King. I fear, too much.

Wol. There's fresher air, my Lord,

In the next chamber.

King. Lead in your Ladies every one: fweet partner, I must not yet forfake 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 mufick knock it.

[Exeunt with Trumpets.

***

ACT II.

SCENE, a Street.

Enter two Gentlemen at several Doors:

I GENTLEMAN.

WHither away fo faft?

2 Gen. O Sir, God fave ye :

Ev'n to the hall, to hear what fhall become

Of the great Duke of Buckingham.

1 Gen. I'll fave you

That labour, Sir. All's now done, but the ceremony Of bringing back the pris❜ner.

2 Gen. Were you there?

I 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't.
2 Gen. I'm forry for't.

1 Gen. So are a number more.

2 Gen. But, pray, how pafs'd it?

1 Gen. I'll tell you in a little. The great Duke Came to the bar; where, to his accufations

He

He pleaded still not guilty; and alledg'd
Many fharp reasons to defeat the law.
The King's Attorney, on the contrary,
Urg'd on examinations, proofs, confeffions
Of divers witneffes, which the Duke defir'd
To have brought viva voce to his face ;
At which appear'd against him, his furveyor,
Sir Gilbert Pecke his chancellor, and John Car
Confeffor to him, with that devil-Monk,
Hopkins, that made this mischief.

2 Gen. That was he,

That fed him with his prophecies.

Gen. The fame.

All these accus'd him ftrongly, which he fain
Would have flung from him; but indeed, he could not:
And fo his Peers upon this evidence

Have found him guilty of high-treafon.. Much
He fpoke, 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 th' bar, to hear His knell rung out, his judgment, he was ftirr'd With fuch an agony, he fweat extremely; And fomething spoke in choler, ill and hafty; But he fell to himself again, and sweetly In all the reft fhew'd a moft noble patience. 2 Gen. I do not think, he fears death. Gen. Sure, he does not,

He never was fo womanifh; the caufe
He may a little grieve at.

2 Gen. Certainly,

The Cardinal is the end of this.

1 Gen. 'Tis likely,

By all conjectures: firft, Kildare's attainder,
Then Deputy of Ireland; who remov'd,
Earl Surrey was fent thither, and in hafte too,
Left he should help his father.

2 Gen. That trick of ftate
Was a deep, envious one..
1. Gen. At his return,

No

No doubt, he will requite it; this is noted,
And gen'rally, who-ever the King favours,
The Cardinal inftantly will find employment for,
And far enough from court too.

2 Gen. All the commons

Hate him perniciously: and o'my confcience
With 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, (Tipstaves before
him, the Axe with the edge towards him, Halberds on each
fide) accompanied with Sir Thomas Lovel, Sir Nicholas
Vaux, Sir William Sands, and common People, &c.
1 Gen. Stay there, Sir,

And fee the noble ruin'd man you speak of.

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

You that thus far have come to pity me,

Hear what I fay, and then go home and lofe me:
I have this day receiv'd a traitor's judgment,

And by that name muft die; yet, heav'n bear witness,
And if I have a confcience, let it fink me

Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful.
To th' law I bear no malice for my death,
'T has done, upon the premises, but justice:

But thofe that fought it, I could wish more chriftians;
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 fue, 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 facrifice,

And

And lift my foul to heaven. Lead on, o' God's name.
Lov. I do befeech your Grace for charity,
If ever any malice in your heart

Were hid against me, now forgive me frankly.
Buck. Sir Thomas Lovel, I as free forgive you,
As I would be forgiven: I forgive all.

There cannot be thofe numberlefs offences
'Gainst me, I can't take peace with: no black envy
Shall make my grave.-Commend me to his Grace:
And if he fpeak of Buckingham, pray tell him,
You met him half in heaven: my vows and pray'rs
Yet are the King's; and 'till my foul forfake me,
Shall cry for bleffings 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 fhall lead him to his end,
Goodness, and he, fill up one monument!

Lov. To th' water-fide I must conduct your
Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux,
Who undertakes you to your end.

Vaux. Prepare there,

Grace,

The Duke is coming: fee, the barge be ready;
And fit it with fuch furniture as fuits

The greatness of his perfon.

Buck. Nay, Sir Nicholas,

Let it alone; my ftate now will but mock me.
When I came hither, I was Lord high Constable,

And Duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bobun.

Yet I am richer than my base accusers,

That never knew what truth meant.

I now feal it:

And with that blood, will make 'em one day groan for't. My noble father, Henry of Buckingham,

Who firft rais'd head against usurping Richard,

Flying for fuccour to his fervant Banifter,
Being diftrefs'd, was by that wretch betray'd,
And without tryal fell; God's peace be with him!
Henry the Sev'nth fucceeding, truly pitying
My father's lofs, like a most royal Prince
Reftor'd to me my honours; and from ruins,
Made my name once more noble. Now his fon,

Henry

Henry the Eighth, life, honour, name, and all
That made me happy, at one ftroak has taken
For ever from the world. I had my tryal,
And must needs fay, a noble one; which makes me
A little happier than my wretched father:
Yet thus far we are one in fortune, both
Fell by our fervants, by those men we lov'd.
A moft unnatural and faithless fervice!

Heav'n has an end in all: yet, you that hear me,
This from a dying man receive as certain :
Where you are lib'ral of your loves and counfels,
Be fure, you be not loose; 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 fink ye. All good people
Pray for me! I must leave ye; the last hour
Of my long weary life is come upon me:

Farewel; and when you would fay fomething fad, Speak, how I fell--I've done; and God forgive me. [Exeunt Buckingham and Train.

1 Gen. O, this is full of pity; Sir, it calls,

I fear, too many curfes on their heads,

That were the authors.

2 Gen. 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 Gen. Good angels keep it from us!

What may it be? you do not doubt my faith, Sir? 2 Gen. This fecret is fo weighty, 'twill require A ftrong faith to conceal it.

1 Gen. Let me have it;

I do not talk much.

2 Gen. I am confident;

You fhall, Sir; did you not of late days hear
A buzzing of a feparation

Between the King and Cath'rine ?

1 Gen. Yes, but it held not;

For when the King once heard it, out of anger

He