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And, pray, receive them nobly, and conduct them Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty Shall shine at full upon them.-Some attend him.— [Exit Chamberlain, 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 ye.-Welcome all.
Hautboys. Enter the King, and others, as Mask-
ers, habited like Shepherds, ushered by the Lord
Chamberlain. They pass directly 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-

duct,

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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 have brought, vivá voce, to his face : At which appeared against him, his surveyor; Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor; and John Car, Confessor to him; with that devil-monk, Henton, that made this mischief.

2 Gent.

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That was he,

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 Gent. After all this, how did he bear himself? 1 Gent. 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,
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 Gent. I do not think, he fears death.

1 Gent.

Sure, he does not;

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

2 Gent.

Certainly,

'Tis likely,

The cardinal is the end of this.
1 Gent.

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.

Was a deep envious one.

1 Gent.

That trick of state

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.

All the commons

2 Gent. 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; Tipstaves before him; the axe with the edge towards him; Halberds on each side: accompanied with Sir THOMAS LOVELL, Sir NICHOLAS VAUX, Sir WILLIAM SANDS, and common People.

2 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 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,

It has done upon the premises but justice;
But those that sought it I could wish more Chris-
tians:

Be what they will, I heartily forgive them.
Yet let them look they glory not in mischief,
Nor build their evils on the graves of great men;
For then my guiltless blood must cry against them.
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, 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 make my grave.
Commend me to his grace;

And, if he speak of Buckingham, pray, tell him,
You met him half in heaven.

prayers

My vows and

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!
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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,
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

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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!

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
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, Sc.
1 Gent. O! this is full of pity.-Sir, it calls,
I fear, too many curses on their heads

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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, and allay those tongues
That durst disperse it.

2 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
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?
dinal

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

The car

'Tis woful.

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 them from me; with this reason,-his
master would be served before a subject, if not be-
fore 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 lord chamberlain.
Cham. Good day to both your graces.
Suf. How is the king employ'd?
Cham.

Full of sad thoughts and troubles.
Nor.

I left him private,

What's the cause?

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He dives into the king's soul; and there scatters
Dangers, doubts, wringing of the conscience,
Fears, and despairs, and all these for his mar-

riage:

And, out of all these, to restore the king,
He counsels a divorce: a loss of her,
That like a jewel has hung twenty years
About his neck, yet never lost her lustre ;
Of her, that loves him with that excellence
That angels love good men with; even of her
That when the greatest stroke of fortune falls,
Will bless the king. And is not this course pious?
Cham. Heaven keep me from such counsel! 'Tis

most true,

These news are every where; every tongue speaks
them,

And every true heart weeps for't. All, that dare
Look into these affairs, see this main end,—
The French king's sister. Heaven will one day

open

The king's eyes, that so long have slept upon
This bold bad man.

Suf.

And free us from his slavery.

Nor. We had need pray,

And heartily, for our deliverance,

Or this imperious man will work us all
From princes into pages. All men's honours
Lie like one lump before him, to be fashion'd
Into what pitch he please.
Suf.

For me, my lords,
[Exeunt. I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed.
As I am made without him, so I'll stand,
If the king please: his curses and his blessings
Touch me alike, they're breath I not believe in.
I knew him, and I know him; so I leave him
To him that made him proud, the pope.
Nor.

SCENE II.-An Ante-Chamber in the Palace. 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

Let's in. And with some other business put the king

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