Things that are known alike, which are not wholsome
To thofe which would not know them, and yet must
Perforce be their acquaintance. These Exactions
(Whereof my Sovereign would have note) they are
Moft peftilent to th' hearing, and to bear 'em,
The Back is facrifice to th' Load; they say,
They are devis'd by you, or elfe 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 venturous

In tempting of your Patience, but am boldned
Under your promis'd Pardon. The Subjects Grief
Comes through Commiffions, which compels from each
The fixth part of his Substance, to be levied
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; their Curfes now

Live where their Prayers did; and it's come to pass,
That tractable Obedience is a Slave

To each incenfed Will: I would your Highness
Would give it quick Confideration, for
There is no primer bafeness.

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 am

Traduc'd by ignorant 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 muft go through: We must not fting
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 best,

By fick Interpreters, once weak ones, is
Not ours, or not allow'd; what worft, as oft
Hitting a groffer quality, is cry'd up

For our beft A&t; if we ftand ftill,

In fear our motion will be mock'd or carp'd at,
We should take root here where we fit:
Or fit State-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 Prefident
Of this Commiffion? I believe not any.
We must not rend our Subje&s 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'th' Timber:
And though we leave it with a root thus hackt,
The Air will drink the Sap. To every Country
Where this is queftion'd, fend our Letters, with
Free pardon to each Man that has deny'd,

The Force of this Commiffion; pray look to't,
put it to your Care.

I

Wol. A word with you.

Let there be Letters writ to every 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 Revokement
And Pardon comes; I fhall anon advife

Further in the Proceeding.

Enter Surveyor.

you

[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, and a moft rare Speakers
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 these fo 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 compleat,

Who was enroll'd 'mongft Wonders; and when we
Almoft with ravisht liftning, could not find
His hour of Speech, 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 by us, and you fhall hear
(This was his Gentleman in truft) of him

Things to ftrike Honour fad. Bid him recount
To force-recited Practices, whereof

We cannot feel too little, hear too much.

Wol. Stand forth, and with bold Spirit relate, what you, Most like a careful Subject, have collected

Out of the Duke of Buckingham.

King. Speak freely.

Surv. First, it was ufual with him every day,
It would infe&t his Speech, that if the King
Should without Iffue dye, he'll carry it fo
To make the Scepter his. Thefe very Words
I've heard him utter to his Son-in-law,

Lord Abergavenny, to whom by Oath he menac'd
Revenge upon the Cardinal.

Wol. Please your Highness, note

This 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 learned 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 speak ought?

Surv. He was brought to this,

By a vain Prophefie of Nicholas Henton.

King. What was that Henton?

Surv. Sir, a Chartreux Friar,

His Confeffor, who fed him every minute

With words of Sovereignty.

King. How know'st thou this?

Surv. Not long before your Highness fped to France, The Duke being at the Rofe, within the Parish

St.

St. Lawrence Poultney, did of me demand
What was the Speech among the Londoners
Concerning the French Journey. I reply'd,
Men fear 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, wishing me to permit
John de la Car, my Chaplain, a choice hour
To hear from him a Matter of fome moment:
Whom after, under the Commiffions Seal,
He folemnly bad fworn, that what he spoke
My Chaplain to no Creature living, but
To me, fhould utter, with demure Confidence,
Thus paufingly ensu'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 Surveyor, and loft your Office
On the complaint o'th' Tenants; take good heed
You charge not in your Spleen a Noble Perfon,
And fpoil your Noble Soul; I fay, take heed;
Yes, heartily I befeech you.

King. Let him on. Go forward.

Surv. On my Soul, 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 dang'rous
For him to ruminate on this fo far, until

It forg'd him fome Defign, which, being believ'd,
It was much like to do: He anfwer'd, Tufh,
It can do me no damage; adding further,
That had the King in his laft 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 fay further ?
Surv. I can, my Liege.

King. Proceed

Sury

Surv. Being at Greenwich,

After your Highness had reprov'd the Duke
About Sir William Blumer-

King. I remember of fuch a time, being my fworn Servant, The Duke retain'd him his. But on; what hence?

Surv. If, quoth he, I for this Deed had been committed, 'As to the Tower, I thought; I would have plaid The Part my Father meant to A& upon Th'Ufurper Richard, who being at Salisbury, Made fuit to come in's prefence; which, if granted, (As he made femblance of his Duty) would Have put his Knife into him.

King. A Giant Traito!

Wol. Now, Madam, may his Highness live in freedom, And this Man out of Prison?

Queen, God mend all.

(lay'st? King. There's fomething more would out of thee; what Surv. After the Duke his Father, with the Knife---He ftretch'd him, and with one Hand upon his Dagger, Another fpread on's Breaft, mounting his Eyes, He did discharge a horrible Oath, whofe tenour Was, were he evil us'd, he would out-go His Father, by as much as a performance Does an irrefolute purpose.

King. There's his period,

To fheath his Knife in us; he is attach'd,
Call him to prefent Trial; if he may
Find Mercy in the Law, 'tis his; if none,
Let him not feek't of us: By Day and Night
He's Traitor to th' height

SCENE III.

Enter Lord Chamberlain, and Lord Sands.

[Exeunt.

Cham. Is't poffible the Spells of France shouldjuggle Men into fuch ftrange Mysteries?

Sands. New Cuftoms,

Though they be never fo ridiculous,

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

Cham.