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 July, 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 Attend. This holy fox,

As shore of rock.

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, th' interview,

That swallow'd so much treasure, and like a glass
Did break i' the rising.

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 t' the dead. But our count-cardinal
Has done this, and 't is 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 't was, 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,
And for his own advantage.

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. 'T is 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 whit'st part black. The will of heaven

O! my lord Aberga'ny, fare you well.
Bran. Nay, he must bear you company.

The king

[TO ABERGAVENNY.

Is pleas'd you shall to the Tower, till you know
How he determines farther.

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

The king t' 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.

SCENE II.

The Council-Chamber.

[Exeunt.

Cornets. Enter King HENRY, Cardinal WOLSEY, the Lords of the Council, Sir THOMAS LOVELL, Officers, Attendant. 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 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.

The King takes his State. The Lords of the Council occupy 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.

Half your suit

Q. Kath. Nay, we must longer kneel: I am a suitor.
K. Hen. Arise, and take place by us.
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 them, 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

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 th' event to the teeth, are all in uproar,
And danger serves among them.

Please you, Sir,

I know but of a single part, in ought

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 them,
The back is sacrifice to the load. They say,
They are devis'd by you, or else you suffer
Too hard an exclamation.

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 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,