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 please them: By my life, They are a sweet society of fair ones.

Lov. Oh! that your lordship were but now confessor

To one or two of these!

Sands. I would I were; They should find easy penance.

Lov. 'Faith, how easy?

Sands. As easy as a down-bed would afford it. Cham, Sweet ladies, will it please you sit ? Sir Harry,

Place you that side, I'll take the charge of this: His grace is ent ring.-Nay, you must not freeze;

Two women plac'd together makes cold weather: My lord Sands, you are one will keep them waking;

Pray, sit between these ladies.

Sands. By my faith,

And thank your lordship.-By your leave, sweet ladies:

[Sea's himself between ANNE BULLEN and
another Lady.

If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me;
I had it from my father.

Anne. Was he mad, Sir?

Sands. Oh! very mad, exceeding mad, in love

For so they seem and landed;

they have left their barge,

And hither make, as great ambassadors
From foreign princes.

Wol. Good lord chamberlain,

Go, give them welcome, you can speak the French tongue;

And pray receive them nobly, and conduct them

Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty Shall shine at full upon them :-Some attend bim.

[Exit CHAMBERLAIN, attended. All arise, and Tables removed.

mend it.

You have now a broken banquet; but we'll A good digestion to you all: and, once more, I shower a welcome on you;-Welcome all. Hautboys.-Enter the KING, and twelve others, as Maskers, habited like Shepherds, with sixteen Torch-bearers; ushered by the Lord CHAMBERLAIN. They puss di. rectly before the Cardinal, and gracefully salute 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 so noble and so fair assembly

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 con-

Enter two GENTLEMEN, meeting.

1 Gent. Whither away so fast?

2 Gent. C God save you!

Even to the hall to bear what shall become

Of the great duke of Buckingham.

1 Gent. I'll save you

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

2 Gent. Certainly,

The cardinal is the end of this.

1 Gent. '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.

2 Gent. That trick of state Was a deep envious one.

1 Gent. 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.

2 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 ;1 Gent. Stay there, Sir,

And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of. Enter BUCKINGHAM from his arraignment ; Tip-staves before him, the are with the edge towards him; halberts on each side: with him, Sir THOMAS LOVELL, Sir NICHOLAS VAUX, Sir WILLIAM SANDS, und common people.

2 Gent. Let's stand close, and behold him. Buck. All good people,

You that thus far have come to pity me,

remony

Of bringing back the prisoner.

2 Gent. Were you there?

1 Gent. Yes, indeed, was I.

2 Gent. Pray, speak, what has happen'd?

1 Gent. You may guess quickly what.

2 Gent. Is he found guilty?

1 Gent. Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon it.

2 Gent. I am sorry for't.

1 Gent. So are a number more.

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

1 Gent. I'll tell you in a little. The great

duke

Came to the bar; where, to his accusations,
He pleaded still, not guilty, and alleg'd
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 him brought, viva voce, to his face :
At which appear'd against him, his surveyor;
Sir Gilbert Peck, his chancellor; and John

I have this day receiv'd a traitor's judgment, And by that name must die: Yet, heaven bear

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, o'God's

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. 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 them one day groan for't.

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,

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 car.
dinal,

Or some about him near, have, out of malice
To the good queen, possess'd him with a scruple
That will undo her: To confirm this too,
Cardinal Campeius is arriv'd, and lately;
As all think, for this business.

1 Gent. 'Tis the cardinal; And merely to revenge him on the emperor, For not bestowing on him, at his asking, The archbishoprick of Toledo, this is purpos'd. 2 Gent. I think you have hit the mark; But is't not cruel,

That she should feel the smart of this? The cardinal

Will have his will, and she must fall.
1 Gent. 'Tis woful.
We are too open here to argue this;
Let's think in private more.

[Exeunt.

him!

Pray for me! I must now forsake ye; the last hour

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 BUCKINGHAM and Train. 1 Gent. Oh! this is full of pity.-Sir, it calls, I fear, too many curses on their heads, That were the authors.

2 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.

1 Gent. Good angels keep it from us! Where may it be? You do not doubt my faith,

Sir ?

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

1 Gent. Let me have it;

I do not taik much.

2 Gent. I am confident;

You shall, Sir: did you not of late days hear A buzzing, of a separation

Between the king and Katharine ?

1 Gent. Yes, but it held not:

For when the king once heard it, out of anger He sent command to the lord mayor, straight To stop the rumour, aud allay those tongues That durst disperse it.

2 Gent. But that slander, Sir,

• Great fidelity.

lace.

Enter the Lord CHAMBERLAIN, reading a Letter.

Cham. My lord,-The horses your lordship sent for, with all the care I had, I saw well chosen, ridden, and furnished. They were young and handsome, and of the best breed in the north. When they were ready to set out for London, a man of my lord cardinal's, by commission, and main power, took 'em from me; with this reason,-His master would be served before a subject, if not before the king: which stopped our mouths, Sir.

I fear he will, indeed; Well, let him have them. He will have all, I think.

Enter the Dukes of NORFOLK and SUFFOLK. Nor. Well met, my good

Lord Chamberlain.

Cham. Good day to both your graces.
Suf. How is the king employ'd?
Cham. I left him private,

Full of sad thoughts and troubles.
Nor. What's the cause?

Cham. It seems, the marriage with his brother's wife

Has crept too near his conscience.
Suf. No, his conscience

Has crept too near another lady.
Nor. 'Tis so;

This is the cardinal's doing, the king-cardinal: That blind priest, like the eldest son of for tune,

Turns what he lists. The king will know him one day.

Suf. Pray God, he do! he'll never know him

self else.