By this fo ficken'd their eftates, that never
They fhall abound as formerly.

Buck. O, many

Have broke their backs with laying manors on them
For this great journeys. What did this vanity,
But minifter communication of

A moft poor iffue?

Nor. Grievingly I think,

The peace between the French and us not values
The coft that did conclude it.

Buck. Every man,

After the hideous ftorm that follow'd, was 7

5 Have broke their backs with laying manors on them

A thing

For this great journey.] In the ancient Interlude of Nature, bl. I. no date, but apparently printed in the reign of king Henry VIII. there feems to have been a similar stroke aimed at this expensive expedition : "Pryde. I am unhappy, I fe it well,➡

"For thexpence of myne apparell

Towardys this vyage,

"What in horfes and other aray,

"Hath compelled me for to lay

"All my land to mortgage." STEEVENS,

So, in King John:

"Rafh inconfiderate firy voluntaries,

"Have fold their fortunes at their native homes,

"Bearing their birth-rights proudly on their backs,

"To make a hazard of new fortunes here."

We meet with a fimilar expreffion in Marlowe's King Edward II. 1598 + While foldiers mutiny for want of pay,

"He wears a lord's revenue on his back."

Again, in Camden's Remains, 1605: "There was a nobleman merrily conceited, and riotously given, that having lately fold a mannor of an hundred tenements, came ruffling into the court, faying, am not I a mighty man that beare an hundred houses on my backe. ?" MALONE. See alfo Dodfley' Collection of Old Plays, edit. 1780, Vol. V. p. 26; Vol. XII. p. 395. REED.

What did this vanity

But minifter? &c.] What effect had this pompous fhew but the production of a wretched conclufion. JOHNSON.

7 Every man,

After the bideous form that follow'd, &c.] From Holinfhed: "Monday the xviii. of June was fuch an bideous forme of wind and weather, that many conjectured it did prognofticate trouble and hatred

fhortly

A thing inspir'd; and, not confulting, broke
Into a general prophecy, That this tempeft,
Dashing the garment of this peace, aboaded
The fudden breach on't.

Nor. Which is budded out;

For France hath flaw'd the league, and hath attach'a
Our merchants' goods at Bourdeaux.

Aber. Is it therefore

The ambaffador is filenc'd3?

Nor. Marry, is't.

Aber. A proper title of a peace'; and purchas'd At a fuperfluous rate!

Buck. Why, all this business Our reverend cardinal carry'd.

Nor. Like it your grace,

The state takes notice of the private difference
Betwixt you and the cardinal. I advise you,
(And take it from a heart that wishes towards you
Honour and plenteous safety,) that you read
The cardinal's malice and his potency
Together: to confider further, that

What his high hatred would effect, wants not
A minifter in his power: You know his nature,
That he's revengeful; and I know, his sword
Hath a fharp edge: it's long, and, it may be faid,
It reaches far; and where 'twill not extend,
Thither he darts it. Bofom up my counsel,

You'll find it wholefome. Lo, where comes that rock',
That I advise your fhunning.

hortly after to follow between princes."-Dr. Warburton has quoted a fimilar paffage from Hall, whom he calls Shakspeare's author; but Holinfhed, and not Hall, was his author; as is proved here by the words which I have printed in Italicks, which are not found fo combined in Hall's Chronicle. This fact is indeed proved by various cir cumftances. See Vol. V. p. 459, n. 3. MALONE.

The ambassador is filenc'd?] The French ambaffador refiding in England, by being refused an audience, may be faid to be filenc'd.

JOHNSON.

A proper title of a peace ;] A fine name of a peace. Ironically.

JOHNSON.

comes that rock,] To make the rock come is not very juft. JOHNS.

Enter

Enter Cardinal WOLSEY, (the purse borne before him,) certain of the guard, and two Secretaries with papers. The Cardinal in his passage fixeth his eye on Buckingham, and Buckingham on him, both full of disdain.

Wol. The duke of Buckingham's furveyor? ha? Where's his examination?

1 Secr. Here, fo please you. Wol. Is he in perfon ready?

1 Secr. Ay, please your grace.

Wo!. Well, we fhall then know more; and Buckingham Shall leffen this big look. [Exeunt WOLSEY, and train. Back. This butcher's cur2 is venom-mouth'd, and I Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore, best Not wake him in his flumber. A beggar's book Out-worths a noble's blood 3.

Nor. What, are you chaf'd?

Afk God for temperance; that's the appliance only,
Which your difeafe requires.

Buck. I read in his looks

Matter against me; and his eye revil'd

Me, as his abject object: at this inftant

He bores me with fome trick: He's gone to the king; I'll follow, and out ftare him.

Nor. Stay, my lord,

And let your reason with your choler queflion

2- butcher's cur-] Wolfey is faid to have been the fon of a butcher for Ipfwich]. JOHNSON.

