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RICHMOND'S tent opens, and discovers him and his¦ officers, &c. Enter STANLEY.

Stan. Fortune and victory sit on thy helm!
Richm. All comfort that the dark night can afford
Be to thy person, noble father-in-law!
Tell me, how fares our loving mother?

Stan. I, by attorney, bless thee from thy mother,
Who prays continually for Richmond's good;
So much for that. -The silent hours steal on,
And flaky darkness breaks within the east.
In brief, for so the season bids us be,
Prepare thy battle early in the morning,
And put thy fortune to the arbitrement
Of bloody strokes, and mortal-staring war.
1, as I may, (that which I would I cannot,)
With best advantage will deceive the time,
And aid thee in this doubtful shock of arms:
But on thy side I may not be too forward,
Lest, being seen, thy brother, tender George,
Be executed in his father's sight.
Farewell: the leisure and the fearful time
Cuts off the ceremonious vows of love,
And ample interchange of sweet discourse,

Which so long sunder'd friends should dwell upon :
God give us leisure for these rites of love!
Once more, adieu: be valiant, and speed well!

Richm. Good lords, conduct him to his regiment:
I'll strive, with troubled thoughts, to take a nap,
Lest leaden slumber peize me down to-morrow,
When I should mount with wings of victory:
Once more, good night, kind lords and gentlemen.
[Exeunt Lords, &c., with STANLEY.
O Thou, whose captain I account myself,
Look on my forces with a gracious eye;
Put in their hands thy bruising irons of wrath,
That they may crush down with a heavy fall
The usurping helmets of our adversaries!
Make us thy ministers of chastisement,
That we may praise thee in thy victory!
To thee I do commend my watchful soul,
Ere I let fall the windows of mine eyes:
Sleeping and waking, O, defend me still!

[Sleeps.

The Ghost of PRINCE EDWARD, Son to Henry the Sixth, rises between the two tents.

Ghost. [To KING R.] Let me sit heavy on thy soul tomorrow!

Think, how thou stabb'dst me in my prime of youth
At Tewksbury: despair therefore, and die!-

Be cheerful, Richmond; for the wronged souls

Of butcher'd princes fight in thy behalf:
King Henry's issue, Richmond, comforts thee.

The Ghost of KING HENRY THE SIXTH rises. Ghost. [To KING R.] When I was mortal, my anointed By thee was punched full of deadly holes: Think on the Tower, and me: despair, and die,Harry the sixth bids thee despair and die!

[body

[TO RICHMOND.] Virtuous and holy, be thou conqueror! Harry, that prophesied thou shouldst be king, Doth comfort thee in thy sleep: live, and flourish!

The Ghost of CLARENCE rises.

Ghost. [To KING R.] Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow!

I, that was wash'd to death with fulsome wine,
Poor Clarence, by thy guile betray'd to death!
To-morrow in the battle think on me,
And fall thy edgeless sword: despair, and die!
[TO RICHMOND.] Thou offspring of the house of Lan-
The wronged heirs of York do pray for thee:
Good angels guard thy battle! Live, and flourish!

[caster,

The Ghosts of RIVERS, GREY, and VAUGHAN, rise. Gh. of Riv. [To KING R.] Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow,

Rivers, that died at Pomfret! Despair, and die! Gh. of Grey. [To KING R.] Think upon Grey, and let thy soul despair!

Gh. of Vaugh. [To KING R.] Think upon Vaughan, and with guilty fear

Let fall thy lance: despair, and die!

All. [TO RICHMOND.] Awake! and think our wrongs

in Richard's bosom

Will conquer him!-Awake, and win the day!

The Ghost of HASTINGS rises.

Ghost. [To KING R.] Bloody and guilty, guiltily awake, And in a bloody battle end thy days! Think on lord Hastings: despair, and die!

[TO RICHMOND.] Quiet untroubled soul, awake, awake! Arm, fight, and conquer, for fair England's sake.

