Or wolf, or both, for he is equal ravenous
As he is subtle, and as prone to mischief
As able to perform 't, 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' the rinsing.

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 be,' to as much end
As give a crutch to the dead.
Has done this, and 'tis well;
Who cannot err, he did it.

But our count-cardinal
for worthy Wolsey,
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,
As soon he shall by me, that thus the cardinal
Does buy and sell his honour as he pleases,

I am sorry

And for his own advantage.

Nor.

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.
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.

The net has fall'n upon me!

Under device and practice.

Bran.

Sir,

Lo you, my lord,

I shall perish

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.

heaven

Be done in this and all things! I obey.

O! my Lord Abergavenny, fare you well.

The will of

Bran. Nay, he must bear you company. To ABERGAVENNY. The king

Is pleas'd 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

The king to attach Lord Montacute; and the bodies Of the duke's confessor, John de la Car,

One Gilbert Peck, his chancellor,—

Buck.

So, so;

These are the limbs o' the plot: no more, I hope.

Bran. A monk o' the Chartreux.

Buck.

Bran.

O! Nicholas Hopkins?

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 cloud puts on, By darkening my clear sun. My lord, farewell.

Exeunt.

Cornets.

SCENE II.-The Council-chamber.

Enter the KING leaning on the Cardinal's shoulder, the Lords of the Council, Sir THOMAS LOVELL, Officers, and Attendants. The CARDINAL places himself under the KING'S feet on the right side.

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-charg'd confederacy, and give thanks

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 Queen KATHARINE, 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 have been commissions Sent down among 'em, which hath flaw'd the heart Of all their loyalties: wherein, although,

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
The many to them 'longing, have put off
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.

K. Hen.

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.

Q. Kath.
No, my lord,
You know no more than others; but you frame

Things that are known alike; which are not wholesome
To those which would not know them, and yet must
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
They are devis'd by you, or else you suffer
Too hard an exclamation.

K. Hen.

Still exaction!

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

Q. Kath.

I am much too venturous

In tempting of your patience; but am bolden'd Under your promis'd pardon. The subjects' grief Comes through commissions, which compel from each The sixth part of his substance, to be levied

Without delay; and the pretence for this

Is nam'd, your wars in France. This makes bola 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,

This tractable obedience is a slave

To each incensed will. I would your highness

Would give it quick consideration, for

There is no primer business.

K. Hen.

This is against our pleasure.

Wol.

By my life,

And for me,