1

And to what end is this? nay, ladies, fear not;
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 presence, 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 Salute

him..
A noble company! what are their pleafures ?

Chat. Because they speak no English, thus they pray'd
To tell your Grace, that having heard by fame
Of this fo noble and so fair afl'embly,
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. [Mufick. Dance.

Wol,

Wol. My lord.
Cham. Your Grace?
Wol. Pray tell 'em thus much from me:
There should be one amongst 'em by bis person
More worthy this place than my self, to whom,
If I but knew him, with my love and duty
I would surrender it.

[Whisper.
Cham. I will, my lord.
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:
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 hitber, 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 l'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: (weet 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 beft in favour. Let the musick knock it.

[Exeunt with Trumpets.

ACT II. SCENE I

Enter two Gentlemen at several Doors.

I GENTLEMAN..

come

HITHER away so faft:.
2 Gen. O Sir, God save

ye:
W

Ey'n to the hall, to hear what shall be
Of the great Duke of Buckingham,

i 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?
I. Gen. Yes indeed was. I.,
à Gen. Pray speak what has happen?d?;
I Gen. You may guess quickly what,
2 Gen. Is he found guilty ?
I 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 bow paft it?:

i Gen. I'll tell you in a little. The great Duke.
Came to the Bar; whore, to his Accusations
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, confeflions

of divers witnesses, which the Duke defird
To have brought viva voice to his Face ;
At which appear'd against him, his surveyor,
Sir Gilbert Pecke his chancellor, and John Cena
Confeffor to him, with that devil monk
Hopkins, that made this mischief.

2 Gen. That was he
That fed him with his prophecies:

r 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.

2. Gen. After all this, how did he bear himself? 1 Gen. When he was brought again to thi bar,

hear
His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirrid
With such an agony, he sweat extremely,
And something Ipoke in choler, ill and hasty;
But he fell to himself again, and sweetly
In all the rest fhewod a most noble patience.

2 Gen. I do not think he fears death.

1 Gen, Sure he does not, He never was so womanife; 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 to os
Left' he should help his father,

2 Gen. That trick of ftate Was a decp 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,

Ana

B 2

And far enough from court too.

2 Gen. All the commons
Hate him perniciously, and o' my conscience
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. Tipftaves be

fore 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 see 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 heay'n bear witness, And if I have a conscience 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 Juftice : But those that sought 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 loy'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