The Ghosts of the two young PRINCES rise. Ghosts. Dream on thy cousins smother'd in the Tower; Let us be lead within thy bosom, Richard, And weigh thee down to ruin, shame, and death! Thy nephews' souls bid thee despair, and die!— Sleep, Richmond, sleep in peace, and wake in joy; Good angels guard thee from the boar's annoy! Live, and beget a happy race of kings! Edward's unhappy sons do bid thee flourish.

The Ghost of QUEEN ANNE rises.

Ghost. Richard, thy wife, that wretched Anne thy wife, That never slept a quiet hour with thee, Now fills thy sleep with perturbations; To-morrow in the battle think on me,

And fall thy edgeless sword; despair, and die![To RICHMOND.] Thou quiet soul, sleep thou a quiet Dream of success and happy victory: [sleep;

Thy adversary's wife doth pray for thee.

The Ghost of BUCKINGHAM rises.

Ghost. [To KING R.] The first was I that help'd thee to the crown;

The last was I that felt thy tyranny:

O, in the battle think on Buckingham,
And die in terror of thy guiltiness!

Dream on, dream on, of bloody deeds and death;
Fainting, despair; despairing, yield thy breath!—
[TO RICHMOND.] I died for hope ere I could lend thee
But cheer thy heart, and be thou not dismay'd: [aid:
God and good angels fight on Richmond's side;
And Richard falls in height of all his pride.
KING RICHARD starts

[The Ghosts vanish. out of his dream.

K. Rich. Give me another horse!-bind up my

wounds!

Have mercy, Jesu!-Soft; I did but dream.-
O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me!-
The lights burn blue.-It is now dead midnight
Cold fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh.
What do I fear? myself? there's none else by:
Richard loves Richard; that is, I am I.

Is there a murderer here? No;-yes, I am :
Then fly. What, from myself? Great reason. Why?
Lest I revenge. What? Myself on myself?

I love myself. Wherefore? for any good

That I myself have done unto myself?

O, no! alas, I rather hate myself

For hateful deeds committed by myself!

I am a villain: yet I lie, I am not.

Fool, of thyself speak well:-Fool, do not flatter.
My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
And every tongue brings in a several tale,
And every tale condemns me for a villain.
Perjury, perjury, in the high'st degree,
Murder, stern murder, in the dir'st degree;
All several sins, all used in each degree;
Throng to the bar, crying all,-Guilty! guilty!
I shall despair.-There is no creature loves me;
And if I die, no soul will pity me:-
Nay, wherefore should they,-since that I mysel
Find in myself no pity to myself?
Methought the souls of all that I had murder'd
Came to my tent: and every one did threat
To-morrow's vengeance on the head of Richard.

Rat. My lord,—

Enter RATCLIFF.

K. Rich. Who's there?

Rat. Ratcliff, my lord; 'tis I. The early village cock Hath twice done salutation to the morn;

Your friends are up, and buckle on their armour.

K. Rich. O Ratcliff, I have dream'd a fearful dream! What thinkest thou? will our friends prove all true? Rat. No doubt, my lord.

K. Rich. Ratcliff, I fear, I fear,

Rat. Nay, good my lord, be not afraid of shadows. K. Rich. By the apostle Paul, shadows to-night Have struck more terror to the soul of Richard, Than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers, Armed in proof, and led by shallow Richmond.It is not yet near day. Come, go with me; Under our tents I'll play the eaves-dropper, To hear if any mean to shrink from me.

[Exeunt KING RICHARD and RATCLIFF. Enter OXFORD and others.

Lords. Good morrcw, Richmond. Richm. [Waking.] 'Cry mercy, lords, and watchful That you have ta'en a tardy sluggard here. [gentlemen, Lords. How have you slept, my lord?

Richm. The sweetest sleep, and fairest-boding dreams,

That ever enter'd in a drowsy head,

Have I since your departure had, my lords.
Methought their souls, whose bodies Richard murder'd,
Came to my tent, and cried, "On!-Victory!"

I promise you, my heart is very jocund
In the remembrance of so fair a dream.
How far into the morning is it, lords?

