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I was my chamber's prisoner. Nor.

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Then you lost The view of earthly glory: Men might say, Till this time, pomp was single; but now married To one above itself. Each following day Became the next day's master, till the last Made former wonders it's: To-day, the French, All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods, Shone down the English: and, to-morrow, they Made Britain, India: every man, that stood, Show'd like a mine. Their dwarfish Their dwarfish pages were As cherubins, all gilt: the madams too, Not us'd to toil, did almost sweat to bear The pride upon them, that their very labour Was to them as a painting: now this mask Was cry'd incomparable; and the ensuing night Made it a fool, and beggar. The two kings, Equal in lustre, were now best, now worst, As presence did present them; him in eye, Still him in praise: and, being present both, 'Twas said, they saw but one; and no discerner Durst wag his tongue in censure." tongue in censure." When these

suns

(For so they phrase them) by their heralds leng'd

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Buck. I pray you, who, my lord? Nor. All this was order'd by the good discretion Of the right reverend cardinal of York.

Buck. The devil speed him! no man's pie is freed

Surely, sir,

From his ambitious finger. What had he
To do in these fierce12 vanities? I wonder,
That such a keech13 can with his very bulk
Take up the rays o' the beneficial sun,
And keep it from the earth.
Nor.
There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends ;
For, being not propp'd by ancestry (whose grace
Chalks successors their way,) nor call'd upon
For high feats done to the crown; neither allied
To eminent assistants, but, spider-like,
Out of his self-drawing web, he gives us note,
The force of his own merit makes his way;
A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys
A place next to the king.

Aber.
I cannot tell
What heaven hath given him, let some grater eye
Pierce into that; but I can see his pride
Peep through each part of him: Whence has he
that?

If not from hell, the devil is a niggard;
Or has given all before, and he begins
A new hell in himself.

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chal-Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have
By this so sicken'd their estates, that never
They shall abound as formerly.
Buck.
O, many
Have broke their backs with laying manors on them
For this great journey.16 What did this vanity,

The noble spirits to arms, they did perform Beyond thought's compass; that former fabulous story,

Being now seen possible enough, got credit,
That Bevis was believ'd,

Buck.
O, you go far.
Nor. As I belong to worship, and affect
In honour honesty, the tract of every thing

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8 The old romantic legend of Bevis of Hampton. This Bevis (or Beavois) a Saxon, was for his prowess created earl of Southampton by William the Conqueror. See Camden's Britannia.

But minister communication of

A most poor issue?

Nor.

Grievingly I think,

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

10 Certes, i. e. certainly, is here used as a monosyl lable.

11 No initiation, no previous practice. Elements are the first_principles of things, or rudiments of knoinledge. The word is here applied, not without a catachresis, to a person.

12 Johnson remarks that fierce is here used, like the French fier, for proud.

13 A round lump of fat. The Prince calls Falstaft tallow-keech in the First Part of King Henry IV. Act ii. Sc.4. It has been thought that there was some allusion here to the Cardinal, being reputed the son of a butcher. We have Goodwife Keech, the butcher's wife,' mentioned by Dame Quickly, in King Henry IV. Part II. Act

ii. Sc. 1.

14 List.

15 He papers, a verb; i. e. his own letter, by his own single authority, and without the concurrence of the council, must fetch him in whom he papers down 9 The course of these triumphs, however well rela-Wolsey published a list of the several persons whom he ted, must lose in the description part of that spirit and energy which were expressed in the real action. The commission for regulating them was well executed, and gave exactly to every particular person and action the Droper place

had appointed to attend on the king at this interview, and addressed his letters to them.

16 In the ancient Interlude of Nature, blk. 1. no date apparently printed in the reign of King Henry VIII. similar stroke is aimed at this expensive expedition.

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Why, all this business
Our reverend cardinal carried.4
Nor.
Like 't 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 consider further, that

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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 sincere motions,10) by intelligence,
And proofs as clear as founts in July, when
We see each grain of gravel, I do know
To be corrupt and treasonous.

