But he fell to himself again, and sweetly

In all the rest show'd a most noble patience.

Sec. Gent. I do not think he fears death.
First Gent.

Sure, he does not :

He never was so womanish; the cause

He may a little grieve at.

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

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

And generally, whoever the king favours,
The cardinal instantly will find employment,
And far enough from court too.

Sec. 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 ;

First Gent.

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

39. grieve at, feel resentment against.

40. the end, the bottom, the prime mover.

41. Kildare; Fitzgerald, Earl

50

of Kildare, had been recalled from the Deputyship of Ireland in 1520. Surrey had married Buckingham's daughter, Katharine Stafford.

45. envious, malicious.

Enter BUCKINGHAM from his arraignment; tip-
staves before him; the axe with the edge
towards him; halberds on each side: accom-
panied with SIR THOMAS LOVELL, SIR NICHO-
LAS VAUX, SIR WILLIAM SANDS, and common
people.

Sec. Gent. 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 received a traitor's judgement,
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 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

loved 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,

54. Sir William Sands; so Holinshed. Ff have '(Sir) Walter Sands.'

57. lose, forget. 67. evils, privies.

74. only, alone.

60

70

76. the long divorce of steel, the body- and - soul - divorcing axe. (Divorce' is, as often, concrete instrument of divorce).

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

Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly.
Buck. 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 beloved and loving may his rule be!
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;

And fit it with such furniture as suits

The greatness of his person.

Buck.

8.

90

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 :

99. furniture, equipment. Holinshed speaks of cushions and carpet on which Lovell desired the duke to sit down.

VOL. VII

103. Edward Bohun. So Holinshed. The duke was descended from the Bohuns, but his own family name was Stafford. 193

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 for 't.

My noble father, Henry of Buckingham,

Who first raised 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,
Restored 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;

me

which makes

A little happier than my wretched father:
Yet thus far we are one in fortunes: both
Fell by our servants, by those men we loved most,
A most unnatural and faithless service!

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
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

106. that blood, the blood in which I now seal (attest) my truth.

108. raised head, levied an

armed force.

119. noble, i.e. he was tried by his peers. Cf. ii. 2. 92. 129. rub, check, hitch.

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!

[Exeunt Duke and Train.

on their heads

First Gent. O, this is full of pity! Sir, it calls,

I fear, too many curses

That were the authors.

Sec. Gent.

If the duke be guiltless,

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

Of an ensuing evil, if it fall,

Greater than this.

First Gent.

What may it be? sir?

Good angels keep it from us!

You do not doubt my faith,

Sec. Gent. This secret is so weighty, 'twill require A strong faith to conceal it.

First Gent.

I do not talk much.

Sec. 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?

Yes, but it held not :

First Gent.
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.

Sec. Gent.

But that slander, sir,

Is found a truth now: 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

143. faith, good faith, secrecy. 146. am confident, put my confidence in you.

148. buzzing, whisper.

152. allay, restrain.

140

150