Lords. Upon the stroke of four.
Richm. Why, then 'tis time to arm, and give direc-
tion.-
[He advances to the troops.
More than I have said, loving countrymen,
The leisure and enforcement of the time
Forbids to dwell on: yet remember this,--
God and our good cause fight upon our side:
The prayers of holy saints and wronged souls,
Like high-rear'd bulwarks, stand before our faces;
Richard except, those whom we fight against
Had rather have us win, than him they follow.
For what is he they follow? truly, gentlemen,
A bloody tyrant and a homicide;

One raised in blood, and one in blood establish'd;
One that made means to come by what he hath,
And slaughter'd those that were the means to help him;
A base foul stone, made precious by the foil
Of England's chair, where he is falsely set;
One that hath ever been God's enemy.
Then, if you fight against God's enemy,
God will, in justice, ward you as his soldiers;
If you do sweat to put a tyrant down,
You sleep in peace, the tyrant being slain;
If you do fight against your country's foes,
Your country's fat shall pay your pains the hire;
If you do fight in safeguard of your wives,
Your wives shall welcome home the conquerors;
If you do free your children from the sword,
Your children's children quit it in your age.
Then, in the name of God and all these rights,
Advance your standards, draw your willing swords.
For me, the ransom of my bold attempt
Shall be this cold corse on the earth's cold face;
But if I thrive, the gain of my attempt
The least of you shall share his part thereof.
Sound, drums and trumpets, boldly and cheerfully;
God and Saint George! Richmond and victory!

[Exeunt. Re-enter KING RICHARD, RATCLIFF, Attendants, and forces.

K. Rich. What said Northumberland, as touching
Richmond?

Rat. That he was never trained up in arms. [then?
K. Rich. He said the truth: and what said Surrey
Rat. He smiled, and said, the better for our purpose.
K. Rich. He was i' the right; and so, indeed, it is.
[Clock strikes.

Tell the clock there.-Give me a calendar.-
Who saw the sun to-day?

Rat. Not I, my lord.

K. Rich. Then he disdains to shine; for, by the book, He should have braved the east an hour ago:

A black day will it be to somebody.-

Ratcliff,

Rat. My lord?

K. Rich. The sun will not be seen to-day; The sky doth frown and lower upon our army. I would these dewy tears were from the ground. Not shine to-day! Why, what is that to me, More than to Richmond? for the self-same heaven That frowns on me, looks sadly upon him.

Enter NORFOLK.

Nor. Arm, arm, my lord; the foe vaunts in the field. K. Rich. Come, bustle, bustle;-caparison my horse;-

Call up lord Stanley, bid him bring his power:-
I will lead forth my soldiers to the plain,

And thus my battle shall be ordered:

My foreward shall be drawn out all in length,

Consisting equally of horse and foot;

Our archers shall be placed in the midst :
John duke of Norfolk, Thomas earl of Surrey,
Shall have the leading of this foot and horse.
They thus directed, we ourself will follow

In the main battle; whose puissance on either side
Shall be well winged with our chiefest horse. [Norfolk?
This, and Saint George to boot!-What think'st thou,
Nor. A good direction, warlike sovereign.-
This found I on my tent this morning. [Giving a scroll.
K. Rich. [Reads "Jocky of Norfolk, be not too bold,
For Dickon thy master is bought and sold."

A thing devised by the enemy.

Go, gentlemen, every man unto his charge:
Let not our babbling dreams affright our souls;
Conscience is but a word that cowards use,
Devised at first to keep the strong in awe

Our strong arms be our conscience, swords our law.
March on, join bravely, let us to 't pell-mell;
If not to heaven, then hand in hand to hell.-
What shall I say more than I have inferr'd?
Remember whom you are to cope withal;
A sort of vagabonds, rascals, and runaways,
A scum of Bretagnes, and base lackey peasants,
Whom their o'er-cloyed country vomits forth
To desperate ventures and assured destruction
You sleeping safe, they bring you to unrest;
You having lands, and bless'd with beauteous wives,
They would restrain the one, distain the other.
And who doth lead them, but a paltry fellow,
Long kept in Bretagne at our mother's cost?
A milk-sop, one that never in his life
Felt so much cold as over shoes in snow?
Let's whip these stragglers o'er the seas again;
Lash hence these over-weening rags of France,
These famish'd beggars, weary of their lives;
Who, but for dreaming on this fond exploit,
For want of means, poor rats, had hang'd themselves:
If we be conquer'd, let men conquer us,
And not these bastard Bretagnes; whom our fathers
Have in their own land beaten, bobb'd, and thump'd,
And, on record, left them the heirs of shame.
Shall these enjoy our lands? lie with our wives?
Ravish our daughters?-Hark, I hear their drum.
[Drum afar off.