Dr. Grey obferves, that when the death of the duke of Buckingham was reported to the emperor Charles V. he faid, "The first buck of England was worried to ccath by a butcher's dog." Skelton, whofe fatire is of the groffeft kind, in Why come you not to Court, has the fame reflection on the meanness of cardinal Wolfey's birth:

"For drede of the boucher's dog,

"Wold wirry them like an hog." STEEVENS.

3 Abeggar's book

Out-worths a noble blood.] That is, the literary qualifications of a bookish beggar are more prized than the high defcent of hereditary greatness. This is a contemptuous exclamation very naturally put into the mouth of one of the antient, unietter'd, martial nobility. JOHNSON. 4 He bores me with some trick:] He ftabs or wounds me by fome artifice or fiction. JOHNSON.

So, in the Life and Death of the Lord Cromwell, 1602:

"One that hath gull'd you, that hath bor'd you, fir." STEEV

What

What 'tis you go about: To climb fteep hills,
Requires flow pace at firft: Anger is like
A full-hot horse', who being allow'd his way,
Self-mettle tires him. Not a man in England
Can advife me like you: be to yourself
As you would to your friend.

Buck. I'll to the king;

And from a mouth of honour quite cry down
This Ipfwich fellow's infolence; or proclaim,
There's difference in no perfons.

Nor. Be advis'd;

Heat not a furnace for your foe fo hot 7
That it do finge yourfelf: We may out-run,
By violent swiftnefs, that which we run at,
And lofe by over-running. Know you not,
'The fire, that mounts the liquor till it run o'er,
In feeming to augment it, waftes it? Be advis'd;
I fay again, there is no English foul

More Itronger to direct you than yourself;
If with the fap of reafon you would quench,
Or but allay, the fire of paffion.

Buck. Sir,

I am thankful to you; and I'll go along
By your prescription:-but this top-proud fellow
(Whom from the flow of gall I name not, but
From fincere motions,) by intelligence,
And proofs as clear as founts in Júly, when
5- Anger is like

A full bot borfe, &c.] So, in our author's Rape of Lucrece
Till, like a jade, jelf-will himself doth tire." MALONE.
So, Maffinger, in the Unnatural Combat:

"Let paffion work, and, like a bot-rein'd horse,

"Twill quickly tire itself." STEEVENS.

6 -from a mouth of honour-] I will crufh this bafeborn fellow, by the due influence of my rank, or fay that all diftinctions of perfons is at an end. JOHNSON.

7 Heat not a furnace, &c.] Might not Shakspeare allude to Dan. iii. 22?" Therefore becaufe the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of fire flew thofe men that took up Shadrach, Mfhac, and Abednego." STEEVENS.

• fincere motions,] Honeft indignation; warmth of integrity. Perhaps name not, should be blame not. JOHNSON.

Wo

We fee each grain of gravel, I do know

To be corrupt and treasonous.

Nor. Say not, treasonous.

Buck. To the king I'll fay't; and make my vouch as ftrong As shore of rock. Attend. This holy fox, Or wolf, or both, (for he is equal ravenous ?, As he is fubtle; and as prone to mischief, As able to perform it: his mind and place Infecting one another', yea, reciprocally,) Only to fhew his pomp as well in France As here at home, fuggefts the king our mafter* To this laft coftly treaty, the interview, That fwallow'd fo much treasure, and like a glass Did break i' the rinfing.

Nor. 'Faith, and so it did.

Buck. Pray, give me favour, fir. This cunning cardinal The articles o' the combination drew,

As himself pleas'd; and they were ratify'd,

As he cry'd, Thus let be: to as much end,

As give a crutch to the dead: But our count-cardinal*
Has done this, and 'tis well; for worthy Wolfey,
Who cannot err, he did it. Now this follows,
(Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppy
To the old dam, treafon,)-Charles the emperor,
Under pretence to fee the queen his aunt,
(For 'twas, indeed, his colour; but he came
To whisper Wolfey,) here makes vifitation:
His fears were, that the interview, betwixt
England and France, might, through their amity,
Breed him fome prejudice; for from this league.

9-for be is equal ravenous,] Equal for equally. Shakspeare frequently uses adjectives adverbially. See K. John, Vol. IV. p. 565, n. 6. MALONE.

- bis mind and place

Infecting one another,] This is very fatirical. His mind he reprefents as highly corrupt; and yet he fuppofes the contagion of the place of first minister as adding an infection to it. WARBURTON. 2- fuggefts the king our mafter-] fuggefts, for excites. WARB.

our count-cardinal-] Wolfey is afterwards called king-carfinal. Mr. Pope and the fubfequent editors read-court-cardinal.

MALONE.

Peep'd