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, compelled 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 blamed 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 whole

some

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 devised 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 boldened
Under your promised 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 named, your wars in France. This makes bold 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

That 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,

I have no further gone in this, than by

A single voice, and that not passed me but
By learned approbation of the judges. If I am
Traduced by ignorant tongues, which neither know
My faculties nor person yet will be

The chronicles of my doing, let me say

'Tis but the fate of place and the rough brake That virtue must go through. We must not stint Our necessary actions in the fear

Το

cope malicious censurers, which ever,

As ravenous fishes, do a vessel follow

That is new-trimmed, but benefit no further
Than vainly longing. What we oft do best,
By sick interpreters, once weak ones, is
Not ours, or not allowed; what worst, as oft,
Hitting a grosser quality, is cried up

For our best act. If we shall stand still,

In fear our motion will be mocked or carped at,
We should take root here where we sit, or sit
State-statues only.

K. Hen.

Things done well,

;

And with a care, exempt themselves from fear
Things done without example, in their issue
Are to be feared. 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 hacked,
The air will drink the sap. To every county,
Where this is questioned, send our letters, with
Free pardon to each man that has denied
The force of this commission. Pray, look to 't;
I put it to your care.

Wol. [To the Secretary.] A word with you.
Let there be letters writ to every shire,

Of the King's grace and pardon. The grieved

commons

Hardly conceive of me; let it be noised,

That through our intercession this revokement
And pardon comes. I shall anon advise you
Further in the proceeding.

[Exit Secretary.

Enter Surveyor

Q. Kath. I am sorry that the Duke of Buckingham

Is run in your displeasure.

K. Hen.

It grieves many :

The gentleman is learned, and a most rare speaker; To nature none more bound, his training such That he may furnish and instruct great teachers, And never seek for aid out of himself.

Yet see,

When these so noble benefits shall prove

Not well disposed, the mind growing once corrupt,
They turn to vicious forms, ten times more ugly
Than ever they were fair. This man so cómplete,
Who was enrolled 'mongst wonders, and when we,
Almost with ravished listening, could not find
His hour of speech a minute; he, my lady
Hath into monstrous habits put the graces

That once were his, and is become as black
As if besmeared in hell. Sit by us; you shall hear-
This was his gentleman in trust—of him

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,