Nor.
Say not, treasonous
Buck. To the king I'll say it; and make my vouch
as strong

What his high hatred would effect, wants not
A minister in his power: You know his nature,
That he's revengeful; and I know, his sword
Hath a sharp edge: it's long, and, it may be said,
It reaches far; and where 'twill not extend,
Thither he darts it. Bosom up my counsel,
You'll find it wholesome. Lo, where comes that Infecting one another, yea, reciprocally,)

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Wol. The duke of Buckingham's surveyor? ha? Where's his examination? 1 Secr. Here, so please you. Wol. Is he in person ready? 1 Secr. Ay, please your grace.

As shore of rock. Attend. This holy fox,
Or wolf, or both (for he is equal11 ravenous,
As he is subtle; and as prone to mischief,
As able to perform it: his mind and place

Only to show his pomp as well in France
As here at home, suggests12 the king our master
To this last costly treaty, the interview,
That swallow'd so much treasure, and like a glass
Did break i' the rinsing.
Nor.
'Faith, and so it did.
Buck. Pray, give me favour, sir. This cunning
cardinal

The articles o' the combination drew,

As himself pleas'd; and they were ratified, As he cried, Thus let be: to as much end, As give a crutch to the dead: But our count cardin.u Has done this, and 'tis well: for worthy Wolsey Wol. Well, we shall then know more; and Buck-Who cannot err, he did it. Now this follows,

ingham

Shall lessen this big look.
[Exeunt WOLSEY and Train.
Buck. This butcher's cur is venom-mouth'd,

and I

Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore, best
Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's book
Out-worths a noble's blood."

(Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppy To the old dam, treason,)-Charles the emperor, Under pretence to see the queen his aunt, (For, 'twas, indeed, his colour; but he came To whisper Wolsey,) here makes visitation : His fears were, that the interview, betwixt England and France, might, through their amity, Breed him some prejudice; for from this leagnė Peep'd harms that menac'd him: He privily Deals with our cardinal; and, as I trow, Which I do well; for, I am sure, the emperor Paid ere he promis'd; whereby his suit was granted, Ere it was ask'd ;-but when the way was made, And pav'd with gold, the emperor thus desir'd ;— He bores me with some trick: He's gone to the That he would please to alter the king's course,

Nor.
What, are you chaf'd?
Ask God for temperance; that's the appliance only,
Which your disease requires.

Buck.

I read in his looks
Matter against me: and his eye revil'd
Me, as his abject object: at this instant

king;
I'll follow, and outstare him.

Nor.
Stay, my lord,
And let your reason with your choler question
What 'tis you go about: To climb steep hills,
Requires slow pace at first: Anger is like
A full-hot horse; who, being allow'd his way,
Self-mettle tires him." Not a man in England
Can advise me like you be to yourself
As you would to your friend.
Buck.

I'll to the king;

1 'Monday the xviii of June was such an hideous storme of winde and weather, that many conjectured it did prognosticate trouble and hatred shortly after to follow between princes.'-Holinshed.

2 The French ambassador, being refused an audience, may be said to be silenc'd.

3 Á fine name of a peace: this is ironically said. 4 Conducted.

5 The common rumour ran that Wolsey was the son of a butcher; but his faithful biographer Cavendish says nothing of his father being in trade: he tells us that he was an honest poor .man's son.'

That is, the literary qualifications of a bookish

And break the foresaid peace. Let the king know
(As soon he shall by me,) that thus the cardinal
Does buy and sell his honour as he pleases, 13
And for his own advantage.

Nor.

I am sorry

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Enter BRANDON; a Sergeant at Arms before him, | Never name to us; you have half our power:
and two or three of the Guard.
The other moiety, ere you ask, is given;
Bran. Your office, sergeant; execute it. Repeat your will, and take it.
Serg.

My lord the duke of Buckingham, and earl
Of Hereford, Stafford, and Northampton, I
Arrest thee of high treason, in the name
Of our most sovereign king.
Buck.

Sir,

Lo you, my lord, The net has fall'n upon me; I shall perish Under device and practice.1

Bran.

I am sorry To see you ta'en from liberty, to look on The business present.2 'Tis his highness' pleasure, You shall to the Tower.

Buck.