Fight, gentlemen of England! fight, bold yeomen!
Draw, archers, draw your arrows to the head!
Spur your proud horses hard, and ride in blood;
Amaze the welkin with your broken staves!

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SCENE IV. Another part of the Field.

Alarum: Excursions. Enter NORFOLK and forces; to him CATESBY.

Cate. Rescue, my lord of Norfolk, rescue, rescue!
The king enacts more wonders than a man,
Daring an opposite to every danger;

His horse is slain, and all on foot he fights,
Seeking for Richmond in the throat of death;
Rescue, fair lord, or else the day is lost!

Alarum. Enter KING RICHARD.

K. Rich. A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!
Cate. Withdraw, my lord; I'll help you to a horse.
K. Rich. Slave, I have set my life upon a cast,
And I will stand the hazard of the die:

I think there be six Richmonds in the field;
Five have I slain to-day instead of him:

A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!'[Exeunt. Alarums. Enter KING RICHARD and RICHMOND; and exeunt fighting. Retreat and flourish. Then enter RICHMOND, STANLEY, bearing the crown, with divers other Lords, and forces.

Richm. God and your arms be praised, victorious The day is ours, the bloody dog is dead.

[friends;

Stan. Courageous Richmond, well hast thou acquit Lo, here, this long-usurped royalty,

[thee!

From the dead temples of this bloody wretch
Have I pluck'd off, to grace thy brows withal;
Wear it, enjoy it, and make much of it.
Richm. Great God of heaven, say Amen to all!-
But tell me first is young George Stanley living?
Stan. He is, my lord, and safe in Leicester town
Whither, if it please you, we may now withdraw us.
Richm. What men of name are slain on either side?
Stan. John duke of Norfolk, Walter lord Ferrers,
Sir Robert Brakenbury, and Sir William Brandon.
Richm. Inter their bodies as becomes their births.
Proclaim a pardon to the soldiers fled,
That in submission will return to us;
And then, as we have ta'en the sacrament
We will unite the white rose with the red:-

Smile heaven upon this fair conjunction,
That long hath frown'd upon their enmity!--
What traitor hears me and says not, Amen?
England hath long been mad, and scarr'd herself ·
The brother blindly shed the brother's blood,
The father rashly slaughter'd his own son,
The son, compell'd, been butcher to the sire:
All this divided York and Lancaster,
Divided in their dire division.-

O now, let Richmond and Elizabeth,

The true succeeders of each royal house,

By God's fair ordinance conjoin together!
And let their heirs (God, if thy will be so)
Enrich the time to come with smooth-faced peace,
With smiling plenty, and fair prosperous days!
Abate the edge of traitors, gracious Lord,
That would reduce these bloody days again,
And make poor England weep in streams of blood!
Let them not live to taste this land's increase,
That would with treason wound this fair land's peace!
Now civil wounds are stopp'd, peace lives again;

That she may long live here, God say, Amen. [Ereunt.

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CAPUCIUS, Ambassador from the Emperor, Charles V.

CRANMER, Archbishop of Canterbury.

DUKE OF NORFOLK.

DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

DUKE OF SUFFOLK.

EARL OF SURREY.

LORD CHAMBERLAIN.

LORD CHANCELLOR.

GARDINER, Bishop of Winchester

BISHOP OF LINCOLN.

LORD ABERGAVENNY.
LORD SANDS.

SIR HENRY GUILDFORD.

SIR THOMAS LOVELL.

SIR ANTHONY DENNY.

SIR NICHOLAS VAUX.

Secretaries to WOLSEY.

CROMWELL, Servant to WOLSEY.

VIII.

