Stockdale's edition of Shakespeare, with explanatory notes

Is nam'd, your wars in France: This makes bold That he may furnish and instruct great teachers,

mouths:

Tongues fpit their duties out, and cold hearts freeze
Allegiance in them; their curfes now,
Live where their prayers did; and it's come to pafs,
That tractable obedience is a flave

To each incenfed will. I would, your highness
Would give it quick confideration, for
There is no primer business 1.

King. By my life,

This is against our pleasure.

Wol. And for me,

but

I have no further gone in this, than by
A fingle voice; and that not paft ine,
By learned approbation of the judges. If I am
Traduc'd by ignorant tongues,-which neitherknow
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

And never feek for aid out of himself. Yet fee,
When these fo 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 complete,
Who was enroll'd 'mongst wonders, and when we,
Almoft with ravifh'd lift'ning, could not find
His hour of fpeech 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 ftrike honour fad.---Bid him recount
The 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

That virtue must go through. We must not stint 2 Out of the duke of Buckingham.
Our neceffary actions, in the fear

To cope 3 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 beit,
By fick interpreters, once 4 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 fhall ftand ftill,

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 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 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 commiftion: Pray, look to 't;
1 put it to your care.

Wol. A word with you.

King. Speak freely.

Surv. First, it was ufual with him, every day
It would infect his speech, That if the king
Should without iffue die, he'd carry it fo

To make the fcepter his : Thefe very words
I have heard him utter to his fon-in-law,
Lord Aberga'ny; to whom by oath he menaca
Revenge upon the cardinal.

Wol. Pleafe your highness, note
This dangerous conception in this point.
Not friended by his wifh, to your high perfor
His will is moft 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'it thou this?
Surv.Not long before your highness sped to France,
[To the Secretary. The duke being at the Rofe, within the parish

1 i. e. no matter of ftate that more earneftly preffes a dispatch.

encounter with. ancient writers.

2 i. e. flop.

3 i. e. to

4 Once is not unfrequently used for sometime, or at one time or other, among our 5 Lop lignities the branches.

X X 2

Saint

Saint Lawrence Poultney, did of me demand
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. Preiently 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 fent to me, wishing me to permit
John de la Court, my chaplain, a choice hour
To bear from him a matter of fame moment :
Whom after under the confeffion's feal
He folemnly had worn, that, what he spoke,
My chaplain to no creature living, but
To me, fhould utter, with demure confidence

This paufingly enfa'd,- Neither the king now his heirs,
(Tell you the dukej shall profper: bid him firive
For the love of the commonalty; 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 beseech you.

King. Let him on :--

Go forward.

Surv. On my foul, I'll speak 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,
It was much like to do: He anfwer'd, Tuh!
It can do me no damage: adding further,
That, had the king in his laft fickness fail'd,
The cardinal's and Sir Thomas Lovel's heads
Should have gone off.

King. Ha! what, fo rank? Ah, ha! [further
There's mifchief in this man:-Canft thou fay
Surv. I can, my liege.

King. Proceed.

Suv. Being at Greenwich,

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

King. I remember

King. A giant traitor!

[freedom,

Wol. Now, madam, may his highnefs live in

And this man out of prifon?
Queen. God mend all!

King. There's fomething more would out of
thee; What fay'ft?
[knifes—
Surv. After the duke bis father-with-the
He ftretch'd him, and, with one hand on his dagger,
Another spread on his breast, mounting his eyes,
He did difcharge a horrible oath; whofe tenour
Was,--Were he evil-us'd, he would out-go
His father, by as much as a performance
Does an in refolute purpose.

He is attach'd;

King. There's his period,
To fheath his knife in us.
Call him to prefent trial: if he may
Find mercy in the law, 'tis his; if none,
Let him not feek 't of us: By day and night,
He's traitor to the height.

SCENE III.

[Exeunt.

Though they be never fo ridiculous,
Nay, let then be unmanly, yet are follow'd.
Cham. As far as I fee, all the good, our English
Have got by the late voyage, is but merely
A fit or two o' the face 3; but they are shrewd ones;
For, when they hold 'em, you would fwear directly,
Their very nofes had been counsellors
To Pepin, or Clotharius, they keep state so.

