*

That such a keech can with his very bulk
Take up the rays o' the beneficial sun,
And keep it from the earth.

Nor. Surely, Sir,

There's in him stuff that put's him to these ends:
For, being not propp'd by ancestry, (whose grace
Chalks successors their way,) nor call'd upon
For high feats done to the crown; neither allied
To eminent assistants, but, spider like,

Out of his self-drawing web, he gives us note,
The force of his own merit makes his way;
A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys
A place next to the king.

Aber. I cannot tell

What heaven hath given him, let some graver eye

Pierce into that; but I can see his pride

Peep through each part of him: whence has he that?

If not from hell the devil is a niggard;

Or has given all before, and he begins

A new hell in himself.

Buck. Why the devil,

Upon this French going-out, took he upon him,
Without the privity o' the king, to appoint

Who should attend on him? He makes up the filet

Of all the gentry; for the most part such

Too, whom as great a charge as little honour

He meant to lay upon: and his own letter,
The honourable board of council out,

Must fetch him in the papers.

Aber. I do know

Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have
By this so sicken'd their estates, that never
They shall abound as formerly.

Buck. O, many

Have broke their backs with laying manors on them

For this great journey. What did this vanity,

But minister communication of

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 inspired: 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 attached
Our merchant's goods at Bordeaux

* Lump of fat.

+ List.

I. e. sets down in his letter without consulting the council.

Aber. Is it therefore

The 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.

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.

[Exeunt 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 look
Out-worth'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

* Conducted.

+ Wolsey was said to be the son of a butcher. A beggar's learning is thought more highly of than a nobleman's descent.

§ Stabs.

What 'tis you go about: to climb steep hills,
Requires slow pace at first: Anger is like
A full-hot horse; who being allowed 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 advised;

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 advised:
I say again, there is no English soul

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

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.

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
As here at home, suggests the king our master
To this last costly treaty, the interview,
That swallowed so much treasure, and like a glass
Did break i' the wrenching. +

Nor. 'Faith, and so it did.

Buck. Pray give me favour, Sir. This cunning cardinal

The articles o' the combination drew,

As himself pleas'd; and they were ratified,

As he cried, Thus let it be; to as much end,

As give a crutch to the 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 menaced 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 paved with gold, the emperor thus desired;—
That he would please to alter the king's course,
And break the aforesaid peace. Let the king know,
(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 he 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 fallen 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 die 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 Aberg'any, fare you well.

Bran. Nay, he must bear you company: The king

[To ABERGAVENNY.

Is pleased you shall to the Tower, till you know
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

* Unfair stratagems.

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.
Bran. A monk o' the 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;
I am the shadow of poor Buckingham;
Whose figure even this instant clouds put on,

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

SCENE II.-The Council-Chamber.

[Exeunt.

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-charged confederacy, and give thanks
To you that choked 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 riseth from his state, takes her up, kisses, and placeth 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.

Q. Kath. 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.

K. Hen. Lady, mine!-proceed.

Q. Kath. I am solicited, not by a few,

And those of true condition, that your subjects

Are in great grievance: there hath been commissions

* Measured.

† In the aim.

Seats himself on his throne.