It will help me nothing, To plead mine innocence; for that dye is on me, Which makes my whitest part black. The will of heaven

Be done in this and all things!-I obey.my lord Aberga'ny, fare you well.

Bran. Nay, he must bear you company :-The king To ABERGAVENNY. Is pleas'd, you shall to the Tower, till you know How he determines further.

As the duke said,

Aber. The will of heaven be done, and the king's pleasure By me obey'd. Bran.

Here is a warrant from

Q. Kath.

Thank your majesty. That you would love yourself; and, in that love, Not unconsider'd leave your honour, nor

The dignity of your office, is the point

Of my petition.

K. Hen.

Lady mine, proceed.

Q. Kath. 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 them, 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 on9

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.
Not almost appears,

Nor.

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

The king, to attach Lord Montacute, and the bodies Daring the event to the teeth, are all in
Of the duke's confessor, John de la Car,4
One Gilbert Peck, his chancellor,—

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K. Hen. My life itself, and the best heart of it,
Thanks you for this great care: I stood i'the levels
Of a full charg'd confederacy, and give thanks
To you that chok'd it.-Let be call'd before us
That gentleman of Buckingham's: in person
I'll hear him his confessions justify;

And point by point the treasons of his master
He shall again relate.

The King takes his state. The Lords of the Council
take their several places. The Cardinal places him-
self under the King's feet, on his right side.
A noise within, crying, Room for the Queen. En-
ter the Queen, ushered by the Dukes of NORFOLK
and SUFFOLK: she kneels. The King riseth from
his state, takes her up, kisses, and placeth her by him.
Q. Kath. Nay, we must longer kneel: I am a

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2 I am sorry that I am obliged to be present, and an

eye witness of your loss of liberty.

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Taxation! Wherein? and what taxation?—My lord cardinal, You that are blam'd for it alike with us, Know you of this taxation? Wol.

Please you, sir,
I know but of a single part, in aught
Pertains to the state; and front but in that file 11
Where others tell steps with me.
Q. Kath.
No, my lord,
You know no more than others: but you frame
Things, which 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 the hearing; and, to bear them,
The back is sacrifice to the load. They say,
Too hard an exclamation.
They are devis'd by you; or else you suffer

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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
That tractable obedience is a slave
Live where their prayers did; and it's come to pass,

6 i. e. measured, the duration of it determined. Man's life is said in scripture to be but a span long.

7 The old copy reads 'this instant sun puts on.' 8 To stand in the level of a gun, is to stand in a line with its mouth, so as to be hit by the shot.

9 i. e. promoter or instigator.

10 Warburton is full of admiration at this sudder. 3 This was Henry Pole, grandson to George duke of rising of the poet' to a height truly sublime where by Clarence, and eldest brother to Cardinal Pole. He had the noblest stretch of fancy Danger is personified as servmarried Lord Abergavenny's daughter. Though re-ing in the rebel army, and shaking the established stored to favour at this juncture, he was executed for government. Gower, Chaucer, Skelton, and Spenser, another alleged treason in this reign. have also personified Danger.

4 The game of this monk of the Chartreux was John de l Car, alias de la Court. See Holinshed, p. 363.

11 He means to say that he is but one among many counsellors, who proceed in the same course with him in the business of the state. 5 Nicholas Hopkins, another monk of the same order, that he frames things, or they originate with him, which To this the queen replies, belonging to a religious house called Henton-beside-are afterwards known to the council and promulgated by Bristow.

them

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And for me,
I have no farther 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 brake3
That virtue must go through. We must not stint
Our necessary actions, in the fear

is

To cope malicious censurers; which ever,
As ravenous 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,
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.

K. Hen.

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 c mission? I believe, not any.
We must ot rend our subjects from our laws,
And stick them in our will. Sixth part of each?
À 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 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.
Wol.

A word with you.
[To the Secretary.
Let there be letters writ to every shire,
Of the king's grace and pardon. The griev'd commons
Hardly conceive of me; let 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.R Q. Kath. I am sorry, that the duke of Buckingham Is run in your displeasure.

