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.

Queen. 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,
The back is sacrifice to the load. They say,

They are devised by you: or else you suffer
Too hard an exclamation.

King. Still exaction!

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

Queen. I am much too venturous
In tempting of your patience; but am bolden'd
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.

I would your highness

Would give it quick consideration.

King. By my life,

This is against our pleasure.

Wol. And for me,

I have no further gone in this, than by

A single voice; and that not past 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.

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.

King. 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 back'd,
The air will drink the sap. To every county,
Where this is question'd, 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. [Rises and takes CroMWELL R.] 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 CROM., R.

Queen. I am sorry, that the Duke of Buckingham

Is run in your displeasure.

King. It grieves many:

[WOL. resumes his seat.

The gentleman is learned, a most rare speaker,
To nature none more bound; but 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.

Enter SURVEYOR, L.

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.

King. 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 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 menaced
Revenge upon the cardinal.

Wol. [Unrolling a scroll.] 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.

Qucen. My learn'd lord cardinal,

Deliver all with charity.

King. Speak on:

Hcw 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,
His confessor; who fed him every minute
With words of sovereignty.

King. How know'st thou this?

66

66

Surv. There is," says he, a Chartreux friar,

that oft

Hath sent to me, wishing me to permit

John de la Court, my chaplain, a choice hour
To hear from him a matter of some moment:
Whom after, under the confession's seal,

He solemnly had sworn, that what he spoke
My chaplain to no creature living, but

To me, should utter, with demure confidence

This pausingly ensued-Neither the king, nor his heirs, (Tell you the duke,) shall prosper: bid him strive To the love of the commonalty; the duke

Shall govern England."

Queen. If I know you well,

You were the duke's surveyor, and lost your office
On the complaint o' the tenants: take good heed,
You charge not in your spleen a noble person,
And spoil your nobler soul; I say take heed.

King. Go forward.

Surv. On my soul, I'll speak but truth.

I told my lord the duke, by the devil's illusions

The monk might be deceived; and that 'twas dangerous

for him

To ruminate on this :-He answered, "Tush!

It can do me no damage:" adding further,
That, had the king in his last sickness fail'd,
The cardinal's and Sir Thomas Lovel's heads

Should have gone off.

King. Ha! what, so rank! Ah, ha!

There's mischief in this man:-Canst thou say further ?

Surv. I can, my liege.

King. Proceed.

Surv. Being at Greenwich,

After your highness had reproved the duke
About Sir William Blomer-

King. I remember

Of such a time :-Being my sworn servant,

The duke retain'd him his. -But on: What hence?

Surv. "If," quoth he, "I for this had been committed,

As to the Tower, I thought, I would have play'd
The part my father meant to act upon

The usurper Richard: who, being at Salisbury,
Made suit to come in his presence; which, if granted,
As he made semblance of his duty, would

Have put his knife into him."

King. A giant traitor !

Wol. Now, madam, may his highness live in freedom, And this man out of prison? Queen. Heaven mend all !

King. There's something more would out of thee? What say'st?

Surv. After-" the duke his father, "-with-" the knife, "

He stretch'd him, and, with one hand on his dagger,
Another spread on his breast, mounting his eyes,
He did discharge a horrible oath; whose tenour
Was-Were he evil used, he would outgo
His father, by as much as a performance
Does an irresolute purpose.

King. [Rises.] There's his period,
To sheathe his knife in us. He is attach'd;

Call him to present trial; if he may

Find mercy in the law, 'tis his; if none,

Let him not seek't of us; by day and night,

He's traitor to the height.

[Flourish of Trumpets.-Exeunt, R.

SCENÉ III.-An Apartment in the Palace.

Enter LORD SANDS and CHAMBERLAIN, R.

Cham. (R.) Is it possible, the spells of France should juggle

Men into such strange mysteries?
Sands. (c.) New customs,

Though they be never so ridiculous,
Nay, let them be unmanly, yet are follow'd.
They've all new legs, and lame ones; one would take it,
That never saw them pace before, the spavin,

A springhalt, reign'd among them.

Enter LOVEL, R.

Cham. What news, Sir Thomas Lovel?
Lov. (L.C.) 'Faith, my lord,

I hear of none, but the new proclamation
That's clapp'd upon the court gate.
Cham. What is't for?

Lov. The reformation of our travell'd gallants,
That fill the court with quarrels, talk, and tailors.

Cham. I am glad, 'tis there; now I would pray our

monsieurs

To think an English courtier may be wise,
And never see the Louvre.

Sands. (c.) What a loss our ladies

Will have of these trim vanities!

Lov. Ay, marry,

There will be woe indeed, lords;
A French song, and a fiddle, has no fellow.

Sands. The devil fiddle 'em! I'm glad they're going: Now,

An honest country lord, as I am, beaten
A long time out of play, may bring his plain song,
And have an hour of hearing; and, by'r lady,

Held current music too.

Cham. Well said, Lord Sands;

Your colt's tooth is not cast yet.
Sands. No, my lord;

Nor shall not, while I have a stump.

Cham. Sir Thomas,

Whither are you going?

Lov. To the cardinal's;

Your lordship is a guest too..