Salutes you all: This night he dedicates
To fair content, and you: none here, he hopes,
In all this noble bevy, that has brought with her
One care abroad; he would have all as merry
As first-good company, good wine, good welcome
Can make good people. O, my lord, you are tardy;
Enter Lord Chamberlain, Lord SANDS and Sir THOMAS LOVEL
The very thought of this fair company
Clapp'd wings to me.

Cham. You are young, Sir Harry Guildford.
Sands. Sir Thomas Lovel, 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. O, 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: [Seats 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. O, very mad, exceeding mad, in love too:

But he would bite none; just as I do now,

He would kiss you twenty with a breath.

Cham. Well said, my lord.

So, now you are fairly seated: -Gentlemen,
The penance lies on you, if these fair ladies
Pass away frowning.

Sands. For my little cure,

Let me alone.

[Kisses her.

[6] Milton has copied this word "A bevy of fair dames." JOHNS. 3*

VOL. VI.

1

Hautboys. Enter Cardinal WOLSEY, attended; and takes his state
Wol. You 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 such a bowl may hold my thanks,
And save me so much talking.

Wol. My lord Sands,

[Drinks.

I am beholden to you: cheer your neighbours.-
Ladies, you are not merry; Gentlemen,

Whose fault is this?

Sands. The red wine first must rise

In their fair cheeks, my lord; then we shall have them Talk us to silence.

Anne. You are a merry gamester,

My lord Sands.

Sands. Yes, if I make my play.

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

Anne. You cannot show me.

Sands. I told your grace, they would talk anon.

[Drum and trumpets within; Chambers discharg'd. 7

Wol. What's that?

Cham. Look out there, some of you. [Exit a Servant. Wol. What warlike voice?

And to what end is this?-Nay, ladies, fear not;

By all the laws of war you are privileg'd.

Re-enter Servant.

Cham. How now? what is't?

Serv. A noble troop of strangers ;

For so they seem: they have left their barge, and landed; 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

[7] A chamber is a gun which stands erect on its breech. Such are used only on occasions of rejoicing, and are so contrived as to carry great charges, and thereby to make a noise more than proportioned to their bulk. They are called chambers because they are mere chambers to lodge powder; a chamber being the technical term for that cavity in a piece of ordnance which contains the combustibles. Some of them are still fired in the Park, and at the places opposite to the parliament-house when the king goes thither. Camden enumerates them among other guns, as follows, "cannons, demi-cannons, Chambers, arquebuse, musquet." STEEV.

Shall shine at full upon them : -Some attend him.-
[Exit Cham. attended. All arise, and tables removed

You have now a broken banquet; but we'll mend it.
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 pass directly before the Cardinal, and gracefully salute him.

A noble company! What are their pleasures ?

T

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 conduct,
Crave leave to view these 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 pleasures.

[Ladies chosen for the Dance. The King

chooses ANNE BULLEN.

K.Hen. The fairest hand I ever touch'd! O, beauty,

Till now I never knew thee.

Wol. My lord,

Cham. Your grace?

[Music. Dance.

Wol. Pray, tell them thus much from me :
There should be one amongst them, 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.

Cham. I will, my lord.

[Chamberlain goes to the company and returns.

Wol. What say they?

Cham. Such a one, they all confess,

There is, indeed; which they would have your grace

Find out, and he will take it.&

Wol. Let me see then.

[Comes from his state.

By all your good leaves, gentlemen ;-Here I'll make
My royal choice.

K.Hen. You have found him, cardinal: [Unmasking. [9] That is, take the chief place. JOHNS.

1

You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord:
You are a churchman, or, I'll tell you, cardinal,
I should judge now unhappily.9

Wol. I am glad,

Your grace is grown so pleasant.
K.Hen. My lord chamberlain,

Pr'ythee, come hither: What fair lady's that?

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

daughter,

The viscount Rochford, one of her highness' women.
K.Hen. By heaven, she is a dainty one. -Sweetheart,
I were unmannerly, to take you out,
And not to kiss you. - A health, gentlemen,
Let it go round.

Wol. Sir Thomas Lovel, is the banquet ready

I' the privy chamber?

Lov. Yes, my lord.

Wol. Your grace,

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

Wol. There's fresher air, my lord,

In the next chamber.

K. Hen. Lead in your ladies, every 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 them once again; and then let's dream Who's best in favour. - Let the music knock it.

[Exeunt, with trumpets.

ACT II.

SCENE I.-A Street. Enter two Gentlemen, meeting.

1 Gent. WHITHER away so fast?

2 Gen. O, God save you!

Even to the hall, to hear what shall become

Of the great duke of Buckingham.

1 Gen. I'll save you

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

[9] That is, unluckily, mischievously. JOHNS.

[1] A kiss was anciently the established fee of a lady's partner. STEEV. This custom is still prevalent, among the country people, in many, per. haps, all parts of the kingdom. When the fiddler thinks his young couple have had music enough, he makes his instrument squeak out two notes which all understand to say-kiss her t RITSON.

Of bringing back the prisoner.

2 Gen. Were you there ?

1 Gen. Yes, indeed, was I.

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

1 Gen. You may guess quickly what.

2 Gen. Is he found guilty?

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

2 Gen. I am sorry 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 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 Court,
Confessor to him; with that devil-monk,

Hopkins, that made this mischief.
2 Gen. That was he,

That fed him with his prophecies?

1 Gen. 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.

• 2 Gen. After all this, how did he bear himself?

1 Gen. When he was brought again to the bar, -to hear His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirr'd With such an agony, he sweat extremely, 2 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. 2 Gen. I do not think, he fears death. 1 Gen. Sure, he does not,

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

[2] This circumstance is taken from Holinshed: "After he was found guilty, the duke was brought to the bar, sore-chafing, and sweat marvelously."

STEEV..