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Cham. O, 'tis true :

This night he makes a supper, and a great one,
To many lords and ladies; there will be

The beauty of this kingdom, I'll assure you.

Lov. That churchman bears a bounteous mind indeed, A hand as fruitful as the land that feeds us.

Sands. He may, my lord, he has wherewithal; in

him,

Sparing would show a worse sin than ill doctrine:
Men of his way should be most liberal;
They are set here for examples.

Cham. True, they are so;

But few now give so great ones. My barge stays;

Come, good Sir Thomas,

We shall be late else; which I would not be;
For I was spoke to, with Sir Henry Guildford,
This night to be comptrollers.-

Your lordship shall along.

Sands. Ay, ay; if the beauties are there, I must make one among them, to be sure. [Exeunt, L.

SCENE IV. - York Place.-Music.-A State Chair and Canopy R. for the CARDINAL, and a Table for the Guests. -ANNE BULLEN, LADY DENNY, and other Ladies and Gentlemen, as Guests, Wolsey's Servants attending them, discovered.Orchestra in Back Ground.

Enter GUILDFORD, R.

Guild. (c.) Ladies, a general welcome from his

grace

Salutes you all: This night he dedicates
To fair content, and you: none here, he hopes,
In all this noble bevy, has brought with her
One care abroad; he would have all as merry
As first-good company, good wine, good welcome,
Can make good people.

Enter CHAMBERLAIN, SANDS, and Lovel, L.

O, my lord, you're tardy;
The very thought of this fair company
Clapp'd wings to me.

Cham. You are young, Sir Harry Guildford.
Sands. (c.) Sir Thomas Lovel, had the Cardinal

But half my lay-thoughts in him, some of these
Should find a running banquet ere they rested,

I think, would better please them:

-By my life,

[Surveying the Ladies.

They are a sweet society of fair ones.

Lov. O, that your lordship were but now confessor

To one or two of these!

Sands. I would I were:

They should find easy penance.

Lov. 'Faith, how easy?

Sands. As easy as a down bed would afford it.
Cham. Sweet ladies, will it please you sit? [All sit.]

Sir Harry,

Place you that side, I'll take the charge of this.

[Flourish of Trumpets.

His grace is entering.-Nay, you must not freeze;
Two women placed together make cold weather:-
My Lord Sands, you are one will keep 'em waking;
'Pray, sit between these ladies.

Sands. By my faith,

And thank your lordship. (L.) By your leave, sweet

ladies:

[Sits between ANNE BULLEN and Lady DENNY.

If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me;
I had it from my father.

Anne. Was he mad, sir?

Sands. O very mad, exceeding mad, in love too:

But he would bite none; just as I do now,

He would kiss you twenty with a breath.

Cham. Well said, my lord-
So, now you are fairly seated; -Gentlemen,
The penance lies on you, if these fair ladies
Pass away frowning.

Sands. For my little cure,

Let me alone.

[Kisses her.

[Flourish of Trumpets.

Enter, R. two Gentlemen, WOLSEY, two Pages, and CROMWELL.- All rise. - WOLSEY takes his State.

Wol. [On the Steps leading up to his State-Seat, R.] You are welcome, my fair guests; that noble lady,

Or gentleman, that is not freely merry,

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Is not my friend: This, to confirm my welcome:
And to you all good health.

[Drinks. All sit.-Flourish of Trumpets. Sands. Standing R. between LADIES BULLEN and DENNY.] Your grace is noble;

Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks,
And save me so much talking.

[Servant gives him Wine.

Wol. [Seated-CROM. stands on his R.] My Lord

Sands,

I am beholden to you: cheer your neighbours.-
Ladies, you are not merry ;-Gentlemen,

Whose fault is this?

Sands. The red wine first must rise

In their fair cheeks, my lord; then we shall have 'em Talk us to silence.

Anne. You are a merry gamester,

My Lord Sands.

Sands. Yes, if I make my play.

Here's to your ladyship: and pledge it, madam ;

For 'tis to such a thing

Anne. You cannot show me.

