Perforce be their acquaintance. These exactions
(Whereof my Sov'reign would have note) they are
Moft peftilent to th' hearing; and, to bear 'em,
The back is facrifice to th' load; they fay,
They are devis'd by you, or else you
fuffer
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 vent'rous

In tempting of your patience, but am bolden'd
Under your promis'd pardon. The fubjects' grief
Comes through commiffions which compel from each
The fixth part of his fubftance to be levy'd
Without delay; and the pretence for this

Is nam'd, your wars in France. This makes bold mouths
Tongues fpit their duties out, and cold hearts freeze
Allegiance in them; All their curfes now

Live where their pray'rs did; and it's come to pass,
That tractable obedience is a flave

To each incenfed will. I would, your Highness
Would give it quick confideration, for
There is no primer baseness.

King. By my life,

This is against our pleasure.
Wol. And for me,

I have no further gone in this, than by
A fingle voice; and that not paft me, but
By learned approbation of the judges.

If I'm traduc'd by tongues, which neither know
My faculties, nor perfon; yet will be
The chronicles of my doing; let me fay,
'Tis but the fate of place, and the rough brake
That virtue must go through: we must not stint
Our neceflary actions, in the fear

To cope malicious cenfurers; which ever,
As rav'nous fishes do a veffel follow

That is new trimm'd; but benefit no further
Than vainly longing. What we oft do best,
By fick interpreters, or weak ones, is

Not ours, or not allow'd: what worst, as oft
Hitting a groffer quality, is cry'd up
For our best act: if we ftand ftill, in fear
Our motion will be mock'd or carped at,
We should take root here where we fit:
Or fit ftate-statues only.

King. Things done well,

And with a care, exempt themselves from fear:
Things done without example, in their iffue
Are to be fear'd. Have you'a precedent
Of this commiffion? 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 ev'ry tree, lop, bark, and part o' th' timber:
And though we leave it with a root, thus hackt,
The air will drink the fap. To ev'ry county,
Where this is quefti n'd, fend our letters, with
Free pardon to each man that has deny'd
The force of this commiflion: pray, look to't;
I put it to your care.

Wol. A word with you.

Iet there be letters writ to ev'ry shire,

[To the Secretary:

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

That, through our interceffion, this revokemént

And pardon comes; I fhall anon advise you

Further in the proceeding.

Enter Surveyor.

[Exit Secretary

Queen. I am forry, that the Duke of Buckingham Is run in your displeasure.

King. It grieves many;

The gentleman is learn'd, a moft rare speaker,
To nature none more bound; his training fuch,
That he may furnish and inftruct great teachers,
And never feek for aid out of himself.
Yet fee, when noble benefits shall prove
Not well difpos'd, the mind growing once corrupt,
They turn to vicious forms, ten times more ugly

Than

Than ever they were fair. This man fo compleat,
Who was enroll'd 'mongst wonders, and when we,
Almoft with lift'ning ravish'd, could not find
His hour of fpeech, a minute: he, my lady,
Hath into monftrous habits put the graces
That once were his; and is become as black,
As if befmear'd in hell. Sit, you shall hear
(This was his gentleman in trust) of him
'Things to ftrike honour fad.. Bid him recount
The fore-recited practices, whereof

We cannot feel too little, hear too much.

Wol. Stand forth, and with bold fpirit relate, what

you,

Most like a careful fubject, have collected

Out of the Duke of Buckingham.

King. Speak freely.

Surv. First, it was ufual with him, ev'ry day
It would infect his fpeech, that if the King
Should without iffue die, he'd carry it fo
To make the scepter his. Thefe very words
I've heard him utter to his fon-in-law,
Lord Aberga'ny, to whom by oath he menac'd
Revenge upon the Cardinal.

Wol. Pleafe your Highness, note

His dangerous conception in this point:
Not friended by his with to your high perfon,
His will is moft malignant, and it stretches
Beyond you to your friends.

