Most peftilent to th' hearing; and, to bear 'em, King. Still, exaction! The nature of it, in what kind let's know Queen. I am much too vent'rous In tempting of your patience, but am bolden'd Without delay; and the pretence for this Is nam'd, your wars in France. This makes bold mouths; Live where their pray'rs did; and it's come to pafs, To each incensed will. I would, your Highness King. By my life, This is against our pleasure. I have no further gone in this, than by To cope malicious cenfurers; which ever, That is new trimm'd; but benefit no further For For our best act: if we stand still, in fear And with a care, exempt themselves from fear : Sixth part of each! The force of this commiffion: pray, look to't; Wol. A word with you. Let there be letters writ to ev'ry fhire, [To the Secretary. 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 Further in the proceeding. Enter Surveyor. you [Exit Secretary. Queen. I'm forry that the Duke of Buckingham Is run in your displeasure. King. It grieves many; The gentleman is learn'd, a moft rare speaker, Almoft Almoft with lift'ning ravifh'd, could not find We cannot feel too little, hear too much. Wol. Stand forth, and with bold fpirit relate, what you, Most like a careful subject, have collected Out of the Duke of Buckingham. King. Speak freely. Surv. First, it was ufual with him, ev'ry day It would infect his fpeech, that if the King Should without iffue die, To make the fcepter his. he'd carry't fo These very words I've heard him utter to his fon-in-law, Lord Aberga'ny, to whom by oath he menac'd Wol. Please your Highness, note His dangerous conception in this point : Queen. My learn'd lord Cardinal, Deliver all with charity. King. Speak on; How grounded he his title to the Crown, At any time speak aught? Surv. He was brought to this, By a vain prophecie of Nicholas Hopkins. (7) King. (7) By a vain Prophecy of Nicholas HENTON] We heard before, from Brandon, of one Nicholas Hopkins; and now his Name is chang'd into Henton; fo that Brandon and the Surveyor feem to be in two Stories. There is, however, but one and the fame Perfon meant, Hopkins; as I have reftor'd it in the Text: nor will it be any Difficulty to account for the other Name, when we come to confider, that He was a Monk of the Convent, call'd Henton, near Briftol. So both Hall and Holinghead ac King. What was that Hopkins? Surv. Sir, a Chartreux Friar, His confeffor, who fed him ev'ry minute King. How know'st thou this? Surv. Not long before your Highnefs fped to France, To me, fhould utter; with demure confidence, Queen. If I know you well, office You were the Duke's furveyor, and loft your quaint us. And he might, according to the Cuftom of thofe Times, be call'd as well Nicholas of Henton, from the Place; as Hopkins, from his Family. I formerly fet the Text right; and Mr. Pope has fince acceded to my Alteration. [8] under the Commiffion's Seal He folemnly had forn,] So all the Editions down from the very Beginning. But, what Commiffion's Seal? That is a Question, I dare fay, none of our diligent Editors ever ask'd themselves. The Text must be reflor'd, as I have corrected it; and honeft Holingshead, from whom our Author took the Subftance of this Paffage, may be call'd in as a Testi"The Duke in Talk told the Monk, that he had done very well o bind his Chaplain, John de la Court, under the Seal of Confeffion, to keep fecret fuch Matt." Vid. Life of Henry VIII. p. 863. You mory. 66 66 You charge not in your spleen a noble perfon, And spoil your nobler foul: I fay, take heed; (9) King, Let him on. Go forward. Surv. On my foul, I'll speak but truth. I told my lord the Duke, by th' devil's illufions It forg❜d him fome defign, which, being believ'd, King. Ha! what, fo rank? ah ha There's mischief in this man; canft thou fay further? King, Proceed. Surv. Being at Greenwich, After your Highness had reprov'd the Duke King. I remember Of fuch a time, he being my fworn servant, Th' ufurper Richard, who being at Salisbury, 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? [9] And Spoil your noble Soul:] Mr. Rozve's Edition, I think, firft sophifticated this Paffage: The oldest Copies read, nabler. And it feems very proper for a pious Queen to fay, the Soul of any Perfon was of a nobler Regard than the Life of the most noble Perfan. |