GRIFFITH, Gentleman-Usher to QUEEN KATHARINE. Three other Gentlemen.

DOCTOR BUTTS, Physician to the KING.

Garter, King at Arms.

Surveyor to the DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

BRANDON, and a Sergeant at Arms.

Door-keeper of the Council-Chamber.

his Man.

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Porter, and 1

QUEEN KATHARINE, Wife to KING IIENRY; afterwards divorced.

ANNE BULLEN, her Maid of Honour; afterwards
QUEEN.

An Old Lady, Friend to ANNE BULLEN.
PATIENCE, Woman to QUEEN KATHARINE.

Several Lords and Ladies in the Dumb Shows; Women attending upon the QUEEN; Spirits, which appr to her; Scribes, Officers, Guards, and other Attendants.

SCENE,-Chiefly in LONDON and WESTMINSTER; once, at KIMBOLTON.

PROLOGUE.

I COME no more to make you laugh; things now,
That bear a weighty and a serious brow,
Sad, high, and working, full of state and woe,
Such noble scenes as draw the eye to flow,
We now present. Those that can pity, here
May, if they think it well, let fall a tear;
The subject will deserve it. Such as give
Their money out of hope they may believe,

May here find truth too. Those that come to see
Only a show or two, and so agree

The play may pass, if they be still and willing,
I'll undertake may see away their shilling

Richly in two short hours. Only they

That come to hear a merry bawdy play,

A noise of targets, or to see a fellow
In a long motley coat guarded with yellow,
Will be deceived; for, gentle hearers, know,
To rank our chosen truth with such a show
As fool and fight is, beside forfeiting

Our own brains, and the opinion that we bring,
(To make that only true we now intend,)
Will leave us never an understanding friend.
Therefore, for goodness' sake, and as you are known
The first and happiest hearers of the town,
Be sad, as we would make ye: think ye see
The very persons of our noble story,

As they were living; think you see them great,
And follow'd with the general throng and sweat
Of thousand friends; then, in a moment, see
How soon this mightiness meets misery:
And, if you can be merry then, I'll say,
A man may weep upon his wedding day.

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Of what I saw there.

Buck. An untimely ague

Stay'd me a prisoner in my chamber, when
Those suns of glory, those two lights of men,
Met in the vale of Arde.

Nor. 'Twixt Guynes and Arde:

I was then present, saw them salute on horseback;
Beheld them, when they lighted, how they clung
In their embracement, as they grew together;
Which had they, what four throned ones could have
Such a compounded one?
[weighed

Buck. All the whole time

I was my chamber's prisoner.

Nor. Then you lost

The view of earthly glory: men might say,

Till this time, pomp was single; but now married
To one above itself. Each following day
Became the next day's master, till the last
Made former wonders its: to-day the French,
All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods,
Shone down the English: and to-morrow they
Made Britain, India: every man that stood
Shew'd like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were
As cherubins, all gilt; the madams too,
Not used to toil, did almost sweat to bear
The pride upon them, that their very labour
Was to them as a painting: now this mask
Was cried incomparable; and the ensuing night
Made it a fool and beggar. The two kings,
Equal in lustre, were now best, now worst,
As presence did present them; him in eye,
Still him in praise: and, being present both,
'Twas said they saw but one; and no discerner
Durst wag his tongue in censure. When these suns
(For so they phrase them) by their heralds challenged
The noble spirits to arms, they did perform

Beyond thought's compass; that former fabulous story,
Being now seen possible enough, got credit,
That Bevis was believed.

Buck. O, you go far.

Nor. As I belong to worship, and affect In honour honesty, the tract of everything Would by a good discourser lose some lite,

Which action's self was tongue to. All was royal:

To the disposing of it naught rebell'd,

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Order gave each thing view; the office did Distinctly his full function.

Buck. Who did guide?

I mean, who set the body and the limbs
Of this great sport together, as you guess?
Nor. One, certes, that promises no element
In such a business.

Buck. I pray you, who, my lord?

Nor. All this was order'd by the good discretion Of the right reverend cardinal of York.

