Imatges de pàgina
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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 I.

W

Enter two Gentlemen at several Doors.

I GENTLEMAN.

HITHER away so fast?

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 fave you

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

the ceremony

Of bringing back the pris'ner.

2 Gen. Were you there?

1 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?

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

2 Gen. I'm sorry for't.

I Gen. So are a number more.

2 Gen. But pray how past it?

I 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 Car
Confeffor to him, with that devil monk

Hopkins, that made this mischief,

2 Gen. That was he

That fed him with his prophecies.

1 Gen. The fame.

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.

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

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

His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirr'd
With fuch an agony, he sweat extremely,
And fomething 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.

1 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 haste too,
Left he should help his father.

2 Gen. That trick of state

Was a deep envious one.

1 Gen. At his return,

No doubt he will requite it; this is noted,

And gen'rally, who-ever the King favours,
The Cardinal instantly will find employment for,

B2

And

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 courtesie

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.

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,

You that thus far have come to pity me,
Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me:
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,
*T 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

And lift my foul to heav'n. Lead on a God's name.
Lov. I do beseech your Grace for charity,

If ever any malice in your heart
Were hid against me, now forgive me frankly.
Buck. Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you
As I would be forgiven: I forgive all.
There cannot be those numberless offences
'Gainst me, I can't take peace with: no black envy
Shall make my grave - Commend me to his Grace :
And if he speak of Buckingham, pray tell him,
You met him half in heav'n: my vows and pray'rs
Yet are the King's; and 'till my foul forsake me,
Shall cry for blessings on him. May he live
Longer than I have time to tell his years;
Ever belov'd and loving may his rule be;
And when old time shall lead him to his end,
Goodness and he fill up one monument.

Lov. Το th' water-fide I must conduct your Grace,
Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux,
Who undertakes you to your end.

Vaux. Prepare there,

The Duke is coming: fee the barge be ready,
And fit it with such furniture as suits
The greatness of his person.

Buck. Nay, Sir Nicholas,

Let it alone; my state now will but mock me,
When I came hither, I was Lord high constable,
And Duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bohun
Yet I am richer than my base accufers,

That never knew what truth meant; I now seal it;
And with that blood will make 'em one day groan før't,
My noble father, Henry of Buckingham,
Who first rais'd head against ufurping Richard,
Flying for fuccour to his servant Banister,
Being distress'd, was by that wretch betray'd,
And without tryal fell; God's peace be with him!
Henry the Sev'nth succeeding, truly pitying
My father's lofs, like a most royal Prince
Restor'd to me my honours; and from ruins,
Made my name once more noble. Now his fon,

B 3

Henry

Henry the Eight, a name, honour, life, and all
That make me happy, at one stroak has taken
For ever from the world. I had my tryal,
And must needs say, a noble one; which makes me
A little happier than my wretched father:
Yet thus far we are one in fortune, both
Fell by our fervants, by those men we lov'd.
A most unnatural and faithless service!
Heav'n has an end in all: yet, you that hear me,
This from a dying man receive as certain;
Where you are lib'ral of your loves and counsels,
Be fure you be not loose; those you make friends,
And give your hearts to, when they once perceive
The least rub in your fortunes, fall away
Like water from ye, never found again,
But where they mean to fink ye. All good people
Pray for me! I must leave ye; the laft hour
Of my long weary life is come upon me:
Farewel; and when you would fay something sad,
Speak how I fell - I've done; and God forgive me.
[Exeunt Buckingham and Train.

1 Gen. O, this is full of pity; Sir, it calls,

I fear, too many curses on their heads,
That were the authors.

2 Gen. If the Duke be guiltless,

'Tis full of woe; yet I can give you inkling Of an ensuing evil, if it fall,

Greater than this.

1 Gen. Good angels keep it from us: What may it be, you do not doubt my faith, Sir? 2 Gen. This secret is so weighty, 'twill require

A strong faith to conceal it.

I Gen. Let me have it;

I do not talk much.

2 Gen. I am confident;

You shall, Sir; did you not of late days hear

A buzzing of a separation

Between the King and Kath'rine?

1 Gen. Yes, but it held not;

a life, honour, name, and all.

For

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