Sands. They have all new legs, and laine ones;
one would take it,

That never faw them pace before, the spavin
And fpringhalt 4 reign'd among 'em.

Cham. Death! my lord,

Lot. The reformation of our travell'd gallants,
That fill the court with quarrels, talk, and tailors.
Cham. I am glad 'tis there; now I would pray
our monfieurs

To think an English courtier may be wife,
And never fee the Louvre.

Lov. They muit either

For fo run the conditions) leave thefe remnants
Of fool, and feathers, that they got in France,

3 A

Rank weeds are weeds that are grown up to great height and strength. What, fays the king, as he advanced to this pitch? 2 Myfteries were allegorical fhews, which the mummers of those times exhibited in odd and fantastic habits. Myleries are ufcd, by an eafy figure, for those that exhibited myfleries; and the fente is only, that the travelled Englishmen were metamorphofed, by foreign fashions, into fuch an uncouth appearance, that they looked like mummers in a myftery. fit of the face feems to be what we now term a grimace, an artificial caft of the countenance. fringhalt, or Springhalt, is a difcafe incident to hories, which gives them a convulfive motion in their paces. 5 This does not allude to the feathers anciently worn in the hats and caps of our countrymen (a circumftance to which no ridicule could juftly belong), but to an effeininate fathion of young gentlemen carrying fans of feathers in their hauds.

4 The

With all their honourable points of ignorance.
Pertaining thereunto, (as fights, and fireworks;
Abufing better men than they can be,
Out of a foreign wisdom) renouncing clean
The faith they have in tennis, and tall ftockings,
Short blifter'd breeches, and those types of travel,
And understand again like honest men;

Or pack to their old play-fellows: there, I take it,
They may, cum privil gio, wear away

The lag end of their lewdnefs, and be laugh'd at. Sands. 'Tis time to give them phyfick, their difAre grown fo catching.

Cham. What a lofs our ladies Will have of these trim vanities!

Lov. Ay, marry,

[eates

There will be woe indeed, lords: the fly whorefons
Have got a speeding trick to lay down ladies;
A French fong, and a fiddle, has no fellow. [going;
Sands. The devil fiddle 'em! I am glad, they're
(For, fure, there's no converting of 'em) now
An honeft country lord, as 1 am, beaten
A long time out of play, may bring his plain-fong,|
And have an hour of hearing; and, by 'r-lady,
Held current mufic too.

Cham. Well faid, lord Sands;

Your colt's tooth is not caft yet.
Sands. No, my lord;

Nor fhall not, while I have a stump.
Cham. Sir Thomas,

Whither were you going?

Lov. To the cardinal's; Your lordship is a gueft too.

Cham. O, 'tis true:

This night he makes a fupper, and a great one,
To many lords and ladies; there will be
The beauty of this kingdom, I'll affure you.

Lov. That churchman bears a bounteous mind
indeed,

A hand as fruitful as the land that feeds us;
His dews fall every where.

Cham. No doubt, he's noble ;

He had a black mouth, that faid other of him. Sands. He may, my lord, he has wherewithal; in him,

Sparing would fhew a worfe fin than ill doctrine:
Men of his way fhould be moft liberal,
They are fet here for examples.

Cham. True, they are fo;

But few now give fo great ones. My barge ftays;
Your lordship fhall along:-Come, good Sir
Thomas,

We fhall be late elfe; which I would not be,
For I was spoke to, with Sir Henry Guilford,
This night to be comptrollers.
Sands. I am your lordship's.

SCEN E IV.

Changes to York-Place?

[Excant.

Hautboys. Afmall table under a ftate for the Cardinal, a longer table for the guests. Then enter Anne Bullen, and divers other Ladies and Gentlewomen, as guests, at one door; at another door, en'er Sir Henry Guilford.

Guil. Ladies, a general welcome from his grace

Salutes you all: This night he dedicates

To fair content, and you: none here, he hopes,
In all this noble bevy, has brought with her
One care abroad; he would have all as merry
As firft-good company, good wine, good welcome,
Can make good people.-O, my lord, you are tardy;
Enter Lord Chamberlain, Lord Sands, and Sir The-
mas Lovel.

