Hautboys. Enter the King, and others, as Mafkers, habited like Shepherds, ushered by the Lord Chamberlain. They pafs directly before the Cardinal, and gracefully falute him.

A noble company! What are their pleafures? Cham. Because they fpeak no Englith, 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 lefs,
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 them.

Wol. Say, lord chamberlain,

They have done my poor house grace, for which I pay them

A thousand thanks, and pray them take their pleafures.

[Chufe Ladies for the Dance. King, and ANNE BULLEN. King. The faireft hand I ever touch'd! O,beauty! 'Till now I never knew thee. [Mufick. Dance. Wol. My lord

Cham. Your grace?

Wol. Pray, tell 'em that much from me: There should be one among'ft 'em, by his perfon, More worthy this place than myself; to whom, If I but knew him, with my love and duty I would furrender it.

Cham. I will, my lord.

[Chamberlain goes to the Company, and returns. Wol. What fay they?

Cham. Such a one they all confefs,

There is, indeed; which they would have your grace

C 2

Find

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 have found him, cardinal:

You hold a fair affembly; you do well, lord: You are a churchman, or, I'll tell you cardinal, I fhould judge now unhappily.

Wol. I am glad,

Your grace is grown fo pleasant.

King My lord chamberlain,

Pr'ythec, come hither: What fair lady's that? Cham. An't pleafe your grace, Sir Thomas Bullen's daughter,

The viscount Rochford, one of her highnefs' women. King. By heaven, she is a dainty one.-Sweet heart, I were unmannerly, to take you out,

[To ANNE BULLEN. And not to kifs you.A health, gentlemen,

Let it go

round.

Wol. Sir Thomas Lovel, is the banquet ready I' the privy chamber?

Lov Yes, my lord.

Wel. Your grace,

I fear, with dancing is a little heated.
King. I fear, too much.

Wol. There's frefher air, my lord,

In the next chamber.

King Lead in your ladies, every one.-Sweet partner,

I must

yet forfake you :-Let's be merry; Good my lord cardinal, I have half a dozen healths To drink to thefe fair ladies, and a measure To lead them once again; and then let's dream

Who's

Who's beft in favour.-Let the mufick knock it.

[Exeunt with Trumpets.

ACT II.

SCENE I. A Street.

Enter two Gentlemen at feveral Doors.

1 Gentlemen.

WHITHER away fo faft?

2 Gen. O-God fave you!

Even to the hall to hear what shall become
Of the great duke of Buckingham.

1 Gen. I'll fave you

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

Of bringing back the prifoner.

2 Gen. Were you there?

1 Gen. Yes, indeed was I.

2 Gen. Pray, fpeak, what has happen'd? 1 Gen. You may guess quickly whạt.

2 Gen. Is he found guilty?

1 Gen. Yes, truly, is he, and condemn'd upon it. 2 Gen. I am forry for❜t.

1 Gen. So are a number more.

2 Gen. But, pray, how pass'd it?

1 Gen. I'll tell you in a little. The great
Came to the bar; where, to his accufations,
He pleaded ftill, not guilty, and alleg'd
Many fharp reafons to defeat the law.
The king's attorney, on the contrary,

duke

Urg'd on the examinations, proofs, confeffions € 3

Of

Of divers witneffes; which the duke defir'd
To have brought, viva voce, to his face :
At which appear'd against him, his surveyor;
Sir Gilbert Peek his chancellor; and John Court,
Confeffor to him; with that devil-monk
Hopkins, that made this mifchief.

2 Gen. That was he,

That fed him with his prophecies?

1 Gen. The fame.

[not:

All thefe accus'd him strongly; which he fain
Would have flung from him, but, indeed, he could
And fo his peers, upon this evidence,
Have found him guilty of high treason. Much
He fpoke, 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 the barto hear

His knell rung out, his judgment—he was stirr'd
With fuch an agony, he fweat extremely,
And fomething spoke in choler, ill, and hafty:
But he fell to himfelf again, and, fweetly,
In all the reft fhew'd a most noble patience.
2 Gen. I do not think he fears death.

1 Gen. Sure, he does not,

He never was fo 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 fent hither, and in hafte 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 generally; whoever the king favours,
The cardinal inftantly will find employment,
And far enough from court too.

2 Gen.. All the commons

Hate him perniciously, and, o' my confcience, With him ten fathom deep: this duke as much They love and doat on; call him, bounteous BuckThe mirror of all courtesy ;

1 Gen. Stay there, fir,

[ingham,

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

Enter BUCKINGHAM from his Arraignment (Tipflaves before him, the Axe with the Edge toward him; Halberds on each Side), accompanied with Sir THOMAS LOVEL, Sir NICHOLAS VAUX, Sir WILLIAM SANDS, and common People, &c.

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 fay, and then go home and lofe me.
I have this day receiv'd a traitor's judgment,
And by that name muft die; Yet heaven bear wit-
And if I have a confcience, let it fink me, [nefs,
Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful!
The law I bear no malice for my death,
'T has done, upon the premises, but justice;
But thofe, that fought it, I could wish more Chrif-
Be what they will, I heartily forgive 'em : [tians:
Yet let 'em look they glory not in mischief,
Nor build their evils on the graves of great men;

For