Queen. My learn'd Lord Cardinal,
Deliver all with charity.

King. Speak on;

How grounded he his title to the crown,

Upon our fail? to this point haft thou heard him
At any time fpeak aught?

Surv. He was brought to this,

By a vain prophesy of Nicholas Hopkins. (7)

King.

(7) By a vain Prophecy of Nicholas HENTON.] We heard before, from Brandon, of one Nicholas Hopkins; and now.his Name is chang'd into Henton; so that Brandon and the Surveyor

King. What was that Hopkins?

Surv. Sir, a Chartreux Friar,

His confeffor, who fed him ev'ry minute
With words of Sov'reignty.

King. How know'st thou this?

Surv. Not long before your Highnefs fped to France, The Duke being at the Rofe, within the parish St. Lawrence Poultney, did of me demand What was the speech among the Londoners Concerning the French journey? I reply'd, Men fear'd, the French would prove perfidious, To the King's danger: prefently the Duke Said, 'twas the fear, indeed; and that he doubted, 'Twould prove the verity of certain words Spoke by a holy Monk; that oft, fays he, Hath fent to me, wifhing me to permit John de la Court, my Chaplain, a choice hour To hear from him a matter of fome moment : Whom after under the Confeffion's feal (8) He folemnly had fworn, that, what he spoke, My Chaplain to no creature living, but

feem to be in two Stories. There is, however, but one and the fame Perfon meant, Hopkins; as I have reftor'd it in the Text, for Perfpicuity's Sake: yet will it not be any Difficulty to account for the other Name, when we come to confider, that he was a Monk of the Convent call'd Henton, near Briftol. So both Hall and Holing fhead acquaint us. And he might, according to the Custom of those Times, be call'd as well Nicholas of Henton, from the Place; as Hopkins from his Family.

(8) under the Commiffion' Seal

He folemnly bad fworn,] So all the Editions down from the very beginning. But, what Commiffion's Seal? That is a Queftion, I dare fay, none of our diligent Editors ever ask'd themfelves. The Text must be reftor'd, as I have corrected it; and honeft Holing fhead, from whom our Author took the Substance of this Paffage, may be call'd in, as a Testimony."The "Duke in Talk told the Monk, that he had done very well to "bind his Chaplain, John de la Court, under the Seal of Confeffion, to keep fecret fuch Matter." Vid. Life of Henry Vill. p. 863.

Το

To me, fhould utter; with demure confidence,
Thus paufingly enfu'd ;-Neither the King, nor's heirs
(Tell you the Duke) fhall profper; bid him ftrive
To gain the love o' th' commonalty; the Duke
Shall govern England.

Queen. If I know you well,

You were the Duke's furveyor, and loft your office ·
On the complaint o' th' tenants; take good heed,
You charge not in your fpleen a noble perfon,
And fpoil your nobler foul: I fay, take heed;
Yes, heartily I beseech you.

King. Let him on.

Go forward.

Surv. On my foul, I'll fpeak but truth.

I told my Lord the Duke, by the Devil's illufions
The Monk might be deceiv'd; and that 'twas dang'rous
For him to ruminate on this, until

It forg'd him fome defign, which, being believ'd,

It was much like to do: he answer'd, Tush,

It can do me no damage: adding further,
That had the King in his last fickness fail'd,
The Cardinal's and Sir Thomas Lovell's heads
Should have gone off.

King. Ha! what fo rank? ah ha

There's mischief in this man; canft thou say further?

Surv. I can, my Liege.

King. Proceed.

Surv. Being at Greenwich,

After your Highness had reprov'd the Duke

About Sir William Blomer

King. I remember

Of fuch a time, he being my fworn 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 plaid
The part my father meant to act upon

Th ufurper Richard, who, being at Salisbury,
Made fuit to come in's prefence; which, if granted,
(As he made semblance of his duty) would

Have put his knife into him.

05

King