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KING。 Arise； and take place by us。 Half your suit Never name to us： you
have half our power。 The other moiety ere you ask is given； Repeat your
will； and take it。 QUEEN KATHARINE。 Thank your Majesty。 That you
would love yourself； and in that love Not unconsidered leave your honour
nor The dignity of your office； is the point Of my petition。 KING。 Lady
mine； proceed。 QUEEN KATHARINE。 I am solicited； not by a few； And
those of true condition； that your subjects Are in great grievance： there
have been commissions Sent down among 'em which hath flaw'd the heart
Of all their loyalties； wherein； although； My good Lord Cardinal； they vent
reproaches Most bitterly on you as putter…on Of these exactions； yet the
King our master Whose honour Heaven shield from soil！even he
escapes not Language unmannerly； yea； such which breaks The sides of
loyalty； and almost appears In loud rebellion。 NORFOLK。 Not almost
appears It doth appear； for； upon these taxations； The clothiers all； not
able to maintain The many to them 'longing； have put off The spinsters；
carders； fullers； weavers； who Unfit for other life； compell'd by hunger
And lack of other means； in desperate manner Daring th' event to th' teeth；
are all in uproar； And danger serves among them。 KING。 Taxation！
Wherein？ and what taxation？ My Lord Cardinal； You that are blam'd for it
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alike with us； Know you of this taxation？ WOLSEY。 Please you； sir； I
know but of a single part in aught Pertains to th' state； and front but in that
file Where others tell steps with me。 QUEEN KATHARINE。 No； my lord！
You know no more than others！ But you frame Things that are known
alike； which are not wholesome To those which would not know them； and
yet must Perforce be their acquaintance。 These exactions； Whereof my
sovereign would have note； they are Most pestilent to th' hearing； and to
bear 'em The back is sacrifice to th' load。 They say They are devis'd by you；
or else you suffer Too hard an exclamation。 KING。 Still exaction！ The
nature of it？ In what kind； let's know； Is this exaction？ QUEEN
KATHARINE。 I am much too venturous In tempting of your patience； but
am bold'ned Under your promis'd pardon。 The subjects' grief Comes
through commissions； which compels from each The sixth part of his
substance； to be levied Without delay； and the pretence for this Is nam'd
your wars in France。 This makes bold mouths； Tongues spit their duties
out； and cold hearts freeze Allegiance in them； their curses now Live
where their prayers did； and it's come to pass This tractable obedience is a
slave To each incensed will。 I would your Highness Would give it quick
consideration； for There is no primer business。 KING。 By my life； This is
against our pleasure。 WOLSEY。 And for me； I have no further gone in this
than by A single voice； and that not pass'd me but By learned approbation
of the judges。 If I am Traduc'd by ignorant tongues； which neither know
My faculties nor person； yet will be The chronicles of my doing； let me
say 'Tis but the fate of place； and the rough brake That virtue must go
through。 We must not stint Our necessary actions in the fear To cope
malicious censurers； which ever As rav'nous fishes do a vessel follow That
is new…trimm'd； but benefit no further Than vainly longing。 What we oft
do best； By sick interpreters； once weak ones； is Not ours； or not allow'd；
what worst； as oft Hitting a grosser quality； is cried 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 sit； or sit State…statues only。 KING。 Things
done well 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
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KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
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' th'
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。 WOLSEY。 ＇Aside to the SECRETARY＇
A word with you。 Let there be letters writ to every shire Of the King's
grace and pardon。 The grieved commons Hardly conceive of melet it be
nois'd That through our intercession this revokement And pardon comes。 I
shall anon advise you Further in the proceeding。 Exit SECRETARY Enter
SURVEYOR
QUEEN KATHARINE。 I am sorry that the Duke of Buckingham 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
dispos'd； 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 list'ning；
could not find His hour of speech a minutehe； 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 trustof him Things to strike honour sad。 Bid him recount
The fore…recited practices； whereof We cannot feel too little； hear too
much。 WOLSEY。 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。 SURVEYOR。 First； it was usual with himevery day
It would infect his speechthat 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 Aberga'ny； to whom by oath he menac'd Revenge
upon the Cardinal。 WOLSEY。 Please your Highness； note 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。
QUEEN KATHARINE。 My learn'd Lord Cardinal； Deliver all with charity。
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KING。 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？ SURVEYOR。
He was brought to this By a vain prophecy of Nicholas Henton。 KING。
What was that Henton？ SURVEYOR。 Sir； a Chartreux friar； His confessor；
who fed him every minute With words of sovereignty。 KING。 How
know'st thou this？ SURVEYOR。 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 He
solemnly had sworn that what he spoke My chaplain to no creature living
but To me should utter； with demure confidence This pausingly ensu'd：
〃Neither the King nor's heirs； Tell you the Duke； shall prosper； bid him
strive To gain the love o' th' commonalty； the Duke Shall govern
England。〃' QUEEN KATHARINE。 If I know you well； You wer