This night to be comptrollers.
Sands. I'm your lordship's.

[Exeunt.

SCENE changes to York-house.

Hautboys. A fmall table under a ftate for the Cardinal, a longer Table for the guests. Then enter Anne Bullen, and divers other ladies and gentlemen, as guests, at one door; at another door, enter Sir Henry Guilford.

Guil. Ladies, a gen'ral welcome from his Grace
Salutes ye 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, firft good company, good wine, good welcome, (12)
Can make good people.

Enter Lord Chamberlain, Lord Sands and Lovell."

O my lord, y'are tardy;

The very thoughts of this fair company

Clap'd wings to me.

Cham. You're young, Sir Harry Guilford. Sands. Sir Thomas Lovell, 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 pleafe 'em: by my life, They are a fweet fociety of fair ones.

Lov. O, that your lordship were but now confeffor To one or two of thefe.

Sands. I would I were

They should find eafie penance.

Lov, 'Faith, how eafie?

Sands. As eafie, as a down-bed would afford it.

(12) As, first, good Company, good Wine, &c.] As this Paffage has been all along pointed, Sir Harry Guilford is made to include All theíe under the firft Article; and then gives us the Drop as to What should follow.

Poet, I am perfwaded, wrote;

The

As first-good Company, good Wine, good Welcome, &c. i.e. he would have you as merry as thefe 3 Things can make You, the best Company in the Land, of the best Rank, good Wine, &c.

B 4

Cham.

Cham. Sweet ladies, will it please you fit? Sir Harry, Place you that fide, I'll take the charge of this: His Grace is entring; nay, you must not freeze : Two women, plac'd together, make cold weather: My lord Sands, you are one will keep 'em waking; Pray, fit between these ladies.

Sands. By my faith,

And thank your lordship. By your leave, fweet ladies; 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; juft as I do now,
He'd kiss you twenty with a breath.

Cham. Well faid, my lord:

So now y'are fairly feated: gentlemen,

The penance lyes on you, if these fair ladies
Pafs away frowning.

Sands. For my little cure, (13)

Let me alone.

Hautboys. Enter Cardinal Wolfey, and takes his ftate.

Wol. Y'are welcome, my fair guests; that noble lady, Or gentleman, that is not freely merry,

Is not my friend. This, to confirm my welcome;

And to you all good health.

Sands. Your Grace is noble:

Let me have fuch a bowl may hold my thanks,

And fave me fo much talking.

Wol. My lord Sands,

I am beholden to you; cheer your neighbour :
Ladies, you are not merry; gentlemen,
Whofe fault is this?

Sands. The red wine first must rife

[Drinks.

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

(13) For my little Cure,] This Word I have reftor'd from the firft Folio.

Some of the modern Editions read, Cue. But Lord Sands feems to me to profecute the Idea of penance, mention'd by the Lord Chamberlain, and. humourously alluded to the Cure of Souls.

Anne.

Anne. You're a merry gamefter,

My lord Sands.

Sands. Yes, if I make my play:

Here's to your ladyship, and pledge it, madam:
For 'tis to fuch a thing

Anne. You cannot fhew me.

Sands, I told your Grace, that they would talk anon.

[Drum and trumpets, chambers difcharged.

Wol. What's that?

Cham. Look out there, fome of ye.

Wol. What warlike voice,

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 ftrangers,

For fo they feem, have left their barge and landed;
And hither make, as great ambaffadors

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 arife, 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, uber'd by the Lord Chamberlain. They pass directly before the Cardinal, and gracefully falute him.

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 fo noble and fo fair affembly,

This night to meet here, they could do no less,
Out of the great refpect they bear to beauty,
But leave their flocks, and under your fair conduct

Crave leave to view thefe 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. [Chufe ladies, King and Anne Bullen.

King. The faireft hand I ever touch'd! O beauty, 'Till now I never knew thee.

[Mufick. Dance.

Wol. Pray tell 'em thus much from me :
There fhould be one amongst 'em by his perfon
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 fay 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 fee then:

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

King. You've found him, Cardinal :

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

Wol. I'm glad,

Your Grace is grown so pleasant.

King My lord Chamberlain,

Pr'ythee come hither, what fair lady's that?

[daughter,

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

(The Viscount Rochford,) one of her Highnefs' women. King. By heaven, fhe'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.

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: fweet partner, I must not yet forfake you; let's be merry.

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 beft in favour. Let the mufick knock it.

[Exeunt with Trumpets.

W

ACT II.

SCENE, a Street.

Enter two Gentlemen at feveral Doors.

I GENTLEMAN.

HITHER away fo faft?

2 Gen. O Sir, God fave ye:

Ev'n to the hall, to hear what shall become
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, fpeak, what has happen'd?

1 Gen. You may guefs quickly what.

2 Gen. Is he found guilty?

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

2 Gen. I'm forry for't.

1 Gen. So are a number more.