As he cried, "Thus let be," to as much end,

As give a crutch t' 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 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,
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

Sir,

2 HE privily] "He," wanting both to the sense and metre in the folio, 1623,

was inserted in the folio, 1632.

Of Hereford, Stafford, and Northampton, I
Arrest thee of high treason, in the name
Of our most sovereign king.

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 die is on me,
Which makes my whit'st part black.

heaven

Be done in this and all things.—I obey.

O! my lord Aberga'ny, fare you well.

The will of

Bran. Nay, he must bear you company. The king [TO ABERGAVENNY. Is pleas'd you shall to the Tower, till you know How he determines farther.

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 t' attach lord Montacute; and the bodies
Of the duke's confessor, John de la Car,

One Gilbert Peck, his chancellor,

Buck.

So, so;

These are the limbs o' the plot. No more, I hope.
Bran. A monk o' the Chartreux.

Buck.

Bran.

O! Nicholas Hopkins?

He.

Buck. My surveyor is false: the o'er-great cardinal

3 O! Nicholas Hopkins.] Such was the name, according to history, but misprinted Michael Hopkins. Just above, Gilbert Peck is called, by an error of the press, counsellor, instead of "chancellor :" both these mistakes are afterwards set right in the old copies, but they here run through all the folios.

Hath show'd him gold. My life is spann'd already:
I am the shadow of poor Buckingham,
Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on,
By darkening my clear sun*.-My lord, farewell.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The Council-Chamber.

Cornets. Enter King HENRY, Cardinal WOLSEY, the Lords of the Council, Sir THOMAS LOVELL, Officers, Attendant. 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 charg'd confederacy, and give thanks
To you that chok'd 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 occupy their several Places. The Cardinal 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

4 I am the shadow of poor Buckingham;

Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on,

By darkening my clear sun.] The meaning seems to be merely this, though it has somewhat puzzled the commentators, "I am now only the shadow of poor Buckingham, whose figure, formerly unobscured, this instant puts on a cloud, which shadows my clear sun."

5 leaning on the Cardinal's Shoulder.] The old stage-direction here adds, "the Cardinal places himself under the King's feet on his right side." It seems to come more properly afterwards.

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 hath 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,

Whose honour heaven shield from soil! even he escapes

not

Language unmannerly; yea, such which breaks.
The sides of loyalty, and almost appears

In loud rebellion.

Nor.

Not almost appears,

It doth appear; for upon these taxations,

The clothiers all, not able to maintain
The many to them 'longing, have put off
The spinsters, carders, fullers, weavers, who,
Unfit for other life, compell'd by hunger
And lack of other means, in desperate manner
Daring th' event to the teeth, are all in uproar,

And danger serves among them.

K. Hen.

Taxation!

Wherein? and what taxation ?-My lord cardinal,
You that are blam'd for it alike with us,

Know you of this taxation?

Wol.

Please you, sir,

I know but of a single part, in ought

Pertains to the state; and front but in that file
Where others tell steps with me.

Q. Kath.
No, my lord,
You know no more than others; but you frame
Things, that are known alike, which are not wholesome
To those which would not know them, and yet must
Perforce be their acquaintance. These exactions,
Whereof my sovereign would have note, they are
Most pestilent to the hearing; and, to bear them,
The back is sacrifice to the load. They say,
They are devis'd by you, or else you suffer
Too hard an exclamation.

K. Hen.

Still exaction!

The nature of it? In what kind, let's know,

Is this exaction?

Q. Kath.

1 am much too venturous

In tempting of your patience; but am bolden'd Under your promis'd pardon. The subjects' grief Comes through commissions, which compel from each The sixth 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 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,
This tractable obedience is a slave

To each incensed will. I would, your highness
Would give it quick consideration, for