you
Further in the proceeding,

SCENE V.

Enter Surveyor.

[Exit Secretary]

Queen. I'm forry that the Duke of Buckingham Is run in your displeasure.

King. It grieves many;

The gentleman is learn'd, a most rare fpeaker,,
To nature none more bound, his training fuch,
That he may furnish and instruct great teachers,
And never feek for aid out of himself.

Yet fee, when 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 fo compleat,
Who was enroll'd 'mongst wonders, and when we
Almoft with lift'ning ravifh'd, 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, you fhall hear,
(This was his gentleman in truft) of him
Things to ftrike honour fad. Bid him recount
To-fore-recited practices, whereof

We

We cannot feel too little, hear too much.

Wol. Stand forth, and with bold fpirit relate, what you) Moft like a careful fubject, have collected Out of the Duke of Buckingham.

King. Speak freely.

Surv. First, it was ufual with him, ev'ry day
It would effect his fpeech, that if the King
Should without iffue die, he'd carry't fo
To make the fcepter his. Thefe very words
I've heard him utter to his fon-in-law,
Lord Aberganny, to whom by oath he menac'd
Revenge upon the Cardinal.

Wol. Pleafe your Highness, note

His dangerous conception in this point,
Not friended by his wifh to your high perfon,
His will is moft malignant, and it ftretches
Beyond you to your friends.

Queen. My learn'd lord Cardinal,
Deliver all with charity.

King. Speak on;

How grounded he his title to the crown
Upon our fail? to this point haft thou heard him
At any time fpeak ought?

Surv. He was brought to this,
By a vain prophefie of Nicolas Hopkins.
King. What was that Hopkins?

Surv. Sir, a Chartreux Friar,

His confeffor, who fed him ev'ry minute.
With words of Sov'reignty.

King. How know'st thou this?

Surv. Not long before your Highnefs fped to France The Duke being at the Rofe, within the parish St. Lawrence Poultrey, 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 perfidious 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

Hath fent to me, wishing me to permit
John de la Car my chaplain, a choice hour
To hear from him a matter of fome moment:
Who (after under the commiffion's feal
He folemnly had fworn that what he spoke
My chaplain to no creature living but

To me fhould utter) with demure confidence

Thus paufingly enfu'd; Neither the King, nor's heirs
(Tell you the Duke) fhall profper, bid him strive
To gain the love o'th' commonalty, the Duke
Shall govern England.

Queen. If I know you well,

You were the Duke's furveyor, and loft your office
On the complaint o'th' tenants; take good heed
You charge not in your fpleen a noble perfon,
And fpoil your noble foul; I fay take heed
Yes, heartily I beseech you,

King. Let him on.

Go forward.

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

I told my lord the Duke, by th' devil's illufions
The Monk might be deceiv'd, and that 'twas dang'rous
For him to ruminate on this, until

It forg'd him fome defign, (which, being believ'd,
It was much like to do) he anfwer'd, Tush,

It can do me no damage: adding further,
That had the King in his last sickness fail'd,
The Cardinal's and Sir Thomas Lovell's heads
Should have gone off.

King. Ha! what, fo rank? ah ha

There's mischief in this man; can't thou fay further ?

Surv. I can, my Liege.

King, Proceed.

Surv. Being at Greenwich,

After your Highnefs had reprov'd the Duke

About Sir William Blomer.

King. I remember

Of fuch a time, he being my fworn fervant,

The Duke retain'd him his. But on; what hence? Surv. If, quoth he, I for this had been committed,

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