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 devised by you, or else you suffer

Too hard an exclamation.

KING HENRY

Still exaction!

The nature of it? In what kind, let’s know,

Is this exaction?

QUEEN KATHERINE I am much too venturous

In tempting of your patience, but am boldened

Under your promised 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 named 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 HENRY

By my life,

This is against our pleasure.

CARDINAL WOLSEY

And for me,

I have no further gone in this than by

A single voice, and that not passed me but

By learned approbation of the judges. If I am

Traduced 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 trimmed, but benefit no further

Than vainly longing. What we oft do best,

By sick interpreters, once weak ones, is

Not ours or not allowed; 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 mocked or carped at,

We should take root here where we sit,

Or sit state-statues only.

KING HENRY

Things done well,

And with a care, exempt themselves from fear;

Things done without example, in their issue

Are to be feared. 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‘th’ timber,

And though we leave it with a root, thus hacked

The air will drink the sap. To every county

Where this is questioned 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.

CARDINAL WOLSEY (to a secretary) A word with you.

Let there be letters writ to every shire

Of the King’s grace and pardon.

(Aside to the secretary)

The grieved 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 Buckingham’s Surveyor

QUEEN KATHERINE (to the King)

I am sorry that the Duke of Buckingham

Is run in your displeasure.

KING HENRY

It grieves many.

The gentleman is learned, 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 enrolled ’mongst wonders—and when we

Almost with ravished list’ning 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 besmeared in hell. Sit by us. You shall hear—

This was his gentleman in trust of him—

Things to strike honour sad.

(To Wolsey)

Bid him recount

The fore-recited practices whereof

We cannot feel too little, hear too much.

CARDINAL WOLSEY (to the Surveyor)

Stand forth, and with bold spirit relate what you

Most like a careful subject have collected

Out of the Duke of Buckingham.

KING HENRY (to the Surveyor)

Speak freely.

BUCKINGHAM’S SURVEYOR

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.

CARDINAL WOLSEY (to the King)

Please your highness note