And to what end is this? nay, ladies, fear not's
By all the laws of war y'are privileged.

Enter a Servant.

Cham. How now, what is't?

Ser. A noble troop of strangers,

For so they feem, have left their barge, and landed,

And hither make, as great ambassadors

From foreign Princes

Wol. Good Lord Chamberlain,

Go, give 'em welcome; you can speak the French

tongue,

And pray receive 'em nobly, and conduct 'em
Into our prefence, where this heav'n of beauty
Shall shine at full upon them. Some attend him.

[All arise, and tables removed.
You've now a broken banquet, but we'll mend it,
A good digestion to you all; and once more
I showre a welcome on ye: welcome all.

Hautboys. Enter King and others as maskers, habited like Shepherds, usher'd by the Lord Chamberlain. They pass directly before the Cardinal, and gracefully falute bim..

A noble company! what are their pleasures ?

Cham. Because they speak no English, thus they pray'd To tell your Grace, that having heard by fame Of this so noble and fo fair affembly, This night to meet here, they could do no less, Out of the great respect they bear to beauty, But leave their flocks, and under your fair conduct Crave leave to view these ladies, and entreat An hour of revels with 'em.

Wol. Say, Lord Chamberlain,

They've done my poor house grace: for which I pay

'em

A thousand thanks, and pray 'em take their pleasures. [Chuse ladies, King and Anne Bullen.

King. The faireft hand I ever touch'd! O beauty,

Till now I never knew thee.

[Musick. Dance. Wol.

Wol. My lord.
Cham. Your Grace?

Wol. Pray tell 'em thus much from me:
There should be one amongst 'em by his person
More worthy this place than my self, to whom,
If I but knew him, with my love and duty
I would furrender it.

Cham. I will, my lord.

Wol. What say they?

Cham. Such a one, they all confefs,

[Whisper.

There is indeed, which they would have your Grace Find out, and he will take it.

Wol. Let me see then:

By all your good leaves, gentlemen, here I'll make My royal choice.

King. You've found him, Cardinal :

You hold a fair assembly : you do well, lord.
You are a church-man, or I'll tell you, Cardinal,
I should judge you unhappily,

Wol. I am glad

Your Grace is grown so pleasant.
King. My lord Chamberlain,

Pry'thee come hither, what fair lady's that?

Cham. An't please your Grace, Sir Thomas Bullen's

daughter,

(The Viscount Rochford,) one of her Highness' women.
King. By heaven she's a dainty one: sweet heart,
I were unmannerly to take you out, To Anne Bullen,
And not to kiss you. A health, gentlemen,
Let it go round.

Wol. Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready

I'th' privy chamber?

Lov. Yes, my lord.

Wol. Your Grace,

I fear, with dancing is a little heated.

King. I fear too much.

Wol. There's fresher air, my lord,

In the next chamber.

King. Lead in your ladies every one: sweet partner,

I must not yet forsake you; let's be merry,

B

Good

Good my lord Cardinal: I have a dozen healths
To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure
To lead them once again, and then let's dream
Who's best in favour. Let the musick knock it.

[Exeunt with Trumpets.

ACT II SCENE L

W

Enter two Gentlemen at several Doors.

IGENTLEMAN.

HITHER away so faft?

2 Gen. O Sir, God save ye:

Ev'n to the hall, to hear what shall be

come

Of the great Duke of Buckingham.

1 Gen. I'll save you

That labour, Sir. All's now done, but

the ceremony

Of bringing back the pris'ner.

2 Gen. Were you there?

Gen. Yes indeed was. I.

2 Gen. Pray speak what has happen'd?

1 Gen. You may guess quickly what.

2 Gen. Is he found guilty?

;

Gen. Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon't.

2 Gen. I'm forry for't.

1 Gen. So are a number more.

2 Gen. But pray how past it?

1 Gen. I'll tell you in a little. The great Duke

Came to the Bar; where, to his Accufations
He pleaded still not guilty, and alledg'd
Many sharp reasons to defeat the law.
The King's Attorney, on the contrary,

Urg'd on examinations, proofs, confeffions

of

Of divers witnesses, which the Duke desir'd
To have brought viva voice to his Face;

At which appear'd against him, his surveyor,
Sir Gilbert Pecke his chancellor, and John C
Confeffor to him, with that devil monk

Hopkins, that made this mischief.

2 Gen. That was he

That fed him with his prophecies.

Gen. The same.

All these accus'd him strongly, which he fain
Would have flung from him; but indeed he could not:
And so his peers upon this evidence

Have found him guilty of high treason. Much
He spoke, and learnedly for life; but all

Was either pitied in him, or forgotten.

1

2 Gen. After all this, how did he bear himself?

Gen. When he was brought again to th' bar, te
hear

His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirr'd
With fuch an agony, he sweat extremely,
And something spoke in choler, ill and hasty;
But he fell to himself again, and sweetly
In all the rest shew'd a most noble patience.
2 Gen. I do not think he fears death.
Gen. Sure he does not,

He never was so womanish; the cause
He may a little grieve at..
2 Gen. Certainly,

The Cardinal is the end of this.

1 Gen. 'Tis likely,

By all conjectures: first Kildare's attainder,
Then deputy of Ireland; who remov'd,

Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in hafte too

Left he should help his father.

2 Gen. That trick of state

Was a deep envious one.

I Gen. At his return,

No doubt he will requite it; this is noted,

And gen'rally, who-ever the King favours,

The Cardinal inftantly will find employment for,

B2.

And

;

1

And far enough from court too.

2 Gen. All the commons

Hate him perniciously, and o' my confcience
Wish him ten fathom deep: this Duke as much
They love and doat on, call him bounteous Buckingham,
The Mirror of all courte sie

SCENE II.

Enter Buckingham from his Arraignment. Tipstaves before him, the Axe with the edge towards him. Halberds on each side, accompanied with Sir Thomas Lovel, Sir Nicholas Vaux, Walter Sands, and common People, &c.

I. Gen. Stay there, Sir,

And fee the noble ruin'd Man you speak of. 2 Gen. Let's stand close and behold him. Buck. All good People,

me:

You that thus far have come to pity me,
Hear what I say, and then go home and lose
I have this day receiv'd a traitor's judgment,
And by that name must die; yet heav'n bear witness,
And if I have a confcience let it sink me
Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful.
To th' law I bear no malice for my death,
'I has done, upon the Premises, but Justice:
But those that fought it, I could wish more christians;
Be what they will, I heartily forgive 'em;
Yet let 'em look they glory not in mischief,
Nor build their evils on the graves of great men;
For then, my guiltless blood must cry against 'em.
For further life in this world I ne'er hope,
Nor will I sue, although the King have mercies
More than I dare make faults. You few that lov'd me,
And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham,
His noble friends and fellows, whom to leave

Is only bitter to him, only dying;
Go with me like good Angels to my end,
And as the long divorce of steel falls on me,
Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice,

:

And