The very thought of this fair company
Clapp'd wings to me.

Cham. You are young, Sir Harry Guilford.
Sands. Sir Thomas Lovel, had the cardinal
But half my lay-thoughts in him, fome of thefe
Should find a running banquet ere they refted,
I think, would better pleafe 'em: By my life,
They are a fweet fociety of fair ones.

Lov. O, that your lordship were but now confeffor To one or two of thefe !

Sands. I would, I were ; They thould find eafy penance.

Lov. Faith, how eafy?

Sands. As easy as a down-bed would afford it. Cham. Sweet ladies, will it pleafe you fit? Sir

Harry,

Place you that fide, I'll take the charge of this: His grace is entring.—Nay, you must not freeze; Two women plac'd together make cold weather :— My lord Sands, you are one will keep 'em waking: Pray, fit between thefe ladies.

[So, now you are fairly feated :-Gentlemen,
The penance lies on you, if these fair ladies
Pafs away frowning.

Sands. For my little cure,
Let me alone.

Hautboys. Enter Cardinal Wolfey, and takes his

State.

I am beholden to you :cheer your neighbours :-
Ladies, you are not merry ;-Gentlemen,
Whofe fault is this?

Sands. The red wine first must rise
In their fair cheeks, my lord, then we shall have 'em
Talk us to filence.

Anne. You are a merry gamefter,
fwell'd out like blifters.
X X 3

1 i. c. breeches puff'd,

For fo they feem: they have left their barge, and My royal choice.

landed;

And hither make, as great ambassadors

From foreign princes.

Wol. Good lord chamberlain,

Go, give 'em welcome, you can fpeak the French

tongue;

And, pray, receive 'em nobly, and conduct 'em
Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty
Shall fhine at full upon them :-Some attend him.-
[All arife, and tables removed.
You have now a broken banquet; but we'll mend it.
A good digeftion to you all: and, once more,
I shower a welcome on you ;-Welcome all.
Hautboys. Enter the King, and others, as Mafkers,
babited like Shepherds, ufher'd by the Lord Cham-
berlain. They pass directly before the Cardinal,
and gracefully falute him.

A noble company! What are their pleasures ?
Cham. Because they speak no English, thus they
pray'd

To tell your grace ;-That, having heard by fame
Of this fo noble and fo fair affembly

This night to meet here, they could do no lefs,
Out of the great respect they bear to beauty,
But leave their flocks; and, under your fair conduct,
Crave leave to view thefe ladies, and entreat
An hour of revels with them.

King. You have found him, cardinal:

You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord:

You are a churchman, or, I'll tell you, cardinal,
I fhould judge now 4 unhappily.

Wol. I am glad,

Your grace is grown fo pleafant.

King. My lord chamberlain,

Pr'ythee, come hither: What fair lady's that? Cham. An't please your grace, Sir Thomas Ballen's daughter,

The vifcount Rochford, one of her highness' women. King. By heaven, fhe is a dainty one.-Sweet heart,

King. Lead in your ladies, every one.--Sweet I must not yet foríake you :-Let's be merry ;— Good my lord cardinal, I have half a dozen healths To drink to thefe fair ladies, and a measure

Wol. Say, lord chamberlain, [pay them They have done my poor houfe grace; for which I A thousand thanks, and pray them take their plea-To lead them once again; and then let's dream Who's beft in favour.Let the mufick knock it.

fures.

[Chufe ladies for the dance. King, and Anne Bullen. King. The fairest hand I ever touch'd! O, beauty,

[Exeunt, with

trumpets.

I i. e. if I make my party. 2 A chamber is a gun (ufed only on occafions of rejoicing) which ftands erect on its breech, and fo contrived as to carry great charges, and thereby to make a noife more than proportioned to its bulk. They are called chambers because they are mere chambers to lodge powder; a chamber being the technical term for that cavity in a piece of ordnance which contains the combuftibles. Chambers are still fired in the Park, and at the places oppofite to the Parlia ment-house, when the king goes thither. 3 i. e. take the chief place. 4 i. c. unluckily, #ischievously. 5 A kits was anciently the eftablished fee of a lady's partner.

ACT

SCENE I.