[Drinks.

Sands. I told your grace they would talk anon.

[Drums and Trumpets.-Cannon discharged.

All rise.

Wol. [Rising.] What's that?

Look out there, some of you.

What warlike voice?

[Exit CROMWELL, L.

And to what end is this?-Nay, ladies, fear not;

By all the laws of war you are privileged.

Re-enter CROMWELL, L.

How now? what is't?

[All sit.

Crom. (L.) A noble troop of strangers; For so they seem: they've left their barge, and landed;

And hither make, as great ambassadors

From foreign princes.

Wol. Good Lord Chamberlain,

Go, give them welcome;

And, 'pray, receive them nobly, and conduct them
Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty

Shall shine at full upon them:-Some attend him.

[Exeunt CHAMBERLAIN, and two Gentlemen.

You've now a broken banquet; but we'll mend it.
A good digestion to you all: and once more,
I shower a welcome on you: - Welcome all.

[Music.

Enter CHAMBERLAIN, introducing the KING, NOR FOLK, and SUFFOLK, in Masks, and cight Attendants, habited as Shepherds, followed by two Gentlemen, and stand L.

A noble company! what are their pleasures?

Chan. Because they speak no English, thus they pray'd

To tell your grace; [The King advances to c. and after surveying the splendor of the Banquet, fixes his eyes on ANNE BULLEN.] That having

heard by fame

Of this so noble and so fair assembly
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 them.

Wol. Say, Lord Chamberlain,

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

A thousand thanks, and pray them take their pleasures. [Sits. The King walks and converses with ANNE BULLEN, while the Lords and Ladies rise from the table and dance.]

King. [Aside as he rises from fr

his seat.] The fairest

hand I ever touch'd! O, beauty,

Till now I never knew thee.

Wol. My lord

Cham. Your grace?

Wol. 'Pray, tell them thus much from me: There should be one amongst them, by his person,

More worthy this place than myself; to whom,

If I but knew him, with my love and duty

I would surrender it.

Cham. I will, my lord.

[CHAMBERLAIN goes to the Company.

Wol. What say they?

Cham. Such a one they all confess,

There is, indeed; which they would have your grace

Find out, and he will take it.

Wol. Let me see then.

[Comes to the KING, C. By all your good leaves, gentlemen :- Here I'll make

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My royal choice.

King. You've found him, cardinal:

[The KING Unmasks-all rise and bow.

You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord:

You are a churchman, or, I'll tell you, cardinal,

I should judge now unhappily.

Wol. (c.) I am glad,

Your grace is grown so pleasant.
King. My Lord Chamberlain-

What fair lady's that?

[Pointing to ANNE BULLEN.

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

daughter,

The Viscount Rochford, one of her highness' women. King. By Heaven, she is a dainty one-SweetheartI were unmannerly, to take you out,

[TO ANNE BULLEN.

And not to kiss you.-A health, gentlemen,
Let it go round.

[SANDS formally bows to LADY DENNY, L. and
salutes her.

Wol. Sir Thomas Lovel, is the banquet ready

I' the privy chamber?

Lov. Yes, my lord.

Wol. Your grace,

I fear, is a little heated.

King. I fear, too much.

Wol. There's fresher air, my lord,

In the next chamber.

King [With ANNE BULLEN, c.] Lead in your ladies,

every one.-Nay, come;

I must not yet forsake you: Let's be merry;
Good my lord cardinal, I've half a dozen healths
To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure
To lead them once again;

Which being ended, they shall all go sleep:
Then this, which doth a happy vision seem,
May be again repeated in a dream.

[Flourish of Drums and Trumpets. Exeunt, R. WOLSEY, with Lights, the KING and ANNE BULLEN, CHAMBERLAIN, NORFOLK, and SUFFOLK, LORD SANDS, and LADY DENNY, CROMWELL, two Pages, LOVEL, and GUILDFORD, and the rest of the Guests.

END OF ACT I,

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