Good my lord cardinal: I have half 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 music knock it.

110

[Exeunt, with trumpets.

ACT IL

SCENE I.-London.

A Street.

Enter Two Gentlemen, meeting.

O, God save ye!

First Gent. Whither away so fast?
Second Gent.

E'en to the hall, to hear what shall become

Of the great Duke of Buckingham.

First Gent.

I'll save you

That labour, sir. All's now done, but the ceremony

Of bringing back the prisoner.
Second Gent.

Were you there?

First Gent. Yes, indeed was I.
Second Gent.

Pray, speak what has happen'd.

First Gent. You may guess quickly what.
Second Gent.

Is he found guilty?

First Gent. Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon 't.
Second Gent. I am sorry for 't.

First Gent.

So are a number more.

The great duke

Second Gent. But, pray, how pass'd it?
First Gent. I'll tell you in a little.
Came to the bar; where to his accusations
He pleaded still not guilty and alleg'd
Many sharp reasons to defeat the law.
The king's attorney, on the contrary,
Urg'd on the examinations, proofs, confessions
Of divers witnesses; which the duke desir'd
To have brought viva voce to his face:

At which appear'd against him his surveyor;
Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor; and John Car,
Confessor to him; with that devil-monk,

Hopkins, that made this mischief.

5

SCENE 1.1

KING HENRY VIII.

Would have flung from him, but indeed he could not :
And so his peers upon this evidence
Have found him guilty of high treason.
He spoke, and learnedly, for life, but all

Much

Was either pitied in him or forgotten.

Second Gent. After all this, how did he bear himself?

30

First Gent. When he was brought again to the bar, to hear

His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirr'd
With such 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 show'd a most noble patience.
Second Gent. I do not think he fears death.
First Gent.

He never was so womanish; the cause
He may a little grieve at.

Second Gent.

Certainly

'Tis likely,

The cardinal is the end of this.

First Gent.

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

35

Sure, he does not;

Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too,
Lest he should help his father.

Second Gent.

Was a deep envious one.

First Gent.

40

No doubt he will requite it. This is noted,
And generally, whoever the king favours,
The cardinal instantly will find employment,
And far enough from court too.

Second Gent.

All the commons

Hate him perniciously, and, o' my conscience,

Wish him ten fathom deep: this duke as much

They love and dote on; call him bounteous Buckingham,
The mirror of all courtesy-

And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of.

50

Enter BUCKINGHAM from his arraignment; Tipstaves before him; the axe with the edge towards him; halberds on each side; accompanied with SIR THOMAS LOVELL, SIR NICHOLAS VAUX, SIR WILLIAM SANDS, and common people.

Second Gent. Let's stand close, and behold him.

Buck.

All good people, 55

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, heaven bear witness,
And if I have a conscience, let it sink me,
Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful!
The law I bear no malice for my

death;

60

"T has done upon the premises but justice:

But those that sought it I could wish more Christians :
Be what they will, I heartily forgive 'em :

65

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

70

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,

75

And, as the long divorce of steel falls on me,

Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice

And lift my soul to heaven. Lead on, o' God's name.
Lov. I do beseech your grace, for charity,

If ever any malice in your heart

80

Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly.

Buck. Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you

'Gainst me, that I cannot take peace with: no black envy

85

Shall mark my grave. Commend me to his grace,

And if he speak of Buckingham, pray tell him

You met him half in heaven: my vows and prayers

Yet are the king's, and, till my soul forsake,
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!

90

And when old time shall lead him to his end,
Goodness and he fill up one monument!

Lov. To the water-side 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: see the barge be ready,

95

And fit it with such furniture as suits

The greatness of his person.

Buck.

Nay, Sir Nicholas,

100

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 accusers,

That never knew what truth meant: I now seal it;

105

And with that blood will make 'em one day groan for 't.
My noble father, Henry of Buckingham,

Who first rais'd head against usurping Richard,

Flying for succour to his servant Banister,
Being distress'd, was by that wretch betray'd,

110

And without trial fell; God's peace be with him!
Henry the Seventh succeeding, truly pitying
My father's loss, like a most royal prince,
Restor❜d me to my honours, and out of ruins
Made my name once more noble. Now his son,
Henry the Eighth, life, honour, name and all
That made me happy, at one stroke has taken
For ever from the world. I had my trial,

115

And, must needs say, a noble one; which makes me
A little happier than my wretched father:
Yet thus far we are one in fortunes: both
Fell by our servants, by those men we lov'd most;
A most unnatural and faithless service!

120

Heaven has an end in all: yet, you that hear me,
This from a dying man receive as certain :
Where you are liberal of your loves and counsels,

125

Be sure you be not loose; for 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 sink ye.

All good people,

Pray for me! I must now forsake ye: the last hour
Of my long weary life is come upon me.
Farewell:

And when you would say something that is sad,
Speak how I fell. I have done; and God forgive me!

130

135

[Exeunt BUCKINGHAM and Train. First Gent. O, this is full of pity! Sir, it calls, I fear, too many curses on their heads

That were the authors.

Second Gent.

If the duke be guiltless,

140

"Tis full of woe: yet I can give you inkling

Of an ensuing evil, if it fall,

Greater than this.

First Gent.

Good angels keep it from us!

What may it be? You do not doubt my faith, sir?
Second Gent. This secret is so weighty, 't will require
A strong faith to conceal it.

First Gent.

I do not talk much.

Second Gent.

Let me have it ;

I am confident;

You shall, sir: did you not of late days hear

A buzzing of a separation

Between the king and Katharine ?

First Gent.

Yes, but it held not:
For when the king once heard it, out of anger
He sent command to the lord mayor straight
To stop the rumour and allay those tongues
That durst disperse it.

Second Gent.
Is found a truth now:

But that slander, sir,
for it grows again

Fresher than e'er it was, and held for certain
The king will venture at it. Either the cardinal,
Or some about him near, have, out of malice
To the good queen, possess'd himn with a scruple
That will undo her: to confirm this too,
Cardinal Campeius is arriv'd, and lately;
As all think, for this business.

First Gent.
'Tis the cardinal;
And merely to revenge him on the emperor,
For not bestowing on him at his asking

The archbishopric of Toledo, this is purpos'd.

That she should feel the smart of this?

145

150

155

160

Second Gent. I think you have hit the mark: but is't not cruel

'Tis woeful.

[Exeunt.

Cham.

SCENE II.-An Antechamber in the Palace.

Enter the Lord Chamberlain, reading a letter.

My Lord, The horses your lordship sent for, with all the

care I had, I saw well chosen, ridden, and furnished. They were young