K. Hen,

It grieves many : The gentleman is learn'd, and a most rare speaker, T› nature none more bound; his training such, That he furnish and instruct great teachers, And never seek for aid out of himself.10

Yet see

may

When these so noble benefits shall prove
Not well dispos'd,11 the mind growing once corrupt,
They turn to vicious forms, ten times more ugly
Than ever they were fair. This man so complete,
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 minute; he, 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

1 The meaning (says Malone) appears to be, things are now in such a situation that resentment and indig. nation predominate in every man's breast over duty and allegiance.

2 The old copy reads 'There is no primer baseness. Warburton made the alteration, which Steevens seems to hink unnecessary, though he has retained it in his text. 3 Thicket of thorns.

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(This was his gentleman in tr.1st) of him Things to strike honour sad.-Bid him recount The fore-recited practices; whereof

We cannot feel too little, hear too much

Wol. Stand forth; and with bold spirit relate what

you,

Most like a careful subject, have collected Out of the Duke of Buckingham.

K. Henry.

Speak freely Surv. First, it was usual with him, every day It would infect his speech, That if the king Should without issue die, he'd carry12 it so To make the sceptre his: These very words I have heard him utter to his son-in-law, Lord Aberga'ny; to whom by oath he menac'd Revenge upon the cardinal.

Wol. 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.

Q. Kath. Deliver all with charity.

K. Hen

My learn'd lord cardinal,

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?

Surv.

He was brought to this

By a vain prophecy of Nicholas Hopkins.
K. Hen. What was that Hopkins?
Surv.

His confessor; who fed him
With words of sovereignty.
K. Hen.

Sir, a Chartreux friar, every minute

How know'st thou this? Surv. Not long before your highness sped to

France,

The duke being at the Rose, 13 within the parish
Saint Lawrence Poultney, did of me demand
What was the speech amongst 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 Court, my chaplain, a choice hour
To hear from him a matter of some moment:
Whom after under the confession's seal 14
He solemnly had sworn, that, what he spoke,
My chaplain to no creature living, but

Το

me, should utter, with demure confidence This pausingly ensued,-Neither the king, nor his heirs

(Tell you the duke,) shall prosper : bid him strive To gain the love of the commonalty ; the duke Shall govern England.

Q. Kath. If I know you well, You were the duke's surveyor, and lost your office You charge not in your spleen a noble On the complaint o' the tenants: Take good heed person, And spoil your nobler soul! I say, take heed Yes, heartily heseech you.

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9 It appears from the prologue to the Romance of the Knight of the Swanne, that it was translated from the French at the request of this unfortunate nobleman The duke was executed on Friday the 17th of May, 1521. The book has no date.

10 i. e. beyond the treasures of his own mind. 11 Great gifts of nature and education not joined with good dispositions.

12 Conduct, manage.

13 This house was purchased about the year 1561, by Richard Hill, sometime master of the merchant tailors: company, and is now the merchant tailors' school, in

8 Holinshed says that this surveyor's name was Suffolk Lane.

Charles Knyvet.

14 The old copy has 'commission's seal.'

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K. Hen.

I remember,

Of such a time :-Being my servant sworn,
The duke retain'd him his.- But on; What hence?
Surv. If, quoth he, I for this had been committed,
As, to the Tower, I thought,—I would have play'd
The part my father meant to act upon

The usurper Richard: who, being at Salisbury,
Made suit to come in his presence; which if granted,
As he made semblance of his duty, would
Have put his knife into him.3
K. Hen.
Wol. Now, madam, may his highness live
freedom,

A giant traitor!

God mend all!

in

And this man out of prison?
Q. Kath.
K. Hen. There's something more would out of
thee; What say'st?
Surv. After the duke his father, -with the
knife,-

He stretch'd him, and, with one hand on his dagger,
Another spread on his breast, mounting his eyes,
He did discharge a horrible oath; whose tenour
Was,-Were he evil us'd, he would outgo
His father, by as much as a performance
Does an irresolute purpose.

K. Hen.

There's his period,
He is attach'd;

may

To sheath his knife in us.
Call him to present trial: if he
Find mercy in the law, 'tis his; if none,
Let him not seek't of us: By day and night!4
He's traitor to the height.

[Exeunt.