Buck. The devil speed him! no man's pie is freed From his ambitious finger. What had he

To do in these fierce vanities? I wonder
That such a keech can with his very bulk
Take up the rays o' the beneficial sun,
And keep it from the earth.

Nor. Surely, Sir,

There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends;
For, being not propp'd by ancestry, (whose grace
Chalks successors their way,) nor call'd upon
For high feats done to the crown; neither allied
To eminent assistants, but, spider-like,
Out of his self-drawing web, he gives us note,
The force of his own merit makes his way;
A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys
A place next to the king.

Aber. I cannot tell

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At a superfluous rate!

Buck. Why, all this business

Our reverend cardinal carried.

Nor. '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
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?

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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,) 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 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 shew his pomp as well in France
As here at home, suggests 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.

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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
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 menaced him: he privily
Deals with our cardinal; and, as I trow,-
Which I do well; for, I am sure, the emperor
Paid ere he promised; whereby his suit was granted
Ere it was ask'd;-but when the way was made,
And paved with gold, the emperor thus desired,-
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,
And for his own advantage.

Nor. I am sorry

To hear this of him; and could wish he were

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To see you ta'en from liberty, to look on

The business present: 'tis his highness' pleasure,
You shall to the Tower.

Buck. It will help me nothing

To plead mine innocence; for that dye is on me, Which makes my whitest part black. The will of Be done in this and all things!-I obey.- [heaven O my lord Aberga'ny, fare you well!

Bran. Nay, he must bear you company.-[To ABER-
GAVENNY.] The king

Is pleased you shall to the Tower, till you know
How he determines further.

Aber. As the duke said,

The will of heaven be done, and the king's pleasure By me obey'd.

Bran. Here is a warrant from

The king to attach lord Montacute; and the bodies
Of the duke's confessor, John de la Court,
One Gilbert Peck, his chancellor,—

Buck. So, so;

These are the limbs of the plot:-no more, I hope. Bran. A monk o' the Chartreux.

Buck. O, Nicholas Hopkins?

Bran. He.

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Cornels. Enter KING HENRY, CARDINAL WOLSEY, the
Lords of the Council, Sir THOMAS LOVELL, Officers,
and Attendants. The KING enters, leaning on the
CARDINAL'S shoulder.

K. Hen. My life itself, and the best heart of it,
Thanks you for this great care: I stood i' the level
Of a full-charged confederacy, and give thanks
To you that choked it.-Let be call'd before us
That gentleman of Buckingham's: in person
I'll hear him his confessions justify;
And point by point the treasons of his master
He shall again relate.

[The KING takes his state. The Lords of the
Council take their several places. The CAR-
DINAL places himself under the KING'S feet,
on his right side.

A noise within, crying, "Room for the Queen!" Enter
the QUEEN, ushered by the DUKES OF NORFOLK and
SUFFOLK: she kneels. The KING riseth from his
state, takes her up, kisses, and placeth her by him.
Q. Kath. Nay, we must longer kneel; I am a suitor.
K. Hen. Arise, and take place by us:--half your suit
Never name to us; you have half our power:
The other moiety, ere you ask, is given;
Repeat your will, and take it.

Q. Kath. Thank your majesty.

That you would love yourself, and in that love
Not unconsider'd leave your honour, nor

The dignity of your office, is the point

Of my petition.

K. Hen. Lady mine, proceed.

Q. Kath. I am solicited, not by a few,

And those of true condition, that your subjects

Are in great grievance: there have been commissions

Sent down among them, which have flaw'd the heart

Of all their loyalties:-wherein, although,

My good lord cardinal, they vent reproaches

Most bitterly on you, as putter-on

Of these exactions, yet the king our master,

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Is named, your wars in France: this makes bold 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 will. I would your highness
Would give it quick consideration, for
There is no primer business.

K. Hen. 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 pass'd me but

By learned approbation of the judges.

If I am traduced by 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. We must not stint
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, is
Not ours, or not allow'd; what worst, as oft,
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
Free pardon to each man that has denied
The force of this commission: pray, look to 't;

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Further in the proceeding.

[Exit Secretary.

(Whose honour heaven shield from soil!) even he escapes Language unmannerly, yea, such which breaks

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