Pertains to th' ftate, 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 wholfome
To thofe which would not know them, and yet must
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 elfe you fuffer
Too hard an exclamation.
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 pafs,
That tractable obedience is a flave
To each incenfed will. I would your Highness
Would give it quick confideration, for
There is no primer 'business.
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
3 bafenefs. . . . old edit. Warb. emend.
The chronicles of my doing; let me fay,
'Tis but the fate of place, and the rough brake
That virtue muft go through: we must not ftint
Our neceffary 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 beft,
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 fhould take root here where we fit: or fit
State-ftatues only.
King. 'Things that are 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 question'd, fend our letters, with
Free pardon to each man that has deny'd'
The force of this commiffion; pray look to't,
I put it to your care.
Wol. A word with you.
Let there be letters writ to ev'ry shire
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 revokement
And pardon comes; I fhall
Further in the proceeding.
Queen. I'm forry that the Duke of Buckingham Is run in your displeasure.
The gentleman is learn'd, a moft rare fpeaker,
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 fhall prove
Not well difpos'd, the mind growing once corrupt,
They turn to vicious forms, ten times more ugly
Than ever they were fair. This man fo "complish'd,`
Who was enroll'd 'mongft wonders, and when we,
Almoft with lift'ning ravifh'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 truft, of him
Things to ftrike honour fad. Bid him recount
To-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 subject, have collected
Out of the Duke of Buckingham.
King. Speak freely.
Surv. Firft, it was ufual with him, ev'ry day
It would infect his fpeech, that if the King
Should without iffue die, he'd carry't fo
To make the scepter his. Thefe very words
I've heard him utter to his fon-in-law,
Lord Aberga'nny, to whom by oath he menac'd
Revenge upon the Cardinal.
Wol. Please you, note
His dangerous conception in this point:
Not friended by his wifh, to your high perfon
His will is moft malignant, and it stretches
Beyond you to your friends.
Queen. My learn'd Lord Cardinal, eliver all with charity.
How grounded he his title to the crown
Upon our fail? to this point haft thou heard him
At any time fpeak ought?
Surv. He was brought to this,
By a vain prophefie of Nicholas 'Hopkins.`
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 fpeech 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 Car, my chaplain, a choice hour To hear from him a matter of fome moment: Who (after under the 'confeffion's feal He folemnly had fworn, that what he spoke My chaplain to no creature living but
To me fhould utter) with 'confidence demure
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 spoil 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 th' devil's illufions
The monk might be deceiv'd, and that 'twas dangerous
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, Tufh,
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 Highnefs had reprov'd the Duke
About Sir William Blomer
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,
'To the Tower, as 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' 'he would`
VOL. IV.
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