(My good lord Cardinal) they vent reproaches
Moft bitterly on you as putter on
Of these exactions, yet the King our mafter
(Whose honour heav'n fhield from foil) efcapes not
Language unmannerly; yea fuch which breaks.
The fides of loyalty, and almoft appears
In loud rebellion.
Nor. Not almost appears,
It doth appear; for upon thefe taxations,
The clothiers all, not able to maintain
The many to them longing, have put off
The fpinfters, carders, fullers, weavers, who
Unfit for other life, compell'd by hunger
And lack of other means, in defp'rate manner
Daring th' event to th' teeth, are all in uproar,
And danger ferves among them.
Wherein and what taxation? my lord Cardinal,
You that are blam'd for it alike with us,
Know you of this taxation?
I know but of a fingle part in ought
Pertains to th' ftate, and front but in that file
Where others tell fteps with me.
You know no more than others: but you frame
Things that are known alike, which are not wholfome
To thofe which would not know them, and yet muft
Perforce be their acquaintance. These exactions
(Whereof my Sov'raign would have note) they are
Moft peftilent to th' hearing, and to bear 'em,
The back is facrifice to th' load; they fay,
They are devised by you, or else you fuffer
Too hard an exclamation.
The nature of it, in what kind let's know
In this exaction?
In tempting of your patience, but am bolden'd
Under your promis'd pardon. The subjects grief
Comes through commiffions, which compel from each
The fixth part of his fubftance, to be levy'd
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; All their curfes now
Live where their pray'rs did; and it's come to pass,
That tractable obedience is a flave
To each incenfed will. I would your Highness
Would give it quick confideration, for
There is no primer baseness.
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'm traduc'd by 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 stint
Our neceffary actions, in the fear
To cope malicious cenfures; which ever,
As rav'nous fishes, do a veffel follow
That is new triinm'd; but benefit no further
Than vainly longing. What we oft do beft,
By fick interpreters, or weak ones, is
Not ours, or not allow'd: what worft, as oft
Hitting a groffer quality, is cry'd up
For our best act: if we ftand ftill, in fear
Our motion will be mock'd or carped at,
We fhould take root here where we fit:
Or fit ftate-statues only.
King. Things done well,
And with a care, exempt themfelves from fear:
Things done without example, in their iffue
Are to be fear'd. Have you a precedent
Of this commiffion? I believe not any.
We must not rend our fubjects from our laws,
And stick them in our will. Sixth part of each!
A trembling contribution! ------ why we take
From ev'ry tree, lop, bark, and part o'th' timber :
And though we leave it with a root thus hackt,
The air will drink the fap. To ev'ry 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,.
I put it to your care.
Let there be letters writ to ev'ry fhire
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 you
Further in the proceeding.
Queen. I'm forry that the Duke of BuckinghamIs run in your displeasure.
The gentleman is learn'd, a moft rare fpeaker,
To nature none more bound, his training fuch,
That he
may furnish and inftru&t great teachers,
And never feck for aid out of himself.
Yet fee, when noble benefits shall 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 'mongst wonders, and when we
Almoft with lift'ning ravifh'd, could not find
His hour of speech, a minute; he, my lady,
Hath into monftrous habits pur the graces
That once were his, and is become as black
As if befmear'd in hell. Sit, you shall hear
(This was his gentleman in truft) of him
Things to ftrike honour fad. Bid him recount
To-fore-recited practices, whereof
We cannot feel too little, hear too much.
Wol,Stand forth, and with bold fpirit relate, what you, Moft like a careful fubject, have collected
Out of the Duke of Buckingham.
King. Speak freely.
Surv. Firft, it was ufual with him, ev'ry day It would infect his fpeech, that if the King Should without iffue die, he'd carry't fo
To make the scepter his
I've heard him utter to his fon-in-law,
Lord Aberganny, to whom by oath he menac'd
Revenge upon the Cardinal.
Wol. Please your Highness, note
His dangerous conception in this point a
Not friended by his wish to your high perfon,
His will is moft malignant, and it stretches
Beyond you to your friends.
Queen. My learn'd lord Cardinal,
Deliver all with charity.
How grounded he his title to the crown.
Upon our fail to this point haft thou heard him.
At any time speak ought
Suru. He was brought to this,
By a vain, prophefie of Nicolas Hopkins.
King. What was that Hopkins ?
Surv. Sir, a Chartreux Friar,
His confeffor, who fed him ev'ry minute:
With words of Sov'reignty.
King. How know'ft, thou, this?
Suru. Not long before your Highness sped to France, The Duke being at the Rofe, within the parish, St. Lawrence Poultrey, did of me demand What was the fpeech among the Londoners, Concerning the French journey reply'd, Men fear'd 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 boly Man that of 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:
Who (after under the commiffion's feal
He folemnly had fworn, that what he spoke
My chaplain to no creature living but
To me fhould utter) with demure confidence
Thus paufingly enfu'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 Eugland ·
Queen. If I know you well,
You were the Duke's furveyor, and loft your office
On the complaint o'th' tenants; take good heed
You charge not in your fpleen a noble perfon,
And fpoil your noble foul; I fay take heed;
Yes, heartily I beseech you.
King. Let him on.
Go forward.
Surv. On my foul, 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, until
It forg'd him fome defign, (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.
King. Ha! what, fo rank? ah ha
There's mischief in this man; canst thou say further? Surv. I can, my Liege.
King, Proceed.
Surv. Being at Greenwich,
After your Highness had reprov'd the Duke
About Sir William Blomer ·
King. I remember
Of fuch a time, he being my fworn servant,
The Duke retain'd him his. But on; what hence ?
Surv. If, quoth he, I for this had been committed,
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