To gain the love o' the commonalty: the duke
Shall govern England."

If I know you well,

Q. KATH.
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;
Yes, heartily beseech you.

KING.

Go forward.

SURV.

Let him on.

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 't was dangerous for him

To ruminate on this so far, until

It forged him some design, which, being believed,
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 sickness fail'd,
The cardinal's and Sir Thomas Lovell'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.

SURV.

Proceed.

Being at Greenwich,

184 fail'd] died.

186 so rank?] The word is applied to weeds, which have grown to a wild height. The king exclaims in surprise, "Had Buckingham's plans got to such a pitch?"

170

180

After your highness had reproved the duke
About Sir William Bulmer,

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 's 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?

Q. KATH.

God mend all!

KING. There's something more would out of thee; what say'st?

SURV. After "the duke his father," with the "knife," He stretched him, and with one hand on his dagger, Another spread on 's 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.

190

201

There 's his period,

210

To sheathe his knife in us. He is attach'd;
Call him to present trial: if he may

209 his period] his end in view.

210 attach'd] arrested.

Find mercy in the law, 't is his; if none,
Let him not seek 't of us: by day and night!
He's traitor to the height.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III - AN ANTECHAMBER IN THE PALACE

Enter the LORD CHAMBERLAIN and LORD SANDS

CHAM. Is 't possible the spells of France should juggle Men into such strange mysteries?

SANDS.

New customs,

Though they be never so ridiculous,

Nay, let 'em be unmanly, yet are follow'd.

CHAM. As far as I see, all the good our English
Have got by the late voyage is but merely

A fit or two o' the face; but they are shrewd ones;
For when they hold 'em, you would swear directly
Their very noses had been counsellors

To Pepin or Clotharius, they keep state so.

SANDS. They have all new legs, and lame ones: one would take it,

That never saw 'em pace before, the spavin
Or springhalt reign'd among 'em.

214 to the height] "in excelsis."

2 strange mysteries?] strange arts, artificial fashions.

7 A fit or two o' the face] A grimace or two.

shrewd knowing.

10 Pepin or Clotharius] French kings of early date.

11 new legs] new curtsies.

12-13 spavin Or springhalt] diseases of horses affecting their powers of

motion.

10

CHAM.

Death! my lord,

Their clothes are after such a pagan cut too,
That, sure, they've worn out Christendom.

20

What news, Sir Thomas Lovell ?

Lov.

Enter SIR THOMAS LOVELL

How now!

Faith, my lord,

What is 't for?

I hear of none but the new proclamation
That's clapp'd upon the court-gate.

CHAM.

Lov. The reformation of our travell'd gallants, That fill the court with quarrels, talk, and tailors. CHAM. I'm glad 't .s there: now I would pray our

monsieurs

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

Lov.
They must either,
For so run the conditions, leave those remnants
Of fool and feather that they got in France,
With all their honourable points of ignorance
Pertaining thereunto, as fights and fireworks,
Abusing better men than they can be

Out of a foreign wisdom, renouncing clean
The faith they have in tennis and tall stockings,
Short blister'd breeches and those types of travel,
And understand again like honest men,

Or pack to their old playfellows: there, I take it,

30 tall stockings] high stockings.

31 blister'd] puffed out.

30

They may, "cum privilegio," wear away
The lag end of their lewdness, and be laugh'd at.
SANDS. 'Tis time to give 'em physic, their diseases
Are grown so catching.

CHAM.

What a loss our ladies

Will have of these trim vanities!

Lov.

Ay, marry,

There will be woe indeed, lords: the sly whoresons
Have got a speeding trick to lay down ladies

A French song and a fiddle has no fellow.

SANDS. The devil fiddle 'em! I am glad they are

going,

For, sure, there's no converting of 'em: 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.

Your colt's tooth is not cast yet.

SANDS.

Well said, Lord Sands;

No, my lord;

Sir Thomas,

To the cardinal's:

Nor shall not, while I have a stump.
CHAM.

Whither were you a-going?

Lov.

Your lordship is a guest too.

CHAM.

O, 't is true:

This night he makes a supper, and a great one,

35 lag end] fag end, dregs.

45 plain-song] simple melody.

48 Your colt's tooth] Your youthful passions.

40

50