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WOLSEY. Say, Lord Chamberlain,

They have done my poor house grace; for which I pay 'em
A thousand thanks, and pray 'em take their pleasures.

[They choose ladies. The KING chooses ANNE BULLEN]
KING. The fairest hand I ever touch'd! O beauty,

Till now I never knew thee! [Music. Dance]
WOLSEY. My lord!

CHAMBERLAIN. Your Grace?
WOLSEY. Pray tell 'em thus much from me:

There should be one amongst 'em, by his person,
More worthy this place than myself; to whom,

If I but knew him, with my love and duty
I would surrender it.

CHAMBERLAIN. I will, my lord.
[He whispers to the maskers]

WOLSEY. What say they?
CHAMBERLAIN. Such a one, they all confess,

There is indeed; which they would have your Grace
Find out, and he will take it.

WOLSEY. Let me see, then. [Comes from his state]
By all your good leaves, gentlemen, here I'll make

My royal choice.
KING. [Unmasking] Ye have found him, Cardinal.

You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord.
You are a churchman, or, I'll tell you, Cardinal,

I should judge now unhappily.
WOLSEY. I am glad

Your Grace is grown so pleasant.
KING. My Lord Chamberlain,

Prithee come hither: what fair lady's that?
CHAMBERLAIN. An't please your Grace, Sir Thomas Bullen's

daughter-
The Viscount Rochford-one of her Highness' women.

KING. By heaven, she is a dainty one. Sweet heart,
I were unmannerly to take you out

And not to kiss you. A health, gentlemen!
Let it go round.

WOLSEY. Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready
I' th' privy chamber?

LOVELL. Yes, my lord.
WOLSEY. Your Grace,

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

WOLSEY. There's fresher air, my lord,
In the next chamber.

KING. Lead in your ladies, ev'ry one. Sweet partner,
I must not yet forsake 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 'em once again; and then let's dream
Who's best in favour. Let the music knock it.

Exeunt, with trumpets
ACT II. SCENE 1.

Westminster. A street
Enter two GENTLEMEN, at several doors

FIRST GENTLEMAN. Whither away so fast?
SECOND GENTLEMAN. O, God save ye!

Ev'n to the Hall, to hear what shall become
Of the great Duke of Buckingham.

FIRST GENTLEMAN. I'll save you
That labour, sir. All's now done but the ceremony

Of bringing back the prisoner.
SECOND GENTLEMAN. Were you there?

FIRST GENTLEMAN. Yes, indeed, was I.
SECOND GENTLEMAN. Pray, speak what has happen'd.

FIRST GENTLEMAN. You may guess quickly what.
SECOND GENTLEMAN. Is he found guilty?

FIRST GENTLEMAN. Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon't.
SECOND GENTLEMAN. I am sorry for't.

FIRST GENTLEMAN. So are a number more.
SECOND GENTLEMAN. But, pray, how pass'd it?

FIRST GENTLEMAN. I'll tell you in a little. The great Duke.
Came to the bar; where to his accusations

He pleaded still not guilty, and alleged
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.

SECOND GENTLEMAN. That was he
That fed him with his prophecies?

FIRST GENTLEMAN. 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.
SECOND GENTLEMAN. After all this, how did he bear him-self

FIRST GENTLEMAN. When he was brought again to th' 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 GENTLEMAN. I do not think he fears death.
FIRST GENTLEMAN. Sure, he does not;

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

SECOND GENTLEMAN. Certainly
The Cardinal is the end of this.

FIRST GENTLEMAN. '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,

Lest he should help his father.
SECOND GENTLEMAN. That trick of state

Was a deep envious one.
FIRST GENTLEMAN. At his return

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 GENTLEMAN. 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-
Enter BUCKINGHAM from his arraignment, tip-staves

before him; the axe with the edge towards him; halberds
on each side; accompanied with SIR THOMAS

LOVELL, SIR NICHOLAS VAUX, SIR WILLIAM SANDYS,
and common people, etc.

FIRST GENTLEMAN. Stay there, sir,
And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of.

SECOND GENTLEMAN. Let's stand close, and behold him.
BUCKINGHAM. 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, 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:
'T has done, upon the premises, but justice.

But those that sought it I could wish more Christians.
Be what they will, I heartilyforgive '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 lift my soul to heaven. Lead on, a God's name.
LOVELL. I do beseech your Grace, for charity,

If ever any malice in your heart
Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly.

BUCKINGHAM. Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you
As I would be forgiven. I forgive all.

There cannot be those numberless offences
'Gainst me that I cannot take peace with. No black envy

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;
And when old time Shall lead him to his end,

Goodness and he fill up one monument!
LOVELL. To th' 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;

And fit it with such furniture as suits
The greatness of his person.

BUCKINGHAM. 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 accusers
That never knew what truth meant; I now seal it;

And with that blood will make 'em one day groan fort.
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
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,
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.



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