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6

1 Rank weeds are weeds grown up to great height and strength. What, (says the king,) was he advanced to this pitch?

2 Sir William Blomer (Holinshed calls him Bulmer) was reprimanded by the king in the Star Chamber, for that, being his sworn servant, he had left the king's service for the duke of Buckingham's.

3 The accuracy of Holinshed, from whom Shakspeare took his account of the accusations and punishment, together with the qualities of the duke of Buckingham, is proved in the most authentic manner by a very curious report of his case in East. Term. 13 Hen. VIII. in the year books published by authority, edit. 1597, f. 11, 12.

4 Steevens takes unnecessary pains to explain this phrase. I wonder he could doubt that it was an adjura

tion.

Have got by the late voyage, is but merely

A fit or two o' the face; but they are shrewd ones;
For when they hold them, you would swear directly,
Their very noses had been counsellors

To Pepin, or Clotharius, they keep state so.
Sands. They have all new legs, and lame ones
one would take it,

Cham.

That never saw them pace before, the spavin,
A springhalt" reign'd among them.
Death! my lord,
Their clothes are after such a pagan cut too,
That, sure, they have worn out christendom. How

now?

What news, Sir Thomas Lovell ?

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Lov.
They must either
(For so run the conditions) leave these remnants
Of fool and feather," that they got in France,
With all their honourable points of igorance,
Pertaining thereunto (as fights, and firewo
Abusing better men than they can be,
Out of a foreign wisdom,) renouncing clean
The faith they have in tennis, and tall stockings,
Short blister'd breeches, 10 and those types of travel,
And understand again like honest men;

Or pack to their old playfellows: there, I take it,
They may, cum privilegio, wear away
The lag end of their lewdness, and be laugh'd at.
Sands. 'Tis time to give them physic, their dıs-

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What a loss our ladies
Will have of these trim vanities!

Lov.
Ay, marry,
There will be woe indeed, lords; the sly whoreson
Have got a speeding trick to lay down ladies;
A French song, and a fiddle, has no fellow.

Sands. The devil fiddle them! I am glad, they're

going,

(For, sure, there's no converting of them :) now
An honest country lord, as I am, beaten

A long time out of play, may bring his plain-song.
And have an hour of hearing; and, by'r lady,
Held11 current music too.

Cham.

Well said, Lord Sands; Your colt's tooth is not cast yet.

to horses, which makes them limp in their paces. It is 8 The springhalt or stringhalt is a disease incident a humorous comparison of the mincing gait of the Frenchified courtiers to this convulsive motion. Jonson, in his Bartholomew Fair, uses it :

'Poor soul, she has had a stringhalt.'

Ben

9 The text may receive illustration from Nashe's Life of Jacke Wilton, 1594:-'At that time (viz. in the court of King Henry VIII.) I was no common squire, no undertrodden torchbearer, I had my feather in my cap as big as a flag in the fore top, my French doublet gelte in the belly, as though, (lyke a pig readie to be spitted, all my guts had beene pluckt out, a paire of side paned hose that hung down like two scales filled with Holland cheeses, my long stock that sate close to my dock,-my rapier pendant, like a round sticke, &c. my blacke cloake of cloth, overspreading my backe lyke a thorn backe or an elephant's eare; and in consummation of my curiositie, my handes without gloves, all a more French,' &c. Mr. Douce justly observes that Sir Thomas Lovell's is an allusion to the feathers which were formerly worn by fools in their caps, as may be seen in a print of Jordan's after Voert; and which is alluded to Hein the Ballad of News and no News:

5 Shakspeare has placed this scene in 1521. Charles earl of Worcester was then lord chamberlain, and continued in the office until his death, in 1526. But Cavendish, from whom this was originally taken, places this event at a later period, when Lord Sands himself was chamberlain. Sir William Sands, of the Vine, near Basingstoke, Hants, was created a peer in 1524. succeeded the earl of Worcester as chamberlain.

6 Mysteries are arts, and here artificial fashions. 7 A fit of the face seems to be a grimace, an artificial tast of the countenance.

'And feathers wagging in a fool's cap.'

10 i. e. breeches puffed or swelled out like blisters. 11 The late edition of Mr. Boswell reads hold, noticing that held is the reading of the first folio

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