In fear our motion will be mock'd or carp'd at,
We should take root here where we sit, or sit
State-statues only.

And with a care, exempt themselves from fear;
Things done without example, in their issue
Are to be fear'd. Have you a precedent
Of this commission? I believe, not any.
We must not rend our subjects 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' the timber;
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.

The grieved

Let there be letters writ to every shire,
Of the king's grace and pardon.

commons

Hardly conceive of me; let it be noised

That through our intercession this revokement
And pardon comes: I shall anon advise you
Further in the proceeding.

[Exit Secretary.

Enter Surveyor.

Q. Kath. I am sorry that the Duke of Buck

ingham

95. trembling, such as one trembled at, to be trembled at, 'tremendous.'

96. lop, the smaller boughs and twigs of trees cut off for firewood.

90

100

108. Enter Surveyor. Charles Kuyvett. He had been dismissed from Buckingham's employ. His evidence as here given is taken in nearly every detail from Holinshed.

Is run in your displeasure.

King.

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 disposed, 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 listening, 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.

King.

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'll carry it SO

To make the sceptre his: these very words
I've heard him utter to his son-in-law,

Lord Abergavenny; to whom by oath he menaced
Revenge upon the cardinal.

Wol.

Please your highness, note

IIO. in, into.

ΙΙΟ

120

130

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.

King.

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.
King. What was that Henton ?

Surv.

He was brought to this

Sir, a Chartreux friar,

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

How know'st thou this?

King.
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, 'twas the fear, indeed; and that he doubted
'Twould 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

147. Nicholas Henton; Nicholas Hopkins, 'a monk of an house of the Chartreux order beside Bristow [Bristol], called Henton,' Holinshed, iii. 862. The

VOL. VI

140

150

160

slip is doubtless Shakespeare's.

162. choice, carefully chosen. 164. confession's. Theobald's correction (from Holinshed) of Ff commissions.' 177

N

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's
heirs,

Tell you the duke, shall prosper: bid him strive
To gain the love o' 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.

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 'twas 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.

170

180

King.

Surv.

Proceed.

Being at Greenwich,

170. To gain the love. So F. The first three Ff have 'to the

love.'

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 stretch'd 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.

190. Sir William Bulmer. FfBlumer.' Holinshed 'Bulmer.' He had offended the king by quitting his service for the duke's.

197. Made suit to come, etc.

Cf. Rich. III. v. I. I, where, however, no allusion is made to the elder Buckingham's alleged design. Holinshed mentions it in both the corresponding passages of his Chronicle (iii. 744 and 864).