Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

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;
I put it to your care.

Wol. A word with you. [To the Secretary. Let there be letters writ to every shire,

Of the king's grace and pardon.

mons

The griev'd com

Hardly conceive of me; let it be nois'd,
That through our intercession this revokement
And pardon comes: I shall anon advise
Further in the proceeding.

Enter Surveyor.

you

[Exit Secretary.

Q. Kath. I am sorry that the duke of Buckingham Is run in your displeasure.

K. Hen. It grieves many : The gentleman is learn'd, and a most rare speaker, To nature none more bound; his training such That he may furnish and instruct great teachers, And never seek for aid out of himself. Yet see When these so noble benefits shall prove Not well dispos'd, the mind growing once corrupt, They turn to vicious forms, ten times more ugly Than ever they were fair. This man so complete, Who was enroll'd 'mongst wonders, and when we, Almost with ravish'd list'ning, could not find His hour of speech a minute; he, my lady, Hath into monstrous habits put the graces That once were his, and is become as black As if besmear'd in hell. Sit by us; you shall hear (This was his gentleman in trust) of him Things to strike honour sad.-Bid him recount The fore-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.

K. Hen.

Speak freely.
Surv. First, it was usual with him, every day
It would infect his speech, That if the king
Should without issue die, he 'd carry it so
To make the sceptre his: These very words
I have heard him utter to his son-in-law,
Lord Aberga'ny; 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 wish, to your high person
His will is most malignant; and it stretches
Beyond you, to your friends.

Q. Kath.

Deliver all with charity.

K. Hen.

My learn'd lord cardinal,

Speak on:

How grounded he his title to the crown,

Upon our fail? to this point hast thou heard him

At any time speak aught?

Surv.

By a vain prophecy of Nicholas Henton.
K. Hen. What was that Henton?

He was brought to this

Sir, a Chartreux friar,

How know'st thou this?

Surv.
His confessor; who fed him every minute
With words of sovereignty.

K. Hen.

Surv. Not long before your highness sped to France, The duke being at the Rose, within the parish Saint Lawrence Poultney, did of me demand What was the speech among the Londoners Concerning the French journey: I replied, Men fear'd the French would prove perfidious, To the king's danger. Presently the duke

Said, 'T was the fear, indeed; and that he doubted,
'T would prove the verity of certain words
Spoke by a holy monk: "that oft," says he,
"Hath sent to me, wishing me to permit
John de la Car, my chaplain, a choice hour
To hear from him a matter of some moment;
Whom after under the confession's seal
He solemnly had sworn, that, what he spoke,
My chaplain to no creature living, but

To me, should utter, with demure confidence

This pausingly ensued-Neither the king, nor his heirs,
(Tell you the duke) shall prosper: bid him strive
To gain the love of the commonalty; the duke
Shall govern England."

Q. Kath.
If I know you well,
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.

K. Hen.

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 deceiv'd; and that 't was dangerous for him

To ruminate on this so far, until

It forg'd him some design, which, being believ'd,
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.

K. Hen.
Ha! what so rank?
There's mischief in this man: Canst thou
Surv. I can, my liege.

K. Hen.

Proceed.

Ab, ha! say

further?

Surv.

Being at Greenwich,

After your highness had reprov'd the duke
About sir William Blomer,-

K. Hen.

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 his presence; which if granted,
As he made semblance of his duty, would

Have put his knife into him."

K. Hen.

A giant traitor! Wol. Now, madam, may his highness live in freedom, And this man out of prison?

Q. Kath.

God mend all!

K. Hen. There's something more would out of thee? what say'st?

Surv. After-" the duke his father," with "the knife,"

He stretch'd him, and, with one hand on his dagger,
Another spread on his breast, mounting his eyes,
He did discharge a horrible oath; whose tenour
Was,-were he evil us'd, he would outgo

His father, by as much as a performance
Does an irresolute purpose.

K. Hen.

To sheath his knife in us.

There's his period,

He is attach'd:

Call him to present trial: if he may

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.-A Room 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 ?a

Sands.

New customs,

Though they be never so ridiculous,

Nay, let them 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 them, 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 them pace before, the spavin,

A springhalt reign'd among them.

Cham.

Death! my lord,

Their clothes are after such a pagan cut too,

That, sure, they have worn out christendom. How now? What news, sir Thomas Lovell?

Lov.

Enter SIR THOMAS LOVELL.

'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 am glad 't is there; now I would pray our

monsieurs

To think an English courtier may be wise,

And never see the Louvre.

a Mysteries-artificial fashions.

« ZurückWeiter »