A Strest.

ACT II.

Enter two Gentlemen at feveral doors.

1 Gen.

HITHER away fo faft?

2 Gen. O,-Gud fave you! Even to the hall. to hear what fhall become

Of the great duke of Buckingham.

I Gen. I'll fave you

Then deputy of Ireland; who remov'd,
Earl Surrey was fent thither, and in haste too,
Left he should help his father.

2 Gen. That trick of state

Was a deep envious one.

1 Gen. At his return,

No doubt, he will requite it. This is noted,
And generally; whoever the king favours,
The cardinal inftantly will find employment,

That labour, fir. All's now done, but the ceremony And far enough from court too.

Of bringing back the prifoner.

2 Gen. Were you there?

1 Gen. Yes, indeed, was I.

2 Gen. Pray, speak, what has happen'd ?

1 Gen. You may guefs quickly what.

2 Gen. Is he found guilty?

1 Gen. Yes, truly, is he, and condemn'd upon it. And fee the noble ruin'd man you fpeak of.

2 Gen. I am forry for't.

1 Gen. So are a number more.

2 Gen. But, pray, how pafs'd it?

1 Gen. I'll tell you in a little. The great duke Came to the bar; where, to his accufations,

He pleaded ftill, not guilty, and alledg'd
Many fharp reafons to defeat the law.
The king's attorney, on the contrary,
Urg'd on the examinations, proofs,.confeffions
Of divers witneffes; which the duke defir'd
To have brought, viva voce, to his face :
At which appear'd against him, his furveyor;
Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor; and John Court,
Confeffor to him; with that devil-monk
Hopkins, that made this mifchief.

2 Gen. That was he,

That fed him with his prophecies'

1 Gon. The fame.

[not:

All thefe accus'd him strongly; which he fain
Would have flung from him, but, indeed, he could
And fo his peers, upon this evidence,
Have found him guilty of high-treafon. Much
He spoke, and learnedly, for life; but all
Was either pitied in him, or forgotten.

2 Gen. After all this, how did he bear himself? 1 Gen. When he was brought again to the bar, -to hear

His knell rung out, his judgment,--he was ftirr'd
With fuch an agony, he fweat extremely 1,
And fomething spoke in choler, ill, and hafty:
But he fell to himfelf again, and, fweetly,
In all the rest fhew'd a most noble patience.
2 Gen. I do not think, he fears death.
1 Gen. Sure, he does not,

He never was fo womanish; the cause
He may a little grieve at.

2 Gen. Certainly,

The cardinal is the end of this.

1 Gen. 'Tis likely,

By all conjectures: First, Kildare's attainder,

Enter Buckingham from his arraignment, (Tipflaves before him, the axe with the edge toward him; bilberds on each fide] accompanied with Sir Tho mas Lovel, Sir Nicholas Vaux, Sir William Sands, and common people, c.

2 Gen. Let's ftand clofe, and behold him. Buck. All good people,

You that thus far have come to pity me,

Hear what I fay, and then go home and lose me.

I have this day receiv'd a traitor's judgment,
And by that name muit die; Yet, heaven bear

witnefs,

And, if I have a confcience, let it fink me, Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful!

The law I hear no malice for my death,

'T has done, upon the premifes, but juftice;
But thofe, that fought it, I could with more chri-
ftians:

Be what they will, I heartily forgive 'em :
Yet let 'em look they glory not in mischief,
Nor build their evils on the graves of great men;
For then my guiltless blood muft cry against 'em.
For further life in this world I ne'er hope,
Nor will I fue, although the king have mercies
More than I dare make faults. You few that
lov'd me,

And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham,
His noble friends, and fellows, whom to leave
Is only bitter to him, only dying,

Go with me, like good angels, to my end;
And, as the long divorce of steel falls on me,
Make of your prayers one fweet facrifice,
And lift my foul to heaven.-Lead on, o' God's

name.

Lov. I do befeech your grace, for charity,

If ever any malice in your heart

Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly.
Buck. Sir Thomas Lovel, I as free forgive you,
As I would be forgiven: I forgive all;
There cannot be thofe numberlefs offences

This circumftance is taken from Holinfhed.
X x 4

'Gain

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