Our neceffary actions, in the fear
"To cope malicious cenfurers; which ever,
• As ravenous fishes, do a veffel follow
That is new trimm'd; but benefit no further
Than vainly longing. What we oft do beft,
'By fick interpreters, once weak ones, is
Not ours, or not allow'd; what worst, as oft,
Hitting a groffer quality, is cry'd up

For our best act. If we shall stand still,
In fear our motion will be mock'd or carp'd at,
We should take root here where we fit, or fit
State ftatues 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 precedent
Of this commiffion? 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 fap. To every county,
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.

Wol. A word with you.

Let there be letters writ to every fhire,

[To the Secretary.

To cope malicious cenfurers ;]—Of encountering calumny.

• As ravenous fishes, ]-As tharks, &c. in a fruitless pursuit of prey. P By fick interpreters, once weak ones,]—Ey judges, fometimes preju diced, at other, incompetent.

Hitting a groffer quality,]-Being adapted to their grofs conceptions. trembling]-tremendous.

-Q94

Of

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 advise you
Further in the proceeding.

Enter Surveyor.

[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, a most rare speaker,
To nature none more bound; his training such,
That he may furnish and inftru&t great teachers,
And never seek for aid out of himself. Yet fee,
When these so 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 'mongst wonders, "and when we,
Almoft with ravish'd lift'ning, 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; you fhall hear
(This was his gentleman in truft) of him
Things to strike honour fad.-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,

out of bimfelf.]-beyond his own intrinfic ftores.

Not well difpos'd,]-Ill placed, not joined to, or feconded by a good difpofition.

and when we, &c.]—and who spake fo, that when we, Almoft with lift'ning ravish'd, &c.

Moft

1

Most like a careful fubject, have collected

Out of the duke of Buckingham.

King. Speak freely.

Surv. First, it was ufual with him, every day
It would infect his fpeech, That if the king
Should without iffue die, he'd carry it fo
To make the scepter his: Thefe very words
I have heard him utter to his fon-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 wifh, to your high perfon
His will is most malignant; and it stretches
Beyond you, to your friends.

Queen. My learn'd 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 prophecy of Nicholas Hopkins.
King. What was that Hopkins?

Surv. Sir, a Chartreux friar,

His confeffor; who fed him every minute

With words of fovereignty.

King. How know'st thou this?

Surv. Not long before your highness fped to France,

The duke being at the Rofe, within the parish
Saint Lawrence Poultney, did of me demand

"This dangerous conception in this point.]-This particular part of his dangerous defign.

at the Rofe,]-now Merchant Taylor's fchool, in Suffolk-lane.

What

What was the fpeech among the Londoners
Concerning the French journey: I 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 holy monk; that oft, fays he,
Hath fent to me, wishing me to permit
John de la Court, my chaplain, a choice hour
To bear from him a matter of fome moment:
Whom after under the confeffion's feal
He folemnly bad fworn, that, what he spoke,
My chaplain to no creature living, but

To me, fhould utter, with demure confidence

This pausingly enfu'd,-Neither the king nor bis heirs,
(Tell you the duke) fhall profper: bid him ftrive
For the love of the commonality; the duke
Shall govern England.-

Queen. If I know you well,

You were the duke's furveyor, and loft

your office

On the complaint o' the tenants: Take good heed,
You charge not in your fpleen a noble perfon,
And fpoil your nobler foul; I fay, take heed;
Yes, heartily befeech you.

King. Let him on :

Go forward.

Surv. On my foul, I'll fpeak but truth.

I told my lord the duke, By the 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,

x a choice hour]-a fixed time.

Y li forg'd him jome defign,]-It put him upon forming fome confpiracy.

It was much like to do: He anfwer'd, Tush!
It can do me no damage: adding further,
That, had the king in his last sickness fail'd,
The cardinal's and fir Thomas Lovel's heads
Should have gone off.

There's mischief in this man :-Canft thou fay further?

Surv. I can my liege.

King. Proceed.

Surv. Being at Greenwich,

After your highness had reprov'd the duke

About fir William Blomer,

King. I remember

Of such a time :-Being my fworn 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 ufurper Richard: who, being at Salisbury,
Made fuit to come in bis prefence; which if granted,
As he made femblance 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?

Queen. God mend all !

King. There's fomething more would out of thee;
What fay'ft?

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; whofe tenour