A most poor issue?

Nor. Grievingly I think,

The peace between the French and us not values
The cost that did conclude it.

Buck. Every man,

After the hideous storm that follow'd, was
A thing inspir'd; and, not consulting, broke
Into a general prophecy,-That this tempest,
Dashing the garment of this peace, aboded
The sudden breach on't.

Nor. Which is budded out;

For France hath flaw'd the league, and hath attach'd
Our merchant's goods at Bordeaux.

Aber. Is it therefore

Th' ambassador is silenc'd ??

Nor. Marry, is't.

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
Betwixt you and the cardinal. I advise you,
(And take it from a heart that wishes towards you
Honour and plenteous safety,) that you read
The cardinal's malice and his potency
Together to consider further, that

What his high hatred would effect, wants not
A minister in his power: You know his nature,
That he's revengeful; and I know, his sword
Hath a sharp edge: it's long, and, it may be said,
It reaches far; and where 'twill not extend,
Thither he darts it. Bosom up my 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.

[7] The French ambassador residing in England, who, being refused an audience may be said to be silenc'd.

JOHNSON.

[8] A fine name of a peace. Ironically.

JOHNSON.

Wol. Is he in person ready?

1 Secr. Ay, please your grace.

Wol. Well, we shall then know more; and Buckingham Shall lessen this big look. [Exe. WOLSEY, and train. Buck. This butcher's cur is venom-mouth'd, and I Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore, best Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's book Outworth's a noble's blood..

Nor. What, are you chaf'd?

Ask God for temperance; that's the appliance 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

He bores me with some trick:' He's gone to the king; I'll follow, and out-stare him.

Nor. Stay, my lord,

And let your reason with your choler question
What 'tis you go about: To climb steep hills,
Requires slow pace at first: Anger is like
A full-hot horse; who, being allow'd his way,
Self-mettle tires him. Not a man in England
Can advise me like you: be to yourself
As you would to your friend.

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
That it do singe yourself: We may outrun,
By violent swiftness, that which we run at,
And lose by over-running. Know you not,
The fire, that mounts the liquor till it run o’er,
In seeming to augment it, wastes it? Be advis'd:
say again, there is no English soul

I

More stronger to direct you than yourself;

If with the sap of reason you would quench,
Or but allay, the fire of passion.

Buck. Sir,

I am thankful to you; and I'll go along

[9] Wolsey is said to have been the son of a butcher.

11 He stabs or wounds me by some artifice or fiction.

JOHNSON.
JOHNSON.

2 I will crush this base-born fellow, by the due influence of my rauk, or say that

all distinction of persons is at an end.

JOHNSON.

By your prescription :-but this top-proud fellow,
(Whom from the flow of gall I name not, but
From sincere motions,) by intelligence,
And proofs as clear as founts in Júly, when
We see each grain of gravel, I do know
To be corrupt and treasonous.

Nor. Say not, treasonous.

4

[strong

Buck. To the king I'll say't; and make my vouch as
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
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' th' rinsing.

Nor. 'Faith, and so it did.

Buck. Pray, give me favour, sir. This cunning cardinal The articles o' th' combination drew,

As himself pleas'd; and they were ratify'd,

As he cry'd, Thus let it be to as much end,

As give a crutch to th' dead: But our count-cardinal
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

To the old dam, treason,)-Charles the emperor,
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

Paid ere he promis'd; whereby his suit was granted,
Ere it was ask'd ;-But when the way was made,
And pav'd with gold, the emperor thus desir'd ;-
That he would please to alter the king's course,
And break the foresaid peace. Let the king know,

[3] Honest indignation, warmth of integrity. Perhaps name not, should be blame not. JOHNSON. [4] Equal for equally. Shakespeare frequently uses adjectives adverbially. MALONE *5] Suggests, for excites. WARBURTON.

(As soon he shall by me,) that thus the cardinal
Does buy and sell his honour as he pleases,
And for his own advantage.

Nor. I am sorry

To hear this of him; and could wish, you were
Something mistaken in't.

Buck. No, not a syllable;

I do pronounce him in that very shape,

He shall appear in proof.

Enter BRANDON; a Sergeant at Arms before him, and two

or three of the Guard.

Bran. Your office, sergeant; execute it.
Serg. Sir,

My lord the duke of Buckingham, and earl
Of Hereford, Stafford, and Northampton, I
Arrest thee of high treason, in the name
Of our most sovereign king.

Buck. Lo you, my lord,

The net has fall'n upon me; I shall perish
Under device and practice.

Bran. I am sorry

To see you ta'en from liberty, to look on

The business present: "Tis his highness' pleasure,
You shall to the Tower.

Buck. It will help me nothing,

To plead mine innocence; for that dye is on me,

Which makes my whitest part black. The will of heaven Be done in this and all things !—I obey.—

O my lord Aberga'ny, fare you well.

Bran. Nay, he must bear you company :

-The king

Is pleas'd you shall to th' Tower, till you know [To ABER. How he determines further..

Aber. As the duke said,

The will of heaven be done, and the king's pleasure
By me obey'd.

Bran. Here is a warrant from

The king, to attach lord Montacute; and the bodies

Of the duke's confessor, John de la Court,

One Gilbert Peck, his chancellor,

Buck. So, so;

These are the limbs of the plot: No more, I hope.

[6] I am sorry that I am obliged to be present and an eye-witness of your loss of liberty.

JOHNSON.

VOL. VII.

F

Bran. A monk o' th' Chartreux.

Buck. O, Nicholas Hopkins?

Bran. He.

Buck. My surveyor is false; the o'er-great cardinal Hath show'd him gold: my life is spann'd already :7 I am the shadow of poor Buckingham;

Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on,

By dark'ning my clear sun. My lord, farewell. [Exe.

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' th' level
Of a full-charg'd confederacy: and give thanks
Το
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.

The King takes his State. The Lords of the Council take their several places. The Cardinal places himself under the king's feet, on his right side.

A noise within, crying, Room for the Queen. Enter the Queen, ushered by the Dukes of NORFOLK and SUFFOLK : she kneels. The King rises from his state, takes her up, kisses, and places her by him,

Q. Kath. Nay, we must longer kneel; I am a suitor. K. Hen. Arise, and take 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.

[7] To span is to gripe, or inclose in the hand; to span is also to measure by the palm and fingers. The meaning therefore, may either be, that hold is taken of my life, my life is in the gripe of my enemies; or, that my time is measured, the length of my life is now determined. JOHNSON. Man's life, in scripture, is said to be but a span long. Probably, therefore, it means, when 'tis spann'd 'tis ended. REED. [8] Heart is not here taken for the great organ of circulation and life, but, in a common, and popular sense, for the most valuable or precious part. Our author, in Hamlet, mentions the heart of heart. Exhausted and effete ground is said by the farmer to be out of heart. The hard and inner part of the oak is called heart of oak. JOHNSON.

[9] To stand in the level of a gun is to stand in a line with its mouth, so as to be bit by the shot. JOHNSON.