But minister communication of

A most poor issue?

Nor.

Grievingly I think,

The peace between the French and us not values
The cost that did conclude it.

Buck.
Every man,
After the hideous storm that follow'd 17, was
A thing inspir'd: and, not consulting, broke
Into a general prophecy,-That this tempest,
Dashing the garment of this peace, aboded
The sudden breach on't.

Nor.

Which is budded out;

For France hath flaw'd the league, and hath attach'd Our merchants' goods at Bourdeaux.

Aber.

The ambassador is silenc'd 18?

Nor.

Is it therefore

Marry, is't.

Aber. A proper title of a peace 19, and purchas'd

At a superfluous rate!

Buck.

Our reverend cardinal carried 20.

Nor.

Why, all this business

'Like it your grace,

The state takes notice of the private difference
Betwixt you and the cardinal. I advise

you

(And take it from a heart that wishes towards you
Honour and plenteous safety), that you read
The cardinal's malice and his potency
Together to consider further, that

What his high hatred would effect, wants not

17 Monday the xviii of June was such an hideous storme of winde and weather, that many conjectured it did prognosticate trouble and hatred shortly after to follow between princes.'Holinshed.

18 The French ambassador, being refused an audience, may be said to be silenc'd.

19 A fine name of a peace:' this is ironically said. So in Macbeth - O proper stuff!'

20 Conducted.

A minister in his power: You know his nature, That he's revengeful; and I know, his sword Hath a sharp edge: it's long, and, it may be said, It reaches far; and where 'twill not extend, Thither he darts it. Bosom up my counsel,

You'll find it wholesome. Lo, where comes that rock,

That I advise your shunning.

Enter CARDINAL WOLSEY (the purse borne before him), certain of the Guard, and two Secretaries with papers. The CARDINAL in his passage fixeth his eye on BUCKINGHAM, and BUCKINGHAM on him, both full of disdain.

Wol. The duke of Buckingham's surveyor? ha? Where's his examination?

1 Secr.

Here, so please you.

Wol. Is he in person ready?

1 Secr.

Ay, please your grace.

Wol. Well, we shall then know more; and Buck

ingham

Shall lessen this big look.

[Exeunt WOLSEY and Train. Buck. This butcher's cur2 .21 is venom-mouth'd,

and I

Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore, best Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's book Out-worths a noble's blood 22.

Nor. What, are you chaf'd? Ask God for temperance; that's the appliance only, Which your disease requires.

21 The common rumour ran that Wolsey was the son of a butcher; but his faithful biographer Cavendish says nothing of his father being in trade: he tells us that he was an honest poor man's son.'

22 That is, the literary qualifications of a bookish beggar are more prized than the high descent of hereditary greatness.

Buck.

Matter against me: and his eye

I read in his looks

revil'd

Me, as his abject object: at this instant

He bores 23 me with some trick: He's gone to the

king;

I'll follow, and outstare him.

Nor.

And let

Stay, my lord,
your reason with your choler question
What 'tis you go about: To climb steep hills,
Requires slow pace at first: Anger is like
A full-hot horse; who, being allow'd his way,
Self-mettle tires him 24. Not a man in England
Can advise me like you: be to yourself

As

as you would to your friend.

Buck.

I'll to the king; And from a mouth of honour quite cry down This Ipswich fellow's insolence; or proclaim, There's difference in no persons.

Nor.
Be advis'd;
Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot
That it do singe yourself: We may outrun,
By violent swiftness, that which we run at,
And lose by overrunning. Know you not,
The fire, that mounts the liquor till it run o'er,
In seeming to augment it, wastes it? Be advis'd:
I say again, there is no English soul

More stronger to direct you than yourself;
If with the sap of reason you would quench,
Or but allay, the fire of passion 25.

23 i. e. he stabs or wounds me by some artifice or fiction.
24 Thus in Massinger's Unnatural Combat:-

'Let passion work, and, like a hot-rein'd horse,
"Twill quickly tire itself.'

And Shakspeare again in The Rape of Lucrece:-
Till, like a jade, self-will himself doth tire.'

25 So in Hamlet:

Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper
Sprinkle cool patience.'

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 26), 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

As shore of rock. Attend. This holy fox,
Or wolf, or both (for he is equal 27 ravenous,
As he is subtle; and as prone to mischief,
As able to perform it: his mind and place
Infecting one another, yea, reciprocally),
Only to show his pomp as well in France
As here at home, suggests 28 the king our master
To this last costly treaty, the interview,

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

Nor.

'Faith, and so it did.

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 to the dead: But our count cardinal
Has done this, and 'tis 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 'twas, indeed, his colour; but he came

26 Honest indignation, warmth of integrity.

Equal for equally.

28 i. e. incites, or tempts.

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 29,
And for his own advantage.

Nor.

I am sorry

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.

Sir,

29 To buy and sell was a proverbial expression for treacherously betraying. It occurs in King Richard III. and in King Henry VI. Part I.:

from bought and sold Lord Talbot.'

Again, in the Comedy of Errors,' It would make a man as mad as a buck to be so bought and sold.'