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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 them3.

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 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 them,

3 Warburton is full of admiration at this sudden rising of the poet to a height truly sublime!' where by the noblest stretch of fancy Danger is personified as serving in the rebel army, and shaking the established government. Gower, Chaucer, Skelton, and Spenser have also personified Danger.

He means to say that he is but one among many counsellors, who proceed in the same course with him in the business of the state. To this the queen replies that he frames things, or they originate with him, which are afterward known to the council and promulgated by them.

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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 subject's 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, That tractable obedience is a slave

To each incensed will5. 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 farther gone in this, than by

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

The chronicles of my doing,-let me say,

5 The meaning (says Malone) appears to be, things are now in such a situation that resentment and indignation predominate in every man's breast over duty and allegiance.

6 The old copy reads 'There is no primer baseness.' Warburton made the alteration, which Steevens seems to think unnecessary, though he has retained it in his text.

'Tis but the fate of place, and the rough brake7 That virtue must go through. We must not stint3 Our necessary actions, in the fear

To cope malicious censurers; which ever,
As ravenous fishes, do a vessel follow
That is new trimm'd; but benefit no further
Than vainly longing. What we oft do best,
By sick interpreters, once
weak ones,

11

10

is

what worst, as oft,

Not ours, or not allow'd 11;
Hitting a grosser quality, is cried up

For our best act. If we shall stand still,

In fear our motion will be mock'd or carp'd 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 fear'd. 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 hack'd,
The air will drink the sap. To every county,
Where this is question'd, send our letters, with

7 Thicket of thorns.

8 To stint is to stop or retard. Vide Romeo and Juliet, Act i. Sc. 3.

9 i. e. to engage with, to encounter. Thus in As You Like

It:

'I love to cope him in these sullen fits.'

10 Once is not unfrequently used for sometime, or at one time or other. Thus Drayton in his Thirteenth Idea:

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This diamond shall once consume to dust.'

And in The Merry Wives of Windsor:

night give my sweet Nan this ring.'
11 i. e. approved. Vide vol. i. p. 223.

I pray thee once to

Free pardon to each man that has denied
The force of this commission; Pray, look to't;
I put it to your care.

Wol.

A word with you.

[To the Secretary.

Let there be letters writ to every shire,

Of the king's grace and pardon. The griev'd commons
Hardly conceive of me; let it be nois'd,

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

Enter Surveyor 12.

[Exit Secretary.

Q. Kath. I am sorry, that the duke of Buckingham Is run in your displeasure.

K. Hen. It grieves many: The gentleman is learn'd, and a most rare speaker 13, To nature none more bound; his training such, That he may furnish and instruct great teachers, And never seek for aid out of himself 14.

Yet see

When these so noble benefits shall prove

Not well dispos'd 15, 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 enroll'd 'mongst wonders, and when we, Almost with ravish'd list'ning, could not find

12 Holinshed says that this surveyor's name was Charles Knyvet.

13 It appears from the prologue to the Romance of the Knight of the Swanne, that it was translated from the French at the request of this unfortunate nobleman. Copland, the printer, says Helyas the Knight of the Swanne, from whom lineally is descended my said lord.' The duke was executed on Friday the 17th of May, 1521. The book has no date.

14 i. e. beyond the treasures of his own mind.

15 Great gifts of nature and education not joined with good dispositions.

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 besmear'd 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,

Most like a careful subject, have collected

Out of the Duke of Buckingham.

K. Hen.

Speak freely.
Surv. First, it was usual with him, every day
It would infect his speech, That if the king
Should without issue die, he'd carry
16 it so

To make the sceptre his: These very words
I have heard him utter to his son-in-law,
Lord Aberga'ny; to whom by oath he menac'd
Revenge upon the cardinal.

Wol.

Please your highness, note

This dangerous conception in this point.
Not friended by his wish, to your high person
His will is most malignant; and it stretches
Beyond you, to your friends.

Q. Kath.

Deliver all with charity.

K. Hen.

My learn'd lord cardinal,

Speak on:

How grounded he his title to the crown,

Upon our fail? to this point hast thou heard him

At any time speak aught?

Surv.

He was brought to this

By a vain prophecy of Nicholas Hopkins.
K. Hen. What was that Hopkins?

16 Conduct, manage.

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